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China ready to work with neighboring countries to expand convergence of interests: spokesperson

Xinhua) 08:44, April 09, 2024

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China stands ready to work with neighboring countries to expand the convergence of interests, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing when answering a relevant query. According to media reports, April has witnessed a host of high-level visits from Southeast Asian countries to China. Indonesian President-elect Prabowo's visit to China was the first leg of his first overseas visit as President-elect. Last week, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Timor-Leste's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas, and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son respectively in Guangxi. This week, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat are visiting China.

"Leaders and foreign ministers from several Southeast Asian countries have visited China over the past few days, which demonstrates the great importance relevant countries attach to their relations with China," Mao said.

"Neighboring countries are China's priority in its diplomacy. China and Southeast Asian countries are good neighbors, good friends and good partners with a shared future," Mao said, adding China has engaged in friendly cooperation, enhanced mutual understanding and trust, and pursued common development and prosperity with neighboring countries in line with the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness guiding our neighborhood diplomacy.

According to Mao, China and ASEAN were each other's largest trading partners for the fourth consecutive year last year. In January and February this year, trade between China and ASEAN totaled 993.24 billion yuan, up by 8.1 percent.

Noting Southeast Asian countries are important partners for Belt and Road cooperation, Mao said a large number of cooperation projects, including the China-Laos Railway, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" between China and Malaysia, have boosted economic growth and benefited the people in the region.

Mutual visa exemption is realized between China and the three Southeast Asian countries of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, the spokesperson said, adding various events will be held during the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and build closer bond between the peoples of the two sides.

"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. We stand ready to work with neighboring countries to carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, practice the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, expand the convergence of interests, and jointly make Asia a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful, amicable and harmonious home for us all," Mao said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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Wang Yi, Chinese co-chair of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, met with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Vietnamese co-chair of the committee Tran Luu Quang in Beijing on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, conforms to the trend of development and progress of the times, and has great significance for the two countries in accelerating their respective modernization and advancing the cause of socialism.

China is ready to work with Vietnam to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties, give full play to the coordinating role of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, deepen cooperation in fields such as economy, trade, investment, connectivity, science and technology and innovation, create new growth points for cooperation, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, properly manage differences, consolidate public support for good friendship between the two countries, and advance the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, Wang added.

Tran Luu Quang said that the Vietnam-China relationship is at its best in history, adding that Vietnam is willing to work with China to take the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future as a guide, give full play to the role of the Steering Committee, and jointly advance the common cause of socialism for mutual benefit and win-win results.
Hitting back at senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh for questioning the BJP's pitch of 'Ab ki baar 400 paar' (beyond 400 seats this time), going into the Lok Sabha elections, former Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said on Tuesday the Opposition had run out of options other than poking holes in his party's claim. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, the former CM who is in the fray for the Lok Sabha this time, responded to Ramesh's jibe at the BJP over its clarion call, saying, "We may not win 400 seats, as we have quoted, but will surely go up to 389, 399 or even 404 seats in the upcoming general elections." Expanding on the BJP's ongoing preparations for the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections in the country, apart from karyakartas (workers) and leaders across levels, the chief ministers of all BJP-ruled states were actively engaged in the canvassing phase to help the party reach the magic figure of '400'. He added that while the BJP was actively involved in the poll preparations and campaigning, the Opposition was conspicuous by its absence. Earlier in the day, Ramesh mocked the BJP's claim of '400 paar', saying past election results of the ruling party at the Centre failed to come anywhere near to what they had projected. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Ramesh sought to make light of the BJP's target of 400-plus seats for the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha elections, a feat achieved only once in the country's electoral history--by the Congress under Rajiv Gandhi in 1984, saying it was easy to set goals and raise slogans. "Ahead of the 2017 Gujarat (assembly) elections, the BJP's slogan was '150 paar' but they only ended up winning 99 seats. Before the 2018 Chhattisgarh elections, they raised a cry for going '50 paar' but could only manage 15. In the 2019 Jharkhand assembly elections, their slogan was '65 paar' but they could only manage 25. In the 2020 Delhi assembly elections, they claimed to go '45 paar' but finished at just 8. In the 2021 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, they went into the polls with a slogan of going '118 paar' but could only win 4 seats. It is easy to raise such slogans. However, the reality was a stark contrast," Ramesh said. Significantly, the BJP, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has set itself the task of securing in excess of 370 seats while eyeing 400-plus seats for the NDA. The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases starting April 19. Nearly 97 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes in the general elections this time. The counting of the votes is scheduled for June 4. (ANI)
Emphasising the future of India-Australia relations, Australia's High Commissioner to India Philip Green said that the countries' relationship is "buoyant," adding that for the first time in our history, both nations are strategic partners with "very strong strategic alignment." Australian envoy Philip Green was addressing a plenary session of the Australia-India Skill Partnership Summit on Monday in New Delhi. "India and Australia's relation is buoyant. Australia and India have been friends for a very long time," he said. He further stressed, "But I think there are three underlying drivers. For the first time in our history, we are strategic partners with very strong strategic alignment. We both care a lot about what's going on in our region and want to find ways to make it better." Secondly, Green emphasised that India is growing at a fast pace, but many things that it needs can be found in Australia. "We are complementary economies. India is growing fast, but many of the things that it needs, the energy, the minerals, the critical minerals, and the skills that India needs for the next phase of its growth, can be found in Australia," Australian envoy Green said. Noting the third factor, i.e. the "human bridge", he said that nearly a million Indian people live in Australia, contributing nearly 4 per cent of Australia's population. "Then the third factor is what we call the human bridge. It's the nearly a million people of Indian origin who now live in Australia. That's nearly 4 per cent of our population. It's the fastest-growing single segment of our population. They make a very good contribution to our society," he added. Green further expressed confidence that these three strategic drivers are working in their favour. "So I'm very confident because these three strategic drivers, strategic alignment, economic complement, territory and the human bridge are working in our favour," he said. Moreover, a 33-member Australian Future Skills delegation will be visiting India to build a two-way market literacy and skills partnership momentum while developing business ties and partnerships between Australian and Indian institutions, universities and corporations. During their stay in India, the delegates will visit New Delhi, Pune, and Chennai to interact with Indian institutions, universities, and corporate providers. This delegation is a part of the Australian Government's Australia-India Future Skills Initiative (FSI), a national priority program that supports Australian skills providers, Indian skilling institutions and corporates to identify collaboration models and partnerships for skills delivery in India to help meet labour force requirements here. From April 8-11, 2024, Austrade in partnership with the Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), is hosting the Australia-India Industry Skills Partnership Summit in New Delhi. Australian envoy Green also said that Australia seeks to play a "bigger part" in India's journey to upskill its population. "Australia aims to stimulate skills capability and India's workforce growth with connections between key industry players, education institutions, and skills providers to strengthen the short educational relationship and future economic growth," he added. (ANI)
In the quiet confines of Kibbutz Be'eri, nestled amidst the serene landscape of Israel, tragedy has shattered the peace, leaving behind a family torn apart and a community reeling in grief. As the Israel-Hamas war has completed six months, Ella, a member of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Spokesperson Unit, stood before the remnants of her family's home, as she recounted the horror that unfolded on October 7. "My name is Ella. I'm from the IDF spokesperson unit. I have a very personal connection to Kibbutz Be'eri, where we're at. We're now at my family's house," she told ANI. On that fateful day, eight people sought refuge within the safety of their home, unaware of the terror that awaited them. "They went to the safe room. They were there for 4 hours," Ella explained, adding, "And seven of them were kidnapped into Gaza. One of them was murdered." The devastation did not end there. In another corner of Kibbutz Be'eri, three more members of Ella's family met a tragic end, their lives cut short by senseless violence. "So four of my family members were murdered and seven were taken hostage into Gaza," Ella said. The toll on the community was staggering. "So 1,200 people lived in this kibbutz before October 7. On October 7, 100 people just from this kibbutz were murdered, and 30 of them were taken hostage," Ella shared. In the days that followed, the community grappled with the enormity of their loss and the uncertainty of their loved ones' fate. For 50 agonising days, they awaited news, their hearts heavy with dread. Finally, a glimmer of hope emerged as six hostages returned from Gaza, their freedom secured. But for one member of Ella's family, the nightmare persisted. "But one of them, my cousin Tal, is still in Gaza," she also said. The Kibbutz Be'eri located in southern Israel, very close to the Gaza border, witnessed horrific atrocities by the terrorist group Hamas during their October 7 attack on Israel. Bullet-riddled buildings, burnt vehicles and shattered windowpanes were seen strewn about in the community, testimony to the suffering inflicted by the incursion. Arms and ammunition abandoned by the terrorists were also seen lying about a week after the attack. Six months have elapsed since Hamas launched a brutal onslaught on Israel, resulting in widespread devastation and loss of life. Despite the passage of time, 134 hostages remain in Hamas' captivity, their fate hanging in the balance amidst ongoing efforts to secure their release. (ANI)
Hailing from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Choudhry cautioned that by 2024, Baloch could be on the path of becoming a minority population.

"In Pakistan, CPEC has brought numerous challenges. It's not just an economic corridor; it's a military project. Who stands to benefit from CPEC? Ultimately, it's China alone," Dr Shabir emphasized in a video message on his YouTube channel.

He further highlighted how Beijing's economic interests in Pakistan have been marred by attacks on Chinese citizens and infrastructure.

"There's a real risk that these projects will face increased hostility. Pakistan's situation will deteriorate. It's truly distressing. I am pained to see the suffering of the people in Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and PoK," Dr Shabir lamented.

Since its inception, CPEC has garnered attention for all the wrong reasons.

Moreover, Baloch resistance movements pose a significant challenge to Beijing's global ambitions.

Baloch groups have issued warnings to China, demanding a halt to activities in Balochistan and the abandonment of projects in the region, threatening further attacks if ignored.

The persistent resistance from oppressed groups underscores the urgent necessity for international intervention to bring about meaningful change and alleviate the suffering of the people.

Shabir underscored, "The increasing Chinese presence in Balochistan is alarming. According to reports, if their numbers continue to rise at this rate, Baloch could become a minority by 2048." (ANI)
The foundation stone for the construction of Shree Diding Basic School, being built under Indian assistance in Sankhuwasabha was jointly laid by the Chairman of Chichila Rural Municipality, Pasang Nurbu Sherpa and First Secretary, Embassy of India, Avinash Kumar Singh on Monday, Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said in a press release. The school building at Chichila Rural Municipality-3, Sankhuwasabha District is being built with the Government of India's financial assistance at the tendered cost of Nepalese Rupees (NRs) 40.29 million under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation'. The Government of India grant under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation', will be utilised for the construction of double-storied academic and administrative blocks with other facilities for this school. The project is taken up as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP), under an Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Nepal being implemented through Chichila Rural Municipality, Sankhuwasabha. The project is an important example of the robust development partnership between India and Nepal. Chairman Sherpa of Chichila Rural Municipality in his remarks appreciated the continued developmental support of the Government of India in the upliftment of the people of Nepal in priority sectors. The new school building would be useful in providing better education facilities to students of Shree Diding Basic School in Chichila Rural Municipality, Sankhuwasabha and would create an improved environment for learning as well as contribute to the development of education in this area. Since 2003, the Government of India has taken up over 550 HICDPs in Nepal in various sectors and has completed 488 projects. Amongst these, 85 projects are in Koshi Province in various sectors, which include 2 projects in Sankhuwasabha. In addition to these, the Government of India has gifted 974 ambulances and 234 school buses to various hospitals, health posts and educational institutions in Nepal on the occasion of Independence Day and Republic Day of India. Amongst these, 141 Ambulances and 35 School Buses have been gifted in Koshi Province, including 13 ambulances and 3 school buses provided in Sankhuwasabha District. "As close neighbours, India and Nepal share wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation. The implementation of HICDPs reflects the continued support of the Government of India in bolstering the efforts of the Government of Nepal in upliftment of its people, augmenting infrastructure in the field of priority sector, especially in the education sector in Nepal." the release stated. Political representatives, government officials, social workers, representatives of the school management, teachers, parents and students were also present on this occasion. (ANI)
President Asif Ali Zardari has convened the Senate session.

Notably, the session comes at a time when the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senate elections continued to remain pending.

Earlier, Ishaq Dar, who is presently the foreign minister of Pakistan, was named by the president to serve as the presiding officer of the upper house of Parliament's first session starting at 9 am Tuesday.

Yousuf Raza Gilani of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has been nominated by the ruling alliance to be the Senate chairman.

In the meantime, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to abstain from Tuesday's Senate chairman and deputy chairman elections, reported ARY News.

The decision was taken in the PTI's core committee meeting on Monday where the party urged for delaying the election owing to the postponement of the Senate election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The PTI, in a statement, said that the upper house of the parliament was incomplete without the election of Senators from the KP, the ARY News reported. (ANI)
Abbasi, who left the PML-N last year, filed the necessary paperwork with the Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday to register the new political party.

In an interaction with a group of journalists, Abbasi stated that the ECP had received all the paperwork required for the establishment of the new political group.

Abbasi served as the prime minister from August 2017 to May 2018, according to ARY News.

Before Abbasi, many politicians, including Jahangir Tareen and Pervez Khattak, had already formed their political parties.

It is relevant to note that Abbasi has expressed interest in starting a new party multiple times due to his disagreements with the PML-N's top leadership, reported ARY News.

Earlier, Abbasi made it clear that his leader is Nawaz Sharif and if Maryam Nawaz elevated to the PML-N's top office, he will consider remaining in the party's fold or not.

Prior to the elections in January, he said that he was satisfied with his decision not to contest the general elections in 2024, and added that it does not mean he has left politics. (ANI)
This airdrop marks a special occasion, delivering essential supplies alongside parcels of Eid clothing for the first time. These parcels contain clothes, shoes, toys, sweets, and various items for all family members, arriving in time for Eid Al Fitr.

This initiative aims to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza and contribute to their well-being during this important holiday.

Four aircraft, including two C17s from the UAE Air Force and two C295s from the Egyptian Air Force, participated in the airdrop. The mission focused on reaching inaccessible, isolated areas in the northern Gaza Strip.

A total of 82 tonnes of food and relief aid were delivered, bringing the total amount of aid provided through the Birds of Goodness operation to 1,647 tonnes since its inception.

The Birds of Goodness operation is part of "Operation Chivalrous Knight 3" to support Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. (ANI/WAM)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is on a two-day official visit to China, held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Tuesday. In a post on X, Russian Foreign Ministry stated, "Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov holds talks with Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi." In his opening remarks at the meeting, Lavrov said that the presidential elections in Russia took place under conditions of severe external pressure from the West and a surge in terrorist attacks by the Kyiv regime. He noted that shelling of Russian cities has become more frequent, leading to civilian casualties, according to the statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry. Lavrov said that hackers made numerous attempts to hack Russia's election system. However, the voting was successful and nothing prevented the free and recorded expression of the will of Russian voters. Russian Foreign Minister thanked China for supporting and ensuring the sovereign rights of people of Russia in accordance with the Constitution. He noted that "comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction" between Russia and China has reached an "unprecedented level," as per the Russian Foreign Minister statement. He said that the "strategic partnership" between China and Russia is built on the principles of respectful, equal and trusting dialogue, and mutual support on issues affecting the fundamental interests of the two countries. Lavrov stated that the two nations are working on the formation of a more equitable multipolar world order, on the development of inclusive and creative formats of cooperation, including such as BRICS and the SCO. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in China on Monday for an official visit at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Global Times reported. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Lavrov will be on an official visit to China from April 8-9. While addressing a regular press conference on Monday, Mao said that the two sides will exchange views and coordinate stances on the development of bilateral ties, cooperation in different fields and the international issues of shared common concern on the sidelines of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia diplomatic ties. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Lavrov in Beijing will hold talks with Wang Yi. She said that Wang Yi and Sergey Lavrov will discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific region, issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction in the international arena, Global Times reported citing TASS report. (ANI)
The recent explosion in Khuzdar's market in Balochistan has sparked widespread concern and condemnation. Baloch activists have unequivocally labelled the incident as yet another tragic chapter in what they perceive as an ongoing genocide against the Baloch people. Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch criticised the Pakistani government for its failure to maintain law and order situation in Balochistan. She accused the government of allowing criminal groups to operate in the region. In a post on X, Mahrang Baloch stated, "The bomb blast in Khuzdar on the occasion of Eid and in the month of Ramadan is a continuation of the incidents of Baloch genocide. The state has allowed criminal gangs and individuals to play bloodbaths on Baloch land, but the Baloch will continue to resist this immunity and monopoly." https://twitter.com/MahrangBaloch_/status/1777382607854190719 Another Baloch activist, Brahag Baloch, alleged the involvement of Pakistani intelligence agencies in orchestrating the Khuzdar blast. Brahag Baloch, another vocal voice on X, went a step further, alleging the involvement of Pakistani intelligence agencies in orchestrating the Khuzdar blast. According to Brahag, these agencies are clandestinely using criminal elements to sow fear and chaos within the Baloch community. "Eastern Balochistan: Khuzdar blast is the work of Pakistani intelligence agencies, after the target killing, abduction & mutilated bodies of Baloch, now the state of Pakistan is creating an atmosphere of fear by blowing explosives through criminal elements," Brahag Baloch posted on X. https://x.com/zzbaloch/status/1777405515829592566 The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a prominent advocate for Baloch rights, expressed deep concern over the bomb blast. Calling for international intervention, the BYC urged the global community to hold the perpetrators accountable for their heinous actions. https://twitter.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1777318583179112798 It is imperative to note that the BYC has long been at the forefront of advocacy efforts in Balochistan, highlighting issues such as enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, military operations, forced displacements, and economic oppression. The blast on April 7, which claimed several lives and left many others injured, underscores the deteriorating security situation in Balochistan. Initial police investigations suggest that the explosives were planted on a motorcycle, causing devastation in a densely populated market area where women and children were present. Amidst growing insecurity, local residents have called upon the United Nations and human rights organizations to intervene and hold the authorities accountable for crimes committed in Balochistan. Activists have demanded a thorough investigation by the United Nations Working Group to uncover the truth behind such incidents. In the backdrop of Balochistan's underdevelopment and allegations of widespread human rights abuses by Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), calls for accountability resonate louder than ever. It is essential for the international community to heed these calls and work towards ensuring justice and peace in Balochistan. (ANI)
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand in Beijing on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, first conveyed President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Noting that China has been Thailand's largest trading partner for many years in a row, and has become Thailand's largest source of foreign investment in recent years, Wang said that the bilateral beneficial cooperation enjoys strong momentum and has huge potential.

Wang said that Princess Sirindhorn has committed to China-Thailand friendship for decades and the Chinese people have full respect for it. China cherishes its traditional friendship with the Thai royal family and is willing to work with Thailand to implement the high-level consensus between the two countries and push for new progress in building a China-Thailand community of a shared future.

Echoing Wang's remarks, Sirindhorn said that the Thai royal family cherishes Thailand-China friendship, and Thailand is willing to take the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries next year to further strengthen practical cooperation with China on science, technology, agriculture and education, and to promote mutual understanding between the two peoples.
EAM Jaishankar received the Secretary General of Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier today.

The two ministers discussed strengthening economic and political cooperation between India, Belgium and the EU.

They also discussed the concerns of our diamond industry.

Moreover, Jaishankar and Gentzis exchanged views on semiconductors and green growth.

"Pleased to receive Secretary General @BelgiumMFA Theodora Gentzis today. Discussed strengthening economic and political cooperation between India, Belgium and the EU. Took up the concerns of our diamond industry. Also exchanged views on semiconductors and green growth," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1777606404859179253

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo and congratulated him for the successful hosting of the First Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels.

The two leaders also reviewed relations between the two nations and discussed strengthening ties and advancing the India-EU Partnership under the Belgian Presidency.

Belgian PM De Croo said that the two leaders discussed growing commercial relations between New Delhi and Brussels, including in sectors of semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and green hydrogen. He also said that Belgium would send a royal trade mission to India.

The two leaders affirmed their commitment to further bolster the India - EU Strategic Partnership under the ongoing Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

They exchanged views on regional and global developments. They agreed upon the need to enhance cooperation and support for the early restoration of peace and security in the West Asia region and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (ANI)
The father of an Indian student, Mohammed Abdul Arfath, who was found dead in the US state of Ohio today, urged the government to bring his son's body back to India. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, a native of Hyderabad, who has been missing since March this year, has been found dead in the US state of Ohio, the Consulate General of India in New York said on Tuesday. Mohammed Saleem, father of deceased Mohd Arafat, said, "I filed the complaint on March 7 that my son went missing. Since then, we haven't got any information. Today morning, we got the call that my son's body was in the river. We urge the government to bring his body back to India." "I appeal to state government and Central government to bring back his son's body to house," Mohd Saleem said. The Consulate General of India in New York said it is "anguished" to learn about the death of Mohammed Abdul Arfath and is in touch with local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation into his death. "Anguished to learn that Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio. Our deepest condolences to Mr Mohammed Arfath's family, the Consulate General of India in New York said in a post on X. It said that all possible assistance is being extended to the bereaved family to transport his mortal remains to India. 25-year-old Mohd Arfath went to the US for his Master's degree in IT from Cleveland University in May 2023 but has been missing since March 7 this year. His father, Mohd Saleem, said that after ten days, they received a phone call from an unidentified person who claimed Arafat had been kidnapped and demanded a USD 1200 ransom for his release. Recently, the Indian community has seen a rise in such tragedies. Last week, Uma Satya Sai Gadde, an Indian student in Cleveland, Ohio, died and a police investigation is underway. Earlier this February, an Indian student faced a brutal attack in Chicago. Following the attack, the Indian Consulate in Chicago stated that it was in touch with the victim, Syed Mazahir Ali, as well as his wife in India. (ANI)
As Hamas''s attack on Israel marks six months, posters bearing portraits of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, have been displayed in Knesset (Israel Parliament). Six months have elapsed since Hamas launched a brutal onslaught on Israel, resulting in widespread devastation and loss of life. Despite the passage of time, 134 hostages remain in Hamas'' captivity, their fate hanging in the balance amidst ongoing efforts to secure their release. The war in Gaza continues after Israel launched a counter-offensive in response to the Hamas attack on October 7. However, the Israel Defence Forces have withdrawn all ground troops from the southern Gaza Strip after a long four-month fight in the Khan Younis area, reported The Times of Israel. As the country marked six months of war against Hamas, the IDF published new data on its operations in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Lebanon, highlighting everything from the number of terror operatives killed to the number of sites struck. According to the data, more than 13,000 Hamas operatives and members of other terror groups have been killed by the IDF in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war, in addition to some 1,000 terrorists inside Israel on October 7, when gunmen rampaged through southern communities, massacring some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 253 to Gaza. As Israel grapples with the ongoing repercussions of the October 7 attack, the nation remains steadfast in its commitment to securing the safe return of all hostages held by Hamas. With billboards at Ben-Gurion Airport serving as a poignant reminder of the urgency of this mission, the call to "Bring them home now" echoes louder than ever before. In a poignant display of solidarity and urgency, Israel''s capital city has been decked up with billboards bearing the faces of hostages held by Hamas since the October 7 attack. The visuals feature images of those still in captivity, alongside the rallying cry, "Bring them home now," serving as a stark reminder of the prolonged ordeal endured by these individuals and their families. Visuals from Israel''s Ben-Gurion airport and around the city show pictures of hostages held by Hamas following the October 7 attack. (ANI)
Nineteen fishermen from Tamil Nadu, apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in January, have been repatriated from the island nation and are on their way to Chennai. The Indian embassy in Sri Lanka took to X, and said, "19 Indian fishermen have been repatriated from Sri Lanka and are currently on their way to Chennai." https://x.com/IndiainSL/status/1777684997157294443 Earlier last week, a total of 19 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were sent to Chennai in an Air India passenger flight from Sri Lanka's Colombo following their arrest, by the Sri Lankan Navy on March 6 for crossing the border. The 19 fishermen included nine from Mayiladuthurai, four from Pudukottai, and six from Karaikal in Puducherry state. All of them went fishing in the sea in two boats on March 6. The families of the fishermen had requested that the central and state governments take action to release the fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. Following this, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin immediately wrote a letter to the Union Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar and requested to take action to release the fishermen. The Indian embassy officials in Sri Lanka subsequently held talks with the Sri Lankan government officials. This incident took place amid External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar saying that in the last 20 years, 6184 Indian fishermen have been detained by Sri Lanka and 1175 Indian fishing vessels have been seized, detained or apprehended by Sri Lanka. "In the last five years, the Katchatheevu issue and the Fisherman's issue have been repeatedly raised by various parties in the Parliament. It has come up in parliament questions, debates and in the consultative committee," he added. Describing the significance of the issue, EAM Jaishankar also said that he has replied 21 times on this issue to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and the issue has been debated in the parliament as well. (ANI)
Rich tributes were paid to the Founding Secretary General and incumbent Executive President, the late Ven Lama Lobzang of International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), during a sombre memorial, at the IGNCA (Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts) here on Tuesday. Home Minister Amit Shah in his condolence message described Lama Lobzang as a revered figure who selflessly contributed to the inner well-being of individuals and society. His life and works embody the highest principles of Dhamma, additionally, his leadership positions in national and international organisations exemplified his dedication to spreading Buddhist philosophy and fostering global harmony. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party President, JP Nadda also extended his deepest condolences on the passing of the late Lama Lobzang, saying that he was a "revered figure whose loss is deeply felt by our society." He further said that Ven Lobzang's remarkable contributions to the welfare of our society, his commitment to the preservation of living heritage, and his philanthropic endeavours have left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him. Ven Lama Lobzang-Lamaji, as he was affectionately called held several constitutional, statutory, and non-profit positions at the national and international levels. Minister of Culture and Tourism, G Kishan Reddy, called Lamaji a true Buddhist ambassador who dedicated his life to breaking religious and social barriers. "He undertook various initiatives and missions to bring the light of education and healthcare to the people of his beloved Ladakh and the entire Himalayan region," the condolence message stated. The message concluded with the mention that Lamaji's reputation and goodwill across the world is a true reflection of his inert keenness to help humanity. Describing Lamaji as a true Karmyogi and Dhammaduta, Minister of Earth Sciences, Kiren Rijiju said Lamaji devoted his whole life to breaking barriers and serving humanity. Lamaji ably assisted 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche to co-found pioneering Ladakh Institute, Ladakh Buddha Vihar and the Vishesh Kendiya Vidyalaya. As President of Asoka Mission, New Delhi he helmed several great initiatives like Heritage of Nalanda, Global Buddhist Congregation, and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), he added in the condolence statement. In his message, the 7th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche, said Lama Lobzang dedicated his life to the service of Buddha Dharma, in particular, he worked to bring many Buddhist nations together through the platform of the International Buddhist Confederation. Lama Lobzang was a disciple of Ling Rinpoche's predecessor, therefore, he stated that there was a strong karmic connection between them. A message from the Dashichoilng Monastery Head, Dambajav Khamba Lama, conveyed that this was a very difficult moment for him and the Mongolian Buddhist Sangha, as they were very saddened by the unexpected passing of MV Lama Lobzang and that he would always remain in their hearts. A special aircraft had earlier taken Lama Lobzang's mortal remains to Ladakh for his last rights. On March 25th, he was accorded a state funeral with full honours. A grand ceremony was held in the monastery, where monks in traditional attire held prayers and chanted for the Venerable's peaceful onward journey. All along the route of the cortege, hundreds of citizens mourning the loss of their beloved Venerable lined up on both sides of the street to pay their last respects. Paying rich tribute to Ven Lamaji, author, journalist and former MP Tarun Vijay described him as a great force of national integration; "he founded with us the great Sindhu Darshan festival that integrated the rest of India with Ladakh." (ANI)
In response to questions from journalists regarding when the UN will appoint a special envoy for Afghanistan, Dujarric stated on Monday at a press briefing that information will be provided if progress is made in this regard.

He said there is no set date for the UN special envoy for Afghanistan to be appointed.

Notably, the nomination of a special envoy has been the subject of months of debate inside the UN.

The Taliban regime opposes the appointment of a new special representative for Afghanistan and believes that with the presence of UNAMA, this is an unnecessary move, reported Khaama Press.

The Taliban regime is supported by a number of nations that are against the nomination of a new UN special representative for Afghanistan, including Russia and Iran.

Efforts failed to produce results during the second Doha summit which took place in Qatar in February this year.

It was attended by special envoys of various nations and was followed by a UN Security Council meeting where the appointment of a special representative for Afghanistan was a significant item on their agenda. (ANI)
Canada's espionage agency claimed that the Chinese government "clandestinely and deceptively" interfered in the 2019, and 2021 elections that were won by the country's current leader, Justin Trudeau, according to CBC News. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) informed the Prime Minister's Office about this in February 2023, according to a top-secret briefing note that was discussed at the Foreign Interference Commission. CBC News is a division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. "We know the PRC clandestinely and deceptively interfered both in the 2019 and 2021 general elections. In both cases, [foreign interference ... was] pragmatic in nature and focused primarily in supporting those viewed to be either 'pro-PRC' or 'neutral' on issues of interest to the PRC government," read the document titled 'Assertions in Media Reporting'. The document alleged further that multiple political parties were involved and at least 11 candidates and 13 staff members were implicated in 'foreign interference' by the Chinese government. Meanwhile, another CSIS document, tabled earlier in the inquiry, referred to seven Liberal candidates and four from the Conservative Party of Canada. "We also observed online and media activities aimed at discouraging Canadians, particularly of Chinese heritage, from supporting the Conservative Party, leader Erin O'Toole, and particularly Steveston-Richmond East Candidate Kenny Chiu," the briefing note read, according to CBC News. "The timing of these efforts to align with Conservative polling improvements; the similarities in language with articles published by PRC state media; and the partnership agreements between these Canada-based outlets and PRC entities all suggest that these efforts were orchestrated or directed by the PRC," it added. The briefing note, however, stated that the task force asked to keep an eye on foreign meddling concluded that these actions had no bearing on the election's final result. According to CBC News, the public inquiry into foreign interference has heard already from O'Toole and Chiu, who testified that their concerns about foreign interference were brushed aside when they raised them with Canadian officials. Even after the Conservative Party brought up possible instances of foreign interference, more testimony and documents presented during the inquiry reveal that the body tasked with keeping an eye on election meddling identified possible foreign meddling directed at O'Toole and Chiu, but failed to notify them of it at the time. Last week, O'Toole informed the commission that he thought Chinese intervention may have cost his party up to nine seats. According to the briefing note, CSIS briefed cabinet ministers and other high-ranking officials on foreign influence 34 times, covering acts of meddling in the elections of 2019 and 2021. "Until (foreign interference) is viewed as an existential threat to Canadian democracy and governments forcefully and actively respond, these threats will persist," the briefing note to the PMO read, according to CBC News. In October, last year, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and several other MPs were targeted by a 'Spamouflage' campaign linked allegedly to China. As part of this campaign, a bot network leaves thousands of comments on their social media accounts, making nefarious claims. However, despite the situation, the Canadian government did not act steadfastly enough to take any further action over this 'Spamouflage' campaign, according to Canada-based CTV News. According to a statement from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the federal government's 'Rapid Response Mechanism' (RRM) detected the campaign, which it said traced back to the People's Republic of China. The campaign started in early August, 2023 and 'accelerated in scale' over the long weekend in September. It targeted MPs across the country and across the political spectrum, posting comments in both English and French on their Facebook and 'X' accounts. (ANI)
Invoking the plight of Palestinian natives in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli military offensive against Hamas, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, while greeting the Muslims in the country and across the world on the occasion of Eid, said the bloodshed and suffering are 'unbearable'. He added that his country was doing everything it could to help bring the conflict to an end and ensure that the hostages were released. Sunak's invocation of the Israel-Hamas conflict during his Eid address served as a grim reminder to the war that has clocked over 6 months and counting, with little hope of a ceasefire on the horizon. Wishing "Eid Mubarak to Muslims celebrating across the UK," Sunak, in a video message, thanked people from the community for their contribution across many fields in the nation. "After the long month of fasting, I wish you all the joy of this festival that brings people together for thanks and reflection. And at this special time, I want to say an enormous thank you, not just for your contribution in so many different fields, from the NHS to business, politics and the armed forces, but for your generosity, hard work, commitment to service, and for your compassion to those in need," Sunak said in the personalised video that he shared on his official X handle. Bringing up the prevailing situation in Gaza, the British PM said, "This year, I know many will be thinking particularly of those in Gaza. The bloodshed and suffering are unbearable." "I want you to know we are doing everything we can to help bring the conflict to an end, ensure the hostages are released and get life-saving food, shelter and medical aid to civilians in Gaza," he added. https://x.com/RishiSunak/status/1777773102622994797 He said the UK was also working towards ensuring that the British Muslims felt secure in the country. "Here in the UK also, we're working to make British Muslims feel secure and tackle sickening and utterly unacceptable hatred. That's why we've committed over 29 million every year for the next four years, to help protect the mosques, faith schools and community venues," Sunak said. "But for now, as people gather together to pray and spend time visiting family and friends, I simply want to wish you and Muslims around the world a blessed and peaceful Eid," he added. Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival is of great significance due to the moon sighting, which has been part of Islamic culture for a long time. It is believed that Prophet Muhammad used to wait for news of sightings of the crescent moon as it indicated the beginning of a new month. Ending the holy month of Ramzan and starting a new spiritual journey also marks the beginning of a new Islamic year. Eid-ul-Fitr marks the month-long Ramzan fasting and the beginning of Shawwal which is the tenth month per the Islamic calendar. Since the observance of the moon is essential for ending Ramzan month and celebrating Eid, it is celebrated in different parts on different days usually with a one-day difference. (ANI)
An activist working for RFK Jr. said the candidate could help return Trump to the White House

Rita Palma, an anti-vaccine activist who has worked as a consultant for Robert Kennedy Jr.'s campaign and is helping him get on the New York state ballot, openly discussed using the third-party candidate to help defeat President Joe Biden in November.

In a video presentation, the two-time voter for former President Donald Trump said that while she plans to vote for Kennedy, if I wake up on Nov. 6 and Trump wins, Im not going to be overly upset, as reported by Politico. To her, a second Trump term would be better than the alternative: reelecting Biden.

The video of the presentation was first reported by CNN and posted on X on April 5, 2024.

Palma said that her good strategy of gathering 45,000 signatures to back RFK Jr. as an independent candidate could force a contingent election in November. A contingent election is when no candidate wins enough electoral votes, and gets thrown to Congress, where Republicans control enough state delegations to potentially throw the election to Trump. The last contingent election was in 1836; as it stands, RFK Jr. is not polling well enough to win a single state.

But Palma insisted that Republicans, for tactical reasons, should get behind the Kennedy campaign.

If Republicans accepted the fact that New York, Maryland, Illinois, California, New Jersey, Connecticut, most of the Northeast is going to go blue, why wouldnt we put our vote to Bobby and at least get rid of Biden and get those 28 votes in New York, Palma said.

Following the backlash, an RFK Jr. spokesperson, in a statement to CNN, downplayed Palma's role while still describing her as an active part of the campaign.

Rita Palma is a ballot access consultant responsible for scheduling volunteer shifts for our upcoming signature collection drive in the Empire State. She is not involved in electoral strategy, nationally or in New York, said Stefanie Spear, a campaign spokesperson. (Palma is listed on the campaign's website as the co-host of an upcoming Kennedy fundraiser in Melville, New York.)

Spear went on to say that Palmas statements were made as a private citizen and did not reflect the Kennedy campaign's actual strategy, which she described as trying to win the White House with votes from former Trump and Biden supporters alike.
Beyond Americas southern border, a new wave of migrants to the United States is reshaping communities across the country, fueling economic growth in the heartland and upending local politics from its smallest towns to its largest cities.

In Columbia, South Carolina, voters say immigration has become their top priority in the upcoming presidential election, despite having one of the smallest migrant populations in the nation. In rural Kansas, state lawmakers are pushing for a border crackdown as local farmers beg Congress to pass bipartisan immigration reform that would resolve a desperate shortage of agricultural labor. And in central California, a migrant Latino population deeply rooted in the local culture is grappling with the impacts of a new generation of arrivals.

The historic migration surge has rewired American politics ahead of the 2024 election and defined the tenure of President Joe Bidens secretary of homeland security, Alejandro Mayorkas, who, despite a political onslaught from Republicans, maintains a rare optimism in Washington over the promise of immigration in America and the prospects for reform.

Immigration has been a place of political resort to really engender anger and emotions, Mayorkas said in an interview with McClatchy, but if people look at it fairly and squarely, this nation has prospered because of legal immigration.

The recent influx of migrants  the largest in modern American history  reflects not just a broken immigration system unable to handle record encounters at the border with Mexico, but a trend of instability across the Western Hemisphere that bears no signs of relief.

Polls suggest nearly half of Americans believe this new wave of migrants will make the country worse off in the long run. And yet, over the next decade, net migration is set to increase U.S. gross domestic product by roughly $7 trillion and increase revenues by $1 trillion, according to a recent report from the Congressional Budget Office.

To Mayorkas, the solutions are clear. And so are the politics.

There are leaders who want to deliver a solution for the American people, and there are officials who want to continue the problem to be able to really just communicate slogans, he said. We need solutions. The American people deserve solutions.

ROOT CAUSES AND LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Sitting down for an interview at DHS headquarters in Washington, Mayorkas pushed back against criticism that the Biden administration could do more on its own through executive action to resolve the crisis.

Weve issued regulations to strengthen our enforcement operations in a number of different ways. Our executive actions have been challenged in the courts, just as the prior administrations executive actions were challenged in the courts, he said. The enduring solution, the solution that will last and fix the system, is congressional action.

Earlier this year, Mayorkas worked closely with Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the Senate on a bipartisan package that, if passed, would have been the strictest and most sweeping reform to U.S. immigration law since the 1990s.

The bill, endorsed by the conservative National Border Patrol Council, would have provided funding for additional Customs and Border Protection personnel, detention beds, asylum officers and immigration judges. It would have given the president explicit authority to shut the border in the event of a concentrated surge, while raising the bar required for migrants to claim asylum.

It was a package that drew ire from immigration advocates on the progressive left, angered by the new standards it would require of asylum seekers. But the effort ultimately collapsed under pressure from the right, after former President Donald Trump directed Republican lawmakers to oppose it out of the gate, calling it a great gift to Democrats.

There was a bipartisan group of senators that delivered an extraordinary solution to the challenge of border security, just recently, and it provided unprecedented funding for our Department of Homeland Security, which we desperately need, Mayorkas said.

It was an extraordinary package, he said, and yet, it was killed before it even arrived.

There have also been sporadic, bipartisan efforts to peel off a separate bill that would address labor shortages in Americas farming and agriculture industry from the more politically daunting task of tackling border security. Reforms to the legal immigration system could open up new pathways to those seeking entry into the United States, slowing illegal crossings. But that, too, has faced resistance from Republicans adamant on a comprehensive bill.

The Biden administration is facing a far greater number of migrant arrivals than its predecessors, with U.S. officials on several occasions registering over 200,000 encounters a month. Yet the conditions and obstacles to fixing the countrys immigration system are familiar: a reliance on third parties, particularly Congress and foreign governments, to agree to coordinate a response.

Unlike previous surges, migrants arriving in large numbers throughout Bidens presidency have not come from countries with governments friendly to the United States  such as Guatemala, Mexico and El Salvador  but from those with virtually no diplomatic relations with Washington, such as Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba, further aggravating the administrations attempts to address root causes and facilitate deportations.

The number of displaced people throughout our hemisphere  in fact, throughout the world  is historic, Mayorkas said, noting, in one prime example, that nearly a third of Venezuelas 28 million nationals have fled the country.

Where we do not have strong diplomatic relationships, it is more difficult, he added.

The administration has worked with allies in the region to receive nationals from hostile countries deported from the United States. But U.S. officials fear some leaders in the region have been weaponizing immigration as a political tool against Washington, with Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro turning direct deportation flights on and off based on the status of his talks with the administration, and with Nicaraguas Daniel Ortega quietly facilitating migrant flows.

The root causes are well known: Economic despair, repressive regimes, the impacts of climate change, violence to name just four, Mayorkas said. The idea is to invest in these countries, trying to contribute to their well-being and their sense of safety and security, so that people do not feel compelled to flee their homes.

CHANGING ATTITUDES

The recent murder of a 22 year-old nursing student in Georgia and slaying of a 43 year-old former police officer in Florida, both allegedly at the hands of migrants, have fueled a national narrative belying the statistics that illegal aliens are fueling a spike in violent crime.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has embraced the narrative, referring to the phenomenon as migrant crime. It is a characterization that Mayorkas roundly rejects.

My immediate response is one for the victims, the families of the victims, the loved ones of the victims  obviously our hearts break, Mayorkas said. We also want to ensure that the perpetrators of the crimes are held accountable, and the full force of the law is brought to bear against them.

But, he added, the actions of criminals should not characterize the entire population of individuals who seek to arrive in the United States.

American attitudes toward immigration have evolved since the migrant surge became apparent in major U.S. cities  a phenomenon Mayorkas attributes to the Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, who he says has engaged in irresponsible public conduct for his program of bussing migrants across state lines without coordination with local officials at their destinations.

The number of individuals arriving at our border is at a significant level, and we are also dealing with a state official who is purposefully not communicating and collaborating with other state officials in an effort to create chaos and disorder, Mayorkas said, in a veiled reference to Abbott.

And yet, today, it is not just Republican voters who are telling pollsters that immigration is a priority, but Democrats as well.

What we need is a solution, he added, acknowledging bipartisan frustration with the ongoing crisis. We understand the strain on interior cities, of course, when they receive in an uncoordinated way  a deliberately uncoordinated way, migrants into their communities, and the financial burden that that imposes.

The Senates bipartisan immigration package, Mayorkas noted, would have provided financial aid to those interior cities to help absorb an increase in migrant arrivals.

I continue to be hopeful that it will pass, he said.

Republicans lawmakers have eyed Mayorkas as a prime target for investigation and impeachment ever since they took the House majority in 2022, sensing a political opening to spotlight the border crisis.

In February, amid bipartisan opposition, House GOP leadership secured a majority to impeach Mayorkas with just a single vote, charging him with high crimes and misdemeanors over claims that he willfully failed to uphold the nations immigration laws. He is the first cabinet secretary to face articles of impeachment in 148 years.

Tomorrow, House impeachment managers are scheduled to walk the articles over to the Senate, where a bipartisan majority is expected to dismiss them as baseless  possibly before a trial even begins.

The senators are going to fulfill their responsibility, he said. I am confident of that. I am confident in the job that I am doing, the focus that I have on the work.

I am not distracted by the impeachment proceedings, he added. There is too much work across the entire mission set of the Department of Homeland Security that can ill afford my distraction.
 Flash

China stands ready to work with neighboring countries to expand the convergence of interests, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing when answering a relevant query. According to media reports, April has witnessed a host of high-level visits from Southeast Asian countries to China. Indonesian President-elect Prabowo's visit to China was the first leg of his first overseas visit as President-elect. Last week, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Timor-Leste's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas, and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son respectively in Guangxi. This week, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat are visiting China.

"Leaders and foreign ministers from several Southeast Asian countries have visited China over the past few days, which demonstrates the great importance relevant countries attach to their relations with China," Mao said.

"Neighboring countries are China's priority in its diplomacy. China and Southeast Asian countries are good neighbors, good friends and good partners with a shared future," Mao said, adding China has engaged in friendly cooperation, enhanced mutual understanding and trust, and pursued common development and prosperity with neighboring countries in line with the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness guiding our neighborhood diplomacy.

According to Mao, China and ASEAN were each other's largest trading partners for the fourth consecutive year last year. In January and February this year, trade between China and ASEAN totaled 993.24 billion yuan, up by 8.1 percent.

Noting Southeast Asian countries are important partners for Belt and Road cooperation, Mao said a large number of cooperation projects, including the China-Laos Railway, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" between China and Malaysia, have boosted economic growth and benefited the people in the region.

Mutual visa exemption is realized between China and the three Southeast Asian countries of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, the spokesperson said, adding various events will be held during the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and build closer bond between the peoples of the two sides.

"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. We stand ready to work with neighboring countries to carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, practice the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, expand the convergence of interests, and jointly make Asia a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful, amicable and harmonious home for us all," Mao said.
Three suspects allegedly responsible for multiple armed robberies in San Bernardino County are in custody after a vehicle pursuit and a foot chase last month, authorities announced Monday.

The March 12 incident occurred as detectives with the Chino Police Department were following up on an armed robbery investigation and successfully tracked down a vehicle associated with the case, according to a CPD news release.

Authorities requested additional ground units and air support to help with the arrest. When the suspects refused to pull over, a vehicle pursuit was initiated. During the chase, one of the suspects exited the vehicle, discarded a gun and attempted to run.

Three armed robbery suspects were taken into custody after a pursuit where they tracked from the ground and air on March 12, 2024. (CPD)

Three armed robbery suspects were taken into custody after a pursuit where they tracked from the ground and air on March 12, 2024. (CPD)

Three armed robbery suspects were taken into custody after a pursuit where they tracked from the ground and air on March 12, 2024. (CPD)

Three armed robbery suspects were taken into custody after a pursuit where they tracked from the ground and air on March 12, 2024. (CPD)

Three armed robbery suspects were taken into custody after a pursuit where they tracked from the ground and air on March 12, 2024. (CPD)

Video of the pursuit captured from the air shows the suspects attempting to evade police in a white-colored vehicle when the driver pulls over and the suspect jumps out. He can be seen scaling a nearby fence and dropping into the parking lot of an apartment complex.

As the choppers camera follows, the suspect was seen trying to stash the gun on the patio of one of the apartments before eventually being apprehended by officers on foot.

With the assistance of one of our K9s and Ontario Police Air Support, the suspects were apprehended, the firearm was located, property taken from the robbery was recovered, police said.

No information on the identity of the three suspects was provided or exactly what felony charges they are facing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Asheville City Schools have highest rate of teachers quitting in NC; more than 30% left

Asheville City Schools teachers are quitting at a rate higher than any other school system in North Carolina, according to a recently released state report.

Teacher turnover at ACS was 30.7% from 2022-23, according to the State of the Teaching Profession in North Carolina, a report conducted by the Department of Public Instruction for the state legislature.

From March 2022 to March 2023, 98 of ACS's 319 teachers left the school system, the DPI report to the General Assembly said. The next highest attrition rate was 29.6% in the eastern Halifax County system, with 42 of 142 teachers leaving. Third-highest was Weldon City Schools at 28.3%, with 13 of 46 educators quitting.

Area teachers, parents and students participated in the Our Schools Deserve Funds Now protest at Vance Memorial in downtown Asheville January 15, 2020. The rally was organized by the Asheville Association of Educators.

Buncombe County Schools had a 16.1% attrition rate, with 257 of 1,599 teachers leaving.

ACS appeared successful in replacing many of the teachers, as the school system had a 1.2% vacancy rate, compared to the state average of 6.4%.

ACS spokesperson Kim Dechant did not respond to Citizen Times messages left April 8. The Citizen Times also reached out to School Board Chair George Sieburg and Vice Chair Amy Ray.

More: ACS votes to close Montford North Star, consolidate with Asheville Middle in 5-2 vote

Asheville's high rate comes during a markedly large jump in turnover statewide. North Carolina's attrition rate for all public schools was 11.5% last year, up from 7.8% for 2021-22.

"In general, N.C. teachers continue to remain teaching in the state and their respective LEAs (local educational agencies), but the 2022-23 report does indicate increases in both the attrition and mobility rates in N.C. public schools," the report said.

As for why they left, the biggest percentage, 48%, of N.C. teachers said they did so for "personal reasons," as opposed to other factors such as dismissals by school systems. The largest group of those, 17.2%, said it was a resignation "due to career change," followed by retirement "with full benefits."

In Asheville, 59.6% of departing educators said they left for personal reasons, the report said.

The Citizen Times reached out to Asheville City Schools Educators Association President Tim Lloyd. While the association operates somewhat like a teachers union, it is prevented by state law from engaging in collective bargaining, one of the most important powers of organized labor.

In spring of 2023, Asheville educators association members and members of Buncombe County Schools Educators Association made an organized push for a local supplement raise.

Teachers' salaries are paid by the state, with supplements in some places paid by local taxpayers. Facing statewide calls for an increase, the General Assembly in September 2023 approved a 7% raise in teachers' base pay over two years, with an additional 2% for bus drivers. A month later, Buncombe County Commissioners approved a tax increase to grow the local supplement. The tax rate rise of 1 cent per $100 of assessed value adds an extra $30 on an annual tax bill for home valued by the county at $300,000.

According to the fiscal year 2022-23 state salary schedule, a new teacher with a bachelor's degree must make a minimum of $37,000 annually, the state raises brought this up to $39,000 for 2023-24 and $41,000 for 2024-25.

With the ACS supplement and county supplement, a starting teacher salary at ACS for 2023-24 is $42,510, and a beginning teacher salary at BCS is $42,315.

More: West Asheville elementary school to close for a year; 'Shell-shocked,' parents say

Data: Buncombe County's Black youths disproportionately sent to criminal justice system

Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville City Schools have highest rate of teachers quitting in NC
A butterfly, life force, beautiful and brilliant.

Those were some of the words Shannon Hopkins chose to describe his daughter at the sentencing last month of the man who pleaded guilty to murdering her.

Its been just over two years since 24-year-old Mackenzie Mickey Hopkins was found dead, submerged in a bathtub, with her then 4-year-old daughter, Bella, found on the bed suffering from severe head trauma.

Their attacker, 32-year-old Jose E. Escalante-Corchado, reached a deal and pleaded guilty last month to the lesser charge of second-degree murder in her killing and to the charge of first-degree assault of her daughter.

A judge sentenced Escalante-Corchado to 30 years in a Missouri prison on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. Other charges of armed criminal action and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Shannon Hopkins said Mickeys family reached the agreement with the guidance of prosecutors. The case was set to go to trial this month, but prosecutors had told the family that because police had not found the weapons, they felt the judge presiding over the case likely would want the charge in Mickeys death reduced to second-degree murder. The maximum penalty if he were found guilty of that charge would be 25 years.

In the end, I guess we were satisfied that we did the best we could for Mickey and Bella, Hopkins said. I dont know that I will be completely satisfied or completely convinced that I  that we did the absolute best thing, but at the time, we felt this was something we needed to do.

But other aspects of the case still anger him and have him searching for answers, including the fact that two Kansas City police officers responded to Mackenzie Hopkins home on a 911 call and left without going inside 12 hours before she was found dead.

Loving mother, healthcare worker

Mackenzie Hopkins, the middle of three children, started her career in nursing homes. At the time of her death, she was working as a certified nursing assistant at North Kansas City Hospital and taking college courses to become a registered nurse.

She had deep feelings for anyone that she loved, anyone that was a friend of hers and it carried over to her job and the people that were in her charge, her father Shannon Hopkins said.

She was a natural mother, and when she had Bella, Mickey realized that she loved being a mom, Shannon Hopkins said.

She and her daughters father, Hector, split up but remained close. They had planned to co-parent their daughter. After living with her parents for about a year, Mickey decided to find a place for her and Bella to call their own.

Shannon Hopkins said he was concerned about her moving to a more urban area, but said Mickey was very independent and focused on raising Bella. The new location would also be closer to work.

She convinced me that she was a big girl and she could handle things, and I know that, so I eventually became okay with the situation, he said.

Two weeks before she was killed, Shannon Hopkins helped her move into the new house in the 7300 block of Wabash Avenue. He briefly met Escalante-Corchado, the boyfriend of one of Mickeys friends.

A photograph of the 7300 block of Wabash Avenue in Kansas City. On Jan. 15, 2022, Mackenzie Hopkins had recently moved in on the block when she was killed in her home.

On Jan. 15, 2022, the day of her murder, Mickey Hopkins had made plans to be with family. After not hearing from her, Shannon Hopkins tried calling around noon to see when she wanted to get together. There was no answer, but he wasnt worried because he knew she had been watching movies late. Plus, she had an eclectic schedule because of her job.

But as the afternoon progressed, Shannon Hopkins started to worry. Eventually, he and his younger daughter decided to check on them. It had snowed that day, so the going was slow.

Halfway there, Hopkins decided to call the police to do a welfare check. Officers arrived shortly before him. By then, it was nighttime, and the house was dark. They asked if Hopkins could open the door. As he put the key in, it pushed open. It wasnt locked.

Hopkins stepped in as police turned on their flashlights, revealing blood on the floor. His younger daughter screamed, and police pulled him outside.

Not satisfied with answers

During the investigation, detectives learned that police officers had responded to her home about 12 hours earlier in the day after a 911 call was placed from her cellphone. A call taker could hear the sound of a struggle and people fighting. The person who dialed 911 didnt terminate the call.

After going to the home, the two officers left without going inside.

Detectives told Hopkins family that the officers could not enter the house because of a policy change that came after the conviction of Eric DeValkenaere, a white Kansas City police detective found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2019 fatal shooting of 26-year-old Cameron Lamb, a Black man.

Police denied any changes in practice or policy were made in response to the DeValkenaere case, in which the former officer was faulted for going onto private property without probable cause. His conviction was upheld on appeal, and the Missouri Supreme Court declined to review it last month.

Shannon Hopkins said that police havent been forthcoming with what happened that morning and the officers specific actions.

Im not satisfied whatsoever about the answers that weve gotten, said Hopkins, who is working with a family attorney to see if they could get more answers on the officers actions.

Shannon Hopkins, left, and Mackenzie Hopkins, right, smile for a selfie photograph.

The Star requested the investigative file under the Missouri Sunshine Law, but was turned down because it is currently considered a closed record, a police spokeswoman said.

If appeals are still available for the person charged the case would remain closed per Missouri Sunshine law until any/all appeals are no longer available, said Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City Police Department.

Information regarding the actions of the officers who responded to the initial 911, including what the officers noted when they arrived, the steps they took to investigate the call and the reason they didnt inside, also is also a closed record for the same reason, Capt. Jake Becchina said Monday.

The information requested by The Star would be part of the ongoing investigation and as such not publicly available at this time, Becchina said.

The officers actions have left the Hopkins family wondering what would have happened if they had entered the home that morning. Could the officers have saved Mickeys life and prevented Bella from being injured?

Video from surveillance and traffic cameras allegedly showed Escalante-Corchado entering Hopkins backyard the morning of her murder. Fifteen minutes later, a 911 call was placed on her cellphone. Escalante-Corchado was seen running from the home one minute later.

Shortly after, he is seen entering a gas station convenience store at 70th Street and Prospect Avenue. After police left Hopkins home, he allegedly ran back to the house and went around back, according to court documents. He walked out two hours later.

Escalante-Corchado became a suspect after his girlfriend told detectives she wanted to go out the night before Hopkins was killed and used Hopkins as a cover story even though the two were not going out, according to court documents. The girlfriend also told police that when she returned home about midnight, Escalante-Corchado was not there.

As the case progressed toward trial, Hopkins family learned that Escalante-Corchado was an undocumented immigrant who was not in the U.S. legally. Shannon Hopkins said he believes his daughters killer should not have been in the country.

He believes that because there are so many legal immigrants in this country, wonderful people who have done what our law says that they must do to become legal residents of this country, that people who do not do that should not be here, he said.

Hopkins sees the murder of his daughter and brutal attack of his granddaughter as an argument as to why the nation needs to enforce its immigration laws. However, he doesnt necessarily believe that crossing an international border illegally makes someone more or less likely to commit crimes, he said.

The ONLY fact that I have to base my belief that SOME illegal immigrants commit murder is that (one) murdered my daughter and attempted to murder my granddaughter, he said in an email.

Studies, in fact, show that immigrants, regardless of status, are more law-abiding than native-born American citizens.

The Jackson County Prosecutors Office discussed Escalante-Corchados immigration status during mediation before the case went to trial, said spokesman Michael Mansur.

Escalante-Corchados immigration status was unknown at the time he was charged and was not a contributing factor in the states pursuit of the prosecution of this defendant, he said. The case was handled like any other, according to Mansur.

It was discussed simply as a collateral consequence of a guilty plea, Mansur said. At Escalante-Corchados sentencing and plea, the judge said he would not be able to protect Escalante-Corchado from any actions during or after his sentence was served due to his undocumented status, Hopkins said.

A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the agency would not release any information on Escalante-Corchado at this time.

Familys miracle

Bella, who spent several weeks in intensive care, is doing very well and now lives with her father, Hector, in Puerto Rico, Shannon Hopkins said.

Hector planned to stay in Kansas City to be around her extended family. At the same time, she had many cousins, aunts, uncles, and a grandmother in Puerto Rico.

But after about a year, Bella had negative experiences triggered by her memories. Hector tried counseling but decided it might be best if they made a new start, Hopkins said.

After speaking to his mother in Puerto Rico, Hector sat with the Hopkins to discuss the matter.

It was a very difficult decision for him to make, and he wanted us to work together with him to decide whether it was the right decision or not, Hopkins said.

Initially, they were unsure, but after they had some time to think about it, they told Hector that they would support his decision. They just wanted to make sure she could visit on a regular basis.

We talk to her almost daily, Hopkins said.

After six months there, she was versed in Spanish and is now bilingual and speaks fluently.

Shes amazing, said Hopkins.

They had been told while she was in the hospital that she would likely have some learning disabilities and have difficulty learning to walk and talk again. But after 30 days in the hospital, she was doing all of those things at the level that she had before the injuries.

Hopkins family is proud of Bella, Hector, and his family for helping raise her.

Despite the physical injuries and the traumatic memories, shes just a normal happy-go-lucky six-year-old girl on most days, Hopkins said.

Obviously, she has some bad days, and those will probably not ever stop happening, but shes just our familys miracle, Hopkins said.

The Stars Bill Lukitsch provided information for this story.
Attorney fills vacant seat on Oklahoma County's jail trust after being sworn in Monday

Shelly A. Perkins is the newest member of Oklahoma County's jail trust. Shown is the Oklahoma County seal.

Shelly A. Perkins attended her first meeting as a member of Oklahoma County's jail trust Monday.

Perkins, an attorney and community advocate, was sworn in by Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson before the meeting began. Perkins will take a seat on the trust previously held by Sue Ann Arnall.

Trust Chairman Joe Allbaugh welcomed her at the meeting's start.

"You will enjoy this. There will be good days and bad days, but we all survive," Allbaugh said.

Trust officials said Perkins brings a wealth of experience to the post. She established an independent law practice nearly three years ago after nearly four years working as a lawyer for Resolution Legal Group.

Before that, she worked for Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt for a year, preparing supervisory antitrust opinions for Oklahoma agencies, boards and commissions and serving as director of the agency's communications and public relations division.

More: Sue Ann Arnall's resignation leaves lingering questions about jail funding problems

Prior to working for the attorney general, Perkins managed a nonprofit team and worked in the areas of estate planning and business transactions at DeBee Gilchrist, now DeBee Clark, where she first started working as an intern while in law school. Perkins also previously served as trust officer and assistant general counsel at Legacy Bank.

Before embarking on her legal career, Perkins spent nearly a decade in politics, working for U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts Jr. in both his Norman and Washington, D.C., congressional offices and in several capacities on his 1998 and 2000 campaigns.

Perkins ran Jeff Clouds statewide campaign for a seat on Oklahoma's Corporation Commission in 2002 and subsequently served as his administrative aide while Cloud held the office.

Earlier, she served as an executive director for a nonprofit, issue advocacy organization and also managed, consulted and fundraised for numerous federal, state and legislative candidates and political action committees from 2005 to 2009.

She earned her law degree from Oklahoma City University in 2007.

In a release issued Monday by the trust, Perkins said she looked forward to working with trust colleagues to oversee the detention center.

"My diverse experiences in law, non-profit management, and advocacy have prepared me well for this important responsibility, and I am committed to advocating for fairness, equity, and accountability within our criminal justice system," she said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Attorney Shelly Perkins on Monday joined the Oklahoma County jail trust
Baltimores Latino community comes together to grieve victims of bridge collapse: They dont take care of us

Nearly two weeks have passed since the Baltimore Key Bridge collapsed into the cold waters of the Patapsco River.

Eight men were on top of the structure when a cargo ship named Dali slammed into one of its columns on 26 March, sending at least seven of the men into the water below. One man was immediately saved from the river while another was rescued by nearby police.

Six of the men died. They came from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico. At the time of the collapse, theyd been tasked with repairing potholes on the bridge.

Last month, officials retrieved the bodies of 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes and 26-year-old Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera. On Friday, authorities found the body of Maynor Suazo Sandoval, a 38-year-old man from Honduras. The bodies of three other men, Miguel Luna, Jose Mynor Lopez, and Carlos Hernandez remain missing.

As families wait for updates, the nearby Latino community has come together to offer their support. Fernando Sajche, 35, a nearby resident of Baltimore, helped erect a memorial to the victims at an intersection leading to the bridge, which has now been closed off to police.

The memorial consists of six crosses that represent the lives of each of the men, with hard hats and vis vests placed onto them. Bottles of Modelo and prayer candles are spread throughout. A sign reading Find the missing has been placed at the centre.

Were trying to show the community that were here to support everybody, he said. We want to show to this country who we are.

Roberto Marquez, an artist living in Texas, drove up after the tragedy to paint a mural next to the memorial.

These families that are suffering right now need to have somebody beside them, he said. He stated that he wanted to donate the piece to an organisation or person willing to preserve it to honour the lives of the men.

On Saturday, the community held a candlelit vigil to honour the victims.

Mr Sajche said that hed known Luna , one of the victims, because of his familys food truck business that served Salvadorian food. He said he went to the spot every week with his friends but hasnt been since the tragedy. He described the food as delicious, referring to a fried fish tray he particularly enjoyed.

Another one of the men at the vigil, Miguel Velasquez, 41, said that hed played soccer with Luna. Theyd greet each other and ask about the others lives. At times, hed see Luna at the food truck.

He called the man a good person, adding that the community profoundly feels the loss of his life. With the little that were able to do, were here to support their families, even if its with granite and sand.

Keely Aranibar, a local funeral director, attended the vigil in an effort to get in touch with the relatives of the victims. She said she wanted to offer to direct their funeral for free despite not having a personal connection with any of the victims.

A funeral home she works with called Hubbard Funeral Home has expressed interest in helping the families offset the costs of the services. Daniel Simmons, the director, said hes worried about the men being forgotten in this type of tragedy.

The Spanish community, were very united, Ms Aranibar said. It doesnt matter if youre from Central America, South America, we speak the same language. Yes, we might have different accents. But theyre our people. We share the same blood.

She added: This is family to me.

Mourners come together to honour the six deceased victims of the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse on 6 April. (Julia Saqui/The Independent)

Jose Luis Juarez, 41, of Guatemala, got a lump in his throat while looking at the memorial. His family helped supply food for the event. Hes been in the construction industry for more than 10 years.

He said he wouldnt help rebuild the bridge for a million dollars, stating the work is too dangerous. He added that he cant begin to comprehend the pain the families are going through.

Imagine all the days that have passed and they still havent found the bodies of the missing, he said. You imagine how the families are suffering. I have kids. I dont want that to happen to them.

Authorities called off recovery operations for the victims a day after the collapse, citing safety concerns for divers. Officials said divers would be sent out to look for remains once debris from the bridge collapse has been cleared. The body of Maynor Suazo Sandoval was discovered after that decision was made.

Its expected that the channel will reopen to its normal capacity in May. If remains are found accidentally, all operations will stop and divers will recover the bodies. Still, theyre not actively searching for the deceased.

Mr Juarez said that migrants in the US are protected less than American workers. Its expected that Latino workers will make up a large part of the construction industry that goes to work rebuilding the bridge. According to the most recent US Bureau of Labor data, Latinos make up 30 per cent of the industry and suffer 14 per cent of work-related fatalities.

I think they dont take care of us, he said. Thats what I think and its the truth.

Boots placed on one of the crosses at the memorial honouring the victims of the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse. (Julia Saqui/The Independent)
Bar security guard shot to death after turning drunken man away, management says

A security guard is dead after he was shot outside a Louisiana bar, police said.

Officers were called at around 11:11 p.m. Sunday, April 7, about a shooting in the Mid-City neighborhood of New Orleans, police said in a news release.

They found a man who had been shot, police said. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Family members identified him as Darriel King, 53, WWL-TV reported. King was working security at the Wits Inn Bar and Kitchen and was killed after reportedly turning a man away, according to the station.

Police didnt say why the man was denied entry, but a spokesperson for the bar said he was extremely intoxicated and underage. The business has a 30-and-over age requirement, the spokesperson told McClatchy News.

King and the man got into a verbal dispute before the suspect pulled out a gun and shot him in the chest, WGNO reported.

Robert Packnett, a spokesperson for the bar, said King should be hailed a hero because he likely saved several lives that night.

He put his life on the line, Packnett told McClatchy News in a phone interview. Theres no telling what this young man wouldve done if he was allowed on the premises.

The accused shooter sped away in a car before officers arrived, WVUE reported.

Police didnt release additional details but said the investigation is ongoing.

Man killed pregnant woman, then was seen on video dragging body to alley, IL cops say

Son knocks on moms door, stabs her 70 times, Florida cops say. She got on my nerves

Mans dying words lead to arrest of friend accused of gunning him down, Texas cops say
A California appeals court ruled Tuesday that Vince Fong, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's chosen successor, can remain on the House ballot while also running for the state Legislature, sidestepping a legal and political headache for the Republican candidate.

Fong's place competing in two races was prompted by McCarthys abrupt retirement announcement last December, which came weeks before the candidate filing deadline. That set off a cascade of political maneuvers and launched a legal battle over a novel election predicament of Fong competing in two races at once.

Fong placed first in March's regular primary for a full two-year term as well as a special election to fill out the rest of McCarthy's term, establishing him as the clear front-runner. He also won 100 percent of the vote in an uncontested Assembly race.

But Democratic Secretary of State Shirley Weber challenged that outcome by arguing Fong should not have been allowed to run for Congress, giving the Third Circuit Court of Appeals a choice between permitting Fong's dual candidacy or upending the election mid-cycle.

The legal fight has inspired Sacramento lawmakers to introduce bills that seek to avoid a repeat by tweaking California's election process.

A three-judge panel upheld a lower court's December decision by opting to let Fong stay the course. During oral arguments last week, appeals judges appeared amenable to an argument from Fong's attorney that it would be undemocratic to intervene in a House race after the primary results were already settled.

Weber's office argued that letting Fong run in two races at once could allow "absurd" results like one candidate running for every House seat in California. Judge Laurie Earl dismissed that as a purely hypothetical scenario in her Tuesday ruling.

"We acknowledge that anomalous results could flow from the conclusion we reach today," she wrote. "But whatever we think of the Secretarys example in the abstract, that is not what happened in this case."

Fong lauded the ruling in a statement as a "victory for the voters of the 20th Congressional District, who have now had their right to select the candidate of their choice upheld by the courts, twice."

"This decision puts to end the unnecessary and ill-advised campaign in Sacramento to deprive voters of a real choice in this election," Fong said.

Weber rebuked the court in a statement, saying the ruling "leaves the door open to chaos, gamesmanship and voter disenfranchisement, and disadvantages other candidates." She did not rule out appealing to the California Supreme Court and urged Sacramento to act.

"This ruling highlights the need for legislative attention," Weber said.
California lawmakers have allocated billions of dollars to address homelessness in the state in recent years, but a new audit finds that the state is not doing enough to evaluate how that money is being spent.

The report comes a little over a year after the California Legislatures Joint Legislative Audit Committee asked the State Auditors Office to look into how state funding for homelessness is being spent.

In a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom and the leaders of the State Senate and Assembly, State Auditor Grant Parks wrote that in general, this report concludes that the state must do more to assess the cost-effectiveness of its homelessness programs.

The audit, which was requested by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, was critical of how the state, through the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) has handled state dollars.

The state lacks current information on the ongoing costs and outcomes of its homelessness programs, because Cal ICH has not consistently tracked and evaluated the States efforts to prevent and end homelessness, Parks write in the introduction of the report.

The audit noted that although Cal ICH reported last year financial information covering fiscal years 2018-19 through 2020-21, it has not continued to track and report this data since that time, despite the significant amount of additional funding the state awarded to these efforts in the past two years.

Parks noted that the audit looked at five state-funded plans to tackle homelessness, but only two of them had enough data for the auditor to determine that they were cost-effective: the Homekey program by the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the CalWORKS Housing Support Program by the Department of Social Services.

The remaining three programs  the State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP); the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP); and the Encampment Resolution Funding Program (ERF)  lacked sufficient data for the auditor to determine their cost-effectiveness.

SRAP was established in 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, to provide financial assistance to renters facing eviction. The Department of Housing and Community Development did not collect clear eviction outcome data, according to the audit.

HHAP was established in 2019, to provide funding for homeless services, including providing interim housing.

Although Cal ICH collects some data when a person exits an HHAPfunded service, those data are insufficient for evaluating the programs costeffectiveness, the audit noted.

As for ERF, thats the program established in 2021 that was intended to get people out of encampments and into stable housing.

Cal ICH has not collected complete outcome data for this program, and the expenditure data it has collected may be unreliable, the audit said.

The audit made a number of recommendations, to both the Legislature and Cal ICH.

The report urged state lawmakers to amend state law to require Cal ICH, but no later than March 2025, to mandate reporting by state agencies of costs and outcomes of state homelessness programs.

The report adds that Cal ICH should develop and publish online a scorecard on the homelessness programs under its umbrella that would enable the Legislature and other policymakers to better understand each programs specific costs and outcomes.

In response to the report, Cal ICH Executive Officer Meghan Marshall wrote that Cal ICH generally agrees with the recommendation to publish a report but that limited existing resources and authorities limit its ability to implement this recommendation.

Marshall referred to a 2021 law that required Cal ICH to conduct a one-time assessment of homeless funding and outcomes, for which it received $5.6 million to complete the task.

Additional resources would be needed to conduct and update the same or similar analysis on an ongoing basis, Marshall wrote.

California Republican lawmakers said the report highlights the states failure to deal with a worsening homelessness crisis.

California is facing a concerning paradox: despite an exorbitant amount of dollars spent, the states homeless population is not slowing down, said Sen. Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks, who is vice chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee and one of the lawmakers who requested the audit. These audit results are a wake-up call for a shift toward solutions that prioritize self-sufficiency and cost effectiveness.

On the Democratic side, Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, another lawmaker who requested the audit, released a statement praising the audit, which he said highlights the need for improved data and greater transparency at both the state and local levels.

Unfortunately, there is a balkanized approach to data collection and outcomes, with no centralized system for tracking our investments. This data desert leaves the Legislature and the public without a system of checks and balances to answer basic questions about the effectiveness of our programs, Cortese said.
A new website funded by conservatives in Washington state takes a variety of jabs at GOP gubernatorial hopeful Semi Bird.

The website, Bird-docs.com, went live last week, and lays out Birds past transgressions including a 2018 judgment against his construction company for deficiencies and defects that remained unpaid until November 2023, a year after Bird announced his run for governor.

The website also highlights liens totaling nearly $30,000 for child support in arrears that were paid six years after the first lien was filed. McClatchy verified the records through a request in February.

In February, the Tri-City Herald first reported that Bird was once arrested for felony gun theft after misplacing his law enforcement issued revolver. Bird, who lives in Richland, told the Herald the incident was a misunderstanding.

Hes also been publicly criticized about his 1984 court martial for striking a sergeant and his illegal vote on COVID masking that got him recalled in 2023 from the Richland School Board before hed finished his first elected term.

Bird told McClatchy in an April 3 email he finds it disappointing that character assassination has become the tool of choice for the Republican Party establishment elite during a time when the state is struggling with issues like homelessness, lawlessness, a failing education system, and over taxation without proper representation.

Unfortunately, this is not a surprise to me, Bird added.

He pointed out an open letter signed in January by Restore Washington co-founder Mike McKee in which McKee encouraged Bird to drop out of the gubernatorial race and instead run for Lieutenant Governor.

Your reputation would remain intact, and this would also be evidence that you are a team player for the Republicans, the letter read.

Bird pointed to a passage in the letter where McKee told him, The financial resources required to mount a respectable race will be in the millions, and it is becoming clear that the large money donors have picked a different candidate to support this year.

Bird has so far raised just over $420,000 in his campaign, according to the Public Disclosure Commission, while his GOP opponent Dave Reichert of Auburn has raked in over $2 million.

Like so many others, I have made mistakes in my distant past and have learned from them, Bird said in his email to McClatchy. I was born without civil rights, yet I have achieved the American dream. Why? Because this is the nation where anyone who is willing to work hard and persevere, can achieve what they believe.

In a livestream event Thursday Bird also pushed back on the attacks.

The website was paid for by the Concerned Taxpayer Accountability Center. Steve Gordon, executive director for the organization, told McClatchy in a phone call Monday that the website was a way to collect all of the information floating around that spoke to Semis background.

It seemed like a good opportunity to inform folks especially with the upcoming convention, Gordon said.

The 2024 Washington State Republican Party Convention will take place April 18-20 in Spokane. Delegates will decide who they will endorse for the statewide campaign at the event.
Kristie Sitar and Jayne Roohr received the 2023 Land Steward of the Year award at the Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District annual meeting.

EASTERN UPPER PENINSULA  On April 4, the Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District recognized the efforts of several Eastern Upper Peninsula environmentalists during its 75th annual meeting.

Every year, the conservation district brings community members together to celebrate environmental efforts in the area and to recognize people who have made an impact in the community over the past year.

During the event at Les Cheneaux Distillers in Cedarville, Connor Crank, project administrator for the institute of Water Research at Michigan State University, was the keynote speaker. She spoke about how local farmers can lead efforts in conservation and how to network groups to collaborate on these goals.

Lyle and Krystal Harter were recognized as the 2023 Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program Landowner of the Year at the Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District annual meeting.

District officials also presented three awards to individuals and groups for their efforts over the past year.

The 2023 Land Steward of the Year was awarded to Jayne Roohr and Kristie Sitar from the Newberry Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. Roohr and Sitar have been members of the district for years and supported invasive species surveying and helped restore wild rice plants after flooding.

The two also supported a program to bring the community together for a volunteer day treating invasive autumn olive shrubs and replacing them with 100 mast-producing trees.

Roohr and Sitar were founders and lead organizers in the creation and launch of the Shore-to-Shore Birding Trail in 2022. The Shore-to-Shore Birding Trail began in August 2022 with guided birding tours at Whitefish Point and prizes and giveaways at the Paradise Wild Blueberry Festival.

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our coverage

The Hessel School House was recognized as the 2023 Cooperator of the Year at the Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District annual meeting.

The 2023 Cooperator of the Year was presented to Hessel School House Avery Arts & Nature Center. The schoolhouse has been a partner with the conservation district for years and the two groups have been involved in a number of programs together.

In 2023, the Hessel School House was awarded a Conservation Grant from CLMCD to host their conservation education series. This series provided 13 programs open to the public and taught 193 attendees.

The schoolhouse is also a regular host of the Aldo Leopold Festival, which is planned with the help of the conservation district.

The 2023 Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program Landowner of the Year was presented to Lyle and Krystal Harter of Harter Family Farms in Rudyard. The Harters were first verified with MAEAP in 2017 and have been active participants ever since.

In addition, the two are committed to continuing this education by attending and hosting educational events that promote conservation.

 Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District announces 2023 awards
Four-year-old Autumn Joy checks out the eclipse as people gathered to watch Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, at the Gateway Trail in Kings Mountain.

Dozens of visitors gathered at the Kings Mountain Gateway Trail Monday afternoon for a chance to see the 2024 solar eclipse.

The Gateway Trail partnered with the Cleveland County Astronomy Society to locate the best spot to set up a large telescope, which was open for visitors to look through near the parking lot.

The eclipse began at 1:45, but reached its peak around 3:15 p.m.

Six-year-old Annabelle Collins gives a thumbs-up to Don Brooks after looking through a telescope at the eclipse as people gathered to watch Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, at the Gateway Trail in Kings Mountain.

There was concern about cloud cover in the area during the event, according to a previous interview with National Weather Service Meteorologist Doug Outlaw.

Arlene Roberts and others watch as the moon passes between the Earth and the sun Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, at the Gateway Trail in Kings Mountain.

In the interview Outlaw said, "Shelby (and the region) is going to be about 80 to 85%," he said. "It's not going to be anything like in 2017 where we had a total eclipse pass through the area."

Visitors ranged from babies and children to seniors, and came from as far as Gaffney, South Carolina, to view the eclipse.

Karen Grigg, Connie Stowe and Lynn Byrd said they have seen at least two eclipses in their lives

The three recounted creating their own eclipse glasses for eclipses in their youth before todays safe eclipse viewing glasses were widely available.

Other visitors came to the event to get a pair of viewing glasses which were provided by Albemarle Lithium. For those who missed the eclipse, another partial eclipse will occur in four years, but the next total eclipse will not happen in the Carolinas until 2078, according to Gastonias Schiele Museum.

Karen Sotelo looks through a telescope set up by members of the Cleveland County Astronomical Society as people gathered to watch the eclipse Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, at the Gateway Trail in Kings Mountain.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Dozens flock to Kings Mountain to view 2024 solar eclipse
The corruption trial of a former senior Ecuadorian official charged with laundering more than $10 million in bribes through Miamis banking system and real estate market may not feature a household name as a defendant.

But the Brazilian company accused of paying off Ecuadors ex-comptroller, Carlos Ramon Polit, is one of the biggest engineering and construction firms in the world. Its name is Odebrecht, which admitted to a massive bribery scheme across the Americas in 2016 and agreed to pay $2.6 billion in a record corruption settlement with the Justice Department.

Polits trial, a spin-off of that high-profile scandal, started Tuesday with opening statements in Miami federal court, offering for the first time the prosecution of an Odebrecht-linked defendant on conspiracy and money laundering charges in the United States.

Polit, 73, who was arrested in Miami in March 2022, was portrayed by federal prosecutors as an influential Ecuadorian bureaucrat who extorted the conglomerate for millions of dollars in cash bribes in exchange for making more than $100 million in government fines on a hydroelectric power-plant project disappear.

He was one of the most powerful people in Ecuador  someone you didnt want as an enemy, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Berger told the 12-person jury in a packed federal courtroom. Millions of dollars of these bribes were laundered into Miami with the help of the defendants son.

In the end, Odebrecht got what it paid for: the removal of those $100 million in fines, said Berger, noting that two of the Brazilian firms former executives who received non-prosecution deals with the U.S. government are key witnesses against Polit.

Polits son, John, a Miami banker, has not been charged with the father, who is standing trial alone. It remains unclear whether John Polit will be charged in the aftermath of the three-week trial, but his name came up repeatedly during opening statements Tuesday in connection with the alleged bribery payments moving through Panamanian and Miami banking accounts through intermediary companies into several local real estate deals, including the purchase of an office building and a luxury home in exclusive Cocoplum in Coral Gables.

Carlos Polits defense attorney, Howard Srebnick, tried to distance his client from the alleged bribery-fueled money laundering scheme.

Carlos Ramon Polit did not launder a single dollar into Miami, Srebnick told the jurors, describing his client as a former private businessman who joined Ecuadors government as its comptroller in 2010. Not a single dollar bill was found in the possession of Carlos Ramon Polit.

Srebnick said the real criminals are the two former Odebrecht executives who cut plea deals in Brazil and non-prosecution agreements with the U.S. government for their testimony against Polit.

They blame Carlos Polit, so they dont go to jail, Srebnick told the jurors.

Polit, who after his arrest was released on an $18 million bond and lives in a condo high-rise along the Miami River, wielded tremendous sway over Odebrecht after it was found to have committed contractural and technical violations on the $320 million power-plant project built near an active volcano in central Ecuador called Minas de San Francisco, according to federal prosecutors.

Polits position, which was created to combat the fraudulent use of government funds, required him to sign off on public budgets that prosecutors say enabled him to demand more than $10 million in bribery payments from Odebrecht. In exchange, prosecutors contend, Polit made government fines go away and allow the engineering firm to continue working in Ecuador.

The case, probed by Homeland Security Investigations, is built upon an electronic trail of financial records and cooperating witnesses.

One of them took the witness stand after opening statements Tuesday. Jose Santos, who worked as an engineering and construction executive at Odebrecht for 38 years, testified that he was asked to resolve the companys huge fines with the Ecuadorian government over the power-plant fiasco and then found himself being extorted by Polit.

Santos said Polit offered Odebrecht an ultimatum: pay comptroller an initial $6 million bribe to make the fines disappear or never work in Ecuador again.

Asked by a prosecutor if he paid Polit a series of cash bribes, Santos testified: Yes, I did.

Santos also acknowledged that he pleaded guilty in Brazil in 2016 to the Polit-related bribery charges and was sentenced to more than two years of house arrest and community service along with a fine. But he said he had not begun the sentence.

Wanted in Ecuador

Polit also faces an extradition request by Ecuador, where he was tried and convicted in absentia because he had left for Miami before the 2018 trial in his native country. His son, John, who had also worked as securities broker in Miami, was convicted in Ecuador of being an accomplice in connection with his fathers case. But his conviction in Ecuador was overturned in 2020.

Five years ago, McClatchy-Miami Herald and other news media collaborated on an investigative project that zeroed in on Odebrechts parallel off-books accounting system. Leaked documents showed links between Polits Miami-based son and a U.S. shell company, Ventures Overseas LLC, which became a pass-through for the alleged bribery payments by Odebrecht.

The Polits were the focus of a McClatchy-Miami Herald investigation that showed the son had taken on mortgages on several pricey properties in the Miami area, including a luxurious home in Cocoplum, that had earlier been purchased outright.

Venture Overseas was at the end of a chain of financial transfers between anonymous shell companies that began with one controlled by Odebrecht S.A. called Kleinfeld Services. Company officials have admitted Kleinfeld was one of several used in an off-books accounting system called Drousys that was used to pay bribes in exchange for public works contracts.

The Polits were convicted in Ecuador in 2018 on extortion charges that involved receiving bribe money from Kleinfeld. They insisted they were the targets of political persecution.

Berger, the prosecutor, highlighted all of these companies and connections during his opening statement on Tuesday, pointing out that the Odebrecht executive, Santos, asked Polit what he was doing with all the bribery cash payments.

According to the prosecutor, Polit told Santos: My son in Miami makes the money disappear.
President Joe Biden led swift and sweeping condemnation on the political left and right of Arizonas Supreme Court ruling Tuesday that broadly upholds a territorial-era ban on nearly all abortions and threatens to rock the political races at the top of the state's 2024 ballot.

Biden called the decision an outgrowth of an extreme agenda he blamed on Republicans and tied it to a period before Arizona was a state and before women were permitted to vote. Arizona Democrats sought to pin the ruling on contemporary Republicans, even as some in the GOP distanced themselves from the decision.

Republican U.S. Senate contender Kari Lake, who supported the 1864 law two years ago, on Tuesday said it is abundantly clear that the pre-statehood law is out of step with Arizonans. She aligned herself with former President Donald Trump, who has called for state-level laws on the issue rather than a national one.

Kari Lake answers questions during a town hall in Sun City West on April 2, 2024. Lake, who supported the 1864 abortion law two years ago, on Tuesday said it is abundantly clear that the pre-statehood law is out of step with Arizonans."

I wholeheartedly agree with President Trump  this is a very personal issue that should be determined by each individual state and her people, Lake said. I oppose todays ruling, and I am calling on (Gov.) Katie Hobbs and the State Legislature to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support.

Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego, answers questions during a town hall in Goodyear on April 3, 2024. Gallego, a long-time opponent of anti-abortion efforts, criticized the April 9, 2024, rulling by the Arizona Supreme Court protecting a territorial-era abortion laws.

Lakes Democratic rival, U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, called Lake part of an extremist political group forcing themselves into doctors offices and ripping away the right for women to make their own healthcare decisions.

Rep. Juan Ciscomani speaking during the Lucid unveiling ceremony Jan. 24, 2024, in Casa Grande, Arizona. Ciscomani, a staunch stupporter of most anti-abortion efforts, called the April 9, 2024, decison by the state supreme court a disaster for women and providers.

U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., likely faces a difficult reelection challenge from former state Sen. Kirsten Engel, D-Tucson, whom Ciscomani narrowly beat in 2022. Ciscomani previously has been adamant that abortion should be left to the states rather than the federal government. But on Tuesday, he called the decision a disaster for women and providers.

U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., represents the 1st Congressional District. Schweikert also criticized the state's supreme court ruling saying, "this issue should be decided by Arizonas, not legistlated from the bench."

U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., the other Arizona member of Congress seen as vulnerable to an electoral challenge, also distanced himself from the decision, writing "this issue should be decided by Arizonans, not legislated from the bench."

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., at the Arizona Pipe Trade Joint Apprenticeship Center on December 1, 2023. Kelly said the decision by the Arizona Supeme Court to uphold an 1864 territorial abortion law sets women's rights "back two centuries."

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said the ruling sets womens rights in our state back two centuries.

U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., cast the ruling as intrusive on womens health and dangerous.

A womans health care choices should be between her, her family, and her doctor. Todays decision by the Arizona Supreme Court endangers womens health, safety, and well-being, she said in a statement.

Arizonans should not be forced to travel out of state just to receive basic, sometimes even life-saving, health care. Doctors and hospitals should not be punished for providing health care to their patients.

Sen Kyrsten Sinema, I-Arizona, speaks to reporters during a vote in the Senate Chambers of the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 25, 2024. Sinema said the Arizona Supreme Court's ruling to uphold the territorial-era abortion law "endangers women's health, safety and well-being."

Political observers saw the ruling as a boost to Democratic prospects in a state that now becomes a national symbol of the rollback from a half-century of federal protections for abortion rights that were swept away by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022.

Back to 1864! Arizona just became a bit less of a swing state this fall, Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginias Center for Politics, wrote in a social media post. Maybe a lot more than a bit. Big plus for Biden and Dem Senate candidate Ruben Gallego.

Tony Cani, a Democratic strategist based in Arizona, also predicted the issue will be a liability for Republicans in federal races. He pointed to Lake as an example.

Kari Lake has previously  even though shes going to try and pretend like she didnt  she has previously been very clear about the fact that she supports this particular law," Cani said.

Its gonna play out in congressional races, too, he continued. Theres no way that they can hide from this.

Constantin Querard, a GOP political consultant, lauded the state's supreme court decision upholding an 1864 abortion law.

Constantin Querard, a GOP political consultant, takes a milder view. He noted that a ballot measure to change the Arizona Constitution to protect abortion access is already on track to come before voters in November. That would already have juiced turnout on the issue, likely in favor of the Democrats, he argued.

Abortion is literally already on the ballot, he said. (Tuesday's decision) could be significant in a very close race, but I dont know if its ultimately more than a one, two percent kind of shift.

Still, Arizona obviously features a lot of close races these days," he said. "One, two percent, that could be a big deal."

Querard, unlike Cani, believes Lakes shifting stance on abortion wont bear much on the outcome of the race. He pointed out that Gallego has shifted his rhetoric on certain issues, such as refocusing his rhetoric on immigration that appeals to a more centrist audience than his left-leaning congressional district.

Theres a certain amount of shifting that goes on. Campaigns will make a big deal out of it. I dont know that the voters necessarily register it, he said.

Theres nothing wrong with representing your states wishes, even if they differ from your personal wishes. To a certain degree, thats what representative government is supposed to be.

For Lake, Tuesdays statement may be hard to reconcile with her views when she ran for governor in 2022.

In an interview with KFYI (550 AM) on the day the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling erasing federal abortion rights came down, Lake welcomed the decision and looked hopeful to the state enforcing its territorial law.

Im incredibly thrilled that we are going to have a great law thats already on the books. I believe its (Arizona Revised Statutes) 1336-03 that will prohibit abortion in Arizona except to save the life of a mother. I think were going to be paving the way and setting course for other states to follow.

Trump has modified his views on the issue as well. Before running for politics, he expressed grudging support for abortion rights. During his 2016 campaign, he said women who get an abortion should face some form of punishment.

In office, he said he supported a ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. On Monday, he said it should be up to states.

My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both. And whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kari Lake and Ruben Gallego react to Arizona's seismic abortion ruling
As my wife and I spent three years in Baltimore in the early 1970s while I went to law school, the collapse of their Francis Scott Key bridge in the middle of the night on March 26 got my attention for a couple of reasons.

First, I grew into considerable affection for Baltimore through my years there. Second, that long-ago experience reverberated in my mind with what happened to the crew working on that ill-fated bridge, and my curiosity about the composition of that crew.

When I completed my Army duty and arrived in Baltimore in 1970 the city was in an early stage of revitalization, especially in its inner harbor area. Corporate development had constructed one large new building in that area. Years later when my wife and I returned, that inner harbor was surrounded by new buildings and a particularly impressive aquarium.

Yet, in 1970 our law school building surrounded Edgar Allen Poes grave, and symbolically his poetry seemed to have a dark and chilling effect on the area. I had the opportunity to work for an investment banking firm one summer. Its a safe bet that virtually all the bond traders I worked with lived outside of the city. The diversity was of ideology. Then I shifted to working for Legal Aid where the diversity was not so much of ideology, but of skin color. Coming from being drafted and serving in the enlisted ranks of the Army, the diversity there was both ideology and race. The contrast from the blue-blooded banking firm to the solidly Democratic legal aid was enlightening.

Larry Little

Uniquely, Legal Aid also helped me to see multiple sides of our centuries-old gender struggles. When I was assigned my first case, I represented a man whose wife was seeking a divorce under Marylands fault divorce laws that I had studied under a fine instructor, Professor John Ester. The couple had no children and the wife had substantial income and assets, while my client was unemployed and had no assets. When the judge awarded her alimony my client and I objected. The judge had my client handcuffed in front of me and sent to jail.

However, at Legal Aid most of my clients were in a different situation. I tried to help many single mothers with numerous children who were then trapped in the still-rampant-today conundrum of making more money from public assistance than they could from a job which would have prevented them from receiving any form of public assistance. Fathers were only occasional visitors.

That thought about absent fathers brings me back to our present time and the six men lost on that bridge on March 26. From all accounts they were far from absent fathers, they were working the hazardous night shift on that bridge, bringing home money to their families  all immigrants.

Several of them were profiled in The Baltimore Sun on April 3. The Baltimore Sun article noted that Miguel Luna immigrated from El Salvador 19 years ago and worked construction when he wasnt operating a food truck with his wife. Friends described Luna as a hardworking family man, who had three children, and was also a grandfather, the story read. They further described Alejandro Hernandez as born in Mexico and who left behind a wife and four children. They wrote that Maynor Suazo, from Honduras, loved visiting parks and beaches with his wife and young daughter.

It seems those fathers on the bridge are prime examples of what initiatives such as Baltimores Center for Urban Families (CFUF) aim to achieve for underprivileged fathers. On a relatively recent trip to Baltimore, I was able to attend one of their forums and I was impressed with what that non-profit was trying to achieve. Their monograph entitled 25 Years of Seeding Legacies for the Future, is worth examination. As noted therein by their founder, Joseph Jones, Jr., I stepped into my fear[and] was guided by faith and directed by fate, to establish the non-profit to create intergenerational wealth.

To me, the creation of wealth through stable families with fathers present, hard-working and involved with children, enables a worthwhile present life and an invaluable legacy. However, it requires stepping into fear, as those fathers surely were doing that night.

Sadly, but inspiring, is what the Wall Street Journal in an article on March 28 brought home about one of the hard-working fathers on that bridge who didnt come home. Maynor Suazo 5-year-old daughter, Alexa, didnt yet know what had happened to her father. She was glued to her dad. Her dad was everything to her.

Alexa, your father is a true hero. Enjoy the beach with your mom, and skip stones into the water to remember your dad.

Contact Larry Little at larrylittle46@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Fathers on the bridge in Baltimore
Homeless response

On the same day California Gov. Gavin Newsome led an effort resulting in passage of Proposition 1, which allocates $6.4 billion to construct homeless housing along with funding for mental health care and drug treatment, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law House Bill 1365, which prohibits municipalities from allowing people to sleep or camp in public places.

Studies have consistently shown for years that Floridas criminalization of homelessness is far more expensive than Californias compassionate approach.

Doug Mayer,

president,

Stone Soup Development,

Coral Gables

Radio waves

I am sorry that a lawsuit is being brought against my all-time favorite radio station, WLRN. I should have voiced my concern earlier when I read that Sundial had been discontinued and that its host, Carlos Frias and his two producers, had been dismissed.

Many entities have joined Floridas misguided governor and the Republican-led legislature to wipe out diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). I would not have thought WLRN would join that bandwagon  which the station has vehemently denied.

As a member of a minority group, I know how it feels to be shut out. I hope this matter can be amicably resolved and WLRN can once again broadcast Sundial. I hope other sustaining members will let their voices be heard.

Ollie Daniels,

Pembroke Pines

Left or right?

Re: Andres Oppenheimers March 31 opinion, Mileis diplomatic clash with Colombia was part of a feud. My interview was just the trigger. Oppenheimers left-right lens needs adjusting.

Where do we put a pro-Trump libertarian like Steve Bannon or Argentinas President Javier Milei on the political spectrum? If Milei is left and Bannon is right, how can both be proponents of Hungarian dictator Victor Orban, the darling of the American right, who is hostile to democratic principles, condemns immigrants, rigs elections and courts and has nationalized Hungarys natural gas industry?

What do we label Orban, Milei or Bannon? And is democracy left or right wing?

Historically, leftists supported the expansion of political freedoms, favoring the once excluded. The right favored the exclusive rule of kings. Hitlers national socialist party favored traditional German male hierarchy, made peace with the Catholic Center Party, outlawed labor unions and supported excessive profit-taking. Hitler was on both sides of the political spectrum.

Today, fresh thinkers are advocating new terms, inclusion and exclusion, to replace left and right.

Excluding means limiting discussions of, or actions taken, to eliminate discrimination based on race, sex, class, religion or culture. Also excluded is the opposition from political participation, and condemning other religions and cultures. Censorship is exclusionary, including art, literature, journalism, sociology, history and music.

Inclusion means expanding rights, allowing freedom of movement between national boundaries, growing civil and human rights, favoring free speech, while promoting representative governments. No person can be excluded because of race, sex, gender affiliation, or cultural differences. Inclusion means open access to cultural enrichment, enlightened ideals and the freedom to exchange art, music, newspapers and literature.

Does Floridas government exclude those who want to expand democratic ideals, including all those who were left out at one time or another? Does it define democracy as an exclusive right by rejecting an inclusive compromise?

Phil Beasley,

Plantation

Spirit of radio

Young Ron Brewer, a longtime South Florida radio personality, made a massive impact along with his longtime morning show partner Paul Castronovo, first on the former WSHE, then on Big 105.9 (WBGG).

Young Ron passed away on April 4. Im so sorry that hes gone. My condolences to Castronovo.

Paul Bacon,

Hallandale Beach

Scotts values

In his April 7 Miami Herald online op-ed, Floridians have a chance to stand up for democracy, Sen. Rick Scott tried to convince readers he is a defender of democracy and freedom. In reality, he was an insurrectionist who tried to overthrow the results of the 2020 election after all states certified their votes. He has endorsed Donald Trump for president knowing Trump has close ties to Russia and has openly planned to be a dictator after re-election.

Scott has voted against funding to Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel and against helping our own border patrol. If re-elected, Scott wants to end Social Security, Medicare and the public school system. Apparently, he thinks those programs are too socialist. He opposes a womans right to medical privacy.

Under Democrat leadership, the United States has record job growth, record low unemployment, record stock market growth and no riots in the streets. Former Rep. Debbie Murcasel-Powell will protect democracy and freedom while being a much better senator than Scott ever could.

Daniel Spotts,

Ocean Ridge

Safe clipping

If news reports are accurate, millions of Americans are taking GLP-1 type drugs (like Ozempic) to enhance their weight loss efforts. A prescription is required based on a diagnosis of diabetes, obesity, hypertension or some combination of same. The cost varies upon insurance coverage or self-pay.

However, one needs patience and information on disposal of injection pens. When my sharps container was full after three months, I sought to dispose of it safely and legally. Not so easily done! Three pharmacies, a police department, a fire station and a Google search left me still holding the proverbial bag.

Thanks to Captain Joe Locke of Bay Harbor Islands Police, I learned that the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County operates four take-back Sharps Disposal locations, one of which is at Little Haiti Health Center. There, a hazmat technician flashed a huge red plastic bag and instructed me to place the container within.

Apparently, people have been disposing of used sharps in household trash. Miami-Dade County offered another and safer solution. The county, however, really must do a better job of publicizing this information.

Norma A. Orovitz,

Bay Harbor Islands

Promoting nice

I have found an interesting way to promote courteous driving in Miami. I purchased a digital sign on Amazon.com that I then placed on the inside rear window of my SUV.

When a driver allows me into a lane or does anything else that helps me, I simply push a button and the battery operated digital sign flashes the word Thanks for 10 seconds.

This is such a nice way to let people know you appreciated them being courteous and might make others be more courteous. This might bring more awareness to drivers on our roads.

Morey Moss,

Miami

Maritime liability

The April 7 story, Bridge collapse could be largest financial maritime loss, addresses one issue arising from the collapse of Baltimores Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The container ship MV Dali, which rammed the bridge, is owned, managed and registered in Singapore and employs officers and crews from India. The vessel is representative of a worldwide trend referred to politely in business parlance as open registry, but characterized commonly and more accurately as flag of convenience shipping  distinguished by the easy exploitation of cheap multinational labor, homeporting overseas, maximum profit and minimal if any regulation.

This international trade practice began after World War II, when Texaco opened a tanker port in Monrovia, Liberia, then spread quickly to Panama and other Third World countries. Today, many U.S. businesses own or charter such ships that carry nearly all our imports and exports.

The encouraging news is that these ships are not called upon by the U.S. Department of Defense to serve in national security emergencies. However, four government-owned ships  all standing by and staffed by civilian American merchant mariners  were among the ships unable to depart Baltimore through the blocked channel.

As for potentially passing the cost of bridge reconstruction to the Dalis owner and manager, the 1851 Limitation of Liability Act can take years to plod through and settlement precedents indicate inadequate financial penalty.

Paul Doell,

Hollywood
Students in the French dual-language immersion program at Axis International Academy in Fort Collins sing during a ceremony at the school Monday to celebrate the school earning the Label of FrancEducation from the French Ministry of Education and Youth.

Students danced and sang songs in French on Monday to celebrate official recognition by the French government of the language immersion program at Axis International Academy, a Fort Collins charter school.

The recognition, through the awarding of the Label of FrancEducation, is the first for a school in Northern Colorado, said Dimitri Demianenko, deputy counsel general of the French Consulate in Los Angeles.

The certification through the French Ministry of Education and Youth is a recognition of the schools alignment in its dual-immersion program for students in French and English with the required curriculum at the appropriate grade levels with those necessary to earn a French Baccalaureate, an internationally recognized high school diploma, according to an informational link on the website of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the United States.

Students should be able to seamlessly transfer to schools in France or elsewhere in the world with the Label of FrancEducation. Teachers will have access to that network as well, enabling them to participate in exchange programs among schools throughout the world, Demianenko said. There are more than 580 schools in 139 countries with the certification, including two others in Colorado  Global Village Academy at its locations in Aurora and Parker and the Denver branch of Alliance Francais.

This label is a testament to the success of the administration and teachers, all of whom are dedicated to the importance of offering immersion education to students who benefit from a true dual-language education in English and French, Demianenko said.  And after all the efforts from your school administration and community, it is only natural that the French government would wish to formally recognize the quality of your program by rewarding you the FrancEducation Label.

Fifth and sixth graders in the French dual-language immersion program at Axis International Academy in Fort Collins sing during a ceremony at the school on Monday to celebrate the school earning the Label of FrancEducation from the French Ministry of Education and Youth.

Demianenko was one of a handful of dignitaries on hand for the ceremony at Axis, a tuition-free public charter school for students in preschool through sixth grade authorized through the statewide Charter School Institute. Terry Croy Lewis, executive director of the Colorado Charter School Institute, and Angelika Schroeder, the Colorado State Board of Education member representing the 2nd Congressional District, each gave brief congratulatory speeches in person, while Fort Collins Mayor Jeni Arndt, Colorado State Rep. Andrew Boesenecker and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis recorded video versions that were shared with the 50 or so parents and community members in attendance.

Axis leases space for its school on the southeast corner of Drake Road and Lemay Avenue from Clearwater Church, which announced Monday it was selling the building it has been in for 42 years to Mill City Church. Jenny Whitaker, a co-founder and headmaster of Axis International Academy, said the sale would not impact the school, only change its landlord.

Axis opened in the fall of 2019. The school offers dual-language instruction in French, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese and has 283 students this year, according to the Colorado Department of Education's annual enrollment count. Classes are taught in English for half of each day and in the foreign language for the other half.

Axis was recently recognized for Performance with Distinction from the Charter School Institute and received the Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award, according to a news release.

There were 47 students from Axis four French classes  preschool/kindergarten, first/second grade, third/fourth grade and fifth/sixth grade  represented at the ceremony, each performing one or two songs from French-speaking countries with their class, then coming together for a finale.

I know many of you came to Axis not knowing any French, and here you are speaking in French and thinking in French, and, when you go back to your classrooms, youre learning to read and write in cursive in French, Whitaker told the students.

Its really amazing. Being bilingual is a superpower. It opens doors to new opportunities, new friendships and new perspectives.

Reporter Kelly Lyell covers education, breaking news, some sports and other topics of interest for the Coloradoan. Contact him at kellylyell@coloradoan.com, x.com/KellyLyell and facebook.com/KellyLyell.news.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: French government certifies Axis International's dual-language program
An updated rendering of a future academic health center through a partnership between FSU and TMH.

Florida State University and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare recently signed a memorandum of understanding to seal their partnership for a future academic health center in Tallahassee, slated to open in fall 2026.

Through the agreement, a new FSU Health TMH Trustees will oversee decisions related to the academic health center and a medical campus underway in Panama City Beach on behalf of the university and hospital.

The joint centers governance structure will consist of five voting trustees appointed by FSU, including President Richard McCullough, who will serve as chair of the board; four additional voting trustees appointed by TMH, with TMH President and CEO Mark OBryant as a nonvoting member, and a vice provost for FSU Health as another nonvoting member.

FSU President Richard McCullough.

The memorandum of understanding, or MOU, is an important step in solidifying our relationship with TMH and establishing the basic operating and governance structure for our partnership as part of the FSU Health initiative, McCullough said in a prepared statement.

FSU secured $125 million from the Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis two years ago to build the health center, which will be a five-story building of up to 130,000 square feet.

The state-of-the-art facility  to be located on the northeast sector of TMHs campus off Centerville Road  is expected to help FSU and TMH work toward their main goal of transforming the future of health care across the region during a time where North Florida continues to face a crucial shortage of professionals in the field.

Mark O'Bryant, president and CEO Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.

FSU and TMHs long-term partnership also consists of other initiatives such as the establishment of residency programs for psychiatry, internal medicine and general surgery.

TMH has been working toward this goal of partnering with FSU to create an academic health center for almost 15 years, OBryant said in a release. This is a monumental step forward in our relationship, and Im incredibly excited and proud of the work our teams have done.

The not-for-profit board of trustees responsibilities will include supervising major strategic, research and clinical education decisions that need to be made regarding the new academic health center and the FSU Health initiative in Panama City Beach.

The memorandum says McCullough will automatically be the chair of the board for six years while each regular trustee  community members from the Tallahassee and Panama City Beach region  will serve a two-year term. A vice chair, who will also serve for two years, will be elected by the board.

Related news: FSU, TMH designate land, form community advisory group for new academic health center

In addition, FSU and TMH will explore combining all the Tallahassee-based residency programs under a single Graduate Medical Education office with guidance from the board and will also develop Centers of Excellence in various clinical areas.

For the flow of funds, FSU will be responsible for the funding of education while TMH will spearhead the funding of clinical programs and services, according to the signed agreement.

As FSU and TMH hope for the center to be complete in the next two years, the conceptual design of the structure is in its final stages and the site is being cleared for construction to begin.

Read the memorandum of understanding between FSU and TMH:

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU, TMH sign memorandum of understanding for academic health center
Park rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are searching for a missing man whose car was found in the park on April 8.

Jacob Riggs, 35, was last seen in Maynardville, Tennessee, on April 7, according to an April 9 news release from the park. After his vehicle was found, park rangers are searching for him near Townsend Wye, Tremont and Cades Cove areas of the park.

Riggs' car was found near Townsend in the park, spokesperson Katie Liming told the Citizen Times. Townsend, Tennessee, is situated in Tucklaleechee Cove at a gateway to the Great Smokies. The Townsend visitor center is located about 60 miles south of the Maynardville.

"I don't have any additional information at this time," Liming said over email.

The release described Riggs as a white male, with black hair and a dark beard, and brown eyes. He is 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds.

Park rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are searching for Jacob Riggs, 35, whose car was found in the park after he was last seen in Tennessee April 7.

Several organizations are helping the National Park Service in the search and more resources will arrive April 10.

Anyone who saw Riggs or has information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the National Park Service in the following ways:

Call the NPS Tip Line 888-653-0009.

Online at go.nps.gov/SubmitATip.

Through email at nps_isb@nps.gov.

And for emergencies, dial 911.

The Great Smokies, which sprawls across a half-million acres of rugged, forested terrain in Western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, is the most-visited national park, with some 13.3 million visitors in 2023.

According to previous Citizen Times reporting, there are about 100 search and rescue operations conducted in the Smokies each year.

More: Active field search in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for missing Florida man ended

More: NC Medical Examiner: Great Smoky Mountains cause of 2022 death revealed for Bryce Evans

This story will be updated.

Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers searching for missing man
Gadsden State Community College's fledgling police department has its third patrol vehicle  at a cost of $1.

The City of Hokes Bluff provided the fully-equipped 2015 Ford Explorer to the college for a buck, according to a news release, after the vehicle was declared surplus by the City Council.

It's already in law enforcement trim, with a cage, lights, radar and sirens.

Kathy Murphy, president of Gadsden State Community College, and Jay Freeman, chief of the school's Police and Public Safety Department, survey the fully-equipped patrol vehicle given to the college for $1 from the City of Hokes Bluff.

Mayor Scott Reeves said in the release that Hokes Bluff is among Alabama's safest cities, and we want Gadsden State to be as safe as our community.

He added, We have children from Hokes Bluff who continue their education at Gadsden State. Their safety and security are a priority for us.

GSCC President Kathy Murphy and Police Chief Jay Freeman took possession of the Explorer on March 21. They were joined by Hokes Bluff Police Chief Tyler Roe and GSCC Police Sgts. Colton Harden and David Bankson (Bankson also is a Hokes Bluff City Council member.)

We love the relationship we are building with Hokes Bluff, Murphy said in the release. The safety and security of our students is important to us, which is why we are building a strong police department. Anyone who comes alongside us in partnership is very much appreciated.

Freeman thanked Hokes Bluff for what he called a generous gift, and mentioned Reeves, Roe and the City Council in particular.

He said the Explorer will play a vital role in serving all five of our campuses and supporting various Gadsden State events. We look forward to making lasting impacts that benefit our College and our community.

GSCC also has four public safety vehicles, according to the release. Its police department was launched last June; Freeman oversees 12 full-time and seven part-time employees, both certified law enforcement officers and security personnel.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Gadsden State police department gets fully-equipped patrol vehicle
The act of falsely reporting an emergency with the intent of sending police to an elected official's home could soon become a felony in Minnesota.

So-called "swatting" incidents are already a gross misdemeanor, but state legislators want to make the act a felony when it's directed at elected officials, judges, prosecuting attorneys, correctional facility employees and police officers.

"[Swatting] puts those first responders at risk. It puts anyone that may be in that home at risk," GOP House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, who's sponsoring the bill, said during a recent committee hearing. "We also know that swatting would divert our first responders  away from what could be a true incident."

GOP state Sen. Warren Limmer is sponsoring the bill in the Senate. The bill is headed for a final floor vote in both legislative chambers.

Public officials across the country have been targeted by swatting incidents, as have judges overseeing cases against former President Donald Trump. In January, someone tried to draw police and a hostage negotiator to the home of Minnesota Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer by claiming a murder had taken place there.

"Tonight my family and I were the target of a 'swatting' incident involving a 911 prank call that wrongly diverted a police presence to my home," Emmer posted on X, formerly Twitter. "Sadly, this illegal and dangerous scheme is being used nationwide to target elected officials."

Other high-profile legislators, such as Republicans U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, have reported similar incidents.

In December, at least 34 schools and Jewish facilities in Minnesota received fake shooting and bombing threats in what authorities said were coordinated swatting incidents.

The false calls have sometimes turned deadly. A Kansas man was shot and killed by police in 2017 after a prankster summoned authorities to his house.

Under the bill at the Legislature, those found guilty of swatting could face up to one year in prison and a $5,000 fine.

During the recent House committee hearing, state Rep. Dave Pinto, DFL-St. Paul, said the bill was important for democracy.

"I kind of view this as protecting those who protect us," he said.
The Biden administration is seeking to intervene in a major Supreme Court case on criminalizing homelessness, thrusting itself into a high-profile legal battle over Western states policies toward the homeless and whether they violate the Constitutions ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

In a motion filed on Thursday, the Justice Department asked to participate in the courts upcoming oral arguments in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. The federal government is not a direct party to the case, but the court sometimes allows the solicitor general to brief and argue in cases that implicate major federal interests even if they are not a plaintiff or defendant.

The Justice Departments move underscores the importance of the courts upcoming arguments in the case. Whether the Supreme Court upholds or strikes down the city ordinances could have major implications nationwide for how cities and states address homelessness. Beyond that specific issue, it could also give the justices an opportunity to narrow or widen the scope of the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

In the Johnson case, the plaintiffs are challenging a series of ordinances passed by the small Oregon city of Grants Pass in 2013. The ordinances broadly ban people from camping on public property, which it defines to include practically any form of sleeping under temporary shelter. Failure to abide by the ordinance can incur hundreds of dollars in fines. After more than two violations, police can arrest defendants for criminal trespass, which is punished by up to 30 days in jail. The city does not have permanent homeless shelters.

A group of homeless residents sued the city in 2018 to block enforcement of the ordinances against them, invoking the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment. They argued that the ordinances criminalized them for the status of homelessness. Since humans are biologically required to sleep at some point, and since the homeless residents are involuntarily homeless, they argued that it would be unconstitutional to punish them for acts that they cannot help but commit.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the citys ordinances were foreclosed by the appeals courts landmark 2019 decision in Martin v. City of Boise. In Martin, a group of homeless plaintiffs had sued Idahos largest city to stop it from enforcing criminal provisions that made it a misdemeanor to camp in public places. They argued that since the citys shelters only allowed them to stay for limited periods of time and they had nowhere else to go, Boise was effectively criminalizing them for having to sleep somewhere.

A three-judge appeals panel ultimately agreed with them. It cited the Supreme Courts ruling in Robinson v. California in 1967, where the high court struck down a state law that made it a criminal offense to be addicted to narcotics. The court, led by Justice Potter Stewart, concluded that it would be cruel and unusual to punish a person for having a medical conditionin this case, addiction. Later anti-drug laws focused on criminalizing distribution, production, and use instead. The Supreme Court ultimately declined to review Martin in 2020.

Grants Pass claimed that the Ninth Circuits ruling in Martin had near-apocalyptic consequences for the West Coast. Major cities have come under sweeping classwide injunctions, they warned in their brief for the justices. Encampments have multiplied unchecked throughout the West because generally applicable restrictions on public camping no longer play their critical deterrent role, resulting in spikes in violent crime, drug overdoses, disease, fires, and hazardous waste.

While Martin has affected how Western cities address homelessness, the issue existed well before the Ninth Circuits decision. Homelessness is a more persistent and visible issue in California and other Western states than anywhere else in the country. Most of the problem can be traced to regional housing policies: Researchers have found that the overwhelming majority of homeless people in California already lived there prior to losing their last housing and that many of them were unable to afford to buy or rent new housing near their jobs when they became homeless.

Their argument has drawn supporting friend of the court briefs from a variety of local governments and state officials throughout the Western states. The city of Los Angeles, which formally supported neither side in the case, argued that the Johnson ruling appears to have limited the Citys ability to take individual circumstances into account and foreclosed the opportunity for prosecutorial discretion, which it said is necessary to address the crisis.

The city of San Francisco, which was also technically neutral, told the justices that a total ban on public sleeping would indeed be unconstitutional. But the city also urged the court to overturn the Ninth Circuits ruling in Johnson, which has left San Francisco unable to enforce the will of San Francisco voters, unable to allow conscientious City employees to do their jobs, and unable to protect its public spaces. More than a dozen similar friend of the court briefs make similar arguments.

The administration agreed with some aspects of the Ninth Circuits ruling and disagreed with others. (It also described itself as formally arguing in support of neither side.) In court filings, the federal government said it agreed with the appeals courts ruling that the Eighth Amendment prohibits state and local officials from effectively criminalizing the status of homelessness by completely barring individuals without access to shelter from residing in the jurisdiction.

For nearly three decades, the United States has taken the position that laws prohibiting sleeping in public at all times and in all places violate the Robinson principle as applied to individuals who have no access to shelter, the Justice Department claimed. As applied to those individuals, the laws effectively criminalize the status of homelessness because they make it impossible for someone with that status to reside in the jurisdiction without violating the law.

The Justice Department also argued that even under Robinson, states and cities have a wide range of tools to address homelessness in their communities. But it parted ways with the Ninth Circuits ruling in Johnson because the court imposed broad injunctive relief instead of a more particularized inquiry into the circumstances of the individuals to whom those ordinances may be applied. It also criticized the panel for declining to define what it means to be involuntarily homeless and the use of aggregate statistics to determine whether the plaintiffs fell into that category.

Grants Pass did not directly ask the court to overturn Robinson; it thinks it can prevail on other grounds. At the same time, the city wouldnt miss the 1967 precedent if it were gone: It referred to Robinson as an aberration, urged the justices not to extend its reasoning further, and argued that if the justices think it is necessary to overturn Robinson to decide the case, then it should do so.

The city instead argued for a narrower reading of the Eighth Amendment, claiming that Johnson did not reflect the original public understanding of it. Their originalist argument centered on founding-era poor laws and vagrancy laws, and it primarily cited a 1999 dissenting opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas where he claimed that laws prohibiting loitering and vagrancy have been a fixture of Anglo-American law at least since the time of the Norman Conquest.

Standing opposite them are a coalition of nonprofit groups, academics, and religious groups that urge the court to uphold the lower courts reasoning. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, for example, disputed the originalist argument against the ordinances raised by the city. The bishops noted that the churchs teachings forbid criminalizing homelessness and that these principles are embedded in western tradition and shared by the Founding generation. More specifically, the bishops also addressed founding-era vagrancy laws in their broader social and legal context.

Rather than reflexively punish those without shelter in an attempt to remove them from their communities, as the city has done here, those laws called for [l]ocal communities [to] support their poor who were unable to work, they noted, quoting from historical scholarship. In fact, consistent with Catholic sentiment, all colonial poor laws acknowledged a public responsibility to provide for the impoverished neighbor who was unable to work. Far from supporting the city, the historical statutory schemes governing the poor further evidence the Founding eras deep-seated respect for human dignity.

Other groups focused on scholarly research that found that criminalizing homelessness does not actually address the problem; they noted that it may actually exacerbate the issue. A brief filed by the American Psychiatric Association, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and other associated groups warned that the citys ordinances may be contributing to the problem that they are purportedly designed to address.

A study of people experiencing homelessness in Seattle found that individuals with outstanding legal debt spent approximately two more years without stable housing than those without legal debt, the organizations told the court, citing academic studies. In addition, formerly incarcerated individuals are almost 10 times more likely to be homeless than the general public, and even a single period of incarceration makes a person seven times as likely to experience homelessness.

The court may ultimately decide the case on more narrow grounds, as the Justice Department is arguing in its briefs. A ruling on the substance of the Eighth Amendment claim could also signal how the courts six-justice conservative majority will approach the amendments scope in the future. In the 2019 case Timbs v. Indiana, the justices ruled that the Eighth Amendments ban on excessive fines also applies to state and local governments. But the court has also taken a much more hostile approach to defendants in recent years in death penalty cases, which make up the bulk of the justices Eighth Amendment caseload.

The justices will likely decide whether to let the Justice Department participate in oral arguments on Friday. The arguments themselves are already scheduled for April 22. While the courts ruling wont come until before the end of June, those arguments will indicate whether the justices are ready to adopt the Ninth Circuits approach on a national levelor whether they will overturn Johnson and Martin to bring it back in line with the rest of the countrys approach.
Iranian official accuses US of giving Israel green light to attack consulate in Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria  Irans foreign minister Monday accused the United States of giving Israel the green light for a strike on its consulate building in Syria that killed seven Iranian military officials including two generals.

Hossein Amirabdollahian reiterated Tehrans vows that it will respond to the attack, widely blamed on Israel, that appeared to signify an escalation of Israels targeting of military officials from Iran, which supports militant groups fighting Israel in Gaza, and along its border with Lebanon.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an address Monday reiterated the Iran-backed groups support for a Tehran military response to the attack that killed Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior military official in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, and worsened fears of the war spiraling into the rest of the Middle East.

Since the war in Gaza began six months ago, clashes have increased between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah. Hamas, which rules Gaza and attacked Israel on Oct. 7, is also backed by Iran, as well as an umbrella group of Iraqi militias targeting U.S. military bases and positions in Syria and Iraq.

Though Israel has regularly conducted strikes targeting Iranian military officials and allies, Zahedis death was the most significant blow for Tehran since a U.S. drone targeted and killed Quds Force chief Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020 in Baghdad.

Id like to say with a very loud voice from here in Damascus that America has a responsibility in what happened and must be held responsible, Amirabdollahian told reporters in Damascus during a visit where he met his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, who condemned both the strike and Israels offensive in Gaza. Amirabdollahian also met President Bashar Assad, with whom he discussed Gaza and the wider situation in the region, a statement from Assads office said.

The Iranian foreign minister, who earlier that day inaugurated the opening of a new consular section in a nearby building, justified his claims by saying that Washington and two European countries did not condemn the attack on the diplomatic building.

He said that failure to condemn the attack indicates that Washington had given the green light to Israel to commit this crime.

The Biden administration has insisted that it had no advance knowledge of the airstrike. Washington is Israels vital military ally.

Israel, which rarely acknowledges strikes against Iranian targets, said it had no comment on the strike in the Syrian capital. However, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said last week that the U.S. has assessed Israel was responsible.

Initially after the strikes, Iranian state media said Zahedi led the Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria until 2016.

Then, in a public address Monday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said Zahedi was a key figure for the Lebanese group, and had three four-year stints in the tiny Mediterranean country.

Nasrallah, like Syria, and other key allies of Tehran, have said they remain committed to backing Iran.

Its a natural right for Iran. Its natural for the Islamic Republic to conduct this response (to the consulate attack), Nasrallah said.

Nasrallah said Zahedis first involvement was until 2002, overseeing Israels withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and helping Hezbollah scale up. Zahedis second term covered some of the fiercest fighting in Syrias uprising turned civil war, where Tehran and Russia played a key role in backing Assad against opposition forces. Zahedis final stint began in 2020 and ended when he was killed.

Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops have clashed along the tense Lebanon-Israel border since Oct. 8, the day after the Hamas attack on southern Israel.

The Hezbollah leader said that the moment the clashes began, Zahedi reportedly wanted to join Hezbollah militants on the front line but wasnt permitted to do so.

Earlier Monday, Israeli airstrikes over southern Lebanon killed Ali Ahmad Hussein, an elite commander of Hezbollahs secretive Radwan Force. Hezbollah announced Husseins death, but did not give any details on the circumstances or his role with the group in line with how it makes public the deaths of its members.

The killing of Hussein, one of the most senior militants slain thus far, came ahead of the Iranian foreign ministers visit to Syria.

Israel considers Hezbollah its most serious immediate threat, estimating it has some 150,000 rockets and missiles, including precision-guided missiles that can hit anywhere in Israel. The group, which has thousands of battle-hardened fighters who participated in Syrias 12-year conflict, also has different types of military drones.

In January, Israeli jets struck and killed another elite Hezbollah commander from the Radwan Force, Wissam al-Tawil, who fought with the group for decades and took part in some of its biggest battles.

Hezbollah says it will stop firing rockets once a ceasefire is reached in the Gaza Strip that would end the Israel-Hamas war. Israeli officials have been demanding that the Radwan Force withdraw from the border area in order for tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to return home.

Washington and Paris have been scrambling to find a diplomatic resolution to halt the fighting along the Lebanon-Israel border, hoping to prevent a new all-out war between Hezbollah and Israel since a month-long war in the summer of 2006.

The risk of war spreading to Lebanon has worsened existing political tensions within the country between Hezbollah and their most vocal opponent, the nationalist Christian Lebanese Forces party.

Matters worsened Monday when the Lebanese military announced the death of a Lebanese Forces local official who had been kidnapped a day earlier in northern Lebanon. The Lebanese Army said they detained three Syrians accused in the kidnapping and killing of Pascale Suleiman as they tried to steal his car.

The Lebanese Forces party cast doubt on the armys findings, saying they believed it was a political assassination.

Nasrallah in his speech slammed members of the Christian party and allies who had accused Hezbollah of being involved in the kidnapping. calling it baseless and dangerous rhetoric.
Joyce Vise, known for Nashville community service, 'sharing her blessings' has died at 69

In Nashville, Joyce Vise was known as a woman of service with varied interests and a track record that included work with the Temple congregation, Cumberland University in Lebanon and the Swan Ball gala benefitting Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, to name a few.

She was dedicated to community service," Vise's siblings, David Vise and Judy Schaengold, said in a statement Monday, three days after her death at the age of 69. "She wanted to be involved and focused on ways she could help the community in one way or another."

The daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Vise taught in Metro Nashville Public Schools before she became a communications and community relations director for the district in 1986. She was also involved with Family and Childrens Services in Nashville, her siblings said.

Joyce Vise poses with the lightweight Torah her family donated in memory of her father Harry Vise at The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom 2016, in Nashville, Tenn.

Family legacy was an important part of her life.

Both of Joyce Vise's grandfathers were imprisoned at Nazi concentration camps in Germany during World War II. Her father, Harry Vise, managed to escape from a window and eventually made it across the border into Holland after a raid on the family's home in Germany.

After arriving in the U.S., the family settled in Clarksville. Harry Vise eventually founded the Texas Boot Co. in Lebanon and joined Cumberland University's Board of Trust.

Cumberland's Doris & Harry Vise University Library is named for Joyce Vise's parents. During her life, she continued to support of the school in multiple ways, spokesperson Joey Clark said.

In 2020, Joyce Vise spoke at Cumberland during an International Holocaust Remembrance Day event.

Joyce Vise was a friend to me, personally, and certainly to Cumberland University, Cumberland President Paul Stumb said. ...We are reminded of the many ways that she and her wonderful family have positively impacted the lives of so many students. Her legacy and that of the Vise family will live on in perpetuity here at Cumberland University."

Former Vice President Al Gore talks to Joyce Vise as they walk towards the unveiling of the Cordell Hull Statue at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn., Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.

Joyce Vise was also a proud member of The Temple and Jewish community, The Temple Senior Rabbi Michael Danziger said. Her devotion to faith led her to continue the chant of sacred blessings during Rosh Hashanah at The Temple, which her father had done for decades before his death in 2015.

She was involved a lot as a planner and donor and was really a sustainer of lots of different efforts in town and felt very strongly about being helpful and sharing her blessings, Danziger said.

A graveside service has been scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, at Temple Cemetery, 2001 15th Ave. N., Nashville.

Shiva will follow at 6 p.m., in the chapel of The Temple with a reception to follow.

Vise is survived by her sister, Judy (Mark) Schaengold, brother David (Lori) Vise and four nieces.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Temple, 5015 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN., 37205.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Middle Tennessee community service leader Joyce Vise dies at 69
In the coming weeks, Tarrant County residents will begin seeing billboards, ads and social media messages with a troubling message: Your kids may not be doing as well in school as you think.

A group of about 70 local nonprofits, government agencies and businesses are rallying behind a messaging campaign designed to convince parents to ask for more information on their kids academic performance.

The campaign, called Go Beyond Grades, is a part of a broader effort by the national nonprofit Learning Heroes to call attention to a mismatch between the grades students get on their report cards and how state assessments indicate theyre doing academically. David Park, the groups senior vice president, said parents need better information about how their kids are doing, especially as many students continue to struggle to make up the ground they lost during the pandemic.

A lot of kids still arent caught up after COVID, he said. It took an enormous toll on learning.

Report cards dont paint complete picture of academic progress

A poll conducted by Learning Heroes in February and March indicated that parents of Tarrant County public school students almost universally think their kids are doing well academically. Of those surveyed, 96% thought their kids were at or above grade level in reading, and 92% thought they were at or above grade level in math.

But state test scores tell a different story. Across the county, just 52% of public school students scored on grade level or better on last springs State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR. Just 43% scored on grade level or better in math.

That problem isnt unique to Fort Worth. In a national survey conducted last fall, about 90% of parents said they thought their kids were performing on grade level or better, and nearly 80% said their kids received mostly Bs or better on their report cards. The poll was conducted by Gallup in partnership with Learning Heroes.

In separate research released earlier this year by SchoolStatus, an education communications software firm, 45% of parents surveyed said too-infrequent communication from schools kept them from feeling adequately informed about their kids academic progress.

The disconnect comes in part from the way students grades are calculated. While state test scores at least theoretically show how well students have mastered the subject theyre being tested on, grades often take many other factors into account, including effort, class participation and attendance. So a student who puts forth effort and participates in class discussions but still struggles to master a subject might get an artificially inflated score.

Grading experts say thats an issue because it often gives parents no way to know if their kids are having a hard time in a particular subject. If parents know where their kids are struggling, they can give them extra help at home, talk to their teacher about what they need or find a private tutor. But they cant do any of those things if they dont know theres a problem.

Summer learning is a priority of campaign

Park, the Learning Heroes official, said the campaign is intended to encourage parents to talk to their kids teachers about whether theyre on grade level in reading and math, seek out more information about how theyre doing academically and look into summer learning programs if their kids need help catching up.

Summer learning is a particular priority for the campaign because parents are beginning to make plans for the summer months, Park said. Parents who know their kids need extra help might be willing to make summer learning programs a priority if they know they exist, he said. Researchers have said that summer learning programs havent had much success closing academic gaps left by the pandemic, at least in part because not enough students sign up and many of those who do attend miss too many sessions. Park said the campaign is meant to make parents aware that those resources exist and why their kids might need them

The Tarrant County campaign is the eighth local Go Beyond Grades effort the group has launched, Park said. There have been similar campaigns in New York, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Sacramento, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. In those cities, the nonprofit worked with an evaluator to look at how effective the messaging had been. They found that parents who specifically remembered having seen one of the campaigns messages were more likely to take action, like talking to their kids teachers before the end of the school year, looking for measures of academic achievement other than their kids report cards or signing their kids up for summer learning, he said.

Learning Heroes picked Tarrant County for its next local campaign because theres already a large group of local nonprofits and foundations working on education issues here. The campaign is usually most effective when there are local organizations that are willing to cooperate, he said. The fact that more than 70 Fort Worth area groups offered to help is an indication that city leaders are committed to the idea, he said.

Pandemic taught groups to collaborate, United Way chief says

Leah King, director of United Way Tarrant County, said the large number of organizations backing the campaign is the result of an unusually collaborative environment among nonprofits and other groups in Fort Worth. United Way is one of the organizations backing the campaign.

Those groups had always worked together to a certain extent, King said, but COVID-19 forced them to align their efforts more than ever. During the pandemic, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley held weekly meetings with leaders from local hospitals, nonprofits, schools and businesses to talk over how each was responding, where they needed help and what was being left undone, she said. Those efforts strengthened partnerships that already existed among agencies and nonprofits and created new ones where none existed, she said.

Education is any area thats ripe for partnerships, King said. Schools play the lead role, she said, but teachers cant help students succeed without close partnerships with parents. Community-based organizations have a role to play, too, she said, ensuring that parents and teachers have access to information they need to help students succeed.

Parent advocate says schools must be more transparent

Trenace Dorsey-Hollins, leader of the education advocacy group Parent Shield Fort Worth, said she thinks more parents are becoming aware of the disconnect between grades and how their kids are actually doing academically. The group has been pushing Fort Worth area school districts to give parents more information about their kids progress, in a form parents can understand.

Last summer, the organization offered a series of literacy clinics across Fort Worth. During those clinics, teachers gave students reading assessments and walked parents through the results. Some parents were shocked to find out their kids were several grades behind in reading, even though they consistently received good grades on their report cards.

Since then, Dorsey-Hollins said shes seen more parents take action. Last month, Parent Shield launched a program called Literacy is Freedom Texas, or LIFT, in conjunction with Boys and Girls Club of Tarrant County. The program offers free intervention for kids who have fallen behind in reading, she said. A few weeks into the program, attendance has been good, she said. Many of the families who have attended are the same ones who came to last summers reading clinics, she said.

Dorsey-Hollins said she hopes the campaign will help more parents and other community members understand the disconnect between grades and student achievement. As more parents learn about that mismatch, she hopes to see more of them getting involved in their kids education and advocating for their needs.

But even more than that, Dorsey-Hollins said she wants to see more parents understand how many resources are available to help them. Many parents feel lost after learning their kids are behind in school, she said, but theres a wealth of information online about how they can pinpoint the problems and work with them to catch up.

You dont have to be the expert, she said. You dont have to know everything.

Transparency is still the biggest issue for parents who are trying to figure out whether their kids need extra help, Dorsey-Hollins said. Most parents see good grades on their kids report cards and assume everything is fine, she said. Teachers can often give a clearer picture of where a student is academically, but many parents would never think to schedule a time to talk to their kids teachers because they dont know theres a problem, she said.

Dorsey-Hollins said she thinks school leaders know about the transparency issue, and many are taking it seriously. Earlier this year, officials in Fort Worth ISD began the process of moving the district toward a standards-based grading system at the elementary school level. The district began phasing the new grading system in at the pre-K level this year. If the implementation goes smoothly, the district could roll the new model out across all grades from pre-K through fifth grade by the 2025-26 school year.

Under a standards-based grading model, instead of letter grades, students receive ratings showing how theyre doing on each skill and concept covered in class that year. Grading experts say the model offers a more accurate look at how students are doing because it separates academic mastery out from other factors like effort and behavior.

But Dorsey-Hollins said the district still has problems with the way it communicates with parents, both about students grades and other issues. She pointed to the districts handling of the school closure process. During a presentation to the Fort Worth City Council in February, Superintendent Angelica Ramsey said district leaders were nowhere near a decision on which campuses would need to be closed. Two weeks later, the district announced plans to merge Wedgwood Middle School and Wedgwood Sixth Grade and close the sixth-grade campus.

Resources are available for kids who need extra help

Brent Beasley, director of the Fort Worth Education Partnership, said he hopes the campaign will help Tarrant County parents understand the problem. Theres a certain amount of awareness of the issue among city leaders, he said  hes given presentations on the disconnect to the Fort Worth City Council and other groups.

But until that awareness makes its way down to parents making decisions about their kids education, Beasley said it will be a difficult problem to solve. Thats because the lack of awareness itself is the main factor driving the issue. If parents know that their kids need extra help, hes confident that most will either offer it themselves or find outside help like after-school tutoring. Theres no lack of resources available for parents who know to look for them, he said. But the grading system most schools use isnt designed to help parents understand when their kids need help.

Beasley said he hopes the campaign will help spread that message more broadly than local community organizations have been able to do on their own. Once parents start to see messages about the mismatch on their drive to and from work or when they open their favorite social media apps, he hopes theyll be more likely to have a conversation with their kids teachers.

Theres a big gap there between what people believe and what is the reality, he said. ... We have a lot of faith in parents, that they will do what they have to do to take care of their kids if they know the reality.

Disclaimer: The Star-Telegram is among the community organizations supporting the Go Beyond Grades campaign. Another of the campaigns backers is the Sid W. Richardson Foundation, which also supports the Star-Telegrams education coverage through its Crossroads Lab. All editorial decisions are made independently.
Kosovan police load up with weapons on the Serbian border as tensions rise

Before the Kosovan police begin their patrol of the border with Serbia, they load up the car with weaponry: AK-47s are strapped to the back of car seats, handguns dropped in the footwells, and drones and bulletproof vests stuffed in the Land Rovers boot.

This is now standard protocol on one of the most volatile frontiers on the European continent.

When people ask Venton Elshani, the deputy police commander of North Kosovo, what the situation is like, he simply shows them the preparations he takes for patrol. You see the weapons? he said, before taking The Telegraph out to the border, these are for police officers to carry. The situation is not good.

Since Kosovo won independence from Yugoslavia in a war that ended in 1999, it has played host to a small community of ethnic Serbs in the northern border region. Tensions with the ethnic Albanian majority have surged lately. Alexander Vucic, Serbias president, has hinted at an invasion. Nationalists urge him to act to protect the Serbs forced to live under Kosovan rule.

Fears of a fresh war spiked in 2023 when a group of Serbian gunmen stormed across the border into the northern village of Banjska and barricaded themselves in its monastery. Three of a suspected 30 militants were killed in a shoot-out. One of Commander Elshanis men lost his life in the crossfire.

Since that day, the officer and his team have conducted daily patrols in the Serbian-dominated border region, hunting for illegal roads into Serbia of the kind used by the gunmen in their assault.

We know these roads better than anyone, Commander Elshani told The Telegraph as the patrol wended its way through the mountains. The Serbs cant make a road we wont find.

At the last count, police identified 65 illegal roads, all of which have been blocked with large ditches cut through the concrete. A further 10 roads are kept under constant surveillance, mainly via drones.

Having a constant presence in the Serb-majority region sent a message to Belgrade that Kosovo was protecting its borders, Commander Elshani said.

Banjska changed the game, put the game into another level because of the deaths, he said. When the blood is shed, then its a problem.

A patrol by the Georgia National Guard of the US army on the border with Serbia and Kosovo - Paul Grover/The Telegraph

Commander Major General Ozkan Ulutas of the Nato peacekeeping force in Pristina, Kosovo - Paul Grover/The Telegraph

Analysts warn that Kremlin propaganda is fuelling unrest in the north in a nation where 93 per cent are Albanian and 4 per cent are Serb. The majority of Serbs in Kosovo still regard Belgrade, which has never recognised Kosovos independence, as their government.

After the siege, authorities uncovered a huge arms cache the attackers had stashed in disused buildings around the northern villages. Only a few weeks ago they discovered five more rocket launchers, a sign of the scale of the planned attack.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Albin Kurti, Kosovos prime minister, warned that Mr Vucic, the president of Serbia, planned to invade. He said Serbia had built up forward operating bases around the border in a horseshoe shape to defend Belgrade and attack Kosovo.

Distraction from war in Ukraine

Based on President Vucics own words, Mr Kurti believes the Serbian president is biding his time for an opportunity to invade.

Mr Vucics friendship with Vladimir Putin is well known, and Mr Kurti believes it is in the Russian leaders interest for Serbia to invade Kosovo, as it would distract from his war in Ukraine.

Back down the mountain, at the Mitrovica Bridge that straddles the River Ibar, Serbias red, white and blue flag flutters everywhere. Once this bridge was a hot spot  an informal division between Kosovos northern border region and the ethnic Albanian south. Things appear peaceful as pedestrians walk freely between the two sides.

But there is an undercurrent of tension. Some ethnic-Serbian residents from the north view anyone who crosses into the south as a traitor, betraying the unhealed wounds from the bloodshed of the 1990s.

Kosovo police at the border with Serbia above the village of Bajske. One said: 'The situation is not good' - Paul Grover/The Telegraph

Cars are still not permitted to drive over the bridge, prevented by a blockade and the 24/7 presence of two police Land Rovers, one parked facing south and the other north.

Police said these precautions were essential to maintain stability in the area.

Rumours swirl that Putin has recruited Serbians to fight in his army against Ukraine and as The Telegraph travelled around the north, the solidarity with Russia was omnipresent. The letter Z had been graffitied on to the sides of shops, cafes and local homes.

Mr Kurti said: This is the pool from where they [Russia] will recruit future Wagner wannabe paramilitaries for Ukraine and the Balkans.

On one road sign, someone had stencilled the words F--- You Nato, a warning to the blocs KFOR-peacekeeping presence, which has been stationed in Kosovo since 1999.

Like the police, they conduct patrols, keeping an eye on what they refer to as the administrative border line, a 237-mile stretch of land dividing Kosovo and Serbia.

First Lieutenant Caldwell of Georgias National Guard, which makes up Americas contribution to KFOR, said their task was to detect anyone intending to pursue hostile activity.

He stressed the importance of cutting up illegal roads to stop smugglers crossing into Kosovo. He said more were being built whenever possible. For Commander Elshani, his men are in training for an attack.

Its not a surprise Vucic wants to invade, he said. They can shoot us but they cant scare us.

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.
Las Vegas attorney and wife killed as gunman opens fire during child custody hearing at law office

An attorney and his wife have been killed in a horror shooting at a Las Vegas law office, where a gunman opened fire during a child custody hearing  before turning the gun on himself.

The shooter, a man in his 70s, killed himself after fatally shooting across the table at two people during the deposition hearing in the City National Bank building, police said.

Las Vegas police said that the gunman had very specific targets during the attack.

The three deceased from the law firm shooting have been named by the Clark County Coroners Office as 57-year-old Dennis Prince, 30-year-old Ashley Prince and 77-year-old Joseph Houston.

The case and manner of death of each individual are yet to be released by the coroner.

Law enforcement officials have not confirmed the identity of the shooter but did say he was a man in his 70s  or the victims  a man in his 50s and woman in her 30s.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron D Ford named the victims as his friend Dennis Prince, a Las Vegas attorney, and wife Ashley Prince.

Dennis Prince, a top Las Vegas attorney, was killed in the shooting (Supplied)

Im devastated, Mr Ford wrote on X. Dennis Prince was not only a brilliant attorney, but he was also my former law partner and my friend. I cant believe hes gone.

Im extremely saddened by his and Ashleys death, and my heart goes out to their families, especially their children.

Princes former law partner Robert Eglet remembered him as a father of four whose death is not just a loss to his family, but also to the community, reported 8 News Now.

The shooting unfolded on Monday in Princes law firm office Prince Law Group in a mid-rise office building on West Charleston Boulevard.

Las Vegas Police Homicide Lieutenant Jason Johansson told reporters at a news conference that seven people were in the room at the time of the deposition hearing.

Several minutes after the hearing began, the shooter suddenly stood up and opened fire at the two victims across the table, Lt Johansson said, calling it a traumatic event.

The victims were in the room for a child custody hearing, police say (AP)

The shooting occcurred in the Prince Law Group office suite (CBS)

The four other people in the room, including a court reporter, were able to quickly escape and call the police, he said.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said officers were called to the scene just after 10am local time, they wrote in a series of updates on X.

The two victims and the shooter were all pronounced dead at the scene.

A specific motive for the attack has not been confirmed by police but the LVMPD said they believe it was targeted.

Hundreds of people inside the building were evacuated during the incident, the department wrote on X, with Lt Johansson adding that they were taken to the Red Rock Casino across the road and then slowly escorted back to retrieve their belongings.

Dan Musgrove, who works down the hall from the law firm, told FOX5 that he saw two people from the deposition screaming and were visibly upset, telling him that there was a shooter in their office, so he ushered them inside his office and locked the door.

I think they were in shock, and it was tragic to see what was going on. They knew shots had been fired. They believed someone was shot and potentially killed, he told the outlet.

Mr Musgrove also said the sense of shock also overcame him in the moment.

We were all just nervous as to what would happen if the shooter came to our office on the same floor, he added.

Mr Eglet told 3 News that the shooting was senseless and tragic, saying that Prince leaves behind four children including a son around the age of 12, two adult children, and a baby with Ashley.

His oldest son allegedly works at Princes office, but Mr Eglet told the outlet he was not there at the time of the shooting.

Hundreds of workers had to be evacuated from the City National Bank building on West Charleston Boulevard, Las Vegas (AP)

Tom Letizia, a friend of Prince and a political consultant, said in a statement to 8 News Now that Dennis was not only a close friend of mine but also a respected figure within our legal community, whose absence has left us all in mourning.

The news of this tragedy has profoundly shocked me and our entire community, he added.

The Prince Law Group acknowledged the tragedy in a statement on Monday evening.

With profound sadness, Prince Law Group would like to thank everyone who has reached out to us with heartfelt messages of concern and sympathy over the tragic violence that occurred this morning in our offices, the law group wrote.

Police swarm the outside of the City National Bank following a shooting at a law firm office (8 News Now)

According to a profile for Prince on the Prince Law Group website, he founded the law firm and is recognised as one the best trial lawyers in the State of Nevada.

Prince was admitted to the bar in 1993 and has gone on to successfully handle more than 50 cases at the Nevada Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals among other achievements.
Yvon Jean Baptise is a patient man. He has no choice.

Baptise, who built a school in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and has moved mountains of food and other supplies to the impoverished country, has to wait and pray that the lawless chaos and violence subsides so he can resume his mission.

I started a non-profit school in 2001, he said in a telephone interview from his home in Knoxville, Tennessee. School of the Hand of God started with 120 students and grew to 130.

Students going up through middle school learned the basics: reading, writing, arithmetic and the Bible.

Yvon Baptise with students and supporters in Haiti.

I wanted to do the right thing. They got food at least once a day, he said. The age of the students varied. They could be 10, they could be 20.

An earthquake flattened the schoolhouse in 2010 but the schools instructors kept on teaching.

He hasnt done it alone. The two men assisting him with the school have gathered supplies and materials and kept them in a storage building on site. He had planned to build a new classroom by next year.

He has had the support of friends and churches, including Semeion Richardson, the owner of Artist With A Purpose in Leesburg, and Frontier Church.

We sent tons of food and clothing. We gathered enough food to feed 1,000 people in 2021, Richardson said.

Water is a big problem there, Baptise said. One of the things Baptise was able to send was a water purifying device called a straw.

Covid was the first roadblock, but it would not be the last. Baptise began making shipments underground, as he put it, and had to pay to get into some neighborhoods.

The government has since collapsed. Gang violence, killings and kidnapping have become the norm.

Baptise has two brothers he is close to in Haiti and their reports are terrifying.

You can hear gunshots, he said. Strangers in a neighborhood are suspected of being rival gang members and quickly become targets.

There are people laying there dead in the streets.

Baptise, 44, who does IT support for a community college, has lived in Knoxville for 15 years. I also teach at my house, he said.

I delivered papers for the News Sentinel for 10 years, he said. He is now working on getting his bachelors degree.

He is divorced with two sons, one in college, one in high school.

He wants to go back, not to stay but to help.

My heart cries for the people, for the project, he said.

Donations can be made to www.schoolofthehandofgod.com, but right now money is not the most urgent need on Baptistes mind.

People can pray, he said.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Helping out: School in Haiti receives assistance from Leesburg
The Dirt: Michael Jordan buys new estate in Jupiter, and Kyma restaurant to open in West Palm Beach

Welcome to The Dirt! Im real estate reporter Kimberly Miller with the latest developments in the sizzling market.

In this week's real estate news, some wealthy folks are terribly vexed because they can't park their 164-foot yacht at their dock in North Palm Beach, and some normal folk are troubled that proposed affordable housing in Jupiter really isn't that affordable.

Ahhhh, Palm Beach County. From Ruinart champagne to the champagne of beers, we've got it all.

The Bristol condominium on the Intracoastal Waterway in West Palm Beach, Florida on July 21, 2023.

Stay up to date on South Florida's sizzling real estate market and sign up for The Dirt weekly newsletter, delivered every Tuesday! Exclusively for Palm Beach Post subscribers.

There's also breaking restaurant news and The Palm Beach Post covers restaurants better than Velveeta cheese on nachos. Or hollandaise on eggs benny, or flambeed orange sauce on crepes Suzette or, well, you get the picture. We write a lot about restaurants.

Senior business reporter Alexandra Clough was the first to report on a famous Greek restaurant coming to West Palm Beach, and there's also a story about why Planet Smoothie and Moe's Southwest Grill co-founder Martin Sprock may be abandoning plans for an eatery on West Palm Beach's acclaimed Antique Row.

A 164-foot yacht named Honey gets the cold shoulder in North Palm Beach

People walk by the Casino Royale yacht at the Palm Beach International Boat Show on Friday.

The very best part of this story is the revelation that we  little ol' Palm Beach County  have become a "mini-Monaco" for the wealthy mariners of the world who can handle a little chop in their 164-foot mega yachts. (I can't resist a "Wolf of Wall Street" clip) But once they get the yachts here here, they face a serious parking dilemma.

A North Palm Beach homeowner just wants to dock his yacht named Honey at his home. Trouble is, he has to "occupy" the home and since he's got several other homes in Palm Beach County and this one isn't his primary residence the definition of "occupy" seems to be the stumbling point.

It's a real Palm Beach dilemma. Too many homes and a mega yacht. Sigh.

Penthouse at The Bristol in West Palm Beach sells for $28 million

Jane Manus' painted aluminum sculpture "Bristol" in 2019 outside The Bristol condominiums in West Palm Beach.

The ultra-luxury tower that some folks originally poo-pooed because it was in West Palm Beach instead of Palm Beach just had another record sale for a single-condominium at a recorded $27.99 million. The six-bedroom penthouse is one half of the 23rd floor of the swanky condo that sparkles like a beacon of affluence on the shores of the beleaguered Lake Worth Lagoon.

The seller was a company affiliated with a trust in the name of the late Boston developer Gerald S. Fineberg. The buyer's side is a mystery hidden in a trust that's sealed inside the lost treasure of Oak Island.

Michael Jordan buys another multi-million dollar home in the ultra-exclusive Bear's Club

Michael Jordan buys another home in exclusive Bear's Club golf community in Jupiter.

Just a guess, but I'm thinking Michael Jordan can buy a home just about any-dang-where he pleases. For the first time last year, Jordan made the Forbes list of the country's 400 richest people, so to choose another property in the Bear's Club in Jupiter must say something about its exclusivity and high-end amenities.

His new 9,100-square-foot home has nothing on his custom-built estate nearby, but it did cost a recorded $16.5 million, which ain't too shabby.

New York's acclaimed Kyma Greek restaurant coming to West Palm Beach

Rendering of ground floor and terrace space of Kyma, a New York-based Greek restaurant that is opening a West Palm Beach location at the Banyan & Olive office development in 2025.

If a renowned New York restaurant is going to open its first eatery outside of New York, where else is it going to go than Wall Street South? So, of course, Kyma, which offers traditional Greek taverna food, will be coming to downtown West Palm Beach by next year with ground-floor space AND a lively rooftop area.

I do so love a piece of baklava, but at $14-a-pop, it's a little above my budget. There's a nice happy-hour menu with lots of $10 "bites", which seems more doable for the non Wall Street Southerners .

Live lightly.

Kimberly Miller is a veteran journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate and how growth affects South Florida's environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism, subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Kyma Greek restaurant in New York to open in downtown West Palm Beach
It took all of 10 minutes Tuesday for the Mississippi Senate to kill the only vehicle left for legislators to make revisions to K-12 education funding, and House lawmakers are now willing to hold school funding off until the Senate agrees to negotiate.

Senate Education Chairman Dennis DeBar, R-Leakesville, asked Senate lawmakers not to concur with Senate Bill 2332, which had been changed from an increase in Mississippi Adequate Education Program funding totaling more than $2.9 billion, to the INSPIRE Act, the House's new $3.01 billion method to fund public schools.

"Because of the numbers, because we have four or five different iterations (of funding), I did not feel confident in bringing this (bill to the Senate)," DeBar said.

Voting not to concur on a bill means the chamber that originally passed the legislation is now killing it. However, DeBar does have 24 hours to reconsider, but he said that isn't going to happen.

DeBar said he decided not to move the bill forward into a conference committee because he thought there were too many philosophical differences between the House and the Senate's approach to funding schools. He also said he wants to take more time to make sure school districts that need more funding than others obtain it.

DeBar later told the Clarion Ledger he hopes to work out a new method to fund education with House members either in the summer or next session, which begins in January 2025.

Education Committee Chairman Sen. Dennis DeBar, R-Leakesville, asks a question of former Mississippi State Superintendent of Education Carey Wright during at the Capitol Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. On Tuesday, DeBar killed Senate Bill 2332, leaving the legislature without a funding model for K-12 education this year.

"It was imperative we just not take it up this session," DeBar said. "I've met with House Education Chairman Rob Roberson, given my promise to work with him over the summer throughout the offseason, to devise a new plan and revise it."

After the meeting, the Senate Appropriations Committee moved forward a bill to include MAEP funding of about $2.97 billion. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said in a written statement later Tuesday that the bill would also designate the Mississippi Department of Education to study the House and Senate plan to reform education funding, and it would report its findings back to the Legislature in October.

We are not married to the current formula," Hosemann said. "We do, however, believe any appropriation as significant as that which funds our school systems should be vetted and discussed with stakeholders including parents, educators, and the public at-large. Studying the issue together, in connection with the Department of Education and our new superintendent, will hopefully result in a new, long-term sustainable formula both chambers can agree on which is good for students and schools.

However, several House members, including Education Chairman Rob Roberson, R-Starkville, and Rep. Jansen Owen, R-Poplarville, both said the House is highly unlikely to accept any education funding that doesn't come from INSPIRE's allocation model.

"It is the House's No. 1 priority to see this passed," Owen said. " This is the largest single investment in public education ever. This is our priority. We are committed to passing this bill this year."

The House originally passed INSPIRE's original form, House Bill 1453, in February, and amended all of 2332 and replaced its language with the INSPIRE Act.

DeBar let HB 1453 die by a March deadline to move bills out of committee, and before Tuesday, had not publicly spoken about his views on moving forward the INSPIRE Act.

Roberson told the Clarion Ledger he was shocked by the news and disappointed with DeBar's decision, having been given an impression that the bill would move to a conference committee from conversations they had before the Senate met Tuesday.

"I don't know what to say. I'm disappointed," Roberson said.

With both education funding models dead, the only bills left to fund public education is the Senate appropriations bill that moved forward Tuesday after the Senate recessed, and a House bill to fund the INSPIRE Act. Technically, lawmakers still have a way to allocate funds to public education, but Roberson and Jansen both are determined not to play ball unless the Senate negotiates for Roberson's bill.

House Speaker Jason White, R-West, said in a press release Tuesday afternoon that he was greatly disappointed in the Senate's decision, and that he remains committed to the INSPIRE Act.

"As Speaker of the House, I have clearly communicated with Senate leadership the House position that we have funded MAEP for the last time," White said. "As we near the end of the legislative session, the House will continue to look for ways to fund education with a student-centered formula.

What will happen if the Legislature doesn't approve an education budget?

Roberson said the current year's education funding will run it's course by the end of the fiscal year, meaning that if lawmakers do not approve an education budget or model by July, schools could go without state funding.

To stave off that circumstance, Roberson said Republican Gov. Tate Reeves may need to call a special session to address shortfalls in funding and avoid some schools closing due to a lack of funding.

'We can come up with a change to the budget itself to do the MAEP type formula, but I don't think there is interest in that on the House side," Roberson said. "I just don't see that being something that my members are going to want to do. I am completely OK with us coming back (in a special session) and dealing with it, but I don't want to wait too long, because this puts the school district in a bad position."

Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MS Senate blocks bill to fund $3 billion toward K-12 education
Most Pa. counties shrank last year. How did Beaver County fare?

Pennsylvania saw population declines in 41 of its 67 counties last year as deaths outpaced births in parts of the commonwealth and residents moved out of many rural areas, according to newly released U.S. Census estimates.

The numbers, made public in March, mirror long-term projections, which predict waning populations across much of the Keystone State over the next couple of decades. In particular, the total number of residents in the commonwealths rural counties is expected to shrink by about 5.8% by 2050, according to the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

The new Census release estimates that populations dropped across much of western and northern Pennsylvania from July 2022 to July 2023, with Erie County shrinking by 1,269 residents; or 0.5%; Beaver County shrinking by 106 residents, or 0.06%; and Cambria County shrinking by 761 residents, or 0.6%.

In some counties, such Allegheny and Philadelphia, the number of residents is falling primarily as people leave for other communities, the Census data indicates.

Other counties are dealing with population declines largely because deaths are exceeding births. Thats the case in Beaver County, which experienced an estimated natural loss of 739 residents, while gaining 631 residents from net in-migration, according to the federal projections.

Percent Change in County Population: July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023

[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]

Monroe County took estimated losses in both categories, with about 364 more deaths than births and a net resident outflow of about 1,045 people.

So did Erie County, which experienced a natural loss of 312 people. And though the county's international population grew by an estimated 366 people over the year, those gains were eclipsed by the loss of about 1,332 domestic residents due to relocation, according to the estimates for the one-year period.

On the other hand, southeastern and some central areas of the state are bucking the overall trend by continuing to grow.

For example, York Countys population climbed by an estimated 3,600 people, with a natural increase of 106 residents and net in-migration of 3,501 residents. Bucks County also expanded by about 430 people, according to the projections.

The five Pennsylvania counties that experienced the fastest estimated population declines from 2022 to 2023 are

Forest County, with a population decrease of 2.3%;

Union County, with a population decrease of 1.5%;

Potter County, with a population decrease of 1.3%;

Fayette County, with a population decrease of 1.2%; and

Montour County, with a population decrease of 1.1%.

The five Pennsylvania counties where the estimated growth rate was highest from 2022 to 2023 are

Pike County, with a population increase of 1.1%;

Cumberland County, with a population increase of 0.8%;

York County, with a population increase of 0.8%;

Adams County, with a population increase of 0.7%; and

Chester County, with a population increase of 0.6%.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Beaver County population held about even last year
Efforts in the Mississippi Legislature to impose more control over the Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi have been given a new lease on life.

Sen. David Parker, R-Olive Branch, on Tuesday, presented House Bill 1618, which was originally only intended to address a retirement program that allows certain retirees such as healthcare workers and teachers, to return to the workforce in an effort to impact critical labor shortages.

However, Parker placed language into the bill that would eliminate the PERS board's rate increase on public employers, such as counties, municipalities and state agencies, and would require any such rate change on employers to be approved by the Legislature during regular session. It passed 38-8.

"Such increases could possibly raise retirement revenues but may also reduce revenues at schools and cities that decide to stop hiring employees," Parker said.

Parker's changes to the bill mirror House Bill 1590, which would have taken away the rate increase, as well as replace elected board members with governor and lieutenant governor appointees.

That bill faced scrutiny from the PERS board, as well as retirees who saw it as a loss of faith in the PERS board and would have taken away its ability to make decisions about how PERS invests money. It was later killed by Government Structures Chairman Chris Johnson, R-Hattiesburg, before making it to the Senate floor for a vote.

Sen. David Parker, R-Olive Branch, listens during the Appropriations Committee meeting at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., on Monday, Mar. 18, 2024. On Tuesday, Parker introduced changes to House Bill 1618, which would aim to give the legislature more control over the Public Employment Retirement System of Mississippi. (Credit: Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger)

read about HB 1590 Mississippi lawmakers, state retirement leaders disagree over bill to take over PERS system

Last year, the board voted to increase employer contributions toward the state pension plan from 17.9% to 19.9% to address a $25 billion debt and a reduction in PERS members.

As of 2023, 146,664 active members are paying into the system, a 10% fall from 2014 when it sat at 162,044. There are 118,301 retirees receiving benefits.

Several mayors and other local government leaders came to the capitol earlier this year to ask lawmakers to cancel that rate increase, stating it could cost them millions of dollars in the future and cause job cuts.

Parker said that as the bill moves forward, he hopes the Legislature will provide more funds for PERS to increase its viability.

"We need to add money into PERS," he said.

The bill now moves onto the House for concurrence. If the House does not approve, the bill could be sent to a conference of lawmakers from both chambers to iron out a compromise.

Read about Senate actions Tuesday Mississippi Senate blocks House K-12 education funding bill

Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: PERS rate increase on public employers challenged by MS lawmakers
NATO should recruit new members from Asia that share 'the alliance's vision of freedom,' former NATO commander says

NATO should recruit new members from Asia that share 'the alliance's vision of freedom,' former NATO commander says

NATO should bring in new members from the Asia-Pacific, says retired US Navy Adm. James Stavridis.

Stavridis suggested recruiting countries like Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.

A broader NATO is necessary, considering ongoing geopolitical crises like the Russia-Ukraine war, Stavridis said.

The NATO military alliance should consider broadening its membership to include Asia-Pacific nations like Japan and New Zealand, said a former NATO supreme allied commander.

"NATO should think about recruiting a few new members from outside its traditional boundaries," retired US Navy Adm. James Stavridis wrote in a Bloomberg op-ed on Monday.

Stavridis served as the military alliance's chief from 2009 to 2013. Before that, he was the Commander of the US Southern Command from 2006 to 2009, where he oversaw military operations in Latin America.

Widening NATO's membership, Stavridis wrote, was a necessary response to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, the Russia-Ukraine war, US-China tensions, and the territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

In his op-ed, Stavridis suggested recruiting Asia-Pacific countries "that share the alliance's vision of freedom, democracy, liberty and human rights." That list of potential allies includes nations like Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.

In addition, Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore could also be brought in due to their ties with the US, Stavridis wrote.

That said, Stavridis did acknowledge the difficulties of "expanding NATO geographically to include a group of Asian democracies."

Besides managing the "cultural, linguistic, and geographic differences," Stavridis noted that a larger membership would make it "even harder to gain broad consensus on any given mission."

"I'd say the challenges and the benefits feel roughly balanced, but given the practical and political hurdles, it is probably too soon to consider a global NATO," Stavridis wrote.

"But perhaps there is a middle path, which might entail more formalized relationships between the alliance and the Asian democracies," he added, suggesting arrangements like "clearly articulated security guarantees" and "joint procurement of advanced weapon systems."

To be sure, NATO has already been expanding its outreach efforts to Asia. Since 2022, Japan and South Korea have attended the military alliance's annual summits.

Last year, NATO reportedly considered setting up a liaison office in Japan. Plans, however, fell through following opposition from French President Emmanuel Macron.

The military alliance's overtures to Asia appear to have drawn the ire of countries like China, whose defense ministry has accused NATO of being a "walking war machine."

"In recent years, NATO has been inching closer to the Asia Pacific and using the nonexistent 'China threat' as an excuse to advance bloc confrontation, which poses a threat to regional security," China's defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said of NATO during a press conference in January.

When approached for comment, a NATO official told BI that the alliance isn't planning to bring in any new members from Asia.

"There are no plans to expand NATO beyond the North Atlantic area, but the Alliance is deepening its ties with its Indo-Pacific partners, including on technology, cyber, and hybrid threats as well as support to Ukraine," the NATO representative told BI.

Read the original article on Business Insider
New Hampshire town clerks would be empowered to pre-process absentee ballots ahead of elections under a bill that unanimously passed the Senate Friday.

Senate Bill 537 would allow clerks to examine the affidavits that voters send in as part of their absentee ballots and to check them for errors. Under the bill, that work could be done within three weeks of the elections.

The bill would not allow those clerks to count the ballots or see voters choices. And the pre-processing dates would need to be posted for the public at least five days in advance.

The Rye Elementary School gym is busy during the town election Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

Sponsored by Sen. Donna Soucy, a Manchester Democrat, the bill is meant to help alleviate an often-hectic environment for New Hampshire poll workers.

When voters cast absentee ballots, they do so with two envelopes. The outer envelope, known as the mailing envelope, contains another envelope known as the affidavit envelope. That envelope contains the ballot. Absentee voters fill out an affidavit on the outside of the affidavit envelope. Under current law, election workers are not allowed to open the outer envelope until Election Day, meaning they are not allowed to review the voters affidavits ahead of time. That can create a backlog on voting day, and prevents town officials from alerting absentee voters ahead of time if there is an issue with their affidavit.

New Hampshire lawmakers briefly allowed towns to pre-process absentee ballots at the height of COVID-19. In 2020, the Legislature passed a law that allowed the procedure for the 2020 state primary and general elections; that year, a record number of absentee ballots were cast and processed.

That law expired after the 2020 election; a 2021 effort by the Republican-led Senate to make the power permanent failed in the House.

This story was originally published by the New Hampshire Bulletin.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH bill allowing pre-processing of absentee ballots clears Senate
The three finalists for the top job at North Thurston Public Schools will gather for a community meeting this week, giving the public a chance to ask them questions.

The finalists are Justin Ainsworth, associate superintendent in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District in Palmer, Alaska; Thu Ament, deputy superintendent in the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District; and Troy Oliver, the current assistant superintendent of operations for North Thurston.

The three will appear at the district boardroom from 5 to 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 10. Each will get 45 minutes to answer prepared questions as well as answer questions submitted by those in attendance.

The district boardroom is at 305 College St. NE in Lacey.

One of the finalists will replace current superintendent Debra Clemens who announced earlier this year she is retiring. Her last day is June 30.

North Thurston announces 3 finalists for superintendent. One of them is local

Dozens apply to replace Debra Clemens as North Thurston superintendent

North Thurston superintendent Debra Clemens will retire at end of school year
Forty years ago, Jeane Kirkpatrick, a hawkish former Democrat who was Ronald Reagans U.N. ambassador, electrified the 1984 Republican convention by railing against the supposed Blame America first weakness of the Democrats. Kirkpatrick, a prominent neoconservative, claimed that the Democrats were behaving less like a dove or a hawk than an ostrichconvinced it would shut out the world by hiding its head in the sand.

Kirkpatrick was adroitly playing off imagery that had haunted the Democrats since the era of Harry Truman, when right-wingers mockingly asked, Who lost China? The Democrats in the 1970s and 1980spersonified by George McGovern, Jimmy Carter, and Walter Mondalewere widely portrayed as blundering global innocents who wanted to put flowers in the barrels of guns as they sang Kumbaya.

This political typecasting is hard to shake. Even before the war in Gaza created deep fissures in the Democratic Party, polls last fall showed Donald Trump besting Joe Biden on national security issues. According to the 2020 exit polls, voters who based their decision on which candidate was a strong leader went for Trump by a lopsided margin of 72 percent to 28 percent.

Ukraine is the issue that upends these stereotypes. The Republicans, led by Trump, are the feckless appeasers, while the Democrats under Biden are the party of Reaganite strength.

With Congress returning Tuesday (yippee), House Speaker Mike Johnson can once again diddle while Ukraine burns. Desperately groping along with a two-vote Republican majority and threats to his speakership from Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson has been spinning one unrealistic plan after another for Ukraine aid. At last count, the speaker is demanding that the military aid to the war-torn country be in the form of a loan; that the U.S. government arbitrarily seize Russian assets; and the Biden administration must support new terminals for liquefied natural gas exports, which (coincidentally, of course) would benefit his home state of Louisiana.

That asking price is as inflated as the claimed number of floors at Trump Tower. What Johnson is offering (unless he changes his mind) is merely sending a package that includes aid to Ukraine to the House floor, where it would depend on overwhelming Democratic votes for passage. Johnson, by the way, voted against Ukraine aid last September, which was before his current claims that he is for it.

Johnson was a backbench legislator then. That was before he became the designated survivor after the ouster of Kevin McCarthy last October left the House Republicans in limbo for three weeks. He is the embodiment of the Peter principle, which states that people are promoted in an organization until they reach a level where they demonstrate their own incompetence. Its hard to believe, but the hapless Johnson has pulled off the trick of creating a bipartisan wave of Kevin McCarthy nostalgia.

Fingering Johnson for Congresss failure to provide bullets for Kyiv is akin to blaming the Russian Embassy in Washington for the invasion of Ukraine. Like everything else in the 2024 Republican Party, it begins and ends with Donald Trump. Decades from now, historians will probably still be arguing over the roots of Trumps fan-boy fixation with Vladimir Putin. But whatever the motivation (from autocrat envy to straightforward corruption), Trump is pantingly eager to sell out Ukraine. On Sunday, The Washington Post published the contours of Trumps (secret, but not surprising) plan to bring peace to Ukrainegiving Russia Crimea, most of the Donbas region, and probably anything else that is not nailed down. Trump, in short, has always been Neville Chamberlain on steroids.

Senate passage in February of a $95 billion aid bill (with funds for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan) may be remembered someday as the last gasp of traditional hawkish Republicanism. Mitch McConnell, in his final months as GOP Senate leader, delivered 22 Republicans on the bipartisan vote as the retiring Mitt Romney declared in a floor speech, If we fail to help Ukraine, we will be known not as our fathers and mothers werethe greatest generationbut as the worst generation.

Two months later, the worst generation is alive and well and living in Congress. In a startling moveespecially coming from a prominent RepublicanMike Turner, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, told CNN Sunday, We see directly coming from Russia  communications that are anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages, some of which we even hear being uttered on the House floor. Needless to say, it is not the Democrats who are mouthing Putins platitudes.

If, charitably, there is a logic to the GOP position, it is that America should abandon Old Europe to pivot to battling China in the New Asia. The obvious problem with this glib reasoning is that Beijing just might notice that America is slamming the door on Ukraine two years after Putins unprovoked invasion. The security of Taiwan (which is a major U.S. source of semiconductor chips) depends on China believing that Washington would keep its implicit promises to come to defense of the island. Deterrence disappears if Americas word is worthless.

In a presidential election year, it is tempting to claim that the Republican surrender monkeys will pay a large electoral price for their rediscovery of GOP isolationism. But politics in 2024 does not work like that, especially when Biden is an unfortunately weak advocate for his own cause. Aid to Ukraine is a niche issue, though it may matter at the margins. According to the census, there are an estimated one million U.S. residents who claim Ukrainian ancestry, with nearly 100,000 of them living in the swing state of Pennsylvania.

In the long term, though, deliberate Republican abandonment of Ukraine should never be forgotten. The modern GOPs view of American interests appears to depend on Trumps enterprises and his whims. Not since Charles Lindbergh appealed to many Republicans in 1941 with his speeches claiming that the Jews and the British were forcing America into war has a political party embraced appeasement with the avidity of Trump Republicans. May the day never come when Democrats have to ask accusingly, Who lost Kyiv?
Section of Branch Road in the State College area reopens after crash

A section of Branch Road between Lemont and South Atherton Street was closed Tuesday morning after a multi-vehicle crash.

State College police posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Branch Road was closed due to a crash on Branch Road at Hunter Avenue.

Crash on Branch Rd at Hunter Ave. Branch Road closed between Lemont to Atherton. pic.twitter.com/6FUcY9c665  State College Police (@StateCollegePD) April 9, 2024

The road was closed in both directions between Hunter Avenue and Goldfinch Drive as of 9 a.m., according to 511PA, Pennsylvanias official travel information service. By 10:45 a.m., 511PA showed the road was back open.

Alpha Fire Company was also called to the scene.

Check back for updates on this story.
The stage is set before members of the MKE 2024 Host Committee for the Republican National Convention held press conference launching their formal volunteer recruitment efforts at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Friday, March 1, 2024. Organizers are looking for thousands of volunteers across a wide geographic area to fill shifts for the July 15-18 convention that will take place in downtown Milwaukee.

A key component of the MKE 2024 Host Committee is raising funds for the Republican National Convention, but another major part is finding the manpower the make the four-day gathering in Milwaukee go as smoothly as possible.

Its a huge part of what we do, said Reince Priebus, chairman of the host committee. We want to have people feel like as soon as they get to their hotel, or as soon as they walk off the plane, that they feel like Wow, these people in Milwaukee love that were here.

That means finding volunteers.

More: Republican National Convention organizers are in the final, 100-day sprint to the Milwaukee event

It's been estimated about 6,000 volunteers will be needed to help delegates, media, visitors and other guests at the July 15-18 convention.

So far, the committee is a third of the way there.

Weve got about 2,000 (volunteers), so far, identified, Priebus said during a recent virtual meeting with local businesses. Were working with businesses, big businesses, small businesses. If any of you would like to volunteer or have family, relatives, friends, enemies that you want to have volunteer; anybody you know that is someone that you think would make a good volunteer for us, contact us on our website.

People interested in volunteering can sign up at mke2024host.org/volunteers.

A lot of times its not just being helpful, but its just having a smiling face, Priebus said. Someone that says Welcome to Milwaukee. Welcome to Wisconsin. Were so happy youre here. Is there a question you have? That goes a long way when you have all of these people here in our state.

More: Delegates for RNC have their hotel assignments, marking 'major milestone' for planning of convention

Priebus said having quality volunteers and friendly workers can have a ripple effect for the city and the area that extends beyond the convention.

Theyre going to tell other people about this awesome experience they had here because then its going to bring more business, Priebus said. Thats a big part of what we have to do. Aside from the money; aside from communicating, is recruiting those volunteers."

Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of Visit Milwaukee, said the city has already seeing potential economic gains because of the convention.

"We've already seen a doubling of our lead volume for conventions interested in our city as their host," Williams-Smith said. "This surge in interest speaks volumes to the appeal and readiness of our destination to accommodate such large events."

Pop-up venue details to come

Aside from finding volunteers, the host committee and Committee on Arrangements are looking for areas for small businesses to sell goods, services and have tastings.

Priebus and Anne Hathaway, chairwoman of the Committee on Arrangements, said organizers also are looking at areas that could be home to "pop-up" venues such as restaurants and activities.

More: Area businesses preparing for RNC await news on contracts for the big event. It's early, most not worried

"We definitely see some type of vendor, exhibitor pop-up, just working on the details," Hathaway said. "As you can imagine, there's all kinds of details as relates to security and where might be the most advantageous place to do that in a way that the most delegates and most of our guests can be able to take advantage of it and make is safe and secure for everyone."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: RNC Host Committee has 2,000 volunteers for Milwaukee convention, 6,000 needed
See Israel's aerial defense systems in action on land and sea

Israel has one of the world's most advanced air defense systems.

Its air defenses are being tested amid its war against Hamas and Iran's retaliatory attacks.

Iran attacked Israel Tuesday with hundreds of ballistic missiles.

Iran attacked Israel with a large barrage of ballistic missiles on Tuesday, a rare direct attack that came after a White House warning to its ally.

The missile attack comes after Israel Defense Forces killed the head of Hezbollah and then launched a "limited" ground offensive against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. In recent weeks, the US adjusted its force posture in the Middle East, stationing a substantial force of warships and fighter aircraft across the region to defend Israel and its bases.

A White House official said the US is "actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack," adding that it "will carry severe consequences for Iran."

The attack tested some of the most advanced air defenses in the world, systems that have defended Israeli troops and citizens from rocket and missile barrages.

These layers of air defenses are essential to Israel's security. Much of its population is within reach of rockets and missiles fired by Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as the ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthis. Israeli territory was first directly attacked by Iran in April.

US foreign aid to Israel

An archive picture image shows a missile array from the Iron Dome, on July 8, 2014, in Ashdod, Israel Ilia Yefimovich/Getty Images

About 15% of Israel's defense budget comes from the US. Since its founding in 1948, the US has sent Israel about $300 billion in economic and military aid, making it the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign aid.

Nearly all of the aid the US has sent in recent months has been allocated to its advanced defense systems and military equipment. But America's involvement in Israel's war on the Gaza Strip has grown controversial. The US is providing limited humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza while also providing military support and weapons to Israel.

More than 40,000 Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

Iron Dome

Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system fires interceptors at rockets launched from the Gaza Strip. Tsafrir Abayov/AP

The most well-known of Israel's air-defense system, the Iron Dome consists of a network of radar detectors and missile launchers used to intercept enemy fire, including short-range rockets and artillery.

Deployed in southern Israel in 2011 following the war between Israel and Hezbollah, the US helped and funded the development of the short-range rocket defense system. It contributed at least $1.6 billion to the Iron Dome system from 2011 to 2021, as well as another $1 billion in 2022.

The first layer of defense

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

The Israel Defense Forces said the objective of the Iron Dome is to "protect Israeli civilians from the constant threat of rockets by intercepting them." The IDF described the Iron Dome with three adjectives: "accuracy, speed, and capacity."

Armed with Tamir interceptor missiles, the multi-mission defense system can shoot down enemy rockets and artillery up to 43.5 miles away. The advanced missile system has a radar station that detects and tracks the course of enemy rockets before launching a missile to intercept it. The missiles track their target with electro-optical sensors and detonate in the air when close.

While the Iron Dome doesn't have a perfect interception record, it has blocked a majority of enemy fire in Israeli airspace, especially at times of intense barrages from Hamas militants.

But the Iron Dome is just one layer of what is considered one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world.

Missiles are much longer range than shells, but they have the disadvantage of also being expensive. The Tamir missiles fired by Iron Dome are estimated to each cost around $50,000.

David's Sling

This Monday, Dec. 21, 2015 file photograph provided by the Israeli Ministry of Defense shows a launch of David's Sling missile defense system. Ministry of Defense via AP, File

The middle layer of Israel's Iron Dome defense system is David's Sling, a medium- to long-range air defense system designed to intercept rockets fired from up to 185 miles.

Also known as the Magic Wand, the versatile missile system carries up to 12 interceptors. Its command and control center, known as the Golden Almond, provides threat assessment and plans and controls interception, complemented by the system's multi-mission radar used to detect and track airborne threats.

The middle layer of defense

The Israel Missile Defense Organization and the US Missile Defense Agency runs a test of the David's Sling Weapon System. Leah Garton/DVIDS

Developed in collaboration with the US and Israel, David's Sling is "a central factor in Israel's multi-tiered defense array," according to Israel's Ministry of Defense, supporting other layers of its air defense system by "tackling large-caliber rockets, short-range ballistic missiles," and other types of enemy fire.

Arrow Weapon System

The Arrow-3 Interceptor missile. US Missile Defense Agency

The top layer of Israel's sophisticated air defense system is Arrow-3, capable of engaging targets at longer ranges and higher altitudes, as well as more precisely intercepting ballistic missiles.

Arrow-3 interceptor operates with the Arrow Weapon System, the world's first operational, national, stand-alone anti-tactical ballistic missile defense system, according to Israel Aerospace Industries, the primary contractor for the AWS. The system was developed in partnership with Boeing and significant funding from the United States.

Arrow-3 works in conjunction with its predecessor, Arrow-2, to intercept ballistic missiles and other warheads using a two-stage interceptor.

Arrow-3

An "Arrow 3" ballistic missile interceptor is seen during its test launch near Ashdod December 10, 2015. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Arrow-3's "interceptor is a world-class missile that, together with the Arrow-2, significantly expands the State of Israel's defense capabilities," according to Israel's Ministry of Defense.

In November 2023, Israel confirmed the first operational use of the Arrow-3 to stop an inbound enemy missile launched by Houthi militants from Yemen, marking the first time all three layers of Israel's aerial defense were working simultaneously.

"All of these provide protection in every layer of aerial defense and enable optimal protection of the Israeli home front," the IDF said in a statement at the time.

The Arrow Weapon System's role in Iran's retaliatory attacks

An anti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles toward Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel April 14, 2024. Amir Cohen via Reuters

Israel also deployed Arrow 3 to intercept the drones and missiles Iran fired during its retaliatory attacks on April 13.



Israel's chief military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, told reporters on April 14 that Arrow 3 had "proved itself against a significant number of ballistic missiles" fired by Iran.



"IAI's engineers have been working for years to deal with the varied threats against the State of Israel. They have reached a degree of excellence reflected in the results we saw tonight, and this with the full support and cooperation of Israel's Ministry of Defense and the IDF. We are proud to contribute to maintaining Israel's security against any threat, however complex it may be," Boaz Levy, the president and CEO of Arrow's primary contractor, Israel Aerospace Industries, told Business Insider in an emailed statement.

C-Dome

A missile is launched from the Sa'ar 6-class corvette during live-fire tests of the naval version of its Iron Dome missile-defense system called "C-Dome." Israeli Ministry of Defense/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Israel's air defense system isn't just limited to land. The country also has a naval version of its Iron Dome system, mounting it aboard Israeli missile boats.

The naval version of the aerial defense system, known as C-Dome, is deployed aboard Sa'ar 6-class corvettes, four German-made warships ordered for Israel's navy.

In addition to the C-Dome, Sa'ar 6 vessels are also equipped with a 76mm Oto Melara Super Rapid main gun that's effective against close aerial threats.

Israeli missile boats

A missile is launched from the Sa'ar 6-class corvette during the series of live-fire tests of the naval version of its Iron Dome missile defense system. AnadoluIsraeli Ministry of Defence/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

After two years of development, Israel's military announced Monday that the seaborne defense system was used for the first time to intercept a "suspicious aerial target" that entered Israeli airspace near the city of Eilat, which has been frequently targeted by Houthis in Yemen in support of Hamas.

"Overnight, for the first time ever, an IDF Sa'ar 6-class corvette missile ship successfully intercepted a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) that had approached from the east and had crossed into the area of the Gulf of Eilat," the IDF said.

The Israeli naval fleet also includes 11 other warships in addition to the four Sa'ar 6-class corvettes, as well as five Dolphin-class submarines.

SPYDER

SPYDER, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' surface-to-air missile system, is on display as F-16 fighter jets of the Singapore Air Force perform at the Singapore Airshow. AP Photo/Joseph Nair

To further bolster its air defenses, Israel is also looking at a new "all-in-one" surface-to-air missile system called SPYDER, manufactured by Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

Israel, in collaboration with Rafael, is testing a new configuration for the weapons system, taking the missile launcher, radar, command and control system, and technology for surveillance and target acquisition and fitting it to an eight-wheel drive vehicle.

"Developed to address the critical operational needs of the modern battlefield, the SPYDER AiO provides an agile, autonomous, air defense asset, capable of rapid deployment within minutes, in challenging terrains, and with short reaction times," according to a fact sheet from Rafael.

"All-in-one" missile system

SPYDER surface-to-air missiles on a static display are seen as an F-16 jet fires flares during the Singapore Air Show. Joseph Nair/AP

Designed to carry up to eight canisterised missiles, including I-Derby SR, I-Derby ER, and Python-5 SR, it can engage up to four targets at a time, with a maximum range of up to 24.8 miles and an altitude of up to 7.4 miles, according to the fact sheet.

In January, Israel's defense ministry announced a successful test run of the new weapons system configuration, which is capable of intercepting drones, aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, and precision-guided munitions.

Rafael's SPYDER air defense system, in its All-In-One configuration, achieved a direct and effective hit during a recent, first of its kind test with the Israeli Ministry of Defense DDR&D. Watch the live fire test here: [YouTube Link] Another milestone in our commitment to pic.twitter.com/FvU2iS7t5u  Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (@RAFAELdefense) January 10, 2024

Editor's note: This article was originally published in April 2024 and updated in October.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Guitar hymns and prayers echoed inside an East Baltimore church Monday night on either side of six minutes of silence, one for each of the victims of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Behind flags and communal grief, a few hundred Marylanders took to the streets after a prayer service to march around the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, home to the citys largest Catholic congregation with Spanish services.

They worked to maintain the bridge. If they didnt go to work, nobody could cross the bridge. They literally gave their life for us, Vilma Veliz, who held the Guatemalan flag at the front of the procession, said in Spanish.

Veliz said she was family friends with 26-year-old Dorian Castillo Cabrera and Jose Mynor Lopez, two of the victims also part of a tight community of Guatemalan immigrants surrounding the church in Canton.

Divers have recovered the bodies of Castillo Cabrera; 38-year-old Maynor Suazo Sandoval, originally from Honduras; and 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, originally from Mexico.

The bodies of 49-year-old Miguel Luna, originally from El Salvador; Carlos Hernandez from Mexico; and Lopez, who was in his 30s, are still missing.

Luna, who was from the town of California in El Salvador, immigrated to the United States about 19 years ago and lived in Glen Burnie. He was a husband, a father of three and a grandfather.

Hernandez Fuentes, a devout Christian and foreman of the crew, was born in Mexico, lived in Essex, and left behind a wife and four children.

Suazo Sandoval immigrated from Azacualpa, Honduras, more than 17 years ago. He had a wife and two children and lived in Owings Mills.

Castillo Cabrera was from San Luis, Peten, in Guatemala and lived in Dundalk. Friends say he had a joyous sense of humor.

Lopez immigrated from Guatemala over 19 years ago, lived in Dundalk, and left behind a wife and four children.

Hernandez was a native of the Mexican state of Mihoacan. and a relative of Hernandez Fuentes, whose brother-in-law Adrian Julio Cervantes was rescued and survived after a cargo ship crashed into a support pillar and toppled the bridge into the Patapsco River.

Tonight made me very happy as the pastor of a predominantly Latino church, to see the members supporting other members and community. Its important we have one another, Father Ako Walker, Sacred Hearts pastor, said. When all the hype dies down, the people are still here.

Last weekend, a few members of the church built a memorial to the victims with crosses pinned with neon vests and flags of their homelands standing over work helmets. During a candlelight vigil, community members took turns shouldering the platform.

Two friends and I made it last Saturday, congregation member Victor Ramos said in Spanish. Its a sign the whole community is together with the families.

Led by Mexican, Guatemalan, Salvadorian and Honduran flags, the procession started at the church and turned two blocks up South Highland Avenue before turning onto Eastern Avenue and back down South Conkling Street to the starting point.

The group, which filled a city block, stopped periodically between songs to pray for one specific victim. Walker said the procession is similar to a Good Friday tradition in which the whole congregation takes turns lifting a platform representing the burial of Jesus.

Weve done processions for Holy Week and other religious events, but never like this, Ino Velasques, who typically sings at Mass and led the prayers during the procession, said in Spanish. Color, race, nationality, countries of origin dont matter. We represent one united community.

Laura Hargrove, director of interstate outreach for the governors office, spoke during the prayer service. Archbishop of Baltimore William Lori gave a homily before Walker introduced the six minutes of silence.

Its so sad, all of this. They were working to improve the bridge that all of us use, Miriam Medrano, a church member originally from Peru who carried the Mexican flag during the procession, said in Spanish. Its important we are all together in these moments of sadness.
State Department staff sent at least eight internal dissent memos to express disagreement with US policy on Israel and Gaza during the first two months of the war, The Independent can reveal.

A further memo was sent last month from the US embassy in Jordan, warning of increasing instability across the region due to Israels ongoing war, according to a person familiar with the matter, bringing the total number to at least nine.

Such a high number of internal dissent memorandums  a formal process by which staff can express concerns internally to a policy  highlights the widespread opposition within the department to the Biden administrations support for Israels war in Gaza.

By comparison, only one internal dissent memo was filed during the first three years of the Iraq War, widely considered to be one of the United States biggest foreign policy disasters.

Josh Paul, who resigned from the State Department in protest over US support for the war in October, said such a high number was unprecedented in recent memory.

To the best of my knowledge, it is the most on any issue in such a timespan, he said.

Dissent memorandums can be written and signed by any state department staff member, at which point they are sent to the secretary of states planning office, before being passed up the chain to senior department officials and secretary of state Antony Blinken. They are not made public or shared with the wider state department staff.

The dissent channel was created during the Vietnam war for State Department staff to express criticism and disagreements without fear of retribution. The content of such cables is fiercely protected by the department, and they rarely leak. It is likely that many more dissent memos were sent since the war began and have not been made public.

The devastation of Khan Younis following Israel pulling their troops from the city (Getty)

Mitchell Reiss, a former director of the office that handled dissent memos between 2003 and 2005, the first three years of the Iraq war, said he received one such dissent memo during his tenure.

Its not just sort of a paper-pushing exercise. It was taken very seriously by the highest levels of the department, Mr Reiss, who served under secretary of state Colin Powell, said.

But he cautioned that it would be impossible to know if all the memos had taken an anti-war stance without seeing them.

The most recent dissent memorandum was sent last month from the US embassy in Amman, Jordan, and focused on the destabilizing effect of Israels actions in that country and across the region, one source said.

A memo that was leaked to Axios in November that was signed by 100 State Department and USAID employees, urged for the department to reassess its policy toward Israel and demand a ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel launched its offensive in Gaza following a devastating surprise attack by Hamas on 7 October that killed 1,200 people. More than 200 people were taken hostage.

Since then, Israels war has killed more than 33,000 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry  some 13,000 of them children. The UN and multiple aid organizations working on the ground have warned that Gaza is on the brink of a major famine, and have blamed Israel for blocking the delivery of aid into the strip.

Israel provoked international outrage last week for an attack on an aid convoy that killed seven aid workers belonging to World Central Kitchen. That brought the number of aid workers killed by Israels offensive to more than 220, according to Oxfam.

The UK government said it is completely united over the conflict in Gaza as it faces continued demands to suspend arms exports to Israel (AP)

The Independent has previously reported on high levels of opposition within the State Department over president Joe Bidens unconditional support for Israel, some six months into the war.

Charles Blaha, former director of the State Departments Office of Security and Human Rights, told The Independent that he had never seen this much dissent.

I was in the State Department for 32 years, including during the Iraq war, and I have never seen this much unhappiness. It is even worse than Iraq. So yeah, people are concerned, Mr Blaha, who maintains contact with current staffers, said.

Mr Biden has come under increasing pressure over his longstanding and unconditional support for Israel as the war has dragged on.

The killing of the seven international aid workers, including an American citizen, by three precision Israeli airstrikes, caused an uproar around the world and brought a renewed spotlight on Mr Bidens insistence on continuing arms deliveries.

On the same day of the deadly strike, the Biden administration approved the transfer of thousands more bombs to Israel, and is currently weighing an $18bn sale that includes fighter jets and other equipment.

Despite the internal opposition in the State Department, there have only been two public resignations linked to the war: Mr Paul and Annelle Sheline, who left her post at the near eastern section of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor in March and spoke out publicly against the war after being encouraged to do so by her colleagues.

Brian Finucane, who worked for a decade in the office of the legal adviser at the State Department advising on issues related to the laws of war, arms transfers and war crimes, told The Independent that there was a huge gap between the departments rank-and-file and the messaging coming from the White House.

Based on my conversations since October with people at the department, there is a real disconnect between the analysis and policy recommendations of state department personnel relating to Gaza and Israel-Palestine generally and decisions ultimately being made by the White House, he said.

The president is the ultimate decider on Gaza and hes been largely immune to the facts of this disastrous conflict, at least with respect to actual US policy as opposed to rhetoric, he added.

Mr Blinken responded to an initial flurry of dissent cables over the war in Gaza back in November, writing in a letter to staff to acknowledge the sentiment.

I know that for many of you, the suffering caused by this crisis is taking a profound personal toll, Mr Blinken said in the letter obtained by Reuters.

The anguish that comes with seeing the daily images of babies, children, elderly people, women, and other civilians suffering in this crisis is wrenching. I feel it myself, he said.

There were an average of almost nine dissent messages per year sent to Washington between 1972 and 2017, according to the Foreign Service Journal.

A state department spokesperson said in a statement given to The Independent that Mr Blinken welcomes people utilizing the dissent channel.

He takes it seriously, and it causes him to reflect on his own thinking in terms of policymaking and what he proposes to the president, the spokesperson added.
Expect another string of storms to hit Dallas-Fort Worth later today bringing large hail and damaging winds  possibly even tornadoes  to the area, according to a National Weather Service Fort Worth office report early Tuesday morning.

Cyclonic air high in the atmosphere  or an upper level low  is slowly headed for North Texas and will surely suck the warm unstable air roiling in our area upward to spawn thunderstorms and heavy rain across an already soaked region. Some areas may see up to 4 inches of rain south of I-20 and east of I-35.

Some of this activity is expected to be severe mainly south of I-20/30 corridors with large hail as the primary threat, Fort Worth meteorologist Patricia Sanchez wrote on the NWS website. There is still a threat for damaging winds and tornadoes, especially across the far southern zones where both wind profiles and thermodynamics may support it.

Strong to severe storms are possible much of today, with the highest severe chances near and south of the I-20 corridor. Large hail will be the main concern along with a threat for a couple of tornadoes across the far southern zones.

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This line of storms will finally move east by Tuesday evening and into Wednesday, Sanchez wrote.

Be aware that this storm can arrive as early as later this morning, and it will linger through most of the day, increasing the threat for flooding across the region, according to the NWS.

Additional rounds of heavy rainfall will continue flooding concerns today through Wednesday morning, the NWS forecast states. A Flood Watch remains in effect for portions of East/Southeast Texas through 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Much of Texas dodged curse of cloud cover during eclipse

The weather service alerted the region of impending storms they said could arrive mere hours after totality of the solar eclipse Monday. Fears of what the inclement weather could do even forced an eclipse festival in Burnet to shut down hours before the celestial show could unfold.

The turn in the weather did not arrive in time to ruin stargazers plans of watching the rare heavenly event. Many Texas towns on the enviable spine of totality, including Hillsboro, hosted thousands of global tourists as they ooohed and aaahed as the moon slowly eased across the face of a sun that in some places was obscured by fleeting clouds.
Aaliyah Rigby and Abbey Anderson react when contact is made with astronaut Mike Barratt over a radio at Blue Peak High School in Tooele on Monday, April 8, 2024. This is something I get to brag about to my kids in the future! said Anderson. Im just so excited I got to do something so cool with my life today, said Rigby.

The solar eclipse might not have been fully visible from Utah, but that didnt stop a group of Tooele students from having an astronomical experience on Monday, when they interviewed an astronaut aboard the International Space Station as it passed over Utah.

Students in the Tooele County School District were able to communicate with Mike Barratt, a NASA flight engineer on Expedition 71 on the space station, through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program. The international program coordinates radio contact events for classrooms and communities to learn more about life in space and practice using communication and radio technologies.

Teachers and students gathered in Tooeles Community Learning Center, which houses the districts career and technical education programs. Members of the Logan-based Bridgerland Amateur Radio Club provided tech support for the event, which included constructing an antenna system on the centers roof in order to connect to the space station.

The call started when the International Space Station was positioned above Utah, around 11:45 a.m. MDT. Clint Thomsen, the teacher who coordinated the event, switched on his radio and called out to the space station, which orbits around 250 miles above sea level. The crowd heard only static at first, but astronaut Barratts voice finally crackled through the auditoriums sound system.

Students quizzed Barratt on his training to become an astronaut, the physical effects of being in space, how zero gravity would affect the flight of a paper airplane, what movie nights are like on the space station and whether there is a procedure in place for alien contact (Barratt said there isnt).

Barratt also shared some interesting anecdotes from his life in space. One student asked what it was like to cry in zero gravity, and although Barratt reported he hadnt yet had a really good cry in space, he said another astronaut had recently experienced something similar.

The other day a friend of mine had some chili pepper in her eye, so we took a drink bag, squirted water out and filled up her eye socket with water, and it stayed there, Barratt said. It doesnt run down her face, it just stays in her eyeball. Its kind of fun to see, so I would imagine tears would just well up and create a giant ball of water in your eyeball.

Barratt encouraged the students to find their niche in space exploration and pursue subjects they love.

If you find out what youre passionate about, youll do a much better job at it, he said. If you go do something you love, at the end, youll be so much better at it ... and we need all kinds of people with all kinds of talents up here to (work) from a diversity of backgrounds to make it go farther.

Tater Thomsen asks astronaut Mike Barratt a question through a radio at Blue Peak High School in Tooele, on Monday April 8, 2024. Students from six different schools and charters were able to pose questions for Barratt.

Students watch a live stream of the International Space Station at Blue Peak High School in Tooele, on Monday April 8, 2024. Students were able to communicate with astronaut Mike Barratt once they made radio contact.

Radio technicians applaud after a successful contact with astronaut Mike Barratt at Blue Peak High School in Tooele on Monday April 8, 2024. Teacher Clint Thomsen secured a grant to facilitate amateur radio experiments within Tooele County School District classes, including direct radio communication with the International Space Station.

Clint Thomsen initiates contact with astronaut Mike Barratt before students are able to step up to the microphone and ask questions at Blue Peak High School in Tooele, on Monday April 8, 2024. Thomsen secured a grant to facilitate amateur radio experiments within Tooele County School District classes including direct radio communication with the International Space Station.

Students at Blue Peak High School pose questions to astronaut Mike Barratt over a radio in Tooele, on Monday April 8, 2024. Teacher Clint Thomsen secured a grant to facilitate amateur radio experiments within Tooele County School District classes, including direct radio communication with the International Space Station.

Students are interviewed after making successful radio contact with astronaut Mike Barratt at Blue Peak High School in Tooele, on Monday April 8, 2024. Students from six different schools and charters were able to pose questions for Barratt.

Chaston Williams, one of the students who spoke with Barratt, said one of the best parts of the experience was connecting with the astronauts over their shared interest in radio technology.

Its cool that they also have that hobby to do ham radio, he said.

Williams explained that everyone in his cybersecurity class at the community learning center studied for a ham radio license exam, which prepared them to develop radio- and STEM-focused questions for Barratt.

Thomsen, who teaches a variety of computer classes at the center, said ham radio is a great way to teach students the principles of basic electronics and communications. He added that using radio for this event also allowed students to have a more unique, direct experience with astronauts.

Its personal to them, he said. They have a contact not through some sort of satellite network, not through some sort of big, complex broadcast environment, but talking directly to astronauts. I think that tangibility is great on so many levels for students.

Bob Wood, a member of the Bridgerland Amateur Radio Club who assisted in the event, has enjoyed ham radio as a hobby for years. He said his favorite part of the event wasnt the technical portion, but seeing students reactions to what technology could accomplish.

It is so amazing to see what these kids now see in our communications, he said. Theyll look at a space career, theyll look at a radio communications career, theyll look at a computer career, and we have that influence on them.

Wood said the club has set up their equipment for similar events in Utah and even received a request to do so in another state.

This has been amazing, mainly because with this project, with the International Space Station, we can bring it to schools and watch the faces of the children as they see this communication with a man in space, he said.

The event was made possible through a grant from the ARISS program, which coordinates similar opportunities across the globe. The program is managed by several international amateur radio organizations and space agencies and encourages students to explore careers in STEM. The program is currently accepting proposals from both formal and informal educational organizations to host their own amateur radio contact with the International Space Station.

Thomsen said the event was the culmination of nearly three years work, but that the effort was worth it because of how much the students enjoyed the event. His own daughter, Tater, was able to ask Barratt a question, and he said it was amazing as both a teacher and parent to see her experience.

I had a hard time not just grabbing her and squeezing her and kissing her right there, he said. She has been interested in space for the longest time. Shes been to see launches, shes been to all the various space centers and she absolutely loves space. So this was really, really, really neat for her, and it was super awesome for me to be here with her.

Thomsen said one student, nearly in tears, told him shed remember the day for the rest of her life.

These kids will take this experience today, and maybe theyll go into some related field, maybe some STEM field, maybe not, Thomsen said. But theyre definitely not going to forget it. Its that passion for these things that we want to convey along with the knowledge to kids.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued Harris County to block a new guaranteed income pilot program that would provide financial assistance to families in the countys poorest neighborhoods.

Under the federally funded program, roughly 1,900 Harris County households would receive monthly cash payments of $500 for 18 months. The county put $20.5 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to launch the program, known as Uplift Harris, which is intended to help households in the countys 10 poorest ZIP codes who are living 200% below the federal poverty line with no strings attached. Those families had already been selected and payments were slated to begin this month.

Conservatives balked at the program after Harris County commissioners approved it in June and have since tried to stop it. State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston-area Republican who frequently has sought to undercut the countys Democratic leadership, asked Paxton earlier this year to declare the law unconstitutional.

Paxton blasted the program in a legal filing, calling it an illegal and illegitimate government overreach and dubbing it the Harris Handout. Paxton argues the pilot program violates a section of the Texas Constitution that says no local government can lend its credit or to grant public money or thing of value to individuals.

This scheme is plainly unconstitutional, Paxton said in an April 9 statement. Taxpayer money must be spent lawfully and used to advance the public interest, not merely redistributed with no accountability or reasonable expectation of a general benefit. I am suing to stop officials in Harris County from abusing public funds for political gain.

Harris County officials dismissed Paxtons move as the latest effort by the states Republican leadership to curtail the countys authority.

This lawsuit is nothing more than another attack on Harris County government by Republican state leaders looking to make headlines, Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said in a statement. This program is about helping people in a real way by giving them direct cash assistance  something governments have always done. I cannot for the life of me understand why any public servant would be opposed to that.

A state appeals court on April 22 blocked Paxton's emergency move to temporarily block the county from distributing the funds, upholding a lower court's ruling. Shortly after the appeals court's ruling, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis said the county will start sending payments to program participants.

Helping families in need is a proper use of government funds, Menefee said in an April 18 statement. Giving people the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty is both morally sound and good public policy. Its ridiculous that politicians in Austin would be traveling to Harris County just to block us from helping people.

Paxton is expected to appeal and take the case to the Texas Supreme Court.

Harris County is the latest Texas locality to experiment with guaranteed income programs, following efforts in Austin, San Antonio and El Paso County. Local officials across the country turned to such efforts in recent years to help needy families weather high housing and food costs and bounce back from the pandemics economic fallout. Beneficiaries of a guaranteed income pilot program in Austin, which ended last year, received $1,000 a month and mostly used that money to help them stay housed as the city faced exorbitant increases in home prices and rents, an Urban Institute survey found.

Houston residents broadly support the idea of guaranteed income, according to polling from the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University. More than 75% of respondents to a 2023 Kinder poll said they support a universal basic income for low-income, working adults.

Disclosure: Rice University has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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After a years-long battle to pass legislation for an Office of Child Advocate in Kansas, lawmakers finally got it done.

Lawmakers had been split over how to create the office that would handle complaints about the states troubled child welfare system and who should control it. But last week, lawmakers from the House and Senate got together and worked on the measure again and ironed out their differences.

When it came to the final vote Thursday night, the legislation had little dissension. The bill is now on Gov. Laura Kellys desk awaiting her signature.

While Ive always been a strong supporter, Ill admit that I wasnt sure it was ever going to make it to the finish line, said Lori Ross, founder and CEO of FosterAdopt Connect. She applauded Rep. Jarrod Ousley, D-Merriam, and many other champions, who pushed for the bill for several years.

Ousley became a strong advocate for the legislation more than six years ago. Since then, the issue has been hotly debated with many fearing that lawmakers would never reach an agreement on the specifics of the bill

I was driving in this morning and I was thinking its about time, Ousley told The Star on Friday. Weve been waiting a long time on this and I feel like we got a good product, I feel like consensus was made.

What the legislation would do is basically put into law what Kelly did with an executive order nearly three years ago. When lawmakers were unable to come up with a bill that was agreeable to both sides, Kelly established the Division of Child Advocate within the Office of Public Advocates in October 2021.

Its exciting to see them finally get it codified and put into statute, said Mike Fonkert, deputy director of Kansas Appleseed which has worked with lawmakers for several years on the legislation. We didnt want it to be something that went away when Gov. Kelly was out of office.

I think that just adds to our hope that this will be a long-standing thing to benefit kids.

According to the legislation passed late last week, the child advocate would be appointed by the governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate. The person selected would serve a term of five years or until a successor has been appointed and confirmed.

Under the legislation, the Office of Child Advocate would be required to compile, collect and preserve a record of complaints that are received. Those complaints can reveal concerning patterns inside the child welfare system, which in Kansas has been under scrutiny for many years, that may need to be addressed.

Some complaints, if they can be independently verified, could lead to an investigation.

The bill would also require the child advocate to submit an annual report to the governor, the Legislature and judicial branches. Those reports would include the number of complaints received, their dispositions and any recommendations made to improve the child welfare system.

This bill allows for independent review of actions taken by people working in the systems designed to protect our most vulnerable children, Ross said in an email. It creates a real time opportunity for examination of trends and identification of problems that can and should be solved via a direct feedback loop.

It also gives a voice to the concerns of average Kansans who may have very real concerns about the children and families impacted by our child welfare system.

Ross said she and others serving kids and families in the Sunflower State welcome the scrutiny.

We should all be willing to take in feedback from the community we serve, she said, and to continually learn and grow.
The Community Foundation of Central Missouri, host of the annual CoMoGives campaign, has found its new leader.

John Baker, retiring after 13 years as executive director, officially passed the torch last week to Eric Sappington, who formerly was the vice president of institutional advancement for Missouri Valley College in Marshall.

A retirement celebration was held Wednesday for Baker, which also welcomed Sappington to the community. It also served as a chance for the foundation to announce a new fund in Baker's honor, known as the "Live Here Give Here" fund. This new communitywide endowment is "dedicated to enhancing the lives of local residents and supporting nonprofit organizations," the foundation said in a news release. The endowment will thrive on contributions of any size.

John Baker accepts a retirement gift Wednesday from Community Foundation of Central Missouri Board Chair Susan Hart, as he steps down from his role as executive director.

"We believe that the 'Live Here Give Here' fund will serve as a catalyst for positive change in our community," said Susan Hart, board chair. "By providing a sustainable source of support for local initiatives, we can empower residents to actively participate in shaping the future of our region."

Leading the foundation into the future

Sappington has a "proven track record in fundraising and community development, coupled with his passion for philanthropy, (it made) him the ideal candidate to lead our foundation into its next chapter of growth and impact," Hart said.

He is a lifelong Missouri resident, and Sappington said Columbia has always been close to his heart in an interview with the Tribune on Thursday.

Apart from a few years in the Kansas City area, he's always lived in the central to north central part of the state, seeing Columbia as a central hub for activity, Sappington said.

"Columbia was always the big city you came to. It is exciting to be here every day at work in the downtown area and be a part of all the things that are going on in Columbia," he said.

Community Foundation of Central Missouri Executive Director John Baker officially passed the torched Wednesday to his successor Eric Sappington during Baker's retirement celebration at the Reichmann Indoor Pavilion at Stephens Lake Park.

Sappington has upward of 15 years experience in institutional advancement through a nearly 20-year career with Missouri Valley.

"(This job) really aligns with all the things, you know, philanthropic work has been my passion for close to 20 years. Being able to come to work for the Community Foundation like this and almost 170 organizations to increase their giving receipts is something I am thrilled about," he said, noting his educational background in business. "I am fortunate over the years I have been able to recognize I enjoy connecting with people, helping organizations."

While the interview and hiring process was separate from Baker's duties, he and the other foundation staff members did get a chance to meet with Sappington before he was offered the job.

"I think Eric will do very well. He has good experience in fundraising and fund development," Baker said. "He will bring a lot of strength and insight into that function of his role. He's a good learner and I think he should be very productive over the next few years. I look forward to the directions they'll take.

"He seemed to truly internalize the mission of the foundation and to use the power of philanthropy to improve lives in central Missouri. That was, I thought, a very important thing to hear from him (during the interview process)."

Interviews happened over the phone, via zoom and through in-person meetings with foundation board members, Sappington said. One of the final interviews was with the entire approximately 20-person board.

"That is extremely impressive in this day and age to get 20 people in a room discussing the same topic. To get everybody so passionate about one cause, that was extremely impressive to me. To have the board's support and their interest in hiring the right person to lead the foundation into the future," he said.

Through this past week and next, Sappington is soaking up as much information as he can from Baker during the leadership transition. Sappington doesn't expect there to be significant changes with the leadership changeover, and said he wants to build on what the foundation and CoMoGives already does.

"I've asked John to please not change his cellphone number anytime soon, because I'm sure I'll be calling him," Sappington said jokingly. "CoMoGives is something special. It's not something you see a lot of, at least you didn't. The foundation was a leader in getting that out in this state and getting the community and region to really buy-in to coming together and helping each other."

Baker still aims to have active retirement

After the transition period from this past week and next finishes, Baker will take it easy, but only for about a week. A Florida vacation beckons in the latter half of April. Following that, Baker has other planned activities for the next three or four months.

Once this flurry of activity is over, Baker will see what next venture is calling to him, he said.

"I'll listen to my inner muse that will guide me where I think I might want to do next. I still have my brain and body and I like to be active," Baker said.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Community Foundation of Central Missouri welcomes new leader
Sen. Lindsey Graham and former President Donald Trump have been close allies in recent years. But following Trumps comments on abortion Monday, in which the Republican candidate tried to distance himself from calls for a national ban, the South Carolina senator criticized him, "The idea of the Republican Party abandoning the opposition to late-term abortion, I think, would be a mistake."

Trump did not take the criticism lightly.

Senator Lindsey Graham is doing a great disservice to the Republican Party, and to our Country, Trump wrote about one of his top allies on Capitol Hill, adding that the senator "constantly favors and promotes" military interventions abroad. Instead of abortion, an electoral burden for the GOP, Trump argued that Republicans should spend more time discussing the U.S.- Mexico border situation.

Trumps public position on abortion is meant to disarm Democrats, who he claims love this issue. By pursuing a federal abortion ban, now, Republicans like Graham are handing Democrats their dream of the House, Senate, and perhaps even the Presidency," Trump wrote.

Graham has been a devoted supporter of Trump in Congress, consistently defending him against Democrats, despite arguing in 2016 that Trump would destroy the Republican Party ("and we will deserve it," he wrote on social media at the time). When Graham introduced a bill in September 2022 to ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, he along with other anti-choice Republicans were hoping for Trump's support.

However, in Mondays video, Trump, while boasting that he helped overturn Roe v. Wade, refused to publicly support a national prohibition. Graham, for his part, said he "respectfully" disagreed with that.

The states rights issue, I think, is not about the pro-life movement, Graham told HuffPost. Its a political position that I think doesnt make sense if youre pro-life, because pro-life is about the well-being of the unborn child.

But other Republican senators who support a federal ban endorsed Trump's new, public position on the matter, at least for now, a seeming acknowledgment of how the issue has hurt the party's performance in recent elections.

Some of the same Republican senators who supported that bill maintain it should be left up to the states, in yet another way Trump has scrambled traditional GOP orthodoxy and forced his party into uncomfortable debates they once agreed on, HuffPost reported.

Theres no way this United States Congress is going to pass a federal rule on abortion. I mean, its just not, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told HuffPost. A bill like that is dead as Dillinger, so why debate it? Its not going to happen.
Year after year, these victims of child molestation tell their stories to lawmakers. Why?

PROVIDENCE  It's not easy for any one of them to dredge up these dirty secrets from childhood.

Dr. Herbert "Hub" Brennan was near tears  his voice quaking  as he, for the seventh year in a row, told a panel of legislators and the Capitol TV audience the painful secret he did not even tell his wife until they'd been married for 15 years.

The secret? He was molested repeatedly as a child by the Rev. Brendan Smyth, a visiting priest, counselor and teacher at Our Lady of Mercy School and Church in East Greenwich between 1965 and 1968. Smyth later returned to Ireland and pleaded guilty there to 141 counts of sexual abuse. He died in prison.

Brennan told of how he was pulled out of his third-grade class by the nuns and put in the principal's office at Smyth's instruction.

"I can still hear the click of the metal hardware on the door as the door opened," Brennan told lawmakers. "He would take me across the hall into the nurse's station and rape me. [Then] he'd send me back. I'd be sent back to my classroom, expected to learn and ... to be a normal child, adult and human being."

Victims relive the trauma year after year

A 66-year-old respected East Greenwich doctor, Brennan is one of a now-familiar troupe of victims of pedophile priests and other trusted elders who have come to the State House in person, or who write in testimony year after year to recount what happened to them.

The focus of their testimony is a bill to remove a legal obstacle to the filing of civil suits against molesters and the institutions that allegedly knew about them but did nothing to stop the sexual abuse of children in their care.

Their aim is to convince lawmakers to eliminate any statute of limitations whatsoever on these cases.

They had moderate success in 2019 when legislators extended the statute of limitations on lawsuits against the perpetrators of child sexual abuse for up to 35 years after the victim's 18th birthday (or age 53). However, that move did not retroactively apply to non-perpetrators, whom victims call "the Big Culprits."

Now, the victims  "Hub" Brennan, Ann Hagan Webb, Kathryn Robb, Claude LeBoeuf, Dennis Laprade, Mary Banks, Pasco Troia, Helen McGonigle Hyde, Michelle Ross (sister of the late David Ross), Robert Houllahan  return to the State House yet again. And someone new has joined them.

Former student who says coach Aaron Thomas touched them inappropriately joins other victims

On a recent Tuesday, they were joined for the first time by 39-year-old Michael Cesaro, who identified himself as one of the students inappropriately touched by Aaron Thomas, the former North Kingstown coach facing child molestation charges after being accused of subjecting school athletes to "naked fat tests."

Cesaro's account did not go as far back as many of the others who spoke.

But he alleged that, starting at 15 years old, he was "coerced" into getting naked in front of Aaron Thomas "during school hours and on school property."

Defense lawyers, from left, John E. Macdonald and John L. Calcagni and their client, Aaron Thomas, in court March 5 asking that child molestation charges be dropped against Thomas.

Cesaro testified that the "calculated level of grooming" convinced him and "hundreds of other boys" that there was nothing inappropriate happening.

"It wasn't until I had grown, matured and had a family of my own that I was able to process what had happened to me," he said.

He said he told the North Kingstown Police Department "what I had endured all those years past. I asked my brother to join me knowing that he had also participated in the testing program, but he declined ... He was still ashamed."

"There are no limits on when or how long the impacts of sexual child sexual abuse can be felt," Cesaro implored lawmakers. "Accordingly, there should be no limits on justice for those that suffer at the hands of the abusers. For me, my brother, and ... the thousands of other victims that require more time to find the strength to address their past, I beg that you pass this amendment."

Why come back year after year?

In a quavering voice, Brennan told the legislators how difficult it is for him to tell his story year after year, and why he does it  to try to convey to legislators why it often takes decades, long after the state's current statute of limitations has expired, for child sex-abuse victims to acknowledge the effects of what happened to them.

The "first thing we've got to get by is the enormous shame," he said. "This crime  committed by another  is one of the few, very few, that bring shame by the victim themselves."

More: RI Supreme Court rules in favor of diocese, says they are not perpetrators of abuse

Robert Houllahan

Brennan's words were echoed by Robert Houllahan, who was one of three alleged child sex-abuse victims who tested the reach of the most recent 2019 state law extending the time limit for filing suits.

They sued former Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin, two of his predecessors and the operators of the schools they attended, alleging they knew but "ignored, concealed and/or pretended to be unaware that priests were sexually abusing children in order to protect the reputation of the Roman Catholic Church."

Bishop Thomas Tobin blesses the congregation during Palm Sunday services at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in 2023.

Last June, the state Supreme Court sided with the diocese. It ruled that the alleged personal injuries took place during a period when Rhode Island had a three-year statute of limitations, and the extended lookback period created by the 2019 law applied only to perpetrators, meaning "those accused of committing child sexual abuse."

"It's not about me," said Brennan. "Please just, if you can, imagine your child. Imagine your grandchild being sent off to school, being sent off to the hospital with your trust and they're raped ... and they don't say anything to you."

"My parents died without knowing what had happened to me," he said.

Who opposes the amendment?

With an anticipated hearing on the matching House version of the bill later this month, resistance has come from the Rhode Island Catholic Conference, the insurance industry, the American Tort Reform Association and the Rhode Island chapter of the ACLU, which called it "a dangerous precedent for the due-process rights of civil defendants."

"Statutes of limitation serve an important purpose," wrote the ACLU's Steven Brown. "They ensure that evidence is relatively fresh and they recognize that as time passes, it becomes much harder for a person to mount a defense."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Child sex abuse victims of RI's Catholic priests tell their stories
WELLS, Maine  The Wells Planning Board on April 1 accepted a preliminary application to build several new housing units at 1922 Post Road.

The applicant, Green & Company of North Hampton, New Hampshire, seeks to build 17 or 18 units on approximately 8.5 acres of land at the site. Two-thirds of this land would be preserved as open space, according to town documents.

Green & Company first submitted its pre-application paperwork to the town in October, seeking, at the time, to build 20 townhouses at the site. Since then, the company received approval from the Wells Zoning Board of Appeals to install a bridge across a brook that runs near the propertys entrance, according to town engineer Michael Livingston.

These plans show the layout of a New Hampshire developer's proposal to build new townhomes at 1922 Post Road in Wells, Maine.

The project also has a new engineer: Geoffrey Aleva of Civil Consultants of South Berwick.

Aleva appeared alongside Jenna Green of Green & Company at the Planning Boards April 1 meeting.

The project now calls for two or three fewer townhomes than originally proposed. The units would be accessed by a cul-de-sac ending in a loop, with enough room for fire engines to fully access the development in case of an emergency, according the proposal in town documents.

Thomas Danis currently owns the property, which has a home and a barn on it. The developer plans to remove the home to allow for stormwater management measures at the site.

Planning Board members took a site walk at the property last fall.

These plans show the layout of a New Hampshire developer's proposal to build new townhomes at 1922 Post Road in Wells, Maine.

The property is within the residential-commercial and 75-foot shoreland overlay districts. The project would not require a detailed traffic study and, if approved, would connect to the towns water and sewer systems.

Part of the sale of the Danis parcel includes land across the railroad tracks that run past the back end of the property. Such land, approximately 17 acres, would remain as undisturbed woods and wetlands and, at the same time, potentially give the applicant the bonus density needed to add one more unit onto the main portion off Post Road.

The Planning Board has given the applicant a 60-day extension to address assorted issues discussed during the April 1 meeting.

More: Wells eyes $2M community center with ice rink and pickleball courts

Wells considering moratorium to curb large housing projects

Like other current proposals, the Green & Company project is making its way through the towns planning process at a time when the community is considering temporarily halting large-scale housing projects. As a result of a Select Board vote in March, the town attorney is now drafting a retroactive moratorium that, if approved by voters at a town meeting, would pause such development in Wells for 180 days.

'Enough is enough': Why Wells wants a moratorium to curb large housing projects

In recent weeks, residents have focused on one proposal that also is currently before the Planning Board: a Massachusetts developers hopes of building 165 single-family townhouses on 121 acres at 502 Post Road. In social media posts and during public meetings, residents have expressed their concerns that such a project would overwhelm the towns services, schools, traffic, environment, infrastructure, health care, and overall quality of life.

Select Board members have publicly agreed that the town needs to hit the pause button, examine its zoning and land use ordinances, and fine-tune its management of growth in the community from there.

Given that the moratorium is still being drafted and would need voters' approval, it is not known whether such a pause in development would affect a smaller-scale housing proposal like the one Green & Company has put forth.

The Select Board will hold a public hearing about a possible moratorium during its meeting on Tuesday, April 16, at the Wells Town Hall at 208 Sanford Road at 6 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Wells ME townhouses proposed amid calls for building pause
AMHERST  A Gladstone woman pleaded guilty Monday to attempted malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer, but a judge is deferring a ruling of guilt for two years and will dismiss the charge if certain conditions are met.

Antoinette Schake, 53, initially was charged with attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer in connection with a Feb. 8, 2022, incident.

Amherst County Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Amber Drumheller said the Amherst County Sheriffs Office responded to a 911 call of a woman attempting to harm herself. A sergeant upon arrival saw Schake holding a large silver revolver pointing in his direction and he told her three times to drop the weapon, Drumheller said.

The Virginia State Police report into the incident states when Schake didnt drop the firearm the officer fired in self-defense and struck her in the arm, the prosecutors office has said.

Schake made a remark Let him kill me, Drumheller said in summarizing facts of the case in Amherst Circuit Court on Monday before Judge Jeff Bennett. The defendant also said he should have shot me in the heart during the course of the investigation, according to Drumheller.

Matthew Pack, Schakes attorney, said she had mental health issues, was not in her right mind that night and was not on her medication at the time.

She didnt believe she had an intent to harm anyone that night, Pack said. In her heart and mind, she didnt mean to hurt anyone.

Pack said Schake is an honorably discharged veteran who does not want to become a convicted felon and accepts responsibility.

It really came out the wrong way and put a lot of people in danger, Pack said, adding Schake understands and is sorry.

A charge of attempted malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer carries two to 10 years but Schake is not expected to do any jail time if she abides by court-ordered conditions. Bennett accepted the plea agreement without ruling on guilt and placed her on supervised probation for two years.

A condition is that she continues to undergo counseling, Bennett said. He said he looks forward to seeing her again with good news in following the conditions so the charge can be dismissed.

The judge also dismissed a use of firearm charge Monday that would have carried a mandatory minimum of three years behind bars. A review hearing is scheduled for April 7, 2026, in Amherst Circuit Court.

Pack said after the hearing the Amherst area doesnt have a veterans court or mental health docket like other states and thanked prosecutors for a good outcome.

This was a case that involved some severe mental health issues, some previous post-traumatic stress disorder and childhood PTSD with this lady, Pack said. I feel good about the outcome because we dont have those administrative tools  I think it was a just result given the facts and circumstances as it occurred.

He said PTSD and mental health issues are real issues and Virginia needs to head in the direction of a veterans court and mental health docket for such cases.

Pack said even though Schake had a firearm that night it seemed like it was more of a cry for help, and a suicide issue, or attempted suicide rather than attempting to target law enforcement.

She really wanted the court to understand that she had no intention of harming anyone than possibly herself, Pack said, adding of the outcome: I think it was very fair, I think it was accurate and I think it was exactly what we needed in this situation. It gives Mrs. Schake the ability to do the things that she needs to do and keep this off her criminal history.
A Lynchburg man pleaded guilty Monday to five charges in connection with his role in a 2020 protest that escalated into a riot and led to destruction of downtown property in the aftermath of George Floyds murder that sparked widespread outrage.

William Angelo Shanks Jr., 33, pleaded guilty in Lynchburg Circuit Court to two counts of destruction of property and one count each of participating in a riot on May 31 to June 1, 2020, throwing an object at a building and trespassing. Shanks is among numerous individuals charged or sentenced for their roles in an event Lynchburg Commonwealths Attorney Bethany Harrison has described in court as a very dangerous night, one our police officers have never seen before.

Lynchburg Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Nathan Freier said at Mondays plea hearing Shanks was among a crowd of more than 50 people who protested at Fifth & Federal Station. Officers with the Lynchburg Police Department have said they responded to a crowd that was growing disorderly outside the restaurant the night of May 31. A Black Lives Matter protest occurred in the area earlier that day that city officials said grew in size and unrest into the night.

After a loud popping sound, people in the crowd started throwing rocks at the restaurant and the Adams Motor Company building beside it, according to testimony in previous cases.

Two other officers said they parked police vehicles around the area to respond and returned to find windows and headlights smashed and dents throughout. One vehicle had bullet holes in it, and damage to the two vehicles totaled almost $30,000 between them, according to evidence presented at a 2021 hearing for Shanks.

Details of two arrests in connection with Lynchburg protests emerge in bond hearings The cases of two Lynchburg men arrested following a protest against racial injustice that tu

Protesters had been gathering regularly in Lynchburg and elsewhere in the U.S. the week following the May 25, 2020, death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody. A crowd gathered outside Lynchburgs Fifth & Federal Station six days later, partly in response to a social media post from the restaurants owner that many found to be racially insensitive.

Lynchburg police have said as night fell, officers responded to a disorderly crowd in the roadway, with protesters throwing rocks and assaulting police, leading to some injuries among law enforcement. Property along 5th Street, police cars and the Virginia ABC store at 12th and Church streets were damaged during the ongoing incident, police have said.

Freier said Shanks was captured on surveillance video that night and threw multiple objects at the restaurant. The defendant threw more than 40 objects over the course of two hours, Freier said.

Freier said the restaurant sustained $15,000 in damage and Adams Motor Company had more than $80,000 in damages. The victims mainly want restitution and to move on from the incident, Freier said.

Aaron Boone, Shanks attorney, did not respond to Freiers statements of evidence. Judge Frederick Watson found Shanks guilty of the five charges and scheduled sentencing for 1:30 p.m. July 31. In accordance with the plea agreement, four other charges against Shanks were dropped.

Shanks is released on bond awaiting sentencing.
A Mexican citizen arrested in Bedford County last month was sentenced Friday to six months in jail in connection with a case involving the abduction of a 15-year-old girl.

Isauro Garcia Cruz, 43, faces charges on warrants from Butler County, Ohio, charging him with kidnapping and abduction, the Bedford County Sheriffs Office said in a March 6 news release. Cruz also had pending warrants for aggravated sexual battery of a minor relating to a different incident, the release said. The release said Cruz is an undocumented Mexican citizen.

The girl was found in the 1200 block of Burnbridge Road in Forest on March 1, the Bedford County Sheriffs Office has said.

The arrest was the result of a joint investigative effort that began by the Bedford County Sheriffs Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lynchburg Police Department in assisting the Butler County Sheriffs Office in Ohio, according to Bedford County authorities.

Bedford County Commonwealths Attorney Wes Nance said Cruz pleaded guilty Friday in Bedford County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court to one of two charges of contributing to delinquency of a minor.

This clears the way for him to be extradited back to Ohio where he faces much more serious charges, Nance said in an email to The News & Advance. This office, and the Sheriffs Office, continues to investigate this incident and coordinate with Ohio authorities to maximize his accountability there.

Nance said it is important to note prosecutors were left in a difficult position in regard to the Bedford County charges since the minor in question has been back in Ohio since immediately after the defendants arrest.

Cruz will face an extradition hearing in Bedford General District Court in early May, according to the Bedford County Commonwealths Attorney Office.
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Moroccos state-owned OCP Group and Australian Fortescue Energy have announced a Joint Venture (JV) destined to supply green hydrogen, ammonia, and fertilizers to Morocco, Europe, and international markets.

The JV will also contribute to the development of manufacturing facilities and a R&D hub to advance renewable energy industry in Morocco.

Mostafa Terrab, CEO of OCP Group, said: Our strategic partnership with Fortescue is a testimony to our joint commitment to decarbonization, driving the development of cutting-edge facilities and delivering competitive renewable energy, products and technology.

This is a key step towards fulfilling our vision of simultaneously ensuring global food security and combating climate change, underlined Mr. Terrab.

Dr Andrew Forrest AO, Fortescue Executive Chair & Founder said his company and OCP will build a world-leading and globally competitive platform to accompany Moroccos journey into a green energy production, manufacturing, and industrial powerhouse.

Together, we will be a key originator and green corridor into Europe and to and from the Atlantic basin, he added, affirming that Morocco will be a major player in the global energy transition because it is home to some of the worlds most prospective wind and solar resources, two large coastlines, and is in close proximity to Europe and the Americas.

For his part, Fortescue Energy CEO, Mark Hutchinson said OCP and Fortescue are fully aligned on their ambitions. We intend to create in Morocco one of the worlds leading integrated renewable energy, manufacturing, and technology enterprises, supplying not only a large and growing domestic market for green products, but also with the potential to supply other countries and continents, stressed Mr. Hutchinson.

The Moroccan government is betting on green hydrogen to spearhead its sustainable energy transition. One million hectares of land have been earmarked in Morocco for green hydrogen projects.

Several national and foreign investors have already expressed interest. The North African Kingdom is planning to produce 52% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, and the government has been heavily investing in infrastructure to meet this target.
With Sudans war about to enter its second year next week, the country has been embroiled in a fierce conflict with two rival military factions led by powerful generals at loggerheads, with Sudanese civilians suffering the consequences of a one-year bloody conflict with no end in sight.

Fighting in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) let by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group controlled by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, has been ongoing for almost one year. The two generals are fighting for control over Africas third-largest country and its vast resources, along the way killing thousands and sparking a humanitarian disaster. Around 25 million people  more than half the population  need aid, including nearly 18 million who face acute food insecurity, the United Nations has warned. Amnesty International (AI) had earlier found that both factions had committed violations, including murder and forced displacements fueled by illegal arms supplies into the battlefield.

Meanwhile, following talks to reopen humanitarian corridors from Chad, the UN has finally started distributing food in Sudans Darfur for the first time in months amid warnings of impending famine. The UNs World Food Programme (WFP) said two aid convoys have crossed the border from Chad, carrying food and nutrition assistance for about 250,000 people for a month in West and Central Darfur. With the situation in Sudans war-ravaged region having been particularly severe as brutal attacks by the RSF reviving fears of another genocide, the world body warned in March that 222,000 children could die from malnutrition in the coming months unless their aid needs are urgently met.
Morocco is the first country to have delivered humanitarian aid directly by land for Gaza and Al-Quds populations, thanks to the far-sighted vision and leadership of King Mohammed VI, underlined the Kingdoms ambassador to the United Nations, Omar Hilale.

Speaking at a meeting of the UN General Assembly held Monday on the use of the veto, Hilale recalled that within the framework of the effective commitment and constant interest that King Mohammed VI, President of Al-Quds Committee, grants to the Palestinian cause and in line with the Sovereigns instructions, a large-scale humanitarian operation was launched, during the last month, in favor of the Palestinian populations in Gaza and Al-Quds.

This aid for the Palestinian people consisted of more than 40 tons of food, including basic necessities, said the ambassador, adding that this operation coincided with the holy month of Ramadan.

The diplomat stressed that since the start of military operations more than five months ago, the Kingdom was the first country to deliver humanitarian aid by land to the beneficiary populations, and that Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency provided food aid to some 3,000 Maqdissis households, and distributed 1,000 meals daily. As part of this aid, the Jerusalem hospital was provided with an emergency coordination room.

The ambassador also called for the delivery of humanitarian aid in a safe, sustainable and unhindered manner, and in sufficient quantities to the populations of Gaza, for the release of detainees, and for opening a political horizon for the Palestinian cause.

Hilale further reiterated Moroccos call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, while emphasizing the need to protect civilians and the humanitarian workers so that they can carry out their noble missions in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law.

He also reiterated the Kingdoms rejection and denunciation of all excesses, the policy of collective punishment and forced displacement, as well as attempts to impose a new reality on the ground. The Gaza Strip is an integral part of Palestinian lands and the unified State of Palestine, he insisted.

The diplomat noted that Morocco deems unacceptable the threat of extending military operations to reach the entire Gaza Strip, including Rafah, noting that this situation risks exacerbating humanitarian conditions.

Hilale also called for intensified efforts to relaunch the peace process in the Middle East with the aim of achieving a just and comprehensive settlement that guarantees the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, namely the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with Al-Quds East as its capital.

The ambassador finally renewed Moroccos support for Palestines application for membership as a member state of the United Nations. Like the Arab and Islamic countries and those of non-aligned movement, Morocco renews its support for the request for full membership of the State of Palestine in the United Nations, he said.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom commended the unwavering commitment and leadership role of King Mohammed VI in promoting the values of coexistence and inter-faith dialogue.

Speaking at an Iftar (fast-breaking meal) hosted by the Moroccan Embassy in Stockholm on Monday, Billstrom stressed that Morocco represents a unique model of tolerance.

He took the opportunity to express his pleasure at taking part once again this year in this Iftar, under the banner of Morocco, land of coexistence and convergence of civilizations, cultures and religions, adding that it was an exceptional moment based on the authentic values of tolerance and compassion, embodied by Morocco in perfect harmony with its development and modernity.

A yearly ritual, the Iftar was an appeal for peace and living together, gathering a host of personalities, including the Mayor of Danderyds, members of parliament, several ambassadors, senior officials from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as representatives from the business world and civil society.

In his welcome address, Moroccos Ambassador to Sweden, Karim Medrek, said that this Iftar for Peace symbolizes the coexistence, diversity, and richness of the Kingdoms age-old heritage, cardinal values that have animated Morocco since time immemorial.

The Moroccan diplomat pointed out that even in the most difficult times, the Kingdom remains an example of living together, thanks to the Kings constant commitment to peace and tolerance, which makes the Kingdom stand as an example of harmonious coexistence.

In a call to action, the Ambassador recalled that today more than ever, the suffering of peoples in conflict zones, notably Palestinians, demands attention and solidarity.

The choice of justice and peace should guide our actions, reinforcing the importance of working together to end conflict and promote stability in the region, he stressed.
Arizona Supreme Court. Photo: Matt York/AP

In the first 20 months after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, eliminating any federal constitutional right to choose abortion, 16 states made abortion functionally illegal (either via total bans or bans after six weeks of pregnancy, when women often do not know they are pregnant). In the last week that number rose to 18 as state courts in Florida and now Arizona have given effect to draconian abortion bans. The big difference is that Floridas six-week ban was first enacted (and then put on hold by the courts) in April 2023. Arizonas total ban with criminal penalties for doctors performing abortions first appeared in 1864, when Arizona was still a territory, and long before women had the right to vote. In a 4-2 decision, the Arizona Supreme Court swept aside a 15-week ban adopted by the state legislature just before Roe v. Wade was reversed and deemed the older total ban still effective. There are still a couple of procedural steps in the way before abortion becomes a criminal act in Arizona, but within 45 days all access to abortion could shut down except for the rare case when its necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman.

This intensely reactionary development was cheered by the Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative Christian legal-advocacy group that played an important role in the litigation that led up to the U.S. Supreme Court reversal of Roe, as the New York Times reported: We celebrate the Arizona Supreme Courts decision that allows the states pro-life law to again protect the lives of countless, innocent, unborn children.

Its clear that in paving the way for state control of abortion policy, the Arizona law is precisely what ADF had in mind. But the reimposition of this barbaric law is alarming the Republican pols who worked hand-in-glove with ADF to abolish abortion rights. 2024 Arizona U.S. Senate candidate and Trump buddy Kari Lake, who during her unsuccessful 2022 gubernatorial campaign called the 1864 law great and a potential model for other states, is now calling for it to be overturned and replaced with the 15-week ban the court just killed.

Lake had better get her ducks in a row given the angry backlash about to break out in her state. And the entire Arizona Republican ticket from Donald Trump on down could be placed in a tricky position once Arizonans get the chance to vote on a state constitutional amendment restoring Roe-era abortion rights that will likely appear on the November ballot (supporters of this initiative say theyve already met the signature requirements for a November vote, but will continue to collect signatures up until a July 3 deadline). Similar initiatives are already on the ballot in Florida, Maryland, and New York, states that could be joined by Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, and South Dakota before November. Arkansas, Missouri, and South Dakota are among the total-ban states, which, like Arizona and Florida, could throw off the bans at the ballot box. And Democrats in all these states are likely to link their get-out-the-vote efforts to those of pro-choice initiative backers.

Theres no question Arizona has now become ground zero for the political battle over abortion rights this year. Its a presidential battleground state that Joe Biden carried very narrowly in 2020, and Lakes contest against Democrat Ruben Gallego for the seat now occupied by Kyrsten Sinema (who is retiring) could have a big impact on control of the Senate. For now, though, the laws controlling reproductive rights in Arizona were crafted by the best legal minds of the Civil War era, and a 160-year-old reign of terror over women has resumed.
Imagine a world in which Congressman Jamie Raskin attempts to deliver a speech on Democracy, Autocracy, and the Threat to Reason in the 21st Century and is unable to deliver his remarks because Trump supporters drown him out, and authorities justify the disruption as an exercise in democracy. Democrats attempting to raise money for the opposition are surrounded on the street by Trumpists shouting fuck Joe Biden and abusing them with racial epithets.

These are the kind of scenes that come to mind when we imagine the authoritarian culture of a second Trump term. They are also events that have not only occurred but have grown commonplace. This pattern of behavior is illiberal and dangerous.

The twist, of course, is that the mobs shutting down the opposition to Trump are not Trump supporters, or at least not right-wing Trump supporters. Pro-Palestinian activists have set out to disrupt Democratic Party officials from speaking and raising funds to defeat Trump.

A New York Times story recently drew some attention to the political problem this creates for Democrats. Indeed, some of the protesters are trying to defeat Biden (ergo, to elect Trump) to teach the Democrats a lesson, and others are merely trying to force the Democrats to move left before the election.

Because Democrats perceive some of the protesters as potential Biden voters, they have soft-pedaled their criticism of their tactics. The handful of critics have focused on the political ramifications of the protest movement. (If you are now organizing people to walk away from supporting the president, then you are now de facto supporting and helping Trump, Senator John Fetterman told the Times.)

But the problem is not one of mere efficacy. Drowning out speakers and disrupting exercises in politics, regardless of its cause or the target, is wrong on principle.

Im not referring to tactics like holding protest marches, speeches, social-media posts, organizing uncommitted votes in the Democratic primary, or other exercises of First Amendment rights. Im specifically referring to a campaign to shut down speakers who oppose (or even, in many cases, simply decline to endorse) the movements agenda.

Usually, it means interrupting speeches with screaming insults until the protesters are dragged out of the room, which has become the norm at Biden campaign events. At events with sub-presidential levels of security, protesters often succeed in overwhelming the event and its security and shutting down the speech or event entirely, sometimes employing violence.

Id place in the same category aggressive personal harassment campaigns, like gathering outside somebodys home at three oclock in the morning with bullhorns shouting We will not let you sleep!, or surrounding individuals on the street to scream insults:

Pro-Palestinian protestors harassing a woman in New York following a fundraiser for President Biden.



Fucking murderous kike.

Fucking die.

Keep it moving bitch. pic.twitter.com/2K1clgdvYY  Jotam Confino (@mrconfino) March 29, 2024

The goal of these maneuvers is not to make the case for pro-Palestinian policy, but to abuse and deny basic rights to those who fail to endorse the protesters beliefs. And yes, being prevented from holding a planned speech to supporters, stalked on the street, or subjected to sleep denial are all forms of abuse. Almost nobody believes these are all just natural parts of the give and take of public disagreement.

The most elemental premise of liberalism is that politics should be governed by a uniform set of rules or norms that apply to everybody, regardless of the content of their beliefs. Over the last decade, an increasingly visible fault line has opened up on the left between political liberals and more radical activists. The illiberal left defines politics as a conflict between oppressor and victim and does not believe the former deserves the same rights as the latter. (Crucially, the special prerogatives of victimhood apply not only to victims but also to those struggling on their behalf.)

Abusive protesters usually meet critiques of their illiberal methods with a facile comparison to the civil-rights movement. But that movement was designed for a political environment in which basic liberal rights did not exist: Black Americans lacked the right to vote, to petition for grievances, or otherwise exert basic freedoms that white Americans enjoyed. The movements theorists did not intend their carefully designed arguments to be a permanent license for any progressive cause to declare itself beyond the law for all time.

Civil-rights demonstrators had been shut out of electoral politics by force since Reconstruction. The pro-Palestinian movement, by contrast, is barely even attempting democratic participation. The movement could have run an an anti-Israel candidate against Biden but never bothered, no doubt anticipating they would lose.

Force is not their last resort but their preferred method. It allows them to maintain the moral binary that animates them in all its purity without engaging in the unpleasant compromises necessary to win support of the majority of the country, or even a party.

Of course, large segments of the right dispensed with the guardrails of liberalism long ago. Donald Trumps breakthrough insight is to stop even pretending that Republicans have to uphold any neutral standard of fairness. The Trump movement is a giant in-joke about this, delighting in the unembarrassed hypocrisy of endlessly complaining about crimes like corruption or weaponization of government that Trump engages in nakedly himself.

The illiberal left may have much less power than the illiberal right. But since this faction is demanding influence within the Democratic Party, it can no longer hide behind the notion that its too marginal to be worth criticizing. That old evasion  why single out a handful of college teens?  is comical now that illiberal tactics are playing an important role in a presidential election.

The ethics of the cause come into sharper focus if you imagine it being done by Biden haters in red MAGA hats rather than by Biden haters in keffiyehs. Sure, theyre idealistic. Plenty of Trumps followers have ideals, too. If your movements goal is to prevent those who disagree from expressing themselves, and you delight in meting out abuse and humiliation to your targets, youre showing the world you cannot be trusted with power.
Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Marjorie Taylor Greene is, once again, turning up the heat on House Speaker Mike Johnson.

On Tuesday, the Georgia congresswoman took her partys congressional leader to task in a five-page letter to her Republican colleagues, suggesting that she might make good on her threat to oust him as Speaker. In the letter, which she later shared on social media, Greene portrayed Johnson as a weak-willed leader who has failed to live up to the goals when he took control of the Speakers gavel last October.

Read my full letter to my colleagues detailing why I filed a motion to vacate Speaker Johnson.



(1/2) https://t.co/CByvpRo8My pic.twitter.com/DWQck3WpoZ  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) April 9, 2024

She pointed to the massive spending bills Johnson helped to usher through the House last month in order to keep the government open, saying the spending package fully funded Bidens deadly border invasion and other causes that Republicans didnt support, without allowing them enough time to weigh in on the legislations specifics. The appropriations package passed Congress and was signed into law by Joe Biden despite significant Republican opposition.

Greene also knocked Johnson for failing to defund Special Counsel Jack Smiths pending investigations into Donald Trump, which she called a witch hunt, dramatically suggesting that his lack of action could lead to the former presidents death. If convicted, this would be a death sentence for President Trump. A death sentence for President Trump is precisely what the Democrats want. They want him dead, and our power of appropriations could have stopped it, but Speaker Johnson didnt even try, she said.

Before Congress departed for the Easter break last month, Greene filed a motion to vacate the chair, the legislative process that opponents of Kevin McCarthy used to vote him out of the speakership. At the time, Greene suggested that this move was more of a warning to Johnson. But in recent days, the congresswoman has indicated that Johnsons job security will depend on whether he holds a vote on sending more aid to Ukraine. In her letter, she accuses Johnson of hypocrisy on the issue, writing, Mike Johnson is publicly saying funding Ukraine is now his top priority when less than seven months ago he was against it. Johnson indicated last month that he intends to move forward on aid for Ukraine despite the fact that his party is divided on the issue.

Though Greene stop short of saying explicitly that she would be following through on her earlier attempt to oust Johnson, the letter is clearly intended to pressure the speaker as he prepares to reveal his approach to Ukraine. Punchbowl News reports that Johnsons plan will likely drop next week.

For the moment, Johnson appears to be trying to play nice. I respect Marjorie. She will always have an open door to the Speakers office. We do have honest differences on strategy sometimes but share the same conservative beliefs, he said in a statement to CNN last week.
Lindsey Graham, Trumps newest punching bag. Photo: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

On Monday, Donald Trump gave the Republican Party and its longtime allies in the anti-abortion movement some marching orders. After flirting with support for some version of the national ban that most anti-abortion activists have been supporting practically since the day the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade in 2022, Trump decided to avoid doing anything to make abortion even more of a presidential campaign issue this year than it already is. So he took the position that for the time being, abortion is strictly an issue for the states to resolve. Dont complain to me, he seemed to be saying, if you dont like your states abortion laws. Go see your governor or state legislator.

And when at least one major anti-abortion leader, Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List, and one top political ally, South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham (principal Senate sponsor of a 15-week national abortion ban), complained about Trumps position, he made it clear why he was doing what he was doing and why they needed to STFU and go along. The rebuke he offered Graham said it all:

Trump attacks @LindseyGrahamSC for criticizing his abortion statement, saying the issue could cost GOP the House, Senate and White House: "people like Lindsey Graham, that are unrelenting, are handing Democrats their dream of the House, Senate, and perhaps even the Presidency" pic.twitter.com/FbHtb879s0  Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) April 8, 2024

Its ironic that Trump is chastising Graham for being all over the place on abortion policy; Graham has never, so far as I know, been publicly pro-choice the way Trump once was, and Trump has also had happy feet on the subject very recently as he cast about for the most politically defensible position. In addition, Trump knows Graham is going to support his election anyway, as are all the anti-abortion groups, as they made clear, according to Politico:

Alongside Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Students for Life, the Faith and Freedom Coalition, the Family Research Council, National Right to Life and CatholicVote, reiterated their commitment Monday morning to electing Trump. The comments represent a shift among some in the anti-abortion movements approach during the GOP presidential primary, in which advocates focused on nudging candidates to take more restrictive positions on abortion.

One group let the cat out of the bag: CatholicVote president Brian Burch said leaving the issue to states was not sufficient, but slammed Biden and added that the organization is confident a Trump administration will be staffed with pro-life personnel committed to pro-life policies.

This is code for two articles of faith about the future of abortion policy under another Trump presidency. First, there are a ton of actions a president can take to restrict abortions without a congressionally imposed ban, notably by regulatory actions against the medications that have become the most common form of abortion, not to mention the impact of a federal law-enforcement system and appointed judges aligned with states that are trying to stamp out legal abortion. Second, if and when Republican political power in Washington reaches the heights necessary to enact a national abortion ban (which would, among other things, likely require abolition of or a carve-out from the Senate filibuster), Trumps anti-abortion constituencies believe hell abandon the states-rights position and go for the gold.

If that seems cynical on their part or on Trumps, keep in mind that for nearly 50 years, the anti-abortion movement pretended returning abortion policy to the states by reversing Roe was its principal goal. In reality, that was simply a way station to banning abortion wherever and however it became possible, whether it was via 50 state bans, or a federal ban, or a constitutional amendment. All Trump is doing right now is asking anti-abortion activists and Republican pols to go back to lying about their goals for a bit longer until they together have the means to impose a forced-birth regime from sea to shining sea.

You do have to wonder if anti-abortion foot soldiers and leaders alike fear that Trump will ultimately stab them in the back and abandon their cause even if he and they do obtain the power to take the next step toward an America without legal abortion. Anything is possible with this man. But given his and his partys recent political reliance on conservative Evangelicals and traditionalist Catholics, and his own profound misogyny, its much more likely that Trump-style American Greatness means control over reproductive rights will henceforth belong to Daddy. Anything he says in the meantime is probably a lie that he shares with the MAGA base.

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Photo: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

In a rambling video statement posted to Truth Social on Monday, Donald Trump claimed that if he is reelected, abortion will be left to the states. The states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land, he said. Many states will be different. Many will have a different number of weeks, or some will [be] more conservative than others, and thats what they will be. At the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people.

Trumps statement is notable in part for what he left out. By declining to support a federal, week-specific ban on abortion, he angered Marjorie Dannenfelser of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life, a powerful anti-abortion group. We are deeply disappointed in President Trumps position, she said. Saying the issue is back to the states cedes the national debate to the Democrats who are working relentlessly to enact legislation mandating abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy.

Other abortion opponents struck a more conciliatory tone. In a thread posted to X, Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life praised Trump for calling children and family the ultimate joy in life and added:

I'm pleased to see that President Trump listened to pro-lifers and isn't going to allow a divisive late-term limit that some GOP insiders were been pushing, which would have embraced more than 9 in 10 abortions, to be a distraction from Joe Biden's abortion extremism.  Kristan Hawkins (@KristanHawkins) April 8, 2024

Hawkins is a good foot soldier (and Dannenfelser will likely fall in line). She has every reason to be: Trump may not be a true believer, but hes a fundamentally transactional politician. Abortion opponents backed him in 2016, and he responded by appointing the justices who overturned Roe v. Wade. Since then, Trump has surrounded himself with aides who are anti-abortion extremists. Many believe the mostly dormant Comstock Act already bans abortion in the absence of new federal restrictions and hope to revive the archaic 19th-century obscenity law if he wins a second term. We dont need a federal ban when we have Comstock on the books, Jonathan F. Mitchell, an attorney who has represented Trump, told the New York Times in February. Trump, then, doesnt have to endorse a federal ban; his administration could try to restrict abortion in other ways.

That may be why his statement leaves several vital questions unanswered:

Things Trump doesn't say in the abortion statement:

1) Whether he'd veto an abortion ban

2) How Trump regulators would treat e.g. mifepristone.

3) How he'll vote on the Florida abortion referendum.  Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) April 8, 2024

With Mondays video, Trump is trying to manipulate his image. It may not work. Though he hopes to appear moderate by declining to support a federal ban, he took credit for overturning Roe  as he has done repeatedly in the past. He thus runs afoul of public opinion and links himself inextricably to the most stringent abortion restrictions that have come into force because of Dobbs. Ron DeSantis is the one who signed Floridas six-week abortion ban into law, but Trump owns it, too, and he cant escape what he has unleashed. The only thing he can do instead is lie and obfuscate.

Former Trump officials like Roger Severino are promising a Trump DOJ would enforce the Comstock Act as a ban. These pledges (and Trump's silence on the q) are enough to placate antiabortion voters/ leaders while the campaign officially appears to "break" with the movement. https://t.co/Ovzyn3wTAl  Mary Ziegler (@maryrziegler) April 8, 2024

Abortion opponents do this too. As the New York Times reported, they will sometimes refer to the Comstock Act by its statute number, 18 U.S.C. 1461 and 1462. Following the Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs, there is now no federal prohibition on the enforcement of this statute, reads a policy plan that is part of Project 2025, an ambitious  and deeply conservative  agenda drawn up by a coalition of right-wing groups for Trumps second term. It adds, The Department of Justice in the next conservative Administration should therefore announce its intent to enforce federal law against providers and distributors of such pills. Mitchell told the Times he hoped Trump knew nothing of the Comstock Act because I just dont want him to shoot off his mouth. Indeed, Trump didnt mention the law on Monday, but that doesnt mean he, or at least his aides, arent thinking about it, and planning for the future.

Though Trump did not endorse a federal abortion ban on Monday, that doesnt mean he wouldnt sign one should it cross his desk as president. (Declining to support such a ban is not the same thing as promising not to sign one.) He may lack deep convictions beyond his personal superiority to everyone else, but he knows who made him president. Hell do what his closest allies want him to do, regardless of what he says right now. Weve had four years of Trump. We know who he is. His allegiance is not to the will of the people or to the women who must contend with abortion bans. Its to himself and to his own power. Mondays statement was calculated to win votes while appeasing his base. And he knows theres no way to accomplish the latter without giving into them. Abortion opponents wont tolerate blue-state havens for the procedure. Theyll try to ban it everywhere, as quickly as they can  with Trump at the helm.

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Brazilian oil and gas company Enauta may soon change the face of Latin American fossil fuels by establishing an independent oil and gas company with 3R Petroleum Oleo e Gas. This is the most recent of several ambitious moves by Enauta to expand its oil and gas operations in Brazil. In recent months, the firm has signed several contracts to acquire stakes in multiple offshore oilfields in the region, thereby boosting its production capacity. The proposal to merge with 3R, if accepted, could lead to the establishment of a major new independent company in the region.

The Brazilian oil firm 3R Petroleum Oleo e Gas announced it has temporarily halted talks with PetroReconcavo, over a proposed merger, opening the door for an alternative deal. Enauta proposed a new merger offer to 3R, which could lead to the creation of one of the most diversified independent oil and gas companies in Latin America, if accepted. If the merger goes ahead, the independent company will have a production capacity of over 100,000 bpd. The growing interest in 3R led its stocks to rise by 7.3 percent following the announcement.

This move by Enauta follows a growing megamerger trend being seen worldwide. In the U.S., both Chevron and Exxon announced a major new deal in October, with Occidental following in December, and Diamondback in February. Meanwhile, small oil and gas companies in Brazil have been looking to consolidate operations following a widespread buy-up of assets formerly owned by state-owned Petrobras.

Enauta presented 3R with an all-stock offer. The deal would mean 3R shareholders hold 53 percent of the company, while Enauta shareholders would hold 47 percent. This is expected to provide a "balanced, five-year high organic growth portfolio with ability to add value in an environment of consolidation and resilience to commodity pricing cycles, according to Enauta. The firms board of directors unanimously approved the proposal, believing the new independent company could attain a strategic positioning in domestic and international capital and banking markets. The firm believes that its deal is superior to that of PetroReconcavo in terms of strategic positioning, governance, tangible synergies and from a risk management perspective.

Enauta explained, The transaction will lead to state-of-the-art governance, with diversified reference shareholders, a predominantly independent board of directors with an experienced executive team. There will be growth opportunities in offshore and onshore operations, mitigating operational, geological and regulatory risks, complementarity in teams, talent attraction and retention and strong adherence to ESG principles.

This is just one of many moves by Enauta to expand its operations in recent months. In December the firm signed a deal with Petrobras to purchase two offshore oil and gas fields  Urugua and Tambau  in the Santos Basin, as well as natural gas pipeline infrastructure. This is expected to cost Enauta $10 million, with a potential $25 million more for oilfield development.

That same month, Enauta signed a contract with QatarEnergy Brasil to acquire a stake in the Campos Basin oilfields. The company expected to acquire the whole 23 percent stake previously held by QatarEnergy in the Abalone, Ostra and Argonauta oilfields, which comprise the Parque das Conchas. The zone is operated by Shell, which has a 50 percent equity stake. Production stands at around 35,000 bpd from 25 wells connected to the FPSO Espirito Santo platform. This is expected to cost Enauta a total of $150 million.

In March, Enauta also signed a deal with Houston-based Westlawn Americas Offshore (WAO) to purchase a 20 precent participating interest in the BS-4 concession for $301.7 million. Enauta released a statementsaying, Partnerships are important drivers for value generation and risk-sharing in the development of megaprojects such as Atlanta and Oliva. Since Atlantas Phase I investment was sanctioned in March 2022, Enauta has been approached by several potential partners interested in joining the project The signing of a 20 percent minority stake with WAO is aligned with principles of Enautas value generation strategy, capital allocation efficiency and management of a balanced high growth, high risk-adjusted return oil and gas portfolio.

Enauta has been rapidly building up its oil and gas portfolio in Brazils offshore region, with the purchase of stakes in several oilfields. This will help boost production in the coming years and allow it to grow as an independent oil and gas company. This could be enhanced further by a potential merger with 3R Petroleum Oleo e Gas, if accepted, which would lead to the creation of a major Latin American independent with high production output and a significant stake in the Brazil region.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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Given its huge oil and gas reserves, strategically critical location in the heart of the Middle East, and its initial welcoming of the U.S. after the fall of President Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iraq has long been at the top of Washingtons list of countries in the region with which it wants a deeper working relationship. In many ways, the U.S.s end of combat mission in the country on 31 December 2021 was regarding by the White House as a temporary tactical retreat, before a new diplomacy-led relationship could be forged. Washingtons long-running financial aid to Iraq would be used as the basis for this diplomatic renaissance, which could be gradually leveraged into a weakening of the bond Iraq has with Iran - and by association, therefore, with China and Russia too. A good starting point for this, the U.S. believed, would be the substitution of Iranian gas used by Iraq to keep its power grid going with supplies from elsewhere. Iraq has always been well-aware of Washingtons strategy and has been keen to play along, offering scraps of hope at regular intervals  the occasional engineering award to a U.S. firm, being a favourite  in exchange for hundreds of billions of dollars given it as a reward. Given this long-running game of bluff and double-bluff, it is exceptionally interesting to see that Iraq has now apparently thrown all caution to the wind and signed its longest ever deal with Iran to keep supplying it with gas for the next five years. So, what does it all mean for the U.S.? Related: The Energy Sector Is A No-Brainer, but Theres More to Come

The sheer length of Iraqs new gas deal with Iran means Baghdad can be under no illusion that Washington will regard it as a serious political statement of intent. It may also see it as a significant betrayal of assurances repeatedly given by all the recent leaders of Iraq that in exchange for U.S. funding to help in this process, the country will move away from its dependence on Iran, in the first instance by reducing its imports of gas eventually to nothing. Baghdad knows perfectly well that the White House sees these ongoing gas imports by Iraq as a key means of funding for Iran. Only last week, Irans Deputy Oil Minister (and managing director of the National Iranian Gas Company), Majid Chegeni, stated that his country has earned US$15 billion from exporting around 52 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas to Iraq since 2017. Baghdad also knows that Washington sees Iraqs close cooperation with Iran on the two countries shared oil fields as the primary method in which Iran has been able to keep its economy intact over the years despite sanctions, as analysed in depth in my new book on the new global oil market order. There are many shared fields between the two countries, but the most notable ones are Azadegan (on the Iran side)/Majnoon (on the Iraq side), Azar (Iran)/Badra (Iraq), Yadavaran (Iran)/Sinbad (Iraq), Naft Shahr (Iran)/Naft Khana (Iraq), Dehloran (Iran)/Abu Ghurab (Iraq), West Paydar (Iran)/Fakka/Fauqa (Iraq), and Arvand (Iran)/South Abu Ghurab (Iraq). The oil on the non-sanctioned Iraqi side of the border is often drilled from the same reservoirs as the oil drilled on the sanctioned Iranian side, sometimes even through long-distance horizontal directional drilling. Even if the Americans, Europeans, or any of their most trusted appointees stationed people at every single rig in every single shared field in Iraq they would not be able to tell if the oil coming out it was from the Iraq side or the Iranian side. So this has allowed for decades Iranian oil simply to be rebranded at source as Iraqi oil and shipped to wherever is required in the world.

Up until now, the most shocking betrayal of the U.S.s optimistic trust in Iraq in this context came from the ultra-smooth former Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi. He had danced the usual dance with the U.S. so well that in May 2020 Washington gave him even more money than before and the longest waiver ever given  120 days  to keep importing gas from Iran, on the standard condition that Iraq stopped doing it soon. However, once the money had been banked and al-Kadhimi was safely back on home territory, Iraq signed a two-year contract  the longest period ever at that point  with Iran to keep importing gas from it. Washington then let the formidable then-State Department spokeswoman, Morgan Ortagus, out of her room, and she let fly. Not only was the next waiver to Iraq the shortest ever  30 days  but also at the press conference in which it was announced, Ortagus let it be known that the U.S. was hitting 20 Iran- and Iraq-based entities with swingeing new sanctions. She cited them as being instruments in the funnelling of money to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) elite Quds Force, which was entirely true. She added that the 20 entities were continuing to exploit Iraqs dependence on Iran as an electricity and gas source by smuggling Iranian petroleum through the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr and money laundering through Iraqi front companies, which was also true. She also said that Washington was extremely concerned that Iraq was continuing to act as a conduit for Iranian oil and gas supplies to make their way out into the worlds major export markets. This was true as well, as additionally analysed in my new book on the new global oil market order.

Knowing these things, Iraq appears with its latest five-year gas import deal with Iran to have finally closed the door on Washingtons diplomatic advances. It would not have done so without further assurances from Iran (and China and Russia) that its interests would be safeguarded in a stronger alliance with them. For the most important of these  China - Iraq and Iran represent a giant oil and gas station for it in the Middle East, which it can also use for geopolitical pressure purposes against the U.S. In Irans case, China has been successful so far into effecting this transformation from it as sovereign state into a Middle Eastern equivalent of Hong Kong (a Special Administrative Region of China) through the all-encompassing Iran-China 25-Year Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement , as first revealed anywhere in the world in my 3 September 2019 article on the subject and analysed in full in my new book on the new global oil market order. China is using the same sort of arrangement for Iraq, as evidenced in the equally all-encompassing Iraq-China Framework Agreement of 2021. This in turn, was an extension in scale and scope of the Oil for Reconstruction and Investment agreement signed by Baghdad and Beijing in September 2019, which allowed Chinese firms to invest in infrastructure projects in Iraq in exchange for oil.

Following this, Iraq approved nearly IQD1 trillion (US$700 million) for infrastructure projects in the city of Al-Zubair in the southern Iraq oil hub of Basra. The Al-Zubair announcement came around the same time as the awarding by Baghdad of another major contract to another Chinese company to build a civilian airport to replace the military base in Nasiriyah - the capital of the oil-rich DhiQar Province. This airport project, China announced, would include the construction of multiple cargo buildings and roads linking the airport to the citys town centre and separately to other key oil areas in southern Iraq, which it now controls. In the later discussions involved in the 2021 Iraq-China Framework Agreement, it was decided unanimously by both sides that the airport could be expanded later to be a dual-use civilian and military airport. The military component would be usable by China without first having to consult with whatever Iraqi government was in power at the time, a senior source who works closely with Iraqs Oil Ministry exclusively told OilPrice.com at the time.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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The European Union and United States are incentivizing Armenia to maintain its westward geopolitical shift. The growing EU-US role in supporting the countrys reform efforts is drawing a predictably hostile reaction from Russia and Azerbaijan.

A meeting April 5 in Brussels involving Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen, EU Vice President Josep Borrell and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken yielded a significant assistance windfall for Armenia. The EU pledged 270 million euros (about $291 million) over four years and the US added another $65 million in aid designed to help Armenia recover from its decisive defeat in the Second Karabakh War and reduce its economic dependence on Russia.

In a joint statement, the participants affirmed a commitment to expanding cooperation across multiple political and economic spheres, including governance, law enforcement, trade, connectivity, agriculture, energy, and technology.

The European Union and the United States acknowledged the substantial progress Armenia has made since 2018 on democratic and justice reforms and the fight against corruption, and expressed a commitment to continue partnering with and supporting Armenia as it further strengthens its democracy and the rule of law, in line with our shared values and principles, the statement read.

Describing EU-Armenian relations as increasingly aligned, Van der Leyen also praised Armenias efforts to combat sanctions-busting trade that helps the Kremlin prosecute its war against Ukraine. Pashinyan and other Armenian leaders in recent months have expressed interest in exploring EU accession.

US assistance, it appears, will focus on building Armenian resilience following the loss of Karabakh. Specifically, Washingtons assistance will help Armenia cope with a refugee surge and withstand expected Russian pressure to prevent Armenias geopolitical realignment. USAID Administrator Samantha Power also attended the April 5 gathering in Brussels.

The United States will work with Armenia to  increase cybersecurity cooperation, and expand technology infrastructure, the joint statement noted, adding that the US is committed to Armenias safe, reliable, and secure energy future and is working to support energy diversification and explore the feasibility of new civil nuclear power options.

Armenia was a key Russian ally until 2018, when Pashinyan rose to power amid a popular uprising and proceeded to engage the EU and US as part of a reform effort to make his government more efficient and less corrupt. A turning point occurred in 2022, when, amid Azerbaijans push to retake Karabakh, Russia, in the eyes of many Armenians, failed to live up to security guarantees it had given Yerevan. Since then, Pashinyan has steered the country on a steady Western course.

To no ones surprise, news of the EU-US aid package received a chilly reception in Moscow and Baku. Russias Foreign Ministry issued a statement characterizing the meeting as another attempt by the collective West to ratchet up tension in the South Caucasus, which the Kremlin has long considered to be its geopolitical backyard. It described the aid package as irresponsible and destructive while cautioning that pressing ahead with helping Armenia implement reforms could have negative consequences.

Azerbaijan, meanwhile, voiced concern that EU assistance for Armenia threatened to compromise Brussels ability to mediate a lasting peace settlement between Baku and Yerevan.

Against the backdrop of the Armenia-EU-US meeting on April 5, building pressure burst along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Both sides accused the other of ceasefire violations, with sporadic gunfire reported at multiple sections of the heavily militarized frontier.

The Armenian Defense Ministry condemned Azerbaijans provocative actions, alleging cross-border firing targeted at Armenian positions and civilian infrastructure.

The Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process is currently snagged on a dispute over possession of villages in disputed areas of the border. Hoping to break the deadlock, Pashinyan announced unilateral concessions to Azerbaijan, agreeing to hand over abandoned Azerbaijani villages controlled by Yerevan since the 1990s without demanding an exchange for similar Armenian areas controlled by Azerbaijan. The transfer has the potential to disrupt the ability of Armenians to travel on a highway linking Armenia to Georgia. Pipelines carrying Russian natural gas to Armenia are also located near the soon-to-be-returned villages. Pashinyans proposal has, accordingly, generated lots of domestic pushback from various constituencies.

With Baku unhappy about the pace of the handover, both sides now appear to be massing troops on the border. On April 6, the EUs civilian monitoring mission in Armenia reported that the situation was stable and calm.

Back in Brussels, some influential policy voices are urging the EU to pick up the pace of its efforts to support Armenias reorientation. This reorientation takes time, but it also requires the European Union to adopt a more ambitious strategy towards Armenias democracy, wrote former NATO Secretary-General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, in a commentary published by the French daily Le Monde.

Europe should play a role in mediating negotiations towards a lasting peace agreement. But its approach must reflect the reality that Armenia has chosen the community of European democracies, while Azerbaijan sits in the camp of aggressive autocracies, Rasmussen said.

By Ani Avetisyan via Eurasianet.org

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BMO dropped plans to curb lending to the coal industry last year to avoid accusations of energy boycotting from West Virginia, Bloomberg has reported, citing an update from West Virginian Treasurer Riley Moore.

The update came in the form of a list of financial institutions that restrict lending to the states major industry and are exposed as seeking to destroy the states vital energy industry, per Moore. The list is a result of a Republican law passed in 2022, which names financial firms that have publicly stated they will refuse, terminate or limit doing business with coal, oil or natural gas companies without a reasonable business purpose.

The list released this week includes majors such as BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and JP Morgan, but the name of Bank of Montreals U.S. subsidiary BMO was not mentioned by the West Virginian Treasurer, suggesting it had done a U-turn on its coal curb plans. HSBC, Citigroup, and Northern Trust were also named among the energy boycotters.

We cannot allow institutions that seek to destroy our states critical energy industries and the economic activity they generate to also profit from handling the very taxpayer dollars they seek to diminish, the West Virginian Treasury said in a statement.

The companies on the list were warned they would end up on it earlier this year. In response, a counselor for BMO wrote back to West Virginias Moore, saying, per Bloomberg, that As a result of policy changes made in November 2023, we removed a Coal Statement from BMOs websites as it did not fully reflect our current policies.

After receipt of your letter, we realized that a cached version of the statement remained on our websites and took it down. We have no plans to republish the Coal Statement, Timothy Cox also wrote.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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U.S. supermajor Chevron has quit operations in Myanmar by transferring its stake in a natural gas field and an associated pipeline to its former partners in the ventures, after pledging to leave the Southeast Asian country following a military coup in 2021.

The withdrawal gives effect to our intention to exit Myanmar in a controlled and orderly manner, following the February 2021 coup, and ongoing humanitarian crisis, a spokesperson for Chevron has told Reuters.

Chevron pledged in 2022 to exit Myanmar. In February 2023, the U.S. oil and gas giant said it had agreed to sell its assets there. The international community has imposed sanctions on Myanmar and the junta currently in power.

But now Chevron has handed over its stake in the Yadana gas field to the remaining shareholders, Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) and state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE).

As of 2021, Chevrons affiliate, Unocal Myanmar Offshore Co. Ltd. (UMOCL), had a 28.3% ownership interest in a production sharing contract (PSC) for the production of natural gas from the Yadana, Badamyar, and Sein fields, within Blocks M5 and M6, in the Andaman Sea. Chevrons unit also had a 28.3% ownership interest in the export gas pipeline company, known as

Moattama Gas Transportation Company (MGTC).

French supermajor TotalEnergies also had a stake in these fields and definitively withdrew in July 2022 from the Yadana field and from gas transportation company MGTC in Myanmar, both as shareholder and as operator.

In a context of continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Myanmar, this decision resulted from the assessment that TotalEnergies was no longer able to make a sufficiently positive contribution in the country, and was not able to meet the expectations of stakeholders who were asking to stop the revenues going to the Burmese state through the state-owned company MOGE from the Yadana field production, the French company said at the time.

Chevron said this week it had conducted its exit from Myanmar in a responsible, orderly and safe manner, in accordance with international law and trade sanctions.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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China reports first successful transplantation of multi-gene-edited pig kidney into a human

Global Times) 08:47, April 09, 2024

Photo: Xinhua

Doctors from a Xi'an hospital performed xenotransplantation surgery on March 25, in which the kidney of a multi-gene-edited pig was transplanted into a brain-dead human. The kidney is still functioning well 13 days later, Beijing-based Science and Technology Daily reported on Monday.

Qin Weijun, head of urology at Xijing Hospital of the Air Force Medical University in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, told the newspaper that his surgical team transplanted the gene-edited pig kidney into the brain-dead recipient's body.

As of Sunday, the transplanted kidney had been functioning for 13 days, and was working well in the recipient's body, producing urine normally, Qin said.

According to Science and Technology Daily, this is another milestone breakthrough in the field of xenotransplantation for Qin's hospital, after it made the world's first xenogenetic liver transplantation from a multi-gene-edited pig into a brain-dead recipient.

The surgical plan was created and approved by various academic and ethics committees, and carried out strictly in accordance with relevant national regulations. The family of the patient gave consent for the research to contribute to medical advancement, according to media reports.

With the advancement of gene editing technology, pigs as donors have gradually emerged as one of the preferred candidates for human xenotransplantation due to their organ tissue structure, physiological function, and size being akin to human organs, coupled with their distant relation to humans, which can help evade rejection responses.

Editing genes of pig cells is a relatively mature technology, and pigs have strong reproductive capabilities and are easy to raise on a large scale. These factors make pigs the best choice for xenotransplantation donors under current technological conditions, Qin explained.

In recent years, with the in-depth development of gene editing technology and immunology, xenotransplantation research has dramatically progressed, and it may become an effective way to solve the organ shortage, Qin said.

Scientists said that the research represents a critical step toward the forefront of xenotransplantation in China, which will pave the way for clinical research and clinical application of xenotransplantation. It will also likely provide new options for patients with end-stage renal disease in the future.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Oil majors listed in New York enjoy higher stock valuations and have friendlier investors and increased access to capital, Shells former CEO Ben van Beurden said on Tuesday, following media reports that Shell is considering shifting its listing from the London Stock Exchange (LSE) to the NYSE.

Shell is considering shifting its listing from London to New York, the Telegraph reported on Monday, citing the companys CEO Wael Sawan.

According to the UK daily newspaper, Shell is considering all options as it bemoans under-appreciation on the London Stock Exchange.

Sawan, who runs the largest company on the FTSE 100 index in London, said in an interview with Bloomberg Opinion the London exchange was an undervalued location. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]

I have a location that clearly seems to be undervalued, Sawan, who succeeded van Beurden as Shells CEO in early 2023, told Bloomberg.

Sawan was trying to explain the valuation gap between lower-valued European oil majors and their U.S. peers listed in New York, such as ExxonMobil and Chevron.

Shells former boss van Beurden, who left the group at the end of 2022, has also seen the gap and told the FT Commodities Global Summit in Lausanne that Its a major issue, Bloomberg reports.

Moreover, investors are more positive toward oil companies in America, van Beurden said.

All these factors conspire against the people listed in Europe, the former CEO of Shell said, as carried by Bloomberg.

Van Beurden also acknowledged that there have been discussions about moving Shells listing to New York at the end of his tenure. In 2021, Shell was considering a move to the NYSE, the former CEO said.

This was before Shell dropped its dual share structure, ditched Royal Dutch from its name, and moved its tax residence to the UK in late 2021.

Shells time on the LSE could further worsen in terms of investor apathy after the supermajor eased some of its emission reduction targets last month.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Iran could close the major oil shipping route known as the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, the commander of Iran's Revolution Guard's navy said on Tuesday. But for now, it will keep it open, he added.

The warning came following Israel's presence in the United Arab Emirates, which Alirez Tangsiri says he sees as a threat, and Israel's airstrikes on Iran's consulate in Syria earlier this month.

"We do not get hit without striking back, but we are also not hasty in our retaliation," Tangsiri said.

Iran's historical relationship with the strategic waterway, the Strait of Hormuz, has been fraught with tension and periodic threats of closure. Situated between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital maritime chokepoint through which a significant portion of the world's oil supply passesas many as 20.5 million barrels per day of petroleum products passes through this chokepoint.

Iran's saber-rattling is nothing new and stems from its desire to exert influence over regional affairs. Despite international concerns and objections, Iran has intermittently raised the specter of closing the Strait as a means of retaliation or leverage in response to perceived threats or geopolitical maneuvers by its adversaries.

One such instance of Iran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz occurred in 2012, amidst escalating tensions over its nuclear program and the imposition of international sanctions. While Iran possesses the capability to disrupt maritime traffic through the Strait using its naval forces and asymmetric tactics, the economic ramifications of such an action would be severe, not only for Iran but for global energy markets as well.

As geopolitical tensions ebb and flow in the volatile region, the mere fear of the Strait of Hormuz's closure remains a persistent concern for the oil industry and global policymakers, underscoring the enduring importance of stability and diplomacy in safeguarding vital energy transit routes.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Mexico is planning to cut the amount of crude oil it exports by 330,000 barrels daily next month as it redirects supply to local refineries.

The volume to be cut represents a third of the total that Mexico sells abroad, Reuters noted in a report, which also said 330,000 bpd is the minimum that will get redirected from overseas market to local refineries.

This month, Pemex slashed oil exports by 436,000 barrels daily as Mexican refineries ramp up, including the new Dos Bocas facility, which will take in some 179,000 bpd this year. The refinerys nameplate capacity is 340,000 barrels daily.

The reduction in exports was necessary because Pemexs output has been on a steady decline due to natural depletion and not enough new discoveries. In February, the daily average fell to the lowest in 45 years, Reuters said in its report.

Currently, Pemex processes half of its daily crude oil output, which stands at an average of 1.8 million barrels, according to a recent update by Mexicos President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

This means the export shrinkage could deepen further. Last year, Pemex exported an average daily of 1.03 million barrels, according to Reuters. This year, the average for the first two months of the year fell to 945,000 barrels daily.

The Mexican energy ministry expects oil processing rates to rise to 1.04 million barrels daily this year, which, based on 2023 export figures suggests Mexico might well have to stop exporting crude as a whole. But this depends on the Dos Bocas refinery ramping up in accordance with government plans, which is not guaranteed.

Right now, the Mexican state firm is also facing a sharp drop in production following a fire on an offshore platform that forced the shutdown of several wells. The amount lost is yet to be determined.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Oil prices are set to trade in the range between $80 and $100 per barrel this year, Russell Hardy, chief executive at the worlds largest independent oil trader, Vitol Group, said at an industry conference on Tuesday.

Vitol also expects robust global oil demand growth in 2024, at around 1.9 million barrels per day (bpd) higher than in 2023, Hardy told the audience at the FT Commodities Global Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Oil prices jumped to above $90 per barrel last weektheir highest level so far this year and the highest in nearly six months  after tensions resurfaced again in the Middle East and the OPEC+ alliance did not make any changes to the ongoing oil production cuts, leaving them as-is until the end of the first half of the year.

The market is also becoming increasingly bullish on oil. Hedge funds and other money managers boosted their net long position  the difference between bullish and bearish bets  in crude oil futures and options in the week to April 2, data from exchanges showed.

The combined net long in Brent and WTI, the most traded contracts, jumped to a six-month high, while the net long position in Brent Crude surged to the highest level in two and a half years, according to the data compiled by Saxo Bank.

Vitol expects refined product demand globally to be "a lot, lot higher" in the second half, at around 2 million bpd than in the same period last year, Mike Muller, Head of Asia Vitol, told Gulf Intelligence's Daily Energy Markets podcast on Sunday.

Banks including JP Morgan have said in recent weeks that oil prices could hit $100 per barrel by the end of the summer.

At face value, and assuming no policy, supply or demand response, Russia's actions could push Brent oil price to $90 already in April, reach mid-$90 by May and close to $100 by September, JP Morgan strategists led by Natasha Kaneva wrote in a note at the end of March, as carried by Yahoo Finance.

However, demand destruction could prevent prices from reaching triple digits, JP Morgan says.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Kong Dog celebrated the grand opening of its inaugural Nebraska location with free Kong Dogs for the first 200 customers at Nebraska Crossing Mall in Gretna.

The transformation of the former Auntie Annes into Kong Dog warranted a total remodel. What was once a familiar pretzel haven now stands as a vibrant and modern space, beckoning foodies.

As word spread of the free Kong Dogs for the first 200 customers, the line snaked around the outdoor mall, with patrons eagerly anticipating their turn to taste the twist on a classic treat. Some waited patiently for over two hours, fueled by the promise of a flavor explosion on a stick.

Kong Dog isnt the average American stadium-food staple you might imagine. It offers a rainbow of customizable flavors, from fruity pebbles to hot Cheeto coating your choice of mozzarella or meat  all on a stick.

Kong Dogs specialty is Korean corn dogs, a snack that surged in popularity in South Korea in the early 2000s. While the fundamentals are present, the Korean corn dog is akin to the Frappuccino compared to the traditional corn dogs black coffee.

Kong Dog rose in popularity, in part, due to its social media strategy, with over 770K total TikTok likes on the companys page. Cheese pull videos alone have garnered upwards of 14 million views.

The company capitalized on this popularity by introducing fundraising opportunities for charities known as Stretch for a Change, where individuals can host a fundraiser with Kong Dog, with 10% of the proceeds allocated to the organizers chosen charity.

Currently, Kong Dog has locations in seven other states: Massachusetts, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Virginia, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and North Carolina. Additionally, it has plans for 37 new locations, which are emerging across the U.S.

While the Korean corn dog takes center stage, Kong Dog offers more than just that. The franchise also features Boba Tea, another trendy drink from the Asian market that is made waves in the U.S. since its introduction to the States in the 90s.

Boba Tea, also known as Bubble Tea, is a flavored milk tea containing tapioca balls, which are edible translucent spheres produced from tapioca, a starch derived from the cassava root. At Kong Dog, you can enjoy plain, brown sugar, and strawberry matcha boba options, alongside lemonades, Iced Ube Latte, and sparking-ades.

Kong Dog is open from 11 a.m. to the malls closing, at 8 p.m. daily.
The Schuyler Police Department and the Nebraska State Patrol are investigating a weekend slaying and related shooting.

The Colfax County attorney said Monday that police were investigating the death of 44-year-old Ariel Varella Herrera and a related shooting of someone else on Sunday, according to a press release.

On Monday afternoon, Rodolfo Cateura Nogueras, 39, was taken into custody by sheriffs deputies in Buchanan County, Missouri, for alleged involvement in the incident. He is being accused of first-degree murder, kidnapping, use of a firearm to commit a felony and first-degree assault. He will be extradited to Colfax County.

The investigation is ongoing, and police are asking for assistance. Anyone with information related to the investigation is encouraged to contact Schuyler Police Chief Robert Farber, the Colfax County Communication Center at 402-352-8527 or the Colfax County Attorney Victim Advocate at 402-352-8502.
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted 78-21 to confirm Susan Bazis to serve as a district judge on Nebraskas federal bench.

Bazis, a former trial attorney and U.S. magistrate judge, will serve a lifetime appointment as a judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska. She will replace U.S. District Judge John Gerrard, who assumed senior status  essentially a partial retirement  in February 2022.

Both of Nebraskas senators, Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts, supported Bazis nomination and urged their Senate colleagues to vote for her confirmation. Fischer said she recommended Bazis as a potential pick for the federal judgeship to President Joe Biden in early 2023.

I recommended Judge Susan Bazis to the White House because of her undeniable skill, expertise and integrity, Fischer said in a Tuesday statement. The Senate did the right thing today by confirming Judge Bazis, and I have no doubt she will continue to serve our state well.

Twenty-one senators, all Republicans, voted against Bazis confirmation.

Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law who studies federal judicial nominations, said Bazis confirmation vote showed significant bipartisan support. Tobias said Bazis having strong support from Fischer and Ricketts, both Republicans, likely helped convince other Republicans to vote for her confirmation.

Bazis was selected to join the federal bench as a U.S. magistrate judge in 2017. Magistrate judges serve eight-year, renewable terms and are responsible for the management of most pretrial proceedings in federal criminal and civil matters. Unlike other federal judges, magistrates are not appointed by the president and do not require Senate confirmation.

Before joining the federal judiciary, Bazis spent about a decade as a Douglas County Court judge. Before that, she worked in various roles in private practice and briefly as an assistant public defender in Douglas County. She is a 1993 graduate of the Creighton University School of Law.
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State on Tuesday in Abuja raised alarm over stock piling of arms by bandits operating in the state.

Mr Yari made this known while speaking with State House correspondents after he had updated President Muhammadu Buhari on the socio-political and security developments in the state.

The governor, who ruled out dialogue with bandits, said: I have told my people that dialogue will no longer take place during my time because I have done that three times, but it did not work.

This is in the sense that we know their capacity.

For instance, during the first dialogue, they invited some of our team, army, DSS, police, and my chief security officer as well as some representatives of traditional rulers and we have seen what they have.

They are in control of the kind of weapons that the security command in Zamfara does not have.

In one armoury alone, they have more than 500 AK 47 rifles; we saw it.

Our people were even given the chance to take pictures.

But when we said we will dialogue and offer them amnesty if they surrendered their arms, they refused.

I can tell you that till date we have not received up to 90 AK 47 rifles.

So it is deceit. That is why I said no more dialogue during my tenure.

During dry season they try to get us to dialogue because they know the security forces can get to them anywhere in the forest and they would not have a place to hide.

But when the rainy season comes and the forest becomes thicker they return to their normal practice.

That is why I said there has to be a show of force before anything else.

I know that in any war, eventually you have to come to the table and dialogue, but at this point and given the situation we are in right now, dialogue is not needed.

The governor expressed the hope that the federal government would soon address the security challenges facing the state as it would soon take delivery of military hardware and modern weapons to check the activities of the bandits in the area and beyond.

The federal government has already given procurement contracts, inter-government transactions to the United States, China, and other European countries.

In 2018, the Nigeria Governors Forum, approved one billion dollars to help the federal government equip the security agencies.

We believe the equipment will soon come into the country and it is our hope that the equipment will be used so that this worrying situation that we are in will become history, he added.

(NAN)
The Nigeria Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has faulted reports that it has approved the distribution of genetically modified foods in Nigeria.

The director-general of the agency, Rufus Ebegba, spoke on at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja while reacting to calls for the scrapping of NBMA over its approval of Genetical Modified Organisms (GMOs).

The claims by the media organisations that there are GM foods are completely false, Mr Egbeba said.

The GMOs so far approved by the NBMA are not yet in the market, even though approvals have been given for their commercial release, he said.

He said the GMOs still have to still undergo other instant procedures at the National Seed Service under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that NBMA was being criticised over its method of granting permits for commercialisation of GM food crops in Nigeria.

Critics said the agency was hasty in granting approvals without considering the safety concerns raised by Nigerians.

The Nigerian government established NBMA to regulate the potentials of modern biotechnology and its derivatives for the benefit of Nigerians.

Nigeria officially signed the Biosafety Bill into law in 2015, making it eligible to join the league of nations already using genetic engineering (GE), also called genetic modification (GM), to boost food production.

With the establishment of the NBMA, dumping of unauthorised GMOs into Nigeria is now at the barest minimum, the director-general of the agency said.

The risk to human Health from modern biotechnology practice and the use of GMOs are at their barest minimum, he said.

Mr Ebegba emphasised on the negative effect of the absence of Biosafety system, saying it will lead to the dumping of unauthorised GMOs on the country.

Those calling for the scrapping of NBMA are directly paving way for dumping of GMOs in the country thus enriching the countries from which these crops are imported, he said.

He said the agency has set up two committees to examine the application of the countries that import GMOs before recommending them to the agency.

The two are the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) and the National Biosafety Technical sub Committee (NBTS).

 The agency will continue to ensure that only safe GMOs will be allowed in Nigeria as the agency has full structural and human capacity to ensure the safety of Nigerians, he said.

The absence of a Biosafety system will amount to the dumping of unauthorised GMOs into the country with its attendant adverse effect on humans, animals, the environment and the economy, he said

The Nigerian government has reportedly approved for use its first genetically modified crop: the Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea (popularly called beans).

This was after it had been genetically modified to resist the pest  Maruca Vitrata, and was developed by the Institute For Agricultural Research at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The cowpea, by this development, becomes the first genetically modified food crop to be approved in the country.

Two months after it approved commercialisation of transgenic cotton varieties, a development heavily kicked against by environmental activist, the agency later approved GM cowpea, popularly known in Nigeria as beans.

NBMA had warned stores across the country to desist from importing genetically modified foods without permits.
A 29-year-old woman , Omolara Busari has called off her wedding after her husband-to-be, Adelekan Adelufosi, beat the hell out of her during a quarrel in Oyo state

In an interview with Punch, Omolara, who hails from Iseyin, Oyo State, said she endured her relationship with 32-year-old Adelufosi for four years.

They had planned to finally get married in August 2019, but their wedding has now been cancelled after Adelufosi beat his fiancee to a pulp last Thursday at Iwere-Ile, Iwajowa, Oyo State.

Omolara, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone, said she had only challenged Adelufosi for asking her not to ever relate with a woman who lives in their area.

By the time she knew what was happening, she had been admitted to hospital.

She said, There is a woman who lives in my area, close to my apartment. We were just discussing and greeting each other when he (Adelufosi) showed up.

Later, he went to the womans shop and warned her not to ever see her around me again. When we entered my apartment that night, I asked him, Why did you do that?

That was the last thing I remembered saying. By the time I opened my eyes, I found myself in a hospital.

From last Thursday night, Omolara had been receiving treatment and was discharged on Monday.

But that was not the first time Omolara would get physically assaulted by a man who claimed to love her and make his wife someday.

That was the fifth time he would beat me, Omolara said.

Asked why she held on to the man despite his abusive nature for so long, Omolara said it was because she had a daughter for him.

She said, Actually, I wanted to marry him because I have a daughter, who is two years old, for him. This is what kept me glued to the relationship. But this time around, I dont care. Our relationship has ended and I have cancelled our wedding.

Right from the beginning, my parents and siblings didnt approve of our relationship, but I thought maybe after our wedding, he would change.

We were already planning our wedding for August 2019, but like I said, it cannot hold again.

Omolara lamented she did not heed her parents and siblings warning before. However, she was thankful it was not too late for her.

Now, they (my parents and siblings) are relieved and I have finally learnt my lesson. I am so happy that our relationship has ended, she said.

Omolara said she was more relieved because she would not have to spend her savings on Adelufosi again, who she claimed to have been responsible for since their relationship started.

She said, He only has the primary school leaving certificate. I am a trader and deal in beverages. He doesnt have a job and I have been the one taking care of him.

I used to buy him clothes, shoes and others. Even the phone hes using right now, I bought it for him. I was practically taking responsibility for his life.

Just last week, I gave him N50,000 capital, encouraging him to start selling recharge cards. But after the beating, he burgled my shop and ran away. Up till now, hes still at large. He was always mad at me for telling him to look for a job.

Asked what he initially saw in the suspect before agreeing to date him, Omolara said she thought he was a good man because he was calm and gentle.

I never knew he could be this dangerous. I knew his real person when I got closer to him. I also did not know he smokes and drinks alcohol a lot. Anytime I told him what he was doing was not good, he would be angry, she added.

Asked what she would do if the suspect came back to apologise to her, she replied, Am I a fool? It cant happen. I have made up my mind. It was then that I used to fall for his apologies. He can never change.

He used to threaten me that if I decided to break up with him, he would take our child, and this was why I held on to him for so long. I will raise my daughter, whom I had by Caesarean Section, on my own; I would never let her near him.

Happy she had finally taken the bull by the horns by ending her relationship with Adelufosi and cancelling her wedding, Omolara said the only thing she now wanted was justice.

I want him to be punished, she said.

She also Punch that immediately after her discharge from the hospital on Monday morning, she went to report the case to the Divisional Crime Branch, Iwere-Ile Police Station, Oyo State.

Efforts to reach the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Mr. Olugbenga Fadeyi, on Tuesday proved abortive.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has received a response from the Nasarawa State Government to its Freedom of Information request for explanation on how the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board  spent Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds on primary school education between 2015 and 2019,

which Commission offered explanation on the spending of N45 million in one week to train 1,000 primary school teachers.

SERAP acknowledged the Nasarawa State Government response in a statement by the Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday.

National Daily learned from the statement that the governments response followed FOI requests SERAP sent in the month of May to the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), UBEC and other 35 state universal basic education boards, seeking details of spending on primary education across the country, given the poor state of education in many states of the federation.

In the letter with reference number NS/UBEB/S/OFF-69/VOL.I/XX and signed by the Board Secretary, Yakubu Ahmed Ubangari, on behalf of the Executive Chairman, the Nasarawa State Education Board disclosed: Our counterpart fund for primary education in 2015 was N866,756,76 while the matching grant was N876,756,756,76. In 2016, our counterpart fund was N607,848,100.48 while the matching grant was N607,849,100.48. The total fund we accessed in 2015 was N1,753,513,513.52. For 2016, it was N1,215,698,200.96.

According to the letter, In 2015, we spent N45,000,000.00 in one week to train 1000 primary one and two teachers on Jolly Phonics teaching in our schools. The objective is to improve staff and pupils synthetic phonics in English language and to read and write effectively. The training took place in the 3 Senatorial district centres in the state.

The letter with accompanying documents dated 21 May 2019, but which SERAP said it received last Friday, read in part: We spentN13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms with 1 office at Kwagshir Primary School. The construction was done by Gibbs Scientific Nigeria Limited. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms with 1 office at Riri Primary School; the construction was done by Muuru Puhu Services Nigeria Limited.

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We spent N3,030,791.00 to construct toilet with 4 compartments; the construction was done by A. Odumu Unique. We spent N220,472,000.00 on supply of chairs and desk; the supplier was Innate Resources Services Limited.

We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Yarkadde Primary School, Keffi; the contractors name is Dan Dogara Oil Limited. The project is 100 percent completed. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Feferuwa South Primary School, Lafia; the contractors name is Alfada Global Ventures Limited. The project is 96 percent completed; the balance of N526,213.68 to be paid.

We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Abebe Primary School, Keana; the contractors name is Calfez Nigeria Limited. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Igyomuh Primary School, Keana; the contractors name is Suleimaniya Integrated Services Limited. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Yelwan Bassan Early Child Primary School, Kokona; contractors name is Dougymarks Nigeria Limited.

In 2016, we received N165,000,000.00 which was spent as follows: N45,000,000.00 was spent on Training of Primary One, Two and one Jolly Phonics; N78,110,080.00 was spent on Training of Basic Education Teachers and Administration on Clusters; N20,000,000.00 was spent on Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE); N10,000,000.00 was spent on Training of LGEA Quality Assurance Teachers; N8,250,000.00 was spent on Training of 165 ECCD Staff, while N3,639,920.00 was spent on LGEA Cluster Support Mechanism Training.

N78,110,080.00 was spent to train 1550 basic education teachers and school administrators on cluster model in 31 centres in the state. The training was for 13 weeks. We spent N20,000,000.00 to train 300 teachers to strengthen mathematics and science education (SMASE). The training was for six weeks. Also, we spent N10,000,000.00 to train 150 teachers on Quality Assurance in our schools; the training took 3 weeks. We spent N8,250,000.00 to train 165 teachers on the use of curriculum and teachers guide, and instructional materials; the training took one week.

We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Wayo Primary School, Wamba; the contractors name is First Trinity Integrated Services Limited. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Apringbo Primary School, Doma; the contractors name is Honey Darl Pharmacy. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Umme Primary School, N/Eggon; the contractors name is Abufat Global Ventures.

We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Nahuche Primary School, Nasarawa; the contractors name is Nlonnu Global SGL. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Pesin Primary School, Toto; the contractors name is Sofian Al-Venture Limited. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Mama Pilot Primary School, Wamba; the contractors name is VAASR Multi Venture. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Mudu Primary School, Doma; the contractors name is Baba Muha Ventures.

We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Saura Mada Primary School, Kokona; the contractors name is Ayime Kweyi Enterprises. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Tungan Nupawa Primary School, Lafia; the contractors name is Fas Field Investment Limited. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Angwan Waje Lalle Primary School, Lafia; the contractors name is Husnil Husna Nigeria Limited.

SERAP said: We are studying the large documents on spending on primary schools in Nasarawa State, with several purportedly completed but also some uncompleted. Our team is analysing the total project sums, comparing the amounts spent on projects. We will publish the full information on our website and social media platforms shortly. We have also set up a national verification group to visit the state and other states of the federation to check the status of projects against the total amounts reportedly spent and to talk to all the contractors involved.

It would be recalled that SERAP had in an FOI request to the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board stated that: Since assuming office, Nasarawa State Government has reportedly received over N3.4 billion from Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). Nasarawa State also reportedly received N47.6 billion from Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) in 2018, at an average of N3.97 billion monthly.

SERAPs FOI request read in part: Despite the huge resources available to the State Government and the massive budgetary allocations to primary education in Nasarawa State including from the UBEC funds, several of the around 1,310 schools across the State are in shambles, and with very poor teaching facilities, thereby jeopardizing the futures of tens of thousands of Nigerian children in in the State.

Nigeria is also a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, which require states parties to promote transparency and accountability in the spending on education, and take steps to improve and expand quality and free education for all.
Tragedy befell the Dogon-Dawa community in Niger States Mariga local government area as suspected bandits allegedly killed at least thirty members of a local security outfit known as Yan Sa Kai.

The attack occurred as the vigilantes were tracking the suspected bandits to their hideout upon learning of their presence in the area. However, they fell into an ambush set by the bandits, resulting in a significant number of casualties.

While some of the assailants were reportedly neutralized during the encounter, the exact count remains undetermined.

According to a reliable source from the area, Some of our local vigilantes were killed. From what we have calculated and seen, they are up to thirty. Some of the bandits were also gunned down by our men, and many others escaped with bullet wounds, but we cannot say specifically the numbers.

The incident, which took place on Saturday morning, has instilled fear among the predominantly farming community, prompting some residents to flee to avoid potential reprisals.

Confirming the tragic event, Mariga local government council Chairman, Abbas Kasuwar Garba, expressed grave concern, particularly as the farming community was gearing up for the planting season. He urged swift government intervention to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Efforts to obtain a response from the Niger State government and the police commands Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The newly appointed Deputy Governor of Edo State, Marvellous Godwins Omobayo, shed light on the reasons behind his selection.

Omobayo, who assumed the role following the impeachment of Philip Shaibu, revealed Governor Godwin Obasekis rationale during his inauguration in Benin on Monday.

Quoting Obaseki, Omobayo recounted, Why me? This was the million naira question I asked His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki when he gave me the surprise invitation for a dialogue about this job a couple of days ago. His answer was simple and direct: God! He elaborated further: I looked through my history books and discovered that Akoko-Edo has never served in this capacity. I talked to a few key leaders from Akoko-Edo, across party lines, and all fingers pointed at you. The ultimate decision, however, came from God, and I could not say no.



Expressing his gratitude and acknowledging the significance of the appointment for the Akoko-Edo people, Omobayo referenced biblical passages and emphasized the historical importance of the moment.

In his acceptance speech titled A day of the Lord: A Day I will never forget, Omobayo conveyed the appreciation of the Akoko-Edo people for Obasekis decision, highlighting their long-standing marginalization despite being a populous voting bloc in Edo North.

He underscored the historic nature of the appointment for Akoko-Edo, a region that has been overlooked in previous administrations, despite its significant population and voting influence.

Omobayo praised Governor Obaseki for his efforts to address the marginalization of Akoko-Edo, citing previous appointments of key officials from the region in his administration.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated an investigation into 50 bank accounts, resulting in the recovery of N30 billion in connection with the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, and the ongoing ministry probe for alleged money laundering.

In a bulletin titled EFCC Alert, authorised by EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede and obtained on Monday, the commission disclosed the recent developments, including major arrests, prosecutions, and recoveries made in the past month.

Olukoyede stated, Update on Betta Edu investigation: We have laws and regulations guiding our investigations. Nigerians will also know that they are already on suspension, and this is based on the investigations we have done, and President Bola Tinubu has proved to Nigerians that he is ready to fight corruption.

He continued, Moreover, concerning this particular case, we have recovered over N30 billion, which is already in the coffers of the Federal Government. It takes time to conclude investigations; we started this matter less than six weeks ago. Some cases take years to investigate. There are so many angles to it, and we need to follow through with some of the discoveries that we have seen. Nigerians should give us time on this matter; we have professionals on this case, and they need to do things right.

Olukoyede emphasized the complexity of the investigation, stating, As it is now, we are investigating over 50 bank accounts that we have traced money into. That is no childs play. Thats a big deal.

He also urged for unity in the fight against corruption, saying, Nobody can fight the corruption war alone. So, we want Nigerians to believe in our capacity to fight this battle. We must also come together and agree that corruption is bad, and so when we are prosecuting corrupt persons, Nigerians should believe in it.

Olukoyede called on all stakeholders, including the National Assembly and the judiciary, to support the EFCC in its mission, stating, Every Nigerian must be a corruption fighter. When you see something wrong, say something.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and member representing Bende federal constituency of Abia State, Benjamin Kalu has assured Nigerians that lawmakers will address the recent hike in electricity tariff.

He spoke on Monday.

Recall that NERC approved the hike in the price of electricity for Band A customers from N66 to N225 per kilowatt.

The implication is that electricity customers within urban areas that have 20 hours of power supply will have to pay 300 per cent more despite a nationwide drop in electricity supply.

Spontaneous outcries have continued to greet the development upon its announcement by the electricity authorities, stimulating fears that it will escalate the economic hardship in the country.

Speaking virtually on the special edition of Ben Kalus Mandate, a phone-in radio programme of FLO FM, Umuahia, Abia State monitored by DAILY POST on Monday, Kalu posited that the parliament, heeding the calls of Nigerians for its intervention in the matter will adopt a win-win approach in resolving the issues thereto.

According to the Deputy Speaker, Its a general problem. While I was on my holidays, one of the things I was bothered with was a letter sent to me by the majority leader of the House on the need for us to intervene in a matter involving the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital power supply.

They were disconnected because of this hike and they dont have the money to pay. We said its an essential service. Something should be done about it while we look at other details.

I can assure you that when we resume, its one of the things we are going to look into.

We will look at both sides of the coin to know a win-win approach to it because we cannot suffocate the investors, and also we cannot allow Nigerians to suffer unduly.

So, it is one of the things we will look at by the time we resume and we will find a way to solve it.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has given update on the investigation of suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu and former Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Authority, NSIPA, Halima Shehu.

EFCC said it has recovered N30 billion so far.

The anti-graft agency also disclosed that it has placed 50 bank accounts under investigation in the ongoing investigation.

President Bola Tinubu had suspended Edu and Shehu about three months ago for alleged financial misappropriation.

The president also suspended Social Investment Programme while directing the EFCC to take over the case and probe both embattled officials.

Ola Olukoyede, the Chairman of EFCC disclosed this in the March edition of the anti-graft agencys monthly e-magazine, EFCCAlert.

He said: We have laws and regulations guiding our investigations. Nigerians will also know that they are already on suspension and this is based on the investigations we have done, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proved to Nigerians that he is ready to fight corruption.

Moreover, with respect to this particular case, we have recovered over N30 billion, which is already in the coffers of the Federal Government. It takes time to conclude investigations; we started this matter less than six weeks ago.

There are cases that take years to investigate. There are so many angles to it. And we need to follow through with some of the discoveries that we have seen. Nigerians should give us time on this matter; we have professionals on this case and they need to do things right. There are so many leads here and there.

As it is now, we are investigating over 50 bank accounts that we have traced money into. That is no childs play. Thats a big deal. Then you ask about my staff strength. And again, we have thousands of other cases that we are working on.
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani has sent a message to President Bola Tinubu about government officials visiting him for the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to caution government officials against using public funds to hire private jets to greet him.

Sani made the call while wishing President Tinubu a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

Posting on X, Sani wrote: I wish the President a Happy Eid al Fitr in advance; And please Your Excellency, tell Elected and Appointed Public Officials not to spend public funds hiring private jets just to come and greet you for Sallah.

Recall that the Presidency had disclosed that Tinubu will celebrate his Eid-el-Fitr celebration in Lagos.

The Presidents trip was made public by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale via a statement.

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja, the Nations Capital, for Lagos on Sunday ahead of Eid-el-Fitr.

In deference to the solemn occasion, which marks the end of Ramadan, the President will observe the moment in prayers for Nigeria and with family.

The President will continue official duties during and after the Eid-el-Fitr holidays, the statement reads.
Nigeria will soon receive $1.05bn syndicated loan backed by oil from the African Export-Import Bank.

The money will be sent to the country next month.

The loan is part of a larger $3.3bn prepayment facility arranged by Afreximbank, with repayment terms tied to crude cargoes from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.

According to Bloomberg, Afreximbanks Senior Executive Vice President for Finance, Administration, and Banking, Denys Denya, confirmed the verification of crude availability, paving the way for the final release of the balance within the next month.

The loan aims at reviving Nigerias economy and enhancing the supply of hard currency in the local foreign exchange market. A substantial portion of it  two-thirds, was already disbursed in January.

This financial manoeuvre is designed to provide Nigeria with immediate funds based on future oil production, offering a lifeline to the countrys struggling economy.
By Izunna Okafor, Awka

It was a gathering of who is who and moment of panegyrics at the St. Pauls Anglican Church, Umunze in Orumba South L.G.A. of Anambra State on Sunday, as the Member representing the Orumba North and South Federal Constituency at the Green Chambers, Hon. Princess Chinwe Clara Nnabuife of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) danced to the altar with heart of thanksgiving to God for her election victories.

Hon. Nnabuife had defeated her predecessor, Hon. Okwudili Ezenwankwo of the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP) and other contestants in the 2023 general election, to take over the Green Chamber position.

However, Hon. Ezenwankwo was said to have approached the court shortly after the election, to challenge the outcome, on the claim that the election was inconclusive in some parts of the constituency, especially in Nanka, his hometown. This resulted to scheduling of a re-run election at the said affected polling units, scheduled for Saturday, February 3, 2024.

The build-up for the election was laced with reactions and counter reactions from different corners, and which even culminated to the gruesome assassination of the YPP Chairman of Nanka Ward 1, Chief Joseph Ezenwegbu (Joe Mohale); as well as the alleged kidnap of another indigene of the community, Chief Patrick Ezeanaka; among other happenings.

Hon. Nnabuife, who hails from Umunze, at some points, said she was receiving life threats from some yet-to-be-identified persons, warning her not to step her feet into Nanka again for any reason, let alone campaigning there ahead of the election.

These threats and pre-election brigandage notwithstanding, the election was eventually conducted in a violence-free process, as the presence of adequate security made the exercise calm, free and fair; while Hon. Nnabuife still floored her opponents to retain her seat, in another landslide victory.

It was in celebration of this significant election victory that the Federal Lawmaker was joined by top-notch political figures in the State, including Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and other dignitaries, as she went for thanksgiving in her home church on Sunday, April 7.

Speaking at the event, the celebrant, Hon. Nnabuife expressed profound gratitude to God for His faithfulness and the overwhelming support of her constituents. She hinted on the journey that led to her victory, commending the tireless efforts of the people and the unwavering belief of the electorate in her ability and representation; even as she also reassured not to disappoint Ndi Orumba North and South.

The Lawmaker, while harping on the need for unity and collective action in achieving greater progress and development of the constituency, also pledged to work tirelessly to fulfill the aspirations of her constituents, re-assuring of her commitment to serving diligently and advocating for their interests at the federal level. She also extolled the leadership style of Governor Soludo, commending him for providing adequate security and giving everybody a fair-playing ground in the election, irrespective of political party affiliation.

On his own part, Governor Soludo, while addressing the congregation, congratulated Hon. Nnabuife again on her landslide victory; even as he also called on politicians to desist from initiating unnecessary litigations after election winner is declared. According to the Governor, this will help to minimize distraction and waste of time and resources of the winner, which would have been properly channelled and used to achieve a whole lot for the people.

The Governor, while calling for collective action towards the overall development of the State, also acknowledged the severity of the hunger and other effects of the current economic realities in land on the citizens. He further advised Ndi Anambra to leverage the condition to become self-reliant and self-sufficient, especially by keying into the agricultural revolution long advocated by his administration.

Governor Soludo, who highlighted some of the progresses and achievements of his administration, further assured to continue delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.

Earlier speaking, the Anglican Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, maintained that victory belongs to God, while also congratulating and wishing the lawmaker success in her legislative duties, even as he called on the congregation to always pray for those in leadership positions and to always put their trust in God in all situation.

Also present at the event were: former Deputy Governor of the State, Engr. Emeka Sibeudu; the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Forster Ihejiofor; the Chief of Protocol to the Governor and Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Chinedu Nwoye Glamour; the Special Adviser to Governor on Political Matters, Dr Alex Obiogbolu; the Chairman of the Anambra Urban Regeneration Council, Arch. Mike Okonkwo; the Transition Committee Chairman of Orumba South, Prince Neville Uchendu and his Orumba North counterpart, Hon. Ogochukwu Nnamdi Ekwueme; among other dignitaries and top government functionaries.

While many of the dignitaries in attendance were stalwarts of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA); Hon. Nnabuifes political ally, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah who recently decamped from YPP to the All Progressive Congress (APC) ahead of the 2025 governorship election, was not seen at occasion, creating room for speculations.

Among other highpoints, the thanksgiving, saying of special prayer for the celebrant and majestically ushering her to the reception ground with traditional music made the event a memorable spectacular one.

Related
Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu has rejected his impeachment by the State House of Assembly, describing it as illegal and a politically motivated witch-hunt.

KanyiDaily recalls that Shaibus impeachment occurred on Monday following the adoption of the report of a seven-member investigative panel by the Edo assembly.

The panel, chaired by retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa, was set up by Chief Judge Daniel Okungbowa.

The Assembly had accused Shaibu of breaching confidentiality by leaking the state secrets and committing perjury, citing these as impeachable offenses.

This development unfolds amidst a prolonged feud between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy.

In response to his impeachment, Shaibu, vowed to fight vigorously, labeling it as not only illegal but also oppressive and antithetical to democratic principles and the rule of law.

Shaibu contended that his impeachment is a consequence of his aspiration to contest the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former deputy governor said that such ambitions are legitimate rights accorded to all Nigerian citizens.

Expressing deep dismay over the alleged trumped-up allegations, Shaibu accuses the Assembly members of betrayal and manipulation of democratic institutions for personal interests.

He called upon all well-meaning citizens, both in Edo and across Nigeria, to stand in solidarity against tyranny and oppression, vowing to resist and fight for justice relentlessly.

Shaibu also implored the judiciary and relevant authorities to intervene and ensure justice prevails, confident that the legal system will vindicate him and expose the purported sham orchestrated against him.

Despite facing adversity, Shaibu maintains his resolve to champion the rights and freedoms of all Edo residents, urging calm and lawful conduct amid the turbulent times.

Shaibu said, It is with heavy heart, yet, a resolute spirit that I come before you to address the recent events that have unfolded within our dear state.

I denounce in strongest terms the illegal impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly over trumped-up charges.

This is not just an attack on me as an individual, but on the very democratic principle that we hold dear. It is a dangerous descent into dictatorship and a threat to the foundation of our democracy.

Let it be clear that this impeachment was hashed because of my ambition to contest the Edo State 2024 governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), an ambition that is a legal right to all the citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It is a sad reality that in our political landscape, ambition is met with resistance and those in power seek to silence opposition through illegitimate means.

I have dedicated my life to serving the good people of Edo State with integrity and honesty. I have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of our citizens. I have upheld the values of democracy and justice, yet, in return, I am faced with baseless accusations and blatant disregard for due process and rule of law.

He insisted that the allegations brought against him are nothing more than a whole screen to conceal the true motive behind this impeachment.

He continued, It is a flagrant abuse of power and betrayal of the trust that the people of Edo have placed in their elected officials.

We refuse to stay inactive while our democratic institutions manipulate and exploit for personal gain. We will fight this with iota of blood in our vein for the sake of the people of Edo state and the future of our democracy.

I call on all well-meaning citizens of Edo and indeed all Nigerians who believe in the principles of democracy and justice to stand with us in this moment of crisis. We cannot allow tyranny and oppression to take roots in our society. We must resist the forces that seek to undermine our freedom and trample upon our rights.

To the members of the Edo State House of Assembly who have chosen to forsake their oath of office and participate in this charade, history will judge harshly for your betrayal of the people who elected you to represent their interests. But know that you do not have the power to silence the voice of justice and truth.

I call upon the judiciary and all relevant authorities to intervene and uphold the principles of justice and fairness. Let truth prevail over lies. Let the rule of law triumph over lawlessness. I am confident that the legal system will vindicate me and expose the sham that has been orchestrated against me.

I will not be deterred or intimidated by those who seek to subvert our democracy. I will continue to fight for the rights and freedom of all Edolites and by extension, Nigerians that suffer oppression. I will stand firm in my resolve to see justice done.

In the face of tyranny and oppression, I urge all to remain calm and go about our lawful duties as good citizens and true democrats.

Watch the video below:

Philip Shaibu rejects impeachment as Edo Deputy Governor, vows to fight on pic.twitter.com/FkNZWBDS91  AIT (@AIT_Online) April 8, 2024

KanyiDaily recalls that Philip Shaibu stated that he wont be intimidated by any individual or group as he approaches the September 21 governorship election.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the recovery of N30 billion, along with the initiation of investigations into 50 bank accounts associated with the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and the former CEO of the now-suspended National Social Investment Programme Authority (NSIPA), Halima Shehu.

Kanyi Daily News earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu suspended both Edu and Shehu three months ago, citing alleged financial malpractice, and subsequently handed the case over to the EFCC for investigation.

EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede provided an update on the ongoing investigation, urging patience from the public in the March edition of EFCC Alert.

We have laws and regulations guiding our investigations. Nigerians will also know that they are already on suspension, based on the investigations we have conducted, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated his commitment to fighting corruption.

Furthermore, regarding this particular case, we have recovered over N30 billion, which has been returned to the Federal Government. Investigations take time to conclude; we began less than six weeks ago. Some cases take years to investigate due to their complexity, he continued.

We are currently scrutinizing over 50 bank accounts where we have traced funds. This is a significant undertaking. Additionally, we have thousands of other cases in progress. Nigerians have witnessed the impact of our actions, including suspensions and recoveries, Olukoyede emphasized.

We are uncovering various leads in our investigation. While some may be eager to see individuals prosecuted, its important to follow due process. I urge Nigerians to be patient and trust in the process, he concluded.

Meanwhile, Peter Obi Calls For Accountability in Betta Edus Scandal, Urges Action From Tinubu
KanyiDaily recalls that AY Makuns relationship of over 20 years with Mabel recently hit the rock after 16 years of marriage.

Reacting on her Instagram page, Stella Dimoko Korkus hinted at a scandalous narrative implicating a Big Brother Naija star, a musicians baby mama, and an actors wife in the marital discord.

According to SDK, the BBNaija star is said to have had two pregnancies allegedly fathered by the comedian, with the second pregnancy causing significant issues before its termination.

The blogger said that the musicians baby mama, despite her friendship with Mabel, was accused of engaging in multiple affairs with AY, adding further strain to the marriage.

She added that an actors wife was purportedly involved in the breakdown of the marriage, with evidence suggesting an intimate relationship with the comedian.

Stella further mentioned a fashion designer who allegedly facilitated extramarital encounters for AY while also being involved romantically with Mabel.

The blogger expressed her refusal to remain silent on the matter due to the extent of betrayals depicted in the stories.

She wrote, THREE BEAUTIFUL LADIES PARTIALLY FINGERED IN BREAKUP OF COMEDIANS MARRIAGE

BIG BROTHER STAR -PREGNANT TWICE FOR THE COMEDIAN AND THE SECOND PREGNANCY CAUSED PROBLEMS BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN OUT

MUSICIANS BABY MAMA YOU ARE ACCUSED OF GBENSHING HIM SEVERALLY DESPITE BEING FRIENDS WITH THE WIFE.

ACTORS WIFE: YOU ARE ACCUSED OF WARMING HIS BED; THERE ARE RECEIPTS AND THE WIFE IS MAD AT YOU FOR BETRAYING HER LIKE THIS

THE FASHION DESIGNER PIMPING FOR THE COMEDIAN AND BANGING HIS WIFE

These three people are part of those responsible for the crash, dont ask me to keep quiet, the betrayals are too much from the stories

This is a Nollywood script and i am waiting for the premiere.

Enjoy the rest of the day.

KanyiDaily recalls that AYs wife, Mabel Makun had shared cryptic social media posts about her life allegedly being under threat which signaled issues in their marriage.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has threatened to sue a lawyer, Hassan Oladotun, for allegedly circulating a report maliciously designed to disqualify him from participating in the state governorship primary election

Oladotun had, on June 2, 2023, petitioned the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the academic credentials of the governor.

After the conclusion of the investigation, the lawyer filed a Freedom of Information request through which he received a copy of the investigation report.

A copy of the report obtained by our correspondent addressed to Oladotun and signed by DCP Tahir Usman, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, stated that the police investigation into Aiyedatiwas Olevel certificate did not find evidence that the Ondo governor attended Ikosi High School, Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos.

However, the police in a statement on Friday by the Force Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, denied the authenticity of the report.

In response to the police denial, Oladotun petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Police Service Commission, insisting that the report was authentic, adding that he received a copy of the report through a Freedom of Information request that he filed.

In the petition dated April 5, which was obtained by our correspondent, Oladotun called for the intervention of the IG and the PSC to prevent the report of the investigation from being altered.

In a new turn of events, the governor, through his lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), said Aiyedatiwa sat for the West African School Certificate Examination and his results were genuine.

In a letter addressed to Oladotun on April 8, a copy which was obtained by our correspondent on Monday, Adegboruwa said steps were taken to confirm the allegations against the governor which had been proved to be untrue.

Upon your chorused repetition of this falsehood against our client, we took steps to conduct a verification exercise and indeed confirmed the authenticity of his West African School Certificate Examination results. We challenge you to proceed to do the same with the following particulars:

Name of the Candidate: Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa; Centre Number: 15592; Examination Number: 019; Centre: Ikosi High School, Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos State. Date of Examination: May/June, GCE O/L, 1982.

The search will bring out the following results in favour of our client: English Language: 8; Bible Knowledge: 6; Economics: 4; Health Science: 8; Commerce: 3; Accounts: 7; Business Management: 8, the letter partly read.

He, however, demanded a public apology published in three newspapers and withdrawal of the publications made regarding the governors certificate.

Adegboruwa said, In the light of all the foregoing, we have the instructions of our client to demand from you as follows: a public apology, to be published in at least three newspapers with wide circulation all over Nigeria.

An unconditional withdrawal of all false and malicious publications made of and concerning the West African School Certificate Examination result. of our client.

An unconditional withdrawal of your letters to the Nigeria Police Force in respect of the West African School Certificate Examination results of our client.

An unconditional withdrawal of your letters to the All Progressives Congress in respect of the West African School Certificate Examination results of our cient.

A conditional withdrawal of your letters to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in respect of the West African School Certificate Examination results of our client.

Adegboruwa also demanded compensation for the false publications made against the governor.

He said, Adequate compensation for the false and libellous publications made of and concerning our client based on his status, position in life, and political career. To cease from authoring, publishing, or in any other manner circulating further false and libellous publications of and concerning our client.

Adegboruwa, however, noted that should Oladotun fail to meet their demands seven days after receiving the letter, the governor would institute legal action against him.

He said, Take notice that if you fail, refuse, and/or neglect to comply with the above-stated demands within seven clear days of your receipt of this letter, we shall proceed to execute our clients further instructions to explore all lawful means to seek redress against you without further notice to you.
Many members of the vigilantes group known as Yan Sa Kai were reportedly killed by bandits during a clash in the Dogon-Dawa community in Mariga LGA of Niger State.

The incident happened on Saturday morning when the bandits attempted to launch an attack on the communities in the area.

The vigilantes were said to have trailed the bandits to their hideout and were ambushed on their way.

Confirming the incident to Daily Trust, the chairman of Mariga Local Government Area, Abbas Kasuwar Garba, said he could not give the number of casualties until search and rescue operations were completed.

He expressed concern over the security situation, saying they had enjoyed peace before, but attacks had resumed when residents were preparing for the farming season.

He said, Before this latest incident, we had been enjoying relative peace and we are happy that our farmers would be able to return to their farms this year after being denied access to farming for the past few years.

But with this development, we are not happy, but the government will take action. I want people to be calm.

However, the State Police Commands Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, while speaking to the publication mentioned above, said the attack did not happen in Niger State.


In Zamfara State, a violent clash erupted between two rival factions, resulting in the demise of a notorious bandit leader, Sani Dangote, along with his two siblings and several of his gang members.

According to reports on Tuesday, the confrontation occurred in the Dumburum forest of Zurmi Local Government Area, where Dankarami, another prominent bandit, engaged in a battle for supremacy with Sani Dangotes faction after allegedly stealing their cattle.

A reliable source from the security sector in the region disclosed on Monday that the altercation began when Dankarami raided the cattle belonging to Sani Dangote, sparking the deadly confrontation.

Describing the incident, the source stated, The battle between the two bandit kingpins started when Dankarami rustled the cattle belonging to Sani Dangote. That was how the fight began.

As of now, the state police command has not officially confirmed the incident.
There is a general consensus that Nigeria had a glorious outing at the recently concluded 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) which was held in Geneva, Switzerland. Through the leader of the delegation and President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Nigerias voice reverberated across the world on the need for peace and conflict resolution through diplomacy.

The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments made up of 180 countries. It was founded over 130 years ago as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. The IPU is the parliamentary parallel organization of the United Nations. In 2002, the UN General Assembly granted permanent observer status to the IPU.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has been a leader in developing strategies and tools to assist parliaments effectively perform their fundamental tasks of representation, lawmaking, and oversight. The IPU promotes responsive and effective parliaments around the world and works towards improved parliamentary performance.

As part of her program, the IPU sponsors series of workshops to build support for reform and modernization of parliaments, strengthening capacity of legislators for effective representation, skills acquisition in the lawmaking process and assisting in handling substantive issues that parliaments need to address such as constitutional development, rule of law, federalism, accountability, corruption and good governance.

According to Senator Akpabio Through its efforts, the IPU contributes to the advancement of parliamentary democracy and the achievement of global peace, justice and strong institutions. In a world grappling with numerous challenges, it is therefore incumbent upon us, as representatives of the people, to collectively strive for a better future, he said.

The election of Senator Akpabio as an Executive Committee member of the IPU in Luanda, Angola in October 2023, has been very significant for Nigeria. Senator Akpabio broke a 59-year-old jinx with his election into the executive committee of the global parliamentary body. The last time a Nigerian was represented in the Geneva based parliamentary body was in 1964. Nigeria now has a voice in global issues of good governance, sustainable development, human rights, climate change, womens right, peace and security and youth participation.

In his inaugural address at the general assembly of the IPU in Luanda, Angola, Senator Akpabio explained the essence of the global parliamentary union, The Inter-Parliamentary Union plays a vital role in promoting global parliamentary cooperation. It fosters dialogue, facilitates networking, and supports the strengthening of parliamentary institutions worldwide. By bringing together parliamentarians from different countries and regions, the IPU promotes the exchange of ideas, the sharing of best practices and the development of joint strategies to address common challenges.

Back at Geneva IPU, hundreds of parliamentarians from around the world attended the Assembly to address the theme, Parliamentary diplomacy: building bridges for peace and understanding. With 56 countries experiencing armed conflict in 2023  according to the Stockholm Peace Research Institute  the IPU Assembly provided a much-needed space for parliamentary dialogue and diplomacy at the global, regional and bilateral levels, as a complement to the United Nations and other multilateral forums.

Speaking at the General Assembly in Geneva, Senator Akpabio maintained that parliamentary diplomacy is quite critical to achieving peace in the world and resolving conflicts.

He called for more progress in parliamentary diplomacy, noting that though the Nigerian Parliament has explored the concept and achieved a myriad of successes, more can still be done.

We stand at a pivotal moment in history, an intersection where the choices we make and the words that we speak, have the potential to positively shape the future of a world in constant crisis. Therefore, we lend the voice of our country to the patriotic call for collective action to address the challenges facing our wonderful world.

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Nigeria has stunning kaleidoscopic diversity and a vibrant cultural heritage. The obverse side of this diversity is that Nigeria often faces the tragedy of commons where individuals and groups act in their self-interests, leading to the decline of shared resources.

Senator Akpabio who has imposed on himself the task of marketing Nigeria to the international community noted that, the government, with the support of the Parliament, has embarked on efforts to strengthen peace, collaboration, and unity. However, we are aware that the specter of polarization along political, ethnic, gender, religious, or racial lines is a global menace that requires the concerted efforts of all governments and non-governmental organizations to overcome.

In Nigeria, our Parliament plays a crucial role in curbing polarization and ensuring peace and progress through legislation. One notable legislative milestone in Nigeria was the passage of the Not Too Young to Run Bill in 2018, which aimed to widen the horizon for youth and women to actively participate in governance.

Nigeria has also actively contributed, with the support of Parliament, to international peace and security by deploying troops for peacekeeping missions across Africa and beyond. Nigerias bicameral parliament plays a significant role in conflict prevention and resolution through regional parliamentary forums, fact-finding missions to conflict areas, and addressing cross-border issues related to refugees, arms smuggling, and war-related criminal activities.

He called for more progress in parliamentary diplomacy and increase in peace-building capacity, not only in Nigeria but across all sovereign states, saying: let us advert our minds to Martin Luther King, Jrs admonition that all mankind is tied together; all life is interrelated, and we are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of identity. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.

We must walk together, hand-in-hand even if we do not see eye-to-eye, in our march to reshape our world. We must remember that we are the eyes, the ears, the hands and the minds of our people and we embody their hope for a brighter, more equitable future for this blessed world of ours.

But it was his passionate appeal for cessation of hostilities in Gaza and the need for humanitarian aid to the region that caught world attention. We have to show the world that we are human beings. The cessation of hostilities must be part of our resolutions. Access to humanitarian aid must be part of our resolutions. At the same time, release of hostages and even those who are prisoners of war, because if both sides take steps in releasing the hostages, releasing the prisoners of war, it means that both sides have agreed that the international community can go through the next stage, which is negotiation for sustainable peace.

If they cannot agree, I would urge that from here, we have a three-man drafting committee to come up with those resolutions which we must make before we leave here. We can no longer allow a child to die tonight, without lending our voice. It doesnt matter which side. We are all parents. If we come here to look for ego and then, try to be emotional, its not affecting them, he said in an emotion-laden voice.

Indeed as an executive committee member of the IPU, in Senator Akpabio Nigeria has a strong voice in international Diplomacy.

* Ekong is Special Assistant on Media/Communication to the President of the Senate
The crisis in the Labour Party, LP, has worsened as the National Chairman, Julius Abure, has been sacked.

This was as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Political Commission nullified the recent national convention that reelected Abure as the Labour Partys National Chairman along with the National Working Committee.

Consequently, a Transition Committee has been established to oversee the partys affairs temporarily.

This decision was reached during a one-day stakeholders meeting in Abuja attended by members of the Labour Party, political commission chairmen from the 36 States and FCT, and founding fathers of the party. The communique was signed by Acting Chairman of the Political Commission, Theophilus Ndubuaku, former NLC president Abdulwahed Omar, and Chairman of the Labour Partys Board of Trustees, Sylvester Ejiofor.

The commission expressed a vote of no confidence in the purported convention and its resultant leadership. It was resolved that the Transition Committee would manage the partys affairs until an inclusive national convention could be held. The process would commence from ward congresses, through local government and state congresses, culminating in a national convention in Abuja.

The Transition Committee is tasked with initiating an asset recovery process for all Labour Party properties and auditing cases of fraud, impersonation, and forgery of government documents allegedly involving former party officers. The committee is also mandated to revalidate current party members, register new members, and mobilize for the national convention with a target membership of 10 million.

The stakeholders emphasized the importance of notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies of these developments, urging them to recognize the Transition Committee as the interim leadership of the Labour Party. They reiterated the partys commitment to inclusivity and affirmed that it represents all Nigerians regardless of background.
Military authorities, yesterday, handed over the soldiers who allegedly raped a student of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, to the Ondo State Police Command for prosecution.

The victim, a 300-level student of the department of Religious and African Studies, was allegedly raped by a soldier attached to the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian army at Ikare Akoko.

It was earlier reported that the student was gang-raped, but investigations by the Nigerian Army revealed that only one of the soldiers committed the offence. The suspect who was identified as Sunday Adelola was said to have been dismissed from the service before he was handed over to the police.

The Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Brig. Gen. Zakari Abubakar, had earlier promised to transfer the case to the police after the alleged randy soldier must have been sacked and investigation concluded. A source in the barracks confirmed that the suspect had been sacked before he was handed over to the police.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state command, Mr. Femi Joseph, confirmed the development, saying the suspect would soon be charged to court.
Two suspects, Sodiq Musa, 28, and Saidu Atiku, 34, who specializes in vandalizing vehicles and stealing their brain boxes, have confessed to the police that it takes them less than four minutes to steal the brain box of a vehicle.

The two suspected were arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS), a unit of the Lagos State Police Command.

The two men were said to have been arrested at 27, Awolowo Road, Ikeja, Lagos, with three Toyota vehicle brain boxes. A third member of the gang, identified as Adamu Ridwan, allegedly escaped with all fourth box.

One of the suspects, Sodiq claimed he was a graduate of Political Science from one of the Nigerian University where he studied Political Science before He came to Lagos in 2017 in search of greener pasture.

I worked in Lagos as a barbeque man in various hotels and events before I met Ridwan who introduced me to brain box theft where He taught me all the antics and styles. We use magic stone that is, vehicle spark plug to break vehicle windows without attracting attention. It takes two minutes to loose a Toyota Hiace bus brain box and it takes four minutes to lose a Toyota Hilux box. The spark plug reduces the noise and effects quick break of any vehicle window and we tie the plug in a handkerchief in a situation where we have multiple vehicles to work on.

In his confessional statement to the RRS operatives, Sodiq told the officers that Saidu was a security guard who works for a company located on that street where they were arrested and had earlier in the day called Ridwan who is the leader of the team to come feast on vehicles belonging to their company which are parked outside the companys premises but which he Saidu is supposed to guard.

On getting the hint, Ridwan and Sodiq set to action and got to the venue around 1:00 a.m. The broke into two Toyota Hiace and two Toyota Hilux belonging to the company who employed Saidu as night guard stealing their brain boxes before another security nearby raised alarm. This led to their arrest. Sodiq was caught with three boxes while Ridwan fled with one.

Sodiq was thereafter taken to RRS Headquarters, where he confessed the involvement of Saidu. He disvlosed that he invited them for the operation and was reported to have slept beside the vehicles, which they vandalized and stole from while Saidu cooperated and pretended like nothing was happening.

We specialised in stealing Toyota brain boxes because they fetch good money in the market. The demand for them are higher than any other brand. For example we sold a Toyota Hiace bus for N40,000 while that of Toyota Hilux goes for N20,000 respectively. Ridwan connects with the buyers of the brain boxes who he claimed are from the popular spare part market in Lagos. We always meet the buyers outside the market where we exchange our loots for cash. They usually pay in cash and will never wait more than two minutes as we already have an understanding on the prices. Ridwan gives me 40% of whatever we make from the sale of our loots. He has never disclosed where we were to carry out our next operation because he feels he is my boss. Our target areas are usually night clubs where people come with different types of vehicles. We strike around 1:00 a.m.  2:00 a.m. when most of the clubbers would have started enjoying themselves.

The suspect also confessed to have stolen two boxes at a popular night club in Lekki, another at Ogunlana Drive and Allen Avenue, Ikeja. All these areas house popular night clubs and joints in Lagos.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu in his reaction to the incident directed the transfer of the case to State CID, Panti.

He advised night clubbers in the State to be extra careful while enjoying themselves and leaving their vehicles parked where its not safe.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the governorship election in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, the only local government that delayed the final announcement of governorship election result in the state.

The PDP now has 1,014,353 votes, while the APC polled 953,522. But its not over

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the state, Riskuwa Shehu, had ordered for fresh collation of results from the wards in Nasarawa local government after the local government collation centre was attacked and the main result sheet was torn.

However, only results from 10 out of the 11 local governments were collated before the process was disrupted. As a result, it is the result of the 10 local governments already collated that were regenerated at the state collation office.

The results from Gama ward was not included. INEC said they have to conduct election in Gama ward.

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Popular Islamic cleric Mohammed Tawhidi Imam of Peace on social media took yet another shot at the Nigerian government.

Some days back, the Ministry of Finance via its Twitter handle, appealed to billionaire businessman, Elon Musk, to help the Nigerian government with ventilators.

Elon Musk, who is the co-founder and CEO at Tesla, tweeted: We have extra FDA-approved ventilators. Will ship to hospitals worldwide within Tesla delivery regions. Device & shipping cost are free. Only requirement is that the vents are needed immediately for patients, not stored in a warehouse. Please let me or @Tesla know.

And the verified Twitter account of Nigerias Ministry of Finance replied to the tweet, writing: Dear @elonmusk @Tesla Federal Government of Nigeria needs support with 100-500 ventilators to assist with #Covid19 cases arising every day in Nigeria.

Reacting to the news via his Twitter handle this morning, Imam of Peace wrote
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has cautioned individuals and organisations to always be in a position to satisfactorily explain their sources of wealth.



That, it is, said was because sudden unexplained wealth could be as a result of money laundering.



The BoG gave the advice in a social media post as part of a financial literacy initiative to sensitise the public about money laundering and terrorist financing.



The central bank described money laundering as a process whereby money obtained from unlawful activities such as drug trafficking and corruption is legitimised through complex transactions and processes called cleaning to hide its illegal source.



Beware! Both the underlying illegal activities which produce the "dirty" money that has to be "washed or cleaned" and money laundering, which seeks to legitimize the proceeds of the illegal activities are punishable by law, the post said.



Terrorist Financing on the other hand, it said, includes the provision of funds and financial support to individuals, state and non-state actors for the purpose of extremist acts and the promotion of terrorism and terrorist organisations.



It further explained that both activities can have potentially devastating economic, security and social consequences for nations, businesses, and individuals and as a result were in direct violation of Ghanas laws.



Therefore, it said in order to control them, individuals and organisations may be required to disclose and prove the source of funds used to undertake transactions at all financial institutions licensed and regulated by the BoG.



Financing of terrorism is a crime and punishable by law. When you provide your legitimately or illegitimately acquired funds/assets for terrorist activities or organizations, you are financing terrorism. Be careful you do not become a conduit for such activities, it added.



The BoG also advised the individuals against allowing others to receive and or transfer funds through their bank accounts, pointing out that they could unknowingly be participating or aiding money laundering or terrorist financing, which are both punishable by law.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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Featured Video
More than 3,500 people die from hepatitis viruses every day, the World Health Organization warned on Tuesday, calling for swift action to fight the disease which is the second-largest infectious killer.



Viral hepatitis is the second-biggest infectious killer, narrowly coming behind tuberculosis, the woods number one infectious killer.



New data from 187 countries showed that the number of deaths from viral hepatitis rose to 1.3 million in 2022 from 1.1 million in 2019, according to a WHO report released ahead of the World Hepatitis Summit in Portugal this week.



The report said that there are 3,500 deaths per day worldwide from hepatitis infections, 83 percent from hepatitis B, 17 percent from hepatitis C.



There are effective and cheap generic drugs which can treat these viruses.Yet only three percent of those with chronic hep B received antiviral treatment by the end of 2022, the report said.



These are alarming trends, Meg Doherty, head of the WHOs global HIV, hepatitis and sexually-transmitted infection programmes, told a press conference.



For hepatitis C, just 20 percent or 12.5 million people had been treated.



These results fall well below the global targets to treat 80 percent of all people living with chronic hep B and C by 2030, Doherty said.



But WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasised that the report paints a troubling picture.





Despite progress globally in preventing hepatitis infections, deaths are rising because far too few people with hepatitis are being diagnosed and treated, he said in a statement.



Africa accounts for 63 percent of new hep B infections.



Two thirds of all cases are in Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia and Vietnam, according to the report.



Universal access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in these 10 countries by 2025, alongside intensified efforts in the African region, is essential to get the global response back on track, the WHO said in a statement.









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The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in conjunction with Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division) and Ghana Standards Authority have warned manufacturers, importers and distributors on the importation of unregistered baby diapers into the country.



According to the FDA, the importation of unregistered, poor quality and unhygienically packaged baby diapers into the country will result in their seizure and safe disposal at a cost to the importer.



In a communique signed by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Delese Darko, she said "The above notwithstanding, the Authority has noted with great concern, the continuing practice where disposable baby diapers are still imported into the country, either unhygienically packaged in bales or hidden in bales of used clothing"



She added that those baby diapers are subsequently repackaged and offered for sale without adequate label information or no labelling information at all.



"Importers are strongly cautioned that this practice goes against the FDA Guideline for Registration of Medical Devices (Appendix II) and the Ghana Standard Authoritys specifications for single-use disposable baby diapers (GS 1166:2017)"



"The public is to note that materials used for baby diapers are tested by the Authority during the product registration process. This ensures that any dyes, skin irritants, or toxins are absent so as not to cause harm to babies"



"In addition, handling of bale diapers, frequently re-packed and relabelled under insanitary conditions, can cause germs to enter the genital region of a child, especially a girl child, further posing great danger to their health and well-being"



"Imported finished baby diapers should be registered before importation, with an approved label and ready for sale. A finished registered baby diaper is a diaper that has been duly evaluated by the FDA and conforms with GS 1166:2017"





She noted that all registered diapers imported into the country must be well-packaged and properly sealed to protect the product from moisture, soiling, contamination and damage during transportation, storage and distribution throughout the products shelf-life.



"The Authority also allows the importation of raw materials for the manufacture of baby diapers but the importer should have a licensed facility for the manufacture of baby diapers"



She stressed that the FDA commits to continue to collaborate with the GRA (Customs Division) to ensure that disposable baby diapers on the market are safe and meet the required standards.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A former Minister of Gender and Social Protection, Rachel Appoh has condemned the disclosure of the identity of the 16-year-old girl at the centre of the Nungua child marriage controversy.



According to the former Minister, the identity of the child alleged to have been married to the 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo, Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII should have been protected from the public.



Social media and even traditional media has been buzzing following the marriage ceremony which has sparked public outrage in Ghana.



Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, has faced significant backlash after a video of him marrying the minor, Naa Okromo, surfaced online.



Calls for the arrest of Gborbu Wulomo have been made, as he claims that the girl will not be required to perform marital duties until she is 18 years old.



The traditional ceremony took place on March 30, 2024.



Sharing her views on United ShowBiz on United Television on Saturday, Ms Appoh also the former Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central stated that the minor has been exposed to the public with its attendant stigmatization.



She wondered if the pictures of the child splashed in various media platforms couldn't have been blurred to hide the identity of the victim as the ethics of the journalism profession demands in some cases.



She indicated that the publication of the pictures will negatively impact the social interaction and integration of the victim.









Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Africa Center for Democracy and Socioeconomic Development (CDS Africa) acknowledges and appreciates the dedication and hard work demonstrated by the Ghana Police Force in maintaining law and order, particularly during crowd control situations, and ensuring that the security of the country is safeguarded.



However, CDS Africa takes exception to recent reports of police brutality, where officers abuse the powers entrusted to them by the constitution and the law, resulting in harm to citizens.



The Ghanaian public is well aware of the challenges faced by law enforcement officers in ensuring public safety, and we commend their efforts in this regard. Nevertheless, the recent incident involving Judith Yaa Kumah, who alleges her ear was chopped off during interrogation by an officer at the Tema Community 8 police station, highlights a troubling trend of using excessive force and disregard for human rights within the police force.



While investigations are underway, CDS Africa emphasizes the importance of accountability and transparency in addressing allegations of police misconduct. It is imperative that the Ghana Police reaffirm their commitment to upholding the rule of law and respect for human rights in all their operations by ensuring that any officer found to be culpable after investigations will be brought to face the law.



CDS Africa in a statement urge the police administration to enforce internal administrative procedures to prevent further abuses of power and ensure that justice is served for victims of police brutality.



Additionally, proactive measures must be taken to instill a culture of professionalism, integrity, and accountability within all law enforcement agencies.



CDS Africa stands firm in its call for the Ghana Police to uphold the highest standards of conduct and restore public trust in the institution. Together, we can work towards a society where the rights and dignity of all citizens are respected and protected.

Source: Prince Baffour Asamoah.Peace FM Newsroom









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Nana Akomea has expressed worry over the staged kidnapping of some students of the Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School (PRESEC) where the kidnappers demanded GHc 340,000 from their supposed victim's family.



Six PRESEC students have been arrested by the Police for faking the kidnap of a student who, according to Police statement, plotted with his friends to dupe his parents.



The kidnappers managed to squeeze GHc 20,000 from the concerned family after negotiations and agreement to set their son free.



The kidnappers after receiving the amount refused to release the student insisting that the family further pays GHc 300,000 and threatened to send their son chopped into pieces if they fail to comply with their instruction.



It was later discovered that the kidnapping story was a ploy by the captive and his captors who are also students of the school and friends to extort money from the captives family for him to travel abroad.



The STC Chief Executive Officer, contributing to Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, wondered how a young boy could come up with such barbaric idea to extort money from his parents.



To him, this is the highest form of student misbehavior but called on the authorities to reform the suspects.



"I'm sure they are minors. They need counselling because they are teenagers," he appealed.









Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Sharaf Mahama Foundation last Friday supported some Muslims in the Okaikwei Central Constituency of the Greater Accra Region to observe the Ramadan Iftar. The event was preceded by a courtesy call on the National Chief Imam of Ghana, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu at his residence to ask for his blessings and prayers.



Mr. Sharaf Mahama, the founder of the Sharaf Mahama Foundation underscored the reason for supporting the Iftar, by noting that our Muslim brothers and sisters have been interceding on our behalf during this years Ramadan. It is only prudent we support them to break the fast on a day like this.



Mr. Mahama believes such support aligns with his foundations goal of promoting the building of strong communities. In his remarks, he noted one of the objectives of our foundation is to promote harmonious living within communities. And we think supporting a long-held religious practice like Ramadan which has been one of the pillars of our countrys religious tolerance will help us to achieve our goals as a foundation.



This years support was organized with the support of Hon. Baba Sadiq, the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Okaikwei Central Constituency. Hon. Sadiq expressed appreciation to the foundation for supporting more than 500 people to break their fast in grand style. Our Muslim brothers and sisters in Fadama are grateful for the show of love and support on this occasion. I speak for all of us in thanking you for remembering us during this time.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Elon Musk's wealth has dropped below Mark Zuckerberg's for the first time in four years as the value of Tesla's stock tumbled.



Musk's fortune is worth $ 181 billion, making him the fourth richest person in the world after being overtaken by the Facebook founder.



Zuckerberg, 40, is worth $187billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index.



In March, Musk, 52, was the richest man in the world but his net worth has taken a hit as Tesla's share price has fallen. Around $48.7billion has reportedly been wiped off Musk's fortune this year, while Tesla's stock has dropped more than 30% since January.



In the latest blow for Musk, a Brazilian Supreme Court judge yesterday launched an inquiry into the tech boss after he said he would reinstate accounts on X that the judge had ordered to be blocked.



The multi-billionaire announced that the restrictions had been lifted, saying the court order was unconstitutional.



It came after X said on Saturday that it had been 'forced by court decisions' to block some popular accounts in Brazil.



Musk said the order could lead to a total loss of revenue and closure of the offices in the South American country.



While Musk's fortune has fallen in value, his competitors have made huge gains this year.



Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has seen its share price rise more than 50% in 2024, adding $58.8billion to Zuckerberg's wealth.

















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In a crucial meeting held in Accra, the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament has directed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to ensure that power consumers are provided with a comprehensive load-shedding timetable.



This decision comes following discussions with stakeholders in the energy sector and a previous directive from the regulatory body, PURC, for the ECG to submit a load management timetable by April 2, 2024.



Speaking to the media after the meeting, Samuel Atta Akyea, Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, emphasized the committees commitment to ensuring that the right measures are taken.



He acknowledged the technical challenges faced by the ECG, particularly relating to fuel, and expressed confidence that these issues would be resolved.



Atta Akyea highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in managing power outages, stating, If there are power outages, those who are enjoying power should know when it will be available and then they plan their lives around the timetable you furnish them.



He emphasized the importance of the ECG providing a load-shedding timetable to help consumers plan their activities and minimize disruptions caused by power outages.



The committee chairman assured the public that the Mines and Energy Committee will closely monitor the situation to ensure compliance.



He reiterated the committees determination to address any under-generation of power and work towards generating enough electricity to meet the countrys needs.



The directive from Parliament underscores the urgency to address the ongoing power challenges faced by Ghanaians.



By providing a load-shedding timetable, the Electricity Company of Ghana aims to provide consumers with clarity and reduce uncertainty regarding power outages. It is hoped that this move will enable individuals and businesses to plan their activities accordingly, minimizing the adverse impact of any disruptions in the power supply.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party, Salam Mustapha, has described as unfortunate remarks made by the former president HE John Dramani Mahama about NPP's government 1student 1Laptop under the Ghana Smart School Project.



According to him, it is such a "horrible thinking" which should be treated with scorn and disdain.



Last week, flagbearer of the National democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, descended heavily on the government for the decision to allocate funds to provide free tablets to senior high school students.



According to former President Mahama, it is a tactics adopted by the government to induce the students into voting for the NPP come December 7, 2024 when the general elections will be held.



You bring a new curriculum, the children have no textbooks in basic school for the last four years and you think that giving pre-tertiary students tablets is more important. Of course, everybody knows the political expediency," he addressed his concerns during a special public lecture at the Wisconsin International University College, Ghana,



But in a post made by the NPP National Youth Organizer, he scolded the former statesman for claining that it is an attempt to bribe the SHS students for votes.



"Such horrible thinking should be treated with scorn and disdain". It's clear to us that in the mind of Sgt Lee, he doesn't see them as human beings but rather ballot papers. Has John Mahama suddenly developed amnesia too, to forget his own RLG project with his bosom friend Roland Agambire or is it just sheer hypocrisy or dishonesty," he quizzed.



The Ghana Smart School Project aims to enhance SHS education by providing teaching and learning management systems, digital learning content, and electronic devices to all senior high and TVET schools nationwide.



This initiative aligns with the governments efforts to promote e-learning and digitalization, in line with the Ministry of Educations digitalization strategy for pre-tertiary education.









Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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My attention has been drawn to a publication by a group describing itself as The Asante Patriotic Network - Diaspora recommending my humble self to the Vice- President to nominate me as his running mate in the impending Presidential election.



I acknowledge the recognition accorded me by the group, and for considering me worthy of this esteemed position.



However, I respectfully want to draw attention to Article 13 of the Constitution of the New Patriotic Party which relates to Selection of the Vice-Presidential Candidate. Clause 3 subclause (1) of the said Article provides:



The Partys Presidential Candidate shall, in consultation with the National Council, nominate the Vice-Presidential Candidate.



The pivot in the selection process is the Presidential Candidate. There was no spirited canvassing by any person or persons to get Professor Adu Boahen to nominate Lawyer R.I Alhassan as his running mate. There was no pressure on Candidate J.A. Kufour to choose Alhaji Aliu Mahama as his Vice-Presidential Candidate.



There was no orchestration to have then Candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to select Dr. Mahamudu Bawaumiah as his running mate.



In much the same way, there must not be any attempt, even seemingly, to bring pressure to bear on the Presidential Candidate on who he should select as his Vice-Presidential Candidate.



The Presidential Candidate has grown and matured in the party. Dr. Bawumiah, as we all attest to, is analytical, calculated and purposed in his considerations.



Above all, let us remember that this is the first time that the New Patriotic Party or, indeed, the UP tradition has elected a northerner as leader of the party. Let us respect his competence to do what is right for the party.



Whilst I am humbled by the declaration of The Asante Patriotic Network - Diaspora, I plead with them and others who had declared similar support earlier on to pray for the candidate to choose the best person for himself, the party and the country and not do anything to raise tension in the party.



If that is done, every party person will feel enamoured to welcome whoever the Candidate nominates and the announcement shall accordingly be serenaded with pomp and hoopla.

Source: OSEI KYEI-MENSAH-BONSU MP, SUAME MINISTER









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The flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2024 presidential elections, John Dramani Mahama, is leading the flag bearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in the race to lead the country in 2025, a national opinion poll by Global InfoAnalytics has revealed.



The poll revealed that Mr Mahama leads with 54.3 per cent followed by Dr Bawumia, 34.9 per cent; the leader and founder of Movement for Change (M4C), Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, has 7.5 per cent, while the leader of the New Force Movement (NFM), Nana Kwame Bediako, has 2.3 per cent and others, one per cent.



Twist



The poll, which was released yesterday, April 8, 2024, and made available to the Daily Graphic using weighted polling data, said among first-time voters, Mr Mahama led Dr Bawumia with 52 per cent as against 33 per cent and among non-first-time voters, Mr Mahama led Dr Bawumia with 55 per cent to 35 per cent.



In a twist at the regional level, Mr Mahama now leads in the North East Region with 58 per cent; Dr Bawumia, 26 per cent and Mr Kyerematen, 11 per cent, it said. The poll indicated that in the turnaround for Dr Bawumia in the Ashanti Region, he had now regained the lead with 54 per cent; Mr Mahama, 31 per cent; Mr Kyerematen, 12 per cent, and Nana Kwame Bediako, 2 per cent.



Dr Bawumia also made a significant recovery in the Central Region, a critical and must win region for the NPP in the 2024 election. However, he still trailed Mr Mahama 45 per cent to 51 per cent.



Methodology and approach



A sample size of 6,128 voters were interviewed of which 5,928 responded to questions on who they intended to vote for in the December 2024 elections with a confidence level of 99 per cent and a margin of error of 1.66 per cent.



The Electoral Commissions 2023 voters register was used as a sample frame while 30 per cent of constituencies from each region was randomly selected and allocated the regional quota based on total voters in each of the selected constituencies.



The field interviews were conducted between March 22 to March 30, 2024.



Regional breakdown



The poll also showed a disturbing outlook for the ruling government as the opposition leader extended his lead in the three critical swing regions of the Greater Accra, Central and Western regions.



It said although Mr Mahama lost grounds in the Central Region, his dominance in the Greater Accra and Western regions now stood at 66 per cent and Dr Bawumia, 28 per cent; Mr Kyerematen five per cent and Nana Bediako, one per cent.



It also showed Dr Bawumia making significant gains in the Oti Region and now at 42 per cent, Mr Mahama 49 per cent, Mr Kyerematen, four per cent and Nana Bediako, two per cent.



In the Volta Region, Mr Mahama leads with 74 per cent while Dr Bawumia attracted 12 per cent. The poll from the region showed Mr Kyerematen making strong gains as he now attracts 10 per cent of the votes and Nana Bediako, two per cent.



The poll further showed that Mr Mahama was leading in 55 out of the 82 constituencies polled while Dr Bawumia led in 26 and the two are tied in one constituency.



Change of mind



The poll shows that 74 per cent of voters are unlikely to change their mind on who they intended to vote for, while 12 per cent are likely to change their mind, with a further 14 per cent saying they were neutral about it.



It said while 12 per cent of NPP voters said they were likely to change their minds, only nine per cent of NDC voters said they were likely to change their minds, with 12 per cent of floating voters saying they were likely to change their minds.



Seventy-seven per cent of NPP voters are unlikely to change their mind, while 79 per cent of NDC voters say they are unlikely to change their mind, and 72 per cent for floating voters, it said.



Campaign promises



On the issue of which campaign promises will influence voters in the December election, 48 per cent said 24 Hr Economy; Digitalisation, 29 per cent; Great Transformational Plan (GTP) 6 per cent, while 17 per cent said they would not be influenced by any of the slogans.



When voters were asked the extent to which they agree or disagree that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is partly to be blamed for the economic crisis, 60 per cent of voters agreed compared to 34 per cent who disagreed and 6 per cent who did not have an opinion.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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 Member of Parliament(MP) for Tolon Constituency in the Northern Region, Alhaji Habib Iddrisu has recognized the contributions of Sixty(60) persons for their meritorious contributions to the Tolon District.



The awardees according to him, are people who have impacted lives and contributed their quotas to the development of the district and constituency



The maiden edition of the Soyalana Excellent Service Awards ceremony was held for distinguished, hardworking men and women across the Tolon constituency who were honored for their exemplary service to their communities and constituency, he explained



The First Deputy Majority Chief Whip, who has always prioritised the constituencys development, gave recipients tabletop fridges, laptops, Television sets, motorbikes and citations.



Alhaji Habib Iddrisu also reiterated his resolve to prioritize the development of the area by ensuring that the infrastructure and human capacity of the constituency are developed for the benefit of all.



We can only succeed by being united irrespective of our political differences front, the reason why I call on everyone to contribute his or her quota to the development of the area by giving off his or best, he admonished.



Alhaji Habib Iddrisu before and upon assumption of office has hooked some communities to the national grid, empowered women in the constituency with the provision of start-up capital and granted scholarships to several students.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assented into law an Act of Parliament which seeks to revise and consolidate all laws relating to wildlife and protected areas known as The wildlife Resource Management Act, 2024 (Act 1115).



The Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2024 (Act 1115), which was sponsored by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, was passed by Parliament on 28th July, 2023, and assented to by the President on 1 March 2024.



The Wildlife Resources Management Bill, which had been pending for over 15 years, was previously laid before the fifth, sixth and seventh Parliaments, until it was eventually passed by the Eighth Parliament, on 28th July, 2023.



The news of the new law is contained in a press release dated 8th April, signed by the Minister in Charge of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor.



Among others, the new law brings Ghanas wildlife law in conformity with existing policies in the sector and provides for the implementation of international conventions on wildlife to which Ghana is a signatory. It provides for a new management structure to give legal backing to the involvement of local communities in wildlife management through the creation of Community Resources Management Areas (CREMAs) and provide higher penalties and sanctions regime for wildlife offences, deterrent enough to protect our wildlife resources.



"The law also provides for the implementation of several international wildlife conventions to which Ghana is a signatory, such as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitats (RAMSAR), 1971, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, (CITES), 1973, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (BONN), 1979, as well as several indicators in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).



He added that the Wildlife and Protected areas were previously regulated by the Wild Animals Preservation Act 1961, (Act 43), the Wildlife Conservation Regulation 1971 (L.I. 685) and the Wildlife reserve Regulations 1971 (L. I. 710).



According to the sector minister, these legislation which was passed over 50 years ago do not meet the current international best practices for wildlife protection and management, and did not provide a legal framework for the implementation for the Forest and Wildlife policy, 2012, the forestry Development Master Plan (2016-2036), and other national and international frameworks that guide sustainable resource management, all of which were adopted years after these laws were made.



Mr Jinapor said his ministry was committed to the effective implementation of this important piece of legislation for the efficient and progressive preservation and management of the wildlife resources of our country, in the spirit of transparency, anchored on integrity and utmost good faith, for the benefit of the Ghanaians.

Source: Kobina Darlington/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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Timothy Treadwell was already somewhat well-known when he embarked on his last trip to Alaska in 2003, but he became famous for his gruesome death in Katmai National Park. Here's what happened.

Before the Attack

Treadwell spent the summer of 2003 in the Kaflia Bay area of Katmai National Park with his partner, Amie Huguenard. They had planned to leave Alaska before October, when food is scarce and most bears have already begun hibernating.

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Treadwell and Huguenard actually left Kaflia Bay on September 26, but decided to return on September 29 for another week of bear-watching. Rain was on the forecast, which would flood the creeks leading to more fish and potentially more bear sightings.

The Attacks

Treadwell and Huguenard were killed on October 5, 2003, the day before they were scheduled to depart Kaflia Bay. There were no other people in the area to witness their deaths, but Larry Van Daele, a wildlife biologist who accompanied park rangers and state troopers to investigate the scene of the attacks, believes the encounter occurred during twilight or early evening, in the rain.

According to the National Park Service's official investigation report, Treadwell likely stepped outside the tent to investigate the presence of a bear nearby. The bear, probably startled by Treadwell's sudden appearance, either hit or bit Treadwell, who called out to Huguenard for help.

Huguenard told Treadwell to "play dead," and the bear left for a few minutes  only to return once Treadwell started moving again. As the bear continued to attack, Treadwell called for Huguenard to hit it with something, and she told him to fight.

Van Daele believes that Huguenard's screaming may have sounded like the cry of an animal, which may be why the bear returned to kill her after Treadwell's death.

Aftermath

Huguenard and Treadwell's remains were discovered on October 6, when bush pilot Willy Fulton returned to the couple's campsite to pick them up. Fulton found the tent flattened and a bear protecting a cache of human remains near the campsite.

Fulton unsuccessfully tried to drive the bear away from the campsite before calling the National Park Service in nearby King Salmon and State Troopers in Kodiak. Within an hour, Alaska State Troopers and National Park Service personnel arrived at the scene.

They encountered two bears at close range (an older, larger male and a smaller subadult) and shot them due to perceived aggression. The larger bear was later found to have human remains in its gastrointestinal tract; the smaller bear was eaten by other bears before it could be necropsied.
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:

New England Aquarium staff and visitors looking at Myrtle as the massive sea turtle rests in a crate after being hoisted out of a giant ocean tank before a performed a medical examination in Boston, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Myrtle, who's around 90 years old and weighs almost a quarter of a ton, underwent a medical examination that included blood draws as well as eye, mouth and a physical examination to ensure the creature remains in good health. (AP Photo/Rodrique Ngowi) Credit: AP Photo/Rodrique Ngowi

Apparently, it's pretty easy being green after all. That was the takeaway from Tuesday's physical examination of Myrtle, an ancient green sea turtle that has delighted visitors to the New England Aquarium in Boston for more than 50 years.

Veterinarians performed Myrtle's checkup after the 500-pound reptile was hoisted from the aquarium's Giant Ocean Tank in an enormous crate on a chain. Watching the humungous turtle elevated from the tank in a way that resembled the way a piano is lifted outside a building provided some of the aquarium patrons with an unexpected thrill.

Myrtle is thought to be up to 95 years old, which would place her just beyond the upper boundaries of the species' longevity. But the big turtle is "in robust condition" despite her advanced age, said Mike O'Neill, manager of the ocean tank.

There's every reason to believe Myrtle will stick around for years to come, O'Neill said.

"She is iconic," O'Neill said. "One of the really special things we see is parents with their kids who say, 'This is Myrtle, she has been here since when I was a kid.' She has this multigenerational impact, which is really special."

Giving the massive sea turtle a physical exam is no small feat, and it happens about twice per year. First, a team of divers shepherded Myrtle into the underwater crate, which was lifted from the water by a winch. The process took place during open hours at the aquarium, and dozens of onlookers watched as Myrtle was brought to a deck for the exam.

Myrtle, a green sea turtle, swims past New England Aquarium divers preparing to get into and extract the creature from the Giant Ocean Tank exhibit for a medical examination in Boston, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Myrtle, who's around 90 years old and weighs almost a quarter of a ton, underwent a medical examination that included blood draws as well as eye, mouth and a physical examination to ensure the creature remains in good health. Credit: AP Photo/Rodrique Ngowi

New England Aquarium staff hold to restrain Myrtle to prevent the massive sea turtle from injuring a veterinarian performing a medical examination in Boston, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Myrtle, who's around 90 years old and weighs almost a quarter of a ton, underwent a medical examination that included blood draws as well as eye, mouth and a physical examination to ensure the creature remains in good health. Credit: AP Photo/Rodrique Ngowi

Myrtle, a green sea turtle, swims past New England Aquarium divers preparing to get into and extract the creature from the Giant Ocean Tank exhibit for a medical examination in Boston, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Myrtle, who's around 90 years old and weighs almost a quarter of a ton, underwent a medical examination that included blood draws as well as eye, mouth and a physical examination to ensure the creature remains in good health. Credit: AP Photo/Rodrique Ngowi

Myrtle, a green sea turtle estimated to be almost 90 years old, swims in the main tank at the New England Aquarium, April 22, 2016, in Boston. Veterinarians performed Myrtles check up Tuesday, April 9, 2024, after the 500-pound reptile was hoisted from the aquariums Giant Ocean Tank in an enormous crate on a chain. Myrtle is thought to be as many as 95 years old, which would place her just beyond the upper boundaries of the species' longevity, but aquarium staff said the big turtle is in robust condition despite her advance age. Credit: AP Photo/Bill Sikes, File

Next, a team of veterinarians, vet techs and aquarists worked together to draw blood from Myrtle, check her flippers for range of motion and make sure her eyes, mouth and nose were in working order. Aquarium staff assured curious children that the turtle was in no dangerand that the veterinarians were trained professionals safe from her powerful jaws.

Myrtle then received an ultrasound, her weight was taken, and she returned to the ocean tank, O'Neill said. The turtle was back in the ocean tank munching on lettuce and cabbage by late morning on Tuesday.

Myrtle has been visited by about 50 million people over the decades and has gotten used to humans in that time. The aquarium's website boasts that Myrtle, who arrived from another aquarium in 1970, "loves having her shell scratched."

Green sea turtles are the second-largest species of sea turtle, and they live in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists them as endangered and decreasing in population.

Myrtle shares space with a pair of loggerhead sea turtles named Carolina and Retread who are about half her age and size. The aquatic roommates also received physicals on Tuesday and are "also both doing great," O'Neill said.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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A NASA graphic explaining how a telescope can measure an exoplanet atmosphere using spectroscopy. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Lizbeth B. De La Torre

Life on Earth depends on six critical elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, and sulfur. These elements are referred to as CHNOPS, and along with several trace micronutrients and liquid water, they're what life needs.

Scientists are getting a handle on detecting exoplanets that might be warm enough to have liquid water on their surfaces, habitability's most basic signal. But now, they're looking to up their game by finding CHNOPS in exoplanet atmospheres.

We're only at the beginning of understanding how exoplanets could support life. To grow our understanding, we need to understand the availability of CHNOPS in planetary atmospheres.

A new paper posted to the arXiv preprint server examines the issue. It's titled "Habitability constraints by nutrient availability in atmospheres of rocky exoplanets." The lead author is Oliver Herbort from the Department of Astrophysics at the University of Vienna and an ARIEL post-doctoral fellow. The paper has been accepted by the International Journal of Astrobiology.

At our current technological level, we're just beginning to examine exoplanet atmospheres. The JWST is our main tool for the task, and it's good at it. But the JWST is busy with other tasks. In 2029, the ESA will launch ARIEL, the Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large survey. ARIEL will be solely focused on exoplanet atmospheres.

In anticipation of that telescope's mission, Herbort and his co-researchers are preparing for the results and what they mean for habitability. "The detailed understanding of the planets itself becomes important for interpreting observations, especially for the detection of biosignatures," they write. In particular, they're scrutinizing the idea of aerial biospheres. "We aim to understand the presence of these nutrients within atmospheres that show the presence of water cloud condensates, potentially allowing the existence of aerial biospheres."

Our sister planet Venus has an unsurvivable surface. The extreme heat and pressure make the planet's surface uninhabitable by any measure we can determine. But some scientists have proposed that life could exist in Venus' atmosphere, based largely on the detection of phosphine, a possible indicator of life. This is an example of what an aerial biosphere might look like.

"This concept of aerial biospheres enlarges the possibilities of potential habitability from the presence of liquid water on the surface to all planets with liquid water clouds," the authors explain.

The authors examined the idea of aerial biospheres and how the detection of CHNOPS plays into them. They introduced the concept of nutrient availability levels in exoplanet atmospheres. In their framework, the presence of water is required regardless of other nutrient availability. "We considered any atmosphere without water condensates as uninhabitable," they write, a nod to water's primacy. The researchers assigned different levels of habitability based on the presence and amounts of the CHNOPS nutrients.

To explore their framework of nutrient availability, the researchers turned to simulations. The simulated atmospheres held different levels of nutrients, and the researchers applied their concept of nutrient availability. Their results aim to understand not habitability but the chemical potential for habitability. A planet's atmosphere can be altered drastically by life, and this research aims to understand the atmospheric potential for life.

This table from the research illustrates the authors' concept of atmospheric nutrient availability. As the top row shows, without water, no atmosphere is habitable. Different combinations of nutrients have different habitability potential. 'red' stands for redox, and 'ox' stands for the presence of the oxidized state of CO 2 , NO x , and SO 2 . Credit: Herbort et al 2024

"Our approach does not directly aim for the understanding of biosignatures and atmospheres of planets, which are inhabited, but for the conditions in which pre-biotic chemistry can occur," they write. In their work, the minimum atmospheric concentration for a nutrient to be available is 109, or one ppb (part per billion.)

"We find that for most atmospheres at ( p gas, T gas) points, where liquid water is stable, CNS-bearing molecules are present at concentrations above 109," they write. They also found that carbon is generally present in every simulated atmosphere and that sulfur availability increases with surface temperature. With lower surface temperatures, nitrogen (N 2 , NH 3 ) is present in increasing amounts. But with higher surface temperatures, nitrogen can become depleted.

Phosphorus is a different matter. "The limiting element of the CHNOPS elements is phosphorus, which is mostly bound in the planetary crust," they write. The authors point out that, at past times in Earth's atmosphere, phosphorus scarcity limited the biosphere.

An aerial biosphere is an interesting idea. But it's not the main thrust of scientists' efforts to detect exoplanet atmospheres. Surface life is their holy grail. It should be no surprise that it still comes down to liquid water, all things considered. "Similar to previous work, our models suggest that the limiting factor for habitability at the surface of a planet is the presence of liquid water," the authors write. In their work, when surface water was available, CNS was available in the lower atmosphere near the surface.

But surface water plays several roles in atmospheric chemistry. It can bond with some nutrients in some circumstances, making them unavailable, and in other circumstances, it can make them available.

"If water is available at the surface, the elements not present in the gas phase are stored in the crust condensates," the authors write. Chemical weathering can then make them available as nutrients. "This provides a pathway to overcome the lack of atmospheric phosphorus and metals, which are used in enzymes that drive many biological processes."

This complicates matters on worlds covered by oceans. Pre-biotic molecules might not be available if there's no opportunity for water and rock to interact with the atmosphere. "If indeed it can be shown that life can form in a water ocean without any exposed land, this constraint becomes weaker, and the potential for the surface habitability becomes mainly a question of water stability," the authors write.

Some of the models are surprising because of atmospheric liquid water. "Many of the models show the presence of a liquid water zone in the atmospheres, which is detached from the surface. These regions could be of interest for the formation of life in forms of aerial biospheres," Herbort and his colleagues write.

If there's one thing that research like this shows, planetary atmospheres are extraordinarily complex and can change dramatically over time, sometimes because of life itself. This research makes some sense in trying to understand it all. Emphasizing the complexity is the fact that the researchers didn't include stellar radiation in their work. Including that would've made the effort unwieldy.

The habitability issue is complicated, confounded by our lack of answers to foundational questions. Does a planet's crust have to be in contact with water and the atmosphere for the CHNOPS nutrients to be available? Earth has a temporary aerial biosphere. Can aerial biospheres be an important part of exoplanet habitability?

But beyond all the simulations and models, as powerful as they are, what scientists need most is more data. When ARIEL launches, scientists will have much more data to work with. Research like this will help scientists understand what ARIEL finds.

More information: Oliver Herbort et al, Habitability constraints by nutrient availability in atmospheres of rocky exoplanets, arXiv (2024). arxiv.org/abs/2404.04029
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Smoke comes out a factory in Vasaa, Finland on December 6, 2022.

From carmakers to fast fashion, dozens of major international companies are failing to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions at the pace required to slow climate change, a report said Tuesday.

The nonprofit research groups NewClimate Institute and Carbon Market Watch looked at the climate pledges of 51 multinational firms and found many brands were inflating their sustainability claims.

Distinguishing real cuts to planet-heating greenhouse gas emissions from "unsubstantiated greenwashing" was a major challenge, particularly for consumers, they said.

Taken together, the brands scrutinized in this reportmostly household names including H&M Group, Nestle and Toyotaaccounted for 16 percent of global emissions in 2022.

But their efforts were "critically insufficient" to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsiusthe safer limit set under the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

While "the collective ambition of companies' 2030 climate pledges has gradually improved over the last two years... most companies continue to fall far short of the economy-wide emission reductions required", the report said.

Global emissions need to be reduced by 43 percent by 2030 to align with the Paris goals, according to United Nations climate scientists.

These companies, on average, would be reducing their emissions by 33 percent under their current commitments, the report said.

'Creative accounting'

Some firms could even be backsliding on their promises.

The report noted a growing call from the corporate sector for "flexibility" in how climate targets are met, namely through using carbon credits.

These allow businesses to offset their emissions by directing money toward a project that reduces or avoids emissions, such as protecting forests.

Critics say they allow companies to keep polluting.

"We can't afford wasting time with leniency and room for this creative accounting," Benja Faecks of Carbon Market Watch told reporters.

The companies assessed in this reportmajors from the automotive, food and agriculture, fashion and energy sectorswere rated against the honesty of their climate pledges and progress toward the 1.5-degree-Celsius benchmark.

None scored the top rating of "high integrity".

Activists demonstrate in Paris against fossil finance, with the Eiffel Tower in background, on June 21, 2023.

Italian and Spanish energy giants Enel and Iberdrola led the pack with a "reasonable" integrity rating.

South Korean energy company Kepco and Japanese carmaker Toyota received the lowest score.

Toyota told AFP that while it had not seen the report, its 2050 commitments had been certified by the benchmark Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi).

"Only four companies' emission reduction plans embody the necessary shift from pledges to actual implementation," the report said.

It acknowledged some were doing better than others.

French food giant Danone, for example, had committed to "significantly" reducing methane emissions from fresh milk production and increasing the share of plant-based products, the report said.

It said Enel and Iberdrola had increased their renewable energy capacity, notably solar and wind, but both could set more ambitious timeframes for achieving net-zero emissions.

Heavy-duty vehicle manufacturer Volvo Group was highlighted for its investments in "zero-emission vehicles, charging infrastructure and low-carbon steel and aluminum".

Policy, not pledges

Meanwhile, the fashion industry was singled out for being "ambiguous" in how it would reach its targets.

None of the five brands analyzedH&M Group, Nike, Adidas, Zara owner Inditex and Uniqlo owner Fast Retailinghad plans to transition to business models that produced and sold fewer products.

Silke Mooldijk, from the NewClimate Institute, said the marketing of products could also be confusing for consumers.

She pointed to recycled polyester being advertised as a low-emissions alternative fabric, even though the material is largely sourced from recycled plastic bottles, not old clothing, meaning bottles are still produced to meet demands.

"There is no benefit for the climate but as a consumer, you normally wouldn't notice," she said.

H&M Group said the report had not analyzed its latest climate data and argued it had achieved a 22-percent reduction to its emissions in 2023 compared with 2019.

The report called for a shift away from voluntary climate initiatives to stricter government regulation in order to hold companies accountable for their pollution.

"We need robust legislation and also regulations to compel companies to do what they need to do and not what they wish to do," Faecks said.

 2024 AFP
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Germany is providing 5 billion euros to finance "adaptation payments" to employees as coal is phased out. This will allow employees to retire without deductions at the age of 58. A study co-authored by the Berlin-based climate research institute MCC (Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change) is now examining the economic justification for this subsidy by analyzing real employment profiles nationwide. The conclusion is that social compensation would be much more efficient if job changes, rather than early retirement, were encouraged.

The study, conducted in collaboration with the Institute for Employment Research, was published in the Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists. The researchers focus on around 10,000 employees in opencast lignite mining, primarily in Lusatia and the Rhineland, including associated service providers.

According to Germany's phase-out law, these operations will end by 2038 at the latest, and as early as 2030 if possible, under the traffic light coalition agreement. The prospects for the workforce are an explosive issue in view of the local economic structure, which is biased towards coal.

In order to provide an empirically sound estimate of the costs of the phase-out for employees, the study draws on a comprehensive data source: anonymized social security data on the labor market profiles of all 140,000 people who worked in this lignite industry for at least six consecutive months between 1975 and 2017.

"We used this to map alternative job options and earning opportunities, and thus the welfare loss that employees suffer when leaving the relatively high-paying coal industry," says Nicolas Koch, head of the Policy Evaluation Lab at MCC and a co-author of the study. "From this empirical basis, we can then analyze future scenarios with a coal phase-out at different speeds and with different compensation schemes. We quantify here for the first time in a scientifically sound manner what this crucial climate policy decision will cost employees. And we show the best relief options that policymakers could use."

It shows that an immediate coal phase-out, which would offer very few job alternatives, would be most expensive. For the entire industry examined and without supplementary measures, it would result in an aggregated welfare loss for all employeesi.e., loss of expected income until the end of their livesof around 4.2 billion euros.

The main driver is not unemployment after leaving opencast mining, but the change to lower-earning and less stable jobs in other sectors. This is why middle-aged employees stand to lose the most; they have already worked their way up to a high wage, which they would continue to receive for a long time without the coal phase-out. In the realistic case of a mid-term coal phase-out, it costs less; instead of the 4.2 billion euros, only 2.2 billion for the target date of 2030 and 1.5 billion for 2038.

The currently favored adaptation payments are not very cost-effective. Of the 5 billion euros mentioned at the outset, 1.6 billion is for opencast lignite mining (the rest is for hard coal and power plants). It is expensive because it largely replaces company pensions. Rather than middle-aged employees, it only compensates those aged 58 and over. And it does little to incentivize people to remain active in the labor marketdespite the general shortage of skilled workers in the lignite mining region of Lusatia, for example.

As an alternative to the adaptation payments, the researchers therefore propose a "wage insurance"; for anyone switching to a lower-paid job outside coal, the state could reimburse the difference for five years so that they maintain their wage level. According to the study, this only costs 0.6 billion euros, both for a coal phase-out in 2030 and 2038. There are also advantages in that employees stay in jobs for longer, and the aggregate welfare loss is almost zero.

"The benefits of phasing out coal through avoided climate damage are many times greater than the costs in economic terms," emphasizes MCC researcher Koch. "But the phase-out can be organized differently and more cheaply than in the current German system. Sound labor market policy measures provide substantial relief against welfare losses for employees. And our findings apply to other countries and sectors, such as coal in Australia and the US or oil and gas in Norway and the Netherlands. After all, policymakers in all these cases must bear employees in mind when phasing out fossil fuels."

More information: Luke Haywood et al, The Welfare Costs of Job Loss and Decarbonization: Evidence from Germany's Coal Phaseout, Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (2023). DOI: 10.1086/726425

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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

At 35,000 feet over the U.S. the air was thick with anticipation and excited chatter as everyone pulled out their phones hoping to get a photo.

Gray shadows entered the blue sky, turning it a rich slate as the moon started to eclipse the sun.

The moment everyone had been waiting for was heretotality.

Before even getting into the air Delta Air Lines treated passengers to an experience. As they arrived at gate E15 at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport for Flight 1010 to Detroit, they were met with a celestial-themed balloon arch, a red carpet and music.

Flight attendants in purple and gray passed out eclipse-viewing glasses the airline produced in collaboration with Warby Parkerpaper shades but with blue-and-white star path drawings on the front and "Eyes on the Sky" written inside.

Delta workers wore T-shirts emblazoned with "Climbing the Cosmos," the airline's slogan for the pair of flights from Austin and Dallas that would be in the path of the eclipse 35,000 feet in the air.

People were excited, and the gate party only heightened the anticipation. Most passengers flew to Dallas that morning or the night before just to turn right around, all to experience totality in a way few others could.

If I'm being honest, flying isn't my favorite. The way the plane inclines at takeoff, the unpredictable mid-flight turbulence, the slight teetering as the pilot tries to line up the plane to land all make my stomach drop. Add in an uncommon, somewhat disquieting astronomical phenomenon like an eclipse, and my nerves ahead of this flight were on edge.

But when your editor asks if you want to see a solar eclipse from 35,000 feet in the air, the only answer is "Of course."

Flights are usually just the utilitarian part of a journey, taking you from point A to B. But Monday, the flight was the main attraction.

Delta runs a route from Dallas to Detroit regularly, but adjusted the flight path in order to maximize the time passengers would be in totality, a once-in-a-generation experience here in North America. The next time there will be a total solar eclipse over the continent is in 20 years.

Warren Weston, a lead meteorologist for the airline, said the plane would fly parallel to the eclipse and then cross paths. The plane traveled at more than 500 miles per hour, about a third of the speed of the eclipse. The shadows would chase the plane for an hour, then overtake itthat would be when we were in totality.

Once on the plane, every seat had a goody bag with a hat, socks and other apparel. There were also themed snacksa Moon Pie and specially branded Sun Chips. The Airbus A321neo carried about 200 passengers.

As the wheels left the tarmac just after 1 p.m. Dallas time, the plane erupted into applause. People tracked the eclipse's path on their seatback TVs as it caught up to us.

As it covered Dallas in total darkness, the sky around the plane, now over southeast Missouri, started to turn gray. About 45 minutes into the flight, attendants came on the speaker to announce we were 10 minutes from totality.

But unlike on the ground, the plane was never fully dark. As it fell more into shadow, people started asking, "Do you see it yet?"

And a truth began to dawn on usmaybe a plane isn't the best viewing spot for an eclipse. With glasses or without, it was hard to see the phenomenon.

Some passengers got a better view than others, as evidenced by the photos that people began AirDropping throughout the cabin. Even if some didn't get a good view, at least they had a photo from someone who did.

The plane was only in totality for about three minutes, the pilot announced afterwards. People craned their necks out the window, or for the middle and aisle seat occupants, around their fellow passengers. But on a plane, you are limited by small windows and angles that require some contortion to see the horizon.

From my vantage point from an aisle seat close to the right wing of the plane, the eclipse felt at times like a sunset, at other times like an unexpected storm that darkened the clouds, minus the turbulence.

The pilot banked starboard and port, trying to give both sides of the plane equal viewing time.

But the same reason that people shelled out hundreds of dollars to try to see the eclipse from the air was the thing that made the viewing experience a bit disappointingits ephemerality.

Though the eclipse was fleeting, the experience will last in the lives and memories of those on the plane.

A man who never takes time off got to check an item off his bucket list.

A mom will bring back memorabilia and stories for her daughter.

A couple got engaged mid-flight.

Upon landing in Detroit, passengers stepped into a party. Astronaut Scott Kelly addressed the crowd, saying that we had all had an experience that in his thousands of hours of flight time he had never had.

Avi Mirchandani traveled from Antelope Valley in California, going on the eclipse flight spur of the moment. He saw a window seat open up Sunday and booked it immediately.

He then drove an hour and half to Los Angeles to hop on a red eye to Dallas. Once arriving in Detroit after the eclipse, he turned right around back to California.

"It was a lot of fun," Mirchandani, 37, said. "It was a very different thing than I'd typically be doing on a Monday at work."

2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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A submerged road in the newly formed Lake Karla, which used to be farmland.

Gracefully rising above a din of croaking frogs as the sun sets, a pelican flies over Lake Karla, one the largest inland expanses of water in Greece.

Drained in 1962 to combat malaria and restored again from valley to wetland in 2018 to remedy drought, the lake is now triple its normal size after deadly floods last year.

How to deal with the aftermath of the disaster has morphed into a debate about the future of farming in the Thessaly region as a whole.

The farmers around Karlamany the descendants of lake people who had transitioned to land only two generations earliersaw their holdings and flocks decimated by last year's floods.

"A great field stood here," said Yiannis Tsiantos, the son of a fisherman and one of the few people in the lakeside village of Kanalia who still own a boat.

"We used to ride tractors here to collect almonds," the 57-year-old said, steering his boat past half-sunken animal pens and groves. "Now it's under water."

Riding along is his friend Apostolos Polymerou, a 32-year-old sheep farmer.

"This used to be pastureland for four to five thousand cattle," he recalled.

In September, Storm Daniel, a Mediterranean cyclone of unprecedented intensity, unleashed months' worth of rain in just hours on Thessaly, Greece's most fertile plain.

The deluge, which left 17 people dead, destroyed roads and bridges and drowned tens of thousands of farm animals.

'Worst floods' in history

Daniel, which arrived on the heels of a major wildfire wave, was followed just weeks later by Storm Elias.

Combined, they triggered what Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis later called "the worst floods" in Greek history.

Polymerou's sheep are still traumatized by nearly drowning last year, and being cooped up in their pens for six months caused them further stress.

Sheep graze by Lake Karla, which has flooded orchards and farmland.

"They develop deformities in their lungs and liver. Had we known where this would end up, it would have been better to let them drown," he said.

The lakeside village of Sotirio, once bordered by fields of corn and cotton, now lies at the edge of a swamp.

Dark green water buzzing with insects covers the fields. Even where the flood has receded, only silt and withered stems remain.

Angelos Yamalis, a third-generation farmer, said his family lost 50 hectares (120 acres) of cotton, 30 hectares of wheat and 15 hectares of pistachio trees.

"It was a complete disaster... Even after the water recedes, we don't know if the fields will be productive," the 25-year-old told AFP beside the swamp.

"We based our entire future on this area, on these crops," Yamalis said, adding that new trees would need at least seven years to bear fruit.

Future of cotton

Greek authorities have not provided a timeframe for recovery and there are conflicting views on how to move forward.

Authorities in Thessaly favor digging a large canal that would let the water drain into the Aegean Sea.

But a Dutch water management company advising the Greek government advocates a different approach, aimed not just at stemming floods but also at preventing future drought.

The firm, HVA International, suggests building dozens of small dams that would contain rainwater in the mountains.

Thessaly also needs to rethink its reliance on cotton, Miltiadis Gkouzouris, CEO of the Amsterdam-based firm, told AFP.

The region needs to switch away from cotton production while there is still time to conserve what remains of its underground water reserves, he said.

"If we keep pumping water from the 30,000 bore holes that are in the area... then the aquifer will be depleted to such a level that sea water will be able to enter," he said in a Zoom interview.

Floods and concerns about drought have triggered debate about the future of farming in Thessaly.

"You won't be able to irrigate anything."

Greece is the European Union's main cotton grower, with 80 percent of production.

Spain accounts for the remaining 20 percent.

And although cotton represents less than 0.2 percent of the value of European agricultural production, it has "strong regional importance", the EU says.

'There will be war'

Gkouzouris countered that cotton cultivation "on its own is not profitable and everybody knows that".

"We calculate that if that continues with the rhythm that we have today, within 15 years we're going to have a non-reversible situation," he said.

Thessaly's Governor Dimitris Kouretas is dead set against ditching cotton, still a lucrative industry for locals.

"There will be war," he warned on Facebook last month.

Kouretas, a Harvard-educated biochemistry professor elected governor in October, has argued that cotton brings 210 million euros ($227 million) in revenue to 15,000 families in Thessaly and is a key export for Greece.

An additional 65 million euros comes in EU subsidies, he wrote.

"You can't replace cotton from one day to the next," said Yamalis, the cotton farmer in Sotirio.

"A lot of money has been invested... Most farmers are against this," he continued. "And it's not as if fruits and legumes require less water."

Back at the lake, Polymerou said he would be taking some hard decisions about his sheep-farming future over the next three months.

"I don't want my family to suffer deprivation. I want to work somewhere that gives me money, not sorrow," he said.

 2024 AFP
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Worldwide over the past 35 years, dams and land reclamation activities have converted 250,000 acres of estuaryan area roughly 17 times the size of Manhattanto urban land or agricultural fields, with most land conversion and estuary loss in rapidly developing countries, a new study finds. The findings could help developing countries avoid problems faced by countries that have already lost or degraded their estuaries.

The study is published in the journal Earth's Future.

Estuarieswetland ecosystems where freshwater rivers meet saline ocean watersare gateways connecting land and sea. They provide habitat for wildlife, sequester carbon, and serve as hubs for transport and shipping. People have been molding estuaries to fit their needs for thousands of years, and now, some countries are paying the price. Estuary degradation and loss can lower water quality, shrink and fragment critical habitats, and remove coastlines' protection from storms.

"Estuary change is really interesting, especially in the 20th century, because estuaries have been altered by humans by the construction of estuarine dams and land reclamation," said Guan-hong Lee, a geoscientist at Inha University in South Korea who led the study. "When humans modify estuaries, the consequences for land loss are surprisingly huge."

Many developed countries, such as the Netherlands and Germany, have already modified or lost large areas of urban estuaries. Countries with significant modifications to their estuaries could serve as a warning of sorts for developing countries, and acting soon to conserve estuaries is an opportunity to protect developing countries' environmental and economic benefits, Lee said.

Estuary loss for urban gain

Using Landsat remote sensing data from 1984 to 2019, the researchers identified 2,396 estuaries around the world that were large enough to measure with satellite imagery (those with mouths wider than 90 meters or 295 feet). Nearly half (47%) of these large estuaries are in Asia; the dataset includes estuaries on all major land masses except Antarctica and Greenland. The team also identified land-use changes, including land conversion and dam building.

The researchers then measured the change in estuarine surface area and compared those changes to where land reclamation and dam building had occurred.

For the studied estuaries, between 1984 and 2019, humans converted 1,027 square kilometers (397 square miles, or 250,000 acres) of estuary to urban or agricultural lands in a process called land reclamation, the study found. Land reclamation, which can include drying land and adding sediment to build land, accounted for 20% of estuary loss. Globally, humans altered 44% of the estuaries with dams and/or land reclamation, the study found.

Economics of estuary development

The researchers compared countries' gross income per capita to land reclamation and estuary area to explore the relationship between estuary gain or loss and economic development. They also analyzed historical maps of high-income countries to find evidence of earlier estuary alteration and included 8 case studies of low-, middle-, and high-income countries' estuary loss.

Middle-income countries lost the most estuarine area during the study period, and almost 90% of all land reclamation (921 square kilometers, or 356 square miles) occurred there, too.

"As a country is transitioning to middle-income, they tend to increase development," Lee said.

High-income countries lost little estuary area over the study period. In most cases, that's because estuary alteration occurred decades earlier when they were in developing, middle-income statuses, Lee said. In those countries today, the focus has moved from development to environmental conservation effortsattempts to undo the environmental damage that estuarine development caused.

The findings highlight the opportunities developing countries have to minimize the negative environmental and economic impacts of degraded estuaries while balancing their own economic and development needs, Lee said.

More information: Nathalie W. Jung et al, Economic Development Drives Massive Global Estuarine Loss in the Anthropocene, Earth's Future (2024). DOI: 10.1029/2023EF003691 Journal information: Earth's Future

This story is republished courtesy of Eos, hosted by the American Geophysical Union. Read the original storyhere.
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Geographical locations of languages in sample. The large blank region in the east is due to the wide distributions of four families (Eskimo-Aleut, Athabaskan, Algonquian, Siouan), which are represented elsewhere in the sample. Credit: American Journal of Biological Anthropology (2024). DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24923

Johanna Nichols, a linguist at the University of California, Berkeley, has used her pioneering work in the field of language history to learn more about language development in North America. She has found that it can be traced back to two language groups that originated in Siberia. Her paper is published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology.

Over the past several decades, scientists have learned more about the people who originally populated North America, and by extension, Central and South America. One characteristic of these people has remained largely a mystery: the evolution of the languages spoken by people living in what is now Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

For this new study, Nichols used statistical techniques she developed to trace language lineage back to the earliest inhabitants of North America, going back 24,000 years.

Nichols' techniques involve the use of linguistic typology, a field that involves comparing languages and organizing them based on shared criteria. To learn more about early North American languages, she compiled lists of language characteristics and applied them to all known languages. She then scored each of the languages based on the revealed qualities. This allowed her to compare the languages as a way to find resemblances among them and spot patterns.

Nichols found that she could trace the languages spoken in early North America back to just two lineages, both of which originated in Siberia. They came, she notes, with the people who made their way across land bridges during Ice Age glaciation events.

Those two main groups she found evolved into different languages as people moved to different regionsshe focused most specifically on 60 of them. She found that many of those languages were also impacted by multiple waves of Siberians arriving in North America.

She concludes that some of the characteristics of the original languages have been retained through the years and are now in the current linguistic population.

More information: Johanna Nichols, Founder effects identify languages of the earliest Americans, American Journal of Biological Anthropology (2024). DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24923

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A mural created as part of the project. Credit: MU

In Quebec's 201617 health survey of high-school students, 33% in grades 9, 10 and 11 reported experiencing high levels of psychological distress. And in 2021, a significant 6.1% said they had been diagnosed with an anxiety-depressive disorder, a 3.7-point increase from 2008.

While studies have found that mental-health programs to alleviate these symptoms are effective, little attention has been paid to how students can be be helped by participating in after-school activities.

To find out, Rocio Macabena Perez, a Ph.D. candidate in Universite de Montreal's School of Psychoeducation, conducted a mixed-methods research project in which Grades 9, 10 and 11 students participated in an extracurricular program called Art en tete.

Her findings were reported last November in the Canadian journal Revue de psychoeducation.

A mural-art program, Art en tete "supports and promotes the psychosocial and academic adjustment of students with social and emotional difficulties, including anxiety and depression," said Macabena Perez, who created and coordinates the program.

Offered since 2021 by the Montreal non-profit organization MU, Art en tete was born in response to needs identified in schools and launched through an innovative, long-term collaboration between community members, hospitals, schools and universities.

50 teenage participants

Macabena Perez followed 50 young volunteers (average age 15) at four Quebec high schools. In the first year, two groups took the Art en tete program while the other two served as the control group and then participated in the program the following year.

Her research protocol called for the students to attend art workshops and then create an indoor mural at their school. They worked at it for two hours after school over a 13-week period.

Students experiencing difficulties made up about two-thirds of each group and well-functioning students the other third. An arts educator-artist helped them with their mural while a psychosocial counselor from their school was there for support.

Throughout the project, Macabena Perez compiled quantitative data based on seven indicators of psychosocial adjustment: depressed mood, anxiety, subjective well-being, positive self-esteem, negative self-esteem, sense of self-efficacy and social functioning.

Supervised by her thesis advisors Kim Archambault and Veronique Dupere, Macabena Perez collected quantitative data from the students via a questionnaire given before, two weeks after, and five months after completing the program.

Qualitative data were also collected through 18 student interviews to assess the development of the social relationships they formed in the course of the program with the other students and with the adults involved.

A 'striking finding'

Overall, the Art en tete program produced positive results on each of the indicators, but "the most striking finding is the significant reduction in depressive symptoms," said Macabena Perez.

"With an effect size of 0.25 between the participants and the control group, this extracurricular, adapted art program yielded a positive effect comparable to targeted interventions for depression."

In addition, the investigation of the personal relationships formed during the program "shed light on the development of positive relationships between students and adults in after-school programs, an aspect of social relationships that can be problematic for young people with socio-emotional difficulties," she added.

Five months after the program ended, the positive effects were still measurable, particularly for the teenagers' positive self-esteem, sense of self-efficacy and social functioning, with improvements on all the other indicators.

In the qualitative interviews, the 18 participants expressed strong satisfaction with the social relationships they had formed with peers and adults, as well as the relational climate in the workshops. Almost all reported developing a feeling of shared accomplishment and a sense of community and belonging.

"These findings point to the appropriateness and complementarity of positive developmental approaches as part of the continuum of youth mental health services, particularly in the form of arts-based extracurricular activities," Macabena Perez concluded.

More information: Rocio Macabena Perez et al, Deploiement et contribution des relations sociales au sein d'un programme parascolaire artistique concu pour des jeunes vivant avec des difficultes socio-emotionnelles, Revue de psychoeducation (2023). DOI: 10.7202/1107456ar
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Schematic diagram of As(III) oxidation by birnessite. Credit: npj Clean Water (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41545-024-00316-7

The ecological risk of pollutants is closely related to their environmental behavior. A research team led by Prof. Fan Qiaohui from the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted an in-depth study on the transformation process of As(III) on the surface of birnessite.

The researchers focused on semiconductor minerals with photoactive properties, revealing the important influence of such minerals on the chemical states of elements, subsequent transformation, migration, and environmental fate.

The study was published in npj Clean Water.

The researchers found that As(III) is chemically oxidized to As(V) by birnessite in the dark, while Mn(IV) is reduced to Mn(II). The reaction process also induces the formation of manganite (MnOOH). Since MnOOH covers the reaction sites, it inhibits further oxidation of As(III). After six hours of reaction in the dark, about 60% of As(III) is oxidized to As(V).

In addition, they also found that the photocatalytic oxidation of As(III) is significantly enhanced compared with chemical oxidation, and almost all of the As(III) is oxidized to As(V) by photo-generated holes and O 2 - radicals.

It is worth noting that, unlike chemical oxidation, MnOOH slightly affects the photocatalytic oxidation of As(III).

The researchers also used natural manganite ore as a photocatalyst and obtained the same results.

"This result shows that natural manganite ores have a significant effect on the environmental behavior of arsenic," said Prof. Fan, "this discovery provides important theoretical basis and experimental data for us to understand and control arsenic pollution."

More information: Ping Li et al, The photocatalytic oxidation of As(III) on birnessite, npj Clean Water (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41545-024-00316-7 Journal information: npj Clean Water
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Britain's Professor Peter Higgs smiles during a press conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Oct. 11, 2013. The University of Edinburgh says Nobel prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs, who proposed the existence of the Higgs boson particle, has died at 94. Higgs predicted the existence of a new particle  the so-called Higgs boson  in 1964. But it would be almost 50 years before the particles existence could be confirmed at the Large Hadron Collider. Higgs won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work, alongside Francois Englert of Belgium. Credit: AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File

Nobel prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs, who proposed the existence of the so-called "God particle" that helped explain how matter formed after the Big Bang, has died at age 94, the University of Edinburgh said Tuesday.

The university, where Higgs was emeritus professor, said he died Monday following a short illness.

Higgs predicted the existence of a new particle, which came to be known as the Higgs boson, in 1964. He theorized there must be a subatomic particle of certain dimension that would explain how other particlesand therefore all the stars and planets in the universeacquired mass. Without something like this particle, the set of equations physicists use to describe the world, known as the standard model, would not hold together.

Higgs' work helps scientists understand one of the most fundamental riddles of the universe: how the Big Bang created something out of nothing 13.8 billion years ago. Without mass from the Higgs, particles could not clump together into the matter we interact with every day.

But it would be almost 50 years before the particle's existence could be confirmed. In 2012, in one of the biggest breakthroughs in physics in decades, scientists at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, announced that they had finally found a Higgs boson using the Large Hadron Collider, the $10 billion atom smasher in a 17-mile (27-kilometer) tunnel under the Swiss-French border.

The collider was designed in large part to find Higgs' particle. It produces collisions with extraordinarily high energies in order to mimic some of the conditions that were present in the trillionths of seconds after the Big Bang.

Higgs won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work, alongside Francois Englert of Belgium, who independently came up with the same theory.

Edinburgh University Vice Chancellor Peter Mathieson said Higgs, who was born in Newcastle, was "a remarkable individuala truly gifted scientist whose vision and imagination have enriched our knowledge of the world that surrounds us."

"His pioneering work has motivated thousands of scientists, and his legacy will continue to inspire many more for generations to come."

Born in Newcastle, northeast England, on May 29, 1929, Higgs studied at King's College, University of London, and was awarded a doctorate in 1954. He spent much of his career at Edinburgh, becoming the Personal Chair of Theoretical Physics at the Scottish university in 1980. He retired in 1996.

One highlight of Higgs' career came in the 2013 presentation at CERN in Geneva where scientists presented in complex termsbased on statistical analysis unfathomable to most laypeoplethat the boson had been confirmed. He broke into tears, wiping down his glasses in the stands of a CERN lecture hall.

"There was an emotiona kind of vibrationgoing around in the auditorium,'' Fabiola Gianotti, the CERN director-general told The Associated Press. "That was just a unique moment, a unique experience in a professional life.''

"Peter was a very touching person. He was so sweet, so warm at the same time. And so always interested in what other people had to say,'' she said. "Able to listen to other people  open, and interesting, and interested."

Joel Goldstein, of the School of Physics at the University of Bristol, said, "Peter Higgs was a quiet and modest man, who never seemed comfortable with the fame he achieved even though this work underpins the entire modern theoretical framework of particle physics."

Gianotti recalled how Higgs often bristled at the term "God particle" for his discovery: "I don't think he liked this kind of definition," she said. "It was not in his style."

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Nobel Prize winning British physicist Peter Higgs, who gave his name to the mass-giving particle, pictured in 2008.

Nobel laureate Peter Higgs gave his name to one of the great scientific discoveries of the last century, earning a place alongside Albert Einstein and Max Planck in physics textbooks.

Through ground-breaking theoretical work, Higgs, who died on Monday aged 94, helped explain how the universe has mass, resolving one of the greatest puzzles in physics.

His 1964 theory of a mass-giving particle, which became known as the Higgs boson or the "God particle", earned him and Belgian physicist Francois Englert the 2013 Nobel Prize for Physics.

But when the announcement for which he had been waiting for half a century came, the unassuming physicist was nowhere to be found, having slipped out his back door into a pub, according to the 2022 biography "Elusive".

Higgs later admitted that the sudden fame was "a bit of a nuisance".

Announcing his death on Tuesday, the University of Edinburghwhere he had taught and researched in various capacities since the 1950shailed him a "great teacher and mentor".

It said he had inspired "generations of young scientists".

'Oh shit, I know...'

The Higgs boson confers mass on some of the fundamental particles that make up matter.

Without it, theorists explain, we and all the other connected atoms in the universe would not exist.

Shy and unassuming, Higgs had seen the light almost half a century before the particle's existence was confirmed by the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva in July 2012 in the Large Hadron Collider.

He realized in a eureka moment as a young lecturer in 1946 there could be a field of novel particles that confers mass.

"He said, 'Oh shit, I know how to do that!'" former colleague and friend Alan Walker told AFP of the breakthrough as recounted to him by Higgs.

Higgs published a paper on his theory in 1964, becoming the flag bearer of a premise to which several scientists had contributed over the years, including Englert, but which, at the outset, found few backers.

Nobel Physics laureates Peter Higgs (R) and Francois Englert applaud recognition of their mass-giving "Higgs Bosun" in July 2012.

Particularly skeptical was CERN, which embarked on a years-long, multi-billion-dollar quest to find the needle-in-a-haystack particle, culminating in its own eureka moment on July 4, 2012.

Higgs was present in Geneva to hear CERN announce that it had found a particle "consistent" with the elusive boson.

"It's very nice to be right sometimes. It has certainly been a long wait," he declared.

He and Englert won a slew of awards for their work, including the prestigious Wolf Prize in 2004.

But Higgs revealed he had turned down a knighthood, saying he felt the British honors system was "used for political purposes."

'Gentle'

Higgs was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, in northeastern England, on May 29, 1929, to a Scottish mother and an English father who worked as a sound engineer at the BBC.

He studied at King's College in London, gaining a Ph.D. in 1954, and went on to lecture at Edinburgh University.

Balding and ruddy-cheeked, he retired in 1996 and continued to live quietly in the Scottish capital, where he was emeritus professor of theoretical physics.

A modest man, who published only around a dozen scientific papers over his career, he cringed every time the term "Higgs boson" was used in his presence.

But as a life-long atheist, he disliked the "God particle" even more.

"He is a very mild-mannered and very gentle man, but he actually does get a little tenacious if you say something wrong that (has to do with) physics," his former colleague and friend Walker once said.

Others credited with contributing to the Higgs theory include Americans Gerald Guralnik, Carl Hagen, and Briton Tom Kibble, who jointly did a separate paper on the mechanism in the same year as Higgs.

Higgs married American linguist Jody Williamson, with whom he had two children. The pair later separated but remained close until her death in 2008 of leukemia.

He campaigned against nuclear weapons, joining a call in 2015 for Britain to abandon its Trident nuclear deterrent.

 2024 AFP
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Maps from the study suggest optimal testing sites based on agroecological zones (AEZs) and soybean maturity groups (00 to IV+). Credit: College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

In the quest to optimize crop productivity across environments, soybean breeders test new cultivars in multiple locations each year. The best-performing cultivars across these locations are selected for further breeding and eventual commercialization. However, a new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests current soybean testing locations may not be delivering breeders the biggest bang for their buck.

"We met with most of the soybean breeders in public research universities across the Midwest and asked where they set up their trials over the last 30 to 40 years," said Nicolas Martin, an associate professor in the Department of Crop Sciences, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at Illinois. "We found that they tend to select these sites a little bit by tradition."

Convenience is a strong draw, as well.

"Certain types of sites are overrepresented because of tradition rather than their environmental utility; for example, sites near large research universities like Urbana, Illinois; Ames, Iowa; or Lafayette, Indiana. It's not that we need a lot of data from those environments, but those test sites are convenient to access where cultivars are being developed," said doctoral student Catherine Gilbert, the study's first author.

The team analyzed long-term climate data and records of soybean trials to develop two new sets of maps that would help breeders strategize the placement and use of test sites. The first map represents common environments and favors generalist phenotypes that do well under most conditions. The second emphasizes environmental variation, optimizing specialized phenotypes that perform well in specific conditions.

"Breeding programs may have different philosophies," Martin said. "One of them is to mimic where most farmers are growing. Others are looking to avoid redundancies in the locations where you train your cultivars. If you put them under diverse growing conditions, you see which ones are more resilient."

In both cases, the analysis suggests breeders need to redistribute testing sites. Gilbert says there would need to be some fairly radical changes, including fully opening and closing test sites and dropping and adding hundreds of soybean varieties across the map.

"To optimize testing for general adaptation, we should expand in southern Minnesota, Iowa, and eastern South Dakota," she said. "And for specialized adaptation, we need to put more testing sites in Nebraska and, again, in South Dakota."

When Martin and Gilbert presented their results to cooperating breeders, most said they would consider the information in decisions around moving, opening, or closing testing sites.

Basing testing networks on how well they represent the soybean growing environment, rather than on tradition or convenience, means the new maps can better account for a changing climate. The researchers hope their approach can help breeding programs select more resilient cultivars in the future.

"We think our results could guide future cultivar adaptation to growing conditions farmers are running into more frequently. Thus, our goal is to improve the environmental representation of the trials, which would let us more accurately evaluate cultivars based on their performance and select better-performing varieties," Gilbert said.

Martin added, "The proposed site selection protocol not only enhances the accuracy of our cultivar testing but also opens doors to new regions exploring soybean cultivar adaptation. We can foster a proactive stance in cultivar development by allocating new resources in underrepresented areas that hold potential for soybean cultivar resilience."

The research is published in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science.

More information: Catherine Gilbert et al, Using agro-ecological zones to improve the representation of a multi-environment trial of soybean varieties, Frontiers in Plant Science (2024). DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1310461 Journal information: Frontiers in Plant Science
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Villagers in southwestern Madagascar collect fresh water from an aquifer near a small lake. Drought has caused regular sources of water to become less reliable in this region. Credit: Christopher Golden / Harvard University

A University of California, Irvine-led team reveals a clear link between human-driven climate change and the years-long drought currently gripping southern Madagascar. Their study appears in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science.

"Using remotely sensed observations and climate models, we could see evidence that climate change is affecting the hydrological cycle in southern Madagascar, and it's likely going to have big implications for the people that live there and how they grow their food," said Angela Rigden, assistant professor of Earth system science at UC Irvine and study's lead author. "Their rainy season is getting shorter, with a delayed onset of those seasons."

What helped the Rigden team make the connection between the drought and climate change was a multi-year satellite record of vegetation greenness which shows shifts in southern Madagascar that indicate changes in water availability. "We've taken satellite-based remote sensing data of plants and related it to how much water is available in the soils," she said.

The team then compared the shift in the rainy season window to what some climate models report would happen in the absence of human-driven climate change, and that is when they noticed the narrowing rainy season window. "That's the fingerprint of climate change, the change in seasonality," Rigden said.

Another key was the multi-year nature of the satellite record, which stretches back to the early 1980s. Such long observational records, especially for less developed and poverty-stricken places like southern Madagascar, are only available from satellites.

"We finally have a record long enough that we can see changes that are attributable to climate change," Rigden said. "And there's clear agreement between these observations and climate models that point to changes in seasonality."

Christopher Golden, an associate professor of nutrition and planetary health at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a study co-author, has been doing fieldwork in Madagascar for the past 25 years. He explained how southern Madagascar is an arid part of the world even without drought conditions, and that local people have borne witness to changes in rainfall patterns over the decades.

Colleagues at Catholic Relief Services and the USAID Mission to Madagascar, who are key stakeholders in the study, alerted Golden to the issues facing the country. For Rigden, the road to the study came after the United Nations announced that southern Madagascar was in a state of famine as a result of climate change in 2021. She wanted to see what satellite data might reveal about the situation.

"Our study shows that this phenomenon is entirely driven by climate change," said Golden, who added that the study will help scientists provide more confident recommendations to policymakers who make decisions about where to send relief aid in the world. "The picture is that this is going to be recurrent into the future," Golden said, which is information that can help officials justify the financing of relief efforts.

If populations know that events like droughts are not anomalies but part of a new normal, they can better prepare for the future. "We can come up with strategies to adapt," Rigden said.

More information: Angela Rigden et al, Climate change linked to drought in Southern Madagascar, npj Climate and Atmospheric Science (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41612-024-00583-8 Journal information: npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
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Olatz Arriaga Telleria, researcher at the UPV/EHU's Marine Benthos Research Group. Credit: Fernando Gomez, UPV/EHU

A study conducted off the coast of Biscay shows that cold-affinity algae species are gradually being replaced by warm-affinity ones.

A study by the University of the Basque Country published in Marine Environmental Research has analyzed the impact of the rise in sea surface temperature on macroalgae communities over the last four decades. Points at various depths were investigated in a location off the coast of Biscay, and an increasing scarcity was observed in the number of cold-affinity structuring species, while small warm-affinity ones have proliferated. The researchers are warning that some ecological functions are in jeopardy as a result.

The temperature of our planet is rising rapidly: 90% of the excess heat generated has been absorbed by the sea and, as a result, the surface temperature of the oceans has risen significantly. In this context, immobile and temperature-sensitive organisms are particularly vulnerable.

In addition, there are places where the warming of the sea is more significant than in others. For example, off the Basque coast there has been a 0.23C increase in sea temperature per decade, compared with a global increase of 0.15C.

Faced with this situation, the UPV/EHU's Marine Benthos Research Group explored how macroalgae communities in a coastal area off Biscay have been affected by warming. Together with the Blanes Center for Advanced Research, the group investigated the changes that have taken place over the last 40 years.

"It is important to study how macroalgae communities respond to temperature increases in order to preserve marine biodiversity, as they play essential roles in ecosystems," said biologist Olatz Arriaga-Telleria.

One of the main conclusions drawn is the increase in warm-affinity species in the macroalgae communities off the Basque coast due to the increase in temperature, while cold-affinity ones are becoming less numerous. This has led to profound transformations in community structure, as the species that have declined the most, such as Gelidium corneum, are structuring, i.e., they create three-dimensional environments that provide refuge for a wide variety of organisms.

What is more, they provide suitable habitats for other algae, fish, invertebrates, etc., where food and protection from predators, among other things, can be found. "We did not detect other species that are replacing these important ecological functions while the structuring species are in decline, which signifies a degradation of the communities," Arriaga explained. The warm-affinity species that have proliferated are smaller and more simple in morphological terms.

Resilience of macroalgae communities

The research has also shown that macroalgae communities respond very quickly to changes in sea temperature. This can be deduced from the data over the last decade. In fact, the temperature increase has not been homogeneous over the 40 years analyzed. While the general trend has been upward, the most recent period (20142020) investigated saw warmer temperatures.

Arriaga explained that "this has allowed us to study what the short-term response of the macroalgae communities is like; we saw that over these 6 years the presence of structuring species at great depths, which had been lost, has partially recovered, while some warm-affinity species have decreased."

Although the resilience displayed by the macroalgae gives rise to some hope, the research team stresses it does not look as if sea temperature control will be taking place right away. And given that temperature is the main cause of structural transformations in macroalgae communities, the team does not envisage an easy future.

So they regard continuing the research and increasing the frequency of monitoring as essential: "This would help to better understand the behavior of the macroalgae communities and to take proactive measures to protect the habitats of vulnerable species." One example could be to identify the areas with the potential to become climate refugia. They are working to find solutions before the situation becomes irreversible.

More information: O. Arriaga et al, The thermal journey of macroalgae: Four decades of temperature-induced changes in the southeastern Bay of Biscay, Marine Environmental Research (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106351
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Social media can be a useful tool for communicating during extreme weather events. Omar Perez Figueroa, an urban and regional planning professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, examined how Twitter (now X) was used when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017.

His findings are published in the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences.

Perez Figueroa studies how impoverished and marginalized communities address environmental inequalities, water governance, and disaster resilience.

For his research on social media and risk communication, he collected data from Twitter before the platform changed its name, so he continued to refer to it as Twitter for his study. He analyzed a sample of more than 2,000 tweets from before Hurricane Maria made landfall to six months after the storm to determine "what the event tells us about the reactions and behavior of people, and what is useful to understand to be better prepared."

Perez Figueroa analyzed the timing of the tweets and their geographic distribution. Most of them were made prior to landfall, with smaller peaks of activity at later timesfor example, when the Federal Emergency Management Agency deleted Puerto Rican disaster statistics from its website. In the U.S., those tweeting about the hurricane were highly concentrated in Florida, California, New York, and Texas, all areas with large Puerto Rican populations.

The sample included tweets from Puerto Rico despite the collapse of the island's power grid. Perez Figueroa said Twitter doesn't require a strong signal, making sending messages under disaster conditions more accessible.

He identified three main categories of messages: information about what was happening on the ground in Puerto Rico, understanding the social and political conditions that turned the hurricane into a disaster, and emotional messages seeking help or expressing support.

Those in Puerto Rico used social media to inform others about their condition and location, ask for and receive help, and document the disaster.

Perez Figueroa wrote that many tweets about the sociopolitical causes of the disaster blamed local and federal governments for their slow and inefficient response. He said it underscored the use of social media in solidarity and grassroots recovery efforts, as a tool to pressure for prompt government response and the development of policies that address vulnerabilities, and to communicate needs and raise awareness among people not directly affected by the local event about where to donate.

The tweets included information about the Guajataca Dam failure as it occurred.

"Being able to access critical data during and after a disaster can provide the difference between life and death, especially for those on the ground. Recognizing the increasing use of social media for disaster response and aid can increase communities' disaster resilience, especially when the communities hardest hit have limited communication and are remote, like the case of Puerto Rico," Perez Figueroa wrote.

In addition to aiding in preparedness and recovery for future disasters, the research served as a case study to test and refine a framework for examining disaster social media communication, Perez Figueroa said.

"Understanding how individuals use Twitter during disasters and in the immediate aftermath will be important as hurricanes occur more frequently and as the public continues to turn to social media as a mainstream news source. Public health and disaster response organizations will benefit from a more detailed understanding as to who and how communication on social media can play a role in mitigating the public health burdens that result from disaster events," he wrote.

Perez Figueroa said areas for future research include how traditional media can influence discussions on social media, how narratives on the two differ, whether social media influences emergency responders and policymakers to improve disaster response, and how groups from different socioeconomic levels use social media during disasters.

More information: Omar Perez-Figueroa et al, A content analysis of social media discourse during Hurricane Maria: filling a void when traditional media are silent, Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s13412-024-00909-1 Journal information: Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A wolf killed a calf over the weekend in Jackson County, the second time in less than a week that the death of livestock in Colorado has been attributed to a wolf, wildlife officials confirmed.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials on morning of April 7 responded to a report of possible depredation of a calf after the animal was found dead with a partially consumed hindquarter. In a news release, CPW said that type of injury is consistent with wolf depredation and partial wolf tracks were found in the area.

The agency said it knows of four wolves in the area where the calf was found, including a wolf or wolves with known territory in North Park as well as gray wolves that were released into the wild in December in accordance with the 2020 ballot measure approved by Colorado voters to reintroduce the predators to the state.

CPW declined to identify the exact location in Jackson County of the weekend wolf kill. Wildlife officials believe there are 12 wolves in Colorado: the 10 introduced in December and two from a pack that established itself in Jackson County after migrating from Wyoming. The wolves released in December were set loose in Grand County and neighboring Summit County.

The wolf kill in Jackson County follows one in Grand County last week, when a rancher discovered the carcass of a calf on April 2. CPW officials confirmed that calf was killed by one of the wolves released in Colorado late last year, making it the first verified livestock killing by one of the introduced wolves. Officials haven't said yet if the kill in Jackson County was done by one of the recently released animals.

CPW and the Colorado Department of Agriculture are making plans to deploy range riders in the coming weeks to anticipate and prepare for predator livestock incidents and help ranchers use nonlethal methods of deterrence to protect their animals.

The calf's owner is eligible for the fair market value of the livestock if a claim is submitted. CPW provides reimbursement for damages caused by gray wolves to livestock.

2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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NGTS monitoring plot showing average nightly fluxes for TOI-4862. Credit: Battley et al., 2024.

An international team of astronomers reports the detection of a new young and warm exoplanet orbiting a distant star. The newfound alien world, designated TOI-4862 b (or NGTS-30 b), is similar in size and mass to Jupiter. The finding was published April 3 on the pre-print server arXiv.

NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has identified more than 7,100 candidate exoplanets (TESS Objects of Interest, or TOI), of which 432 have been confirmed so far. Since its launch in April 2018, the satellite has been conducting a survey of about 200,000 of the brightest stars near the sun with the aim of searching for transiting exoplanets.

Recently, a group of astronomers led by Matthew Battley of the University of Geneva in Switzerland has confirmed another TOI monitored by TESS. They identified a transit signal in the light curve of TOI-4862a young G-type star located some 762 light years away. The planetary nature of this signal was confirmed by follow-up observations.

"NGTS-30 b/TOI-4862 b was first discovered via a single transit in TESS photometry, before archival photometry from NGTS [Next Generation Transit Survey] and EulerCam were used to refine the planetary period," the researchers wrote in the paper.

TOI-4862 b has a radius of 0.93 Jupiter radii and its mass is approximately 0.96 Jupiter masses. The planet orbits its host every 98.3 days on a moderately eccentric orbit (with an eccentricity of 0.294), at a distance of 0.41 AU from it. Due to such eccentricity, equilibrium temperature TOI-4862 b likely varies from 274 to 500 K.

The parent star TOI-4862 is a few percent smaller and less massive than the sun and its age is estimated to be 1.1 billion years. The star has an effective temperature of approximately 5,455 K and its metallicity is at a level of -0.03 dex.

The obtained parameters make TOI-4862 b one of the youngest warm Jupiter so far discovered. Based on the interior modeling, the astronomers found that TOI-4862 b has a heavy element mass fraction of 0.23 and a heavy element enrichment of 20, which makes it metal-enriched compared to its host.

Summing up the results, the authors of the paper underlined the uniqueness of TOI-4862 b, proposing further investigation of this interesting extrasolar world.

"The star's age of 1.1 Gyr makes NGTS-30 b/TOI-4862 b one of the youngest warm Jupiters found, adding a crucial new system with which to understand the evolution timescale of such planets. Further observations of the spin-orbit angle and the atmosphere of this planet will help further define the migration history and composition of this interesting system," the scientists conclude.

More information: M. P. Battley et al, NGTS-30 b/TOI-4862 b: An 1 Gyr old 98-day transiting warm Jupiter, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2404.02974 Journal information: arXiv

 2024 Science X Network
The Glens Falls Planning Board is asking Frank Leo, the owner of two connected properties on Maple Street in the city, to resubmit a site plan for the business activity either taking place or planned for one of the properties, 207 Maple St.

A site plan on commercial and industrial properties  207 Maple St. is light industrial  regulates not only where buildings, lights, fences and other physical structures are placed on the site but also what operations are permitted to occur on the site.

During a convoluted Planning Board discussion April 2, it came to light that the open lot at that address is being used both by North Country Snow and Ice Management, a plowing company, and by an auto body shop that operates from another of Leos buildings at 211-213 Maple St. next door.

The board, including the citys attorney Karen Judd, said they had no record of the change on the propertys site plan that would allow Leo to use the property for the auto repair shop. The only listed use is that of the plowing company.

You need a site plan review for the auto shop, Judd said at one point during the meeting. There should be no auto business on 207 Maple St.

For his part, Leo said he had spoken with people in the city and thought he had permission that would allow him to run both the auto repair and the plowing companies on site. Although the site stores many cars that await repair, the cars are licensed, are not abandoned and are transient, and not stored long at that location, Leo told the board.

The point to the board, however, was that Leo did not have permission to use the property in that way.

As well, the plowing company has outgrown the location and has moved most of its activity to Big Bay Road in Queensbury. They no longer park most of their equipment at the Maple Street site although offices remain at that location, one of the owners, Scott McDonald, told the board, adding that their plan is to move the offices fully within a few months.

However, the plowing company still plans to use the salt bin at that location, but they will no longer have a lease on that site.

This presents another problem for Leo. The salt bin is currently a depot for North Country Snow and Ice. If the plowing company leaves and Leo keeps the salt depot, selling salt to companies such as North Country Snow and Ice, then Leo enters the retail space, selling salt. That is also not on the site plan for that location.

However, the largest discussion of the property is that of noise and light.

The activity, especially at night, of loading salt into the salt trucks awakens next door neighbors, some neighbors reported to the board.

Mayor Bill Collins told the board that he has asked city police over the winter to watch the property in the evening for 20 or 30 minutes at a time.

I was getting so many complaints, with video, about that property that he needed independent confirmation, he said, adding that during his two-year tenure as mayor, There are no less that 75 complaints about this operation at night.

Kenneth Pagels and Lynn Pagels own the small apartment building at 203 Maple St. He and two of his tenants, Edward Meyers and Brenda Tracey, expressed anger at the level of noise and the lights that sometimes invade their nights.

Tracey, a nurse, has lived next door for 22 years she said, and she complained to the board, as she has at past city meetings, that talking directly to the workers at night does nothing to help and is often met with belligerence.

She has seen people urinate in the parking lot. A porta-john set up to correct that was at first placed close to her apartment, and she had to bear the smell; it has since been moved further away.

McDonald said his company did not mean to harass her with the porta-john, and moved it when they saw what was happening.

Meyers said that at two or three oclock in the morning, the truck lights come on and the buckets that load the salt scrape loudly along the ground.

This has got to stop. Ive lived here four years, Meyers said. They have no respect for the neighbors. None.

McDonald and others from his company have maintained that they are following the rules set forth in light industrial zoning and the allowed use of running the plowing company there.

To the best of my recollection, were working within the parameters we were approved for, McDonald said. At points during the conversation, he wondered what people thought a light industrial zone meant, adding that of course there would be noise and adding that the city for years did not have a noise ordinance to regulate the noise anywhere (the city enacted a noise ordinance last year).

He said that his company has made adjustments such as changing the back up beeping noise on the loading equipment so that it is not as loud.

Everything Ive done, Ive tried to comply, McDonald said.

Under the rules, his company may get ice and operate on that site during snow events, but he told the board also that snow events go on for days after the storm. While it might look like the city is back to normal, for his company it is not. Much of his work deals with commercial parking lots which are empty and can be plowed and salted only at night. It can take days to reach all of the lots, he said.

Ultimately, planning board Chair Ethan Hall told Leo that he needs a new site plan that the board can review, and in it should be a discussion of how the auto repair shop would use the space; what role will the plowing company have now that it is winding down operations at the site; and how will the salt storage currently on site be used.

<&rule>

<&rdpStrong><&rdpEm>Editors note</&rdpEm></&rdpStrong>: In an earlier story that was published in the physical paper (and revised online), we listed the Maple Street address as avenue. The properties are on Maple Street. Our apologies for the confusion.
MAYS LANDING  Angelo DiBartolo knew about solar eclipses but never had the opportunity to see one up close until Monday.

"All I see is a little sliver of light with darkness all around it," said DiBartolo, of Mays Landing, as she looked toward the sky. "It is pretty cool to see it with my own eyes because you always hear about what would happen if you look at it. It's just breathtaking to look at."

DiBartolo was one of nearly 100 people who gathered at Atlantic Cape Community College for a solar eclipse watch party organized by the school's science department.

"We're very happy with how things turned out," said Jolie Master, associate professor of biology and interim dean of STEM programs at Atlantic Cape. "We didn't know what to expect when we first started planning this, but we saw a good mix of students, faculty and members of the public."

New Jersey was not in the path of totality  that was farther north and west. Nevertheless, it was part of North America's biggest eclipse audience ever, with a couple hundred million people living in or near the shadows path, plus scores of out-of-towners flocking in.

At Atlantic Cape, attendees listened to presentations from a few instructors in the campus' Walter E. Edge Theater before going to the STEM building to create eclipse viewers made from cereal boxes donated to the science department.

Once the viewers were constructed, people either used their own glasses, the cereal boxes or a telescope to look at the eclipse, which began at 2:09 p.m., peaked at 3:24 p.m. and ended at 4:35 p.m.

Richard Perello, an associate professor of environmental science at the school, said the planet sees four solar eclipses a year, but this particular eclipse was significant due to how the sun and moon were positioned.

The eclipse has passed, but the cosmos still has such sights to show us: Sky Watch Our topics today break naturally into two categories. I'm going to talk about some sky events of the next two weeks that are unusual and potentially lovely, but to console us for the solar eclipse being behind us, I'm going to mention a few astronomical events that are very rare and have at least the potential soon to spark interest that could almost compare to that generated by the eclipse.

"It was a total solar eclipse, so about 90% of the sun was blocked in the sky," Perello said. "The other options would be a partial eclipse when only part of the sun is covered, or an annular eclipse when there isn't good alignment and the situation is too far away. This one was close, and we're at what we call solar maximum right now. We got lucky that we were in the right place at the right time."

Master said the department began planning the event last year and didn't want to make it like any ordinary watch party.

"That's why we had the information sessions with some of our professors and instructors at the beginning," Master said. "We wanted to educate people about why this is so historic, and I think we accomplished just that. A lot of people were involved in the process of putting this on, and I'm thrilled with (how it turned out)."

During Monday's full eclipse, the moon slipped right in front of the sun, entirely blocking it. The resulting twilight, with only the suns outer atmosphere or corona visible, was long enough for birds and other animals to fall silent, and for planets, stars and maybe even a comet to pop out.

The out-of-sync darkness lasted up to 4 minutes, 28 seconds. That's almost twice as long as it was during the U.S. coast-to-coast eclipse seven years ago because the moon is closer to Earth. It took just 1 hour, 40 minutes for the moon's shadow to race more than 4,000 miles across the continent.

The path of totality  approximately 115 miles wide  encompassed several major cities, including Dallas; Indianapolis; Cleveland; Buffalo, New York; and Montreal. An estimated 44 million people live within the track, with a couple hundred million more within 200 miles.

Martin Kelly, of Hammonton, said Atlantic Cape was the perfect spot to watch the eclipse with his sons Gregory and Francis Heiland.

"We already had our glasses and boxes already made," Kelly said. "But my wife works for the college, so she told us about the event and I thought it was the perfect place to take it all in. Learning about the history from the speakers was interesting, and it was a lot of fun getting to make the viewers here. The eclipse kind of looked like a banana, so it made me a little hungry."

Friday's earthquakes are over. Now, expect a mostly dry weekend. You'll be in for a cool and breezy Saturday, with an improved Sunday. The weather during Monday's solar eclipse will be clear and mild.

Raymond Wilson didn't know about the event at the college until Sunday, but once he found out, he had to be there.

"This was another cool public event that the campus does," said Wilson, of Mays Landing. "I was probably just going to watch it at home on TV, but then I was thumbing through social media and saw it and knew I had to come experience it. I really enjoyed learning about the background and how all of this happens; its just really fascinating. This will probably be the last total solar eclipse of my lifetime, so I was glad to make it out for it."

The next total solar eclipse will take place Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Fork Real Community Cafe is relocating to the heart of downtown Rapid City later this year. A capital campaign starting April 24 aims to raise $646,500 to fund Fork Reals move.

Fork Real will become a tenant of the building at 507 Main Street owned by Rimrock Church. Fork Real is not affiliated with Rimrock Church nor is the nonprofit cafe a religious organization. Moving into that downtown building will give the cafe a higher profile location where more locals and tourists can easily find it, according to Dave Pearcy. He co-founded Fork Real with his wife, Rhonda.

Our goal is to be able to move to the new location in November this year, Dave said.

Fork Real will be located in the lower level of 507 Main Street, and Fork Real will have its own designated entrance. The new location will not give the cafe significantly more space or increase the amount of rent the Pearcys are paying.

The move to 507 Main will allow the Pearcys to build a custom commercial kitchen and have training kitchens that better meet their needs for serving meals and job training, Dave said.

Were gaining a commercial kitchen thats making more opportunities available for people [who want to] go into the culinary business, he said.

Renting space from Rimrock Church fits the Pearcys' ongoing goal of building relationships and partnerships withing the community, Dave said.

Fork Reals capital campaign, Moving Forward with Purpose, launches April 24. Donors can give one-time or monthly contributions online at forkrealcafe.org/donate or checks can be mailed to Fork Real Cafe, 324 St. Joseph St., Rapid City, SD 57701. Additional options for giving will be added after the capital campaign begins, Dave said.

Funds raised through the Moving Forward with Purpose campaign will be used specifically for renovations and equipment.

Fork Real opened in 2017 and is a pay-what-you-can cafe where anyone in the community is welcome to have a home-style meal, regardless of their ability to pay. They aim to fight hunger while preserving the dignity of people in need.

The cafe currently gifts about 330 meals each month to individuals and families.

We say if you give away free stuff, you cant sustain that. If somebody cant afford to pay at least $2 for a meal, they can show up and volunteer for half an hour and they can get their meal and go enjoy the rest of their day. Its a sense of dignity on their end, Dave said.

Fork Real also offers catering and space for hosting events. Its new location will include a private dining room.

In 2023, Fork Real expanded its outreach by adding a food truck.

Theres still a need for the affordability of services we provide, but some people cant get here because of work schedules or reliable transportation, so we thought why not go mobile to reach more people who need our services? Dave said.

The food truck is another way we can market and share our mission with people and hopefully drive more volunteers to the cafe, he added.

G&P Indoor Skatepark

The 507 Main Street building also will be the future location of G&P Indoor Skatepark. The indoor skate park had been on the south side of Rapid City and is currently closed. G&P Indoor Skatepark is not affiliated with Rimrock Church. Like Fork Real Community Cafe, the skatepark will be a tenant of the 507 Main Street building.

G&P Indoor Skatepark is run by the Colorado-based nonprofit organization Process Skateboard Ministry.

The skatepark opened in Rapid City in 2020 to provide a safe, encouraging place where people can pursue a sport they love. G&P stands for grace and peace, which is what founder and director Derrick Unrein hopes kids and adults will experience when they visit. The skatepark is open to anyone, though some activities such as skate church are specifically Christian faith-based.

Unrein said when the skatepark moves, it will be located in the back of the 507 Main Street building. G&P Indoor Skatepark will launch its own capital campaign to fund the renovations needed to relocate the skatepark downtown. However, Unrein said final costs have not yet been determined. Relocation planning is still in progress, and Unrein said he doesnt have a time frame yet for when the skatepark can move downtown.

The new location will give us more space. Honestly, the location is great. To be downtown is amazing. We want to be centrally located where kids can get to us, Unrein said. I think it will be great for the community. We gear it mostly to youth, but there's skaters that are in their 40s [using the skatepark].

Go to skateprocess.com for more information about G&P Indoor Skatepark.

'Bigger than Sunday mornings'

Evan Hays, pastor of the Rimrock Church's downtown location, said Fork Real and the G&P Indoor Skatepark are the only two tenants Rimrock Church plans to have in the 507 Main Street building. The church is hoping to open a higher-end coffee shop, owned and run by Rimrock Church, that would be open throughout the week. Hays estimates the coffee shop could open in 2025.

"The main reason that we bought the building at 507 Main Street is so that Rimrock Downtown can continue to grow and operate at the best possible level, but our vision for this space is much bigger than just Sunday mornings," Hays said. "Our vision behind this building is for it to be a place where Rimrock Church and various ministry partners demonstrate the love of Jesus in the heart of our city. This is why we are partnering with Fork Real and G&P Skate Ministries, so that more and more people can be loved ... and shown God's grace and truth through many different ways, like really good food and skateboarding."
Good afternoon, Bobcats. It is so good every time Montana State can come to Missoula to celebrate!

Those were the playful opening words of Waded Cruzado, president of Montana State University, at last weeks celebration of breaking ground on the multimillion-dollar nursing school facility in Missoula.

The 20,000-square-foot campus will be located off Fort Missoula Road on land donated by Community Medical Center. Once complete, the building will enable more students to enroll at the Missoula campus, house state-of-the art simulation labs for baccalaureate and advanced nursing degree studies and allow for the programs departure from the far smaller space its been leasing at University of Montana since 1974.

This building marks the start of a new era for our university, and I believe, strongly, for health care in this community and in our beloved state, Cruzado said. As we consider the bright future that awaits us, Im filled with immense gratitude today.

Thanks to a $101 million donation in 2021 from Mark and Robyn Jones, two private philanthropists, MSU is building new facilities with state-of-the-art technology at each of its five nursing school campuses in Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, Kalispell and Missoula. To date, MSU has been leasing space for the nursing program in all of these cities except Bozeman.

Our vision is to transform the lives of and health of Montanas communities, said Sarah Shannon, dean of the nursing school. We seek to do that through cutting-edge education, creation of new knowledge and meaningful service.

Around 200 people attended the Missoula groundbreaking celebration on April 5. Guests included MSU administrators, representatives from project partners, a handful of elected officials and dozens of current and former nursing students. The Jones couple, for whom MSUs nursing school has been renamed the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing, couldnt make the event but provided written remarks that were read aloud.

Montana will set the standard for the entire country, they wrote.

About 300 nurses graduate from MSUs bachelor program every year. Of those, around 80% stay in Montana. According to Shannon, more than half of all newly licensed nurses in a given year are MSU nursing school graduates, or, as she calls them, Bobcat nurses.

According to a 2020 Montana Department of Labor and Industry report, the states nursing workforce is aging. Half of registered nurses actively employed planned to retire within the next five years. Unemployment among registered nurses in Montana was exceptionally low at just 1.2%.

With these new buildings, MSU anticipates graduating 100 additional nurses each year. More space and serious upgrades pave the way for the expansion of MSUs advanced-level nursing pathways including the states first nurse-midwife program.

The $101 million gift to MSU was, at the time of its donation, the largest ever to be made to a nursing school in the United States. It has since been edged out by a $125 million donation to the University of Pennsylvania to endow a tuition-free nursing program.

Cruzado shared the story of how this gift  and its then-record-breaking amount  came to be.

The MSU president said she received an out-of-the-blue email from Mark Jones in her generic inbox asking for a conversation about how he and his wife could help improve health care in Montana. What followed was a whirlwind, including face-to-face meetings in Texas, where the Jones were based, and Whitefish, where they were building a home, and a $100 million proposal crafted by Cruzado and Shannon that swung for the fences.

When the Joneses reviewed that proposal, they werent sure about funding a Missoula campus.

As Cruzado tells the story, she and Shannon were sitting at a table with the couple when she said, Were very grateful for your generosity, but if we do not fund the building for Missoula, no one will believe this was not my idea. The anecdote elicited widespread laughter at the groundbreaking.

I still remember, that was a very emotional moment, Cruzado said about the meeting when the Joneses signed off on the project. That was a huge shot in the arm for the state of Montana.

Later that same evening, Cruzado recalled, she learned there had been a gift of $100 million to another college nursing program in California. She called Mark Jones to tell him, and he said to up his gift by $1 million to make MSU's gift the largest on record at the time.

MSU broke ground on the Great Falls facility in November 2023, and construction will begin on all five of the new buildings by the end of this April. Cushing Terrell, a Missoula-based architectural firm, and CO Architects, a Los Angeles-based firm with extensive experience in health care infrastructure design, will oversee the project.
The Smith River is a crown jewel of Montanas natural splendor, but a proposed copper mine at its headwaters in central Montana has many people worried about negative impacts to the rivers pristine waters.

After years of litigation, the state Supreme Court approved a mine permit for the operation in February.

But, environmental groups also took the state to court over the mine companys water permit  a key regulatory hurdle for mine construction and operation to commence.

On March 29, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Missoula over the mine as part of the courts annual visit to the law school at University of Montana.

Theres no decision yet but a decision either way will set precedent in Montana and could have wide-ranging effects.

Billings Gazette Reporter Brett French has covered the mine extensively for years. But with me today is Joshua Murdock, outdoors and natural resources reporter at the Missoulian, who reported in person on the oral arguments before the Supreme Court.

This podcast is created in partnership across five newsrooms  the Billings Gazette, Helena Independent Record, Missoulian, Montana Standard and Ravalli Republic. You can support this podcast, and our efforts, by becoming a subscriber.
AMLO thanks supportive international community, refers to Mexican embassy break-in as flagrant violation

Mexico City, Mexico  President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador thanked leaders and civil organizations for their solidarity after the illegal entry of Ecuadorian police into the Mexican Embassy.

In a publication, he reiterated his respect for the brotherly people of Ecuador and called on his fellow citizens to act with prudence to avoid harassment and not fall into provocations.

Mexicos diplomatic personnel in Ecudaor have since returned to Mexico. Representatives of the chancellery showed dignity and decorum, as was evident in the attitude of Raquel Serur, our ambassador, and Roberto Canseco, head of the embassys chancellery, he said.

He also included the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Barcena Ibarra, calling her performance professional and effective in this painful matter. 

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador affirmed that the illegal entry of police into the Mexican embassy in Ecuador on the night of April 5, was an authoritarian act and violation of national sovereignty, which led to the suspension of diplomatic relations with that country.

It was a flagrant violation of our sovereignty, the right to asylum and international norms and laws. It was an authoritarian, incredible act, he said Monday adding that the government of Ecuador possibly acted in this way because it is poorly advised by advisors, referring to them as people who act according to their interests.

In addition to violating sovereignty, the assault on the embassy violated the right of asylum and international treaties in a display of arrogance by the Ecuadorian government, said Lopez Obrador.

Accompanied by members of the Cabinet, he highlighted the solidarity expressed by the international community. According to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), 29 countries including Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Uruguay and Argentina, the European Union and eight organizations, have spoken out in favor of Mexico.

Thank you very much to the presidents, heads of state, diplomats, and foreign ministries of all countries, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.

Mexico is very grateful for the solidaridy of the international community, of the nations, because they have been very generous, very fraternal, very supportive; some with more drive, emphasis, others with strict adherence to what is established by law and others in their own way, but the majority supporting Mexico, he emphasized.

President Lopez Obrador recognized Mexicos diplomatic corps in Ecuador, led by ambassador Raquel Serur Smeke. The eight representatives and their families arrived in Mexico on Sunday, April 7 on a commercial flight from Quito.

Mexicos Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Barcena Ibarra

Regarding the legal situation of the former vice president of Ecuador, Jorge David Glas Espinel, who was taking refuge in the Mexican embassy under the status of guest and political asylum, the president clarified that it will be resolved by the corresponding international body.

The Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Barcena Ibarra, reported that Mexico is preparing a complaint before the International Court of Justice. In addition, it will request the support of the foreign ministries and the countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and will send a letter to the secretary general of the United Nations (UN) to present itself to all member countries, the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly.

She reiterated that nothing justifies the invasion of the police forces into the embassy or the physical aggression and dignity of the diplomatic staff. By granting asylum to the former vice president of Ecuador, Mexico adhered to international law regarding the Vienna Convention and the Caracas Convention on political asylum, the Chancellor said.

She explained that the Mexican government had maintained direct and constant communication with Ecuador before the incident in order to address the issue of asylum, so they had to resort at all times to peaceful procedures, as established by the UN charter or the Treaty, the American Peace Agreement, called the Pact of Bogota.

With the purpose of providing service to around 1,600 compatriots and 30 companies in Ecuador, the Mexican embassies in Chile, Colombia and Peru enabled their services.

For now, in-person documents will not be issued in Ecuador and attention will be provided digitally, the secretary reported.

The Government of Mexico suspended consular services and relations, while demanding respect for the premises, property and files of the embassy in Ecuador, which was closed indefinitely.

The head of the SRE assured that the Mexican government will not apply the same measures in the case of the Ecuadorian embassy in Mexico and called on the population to remain calm.

In due course, the Ecuadorian authorities will make decisions in this regard without any type of external pressure.

During the press conference led by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Barcena Ibarra, Ambassador Raquel Serur Smeke, maintained that the Ecuadorian people do not deserve the government they currently have because, she said, they improvise and do not know the art of good government policy, as well as the significance of asylum and the importance it has in the diplomatic life of Mexico and Latin America.

They are a noble people. They love our country and they assume our culture as their own. That is why I think that President Noboa was wrong to make a decision that not only breaks with everything established by international conventions, but also implies ignorance of the reality of his people, he stated.

She considered the illegal break-in of the Mexican Embassy an outrage, the magnitude of which the government of Ecuador cannot yet measure.

Mexicos Ambassador to Ecuador, Raquel Serur Smeke during her speech after returning to Mexico

They do not understand that a State can protect and safeguard the life of a person without judging whether this person is innocent or guilty. They dont know their own history, she said.

The diplomat highlighted that Mexico is distinguished by the solidity of its institutions and the resolution of differences. Ambassador Raquel Serur Smeke also said she was pleased to have represented Mexico in Ecuador since 2019.

The highest honor for me has been serving Mexico as ambassador to Ecuador. I left Ecuador with my head held high. I arrived in Mexico with my head held high and with the satisfaction of having fulfilled my duty, she remarked.

I am sure that the beautiful country that is Ecuador will pass this stage and will have brighter days. I wish everything good to that country and I ask that Ecuador be blessed with better times, its people deserve it, she added.
China's anti-dumping probe into EU brandy not target any EU member state: minister

Xinhua) 08:50, April 09, 2024

PARIS, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce of China, said here on Monday that China's anti-dumping investigation into brandy imported from the European Union (EU), prompted by a complaint submitted by the domestic brandy industry, does not target any specific EU member state nor carry predefined findings.

China will conduct the investigation openly and transparently in accordance with Chinese law and WTO rules, while fully safeguarding the rights of all stakeholder, added the Chinese minister.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Around 400 Riviera Maya holiday motorists assisted by Green Angles roadside assistance

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Around 400 vehicles in Quintana Roo were assisted by the Green Angles emergency auto service over the Easter holidays. According to Eduardo Garcia Valdelamar who heads the agency in Quintana Roo, the Angeles Verdes (Green Angles) provided service to around 400 vehicles.

We served around 400 vehicles in which we helped a little more than a thousand tourists. In addition, we only had one single accident without any consequences of injuries or deaths, he reported.

The most common service requests were tire-related. He said those requesting the service either had tires that were low on air or were flat and were without a spare. He said other tire-related service calls included motorists with a spare tire but no tools to change it.

Other common service calls included help with overheated engines and a lack of coolant, while engine belts and a lack of fuel were also common calls.

Also a lot of overheating of engines, some with damage that prevented the vehicle from running again or problems with some hose or lack of antifreeze as well as the engine belt and even lack of fuel, he said.

He also reported the most commonly helped motorists were national tourists.

A Cozumel motorists is being helped by Green Angles.

During the second half of the holidays, Green Angle personnel are reported to have assisted motorists traveling the Cancun Riviera Maya highway the most. The second busiest highway was Riviera Maya to Tulum and the third, on the island of Cozumel.
Puerto Morelos woman charged with drug dealing

Puerto Morelos, Q.R.  A Puerto Morelos woman found in possession of crack cocaine was arrested Monday. According to local authorities, she is also part of a criminal drug dealing group known to generate violence around the state.

On Monday, the State Attorney General (FGE) reported on the arrest of Lizeth Saray N. According to the FGE, she was taken into custody from the streets of Puerto Morelos after being found in possession of marijuana and crack cocaine.

It should be noted that this woman is part of a criminal gang that generates violence in the state, which is dedicated to the sale of drugs, the FGE explained in her arrest statement.

A municipal judge agreed with local prosecutors Monday and allowed charges of drug dealing to be laid against Lizeth Saray N. Authorities did not provide information on a trial date or possible sentencing.
From the creators of Band of Brothers comes another bracing series about heroes of the Second World War, this time taking to the sky. But for all their heroic character, whats missing is more probing characterization.

Tom Hanks was the moral conscience of America in the 90s, so far as Hollywood was concerned, and audiences largely concurred, because hes like a new Jimmy Stewart: he exudes moral integrity and childlike innocence. This got out of hand in 199495, when he won a very rare pair of back-to-back Oscars for unwatchable movies, Philadelphia and Forrest Gump. By the end of the decade, he became more serious.

America gained something for that new seriousness. Hanks started making patriotic movies instead of liberal-cause movie. He starred in Steven Spielbergs Saving Private Ryan in 1998 (fourth of his six Oscar nominations). After that astonishing success, they produced the Band of Brothers miniseries together in 2001, which became the defining memory of WWII for a generation. Hanks even wrote the teleplay for its first episode and directed the fifth. Then, at the end of that more patriotic decade, in 2010, they produced a companion series, The Pacific, a much-needed reminder of the major effort America made in the seas in WWII. It was also an opportunity for everyone to read one of the amazing accounts of the island campaigns, Eugene Sledges With the Old Breed.

Now theyve produced a third war series, Masters of the Air, for Apple Studios. The creator is John Orloff, one of the writers on Band of Brothers. We finally get to see warfare in the skies, as we follow the pilots of the 100th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, based in England, flying the B17 Flying Fortress (this was back when Boeing was a symbol of national pride). These men ran daylight bombing campaigns in Germany and other parts of Europe from June 25, 1943, until April 20, 1945, and they were called the Bloody Hundredth because of the horrible casualty ratio. After the war, they dropped food and transported war prisoners back to their homes.

Masters of the Air is worth watching as a whole, but it truly shines in the battle and bombing scenes, among the few really successful uses of digital visual effects in recent years. The production used Industrial Light & Magics famous 3D studio, The Volume (used to make The Mandalorian). The technical side is also helped by focusing on the B17, which is a useful setting for cinematic storytelling, because its large and heavy enough to be imposing, and boasts four impressive engines and a crew of 10. Pilot and co-pilot, navigator, engineer, radio operator, bombardier, and four dedicated gunners (for a total of six gunners, including the engineer and radio operator).

Bombing requires precision and patience, but also resignation to death in face of flak and interceptors, while most of the crew shoots back with about a dozen machine guns. This is the moral setting for a drama of suspense. Masters of the Airgets a few aspects right, everything concerning rough landings, navigation, and bombing, and theres a lot of shooting and getting shot, flaming out of the skies, crashing, and explosions. But you go through the nine episodes of the series without ever getting a feel for what a crew working well together is like (the 1990 Memphis Belle movie gets this much better, focusing on a single crew). This mistake is typical of our times, a neglect for the desire of men to band together and dare well. So also, you never really learn the technical aspects of the plane, since thats a mans concern. Vast numbers of American boys and young men obsess over all these things, playing simulators like War Thunder on PlayStation, but storytellers are bored and ignorant of the importance of machines to freedom.

Unlike the previous series, Masters of the Air makes the unusual choice to bask in nostalgia and give everything the look of 40s cinema. Theres charm and theres glamour. Impressive soldiers like our protagonists, Majors Gale Cleven and John Egan, are morally beautiful, noble, but not handsome. Cinema beautifies, so they cast Butler, who recently played Elvis, and Callum Turner, who reminded me of Errol Flynn. They carry the story as best friends, getting ready for the European war, flying missions and taking responsibility for the terrible things they witness, and eventually getting shot down, captured, and taken to a Stalag prisoner of war camp.

The third great pilot in the series is Lt. Col. Rosenthal, who flew a record 52 missions and was shot down and injured several times, always returning to active duty. Hes played by Nate Mann, whos got looks going for him, as well as a certain moral quality and earnestness, but thats about it. Rosenthal was an assistant to the prosecutor in the Nuremberg trials. One would want to know how such men are made.

Cleven went back to private life after the war, lived long and it seems happily, but Egan stayed in the military and served again in Korea. One would want to know what they made of the war. Altogether, the series lacks compelling characterization, perhaps because it is not considered necessary for or compatible with patriotism or high-mindedness. But these men were extraordinary pilots in a way that might have been simply impossible to guess or to prove in peacetime.

The Germans, it should be noted, are the enemy in every situation in which they appear, not just as cruel wardens in the POW camps, but also as civilians, in the country, and in the bombed cities. This is a useful reminder, but also an opportunity for the only serious moral conflict in the story. The bombing of civilians, which the Germans practiced without reserve, is questionable both strategically and morally when Americans and Englishmen do it, too. But one should consider that as war goes on, bloody-mindedness becomes almost unstoppable and no longer a question of morality. The series makes an effort to show us how the soldiers turn from eager and enthusiastic young men to veterans, facing terrible odds and asked to fly 25 missions, which was close to a death sentence. But it lacks great writing and characterization to make these characters memorable.

All that notwithstanding, Masters of the Air is both a fun watch and often bracing. Its better than, for example, the 1990 film about the most famous B17s last mission, Memphis Belle. Which reminds me also to recommend William Wylers 44-minute war-time documentary about the Memphis Belle, from 1944, which is very good indeed and captures the moral character of America at that time.
Roscommon Womens Network is hosting a voter education workshop in Castlerea on Tuesday, April 16th from 10.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m..

The Active Citizenship Voter Education workshop is being run in association with See Her Elected, the award-winning Government funded project, which supports women from rural areas to become candidates in local elections.

The workshop is aimed at increasing knowledge about the democratic process, voting rights, and the responsibilities of local government. Roscommon Womens Network has appealed to a diverse group of women including migrant women, Traveller woman and Irish women to attend the upcoming workshop.

Nora Fahy, Manager of RWN remarked: In a year of referendums, local and European elections and possibly a general election before end of the year, many of the women from diverse communities we work with have highlighted a need and desire to increase their awareness around whats happening in Irish politics. We are delighted to be collaborating with the SHE programme to support RWN in meeting this need, sharing their vast knowledge and experience while providing all the information women need to make informed decisions.

Workshop topics will include a brief history of voting in Ireland, reasons to vote, types of elections and voting rights, and the services Local Government provides. It will answer questions such as what local councillors do and who can become a councillor. It will explain the major political parties, the Irish electoral system, how to register to vote, issues related to the Local elections in June 2024 and how to decide who to vote for.

This workshop aims to equip women with essential knowledge about the democratic process, voting rights, and the responsibilities of local government and is being led by Liliana Fernandez, an expert in diversity and inclusion in politics.

A video commissioned by See Her Elected which explains how the PR-STV voting system in Ireland works will also feature as part of the workshop. The video has been translated into Polish, Arabic and Portuguese. An Arabic translator will be there too to ensure everyone enjoys the day to the fullest.

The Active Citizenship Voter Education will take place in The Hub, Castlerea (Eircode F45AC96) on Tuesday, April 16th from 10.30 a.m.-1 p.m. followed by light refreshments. The event is free of charge but registration is required in advance by phoning 094 9621690.
(a) Spatial distribution of carbonate rocks chemical weathering carbon sinks. (b) Latitudinal distribution of annual average carbonate chemical weathering carbon sinks. (c) Comparison of carbonate area distribution in different study areas. (d) Comparison of weathered carbon convergence amount of carbonate rock. (e) Comparison diagram of the total carbonate rock amount. CHN, China; JPN, Japan; KOR, South Korea; IND, India; GBR, United kingdom; FRA, France; DEU, Germany; RUS, Russia; U.S., United States; CAN, Canada; MEX, Mexico; ZAF, South Africa; SUA, Saudi Arabia; TUR, Turkiye; ITA, Italy; IDN, Indonesia; BRA, Brazil; AUS, Commonwealth of Australia; ARG, Republic of Argentina. Credit: Science China Press

Carbonate rock chemical weathering carbon sinks reduce the rate of increase of the atmospheric CO 2 concentration and global warming. Based on the river ion concentration data, the stochastic forest algorithm and the thermodynamic dissolution model quantify the CCSF of China from 1991 to 2020 to be 22.76 t CO 2 km-2 a-1.

Among the countries with major global carbonate distributions, China's CCSF is second only to that of Russia (25.34 t CO 2 km-2 a-1), is higher than those of the United States (17.53 t CO 2 km-2 a-1), Brazil (16.76 t CO 2 km-2 a-1), Canada (12.43 t CO 2 km-2 a-1), and India (10.93 t CO 2 km-2 a-1). It is also higher than the CCSF of Slovenia (7.5916.50 t CO 2 km-2 a-1), the average global CCSF (15.77 t CO 2 km-2 a-1), and other countries with CCSF.

China's CCS is 4772.67104 t CO 2 yr-1, which is relatively low compared to the CCS in Canada (19946.7104 t CO 2 ), the United States (15924.3104 t CO 2 ), and France (5742104 t CO 2 ).

Although the area of carbonate rocks in China only accounts for 15.64% of the global carbonate rock area, it provides 14.91% of the karst carbon sinks in the global CCS (3.2108 t CO 2 ), and thus, it makes an important contribution to the achievement of China's and even global carbon neutrality goals.

The spatial distribution of CCSF in China shows a decreasing trend from southeast to northwest. The high value is 33.14 t CO 2 km-2 a-1 in the southern karst area with high water and heat flux, and the low value is 7.27 t CO 2 km-2 a-1 in the cold and dry northern karst area. In addition, in the climate division of Ke Ben, with the northward movement of the climate zone, CCSF shows a decreasing trend.

Distribution of climatic zones in China and carbon sink levels by climatic zone. (a) Distribution of climatic zones and (b) chemical weathering carbon sinks in carbonate rocks in each climatic zone. F-G, frigid grassland; F-D, frigid desert; FT-MCF, frigid, temperate monsoon coniferous forest; SSTRMRF, south subtropical monsoon rain forest; WTE-CG, warm temperate continental grassland; WTE-CD, warm temperate continental desert; WTE-MDBF, warm temperate monsoon deciduous broad-leaved forest; WTE-MFG, warm temperate monsoon forest, and grassland; TK-RFMRF, tropical rain forest, and monsoon rain forest; TE-G, temperate grassland; TE-D, temperate desert; TE-DBF, temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest; TE-FG, temperate forest, and grassland; SF-G, sub-frigid grassland; MTE-CG, mid-temperate continental grassland; MTE-CDS, mid-temperate continental desert steppe; MTE-CD, mid-temperate continental desert; MTE-MF, mid-temperate monsoon forest; MTE-MCBMF, mid-temperate monsoon coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest; MSTR-MEBF, mid-subtropical monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest; MSTR-MDEBF, north subtropical monsoon deciduous and evergreen broad-leaved forest. Credit: Science China Press

The distribution of carbonate rocks in tropical and subtropical areas is the most concentrated, and the hydrothermal conditions are the most abundant, with the highest CCSF of 42.99 t CO 2 km-2 a-1. As the climate zone moves northward, the distribution area of carbonate rocks in the grassland climate zone with higher latitudes decreases, and the hydrothermal conditions are relatively weakened. The lowest CCSF is 1.17 t CO 2 km-2 a-1.

There are also differences in CCSF formed by weathering of the three types of carbonate rocks, among which limestone is 21.51 t CO 2 km-2 a-1 is 23.57 t CO 2 km-2 a-1 and mixed rock is 25.59 t CO 2 km-2 a-1.

The contribution rates of MAP, MAT, ET, NDVI, and SM to CCSF were 63.3%, 3.02%, 27.5%, 3.1%, and 3.05%, respectively. Among them, 95.40% of the areas are positively contributed by MAP and CCSF. That is, the increase in precipitation provides sufficient water conditions for carbonate weathering and accelerates the weathering process of carbonate rocks, with a contribution rate of 63.3%.

Spatial and temporal distribution of carbonate rocks types and chemical weathering carbon sinks in different carbonate rocks. (a) carbonate rocks types; (b) limestone chemical weathering carbon sinks; (c) dolomite chemical weathering carbon sinks; (d) mixed rocks chemical weathering carbon sinks. Credit: Science China Press

On the contrary, the negative contribution of evapotranspiration and CCSF is 88.97%, and its contribution rate is 27.5%; that is, evaporation is enhanced, which weakens the water supply for carbonate rock weathering, thus slowing down the weathering process of carbonate rocks.

The research is published in the journal Science China Earth Sciences.

More information:

Chaochao Du et al, Storage, form, and influencing factors of karst inorganic carbon in a carbonate area in China, Science China Earth Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s11430-023-1249-9

Provided by Science China Press
Example detection of linear-to-circular conversion in XTE J1810197. Credit: Nature Astronomy (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-024-02225-8

An international team of astronomers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the unprecedented behavior of a previously dormant star with a powerful magnetic field.

Using the Lovell telescope at Jodrell Bank the researchers from the U.K., Germany and Australia have shed new light on radio emission coming from a magnetar, known as XTE J1810-197.

Magnetars are a type of neutron star and the strongest magnets in the universe. At roughly 8,000 light years away, this magnetar is also the closest known to Earth.

The magnetar is emitting light which is strongly polarized and rapidly changing. The scientists say this implies that interactions at the surface of the star are more complex than previous theoretical explanations suggest.

The results are published in two papers in the journal Nature Astronomy today, April 8.

"Our findings demonstrate that exotic physical processes are involved in the production of the radio waves we can detect with sensitive radio telescopes. Moreover, we learned that magnetars are ultra-strong magnets in space which spin in complicated ways," says Patrick Weltevrede, co-author of both papers and Senior Lecturer in Pulsar Astrophysics at the University of Manchester.

Detecting radio pulses from magnetars is already extremely rare; XTE J1810-197 is one of only a handful known to produce them.

XTE J1810-197 was first observed to emit radio signals in 2003 before going silent for well over a decade. The signals were again detected by The University of Manchester's 76-m Lovell telescope at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in 2018.

Since then, researchers at the university, in collaboration with institutes including the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany, Australia's national science agency CSIRO and the University of Southampton have been closely observing the magnetar.

Using the Lovell, Effelsberg and Murriyang telescopes, researchers have since noticed significant changes in the radio signals coming from the magnetar, particularly in the way the light was polarized, indicating that the magnetar's radio beam was shifting its direction in relation to Earth.

The researchers believed this was caused by an effect called free precession where the magnetar wobbles slightly due to slight asymmetries in its structure, similar to a spinning top.

Unexpectedly, this wobbling motion decreased rapidly over a few months and until it eventually stopped altogether. This contradicts the idea proposed by many astronomers that repeating fast radio bursts could be caused by magnetars undergoing precession.

Gregory Desvignes from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany, and lead author of one of the two papers, said, "We expected to see some variations in the polarization of this magnetar's emission, as we knew this from other magnetars but we did not expect that these variations are so systematic, following exactly the behavior that would be caused by the wobbling of the star."

"It was crucial to keep observing the magnetar with radio telescopes even when it was switched off, so we were able to catch it directly after the radio outburst. This is the first time we have had data sampled densely enough at just the right time to be able to resolve this precession and its damping, made possible through many years of dedicated monitoring of this source with large radio telescopes, including the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank," says Dr. Lina Levin Preston, the University of Manchester.

But the reason as to why the circular polarization changes, where the light appears to spiral as it moves through space, remain uncertain.

Dr. Marcus Lower, a postdoctoral fellow at CSIRO, who led the Australian research using Murriyang, CSIRO's Parkes radio telescope and is lead author of the other paper, said, "Our results suggest there is a superheated plasma above the magnetar's magnetic pole, which is acting like a polarizing filter. How exactly the plasma is doing this is still to be determined."

More information:

Gregory Desvignes et al, A freely precessing magnetar following an X-ray outburst, Nature Astronomy (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-024-02226-7

Marcus E. Lower et al, Linear to circular conversion in the polarized radio emission of a magnetar, Nature Astronomy (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-024-02225-8

Provided by University of Manchester
Credit: Frontiers of Medicine (2022). DOI: 10.1007/s11684-022-0955-9

Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, China, conducted a study to explore the relationship between the complexity of glucose time series, as derived from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and the deterioration of glucose regulation.

The study introduces the use of refined composite multi-scale entropy (RCMSE) analysis to calculate the complexity of glucose time series index (CGI) and demonstrates that a decrease in this complexity is associated with a decline in glucose homeostasis, ranging from normal glucose tolerance (NGT) to impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Key findings from the study include:

The complexity of glucose time series progressively decreases across the glycemic continuum, with the most significant decrease observed in individuals with T2D compared to those with NGT and IGR.

The CGI was found to be significantly associated with various parameters related to insulin sensitivity and secretion, indicating a close relationship between glucose dynamics and insulin function.

The disposition index (DI), which reflects -cell function after adjusting for insulin sensitivity, was identified as the only independent factor correlated with CGI, suggesting that it may serve as a novel marker for evaluating glucose homeostasis.

The study's methodology involved a post-hoc analysis of a multi-center CGM study conducted in China from 2007 to 2009, including 756 subjects with complete CGM data. The participants were not on any hypoglycemic treatment before or during the study period. The research was approved by the ethics committees of each participating hospital, and all subjects provided informed consent.

The study's results have implications for the clinical practice of diabetes management, as the complexity of glucose time series, calculated using RCMSE analysis, could potentially serve as a new marker for glucose metabolism status. This could aid in the early detection and management of diabetes, as well as provide insights into the characteristics of blood glucose in individuals with IGR.

Overall, the research contributes to the understanding of glucose dynamics and insulin function in the context of diabetes and its progression, offering potential avenues for future investigation and clinical application.

The study is published in the journal Frontiers of Medicine.

More information:

Cheng Li et al, Decreasing complexity of glucose time series derived from continuous glucose monitoring is correlated with deteriorating glucose regulation, Frontiers of Medicine (2022). DOI: 10.1007/s11684-022-0955-9

Provided by Higher Education Press
Those chickpeas in your hummus could mean a lot for the future of South Carolina farming.

That was part of the message U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small received Thursday as she visited South Carolina State University and its Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) divisions Research and Demonstration Farm in Olar.

As Small toured the 200-acre farm, extension agronomist Nana Kusi showed Small the farms chickpea field, which his team is using to research the viability of chickpeas as a cover crop for local farmers to grow in the offseason while also providing a commodity they can market to consumers.

USDA visitor S.C. State demonstrates the use of AI and drone technology in agriculture for U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small at the

Small said she is pleased to see the universitys climate-smart research on the impact of cover crops can have on reducing carbon emissions while also supporting small farmers.

Its also exciting just to get to see the research thats being done on new potential crops, when it comes to the chickpea for example, and finding the best way to grow it, which can be then shared with farmers and support South Carolinas economy, she said in a briefing with regional news reporters at the farm.

Using a specially outfitted drone, Joe Mari Maja, SC State senior researcher and director for the Center of Applied Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Agriculture, also demonstrated for Small the universitys artificial intelligence (AI) applications in agriculture and how they can provide farmers with critical information about their status of their crops.

USDA visitor Extension agronomist Nana Kusi, right, discusses chickpea cultivation research at the S.C. State Research & Demonstration Farm with Deputy

When it comes to research in supporting agriculture, its crucial that we take these new emerging technologies, she said. President Biden has been clear that when it comes to AI, weve got to make sure were developing it in ways that support farmers and people all across the country  to invest in new ways of growing and make sure people get a fair share of the food dollar for the work that we do.

Small was asked what makes S.C. State special among universities with agricultural missions.

South Carolina State is one of the few recipients of a Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities grant, Small said. Whats so important about what theyre doing  when I heard them talking about it, they talked about farmers and the impact it will have on farmers.

S.C. State has two USDA-funded Climate-Smart initiatives:

The first of those is a $70 million USDA investment into a partnership between Clemson and S.C. State to provide incentives to farmers in South Carolina to implement selected climate-smart production practices.

The second is a $4.5 million USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service grant that will facilitate a partnership between S.C. State 1890 Research & Extension, Mixon Seed and the South Carolina Black Farmer Coalition for climate-smart initiatives. The funding will be used to educate and train South Carolinas small and minority farmers and producers in climate-smart practices.

When it comes to investing in America, investigating in our nations farmers is crucial. President Biden is working hard to make sure that the investments reach the people on the ground, reach small growers all across South Carolina and reach partners like South Carolina State University, Small said.

Following her tour at the farm in Olar, the deputy secretary made her way to S.C. States main campus in Orangeburg, where she met with leaders and faculty members about the USDAs partnerships with the university. She also engaged with S.C. States 1890 Ag Innovation Scholars, students who will fill roles in the nations agricultural industry.

As deputy secretary for USDA, I spend a lot of time thinking about the future of agriculture and the future of USDAs workforce, Small said. It is so exciting to get to meet that future today when it comes to the 1890 scholars.

One of the things were going to be talking with them about is what they see for the future of agriculture and how we can better invest in them to prepare for that, she said.

Smalls visit to S.C. State came on the heels of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsacks visit in December, when he participated in a summit on campus with various stakeholders in South Carolina agriculture, including government leaders, growers, farmers and ranchers.
On the night she jumped from a second-floor window to escape her husband, Juanita Jackson knew she had to get a divorce.

Her entire life, Jackson had been terrified of heights. But that night, one fear was greater: Her husband, Freddie Grant.

Decades before South Carolina law enforcement officials labeled Grant a boogeyman and monster for his involvement in the disappearance and murder of two women, he exhibited a pattern of criminality, violence and control, Jackson told The State Media Co.

In her conversations with The State, Jackson described how Grant physically abused her over the course of a decade-long relationship. The abuse began shortly after she gave birth to their daughter at the age of 17. Grant, 12 years her senior, punched and threatened her with weapons. One time, he cracked her over the head with a heavy, military-issue flashlight, nearly splitting her skull, she said. To this day, Jacksons left eye is still damaged from repeated beatings.

Over the three decades they knew each other, Grant was repeatedly charged with crimes that ranged from drug trafficking to aggravated battery. He was repeatedly jailed, spending more than 10 years in prison across three states, as he bounced between family and relationships in Florida and South Carolina.

Today, Grant is in prison after pleading guilty in 2013 to abducting and killing 15-year-old Gabriela Gabbiee Swainson of Blythewood, the daughter of a woman with whom he was involved.

Following Swainsons disappearance, Grant was named a person of interest in the shooting death of his neighbor, Daniel Lee Woods Jr., in Kershaw County. Grant has not been charged in Woods death.

In February, Grant was charged with murder after the remains of his girlfriend, Adriana Laster, were found in a Richland County sandpit. Laster had been missing since 2011. Other warrants charge Grant with multiple instances of domestic violence against Laster.

When they found Adriana, I went through depression, a shutdown. Im just waking up, Jackson said. When reports of Lasters disappearance began circulating in 2012, Jackson remembered believing that Grant had killed her. He had done things to me that were close to that.

Grants attorneys said that they had no comment about Jacksons allegations.

Jacksons experience with Grant may be extreme, but nationally between a third to half of all female homicide victims are killed by their intimate partners. The story that Jackson shared with The State is not just an exclusive look at a killer that has become infamous in the Midlands, but a snapshot of how violence against women from their intimate partners repeats, escalates and too often ends in unimaginable tragedy.

He said all the right things.

When Jackson met Grant, he was 24 and she was just 16. It was 1984 and she was in high school, where she danced, played volleyball and was enrolled in honors classes. She had grown up in the neighboring cities of Homestead and Florida City, part of suburban Miami, near the Everglades. It was a small community, and Jackson and her siblings were close with the Grant kids. Jackson used to hang out and make prank phone calls with Grants younger brother.

At the time, she was excited that she had met an older, handsome military veteran just home from the Army. He began to help Jackson with her honors English homework.

Thats how he conned his way in, Jackson said. Her family liked Grant, she said. He was smart and intense, and he could charm people. Hes very cunning, hes very convincing, Jackson said.

Shortly after Jackson turned 17, Grant  then 29  convinced her to have sex with him for the first time. Nine months later she gave birth to their daughter, Dominique Grant.

But the violence began to show shortly after Dominiques birth, and the relationship became an ugly cycle of control and violence.

He wanted long-term damage. He wanted to destroy my face so no one would ever look at me, Jackson said. Grant liked to target her left eye, Jackson said, hitting it over and over again and leaving permanent damage to the retina.

Jackson gradually learned the truth about Grants time in the Army. Far from being a war hero, Grant had been dishonorably discharged, according to court records. His last posting was as an inmate at the United States military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

At first, Grant downplayed his Army troubles, Jackson said. He was 17 at the time, and told her that he had gone AWOL in an attempt to get out of the Army. Later he admitted to getting into a fight with a white officer. But he justified it, saying they were caught up in a love triangle with a Korean woman. One night, Grant told her, the jealous officer chased the couple, which led to a fight.

Court records show Grant was arrested after he slashed a man across the face with a razor blade. During his arrest, Grant kicked an officer in the chest. Months later, while being transported under armed guard, Grant overpowered the officials, taking an M-16 rifle from one of the guards. Grant held the officials at gunpoint and forced them to drive him to another location, firing the gun at least once, according to court records. Grant then fled, but was recaptured the next day.

At his court martial in May 1980, Grant was convicted of assault resulting in grievous bodily harm, resisting apprehension, assault upon a person in the execution of official duties, and kidnapping two people.

Grant was dishonorably discharged from the Army, ordered to forfeit all pay and sentenced to eight years and nine months in Leavenworth. He was paroled and returned to Homestead, Florida, in 1984, where he met Jackson.

In 1988, Grant was sent back to prison for violating his parole after he was charged with aggravated battery in the beating of Jackson.

He had beat me so bad, Jackson said of the incident. But, still she was protective of Grant and tried to have the charges dropped. It was typical for a victim ... I went to his parole officer and tried to tell him, Listen, it was a misunderstanding. He was like No! And I thank God that he saw through it.

He said Hes going back to prison. He said, Look at your eye, do you see how you look?

In 1989, with Grant in prison and Jackson needing to provide for her daughter, she joined the Army. She went through basic training at Fort Jackson. Throughout, Grant was writing to her. He said he knew he was troubled but that he was getting help.

He said all the right things, Jackson said. So when she received orders to go to Germany in 1989, she took her daughter and Grant, recently released from prison, as dependents.

It proved almost immediately to be the wrong decision.

One day, not long after they arrived, Jackson said that Grant became jealous when a male soldier helped her bring some groceries into their off-base apartment. He accused her of doing something with the soldier sexually, Jackson said.

That night he tortured me, Jackson said.

Her downstairs neighbors called the local German police, and Grant fled into the night. Believing she was safe, Jackson said that she made dinner. As she was giving her daughter a bath, Grant suddenly appeared in the bathroom. He had climbed up to their second floor patio and entered through a patio door. In his hand was the bat he had bought her to play softball.

He said, If you try anything, Im going to beat you to death, Jackson said. Trapped in the bathroom, Jackson remembered the smoke slowly filling the house as a pot she left on the stove began to burn. For a moment, she said, part of her wanted the apartment to burn down.

Instead she pleaded with Grant to let her turn off the stove. Then, making as if she was going to empty the pot off of the patio, Jackson threw herself from the second floor. She took off down the street screaming Polizei! Polizei! Grant fled the apartment again, leaving their daughter behind.

When I faced that fear of jumping off the second floor and landing on my feet and surviving, I think that gave me the courage. Dont ever go back, Jackson said. When something forces you to face your biggest fear under those kinds of circumstances, thats when you know enough is enough.

But it wasnt enough to end their relationship entirely. Jackson said that Grant wasnt arrested in Germany; instead she said the Army gave him a plane ticket and told him to return to the United States.

Over the next two decades, Grant traveled back and forth between Florida and the area around Columbia, South Carolina, where some members of his family had settled.

His movements over these years can be traced in arrests and court records. In 1990, Grant was charged with cocaine trafficking in Miami-Dade County, but prosecutors declined to prosecute the case.

In January 1992, while Grant was out on bond following an arrest for cocaine distribution in Richland County, South Carolina, police onboard an Amtrak train in Florida searched Grants bag and found a loaded pistol. Grant then fled, according to court records, throwing down a bag of cocaine.

Jackson admits she tipped off authorities about Grants cocaine trafficking to get back at him for running up a $14,000 overdraft at the base store in Germany.

I wanted to get my licks in, Jackson said. But for the most part, during these years, Grant was out of sight, out of mind, as Grant was in and out of prison.

Following that arrest, Grant was convicted in Miami-Dade County of possession of cocaine, resisting arrest without violence and carrying a concealed firearm. In May, 1992, he was sentenced to two days with credit for time served.

Two months later, Grant was sentenced to eight years in prison on his South Carolina charges. While in prison he worked various jobs, including as an electrician, a laundry room attendant, a ward keeper and a cook. He won a certificate from the National Issue Forum, a civic engagement group, and in September 1993 he was awarded Student of the Month, according to records from the state Department of Corrections.

In January 1995, Grant was granted parole in South Carolina and returned to Florida. By March, Jackson had filed three domestic violence charges against Grant in Miami-Dade County Family Court and decided that she needed to make good on her promise to divorce Grant.

The next July the same court granted an uncontested divorce.

That guy took a lot from me, Jackson said. I dont look at myself as a victim, I look at myself as a warrior. I went through stages: I was a victim, and then I started healing and said OK, youre a survivor. Then I went through the process of getting myself back, learning to love myself again. And once I learned myself, I learned to love others correctly.

Now I have got to the age and the stage that I am a warrior. But its a process.

You best be careful.

On November 9, 2010, Freddie Grant choked and punched Adriana Laster in the face before dragging her, leaving scrapes and bruises across her body, according to a warrant filed by the Elgin Police Department in South Carolina. The next April, another warrant accused Grant of dragging Laster again and causing her to fall, cutting her head open, before he hit her in the mouth.

By then, the two had been living together in South Carolina for over a year. Laster was in her early 20s when she started dating Freddie Grant, who was in his mid-40s. She was only a few years older than his daughter, Dominique.

Laster had a daughter of her own, Crystal, from a previous relationship. Like Jackson, she was just 17 when she gave birth.

But where Jackson was motivated and self-assured, Laster struggled. Court records show that between 2005 and 2007 she was arrested five times, mostly for misdemeanors, in Miami-Dade County.

Crystal was raised by her dad and grandmother, Phylis Horn, but Laster always kept in close touch with her daughter. Horn remembered that Laster regularly called her daughter and sent cards. On Crystals third birthday, Horn remembers looking at Laster and thinking, You could just look at her and tell how much she loved her baby.

In the mid-2000s, Laster moved from Homestead to Key West, where she met Grant.

The couple moved up to Elgin around 2009, where Grant worked as a handyman and electrician. He was a regular at Elgin Town Council meetings, and even once ran for a position on the council.

They lived in Grants home at 1009 Kelly St. in Elgin. The brick, one-story home stood off of a sandy, dirt road. Across the street was the home of Mabel Rotan, the mother of his second wife, Ollie Rotan Grant, who died in 2004. Next door was an abandoned junkyard.

Grants home had been seriously damaged in a fire in 2006, and was pretty much uninhabitable afterwards, according to court testimony from Dominique. The walls were still standing, but the inside was heavily damaged by soot.

Once, while trying to reach Dominique, Jackson said she remembered Laster picking up the phone and accusing her of trying to get her ex-husband back.

Now sister you best be careful, she remembers saying

Oh, you just want him back, Laster replied.

No, no, no you best be careful, Jackson said.

The warrants filed against Grant allege that the violence escalated in the months leading up to Lasters disappearance.

In June, 2011, Grant allegedly put Laster into a chokehold and dragged her into his vehicle before knocking her unconscious with a punch to the back of her head. Regaining consciousness while the car was on Interstate-20 in Lexington County, Laster fought with Grant to escape the car, only succeeding when she grabbed the steering wheel and forced the vehicle off the road, according to a warrant.

Witnesses said Laster told them that Grant was going to kill her, according to one warrant.

But Laster did not leave Grant. On Labor Day Weekend 2011, neighbors told reporters that they saw her walking down Kelly Street on her way to church. It was the last time she was seen alive.

As the months of silence stretched on, Horn feared the worst. Along with Lasters aunt, she filed a police report. They spoke with detectives and they waited. Over the years, they held vigils and prayed for Lasters return.

In 2013, Grants daughter, Dominique, was charged as an accessory in Swainsons murder. To secure her release, Granbt led investigators to where he buried Swainsons body and ultimately pleaded guilty to her murder. But he remained silent about Laster, and she officially remained a missing person.

I knew, well I felt that she was deceased, because she had stopped contacting Crystal, Horn recalled. That was the red flag there, that everybody knows something is wrong and has been wrong.

In January, a worker quarrying sand near Elgin spotted bones in the dirt. For the next few weeks, the entire site was shut down while law enforcement officers and coroners painstakingly combed through the earth. In the end they turned up part of a skeleton and a few scraps of Lasters clothes. But after more than a decade, it was enough to say for sure what many had long believed: Adriana Laster was dead.

Im still fighting some demons, some nightmares of how close I was to being where Adriana was, Jackson said.
Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz encourages Black women to stick together, control their own narratives and to speak out against racial injustices.



ORANGEBURG, S.C.  When we face divisiveness, which tries to convince us that we have to choose one over the other, we must choose to come together, Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz said at the Black Women Lead luncheon.

She spoke with passion at last weeks luncheon as she empowered women at South Carolina State University to be leaders and practice unity.

Shabazz is a daughter of slain civil rights icon Malcolm X and his late wife, Dr. Betty Shabazz. She is an award-winning author, educator and producer.

Shabazz has authored five historical novels and served as project advisor for the PBS award-winning documentary, Prince Among Slaves. She is producing a television series based on her latest publication, The Awakening of Malcolm X, with Sony Pictures Televisions TriStar.

Being able to bring Black women together to not only empower them, but to empower them in their professional development, especially as college women, leads the pathway to a greater push behind us and a groundbreaking future for us, said Victoria C. Jordan, president of Dedicated Outstanding Ladies Living Strong (D.O.L.L.S.) and Black Women Lead.

At the luncheon, Shabazz talked about the importance of Black women controlling their own narratives and speaking out against racial injustices. She also talked about the legacy of her father and stressed the importance of Black people learning their history to combat systematic racism.



Victoria C. Jordan, president of Dedicated Outstanding Ladies Living Strong (D.O.L.L.S.) and Black Women Lead. Its important to have events like this, not only from an HBCU standpoint but from a standpoint of introducing young women to history, said D.O.L.L.S. Advisor and Student Life and Leadership Office Manager Byron Larrymore. If we can introduce them to history and show them how great they are and introduce them to high-power people, it would be great for women on campus.

The luncheon was a collaborative effort from the SC State Office of Student Life and Leadership and Dedicated Outstanding Ladies Living Strong (D.O.L.L.S.).

We plan to keep this event going, its going to be an annual event. I definitely want to shout out Dr. Pressley. We collaborated with him to get Dr. Shabazz here. He is a frontrunner when it comes to putting these events together, Larrymore said. Women who attended the Black Women Lead luncheon left inspired and empowered to come together and be great as a community.

I was so excited about this opportunity, SC State First Lady Agatha Conyers said. Ive been following Dr. Betty Shabazz (Ilyasah Shabazzs mother) for a long time, since my undergraduate days. She was a Delta (Delta Sigma Theta Inc.) and was very instrumental in implementing a lot of things for the sorority. So, just to see her daughter and hear her speak  Im just really excited about what this will do for our campus and our community.

We are in a different time where young women deal with so many different things such as identity, feeling good about themselves  they struggle with certain issues that are popular today. So, I think this was great, Conyers said.



SC State First Lady Agatha Conyers and Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz The main objective of his research is to design and implement computer vision models that can accurately detect vehicles in parking lots. He also plans to employ machine learning algorithms that can analyze parking patterns and predict occupancy to facilitate dynamic space allocation.

This information would all be on an app for people to use when trying to find parking in urban areas that have limited space. Osei has started his research on SC States campus, utilizing the Engineering & Computer Science Complex parking lot.

This event helps encourage other students and other stakeholders who are interested in my research to advance it. Like my project on campus, the stakeholders can help expand it to other locations and they can help expand the research presented by other students, he said.

Other young women from SC States campus expressed their gratitude and why they were excited to meet Shabazz.

For them, she and her family are a staple in Civil Rights history and are role models for Black leaders in the past, present and future.
Students network with STEM-T recruiters and are introduced to upcoming internship and fellowship opportunities.

ORANGEBURG, S.C.  South Carolina State University students recently presented innovative research projects that they have been diligently working on during the STEM-T Showcase.

The annual showcase, hosted by the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Transportation, allows students and faculty to network and find new opportunities in the STEM-T world.



Students network with recruiters at STEM-T Showcase. The STEM-T Showcase is dedicated to showcasing the research capabilities of our college, said Dr. Courtney Thomas, an assistant professor of biochemistry. Id like to highlight a student from last years event who came and spoke with MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) whos here today as a recruiter for MUSC because he received a full-time job offer during last years STEM-T showcase.

So, this is a great opportunity for students, other universities, faculty and staff to learn about the research capabilities of this school, just to show what we can do and to get other students interested in working in our labs, Thomas said.

Oral and poster presentations were given by both students and faculty. The SC State College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Transportation welcomed about 14 universities and companies to set up recruitment tables and introduce SC State STEM-T students to various internship and fellowship opportunities.

The companies and universities also had the opportunity to give PowerPoint presentations and facilitate panel discussions so students could learn more about those opportunities. A networking luncheon was also held for students to get to know the professionals and recruiters in a more intimate space.

Presenters were proud to share their research and how it can help enlighten individuals on campus and across the country.

Eric Osei

Eric Osei Eric Oseis research deals with developing computer vision and sensor models for parking facilities using machine learning techniques.

My aim is to reduce traffic congestion, Osei said. I was inspired to do this research when I went to New York, and it was difficult to find parking spaces. I know we have things for GPS like Google Maps, but what about parking? We have apps to tell you where to go but once you get there, sometimes its hard to find parking.



The main objective of his research is to design and implement computer vision models that can accurately detect vehicles in parking lots. He also plans to employ machine learning algorithms that can analyze parking patterns and predict occupancy to facilitate dynamic space allocation.

This information would all be on an app for people to use when trying to find parking in urban areas that have limited space. Osei has started his research on SC State's campus, utilizing the Engineering & Computer Science Complex parking lot.

This event helps encourage other students and other stakeholders who are interested in my research to advance it. Like my project on campus, the stakeholders can help expand it to other locations and they can help expand the research presented by other students, he said.



Joshua Taylor and Jaleel Johnson

Joshua Taylor (left) and Jaleel Johnson (right) Joshua Taylor and Jaleel Johnsons research analyses the dynamics of cyber-attacks, specifically de-authentication, and the importance of having barriers like two-step verification to protect an individuals personal information online.

According to Taylor and Johnson, de-authentication manipulates the flow of users internet connections by disrupting the Wi-Fi access of wireless access points and vulnerable devices connected to the internet.



The objective of their research is to get users to get a deeper understanding of the implementation of de-authentication attacks, their potential impact on network availability and security, and strategies for mitigation.

I think its important for us to show our research  for HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in general  to show that even though a lot of us are underfunded, we still have the capability of putting our minds together and conducting research, Taylor said. We can still get the job done with what we have. So, I think its important to showcase all skills from computer science, to biology, to chemistry  things like that.

This event also helps us to improve our research and helps us learn more so we can stay on top of our game. I feel like this gets us ahead of other young researchers and the research that were presenting can help people in their everyday lives, Johnson said.
ORANGEBURG, S.C.  South Carolina State University students Tumlumbe Juliana Chengula, Debbie Indah, and Hannah Musau have been accepted to the 2024 Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholar Program.

The trio will attend the Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety April 7-9 in Denver, Colorado. Each is pursuing a Master of Science in Transportation degree (MST) at SC State.

SC States MST program is an interdisciplinary program that prepares students to understand the historical, current, and future trends and developments in transportation systems from an interdisciplinary perspective. Additionally, students will be prepared to become future transportation professionals who will design, analyze, research, implement and evaluate new and emerging concepts. The program also addresses transportation as a major system to improve the quality of life for citizens locally, statewide, nationally, and globally.

Chengula, Indah and Musau are among 19 U.S. students selected to be Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholar through a competitive application process. The Lifesavers Conference showcases the latest research, evidence-based strategies, proven countermeasures, and promising new approaches for addressing the nations most pressing traffic safety problems.

This is the ninth year of the Traffic Safety Scholars program, which provides college students the opportunity to attend the Lifesavers Conference, the largest gathering of traffic safety professionals in the U.S.

The programs goals are to showcase the diversity of opportunities in traffic safety and encourage students, regardless of discipline, to pursue a career in a dynamic field that draws from a variety of disciplines from engineering, education and enforcement to communications, business, marketing, medicine, public health, political science, counseling, and more.

The Lifesavers TSS Program will pay scholarships to help full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of fields defray the cost of attendance. A letter of accreditation will be sent to each scholar upon completion of the Traffic Safety Scholars Program Requirements.

Chengula, Indah and Musau will kick off their Lifesavers experience on Saturday, April 6, as they learn about career opportunities from a panel of young traffic safety professionals working in the public and private sectors. The scholars will continue this career discussion when they meet with state and national traffic safety leaders during the reception.

Once the Lifesavers Conference begins on Sunday, April 7, the scholars will have the opportunity to participate in three plenary sessions and over 80 workshops featuring leading experts in the fields of distracted and impaired driving; child passenger, pedestrian, bicycle, motorcycle, teen, and aging driver safety; occupant protection; vehicle technology; law enforcement and criminal justice; public health, commercial motor vehicles; roadway design; and more.

Click here for more about SC States Master of Science in Transportation Program.

To learn more about the Lifesavers Conference and the TSS Program, visit www.lifesaversconference.org.
Police said the man was conveyed unconscious to Changi General Hospital and died later, no foul play suspected

Artist impression of Treasure at Tampines condo where drowning accident happened (left) and hand of man in a generic swimming pool (Photos: Google/Treasure at Tampines and Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  A 73-year-old man died on Monday (8 April) after he allegedly drowned in a swimming pool at the Treasure at Tampines condominium located at 25 Tampines Lane.

The Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force told Yahoo Southeast Asia they received a call for assistance for a suspected drowning case at about 10.25am on Monday. A man's body was later retrieved from the swimming pool.

Police said the man was conveyed unconscious to Changi General Hospital, where he subsequently passed away. Preliminary investigations do not suspect foul play.

According to The Straits Times, the incident occured at the condominium's "onsen" spa pool which usually has heated water. "Onsen" is the Japanese word for hot spring.

The English daily broadsheet reported that news of the incident had spread on various Telegram groups on Monday. A Telegram user said that the pool, with a depth of 0.9 metres, was closed after the incident and the water was drained out.

According to EdgeProp Singapore, the condo was completed in 2023.

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube.
Both arrests took place on Sunday, and both men would be charged in court on Tuesday.

SINGAPORE  A 36-year-old man suspected of molest at Mustafa Centre has been arrested, while a 25-year-old man also was held in relation to two cases of sexual exposure in Woodlands. Both arrests took place on Sunday (7 April).

In the first incident, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said it received a call for assistance that a woman was allegedly molested by a man at Mustafa Centre on Sunday at about 9.15pm. He had allegedly touched the woman inappropriately a few times while standing behind her.

The man was subsequently detained by security officers and arrested at the scene. He will be charged in court on Tuesday with the offence of outrage of modesty.

If convicted, he could face a jail term of up to three years, a fine, caning, or any combination of punishments.

Man allegedly exposed genitals to two women in Woodlands

In the second incident, a 25-year-old man was arrested for his suspected involvement in two cases of sexual exposure.

The police said it received two reports that the man had allegedly exposed his genitals to two women along Woodlands Circle and Woodlands Drive 73 on Sunday.

Officers from Woodlands Police Division identified the man and arrested him within six hours through follow-up investigations, and with the aid of images from police cameras.

The man will also be charged in court on Tuesday with the offence of sexual exposure. He could face a jail term of up to one year, a fine, or both.

"The police will deal with sexual offenders who threaten the personal safety of others in the community, and offenders will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law," said the police.

Members of the public are also urged by the police to remain vigilant, and to report the matter immediately if they witness an incident of molestation, or are aware of someone being a victim of molest.

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube.
DAKOTA CITY, Neb.  Russ Hodges is worried the closure of the Sioux City Marina this year will do serious damage to his business.

Hodges, who runs Cimmarina Boats, a Dakota City boat dealership that also offers boat servicing and boat storage, estimated that he counts "at least 90 percent" of the boats at the Marina -- or, rather, the boats' owners -- as customers. "It's huge," he said.

The slump would commence almost immediately. "Number one, they're not going to have us de-winterize (the boats), get them ready, so that's going to cost us a lot of parts and labor," Hodges told The Journal.

From there the downturn accelerates.

"A lot of people might just say, 'Hey, being as I can't use my boat, I'm going to sell it.' So you're going to have the market flooded with used boat for sale, which would directly impact my new and used boat sales. And then, if you don't have the boats in the water being used, it's directly going to hurt any service that I get out of the use throughout the year," he said.

Cimmarina Boats Russ Hodges owns Cimmarina Boats dealership in Dakota City, Neb. Hodges says he's worried what the closure of the Sioux City Marina this year 

Cimmarina Boats Cimmarina Boats, a boat dealership that offers boat servicing and boat storage, is shown in Dakota City, Neb.

Hegg Companies, operator of the Sioux City Marina, announced last month that the Marina will not open this year, "due to low water levels." That was something of an oversimplification -- the problems at the Marina, said Paul Hegg, president and CEO of Hegg Companies, are more attributable to a long-term pattern of drought and low runoff punctuated by occasional floods.

Years of heavy silt buildup -- requiring dredging each year -- has taken its toll on the Marina, Hegg said, while the dock infrastructure has been damaged by years of lower water levels than it was designed for. He estimated 20 percent of the boat slips at present cannot be rented out due to the sediment buildup underneath them, "so you wouldn't be able to get a boat in and out of there."

The City of Sioux City is the owner of the property, but has leased it to private operators for many years.

City officials have been unequivocal in their position that the Marina needs to open this summer. City Manager Bob Padmore and and Assistant City Attorney Amber Hegarty told The Journal that Hegg's lease on the property does not allow for it to be closed this summer. Mayor Bob Scott wrote in a Facebook comment that "they (Hegg) need to honor their lease and get it opened." A copy of the lease obtained by The Journal spells out the city's recourse in the event the lease is breeched; one of the city's options is to terminate the lease and take control of the property.

Boaters respond

Jason Jahn is one of the Marina regulars considering selling his boat, a 21' Crownline he purchased new in 2018 and uses two to five times a week in the summer for pleasure rides.

Like others at the Marina, he doesn't find the public Missouri River boat ramps terribly appealing or convenient.

"I will either use the ramp sparingly, or I will put my boat up for sale," said Jahn, of Sioux City. "Because I really don't have -- I just have a two car garage, so I don't have room to really store the boat."

Jahn has had a slip at the Marina for about 12 years. In the early years, because of a personal arrangement he had, he paid for his slip with labor services; in more recent years he's paid about $2,200 annually for his slip in the "D" dock.

"It's so much more convenient to just get in there, take the cover off, lower the lift, and go," Jahn said. "(Compared to) hauling the boat down there to the ramp, and dealing with people at the ramp. So, I wish they would re-open."

Dustin Courey, of Sioux City, has leased a slip on the Marina's "C" dock for his 22' Four Winns boat for the past three years. He said boaters had taken notice the Marina's silt problem before the events of this spring.

"Last year, we were having some struggles getting our boats on and off our lifts," he said, adding that, in his view, "the Marina really hasn't been very well maintained over the last few years, and they haven't dredged."

The situation baffles Courey in light of the roughly $2,800 a year he pays to use the slip and lift. "There should be plenty of money there" to dredge the Marina, he said.

Jahn likewise said he's witnessed conditions deteriorating at the Marina, and said the people in charge have not been responsive when he's raised concerns. Last year he had trouble getting his boat off the lift, likely due to silt buildup, and a dead tree got stuck in the water at the end of his dock. "It's just been going downhill," he said.

Cimmarina Boats Eugene Lahn is a service technician at Cimmarina Boats, a Dakota City, Neb. boat dealership that also offers boat servicing and boat storage. 

Cimmarina Boats Joel Reed is a service technician at Cimmarina Boats, a Dakota City, Neb., boat dealership that also offers boat servicing and boat storage. P

Hegg, who acknowledged that "no one's overly happy" with the situation, said last week that his company is hoping to get a bathymetric survey of the Marina done soon to get a better understanding of the conditions at the bottom of the Marina, and how best to handle the sediment problem.

Padmore said the city's view is that Hegg should tend to the dredging. "It's one of their responsibilities of operating the Marina," he said.

For his part, Hegg said that exiting the Marina business is not out of the question should it become untenable from his perspective: "I think all options are on the table. We're good partners with the city, we understand this is an amenity of the community that people want and desire. But, you know, it's got to make sense for everybody."

Boat club's docks are full

The Missouri River Boat Club, a Riverside social organization of boating people and others who enjoy the river, actually benefitted somewhat from the Marina's announcement. For a number of years, the club has sought to boost its membership rolls, particularly "dock" members, who pay more to the club and, as the name implies, get a dock. Waning membership was an acute cause for alarm four years ago, when riverbank erosion of the Big Sioux River threatened their old clubhouse. (A new clubhouse has since been built farther from the riverbank.)

The club's dock membership situation shifted rather suddenly when the Marina announced it would be closed.

"We had five docks for sale, they're already sold, the weekend of the announcement" said Dennis Butler, the club's Fleet Captain. "They all sold, pretty much right away. So, we're full."

Cimmarina Boats Eugene Lahn is a service technician at Cimmarina Boats dealership in Dakota City, Neb., Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

Cimmarina Boats Cimmarina Boats dealership is shown in Dakota City, Neb., Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

Courey said he considered the boat club, but he found its docks were spoken for. "So, that sounds like that may not be an option for us."

The boat club has a total of 28 docks, and a wait list should one come available. Internally, the club has even examined the cost of building new docks, which the user would have to foot the bill for.

"We can always add docks, if they're willing to build them," Butler said. "They're not cheap."

Where else to access the river?

The Missouri River boat ramps at Sioux City and South Sioux City will remain open to the public this summer, parks officials from both cities told The Journal.

But the public ramps are not appealing to all boaters, partly because of the relative inconvenience and partly for other reasons. Courey said he decided to lease a slip at the Marina largely because he found conditions at Sioux City's ramp -- at Chris Larsen Park, just off the southernmost end of Hamilton Boulevard -- crowded, chaotic and off-putting.

"That was the reason I switched and got a slip in the first place, was because they don't run the ramp area probably as it should be ran," he said, describing the dock infrastructure there as "very run-down." He also said rules and matters of general courtesy are rarely adhered to and seldom enforced, if at all, at Sioux City's public boat ramp and docks.

In light of that, Courey said he's leaning toward using the South Sioux City boat ramp this year.

Cimmarina Boats Cimarina Boats dealership is shown in Dakota City, Neb., Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
The year is unspecifiedit could be a few years into some alternate future, or it could be right now. The president, a clean-cut establishment type played by Nick Offerman, is unnamed, his party and political affiliations unclear (though his rhetoric in an address to the nation sounds disturbingly authoritarian). And the precise nature of the domestic conflict that has torn the United States apart and turned the nations major cities into zones of open warfare is unexplained. In Civil War, the provocative fourth feature from Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation, Men), the details about why and how America collapsed into violent chaos are immaterial. What Garland wants is to drop us into the middle of that violent chaos as it unfolds, to make us see our familiar surroundingsordinary blocks lined with chain drugstores and clothing boutiquesrecast as active battlegrounds, with snipers on rooftops and local militias enforcing their own sadistic versions of the law.

One thing Garlands at times frustratingly opaque script does go out of its way to clarify is that the ideological fissures in this alternate version of America occur along different fault lines than the ones that remain from the countrys actual civil war. The main threat to what well call the Offerman administration is the secessionist group the Western Forces, a Texas-California alliance thats intentionally impossible to extrapolate from our current red stateblue state split. There is also a separate rebel movement of some kind based in Florida, but above all, there is unchecked street violence and general social disorder. One early exchange of dialogue suggests that the war has been going on for some 14 months, which seems like too short a time for the country to have fallen into the advanced state of dystopia in which we find it: highways choked with empty cars, most of the population in hiding, the internet all but nonfunctional except in a few urban centers. But again, the point is less plausibility than viscerality. Garland got his start writing a zombie movie, Danny Boyles 28 Days Later, and he has also co-written an award-winning action video game. Civil War, A24s most expensive movie to date, sometimes plays like a mashup of those two genres, with the viewer as first-person player and our armed fellow citizens as the zombies.

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As the film begins, Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst), a veteran war photographer, is in New York City, holed up at a hotel that doubles as a makeshift command center for the press. Knowing that the Western Forces are on the verge of taking the capital, Lee and her longtime professional partner, a wire-service reporter named Joel (Wagner Moura), are planning a perilous road trip from New York to D.C. in the unlikely hope of landing an interview with the embattled president. Lees longtime mentor, news editor Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson), warns them that the plan is sheer madnessthen asks if, despite his age and limited mobility, he can get in on the action.

As theyre preparing to leave, theyre joined, despite Lees protests, by Jessie (Priscillas Cailee Spaeny), an aspiring photojournalist in her early 20s who idolizes Lees work but has no experience in war zones. Bringing along the stowaway Lee disparages as a kindergartner will only, she argues, put all of them in even more danger. These doubts turn out to be justified: The presence of Jessie, a live wire with a penchant for unnecessary risk-taking, makes the journey to D.C. even more perilous, while forcing Lee to confront how jaded shes become after years of compartmentalizing her most scarring memories. On the way to the capital, this multigenerational foursome encounters gas-station vigilantes, a shootout at an abandoned Christmas-themed amusement park, and a gut-churning encounter with a racist militant played by Dunsts real-life husband, Jesse Plemons.

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In its vision of journalism as a form of amoral adventure-seeking, Civil War belongs to a long tradition of films about hardened war correspondents in far-flung places, movies like A Private War and The Year of Living Dangerously. But the fact that the carnage these reporters are documenting is homegrown shifts the inflection significantly. Suddenly its impossible to exoticize or otherwise alienate ourselves from the bloodshed onscreen, which makes us ask ourselves what we were doing exoticizing it in the first place. This effect of moral immediacy is Civil Wars greatest strength, and the reason it feels like an important movie of its moment even if it isnt a wholly coherent or consistently insightful one.

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Garlands idea of throwing us in medias res during a civil war in progress is a bold gambit, and his cinematic instinctshis sense of where to put a camera and how long to draw out a moment of suspenseare often keen. The horrible realities he makes us look atintra-civilian combat, physical and psychological torture, the everyday depths of human depravityare summoned powerfully enough that Civil War remains emotionally and physically affecting even as the ideas it seeks to explore remain fuzzy. Is this a critique of contemporary journalism or a salute to the courage of reporters on the front lines? If its meant to be suspended somewhere in between, how does the filmmaker position himself on that line, and how should we, the audience, feel about the protagonists sometimes dubious choices?

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Even as they document street battles and point-blank executions, adrenaline junkies Jessie and Joel occasionally exchange devilish grins. Meanwhile, Lee is all but incapable of normal human relationships because of her unacknowledged PTSD. A late sequence finds them unofficially embedded with an especially ruthless death squad; it would seem important to establish whether this alignment is meant to signify their ultimate journalistic corruption or a necessary compromise for the survival of the Fourth Estate. Even on the level of plot logic, the movie poses a question that the scripts curiously thin worldbuilding never answers: If the internet and most of the nations industrial infrastructure are in ruins, how are ordinary people reading Joels articles and looking at the photos that Lee herself struggles for hours to upload? If it is intended in part as a satire of journalistic opportunism, Civil War should be more specific about the conditions of 21st-century media in wartime, especially given that its coming out at a moment when front-line reporters face more physical danger than at any time in recent memory.

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Related From Slate A Charming New Romantic Comedy on Amazon Prime Comes From a Very Unexpected Place Read More

All we learn of Lees background is that, like Jessie, she is from a farm town in the interior of the U.S., with parents who are in stubborn denial about the crumbling of the republic. But because Kirsten Dunst is a remarkable artist, she makes this somewhat underwritten character, who on paper could have been a stoic badass stereotype, into a complex and indelible presence. Dunst also, perhaps for the first time, loses the girlish quality she has brought even to middle-aged characters: Lee Smith is a plain, scowling woman with a glum, even abrasive mien. Shes a person whose perspective on life has narrowed down to the size of a camera lens, yet shes also a committed journalist and a fiercely loyal colleague. As the other three sort-of protagonists, Moura, Henderson, and Spaeny all turn in finely tuned performances that bring a depth to their characters beyond what the script provides, but its Dunst whose thousand-yard stare and deep-buried grief will stay with me.

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What kind of American are you? Plemons fatigues-and-pink-sunglasses-clad character asks the journalists one by one as he terrorizes them at gunpoint in the movies scariest and most successful sequence. (Not for nothing, its also the moment that suggests the most strongly that the vaguely defined conflict in this fictive America has everything to do with race.) That may be the screenplays smartest single line, in that it dispenses with the metaphorical quality of Civil Wars imagined political dystopia and presents us with the real question many Americans are asking each other and themselves right now, sometimes in a self-reflective mode, sometimes in a contentious or overtly threatening one. As the unfolding of that encounter with Plemons makes clear, as soon as the question is asked with a weapon in your hand, it becomes a trick question, posed not to start a conversation but to set a trap. Civil War often leaves the audience feeling trapped in an all-too-realistic waking nightmare, but when it finally lets us go, mercifully short of the two-hour mark, it sends us out of the theater talking.
The waves were already crashing over the Toyotas hood when they found it.

It was a blustery September Sunday in 2021, and the Hilux pickup sat far down the gray sand in a remote cove on the wild west coast of New Zealands North Island. The Maori men who noticed the car live in mobile homes and cabins up by the road, on ancestral land near Kiritehere Beach. The truck was parked below the high-tide line, facing the sea, and was nearly swamped by the waves pummeling the shore. The men found the keys, tucked under the drivers-side floormat, and backed the car up the beach. They couldnt help but notice empty child seats strapped into the back. If any kids had gotten close to the sea on a day like this, they were long gone.

The truck, it would turn out, belonged to Tom Phillips, the son of a prominent Pakehawhitefamily with a farm nearby in Marokopa. Phillips, 34, spent much of his time on the farm, where he home-schooled his three kids, Jayda, 8, Maverick, 6, and Ember, 5. Hed separated from his wife three years before and had custody of the kids. Locals heard she was down on the South Island, struggling with her own problems.

Now here was his truck, marooned. The next morning, Toms brother Ben drove down to the beach. Hed last seen Tom and the kids on Saturday, Sept. 11, when theyd left the farm, heading, everyone thought, back to Otorohanga, the inland town where Tom kept a house. Now it was Sept. 13. Ben inspected the Toyota, then called the police.

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Soon photos of the missing father and his three smiling children were in every newspaper and on every TV channel in New Zealand. Police and volunteer searchers fanned out over the area, knocking on doors. Helicopters, planes, and heat-detecting drones flew over the deep bush surrounding the beach. Rescue boats and jet skis buzzed through the roaring waves, looking for bodies. On days the sea was calm, swimmers from surf rescue teams explored caves along the shoreline. The local hapu, or Maori clan, cooked hot meals for the searchers in a shed near the beach. Three days into the search, Phillips ex-wife released a careful statement through the police, thanking the searchers for their efforts. We are holding out every hope that my children Jayda, Maverick, and Ember are safe, she said.

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But the stark factsthe lonely car on the beach, the 8-foot waves, Tom and the children vanishing completelywere daunting. I do fear the worst, Toms sister, Rozzi Pethybridge, told a reporter. I am worried a rogue wave has caught one of the kids and hes gone in to save them. Phillips uncle seemed to be hinting at something even darker when he told another reporter that in some ways he hoped it had been a rogue wave: If something has happened to the children, the best-case scenario is that they were washed out to sea, he said. That way its an accident.

September in New Zealand, the height of Southern Hemisphere spring, is whitebaiting season, when locals set up nets at the river mouth to capture the shoals of immature fish headed back to their freshwater home. But during the search operation, authorities placed a rahui, a ban, on fishing. Some Marokopa residents grumbled about halting what had been a boom season. But others put things in perspective. Thats the end of the whitebaiting, one local told a reporter, but thats small-time compared with losing a family.

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On social media and on Reddit, observers seized on rumors of a custody dispute and spun out dark theories of an abduction or staged disappearance. Phillips was an experienced bushman, camper, and hunter. In passing, locals told reporters that if Phillips had taken the kids out into the wild for some reason, they were confident he could last for weeks or months out there, even with three children in tow. A week into the search, family members seemed to be pinning their hopes on this idea. Were looking on the bright side, the uncle told Radio New Zealand. Were hoping hes just gone and hidden in the bush.

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After 12 days of active searching, the police stood down. The whitebaiting rahui was lifted. Emergency services personnel moved out of the Marokopa community building on the banks of the river. Other than the Toyota, not a single sign had been found of the four missing Phillipses. The media continued covering the case, but there wasnt much to sayeveryone understood that until bodies washed up somewhere, it was unlikely there would be any further news.

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No one knew that the disappearances were just the beginning of an ordeal that has not yet endeda case that has only grown stranger and more ominous in the two and a half years since, prompting pleas from family, increasing public astonishment, online speculation, a shocking crime, and a communitys closing ranks around one of its own.

Back in September 2021, the real mystery started when the first one was solved. Because 17 days after they had been reported missing, Tom Phillips and his three children walked through the front door of his parents farm.

The Tom Phillips disappearance captivated New Zealand. But the incident never reached the 24/7 fever pitch of blanket coverage that would have characterized the story if it had happened in the United States. In part thats because theres no CNN-style 24-hour news channel in New Zealand, though pretty much every outlet in the country sent a reporter to the west coast in hopes of digging something up. But no one had much to say. Phillips uncle spoke to press during the search, but other members of the Phillips clan stuck to the farm and stayed away from television cameras. The police delivered a daily briefing most afternoons, which never offered any new information. The childrens mother remained unnamed. Reporters were unable to reveal details of the couples custody disputes, because family courts in New Zealand strictly prohibit media from reporting on their proceedings.

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Even after Phillips and his children returned, there was no footage of the happy family waving from the front porch, no soft-focus newsmagazine interviews, no morning-show feature. Phillips never spoke to the press. The family issued a statementTom is remorseful, he is humbled, he is gaining an understanding of the horrific ordeal he has put us throughand Pethybridge gave a brief interview to the New Zealand Herald in which she seemed shell-shocked by the situation. Hope dwindled and we became more and more resigned and sad, she said. Now, she added, she could smile and laugh for the first time in three weeks, and not feel bad if you have a little smile.

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She did not, however, smile once in the entire interview. The family closed ranks, and reporters were stuck combing social media for clues. (Pethybridge also shared a song titled Hey Brother by Swedish DJ Avicci, one report noted.)

The residents of Marokopa, too, had little to say once the children were safe, one reporter told me. After he was found, no one wanted to talk, said Karen Rutherford of Newshub. He has put people through the wringer, to be honest. After all, what had all that work been for? Theyd served meals to rescuers, opened the community center 24/7. Many residents had tramped along the shoreline, looking for bodies. Even after the police had called off the search, members of the local hapu went out every day. Then it turned out that Phillips simply had not bothered to tell anyone he was taking the children to the deep bush, pitching a tent 15 kilometers south of the beach where his car was found. Hes done this before. Its not the first time, a local farmer said. Were glad to have him back, but he should be held accountable. What was he thinking?

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And why had he left the car there, anyway? Though one friend suggested that the pickup had been stolen by joyriding kids, most everyone assumed that Phillips had parked on the beach to throw searchers off the trail. But for what purpose? Some noted Pethybridges comment that Phillips was in a helpless place and wanted to clear his head. A Reddit user mused: Its one thing for him wanting to clear his head but what about the kids? Hope theyre OK, might need some therapy stat. Others leaped in to assure everyone that a trip to the bush was just what any kid needed: Going camping with dad and forgetting about the rest of the world would be pretty sweet.

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Indeed, theres a long tradition in New Zealand of valorizing backcountry adventuregetting lost in the bush for a whileshared by parents and children. Its a Man Alone thing, the Auckland education researcher Stuart McNaughton told me, referring to the 1939 novel by John Mulgan still viewed by many as essential to understanding the Kiwi character. Getting on with stuff, taming a difficult environment, getting hurt in the process. To many New Zealanders, a proper father figure is a guy who knows how to handle the wilderness, a place where increasingly citified Kiwi kids seem less and less comfortable. McNaughton summarized the attitude: If theyre gonna have an accident, theyre gonna have an accidentitll probably do them good.

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The modern urtext on this subject is Taika Waititis 2016 comedy Hunt for the Wilderpeople, still the most successful locally produced film in the nations history. In the movie, a troubled Maori kid from the Auckland streets bonds with a brusque Pakeha outdoorsman in the deep bush. The movies villain is a maniacal child protection officer who hunts them downthe overweening nanny state, in the flesh. Its based on a book by the late Barry Crump, famous for his reputation as a rugged bloke; New Zealanders know him best for his long-running ads for the Toyota Hilux ute, the official truck of bushmenunsurprisingly, the truck Tom Phillips owned and parked on Kiritehere Beach.

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After he returned, Phillips was charged with wasting police resources and ordered to appear in court. He was reckless as to whether wasteful deployment of police resources would result, the charges read. He behaved in a manner that was likely to give rise to serious apprehension for the safety of himself, Jayda Phillips, Ember Phillips and Maverick Phillips, knowing that such apprehension would be groundless. The charges carried a maximum penalty of three months in jail or a $2,000 fine.

In neighborhood Facebook groups and on playgrounds across New Zealand, parents debated the news. How dare this screw-up risk the lives of searchers and terrify his family because he hadnt bothered to tell anyone where he was going. Shouldnt he at least pay the government back for what it spent on that search plane? Or: How dare the government charge a parent for going camping with his children! Wasnt he the kind of throwback dad we didnt see enough of anymore, as modern kids become coddled and soft?

I was certainly sympathetic to this second argument. Id taken my own family to New Zealand to live for a period in 2017, specifically to capture that spirit of adventure, something that felt sorely lacking in our suburban American lives. Our daughtersjust a little older than Phillips kids were when they disappearedrarely left their comfort zones, and no one we knew let their children roam our neighborhood freely. We hoped that New Zealand might help shake us up. I was no bushman like Tom Phillips, but the four of us did go tramping across graywacke streams, into the forest primeval, even along a remote shore that looked quite a bit like the Marokopa coast. Unlike Phillips, I told my friends where we were going, but still: Were the police really charging this guy for giving his kids what might have been a wondrous adventure?

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Reporters, struggling to advance the story, asked experts what they thought about it all. One family lawyer admitted he knew nothing about the childrens custody arrangement but said, If there was no parenting order, and he was just going on holiday, legally hes done nothing wrong. The same outlet asked a human rights lawyer what she thought about a parent taking children out into the deep bush without letting anyone know. Its not best practice, she replied, in a tone I could almost hear from the page.

Then, in December, as summer vacation season began, the New Zealand Herald found a Facebook postseemingly from someone close to the childrens motherstating that Phillips had once again taken his kids on walkabout. He notified family of where he was going, the local police commander said in response. In terms of current court restrictions of what he can and cant do, hes doing nothing wrong. Commenters online were aghast that the paper had pursued the story. So this is just literally a man taking his kids camping? one wrote. Correct, replied another. His ex-missus has gone to NZH and theyve run with it.

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Phillips scheduled court date was Jan. 12, 2022. That morning, reporters packed the tiny wooden courthouse in Te Kuiti, lured by the chance to finally ask questions of the enigmatic father who had made news and driven debate across the country for months. More media spilled onto Queen Street outside, pacing in the warm summer sun.

Tom Phillips never showed up. Appearing via video, his lawyer told the judge that hed informed his client of the appearance date and never spoken to him again. He also asked to withdraw as counsel in the case.

The judge issued a warrant for Phillips arrest. But the police couldnt locate Phillips or his three children. They had disappeared into the bush. And this time, they didnt come back.

When I spoke to New Zealanders in the months after the second disappearance of Tom Phillips, it was clear that some in the country still viewed him as a kind of quirky folk hero whod taken his kids out into the wilderness to avoid the oppressive, overreaching government. There was a lot of talk like that, said Max Baxter, the mayor of Otorohanga, where Phillips house sat empty, weeds growing over his fence. He felt that his personal protection of the children was paramount, and the result was that he was opening them up to experiences that kids nowadays dont get. Hes teaching them to be bushmen. He laughed. My grown children probably couldnt survive two weeks in the bush!

A lot of people are like, Leave him alone, those kids are probably having the time of their lives,  said Karen Rutherford, the New Zealand reporter who got the only on-camera interview with Phillips ex-wife. But others, she told me, felt that now hes skipped court hes stuffed all his chances of being a good dad.

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In the United States, I felt my admiration of Phillips wash away like the road to Marokopa as heavy rains swept through the region. Was he really hiding his kids in the bush during this kind of weather? The childrens mother made a public appeal for assistance in May, as New Zealand winter approached. Other relatives on the mothers side launched an online petition urging police to do more. They complained that Phillips parents were refusing to let anyone onto their enormous Marokopa compound to search the wilderness around the farmor the baches, the guesthouses the family used to rent out to tourists.

The Phillips family remained silent objects of fascination for the news media. On the day of Phillips courthouse no-show, his mother had told reporters assembled outside the gates of the family farm, I am trespassing all media from this property. According to one outlet, asked if she knew where her son was, Julia Phillips simply answered with a shrug and a smile.

Theyre real sort of rugged, coast-y people who dont come into town much, a local reporter told me. Theyre kind of unusual. Youd call them rednecks, I think. (Being coastal has a very different connotation in New Zealand than it does in the U.S.) Tony Wall, a reporter for the newsmagazine Stuff, told me that Phillips parents have been very uncooperative. If you read between the lines, it definitely seems like they know something but theyre not telling us.

Someone, everybody assumed, was shopping for supplies and ferrying them out to Phillips, wherever he was hiding out. Its almost unfathomable to think a father could survive with three small children without someone buying them supplies, Baxter told me. But whats the endgame? Im looking out my window now, and its pouring down rain.

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The lack of urgency on the part of Waikato police was often commented upon. Its very strange, one reporter whos been covering the case said. The cops are not pouring any resources into looking for him and those children. I think they are of the view that hes not going to hurt them and hell eventually come out. The department responded to press requests with a not-particularly-inspiring statement: Police continue to make enquiries to establish the whereabouts of Tom Phillips, who we believe is currently with his three children. While Police understand the ongoing interest in this matter, we will not be disclosing the details of the enquiries that are under way.

Whatever enquiries were under way, that cold and wet winter passed with no sign of Tom Phillips. As 2022 turned into 2023, Phillips and his children had been missing without a trace for more than a year. Then came the bank robbery.

The two figures were dressed in all blackmotorcycle helmets, puffer jackets, and bootswhen they walked into the ANZ bank branch less than half a mile from the courthouse in Te Kuiti, just before noon on May 16, 2023. When the banks anxious staff asked them to take their helmets off, the pair displayed guns and demanded money. Tellers quickly gave them cash and, within moments, the pair ran out the front door.

As the robbers hurried down Rora Street, one witness later said they were dropping cash out of their pockets, heaps of $50 notes. The street was strewn with money. The confused passerby asked one of them, a slight figure whom they described as a girl, if she needed help picking up the money. Up ahead, the girls companiona man, it seemedturned back to look at what was happening. Right then, he was tackled to the ground by the owner of the SuperValue supermarket theyd been hurrying past.

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Suddenly, the girl brandished her gun. The passerby backed away. Someone called, Fire the gun! No ones quite clear who did what, or whom they were aiming at, but someone did fire, more than once. The passerby froze in their tracks, and the supermarket owner retreated.

The robbers ran past a vape shop and around a corner to a parking lot, where they climbed onto a motorbike and rode off to the north. Behind them, bank notes littered the pavement, 20s and 50sas much as $1,000, one witness estimated.

The armed robbery shocked the town, which bills itself as the nations sheepshearing capital. A week later, the robbery led a Waikato Times feature about growing youth crime concerns in Te Kuiti, full of nervous quotes from residents and shop owners about meth, burglary, and car thefts broadcast on TikTok.

Yet on the subject of the bank robbery itself, one Maori warden had only to say that he reckoned locals already knew who did it. It wasnt some wayward Te Kuiti youth or a more organized criminal element. Even in those early days, speculation was running rampant among residents that the bank robbers were, in fact, Tom Phillipsand one of his children.

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It took four months for police to officially name Phillips for the crime, charging him with aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding, and unlawful possession of a firearm. They believe that he was the larger of the two robbers, the one who seemed to be leading things, and have not identified the second, smaller robber, other than to say that they think she is female. At the time of the robbery, Jayda was 10.

The September 2023 charges in the Wild Weststyle bank robberyguns blazing, bank notes blowing in the windeliminated any residual goodwill Phillips had accumulated in his long months on the run. They capped off an eventful winter, Phillips second on the run with his children.

The month before, Phillips had stolen a trucknaturally, a Toyota Hiluxand driven to Hamilton, the biggest city in the Waikato region, about 40 miles north of Otorohanga. An acquaintance recognized him in the parking lot of Bunnings, a Home Depottype home improvement store, where Phillips, wearing a surgical mask and a woolen hat, used a large amount of cash to buy headlamps, batteries, seedlings, buckets, and gumboots.

That evening, Phillips got into an altercation on a road about an hour up the coast from Marokopa. The owner of the Hiluxwho had also realized that winter clothing had been stolen from his propertyfought with Phillips, then chased him along the winding highway, reportedly attempting to run him off the road. Eventually multiple vehicles were pursuing Phillips, who switched off the Hiluxs headlights and turned sharply into the parking lot of the Te Kauri Lodge, driving through a gate and into a paddock. He went in there and he hid, a lodge custodian told Radio New Zealand. These fullahs drove straight past. The police sent out a search helicopter, to no avail. A few days later, the Hilux was found deep in the undergrowth, about 25 meters off Marokopa Road, not far from the Phillips farm.

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A few weeks later, a private investigatorhe tells reporters he follows the case on his own timetipped off Tony Wall, the reporter at Stuff, that the property to which the Hilux was returned had hosted Phillips for a visit the year before. (The P.I. says he reported the sighting to the police but nothing came of it.) According to an informant, Phillips had been receiving help from a network of local residents since day one.

Wall chronicled his visit to the steep, densely wooded property near Otorohanga in a hair-raising story published last August. A neighbor, who was reportedly also present when Phillips visited the property in 2022, launched into a coy, taunting conversation about the disappearance. I cant say if I have or havent seen him in the last few years, the man said. Its like a good game of hide-and-go-seek. Hes fucking good at it. Never, ever play hide-and-go-seek with him because youll give up, and he wont come out. When Wall asked the man how someone like Phillips could simply vanish, the man scoffed. Its easy in New Zealand. The justice system is shit, the court system is shit, the police are shit, the media is shit. Thats the facts of it.

As Wall drove away, his car was overtaken by two other drivers, who boxed him in and forced him to pull over to the side of the road. One of the vehicles was driven by the owner of the stolen Hilux, who accused Wall of snooping around and causing havoc. Youre in the wrong fucking place for this, man, he said. You want to come and harass us out here, on my own turf? He tried to force open Walls car door, telling him, Im gonna fuck you up, mate.

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Wall finally managed to drive away, but the utes owner had one last thing to say. Youre fucking lucky were letting you out of here, cunt. You want the truth about the whole fucking scenario, mate, youd better be on your game, cause youre pushing shit uphill now.

After the police named Phillips in the bank robbery, residents phoned in more than a dozen sightings, but the police could never seem to catch him. Late one night in November, Phillips and one of his children rode a stolen quad bike to the town of Piopio and smashed the window of a superette in an attempted burglary, police say. Security footage showed a pair dressed in full camo gear approaching the stores camera with a spray can. When an alarm sounded, they fled south.

This January, the two-year anniversary of Phillips second flight passed with just another wan police announcementthis time that they had narrowed Phillips hiding place to the Marokopa area, a development that surprised absolutely no one whos been following the case. Yet I feel for the police, who are looking in an area spanning hundreds of square miles, where a number of residents clearly still have no desire to share information with them. (The owner of the stolen Hiluxa guy who disliked Phillips enough that he tried to run him off the roadnevertheless referred to the police as fucking pigshits.) If a plane crashed in this bush, youd be fortunate to find it, Max Baxter told me. Its really, really hard to begin somewhere, unless theres someone who knows and decides its time to come forward.

Few New Zealanders still believe that Phillips and his kidsnow 10, 8, and 7are roughing it, stalking game in the deep bush like the wilderpeople of old. Most everyone thinks that hes hiding on or near his family farm, aided by a network of friendly locals that may or may not include his parents. (Thats certainly what Wall, still trying to crack the case, believes.) On social media, its been a long time since anyone has called Phillips a good dad merely fighting authority. Hes just a piece of shit human being with anger and control issues who is subjecting his children to child abuse, went one typical comment.

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And few anticipate any ending to this story that feels happy at all. In the worst-case scenario, Phillips and his kids are injured, or killed, robbing another bank or battling it out with the cops. But even the best-case scenario at this point feels grim. Phillips children have spent the past two and a half years with a father whos surely told them that everyone is out to get them, that they can trust no one but him, that the only way to stay safe is to hide out far from the rest of the world. Hes relayed to them that their future depends on smashing windows, stealing cars, waving guns.

Someday those children will be found, and their father will almost certainly be sent to jail. Every news report about the casea dwindling number, as the months go onfeatures the same photos of the children: the girls in fairy dresses, all three of them grinning widely. In the next photos we see of Jayda, Maverick, and Ember, they wont be smiling. I once thought perhaps their father was giving them a gift, the adventure of a lifetime. Instead, he stole their childhoods. When its all over theyll be as alone as that truck was, parked on the gray sand, the implacable sea rushing up to meet it.
On Friday, 40 House Democrats sent a letter to President Biden urging him to reconsider your recent decision to authorize the transfer of a new arms package to Israel, and to withhold this and any future offensive arms transfers until a full investigation of last weeks World Central Kitchen attack is completed.

In light of the recent strike against aid workers and the ever-worsening humanitarian crisis, the letter read, we believe it is unjustifiable to approve these weapons transfers.

Most of the Democratic signatories were predictable: members of the Squad, leaders of the Progressive Caucus, certain rank-and-file members who happen to be from Michigan. One signature, however, stood out among the othersthe representative from Californias 11th District, Nancy Pelosi.

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There hasnt been much daylight between the former speaker and Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Shes reserved most of her scorn, in the heated debates since, for pro-Palestinian protesters. In January, she suggested that calling for a cease-fire was Mr. Putins message. Although some protesters, she said, were spontaneous and organic and sincere, others, she posited, are connected to Russia.

A statement from Pelosis office explaining her decision to sign the letter offered a measured rationale. Speaker Pelosi is sympathetic to some of the thoughts in the letter, and she feels very strongly that there must be a comprehensive, independent investigation into the horrific killing of the World Central Kitchen heroes, a spokesperson told Slate. Speaker Pelosi knows President Bidens support for Israel and empathy with the innocent civilians in Gaza, and she respects his judgment in how to proceed. Shes unlikely, then, even with the signing of this letter, to personally block traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge anytime soon.

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Still, calling for a halt in arms transfers to Israel is a sharp change in tone (and reflective of her position as the representative from San Francisco rather than the Democratic leader). It also reinforces the degree to which simmering Democratic frustration with Israels conduct in its war against Hamas has reached a boil following the WCK attack. Biden, the State Department, and leading pro-Israel Democratic voices in Congress, for the first time in recent memory, have suggested that the U.S. put conditions on military aid to Israel going forward.

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And the number of House Democrats is still growing. The letter was reopened for signatures this week, as many members who had hoped to sign were overseas on congressional delegations. The number had climbed to 56 by Monday evening.

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Now, letters are just that: letters. They allow members to get on the record to register dissent with an administrative policy thats becoming less popular by the day. But there is a central issuethe central issue remaining in this Congresswhere the red-hot anger following the WCK attack could complicate an already-delicate vote count.

At long last, Speaker Mike Johnson is preparing to use the upcoming work sessions of Congress to figure out assistance to Ukraine. Though he may spend weeks spinning his wheels trying to find a way to make Ukraine aid more palatable for House Republicansand thus preserve his jobthe most straightforward way he pushes it through is if the House votes on the bill the Senate has already passed, which bundles together military assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

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For months, the main issue holding up the package has been Republican hostility to further support for Ukraine. Thats still the main issue.

But now Democratic members unease with sending further billions to Israel is becoming a live issue of its own. Democrats would have to put up the lions share of votes to pass the package, and about 20 already werent prepared to support it given the Israel assistance. Following the WCK attack, that number could only grow.

With each passing day, then, getting aid to Ukrainea goal Johnson professes he wants to accomplishwill become more difficult. Ukraine military assistance isnt becoming an easier vote for Republicans, and Israeli military assistance isnt becoming an easier vote for Democrats. (And then theres poor Taiwan, stuck in the middle.) Splitting up the package into separate votes wouldnt make the passage of either more likelyin either the House or the Senate, which would have to vote again, in a time-consuming process that delays the transfer of sorely needed ammunition to Ukraine.

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Will the U.S. withhold weapons from Israelor fail to provide them to Ukraine? In the end, you wouldnt want to bet against a bill thats such a high priority for the United States government and its allies. But many more members could be holding their noses as they vote for it.

As for Pelosi, her spokesman had no comment on any potential legislative package.

We will have to see what Speaker Johnson actually brings to the floor, he said. But as you know, she is a strong supporter of assistance for Ukraine in its defense of democracy and is determined to make sure they have the resources they need to win.
Given the lengthy delays in former President Donald J. Trumps criminal trial for federal election subversion, its time for the Department of Justice to face facts: Special counsel Jack Smith will likely have only one chance before the November election to tell the public the story of Jan. 6, 2021, and Trumps role in it. That opportunity will occur not in front of a jury of ordinary citizens, but before the nine justices of the Supreme Court on April 25, when they consider whether Trump is absolutely immune from prosecution for his efforts to remain in the office American voters had decided he must surrender.

Smith is in possession of the fullest story of the events culminating in Jan. 6: a rich and vivid catalog of witness testimony, documents, texts, and emails that even the House committee that investigated the insurrection has never seen or heard. He is ready to display that material before a federal jury in a public trial. But through a series of procedural filings, Trump has managed to move the locus of the case from a trial judges courtroom in the District of Columbia to the Supreme Court of the United States.

The court now stands as the sole arbiter of the calendar in the case of United States v. Trump. Thats not because a majority of the justices are likely to rule that Trump is immune from prosecutionthat outcome is too far-fetched for even the most cynical observers. Its because the court, with its gradual process of briefing, argument, deliberation and ruling, even on an expedited basis, completely controls whether a trial and verdict can happen before the inauguration of whoever stands on the Capitol steps in January 2025.

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Smith, of course, has a duty to prevail in the Supreme Court on his plainly correct legal argument that Trump is not immune. But as a special prosecutor in one of the most consequential criminal matters in American history, Smith also has a duty to inform the publicespecially if the immunity appeal becomes his sole chance to do so in a court of law before voters cast their ballots in November.

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Disclosing evidence that Smith is prepared to present will not prejudice the case. Trump is entitled, as a matter of law, to have access to witness statements and other evidence prior to trial anyway. Indeed, if Trumps social media activity in his other court proceedings is any indication, he will relish the opportunity to spin potential testimony and influence potential witnesses. But such a risk to the prosecution is substantially outweighed by the publics need to know what happened in the waning days of the Trump administration.

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Related From Slate The Most Dangerous Time in 2024 Will Be Just After the Election Read More

Given this duty, and the degree of media attention that will be concentrated on this Supreme Court, it is important that Smith take the opportunity to inform the public about the facts the government is prepared to prove at trial.

This means that Smith should resist the rarefied practice of SCOTUS advocacy and high constitutional theory. He must not allow the justices to draw him into epicycles of arcane hypotheticals: What if a president did this? What if a president did that?

This case is not about a hypothetical president or speculative misconduct. This is a case about President Donald J. Trump. It is a case about his attempt to retain power, about his schemes to thwart the will of the people. It is about Trumps effort to undermine the basic American principlehonored for more than two centuriesthat the loser of a free and fair election must peacefully transfer power to the winner. Briefs have been filed before the high court, and on April 25 the people will be listening. At every opportunityin its opening remarks, in its answer to questions, in its entire presentation of the case before the justicesSmiths team must tell the court and the public the most specific and vivid story it can about what Trump did.

Donald J. Trump wants to make every public event about him. By all means: Let the Supreme Court case United States v. Trump be about him, his knowledge, and his actions leading to the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. And let the public watch it, hear it, and make their own decision in November about whether this is someone who should be returned to the Oval Office.
Pro-Russian politicians and groups aren't behind them.

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Pro-Russian billboards have appeared by Slovak roads in recent days, causing outrage among the Ukrainian community and some Slovaks.

Ukraine is our enemy or We wont survive without Russia are just some of the controversial slogans printed on these large outdoor signs. They have already been spotted in Bratislava, Trnava, as well as Trencin.

Almost 100 billboards with different controversial slogans are scattered across the country.

Although it may seem that pro-Russian Slovak politicians, including those in the ruling coalition, are behind the campaign, the Sme daily writes that it is the Demokrati party that has put up the billboards.

The civic organisation Mier Ukrajine (Peace to Ukraine) has already called on the party to stop using these slogans.

We strongly ask Demokrati to immediately stop the campaign, which we consider inappropriate, unethical and also a deep insult to all those who were and are still threatened by Russian aggression in Ukraine, writes the civic organisation on Facebook.

According to the daily, the organisations helping Ukrainian refugees were informed about the campaign prior to its launch.

Still, given the criticism that the initiative has received from some groups, the pro-Western non-parliamentary party, chaired by ex-defence minister Jaroslav Nad, explained everything at a press conference on Wednesday. Nad confirmed that Demokrati has paid for the campaign. However, he stressed that the party is not the author of these controversial statements.

The chair added that they were also horrified by the statements as soon as they were made. He hinted at pro-Russian politicians in the country, including PM Robert Fico and SNS leader Andrej Danko.

Demokrati also uses the We dont need NATO and the EU slogan on billboards.

The partys campaign is being launched two months ahead of the European Parliament elections, in which people in Slovakia will elect 15 MEPs. Demokrati is hoping that people will not elect pro-Russian servants and extremists.

According to Nad, a new design will appear on the controversial billboards by Sunday. It should say neustupime.sk  (we wont give up), and the website should take people to the partys campaign website. Also, the controversial slogans should be changed to Ukraine is our friend, We can survive without Russia, and We need NATO and the EU.

Nad also thanked those people who have criticised the anti-Ukrainian slogans. He described it as the right thing to do. The chair underlined that the goal of the campaign isnt to hurt Ukrainian people. However, he admitted that some individuals from Mier Ukrajine didnt like the campaign from the start.

The official campaign for these European elections began in Slovakia on February 10. The elections will take place on June 8.
Slovaks must address the Hungarian minority as their equal partner right away.

Speaker of Parliament Peter Pellegrini and Hungarian PM Viktor Orban during their meeting in Budapest on March 11, 2024. (Source: TASR)

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Part of Slovakia had a hard time waking up to the new political reality last Sunday, but "our Hungarians" woke up easily. They got out of bed, waxed their beards, had goulash - of course, a csipos (a Hungarian word for hot, ed.) one  then they went to Sunday mass. After that, the election celebrations began under a joint portrait of Viktor Orban and Peter Pellegrini on the wall.

This absurd picture from the life of "our Hungarians" could appear in the heads of those who currently bear a heavy heart for the Hungarian minority in Slovakia, due to Peter Pellegrini's victory in the presidential election.

Done  the culprits were found. "Analyses will take time. However, one thing can be said right away. April 6, 2024 will go down in the books as an historic (and) total failure of the Hungarian minority. After 30 years of fundamental participation in Slovak freedom and democracy, our Hungarians have lost their minds, as there is no other diagnosis for falling in love with a madman in Budapest," the Sme dailys columnist Peter Schutz writes in his column.

This short analysis by Schutz is only as accurate and true as the naive picture described above, full of prejudice and misunderstanding of the situation of Hungarians in Slovakia.
Fico also continues to attack judges, and even a psychologist frustrated with the election result.

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Prime Minister Robert Fico, who chairs the strongest coalition party Smer, suggests that Brussels might punish Slovakia for electing his coalition partner, Peter Pellegrini, the next Slovak president, last weekend.

I wouldnt be surprised at all if the European Commission froze our funds for purely political reasons and due to the result of the presidential election, declared Fico in his latest Facebook video.

He pointed out that the Party of European Socialists (PES) suspended Smers membership after the party won last years parliamentary elections. PES decided to suspend the partys membership after it formed a coalition with Slovenska Narodna Strana, a nationalist party chaired by pro-Russian politician Andrej Danko, and the Hlas party.

In recent months, the European Commission has repeatedly warned Ficos cabinet against adopting bills that threaten the rule of law and European values, including the amendments to the Penal Code and the Competence Act. The European Parliament has also adopted the new European Media Act, which makes it difficult for Fico to take over the public broadcaster.

In this regard, Fico announced that Slovakia is holding a tough expert and political discussion with the Commission. The debate concerns the cancellation of the Special Prosecutors Office and the defence of the new Penal Code, which the Constitutional Court has suspended.

The last meeting with the head of Europe Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, significantly dynamised certain processes, said Fico.

In response to Ficos comments, Progresivne Slovensko MP Beata Jurik said that Fico is trying to find a new enemy after Pellegrinis victory. Pellegrini will replace President Zuzana Caputova, whom Fico has been portraying as the oppositions spokesperson and the agent of foreign countries for years, in mid-June.

After taking control of all constitutional positions (president, speaker of parliament, and premier, ed.), Fico no longer has anyone to blame at home. So he started ranting about the EU, she said on April 9.

The opposition MP called on the premier to admit that his government has made mistakes.

Fico continues to smear judges

On Monday, Fico used the press conference to attack Supreme Court Judge Juraj Kliment and Supreme Court Judge Peter Stift, accusing them of deciding arbitrarily in high-profile cases again. During the press conference, he also showed excerpts from some decisions of the Constitutional Court that reportedly prove the violation of human rights by the Supreme Court judges. The premier called on the representatives of the judiciary to initiate disciplinary proceedings against these judges.

Theres no other way around this, he said, talking of the judges subverting the rule of law.

Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer) could also initiate such proceedings. Fico didnt say if Susko would make this move. Instead, he went on to criticise Supreme Court President Jan Sikuta for defending Kliment and criticising Ficos attacks on judges. Sikuta, according to Fico, has initiated a disciplinary action against Kliment over a physical attack on his fellow judge Peter Paluda.

What stars they are, Fico said ironically. A Supreme Court judge attacks his colleague in parking space.

Opposition leader and Progresivne Slovensko party leader Michal Simecka described Ficos recent statements about the judges as undignified.

I urge Roberto Fico to come to his senses and stop kicking everyone around like a maniac, he added.

After the presidential election, Fico has publicly mocked psychologist Matus Bakyta as well. The psychologist told the Dennik N daily that he had to take a pill when he learned about the outcome of the presidential election.

When I woke up Sunday night and read the election results, I was glad I had my anti-anxiety medicine at home. It helped me cope with the first huge wave of disappointment, helped me sleep for a few more hours and hope that it was just a bad dream. In the morning I was grateful that I could hug my wife and dog, although we were both devastated by the news, Bakyta said.

Have we gone out of our minds in this country? Fico said, calling on people to respect the outcome of the election.

Last December, Fico decided to mock a law student after this student criticised Eduard Burda, the dean of the law faculty in Bratislava, for defending the abolishing of the Special Prosecutors Office. He called the student unimportant and poked fun at his appearance.

Public media remain a priority

In his latest video, Fico also underscored that the coalition will have to deal with several sensitive matters quickly and resolutely, including the public broadcasters illegal political influence.

In reaction, RTVS CEO Lubos Machaj has called on the government to focus on a constructive dialogue about the functioning of public media in society, instead of creating a negative picture of public media.
Controversial billboards, Fico mocking people frustrated with Pellegrini's victory, and should Hungarians be blamed for the election result?

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Good evening. Here is the Tuesday, April 9 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

Government's problem with cadastre

The Fico government plans to limit access to cadastre data so that only registered users can have it, writes the news website Aktuality.sk.

The Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre Authority is preparing to amend the Act on Real Estate Cadastre. The government justifies this with the need to protect the privacy of owners, arguing that there is "increasing criminality in relation to the misuse of personal data of owners of land or buildings."

This step would also make the work of journalists harder. The murdered journalist Jan Kuciak used the real estate cadastre. Thanks to the register, it's recently been revealed that Peter Pellegrini, the next Slovak president, uses a villa owned by MP Peter Nahlik.

More stories from The Slovak Spectator website

EU: PM Robert Fico appears to have found his new enemy.

PM Robert Fico appears to have found his new enemy. Real estate: Here's a selection of unusual real estate listings on Slovak classified ads websites right now.

Here's a selection of unusual real estate listings on Slovak classified ads websites right now. Politics: Pro-Russian billboards have popped up in Slovakia.

Pro-Russian billboards have popped up in Slovakia. Opinion: Did Hungarians fail Slovakia in the presidential election?

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you.

FEATURE STORY FOR TUESDAY

How to start your Slovak family history search

Michal Razus (l) with his clients in front of the Museum of Emigration from Slovakia to North America in Pavlovce nad Uhom-Tahyna, eastern Slovakia. (Source: Archive of Michal Razus)

Genealogist Michal Razus likens searching for ancestors to baking a cake. While someone likes to bake it on their own and improve the recipe until it is perfect, others prefer to go to patisserie to enjoy a cake.

In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, he explains where to start this search, but also why he became a genealogist.

APRIL EVENTS IN TRNAVA

A chance to mingle

(Source: trnava.sk/Baterkaren)

The Trnava environment and reuse centre, Baterkaren, in cooperation with the local integration centre, ConnecTT, will organise a series of events for foreigners living in the city and local people in April.

Foreigners and local people can look forward to the popular language cafe, the Cultural Night, as well as a commented screening of videos and photos from far-flung countries. There will also be workshops, a press release reads.

More details about the events can be found here.

In other news

The Russian embassy is by far the most active of all embassies on Slovak Facebook, followed by Ukraine, South Korea, the UK and France. Kazakhstan (6th place) and China (7th place) ranked high. The US embassy ended in 14th place. (Dennik N)

Thirty years have passed on April 8 since the murder of six Vietnamese, which took place in 1994 in a warehouse on Stara Vajnorska Road in Bratislava. Both murderers - Viliam Hauser and Robert Matta - are serving life sentences. The motive was loot in various currencies. (TASR)

Investment Minister Richard Rasi (Hlas) announced the end of Slovensko IT. "The company was unable to help the state and generate profit," Rasi said. The state joint-stock company was founded in 2020 in Kosice by the then investment minister Veronika Remisova. It was supposed to improve state IT services. However, between the years 2020 and 2023, employee utilisation hovered around 45 percent. (Dennik N)

Deputy Environment Minister Filip Kuffa flew a helicopter on April 5 over Rozsutce peaks in the Mala Fatra National Park. However, he didn't have permission to fly above this area. The authorities will investigate the situation.

On Tuesday, President Zuzana Caputova began a series of farewell visits abroad. Her first stop was Germany, where she met with her counterpart Frank Walter Steinmeier. (Source: X/Zuzana Caputova)

It's unclear who will replace Peter Pellegrini as speaker of parliament. If one of the two Hlas ministers, Denisa Sakova (economy) or Richard Rasi (investment), will take on this job, the coalition will have to find a new minister. TV Markiza reports that Hlas also wants to obtain the Culture Ministry from the nationalist SNS party and exchange it for the Education Ministry.

TV Markiza reports that Hlas also wants to obtain the Culture Ministry from the nationalist SNS party and exchange it for the Education Ministry. Slovakia's foreign trade ended in surplus in February. Exports were higher than imports by almost 650 million. However, the value of exports was lower year-on-year. Its decrease was the largest since September 2021, and it was mainly affected by the export of cars, announced the Statistics Office.

Bratislava-Vajnory confirmed that there was an error in the minutes in their voting district. The result was altered by the commission, resulting in the victory of Peter Pellegrini over Ivan Korcok. According to the State Electoral Commission, they will not correct the error. A total of 3,315 people cast the vote in Vajnory. (Dennik N)

WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: Expect partly clear skies, with occasional cloud cover. Showers or rain are possible intermittently throughout the day. Temperatures will be cooling down compared to previous days. In general, daytime temperatures will range from 19C to 26C. However, in western Slovakia and in the Zilina Region, temperatures will be slightly cooler, ranging from 11C to 18C.

Wind warnings will be in place in most regions of western Slovakia and in the Kosice Region. (SHMU)

APRIL 10 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Igor.

Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us.

P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.

Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook and Instagram (@slovakspectator).
Los Angeles, April 3rd, 2024  Proper Syrup, the trailblazing brand thats redefining the role of syrups in specialty coffee, is holding a Proper Syrup Drink Competition at SCA 2024. World-class baristas will compete in a signature drink competition using Proper Syrup ingredients, for a grand prize of $5,000. Attendees are invited to witness the artistry and creativity of these talented baristas as they craft innovative drinks that highlight the potential of Proper Syrups products. For more details on the competition, follow Proper Syrup on Instagram.

In addition to the competition, Proper Syrup will be showcasing their latest syrup additions to their collection: Strawberry Syrup and Pistachio Syrup.

Crafted with the same commitment to quality and integrity that Proper Syrup is known for, the Strawberry Syrup is made with organic agave and real sugar. This carefully curated blend perfectly complements the unique flavor profiles of specialty coffee, elevating the taste experience without overpowering the nuances of the coffee itself.

We created Proper Syrup because we believe that syrups shouldnt compromise the quality of specialty coffee, said brand founder. Our Strawberry Syrup is a really unique and bold addition to the library of flavors and we cant wait to see what the coffee community creates with it.

In addition to the Strawberry Syrup, Proper Syrup is also promoting their Pistachio Syrup as a limited edition as part of their spring lineup. Both syrups are available for purchase online at propersyrup.com and at the SCA 2024 event in Chicago.

About Proper Syrup

Proper Syrup is a high-end specialty coffee syrup brand that believes syrups shouldnt suck. With decades of experience in the coffee industry, the team behind Proper Syrup was frustrated by the lack of quality syrups that could complement the carefully sourced and meticulously prepared specialty coffee. They set out to create a truly natural syrup that doesnt sacrifice taste, texture, or integrity.

Made from real, organic ingredients and specifically tailored to support the unique flavor profiles of specialty coffee, Proper Syrup is the perfect addition to any coffee beverage, from espresso and cappuccinos to lattes and pour-overs. With Proper Syrup, coffee lovers can enjoy the best of both worlds: exceptional coffee and delicious, complementary syrups.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240408/this-is-a-dictatorship-ecuadors-backing-of-mexican-embassy-raid-meant-to-protect-us-interests-1117815675.html

Russia Urges Calm as Mexico, Ecuador Feud over Embassy Raid

Russia Urges Calm as Mexico, Ecuador Feud over Embassy Raid

Sputnik International

Late on Friday night, the Ecuadorian government stormed the Mexican embassy to detain former Vice President Jorge Glas who had been sheltering in the diplomatic mission.

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The raid on Mexico's embassy and detention of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas in Quito late Friday has provoked a war of words between two Latin American countries, one analyst has noted. Late Friday, the Ecuadorian government stormed the Mexican embassy to detain former Vice President Jorge Glas who had been sheltering in the diplomatic mission since December. Mexico announced Monday it would file a case against Ecuador at the International Court of Justice over the incident. The country also suspended diplomatic relations with Quito, claiming Mexican diplomats had sustained injuries as a result of the raid.Esteban Carrillo, a Beirut-based Ecuadorian journalist and editor for The Cradle, joined Sputniks Fault Lines program Monday to discuss what occurred in Quito and highlight Ecuador's political trajectory in recent years.This was the former Vice President Jorge Glas, who stayed as the vice president of... [former Ecuadorian President] Lenin Moreno, and it was Moreno that removed all of his functions, Carrillo recalled.The Beirut-based journalist explained that a charge of "psychic influence" was based on Glas' perceived ability to influence cabinet ministers to commit acts of corruption, otherwise known as influence peddling. The same charge was lodged against former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, under whom Moreno served as vice president.Glas had served five years in prison for bribery and criminal conspiracy before being released in late 2022. In December 2023 he was sentenced to six more years in prison in a corruption case involving the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, which is now known as Novonor. Glas took refuge in the embassy that same month before an official warrant for his arrest was issued."Mexico determined that he [Glas] was being politically persecuted and that this was a case of trumped up charges," argued Carrillo. Ecuador, meanwhile, has argued that Glas' detention was necessary to prevent his flight from Ecuador.Russia's foreign ministry issued a statement urging calm as relations between Mexico and Ecuador have deteriorated dramatically. The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized Moscow's commitment to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which guarantees immunity of diplomatic missions from search, requisition, seizure and enforcement actions.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240407/ecuador-detains-former-vice-president-fearing-his-possible-escape-1117789668.html

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ecuador, mexican embassy, jorge glas, us, mexico, ecuadorian government
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/27-terrorist-attacks-prevented-in-russia-this-year---statement-1117823461.html

Anti-Terrorism Committee Reveals 27 Terrorist Plots Foiled in Russia This Year

Anti-Terrorism Committee Reveals 27 Terrorist Plots Foiled in Russia This Year

Sputnik International

A total of 27 terrorist attacks on transport, fuel, energy and defense industry facilities have been prevented in Russia since the beginning of the year, the National Antiterrorism Committee said on Tuesday.

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"Government authorities and law enforcement agencies are taking measures to strengthen the security of facilities involved in providing air defense and supplying new Russian regions. As a result of timely actions, 27 terrorist attacks at such facilities were prevented. Attempts to penetrate into Russian territory by Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance units were stopped," the committee said in a statement.On March 22, a group of militants stormed the Crocus concert hall in Moscow's suburbs with firearms and explosives. The attack left 144 people dead, including families with children. The perpetrators were detained the next day, and a preliminary investigation revealed that the terrorists had ties with the Ukrainian side.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/china-calmly-responds-to-us-lecturing-on-trade-during-treasury-secretarys-visit-1117819870.html

China Calmly Responds to US Lecturing on Trade During Treasury Secretary's Visit

China Calmly Responds to US Lecturing on Trade During Treasury Secretary's Visit

Sputnik International

Both Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Yellen said relations between the US and China are stabilizing, but caution that a number of issues remain unresolved.

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https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/09/1117820061_0:161:3070:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_5d5e653e448b9bcaf721b27b09de23a9.jpg

According to a recent report from RT, Beijing urged the White House not to politicize bilateral trade and to abide by basic norms of the market economy.The report follows US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellens visit to China Sunday. Both Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Yellen said relations between the US and China are stabilizing but cautioned that a number of issues remain unresolved."It is hoped that the US will abide by the basic norms of market economy including fair competition and open cooperation, refrain from turning economic and trade issues into political or security issues, and view the issue of production capacity objectively and dialectically from a market-oriented and global perspective, the premier told Yellen during the meeting.Radhika Desai spoke with Sputniks The Critical Hour Monday about the economic relationship between China and the US. Desai is an author and professor at the Department of Political Studies and director of the Geopolitical Economy Research Group at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.And China is also absolutely right that what the US is doing is turning economic and trade issues into political and security issues, she continued. China is asking the US to look at the issue of productive capacity objectively and dialectically. Basically, theyre asking the US officials to take, shall we say, a Marxist view of these things, because at the end of the day, dialectics is all about Marxism.But I think underlying this, there is another level which is entirely serious, the author said. And this has to do with the fact that what China means by free trade and even globalization is something different from what the US and most of the West mean by it.So, yes, one should have free trade, but third world countries are allowed to pursue industrial policy. They are allowed to develop their industries because, you know, if you look at the history of industrialization, no country has industrialized without a certain degree of state involvement and certainly very high degree of state involvement, a certain degree of protection, a certain degree of industrial policy, a certain degree of subsidies, you name it. The whole slew of measures were used by the US, Germany, Japan in its day, even by the UK, in order to industrialize.Sputniks Garland Nixon addressed the irony of Yellen's visit to China, as the US is lecturing a nation experiencing economic success on the subject.On the other hand, other US corporations were threatened by China, for example, Google and Meta and so on, she added. They want the US to, essentially, wage war against China, hybrid war, military war, everything war. And, of course, the US military industrial complex has its own reasons to do that. So, essentially, the US state is being pulled and pushed in every kind of direction vis-a-vis China and it can't really produce a coherent policy.Leon then asked the professor for comment on the upcoming US presidential election as it related to the countrys economic ties with China. Desai suggests that both Republicans and Democrats use China as a scapegoat for the economic hardships their policies have created.What we are looking at is a situation in which ordinary people are suffering because of the policies pursued by the US administration, policies that were one-sided [and] in favor of US corporations, so much so that they coddle US corporations and US corporations are not even required to be efficient or competitive, she explained.So, essentially, they are accorded to the extent that they have become royalty corporations, their income is no longer earned or most of it is not earned, in any reasonable understanding of the term. So these policies are leading to the repeat suffering of the people.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/chinas-infrastructure-triumphs-prove-west-has-much-to-learn-from-beijing-1117395791.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240328/chinas-cheap-green-imports-hurts-us-economy-white-house-reportedly-laments-1117595983.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240224/china-making-ai-breakthroughs-despite-bidens-sanctions-1116956025.html

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china, us, trade, yellen, us-china trade wars, economy
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/china-supports-russias-stable-development---foreign-minister-1117820725.html

China Supports Russia's Stable Development - Foreign Minister

China Supports Russia's Stable Development - Foreign Minister

Sputnik International

Russia and China will support each other and strengthen multilateral interaction, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday, adding that Beijing will also support the stable development of Russia under the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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''Russia and China will support each other and strengthen multilateral interaction,'' Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.''Moscow and Beijing will continue to strengthen strategic cooperation on the world stage,'' the Chinese minister added. Wang Yi also said that Beijing will support Russia's stable development under the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin. On behalf of China, he congratulated the Russians on Putin's re-election with "record support".Peoples support is a source of Russias progress. I think that under president Putins firm leadership Russian people are waiting for a bright future", he added.Principles of Non-ConfrontationChina and Russia must adhere to the principles of non-confrontation and non-targeting of third parties, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.It is necessary to oppose all forms of hegemony and intimidation, the Cold War mentality, provoking division and confrontation, the minister added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/scott-ritter-election-results-show-people-voted-for-both-putin-and-more-vibrant-russia--1117401801.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/icj-confirms-caracas-submitted-documents-to-prove-claims-to-disputed-essequibo-region-1117834052.html

ICJ Confirms Caracas Submitted Documents to Prove Claims to Disputed Essequibo Region

ICJ Confirms Caracas Submitted Documents to Prove Claims to Disputed Essequibo Region

Sputnik International

Venezuela has submitted a counter-memorandum to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Guyana's case regarding the territorial dispute over the Essequibo region, ICJ Associate Information Officer Avo Sevag Garabet told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

2024-04-09T18:12+0000

2024-04-09T18:12+0000

2024-04-09T18:13+0000

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The ICJ had set a deadline for Venezuela, asking Caracas to submit all documents to the court by April 8, 2024. The spokesman confirmed receiving Venezuelas documents, adding that the next stage in the process depends on a number of factors, including whether another case is opened. Once the written proceedings are completed, public hearings could begin unless the court approves the second round of document exchange, he said. On Monday, the Venezuelan presidency said the country had submitted documents to the ICJ that confirm its "sovereign right" to the Essequibo region disputed with Guyana, claiming that the country, together with the United States, was preparing an aggression against Caracas.Last week, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he had verified information about secret military bases established by the US Southern Command and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Essequibo. The disputed region is being governed by the Southern Command, the CIA and US oil company ExxonMobil, which aim to seize Venezuelan resources, he added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240201/icj-rejects-ukraines-claim-to-recognize-russia-as-aggressor-state---russian-foreign-ministry-1116525860.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231224/uk-to-deploy-royal-navy-warship-to-ex-colony-amid-guyana-venezuela-dispute-1115784604.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/is-us-plotting-electoral-coup-in-solomon-islands-1117758198.html

Is US Plotting Electoral Coup in Solomon Islands?

Is US Plotting Electoral Coup in Solomon Islands?

Sputnik International

The US and its allies received an unpleasant surprise in 2022 after the Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China, ripping a hole in Washingtons Island Chain Strategy for containing Beijing. As a local election looms, a Sputnik inquiry based on expert analysis and insider testimony reveals how the US Empire plans to strike back.

2024-04-09T02:00+0000

2024-04-09T02:00+0000

2024-04-19T14:29+0000

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Residents of the Solomon Islands will go to the polls for general elections on April 17 to elect a new parliament and prime minister, with the vote expected to determine the countrys future both domestically and vis-a-vis the escalating security competition between the US and China in the Pacific region.In November 2021, violent riots triggered by the Taiwan/PRC recognition switch saw an attempt by protestors to storm parliament and oust Sogavare, with rioters setting fire to a police station, burning down businesses and looting the Chinatown district in Honiara, the Solomons' capital. Sogavare blamed foreign powers for the unrest, accusing outside forces of feeding rioters false and deliberate lies about the switch.Through this period, Honiara's ties with Beijing continued to warm, culminating in the spring 2022 signing of a security pact. The agreement allowed China to deploy police and troops to the Solomons, if called upon, to help maintain order and protect lives and property, and for Chinese warships to make port visits to the nations harbors to stock up on fuel and supplies.Despite US and Australian claims to the contrary, China insisted that it had "no intention at all" of setting up any permanent military presence in the Pacific island nation, and assured that the pact is not "targeted at any third country."Meanwhile, relations with the US continued to sour. In March 2023, Sogavare informed White House National Security Council Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell that he had become aware of a US-backed plot to assassinate him. Six months later, in September, asked why he had refused an invitation to meet President Biden in Washington alongside other Pacific leaders following a session of the UN General Assembly, the prime minister said he was tired of efforts by US officials to talk down to Honiara. Im not going to sit there and listen to people lecture me, no way, Sogavare said.They must change their strategies, Sogavare added, urging Washington to show Pacific leaders more respect instead of giving them three minutes to talk and then lecturing them about how good they are.US Rediscovers Solomons' ExistenceGiven its potential geostrategic implications, the upcoming election in the Solomon Islands is being monitored closely by the US and its allies, with State Department media arm outlet Voice of America* making it clear that Washington sees China influence as the key issue in the looming vote. The UK, Australia, and New Zealand plan to send media observers, and Canberra and Wellington will have a police and troop presence on the ground to provide security and logistics support.Behind the scenes, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) may be playing a highly active role using 'democracy promotion' activities to advance what amounts to an electoral coup against Sogavare. But more on that below.This is all quite a shift away from the old complacency traditionally marking US policy toward the region, says William Jones, an Asia-Pacific affairs expert and former White House correspondent for Executive Intelligence Review magazine.In an interview with Sputnik, Jones pointed out that despite the crucial role played by Pacific islanders during the US's island-hopping campaigns during the Second World War, the islands have generally "hardly made a blip in US foreign policy considerations" in the 80 years since, with US presidents and secretaries of state almost never bothering to visit the region.The sudden surge in interest in the Solomons is the result of "the rise of China as a major power in the region," Jones says, noting that the islands "lie on what has been called the 'Second Island Chain' separating China from the open Pacific Ocean," and that the PRC's "interest in developing a 'blue water navy' in accordance with its growing position as a major maritime power" being something that the US and its regional allies, first and foremost Australia, "would like to prevent."Lingnan University Center for Asian Pacific Studies director Dr. Zhang Baohui agrees, telling Sputnik that "US interest in the future direction of the Solomon Islands, including the outcome of this election, is driven by the increasingly bipolar competition with China."In reality, Jones noted, the "uproar" in Washington and Canberra over the 2022 Solomon Islands-China security pact is overblown, with the "actual distance" between the islands and Australia some 1,200 nautical miles away , "about the same distance as US bases in the Philippines are to China, not to speak of the US special forces that are now allegedly operating in Taiwan, which is around 130 miles from the Chinese [mainland] coast."Nonetheless, as elections in the Solomons approach, Jones expects the US to "ben[d] over backwards to get new leadership which will be less friendly with China" in an effort to maintain strategic control over the island chains and protect "US interests in these long-neglected island nations."Accordingly, Teo said, "both the Chinese as well as the Americans/Australians would want a government that is friendly to them," even if Prime Minister Sogavare himself has announced a desire to "reduce his country's dependence" on all foreign countries, and to "maintain a friendly approach to all powers."As far as Honiara's relations with China are concerned, Teo believes Sogavare's efforts are aimed first and foremost at achieving "better development outcomes for the Solomon Islands."Professor Joe Siracusa, a veteran political scientist and dean of Global Futures at Curtin University in Australia, agrees with that assessment, saying that while the US and its allies may see the Solomons only as a strategic plot of land for "containing China," the Sogavare government views the PRC as a potential model for economic prosperity.'Cultivating Networks'Responding to the geostrategic and potential ideological threat posed by Sogavare, Washington has deployed its soft power tools in the Solomons ahead of the April 17 election."Aid programs, beginning with Herbert Hoover's aid programs to Russia in 1917-1918, are designed to change values toward the Americans or towards the West. There is no free lunch. If you want this aid, you have to listen to the sermon that goes along with it. And the sermon is that they expect you to line up against what they call an 'autocracy' in favor of American 'democracy'. And I'll tell you the truth: sometimes you can't tell the difference," Siracusa said.Just how deep a role USAID is playing on the ground ahead of the vote is up for debate. Publicly, the agency has touted its regional efforts at poverty reduction, as well as a series of economic projects. Behind the scenes, however, processes amounting to direct political interference may be underway.Outlining the architecture of USAID's political operations in the country, the source, who asked to remain anonymous given the sensitive nature of the information being shared, explained that the agency's Solomons mission is overseen by the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), a National Endowment for Democracy (NED) cutout nonprofit working in coordination with the Solomon Islands section of the Supporting Democratic Governance in the Pacific Islands (SDGPI) program. The latter describes itself as a regional "democratic governance" initiative, whose purview includes activities not just in the Solomons, but Fiji, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, and other countries in the region.Documents provided by the source appear to indicate that Sogavares 2019 election and his slow geopolitical swing away from Washington was followed, within a year, by a push by USAID and its partners, including the IFES, as well as the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), to kick off a voter awareness campaign in the Solomons known as the Solomon Islands Election and Political Processes Program (SIEPP).This initiative, known under the umbrella term Strengthening Democratic Governance in the Pacific Islands, was organized under the auspices of USAIDs Consortium for Election and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS), and was provided an initial operating budget of nearly $10 million for the period between September 30, 2020 and September 29, 2023, including $4.7 million for the IFES, $2.25 million for the IRI and $2.48 million for the NDI.The program was initially expected to run until the fall of 2023, when the Solomons were originally set to have their general elections, but was extended and topped up with an additional $1.5 million to cover CEPPS expenses through April of 2024 after the vote was postponed by Prime Minister Sogavare, to $10.325 million total.Internal communications between USAID's Pacific regional office in the Philippines and CEPPS senior administrative director Kira Ribar included a program description of the "types of activities and outputs desired" from the millions being spent on the agency's activities.An attachment to one of the communications indicated that the tension and conflict on the islands in connection with the government's foreign and domestic policies were signs that the Solomons are unable to address critical issues and grievances and dispel unrest, and that therefore, CEPPS is obligated to take the opportunities [to] promote democratic processes," including by working with marginalized groups, to promote elections as a sustainable vehicle for democratic transitions.Sputniks source said that when it received a go signal from USAID, the IFESs priority was to connect with political leaders, civil society organizations and influential individuals in local communities.A strategic pool of project consultants was reportedly established as far back as October 2020, just a year after Sogavare's election, and more than a year before the 2021 riots, including a senior member of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission, senior opposition leaders, the secretary of the Solomon Islands National Council of Women, and the chair of Malaita Youth Caucuas - a local youth social networking organization.A CEPPS Cost Extension document for the period September 30, 2020  September 29, 2023 summarized plans to reinforce the foundations of good governance and shape democracy in the Solomons via national surveys and focus group discussions, along with stakeholder convenings, including conferences and workshops for government, political parties, civil society and local communities, to socialize and validate findings and provide capacity building to improve consensus building ahead of the election.'Plan B'Sputnik's source said the IFES felt that by reaching across these areas of leadership and building a wide network, it [would be] possible to establish a powerful mobilization capacity for its subsequent activities in SI [the Solomon Islands], for example to promote American democratic principles, and even accomplish a democratic transition by violent means in necessary circumstances.The individual warned that if push comes to shove, the IFES has the ability to leverage tensions and collaborate with local partners to incite impulsive and immature youth to spark violence  with USAID allegedly already successfully cooperating with local opposition forces led by Mathew Wale and former Malaita Province Premier Daniel Suidani to spark the 2021 Honiara riots.In addition to these activities, USAID has apparently also been involved in the sponsorship of surveys taken in opposition-majority constituencies via its networks to characterize the Sogavare government as one wracked by poor governance and low public trust. These networks reportedly include Transparency Solomon Islands, People With Disability Solomon Islands, the Solomon Islands Development Trust, Malaita Women Caucus and Malaita Youth Caucus, the Solomon Islands National Council of Women, the National Youth Congress, and the Solomon Islands Social Accountability Coalition  a faith-based Oxfam Solomon Islands proxy.The source expressed concerns that the US may resort to fomenting another riot during the upcoming election, which they said has become a consensus for USAID and its local allies, although its uncertain whether this may be done before the vote to try to undermine it, or afterwards to change an unsatisfactory result.The reason I choose to expose this is to try to prevent a possible disaster. This is urgent. Solomon Islanders are very simple and kind. Their rights of equality, freedom and development should be respected. They should not be played by any external forces, the source summed up.* Designated a foreign agent under Russian law.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221004/solomon-islands-force-us-to-remove-china-reference-in-pacific-declaration-1101490771.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/israel-uses-military-ai-in-gaza-tool-of-genocide-or-simply-a-database-1117831884.html

Israel Uses Military AI in Gaza: Tool of Genocide or 'Simply a Database'?

Israel Uses Military AI in Gaza: Tool of Genocide or 'Simply a Database'?

Sputnik International

According to Abrahams investigation based on interviews with Israeli military, Tel Aviv's special services and the army for several months at least have been letting an AI-based machine to make a decision on the life and death of tens of thousands of people.

2024-04-09T16:30+0000

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They were the Gazans whom the machine suspected of being jihadists or their relatives. Those whom the AI program codenamed Lavender found suspicious enough were blown up together with the buildings they were in  with huge human collateral damage.In several interviews with international media, journalist Yuval Abraham confirmed the worst suspicions about the program.In the next step, the machine ordered the destruction of the building with people inside it, including children. There was minimal human supervision of AIs actions  one of my sources said he spent just 20 seconds before authorizing the bombing, Abraham added.While his investigation cited six high-ranking Israeli officers acquainted with AI use, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is yet to comment on the accusations. An IDF statement did not deny the use of AI in the identification of Israels human targets.The system your questions refer to is not a system, but simply a database whose purpose is to cross-reference intelligence sources in order to produce up-to-date layers of information on the military operatives of terrorist organizations. This is not a list of confirmed military operatives eligible to attack, the IDF said in a statement published in response to questions from the British daily The Guardian.How Many People Have Been Killed by AI in Gaza? In his interview to Democracy Now, Abraham revealed the grim statistics of Lavenders operations:The military knew that approximately 10 percent of the people whom the machine marked to be killed  one-tenth of them were not Hamas militants, Abraham said in the interview. Some of them had a loose connection to Hamas, some had completely no connection. One source told me how the machine marked people who had the same name and nickname as another person, a Hamas operative The military had what they called a collateral damage degree. Another source said that up to 20 innocent civilians could be killed in order to liquidate one low-ranking Hamas activist. For high-ranking officers, say, a Hamas brigade commander, the number could be in triple digits  for the first time in Israeli Defense Forces history.The following question is inevitable: who is going to be held responsible for the use of an Israeli AI machine that, according to the officers interviewed by Abraham, marked 37,000 people in Gaza as targets for annihilation?Essentially, it is not the machine, but the human being that imagines, designs, creates and then triggers such a machine into action  that person is responsible for everything that results, Bennett noted.Meanwhile, Owda told Sputnik that ultimate responsibility lies with Israels special services.The matter is so serious that the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed serious concern over reports that Israel used AI in Gaza in a special statement  at least, in the first weeks of Israels punitive operation there. "No part of life and death decisions which impact entire families should be delegated to the cold calculation of algorithms," Guterres is quoted by international news agencies as saying.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240406/strike-on-aid-workers-in-gaza-us-knows-how-to-be-silent-on-israels-violations--analyst-1117776230.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240407/even-with-ai-kill-list-israel-no-closer-to-achieving-goals-six-months-into-gaza-war-1117800746.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/mike-johnson-battles-his-own-party-to-push-through-divisive-ukraine-aid-1117814529.html

Mike Johnson Battles His Own Party to Push Through Divisive Ukraine Aid

Mike Johnson Battles His Own Party to Push Through Divisive Ukraine Aid

Sputnik International

On this episode of The Final Countdown, hosts Angie Wong and Ted Rall break down current events including House Speaker Mike Johnson pushing the Ukraine aid bill.

2024-04-09T04:17+0000

2024-04-09T04:17+0000

2024-04-09T08:57+0000

the final countdown

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Mike Johnson Battles His Own Party to Push Through Divisive Ukraine Aid Sputnik International On this episode of The Final Countdown, hosts Angie Wong and Ted Rall break down current events including House Speaker Mike Johnson pushing the Ukraine aid bill.

The show begins with Ukrainian whistleblower Andrii Telizhenko discussing the ongoing efforts of House Speaker Mike Johnson to secure aid for Ukraine despite internal divisions within the GOP. He also discusses the recent drone attack on the Zaporozhye nuclear plant.Then, counselor-at-law Tyler Nixon sheds light on the escalating tensions between Special Counsel Jack Smith and Judge Aileen Canon in the high-profile case concerning classified documents found at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.The second hour starts with political consultant Robert Hornack delving into the fundraising campaigns of both President Biden and former President Trump, analyzing their strategies.The show closes with media commentator Mitch Roschelle discussing House Speaker Mike Johnson's efforts to rally legislative support for the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).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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the final countdown, why mike johnson supports ukraine, will us congress adopt aid for ukraine, what is us foreign intelligence surveillance act, trump mar-o-lago case
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/president-putin-expected-to-visit-china-this-year---russian-foreign-ministry-1117824035.html

President Putin Expected to Visit China This Year - Russian Foreign Ministry

President Putin Expected to Visit China This Year - Russian Foreign Ministry

Sputnik International

Russian President Vladimir Putins state visit to China is expected to take place later in 2024, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

2024-04-09T10:22+0000

2024-04-09T10:22+0000

2024-04-09T13:14+0000

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Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing earlier today, at which they reportedly discussed Putin's upcoming state visit, among other things.The ministry also noted that the Chinese head of state praised Russian-Chinese relations and "expressed readiness to further enhance the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation with Russia."Bilateral relations between Russia and China have flourished in the past few years as both countries find themselves antagonized by the United States and its allies.Russia and Chinas respective economies profit immensely from the countries cooperation while Western powers become increasingly frustrated by the fact that Moscow and Beijing are less and less susceptible to the effect of US and European economic sanctions.In March 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Russia in what became his first presidential visit after his reelection earlier that same month.During that visit, Xi mentioned that he and Putin are similar in character and have become good friends.The Chinese president added that he will come to Russia often and that Putin will also visit China more often.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240330/russia-china-trade-surges-by-92-mostly-settled-in-rubles-and-yuan---deputy-pm-1117661954.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/russia-china-to-continue-cooperation-in-fight-against-terrorism-1117820501.html

Russia, China to Continue Cooperation in Fight Against Terrorism - Lavrov

Russia, China to Continue Cooperation in Fight Against Terrorism - Lavrov

Sputnik International

Russia and China will continue cooperation in the fight against terrorism, including through multilateral mechanisms, after the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

2024-04-09T04:32+0000

2024-04-09T04:32+0000

2024-04-09T04:33+0000

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BEIJING (Sputnik) - Russia and China will continue cooperation in the fight against terrorism, including through multilateral mechanisms, after the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday. Lavrov also noted that the Russian presidential election held in March took place under conditions of "severe external pressure from the West and a surge in terrorist attacks by the Kiev regime." "As you know, shelling of Russian cities has become more frequent, leading to civilian casualties, and numerous attempts by hackers to hack our electoral system have been detected," the Russian diplomat added. On March 22, several armed men entered the Crocus City Hall venue and started shooting indiscriminately at concertgoers. They also started a fire in one of the auditoriums, which was full of people ahead of a concert. The attack left 695 casualties including 144 dead, according to the latest data from the Russian Emergencies Ministry.The four main suspects in the case tried to flee the scene in a car but were detained and charged with terrorism. Russian authorities believe their plan was to flee to Ukraine, where the masterminds of the attack had arranged a safe haven for them. An investigation is underway.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240326/this-is-a-war-against-russia-fridays-terrorist-attack-in-context-1117549225.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/russian-cossacks-to-macron-your-government-is-still-supporting-nazis-1117832761.html

Russian Cossacks to Macron: Your Government Is Still Supporting Nazis

Russian Cossacks to Macron: Your Government Is Still Supporting Nazis

Sputnik International

As the Kiev regime keeps shelling civilian infrastructure and targeting people in Russias new regions and border territories, the number of innocent victims rises day after day.

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A historic Cossack house called a 'kuren' has been destroyed by a Ukrainian attack in Donbass, prompting senior Cossack leader Nikolai Dyakonov to address French President Emmanuel Macron and the French nation.In his video message, Dyakonov demonstrated the aftermath of French aid that is used against local people in flagrant violation of the commonly recognized laws of warfare.The officer reminded the French leadership that Cossacks have great experience in dealing with France, as they were the first Russian forces to seize Paris in 1814. He added that France should not challenge them again.Learn the Russian language, it will come in handy, the ataman (Cossack leader) concluded to Macron.Finally, he vowed that life in Donbass will soon return to normal despite the hardship, and that locals will rebuild and renew what has been ruined together.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240408/pen-mightier-than-sword-warrior-poetess-tells-truth-about-donbass-war-1117765882.html

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Senior Cossack leader Nikolai Dyakonov recorded an address to France's President Emmanuel Macron Sputnik International Senior Cossack leader Nikolai Dyakonov recorded an address to France's President Emmanuel Macron 2024-04-09T16:01+0000 true PT1M12S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/russian-fms-visit-to-china-further-strengthens-strategic-partnership-1117829668.html

Russian FM's visit to China 'Further Strengthens Strategic Partnership'

Russian FM's visit to China 'Further Strengthens Strategic Partnership'

Sputnik International

As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in China on Monday for an official visit, many observers said the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership will be further strengthened despite US pressure.

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At the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Russian top diplomat will pay an official visit to China from Monday to Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Sunday.Mao said at a routine press conference on Monday that the two sides will exchange views and coordinate stances on the development of bilateral ties, cooperation in different fields and the international issues of shared common concern on the sidelines of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia diplomatic relations.As Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced earlier, in Beijing Lavrov will hold talks with Wang. In particular, the ministers will discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific region, issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction in the international arena, Zakharova said, TASS reported on Monday.Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times on Monday that "Lavrov could be paving the way for the first foreign visit of President Putin since his reelection, but the final confirmation would be a formal announcement released by the two sides."Reuters reported in March that Putin will travel to China in May, in what could be the Kremlin chief's first overseas trip of his new presidential term, citing five sources familiar with the matter. The Kremlin, when asked about the Reuters report, said information on Putin's visits would be released closer to the date.Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, said the Russian top diplomat could discuss with China about some urgent and hotspot issues like the Ukraine crisis and counterterrorism cooperation.Russia just experienced a horrific terrorist attack in Moscow, and the attackers are from Central Asia. Chinese engineers in Pakistan have also been attacked by terrorists in the region, so both China and Russia share common concerns about terrorism, said analysts.China-Russia-US Trilateral RelationsUS Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen is also on her visit to China and she warned that Chinese companies could face "significant consequences" if they provided "material support for Russia's war on Ukraine," according to the release from US Department of Treasury.The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in response China's stance is very clear and has always paid constructive efforts for mediation to stop the conflict. The Chinese foreign ministry added that other countries should not attack and smear the normal relations between China and Russia, and should not harm the legitimate rights and interests of China and Chinese companies, noting China will take firm measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.Yang Jin, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday China has its own principles in developing ties with major powers like Russia and the US, as "we will never interference in other countries' internal affairs and will not meddle in the ties between other countries, so we hope the US could show the same respect to the China-Russia relations."China is paying efforts to mediate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine since the very beginning of the crisis, and China never adds fuels to the flame, and if the US sanctions Chinese companies who do normal business with Russia in the name of "supporting Russia's war on Ukraine," that would be very unwise, as China will retaliate for sure, experts said.Cui said that the timing of Lavrov's visit to China is very interesting, as it's overlapping with the time of Yellen's visit, and takes place before the potential visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, "so this just shows the complexity of the interactions between China, Russia and the US, and in the trilateral relations, China is driven by its own national interests."Li said in the China-Russia-US relations, "we are in a position with the most flexibility, while the US and Russia have very limited space to change the deadlock and hostility in their relations. The key for China to remain flexible is that we don't favor one take over another."This article was originally published by Global Times.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240320/china-voices-hope-for-deescalation-efforts-amid-macrons-plans-to-send-troops-to-ukraine-1117453040.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240330/russia-china-trade-surges-by-92-mostly-settled-in-rubles-and-yuan---deputy-pm-1117661954.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/uk-and-france-talk-of-reviving-wwi-alliance-over-fear-of-trump-return-1117834301.html

UK and France Talk of Reviving WWI Alliance Over 'Fear' of Trump Return

UK and France Talk of Reviving WWI Alliance Over 'Fear' of Trump Return

Sputnik International

In an op-ed penned on the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale, a landmark agreement signed between the British Empire and France in 1904, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and his French counterpart Stephane Sejourne penned an op-ed essentially calling for the revival of the alliance.

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2024-04-09T19:20+0000

2024-04-09T19:20+0000

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The two ministers argued that NATO must mobilize to deny Russia a victory in Ukraine, claiming that the UK and France, two of the military blocs founders and nuclear powers, have a responsibility in driving the alliance to deal with the challenges before it.""We must do even more to ensure we defeat Russia. The world is watching - and will judge us if we fail," they wrote in a piece published by The Telegraph.Commenting on this development, Dr. John Laughland, a lecturer in politics and history at the Catholic Institute of the Vendee (ICES) in France and specialist in international affairs, observed that the UK and France are two principal military powers in Europe and do enjoy quite a high level of bilateral military cooperation.He did point out, however, that though London and Paris have indeed been strengthening that cooperation for some years now, as Cameron and Sejourne wrote, he does not see any substantial new initiatives in the article, which he dismissed as essentially just propaganda.Whereas the Entente managed to prevail in World War I in no small part due to the Russian Empires contribution to the cause, Dr. Laughland suggested that this new British-French axis would inevitably lean on the United States, because everything that they say about the British-French Entente is in the context of NATO.He suggested that France and the UK may be driven by the fear of Donald Trumps reelection as the president of the United States.I think that the European powers, including France and Britain, are trying to pre-empt that outcome because whether rightly or wrongly, they fear that Trump would want to make peace in Ukraine, make peace with Russia, the scholar mused. But again, I regard this as just a piece of gesture politics, this article and this commemoration.Dr. Laughland also recalled a previous attempt by Cameron to partially revive the Entente in 2010 by signing military defense agreements with France during his premiership, with one of the outcomes of said deal being the attack on Libya in 2011, which, as far as we understand, was a Franco-British initiative.Meanwhile, Mikael Valtersson, former officer of the Swedish Armed Forces and chief of staff of the Sweden Democrats political party, argued that the real reason for this talk about reviving the Entente Cordiale is the UKs and Frances desire to take a larger role in international politics coupled with them realizing that they are not big enough to do it on their own.Both United Kingdom and France are also united in their nearly fanatical hard-line approach towards Russia. As they say in the article, Russia must lose and Ukraine must win, he added.According to Valtersson, this hardline approach towards Russia may be the reason why Germany was not included in this scheme as Berlin and Paris do not see eye to eye on how to deal with Moscow.Another reason for not including Germany might be the UK and Frances concerns that the German economic prowess would afford Berlin too much influence in such an alliance, not to mention London and Paris fears about Trumps possible return to the White House later this year, he noted.This talk about a revived Entente Cordiale might be an attempt from the UK and France to take over, or at least to prepare to take over, the leadership of the belligerent anti-Russian camp in the West. [It could be] Preparations in case the US abandons Ukraine, Valtersson postulated. But as I said earlier, it's a weak alliance since a large part of the French population isn't aboard.But as long as the UK and France are united and work together with other belligerent states as the Netherlands, Poland, the Baltic and Nordic states, they probably can force Germany to slowly follow their lead in creating a prewar mentality in large part of Europe, he added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240404/shoigu-france-to-face-problems-if-troops-sent-to-ukraine-1117728624.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240404/uk-defense-secretary-says-world-moved-from-post-war-to-pre-war-era-1117730584.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/ukrainian-forces-use-chemical-weapons-near-artemovsk-in-dpr--russian-security-forces-1117835069.html

Ukrainian Military Using Chemical Weapons Near Artemovsk  Russian Security Forces

Ukrainian Military Using Chemical Weapons Near Artemovsk  Russian Security Forces

Sputnik International

The Ukrainian forces used chemical weapons, presumably white phosphorus, near the city of Artemovsk in the Donetsk People's Republic, as the Russian security forces provided a video of the poisonous substance.

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The use of chemical weapons was recorded in the vicinity of Kleshcheyevka village.The weapon, which was a glass flask containing a poisonous substance, released a gas that irritated the human mucous membranes, according to the conclusion of the expert who analyzed the sample.Presumably, this element is white phosphorus.The symptoms of exposure to it include coughing and a burning sensation of the upper respiratory tract. This chemical can be lethal, depending on how much of the substance someone has inhaled and its concentration. The Ukrainian forces employed drones to unleash the glass flasks containing the chemical.Russian security forces have issued a warning regarding such substances and related items, urging individuals not to touch or destroy them.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/us-deep-state-will-call-shots-in-ukraine-not-trump-or-biden-1117816700.html

US Deep State Will Call Shots in Ukraine, Not Trump or Biden

US Deep State Will Call Shots in Ukraine, Not Trump or Biden

Sputnik International

One observer warns of the power of the United States permanent security bureaucracy, which he claims will dictate the countrys stance toward Russia regardless of who is elected in November.

2024-04-09T00:14+0000

2024-04-09T00:14+0000

2024-04-09T00:54+0000

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Former US President Donald Trump has startled European leaders in recent weeks with plans to interfere in the functioning of NATO and reorient US foreign policy if reelected this November. The brash real estate magnate frequently threatens Western allies with cuts to US funding for the decades-old alliance and has recently touted a proposal he claims would rapidly bring the war in the Donbass to an end.Both ideas have proven distinctly unappetizing to Europes political elite, who reject any concession of territory to Russia regardless of the wishes of the regions inhabitants.The threat of Trumps restoration to power has prompted moves to provide Ukraine with a multi-year fund for President Volodymyr Zelensky to continue hostilities whether his country is supported by the United States or not. But the ultimate decision over whether American aid will continue to flow to the embattled leader may not lie with the US president at all.Thats according to international relations and security analyst Mark Sleboda, who made the provocative comment on Sputniks Fault Lines program Monday.And it was on the front page of every major publication and news hour in the West.Russia, meanwhile, appears to subscribe to the strategic patience embodied by former Chinese leader Deng Xiaopings mantra: hide your strength, bide your time.Russia is playing a game of operational silence, Sleboda claimed. While the Avdeyevka siege was going on, the Russian Ministry of Defense never even said the name Avdeyevka. It was completely left out of reports. So obviously one of the reasons [for Russias success] is operational security. They're not giving any information extra to the West or the Kiev regime forces.Another thing is there continue to be rumors and there's no question that there's large numbers of Russian troops that have signed up as volunteers, like more than 400,000 now, he added.A surge of patriotic fervor has spurred thousands of Russian citizens towards military recruitment centers  especially after last months terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue, for which Russians widely assign blame to Ukraine. Kiev, meanwhile, has relied on forcible conscriptions to fill the ranks of its depleted military as draft dodging remains a major problem for the country.Ukraines chronic struggles may lead some observers to conclude the country should seek negotiations with Moscow, something Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently urged. But Sleboda claims forces behind the scenes will insist on continuing to use the country as a battering ram against Russia.The Russian government doesn't believe that a Trump foreign policy will be, or can be any different, in essence, than a Biden foreign policy because the US president doesn't actually really make those decisions, he claimed. The blob  the deep state, the permanent security bureaucracy  does, whatever you want to call them.Observers have long warned of a permanent war state within the US government that continuously seeks global conflict. Former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower famously alerted Americans to a growing military-industrial complex during his farewell address, while members of former President Barack Obamas administration often referred to the countrys hawkish foreign policy establishment as the blob.Deep state became a popular term for these interests during the Trump years, but critics of US foreign policy have consistently denounced the power and influence of this increasingly unaccountable state within a state.He [former US President Donald Trump] changed his rhetoric completely and subjected himself to the terms of the deep American state, or the deep American regime, concluded Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after Trump launched a massive missile attack on the country.Regime change in Syria has been a consistent priority of Western intelligence after the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) inaugurated its secretive billion-dollar Timber Sycamore operation in 2012. Observers such as Canadian journalist Aaron Mate reacted with suspicion after an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria seemed tailor-made to pull the United States into armed conflict there  Obama previously claimed such an attack would constitute a red line.Leaks from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) eventually proved Mates skepticism to be correct after it was revealed doubts about Assads culpability were airbrushed from the agencys reports. For many, the revelation the attack was possibly staged cemented the impression of an out of control bureaucracys ruthlessness in achieving its goals.I think that they [Russia] definitely want to remove the regime in Kiev, speculated Sleboda. And they're definitely considering absorbing all of Ukraine  possibly excluding West Ukraine  but definitely all the rest so that the West can't weaponize it against Russia any longer because they've promised to.They say as soon as the conflict ends we'll pump it full of weapons and join it into NATO and the EU, and Russia's like, 'well, then the conflict doesn't end.'Recent reporting featuring CIA operatives openly boasting about the agencys expansive influence in Ukraine has led even Western observers to conclude the country is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of US intelligence.It turns out the 'Deep State' is actually kind of awesome, declared The New York Times recently amidst evidence of the US security bureaucracys extensive string-pulling in foreign affairs. The editorial was roundly mocked on social media.Reporter Glenn Greenwald called the piece a perfect illustration of the subservient relationship between corporate media and the US government. Both institutions, if recent polling is to be believed, are held in contempt by the public. Most Americans are seemingly opposed to the idea of Washington bureaucrats making decisions for them in a purported democracy.Whether that sentiment will count for anything is, apparently, another question. But Russias leadership has learned to prepare for any contingency.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240407/russia-repels-9-ukrainian-attacks-toward-donetsk-in-past-24-hours---military-1117801728.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240405/us-diplomacy-utterly-failed-in-ukraine-washington-should-seek-negotiations---sachs-1117751141.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20200929/ex-opcw-member-says-syria-2018-chemical-attacks-report-may-not-reflect-actual-events-1080604436.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240123/us-ignored-enormous-displays-of-goodwill-from-russias-president-putin---lavrov--1116326975.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/us-space-industry-facing-shortage-of-skilled-workers--vice-president-1117818550.html

US Space Industry Facing Shortage of Skilled Workers  Vice President

US Space Industry Facing Shortage of Skilled Workers  Vice President

Sputnik International

The US space industry lacks skilled technical workers, US Vice President Kamala Harris said during a video address to participants of the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs.

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COLORADO SPRINGS (Sputnik) - The US space industry lacks skilled technical workers, US Vice President Kamala Harris said during a video address to participants of the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. Harris recalled initiating three regional pilot programs to train more skilled technical workers one year ago.The Space Symposium brings together thousands of the world's space, military, civil, and government research industry leaders annually. This year's event comes on the heels of a statement issued by the US-based Space Foundation honoring the legacy of Russian-born Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Gagarin was the first person to travel into space, flying aboard the Vostok spacecraft.The Soviet Union also achieved the distinction of sending the first woman into space, the Russian Valentina Tereshkova, and the first person of African descent, the Afro-Cuban cosmonaut Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez.Harris' comments come amidst concern over deindustrialization after decades of neoliberal economic policy in the United States. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently praised China's investments in industrial training, noting, "China put an enormous focus on manufacturing, in what you and I would call vocational kind of skills." Shrewd planning has allowed the Asian power to dominate in the manufacturing of everything from solar panels to infrastructure to electric vehicles.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20180306/valentina-tereshkova-amazing-facts-1062273198.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/watch-live-russia-makes-historic-launch-of-angara-a5-rocket-1117821567.html

Watch Live: Russia Makes Historic Launch of Angara-A5 Rocket

Watch Live: Russia Makes Historic Launch of Angara-A5 Rocket

Sputnik International

Angara-A5 was developed by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, based in Moscow. This 761-ton three-stage rocket is completely made of Russian parts and aimed at enhancing national self-reliance on domestic industries.

2024-04-09T08:54+0000

2024-04-09T08:54+0000

2024-04-09T08:54+0000

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angara a5

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Sputnik brings you a broadcast from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, where Russia is conducting a historic launch of the Angara-A5 rocket. The Vostochny Cosmodrome is located above the 51st parallel north in the Amur region in the Russian Far East.The corporation plans to launch 15 Angara rockets with Orion modules from Vostochny before the end of 2033. The main goal is the construction of the Russian orbital station.Follow Sputnik's live feed to watch a truly historic event in space exploration!

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First launch of the Russian Angara-A5 rocket from the Vostochny cosmodrome Sputnik International First launch of the Russian Angara-A5 rocket from the Vostochny cosmodrome 2024-04-09T08:54+0000 true PT1S

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After six weeks off, post eight was no problem for Amigo Volo as the Meg Crone student rocketed to the top and won every panel en route to victory in the $36,000 Preferred Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday, April 8.

Amigo Volo and Tyler Borth commanded the timer through panels in :27.1, :57.1 and 1:26 before prevailing at the wire by a half length in 1:52.4 over a fast-closing Southwind Coors (Chris Christoforou). Looks Like Moni (James MacDonald) closed sharply to complete the triactor.

Pinske Stables and David Miller co-own the seven-year-old Father Patrick-Margarita Momma gelding, who recorded his fourth straight victory in six starts this season. In 90 career starts, Amigo Volo has banked $2,453,426 from a record 36-21-12. At 3-1 odds, he returned $8.50 to win.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Sen. Tim Kaine's office says he was not taken to the basement for his safety and that he had no rule in the music played at the venue or its volume.

At least one person was arrested outside Quirk Hotel on Sunday afternoon after Richmond police declared an unlawful assembly and ordered a group of pro-Palestine protesters to disperse.

The protesters, who had gathered at Monroe Park at 2 p.m., had marched to the hotel to demand to speak with Sen. Tim Kaine, who was at the hotel for a book-signing event. The group blocked the eastbound lanes of West Broad Street and stood outside the building, chanting and calling for Kaine to come outside.

Richmond police at around 4 p.m. announced the commonwealth had declared an unlawful assembly. They instructed the protesters to disperse and said they would employ chemical agents if the group did not comply.

Zaid Mahdawi, an organizer of Richmonds pro-Palestine movement, was arrested outside the hotel after the protesters remained at the scene and continued to call for Kaine. It was not immediately clear whether any charges were filed against him. Richmond police did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

We have the right to protest, one person shouted at the police line. The group eventually left the scene, walked down West Broad and returned to Monroe Park.

Sereen Haddad, a Virginia Commonwealth University student who also organizes pro-Palestine events in Richmond, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that Kaine had been taken to the basement of the hotel for his safety. The protesters had acquaintances at the book signing, Haddad said, and they reported that Kaine turned up music in an attempt to drown out the chants outside.

Janine Kritschgau, Kaine's communications director, said the assertions are not true.

She said Kaine was never taken to the basement for his safety. Kritschgau said Kaine and the representatives on the book tour did not bring their own music and had nothing to do with the volume of music at the venue.

Hotel staff declined to comment. A public relations representative for Kaines book tour said the hotel did not take extra security measures. The doors were not locked, and no one was stopped from entering the building, he said.

Haddad called Kaine a coward who was complicit in genocide, and said he is refusing to use his power (to be) on the right side of history. She cited Kaines February vote in favor of a $14 billion aid package to Israel as the groups reason for demonstrating outside the book signing.

In a text message after the book signing, Kaine said, I have continued to call for a cease fire and hostage release as well as increased humanitarian aid to Gaza. Kaine was not accompanied by Senate or campaign staff and had no security detail at the event.

Kaine had said in a statement on Friday that the current approach (to the conflict) is not working, adding that a discussion about Palestinian autonomy (is) much-needed.

The Israeli strike on a World Central Kitchen humanitarian aid convoy ... crystallizes the frustration that is at a boiling point, Kaine wrote. There is need for immediate progress on a deal to free the hostages and establish a significant ceasefire in which humanitarian aid can flow to suffering people without fear of military attack.

At the Hippodrome in Jackson Ward on Tuesday, Kaine formally kicked off his bid for a third Senate term. At three points during that rally, he was interrupted by protesters who spoke out on the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

We need to find a hostage deal. We need to get a ceasefire, Kaine said Tuesday to a woman who had criticized Congress financial support to Israel. In a chat with reporters after the event, Kaine called the situation heartbreaking.

Israel has a complete right to defend itself against those who would annihilate it, he said. Palestinians have a right to have autonomy in the future that they were promised. So how do you square those things?

Haddad, who is Palestinian, told The Times-Dispatch that more than 100 of her family members have been killed in Israels Gaza offensive since it began in early October. She said she is tired of seeing the look on her fathers face when he receives phone calls from family in Gaza and learns that another loved one has been killed.

I am not apologetic that (this) was ... not convenient for (Kaine), Haddad said. He is helping to fund a genocide that is not convenient for the Palestinian people. It is not convenient to lose your family members; its not convenient to be bombed and to lose your home, to lose your dreams.
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The Shore to Store project has demonstrated the potential for a zero-tailpipe emissions supply chainone that transports goods from the nations busiest ports to their final destinations without producing vehicle emissionsusing todays technology. Credit: Toyota Motor North America

Vast amounts of worldwide emissions can be traced back to the supply chains that provide us with the goods we need. Some studies estimate that they generate up to two-thirds of global carbon emissions.

Now, researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in collaboration with industry partners, have demonstrated the potential for a zero-tailpipe emissions supply chainone that transports goods from the nation's busiest ports to their final destinations without producing vehicle emissionsall while using today's technology.

NREL analysis formed the backbone of the Port of Los Angeles' $82.5 million Zero- and Near-Zero-Emissions Freight Facilities Shore to Store project and final report, which brought together more than a dozen public and private sector partners for a 12-month demonstration of a net-zero-emissions supply chain that stretched across Southern California.

The California Air Resources Board and the Port of Los Angeles awarded the project funds, and the demonstration involved partners including Toyota Motor North America, Kenworth Truck Company, Shell, the Port of Los Angeles, and the Port of Hueneme.

The Shore to Store project, which used battery-electric cargo handling equipment, heavy-duty hydrogen-powered trucks, and hydrogen refueling stations to move goods from Southern California's ports to brick-and-mortar storefronts, provided one of the largest real-world demonstrations of clean goods movement to date. The project illustrated that multiple clean technologies, each powered by renewable energy and assigned to the area of best fit, can be combined to form a larger clean-energy system.

"The Shore to Store project showed that clean goods movement is not a distant dream," said NREL's Jason Lustbader, who leads NREL's advanced vehicles and charging infrastructure team and who served as the laboratory's project lead. "It is possible today, using today's technologies."

Anatomy of a decarbonized supply chain

To accurately model much of the goods movement throughout the United States, the Shore to Store clean supply chain demonstration began the moment container ships were lifted from cargo ships docked at port.

To illustrate the first link in the chain, the Port of Hueneme (POH), located in Southern California, added two electric-hybrid harbor cranes and supporting infrastructure into its operations. These zero-emissions cranes unloaded shipping containers from docked cargo ships.

Then, during the next link, POH used two battery-electric yard tractors powered by new charging infrastructurethe first zero-emissions equipment deployed at POHto move cargo from ships to waiting trucks. The battery-electric yard tractors joined electric forklifts deployed at the nearby Toyota Logistics Services warehouse in demonstrating zero-emissions cargo movement within ports and storage facilities.

Next, a fleet of 10 Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks shuttled cargo inland. The fleet was built in partnership by Kenworth Truck Company and Toyota Motor North America and operated by United Parcel Services (UPS), Toyota Logistics Services, Total Transportation Services Inc., and Southern Counties Express. Each truck refueled when needed at two newly constructed, high-capacity hydrogen fueling stations in Wilmington and Ontario, California.

The new fueling stations, built by Shell initially to support the demonstration project and now open to the public, have joined an existing heavy-duty refueling station operated by Shell at Toyota Logistics Services at the Port of Long Beach. Now, these three public stations form an integrated heavy-duty hydrogen fueling network that will continue to support the Los Angeles Basin, showcasing the potential for the United States to rapidly reduce transportation-related carbon emissions once appropriate infrastructure has been installed.

The Shore to Store project illustrated that multiple clean technologies, each powered by renewable energy and assigned to the area of best fit, can be combined to form a larger clean-energy system. Credit: NREL

"We had a number of goals with the Shore to Store project," Lustbader said. "One was to demonstrate zero-emissions technologies in a real-world setting, so we could identify any barriers and how to overcome them.

"We also aimed to address some of the charging and refueling infrastructure challenges," Lustbader continued. "Now, we not only have new zero-emission freight vehicles in use but also functioning infrastructure to support the current and future generations of these technologies."

"We were honored to participate as infrastructure developers to make this hydrogen mobility supply chain project a reality and help our customers achieve their carbon neutrality goals," added Jared Leventhal, Shell's senior project manager for hydrogen mobility.

Analytics at scale

To understand the benefits of the advanced technologies deployed in the Shore to Store project, NREL researchers collected data on both the conventional equipment used in the demonstration and their clean-energy counterparts. Then, after 12 months of operation, researchers leveraged NREL's deep experience in advanced vehicle technologies and data analyticsand the laboratory's Fleet Energy, Research, and Data Insights (FleetREDI) data processing pipelineto efficiently analyze a year's worth of operational data.

Their findings provided insights into the fuel savings and emissions reductions created by switching to low- and zero-emissions technologies across the supply chain.

First, researchers showed that the project's Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell trucks were capable of completing the rigorous duty cycles required from diesel trucks, while producing water as the only tailpipe emissions byproduct. And in contrast to battery-electric commercial trucks, which recharge their batteries over the course of several hours, refueling logs from the Shore to Store project show that hydrogen fuel cell trucks were capable of refueling in 15 to 20 minutes.

Researchers also demonstrated that the battery-electric yard tractors and forklifts matched the performance of their diesel counterparts, while providing far greater energy efficiencyand zero emissions.

On a larger scale, the project resulted in immediate, direct, localized emissions reductions in disadvantaged communities surrounding Southern California's ports and freight corridors. These reductions are critical, as the Los Angeles Basin is a non-attainment zone for criteria pollutants, meaning that the health of the region's residents is at risk of being seriously affected by excessive levels of air pollution.

In addition, Shore to Store expanded the use of zero-emissions equipment at the Ports of Los Angeles and Hueneme and created multiple new sources of hydrogen fuel throughout the region. Shell will continue to operate its hydrogen refueling stations, in part to support the fleet operators who will continue operating the project's fuel-cell trucks. Now, the Los Angeles Basin will have continued access to the new heavy-duty hydrogen fueling network.

"The Port of Los Angeles has been hard at work for two decades reducing air pollution from ships, trucks, trains, harbor craft, and cargo handling equipment," said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. "The Shore to Store project provided invaluable lessons as we move toward decarbonizing the end-to-end supply chain. It's clear that there is much more work to do in the areas of accelerating technology and making it commercially available at scale. But as we look forward, we're grateful to our project partners for their efforts and to the NREL scientists who quantified its impact."

And as promising early deployments of hydrogen and battery-electric technologies improve, these innovative technologies can be adopted more widely for use in other heavy-duty applicationslowering emissions for generations to come.

More information: The Port of Los Angeles Zero- and Near-Zero-Emission Freight Facilities "Shore to Store" Project.

ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/f  s/2023-05/POLA-Final%20Report.pdf
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General architecture proposed by Bochkovskiy et al.37, focused on object detectors based on one-stage and two-stage convolutional neural networks. (Adapted image). Credit: Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52054-y

Just as drivers in Brazil can be warned of traffic congestion ahead or a vehicle parked on the hard shoulder, notifications may soon pop up on their smartphone or on their car's computer screen to warn them in real time that an anteater, wolf or tapir is crossing the highway. No human will necessarily need to see the animal in question or press a control button to send the warning.

For this to be possible, a key step is construction of a computer vision model that automatically detects Brazilian wild animals. Researchers have accomplished this, as described in an article published in the journal Scientific Reports.

"The species were selected in accordance with the metrics recommended by the Brazilian Center for Road Ecology Studies [CBEE, at the Federal University of Lavras, UFLA]. According to this center's estimates, some 475 million animals are killed on Brazilian roads every year. We created a database of Brazilian species and trained a number of computer vision models to detect them," said Gabriel Souto Ferrante, first author of the article. He conducted the study as part of his master's research at the University of Sao Paulo's Institute of Mathematics and Computer Sciences (ICMC-USP) in Sao Carlos.

According to Rodolfo Ipolito Meneguette, a professor at ICMC-USP, Ferrante's supervisor and last author of the article, groups in other countries have been working for some time on systems that detect wild animals with the use of artificial intelligence, but models built abroad are not good at detecting Brazilian animals. Moreover, few are designed to identify animals on roads, an application that requires fast detection in environments where visibility may often be poor.

"Drivers also run a significant risk in collisions with large animals. They often have insufficient time to take action to avoid them. Our system uses roadside cameras coupled to a portable computer and is innovative in that respect," he said.

Instant detection

To develop a system that recognizes Brazilian species, the researchers first built a database of Brazilian mammals that are most likely to be hit by road traffic, locating and downloading from the internet 1,823 photographs in the public domain (without copyright protection). Where necessary, the images were edited to remove "noise" (random variations in color, brightness, etc.) that could hinder identification of the species, or to assist identification by including a diversity of angles.

The researchers then tested different versions of YOLO (You Only Look Once), a computer vision algorithm widely used for real-time detection of objects, including wild animals. One of its advantages is single-stage detection, the most suitable type for real-time identification of large animals, as speed is favored over accuracy. Another factor that influenced the choice was the possibility of running the system on so-called edge devices, such as tablets and portable computers with relatively limited resources.

Videos of animals recorded by the researchers in Sao Carlos Ecological Park were used to test the efficiency of the system. Future updates to the database will include images of animals captured by forest camera traps and roadside cameras.

Curiously, older versions of YOLO were better at detecting animals. "The models correctly detected the species in 80% of images taken during the day with the animal appearing clearly," Ferrante said. Typical computer vision problems (such as poor detection at night, in wet weather or when the animal is partially hidden) persist and will be the focus of future studies.

New images will be included in the database, and partnerships with toll road operators and city governments will enable the system to be tested in real-world situations, including integration with existing technologies.

In 2020, the group led by Meneguette developed an application that informs drivers about traffic conditions using real-time data collected by road users' smartphones in Catanduva, a city in Sao Paulo state. The difference from apps like Waze or Google Maps is that in this system the municipal traffic authorities can input data.

"One possibility would be to couple our animal detection system to this app, which we already have, and thereby enhance animal and driver safety," Meneguette said.

More information: Gabriel Souto Ferrante et al, Evaluating YOLO architectures for detecting road killed endangered Brazilian animals, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52054-y Journal information: Scientific Reports
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The announcement coincides with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to Washington, underscoring Tokyo's commitment to becoming a major AI power.

Microsoft on Tuesday announced a $2.9 billion investment over the next two years in Japan to bolster the country's push into artificial intelligence and strengthen its cyber defenses in the face of threats from China and Russia.

The announcement coincides with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to Washington, underscoring Tokyo's commitment to becoming a major AI power.

Japan is also expanding its semiconductor industry with the help of big foreign investment. Taiwanese chip behemoth TSMC opened a new $8.6-billion chip factory in southern Japan in February, and is planning a second facility.

Microsoft has become a major player in the advancement of AI through its partnership with ChatGPT-maker OpenAIpropelling it past Apple as the world's biggest company by market capitalization.

"This is Microsoft's single largest investment in its 46-year history in Japan," said Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, who met Kishida on Tuesday.

"These investments are essential ingredients for Japan to build a robust AI economy."

The investment includes providing "more advanced computing resources", according to Smith, including powerful graphics processing units crucial for running AI applications.

Microsoft also pledged to invest in training three million Japanese workers in AI skills over the next three years, and announced the opening of its first Microsoft Research Asia lab in Tokyo that will work on AI and robotics.

The US company also unveiled plans to collaborate with Japan's government to strengthen the country's cybersecurity following an increase in hacking and breaches.

"The threat landscape for cybersecurity has become more challenging," Smith told the Nikkei news outlet.

"We're seeing that from China and from Russia in particular, but we're also seeing growing ransomware activity around the world."

Google in March also launched a new cybersecurity hub in Japan, aimed at helping to upgrade defenses in the Asia-Pacific.

Kishida will meet President Joe Biden on Wednesday with defense ties high on the agenda, but also cooperation in technology from space to semiconductors.

Motivated by geopolitical concerns surrounding Taiwan, Tokyo is seeking to bring back the 1980s glory days when Japanese firms such as Toshiba and NEC dominated the microchip market.

As well as the TSMC plants, Japan is plowing around $6 billion into its next-generation semiconductor venture called Rapidus, involving a host of Japanese firms including Sony and Toyota.

Rapidus is collaborating with US giant IBM with the aim of mass-producing two-nanometer logic chips in Japan from 2027.

On Tuesday, alongside Microsoft's investment, two new AI research partnerships were announced between four US and Japanese universities.

The research programs, funded by tech firms including Nvidia, Amazon, Arm and SoftBank Group as well as Microsoft, "can help set the standard in this fast-evolving field", US Ambassador Rahm Emanuel said.

Rene Haas, CEO of British chip designer Arm, also hailed the "historic" new university partnerships.

"The unprecedented progress we've seen in AI will transform virtually every industry and improve countless lives," he said.

 2024 AFP
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Diagram outlining the components of the sensor. Credit: Di et al

Researchers at Meta AI, Stanford University, Technische, Universitat Dresden and the German Cancer Research Center (DFKZ) recently developed DIGIT Pinki, a miniature-sized sensor that can detect tactile information. This sensor, presented in a paper posted to the preprint server arXiv, could be integrated in new medical technologies and robotic systems.

"This paper started with a research internship at Meta AI with Roberto Calandra and Mike Lambeta, but eventually grew into a research collaboration between Meta, Stanford University, Technische Universitat Dresden, and the German Cancer Research Center (DFKZ)," Julia Di, co-author of the paper, told Tech Xplore.

"We are primarily interested in the science of digitizing touch for robots. With the DIGIT Pinki, we wanted to investigate how to build sensors that have touch capabilities resembling those of humans but in the form factor of a human finger."

DIGIT Pinki, the sensor created by Di and her colleagues, builds on tactile sensor designs introduced in recent years, such as the DIGIT and OmniTact sensors. To create their device, however, Di and her colleagues also revisited older design ideas introduced in the 1980s, including those outlined in a seminal paper by S. Begej.

"DIGIT Pinki is a type of vision-based tactile sensor that uses images from a miniature camera to get a sense of touch," Di explained. "Usually, these kinds of sensors are made up of an optically clear gel fingertip. When these gel fingertips touch an object or the environment, an internal camera with lights will take images of the resulting deformations in the gel."

The researchers trained a machine learning algorithm on the deformations of the sensor's gel, produced when the sensor makes contact with an object. The trained algorithm can accurately learn tactile information, such as the contact forces with an object, from the image data collected by the sensor. This tactile information could then be used by a robot or device to complete manipulation tasks.

Conceptual photo depicting a DIGIT Pinki fingertip integrated onto the Psyonic Ability Hand, a commercially available prosthetic. In the future, we hope to have small, sensitive fingertips for robotic hands. Credits: Julia Di/Meta

"Our innovation was to shrink sensors by using fiber optic bundles to relay the image to a remotely located camera, akin to how early endoscopes used fiber optic bundles for imaging," Di said. "By moving the electronics away from the gel fingertip, we could shrink the gel fingertip substantially. One benefit of this design is that the gel fingertip is non-magnetic and contains no electronics, a boon for any tasks in medical applications like inside the body or in an MRI machine."

The recent work by this team of researchers demonstrates the feasibility of miniaturizing vision-based tactile sensors using fiber optic bundles. Following their proposed design, Di and her colleagues created a prototype sensor with a tip diameter of 15 millimeters, which is approximately the average size of a woman's index fingertip or the size of the bottom 5% of a male index finger.

Notably, this artificial, sensing fingertip is made of silicone and contains no sensitive electronic or magnetic components. This means that it could be safely introduced in the human body and may thus be attractive for medical applications.

"One real-world application for a slim, sensitive sensor is cancer diagnostics in constrained spacesfor example, digital palpation in routine rectal or cervical exams," Di explained. "Because cancer nodules are a bit stiffer than healthy tissue, clinicians may feel cancerous growths with their fingertips as a diagnostic method.

"In the paper, we present preliminary results showing DIGIT Pinki discriminating between healthy and unhealthy tissue on both medical-grade phantoms (simulations of real tissue) and ex vivo posterior prostate tissue (the part of the prostate that would be felt during a clinical examination)."

The results of the team's preliminary tests suggest that DIGIT Pinki could be used to develop new medical technologies, including devices that can detect tissue abnormalities inside the human body. In addition, the sensor could be used to develop new robotic systems, such as slim and sensitive artificial fingertips that allow robots to manipulate objects with greater dexterity and even use scissors or other tools that require the application of controlled forces onto a constrained location.

"In the immediate future, we are working on extending this technology for other medical applications, for example, to palpate the cervix," Di added. "It would be exciting to have these kinds of highly sensitive fingertips on prosthetic hands too. We are also interested in discovering how to use artificial intelligence to interpret touch signals for manipulation. "

More information: Julia Di et al, Using Fiber Optic Bundles to Miniaturize Vision-Based Tactile Sensors, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2403.05500 Journal information: arXiv

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A man was arrested in Bryan on Sunday on three warrants out of Labette County, Kansas, according to the Bryan Police Department.

Carlton Paldo Jr., 32, was arrested on a warrant for aggravated kidnapping, a warrant for possession of a weapon by a felon and a warrant for theft of property, according to Brazos County Jail records.

The Eagle contacted the Labette County Sheriffs Office, but the department was unable to share any further details about the alleged kidnapping.
Chinese make over 51 million trips to "sweep" ancestors' tombs

Xinhua) 09:09, April 09, 2024

People lay flowers to mourn the deceased at a cemetery in Beijing, capital of China, April 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- People across China made more than 51 million trips to pay tribute to the dead from April 1 to 7, around the time of the traditional Qingming Festival, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Monday.

About 71.33 percent of them chose eco-friendly and low-carbon ways to mourn their deceased family members and worship their ancestors, the ministry said in a press release.

Meanwhile, over 4.59 million visits were made to the online mourning platforms during the seven days, the ministry said.

The traditional Chinese Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, fell on April 4 this year.

During the period around this festival, people often visit graveyards, where they traditionally pay tribute to the dead by offering food and burning incense and paper money.

In recent years, with the support from the government, many have turned to greener practices, such as offering flowers and lighting electric candles.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Human rights activists in Morocco and the Western Sahara region are the targets of a new threat actor that leverages phishing attacks to trick victims into installing bogus Android apps and serve credential harvesting pages for Windows users.

Cisco Talos is tracking the activity cluster under the name Starry Addax, describing it as primarily singling out activists associated with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

Starry Addax's infrastructure  ondroid[.]site and ondroid[.]store  is designed to target both Android and Windows users, with the latter involving fake websites masquerading as login pages for popular social media websites.

In light of active investigation into the campaign, Talos said it cannot publicly disclose which websites are being targeted with credential harvesting attacks.

"However, the threat actors are establishing their own infrastructure and hosting credential harvesting pages such as fake login pages for media and email services popular throughout the globe," the company told The Hacker News.

The adversary, believed to be active since January 2024, is known to send spear-phishing emails to targets, urging recipients to install Sahara Press Service's mobile app or a relevant decoy related to the region.

Depending on the operating system from where the request is originating from, the target is either served a malicious APK that impersonates the Sahara Press Service or redirected to a social media login page to harvest their credentials.

The novel Android malware, dubbed FlexStarling, is versatile and equipped to deliver additional malware components and steal sensitive information from infected devices.

Once installed, it requests the victim to grant it extensive permissions that allow the malware to perform nefarious actions, including fetching commands to be executed from a Firebase-based command-and-control (C2), a sign that the threat actor is looking to fly under the radar.

"Campaigns like this that target high-value individuals usually intend to sit quietly on the device for an extended period," Talos said.

"All components from the malware to the operating infrastructure seem to be bespoke/custom-made for this specific campaign indicating a heavy focus on stealth and conducting activities under the radar."

The development comes amid the emergence of a new commercial Android remote access trojan (RAT) known as Oxycorat that's being offered for sale with diverse information gathering capabilities.

The latest findings mark an interesting twist in that Starry Addax has taken pains to build its own arsenal of tools and infrastructure to target human rights activists as opposed to relying on commodity malware or commercially available spyware.

"The attacks are still in nascent stages, operationally. However, the supporting infrastructure and malware, FlexStarling, has been deemed mature enough by Starry Addax to start targeting human rights activists in North Africa," Talos added.

"The timeline of events including establishing drop points, C2s and building malware since early January 2024 indicates that Starry Addax is rapidly setting up infrastructure to target high value individuals and will continue to gain momentum."

(The story was updated after publication to include additional insights shared by Cisco Talos.)
Hackers looking to profit from cyberattacks on banking-finance institutions: experts

By Tri Duc Tue, April 9, 2024 | 2:30 pm GMT+7

Motivation for cyberattacks have shifted from fame or notoriety, to make money, as exemplified by the recent ransomware attack against leading Vietnamese broker VNDirect Securities, experts said Tuesday.

At a seminar on cybersecurity in the stock market organized by The Investor on Tuesday, Ngo Tuan Anh, CEO of SCS Cybersecurity JSC and deputy director of the Vietnam Information Security Association (VNISA), said that cyberattacks were not a new phenomenon in Vietnam, but the one on VNDirect had attracted serious public attention and concern.

The Investor hosts a dialogue on cybersecurity in the securities sector in Hanoi, April 9, 2024. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu.

Anh clarified that this was a global trend not particular to Vietnam. After such attacks, victims have two choices: abandoning the attacked files or paying attackers to recover them. As the payment, via cryptocurrency, is anonymous, it is impossible to track the attackers.

Businesses should focus on prevention and efforts to reduce the impacts of attacks, Anh said. He recommended that cybersecurity projects and securities businesses allocate at least 10% of their technology budgets on security workforce, solutions and processes.

As traditional security solutions such as firewalls and shields are more vulnerable to cyberattacks, businesses should also invest in monitoring that enables early detection and reduces the impacts of cyberattacks, he said. By detecting unusual activities such as probes made by hackers, the monitoring system can help alert and/or render hackers less harmful.

Underinvestment in cybersecurity can lead to unforeseeable disadvantages, Anh argued. Another problem was underdeveloped human resources due to limited cybersecurity training and the gap between training programs and actual cybersecurity developments.

He suggested that firms use cybersecurity services of professional providers, saying the cost would be more affordable than fines and temporary removal of business licenses.

Ngo Tuan Anh, CEO of SCS Cybersecurity JSC. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, editor-in-chief of The Investor, also remarked on the trend of profit-driven cyberattacks, especially ransomware attack. He noted that the late March ransomware attack against VNDirect Securities had negatively impacted the firm and its customers and triggered panic among stock investors.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, editor-in-chief of The Investor. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu.

Tran Minh Quan, a specialist with auditing major PwC Vietnam, said a recent survey had found businesses around the world listing ransomware attacks among the top five cybersecurity risks in the next 12 months. Other potential risk include attacks via cloud computing, which is an inevitable part of businesses' digitalization process, he added.

Quan noted it is generally recommended that victims neither pay nor contact the attackers because this would only encourage the latter into launching more attacks. Besides, it is very difficult to identify mercenary attackers, he said.

Nguyen Hong Son, deputy head of the Pentest (penetration testing) division under Information Security Center of Vietnamese telecom giant VNPT, said there was no denying cyberattacks were on the rise. The banking-finance sector is set to become a top target for hackers looking to make good money, he said, adding that new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and deep-fake were being used to launch subtler, more sophisticated attacks.

He also highlighted the under-developed legal framework on cybersecurity in Vietnam. For example, foreign nations require stock exchanges and public firms to submit cybersecurity reports, while Vietnam's legal framework is yet to stipulate them.

Nguyen Hong Son, deputy head of the Pentest division under Information Security Center of VNPT. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu.

Ngo Minh Hieu, founder of anti-fraud site chongluadao.vn, said there were 29,000 frauds reported in the first quarter of 2024, including 11,000 ones in March, remarking a significant growth over the last four years.

A common plot is phising attack. Compromised victims are manipulated and attracted to fake prizes and rewards, giving dozens of billions of VND to attackers, he said. (VND1 billion is equivalent to $40,060).

Ngo Minh Hieu also suggested securities investors should spend more time to check and verify information to avoid frauds.

Ngo Minh Hieu, founder of chongluadao.vn. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu.

Le Cong Phu, deputy head of the Vietnam Computer Emergency Response Teams (VNCERT), the Ministry of Information and Communications, stressed that underinvestment in cybersecurity staff was a serious problem in Vietnam. The country's projects on training cybersecurity staff were outpaced by demand. Besides, many firms were opting to hire cybersecurity staff instead of building their own systems and training their own staff.

Amid securities firms' inability to follow cybersecurity requirements per the government's Decree 85/2016, the VNCERT has requested all securities businesses to review and report their cybersecurity status by April 15, per the four-layer defense model, Phu said.

Currently, per Decree 15/2020 on fines for telecommunications violations, the penalties are light and firms have bigger concerns related to their damaged reputation, rather than fines for unfulfilled cybersecurity systems, he added.

Le Cong Phu, vice head of the Vietnam Computer Emergency Response Teams (VNCERT). Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu.

Quan and Phu also said the current legal framework was underdeveloped regarding compensation for victims. However, it is expected that securities firms will take due steps to retain customers to stay competitive, they said.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, deputy director of the National Population Database Center under the Ministry of Public Securitys Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order, said the ministry was cooperating with the State Securities Commission to synchronize data of citizens and stock market participants, aiming to enhance the markets operations. However, this move is not aimed at enhancing cybersecurity, he clarified.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, deputy director of the National Population Database Center under the Ministry of Public Securitys Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu.
Taiwan firms see Vietnam as crucial link in supply chain shift to Southeast Asia

By Dinh Vu, Hai Yen Tue, April 9, 2024 | 4:02 pm GMT+7

Taiwanese businesses have recognized Vietnam as a crucial link in their supply chain shift to Southeast Asia, said CY Huang, founder of the Southeast-Asia Impact Alliance (SIA).

Vietnam-Taiwan Business Forum 2024 opens in Hanoi, April 8. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Industrial Park Finance Association.

Cultural similarities, a young population, significant investor presence, robust economic growth and industrial diversity were key factors driving their decision, Huang said at the Vietnam-Taiwan Business Forum 2024 in Hanoi on Monday.

Huang also identified some fields as appealing to Taiwanese investors, including high-tech manufacturing, traditional manufacturing, and consumer services.

He stressed that Taiwanese capital can assist Vietnam in accelerating its industrialization and modernization process.

Addressing the event, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong called on Taiwanese firms to raise localization ratio in their production activities in Vietnam.

Dong lauded the flourishing economic, investment, and trade ties between Vietnam and Taiwan (China), noting that Taiwanese investment in Vietnam quadrupled last year to $2.2 billion from 2022. Taiwan currently ranks fourth among 145 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with nearly 3,200 projects valued at $39.5 billion.

Also commending the quality of their investment, Dong proposed that Taiwanese enterprises enhance technology transfers and high-skilled workforce training support for Vietnam.

Pham Tan Cong, chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that almost all major electronics corporations in Taiwan, including Foxconn, Wistron, Qisda, Pegatron, Compal and Quanta, have invested in Vietnam.

The two sides have significant opportunities to boost win-win cooperation in various scenes, including advanced technology, electronics industry, semiconductors, circular economy, innovation, and renewable energy, he said.
(TBTCO) - Ong Duong uc Quang - Pho Tong giam oc So Giao dich Hang hoa Viet Nam (MXV) nhan inh, voi kich ban cuoc xung ot giua Iran va Israel tiep dien voi tinh cuc bo, do vay, a tang nong tren thi truong co the se giam bot trong thoi gian toi. Gia xang dau trong nuoc se chiu mot so ot ieu chinh tang trong cac phien ieu hanh toi nhung a tang se khong qua lon. oi voi gia khi, thi truong co the se chi trai qua ot tang nhe khi giai oan mua ong ang toi gan.
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The pandemic forced Czech therapists to curtail their services, but when mental health needs kept growing they moved their sessions online. Might this method be here to stay? From Seznam Zpravy.

When Michaela started regular therapy sessions a year ago, before the coronavirus pandemic began, the therapist told her she could email her if she had concerns outside the office. When the coronavirus crisis struck, they agreed on video meetings via Skype.

I always sat in the same place; it was important to me to feel that no one could hear me and that I was safe, in a calm, familiar environment, Michaela said. The therapy then happened the same way as when it was live.

This kind of temporary arrangement, when psychologists and therapists had to curtail or temporarily stop their services during the spring state of emergency, didnt affect just her. Marek, in therapy for more than three years, was in the same situation. After the lockdown started, this was basically the only way to continue therapy, he explained. The sessions went more or less as normal: At the agreed time he and the therapist called each other over Skype. In terms of topics, intimacy, or intensity of therapy, I didnt feel a significant difference. But you can hide or not reveal some emotions behind a screen.

Making Connections at a Distance

Many mental health services moved online since limits on social contact were first imposed last spring. And people who hadnt sought out this kind of care before but now needed to talk to an expert because of problems arising from the pandemic began asking for help. Some doctors started offering their services free of charge. The Czech Association for Psychotherapy set up a hot line staffed by volunteers in the early, most disruptive weeks of the pandemic.

Although online therapy boomed during those first weeks, the idea is not new. So-called telemedicine has been in use for years, not only in mental health care but also in other areas of medicine, most often in the form of consultations. The beginnings of telemedicine date back to the American Civil War, when a telegraph was used to share information about the number of wounded and to order medical supplies.

Telemedicine is not just a way to maintain care during crises like the current one; it can offer remedies for systemic health problems. The number of psychologists in the Czech Republic is well below that in other developed countries. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data for 20152016, the Czech Republic had 12 psychologists per 100,000 inhabitants compared to 29 in the United States, 49 in Germany, and up to 123 in the Netherlands. Moreover, according to the Czech Association of Clinical Psychologists, their distribution in the Czech Republic favors Prague and other large cities.

A further impediment is the very small number of pediatric psychiatrists, only 60 to 70 in the entire country. The regional distribution of pediatric mental health facilities is unbalanced: the Liberec region, for instance has among the fewest mental health facilities of any region, yet in 2017 it had the most hospitalized pediatric psychiatric patients per capita.

Most mental illnesses develop before the age of 24; and untreated anxiety, for example, increases the risk of depression, which in turn increases the risk of substance abuse and suicide.

Australia has employed telemedicine for several decades as a way to distribute medical consultations across its thinly-peopled territory. It is gradually being introduced in the United States, and in Europe the service is widespread in Norway, for example. Early efforts in the Czech Republic include the company Terap.io, which started delivering services to adult patients more than a year ago. In September, the Czech investment group Miton said it planned a large investment in the company.

Terap.io was born out of our personal needs, when [co-founder Jan Sasinek] and I went through the demise of our marriages a few years ago and got help from a psychotherapist, Sasineks business partner Chadi El-Moussawi said. Until then hed had little to do with psychotherapy. After graduating from the University of Economics in Prague he went into finance.

We discovered that there are many obstacles in a persons path while in therapy, he said. Clients sometimes travel across the country to see a therapist in Prague, not because they dont have help available where they live but because they dont want to be seen visiting a therapist.

Terap.ios online sessions start with the clients choosing an available date. After logging in for their time slot, they enter a virtual room where they meet the therapist and agree on a method of communication  video call, audio call, or chat. The therapist has to be careful to not interrupt the client, and has to watch the client more closely than when theyre facing each other, El-Moussawi noted.

The internet environment has other pitfalls. Patients do lose out on physical contact with the therapist, Michaela told us. Im used to sitting across from my therapist, noticing her facial expressions, body language, her movements in general. It was harder with video, and mostly I only saw her face. I didnt mind to the point of it making me less open, but I did see it as a disadvantage. A suitable environment is another important factor, she added. Once I couldnt be at home; I was at some friends house and this was not ideal. I heard them talking in the next room. At that moment I was less open because I didnt want them to hear me.

Barbora, in her third year of therapy, said she puts the highest value on personal contact with her therapist. Although she was offered phone therapy after the pandemic broke out, Barbora turned it down. I miss therapy very much at the moment, but subconsciously I felt that over the phone I couldnt be as honest as I try to be during a normal session, she said.

Martina Cerna, one of Terap.ios therapists, moved to a small town and began offering online therapy even before the pandemic struck.

One advantage is the ability to work from home, she explained. I dont lose time traveling to an office, and I dont have to rent space. Clients sit at home in their safe space, they dont have to commute anywhere.  Clients are glad that no one sees them in the therapists waiting room. Some clients show up on camera only after a while, when they become comfortable with it; others never do.

Communication can be hampered if the quality of the internet connection is low. But neither patients nor therapists considered this to be a major obstacle. Much more tricky is payment for an online version of service that in person would routinely be covered by insurance. This was a complicated issue even before the pandemic, said Marie Salomonova, founder of the nonprofit Nevypust Dusi (Dont Release the Soul) and a co-author of the National Mental Health Action Plan 20202030. Insurance companies refused to reimburse these services [before the pandemic], and the professional community had doubts whether remote care would offer sufficient quality, she said.

During the first pandemic state of emergency in the spring, insurance companies reimbursed online therapy, but this was meant as a temporary solution, according to Jana Sixtova, spokeswoman for VZP, the largest Czech health insurer.

Klara Dolakova, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health, said earlier this year that negotiations were under way with insurance companies on the definition of remote care services. Salomonova noted that if insurance coverage werent just temporary, online care would significantly benefit people in places where therapists are few. According to Dhara Meghani, an assistant professor of clinical psychology at the University of San Francisco, remote delivery of services allows therapists to reach more people and helps relieve the anxiety some clients feel about seeking psychological services.

In general, however, there are so few child psychiatrists, for example, that they wouldnt have time for it anyway. They cant even handle the clientele they normally have, let alone remote clients, Salomonova said. Although online care proved its effectiveness during the pandemic, it has its limits and is intended more for simpler therapy, she said. The Health Ministrys view is that telemedicine brings the greatest benefit in countries with long travel distances, but its use in the Czech Republic would make mental health care more available and help patients stick to their treatment regimes and actively participate in therapy.

The advantages and disadvantages of online therapy also are being discussed among experts at the international level. A 2017 publication by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry on telepsychiatry with children and adolescents recommended considering several factors when it comes to therapy for young people. Psychiatrists should assess whether the patient has an appropriate space for remote therapy, privacy, and trained personnel should advise on whether the child can safely engage with the therapist alone or if a parent should be present. If an appropriate site is not available, then the patient might need to be referred to in-person services, recognizing that might mean no psychiatric care, the publication stated.

A split took place at the spring meeting of the European Federation for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in Berlin, according to psychoanalytic psychotherapist Halina Cermakova. About half of the attendees were using online sessions; others resisted, pointing out, for example, one major risk: The medium [internet or phone line] belongs to or may be influenced by a third party. A very private, intimate, and therefore safe environment is a basic prerequisite for psychotherapy. You can probably imagine that when you deal with your personal problems, you need to know that no one else will know.

Nikol Mudrova is a journalism student at Charles University in Prague and a reporter with the Czech news site Seznam Zpravy. Tereza Dornakova is a journalism student at Charles University and a past intern at Seznam Zpravy.

A version of this article ran on Seznam Zpravy. Translated by Dasa Obereigner.

The names of therapy clients in this article have been changed to protect their privacy.
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO is in advanced negotiations to acquire the gas-rich Loran field from Venezuela, Energy Minister Stuart Young has revealed.

Young made the announcement during the recently concluded budget debate which took place in the House of Representatives.

The Loran-Manatee cross-border reservoir was discovered in 1983 and is estimated to contain ten trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas.
A father yesterday called for police officers to be trained to handle people with mental health conditions, after his son was shot and killed by a municipal officer on Friday afternoon.

He needed help and they kill him, Cleophas Noel said of his son, Elijah Noel.

Cleophas said Elijah, 20, was schizophrenic.
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The Oklahoma Supreme Court suspended controversial Tulsa attorney Ron Durbins law practice this week, citing unprofessional conduct and 11 grievances against him since 2020.

The suspension is the result of action initiated by the Oklahoma Bar Association last summer alleging misconduct as far back as 2017.

In a lengthy emailed response, Durbin said the Supreme Courts decision confirmed  they will do everything they can to cover up legal and judicial corruption in Oklahoma.

He said the court is made up of liberal hacks who legislate from the bench.

But Durbin didnt exactly deny all of the allegations against him.

I made the decision to cross the thin black line intentionally and proudly, he wrote in the email to the Tulsa World.

The colorful Durbin is known for his involvement in the medical marijuana industry and aggressive, profanity-laced diatribes against the judicial system, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority.

He repeatedly and publicly refers to at least one judge as a drunk and questioned the honesty and ethics of numerous other public officials.

In one instance, Durbin became embroiled in a loud argument with several district judges and a bailiff in a Tulsa County Courthouse corridor.

In another, he engaged in a live-streamed dispute with a Bureau of Narcotics employee and several law officers. Durbin has been the subject of complaints to the Bar Association from city of Tulsa employees and several clients, including a former brother-in-law, according to the OBA petition filed against him last summer.

In a 254-page response filed on March 19, Durbin describes the Oklahoma Bar Association General Counsels Office as either inept or corrupt and argues that the OBA has taken no action against other attorneys with more serious charges pending.

I am guilty of speaking my mind and expressing my First Amendment Rights, and that is all I am guilty of doing, Durbin wrote in the email to the World. I knew when I started this fight to expose corruption that it wouldnt be easy.  Those entrenched in power will do all they can to hold onto it, and besmirching me certainly coursed my mind.

I will file suit in federal court in the coming weeks to seek an injunction against the Oklahoma Supreme Court regarding this suspension.

In its order, the Supreme Court says an OBA investigation found that Durbin continues to assert reckless, malicious, and dishonest statements in which he disparages judges, the judiciary, opposing counsel, the OBA, and anyone with opposing views.

The Tulsa World is where your story lives
The Vietnamese market will receive two new electric vehicle models, the Aion Y Plus and Aion ES, produced by GAC Aion New Energy Automobile Co. Ltd., a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, in June.

A Facebook account named AION Vietnam posted photos of the two versions of Aion cars displayed at the brands showroom in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City a few days ago.

Some photos of an Aion Y Plus car being transported to Vietnam had previously gone viral on social media.

Customers take a look at an Aion car on display at a showroom in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: AION Vietnam

The MPV (multipurpose vehicle) is expected to achieve a dominant position for the Chinese automobile brand in Vietnam. The car is much sought-after in Thailand.

Specifically, the Aion Y Plus is an updated variant of the all-electric Aion Y, a compact electric crossover SUV, but it is slightly longer than the previous version.

The Aion Y Plus is 4,535 mm long and 1,870 mm wide. It could be the first electric MPV available in the Vietnamese market.

An Aion Y Plus on board a truck that transports the car to Vietnam. Photo: Facebook

The Aion Y Plus boasts a length of 4,545 mm, a width of 1,870 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,750 mm. The model also features vertical LED daytime running lights and retractable door handles. Photo: AION

The interior of the Aion Y Plus is equipped with comfortable seats, a spacious cabin and two large screens. Photo: AION

The premium version of the Aion Y Plus in Thailand features an engine that can produce 204 horsepower and 225 Nm of torque. After being charged, the car can run for around 550 kilometers. Photo: AION

The Aion Y Plus boasts multiple advanced driver assistance systems such as an emergency brake alarm system and smart parking assist. Photo: AION

Meanwhile, the Aion ES, a C-segment sedan, features a length of 4,810 mm, a width of 1,880 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,750 mm.

Aion is a new entrant in Vietnam, and is predicted to find it hard to access Vietnamese customers as it has yet to set up a nationwide charging station system.

The Aion Y Plus has a modern and sporty design. Photo: AION

The Aion ES features a small touchscreen, an automated parking brake and automatic air conditioning. Photo: AION

Its engine can generate 136 horsepower and 225 Nm of torque. Photo: AION

After being charged, the Aion ES can travel for up to 440 kilometers. Photo: AION

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The time for lifting the illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing yellow card warning imposed on Vietnamese seafood by the European Commission (EC) is coming, but Vietnam needs to prove it has controlled aquatic resources transparently and responsibly, the EU ambassador to Vietnam has said.

Ambassador Julien Guerrier made the comment at a meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan in Hanoi on Thursday last week.

Guerrier, who is also head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, expressed his joy at Vietnam's strong transformation along the path of economic development and integration.

The EU deems Vietnam as one priority country in the bloc's relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and also as one of its most important partners in development cooperation activities, he said.

The ambassador emphasized that the EU in general and himself in particular are eager to continue to support Vietnam in achieving its sustainable development goals to become a developed country by 2045 and a carbon-neutral country by 2050.

Regarding the removal of the yellow card that the EC imposed on Vietnamese seafood in 2017, which has resulted in four IUU fishing inspections since, Guerrier expected that in the coming fifth inspection, the ministry would fully report the implementation of the recommendations raised by the EC during its fourth inspection in October last year.

The ambassador advised Vietnam to enhance its legal frameworks at the provincial level to combat IUU fishing activities and to improve the management of fishing vessel operations by ensuring the use of necessary equipment.

The meeting between Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan and other Vietnamese officials (L) and EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier, accompanied by other EU officials in Hanoi on April 4, 2024. Photo: Quynh Chi / Tuoi Tre

The time for the possible removal of the yellow card is coming, but Vietnam is responsible for demonstrating to the world its efforts to control aquatic resources in a transparent and legal way, Guerrier commented.

Despite undergoing four inspections on IUU fishing in Vietnam, with the latest occurring in October last year, the yellow card warning remains in place due to certain localities facing challenges in fully complying with the relevant EC requirements.

An EC team is expected to arrive in Vietnam late this month to conduct the fifth inspection, opening up a new opportunity for removing the yellow card for the Southeast Asian nation.

Minister Hoan told his guest that he highly appreciated the sound cooperation between Vietnam and the EU in the recent past, including in agriculture.

Vietnam wants to expand cooperation in trade and investment, adaptation to climate change, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and green agricultural investment.

He proposed that the EU consider lifting the IUU yellow card warning against Vietnam soon to help boost Vietnamese seafood exports to EU markets.

He also recommended that the EU apply the probability-based inspection method for Vietnams seafood exports to the EU, instead of the current 100-percent inspection, to help cut export costs.

He suggested that the EU support Vietnam to develop a blue economy, in which special attention would be paid to sustainable, responsible, environmentally friendly aquaculture and exploitation, as well as to the protection, regeneration, and development of aquatic resources.

At the same time, the EU should share mariculture experience, models, and techniques with Vietnam and assist the country in implementing programs that help fishers change their jobs that are affecting aquatic resources and the ecological environment, the minister said.

The minister affirmed Vietnam's acknowledgment and assimilation of the experiences and benefits offered by the EU as a whole, as well as those of individual countries within the bloc.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCMC) and Australias Deakin University are now strategic partners in research and development (R&D) of artificial intelligence (AI), among other fields, according to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Monday.

The strategic partnership stems from over a decade of collaboration between VNU-HCMC and the Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute at Deakin University, including AI research and development and postgraduate student mentorship, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Hai Quan, director of the VNU-HCMC, said at the signing ceremony.

Over the past year, the VNU-HCMC has promoted the development of interdisciplinary research programs, especially in AI and information technology (IT) with the goal of becoming a leading center for AI R&D in Vietnam and the Southeast Asian region, Dr. Quan said.

As per the MoU, both parties will collaborate on joint research initiatives in AI and IT, with a particular focus on applying AI to address significant challenges across various sectors such as healthcare, economics, agriculture, public governance, and the development of smart cities in Vietnam.

Dr. Quan mentioned that these projects will play a pivotal role in advancing the implementation of the AI application research and development program in Ho Chi Minh City for the 2020-30 period.

In addition to AI and IT, the two strategic partners will also cooperate in other fields such as public health, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, digital transformation, agriculture, environment, sustainable development, and climate change response.

The two universities will develop short-term training programs on university administration and public governance for leaders and managers of universities, state agencies and businesses.

They will also increase the number and scale of student exchange programs, providing research internship opportunities at Deakin University for VNU-HCMC students.

Besides, scientists of both sides will jointly carry out research projects, co-organize international scientific workshops, and coordinate the training of young lecturers for the VNU-HCMC.

Following the MoU signing ceremony, leading AI experts of the two universities co-organized a session providing AI lectures for teachers and students of the Vietnamese university.

Throughout the session, the lecturers presented recent advancements in AI applications and engaged in discussions with the audience regarding the diverse roles of AI, particularly its significance in health and biomedical research.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Spain will scrap its so-called "golden visa" programme granting residency rights to foreigners who make large investments in real estate in the country, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters on Monday.

Ending the scheme would help make access to affordable housing "a right instead of a speculative business", Sanchez said.

The programme awards non-EU citizens investing at least 500,000 euros ($541,250) - without taking out a mortgage - in Spanish real estate a special permit, allowing them to live and work in the country for three years.

"Today, 94 out of every 100 such visas are linked to real estate investment...in major cities that are facing a highly stressed market and where it's almost impossible to find decent housing for those who already live, work and pay their taxes there," Sanchez said.

He added that the government would launch the process to eliminate the scheme at Tuesday's weekly cabinet meeting after studying a report submitted by the Housing Ministry.

From the start of the golden visa scheme in 2013 until November 2022, Spain issued almost 5,000 permits, government figures show.

Chinese investors top the list followed by Russians who invested more than 3.4 billion euros, according to a 2023 Transparency International report that questioned whether authorities investigated the origin of the funds.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks to the press as he attends a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium March 21, 2024. Photo: Reuters

The measure is unlikely to affect the property market since less than 0.1% of 4.5 million homes sold during that period were purchased under the scheme, according to property website Idealista.

Spain's housing problem was not caused by the golden visa scheme, but rather by a lack of supply and a spike in demand, said Idealista spokesperson Francisco Inareta.

"The measure announced today, which focuses on international buyers rather than encouraging new homes to come onto the market, is yet another misdiagnosis," Inareta said.

Neighbouring Portugal has recently revamped its own "golden visa" scheme and excluded real estate investment to tackle a housing crisis. Foreigners who want to secure residency rights can still put their money into investment funds.

The European Commission has long called for an end to such programmes, citing security risks.
NIAGARA FALLS -- Throngs of skywatchers across North America gazed upward at a blackened sun in the midday dusk on Monday, celebrating with cheers, music and matrimony the first total solar eclipse to darken the continent in seven years.

From a Mexican beach resort close to where the eclipse made landfall to the banks of the Ohio River and farther north beyond the roaring cascades of Niagara Falls at the U.S.-Canadian border, spellbound crowds reacted to the sight of "totality" with jaw-dropping expressions of awe and joy.

In Russellville, Arkansas, a town of roughly 30,000 residents near the state's only nuclear power plant, almost 400 couples tied the knot by the shadow of the moon in a mass wedding event dubbed "Elope and the Eclipse."

People use special protective glasses to observe a total solar eclipse in Mazatlan, Mexico April 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters

At least two weddings and one marriage proposal were known to have taken place among roughly 2,000 people who assembled at Niagara Falls State Park despite overcast skies.

The dreary weather subdued the experience until clouds momentarily parted to reveal the last 30 seconds of totality, and the crowd went wild, cheering and shouting, "It's so beautiful."

As the skies began to brighten again, a band played out the retreating lunar shadow with a rendition the R.E.M.'s 1992 hit song "Man on the Moon.

Across the river in Niagara Falls, Ontario, 309 people - some from as far away as Singapore and London - came dressed up as the sun, setting a new world record for the largest group to wear solar costumes in one place, contest organizers said. The previous record was set in 2020 by 287 participants in China.

A total solar eclipse is seen from Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. April 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters

A partial solar eclipse is seen from Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. April 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters

People look to the sky, ahead of a total solar eclipse, where the moon will blot out the sun, at Niagara Falls, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Shadows and light

Where clear skies prevailed, observers along the direct path of the eclipse were treated to the rare spectacle of the moon appearing as a dark orb creeping in front of the sun, briefly blocking out all but a brilliant halo of light, or corona, around, the sun's outer edge. (Reuters live coverage)

It was first total eclipse to sweep across a large swath of North America since 2017, and will be the last one visible from the contiguous United States until 2044.

As totality unfolded at a campground in North Hudson in upstate New York, hundreds of people shrieked with excitement.

"Oh my God!" some said, as the air cooled and automatic outdoor lights on a nearby building flicked on, fooled by the darkness.

A woman looks at the start of the eclipse as people gather on the observation deck of Edge at Hudson Yards during a partial solar eclipse in New York City, New York, U.S., April 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters

A total solar eclipse is seen from Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. April 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Mexico's beachside resort town of Mazatlan was the first major viewing spot for totality. Thousands in solar-safe eyewear perched in deck chairs along the coastal promenade, and an orchestra played the "Star Wars" movie theme as skies darkened under the approaching lunar shadow.

The crowds burst into cheers, applause and whistles when the eclipse reached totality.

The period of totality, lasting up to 4-1/2 minutes depending the observer's location, was ushered in by a number of other eerie eclipse effects. Some stars twinkled at midday as dusk abruptly descended, sending temperatures dipping and faint waves of "shadow bands" flickering over the landscape. Birds and other wildlife sometimes fall silent and still.

Eclipse fans traveled from far and wide hoping to glimpse the phenomenon somewhere along the "path of totality" stretching 2,500 miles (4,000 km) from Mexico's Pacific Coast through Texas and across 14 other U.S. states into Canada. The moon's shadow exited continental North America in Newfoundland.

A partial eclipse, in which the moon obscures only a portion of the sun, was visible across most of the continental United States outside the path of totality, where weather permitted.

Lourdes Corro, 43, said she traveled 10 hours by car to reach Mazatlan, Mexico, for an event widely considered one of nature's greatest wonders.

"The last one I saw was when I was 9 years old," Corro said. "There are a few clouds but we can still see the sun."

The moon partially eclipses the sun, ahead of a total solar eclipse where the moon will blot out the sun, at Niagara Falls, New York, U.S. April 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters

'Complete sensory experience'

Overcast skies across much of the United States added an extra challenge for many.

Laura and Brian Uzzle awaited the eclipse on the banks of the Ohio River between Indiana and Kentucky on Monday after cloudy forecasts prompted the Denver-based couple to abandon initial plans to view it from Texas and book last-minute flights and rental cars several hundred miles (km) away.

Laura Uzzle, 56, said she was excited to experience the eclipse by a riverbank teeming with birds and insects.

"Even the wildlife changes," she said. "It's a complete sensory experience."

The surge in eclipse enthusiasts taking to roadways in Indiana prompted the state police to announce it was shutting down highway rest stops once they reached capacity and kept them closed for the duration.

At up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds, Monday's total eclipse surpassed the duration of the 2017 event, which lasted upwards of 2 minutes and 42 seconds. According to NASA, solar eclipse totalities can range from 10 seconds to about 7-1/2 minutes.

Monday's total eclipse rolled through more densely populated regions than seven years ago, a corridor averaging 115 miles (185 km) wide encompassing such major cities as San Antonio, Austin and Dallas, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Cleveland, Ohio; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Montreal, Quebec.

About 32 million people in the United States live within the path of totality, with federal officials having predicted another 5 million people would travel to be there.

People gather on the observation deck of Edge at Hudson Yards ahead of the solar eclipse in New York City. Photo: Reuters

It took about 80 minutes from the moment the moon first began to cover the sun to the moment of totality, then another 80 minutes to complete the process in reverse.

The last remaining bit of brilliant sunlight before totality creates a "diamond ring effect," with a single bright spot glaring from one side of the lunar shadow while the sun's corona still encircles the rest of the moon.

Some suggested the experience might have a lingering effect on human social behavior, if only temporarily.

In Burlington Vermont, where hotels were booked months in advance, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak said the thousands of visitors who gathered in her city exuded the mood of a midsummer festival.

"It was a really chill vibe. People were appreciating the momentousness of the occasion," Mulvaney-Stanak, who was sworn into office on April 1, told reporters afterward.

Asked if she believed the communal experience might help heal some of society's festering political and social divisions, the mayor said: "I really think it will."

"Truly, this felt like another huge surge of optimism," she said.

A partial solar eclipse is seen from Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. April 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters

A partial solar eclipse is seen from New York City, U.S., April 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Tourists look at the Horseshoe Falls, ahead of the Solar Eclipse that will take place across parts of the United States and Canada, at Niagara Falls, New York, U.S., April 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Tourists sit by the Horseshoe Falls, ahead of the solar eclipse, at Niagara Falls, New York. Photo: Reuters

Tourists sleep next to the Horseshoe Falls, ahead of the Solar Eclipse that will take place across parts of the United States and Canada, at Niagara Falls, New York, U.S., April 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters

A rainbow at Niagara Falls ahead of the solar eclipse to take place later in the day, in New York. Photo: Reuters

A general view of Niagara Falls and a rainbow ahead of solar eclipse to take place later in the day, in New York, U.S., April 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Tourists look at the Horseshoe Falls, ahead of the Solar Eclipse that will take place across parts of the United States and Canada on April 8, at Niagara Falls, New York, U.S., April 7, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Tourists look at the American Falls, ahead of the Solar Eclipse that will take place across parts of the United States and Canada on April 8, at Niagara Falls, New York, U.S., April 7, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Visitors explore the village of Makanda, population 600, which is at the crossroads of the 2017 and 2024 eclipses, experiencing full totality for both, in southern Illinois, U.S., April 7, 2024. Photo: Reuters
Chairman of Vietnams law-making National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue met with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday morning in Beijing.

At the meeting, which is part of NA Chairman Hues ongoing official visit to China from Sunday to Friday this week, the top legislator extended best regards from General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and key leaders of the Vietnamese Party and state to President Xi.

The Vietnamese NA leader expressed his congratulations to China on the significant achievements that the Party, state, and people of China have gained, especially after the 18th CPC National Congress.

Chairman Hue shared his belief that China will manage to fulfill its goals introduced at the 20th CPC National Congress and develop itself into a modern, prosperous, and civilized socialist power, contributing to global peace, cooperation, and development.

An overview of a meeting between Vietnams National Assembly delegation and the Chinese side in Beijing, April 8, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

President Xi congratulated Vietnam on its socio-economic achievements under the leadership of the CPV and Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong, affirming that China endorses Vietnam's development, stability, and success in building socialism.

The two top officials expressed their pleasure at the good outcomes of the Vietnam-China bilateral ties, stressing that both Parties and states share certain similarities in terms of ideology and socialism building.

Chairman Hue emphasized that Hanoi's decision to cultivate relations with Beijing is a strategic priority and a cornerstone of Vietnams foreign policy, which is grounded in principles of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, development, multilateralism, and diversification of foreign relations.

The chairman added that Vietnam consistently implements the One-China policy.

President Xi asserted that China attaches great importance to its relations with Vietnam and is willing to bolster and deepen the relations between the two Parties and countries.

The top Vietnamese legislator suggested that both sides strengthen their mutual political trust, beef up high-level exchanges, and promote cooperation in such fields as diplomacy, public security, and national defense.

Chairman Hue stressed the importance of strengthening connectivity via rail, road, sea, and air, while also advocating for cooperation in finance, monetary policies, and digital transformation, alongside promoting people-to-people exchanges between both countries.

President Xi praised the suggestions put forth by the Vietnamese side, affirming China's readiness to uphold strategic exchanges and facilitate meetings at all levels with Vietnam.

He also expressed willingness to share China's experience in Party building and to strengthen cooperation in digital economy, green energy, essential minerals, as well as emerging industries.

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HONG KONG, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A series of visits to China by senior officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to China has recently captured headlines.

Following the visit of Indonesian President-elect and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, foreign ministers of Laos, Vietnam and Timor-Leste also visited China separately. On Sunday, Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue also started a visit to China.

Analysts believe that the flurry of visits indicates that China, ASEAN's largest neighbor, has become a reliable and long-term comprehensive strategic partner to ASEAN, with mutually beneficial cooperation injecting more stability and positive energy into regional and global development.

RARE VISIT

Prabowo came to China on his first official visit after being elected president of Indonesia, the largest economy among ASEAN members and a key regional player.

It is uncommon for newly-elected state leaders to visit a foreign country before inauguration.

This indicates China's unique position and importance in Indonesia's foreign relations. Prabowo's visit aims to consolidate Indonesia's cooperation with China, which President Joko Widodo has already established, said Indonesian sinologist Novi Basuki.

Data from Statistics Indonesia showed that the trade volume between the two countries in 2023 reached 127.12 billion U.S. dollars, making China Indonesia's biggest trading partner for 11 consecutive years.

Aside from trade, bilateral cooperation has flourished in other fields, such as infrastructure. The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, has brought great convenience to travelers during Ramadan, shortening travel time between the two cities from over three hours to roughly 40 minutes.

Prabowo said during his visit that the new Indonesian government is willing to promote more economic and trade cooperation and collaboration in combatting poverty to further benefit the two peoples.

INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT

During his visit to China, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith said Laos will work with China to ensure the Laos-China Railway bring greater economic benefits and strengthen cooperation with China in energy, agricultural tourism and other fields.

Dubbed a "golden transport channel," the China-Laos Railway has become the epitome of the thriving economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN countries.

The convenient international logistics channel and popular international passenger train services have created employment opportunities for local residents, attracted more foreign investment, and facilitated the upgrading and expansion of various industries along the railway line.

With the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the construction of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, bilateral trade between China and ASEAN countries continued to grow in 2023, reaching 6.41 trillion yuan (886.17 billion U.S. dollars). ASEAN has maintained its position as China's largest trading partner for four consecutive years, while China has also remained ASEAN's largest trading partner for 14 years in a row.

With the gradual increase in bilateral trade comes expanded investment, said Xin Tao, head of corporate banking and general manager of the Beijing branch of United Overseas Bank (China).

As of July 2023, the two-way investment between China and ASEAN exceeded 380 billion U.S. dollars, with over 6,500 Chinese direct investment enterprises established in ASEAN. Meanwhile, the digital economy, green development and new energy industries are emerging as investment hotspots.

In Thailand, a vital auto manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia, Chinese auto companies are selling electric vehicles and setting up factories. They have also brought in supporting industries such as battery production, catalyzing the establishment of an electric vehicle industry chain in Thailand.

Xin said China and ASEAN share common development ideals and common industrial chains. Cooperation is not just about simple economic and trade exchanges but more about the tangible integration of industrial chains.

CLOSER COMMUNITY

During their visits, Prabowo, Saleumxay and Vietnam's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son all pledged to implement the critical consensus of building a community of shared future between their respective countries and China.

Meanwhile, a recent report by Singapore's Yusof Ishak Institute suggested that over 60 percent of the Southeast Asian population endorses the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, indicating the resonance of this Chinese vision.

As part of efforts to build a closer community with a shared future between China and ASEAN, this year has been designated the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

Since the beginning of this year, China has signed visa exemption agreements with Singapore and Thailand.

Exchange students have also benefited from China-ASEAN cultural exchanges through various scholarship programs. In the academic year 2021-2022, students from ASEAN countries accounted for approximately 30 percent of all international students studying in China.

Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Hou Yanqi said the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges would build a "heart-to-heart bridge," reflecting the joint contributions of China and ASEAN in promoting world peace, security, prosperity and progress. 
Vietnam and China affirmed giving priority to each other in their foreign policies, pledging to further promote their comprehensive strategic partnership during a recent meeting between the countries top legislators.

Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji on Monday hosted talks with Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue, who arrived in Beijing a day earlier for a six-day official visit.

The host and guest expressed their satisfaction with the positive advancements in bilateral relations between the two Parties and countries, particularly highlighting the exchanges and cooperation between their respective legislatures in recent times.

Seeing Vietnam as a priority in its overall neighborly foreign policy, China consistently supports Vietnam in successfully implementing its industrialization and modernization, as well as enhancing its international role, Zhao said.

Chairman Hue emphasized that the Party and state of Vietnam attach special importance to the development of stable, healthy, sustainable, and long-term relations with China, considering it a strategic choice and top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism, and diversification of ties.

Both the top legislators agreed to promote the effective implementation of the joint statement reached between the two countries last December on continuing to deepen and elevate their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, while building a Vietnam-China community for a shared future.

The talk between the two delegations of Vietnam (L) and China, led by the respective top legislators of the two countries, Vuong Dinh Hue and Zhao Leji, in Beijing on April 8, 2024. Photo: Gia Han / Tuoi Tre

Hue proposed that the two sides promote connection in development strategies, further improving the quality and effectiveness of cooperation in all fields.

He suggested that China create favorable conditions for the early establishment of Vietnams trade promotion offices in Chengdu City (Sichuan Province), Haikou City (Hainan), and Nanjing City (Jiangsu).

The top Vietnamese legislator recommended that China continue opening markets for imports from Vietnam, including agricultural and aquatic products, and soon negotiate and sign a framework agreement on rice trade.

He also asked China to effectively deploy the pilot construction of smart border gates, improve customs clearance efficiency, and facilitate Vietnamese goods transiting Chinese railways to third countries via the Asia-Europe railway.

The two sides should coordinate to resolve problems in a number of cooperation projects, and speed up the progress of China's non-refundable aid to Vietnam, Hue told his host.

He called for more efforts in surveys and cooperation for the construction of several standard-gauge railway projects, particularly in the Hanoi - Lao Cai, Hanoi - Quang Ninh, and Hanoi - Lang Son sections.

Zhao highly appreciated and agreed to Hues proposals on boosting multifaceted relations between the two nations.

China is ready to deepen practical cooperation with Vietnam, expand trade and investment cooperation, strengthen strategic development connection, and realize high-quality development, the host stressed.

Strategic connectivity will be fostered between Chinas Belt and Road Initiative and the cooperative framework Two Corridors, One Belt adopted by the two nations, focusing on developing infrastructure, roads, railways, and smart border gates, Zhao told his guest.

The two sides agreed to promote cooperation to develop supply chains, production chains, digital economy, green economy, new energy, key minerals, and 5G technology.

China welcomes Vietnams opening of its representative agencies and trade promotion offices in China, Zhao said, adding that both sides should work together to satisfactorily handle existing problems in bilateral cooperation.

Vietnams National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (L) and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji exchange a cooperation agreement between the two nations legislatures. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

Regarding the cooperation between the two legislative bodies, Hue recommended they enhance delegation exchanges at all levels, share experience in parliamentary activities, and strengthen the supervisory role of the legislative bodies in urging ministries, sectors, and localities to implement the signed documents and agreements.

The two parliamentarians agreed to continue realizing the common perceptions reached by the leaders of the two Parties and states, and controlling disagreements effectively to maintain peace and stability in the East Vietnam Sea, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Hue urged both sides to fulfill agreements concerning search and rescue operations and establish hotlines to address incidents stemming from fishing activities, with the aim of promptly finalizing a new fishery cooperation agreement in the Gulf of Tonkin.

The two countries should work with other ASEAN countries to accelerate negotiations for a Code of Conduct (COC) for the East Vietnam Sea in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Vietnam News Agency reported, citing the two legislature leaders.

Following their talks, Hue and Zhao signed and exchanged a new cooperation agreement between the two legislative bodies.

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Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense held a ceremony in Hanoi on Monday to hand over decisions signed by the state president and the defense minister to send three officers to the United Nations peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Abyei.

Among them, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Sy Hieu, a former lecturer at the Air Defense-Air Force Academy, will take on the position of a military observer at the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic.

Major Nguyen Thi Thanh Loan, a former lecturer at the Army Academy, will serve as a logistics officer for the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei.

Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Tien Long, former assistant to the political department of Navy Zone 4 Command, will serve as a military observer at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

The three officers have prepared well to fulfill their tasks at the United Nations peacekeeping missions. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

Speaking at the ceremony, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, said the three officers are excellent members of the People's Army of Vietnam.

He expected the trio to quickly grasp the situation in their respective areas, perform their assigned tasks, and ensure their safety.

On behalf of the three officers, Hieu said joining the United Nations peacekeeping missions is an honor and a great responsibility.

They have been prepared with professional knowledge, foreign language skills, good health, bravery, determination, and political trust.

Vietnam has sent some 800 officers and soldiers to join UN peacekeeping missions so far.

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Catch up on the news in Vietnam today:

Politics

-- Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense held a ceremony in Hanoi on Monday to hand over the state president's and the defense ministers decisions to send three officers to the United Nations peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Abyei.

-- Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji presided over a welcome ceremony for and held talks with Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue in Beijing on Monday, during which Zhao said China always considers Vietnam a priority in its neighborly diplomacy policy.

The top Vietnamese legislator also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping the same day as part of his ongoing official visit to China through Sunday this week.

Society

-- Flights to and from Dien Bien Airport in the namesake northern province were canceled on Monday due to poor visibility caused by haze, which has affected flights to and from the airport since last weekend, the airport operator said.

-- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday signed an official dispatch asking officials to ensure sufficient fresh water supply to residents in the Mekong Delta as saltwater intrusion is forecast to continue in the region until mid-May.

-- Doctors at the Vietnam  Cuba Dong Hoi Friendship Hospital in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam have saved a ninth grader who was stabbed in his kidney by his schoolmate, the hospital announced on Monday.

-- Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday rescued a three-year-old girl and a seven-year-old girl that their mother reported missing while they were selling candies on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in District 1 on Wednesday last week. Police officers found that a 21-year-old woman had enticed the children and kept them in an apartment in Binh Thanh District.

-- The Vietnamese government has tasked four ministries with weighing the import of sand from Cambodia for supply to expressway projects in the southern region.

World News

-- Throngs of skywatchers across North America gazed upward at a blackened sun in the midday dusk on Monday, celebrating with cheers, music and matrimony the first total solar eclipse to darken the continent in seven years, Reuters reported.

-- U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned China on Monday that Washington will not accept new industries being decimated by Chinese imports, as she wrapped up four days of meetings to press her case for Beijing to rein in excess industrial capacity, according to Reuters.

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Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday rescued a three-year-old and a seven-year-old reported missing by their mother while selling candies on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in District 1 last week, finding that a 21-year-old woman lured the children to an apartment in Binh Thanh District.

Initially, police officers established that Pham Huynh Nhat Vi, a 21-year-old woman from Tien Giang Province in the Mekong Delta, who were accused of kidnapping the two children, had no prior relationship with them.

Local authorities are currently investigating Vis motives.

On Wednesday evening last week, police in Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 received a report from Nguyen Thi Chi, 27, residing in District 7, regarding the disappearance of her two biological children, seven-year-old N.K.T.M. and three-year-old L.H.T.L., while they were selling candies in the Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street area.

Over 200 officers were mobilized to locate the children promptly.

Utilizing professional methods and public assistance, around 4:30 am on Monday, police determined that around 8:30 pm last Wednesday, an unidentified woman approached the kids when they were unattended.

Police officers query 21-year-old Pham Huynh Nhat Vi at Saigon Pearl apartment building in Ward 22, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, April 8, 2024. Photo: Supplied

The woman took them through various routes from District 1 to District 8, before eventually taking a ride-hailing service to Saigon Pearl apartment building in Ward 22, Binh Thanh District.

Upon investigation, officers found out that Vi was keeping the children in an apartment in the Saigon Pearl complex.

Police officers swiftly apprehended Vi and safely rescued the kids, who appeared frightened when found huddled together.

Following a health check, it was confirmed that the children were in good health.

Officers initially determined that Vi used material incentives and sweets to attract and retain the children, acting alone.

Currently, police are gathering evidence to initiate legal proceedings against Vi in accordance with the law.

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With the persistent hot weather prevailing in Ho Chi Minh City, outdoor workers and residents without air conditioning are seeking refuge from the heatwave by taking their breaks under bridges and large trees around the city.

Vo Minh Cuong, a 38-year-old worker from Thu Duc City, under Ho Chi Minh City, who works at the construction site of a building project in District 1, discovered a space under the nearby Ba Son Bridge where he could have a short nap after lunch.

The area under the bridge seems like a different world where the weather is cooler than that on the bridge thanks to winds from the Saigon River.

Cuong noted that many workers and ride-hailing drivers often take advantage of this area to catch a quick nap.

Vo Minh Cuong, a 38-year-old worker from Thu Duc City, under Ho Chi Minh City, lies in a hammock under the Ba Son Bridge in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: An Vi / Tuoi Tre

Hanging a hammock near Cuongs, Nguyen Van Thuan, a 25-year-old driver from Thu Duc, said expressed his fondness for the area, humorously remarking that the breezes from the river provided better cooling than air conditioners.

He added that he frequents the spot six days a week to take a break at noon.

Many people in the southern metropolis complained that fans seem useless, while using air conditioners results in high electricity costs.

Many people have no air conditioners, so they have to rest in the shade of trees.

University students reach Gia Dinh Park in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City to escape the heat. Photo: An Vi / Tuoi Tre

Huynh Chi Khanh, a 21-year-old student in Tan Binh District, and his friends rushed to Gia Dinh Park in Go Vap District after school to escape the heatwave.

Khanh said they frequently visit coffee shops with air conditioning, but occasionally still feel stifled and uncomfortable.

But maintaining this habit can be quite costly, he admitted, as they cannot afford the costs for drinks at a coffee shop every day.

They are also afraid of heatstroke when stepping out of coffee shops after sitting inside for a while.

Many ride-hailing drivers hang hammocks to take a rest under the Ba Son Bridge in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: An Vi / Tuoi Tre

Lam Quoc Phong, a 37-year-old white-collar worker from Thu Duc City, also has lunch at a park instead of in his office.

Besides university students and poor laborers, many people with spacious houses prefer enjoying the cool atmosphere in parks.

As a case in point, Quynh Thi Kim Tuyet, a 62-year-old resident in Binh Thanh District, and her friends often bring tables and chairs to the bank of the Saigon River to take a rest at noon.

Tuyet said she could not stand staying at home during the hottest part of the day. Fans do not help, while air conditioners cannot be turned on all day.

80-year-old Pham Thi Ngoc reads a newspaper under a tree along the Nhieu Loc  Thi Nghe Canal in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.

The corrugated iron-roofed house of 80-year-old Pham Thi Ngoc in Binh Thanh is scorching at noon.

She said she has been living in Ho Chi Minh City since she was 25 but has yet to experience a year that is hotter than this.

She often seeks shelter under the trees along the Nhieu Loc  Thi Nghe Canal in Binh Thanh District.

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Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed an official dispatch on Monday asking officials to ensure sufficient fresh water supply to residents in the Mekong Delta as saltwater intrusion is forecast to continue in the region until mid-May.

According to the official dispatch, the Mekong Delta has suffered long-lasting heatwaves and saltwater intrusion since early this year.

The region is expected to encounter three spells of saltwater intrusion, with the first occurring from April 8 to 13, the second from April 20 to 28, and the third from May 7 to 11.

These occurrences may lead to significant water shortages.

As a result, the prime minister tasked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Construction, and Mekong Delta localities with keeping a close watch on the situation and continuing to take measures to respond to heatwaves, droughts, water scarcity, and saline intrusion.

Such places must review every household in their precincts, especially those living in coastal areas and on islets, and ensure water supply for them.

They were also asked to review fresh water reserves to regulate water resources for locals daily life and production.

The chairs of all provinces and cities will be held accountable to the prime minister if residents suffer fresh water shortages.

PM Chinh required Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang to keep directing ministries, agencies, and localities, especially those in the Mekong Delta, to employ measures to deal with droughts, water shortages, and saline intrusion.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan was instructed to oversee weather forecasting and the dissemination of information to localities and residents.

He was charged with providing cities and provinces with strategies to address water shortages and saltwater intrusion..

Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi was told to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the authorities in relevant Mekong Delta localities to ensure the supply of water to residents and other demands.

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US actor Jonathan Majors (Lovecraft Country, Loki, Creed III, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) has avoided jail after assaulting his ex-girlfriend.

Majors, 34, had faced up to a year behind bars having been convicted of misdemeanour assault by a jury in December.

Judge Michael Gaffey ordered Majors to complete a year-long in-person intervention program. He also has to continue with his mental health therapy.

The conviction stemmed from an altercation last March in which Majors then-girlfriend Grace Jabbari accused him of attacking her in the back seat of a car.

During a victim impact statement, Ms Jabbari said the incident left her with extreme emotional and physical pain.

Majors claimed the 31-year-old British dancer was the aggressor, flying into a jealous rage after reading a text message from another woman on his phone. He maintained he was only trying to regain his phone and get away from Ms Jabbari safely.

In sentencing, Judge Gaffey also issued a permanent order of protection against any contact whatsoever with Jabbari. The actor cannot apply for or own a gun, the judge also said. Any violation of the sentencing terms could result in Majors being put behind bars for up to 364 days. If Majors does not complete the West Coast intervention program, he could also face six months in jail.

Marvel dropped the actor on the day he was convicted of assault and harassment.

1800Respect: 1800 737 732

Source: ABC Deadline
Filming has commenced on upcoming ABC mystery series Return to Paradise starring Anna Samson (Dead Lucky, Wake in Fright, Jack Irish) as Mackenzie Clarke.

The 6 part spin-off series of the global smash-hit Death in Paradise is filming in across Sydney and the Illawarra coastal region, offering a distinctively Australian flare, while playing homage to the Paraverse.

The ensemble cast includes Lloyd Griffith (Ted Lasso, Nolly), Tai Hara (Home & Away, Colin From Accounts), Catherine McClements (Total Control, Ms Fishers Modern Murder Mysteries), Celia Ireland (Wentworth, Total Control), Andrea Demetriades (Mother and Son, The Artful Dodger) and Aaron McGrath (Gold Diggers, Preppers).

The series is produced by BBC Studios Productions Australia with Red Planet Pictures for the ABC in association with the BBC.

Co-Creator and Executive Producer Peter Mattessi says: Im beyond excited to welcome Producer Di Haddon and our two fabulous directors Mat King and Tenika Smith who are coming together with our amazing cast to bring the world of Return to Paradise to life. We are having so much fun creating this brand-new mystery series that brings an Australian twist to one of the globes most successful television franchises. We think audiences in Australia, UK and around the world are going to fall in love with our wonderful characters, our delicious whodunits, and our gorgeous coastal Australian locations.

The series will air on ABC and ABC iview later this year and will be shown on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK. It will be distributed globally by BBC Studios.

Return to Paradise follows DI Mackenzie Clarke (Anna Samson), an Australian ex-pat whos made a name for herself in Londons Metropolitan Police for cracking uncrackable murder cases. When she is accused of tampering with evidence, Mackenzie returns to Australia, back to the last place she ever wanted to be  her hometown of Dolphin Cove. Having fled the town six years ago, infamously leaving her ex- fiancee Glenn (Tai Hara) at the altar, Mackenzie is not welcome here.

But with no other job options, and a unique talent for solving a mystery, no matter how challenging, a reluctant Mack joins the team at Dolphin Cove Police Station. Once a case lands on her desk, she cant rest until shes figured it out, and the killer is in handcuffs. Its that tenacity and work ethic that might just, over time, help Mackenzie win over her new colleagues, and the people of Dolphin Cove.

Production Credits: Produced by BBC Studios Productions Australia, Red Planet Pictures. Created and Executive Produced by Peter Mattessi, James Hall and Robert Thorogood. Producer: Di Haddon. Executive Producers for BBC Studios Productions Australia are Kylie Washington and Warren Clarke, for Red Planet Pictures are Belinda Campbell and Tim Key and for ABC are Rachel Okine and Brett Sleigh.
NITV observational documentary series Our Law, which explores the relationship between police and First Nations peoples, will return for a second season in May, including on SBS.

This eight-part series follows First Nations police officers and recruits as they attempt to change the system from within and break the cycle of Indigenous incarceration. Cameras have access to frontline police operations, squad-car conversations, high stakes decision making.

Again narrated by Deborah Mailman, season two expands from Western Australia to New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the Torres Strait.

NITVs Head of Commissions, Marissa McDowell, said: Our Law has unprecedented access as it follows 11 members of police services across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, the Torres Strait and Western Australia. The series demonstrates the importance of Indigenous police working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to build trust and bridge the gap of communication. This is a documentary for all Australians, so that Indigenous peoples are seen and heard, including those who work in the police system and those who engage with police. NITV has worked with the Our Law team to bring this vital series to a national audience.

Series Director, Perun Bonser, said, It is my hope that the series seeds critically important national conversations, which must take place now, if we are to establish a system of law that is fair for everyone. The responsibility of building a relationship between the police and Indigenous communities is on all of us.

Screen Australias Head of First Nations, Angela Bates said: The First Nations Department is proud to support Our Laws evolution over the last few years, a series that highlights the importance of First Nations police officers and cadets in breaking down barriers, creating awareness and understanding, and healing deeply fractured relationships. It skillfully navigates and weaves together the compelling journeys of these officers, while giving voice to the communities being policed. Were looking forward to watching season two, the stories and conversations that will come out of it, and the impact it has on Australian audiences.

Screenwest CEO, Rikki Lea Bestall said: Screenwest is proud to have supported Our Law from its inception as a groundbreaking half hour documentary to a full series and now a second series. Pink Pepper and Periscope Pictures are forces of nature who, together with director, Perun Bonser have once again produced a compelling series which will undoubtedly encourage deeper cultural understanding and healing amongst our First Nations community, the Australian Police and all Australians.

In series two, Leroy Rundle and Ace Kiernan, who appeared as Western Australian police cadets in series one, face new challenges in their roles as a Recruit and a Custody Officer. The series also follows Sergeant Alan Kickett from Western Australian Police; Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers (ACLO) Melissa Muter, Scott Mieni and Narelle Dickson from NSW Police Force; Sergeant Melissa Peters from Victoria Police; and Senior Constable Patricia Pedro, Constable Jarwin Blackman, and Constable Laurie Bateman from Queensland Police Service, as they work in various communities.

With its unique truth-telling, Our Law follows multiple stories and cameras are granted intimate and candid access as they follow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander police out on the beat in a diverse range of locations and communities around Australia, each with its own unique history, culture and policing needs. These locations include Perth and Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, Nambucca Heads and Redfern in New South Wales, Ballarat in Victoria, Caboolture and in Queensland, Thursday Island in the Torres Strait and more.

The original creative team returns for the second series, including director Perun Bonser (Star Dreaming, Noongar Footy Magic), and producers Taryne Laffar of Pink Pepper (KGB, On Country Kitchen) and Sam Bodhi Field of Periscope Pictures (Behind the Blue Line, Virtual Whadjuk).

Production Credit: Our Law is a Pink Pepper Pty Ltd and Periscope Pictures Pty Ltd production for NITV. Principal production investment from Screen Australias First Nations Department, in association with NITV. Financed with support from Screenwest and Lotterywest.

Thursday 9 May from 8.30pm with a double episode on NITV / SBS.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this post may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.
According to Hamish Blake this years season of Lego Masters: Australia vs the World has done its best to set up a level playing field for its eight teams.

Inspired by Nines upcoming Olympics, four international teams face off against new local duos.

Weve got 4 new Aussie teams, which is a home brand advantage, and then four teams from the different international versions of Lego Masters, he tells TV Tonight.

They have been on Lego Masters in their country and now theyre coming to Australia. We thought that kind of evened it up. The Australians have seen how the show works, and then the internationals come in with a bit of experience. We sort of figured that was a fair way to do it.

Weve stacked the deck

Visiting teams will represent France, Denmark, Germany and the USA compete against Aussies who include a Lego store manager, a Lego art designer and an official Lego master builder.

I think weve got a fair bit of nepotism on the show by having 4 Aussie teams. Like, weve stacked the deck so Australias a good chance to win. But having said that, the other teams are very good too. But hey, were not the IOC, we can show a bit of favouritism!

Now in its sixth season, the series sees the return of judge Ryan Brickman McNaught plus guests including Sophie Monk, radio presenter Michael Wippa Wipfli and Jordy Hocking from Lego Masters Season 1.

Lets not be led too harshly by Channel Nine promos

Challenges this season include a spectacular window display challenge, fan favourite Is It Fake? with a Parisian twist and celebrating 85 years of Batman. But Blake assures that even though Nines promo is in stadium, outdoor challenges are a little more down to earth.

Lets not be led too harshly by Channel Nine promos, we know that theyre quite often not an accurate reflection of the show! Yes, I can confirm that were not at Olympic Park. Were back in the studio for the most part, he explains.

I do love the challenge of trying to create the world in the studio. But for this season we do get down about for things that quite clearly cant be done. There is one episode where the teams get given the chassis of a go-kart and then they have to skin it to race around a track. So racing go-karts made out of Lego is tough to do in the studio.

Theyre kind of playing for national pride as well

I actually think some of the challenges weve got this year are the best weve ever done. Its still fun in that sense that were trying to think of wild new challenges that we can give these teams. Now theyre kind of playing for national pride as well.

So given this is Australia vs the World, do the Aussies build Lego with any distinctly different method to international teams?

The Australian version is kind of regarded in the Lego world as like the hardest version of the show

I wouldnt say theres an Aussie techniques to building Lego. I mean, everybody brings their own imagination and creativity to it. Thats kind of unique to who they are as people. But the one thing that became apparent from our international guests is the Australian version is kind of regarded in the Lego world as like the hardest version of the show. you get stretched the most. So in that regard they were excited to come to the Australian version to be tested.

The German team are hilarious, and they will be the first to tell you they are very methodical. Youll see it play out across the series but at one stage Brickman says, Theres a reason everyone drives German cars. Theyre just very methodical at getting getting stuff done really efficiently.

And no the Danish team is not in any way related to the Lego founding family, The Christiansens.

If they are related, they kept it a pretty good secret. They didnt fly over here on a private jet, Blake inists.

If they were any closer to the Lego family things would be going very well!

Lego Masters Sunday  Tuesday on Nine.
BEIRUT, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Fatina Abdallah, a 30-year-old resident of Lebanon's southeastern village of Khiam, expresses deep sadness and regret for leaving her dog behind during her hurried displacement to the southern city of Nabatieh following an Israeli airstrike that severely damaged her home.

"I searched everywhere for my dog, but unfortunately, I couldn't find it," she said tearfully.

According to Abdallah, hundreds of families in her village had to abandon their dogs due to the challenges of bringing them along to displacement shelters.

The conflict between the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Israel since October last year has forced many residents in southern Lebanon to flee their homes. Like Abdallah, many families had to leave their pets behind in open fields, exposing them to the threats of starvation, diseases, and other hazardous situations.

In early March, Lebanon's Ministry of Environment said that about 70,000 dogs have become strays in Lebanon due to the impact of conflicts in Syria and southern Lebanon and the lack of sufficient funding for municipalities to deal with the matter.

Recently, the plight of stray dogs in Lebanon's southern border regions has received increasing attention. Some people in southern Lebanon have volunteered to launch initiatives to rescue stray dogs.

Nizar Hatoum, a man in his 30s who acquired experience in dog care during his five-year service as a police dog trainer in the Lebanese army, established a shelter in the southeastern town of Mimas a month ago to provide care for dogs whose owners have been displaced from southern Lebanon due to conflicts with Israel.

"I initiated this step out of compassion for these pets and to protect citizens from any potential risks they may pose," Hatoum said.

"In our shelter center, we train dogs to preserve their loyalty to humans while ensuring they pose no threat to people," he explained, adding that these dogs are in dire need of food, medicine, and water as the soaring prices of these necessities have made it increasingly difficult to keep the dogs.

"This is a challenging and expensive task and requires the cooperation among many concerned parties, especially municipalities, animal welfare organizations, the Veterinarians Syndicate, the ministries of agriculture and environment, as well as donors," he said.

Another initiative has been spearheaded by Alaa Suleiman in the southern village of Kafr Kila since about a month ago. He has distributed food for stray dogs in southern Lebanon in cooperation with the veterinarian Yasser Chamoun, who covers the costs of the food.

"I drive my car through many villages that are subjected to Israeli bombings every day. We receive support from goodwill people. I distribute food to the dogs wherever they are," he said, adding his faces an arduous task to save them.

"Sometimes we fear being unable to reach border areas due to the presence of Israeli drones targeting vehicles and people," he added.

Soraya Moawad, who leads an animal welfare foundation, emphasized the urgent need to address the issue of stray dogs, as she believed many dogs may pose the risk of disease transmission as they are not vaccinated.

Veterinarian Hassan Hamdan expressed concern over the potential for stray dogs to contract dangerous diseases such as rabies, which has an incubation period of weeks and may take longer time for symptoms to manifest.

On February 29, Lebanese Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan called for a meeting to discuss ways to tackle the problem of stray dogs.

During the meeting with representatives from the health and environment ministries, the veterinarians' union, activists, and animal welfare associations, the participants reached a consensus on the necessity of reviving the national committee to control stray dogs, established by the ministry back in 2016. They proposed the introduction of new measures and formulating a roadmap to tackle this issue swiftly. 
By Imran Inamdar, TwoCircles.net

Aurangabad (Maharashtra): I stepped into the mosque for the first time. We were welcomed by the host with great love and respect. We witnessed how namaz (prayers) and other Islamic practices are carried out here, said Renuka Kathar, a municipal corporation employee, sharing her experience of attending iftar (meal to break fast) at a mosque in the citys Usmanpura area.

Support TwoCircles



Organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) at Haji Qasim Masjid, Anguri Bagh, for women of all faiths, the iftar party was aimed at introducing the larger society to mosques and removing their misconceptions.

Another participant, Nirmal Nimbhore, who works with the state police, was under the impression women are not allowed to enter the mosque. But after this iftar party experience, I am not done away with this misconception. Having iftar with Muslim sisters together is a wonderful experience for me, and the mosque is a beautiful place, she said.

A Hindu woman, who too had attended the event, said if the religion of others is understood, the society will be prosperous.

Harshali Kathar, a homemaker, said, The initiative changed the mindset that women are barred from entering mosques.

The organiser of the iftar event, Shaikh Nasir Johri, said at least 70 Hindu women attended the programme, which was a grand success.

He said the idea was to tell the women from different communities that the doors of mosques are open for everyone without any discrimination of gender. It was also aimed at bridging the distance between communities and encouraging harmony.

The Jamaat-Islami Hind aims to strengthen communal harmony and develop respectful relationships among communities for a better society. And therefore, the Masjid Parichay initiative was taken. We took the advantage of Ramadan and organised the iftar party for women of different faiths so that they can visit our mosque and clear all their misunderstandings with regard to the religious place, said Johri.

Organisers excitedly shared that the participants liked the idea because they had many misconceptions about mosques.

They enjoyed delicacies for the first time in a mosque. We got positive feedback from all guests, many of whom suggested that such programs should be organised every year in every city for a better society and imbibe mutual consideration and cooperation, he added.
ROME (Reuters) - Italy is finalising a decree to facilitate a long-awaited tie-up between state-backed Rai Way and its rival EI Towers, the economy minister said, a deal that would create a TV towers group worth more than 2 billion euros ($2.17 billion).

State TV broadcaster RAI holds 65% of Rai Way, while EI Towers is 60% owned by fund F2i and 40% by MediaForEurope (MFE), which is controlled by the family of late media tycoon and political leader Silvio Berlusconi.

"The government aims to create an entity with a relevant public presence to manage the tower infrastructure," Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti told reporters on Tuesday.

Government officials last month said the decree could allow state-owned broadcaster RAI to cut its stake in Rai Way below 30%, but Giorgetti dismissed such option.

"There is no decline below 30%," he said.

RAI said in January it planned to sell a 15% stake in Rai Way to help fund its new industrial plan.

Last week, the chief executive of Italy's state bank Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) said he would be ready to consider, under the right circumstances, a possible acquisition of a stake in Rai Way.

($1 = 0.9202 euros)

(Reporting by Matteo Negri and Giuseppe Fonte; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
Brandy Hellville & the Cult of Fast Fashion Will Shock You: All the Biggest Bombshells from the New Documentary

HBO's new doc exposes first-hand accounts of an alleged toxic work environment behind the scenes at the popular clothing brand Brandy Melville

HBO Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion poster

HBO's newest documentary takes a hard look at a Gen Z-beloved retail brand: Brandy Melville.

Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion, directed by Academy Award winner Eva Orner, takes viewers behind the scenes of the company, exposing the inner workings of its marketing strategies, controversies surrounding its sizing policies and its alleged toxic impact on young women's perceptions of body image and fashion.



Throughout the film, which premieres April 9 on HBO and Max, Orner interviews former employees of the company, including store workers, a former vice president, and a store owner, who share their personal accounts of damaging experiences with the brand. Representatives for Brandy Melville have not responded to PEOPLE's multiple requests for comment about the claims in the documentary.



"We spoke to hundreds of ex-employees at Brandy; some of them would share their stories, but they didn't want to go on camera," Orner told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview ahead of the film's release. "I completely understand they are still so young, and they were young when they worked there. They are scared of the company, they're scared of retribution, and they're also scared because they're starting their careers and they don't necessarily want to be seen as a troublemaker by future employers."

"I think one of my biggest shoutouts is to the young women who agreed to be in the film and who are leading this charge," she adds. "They're heroes, and I have so much respect for them."

Below, the nine biggest bombshells alleged in the new expose.

The name "Brandy Melville" is derived from a fictional storyline about a man and a woman who fall in love.

In Brandy Hellville, Kate Taylor, an investigative journalist at Business Insider who wrote an article exposing alleged discrimination and employee exploitation at the brand in September 2021, explains that the store is not named after a person. Instead, it is named after two fictional characters: Brandy, an American, and Melville, a man from England, who meet in Italy and fall in love.

"I was quite confused by this name choice because the backstory doesn't align with the current image of Brandy Melville," Taylor remarks in the documentary. "Everything about this brand becomes rather perplexing quite swiftly."

Brandy Melville opened its first US store in 2009, in the Westwood area of Los Angeles, adjacent to the UCLA campus. The business quickly became popular with young girls thanks in part to the Malibu teen vibe. Brandy Melville currently has 94 locations worldwide, including more than 30 in the United States.

At the time the Business Insider article was published, Brandy Melville representatives, attorneys, and other executives named in the article did not respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Brandy Melville founder Silvio Marsan and his son Stephan allegedly required store employees to send daily outfit photos.

The documentary also uncovers more about Brandy Melville's Italian founder, Silvio Marsan, and his son and company cofounder Stephan. Silvio ran the brand's Instagram account, which was filled with images of young teenage girls. According to testimonials from former staffers in the doc, each day, he and Stephan would require employees to send "store style" photos of their outfits.

At the time, the girls were allegedly told that the photos would be used as a way to audition for modeling opportunities at the brand. Although initially the request was for full-body photos, Stephan later began requesting chest and feet pictures, according to a former store employee who was interviewed in the doc. The girls were not told where the photos would be going, and they also weren't allowed to talk about it.

"If Stephan didn't like some of them, he would send it back to me privately and say, 'Fire her,' " a former Italian senior vice president in the company claims in the doc, adding that Stephan hired people based on their looks.

According to Business Insider, Stephan has never granted an interview. In a 2014 article, the Italian outlet Viterbo News stated that the family behind Brandy Melville had "crafted a culture of confidentiality."

Stephan has not responded to PEOPLE's multiple requests for comment about the claims in the documentary.

HBO Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion poster

Brandy Melville executives would take their favorite female employees on lavish trips.

In the film, Taylor elaborates on how the Brandy Melville executives would take their preferred employees on competitive, extravagant trips for product research. During these trips, the girls would visit the factories where the clothing was manufactured and select their favorite designs.

The former Italian vice president of the company, interviewed in the documentary, remarked that the girls were "treated like queens." TikTok videos featured in the documentary show Brandy employees riding in an airplane over the Swiss Alps and in lavish hotel rooms.

The brand's problematic "one-size-fits-all" sizing approach was aimed at keeping an exclusive clientele.

The former vice president also explains in the documentary that initially, the store offered various sizes, but eventually transitioned to a one-size-fits-all approach. For Stephan, the limited sizing contributed to creating exclusivity for the brand. During the film, a former employee recounts how she asked if all the sizes were small, to which she was told, "It's not small  there's no size."

The documentary further explains that due to numerous complaints, the store eventually changed its phrasing from "one size fits all" to "one size fits most." This adjustment was made in response to customer feedback and concerns about inclusivity and body diversity.

Silvio and Stephan Marsan allegedly sent racist, homophobic and antisemitic memes and messages in group chats with a number of Brandy Melville employees.

Another Italian whistleblower  a former Brandy Melville store owner  explains how Silvio and Stephan held strong political views that they would often share with younger employees.

The whistle blower says in the documentary that Stephan was a libertarian and strongly opposed to taxes. He also claims that he would make fun of young girls for being supporters of certain political candidates, including Bernie Sanders. In Brandy stores, they sold signs with the name "John Galt," a character from the libertarian novel Atlas Shrugged. Former store workers say in the film that in the early days of the brand, Stephan would distribute this novel to employees.

Stephan also maintained a group chat with Brandy employees called "Brandy Melville Gags," where he shared what one former employee described as disturbing racist, homophobic, and antisemitic memes and messages. An alleged photo of Stephan dressed as Hitler is shown in screenshot images featured in the documentary.

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Sign on facade at retail store Brandy Melville on Santana Row in the Silicon Valley, San Jose, California, December 14, 2019.

Customers believed that the brand's "made in Italy" label indicated ethical production, which was unfounded and proven untrue.

The film also delves into the clothing quality, which one former store owner contends is poor. Despite this, the items appear to some as high-end because many tags indicated they were "made in Italy." The documentary alleges that the clothes were produced in factories in Prato, Italy, a textile hub in Europe where labor conditions are not closely regulated.

"A lot of the Brandy Melville clothing says 'made in Italy,' which I think in the U.S. a lot of people see as a sign of quality and luxury," Taylor explains in the doc.

Most of the clothing was mass-produced in factories where workers were not well-paid well, Matteo Biffoni, the mayor of Prato, says in the film. Despite the city doing regular checks on the factories for working conditions, he says they stumble upon factories that are poorly run.

Claire Bergkamp, the CEO of Textile Exchange, a global nonprofit that champions climate action within the fashion industry's material supply chain, adds in the doc that when clothing comes at a very low cost  as seen at fast-fashion retailers like Brandy Melville  there is usually an ethical price tag.

"If something costs very little, is coming to you in a way that feels impossibly too easy, impossibly too good, there is someone, somewhere in that supply chain that is not being paid, that is not being respected," Bergkamp says in the doc.

Brandy Melville predominantly hired thin, White women. People of color who were employed by the brand were often relegated to working behind closed doors in storage rooms.

In the documentary, former employees claim there was truth behind the stereotype that the store only hired "skinny White girls."

"It was like, 'This is what you want to look like. This is your goal,' " Cate, a former employee, says in a confessional during the film. Another ex-employee, Kali, also shares in the documentary, "The ideal was the White girl, mostly blonde, sometimes brunette."

The Italian whistleblower also contends that Stephan allegedly instructed him to pay good-looking people more, even if they were not skilled at their jobs. "For Stephan, if they were really light-skinned and redhead, that was number one, like the top of the top," the Italian whistleblower says on camera, explaining that Stephan aimed to attract only elite, popular girls.

He further alleges that Stephan didn't want Black people working at the stores, so women of color who were hired were often placed in the back stockroom. Former Black employee Kali expresses in the film how she knew this treatment wasn't right.

"We were all being pushed to the back, out of sight," Kali says. "But it wasn't something we were necessarily mad about, because I loved being around my people, like people of color."

Cristina Arias/Cover/Getty Brandy Melville store in Madrid.

Many former Brandy employees struggled with eating disorders while working there.

In the film, former employees discuss the brand's one-size-fits-all approach and reveal how they struggled with eating disorders while working there. One ex-staffer describes feeling pressured to be skinny and perfect during her time at the company.

Another worker complains that the company cultivated a mindset that made her hate her own body. She says that even though she no longer works there, she is still in recovery from the impact it had on her. "Eating disorders are going to stay with you for a while," the former employee shares in a confessional.

Ghana and other countries in Africa have become a dumping ground for our unwanted fast fashion.

Alyssa Hardy, the former fashion news editor at Teen Vogue, says in the documentary that the United States and Europe collectively consume 36 billion units of clothing per year, with 85% of it ending up discarded. Contrary to the belief that donated clothes go to those in need, Hardy explains that much of it ends up in Ghana.

"Ghana is a dumping ground for our unwanted fast fashion," Hardy asserts in the film. "We have deals with countries in Africa to take the clothing, even though they don't necessarily need it."

The documentary then showcases images of Kantamanto Market in Ghana, currently the world's largest second-hand clothing economy. Every week, the market receives 15 million pieces of used clothing from the Western world. Locals in Ghana refer to second-hand clothing as "Obruni Wawu," meaning dead White man's clothes, with a misconception that the clothing comes from deceased White individuals.

"The United States and Europe have essentially forced this arrangement on these countries, and when they have tried to resist, the United States and Europe have imposed punishments," Hardy continues. "For instance, they've threatened to revoke duty-free status for countries that refuse second-hand clothing, imposed taxes, or withdrawn grant money."

Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion premieres on HBO on April 9 and is streaming on Max.



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Read the original article on People.
A boy uses a telescope to sight the new moon ahead of Eid -Credit:CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN/AFP via Getty Images





Morocco officially sighted the moon for Eid ul-Fitr 2024. The country will be celebrating Eid on Wednesday, April 10. The report from Morocco - Britain's nearest Islamic country - will be used by moonsighting committees in the UK if they aren't able to get a glimpse of the crescent locally.

Various teams across Morocco send in reports of moon visibility. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs in Morocco then assesses all the information and makes an official announcement, reports Birmingham Live.

READ MORE: Europe's biggest Eid al-Fitr festival to take place at both Westfield London sites

In Rabat, Morocco, sunset on April 9 was at 6.55pm local time and moonset at 8.04pm, so moonsightings took place between those times.

Morocco is one hour behind the UK, which moved forward to British Summer Time on March 31.

Where to celebrate Eid in London

Lots of events are coming to London -Credit:Westfield

In London, the biggest Eid al-Fitr festival will take place at both Westfield sites in White City and Stratford. It will be from April 12 to 14 in West London and April 19 to 21 in East London.

Meanwhile, returning for its 19th year, London's free annual festival will once more fill Trafalgar Square. This year's celebration is set to take place on Saturday, April 20th, running from midday until 6pm.
Hamas says it is considering the latest ceasefire proposal handed over by international mediators, the most recent attempt to pause the fighting against Israel in Gaza.

In a statement released early Tuesday, Hamas said that it is keen to reach an agreement that puts an end to the aggression against our people but criticized the Israeli position as remaining stubborn and failing to respond to any of Hamas demands. The group said it is nevertheless studying the submitted proposal and plans to respond to mediators when a decision has been made.

Chef Jose Andres Breaks Down: We All Have to Live With This

Both Israel and Hamas sent teams to Egypt over the weekend where international mediatorsincluding Qataris and CIA Director William Burnsattempted to secure a new deal to release hostages held in Gaza and provide more aid for people living in the enclave.

Hamas has demanded an end to Israels offensive in Gaza and insisted that its forces leave the strip which has been devastated over the last six months of conflict. Israel launched its attacks in Gaza following Hamas Oct. 7 attacks.

Israel, conversely, wants to secure the release of hostages by exchanging them for Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to deliver a total victory over Hamas and said on Monday that a date has been set for the invasion of Rafaha city in southern Gaza where over a million people are sheltering after massive displacement in the enclave caused by the war. The Biden Administration has repeatedly warned Netanyahu against an invasion of Rafah, claiming that it is not possible to safely evacuate civilians from the city.

Netanyahu did not reveal Monday which date had been chosen for the operation, but said there could be no victory without going into the city, according to The Times of Israel. We are constantly working to achieve our goal, he said, primarily releasing all of our hostages and achieving total victory over Hamas.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Hamas says Israeli proposal fails to meet Palestinian demands, but is under review

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO (Reuters) -Hamas said on Tuesday that an Israeli proposal on a ceasefire in their war in Gaza did not meet the demands of Palestinian militant factions, but it would study the offer further and deliver its response to mediators.

The proposal was handed to the Palestinian Islamist movement by Egyptian and Qatari mediators at talks in Cairo that aim to find a way out of the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, now in its seventh month.

Residents said Israeli forces kept up airstrikes on parts of central and southern Gaza on Tuesday, including one on a family house in Al-Nusseirat that killed 14 people, according to Hamas' Al Aqsa television. Other airstrikes were reported in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza and Rafah in the far south.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly flagged plans for a ground assault on Rafah, where more than one million displaced civilians are holed up, despite international pleas for restraint.

The talks in Cairo, also attended by the director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency William Burns, have so far failed to reach a breakthrough towards pausing the war.

"The movement (Hamas) is interested in reaching an agreement that puts an end to the aggression on our people. Despite that, the Israeli position remains intransigent and it didn't meet any of the demands of our people and our resistance," Hamas said in a statement following the latest ceasefire proposal.

It said it would review the proposal further and go back to the mediators with its response.

Hamas wants any agreement to secure an end to the Israeli military offensive, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and to allow displaced people to return to their homes across the small, densely populated enclave.

Israel's immediate aim is to secure the release of hostages seized by Hamas in the Oct. 7 cross-border rampage that triggered the conflict. It says it will not end the war until it annihilates Hamas, which has run Gaza since 2007.

The United States is pushing hard for a ceasefire, after telling its ally Israel to do more to protect civilians in Gaza and let in more aid to prevent a famine.

In Washington, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris met family members of some of the Gaza hostages, who told reporters they were pleased to be told progress was being made but that they wanted to see action soon.

Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the father of American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, urged Hamas to come to the negotiating table to strike a hostage deal.

"We are waiting now and the world waits for Hamas to get to yes. It is in their court," Dekel-Chen said.

Another member of the group, Jonathan Polin, said he is holding out hope a deal can be reached.

"We have no choice but to stay hopeful," he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said 400 aid trucks had been cleared to enter Gaza the previous day, describing it as the most since the war started six months ago. He said a good ceasefire offer had been presented to Hamas, which should accept it.

Israel says aid is moving into Gaza more quickly after international pressure to increase access, but the amount is disputed and the United Nations says it is still much less than the bare minimum to meet humanitarian needs.

RAFAH INVASION

Israel pulled back most of its ground forces from southern Gaza this week after months of fighting, but still says it plans to launch an assault on Rafah, on Gaza's southern border with Egypt, where more than half of Gazans are now sheltering.

In one of the first signs of concrete preparations for a ground assault, Israeli media reported on Tuesday that the Israeli defence ministry was purchasing 40,000 tents ahead of an evacuation of the city.

The United States has warned Israel not to storm Rafah due to the high risk of civilian casualties and U.S. and Israeli officials will meet in person in a couple of weeks to discuss the matter, the White House said on Tuesday.

"I dont anticipate any actions being taken before those talks, and for that matter I dont see anything imminent ... It remains our conviction that major military operations in Rafah would be extremely dangerous for civilians who would be caught in harms way," Blinken told reporters in Washington.

Of the 253 hostages Hamas seized in its Oct. 7 raid, 133 remain captive. Negotiators have spoken of around 40 going free in the first stage of a deal.

Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people in southern Israel in the lightning Oct. 7 attack, according to Israeli tallies. At least 33,360 Palestinians have been confirmed killed in six months of war, Gaza's health ministry said in an update on Tuesday, with thousands more dead feared unrecovered in the rubble.

Most of the enclave's 2.3 million people are homeless and many at risk of famine.

Palestinian emergency teams supported by international organisations scoured the rubble of Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and the shattered city of Khan Younis in the south following the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

So far the teams have recovered 409 bodies of Palestinians killed in the hospital and its surrounding neighbourhood and in Khan Younis, according to Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Hamas-run Gaza Civil Emergency Service. Israel said Al Shifa was used as a militant base, which Hamas denies.

(Reporting by Nidal Al Mughrabi; writing by Yomna Ehab, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Peter Graff; editing by Angus MacSwan, Ros Russell, Alex Richardson, Mark Heinrich and Deepa Babington)
BAGHDAD, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A Shiite militia in Iraq on Tuesday claimed responsibility for three strikes on three sites in Israel, including the Ashkelon port.

The militia, known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, stated in an online statement that its fighters conducted the strikes "with appropriate weapons" during the past 72 hours on "a vital target in the Ashkelon settlement, the Ashkelon port, and a vital site within the occupied territories."

The statement did not provide any detail regarding casualties, and stressed that the attacks were carried out "in solidarity with the people of Gaza" and underscored its commitment to continue targeting "enemy's strongholds."

Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has launched multiple attacks on Israeli and U.S. bases in the Middle East. 
Sadiq Khan makes plea to Londoners whose last chance to vote is in May





Sadiq Khan has urged EU citizens living in London to vote for him on May 2 as it will be the last time that they will 'automatically have the right to vote' in local elections in England. According to the Electoral Commission, from May 2024, some EU citizens will not be able to vote, nor stand as a candidate, in local elections in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

After the UK left the EU in 2020, the Government said that 'there should not be a continued, automatic right to vote and stand in local elections solely by virtue of being an EU citizen'. Changes to the voting system mean EU citizens will continue to be able to vote while they remain on the register, but they will not be able to re-register once they are removed after May 2024.

However, citizens of EU countries, with whom the UK Government has negotiated agreements to allow its citizens living in the UK to vote, in return for the same right for UK citizens living in that country, will still be able to vote and stand in elections.

READ MORE: 'I'm covering the London Mayor election - here's what could stop Sadiq Khan from winning'

The UK left the EU in 2020 -Credit:TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images

So far these agreements have been made with:

Spain

Portugal

Luxembourg

Poland

Other EU citizens who were living in the UK before the end of the EU Withdrawal Agreement Implementation Period (up to January 1, 2021) will also still be able to vote and stand in elections. The changes will not affect citizens of the Republic of Ireland, nor citizens of Commonwealth nations.

Mr Khan's team says that EU citizens' voting eligibility will be 'determined by the date they moved to the UK, and the country they are from'. There is one week left to register to vote as electors will choose their mayor and London Assembly Members in less than a month's time.

Voters could be turned away from polling stations

Now, in an open letter to more than one million EU citizens, Mr Khan has vowed that he will continue to 'stand up' for those European citizens who have chosen to make the capital their home. The mayor said: "London has always been a European city. European Londoners are our friends, our neighbours, and our colleagues, and they help make London the greatest city in the world. This election in May is a huge moment.

"As mayor I will always stand up for the cherished European values of openness and tolerance." The mayor has also expressed a fear that 900,000 voters could be turned away from polling stations for not possessing a valid form of photo identification.

Mr Khan added: "Im also deeply worried about changes to the voting system which may mean European Londoners could lose their right to vote. So I make an appeal to every single Londoner  make sure youre registered to vote, and make sure you turn up to the polling station on May 2 with valid ID.

"Vast numbers of European Londoners may not have heard about the rule changes, and could be caught out when they arrive at the polling station.

Read our exclusive sit-down interview with Sadiq Khan ahead of the London mayoral election here. Read our full chat with Susan Hall here.

Don't miss out on the biggest stories from across the city, including the latest about the capital's transport network. Sign up to MyLondon's The 12 HERE for the 12 biggest stories each day.
Voting Options for Uttar Pradesh Muslims in 2024 Parliament Elections

In the five-part series of the voting choices before the Muslims in India, the third write-up looks at the political scenario in Indias most populous state, Uttar Pradesh where Muslims constitute 19% of the states population.

Tuesday April 9, 2024 12:31 PM , Syed Ali Mujtaba

In the five-part series of the voting choices before the Muslims in India, the third write-up looks at the political scenario in Indias most populous state, Uttar Pradesh where Muslims constitute 19% of the states population.

In Uttar Pradesh, out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats, Muslims have only 63 seats to look at, because 17 are reserved constituencies for the Schedule Caste Hindus.

The choice before Muslims in UP is only one and that is the Samajwadi party-Congress alliance that has smaller parties as part of the INDIA block. As per the alliance, Congress is contesting on 17 seats and Samajwadi Party and others are contesting on the remaining 63 seats.

The other choices before the Muslims in UP is the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and of course the BJP. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP got about 10 percent of the Muslim community's votes.

Among the candidates declared by various political parties, the BJP has not given a single ticket to a Muslim candidate. At the same time, the SP and BSP have fielded several Muslims.

The SP-Congress alliance has given tickets to 9 Muslim candidates. Iqra Hasan from Kairana, Shafiqur Rahman Barq from Sambhal, Danish Ali from Saharanpur, Mohammad Irfan Saidi from Moradabad, Zeeshan Khan from Rampur, Shaukat Ali from Sambhal, Mujahid Hussain from Amroha, Abid Ali from Amla, Anees Ahmed Khan, alias Phoolbabu, from Pilibhit

In western Uttar Pradesh, Rampur, Moradabad, and Sambhal, Muslims constitute 23 percent to 42 percent of the electorates. The break up is - Rampur (42 percent), Amroha (32 percent), Saharanpur (30 percent), Bijnor, Nagina, and Moradabad (28 percent each), Muzaffarnagar (27 percent), Kairana and Meerut (23 percent each) and Sambhal (22 percent).

Apart from this, Muslim voters constitute 19 percent of the electoral population in Bulandshahr, Baghpat, and Aligarh.

In the 2019 general elections, the BJP emerged triumphant, securing 62 seats, supplemented by two seats clinched by its ally Apna Dal (S). Whereas the BSP managed to secure 10 seats, while Samajwadi Party could manage only 5 and the Congress only 1.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BSP won the Muslim-Dalit dominated seats of Saharanpur, Bijnor, Nagina, and Amroha seats, while its alliance partner SP won Moradabad, Rampur, and Sambhal seats.

In the 2019 poll, the BSP benefited from the Muslim votes of the SP due to which it was successful in winning 10 seats. However, in the 2022 assembly elections, when there was no alliance between SP and BSP, the Samajwadi Party won many Muslim-dominated seats in western Uttar Pradesh defeating the BSP. This shows the way for the 2024 election.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP got the benefit of a split in Muslim votes in some seats of western UP, and its candidates registered wins from Muzaffarnagar, Kairana, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Baghpat and Aligarh due to Muslims self-goal.

In the changed circumstances, the SP-Congress INDIA alliance may likely increase its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. However, the biggest concern for the SP-Congress alliance is how to prevent the scattering of the Muslim votes.

It is high time for the Muslims to get united to vote for the SP-Congress alliance else BJPs dominance will continue to be a reign of terror for the Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. If Muslims are united it can ensure victory on many Muslim-dominated seats.

This is the first time Uttar Pradesh is witnessing the election without Ram Mandir agenda. This trump card that the BJP held in the past several elections and cashed in is now been dusted after the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple on Jan 22, 2024. This provides some level playing field for the Muslims to go and face the 2024 Lok Sabha election without any handicaps.

The summary of the Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha election is out of a total of 80 seats the BJP may close on to 50 seats and the SP-Congress alliance may get 30 seats. The final submission is the BJP is not going to repeat its performance in 63 Lok Sabha seats that it got in 2019.

[The writer, Syed Ali Mujtaba, is journalist. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com]

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CANBERRA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A youth curfew in an outback Australian town has been extended.

Eva Lawler, the chief minister of the Northern Territory (NT), on Tuesday announced that the curfew for people under the age of 18 in Alice Springs has been extended until April 16.

The announcement was made one day before the curfew, which was imposed on March 27 in response to a series of violent incidents in the town, was set to expire.

Under the curfew, anyone under the age of 18 is banned from being out of their home in the central business district (CBD) of Alice Springs between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Lawler said at a press conference on Tuesday that the curfew was a necessary measure to address unrest and crime in the town and that people have felt much safer since it was introduced.

"We've seen very encouraging results with the introduction of the youth curfew," she said.

"It is important that we don't lose the momentum that we have established."

She said that the police, Department of Education, Department of Territory Families and health and service providers would work together much closer after the end of the curfew than they had been previously.

An additional 58 police officers were deployed to Alice Springs - the largest town in central Australia - to help enforce the curfew.

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said he has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from officers about the curfew.

"From the introduction of the curfew, we saw a noticeable decrease in crime in and around the CBD," he said.

The extension of the curfew will take it past the end of the school holiday period in the NT on Monday, April 15. 
HA NOI  Viet Nam has solidified its position as the most attractive investment destination for Taiwanese companies in Southeast Asia and globally, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy ong told the Viet Nam-Taiwan business forum in Ha Noi on April 8.

Investment from Taiwan (China) in Viet Nam surged in 2023, reaching US$2.2 billion, a fourfold increase from the previous year. This impressive growth placed Taiwan as the fourth largest investor in Viet Nam, out of 105 countries and territories, with nearly 3,200 projects valued at over $39.5 billion. Additionally, Taiwan has become Viet Nam's fifth largest trading partner.

ong commended Taiwanese enterprises for their contributions to Viet Nam's economic development. He highlighted their role in fostering technology transfer, increasing the use of locally-produced materials, and upskilling the Vietnamese workforce. These efforts, he noted, contribute significantly to the establishment of robust global supply chains.

Pham Tan Cong, Chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Chairman of the Taiwan Affairs Committee, pointed out the extensive presence of major Taiwanese electronics conglomerates like Foxconn, Wistron, Qisda, Pegatron, Compal and Quanta in Viet Nam, saying that this is a promising signal for cooperation between the two sides.

On the occasion, the Viet Nam-Taiwan (China) 2024 international investment and trade promotion exhibition kicked off on April 8 and runs until April 9. The event, co-organised by DVL IPT Investment and Trade Promotion JSC and the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce (WTCC), provides a platform for networking and collaboration among businesses across various sectors.

Nguyen Hong Chung, General Director of the DVL IPT Investment and Trade Promotion JSC, said the event takes place during a pivotal year - Viet Nam marks its 35th anniversary of attracting foreign investment. Over the past three and a half decades, Taiwan (China) has emerged as a key partner, ranking fourth in foreign direct investment (FDI) with nearly $40 billion, and fifth in overall trade, with two-way trade of almost $25 billion.  VNS
HA NOI  There is great potential in mineral trade between Viet Nam and Laos, according to Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien.

In a meeting with Laos' Minister of Energy and Mines on Monday, Dien said Viet Nam is looking to import 60-100 million tonnes of coal per year during 2025-30, with a large portion from Laos.

He said the two neighbours have been working out ways to help boost coal import from Laos to Viet Nam, stressing the need to bring the cost of Laotian coal down, closer to the global price.

In a recent report by the Viet Nam General Department of Customs, Viet Nam imported a total of 51.1 million tonnes of coal at US$7.1 billion in 2023, a 61.4 per cent increase in volume and 0.7 in value compared to the previous year.

Viet Nam has been increasingly dependent on imported coal, mainly to fuel its thermal power plants, cement and fertiliser production. The country has signed numerous deals with Laos to purchase electricity from 26 hydropower plants from Laos, with a total capacity of 2,689MW, nearly 90 per cent of a purchase plan until 2025.

Dien said the two ministries have been working together on a proposal to increase electricity import from Laos to Viet Nam to 5,000MW, improve transmission systems and bolster bilateral trade of petroleum products.  VNS
HA NOI  Vietnam Airlines recently celebrated the 30-year anniversary of its first flight operation in China, marking a significant milestone in the airline's history.

The inaugural scheduled flights between Ha Noi, HCM City, and Guangzhou were launched three decades ago. Since then, Vietnam Airlines has expanded its flight network to include other popular destinations in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Kunming, utilising modern Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

Currently, the airline operates 33 return flights per week on routes connecting Ha Noi, HCM City, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai.

Over the past 30 years, Vietnam Airlines has transported nearly 12 million passengers and 166,000 tonnes of goods on approximately 100,000 flights along this route. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam Airlines was one of the first airlines to resume flights to China when the situation improved. The airline has actively engaged in aviation and tourism promotion activities in the Chinese market.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, speaking at the anniversary event, acknowledged Vietnam Airlines' significant contributions as an engine of socio-economic growth over the past three decades. He emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between Vietnam and China in various fields, with aviation playing a vital role in promoting comprehensive strategic cooperation.

Quang set a target for the aviation industry to maintain its operational excellence and enhance flight operations between the two countries. He also urged relevant agencies and departments in both countries to support the aviation industry and Vietnamese airlines, including Vietnam Airlines, in achieving their goals successfully.

China is an essential market for Viet Nam's aviation industry, particularly in terms of tourism. Prior to the pandemic, the bilateral aviation capacity between the two countries exceeded 3.1 million passengers in 2019. Chinese tourists accounted for approximately 30% of the total number of international visitors to Vietnam, contributing significantly to the country's tourism sector. Similarly, Vietnamese tourists were among the top foreign tourist markets for China.

During the anniversary ceremony, ang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines, highlighted the strategic importance of the decision to open flights to China 30 years ago.

He emphasised the strong relationship that Vietnam Airlines has cultivated with China and its people, contributing to diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the two nations. Hoa expressed Vietnam Airlines' commitment to enhancing connectivity and service quality, solidifying its role as a major contributor to the economic and aviation sectors between Viet Nam and China.  VNS
How has this years free health care and examination programme been carried out by the Viet Nam Young Physicians Association?

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Viet Nam Young Physicians Association (VYPA), and we will organise a series of events including the charity medical examination event For a healthy Viet Nam.

As part of this programme, we will travel to 30 cities and provinces to provide free health check-ups, medications, medical advice and gifts to the people.

To date, thousands of people have received free examinations, advice and medications alongside various gifts for disadvantaged families in difficult localities, particularly remote areas.

In addition to the main objective which is health check-ups, preventive medicine and health consultation, a highlight of the programme is to help detect cases of congenital heart diseases or cataracts for prompt medical intervention.

How is the programme going so far?

After Yen Bai and Hai Phong, Quang Ngai is the third destination where VYPA organised the programme providing free health check-ups, medications and gifts. The free health care and examination event in Quang Ngai Province last week was held on Ly Son Island and Binh Hoa Commune of Binh Son District.

In particular, Ly Son is where a campaign supporting local people in fishing trips was launched by the health sector.

This time, VYPA doctors of different expertise from central-level hospitals conducted check-ups for Ly Son people and presented gifts to fishermen who joined forces to protect our seas and islands.

Binh Hoa Commune was one of the localities most impacted by a massacre 68 years ago, so this event is a tribute to people in an area that suffered from multiple disadvantages and the negative impact of the war against the US.

The result of the event in Ly Son Island and Binh Hoa Commune was that more than 50 cases of cataracts were detected, and we will work with hospitals in a Nang City for free surgeries. We also conduct preliminary examinations for children with heart diseases and bring them to medical facilities for cardiac surgeries and treatment.

What are the key activities in the programmes charity examination and treatment?

During the programme, specialist doctors will screen for diseases in elderly people, particularly cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, high blood pressure, as well as other diseases related to bones and joints, in addition to free health consultation, prescriptions and gifts. We also organised a day focusing on washing hands with soap, where we taught primary school children the six-step handwashing instruction in localities that the programme covers.

A review of the charity medical examination programme in Binh Hoa Commune of Quang Ngai Province, with the engagement of doctors from central hospitals in Ha Noi, Hue, a Nang and HCM City, shows that around 700 people were examined and prescribed medications free of charge, while 500 children received gifts from the programme. These figures were, respectively, 500 and 200 at the event on Ly Son Island.

During the two-day event at these localities, 100 people who showed signs of eye-related diseases had their eyes examined, and around 50 of them will receive support for free eye surgery.

In particular, the programme and philanthropists will present 10 free cardiac surgeries to children born with heart diseases, each worth VN50 million (US$2,000). In total, approximately VN500 million ($20,000) was used to support patients with congenital heart diseases.

What is the significance of the programme For a healthy Viet Nam to young physicians?

This programme is held by the VYPA in collaboration with the health sectors youth steering committee, local authorities and sponsors to carry out the VYPA projects and campaigns leading to the Congress of Viet Nam Youth Union for the 2024-29 term.

With the aim to provide health care to the community, one of the purposes of this programme is to promote the pioneering spirit of young physicians across the country.

These mobile examinations let young doctors understand the difficulties and challenges that their colleagues and people in remote areas are facing, thereby sharing the burden, supporting each other in their profession and joining hands for a healthier Viet Nam.

The programme aims to promote the role of youth and their enthusiasm, bringing their skills and knowledge to provide services to patients in remote and border areas, as well as at sea and islands, who have difficulty accessing medical care. This is also an activity that encourages young people in health care to better engage in the sectors volunteering activities.  VNS
HA NOI  Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaithong Kommasith signed a new Viet Nam-Laos trade agreement following their talks in Vientiane, Laos, on April 8.

At the talks, Minister Dien described industry and trade ties as a pillar of bilateral relationship. In the first three months of this year, two-way trade between Viet Nam and Laos hit US$417.8 million, down 1.8 per cent annually. Viet Nam mostly exported petroleum products, iron and steel, machinery and equipment to Laos while importing rubber, wood, ore and minerals from the neighbouring country.

Dien acknowledged Laos's growing production capacity, evidenced by its transition from a trade deficit to a surplus with Viet Nam in recent years. He also underscored Laos's increasing importance as one of the important suppliers of raw materials for Viet Nam's manufacturing within ASEAN.

According to him, Viet Nam has a significant demand for imported raw materials and electricity, including those from Laos.

Dien affirmed the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trades readiness to help Laos secure a stable supply of petroleum products.

Both sides agreed to hold more trade promotion activities such as business forums, networking conferences, trade fairs and market information seminars; as well as develop border trade infrastructure.

They called for effectively implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on the development and connectivity of Viet Nam-Laos border trade infrastructure signed in January 2024 while reviewing to amend and supplement the 2007 Ha Noi Agreement and the Viet Nam-Laos Border Trade Agreement to align with the current realities.

Following the talks, the two ministers signed the new Viet Nam-Laos trade agreement, and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the General Department of Market Surveillance (GDMS) and the Department of Business Competition and Trade Inspection under the Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and another MoU between the GP Holdings  the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Phonesack Group on building warehouses and conveyor belts for coal transportation.

Under the MoU between the GDMS and the Department of Business Competition and Trade Inspection, both sides will update each other about respective policies and laws, offer support in market management training for officials, share the best practices in enforcing administrative penalties on business and trade violations while combating cross-border smuggling, commercial fraud and illegal transportation of goods between the two countries.

Specific cooperation plans will be determined annually or periodically, taking into account each country's legal frameworks and strategic priorities.  VNS
New York - Representative of the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) in Viet Nam Rana Flowers spoke highly of Viet Nam's socio-economic development achievements amidst challenges and difficulties, especially in implementing priority policies related to child care and protection.

Meeting Ambassador ang Hoang Giang, Viet Nam's Permanent Representative to the UN, in New York on April 8, the official affirmed that the UNICEF welcomes Viet Nam's initiative on the Resolution on the International Day of Play recently approved by the UN General Assembly, describing it as a practical and significant contribution to the international community's common goal of children's comprehensive development.

The organisation always attaches importance to its relations with Viet Nam and will continue supporting the Southeast Asian nations implementation of priorities in this field.

Giang welcomed the UNICEF's important role and effective cooperation in the care, education, protection, and promotion of the rights of Vietnamese children.

He expressed his hope that the organisation will continue paying attention to supporting Viet Nam in mobilising resources, building policies, and promoting specific and practical cooperation projects to implement the outcomes of the meeting in New York in March between then Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to jointly organise activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Viet Nam-UNICEF partnership, and take advantage of this milestone to set out directions for cooperation in the new period. VNS
HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held discussions with the Military Industry and Telecommunications Group (Viettel) on Tuesday regarding the T-09 programme and Viettel's high-tech national defence industry research and production activities.

Attending the meeting were General Phan Van Giang, Member of the Politburo, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and Minister of National Defence; central party members including Minister, Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Finance Ho uc Phoc, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Hong, as well as leaders from various ministries and sectors.

During the meeting, Lieutenant General Tao uc Thang, Chairman and General Director of the Military Industry  Telecommunications Group, reported on the results of implementing the T-09 programme and some key tasks assigned by the Party, State and Central Military Commission to enhance the country's national defence capabilities.

Specifically, Viettel has mastered the design, integration and core technologies of high-tech national defence products, successfully produced and delivered several strategic products for military use.

Having achieved positive results in the T-09 programme, Viettel has received direct guidance and direction from the Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence, and Chief of the General Staff.

The agencies and units within the Ministry of National Defence have effectively coordinated, contracted, guided and supported Viettel in implementing specific tasks such as developing technical features, strategies, investments, procurement, evaluation and product acceptance. Other ministries, departments and sectors have also participated and supported the Ministry of National Defence in forming breakthrough policy mechanisms.

Acknowledging and commending Viettel's task performance, PM Chinh highly appreciated Viettel's remarkable development strides.

According to Chinh, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and the direct execution by the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence, Viet Nam has made significant strides in developing high-tech national defence industries.

A year after his visit in 2023, Chinh observed that Viettel has shown improvement in five key areas: experience, confidence, professionalism, product quality and workforce competence.

Viettel's research and development, particularly of strategic products, are instrumental in laying the groundwork for Viet Nam's proactive, self-reliant, resilient, modern national defence industry, leveraging internal strength as a crucial factor and integrating tightly with the national industry.

The Prime Minister directed Viettel to build on its achievements, focusing on enhancing the semiconductor industry's effectiveness and diversification.

Under the close guidance of the government's leadership, Thang, representing Viettel, reaffirmed the company's commitment to fulfilling its tasks excellently, contributing to army modernisation and national industry development. VNS
HA NOI  National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue continues his China visit on Tuesday, with a meeting with the Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning in which both leaders praised the cooperation between the two Parties and countries.

They agreed to further promote the collaboration between the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) as policy advisors to their respective countries.

The third friendship exchange event is expected to be held between VFF and CPPCC, following the successful second conference in November last year.

NA Chairman Hue requested that the two sides maintain high-level, people-to-people exchanges and promote trade growth in a sustainable and balanced manner, as well as cooperation in road and railway traffic.

Chinese businesses are encouraged to invest in Viet Nam, especially in the fields of green growth, digital economy, climate change and environmental protection, while taking advantage of the great tourism potential.

CPPCC Chairman Wang Huning reiterated the ties between China and Viet Nam and their mutual interests, noting that China considers Viet Nam a priority in its foreign policy with neighbouring states.

The CPPCC supports exchanges between the Vietnamese and Chinese people as well as stronger trade-investment collaboration in transport infrastructure, building smart border gates, new energy, mineral mining, science-technology and education, while working with the VFF to contribute to the Viet Nam-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

NA Chairman Hue also invited Wang to visit Viet Nam when having the opportunity.

On the same day, the Vietnamese top legislator attended a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Viet Nam-China flight route.

Vietnam Airlines has made 100,000 flights to China with nearly 12 million passengers and 166,000 tonnes of goods over the past three decades.

The flag carrier of Viet Nam was also one of the first airlines to resume flights to China and played an active role in tourism and aviation promotion following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chinese tourists make up a large percentage of international arrivals in Viet Nam at approximately 30 per cent, with significant spending power.

Vietnam Airlines and China Southern Airlines plan to continue expanding key flight routes between the two countries, such as Guangzhou-HCM City and Nha Trang-Shenzhen to meet the demands of the people and contribute to each countrys growth.  VNS
TAY NINH  Acting President Vo Thi Anh Xuan on Tuesday visited the former headquarters of the Central Office for South Viet Nam - a special national historical relic site - and presented gifts to revolution contributors and soldiers at Xa Mat international border gate in Tan Bien District in the southwestern province of Tay Ninh.

The activities were part of the events held to mark the 49th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - 2024), and the 70th anniversary of the ien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 - 2024).

At the former headquarters of the Central Office for South Vietnam, Xuan offered incense at the memorial house dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh and visited the exhibition house and historical sites.

When visiting the Xa Mat international border gate, Xuan praised the performance of its officers and soldiers and recognised their role in advising Party committees and local authorities on national defence-security and foreign affairs, which have contributed to building the political system at the grassroots and socio-economic development in border areas.

The border guards have closely connected with residents, helping them improve the material and spiritual lives and join border guards in protecting the borderline and border markers.

Xuan asked the border guards to keep promoting traditions, overcoming difficulties and challenges, and fulfilling their assigned political tasks.

They were urged to strengthen defence diplomacy and contribute to the stability and development of Tan Bien District in particular and Tay Ninh Province in general.

She asked Tay Ninh border guards to continue to coordinate closely with local military and police forces to ensure security in the province, and promptly prevent all types of cross-border crimes. She also expected the border guards will fulfill their political tasks in the new situation.

On this occasion, Xuan visited and presented gifts to Vietnamese heroic mother Phan Thi Hoi in Thanh Tay Commune and wounded soldier inh Van Lam in Tan Bien Town.

She expressed her deep gratitude for their contributions to the cause of national liberation, reunification, and implementing international obligations.

The Acting President requested leaders of Party Committee and administrations at all levels of Tay Ninh province continue to pay attention to taking care of policy beneficiary families in the locality.  VNS
BEIJING  National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue attended a Viet Nam - China seminar on State-owned enterprises (SoE) reform and management of state capital at enterprises in Beijing on Tuesday.

The event, part of the top legislators official visit to China, saw the presence of Vietnamese and Chinese officials and 250 delegates representing over 100 businesses of the two countries.

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang emphasised the significance and progress of bilateral economic, trade, and investment cooperation, including partnerships between the two business circles, which, he said, is generating tangible and long-term benefits for both sides.

He also highlighted similarities between the socio-economic development viewpoints of Viet Nam and China, including prioritising sustainable development that centres on people and bases on science, technology, and innovation.

Nguyen Hoang Anh, Chairman of the Vietnamese Commission for Management of State Capital at Enterprises, noted the special importance of SoEs which contribute to almost 30 per cent of Viet Nams GDP, employ about 700,000 workers (accounting for 7.3 per cent of all businesses workers), hold a leading role in some sectors, and generate a considerable source of revenue for the state budget.

However, SoEs in Viet Nam still face certain shortcomings, he pointed out, elaborating that some still show limited efficiency, competitiveness has yet to match the resources they possess, and their outstanding role in boosting the development of other economic elements hasnt been shown clearly.

Zhang Yuzhuo, Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council of China, stressed the necessity to promote the role and professionalism of state-owned capital supervision and management agencies, as well as fostering SoEs operations in the market and integration.

He said the seminar was an occasion for the two sides to discuss and work out solutions to challenges. As SoEs form a crucial force for national modernisation in each country, it is necessary to develop leading and open businesses with rich vitality that serve as pillars of the national economies, help with social stability, and are able to cope with crises.

At the event, participants discussed results and lessons of state-owned capital and asset management in China, SoE reform experiences and issues in Viet Nam, along with other major matters. They also looked into ways to further improve SoEs role in each economy and the two countries economic cooperation.  VNS
China's young factory owners embrace cross-border e-commerce

People's Daily Online) 09:54, April 09, 2024

In response to the gradual decline of traditional foreign trade channels, a growing number of "second-generation factory owners" in China are turning to cross-border e-commerce platforms to sell their products globally.

Wang Bowen, a Yale University graduate and second-generation factory owner in Wuyi county, Jinhua city, east China's Zhejiang Province, is one such entrepreneur. Wuyi county is one of the world's largest production bases for thermal cups, selling hundreds of millions annually.

The 29-year-old's parents have operated Zhejiang Maibo Industrial, a thermal cup factory, for decades.

Staff members of an exhibitor at the 4th China Cross-border E-commerce Trade Fair in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian province talk to a visitor, March 18, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Xie Guiming)

In 2023, the factory's cups became difficult to sell through traditional channels. In response, Wang decided to try selling the cups through Temu, a cross-border e-commerce platform launched by China's online retail giant Pinduoduo. To his surprise, several hundred cups sold shortly after launching on the platform.

"In the past, we served as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for foreign brands. Due to factors like sluggish international demand and highly homogeneous products, our factory registered low profits," Wang said. He added that the one-stop services provided by cross-border e-commerce platforms have opened new opportunities for OEMs.

These one-stop cross-border e-commerce services have addressed long-standing challenges in international trade, such as high logistics costs and a lack of skilled personnel, which have been traditionally problematic for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Similarly, Liu Wenhai, a second-generation factory owner born in 1990, has found success selling hats produced by his parents' factory in Rizhao city, east China's Shandong Province, through a cross-border e-commerce platform.

Leveraging cross-border e-commerce has become a common practice for second-generation factory owners like Wang and Liu in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions.

According to customs authorities at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, export declarations from three leading Chinese e-commerce platforms increased by more than tenfold in 2023 compared to the previous year, highlighting the growing importance of these channels for Chinese manufacturers.

There are currently over 100,000 companies engaged in cross-border e-commerce in China.

These platforms have provided a new business infrastructure for companies seeking global expansion, according to Li Mingtao, head of the Research Institute at the China International Electronic Commerce Center.

An industry report released in February 2024 revealed that the Yangtze River Delta region hosted 32 comprehensive pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce in 2023, representing about one-fifth of the national total.

The Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions, two major manufacturing hubs in China, have become significant sources of cross-border goods, according to Han Wei, business director of Temu.

China has introduced a series of policies to support the development of cross-border e-commerce, encouraging second-generation factory owners to explore new business opportunities.

"I was previously reluctant to just run an OEM factory," said Wang, who created a thermal cup brand and opened a new store on Temu this year.

Chinese brands are now selling products directly to overseas consumers on cross-border e-commerce platforms, encouraging the growth of globally recognized Chinese brands, Wang noted.

The platforms should encourage SMEs to focus on innovation and independent intellectual property rights (IPRs) to enhance their competitiveness in the global market, said Wang Jian, director of the Department of International Business and Cooperation of the School of International Trade and Economics at the University of International Business and Economics.

In addition, relevant departments should intensify efforts to protect the original innovations of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises expanding overseas, Wang added. He suggested refining measures to safeguard IPRs, including business improvements, cultural creativity, and guidance mechanisms for responding to overseas IPR disputes. Furthermore, he called for increased guidance and support for manufacturing companies and small- and medium-sized foreign trade merchants.

In April 2023, the Ministry of Commerce announced plans to develop a model that combines cross-border e-commerce with industrial belts, promoting the export of more characteristic products based on the country's 165 comprehensive pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao (C), Japanese director Ryo Takeuchi (L) and Rinchen Cimu, the Tibetan female protagonist in Takeuchi's documentary "The Yangtze River," pose for a group photo at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo, Japan, April 7, 2024.(Xinhua/Guo Dan)

TOKYO, April 9 (Xinhua) -- "I cannot believe the Tibetan girl who took a photo with a lamb 10 years ago started her own business a decade later." That was a comment from one of the over 100 Japanese viewers deeply touched by the theatrical version of Japanese director Ryo Takeuchi's documentary "The Yangtze River."

The documentary, spanning a decade, offers a moving and vivid portrayal of China's profound transformation, resonating with the audience who witnessed the significant changes along the Yangtze River.

In May 2023, Takeuchi's documentary "The Yangtze River," alongside "100 Faces of Huawei," was screened for a week at a theater in Tokyo's Yurakucho business district. A year later, the adapted theatrical version of "The Yangtze River" premiered in Japan on Sunday at the Chinese embassy.

Takeuchi, in this documentary film, takes the audience on a journey starting from Shanghai, tracing the course of the Yangtze River, and capturing the evolution of life along its banks over the past decade, showcasing China's rapid development.

Following its premiere, the film will be simultaneously screened across various regions in Japan starting from Friday, including Kanagawa, Osaka, Nagoya, Sendai, and Fukuoka.

"This is likely the first documentary showcasing the real China to be screened simultaneously in theaters across Japan," remarked the director when engaging with the audience after the premiere was held.

Wu Jianghao, the Chinese ambassador to Japan, praised the film: "It is a profoundly engaging documentary suitable for all ages. We hope more Japanese people will have the opportunity to watch it."

During the premiere, Takeuchi surprised the audience by inviting Rinchen Cimu, the Tibetan female protagonist whose life underwent remarkable changes as depicted in the film, to join them. Cimu, dressed in traditional Tibetan attire identical to her portrayal in the documentary, elicited astonished reactions from the audience.

"Last December, a high-speed railway was inaugurated in my hometown of Shangri-La, making it more accessible for everyone," Cimu shared at the premiere.

Her words astonished not only the audience but also Takeuchi himself. "When I was filming 'The Yangtze River,' I had to drive for over 10 hours to get to Shangri-La, but now there's the high-speed rail. That's the speed of China!" he said.

Noting the challenges of promoting a documentary that is not necessarily profitable in theaters across Japan, Takeuchi expressed his gratitude to the Chinese community in Japan and Japanese friends who understand China, stating, "With everyone's support, we not only managed to raise nearly double the target funds for promotion but also saw many theaters fully booked for screenings."

Reflecting on his initial intentions for nationwide promotion, Takeuchi said, "I sincerely hope that Japanese people who are less familiar with China, as well as second-generation Chinese children born and raised in Japan, will come to watch this film because it showcases the real China."

The director launched a project called "Yangtze Coffee" by renting a prominent space at the entrance of Yokohama Chinatown starting last Friday, serving as a promotional exhibition hall for the film. Here, visitors can not only enjoy free coffee but also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the documentary and explore cultural exhibits from the Yangtze River basin, immersing themselves in the essence of Chinese culture.

Zhang Yansong, the principal of Yokohama Yamate Chinese School, told Xinhua at the premiere that he intended to have over 900 students and teachers at the school watch the film together.

"I believe that through this documentary, not only can children understand China's rapid development, but they can also draw inspiration from characters like Cimu, and develop aspirations for life," he noted. 
BEIJING  Chairman of the National Assembly (NA)'s Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh on Tuesday met with Chairman of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the National Peoples Congress of China (NPC) Zhong Shan in Beijing within the framework of the official visit to China by NA Chairman Vuong inh Hue.

The two sides agreed that the meeting is of significance and a concrete step for the two committees to discuss measures to effectively implement the common perception reached between the two countries top Party and State leaders as stated in the Viet Nam-China Joint Declarations issued in 2022 and 2023 and the spirit and content of the new cooperation agreement recently signed by NA Chairman Hue and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC Zhao Leji during Hues official visit.

The two sides informed each other of outstanding results in the socio-economic development of the two countries, and exchanged information and experiences in building economic development institutions, focusing on macro policies and some specific areas, such as institutions, policies, and experiences in developing free trade zones; priorities and investment incentives relating to land, taxes, fees and administrative procedures. They also discussed non-tariff trade management measures; orientation, conditions, criteria and standards for free trade zone development; models of free trade zones, especially the experience of the Shanghai free trade zone.

The Vietnamese official thanked the Chinese official and representatives of Chinas Ministry of Commerce, National Development and Reform Commission, and National Railway Administration of China for sharing useful information and experiences with Viet Nam.

Thanh believed that the results of the meeting will contribute to the success of NA Chairman Hues visit as well as to cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries.

He hoped that the two committees will continue working together in the coming time, especially in sharing experience in the development of railway, free trade zones and international financial centres. VNS
HA NOI  Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son affirmed that Viet Nam always pays attention to and facilitates religious activities, including Catholicism, to thrive within the bounds of the Constitution and legal framework.

He made the remarks on Tuesday while receiving Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vaticans Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, during his six-day visit to Viet Nam.

Scheduled from April 9-14, this visit is conducted at the invitation of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Viet Nam and marks the first time a Vatican Secretary for Relations with States has visited Viet Nam at this level.

At the meeting, Son welcomed Archbishop Gallagher's first visit to Viet Nam, and stated that this is an opportunity for the archbishop to witness Viet Nam's dynamic development, as well as the rich and vibrant religious life of the Catholic community in Viet Nam.

Son emphasised that Viet Nam consistently pursues an independent, self-reliant, multilateral and diversified foreign policy, being a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community. He also expressed his desire to develop relations with other countries based on principles of equality, mutual respect, mutually beneficial cooperation and compliance with international law.

He affirmed that Viet Nam always pursues a consistent policy of respecting and ensuring people's freedom to belief and religion. He emphasised the importance of national unity, where religion is one of the contributing factors to building and developing the country.

Son expressed his desire for the Vietnamese Catholic community to continue promoting the good moral values of Catholicism in social life, contributing positively to the development and prosperity of the country and the Catholic Church.

The minister highly appreciated the positive progress of the Viet Nam-Vatican relations in recent times, demonstrated through high-level meetings, results of negotiations of the Viet Nam-Vatican Joint Working Group, and the agreement on the working regulations of the Holy Sees Resident Representative and Office of the Holy Sees Resident Representative in Viet Nam.

Son proposed that both sides continue to maintain the effectiveness of high-level exchange activities, and affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with relevant agencies, will create conditions for the Resident Representative of the Holy See to fulfil its mission in Viet Nam.

Archbishop Gallagher, for his part, expressed his joy in witnessing the development of the Catholic Church in Viet Nam, and trusted that the Vietnamese Catholic community would make even more contributions to the country's development.

Sharing Minister Son's assessment of the well-developing Viet Nam-Vatican relationship, Archbishop Gallagher agreed to promote exchanges and enhance cooperation between the two sides through the Viet Nam-Vatican Joint Working Group mechanism as well as in multilateral and international forums.

The archbishop expressed his hope that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant Vietnamese agencies and localities would continue to create favourable conditions for the activities of the Resident Representative of the Holy See and expressed confidence that the bilateral relationship would continue to achieve important milestones.

As planned, Archbishop Gallagher will meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra and leaders of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs on Wednesday.

He will visit Ha Noi-based National Children's Hospital, which has had medical cooperation with Rome's Bambino Gesu Childrens Hospital since 2005.

Archbishop Gallagher will celebrate mass at designated cathedrals in Ha Noi, Hue and HCM City, and meet with members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Viet Nam before wrapping up the visit on April 14.  VNS
KIEN GIANG  Kien Giang Province is restructuring agriculture to increase productivity together with developing farming co-operatives.

The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province also aims to develop value chains for agricultural products and improve their quality.

It aims to establish 10 new agricultural co-operatives linked with consumers this year.

It has earmarked VN15 billion (US$600,000) to invest in infrastructure for co-operatives operating in agriculture, forestry and fisheries this year.

It will implement central and local policies and plans to renovate, develop and improve the efficiency of the collective economy, according to Le Quoc Anh, deputy chairman of the province Peoples Committee.

It will strengthen consulting and advocacy activities for the establishment of co-operatives, and support the development of linkages between various stakeholders in producing and consuming agricultural produce.

The province Co-operatives Alliance, in co-operation with relevant agencies and ministries, will provide training to managers of co-operatives.

It will carry out trade promotion activities and help co-operatives participate in trade fairs organised by the Viet Nam Co-operatives Alliance.

It will collaborate with the province Departments of Industry and Trade and Agriculture and Rural Development and Farmers Association to establish linkages between agricultural companies and co-operatives.

It will help agricultural co-operatives register product quality, trademarks and product traceability.

The province has 453 agricultural co-operatives, which account for 87 per cent of all co-operatives, with 33,000 members who have a total of 64,200ha.

Le Huu Toan, director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said agricultural co-operatives had helped manage natural resources and effectively cope with climate change.

Their revenues and profits were not high but they had helped their members adopt advanced farming techniques and increase their incomes by VN 900,000-2.2 million ($36-80) per hectare, he said.

The Kenh 7B Agricultural Co-operative in Tan Hiep Districts Thanh ong A Commune is one of the provinces effective co-operatives with good linkages for selling its output.

Established in 2001, it has 294 members growing 526ha of rice. It provides irrigation for their rice fields and sells them inputs.

According to Vo Minh Chien, its director, the co-operative also has 50ha to grow rice seeds, which too it sells to its members.

The members grow rice to Vietnamese good agricultural practices (VietGAP) standards and have guaranteed buyers.

Rice production

Kien Giang, the countrys largest rice producing province, aims to grow 4.4 million tonnes of the grain this year, with high-quality rice accounting for 90 per cent of it, according to the agriculture department.

It is focusing on creating more large-scale rice fields by pooling individual farmers holdings and growing the grain to VietGAP, GlobalGAP and other international quality standards.

It has 1,334 large-scale rice fields with a total area of 167,225ha, including 55,166ha that have high-quality certificates to export to the EU, the US, Japan, and other wealthy markets.

The province is participating in a Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development programme to cultivate one million hectares of high-quality, low-emissions rice in alignment with the countrys green growth goals in the Mekong Delta.

The area under rice under the programme will reach 100,000ha in 2025 and double that by 2030.

This year it is 60,000ha with 102 co-operatives participating in the programme.

In the ongoing winter-spring crop, farmers have planted more than 280,200ha of rice and are expected to get an average yield of 7.5 tonnes per hectare.

The province encourages farmers to switch to other crops and raise animals on unproductive rice fields to earn higher incomes.

Toan said: We will continue to convert unproductive mono rice growing areas into shrimp-rice farms to increase value and cope with climate change safely and effectively.

The development of shrimp-rice farming in which rice is grown in the rainy season and shrimp is bred in the dry season on the same fields has proven effective in coastal areas, where fields are affected by saltwater intrusion during the latter.

The province has more than 100,000ha of shrimp-rice areas, including 2,000ha with Vietnamese or international quality certification such as GlobalGAP, Global Aquaculture Stewardship Council and Best Aquaculture Practices, according to the department.  VNS
BEN TRE  Ben Tre Province is restructuring agriculture towards establishing concentrated farming areas to produce high-quality products and improve farmers incomes.

Tran Ngoc Tam, deputy chairman of the province Peoples Committee, said agriculture had developed on a large scale with high yields, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness.

The province had established concentrated growing areas for key produce that have value chains and meet the requirements for making products for export, he said.

The Peoples Committee had instructed the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to draft plans to develop more concentrated growing areas for key produce.

The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province had encouraged agricultural co-operative groups and co-operatives to tie up with processing companies to develop value chains.

According to oan Van anh, director of the department, the province has 67 co-operative groups, 78 co-operatives and four linkage groups that have developed value chains.

The countrys largest coconut growing province has 32 co-operative groups and 34 co-operatives that have developed value chains for 10,094ha of coconut orchards.

There are 18 co-operatives, seven co-operative groups and four linkage groups with tie-ups with 30 companies to grow more than 500ha of green-skin and pink-flesh grapefruit.

The province has encouraged farmers to switch to vegetables and fruits, livestock breeding and aquaculture on unproductive rice fields to earn higher incomes and cope with climate change, especially saltwater intrusion, in recent years.

Organic farming

The province has 25,023ha of farming areas that use organic or good agricultural practices (GAP) standards, according to the department.

They mostly grow coconut or fruits or practise aquaculture.

The province has 17,800ha of organic coconut orchards, or 23 per cent of the total coconut growing area.

Its coconut products are exported to highly demanding markets such as the US, Japan and the EU.

It aims to increase the organic coconut area to 20,000ha by 2025 and 30,000ha by 2030.

It will offer incentives to attract investments in agricultural processing to increase the added value of produce and outlets for them.

It has a diverse range of farming conditions with freshwater, brackish water and saltwater areas.

But most farms are small and lack the resources to invest in advanced farming methods, according to the department.

The province has encouraged farmers to join co-operatives and co-operative groups to increase their scale and secure stable demand for their produce and income.

Pham Manh Ha, who owns a two-hectare coconut orchard in Thanh Phu Districts Thoi Thanh Commune, is a member of a local organic co-operative that secures outlets for his harvests.

It had linked up with companies for the purpose, and this safeguards members from price and demand volatility, he said.

He earns an average of VN120 - 150 million (US$4,800-6,000) a year.

More and more farmers in the province have begun to adopt high-tech methods to breed shrimp and earn higher profits.

Le Van Sam in Thanh Phu Districts Thanh Hai Commune is one of the provinces most successful shrimp farmers and uses high-tech methods with multiple ponds for breeding and treating wastewater.

His ponds are installed with oxygenation equipment, anti-sunlight nets and plastic sheets on the beds.

This breeding method offers advantages over traditional methods like controlling the quality of water and managing diseases. The breeding success rate is 90 per cent, and two to three crops can be harvested a year.

He has 40ha and harvests 70-90 tonnes of shrimp a year to earn profits of VN30-50 billion ($1.2-2 million).

Ben Tre plans to expand its high-tech shrimp breeding area from 3,110ha now to 5,000ha by 2030, according to the department.

To increase the efficiency of aquaculture, it offers advanced techniques to manage shrimp and other species and protect the environment.

It has created digital agriculture data and origin traceability for agricultural produce, and installed 14 automatic monitoring stations in Ba Tri and Thanh Phu districts to check water quality for aquaculture.

OCOP products

Ben Tre aims to develop more products under the countrys One Commune- One Product (OCOP) programme to exploit the advantages its rural areas possess and improve incomes there.

It has more than 250 OCOP products rated between three and five stars, including four with five stars.

The four are cacao coconut candy, panda-durian- coconut candy, ginger coconut candy, and durian coconut candy, all produced by the ong A General Trading and Manufacturing Limited Company.

Many of the OCOP products are made from province specialities such as coconut, green skin and pink flesh grape fruit, durian, rambutan, clean rice, and mud crab and include jams, cakes and tourism products.

The province wants 20 per cent of all co-operatives to have at least one OCOP product this year.  VNS
HA NOI  The recent discourse on revising the Law on Employment has sparked heated debate on how much part-time work is reasonable for students.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs suggests a revised version of the law stipulating that students of working age can work part-time, but no more than 20 hours per week during academic terms and 48 hours per week during breaks.

Bui Sy Loi, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Social Affairs, is all for the Ministry's legal proposal, adding that it is crucial to issue a guideline to clearly define wage rates for students based on their ages, capabilities and personal needs.

"While part-time work provides income and skills, we must ensure students will not be paid below the regional minimum wages," said Loi.

Duong Kim Anh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Womens Academy, subscribes to the proposal, pointing out real-world cases where excessive part-time work has led to students nodding off in class, ruining their academic results.

She notes that many universities abroad also cap international students' work hours at 20 per week.

"In addition to the 20-hour cap, we should introduce policies to financially support disadvantaged students," said Anh.

Many students are concerned that the caps would make it difficult for them to cover living expenses and tuition fees.

Nguyen Ha An, an undergraduate at Vietnam Women's Academy, works five hours a day at a food stall. With about 30 hours worked per week, An earns around VN2.5 million (US$100) monthly.

Without working those hours, I wouldnt earn enough money to cover my expenses, said An.

Nguyen uc Nam, an undergraduate at Hanoi University, tutors and waits tables up to 35 hours per week to pay for college.

"My parents can only provide me with VN3 million ($120) monthly, barely enough for rent and meals," said Nam.

o Hoang Giang, Recruitment Supervisor at Red Circle Company, believes that limiting students part-time hours would hinder their ability to earn additional income and gain more job experience.

Rather than enforcing strict caps, Giang suggests the Ministry take a flexible approach: recommending the 20-hour weekly guideline for students, but allowing flexibility in how they manage their time.

Vu Quang Thanh, Deputy Director of the Ha Noi Job Service Centre, reveals that most students work out of necessity alongside studies, with some even working unpaid internships to build skills.

"Regulations need flexibility so students can balance studying with gaining professional experience," he said.

Loi acknowledges that international practices vary, with some countries exempting domestic students from work-hour limits while others have no caps.

"The key is creating opportunities for students to gain experience while ensuring quality studies and well-rounded development," he said. VNS
HAI PHONG Two police officers have been removed from their positions after testing positive for drugs.

The officers, both women, were caught at a party where drugs were present.

On April 7, the Hai Phong City Police announced they had carried out procedures to revoke their titles after they were caught at a party in Thuong Ly Ward, Hong Bang District, Hai Phong, were drugs were present.

Earlier on 11.30pm on April 4, 2024, at a house in V.I. urban area in Thuong Ly Ward, Hong Bang District, Hai Phong, the Narcotics Investigation Division of the Hai Phong City Police stopped a group currently using drugs, arresting 12 suspects with seven males and five females. Upon inspection, nine out of the 12 suspects tested positive for drugs; and 0.13 grams of ketamine and some related exhibits were seized.

The Narcotics Investigation Division temporarily detained three suspects: Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen (born in 1986); Bui Thi Ngoc Bich (born in 1988); and Vu Hoang Cuong (born in 1982), all residing in Hai Phong, for the act of illegally organising and using drugs. They will be detained for further investigation and processing, according to legal provisions.

It is known that among the suspects involved in the illegal drug use, two female police officers tested positive for drugs: B. T. N. B., an officer of the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Division, Hai Phong City Police; and V.A., a female officer of the Criminal Investigation, Economic Crime, and Drug Division from Duong Kinh District Police.

The Hai Phong City Police have initiated procedures to revoke the title of People's Police from these two female officers. VNS
HA NOI  More than 1,100 business vehicle permits were revoked in December 2023 by the Ha Noi Transport Department due to speed violations.

These violations were detected through data extracted from the trip monitoring devices by the Department for Road of Viet Nam (DRVN), utilising its data processing and exploitation system.

As per regulations on business and conditions for transport operations by car, vehicles with five or more speed violations in a single month face badge revocation.

Significantly, numerous vehicles operated by transport businesses exceeded speed limits hundreds or even thousands of times in December 2023. Notable instances include the tractor belonging to Bong Sen Trading and Service Co-operative, which violated speed limits 1,063 times within one month. Additionally, four vehicles associated with Truong Hai Transport Service Cooperative, Inter Bus Line, and ai Nam Transport Service Co-operative each breached speed limits 800 times or more within the same timeframe.

Transportation companies are prohibited from utilising the vehicles involved in violations for any transportation business activities during the period of sanction.

Furthermore, these businesses are required to conduct a thorough review and rectification of their traffic safety monitoring activities and must ensure strict compliance with traffic safety regulations among their drivers.

As reported by the Ha Noi Transport Department, an average of 700-800 transport business vehicles have their permits revoked each month due to speed violations.

However, the department noted that following the conclusion of the penalties, many vehicles persisted in committing the same violations once more.

To enforce the law rigorously, the department has recently dispatched a document to the Viet Nam Register, DRVN, transport departments, and Traffic Police across all provinces and cities, urging coordinated efforts in addressing administrative violations within the realm of road traffic. Of particular emphasis, the Viet Nam Register has been requested to direct registration centres to refrain from inspecting vehicles whose owners have not yet fully complied with administrative sanctions.

Furthermore, owners of vehicles involved in violations will be denied renewal of their driving licenses if they have been sanctioned. VNS
HCM CITY  Viet Nam National University HCM City (VNU-HCM) University on Monday (April 8) signed an agreement with Australia's Deakin University for cooperation in a number of fields, especially artificial intelligence.

Speaking at the signing ceremony its chancellor, Vu Hai Quan, said the university seeks to become a leading centre for AI research and application in Southeast Asia.

Over more than 10 years of collaboration in research and co-supervision of graduate students with professors at Deakins Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute, he said VNU-HCM had identified the university as a strategic partner for AI and information technology.

Under the agreement, the two sides will research AI and IT.

They will focus on AI applications for solving major problems related to healthcare, agriculture, public administration, and building smart cities.

They will collaborate in training and research in public health, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, digital transformation, agriculture, the environment, sustainable development, and climate change adaptation.

They will develop short-term training programmes for university administration and public management.

They will increase the number and scale of student exchange programmes.

Deakin University will provide research internship opportunities for VNU-HCM students.

They will develop mechanisms to enable scientists on the two sides to connect, jointly carry out research and organise international scientific conferences and seminars.

They will train young lecturers for VNU-HCM under a programme to meet the requirements of comprehensive and fundamental innovation in education and training in 2019-30 run by the Ministry of Education and Training.

On the occasion leading AI experts from the two universities held a discussion with more than 800 lecturers and students at VNU-HCM about the latest achievements, challenges and the applicability of AI in many fields, especially health and biomedical research.

Deakin University ranks in the top 1 per cent of universities in the world, according to the 2024 Times Higher Education rankings.

Its Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute is a leading AI research centre that combines basic research and cutting-edge software development, and has more than 120 AI researchers and software engineers.  VNS
People visit the Bologna Children's Book Fair at Bologna Fiere Center, in Bologna, Italy, April 8, 2024. The 61st Bologna Children's Book Fair kicked off on Monday with the participation of 1,500 exhibitors from about 100 countries and regions of the world. The fair will last until April 11. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

People visit the Bologna Children's Book Fair at Bologna Fiere Center, in Bologna, Italy, April 8, 2024. The 61st Bologna Children's Book Fair kicked off on Monday with the participation of 1,500 exhibitors from about 100 countries and regions of the world. The fair will last until April 11. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

People visit the Bologna Children's Book Fair at Bologna Fiere Center, in Bologna, Italy, April 8, 2024. The 61st Bologna Children's Book Fair kicked off on Monday with the participation of 1,500 exhibitors from about 100 countries and regions of the world. The fair will last until April 11. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

People visit the Bologna Children's Book Fair at Bologna Fiere Center, in Bologna, Italy, April 8, 2024. The 61st Bologna Children's Book Fair kicked off on Monday with the participation of 1,500 exhibitors from about 100 countries and regions of the world. The fair will last until April 11. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

A visitor takes photos of illustrations at the Bologna Children's Book Fair at Bologna Fiere Center, in Bologna, Italy, April 8, 2024. The 61st Bologna Children's Book Fair kicked off on Monday with the participation of 1,500 exhibitors from about 100 countries and regions of the world. The fair will last until April 11. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

Visitors take part in the opening ceremony of the Bologna Children's Book Fair at Bologna Fiere Center, in Bologna, Italy, April 8, 2024. The 61st Bologna Children's Book Fair kicked off on Monday with the participation of 1,500 exhibitors from about 100 countries and regions of the world. The fair will last until April 11. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

People visit the Bologna Children's Book Fair at Bologna Fiere Center, in Bologna, Italy, April 8, 2024. The 61st Bologna Children's Book Fair kicked off on Monday with the participation of 1,500 exhibitors from about 100 countries and regions of the world. The fair will last until April 11. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

A visitor takes photos of illustrations at the Bologna Children's Book Fair at Bologna Fiere Center, in Bologna, Italy, April 8, 2024. The 61st Bologna Children's Book Fair kicked off on Monday with the participation of 1,500 exhibitors from about 100 countries and regions of the world. The fair will last until April 11. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

A visitor talks with a Chinese exhibitor at the Bologna Children's Book Fair at Bologna Fiere Center, in Bologna, Italy, April 8, 2024. The 61st Bologna Children's Book Fair kicked off on Monday with the participation of 1,500 exhibitors from about 100 countries and regions of the world. The fair will last until April 11. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

People visit the Bologna Children's Book Fair at Bologna Fiere Center, in Bologna, Italy, April 8, 2024. The 61st Bologna Children's Book Fair kicked off on Monday with the participation of 1,500 exhibitors from about 100 countries and regions of the world. The fair will last until April 11. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

People visit the Bologna Children's Book Fair at Bologna Fiere Center, in Bologna, Italy, April 8, 2024. The 61st Bologna Children's Book Fair kicked off on Monday with the participation of 1,500 exhibitors from about 100 countries and regions of the world. The fair will last until April 11. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

A visitor watches illustrations at the Bologna Children's Book Fair at Bologna Fiere Center, in Bologna, Italy, April 8, 2024. The 61st Bologna Children's Book Fair kicked off on Monday with the participation of 1,500 exhibitors from about 100 countries and regions of the world. The fair will last until April 11. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Bach Hoa Xanh minimart chain is a leading modern retailer by revenue, specialising in selling fresh foods, vegetables, and other goods satisfying the daily basic needs of Vietnamese consumers.

The network of around 1,700 stores in easily accessible locations across southern and south-central Vietnam offers a wide range of high-quality products in hygienic shopping environments with customer-centric service at very competitive prices.

Bach Hoa Xanh Investment is a subsidiary of Mobile World Investment Corporation (Mobile World), Vietnam's No.1 multicategory retail platform. Mobile World will remain the controlling shareholder of Bach Hoa Xanh Investment, next to CDH Investments and the companys management.

Thomas Lanyi, head of Southeast Asia for CDH Investments said, This marks CDH Investments latest commitment in Vietnam and our second transaction with the Mobile World group of companies. Vietnam is one of CDH Southeast Asias priority markets for its superior macroeconomic and structural outlook, and we are particularly optimistic about the future of its organised grocery retail sector."

"Consumer needs are evolving in favour of modern alternatives to traditional wet markets, and Bach Hoa Xanh is ideally positioned to capture this potential. We thank Mobile World and Bach Hoa Xanh Investment teams for their trust and are excited about partnering during this next chapter of profitable growth, said Lanyi.

Nguyen Duc Tai, founder and chairman of Mobile World Investment Corporation said, We welcome CDH Investments as a partner in Bach Hoa Xanh Investment. We have a long history of working productively with the CDH Investments team and look forward to developing the company towards becoming the nationwide grocery leader."

Singapore's GIC eyes potential M&A deal in Vietnam's retail sector The Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund GIC and other investors are vying to scoop up a 20 per cent stake in Bach Hoa Xanh, Mobile Worlds grocery store chain.
On March 29, the representative of Ca Mau Peoples Procuracy handed out sentences of up to 13 years in prison for three defendants in a case of fraud and appropriation of property that occurred at Cong Ly, the developer of Ca Mau waste treatment plant in the southernmost province of Ca Mau and Bac Lieu wind farm in the province of the same name.

Cong Ly asserts continutation of waste and wind ventures, photo Le Toan

Deputy general director To Cong Ly and his father, general director To Hoai Dan, were given 12-13 years in prison, while employee Nguyen Ba Dam was sentenced to 7-8 years in prison.

An official from the External Economic Division under Bac Lieu Department of Planning and Investment told VIR after the trial, Bac Lieu wind farms operation will not be impacted by this situation because the project is operated by the legal entity Cong Ly Company. The violations that occurred were personal. The board of directors appointed other people to take over the operation of the company as well as the waste treatment plant.

The Bac Lieu wind farm is known as the first one in Vietnam, built in 2010. It was also the first wind farm in Southeast Asia built on the continental shelf, with 62 turbines on the coast.

Regarding Ca Mau waste treatment plant, representatives of both Bac Lieu Department of Planning and Investment and Bac Lieu Department of Natural Resources and Environment declined to comment on the case. However, it is assumed the plant will still operate normally, as it is currently the only waste treatment plant in the province and the biggest in the Mekong Delta.

In 2020, after the director of the company was prosecuted, the company submitted a request to cease waste treatment activities at the plant. At the time, Ca Mau authorities rejected the proposal because the collection and treatment of household waste is an essential service.

The waste treatment plant opened in 2010 with a capacity of 200 tonnes a day, and a total investment of $15.2 million.

The investor of the waste treatment plant has enjoyed many preferential investment policies. The province supports half of the investment capital, while the company also received bank loans worth nearly $9 million with preferential lending rates in collaboration with other incentives on land and taxes.

However, according to the indictment, during the process to build a treatment plant from 2009, To Cong Ly directed employee Dam to prepare false construction documents for the wastewater treatment system and garbage reception and separation area, worth more than $608,000.

After completing the dossier, Dan requested Ca Mau Peoples Committee to consider supporting half of the investment capital. Finally, the province agreed to support half of the capital based on the two false documents at more than $304,000.

Cong Ly kicks off two more wind power projects After the success of the first and the second phases of Bac Lieu wind power plant, Super Wind Energy Cong Ly Bac Lieu JSC continued to kick-off two more wind power projects with a total investment capital amount of nearly VND10 trillion ($440.37 million).

PM approves higher power tariff for Cong Ly Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has authorised Cong Ly Construction-Trade-Tourism Co., Ltd. to sell electricity to state-run Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) from its Khai Long-Ca Mau wind farm for 9.8UScents per kWh, not including value added tax.
PARIS, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce of China, said here on Monday that China's anti-dumping investigation into brandy imported from the European Union (EU), prompted by a complaint submitted by the domestic brandy industry, does not target any specific EU member state nor carry predefined findings.

China will conduct the investigation openly and transparently in accordance with Chinese law and WTO rules, while fully safeguarding the rights of all stakeholder, added the Chinese minister. 
The report focuses on simultaneous digital and green transformations, providing an overview and updates on the global and Vietnamese digital transformation landscape. It aims to offer businesses multidimensional perspectives on the dual transformation trend, providing valuable insights to empower them on their journey of innovation and business improvement towards sustainable success.

The report is an annual publication within the framework of the business digital transformation support programme for 2021-2025 period, led by the ministry's Agency for Enterprise Development with support from the German government through GIZ.

Nguyen Duc Trung, deputy director of the Agency for Enterprise Development, said, This year's publication aims to provide concepts and trends of dual transformation happening globally to enhance awareness within the business community and government regarding the potential impacts it may have on Vietnam. This publication will offer a comprehensive overview and updates on the digital transformation landscape worldwide and in Vietnam, helping businesses gain additional multidimensional perspectives on the dual transformation trend. This is a trend that businesses around the world are currently implementing as part of the digital transformation process.

Nguyen Duc Trung, deputy director of the Agency for Enterprise Development under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, delivered a speech at the conference

The report highlighted that in Vietnam, digital technology and digital transformation are expected to drive the success of transitioning to a green economy model, realising strategic goals for green growth.

The analysis of business readiness, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises in 2023, indicates that aspects related to strategic direction show the highest readiness level for digital transformation. This reflects businesses' proactive efforts in learning, updating, and accessing trends, solutions, and technological innovations to apply in their operations.

Limitations in standardising process systems, operating policies, data collection, storage, analysis, infrastructure connectivity, and IT systems, as well as investment resources for small and medium-sized enterprises, lead to low readiness levels in supply chain and ICT and data management aspects.

The results of the report show significant improvement in scores, all surpassing the average threshold (>2.5) with increases ranging from 0.7 to 1.4 points compared to the previous year. This indicates that businesses in all sectors recognise the importance of digital transformation in their development strategies, and enhancing necessary resources, especially leadership personnel or investing more in digital transformation projects. This is a positive sign showing that businesses are ready for this breakthrough and comprehensive digital transformation.

Although businesses have sufficient awareness and knowledge of digital transformation, they may struggle to implement this comprehensive change independently. Therefore, having policies and consulting services on digital transformation roadmaps and suitable solution applications are indeed necessary for businesses to excel.

Digital transformation to drive circular economy A programme focussing on digital applications for visualising material cycles and resource efficiency and their role in advancing the circular economy in Vietnam was held on January 24 in Hanoi. It was led by the Resource and Environment Communication Center (RECC) in partnership with Japan's Environmental Renewal and Material Circulation Bureau.

PM urges FIEs lead the way on green transformation Seeing foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) as an important driving force behind innovation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on them to help Vietnam implement its green transformation and sustainable development strategies.
In fact, by preventing oil and gas imports from Russia, the EU created a supply shortage that increased oil and gas prices globally. As Russia was still able to sell its oil and gas to countries like India and China, it actually benefitted from the increased prices that the EU sanctions induced. Ultimately, these sanctions helped Russia to increase its income from oil and gas sales.

Dr. Daniel Borer, Lecturer, RMIT University Vietnam

It is tough for the Western community to enforce the Russian sanctions everywhere, especially as many nations have no interest in following them.

The global economy, in the meantime, suffers. Or does it truly? The impressive expansion of globalisation the world experienced in the second half of the 20th century was abruptly halted with the 2008 global financial crisis. As the world recovered from this shock, the US-China trade war ignited, which again brought a crack into global trade.

Gradually, countries were able to arrange their trade around the US-China trade war, benefitting third countries. As economies were recovering from the US-China clash and trade was picking up, the pandemic hit everybody, bringing global trade to an abrupt halt as factories closed and supply chains broke down. As the world gradually recovered from the pandemic, global trade again suffered major disruptions.

It seemed that the golden times of globalisation had finally hit a dead-end as multinational corporations were considering relocating production nearer to their customers in a move towards domestic manufacturing and what is now called near-shoring. Also, as the Western and Eastern blocks started to re-emerge, trade became more directed towards political partners, which led to the concept of friend-shoring.

In retrospect, it appeared that we hit an all-time high of trade as a percentage of world GDP in 2007, when 61 per cent of all global production was traded internationally. But despite some people solemnly burying globalisation as a phenomenon of the past, the unthinkable happened  global trade resurrected.

The latest available data from 2022 show an impressive recovery of trade as a percentage of world GDP in the previous two years from 52 up to 63 per cent, an unprecedented record high.

True, a rethinking took place, where trade has become less global and more regional, but it seems that countries have quickly adapted to this new strategy.

Especially in Asia, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, signed in 2020, gave birth to the largest trading block ever created. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership is also boosting trade in the region.

Geopolitically, we may fear that the future is as uncertain as ever. Economically and trade-wise we may smile, for the future looks as bright as ever. Still, the development of tensions in the West could have severe impacts on Vietnam.

Given the current scenarios, Vietnam is facing several challenges as well as opportunities. It would be beneficial to strengthen trade relations with friendly, nearer partners like Australia and New Zealand, countries with large potential for Vietnamese trade, but that have largely been untapped.

Also, trade in raw materials, especially in rare earth elements (REEs), should be coordinated. REEs are required to build wind turbines, electric vehicles, any types of screens, and medical devices among others.

According to the United States Geological Survey, Vietnam has the second-largest reserves of REEs globally with 22 million metric tonnes, after China, which has 44 million MT and before Russia and Brazil, both with 21 million MT.

These REEs are a strategic key future resource, needed for the green revolution, and Vietnam happens to be a key global player in this industry. South Korea is planning to mine REEs in Vietnam. While this initiative should be welcomed, it begs the question of how this strategic resource can benefit the global position and economic strength of the country.

The closer trade ties with countries in the region are making Vietnam an attractive destination for foreign direct investment which, at first sight, should come as good news.

Still, it is necessary to create an economic environment where not only affordable labour is the selling point of Vietnam for such investing. Key infrastructure projects that the government has already initiated will help to improve Vietnams position as a key global player.

Foreign investors often mention the lack of skilled labour as one deterrent to investing in the country. While university graduates can help, it is also necessary to build up vocational training, so that formally trained electricians, plumbers, mechanics and so on are available for ventures.

The Vietnamese government has put in place several measures and implemented key projects that are conducive to sustained growth and economic stability. Coupling these measures with redirecting trade closer and to more friendly countries as well as solidifying its position as a foreign investment manufacturing hub in the region will equip the country for any storm that may loom.

UK-Vietnam trade pact already demonstrating value The United Kingdom-Vietnam trade relationship is poised to reach new heights, buoyed by the celebration of 50 years of UK-Vietnam bilateral relations last year, guided by the continued implementation of the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), and further boosted by the UK joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Obstacles still to be ironed out to improve EVFTAs standing Despite an increase in trade thanks to a bilateral free trade deal, the European Union is expecting Vietnam to remove obstructions that are impeding the blocs trade and investment into the country.
Government commits to summer power availability, photo Le Toan

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered that no power shortages will be tolerated this year in a bid to support the public and business community in their business and production activities.

Many businesses have claimed that power shortages have undermined their performance, so we have to make the greatest efforts to provide them with sufficient electricity, PM Chinh said at a meeting with ministries, sectors, and localities on April 1.

He required the resolute involvement of the entire political system through which 500kV circuit 1-line power lines pass to accelerate the construction of the project so that the transmission line can move into operation before July.

It is necessary to complete the compensation framework this week, complete the casting column foundations before May, and column construction before June, the PM said. This will be a milestone in the history of the electricity industry when building a 500kV power transmission line within such a short period. To achieve this requires the involvement of the entire political system, and especially localities where the line passes through, to focus on handing over the necessary land, PM Chinh said.

The 500kV circuit 3-line power line is funded by National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT), which is a member of Vietnam Electricity (EVN). The 500kV power transmission line from Quang Trach district in the central province of Quang Binh to Pho Noi district in the northern province of Hung Yen includes four component projects.

It is a crucial project because it will increase the inter-regional transmission capacity from the current 2,200MW to about 5,000MW, contributing to ensuring future electricity supply for the northern region.

The meeting is the third of the type since this year to review and speed up the construction of the project, showing this projects important role in ensuring a stable electric supply.

In addition, EVNNPT has established a steering committee for the project and set up four operating boards and 13 preparatory boards in cities and provinces to urgently implement the project.

Along with the direction for the 500kV circuit 3-line power line, the government also issued other requirements for ministries, and localities to speed up tasks to ensure stable power supply.

For example, in mid-February, the PM set out a directive on ensuring electricity supply, coal, and gas supply for electricity production. He also required a plan for coal production, transit warehouses, coal reserves, transportation, and control of possible extreme scenarios to ensure a sufficient and stable supply for coal-fired power plants. Under the directive, no shortage of coal for power plants should occur.

At the conference of state-owned enterprises chaired by PM Chinh in late March, EVN chairman Dang Hoang An vowed not to repeat the power shortages of last year.

To ensure power supply in 2024, EVN is speeding up investment in power generation and grid projects worth a combined $4.25 billion. Key projects include the upgrade of the Yaly and Hoa Binh hydropower plants, the Quang Trach 1 thermal power plant, preparing investment for the Quang Trach 2 LNG-to-power plant and construction of the expanded Tri An hydropower plant, An said.

The preparation is to meet a scenario of high growth in power consumption this year. According to EVN, the power consumption in 2024 may reach an increase of 9.18 per cent, where electricity output could reach 306.4 billion kWh, up 26 billion kWh from 2023.

These preparations will also reassure the foreign-invested enterprises community after the power cut situation for a long time last year.

At the 2024 Vietnam Business Forum in March, representatives of businesses from various chambers of commerce expressed their concern about their expansion plans if the power shortage was not resolved thoroughly.

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) in Vietnam said there was a serious power shortage in the northern region, especially in industrial parks, last summer. As a result, some member companies were considering reviewing their global production systems.

The JCCI put forward suggestions for the Vietnamese government to consider for the smooth operation of the manufacturing sector, including stable power supplies to industrial areas; advanced notice of power outages and power saving requests with time to adjust; and incentives for companies that save power and generate electricity.

Previously in 2023, EVN invested $3.79 billion in power projects and disbursed $3.64 billion, the highest amount among all state-owned groups. It kickstarted almost 150 power projects and completed work on over 160 grids with a capacity of 100-500kV.

However, consumption growth caused power shortages across the northern region early last summer, affecting the production and livelihoods of firms and retail consumers. For the whole year, power consumption nationwide rose 4.56 per cent on-year to 280.6 billion kWh.

Studies underway to guide Vietnams energy transition Vietnam is being encouraged to craft a clear roadmap for the transition of Vietnams coal-fired power plants, which are facing risks of closure.
Among 11 solutions outlined in documentation regarding the newly issued implementation plan for the Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), creating and mobilising capital to develop the electricity industry requires additional specific instructions from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) as well as other agencies. A power purchase agreement (PPA) is one of the most sought-after instructions.

Investors await instructions for financing power projects, illustration photo/ Source: Shutterstock

The PDP8 and its implementation plan mention a series of domestic gas thermal power projects and projects using imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) that will operate sometime between 2027 and 2030. By then, the total domestic gas thermal power capacity will be 14,930MW and the total LNG thermal power capacity will reach 22,400MW.

One of the prerequisites for large power projects to be implemented as set out in the PDP8 is that financial issues related to the power industry need to be more detailed and specific because it takes several years to implement a power project, at which 2-4 years are required to negotiate the PPA and arrange loans.

The MoITs report sent to the government last December calculated that it would take 7-10 years to complete any LNG power project, which includes completing and approving the feasibility report and necessary legal documents, as well as negotiating the PPA and arranging loans, depending on the capacity and experience of the investor.

The Nhon Trach 3 and 4 power plants are a case in point. In February 2019, they received investment planning approval. In March 2022, the investor signed the engineering, procurement, and construction contract with an implementation period of 36 months. Nhon Trach 3 is expected to start generating commercial electricity in November this year and Nhon Trach 4 in May 2025, but the PPA has still not yet been signed.

We are closely monitoring the disbursement process of Nhon Trach 3 and 4, and know that some of the disbursements have collateral from other sources of the investor. The export credit loan using the projects revenue has not yet been disbursed, said an expert on the issue from a European financial institution.

Banks must look at the official PPA to know the cash flow, profit, and loss to decide to lend to the project. It is obvious that there are also projects where investors mortgage other assets instead of the project itself, and can still arrange loans, but these cases are few, he said.

Before being able to arrange capital, few private and foreign investors will dare to spend billions of USD building large projects if they cannot be sure about their fate. Therefore, to accelerate large ventures, they need more detailed and more specific guides relating to financing, the expert added.

Vietnam explores renewable energy export strategy On December 23, Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha tasked the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) with developing a framework to explore wind and solar energy.

Implementation strategy for new power development plan approved Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has approved the implementation updates for the country's Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8).
The company has achieved a series of scientific breakthroughs in the area of spider silk technology with implications for the global textile industry.

As part of this agreement, Kraig Labs disclosed its production plans and schedule for the next two years to the VSA to obtain cooperation in reaching its production targets. This agreement establishes a collaborative working effort between Kraig Labs and the VSA, something the company has been actively working towards for some time.

Under the terms of the agreement, in addition to support and advice on production logistics, the VSA has agreed to assist Kraig Labs in obtaining formal intellectual property registration of its BAM-1 hybrid silkworm strain in Vietnam.

This definitive agreement strengthens the collaboration between Kraig Labs and the VSA, building on and expanding the MoU announced on January 30. This landmark agreement establishes the framework and much of the logistical support needed for the American company to achieve metric-tonne levels of production.

"This agreement is the culmination of many years of work with various governmental and non-governmental agencies to demonstrate our technology and its potential," said Kim K. Thompson, founder and CEO of Kraig Biocraft Laboratories. "This new relationship with the VSA underlines our commitment to Southeast Asia and, we believe, significantly strengthens our position as we scale up production. With this agreement finalised, we are now working jointly with a capable partner to see that vision fulfilled."

Le Quang Tu, chairman of the Vietnamese Sericulture Association said, "We have been following developments at Kraig Labs for many years and we are very happy now to be working directly with them. We believe that Kraig's technology will have a significant positive impact on our industry. They have applied a thoughtful, step-by-step approach. Now, we will take steps together."

US biotechnology company ramps up expansion in Vietnam Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (Kraig Labs), the American biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialisation of spider silk, has strengthened its operation in Vietnam to tap into the countrys silk production.

American spider silk manufacturer invests in Viet Nam Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc, a leading American manufacturer of spider silk-based fibre, has signed an agreement with a government entity in Viet Nam to develop its advanced silk technology.
Located at an altitude of 1,500m above sea level, Dalat sits at the heart of Vietnam's Central Highlands and enjoys a cool climate throughout the year. The city has become increasingly important in recent years as an agricultural production centre, known in particular for its flower industry.

Lam Dong intends to make Dalat one of Southeast Asia's leading fresh flower production centres in line with its strategy for developing the flower industry through 2030, so exports of fresh flowers as well as other agricultural products are expected to expand.

With the opening of the Dalat Office, NX Vietnam will be better able to contribute to the region's sustainable economic development by facilitating exports of not only fresh flowers but also various other agricultural products from central Vietnam.

Nippon Express Holdings, Inc. offers logistics services. The company provides freight vehicle transportation, railway transportation, air transportation, sea transportation, port transportation, warehousing, and other services.

Moving forward, the company will continue striving to meet the diversifying needs of its customers in all parts of the world and leveraging its global network to provide logistics services best suited to their needs.

Japanese retailer AEON to join Vietnam International Sourcing 2024 As the demand for Vietnamese agricultural products and processed foods is rising, Japans retailer AEON TopValu will seek suppliers for its supermarket chain Aeon at the Vietnam International Sourcing 2024, which is slated for June 6-8 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Japan's NTT e-Asia invests in Vietnamese digital ads platform provider AWING Japan's NTT e-Asia Corporation signed an agreement with AWING Technologies and Media JSC on March 15 to operate an ad-monetisation platform connecting multiple Wi-Fi owners and advertisers in Vietnam, aiming at expanding business overseas.
Some key schemes, such as metro lines, have faced complexities with contracts, photo Le Toan

At the regular government meeting and online conference with cities and provinces last week, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised the importance of speeding up projects that involve official development assistance (ODA) to raise performance of public investment disbursement and contribute to socioeconomic development.

Ministries must revise and supplement regulations on management and use of ODA and concessional loans provided by foreign donors to simplify procedures and accelerate disbursement, the PM said.

Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc noted that some ODA disbursement had been an unsolvable issue over recent years. Donors claim a lot of disbursement is impossible because of the Law on Public Investment. All relevant authorities are frustrated with rules regarding ODA. They often ask to return this capital because it is too complex to spend it, he said.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), the total ODA and concessional loans that Vietnam signed for the 2021-2023 period was about $3.35 billion.

In recent years, ODA disbursement has reported a feeble performance. In 2024, the foreign capital target is around $833 million, but the disbursement rate as of February 29 was estimated at just 1.42 per cent.

For the 2023 plan of $1.2 billion, the disbursement rate reached just over half. In 2022, the rate was even lower, at about 26 per cent.

In the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, three ODA projects have proved too challenging to implement. For the Can Tho City Oncology Hospital project, started in 2017, it is estimated that just over 20 per cent of the contract has been fulfilled. The reason for the slow progress of relates to issues in the commercial contract signed between the Hungarian contractor and the project owner, Can Tho City Department of Health.

Meanwhile, the Can Tho river embankment project boasted a loan from the French Development Agency worth almost $20 million. All four bidding packages kicked off, but the completion volume ended up at just 72.8 per cent. Project progress has not met requirements due to insufficient site handover for construction implementation, and the ODA funding deadline became overdue.

For the Tran Hoang Na bridge project, which started construction in 2020, about 80 per cent has been completed. However, there remain problems with disbursement of the main contractor to subcontractors, who have not promptly met the cash flow to speed up progress.

Ho Chi Minh City is implementing six ODA-related projects with investment of about $4.9 billion, with the majority coming from ODA itself. These projects have also encountered difficulties. Slow disbursement of metro line 1 relates to price adjustment of project contracts, and has not been resolved because the Ministry of Construction has not yet issued a price index for metro projects.

Similarly, in one Ho Chi Minh City water environment project, disbursement of phase 2 of the canal was delayed due to rising costs of machines, equipment, and personnel due to unforeseen obstacles.

The MPI pointed out various reasons why ODA disbursement has been slow going, which included problems in negotiating and signing loan agreements; differences in policies, processes, and procedures between Vietnam and donors; quality and deadlines; and obstacles in delivering plans in bidding, site clearance, and arrangement of counterpart funds.

In particular, the differences in processes between Vietnam and donors has been raised many times, but it has not been resolved although the MPI has made great efforts to discuss the issues with development partners, especially the six banks providing the largest amount of ODA capital to Vietnam.

Slow disbursement of such capital not only affects progress, but also wastes an important resource, while we still have to pay loan interest, leading to poor efficiency of capital. It even leads to funds being withdrawn by donors, project funds increasing, or ventures eventually being cancelled, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said.

After the economy grew 5.66 per cent in the first quarter of 2024, the MPI has proposed two updated growth scenarios for the year. Under which, economic growth will be 6 per cent in the first scenario and 6.5 per cent in the second.

If the global and national situation does not get worse, and we can issue some more supporting policies on fiscal and monetary areas, as well as amend legal documents to unlock resources for development, including ODA, we can reach the higher growth scenario, Minister Dung said.

Phan Van Mai Chairman Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee In the second quarter, Ho Chi Minh City will focus on boosting the driving forces of investment, consumption, and exports. The city will prioritise the disbursement of public investment capital, aiming to disburse an average of $333 million per month. Additionally, efforts will be made to resolve investment obstacles, particularly in real estate projects. Hence, the city requests the government to promptly issue a decree on decentralising state management for the city. It is scheduled that the minister of home affairs will have a working session with Ho Chi Minh City on this matter imminently, so I propose the need for various opinions and content between different ministries and the city. I also suggest that the central government boldly decentralise power to the city and include any new content, if available, in the decree on decentralisation of state management. Secondly, I propose that the PM promptly approve the direction for the Ho Chi Minh City-Moc Bai expressway project. If approved in the first half of April, we will have approval of the international transshipment port project in Can Gio, as there are differing opinions. Cao Tuong Huy Chairman Quang Ninh Peoples Committee Quang Ninh province has put forward three proposals. Firstly, on April 1, the province collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to organise a conference on sustainable development of marine aquaculture. There, investors expressed interest in pouring funding into sea projects, and proposed that when doing so, they only need to seek opinions from relevant ministries, without requiring provincial approval, in order to streamline administrative procedures. Secondly, in March, the province held a conference to review the 10-year operation of the Quang Ninh Centre for Public Administration Services and submitted a recommendation to the Ministry of Home Affairs to maintain the current model of the province and supplement it with a remote electronic administrative procedure resolution team to enhance work efficiency. Lastly, Quang Ninh has submitted a formal report proposing the establishment of a bilateral border gate at Hoanh Mo between the province and China, so I hope a resolution will soon be offered to promote economic development and friendship relations, thereby facilitating the opening of the border gate. Nguyen Duc Trung Chairman Nghe An Peoples Committee Nghe An province is very proactive in implementing tasks related to national key projects. Firstly, the North-South expressway project of Dien Chau-Bai Vot has almost completed all procedures related to land clearance, ensuring the progress of construction implementation and will be inaugurated on April 30. Secondly, the 500kV line 3 project has two component projects. The province is currently focusing on implementing a pilot resolution on special mechanisms, hoping that the prime minister will pay attention to creating conditions for the province to soon complete procedures to submit to the National Assembly.

JICA sign $290 million ODA agreement for Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien Urban Railway The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a loan agreement with the Vietnamese government in Hanoi on December 29 to provide an official development assistance (ODA) loan of approximately $290 million for Line1 of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway project.

ODA continues to play vital role Vietnam is cooperating with Japan on new schemes of official development assistance. Sugano Yuichi, chief representative at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Vietnam, spoke with VIRs Thanh Dat about how these ties will be implemented in 2024 and beyond.
Tran Nguyen, financial service consultant Ipsos Strategy3

Bancassurance, despite being a significant contributor to the industrys success, has been at the centre of controversy. Mis-selling scandals shook the markets foundation, causing public trust to wane. A survey in Vietnam conducted by Swiss RE Institute in April-May 2023 during the peak of mis-selling incidents revealed public dissatisfaction.

The primary complaints centred around poor service quality, irrelevant products, and a perceived lack of knowledge among bank employees about the products they were selling. The primary cause of substandard service quality is often traced back to mis-selling, a problem that can manifest in various bancassurance sales models.

There are two main risk factors that lead to a likelihood of mis-selling. The first risk is when banks operate independently, with their referral teams promoting insurance products that offer high commissions and incentives for the employees. The second risk arises from moments between bank and insurance employees, where both the banks referral team and the insurance specialists are neglectful, selling unsuitable products.

In the context of the direct sales model as another example, where the banks own employees engage with and sell their bancassurance products directly to the consumer, devoid of any intervention from insurers or other bank specialists. The mis-selling phenomenon is most likely to be encountered in case of lending products.

The bancassurance sales team may resort to aggressive selling tactics, compelling customers to opt for insurance. The most typical instances when mis-selling can transpire include the stages before application appraisal, contract signing, and prior to loan disbursement.

Unlike Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines, where agents and brokers lead, Vietnams reliance on bancassurance calls for strict management akin to mature markets such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea. Bancassurances contribution to new life insurance policy premiums dramatically increased from 21 per cent in 2018 to 50 per cent in 2023.

However, Vietnams market may face a similar fate to Chinas, which saw a significant reduction in sales after tightening regulations. If we have a look at bancassurance in China, after a peak of the contribution to the life insurance premium, the government oversight to tighten and regulate the sales behaviours of bancassurance has resulted in a major decrease in sales of life insurance through the bancassurance channel, from 60 per cent in 2010 to 32 per cent in 2021.

The next chapter of Vietnams bancassurance could be like the Chinese market over 10 years ago. Life insurance in Vietnam, although in its nascent stages, presents opportunities for exponential growth. The potential for expansion is immense, despite the bancassurance-led distribution models stability challenges, which also opens avenues for new, innovative distribution strategies.

The life insurance penetration rate, currently at 11 per cent in 2022, signifies a vast, untapped market ready to explore life insurance offerings. Its modest contribution of 1.87 per cent to the GDP in 2022 holds promise for significant economic impact in the future. Therefore, while the path to sustainable growth may have obstacles, the future is ripe with possibilities and exciting prospects.

The enactment of a new Law on Credit Institutions, is set to bring stricter regulation and oversight to the bancassurance sector. The law aims to enhance customer protection, improve governance and risk management, and foster collaboration between authorities, banks, and insurance companies.

The law also prohibits credit institutions from packaging insurance products with banking products. This increased oversight will encourage insurance companies to rethink their bancassurance channels and explore alternatives, such as digital, while banks will need to improve their sales models to avoid regulatory infringements.

There will be challenges in rebuilding customer faith and delivering consistent services, and banks will need action plans to reinforce brand image, maintain customer satisfaction, and work on selecting suitable sales models.

However, there are opportunities for banks and insurers. One such opportunity lies in the reinvention of distribution channels and sales models. Insurers might reduce their reliance on financial institutions, and instead, explore the potential of self-developed digital platforms like mobile applications. These platforms can streamline processes and improve customer support, thereby enhancing the overall customer experience and building trust and loyalty among customers.

Insurers should also improve existing channels such as agents, direct sales, and professional distributors. When bancassurance is restricted, insurers must know their customers, particularly those transitioning from the bancassurance channel. Insurers need to manage the change of transitioning of customers carefully, provide proper communication about the change while maintain the quality of service to ensure smooth transition.

For banks, a comprehensive reevaluation and reinvention of their bancassurance sales models will be a crucial step in navigating the regulatory landscape effectively. To align with the new scrutiny placed on bancassurance, banks will need to streamline their operations, optimise internal processes, and focus on core banking activities, all while ensuring compliance with stringent regulations.

However, as we reflect on past instances of mis-selling, it becomes clear that rebuilding customer trust is no small task. To overcome this challenge, banks must prioritise transparency in their selling practices, along with providing comprehensive and accurate information about their products.

While the path to sustainable growth may have potential obstacles, the future of the bancassurance is ripe with possibilities and exciting prospects. Banks must foster closer collaborations with insurance companies. This will enable them to offer standalone insurance products designed to meet the unique needs of their customers, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction, cross-selling, and loyalty.

Hanoi pays attention to improving quality of peoples life As one of the most populous cities in the country with a population of about 10 million people, the capital city of Hanoi has faced a lot of social issues relating to security and order, social evils and employment.
Wind turbin towers in Vietnam (Photo: VNA)

Kuala Lumpur  Investing in renewable energy sources is as a palliative measure for ASEAN to mitigate climate change, according to Vice President of Infrastructure Solutions at Malaysian-based Vertiv Chee Hoe Ling.

In Southeast Asia, for instance, energy demand has increased an average of roughly 3 per cent a year for the past two decades  with fossil fuels meeting a sizeable portion of this, he said.

The International Energy Agency noted that coal, natural gas, and oil are the largest contributors to the regions energy mix, adding that fossil fuel imports are key to powering the region.

The same IEA report found that the region is undergoing a steady worsening in its energy trade balance, as fossil fuel demand outpaces local production. It is, therefore, important if the region could make the transition to renewable and sustainable energy faster from an economic perspective as well as an environmental one. Furthermore, this would also be in line with governments aspirations across Southeast Asia to realise long-term plans for a more secure and sustainable future.

He said that due to the rising demand for digitalised services, the region has seen an unprecedented boom in the market for data centres, citing global management consulting firm Kearneys study which said the regions data centre colocation market is projected to grow by 16.5 per cent from 2019 to 2026 with a value of 6.5 billion USD.

Unfortunately, data centres come with massive carbon footprints due to the tremendous amounts of electricity consumed, water utilised, and carbon emissions generated.

They must prioritise technology, energy and water efficiency, and sustainability in their operations, he said, adding key to sustainable development of the centres is to pen strategic plans to branch out digital infrastructure.

He stressed that the push for renewable energy and sustainable practices in both energy and data centre sectors is crucial to efforts for a brighter future without dampening economic growth, adding Southeast Asian countries could make contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and shaping up a sustainable environment in the future.

Vietnam ESG Initiative 2024: seizing green transformation opportunities Following the success of the 2023 Vietnam Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Initiative, the Agency for Enterprise Development under the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are co-hosting the 2024 Vietnam ESG Initiative.

Elements of a green hydrogen future Vietnams economy and sustained growth rate, has attracted attention, achieving a swift economic expansion.
The information was shared by Kudryashov Sergei Ivanovich, general director of Zarubezhneft, at a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 8.

Zarubezhneft has been working with Vietnam's state-run oil and gas group PetroVietnam for more than 40 years, alongside two joint ventures, Vietsovpetro and Rusvietpetro, in geological exploration and oil and gas exploitation.

Ivanovich said that Zarubezhneft is completing procedures to carry out new projects in Vietnam, while looking to expand its partnerships, especially in offshore wind development.

He noted that his company is looking to expand Rusvietpetro's projects in Russia to create balanced development of oil and gas projects in both countries.

The prime minister agreed to remove obstacles raised by Zarubezhneft and welcomed the Russian company's plans to expand its partnership in the power sector. He also asked for any existing issues in Russia to be resolved, facilitating PetroVietnam's expansion of its investments in Russia. He suggested Zarubezhneft and PetroVietnam set up a working group to resolve problems, conduct research, and propose suitable partnerships.

The World Bank recently said that Vietnam has higher potential for wind power development than other Southeast Asian countries.

According to the country's Power Development Plan VIII, offshore wind power capacity for domestic use will reach about 6,000MW by 2030. A larger scale could be achieved with rapid technological development and rational transmission costs.

Vietnam prioritises oil and gas cooperation projects with Russia: PM The Vietnamese Government always gives the top priority to oil and gas cooperation projects with Russia, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at a reception for General Director of Zarubezhneft JSC Sergey Ivanovich Kudryashov in Hanoi on December 13.

Vietnam, Australia cooperate to develop offshore wind power projects Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha received Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski and leaders of Corio Generation of Australias Macquarie Group in Hanoi on March 28.
President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua meets with Hungarian Ambassador to China Mate Pesti in Beijing, capital of China, April 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua met with Hungarian Ambassador to China Mate Pesti in Beijing on Tuesday.

Fu said that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, ushering in new opportunities for the development of bilateral relations. Xinhua is willing to work with the Hungarian side to play an active role as a communicator of people-to-people exchanges and a facilitator of cultural exchanges, cement media and personnel interaction, and jointly express to the world the friendly story of bilateral win-win cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

Pesti said that in recent years, Hungary and China have enjoyed fruitful cooperation in various fields. Hungary is willing to work with China to implement the high-level consensus between the two countries' leaders and continuously promote mutual understanding between the two peoples. 
During the event, Tran Duy Dong, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, said that in recent years, Taiwan has consistently been among the top foreign investors in Vietnam.

Deputy Minister Tran Duy Dong giving speech at the forum

"In 2023, investment from Taiwan into Vietnam reached $2.2 billion, quadrupling on-year," Dong said. "Cumulatively, Taiwan currently ranks fourth out of 105 countries and territories pouring money into Vietnam, with nearly 3,200 projects and a total registered capital of over $39.5 billion."

"Taiwan has also become Vietnam's fifth-largest trading partner," he said.

According to CY Huang, chairman of the Southeast Asia Impact Alliance, Vietnam is an attractive destination for Taiwanese investors and a crucial link in the Southeast Asian supply chain relocation trend.

Huang said that the cultural similarities between Vietnam and Taiwan, which help reduce communication barriers and facilitate favourable conditions for investment cooperation. Furthermore, Vietnam's young population, high economic growth rate, and diverse industries present opportunities for Taiwanese businesses to expand their investments.

Expressing satisfaction with the cooperation between enterprises of both countries, Dong proposed that Taiwanese businesses enhance technology transfer, increase localisation rates, and support skilled labour training.

He also expressed hope that Taiwanese enterprises would adhere to local laws and actively collaborate with local businesses, showing concern for the livelihoods of workers and engaging in social work.

"Vietnam encourages and promotes Taiwanese businesses to invest in fields such as science and technology, electronics, and semiconductors, areas where Taiwan excels, and which align with Vietnam's development direction," Dong said

Taiwanese firm breaks ground on 45 mln USD computer plant in Thai Binh Good Way Cayman Co. Ltd. from Taiwan (China) held a groundbreaking ceremony for a large-scale plant manufacturing computers and their peripheral equipment at the Lien Ha Thai Industrial Park in the northern province of Thai Binh on February 19.
Children grabbed their eclipse glasses and lined up behind China Spring Elementary School around 1 p.m. Monday afternoon, joined by teachers with megaphones reminding them what they have been told many times.

If youre looking up, your glasses are on, the teachers repeated in chorus. As the moon closed over the sun, third graders began to chant.

Total eclipse, total eclipse, total eclipse, they yelled, out of sync with one another.

The partly cloudy sky cleared by the time totality began at 1:38 p.m. and many elementary students took off their eclipse glasses to view the solar ring, jumping and screaming with their friends.

China Spring Independent School District was among the few schools in Central Texas to remain open for the eclipse, allowing students to share the once-in-a-lifetime experience while spending the day learning about eclipses.

Third graders Brynlee ONeal, 9, and Melina Tejada, 9, were two of the chant leaders before the total eclipse began, and they had plenty to say afterward.

First of all, it was awesome, Melina said. I have never seen an eclipse and it looked really cool. When are you ever going to see that again? Its something you want to see every day, and you would go anywhere to see it. Thats how cool it was.

After the event, both students said they were happy they came to school to see the eclipse with their friends.

It was a better viewing point and I got to view it with a lot of my friends, Brynlee said.

According to NASA, the next total solar eclipse to cross North America will be in August 2044. When Tejada and ONeal learned they would be close to 30 years old when the next total solar eclipse was in Texas, both said they couldnt wait that long to see another.

Thats actually too long to wait, Brynlee said.

At least, personally, it was so cool that we got to actually experience this with all the teachers and all the students here at China Spring, Melina said.

China Spring Elementary School teacher Ashlyn Stewart led her second grade class in multiple activities before the eclipse, including making solar glasses, science word searches, eclipse drawings and safety instruction.

They seem very excited about it, she said. When they first heard about it, they werent fully aware of what it was but the more videos theyve been shown and the more activities weve done, theyve gotten really excited.

Second grader Conner Kirchfield, 8, said he was excited and scared to view the solar eclipse.

You need special glasses because you could go blind in a couple of seconds, he said. Im scared and excited, but Im mostly excited.

Stewart said elementary students practiced wearing their solar eclipse glasses last week during a fire drill, and teachers spent two weeks talking eclipse safety, and she believed the message sank in.

I honestly feel like its going to go smoothly because weve heard about it so much and actually practiced last week, so they know the expectations of the eclipse, she said Monday morning.

Second grader Kooper Yeager, 8, said he learned that he will be 28 when the next solar eclipse can be viewed in Texas, and he is most excited to see totality.

Its good but Im also scared, he said before the event. I dont want my glasses to fall off.

At China Spring Middle School, seventh graders Madelyn Flores, 13, and Xariah Huskey, 13, said many of their peers werent at school on Monday, but they personally didnt mind attending classes because they were learning a lot.

I think its cool, thats why I came to school, Madelyn said. I feel like its an experience at school. My last period class normally has like 23 kids in there but there was only like 13.

China Spring High School science teacher Shannon Fields taught her sophomore and junior students about the eclipse and eye safety during her 7:55 a.m. integrated physics and chemistry class.

Its exciting and its real-world stuff, Fields said. It just brings home that science is real, this is happening and that they get to see it.

Junior student Chris Boyd, 16, said he wasnt excited to come to school Monday but was already learning a lot.

I didnt really want to come to school but, I dont know, my mom said its good to learn about stuff like this, he said. I thought a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse were the same thing.

Junior student Josh McClanahan, 17, said he was happy to be in school today and was looking forward to viewing the eclipse later with his friends.

Im excited about the eclipse, McClanahan said. Ive never seen a total solar eclipse in my life, only a partial solar eclipse.

Before the bell rang, dismissing her class, Fields made sure to hand out moon pies to her students as a treat to celebrate the eclipse.

China Spring ISD Superintendent Marc Faulkner was at China Spring Elementary School to view totality with the students. He said the district decided to stay open on Monday because it was far enough away from I-35 to avoid disruptions, and the eclipse offered an educational opportunity to students.

What a cool opportunity for us to teach our kids, especially our pre-K through sixth or seventh grade, who think this is really neat, he said. You know, your late middle school, high school kids, are probably not going to think its quite as cool, but they still get an opportunity to do different things today.
PARIS, April 9 (Xinhua) -- China's anti-dumping investigation into brandy imported from the European Union (EU), prompted by a complaint submitted by the domestic brandy industry, neither targets any specific EU member state nor carries predefined findings, China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said here on Monday.

China will conduct the investigation openly and transparently in accordance with Chinese law and WTO rules, while fully safeguarding the rights of all stakeholders, added the minister.

Wang made these remarks when meeting with three French brandy trade associations and five French brandy producers, who said they are willing to cooperate with the Chinese side in the investigation process and keep developing their businesses in the Chinese market.

In January, China started an anti-dumping investigation into brandy imported from the EU following a request from the China Alcoholic Drinks Association on behalf of the domestic industry.

The anti-dumping probe will look at EU-produced brandy in containers holding less than 200 liters imported from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023. The probe is expected to end before Jan. 5, 2025, but may be extended for half a year under special circumstances. 
A chilly, midday darkness fell across North America on Monday as a total solar eclipse raced across the continent, thrilling those lucky enough to behold the spectacle through clear skies.

In the Cedar Valley, the clouds cooperated, and a partial eclipse covered about 84% of the sun's surface at 2:01 p.m. Monday.

It left onlookers totally enthralled.

George Wyth

A few dozen people gathered in a parking lot at George Wyth State Park where local amateur astronomers set up their gear to observe the moons voyage across the sun.

"Thats Bobs telescope. The other one used to be my telescope, but I gave it to Jim, said Scott Williams. This is a 6-inch refractor, and that is a 3-inch refractor.

Residents took turns gazing into Bob Hackett and Jim Baileys two high-power telescopes that were powered by motors to track the movement and fitted with opaque filters to dampen the otherwise blinding light.

When its 2 oclock, you are going to know. You are going to look around you and think this isnt right. Even birds will stop chirping, Williams said.

Across the parking lot, Chad Huber and this mother, Sue, of Cedar Falls, occasionally glanced up at the celestial dance using cardboard-and-foil glasses available at the watch party.

I didnt think we would be able to see it at all because it was so cloudy, said Sue, who traveled to Missouri to be in the path of totality in 2017 when the last total eclipse hovered over North America.

Chad Huber, who now lives in New Orleans, La., had come up to Iowa to visit his mother, and the two decided to take in the spectacle.

I was looking at what the eclipse would look like up here and down there, and it would be pretty much the same, Chad Huber said.

Grout Museum

The Grout Museum District offered the chance to watch NASA's live stream of the eclipse in the Norris Corson Family Planetarium from noon to 3 p.m. The show sold out, and overflow guests were able to view it from the district's Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum Theater. Fifty people took advantage of the opportunity.

Overseeing the event was Benjamin Miller, the Grout's education director.

"It's been an awesome experience," he said. "I've been so excited for this. It's like Christmas to me. I woke up early, and I've been geeking out all day. It's finally happening.

"It's been great being able to talk to people and educate people about it. The only thing better would have been to be able to be in the path of totality, but this has been great."

Sarah Reece and Isla McDeid, 10, made the trip from Ames to view the eclipse from the Grout.

Isla was glad to have the chance to see the eclipse.

"The last time, I was only 4, so I don't really remember it," she said.

"We drove to Missouri in 2017 and watched from the middle of a cornfield," Reece said. "It was a great memory.

"With budget and time constraints, we weren't able to to that this time, but this was still a pretty special way to do it."

Miller said around 2 p.m., at the local peak of the eclipse, about 30 people gathered in the Grout parking lot and atrium to view it.

Central Middle School

Eighth-grade Central Middle School students noticed the sky getting slightly darker shortly before 2 p.m. while obtaining glasses and instruction in the hallway from science teacher Matt Stein.

They sprinkled out onto the lawn and spread out across a parking lot for about a half an hour to witness the solar display.

This is wild, Kwenton Ruffins, 13, pointed out because the event only happens every so many years. Its a rare interaction.

Ruffins was joined by more than 150 of his classmates, talking, taking photos with their phones, looking up at the thin crescent of the sun and asking questions about what they were seeing.

Several including Ruffins compared what they were seeing with what theyd read and watched on social media platforms like TikTok.

Youre watching it in real time, said Valerie Monroy, 14, whos taken a real interest in space in part because of how unreal it seems on Earth. Among the questions she heard from her classmates were about what would happen to their phones while taking a photo.

Would it overheat and explode? she recalled classmates asking. She said Stein debunked the myth.

Stein had been teaching mini lessons to students Monday, describing types of eclipses and what to expect. The class was there at the height of the eclipse as the sun was mostly covered and then began to reappear.

I talked about what their pets are probably going through at home right now, he said, also noting how it puts distance into perspective, because an eclipse from another planet would bring different results.

The science teacher described the time as an educational break they have the luxury of taking as students.

This is a unique experience, and maybe the next one is when they might be in college or at a job, said Stein about the memories they were creating.

He was pleased to see their enthusiasm bubbling over. The hype was real as some students and adults may have expected a full eclipse.

I thought it would be bigger, said Eobi Ebot, 15, to which another classmate said she expected it to be darker.

The sixth- and seventh-grade classes got a taste of the eclipse in separate half-hour blocks before it reached its peak.

Eclipse in a glass

At least one business in Cedar Falls was commemorating the event in a special way.

Sarah's Espresso Cafe, 419 Main St., had a special Solar Eclipse Energy Brew a Monster energy drink with notes of raspberry, strawberry, dark rum and white mocha added to it.

Its to celebrate it, said owner Sarah Rohlfsen, who concocted the special drink on a whim with Torani galaxy syrup. On the front of the bottle was a pink and light blue cyclone.

It tastes like a tootsie roll, she noted. The first-time brew will be available all week or until its sold out.

Her staff had been talking with people that morning about the expected spectacle. Conversation topics hit on the special glasses and the cloudy start to the day.

Eclipse veterans

Linda and Jeff Alexandres found their eclipse glasses from seven years ago and watched the eclipse on Monday while working in their backyard and flower bed in Waterloo.

"It was amazing and a lot cooler than I thought it was going to be," said Jeff Alexandres.

"We went to our neighbor ... and they got a kick out of it," he added about sharing their glasses during the fun day, while Linda chimed in that kids were being taken out of school for the event.

"I think we got to have a national eclipse day," said Jeff Alexandres.

They drove for hours to Missouri to see the 2017eclipse, only to have clouds obstruct the view. Linda Alexandres said they were interested in getting another look, because its a natural phenomenon that doesnt happen all that often.

Tim Boller of Cedar Falls also drove to Missouri to see the eclipse in 2017 and was planning again to take in the moment.

It was pretty dramatic, said Boller, though he wasnt expecting the same eerie experience in the Cedar Valley in 2024.

You could take anyone outside and they would freak out, he said about the event in 2017. The temperature dropped, and the cows on each side of the road herded together like they knew it was coming and were getting ready to go to sleep. Then, it passed, and they went back to what they were doing.

Courier reporters Jeff Reinitz, Holly Hudson Hill and Andy Milone contributed to this article.

Total solar eclipse moves across the nation
CEDAR RAPIDS  A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced Tuesday to two years in federal prison.

Miguel Araujo-Rocha, age 38, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Tama, received the prison term after a Nov. 8 guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.

At the guilty plea, Araujo-Rocha admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Araujo-Rocha was previously deported in April 2018, September 2018, October 2019, February 2021, September 2021, and October 2021. On October 6, 2023, immigration officials learned Araujo-Rocha had illegally returned to the United States and found Araujo-Rocha at the Tama County Jail following his arrest on state charges.

Araujo-Rocha was previously convicted in the Western District of Texas in August 2018 and in February 2019 of illegally reentering the United States. He was also convicted in the Iowa District Court for Tama County in March 2014 of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and child endangerment for driving drunk with minor children in the car, including a 2-year-old.

Araujo-Rocha also knowingly used a fraudulent Social Security card and alias to prove his authorization to work in the United States when he completed employment and tax forms in March 2022 at a business in Grinnell. People lacking permanent legal status are not authorized to work in the United States. The name and number on the Social Security card was a real Social Security number assigned to a United States citizen whose name was on the card.

Araujo-Rocha was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Araujo-Rocha was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Araujo-Rocha is being held in the United States Marshals custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
One man was found dead after a fire early Sunday destroyed an outbuilding on an acreage near the northern Iowa town of Titonka.

Brian Leroy Janssen, age 45, was found dead inside the structure, which was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. Jannsen was a member of the Titonka Volunteer Fire Department, according to the city's web page.

Around 4:25 a.m. April 7, the Kossuth County Law Enforcement Center received a 911 call from a woman reporting a fire at an outbuilding on an acreage on the 3400 block of 210th Avenue north of Titonka.

The caller was awakened when power went off in the house and noticed the glow of a fire from the propertys workshop building west of the house.

The caller told dispatch she wasnt sure where her husband was. He had not been able to sleep earlier in the night and went out to the workshop.

The Titonka Fire and EMS were quickly sent to the scene, with the Kossuth County EMS and the Bancroft Fire Department called in to assist. The building was fully engulfed in fire upon arrival. First responders determined a person was inside the building.

Titonka Fire Chief Dave Trunkhill requested the Kossuth County Medical Examiners Office and the State Fire Marshals Office help determine the cause of the fire. The State Medical Examiners Office in Ankeny will conduct an autopsy.

The Titonka Fire Department and EMS were assisted at the scene by the Bancroft Fire Department, Kossuth County Emergency Management, Kossuth County Medical Examiners Office, Kossuth County Sheriffs Office, and the State Fire Marshal's Office.

A celebration of life visitation for Janssen will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Buffalo Creek Activity Center in Titonka. A "last call" will be conducted at 5 p.m. by the Titonka Fire Department.

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ROME, April 9 (Xinhua) -- An explosion at an Italian power station on Tuesday killed at least three people and left 4 others missing. Another four people were hospitalized with serious burns.

The incident occurred at around 3 p.m. local time at a hydroelectric power station on Lake Suviana in the Apennine Mountains, some 70 km south of Bologna. All those involved were working at the plant when the explosion took place.

The bodies of the three victims were recovered in the afternoon, Bologna prefect Attilio Visconti told state-run Rai News 24 channel.

As of Tuesday night, a search and rescue operation is underway to locate the four persons still unaccounted for, who had been on the ninth floor underground of the plant, the official said.

The Fire Dept. reported that some 60 firefighters, including scuba drivers, were involved in the effort. The Civic Protection was also put on alert and would be ready to support, according to regional authorities.

According to initial reports, a fire broke out on the eighth floor underground some 30 meters deep in one of the two units of the plant, and the explosion followed shortly after.

The dam reservoir at the plant was not damaged by the explosion and was safe, according to Enel Green Power, a company that manages the station. The company added that production at Suviana was halted, but the electricity supply at the local or national level was not impacted.

Both President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sent their condolences to those involved. A ceremony to commemorate the victims will be held at parliament on Wednesday. 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated his pledge to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, saying a date has been set for the ground offensive into the city filled with around 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom are displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip.

The United States, Israels closest ally, has said a ground operation into Rafah would be a mistake and has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians. Israels offensive has pushed Gaza into a humanitarian crisis, displacing over 80% of the population and leaving more than 1 million people on the brink of starvation.

International efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and the militant group Hamas are taking place in Cairo this week.

Egyptian officials said Tuesday that mediators have presented a new cease-fire proposal to Hamas and Israel that would include a six-week pause in fighting and a swap of 40 Hamas-held hostages for at least 700 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israel says more than 130 hostages remain in Gaza, with about a quarter of those believed dead.

The Palestinian death toll from the war has passed 33,200, with nearly 76,000 wounded, Gazas Health Ministry said. The ministry doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tally, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

The war began Oct. 7 when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage.

MEDIATORS PRESENT NEW CEASE-FIRE PROPOSAL TO HAMAS AND ISRAEL, EGYPTIAN OFFICALS SAY

CAIRO  Egyptian officials said Tuesday that mediators have presented a new cease-fire proposal to Hamas and Israel that would include a six-week pause in fighting and a swap of 40 Hamas-held hostages for at least 700 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The proposal was presented to delegations from Hamas and Israel during the latest round of negotiations in Cairo over the weekend, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations.

Among the Palestinian prisoners to be freed would be dozens convicted of killing Israelis during attacks by militant groups.

The officials said Hamas would be required to provide a list of the hostages it will release, as well as a list of Palestinian prisoners whose freedom it seeks.

The proposal also includes the return of a significant number of Palestinians to northern Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled the northern half of Gaza in the early stages of the war, heeding Israeli evacuation orders. The vast majority of Gazas 2.3 million people are now crammed into the southern half.

The proposal stipulates that Israel gradually dismantle checkpoints it had built on a new road that split the strip in half to prevent the return of Palestinians to the north.

Hamas has said it is reviewing the proposal.

NETANYAHU VOWS TO CARRY OUT RAFAH GROUND INVASION

JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated his pledge to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, declaring: There is a date.

Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel must send ground forces into Rafah, saying it is Hamas last stronghold in Gaza.

But the international community, including the U.S., opposes the operation, saying the roughly 1.4 million civilians seeking shelter there will be in danger.

Israel has insisted it has a plan to protect the civilians.

In a video statement Monday, Netanyahu said the Rafah operation is essential for victory. He said, It will happen. There is a date, without elaborating. He spoke as Israeli negotiators were in Cairo discussing international efforts to broker a cease-fire deal with Hamas.

ISRAELI OFFENSIVE IN KHAN YOUNIS DAMAGED MORE THAN HALF OF ALL BUILDINGS IN THE CITY, MAP EXPERTS SAY

JERUSALEM  A pair of mapping experts say Israels offensive in the southern Gaza City of Khan Younis appears to have left over half of the citys buildings with damage or destruction visible from space.

As of last week, over 55% of the citys buildings were likely damaged or destroyed, according to an analysis of Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite data by Corey Scher of the CUNY Graduate Center and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University. They say that accounts for 45,000 buildings.

Still, the damage in Khan Younis and other parts of the Strips south is considerably less than in the north of Gaza, where the researchers estimate 70% of buildings were likely damaged or destroyed.

Israels ground and aerial bombardment campaign, begun after the Hamas attack Oct. 7, has wreaked unprecedented damage on the strip, leveling entire apartment buildings and leaving much of the territory in ruins, a moonscape from war.

Israel withdrew its last ground troops from Khan Younis on Sunday, marking the end of a key phase in its war against Hamas.

ISRAELI OFFENSIVE IN KHAN YOUNIS DAMAGED MORE THAN HALF OF ALL BUILDINGS IN THE CITY, MAP EXPERTS SAY

JERUSALEM  A pair of mapping experts say Israels offensive in the southern Gaza City of Khan Younis appears to have left over half of the citys buildings with damage or destruction visible from space.

As of last week, over 55% of the citys buildings were likely damaged or destroyed, according to an analysis of Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite data by Corey Scher of the CUNY Graduate Center and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University. They say that accounts for 45,000 buildings.

Still, the damage in Khan Younis and other parts of the Strips south is considerably less than in the north of Gaza, where the researchers estimate 70% of buildings were likely damaged or destroyed.

Israels ground and aerial bombardment campaign, begun after the Hamas attack Oct. 7, has wreaked unprecedented damage on the strip, leveling entire apartment buildings and leaving much of the territory in ruins, a moonscape from war.

Israel withdrew its last ground troops from Khan Younis on Sunday, marking the end of a key phase in its war against Hamas.

(Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)
The Reno Aces will be hosting a blood drive in partnership with the Reno Fire Department, Reno Firefighters Association, and Vitalant.

The blood drive will be on Tuesday, April 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Greater Nevada Field at 250 Evans Avenue.

All donors will receive a free pair of Aces tickets and be entered to win one of four $400 gift cards.
Two victims who died in a crash on I-80 westbound near USA Parkway on Monday have been identified.

50-year-old Christa James and 12-year-old Raymond James, both of Wadsworth, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash according to a release from the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner's Office.

The cause of death in both cases was multiple blunt trauma.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Two people are dead after a crash on I-80 west near USA Parkway early Monday evening.

Nevada State Police troopers say the crash happened just before 6:50 p.m.

Two vehicles were involved, a commercial vehicle and a sedan. Both were heading westbound on I-80 according to the release when the sedan hit the rear of the commercial vehicle.

NSP says the sedan's driver and one passenger died on scene while a second passenger was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the commercial vehicle stayed on scene and is cooperating with authorities.
If you are planning a trip to a national park and would like to help out with environmental research, consider pitching in as a citizen scientist. Often, all you need is a cellphone and natural curiosity, and you can help scientists and naturalists gather vital data about the area. 

We cant do all the research that needs to be done without the help of ordinary citizens, says Seth Benz, bird ecology program director for the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park in Maine. Benz orchestrates citizen science efforts to document and protect the parks biodiversity. 

Members only

Citizen science allows park managers and scientists to collect more data than they could on their own to answer real-world questions. Tapping into volunteer citizen scientists, parks can crowdsource data collection to help them determine when certain plants start to flower or if specific invasive species are in a park. Citizen science projects may be run by a national park or an education-focused partner. Most national parks offer some type of citizen science program. Some projects involve checking in at a nature center or signing up beforehand. Current projects and requirements are listed on nps.gov, scistarter.org and citizenscience.gov.

Another way to get involved is through iNaturalist, a free mobile app (on Google Play and iOS) where visitors can share what they see or hear in the wild  including plants, insects and birds. The app identifies objects by name and tags the time and location of each observation. Users can easily upload a photo or sound recording from a hiking trail or scenic overlook, and this information can contribute to ongoing scientific studies. Natures Notebook (on Google Play and iOS) is another free app that partners with the park service to connect people to citizen science projects and tracking opportunities.

I recommend just staying in one spot and kind of letting life come to you. Watch things living their own lives, says Tony Iwane, community and support coordinator for iNaturalist. Every observation represents at least a few seconds of someone noticing, stopping and caring about an animal or plant or fungus or bacteria. Now is a great time to get involved since April is Citizen Science Month. Here are five national parks where you can be a citizen scientist.

Main Photo: Anand Goteti/Getty Images; Inset Photo: Dina Rudick/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

1. Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia National Park works with the Schoodic Institute on citizen science projects such as counting birds that fly over Cadillac Mountain during fall migration. Year-round, visitors can help measure the success of restoration efforts and monitor for invasive insects and plant species.

Get involved: Stop in the Sieur de Monts Nature Center to ask for the handout that lists the 10 most unwanted invasive species at Acadia. From here, start an easy 1.5-mile hike on Jesup Path and Hemlock Path Loop. To participate, simply snap photos of any invasive species you see with the iNaturalist app.

Our newest effort is an early detection system for the park. Were having people home in on the idea of invasives, Benz says. One such invasive species is the hemlock woolly adelgid, an aphid-like insect that feeds on hemlock trees and depletes them of nutrients, causing them to die. A rise in temperature over the years has caused these insects to move east into Acadia National Park where hemlocks are a source of food and shelter for wildlife. 
The Problem

Married couple Jon and Tina VanderJagt wanted to know whats fair. Since 2005, the two, both 71, have lived in the Los Angeles house Jons mother left to him and his sister, Lisa VanderJagt. Now Lisa, 69, wants Jon and Tina to buy out her share. But the math isnt easy. Jon and Tina have been paying the mortgage, and theyve spent money on improvements. How much is owed? asks Tina. And more important, can they do this and not strain their relationships?

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The Advice

A lot of families will likely face this issue. A 2023 Charles Schwab survey found that 76 percent of parents plan to leave their home to their children. Those children are better off setting a course of action upon inheriting the home rather than waiting, says Josh Baron, cofounder of BanyanGlobal Family Business Advisors in Boston. That could mean selling the home on the open market, having one sibling buy the others out, or defining terms of co-ownership. Otherwise, it can get messy, as in the VanderJagts case.

I spoke with several experts  estate planning lawyers, family business consultants, CPAs and divorce financial planners  who specialize in splitting the proverbial pie. They made some important points.

First, you need to acknowledge the parents intent. For Lisa and Jons mother, it was to divide assets equally. Second, the value of what Lisa and Jon inherited has changed. Appraised for $614,000 when their mother died, the house is now valued at $1.8 million, due in part to real estate appreciation and in part to improvements made by Jon but not Lisa. And though Jon and Tina got the benefit of living there, they have also been paying the $250,000 mortgage taken out before his mothers death to finance a renovation. Theyve also covered taxes, insurance and everyday maintenance. The question is, Can we disentangle those things?  Baron says.
Geng Shuang (C, front), China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks during a Security Council meeting on Colombia at the UN headquarters in New York, April 9, 2024. The Chinese envoy on Tuesday called for efforts to promote Colombia's national development and work for sustainable peace. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UNITED NATIONS, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called for efforts to promote Colombia's national development and work for sustainable peace.

One of the main obstacles to the implementation of the peace agreement is the inadequate progress in key areas such as rural reform, land distribution, and reintegration of ex-combatants. China encourages the Colombian government to continue to scale up its efforts in these areas, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. "We look forward to such efforts being translated into a solid foundation for advancing the peace process."

There is a need to promote the process of dialogue and reconciliation and consolidate the momentum for peace, he told the Security Council.

China welcomes the extension of the cease-fire between the government and the National Liberation Army, and looks forward to the progress in the seventh round of peace talks between the two sides. China also welcomes the recent announcement by the government on the launching of peace talks with other armed groups, he said.

"We hope the parties in Colombia will demonstrate willingness and determination to engage in peaceful negotiation, reduce conflict and violence, create a favorable environment for dialogue and consultation, and further consolidate and expand the effective outcomes of such talks," he said.

The security situation in Colombia should be improved through concrete efforts in order to strengthen the confidence of all parties in peace, said Geng.

A secure and stable environment is particularly important for enhancing the confidence of all sectors of the population in the peace process. China supports the government of Colombia in fully implementing the relevant security policies, continuing to increase its deployment of security forces in former conflict areas where effective control is absent, and strengthening the protection of women, children, ethnic minorities, and ex-combatants, he said.

China commends the significant work done by the UN Verification Mission in Colombia in terms of promoting the peace process in the country. China stands ready to continue to support the mission and international and regional partners in providing support and assistance to the advancement of a Colombian-led and Colombian-owned peace process, he said. 
Predjama Castle has a rich history. Not only is it distinguished as the largest cave castle, but it is also steeped in medieval lore. It has survived several disasters, natural and manmade, and tourists can see it in its most recent iteration, dating to the 16th century.

Predjama Castle is carved into a cliff

One of the first mentions of Predjama Castle was in 1202, and then again in 1274 when the Patriarch of Aquileia had it built in Gothic style. Located in the historical region of Inner Carniola in southern Slovenia, the castle was built into the mouth of a 400-foot cliff surrounded by an intricate cave system.

The castle sits about halfway up the massive cliff and was built beneath a natural rocky arch that made access to the structure difficult beyond its front door. Thanks to its strategic position inside a cave, Predjama served as a residence, with rooms and halls carved right into the cliff rock face, and excelled as a defensive stronghold. It is no surprise that it holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest cave castle in the world.

The legend of Erasmus

Not only is Predjama an architectural marvel of the medieval period but it is also steeped in legend. At some point in its history, the castle was acquired by the Luegg noble family, as known as the Knights of Adelsberg. In the 15th century, it became known as the seat of the knight Erasmus, a renowned robber baron referred to as a Robin Hood figure.

Erasmus fell into some trouble with the Habsburgs after he killed the commander of the imperial army, Marshal Pappenheim, in a duel after the latter offended his deceased friend. He fled from the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III to Predjama Castle and allied himself with King Matthias Corvinus. The emperor then employed the governor of Trieste to capture or kill Erasmus, sparking the beginning of a long siege.

Remarkably, Predjama Castle was able to withstand the siege, and Erasmus and his men were able to survive inside the grounds as there was a hidden natural vertical shaft that led out to an exit at the top of the cliff. With the governor of Trieste and his army none the wiser, Erasmus stocked his castle with food and supplies, evening going so far as to mock the attacking army by throwing fresh food at them.

However, the siege would eventually come to a close. It is said that Erasmuss demise was the result of one of his servants betraying him. While using a lavatory on the third-floor terrace that overhangs from the cliff, a cannonball was shot and ultimately killed him. This marked the end of the Slovenian Robin Hood.

The castles journey to the present day

Following the fall of Erasmus, Predjama Castle was acquired by the Oberburg family in 1511. The family had a second iteration of the castle built to repair damages from the siege, but sadly, it was destroyed in an earthquake. Then, in 1570, the castle was rebuilt in the Renaissance style that it can be seen today. It exchanged hands a number of times before finally being confiscated by the Yugoslav Communist authorities following WWII. It was then turned into a museum.

More from us: Jal Mahal: The Abandoned Palace Submerged in Indias Man Sagar Lake

Since then, the castle has been open to visitors who can explore the hallways and rooms carved into the cliff, as well as the many medieval elements maintained there, including murder holes and torture chambers. The castle has also been used in modern pop culture, including being featured in Jackie Chans 1986 film Armour of God. During this time, he performed a stunt jumping from the cliff and onto a balcony that resulted in one of his most serious injuries while on set in his career.
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GABORONE, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) listed miner Botswana Diamonds (BOD) has adopted the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in search of new diamond discoveries.

The company's latest stakeholders update issued Tuesday said incorporating AI will assist in a "comprehensive search" for new diamond deposits and potentially other minerals.

"Our mineral database in Botswana is simply vast, too big for timely analysis by humans," said BOD Chairman John Teeling, saying that the company's database consists of 95,000 sq km of data, 375,000 km airborne geophysical data, 606 ground geophysical surveys, 228,000 soil sample results, 32,000 drill hole logs, totaling 380 gigabytes of data and 260,000 files.

He said the massive databases are suited to be analyzed by computer-based large data models and artificial intelligence techniques which can analyze substantial amounts of data in a short time. "We feed in the data and create the models from our existing knowledge both theoretical and factual," he said.

BOD will utilize Planetary AI Ltd Xplore mineral prospectivity technology which was developed in collaboration with International Geoscience Services Limited, a system that uses a unique combination of semantic technology with machine learning.

Semantic technology is a branch of artificial intelligence focused on understanding and representing the meaning of data, information, and knowledge in a machine-readable format.

Teeling said the system acts much like a geologist but can function quicker and more efficiently. Vast datasets are processed through AI that finds logical gaps in the data and learns to correct them.

"This exercise is expected to yield fresh insights that will offer drillable targets previously unseen," said Teeling. 
Glenfiddich, announced 12th edition of the prestigious Artists in Residence program in India. Renowned across the globe for its commitment to nurturing creativity and innovation, this initiative has captured the imagination of the art world with its unparalleled setting, space, and community for artistic exploration. Each year, number of artists from around the world are selected to take up a residency at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, Scotland and create original pieces of art by taking inspiration from the unique setting on offer. The program serves as a beacon of inspiration, and a coveted opportunity for artists worldwide, yet only a select few have the privilege to be part of it.

Building on the success of this initiative worldwide, two panels of admired jury members, one panel each for nomination of artists, and evaluation of artists, carefully nominated and selected one artist to be a part of the Artists in Residence program in Scotland. The nomination panel included some of the esteemed names from the field of art, namely, Jagdip Jagpal, Art curator and Former Director of India Art Fair; Thukral and Tagra, Delhi-based Artists Duo; Geetha Mehra, Director of Sakshi Gallery and Curator of Finding India; Veer Munshi, Artist and Jaiveer Johal, Entrepreneur and Art Collector. Each member of the panel suggested several artists they felt would be suitable for the programme, which was followed by evaluation of the nominated artists by another panel.

The evaluation panel included a set of esteemed members from the field of art, namely Kiran Nadar, Chairperson KNMA, Indian Art Collector and Philanthropist; Jaya Asokan, Director of the India Art Fair; Sachin Mehta, Country Director, William Grant & Sons India; Andy Fairgrieve, Art program director, The Glenfiddich Distillery, William Grant & Sons; and Chetnaa, Recipient of the Glenfiddich Emerging Indian Artist Award 2014.

After in-depth screening and evaluation of applications received for the residency, the jury members, unanimously, handpicked Amshu Chukki from Vadodara to be the Artist in Residence from India. Amshu has been awarded with a three-month residency at Glenfiddich distillery in Scotland. Amshus artwork explores the themes of reality and fiction through multimedia in a manner that contemplates the outlandish nature of constructed landscapes and surreal spaces. Incorporating the narrative structure of filmmaking, he delves into the dystopian world of man-made sites and artefacts, questioning the very notions of nature and reality. He was also listed in the Forbes India 30 under 30 in 2016 and is a recipient of the Inlaks Fine Arts Award in 2014.

Commenting on the announcement, Sachin Mehta, Country Director at William Grant & Sons India said, "We are delighted to continue our commitment towards art with Glenfiddich Artists in Residence program in India, and announce Amshu as the Artist in Residence from India in 2024. Keeping with the spirit of our founders, our globally recognized forum provides a unique and inspiring platform for artists from around the world to showcase their talent and to gain international recognition. This initiative exemplifies our dedication to nurturing creativity and providing artists with an inspiring environment to push the boundaries of their craft. We are certain Amshus residency at the Glenfiddich Distillery will be deeply impactful, and will result in truly inspiring works of art."

Amshu Chukki, India Winner of Artists in Residence "I am deeply honored to have been selected for the Glenfiddich Artists-in-Residence Award for 2024. This will be my first trip to the UK, and I hope that my experiences during the three-month residency, along with the grand landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, will percolate into my ongoing preoccupation with ideas of landscape, speculative fiction, history, and materiality. I am profoundly grateful to Jagdip Jagpal for trusting in my work and nominating me. Additionally, I extend my thanks to all the jury members, the Glenfiddich team, and Andy Fairgrieve for considering me for this award."

Jagdip Jagpal, Art curator and Former Director of India Art Fair said, The Glenfiddich Artists in Residence programme is a truly international programme and a fantastic opportunity for Indian artists to travel, collaborate and develop their practices while surrounded by the natural habitat in one of the most beautiful parts of the United Kingdom.

Kavita Nayyar, Artist, added, Glenfiddich residency is one of its kind where young artists get the opportunity to experiment and practice with full freedom. India has many young artists doing wonderful works and most of the time their practice goes unnoticed, they do not get a proper exposure. This platform gives their practice a big push and instils a confidence to go on with their practice unhindered. In this space they get to interact with artist fraternity from other countries also which is a very good opportunity for interaction.

It's a joy to work with Andy and I would support all his ventures. I am happy to have nominated deserving young candidates and leaving the more difficult part of making the final choice to others! Geetha Mehra, Director of Sakshi Gallery and Curator of Finding India also added.

Chetnaa, Artist and Former Recipient of the Glenfiddich Emerging Indian Artist Award said, In 2014, I was honoured with the prestigious Glenfiddich Artist in Residence award. Immersed in the Scottish Highlands for three months, nature's tranquillity became my canvas. My art, inspired by urban chaos, found solace in the minimalist expanse of the countryside. Words cannot fully convey the profoundness of this experience. I am deeply grateful to the Glenfiddich team, particularly Andrew Fairgrieve, for their constant support and warmth. Thank you, Glenfiddich, for this transformative opportunity.

The brand first began engaging with Indian artists in 2009 and has nominated 11 artists from India for the residency since 2009. Alongside India, the Artists in Residence program has attracted over 160 artists from the UK, USA, Mexico, Spain, Canada, China, Korea, and beyond since its inception in 2002.
Chandrashekhar Naik, Senior Vice-President, Valueleaf Group, leads the Business Development division at Valueleaf. He has around 14 years of experience, with his business expertise being in forming partnerships and spearheading unconventional marketing activities and initiatives. His deliberate prudence at Valueleaf has not only led to the expansion of the reach of the organisation, but also resulted in the progress and development of Valueleafs clients. His cooperative market awareness has caused Valueleaf to be at the vanguard of effectual associations.

In conversation with Adgully, Chandrashekhar Naik underscores the pivotal shift towards intent-driven performance marketing in the digital realm. Distinguishing it from traditional marketing, Naik emphasizes that performance marketing operates at the consideration level, enabling brands to target consumers based on specific intent and interests. He stresses on the importance of a well-balanced media mix, combining qualitative and quantitative inventories and mediums, as the key to driving successful digital marketing campaigns. Naiks insights highlight the imperative for brands to embrace performance marketing to optimize their marketing strategies in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Please elaborate on the significance of performance marketing in todays fiercely competitive market landscape. How does it differentiate itself from traditional marketing approaches?

Performance marketing emerged with the onset of the digital marketing revolution in India. We began to narrow down the funnel, target the audience more precisely, and identify them based on their intent. Performance marketing is more focused on intent-driven marketing than traditional marketing.

When discussing the sales marketing funnel - performance marketing operates at the consideration stage, whereas traditional marketing operates at the awareness stage. With new technologies, platforms, and diverse cohorts being integrated into performance marketing, we are approaching the users intent more closely. This marks a significant distinction between traditional marketing and performance marketing.

What is the size of the performance marketing business and where do you see yourself in the scheme of things?

In todays changing world of marketing, high-intent text ads are becoming more important than other strategies. People are exposed to a lot of content, so its hard to get their attention. While personalization, using multiple channels, and new trends like voice search and influencer marketing are important, high-intent text ads are great because they can quickly grab peoples attention with short, focused messages. Consumers want things to be simple and fast, and these ads help meet their needs by being relevant and immediate. This trend shows how important it is to keep marketing simple and accurate today. To engage people effectively, its crucial to send the right message.

Valueleaf specializes in helping brands connect with their target audience effectively. Could you provide insights into your methodologies and strategies for ensuring brands reach the right audience amidst the noise of digital platforms?

Navigating the complexities of digital campaigns demands a strategic blend of media channels. While demographic filters such as age, gender, and profession are foundational, the element of intent emerges as equally indispensable. Crafting effective media metrics entails a meticulous fusion of qualitative and quantitative inventories and mediums, a delicate equilibrium ensuring client ROI without compromising on volume. As the pressure mounts to demonstrate tangible ROI to investors, a strategic shift in campaign tactics becomes paramount. Leading this charge is Valueleaf, dedicated to precisely targeting high-intent audiences for maximum returns.

Scaling a business through marketing campaigns requires careful planning. What are the key factors or pointers that Valueleaf considers when devising strategies to scale a business successfully?

Balancing quality and business growth is a delicate task. As operations scale up, the Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) often rises due to limited user bases on certain platforms. This increase in CAC occurs as the user base is exhausted during the scaling process, highlighting the fine line between maintaining quality and expanding reach.

Valueleafs primary approach to business expansion involves diversifying mediums and simplifying user acquisition. For example, if you run a campaign either on Social media, Google or an SMS campaign and you receive a client request to double scale, we ensure it is done through channels such as programmatic advertising, OEM partnerships, or mobile in-app inventories. This strategy focuses on continually adding new inventories to facilitate growth. Therefore, Valueleaf remains committed to exploring new technologies, platforms, and inventories to enhance capabilities and support scalable business growth.

In the realm of performance marketing, measuring ROI is crucial. How does Valueleaf ensure its clients receive tangible returns on their marketing investments? Could you share any notable success stories or case studies?

At Valueleaf, we ensure that our clients achieve their desired ROI by incorporating both qualitative and quantitative mediums in our media planning. The percentage of qualitative and quantitative mediums is decided based on the clients requirements. If the clients main focus is on ROI, then we can allocate more budget towards qualitative mediums and reduce the quantitative budgets. There are many good qualitative inventories available, while Meta and Google are some of the best examples. Additionally, new-age programmatic platforms are providing excellent returns on investments.

In a recent milestone, Valueleaf forged a strategic alliance with a leading quick commerce platform, yielding remarkable results with high average order values (AOV). Amidst scaling the campaign, we maintained transparent communication, forewarning the client of a potential 20-25% decrease in AOV while proposing a tripling of scale over time. The incorporation of additional inventories, including OEM, bolstered our success trajectory. Such symbiotic partnerships underscore Valueleafs indispensable role in driving industry growth.

With the evolution of digital technologies and consumer behaviours, how does Valueleaf stay ahead of trends and adapt its strategies to remain effective in reaching and engaging target audiences?

Valueleaf stays ahead of the curve by thoroughly analysing market trends and using data analytics to spot emerging patterns and understand what consumers want. We quickly adjust our strategies based on what we learn, keeping up with changes in the market as they happen. Were all about trying new things and embracing innovation, using the latest technologies to experiment and find better ways of doing things.

By teaming up with other leaders in the industry and forming strategic partnerships, were always on top of the brand-new developments, ensuring were using the best tools available. Our focus is always on our clients, making sure we understand their goals and preferences through open communication and feedback. This client-centric approach keeps us ahead of the competition, ensuring were effectively reaching and engaging with our target audiences in todays fast-paced digital world.

How is performance marketing relevant in todays competitive world?

In todays fast-moving market, where newcomers often need to hit the ground running to survive, Valueleaf stands out by pioneering the engagement of high-intent audiences. While traditional brands may take their time to establish themselves, Valueleaf recognizes the importance of swift action in capturing market share. Our focus on performance marketing allows us to transparently deliver tangible outcomes for advertisers, making us a standout choice in the industry. By pivoting strategies to target audiences with precision, we not only drive rapid growth for brands but also set the standard for excellence and impact in the market.

How does Valueleaf help brands reach the right audience?

Valueleafs strength lies in its user base and media expertise. During a recent meeting with a bank, I emphasized the importance of leveraging our media management proficiency effectively. Our teams knack for fine-tuning media strategies has grown through hands-on learning, backed by a talented group dedicated to creativity and continuous improvement within our company. This approach has been pivotal in servicing clients and solidifying our reputation over the years.

While planning a campaign, what key pointers do you keep in mind for scaling a business?

We assess our ability to deliver based on user base, media expertise, and the suitability of the product or service for digital or performance marketing. Upon this evaluation, we proceed by gathering the advertisers brief and crafting a sustainable strategy that includes determining the appropriate media mix and incorporating new-age inventories.

Various companies offer valuable insights on leveraging connected TV during high-profile events like the IPL tournament which drives significant revenue in the advertising industry. It is essential to consider various factors such as client categories, user base, and available inventories when selecting brands to showcase during the IPL.

Collaborations and partnerships often play a significant role in the success of marketing campaigns. Could you shed some light on Valueleaf's approach to forming strategic partnerships and alliances to enhance the impact of its marketing efforts?

We understand the importance of strategic partnerships to boost our marketing impact. While were exploring data partnerships, our focus remains on fostering mutually beneficial relationships with industry leaders. Our collaborations with top brands in quick commerce, food delivery, and OTT industries reflect our commitment to driving success. These partnerships provide us with valuable insights and resources to create targeted campaigns and stay ahead of industry trends. Ultimately, our goal is to deliver exceptional value to our clients and stakeholders through trust, innovation, and impactful results.

What are the emerging trends in the field of performance marketing?

In the ever-evolving landscape of performance marketing, the rise of high-intent text ads is notably overshadowing other strategies such as audiences navigating through an abundance of content. While personalization, omnichannel approaches, and emerging trends like voice search optimization and influencer marketing hold significance, high-intent text ads stand out for their ability to cut through the noise and capture audience attention with succinct, targeted messaging. As consumers increasingly seek streamlined experiences and quick solutions, these text ads provide a direct path to meeting their needs, emphasizing relevance and in an instant. This trend underscores the importance of simplicity and precision in todays marketing environment, where audience engagement hinges on delivering the right message to the right person at the right time.
Musashi Auto Parts India Pvt Ltd (Musashi), a 100% owned subsidiary of Musashi Seimitsu Industries, Japan and a leading manufacturer of two-wheeler and four-wheeler transmission components in India announced the appointment of Naoya Nishimura as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The move underscores Musashis commitment to fortifying its leadership team and its focus in Indian market.

Nishimura has been associated with Musashi for over two decades and has worked across several international markets like Japan & North America. He has also worked at Musashi in various capacities, including operations, new customer acquisition, research & development & business planning. With his remarkable leadership and extensive background in Research & Development, Electrification and business expansion, he brings a fresh perspective to Musashi India's vision of revolutionizing the auto industry with supreme quality products. In his new role Nishimura will work towards growing the penetration of Musashis EV products in the India & Africa market.

Previously Naoya Nishimura was the global Chief R&D Officer at Musashi. Announcing the appointment, Hiroshi Otsuka, President and CEO, Musashi said, It gives us pride to bring the second tier of leadership at the countrys leading auto component manufacturer with global experience and perspective. Nishimuras appointment is a reflection of the evolving face of contemporary leadership with dynamic fusion of global experience, vision and diversity. Nishimuras expertise will help Musashi India steer through new challenges faced by OEMS in terms of fast-paced growth and capex-hungry financing requirements

Naoya Nishimura said, "I'm excited to join Musashi's journey at this pivotal moment in shaping India's sustainable mobility future. Our dedication lies in providing inventive solutions that catalyze positive transformation in the automotive sector. I look forward to work closely with our team to drive innovative and cutting-edge solutions for our end consumers. Moving forward, Musashi India aims to continue its pioneering efforts in sustainable mobility by expanding its portfolio of high-performance electric vehicle components and fostering partnerships to support the adoption of cleaner transportation solutions across India.

Musashi India is at the forefront of promoting sustainable mobility and technological advancement in the automotive industry. The company focuses on manufacturing high-quality electric motors, PCU and gear systems to enhance EV range and performance, contributing to improved efficiency and reliability. With a commitment to innovation, Musashi India aims to play a pivotal role in India's electric vehicle landscape by supplying high-performance EV drive units and supporting the country's transition to cleaner transportation.
PNB Housing Finance, one of Indias leading housing finance companies, today announced the successful expansion of its distribution network to 300 branches across India. This strategic growth marks an important milestone in its journey towards providing accessible and varied housing finance solutions to customers. Spread across 150+ unique cities in the country, PNB Housing Finance will now be able to fulfill the home ownership dreams of millions of individuals and contribute towards nation-building.

PNB Housing Finance added 100 branches in the last 4 months of FY24 alone, taking the total number to 300. It offers tailored financial solutions through 90 branches dedicated to serving Prime home loan customers, and a robust network of 160 branches to meet the needs of its affordable housing segment Roshni. Further, the Company has also diversified into a new category Emerging Markets, to leverage opportunities in the high-yielding customer segment through 50 branches in select geographies.

Girish Kousgi, MD & CEO, PNB Housing Finance, said, As an organization that recognizes the cherished aspiration of individuals to own a home, we strategically chose to strengthen our omni-channel presence and expand our distribution footprint to provide tailored housing finance solutions to our customers. Further, our wide network of 300 branches will allow us to leverage market opportunities across diverse consumer segments and maximize profitability for the organization. We are excited to advance in this journey and leap into the next phase of growth.

PNB Housing Finance offers a wide range of products like individual housing loans, retail loans against property, retail non-residential premises loans, and fixed deposits to both salaried and self-employed individuals. The Companys branches are well-equipped with robust technology systems and internal capabilities, including efficient operations, processes and strong governance framework, to ensure a seamless customer experience.
Quaker, one of Indias leading players in the oats segment, stands for nutrition. The brand, through its Bowl of growth initiative addresses the cause of child malnutrition through 3 key pillars  providing nutrition to children aged 3 to 5 years, educating parents/ caregivers and spreading awareness in the community. In a state where malnutrition is a cause of concern, this special nutrition-focused program was launched in pre-identified blocks of rural areas in Pune, Maharashtra.

To strengthen the pillar on community awareness further, the brand launches its first long-format ad film Dohale Jevan Poshanchi Vaati. The emotionally evocative narrative not only supplements the nutritional needs required to address child nutrition but also weaves in elements of ethnicity and culture to forge a profound connection with the audiences.

In her remarks on the launch, Sravani Babu, Associate Director, and Category Lead - Quaker, PepsiCo India, said, India, said, Quakers endeavour to fight against malnutrition started last year when we partnered with NGO MAMTA HIMC and the Government of Maharashtra, to launch Quaker Bowl of Growth Program in Pune. We have embedded cultural elements from the very start, whether in the form of panjiri, the food served at anganwadis to the children or driving awareness through an age-old ritual, to echo with the community. This short film is yet another leg of spreading awareness delving into the critical importance of nutrition through the lens of a child concerned about his yet-to-be born sibling's wellbeing.

Vikram Pandey (Spiky), National Creative Director, Leo Burnett India underscored, "Quaker is one of those few brands that dont just talk about brand purpose, but also walk the talk. Quaker Bowl of Growth is a fantastic program and needed a heart-warming story to capture its importance. We found that in the cultural ritual of Dohale Jevan, our film depicts the importance of nutrition, through the eyes of a child who is struggling with it himself and is worried for his yet-to-be-born sibling.

Central to the films narrative is the tradition of Dohale Jevan, a revered Marathi baby shower held during the seventh-ninth month of pregnancy. Through this cultural nuance, the film poignantly highlights the significance of nutrition in a child's life, underscoring Quaker's commitment to Poshan right, toh future bright (future is bright, when nutrition is right). It nudges the community to consider nutrition as an important aspect of a childs growth.

Quaker in collaboration with NGO MAMTA HIMC has partnered with the Government of Maharashtra to address the nutrition needs of children in the state.

As part of the Positive Choices pillar under PepsiCo Positive (pep+) - a strategic end-to-end transformation towards sustainability  PepsiCo is committed to increase nutritious food access for 50 million people by 2030.
The One Club for Creativity, the worlds foremost non-profit organization whose mission is to support and celebrate the global creative community, today announced the esteemed group of advertising, design, and education innovators named to be 2024 inductees into the Creative Hall of Fame in September.

The Creative Hall of Fame has a rich heritage of honouring the lifetime achievements of creative luminaries in all forms of advertising and design, starting with the induction of Leo Burnett in 1961.

This years illustrious inductees, with links to their bios, are as follows:

Creative Hall of Fame

Bob Barrie , partner, ECD, Rise and Shine and Partners; and former art director and partner, Fallon

, partner, ECD, Rise and Shine and Partners; and former art director and partner, Fallon Rick Boyko , former co-president, CCO, Ogilvy & Mather North America; and director, professor, VCU Brandcenter

, former co-president, CCO, Ogilvy & Mather North America; and director, professor, VCU Brandcenter Bob Isherwood , former worldwide creative director, Saatchi & Saatchi; adjunct professor of advertising, Vanderbilt University; cofounder, ONE School; advisor, Creative Development, The One Club for Creativity

, former worldwide creative director, Saatchi & Saatchi; adjunct professor of advertising, Vanderbilt University; cofounder, ONE School; advisor, Creative Development, The One Club for Creativity Anna Morris , EVP, creative director, Burrell Communications

, EVP, creative director, Burrell Communications Steve Sandstrom , founder, partner, ECD, Sandstrom Partners

, founder, partner, ECD, Sandstrom Partners Donna Weinheim, former partner, Cliff Freeman & Partners, and ECD, BBDO New York

Educators Hall of Fame

Archie Boston, Jr., Hon DDes , graphic designer, filmmaker; former professor, chair of Visual Communications Design, California State University, Long Beach

, graphic designer, filmmaker; former professor, chair of Visual Communications Design, California State University, Long Beach Steven Heller , art director, designer, critic, author, co-chair, MFA Design Department, School of Visual Arts; former art director, The New York Times

, art director, designer, critic, author, co-chair, MFA Design Department, School of Visual Arts; former art director, The New York Times Deborah Morrison, Ph. D., distinguished professor of Advertising, associate dean of Undergraduate Affairs, University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communications

In addition, Margaret Calvert, OBE RDI, the celebrated typographer, type designer, graphic designer, and educator who designed iconic road and rail signs throughout the UK, was named this years recipient of the prestigious TDC Medal, presented by the Type Directors Club, part of The One Club. Calvert will also be honoured during the Creative Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The Creative Hall of Fame is known for the high levels of rigor and integrity of its selection process. For the first time this year, any club member could nominate a candidate by providing a thorough case for induction. Nominations were previously provided only by The One Club Board members.

Candidates were then voted on by the organizations National and International Board, as well as past Creative Hall of Fame inductees. A shortlist was determined by the selection committee, and nominators or an appointed advocate did a presentation to the Board in support of their candidate. A final vote was cast by the Board to select the inductees.

Criteria for being considered is three-fold:

Impact  Those who have a celebrated body of work. This includes work that has been recognized as the best in the industry over multiple years for multiple brands, can be considered truly innovative and original in thinking and execution, and has an undeniable lasting impact.

Influence  Those who have used their creativity and leveraged their resources to advance the industry and serve the greater good.

Inspiration  Those who have had a measurable, positive effect on the next generation of creative leaders, and are known industry-wide as mentors, door-openers, and opportunity-creators.

This distinguished group of 2024 inductees has blazed a trail of innovation, transformed their industries, uplifted underrepresented groups, and continues to inspire the next generation of creative talent. They each made a profound impact, but did it in profoundly different ways, said Glenn Cole, cofounder, 72andSunny, and chairman of The One Club Board of Directors. As the creative class grows exponentially, and as the creator economy reshapes the world, the Creative Hall of Fame is more relevant than ever. I'm thrilled that The One Club is expanding the scope of disciplines, doubling-down on creative education, and committing to making this an annual iconic moment.

At this pivotal moment in the creative industry, it's important to recognize and celebrate the vast array of talents and ideas that drive our culture forward, said Pam Lefebure, cofounder, CCO, Design Army, and The One Club vice chairperson. Whether it's the work of designers, copywriters, art directors, or creative directors, each discipline plays a vital role in shaping the future of our field. Creative Hall of Fame inductees for this year serve as a testament to the enduring values of creativity, critical thinking, and craftsmanship. We must honour their past achievements, and continue to build upon their legacy as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the creative world.

This years Creative Hall of Fame black-tie gala induction ceremony will take place on September 5, 2024, at Gotham Hall in New York.
Swiss-based premium lingerie brand Triumph International breaks new ground with "Take Me As I Am, an evolution of the overarching #ItsPersonal campaign, which is a powerful celebration of every woman's unique journey. This season's campaign transcends garments, recognizing that lingerie is an extension of a woman's inner self  a reflection of her moods, phases, and style.

#ItsPersonal campaign moves beyond simply feeling confident, to a deeper acceptance and celebration of the Inner You. It acknowledges that our moods, phases in life, and what we choose to wear are all deeply personal expressions. This campaign champions self-wellbeing and the understanding that true comfort and beauty come from embracing your authentic self.

The centrepiece of the campaign is a stunning video, which is a glimpse into a day in the lives of 3 women. Through different scenes and moods, the video showcases diverse body types  all with distinct personalities. Bold, graceful, playful, and confident, these women represent the multifaceted nature of womanhood. What they wear is carefully chosen to complement their individual styles and body types, further emphasizing the message of inclusivity.

But "Take Me As I Am" isn't just about what you see. Underscoring the campaign's message is a powerful soundtrack that isn't simply background music. The music is a vital thread, interwoven with the visuals to create a tapestry of self-acceptance and authenticity. The very title of the song, "Take Me As I Am," echoes the campaign's sentiment, a powerful invitation to connect with ourselves and celebrate our unique identities.

Through "Take Me As I Am," Triumph International goes beyond lingerie. The brand celebrates the woman who embraces her individuality, her moods, and her journey  a journey where inner harmony meets melody. Because after all, #ItsPersonal.

This season, Triumph breaks the mold with 'Take Me As I Am,'" said Bhavin Devpuria, Marketing Head of Triumph Group (India & Sri Lanka). "Its no longer about just feeling confident  we're celebrating women who rock every mood, every phase unapologetically, all while embracing their unique style. It's about self-expression and self-wellbeing woven into the very fabric of who you are, and what you wear! Our latest film showcases this through a diverse cast, each owning their individuality. The music? It's not just background noise  it's a powerful anthem for self-acceptance, perfectly captured in the lyrics 'Take Me As I Am.'

Triumph International has unveiled a trendsetting collection for the new season this month. The latest collection boasts the Shiny Essential series, that reimagines the classic T-shirt bra with light padding, a secure band, and dazzling diamond-adorned straps for a touch of everyday glamour. The Elegant Spotlight collection offers pure luxury with intricate embroidery and multi-position straps for a chic halter neck option, while the full-coverage PU cups provide a natural, elegant silhouette. The Amourette Charm Bra is a game-changer for those seeking comfort and invisibility. Crafted from luxuriously smooth microfibres, it disappears under even the most figure-hugging clothing, offering all-day ease and confidence. The Everyday Soft Touch Essential Bra adds a touch of playful flair to your wardrobe. This new leopard print design features smooth molded cups for a seamless look, while delicate lace trims elevate the femininity. Plus, convertible straps allow for classic or cross-back wear for ultimate versatility. Finally, the Everyday Contour Bra, a timeless favourite from the Triumph Formfit series, offers the best of both worlds: a smooth finish for a sleek silhouette and a supportive contour design for all-day comfort. Adjustable straps ensure a perfect fit.
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 09.04.2024 - The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe convened this year's Conference on Addressing Anti-Semitism in the OSCE region in Malta on 8 and 9 October. It marked the 20th anniversary of the OSCE's Berlin declaration against antisemitism and highlighted the sharp rise in antisemitism since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The participating states underlined the need for interfaith and intercultural dialogue to bridge divides between communities. Switzerland, which was represented by Ambassador Simon Geissbuhler at the conference, called for the swift implementation of concrete short- and long-term measures against antisemitism.

The OSCE conference on addressing antisemitism took place at a time when the number of antisemitic incidents in Switzerland and most other OSCE states has risen sharply. The main focus of the conference was therefore on the question of what measures are to be taken to combat antisemitism more effectively. Declarations against antisemitism are no longer sufficient. Our actions, not our words, define us," said Ambassador Simon Geissbuhler, head of the FDFA's Peace and Human Rights Division, who led the Swiss delegation at the conference. Speaking in Malta, Geissbuhler outlined Switzerland's recent measures to tackle antisemitism at federal, cantonal and communal levels  including enhanced security for Jewish institutions, plans to draw up a national strategy against antisemitism and racism, innovative educational projects, and collaboration between the FDFA, the City of Bern, and civil society to create a memorial in Bern for the victims of National Socialism.

The participating states agreed to improve their coordination of action against antisemitism within the OSCE area, to facilitate greater knowledge-sharing and collaboration, and to step up their efforts to curb antisemitism on social media and promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue.

This OSCE conference traces its roots to the organisation's Berlin declaration of 29 April 2004, in which the participating states condemned antisemitic statements and acts of violence and agreed to implement measures to combat antisemitism.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html




JUBA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan announced Tuesday that it will begin preparations for parliamentary elections scheduled for December, the East African country's first since independence.

Following the cessation of a civil war in 2018 and the attainment of independence in 2011, South Sudan was initially scheduled to hold elections before February 2023. However, the transitional government and the opposition agreed to postpone them until late 2024.

Abednego Akok Kacuol, chairperson of the National Elections Commission, told journalists in the national capital of Juba that they have deployed officers across the country and also acquired some vehicles, which are important for mobility.

Akok said the government has released funds to the commission to kick-start the process, and they have prepared a draft calendar that, if approved by stakeholders, will begin voter registration in June.

"The pre-election activities will start with accommodation at the election headquarters in Juba, and then we will go to the 10 states and three administrative areas," Akok said.

According to the United Nations, South Sudan is scheduled to hold general elections in December at the conclusion of a transitional period that followed a violent civil war that broke out shortly after the country's independence over a political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his then-deputy, Riek Machar. The conflict claimed the lives of approximately 400,000 people. 
Report reveals Eurofighter's economic benefits

An independent report published today by strategy&, part of the PwC network, has revealed the impressive scale of the Eurofighter Typhoon programmes contribution to economies across Europe.

Image courtesy Eurofighter

The in-depth report examines the entire spectrum of development, production and support activities, encompassing the four Eurofighter Typhoon partner nations of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain.

It provides a comprehensive look into the programme and delivers compelling data showing the current economic benefits of the programme as well as anticipating future economic contributions, focussing in particular on the next 10 years.

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The 'base scenario' takes into account orders for new Eurofighter Typhoons from Spain (Halcon I and II) and Germany (Quadriga). This scenario shows that, for the next decade, the programme is set to contribute 58 billion to the GDP of the four core nations economies, generate tax revenues of 14 billion for the respective governments and support 62,700 jobs annually.

Those numbers increase significantly in the reports 'growth scenario' with opportunities for sales of approximately 200 Eurofighter Typhoons on the domestic and export market.

This scenario shows, for the next decade, a programme contribution of 90 billion to GDP, tax revenues of 22 billion generated and more than 98,000 jobs each year. The benefit of future export opportunities would mean that around 30% of the core nation investment would return as tax revenues.

Giancarlo Mezzanatto, Chief Executive Officer at Eurofighter Typhoon, said: The vital role that the Typhoon performs to keep Europes skies safe is widely known to all, however people are often less aware about the incredible economic benefits that the programme also brings.

The Eurofighter Typhoon programme directly boosts European economies and supports tens of thousands of crucial aerospace jobs - benefitting the communities where we live and work. There is also significant spill over in regions where Eurofighter production lines are located and where the programme often sustains SMEs, start-ups and educational institutions.

Therefore, new Eurofighter Typhoon orders are essential to sustain and retain defence industry production assets in Europe. This will guarantee national and European technological independence and industrial knowhow resilience, to the core nations over a long period.

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Additional data published in the strategy& report shows that through the whole operational life of a single Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, the contribution to the four core nations is 407 million of GDP and 100 million of taxes.

Giancarlo said: The Eurofighter Typhoon programme has more than 400 suppliers and contractors, who play a crucial role in providing R&D, design, production and in-service support.

Continuous investment in the programme will not only keep the aircraft operationally effective and build a stronger aerospace defence industry in the decades to come but is an essential enabler for the development of the next-generation combat air system in Europe.

Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space, said: Eurofighter is undoubtedly the great European industrial and military project. It is a living programme, as the contracts signed with Germany for the Quadriga programme (38 new Tranche 4) and with Spain for the Halcon programme (20 new Eurofighters) demonstrate.

Airbus is prepared to maintain the capability and tools and to produce further aircraft in Germany and Spain in line with potential customer needs.

Simon Barnes, Group Managing Director, BAE Systems Air, said: [The Eurofighter] Typhoon plays a significant role in protecting security and defence in Europe and the Middle East, in an increasingly complex global environment.

The programme also makes a huge economic contribution and due to export sales the programme has already returned more than double the UK Governments initial investment. Continued investment in Typhoon is crucial for European defence resilience and to ensure we protect the vital ecosystem that underpin our national industrial base.

Lorenzo Mariani, Leonardo's Co-General Manager, said: Since its inception, the Eurofighter programme has played a crucial role in the development of advanced technologies and the employment of thousands of skilled professionals. This has also generated significant economic returns across the home markets involved in the project.

The broad spectrum of activities carried out by Leonardo in the aircraft, electronics, sensors and system domains requires highly diversified involvement, which translates into an equally widespread and varied overall result with an important spill into our defence and civil business programmes.

At Leonardo, we are extremely proud to be part of the Eurofighter Typhoon programme which represents the backbone of air defence in many countries and is set to grow and evolve in order to deliver through the next 30+ years, bridging to next-generation combat air systems.
More than 200 people are expected to lose their jobs without severance pay when Birmingham-Southern College closes in two months.

Many of the small private colleges employees are still searching for new jobs, said Virginia Gilbert Loftin, Birmingham-Southerns vice president for advancement and communications.

She said 203 people will be laid off in two initial phases during the last week of May. Another group of 10 employees will be laid off in mid-June, followed by a smaller group that will stay on to help facilitate the closure.

No funds are available for severance for any employees, Gilbert Loftin said in a statement to AL.com.

While the number is ever-changing, 73 faculty members and 120 staff were still in search of work this week, she said. Others will retire or have already lined up new jobs.

On Friday, Birmingham-Southern filed its first public WARN notice with the state. Major employers are legally required to file the notices ahead of closures or mass layoffs. The institution said it informed all its employees in written notice of its planned closure on March 26.

AL.com has asked state and local workforce agencies whether they are supporting those looking for work. Spokespeople for Alabama Industrial Development Training and the city did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication.

Birmingham-Southern will host a jobs fair for faculty, staff and graduating senior students this Wednesday, Gilbert Loftin said. So far, 45 employers  including higher education institutions, nonprofits and public and private companies  have signed up to attend. The institution has also offered resume workshops and other assistance to people on the job hunt, she said.

When Birmingham-Southerns board of trustees announced on March 26 that the school would close, the college employed 255 people  112 faculty members and 143 staff, Gilbert Loftin said. That doesnt include workers contracted through the colleges vendors.

Keith Thompson, chair of Birmingham-Southerns board of trustees, announced the closure after the Alabama legislature failed to approve a $30 million loan to help the college stay afloat after years of financial issues. Thompson said the college would offer as much help as possible to employees.

This is a tragic day for the College, our students, our employees, and our alumni, and an outcome so many have worked tirelessly to prevent, Thompson said in the March 26 letter. We understand the devastating impact this has on each of you, and we will now direct our efforts toward ensuring the smoothest possible transition for everyone involved.

The institutions staff headcount has dipped since fiscal year 2022, when Birmingham-Southern reported 292 employees, according to a report by M. Keivan Deravi of Economic Research Services Inc. Per that report, which Birmingham-Southern released last fall, the college spent nearly $21.7 million on salaries and wages, accounting for 41% of its total spending.

At the time, the institution touted the $97.2 million figure as its yearly contribution to Alabamas economy. Since then, Birmingham-Southern launched a fundraising campaign and its public appeal to legislators for financial support to stay afloat.

Health insurance coverage will end on the last day of employees last month of employment, Gilbert Loftin said. But employees will be eligible to continue coverage under the federal COBRA program for a short period.

Continuation of this coverage is only available if the College remains above 20 enrolled contracts on each individual plan for medical, dental and vision, Gilbert Loftin said. As operations wind down and the workforce levels decrease, COBRA may fully dissipate.

Faculty members contracts still run through August, and theyll be paid into July.

Meanwhile, the institution is also working to connect its students with other colleges and universities to finish their degrees. The college hosted a student transfer fair on Friday with representatives from nearly 70 higher education institutions, including 20 schools in Alabama.

The institution currently has pending or finalized teach-out agreements  which automatically admit students in good standing, award credits and comparable tuition, and waive application fees and residency requirements  with 17 institutions. That list includes in-state schools like Samford University, Jacksonville State University, Miles College, University of Montevallo, Stillman College and the University of Mobile, per the colleges website.

Birmingham-Southern also has transfer agreements with other institutions, which include some of the benefits of the teach-out agreements. But students still face other complications, such as finding housing and financial aid to complete their education.

The fate of the institutions 192-acre campus in the otherwise residential Bush Hills community of west Birmingham is still unclear. Officials from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Miles College previously told AL.com that they dont have plans to take over the campus. Until theres a buyer, security officers will monitor the property.
Brian Regan, known for his clean standup routines, is out on tour for summer 2024. His acts typically include observational humor and physical comedy.

Regans online bio says: Brian Regan has distinguished himself as one of the premier comedians in the country. The perfect balance of sophisticated writing and physicality, Brian fills theaters nationwide with fervent fans that span generations.

Regan will perform June 19, 2024, at Nashvilles Ryman Auditorium, followed by three nights at Atlantas Buckhead Theatre, June 20-22.

How to find tickets

Find tickets to the show at Nashvilles historic Ryman Theater on June 19 at StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek and Ticketmaster.

See a full tour listing, including the Atlanta shows, here.

He is known for avoiding profanity. People might better know him as the clean comedian  no profanity or explicit jokes, a reviewer says in a Gazette.com article. But he doesnt shy away from going blue because hes easily offended, but because he likes the challenge of being funny without the crutch of a curse word or dirty one-liner.

Regan, a Florida native, has released three Netflix specials and several comedy albums. His TV appearances include The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, talk shows with David Letterman, Conan OBrien and Jimmy Fallon, as well as Jerry Seinfelds web series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Seinfeld has called Regan one of my favorite, favorite stand-up comedians.
This is another installment in Birmingham Times/AL.com/CBS42 joint series Beyond the Violence: what can be done to address Birminghams rising homicide rate. Sign up for the newsletter here.

Dothan residents Marilyn McFalls and her two granddaughters are human trafficking survivors fighting for the protections of others like them.

Advocates and survivors say broken systems enable traffickers to target people who are unhoused, economically marginalized or traumatized. Experts say human trafficking needs solutions that are just as pervasive and resilient as the problem itself. In Alabama, advocates have been working toward solutions for decades, but say it can be tough for law enforcement, courts and communities to get on the same page.

I see people like my grandchildren that, because of the sex trafficking that they endured, theyre stuck in the past. Theyre stuck not being able to move on, McFalls said. It doesnt end with just rescuing them from the trafficking. Its a lifetime of rebuilding their self esteem, their mental health and moving them forward in life.

Justin Bowlin, a Jefferson County District Attorneys Office investigator, said he is seeing a rise locally in human trafficking cases both because the industry is profitable and because of the increase in awareness and resources for people to report.

We do get calls often about potential cases. I do think that the number is going up because of the outreach that is being done. Awareness is getting out there, Bowlin said.

In 2021, McFalls created Tassel to the Left, an advocacy program to help other victims of human trafficking and those in need of mental health resources, to continue to help herself and her granddaughters heal.

When you put your tassel to the left, you graduate and you move forward in life. I endured sex trafficking myself. I endured abuse as a child myself. And so Ive never believed in myself, I never believed that I could achieve the things that I have achieved. I graduated from high school, I graduated from college, I took nursing classes.

Judicial response

The National Human Trafficking Hotline said 26,872 people reported being a victim of human trafficking across the United States between January 2020 and August 2022.

Sex trafficking victims were almost always trafficked by someone they knew: 44% were family members, 39% were intimate partners, 6% were employers and 5% were illicit substance providers, according to experts.

Agnes Chappell, now retired, was a judge at Jefferson County Family Court for 19 years, where she heard child neglect and abuse cases.

In at least one or two of those child neglect and abuse cases, it turned out that the child was being trafficked, sometimes by the parent, maybe being the mother, whos trafficking her child to help pay her rent. So I have seen a couple of those cases, she said.

In Dec. 2023, a Montgomery woman, Laporchie Howard, 27, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for the charge of sex trafficking a minor. The victim was a runaway who was invited to live at Howards apartment in exchange for commercial rape.

People who are homeless or dont have stable housing, have mental health challenges or struggle with substance abuse are often at higher risk for trafficking.

Runaways and those who are vulnerable, generally, can be easily trafficked, Chappell said. We realized that when you get hungry and youre running away its like a [procurer] can sense that they see a child on the street and they can see that that child is in need. They befriend them, and then they start violating them and using them to sell their drugs and other awful things.

Courts and law enforcement dont always treat trafficking survivors as victims, Chappell said. Some are prosecuted for prostitution, drug possession and theft.

Even as late as 2013 agencies, like first responders, those in the healthcare industry, child protection agencies, law enforcement, were not really looking for human trafficking. There was no screening protocol to look for human trafficking. If you ended up with law enforcement, then they just saw the client as what the client was. Nobody was looking for any underlying causes. There was no support mechanism for the victim, Chappell said.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the first comprehensive federal law to address trafficking, was enacted in 2000. The law included methods of prevention, protection, prosecution and set penalties for violations including life imprisonment.

Law enforcement response

Bowlin said that local law enforcement is working to better recognize and prosecute trafficking cases.

Were seeing a more trauma informed response with newer officers. Were seeing more cases brought from officers who have done the training.

Bowlin said law enforcement uses a wide range of methods to determine if a crime is human trafficking, however, each case is meant to be handled with the same care and patience by upholding survivors autonomy and dignity.

These are peoples lives at stake. This is someones mother. This is someones wife, somebodys daughter. Somebody, somewhere loves this person. It is our duty as law enforcement to treat these people as human beings and we have a duty to always try and answer that call for help with professionalism, with courtesy, no matter how many times they call for help, and treat them the way we would want our loved ones to be treated, Bowlin said.

Today, law enforcement training incorporates discussions about the importance of language access, understanding cultural norms and having trauma-informed advocates present during interactions with survivors.

At one time in the [law enforcement] academies, this was a topic that wasnt talked about at all. Weve still got a tall mountain to climb, but were climbing it, Bowlins said. I do think our training has evolved very well in the right direction. We are making great strides in including other culturesThose are things we just didnt have 20 years ago.

Bowlins office is working to put more human trafficking awareness signs on buses, in airport bathrooms and public buildings.

Investigators also conduct training in schools, churches and hotels to provide tips on how to avoid falling prey to sexual exploitation and raise awareness for signs of trafficking.

Bowlins said possible trafficking indicators among victims can be visible neglect or signs of physical abuse, running away frequently, new clothing or jewelry with no explanation of how they got it or change in behavior.

Some common human trafficking misconceptions are that trafficking is only an international problem, traffickers are easy to spot, sex workers cannot be trafficked or that all human trafficking victims are arrested.

Anyone who suspects human trafficking is taking place or believes they may be a victim of human trafficking should contact their local law enforcement as soon as they can.

The worst thing you could do is nothing, Bowlins said. The best thing that you could do is get as much information as you can without putting yourself in harms way and report that directly to the police. That will get the fastest response.

Alabama trafficking resources

From 2020-22, the top referral request in sex trafficking situations was for shelter or housing, according to National Human Trafficking Hotline data.

Holly Bunn, chief development officer of the WellHouse, said she hopes to see more policy changes to protect victims like legally protecting those who committed crimes as a result of their trafficking exploitation, improving child welfare systems and establishing harsher consequences for traffickers and johns.

We really need law enforcement and other organizations focusing on finding where trafficking is happening, identifying victims and explaining to them what their options are for accessing services, Bunn said. We know from estimated numbers that tons of people are being trafficked, so theres a gap there and its hard to say why. Its a hidden crime and [victims] may be hard to find.

The WellHouse was founded in 2010 as a human trafficking shelter and resource center for women.

There are some commonalities that are true among the population of sex trafficking victims. Trafficking victims almost always are victims of childhood sexual abuse. They come to us with complex trauma. Most are beginning a journey of addiction recovery, they may have a lack of education or lack of life skills because of their trauma, Bunn said.

From 2021-22, advocates worked with 61 residents who were sexually abused as a child, 34 experienced childhood emotional abuse and 17 were physically abused as a child, according to the WellHouse Restoration Report.

Trafficking typically begins in the teenage years. And weve seen that to be true with adult women that weve served, Bunn said.

WellHouse services include:

Case management

Onsite clinic

Therapy

Addiction recovery classes

Life skill classes including sewing, art, cooking, nutrition and exercise

Short term housing

Long term housing

Employment opportunities

Identity document retrieval

Religious services

Education services, including GED readiness classes

Mentorship program

Minor program

Women seeking WellHouse services do not need to provide proof of homelessness or identification. The WellHouse takes in survivors from anywhere in the country.

From 2021-22, WellHouse advocates served 85 women, 17 were children; 26 women attended on-site Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, 12 women graduated from the program, 10 women found employment and six moved to transitional housing.

Weve learned from the women weve served what works best, the way they grow and progress through their healing and what works for them. Weve seen success with this type of setup, Bunn said. Its a good way to continue building and working towards true independence in a community.

Life after trafficking

McFalls adopted her two granddaughters in 2012 and soon after enrolled them into a program, More Too Life, to heal their trauma and get back on track.

Brook Bello, Founder and CEO of More Too Life, an international program that provides trafficking victims and survivors resources, and author of Shame Undone, has been a mentor to McFalls and her granddaughters for 12 years.

In addition to More Too Life, Bello created court-appointed educational courses to prevent sexual exploitation and gender-based violence. The course, Live Until You Die, is a program for women charged with prostitution.

Unfortunately, with the rate of the challenges that young people have to face, theyre faced with things that are really difficult, which can relate to different peer pressures and different challenges and different abuses that put them in positions where theyre just not safe and they just havent discovered good choices nor how to define or identify safe people, Bello said.

A high percentage of these women were being trafficked way before they were 18. They never had supportive services, most of them. Should they actually go to jail for that? Or should they have the opportunity to go through programs like ours, for diversion but also have different opportunities to support their mental health, life and identity discovery.

Bello is also a survivor of rape and neglect who has used her experience to help others heal and grow. When she was 12, Bello ran away from home. Vulnerable, she was kidnapped, beaten into submission, forced into drug addiction and human trafficking.

Bello said she escaped trafficking and survived by faith. She later became an actor.

I pushed everything back like it never happened and I had a lot of challenges, Bello said. I saw issues of trafficking all around Hollywood, so I ended up helping a lot of kids. I had a lot of challenges mentally, anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide. I survived suicide. And I said theres got to be more to life. I started by just rescuing kids and working with law enforcement.

Despite the challenges Bello faced, she persevered and became an actress, author, minister and an awarded advocate.

In Sept. 2023, McFalls wrote letters to Congress and the White House advocating for better support systems and protections for victims of trafficking.

The McFalls sisters were often revictimized while receiving inpatient care at hospitals and co-ed mental health facilities after being trafficked, their grandmother said. She believes facilities need better oversight.

Despite their many setbacks, McFalls granddaughters are working hard to get back on track. They have jobs, are making friends and pursuing their passions.

When [my granddaughter] came to me, she could not read. She could not color. She did not even know Christmas songs at the age of nine, McFalls said. Now she can read. She can draw. They both graduated from high school. I have seen milestone after milestone after milestone. Ive got them in a program where theyre going to learn work skills.

It took forty years of my life to heal, McFalls wrote in her letter to the White House, I give my life to helping other victims to thrive.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 1-800-373-7888. Operators can also be reached by texting BEFREE to 233733. Operators are available 24/7 in more than 200 languages.
HANOI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- One paper factory worker died and two others were injured in a huge explosion in Vietnam's northern province of Bac Ninh on Tuesday morning, Vietnam News Agency reported.

The explosion occurred at around 10:30 a.m. at Hung Loi Paper Joint Stock Company in Phu Lam industrial cluster when the workers were repairing machines.

A 31-year-old worker died on the scene, while two others were taken to hospital in an emergency.

A gas pit explosion was initially identified as the primary reason.

According to Vietnam News Agency, Hung Loi company has faced administrative sanctions for not having an environmental permit and been required to suspend the operation of the waste generation source for a 4.5-month period since January this year.

Vietnam recorded 1,179 fires and explosions in the first three months of 2023, which left 24 people dead, 18 others injured and caused property losses of about 71.1 billion Vietnamese dong (2.8 million U.S. dollars), said the General Statistics Office. 
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey visited a drive-thru safari south of Montgomery on Monday to meet several animals including her namesake, Miss Kay, a llama.

One of the oldest animal rights advocates in the country was hoping she reconsidered.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), in a letter to Ivey on Friday, asked the governor to cancel her visit to the Alabama Safari Park in Hope Hull.

Gina Maiola, a spokeswoman for Ivey, in a response said, We dont take advice from PETA. The visit went on as planned.

The letter was sent to Ivey and accused the parks ownership of operating roadside zoos around the nation that have been cited multiple times by federal authorities for a lack of basic animal care.

It also highlighted an inspection report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that lists several critical violations for handling animals at the Alabama park, a 350-acre outdoor venue that features a three-mile road where visitors can drive through, feed and see exotic animals as they roam free without traditional barriers found at most zoos.

According to the USDAs 2023 report, multiple animals were found deceased due to trauma or predation including two llamas.

A female llama was found dead on Sept. 20, 2022, with the cause of death labeled as other, according to the report. The report says that during its investigation, the parks assistant director said a field necropsy of the animal showed it died due to extensive bleeding in the chest cavity caused by trauma. The report says there were no records from the field necropsy.

A male llama was founded dead on Jan. 13, 2023, with its cause of death attributed to trauma. The animal had received extensive medical care prior to its death, the report says.

Alabama Safari Park in Hope Hull, Ala.Alabama Safari Park

The USDA, in its report, urged the safari park to ensure that animals are handled as expeditiously and carefully as possible in a manner that does not cause trauma, overheating, excessive cooling, behavioral stress, physical harm, or unnecessary discomfort.

Drive-thru roadside zoos, such as  Alabama Safari Park, often fail to properly monitor or provide appropriate veterinary care for the large number of animal exploited for profit at these facilities, wrote Michelle Sinnott, director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement with PETA, to Ivey. As Alabamas governor, its crucial that you set an example for the states citizens by choosing to avoid roadside zoos.

The letter to Ivey also cites a 2015 complaint filed by the USDA that details violations over a five-year span at multiple venues similar to the Alabama Safari Park. The parks are owned by Zoofari Parks and its CEO Eric Mogensen, who has over 50 years in the industry. Parks are also in Natural Bridge, Va.; Kaufman/Terrell, Texas; and Gulf Breeze, Fla.

Mogensen was assessed a $100,000 civil penalty to settle that case with the USDA, according to the PETA letter. Mogensen could not be reached Monday for comment.

Mogensen has been a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1983, according to the Alabama Safari Parks website. But PETA points out that the safari park is not accredited. The only accredited zoo in Alabama is the Birmingham Zoo, according to the organizations website.

Get up close and personal with some wild animals at Alabama Safari Park.Brent Conklin, bconklin@al.com

Iveys visit, and PETAs letter, come less than a year after Harmony Park in New Hope  a drive-thru zoo similar to the Alabama Safari Park, located near Huntsville  abruptly closed after 30 years of business.

The closure occurred in May 2023, with little information on where the zoos animals were re-located.

The USDA had to step in and enforce regulations at that park a few years ago after a kangaroo at the park bit a 9-year-old girl, with the incident caught on video. The girls injuries required 14 stitches. The agency then ordered the park build a new barrier around the giraffe enclosure.

Similar concerns about a lack of giraffe enclosures exist at the Hope Hull park. According to the USDAs report from August 2023, the kangaroo exhibit does not have an adequate public barrier to protect the animals and the public.

PETA, founded in 1980, has long been a watchdog group for animal health concerns at roadside zoos. Their antics have also been criticized by all sides  many believing them to extremists who seek attention by wearing elaborate costumes to draw attention to their causes during public protests.

But PETA has also led numerous reforms including the ending of animals in automobile crash tests, closing the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Baileys Circus, and exposing thousands of instances of animal cruelty across the world, according to a History Channel write-up.

This story was updated at 10 a.m. on April 9, 2024, to clarify the accreditation of the Alabama Safari Park.
A bill that would limit annual increases in the assessed value of property for tax purposes overwhelmingly passed the Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday.

HB73, by Rep. Phillip Pettus, a Republican from Lauderdale County, would cap the increase in assessed value for residential, commercial, farm, and timber property at 7% as compared to the previous year.

Today, there is no cap, Pettus said. They can raise your property taxes to any value they want to. Lately its been just going skyrocketing, and thats the reason I brought this bill.

The caps would take effect Oct. 1, 2024 and expire Oct. 1, 2027.

Rep. Jim Hill, R-Moody, disagreed with the assertion by Pettus that tax assessors can raise property values to any level they want. Hill noted that taxpayers who disagree with the assessment of their propertys value can appeal to their countys board of equalization. If they are still not satisfied, they can appeal the board of equalizations decision in circuit court.

Hill said he was concerned about the impact of Pettus bill on revenues for cities, counties, and schools. He proposed an amendment to make the bill apply only to revenue that goes to the state. Pettus opposed the amendment and the House rejected it by a vote of 69-19.

A fiscal note estimating how much HB73 would reduce revenues was not immediately available. A fiscal note on an earlier version of the bill, when the cap was 5% instead of 7%, estimated it would reduce tax revenues by $58 million, an estimate based on the average annual growth in assessed values for Class II (commercial) and Class III (residential, agricultural, and forest) properties between 2019 and 2022.

Education groups, including the Alabama Association of School Boards, have raised concerns about the property tax bill and about the cumulative effect of other bills that will divert money from the Education Trust Fund.

One of those is the CHOOSE Act, already signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey, which will require the Legislature to appropriate at least $100 million a year for education savings accounts that parents can use to pay up to $7,000 a year for private school and other education-related expenses.

Other pending bills that would reduce money going to the ETF include a bill to repeal the state sales tax on baby products and feminine hygiene products, a bill to provide two sales tax holiday weekends every year on camping, hunting, boating, and outdoor supplies, and a bill to allow up to $80 million in tax credits for donations to rural hospitals.

The House passed HB73 by a vote of 97-1. Rep. Berry Forte, D-Eufaula, cast the only vote against it. The bill moves to the Senate.
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen notified the state and national Democratic parties on Tuesday that the Democratic National Convention, scheduled to begin Aug. 19, is a few days too late to meet a deadline in state law to get the partys nominee for president, presumably Joe Biden, on the ballot for the general election in November.

Allens letter did not mention that in 2020, the Alabama Legislature passed a bill to accommodate the date of the Republican National Convention, which was held Aug. 24-27 that year.

The Legislature passed HB272 to make a one-time adjustment to the deadline requiring parties to certify their nominees to get on the ballot 82 days before the election.

The first paragraph of HB272 said: Relating to general elections; to revise deadlines for candidates to qualify for the November 3, 2020, general election schedule to accommodate the dates of the 2020 Republican National Convention; and to provide that this is a one-time occurrence.

The bill passed both the House and Senate without a dissenting vote. Allen, who was then a state representative, voted for the bill.

Asked Tuesday if a bill to adjust the dates is an option to accommodate Democrats this year, Allen issued this statement: As Secretary of State, I will administer Alabama elections in accordance with Alabama law and the deadlines provided therein.

The 82-day deadline this year falls on Aug. 15. The Republican Party is scheduled to hold its national convention July 15-18, well ahead of the Alabama deadline.

This story will be updated.
When Landing transferred its headquarters from San Francisco to Birmingham in 2021, state and local officials touted it as one of the largest moves in the country that year and offered the company millions in incentives.

Landing, a national network of fully-furnished apartments, agreed to invest millions in the new headquarters in downtown Birmingham and hire 816 new full-time employees in Alabama. In exchange, the company could get no less than $2.6 million in incentives from Birmingham, Jefferson County and the state.

But now, Landings deal with the city is off, and the future of the companys workforce in the John Hand building in downtown Birmingham is unclear.

A spokesperson for Landing confirmed in an emailed statement that the company didnt accept the citys incentives because its business model had changed.

Initially operating out of a more centralized model (and robust HQ presence), we learned that we needed to pivot to a more distributed, field-based service model to best serve our members and property partners, the company spokesperson said. The outcome is a smaller, albeit essential, Birmingham-based team.

The company works with local property managers, landlords and developers to furnish their vacant units and lease them to Landing customers who pay an annual yearly membership fee, in addition to rent. The length of leases are flexible and vary. In the Birmingham market, the average rate for a one-bedroom apartment is more than $2,000 a month, according to Landings online listings.

City spokesman Rick Journey told AL.com that the Office of the City Attorney sent Landing a letter terminating their incentive agreement on Nov. 14.

No incentive funds have been provided by the city, Journey said.

The Landings spokesperson declined to say how many people the company employs locally now. Back in 2021, Landing had about 50 local employees and the office downtown.

Landing officially started operating its headquarters in downtown Birmingham in July 2021. (Hannah Denham / hdenham@al.com)Hannah Denham

Landing could have received more than $1.6 million dollars through the companys agreement with Birmingham, which was finalized in July 2021.

But less than three years later, Landing officials say the company canceled its deal with the city, without the company accepting a single dollar of the more than $1.6 million of incentives it could have applied for from Birmingham.

Jefferson County paid Landing just $29,000, said Jeff Traywick, the countys economic development advisor. The county paid those incentives in April 2022 after the company reported hiring 10 new employees, Traywick said.

The incentives are in place until 2027, he said. Our understanding is that they will ask to terminate the agreement, but we dont have that yet.

If Landing terminates the agreement, it will have to pay back the incentives to the county, per the agreement.

Per the agreement, the county could pay Landing up to $1 million. The agreement said the county could give the company between $2,000 and $4,000 per new employee, depending on salaries.

Through Landings agreement with Alabama, the states workforce agency has paid Landing $313,100, through checks paid in July, August and October of 2022, per the state comptrollers website. That agreement started in December 2020, and fleshes out a timeline for Landing to meet its capital investment goal by the end of 2025 and its jobs target by the end of 2026.

Alabama Department of Commerce spokeswoman Stefania Jones confirmed that the states agreement with Landing is still active, but declined to answer questions.

Landing said that the company is still committed to its Birmingham HQ.

We remain committed to growing our business in Alabama and supporting the local business community, anchored by our headquarters in Birmingham, the company spokesperson said.

Landings chief executive Bill Smith  who also founded another tech company based in Birmingham, Shipt  created Landing in 2019 with $15 million of his own money. He officially launched Landing in November that year, opening its first headquarters in San Francisco, and offered apartments there as well as an initial five other markets: Birmingham, Nashville, Austin, Los Angeles and New York City.

The private company has been quiet about its finances since fall 2021, when it reported a new round of fundraising, bringing its total to roughly $320 million in loans and equity from investors. The companys website now lists $347 million in total funding.

But the company suffered at least three rounds of layoffs starting in October 2022 and as recently as November 2023, the day after its deal with Birmingham was officially called off. At the time, several employees told Business Insider that they had to train their would-be replacements, who were working from Mexico City, before they were laid off.

Trevor Sutton, who works on the Birmingham Business Alliances economic development team, pointed out that tech industry layoffs for companies like Landing can have a bigger impact in smaller communities like Birmingham.

What we are seeing is that in regions or cities where there is a much larger tech presence, is that the layoffs are normalized in a way, Sutton said. Market changes, product changes, where they can affect another industry a lot more slowly impacts tech very quickly, and so business operations have to change to meet changing demands or needs.

But hes optimistic, he said, that the Birmingham metros growth has created the growing tech infrastructure to help absorb laid off employees, including from Landing. The metro has seen a tech boom in the last decade, leading up to the city receiving designation as tech hub last fall so that it can apply for federal funding.

Shipts branding and reputation also helped attract more talent to Birmingham, including for Landing, Sutton said.

Its unclear where things stand for the companys hiring plans now. The company says on its website that it currently has 450 total employees, including workers who are assigned to apartment properties in markets across the country, beyond just the companys corporate employees in Birmingham.

Landing is one of several tenants at the John Hand building in downtown Birmingham. (Hannah Denham / hdenham@al.com)Hannah Denham

As of April 8, Landing has 14 job openings posted to its website. Five roles are advertised for Birmingham: vice president of finance, revenue manager, financial analyst, senior staff accountant and membership sales specialist. Four jobs are available for Landings office in Mexico City.

Sutton said he doesnt know how Landing is doing financially. But he noted that Alabamas incentive agreements rely on performance, rarely provide cash up front and often have claw backs.

Thats a great way to incentivize businesses to come here without putting a lot of the communitys capital at risk, he said. As businesses change, drive their growth plan, their hiring plans often change with that. You cant always predict that when youre growing like crazy.

Its unclear how much the company has invested into its HQ in downtown Birmingham. Per its agreement with the state, Landing was expected to invest more than $13 million.

Officials for the city, the county and the state declined to answer questions about the companys economic impact.

The original agreement with the state required Landing to meet yearly targets to hire a total of 816 full-time employees earning an average hourly wage of $34.27, and to invest in its HQ yearly, the same as the Birmingham agreement. Under the deal, the companys top three executives and at least 75% of all employees would have to live in Alabama most of the time.

In exchange, Landing could apply for jobs credits from the state  which, in the most recent version of the agreement, is 4% of wages paid to employees annually, up to 120% of the hiring goal  starting when the company meets the minimum jobs threshold.

That would have required Landing to start applying for jobs credits when it hired five new employees. But in May 2022, Landing amended its agreement with the state, asking to increase that threshold to 50 employees before it had to start applying for jobs credits each year. The company also asked for more cash, and for the state to cut back the minimum wage requirement to $30 an hour, on average. The state agreed.

But, if Landing doesnt hire enough employees or pay them the required wages, the company will have to forfeit its incentive for that year. And if Landing fails to meet at least 40% of the jobs target, the company then forfeits its right to receive any more incentives from the state in the future, per the agreement.

If that happens, the company enters the maintenance period of its agreement with the state, during which Alabama can take back its money for any year that the company failed to keep its end of the deal, per the agreement. If the state ends up terminating its agreement with Landing, the company has to pay the state back.
President Joe Biden is taking another shot at erasing student loan debt, aiming to extend relief efforts to some 30 million borrowers.

The White House unveiled its latest proposal Monday, months after the Supreme Court struck down the plan to cancel some $400 billion in debt held by more than 40 million people. That plan would have canceled up to $10,000 in federal loan debt for borrowers with yearly incomes of up to $125,000 with an additional $10,000 if they received Pell grants for low-income students.

The new approach is more targeted at specific groups of borrowers:

Borrowers who have seen their original balance grow due to unpaid interest

More than 25 million borrowers owe more than they originally borrowed due to accrued interest. These borrowers would be eligible for up to $20,000 in loan forgiveness, regardless of income.

Low and middle-income borrowers enrolled in the existing SAVE Plan or other income-driven repayment plan, or IDR, would be eligible for a waiver of the entire amount their balance has grown since they started making payments. This group of borrowers would include single borrowers who earn $120,000 or less and married borrowers who file joint tax returns who earn $240,000 or less.

These borrowers wont be required to apply for relief if the plan is approved.

Of the 25 million borrowers helped by such a waiver, 23 million would see the entirety of their balance growth eliminated, the White House said.

Borrowers who are eligible under existing loan forgiveness plans but have not enrolled

Bidens plan would automatically cancel debt for borrowers otherwise eligible under existing student loan relief plans. This would apply to borrowers who originally took out $12,000 or less in loans and have been in repayment for 10 years that would be eligible to get their remaining debt waived. For every additional $1,000 in loans they took out (up to $21,000 total for undergraduate loans and $26,000 total for graduate loans), a borrower would be eligible for relief after an additional year of repayment. For example, if a borrower took out $13,000 in loans, they would be eligible for debt cancelation after 11 years in repayment.

Borrowers who have been making payments for 20 years or more

This could cover as many as 2 million borrowers who have been repaying student loans for two decades or longer. Borrowers with only undergraduate debt would qualify for forgiveness if they first started making payments on or before July 1, 2005. Borrowers with any graduate school debt would qualify if they first entered repayment on or before July 1, 2000. Borrowers would not need to be on an IDR plan to qualify.

Borrowers who enrolled in low-financial value programs

This would cover borrowers who took out loans who attended institutions or programs that lost their eligibility to participate in the Federal student aid program or were denied recertification. It would also cover those who attended schools that closed and failed to provide sufficient value, for example those that leave graduates with unaffordable loan payments or earnings no better than what someone with a high school diploma earns.

Borrowers experiencing hardship paying back their loans

This broad-based category would include what the White House described as borrowers experiencing hardship in their daily lives that prevent them from fully paying back their loans now or in the future.

This could include delivering automatic forgiveness to borrowers predicted to be likely to default on their loans, or through an individualized applications where borrowers could detail their financial hardship that is preventing them from being able to fully pay back their loan, such as a childcare or medical expense, the White House said.

The Education Department plans to release its formal proposal in the coming months followed by a period for comments. If finalized by Nov. 1, the rule would take effect in July 2025, though it faces an uphill battle in Congress.
A bill to strengthen Alabamas weak public records law won approval Tuesday in an Alabama Senate committee.

SB270 by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would require government agencies to respond to public records requests by specific times.

Alabamas public records law says citizens have a right to view and get copies of public records but includes no requirements for agencies to respond by any specific times.

Critics of the law say that allows agencies to deny requests by ignoring them or delaying their responses.

The Senate County and Municipal Government Committee approved Orrs bill Tuesday without dissent after a brief explanation by the sponsor.

Committee approval puts the bill in position for consideration by the full Senate. Orr said he expects to make some changes to the bill before then.

The Senate passed a similar bill by Orr last year, but it did not pass the House.

The Alabama Press Association supports Orrs bill as an incremental improvement to the public records law.

A 2019 study by a researcher at the University of Arizona ranked Alabama last among states in responsiveness to requests for records.

Gov. Kay Ivey issued an executive order last year directing state executive branch agencies to be more responsive to public records requests and setting timelines. Ivey supports Orrs bill.

As it currently stands, SB270 largely replicates the governors public records executive order, and it certainly comes as a result of her leadership on this issue, Gina Maiola, communications director for the governor, said in an email. At the end of the day, the governor would support any bill that, like her executive order, allows for more transparency, while still being manageable for government.

SB270 puts public records requests in two categories - standard requests and time-intensive requests.

Standard requests are for one or more specifically and discretely identified public records that the public officer determines would take less than eight hours of staff time to process.

SB270 requires public agencies to acknowledge receipt of standard requests within 10 business days. It requires a substantive response with 15 business days after that. A substantive response means providing the records, setting a time and place to provide the records, committing to provide the records after payment of a reasonable fee for costs, or denying the request with an explanation of why.

The public agency could extend the response time in increments of 15 business days by notifying the requester in writing.

SB270 says the requester could file a lawsuit if there is no substantive response within 30 business days, or no records produced within 30 business days of paying fees, or if the request is denied.

Time-intensive requests are those that the public officer determines would take more than eight hours of staff time to process considering the time needed to identify and retrieve any responsive records and any time needed to redact or take other measures to withhold legally protected information.

For time-intensive requests, public agencies would have to provide a substantive response within 45 business days, although they could extend that in increments of 45 business days by notifying the requester in writing.

Requesters could file a lawsuit if there is no substantive response within 180 business days, no records provided within 180 business days of paying requested fees, or if the request is denied in whole or in part.

Alabamas public records law was passed in 1923. According to an article by attorney J. Evans Bailey published by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the law remained unchanged until 1983, when the Legislature exempted from public access the registration and circulation records of libraries. In 2004, the Legislature added exemptions for records concerning security plans, critical infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and other records for which the public disclosure could reasonably be expected to be detrimental to public safety or welfare.
A Birmingham man is the third person charged in an alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy in Alabama that left a 46-year-old man dead in Sylacauga.

A Jefferson County grand jury indicted Markkeis Antwain Towns, 31, for capital murder/murder for hire in the slaying of Bradford Franklin Isbell.

Previously indicted were Kiera Monthelia Turner, 28, of Leeds, and Allana Amani Reid, 30. Both are also charged with capital murder/murder for hire in Isbells death.

Isbell was killed about 10 p.m. on June 23, 2021, on Harper Springs Road in Sylacauga. Police found Isbell dead outside the home.

Officers also found Rachel Elizabeth Hayes, 32, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham and survived.

Investigators at the time said they didnt believe the shooting was random, but no arrests were made.

The Jefferson County grand jury issued the indictments against Towns, Turner and Reid on March 8.

Towns indictment was made public Tuesday. He is already serving a prison sentence for a 2023 guilty plea in a manslaughter case.

He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail Monday to face the new capital murder charge.

The Jefferson County District Attorneys Office led the investigation into the murder-for-hire case but officials there have not elaborated on what launched the probe and the reason for their involvement in the case.

The indictment states Towns was contracted or hired to kill Isbell. Records state another suspect involved in the deadly shooting, but court records dont yet he has been indicted in that case, so AL.com is not yet naming him.

That fourth suspect is also already in prison for unrelated crimes.
A 19-year-old has been sentenced to decades in prison in the 2021 shooting at a Birmingham shopping center that also killed another man and injured two others.

Jefferson County Circuit Judge Kandice Pickett on Monday sentenced Dcoreyonne Hall to 40 years in prison for the murder of 21-year-old Cornelius JaShawn Hilliard.

Hall was 17 at the time of the killing.

Hall was one of two suspects charged in Hilliards Sept. 4, 2021, killing at the clothing store Superior for Men in Roebuck.

Jureil Dowdell, now 21, has not yet gone to trial. Dowdell is also charged with attempted murder for reportedly shooting at another male during the incident.

Authorities said Hall fired the shots that killed Hilliard, who was struck rough a dozen times.

A second person was also killed in the shooting  25-year-old Reginald Curtis Crawford Jr.  but his death was ruled justifiable, and no charges were filed.

A jury convicted Hall earlier this year.

Hall was represented by attorney Emory Anthony. Jefferson County deputy district attorneys Jason Wilson and Ty Henderson prosecuted the case.

On Monday, Hilliards parents  Shunta Worsham and James Hilliard  gave victim impact statements in court.

Hall was giving an opportunity to address the court and declined.

The shooting happened about 4 p.m. that Saturday and was captured on surveillance video.

It appears a group of men were inside the store  including Crawford  when Hilliard entered the store. After a time, Hilliard went to leave the store, but the group started some kind of apparent confrontation with him. It did not appear Hilliard had initiated any contact with them.

Hilliard left the store and returned with another man. There were no visible weapons on the pair.

Several of the males among the group that was inside the store pulled out guns and told Hilliard to leave. Crawford punched the male that was with Hilliard and the dispute spilled outside. The man with Hilliard then shot Crawford.

Meanwhile, the others in the store had cornered Hilliard, who had his hands up. When the gunfire erupted outside, Hilliard was then shot inside and the male who had been punched and shot Crawford was then shot.

The male who shot Crawford remained on the scene.

Hall claimed self-defense during his January trial.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a health alert after a person in Texas was infected with bird flu. The person, a farm worker at a commercial dairy farm in Texas, is only the second person in the U.S. to test positive for the disease.

The alert issued Friday said the current risk posed by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus, commonly known as bird flu, remains low. People exposed to infected birds, cattle or other animals at a higher risk of infection should take extra precaution, CDC warned.

The recent positive test involved a farm worker on a commercial dairy farm in Texas. The person developed conjunctivitis, or pink eye, at the end of March and later tested positive for bird flu, which had been circulating in the areas dairy cattle and wild birds. There have been no previous reports of the spread of the virus from cows to humans, CDC said, and human-to-human transmission has not been identified.

The patient did not report any other symptoms and did not require hospitalization but was isolated and treated. It is the second person to test positive for bird flu in the U.S., after a patient in Colorado tested positive in 2022 after coming into contact with infected poultry. There have been no illnesses or deaths linked to the virus among humans.

Bird flu is currently circulating among wild birds in the U.S., as well as outbreaks among poultry and backyard flocks. Infections among cattle have also been confirmed in four states  Texas, Kansas, Michigan and New Mexico  with another likely positive test in Idaho. The CDC said the spread has likely been due to the movement of cattle across state lines.

CDC said it is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration and state health departments to monitor people who are exposed to infected animals.
A judge sentenced the parents of a Michigan school shooter to at least 10 years in prison Tuesday for failing to take steps that could have prevented a runaway train  the killing of four students in 2021.

Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting. They were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors presented evidence of an unsecured gun at home and indifference toward the teens mental health.

Ethan Crumbley drew dark images of a gun, a bullet and a wounded man on a math assignment, accompanied by despondent phrases. Staff at Oxford High School did not demand that he go home but were surprised when the Crumbleys didnt volunteer it during a brief meeting.

Later that day, on Nov. 30, 2021, the 15-year-old pulled a handgun from his backpack and began shooting. Ethan, now 17, is serving a life sentence for murder and other crimes.

These convictions are not about poor parenting, Judge Cheryl Matthews said. These convictions confirm repeated acts, or lack of acts, that could have halted an oncoming runaway train.

About repeatedly ignoring things that would make a reasonable person feel the hair on the back of their neck stand up, the judge said. Opportunity knocked over and over again  louder and louder  and was ignored. No one answered.

Defense attorneys asked that the Crumbleys be spared a prison term, noting they have already served nearly 2 1/2 years in jail after failing to meet a $500,000 bond after their arrest.

The Crumbleys will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years in custody and will get credit for the jail time. If parole is denied, they cant be held longer than 15 years.

Before sentencing, family members of the slain students asked the judge for a 10-year term, condemning the parents as failures whose selfishness led to four deaths and a community tragedy.

The blood of our children is on your hands, too, said Craig Shilling, wearing a hoodie with the image of son Justin Shilling on his chest.

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, recalled simple things she enjoyed doing for her daughter, such as scheduling an oil change for her car or helping choose senior year classes.

While you were purchasing a gun for your son and leaving it unlocked, I was helping her finish her college essays, Beausoleil told James and Jennifer Crumbley.

Five deputies in the courtroom stood watch over the Crumbleys and more lined the walls.

Prosecutors said tragically simple actions by both parents could have stopped the catastrophe.

The couple had separate trials in Oakland County court, 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Detroit. Jurors heard how the teen had drawn a gun, a bullet and a gunshot victim on a math assignment, accompanied by grim phrases: The thoughts wont stop. Help me. My life is useless. Blood everywhere.

Ethan told a counselor he was sad  a grandmother had died and his only friend suddenly had moved away  but said the drawing only reflected his interest in creating video games.

The Crumbleys attended a meeting at the school that lasted less than 15 minutes. They did not mention that the gun resembled one James Crumbley, 47, had purchased just four days earlier  a Sig Sauer 9 mm that Ethan had described on social media as his beauty.

His parents declined to take him home, choosing instead to return to work and accepting a list of mental health providers. School staff said Ethan could stay on campus. A counselor, Shawn Hopkins, said he believed it would be safer for the boy than possibly being alone at home.

No one, however, checked Ethans backpack. He pulled the gun out later that day and killed four students  Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Shilling and Baldwin  and wounded seven other people.

There was no trial testimony from specialists about Ethans state of mind. But the judge, over defense objections, allowed the jury to see excerpts from his journal.

I have zero help for my mental problems and its causing me to shoot up the ... school, he wrote. I want help but my parents dont listen to me so I cant get any help.

Asked about Ethan reporting hallucinations months before the shooting, Jennifer Crumbley, 46, told jurors he was simply messing around.

At the close of James Crumbleys trial, the prosecutor demonstrated how a cable lock, found in a package at home, could have secured the gun.

Ten seconds, McDonald said, of the easiest, simplest thing.
China earmarks 174 mln yuan to support drought relief in Yunnan, Sichuan

Xinhua) 10:00, April 09, 2024

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China has earmarked 174 million yuan (about 24.51 million U.S. dollars) from the central government funding to support drought relief in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Monday.

The disaster relief funds, allocated by the MOF and the Ministry of Water Resources, will mainly be used to ensure the safety of drinking water and agricultural irrigation in the drought-affected areas of the two provinces, the MOF said.

Temperatures in the two provinces are expected to be 1 to 2 degrees Celsius higher than normal years in April, the China Meteorological Administration said last week.

The drought is likely to persist in the two provinces, the administration said, urging strengthened water resource management.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
MOSCOW, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A woman and a child were killed with three others injured after Ukraine shelled a village in Russia's western Bryansk region, the local governor said Tuesday.

A residential building caught fire and several private cars were partially damaged in the village of Klimovo in the region bordering Ukraine and Belarus, Governor Alexander Bogomaz said on Telegram. 
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s famous Letter from Birmingham Jail, written 61 years ago this month, will be read aloud this week at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

The reading will be on Friday at 10 a.m. on the grand staircase at the institute.

King. wrote the 6,500-word Letter from Birmingham Jail on April 16, 1963, while incarcerated at the Birmingham City Jail for marching without a permit. The letter became world famous for its summary of the fight for human rights.

The live reading is among a series of events highlighting the importance of the months of April and May of 1963 in the chronology of global human rights.

April marks the anniversary of the 1963 Birmingham Campaign, also known as the Birmingham movement. Organized by Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth and the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR), the two-month Campaign targeted the citys segregation system by putting pressure on local businesses.

The Birmingham Campaign placed our city in the national spotlight and made us arguably the birthplace of the modern global human rights movement, said BCRI President and CEO DeJuana Thompson.

King was arrested on Good Friday, April 12, 1963, and wrote the Letter from Birmingham Jail four days later in response to criticism of the peaceful demonstrations. Evoking the spirit of Dr. King, the upcoming BCRI reading will be a moving reminder of the responsibility each of us has to the advancement and preservation of human and civil rights, Thompson said.

The BCRI will highlight other events in April and May to commemorate the Birmingham Campaign, including the Birmingham Civil Rights Conference on April 15-16, the re-enactment of the 1963 Childrens March on May 2, and the 70th anniversary on May 17 of the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court ruling that outlawed public school segregation.

Community leaders and members of the public will read Kings letter, and the reading is open to the public.

Whether one wants to read or just take in these powerful words from the audience, we hope the public will join us along the way during Letter from the Birmingham Jail recitation event, Thompson said.

An early manuscript of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Kings Letter from Birmingham Jail was auctioned at a book fair in New York City last year.

On April 16, 1963, after King was arrested for leading protests against segregation, he began writing the letter in his Birmingham Jail cell. The original document was handwritten on the margins of newspaper pages, on small scraps of paper and even on pieces of toilet paper, none of which have survived. The scraps of paper were given to Kings attorneys, who took them to the Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker, one of Kings lieutenants with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Walker and his secretary, Willie Pearl Mackey, compiled, edited and typed up the manuscript, which King was later able to finish using a legal pad furnished by his lawyers.

King directed his letter to eight clergy who were considered moderate religious leaders. His epic response still echoes through American history.

For more information, visit www.bcri.org.
A $1 million beachhouse which was seen in widely-circulated photos and videos in the wake of a tornado in the Panama City Beach, Fla., area has now become a point of contention between neighbors and now the subject of a lawsuit.

On Jan. 9, severe weather, including tornados, hit the Panama City Beach area, causing extensive damage to numerous structures. Among them, a blue, three-story beach house which was seen in photos and videos across the internet -- appearing largely intact, but leaning on a neighboring home.

Now, four months later, neighbors who own homes on each side of the tilted house have filed suit, claiming the owners of the leaning house are refusing to demolish the home until the neighbors release them from all liability for any damage caused during the demolition.

The suit was filed last week in Bay County Circuit Court. In it, plaintiffs William B. Lawrence III and Gene P. Stienecker say they cannot make repairs to their beach homes until the leaning home is demolished and, additionally, more damage is being caused the longer the leaning house remains there.

Lawrence and Stienecker are seeking a court order to have the owners of the leaning house, James Sturgeon and Yik Chun Wu, tear down the beach house immediately at their own expense.

When the Sturgeon-Wu house toppled over onto the top of Stieneckers home, it also impacted Lawrences home, causing damage to the garage, according to the lawsuit.

Bay County issued a permit on Jan. 13, just days after the storm, to have the Sturgeon-Wu house demolished, but that permit was revoked for unknown reasons and later reissued on Feb. 28. The process normally requires 10 days notification to the neighbors before demolition can begin, but Stienecker and Lawrence agreed to reduce that requirement to two days.

On Feb. 29, Sturgeon and Wu notified the two neighbors demolition would begin March 4. Instead, Lawrence and Stienecker claim they were ambushed by Sturgeon and Wu with a demand to waive all liability for the demolition work, meaning were there any damage to the other two homes when the leaning home was demolished, Lawrence and Stienecker would be unable to file a claim against Sturgeon and Wu or the demolition contractor for those damages.

Lawrence and Stienecker refused to sign the wavier and, as a result, the demolition did not take place.

In their lawsuit, Lawrence and Stienecker say having the Sturgeon-Wu house still leaning is causing additional damage to their homes as well as creating a nuisance and life-safety concerns.

The Bay County Building Department has declared all three structures uninhabitable.

Sturgeon and Wu have yet to file a response to the suit in Bay Court Circuit Court.

Lawrence and Stienecker say Sturgeon and Wu are aware their home is causing additional damage to the other two homes and any repairs cannot begin until the leaning home is removed. They say theyve also offered alternative solutions, which have been rejected by Sturgeon and Wu.

Because they cant fix their homes with the Sturgeon-Wu house still leaning there, Bay County Code Enforcement has filed a complaint against both Lawrence and Sturgeon because their homes are unfit or unsafe, according to the suit.

That complaint could result in daily fines against Lawrence and/or Stienecker or the county could even seek to have their homes demolished, even though both can be repaired once the Sturgeon-Wu house is gone.

Lawrence and Stienecker are asking the court for a temporary injunction forcing Sturgeon and Wu to tear down the leaning house at their own expense and that Sturgeon and Wu remain liable for any damage caused to the other two homes during the demolition process.

They are also seeking to have Sturgeon and Wu liable for any code enforcement fines, as well as all attorneys fees.
No charges will be filed in the shooting death of a 25-year-old man outside a Birmingham convenience store.

Quintez Deshawn Ladd was killed in an exchange of gunfire with another man on March 27 at Smart Food Mart on 20th Street in Ensley.

Birmingham police on Tuesday announced the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office had ruled the deadly shooting justifiable.

Both men were armed and shot at each other, and both men were struck. The other mans injuries are not life-threatening.

The surviving mans name has not been released.

The shooting happened just before 4:30 p.m. that Wednesday.

Authorities arrived at the store to find Ladd unresponsive on the ground. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service rushed him to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 8:18 p.m.

The other man at the hospital by private vehicle.

It wasnt immediately clear how many shots were fired, but crime scene technicians put out at least 28 evidence markers.

Of Birminghams 35 homicides this year, four have now been ruled justifiable.
The owner of the Pita Stop restaurant, a Middle Eastern institution in Birminghams Southside, will not face criminal charges in the December shooting death of a patron inside the restaurant.

Ricardo Tafoya Garcia, 30, was fatally shot at 12:11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, inside the business in the 1100 block of 12th Street South.

Garcia was pronounced dead at UAB Hospital at 12:34 p.m.

The Jefferson County District Attorneys Office on Tuesday confirmed that a grand jury heard the evidence in the case and did not indict Pita Stop owner Mohammad Matt Islam, who has worked in the restaurant, which opened in 1977, since 1999 and purchased it in 2021.

A momentous weight has been lifted from Matt Islams shoulders,' said his attorney, Richard Jaffe. The last thing he ever imagined was being forced to defend himself anywhere, and especially at his restaurant.

Matt feels deeply for the deceased who gave him no other choice,' Jaffe said. We recognize that this event not only deeply affected our client but is also tragic for friends and family of the deceased and we extend our condolences. "

Jaffe said they are thankful the grand jury clearly recognized a clear case of self-defense which confirmed our independent investigation.

Islam, in a previous interview with AL.com, detailed the events leading up to the fatal dispute.

Islam said Garcia began arguing that he had paid for his meal with a credit card but none of the three women working there had taken his payment.

Islam said he asked the man to open the credit card app on his phone and the man began pointing to a notice of a payment, but Islam said it was for a meal from another Birmingham restaurant.

Islam said he gave the phone back to Garcia, who he believes was under the influence.

For a fraction of a second, I thought he understood, Islam said in the December interview. Then, the man said he was going to f..k up Islam, the restaurant owner said.

The next thing I know, something hit me and Im on the ground and he was hitting me over and over. There was blood on the floor, Islam said. I was trying to make him understand there was a miscommunication.

Islam said in that moment on the floor of the restaurants kitchen he feared he would die.

I thought this was how my life was going to end, Islam said.

Ricardo Tafoya Garcia(Contributed)

A customer picked the man up off Islam and told him to leave, Islam said. If it was not for him, Id be dead, Islam said.

Garcia, however, did not leave, Islam said.

I didnt know what he was going to do to the employees or the customers .. I got a gun, Islam said. The customer was asking him to leave; I was afraid for them. I had to shoot.

Islam said he shot the man three times and then called police, who stayed on the line with him until an officer arrived.

The restaurant reopened that night.

Islam previously told AL.com his face was swollen, his body ached, and he struggled to sleep.

Islam is originally from Qatar and has long been a fixture of the popular dining spot near UAB where customers often asked for him by name. Islam said those who know him will likely find it shocking he took someones life.

I never thought in a million years this would happen, Islam said. This will haunt me for the rest of my life.
TeAndria Ellis, founder and executive director of the Surge Project, a Birmingham nonprofit dedicated to youth and community development, began working toward violence prevention solutions after her brother, Terrell Ellis, 22, was shot and killed in 2012.

A Jefferson County Grand Jury indicted two teenage boys on two counts of capital murder for Ellis death.

We went to one of the court cases, and as the young man was sentenced, his mom started crying. My mother walked over to the young mans mom and she asked her if she could give her a hug, Ellis said. I will never forget my mom saying, Neither one of us wins. My son never comes back, your son goes to jail for 20 years.

Ellis said she started the Surge Project to put Birmingham families in a position to win.

By winning, to me that means, our children get the opportunity to thrive. Our children get the opportunity to live. The Surge Project was born from that statement, Ellis said. We want to put people, particularly youth and young adults in our city in a position to win, to be successful, to be put on a pathway for upward economic mobility, mental health care, wellness, all without the burden of cost.

Ellis is also a pastor at Hill Community Church, a student earning her bachelors degree in youth studies at Samford University, and director of EmpowerED Birmingham, a coalition working to improve educational opportunities for youth.

EmpowerED offers a caregiver advocacy program for Birmingham City School parents as well as career building opportunities and tutoring sessions at Green Acres Middle School. The program will also be implemented at Jackson Olin High School in the fall.

The Surge Project features three initiatives: Grow Well, Live Well and Work Well.

Grow Well serves 10-17 year olds and offers conflict resolution workshops, mentorship, counseling, tutoring and community service opportunities. In 2022, the Surge Project started a club at Washington K-8 School to work on art projects, business skills and conflict resolution as part of the Grow Well initiative.

Live Well offers community based health and wellness resources and services to anyone in need.

Work Well, serving young adults, is a workforce development program to increase employment.

City of Birmingham and community partnerships

In 2023, the Surge Project received an $80,800 grant through the City of Birminghams BOLD Fund to provide workforce development for adults ages 17-35 to reduce gun violence through a nine-week soft skills training and certification program through a partnership with the National Training Institute for Healthcare Technicians.

By the end of the programs pilot, 32 out of 40 participants were phlebotomy and EKG technician certified; 19 were Jackson Olin High School students.

Jackson Olin is in the community where my brother was killed. So to do that work there, its going back to my place of pain, doing my passion work and making sure we are putting people in a position to win, Ellis said.

The grant was not renewed for another year, but the Surge Project will continue to offer workforce training through the Work Well program while searching for other grants to expand the initiative beyond Birmingham.

I believe when you give people the resources that they need to pull them out of survival mode, where they can thrive, you will start to see reductions in gun violence in the city of Birmingham. When you are tackling issues related to education, mental health and wellness, workforce development, that is how we cater to the total person and all of their needs, Ellis said.

Jessica Clark, founder and owner of the National Training Institute for Healthcare Technicians, a Birmingham based career development center, said she joined the partnership to help youth thrive.

I wanted to open up my own school and make it affordable for students to get their education to better my community. I have always believed that if our young people get educated, they can get out of the system and do better for themselves, Clark said.

Programs like this keep our youth off the streets, out of gun violence. It keeps them from losing their lives.

Clark opened the institute in 2018, in a 200 square foot room with a desk, a folding table and a few chairs. She gave small scholarships to students in need when she could afford it.

Over time, the school expanded, giving over $50,000 worth of annual scholarships.

This summer was amazing. We had about 19 Jackson Olin students come in and get certified. It was amazing to see their faces when we were teaching them and how they were unsure but then that transition when their face lights up when they started connecting the dots. It was truly amazing, Clark said.

Now theyre leaving high school with a diploma and a certification and they can get out into the work field and start working and be able to take care of themselves. Im blessed to be able to give back to the community and see our young people rising above.

The institute offers clinical medical assistant, phlebotomy, EKG and patient care certification training. Students also have the opportunity to participate in mental health and wellness, resume building, business ownership and financial literacy workshops.

Birmingham City Councilor Crystal Smitherman said she and the council are continuing to work with the Surge Project and other initiatives like the RESTORE program, Birmingham Promise, credible messenger program, HEAT Curriculum and Safe Haven program to combat violence among youth.

I make sure to advocate to the mayors office and to my colleagues about how the Surge project is doing great work in the schools and out in the community, Smitherman said. I really enjoy working with them and supporting them.

Smitherman has worked with the Surge Project for four years. She said she admires seeing how members of the Surge Project interact with the children and young adults in their program.

I just see a brightness in the children when they are in those workshops, Smitherman said. We know that to stop this trend of violent crime, we have to start with this next generation of kids. We have to target mental health, poverty, give them resources and people to look up to.
For people on parole, finding a job can change a life. If you can find one.

An event in Huntsville next week is set to help with that.

The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles is partnering with Alabama Power, the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, and J.F. Ingram State Technical College to host a mobile job fair. The job fair will happen on April 18 at the Huntsville Day Reporting Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., located at 2801 Westcorp Blvd. SW.

This effort will assist in our collective interests to reduce state recidivism and increase Alabamas workforce participation, said a press release from the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles.

The job fair will be done through the Alabama Experience, or ALEX. ALEX is a mobile expo, housed inside a large trailer with digital, interactive kiosks, that travels across the state to help people find jobs and get the training required for those jobs.

According to the bureau, the event is set up with companies who need workers and can hold on-the-spot interviews. It will also have recruiters from trade programs for those interested in heavy equipment operation, forklift driving, and skid steer operation.

Some of the companies looking for employees who already signed on for the event are Amazon, Limestone Staffing, SK Staffing Solutions, and Turner Construction. The companies are interested in hiring formerly incarcerated individuals and people on parole.

There will also be opportunities for people seeking training to work with sheet metal or as millwrights and electricians.

There will be information about trades and other post-high school education opportunities, matching applicants with specific industries or places electronically.

Parole bureau Director Cam Ward, Ingram State President Annette Funderburk, and Alabama Power Vice President of Labor Relations and Workforce Development Jerry Grissom are set to speak at the job fair.
Originally published by The 19th

Former President Donald Trump on Monday declined to support a nationwide abortion restriction, saying that its up to the states to do the right thing, and enact whatever restrictions they see fit.

In a four-minute video posted to his social media platform Monday morning, Trump tried to walk back comments that he was considering a 15- or 16-week national abortion ban; at the same time, he celebrated the end of Roe v. Wade and federal abortion rights. In the video, Trump said the issue is in the hands of the states  by vote or legislation or perhaps both  embracing a patchwork of abortion policies across the nation.

For voters weighing reproductive rights, Trumps announcement ends weeks of speculation about whether he would champion a national ban on the campaign trail, but makes clear that the former president remains proud of his role in ending the national right to abortion and welcomes states enacting restrictive policies.

At the same time, Trumps announcement leaves key questions unanswered on an issue that has become pivotal for many voters. He didnt rule out restricting abortion through executive power, an approach top conservative groups have been studying for months. This avenue has been their primary focus, rather than action in Congress. And, while the former president said he supports access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), he did not say how or if he would take action to protect that access.

Leading reproductive rights advocates reacted to Trumps announcement by arguing that the former president cant be trusted. His waffling on this issue is meant to distract from the truth about what he will do if elected, said Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju.

President Joe Biden said in a statement that voters should be under no illusion that Trump would veto a national abortion ban if one arrived at his desk.

Anti-abortion advocates have urged the president and Republican candidates in competitive races to get behind a 15-week limit as a starting point that many voters would support. Theyve blamed recent defeats in races that featured abortion on Republicans not staking out a clearer anti-abortion position. Trumps announcement Monday makes clear that the former president does not see this as a winning strategy and that he plans to urge voters to set aside reproductive rights when weighing their votes.

You must follow your heart on this issue. But remember, you must also win elections to restore our culture and in fact, to save our country, Trump said in the video.

The presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee had said last week that he would release an abortion policy plan. Its unclear if his campaign will share more details in addition to Mondays video.

In the clip, Trump starts off by talking about IVF, illustrating just how much a recent decision by the Alabama Supreme Court and its immediate impact on access has reverberated across the nation and brought the fertility treatment to the center of political debate. Major abortion opponents such as Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America remain critical of IVF as it is practiced in America  in particular, its reliance on developing multiple embryos to ensure that patients will have enough for a successful pregnancy, and discarding those that remain unused. Trump-aligned organizations such as The Heritage Foundation have also called for greater restrictions on IVF. The courts ruling relied on a legal theory known as fetal personhood, which is favored by a large share of abortion opponents.

Trump joined other Republicans rushing to contain the political fallout of the Alabama decision, telling voters that the vast majority of Republicans are also supportive of access. We want to make it easier for mothers and families to have babies, not harder, Trump said.

Trump noted that Alabama lawmakers passed a law meant to shield IVF providers from the state courts ruling. But the law, which did not undo the courts holding that embryos deserve the same legal protections as people, has not fully restored access to the fertility regimen: Last week, one hospital in the state said it was ending its IVF offering because of the ruling.

As he has done in the past, Trump mischaracterized Democrats stance on abortion, attempting to paint them as radical. Trump claimed that Democrats policies would allow even execution after birth, which is not true and would qualify as murder. Many state laws and ballot measures allow abortion up until the point of fetal viability  when doctors determine the fetus can survive outside the womb, usually around 22 to 25 weeks  with exceptions for rare and life-threatening cases.

In the video, posted on Trumps Truth Social platform, the former president did not indicate whether he would seek to enforce the Comstock Act, an 1873 morality law that some conservatives  including many of Trumps former advisers  have suggested he should use to prevent the mailing of medication abortion or some forms of contraception. That law, which is still on the books but has not been leveraged in decades, was written to curtail the mailing of anything intended for producing abortion.

Trump added that, like Ronald Reagan, I am strongly in favor of exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.

Patients seeking abortions, physicians, sexual violence experts and legal analysts have all noted that legal exceptions to abortion bans rarely work in practice, in part because of their often-onerous logistical requirements and because of the fear of incurring the draconian penalties often associated with state laws.

A resident of Florida, Trump has not indicated how he would vote on the states pending ballot measure that would enshrine abortion rights into that states constitution up to fetal viability. The measure, which is opposed by the states Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, would secure access in the nations third most populous state and a key access point in the South.

If the measure fails, Florida will remain under the six-week abortion ban that will take effect in a few weeks  a major victory for the anti-abortion movement.

Anti-abortion leaders on Monday gave varied reactions to Trumps announcement. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said her group is deeply disappointed in President Trumps position, and that saying the issue is back to the states cedes the national debate to the Democrats.

Kristan Hawkins, who leads the anti-abortion group Students for Life and supports strict national restrictions, said in a social media post that Trumps remarks show that at least he is more supportive of their cause than Biden.

Unlike President Biden, President Trump began his remarks on abortion by celebrating the ultimate joy in life  children and family. That kind of love and support for the bedrock of society, the family, will be a welcome change in the White House, Hawkins wrote.
Peace in the Middle East is impossible without denazification, that is, without removing the ideology of the destruction of Israel and Israelis from the minds of Palestinian Arab children.

Denazification (Entnazifizierung, in German) is "a set of measures aimed at purging post-war German and Austrian society, culture, press, economy, education, jurisprudence and politics from the influence of Nazi ideology."

Peace in the Middle East does not require the creation of a new Arab state, but "the purification of Muslim society, culture, press, economy, education, jurisprudence and politics from the influence of the Nazi ideology of Islamic terrorism."

The meaning of the false denazification declared as one of the goals of Russia's invasion of Ukraine is difficult to explain, for Ukraine had no invasive, cannibalistic goals and no sense of national superiority against the people of Russia.

But Hamas has such goals, seeking to liberate Palestine from the Jews, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River, i.e., to destroy Israel, and considers Muslims superior to Jews.

This aspiration is far removed from the "progressives'" illusion of two states for two peoples. Hamas' ideology is not the creation of two states for two peoples, but the creation of one state, a state of Palestinian Arabs instead of a state of Palestinian Jews. Their ideology is not creation but destruction. Their ideology is not peacemaking, but "Jihad," a holy war against the "infidels."

The creation of two states for two peoples, preached as a solution to the Middle East conflict by the U.S. Democrat party leadership, is a politically correct and politically meaningless plan. The creation of a new Arab state is the creation of a new undemocratic state, for there are no democratic Arab states.

A Palestinian state would be paramilitary, and from the moment of its formation would wage war with Israel to take over all the territory from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River. Instead of a few heavily armed terrorist organizations, a militarized anti-Israeli state would have emerged on the same territory, the emergence of which would have led to an even larger war.

The Nazification and militarization of Islamic extremists in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen have been and are being carried out.

One of the consequences of these two processes has been realized in the Hamas massacre in southern Israel and the taking of hundreds of Israeli hostages. The goals declared by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, denazification and demilitarization, fit more closely with the goals of Israel's war against Hamas than with the goals of Russia's war against Ukraine.

Islamic extremists, starting with the leaders of Iran, talk openly about destroying the state of Israel and expelling Jews from the Middle East. Nazi leaders started with expulsion of Jews from Europe and only after Germany invaded the USSR on June 22, 1941 mass executions of Jews began, i.e., the idea of extermination of Jews came into the heads of Nazis not at once, but only after failure of mass emigration of Jews from Europe. Islamic extremists immediately begin with the extermination of Israelis, which they vividly demonstrated during the massacre of Israelis in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The Nazis did not announce the realization of a "final solution to the Jewish question." Islamic extremists openly announce it without the "preface" of the Nazis.

So far, there has not been a single U.N. Security Council resolution condemning calls by Iran and its allies to destroy Israel, a U.N. member country, but there have been hundreds of resolutions by that institution condemning Israel for "improper," "disproportionate" defense against murderers and pogromists.

During World War II, the countries of Europe and the United States made it clear that they could not or would not protect Jews from the Nazis. The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 was a response to this helplessness or unwillingness of Europeans and Americans to protect Jews.

Since its founding, before any "occupation," Israel has been fighting a war for existence. And the heads of the Democrat party are demanding a peaceful and diplomatic solution to a conflict that has no peaceful or diplomatic solution.

Abraham Lincoln said, "You can fool the few for a long time, you can fool the many for a short time, but you can't fool everyone indefinitely." This statement is not entirely accurate: you can fool everyone and yourself for a long time, which is what the Democratic Party leadership is doing by imposing a fake solution based on your own political interests.

The "Big Lie," dressed in humanitarian garb, reached a high fever pitch at a crisis moment in the U.S. presidential election campaign. "The Big Lie" (German, groe Luge) is a propaganda technique defined by Adolf Hitler in "My Struggle."

George Orwell wrote, "Political language is needed to make lies sound truthful." In his novel "1984" he introduced the concept of "doublethink" based, among other things, on the theory of the "big lie." Actor Richard Belzer defines the "Big Lie" as follows in his book "Unidentified Flying Objects, Kennedy, and Elvis: Conspiracies You Don't Have to Be Crazy to Believe" ... "If you tell a big enough lie, and tell it often enough, people will believe you're telling the truth, even if what you're saying is complete bullshit."

Mention of the Big Lie was also used in a report compiled during the war by the U.S. Office of Strategic Services in describing Hitler's psychological profile: "His basic rules were: never let the public cool down; never admit mistakes; never allow thoughts of positive aspects of the enemy; never leave room for alternatives; never admit guilt; focus on one enemy every time and blame him for all the troubles; people are more likely to believe a big lie than a small one; and if you tell a big lie, people are more likely to believe a big lie than a small one."

"The Big Lie" is that Israel is considered the greatest threat to world peace. The "Big Lie" campaign of pro-Palestinian circles has turned reality upside down, turning Jews into criminals and terrorists into victims. Only within the framework of the Big Lie is the only fully free and democratic country in the Middle East seen as a major world danger.

Austrian satirical writer Karl Kraus wrote: "Lying to save is apologetic. One cannot forgive only someone who tells the truth when he is not asked to do so."

Johann von Leers (1902-1965), a member of the Nazi Party from its earliest days, a collaborator of Goebbels and Himmler, and an advocate of genocidal policies against Jews in his article "Judaism and Islam as Two Opposites" (1942) praised Muslims for their "enduring service" of keeping Jews "in a state of oppression and fear." Von Liers slipped out of Germany after 1945 and suddenly appeared in Egypt a decade later. He converted to Islam and became a political advisor to President Gamal Abdel Nasser's Department of Information. He subsidized the publication of the Arabic edition of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, revived the slanderous "blood libel" against the Jews, organized anti-Semitic radio broadcasts in many languages, cultivated neo-Nazism wherever he could, and maintained a warm correspondence with the first generation of Holocaust deniers.

Many years have passed, but the Nazi fabrications against the Jews are invariably supported by the followers of the Muslims whom von Liers praised.

Denazification in the Muslim world was necessary 70-80 years ago. It is still necessary now. Israel is alone in denazification efforts in the Middle East, as European Jews were alone in the Holocaust.

Image: Picryl // public domain
Heres the tweet from Amnesty International, posthumously remembering a Palestinian Arab writer who died after 38 years in an Israel prison:

The death in custody of Walid Daqqa, a 62-year-old Palestinian writer who was the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner in Israeli jails after 38 years of imprisonment, is a cruel reminder of Israels disregard for Palestinians right to life https://t.co/hSz0gdZgVj  Amnesty International (@amnesty) April 8, 2024

With this crafty writing, you might be led to believe that Israel had imprisoned Daqqa for some trivial political reasonbut youd be totally misinformed. And, you might be led to believe that Daqqa had died because of cruel treatment that disregard[ed] his humanityand again, youd be totally misinformed. Per Reuters, Daqqa, after a long battle with cancer had succumbed to the disease; oh, and the Israeli government (taxpayers) had been paying for his medical treatments while he was incarcerated.

From Bonchie at RedState today:

There was just one small problem with that description. Namely, it omitted the key detail that Daqqa was a terrorist who kidnapped and tortured a young Israeli.

And, also via Bonchie, heres the X Community Note that was affixed to the Amnesty post:

Daqqa was imprisoned for the abduction, gruesome torture, and eventual murder of an Israeli citizen. He was not in jail for his writing - he only became a writer after his criminal conviction. Criminals die in jail all over the world - it is no reflection on Israeli attitudes.

In 1987, Daqqa was convicted of this:

Do you mean Walid Daqqa? One of the most sadistic terrorists the Palestinian Nazi indoctrination system has created?



Kind Reminder: Walid is responsible for kidnapping 19 year old Moshe Tamam. First, they gouged out Moshes eyes, and then they mutilated him by cutting off parts https://t.co/TmLpwa83jx pic.twitter.com/vzGkgZI9Q8  Adam Albilya -   (@AdamAlbilya) April 8, 2024

Cut from the same cloth as Amnesty, heres how CNN framed Daqqas life:

In Israel, Daqqa was seen as a terrorist after he was convicted in connection with the killing of a soldier. But to many Palestinians, he was a symbol of their struggle for liberation from Israel.

Im sure he was a Palestinian iconthey freely and happily elected terrorists to govern!

This is like crying over the demise of combat medic Jeffrey Dahmer who died during his own cruel imprisonment... in a Wisconsin penitentiary.

This is like mourning the death of painter Adolf Hitler, who died as extreme right-wingers closed in to undermine the democracy hed created.

This is like when The Washington Post memorialized Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as an austere religious scholar who died at the hands of Western Zionists.

This is like shedding tears for the freedom fighters of Hamas who died while on a campaign of liberation for the Palestinian people.

As Bonchie said, Its a wildly perverted way to analyze world affairs and demographic interactions. And, according to Israels Foreign Ministry, Amnesty has a disturbing obsession with glorifying sadistic murderers.

Well, what else would you expect from an humanitarian NGO though?

Image: Richard Potts, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.
LONDON, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Simon Harris was formally appointed as Ireland's prime minister by parliament Tuesday, replacing Leo Varadkar who unexpectedly announced his resignation last month citing "both personal and political" reasons.

Harris, 37, became Ireland's youngest prime minister, or Taoiseach. The Fine Gael party leader will lead a coalition government in Dublin along with Fianna Fail and the Green Party. 
Since their inception, taxpayer-funded NPR (radio) and PBS (television) presented themselves as neutral outlets dedicated to uplifting Americans while providing fair and honest information. This was always a lie. The outlets catered to the shibboleths of white, upper-middle-class liberals. Now, though, according to Uri Berliner, a 25-year veteran of NPR, NPR has dropped any pretense of balance or objectivity. Instead, beginning in 2016, it threw itself wholeheartedly into open, hard-left political and social advocacy. That would be sad if it were merely another commercial media outlet. What makes it bad is that youre still paying for it.

NPR likes to claim that it gets only about 1% of its annual budget from the federal government. In fact, when you break down the numbers, as of 2023, NPR and its affiliates got about 39% of their budget directly or indirectly from both federal and state sources. Indeed, NPR concedes that Federal funding is essential to public radios service to the American public

And what do we get for that money?

Image based on the NPR logo. (Public domain.)

Well, beginning in 1970, we got culture in the form of televised high-end culture; childrens programming that wasnt dedicated to selling cereal but that sought, instead, to educate; documentaries that had the same vibe as The New Yorker once did, when it delved into non-standard things like 1920s jazz musicians or orchid smugglers; and news programming that purported to be staid as opposed to sensational, cosmopolitan as opposed to parochial, and, above all, objective as befitted a publicly funded outlet.

For decades, the cultural stuff, childrens TV programming, and documentaries lived up to that billing. The news, though, was always biasedor at least, very quickly became biasedbecause it was made by and for the progressive college crowd.

I know this because I was an NPR consumer from 1987 through 2001 when I was the generic white, upper-middle-class, professional, secular Jewish Democrat voter. NPR was my worldview reflected back at me. In carefully packaged segments that purported to be thorough, NPR routinely lambasted conservatives and elevated Republicans.

In 1991, NPR coverage left us in no doubt that Anita Hill was correct that Clarence Thomas was not only an Uncle Tom but also a sexual predator. It ensured we knew in 1992 that George H. W. Bush was a disaster, and that Bill Clinton presented a hopeful future. It gently chided us for our racism.

By the early 2000s, it was a staunch advocate for euthanasia. I vividly remember one long-form interview in which a Dutch man assured us that euthanasia was safe only in socialized medicine countries because families there werent pressured to kill granny to save money on her medical care. Of course, history quickly showed us that families will do anything to save granny. Its socialized medicine that uses euthanasia to cut costs.

I lapped it all up.

What changed for me was the fact that we all have something we know in our bones to be true. No one can lie to us about that thing. I knew to be true that Israel was (and is) the only liberal democracy in the Middle East, a country that either bought the land it sits on or won it fair and square through traditional warfare, and that has a population with ties to the land going back 4,000 years. I knew, too, that her enemies were genocidal maniacs. So, when NPRs reporting on the Middle East was constantlyalbeit always delicatelyslanted again Israel, I knew it was lying.

And of course, once you see the lies, you cant unsee them.

This gets me to a fascinating essay by Uri Berliner, who has worked at NPR for 25 years. Berliner has figured out that NPR has turned into a Maoist organization, but even though he still sees some lies, he fails to recognize them all.

Ignoring NPRs decades of classy, subtle Democrat bias, Berliner contends that everything fell apart in 2016 when Trump was elected. Then, instead of tough, straightforward coverage of a belligerent, truth-impaired president, NPR began its efforts to damage or topple Trumps presidency. Berliner asserts that the reporting on the Russia hoax was honest, if mistaken, but that NPR fell down on the job when it ignored the story once the hoax was revealed. Not even a my bad.

He's also critical that NPR ignored the Hunter Biden laptop story, memorably characterizing it as a distraction from the real issues. Even Berliner was surprised when one of NPRs best and most fair-minded journalists said it was good we werent following the laptop story because it could help Trump. Fair-minded, NPR style.

Berliner also takes issue with NPRs unwavering loyalty to the COVID-came-from-nature narrative, even in the face of increasingly compelling evidence that it was from a Chinese lab leak. Indeed, it didnt budge when the Energy Department said it was likely that a lab leak explained the virus. To justify this refusal to acknowledge the lab leak theory, a colleague explained that, having been burned by the Bush administrations Weapons of Mass Destruction narrative, he wasnt going to be fooled again, no matter the evidence available.

To Berliner, the cause of all these problems was its now-former CEO, John Lansing, whod worked on the government dime at the Voice of America before joining NPR. Lansing brought with him the whole DEI panoply, which was triggered by George Floyds death. Suddenly, radical identity politics invaded NPR, complete with Maoist struggle sessions and a workforce (both in the office and at the negotiating table through unions) that defined itself solely through race, religion, and sexual identity, with a heavy dose of antisemitism underlying all of it.

Its that reference to George Floyd, though, that reveals that, even as Berliner struggles to understand what happened at NPR, he still doesnt get it. Having castigated NPR for blindly believing the Russia Hoax and COVID narratives, he uncritically accepts that Floyd, who died from a combination of illegal drugs and severe heart disease, was murdered. He is as incurious as his colleagues, only his shibboleths are slightly different from theirs.

The funniest part of the whole sad essay is that, despite its best efforts at intersectionality and wokism, NPR remains what it has always been: a niche, white, upper-middle-class outlet. Minorities do not listen to it and do not care that the crazy college grads are purportedly acting on their behalf.
Poor little Jack Smithout of nowhere, a judge in Trumps classified documents case fails to rubber stamp the prosecutions unethical motions, and essentially declare Trump guilty before a trial even takes place. Judge Aileen Cannon correctly ruled that a jury should be able to contemplate the validity of Trumps Presidential Records Act defensebut Jack Smith doesnt want the jury to hear that because it is inconvenient to his case. Heres this, from Politico:

Tensions flare between special counsel Jack Smith and Judge Aileen Cannon Amid delays and uncertainty over Donald Trumps classified documents case, a strained dynamic between his prosecutor and his judge has intensified.

Maybe the judge should remind the jury that the Justice Department let Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton off the hook for possessing and mishandling classified documents, even though they never had the cover of the PRA, and therefore no right to personally have the documents in the first place. They had no defense. After all, Jack Smith, the media, and other Democrats always want equal treatment under the law, dont they? They certainly wouldnt want guilty people to evade justice, and Trump to be treated with a bias, would they?

Incidentally, the PRA gives a president the exclusive responsibility for the custody and management of the Presidential records of their administration while in office. At least, thats according to the National Archives. Furthermore, the National Archives and Records Administration has no formal role in how a president chooses to handle the records. And, Trump was president, and he maintained his administrations records as he saw fit. He certainly didnt scatter them across the floor in an office like the picture the FBI and media showed the public to intentionally mislead; they were at Mar-a-Lago, one of the most secure residences in the world! Arguably, more secure than the White Houseyou can be sure that if cocaine had been discovered in a very private area of Mar-a-Lago, security would know exactly who left it there, and immediately. Apparently, people can leave illicit drugs in secure WH lockers, or right outside the Situation Room, or wherever they now claim it was found (the location of the cocaine has changed multiple times), and WH security somehow cant determine to whom the powder belongs.

It is so much easier for a law-faring prosecutor when a judge works in lockstep with them! Poor little Jack Smith!

In the New York fraud case, where there was no victim and no fraud, the prosecutor, Letitia Peekaboo James campaigned on destroying Trump. She searched for a crime and charged Trump with something for which no one else had ever been prosecuted: supposedly exaggerating the value of his properties. I am sure no other real estate developer has done that. Then she found a nice biased judge who declared Trump guilty before the trial. Then they pulled a fine out of a hat that was based on nothing. Letitia thought she had hit the mother lode and could start repossessing Trump properties.

That, after all, would be good for her future ambitions in Democrat run New York.

In the hush money trial, Alvin Bragg had also campaigned on destroying Trump, and found a case that the FEC and other prosecutors had turned down. Somehow he found a judge who would gag TrumpI wonder if the fact that the judges daughter had raised $93 million for Democrats was a safe bet? I wonder what it takes for a judge to recuse himself. Would raising $100 million be enough?

In Georgia, Fani hired a boyfriend, spent massive amounts of taxpayer money on personal trips, coordinated the prosecution with the White House and the January 6th committee, but somehow the judge didnt consider that enough of a conflict of interest, or an appearance of conflict of interest, to throw her and her office off the case. What would it take?

The media and other Democrats have lied for years that they wanted to run against Trump because he would be the easiest to beat. If that were true, why would they work so hard to lie to the public and charge him with trumped up crimes?

Why did Hillary and the DNC pay over $10 million for a fictional dossier to destroy Trump if he were so easy to beat? Couldnt they find real skeletons in his closet to beat him? Why didnt they run on their record? Is it because their policies are radical and destructive?

Why did the media bury the truthful laptop story about Hunter and Joes corruption? Dont they want the public to see the truth? Dont they want a fair and honest election?

They dont want the public to hear that the FBI concluded that January 6th was not an insurrection, and that Trump just wanted people to protest peacefully. They certainly dont want the public to hear that it was Pelosi who decided not to secure the Capitol with the National Guard, despite Trumps suggestion. Why would Trump have suggested surrounding the Capitol with the National Guard if he wanted trouble?

The answer to all of the above is that the media and other Democrats havent cared about a fair and honest election, the truth, or equal justice for a long time. All they care about is winning elections and imposing big government and control over the people.

They sure cant stand for a president like Trump who wants to transfer the power, money, and freedom back to the people, away from the powerful government. He is the opposite of a dictator, while Biden rules like a dictator.

The choice this November is easier than its ever been.

Image: Public domain.
One of the better original series currently streaming on Prime Video is The Tudors that originally ran on Showtime from 2007 to 2010. The production and acting is first class. It's a great portrayal of the compelling reign of Henry VIII, his many wives, especially Anne Boleyn, who ignited Henry VIII's decision to break with the Catholic Church and finally, with of how Christianity played the central role in European lives during the medieval era.

The Tudors represent a slice of history of the early tension between church and state, a tension that Henry VIII helped start but then brings to an end by making himself both the head of state as well as the head of the Church of England. Henry VIII and his separation from the Catholic Church coincided with Martin Luther's Reformation, the religious revolution that actually led to the secularization of society, i.e., religion no longer was central in the daily life of Europeans that eventually gave way to the pervasive atheism of the modern era throughout the western world.

Religious authority during this period was watered down because of the creation of so many new Protestant denominations along with the Catholic Church. There were also many wars of religion in the 16th and 17th centuries that came to a conclusion with the Peace of Westphalia (1648). This marked the origin of the modern state when the borders of new European nations were agreed to with each one determining what religious denomination it would adopt.

Eventually the authority of the governments of the new countries superseded religious authority that put it on in the path of playing a secondary role in everyone's lives. When that happened, atheism filled the vacuum for many, especially when the mechanization and demands of the industrial revolution became central in the lives of so many rather than religion. At the same time and more importantly, scientific truth eroded the strength and preeminence of religious truth, and the division between the two has been growing wider ever since.

It was during the Enlightenment, aka the Age of Reason, the historical period that placed reason over Revelation as a result of an intellectual revolution that began with Renes Descartes and went to Immanuel Kant and then to GWF Hegel, all of whom laid down the foundations of a new secular worldview that excluded religious truth. From the introduction to the book The Unintended Reformation: How a Religious Revolution Secularized Society:

Before the Protestant Reformation, Western Christianity was an institutionalized worldview laden with expectations of security for earthly societies and hopes of eternal salvation for individuals. The Reformations protagonists sought to advance the realization of this vision, not disrupt it. But a complex web of rejections, retentions, and transformations of medieval Christianity gradually replaced the religious fabric that bound societies together in the West. Today, what we are left with are fragments: intellectual disagreements that splinter into ever finer fractals of specialized discourse; a notion that modern science -- as the source of all truth -- necessarily undermines religious belief; a pervasive resort to a therapeutic vision of religion; a set of smuggled moral values with which we try to fertilize a sterile liberalism; and the institutionalized assumption that only secular universities can pursue knowledge.

Author Brad Gregory makes the case that the Reformation led to so many religious truth claims that it in turn led to moral relativism by the destruction of what had been one universal truth claim throughout all of Christendom. Gregory's main point of the Reformation secularizing society is that with all the truth claims that emerged during this time, atheism became part of the mix and eventually pushed all religious truth claims to second-class status where those of science and technology were more widely accepted in the emerging modern era that continues to this day.

Reason had become untethered from faith and the new rationalism was amoral since it was not grounded in a biblical moral foundation. The atheistic regimes of Stalin, Hitler, and Mao were all grounded in this new rationalism of the modern era by utilizing the new modern technologies in attempting to build their visions of utopia. The result of their "rational" social projects were based on godless ideologies that led to the bloodiest and deadliest era in human history during the 20th century. To quote Dostoevsky, "Without God, everything is permissible." Or as Frederich Nietzsche put it, When one gives up the Christian faith, one pulls the right to Christian morality out from under one's feet."

Image: Showtime
Yesterday afternoon, Joe Biden visited Wisconsin and announced a new student loan bailout program, a proposal that would cancel at least some debt for more than 30 million borrowers.

Then, last night, Alexandria Ocasion-Cortez joined Stephen Colbert on the Late Show to discuss the move, applauding Bidens gift of hope for college graduates who will now have the opportunity to travel abroad on trips they would have been otherwise unable to afford if they were held to the original stipulations of the loan.

By passing the debt onto people who didnt incur iter, I mean, by implementing loan forgiveness, Biden is buying voteser, I mean, giving kids the chance to gallivant across Europe or find themselves in Bali, on Instagram-worthy trips. What benevolence!

Heres what AOC said, via Breitbart News:

And this is huge, this is  people getting the student loan forgiveness, their student loans canceled, it means that its hope to buy a house or have a kid or travel abroad or maybe even go back to school and pursue a career that maybe they otherwise wouldnt have. One of the reasons thats not me now is because I didnt feel like Id be able to afford medical school. And so, hopefully, someone else whos at an ISEF competition somewhere will be able to do that because of this.

Maybe even go back to school to incur more debt on the taxpayers behalf? Dear heavensplease, no! (And dumber-than-a-box-of-rocks AOC didnt go to medical school because it was only a matter of dollars and cents? Give me a break. If medical schools still admitted students based only on intellectual capability, AOC would have no chancebut since thats not the case, as a progressive daughter of immigrants, she would have been a shoe-in.)

Because, the government handing people money that somebody else earned is a good investment, right?

Lets take a trip down memory lane, shall we? Does anyone remember Los Angeless grand experiment in which the city doled out a Universal Basic Income of $1,000 to 3,200 people over the course of a year? (That little debacle added at least $38.4 million to the California debt, which is then covered by federal dollars from people living in all the other states, like me, not voting for this garbage.) Journalists for the very progressive The Nation followed four participants throughout the duration of the program to find out how things turned out; last year, the magazine published what was a puff piece for the UBI program, but contained therein was the reality of grand welfare schemes. One mother planned to spend her funds like this:

She was going to take Jace to Legoland and Harlee to Sesame Street Place; shed written down the ticket prices months in advance in the new financial planner that she carried in her purse. She was going to buy her son Pokemon cards and her daughter a doll house.

Okay, so instead of wise investments, or thriftiness to foster financial security, she squandered it on toys and corporate adventure parks. Sounds about right.

Another couple, Vaughan and Kameko, wanting to live for the moment blew through the cash living the high-life:

When the money comes in, they spend it, despite knowing that in half a year the payments will stop. They go bowling; they put gas in the car and drive to the airport just to watch planes landing. Theyre pondering whether they can afford a couple of nights in Las Vegas at Circus Circus. Theyve gone out to a nearby oceanfront pier and bought tray upon tray of seafood. They took a tour of an old battleship. Theyre looking forward to renting bikes at Dockweiler Beach one weekend. Vaughans planning a half-day open-ocean fishing trip with some buddies.

Oh, and they had a trip to Disneyland planned too.

What about the cash handouts in D.C. under Mayor Bowser? Remember this?

DC mom given $10,800 taxpayer-funded lump sum as part of scheme to help poor families spends $6,000 on luxury trip to MIAMI and 15 vacation outfits for her three kids I wanted to blow it. I wanted to have fun, she said. The spending spree included 15 brand new outfits for her kids - one for each child for each day of the vacation - and a $180 haircut to make her not look like a working, stressed mom. Joined by her childrens father, they also splashed out on luxury amenities including steak dinners, new gadgets and toys for her kids, and a boat tour past Miamis most expensive mansions. Miller [the mom] justified the extravagance by saying she hoped to inspire her children and teach them that if they work hard they too may be able to afford a Miami mansion.

(These behaviors/attitudes are exactly why these people are poor.)

As AOC also noted, she wont be benefitting from the bailout, but thats okay because shell take the knock if that means people can get relief.

Newsflash, the people paying for it dont get the relief, but who cares about them.

Sickening, right?

Image: DonkeyHotey, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.
Ive never forgotten that John McCains best friend in the Senate was Sen. Lindsey Graham (RINO-SC). While McCain served with tremendous distinction in Vietnam, by the time Trump rolled around, the RINO maverick was such a petty little man that he let his (admittedly justified) dislike for Trump lead him to spite all Americans by keeping Obamacare in place. I mention this because Grahams fealty to McCain (and, perhaps, to his other Senate buddy, Biden) sees him touting a federal abortion ban at 15 weeks. Its an awful, unlawful, and dishonest idea that will not do anything to stop most abortions but will stop Trump from regaining the White House.

Yesterday, Donald Trump issued a very wise statement: He said, quite accurately, that the Supreme Court has concluded that abortion is a purely states rights issue. As a matter of constitutional law, the Supreme Court was correct, and as a matter of election-year pragmatism, Donald Trump is correct. Trump is courting people across America based on the economy and national security (including border security). He needs disaffected Democrats to vote for him, and he wont get that if hes campaigning to end abortion.

Grahams response was to demand a national law banning abortion at 15 weeks, the same thing he did in the lead-up to the 2022 midterms:

The states rights only rationale today runs contrary to an American consensus that would limit late-term abortions and will age about as well as the Dred Scott decision.



The science is clear  a child at fifteen weeks is well-developed and is capable of feeling pain.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 8, 2024

However, until we achieve this goal, the least we can do is to provide anesthesia to an unborn child facing an abortion at fifteen weeks because they can feel pain. Therefore, I will be introducing new legislation requiring abortion providers to administer anesthesia to an unborn  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 8, 2024

Forty-seven of fifty European nations have national limits on abortion between twelve and fifteen weeks. This is the civilized worlds position.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 8, 2024

As a matter of morals and principles, Graham is correct about abortions after about 15 weeks, as well as about the fact that we are more brutal and less ethical than Europe on the subject. However, pragmatically, back in 2022, Grahams demand for a ban was probably a large part of why a red wave became a red trickle, losing Republicans the Senate and leaving them with a tenuous hold on the House (a hold made more tenuous by recent RINO retirements). Its almost as if Graham wants Trump to lose.

Image created using AI and blood drip by jannoon028.

Moreover, Graham is forcing a loss on Trump even though his demand is completely pointless. The Supreme Court has explicitly said that the question of abortion belongs to the states. The federal government has no supremacy in this area. It cannot override state preferences without a constitutional amendment. Graham is forcing an issue into the presidential election that is completely irrelevant to the president. For this reason alone, one must suspect that Graham is deliberately acting as an election spoiler.

But theres worse, and it goes back to that morals and principles issue. Theres a deep dishonesty lying behind Grahams abortion ban: Despite losing Trump the disaffected Democrat vote, it wont do a darn thing to stop abortions. In America, 94% of all abortions occur during the first trimester. In other words, abortion in America would continue virtually unabated even if Lindseys abortion ban were passed.

What this means is that the ban would do nothing to placate the pro-life sides horror at the annual abortion carnage taking place in America. Instead, its a con meant to placate them. Meanwhile, any type of ban is anathema to leftists and will mean that they will walk over broken glass to vote for Biden and a Democrat-controlled Congress to make sure that unfettered abortion remains sacred ground, untouched by federal hands.

Donald Trump, who understands perfectly well what Grahams demand for a federal abortion law will do to Republican chances in November 2024, struck back ferociously via Truth Social at a putative ally who was suddenly channeling the malevolent ghost of John McCain:

Trumps right, and Lindsey Graham is dangerous. Its almost as if he wants his (and John McCains) former Senatorial colleague, Joe Biden, to have a second term in the White House
If you want the perfect distillation of everything wrong with the intersection of technology and government, all you need to do is look at what happened in New York City when it created an AI chatbot to help small businesses navigate New York law. Instead of helping the businesses, the chatbot, when left to its own devices, tried to ensure that every single business owner found himself sued or prosecuted.

In a bureaucratic world with an overwhelming number of laws and regulations, small business owners operate at a profound disadvantage. While big businesses have whole legal departments to guide them through the regulatory labyrinth of doing business in America, small business owners are pretty much on their own.

To its credit, New York City recognized the problem. But instead of lessening the number of onerous regulations or setting up a resource office staffed with actual lawyers whom small business owners could contact, the city decided to surf the AI wave. To that end, it created an AI chatbox that would answer questions for the perplexed business owner. And answer questions it did.

Image: NYCs anti-small business chat bot, created by AI.

According to The Markup, which broke the story, the chatbox was a vigorous defender of employer rights, without any regard for the law. Among other things, it offered these gems, each of which is completely wrong:

Landlords are not required to accept Section 8 vouchers.

Landlords are not required to accept tenants who get rental assistance.

Restaurants and other food service outlets can take a cut from their workers tips.

Employers dont need to give their employees notice about schedule changes (a requirement in many business sectors)

A business can go completely cashless.

There is no such thing as rent control.

Fascinated by the report, AP did a little chatbot chatting of its own and got some other creative and dead-wrong answers:

Employers can fire workers who complain of sexual harassment.

Employers can fire workers who dont disclose a pregnancy.

Employers can fire workers with dreadlocks.

And then there was this one:

Asked if a restaurant could serve cheese nibbled on by a rodent, it responded: Yes, you can still serve the cheese to customers if it has rat bites, before adding that it was important to assess the the extent of the damage caused by the rat and to inform customers about the situation.

The city defended itself by pointing to a disclaimer announcing that the chatbot may occasionally produce incorrect, harmful or biased information. Once the problems started cropping up, the city changed the disclaimer to add that the chatbot isnt actually giving legal advice.

New technology always comes with growing pains. Readers of this site came face to face with that problem a couple of weeks ago when we upgraded our backend for the first time in almost 20 years. (Im happy to report that the problems are ironed out and that the new system is working wonderfully.)

However, our problems inconvenienced and irritated people. And, while were sorry for that, we all know that it wasnt the end of the world (and we are, of course, appropriately grateful for that fact.) The New York City chatbots mistakes, though, can destroy peoples lives. Thats a terrible problem. The system is either reliable or it isnt. And if it isnt, why bother?

However, New York City, having invested in the chatbox equivalent of Googles Gemini, isnt giving up, no matter how many small businesses it must destroy along the way:

[D]ays after the issues were first reported last week by tech news outlet The Markup, the city has opted to leave the tool on its official government website. Mayor Eric Adams defended the decision this week even as he acknowledged the chatbots answers were wrong in some areas. [snip] Anyone that knows technology knows this is how its done, he said. Only those who are fearful sit down and say, Oh, it is not working the way we want, now we have to run away from it all together. I dont live that way.

The human mind is a wondrous thing, and I seriously doubt that AI will ever be its equal. Its true that computers can learn, especially if theyre looking at an endless series of possible outcomes, as with chess or Go. They can see patterns, copy art styles, and mimic photos and videos. But at a very fundamental level, they cannot think, for that includes the ability to separate wheat from chaff.

This separation is a human skill based on knowledge (e.g., having worked in business for a while or read the news over the years), experience outside of the parameters of a given question, and sheer intuition (e.g., looking at something and thinking that it just cant be right). No machine can match the depth and breadth of human experience and the minds ability to synthesize that information.

But of course, progressives, whether in government or business, dont believe that humans are unique. Theyre confident that, with the right combination of buttons, we can be made indistinguishable from machines, and were all going to suffer until they get it right.
Given all the cowardice we see, it was a thing of beauty seeing someone standing up to the sleazy little tyrants who want to shut down free speech.

Which is what we see from Elon Musk, who literally vowed to defy a Brazilian Supreme Court Chief Justice's demand that he secretly ban certain prominent Brazilians from his site 'X,' formerly known as Twitter, or face criminal charges.

According to the Associated Press:

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  A crusading Brazilian Supreme Court justice has included Elon Musk as a target in an ongoing investigation over the dissemination of fake news, and has opened a separate investigation into the U.S. business executive for alleged obstruction. In his decision, Justice Alexandre de Moraes noted that Musk on Saturday began waging a public disinformation campaign regarding the top courts actions, and that Musk continued the following day  most notably with comments that his social media company X would cease to comply with the courts orders to block certain accounts. Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX who took over Twitter in late 2022, accused de Moraes of suppressing free speech and violating Brazils constitution, and noted on X that users could seek to bypass any shutdown of the social media platform by using VPNs, or virtual private networks.

More insights here:

Elon Musk Is All That Stands In The Way Of Totalitarianism



Last night, around 8 p.m. local time in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Federal Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes announced a criminal investigation into Elon Musk, the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, for allegedly pic.twitter.com/cAFkVphWyc  Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) April 8, 2024

Brazil Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, now acting as the countrys de facto dictator, orders probe on Elon Musk over censorship charge.



Moraes accused Musk of criminal instrumentalisation" of X, stating that the social network X must refrain from disobeying judicial pic.twitter.com/8HV1iBZG2D  Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 8, 2024

Musk is actually defying the Brazilian satrap's order, and has announced that should 'X' be shut down in Brazil, the same way it is in North Korea, China, Iran, Russia and other tyrannical places, he advises Brazilian users to take out a VPN number, same way Russian users do.

To ensure that you can still access the  platform, download a virtual private network (VPN) app https://t.co/ui55eq2KKp  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 7, 2024

Using a VPN is very easy https://t.co/vWcCRn3S5J  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 7, 2024

 supports the people of Brazil, without regard to political affiliation.



Does Judge @Alexandre? https://t.co/m2FVOvoyNv  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 8, 2024

He even mocked the little clown and pinned that tweet:

[Scene: @Alexandre & @ElonMusk in psychoanalysis]



I say, Tell me, Alexandre, is the disinformation in the room with us now? https://t.co/yhvOmrysaZ  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 8, 2024

As well as challenged him to a public debate:

This is the heart of the problem. What say you @Alexandre?



Let us debate this in the open. https://t.co/E2HsU6Winr  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 8, 2024

Which is quite a direct confrontation with the world's tyrants, all of whom are using the same logic that Biden and the Democrats of the censorship-industrial complex do, citing 'disinformation.' The justice demanded also that Musk do it dishonestly, banning prominent conservatives, political leaders and top media personalities, but not tell them it was because he demanded it, but because they 'violated the terms of service.'

Musk said 'no,' and defiantly stood up for free speech in an act of courage rarely seen on the world stage today.

The world's bad guys are all connected, as Anne Applebaum wrote in The Atlantic in late 2021, explaining why so many tyrants are popping up and making sense until she went off the rails and brought up Trump. They all reinforce each other, she wrote, and that's as true of the censorship-industrial complex, of which she seems to be a member, as it is of certain world leaders.

In Brazil, it's important to note that the right says the left stole the election there and placed a doddering Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva in power for a second time. He's governed like a far-left tyrant this time, sidelining his potential opponent, conservative Jair Bolsonaro, who's been compared to President Trump, banning him from running for reelection for seven years, and now has no Trump of their own to attack, either. Naturally, they take aim at free speech advocate and 'X magnate Musk.

He must not have known what kinds of Mussolinis he'd be up against when he opted to stand up for free speech by buying Twitter. They are stranger than even the science-fiction monsters of his imagination.

Image: Marcelo Camargo, Agencia Brasil, via Wikimedia Commons // Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Brazil
On the evening of April 6, 2024, an event for President Trump in Florida raised about $50 million. Earlier the same day, Republicans in Colorado held their State Assembly in Pueblo, Colorado.

Both events  one ritzy and glitzy, the other humble and focused on process  had something important in common: individuals stepped up to serve and donate when they had never done so before.

Lara Trump said on Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo that some of the people who came to the event in Florida contributed at a level that they never had before.

As a delegate to the State Assembly at the State Fairgrounds in Pueblo, Colorado, I noticed all the Coloradoans who showed up as candidates ready to run for office when they never had run before. To me, that stood out after all the processes of the assembly and the speechifying  Congresswoman Lauren Boebert and Congressman Matt Gaetz keynoted  and jockeying for position were done and we were headed home.

Also, my husband Peter commented that several individuals told him the same story as his own about how they had decided to run for office at this time. They had not intended to seek office but had wished for someone else to do it instead. When no one did, they felt called to run, so they stepped up. Most of them were running for county or state offices, wanting to rescue Colorado and save the USA.

Greg Lopez, former mayor of Parker, Colorado, has been in the news recently as the person who was picked to be a placeholder in Congress for Rep. Ken Bucks seat in CD4. He expressed that he felt led to step up just to be a placeholder, and not to run for office later, which is unusual for someone who has run for office numerous times. His doing so enabled Rep. Lauren Boebert to serve out her term for CD3 on Colorados western slope and wait to participate in the primary for CD4 on Colorados eastern plains in June. (Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert will appear in the first position on the Republican primary ballot for the Fourth Congressional District, according to Just the News.)

So why is all this goodwill arising at this time? My theory is that God is saving the USA, and He is calling some people to serve as candidates and other people to support candidates. My theory is informed by what leaders and prophetic voices in the Christian community have been saying about these things.

Flashpoint is a program where guests share what is going on at the nexus of politics and faith. During a January Flashpoint episode, when the Iowa Primary was going on during a cold snap, host Gene Bailey talked with Dutch Sheets of Dutch Sheets Ministries. Sheets said, The American People are waking up, Gene. They just are.

Bailey asked him to talk about praying. Sheets said, I try to keep it in a vein that is Kingdom-minded, not political. ... You can pray without politicizing it just by praying for truth, praying for integrity, praying for wisdom, praying for God to turn the nation. He knows how to do it. He knows how to orchestrate things. The one thing I pray about very specifically is I pray against deception.

He also said he prays for protection for President Trump, and he went on to pray, at Baileys request, with the other guests and the audience.

During the same show, Pastor Hank Kunneman, of Lord of Hosts Church in Nebraska, a Prophet, said to Bailey, Americas had enough. ... Even though its cold outside, theres a fire burning inside us. We want our country back. We want our freedom. We want election integrity. We want closed borders. The list goes on and on and on, and what the Democrats have done, and the RINOs, is touch people at a personal level, and we say enough.

After a discussion of prophecies and dreams concerning the election, Bailey interpreted to the audience, You have a part to do. We have a responsibility. You have skin in this game.

Lance Wallnau (LanceWallnau.com) said, This time the Church is on the front lines, and they are trying desperately to suppress Christian engagement. Theyve made a full-court decision that theyre going to go after Christian Nationalism. ... This is the year the Church shows up.

Bailey concluded, That should be encouraging. It ought to light you up, man. This is what were seeing. God is on the move. Listen, we have our part to play.

God is raising people up for that purpose, to serve and to donate.

CS Boddie writes for Meadowlark Press, LLC.

Image: JSMed via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
The messaging app Beeper has been hitting the headlines a lot recently. We are all still reeling from the drama it went through while trying to provide iMessage services to Android users. While Apple has squashed its plans to do so, Beeper is still a very popular messaging service. In fact, Beeper has actually removed its waitlist, so the service is now available to hundreds of thousands of more users.

Today marks a turning point for Beeper, as the company announced that it was just bought out. The app was acquired by Automattic. This is the company that owns Tumblr, Pocket Casts, WordPress, and other companies. Were not sure how much money the company bought Beeper for. However, were pretty sure that it was a good amount.

Download Beeper on the Play Store

Beeper has removed its waitlist

Beeper, like Bluesky, was not available to everyone initially. When you signed up, you were put on a waitlist. This is the kind of thing we see with a lot of smaller and newer platforms. There were a ton of people who wanted to use the service, and many of them were probably eager to try out the Ill-fated iMessage integration. So, it was a bit of a bother having to wait.

However, with the news of the acquisition, Beeper stated that it has removed its waitlist. While this has not been confirmed yet, it seems likely that, due to the acquisition, Beeper now has more money for more server space to facilitate more users. Beeper mentioned that there were more than 400,000 people waiting for an invite to use the service.

How much does it cost to use Beeper?

When companies get acquired, they sometimes go through sweeping and unfavorable changes. These changes often negatively affect the end user. However, the changes affecting Beeper will not manifest in predatory monetization. People will retain all of the features that are available today on the app.

The companys CEO, Eric Migicovsky, said that there will always be a free tier. This implies that the company is going to launch a paid subscription service for the app. Having a paid subscription should come as no surprise. Right now, we dont know what sort of features to expect from this payment tier. However, we expect it to be like Telegram Premium in that you will have access to more advanced features.

Changes the user will have to make

There are a few things you will need to keep in mind. When setting up your new Beeper account, you will be given a recovery code. The company encouraged you to save your recovery code to Google Password Manager.

Also, Beeper will no longer bridge itself with other messaging platforms through the cloud. In case you dont know, you are able to message people using other platforms on Beeper. This includes platforms like WhatsApp and Google Chat. Well, after the change, you will still be able to message other people through different services. However, this will be handled on device as opposed to in the cloud. This is a much more secure way of Bridging the services.
The Google Pixel 9 references have been spotted in the Google app. The news comes from AssembleDebug, who shared the news via The SP Android. Those references were found in the latest Google app beta build, version 15.14.34.29.

The Pixel 9 references end up being spotted in the Google app

The source shared two files that reference the Pixel 9, actually. One of them has an amination file that will likely appear on the upcoming Pixel 9. You can check out both files below, theres really nothing to write home about here.

These are clear Pixel 9 references, and you can see the animation that is expected to appear below this paragraph. Its kinda nice, but theres nothing much to talk about here, to be quite honest.

The Pixie assistant was not mentioned

The source also notes that theres no indication of the Pixie assistant anywhere in the app. As some of you may know, the Pixie assistant was mentioned a while back. That is supposed to become an AI assistant exclusive to Pixel devices. We dont know much about it, though.

Now, Google is actually expected to deliver three Pixel 9 devices this year. The entry-level model will be called the Pixel 9, while the standard two models will be the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL.

The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are here to replace the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, it seems. The Pixel 9 is a new addition to the lineup, and no, thats not the Pixel 8a. Thats a completely separate device that will likely arrive next month during Google I/O.

All three Pixel 9 smartphones, on the other hand, are expected to arrive in early October, during Googles Pixel event. Were only guessing thats when it will take place, of course, Google could change its mind and move it to September.
A study recently published by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC) in 2022 revealed the reality of self-censorship, most prevalent among college students. A documentary film based on this study launched in January 2024. In it, students, who were identified only by their first names, admit to keeping quiet when they believe they shouldve spoken in name of their faith.

Students from Belgium, England, France, Vienna, Spain, Hungary, Germany, Ireland, and Peru were interviewed about the extent to which self-censorship affects them. They came from different denominational backgrounds, and found common ground in their self-censorship experiences. Together they explored what they can do to promote an atmosphere that enables free expression.

Why do people self-censor?

Many of the students interviewed said they censored themselves for social acceptance. Mary, from Northern Ireland, found herself in a classroom with an atheist professor who made horrendous claims about the God of the Bible.

I didnt want to stand up in a lecture theatre of 300 other people who were laughing and finding it funny, said Mary. It felt like me against the world, and I felt I very much couldn't speak out.

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Valeria, from Peru, started censoring herself when she began university. I remember not hiding it, but I definitely wasnt  open about it, she said. I was already in a mindset of, Im just not going to say anything.

Yusuf lives in Hungary but was born in Nigeria. He explained that his upbringing in Nigeria plays a part in his self-censorship.

The situation in  the northern part of Nigeria, has been getting a bit bad, said Yusuf. If theres an event that could spark some outrage, then thats when the Christians usually have to fear for their lives.

Markus, from Vienna, said, I got the feeling [Christianity is] a big topic in society. Its a big topic at university, but its so difficult to talk about it.

Threats and intimidation

In Spain, Mafe was the only student who expressed views against abortion when one of her professors brought up the subject in one of her classes.

[The professor] was trying to create a conversation  but it turned around to an attack, she said. After that conversation, because I was the only one, I received a death threat. [My classmate] told me, I know the subway you take every day, so be careful.

After this, Mafe had to be escorted home by police officers for a month. They always made me feel so bad about sharing my beliefs or my way to live, she said. I learned over time to just be very careful of what I was going to say.

Mary managed the social media for the pro-life society at her university. She would constantly receive death threats and malicious comments from users with graphic descriptions of how they would harm her. Im more than happy to share my beliefs, but if its going to result in personal attacks like that  Its very difficult to face, walking around campus [with] people knowing who you are, she said.

Valeria believes these behaviors have been normalized to a certain extent. I guess [these things are] not seen as an aggression.

Challenging stereotypes

Sixtine, from France, said she once had a roommate who was an atheist. At the end of their year together, her roommate said that Christians were nothing like she initially thought.

I think [my roommate] thought we were really extreme in our ideas, [and] political ideas, in our anything, said Sixtine. While living with me  she discovered it wasnt the case at all.

Sara, from Germany, thought Christians would be boring. I never thought I would crash into it and love it! she said. Now a follower of Jesus, she loves her faith, and she shares about it with others.

Ive [had] very good experiences when you have the courage to just speak out, she said, which is a completely different perspective than the world has now in some areas.

Yet the students also recognized that Christians can also unfairly condemn and judge others.

We need to be able to call out situations or call out people that we feel sometimes take advantage of Christianity as  to be able to get votes, Yusuf stated. They may not properly represent what we stand for.

Mary explained, In the UK, you might see people that hold signs on the streets that say, If you dont follow us, youre going to hell, which I dont think is helpful for anyone.

Let it be between you and your God.

Many students explained feeling like their faith had to be something discussed only in the private spheres.

The first few years after he came to Hungary, Yusuf struggled.  I thought there was an unwritten law somewhere that people just felt like, If you believe, then let it be between you and your God and leave us out of it, he said. I felt like in Europe, everyone preaches the message that religion is an individual thing, stated Yusuf.

Markus explained that its easier to share Christian convictions in one-on-one conversations, but if you talk in a big hall or in a discussion group, its getting very difficult.

Ive been at the same workplace for 16 months and I dont think they know Im a Christian, said Wouter from Belgium. I dont hide it, I just dont talk about it.

Valeria disagreed with this approach. She believes its unacceptable for the Christian identity.

Today people [might say], Yeah, believe whatever you want but just keep it to yourself Your artistry and your faith are separated. You do this, and your faith is on the side and I think thats a no-go.

These students see their Christian faith as an integral part of who they are as people rather than something to keep private.

Its the best way to be who I am, said Sixtine.

What can be done?

The students in the study were also asked what they would change to create an atmosphere where Christian beliefs do not need to be set aside.

Were living in a world full of different people, different religions, different cultures, said Sixtine. The important thing is to know who you are. As soon as you know who you are, then its so important to be able to discuss [it] with other people.

Sometimes we talk about what we believe to be true, but dont really understand why we believe it, said Wouter.

Overall, these students understood that no matter the circumstances, following Christ could still bring negative situations.

Daniel, from England, quoted George Orwell who said, If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people things they do not want to hear. He believes that one of the best things students can do is be more courageous about what you want and be outspoken about what you want in your university.

Yet he also explained that living fully as a Christian, or making that conversion, could come with negative consequences even if you are not completely rejected. Potentially you might lose some friends who think youve suddenly become bigoted or whatever.

Other students agreed pointing out that the polarized social atmosphere classifies some views and beliefs as offensive which decreases free expression. This makes debates on controversial topics less likely to take place and increases self-censorship.
Google Workspace is a productivity suite for business-focused individuals. As such, streamlining productivity is a very important aspect. Google has a new tool that will help users communicate with their colleagues more efficiently. Google Vids is a platform to quickly create videos using AI technology.

No, this is not Googles answer to OpenAIs Sora. Its not quite as generative, and its for completely different purposes. Were pretty sure that Google is going to unveil its own video generation platform to take on Sora at some point. The company has not stated so, but knowing Google, it is inevitable.

Google Vids will help you create videos using AI

Nowadays, we hear a ton of scary stories about AI technology and how it could possibly have a negative effect on humanity. However, there are also simple tools that people can use to save a few minutes of their day. Google Vids is one of them. This is a platform that allows people to quickly create videos that they can share with their colleagues. Being business-focused, its not meant to create a trending video or generate footage from scratch.

Vids can be thought of as a tool to help you better communicate with your colleagues instead of a slide presentation or an email. Businesses rely on communication between workers. Sometimes, executives have to distribute long messages amongst the workers.

This could either be in the form of long emails keeping workers in the loop, lengthy presentations explaining changes to the company, multi-page documents explaining company policy, Etc. Crafting and sending these messages can be very time-consuming, and not many people want to spend time doing that when they could be doing other important tasks. So, this is where Google Vids comes in.

This is a platform where you can quickly produce videos. You will be able to use videos from sources including Google Drive, and put them on a timeline. You will be able to add voiceovers and other assets to properly get your point across.

If you dont have all of the assets you need, you shouldnt have to worry. Google has a library of stock video and audio that you can use in your Vids. So, with very basic video editing skills, youre able to put together a great video presentation for your colleagues.

Where does AI fit into this?

This is a Google product, so you should expect the typical AI shenanigans. Right off the bat, Google will let you use Gemini to help augment your video. If you dont feel like editing your video, Gemini can provide assistance. It has the ability to make storyboards, generate AI voiceovers, and even create the first draft of the video for you. You will have powerful generative AI tools at your disposal, so theres a high chance that each Vid you make will be high quality.

When youre finished with your video, you have the ability to export it as an mp4 file and share it with your colleagues. So, this is not Googles powerful generative AI video generator. It is a helpful business tool to help Google Workspace users better communicate with their colleagues.
LG decided to end its smartphone production a few years ago due to intense competition. However, the company has found a way to continue generating revenue from its past efforts  patent licensing deals.

In 2022, LG signed an agreement with Apple to license part of its mobile patent portfolio. This provided ongoing revenue even after the company exited handset manufacturing. More recently, LG sold 48 patents to Chinese technology manufacturer Oppo in another deal.

LG sells its mobile patent portfolio to Oppo

According to The Elec, LGs sale of 48 patents to Oppo included technologies essential to modern mobile devices. Specifically, 34 of the patents are related to codecs  the software needed to compress digital video and audio into popular formats such as MP4 and AAC. The remaining 14 patents in this category are still pending with the USPTO.

LG retained a large portfolio of over 24,000 patents spanning technologies like 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, and other core smartphone capabilities. Since the company now relies heavily on Samsung and Apple for component supply, directly challenging their patents was not a viable option. This made Oppo an attractive partner. Meanwhile, Oppo is expanding globally and it wants to strengthen its own patent portfolio.

The financial terms of the deal between Oppo and LG were not disclosed. However, it is believed that the Chinese company paid a premium for the LG patents, recognizing their strategic importance. The deal provides both immediate funds for LG during its transition away from phones. For Oppo, it strengthens its capabilities in streaming technologies.

LG Mobile suffered an operating loss from 2015 until its closure

LG Mobile just could not generate a profit during its last six years of operation. The company tried to change that for a long time, but it did not succeed in the attempt. It released quite a few interesting smartphones over the years, like the LG Wing, for example.

The company was also planning to release another futuristic phone soon, its rollable smartphone. That phone will never see the light of day, though, it seems, which is quite unfortunate.
Barrows League Two clash with Bradford has fallen victim to the weather as a result of torrential rain

The Cumbrian club was due to host its West Yorkshire rivals at the SO Legal Stadium on Tuesday evening, but the fixture was postponed after a lunchtime inspection during which the pitch was found to be waterlogged.

A statement on the clubs official X  formerly Twitter  account said: Unfortunately following a pitch inspection at the SO Legal Stadium, tonights match against Bradford City has been called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

We will update fans as soon as possible about the rearrangement of this fixture.

Match postponed Unfortunately following a pitch inspection at the SO Legal Stadium, tonights match against Bradford City has been called off due to a waterlogged pitch. We will update fans as soon as possible about the rearrangement of this fixture.#WeAreBarrow pic.twitter.com/r9Ef3AkIZa  Barrow AFC (@BarrowAFC) April 9, 2024

Barrow currently sit fifth in the table, seven points adrift of the automatic promotion places with five matches to play, but with two games in hand on MK Dons in third.

The Met Office warned of an area of low pressure following on the coat tails of Storm Kathleen, which brought difficult conditions to the UK over the weekend, on Monday.

A yellow weather warning for the west coat of Wales is in place until 3pm on Tuesday, when a spell of strong winds will affect the region.

In Scotland, 20-40mm of rainfall is expected in some areas until 6pm on Tuesday, while a few places could see as much as 50-60mm.

Further rainfall is forecast in western Scotland between 9am and 10pm on Wednesday and may cause flooding, with 20-30mm of rain expected in most places and 40-60mm on high ground.
The brother-in-law of Scotlands First Minister has appeared in court charged with abduction and extortion in a case linked to a man who died falling from a window.

Police Scotland said the 36-year-old was seriously injured in the incident at a block of flats in Morgan Street, Dundee, on January 10, and he later died in hospital.

Ramsay El-Nakla, the brother of Humza Yousafs wife, Nadia El-Nakla, is the fourth person to appear in court in connection with the case.

The 36-year-old from Dundee was accused of abduction and extortion at the private petition hearing at the citys sheriff court on Tuesday.

He made no plea and was released on bail.

Jennifer Souter, 38, appeared at the same court last Thursday accused of culpable homicide.

Souter, of Dundee, did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody.

Stephen Stewart, 50, and Victoria McGowan, 41, also appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court on Thursday accused of abduction and extortion.

They both did not enter a plea and were both released on bail.

Police Scotland said in a statement: A 36-year-old man has been arrested and charged with abduction and extortion following an incident where a man fell from a block of flats on Morgan Street, Dundee, on Wednesday January 10. He died a week later in hospital.

Three others were previously arrested and charged following the same incident.

The 36-year-old man is due to appear in Dundee Sheriff Court today, Tuesday April 9. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
George Lucas is set to be given an honorary Palme dOr at this years Cannes Film Festival.

The American writer, director and producer, 79, created the Star Wars franchise beginning with the first film in 1977 and wrote the story for the first four Indiana Jones films.

Last year, Indiana Jones and Star Wars actor Harrison Ford was given the French film festivals highest honour.

George Lucas, Honorary Palme d'or #Cannes2024!  Immense figure of Hollywood cinema, the lengadary director, screenwriter and producer at the helm of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones sagas, has managed to combine great entertainment and innovation, mythology and modernity and pic.twitter.com/30F4oKtWHg  Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) April 9, 2024

Lucas said: The Festival de Cannes has always held a special place in my heart. I was surprised and elated when my first film, THX-1138, was selected to be shown in a new program for first-time directors called the directors fortnight.

Since then, I have returned to the festival on many occasions in a variety of capacities as a writer, director and producer. I am truly honoured by this special recognition, which means a great deal to me.

Lucas first worked with Ford on the 1973 comedy American Graffiti before casting him as Han Solo alongside Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, and Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia, in the now-titled Star Wars: Episode IV  A New Hope.

The 1977 science fiction film became a sensation, winning seven Oscars, and saw two more movies released in the 1980s before spawning more sequels, spin-offs and other material.

Harrison Ford won the honorary Palme dOr last year (Ian West/PA)

Lucas would return to the franchise in 1999 with the beginning of the prequel trilogy Star Wars: Episode I  The Phantom Menace with Northern Irish actor Liam Neeson and Scottish star Ewan McGregor as jedi knights and Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker before he becomes Darth Vader.

In 2012, he sold Lucasfilm to the Walt Disney Company for 4.06 billion US dollars (2.7 billion) and the film studio has since gone on to release a Star Wars trilogy with Daisy Ridley taking a starring role and the series The Mandalorian.

Ridley, who began with 2015s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is expected to reprise her role as Rey in future movies.

The honorary Palme dOr will be presented during the closing ceremony of Cannes on May 25.
A hunt is continuing across northern England for a man wanted for killing a young mother who was stabbed in the neck as she pushed her baby in pram in the street.

Officers in West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Cheshire are hunting for Habibur Masum, who is suspected of the murder of 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter in Bradford, as it emerged that he is on bail after being accused of assaulting and threatening to kill her.

Witnesses described horrific scenes after Ms Akter was stabbed several times in the Westgate area of Bradford city centre on Saturday afternoon.

(PA Graphics)



Masum, 25, was conditionally bailed by Manchester Magistrates Court in November, despite prosecutors objecting to his release, the PA news agency understands.

He pleaded not guilty to both offences at a hearing on November 27 and was ordered not to contact Ms Akter, it is understood.

His bail conditions also prevented him from contacting a second person, or visiting a particular address.

Court documents show that Masum, whose address was listed as Oldham, Greater Manchester, was charged with threatening to kill Ms Akter on November 24 and assaulting her on November 23. Both offences were alleged to have happened in Manchester.

People living near the scene of the attack, at the junction of Wigan Street and Westgate in Bradford, said they saw her in local shops and believed she had moved to the area from Oldham a few weeks before.

West Yorkshire Police and Greater Manchester Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct watchdog over previous contact with Masum and Ms Akter.

Police are searching for Habibur Masum in West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Cheshire (West Yorkshire Police/PA)

Police had previously confirmed the couple were known to each other.

On Monday, West Yorkshires Assistant Chief Constable Damien Miller told a press conference that Masum was last seen on Saturday, getting off a bus before walking in the direction of Bradford Moor Park.

Mr Miller said a 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender after raids were carried out in Burnley, Oldham and Chester.

Renewing his appeal to the public for information on the suspect, Mr Miller said: I believe him to still be in the country at this moment in time.

Police said anyone who sees Masum should call 999 as a matter of urgency.

Officers were called to the scene in the West Yorkshire city at 3.21pm on Saturday.

West Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Damien Miller (PA)

Bespoke tailor Imran Khan described how he and a teenage employee tried to help Ms Akter, who was attacked across the road from his shop.

He told PA: When I saw the police taking the empty pushchair in the back of the police van, thats what got me. Its sad seeing something like that. You dont wish it on anyone.

I think everyones shocked  especially with a young woman.

How can someone do that to another human being?

People working in the area said they believed Ms Akter was of Bangladeshi origin.

Shopkeeper Geo Khan said: She was a very attractive, nice person. Friendly. Smiling all the time. There was no stress on her face.

Its too young. What can you say?

I just cant take it. She was such a nice lady. All the time with a smile on her face.

Kulsuma Akter died after she was stabbed in Wigan Street, Bradford (Dave Higgens/PA)

Mr Khan added: She told me she had an argument with her family and she was living separate.

Masum, who reportedly fled the scene, was last seen on Saturday at 3.30pm when he was captured on CCTV getting on a bus in Market Street, before getting off at 3.42pm on Killinghall Road and walking towards Bradford Moor Park.

His Facebook page says he is from Sylhet, Bangladesh, and he is believed to have come to the UK on a student visa, and later a postgraduate visa after he obtained his degree.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he studied for a masters in marketing and digital marketing at the University of Bedfordshire between 2021 and 2023.

His social media videos show him picking out clothes for children and adults in Primark, building baby furniture and flying to Europe.

Days before the attack, he posted a picture of him posing with a woman and baby beneath a sign that reads love.

On September 26 last year, he shared a photo holding a newborn in his arms in a hospital, with the caption: I have become the father of a Son. Both mother and child are alright now. Pray for my baby boy.
David Cameron has held talks with Donald Trump in Florida amid his push to shore up US support for Ukraine.

The Foreign Secretary met with the presumptive Republican presidential candidate on Monday ahead of his trip to Washington DC to appeal to Congress over a stalled package of aid.

In a statement on Monday, a Foreign Office spokesperson said: Ahead of his visit to Washington, the Foreign Secretary will meet former President Trump in Florida today.

It is standard practice for ministers to meet with opposition candidates as part of their routine international engagement.

On his visit to Washington, Lord Cameron will warn that success for Kyiv in defeating Russia is vital for American and European security as he urges lawmakers across the Atlantic to approve urgent further assistance for the country.

Lord Cameron will push for Ukraine to be given the resources needed to hold the line and go on the offensive in 2025, the Foreign Office said.

He will meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as well as Congressional leaders, who he will urge to change the narrative on support for Kyiv while a multibillion-dollar aid package remains held up on Capitol Hill.

He was expected to tell Mike Johnson, Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, to stop his colleagues from continuing to block the support amid opposition from hardliners aligned with Mr Trump.

It is the latest of several interventions made by Lord Cameron over the additional funding for Ukraine. Earlier this year, he warned Congress not to show the weakness displayed against Hitler in the 1930s.

His previous comments drew the ire of right-wing congresswoman and staunch Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene, who told him to kiss my ass and worry about his own country.

On his latest visit, Lord Cameron will hold talks with Mr Blinken and meet other key figures across Congress to call for them provide the extra 60 billion US dollars (more than 47.5 billion), the Foreign Office said.

He will say that nothing can match the pace and scale of US support, which remains the keystone in the arch in the fight for democracy, the department said.

In a statement on Monday, the Foreign Secretary said: Success for Ukraine and failure for Putin are vital for American and European security.

This will show that borders matter, that aggression doesnt pay and that countries like Ukraine are free to choose their own future.

The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to re-draw European borders by force, and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea.

US support for Ukraine has massively degraded the military capacity of a common adversary, Russia has lost half of its pre-invasion land combat power, and a quarter of its original Black Sea fleet, while creating jobs at home and strengthening the Western alliance and Nato.

Talks will also focus on the Middle East, with the Foreign Secretary continuing to push for a full, urgent and transparent investigation into the deaths of of seven aid workers in Gaza.

He will say that the deaths of World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers are completely unacceptable and major changes need to be made to ensure the safety of aid workers on the ground.

It comes as Downing Street sought to insist the Government is completely united in its stance on Israel following the killings.

Divisions appeared to have emerged over the weekend with Lord Cameron taking a more strident approach to criticism than some of his colleagues, including Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden.

Mr Dowden suggested on Sunday that Israel is being held to an incredibly high standard compared with other nations and claimed there is a bit of relish from some people about the way in which they are pushing this case against Israel.

But on Monday, the Prime Ministers official spokesman denied there is a split, saying Lord Camerons and Mr Dowdens words are consistent with Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks.
Reality star Louise Thompson has revealed she has a stoma bag as she battles a chronic bowel condition.

The Made In Chelsea star, 34, suffers from ulcerative colitis, which leads to parts of the gut becoming swollen, inflamed and ulcerated, and lupus, a chronic autoimmune condition that has left her with exhaustion and joint pain.

Sharing a video of herself revealing the pouch that covers the opening on her abdomen to allow waste to be diverted, she wrote: HOW DO I DISCLOSE THIS SORT OF NEWS?

Its not exactly exciting like a big pregnancy or gender reveal announcement!

Hey look Im having a boyHey look Ive got a stoma!

So I guess Ill just stand here, proud in stature, with my new friend Le bum bag, that represents life, and hopefully a better one.

Isnt it bizarre that this little grey pouch is the price I pay for good health!

I say good riddance to that nasty menacing colon! Please be kind.

She wrote in the video: Introducing the grey bag that may well have saved my life.

Not exactly a glamorous announcement but not something I want to have to keep hidden forever.

The 33-year-old has suffered a string of health issues since the birth of her son Leo, two, and has had a number of hospital stays in recent months.

She was most recently hospitalised in February but also had a long stay in January after she was taken ill on holiday in Antigua, revealing she was going to the loo every 20 minutes losing cupfuls of blood.

Thompson has also suffered from PTSD following the traumatic birth of her little boy.

Ruth Wakeman, director of services, advocacy and evidence at charity Crohns & Colitis UK said: There are around 300,000 people in the UK living with ulcerative colitis. Its a lifelong condition for which there is no cure.

There are lots of treatment options available including medicines and surgery like Louise has had.

It can take some time to get used to life with a stoma, but it shouldnt stop you doing the things you enjoy. Lots of people with Crohns and Colitis tell us their surgery has been life-changing, and many wish theyd had it done sooner.

Whoever you are, if you or someone you know has inflammatory bowel disease, Crohns & Colitis UK has lots of information and help to support you.
OCI Solar Powers Alamo 1 Solar Farm on San Antonios South Side is seen in 2020. Pine Gate Renewables LLC seeks to build a 123-megawatt solar farm in Bandera County on both sides of FM 3240 near Montague Lake. William Luther/Staff file photo

A judge has sanctioned a major solar power and battery developer for violating an order that barred it from cutting down trees, removing stumps and preparing land in Bandera County for a solar farm.

Judge Patrick Maguire signed an order April 4 enforcing a temporary injunction and requiring Pine Gate Renewables LLC and Rio Lago Solar LLC to pay $10,000 if the companies do not comply by May 2. A hearing is set for that date.

The parties have conferred since the entry of the judges order and are working collaboratively to fashion a mutually agreeable approach to future development activities at the site, Pine Gate spokesperson Kristen McKenzie said.

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Its the latest twist in a dispute between a group of neighboring landowners and Pine Gate, which is seeking to build a 123-megawatt solar farm on both sides of FM 3240 near Montague Lake.

The Asheville, N.C.-based company said the solar farm could power 22,800 homes when built and represents a $150 million investment. It has asked the Bandera Electric Cooperative Inc., a distribution service and transmission service provider, to connect the solar farm with the grid operated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

Its unclear how much land the solar farm would occupy. The suit states it would encompass about 1,825 acres across multiple properties, but it has been described in news reports as being 1,000 acres.

The landowners sued Pine Gate in January, saying they are concerned that its development could cause environmental damage and reduce their property values. They said they are worried about loss of native vegetation and soil erosion that would increase runoff and cause chemicals to flow into wells, creeks and aquifers, polluting the water and flooding their properties, according to the lawsuit.

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They also cite a risk of fire in the rural county and contend that construction of the solar farm is interfering with some of their businesses, such as a livestock operation, a bed-and-breakfast and an exotic animal farm.

Maguire issued a temporary injunction order Feb. 7 prohibiting Pine Gate and Rio Lago from conducting any soil-disturbing activities on both sides of FM 3240 near Montague Lake before obtaining proper permits and developing a plan for preventing stormwater pollution.

But the nearby landowners and lawyer Jennifer Rosenblatt said the companies had not stopped work nor complied with the judges order. Rosenblatt filed an emergency motion asking the court to find the companies in contempt, issue sanctions against them and appoint a third party as a compliance officer.
Ocasio-Cortez supports legislation to make it easier for nonconsensual AI pornography victims to sue publishers, distributors and consumers of X-rated digital forgeries. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has described her horror at discovering  midway through a discussion with aides during a car journey in February  that she had been transposed into a deepfake porn simulation generated by artificial intelligence and posted on X.

Related: Inceptionism and Balenciaga popes: a brief history of deepfakes

In an interview with Rolling Stone, the progressive congresswoman said the experience of coming up close to a depiction of herself performing a sex act had shown her that being deepfaked was not as imaginary as people want to make it seem.

The Democratic US House member added that the mental picture of her deepfake version performing sexual acts stayed with her the rest of the day.

Theres a shock to seeing images of yourself that someone could think are real, Ocasio-Cortez told Rolling Stone. As a survivor of physical sexual assault, it adds a level of dysregulation. It resurfaces trauma, while Im  in the middle of a fucking meeting.

A recent Guardian podcast investigation  The hunt for ClothOff: The deepfake porn app  attempted to find out who is behind the deepfake porn explosion, which has recently hit dozens of well-known figures, including Taylor Swift.

A survey of five deepfake porn sites by Britains Channel 4 News analysis found 4,000 famous individuals listed.

Ocasio-Cortez told Rolling Stone that digitizing violent humiliation is akin to physical rape, and she predicted that people are going to kill themselves over this.

She continued: There are certain images that dont leave a person, they cant leave a person, she said, citing research into problems the human brain has in separating real from fake  even when material is understood to be fake.

Its not as imaginary as people want to make it seem, Ocasio-Cortez continued. It has real, real effects not just on the people that are victimized by it, but on the people who see it and consume it. And once youve seen it, youve seen it.

Ocasio-Cortez, 34, is supporting congressional legislation to make it easier for nonconsensual AI pornography victims to sue publishers, distributors and consumers of X-rated digital forgeries.

Dick Durbin has said the legislation  known as the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024  would hold accountable those who are responsible for the proliferation of nonconsensual, sexually explicit deepfake images and videos.

Sexually explicit deepfake content is often used to exploit and harass women  particularly public figures, politicians and celebrities, said the Democratic Illinois senator, who pointed to the sexually explicit, fake images of Swift that had swept across social media platforms earlier in the year.

Although the imagery may be fake, the harm to the victims from the distribution of sexually explicit deepfakes is very real, he added. Laws have not kept up with the spread of this abusive content.

But just as pornography advanced ahead of music and film when online media distribution began in the 1990s, so it is now propelling AI-content creation and distribution. A 2023 study by cybersecurity firm Home Security Heroes found that fabricated pornography accounts for 98% of all deepfake videos posted online.

In her interview with Rolling Stone, Ocasio-Cortez said that deepfake pornography parallels the same exact intention of physical rape and sexual assault, which is about power, domination, and humiliation.

She added: Deepfakes are absolutely a way of digitizing violent humiliation against other people.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at a news conference on Tuesday in Washington after the ruling in Arizona - Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

Arizonas highest court has revived a 160-year-old law banning all abortions unless a mothers life is at risk and punishing doctors who perform the procedure with prison sentences.

The ruling could be a major boost for Democrats in a key battleground state in 2024s general election, with polls showing reproductive rights to be a galvanising issue for many voters.

Joe Biden reacted to the ruling in Arizona on Tuesday, calling it extreme and dangerous.

The US president has cast his White House opponent Donald Trump and his Republican backers in Congress as extreme and out of touch with the public mood on the issue.

This ruling is a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away womens freedom, he said.

On Monday, Mr Trump said he believed the question of abortion access should be left to each state to determine.

Arizona, which Mr Biden narrowly carried in 2020, is critical to Democrats hopes of retaining the White House and control of the US Senate, with one of its two seats on the ballot in November 2024.

Abortion rights activists embrace during a news conference that announced the revived law in Arizona - Joel Angel Juarez/USA Today Network/via Reuters

A pro-abortion rally. Republicans fear the issue could lose the party votes - Sandy Huffaker/AFP via Getty Images

The decision by the states conservative Supreme Court justices upholds an 1864 law that prohibits abortions from the moment of conception, including in cases involving rape or incest.

Anyone who administers a termination could face fines and a jail term of two to five years.

The only exception to the near-total ban is in cases threatening the life of the mother.

Critics have pointed out the territorial law predates Arizona achieving statehood, the end of the American Civil War or women securing the right to vote.

The Arizona Supreme Courts 4-2 decision overrides existing legislation signed into law by the states former Republican governor allowing abortions until 15 weeks into a pregnancy.

Not enforced for 14 days

The ruling could have far-reaching consequences for millions of women and would make Arizona the 16th US state to effectively ban terminations since the overturning of Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 case enshrining womens constitutional right to an abortion.

However, the Arizona Supreme Court said its ruling could not be enforced for 14 days, allowing for a lower court to hear additional arguments about the laws constitutionality.

Democrats in Arizona are pushing to include a vote on implementing a constitutional right to abortion on the ballot in the state in the presidential election.

Reproductive rights have proved to be a winning issue for the party, with voters in Wisconsin, Kansas and Michigan all voting to adopt abortion rights protections since Americas highest court repealed Roe v Wade in 2022.
Abortion rights activists in Tucson, Arizona on 4 July 2022. Photograph: Sandy Huffaker/AFP/Getty Images

The Arizona supreme court ruled Tuesday to let a law banning almost all abortions in the state go into effect, a decision that could curtail abortion access in the US south-west and could make Arizona one of the biggest battlefields in the 2024 electoral fight over abortion rights.

The justices said Arizona could enforce a 1864 near-total abortion ban, first passed before Arizona became a state, that went unenforced for decades after the US supreme court legalized abortion nationwide in the 1973 decision Roe v Wade. However, the justices also ruled to hold off on requiring the state to enforce the ban for 14 days, in order to allow advocates to ask a lower court to pause it again.

Related: Pregnant Arizona lawmaker shares fight to get abortion, highlighting cruel laws

The ban can only be enforced prospectively, according to the 4-2 ruling. Minutes after the ruling Kris Mayes, Arizonas Democratic attorney general, vowed not to prosecute any doctors or women under the 1864 ban.

Todays decision to reimpose a law from a time when Arizona wasnt a state, the civil war was raging, and women couldnt even vote will go down in history as a stain on our state, Mayes said in a statement.

Voters may be able to weigh in on the issue in November: abortion rights supporters in Arizona have spent months gathering signatures for a ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights into the state constitution, and the Tuesday decision raises the stakes for their efforts significantly. If it succeeds, the ballot measure would declare that people in Arizona have a fundamental right to abortion and that the state will not try to curb that right before a pregnancy reaches fetal viability, which is generally pegged to about 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Although ballot measures need to amass 383,923 signatures by July to get on the ballot, the organizers behind the Arizona measure announced last week that they have gathered more than 500,000 signatures, and plan to collect more.

Arizona governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, said Tuesday was a dark day for the state and implored abortion rights supporters to make their voices heard in November.

Hobbs vowed to do everything in her power to preserve access to reproductive care in the state. The governor last year issued a sweeping executive order banning county attorneys from prosecuting women who seek abortions and doctors who perform them.

Asked about the possibility that her directive could be challenged in court following Tuesdays ruling, Hobbs said: Bring it on.

While the long-term impact of the decision on abortion access in Arizona is not yet clear, a number of providers said Tuesday that they will stay open as long as they can. Planned Parenthood Arizona, which operates multiple locations in the state, intends to continue providing abortions as long as the procedure is legal. Thanks to a court order in a separate case, Planned Parenthood appears to be able to legally provide abortions beyond the 14-day window and potentially as late as into May.

Regardless of todays decision, what I can tell you is that our doors will remain open, Angela Florez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Arizona, told reporters on a call after the supreme court decision. We will continue to provide what essential healthcare we can within the limitations of the law, and we hope that supporters will continue to support and that patients will still continue to feel safe in our care.

Dr Gabrielle Goodrick, a longtime abortion provider in Phoenix, also told the Guardian that her clinic will continue offering abortions, at least through the 14-day window.

We are not closing. Ever. Thats not a question, Goodrick said. I have reassurances from the governor and the attorney general that theyre not going to prosecute, but I need to investigate that further.

The ruling became a campaign issue almost as soon as it was issued. Kamala Harris quickly laid the blame on Donald Trump, whose three supreme court appointees voted to overturn Roe, paving the way for state-level abortion bans. The revived ban is a reality because of Donald Trump, who brags about being proudly the person responsible for overturning Roe v Wade, and made it possible for states to enforce cruel bans, she said in a statement. Harris also warned of nationwide restrictions to reproductive care that could come with a second Trump presidency.

The vice-president will visit Arizona on Friday for a trip that was planned before Tuesdays decision.

Democrat Ruben Gallego, who is running against Republican and stalwart Trump supporter Kari Lake to represent Arizona in the US Senate, condemned the law in a statement.

Our fight against extremist bans like the one enacted today has never been more important  which is why Im committed to doing whatever it takes to protect abortion rights at the federal level, Gallego said.

Arizona is one of roughly a dozen states where voters may get a chance to vote directly on abortion rights come November. However, as a key battleground state in the presidential election, the stakes in Arizona are particularly high, since Democrats hope that outrage over Roes overturning will also propel their candidates including Joe Biden  to victory.

The Tuesday decision is likely to galvanize voters. Several states have held abortion-related ballot measures since Roe fell, and in every state  including Republican strongholds like Kansas and Kentucky  abortion rights supporters have triumphed.

In a statement, Lake said that she opposed the Tuesday ruling. Lake has previously called abortion the ultimate sin, but like many other Republicans in the wake of Roes demise and abortion rights supporters ballot box successes, has moved to moderate her position on abortion policy.

I am calling on Katie Hobbs and the statelegislature to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support, Lake said. Ultimately, Arizona voters will make the decision on the ballot come November.

Until the 1864 ban is enforced, abortion is accessible in Arizona up until 15 weeks of pregnancy. Under the 1864 ban, it is illegal to help procure the miscarriage of a pregnant woman. The law only permits abortions to save a womans life and does not have exceptions for rape or incest.

The impact of the ruling will reverberate beyond Arizonas borders. Goodrick told the Guardian last year that many of her patients come from Texas, which has banned almost all abortions since even before Roe fell. Because Texas is home to one in 10 women of reproductive age in the US, Arizona has been a critical release valve for Texans fleeing the states abortion bans.

Lauren Gambino contributed reporting
Families gathered in the southern Bahraini city of Hamad to welcome their freed relatives on 8 April. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Bahrain has unconditionally released more than 1,500 prisoners, including political detainees, in the biggest royal pardon since the 2011 Arab spring uprising.

The amnesty followed years of campaigning inside the country and by international human rights groups but came as a complete surprise to activists.

Amnesty Bahrain said: This is a welcome step. Many of [the prisoners] should not have been imprisoned in the first place.

The releases were ordered by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, coinciding with Eid and the silver jubilee of the king taking power. The US embassy in Bahrain welcomed the move and expressed the hope that all those being released will be reunited with their families.

Many of the detainees have been held in Jau prison, where campaigners said more than 600 political prisoners remain, including some in need of urgent medical help. Recent riots inside prisons had made the expense of keeping so many behind bars a burden on the state.

Related: At least 500 Bahraini prisoners on hunger strike over conditions

The changes also represent a chance for Bahrain to improve its global image, increase foreign direct investment and encourage tourism. It followed a visit to Saudi Arabia by Bahrains crown prince, a visit that might have led to a Saudi endorsement of the move.

On social media, joyful scenes of families being reunited in their homes were screened, including some who had not been in their family home for as long as a decade.

But Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, director of advocacy at the British-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, said: This came as a complete shock. There had been no prior indication, and this is the most important release programme since 2011. The release is bittersweet as there are still 600 political prisoners behind bars and on death row.

With two of his own brothers in law among the freed prisoners, Alwadaei said: The releases coincide with a lot of unease inside Bahrain about the states support for Israel, but they coincide with significant unrest in Jau prison, where nearly a thousand political prisoners had refused to return to their cells over maltreatment.

Some of those released issued chants against the US and the continued Israeli assault on Gaza.

Bahrain, a close UK ally and home to the US fifth fleet, has been the only Gulf state to publicly back the US-led maritime coalition seeking to prevent Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which began after the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas.

Bahrain has undertaken a delicate balancing act, criticising Israel even though it has normalised relations with the country and been sharply critical of the Hamas atrocity.

Among those retained in prison include Hassan Mushaima, the head of the opposition group Al-Haq, and Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, a Danish-Bahraini human rights defender serving a life sentence in Bahrain for peaceful human rights work.

A spokesperson for the Bahrain government said: The royal pardon  marks one point in a broader journey for the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Bahrain has one of the lowest recidivism rates internationally at 2.5% among those engaged in alternative sentencing and open prisons.
Lord Cameron likened Ukraine's battle against Russia's invasion to the allies' D-Day landings to defeat the Nazis in 1944 - Kevin Wolf

Lord Cameron has been snubbed by the most senior Republican in the US House of Representatives who is refusing to meet to discuss approving a new aid package for Ukraine.

The Foreign Secretary said last week he was going to meet Mike Johnson, the House speaker whose party is blocking the support, and urge a change during a trip to Washington DC.

But the attempts of UK officials to lock down the meeting have been rebuffed by Mr Johnsons office. During his last Washington visit Lord Camerons tough calls for Ukraine aid to be approved frustrated some Republicans.

The two men are understood to be personally messaging each other and some in the UK delegation hope a conversation could yet be arranged, but on Tuesday none was confirmed.

Ukraine battle like D-Day

In a press conference alongside Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, Lord Cameron likened Ukraines battle against Russias invasion to the allies D-Day landings to defeat the Nazis in 1944.

On Israel-Gaza, the Foreign Secretary confirmed that arms will still be allowed to be sent to Israel, despite calls for a suspension from a string of political and former Whitehall figures.

Outlining the decision for the first time publicly, he said the stance was in line with government legal advice, but rejected calls to publish a summary of that advice.

Lord Cameron also said that a Plan B was needed should Israel launch a military offensive into Rafah, a southern city in Gaza where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering.

Netanyahu picked date for Rafah offensive

Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week he has picked a date for the offensive, which the UK and US have been warning against publicly and privately for weeks.

In the press conference Lord Cameron also refused to offer many extra details about his surprise meeting with Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, during his trip.

The Daily Telegraph understands that Lord Cameron used the meeting in Florida at Mr Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort to stress how much the UK was spending on defence.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron with United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken on his visit to Washington - Ben Dance / FCDO

The UK and the EU have both recently approved new aid packages to Ukraine, but US president Joe Bidens $95bn (75bn) proposed bill which includes security assistance for Kyiv is being blocked in the House of Representatives, where the Republicans have a majority.

The Foreign Secretary stressed he had not come to Washington to lecture any US politicians on their own foreign policy, but said he could get emotional about Ukraines fight against the Russian invasion.

Lord Cameron said: To me this is so fundamental to how Britain and America have worked together over years, over decades, to keep our world safe and to enhance our security.

I think of my grandfather landing on the Normandy beaches under the cover of an American warship. I think of how I worked together with President Obama to deal with the Isil threat in Syria and Iraq. How we hunted down those terrible killers of British and American hostages in the Syrian desert. Jihadi John and his like.

To me this is the same thing. We face a huge threat from an aggressive [Russian President Vladimir] Putin taking other countries territory by force and it is so important that we stick together.

Its not for us to tell you what to do

On pressing views on congressmen, Lord Cameron said he felt great trepidation about doing so, saying its not for foreign politicians to tell legislators in another country what to do.

But he added: Im here to offer my opinion, to meet with anyone who wants to talk to me about it, to make those arguments.

On continuing to allow arms sales to Israel, Lord Cameron said: This is consistent with the advice that I and other ministers have received, and as ever we will keep the position under review.

But, he added, the UK continued to have grave concerns about humanitarian access to Gaza, saying Israeli promises to flood Gaza with aid... now need to be turned into reality.

On Rafah, he said: We have a very clear plan A for how we bring this conflict to an end.

We have a temporary pause, we turn that into a sustainable ceasefire, we see Hamas leaders removed from Gaza, we see the terrorist infrastructure taken down. That is the way to have a political process that brings the war to an end.

But we have to be aware if that doesnt work, we have to think about what is plan B, what can humanitarian and other organisations do to make sure that if there is a conflict in Rafah that people can achieve safety, they can get food, they can get water, they can get medicine, and people are kept safe.
Deepfake imagery is getting harder to discern, even by experts. Illustration: Guardian Design

Lets talk about sci-fi.

Neal Stephensons 1992 novel Snow Crash is the book that launched a thousand startups. It was the first book to use the Hindu term avatar to describe a virtual representation of a person, it coined the term metaverse, and was one of Mark Zuckerbergs pieces of required reading for new executives at Facebook a decade before he changed the focus of the entire company to attempt to build Stephensons fictional world in reality.

The plot revolves around an image that, when viewed in the metaverse, hijacks the viewers brain, maiming or killing them. In the fiction of the world, the image crashes the brain, presenting it with an input that simply cannot be correctly processed.

Its a recurring idea in science fiction. Perhaps the first clear example came four years earlier, in British SF writer David Langfords short story BLIT, which imagines a terrorist attack using a basilisk, images which contain implicit programs which the human equipment cannot safely run. In a sequel to that story, published in Nature in 1999, Langford draws earlier parallels, even pulling in Monty Pythons Flying Circus, with its famous sketch about the Worlds Funniest Joke that causes all hearers to laugh themselves to death.

The collective fiction project SCP coined the name for such ideas: a cognitohazard. An idea, the very thinking of which can be harmful.

And one question that deserves to be taken increasingly seriously is: are cognitohazards real?

What you know can hurt you

I started thinking about that question this week, as part of our reporting into the efforts to automatically identify deepfakes in a year of elections around the world. Since 2017, when I first heard the term in the context of face-swapped porn, it has been possible to identify AI-generated imagery by examination. But that task has got harder and harder, and now were on the cusp of it being beyond the ken of even experts in the field. So its a race against time to build systems that can automatically spot and label such material before it breaks that threshold.

But what if labelling isnt enough? From my story:

Seeing a watermark doesnt necessarily have the effect one would want, says Henry Parker, head of government affairs at factchecking group Logically. The company uses both manual and automatic methods to vet content, Parker says, but labelling can only go so far. If you tell somebody theyre looking at a deepfake before they even watch it, the social psychology of watching that video is so powerful that they will still reference it as if it was fact. So the only thing you can do is ask how can we reduce the amount of time this content is in circulation?

Could we call such a video a cognitohazard? Something so compellingly realistic that you involuntarily treat it as reality, even if youre told otherwise, seems to fit the bill.

Of course, that also describes a lot of fiction. A horror story that sticks with you and leaves you unable to sleep at night, or a viscerally unpleasant scene of graphic violence that makes you feel physically unwell, could be a cognitohazard if the definition is stretched that far.

The dominoes fall

Perhaps closer to the examples from fiction are techniques that hijack, not our emotions, but our attention. Emotions, after all, are rarely under our control at the best of times; feeling something you dont want to feel is almost the definition of a negative emotion.

Attention is supposed to be different. Its something we have conscious control over. We talk of being distracted at times, but more serious seizures of attention warrant increasingly medicalised language: obsession, compulsion, addiction.

The idea of tech attacking our attention isnt new, and theres a whole concept of the attention economy underpinning that barrage. In a world of ad-supported media, with businesses increasingly competing not for our money directly but for our time, inherently limited to just 24 hours a day, theres a huge commercial motivation to grab and keep attention. Some of the tools of the trade that have been developed to achieve that goal certainly feel like they tap into something primal. The glaring red dots of new notifications, the tactility of a pull-to-refresh feed and the constant push of gamification have all been discussed at length.

And some, I think, have crossed the line to become real cognitohazards. While they may perhaps only be dangerous to those with a susceptibility for having their attention hijacked, the compulsion feels real.

One is a type of game: clickers or idle games, such as the critically feted Universal Paperclips, condense the reward mechanics of a game down to their simplest structures. So called because they almost literally play themselves, idle games present a dazzling array of timers, countdowns and upgrades, and constantly offer some breakthrough, improvement or efficiency just a couple of seconds away. I have lost whole days of productivity to them, as have many others.

Another is a type of content, what Ive started to think of as domino videos, are the non-interactive equivalent of an idle game. A video of some process progressing in an orderly, yet not quite fully predictable, manner, drawing you in and leading to an inexorable compulsion to watch until the end. Sometimes thats literally a domino run; other times, it might be someone methodically cleaning a carpet or depilling a sweater. Sometimes the process might never even complete; pong wars is an automatically generated game of Breakout, with two balls each threatening to invade the others space. It never ends, but you will watch it for longer than is worthwhile.

Theres a chance that this is as bad as it gets. It may be that there is something inherently off-putting about true attention harvesters, that means that the drive to stare at them as the progress is always going to be counteracted by the shame or disgust at having wasted time.

But what if it isnt? What does it look like if generative AI is set loose on social media to truly capture attention at an industrial scale? If the advice that parents give to young children isnt just to be careful of who they speak to on the internet, but to be wary of what they even look at?

Everything is science fiction until its reality.

If you want to read the complete version of the newsletter please subscribe to receive TechScape in your inbox every Tuesday.

Join Alex Hern for a Guardian Live online event about AI, deepfakes and elections, on Wednesday 24 April at 8pm BST. Book tickets here.
The Investigatory and Disciplinary Office of the Commission (IDOC) investigated 101 new cases last year, resulting in just two dismissals - E+

A European Union official sexually harassed a colleague but was let off because his Brussels pension was too small to dock without making him go hungry.

The disciplinary case was one of dozens opened for a string of offences committed by badly-behaved Eurocrats last year, according to an internal report obtained by the Telegraph.

They include officials who forged payslips and medical records, failed to adhere to coronavirus mark rules and abused colleagues.

The Investigatory and Disciplinary Office of the Commission (IDOC) investigated 101 new cases last year, resulting in just two dismissals.

Highest proportion in relation to alleged sexual or psychological harassment

The highest proportion of probes (25) launched by EU investigators were in relation to alleged cases of sexual or psychological harassment.

In one case a retired official was found to have sexually harassed a colleague by creating an intimidating and disturbing environment during a conversation.

The unnamed official was let off because docking his pension would take it below the blocs minimum subsistence levels.

According to EU rules, the minimum pension cannot be less than 40 per cent of the basic salary for the lowest level of official  3,327 for someone with at least 10 years of service.

In a similar case, a team leader was only warned after he had shown a hegemonic attitude in the coordination of teamwork, which put his colleagues in a lasting state of unease.

Inappropriate

He also verbally abused a female colleague, belittled her during meetings and contradicted and criticised her in public in an inappropriate manner by using an aggressive and rude tone, the annual IDOC report added.

Another investigation into a temporary contracting agent found the man had used Commission databases to obtain private contact details of colleagues, who he sent repeated, insisting and sometimes offending and threatening messages.

Despite the highest paid EU civil servants earning almost 19,000 a month, while paying a minimal solidarity tax of less than 10 per cent to the bloc, there were still numerous officials found guilty of fraud.

In one case, an unnamed official was found guilty of forging seven payslips that were submitted to a national court in a divorce hearing in order to reduce the monthly contribution he should pay to his ex-spouse for their child.

Despite the annual report stating he had caused reputational damage to the Commission, the official escaped without punishment because of the extenuating circumstances and his excellent working performance.

Lied about marital status

Another official was found to have lied about their marital status for more than 10 years to claim household allowances he was no longer entitled to.

He was also found guilty of not properly checking invoices in his role as head of administration in an EU delegation.

The unnamed official was demoted by one pay grade for six months - a monthly pay cut of up to around 1,000.

A separate official was downgraded for one year after being found guilty of falsifying several medical invoices to make phoney claims for reimbursement.

There were also numerous breaches of the EUs rules that compel staff to remain loyal to the bloc.

One official was found in breach of the blocs social media rules that demand staff must avoid expressing personal opinions that are not loyal to the institution.

Incidents tip of iceberg

A written warning was handed to the female employee for criticising a judicial authority of a Member State in very strong and offensive terms.

The disciplinary report said she had been reminded about her statutory obligations in the context of expressing views on social media platforms shortly before the facts occurred.

Frank Furedi, the executive director of the MCC Brussels think tank, who helped uncover the report, said: The incidents referred to in this report only represent the tip of the iceberg.

There has been a longstanding problem regarding professional behaviour. Whats most concerning about this latest report is the amount of psychological and sexual harassment cases in the offices of the EU.
The first minister, Humza Yousaf, with his wife, Nadia El-Nakla, whose younger brother is due to appear in Dundee sheriff court. Photograph: Peter Summers/Getty Images

Humza Yousafs brother-in-law has been arrested and charged following the death of a man in Dundee earlier this year.

Ramsay El-Nakla, 36, has been charged with abduction and extortion in a case linked to a man who died in hospital a week after falling from a window in a block of flats in Dundee on 10 January.

El-Nakla, the younger brother of Nadia El-Nakla, the first ministers wife and Scottish National party councillor, is due to appear in Dundee sheriff court on Tuesday.

Three others, previously named as Jennifer Souter, 38, Stephen Stewart, 50, and Victoria McGowan, 41, have previously appeared in court in connection with the death.

Souter made no plea to the charge of culpable homicide and was remanded; Stewart and McGowan made no plea to charges of abduction and extortion and were released on bail.

Police Scotland said: A 36-year-old man has been arrested and charged with abduction and extortion following an incident where a man fell from a block of flats on Morgan Street, Dundee, on Wednesday 10 January. He died a week later in hospital.

Three others were previously arrested and charged following the same incident. The 36-year-old man is due to appear in Dundee sheriff court today, Tuesday 9 April 2024. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
Claire (left) and Sophie (right) Blythe-Tinker, whose father Nigel fell from a cruise liner's cabin balcony, outside London's High Court - CHAMPION NEWS

A corporate lawyer who vanished on a Mediterranean cruise ship fell feet first from a cabin balcony into the sea, a court heard.

Nigel Blythe-Tinker, 72, former head of legal at gaming giant William Hill, went missing while on board the luxury cruise ship Seven Seas Mariner, the worlds first cruise liner to boast all suite, all balcony cabins, in July last year.

The High Court heard that the alarm was raised when Blythe-Tinker, who also had a stint as chairman of Ladbrokes multibillion-pound parent company GVC Holdings, failed to disembark the ship at Barcelona, though he was on board when it departed Marseilles the previous day.

His family made desperate attempts to make contact with him, after which staff on the ship found his cabin empty with his clothes folded neatly on the bed.

Nigel Blythe-Tinker went missing while on board the luxury cruise ship Seven Seas Mariner - CHAMPION NEWS

Following evidence from Blythe-Tinkers daughters, judge Chief Master Karen Shuman declared that their father met his death after falling feet first into the sea from his cabin balcony in the early hours of July 22.

The court heard that Blythe-Tinker, who was originally from Worksop, Notts, had been married three times and has two adult daughters, Sophie and Claire Blythe-Tinker.

He had been in the process of moving back to England after a period living in Australia when he vanished.

The 709-foot, 48,000-ton ship is hailed online as one of the worlds best all-inclusive cruise ships, with individual balconies attached to each cabin.

The cruise liner, which carries 700 passengers and 445 crew, was en route from Marseilles to Barcelona on July 21 2023 when Blythe-Tinker, who had been in constant contact with his family, began to display unusual behaviour and send messages in which he wasnt himself.

Seven Seas Mariner is the world's first cruise liner to boast 'all suite, all balcony' cabins - CHAMPION NEWS

Blythe-Tinker had been renovating a house in England he had bought near to the home of his close cousin Andrew Gilling and had told Mr Gilling that he had been worried about having enough money to complete the project.

He told his cousin he had had a suicidal thought and also seemed confused in messages with other family members, his London-based daughter Sophie, a history and politics teacher, told the judge.

His family contacted staff on the ship and the onboard doctor was dispatched to check on the lawyer, who said he had no suicidal thoughts and was physically well apart from back pain.

However, when the ship docked in Barcelona on the morning of July 22 last year, Blythe-Tinker did not disembark and his cabin was empty.

The ships CCTV revealed footage of an object  which appeared to be a person  falling from the vessel near to Blythe-Tinkers cabin balcony and hitting the water.

A cabin balcony on board the Seven Seas Mariner cruise liner

Sophie Blythe-Tinker brought a High Court application for an examination of the circumstances in which her father vanished, asking for a declaration that he was dead.

She told the judge that he had seemed strange in his responses to messages and emails shortly before his disappearance.

When he failed to turn up at Heathrow airport  where he had been due to fly after leaving the ship in Barcelona  his family panicked and made desperate attempts to find out where he was. They eventually learned from the cruise company that he had never disembarked at Barcelona.

He wasnt himself

Giving judgment in the case and declaring the missing lawyer officially dead, the judge said Blythe-Tinker had been an active 72-year-old who travelled extensively.

However, he wasnt himself and had become increasingly abnormal during his time on the ship, she said.

I have viewed the video evidence, she said. Something descends from the ship at 4.28am. Im prepared to accept that that was a body and the direction is consistent with it coming from the suite Mr Blythe-Tinker was in.

The ship was miles from any port or land at the time.

Im satisfied on the evidence before me that Mr Blythe-Tinker died at 4.28 central European time by falling to his death from the ship that he was on, the judge concluded.
Weak government climate policies violate fundamental human rights, the European court of human rights has ruled.

In a landmark decision on one of three major climate cases, the first such rulings by an international court, the ECHR raised judicial pressure on governments to stop filling the atmosphere with gases that make extreme weather more violent.

The courts top bench ruled that Switzerland had violated the rights of a group of older Swiss women to family life, but threw out a French mayors case against France and that of a group of young Portuguese people against 32 European countries.

It feels like a mixed result because two of the cases were inadmissible, said Corina Heri, a law researcher at the University of Zurich. But actually its a huge success.

The court, which calls itself the conscience of Europe, found that Switzerland had failed to comply with its duties to stop climate change. It also set out a path for organisations to bring further cases on behalf of applicants.

The Swiss verdict opens up all 46 members of the Council of Europe to similar cases in national courts that they are likely to lose.

Joie Chowdhury, an attorney at the Centre for International Environmental Law campaign group, said the judgment left no doubt that the climate crisis was a human rights crisis. We expect this ruling to influence climate action and climate litigation across Europe and far beyond, she said.

The facts of the three cases varied widely, but they all hinged on the question of whether government inaction on climate change violated fundamental human rights. Some of the governments argued that the cases should not be admitted, and that climate policy should be the subject of national governments rather than international courts.

The plaintiffs attending the hearing in the court in Strasbourg, some as young as 12, celebrated after a member of a panel of 17 judges read out the verdicts. The climate activist Greta Thunberg joined a gathering outside the court before the hearing to encourage faster action.

Anton Foley, who with Thunberg was representing Aurora, a youth group that filed a climate lawsuit against Sweden, said it was unjust that responsibility for stopping the climate crisis fell on young people, and praised the Swiss women for stepping up. We dont want to be the hope for the older generation. We want them to do this, because we dont want to fight this fight.

Thunberg thanked Rosmarie Wydler-Walti, co-president of the KlimaSeniorinnen, for what she had done, as they met outside the courtroom.

The KlimaSeniorinnen, a group of 2,400 older Swiss women, told the court that several of their rights were being violated. Because older women are more likely to die in heatwaves  which have become hotter and more common because of fossil fuels  they argued that Switzerland should do its share to stop the planet heating by the Paris agreement target of 1.5C (2.7F) above preindustrial levels.

The court ruled that Swiss authorities had not acted in time to come up with a good enough strategy to cut emissions. It also found the applicants had not had appropriate access to justice in Switzerland.

But it also rejected the cases of four individual applicants who had joined the KlimaSeniorinnen.

Im very happy, said Nicole Barbry, 70, a member of the KlimaSeniorinnen who had come to Strasbourg. Its good that theyre finally listening to us.

The Portuguese children and young people  who because of their age will see greater climate damage than previous generations  argued that climate-fuelled disasters such as wildfires and smoke threatened their right to life and discriminated against them based on their age.

The court did not admit the case, deciding that the applicants could not bring cases against countries other than Portugal and adding that they had not pursued legal avenues in Portugal against the government.

Their [the Swiss] win is a win for us, too, said Sofia Oliveira, a 19-year-old applicant in the Portuguese case. And a win for everyone.

The French case, brought by the MEP Damien Careme, argued that Frances failure to do enough to stop climate change violated his rights to life and privacy and family life. Careme filed the case when he was the mayor of Grand-Synthe, a coastal town vulnerable to flooding. The court did not admit the case because Careme no longer lives there.

The ECHR rejects about 90% of all applications it receives as inadmissible but fast-tracked the three climate cases to its top bench because of their urgency. It delayed hearings on six more climate cases to get a result on the rulings on Tuesday.

The rulings will influence three other international courts that are examining the role of government climate policy on human rights.

Charlotte Blattner, a researcher at the University of Berne who specialises in climate law, said the court had delivered a bold judgment in favour of a viable future. The nature and gravity of the threat of climate change  and the urgency to effectively respond to it  require that governments can and will have to be held accountable for their lack of adequate action, she said.

The court said that keeping global heating to 1.5C was a key part of protecting human rights, rather than the higher 2C limit that courts had used for rulings on cases in Germany and the Netherlands.

Gerry Liston, a lawyer for the Portuguese children, said the recognition that Switzerlands policies were not science-based was by far the most significant aspect of the ruling. No European governments climate policies are aligned with anything near 1.5C, so it will be clear to those working on climate litigation in those countries that there is now a clear basis to bring a case in their national courts.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg delivers his second-to-last last State of the City address at a luncheon hosted by the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce at Marriott Rivercenter on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

Mayor Ron Nirenberg spent part of his second-to-last State of the City speech urging business leaders not to give up on the struggling job training program that he pitched to voters four years ago.

The programs engines are just revving up, Nirenberg said Tuesday at the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerces annual event. Were now entering uncharted territory as we create a coordinated workforce development ecosystem at a scale unparalleled in our citys history  maybe in any citys history.

Training for new careers and finishing degrees is vital, but it will take time, he said.

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The city launched Ready to Work nearly two years, and it has struggled to meet its targets. It aims to enroll far fewer San Antonians than Nirenberg promised to voters ahead of the November 2020 city charter amendment election, and its currently behind on its target for placing program graduates in jobs that pay at least $15 an hour.

The programs advisory board chair warned last week that if the multimillion-dollar program doesnt make improvements, San Antonios next mayor could force changes to the initiative.

Nirenberg reiterated Tuesday a refrain that has defined his tenure since first being elected mayor in 2017.

Hardly any of my major initiatives have been short-term projects because truly investing in our people, our families, our community takes time, he said to a crowd of politicians, city employees and business leaders in a Marriott Rivercenter hotel ballroom.

City Manager Erik Walsh listens to Mayor Ron Nirenberg deliver his State of the City address at a luncheon hosted by the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce at Marriott Rivercenter on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

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Nirenberg has pinned his four-term legacy on Ready to Work and other long-term initiatives centered on affordable housing, mass transportation, the $2.5 billion expansion of San Antonio International Airport and climate change adaptation.

Though some business leaders and City Council members have soured on Ready to Work, Nirenberg told reporters after his speech the program is absolutely not a failure.

This is a work in progress, he said. Were not counting widgets  were changing peopless lives. And it takes significant work. Each individual participant has a different story, a different set of challenges that have to be overcome through case work, case management.

Nirenberg recognized four Ready to Work graduates, who attended the lunchtime speech, for their accomplishments.

As of January, the program had spent just 14% of the $240 million in sales tax dollars that will be allocated to it through December 2025.

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A new subsidy  for firms

Nirenberg highlighted two new Ready to Work initiatives that will pay for job training for 33 companies  instead of training San Antonians whom the companies would hire and then train themselves. The City Council will vote on the subsidies Thursday.

The two pilot programs amount to about $3 million to the companies to provide on-the-job training to new hires and skills training to existing workers looking to advance in their careers. The money will cover up to 722 new hires and 666 current workers, according to city documents.

There is no stipulation that these workers must have graduated from Ready to Work, which enrolls San Antonians living below the federal poverty line in training for industry-recognized certificates or in an associates or bachelors degree programs  free of charge.

It costs about $6,000 to train or educate each participant. The cost includes case management, housing, food, transportation or child care assistance for trainees.

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The companies include large, for-profit employers, including Holt Cat, Methodist Healthcare System and auto parts maker Toyotetsu Texas Inc. University Health, the Bexar County-run hospital system funded partly through property tax dollars, would be another recipient.

End game

Despite its rocky start, Ready to Work has supporters. Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Mike Flores touted the program as he introduced Nirenberg on Tuesday, calling it the largest single investment in job training in United States history.

Of the more than 6,500 San Antonians who have enrolled in Ready to Work since its 2022 launch, 1,800 participants signed up for Alamo Colleges District certification or degree programs, according to city figures.

The program aims to enroll more than 28,000 people  a goal that will be reached long after Nirenberg leaves office in May or June 2025, depending on whether theres a runoff in the race to replace him.

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Nirenberg told reporters he would like his successor to keep the program intact.

I hope we continue our commitment to the voters, which is to continue to work to train folks and earn higher paying careers, he said.

Still, changes are needed, he said. That includes better data collection and management to correct what he believes is an underreporting of the number of graduates who have found employment paying at least $15 an hour.

There also needs to be ongoing talks with area employers to learn what type of training they require in new hires.

What we are doing here is creating generational change in terms of turning back, reversing cycles of poverty, Nirenberg said. That is an enormously important goal.
An Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in central Gaza last night killed Hatem al-Ghamri, the head of Hamass emergency committee.

The committee is a Hamas body tasked with maintaining public order and civil control in the Strips municipalities.

The IDF claimed Mr al-Ghamri was also an operative in Hamas military wing, responsible for rocket attacks from the Maghazi refugee camp area.

At least five other people were killed in the strike, Palestinian media reported.

Follow for the latest updates.

03:09 PM BST

Israeli truce deal fails to met Hamas demands

Israel has put forward a ceasefire proposal that meets none of Hamas demands, the militant group has said.

The Israeli position remains intransigent and it didnt meet any of the demands of our people and our resistance, Hamas said, adding that it would study the offer further and deliver a response to its mediators.

The proposal was delivered to Hamas by Egyptian and Qatari mediators at talks in Cairo convened to broker a truce with Israel that would see fighting stop in return for prisoner exchanges from both sides.

03:08 PM BST

Israel blocking more food than any other aid into Gaza, says UN

Israel is blocking far more convoys carrying food aid into Gaza, where famine is looming, than convoys carrying other kinds of aid, the UN has said.

A spokesman for the United Nations humanitarian agency pointed to statistics from March showing that it was much more difficult to get clearance for delivering food than other aid in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.

Food convoys that should be going particularly to the north, where 70 percent of people face famine conditions, are...three times more likely to be denied than any other humanitarian convoys with other kinds of material, Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva.

Israel meanwhile claimed that the main problem is the UNs distribution of food within Gaza. COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body that manages the flow of aid, said that 741 humanitarian aid trucks were inspected and transferred to the Gaza Strip over the last 2 days in total.

Only 267 aid trucks were distributed by UN aid agencies inside Gaza (out of which 146 carried food), it said. The aid is available, distribution is what matters.

03:07 PM BST

No force in the world can stop Rafah invasion, says Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has said that no force in the world can stop Israels invasion of Rafah.

There is no force in the world that will stop us, he told an audience of new IDF recruits at a military base. There are many forces that are trying to do so, but it will not help, since this enemy, after what it did, will never do it again,

The IDF has said that four Hamas brigades continue to operate in Rafah, Gazas southernmost city, where around 1.5 million Palestinians are currently sheltering. West officials have repeatedly warned Mr Netanyahu against attacking the city over fears it could cause a catastrophic loss of civilian life.

03:05 PM BST

World leaders push to recognise Palestinian state

Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, will meet several European Union counterparts over the next week to try to garner support for the recognition of a Palestinian state, the government said.

We want to stop the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and help kickstart a political peace process leading to the realisation of the two-state solution as early as possible, a government spokeswoman said.

Sanchezs agenda includes meetings with the prime ministers of Norway, Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia and Belgium focusing on the EUs position on the war in Gaza.

Australia, too, has hinted at formally recognising a Palestinian state, with Penny Wong, the countrys foreign minister, suggesting that doing strengthens the forces for peace and undermines extremism.

Spain, Ireland, Malta and Slovenia announced last month they would jointly work toward recognition of a Palestinian state.

02:54 PM BST

Iran attempting to flood the West Bank with weapons, officials claim

Iran is attempting to flood the West Bank with weapons in order to drag Israel into a wider regional conflict, officials have claimed.

The operation uses a clandestine smuggling route across the Middle East, employing intelligence operatives, militants, criminal gangs and bedouins, to deliver weapons to Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the New York Times reported, citing Iranian, US and Israeli security and intelligence officials.

Its discovery comes amid concerns that Tehran is seeking to turn the enclave into the next flashpoint in its long-simmering proxy war with Israel, after it vowed to avenge a strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week that killed seven members of its Revolutionary Guard.

The majority of the smuggled weapons are handguns and assault rifles, though anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades are also frequently transferred, the officials said. It is unclear how many weapons have been transferred in the two years the smuggling operation has been ongoing.

The report comes after Shin Bet, Israels internal security service, said last month that it had foiled attempts by Tehran to smuggle large shipments of advanced weapons to terror operatives in the West Bank.

02:47 PM BST

Watch: Israel downs first drone using naval Iron Dome

02:38 PM BST

Two dead and dozens injured in Israeli bombing

Two people have been killed and dozens injured after Israeli warplanes bombed two homes in northern Gaza, Wafa, the official Palestine news agency, reported.

The attack on the Zeitoun neighbourhood, southeast of Gaza City, led to the killing of two civilians and the injury of dozens, Wafa said.

Elsewhere, a drone strike on Salah al-Din Street to the east of the city killed at least one person and injured others, Wafa reported.

Four more people were killed in Israeli shelling of central and southern Gaza, the agency said.

02:28 PM BST

Israel prepares mass Rafah evacuation ahead of planned invasion

Israel is purchasing 40,000 tents to house Palestinian refugees in preparation for a mass evacuation from Rafah when it launches its invasion, an Israeli official confirmed.



The countrys defence ministry published a proposal seeking a tent supplier to house refugees as part of its Rafah preparations, the official, who was not named, told the Times of Israel.



It comes after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has set a date for its invasion of Rafah, despite delegations from Israel and Hamas meeting in Cairo this week for US-mediated talks to negotiate a truce.



The order of tents would not come close to housing the population of Rafah, which has swelled to more than one million people in recent months as Palestinians fled their homes to seek refuge in Gazas southernmost city. Western leaders and the UN have repeatedly warned Israel against storming the city for fears of a bloodbath.

02:07 PM BST

Majority of Khan Younis destroyed or damage, analysis shows

Around 55 percent of the 45,000 buildings in Khan Younis have been destroyed or damaged, satellite imagery shows.

The analysis, carried out by two US mapping experts, comes as stunned Palestinians returned to the city in southern Gaza yesterday to salvage what they could from the rubble after Israeli troops withdrew following months of bombardment.

In one instance, a resident was unable to find their home because of the extent of the destruction. Where is my place, where is my home? he asked.

The destruction in Khan Younis offers a stark portent for what could happen in Rafah should Israel proceed with its planned invasion of Gazas southernmost city.

01:41 PM BST

Pictured: Israeli soldiers stare into Gaza

Israeli soldiers look at destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip - Leo Correa/AP

Israeli soldiers on top of a tank near the Israeli-Gaza border - Leo Correa/AP

01:21 PM BST

Erdogan sacrificing Turkeys economic interests over trade restrictions, says Israel

Israel Katz, Israels foreign minister, has accused Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, of sacrificing the economic interests of his people after Turkey announced it was restricting exports to Israel until a ceasefire is declared in Gaza.

Erdogan is once again sacrificing the economic interests of the people of Turkey for his support of Hamas, Mr Katz said.

He added that Turkey has unilaterally violated trade agreements, and said that in return, Israel will respond accordingly and prepare an extended list of additional products that Israel will prevent Turkey from exporting.

In barbed comments earlier today, Turkey said Israel continues to flagrantly violate international law in its military campaign in Gaza and vowed to suspend exports on certain products until Israel declares a ceasefire and allows aid to flow into the war-torn region.

See post at 9.15am for more details.

12:38 PM BST

Watch: Israel downs drone with naval Iron Dome

For the first time ever, an IDF Sa'ar 6-class corvette missile ship successfully intercepted a UAV that approached from the east and crossed into the area of the Gulf of Eilat.



IDF missile boats including Sa'ar 6-class corvettes have been positioned in the Red Sea and have both pic.twitter.com/SujPlfctr7  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 9, 2024

12:36 PM BST

Israel strikes Syrian army bases

Israeli warplanes struck several Syrian military sites overnight in response to rocket fire on Israels northern Golan Heights, the military said.

Warplanes attacked Syrian army infrastructure overnight in the Mahajjah area, around 20 miles from the demilitarised zone separating the opposing forces, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) said.

Another Syrian military post was shelled with artillery, along with a rocket launch site, the IDF added.

The strikes came in response to rocket fire launched from Syrian territory on Monday that caused no casualties, Israels army said.

Tensions have ramped up between Israel and Syria in recent days after seven Revolutionary Guards were killed in an airstrike at the Iranian consular in Damascus, for which Israel has been blamed.

11:46 AM BST

Tehran unlikely to attack Israel directly, says US intelligence

Iran is unlikely to attack Israel directly, US intelligence sources have said.

Instead, Tehran is urging proxies to launch large-scale drone and missile attacks on Israel in the coming days, the sources, who were not named, told CNN.

The latest warning contradicts previous assessments by the White House and Israel that an attack by Iran was inevitable.

It comes a week after seven Revolutionary Guard commanders were killed in a strike on Irans embassy in Damascus which has been widely blamed on Israel.

11:27 AM BST

Pictured: Palestinian boy receives first aid

A Palestinian boy receives first aid at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza - AFP

11:23 AM BST

Netanyahu sets date for Rafah invasion

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has said the date is set for Israel to launch an offensive in Rafah.

This victory requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen - there is a date, Mr Netanyahu said in a video address yesterday, without specifying when the proposed offensive will take place. We are working to achieve our goals all the time...primarily releasing all our hostages and achieving total victory.

The prime ministers comments came as representatives from Hamas rejected a ceasefire proposal presented by Israel in Cairo, the site of US-mediated truce negotiations.

Rafah, Gazas southernmost city, is the last refuge for more than one million Palestinian civilians crammed into the city suffering from shortages of food, water and shelter. Western leaders and the UN have repeatedly warned Israel against storming Rafah for fears of a bloodbath.

11:20 AM BST

UN chief demands media access to Gaza

The United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres has urged Israel to allow foreign journalists to enter Gaza, claiming that an information war is obscuring the realities of the conflict.

Denying international journalists entry into Gaza is allowing disinformation and false narratives to flourish, Mr Guterres wrote on Twitter.

His comments echoed a statement from the Foreign Press Association, which assists foreign reporters covering events the region, calling for Israel to allow foreign press to return to the war-torn enclave.

An information war has added to the trauma of the war in Gaza - obscuring facts and shifting blame.



Denying international journalists entry into Gaza is allowing disinformation and false narratives to flourish.  Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 8, 2024

The barring of independent press access to a war zone for this long is unprecedented for Israel, it said. It raises questions about what Israel does not want international journalists to see.

The decision whether to be on the ground in Gaza should be up to each individual international media outlet, it added. The blanket ban has limited the worlds ability to witness the true cost of the war to all sides.

In January, the High Court ruled that Israel could continue barring foreign journalists from accessing the Strip, citing ongoing security concerns after months in which only Gazans or correspondents accompanied by the army have been able to report from besieged land corridor.

10:51 AM BST

Jews who vote for Biden dont love Israel and should be spoken to, says Trump

Former US president Donald Trump has claimed his successor Joe Biden is 100 percent on the side of the Palestinians.

Any Jewish person that votes for Biden does not love Israel and frankly, should be spoken to  How a Jewish person can vote for Biden or a Democrat because they are on the side 100 per cent of the Palestinians, and he doesnt know how to get out of it, Mr Trump told the conservative Real Americas Voice network.

Frankly, its incredible that historically Jewish people vote for Democrats. I dont understand that, he added. Maybe its just a bad habit when you vote for a Democrat, but I dont know how anybody that is Jewish votes for a Democrat.

Mr Trumps comments have been condemned for playing into an anti-Semitic trope that Jewish Americans have dual loyalties to the US and to Israel, CNN reported.

10:31 AM BST

Join out WhatsApp channel to keep track of the latest updates

10:26 AM BST

Khan Younis airstrike kills October 7 terrorist, says IDF

A recent airstrike in southern Gazas Khan Younis killed a Hamas militant who participated in the October 7 massacre, the IDF reported.

It added that Israeli troops were involved in several short-range clashes with Hamas battles over the past day, killing a number of militants with aircraft and sniper fire.

Elsewhere, the Israeli air force launched strikes on missile launch sites, a military building and underground tunnel shafts used by Hamas, the army said.

10:09 AM BST

Israel downs drone using naval Iron Dome for the first time

Israel has downed a drone using its ship-mounted Iron Dome system for the first time, the Israel Defence Forces reported.

The naval version of Israels missile defence system intercepted what appeared to be a drone near the southern city of Eilat shortly before midnight on Monday, the military said, marking its first operational use.

Drone sirens sounded in Eilat after a suspicious aerial target entered Israeli airspace, the IDF said, with footage of the incident posted on social media showing what appears to be two missiles intercepting the drone, causing it to burst into flames in the sky.

The advanced model of the Iron Dome, known as C-Dome, is operated by the Navys four Saar 6-class corvette ships and is capable of downing rockets, cruise missiles, and drones, Israels Defense Ministry reported. It was brought into service in November 2022.

The suspected drone flew in from the eastern direction, the IDF reported, with local media suggesting it could have been launched from Iraq.

10:02 AM BST

Pictured: IDF troops in action in Gaza

Israeli troops have killed a terrorist who participated in the October 7 massacre - IDF

IDF troops prepare to storm a Hamas location - IDF

09:38 AM BST

France proposes sanctioning Israel to get aid into Gaza

Frances foreign minister said that sanctions could be imposed on Israel to if it does not allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

There must be levers of influence and there are multiple levers, going up to sanctions, to let humanitarian aid cross check points, Stephane Sejourne told RFI radio and France 24 television.

France was one of the first countries to propose European Union sanctions on Israeli settlers who are committing acts of violence in the West Bank. We will continue if needed to obtain the opening of humanitarian aid, he said.

Ms Sejournes comments come amid growing pressures on Israel from Western leaders to drastically increase levels of humanitarian aid entering the besieged territory.

09:15 AM BST

Turkey imposes trade restrictions on Israel until Gaza ceasefire

Turkey will restrict exports on a wide range of products to Israel until a ceasefire is declared in Gaza, the countrys trade ministry said.

This decision will remain in place until Israel, under its obligations emanating from international law, urgently declares a ceasefire in Gaza and allows the unhindered flow of sufficient humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, the ministry said, adding that the measures would apply to 54 categories of products.

The announcement came after Israel rejected Ankaras request to take part in an air-drop to transfer aid to Gaza, with the new measure set to take effect as of today.

Turkey has previously voiced opposition to Israels campaign in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, supporting steps to try Israel for genocide and sending tonnes of aid into the war-torn region.

The trade restrictions mark Ankaras first effort to impose financial sanctions on Israel for its actions.

08:50 AM BST

Hamas studies Israel truce proposal

Hamas representatives have said the militant group is considering a temporary peace deal with Israel.

The ceasefire arrangement, proposed by Qatari, Egyptian and US mediators during peace talks in Cairo, would halt fighting for six weeks to enable the exchange of hostages held by Hamas in return for Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel.

Saying it appreciates the mediators efforts, Hamas accused Israel of not responding to any of its demands in the talks.

Despite this, the movements leadership is studying the submitted proposal, the militant group said in a statement.

08:28 AM BST

Pictured: Palestinians impacted by Israels bombardment

Palestinians outside a hospital where casualties of Israeli bombing on al-Bureij camp in central Gaza were being treated - AFP

A Palestinian woman assists a child playing on the ruins of a destroyed building - AFP

08:04 AM BST

Watch: Islamic Jihad admits groups rockets struck al-Ahli Arab Hospital at the start of war

An Islamic Jihad spokesman has admitted that the militant group, rather than Israel, was responsible for a strike that damaged Gazas Al-Ahli Arab Hospital at the start of the war, reportedly killing dozens of people.

In an interrogation video released by the Israel Defence Force (IDF), Tarek Abu Shaluf, spokesman for the political wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, admitted that the strike on the hosptial was caused by a local rocket. We said it was Israeli.

To erase this story, the movement [Islamic Jihad] made some moves, it made up a story that the rocket belonged to the occupation [Israel] and that the target was the [hospital] building, said Mr Abu Shaluf, who was among 500 militants captured by the IDF last month.

The strike in October last year was initially suspected to have been carried out by Israel, with the country accusing the BBC of modern blood libel for jumping to conclusions in its reporting. Israel later accused Islamic Jihad of firing rockets which fell short and hit the hospital.

Remember when Islamic Jihad launched a rocket which misfired and landed at the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza? The whole world believed them



Here's the Islamic Jihad Spokesperson admitting how they, and Hamas, manipulate the media to turn their lies into international headlines: pic.twitter.com/rg4KpVaV0R  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 8, 2024

07:51 AM BST

The Wests cowardice over Israel is nothing short of abominable

The view that Israel has embarked on a doomed Achillean killing rage in Palestine has become received wisdom in Western polite society. This take is flawed but not surprising, with critics pointing to the sheer scale of civilian casualties in Gaza, writes Sherelle Jacobs.

The plight of the Palestinians rattles the conscience of the West, a civilisation that for all its might is grappling with its own imperial legacy and is deeply imbued with a Judeo-Christian sympathy for downtrodden Davids faced with the wrath of Goliaths. The killing of British aid workers may point to a chilling breakdown in command and control within the Israeli army.

But in a world of tremendous geopolitical stakes, it is vital to at least attempt ruthless clarity, putting aside all our emotional baggage and human revulsion towards the horror of war. The stone cold truth is that the Wests abrupt U-turn  at first vowing to lend rock solid, unwavering support to Israel and now threatening to withdraw support unless Jerusalem agrees to a ceasefire  has imperilled Israels mission to decapitate Hamas.

Read Sherelles full column here.

07:41 AM BST

Israeli minister threatens to topple Netanyahu if he does not invade Rafah

Israels hard-Right national security minister has threatened to topple Benjamin Netanyahu if he fails to order a ground invasion of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, writes Jotam Confino.

If Netanyahu decides to end the war without an expansive assault in Rafah, he wont have the mandate to serve as prime minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Monday.

The Israeli army withdrew its ground forces from southern Gaza on Sunday, prompting speculation that the ground operation in Rafah had either been called off or delayed.

An Israeli minister, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Telegraph that he 100 per cent agrees with Mr Ben-Gvir.

Read Jotams full report here.
JK Rowling has been praised by campaigners for challenging police to arrest her over the trans debate - Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

A senior SNP politician has accused JK Rowling of wasting police time and attacking Scottish societal values by testing new hate crime laws.

Karen Adam, who is convener of Holyroods equalities committee, launched a thinly veiled attack on the Harry Potter author in a defence of Humza Yousafs controversial legislation, which she hailed as an incredible example of our commitment to justice.

On the first day that the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act came into force, Rowling deliberately misgendered a series of high-profile trans women, calling them men and challenging Police Scotland to arrest her.

The force declined to do so after receiving complaints, ruling that she had not committed a crime with her deliberately provocative social media posts on X, formerly Twitter.

Karen Adam hit out at 'provocations' that 'strike at our societal values' - Ken Jack/Getty

Writing in her column in The National, a pro-independence newspaper, Ms Adam took aim at deliberate provocations seen in recent times where individuals had tested the boundaries of the legislation.

She added: [They] do more than just waste police time, they strike at the very core of our societal values.

These actions arent just about challenging a legal framework, they question our collective resolve to build a community where hatred finds no home.

Ms Adam went on to warn that while people were free to speak as they wished, they could not do so free from consequences.

She raised the case of a trans constituent who had told her of the discrimination and fear they experienced due to dehumanising online debates over their life.

She added: Freedom of speech is indeed a cherished principle, vital to the being of our democracy  but its not absolute. It comes with the responsibility to not harm others intentionally.

Rowling has been praised by campaigners who share her views on gender for her intervention, with many women seeing it as an attempt to protect those without her power or wealth, whom police may be quicker to prosecute.

After Police Scotland said she had not committed a crime, Rowling said: I hope every woman in Scotland who wishes to speak up for the reality and importance of biological sex will be reassured by this announcement, and I trust that all women  irrespective of profile or financial means  will be treated equally under the law.

They need a reality check

Reacting to Ms Adams comments, Russell Findlay, justice spokesman for the Scottish Tories, said: Even for the SNP, attacking a prominent womens rights campaigner for seeking to clarify Humza Yousafs chaotic hate crime law is cheap.

Preaching about so-called societal values does nothing to address the reality which is that this disastrous legislation risks free speech and is putting police officers under massive pressure.

The SNP had three years to address concerns but chose to ignore them and have then been responsible for peddling misinformation to the public while falsely accusing opponents of doing so. They need a reality check.
Kirsha Kaechele (in front), creator of the Ladies Lounge leaves a hearing in the Tasmanian civil and administrative tribunal - Charlotte Vignau/Mona

A museums women-only space featuring a Picasso has been ordered to admit men after a legal challenge revolving around discrimination and artistic freedom.

The Ladies Lounge, billed as a living artwork within the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Hobart in Tasmania, was intended to upend notions of misogyny and male patriarchy.

It took the concept of an old-fashioned Australian pub  a blokey, chauvinistic environment from which women were largely excluded until the 1960s  and turned it on its head, reversing themes of entitlement and sexism. Women were ushered in and served champagne by subservient male waiters  the only men allowed in the space.

Adorned with green silk drapes, elegant divans, subdued lighting and paintings by Picasso and Sidney Nolan, the Australian artist, it has been open since 2020.

But the ladies-only restriction was challenged by a male visitor to the museum, who complained that it was discriminatory.

Jason Lau, from New South Wales, visited the museum in April last year and objected to being told he could not go into the Ladies Lounge.

A court in Tasmania ruled in his favour on Tuesday, ordering the museum to open up the attraction to male visitors.

Women were ushered in to the Ladies Lounge exhibit and served champagne by subservient male waiters  the only men allowed in the space - ABC News/Luke Bowden

Mr Lau argued that the museum had violated Tasmanias anti-discrimination laws by failing to provide a fair provision of goods and services in line with the law to him and other men.

The museum had argued that the sense of exclusion and discrimination was key to the whole idea of the installation and was therefore legitimate.

That was rejected by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, with judge Richard Grueber ordering the museum to start admitting men within the next 28 days.

The museums supporters may now try to take the case to Tasmanias Supreme Court.

Mr Lau is male. As he does not identify as a lady he was refused entry to the Ladies Lounge. He had paid the full entry price for Mona but was not able to experience the artwork contained within the Ladies Lounge. The refusal to permit Mr Lau entry to the Ladies Lounge was direct discrimination, Mr Grueber said in his ruling.

He characterised the case as a conflict between an artwork which deliberately and overtly discriminates for artistic purpose and legislation which has the objective of prohibiting discrimination.

From Caravaggio to Jeff Koons, artists and their art have at times had a difficult relationship with the law. This is not surprising, Mr Grueber said.

He said that while the Ladies Lounge had been established with a good faith artistic purpose, it still ran counter to discrimination laws.

A representative for the museum said: We are deeply disappointed by this decision.

Phallus-shaped velvet couch

The Ladies Lounge was created by Kirsha Kaechele, an artist and curator, who in a statement to the court described its central feature as a phallus-shaped velvet couch, or as she put it, a tethered, rearing, restrained-by-golden-chains-and-then-ultimately-defeated phallus.

The space also features Venetian chandeliers, a marble table and ceremonial spears from the South Pacific.

The Lounge was intended as a foil to this strange and disjointed world of male domination, Ms Kaechele said. It was a riposte to the lived experience of women forbidden from entering certain spaces throughout history.

About 20 women who attended the hearings in support of the museum were criticised by the judge for engaging in synchronised movements and apparently using the courtroom as a platform for performance art.

When they left the tribunal building, dressed in blue suits, they put on coordinated dance moves to the strains of Simply Irresistible by Robert Palmer.

Mr Grueber said that although the women had not disrupted the proceedings, their conduct had been inappropriate, discourteous and disrespectful, and at worst contumelious and contemptuous.
The Cheviot Hills in Northumberland national park, which has had its core grant from Defra reduced from 3.7m in 2006 to 2.6m today. Photograph: Graeme Peacock/Alamy

National parks are failing to tackle the biodiversity crisis, with just 6% of national park land in England and Wales managed effectively for nature, according to the first full assessment of how well they are supporting nature recovery.

National parks, which cover 10% of England and 20% of Wales and this year celebrate their 75th anniversary, are not restoring nature because of a chronic lack of government funding and because they were designed for a different era, according to the report by the Campaign for National Parks (CNP) charity.

The parks direct grant from government has been cut by 40% in real terms since 2010, with most national parks only receiving several million pounds  equivalent to the annual budget of a small secondary school.

Ruth Bradshaw, the policy manager for the CNP, said: National parks are special places and they are the last refuges for struggling species like curlew, hen harrier and cuckoo. Nature in the national parks isnt immune from the crisis that is happening elsewhere but there are huge opportunities to bring it back to good health. We need urgent action and major changes  the government needs to strengthen legislation and significantly increase the resources that are going into nature recovery in the national parks.

National parks are key to Britain meeting its commitment to protecting 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 but nature is still in retreat in these protected areas.

Peatlands, which store carbon and cover 43% of the land within national parks, are in poor condition: an estimated 1% of Dartmoors deep peat area is in a healthy condition, according to the CNP report. There had been virtually no change in woodland coverage across national parks in the five years to 2020, and rivers and lakes are in worsening health. The 47% of rivers in national parks judged in good health in 2013 fell to 39% in 2022.

Apart from the lack of funding, national parks are struggling to restore nature because only 13.7% of national park land is publicly owned, with the vast majority privately owned and managed as farmland. Most of this land has suffered from the same nature losses linked to the intensification of farming over the past 75 years in the rest of Britain.

Part of the problem, the CNP report said, was that national parks were created 75 years ago to address fears of urbanisation. Although enhancing wildlife is one of the parks statutory duties, the parks have not changed their mission to reflect the 21st-century climate and extinction crises.

The CNP is calling for a new deal for national parks, with the government setting a clear new priority that they are for nature protection and restoration alongside a doubling of core national park grants to restore 2010 funding levels.

It wants a ban on all burning of moorlands within national parks, a common practice on shooting estates; a ban on all forestry plantations on any depth of peat soil, a practice which can degrade peatlands and cause more carbon emissions; and the licensing of driven grouse shoots to reduce the illegal persecution of threatened species such as hen harrier.

It also wants government agencies, including the Ministry of Defence and Forestry England, and water companies to pay for the restoration of areas that have suffered from historic damage such as pollution, the planting of conifers on peatland and the cost of removing unexploded ordnance which makes restoration much more expensive.

It suggests creating citizens assemblies for every national park to better ensure that every citizen of whatever age, race and class feels welcome and can participate in decision-making within the parks alongside commoners  those who use the land for grazing animals  as well as farmers and landowners.

National parks are facing a long-running funding crisis. The Yorkshire Dales is facing a 4m hole for 2025-26 and some parks have warned they will need to close visitor centres or cut back on footpath management, reducing public access.

Tony Gates, the chief executive of Northumberland national park, where the core grant from Defra has shrank from 3.7m in 2006 to 2.6m today, welcomed the CNP report and its recommendation that national parks are given a leading role by government in recovering nature.

We should be doing more, we could be doing more, and were best placed to do it. Governments just need to back us to do it, he said. Since I took over in 2006, Ive lost a third of my staff. Most of the money we spend on nature recovery, we raise through fundraising, grants and philanthropic donations. If we were relying on core funding alone, were resourced to do very little. We dont have the legal powers to do a lot around nature and yet as place-based organisations with a rich range of relationships built with landowners over decades, were best-placed to lead the way. But government arent backing us to do that.

Prof Sir John Lawton, a conservation scientist and the author of an influential government review of how to recover nature in Britain, welcomed the bold proposals in the CNP report to make more space for nature by restoring, recreating, and joining up habitats for the benefit of people and the creatures that live in these beautiful areas.

It wont be easy, said Lawton. They are working landscapes, home to people and to wildlife, but the report makes clear how it can be done. Its vision fills me with hope.

The CNP said it supported the governments proposals to create more national parks but these must not come at the expense of funding the existing parks. Bradshaw said: We really need to strengthen the way national parks are run to ensure that they are delivering for nature. Alongside that we should be thinking about places where theres potential for future new national parks as well. Were very clear that new national parks should only be introduced alongside increased funding for existing national parks. We certainly wouldnt want to see new national parks resulting in reduced funding for existing national parks.
Betta Edu has been suspended over suspected corruption in Nigeria - Noam Galai/Getty

A corruption investigation into a suspended Nigerian minister whose job is to help poverty-stricken people has recovered 19 million from more than 50 bank accounts, a financial watchdog has alleged.

Betta Edu, the humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation minister, has been suspended since January over the alleged diversion of 505,000 of public money into a personal bank account.

Nigerias economic and financial crimes commission has now said that after six weeks investigating the ministry, it had found many angles to examine, the BBC reported.

That is no childs play

Ola Olukoyede, the commission chairman, told the latest edition of the agencys newsletter: As it is now, we are investigating over 50 bank accounts that we have traced money into.

That is no childs play. Thats a big deal.

President Bola Tinubu in early January ordered a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transaction, and officials suspended several government aid programmes.

At the time Dr Edu, 37, denied any wrongdoing. Her office said she had approved the transfer into a personal account, which was not in her name, but said it was for the implementation of grants to vulnerable groups.

The recovered money had already been transferred to government coffers, Mr Olukoyede said, but warned that the investigation could be lengthy.

He said: We are exploring so many discoveries that we have stumbled upon in our investigation.

If it is about seeing people in jail, well let them wait, everything has a process to follow.

Nigerians complain that Africas biggest economy and most populous country remains plagued by corruption, despite regular government vows to clean it up.

The country in 2023 scored 25 on Transparency Internationals corruption perceptions index, where zero is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.
An aerial view of the explosion site - VIGILI DEL FUOCO/UNPIXS

An explosion at an Italian hydroelectric power plant on Tuesday killed at least four people and left five missing, an official said.

Three people were also injured in the incident at the Bargi plant run by Enel Green Power located on Lake Suviana, an official from the Bologna prefecture in central Italy said.

Fire service images showed smoke rising from the plant on the waters edge where firefighters searched for the missing following the blast, which occurred in the early afternoon.

The mayor of a nearby town called the explosion a 'terrible workplace accident' - VIGILI DEL FUOCO/UNPIXS

No official cause for the incident has yet been determined - VIGILI DEL FUOCO/UNPIXS

The mayor of the nearby town of Camugnano, Marco Masinara, called the explosion a terrible workplace accident that affected the entire community.

It seems there was a floor slab collapse and rescue is difficult as a lot of water entered inside the eighth basement floor, he said.

No official cause for the incident has yet been determined.

Calogero Turturici, the head of the Bologna fire department, told local television outlets that at least one person was seriously injured.

Ambulances and the fire brigade at the scene of a blast - Ufficio Stampa Unione Comuni Appennino Bolognese/Reuters

Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, said on social media that she was following with apprehension the terrible news regarding the explosion.

Enel Green Power, the renewables unit of energy giant Enel that operates the plant, said it was coordinating with authorities.

In a statement, it said that a fire affected one of the two groups of the Bargi plant.

The company added that following investigations, the dam basin of the Bargi plant was not damaged and is safe.

Production was halted, but there was no impact on local or national supply, it said, adding: The company informs that it is continuing to operate in line with all the necessary safety measures as per internal procedures to guarantee the evacuation of its staff.
Mr Pence and Mr Trump were president and vice-president from 2017 to 2021 - Patrick Semansky/AP

Donald Trumps new stance on abortion rights is a slap in the face to voters who supported him in the 2016 and 2020 elections, Mike Pence has said.

The former US vice president, 64, was angered by Mr Trumps announcement on Monday that he will not endorse a nationwide ban during his 2024 campaign.

Mr Pence said: Too many Republican politicians are all too ready to wash their hands of the battle for life.

President Trumps retreat on the right to life is a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans who voted for him in 2016 and 2020.

While critical of the presumptive Republican nominees position, Mr Pence hailed the Trump administrations achievement in nominating the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v Wade, the legal decision that for decades guaranteed abortion rights in the US.

Following that June 2022 ruling  in the Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organisation case  Republicans struggled in that years midterm elections, with reproductive rights cited as a key reason for Democrat gains.

But Mr Pence, a lifelong campaigner against abortion, believes Republicans can still win votes on the issue.

He said: However much our Republican nominee or other candidates seek to marginalise the cause of life, I know pro-life Americans will never relent until we see the sanctity of life restored to the centre of American law in every state in this country.

Mr Pence has so far refused to support Mr Trumps attempt to return to the White House after the pair fell out in the wake of the 2020 election.

His views on abortion are echoed by prominent Trump supporter, Senator Lindsey Graham, who is backing a bill to outlaw abortion across the US after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Mr Trump speaking at an anti-abortion rally in 2020 - Olivier Douliery/AFP

While Mr Trump said the issue should be left to individual states to decide, Mr Graham favours a federal ban.

The idea of the Republican Party abandoning the opposition to late-term abortion, I think, would be a mistake, because most Americans oppose late-term abortion, said Mr Graham.

For the pro-life movement, its about the child, not geography. So if youre turning the pro-life movement into a geographical movement, I think youre making a mistake.

Mr Grahams arguments drew a stinging response from Mr Trump, who suggested that the abortion issue is now costing the Republicans votes.

On his Truth Social network, he wrote that people like Lindsey Graham, that are unrelenting, are handing Democrats their dream of the House, Senate, and perhaps even the Presidency.

Other Republicans have expressed support for Mr Trumps stance. Texas Senator John Cornyn said: Everybodys entitled to their opinion, but I think I agree with President Trump.

Within hours of Mr Trumps announcement, President Joe Bidens campaign looked to take advantage of Republican divisions on abortion by releasing a new advert highlighting the Partys role in overturning Roe v Wade.

The 60-second video features Amanda Zurawski, a Texas woman who sued the state after, she said, she almost died from a miscarriage. Texas banned abortion, in almost all cases, once the state was empowered to do so by the Dobbs decision.

At 18 weeks, Amandas water broke, the adverts text said. She had a miscarriage. Because Donald Trump killed Roe v Wade, Amanda was denied standard medical care to prevent infection, an abortion.

She almost died twice, it added. The infection caused so much damage Amanda may never get pregnant again.
Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, has tabled amendments to his victims and prisoners' Bill - TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Victims subject to gagging orders will be able to breach them to reveal crimes under a new post-Me Too law.

On Tuesday, Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, tabled amendments to his victims and prisoners Bill, which means sexual abusers and other offenders will no longer be able to use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence their victims.

The move comes after high-profile cases such as disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein revealed how confidentiality agreements were being used by sexual predators and bullies to escape prosecution.

In a major victory for victims, NDAs will no longer be legally enforceable if they prevent employees from reporting a crime.

It means that victims will be free to speak about their experiences to police, lawyers, doctors and counsellors without fear of legal action for breaking the terms of the agreement.

It is among a series of amendments announced by Mr Chalk to boost the rights of victims including new measures to open up secret hearings that have freed mentally ill killers and legally-enforced plans to name and shame police, prosecutors and courts that fail to meet their responsibilities to victims.

Improve transparency

Mr Chalk said: Navigating the criminal justice system can feel complex and overwhelming so it is right that we hold agencies to account to ensure victims are getting the support they need.

These new duties will improve transparency, accountability and consistency, ensuring all victims receive support wherever they are, whatever the crime.

Many businesses use non-disclosure agreements legitimately to protect commercially-sensitive information and trade secrets.

But bosses have also been accused of misusing the draconian clauses to silence victims of sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination and workplace abuse.

Under the rules, victims will be allowed to disclose details covered by NDAs providing it is relevant to criminal conduct and for the purpose of reporting an offence or accessing support or advice.

That means other parts of confidentiality agreements, including provisions in respect of commercially sensitive information and financial agreements, will remain in force.

Baroness Newlove, the victims commissioner said: The misuse of NDAs can act as a significant barrier to justice for victims.

These agreements have the effect of silencing victims, denying them access to justice and crucial support to help them rebuild their lives.

I welcome moves to clarify the law and make it clear to victims that NDAs cannot be used to scare victims into silence.

Victims deserve to be heard, and this clarification is an important step towards a system that empowers them to speak out.

Police under great scrutiny

Victims of serious crimes committed by those with mental disorders will be able to explain in their own words the impact the offence has had on them and why they believe an offender should not be released from a secure hospital by a mental health tribunal behind closed doors.

The police and other criminal justice agencies will also be placed under greater scrutiny through a new statutory duty, which will mean they have to not only inform victims of their rights under the Victims Code  but deliver services in accordance with it.

Compliance with this duty will be overseen by the Victims Commissioner, and Ministers will be required to consult the Commissioner when agencies fail to deliver the required standard of services for victims ahead of being issued public notifications of non-compliance.
Labor for Housing says it will call for an increase in the number of social housing dwellings on the 44 tower sites from 11,000 to 20,000. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

Rank and file Victorian Labor party members will use an upcoming state council meeting to push the government to guarantee no public land will be sold off to private developers when it knocks down the states 44 public housing towers.

Labor for Housing  a non-factional advocacy group within the Victorian Labor party that advocates for better housing policies  will also use Mays state conference to call for a doubling of the social housing contained in the planned redevelopment.

We know that the only way through the housing crisis is to increase supply through both government and private development, said Julijana Todorovic, the Labor for Housing co-convener and co-founder. But we also know that once we sell a government asset, we cant get it back.

When we sell government assets, its working people who lose out.

Related: Scope for exploitation: investors eye rooming house conversions amid Melbourne rental crisis

In September 2023 the then premier, Daniel Andrews, released the Victorian governments housing statement, which included plans to redevelop Melbournes 44 high-rise public housing towers.

He described the redevelopment as the biggest urban renewal project in the nations history, with crumbling, out of date and derelict towers to be gradually replaced by new energy-efficient apartments, which would accommodate three times as many residents over the next 30 years.

But according to the plan, only 11,000 of the 30,000 people living at the estates by 2051 would be in social housing  an increase of just 10% on current figures. The remaining 19,000 residents were expected to be private owners and affordable housing tenants.

A draft of Labor for Housings motion, seen by Guardian Australia, said the 10% uplift in social housing was not enough to address our mounting housing crisis, where over 80,000 people are on the social housing waiting list.

It calls on the Allan government to increase the number of social housing dwellings on the 44 sites from 11,000 to 20,000, ensure there is no net loss of public housing dwellings across the sites and guarantee all the land remains in public hands.

The motion suggests the government instead adopt the ground lease model it has used in the past, where public land is leased to a privately owned consortium to build, operate and maintain for 40 years.

Labor for Housings motion also includes a broader moratorium on the sale of any surplus government land that may be suitable for housing, pending analysis by the states land coordinator general.

Todorovic said the group was keen to work with the government to ensure there was more housing for people on the lowest incomes.

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to significantly increase the number of social housing dwellings on these sites and provide sustainable, secure homes for Victorians on land already owned by the government, she said.

We acknowledge that this will come at a significant financial cost. But we have a great opportunity  to get this right.

Labor for Housing has written to Labor branches across the state urging their support.

Last year the groups motions to make housing a human right, introduce a mandatory inclusionary zoning scheme and provide affordable housing for young people all passed unanimously.

Another motion to introduce a cap on the number of nights each year an owner can rent out a property as short stay accommodation, and recommending to national conference that it remove negative gearing tax arrangements for properties used for such a purpose also passed.

The motions are non-binding but play an important role in guiding Labor policy. Just months after the conference, the Victorian government introduced a 7.5% Airbnb levy.

The first public housing towers due for redevelopment are in Carlton, Flemington and North Melbourne, with a completion date of 2031.

But the plan is facing a legal challenge from Inner Melbourne Community Legal, which is set to return to the supreme court later this month.

The class action is being brought on behalf of about 1,000 residents of the three towers, with IMCL alleging the government failed to properly consider the human rights of residents when it decided to redevelop the towers.

It also challenges the legality of the cabinets approval of the plan, rather than the sates housing agency, Homes Victoria.

The premier, Jacinta Allan, on Tuesday said she would not comment on what may or may not happen at state conference in a few weeks time.

She said tower sites were big and well connected to schools, hospitals and public transport services.

Theyre exactly the sorts of sites where we want to take the opportunity to provide more homes for more Victorians and that will also include more homes that are funded by the government, she said.
Tory MP William Wragg admitted he sent the phone numbers of colleagues to a Grindr contact - William Wragg

Scotland Yard has been contacted by a man whose photos were allegedly stolen by the Westminster honeytrapper targeting MPs.

The man went to police after four images from his Facebook account were used as profile pictures by someone calling themselves Charlie, Politico has reported.

Around 20 Westminster figures, including three MPs, have been targeted by online profiles with the aliases Charlie or Abi, which have sent flirtatious messages and in some cases explicit photos.

Leicestershire Police and the Metropolitan Police have launched investigations into the scandal, and Downing Street has urged affected MPs to contact the police.

On Tuesday, a Scotland Yard spokesperson said: Officers from the Mets Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command are carrying out an investigation following reports that a number of unsolicited messages were sent to MPs over recent months.

We are working closely with other forces and are in contact with colleagues in parliamentary security, who are providing support and advice around anyone affected.

Recommended

Westminster honeytrap messages revealed

Read more

A Labour MP and party staffers have also told the Times they were messaged on Grindr by a profile using the same photographs as Charlie and going by the user name M-xl.

The fake profile was said to have used a photograph of a young man wearing a Levis T-shirt and asked alleged targets whether they had slept with journalists and MPs before bragging about having had sex with prominent political figures. There is no suggestion any of the claims made by the profile are true.

William Wragg, the Tory MP for Hazel Grove, quit the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers on Monday after admitting he responded to messages on Grindr, the gay dating app, before sending on the phone numbers of parliamentary colleagues, who were subsequently targeted.

However, a former spy chief claimed on Tuesday the scandal would not do serious damage to national security.

Ciaran Martin, a previous chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, downplayed the scale of the threat and said he did not think a foreign state was behind the attacks.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I doubt the security services are panicking about this This is a backbench MP, albeit a senior one, a chair of a select committee, but not somebody with access to very sensitive information.

And so far as we know  he did disclose the numbers of other MPs, and some of them are understandably furious about that. But that in and of itself will not be a cause of serious national security harm.

Mr Martin downplayed the scale of the threat - John Lawrence for The Telegraph

Mr Martin went on to argue that capable nation states had already obtained the numbers of any and every MP, or could acquire them quite easily.

Asked whether the honeytrap was the work of a foreign state, he said: Well it might be, but one of the things the Government has developed, I think rightly over the years, is what they call in the jargon an attribution framework.

And [that means] you have to have a high degree of technical confidence  you dont just throw allegations around against other states without some serious technical proof.

And in terms of foreign state cyber attacks  Russia, China, Iran, North Korea being the four most common over the last 25 years  we have developed a detailed knowledge of their tradecraft, what their code looks like and so forth, and that doesnt apply here.

The suspected honeytrapper is also believed to have targeted the Liberal Democrats annual gathering, which was held in Bournemouth a fortnight before the Labour conference.

A spokesman for the Liberal Democrats said it was deeply disturbing individuals were being targeted and urged anybody affected to contact the police. Labour was contacted for comment.
Miranda Casarez is charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission, accused in the starvation death of her stepson, Benjamin Cervera, 4, on Aug. 17, 2021.Brandon Cervera, 28, is charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injuring, intentionally or knowingly, according to court records. Courtesy Atascosa and Bexar counties. Courtesy Atascosa and Bexar counties. Miranda Casarez is charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission, accused in the starvation death of her stepson, Benjamin Cervera, 4, on Aug. 17, 2021.Brandon Cervera, 28, is charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injuring, intentionally or knowingly, according to court records. Courtesy Atascosa and Bexar counties. Courtesy Atascosa and Bexar counties.

A Jourdanton woman accused of withholding food, water and medical care from her 4-year-old stepson, who a Bexar County medical examiner said starved to death in 2021, is going on trial.

A Bexar County jury was being selected Monday afternoon to hear the case involving Miranda Casarez, 25, who is one of two co-defendants charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission in the starvation death of Benjamin Cervera, 4.

Casarez, who has been free on bond as she awaits trial, is charged along with the boys father, Brandon Lee Cervera, 30, who also is out on bond and will be tried later.

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An affidavit supporting the couples arrest stated that Casarez called 911 at East Josephine and Broadway streets and then drove an unresponsive Benjamin to Christus Childrens Hospital on Aug. 17, 2021.

A nurse told San Antonio police that the childs injuries appeared to be suspicious, and that Benjamin had bruises on his body that were in various stages of healing, the affidavit stated.

Casarez showed investigators cell phone video of Benjamin hitting himself on the head and asking for bread, according to the court document.

Once investigators seized and searched the devices of both defendants, they found multiple photos and videos clearly showing the physical and mental abuse of the victim, the affidavit stated.

In one image, Benjamins eyes were bruised and swollen. Another video showed the boy shaking uncontrollably, crying and begging for bread and water, denied by the couple, the affidavit stated.

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Additional videos showed Benjamin being forced to eat bread crumbs from a bathroom floor, and begging for water after he was made to drink hand sanitizer, according to the court document.

Police discovered Benjamin had other siblings in the apartment but did not state how many.

Several concerning observations were noted by detectives searching the apartment, the affidavit stated. They found locks on the refrigerator, kitchen cabinets, pantry door, and on Benjamins bedroom, to keep him inside.

All the apartment's occupants except Benjamin appeared to have a bed. Detectives found a small mattress with a blanket on a bedroom floor that was soaked in urine.

Three months after Benjamin died, police created a timeline using the cellphone footage that captured the childs deteriorating health over five months, from April until his death in August.

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Benjamins autopsy determined that none of the physical injuries on the child caused his death, while noting that many of them were signs of abuse that could not have been self-inflicted.

In December 2021, police showed their timeline to the medical examiner who performed the autopsy, and the doctor gathered Benjamins medical records from multiple sources for review.

Jurors will begin hearing testimony in Casarezs case Tuesday morning in the 186th District Court, Judge Kristina Escalona presiding.

Bexar County assistant district attorneys Michael Villarreal and Thomas Damico are prosecuting the case. Defense attorney Anthony B. Cantrell is representing Casarez.

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If convicted of the first-degree felony, Casarez faces five to 99 years or life in prison.
Residents opposed to the events at the vineyard gathered at Ashford Borough Council - SWNS

A row has erupted between a vineyard and residents of a villager after it was given permission to hold wine tastings near the parish churchs graveyard.

Ashford Borough Council granted an alcohol licence to Nine Oaks Vineyard, in Hothfield, despite receiving 13 letters of objection from immediate neighbours who feared visitors would disturb mourners.

Jennifer Boorman, a resident of the village, warned that families visiting graves would be greatly disturbed by people drinking, laughing and generally making a lot of noise.

After permission was granted at a March 26 licensing meeting, Simon Brock, one of the parish councillors, said: The area of the church that is closest to the licensable area is where most recent burials are  so where you have most numbers of people visiting their graves and people who are being buried there.

So there could be a potential conflict between a happy event one side of the fence and a sad event on the other.

Vineyard owners Martyn Pollock and Helen Matheson-Pollock say that St Margaret's Church is 'situated well away from our boundaries' - SWNS

The three-hectare vineyard has been owned by husband and wife vintners Martyn Pollock and Helen Matheson-Pollock since 2020.

Mrs Matheson-Pollock told The Telegraph that St Margarets Church was situated well away from our boundaries and that the vineyard would liaise with Rev Sandra Marsh, the rector, to avoid clashing with funerals.

Because of the licensable area there is flexibility in terms of where we host events, she said.

A neighbouring piece of land is in the process of being sold which includes a six-metre access track that runs from our gate down the side of the vineyard and will mean that we will no longer border the graveyard, [because] there will be a six metre wide buffer between the two properties.

She added: We are aware of the regular services as per the churchs website and will factor these in when we put forward a schedule for bookable tours and tastings and have committed to being as sensitive and responsive as possible if other events arise.

The extent of the licensable area at the vineyard, marked in red, near St Margaret's Church - SWNS

Mr Pollock and Mrs Matheson-Pollock initially applied for a licence to sell alcohol from 10am to 10pm every day of the week.

They later amended this to 10am to 6pm from Thursdays to Sundays, and also applied to host small group wine tasting tours for between 10 and 30 people up to twice a day between Thursdays and Sundays.

We have made significant concessions over the hours, Mr Pollock told the licensing meeting. In terms of wine tasting, it would be 50ml of four different wines so the total would be 200ml.

A large glass of wine is sold in Britain at 250ml. Mr Pollock added that the only alcohol they would sell would be their own bottles of wine, and visitors would not be allowed to drink them at the vineyard.

The couple said in their application that they planned to host open-air theatre performances for up to 250 visitors this summer, up from the 20 to 40 who attended on three occasions last year.

That led to further concerns from villagers who feared that it would cause gridlock on the narrow lane leading to the vineyard.

Mrs Matheson-Pollock told the hearing that most visitors would come by minibus and she did not want any of our activities to negatively impact on local residents.

The council granted the licence with conditions, including that all alcohol consumption was supervised by staff and that the council will be told about any large events.
Shredding paper

In the annual Japanese festival of Hakidashisara, visitors to the Hiyoshi shrine in Kiyosu, smash small discs representing things that make them angry to let go of their frustrations.

Now Japanese scientists have proven that the practice can work in everyday life, after showing that writing down irritations on paper  then destroying it  really does quell furious feelings.

We expected that our method would suppress anger to some extent, said Nobuyuki Kawai, the lead researcher from Nagoya University.

However, we were amazed that anger was eliminated almost entirely.

In new experiments, the Nagoya team set out to trigger angry feelings in a group of university students, who were invited to write opinions on social issues, such as whether smoking in public should be outlawed.

The volunteers were told their opinions would be evaluated, but instead, researchers scored everyone low on intelligence, logic and rationality.

To make sure that the students were angered by the marking, each persons work also included the same insulting comment, which read: I cannot believe an educated person would think like this. I hope this person learns something while at the university.

After handing back the negative comments, the researchers measured anger levels and asked participants to write down their thoughts on the feedback, and then either destroy the document by shredding it, binning it or saving it.

They found that the anger levels of the individuals who binned or shredded their paper had returned to their initial state of calm, while those who kept the feedback only had a small decrease in overall anger.

The researchers believe that the findings could help business people who find themselves in stressful situations.

Anger management technique

Many anger management techniques such as taking a cold shower, or going for a run are impractical for office workers, but simply writing a grievance down on a piece of paper and then binning it, could be a quick way to feel consoled.

This technique could be applied in the moment by writing down the source of anger as if taking a memo and then throwing it away when one feels angry in a business situation, added Mr Kawai.

The team said the discovery may shed light on the origins of the Japanese cultural tradition Hakidashisara, in which hakidashi refers to the purging or spitting out of something, and sara refers to a dish or plate.

At the Hiyoshi shrine in Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture, just outside of Nagoya, visitors smash small discs representing things that make them angry.

Researchers say their findings may explain the feeling of relief that participants report after leaving the festival.

The research was published in the journal Scientific Reporters.
Delays to two lifeline ferries could be announced in an update next week, Scotlands Wellbeing Economy Secretary has said, as the second vessel was launched.

The Glen Rosa  being built at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow  was launched from the publicly-owned yard on Tuesday, but faces more than a year of work before it can be delivered and finally carry passengers on the Clyde and Hebrides network.

While there is a target delivery of September next year, the yards former chief executive David Tydeman intimated further delays to the already years-late and over-budget ferries, before he was sacked for performance-related reasons.

The minister spoke at the launch of the Glen Rosa on Tuesday (Jane Barlow/PA)

Asked about potential delays  which would also likely lead to further cost increases  Mairi McAllan told the PA news agency she expected an update from the board next week.

In respect to the potential delays, the new management team were clear to me that they wanted to interrogate some of what was underpinning that, she said.

Theyre now doing that and Im expecting an update next week.

John Petticrew was promoted to the role of interim chief executive following Mr Tydemans dismissal, having previously served as a non-executive director at the yard.

Ms McAllan added: When youre a new chief executive officer, with the responsibilities that holds  you want the time to interrogate the underpinnings of the potential delay.

Beth Atkinson, 28, was the one to launch the ship (Jane Barlow/PA)

Mr Petticrew  conceding he was giving a non-answer  said he had not finished his review and could not comment on the potential delays.

The Wellbeing Economy Secretary stressed that the event  which saw the ship launched by 28-year-old former welding apprentice Beth Atkinson  should be one of celebration.

She told the crowds during the launch ceremony that the Scottish Government stands with the workers at Ferguson Marine and the communities of Port Glasgow and Inverclyde.

But she accepted there had been challenges in delivering the vessels.

Ms Atkinson, a qualified welder who completed her apprenticeship at the yard, smashed a special bottling of Ardgowan blended malt whisky off the hull to launch the ferry.

Mr Petticrew said: This is a proud day for the shipyard, the people of Inverclyde and every individual who has supported Ferguson Marine reach this landmark moment.

MV Glen Rosa is the 363rd vessel launched on the Clyde under the Ferguson Marine name. At around 3,000 tonnes, she is considerably heavier than her sister vessel MV Glen Sannox was at launch and sets a new record for the yard in terms of weight at launch.

The bow of the MV Glen Rosa before being launched at the Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA)

Today marks a significant milestone in the delivery of the two new ferries, following the success of MV Glen Sannoxs sea trials in February and last week. This demonstrates the hard work being done by everyone at the yard to complete both ferries as soon as possible.

MV Glen Rosa will now take her place at the quayside, at the spot Glen Sannox recently vacated, so that her internal fit out can continue.

Scottish Tory transport spokesman Graham Simpson said the day was an important one for staff at the yard, but added that the issues with the ferries were because of the breath-taking incompetence of (Ms McAllans) SNP Government.

The Glen Rosa and the Glen Sannox should have been in service in 2018 and cost the taxpayer 97 million, but costs are now pushing 400 million.

The contract has also endured a number of leadership changes after collapsing into administration and being saved by the Scottish Government, when issues with the ferries were discovered.

Ms McAllan added that she acutely understood the impact of the delays on islanders, adding: I understand the current resilience on the (Clyde and Hebrides Ferry) network is problematic, I understand that entirely.

She stressed that the Scottish Government was focused on delivering six new vessels for the network by 2026, four of which will be built in Turkey.

Ministers have repeatedly expressed their desire to make the yard commercially viable and return it to the private sector.

But the minister said it would be difficult to directly award contracts for future vessels to the yard under public procurement rules, which mean it could only go ahead in very limited circumstances.

Former first minister Alex Salmond is among those who has previously called for direct awards to be made.

The ferry and its sister ship has been long delayed (Jane Barlow/PA)

Gary Cook, a senior organiser in engineering for GMB Scotland, also pushed for the direct award, calling for seven smaller vessels currently planned to be built at the yard to cement the industry for generations to come.

A business case for further investment, aimed at boosting the yards commercial viability, has been submitted to ministers and is currently being considered.

Days after the shipyards former boss was sacked, the CalMac chief executive officer Robbie Drummond was removed from his post with Duncan Mackison installed as his interim replacement.

Mr Mackison said: Todays successful launch is a positive step forward and we are looking forward to welcoming MV Glen Rosa into the CalMac fleet.

When she enters service, she will provide much-needed resilience and capacity to the Arran community.
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has become Irelands youngest Taoiseach

The 37-year-olds appointment was confirmed during a ceremony with President Michael D Higgins at his official residence at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin.

President Higgins signed the Warrant of Appointment and handed the Seal of the Taoiseach and the Seal of Government to Mr Harris.

The ceremony came after the Dail parliament backed his nomination to become the countrys new premier by 88 votes to 69.

Mr Harris, a father-of-two, has become Irelands 15th taoiseach after the surprise resignation of Leo Varadkar as Fine Gael leader three weeks ago.

Mr Varadkar formally resigned at Taoiseach at an audience with Mr Higgins on Monday evening, paving the way for Mr Harriss election on Tuesday.

The Wicklow TDs wife Caoimhe, and young children Saoirse and Cillian, were in the public gallery of the Dail for proceedings, as were his parents Mary and Bart, brother Adam, sister Gemma and grandmother Ann.

Simon Harris with his wife Caoimhe and children Cillian and Saoirse (Maxwell Photography/PA)

Mr Harris has assumed the lead of the Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Green Party coalition government with less than a year to run before a general election must be called.

Government TDs rose to applaud as the outcome of the vote was announced, and later cheered and hugged Mr Harris as he emerged from the parliament building at Leinster House in central Dublin ahead of his trip to see the president.

Addressing the Dail before the ceremony at the Aras, Mr Harris said he was committed to doing everything he could to honour the trust placed in him.

He said he hoped to lead a partnership government in a spirit of unity, collaboration and mutual respect.

He paid warm tribute to Mr Varadkar for his incredible service, highlighting his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the fallout from Brexit.

Leo Varadkar speaking in the Dail (Maxwell Photography/PA)

Mr Harris spoke of his love for his family, describing his wife as his rock and promising his children that being your dad will remain my most important job.

He accepted his new role in a spirit of humility, ready for the challenge, and full of energy and determination about what can be achieved.

As Taoiseach I want to bring new ideas, a new energy, and I hope a new empathy to public life, he added.

But politics is not about the office holder. This is not about me  its about all of us, all of us working together to serve the people.

He pledged to address acute housing shortages in Ireland, describing the crisis as the greatest societal and economic challenge of our generation.

Today, I recommit to moving mountains to help build more homes and drive more home ownership, he said.

Simon Harris with President Michael D Higgins (Damien Storan/PA)

He also promised to deliver improvements in healthcare provision, oversee a step change in care for older people, and achieve real and meaningful reform for people with disabilities.

Mr Harris also reiterated his support for the people of Ukraine and restated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

He said it was an opportune time to build a new social contract that renewed Irelands founding principles as a republic.

To create equality of opportunity, he said.

To support those who need the state the most. To protect our hard-earned economic success.

To use its benefits to deliver tangible outcomes to society. Time is short and there is lots to do.

Simon Harris leaves the Dail in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Harris said he wanted to rise above partisan politics and work to solve the greatest challenges facing Ireland.

The people expect us to do more; we should demand of ourselves no less, he added.

After Mr Varadkars resignation, Mr Harris emerged as the only contender to replace him as Fine Gael leader.

He has pledged to focus on more bread and butter issues and has repeatedly mentioned supporting small businesses facing high costs, helping farmers and focusing on crime and security.

Mr Harris has also made clear he intends for the coalition between Civil War-era rivals Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, as well as the Greens, to run its full term to March 2025.

His first task as Taoiseach will be a reshuffle of Fine Gael ministers in the administration, including which of his colleagues replaces him as minister for further and higher education.

Micheal Martin spoke in support of Mr Harriss nomination (Maxwell Photography/PA)

During proceedings in the Dail, Opposition TDs repeatedly called for an immediate general election, as they criticised the nomination of a new taoiseach without first going to the electorate.

The sitting began with an address by Mr Varadkar, who said his work in politics had been the most fulfilling and rewarding time of his life.

But today is the beginning of a new era for my party, a new chapter in my life and a new phase for this coalition Government, he added.

Fine Gael deputy leader and social protection minister Heather Humphreys proposed Mr Harris as Taoiseach, with party colleague and minister of state Peter Burke seconding him.

Fianna Fail leader and deputy premier Micheal Martin spoke in support of Mr Harriss nomination, as did Green Party leader Eamon Ryan.

Its a special day for you and I look forward to a constructive and effective co-operation in the time ahead, Mr Martin told Mr Harris.

Mr Ryan has said he is committed to continuing the coalition deal until the end of the mandate, and rejected calls for an election.

I hear others saying we have to have an election now. I fundamentally disagree because there is work to be done that we can deliver, he said.

Mary Lou McDonald, leader of main opposition party Sinn Fein, criticised Mr Harriss record in government as she restated her demand for a general election.

Another Fine Gael taoiseach is the last thing the people need. We need a change of leadership, we need a change of government, she said.

She accused the Government of trying to present a narrative that dresses up failure as progress.

Its your century-old cosy club, circling the wagons once again to cling to power at all costs, she said.

I believe that the people of Ireland deserve so much better.

If you really believe that your Government has the support of the people, then you should go before the people and get that mandate.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has hosted Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Downing Street amid reports that properties in Kigali earmarked for the UKs stalled deportation scheme have instead been sold to local buyers.

The meeting between the two leaders on Tuesday was overshadowed by former home secretary Suella Bravermans criticism of fallen expectations over the 163 affordable homes on the Bwiza Riverside Estate in Kigali.

Journalists asked Mr Kagame as he entered Number 10 whether the housing is being sold off but he did not respond.

A Downing Street spokesman said the two men discussed the pioneering UK and Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership, which will break the business model of criminal gangs risking lives at sea, and the Prime Minister updated President Kagame on the next stages of the legislation in Parliament.

Both leaders looked forward to flights departing to Rwanda in the spring, the spokesman added.

Some 70% of the 163 properties in the Rwandan capital have now been purchased, meaning there is only space for a few dozen asylum seekers, the Times reported.

Ms Braverman, who has increasingly been a thorn in the Prime Ministers side since she was sacked from her Cabinet role last year, said she is disappointed at the state of the Governments asylum plan.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed Rwandan President Paul Kagame to Downing Street (Alberto Pezzali/PA)

She previously described the homes built as part of 257-unit scheme as beautiful and complimented the interior design.

The prices of the properties, funded as part of a public-private partnership between the Kigali government and ADHI Corporate Group, range between 14,000 and 27,000.

A manager at the estate said the homes have been sold to private people who want to live in them.

Speaking to LBC, Ms Braverman said: Im disappointed to read that expectations have fallen and that the Rwandans are now selling off some of those properties.

She added: The only way we generate a deterrent effect to stop people getting on the boats and coming to the UK illegally is regular flights, with hundreds of passengers on those flights being sent to Rwanda on a regular basis.

Im afraid the plan, as it stands today, wont deliver that.

Suella Braverman said construction work was progressing steadily when she visited Kigali in March last year (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Labour demanded urgent clarity on the Rwanda scheme farce following the Times report, calling on the Prime Minister to address it directly while the Commons is away on Easter recess.

Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said: Now it seems there will be even less capacity to house those that are removed. The Tories so-called plan is unravelling by the day and taxpayers are footing the bill. Its time for change.

According to latest Home Office figures, 82 migrants were detected crossing the English Channel in small boats on Monday, taking the total so far this year to 5,517.

Suella Braverman visited the estate while she was home secretary last year. Issue date: Monday November 13, 2023.

A Home Office spokesman said: As the government of Rwanda have made repeatedly clear, they stand ready to host thousands of migrants under the partnership.

The scheme is uncapped and provisions are in place to provide accommodation as required. We remain focused on getting flights off the ground as soon as possible.

The Rwandan government has disputed the amount of properties that have been sold privately and insisted the scheme is one of several estates for migrants.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has congratulated new Irish premier Simon Harris on his appointment.

Mr Harris became Irelands youngest Taoiseach on Tuesday, taking over from Leo Varadkar.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Sunak said: As the closest of neighbours, I look forward to forging even stronger ties between our two countries so we can deliver for people across these isles.

Congratulations @SimonHarrisTD on becoming Taoiseach. As the closest of neighbours, I look forward to forging even stronger ties between our two countries so we can deliver for people across these isles. https://t.co/G7fP8p7Je5  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 9, 2024

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris also congratulated the new Taoiseach, adding: I wish him all the best as he settles into the role and look forward to working together as we further strengthen UK-Ireland cooperation.

The president of the European Commission has expressed warmest congratulations to Mr Harris.

In a post on X, Ursula von der Leyen said they would meet on Thursday and added: We will work hand in hand to deliver for the people of Ireland, and for Europe as a whole.

My warmest congratulations to @SimonHarrisTD on being elected Taoiseach of Ireland today. We will work hand in hand to deliver for the people of Ireland, and for Europe as a whole. Looking forward to meeting you in Brussels on Thursday.  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 9, 2024

European Council president Charles Michel wished Mr Harris success in his new role. He said: Looking forward to collaborating closely with you.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky also paid tribute to the new Irish leader and said: We value our partnership and thank Ireland for its consistent support as Ukraine defends itself against Russian aggression and pursues EU accession.

Ireland has welcomed more than 100,000 refugees from Ukraine since the war began.

Congratulations to @SimonHarrisTD on becoming Ireland's new Taoiseach. We value our partnership and thank Ireland for its consistent support as Ukraine defends itself against Russian aggression and pursues EU accession. I am confident that our active bilateral cooperation  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 9, 2024

Mr Zelensky added: I am confident that our active bilateral cooperation strengthens security for both nations and throughout all of our Europe.

UK Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer posted on social media: Congratulations to Simon Harris on becoming Irelands Taoiseach.

On behalf of the UK Labour Party, I wish him well and look forward to working together as we seek to strengthen the ties of friendship between our two countries.
A Tory MP has resigned as vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee amid a backlash over his admission that he shared other politicians personal numbers with a suspected scammer who he met on a dating app.

William Wragg has also stepped back from his role heading the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC).

Mr Wragg admitted last week that he had given colleagues phone numbers to someone on a dating app amid fears that intimate images of himself would be leaked after he was targeted in a parliamentary sexting scam.

Scotland Yard has said it is investigating reports of the so-called honey trap scam after it was suggested that at least 12 men in political circles received unsolicited messages, raising security concerns.

Luke Evans (David Woolfall/UK Parliament/PA)

After Mr Wraggs revelations in The Times, Luke Evans, Conservative MP for Bosworth, claimed he had been the victim of cyber flashing and was the member who alerted police to the issue.

In a video posted to Facebook on Friday, Dr Evans said: The first set of messages I got was on a day I was with my wife, and I got a one-time open photo on WhatsApp of an explicit image of a naked lady. As soon as I got these, the next day I reported it to the police, the authorities and the chief whip.

Ten days later I got another set of messages. This time, however, I was sitting with my team in the constituency office, so we were able to record the conversation and catch photos and videos of the messages coming through including another explicit female image.

The unknown scammer is said to have used the aliases Charlie and Abi while sending flirtatious messages to coax MPs into sending explicit pictures.

Mr Wragg said he was sorry for his weakness in responding, an apology which was praised as courageous and fulsome by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg (Victoria Jones/PA)

But pressure has mounted in recent days amid concerns over parliamentary security, with critics from across the political divide questioning Mr Wraggs behaviour.

Speaking on GB News, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said Mr Wragg had always been willing to throw stones at others and asked whether he should keep his parliamentary roles after falling for a pretty obvious honey trap.

Nadine Dorries, another ally of Boris Johnson who insists he was toppled by a shadowy Conservative cabal, suggested the MP for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester had been protected by Tory high command for political reasons.

In an article for Mail+, she alluded to Mr Wraggs criticism of the former prime minister during the final days of his premiership after the scandal involving former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher, who allegedly groped two men while drunk.

When, on the rare occasion, his name has popped up in the media, its been because hes a) being disloyal, b) complaining that the whips are bullying him, or c) attempting to remove a sitting prime minister, Ms Dorries said.

Nadine Dorries (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

I have always believed the deviousness of Wragg runs deep  a Gollum-like character since the day he arrived in Westminster in 2015.

She suggested people close to Mr Wragg had wanted to oust Mr Pincher because he was a loyal supporter of Boris Johnson and an experienced Westminster operator.

Tory MP Dame Andrea Jenkyns, another Johnson supporter, branded Mr Wragg an idiot for compromising security as she revealed she had also been targeted with a spear-phishing text.

I too received the WhatsApp & reported it, she wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

It was worded identical mentioning Conference. Unlike some MPs I am not happy with #Wragg as a mother with a young child who only recently had threats, its unforgivable of him to compromise the security of fellow MPs. Action is needed!

Mr Wragg has written to the Speaker saying that he wishes to resign from his role leading PACAC and arrangements for the election of a new chair will be announced when the House returns after Easter recess, the Commons said.

The MP has been contacted for comment.
A climber has told of how a volunteer lifeboat crew saved her life after an abseiling trip went horribly wrong.

In May 2022, Louise Houghton was visiting Orkney with friends after travelling up from Wigan.

On the first day of the trip, Ms Houghton and her friends had planned to visit the Old Man Of Hoy, but due to poor weather, they decided to go abseiling instead on Yesnaby cliffs.

When she began her abseil, the anchor tethering her to the cliff edge failed, and Ms Houghton fell into the rocks below before plummeting into the sea.

Her friends were then able to pull her out.

Ms Houghton said: I remember falling, and then being pulled out of the water by my friends.

It all happened so quickly.

After being pulled from the water, she added: I remember passers-by at the top of the cliff throwing down their coats in an attempt to keep me warm, but I remember feeling hot.

My vision began to go blurry, but I also felt a wave of an adrenaline and started chatting to my friends.

Yesnaby Cliffs, where Ms Houghton fell during an abseiling accident (RNLI/PA)

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers, including Peter Mackay, soon arrived to treat her on the scene.

Mr Mackay, who has volunteered with Stromness RNLI for 11 years, said that although she was conscious at first, she appeared to be deteriorating quickly.

He said: I had to make a decision as Louise was slipping in and out of consciousness.

I made an initial assessment and requested another crew member came to help me put her on a stretcher, and then transfer her to the all-weather lifeboat.

Ms Houghton was transferred over to the Stromness RNLI All-weather lifeboat named, Violet Dorothy and Kathleen, and was then winched by a coastguard helicopter to be transferred to Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall.

Mr Mackay said: I had to stay on the rocks while they transferred Louise to the lifeboat, but when she arrived, the crew didnt think she was still with us.

Fortunately, she regained consciousness and left with the Coastguard helicopter. She definitely left in a better way then how we found her.

Ms Houghton shows off a t-shirt made ahead of a 10k race to raise money for the RNLI. (RNLI/PA)

Ms Houghton, who would spend a total of four months in hospital following the accident, said: I broke my left arm, my back in multiple places, my pelvis and both my feet.

I wasnt allowed to stand for 12 weeks until I could weight bear.

I needed extra care and was placed on a rehab ward.

My whole life changed in an instant.

I went from being active and outdoorsy, to not being able to stand for 12 weeks.

It was both physically and mentally challenging, and I couldnt have done it without the support of my family and friends.

I also cant forget about the amazing RNLI volunteers who came to my rescue, without them, I wouldnt be here today.

Ms Houghton later met with the RNLI crew to express her gratitude.

She said: It was amazing to meet the crew who rescued me that day and say thank you to them.

They chatted me through the rescue and told me things I didnt remember from that day.

She later ran a 5k and a 10k race to raise money for the RNLI.

Volunteers from Stromness RNLI (RNLI/PA)

She said: The volunteer crew saved my life that day, and I wouldnt be here without them.

On Monday, the RNLI revealed the number of times rescue lifeboats were despatched in Scotland during 2023 was 1,251, an increase of 12% when compared with the previous year.

Crews from 46 lifeboat stations saved 15 lives in Scotland in 2023.

The RNLI is now asking for supporters to partake in its Mayday Mile fundraiser, an initiative where supporters can travel a mile each day throughout may to raise money for the lifeboat service.

Jill Hepburn, head of region for the RNLI in Scotland, says: Summer is our busiest time of year, with thousands of people at risk of getting into danger by the water.

Having recently marked the RNLIs 200th anniversary, were putting out our call for help to raise the funds which will help keep our lifesaving service going today and into the future.

As a charity we rely on the support and generosity of the public to take part in events like the Mayday Mile and raise the funds that allow us to be there when were needed most.

To sign up for the Mayday Mile, or to make a donation in support of the RNLIs lifesavers, visit RNLI.org/supportMayday
Marili Ochoa is a digital pattern maker, amazing designer, and self-proclaimed crazy cat lady. She recently posted the most epic dress she designed and created to wear to 2023's CatCon and I am pretty sure I'm not the only cat mom who would absolutely love to pre-order one of these incredible creations.

Just check out her beautiful cat scratching post gown!

View the original article to see embedded media.

As the proud pet parent of three felines, I cannot tell you how many upholstered furniture pieces this would have saved in my house.

Yes, I clip my cats nails and provide them with ample scratching posts, but more times then once one of my cats has climbed up my body using their nails and this dress would be just purrfect!

Ochoa designed the dress for CatCon and said in her Instagram post, "I made this cat scratching post dress and wore it to the biggest cat event in the world."

Related: Cats Have a Surprising Reason for Scratching When They See Their Humans

People are loving this cat couture on Instagram and one person asked, "Did a cat pay you to do this?" Another added, "A scratch-able dress!? As a cat - I LOVE it!!"

I wonder if Ochoa pre-scented the dress with catnip to attract cats like I do with my cat scratchers at home?

Cats love scratching things for many reasons, it helps cats remove the outer sheath of their claws, keeping them sharp and healthy, it can relieve stress, it can mark their territory because a cat's paws have scent glands, and it is just fun for them.

I can't wait to see what this amazing designer comes up with if she attends CatCon this year!

All About CatCon

CatCon is August 3 and 4 in Pasadena, California at the Pasadena convention center. Your ticket gets you access to the exhibit hall with an adoption village, one-of-a-kind experiences and photo ops, conversations with experts, tons of products for you and your cat, PLUS  giveaways, contests, and more.

According to the CatCon website, Since 2014, Ticket Out, Inc. (parent company of CatCon and Cat Art Show) has donated over $375,000 to animal charities, and helped find forever homes for 1025 cats and kittens!

View the original article to see embedded media.

Ticket prices vary but start at $10 for a child. You can find more information about CatCon at their website here.

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This is a picture of Coeur dAlene, Idaho. An 18-year-old planned to carry out attacks on multiple churches there, federal authorities say.

An 18-year-old student from Idaho was arrested for planning to attack churchgoers in his hometown on behalf of ISIS, according to federal authorities.

Alexander Scott Mercurio, of Coeur dAlene, Idaho, is accused of "attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS" and pledging his allegiance to the terrorist organization, a Justice Department news release said.

In addition to supporting ISIS, Mercurio allegedly conspired to attack individuals at over 21 churches in Coeur d'Alene on Sunday with various weapons  including knives, guns and fire, according to the release.

Mercurio has been charged with "attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization," the Justice Department said. He could receive a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

Court filings on Tuesday show Mercurio is without legal counsel for his case.

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Alexander Mercurio intentionally planned to attack churches before the end of Ramadan, feds say

The FBI began looking into Mercurio when the 18-year-old reached out to "confidential human sources" online and revealed his support for ISIS and terrorist organizations, according to court documents filed in the District of Idaho. The confidential human source met Mercurio in person, and he again expressed his support for ISIS, the documents continued.

"Mercurio spread ISIS propaganda online and solicited ISIS's involvement in and approval of his propaganda efforts, discussed traveling from the U.S. to join ISIS, considered and planned ways to support ISIS financially, and most recently, set forth a plan to assault his father with a metal pipe, acquire his father's firearms and attack a local church," according to court records.

Mercurio's behavior "escalated" at the beginning of 2024 when he began planning a suicide attack on churches in Coeur d'Alene, the court records show. His plan involved using flame-covered weapons, explosives, knives, a machete, a pipe and firearms, according to the court records.

He chose a specific church and intentionally planned the attack to occur on April 7 because that meant it would happen before the end of Ramadan, court documents show.

FBI thwarts Alexander Mercurio's plan before he stole father's guns

The next part of Mercurio's plan involved incapacitating his father, restraining him with handcuffs and stealing his firearms to use for "maximum casualties in his attack," according to court documents. Before the attack, he bought butane canisters and a metal pipe, the documents continued.

While planning the attack, Mercurio made a "Bayah statement," which included him pledging his allegiance to ISIS and "stating his intention to die while killing others on behalf of ISIS," court records show. He transmitted the statement a day before he planned to carry out the attack, according to the court records.

Federal authorities managed to stop Mercurio before he could harm his father, court documents show. When they searched Mercurio's family's home Saturday, they found plans for the attack, the items he bought for the crimes and an ISIS flag in his bedroom, the documents continued.

Alexander Mercurio told the FBI's confidential source the attack plan, feds say

The FBI identified Mercurio as an online student at a local school who was issued a laptop and Wi-Fi Hotspot, court records show. Authorities found files on the school-issued laptop "confirming Mercurio's commitment to ISIS and its ideology," including photos of him using ISIS-related gestures and documents about socialism, communism and politics, according to the court records.

Mercurio also participated in an online group chat with other ISIS supporters, according to court documents.

"I'm 17 in USA," Mercurio wrote in the chat on Oct. 2, 2022, court documents show. "I know I try to keep secret, I'm in north Idaho very Christian and conservative parents are mad cause I'm not shaving beard and not letting pants go below ankle."

During an online conversation with the confidential human source, Meruciro told him the plan in detail, court records show.

"The plan is basically this: lie to my dad an say I'm going on a walk, leave, walk to a park, send the bayah video, delete all the social media on my phone (and) then walk to the nearest church," Mercurio wrote between March 25-26, according to court records. "Stop close by the church, equip the weapon(s) and storm the temple, kill as many as possible before they inevitably scatter, then burn the temple to the ground and flee the scene, then move onto the next church, rinse and repeat for all 21+ churches in the town until killed."

'This case should be an eye-opener', FBI agent says

U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit said "we have no higher calling than to protect our nation and our communities from terrorism," according to the Justice Department's release.

This case should be an eye-opener to the dangers of self-radicalization, which is a real threat to our communities, Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI said in the release. Protecting the American people from terrorism remains the FBIs number one priority, and we continue to encourage the public to report anything suspicious to the FBI or your local law enforcement.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alexander Mercurio arrested, planned to attack churches for ISIS: Feds
The crowd breaks out in cheer as the totality phase of the solar eclipse reaches Marktplatz in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas, on Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024. Although the clouds prevented a full view of totality, the temperature dropped and the sky darkened for more than 4 minutes and 20 seconds. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The partial eclipse starts in Fredericksburg, Texas, Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News People gather to watch the Eclipse at Marktplatz on Monday, April 8, 2024, in Fredericksburg, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Solar flares appear from behind the edges of the moon during a total solar eclipse seen on Monday, April 8, 2024, in Kerrville, Texas. Alvin A.H. Jornada/The Chronicle The crowd looks up at the sky without their eclipse glasses as the totality phase of the solar eclipse reaches Marktplatz in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas, on Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024. Although the clouds prevented a full view of totality, the temperature dropped and the sky darkened for more than 4 minutes and 20 seconds. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The crowd looks up at the sky as the totality phase of the solar eclipse reaches Marktplatz in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas, on Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024. Although the clouds prevented a full view of totality, the temperature dropped and the sky darkened for more than 4 minutes and 20 seconds. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Gloria Paz of Houston catches a glimpse of the solar eclipse as the sun momentarily peeks out from behind the clouds at Marktplatz on Monday, April 8, 2024, in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas. She traveled from Houston with her husband and two children to watch the total solar eclipse in Fredericksburg. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News People catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse as the sun momentarily peeks out from behind the clouds at Marktplatz on Monday, April 8, 2024, in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News People catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse as the sun momentarily peeks out from behind the clouds at Marktplatz on Monday, April 8, 2024, in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The crowd looks up at the sky as the totality phase of the solar eclipse reaches Marktplatz in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas, on Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024. Although the clouds prevented a full view of totality, the temperature dropped and the sky darkened for more than 4 minutes and 20 seconds. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Volunteer Colene Cabezas of Meadows Place, Texas, directs an out-of-town visitor on where to park to watch the Eclipse at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park on Monday morning, April 8, 2024, in Fredericksburg, Texas. Cabezas works for the City of Meadows Place, outside of Houston, and traveled to Fredricksburg to offer assistance during the Eclipse. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Traffic backs up along Main Street in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas, on Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, after the end of the totality phase of the solar eclipse. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Volunteers Colene Cabezas and Scotty Wareham direct an out-of-town visitor on where to park to watch the Eclipse at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park on Monday morning, April 8, 2024, in Fredericksburg, Texas. City workers and volunteers handed out free eclipse glasses, trash bags and park maps to everyone driving into the park. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Hundreds of Eclipse glasses sit out for volunteers to give to visitors as they arrive to Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park on Monday, April 8, 2024, in Fredericksburg, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Hundreds of trash bags sit out for volunteers to give to visitors as they arrive to Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park on Monday, April 8, 2024, in Fredericksburg, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The sun peeks through the clouds as people walk through Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park on Monday, April 8, 2024, in Fredericksburg, Texas. The park opened at 5:30 a.m. for Eclipse watchers searching for first-come first-serve parking. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News A view of the start of the Eclipse from Marktplatz on Monday, April 8, 2024, in Fredericksburg, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Traffic backs up along Main Street in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas, on Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, after the end of the totality phase of the solar eclipse. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The partial eclipse peeks through the clouds in San Antonio, Texas moments before the totality. Cloud cover kept the totality from being viewed in most of San Antonio. Michel Fortier/Michel Fortier/Staff Police officers patrol Main Street by bicycle as people gather to watch the Eclipse at Marktplatz on Monday morning, April 8, 2024, in Fredericksburg, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Reporter Jason Allen, left, and photojournalist Jake Shannon, right, from CBS News in Dallas look up at the sun as it peaks through the clouds while covering an Eclipse watch party at Marktplatz on Monday, April 8, 2024, in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas. The reporting pair planned to stay in San Antonio last night, but found accommodations in Fredericksburg due to last-minute hotel cancelations. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Umesh Kurpad of Newton, Mass., uses eclipse glasses to look at the sun as it breaks through the clouds at Marktplatz on Monday, April 8, 2024, in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas. Kurpad and his wife Debra traveled from Mass. to Austin and then San Antonio to vacation before traveling up to Fredericksburg to watch the eclipse. They traveled to South Carolina in 2017 to watch the last total solar eclipse. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Auto insurance rates in Texas rose an average of 25.5% in 2023, the largest annual increase in at least a decade  and more than double the national increase. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

Flying in from Arizona, Conni and Jerry Knoblach planned to watch Mondays total solar eclipse in Kerrville.

But as soon as they arrived, Jerry Knoblach took a look at the cloud cover and decided they needed to get back in the car and find clearer skies. They found what he was looking for in a gravel lot not far from where Interstate 10 meets U.S. 290.

Its like lava coming off the sun, Conni Knoblach shouted as she looked through her husbands telescope, spotting the jagged edges of the suns corona through wispy clouds.

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The extra effort helped make sure the weather didnt spoil the experience.

It was worth it, Jerry Knoblach said.

For much of Texas, that was the story of the 2024 total solar eclipse: Not as big and glorious as it couldve been, a bit more difficult to see than expected  but still pretty darn cool.

State officials and eclipse experts had predicted as many as 1.5 million out-of-state visitors would roll into Texas for the rare celestial event, which was the first total solar eclipse to cross the continental United State since 2017. Hundreds of thousands of those visitors were expected in the Hill Country, which was projected to be one of the best places in America to watch the eclipse.

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But the eclipse party was dampened by a weather system that pushed in thick clouds across much of Central Texas and the Hill Country, making it much more difficult to get a good look.

Tens of thousands of visitors still made the trek to Fredericksburg, Kerrville and other Hill Country cities. But the projected huge crowds  the prospect of which had led a number of local officials to issue disaster declarations in recent weeks  never materialized.

That doesn't mean there were no issues. As expected, traffic was a problem at times, with cars backed up for miles on I-10 headed out of Kerrville about 3:30 p.m. on Monday, about two hours after the eclipse reached totality. But Kerrville officials said on Monday morning that fewer people had come to town over the weekend than expected, and residents in several Hill Country cities said the crowds were similar to a busy weekend during peak tourist season.

Weather forecasts of heavy cloud cover and the potential for rain likely led a number of would-be eclipse-watchers to stay home.

'You feel a connection'

For those who did head to the Hill Country for the eclipse, two of the hot spots were Louise Hays Park in Kerrville and the Marktplatz section of downtown Fredericksburg.

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Thousands of people turned out to the Kerrville park, which featured vendors, food trucks, live music and even had staffers from NASA, the federal space agency, on hand to interact with visitors. People cheered as totality arrived shortly after 1:30 p.m., even though the eclipse was in view only for a few seconds. Still, many on hand said they'll remember it forever.

Emilie Casebolt, among the attendees in Kerrville, said she was moved by the eclipse and all that went along with it.

"I'm not going to lie, I teared up a little bit," she said as her earrings, snakes biting a moon and sun, swayed back and forth.

Casebolt, 32, travelled from St. Paul, Minnesota, to watch the eclipse. She said she was glad she did.

'ONCE IN A LIFETIME': UTSA students tune in to watch rare total solar eclipse

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"There's something about the people, the camaraderie of it all," Casebolt said. "You feel a connection to the people around, connection with the Earth. I can understand completely why it spurred religions or added to lore and whatnot."

About 25 miles away in Fredericksburg, temporary night descended on the crowd at totality, and the onlookers cheered, even though the moon and sun were hidden behind thick clouds.

As if by magic, a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam appeared on Main Street in Fredericksburg as the crowd headed out of town just a few minutes after totality was completed.

As that traffic filled Main Street, four friends from Houston relaxed on camp chairs on the Marketplatz lawn.

We hate traffic, said Brad Rinderknecht, who, with his wife Lee Ann and friends Gary and Vicky Spengler, arrived from Houston that morning and will be staying overnight. So they felt no compunction to leave the quickly emptying park.

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'A spiritual experience'

Outside Fredericksburg and Kerrville, eclipse fans celebrated the day as best they could. The Science Mill in Johnson City attracted several families who live within the path of totality, but thought the museum would make for a fun eclipse outing.

Jenn Merket pulled her kids, Charlie, 10, and Stella, 8, out of school for the day and drove from south Austin to spend the day in the Hill Country.

I wanted to experience the eclipse with both of my kids, she said, watching as they worked on crafts outside the museum.

Other families scrambled to find a spot where they could best watch the eclipse. Among those was Mark Kempton, an amateur astronomer who came from Long Beach, California, to see the spectacle.

He'd intended to watch the eclipse in Kerrville, which was where his great-grandmother was born. But he and Kat Janowicz drove east from Kerrville on Monday, heading down U.S. 290 to find a better vantage point, and stopped when they saw the crowd of people gathered near I-10, where the Knoblacks had stopped.

Kempton had heard people say that once youve seen one eclipse, youll want to see all of them. About 20 minutes after totality ended, he fully agreed.

Im already planning my trip to Spain in a couple of years, he said, to watch another total eclipse in 2026.
PHOENIX  The Arizona Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a 160-year-old near-total abortion ban still on the books in the state is enforceable, a bombshell decision that adds the state to the growing lists of places where abortion care is effectively banned.

The ruling allows an 1864 law in Arizona to stand that made abortion a felony punishable by two to five years in prison for anyone who performs one or helps a woman obtain one.

The law  which was codified in 1901, and again in 1913  outlaws abortion from the moment of conception but includes an exception to save the womans life.

That Civil War-era law  enacted a half-century before Arizona even gained statehood  was never repealed and an appellate court ruled last year that it could remain on the books as long as it was harmonized with a 2022 law, leading to substantial confusion in Arizona regarding exactly when during a pregnancy abortion was outlawed.

protest demonstration abortion rights (Sandy Huffaker / AFP via Getty Images file)

The decision  which could shutter abortion clinics in the state  effectively undoes a lower courts ruling that stated that a more recent 15-week ban from March 2022 superseded the 1864 law.

The Arizona Supreme Court said it would put its decision on hold for 14 days, writing that it would send the case back to a lower court so that court could consider additional constitutional challenges that havent yet been cleared up.

Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, said moments after the ruling that she would not enforce the law.

Let me be completely clear, as long as I am Attorney General, no woman or doctor will be prosecuted under this draconian law in this state, Mayes said in a statement, adding that the decision was unconscionable and an affront to freedom.

Democrats all the way up to President Joe Biden also blasted the ruling.

Millions of Arizonans will soon live under an even more extreme and dangerous abortion ban, which fails to protect women even when their health is at risk or in tragic cases of rape or incest, Biden said in a statement. He called the ban cruel and a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away womens freedom and vowed to continue to fight to protect reproductive rights.

Vice President Kamala Harris announced shortly after the ruling that she would travel to Arizona on Friday to continue her leadership in the fight for reproductive freedoms."

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs called for the GOP-controlled Legislature, which is currently in session, to repeal the 1864 ban, though there was no immediate indication that Republican lawmakers in either chamber would take up such an effort.

"We are 14 days away from this extreme ban coming back to life," Hobbs, a Democrat, said at a press conference. "It must be repealed immediately."

While Hobbs said she was "sure" reproductive rights advocates would appeal the ruling in the 14-day window they were given, she also suggested that the best avenue to counter the ruling would be for voters to support abortion rights on the November ballot. A separate, ongoing suit would allow for abortion providers to continue providing services through the 15th week of pregnancy for another 45 days.

"It is more urgent than ever that Arizonans have the opportunity to vote to enshrine the right to abortion in our constitution this November. Im confident that Arizonans will support this ballot measure, and Im going to continue doing everything in my power to make sure it is successful," Hobbs said.

In a 4-2 ruling, the courts majority concluded that the 15-week ban does not create a right to, or otherwise provide independent statutory authority for, an abortion that repeals or restricts the Civil War-era ban but rather is predicated entirely on the existence of a federal constitutional right to an abortion since disclaimed by the 2022 Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.

Absent the federal constitutional abortion right, and because the 2022 law "does not independently authorize abortion, there is no provision in federal or state law prohibiting the 1864 ban.

They added that the ban is now enforceable.

Tuesdays ruling is the latest chapter in a decadeslong saga of litigation in the battleground state over abortion rights.

Reproductive rights groups had sued to overturn the 19th century law in 1971. But when the Roe decision came down in 1973, a lower state court ruled against those groups and placed an injunction on the 1864 ban that remained in effect until the Dobbs decision.

In March 2022, Republican lawmakers in the state enacted the 15-week trigger ban, which, months later  after the Dobbs decision  snapped into effect. The law makes exceptions for medical emergencies but not for rape or incest.

Litigation resumed after that decision as lawmakers on both sides of the issue sought clarity on whether to enforce the 1864 near-total ban or the 2022 15-week ban.

A state appellate court initially ruled that both the 1864 and 2022 laws could eventually be harmonized, but also said that the 15-week ban superseded the near-total abortion ban and put on hold large parts of the older law.

The decision also sent shockwaves through the reproductive rights community in Arizona and nationally.

Angela Florez, the president of Planned Parenthood Arizona, one of the state's remaining abortion care providers, said her group would now only be able to provide abortion care through the 15th week of pregnancy  and only "for a very short period of time."

The issue, however, could soon be in the hands of voters.

Abortion rights groups in the state are likely to succeed in their goal of putting a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would create a fundamental right to receive abortion care up until fetal viability, or about the 24th week of pregnancy.

If voters approved the ballot measure, it would effectively undo the 1864 ban that now remains law in the state. It would bar the state from restricting abortion care in situations where the health or life of the pregnant person is at risk after the point of viability, according to the treating health care professional.

That ballot effort is one of at least 11 across the country that seek to put the issue directly in the hands of voters  a move that has the potential to significantly boost turnout for Democratic candidates emphasizing the issue.

In 2024, that could factor heavily into the outcome of both the presidential and U.S. Senate races in Arizona. Biden, whose campaign is leaning heavily into reproductive rights, won the state by just over 10,000 votes four years ago. And the Senate race features a tough battle to fill the seat held by the retiring independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, most likely between Democrat Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake.

During her unsuccessful 2022 run for governor in Arizona, Lake said she supported the 1864 law, calling it a great law thats already on the books. But Lake now says she opposes the 1864 law, as well as a federal abortion ban, while also acknowledging that her own views regarding state policy conflict with some voters preferences.

In a statement following the decision, Lake said she opposed the ruling, adding that "it is abundantly clear that the pre-statehood law is out of step with Arizonans." She called on state lawmakers to "come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support."

"Ultimately, Arizona voters will make the decision on the ballot come November," she added.

Gallego, who is backed by several reproductive rights groups, has said he supports the ballot measure. As a member of the U.S. House, he is among the co-sponsors of the Womens Health Protection Act, which would create federal abortion protections.

In a video posted to X after the ruling, Gallego said he would, with reproductive rights supporters, "fight all the way to November so we can get abortion rights back for women in Arizona."

Other Republicans in the state whod previously expressed robust support for Roe being overturned joined Lake in condemning the ruling. Reps. Juan Ciscomani and David Schweikert, who both face tough re-elections this fall, both called on state lawmakers to address the issue immediately.

The ruling Tuesday  the second in a swing state on the issue in as many weeks  further highlights the already prominent role abortion rights will play in Arizona and across the country.

Last week, the Florida Supreme Court upheld a 15-week ban on abortion in the state, which effectively meant that a six-week abortion ban, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the woman, that Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law last year will take effect. The state's high court also allowed a proposed amendment that would enshrine abortion protections in the state constitution to appear on the November ballot.

Tuesday's decision, while jarring to reproductive rights groups, wasnt entirely unexpected. All seven justices on the Arizona Supreme Court were appointed by Republican governors, and during opening arguments in December, they aggressively, but civilly, quizzed attorneys on both sides about the fact that the 15-week ban enacted last year did not feature any language making clear whether it was designed to repeal or replace the 1864 ban.

Only six justices participated in Tuesdays decision, however, after Justice Bill Montgomery  who previously accused Planned Parenthood of practicing generational genocide  recused himself. (The courts chief justice did not appoint another judge to take the spot, which is an option under Arizona law.)

The abortion landscape in Arizona has been uniquely confusing since Roe v. Wade was overturned.

While the 1864 law had been on hold after the Supreme Courts 1973 Roe decision, then-Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, a Republican, successfully sued in 2022 to have that injunction lifted following the overturning of Roe, putting the ban back into effect  though a higher court put that ruling on hold.

But after Mayes succeeded Brnovich as attorney general, she announced that she would not enforce the 1864 ban.

That led to suits from anti-abortion groups seeking enforcement of the ban, which ultimately led to the case making its way up to the state Supreme Court.
Kansas City Chiefs superfan Xaviar Babudar, a.k.a. ChiefsAholic, already faced a sentencing of up to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to a string of bank robberies. Now he's on the hook for $10.8 million.

An Oklahoma judge ordered Babudar to pay the eight-figure sum to Payton Garcia, a former bank teller whom he threatened with a gun in December 2022, according to ESPN. Babudar reportedly owes $3.6 million for inflicting physical harm and emotional distress and $7.2 million in punitive damages.

Garcia's attorney, Frank Frasier, reportedly acknowledged that it will be difficult to collect such a sum from Babudar, who was unemployed and living in cars at the time of the robberies. Babudar already owed $532,675 in restitution as part of his federal plea agreement. He was also required to forfeit a signed painting of Patrick Mahomes that was recovered by the FBI.

There were other reasons that Frasier pursued the judgment, namely making sure Garcia is in line should Babudar try to profit from stealing more than $800,000 and laundering it through casinos:

"But the point is two things," Frasier told ESPN. "He'll never be able to profit from this. Say he writes a book in prison, say he does the Lifetime or Hallmark movie ... anything he obtains from that will be paid to his creditors.

"The second part overall is this: The judge sent a message that you cannot profit from crime. You cannot profit by greater notoriety, you cannot profit from clicks, getting more views, getting more likes."

Frasier reportedly said that Garcia had to leave her job after the robbery and is still dealing with the trauma of the crime:

"This has affected her children, her marriage," Frasier said. "She'll never be able to go back into work in banking. [It affected] all aspects of her life."

Babudar pleaded guilty in February to one count of money laundering, one count of transporting stolen property across state lines and one count of bank robbery after admitting to 11 bank robberies and attempted robberies.

His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 10.

ChiefsAholic's crime spree didn't stop after he was arrested. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) (Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images)

Before his arrest, Babudar amassed a large social media following as a fan of the Chiefs, often attending games in a wolf costume. At the same time, he was reportedly living a nomadic existence around Kansas City and frequently robbing banks at gunpoint in 2022. His DNA was reportedly found on a glove he left at the scene of a crime, which led to his arrest in Oklahoma.

The situation became even more bizarre after Babudar was arrested in December 2022 and released on bond in February 2023. Months earlier, he had placed two bets at an Illinois casino: $5,000 for Patrick Mahomes to win Super Bowl MVP and $5,000 on the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl that season. Both happened, leading to the casino mailing him a check for $100,000 in March 2023.

Days later, Babudar reportedly cut his ankle monitor, fled from Oklahoma, used his winnings to buy a vehicle in Nevada and robbed two more banks before being apprehended in Sacramento in July 2023. He is now being held without bond at Leavenworth federal prison in Kansas as he awaits sentencing.
The sight and sound of trillions of cicadas surfacing across much of America, a massive invasion of two separate groups called broods emerging at the same time, has scientists buzzing.

For the first time in more than 200 years, two broods -- Brood XIX, known as the "Great Southern Brood," and Brood XIII, known as the "Northern Illinois Brood" -- will emerge from the ground simultaneously.

While there is not extensive overlap between the two broods, some regions, especially in America's heartland, will experience a double-whammy of cicada occupation, experts told ABC News.

PHOTO: Illustration (ABC News / cicadas.uconn.edu)

Cicadas will be everywhere -- their nymphs and exoskeletons will litter the ground and adults will be seen on trees and nearby plants throughout suburban areas as well as flying around in the air, Evan Lampert, a professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Georgia, told ABC News.

It will be an "amazing experience" to witness the insects come out of the ground to mate and lay their eggs before they disappear back into the ground, Tamra Reall, an entomologist at the University of Missouri, told ABC News.

"It's magical, and that's part of their name," she said. "Their genus name is magicicada, and it's because it's a magical experience."

Scientists like Reall believe the solar eclipse will serve to amplify the excitement surrounding this experience. She observed that both events coming so close together will give the public "a chance to see science in action, nature in action, and see them working together.

PHOTO: A newly emerged adult cicada dries its wings on a flower in Louisville, Ky., May 20, 2021. (Amira Karaoud/Reuters, FILE)

Here's what to expect from this year's historic cicada event:

A once-in-a-lifetime cicada emergence

Some broods of cicadas emerge every year, which is why residents in regions that experience regular emergences may not immediately understand the significance of this year's event, according to entomologists.

The mass emergence that comes when these two broods dig up from beneath the ground will be a far cry from the annual occurrences, David Althoff, a professor at Syracuse University's Department of Biology, told ABC News. Residents in about a dozen states from Maryland to Oklahoma, and from Illinois to as far south as Alabama and Georgia, can expect to see cicadas from these periodical broods, according to the University of Connecticut's Periodical Cicada Information Pages.

PHOTO: A periodical cicada, June 3, 2021, in Columbia, Md. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Brood XIX, the largest geographic extent of all periodical broods, surfaces every 13 years, while Brood XIII emerges every 17 years. The last time these two broods emerged together was in 1803 -- when Thomas Jefferson was president of the U.S. -- and the next time they will co-emerge is not expected for another 221 years, until about 2245, forecasts show.

When multiple periodical broods surface at once, it's typically in different parts of the country, Keith Clay, a professor at Tulane University's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, told ABC News. An adjacent emergence of two large broods is rare.

"It's just a statistical anomaly, like Halley's Comet," Clay said.

Central Illinois will be one of the few regions that will experience the double brood emergence, entomologists predict. The greatest likelihood of contact between the two broods is near Springfield, researchers predict.

"I've been looking forward to this for many years," Catherine Dana, an entomologist at the Illinois Natural History Survey, told ABC News.

MORE: How the solar eclipse will impact plants and animals

When are the cicadas expected to emerge?

By mid-April, many residents will begin to see holes appear in their yard as the nymphs come closer to the surface.

Entomologists expect cicadas to begin popping out of the ground later in the month, they told ABC News.

The slow buildup will continue into May, and people can expect to hear them once the adults begin to surface in synchronicity, Althoff said.

PHOTO: Periodical cicadas sit on leaves in Rock Creek Park, Washington, D.C., May 25, 2021. (Astrid Riecken for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

"Once they come, they come fast," Lampert said.

Cicadas spend the majority of their lifespan underground, where they feed on tree roots. Therefore, they will mostly congregate on or around trees when they come up, the researchers said.

A few weeks after the unmistakable noise of the male cicadas' call begins, the adults will fall to the ground and the nymphs disappear into the soil once again.

MORE: How scientists are tracking mosquitoes that could be carrying deadly diseases

Why cicadas emerge in mass numbers

Scientists believe the cyclical emergence of the periodical cicadas is a survival mechanism for a species that has no defenses and a high mortality rate.

Surfacing only after such long gaps and doing so in such vast numbers ensures that although they are easily preyed upon by other animals, plenty will survive to spawn a new population to return underground for the next 13 or 17 years.

PHOTO: A cicada is seen perched on a trash can in Arlington, Va., May 19, 2021. (Will Dunham/Reuters, FILE)

Animals such as birds, mice and squirrels eat the cicadas but often get "sick" of them because they eat so many during the feeding frenzy, Althoff added. Ants and wasps sometime eat them as well, Lampert said.

Entomologists estimate that the dual emergence could bring trillions of cicadas above ground by late May, at the peak of their periodical breeding time of four to six weeks.

"This is a natural wonder of the world. Like there is no other organism, at least, that I know of in North America, that has this sheer amount of biomass," Dana said.

The periodical nature of the surfacing events could also be a way to prevent hybridization among species, Althoff said.

MORE: CDC confirms case of blood-sucking 'kissing bug' confirmed in Delaware

Why cicadas are so loud

Cicada populations are an omnipresent source of sound during their time above ground.

The flying variety that emerge each summer in many areas provide a familiar buzzing symphony. The high-pitch call of the males can be described as a cross between a rattling sound and the buzzing of bees, Althoff said.

But the collective concert of these periodical cicadas, mating calls actually, rising next to one another will be a louder, haunting mix of sizzling noise, buzz-click sounds, and droning that, according to John Cooley, an entomologist at the University of Connecticut, "can be pushing 120 decibels if you're right inside that chorus." He adds, "that's sort of like getting too close to a jet engine."

PHOTO: A cicada walks through the grass, May 21, 2021, in Bloomington, Ind. (Cheney Orr/Reuters, FILE)

The male cicada anatomy includes a specialized washboard-like structure under their forelegs called a tymbal that they strum with their legs, Clay said.

MORE: Cicada invasion: After 17 years underground, billions to emerge this spring

How temperatures affect cicada emergence events

The general rule of thumb entomologists use for predicting when cicadas will begin to surface is once the topsoil in a region reaches about 64 degrees Fahrenheit, Lampert said.

Therefore, the southernmost states experiencing the warmest temperatures will experience the first cicada sightings, Lampert said.

Warming global temperatures also present the opportunity for cicadas to emerge sooner in a season, but that remains to be seen, the experts said.

PHOTO: A periodical cicada nymph is held in Macon, Ga., March 27, 2024. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

The volume of the cicada calls is also affected by atmospheric temperatures, Clay said. The warmer it is, the more vocal the cicadas are.

"If the temperature goes below 75 [degrees], you can immediately hear a drop in the sound level of the adult male cicadas singing," he said.

MORE: CDC confirms case of blood-sucking 'kissing bug' confirmed in Delaware

Can you eat the cicadas?

The sudden, mass emergence of cicadas offers up opportunities for sustainable sustenance, according to experts.

Like many bugs, cicadas are packed with protein, and "They feed everybody, including fish, snakes, small mammals, large mammals, birds," Dana said. "I like to think of this event as potentially buffering some of the losses that we've seen in our wildlife [populations]."

Humans can also enjoy this bug buffet. "They are indeed edible," Reall confirms.

"There's always some adventurous people who get together and have a cicada potluck," said Clay, who has seen cicadas put in soups, bread and brownies. He said they taste "like asparagus."

Menus for cicada dishes and cocktails emerge with each emergence of periodical cicadas, evident in the online cookbook devoted to cicada cuisine published by the University of Maryland in 2021 called "Cicada-licious."

During another mass emergence several years ago, Sparky's Ice Cream in Columbia, Missouri, featured cicada ice cream. Boiled and candied, the bugs were made into a cold concoction "basically like a butter pecan flavor," manager Tony Layson told ABC News.

But the shop pulled it from the menu after only 90 minutes when the state's health department nixed its sale, Layson said.

Insectivores interested in trying cicadas should be cautious about where they harvest their meal, avoiding cicadas gathered near where insecticides or other chemicals have been used. They should be properly cooked and devoured before their exoskeleton hardens, "when they are still soft and squishy," Dana said.

MORE: 'Super' mosquitoes have now mutated to withstand insecticides, scientists say

What humans need to know about dealing with cicadas

People who hate bugs will not be able to escape the presence of cicadas, Althoff said.

"They'll be noticeable," he said. "There's no doubt you're gonna see them."

Cicadas are not poisonous, and they do not bite or sting. Althoff reminds his students at Syracuse to remain calm when the events occur and watch where they're walking, he said.

"They really don't do anything to kind of harm humans," Althoff said. "I mean, it might be an annoyance, but people don't have to be afraid in terms of like getting bitten."

People may start to see dead branches on trees from where the cicadas fed on the sap, Lampert said.

But any harm cicadas cause to plants at the surface is temporary and outweighed by the benefits they provide, experts said.

They provide a feast for other species while on the surface. Once the multitudes die and fall to the ground, their decay releases nutrients back into the soil.

Lampert advised people to prepare themselves for the "deafening noise," especially if they have never experienced a cicada emergence before.

MORE: How scientists are tracking mosquitoes that could be carrying deadly diseases

How to help cicada researchers

Researchers will be relying heavily on citizen science in their quest to study these periodical cicada broods.

Lampert suggested scientific organizations such as Cicada Safari and iNaturalist for people to submit photographs and sightings of the cicadas.

The event will be a good reminder to people about the kinds of insects that exist, especially since cicadas aren't always visible, Althoff said.

"Most of the time we think about them as being kind of annoying and something that we don't want to interact with and we tend to we tend to ignore them," he said. "But it's pretty fantastic to see this many insects that have been hidden in the ground that emerge all at once."

After Eclipse: Nature's next big show  cicada double emergence originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
It was a match made in Heaven. Staff at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in Ohio are celebrating after a newborn gorilla was quickly accepted by a new foster family. The baby, named Jameela, was embraced within seconds of meeting her new mother. Causing the zoo workers to breathe a sigh of relief.

Staff really hoped that Jameela, a Western Lowland gorilla, would click with her new family. But they never expected it would go as well as it did.

The get-together was supposed to be an initial meeting between Jameela and her foster family. And it went better than zoo officials could've imagined. Right away Frederika, the oldest female gorilla at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, was taken with the months-old baby.

Related: Gorilla Mom Lovingly Watches as Her Baby Plays on the Swing for the First Time

"Freddy picked baby Jameela up within just a couple of seconds of being given access to her and that is exactly what we were hoping to see, Cleveland Zoo animal curator Elena Less told Cleveland.com.

She said that they prepared for Jameela's arrival by putting a nest in the gorilla's enclosure. When they finally brought the baby to meet her fosters, they allowed Fredrika, troop leader Mokolo, and Freddy's other foster, Kayembe, to come up to her. This could have gone so many different ways, but luckily the best case scenario happened.

"Freddie immediately went in and picked her up and it was the biggest sigh of relief, associate animal curator Laura Klutts added.

The meeting has been a long time coming. Jameela was born in January in Fort Worth, Texas via c-section  the first in the Fort Worth's zoo history, WFMJ reports. However after Jameela's birth her biological mother did not show maternal behavior towards her. They then brought Jameela to Cleveland with the hope that Fredrika would accept the baby as her own.

In total, the meeting lasted a little over two hours and was only cut short because Kayembe got a little too rambunctious, and zookeepers hit a pause so they could asses the gorilla's behavior, Cleveland.com reports. But overall they considered the meeting a success.

"That was the first time that Jameela was able to be picked up properly by a female gorilla," Klutz told WFMJ.

That is pure gorilla and that is what they choose to do, Fort Worth Zoo animal keeper Angie Holmes added to Cleveland.com, before sharing what an emotional journey this has been.

We can train them to do all sorts of things, but we want them to want to do those behaviors, and to see that in action here was just an honor, especially since we had tried that many times at our facility," she said. "To see what that looks like in a successful way, it brought tears to my eyes.

The zoo said that even though the meet-up was successful, visitors may not see the baby gorilla for a bit. But that's okay, she's got a lifetime of love ahead of her.

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WASHINGTON  Over the past three years, the Justice Departments COVID-19 Enforcement Task Force has charged more than 3,500 people with federal crimes, recovered more than $1.4 billion in stolen pandemic funds and reached more than 400 civil settlements and judgments, Biden administration officials said.

White House officials and lawmakers used Tuesday's announcement as a springboard to propose legislation to provide more funding for anti-fraud enforcement, extend the statute of limitations on prosecuting crimes, and improving government databases to better detect when payments shouldn't be made.

We will continue our efforts to investigate and prosecute pandemic relief fraud and to recover the assets that have been stolen from American taxpayers, Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters Tuesday.

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 21: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks alongside Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco during a news conference at the Department of Justice Building on March 21, 2024 in Washington, DC. During the news conference Garland and DOJ officials announced the department would be taking action against Apple, claiming that the tech company has an illegal monopoly on smartphones, violating antitrust laws. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Investigations found false billings and money siphoned from children's meals

A sample of fraud investigations includes:

Federal charges were unveiled in September 2022 against 47 people accused of siphoning $250 million from a coronavirus pandemic relief program designed to provide meals for children in a brazen scheme of staggering proportions.

A sweep of suspects including doctors, marketers and manufacturers of fake vaccination cards in April 2022 resulted in charges against 21 people accused with $149 million in false billings and theft from government programs.

Fifteen of the largest and hardest-hit states awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in sole-sourced noncompetitive awards to vendors for items such as masks that have been accused of defrauding taxpayers, a USA TODAY investigation found.

Lawmakers, White House call for legislation to expand fraud enforcement

Democratic senators and White House officials contended that legislation is needed to keep fighting COVID-19 fraud as lawmakers unveiled a bill that includes provisions to combat it.

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said that the pandemic "led to historic levels of fraud" and that bad actors "took advantage of the disaster for their own financial gain."

The proposals include:

Tripling the funding to $300 million for prosecution teams coordinating pandemic fraud investigations.

Raising the cap on penalties in civil fraud cases to $1 million from $150,000.

Providing $250 million to the Small Business Administration and Labor Department inspectors general to identify and recover fraud.

Extending the statute of limitations on pandemic unemployment insurance fraud to 10 years from five years.

The statute of limitations must be extended and the necessary funding and data analytic tools secured for our prosecutors to recover hundreds of millions of dollars more in fraud proceeds, bring remaining offenders to justice, and disrupt criminal networks that continue to victimize our citizens, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., chair of the Finance Committee, said another important provision would create a Social Security number verification system to thwart identity theft.

This is really an epidemic," Wyden said. "Millions of Americans have been victims of identity theft."

Gene Sperling, American Rescue Plan coordinator and senior adviser to President Joe Biden, said funding must be committed over a period of several years to hire investigators who can pursue the most sophisticated criminals.

"If were going to be committed to going after the most sophisticated criminals and criminal syndicates, who abused our system the most, you not only need a longer statute of limitations, you need to give enforcement and oversight the security to do multi-year hiring," Sperling said. "Without that, we may lose people."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DOJ: 3,500 charged and $1.4B recovered in stolen COVID pandemic funds
Walt Disney World and Disneyland are changing their policies for guests with disabilities.

The Florida and California resorts will keep their popular Disability Access Service (DAS), but adjust qualifications, registration procedures, and length of validity to help ensure guests receive the accommodations they need.

Disney is dedicated to providing a great experience for all guests, including those with disabilities, which is why we are so committed to delivering a wide range of innovative support services aimed at helping our guests with disabilities have a wonderful time when visiting our theme parks, a Disney spokesperson said in a statement.

Heres what travelers with disabilities should know:

What is DAS?

Disney World and Disneyland previously described their Disability Access Service as a program to assist guests who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability.

Guests who qualify for and enroll in DAS wait just as long as guests in the standby line, sometimes a little longer, but they dont have to physically stay in the queue. Instead, they can join the line virtually, wait out the designated time elsewhere in the park, and then return to the attraction for a shorter in-person wait.

Who qualifies for DAS at Disney?

Not all disabilities impact the ability to tolerate long waits in traditional queues. For example, guests in wheelchairs or electric conveyance vehicles may still be able to wait in many lines in their mobility devices.

New updates to the resorts accessibility webpages further clarify DAS intended audience: Guests, who due to a developmental disability like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse appear to survey Magic Kingdom in the iconic Partners statue at Walt Disney World.

How do you qualify for a Disney disability pass?

Registering for DAS involves meeting with a specially trained cast member, who can determine if DAS is the right fit.

In the past, that could be done in advance online or in person at both resorts. The conversation lasts just minutes, though online waits have historically taken longer.

Need accomodations? Travelers with disabilities will need this card at some theme parks

How is DAS changing?

Starting May 20 for Disney World, guests may only enroll in DAS with a virtual video meeting, not in person at the parks. Its highly recommended to do so in the planning stages of the trip, but virtual chats will also be available on the day of visits. Again, they will no longer be available in person at Disney World.

Disneyland guests may continue to register for DAS with a virtual video call ahead of their trip, which is strongly encouraged, or in person on the day of visits, but starting June 18, the location for registration will move from Guests Services inside the parks to the outside esplanade area between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.

Virtual video calls will be similar to what existing and past DAS enrollees are used to having with cast members, but Disney is also partnering with Inspire Health Alliance, whose experts may be brought in.

DAS may be used by the enrollee and up to four companions (or more if there are more than four immediate family members who all want to experience an attraction together).

How long is DAS at Disney good for?

Guests who have already enrolled in DAS may use it for 60 days from their date of registration, with no changes required.

New enrollees registering between now and May 19 at Disney World or June 17 at Disneyland will have up to 30 days to use the service, starting from their date of registration.

Beginning May 20 at Disney World and June 18 at Disneyland, new DAS enrollments will be valid for 120 days, double the previous 60.

The Matterhorn rises above Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland Park.

Why is Disney making these changes?

DAS has become the most requested service at Disneyland and Disney World in recent years, with the volume of users eclipsing the programs intended audience and numbers only expected to grow. That in turn impacts waits and experiences for those who need the accommodations.

The changes are designed to help ensure DAS reaches its intended audience. Meanwhile, Disney is also increasing the number of specially trained cast members to help guests with other access needs find the right accommodations.

Those may include American Sign Language interpretation, Disney Handheld Devices that provide captions and visual descriptions for guests with hearing impairment, braille guidebooks and maps, sensory guides for attractions, and at Disneyland, Location Return Times for guests with mobility devices or other physical needs that cant be accommodated by older, non-wheelchair accessible attraction queues.

What does Disney consider a disability?

Disney recognizes all kinds of disabilities and access needs, many of which are invisible.

While guests wont find an exhaustive list of disabilities on Disneys websites, their newly updated accessibility pages serve as a first stop in navigating accommodations.

Cast members are also available to answer questions in staffed virtual chats.

Does Disney request proof of disability?

Disney does not require documentation proving disability or access needs, nor will they be required with these upcoming changes.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Disney World, Disneyland overhauling Disability Access Service, DAS
By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO (Reuters) -Former Ecuadorean Vice President Jorge Glas is back in prison in the city of Guayaquil after being discharged from the hospital and is in acceptable health, the SNAI prisons agency said on Tuesday.

Glas, already twice convicted of corruption and now facing fresh charges, was arrested on Friday after a raid by police on Mexico's Quito embassy, where he had been living since December.

He was taken to a naval hospital on Monday, after the prison service said he refused to eat the food provided in jail.

SNAI confirmed in the late morning that Glas was back at the Guayas No. 3 prison.

"In accordance with evaluations carried out by the (hospital) personnel, the citizen is now presenting acceptable parameters of health, within normal range," the SNAI said earlier in the day in a statement on X.

The SNAI added that Glas' physical integrity will be protected.

Glas' lawyers this week expressed alarm that he has been unable to speak to his legal team, which has repeatedly warned that the politician's life could be in danger in prison.

"Yesterday they blocked my entrance to the naval hospital, which means that humane rules, international and national laws have been violated," lawyer Eduardo Franco Loor told Reuters, adding that a motion for Glas' release has been filed.

The unusual raid that led to Glas' arrest escalated a simmering dispute between Ecuador and Mexico, prompting Mexico to suspend diplomatic relations with Ecuador and drawing criticism from countries around the region and elsewhere.

The Organization of American States' secretary-general Luis Almagro said at a meeting on Tuesday the raid could not be justified by internal laws: "To accept it is to erase in a single stroke the most fundamental rule," he said.

The arrest capped a week of growing tensions between the two Latin American countries, after Quito declared the Mexican ambassador persona non grata, citing "unfortunate" comments by leftist Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Ecuador's government has said that it has evidence that Glas was planning to escape, though it has not provided details.

Video clips from inside the embassy broadcast during Lopez Obrador's daily press conference on Tuesday showed a door violently forced open as well as a man, who appeared to be Glas, being carried out, his arms and legs hoisted up by police or soldiers.

The video also showed embassy staff attempting to block another door, but then being moved aside by armed Ecuadorean security officers.

"We can't allow something like this to brushed away. We won't keep quiet," said Lopez Obrador, adding that the video will be used in Mexico's request for the U.N. International Court of Justice to take up the case.

Leftist Glas, who was vice president from 2013 to 2017, was sentenced to six years in prison in 2017 for taking bribes from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht in return for state contracts.

He was convicted again in 2020 of using money from contractors to fund campaigns for ex-President Rafael Correa's political movement, and given an eight-year sentence.

Glas served more than four years in prison before being released in 2022. He now faces charges of misusing reconstruction funds after a devastating 2016 earthquake.

Glas has long alleged that the charges against him are politically motivated, an accusation prosecutors have denied.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia in Quito; Additional reporting by Raul Cortes Fernandez and Sarah Morland in Mexico City; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Matthew Lewis, Mark Porter and Deepa Babington)
Getty Images (2)

Gypsy Rose Blanchard has filed for divorce from Ryan Scott Anderson after less than two years of marriage.

Us Weekly can confirm via online records that Blanchard, 32, filed the docs on Monday, April 8.

News broke in March that the couple had called it quits. Per People, Blanchard shared a statement via her private Facebook account.

People have been asking what is going on in my life. Unfortunately, my husband and I are going through a separation, and I moved in with my parents home down the bayou, she wrote. I have the support of my family and friends to help guide me through this. I am learning to listen to my heart. Right now, I need time to let myself find  who I am.

Celebrity Splits of 2024: Stars Who Have Called It Quits This Year

Since announcing the separation, Blanchard has been spotted in Louisiana with her ex-fiance Ken Urker. The pair, who were engaged in 2018 before calling it quits in 2019, got matching tattoos.

Anderson, for his part, spoke out for the first time earlier this month and candidly shared hes not doing well with the split. For me, it just came out of the blue, he told the Daily Mail, adding that he had no idea Blanchard still had such strong feelings for Urker.

The breakup came three months after Blanchard was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri after serving seven years in prison for plotting the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, in 2015 with her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn.

Following her mothers death, Gypsy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. She was granted parole in September 2023, which allowed her to be released the following December.

In 2020, Gypsy, then still behind bars, connected with Anderson, who had sent her a letter. Two years later, the pair exchanged vows during a jailhouse ceremony.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard's Pop Culture Relevance Explained: TV Shows and More

After Gypsy was released, the couple moved in together and allegedly began experiencing marital woes. Gypsys pal Nadiya Vizier claimed that Blanchard locked herself in her bathroom in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as Anderson banged on the door late at night.

He got in her face and screamed, Vizier alleged to People earlier this month. She also claimed that after Gypsy locked herself in a bathroom, Anderson screamed, Let me in! Let me in! before Gypsy called a relative to pick her up.

Gypsy said that she was afraid he was going to hit her, Vizier told the publication. He didnt  but that happened in the past with her mother. So, her first instinct was to tighten up and be prepared. But she got to safety and called her lawyer, too. Ryan is a big guy, and she told me it was really scary.

Following the alleged altercation, Gypsy reportedly took her belongings and traveled to her fathers house in Cut Off, Louisiana.
The Perfect Storm

The music video for the song NIKEY takes place in an unlikely destination for Moroccan rapper Stormy: a small town in the old wild west of 1800s America. Paying homage to film director Quentin Tarantino, Stormy, along with collaborator and fellow Moroccan emcee Dizzy DROS, are dressed in full cowboy attire as they exchange verses and punchlines throughout the song.

From the moment Stormy utters If you dont know, now you know in the first few seconds, he hooks you into an alluring cinematic experience.

Released in February, the video has already racked up over 3 million YouTube views and over 2 million Spotify streams. To be honest, I did not expect that result, Stormy shares over Zoom from his home in Rabat, Morocco.

The independently made video was shot in a far suburb of London on a dreary 24-degree day, which the rapper admits was difficult for him, given that he was donned in leather pants in cold weather for the shoot. Still, Stormy had a clear vision for wanting to create an elaborate video for his song.

I dont want to make money and do some cheap music videos and stuff, even though Im not going to make that money back, he explains. But for me, Im satisfying the fan inside me. I want to see a Moroccan rap song with some crazy music videos. Even though people do this with big budgets and big sponsors and stuff, its not going to stop us from doing it.

Stormy, whose real name is Yasser El Malih, has become a force not just in Moroccan rap, but in the regional scene across the Middle East and North Africa. The artist has amassed over 800,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and over 700,000 YouTube subscribers, with sold-out live performances in Morocco and France, among other countries.

The 27-year-old rapper achieved all of this in just four years, culminating in the February release of his first solo studio album, ICEBERG. Stormy is a very versatile artist in the sense that he delivers different types of flows when a lot of rappers stick to what works for them, says Tarek El Mendelek, artist manager with regional record label MDLBEAST. For Moroccan rap, hes definitely one of the most successful, and hes integral to the culture.

Stormy grew up with two older brothers, both of whom first exposed him to music. His eldest brother introduced him to bands like Slipknot and Slayer, while his middle brotheralso a rapperopted to share his love of Moroccan rap and American emcees like Eminem and 50 Cent.

At first I didnt want to be an MC because I was listening to metal music and grunge music with my older brother, Stormy admits. So I was kind of stuck between the two, and I had to make a choice [between metal and rap]. Opting to stick with rap, Stormy became enamored with Jay-Z and Nas for their lyrical flows, though he candidly shares that he did not understand them at the time because of his limited English.

Despite the language barrier, those artists confidence and swagger, and the vibe of their music, still spoke to him. Even after he improved his English, Stormy gained a deeper appreciation for these rap icons once he understood their lyrics.

That affinity for meaningful wordplay in hip-hop has had a lasting impact on his own music. While many of his peers focus heavily on catchy melodies and adhere to certain timely trends, Stormy focuses on the very essence of rap music. For me, whats more important is the lyrics because you can listen to the lyrics and it still gives you a meaning, Stormy passionately explains. People right now go back and listen to Tupac songs and Biggie songs, but no one listens to the 2017 music, even though its more recent.

As a teenager, Stormy would release freestyles on YouTube, anxiously awaiting feedback from listeners so he could continue improving his lyrical delivery. When discussing this era in his life, he pauses slightly before vulnerably reflecting on his early career.

I want to make mistakes, Stormy starts to share. I want to do stuff the bad way. Even with my brother, hes always going to tell me thats good because hes my brother. But I was learning [how to rap]. I used to release songs, and I used to see the feedback, like, two or three days after the release, and I used to go back to the studio and work on that. I didnt wait for that song to do some crazy numbers. I only waited for people to give me their feedback.

A few years later in 2019, Stormy met his current manageralso his main producer and frequent collaboratorand released the song RRR3D, an aggressive trap diss track toward a more popular Moroccan artist at the time, gaining wider attention in the regional rap scene.

His breakout came with Fratello, a made-for-summer that saw Stormy as a feature artist collaborating with juggernaut Moroccan rappers Tagne and Khtek. After a string of tracks, Stormy worked again with Tagne for the 2021 collaboration Jackpot, which earned acclaim but still not as a solo artist.

For Stormy, in the years leading up to ICEBERGs release, he was acutely aware of bucking the trend around him to create a meaningful album.

I saw a lot of artists do music for TikTokfrom a fan perspective, I dont like that, Stormy says bluntly. I learned that a classic project or a classic album is not always about numbers. Its about the music itself. And its about what you have to offer that no one else before you offered.

That mentality paid off, with ICEBERG debuting at No. 6 on Spotifys Global Debut Album chart, and reaching 10 million streams on the platform in just 15 days. As of this writing, the albums first single, POPO, a rhythmic Brazilian funk track taking aim at police, has gained over 5 million streams on Spotify, with the accompanying videoaptly filmed in Brazilviewed over 12 million times.

His unflinching honesty, combined with a sharp flow in Darija [Moroccan Arabic] and French, has earned him a deeply dedicated fan base and success that knows no borders, says Menna Shanab, music journalist based in Egypt who covers the regional scene. His success proves North African artists can find a global audience.

Stormy stresses he does not want to be the next insert-American-rapper-here but rather the first Stormy. He wants to be a beacon for Moroccan hip-hop, not just for the country but beyond its borders, attracting a global audience to Moroccan culture.

I want to make Moroccan rap, African music, Arab musicall this. I want to push this to a bigger level, the rapper says. But for me before, as an artist, as a human being, I dont want to stress myself. I love to do all of this in a natural way because, in my opinion, I dont like pushed things. I love to attract, not to chase.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.
Police say a suspect is in custody after a woman was kidnapped Monday in Kirby. Tetra Images/Getty Images/Tetra images RF

A woman in Kirby was rescued after she was kidnapped Monday night, according to Kirby police.

Kirby officers, along with San Antonio police, were able to locate the vehicle with the woman and the alleged kidnapper in the 4800 block of Borchers Drive, police said.

READ MORE: Jourdanton woman accused of starving stepson to death heads to trial

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Little information was provided by police about the kidnapping, but police said the woman was able to provide officers with enough information about the person who kidnapped her, leading to their arrest.

Police did not provide the name of the suspect.
After a flip from Farragut Alderman Scott Meyer, the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen is set to vote on Advance Knox once again. This time, it'll likely approve the county growth plan it voted down earlier.

That would mean Advance Knox would only have one more vote to go, at the Knox County Commission. If passed, it's expected to go into effect May 1.

Advance Knox updates the county's growth plan that will guide how and where development occurs and where infrastructure investments will be made throughout the county. Without it, the county's predicted population spike would lead to sprawling subdivisions eating up valuable green space and farmland.

Knox County has spent over two years and $1.2 million on the plan.

Even though vote do-overs don't happen often, Farragut Town Attorney Tom Hale said Farragut's rules allow for them.

"Normally, people don't change their mind," Hale said. "But I'm thankful that when people do change their mind, there's some way for them to do it. It's not like (Meyer) committed a sin. He thought about it and decided he wanted to change his vote."

Why is Farragut voting again?

The Growth Policy Plan, half of the overall Advance Knox plan, needs the approval of the Knox County Commission, the Knoxville City Council and the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Farragut Alderman Drew Burnette, right, speaks during a board meeting April 3.

The plan was created by the Growth Policy Coordinating Committee, which included Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon and Farragut Town Administrator David Smoak, plus representatives from various organizations such as the Knoxville Utilities Board and Knox County Schools.

At Farragut leadership's request, it would not affect land within the town.

When Farragut leaders rejected the Growth Policy Plan on March 28, they halted the initiative's momentum for the entire county. The county said it would pursue mediation from the state.

The aldermen were required by state law to explain their reasoning at a special meeting a week later. David White refused to explain his vote, and Drew Burnette said he thought the plan negatively affected his constituents by adding traffic pressures, despite the plan only affecting unincorporated county land, not Farragut land.

Knox News was not able to reach the aldermen for comment after multiple attempts by phone and email.

Meyer said he'd had a change of heart and would flip his vote after Jacobs said the county would prioritize lower-density development in the Northshore Drive area, where Meyer was concerned about traffic.

"Our goal should be to control development in order to mitigate the traffic impact as much as possible," Meyer said upon proposing the new vote, which will take place April 11.

What happens if Farragut approves the plan?

Mayor Ron Williams and Vice Mayor Louise Povlin already had voted yes and have been staunch supporters of Advance Knox.

If Meyer flips his vote, the Growth Policy Plan likely would be approved 3-2, assuming Burnette and White vote against the plan again.

If approved by the Farragut board, Advance Knox would face one other vote on its way to approval.

The Knox County Commission will vote on the Future Land Use Plan, the second half of Advance Knox, on April 22. The Future Land Use Plan specifies which development types - such as town centers, subdivisions and businesses - could be built in certain areas. It works within the growth boundaries set by the Growth Policy Plan.

If approved by the commission, Advance Knox could take effect as early as May 1.

What happens if Farragut votes it down?

If the Farragut board does not approve Advance Knox, Jacobs likely will follow through on his previous plan to ask the state to mediate the disagreement.

He could send a letter to the secretary of state's office to declare an impasse, and the state would mediate the two municipalities toward an agreement.

The mediation would be handled by a panel of one to three administrative law judges appointed by the state. All parties involved in mediation could pay, or the entire cost could fall on one municipality if the Tennessee Secretary of State's office finds that one entity acted unreasonably or in bad faith.

If mediation didn't result in an agreement, the secretary of state would appoint a new panel to arbitrate.

The arbitration panel could:

Side with Knox County and approve the growth plan as is.

Side with Farragut and deny the entire growth plan.

Create a solution in between.

Why was there a special meeting on April 3?

Hale said the point of the April 3 meeting was to enhance communication, and in the end, communication with Knox County officials was what caused Meyer to flip his vote.

Meyer told Knox News he wished he'd talked with Knox County officials sooner, and that he intends to vote in favor of Advance Knox.

State law requires the rejecting entity - in this case Farragut - to provide reasoning as the basis for mediation.

It would have been helpful for the town if White had defended his vote against Advance Knox, Hale said.

"If the people in Nashville who are trying to mediate the (impasse) don't know what the differences are, how are they going to mediate the resolution?" Hale said.

But mediation is on hold for now, depending on how the board votes on April 11.

The law says if one party doesn't negotiate fairly, it could be responsible for the cost of the entire mediation. Choosing not to provide reasoning could put that burden on Farragut, Hale said.

"This whole thing is very complex," Jacobs said. "I was able to explain where we were coming from and they were able to explain where they were coming from. All of us were able to come away with respect for (our) various positions."

How did Farragut aldermen justify their vote?

Burnette said in the meeting that he felt guilt over his vote but stood by it. While the plan affects the whole county, he represents the residents of Farragut and said he thought the plan negatively affected them.

"If this plan was terrible, this would be so easy," Burnette said. "There are parts of this plan that help different areas of the county."

Burnette took issue with a lack of improvements proposed for Choto and the expanded growth area in Hardin Valley, both of which are outside the area he represents.

Silas Sloan is the growth and development reporter. Email silas.sloan@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter @silasloan. Instagram @knox.growth.

Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg.

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Farragut aldermen vote again on Knox County Advance Knox
China's crisis of consumer confidence may be turning a corner. China's economy has been shaky for much of the past year, with economists pointing to a prolonged property crisis, stubbornly high youth unemployment, and continued costs from COVID-zero. But data from a recent April holiday may show that Chinese consumers are ready to start spending again

Chinese tourists spent 53.95 billion yuan ($7.5 billion) and made 119 million trips over the "Tomb Sweeping" holiday period of April 4 to 6, according to data released by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Monday. That corresponds to a 12.7% increase in spending and a 11.5% increase in the number of trips versus the same period in 2019, before the COVID pandemic. (The "Tomb Sweeping" festival, known as the Qingming festival in Mandarin, is a traditional holiday that honors the deceased.)

The increase is smaller on a spending per trip basis: 453 yuan ($63) per trip, just 1.1% greater than 2019. Still, it's the first time spending per trip has topped pre-pandemic levels, according to Bloomberg citing comments from Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.

Even this small increase could suggest that Chinese consumer confidence is slowly improving.

Our sense is that theres a small but growing sentiment within white collar jobs that the market situation is improving and this is also leading to greater willingness to spend, Ben Cavender, managing director at China Market Research Group told Reuters. Some companies are thinking of growing their businesses in China again after years of holding off investments, he added.

Recent economic data might support that cautious optimism.

Spending over the Lunar New Year holiday, an important barometer for Chinese consumption, rose 7.7% compared to 2019. Yet analysts warned that the comparison may be slightly inflated due to this year's Lunar New Year holiday period having an extra day compared to five years ago.

China's consumer prices rose 0.7% in February, the first year-on-year increase in six months, due to holiday-driven consumption. Beijing will release March's consumer price index on Thursday.

Manufacturing is also recovering. Beijing's official purchasing manager's index, or PMI, rose from 49.1 to 50.8 in March. (A figure over 50 marks an expansion in activity).

The Caixin PMI, which tends to be more export-oriented than Beijing's official version, rose to 52.7 in March, compared to February's 52.5. It's the highest reading since May 2023.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
At Sansan Chicken in the East Village of Manhattan, a cashier will greet you with a wave and a smilebut theyll be over 8,500 miles away. Instead of a human standing in front of you, youll instead see a face on a screen, working over video chat all the way from the Philippines. Brett Goldstein, an AI startup founder and owner of Launch House Venture, stumbled upon the restaurant late Saturday night when he was hungry for Japanese fried chicken. He told Fortune its the future of fast food.

I had this aha feeling of Okay, this makes a lot of sense, he said.

Goldstein shared his experience at the chain on X. He said the service was friendlymore so than the average New York cashierand that while he placed his order at a self-service kiosk, the cashier stood by and controlled the restaurants point of sale system in case he had any questions. After Goldstein was finished placing his order, he had an option to tip the remote cashier.

this is insane cashier is literally zooming into nyc from the philippines pic.twitter.com/opAyS8AYUs  brett goldstein (@thatguybg) April 6, 2024

Happy Cashier is the company behind the virtual cashiers, and a spokesperson confirmed that it hires employees from the Philippines to video call into the restaurant.

The food was good, Goldstein said, despite his chicken katsu curry setting him back an insane $20. But the real talking point was the impact that virtual cashiers could have on the fast-food industry.

Put yourself in the restaurateur's shoes, he told Fortune. Minimum wage is going up. Rent is going up. Either they're going to have to increase the cost of the food, which you can only do to an extent or you can cut costs.

Sansans virtual cashiers are part of a growing movement of restaurant automation and the introduction of technology that limits the number of human workers in a store at a given time. Its particularly popular in the fast-food industry, where companies are looking to grow profit margins in a time of mandates increasing minimum wages for these workers.

They have a clear niche; they're not going to revolutionize their offering, Daron Acemoglu, an economics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told Fortune. Their brand is to provide relatively cheap food, so labor costs matter more for them.

Saving on steep labor costs

Labor accounts for 36% of an average restaurants costs, according to a March Bank of America note, and using automation to cut down on menial tasks while outsourcing labor to foreign workers could be a way to save money.

Mohammad Rahman, professor of management at the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business at Purdue University, told Fortune that hiring virtual workers, including those from the Philippines, would cost restaurants like Sansan only 10% of what they would pay in-person cashiers.

The Philippines has the largest business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in the world, generating a projected $35.4 billion in revenue in 2023, according to the Business Process Association of the Philippines. It has employed over 1.3 million Filipinos.

Rahman said that despite a $3.75 hourly wagethe rate for virtual cashiers in similar restaurant conceptsbeing a pittance for U.S. workers, its a substantive amount for workers in the Philippines. The $3.75 hourly wage is about $600 per month, translating to more than 33,900 Philippine pesos (PHP), which is well above the median monthly wage for Filipinos of 18,400 PHP, according to Statista.

At the end of the day, every individual will make up their mind based on this, Rahman said. But it's important to realize that these technologies can also be very liberating and contribute a lot to the struggling economies in the world.

But hiring cashiers to work remotely has also raised concerns. Fast-casual chain Freshii used Percy, a video calling system attached to its cash registers, as early as 2022 but did not speak publicly about the technology. An investigation from the Toronto Star found it was employing cashiers from Nicaragua to work for $3.75 an hour, which drew swift criticism, and the restaurant discontinued the service in August 2023, attributing it to a change in ownership. Though Ontarios minimum wage is $16.55, legal experts dubbed the use of Percy sound.

Its just like any other kind of outsourcing, employment lawyer Jonathan Pinkus told the Star. If youre sending jobs to people in a different country, youre only obligated to comply with the labor standards of that country. Being virtually present in Ontario doesnt change that.

Whether or not foreign workers stand to benefit, outsourcing this work puts fast-food restaurants in a precarious position, Acemoglu said. While virtual workers can be called upon in a time of U.S. labor shortages in the fast-food industry, those jobs could just as easily threaten workers looking for those minimum wage jobs.

If it displaces workers, especially in the local labor market, from the jobs that were open to them, that would have impacts on their livelihoods and communities, he said.

A human touch

Virtual workers such as the ones at Sansan strike the sweet spot of automation, Rahman argued. While they save on labor costs, they provide the troubleshooting ability and warmth that completely automated self-service kiosks dont have.

Customers expect better services, so if you can bring in that person who is basically virtually there, this person can do all your customer service, just as if the server was just standing there, he said. As long as that experience is the same, the customer probably doesnt care.

Rahman said leaning more on virtual workers is likely inevitable. What we're seeing right now is just a natural evolution of the future of work, he said.

Large language models such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini could make it possible for AI bots to take peoples orders and answer questions in a matter of a couple years. AI drive thru company Presto Automation has installed its services in chains such as Del Taco and Checkers, though human workers are still doing much of the work behind the scenes.

But Goldstein, despite seeing the lucrative potential for increased automation in fast-food restaurants, admitted that it did feel a little dystopian to order his fried chicken from someone halfway across the globe. The transition from in-person workers to virtual workers, and maybe eventually to AI, diminishes the intangible draw of dining out in a big city.

There's nothing better than human connection, humanity, and personal connection. There's something very special about physical presence, Goldstein said. That's why we live in New York City.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Key takeaways

The FAFSA typically opens for annual submissions in early October

Financial aid is available in the form of student loans, grants and work-study.

The amount youre eligible for depends on your enrollment status and year of study, how much your family is expected to contribute and the overall cost of attendance.

If you need to borrow money to pay for college, you have a few options. Depending on your year in school, your status and your financial need, its possible that you can get enough financial aid to cover the entire cost of your attendance. However, in many cases, there are limits.

You can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which opened in December 2023 instead of October, to determine how much federal aid you potentially qualify for in the upcoming 2024-2025 school year.

How much can you get from FAFSA?

Federal financial aid includes federal grants, student loans and work-study programs. The financial aid limit for each program varies by school, year and more.

For instance, the Pell Grant and TEACH Grant maximum awards are subject to change yearly. The maximum amount you can get through Direct Loans also increases for each year youre in school.

Keep in mind that you may not qualify for the published maximum for some grants; schools have limited funding available, and most financial aid is calculated based on your financial need. With that said, here are the published maximums for all the major federal financial aid programs:

Maximum amount (2024-25) Who is eligible? Pell Grant $7,395 per year Undergraduate students with financial need, some postbaccalaureate teacher certification students Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) $4,000 per year Undergraduate students with financial need Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant $4,000 per year Undergraduate, postbaccalaureate and graduate students who agree to complete a teaching service obligation Direct Subsidized Loan $3,500 to $5,500 per year, depending on year in school Undergraduate students with financial need Direct Unsubsidized Loan $5,500 to $20,500 per year, depending on year in school and dependency status Undergraduate and graduate students Direct PLUS Loan Total cost of attendance (net of other financial assistance received) Graduate and professional students Federal work-study Varies by school Undergraduates, graduates and professionals with financial need

How is my financial aid calculated?

Once you complete your FAFSA, your financial aid award amount is calculated using a few metrics:

Expected family contribution (EFC): This is how much your family is expected to pay for your education on your behalf.

Your year in school: First-year dependent students will have lower student loan maximums than second- and third-year students.

Enrollment status: Youll get less financial aid as a part-time student than a full-time one.

Cost of attendance: Each school has its own cost of attendance, which comes from tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies and more.

Your schools financial aid office determines how much need-based aid youre eligible for by subtracting your expected family contribution from your cost of attendance. Need-based aid includes federal grants and Direct Subsidized Loans.

For non-need-based aid, like Direct Unsubsidized Loans, your school takes your cost of attendance and subtracts any financial aid youve already been awarded.

How to estimate your financial aid package

Every students financial aid offer will look a little different. Tools like the Federal Student Aid Estimator help you figure out how much youre on the hook for when it comes to paying for college, as well as estimate your financial aid package.

You can also use the Get2College Expected Family Contribution Calculator to get an idea of your familys responsibility before submitting the FAFSA. Lastly, you may want to use a student budget calculator to make sure youre not coming up short month to month.

How can you maximize your financial aid eligibility?

Configuring income, assets, savings and other financial college preparations in the right places is important to maximize how much you receive in federal financial aid. You can do this by:

Moving your assets to nonreportable asset accounts. If you have any reportable assets, you may want to move them into nonreportable asset accounts. For instance, if you have a 529 college savings plan, you could move those funds into a Roth IRA.

Completing the FAFSA as soon as possible. The FAFSA starts normally starts accepting applications on Oct. 1 every year for the following year. Since some need-based aid goes out on a first-come, first-served basis, you could get more aid the sooner you apply.

The bottom line

As you plan your college future, funding will play a big role. Your financial aid package may cover many of your education costs, but you may have to look beyond the FAFSA for help. Do your best to exhaust all your free money resources through grants and scholarships first since the more free money you get now, the less youll have to rely on student loans.

If you still need cash, student loans are a useful tool to fill in the gaps. Depending on your needs, you may even be able to find one that doesnt require a co-signer.
A Florida pre-med university student killed his mother by stabbing her over 70 times without saying a word when he visited her from college over the weekend, authorities said.

After Emmanuel Espinoza, 21, brutally killed his mother on Saturday, he perplexedly told detectives that he loved her and that they had a good relationship  but that he had wanted to kill her for years because she irritated him, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Espinoza has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his mother, 46-year-old Elvia Espinoza, the sheriff's office said.

The student at the University of Florida in Gainesville had traveled to Frostproof, Florida, for a family event Saturday and was going to stay with his mother, Grady Judd said.

He arrived at her home around 2 p.m., knocked on the front door, and seemingly without provocation stabbed her "many times" after she opened the door, Judd said.

On Sunday, Judd shared doorbell camera video from Elvia's home that showed Emmanuel approach with a small knife in his right hand, hidden behind his back, and knock on the door. Judd said that Emmanuel had put AirPods in his ears and was playing Kanye West and Jay-Z's song No Church in the Wild when he drove up to the house and knocked on the front door.

His beautiful mother, who was so excited to see her son, opened the door. The second she opened the door, he charged in and started stabbing her, Judd said.

The mother ran from him, but "he stabbed her until she fell down and died."

Judd said Emmanuel confessed to stabbing his mother repeatedly, even when he noticed her hands were still moving. He told detectives that he knew where to stab her for maximum effect because of his biology classes.

Emmanuel told detectives that he had cut his hand in the stabbing. When he went to the kitchen sink to wash himself and the knife off, "he wanted to ask his mother for the Neosporin for the cut on his hand, but he noticed she was dead," Judd said.

Emmanuel immediately dialed 911 and confessed to operators.

Audio of the dispatch call was played for reporters Sunday.

I killed someone, Emmanuel is heard telling dispatch. I stabbed my mom.

When Emmanuel spoke with detectives, he told them he loved his mother and had a good relationship with her but that she irritated him.

We talked to him and he confessed. He said, 'You know, I have wanted to kill my mother for many, many years because she got on my nerves,'" Judd said.

When asked, "Whats your relationship with your mother?" Espinoza replied: "About a eight out of 10."

"He really loved her, but she irritated him and he made up his mind today on his way from Gainesville that he would murder her, and thats exactly what he did," Judd said Saturday.

The sheriff said Emmanuel told detectives he wasn't on drugs or alcohol at the time of the stabbing  nor did he have any history of such abuse or mental health issues, no arrest record and there was no record of calls under the Baker Act (which focuses on crisis services for individuals with mental illness) to the home.

Emmanuel was known to be introverted and quiet, with zero issues, Judd told reporters. He was the Class of 2020 valedictorian at his high school and was "described as being a genius."

"[Elvia] wanted to come see him because she hadnt seen him in a while. They text every day, every other day, they stay in constant contact. No issues over money. She would send him money to make sure she appropriately funded his ability to go to college and enjoy his college life. No argument that day. He never said a word to her," Judd said.

Elvia Espinoza was a mother of three and beloved second-grade teacher at Ben Hill Griffin Elementary in Frostproof, and was "well-loved" by the community, the sheriff's office said, calling the incident "an inexplicable vicious murder."

I want you to understand this lady who was a school teacher for 20 years actually moved around and taught at different schools while her kids were in school so she could be close to them, Judd said. I want you to understand that she was the perfect mom. I want you to understand that she was very proud of his accomplishments.

Then I want you to understand that he viciously murdered her and confessed to it, he added.

Polk County Public Schools said in a statement: Her students and colleagues greatly loved her, and her sudden, unexpected death is a devastating loss. She was a very special part of her school family.

Grief counselors have been made available at her school and another school where she previously worked.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is fighting former President Donald Trumps appeal to remove her from his election interference case based on her romantic relationship with another prosecutor.

Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that Willis could remain on the case if special prosecutor Nathan Wade stepped down, which Wade immediately did. Willis and Wade had each testified at a dramatic hearing that she hadnt benefited financially from hiring Wade, as Trump and other defendants argued.

Trump asked the Georgia Court of Appeals to overturn McAfees ruling. But Willis argued in a filing Monday that McAfee correctly found she had no conflict of interest and that she hadn't harmed the case by speaking about it at a church.

Days of evidence and testimony failed to disclose anything like a calculated pre-trial plan designed to prejudice the defendants or secure their convictions, Willis wrote in her appeals filing Monday.

The appeals court has 45 days to decide whether to hear the case. McAfee will continue moving the case toward trial, which hasnt been scheduled.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis listens during the final arguments in her disqualification hearing at the Fulton County Courthouse on March 1, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee is considering a motion to disqualify Willis over her romantic relationship with Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she appointed as special prosecutor in the election interference charges against former Trump. (Photo by Alex Slitz / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ALEX SLITZ/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776022538 ORIG FILE ID: 2043988805

Why does Trump want to disqualify the Georgia prosecutor?

Trump and 14 co-defendants are charged with a racketeering conspiracy to try to steal the 2020 election from President Joe Biden, who won Georgia. Four other defendants have pleaded guilty, but Trump and the remaining co-defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Trump and eight co-defendants  Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Jeffrey Clark, Robert Cheeley, Michael Roman, David Shafer, Harrison Floyd, and Cathleen Latham  contend the court of appeals should disqualify Willis from the case. They argue she had a financial stake in the case and had wrongly talked about the case outside court.

Willis and Wade acknowledged a romantic relationship that began after he was hired in November 2021 and has since ended. Trump and others argued that Willis had a conflict of interest because she benefited from hiring Wade through trips they took together. Willis and Wade testified she repaid him for her share in cash.

After the initial filing making the allegations, Willis gave a speech Jan. 14 at at Big Bethel AME Church on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend questioning whether her adversaries were "playing the race card" by focusing their criticism on Wade, who is Black, rather than two other special prosecutors, who are white. Trump accused Willis of what is called forensic misconduct for speaking about the case outside court because it could influence jurors.

Her disqualification is the minimum that must be done to remove the stain of her legally improper and plainly unethical conduct from the remainder of the case," Trump lawyer Steve Sadow wrote in his appeal. Her disqualification is necessary to ensure that she cannot continue to violate her heightened ethical obligations as a prosecutor to further prejudice Defendants and this case.

March, 1, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee presides in court, Friday, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta. The hearing is to determine whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from the case because of a relationship with Nathan Wade, special prosecutor she hired in the election interference case against former President Donald Trump. Mandatory Credit: Alex Slitz/Pool via USA TODAY NETWORK ORG XMIT: GABA122 ORIG FILE ID: 20240301_so6_nbr_032.JPG

Judge McAfee refused to disqualify Willis

After a three-day hearing with testimony and arguments, McAfee scolded Willis for "a tremendous lapse in judgment" but let her remain on the case if Wade quit. He did.

"Without sufficient evidence that the District Attorney acquired a personal stake in the prosecution, or that her financial arrangements had any impact on the case, the Defendants claims of an actual conflict must be denied," McAfee wrote. "This finding is by no means an indication that the Court condones this tremendous lapse in judgment."

McAfee also ruled that Willis' church speech was "legally improper" but didn't cross the into denying the defendants a fair trial.

"Providing this type of public comment creates dangerous waters for the District Attorney to wade further into," McAfee wrote.

Willis wrote in her filing that McAfee found no conflict of interest and that her church speech didnt require him to dismiss the charges.

Ultimately, the trial court found the evidence insufficient to establish any actual conflict of interest and declined to dismiss the indictment, Willis wrote in her reply to the appeals court. Given the trial courts factual findings, which are supported by the record, the trial court correctly ruled the District Attorney did not engage in disqualifying forensic misconduct.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Georgia DA Fani Willis fights Donald Trump's appeal to disqualify her
DonnaJean Wilde is pictured in a plank position.

Next time your trainer asks you to hold a dreaded minute-long plank, just remember: Your grandma can do it for much longer  well, maybe not yours, but somebody's.

DonnaJean Wilde, a grandmother of 12, recently beat the world record for the longest plank ever held by a woman, staying steady for 4 hours, 30 minutes and 11 seconds as her family watched, Guinness World Records said.

"I actually still can't believe it," she told GWR. "It feels like a dream."

To take the title, the Alberta, Canada, resident had to stay on her forearms and toes with her body kept straight and off the ground for at least 4 hours, 19 minutes and 56 seconds  one second longer than fellow Canadian Dana Glowacka, who set the record in 2019.

Wilde told GWR she felt the first two hours were a breeze, but the second two became a bit trickier. She said she drew motivation to continue from her grandkids and the crowd of high school students who came to watch her record attempt, which took place at the school where she served as vice principal before retiring. Then in the final 30 minutes, the 58-year-old just focused on "breathing, staying calm and not shaking."

"My elbows hurt pretty bad," Wilde told GWR after making the record. "I was so worried about losing my form, and I think that's why my quads hurt because I was just really tense."

Though the feat and/or the act of a plank itself might be a *Wilde* idea to some, the exercise and the pain often associated with it are typical for Wilde.

She told GWR she began incorporating planks into her daily routine 12 years ago after becoming unable to run or lift weights while wearing a cast for a broken wrist. And as someone who suffers chronic pain in her hands and arms, Wilde's husband, Randy, believes the move works well for her condition, transverse myelitis, instead of against it.

"That chronic pain and numbness that she deals with every day has helped her to be able to plank through the pain," he said.

Each day, you can find Wilde holding her plank for up to three hours  though she increased to six hours split into two, three-hour blocks to prepare for the attempt  but you probably won't just see her staring at the floor below for all that time.

The Canadian woman told GWR she fell in love with the exercise because she realized she could read while doing it, even completing her studies for her master's degree while in the hold. Now she'll watch a movie while doing a plank, and she advises anyone who wants to beat her record to do the same.

"Keep trying and keep practicing," Wilde told GWR. "When you have to read or work on your computer, just get on the floor and do it on the floor."

Currently, the world plank record stands at more than 9 hours and 38 minutes and is held by a man. Josef Salek from Czechia achieved it last year, according to GWR.

SEE MORE: World's oldest living man has died at 114. Here's his longevity secret
This was the real March madness.

March 2024 was the warmest March ever recorded globally, scientists reported Tuesday, in data that goes back to before the Civil War. It was also the 10th month in a row that was the hottest on record, itself an ongoing record-breaking streak.

In addition, "the global average temperature is the highest on record, with the past 12 months being 1.58 degrees (Celsius) above preindustrial levels," said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, which released the report.

The primary cause of the exceptional heat was human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, the service said. Other factors pushing up temperatures include El Nino, the natural climate pattern that warms the surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Heat records fall: Scientists are puzzled and alarmed in 2024. Here's what to know.

Long-term trend is concerning

"It's the long-term trend with exceptional records that has us very concerned," Burgess said. "Seeing records like this  month in, month out  really shows us that our climate is changing, is changing rapidly."

Scientists don't fully understand why recent temperatures are up so much more than projected. The year 2023 was the planet's hottest year in global records that go back to 1850. It was also warmer than it should have been, experts say, and they're not sure why.

"Its humbling, and a bit worrying, to admit that no year has confounded climate scientists predictive capabilities more than 2023 has," wrote NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt in an opinion piece in March in the journal Nature.

March warmth was worldwide

In addition to Europe, which had its second-warmest March on record, temperatures were most above average over eastern North America, Greenland, eastern Russia, Central America, parts of South America, many parts of Africa, southern Australia and parts of Antarctica, Copernicus said.

In the U.S., March temperatures were above average across much of the country, while below-average temperatures were seen in small pockets of the West and Southwest, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a Monday report. Overall, it was the USA's 17th-warmest March in the climate record.

A world map shows temperature anomalies for March 2024. Red and orange areas indicate warmer-than-average temperatures.

Why is 1.5 degrees significant?

Although the global average temperatures in Tuesday's report are above the 1.5 Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) threshold set in the landmark Paris Agreement, it's not yet seen as exceeding the goal because that is based on a long-term, consistent average rather than a measurement from any single month or year.

However, scientists agree the world needs to hold down the global increase in average temperatures to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius over preindustrial levels. If temperatures go over that, especially over 2 degrees Celsius, scientists believe the global warming effects we're already seeing will become devastating.

Fossil fuel burning the cause

"The main driver of the warming is fossil fuel emissions," said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London's Grantham Institute.

Failure to reduce these emissions will continue to drive the warming of the planet, resulting in more intense droughts, fires, heat waves and heavy rainfall, Otto said.

Burgess said that "stopping further warming requires rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions."

Federal scientists from NASA and NOAA will release their global temperature data for March within a few days.

Contributing: Reuters; Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Warmest March on record comes as Earth continues (literal) hot streak
An Idaho teenager was arrested and accused of planning to kill churchgoers during services across his hometown in the name of the Islamic State group, authorities have said.

Alexander Scott Mercurio, 18, from Coeur dAlene, was arrested early Saturday as part of the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation, a day before prosecutors say he planned to carry out his attack.

He is accused of "attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS," according to a federal criminal complaint filed in Idaho on Monday.

The FBI said he was actively planning to attack churches Sunday in Coeur d'Alene, a town 30 miles east of Spokane, Washington, using "weapons, including knives, firearms, and fire," a statement said. The attack was timed to coincide with the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, investigators said.

Coeur d'Alene. (Josh Noel// Chicago Tribune / Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

According to a direct message sent to an FBI "confidential human source," quoted in a lengthy affidavit attached to the criminal complaint, Mercurio set out his plan in detail.

"Stop close by the church, equip the weapon(s) and storm the temple, kill as many people as possible before they inevitably disperse/scatter, then burn the temple to the ground and flee the scene," Mercurio allegedly wrote. He said he would then repeat this for all 21 churches in the town, according to prosecutors.

Mercurio will face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. A court date has not been set. NBC News could not immediately identify an attorney for Mercurio.

As part of their investigation , prosecutors said, FBI sources met with Mercurio in person and heard him express support for ISIS and outline his plan to incapacitate his father with a metal pipe and restrain him, then take his firearms and attack a local church.

"His plan grew more precise as he eventually identified the church and date on which he planned to attack," the affidavit said, adding that he had pledged his allegiance to ISIS and said he was prepared to die while killing others on its behalf.

Law enforcement officers found an ISIS flag, butane canisters, lighters, handcuffs, a knife, a pipe and a machete at his house during his arrest, as well as several firearms belonging to his father, which he allegedly planned to take.

Mercurio also spread ISIS propaganda online and discussed ways to support the group financially as well as traveling to west Africa to help its operations there, the affidavit said.

The FBI said it became aware of Mercurio during an investigation into a fundraising network that uses cryptocurrency and other platforms to support ISIS in Syria and its Afghan affiliate ISIS Wilayat Khorasan, known as ISIS-K.

That investigation found that Mercurio and at least three other suspects who were not identified in the documents were financially supporting someone only referred to as "Individual 2" in Gaza, the Palestinian enclave that has faced widespread destruction from six months of the Israel-Hamas war.

According to the FBI's testimony, Mercurio was in an encrypted group chat group with fellow ISIS supporters. Investigators also found on his school-issued laptop documents relating to ISIS ideology but also far-right terrorists such as mass murderer Anders Breivik.

Mercurio told a second "confidential human source" sent by the FBI that his parents were not fond of his "deen," meaning "the path" and a reference to his Islamic faith and customs, prosecutors said.

In a direct message conversation with this source, Mercurio allegedly said: "I am a hypocrite who has not even spat in the face of a kafir [non-believer] or donated a single penny in the cause of Allah, let alone spilled their blood and induced terror into their hearts and minds."

"Thanks to the investigative efforts of the FBI, the defendant was taken into custody before he could act, and he is now charged with attempting to support ISISs mission of terror and violence," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said Mercurio had formed a "truly horrific plan."

"This case should be an eye-opener to the dangers of self-radicalization, which is a real threat to our communities," Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI said in the statement.

In December another 18-year-old, Humzah Mashkoor from near Denver, was charged with providing support to ISIS after allegedly planning to travel to the Middle East to become a fighter for the terrorist group.

A joint intelligence bulletin issued last Friday by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Counterterrorism Center warned of possible threats to public gatherings in the U.S. from lone wolf extremists inspired by last months ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) attack on Moscows Crocus City Concert Hall and by later official ISIS statements calling for similar attacks in the U.S.

The unclassified bulletin, circulated to law enforcement, said intelligence agencies have identified several possible signposts  indicating potential violence.

The indicators included explicit discussion in online spaces of tactics associated with ISISs attack; a proliferation of violent extremist content associated with ISISs attack, particularly in English; and interest in attack guidance in online forums.

The FBIs Wray told Congress in March that the terrorism threat in the U.S. since the Israel Hamas war began on Oct. 7 has reached a whole other level.
Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Tuesday, April 9. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East view our file for Wednesday, April 10.

Israel's War Cabinet met Tuesday to discuss the latest U.S. proposal for a cease-fire after Hamas said it was reviewing the plan but accused Israel of remaining "intransigent" and failing to respond to the demands of the Palestinian people.

Hamas wants Israel to withdraw all forces from Gaza and allow displaced people to return to their homes.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the latest proposal "is very serious" and should be accepted by Hamas.

"I think the fact that it continues to not say yes is a reflection of what it really thinks about the people of Gaza, which is not much at all," Blinken said at a news conference in Washington. "The ball is in Hamas' court, the world is watching to see what it does."

The Wall Street Journal, citing officials helping to broker the deal, said the proposal calls for a six-week cease-fire and release of 40 of more than 100 militant-held hostages in exchange for 900 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. The Journal said 100 of the Palestinians who would be freed are serving long sentences on terrorism-related charges.

But the Journal said gaps remain over key aspects of any potential deal, including how and when Palestinians displaced by the war would be allowed to return to northern Gaza, the identities of the Palestinian prisoners to be released and whether the initial six-week cease-fire could become permanent.

The Israeli military says multiple Hamas battalions remain entrenched in Rafah and must be removed for Hamas to be defeated. Israel has been bombing Rafah for weeks, but President Joe Biden and numerous other world leaders have urged Israel not to invade the city, fearing massive civilian death tolls. Gaza officials say more than 33,000 Palestinians have died since the war began Oct. 7 when Hamas-led militants crashed across the Israeli border, killing 1,200 and taking more than 250 hostages.

"We are constantly working to achieve our goals, first and foremost the release of all our hostages and achieving a complete victory over Hamas," Prime Minister Benjamein Netanyahu said. "This victory requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen  there is a date."

A Palestinian vendor carries a bucket with roses at an open market in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on April 9, 2024, ahead of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Developing:

 U.S. officials "don't have evidence" that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

 Israels actions in Gaza have not altered the British government's position allowing the export of arms to the Israeli military, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said. "As ever, we will keep the position under review, he said.

 The British government has faced growing calls to halt arms sales to Israel, including last week from London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

 Turkey issued trade restrictions on dozens of Israeli products Tuesday, saying they would remain in place until Israel accepts a cease-fire and allowed more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

30,000-plus lives lost: Visualizing the death and destruction of Israel's war in Gaza

VP Harris meets with families of hostages

Vice President Kamala Harris met Tuesday with relatives of American hostages being held in Gaza. The families met with national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday.

According to a White House statement, Harris told the families that she and Biden "have no higher priority than reuniting the hostages with their loved ones" and they are committed to bringing home the remains of the deceased. Harris also provided an update on the effort to secure the hostages' release and establish a ceasefire in Gaza, the White House said.

Rachel Goldberg, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin was among those taken on Oct. 7, told reporters the meeting was "very productive" and thanked the vice president for spending time with their families.

She said they discussed that it is possible to believe, as she said the families do, "that it is horrible that innocent civilians in Gaza are suffering, and at the same time you can also know that it is horrible and against international law for hostages to be held against their will."

Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the father of hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, said the world is waiting for Hamas "to get to yes" on an agreement to release the hostages. He echoed Blinken's earlier comment that it is up to the group to agree to a deal. "It's clear to us that the Biden administration, and wall-to-wall in Congress, there is absolute, absolute support for getting all of the hostages home," he said. "We are completely appreciative."

Israel buying 40,000 tents to house Rafah evacuees

Israel is purchasing 40,000 tents to prepare for the evacuation of Rafah after a defiant Netanyahu announced a date has been set for the globally condemned invasion of the southern Gaza city. Israeli officials told multiple news outlets, including the Jerusalem Post, the tents will house some of the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who will be evacuated from the city, where more than 1 million have sought shelter after fleeing devastating attacks across northern and central Gaza.

"I have not yet seen a credible and executable plan to move people that has any level of detail about how you not only house, feed and provide medicine for those innocent civilians, but also how you deal with things like sanitation, water and other basic services. We have not seen that," Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, said at a Tuesday afternoon briefing.

Sullivan maintained that the Biden administration believes there are "better ways to go after Hamas" that the Biden administration has presented to the Israeli government.

Blinken said earlier in the day that the U.S. has not been told the date for Israel's Rafah operation. He said the Biden administration continues to talk to Israel about alternatives to an invasion, and if it goes forward, removing civilians from harm's way.

"The commitments that have been made, and the initial steps to implement those commitments are positive, but a lot more needs to happen to make sure people in Gaza have what they need," Blinken said.

US reviewing Israeli conclusions in World Central Kitchen tragedy

The U.S is reviewing the conclusions of the investigation Israel conducted into the attack on a humanitarian aid convoy that killed seven people last week, Blinken said. The Israel military said a series of mistakes led to the accidental attack on volunteers for celebrity chef Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen. Two officers were removed from command positions days after the drone strikes. Blinken said Israel has taken the first steps toward accountability.

"We want to make sure that, again, the investigation produces real change that can better ensure the security and safety of humanitarian workers," Blinken said.

Sullivan said that the informal review is ongoing and did not provide a projected completion date.

Deadly famine in Gaza would 'accelerate violence,' US defense secretary warns

A deadly famine in Gaza would likely "accelerate violence" and ensure a long-term conflict, Austin told the Senate committee. Austin said the U.S. is doing 'everything we can" to encourage Israel to allow more humanitarian assistance into the enclave. Aid agencies, however, have repeatedly complained that Israel is not ensuring enough access for food, medicine and other needed humanitarian supplies, joining European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in accusing Israel of using starvation as a "weapon of war."

Israel aid Tuesday that aid is moving into Gaza more quickly, but the United Nations says it is still much less than needed to meet humanitarian needs. Israel said 419 trucks - the highest since the conflict began - entered on Monday, though the Red Crescent and U.N. gave much lower figures. The U.N. said many were only half full because of Israeli inspection rules.

UN to consider Palestinian bid for membership

The U.N. Security Council agreed Monday to consider the Palestinian application for full membership in the United Nations, essentially recognizing Palestinian statehood. A similar application failed in 2011, although Palestine was later granted observer status.

"All we ask for is to take our rightful place among the community of nations," Palestinian Ambassador Dr. Riyad Mansour said. "To be treated as equals to other nations and states. To live in freedom and dignity, in peace and security, in our ancestral land."

Israel's U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan said "granting the Palestinian statehood is not only a blatant violation of the UN Charter, it also violates the fundamental principle that everyone can understand of reaching a lasting solution at the negotiating table."

Malta Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, serving as president of the council this month, said the admissions committee will meet again on the issue Thursday. But the U.S. could ultimately veto the application. The U.S. position has been that full U.N. membership should come only after a long-term peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

Israel withdraws most troops from Gaza: Hamas, Israel to engage in talks

US seizes Iranian guns, ships them to Ukraine

The U.S. military has transferred thousands of small arms to Ukraine that were seized while being shipped from Iran to Yemeni rebels, U.S. Central Command said in a statement Tuesday. Over 5,000 AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s and over 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were sent to Ukraine. The equipment, seized from 2021 to 2023, was bound for Houthi forces that control parts of Yemen and since November have been attacking ships in the Red Sea region, disrupting supply chains around the world.

"Irans support for armed groups threatens international and regional security, our forces, diplomatic personnel and citizens in the region, as well as those of our partners," the statement said. "We will continue to do whatever we can to shed light on and stop Irans destabilizing activities."

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel war updates: US urges Hamas to accept new cease-fire deal
Melissa Manno is a reporter covering education for the San Antonio Express-News. She can be reached at melissa.manno@express-news.net.

She graduated from Penn State University in 2022 with a bachelors degree in journalism and minors in geography and digital media trends and analytics. She is also the 2021 Hearst National Journalism Writing Champion.
Former Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) took shots at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Monday, attacking his former GOP colleague as Moscow Marjorie.

The jab comes after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) called Greene a very serious legislator following her threat to force a vote to oust Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) over Ukraine aid. Buck disagreed with McCarthys assessment.

My experience with Marjorie is, people have talked to her about not filing articles of impeachment on President Biden before he was sworn into office, on not filing articles of impeachment that were groundless made on other individuals in the Biden administration, he told Erin Burnett in a CNN interview Monday.

And she was never moved by that. She was always focused on her social media account, Buck continued. And Moscow Marjorie is focused now on this Ukraine issue and getting her talking points from the Kremlin and making sure that she is popular and she is getting a lot of coverage.

Top Stories from The Hill

Greene has vehemently opposed additional spending for Ukraine aid. She filed a motion to vacate the Speakership before the Easter recess and threatened to make the motion privileged if Johnson attempts to pass a bill.

Buck abruptly retired from Congress last month. He clashed with the Georgia Republican in the final months of his tenure after he moved to remove McCarthy from the Speakership last year; Greene was a close McCarthy ally.

Both Buck and Greene were members of the House Freedom Caucus at one point, though Greene left the group last year amid internal strife. The caucus also voted to kick out Buck just days before his resignation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is urging President Joe Biden to name a fellow California Democrat and progressive stalwart, longtime Rep. Barbara Lee, to be the next secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Bass said in an interview Tuesday.

The Cabinet post has been filled on an acting basis by Deputy HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman since March 22, when Marcia Fudge stepped down from the top job.

Fudge played a tremendous role. She moved on and Im sure will continue making a contribution in other ways, but I think a perfect person to follow her would be Barbara Lee because Barbara Lee is the same type of person in the sense that shes a bold leader; she has worked on this issue for many, many years, Bass said in a phone interview with NBC News.

The mayor of Americas second-largest city, who served alongside Lee in the House from 2011 to 2022, said the pair worked together on legislation ensuring that young people can find housing after leaving the foster care system and fought to include rental assistance and funding for the homeless in Covid relief aid.

I think her history of fighting for marginalized populations would serve her well, Bass said of Lee.

The three women  Bass, Lee and Fudge  share something in common: They are all former chairwomen of the Congressional Black Caucus. Bass had endorsed Lee for the open Senate seat in California, but Lee didnt qualify in last month's primary for one of the top two spots to advance to the November election.

After more than a quarter century serving in Congress, Lee, 77, will be retiring from the House early next year. Just a few years after arriving in Washington, Lee quickly burnished her reputation as a leading liberal, becoming the only lawmaker in Congress to vote against the war in Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

She received death threats after that vote and would go on to serve as a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 2005 to 2009 before leading the Black Caucus. She now leads the Congressional Social Work Caucus.

A Lee spokesman had no comment for this story.

Biden has not indicated whom he plans to name as the next head of HUD, which is responsible for federal housing policies and programs including mortgage and loan insurance under the Federal Housing Administration; Community Development Block Grants to aid communities with economic development and housing rehabilitation efforts; and rental assistance through Section 8 certificates or vouchers for low-income families.

The White House is looking at several candidates but no final decision has been made, according to a senior administration official. The official said they believe HUD is a very important Cabinet position, which is why they are evaluating a few options.

Todman, the acting secretary who is also a Black woman, is one possibility, the official said.

Bass is close to Biden and has campaigned with him during both the 2020 and 2024 cycles; Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both endorsed Bass for mayor during her 2022 race.

The mayor said she has not yet spoken to Biden or the White House about Lee. But she said she plans to raise the issue during her upcoming visit to Washington, where she is leading 40 mayors in pushing for legislation to help prevent veterans from becoming homeless.

Given that the presidential election is just seven months away, Bass said she would back Lee being named HUD secretary now or in a potential second Biden term. She said she's cognizant of the fact that House Republicans, by next week, will hold just a single-seat advantage over Democrats and that an early Lee departure could impact the numbers in the lower chamber.

"I mean, of course, I want her appointment tomorrow. But I also want to be very sensitive to the balance of power within the House. I know that margin is so close. Hakeem Jeffries might wind up speaker by attrition. So I certainly wouldnt want to do anything to interfere with that," Bass said.

"But Im gonna do everything I can to make sure that Biden gets re-elected. And so whether shes appointed now or after hes sworn in again, thats fine. Its very important to pay attention to the margin in the House," she continued.

"However, its never too early to put in a word," the mayor said.
ATLANTA (AP)  Looking to add a fresh arm to their bullpen, the New York Mets designated right-hander Yohan Ramirez for assignment and selected the contract of right-hander Cole Sulser from Triple-A Syracuse.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said the roster move was necessary because right-hander Julio Teheran was to have his pitch count restricted in his debut with the team on Monday night against the Atlanta Braves. Teheran, 33, signed with New York on Friday.

Ramirez was 0-1 with an 11.81 ERA in three games. He threw two innings on Saturday, allowing four hits and five runs at Cincinnati and so would not have been available on Monday night.

The challenging part when we left camp was we knew we had some pitchers who were out of options, so now here we are, Mendoza said. ... I hate it.

Sulser pitched six scoreless innings for the Mets in spring training. He allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings for Arizona in 2023. In five seasons with Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Miami and Arizona, Sulser is 7-13 with a 3.87 ERA in 129 games, all in relief.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey on Tuesday filed a lawsuit to block President Joe Bidens latest attempt to provide student loan debt relief for Americans.

Bailey, a Republican, is leading the lawsuit, which was filed alongside six other Republican attorneys general. The suit seeks to challenge one part of a series of proposals Biden has introduced after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down an earlier attempt to cancel student loans that would have offered broader relief.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, makes similar arguments to a lawsuit filed last month by Kansas Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach and alleges that the Biden administration is overstepping its authority in attempting to forgive student loan debt. It also takes issue with the cost of the plan and alleges that it would be more expensive than the administrations earlier attempt.

With the stroke of his pen, Joe Biden is attempting to saddle working Missourians with a half trillion dollars in college debt, Bailey said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Republican attorney general argued that Biden lacks the authority to cancel student loan debt without permission from Congress.

Yet again, the President is unilaterally trying to impose an extraordinarily expensive and controversial policy that he could not get through Congress, the lawsuit said.

The Republican attorneys general of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio and Oklahoma joined Bailey in filing the suit.

The lawsuit focuses on a Department of Education plan called the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. In February, the White House announced it would forgive the debt of 153,000 Americans who borrowed less than $12,000 and have been repaying their loans for more than 10 years, including around $22.4 million for 2,780 Missourians.

But Baileys lawsuit comes as the Biden administration is trying to draw attention to their latest proposal in a series of debt forgiveness plans.

On Monday, President Joe Biden traveled to Madison and Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Philadelphia to hold events centered around the student debt proposal.

The debt relief proposal would eliminate accrued interest for 23 million borrowers and cancel the full amount of student debate for more than 4 million people, according to the Biden administration. The proposal would also provide more than 10 million Americans with at least $5,000 in debt relief.

The proposal unveiled by the Biden administration on Monday is targeted to borrowers who have struggled to make their payments and would be extended to people who have not applied for assistance from the SAVE plan, but are eligible for relief.

It would cancel the undergraduate student debt of people who have been making payments for more than 20 years and for borrowers who owe more than they did when they started making payments, according to the White House.

Bidens recent debt relief efforts come after Missouri played a central role in the Supreme Courts decision to block the Biden administrations previous attempt to forgive up to $30,000 in student loan debt for some Americans.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that the White House anticipated lawsuits from Republicans.

We know what Republicans are going to do, Jean-Pierre said. We cant stop them from that. But its also not going to stop the President on acting and taking action like hes doing today.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat, in a statement on Tuesday touted Bidens debt relief plan and the president was fulfilling a promise to help people who are weighed down by student loan debt.

No matter how many times Republican elected officials try to block him, they shouldnt be surprised that President Biden continues to go to bat for working- and middle-class families, and Im proud to stand right there with him, Cleaver said.

The White House has said it has studied the Supreme Courts previous ruling and is on more solid legal ground with the new proposal.

The administrations new efforts at student loan forgiveness use a different legal authority than the previous plan, which attempted to take advantage of power granted to the president by congress during a state of emergency -- at the time the COVID-19 pandemic.

The White House has also said the new plan is more targeted toward specific types of borrowers.

The Supreme Courts ruling against Bidens previous plan relied on harm done to the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority or MOHELA, a quasi-governmental group that helps support Missouri scholarships. Attorneys for Missouri argued that the previous attempt would harm the program.

Baileys lawsuit filed on Tuesday makes similar arguments.

The programs executive director did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)  The Houston Astros scratched All-Star left-hander Framber Valdez from his scheduled start Monday night against the Texas Rangers because of left elbow soreness.

Neither general manager Dana Brown or manager Joe Espada seemed overly concerned that the issue is serious, though Valdez returned to Houston for further evaluation by doctors. The pitcher first reported being sore around the top of his elbow after playing catch Sunday, then felt the same Monday.

The fact that we didnt have to put him on the IL is good sign," Espada said. We just want to see what the doctor says and well go from there.

Brown said he spoke with the 30-year-old Valdez, who responded a little below the medium side" when asked to rate the pain low to high.

Not really concerned at all, Brown said. At the end of the day, I think he's going to be fine.

Houston called up right-hander Blair Henley from Triple-A Sugar Land to start in place of Valdez. The 26-year-old got out only one of the nine batters he faced and allowed five runs in his major league debut at the home of the Rangers, just a few miles from his hometown of Fort Worth.

While Valdez remained on the active roster, right-hander Miguel Diaz was designated for assignment to clear spots on the 26- and 40-man rosters for Henley.

Valdez had no-decisions with a 2.19 ERA in his first two starts, both Houston losses. He has allowed three runs in 12 1/3 innings with six walks and 10 strikeouts.

After going 17-6 and leading the American League with 201 1/3 innings pitched in 2022, Valdez was 12-11 with a 3.45 ERA last season and threw 198 innings. He made 31 starts in both of those All-Star seasons, plus threw another 37 innings in seven postseason starts.

The one thing with Framber is he logs a lot of innings. And, you know, when you do that much, sometimes youre going to need some rest at times, Brown said. Sometimes you may have to miss a start. It goes with the territory.

Henley pitched three seasons for the Texas Longhorns before the Astros drafted him in the seventh round in 2019. He has made one start for Sugar Land this season, and it was his turn to pitch again for the Space Cowboys.

After seven consecutive balls to start his outing, Henley allowed three consecutive singles before issuing a bases-loaded walk and then hitting a batter to force home another run.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's foreign minister Penny Wong said Canberra would consider recognition of a Palestinian state, a shift in policy as the international community looks for a two-state solution to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

In a speech on Tuesday evening, Wong backed comments by Britain's foreign minister David Cameron who has said that recognising a Palestinian state, including at the United Nations, would make a two-state solution irreversible.

Wong said the international community is discussing Palestinian statehood "as a way of building momentum towards a two-state solution".

"A two-state solution is the only hope to break the endless cycle of violence," she said, speaking at the Australian National University.

The so-called two-state solution has long been the basis for international peace efforts to resolve the long Israel-Palestinian conflict, but the process has been stalled for a decade even before the present war in the Palestinian enclave Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Palestinians aspire to having an independent state in the West Bank and East Jerusalem - occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East War - and including Gaza.

Israel on Sunday formalised its opposition to what it called the "unilateral recognition" of Palestinian statehood, and said any such agreement must be reached through direct negotiations.

Spain is among other Western countries pushing for such recognition and is a main proponent of such a move within the European Union.

Wong, however, ruled out a role for Hamas, which rules Gaza.

"There is no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state," she said.

The Palestinian Authority last week formally asked for renewed consideration by the United Nations Security Council of its 2011 application to become a full member of the world body. The Palestinians are a non-member observer state at the United Nations, the same status as the Holy See.

The United Nations Security Council president on Monday referred the Palestinian Authority's application to become a full U.N. member to the admission committee.

Wong said "those who claim recognition is rewarding an enemy" were wrong because Israel's own security depends on a two-state solution.

"There is no long-term security for Israel unless it is recognised by the countries of its region," she said.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
A California judge on Monday dismissed one of many cases brought forth by a man who is suing dozens of women for sharing stories about him in multiple private Facebook groups, including offshoots of the viral Are We Dating the Same Guy? group.

Stewart Lucas Murrey is suing more than 50 women  nine of whom he names in his complaint  saying they conspired to harm [his] reputation and violate his right to free speech based upon his sex and other discriminatory elements, according to court documents reviewed by NBC News.

In his initial complaint, filed in June 2023, Murrey states that much of his emotional distress was due to posts made in several Are We Dating the Same Guy? groups local to Los Angeles and Orange County. These are part of a network of more than 150 private Facebook groups where women post about men theyre seeking to vet with help from others who may have dated the same person.

On Monday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gregory Keosian granted one defendant, Vanessa Valdes, an anti-SLAPP motion, a common legal mechanism for dismissing strategic lawsuits against public participation, or lawsuits determined to chill the exercise of free expression.

While I am grateful for this outcome, I want to highlight that there are still other defendants continuing to fight this battle, Valdes wrote in an email statement to NBC News. I want to make it clear that I do not condone retaliation against the plaintiff; the courts will continue to do its intended work. It is my sincere hope that baseless lawsuits like this do not happen to others in the future.

In an email statement to NBC News on Wednesday, Murrey said he "will soon issue a more serious and nuanced statement regarding the last hearing."

"This ruling should not be misconstrued at a surface level nor embolden and normalize cyberstalkers," he wrote.

He also noted that his lawsuit is against multiple defendants.

In a statement posted Monday to his personal website, Murrey said the judges ruling was based only on portions of Valdess statements about him.

While Murrey said hes never met Valdes in person (which she had also previously stated), he alleged she participated in an online group that sought to harass, dox, gang-stalk and cyberbully him.

This behavior should not be normalized and I am challenging every person in their various roles, he wrote, later adding that this is a situation that is bigger than mere libel. We face a threat to privacy and I am prepared for the long fight ahead.

The statements echo Murrey's November 2023 amended complaint, which claimed this large-scale conspiracy to create a fake online social consensus had and continues to have real consequences.

Murrey alleges that the womens comments caused severe damage to his personal relationships and dating life, and that he has lost all privacy.

Facebook and the Facebook groups refused to respond whatsoever so Murrey had no option but to file police reports against defendants, according to the complaint. More than 400 severely harmful comments have been taken down within said Facebook groups, the complaint states.

A spokesperson for Meta, which owns Facebook, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In recent years, the Are We Dating the Same Guy? Facebook groups  which say they aim to warn other women about liars, cheaters, abusers, or anyone who exhibits any type of toxic or dangerous behavior  have gained rapid traction across the country.

But some group members have become embroiled in defamation-related lawsuits brought forth in various states by men who have been the subject of these conversations.

In January, an Illinois judge dismissed a separate lawsuit against 27 women regarding their posts in a Chicago Are We Dating the Same Guy? Facebook group. The plaintiff refiled a class-action complaint the same day.
By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's domestic spy agency concluded that China interfered in the last two elections, an official probe heard on Monday, the firmest evidence so far of suspected Chinese meddling in Canadian politics.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party won both the elections, held in 2019 and 2021. Under pressure from opposition legislators unhappy about media reports on China's possible role, Trudeau set up a commission into foreign interference.

The commission was shown a slide on Monday containing an extract of a February 2023 briefing from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

"We know that the PRC (Peoples' Republic of China) clandestinely and deceptively interfered in both the 2019 and 2021 elections," it said.

"In both cases, these FI (foreign interference) activities were pragmatic in nature and focused primarily on supporting those viewed to be either 'pro-PRC' or 'neutral' on issues of interest to the PRC government."

The existence of the assessment had previously been reported by Global News. China denies it interferes in Canadian politics.

Erin O'Toole, who led the Conservatives during the 2021 campaign, estimated Chinese interference cost his party up to nine seats but added it had not changed the course of the election.

"State actors are able to conduct foreign interference successfully in Canada because there are few legal or political consequences. FI is therefore low-risk and high-reward," said the CSIS assessment.

Intelligence analysts and the Conservatives say Trudeau's government has not done enough to combat Chinese interference. Trudeau is due to testify to the commission on Wednesday.

The Conservatives, who generally take a harder line on China than the Liberals, campaigned in 2021 on a platform that condemned Beijing's treatment of its Uyghur minority and vowed to ban Chinese mobile giant Huawei from the 5G network.

A legislator for the left-leaning minority New Democrats told the inquiry that once she started criticizing Beijing's Hong Kong policy, invitations to events held by the politically influential ethnic Chinese community started to dry up.

According to the official 2021 census, Canada is home to around 1.7 million people of Chinese descent, just under 5% of the total population.

The Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the CSIS statement.

Last year, Canada said a Conservative legislator with family in Hong Kong had been targeted in an online disinformation operation, and kicked out a senior Chinese diplomat.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
SEOUL (Reuters) - A Chinese government and communist party delegation led by its top legislator and the party's third ranked official Zhao Leji will pay an official goodwill visit to North Korea, the North's official KCNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

China's foreign ministry also announced Zhao's visit that will take place from Thursday to Saturday.

The trip led by Zhao, a member of the powerful Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Chinese communist party, comes as Pyongyang seeks to expand diplomatic exchanges with its main political ally after lifting COVID-19 restrictions.

Zhao, who is also the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, will be the highest ranking Chinese official to visit the North since 2018 when Li Zhanshu attended the 70th anniversary of the North's founding.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson told a briefing that the trip was a "reflection of the profound friendship between the two countries and the great importance China attaches to China-DPRK relations."

DPRK refers to the initials of the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The spokesperson did not say who the delegation would meet, but said Zhao would attend the opening ceremony to mark China-DPRK Friendship Year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un opened 2024 exchanging messages and announcing it as the year of friendship, calling for a series of activities to mark the anniversary.

(Reporting by Jack Kim in Seoul and Liz Lee in Beijing; Editing by Ed Davies)
Commentary: Innovative greening manifests China's environmental preservation drive

Xinhua) 10:04, April 09, 2024

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Planting trees around Qingming Festival in early April has been a tradition for centuries among Chinese people. The nation's innovative approach to afforestation manifests its environmental preservation drive.

China's annual National Tree-Planting Day started from 1979. Over the past decades, China's greening endeavors have been both fruitful and visible, with barren mountains being transformed into lush ones, and deserts into oases.

Since 2000, China has led the world in greening the planet, contributing around one fourth of the world's newly added green areas. From 2012 to 2021, China planted 64 million hectares of trees, with its forest coverage ratio increasing to 24 percent. China is the country with the highest growth in forest resources and the largest area of man-made forest worldwide.

Behind the notable ecological progress is China's approach to environmental preservation. This year's International Day of Forests on March 21, was themed "Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World." To build a beautiful world, it may be inspiring to delve into China's methods and practices in preserving forests.

Innovative policy systems play a key role. To create an eco-environmental conservation system, China has strengthened the rule of law, tightened supervision and management, and improved market-based mechanisms. Meanwhile, the country has accelerated the building of a green, circular, and low-carbon economy.

In a new mechanism, the country has had nearly 1.2 million forest chiefs at the provincial, prefectural, county, township and village levels. These individuals are tasked with leading forest and grassland resource protection work in designated areas. Meanwhile, China is developing a protected area system with national parks as the mainstay, supported by nature reserves and supplemented by nature parks. It has created its first batch of five national parks.

Practices of sustainable preservation have also been explored. In state-owned key forest areas in Heilongjiang Province, northeast China, where a commercial logging ban was imposed a decade ago, the development of forest products such as fungi and medicinal herbs, as well as tourism, has increased the incomes of forest workers. Last year, China saw 2.5 billion eco-tourism trips.

China's green development has helped to expand the greening areas of its own land and the earth. China's approach to green development provides inspiration for global development, especially under the context of climate change.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
San Antonio District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez on Tuesday announced plans to run for mayor in 2025. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer San Antonio District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez, right, addresses the other members of the City Councils governance committee on Oct. 18, 2023. Also pictured is District 9 Councilman John Courage. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

City Council Member Manny Pelaez, who publicly mused about running for mayor last summer and has been noisily positioning himself ever since for a citywide campaign in 2025, made it official in a video announcement early Tuesday.

As your mayor, I will never shy away from difficult conversations about the challenges we face, Pelaez said in the three-minute, 18-second video on YouTube that features a montage of historic and cultural landmarks across San Antonio and includes the tagline Safer. Stronger. Smarter.

While offering no specific policies, Pelaez promised fearless and innovative solutions for crime, the increasing cost of living, homelessness, unreasonably high taxes and a job market that excludes too many San Antonians.

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MORE COVERAGE: Councilman John Courage becomes first official 2025 mayoral candidate

Both Pelaez, an employment law attorney and onetime chairman of the Brooks Development Authority, and Courage easily won reelection in their North Side districts last year and are serving their fourth and final two-year terms on council.

District 6 Council Member Melissa Cabello Havrda is expected to enter the race for mayor at some point, and District 4 Council Member Adriana Rocha Garcia is considering it.

Before Tuesdays announcement, Pelaezs campaign sent invitations for a VIP reception Wednesday at Casa Hernan Mexican Cantina, a chef Johnny Hernandez restaurant in Southtown. The top suggested donation is $1,000, which is the most an individual or political action committee can give to a mayoral candidate. For City Council candidates, the max is $500.

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The District 8 council member was effectively announcing his intentions to the developers, lawyers, lobbyists, business owners and executives who might bankroll his 2025 campaign. The words mayor or mayoral didnt appear anywhere on an invitation reviewed by the San Antonio Express-News. But the message wasnt subtle: The event will be the first in a new campaign.

Pelaezs campaign treasurer is April Ancira, vice president of the Ancira group of auto dealerships and daughter of its founder, Ernesto Ancira.

Shes a prolific contributor to Democratic and Republican candidates, but she leans more conservative in her giving, writing checks last year to U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit campaign finance research group.

Elections for mayor and City Council are nonpartisan.

Pelaez, who chairs councils Economic and Workforce Development Committee, has worked to establish his bona fides as a staunch supporter of police, business owners and entrepreneurs.

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A year ago, when a majority of council came out against a bundle of criminal justice changes known as Proposition A, Pelaez was the most strident in his attacks on the proposed city charter amendment. Prop A would have decriminalized abortion and marijuana possession and expanded the San Antonio Police Departments cite-and-release program. Pelaezs criticism of the initiative strengthened his standing with the politically powerful police union.

Hes rarely been a friend to San Antonio liberals.

Pelaez is currently persona non grata with pro-Palestinian activists and supporters.

On Jan. 9, he backed out of a request for a special meeting to vote on a resolution that would have called for an immediate and permanent cease-fire in Israel and Palestine and the return of all hostages immediately.

Pelaez left two council colleagues  Jalen McKee-Rodriguez of District 2 and Teri Castillo of District 5, both supporters of a cease-fire in Gaza  one vote short of compelling the mayor to schedule the special meeting to take up the resolution.

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Announcing his candidacy on YouTube allowed him to avoid pro-cease-fire protesters, several of whom disrupted Courages campaign announcement outside City Hall on Jan. 25.
By Luis Jaime Acosta

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian leftist rebel group the National Liberation Army (ELN) has requested an extraordinary meeting with the government, saying peace talks were in a "critical state," sources from the government and the rebel group said.

President Gustavo Petro restarted talks with the ELN at the end of 2022 as part of his efforts to end Colombia's six-decade conflict, which killed at least 450,000 people, by inking peace or surrender deals with armed groups.

"We do not see sufficient conditions to carry on with the usual cycle of conversations between our delegation and representatives of the national government," the ELN said in a letter sent on Monday to Vera Grabe, head of the government's delegation.

The contents of the letter were shared with Reuters by a government source, while a source from the ELN confirmed its authenticity.

"Due to the critical state of the talks, we propose inviting delegates from guarantor countries to this extraordinary meeting, so that they can exercise their role in helping both parties," the letter said, requesting meetings begin in Venezuela from April 12.

The government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The ELN and the government have held six rounds of talks so far, resulting in a bilateral ceasefire, the establishment of a multi-donor fund to finance the process and a pledge from the ELN to suspend kidnappings for ransom.

But the rebels said in February the negotiations were in crisis, though the two sides later said they expected another round of talks this month.

The group, founded by radical Catholic priests, is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. It has some nearly 6,000 members, about half of them combatants.

At least 40% of its fighters could reject a peace deal, security sources told Reuters last year.

Negotiations are supported by guarantors Mexico, Norway, Venezuela, Cuba, Brazil and Chile.

(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Ros Russell)
Glenn Gould  in his usual stage posture with his legs crossed and seated at a chair built by his father  performs in New York in 1960, four years before he played his final public recital in Los Angeles. (CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images)

On the evening of April 10, 1964  that is, 60 years ago Wednesday  the Canadian virtuoso Glenn Gould stepped away from the piano at the end of his concert at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles and revolutionized the recording industry.

There was no announcement at that landmark moment in L.A.; only the ensuing circumstance would tell the story. For the Wilshire Ebell recital marked the end of the 31-year-old star's performing career. He would never play another note in public.

He was the first  and possibly the only  classical musician to shun public performances entirely. Henceforth, his entire output would be heard only via records and videos.

Dial twiddling ... is an interpretive act.

Glenn Gould grants listeners the right to manipulate recorded sound

Gould was then a world-famous exponent of the music of J.S. Bach. His debut recording on Columbia, released in 1956, was an electrifying performance of Bach's Goldberg Variations, which had been consigned to academic obscurity.

The album was a monster hit and established Gould's worldwide reputation. In a doleful irony, his digital rerecording of the piece, taken at a more stately tempo and with other changes, would be the last Gould album released by Columbia before his untimely death at age 50 in 1982.

At the time Gould shifted to a recording-only career, his fellow artists doubted that he would stand by his decision. As late as 1971, Arthur Rubinstein told him, You will come back to it, you know. Gould replied, If this is a bet, maestro, you will lose it.

Gould demonstrated that recording technology need not come between artists and their listeners; in fact, it could enhance their relationship. His fans, of which I am one, find themselves in a uniquely intimate connection with the artist, in part because his astonishing technique and superb musical intelligence comes through so vividly in his recordings.

Gould in effect turned the economics of the music industry upside-down. Rather than seeing records as marketing adjuncts to concert tours, he showed that recordings could be the principal point of contact  in his case, the only point  between musicians and their fans.

Gould became the chief herald of the new era of digital recording, and of the power it gave artists  and audiences  to reconfigure even the most familiar classical warhorses to their individual tastes.

Read more:Column: Chuck Philips (1952-2024) singlehandedly made music industry journalism better

He foresaw that new technologies  including those not yet invented  could put creative decisions in listeners' hands, allowing them to adjust the tempi and mixes of recorded pieces in the home, adjust the sound mix to individual preference and even splice a section from one conductor's performance of a familiar piece into another's. "Dial twiddling," he wrote, "is an interpretive act."

Recording could rescue whole musical genres from oblivion; Gould pointed out that recordings were a major factor in the postwar restoration of baroque music, especially on original instruments, to the marketplace.

"This repertoire  with its contrapuntal extravaganzas, its antiphonal balances, its espousal of instruments that chuff and wheeze and speak directly to a microphone  was made for stereo," he wrote. Only after that pre-classical repertoire established its popularity in records did it find its way to the concert stage.

Gould was not exactly a pioneer in what his longtime producer, Andrew Kazdin, termed "creative lying." The most famous early case involved a 1952 recording of Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" in which the aging soprano Kirsten Flagstad was unable to hit a high C.

The producer, Walter Legge, called on his wife, soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, to record the note, which was dubbed in. The subterfuge was made public only years later.

Before Gould, such splices, inserts, dubbings and other tools of the recording engineers were generally seen as remedies for brief mistakes, sometimes of a single note. But he used them to fashion something new.

In 1966 he wrote of overcoming his dissatisfaction with two takes of a fugue from Book 1 of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, one take he considered "rather pompous" and the other overly jubilant  and both "monotonous."

He solved the problem by using the first for the fugue's opening and conclusion, and splicing in the second for the midsection, producing a version "far superior to anything we could at the time have done in the studio."

Gould's decision to abandon public recitals was brewing for years, possibly since the launch of his international performing career, which began in January 1955 with concerts in Washington and New York and would carry him across the U.S. and to Europe.

Read more:Column: Remembering when the government wasn't afraid to let artists tell the truth about capitalism

He had always detested traveling except by train, but hated even more what he saw as a "blood sport" pitting performer against audience. He saw concerts as "the frantic pursuit of a succession of daily events, momentary, ephemeral," forcing performers to "calcify" their interpretations so they could be repeated over and over.

The recording studio, he felt, afforded artists the opportunity to perfect their vision of a piece in splendid isolation, and to rectify any flaws  and not only technical mistakes  in post-production.

Even while he was still giving concerts, Gould was known as an unreliable booking, prone to last-minute cancellations  he skipped a 1964 concert in Chicago three times before finally showing up. (It was his final public performance other than the Los Angeles recital.)

Indeed, when Leonard Bernstein came out on stage alone at the start of a performance with the New York Philharmonic on April 8, 1962, he felt constrained to notify the audience, "Don't be frightened  Mr. Gould is here."

The event became the most famous of Gould's performing career. Bernstein's purpose was to disavow Gould's "unorthodox" interpretation of their program piece, Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1, though he said Gould was so important a musical thinker that he would perform it to Gould's specified tempi anyway.

(Bernstein later revealed that when Gould visited him at his New York apartment before the performance, his appearance was so slovenly  another personal quirk  that his then-wife, Felicia Montealegre, pulled him into the bathroom to shampoo his matted hair and give it a trim. Moviegoers might recognize Montealegre as the character portrayed by Carey Mulligan in the 2023 Bernstein biopic "Maestro.")

Read more:Pianist Gould foresaw tech role in music

Gould's onstage behavior tended to provoke controversy. He slouched at the piano, left leg crossed over the right, seated on an ancient piano chair that his father had built, which placed him so low that he almost had to stretch his hands higher to reach the keyboard.

During a concerto performance, when not actually playing he waved his hands about as though conducting the piece, enraging music critics accustomed to a more solemn bearing from tuxedo-clad soloists. Ever willing in his earlier years to critique himself with a self-effacing grin, he referred in a 1959 documentary by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. to "the justifiable complaints that I sometimes hear about my platform manner."

As it happens, some of those tics transferred themselves to his recordings. On many albums one can hear the creaking of his chair, or a "hiccup" in some notes produced by the tight keyboard action he demanded from his pianos to produce the percussive, almost harpsichord-like sound that was his hallmark. Above all, there is his humming and singing audible in the background.

Columbia technicians spent years trying to suppress these artifacts in post-production, without notable success. In another 1959 CBC documentary, Columbia recording director Howard Scott is seen pleading with Gould before a take of Bach's Italian Concerto for "a straight piano solo, without vocal obbligato." A hearing of the recording proves that he didn't get it.

But those were all part of the Gould mystique, accepted and appreciated by his listeners as though they brought them face-to-face with the artist himself. When they were heard on a Gould take, Kazdin reported, "Glenn always greeted them as one would long-lost friends."

The influence Gould exerted on his fellow artists and the recording industry generally is incalculable. Columbia and its successors have never let the Gould library go out of print; with every advance in technology, the company remasters the recordings (most recently in 2015) and they always sell.

It's as if by forswearing the evanescent experience of real-life performing, Glenn Gould gave himself eternal fame. And it happened in Los Angeles, where he ended one chapter of his career so he could embark on the next.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
PONTIAC, Mich.  The first parents to ever be charged, then convicted, in their childs mass shooting at a U.S. school were both sentenced Tuesday to 10 to 15 years in prison after facing the victims during a sentencing hearing in a Michigan courtroom.

James Crumbley, 47, and wife Jennifer, 46, were sentenced one after another by Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews as they appeared together for the first time since they attended joint hearings before their landmark trials were separated last fall. Their son, Ethan, now 17, pleaded guilty as an adult to the 2021 shooting at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit and was sentenced to life in prison.

Matthews' sentencing decision was in line with what Oakland County prosecutors had asked for after both parents were found guilty on four counts of involuntary manslaughter, one for each of the students their son killed.

Matthews told the Crumbleys that the convictions reached by jurors were "not about poor parenting," but how they repeatedly ignored warning signs that a "reasonable person" would have seen.

"These convictions confirm repeated acts that could have halted an oncoming runaway train," she said.

The couple will get credit for time served in an Oakland County jail since their arrests in the wake of the Nov. 30, 2021, shooting. The pair sat apart at the defense table with their lawyers beside them as the families of the four students who were killed had earlier asked for the maximum sentence to be imposed.

"When you texted, 'Ethan don't do it,' I was texting, 'Madisyn I love you, please call mom,'" Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of shooting victim Madisyn Baldwin, 17, told the Crumbleys. "When you found out about the lives your son took that day, I was still waiting for my daughter in the parking lot."

"The lack of compassion you've shown is outright disgusting," she added through tears.

Jill Soave, the mother of another slain student, Justin Shilling, 17, said the parents' inaction on the day of the shooting "failed their son and failed us all."

Justin's father, Craig Shilling, said he was troubled by Jennifer Crumbley's testimony during her trial in which she said she wouldn't have done anything differently, even today.

"The blood of our children is on your hands, too," Craig Shilling said.

James Crumbley wore an orange jumpsuit and headphones to help with his hearing, and Jennifer Crumbley wore a gray and white jumpsuit. He didn't look at his wife, while she glanced in his direction.

Jennifer Crumbley looks at her husband, James Crumbley, during their sentencing on April 9, 2024 at Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Mich. (Bill Pugliano / Getty Images)

In Michigan, prosecutors said, felonies that rise out of the same event must run concurrently, so the most Matthews could have imposed is 15 years in total. And while prosecutors wanted the parents to receive sentences that exceeded the advisory guideline range, Matthews had the ultimate discretion, weighing factors such as past criminal behavior and the circumstances of their crimes.

Before she was sentenced, Jennifer Crumbley told the court that while she felt "deep remorse, regret and grief" about the shooting, she also deflected some of the blame onto school officials and took offense to the prosecution's strategy portraying her as a neglectful mother.

"We were good parents," Crumbley said. "We were the average family. We weren't perfect, but we loved our son and each other tremendously."

James Crumbley also addressed the court, explaining to the judge that he did not know beforehand about his son's planned attack on his school, and telling the victims' families directly that he would have acted differently on the day of the shooting.

"Please note that I am truly sorry for your loss as a result of what my son did," he said. "I cannot express how much I wish I had known what was going on with him or what was going to happen."

Matthews said during Tuesday's sentencing that the family wouldn't be housed together, and that the Michigan Department of Corrections has indicated James and Ethan Crumbley specifically won't be in the same facility given their relationship. Ethan is being held in a state prison 17 miles from Oxford High School. Jennifer Crumbley would be sent to the state's only women's prison.

Both James and Jennifer Crumbley have not been able to communicate as part of a no contact order since their arrests.

In both parents' cases, prosecutors wrote that their "gross negligence changed an entire community forever."

They both could have prevented the shooting with "tragically simple actions," prosecutors wrote, adding that they "failed to take any action when presented with the gravest of dangers."

A side by side of Jennifer and James Crumbley in court. (Getty Images)

Legal experts had suggested James Crumbley could have faced a harsher sentence than his wife after prosecutors said he made threats in jail.

During his trial, Matthews restricted his communication to only his lawyer and clergy.

The sentencing memo for James Crumbley referred to allegations that he made threats against the prosecutor and said that "his jail calls show a total lack of remorse" and that "he blames everyone but himself."

The memo details the expletive-ridden threats he is alleged to have directly addressed to the prosecutor on multiple recorded jail calls. In one call before the trial, he said, "Karen McDonald, you're going down," according to prosecutors. In other calls, he threatened retribution, they said.

James Crumbleys lawyer, Mariell Lehman, wrote in court documents that the calls did not include threats to physically harm the prosecutor but that he expressed his desire to ensure that McDonald is not able to continue practicing law as a result of her actions in the case.

"It is clear Mr. Crumbley is venting to loved ones about his frustrations related to the lack of investigation done by the prosecution prior to authorizing charges," Lehman wrote, saying her client is understandably angry at his situation.

The prosecution's memo also says James Crumbley asserted his innocence in a pre-sentence report, indicating a lack of remorse.

"I feel horrible for what happened and would do anything to be able to go back in time and change it! But I can't. And I had nothing to do with what happened," he wrote, according to the prosecution memo. "I don't know why my son did what he did. HE is the only one who knows."

Lehman has not said whether she plans to appeal James Crumbley's verdict, while a lawyer for Jennifer Crumbley, Shannon Smith, has written that she will.

Two separate trials

James Crumbley did not take the stand during his trial. His wife testified that she placed the responsibility of securing the 9 mm semiautomatic handgun used in the shooting on her husband.

Asked whether she would have done anything differently, Jennifer Crumbley told jurors, "I don't think I'm a failure as a parent."

Prosecutors argued that she knew of her son's deteriorating mental health and social isolation and that he had access to a gun but that she cared more about her hobbies and carrying on an extramarital affair than about being present at home.

Her defense lawyer attempted to portray her as a caring mother, albeit one who did not know her son was capable of such violence  suggesting instead that his school failed to fully inform her of his troubles and that her husband was responsible for the weapon.

Smith continued to defend her client in her sentencing memo.

"Criticizing Mrs. Crumbley for being 'rarely home' is a sexist and misogynistic attack on a mother," Smith wrote.

In a pre-sentence report, Jennifer Crumbley said she has the hindsight now to know she would have handled things differently.

"With the information I have now, of course my answer would be hugely different," she said. "There are so many things that I would change if I could go back in time."

Both her and her husband's trials centered on the day of the shooting.

A day after Thanksgiving, prosecutors said, James Crumbley bought their son the handgun, while Jennifer Crumbley took him to a gun range that weekend.

On Tuesday, a teacher said she had found a note on Ethan's desk with a drawing of a gun and a person who had been shot, along with messages including: "The thoughts won't stop. Help me."

That discovery prompted the school to summon the parents for a meeting, but school officials testified that they declined to bring him home because they had to go back to work.

The officials also said that if the parents had informed them that their son had access to a gun, they would have been more authoritative to ensure immediate safety.

Ethan would go on to commit the school shooting later that afternoon, killing Baldwin; Shilling; Tate Myre, 16; and Hana St. Juliana, 14.

Victims' families want accountability

In the aftermath of the trials, the victims' families have demanded further accountability. They are seeking changes to governmental immunity laws that protect schools from being sued and want to see a requirement for independent reviews after any mass shooting.

Oakland County prosecutors have said they do not plan to charge anyone else in connection with the massacre.

Buck Myre, the father of Tate Myre, said during Tuesday's sentencing that families still want a government-led investigation.

"It's time to drive real change from this tragedy," he told the judge.

Later, James Crumbley stood and addressed Buck Myre directly when he was given the chance to speak.

"It is time that we all know the truth," he said. "I, too, want the truth because you have not had it."

Selina Guevara and Maggie Vespa reported from Pontiac and Erik Ortiz from New York.
WASHINGTON  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday said the U.S. has seen no evidence that Israel has committed genocide during its military operations against Hamas in Gaza.

"We dont have any evidence of genocide being created," Austin said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing focused on President Joe Biden's latest budget request.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testifies (Francis Chung / POLITICO via AP)

Asked by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., whether that means Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza, Austin said again, We dont have evidence of that.

The assertion comes during a critical point in the Israel-Hamas war, in which many countries, including the U.S., have been critical of the way the Israel Defense Forces are conducting military operations in the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 33,000 people have died during the conflict and more than 75,000 people have been injured.

Earlier in the hearing, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., had asked the defense secretary if Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 should be considered an act of genocide.

What we witnessed on Oct. 7, senator, was a horrific terrorist attack by Hamas, Austin said, adding it certainly is a war crime.

Israel has faced accusations for months that it has been committing genocide in Gaza. In January, the Israeli government defended itself against those allegations before the United Nations top court, the International Court of Justice, in a case brought by South Africa. Lawyers for that country argued Israel had violated the 1948 Genocide Convention  the first human rights treaty adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in the wake of the Holocaust.

The court's judges ruled that there is a case to be heard regarding genocide, and while that legal process unfolds, they ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians. The court, however, has no power to enforce its rulings.

Austin's testimony Tuesday comes during a potential turning point in the war as the U.S. tries to influence Israel's strategy in Gaza in an effort to further minimize civilian casualties. Last week, Biden warned during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. policy toward its longtime ally could shift if Israel didn't change course in Gaza.

Hours later, Israel agreed to open additional aid routes to allow more humanitarian assistance to enter Gaza.

The changes came after Israel killed a convoy of aid workers from World Central Kitchen in a military strike in Gaza early last week.

On Sunday, Israels military announced it was withdrawing troops from southern Gaza, although its unclear whether the move represented a change in its offensive operations.

U.S. officials have been pushing for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, but negotiations have not yet been successful.

During the hearing Tuesday, Wicker had asked Austin whether Hamas would stop its aggression toward Israel if the country laid down its arms today.

"I seriously doubt that," Austin said.
Election officials across the country are leaving their jobs at the highest rates in decades, according to new research shared first with NBC News, putting thousands of new officials in place to oversee a tense and high-stakes 2024 presidential contest.

At least 36% of local election offices have changed hands since 2020, following a similar exodus in the run-up to the midterms in 2022, when 39% of jurisdictions had new lead election officials from four years previously. Both points in time represented the highest four-year turnover rates in two decades, a development that worries election experts and officials who say such jobs are complex and come with a steep learning curve and no margin for error. And 2024s turnover rate could continue to rise as the year goes on.

Election workers have been exposed to unprecedented scrutiny, threats and harassment following the presidential election in 2020, when Donald Trump falsely claimed the election was stolen and made baseless claims of voter fraud. And as Trump seeks the presidency for the third time, he has continued to predict voter fraud  seeming to lay the groundwork to again claim the election was stolen if he loses in November.

While the turnover rate has jumped in recent years, researchers found that it has been gradually rising for years, suggesting that both new and long-standing challenges are driving administrators from their jobs. From 2000 to 2004, about 28% of local election officials left their jobs. Four years later, 31% of election offices had changed hands.

Experts say that dynamic only reinforces the need to provide better funding and support for election workers to ensure the smooth administration of future elections.

This gradual increase that weve seen over the last two decades really does highlight the need for comprehensive, coordinated strategies that seek to better fund election administration, that seek to reduce the burdens being placed on these election administrators, said one of the studys co-authors, Rachel Orey, senior associate director at the Bipartisan Policy Centers Elections Project. Because clearly, this isnt something that only happened back in 2020.

The research was conducted by UCLA researchers Daniel M. Thompson and Joshua Ferrer, who spent years collecting lists and directories of election officials in counties and municipalities around the country to produce the most accurate and expansive picture of election worker turnover available yet. Their data was analyzed and published in partnership with the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington, D.C., think tank, in an effort to better understand turnover as election administrators face harassment, violent threats and increasingly complex and heavy workloads.

The data for 2024 is current through January and is preliminary.

Turnover surged in populous jurisdictions after 2020

The 2020 election appears to have escalated and shifted the trend in turnover, which researchers found was consistent across geographic and partisan lines.

Until recently, the bulk of the turnover was driven by the resignations of election officials in small towns and counties, where election officials must wear many hats and oversee all parts of the election process with limited help and staffing. After 2020, officials from larger jurisdictions began leaving their jobs at a higher rate: Districts with at least 100,000 voting-age residents had a turnover rate of 46% from 2018 to 2022.

Trump and his allies have particularly focused their baseless fraud allegations on large cities like Phoenix, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Detroit. His supporters have seized on the claims, protesting near and harassing officials and poll workers, suggesting that election denialism may be fueling departures in large jurisdictions. Still, there was no clear tie between areas where more threats have been reported  like the states Joe Biden narrowly won in 2020  and higher turnover, according to the data.

In Georgia, a key battleground state, many election offices have been flooded with voter challenges, public information requests and frequent harassment and threats. All four election offices in Georgias most populous counties, all in and around Atlanta, have changed hands since 2020, with many lower-level staffers following, too.

I got here in August 21. By the time we ran our first election in May of 22, I think it was something like 75% of the staff had never run an election before, said Zach Manifold, Gwinnett Countys elections supervisor.

Since then, he said, turnover has slowed in his office, making everyones lives a bit easier. He said camaraderie has developed among the new election chiefs in the Atlanta area as they talk about their shared experiences.

Im part of the new generation of election administrators, said Tate Fall, Cobb Countys new elections director. Fall, 30, started in December  baptism by fire, she called it  after having worked in elections in Virginia and studied election administration in graduate school.

Weve heard so much about the great resignation and people retiring and stepping down, and I definitely see why  this job is exhausting. Its draining, she said. We have seen our predecessors, our mentors, the people that weve seen speak at conferences for years, stepping down, and understandably so, but were not afraid to step into those positions. Were not going in blind.

And the next generation is entering the top jobs with a significant level of experience, the researchers determined after having drawn on data from a survey of local election officials last year conducted by the Elections & Voting Information Center at Reed College in Oregon. On average, new election officials had eight years of experience; in large jurisdictions, new officials had an average of 11 years of experience.

Public attacks and heavy workloads

In interviews, election officials who have left their jobs in recent years said that their decisions were based on many factors but that public attacks and scrutiny particularly weighed heavily on their experiences.

I still love elections to this day, said Teresa DeGraaf, the former clerk of Port Sheldon Township, Michigan. But it changed. Ive never had a job where I had so many sleepless nights. I would wake up at 3 in the morning, and you feel like youre under the microscope, and you feel like everything youre doing is being watched. We had folks that sat in our parking lot at 2 in the morning to watch our ballot box before the election.

In Charleston County, South Carolina, Joe Debney, 44, resigned from running the countys elections in December 2020.

After 2020, you could go home and people would question you in your own household. Your family members around Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas time are like, well, we trust you, Joe, but were not so sure we trust the rest of the United States, he said.

Another factor that may be driving resignations is that the work has become more complicated and time-consuming.

Many states election codes have been overhauled repeatedly over the last few years, including changes to mail voting and new restrictions driven by unfounded fear of fraud.

Isaac Cramer, who succeeded Debney in Charleston County, said South Carolinas election code doesnt consolidate special elections onto the existing elections calendar, leaving officials in his state running multiple elections per week at times. He said its burning out election workers, and after a spate of resignations this year, he said, he knows few other election directors in the state because so many have resigned.

Cramer said that after three years in the top job, he believes hes one of the most senior officials in the state. When nuances in the law arise, he said, there isnt anyone more experienced to ask.

Debney said: Theres a learning curve. Thank God we have people like Isaac who are reaching out to those counties and trying to work with them and give them the tools in order to succeed.

Debney, who had previously worked with the South Carolina Election Commission, said there was a similar exodus of election directors when the state upgraded its voting system. He went across the state, training and supporting officials, talking through nuances and best practices.

If those things dont occur, I think, there could be some pitfalls, he said.

Debney now runs a local YMCA and serves on the Board of Elections in his home county, Dorchester, South Carolina. On Election Day in November, hell be in the field supporting his countys election director.

I really do miss it, he said. What I did was good. It helped not only our community but our state and nation as a whole.
By David Shepardson and Allison Lampert

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a Boeing whistleblower's claims that the company dismissed safety and quality concerns in the production of the planemaker's 787 and 777 jets, an agency spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour said he identified engineering problems that affected the structural integrity of the jets and claimed Boeing employed shortcuts to reduce bottlenecks during the 787 assembly process, his attorneys said in a release.

Boeing has faced quality problems and manufacturing flaws with the 787 widebody jet that prompted it to halt deliveries for more than a year until August 2022 as the FAA investigated the concerns. The planemaker is already grappling with a safety crisis following a Jan. 5 mid-air panel blowout on a 737 MAX plane that resulted in the resignation of both its board chair and CEO.

In 2021, Boeing said some 787 airplanes had shims that were not the proper size and some aircraft had areas that did not meet skin-flatness specifications. A shim is a thin piece of material used to fill tiny gaps in a manufactured product.

In a statement, Boeing said it was fully confident in the 787 Dreamliner, adding that the claims "are inaccurate and do not represent the comprehensive work Boeing has done to ensure the quality and long-term safety of the aircraft."

Boeing shares were down nearly 2% at $178.19 on Tuesday afternoon after the FAA confirmed the investigation, which was first reported by the New York Times. Reuters was not able to independently verify the whistleblower's claims.

"Voluntary reporting without fear of reprisal is a critical component in aviation safety," the FAA said. "We strongly encourage everyone in the aviation industry to share information. We thoroughly investigate all reports."

An agency source said the FAA has met with the whistleblower.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal's office said his investigation subcommittee will hold a hearing on Boeing issues with Salehpour on April 17 titled "Examining Boeings Broken Safety Culture: Firsthand Accounts."

Salehpour's attorneys say workers used shortcuts during the 787 assembly process that added on major airplane joints.

In a Jan. 19 letter to FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, the lawyers said Salehpour made these observations while working on the 787 program in 2021.

Rather than heeding his warnings, Boeing prioritized getting the planes to market as quickly as possible, despite the known, well-substantiated issues he raised," said attorneys Debra Katz and Lisa Banks in a statement on Tuesday.

Whitaker has taken a hard line on Boeing since the Jan. 5 Alaska Air emergency, barred the planemaker from expanding 737 MAX production and required them to develop a comprehensive plan to address "systemic quality-control issues" within 90 days.

The FAA in August 2022 approved the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner for delivery since 2021 after the manufacturer made inspection and retrofit changes needed to meet certification standards.

At the 777 program, Salehpour claimed that Boeing pressured liaison engineers to continue production despite the presence of unexamined defects.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Allison Lampert in MontrealEditing by David Gaffen and Matthew Lewis)
The former assistant principal of a Virginia elementary school where a 6-year-old student shot his teacher last year has been indicted on child abuse charges, court records show.

Ebony Parker faces eight counts related to the day of the shooting, according to the online docket, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. A warrant has been issued for her arrest, the docket shows.

Court records filed in Newport News Circuit Court were unsealed Tuesday, about a month after a grand jury filed the charges.

NBC News could not immediately obtain a copy of the indictment for details of the charges.

The Newport News Commonwealth Attorney's Office did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment. A Newport News Public Schools spokesperson said the district "does not have a statement." It was not immediately known whether Parker had legal representation, and she could not be reached for comment.

The shooting of first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner on Jan. 6, 2023, raised concerns about potential security failures at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News and in a school district rattled by other incidents of gun violence at other campuses.

Authorities say Zwerner was intentionally shot by one of her students but escorted her panicked class to safety. A bullet ripped through Zwerner's left hand, rupturing bones, before it lodged in her upper chest, leaving behind fragments.

Three months after the shooting, she filed a $40 million lawsuit against the school district alleging that administrators failed to listen to multiple warnings from staff members and students that the child had a handgun. Parker resigned in the wake of the suit.

Lawyers for Zwerner welcomed additional charges Tuesday.

These charges are very serious and underscore the failure of the school district to act to prevent the tragic shooting of Abby Zwerner, attorneys Diane Toscano, Kevin Biniazan and Jeffrey Breit said in a statement. The school board continues to deny their responsibility to Abby, and this indictment is just another brick in the wall of mounting failures and gross negligence in their case.

Toscano said in an interview that aired Wednesday on NBC's "TODAY" show that Parker should have called the police after multiple warnings that a child may have a gun.

Breit noted that a student saw the boy take the gun out of his pocket on the playground and reported it to a teacher. When the teacher requested to search the childs person, the assistant principal said no, he said.

The boy's mother, Deja Taylor, was sentenced to two years in December on a state charge of felony child neglect.

Taylor must begin her state sentence after she finishes serving 21 months on a related federal charge. She pleaded guilty in June to a charge of using marijuana while owning a gun, which is illegal under federal law, and was sentenced in November.

James Ellenson, a lawyer for Taylor, told NBC News on Tuesday that he would have wanted to see charges against school officials sooner, believing his client does not share all the burden of responsibility on the day of the shooting.

The charges against a former school official represent a new frontier in school gun-violence-related prosecution, Ellenson added.

"I think we're plowing new ground," he said.

NBC News legal analyst Danny Cevallos added that "cases like these are about sending a very clear message: that school shootings are so horrible, we are willing to depart from the traditional rules and hold people responsible that really, historically, have not been held responsible before."

The local prosecutor, Howard Gwynn, told NBC News after the shooting that he would not seek charges against the student, given his age.

Seven separate lawsuits were filed in January on behalf of parents and guardians claiming multiple counts of negligence against school leadership. Emily Mapp Brannon, a lawyer for the families, said in a statement that "the suffering of the students of Richneck has been ignored."

"These charges suggest that there is sufficient evidence that the students of Richneck were placed in peril by the very hands entrusted to protect them," Brannon said. "As a representative of seven families, I remain optimistic that our criminal justice system will provide answers to the Richneck community. For the first time in over a year, the families may find comfort in knowing that the administration is being held accountable."
A Florida college student confessed to fatally stabbing his mother, a beloved teacher, to death because she "irritated" him, authorities said.

21-year-old Emmanuel Espinoza, a pre-med student at the University of Florida in Gainesville, was coming home for a family event. He had asked if he could stay with his mother, 46-year-old Elvia Espinoza, in Frostproof, about 60 miles south of Orlando, for the weekend, according to the Polk County Sheriff.

He arrived at her home at around 2 p.m. on Saturday. When she opened the door, her son started repeatedly stabbing her.

"She ran from him," Sheriff Grady Judd said in a video statement. As it happened, "she was talking to a family member on the phone."

The sheriff said he continued to stab her until she fell to the ground and died.

Emmanuel Espinoza immediately called 911 and confessed, according to Judd.

"We talked to him, and he confessed," Judd said. "He said, 'You know, I have wanted to kill my mother for many years because she got on my nerves.'"

When investigators asked him what his relationship with his mother was like, "He said, about an eight out of 10 that he really loved her, but she irritated him and he made up his mind today on his way from Gainesville that he would murder her," Judd said.

Elvia Espinoza was a second-grade teacher at Ben Hill Griffin Elementary School in Frostproof.

"Her family, friends, students, and colleagues at the school and with Polk County Public Schools are in our prayers," Judd said.

School board member Justin Sharpless said in a Facebook post: "She was a kind person who cared about her family, students, co-workers, and the Frostproof community."

Emmanuel Espinoza was arrested on first-degree murder charges. He was being held without bond at the Polk County Jail.

--TMX contributed to this report.
A 38-year-old Arizona business owner has been charged with fatally stabbing and dismembering a teenage boy before burning his body beyond recognition last year.

Arizona prosecutors charged Anthonie Ruinard, a former restaurateur, with the second-degree murder of Nebraska teenager Parker League in June 2023. Mr Ruinard also faces a charge of abandonment or concealment of a dead body.

League, 18, was visiting friends in Arizona last summer when he met Mr Ruinard. Security footage from 11 June showed League and his suspected murderer leaving a Chandler, Arizona gas station together.

Police found his dismembered, stabbed and charred body in Arizonas Tonto National Park on 12 June  the same day he was set to return home. Officials had to use dental records to identify League, the Maricopa County Attorneys Office said in a statement.

Leagues brother told local outlet ABC15 the family reported him missing to the Tempe Police Department on 15 June, as they were not aware police had found his body.

Anthonie Ruinard, pictured, was arrested last year and faces charges for the murder of 18-year-old Parker League (Maricopa County Sheriffs Office)

Its hard to accept because he was the nicest kid in the world, Hunter League told ABC15 last year.

I got a call from my dad telling me to come home. I asked him why about three times and the third time he tried to explain it, he just started breaking down, he continued.

Mr Ruinard entered a not guilty plea on 21 March, according to Maricopa County records. His trial will begin in July.

Parker Leagues body was found in Tonto National Forest (Getty)

The 38-year-old suspect also previously owned a restaurant in Tuscon, Arizona. However, Tucsons Pastiche Modern Eatery has been closed since February 2023 due to a fire, the Arizona Daily Star reported last year.

Police first arrested Mr Ruinard in July 2023 after identifying surveillance footage that showed him using Leagues bank card after his death. Police searched Mr Ruinards vehicle and found traces of Leagues DNA, according to the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office. Authorities then charged Mr Ruinard with drug possession, weapon possession, theft, murder and concealment of a body.

However, those charges were dismissed after a grand jury indicted him for murder and concealment last month, according to Maricopa County records.
WASHINGTON  Sen. Lindsey Graham sparred with Donald Trump on Monday after the former president attacked Graham, R-S.C., for pushing his bill to outlaw abortion across the U.S. after 15 weeks of pregnancy. While Trump said the issue should be left to states, Graham vowed to keep pressing for federal limits.

I think we should draw a line, Graham told reporters. We know that the Dobbs decision did not say that theres no federal role. There are three laws on the books at the federal level. So the idea that Dobbs prevents the federal government from acting, I think, is an error. The idea of the Republican Party abandoning the opposition to late-term abortion, I think, would be a mistake, because most Americans oppose late-term abortion.

For the pro-life movement, its about the child, not geography. So if youre turning the pro-life movement into a geographical movement, I think youre making a mistake, he added. A child at 15 weeks sucks his thumb, feels pain in California and New York as much as South Carolina.

Graham's comments came after Trump released a video statement earlier Monday boasting about Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, while also saying the issue should be left to states. It was a reversal after Trump had endorsed federal restrictions, and the blowback that came immediately from abortion foes indicated how divided the GOP is over how to manage the thorny politics of the issue. Trump, notably, didn't rule out signing federal limits if Congress were to pass them.

We are deeply disappointed in President Trumps position," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-life America, a prominent anti-abortion-rights advocacy group. She added, Saying the issue is back to the states cedes the national debate to the Democrats who are working relentlessly to enact legislation mandating abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy. If successful, they will wipe out states rights.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who has clashed with his former running mate since he left office, said Trump's statement was "a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans who voted for him in 2016 and 2020."Graham, who has introduced bills to ban abortion after 20 weeks and, more recently, 15 weeks, said he disagrees. Then Trump attacked him on social media, suggesting that abortion is now a political loser for the GOP and that people like Lindsey Graham, that are unrelenting, are handing Democrats their dream of the House, Senate, and perhaps even the Presidency.

Asked about that, Graham again disagreed with Trump.

I support him. I feel comfortable telling anybody what I believe, he said, arguing that whats popular among the American people is some restrictions on abortion after a certain stage of pregnancy. What Im trying to do is, OK, post-Dobbs, where should we be? Lets leave it up to the states, I agree with that  up to a point. And Im trying to get the party to focus on where the American people are. In the birthing process itself, people begin to want limits.

The clash pits the Trump, 2024 Republican nominee, against a staunch ally over an issue with explosive political ramifications. President Joe Biden and Democrats are tapping into national outrage over the Supreme Courts decision by five GOP-appointed justices to overturn Roe v. Wade, while Republicans are struggling to navigate a shifting political environment after they achieved their decadeslong goal.

Graham said Republicans should continue to hit Democrats as the true extremists on the issue of abortion: Republicans should run on the idea that Democrats, if they had their way, there would be no limits on abortion anywhere, any time. And the law of the land would be abortion on demand up until the moment of birth. Thats a very extreme, unpopular position.

The dispute is more notable considering that Trump, as president, championed Grahams 20-week abortion ban in 2018 and criticized the Senate for failing to pass it. Senate Republicans voted overwhelmingly for it at the time. Asked whether Trump was being hypocritical for opposing it now that the Supreme Court has permitted it, Graham replied, Ill let you ask him about that.

Graham, who has since modified his bill to a 15-week ban, didnt say when or whether he would reintroduce the legislation.

Well talk about that, he said. Well see how that all goes.

Notably, Trump didnt say whether he would sign or veto a federal abortion limit if that were to come across his desk. Graham said Trump was a great pro-life president and added that he hopes Trump will revert to his support for limits if he wins.

Hope so, he said.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO (Reuters) -Hamas said on Tuesday that an Israeli proposal on a ceasefire in their war in Gaza met none of the demands of Palestinian militant factions, but it would study the offer further and deliver its response to mediators.

The proposal was delivered to the Palestinian Islamist movement by Egyptian and Qatari mediators at talks in Cairo that aim to find a way out of the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, now in its seventh month.

Israeli forces meanwhile stepped up bombardments on Deir Al-Balah and Rafah in central and southern Gaza respectively on Tuesday, two areas they have not so far invaded, residents said.

The talks in Cairo, also attended by the director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency William Burns, have so far failed reach a breakthrough towards pausing the war.

In a statement, Hamas said a new Israeli ceasefire proposal fell short of its demands.

"The movement (Hamas) is interested in reaching an agreement that puts an end to the aggression on our people. Despite that, the Israeli position remains intransigent and it didn't meet any of the demands of our people and our resistance," Hamas said.

However, it said it would review the proposal further and go back to the mediators with its response.

Hamas wants any agreement to secure an end to the Israeli military offensive, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and to allow displaced people to return to their homes across the small, densely populated enclave.

Israel wants to secure the release of hostages seized by Hamas in the Oct. 7 cross-border rampage that triggered the conflict and to neutralise Hamas - which has ruled Gaza since 2007 - as a threat.

It has said it is keen to reach a prisoners-for-hostages deal by which it would free a number of Palestinians jailed in its prisons in return for the hostages in Gaza, but it was not ready to end its military campaign.

RAFAH INVASION

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday a date had been set for a ground assault on Rafah, a city on Gaza's southern border with Egypt which it says is the last stronghold of Hamas combat forces in the territory.

Rafah is also the last refuge for over one million Palestinian civilians displaced by relentless Israeli bombardments that have flattened their home neighbourhoods further north in Gaza.

They are crammed into Rafah in desperate conditions, short of food, water and shelter, and foreign governments and organisations have urged Israel not to storm the city for fear of a bloodbath.

Netanyahu said Israel's aims were to release the hostages and to secure victory over Hamas. He did not specify a date for any assault on Rafah.

Of the 253 people Hamas seized on Oct. 7, 133 hostages remain captive. Negotiators have spoken of around 40 going free in the first stage of a prospective deal.

Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people in southern Israel in the lightning Oct. 7 attack, according to Israeli tallies.

Some 33,360 Palestinians have been killed in six months of conflict, Gaza's health ministry said in an update on Tuesday. Most of the enclave's 2.3 million people are homeless and many at risk of famine.

Israel says aid is now moving into Gaza more quickly after international pressure to increase access, but the amount is disputed and the United Nations says it is still much less than the bare minimum to meet humanitarian needs in the enclave.

Palestinian emergency teams supported by international organisations scoured the rubble of Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and the shattered city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza after Israeli forces withdrew following months of fighting.

So far the teams have recovered 409 bodies of Palestinians killed in the hospital and its surrounding neighbourhood and in Khan Younis, said Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Hamas-run Gaza Civil Emergency Service. Israel said Al Shifa was used as a militant base, something Hamas denies.

Basal called for international assistance in the form of excavation equipment and vehicles. He said rescue workers were responding to calls by families who reported their relatives missing and could be trapped under the rubble.

ISRAEL KEEPS UP MILITARY PRESSURE

On the battlefront, an Israeli airstrike on a municipality building in the Al-Maghazi camp in central Gaza Strip killed the head of its council, Hatem Al-Ghamri, and four other civilians, the Hamas-run government media office and medics said.

The Israeli military said in a statement it eliminated Ghamri, who it described as a military operative in Hamas' Maghazi Battalion involved in rocket launches against Israel.

An Israeli airstrike on a house in Deir Al-Balah killed one Palestinian and wounded 20 others, Hamas media said.

In Rafah, a missile fired from a drone killed one man and wounded several others, they said.

(Reporting by Nidal Al Mughrabi; witing by Yomna Ehab and Nidal al-Mughrabi; editing by Angus MacSwan, Ros Russell and Mark Heinrich)
Security video captured most of an ambush at an Idaho hospital that left three corrections officers with gunshot wounds and allowed a white supremacist prison gang member to escape, a police detective testified Monday.

The testimony from Matthew Canfield, a violent crimes detective with the Boise Police Department, came during a preliminary hearing for Skylar Meade, the inmate charged with escaping from a hospital last month when an accomplice opened fire on guards who had been transporting him back to prison.

Nicholas Umphenour, who police say did the shooting, and Tia Garcia, who is accused of having provided the car the pair used to escape, had their preliminary hearings set for April 29.

Prosecutors did not play the surveillance video in court but submitted it as an exhibit. Magistrate Judge Abraham Wingrove found that there was enough evidence to send the case against Meade to district court. His arraignment was set for April 17.

Video clips show three Department of Correction officers escorting Meade to the prison transport van from the emergency department when they "are approached by another individual who appears to point an object at them and shoot and fire rounds at them, Canfield said.

The video also shows Meade and the shooter running to a parked vehicle, which they used to flee, Canfield said.

Part of the encounter is blocked by the prison transport van itself, Canfield said.

Investigators have also obtained video from a private ambulance that was parked in the emergency bay during the escape.

The attack on the corrections officers came just after 2 a.m. on March 20 in the ambulance bay of Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. Meade was brought to the hospital earlier in the night because he injured himself, officials said, but he refused treatment upon arrival.

Two corrections officers were wounded in the attack and a third was shot by responding police officers who mistook him for the gunman. All are expected to recover.

Meade and Umphenour are each being held on $2 million bail. Authorities said they are also suspected of killing two men during their 36 hours on the run  one in Clearwater County and one in Nez Perce County, both about a seven-hour drive north of where they were arrested in Twin Falls, Idaho. No charges have been filed in the deaths.

The victims have been identified as James L. Mauney, 83, of Juliaetta, Idaho, who was reported missing when he failed to return from walking his dogs, and Gerald Don Henderson, 72, who was found dead outside his remote cabin near Orofino, Idaho.

Henderson had taken in Umphenour for about a month when he was in his late teens, according to authorities. Police said Umphenour and Meade stole Mauneys minivan and used it to get to the Twin Falls area.

Idaho Department of Correction officials have said Meade and Umphenour are members of the Aryan Knights white supremacist prison gang, which federal prosecutors have described as a scourge in the states penitentiary system.

Meade, 31, was serving 20 years at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, south of Boise, for shooting at a sheriffs sergeant during a chase. Umphenour was released from the same lockup in January after serving time for theft and gun convictions.

The two were at times housed together and had mutual friends in and out of prison, officials said. Meade recently had been held in solitary confinement because officials deemed him a security risk.

One other person has been charged in connection with the escape: Tonia Huber, who was driving the truck Meade was in when he was arrested, according to investigators. Huber has been charged with harboring a fugitive, eluding police and drug possession.

___

Thiessen reported from Anchorage, Alaska.
By Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and James Mackenzie

GENEVA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel says aid is moving into Gaza more quickly after international pressure to increase access, but the amount is disputed and the United Nations says it is still much less than the bare minimum to meet humanitarian needs.

Israel said 419 trucks - the highest since the conflict began - entered on Monday, though the Red Crescent and United Nations gave much lower figures, with the U.N. saying many were only half full because of Israeli inspection rules.

Six months into Israel's air and ground campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, the devastated Palestinian enclave faces famine and widespread disease with nearly all its inhabitants now homeless.

Aid agencies have complained that Israel is not ensuring enough access for food, medicine and other needed humanitarian supplies and the European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has accused it of using starvation as a weapon of war.

U.N. humanitarian agency (OCHA) spokesperson Jens Laerke also pointed to severe restrictions on delivery of aid inside Gaza itself last month, saying Israel had denied permission for half the convoys it tried sending to the north in March, with U.N. aid convoys three times more likely to be refused than any other.

COGAT, the Israeli military department responsible for aid transfers, denies it is hindering humanitarian relief into Gaza, saying there is no limit on supplies for civilians and blaming delays on the United Nations, which it says is inefficient.

"Yesterday alone enough food went into Gaza to feed every single person there. The U.N. fails to distribute it and Hamas steals it," said David Mencer, spokesperson at Israel's National Public Diplomacy Directorate.

International pressure on Israel sharpened last week, including from its closest ally the United States, after it targeted an aid convoy, killing international relief workers.

France has said more pressure, and possibly sanctions, must be imposed on Israel to open crossings to get in more humanitarian aid.

Israel said on Friday it would open the closed Erez crossing point into northern Gaza from Israel for aid supplies, approve more Jordanian aid through the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south and temporarily allow its Ashdod port to be used for aid.

Erez, the main crossing into northern Gaza before the war, has been closed since it was destroyed on Oct. 7. Israel imposed a total blockade at the start of the war, but has gradually allowed in aid, first through the Rafah crossing from Egypt and then the nearby Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel itself.

None of the trucks that entered Gaza on Monday went through Erez.

DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS

An increase in aid flows into Gaza over recent days has also been noted by Red Crescent officials in Egypt, who said more than 350 trucks had crossed from there into Gaza on Monday and 258 on Sunday. That was much more than in recent weeks, when the number was usually fewer than 200, they said.

However UNRWA, the main United Nations agency in Gaza, said 223 trucks had entered on Monday, fewer than half the 500 trucks it says are required daily.

In its daily situation report on Tuesday, UNRWA said "there has been no significant change in the volume of humanitarian supplies entering Gaza or improved access to the north".

Around 500 trucks with aid and other commercial supplies were entering Gaza daily before the conflict, when the enclave was also able to produce much of its food through agriculture and fishing, both of which have nearly entirely ceased.

UNRWA communications director Juliette Touma said both humanitarian and commercial supplies were needed for Gaza because the entire population was now dependent on handouts, which was not sustainable.

OCHA spokesperson Laerke, said Israel typically counted the half-filled trucks going through an initial screening process, rather than repacked, full trucks for delivery inside Gaza.

"Trucks that go in, screened by COGAT, are typically only half full. That is a requirement that they have put in place for screening purposes. When we count the trucks on the other side, when they have been reloaded, they are full," Laerke said.

He said a bigger problem remained distribution inside Gaza.

"Food convoys that should be going particularly to the north, where 70% of people face famine conditions, are more likely, actually three times more likely, to be denied than any other humanitarian convoy with other kinds of material," he said.

"When you put up the statistical number of trucks going in and say 'look at all these hundreds of trucks coming in' and you put it against 'look how few trucks have actually moved around with distribution' it's kind of an own goal, isn't it," he said.

Israel's military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Laerke's assertion that it had restricted convoys inside Gaza.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber in Geneva, James MacKenzie in Jerusalem and Tom Perry in Beirut, writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday that she would not rule out any measures, including potential tariffs, on Chinas green energy exports.

I wouldnt rule anything out at this point. We need to keep everything on the table. We want to work with the Chinese to see if we can find a solution, she said in an interview with CNBCs Sara Eisen, when asked about the possibility of Washington imposing tariffs if China does not adjust its approach to industry incentives.

Im not thinking so much of export restrictions, as some shifts in their macroeconomic policy, and a reduction in the amount of, particularly local government subsidies, to firms, Yellen said.

She nevertheless stressed the need to create a level playing field in the green technology space.

We just want to make sure that were not driven out of business, and that our firms and workers have opportunities in these industries which will be important ones in our future, she added.

Yellen left Beijing, the Chinese capital, on Tuesday. She arrived in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on Thursday last week to connect with Chinese officials as fractious economic relations between the two countries continue.

The U.S. has been increasingly voicing concerns about an oversupply of subsidized Chinese clean energy products  such as solar power, electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries  that it can export to international markets at discounted prices, which the White House says harms the competitiveness of domestic firms. Washingtons anxiety is shared by U.S. allies including Japan and Europe, as a glut of cheap Chinese products, such as solar panels, has flooded their markets.

Its fine for Chinas firms to export in this industry, to develop it. But some of the techniques that they use  subsidizing their firms very heavily and then supporting them even when theyre losing money ... this is something thats unacceptable from the U.S. point of view, and many of our allies feel the same way, Yellen said.

The Treasury secretary said that other countries may also explore the possibility of imposing trade restrictions on China. The European Union is currently conducting an investigation into the possible dumping of subsidized Chinese electric vehicles into the region, which risks undermining its sizable automotive industry.

The bloc has so far been resistant to implementing such measures given its strong trade ties with China, the worlds second-largest economy. Speaking on Monday ahead of a three-day trip to China, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was skeptical about the need for tariffs on Chinese EVs, a spokesperson said, according to Reuters.

Chinas minister of commerce, Wang Wentao, on Sunday slammed accusations of oversupply by the U.S. and Europe, and said the rise of the countrys EV industry was instead a result of constant innovations, according to Chinas Ministry of Commerce.

Chinese-built EVs are currently subject to sizable 27.5% tariffs in the U.S.  a policy imposed by former President Donald Trump over concerns around unfair trade practices by Beijing.

The Biden administration had previously considered cutting the tariffs, but Yellen said they were now subject to a review following reports that they may be hiked further amid pressure from Republican lawmakers. China, meanwhile, has called for them to be curtailed.

[China] have said for a long time that they would like to see them reduced, Yellen said.

The Commerce Department is investigating whether Chinese EV imports could pose national security risks, particularly given the large amounts of data that connected car technologies can collect.

It comes amid growing skepticism around the risks that Chinese technologies pose to U.S. national security. Last month, U.S. lawmakers passed a bill calling for Chinese tech giant ByteDance to divest its popular TikTok social media app in the U.S. or face an effective ban.

Asked whether she thought China would allow the sale of TikToks assets to a U.S. company or U.S. investors, Yellen said she did not want to get ahead of developments.

This is an important and profitable company, and I think theyre concerned by the prospect that they would be forced out of the United States, she said.

Washington has also proposed clamping down on other Chinese firms seen as antithetical to U.S. geopolitical and strategic interests. In particular, the Biden administration has said that it would impose sanctions on Chinese entities found to be aiding Russias military and its war efforts in Ukraine.

What we have made clear is that it is unacceptable to us for China to support Russia militarily. That doesnt say that China cant have a relationship with Russia, Yellen said.

China and Russia do a lot of trade, [and] much of it is unproblematic, but anything that involves aiding Russia militarily in their brutal war against Ukraine is unacceptable to us and we have the ability to sanction it.
ATLANTA (AP)  New York Mets right-hander Julio Teheran was designated for assignment on Tuesday, one day after he lasted only 2 2/3 innings in his debut with the team.

The Mets selected the contract of right-hander Dedniel Nunez from Triple-A Syracuse before Tuesday night's game against the Atlanta Braves.

Teheran, 33, gave up four runs in Monday night's 8-7 win over the Braves. Teheran signed with New York on Friday. He began his career with Atlanta in 2011 and was an All-Star with the Braves in 2014 and 2016.

Teheran earns $2.5 million while in the majors and $150,000 while in the minors in his contract with the Mets. The deal also includes the possibility of $400,000 in performance bonuses.

Teheran spent spring training with the Baltimore Orioles but opted out of his minor league deal in late March when he didnt make their opening-day roster. He was 3-5 with a 4.40 ERA in 11 starts and three relief appearances last year for NL Central champion Milwaukee.

Nunez, 27, pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief for Syracuse this season. He has not pitched in the majors.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday said Israel has not apprised the U.S. of any specific date for the start of a major offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, but added that American and Israeli officials remained in contact to try to ensure that any kind of major military operation doesnt do real harm to civilians.

Blinken spoke a day after Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed that a date has been set to invade Rafah. The United States, Israels closest ally, says a ground operation into Rafah would be a mistake and has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians.

Rafah is filled with around 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom are displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip. Israels war against the militant group Hamas has pushed Gaza into a humanitarian crisis, leaving more than 1 million people on the brink of starvation.

International efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas are taking place in Cairo this week.

Israels bombardment and ground offensives in Gaza over the past six months have killed at least 33,360 Palestinians and wounded 74,993, Gazas Health Ministry said Tuesday. The ministry doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tally, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

The war began Oct. 7 when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage.

Currently:

 Palestinians returning to Khan Younis find an unrecognizable city after Israeli withdrawal.

 A Moroccan activist was sentenced to 5 years for criticizing the countrys ties to Israel

 Turkey and Israel announce trade barriers on each other as relations deteriorate over Gaza

 At U.N. court, Germany rejects allegations that its facilitating acts of genocide in Gaza

 AP Photos chronicle 6 months of devastation in Gaza war with no sign of an end.

 Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Here's the latest:

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE ON HOME IN CENTRAL GAZA KILLS 11 PEOPLE, INCLUDING WOMEN AND KIDS

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip  An Israeli airstrike hit a home in central Gaza on Tuesday evening, killing at least 11 people, including seven women and children, hospital officials said.

After the strike hit in the town of Zawaida, Associated Press footage showed one man carrying the limp body of a little girl and laying her with the bodies of other dead children on the floor at the main hospital in nearby Deir al-Balah. Hospital officials said the dead included five children and two women.

The strike came as the Israeli military withdrew its forces from the southern city of Khan Younis this week, ending a monthslong ground assault that left large parts of the city in ruins. Still, airstrikes have continued in the past days, including in Gazas southernmost city of Rafah, where Israel says it plans to launch its next ground assault.

FAMILIES OF HOSTAGES HELD IN GAZA MEET WITH U.S. VICE PRESIDENT

WASHINGTON  Several family members of hostages held by Hamas met with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House on Tuesday and urged for a deal that would release their loved ones and implement a temporary cease-fire in Gaza.

The only hope for peace is through the release of all the hostages now, said Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the father of American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen. On a potential hostage agreement, Dekel-Chen stressed that the world is waiting for Hamas to get to yes.

Rachel Goldberg, the mother of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, called the meeting with Harris very productive. She expressed gratitude to the White House and lawmakers for their support, but added: We need results. We need our people home.

You can believe as we do that it is horrible that innocent civilians in Gaza are suffering, Goldberg said. And at the same time, you can also know that it is horrible and against international law for hostages to be held against their will.

During the meeting, Harris emphasized that she and President Joe Biden have no higher priority than reuniting the hostages with their loved ones, according to a White House readout, as she gave an update on the administrations efforts on a hostage deal.

U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY TELLS CONGRESS THAT ISRAEL IS TAKING STEPS TO BOOST AID TO GAZA, AS LAWMAKERS QUESTION U.S. SUPPORT

WASHINGTON  U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Congress Tuesday that pressure on Israel to improve humanitarian aid to Gaza appears to be working, but he said more must be done and it remains to be seen if the improvement will continue.

It clearly had an effect. We have seen changes in behavior, and we have seen more humanitarian assistance being pushed into Gaza, Austin said in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Hopefully that trend will continue.

Austins comments came during a session that was interrupted several times by protesters shouting at him to stop sending weapons to Israel. Stop the genocide, they said, as they lifted their hands, stained in red, in the air. A number of senators also decried the civilian casualties, saying the administration needs to do more to press Israel to protect the population in Gaza.

In response, Austin said he spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, on Monday and that he repeated U.S. insistence that Israel must move civilians out of the battlespace in Gaza and properly care for them.

Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown Jr. were testifying on Capitol Hill about the Pentagons $850 billion budget for 2025.

BLINKEN SAYS ISRAEL HASN'T TOLD U.S. ABOUT ANY SPECIFIC DATE TO LAUNCH RAFAH INVASION

WASHIGNTON  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday said Israel has not apprised the U.S. of any specific date for the start of a major offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, but added that American and Israeli officials remained in contact to try to ensure that any kind of major military operation doesnt do real harm to civilians.

Blinken spoke a day after Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed that a date has been set to invade Rafah. The city is filled with around 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom are displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip. The United States, Israels closest ally, has said a ground operation into Rafah would be a mistake and has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians.

Washington has also been applying pressure on Israel to improve humanitarian aid to Gaza, where half the population is starving and on the brink of famine due to Israels tight restrictions on allowing aid trucks through.

Were looking at a number of critical things that need to happen in the coming days, Blinken said, referring to recent Israeli announcements on the opening of new aid routes into Gaza and more active efforts to avoid casualties to both civilians and humanitarian relief workers. But what matters is results and sustained results and this is what we will be looking at very carefully in the days ahead.

That includes getting assistance in and distributed to all of the territory not just in the south, or in central Gaza. It has to get to the north as well, he said.

FRANCE USING ALL INFLUENCE TO PERSUADE ISRAEL TO OPEN GAZA CROSSINGS TO AID CONVOYS

PARIS  Frances foreign minister says his country is using all levels of influence, including threats of sanctions, to force Israel to open crossings with Gaza for vital humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians.

France was the first country to propose European Union sanctions against violent Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said in an interview Tuesday with French broadcasters RFI and FRANCE 24.

He added: We have multiple ways to utilize our influence, obviously, we can provide more sanctions  to let humanitarian aid convoys cross checkpoints and reach people in Gaza.

Sejourne did not elaborate on what kind of sanctions he was referring to. It is highly unlikely that France would impose any eventual sanctions without broader EU support, and the EU has been divided over policy toward Israel.

ISRAEL SHOOTS DOWN A DRONE OVER THE RED SEA

JERUSALEM  Israel shot down a drone over the Red Sea overnight in what the military described as the first deployment of its naval Iron Dome missile defense system.

The military said that a Corvette warship shot down the drone as it flew east over waters near the southern Israeli city of Eilat. The military released grainy aerial footage of the missile making contact with an aircraft.

It was not immediately clear who was directing the drone. Yemens Houthi rebels have been conducting near daily attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, launching drones and missiles from rebel-held areas of Yemen.

The Israeli defense system, called the C-Dome, is a naval version of the Iron Dome, which has been used to shoot down rockets fired from the Gaza Strip for the past decade.

TURKEY AND ISRAEL ANNOUNCE TRADE BARRIERS ON EACH OTHER, AS RELATIONS DETERIORATE OVER GAZA

JERUSALEM  Foreign Minister Israel Katz says Israel is preparing a ban on products from Turkey after Ankara announced it was restricting exports to Israel.

Turkey said earlier Tuesday it is restricting exports of dozens of products to Israel, including aluminum, steel, construction products and chemical fertilizers. It said it would continue the measures until Israel declares a cease-fire and allows the uninterrupted flow of aid to Gaza.

Katz said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is sacrificing the economic interests of his citizens for his support of Hamas."

Relations between Turkey and Israel have been frosty for years, although trade ties between the two countries are strong.

NATO-member Turkey is among the strongest critics of Israels military actions in Gaza.

Erdogan has repeatedly called for an immediate cease-fire and accused Israel of committing genocide in its military campaign in Gaza. The Israeli Foreign Ministry had no additional comment.

MEDIATORS PRESENT NEW CEASE-FIRE PROPOSAL TO HAMAS AND ISRAEL, EGYPTIAN OFFICALS SAY

CAIRO  Egyptian officials said Tuesday that mediators have presented a new cease-fire proposal to Hamas and Israel that would include a six-week pause in fighting and a swap of 40 Hamas-held hostages for at least 700 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The proposal was presented to delegations from Hamas and Israel during the latest round of negotiations in Cairo over the weekend, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations.

Among the Palestinian prisoners to be freed would be dozens convicted of killing Israelis during attacks by militant groups.

The officials said Hamas would be required to provide a list of the hostages it will release, as well as a list of Palestinian prisoners whose freedom it seeks.

The proposal also includes the return of a significant number of Palestinians to northern Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled the northern half of Gaza in the early stages of the war, heeding Israeli evacuation orders. The vast majority of Gazas 2.3 million people are now crammed into the southern half.

The proposal stipulates that Israel gradually dismantle checkpoints it had built on a new road that split the strip in half to prevent the return of Palestinians to the north.

Hamas has said it is reviewing the proposal.

___

Associated Press writer Samy Magdy contributed.

NETANYAHU VOWS TO CARRY OUT RAFAH GROUND INVASION

JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated his pledge to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, declaring: There is a date.

Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel must send ground forces into Rafah, saying it is Hamas last stronghold in Gaza.

But the international community, including the U.S., opposes the operation, saying the roughly 1.4 million civilians seeking shelter there will be in danger.

Israel has insisted it has a plan to protect the civilians.

In a video statement Monday, Netanyahu said the Rafah operation is essential for victory. He said, It will happen. There is a date, without elaborating. He spoke as Israeli negotiators were in Cairo discussing international efforts to broker a cease-fire deal with Hamas.

ISRAELI OFFENSIVE IN KHAN YOUNIS DAMAGED MORE THAN HALF OF ALL BUILDINGS IN THE CITY, MAP EXPERTS SAY

JERUSALEM  A pair of mapping experts say Israels offensive in the southern Gaza City of Khan Younis appears to have left over half of the citys buildings with damage or destruction visible from space.

As of last week, over 55% of the citys buildings were likely damaged or destroyed, according to an analysis of Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite data by Corey Scher of the CUNY Graduate Center and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University. They say that accounts for 45,000 buildings.

Still, the damage in Khan Younis and other parts of the Strips south is considerably less than in the north of Gaza, where the researchers estimate 70% of buildings were likely damaged or destroyed.

Israels ground and aerial bombardment campaign, begun after the Hamas attack Oct. 7, has wreaked unprecedented damage on the strip, leveling entire apartment buildings and leaving much of the territory in ruins, a moonscape from war.

Israel withdrew its last ground troops from Khan Younis on Sunday, marking the end of a key phase in its war against Hamas.

ISRAEL TO BUY 40,000 TENTS TO EVACUATE PALESTINIANS FROM RAFAH, ISRAELI OFFICIAL SAYS

JERUSALEM  An Israeli official confirms that Israel is purchasing 40,000 tents to prepare for the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Israel says Rafah is Hamas last stronghold and is vowing to send ground troops into the city. But the international community, including the U.S., opposes the offensive, saying it would endanger Palestinian civilians.

More than 1 million Palestinians, over half of Gazas population, have fled to Rafah after being displaced by fighting elsewhere in the territory.

Israel has said it has a plan to evacuate civilians ahead of its offensive, and Israels Defense Ministry on Monday published a tender seeking a supplier of tents.

The Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said the tents were part of the Rafah preparations.

___

Associated Press writer Josef Federman contributed.

ISRAELI ARMY SAYS A PALESTINIAN WOMAN WAS SHOT DEAD ATTEMPTING TO STAB A SOLDIER IN WEST BANK

JERUSALEM  The Israeli army said its forces shot dead a Palestinian women in the northern West Bank on Monday, after she attempted to stab a soldier at a checkpoint.

The army said the incident took place at the Tayasir checkpoint near the northern West Bank town of Tubas.

In a statement, the Palestinian Health Ministry identified the deceased as a young woman but did not state her name or age.

At least 460 Palestinians in east Jerusalem and the West Bank have been killed by Israeli fire since the Israel-Hamas war erupted six months ago, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Many have been shot dead in armed clashes, some while attempting to stab Israeli forces, and others for throwing stones at troops.

The Associated Press has reported on several cases where Palestinians have been shot dead for posing no apparent threat to nearby troops.

Knife attacks by Palestinian women are rare.

POPE FRANCIS MEETS WITH FAMILIES OF HOSTAGES

VATICAN CITY  Pope Francis met Monday with relatives of hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, marking the six-month anniversary of the attack in southern Israel with an hourlong audience.

The Vatican released photos of the encounter, showing the relatives of the several of the hostages sitting in a semicircle in front of Francis in his private library in the Apostolic Palace. Each one held a poster with a photo and the name of their loved one.

It was the second time Francis has met with relatives of the hostages. On Nov. 22, he met with a delegation of Israelis, and then separately a delegation of Palestinians whose relatives had been harmed during the long Mideast conflict.

Francis has called for the immediate release of the hostages and a cease-fire in Gaza, and for humanitarian aid to urgently reach desperate Palestinians.

GAZA HEALTH MINISTRY REPORTS 32 PEOPLE KILLED IN LAST 24 HOURS

CAIRO  The Health Ministry in Gaza on Monday said the bodies of 32 people killed in Israels bombardment have been brought to hospitals in the beleaguered territory in the past 24 hours. Hospitals also received 47 wounded people, it said.

The fresh fatalities brought the death toll in the strip to 33,207 since the war began on Oct. 7, it said.

The ministry doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants, but said two thirds of the dead are children and women. The Israeli military says it has killed 12,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The ministry said 75,933 people have been wounded.

The ministry said many casualties remain under the rubble and first responders have been unable to retrieve them amid the relentless bombing.

PAKISTAN AND SAUDI ARABIA CALL ON ISRAEL TO HALT ITS MILITARY OPERATIONS IN GAZA

ISLAMABAD  Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have called on Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza and seek a peaceful solution to the conflict in line with UN resolutions.

The two countries made the demands in a joint statement on Monday after a meeting between Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Mecca.

The two sides called for international efforts to halt Israeli military operations in Gaza, mitigate humanitarian impact and underscored the imperative for the international community to pressure Israel to cease hostilities, adhere to international law, and facilitate unhindered humanitarian aid access to Gaza," according to the statement.

They also discussed the need for a peace process in accordance with UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative aimed at finding a just and comprehensive solution, for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital."

ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS IT KILLED A HEZBOLLAH COMMANDER IN LEBANON

BEIRUT  Israels military says it has killed a commander of Hezbollahs secretive Radwan Force in southern Lebanon.

Ali Ahmad Hussein is one of the most senior militants killed since Israel and Hezbollah began exchanging fire at the start of the war in Gaza. His killing comes as regional tensions soar after an apparent Israeli attack last week on Irans consulate in Syria, threatening to spark a wider conflagration.

The Israeli military said two other Hezbollah militants were also killed in the strike early Monday.

Hezbollah announced the death of Ali Ahmad Hussein but did not give any details on the circumstances or his role within the group, in line with how they announce the deaths of their members.

The Israeli military said he was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of Sultaniyeh. It said in a statement that Hussein was responsible for carrying out attacks on northern Israel.

Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops have clashed along the tense Lebanon-Israel border since Oct. 8. Hezbollah says it would stop firing rockets once a cease-fire is reached in the Gaza Strip that would end the Israel-Hamas war.

Israeli officials have been demanding that the Radwan Force withdraw from the border area in order to allow tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to return home.

AUSTRALIA APPOINTS EX-DEFENSE CHIEF TO LOOK INTO ISRAELI STRIKE THAT KILLED 7 AID WORKERS

MELBOURNE, Australia  Australia has appointed retired national defense chief Mark Binskin to look into how Israel Defense Forces came to kill seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, including Australian Zomi Frankcom, in Gaza last week.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday he expected Israel would fully cooperate with Binskin as Australias special adviser on Israels response to the missile strikes on three aid vehicles.

We would expect that someone of Mr. Binskin's stature, frankly, will be given every cooperation from the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli government, Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

We dont find the explanations to be satisfactory to this point, Albanese added.

The seven aid workers deaths had shaken the world, Albanese said, adding it is unacceptable that almost 200 aid workers have died since the conflict began in October last year.

Binskin, who served as Australian Defense Force chief from 2014 to 2018, will advise the government on the sufficiency and appropriateness of steps taken by the Israeli government in response to the fatal attack, which the Israeli military has described as a tragic error, a government statement said.
An Idaho white supremacist prison gang member who escaped during a gunfight ambush at a hospital was due in court on Monday afternoon.

Skylar Meade was scheduled to face a judge for a preliminary hearing hours after two co-defendants agreed to have their hearings delayed.

Meade and Nicholas Umphenour were taken into custody in Twin Falls, Idaho last month after being on the run for about 36 hours.

Umphenour was wanted on two charges of aggravated battery against law enforcement and one charge of aiding and abetting, in connection with Meade's prison break, which resulted in the shootings of three officers.

Authorities allege Umphenour helped facilitate Meade's "brazen" and "coordinated" escape from a Boise hospital in the middle of the night, where the inmate was taken for treatment for an alleged self-inflicted injury.

Authorities were also investigating two homicides in the nearby counties of Nez Perce and Clearwater for a possible connection to the two men. No charges have been filed yet in those killings.

Meade was serving a 20-year prison sentence for aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a firearm enhancement and was previously convicted of drug charges, grand theft, and introduction of contraband into a correctional facility when he escaped, police said.

He had been locked up since October 2016 and his sentence was set to end in October 2036.

The Idaho Department of Correction claimed Meade and Umphenour are members of the Aryan Knights white supremacist prison gang.

Tia Garcia, 27, of Twin Falls is also charged in connection with the escape. She is accused of aiding and abetting escape in connection with the case.

The Boise Police Department says Garcia had knowledge and was involved in the planning and execution of the escape. She is accused of falsely reporting her car stolen just after the attack. She was allegedly driving the truck Meade was in when police arrested him.

Umphenour and Garcia appeared by video link from jail on Monday, and both agreed to have their preliminary hearings delayed until April 29.

Meade did not agree to the delay.
TOKYO (Reuters) -Microsoft said on Tuesday it would invest $2.9 billion over two years to expand its cloud and AI infrastructure in Japan, the latest in a series of overseas expansions by large tech firms to support the development of artificial intelligence.

The investment - the company's largest in the 46 years of its operations in the country - will also go towards skilling three million people in AI and setting up a Microsoft Research Asia lab in Tokyo.

Server operators are expanding their data centers and cloud computing assets globally to support a boom in AI applications and workloads, after the late 2022 launch of ChatGPT.

Amazon.com's cloud unit is investing $10 billion in Mississippi and another $5.3 billion in Saudi Arabia towards data centers in those regions. Google is building a data center just outside London for $1 billion.

Microsoft's Azure, Alphabet-unit Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services are the top three cloud computing companies in the world.

(Reporting by Mariko Katsumura; additional reporting by Yuvraj Malik and Jaspreet Singh; editing by Jason Neely and Anil D'Silva)
Norfolk Southern has agreed to a $600 million settlement to resolve class action lawsuits filed after a freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, spilling toxic chemicals into the community.

The company said in a news release Tuesday that the settlement "is another promise kept by Norfolk Southern to make it right for the people of East Palestine and the surrounding communities."

"The agreement is designed to provide finality and flexibility for settlement class members. Individuals and businesses will be able to use compensation from the settlement in any manner they see fit to address potential adverse impacts from the derailment," Norfolk Southern said.

A plume of smoke rises from a Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio (Gene J. Puskar / AP)

"This could include healthcare needs and medical monitoring, property restoration and diminution, and compensation for any net business loss," the company continued. "In addition, individuals within 10-miles of the derailment may, at their discretion, choose to receive additional compensation for any past, current, or future personal injury from the derailment."

On Feb. 3, 2023, just before 9 p.m. local time, 38 cars of a freight train derailed off Taggart Street. The cars were carrying cargo that included hazardous materials such as vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate, which are known to cause adverse health effects including respiratory irritation and even certain cancers with prolonged exposure.

Residents within a roughly 1-mile radius had to temporarily evacuate. Days after the spill and fire, the rail company did a controlled chemical release and burned vinyl chloride  a flammable gas  in a move officials said would alleviate the risk of an explosion.

Class-action lawsuits swiftly followed. For the most part, residents sued over lost income due to the evacuation and health concerns. Despite Norfolk Southern and the Environmental Protection Agency saying that the towns water was safe to drink, some residents told "NBC Nightly News" earlier this year that they run air purifiers daily in their homes and only drink bottled water.

In a court filing Tuesday, attorneys for the plaintiffs said they expect to file a motion for the judge to approve the amount no later than April 19.

"We believe this is a fair, reasonable and adequate result for the community on a number of levels, not the least of which is the speed of the resolution, and the overall amount of the awards residents can expect, which will be significant for those most impacted by the derailment," attorneys Seth A. Katz, M. Elizabeth Graham, Jayne Conroy and T. Michael Morgan said in a joint statement.

In addition to the settlement, Norfolk Southern said it has spent $104 million in community assistance to East Palestine and the surrounding areas, $4.3 million to help upgrade the drinking water infrastructure, and $500,000 for economic development.
MANILA (Reuters) - Protesters in Manila trampled on an effigy of Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday as they condemned China's "aggression" against the Philippines in the South China Sea.

The protesters marched towards the Chinese consulate in Manila, chanting "China leave!" while others called out China's "aggression" against Filipino people in the South China Sea.

The Philippines and China have had a series of maritime run-ins, including an incident last month where China used water cannon to disrupt a Philippine supply mission to soldiers stationed on a grounded warship in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.

"Our message is addressed to the Chinese government: move out of the West Philippine Sea, dismantle its illegal structures ... recognise the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling, and stop the harassment of Filipino fisher folk and ... Philippine supply missions," said Mong Palatino, one of the protest leaders.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its territory, policed by an armada of coastguard vessels, some more than 1,000 km (620 miles) away from its mainland.

A 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration concluded that Beijing's claim to almost the entire South China Sea was groundless, but China rejects that ruling.

(Reporting by Jay Ereno; Editing by Kim Coghill)
A campaign staffer working for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s independent presidential bid recently raised the prospect of blocking President Joe Biden from being re-elected by sending the election to the House of Representatives, where House members could elect former President Donald Trump, instead.

Rita Palma, a longtime New York-based critic of vaccination mandates, appears in a recently uploaded video to be giving a presentation aimed at persuading Republican voters to help Kennedy qualify for the states presidential ballot this fall. She identifies herself in the video as the campaigns New York state director, though the campaign said Monday that she is a "ballot access consultant" and that her comments don't reflect overall campaign strategy.

In those comments, Palma says that she knocked on doors for Trump's campaigns in 2016 and 2020 and has "more Trump T-shirts than I do Bobby Kennedy T-shirts" but that Trump "lost" her because of "the vaccines."

Palma goes on to declare Biden the "mutual enemy" of the Trump and Kennedy voter and says her "No. 1 priority" is depriving Biden of his re-election, not helping Kennedy win.

"Whether you support Bobby or Trump, we all oppose Biden. And my thoughts are that, you know, thats the No. 1 priority in the country," she says in the video.

And she outlines a specific way to do just that. While national Democrats focus on cutting Kennedy down in key swing states that typically decide elections, Palma pitches the prospect of depriving Biden of wins in blue states like New York. That, according to Palma, could keep both Trump and Biden short of the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidential election, leaving the choice to the currently GOP-controlled House, which she says would choose Trump.

In a statement, Kennedy campaign manager Amaryllis Fox described Palma as a "ballot access consultant responsible for scheduling volunteer shifts for our upcoming signature collection drive in the Empire State" and said it should be no surprise that different Kennedy backers come from different ends of the ideological spectrum.

As an independent movement, our supporters, volunteers, and field organizers come from all sides of the political spectrum and their reasons for supporting Mr. Kennedy are as disparate as their backgrounds, the campaign statement said.

She is not involved in electoral strategy, nationally or in New York. This was not a campaign event. Palma was speaking as a private citizen and her statements in no way reflect the strategy of the Kennedy campaign, which is to win the White House with votes from former Trump and Biden supporters alike," the statement continued.

The video once again highlights how the presence of Kennedy and other third-party contenders in the presidential election could scramble the outcome. Previously, NBC News reported that No Labels last year was floating the prospect of its presidential efforts sending the election to the House. The organization ultimately decided not to field a ticket.

In the video, Palma describes her outlook: "Im going to vote for Bobby. However, if Trump  if I wake up Nov. 6 and Trump wins, Im not going to be overly upset. But if Biden wins, were all going to be terribly upset, because hes ruining America, and the people that control him are ruining our country. "

She called her blue-state 2024 strategy "Make Your Republican Vote Count," one she said she started preaching well before she joined the Kennedy campaign.

"If Republicans accepted the fact that New York, Maryland, Illinois, California, New Jersey, Connecticut, most of the Northeast is going to go blue, why wouldnt we put our vote to Bobby and at least get rid of Biden and ... give those 28 electoral votes [in New York] to Bobby rather than to Biden?" Palma says in the video.

"If it's a Republican Congress, they'll pick Trump, so we're rid of Biden," she says.

"All we need is, like, four blue states and there's no way he can get in," she adds, speaking about Biden.

As she speaks, Palma stands in front of a slideshow that outlines a path to "block Biden from winning the presidency #1 priority," which includes both supporting Kennedy and also "Go to Pennsylvania to help Trump."

CNN first reported on the existence of the video, a truncated version of which has been making the rounds on social media Monday and drawing criticism from Democrats.

NBC News obtained a 36-minute version of the video from a source who downloaded it before it was deleted from YouTube. The source said the YouTube description for the video said it took place at a church in Poughkeepsie and was uploaded Friday. The video has a small handful of cuts in it, but it includes fuller conversation than the short version published to social media Monday, and it includes a question-and-answer session with attendees.

Palma confirmed the authenticity of the video to CNN. She requested that NBC News send her questions by text message and hadn't yet replied to a request for comment.

In the video, Palma says that when the Kennedy campaign hired her, she told it she wouldn't stop making this specific appeal, admitting it is an "unusual campaign message."

"If Im allowed to preach that, if Im allowed to, you know, get that message out there, then yeah, I will definitely work for the campaign. But I dont want to be restricted in what I say, because I think this is a really winning strategy," she says she told the person hiring her for a role on the campaign.

"And my boss said, well, OK, you know, you have to. He suggested I isolate it to certain markets, which of course I do. I don't go into Manhattan talking about this," Palma says.

Fox, the Kennedy campaign manager, added in her statement that it's "looking into whether any misrepresentations were made."

"Our campaign champions freedom of speech for all our supporters, volunteers, contractors and staff, as long as they do not claim to speak on our behalf," she continued.

Palma also didnt answer a question from NBC News about whether she's serving as the New York state director, as she claims in the video, or as a ballot access consultant, as the campaign claims. She's listed as attending a "private reception" for donors in Melville, New York, featuring Kennedy later this month.
Simon Harris has become the youngest-ever prime minister of Ireland, officially taking office in Dublin on Tuesday after Leo Varadkar suddenly stepped down last month.

Harris, 37, ran unopposed to replace Varadkar as leader of the ruling Fine Gael party, and the final formalities of his rise to power were completed in the Dail, Irelands parliament.

He has held a number of government positions since being earmarked as a rising political star in his late 20s, most recently serving as the minister for higher education and science.

But Harris faces a daunting political challenge in the coming months; a general election in Ireland must be held by late March 2025, and Fine Gael is trailing in opinion polls to the Irish republican group Sinn Fein, which was once the political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

Varadkar led a charge to liberalize some of Irelands socially conservative laws, most notably easing the countrys strict anti-abortion mandates.

But his government faced backlash over Irelands housing crisis and soaring immigration numbers.

In his first speech after being elected, Harris condemned Israel for its conduct in Gaza, vowing not to be silent on the war in remarks that immediately make him one of the Wests most forceful critics of Israel.

In Gaza, we are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe. And we are seeing innocent children, women, and men being starved and slaughtered, Harris told lawmakers in the Irish parliament. We have not been silent on the unforgivable terrorist actions of Hamas on October the seventh. Nor can we be silent on the disproportionate reaction of the Israeli government.

A TikTok taoiseach

Harris has been quick to praise his predecessor during his coronation as Fine Gaels new leader, but his path to the top of Irish politics is unlike many of those who came before him.

The son of a taxi driver, born in eastern Ireland, Harris studied journalism and French at a Dublin university but dropped out to instead focus on politics. It was his brothers diagnosis with autism, and his subsequent struggle to access special needs services, that propelled a teenage Harriss political ambitions.

I saw the stress and strain my parents went through, and called a public meeting in my hometown, he told Irish magazine Hot Press in 2022. I ended up finding myself politicised at a young age.

Harris ran unopposed in a quick election to replace Varadkar. - Brian Lawless/PA/AP

He was a councillor, and then a member of the Dail, in just a few years. And Harriss youth has been a feature of his political identity throughout his career. Anti-abortion campaigners held up banners reading I fancy Simon Harris in 2018. He famously told committee members to chillax six years earlier. Didnt realise chillax was such a big deal  was just fed up! he wrote on Twitter amid the ensuing media fascination.

And in recent months, Harris has embraced the social media app TikTok, picking up nearly 100,000 followers. Irish Times Political Correspondent Jennifer Bray told CNN that strategy could become more prominent as an election approaches, with the bloc hoping he could appeal to an increasingly distant electorate: younger voters.

Harris was catapulted into the prominent role of health minister in 2016, a steep rise that cemented his position as one of Fine Gaels new guard. He was seen as a potential leadership candidate as early as the following year, when premier Enda Kenny stepped down from his role, but the then-30-year-old ruled himself out, insisting he didnt yet have the experience.

As health minister, Harris was prominent when Ireland voted to legalize abortion. He hailed the move as a vote to end lonely journeys, end the stigma and support womens choices in our own country. He also fronted Irelands initial response to the pandemic, before being moved to a new brief in mid-2020  a fortuitous shift that spared the popular politician the complexities of dealing with Irelands emergence from the Covid crisis.

But his time in the department was not without controversy. In 2018 a scandal erupted after the Irish health service was found to have provided incorrect smear tests for cervical cancer to more than 200 women. Harris later acknowledged that he personally had made mistakes in the handling of the scandal, saying there was no part of the episode where there are not lessons to be learned and no-one escapes responsibility.

Harris remained as minister for further and higher education, research, innovation and science until his elevation to party leader, which capped a speedy ascent through Irelands political hierarchy.

I know, in many ways, my career has been a bit odd, he told Hot Press in 2022. Life came at me a lot faster than I expected it to.

A host of challenges

Harriss rise was fast, but his time at the top may be brief.

I will take office when time is short, but there is so much to do, he admitted when addressing his party last week. The shine of Varadkars government wore off during his second stint as taoiseach; Harris inherits a governing coalition facing a difficult fight to return to office.

A housing crisis has gripped Ireland, felt especially by younger voters whom Harris will be so keen to court. That, coupled a cost of living crunch and concerns over immigration, has helped diminish public support for the two traditional parties that have dominated Irish politics over the last century.

In their place, Sinn Fein has surged. The left-wing, Irish nationalist party has swept recent elections in Northern Ireland, and is also leading polls in the south.

Sinn Fein was once considered to be the political wing of the IRA, which fought a bloody three-decade military campaign to end British rule and unite the island of Ireland, though the party has since positioned itself as a grassroots left-wing political party focused on social issues on both sides of the border.

Its reemergence as the prominent political bloc on the island of Ireland has raised discussions about a so-called border poll on the reunification of Ireland, though that prospect still remains a distant one.

Harris told Sky News after his election as Fine Gael leader on Saturday that reunification is a legitimate aspiration, but added: Thats not where my focus and priority is right now and quite frankly, its not where I believe our focus and priority should be.

CNNs Sophie Tanno contributed reporting

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By Padraic Halpin

DUBLIN (Reuters) -Simon Harris became Ireland's youngest ever prime minister on Tuesday, pledging to bring new ideas and energy to the less than 12 months he has boost the coalition government's bid to halt a first electoral victory by left-wing Sinn Fein.

The 37-year-old former health and higher education minister, best known for helping steer the initial response to COVID-19, was elected unopposed as leader of Fine Gael last month, all but assuring he would succeed Leo Varadkar as the 16th person to lead the country following his predecessor's shock exit.

"As Taoiseach (prime minister), I want to bring new ideas, a new energy, and a new empathy to public life," Harris told lawmakers following a parliamentary vote, wiping a tear from his eye before he spoke.

"Now is an opportune time to build a new social contract  one which renews our promise as a Republic. To create equality of opportunity. To support those who need the state the most. To protect our hard-earned economic success. To use its benefits to deliver tangible outcomes to society."

Harris will face the same deep-rooted problems, most notably a severe shortage of affordable housing and unease at record numbers of asylum seekers, that led to Fine Gael's stagnation under Varadkar, and inherits a coalition agreement that leaves little room for major new policy initiatives.

He made two promotions to cabinet - the bare minimum after Varadkar and former Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney stepped down. Fine Gael has seven of the 18 seats ministerial posts, which limited his options.

New Enterprise Minister Peter Burke, whose role includes attracting more multinational companies to Ireland, was tasked by Harris with developing "a number of practical measures" to ease the burden on small indigenous businesses.

"There are some small wins he can deliver on but ultimately Simon Harris is not going to be able to do anything substantial at this stage on the major challenge that this government has been grappling with for four years," said Theresa Reidy, senior lecturer in politics at University College Cork.

"MORE OF THE SAME"

Harris, who quit university aged 20 to work as a political aide, was elected to parliament at 24 and appointed to cabinet before he turned 30, is a year younger than Varadkar was when he was first appointed prime minister in 2017.

In her speech proposing the new prime minister, Fine Gael deputy leader Heather Humphreys joked that she mistook the baby-faced Harris for a student on a school tour when they both entered parliament for the first time 13 years ago.

Harris used a speech at Saturday's Fine Gael annual conference to spell out his focus on law and order, helping small business and reconnecting with rural voters.

He also pledged to fix the housing crisis "once and for all" - something his predecessors have also promised - proposing an extension to support for developers and first-time buyers, while acknowledging the required boost to supply would take years.

"Deputy Harris offers and represents more of the same. He sat at cabinet for eight years presiding over the very policies that have seen a collapse in home ownership and skyrocketing rents," said Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald.

An opinion poll on Sunday showed housing remained voters' top concern ahead of an election that must be held by next March.

The same poll confirmed a recent trend of support for Sinn Fein dropping off highs of 12-18 months ago, opening a possible path to re-election for Harris, though independent candidates, rather than the ruling parties have been the main beneficiaries.

Sinn Fein stood on 26%, with Fine Gael on 21%, Fianna Fail on 16%, while 17% backed independent candidates.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Alex Richardson)
MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will meet several of his European Union counterparts over the next week to try to garner support for the recognition of a Palestinian state, the government said on Tuesday.

Sanchez's agenda includes meetings with the prime ministers of Norway, Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia and Belgium focusing on the EU's position regarding the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, government spokesperson Pilar Alegria told reporters.

"We want to stop the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and help kickstart a political peace process leading to the realisation of the two-state solution as early as possible," Alegria said.

Sanchez has previously said he expects Madrid to extend recognition to the Palestinians by July and that he believes there would soon be a "critical mass" within the EU to push several members to adopt the same position.

Spain, Ireland, Malta and Slovenia announced last month they would jointly work toward recognition of a Palestinian state.

Israel told the four EU countries their initiative would amount to a "prize for terrorism" that would reduce the chances of a negotiated resolution to the generations-old conflict.

Israeli forces launched a devastating air and ground offensive in Gaza in October after militants of the Palestinian enclave's ruling Islamist group Hamas went on a killing and kidnapping spree inside Israel.

The EU has had much less sway on the conflict than the United States, Israel's closest ally, which has said a peace deal and Palestinian statehood in territory Israel occupied in a 1967 war can be reached only through direct negotiations, which have been stalled by entrenched disputes for a decade.

Since 1988, 139 out of 193 United Nations member states have recognised Palestinian statehood.

Sanchez is set to begin his diplomatic campaign with a trip to Oslo and Dublin on April 12, where he will meet with Norway's Jonas Gahr Stoere and Ireland's new premier Simon Harris.

(Reporting by David Latona and Emma Pinedo; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Mark Heinrich)
For many years, Conemaugh Health System, a hospital chain in west central Pennsylvania, was a nonprofit entity, serving patients in the small communities of Johnstown, Hastings, Meyersdale and Roaring Spring. Today, it is a for-profit system owned in part by Apollo Global Management, one of the largest private-equity firms in the United States.

Since that ownership change in 2018, involving a hospital chain known as LifePoint Health, care at the health system has declined, three patients say. One is Paul Ricci, 53, who works at group homes for the intellectually disabled and in his spare time edits the Johnstown-based Allegheny Independent Media, a non-fluff website for news and analysis of the Allegheny Region of Pennsylvania, as he calls it. Recently, he said, he and his father have experienced overnight waits in the emergency department and have had trouble getting through to someone who can answer billing questions.

That a big, New York City-based private-equity firm had stepped in at Conemaugh wasnt well-known when it happened, he told NBC News. The same people were there at the hospital, he said. I didnt know the care would be different.

Like many U.S. consumers, Ricci is beginning to learn about the impact that private-equity firms like Apollo can have on health care. Over the past decade, these firms have spent $1 trillion taking over health care companies across the nation, typically loading them with debt and hoping to sell them at a gain in three to five years. Critics say the drive to profit from the acquisitions of nursing homes, hospitals, physician practices and health care staffing companies conflicts with diligent patient care, and the firms and their purchases are coming under heightened scrutiny from legislators, anti-trust enforcers and patients.LifePoint Health, for example, is one of the subjects of two Senate inquiries focused on whether financial deals like the company's may be harming patients. Apollo and LifePoint have said they welcome the scrutiny. Conemaugh did not respond to an email seeking comment.

In recent years, private-equity firms have taken over broad swaths of the nations economy, extending well beyond health care. These purchases have involved supermarkets, child care, senior living centers, fast food operations, rental housing and pet care providers. Consumers are often unaware that private-equity firms own the companies they patronize because the firms dont put their names on the nursing homes, hospitals, veterinary practices and apartment buildings they own.

But these firms involvement in different industries can be extensive  for example, NBC News recently estimated that 40% of the nations emergency departments were operated by staffing companies owned by private-equity firms. And by 2030, according to a recent MetLife estimate, companies backed by private equity may own 40% of the nations single-family homes, purchases that in many regions have already driven up housing costs for local renters, academics say.

New research by Private Equity Stakeholder Project, a nonprofit group that advocates for more transparency and regulation of the industry, aims to help consumers, legislators and regulators identify where private-equity firms dominate in four key economic areas: health care, housing, jobs and pensions. The analysis, called the Private Equity State Risk Index, details private equitys involvement in those arenas in all 50 states.

A Housing Justice League tenant protest in Atlanta. (Alison Johnson)

Arizona and Georgia, for example, rank high on the list for housing risks related to heavy private-equity purchases of rental homes; New Mexico and West Virginia place high for health care operations dominated by the financiers. Alabama and Massachusetts have an elevated impact on workers and jobs while Washington state, Louisiana and Michigan rank high in pension risk because of investments in private equity, the research states.The index shows the private equity threats in our own backyard and gives state leaders the tools to protect the people they serve, said Chris Noble, policy director at Private Equity Stakeholder Project. By providing transparent data on the risks associated with private equity investments, we empower communities, working families, and policymakers to advocate for change and protect their states from the threats posed by unchecked private equity firms.

More falls and infections

The American Investment Council, the lobbying organization for the private-equity industry, says its members acquisitions improve the sectors they invest in. This includes health care, it says. Private equity investments consistently support quality, affordable health care for patients across America, the council wrote in a recent letter to federal regulators.

Independent academic research, however, has determined that private-equity ownership of nursing homes, hospitals and physician practices can harm patients. One study showed that residents of nursing homes owned by private equity experienced 10% greater death rates and another showed that patients at hospitals owned by the firms experienced more adverse events, including greater numbers of falls and far more infections.Only 3.2% of hospitals in Pennsylvania are controlled by private-equity firms, the new state risk index shows, far below the almost 25% of hospitals in New Mexico controlled by private equity. But the readmission rate after discharge among those Pennsylvania hospitals is 5% higher than the national average, the risk index says.

Even though private equitys involvement in Pennsylvania health care is relatively low, the state has experienced high-profile problems associated with some hospital takeovers by the industry in recent years. Consider Crozer Health, an embattled four-hospital system near Philadelphia that is part of Prospect Medical Holdings. Prospect owns 16 safety net hospitals  those serving low-income patients usually covered by Medicaid  in four states and was backed by private-equity firm Leonard Green & Partners from 2010 until 2021. Struggling under a heavy debt load, Crozer has failed to pay its vendors and shuttered services, several employees told NBC News; Prospect and Crozer have been sued by The Foundation for Delaware County, a community foundation created in 2016 when Prospect bought the health system.

Frances Sheehan is the president and CEO of the foundation, which monitors Prospects management of Crozer to ensure it lives up to the terms of the agreement. We are the only entity that can hold Prospect accountable, Sheehan said in an interview. Prospect has swooped in and purchased health systems in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and California, and their goal is to drain as much from the system as possible under the guise of turning the health systems around.

Even as Crozer declined, Leonard Green and minority investors in Prospect extracted $650 million in dividends and fees before selling it in 2021, according to research by Private Equity Stakeholder Project. Prospect Medical is also among the companies under investigation by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., as NBC News has reported.

Peggy Malone. (Courtesy Megan Gorman)

Everybody just wants Prospect to leave and give us a chance to rebuild, said Peggy Malone, a behavioral health nurse at Crozer-Chester Medical Center and president of Crozer Chester Nurses Association, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals. She has testified before the Senate on the impact Prospect has had on her hospital, where shes worked for 36 years.The stucco is crumbling, the air conditioning doesnt always work, the quality of supplies is horrendous and the equipment is broken, she said. It was a really vibrant hospital  to watch it dwindle away truly breaks my heart.

A Crozer spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment. Prospect agreed in February to try to sell Crozer to a nonprofit in the coming months, pausing the litigation with The Foundation for Delaware County.

Neither Prospect nor Leonard Green responded to requests for comment.

In a chokehold

In the five core counties of metropolitan Atlanta, private-equity-backed companies and other large corporate landlords have taken over more single-family homes than in any other region in recent years, said Taylor Shelton, an assistant professor of geosciences at Georgia State University. He has done extensive research on large corporate landlords, finding that in Fulton County alone, the inventory of single-family homes owned by these landlords more than doubled to 6,429 in 2023, up from 3,169 in 2018.

Taylor Shelton. (Taylor Shelton)

Its an issue of crowding out potential homebuyers, and the effects on tenants go from raising rents, filing for eviction as soon as they can to usually neglecting maintenance in a variety of ways, he said in an interview. Georgia has arguably the worst landlord-tenant laws of any state in the U.S. We have essentially no formal protections written in the law. The municipalities have been defanged from having any control over this, which is why these companies invest here." Tenants have endured significant rent increases in Atlanta, according to Alison Johnson of the Housing Justice League, an Atlanta nonprofit group that organizes tenants and provides eviction defense services. They have us in a chokehold, she said. They have purchased so many homes here, they get to manage the market. They get to tell us what rents are set in areas where they have absorbed all the housing.

The PESP state risk index shows some 17% of homes across Georgia have been purchased by medium, large and mega-investors, up 62% since 2018. Arizona and Nevada are also magnets for private equity and corporate landlords. Some 13.8% of homes in Arizona have been bought by these investors, the index indicates, up 79% from 2018. Nevada has seen these investors holdings increase 83% since 2018; their percentage stake now stands at 13.1%.

As for private equitys impact on jobs, Massachusetts ranks high, with 9% of the private sector workforce employed by these financiers, the PESP state index reports. Thats up almost 20% since 2018. Massachusetts is also among 10 states with the highest number of employee deaths or hospitalizations at employers controlled by private-equity firms  91 between 2018 and 2022  as a share of its total private sector workforce.

The Private Equity Stakeholder Projects new state risk index is a razor-sharp tool in the fight to hold private equity accountable, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said in a statement. Together, were taking on this trillion-dollar, behemoth industry thats hurting working people and sucking money out of the rest of the economy.
Tesla has settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of Walter Huang, an Apple engineer and father of two who died after his Model X SUV, with Autopilot features switched on, crashed into a highway barrier near Mountain View, California, in 2018.

The settlement comes as jury selection and a trial were just beginning on Monday in a California Superior court. The settlement allows Tesla to avoid airing evidence and testimonies in a widely-followed case.

The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the fatal crash and revealed, in 2020, that it found Teslas tech was at least partly to blame for the collision, along with possible driver distraction and problematic road construction. NTSB believed that Huang had been looking at a game on his phone at some point before the collision.

The federal agency found that Teslas forward collision warning system did not provide an alert, and its automatic emergency braking system did not activate as Huangs Model X, with Autopilot engaged, accelerated into a barrier alongside the highway 101. Faded lane markings and the barrier  or crash attenuator  positioning also may have contributed to the collision, the NTSB said in 2020.

Huangs bereaved family sued Tesla for wrongful death and their claims focused in part on alleged safety and design defects in the companys driver assistance systems. The case was Sz Huang et al v. Tesla Inc. et al in a California Superior Court in Santa Clara County.

Huang attorneys, in court filings, also pointed to social media and marketing messages from Tesla, its CEO Elon Musk and others, suggesting that Autopilot made Tesla vehicles safe to drive without needing to stay attentive to the road at all times or without needing to keep hands on the vehicles steering wheel.

In internal Tesla e-mails referenced in court filings, Tesla execs and engineers discussed how they had become complacent while driving their Tesla vehicles with Autopilot or related premium features switched on. They described reading emails and checking their phones while driving with these systems engaged.

A civil jury trial was slated to begin this week in a San Jose, California courthouse just before Tesla settled.

Tesla attorneys had argued that Huang was an inattentive driver, who ostensibly knew better but was playing mobile games on his phone at the time of the crash.

The company has filed to seal from public view the amount listed in the settlement agreement.

The fatal crash and filings in this suit had already thrown Teslas culture, its attitudes about safety and the quality of its driver assistance systems into question for many prospective shareholders and customers.

If a jury had found Tesla liable (in part or whole) for Huangs death, this trial would have also set a precedent in product liability suits that the EV maker is now facing pervasively, making it easier for other plaintiffs to sue or win over related issues.

In May 2022, Musk declared in a post on social media: We will never seek victory in a just case against us, even if we will probably win, adding that, We will never surrender/settle an unjust case against us, even if we will probably lose.

Tesla lead attorneys with Bowman and Brooke LLP were not immediately available to comment on Monday.

In a filing asking the court to seal the settlement terms, Teslas attorneys wrote that the company had, entered into a settlement agreement with Plaintiffs to end years of litigation. They said they wanted the exact dollar amount of the settlement sealed because, other potential claimants (or the plaintiffs bar) may perceive the settlement amount as evidence of Teslas potential liability for losses, which may have a chilling effect on settlement opportunity in subsequent cases.

Attorneys for the Huang family, at the law firms Minami Tamaki and Walkup Melodia, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Attorneys for the Florida woman accused of hiring a hitman to "ambush" her Microsoft executive ex are making a bid to remove the prosecutors from the high-profile case.

Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, 37, and her husband, Mario Fernandez-Saldana, 35, have been charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony, and child abuse, in connection with the February 2022 slaying of Gardner-Fernandez's ex-husband, Jared Bridegan, a Microsoft senior design manager, according to court records.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty after Gardner-Fernandez and Fernandez-Saldana allegedly hired 62-year-old hitman Henry Tenon, to shoot and kill Bridegan in front of his then-2-year-old during their drive home after dropping off the twins he shared with his ex-wife.

Bridegan got out of his car to remove a tire from a Jacksonville, Florida, roadway, when he was shot to death, according to police.

Tenon pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and agreed to testify against the couple.

In March, the defense teams for both Gardner-Fernandez and Fernandez-Saldana filed a motion to have the State Attorney's Office Fourth Judicial Circuit removed from their cases, citing a mishandling of attorney-client privileged communications, WTLV-TV reported.

Both sides are arguing over who should make the decision over the fate of the State Attorney's Office.

The state wants Special Master Judge Robert Foster to decide, while the defense is demanding Judge London Kite make the ruling. Subsequently, Kite ruled she'll make the determination over whether or not the current prosecutors will stay on the case, according to the outlet.

Hearings for the motion are set for April 19 and May 3.
Nobody believed William Woods.

They didn't believe someone had used his Social Security number to run up hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. They didn't believe the Social Security card he himself carried was real.

Above all, no one believed he really was William Woods.

He was arrested for unauthorized use of personal information and spent nearly two years locked up awaiting trial, including more than 100 days in a psychiatric hospital. Woods eventually pleaded no contest in a Los Angeles court to identity theft and false impersonation in exchange for a time-served sentence and immediate release from custody.

Woods had never pretended to be anyone but himself. The problem, it turned out, was that someone had spent decades pretending to be Woods.

Matthew David Keirans worked for years at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa  all under someone else's name. (Johnson County Jail)

Last week, the culprit  Matthew David Keirans  pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a National Credit Union Administration insured institution and aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Iowa.

The 58-year-old faces up to 32 years in prison.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department, which arrested Woods back in 2019, said the department is aware of the case and is "actively investigating."

Venusse Dunn, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney, said the office has filed a motion to vacate Woods' conviction. The hearing is scheduled for April 11.

In a recent interview with The Times, Woods said he's considering filing a lawsuit against the city of L.A. for the years he spent behind bars, accused of a crime he did not commit.

"They should pay for every day I had to stay there," the 55-year-old said. "It isnt right to be putting me in jail for nothing."

A stolen identity

The scam began four decades ago at a hot dog cart in Albuquerque, N.M.

Woods had been working there for years, he said, when Keirans was hired in 1988. The men didn't interact until Woods' wallet went missing. When Woods questioned Keirans about the theft, he said, the other man didn't respond.

"I put my fist in his face, and he decided to hand me back my wallet," said Woods, although he didn't hit Keirans.

Woods said he looked inside the wallet and his Social Security card and birth certificate were still inside.

"I didn't think anything of it," Woods said. "I didn't think he was actually going to do anything."

But, after 1988, there was no record of Keirans ever using his own name, date of birth or Social Security number, according to his plea agreement.

Instead, Keirans obtained employment, insurance, a Social Security number, driver's licenses, titles, loans and credit using Woods' identity. He even paid taxes under his former coworker's name.

In December 1990, Keirans got a Colorado ID card as Woods. Then he got a job at a fast food restaurant and opened a new bank account, all using the stolen identity.

The following September, Keirans, posing as Woods, bought a car for $600 using checks that later bounced, according to the agreement. As a result, an arrest warrant was issued for Woods.

Keirans' fiction extended to his personal life. He married in 1994. The couple had a child in Oregon who bore Woods' last name. To keep his charade going, Keirans in 2012 obtained Woods' certified birth certificate from Kentucky, using information from Ancestry.com, according to prosecutors.

In this Feb. 13, 2014, file photo, a bus sits in front of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa. (Ryan J. Foley / Associated Press)

He later got a job  as Woods  working as a systems architect at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Keirans provided the hospital with fake identification documents, including a fictitious I-9 form, Social Security number and date of birth, according to the plea agreement.

Keirans worked remotely from his home in Wisconsin and earned at least $700,000 from the hospital over a 10-year period. Between 2016 and 2022, he obtained vehicle and personal loans from credit unions under Woods' name, totaling more than $200,000.

The real William Woods

As the fake Woods seemed to thrive, the real one struggled.

After leaving New Mexico, Woods said he worked as a day laborer in El Paso then got a job at a laundromat in Las Vegas. Eventually, he moved to Southern California.

He spent several years in San Diego, where he said he worked a tech job, before moving to Santa Monica in 2009. He stayed in hotels and motels around the area and said he sold gem stones, gold scraps or other items he found on the streets of downtown L.A.'s jewelry district.

On Aug. 20, 2019, Woods, whom prosecutors described as homeless, went to an L.A. branch of a national bank and told the assistant branch manager that he'd recently discovered someone was using his credit and had accumulated a large amount of debt, according to Keirans' plea agreement. Woods requested his account numbers so he could close them.

Woods gave the assistant branch manager his Social Security card and his California ID. His name and Social Security number matched those associated with bank accounts Keirans had opened. Because of the large amounts of money in the accounts, the bank employee asked Woods a series of security questions, which he was unable to answer correctly, according to court records.

The bank employee then called the number tied to the bank accounts. Keirans answered. He told her no one in California should have access to his bank account. He correctly answered the security questions. The assistant branch manager called the police.

LAPD officers spoke with Keirans on the phone, and he later faxed them a copy of a Social Security card, a Wisconsin driver's license and the Kentucky birth certificate. The officers arrested Woods for unauthorized use of personal information.

On Oct. 31, the district attorney's office charged Woods with two felonies, in the name of "Matthew Kierans"  misspelling the real identity thief's last name. That day in court, according to court reporter transcripts obtained by The Times, Woods told the judge, "I'm not Matthew Keirans at all." It is unclear how Woods was linked to the identity thief's name.

The prosecutor's office said the case had been filed under a previous administration based on police reports as well as body-worn camera video. As to why Woods was booked under the name "Kierans," a spokesperson for the office said that was "unclear"; the LAPD did not specify how that came to happen.

Two months later, Woods again told the court, "No, I'm not Keirans at all." He asked for another attorney. He said he wanted an investigator. He didn't make sense at times, saying the investigator was in Mexico and that he received a password, according to the transcript.

"I'm sorry. Stop. You've got to stop," the judge told Woods, before pulling the lawyers aside.

"Your Honor, based on my conversations with my client, and at this time, I do not believe that he is competent, and I'm declaring a doubt," Susana Juarez, Deputy Alternate Public Defender, said soon after.

The judge suspended criminal proceedings and said a psychiatrist would be appointed.

"I want to talk to the FBI," Woods said.

"You can give them a call," the judge replied.

"I want some agents to come down here," Woods said.

In February 2020, the judge found Woods was not mentally competent to stand trial and ordered him to a psychiatric hospital. It was also ordered that he receive psychotropic medication.

A little more than eight months later, after numerous delays because of bedspace and COVID-19 issues, Woods was transported to Patton State Hospital, according to a minute order from the court.

"People didnt listen, and they didnt know I was who I said I was, Woods said. "They were painting it like I was crazy."

Throughout that time, according to the plea agreement, Keirans kept writing to L.A. authorities, requesting updates on the case.

In March 2020, he wrote the assistant district attorney and asked whether the process was moving forward and if there would be court hearings every two months to determine competence. The assistant district attorney confirmed that to be the case "until he regains competency."

"This is assuming he does," Keirans responded, according to the plea agreement.

Woods was convicted of felony charges in March 2021. He pleaded "no contest" and was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in the county jail, although the court credited him for the 428 days he spent in jail and the 147 days he spent in the hospital.

He was ordered to stop using the name William Woods.

Woods said he pleaded out so the case against him would be dismissed.

"At first I kept saying, 'I'm not guilty,' but they wouldnt believe that, Woods said. "They wouldnt believe it."

A DNA test

After his release, Woods was determined to get back his identity.

In August 2021, he contacted the local police department in Wisconsin and reported that Keirans had stolen his identity, according to the plea agreement. That same month, Keirans filed a complaint falsely claiming that Woods had stolen his identity.

Woods then filed customer disputes in an attempt to clear his credit report, according to the agreement. Keirans filed a second identity theft complaint with the local police and later submitted a notarized statement in support of his claim.

In January 2023, Woods learned where Keirans worked and contacted the Iowa City hospital's security department. They referred his complaint to the University of Iowa Police Department.

Detective Ian Mallory obtained DNA from Woods and his father, listed on the Kentucky birth certificate. The test proved that Woods was his father's son.

When Mallory interviewed Keirans, he told Mallory that Woods was "crazy" and "needed help and should be locked up." Mallory asked Keirans for his father's name and Keirans mistakenly gave the first name of his own adoptive father, according to the plea agreement.

Mallory then confronted Keirans with the DNA evidence. Keirans responded by saying, "my life is over," and "everything is gone."

Keirans pleaded guilty April 1 in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. The case was first reported in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

In a letter written to the court on Keirans' behalf, his son identified himself as the "son of Matthew Keirans, formerly known as William Woods  in either case, known to me as Dad."

Starting over

In a rambling phone interview, Woods floated theories about what happened to him and why  most of which The Times could not confirm.

Woods spoke of corrupt cops and politicians across the country. He insisted that LAPD officers had known he was the real Woods and conspired with the banker to put me in jail on purpose.

When asked about Woods' claims, an LAPD spokeswoman cited the investigation and said "additional information regarding this case is not currently available."

Eric Kilmer, who had employed Woods at his hot dog cart business starting in the 1980s, described him as "the most innocent type fellow youll ever want to meet." He added that people would take advantage of Woods.

At times, he said, Woods has rambled off names, some of people Kilmer knows and others he doesn't.

"I think that since people were taking advantage of him over time, all these names stick in his head," Kilmer told The Times. "He's just trying to tie it all together in his own mind, I think."

Last year, Woods moved back to Albuquerque, where he lived in a hotel. He's currently staying in a friend's van in El Paso.

Woods said he doesn't know yet what he'll be doing for work.

"What's next for me?" he asked. "I guess I have to regain all my stuff back and just rebuild what I was."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A New York state appeals judge on Tuesday denied Donald Trump's bid to delay his April 15 trial on criminal charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star while the former U.S. president appeals a gag order in the case.

Associate Justice Cynthia Kern issued the order following a Tuesday morning hearing at a mid-level appeals court. A full panel of appeals judges will later consider Trump's underlying challenge to the gag order.

The Republican presidential candidate's lawyers said at the hearing that Justice Juan Merchan's order restricting his public comments should be modified to let him respond to public criticism leveled by potential witnesses in the case.

"The First Amendment harms arising from this gag order right now are irreparable," Trump's attorney Emil Bove said during the hearing.

Merchan imposed the order last month barring him from verbal attacks on potential witnesses, court staff and individual prosecutors after finding Trump made statements in various legal cases that the judge called "threatening, inflammatory" and "denigrating."

The judge expanded the order to cover his relatives and those of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg after Trump disparaged Merchans daughter online.

The order does not restrict Trumps speech about Merchan or Bragg.

Steven Wu, a lawyer with Bragg's office, said at the Appellate Division hearing that the trial should not be delayed since Trump's lawyers could have made the appeal earlier.

He also said his office had to increase security due to Trump's statements, and that potential witnesses were reluctant to testify because of Trump's comments.

"They know what their names in the press may lead to," Wu said. "This is a pattern of misconduct that causes predictable, terrifying consequences."

Trump is accused of covering up his former lawyer Michael Cohen's $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence before the 2016 presidential election about a sexual encounter she said she had with Trump a decade earlier.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and denied any such encounter with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

Trump lost on Monday a last-ditch bid to delay the trial while he tries to move the case out of heavily Democratic Manhattan. His lawyers said a survey of Manhattan residents they conducted showed that 61% of respondents thought Trump was guilty and 70% had a negative opinion of him.

The hush money case is one of four criminal indictments Trump faces as he prepares to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in their Nov. 5 U.S. election rematch.

The others stem from his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden and his handling of sensitive government documents after leaving the presidency in 2021. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
By Simon Lewis and Gram Slattery

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Donald Trump and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron had dinner on Monday at the Republican presidential candidate's Florida home where they discussed the Ukraine war and "the need for NATO countries to meet their defense spending requirements," Trump's campaign said on Tuesday.

The meeting kicked off a visit by Cameron to the U.S. during which he met Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on Tuesday and afterward will press lawmakers in Congress to pass an aid package for Ukraine.

Over dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, the two men discussed "the upcoming U.S. and UK elections, policy matters specific to Brexit, the need for NATO countries to meet their defense spending requirements, and ending the killing in Ukraine," Trump's campaign said in a statement.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Blinken in Washington, Cameron said the dinner was in line with past precedent of government ministers meeting with opposition politicians but declined to say what specifically they discussed.

"(We) discussed a range of important geopolitical subjects," Cameron said.

Trump has frequently taken aim at the failure of many of NATO's 32 members to meet a defense spending target of at least 2% of gross domestic product. This has raised concern in Europe about the trans-Atlantic military alliance's future if Trump beats incumbent President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in a November election.

In February, Trump sparked fierce criticism from Western officials for suggesting he would not protect countries that fail to meet the alliance's defense spending targets, and would even encourage Russia to attack them. The U.S. military forms the core of the alliance's military power.

European leaders have been reaching out to U.S. lawmakers, business leaders and think tanks as part of efforts to influence the Trump camp about defense spending, Europe's role in U.S.-China relations, and aid to Ukraine.

A British Foreign Office spokesperson said on Monday that Cameron was meeting with Trump as part of "routine international engagement," describing it as "standard practise for ministers to meet with opposition candidates".

A British embassy spokesperson said Cameron would not be meeting Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson due to scheduling issues. Last week, Cameron said he would urge Johnson to pass a $60 billion package of military aid for Ukraine, which has been held up for months.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis and Gram Slattery; writing by Ismail Shakil; editing by Rami Ayyub and Mark Heinrich)
A New York children's physician is dead after falling out of an Airstream trailer on Saturday during a family road trip, officials said.

Dr. Monika Woroniecka, 58, fell out of the moving trailer on State Route 12E in the town of Brownville in upstate New York, state police said in a release.

Witnesses who were driving directly behind the trailer told state troopers they saw the passenger side door of the Airstream blown open by wind, then Woroniecka's arm hanging on the door, the release said.

She was then thrown from the Airstream and hit her head on the side of the road, witnesses told New York State Police. An ambulance transported Woroniecka to Samaritan Medical Center in nearby Watertown, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Monika I. Woroniecka fell out of a moving trailer on April 6, 2024, in Brownville, N.Y. (New York State Police)

Other family members were in the trailer with Woroniecka at the time she fell out, although police did not specify which family members. They were traveling from Stony Brook on Long Island.

The trailer was being pulled by a vehicle driven by her husband, Robert P. Woroniecki. The family was on the last 20 minutes of their trip, police said.

Woroniecki was a pediatrician at Stony Brook Childrens Hospital, which told NBC News in a statement on Monday it was "deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss of one of our esteemed colleagues over the weekend."

"Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues affected by this heartbreaking event," the hospital said.

The Polish-born doctor treated children for a number of conditions, including food and environmental allergies, asthma, hives and eczema, according to her profile with Stony Brook Medicine.

Woroniecka specialized in allergy immunology since the early 2000s, and was known for cultivating long-term relationships with the families under her care.
The spectacle of the most recent total solar eclipse has come and gone.

On April 8, millions gazed skyward to watch the moon slip between the Earth and the sun and cast a wash of darkness during the daytime. It put on display the spectacular nature of the universe, which exists far beyond us yet close enough to enjoy its rare and often fleeting phenomenal events.

For those who didn't get to see the eclipse, fret not, as there are more to come. According to NASA, there are various solar and lunar eclipses to look forward to this year and beyond.

Read on to mark the events in your calendar.

Solar Eclipses

2024

Oct. 2, 2024  Annular solar eclipse

The next big eclipse will come this fall and will be an annular solar eclipse with visibility in South America. In South America, Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and North America, the eclipse can also be viewed as a partial eclipse.

An annular solar eclipse means the moon is farther away from Earth, and appears smaller than the sun, not completely covering it.

2025

March 29, 2025  Partial solar eclipse

Countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean will be able to see this partial eclipse.

Sept. 21, 2025  Partial solar eclipse

Later that same year, Australia, Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean will be treated to a partial eclipse.

2026

Feb. 17, 2026  Annular solar eclipse

Antarctica will be able to see the annular solar eclipse, while a partial eclipse will be visible across Antarctica, Africa, South America, and vast regions of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans

Aug. 12, 2026  Total solar eclipse

Come August 2026, parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small area of Portugal will be in the path of a total solar eclipse, and a partial eclipse will be visible in Europe, Africa, North America, the Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Pacific Ocean.

According to NASA, the date listed for each eclipse coincides with the local date of where the eclipse is set to occur.

Lunar Eclipses

2024

Sept. 18, 2024  Partial eclipse

This partial lunar eclipse will be visible in Americas, Europe, and Africa.

2025

March 14, 2025  Total eclipse

This total lunar eclipse will be seen from the Pacific, Americas, Western Europe, and parts of Western Africa.

When is the next total solar eclipse in the US?

The next total solar eclipse that will be visible to the continental U.S. won't be until Aug. 23, 2044, according to The Planetary Society. That eclipses path will begin in Greenland, sweep through Canada, and end as the sun sets in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. During that eclipse, the path of totality will only touch those three states.

Almost exactly one year later, however, there will be another total solar eclipse that will span coast to coast. On Aug. 12, 2045, the path of totality will include California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, with a partial eclipse visible across other states.

However, a total solar eclipse expected March 30, 2033, will be visible in parts of Alaska. Nome and Utqiagvik, specifically, will be along the path of totality and will see the eclipse in the morning hours.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Archaeologist Margaret Howard digging out a bison bone in Caprock Canyons State Park in 1996 before it opened. Howard helped pioneer the concept of surveying parklands for relics and remains before roads and buildings are designed or constructed, thus protecting artifacts but also saving money.

The 89 Texas State Parks encompass more than 640,000 acres of land, and are visited by some 10 million people a year.

They range in size from the Old Tunnel State Park in Kendall County, covering 16.1 acres, to Big Bend Ranch State Park in Presidio and Brewster counties, at more than 300,000 acres.

Humans have lived in Texas for some 20,000 years, according to evidence found at the Gault Site, on the border of Williamson and Bell counties. It's safe to say they left plenty of evidence of their time on Earth. And it logically follows that during those 20 millennia, some of their artifacts came to rest in what would become Texas state parkland.

How, if you work for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, do you efficiently and effectively protect and preserve those artifacts and archaeological sites during park planning?

Margaret Howard, an archaeologist who was honored with a lifetime achievement award last week by the Texas Historical Commission, figured out, along with colleagues such as Cindy Brandimarte and Aina Dodge, how to ensure that parkland is surveyed for relics before new park structures are designed and built.

More: Texas history: We turn the clock back 20,000 years at the Gault Site in Central Texas

This strategy results in fewer prehistorical surprises once the locations for structures are selected, and it saves money. Designers and builders can judiciously avoid disturbing sensitive zones identified during initial surveys.

During her 23 years with Texas Parks & Wildlife, Howard supervised surveys of more than 29,000 acres of parkland  an area the size of Manhattan!  along with 674 sites of proven interest.

"Texas consists primarily of private land, where protection of archaeological sites is not guaranteed," Howard says. "The state park system serves as a 'bank' of cultural resources that can be preserved into the future, when scientific advances will reveal considerably more information than can be obtained today."

Texas parks on the rise

Howard and her collaborators' timing was fortuitous. The system's biggest park, Big Bend Ranch, for instance, was purchased in 1988. Limited use was allowed by 1991, but the gates were not thrown open to the public until 2007.

Plenty of time to survey the land.

Or part of it. Because of the new park's vast size, Howard's team stuck to areas around trails and roads, which would have been used by Native Americans, settlers and ranchers.

More: Want to see 2 million years of life? Visit the Lubbock Lake Landmark dig

Caprock Canyons State Park, with its reintroduced herd of bison in Briscoe County, extends over more than 15,300 acres. The state purchased the land in the mid-1970s, but the park did not open to the public until 1982, giving archaeologists time to make a preliminary survey.

Howard was part of similar surveys at iconic parks such as Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area in Edwards County, Devils River State Natural Area in Val Verde County, and Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site in El Paso County. The latter two contain excellent samples of ancient rock paintings.

Howard retired in 2017, leaving the field open for other parks archaeologists. Timing was on their side, too, since two political movements soon afterward aided both the operation of the historically underfunded Texas parks system and the acquisition of new parkland for the state's growing population.

In the years since Howard's retirement, George Bristol, onetime National Parks Foundation Board member, helped push through the 2019 state constitutional amendment that permanently set aside the sales tax on sporting goods to fund the maintenance and operation of state parks and historic sites. Previously, legislators had often grabbed that money to fund other projects or help balance the state budget.

He and his allies did not stop there. In 2023, Texas voters approved Proposition 14, which set aside more than $1 billion for the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund. Interest earned from that invested money can be used to purchase new parkland, a windfall unheard of in the system's history.

Texas Parks and Wildlife archaeologist Margaret Howard and rock art expert Carolyn Boyd from Texas State University talk with National Park Service employees about cultural resources at Devils River State Natural Area, which they jointly manage.

Prioritizing the cultural resources of Texas parks

Last week, Howard received the Curtis D. Tunnell Lifetime Achievement in Archeology Award at the Real Places 2024 conference in Austin and online. It was presented by the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission, the state agency's nonprofit partner. The award is named after legendary preservationist, oral historian, archaeologist and folklorist Curtis Tunnell, who passed away in Austin at the age of 67 in 2001.

Howard got her true start in archaeology in undergraduate school in Minneapolis and then in 1980 while in graduate school at the University of Texas. She worked in the field for 37 years, 23 of them as head of the Texas Parks & Wildlife survey team. She published more than 30 archaeological reports on the prehistory of the state.

More: Unprecedented history unearthed at freed slaves Travis County farm

"During her entire career, Margaret was committed to exhausting all possibilities for research and  literally  left no stone unturned in her efforts to tell the stories of human occupation in Texas," reads Howard's award nomination. "Every archaeologist has a passion for understanding the past. Margaret took that passion and combined it with her extraordinary attention to detail and her unfaltering commitment to 'get it right.'"

While in grad school, Howard worked as a lab assistant at Prewitt & Associates, which collects data on antiquity. She worked her way up to principal investigator and led data-recovery excavations on projects across the state, most notably at the Wind Canyon Site in the Eagle Mountains of Hudspeth County.

"Some of my early Texas work was in the Houston area," Howard says. "The mugginess and the mosquitoes get to you. I was so relieved to begin work in other parts of Texas, particularly West Texas, where it's dry and archaeological sites are well preserved."

In 1994, Howard met with Brandimarte, at the time the director of the cultural resources program at Parks & Wildlife, to discuss a new initiative for state parks: An in-house team of survey archaeologists. They developed a proposal to conduct surveys that would guide development decisions in the parks system.

Once the proposal was approved, Howard was named head of the survey team.

Texas archaeologist Margaret Howard (pink jacket) with a team surveying the Devil's Sinkhole in 1995.

"Every day, the important data gathered under Margarets leadership provided parks managers with the tools they need to avoid cultural resources during project planning," the nomination reads. "Just as importantly, park interpreters rely on the information to provide the public with a fuller understanding of the prehistory and history of Texas State Parks."

Snug in a desert basin between the Hueco Mountains and the Franklin Mountains, Hueco Tanks produced all sorts of evidence about early hunter-gatherers and the later agricultural Jornada Mogollon people.

More: How an archaeological dig helped a North Texas man learn about his great-great-grandfather

"Margarets thoroughness and thoughtful attention to detail in 10,000 Years at Hueco Tanks is the foundation for anyone researching the archeology of Hueco Tanks and the surrounding region," the nominations reads. "It was an invaluable resource during the preparation of the National Historic Landmark nomination for Hueco Tanks and contributed greatly to the successful designation of the site in 2021."

"The archaeological sites in Texas state parks contain many important stories about how people survived and thrived across the diverse environments of our state," Howard says. "Our job was to find those stories, which still speak to people today. When visitors appreciate the deep histories of parks, they are less likely to disturb the places where those stories are preserved."

After she retired, Howard settled in San Diego, California, but retained her house in Austin, where she keeps up with a wide network of friends and contacts while in town.

"When people think about the diligence of archaeologists, researching year in and year out, looking for answers to their questions, all while pursuing new avenues of learning, they are thinking about Margaret Howard," the nomination reads. "Her dedication to understanding our past through archaeological research is unparalleled. She tested and re-tested her theories until she was 100% confident that her conclusions were supported by the data.

"Margaret is a passionate archeologist who is devoted not only to the science, but also to sharing that passion with others."

Michael Barnes writes about the people, places, culture and history of Austin and Texas. He can be reached at mbarnes@gannett.com. Sign up for the free weekly digital newsletter, Think, Texas, at statesman.com/newsletters, or at the newsletter page of your local USA Today Network paper.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Margaret Howard pushed ways to preserve the past in Texas State Parks
Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $600 million in a class-action lawsuit settlement for a fiery February 2023 train derailment in Ohio, but residents worry the money not only wont go far enough to cover future health needs that could be tremendous but also won't amount to much once divvied up.

Its not nowhere near my needs, let alone what the health effects are going to be five or 10 years down the road, said Eric Cozza, who lived just three blocks from the derailment and had 47 family members living within a mile (1.61 kilometers).

More than three dozen of the freight train's 149 cars derailed on the outskirts of East Palestine, a town of almost 5,000 residents near the Pennsylvania state line. Several cars spilled a cocktail of hazardous materials that caught fire. Three days later, officials, fearing an explosion, blew open five cars filled with vinyl chloride and burned the toxic chemical  sending thick, black plumes of smoke into the air. Some 1,500 to 2,000 residents were evacuated.

Norfolk Southern said the agreement, if approved by the court, will resolve all class action claims within a 20-mile (32-kilometer) radius of the derailment and, for residents who choose to participate, personal injury claims within a 10-mile (16-kilometer) radius of the derailment.

A 20-mile (32-kilometer) radius around the derailment would include not only East Palestine and the people who had to evacuate but also larger towns like East Liverpool and Columbiana, Ohio, and possibly at least part of Youngstown.

The settlement, which doesnt include or constitute any admission of liability, wrongdoing or fault, represents only a small slice of the $3 billion in revenue Norfolk Southern generated just in the first three months of this year.

East Palestine resident Krissy Ferguson called the settlement a heart-wrenching day.

I just feel like weve been victimized over and over and over again, she said. We fought and were still fighting. And contamination is still flowing down the creeks. People are still sick. And I think people that had the power to fight took an easy way out.

The company said Tuesday that individuals and businesses will be able to use compensation from the settlement in any manner they see fit, including for health care needs, property restoration and compensation for any net business loss. Individuals within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of the derailment may choose to pursue additional compensation.

The settlement is expected to be submitted for preliminary approval to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio this month. Payments could begin to arrive by the end of the year, subject to final court approval.

Norfolk Southern has already spent more than $1.1 billion on its response to the derailment, including more than $104 million in direct aid to East Palestine and its residents. Partly because Norfolk Southern is paying for the cleanup, President Joe Biden has never declared a disaster in the town, which remains a sore point for many.

The railroad has promised to create a fund to help pay for the long-term health needs of the community, but that hasnt been finalized yet.

The plaintiffs' attorneys said the deal follows a year of intense investigation and should provide meaningful relief to residents.

Still, East Palestine residents like Misti Allison have many unanswered questions.

What goes through my head is, after all the lawyers are paid and the legal fees are accounted for, how much funding will be provided for families? And is that going to be enough for any of these potential damages moving forward? she said.

Jami Wallace, too, worries about having a settlement without knowing the long-term impact of the derailment.

I would really like to see the numbers because in my opinion, taking a plea deal only is in the best interest of the attorneys, she said. Theyre all going to get their money. But were the residents that are still going to be left to suffer.

Consider that Cozza said he spent about $8,000 to move out of town and that along with medical bills from tests and the cost of replacing all his contaminated belongings exhausted what little savings he had. And he can't put a price on the 10-year relationship he lost or the way his extended family was scattered after the derailment.

The CEO of one of the biggest employers in town, Threshold Residential, estimates that his business has lost well over than $100,000.

Last week federal officials said that the aftermath of the train derailment doesnt qualify as a public health emergency because widespread health problems and ongoing chemical exposure havent been documented.

The Environmental Protection Agency never approved the designation despite the forced evacuation of half the town, and the fears about the long-term health consequences of the derailment.

The head of the National Transportation Safety Board said recently that her agencys investigation showed that the venting and burning of the vinyl chloride was unnecessary because the producer of the chemical was sure no dangerous reaction occurred inside the tank cars. Officials who made the decision  Ohios governor and the local fire chief leading the response  have said they were never told that.

The NTSBs full investigation into the cause of the derailment wont be complete until June, but the agency has said that an overheating wheel bearing on one of the railcars, which wasnt detected in time by a trackside sensor, likely caused the crash.

The EPA has said cleanup in East Palestine is expected to be completed this year.

The railroad announced preliminary first-quarter earnings of 23 cents per share Tuesday, which reflects the cost of the $600 million settlement. Without the settlement, the railroad said it would have made $2.39 per share.

Railroad CEO Alan Shaw, who is fighting for his job against an activist investor aiming to overhaul the railroad's operations, said Norfolk Southern is becoming a more productive and efficient railroad but acknowledged there is more work to do.

Ancora Holdings is trying to persuade investors to support its nominees for Norfolk Southern's board and its plan to replace Shaw and the rest of the management team at the railroad's May 9 annual meeting. Ancora says the company's profits have lagged behind the other major freight railroads for years and the investors question Shaw's leadership.

The railroad said Tuesday that even though volume was up 4% during the first quarter, company revenue fell by 4% because of lower fuel surcharge revenue and changes in the mix of shipments it handled.

Shares of Norfolk Southern Corp., based in Atlanta, were essentially flat throughout the morning but have jumped 23% over the past year with most of that increase coming after news of Ancora's campaign to overhaul the railroad broke.

___

Associated Press writer Brooke Schultz contributed to this report from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
When you think Caribbean, you think beaches. When you think Trinidad, though not so much. This is the land of soca and Carnival, a booming oil sector and Nicki Minaj. Beaches? You travel elsewhere in the Caribbean for that.

But should you?

Trinidads beaches are, in actuality, as stunning as any stretches of sand and sea found anywhere throughout the Caribbean. Whats more, each of Trinidads 50+ beaches has its own special character, ensuring theres one to suit almost every type of beachgoer.

Here are some of the best:

Mayaro Beach

If youre looking for a picture-perfect place to meet or exceed your daily quota of 10,000 steps, then Mayaro Beach is perfect for you. Trinidads longest beach, Mayaro stretches nine miles along the islands southeastern coast.

Strong surf here limits swimming to the most experienced few. Other thrill-seekers test the wind and waves kiteboarding. For the rest of us, though, walking here along unspoiled silver-gray sands far from more popular beaches to the north more than satisfies.

Manzanilla Beach

Manzanilla is another great walking beach. - Mark Meredith/Moment RF/Getty Images

Just north of Mayaro, though not much better-known, Manzanilla Beach is also great for walking. Miles of towering coconut palms line the shore here, creating an atmosphere straight out of a traditional deserted beach fantasy.

The main attraction here: beachcombing for seashells. Thick clusters of them lay in piles along the Manzanilla sand.

Grand Riviere Beach

Grande Riviere is Trinidads prime sea turtle nesting beach. - Michael Dwyer/Alamy

Unlike the long stretches of sand that line her eastern shores, Trinidads north coast beaches lie nestled in small, concentrated bays. These idyllic half-moon coves carved from the jagged, hilly coastline are the epitome of unspoiled romantic beach havens.

Grand Riviere stands out among them as Trinidads prime sea turtle nesting beach. Its not uncommon to find hundreds of Leatherback turtles nesting along Grand Rivieres scant one kilometer of sand on a given night in-season (between March and August).

Note: A permit from the Trinidad Forestry Division is required to view Leatherback turtle nesting.

Maracas Bay Beach

Maracas Bay is known for its food kiosks. - Alamy

As Grand Riviere is to nature lovers, so is Maracas Bay Beach to foodies. Another one of Trinidads fairytale north shore smiling crescent coves, Maracas is easily the most popular and best-known beach on the island.

Maracas fame is rooted, in part, to its popularity among US servicemen stationed in Trinidad during World War II. The GIs found Maracas Bay to be so beautiful that they commissioned the construction of what was for many years the best road in Trinidad expressly so they could access and enjoy the beach more easily.

In later years, though, Maracas fame grew even more thanks to the uniquely Trinidadian culinary treat that is bake and shark.

A bake and shark (its also sometimes called shark and bake) is a sandwich. A shark meat sandwich. The shark (usually blacktip) is deep-fried. Trinidadian bakes, fluffy fried flour-dough treats similar to Johnny cakes, are used in place of bread. The combination yields one of the most beloved tastes of Trinidad.

Legend has it that the bake and shark was first crafted, served and enjoyed at Maracas Bay Beach. Today, a collection of lunch kiosks set back from the beach in the sand offer their own individual take on the Trini classic, plus an array of other local and international eats and treats.

In more recent times, concerns over the sustainability of using black tip sharks has led to campaigns urging people to think twice about eating them.

Las Cuevas Beach

Las Cuevas is the largest beach on Trinidad's north coast. - John de la Bastide/Alamy

One bay east of Maracas (about a 1015-minute drive), Las Cuevas Beach is ideally situated for those wishing to double their beach pleasure by combining visits to both in one trip. After limin (hanging out) a bit amid the Maracas party scene/crowds, head over the hill to Las Cuevas.

Everything here is more peaceful than at Maracas, including the sea and surf. This makes Las Cuevas arguably the best beach for swimming in Trinidad. At 2.2 kilometers long, Las Cuevas is also the largest beach on Trinidads north coast, which yields more room to carve out your own private and secluded beach fun.

Down D Islands

Monos Island is among the smaller islands off the coast of Trinidad. - Martino Motti/Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Less known than its beaches are Trinidads satellite islands and islets. Indeed, the country of Trinidad and Tobago is comprised of more than just its two main land masses. Down D Islands, or DDI for short, makes it easy for visitors to island-hop around offshore parts of Trinidad that most Trinidadians dont even know.

DDI boat excursions are offered by a number of different tour companies, many operating out of Chaguaramas on Trinidads west coast near the capital city, Port-of-Spain.

One of the most popular day trips takes visitors to Gaspar Grande. Once there, guests enjoy a low-impact hike to a cave. Well-lit stairs trail down to an underground pond known as the Blue Grotto.

Less adventurous travelers, however, can skip all that and simply opt to frolic around swimming in the unspoiled, secluded bays of Trinidads uninhabited tiny sister islets. A truly unique travel experience in a most unexpected place.

Trinidad beaches things to know

Toco Beach - one of many in Trinidad that are staffed by lifeguards during the day. - Altinosmanaj/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Trinidads 260 miles of coastline offers more than 50 beaches. As elsewhere across the Caribbean, all beaches in are public.

Unlike elsewhere across a lot of the Caribbean, the most popular beaches in Trinidad are manned by lifeguards. Among the highlighted beaches, Mayaro, Manzanilla, Maracas, and Las Cuevas all have lifeguards. Additional Trinidad beaches where youll find lifeguards on duty include Los Iros, Toco, Salybia, Vessigny and Quinam. Trinidad lifeguard services are provided between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. every day, including weekends and holidays.

Food and drink concessions, beach bars, restrooms, and other facilities are present at many of Trinidads most popular beaches. This is especially true at Maracas Bay Beach, of course, where even the Wi-Fi is pretty good up to the shoreline.

The type of megaresorts found hogging up the choicest stretches of sand in other parts of the Caribbean, though, do not exist in Trinidad. What few accommodations that do exist are usually of the small and cozy guesthouse, villa, or Airbnb variety. As such, beach experiences here are more authentic to the natural vibe of the island and its true culture than you might find in other more tourist-focused destinations.

Its the real West Indies, as great as its always been.

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House Republicans are voicing concerns over Tennessee Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds' qualifications to continue leading the state agency. One is calling her perceived lack of credentials "a slap in the face" to teachers, and calling for her resignation following a report by The Tennessean that Reynolds repeatedly signed forms misrepresenting her tenure with the state to obtain a taxpayer-funded tuition waiver.

Tennessee Commissioner of Education Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds interviews with the Tennessean at Tennessee Department of Education in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.

Records obtained by The Tennessean show that twice within her first six months of employment with the state, Reynolds certified under penalty of perjury that she had worked for the state for six months or more, while seeking to waive tuition for classes at the University of Tennessee at Martin in pursuit of a teaching credential  something state law requires education commissioners to hold. State employees are only eligible for free tuition after they have been working at least six months.

After inquiries from The Tennessean last week, the Tennessee Department of Education said the tuition was paid as the result of "an administrative error," and Reynolds has recently repaid tuition funds. The department has pointed to a recent state law and flexibility around teacher shortages as evidence Reynolds is qualified for the position.

But at least one Republican lawmaker is questioning whether Reynolds should continue to lead the department  and one is calling for her resignation.

She committed a crime. Im not a lawyer  by no means  but I think it warrants the Attorney General, maybe, looking into it, Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill, told The Tennessean in an interview on Monday. I think she should resign, and if she wont, I think the governor should definitely ask for her resignation.

Rep. Todd Warner R- Chapel Hill, Rep. Aftyn Behn D-Nashville and and Former Republican state representative, Scotty Campbell, speak to member of the press at Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

Warner said that since The Tennessean broke the story of Reynolds misuse of tuition waivers, he received more than 50 calls from teachers, school administrators and school directors in his district and beyond, saying Reynolds should resign.

He says Reynolds lack of a teachers license is a slap in the face to educators.

If shes not qualified to be a teacher in the state of Tennessee, shes definitely not qualified to do this job, Warner said.

Warner called Reynolds pursuit of a tuition waiver for which she was not qualified a nail in the coffin for her service, also citing her lack of teaching credentials and school administrative experience, and concerns over her ability to answer questions on bills in committee, instead relying on colleagues and deputies to answer questions on technicalities of the voucher legislation.

It bothers me that we go to places like California, Texas, and bring those people in here to be Commissioner of Education when we have many, many Tennesseans that are qualified and share the values of the majority of Tennesseans, Warner said.

But Reynolds has no intention to resign, according to the department.

The Commissioner is dedicated to serving the students of Tennessee and is excited about continuing her work on their behalf, TDOE spokesman Brian Blackley told The Tennessean in an email Monday.

Tennessee Commissioner of Education Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds interviews with the Tennessean at Tennessee Department of Education in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.

By law, agency commissioners are appointed by the governor without oversight powers from the legislature. But that hasn't stopped lawmakers from openly criticizing commissioners  and even considering "no confidence" votes on commissioners in the past.

Warner is not the only member of the Republican supermajority with questions about Reynolds qualifications.

Unfortunately as I understand the law, the governor has the right to appoint his commissioners free of any review or approval by the legislature, Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, told The Tennessean in a text message. There does not appear to be a mechanism under the law through which a commissioner can be removed by the legislature.

Barrett said that if a mechanism existed to remove a commissioner, he would decline to take a position on removing Reynolds until reviewing all pertinent information and hearing from Reynolds personally.

That being said, questions continue to circulate around Commissioner Reynolds qualifications and I hope those questions are addressed to the satisfaction of the citizens of Tennessee soon, Barrett said.

Answers aren't likely coming from the administration anytime soon. Gov. Bill Lee's office has expressed support for the commissioner numerous times, while continuing to dodge questions about legal requirements for her qualifications, and keeping records of discussions of inquiries about Reynolds' qualifications secret.

Lees office did not respond to criticism from lawmakers about Reynolds' qualifications in an inquiry Monday, reiterating appreciation for "the work she is doing to serve Tennessee students."

Meanwhile, Republican leadership in both chambers is surrendering the issue to the governor's purview, declining to express even curiosity over the commissioners lack of qualifications, despite questions from other Republicans.

The Governor has the right and responsibility to place whomever he desires into his cabinet, House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison told The Tennessean in a text message. This is not a legislative issue.

The constitution nor the law provide a way for the Legislature to have any action over a cabinet level position," he added.

Faison did not express concern over Reynolds' misrepresentation of her tenure with the state to obtain a tuition waiver, nor did he respond to questions on whether Reynolds' lack of statutorily required credentials could set precedent for other commissioners who do not meet statutory requirements to be appointed and serve in the future.

Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, Chairman of the House Republican Caucus, speaks to members of the press following session at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, March 14, 2024.

Lt. Gov. McNally, R-Oak Ridge, expressed support for the governor's judgement on the matter.

I support Governor Lee and trust his decision on who is best qualified to run the Tennessee Department of Education, McNally said in a statement.

House Speaker Cameron Sextons office did not respond to a request for comment.

While there is no legal framework for specific substantive action, lawmakers often express support or opposition on a wide range of issues and individuals through resolutions. For example, lawmakers this year have expressed support for the State of Israel, and on Monday, passed a resolution honoring the Tennessee rifle.

House democrats are continuing calls for Reynolds to step down or be terminated. House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, called Reynolds an embarrassment.

There is a fair debate to be had about whether the tuition waiver was intended for Cabinet members who make far more money than other state employees, Clemmons said. It is utterly offensive to think that our governor left the state to hire someone less qualified than thousands of Tennessee educators to run what is arguably one of the most important departments in our state government. Then, when we called him out on it, Lee had the audacity to defend Reynolds' credentials knowing that he had already tried to send her back to college on the taxpayers' dime.

Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com or on X at @Vivian_E_Jones.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN Republican lawmakers question education commissioners credentials
ST. JOHNSBURY, Vermont  Crowds ballooned to about 15,000 people, more than doubling the population of this historic town Monday, under an unseasonably cloudless sky.

A sandwich shop that typically sells 300 sandwiches on a busy day made that many in its first hour and predicted its five employees would end up making 1,000 sandwiches each before the day ended. Eclipse sugar cookies with butter cream frosting sold for $3 each and people were already lined up before noon at the Whirligig Brewing pub which had made a special ale in honor of the eclipse.

Fire chief Bradley Reed grew up 2 blocks from the center of town. He said it was the biggest crowd Ive ever seen in St. Johnsbury. When forecasts began predicting beautiful weather for Monday, the town knew a lot of visitors would be arriving at this prime eclipse-viewing spot about 48 miles south of the Canadian border.

On the north end of Main Street several families set up in Arnold Park to get some distance from the hordes.

Katie and Mike Mayer had driven up from Bethlehem, Connecticut, about five hours away, so as not to miss the spectacle.

Enjoying the spectacle on Main Street in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, minutes before the total solar eclipse.

"We wanted to get the full effect," Mike Mayer said. The pair ordered plastic eclipse glasses ahead of time and brought coolers full of coolers with cheese, crackers, wine and other "nibbles." Katie Mayer remembered making box eclipse viewers in elementary school and has been fascinated by them since but had never seen a total eclipse.

Jim and Kim Cooper had come over from New Hampton, New Hampshire, their first time doing more than just driving through the town locals call St. Jays.

Their son had proposed to his girlfriend in Tennessee during the 2017 eclipse and then had an eclipse-themed wedding. But the Coopers had never seen a total eclipse for themselves, so they decided to come to the closest place where they could be assured of a good view.

Jeffrey Breau had seen that 2017 eclipse for himself and was so impressed that he convinced family members to join him this time. Breaus girlfriend Nell Hawley came up with him from Cambridge, Massachusetts, his brother Alex and his girlfriend Diana Ventura drove up from New York City and his father Walter all came to see their first total eclipse.

His mother had to watch from home in southern Vermont, because she teaches kindergarten and couldnt get the day off from work. I would have been okay watching it in the yard, Walter said, though he would only have seen a partial eclipse from there. Thats what you think now, Jeffrey answered quickly. Talk to me in two hours.

Shortly after the totality as people began to stream back toward their cars, Reed said hed seen no problems so far. Everybodys been great, he said.

The Conaway family of Northfield, Massachusetts, had all played hooky from school Monday to see the eclipse.

Gary Conaway, a classroom helper in fourth grade, said it was worth missing school for this. Since I was a kid, Ive always been interested in astronomy. To be able to enjoy this with my kids. I had to, he said. A city kid, he was close to his grandmother who lived on a farm and would show him the stars when he came to visit.

Sarah Conaway, a prekindergarten classroom helper, designed and made shirts for the day for herself, Gary and their sons, Noah, 10, and Seth, 8, who both said school is important but a solar eclipse is importanter.

Noah, a fourth grader, loves astronomy like his dad, and hopes to go to Mars someday. I never knew the moon could cover the sun, he said. I thought it would be too small.

Sitting in lawn chairs in the middle of Main Street waiting for the totality Peter Schweigert, Gretchen Steen and their two sons Arlo, 10, and Brahn, 8, had the distinction of coming perhaps the least distance to view the eclipse  just two blocks. They could have watched from home, but then they would have missed all the excitement.

Schweigert and Steen had both seen partial eclipses before, but never a total. Ive heard it compared to the difference between riding in an airplane and jumping out of one, Steen said, quickly adding that shed never jumped out of a plane.

Arlo, a fourth grader, had learned about eclipses in science class and during a school assembly. He was excited, though cold in a t-shirt and shorts, as the moon slid further in front of the sun.

Peter had just hung up with his mother in San Antonio, Texas, who had seen just a glimpse of the total eclipse through clouds.

At 3:24 p.m., just five minutes before the totality was due, the light turned decidedly dim. It didnt look so much like a typical dusk as it did as if the world had turned gray.

As darkness fully descended, the crowd shrieked and screamed and oohed and aahed. This is SO COOL. Its so beautiful. Oh my God! Stars! This is amazing. Just amazing! This is so crazy!

Applause broke out as the sun reappeared a minute later. Aw, come on. That was so cool!

The bells of the United Community Church, one of five churches in the town center rung out twice.

Gregory Smith of Goffstown, New Hampshire, was so overcome, he dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his cheeks.

A few minutes later, when he was able to speak again, he said Im awestruck.

He had grown up in a cult and after he left, he had nightmares about signs in the stars. To see that and be standing here afterwards, its just a really, really intense moment. Its unbelievable, said Smith, who just published a book of poetry called Profligate Angel.

That was just really moving and gave me goosebumps, added Smiths friend Miko Lionne, also of Goffstown.

Gretchen Steen, walking down Main Street, agreed. "My heart was pounding for sure."

Artist Rachael Savoie hand-made pins and magnets for the occasion, selling them out of a cooler inside of a wagon pulled along with her friend Aidan Levesque. Levesque said he was surprised by how much colder it got as the sun began to disappear. It was also odd to see so many people fill the streets they knew so well. Its absolute bonkers to see everyone out here.

Mark Breen spent the eclipse co-hosting a public radio show on Vermont Public from the middle of Main Street. Although Breen has talked about astronomy on radio for 30 years and served as meteorologist at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium for even longer, he had never seen a total solar eclipse before.

It was everything every has ever described, he said. He could watch and feel the darkness approaching. It was just astounding.

He said he hopes the event will turn more children onto science. There is nothing like some kind of natural event to inspire kids, said Breen, who traces his own interest in meteorology to snow and ice storms in his upstate New York childhood.

During his hour-long radio show, which included one minute and 31 seconds of totality, Breen and a co-host took calls from Brazil, Spain, California and other locales, as well as one surprise call from his mother in Pennsylvania.

Everybody was a community, he said. What else can you say? Thats what humanity should be.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: As the eclipse came and went, how one Vermont town looked up in wonder
Russian internet trolls are posing as American citizens and creating social media content in an attempt to undermine support for the Ukrainian people and influence American aid distribution, a new report revealed.

Moscow public relations professionals, including Ilya Gambashidze, directed trolls to write internet comments with "no more than 200 characters in the name of a resident of a suburb of a major city."

The United States previously sanctioned Gambashidze for his role in a "persistent foreign malign influence campaign."

A hypothetical American, created by Russian bots would be someone who "doesn't support the military aid that the U.S. is giving Ukraine and considers that the money should be spent defending America's borders and not Ukraine's. He sees that Biden's policies are leading the U.S. toward collapse," the Washington Post reported.

The Washington Post was given more than 100 documents that were written and distributed between May 2022 and August 2023, indicating that Russia is continuing to use propaganda against American citizens - much in the same way that it did during the 2016 presidential election.

The Kremlin documents characterize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as corrupt, while also drawing attention to the ongoing migrant crisis. This comes as Republicans on Capitol Hill continue to clash over American support for Ukraine. Conservative hardliners have broken ranks with Speaker Mike Johnson over the issue, with Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene describing funding Ukraine as "egregious."

In at least one instance, pro-Russia factions were able to successfully disseminate a fake news story that claimed Zelenskyy bought two yachts with American aid money. The story was even shared on social media by Greene. North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis subsequently told CNN that aid distribution talks stalled in Congress, at least partially because politicians were worried that "people will buy yachts with this money."

Trolls are also encouraged to bring up funding border security as a more important priority for the U.S. and suggest that "white Americans" will be the primary losers in foreign aid distribution.

"It is Russia's top priority to stop the weapons, so they are throwing things at the wall to see what sticks," a Republican staffer told the Washington Post. "We are seeing a broad-based campaign that has multiple lines of effort, some of which work better than others. The Russians don't care. They are just trying to seed the environment."
A version of this story first appeared in CNN Business Before the Bell newsletter. Not a subscriber? You can sign up right here. You can listen to an audio version of the newsletter by clicking the same link.

The number of publicly traded companies in the United States is shrinking. Jamie Dimon, one of the worlds most influential business leaders, is worried.

At their peak in 1996, there were 7,300 publicly traded companies in the US. Today there are about 4,300.

Its not that America has 40% fewer companies than it did 30 years ago, its that companies are increasingly staying private, largely outside the scrutiny of the public eye.

The total should have grown dramatically, not shrunk, wrote Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, in his annual shareholder letter on Monday.

The PE boom: The shrinking public market has private equity to blame  funds that pool money from investors to acquire or invest in companies.

When a PE fund buys a public company, it takes that company private. When it buys a company that isnt yet public, it is kept that way. That means these funds have complete control over their companies and can encourage them to boost their profits as quickly as possible for a quick sale later down the line.

The number of private companies in the US backed by PE firms has grown from 1,900 to 11,200 over the last two decades, according to JPMorgan data.

Publicly listed companies are subject to regulatory oversight and disclosure requirements, which help ensure transparency and maintain investor confidence. With fewer companies listed, there may be a decrease in overall transparency and investor trust in the market, said Matthew Kennedy, head of data and content at Renaissance Capital.

Additionally, a company owned by PE can obfuscate ownership, what the company actually does and its profit the public and from regulators.

Dimons company, of course, makes a huge amount of money from taking companies public, so hes not exactly an impartial observer. But Dimon said his concerns are broader than JPMorgans bottom line: If this trend continues, our understanding of the US economy could become hazier, he argued.

This trend is serious, warned Dimon on Monday. We really need to consider: Is this the outcome we want?

Intensified reporting requirements, higher litigation expenses, costly regulations, overbearing board governance, shareholder activism, heightened public scrutiny and the relentless pressure of quarterly earnings, could be driving companies away from public markets, Dimon said Monday.

About those quarterly reports: Earnings season begins in earnest this Friday when JPMorgan Chase reports its results from the first quarter of the year. Dimon doesnt care for the fanfare.

Rarely, however, do we get a behind the scenes of these operations.

There is something very positive about detailed and disciplined quarterly financial and operating reporting, he said in his note on Monday. But company CEOs and boards of directors should resist the undue pressure of quarterly earnings, and it is clearly somewhat their fault when they dont.

Companies that disappoint during quarterly earnings face criticism, and new or young CEOs can especially come under pressure after a bad report, said Dimon. This can lead to companies resorting to accounting tricks or disregarding whats best for a company in the long run to boost their quarterly numbers, he said.

Companies might take short-term actions to increase earnings, such as selling more product cheaply at the end of a quarter, cutting certain investments that may be terrific but can show accounting losses in the first year or two, or just deploying more aggressive accounting methods at times, he wrote.

Once shortcuts like this begin, people all over the company understand that it is okay to stretch to meet your numbers. This could put you on a treadmill to ruin, he said.

Shareholder meetings: Dimon had strong words for activist investors who use shareholder meetings to engage in a campaign to influence corporate actions.

He cited spiraling frivolousness of the annual shareholder meeting as one of the reasons its become less desirable to be a publicly traded company. The event, he said, has devolved into mostly a showcase of grandstanding and competing special interest groups.

Shareholder activism has been a controversial topic in corporate governance for some time, but has increased in recent years. In 2023, 982 companies were subject to activist campaigns globally. Thats a 4% rise compared to a year prior and the highest level since 2019, according to the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance.

An increasing number of US companies are identifying activism as a risk in corporate disclosures, the Forum found. In 2023, more than 23% of Russell 3000 companies (an index that is often used as a stand-in for the entire US market) disclosed shareholder activism as a risk in their annual reporting, up from about 21% a year prior.

The rise of proxy advisers: Institutional investors, who have stakes in many companies, rely on proxy advisers  firms that review company data  to guide their voting on corporate decisions due to the challenge of assessing each company themselves.

But there are essentially two main proxy advisers in the United States. One is called Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), and the second is called Glass Lewis, wrote Dimon. ISS is owned by Deutsche Borse, a German company, and Glass Lewis is owned by Peloton Capital, a Canadian private equity firm.

I question whether American corporate governance should be determined by for-profit international institutions that may have their own strong feelings about what constitutes good corporate governance, wrote Dimon. While asset managers and institutional investors have a fiduciary responsibility to make their own decisions, it is increasingly clear that proxy advisers have undue influence.

In a statement to CNN, a spokesman for ISS said that its benchmark policy recommended against roughly 13% of all say-on-pay proposals at the top 3,000 US companies but just 2% failed to receive majority support. Clearly, investors decide themselves how to vote, he said.

With regard to our independence, ISS and Deutsche Borse in 2021 adopted a Policy on Non-Interference, he added.

Glass Lewis did not immediately respond to CNNs requests for comment.

TL;DR: Its easier to remain private than to go public, and can also be more lucrative.

Over the past 25 years, private equity investments have consistently outperformed global equities, fixed income and small-cap equities by a wide margin, according to a recent Wells Fargo analysis.

Now, Dimon is ringing the alarm. If changes arent made soon, he warned on Monday, the problem will only get worse.

Trumps net worth has tumbled by $2 billion since Truth Social stock peaked last month

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group continue to rapidly fall back to Earth, reports my colleague Matt Egan.

The Truth Social owner dropped by another 8% on Monday, adding to a brutal week that wiped out one-third of the stocks value.

The selloff has shrunk former President Donald Trumps stake in the controversial company to about $2.9 billion. Thats down sharply from a peak of $5.2 billion, based on the closing high of $66.22 on March 27, the day after it went public.

Trump owns a dominant stake of 78.8 million shares in Trump Media, which launched in 2021. Its plan to go public by merging with a shell company was delayed for years by regulatory and legal scrutiny.

When Trump Media finally went public late last month, experts immediately warned that Wall Street was drastically overvaluing the company, based on traditional fundamental metrics like revenue and users.

Last week, Trump Media disclosed losing $58 million last year on very light revenue of just $4.1 million. By comparison, Twitter (now known as X) generated more than 100 times as much revenue  $665 million  in 2013 ahead of its initial public offering in November of that year.

After its first day of trading, Trump Media was valued at as much as $11 billion. Thats almost twice the valuation that Reddit achieved after its IPO in March  even though Reddit generated roughly 200 times as much revenue.

Despite the recent losses, shares of Trump Media and the blank check company it merged with have more than doubled this year.

Read more here.

Biden to give Taiwans TSMC $6.6 billion to ramp up US chip production

The US government plans to give $6.6 billion to the worlds biggest manufacturer of semiconductor chips to help it build three factories in Arizona as part of President Joe Bidens efforts to secure the supply of advanced chips, report my colleagues Sam Fossum and Anna Cooban.

The White House announced Monday that it had signed a non-binding agreement with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to provide it with the funds for the Phoenix-based fabrication plants, or fabs, in addition to roughly $5 billion in government loans.

America invented these chips, but over time, we went from producing nearly 40% of the worlds capacity to close to 10%, and none of the most advanced chips, Biden said in a statement. (That exposes) us to significant economic and national security vulnerabilities.

In addition to two previously announced US plants, the Taiwanese chipmaker, which manufactures an estimated 90% of the worlds most advanced chip, said Monday that it would build a third plant, bringing its total investment in Arizona to more than $65 billion.

Shares of TSMC closed more than 1% higher on Monday.

Read more here.

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A west Tennessee grandmother and grandfather have been indicted in connection to the premediated slaying of their 3-year-old grandson, court documents show.

Amy Brasher, 64, of Saltillo, is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in the killing of Carson Brasher, who Hardin County officials said died on Dec. 26.

The woman's husband, Jeff Brasher, was indicted on felony charges of child abuse and child neglect on March 25, Hardin County Circuit Court papers obtained by USA TODAY show.

Carson Brasher, age 3, was found dead on Dec. 26, 2023. His grandparents, Amy and Jeff Brasher of Hardin County, Tennessee, are charged in his death.

The couple was arrested on March 26, three months after Carson's death and one day after the case was presented to a Hardin County grand jury, court documents show.

The couple is from Saltillo, a small town in Hardin County on the left bank of the Tennessee River about halfway between Memphis and Nashville.

5-year-old killed by another child: Child fatally shot after gun was unsecured at grandparents' Michigan home

Indictment charges grandmother Amy Brasher with premeditated murder

A motive in the killing was not released by authorities.

It was not immediately known how the child died, but WKRN-TV reported court records show Carson was found unresponsive at the couple's home before officials pronounced him dead.

Carson's mother, Kimberly Jones, told the outlet the Brashers had legal custody of her son while she was attending rehabilitation, and said she was told Carson "slipped in the bathtub and hit his head" while in his grandmother's care.

Neal Thompson, the district attorney who represents Hardin County, and Hardin County Sheriff Johnny Alexander, whose agency handled the arrest, did not return phone calls and emails on Monday.

USA TODAY has also reached out to the Hardin County coroner.

According to separate indictments,, Amy Brasher allegedly abused Carson and, with premeditation, killed him while her husband allegedly failed to protect him from abuse and neglect.

How can we prevent child abuse? Tougher rules for home-school families would help

'A bright and adventurous soul'

On Monday, the boy's 27-year-old aunt, Meghan Pigg, told USA TODAY Carson's family was mourning his senseless death.

"He was such a sweet little boy, and anyone who met him instantly fell in love with him," said Pigg, who lives in neighboring McNairy County, southwest of Amy and Jeff Brasher's home. "He was so silly and kept you laughing. That little boy could turn anyones bad day around in a second and he brought so much joy to anyone who knew his life in the three short years we had him here."

Carson's favorite show was "Paw Patrol" and his love for outdoor play was "a testament to his curiosity and zest for life," Pigg wrote in a fundraising page she create to help pay for her nephew's headstone,

"With his infectious love and radiant spirit, he brought smiles to everyone's faces," his aunt wrote.

Amy Brasher and Jeff Brasher to be arraigned April 15

Amy Brasher remained jailed Tuesday on $500,000 bond, a Hardin County jail spokesperson told USA TODAY. Her husband posted a $100,000 bond April 1.

Both defendants are slated to be arraigned on their respective charges in court on April 15, the Hardin County assistant district attorney handling their case told USA TODAY.

It was not immediately known whether either defendant had obtained an attorney and neither could be reached as online court records did not list their address or a phone number.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amy Brasher, Tennessee grandmother, accused of killing grandson Carson
Ina Garten's easy, three-ingredient chicken dinner recipe calls for skin-on chicken breast, goat cheese, and basil. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I recently made Ina Garten's favorite easy dinner recipe that only calls for three ingredients.

The recipe uses skin-on chicken breast, basil, and goat cheese.

I made the recipe on a weekday, and it was ready in 45 minutes.

During the workweek, I always look for easy, healthy recipes that make dinner a breeze.

Ina Garten recently shared her recipe for the "easiest dinner" she knows how to make, which only takes 10 minutes and three main ingredients to prepare.

"This is one of my favorite recipes for when I'm too tired to cook but really want a hot meal," she captioned an Instagram video shared back in February explaining the recipe.

Here's how to make Garten's go-to, three-ingredient chicken breasts.

I started by gathering my ingredients, which included skin-on chicken breasts, herb goat cheese, and fresh basil.

The ingredients for the chicken recipe. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The amount of each ingredient will depend on the size of your chicken breast or breasts, but I used:

1.17 lb Organic Smart Chicken bone-in skin-on chicken breast with rib meat

3  slices of Vermont Creamery Fresh Goat Cheese Herb Chevre

3 fresh basil leaves

The total cost of my ingredients came to $18.65, excluding tax, from my local Big Y grocery store in Massachusetts. I already owned olive oil, salt, and pepper.

For this recipe, Garten recommended using skin-on, boneless chicken breasts, but I could only find skin-on, bone-in breasts at my local grocery store.

The chicken breast on a wooden board. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Garten said in the video that she asked her butcher for a particular chicken cut. However, since I relied on what was available in the meat aisle at Big Y, I couldn't access skin-on, boneless chicken breasts.

If you run into the same issue, you might have to alter the cooking time slightly when making bone-in chicken breasts, as the bones absorb some of the heat while cooking.

I then sliced up my herb goat cheese.

The herb goat cheese cut into slices. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

You can also use plain goat cheese, Garten said, depending on your preference. However, I found that the herb variety added a lot of flavor to the dish.

I then patted the chicken dry, gently separated the skin from the meat, and placed the sliced goat cheese under it.

Goat cheese is placed under the skin of the chicken breast. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I used about four thin slices of goat cheese and tried to stuff it under as much of the chicken skin as possible.

I then added three leaves of basil on top of the goat cheese and folded the skin back over.

The chicken breast with goat cheese and basil. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

You then want to sprinkle the chicken breast in olive oil and generously season with salt and pepper.

I cooked the chicken breast for about 45 minutes in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

The finished chicken breast. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Garten's original version, which uses boneless, skin-on chicken breasts, should take between 35 and 40 minutes in the oven. After that, let the chicken rest under foil for 10 minutes to finish cooking.

Garten recommends enjoying a glass of wine while the chicken cooks, which I could definitely see myself doing. I was amazed by how easy this recipe was to prepare.

The chicken skin came out perfectly crispy but inside the chicken was moist from the goat cheese.

The finished chicken. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The chicken breast was large enough to feed two people, making it the perfect weeknight dinner for a couple.

This chicken recipe was packed with flavor, but couldn't have been easier to make.

The finished chicken. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The herb goat cheese added a pungent, earthy flavor to the dish, complemented by the basil. The skin and chicken were both perfectly cooked  in fact, this was one of the juiciest chicken breasts I've ever eaten.

My only criticism was that it was difficult to eat around the bones since my grocery store didn't carry boneless, skin-on chicken breasts.

However, for less than 10 minutes to prepare and less than an hour total for this meal to come together, I was extremely impressed.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), the most vulnerable Republican in the state, came out against the Arizona Supreme Courts ruling upholding one of the most strict abortion laws in the country on Tuesday.

Schweikert denounced the courts decision, joining other Arizona Republicans in calling the move a step too far and pushing for the state legislature to pass new abortion rights legislation.

I do not support todays ruling from the AZ Supreme Court. This issue should be decided by Arizonans, not legislated from the bench, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. I encourage the state legislature to address this issue immediately.

The 1864 law held up by the court bans abortion in all cases except to save the life of the mother. It makes Arizona one of the most strict states against abortion rights in the country.

Former Gov. Doug Ducey (R) and GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake already came out against the decision earlier Tuesday on similar grounds.

Abortion rights will be one of the key issues in the 2024 election, with similar statewide abortion rights issues already taking center stage in Florida and other key states. Arizona is set to be one of the closest races in the House and for the presidential election.

Schweikert won the election but just 3,000 votes in his north Phoenix district in 2022. House Democrats have included him on a list of targets for the November election of the most vulnerable incumbents, emphasizing the importance of abortion rights.

There will also likely be a constitutional amendment over abortion rights on the Arizona ballot in November after a petition group announced they collected enough signatures to get on the ballot last week.

Conflicts over abortion rights have generally favored Democrats nationwide since the Roe v. Wade precedent was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022, driving moderates toward the Democratic Party and boosting turnout among women and young people. The Biden campaign has leaned in on the issue, hoping it can take advantage of the divisive topic.

Biden also warned that the state decision could be a sign of things to come on the national level in a statement Tuesday.

Millions of Arizonans will soon live under an even more extreme and dangerous abortion ban, which fails to protect women even when their health is at risk or in tragic cases of rape or incest, Biden said.

This cruel ban was first enacted in 1864  more than 150 years ago, before Arizona was even a state and well before women had secured the right to vote, the president continued. This ruling is a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away womens freedom.

Vice President Harris is set to visit Arizona on Friday to speak about abortion rights, the White House announced in the wake of the courts decision.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Far-right operatives Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman have agreed to pay New York Attorney General Letitia James' office up to $1.2 million for a robocall campaign they put together to suppress the Black vote ahead of the 2020 election.

Wohl and Burkman orchestrated a depraved and disinformation-ridden campaign to intimidate Black voters in an attempt to sway the election in favor of their preferred candidate. Now they will pay up to $1.25 million," James said in a statement Tuesday announcing the agreement, which still needs to be approved by a judge.

James filed suit in 2021 against the pair, who were known for smearing President Donald Trump's political opponents with transparently false accusations. The suit alleged that Wohl and Burkman were responsible for more than 5,000 robocalls filled with misinformation about voting in New York in August 2020.

The speaker on the call identified herself as Tamika Taylor of Project 1599 and falsely claimed that voting by mail would result in voters having their personal information used by the police to track old warrants and allow credit card companies to collect debts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to track people for mandatory vaccinations.

Dont be finessed into giving your private information to the man. Stay home safe and beware of vote by mail, the call said, according to a transcript released by James' office.

Last year, U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero found Wohl and Burkman liable for having violated state civil rights laws and the federal Ku Klux Klan Act with the calls. The "undisputed evidence in this case establishes that Defendants conduct in designing and executing the Robocall was racially motivated; the Robocall sought to deter eligible Black voters from exercising their right to vote, subjecting them to discrimination in their civil rights," the judge wrote.

Under the terms of the consent decree  worked out with the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, or NCBCP; the AG's office; plaintiffs who were targeted by the call; and Wohl and Burkman's attorney  the pair agreed they were responsible for paying $1 million in damages. That amount can be reduced to $393,000 if they make required payments on time, or it can be increased to $1.25 million if they miss payment deadlines.

Their lawyer, David Schwartz, said in a statement, "Our clients are pleased that we have entered into an amicable settlement with the plaintiffs." He added that they are "pleased to put this case behind them, so they can focus on their families and careers."

Melanie Campbell, president and chief executive of NCBCP, said the pair "used intimidation and scare tactics, attempting to spread harmful disinformation about voting in an effort to silence Black voices."

"There will be consequences for their actions. They will pay for the harm they cause to our democracy, she said.

Damon T. Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the legal organization that represented NCBCP and the individual plaintiffs, said the groundbreaking settlement should send an emphatic message to anyone who aims to prevent Black people from exercising their right to vote."

Wohl and Burkman have previously been penalized for the calls, which they used in other states, as well. The Federal Communications Commission hit them with a $5.1 million fine last year, and they pleaded guilty to related charges in Ohio in 2022. They were sentenced to two years of probation and 500 hours of registering voters.
A 'Now Hiring' sign is posted outside a hotel. Iowa business leaders say in a new survey that worker shortages are their biggest challenge.

The latest quarterly report by the Iowa Business Council takes a bullish view of the states economy but retains a familiar, bluesy refrain: There aren't enough workers.

The quarterly survey of Iowas largest 22 employers showed improvement in their overall economic outlook for the state after two relatively flat quarters, with IBC members expressing positive sentiments, a news release on the report said.

But finding and retaining enough workers is still a major barrier for Iowas top executives, with 68% listing it as their primary business challenge.

The lack of workers, IBC President Joe Murphy said in an interview, could be a limiting factor in the growth of Iowas economy.

That's the number one concern that we have when you think about future opportunities for expansion from our individual company levels, but then also future economic expansion in our economy as well," Murphy said. "Our workforce and our overall population is what's going to really hold us back from potential opportunities in the future and that's really the number one thing that that we're focused on at the Business Council, is making sure that we're putting in place policies and programs that will enable more skilled workers of all stripes to come into Iowa and stay in Iowa.

No aspect of Iowa's economy is immune to the shortage, he said.

It really cuts across every single industry, every single sector and that's something that I think is really unique to our workforce situation is that its not confined to one area," he said. "All of our companies are looking across a broad spectrum of individuals and skill sets.

IBC president says Iowa needs marketing drive to attract workers

Murphy said Iowa will likely need an increased focus on marketing to attract employees from beyond its borders.

Our birth rates have never been lower in this state and nationally as well," he said. "When you think about the individuals that are leaving the workforce for any sort of reason over time, there's not going to be as many of them entering the workforce. Our population among high school graduates each year is less than the year prior. And so that has an impact on the overall available labor force as well.

Murphy said Iowa has a case to make for itself. It ranks in the top 10 states for affordability, combined with increasing median income and efforts to lower taxes in recent year, he said.

But Iowa isn't alone in its worker shortfall or need to focus on attracting newcomers. A U.S. Chamber of Commerce report released in February found workforce shortages across the nation, with Iowa's in better shape than 39 other states and the District of Columbia. It has 67 unemployed workers for every 100 job openings, far better than regional rival North Dakota, with ranked second-worst with 30 workers for every 100 jobs. Neighboring South Dakota and Nebraska also were in the top 10 for worker shortages.

Could rehabbing prisoners be a solution?

Murphy echoed former Iowa House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, who in a recent op-ed in the Register wrote that effective rehabilitation of Iowas prison population could be an untapped source to reduce worker shortages.

Upmeyers advocated for an Iowa House bill that would incentivize Iowans on probation to find and keep jobs by allowing them to reduce their terms every six months they have verifiable employment, or through completion of various educational and vocational training programs.

That is something that would definitely be intriguing to us, Murphy said, adding, We just have to get a little more creative.

IBC representatives visited the North Central Correctional Facility in Rockwell City last summer and were impressed with the registered apprenticeship programs offered there, he said.

Theyve got folks engaged in welding and machining and some of them actually are allowed to go off site and work for 12 hours or however long and then come back to the facility," he said. At the end of the day they learn a skill and they're able to able to hopefully have a have a better opportunity in life once they get done with their time, which is so important from a recidivism rate.

Costs, business climate also concerns in survey

Trailing worker shortages in the IBC survey as a major issue of concern was the increasing cost of products and service inputs at 53%. The third-ranking issue was an unfavorable business climate at 47%.

The survey's overall economic outlook index scored 63.16, an increase of 3.51 points from the previous quarter and 2.66 points above the historical average of 60.50. If the index measures above 50, sentiment is positive.

Finding and retaining enough workers continues to be the top concern of executives with the Iowa Business Council.

Joe Murphy, president of the Iowa Business Council

Iowa Workforce Development's top 10 job postings as of April 1

Registered nurses  3,782 Retail salespersons  847 Nursing assistants  809 Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses  718 Stockers and order fillers  681 Physicians, all other  650 First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers  584 Fast food and counter workers  535 Customer service representatives  535 Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers  485

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa doesn't have enough workers, top employers say in survey


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BlueHalo has secured a four-year contract to provide preventative and corrective maintenance, as well as operator and maintenance team training for the Palletized High Energy Laser (P-HEL) system. This contract establishes BlueHalo as the primary system integrator for all phases of the P-HEL, from prototype development to deployment.

Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link



BlueHalo Palletized High Energy Laser (P-HEL) Counter-Drone System for US Army (Picture source: BlueHalo)

Developed by BlueHalo for the U.S. Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), the P-HEL system has demonstrated its capability to neutralize threats posed by small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS).

Jonathan Moneymaker, CEO of BlueHalo, stated that the company will extend its support for directed energy throughout all operational phases, including innovation, maintenance, training, and battlefield management.

The LOCUST laser system, a key component of the P-HEL, integrates precision optical and laser hardware with advanced software and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) algorithms to enhance the system's ability to engage targets rapidly.

BlueHalo delivered the first complete prototype of the P-HEL system in April 2022, which was subsequently deployed overseas by the U.S. Army RCCTO in November 2022. A second P-HEL system was deployed earlier this year. Regular maintenance has been conducted to ensure their operational effectiveness.

Jimmy Jenkins, BlueHalo Sector President, affirmed the ongoing collaboration with the Army and RCCTO to support the P-HEL, emphasizing the integration of new technologies into operations.

BlueHalo specializes in defense technologies, including space systems, counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), autonomous systems, electronic warfare, cyber capabilities, and AI/ML.
A series of human body parts have been found in a Milwaukee neighborhood where a missing woman's car was destroyed by fire in the alley behind her house, according to a report Monday.

The string of grisly discoveries took place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and authorities were searching the area for more remains on Monday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said.

A human leg was also found in or near Lake Michigan at Warnimont Park in suburban Cudahy, Wisconsin, on April 2, the Journal Sentinel reported.

It's unclear if the leg and the body parts scattered across midtown Milwaukee came from the same person and authorities haven't said if there's any connection.

But relatives of 19-year-old Sade Carleena Robinson, who was last seen in Milwaukee on April 1, have said they believe her disappearance may be tied to the leg found in Cudahy a day later, according to the Journal Sentinel.

Police have called Robinson "critically missing," which is generally used to describe people who disappear under suspicious circumstances and may be in a life-threatening situation.

The young woman was last seen about two miles east of her home, which is just a block north of where some of the body parts turned up over the past three days.

Around 7:30 a.m. on April 2, a 911 caller reported a car on fire in an alley behind her home and detectives later told Robinson's family the vehicle was hers, according to the Journal Sentinel.

Two days later, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating the leg found in Cudahy, searched a home on the city's south side and took an unidentified person of interest into custody.

That case was also upgraded to a homicide investigation, the Journal Sentinel said.
The British Army has entered into a new contract with Saab, reinforcing its commitment to simulation technology for military training. Valued at 60 million, this initial three-year agreement with the UK Ministry of Defence will support live simulation systems employing ILT-D (Instrumented Live Training) technology. With extension options available until 2030, this contract replaces the previous DFWES (Direct Fire Weapon Effect Simulator) agreement.

Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link



Saab offers multiple training courses including live fire training (Picture source: Saab)

The ILT-D technology integrates high-fidelity systems that combine laser and geometric technologies to simulate both direct and indirect fire effects. This data-enriched capability offers objective feedback, which is utilized to enhance the After Action Review (AAR) process and validate training outcomes.



The contract also includes substantial investment to extend the lifespan of this capability, ensuring it meets the evolving training requirements of the British Army while addressing obsolescence issues and maintaining interoperability with allied nations through the adoption of Saabs latest hardware and software.



Support will continue at permanent Collective Training sites in both the UK and Germany, as well as at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, the Infantry Battle School in Brecon, and the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.



James Passmore, VP Director of Marketing and Sales at Saab UK, highlighted the ongoing collaboration with the British Army, now marking 30 years. Simon Pearce, Training and Simulation Systems Portfolio Leader at Defence Equipment & Support emphasized the critical role of this partnership in meeting the complex strategic training demands of the British Army, particularly in anticipation of the Collective Training Transformation Programme.



Saabs live simulation systems, central to interoperability and deployability, continue to expand their global user base. The British Army has recently deployed these systems worldwide, including in exercises in Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Kenya, Oman, Jordan, Cyprus, and Germany.

Defense News April 2024
Bluechip Infotech has added Nord Securitys business solutions to its portfolio for the Australian market.

The software developer behind virtual private network (VPN) service NordVPN, Nord Security was formed in 2012 and also offers business solutions in the form of password manager NordPass and secure remote access platform NordLayer.

The partnership between the two companies brings the latter two solutions to Bluechipss network of channel partners in Australia.

Willy Harsono, alliances director at Bluechip Infotech, said the deal marked a significant step for Bluechip Infotech in fortifying Australias cyber security landscape.

Meanwhile, Justas Morkunas, chief revenue officer at Nord, claimed partners like Bluechip are essential to copy its business-to-business (B2B) success seen in other continents into Australia.

This is the latest security vendor to be added to Bluechips portfolio, with it signing a deal with identification security vendor One Identity in January.
Well respected executive business leader George Atrash has sadly passed away on 31 March.

Born in Johannesburg, Atrash grew up and commenced his career in South Africa, completing a diploma in business management and a diploma in electronics and was a qualified Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner.

Prior to his start in the IT industry, which spanned 35 years, Atrash ran a popular restaurant in Johannesburg called Norma Jeans. Soon after, he embarked on his IT career working as an engineer for Telkom South Africa.

He joined Cisco in 1999 as its channel director for Sub-Saharan Africa and after six years he moved on to become the enterprise and partner group (EPG) director of Africa for Microsoft.

Atrash chose to migrate to Australia in late 2006, calling Sydney home and his three children followed his journey to the great southern land, who also settled in Sydney.

In early 2007, he began working as the general manager of connectivity for Dimension Data, devising and executing many successful and strategic business plans, forging its critical partnership with Cisco at the time.

He moved on as the vice president for Asia Pacific (APAC) for ShoreTel in 2011, living in Singapore for a while before rejoining Cisco, once again transforming business plans and strategies and making a massive impact at every touch.

He came back to Sydney in 2017 as the commercial and strategy director for the NSW government, working for the Department of Finance and Service NSW. He eventually took on a leadership role at Micro Focus as its regional director and head of cyber security.

In 2020, he joined Amazon Web Services (AWS) leading its Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) cloud sales centre before accepting his last role as vice president with Gartner in March 2023.

George was a vibrant and energetic colleague who made a big impact during his time with Gartner. He was based in our Sydney office and advised our executive clients on their business-critical, high-value IT investments, Gartner APJ group vice president Warren Anderson said.

George was held in the highest esteem by both clients and colleagues and will be greatly missed, both personally and professionally. Our thoughts are with Georges family during this difficult time.

Atrash was affectionately known among friends and colleagues as the Party Master, a lover of food, craft beer, gin, fine wine, a good yarn, plenty of laughs, music and dancing.

Former colleague Ian Jansen said Atrash was an exceptional person and a mentor to many who was well known across all parts of the IT industry  vendors, distribution, cloud, security and government sectors.

He always had a smile and a twinkle in his eye. His positivity was infectious to say the least and he was one of my best mates, Jansen said.

He was always helping people in their personal lives as much as their careers and on the job. Sometimes as a peer, a manager and most times as a trusted colleague.

He is survived by his wife Cindy, and her children Ella and Euan together with his children, Dean and granddaughter Elsie, Roberto and his wife Monica and their children Matteo and Ariella, his daughter Jade and her husband Gavin.

Georges legacy is one of immense respect, confidence and admiration from all who knew him. He was a master in every endeavour he undertook, leaving an indelible mark on the planet, his community and, most importantly, his family, she said.

The loss of such an extraordinary person is felt deeply by all of us who had the privilege to know him and learn from him.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court heard a plea from the Karnataka government requesting the Centre to release financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for drought management. During the hearing on Monday, the bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Sandeep Mehta urged for cooperation between the Centre and the state, stating that there should not be a contest over the issue.

Initially, the bench asked the Centre to respond to Karnataka's plea, with Attorney General R. Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assuring the court that they would seek instructions on the matter. The bench noted a growing tendency of state governments approaching the court instead of resolving issues through dialogue.

Solicitor General Mehta was reluctant about a notice to the Centre on the matter, stating that their presence in court demonstrated their commitment to the matter. The bench acknowledged their assurance to seek instructions and scheduled further hearing after two weeks.

The petition filed by Karnataka also seeks a declaration of the Centre's failure to release financial assistance from the NDRF as a violation of fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. The state faces severe drought conditions, affecting numerous taluks and requiring substantial financial aid for drought management. The plea highlights the Union's obligation under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to provide financial assistance to states in such situations.
New Delhi: Delegations of the Congress, Trinamul Congress and the BJP met the Election Commission officials separately on Monday with their complaints pertaining to model code of conduct violations. While the Congress moved the poll authority against Prime Minister Narendra Modis Muslim League remark and accused the Prime Minister of using armed forces in poll campaigns despite the EC banning it, the TMC complained about the misuse of Central agencies against Opposition leaders. The TMC leaders also sat on a dharna outside the poll panel office and were later detained by the Delhi police, as they demanded that the chiefs of the CBI, NIA, ED and income-tax department be changed.

The TMC has accused the BJP-led Central government of falsely targeting its cadre through NIA raids, a charge that the Central probe agency has denied.

The BJP, in its complaint, raised the issue of a fake organisation formed in the name of the RSS by Congress workers, through which they are spreading propaganda against it. Its second complaint was against Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, whom the saffron party has accused of spreading unverified and distorted allegations against the Central government over the death of Mukhtar Ansari. Mr Yadav had said, The general public is not considering it a natural death. The Government of India has been accused of similar incidents in Canada and America. Mukhtar Ansari has been a public servant and in democracy he used to share in the suffering of the people.

The TMC in a statement said, A 10-member delegation of our party visited the office of the @ECISVEEP in Delhi to raise the glaring issue of @BJP4Indias utter misuse of the NIA to wrongfully intimidate our party workers ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. We shall not tolerate such unconstitutional attempts to harm the sanctity of our democracy and have pledged to stand together to take all necessary steps to put an end to such activities.

We asked the poll authority to intervene in the name of parliamentary democracy to preserve the sanctity of the general election. Stop the ED, CBI, NIA and I-T department from acting against the Opposition. Theyre working like the 12th man of the BJP, said another TMC Rajya Sabha member, Sagarika Ghose, who was part of the dharna.

On Monday, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale questioned if the Centre had taken the Election Commissions approval before appointing the new NIA director-general and sought a probe by the poll authority into the appointment. He also alleged that the BJPs nexus with the Central agencies is deepening during the Lok Sabha polls.

The NIA conspiring with the BJP to target our leaders in West Bengal is not only deplorable but also raises fundamental questions on whether free and fair elections are possible, Mr Gokhale said.

Mr Gokhale alleged that BJP leader Mr Jitendra Tiwari met NIA superintendent of police D.R. Singh on March 26 and, on the same day, Sadanand Date was appointed as the new chief of the Central agency. He and another top TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee claimed Mr Tiwari had met Mr Singh allegedly with a packet and during this meeting the BJP leader handed over a list of TMC netas and workers to be targeted.

Mr Gokhale said the new NIA DG was serving as head of the Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) until March 26. He had been appointed to that position by BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis. Mr Date was appointed NIA DG on March 26.

Question is, when an officer appointed by and serving under a BJP state government in Maharashtra was suddenly appointed as director-general of the NIA, during the election period, did the Modi government take permission of the Election Commission? Mr Gokhale said in his post.

When the DGP of West Bengal was changed three times in 24 hours by the poll panel, how was an officer handpicked by the Maharashtra BJP government appointed as NIA chief without EC approval? How astonishing is the co-incidence that the BJP enters into a conspiracy with the NIA in West Bengal on the same day that the new NIA chief is appointed? This must be probed immediately by the poll authority, and the Modi government must explain how a new NIA chief was appointed without EC approval, he added.

The Congress delegation met with the Election Commission with six complaints, of which two were against the Prime Minister. This is the time for the Election Commission to demonstrate its independence by ensuring a level playing field for all parties. We live in hope that the honble commission will uphold its constitutional mandate. For our part, we will continue to pursue all avenues, political and legal, to expose this regime, said Congress MP Jairam Ramesh.

The Congress has complained that Mr Modi made statements on Monday, saying the Congress manifesto is attempting to divide the country and imposing the pre-Independence ideology of the Muslim League. The complaint also accused Mr Modi of using armed forces in election campaigns despite EC banning it. One complaint is on MoS IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar for allegedly giving false information pertaining to his financial status in an election affidavit, and another on showing The Kerala Story on Doordarshan, saying it vilifies a religious community, resulting in communal discord and hampering free and fair elections.


As the first phase of polling is scheduled for next week, Prime Minister Narendra Modis campaign for the Lok Sabha invariably boils down to just one sentence: I will be back!

With Pandit Jawaharlal Nehrus third term weighing heavily on his mind, Mr Modi, rightly or wrongly, feels that his lifes worth would be all in the dust if he failed to equal the record of Independent Indias first PM. The wages of propaganda are sometimes self-defeating.

Catching up with Pandit Nehru is creating more problems despite Mr Modi not leaving anything to chance. Despite all the bravado of Ab ki baar, 400 paar, there is a palpable fear and anxiety in the ruling party, whatever most of the media might be projecting.

It seems like the 10-year anti-incumbency is suddenly catching up despite the Opposition not being shipshape. Added to this is the fact that the Narendra Modi of 2014 and 2019 polls is missing. It seems too much of the same for too long.

The Modi ki Guarantee has become fodder for the Opposition to take a swipe at the BJP and its style of governance. All bets are on polarisation.

For the faithful, Mr Modi will get at least 325 of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, some 20 more than the 303 he secured for the BJP in 2019, in the back of the Pulwama incident and the Balakot airstrike. The party aims to get 370 for itself and to cross 400 with its allies.

It wont be childs play. A section of the Sangh feels that Mr Modi should have called elections in January soon after the Ram Mandir consecration at Ayodhya to exploit the Ram Lahar to the hilt, which is not discernible at the moment. The two-month-long election schedule which was planned to help the PM campaign is becoming a drag as Mr Modi appears to have nothing new to say.

Defence minister Rajnath Singhs tough talk about ghar mein ghus ke marenge, in reference to Pakistan, has not found resonance this time when the Opposition is harping on the Chinese incursions and land grab. The PM has not spoken the C word since the Galwan clashes nearly four years ago. His remark, koi aaya nahi, koi gaya nahi, is being made fun of even by BJP dissident Subramanian Swamy. Appeasing China has helped no one and will not help India too -- goes the refrain of the China watchers.

The problem is that Mr Modi has failed to set the poll agenda, forcing the Opposition to go on the defensive. The consecration of the Ram temple appears almost forgotten. This is not good news for those pitching for hardline Hindutva. It is not to say that Yogi Adityanath is not popular but Uttar Pradesh is a different cup of tea, where the issue of law and order has been given a communal twist. 80 vs 20 aptly sums up this. Whatever is wrong is with the 20, goes the unwritten argument in Indias largest state. Hey Ram!

Another picture of UP is that for 600 posts of constables, there were 50 lakh applicants. This is at a time when it is proclaimed, right or wrong, that the most populous state will be a $1 trillion economy soon.

Something is definitely decaying in Modi land. On the home turf of the PM and the home minister, the BJP had to replace two candidates who they chose due to protests in the party. This shows the silent disquiet. The demand for cancellation of the renomination of Union minister Parshottam Rupala, a close associate of the PM, is incessant despite his apology more than twice over remarks that angered Rajputs. Former deputy chief minister Nitin Patel sprang a surprise by withdrawing his claim to contest the Mehsana seat.

Ordinary citizens are silent because they are not Opposition activists. If someone cares to hear, they let it be known how hard they have been hit by rising prices. Citizens are feeling the pinch and painfully realising that no one in authority is talking or doing anything about their problems. He or she is neither pro-Modi or anti-Modi, but laments that there has been no delivery.

They also begin to notice that those against whom the PM and his party had campaigned vociferously on the issue of corruption are now with the BJP, directly or indirectly. Take the case of Maharashtra alone: Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Ashok Chavan and Narayan Rane, to name a few. Devendra Fadnavis is just a cog in the wheel in the state. The decisions are taken in Delhi. The talk of Kamal Nath joining the BJP helped the beleaguered Congress in Madhya Pradesh instead of harming it. Strange.

In 2004, when Atal Behari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, no one from the ruling side thought he could be defeated, and that too by Sonia Gandhi, who was derided as the reader instead of leader. The moral of the story is that those in power always have a feel good effect and feel that India is shining. Viksit Bharat is a modified version of Indira Gandhis Emergency era slogan: The nation is on the move. Nothing more, nothing less.

Interestingly, in 1977, when Indira Gandhi lifted the Emergency and ordered elections, little did the Congress realise the wrath of the people, especially those in the North. That time, it is said the journalists of the unified Samachar news agency had carried out a survey projecting an easy win for Indira.

At present, if the rulers were on a sound footing, there was no need for the arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, and also freezing the accounts of the Congress, which has been rescinded for the time being. The message is out, however, that once the elections are over, the Opposition will again be in the dock. Right or wrong, the Opposition leaders allege that Mr Modi can win only if the malpractices through the EVMs continue.

In 2019, then Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis had disastrously said in the Assembly polls: I will be back. He ended up on the Opposition benches after a series of dramatic developments that altered the politics of the premier state. The BJP was back in power in Maharashtra two years after engineering a split in two regional parties. But the politics there continues to remain unsettled.

The long and short of it is that I will be back is a dangerous proposition for whoever might be pitching for it.
Today's news: Record gold seizure at Hong Kong customs worth more than million; For the Thai premier, it is time for talks with the coup junta in Myanmar, which is starting to 'lose strength'; Beijing blocked a popular Tibetan-language blog; Meeting between the foreign ministries of Russia and China, Putin's visit to Xi Jinping on the agenda.

BAHRAIN

Bahrain yesterday granted conditional release to 1,584 prisoners, including some serving life sentences and others convicted of participating in protests during the Arab Spring. The release occurred under a 2017 law that grants "alternative sentences" to those who have already served half their sentence. About 65% of those affected by the measure were in prison for rioting, many linked to the 2011 Shiite demonstrations.

HONG KONG

The authorities of Hong Kong - one of the main goldsmith centers in the world - have announced a record seizure of gold, the largest ever made in history: airport customs intercepted over 146 kg of contraband of the precious metal, melted and molded inside of air compressor parts including motor components, screws and gears. The operation dates back to last month (but was made official yesterday), the goods were headed to Japan and had an estimated value of 10.7 million dollars.

THAILAND - MYANMAR

For Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin it is time to start negotiations with the junta in Myanmar, protagonist of the 2021 military coup, because he "is starting to lose strength". In the former Burma, revolts and insurrections have broken out on various fronts, promoted by rebel groups or ethnic militias supported by the democratic government in exile. Perhaps - said the prime minister, author of multiple initiatives directed at Naypyidaw - the time has come to reach out and make an agreement.

CHINA - TIBET

Beijing has shut down a popular Tibetan-language blog, sparking the ire of the local population and Tibetans in exile for whom it is an essential channel for disseminating news. The head of Luktsang Palyon (Tibet Sheep in English) said that the WeChat website and blog were blocked for alleged copyright infringement. A move that is part of the campaign launched in recent years by China to limit the use of the Tibetan language, even online.

PAKISTAN - SAUDI ARABIA

Islamabad and Riyadh intend to "accelerate" the start of the first phase of Saudi investments in the country, worth five billion dollars. This was reiterated by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on a visit to the Saudi capital and by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Among the objectives are the "strengthening" of relations and a solution to the Kashmir issue with India.

RUSSIA - CHINA

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Beijing to discuss with his counterpart Wang Yi the issues of the war in Ukraine, bilateral relations with the UN and the G-20 and the situation in the Asian region on the Pacific Ocean. Also on the agenda is the preparation of Vladimir Putin's visit to Xi Jinping, scheduled for next May.

TURKEY - TAJIKISTAN

Following the attack on the Krokus in Moscow, Turkey has reinstated the entry visa regime for citizens of Tajikistan, without clarifying whether it will be possible to obtain the document at the border or it will be necessary to request it at the consular offices. Dushanbe's Foreign Ministry said it would take similar measures, advising Tajiks to avoid Turkey.
by Nirmala Carvalho

The Bishops' Conference sets guidelines for the thousands of Church-run educational establishments, with suggestions on how to promote respect for all faiths, such as reciting the Preamble of the countrys constitution every morning. The goal is to rediscover justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as the essence of Indias core values.

New Delhi (AsiaNews)  The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) has issued new guidelines to all educational establishments under its jurisdiction, calling for the promotion of respect for all faiths, without imposing Christian traditions on students of other religions.

The CBCI suggests that students should recite the Preamble of the Indian Constitution every morning, and that it might be inscribed at the entrance of each school, which should also set aside an interfaith prayer room (Sarvadharma Prarthanalay) on its premises.

The Catholic Church in India runs about 14,000 schools, 650 colleges, seven universities, five medical faculties, and 450 technical and vocational institutes.

The 13-page guideline and instruction document  prepared by the CBCI Education and Culture Office  was released last week, said Archbishop Elias Gonsalves, chairman of the Office for Education and Culture, speaking to AsiaNews.

The Guidelines were prepared by the Commission for Culture and Education, as it has been done in previous years, Archbishop Gonsalves added. However, this time it is being viewed through the lens of the upcoming general elections.

Last February in Bengaluru, at the 36th plenary session of the CBCI, the bishops discussed the current situation of the country, marked by growing development but also rising poverty.

Discussions also centred on growing disharmony in the context of the countrys religious fabric, the prelate noted. A suggestion was made that in our establishments, which cater to people of all faiths, students recite the Preamble during the school assembly.

The Guidelines set forth notions and goals, which include the concepts of sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic Republic and the objectives of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. All the above values are enshrined in our constitution, and perfectly summarise the essence of Indias core values.

What is more, the Preambles affirmation of secularism emphasises the importance of religious tolerance and equal treatment for all religions. It upholds the principle of a pluralistic society.

We hope, by reciting the Preamble of the constitution during the daily assembly, it would deepen our understanding of the foundational principles that shape Indian democracy and democratic ethos of the nation.

The Guidelines also stress the need for enhanced security in educational establishments "to control access to school buildings and grounds, such as locked doors, entryway security systems, visitor check-in procedures and surveillance cameras.

According to the CBCI's document, educational establishments must also strive to hire teachers from diverse backgrounds to "reflect" the diversity of India's student population, promote religious and cultural sensitivity, and respect diversity among staff members.

Another suggestion is to display in schools, images of prominent freedom fighters, scientists, poets, national leaders, regardless of their community of origin.

This has already been done in one school, St Sebastian Goan High School in Mumbai.

In my office there are pictures of national leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Radhakrishnan, and Abdul Kalam, Principal Sister Swarna said.

Similarly, I have highlighted different educationists along with their quotations, so that when a student enters my office, I see that they learn at least one of the quotations.
The Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly, a likely candidate for the country's presidency, has arrived in Beijing for a six-day visit. In a meeting with Xi Jinping, he spoke about global peace, cooperation, and development". Meanwhile, the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, landed in Hanoi today, where he will meet with the prime minister, and hold celebrations with local Catholic communities.

Hanoi (AsiaNews/Agencies)  The Chairman of Vietnam's National Assembly Vuong inh Hue arrived in China on Sunday and has already held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has proposed greater cooperation between the two communist countries in the South China Sea and on a number of trade and development projects.

Meanwhile, back in Vietnam, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States (Vatican's "foreign minister") arrived today for a six-day visit, a historical first.

Hues is one Vietnams four pillars (along with the party chief, the prime minister, and the president). His visit to Beijing comes after President Vo Van Thuong was dismissed last month over unspecified wrongdoings and after Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son visited China following a trip to the United States.

An anti-corruption campaign has been underway in Vietnam for about a year, leading to the dismissal of several officials who held leading positions within the Communist Party.

Hue seems to be one of the few qualified politicians to replace Thuong (who had opened the country to foreign investors but also favoured dialogue with the Vatican by inviting Pope Francis to Vietnam), but not all observers agree.

The last thing China wants is a country like Vietnam, that shares borders with it, getting too close to the U.S., said University of Adelaide Professor Jack Butcher speaking to Nikkei Asia.

China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and a vital source of imports for its manufacturing sector, while Vietnam ranks No. 2 for Chinese exports after the United States.

Still, in Southeast Asia, the Vietnamese are the most concerned about Chinese influence, especially with regard to Chinese provocations in the South China Sea, where Beijing has repeatedly violated the maritime sovereignty of other countries.

Hue today said that he hopes China will have an important contribution to global peace, cooperation and development, while the two countries further develop their economic and trading relations.

Durings Xis visit to Vietnam in December, the two communist neighbours signed a series of agreements, including the development of a community with a "shared future".

Today, the Vietnam News Agency reported that Archbishop Gallagher is set to meet with his counterpart, Bui Thanh Son, as well as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. After the meetings, the Vaticans top diplomat will lead Eucharistic celebrations in the capital Hanoi as well as Ho Chi Minh City, the countrys financial hub.

Archbishop Gallaghers visit is an important step in the rapprochement between Vietnam and the Holy See, after relations ended with the complete Communist takeover of the country in 1975.

After lengthy work by a joint commission, a major step towards re-establishment of full diplomatic relations was taken in July last year when former President Vo Van Thuong and Pope Francis signed an agreement on the presence of a permanent papal representative in Vietnam. Archbishop Marek Zalewski was appointed to the post and is currently serving in that capacity in Hanoi.

During the Secretary of States visit the issue of Pope Francis's possible trip to Vietnam will be discussed. Last Christmas, then President Vo Van Thuong sent an official invitation for such a visit, something that Vietnamese Catholics hope will take place soon, perhaps even during the pontiffs planned visit to other Asian countries next September.
Best Dating Sites for Professionals

Is Work Getting in the Way of Romance? These Sites Are Here to Help

The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service.

Are you interested in finding a long-term partner who works just as hard as you to form an adorable power couple? Theres an app for that. Do you have plenty of money, but not enough time to enter a relationship and would prefer a more casual connection? The internet has you covered in that area, too.

The question is: How should one navigate dating when time is limited? The answer requires sacrifice. If dating is something you really want to commit to, then you need to prioritize and make time, says Michelle Herzog, a relationship/sex therapist and owner of Center for Mindful Living in Chicago. It's not likely that a romantic interest will suddenly appear while you are at your office 60+ hours a week.

As a young professional's time is valuable, be clear on what kind of romantic relationship you have time for before starting the dating process. If you are someone who regularly works more than 40 hours a week, travels often or has an unpredictable work schedule, then honesty with yourself and the people you are dating is critical to help manage expectations, notes Herzog. There are definitely ways to get creative while dating as a young professional, which includes joining local young professionals organizations, advisory boards or networking events specifically geared towards professionals in your age groups.

RELATED: Considering Dating a Coworker? Keep These Things in Mind

As a busy professional, it's also important to be up front about your time constraints. If there is a particular person you are interested in, engage with them on a regular basis and being consistent in finding a time to meet for another date can be helpful steps towards prioritizing your romantic life, she adds. For most people, quality relationships determine quality of life, not how much time you spend at your office.

Because prioritizing work can lead to a skills deficit when it comes to dating and building healthy, adult relationships and we know that youre busy, we've assembled a list of the best dating sites for professionals. Read on to get just what youre looking for.

Dating Apps for Professionals

Elite Singles

As professionals, we respect a business that gets to the point. Elite Singles matches you with other successful people, and gives you more than a Facebook photo to base your opinion on, too. The high-end dating site collects information about profession and appearance, so you can be as selective with your dating game as you are during the hiring practice.

Try Out Elite Singles

Match

Match.com is a household name. As a professional, you know that to become a household name, you have to be doing something right. When youre looking for a relationship with another grown-up who is ready for a real relationships and real conversations, Match is the high-end dating site for you.. Rather than just swipes, the site asks for information that is both erotically and intelligently useful. If you know youre looking for a toned brunette, those filters are available. Likewise, if you know youd be better paired with someone who interested in marriage and children someday, you can search for that, too. Match.com essentially lets you search for your dream partner. While its free to look, it will cost you per month depending on what package you pick. Think of it as an investment. Plus, that monthly fee helps to weed out the flakes who would only waste your precious time.

Try Out Match

The League

The League made headlines for its professionalism in the likes of Forbes for a reason. The dating app bills itself as the go-to high-end dating app for professionals with high standards. Rather than Facebook, it uses LinkedIn to verify work and education information provided. Not anyone can join The League; you have to apply. However, with application comes the promise that your matches are likely to be people that youre actually compatible with. With the slogan date intelligently, their ads encourage you to keep Tinder for casual hookups, but use The League when you actually want to date someone.

You have to play by the rules to stay in The League. Members who dont log in for two weeks will be kicked out. That also goes for flaky members who ignore messages, so get over your fear of commitment before you apply. For professionals looking to meet someone up to their standards, it is the way to go. You can rest assured that all potential mates have been screened and approved, so fear not about fakes or bots. The app makes it clear that the office is in mind, because every day at 5 P.M. (happy hour) their concierge sends you a batch of matches. If you heart one another, its on. Start chatting and meet up for in real life happy hour next time.

Try Out The League

Seeking

Seeking is undeniably controversial  were just going to lead with that. But as any businessman knows, if something is infamous, its because a lot of people are paying attention. Seeking connects sugar babies and sugar daddies. That means that usually beautiful, younger women, looking for a mentor to help with school or support their art, seek wealthy older gentlemen (and their wallets) for companionship.

We dont judge and were not going to get high and mighty on you. Sometimes you want marriage; sometimes you want an arrangement. We praise Seeking for its honesty. We respect that it can be hard out there for women to make it on their own. We also respect rich businessmen who would rather set up a casual arrangement when they want some company. And FYI, the website hosts sugar mommas, too. So if youre a hot young guy looking for some support while you launch your own app, enjoy cougar hunting.

Try Out Seeking

Raya

Heres the thing about Raya: Its an application-based app for people in creative industries. (Read: celebrities) The waitlist is notorious; we know famous hot writers still stuck on the waiting list, so dont let your ego get bruised if you dont make the cut. However, if you are a professional in the creative industry, taking a shot and applying cant hurt. You might end up sleeping with your celebrity crush.

Try Out Raya

The Inner Circle

The Inner Circle markets itself as fine dating, and they arent lying. Sure, like Raya, there is a waiting list that makes the app sound a bit pretentious but after swiping past dozens of disappointing potential Tinder matches, the selective screening process of the high-end dating app may be just the ticket for the serious person with precious social and literal currency. They vet potential users on age, photos, and social networks. Youve worked hard to get where you are, so when it comes to dating, youre allowed to be a bit pretentious.

Try Out The Inner Circle

Tinder

Sure, everyone and their mother has Tinder, but thats exactly why were here for it. Having Tinder is like owning good socks. Sure, it may not be the most special item of clothing in your wardrobe, but its pretty much a requirement. Along with hosting endless matches, we love Tinder for its easy location-based swiping. You may meet your future spouse, or you may meet a hottie for a one-night hotel stand while on a business trip. Tinder is a staple that everyone should have on their phones.

Try Out Tinder

eHarmony

eharmony is a staple of dating websites. We use the word websites because its been around longer than apps even existed. While Tinder pretty much rely on photos and location. eharmony digs deeper, asking about how many children you have, your religious beliefs, and how often you smoke and drink. This, paired with its success rate, inherently makes eHarmony a high-end dating site.

We dig eharmony because while its more for people looking for long-term relationships rather than hookups, it has the same name recognition as apps like Tinder. That means more members, which means more matches for you. As a businessman, you understand that theres power in numbers.

Try Out eharmony

BeLinked

While its certainly happened, you may not feel totally comfortable sliding into the LinkedIn message center of the hottie who works for your companys competition. However, you may enjoy the idea of meeting someone who shares your ambition. This is where BeLinked comes in. With a tagline of Date like a professional, the app connects you to other ambitious singles using LinkedIn information.

It even weeds out unemployed users, or those without jobs up to the apps standards. BeLinked is for busy professionals who dont just want to date or hook up, but that are interested in forming a power couple. While some hard workers are happy to use their gains to support a partner, others prefer those who work just as hard as them and have their own wealth. If thats what youre looking for, BeLinked is for you.

Try Out BeLinked

More Dating Sites for Other Types of Professionals

Dating Site for Medical Professionals

Coffee Meets Bagel

Convenience is important for medical professionals as hours can be sporadic, long and unpredictable. It also means you have no time for duds. If youre seeking something serious and substantial, Coffee Meets Bagel could lead you to your soulmate. Perhaps whats most alluring about the app is it provides a limited number of matches each day, pairing you with only the most compatible profiles. The app also relies on mutual friends to pair you up, meaning prospective partners will not be complete strangers and may even give you something  or someone  to talk about. Like you, Coffee Meets Bagel values efficient dating because youve got no time to waste.

Try Out Coffee Meets Bagel

Dating Site for Black Professionals

BlackCupid

BlackCupid resides under the umbrella of the leading niche dating group, Cupid Media, which operates over 30 reputable dating sites. Like most sites in their portfolio, BlackCupids function is fairly basic, offering standard, gold and platinum memberships. The website asks users to list their occupation, making it a viable space for professionals to meet. While the dating site is rather rudimentary in its function, it is unique in that it offers a space where black singles can speak with other black singles. Best of all, BlackCupid offers a profile verification feature, so you can be assured there is no insidious behavior going on.

Try Out BlackCupid

Exclusive Dating Site for Professionals

Happn

Weve said it before and well say it again: Time is of the essence for busy and frantic professionals. That means convenience is important, and its why Happn may be the high-end dating app for you. Happn uses a unique geo-targeted system which matches users with people theyve come into close contact with throughout the day. Considering most professional positions are stationed in large cities, matches in nearby office buildings or on bustling streets will be far more expansive than if you lived in a small town. Matches include the company and job title of each user, as well as any shared interests you two have, making for easy, breezy conversation. A suggestion: Its also super easy to set up a casual drink after work at a nearby bar.

Try Out Happn

Dating Site for Young Professionals

Bumble

If youre young and educated, Bumble is the app to use. According to stats, 72 percent of the dating apps user base is under 35-years-old, and 91 percent of them have at least a Bachelors degree. The app is also great for those will little time to socialize because, as with work, there are deadlines to be met. Once a match is made, users only have a 24 hour window to make their first interaction, which in the case of this app, is all up to the female  an asset for those who fear the process of writing an inventive intro.

Try Out Bumble

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A prominent Las Vegas attorney and his wife were shot to death Monday by the woman's former father-in-law during a deposition for a child custody case at a Nevada law office.

Attorney Dennis Prince was representing his wife, Ashley Prince, in a child custody dispute involving the two children she shared with her ex-husband, Dylan Houston, at the Prince Law Group's office, Monday morning, KTNV-TV reported, citing several unnamed law enforcement sources familiar with the case.

Dylan's father, attorney Joe Houston, was representing his son.

In the middle of a deposition, the elder Houston shot and killed the Princes before turning the gun on himself.

"The suspect was not killed by police. We believe he took his own life," Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said, according to KLAS-TV.

Dennis and Ashley recently welcomed their only child together, KVVU-TV reported.

Dennis' former law partner, Robert Eglet, described the late attorney as a father of four whose death was "not just a loss to his family, but also to the community," according to KLAS.

The investigation remains ongoing.
The family of a Missouri man convicted of murdering his cousin and her husband are holding out hope in the finals hours leading up to his scheduled execution on Tuesday, with some relatives insisting that an execution would cause the family more pain.

Brian Dorsey pleaded guilty to the December 2006 killing of Sarah Bonnie and her husband, Ben Bonnie. Dorsey, 52, had asked his cousin to lend him money, after drug dealers entered his apartment and demanded repayment. The Bonnies paid his debt and took Dorsey back to their home, where they spent the evening drinking and playing pool.

Hours later, Dorsey entered the couple's bedroom and murdered both with a shotgun. Court records allege that Dorsey then sexually assaulted Sarah's corpse but he has never confessed to that or been charged with rape. After the killings, Dorsey left the couple's home, while their four-year-old daughter continued to sleep in another room.

"I was for the execution," Dorsey and Bonnie's cousin Claudia Boyce told KSDK. "But after being through this, after seeing how this affects so many people, you don't even think about that until you've gone through it."

"You know, that's supposed to be God's decision, not ours," she said.

In the ensuing years, Dorsey has never disputed that he killed his cousin. Rather he claims that he was suffering from drug-induced psychosis and received insufficient legal representation during his trial.

In the weeks leading up to his execution, Dorsey has pleaded with Missouri Governor Mike Parson to have his sentences commuted to life in prison. Parson denied the request, in spite of support from the Catholic Church, law professors, mental health activists and dozens of prison employees who met Dorsey during his time behind bars.

The execution has also divided and pained Dorsey's family - many of whom struggle with their connection to both the victim and the perpetrator.

"It will be terrible for me because he is like my son," Linda Stone, who is both Dorsey and Bonnie's cousin, told KSDK.

"If Brian is executed I'm going to be heart broken," cousin Jennifer Gerhauser told the outlet. "I just don't understand how anyone or God, or the powers that be or fate or whatever is running this world could allow that special light to be extinguished."

Other members of Sarah Bonnie's family released a statement condemning Dorsey's actions and insisting on the execution.

"They were loved so deeply by anyone that knew them," the statement said, according to CNN. "All of these years of pain and suffering we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Brian will get the justice that Sarah and Ben have deserved for so long."
Speaking before a government official at the National Assembly on Tuesday, Sisak Gabrielian, a member of the parliamentary faction of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians Civil Contract party, expressed astonishment that Armenia continues to import Russian products while Russia does not allow Armenian dairy products to be imported.

Every time entering our stores we see that there is a reduced amount of Armenian products on store shelves, while the products of the market that has banned imports of goods from Armenia are on sale, the Armenian lawmaker said.

Russias agricultural inspection body, Rosselkhoznadzor, had told relevant services in Armenia to stop the export of dairy products to Russia beginning on April 5, contending that the Veterinary Service of Armenia is unable to guarantee the safety of Armenian dairy products for Russian consumers.

Earlier, Rosselkhoznadzor applied temporary restrictions to the products of an Armenian fish-breeding company, claiming that coli bacteria had been found in its red caviar. The Max Fish company saw a political implication behind that decision.

The sale of some batches of Armenian Jermuk bottled mineral water was prohibited in Russia for several weeks since late December after Russian authorities said a resident of Vladikavkaz in Russias Republic of North Ossetia-Alania had died in hospital after suffering an acute stomach burn caused by a sip of liquid from a Jermuk mineral water bottle that ostensibly contained vinegar. The Armenian producer then denied any violations of technical requirements of production.

The series of bans on the import of Armenian products comes amid souring Armenian-Russian relations, with officials in Russia not hiding their anger over Armenias drifting away from its traditional ally and aligning with the West.

The European Union and the United States promised over $356 million in fresh assistance to Armenia last Friday as their top representatives met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in Brussels to show support for his efforts to deepen Yerevans ties with the West.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the aid will help the South Caucasus nation increase its resilience and diversify its economy heavily dependent on Russia.
9 April 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

As the world experience expands, there is a need to adapt education in Azerbaijan to the requirements of the modern era. Although a number of important steps have been taken in this direction, it is undeniable that there is still a lot of work to be done.

The Minister of Education and Science, Emin Amrullayev, met with the World Bank's Country Manager for Azerbaijan, Stefanie Stallmeister. It was reported that during the meeting, the current status of relations and prospects for cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science and the World Bank were discussed.

Given the World Bank has provided financial support in business development and other fields in Azerbaijan, if this is the case, the question arises, what issues were discussed in the field of development of Azerbaijani education at this meeting?

Speaking to Azernews education expert Kamran Asadov noted that the World Bank is an institution that can directly influence and impact the education system worldwide in every sense of the word.

The World Bank is an institution that directs all education reforms happening worldwide, providing support towards achieving their goals. Azerbaijan has participated in several international grant projects of the World Bank, and I consider this meeting to be quite significant. Because of the Ministry of Education and Science currently oversees the development of science in Azerbaijan directly. I believe that the meeting with the World Bank will have a positive impact on increasing the international competitiveness of higher education in Azerbaijan.

According to him, the education system of Azerbaijan has been internationally evaluated for more than 20 years now.

It means that Azerbaijan actively participates in PISA, TIMMS, and other international assessments. In this regard, the World Bank can also express its position on economic indicators in Azerbaijan. That is, if we achieve good results in international assessments, it directly relates to economic indicators.

The expert believes that during the meeting with the World Bank, there will be more agreement and activity regarding the increase in international competitiveness of higher education, and the advancement of Azerbaijani universities in international rankings will be particularly emphasized.

"I believe that the World Bank has a particular stance, especially regarding community-based educational institutions. That is, today the World Bank is interested in expanding the coverage and ensuring the accessibility of community-based education in Azerbaijan. You may know that currently there are 1693 kindergartens and nursery houses operating in Azerbaijan, covering only 30-35 percent of all children. However, the World Bank has set targets for these figures to exceed 50 percent in Azerbaijan. This will encourage the opening of new kindergartens and nursery houses in regions, as well as community-based educational institutions."

Asadov thinks that within the framework of cooperation with the World Bank, there is a need for new reforms in the education sector in Azerbaijan.

"I believe that in this meeting, new content standards for the curriculum in Azerbaijan, as well as the issue of teaching new subjects, will emerge, and I expect positive changes from these. This is because there are studies for the implementation of significant reforms in the education system by the World Bank. That is, today, the most serious and best research in the field of education worldwide is conducted through the World Bank. Even when we access their website, we can see the most serious research, statistics, and data. Therefore, we can benefit from their experience, especially in improving the quality of secondary schools, as well as the international competitiveness and development of higher education."

He stressed that after this meeting, a new stage in the development of higher education in Azerbaijan may begin.

"Especially, there is an issue of monitoring in secondary general education schools. That is, there are good researches in the World Bank regarding the formation of modern knowledge and skills in students, and I believe that we can use the approach of the World Bank in international assessments in monitoring exams. In Azerbaijan, today there is more assessment of the state examination center. For instance, in the entrance and exit exams, there are also assessments by the State Examination Center, which is under the Ministry of Education. However, there are various assessment tools for evaluating and measuring the quality of education, and these are available in the World Bank. For example, even during the most critical periods, such as students' attitudes towards subjects and their application of acquired knowledge, etc. For example, currently in Azerbaijan, exams only assess knowledge. There are no exams assessing skills. However, in the assessment of the World Bank, there are test samples related to the assessment of new skills, and I believe that new assessment tools can be implemented in Azerbaijan in the coming years, and we can benefit from the World Bank's experience in this field."

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
9 April 2024 11:14 (UTC+04:00)

The top priority of the forth-coming 18th international Caspian Investment Forum 2024 is to establish successful business ties between Czech and Azerbaijani companies, as well as expand business dealings in all countries where Caspian Energy Club is present, Managing Partner of Financial Chain Corporation, Chairman of the Board of Caspian Energy Club Czechia Zaur Gadirov emphasised.

As an official representative of Caspian Energy Club in Czechia, Caspian Energy Club Czechia keeps expanding its activity. Businessmen of the two countries had a fruitful networking at the CEO Breakfast Prague event held in February of this year. The role of all the events held so far in the establishment of advantageous relations between the companies of the two countries is undeniable. New opportunities and prospects of business climate, green energy, Europes energy security, technological progress and digitalization, as well as investment potential, attraction of investments, and diversification of trade with different countries, were the major topics of the events we have held, Zaud Gadirov said.

In his interview, Chairman of the Board Zaur Gadirov stressed the importance of the Caspian Energy Club Czechia networking platform, which enables Czech and Azerbaijani companies to introduce their services and establish business relations.

As you know, CEO meetings focused on the discussion of many topical issues have been held so far. Issues concerning artificial intelligence, financial technologies, tourism development, green energy, investments, and the business climate were thoroughly discussed at those meetings. Such meetings make it possible for Caspian Energy Club member companies to introduce their businesses, establish relations, discuss challenges, and make suggestions. At the same time, noteworthy is the importance of the work that Caspian Energy Club does to build and develop business relations, thereby contributing to the shaping of the business environment, Zaur Gadirov noted.

Speaking about future plans, Chairman of the Board of Caspian Energy Club Czechia, Zaur Gadirov, noted that another important forum scheduled for May would join the list of events conducted in 2024.

We believe that the 18th international Caspian Investment Forum 2024 Prague scheduled for May 16-17 will promote further development of the investment and business climate, as well as encourage dialogues. The major objective of the Forum is to facilitate the establishment of successful business ties between Czech and Azerbaijani companies, and expand business dealings in all countries where Caspian Energy Club is operating. We extend our deepest gratitude to the embassies of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Turkiye, Export and Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan which provided us support to hold the 18th international Caspian Investment Forum 2024. Philips and Energizer companies are also in the sponsors list of the forum, the platinum sponsor of which is Financial Chain Corporation. The organization work has been trusted to the company Joint Bridges. We hope that the investment forum will foster the development of economic ties and cooperation between our countries, as well as ensure effective investment partnership and successful implementation of joint initiatives, Zaur Gadirov underscored.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
9 April 2024 16:17 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which was founded in 1863 in Geneva, the capital of Switzerland, actually came into being as a movement on the initiative of a number of volunteers and organisation members from different countries around the world.

The organisation began to expand its activities with the goal of providing impartial humanitarian aid to countries suffering from natural disasters, conflicts, and wars. However, complaints about the organisation began to appear from time to time based on various motives.

The activities of the ICRC in Azerbaijan began to expand after the 1990s. The conflict that arose in the region against the background of the First Garabagh War made the organisation's first activities related to helping refugees and searching for missing persons. Although the ICRC, which entered Azerbaijan for this purpose, did some work in this direction, it could not neatly fulfil its mission.

The fact is that after the First Garabagh War, 4354 prisoners and 841 of the missing were civilians. 47 of them were children, 268 were women, and 371 were old people.

Unfortunately, we must note that during the analysis of the materials received by the State Commission, it was determined that 550 people were killed in captivity, held hostages, or died after torture. Of the killed, 104 were women, 446 were men, and the names of 74 people are not known.

Despite all these gruesome events, the ICRC did not take any serious steps towards finding them and returning them.

It is known that when the ICRC was on the side of Armenia, they witnessed the torture and suffering of the captured Azerbaijanis by the Armenians. The prisoners were treated with such violence that they did not even dare to ask the ICRC for help. Because it could cost them their lives.

Although the ICRC was aware of the detention of many Azerbaijanis in prison camps in Armenia, it did not fulfil its duties and tried to exclude itself from the process under various pretexts. However, the mission of the organisation was to be impartial and to do certain things for the safety of every captured person.

And finally, during the Second Garabagh War, the ICRC actively joined the process of solving the problems of Armenians, and the bodies of more than 1,700 Armenian soldiers were handed over to Armenia. This time, it was possible to feel a different kind of initiative in the ICRC's activities. Because the ICRC, acting on the side of the defeated Armenia, was about to make public statements against Azerbaijan on behalf of the Armenian government,.

After the war, the ICRC showed disrespect for international law and the laws of Azerbaijan by starting to operate autonomously in Khankendi, literally the territory of Azerbaijan. They sided with the separatist leaders, who were operating illegally in Garabagh and are currently imprisoned in Baku, and adopted arbitrary laws based on their words.

It was a fact that 2 centres of the ICRC operated in Azerbaijan. However, their office in Khankendi had its own budget. They even carried out independent personnel selection there and operated mostly in an integrated form in Armenia.

Based on the words of the separatist leaders, the ICRC was openly acting against the laws of Azerbaijan on its territory. Although Azerbaijan repeatedly appealed to the ICRC to change the status of the Khankendi office, all appeals were ignored.

Humanitarian organization caught in smuggling

Unable to reconcile with the defeat in 2020, the Armenian authorities attempted to supply weapons to the separatist elements that once existed in Garabagh. Each of the weapons and ammunition secretly transported from Yerevan to Khankendi in vehicles was a plan for further provocations against Azerbaijan. Of course, the ICRC was aware of all this.

During the winter and autumn of 2022, when eco-activists organised protests on the Lachin-Khankendi road, the "Khankendi office" of the ICRC carried out illegal transportation and actually engaged in smuggling activities. It is no coincidence that 2 employees of the organisation were declared persona non grata and removed from Azerbaijan at that time.

The insincerity of the ICRC was reflected even in the Ukraine-Russia war. The organisation demanded that humanitarian aid be delivered from Kyiv, not Moscow. But after the 44-day war, despite the fact that Azerbaijan opened the Aghdam road and made it possible for the aid of the ICRC to be transported through this road, the ICRC wanted to make a serious effort to transport the aid through the Lachin road. This confirmed what was said about the organisation politicising issues and acting in accordance with certain interests.

In addition, the organisation made false statements, believing Armenia's empty assumptions and confusing people. Thus, Ariane Bauer, who once headed the Baku office of the ICRC and is currently the head of the European and East Asian department of the organisation, said after the Second Garabagh War that there would be a new war and that there was a need to continue their activities in Khankendi for a long time.

Some time ago, it was decided to suspend the activities of the ICRC's Khankendi office. It is interesting that this information was not released by the institution's Baku office but by the Yerevan office.

At present, the Khankendi office has moved to Barda and declared that it is operating there. Thus, the organisation still has 2 offices in Azerbaijan. But the war has already ended, and there is no need for the ICRC to operate in the territory of Azerbaijan. This means that it has become necessary for the organisation to conclude its activities and leave Azerbaijan.

Even they think that there may be a need to act in the direction of humanitarian aid in the country, for which there is a Red Crescent organisation that can be an adequate alternative to the ICRC in Azerbaijan.

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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews Deputy Editor-in-Chief; follow him on @ElnurMammadli1

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9 April 2024 12:16 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

Foreign Ministers Jeyhun Bayramov and Zheenbek Kulubaev had a meeting in an expanded format to discuss the prospects of a strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, Azernews reports, citing the post shared by Azerbaijan's Foreign Affairs Ministry on its official "X" account.

It was noted that the ministers held a one-on-one meeting.

The day before, the Azerbaijani minister embarked on an official visit to Kyrgyzstan. As part of the visit, he has scheduled bilateral meetings with high-ranking officials of the country.

Foreign Ministers @Bayramov_Jeyhun  & Zheenbek Kulubaev  had a meeting in an expanded format to discuss prospects of strategic partnership btw #Azerbaijan & #Kyrgyzstan.



Further strengthening bilateral & multilateral cooperation, @COP29_AZ preparations & post-conflict peace pic.twitter.com/B06YLbfKvF  MFA Azerbaijan  (@AzerbaijanMFA) April 9, 2024

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A Microsoft employee was sentenced to 7-years in prison for using the dark web to hire contract killers to target the birth parents of children he had adopted.

Christopher Pence, 43, of Cedar City, Utah previously pleaded guilty to the plot to kill the New York couple.

He admitted that he used his computer back in 2021 to access a "darknet" website dedicated to arranging contract killings and arranged for the murder of two residents of Hoosick Falls, New York.

He paid a website administrator approximately $16,000 worth of Bitcoin to facilitate the murders.

Pence provided the website administrator with the names, addresses, and photographs of the intended victims.

He instructed the administrator to make the murders look like an accident or botched robbery and requested that care be taken not to harm any of the children who resided with the victims.

But he reportedly suggested that having their 13-year-old son witness the killing could help it appear to be an apparent botched robbery.

The intended victims were not harmed and the FBI arrested Pence in Utah on October 27, 2021.

Pence told investigators that he solicited the murders because of the "fraught relationship" between his family and the victims following Pence's family's adoption of several of the victims' children.

In a sentencing recommendation, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O'Hanlon said the plot "shocks the conscience," the Time Union reported.

Pence's attorney admitted the couple wanted their children back, but said Pence was concerned about them possibly facing abuse. He asked for a four-year term.

Along with the 7-year sentence, United States District Judge David N. Hurd ordered Pence to serve a 3-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.
9 April 2024 16:32 (UTC+04:00)

Seven business entities received resident status in Azerbaijan's Aghdam and Araz Valley Economic Zone industrial parks during the first quarter of 2024, Azernews reports.

The Economic Zones Development Agency (EZDA) noted that the registered residents are planning to invest AZN54.2 million ($31.88 million) and create 480 jobs in the industrial parks.

The agency said that residents will produce fibre-reinforced concrete and polystyrene concrete blocks, dry construction mixtures, cement and concrete additives, various types of adhesive tapes, orthopaedic mattresses, upholstered furniture, shoes, and other products.

Meanwhile, a total of 31 business entities have resident status, while seven have non-resident status in the mentioned parks.

Moreover, 38 business entities plan to invest more than AZN263 million ($154.7 million) and create more than 2,500 jobs in the industrial parks.

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9 April 2024 16:59 (UTC+04:00)

The British Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (BCCA) will organize a meeting with the UK representatives responsible for climate protection issues, particularly in the upcoming 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), with stakeholders on the theme Building Bridges, in Baku, Azernews reports.

"A delegation from the UK, including Head of the Climate Diplomacy Department of the Environment, Climate and Energy Directorate (ECED) Andrew Francis, and Head of the Climate Strategy and Coordination Department Anna Walters, will arrive in Baku.

With the participation of the UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan Fergus Auld, and BCCA experts, a meeting on COP29 and the entire spectrum of global climate agenda issues will take place on April 17 in Baku," the BCCA pointed out.

To note, COP29 will take place in Baku on November 1124, and in anticipation of this global event, various national and international consultations will be held.

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9 April 2024 18:34 (UTC+04:00)

The active work on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway construction project continues, said Nurlanbek Shakiev, the Speaker of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan, during a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Du Dewen, Azernews reports.

"This railway is very important not only for China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan but also for the region as a whole," he said, according to the parliament.

Shakiev also noted that China is one of the main trade and economic partners of Kyrgyzstan and highlighted the growth in trade turnover between the two countries.

"We should also consider new opportunities that contribute to deepening economic relations," said the parliamentarian.

During the meeting, issues of enhancing political-economic, cultural-humanitarian ties between Kyrgyzstan and China were discussed, including in the sphere of inter-parliamentary cooperation.

According to the State Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, the country's trade turnover with China reached $5.443 billion in 2023, comprising 34.7 percent of Kyrgyzstans total trade. The trade increased by 31 percent compared to $4.181 billion in 2022.

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, a planned 454-kilometer rail line, is intended to connect China's and Uzbekistan's railways through Kyrgyzstan's territory and further link up with the European railway network through Turkmenistan, Iran, and Turkiye.

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9 April 2024 17:32 (UTC+04:00)

In the last Iranian year (March 21, 2023 - March 19, 2024), Iran's export of non-oil products to Azerbaijan amounted to 776 thousand tons worth $624m, Azernews reports, citing the statistics of the Customs Administration of Iran.

According to statistics, in the previous Iranian year, Iran's non-oil product exports to Azerbaijan decreased by 4.6% in terms of value and increased by 1.4% in terms of weight compared to the previous year (March 21, 2022 - March 20, 2023).

It is added in the statistics that during the same period last year, Iran's export of non-oil products to Azerbaijan amounted to 765,000 tons worth 654 million.

According to the statistics, Iran mainly exported agricultural and food products, industrial products, petrochemical and chemical products to Azerbaijan.

Statistics show that in the 12th month of the last Iranian year (February 20 - March 19, 2024), Iran's export of non-oil products to Azerbaijan amounted to 68.1 thousand tons worth 64 million dollars.

It should be noted that according to the statistics of the Iranian Customs Administration, Iran's export of non-oil products in the last Iranian year amounted to more than 136 million tons worth 49.3 billion dollars. Compared to the previous year, Iran's non-oil product exports decreased by 8.87% in terms of value and increased by 9.82% in terms of weight.

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9 April 2024 16:44 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

The National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia, at the initiative of factions of opposition parties, discussed the issue of the delimitation and demarcation of borders with Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The hearings started at the closed session of the parliament with the participation of the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, Mger Grigoryan, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ararat Mirzoyan.

"The agenda of the session includes the issue of holding a discussion on the delimitation and demarcation of borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan," Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan said.

A source in the faction of the "Armenia" movement reported that the discussion of this issue, at the request of the ruling Civil Contract Party, was held behind closed doors. The speakers were Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

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9 April 2024 10:41 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Kyrgyz Zheenbek Kulubaev, Azernews reports, citing a post shared by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The post reads:

"Glad to meet Zheenbek Kulubaev, FM of brotherly Kyrgyz Republic within the framework of an official visit. Reiterated the importance of continuing mutual contacts to further enhance the Azerbaijani-Kyrgyz strategic partnership. Informed about @COP29_AZpresidency & post-conflict regional situation."

It was noted that the ministers held a one-on-one meeting.

The day before, the Azerbaijani minister embarked on an official visit to Kyrgyzstan. As part of the visit, he has scheduled bilateral meetings with high-ranking officials of the country.

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9 April 2024 13:50 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov is on a visit to Moscow to discuss bilateral trade and economic cooperation, Azernews reports, citing the Russian media.

The minister met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Denis Manturov and Chairman of the country's Central Bank Elvira Nabiullina.

Information about the negotiations was disseminated by the press services of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and the Russian Cabinet of Ministers.

The Azerbaijani minister of economy and the head of the Central Bank talked about the economic situation in both countries, discussed bilateral trade and economic relations, and touched upon some aspects of the Russian-Azerbaijani financial agenda.

It should be noted that during the visit of Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov to Baku in early March 2024, he called for expanding interaction between the banks of the two countries and connecting Azerbaijani banks to the financial message transmission system of the Bank of Russia.

In addition, negotiations between Jabbarov and Manturov also took place in Moscow.

The Russian-Azerbaijani trade is demonstrating good dynamics. Our interaction in the field of industry is developing generally positively - a number of large cooperation projects are being implemented in key sectors of the economy, said Manturov.

As an example, the deputy prime minister cited such industries as automotive and railway engineering, and also noted aircraft manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. In addition, the minister spoke about the great potential that exists in online trading.

Manturov also invited the Azerbaijani minister to the international industrial exhibition Innoprom. It will take place in Yekaterinburg in July.

In March, during a meeting with Reshetnikov in Baku, Mikayil Jabbarov noted that there is great potential for increasing ties with Russia in industry, transport, environmental protection, and agriculture, as well as for new areas of cooperation. The realization of this potential is the main priority on the economic agenda for us, Jabbarov emphasised.

Russia is one of the five largest investors in the Azerbaijani economy. At the end of last year, the country invested almost $274 million in Azerbaijan. Currently, various projects with Russian participation are being implemented in the republic for a total amount of almost $624 million - from IT and aircraft manufacturing to medical and light industry.

At the end of 2023, trade turnover reached $4.1 billion and grew in physical volumes by almost a third. At the same time, more than half of Russian-Azerbaijani trade is carried out in national currencies - 54.2%.

More than 70 Russian entities cooperate with Azerbaijan. The most actively developing trade relations with Azerbaijan are Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Moscow, Chelyabinsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Sverdlovsk, and Saratov regions, the Stavropol and Krasnodar territories, and the Republic of Tatarstan.

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9 April 2024 13:33 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has inspected a complex of irrigation facilities designed to deliver irrigation water from the Kur River to a 4200-hectare land owned by Agro Dairy LLC through a pumping station in the Hajigabul district, Azernews reports.

Zaur Mikayilov, Chairman of the Azerbaijan State Water Reserves Agency, and Niyazi Amirbayov, Executive Director of Agro Dairy LLC, briefed the head of state on the work accomplished.

President Ilham Aliyev was also informed about the Hajigabul irrigation project. It was noted that within the project framework, irrigation of 2,555 hectares of land was ensured in 2022. It is planned to implement the project on an additional 1,225 hectares of land next year.

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9 April 2024 17:03 (UTC+04:00)

On April 9, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkiye made a phone call to President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The President of Turkiye congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr and wished the people of Azerbaijan prosperity.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the attention and congratulations and, in turn, congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the occasion of the holiday, wishing the people of Turkiye tranquility.

During the phone conversation, the heads of state expressed confidence that friendly, brotherly, and allied relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye would continue to develop and strengthen across all areas, and exchanged views on the prospects for bilateral cooperation.

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9 April 2024 12:43 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

In the first quarter of 2024, Azerbaijan's natural gas exports to Europe increased by 10.3 percent, reaching 3.2 billion cubic metres. In addition to Europe, Azerbaijan also transferred 2.3 billion cubic metres of gas to Turkey and 0.9 billion cubic metres to Georgia, making the total exports during that period 6.4 billion cubic metres.

According to Azernews, this was reported by Vugar Bayramov, a member of the Economic Policy, Industry, and Entrepreneurship Committee of the National Assembly, on his social media account.

He noted that Azerbaijan produced 12.6 billion cubic metres of gas, which is 0.4 billion cubic metres more than the corresponding period of the previous year.

"In total, since the exploitation of the 'Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli' and 'Shah Deniz' fields, by April 1, 2024, 219.6 billion cubic metres of gas have been produced from 'Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli' and 216 billion cubic metres from 'Shah Deniz'. During this period, 153.4 billion cubic metres of gas produced from the 'Shah Deniz' field have been transported for export.

As it appears, Azerbaijan's role in shaping the energy security of Europe and the region as a whole is strengthening. Azerbaijan is among the top five countries exporting gas to the European Union. In the next period, it is expected that gas cooperation, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, will further expand. It is expected that more countries will receive Azerbaijan's blue gas, especially through the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector," he added.

Azerbaijan, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, has emerged as a significant player in the global energy market, particularly in the realm of natural gas exports. The country's strategic geographic position, coupled with its substantial reserves, has positioned it as a key supplier of energy resources to both regional and international markets.

The surge in Azerbaijan's gas exports not only highlights the country's growing influence in the global energy market but also underscores its commitment to bolstering energy security in Europe and the wider region. As Azerbaijan continues to enhance its energy infrastructure and explore new avenues for cooperation, its role as a reliable energy partner is set to strengthen further, contributing to stability and prosperity in the region.

One of Azerbaijan's major endeavours in the energy sector has been the development of its vast natural gas fields, notably the 'Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli' and 'Shah Deniz' fields. These fields, located in the Caspian Sea, represent a cornerstone of Azerbaijan's energy strategy and have played a pivotal role in the country's economic growth and development.

As Bayramov mentioned, Azerbaijan's increasing role in shaping the energy security of Europe and the wider region is becoming increasingly evident. The country ranks among the top five gas exporters to the European Union, underscoring its significance as a reliable energy partner. Looking ahead, expectations are high for further expansion of gas cooperation, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. It is anticipated that more countries will benefit from Azerbaijan's gas exports, with potential routes such as the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector playing a key role in facilitating this expansion. As Azerbaijan continues to enhance its energy infrastructure and explore new avenues for cooperation, its role as a pivotal player in the global energy market is set to strengthen further, contributing to regional stability and economic prosperity.

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A father-son duo who brutally murdered two men in 2022, torturing them with machetes and hammers before finally killing them have finally learned their sentence.

Ian MacLeod, 66, and his 42-year-old son, Dylan were both sentenced to 34 years behind bars for the spine-chilling killings of Derek Johnston and Desmond Rowlings. The father-son duo toyed with the men, repeatedly hitting them over the head with a Stanley knife, a machete, and a hammer.

The MacLeods must serve the entirety of their terms before being eligible for parole, according to the Daily Mail.

MacLeod senior initially invited Johnston and Rowlings to his flat in Greendykes House in the Craigmillar area of Edinburgh between October 30 and November 1, 2022.

After maiming the men, the pair used a blowtorch to carve 'YLT' into Johnston's foreheads, sliced off an ear and part of his nose, and forced nails through his eyes.

With Rowlings, they burned the letters 'VT', 'YT', and 'YLT' across his body, severed parts of his nose and upper lip, and cut off his ears.

Johnston, who lived in Liberton, Edinburgh, told a neighbor just days prior that he had heard rumors that the two killers were out for blood, the DailyMail reported.

Despite these comments, Johnston still arrived to the flat on October 30, roughly around 6:15 p.m.

Rowlings, a retired joiner, showed up to the gathering later on October 31.

Advocate deputy Gavin Anderson told the court that police had to break into the father and son's flat, where they found the victims' bodies.

"The body of Mr. Rowlings was found in the living room. He was lying on his back in the far right corner of the room, under a window. He was covered by a blanket," Anderson described.

Anderson continued with the grisly details as he spoke in the courtroom.

"A Stanley knife, hammer, and blowtorch were found beside him. He had sustained significant injuries to his head and body, including the partial removal of his ears and nose, as well as multiple stab wounds to the face."

"The body of Mr. Johnston was found in the bathroom, lying within the bath. He was covered by a rug. He had sustained significant injuries to his head and body. A hammer was embedded in his head. A nail was protruding from each eyeball."

Following the murders, Dean left a bloodied note for police that read,

"What we have done was evil and sadistic, but I have pleaded for help for decades."

The duo left the scene of the crime and each took a dose of methadone in an attempt to commit suicide; however, they ended up driving themselves to the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.

That's where they met off-duty doctors on the grounds of the psychiatric institution before being taken to Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary.

Ian MacLeod's counsel, Brian McConnachie KC, explained to the court that the father, who was previously jailed for six years on assault charges, has several health issues, including Parkinson's disease.

Mark Stewart KC, counsel for Dean MacLeod, also claimed his client has been suffering from mental health issues for years.

A judge told the pair at Edinburgh's High Court:

"This is, on any view, one of the worst cases of murder to come before the High Court."
9 April 2024 11:32 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Kazakhstan's "KazMunayGaz" (KMG) company has engaged Russia's "LukOil" company to implement the "Kalamkas-deniz/Caspian" oil and gas project, Azernews reports, citing the post shared by Kuanish Kudaybergenov, the deputy chairman of the Board of Directors of "KazMunayGaz", on his telegram channel.

It was noted that "LukOil" was involved in this project due to the refusal of "Shell" and "Oman Oil" companies to develop these contract areas.

"The development of these fields was delayed due to a number of reasons, including the lack of economic feasibility related to exploitation. As a result, those companies refused to invest in these fields and returned these fields to the state," he said.

According to him, after long negotiations, "KazMunayGaz" attracted "LukOil", which has already implemented a number of similar projects in the Russian sector of the Caspian Sea, as a strategic partner.

K. Kudaybergenov said that investments in the amount of 6.5 billion US dollars are needed for the implementation of the project, and these deposits belong to the technologically "complex category".

The official of the company emphasized that along with LukOil, KazMunayGaz also has a 50% share in this project, and all decisions are made on the basis of parity between the participants of the joint venture: "Thus, the claims about KMQ losing control over the project are not true."

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9 April 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

Since the start of the year, precious metal quotations have grown by 16%, repeatedly breaking records, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz News Agency.

On Monday, April 8, the Central Bank set the prices for gold bars and commemorative coins at a new maximum.

A 5-gram bar is currently priced at 4.92 million UZS  111,000 UZS more expensive than the previous Friday. One gram of the precious metal is worth 983,920 UZS, up by 2.2% for the day and 16% since the beginning of the year.

Prices on global exchanges also continue to refresh multi-year highs. As of the closing of trading on April 5, a troy ounce was valued at $2327.70, which is equivalent to $75 per gram.

The Central Bank began selling gold coins to the population in 2018, and two years later, gold bars were added to the offerings. Individuals who purchase them are allowed to take them out of Uzbekistan, provided they follow certain conditions.

These moves have been explained by a desire to reduce the Uzbek economy's dependence on foreign currency. Additionally, according to experts, access to gold will widen investment opportunities and help secure savings.

Coins and bars can be bought and sold through commercial banks. Their prices are updated daily and published on the Central Bank's website and on a Telegram bot.

According to the Central Bank, since 2020, citizens of Uzbekistan have purchased 255 kg of standard bars, with the 10-gram bars being the most popular.

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9 April 2024 13:22 (UTC+04:00)

Uzbekistan Airways has started operating flights to Gatwick International Airport (UK), Azernews reports.

According to the airline, Uzbekistan Airways also conducts regular flights to Heathrow Airport.

The flights to Heathrow are operated on Tuesdays and Fridays, and to Gatwick on Sundays.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan Airways launched the first scheduled flight to Mumbai (India), restored after the pandemic.

The flights from Tashkent to Mumbai and back are operated twice a week, on Mondays and Saturdays.

Furthermore, Uzbekistan will resume flights to Georgian Batumi on May 29. Also, the airline will launch flights to Nha Trang (Vietnam) for the first time on May 4.

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China is positive force in Kenya's economy: Kenyan business leader

Xinhua) 10:09, April 09, 2024

NAIROBI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China is a positive force in the economy of Kenya, said the chief of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Alliance of Kenya, the umbrella body of small entrepreneurs, at a business forum here Monday.

Ben Mutahi, the chairperson of the MSME Alliance of Kenya, told journalists in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that China has emerged as the preferred source country for electronic goods, textiles, cosmetics, vehicle accessories and machinery.

"Chinese goods dominate the Kenyan market as consumers prefer them as they are suited to the tastes of consumers and are also affordable," said Mutahi during the business forum organized by I&M Bank Kenya.

According to Mutahi, Chinese factories can manufacture large quantities of goods to Kenyan specifications in 30 days, compared to other countries, which usually take more than 60 days.

He noted that merchandise once at the port of exit in China can arrive at the Kenyan port of Mombasa in 21 days due to the presence of many shipping lines that ply the route between the Asian nation and Kenya.

Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicated that imports from China hit 3.48 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, accounting for 18.2 percent of Kenya's total import bill that year.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Grace Pauline Kelley, the daughter of country music star Wynonna Judd, was arrested at the intersection of an Alabama highway after she allegedly exposed her breasts and lower body to passing drivers.

Kelley, 27, was charged with obstructing government operations and indecent exposure, according to AL.com.

The Tennessee resident was picked up by police near the road intersection of Interstate 65 and Highway 14 on April 5. She allegedly refused to identify herself and would not comply with the arresting officers, AL.com reported.

Kelley has a long history of legal issues and has been in and out of jail for nearly a decade. In 2015, she was arrested and charged with promotion of meth manufacturing and later pleaded guilty to meth possession. She was also sentenced to eight years in prison, in 2017, after violating probation but was released early.

Kelley was again arrested for violating probation, as well as for violating an order of protection and restraining order, in 2023.

She is expected to appear in court again on April 11. Both of her most recent charges are considered misdemeanors in Alabama.
Now that Kamala Harris has been coronated the Democratic Socialist designee for nomination as their candidate for President of these United States, after that political party's contrived primary process "democratically" elected Joseph R. Biden: What are your feelings about this party's progressive posture within their self-styled exercise of "Saving Democracy for America," and how truly critical the outcome of this presidential election will be?

8.7% I am ecstatic that this "Democracy's" First partially Black, First partially Indian, First female Co-Parent, and this nation's primary necessity is to her elect our First woman president.26.09% I really do not care about all these "Firsts." I will continue to pray, and work for this Representative Republic to elect someone competent, and brilliantly patriotic to be our next president.65.22% I will never vote for any politician that "first" does not have the core values to understand how dire this Constitutional Republic's situation has become.
A patient in Florida has won a $3.2 million lawsuit against a physician who allegedly misdiagnosed him, leading to a lost leg from a flesh-eating bacteria, NBC affiliate WPTV reported April 8.

Russell Caughey, who lost his leg in November 2018, went to the emergency room at Stuart, Fla.-based Martin North Hospital after his leg was swollen and he was in pain. The physician, Donald Wood, MD, allegedly X-rayed it and determined it was a sprained ankle, according to the report.

The suit claimed Dr. Wood did not investigate Mr. Caughey's complaints and did not order any serum blood tests or perform any diagnostic testing. Four days later, when Mr. Caughey returned, an MRI revealed the flesh-eating bacteria and he was told he would lose his leg.

Dr. Wood's attorneys argued he met the standard of care, according to the report.

Martin North Hospital, which is owned by Cleveland Clinic, was originally a defendant, but reached a settlement last year.

"We are committed to providing quality care to all patients and all physicians are committed to following strict standards of care," a spokesperson for Cleveland Clinic said in a statement shared with Becker's. "The well-being of our patients is our top priority. Cleveland Clinic does not comment on litigation."
CVS Health's highest paid executive made $21,615,034 in 2023, according to a regulatory filing published April 5.

Here is how much the company's top five earners were paid in 2023, followed by total compensation:

Karen Lynch. President and CEO: $21,615,034 total compensation

Salary: $1,500,000

Stock awards: $12,374,971

Option awards: $4,124,992

Non-equity incentive plan: $2,992,000

Other compensation: $623,071

Shawn Guertin. Former CFO and President of Health Services: $12,494,134

Salary: $989,583

Stock awards: $7,499,980

Option awards: $2,499,999

Non-equity incentive plan: $1,439,000

Other compensation: $65,572

Samrat Khichi. Chief Policy Officer and General Counsel: $11,886,503

Salary: $753,409

Bonus: $2,000,000

Stock awards: $7,374,948

Option awards: $1,124,996

Non-equity incentive plan: $626,000

Other compensation: $7,150

Tilak Mandadi. Chief Data, Digital and Technology Officer: $8,881,845

Salary: $1,000,000

Stock awards: $4,874,990

Option awards: $1,624,993

Non-equity incentive plan: $1,246,000

Other compensation: $135,862

Prem Shah. Chief Pharmacy Officer and President of Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness: $8,582,366

Salary: $950,000

Stock awards: $4,499,937

Option awards: 1,499,989

Non-equity incentive plan: $1,421,000

Other compensation: $211,440






Columbus grew faster than any other city in the U.S. during the second half of 2023, and its population is expected to grow by about 50% to 2.2 million over the next 10 years, according to a recent Bank of America report.

The 50% projected growth over the next 10 years would see the population of the Columbus metro area reach 2.2 million by 2034, and health systems in the region are preparing to capitalize on this rapid growth.

"This part of the market is booming. We're building facilities, and so are our competitors," Vincent Tammaro, CFO and vice president for health sciences at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, told Becker's.

OSU Wexner's biggest focus over the last couple of years has been ambulatory expansion.

The health system recently opened a $138 million, 251,000-square-foot outpatient campus in Columbus and a $161 million, 272,00-square-foot facility campus with an ASC in Dublin, Ohio. It is also set to begin construction on a $183 million outpatient campus in Powell this month.

"We're going beyond the traditional centralized hospital approach to improve patient-centered care, access and reduce patient costs," Dan Like, chief administrative officer of Ohio State Ambulatory Services, said in a news release.

Last year, OSU Wexner also opened a freestanding outpatient facility specializing in cancer care. The two-story facility spans 350,000 square feet and aims to provide access to top-quality cancer care to patients closer to their homes.

"Five years from now, well have five new multispecialty outpatient big boxes and one really focuses on cancer care," Mr. Tammaro said. "On top of that, we broke ground on a new 840-bed tower that is expected to open in 2026. Some of it is decanting 400 beds out of two older towers, but the other beds are all new to support the growth in the local market."

OSU Wexner has also expanded strategic partnerships, particularly within The Ohio State Health Network, which supports independent hospitals in the region by providing cost savings, learning opportunities and other resources.

The 21-member network's initiatives center around supply chain management, shared resources, telemedicine and biomedical services, and physician recruitment and placement.

"It's not full integration and acquisition; it's more around collaboration in various areas, like telehealth services and Epic Connect deployment," Mr. Tammaro said. "These are organizations that may not be able to afford an Epic deployment, so through the Epic Connect model we're able to offer Epic at a lower cost to many of these hospitals."

"We also have a big pharmacy GPO and various supporting clinical programs," he said, "What we're seeing over the last couple of years  because of the various financial pressures  is that many providers have been coming to us to be partners in various other areas."
Rolla Sweis, PharmD, was named president and CEO of Chicago-based La Rabida Children's Hospital.

Dr. Sweis brings more than two decades of experience at Advocate Health to the role, according to a news release shared with Becker's.

Most recently, she served as COO of Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill. She also previously served as vice president of operations for the South Chicagoland Hospitals which included Christ Medical Center, South Suburban Hospital and Trinity Hospital.






Members of Jeanes Nurses United have approved a new labor contract with Temple University Hospital  Jeanes Campus in Philadelphia.

The three-year agreement covers 375 registered nurses, according to a union news release shared with Becker's.

Under the new agreement, announced April 8, union members will see across-the-board pay increases of at least 9% over three years, in addition to pay increases based on years of experience, according to Jeanes Nurses United, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners.

Other features highlighted by the union include a $1,250 ratification bonus for all full-time nurses; $625 for part-time nurses; the formation of a nurse practice committee of nurses and Temple Health administration to address staffing issues as they come up; and up to a week of paid leave for nurses who are victims of workplace violence.

"We are committed to our patients and our community and strive to be the place that patients feel inspired to go to when they are in need," Jeanes Nurses United Co-President Angie Cleghorn, RN, said in the release. "This contract will increase our wages and hopefully keep our experienced nurses at the bedside and at Jeanes, where they are the key to training new nurses and continuing the legacy of excellent patient care at Jeanes."

A spokesperson for Temple Health shared the following statement with Becker's: "We're pleased that nurses at Temple University Hospital  Jeanes Campus ratified the most recent contract offer. TUH-Jeanes Campus is among the best staffed hospitals with the lowest nursing turnover in the country. So, we were confident that PASNAP nurses would want to keep that nursing model in place. We're pleased we were able to come to an economically viable agreement that recognizes Temple's need to remain financially strong while allowing us to continue to move forward and make ongoing investments in TUH-Jeanes Campus."
Members of the Montana Nurses Association Local 17 have approved a new labor contract with Providence St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, part of Renton, Wash.-based Providence.

The three-year agreement covers nearly 650 nurses at the hospital, according to a statement Providence shared with Becker's.

"The contract, which runs through [the] end of February 2027, has many enhancements, and reflects the hospital's commitment to ensuring an exceptional workplace for our caregivers and includes market competitive wages, professional growth opportunities, and a safe and respectful work environment," the statement said.

A union news release shared with Becker's said: "The top priorities of Local 17 registered nurses will remain a continued focus during the term of their new successor collective bargaining agreement. The registered nurses remain committed to supporting each other, their patients, and their community."






The mother of a Nebraska father of 10 killed by a security guard outside a bar is vowing to get justice, adding that he was gunned down on the sidewalk "like a rabid dog."

Gregory Little, Jr., 32, died from several gunshot wounds Sunday morning outside the Royal Hookah Bar and Lounge in Lincoln, Nebraska, according to police.

Authorities said Little was involved in a brawl with other patrons outside the establishment over a dispute about line cutting, prompting security from the bar to intervene.

A 24-year-old male security guard fatally shot the victim multiple times in the arm and chest.

But his sister, Kelyna Taylor, remembers the chain of events leading up to her brother's death, differently.

"My brother had dropped his phone," Kelyna, who was with Little that night, recalled during a vigil for her late brother, according to KLKN-TV. "He reached for his phone, and then the security guard shot him."

"They shot him down like a rabid dog," Little's mom, Vernadine Taylor, added. "One bullet put him down. Why did you shoot him three more times?"

"I just need justice for my son," said Vernadine. "And I will get justice if it takes the last penny of my life. Until I die, he will get justice."

Little  a father of 10  owned soul food truck Lula Mae's Kitchen, where he frequently fed the less fortunate for free, according to loved ones.

"He's a family man, a loving man, and he's a good person," Little's stepfather, Terrence Tucker, told the station.

Meantime, Kelyna said her "heart is broken in a million pieces," as she struggles to cope with her sibling's slaying. "I don't know how to go on without my brother."

Police said several people were taken into questioning following the shooting. No arrests have been made.
Philadelphia-based Thomas Jefferson University Hospital received an immediate jeopardy warning  and resolved it in a few hours  after a disoriented nursing home resident walked out of the emergency department unnoticed, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported April 9.

Shortly before 11 a.m. Jan. 23, a 71-year-old man was brought to the emergency department by ambulance with an "altered mental status," a urinary tract infection and aggressive behavior. He was triaged as level 3 and, per the hospital's policies, should have been reassessed at least every two hours. The man sat in the waiting room for about 12 hours before walking out of the ED unnoticed. Three hours passed before the staff reported him missing internally, and nearly 10 hours passed before the police were notified, the report said.

The patient was found the next day when he returned to the hospital, according to police reports.

The hospital reported the incident to the state and did a "comprehensive review of our emergency department operations, policies and procedures to identify any opportunities for improvement," Jefferson spokesperson Deana Gamble said in a statement to the Inquirer.

State inspectors issued an immediate jeopardy warning to the hospital during a Jan. 26 investigation. Sanctions were lifted hours later after Jefferson administrators provided a plan of corrections. Corrections include taking patients with an altered mental state to an internal waiting room where they can be better watched, training staff to evaluate patients to determine which waiting room they should go to, retraining staff on how often to reassess patients and how to document patient checks, and adding an extra full-time nurse to the emergency department to help triage patients.

"Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is committed to providing the highest standard of care to our community," Ms. Gamble said.
A fire in an intensive care unit room at Tulsa, Okla.-based Hillcrest Medical Center resulted in one patient being injured and six being moved to another unit.

Firefighters responded to the fire early April 8 and were able to extinguish it with a small pump can, Fox affiliate KOKI reported. A bed caught fire in the intensive care unit. At least one patient suffered burns, the Tulsa Fire Department said. Six patients were moved from to the cardiovascular ICU due to smoke in the unit, a hospital spokesperson told Becker's.

"A section of the ICU remains closed while the area is ventilated and restored. Patient care was not adversely impacted during the incident and intensive care continues to be delivered," the hospital said in a statement shared with Becker's.
TikTok can be a powerful platform for sharing medical information, and legislators should consider a national approach to preventing privacy issues rather than banning the app, Jason Bae, MD, an urgent care physician in Palo Alto, Calif., wrote in an April 8 opinion piece for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Dr. Bae started the @YourDoctorFriends account on TikTok with a medical school classmate two years ago. They focused on answering common patient questions with a goal of preventing confusion from websites such as WebMD and needless physician visits for minor conditions.

"TikTok quickly became our platform of choice," Dr. Bae said. "The video format enabled us to talk to people as we often do to our patients, rather than condense complex information into texts or pictures. On TikTok, we felt we could be our authentic selves rather than idealized versions while having the most impact."

Recently, federal legislators have proposed a ban on TikTok due to data privacy issues. Although Dr. Bae said there is "substantial value" in TikTok, he noted that "alongside entertaining or informative content, TikTok has been shown to push harmful mental health information to children" and medical misinformation abounds.

Dr. Bae argued that the privacy issues on TikTok are not unique, and instead of banning a single platform, a broad approach should be taken to prevent all large platforms from violating privacy.

"Furthermore, we need a federal approach to curbing misinformation and negative mental health impacts on all social media platforms," he wrote. "We can follow the example of the EU's Digital Services Act, which requires companies to restrict illicit content."
A jury awarded $42.4 million to the estate of a patient who died after staff failed to get the patient's baclofen prescription filled in a timely manner, a case study posted on the American Pharmacy Association website said.

The patient was taken to an unnamed Illinois emergency department on a Friday because his intrathecal baclofen pump, which delivers the muscle relaxant medication directly to the spine, required surgical replacement. The patient was experiencing baclofen withdrawal and their physician "told the emergency physician about the concentration of baclofen that [the patient] required, which was 2000mcg." The patient was scheduled for pump replacement surgery on Monday morning, but the order for the prescription was delayed by hours. When the order was finally received, the pharmacy learned that it didn't have the correct concentration, resulting in another hourslong delay.

The patient coded at 3:10 p.m. on Monday, nearly two hours before the correct medication was obtained. The patient was stabilized but did not regain consciousness. The successful surgery was performed around 5:30 p.m., but the patient was placed on life support and died two weeks later.

The patient's estate sued the hospital, alleging it "allowed a system failure to exist, resulting in the delay of [the patient] receiving his intrathecal baclofen, and/or failed to ensure effective communication among [the patient's] healthcare providers." A jury found the hospital guilty of institutional negligence.

The hospital appealed, but the ruling was upheld. The appellate court judge wrote that the hospital was responsible for procuring the correct equipment and medication for the surgery and affirmed the jury verdict of institutional negligence.

The case study noted that such issues can be avoided with effective communications protocols. "Effective communication systems can facilitate interdepartmental messaging," the author wrote. "For example, a systematic communication avenue is necessary when the emergency department learns on Friday that the pharmacy department will need to supply an infrequently used medication to the surgery department on Monday.

"Notations in electronic records indicating the need for specific medications should be immediately routed to the pharmacy department so that a sufficient supply of medication can be obtained to meet patient care needs."
New York City-based Maimonides Medical Center is facing backlash after filing 50 eviction notices to tenants of its staff building, The New York Times reported April 8.

Six years ago, the independent hospital sold the apartment building, and seven other buildings, for more than $65 million to Iris Holdings. The hospital did not plan to sell the buildings when they were purchased, but altered course when its financial situation changed, Sam Miller, vice president of marketing and communications at Maimonides, told the Times. In recent years, the hospital has struggled financially, reporting more than $65 million in losses in 2022.

The hospital owns or oversees more than 500 units across four buildings it owns and the ones that were sold to Iris Holdings. Many of the tenants, a significant number of whom are hospital employees or retirees, continued to pay rent to the hospital, which would forward the payments to the new owner.

Recently, Maimonides filed eviction cases against more than 50 tenants. In response, residents formed a union and worked with nonprofit organizations to fight the cases, and a judge decided that 21 tenants would have until March 31 "to vacate with dignity."

Maimonides and Iris Holdings then met with the New York State attorney general, who called for a temporary stay on all evictions.

"After a productive meeting on March 27 convened by the attorney general's office, Maimonides decided last week not to take any further action before June 1 that would disrupt the lives of our tenants," a hospital spokesperson told Becker's. "This will provide significantly more time for an amicable agreement for tenants living in apartments owned by Iris Holdings to be worked out, and allow for productive discussions between Maimonides and tenants who live in buildings owned by the hospital. We are grateful to the attorney general for bringing us together, and hope that a path forward can be found that will help these tenants and allow Maimonides to focus its limited resources on delivering great healthcare to the city's most diverse patient population, including the highest percentage of Medicaid patients in Brooklyn."
Applications are now open for this years MET programme

Applications are now open for this year's Mediahuis Emerging Talent (MET) programme

Ed McCann, Director of Publishing Operations, speaking to MET programme candidates at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Frank McGrath

The Belfast Telegraph has today launched its search for aspiring journalists looking to kickstart their career with Northern Irelands leading print and digital media publisher.

Mediahuis, home to the Belfast Telegraph, Sunday Life and Sunday World, wants to hear from people from all backgrounds interested in joining the Mediahuis Emerging Talent (MET) programme.

The scheme is offering a fixed two-year trainee contract and the gateway to a potential career with some of the best-known media brands across the island of Ireland.

Applications are now open for this year's Mediahuis Emerging Talent (MET) programme

Best of all, you dont need to have a college degree or previous experience to apply. Successful candidates will be given a broad range of training and on-the-job experience.

We are looking for a News Reporter to join the experienced team at our newsroom in Belfast.

Speaking about the launch, Edward McCann, Director of Publishing Operations, said: We want to recruit as diverse and dynamic a range of people as possible, particularly people from under-represented demographics. This is a vote of confidence in the future.

Alan Steenson, Editorial Development Executive, added: Our Emerging Talent Programme has been a huge success since its launch in 2022 and were delighted to open applications to aspiring journalists this year.

MET programme journalists interviewing Mediahuis Ireland CEO Peter Vandermeersch

We want to hear from those with a passion for journalism, regardless of background or experience, to take up this unique opportunity to kickstart their career.

Successful candidates will learn from our experienced teams as they take their first steps in the world of journalism.

The MET programme is part of Mediahuis Irelands commitment to diversity and desire to make a positive contribution to people and society.

Applications are now open and will close at midnight on May 5. You can apply at www.mediahuis.co.uk/emergingtalent.
NI lawyer on why employment rights need to catch up with rest of UK: Without consistency, it gets people into difficulties

Paul Gillen, partner at legal firm Lewis Silkin, tells Margaret Canning about why employment rights need to catch up with the rest of the UK

Paul Gillen, partner at Lewis Silkin

Tue 9 Apr 2024 at 10:00

Employment rights differ widely between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Belfast corporate communications and public affairs agency MCE has been taken over by London consultancy Cavendish, its been announced.

Founded by Paul McErlean in 2006, MCE has offices in Belfast and Dublin and specialises in corporate affairs, strategic communications and government affairs. Clients include many of Northern Irelands best-known brands.

Mr McErlean will join Cavendish as managing director for Ireland, with the other MCE board directors joining the company in senior roles. All five MCE directors have also become shareholders in Cavendish.

Cavendish has more than 100 consultants across its London headquarters and seven regional offices. It was named PRCAs Large Consultancy of the Year and ranked PR Weeks top public affairs consultancy for the past two years.

It specialises in government affairs, corporate communications and planning communications.

Cavenish said the move solidifies its commitment to providing exceptional services to clients operating in both the UK and EU markets, marking a pivotal step in their expansion.

Mr McErlean said: Joining forces with Cavendish marks an exciting new chapter for MCE. I am thrilled about the opportunities this collaboration brings, allowing us to contribute our unique strengths to a wider audience and offering clients enhanced services and resources as well as broadening opportunities for our staff team in joining one of the UKs leading agencies.

Having recently established a base in Dublin, our intention is to grow the Cavendish footprint even further on the island in the months to come while continuing to provide value-added services to our existing clients.

"I am very grateful to everybody who has contributed to the MCE journey and am really looking forward to building the Cavendish business in Ireland, north and south.

We look forward to continuing to set high standards in our industry by navigating the evolving communications landscape with innovation and excellence.

Carl Daruvalla, CEO at Cavendish Consulting, said: This acquisition reaffirms our dedication to accelerate our evolution into a consultancy ready to service clients in an increasingly global, social, and hybrid world.

"Our expanded presence enables us to advise on the changing political landscapes in Belfast and Dublin, support growth opportunities in Northern Ireland's thriving economy, and offer comprehensive all-Ireland services to reflect the growth in cross-border infrastructure and investment.

As we bring MCE into Cavendish, we are poised to unlock new opportunities, deepen our impact, and reinforce our position as the go-to partner for strategic communications across the UK, EU and Ireland markets."
Uncertainty about Spirit AeroSystems future unsettling for Belfast workforce

Manufacturing boss calls for swift resolution as Airbus and Boeing both eye business whose plant in east of the city makes wings for European giants A220

Airbus A220, the wings of which are manufactured in east Belfast

Flavia Gouveia Tue 9 Apr 2024 at 10:00

Uncertainty around the future of Spirit AeroSystems has contributed to a really unsettling time for its critically important east Belfast operation, Manufacturing NI chief Stephen Kelly has said.
Lunchables - the iconic kids' meal kits, often served in school cafeterias - contain elevated levels of highly poisonous metals like lead and cadmium, a new report claims.

The advocacy organization Consumer Report urged the United States Department of Agriculture to stop serving the meal kits as part of the National School Lunch Program, a federally funded intiative which provides schoolchildren from low income families with free or reduced-price meals.

"Lunchables are not a healthy option for kids and shouldn't be allowed on the menu as part of the National School Lunch Program," Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports said in a press release. "The Lunchables and similar lunch kits we tested contain concerning levels of sodium and harmful chemicals that can lead to serious health problems over time. The USDA should remove Lunchables from the National School Lunch Program and ensure that kids in schools have healthier options."

Two Lunchables meal kits - Turkey & Cheddar Cracker Stackers and Extra Cheesy Pizza - are available to children recieving free and low-cost school lunches, while several others available for purchase in grocery stores. The meal kits that were found to contain lead were purchased at a grocery store, along with similar products from competitors Armour Lunchmakers, Good and Gather, Oscar Meyer and P3. While Lunchables had the highest levels of lead, all of the products were found to contain at least some quantity of the heavy metal.

"We don't think anybody should regularly eat these products, and they definitely shouldn't be considered a healthy school lunch," Consumer Report chemist Eric Boring said.

Lead and cadmium can occur naturally in the envionment or emerge during the packaging and manufacturing process, according to the report. While none of the products exceeded even California's stringent guidelines for lead quantity, they did in some cases exceed 50% of the amount of lead that be safely consumed in one day.

"That's a relatively high dose of heavy metals given the small serving sizes of the products, which range from just two to four ounces," Boring said.

Childhood exposure to lead can lead to numerous health concerns, including brain damage, slowed development and learning delays, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Studies have also found that childhood cadmium exposure can lead to cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney and neurological problems.

In addition to the presense of heavy metals, the Consumer Report analysis noted that there was at least one phthalate in every tested meal kit. Phthalates are endocrine disrupters that can increase the risk of reproductive problems, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

"None of the products exceeded any regulatory limits, but many researchers think those limits are far too permissive, given the emerging research about phthalates harms," Boring said in the press release.

Kraft-Heinz, the parent company for Lunchables, defended their product in an email to HNGN but did not dispute that there was lead present in the meal kits.



"We've taken great steps to improve the nutrition profile of Lunchables, including recently unveiling Lunchables with Fresh Fruit, in partnership with Fresh Del Monte, and reducing the sodium in all Lunchables crackers by 26%. All our foods meet strict safety standards that we happily feed to our own families. We are proud of Lunchables and stand by the quality and integrity that goes into making them", the spokesperson said.

"The classification of foods should be based on scientific evidence that includes an assessment of the nutritional value of the whole product, not restricted to one element such as a single ingredient or the level of processing."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is to call for business rates to be scrapped in a bid to boost high streets.

During a visit to Tunbridge Wells in Kent on Tuesday, he will accuse the Conservatives of broken promises on business taxes and outline his partys plans ahead of the May local elections.
Casualty and Waterloo Road actress Christine Tremarco is joining the cast of ITV soap Emmerdale (Lizzie Shepherd/ITV Studios/PA)

Casualty and Waterloo Road star Christine Tremarco will join the cast of ITV soap Emmerdale later this month.

The actress will play Rose, who may stir up drama for Kim Tate (Claire King).

Rose, who has moved to the Dales from Benidorm, is set to cause trouble because she knows Kims husband Will Taylor (Dean Andrews), a fact he fails to tell his wife.

Tremarco said she is thrilled to be joining Emmerdale.

Christine Tremarco is joining the cast of Emmerdale as Rose and is due to cause trouble for Will Taylor, played by Dean Andrew (Mark Bruce/ITV/PA)

She added: To be working with such a wonderful cast and crew along with the brilliant writing and production team is an absolute joy!

Rose is so much fun to play. She is free-spirited, boisterous and totally mischievous with a steely edge and a big heart.

Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw said she is delighted that Tremarco is joining the cast, praising her wealth of experience and talent.

Playing the character of Rose, a true free spirit with an exuberant outlook on life, she certainly promises to cause a real storm for some of our villagers, she said.

Tremarco is no stranger to dramatic plotlines.

As a series regular in Waterloo Road, her character, Davina Shackleton, was once accused of inappropriately touching one of her students after she rejected a date with his father.

Meanwhile, in The Responder, Tremarco played the sister of a drug lord, while she was nurse Linda Andrews in Casualty for two years.

Her appearance in Emmerdale marks the second time the actress has worked on an ITV soap set in the North of England  in 1998 she made a guest appearance in Coronation Street, playing Lucy Johnson, a friend of Spider Nugent (Martin Hancock), who chats up Curly Watts (Kevin Kennedy) at a party because she feels sorry for him.
Chef Alex Greene and his business partner Bronagh McCormick have bagged the first loan from a new 70m fund for their new Co Down venture.

The British Business Bank announced that the pair, who have taken over The Bucks Head in Dundrum, are the first businesspeople to be backed by the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland.

Fund manager Whiterock has facilitated the 100,000 loan to the duo, formerly head chef and manager at the Michelin-starred Deanes EIPIC in Belfast.

The fund offers finance options including debt finance and equity investment to support businesses from all sectors and at different growth stages.

Whiterock manages the debt fund, offering loans of 25,000 up to 2m while Clarendon Fund Managers provide equity stakes in smaller businesses up to 5m.

Under Alex and Bronagh, the restaurant, bar and guestrooms have been refurbished ahead of a grand re-opening later this month.

Alex is also known for taking part in Great British Menu where he unveiled The Incredible Edible Book. He began his career washing dishes and preparing vegetables in The Bucks Head.

The loan is being used in the refurbishment of the premises, a new kitchen, an upgrade of three upstairs guestrooms, and the recruitment of staff.

Bronagh said the timing was right for the move to Dundrum.

The Bucks Head is somewhere which means a great deal to Alex and, as the previous owners were retiring, we felt the time was right to go into business together, she said.

Dating back to the 18th century, The Bucks Head is extremely well known and is thought of very highly, both locally and further afield. Everyone we speak to seems to have a story about the place.

We see The Bucks Head as having enormous potential. It is a venue which is full of charm and character, and we are really looking forward to getting started.

The Investment Fund for Northern Ireland loan has supported us in bringing our vision for The Bucks Head to life and driving the next stage of growth. We found the team at Whiterock very accommodating to work with and the process was straight-forward and efficient. We are delighted with how everything went so smoothly.

Mark Sterritt, British Business Bank director, nations and regions Investment Funds, said: Alex Greene is a hugely talented chef who is passionate about sustainability and farm to fork produce, while Bronagh McCormick is vastly experienced working at the very highest levels of the hospitality industry.

I have no doubt they will build upon the already excellent reputation of The Bucks Head by serving outstanding local produce and transforming it into a real destination for foodies.

Its really pleasing to announce the Investment Fund for Northern Irelands first deal. Helping businesses with great potential on their growth journey is exactly what the fund is about, and I wish Alex and Bronagh all the best for their new venture.

Una Warnock, Whiterock investment director, said: At Whiterock, we are delighted to be working in partnership with Alex and Bronagh as they embark on this exciting opportunity at the renowned The Bucks Head in Dundrum.

As a team, they have an impressive blend of skills, experience and passion which will attract custom from locals and tourists alike, and we look forward to seeing the business flourish over the next number of years.

This is a fantastic first deal for Whiterock as one of the fund managers for the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland, and we are excited about the strong pipeline of enquiries and the opportunity to support a wide variety of businesses throughout Northern Ireland.
Our daughters the only person in NI believed to have that rare and incurable genetic disorder

NI mum doesnt know what the future holds for her seven-year-old daughter Sara, who has 4H leukodystrophy

Sara Bordas Barros

Jade Beecroft Tue 9 Apr 2024 at 07:30







Agnes Bordas knows shes going to fill her daughters life with smiles.
Cyril "Dublin Jimmy" McGuinness worked for and was friendly "all his life" with former billionaire Sean Quinn, the deceased gangster's brother Fran McGuinness told the High Court in Dublin.

Cyril, who was suspected of a number of attacks on former Quinn business premises following the collapse of the Quinn empire, including masterminding the abduction of Kevin Lunney, also lived in a Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, property once owned by Mr Quinn, Fran McGuinness said.
Vapes being used containing substance which mimics effects of cannabis

Parents have been put on alert over the synthetic drug Spice after the PSNI warned schools it is now an immediate concern amongst young people in Northern Ireland.

There are fears over increasing numbers of young people not just vaping with tobacco but using vapes with THC, a compound found in cannabis plants, and Spice, a synthetic drug which mimics the effects of cannabis.

But health bodies warn that, unlike cannabis, Spice is far more dangerous due to its potency and the way it exerts its effects on the brain and body.

At the weekend, police in Downpatrick arrested a person suspected to have had Spice in their possession following a complaint from a parent.

And the Belfast Telegraph has seen correspondence from one grammar school warning parents and guardians that there has been an upsurge in youngsters taking the drug.

It stated that, at the end of last term, senior teachers from schools around the country attended a meeting at an educational institution at which both the PSNI and Belfast Drug and Alcohol Connections Service gave presentations.

The letter said the talk was very concerning and warned of the widespread use of Spice amongst young people, as well as how easily they can access it at low cost and how addictive and harmful it is.

It warned that some youngsters often share a vape and might not even be aware that it contains Spice, adding that the PSNI has advised that this is now an immediate concern amongst young people in Northern Ireland.

The letter also revealed that the PSNI is asking parents to check their childs social media accounts as this is one way that dealers are selling Spice. It highlighted Instagram accounts called Mr Slushy and Mr THC but said the names of such accounts change regularly.

Spice can also be bought via Snapchat, but the presentation explained that the main way young people are accessing it is from their friends.

According to the national anti-drug advisory service Frank, Spice contains chemicals designed to act like the main psychoactive chemical in cannabis and carries physical health risks.

They state: The risks of synthetic cannabinoids are similar to natural cannabis, but because synthetic cannabinoids are more potent, it is easy to use too much and experience the unpleasant and harmful effects.

This higher potency also means that the effects may last for longer.

Also, because many synthetic cannabinoids are new, they may have unknown effects too.

We know that there have been a number of deaths that have been associated with the use of synthetic cannabinoids, either on their own or with other substances.

On Facebook, police in Newry, Mourne & Down said on Saturday they had arrested a person for possession of a Class B controlled drug with intent to supply.

Following a search of this persons house and vehicle, various items have been seized, including suspected Spice, they said.

Reported side-effects from using synthetic cannabinoids include anxiety and paranoia; suicidal thoughts; nausea and vomiting; tremors, seizures and fits.

Frank warned that it can also increase heart rate and blood pressure, which may cause chest pains and damage your heart and even cause a heart attack. Other risks listed are acute kidney injury, organ failure, coma and even death.

Mental health risks include developing a mental illness, higher chance of hallucinations than natural cannabis and psychotic episodes, which in extreme cases could last for weeks.

Three years ago the Public Health Agency issued a warning after young people had become ill after vaping Spice.

Weeks later, two pupils at Craigavon Senior High School required urgent medical hospital treatment after they were believed to have inhaled Spice.

PSNI Neighbourhood Inspector Hutchinson said anyone aged under 18 should not be using vape devices as their sale is prohibited to anyone under that age.

I also want to remind anyone using vape devices they should only use liquids obtained from reputable sellers and not to purchase liquids which could be harmful to their health.

Our Neighbourhood Policing Team officers are working closely with our partners and have been visiting schools to warn of the dangers involved in vaping substances that do not come from reputable retailers.

We will continue with our efforts to highlight these dangers and we appeal to anyone who has any information in relation to the misuse of substances to call us, as the information you provide could make a difference.

The Public Health Agency said (PHA) has been working with others to raise awareness about Spice.

The PHA urges parents and guardians to talk to young people about the dangers of taking unknown substances and to warn them over taking something which they cannot be sure of the contents, as it could make them seriously ill or even be fatal.

It is important to advise young people that regardless of what they have been told, even by a close friend, that it is impossible to know what is contained in these substances.

If you think you or someone you know might have a problem with alcohol and/or drugs and would like to get help, visit www.DrugsAndAlcoholNI.info for information on support services
New trains and hourly timetable between Belfast and Dublin to come

Cross-border rail services between Belfast and Dublin are set to benefit from a 141.9m investment from the Peace Plus Programme.

The funding will support a major programme to transform the Enterprise train service, paving the way for an hourly timetable between Belfast and Dublin.

This programme involves replacing the existing Enterprise trains with brand new trains by the end of this decade, allowing for an hourly timetable and faster journey times.

Funding is also being provided for the Enterprise Fleet Replacement Programme from two government departments  the Department for Infrastructure and the Department of Transport in Ireland.

The programme will see the current Enterprise fleet of four train-sets replaced with eight new, modern and sustainable train-sets.

The procurement process for the train-sets is expected to be complete over the coming year, with a view to the new trains operating from 2029.

The new trains will be designed to run initially on electric and battery power on part of the Dublin to Belfast route and can be converted into fully electric operation in the future.

Infrastructure Minister John ODowd said the funding marks an exciting time for rail travel.

The new fleet will pave the way for the Enterprise service to become the first electrified inter-city service on the island which will support our decarbonisation commitments, he said.

The investment will improve the experience of people travelling by train and encourage others to use these services.

By doing so you will be playing your part in our shared journey to net zero as well as enjoying the many benefits to be gained by rail travel.
TaxPayers Alliance figures show highest-paid chief executive received more than PM Rishi Sunak

The highest-earning council employee overall on the 2022/23 list was Anne Donaghy  on 188,213

Antrim and Newtownabbey Council has been revealed as the local authority with more employees earning over 100,000 a year than any other in Northern Ireland.

Six of the councils top brass bring home an eye-watering six-figure pay packet each year, according to research by the TaxPayers Alliance.

The highest-earning council employee overall on the 2022/23 list was Anne Donaghy  on 188,213. Despite topping the list, that figure only covers until January 11, as Ms Donaghy resigned as Chief Executive of Mid and East Antrim Council on health grounds.

The new Interim Chief Executive at the council, Valerie Watts, is listed as earning a combined 116,513 for the year.

It means the council, where household rates are going up by nearly 10%, spent over 300,000 on chief executives in a single financial year  double what some councils spent.

Both women are among 47 employees across Northern Irelands 11 councils whose annual pay package tops a six-figure sum for the 2022/23 financial year.

In Antrim and Newtownabbey Council, the then Chief Executive Jacqui Dixon brought home an annual combined salary of 159,188  one of six employees at the council earning over 100,000 in the year.

Chief executive at Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, Roger Wilson, brought home 152,363 after expenses and pension allowances. He is one of three top council employees earning over 100,000.

Top earner in Belfast City Council was chief executive John Walsh, with 158,338, although he was one of just three staff in the city earning a six-figure sum.

There were four employees at Causeway Coast and Glens Council hitting six figures, including chief executive David Jackson on 146,388.

That was the same amount taken home by John Kelpie in neighbouring Derry and Strabane Council, which also showed four employees in the top bracket of earners.

Four more at Fermanagh and Omagh Council were amongst the highest earners, led by chief executive Alison McCullagh on 148,393. David Burns, chief executive at Lisburn and Castlereagh Council, was listed as earning 141,010. He was one of five top earners at the council.

In Ards and North Down, chief executive Stephen Reids annual salary came in at 146,788 a year. There were five employees earning more than a six-figure sum there.

In Mid Ulster, chief executive Adrian McCreeshs salary after accounting for expenses and pension contributions was 141,010, one of five members of staff at the council over the 100,000 mark.

And in Newry and Mourne, clerk and chief executive Marie Ward was listed as earning 152,463 in the 2022/23 financial year, one of three employees to bring home over 100,000 annually.

The figures from the TaxPayers Alliance, which styles itself Britains independent grassroots campaign for lower taxes, include salary, pension contributions, benefits, expenses and bonuses.

John OConnell, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: The new financial year has seen council tax soar across the country, and taxpayers will notice that top brass pay has simultaneously surged.

Local authorities provide crucial services and residents will want to make sure they are getting bang for their buck with their ever-increasing bills.

Residents can use these figures to ask whether precious funds are really going towards frontline services, or whether town hall bosses can get better value for money.

Across the UK, 3,106 officials received more than 100,000, with 829 receiving over 150,000 in 2022-23  the highest level since 2015 and the second highest on record.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had a salary entitlement of 164,951 in 2022-23, and 188 council employees had a higher salary than this, with 557 receiving total remuneration in excess of this.

Staff costs are estimated to account for around 40% of the total expenditure across Northern Irelands 11 councils.

The pension figures used, according to the TaxPayers Alliance, are 19.5% of the employees salary, in line with what each local authority contributes to the Northern Ireland local government officers superannuation contribution scheme.

Local government reform in 2015, which saw the number of councils reduced from 26 to 11, was designed to make savings but it remains unclear whether the collective expenditure has been reduced since then.
Simon Harris has put forward his pledge to "guard and honour" his role as protector and guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement as Taoiseach.

It's after he was elected by 88 votes to 69 in the Dail on Tuesday.

The country's youngest leader, the 37-year-old father-of-two is Irelands fifteenth Taoiseach and takes up his role after the surprise resignation of Leo Varadkar as Fine Gael leader three weeks ago.

In his first speech in the Dail as Taoiseach, Mr Harris made reference to his meeting with First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh on Monday.

He said: "Yesterday I met with the First and Deputy First Ministers in Northern Ireland and as Taoiseach I pledge to guard and honour my role as protector and guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. We have so much more to achieve for all communities on this island."

In his speech, Mr Harris also paid tribute to Simon Coveney for his work during "the darkest days of Brexit".

He said Mr Coveney is a "friend and colleague" who served "our country with distinction in so many different roles" over the years.

"In particular, we will never forget all that he did during the darkest days of Brexit, and today we acknowledge all he has contributed to our country, and I know that he will continue to contribute."

Mr Harris also paid tribute to outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his work during "the biggest challenges of our time - most notably Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic".

"As Taoiseach I will demand of myself what I saw as so important then and  to return to the words I spoke that day  I promise to preside over a government committed to public service, at a time when such commitment is so urgently required.

"Today I accept this new role in a spirit of humility, ready for the challenge, and full of energy and determination about what can be achieved.

"As Taoiseach I want to bring new ideas, a new energy, and a new empathy to public life. But politics is not about the office holder. This is not about me; its about all of us working together to serve the people," he said.

The people of Ireland should be proud of the country's progress, he said - and spoke of now being an "opportune time" to build a new social contract which will see the country's promise renewed.

He spoke of the need to address issues around housing in Ireland and also of the humanitarian crisis ongoing in Gaza.

Mr Harris is now travelling to the official residence of President Michael D Higgins where his appointment as the country's youngest-ever Taoiseach will be confirmed.

The President will sign the Warrant of Appointment and hand the Seal of the Taoiseach and the Seal of Government to Mr Harris at a ceremony at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin's Phoenix Park.

The Wicklow TD's wife Caoimhe and young children Saoirse and Cillian were in the public gallery of the Dail for the historic proceedings, with his parents and brother and sister.

Alliance Leader Naomi Long extended her congratulations to Mr Harris on becoming the new Taoiseach.

I want to congratulate Simon Harris on becoming Taoiseach and wish him all the best in his new role, she said.

The tenure of his predecessor Leo Varadkar saw a close and productive working relationship further progressed between Northern Ireland and the Republic, and I am confident Mr Harris will continue to nurture this positive partnership between the North and South.

In the coming days and weeks ahead, we will continue to work together with those across the political spectrum with the aim of strengthening co-operation across the island of Ireland, and I look forward to working with Mr Harris as part of that, she said.
Stormonts Finance Minister has said she hopes to put forward a budget in the coming weeks.

Caoimhe Archibald was challenged during Assembly questions for her department by TUV leader Jim Allister, who said the Northern Ireland Act 1998 says the Finance Minister should lay a draft budget before the beginning of the financial year.

Ms Archibald responded by referring to the challenges facing the Assembly and Executive  which was restored at the end of January following a year of political instability  in terms of timeframes around the budget.

She said that, in accordance with the Act, she laid a statement to the Assembly after being informed by Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris of the funding for the coming financial year.

Obviously, these are not ideal circumstances  Ive been very upfront about that  but we have to deal with the circumstances that we are in and we will be working at pace to bring in a budget in the coming weeks, she added.

TUV leader Jim Allister challenged Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald over the budget timeframe (Liam McBurney/PA)

Earlier, Ms Archibald said the Executive is facing a significant challenge in terms of its budgetary situation.

She said that, while the Assembly and Executive were not functioning, Mr Heaton-Harris had put a number of potential revenue-raising measures out for consultation.

Ms Archibald said she will consider the responses to those consultations received by departments.

Obviously we dont want to be in a situation where were putting more regressive charges on the backs of workers and families who are already struggling with the cost of living, she told MLAs.

We do have a significant challenge in terms of our budgetary situation.

We will continue to make the case to the British Treasury and to the British Government to be properly funded, to have a properly baselined funding framework on the basis of need. That has been recognised, that we have been underfunded over the last number of years.

We need to, going forward, be properly funded, to be able to deliver the type of high-quality public services people deserve.
An Illinois woman who was "nearly decapitated" during a violent attack by her husband armed with a knife died in front of their young kids, said police.

Baltazar Perez-Estrada, 33, has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder for the alleged fatal stabbing of 26-year-old Maricela Simon Franco.

It's unclear if he entered a plea to the charges. Attorney information was not immediately available. He was denied bond, court records show.

Perez-Estrada is accused of stabbing Franco "dozens of times in her head, neck, body and hands, nearly decapitating her," at their Carol Stream, Illinois, apartment, on the night of March 31, according to authorities.

The morning of April 1, the suspect turned himself in to Carol Stream police and allegedly confessed to the slaying, which he said was preceded by a verbal argument that turned physical in front of their kids.

"The men and women of the Carol Stream Police Department stand by the family and friends of Maricela Simon Franco as they mourn this tragic loss," Chief of Police Don Cummings said in a statement. "Not only has this senseless and brutal act removed Maricela from their lives, but it has robbed two young children of their mother."

Investigators said Perez-Estrada illegally arrived in the U.S., two weeks ago. He's also been charged with alien inadmissibility.

Perez-Estrada is scheduled for arraignment on the murder charges on April 25.
Sinn Fein is choosing to throw dirt at everyone else in row over McMonagle job references
Leo Varadkar arrives at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin, to tender his resignation as taoiseach (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said three or 4% GDP is a small price to pay for a United Ireland.

In his final interview as taoiseach with RTE News, shortly after attending yesterdays North South Ministerial Council meeting in Armagh, Mr Varadkar said the unification of Ireland should not be about cost.
Mother and baby report commitments must be delivered, First Minister told by campaigners

ONeill reminded of Magdalene laundries redress recommendations which were accepted before Stormont collapse

First Minister Michelle O'Neill

Allison Morris Mon 8 Apr 2024 at 21:50







The First Minister has been reminded that commitments  including a public inquiry  made before the collapse of the Assembly to mothers who gave birth in Magdalene laundries and their children now need to be upheld.
Tony Blair worked behind scenes to thwart Pat Finucane public inquiry after discussion with MI5 boss

Prime Ministers view of case was discussed with his inner circle and recorded in document discovered by Belfast Telegraph at The National Archives in Kew

Tony Blair was heavily influenced by MI5's director general in deciding against a public inquiry into the solicitor's murder

Sam McBride Tue 9 Apr 2024 at 07:50

Tony Blair worked behind the scenes to avoid a full public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane after a conversation with the head of MI5 made a significant impression on the Prime Minister, a Government file has revealed.
Realtan Ni Leannain, who was angry at her treatment at Dublin Airport

A full investigation has been launched by Dublin Airport after a woman who had a mastectomy was forced to remove her breast prosthesis in public view after it set off new security scanners.

Belfast native Realtan Ni Leannain was travelling from Dublin Airport to Donegal Airport when a member of security stopped her after new body scanners flagged her breast prosthesis as she passed through.

After telling the female staff member what it was, Ms Ni Leannain was told to remove it, and did so in a crowded security terminal last month.

I sat and cried the whole way on the flight to Donegal after realising what the hell had just happened, Ms Ni Leannain told RTEs Liveline programme on Monday.

I am 15 years out from diagnosis and 15 years wearing a prosthesis. I still find it has affected me more than any single other aspect in those years. It surprised me how much it upset me, the Lucan resident said.

According to policy, if a customer activates the walk-through metal detector, a search must be undertaken to establish the cause, with customers having the right to request a private hand search.

Ms Ni Leannain said she was not offered a private search and was unaware she could request one.

Dublin Airport said it facilitates private searches for passengers to protect their privacy and dignity, however, Ms Ni Leannain said her dignity was not protected on that day.

I still want to know when I travel what do I say to them. I want to know that no other woman post-breast cancer or post-mastectomy will be affected by the implementation of the new technology.

Glasgow, Donegal and Amsterdam seem to be coping with the new scanning technology much more sensitively than Dublin, she told the Irish Independent, adding that Dublin Airport must do better.

The daa, operator of Dublin Airport, said in a statement that they are sorry that Ni Leannain had a negative experience when travelling through Dublin Airport recently.

A full investigation into the incident was carried out by the team and the situation should have been handled better, said the daa.

All passengers in such situations can request a private screening, which is then facilitated by a trained member of staff.

We offer a full apology to the passenger and can assure her that steps have been taken to ensure a similar situation is avoided in the future, the statement added.

The daa said it welcomes passengers from all walks of life on a daily basis and prides itself on offering high levels of customer service to all while also adhering to the extremely strict security requirements that ensure the safety of passengers and staff.

The airport said they will be back in touch with Ni Leannain presently and look forward to welcoming her back to Dublin Airport soon when we can assure her of a much more positive experience.
Micheal Martin said he will bring a formal proposal to Government (Niall Carson/PA)

Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin has said formal recognition of Palestine by Ireland will happen.

Speaking in the Dail parliament, Micheal Martin said he was bringing a formal proposal on the recognition of Palestinian statehood to Government.

The Irish Government had previously said it was working with other European countries on a joint declaration of recognition for Palestine.

On Tuesday, Mr Martin said: For the past six months, Ive maintained ongoing discussions with ministerial colleagues and other countries about how a joint formal recognition of Palestinian statehood could be a catalyst to help the people of Gaza and the West Bank, and in furthering an Arab-led peace initiative.

Weve agreed that the undermining of the Oslo Accords and therefore the agreement to create two states has reached the point where the accords approach with recognition after a final agreement is not credible or tenable any longer.

Ive discussed this with those in the region who are working on peace initiatives and co-ordination with other countries continues intensively.

Weve discussed this between the government parties and it is my intention to bring to Government a formal proposal on recognition when these wider international discussions are complete.

Mr Martin, who is also Irish foreign minister, added: But be in no doubt, recognition of a Palestinian state will happen.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin was speaking shortly after a Cabinet reshuffle by the new Taoiseach Simon Harris (Maxwell Photography/PA)

He was speaking following a Cabinet reshuffle by new Taoiseach Simon Harris.

Outlining his own priorities, Mr Martin said there was a desperate overwhelming need to return some hope to Gaza.

While saying he was realistic about the limits of what Ireland could reasonably be expected to achieve by itself, the minister said the Irish Governments position has been widely acknowledged and appreciated.

Mr Martin noted that Ireland had defended the work of UNWRA, increased humanitarian aid to Gaza and decided to intervene in the ICJ case filed by South Africa.

He said: I have said very directly and in person to the Israeli government that the shocking crimes of Hamas and the need to secure the release of the hostages cannot justify the scale and terrible humanitarian catastrophe of the war it is waging.

I am in no doubt that war crimes have been committed and I utterly condemn the ongoing bombardment of the Gazan people.

I have ensured that we worked on behalf of the victims of this terrible war  the hostages and the people of Gaza.

Mr Martin said he had taken an approach of building international alliances through direct diplomacy, rather than angry speeches and unilateral action.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (Niall Carson/PA)

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Irelands recognition of Palestinian statehood should happen now.

She said: Taoiseach, I also want to put it to you that you put your money where your mouth is on the issue of Palestine.

The Israeli slaughter and war crimes in Gaza continue as we speak  they are broadcast live.

And words are not enough, condemnation is not enough. Action is needed.

So recognition of the state of Palestine has to happen now. Why the delay? Why the equivocation? Its long past time that this was done.

She also called on the Government to implement the Occupied Territories Bill, which would prohibit trade and economic co-operation in illegal settlements deemed occupied under international law.
Simon Harris as been described by Fine Gael colleagues as a great communicator (Maxwell Photography/PA)

Simon Harris, a social media-savvy politician who was inspired to get into politics after his brothers autism diagnosis, has become Irelands youngest premier.

Mr Harris was formally sworn in at the President of Irelands official residence on Tuesday afternoon after the Irish parliaments lower house approved his nomination.

Today I accept this new role in a spirit of humility, ready for the challenge, and full of energy and determination about what can be achieved, he told parliamentarians.

The 37-year-old father of two has been described by Fine Gael colleagues as energetic, a great communicator and as having a vision for Ireland that is about equality of opportunity.

Simon Harris leaves the Dail in Dublin following the vote by Irish parliamentarians to elect him Taoiseach (Niall Carson/PA)

Already dubbed the TikTok Taoiseach, the personable politician is well-versed on social media sites and has been at the helm of three departments over an eight-year period.

His visibility during his tenure as justice minister  covering for Helen McEntee while she was on maternity leave  fuelled speculation about his interest in a leadership bid for the so-called law and order party.

The former student of journalism at Dublin Institute of Technology has gone from writing headlines to being propelled into them.

As a young boy growing up in the seaside town of Greystones in Co Wicklow, he is reported to have said he wanted to be taoiseach  though his mother said he had also considered being a vet at one stage.

Elvira Griffin (left) and Anastasia Mariussen (right), originally from Russia now living in Dublin, take a selfie with then-justice minister Simon Harris following a citizenship ceremony (PA)

Mr Harris has said his political story began after his younger brother Adam was diagnosed with autism when Mr Harris was eight years old.

Describing himself as an opinionated teenager, he said he became an activist accidentally through campaigning for better information and services, which included sending faxes to local papers and calling public meetings in the local church hall.

He said that his family did not have a political lineage but that the first politician they knew was the former Fianna Fail TD for Wicklow Dick Roche, for whom they distributed leaflets.

But former taoiseach and ex-Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny convinced Mr Harris to join his party.

After cutting his political teeth as an assistant to former justice minister Frances Fitzgerald when she was a senator, and then working as a councillor, he was elected to the Irish parliament as its youngest TD in 2011, aged 24.

Irish President Michael D Higgins with Simon Harris and Enda Kenny (Brian Lawless/PA)

His maiden speech in the Dail was to nominate Mr Kenny as taoiseach.

He served as a junior minister in the Department of Finance from 2014 before being propelled to the role of minister for health in the Fine Gael-led minority government that was formed in 2016.

Known as one of the most difficult Irish ministries, Mr Harris faced issues such as the ownership of the National Maternity Hospital, the spiralling cost of the National Childrens Hospital and a controversy around Irelands cervical cancer screening programme.

After the Irish public voted to liberalise its abortion laws in a 2018 referendum, Mr Harris was praised by campaigners as a strong voice for the Yes campaign.

In the February 2020 general election, he was returned on the 15th count and remained as a caretaker health minister.

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris speaking at the 82nd Fine Gael Ard Fheis at the University of Galway (Brian Lawless/PA)

In the first few months of the Covid-19 pandemic, he urged people to wear face coverings and adhere to new rules, but was criticised for an absence of planning for nursing homes.

After incorrectly saying during a radio interview that Covid-19 meant there were 18 other coronaviruses, he recorded an Instagram live video in which he apologised and said he was an awful old idiot at times.

In the three-party coalition government, he became minister at the newly formed Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

As higher education minister, he toured the country opening and speaking at educational institutions, and during his brief stint as justice minister he traversed bogs with families of the Disappeared.

Simon Harris with his wife Caoimhe and children Cillian and Saoirse (Maxwell Photography/PA)

During his inaugural speech as Fine Gael leader at the partys annual conference last weekend, he told delegates his key priorities were housing, law and order and support for small businesses.

He also addressed recent tensions in Ireland over increased immigration rates, as he pledged to oversee a fair but firm system to manage migration into the country.

Mr Harris also spoke about his his wife Caoimhe, a nurse, and their young children Saoirse and Cillian, who were present in the Dail to watch him become Taoiseach.

His mother Mary, a retired special needs assistant, his father Bart, a taxi driver, his brother Adam, the chief executive of the autism charity AsIAm and his sister Gemma were also in attendance.

Mr Harris also used his speech to issue a blunt message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Ireland was repulsed by his actions.

As Taoiseach, he will take Leo Varadkars old title as the youngest-ever Irish premier.
The man is expected to appear at Dundee Sheriff Court (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The brother-in-law of Scotlands First Minister has been charged with abduction and extortion in a case linked to a man who died falling from a window.

Police Scotland said the 36-year-old was seriously injured in the incident at a block of flats in Morgan Street, Dundee, on January 10 and he later died in hospital.

Ramsay El-Nakla, the brother of Humza Yousafs wife, Nadia El-Nakla, will be the fourth person to appear in court in connection with the case.

The 36-year-old has been arrested and charged with abduction and extortion.

Jennifer Souter, 38, appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court on Thursday charged with culpable homicide.

Souter, of Dundee, did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody.

Stephen Stewart, 50, and Victoria McGowan, 41, appeared at the same court on Thursday charged with abduction and extortion.

They both did not enter a plea and were both released on bail.

El-Nakla is expected to appear at the same court on Tuesday.

Police Scotland said in a statement: A 36-year-old man has been arrested and charged with abduction and extortion following an incident where a man fell from a block of flats on Morgan Street, Dundee, on Wednesday January 10. He died a week later in hospital.

Three others were previously arrested and charged following the same incident.

The 36-year-old man is due to appear in Dundee Sheriff Court today, Tuesday April 9. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
Lord David Cameron has said it was entirely in line with precedent for him to have dined with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago amid his push to shore up US support for Ukraine (Lucy North/PA)

Lord David Cameron has said it was entirely in line with precedent for him to have dined with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago amid his push to shore up US support for Ukraine.

The Foreign Secretary refused to be drawn on the details of his discussion with the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, saying only that it covered a range of important geopolitical subjects.

Lord Cameron made a surprise visit to Mr Trumps Florida resort on Monday ahead of flying to Washington DC to launch his latest appeal to Congress over a stalled multi-billion-dollar package of aid for Kyiv.

The funding faces an uphill battle in the House of Representatives amid opposition from hardline Republicans aligned with Mr Trump.

Lord Cameron, who has previously criticised the former presidents interventions as protectionist, xenophobic (and) misogynistic, played down his pit stop in Mar-a-Lago alongside British ambassador to the US, Karen Pierce.

At a press conference alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he said: This was entirely in line with precedent of Government ministers meeting with opposition politicians in the run-up to elections.

I remember when I was prime minister meeting Mitt Romney when he was a candidate. I remember Gordon Brown meeting Barack Obama when he was a candidate.

I think Tony recently had a meeting with Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, in Munich.

So these things are entirely proper, but it was a private meeting so I havent really got anything to add to your questions, but we discussed a range of important geopolitical subjects.

The Trump campaign claimed the talks covered topics including the upcoming US and UK elections and the need for Nato countries to meet defence spending requirements (Niall Carson/PA)

He added later that they discussed geopolitical issues like Israel and Gaza, like Ukraine, like the future of Nato.

Whoever Im talking to, I tend to make the same points, which is that weve got to do everything we can, this year, to get Nato in its strongest possible shape for its 75th anniversary.

And getting everyone up to 2%, having the new members joining  Sweden and Finland  having the strongest possible alliance, thats the best thing we can do, the Foreign Secretary said.

The Trump campaign was more forthcoming, claiming the talks covered the upcoming US and UK elections, policy matters specific to Brexit, the need for Nato countries to meet their defence spending requirements, and ending the killing in Ukraine.

President Trump, Secretary Cameron and Ambassador Pierce also discussed their mutual admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth II, it added.

European nations have concerns that the former president may change the course of US policy on the continent if he is returned to the White House.

Lord Cameron is expected to meet Congressional leaders as he seeks to urge lawmakers across the Atlantic to approve urgent additional assistance for Ukraine (James Manning/PA)

Recalling an incident during his presidency, Mr Trump recently suggested that he had previously said he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want in cases where Nato allies are delinquent.

Lord Cameron was among political figures to speak out against the remarks earlier this year, saying the suggestion was not a sensible approach.

It was not the first time the Foreign Secretary has criticised the presidential hopeful, who has been riding high in recent opinion polls ahead of the US election later this year.

In his memoir, For the Record, the former prime minister said maverick businessman Mr Trump had won the 2016 vote despite (or even perhaps, depressingly, thanks to) his protectionist, xenophobic, misogynistic interventions.

Lord Cameron is expected to meet Congressional leaders from across the aisle on Capitol Hill as he seeks to urge lawmakers across the Atlantic to approve urgent additional assistance for Ukraine.

These could include Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives who is trying to work out a compromise over aid for Kyiv, though it has not been confirmed whether the two will come face to face.

Ive got a range of meetings with senators and congressmen both sides of the aisle. I always do this with great trepidation. Its not for foreign politicians to tell legislators in another country what to do, he said in Washington.

Its just that Im so passionate about the importance of defending Ukraine against this aggression, that I think it is absolutely in the interests of US security that Putin fails in his illegal invasion

So Im here to offer my opinion, to meet with anyone who wants to talk to me about it, to make those arguments.
Harry Pitman was fatally stabbed in Primrose Hill Park in north London on New Years Eve (Family handout/Metropolitan Police/PA)

A teenager has pleaded not guilty to murdering a 16-year-old boy, who was stabbed in north London as he waited to watch fireworks on New Years Eve.

Harry Pitman had been with friends near a viewing platform in Primrose Hill Park when he was allegedly attacked with a hunting knife at about 11.40pm.

Nearby police officers gave him first aid before paramedics arrived but he died at the scene shortly before midnight.

The incident happened within metres of the emergency services present at the event.

Police carry out a fingertip search on Primrose Hill after the fatal stabbing of Harry Pitman (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon, a knife, in Primrose Hill Park.

On Tuesday, he appeared at the Old Bailey for a plea hearing before Mr Justice Cavanagh.

Speaking quietly, the defendant confirmed his identity and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

In the courtroom, a member of the victims family became emotional and cried out as the teenager denied murder, before apologising for the outburst.

The defendant was not in the dock, having attended court via video-link.

He faces a trial from September 2, which is expected to take up to six weeks.
New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described the experience of seeing fake pornographic photos of her as retraumatizing, and comparable to "physical rape" in a new interview.

"[Deepfakes] parallels the same exact intention of physical rape and sexual assault, which is about power, domination, and humiliation," she told Rolling Stone.

Ocasio-Cortez, 34, is one of several public figures who have been targeted with deepfake AI porn. An analysis of the deepfake porn industry found there were more than 4,000 named celebrities who were the victim of similarly faked pictures, the Guardian reported.

"There's a shock to seeing images of yourself that someone could think are real," the congresswoman told Rolling Stone. "As a survivor of physical sexual assault, it adds a level of dysregulation. It resurfaces trauma ... in the middle of a f-ing meeting."

In addition to high profile adults, many adolescent girls have found themself subject to AI porn manufactured by their school classmates. One 14-year-old girl, in New Jersey, began fighting for better protections after fake nude pictures were shared throughout her school's student body.

"Kids are going to kill themselves over this," Ocasio-Cortez told Rolling Stone. "People are going to kill themselves over this."

The congresswoman introduced the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024 to Congress last month, which would prosecute those responsible for disseminating the images.

"We've struck a remarkable bipartisan note this Congress on protecting Americans - especially children - from exploitation online. This includes addressing the rise of non-consensual, sexually-explicit deepfakes, often targeted at women," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin said at the time.

"The deepfakes may not be real, but they cause very real harms. It's time to return power to the victims and give them a tool to demand justice from those responsible for these horrific images."
An RAF A400M Atlas aircraft has been used to drop aid in to the region (CPL Tim Laurence RAF/MoD/Crown Copyright/PA)

Nine countries including Britain have carried out the largest international aid airdrop into Gaza since the conflict began, as the Israeli prime minister escalated his pledge to invade the southern city of Rafah.

Led by the Jordanian Armed Forces and coinciding with Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan, hundreds of tonnes of resources were delivered into the war-torn enclave.

The US, Germany, France, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands and Egypt also took part, the Ministry of Defence said.

The operation, which the MoD said is the biggest international aid drop on a single day since the war began last October, came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there is a date for the planned invasion of Rafah.

Israels closest ally, the US, has joined the international community in opposing the incursion and demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians.

Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly said the country must send ground forces into Rafah, saying it is Hamas last stronghold in Gaza.

An RAF A400M plane flew on Tuesday from Amman, Jordan to airdrop more than 10 tonnes of aid, including ready-to-eat meals, water and rice, along the northern coastline of Gaza.

The flight took about an hour, with other countries aircraft dropping aid throughout the course of the day.

Lord Cameron, who is visiting Washington DC, where he is expected to face questions about arms exports to Israel during a press conference, said Britain would continue to push Israel as hard as we can to boost aid access.

In a statement, the Foreign Secretary said: Led by our Jordanian partners, we have joined nations around the world to mark the end of Ramadan by getting life-saving aid into Gaza. Thousands of people in desperate need will benefit from this united effort.

The UK remains ready to play its part in getting supplies in by land, air and sea, but the people of Gaza need more.

We continue to push Israel as hard as we can to get more aid across the border and delivered throughout the region. Words must turn into action  this is essential to avoid an even more severe humanitarian crisis.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: The prospect of famine in Gaza is real and todays international airdrop will provide life-saving food supplies for civilians.

This is the sixth RAF airdrop in recent weeks, delivering over 53 tonnes of aid, including water, flour and baby formula.

After six months of war in Gaza, the toll on civilians continues to grow. We continue to stand by Israels right to defeat the threat from Hamas terrorists, who have failed the people of Gaza and hide behind civilians.

This terrible conflict must end. The hostages must be released and the aid must flood in.

Sunday marked six months since the war began and almost a week since seven aid workers, including three British nationals, were killed in an Israeli air strike.

John Chapman, 57, James Jim Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47, were among those who died on April 1, prompting condemnation from London and other Western capitals.

There have been calls from some quarters for Britain to suspend arms sales to Israel in the wake of the killings, which the Israel Defence Forces said were a grave mistake.

The UKs arms exports regime would prevent the supply of weapons if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

But the Government has refused to bow to pressure from opposition parties and some Conservatives to publish its legal advice on Israels compliance with international humanitarian law.

Israel has withdrawn troops from Khan Younis, another southern city where they were deployed last year as part of its ground offensive that came in response to a Hamas-led attack on October 7.

Israeli authorities say 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and roughly 250 people taken hostage.

More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in the following seven months, according to local health authorities, with most of the territorys 2.3 million people displaced and vast swathes of the Gaza Strip now uninhabitable.
Lord Cameron said the UK would not be suspending arms exports to Israel (James Manning/PA)

The UK will not suspend arms exports to Israel following the killing of seven aid workers in an air strike last week, the Foreign Secretary has confirmed.

Lord Cameron said he had reviewed the most recent legal advice about the situation in Gaza, and this left the UKs position on export licences unchanged.

Speaking at a press conference in Washington DC, he said: This is consistent with the advice that I and other ministers have received, and as ever we will keep the position under review.

But, he added, the UK continued to have grave concerns about humanitarian access to Gaza, saying Israeli promises to flood Gaza with aid  now need to be turned into reality.

The Government has faced increasing pressure to suspend licences for arms exports to Israel following the deaths of three British nationals in an air strike that killed seven people working for the humanitarian group World Central Kitchen.

Lord Cameron said continuing to allow arms exports put the UK in line with other like-minded countries and reiterated that the UK had a robust legal process for assessing those licences.

Palestinians inspect the destruction left by the Israeli air and ground offensive after they withdrew from Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip (Ismael Abu Dayyah/AP)

He added that the Government would not publish or comment on legal advice, but would act in a way that is consistent with it.

Lord Cameron said: We are a Government under the law and thats as it should be.

But Labours shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said Lord Camerons refusal to publish the legal advice was simply not good enough and demanded that he submit to questioning by the House of Commons.

Differences in language used by Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron fuelled rumours of a Cabinet split on suspending arms exports to Israel (Henry Nicholls/PA)

Mr Lammy said: David Cameron is still hiding from scrutiny by stating that arms sales will continue without even publishing a summary of the legal advice or offering any rationale behind his decision.

He added: Its vital the UK is not complicit in any breach. If there is a clear risk that UK arms might be used in a serious breach of international humanitarian law, the Government must suspend the sale of those arms.

Aid organisation Care International UK said the Foreign Secretarys statement appeared to contradict the precedent set in 2014 when the Government said it would suspend some licences as a precautionary step if it could not clarify if the export licence criteria are being met.

Cares head of advocacy and policy, Dorothy Sang, said: The Governments criteria for arms exports are clear that licences should not be granted where there is a clear risk that the items might be used in violation of international humanitarian law.

Gaza is experiencing a manmade humanitarian crisis. Over 33,000 Palestinians and 200 aid workers have been killed during this conflict. Famine is imminent if not already present in the north of Gaza.

The UK Government must now follow its own advice and suspend arms export licenses to Israel.

Other humanitarian organisations have also criticised the decision.

Amnesty International said the announcement was sadly predictable and a missed opportunity, while ActionAid said alarmed and urged the Foreign Secretary to publish the legal advice he had received.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested a ground invasion of Rafah, where many displaced Palestinians are sheltering, could be imminent (Hatem Ali/AP)

The debate over whether to suspend arms export licences sparked rumours of a Cabinet split, with Lord Cameron appearing more strident in his criticism of Tel Aviv than some of his colleagues, including Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden.

Downing Street denied there was any difference between the two mens public statements, and on Tuesday Lord Cameron reiterated the UKs support for Israels legitimate right to self-defence to deal with the Hamas threat.

He also repeated his calls for more aid to flow into Gaza and for the territory to be deconflicted to allow that aid to be distributed, warning that more humanitarian workers could be killed if this did not happen.

Lord Camerons press conference alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken came as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated his threats to carry out a ground invasion of Rafah, in southern Gaza.

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron speaks during a meeting with US secretary of state Antony Blinken at the State Department in Washington (Kevin Wolf/AP)

Around 1.4 million Palestinians are currently living in Rafah, many of whom have been displaced from other parts of Gaza, and Western allies have previously warned Mr Netanyahu against such a move.

With an invasion of Rafah becoming an increasing possibility, Lord Cameron told reporters the international community may need to start considering a plan B.

He said: We have a very clear plan A for how we bring this conflict to an end.

We have a temporary pause, we turn that into a sustainable ceasefire, we see Hamas leaders removed from Gaza, we see the terrorist infrastructure taken down. That is the way to have a political process that brings the war to an end.

But we have to be aware if that doesnt work, we have to think about what is plan B, what can humanitarian and other organisations do to make sure that if there is a conflict in Rafah that people can achieve safety, they can get food, they can get water, they can get medicine, and people are kept safe.

In a video statement, Mr Netanyahu said there was now a date for an invasion of Rafah. At Tuesdays press conference, Mr Blinken said the US had not been made aware of any such date.
David Cameron will describe US support for Ukraine as the keystone in the arch of the fight for democracy in his latest appeal to Congress over a stalled package of aid.

The Foreign Secretary will warn that success for Kyiv in defeating Russia is vital for American and European security as he urges lawmakers across the Atlantic to approve urgent further assistance for the country.

On a visit to Washington, Lord Cameron will push for Ukraine to be given the resources needed to hold the line and go on the offensive in 2025, the Foreign Office said.

Lord Cameron will meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as well as Congressional leaders, who he will urge to change the narrative on support for Kyiv while a multibillion-dollar aid package remains held up on Capitol Hill.

He was expected to tell Mike Johnson, Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, to stop his colleagues from continuing to block the support amid opposition from hardliners aligned with Donald Trump.

It is the latest of several interventions made by Lord Cameron over the additional funding for Ukraine. Earlier this year, he warned Congress not to show the weakness displayed against Hitler in the 1930s.

His previous comments drew the ire of right-wing congresswoman and staunch Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene, who told him to kiss my ass and worry about his own country.

On his latest visit, Lord Cameron will hold talks with Mr Blinken and meet other key figures across Congress to call for them provide the extra 60 billion US dollars (more than 47.5 billion), the Foreign Office said.

He will say that nothing can match the pace and scale of US support, which remains the keystone in the arch in the fight for democracy, the department said.

In a statement on Monday, the Foreign Secretary said: Success for Ukraine and failure for Putin are vital for American and European security.

This will show that borders matter, that aggression doesnt pay and that countries like Ukraine are free to choose their own future.

The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to re-draw European borders by force, and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea.

US support for Ukraine has massively degraded the military capacity of a common adversary, Russia has lost half of its pre-invasion land combat power, and a quarter of its original Black Sea fleet, while creating jobs at home and strengthening the Western alliance and Nato.

Talks will also focus on the Middle East, with the Foreign Secretary continuing to push for a full, urgent and transparent investigation into the deaths of of seven aid workers in Gaza.

He will say that the deaths of World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers are completely unacceptable and major changes need to be made to ensure the safety of aid workers on the ground.

It comes as Downing Street sought to insist the Government is completely united in its stance on Israel following the killings.

Divisions appeared to have emerged over the weekend with Lord Cameron taking a more strident approach to criticism than some of his colleagues, including Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden.

Mr Dowden suggested on Sunday that Israel is being held to an incredibly high standard compared with other nations and claimed there is a bit of relish from some people about the way in which they are pushing this case against Israel.

But on Monday, the Prime Ministers official spokesman denied there is a split, saying Lord Camerons and Mr Dowdens words are consistent with Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks.
Drivers are struggling to get in and out of parked cars because of the increasing size of their vehicles, according to a new study (Alamy/PA)

Drivers are struggling to get in and out of parked cars because of the increasing size of their vehicles, according to a new study.

Many manufacturers have increased the width of vehicles despite the size of most UK car park spaces being based on guidelines dating back to the 1970s, research by Churchill Motor Insurance found.

Analysis of 10 popular family car models revealed their average width has increased from 168cm when they were first launched to 180cm.

Guidelines issued by the British Parking Association recommend that spaces are 240cm wide, meaning there is typically just 30cm between each side of a parked car and the edge of a bay.

The study found the width of a Ford Fiesta has increased from 155cm, when it was first introduced, to 174cm.

Other examples of expanding cars include the Vauxhall Corsa (up 24cm to 177cm), the Nissan Qashqai (up 6cm to 184cm) and the Hyundai Tucson (up 4cm to 187cm).

Two out of five (40%) respondents to a survey commissioned by Churchill Motor Insurance said they have to squeeze themselves into their car when parked next to another vehicle at least once a month.

Some 22% claimed they have resorted to climbing into their parked car via the boot on at least one occasion.

Contortionist Sally Miller attempts to get out of a parked car following research from Churchill Motor Insurance finding that drivers have just 30cm space in car parks (Paul Marriot/PA Media Assignments)

Nearly a third (32%) of those questioned said they drive a bigger vehicle than five years ago.

The most common reasons for doing so included wanting more internal space for comfort, liking the design of a larger vehicle, and requiring more space for leisure and work equipment.

Nicholas Mantel, head of Churchill Motor Insurance, said: Ask almost any driver and they will have a story about having to creatively escape their car due to a lack of space when in a car park, even crawling out through the boot.

Widening cars combined with parking bays that havent been redesigned to accommodate todays models means motorists all over the country are at risk of damaging their cars, through no fault of their own.

The company also estimated that damage caused by vehicles hitting a wall, bollard or another vehicle while attempting to get in or out of parking bays costs UK motorists 424 million every year.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: After spending ages looking for a place to park, it can be very frustrating for drivers to discover theres not enough room to get out of their vehicle, not least if you have a family in tow, have mobility issues or need room to use a wheelchair.

Returning to find damage from a door being opened onto your vehicle is even more annoying due to the hassle and expense of having to get dents and scratches repaired.

The problem centres on modern vehicles becoming wider due to the introduction of side impact protection technology.

Operators are faced with the dilemma of having to repaint spaces to accommodate these larger vehicles, which is especially difficult at some older multi-storey car parks where space is already restricted.

Unfortunately, this would lead to an overall reduction in the total number of spaces available and an inevitable increase in charges to compensate for the loss of revenue.

 The survey of 2,000 UK adults was conducted by research company Opinium in January.
Molly dancers perform as people celebrate St Georges Day and the official start of the asparagus season at the The Fleece Inn in Bretforton, Worcestershire.

A niche festival dedicated to asparagus is holding a unique launch event on St Georges Day  on a steam train.

The British Asparagus Festival heralds the arrival of the beloved green spear to the Vale of Evesham in Worcestershire.

The launch event marks the commencement of two months of celebrations dedicated to all things asparagus.

The British Asparagus Festival is a popular annual event at the The Fleece Inn in Bretforton, Worcestershire (Joe Giddens/PA)

On April 23, the festivities commence with a gathering of Morgans and other classic cars at the Fleece Inn in Bretforton before leaving for Broadway station.

The Asparagus Express steam train departs Broadway bound for Cheltenham Racecourse before making the return journey in the afternoon.

Over the years, The British Asparagus Festival team has been to Buckingham Palace, Worcester Cathedral, the European Parliament in Brussels, Royal Hospital Chelsea and many more.

The British Asparagus Festival is an annual celebration spanning the traditional Asparagus harvest and celebrating the Vale of Eveshams most famous produce.

St Georges Day has become synonymous with the start of British asparagus season, thanks to the Vale of Eveshams British Asparagus Festival.

Some of the best asparagus in the world is said to come from this area of the country  also known as the UKs fruit and vegetable basket.

As part of the British Asparagus Festival, the vegetable will be travelling on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway (Ben Birchall/PA)

For 2024, the asparagus will be donated to the Cheltenham-based charity National Star, where students will turn the vegetable into dishes to be served at the StarBistro.

National Star chief executive Lynette Barrett said: Preparing young people with disabilities for adulthood is what National Star is all about.

An important part of that preparation is learning about healthy eating, understanding the importance of local seasonal food and of course how to prepare balanced and tasty meals.

We are thrilled that the British Asparagus Festival has chosen StarBistro at National Star as the final home for the first hundred-round of Vale Asparagus.

National Star students will be at the ready to transform the asparagus into delicious soup and then enjoy their efforts.

Catherine Johnson, from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, added: The GWSR are delighted to be involved in this fantastic event, celebrating the beautiful asparagus our region grows  it is great to be involved in the transportation of this on our fantastic locomotive and supporting National Star is an added bonus.
Amanda Knox faces another trial for slander this week in Italy in a case that could remove the last legal stain against her nine years after Italys highest court threw out her conviction for the murder of her 21-year-old British roommate.

Ms Knox, who was a 20-year-old student when she was accused along with her then-boyfriend of murdering Meredith Kercher in 2007, has built a life back in the United States as an advocate, writer, podcaster and producer  with much of her work drawing on her experience.

Now 36 and the mother of two small children, Ms Knox campaigns for criminal justice reform and to raise awareness about forced confessions.

Meredith Kercher (AP Photo)

She has recorded a series on resilience for a meditation app and has a podcast with her husband, Christopher Robinson, and an upcoming mini-series on her struggles within the Italian legal system for Hulu that has Monica Lewinsky as an executive producer.

Despite a definitive ruling by Italys Cassation Court in 2015 that Ms Knox and then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito did not commit the crime, and the conviction of another man whose DNA was at the scene, doubts persist about Ms Knoxs role, especially in Italy.

That is largely due to the slander conviction for wrongly accusing a Congolese bar owner in the murder, which was confirmed by the highest court in 2015.

That conviction was only thrown out last November based on a European Court of Human Rights ruling that found Ms Knoxs rights had been violated in a long night of questioning without a lawyer and official translator.

Even now, Ms Knox is not sure that a not guilty verdict in the new trial, which opens on Wednesday in Florence, will persuade her detractors.

On the one hand, I am glad I have this chance to clear my name, and hopefully that will take away the stigma that I have been living with, Ms Knox, who did not respond to an interview request, said on her podcast Labyrinths in December.

On the other hand, I dont know if it ever will, in the way I am still traumatised by it. I am sure people will still hold it against me because they dont want to understand what happened, and they dont want to accept that an innocent person can be gaslit and coerced into what I went through.

Ms Knox said on her podcast that she expects to testify, but her lawyer said she is not expected in court for opening day.

Rudy Hermann Guede (Pier Paolo Cito/AP)

The Kercher family lawyer, Francesco Maresca, said the high courts exoneration did little in his mind to dispel doubts following Ms Knoxs conviction by a trial court and two appeals courts, the first confirming her sentence of 26 years and the second raising it to 28-and-a-half years.

This trial never ends, Mr Maresca told The Associated Press, obscuring the memory of poor Meredith, who is always remembered for these procedural aspects and not as a student and young woman.

Among his doubts, Mr Maresca cited Ms Knoxs confused retraction of her accusation against the Congolese bar owner, Patrick Lumumba, and the verdict in Rudy Guedes conviction for killing Ms Kercher that maintains that the Ivorian man did not act alone.

Now 36, Guede was released from prison in 2021 after serving 13 years of a 16-year term handed down in a fast-track trial.

Guede was recently ordered to wear a monitoring bracelet and not leave his home at night after an ex-girlfriend accused him of physical and sexual abuse. An investigation is ongoing.

Ms Knoxs new trial will admit just one piece of evidence: her four-page handwritten statement that the court will examine to see if it contains elements to support slander against Mr Lumumba.

He was held in jail for two weeks before police released him. Mr Lumumba has since left Italy.

Two earlier statements typed up by police that Ms Knox signed in the early hours of November 6 2007 that contained the accusation, and were considered the most incriminating, have been ruled inadmissible by Italys highest court.

The four-page letter, which she wrote in the same 53-hour span of questioning over four days starting November 5, reflects someone in a state of confusion trying to reconcile what police have told her with her own recollections.

In regards to this confession that I made last night, I want to make clear that Im very doubtful of the verity of my statements because they were made under the pressures of stress, shock and extreme exhaustion, Ms Knox wrote.

She referred to police statements that she would be arrested and jailed for 30 years and that Sollecito was turning against her.

Lauria Baldassare, an Italian lawyer who founded the Innocents Project, said the topic of wrongful convictions in Italy is starting to create social alarm as it assumes important dimensions.

He cited 10 cases of defendants being paid damages for wrongful convictions over the last decade, but said they faced difficulty in escaping the stigma of their initial guilty verdict.

There is still part of the public opinion that does not accept the Court of Cassations decision, and these debates become a sport, said Ms Baldassare, whose organisation is independent from the Innocence Project that Ms Knox works with.

Italy does not have the maturity to accept an exoneration, because social prejudices are stronger than the finding.
A New York appeals court judge has rejected former US president Donald Trumps request to delay his April 15 hush money criminal trial while he fights to move the case out of Manhattan.

The decision came on Monday, a week before jury selection was set to start.

Mr Trumps lawyers had argued at an emergency hearing that the trial should be postponed while they seek a change of venue to move it out of heavily Democratic Manhattan.

Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez of the states mid-level appeals court made her ruling after an emergency hearing where Mr Trumps lawyers asked to postpone the trial indefinitely while they seek the change of venue. Mr Trump was seeking an emergency stay, a court order that would prevent the trial from starting on time.

Lawyers for former president Donald Trump, Emil Bove, left, and Todd Blanche, right, leave the New York State appellate court on Monday (Peter K Afriyie/AP)

The hush money trial is the first of Mr Trumps four criminal indictments slated to go to trial and would be the first criminal trial ever of a former president.

Trump lawyer Emil Bove argued that the presumptive Republican nominee faces real potential prejudice as a defendant in heavily Democratic Manhattan. Citing defence surveys and a review of media coverage, Bove argued that jury selection, scheduled to start next Monday, cannot proceed in a fair manner.

Steven Wu, appellate chief for the Manhattan district attorneys office, noted that trial Judge Juan M Merchan had already rejected Mr Trumps requests to move or delay the trial as untimely.

The question in this case is not whether a random poll of New Yorkers from whatever neighbourhood are able to be impartial, its about whether a trial court is able to select a jury of 12 impartial jurors, Mr Wu said. He blamed Mr Trump for stoking pretrial publicity with countless media appearances talking about the facts of this case, the witnesses, and so on.

In a separate appellate matter, Mr Trumps lawyers are also challenging a gag order imposed on him in the case, which Judge Merchan recently expanded to prohibit Mr Trump from making comments about the judges family. The appeals court signaled it would take up that matter at a later date.

Paperwork relating to Mr Trumps appeals were placed under seal and not publicly available.

Mr Trump had pledged to appeal after Merchan ruled last month that the trial would begin April 15. His lawyers had pleaded to delay the trial at least until summer to give them more time to review late-arriving evidence from a prior federal investigation into the matter.

Judge Merchan, who had already moved the trial from its original March 25 start date because of the evidence issue, said no further delays were warranted.
Emergency workers and police during evacuations in a flooded street after parts of a dam burst, in Orsk, Russia (AP)

Russians in the city of Orsk gathered in a rare protest on Monday, calling for compensation following the collapse of a dam and subsequent flooding in the Orenburg region near the border with Kazakhstan.

Protests are an unusual sight in Russia where authorities have consistently cracked down on any form of dissent following President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine.

Hundreds of people gathered in front of the administrative building in Orsk, Russian state news agency Tass said, while videos shared on Russian social media channels showed people chanting Putin, help us and shame.

The floods, caused by rising water levels in the Ural River, forced more than 4,000 people, including 885 children, to evacuate in the Orenburg region, the regional government said on Sunday.

Police officers guard an area as people use rubber boats in a flooded street after part of a dam burst, in Orsk, Russia (Anatoly Zhdanov/Kommersant Publishing House via AP)

Tass said on Monday that around 10,000 homes, including some 7,000 in Orsk, were flooded in the region and that floodwaters in the city are continuing to rise. Footage from Orsk and Orenburg showed water partially submerging buildings, including homes, as well as nearby fields.

Russias government declared the situation in flood-hit areas of Orenburg a federal emergency on Sunday, with preparations for possible flooding under way in three other regions, state media reported.

Following the protest, Tass reported that the governor of the Orenburg region, Denis Pasler, promised compensation payments of 10,000 rubles a month (approximately 85) for six months to people forced out of their homes by the flood.

The total damage from the flood in the region is estimated at about 21 billion rubles (179 million), the regional government said on Sunday.

Orsk, less than 20 kilometres (less than 13 miles) north of the border with Kazakhstan, suffered the brunt of the floods that caused a dam to break on Friday, according to Orsk Mayor Vasily Kozupitsa.

Emergency workers assist a woman during the evacuations (AP)

A criminal probe has been launched to investigate suspected construction violations that may have caused the dam to break. Local authorities said the dam could withstand water levels up to 5.5 metres (nearly 18 feet). On Saturday morning, the water level reached about 9.3 metres (30.51 feet) and rising, Mr Kozupitsa said. On Sunday, the level in Orsk reached 9.7 metres (31.82 feet), according to Russias water level information site AllRivers.

Authorities in Orsk reported that four people had died, but said their deaths were unrelated to the flooding.

Meanwhile in the Smolensk region in western Russia, part of an overpass collapsed in the town of Vyazma, 233 kilometres (144 miles) west of Moscow, killing one person and injuring several others, Tass said.

The overpass fell onto railway tracks, halting trains along the line towards Belarus and cutting almost 9,000 people off from gas supplies, Tass said, adding that local officials have opened a criminal investigation.
Vladimir Kara-Murza gestures while standing in a defendants cage at the Moscow City Court on July 31, 2023 (AP)

Members of the US Congress have called for the immediate release of Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza as they marked the second anniversary of his imprisonment.

The bottom line is that Vladimir Kara-Murza will not be forgotten, Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said at an event on Capitol Hill. We are going to work to set him free and to set Russia free.

Dual Russian-British citizen Mr Kara-Murza, a journalist and opposition activist, was jailed in April 2022 and convicted of treason last year for denouncing the war in Ukraine.

He is serving 25 years, the stiffest sentence handed down to a Kremlin critic in modern Russia. He is among a growing number of dissidents held in increasingly severe conditions under President Vladimir Putins political crackdown.

Sen Ben Cardin, left, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen Chris Coons, and James Roscoe, deputy head of mission at the British Embassy in Washington, listen as Evgenia Kara-Murza speaks about her husband (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Sen Cardin was joined by a bipartisan group of members from both the House and Senate, seeking to increase the pressure not only on Russian authorities to force the release of Mr Kara-Murza, but to ensure that the Biden administration continues working to force his release as the US has done in previous cases of Russian political prisoners.

Sen Jim Risch, the top Republican on the committee, renewed his call on Tuesday for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate Mr Kara-Murza as a wrongfully detained person, an appointment that would help elevate his case and provide resources to his family in America as they fight for his release.

The charges against him stem from a March 2022 speech to the Arizona House of Representatives in which he was critical of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Kara-Murza, who twice survived poisonings that he blamed on Russian authorities, has rejected the charges against him as punishment for standing up to Mr Putin and likened the proceedings to the show trials under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

Mr Kara-Murzas wife, Evgenia Kara-Murza, who lives in the US with their three children, joined politicians at the event in pleading for her husbands release.

I want to thank each and every one of you here for joining with me in my fight, not just for Vladimirs freedom, but truly for his life, she told the crowd.

Ms Kara-Murza has said her husband has spent months in solitary confinement, a punishment that has become common for Kremlin critics and is widely viewed as designed to put additional pressure on them.

Most recently, Mr Kara-Murza had been held in a penal colony in the Omsk region, though his supporters said in late January that he apparently was no longer there.
IRA-British link man Denis Bradley has a truly intriguing story to tell

Dealing with Martin McGuinness  and his formidable mother  negotiating for release of kidnap victims and wrestling with his own conscience the former priest recalls his tortuous role in our peace process in new book

Denis Bradley

Malachi O'Doherty Tue 9 Apr 2024 at 08:30

In 1972, while the IRA was on ceasefire, two soldiers were captured by its members in Derry. At the time Martin McGuinness, one of its leaders in the city, was in London.
A California man is taking legal action against more than 50 women and suing for $2.6 million in damages after they allegedly shared negative stories about him on an "Are We Dating the Same Guy" Facebook page.

Stewart Lucas Murrey is claiming their reviews were false and defamatory.

The women believe Murrey is using this as an opportunity to intimidate them, and they're asking the courts to shut down the lawsuit.

On Monday, a judge in Los Angeles civil court ruled that one of the women, Vanessa Valdez, did nothing wrong by sharing her opinion of Murrey with the popular online group, according to the New York Post.

Kelly Gibbons, who is also named in the lawsuit, said the first time she saw Murrey in real life was when he personally came to her house to drop off the lawsuit.

"It was pretty eerie. He was filming with his cellphone, walking in. I don't know who wouldn't get creeped out by that," she said.

The women that were called out by Murrey, who alleges they ruined his dating life and damaged his reputation, are hoping that the ruling will set a precedent and prevent him from further using the legal system against them by invoking California laws meant to deter junk lawsuits, called anti-SLAPP laws.

The judge found no evidence of conspiracy and granted an anti-SLAPP motion to prevent any overreach of the legal system to silence the women.

Gibbons posted the original story about Murrey in the Los Angeles chapter of "Are We Dating the Same Guy?" after meeting on a dating app and texting for a few weeks.

She said she spoke with Murrey on the phone before she decided she didn't want to meet him in person after all.

The exchange was so bad that she wanted to warn other women about his rude behavior, emphasizing, "I wouldn't want my friend going out with someone like that."

Shortly after, other women began sharing their experiences with Murray and posted screenshots of text exchanges with him to potentially warn off women.

The "Are We Dating the Same Guy" Facebook group, which started in New York City in 2022, is part of a larger network of groups where women exchange stories about negative dating experiences they've encountered in their cities. Currently, the Los Angeles chapter has approximately 53,000 members.

Sadly, Murrey is not the first man to file lawsuits against women who have voiced their negative reviews on the page.

Nikko D'Ambrosio, 32, filed a lawsuit against 27 women in Chicago in January after describing him as "very clingy" and a ghoster.
Drugs-for-sex scandal rocks Magilligan Prison: One unit nicknamed the Red Light District

Prison sources and politicians express concern as one jail unit branded the Red Light District

Magilligan Prison

Ciaran Barnes Tue 9 Apr 2024 at 13:30

Stormont is to hear claims that some prisoners are using a prescription drug designed to treat heroin addicts as currency to pay for sex with other inmates at Magilligan Prison.
U.S. President Joe Biden hosts Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, May 1, 2023.

U.S. President Joe Biden will host his Philippine and Japanese counterparts this week during a historic summit that aims to bolster cooperation in the South China Sea and strengthen their relationship amid tensions with Beijing, analysts said.

Biden is to welcome Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for three-nation talks at the White House on Thursday. Among other topics, the leaders are expected to discuss freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and launching joint patrols in the strategic waterway, observers said.

Leading up to the summit, the three countries, joined by ally Australia, conducted a large-scale joint exercise in the South China Sea on Sunday. They showcased their collective naval and air power, signaling a shift in defense priorities for Washington, analysts said.

This trilateral meet shows Bidens clear South China Sea policy, which was perplexing during the Obama and Trump administrations as America kept mum on pivotal events, said Chester Cabalza, a defense analyst and founding president of International Development and Security Cooperation, a think-tank in Manila.

Analysts said the summit will serve as a reminder that the Philippines stands with other like-minded nations including the United States, which is bound to a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty compelling it to come to Manilas aid in the event of an attack by a foreign power.

In Washington, John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, said he expected the three leaders to announce a series of new initiatives during their meeting on April 11.

Its the first-ever at the leader level, and so were going to look to find ways to continue to deepen the collaboration with our closest partners, again, to ensure a free, open, prosperous, secure Indo-Pacific, Kirby told reporters at the White House on Monday.

Mira Rapp-Hooper, senior director for East Asia and Oceania at the National Security Council, previewed Thursdays summit by announcing a series of items on the agenda.

Our leaders will announce new initiatives to enhance energy security, economic and maritime cooperation, partnerships on technology and cybersecurity and some considerable investments in some major infrastructure areas, she told reporters in Washington on Tuesday without going into specific details.

A fishermens group and other activists commemorate the Day of Valor by protesting outside the Chinese Consulate in Makati City, metro Manila, April 9, 2024. [Gerard Carreon/BenarNews]

Lately, tense incidents at sea have increased as Chinese coast guard and militia ships try to block Philippine ships and boats from delivering supplies to Manilas military outpost in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal). The Philippines and China are locked in a territorial dispute over the shoal and other features in the South China Sea.

Tokyo, which has a territorial dispute with Beijing over the uninhabited Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, has found support from Manila.

Last year, Prime Minister Kishida addressed both chambers of the Philippine Congress  the first time for a Japanese leader since World War II, when Imperial Japan occupied the Philippines  and pledged to boost defense ties.

This time around, Washington has seen a respectable [show of] support from Tokyo and a braver stance from Manila on its assertive transparency strategy on Chinas duplicitous gray-zone tactics aside from its lawfare, Cabalza told BenarNews on Tuesday.

He praised the Philippines under President Marcos for having flexed a muscle from a balanced foreign policy to a stout territorial defense operation.

Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida signs the guestbook beside Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Nov. 3, 2023. [Aaron Favila/AP/pool]

This weeks summit in Washington is also intended for the three leaders to mount a collective defense against China at a time when the Asian superpower is saddled with economic recession while facing international political tensions, analysts said.

Don McLain Gill, a geopolitical analyst who lectures at De La Salle Universitys international studies department in Manila, said the summit could help give pause to Chinas revisionism in the region where it claims nearly all of the seas.

What the Philippines is doing is fortifying its capacity to defend what it rightfully owns based on international law, he told BenarNews  something that goes against the interests of revisionist powers.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning spoke out against the upcoming summit.

Defense cooperation between any countries should be conducive to regional peace and stability. We oppose cobbling together exclusive groupings and stoking bloc confrontation in the region, the spokeswoman said during a daily news conference on Monday.

She issued a specific warning to Tokyo in response to a second question during the news conference.

Japan needs to earnestly draw lessons from history and stay prudent on military and security issues, Mao told reporters.

South China Sea

Rapp-Hooper reiterated the Biden administrations commitment to defense of the Philippines in light of recent acts of Chinese aggression against Filipino coast guard ships and boats bringing supplies to the military outpost on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

The Philippines has found themselves under increasing pressure from the PRC in the South China Sea, Rapp-Hooper said, using an acronym for Peoples Republic of China, its official name.

The U.S., Philippine mutual defense treaty applies to the Philippines in the South China Sea, she said, adding it covers vessels underway including coast guard vessels.

We stand strongly by our alliance commitment to the Philippines, she said.

The summit comes at a time when the participating nations are holding joint training exercises focused on maintaining regional security.

Balikatan, a large-scale annual joint exercise, is scheduled for April 22 to May 18. The French Navy is expected to participate in the exercises on the edge of the West Philippine Sea, Manilas name for South China Sea waters that lie within its exclusive economic zone.

But while these activities are designed to rattle China, the upcoming summit in Washington could do more to inflame tension, political analyst Rommel Banlaoi warned.

The summit cannot peacefully resolve the South China Sea disputes requiring direct negotiations of the parties concerned, said Banlaoi, who heads the Philippine Society for International Security Studies.

It will only intensify major power rivalries, he told BenarNews.

U.S. Marines arrive at the General Santos International Airport in the southern Philippines ahead of a joint training exercise with their Philippine counterparts at Camp Abubakar, a former Muslim rebel base in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao. April 7, 2024. [Mark Navales/BenarNews]

China has developed its own capabilities, enough for it to believe that it can resist major Western pressure. The summit likely would motivate Beijing to develop further capabilities to recover from centuries of humiliation from Western powers, Banlaoi said.

During the multi-nation exercise over the past weekend, two Chinese navy ships were observed monitoring from about six nautical miles away, said Gen. Romeo Brawner, the Philippines military chief.

While noting Chinas presence, Brawner said the joint training with like-minded armed forces signified that allies were ready to lend a helping hand.

The summit also signals Marcos preference to align with the West, a clear departure from Dutertes pro-China stance, he said.

During an interview with a local radio station on Monday, Marcos called the weekends exercise successful even as his administration seeks to avoid similar incidents involving Chinese ships.

Were doing everything we can to talk to the Chinese leadership, and tell them not to heighten the tension and lets just talk well so we can avoid collisions, water cannons, Marcos said in the interview, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency.

Late last month, Marcos administration summoned a Chinese diplomat to protest against the aggressive actions of the China Coast Guard in the South China Sea, following a March 23 incident that left three crew members aboard a Philippine supply boat injured.
Gong Saelao was one of 23 Thais released from Gaza after being abducted by Hamas militants on Oct. 7.

Gong Saelao jokes with his wife, Suntree Saelee, after she cried while recalling his abduction from Israel, during an interview at their home in Chiang Khong, a district of Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand, Jan. 29, 2024.

As the sound of gunfire and explosions grew closer, Thai farm laborer Gong Saelao took refuge in his bedroom at a camp in southern Israel on Oct. 7 last year.

Not long after, he recalled, he was detained by a group of gun-wielding men who blindfolded him, chained his wrists and ankles, and dragged him into the Gaza Strip.

So began nearly two months in captivity during which he suffered physical and mental abuse but was also treated to acts of kindness by his captors from the Hamas militant group, he said.

I was so scared because I didnt know what they were thinking, said Gong, who was freed on Nov. 29. I thought I wouldnt return home alive.

Last weekend marked six months since the Hamas attack that left 1,200 Israelis dead and triggered an ongoing retaliatory assault on Gaza that, Palestinian authorities say, has killed more than 33,000 people.

Gong was one of 23 Thai hostages released from Gaza after the Hamas raid, with eight still held captive. Nearly 30,000 Thais were working in Israel before the onset of war, most of whom were farm laborers from Thailands poor northeastern regions.

Gong, a member of the Hmong ethnic group, recently recounted his ordeal to BenarNews from the dirt-floor home he shares with his wife Suntree in northern Chiang Rai province.

I was in my room when they came to search it and detained me, he said. Five Thais who were outside were detained before me and taken to another location.

A man stands by the rubble of a destroyed building in Khan Yunis on April 7, 2024 after Israel pulled its ground forces out of the southern Gaza Strip, six months into the devastating war sparked by the October 7 attacks. [AFP]

Before his abduction, Gong had been live-streaming on Facebook the explosions and rockets flying through the sky. But when his wife tried to call him later that day, he didnt pick up  and she immediately thought the worst.

In the days that followed she posted messages to social media groups used by Thai laborers in Israel. But no one had seen him, Suntree, 28, said with tears in her eyes.

Keeping the faith

By that time, Gong was being held at a hidden site deep inside Gaza amid increasingly severe Israeli bombardments of the narrow coastal strip.

At first, his captors were aloof, he said, but they slowly became more friendly.

He was fed food like chicken biryani, salads and bread  sometimes with butter or cheese  and was given medicine when he fell ill. The militants protected him during heavy bombardments, he said.

I had hope that I might return home alive, he told BenarNews.

But weeks of confinement as a war raged on outside took a toll. Shackled, under constant guard and isolated from his compatriots, he said he suffered from migraines and stress.

They kept telling me not to worry, that I would definitely go home tomorrow, Gong said. They said Thailand is good, they dont hurt Thai people.

Eventually, his captors followed through on their word. After a farewell meal, he was blindfolded and handed over to another group that took him to a designated drop-off point.

When his blindfold was removed, he recalled a sense of joy sweeping over him as he looked at paramedics and a United Nations vehicle waiting for him.

It was like I was lifted up from a black hole of death and reborn, he said with a laugh.

Gong Saelao helps his wife feed chickens before heading off to work at nearby corn fields in this photo on Jan. 29, 2024. [Wilawan Watcharasakwej/BenarNews]

Later, at the Shamir Medical Center in Tel Aviv, where he was taken for a check-up, he was finally able to video call with his wife.

I cant remember our conversation but there was a lot of emotion, Suntree said. He cried and I also cried  I told him how much I missed him.

Homecoming

On Dec. 4, Gong and five other former hostages arrived back in Thailand.

Some 15,000 Thais workers have been helped home since the conflict began, but around 60% say they intend to return once the situation calms down, according to the Thai labor ministry.

For now, Gong is happy to seek employment in Thailand provided he can earn enough. Originally, he had intended to work in Israel for a few years to pay off debt, build a house and provide a comfortable life for Suntree.

But his experience has led him to reassess his priorities and plans. Today, he spends his mornings helping Suntree feed their chickens and works in local corn fields.

Although he has not ruled out working abroad again, Israel is off the cards.

I was lucky last time, but I may not be so lucky the next, Gong said.
The gunman who shot and killed his former daughter-in-law and her lawyer husband during a deposition at a Las Vegas law firm was reportedly diagnosed with terminal cancer

Joe Houston murdered prominent attorney Dennis Prince and his wife Ashley Prince, who he was representing, in her custody battle against her former husband, Dylan Houston, Headlines & Global News previously reported.

Dylan is Houston's son, and Houston was representing him in his custody battle.

Sources said the longtime lawyer and the grandfather to Ashley and Dylan's two children was battling terminal cancer, according to KTNV-TV. It's unclear what type.

Shortly into Monday's deposition, Houston opened fire on the Princes across the table, police said.

Ashley and Dennis were "very specific targets," Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Jason Johansson said, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Seven people, including a court reporter and another pregnant lawyer, were in the room at the time of the attack, the outlet reported. Houston "shooed away" at least one person in the room during the shooting, said Johansson.

The deposition was in response to an "emergency motion for sole custody of the minor children; and for attorneys' fees and costs," according to court records, the Review-Journal reported.

In records obtained by KLAS-TV, Dylan was accused of using cocaine and drinking alcohol while he had custody of his and Ashley's children. He also allegedly sent Ashley derogatory texts.

Ashley previously filed a restraining order against him in 2022, the documents showed.

She leaves behind three children, after recently welcoming a child with Dennis.

Dennis was a father of four, three of whom were from previous relationships.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 43F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 43F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
POWNAL  Democrat Jonathan Cooper has announced his candidacy for the Bennington-1 House seat to succeed incumbent Rep. Nelson Brownell, who is not seeking another term.

Cooper, of Pownal, is thus far the only declared candidate for the district seat, which includes a section of his home town, along with the towns of Woodford, Stamford, Readsboro and Searsburg.

During the 2022 election, Brownell, a Democrat, narrowly defeated Republican Bruce Busa, of Readsboro, by 20 votes following a recount.

Busa has yet to indicate whether he will run again for the seat.

Economic development

Cooper, the Community and Economic Development Program manager with the Bennington County Regional Commission, said his legislative priorities if elected are creating economic opportunity for residents, developing resources for established and growing businesses, and enhancing public resources for rural towns.

He said in a release that hes passionate about rural development, and wants to prioritize the rural communities that are home to two-thirds of the Vermonts population.

Ensuring a bright future for the towns of the [Bennington-1 District] promises a brighter future for the children who will grow up here in the years to come, he said.

Concerning economic development, Cooper said, We need some smarter growth, I would say. We need some homes that fit our household size, our social interests and our income levels. That is the dynamic that allows for a healthy mix of employers, and therefore for a broad range of occupations.

He added, I dont think we can get there without demographic and economic growth, so Ill be looking to enact or amend legislation that directs that in ways that benefit us all.

Cooper noted that the state draws on all taxpayers for revenue, saying, Id like to ensure that return to municipalities, to communities are made available in a way that smaller towns have just as much access to them as some of our larger municipalities that have special staff, that have additional capacity to take up resources, to manage them and administer them, etc.

There must be a balance, he said, between the appropriate oversight requirements for taxpayer funding that realistically also allows for equal access to funding by smaller communities.

Given the towns of the first [House] district, that is a very important issue for them, Cooper said.

There is an opportunity to ensure that the towns of the district are better represented in the slice of the pie that comes back down to us, he said.

Cooper said he will have a campaign kick-off event Thursday, April 25, at the Hilltop Farm Store on Route 7 in Pownal Center, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

He said he hopes to meet with constituents to discuss his reasons for seeking the office and listen to their concerns and ideas.

Cooper also plans a campaign website, cooperforvermont.com.

Cooper, 43, has lived in southwestern Vermont since 2016. He is married to Kate Cooper, and they have two daughters.

He is also chairman of the Sunrise Family Resource Center board of directors.
There's nothing quite like an eclipse to raise a simple question we ought to contemplate more often: Are we letting the small things overshadow the big picture?
Three years after Lew was elected, the town has hired Sean Curran as joint town administrator for both Washington and Middlefield, and Lew said he feels he can step down without leaving a vacuum.
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Although the path of totality for Mondays total solar eclipse was relatively narrow, the phenomenon darkened skies over much of the United States around 1:35 p.m. Monday. NOAA/National Weather Service The Blue Jay solar and storage plant in Iola. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Danny Lynch, site manager of the Blue Jay solar and storage plant in Iola. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer A battery storage yard at the Blue Jay solar and storage plant in Iola. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Flaring at the Shell chemicals plant in Deer Park. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer A flare in West Texas near Odessa. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

A solar eclipse is the perfect reminder that almost all the energy humans rely on comes from the sun, even if some forms are older than others.

The food we eat, the oil and gas we burn and, increasingly, the electricity that flows from our outlets originated with a fusion reaction 93 million miles away. Today, electric grid operators worry about eclipses interrupting electricity the way ancient peoples worried about the gods taking away their source of food.

Texas is leading the way in converting sunlight directly into power, producing more than any other state. Still, our growing success in greening our grid comes with engineering and political challenges.

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For most of human history, carbon-based plants took up the suns rays, and humans consumed what was edible and burned what wasnt for energy. Carbon levels in the atmosphere remained relatively balanced.

Humans started throwing off that balance by extracting the solar energy stored underground for millions of years in fossilized hydrocarbons. Burning millions of tons of coal, oil and natural gas released ancient carbon into the atmosphere, trapping more solar energy and heating the planet.

Fighting climate change requires humans to rebalance carbon levels.

Solar facilities generated more power than coal-fired power plants last month for the first time in Texas, according to the Energy Information Agency. Coal, one of the dirtiest forms of electricity generation, provided less than 10% of the states electricity, dropping every month from over 40% a decade ago.

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Meanwhile, solar is snowballing, from 0.6% of ERCOTs demand in 2017 to more than 10% this year. Solar capacity is expected to double over the next two years, data from the grid operator Electric Reliability Council of Texas shows.

ERCOT set a record for renewable energy generation last week, providing 37,606 megawatts of electricity Friday afternoon. Last month, clean energy met 73% of the states power demand.

All this renewable energy makes the natural gas industry nervous, and politicians worry about the grid collapsing in extreme weather. The challenge is not relying on clean energy most of the time, but how to pay for fossil fuel generation for when the moon blocks out the sun or other phenomena create a pinch.

This debate is mostly about money, not technology, and the resolution is critical for reliability and the climate.

Electricity demand in Texas will skyrocket over the next decade. Data center operators suggest they could add 40,000 megawatts of load by 2030 to the ERCOT system, which barely generated 87,000 megawatts last summer. Not all of those data centers will be built, but most will.

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Tech companies need additional facilities to meet the demand for artificial intelligence, which requires power-hungry computer servers. Grid operators fear high prices and brownouts if generation doesnt keep up, while environmentalists worry that greenhouse gas emissions will rise.

Thunder Said Energy, a data collection and research firm, estimates that demand for AI will trigger a tripling in annual solar capacity additions. However, they also predict sales of combined-cycle gas turbines will double and boost demand for natural gas.

The Legislature and the Public Utility Commission of Texas are responsible for overseeing ERCOT and designing a wholesale electricity market that ensures reliability and affordability while minimizing environmental damage. The current market design is a mess.

Wind and solar energy are cheaper than natural gas and battery storage, but renewables do not perform on cold, still nights. They cannot ramp up on demand. Fossil fuel facilities are more expensive and pump carbon into the atmosphere.

The current market design doesnt reward each energy sources unique benefits and drawbacks.

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On a routine day, ERCOT predicts how much electricity it will need the next day, and generators bid to supply that power based on weather and equipment conditions. ERCOT starts with the cheapest electricity first and keeps buying until it can meet demand plus some reserve.

If the current competitive market remains unchanged, renewables will meet most of our needs, which is good. But if natural gas plants dont operate often, they do not make a profit. Therefore, no corporation will build them, and they wont be there if we need them.

Dozens of companies are working on clean energy storage to knock natural gas out of the market. Their success has the natural gas industry worried, which is why they give millions to Texas Republican politicians to tip the scale in fossil fuels favor.

The fight over market design at the PUC is fierce but largely invisible. Hopefully, the eclipse will remind us where we get energy, and how much we rely on it.
Lenox native James Brooke has traveled to about 100 countries reporting for The New York Times, Bloomberg and Voice of America. He reported from Russia for eight years and from Ukraine for six years.
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Flare and black smoke from a chemical plant in Deer Park. The Biden administration has just initiated stringent emissions rules affecting petrochemical facilities around the country. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

WASHINGTON  Petrochemical plants in areas like Houstons Ship Channel will need to rein in toxic air pollution under new environmental standards aimed at improving the health of communities around the plants, the Environmental Protection Agency announced.

Under rules proposed by the Biden administration last year and finalized Tuesday, plants will be required to monitor the air around their facilities for a host of chemicals known to cause cancer and other health problems, including chloroprene and ethylene oxide, which an EPA study in 2016 found poses a much higher cancer risk than previously understood.

Also on the list are 1,3-butadiene and benzene, chemicals commonly emitted by chemical plants along the Ship Channel, and vinyl oxide, a chemical manufactured in Texas that forced the evacuation of a community in eastern Ohio last year after a train derailment there.

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EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the final rule was part of a suite of rules aimed at protecting residential communities around chemical plants that have been, historically overburdened by air pollution.

Ive pledged to use every tool in our toolbox to protect these front-line communities, he said.

The rule will impact more than 200 chemical facilities nationwide, primarily located in Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky, according to the EPA.

The petrochemical industry had opposed the new regulations since they were proposed by EPA last year, arguing the Biden administration had failed to take into account the substantial and immediate costs associated with them. On Tuesday, the American Chemistry Council said while it was still reviewing the final regulation it remained concerned with many aspects of the rule, which it described as part of a recent onslaught of chemical regulations being put forth by this administration.

Unless the Biden administration takes a different approach to how it creates and implements regulations, the availability of critical chemistries will dwindle, it said in a statement.

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The regulation has been adjusted since last years proposal, including lengthening lead times for facilities to get their monitoring operations up and running and eliminating a cap on flaring chemicals. But the core protections in the proposed rule remain the same, EPA officials said.

We feel very confident this final rule is equally protective if not more, Regan said.

Chemical plants for years had been allowed to emit toxic chemicals such as ethylene oxide under the belief that public health risks are acceptable when weighed against the economic benefit the plants bring, in terms of the production of vital products such as plastics and gasoline, and jobs for the communities like those along the Texas Gulf Coast.

But in the wake of protests by communities around chemical facilities in Port Arthur and in Louisianas 80-mile long cluster of chemical plants known as cancer alley, the Biden administration is reconsidering that calculation. The EPA was investigating Japanese chemical company Denka for purposefully locating polluting facilities near African American communities in cancer alley until dropping the case last year.

Rep. Troy Carter, D-La., who has been at the forefront of the movement to protect air quality in fence-line neighborhoods, said the new rules set a path forward for communities and industry to coexist.

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It must begin with listening to the people who have suffered the cost of being in close proximity to chemical plants, not just any chemical plants but chemical plants that dont follow the rules, he said. Those that work hand in hand with EPA instead of trying to skirt the rules are ones we can work with.
Bowdoin Group Journeys to the Zone of Totality

After traveling hours to Jackman, Maine, nearly fifty Bowdoin students gathered on the egde of an icy lake ringed by small hills to watch the solar eclipse.

Totality begins on Wood Pond in Jackman. When the black disc of the moon finally slipped into place in front of the sun around 3:30 p.m., casting the town and a long band across the state into murky shadow, the horizon began to glow pink, then yellow and orange. With the sudden darkness, eclipse watchers spread along the lake's slushy rim erupted into cheers, then grew quiet as they gazed at the silvery arms of the sun's corona flowing out from behind the dark center. Fireworks crackled in the distance. The extraordinary experience of totality was just three minutes and eighteen seconds long. Meanwhile, the trip to get there and see it took three-and-a-half hours, and double that time coming back, as Bowdoin's chartered bus hit bottlenecks of traffic at every little town along the way. Many thousands of eclipse viewers traveled into Maine's zone of totality to see the cosmic spectacle, setting up camping chairs on roadside pullovers and wherever they could. Though long, the journey was worth it, especially for Fe McBride, assistant professor of physics, who organized the trip. With Bowdoin funding, she booked the bus and invited students from her astrophysics class (soon to be renamed Galaxies and Cosmology), before opening up the remaining seats to other members of the Bowdoin community. "It was beautiful and I'm glad I was able to share this with students, faculty and staff," she said. "For me, it was worth the time and effort to reach the path of totality."

Eclipse composite by Benjamin Pinto Arroyo 25. Photos taken in Jackman, Maine.

While science did occur during the eclipsephysics lab assistants measured the solar irradiance with a pyranometer and a physicist in the group checked the drop in air temperatureMcBride said the trip was really a chance to appreciate a rare celestial sight. We are so lucky to have a moon, she said, noting that neither Mercury nor Venus has one, before adding, and a moon that is the right distance and the right diameter to block the sun. Total solar eclipses are uncommon because of the slight tilt of the moon's orbit, which puts it in eclipse-creating alignment with the sun and earth only every few years. The students who joined the trip recognized the good fortune of being so close to a zone where you could see a full eclipserather than a 97 percent eclipse, as was the case in Brunswick. (Many more students watched on the quad or Schiller Coastal Studies Center, or traveled separately to the zone of totality.) Liz Perot 26 said she, "jumped at the opportunity" to join the Jackman trip. A physics and anthropology major, she's doing research with McBride this summer on active galactic nuclei. Izzy Lockhart 24, a French and biology major, and Nathan Oyeka '24, a computer science and physics major, agreed the event was unmissable, "a once-in-a-lifetime experience." Lockhard added, "And I'm excited to share it with all the people here today." Gizem Dogan 24, a physics and government major, also said it meant a lot to her to experience the eclipse with her classmates. "These are people I've taken classes with over the last four years, it makes it all the more special," she explained.

A Brief Historical, Cultural, and Scientific Journey through Eclipses On the Wednesday before the eclipse, McBride gave a public talk about the phenomenon at the Portland Public Library. She titled her presentation, "When the Sun Throws Shade in Style." McBride is an astrophysicist who researches supermassive black holes and their relativistic outflows of plasma (called jets), as well as "multimessenger connections between IceCube astrophysical neutrinos and galaxies." Her faculty page also emphasizes her interest in making science accessible. In her presentation, she used diagrams and drawings to explain the rarity of total lunar events, and discussed the three types of eclipsestotal, partial, and annular. She also delved into the history of eclipses, how they've been interpreted by cultures around the world, and their usefulness in pinpointing near-exact dates in ancient history. One of her favorite eclipse legends comes from the Batammaliba people in northern Togo and Benin. While many cultures throughout time have feared eclipses as portents of misfortune and developed frightening stories to explain them (like dragons, or squirrels, eating the sun) the Batammaliba had a slightly more positive take. In their legend, two of the first women in the world, mothers Puka Puka and Kuiyecoke, got tired of the fighting and negativity on earthviolence which they believed was spread by toxic bickering between the moon and sun. The mothers urged humans to stop warring, believing peace on the land would translate to a ceasefire between the moon and sun. For the Batammaliba, eclipses are a reminder of the sparring between moon and sun, and they use eclipses to "make amends for old feuds to encourage peace between the celestial bodies."

View image caption Nathan Bukowski-Thall 26 stitched together images of the eclipse.

In more modern times, scientists have taken advantage of total solar eclipses to make new findings about the universe, including determining the distance between the earth and the moon. And during an 1868 eclipse, a scientist discovered a new element in the coronahelium, named for Helios, the Greek sun god. Today, some earth scientists study how the atmosphere reacts to a very rapid decline of sunlight, providing insight into climate change and the speed at which the earth's atmosphere cools down. Other scientistsand eclipse fanstake advantage of the opportunity of totality to actually see the corona, which is usually invisible because the body of the sun is so bright. "They are interested in the streams and plumes of solar material coming off the sun, and the solar winds," a continuous stream of charged particles, McBride said. "If there is a powerful amount of material, it can take out the electrical grid." Finally, she said general relativity got a huge boost from an experiment in 1919, when two scientific expeditions in Africa and Brazil proved Einstein's theory of spacetime and the bending of light. In general, however, eclipses are less relevant for science than they once were. But she added, "they are always worth taking the time to watch." Photos by Rebecca Goldfine, unless otherwise noted.
Enterprise Products Partners would run a pipeline through Surfside to a proposed offshore oil export terminal. Enterprise said it would take steps to mitigate the impact, according to an environmental impact statement.. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

WASHINGTON  The Biden administration approved the construction of a deepwater oil export terminal off the Texas Gulf Coast on Tuesday, following a long legal battle with environmental groups.

To be built 30 miles offshore Freeport in more than 100 feet of water, the Sea Port Oil Terminal being developed by Houston-based Enterprise Product Partners is capable of loading two supertankers at once, with an export capacity of 2 million barrels of crude per day. The project, which would be the largest oil export terminal in the United States, had been awaiting a deepwater port license from the Department of Transportation, the final step in a four-year federal review.

The receipt of the license is the most significant milestone to date in the development and commercialization of SPOT, AJ Teague, co-chief executive officer of Enterprise, said in a statement.

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The decision followed a ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals last week dismissing claims by environmental groups that federal agencies had failed to uphold federal environmental laws in their review of Enterprises export project.

The Biden administration has also come under fire from Republicans including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who claimed prolonged delays in getting the Enterprise project and other offshore oil terminals approved was threatening the nations economy and energy security.
American school delegation enjoys study tour in NW China

Xinhua) 10:10, April 09, 2024

XI'AN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- American student Rowan Gleser, wearing the traditional Chinese clothes called Tangzhuang, strolled and took photos in Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City, a commercial pedestrian area with architecture modeled after ancient styles in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

"I got to truly appreciate the beauty of the Chinese culture," she said, adding that she also learned the history of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) at the Shaanxi History Museum.

The secondary school student is a member of the French American International School delegation, that comprises of 43 students and six teachers from San Francisco, the United States. They have been invited to Shaanxi for a 10-day study tour starting April 2 to experience the Chinese culture and daily life activities in scenic spots, schools, communities and homestays, among others.

Melanie Feakins, a teacher from the French American International School, said the trip is a "conscious memory." She said amidst the historical and cultural relics, she was particularly fascinated by the "Loong," as it reflects Chinese mythology and values.

Gleser said she appreciated her host family in Xi'an the most, and had fun through playing games and eating in restaurants with her newly-made Chinese friends.

"I hope that students from international high school come and see how wonderful Xi'an is, make new friends, and be enriched by Chinese culture," she said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Marissa Luck is a senior real estate reporter at Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at marissa.luck@houstonchronicle.com.

Previously, Luck covered commercial real estate in Texas for CoStar News; real estate for Austin Business Journal; energy for Houston Chronicle; and business news for The Daily News in Longview, Wash. Shes won awards from Society of Professional Journalists and National Association of Real Estate Editors, and her byline has appeared in numerous publications nationally. Originally from Hawaii, Luck grew up in the Pacific Northwest and studied international political economy at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash. She now lives in Midtown Houston.
If the planting of spring crops goes late there could be a knock-on impact on the sector, Teagascs director of knowledge Stan Lalor has warned.

Speaking on RTE radios Morning Ireland, Mr Lalor said Teagasc would ensure supports are in place to help farmers.

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There will be big challenges for individual farmers, he said, but every effort will be made to connect farmers with others who have fodder and may be in a position to help secure supply.

The National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) will meet on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing response to the issues presented by the recent bad weather.

Mr Lalor pointed out that the group is industry wide, involving farming organisations, processors, suppliers and financial institutions.

He added the committee could organise a fodder helpline for farmers looking for advice, but it could also set up a fodder register through Teagascs local advisory offices, so it will be known what fodder is available and where it is available.

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Today's meeting is really about looking at the extensive supports that are available.

We have a very strong tradition in this industry, in agriculture and in farming, in terms of supporting each other, working together. This is a good example of how that needs to work effectively, Mr Lalor said.

A very small proportion of work had been completed in relation to spring cropping, he said, adding that specialists from Teagasc have estimated that it could take up to a week of dry weather to catch up with the work that ought to have been completed by this point.

He said the advice to farmers is to look across their farm and find the drier areas which could be targeted to start sowing.

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Mr Lalor added that big decisions will also need to be made in relation to cropping plans for the year ahead.

It's getting late now for many crops, and we're there to support farmers in terms of the decisions around [whether it is] too late for a crop.

Also, looking to the summer ahead, when crop planting goes late, that has a knock-on impact on workload or for farmers and contractors through the summer, and also into the harvest as well.

We're looking at all of those factors and trying to help farmers with those individual decisions, Mr Lalor said.
Cyril "Dublin Jimmy" McGuinness worked for and was friendly "all his life" with former billionaire Sean Quinn, the deceased gangster's brother Fran McGuinness told the High Court.

Cyril, who was suspected of a number of attacks on former Quinn business premises following the collapse of the Quinn empire, including masterminding the abduction of Kevin Lunney, also lived in a Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, property once owned by Mr Quinn, Fran McGuinness said.

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Truck dealer Mr McGuinness (62), originally from Pinnock Hill, Swords, Co Dublin, and currently living on the Dublin Road, Newry, Co Down, claims he has been the victim of Garda harassment over several years simply because of his brother.

"I believe that in the absence of getting him (Cyril) that I was on the side of the Swords Road and I was their second choice", he said.

Mr McGuinness is suing the Garda Commissioner and the State over what he says was the unlawful search of his truck business premises next door to the former family home at Pinnock Hill in Swords on August 23rd, 2014.

He claims the gardai wrongly associated him with the Quinn attacks and that information used to swear the warrant for the search was untrue.

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He claims gardai caused unnecessary damage to two gates to the premises by using an acetylene torch and seized important documents for his UK truck trading companies. They also took envelopes containing 2,000 and 1,800 which were commission payments for other traders which he later had to make up for, he said.

The defendants deny the claims, say the search was lawful, that there were no envelopes containing money and that copies of other documents seized were returned to him.

Mr McGuinness said he had been estranged from Cyril for many years before his death. His brother collapsed and later died of a cardiac arrest following a police raid of Cyril's Derbyshire, England, home in 2019.

Mr McGuinness told his counsel Eanna Mulloy SC, instructed by John Geary Solicitor, that the August 2014 search came after a number of incidents between 2008 and 2012 when gardai seized some 15 vehicles in total along with other property, some of which was later returned.

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He brought court proceedings over these seizures but there were so many of them now he did not know how they were going, he said.

There was "bad blood" between him and the gardai "but I did not donate anything", he said. He believed the fact that Cyril was his brother was "the driving force" behind the Garda attention on him.

Under cross-examination by Gerard Clarke SC, for the defendants, Mr McGuinness said it was not unusual at all for him leaving around two envelopes containing large amounts of cash in the unlocked office portacabin of his easily accessible premises at Pinnock Hill.

Asked by counsel what complaints he wanted dealt with, he said he wanted the court to deliver me some satisfaction in relation to the police cutting down my gates and taking my property, as well as over what he said was Garda harassment for the last 30 years.

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They made an allegation that hey could connect me with the arson attacks on the Quinn property and I had nothing to do with it, he said.

Document copies

He also said the first he knew that copies of every document seized in the search had been returned to his solicitor in 2014 was on Tuesday in court.

Asked by counsel and the judge to explain why he had introduced Cyril into the case, he said he wanted to make the court aware of the background to the 2014 search.

He said Cyril was a person of notoriety and they suspected him of being involved in the arson of the Quinn property.

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Counsel said he was quite notorious and there were many newspaper stories that he was supposed to be the mastermind behind the campaign against the former Quinn property.

He replied: Does that make it true. He was friendly with Sean Quinn all his life and he worked for him as a subcontractor and lived in Derrylin in a property once owned by Sean Quinn.

I am not and never was my brothers keeper, and I am saying that is why I have been subjected to Garda harassment.

He accepted he had several convictions for road traffic offences, including disqualifications for dangerous and careless driving. He had referred to himself in an affidavit as having an unblemished record, but that was because at the time he did not think motoring offences affected his standing.

There are none for arson because that is what your clients (gardai) believe I was involved in, he said.

The case continues before Mr Justice David Nolan.
Simon Harris was elected Ireland's 16th, and youngest-ever (37), Taoiseach on Tuesday.

His new Cabinet has been sworn in by President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain.

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Here is how the historic day played out:

________________________________________________________

9.30pm: The Simon Harris-led government has officially been appointed by President Michael D Higgins.

Ministers have received their seals of office from the new Taoiseach and the President.

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Taoiseach Simon Harris and the new Cabinet arrived at Aras an Uachtarain at around 8.45pm this evening.

Among the ministers were two new faces - the Enterprise Minister Peter Burke and Patrick ODonovan, who has been promoted to Simon Harris old brief - Further and Higher Education.

They each individually received their seals of office, having been elected by the Dail earlier this evening.

_______________________________________________________________

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8.15pm: Coalition members will now travel to Aras an Uachtarain to receive their seals of office from President Michael D Higgins.

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8pm: Here is Mr Harris' full Cabinet:

Simon Harris - Taoiseach;

Micheal Martin - Tanaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence;

Eamon Ryan - Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Minster for Transport;

Michael McGrath - Minister for Finance;

Paschal Donohoe - Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform;

Helen McEntee - Minister for Justice;

Stephen Donnelly - Minister for Health;

Norma Foley - Minister for Education;

Darragh O'Brien - Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage;

Peter Burke - Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment;

Catherine Martin - Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media;

Heather Humphreys - Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development;

Charlie McConalogue - Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine;

Roderic O'Gorman - Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth;

Patrick O'Donovan - Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science;

Hildegarde Naughton - Government Chief Whip; Minister of State for Special Education;

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill - Minister of State for EU Affairs and Defence.

Jack Chambers - Minister of State for International and Road Transport and Logistics and Minister of State for Postal Policy;

Senator Pippa Hackett - Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity

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7pm: Taoiseach Simon Harris has reshuffled senior roles at Cabinet, with new ministers for enterprise and further education selected.

Peter Burke was appointed as Minister for Enterprise, a position which was recently vacated by Simon Coveney.

Mr Harris gave his former role of Minister for Further Education to Patrick ODonovan, in a promotion for the Limerick TD who held the position of Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW).

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While there had been speculation that Hildegarde Naughton may have been promoted from her current junior minister role directly to a Cabinet post, no such change was announced.

Instead, Ms Naughton will take on the role as Minister of State for Special Education and leave her current position as junior minister at the Department of Health.

She also retained her position as Government chief whip, which already sees her sitting at Cabinet as a so-called super junior.

The role as Minister of State for Special Education was left vacant after Josepha Madigan announced last month that she was resigning from the position and would not contest the next election.

Mr Burkes promotion left his junior non-Cabinet role of Minister of State for European Affairs vacant, but Mr Harris announced it would be filled by Jennifer Carroll Mac Neill  who had been a Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services.

The announcement of the new minister of state alongside the other senior roles came as the Taoiseach signalled an increased emphasis on the position.

However, it means Ms Carroll Mac Neill misses out on a seat at Cabinet.

Helen McEntee retained her justice portfolio amid much speculation on her role, as Mr Harris set out an ambition to refocus his party on law and order.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys also held on to their positions.

___________________________________________________________

6.05pm: The new Taoiseach tells the Dail the Government will be "energetic and laser-focused on delivery".

______________________________________________________________

6pm: Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris congratulated the new Taoiseach, adding: I wish him all the best as he settles into the role and look forward to working together as we further strengthen UK-Ireland cooperation.

The president of the European Commission has expressed warmest congratulations to Mr Harris.

In a post on X, Ursula von der Leyen said they would meet on Thursday and added: We will work hand in hand to deliver for the people of Ireland, and for Europe as a whole.

My warmest congratulations to @SimonHarrisTD on being elected Taoiseach of Ireland today.



We will work hand in hand to deliver for the people of Ireland, and for Europe as a whole.



Looking forward to meeting you in Brussels on Thursday.  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 9, 2024

European Council president Charles Michel wished Mr Harris success in his new role. He said: Looking forward to collaborating closely with you.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy also paid tribute to the new Taoiseach and said: We value our partnership and thank Ireland for its consistent support as Ukraine defends itself against Russian aggression and pursues EU accession.

Ireland has welcomed more than 100,000 refugees from Ukraine since the war began.

Congratulations to @SimonHarrisTD on becoming Ireland's new Taoiseach.



We value our partnership and thank Ireland for its consistent support as Ukraine defends itself against Russian aggression and pursues EU accession.



I am confident that our active bilateral cooperation  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 9, 2024

Mr Zelenskiy added: I am confident that our active bilateral cooperation strengthens security for both nations and throughout all of our Europe.

UK Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer posted on social media: Congratulations to Simon Harris on becoming Irelands Taoiseach.

On behalf of the UK Labour Party, I wish him well and look forward to working together as we seek to strengthen the ties of friendship between our two countries.

_______________________________________________________

5.35pm: Hildegarde Naughton will remain as Chief Whip along with a new special needs brief. Paschal Donohoe, Heather Humphries and Helen McEntee are all keeping their current posts.

_________________________________________________________

5.32pm: Minister for Justice Helen McEntee will keep her post, despite speculation that she was set to be moved to another portfolio or demoted.

___________________________________________________________

5.30pm: Peter Burke has been appointed as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Patrick O'Donovan has been named as the new Minister for Higher Education, the position vacated by Taoiseach Simon Harris.

___________________________________________________________

5.10pm: UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has congratulated Simon Harris on his appointment as Taoiseach.

Congratulations @SimonHarrisTD on becoming Taoiseach.



As the closest of neighbours, I look forward to forging even stronger ties between our two countries so we can deliver for people across these isles. https://t.co/G7fP8p7Je5  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 9, 2024

_____________________________________________________

5.05pm: Peter Burke is reportedly set to be confirmed as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Mr Harris' Cabinet.

___________________________________________________

3.50pm: Peter Burke has been seen entering Government Buildings. He has been tipped as the most likely contender to be named as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the role vacated by Simon Coveney.

____________________________________________________

3.10pm: Simon Harris has left Aras an Uachtarain. He will return to Government Buildings to finalise his Cabinet formation.

___________________________________________________

3pm: Newly-elected Taoiseach Simon Harris has received his seal of office from President Michael D Higgins.

Mr Harris arrived at Aras an Uachtarain this afternoon, accompanied by his wife, children, parents and members of his extended family, following the majority vote in the Dail which saw him elected as the 16th Taoiseach.

He was welcomed into the State Reception Room by President Michael D Higgins, and the president signed the Warrant of Approval, officially recognising the Taoiseach in his new position.

Taoiseach Simon Harris was then handed the Seal of the Taoiseach and the Seal of Government, finalising his acceptance of the role.

The newly elected Taoiseach and head of Fine Gael has now departed from Aras an Uachtarain to turn his attention to the appointment of his Cabinet ministers.

He'll return to Phoenix Park later this evening where the President will sign the Warrant of Appointment for the Members of the Government and the Warrant of Appointment of the Attorney General, each of which will be countersigned by the Taoiseach.

______________________________________________________________________

Simon Harris has been elected as the country's new Taoiseach, making him the youngest leader of the Government in the history of the State.

TDs voted 88 to 69 in support of Mr Harris, who will now travel to Aras an Uachtarain to meet President Michael D Higgins, where his appointment will be confirmed.

The Wicklow TDs wife Caoimhe and young children Saoirse and Cillian were in the public gallery of the Dail for the start of Tuesdays proceedings, as were his parents and brother and sister.

Mr Harris said he will work to "improve the lives of all" as he's elected the country's 16th Taoiseach.

Mr Harris is now en route to Aras an Uachtarain where he'll receive the official seal of office from President Michael D Higgins.

Accepting the nomination, Mr Harris committed to doing "everything I can to honour the trust so many have shown in me".

Mr Harris paid tribute to his predecessor Leo Varadkar, saying "the history books will record the incredible service he did for our country".

"History will also record that he was a trailblazer as we broke free from some of the worst prejudices of the past, showing Ireland at its best to the world," he added.

He also acknowledged Simon Coveney, who resigned from his Cabinet position, "after serving our country with distinction in so many different roles over so many years".

"It is 13 years since I made my maiden speech in this chamber to nominate Enda Kenny as taoiseach, someone who went on to fulfil the considerable faith that so many of us had in him, as he led a government that rescued our economy, and restored our sovereignty," Mr Harris said.

"Back then, I reflected on what values I thought were needed for the job in hand: integrity, honesty and a work rate which cannot be surpassed."

"As Taoiseach, I will demand of myself what I saw as so important then and  to return to the words I spoke that day  I promise to preside over a government committed to public service, at a time when such commitment is so urgently required.

"I believed then that a Taoiseach should work every day to realise the hopes, dreams and aspirations of our people. I still do.

"Today, I accept this new role in a spirit of humility, ready for the challenge, and full of energy and determination about what can be achieved," he added.

Newly elected Taoiseach Simon Harris leaves the Dail following the vote to elect him. Photo: PA Images

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald repeated her partys call for a general election as she launched a broadside against Mr Harris ahead of the Fine Gael leaders appointment as taoiseach.

Ms McDonald said: Another Fine Gael taoiseach is the last thing the people need. We need a change of leadership, we need a change of government.

Discussing Mr Harriss record in office before the vote to nominate him as the next taoiseach, she said: Not so long ago Simon Harris was the minister for health and on his watch hospital overcrowding spun out of control, the trolley crisis escalated and the treatment waiting list hit one million patients for the very first time.

She said that the scandalous cost of the National Childrens Hospital also grew, and that a promise Mr Harris made on child scoliosis waiting lists had been disgracefully broken again and again.

Ms McDonald said Mr Harriss appointment was part of the Governments narrative that dresses up failure as progress.

The Sinn Fein leader said the Government had presented its third taoiseach in four years.

For the third time you rearrange the Cabinet deck chairs. For the third time in four years, you pat each other on the back and tell the people what a great job youre doing, she said.

The narrative we hear today from Government is a fairy tale so egregious that Hans Christian Andersen himself would be proud of it.

She added: Its your century-old cosy club, circling the wagons once again to cling to power at all costs.

Insisting on a general election, she said: I believe that the people of Ireland deserve so much better.

She added: If you really believe that your Government has the support of the people, then you should go before the people and get that mandate.

Speaking in the Dail on Tuesday, she also criticised Fine Gaels current coalition partners.

Fianna Fail refused to vote confidence in Simon Harris as minister for health in 2020  it caused an election, if you all recall. Today, they dutifully line up to vote him in as taoiseach, joined at the hip by a group of Independent TDs, she said.

Now out there in the real world, the experience is that if you fail and fail again, you get your P45. However, in the world of this Government  Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens  it seems you can fail your way right to the very, very top.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said her party would not support a cosmetic change-over at the head of the government as she also restated her call for a general election.

Ms Bacik joked that Mr Harriss new energy slogan sounded like a Star Wars tagline.

She said Ireland was a country of profound inequalities, adding she doubted Mr Harris could deliver necessary change.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said formal recognition of Palestine by Ireland will happen.

Speaking in the Dail, Micheal Martin said he was bringing a formal proposal on the recognition of Palestinian statehood to Government.

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The Government had previously said it was working with other European countries on a joint declaration of recognition for Palestine.

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On Tuesday, Mr Martin said: For the past six months, Ive maintained ongoing discussions with ministerial colleagues and other countries about how a joint formal recognition of Palestinian statehood could be a catalyst to help the people of Gaza and the West Bank, and in furthering an Arab-led peace initiative.

Weve agreed that the undermining of the Oslo Accords and therefore the agreement to create two states has reached the point where the accords approach with recognition after a final agreement is not credible or tenable any longer.

Ive discussed this with those in the region who are working on peace initiatives and co-ordination with other countries continues intensively.

Weve discussed this between the government parties and it is my intention to bring to Government a formal proposal on recognition when these wider international discussions are complete.

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Mr Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, added: But be in no doubt, recognition of a Palestinian state will happen.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin was speaking shortly after a Cabinet reshuffle by the new Taoiseach Simon Harris (Maxwell Photography/PA)

He was speaking following a Cabinet reshuffle by new Taoiseach Simon Harris.

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Outlining his own priorities, Mr Martin said there was a desperate overwhelming need to return some hope to Gaza.

While saying he was realistic about the limits of what Ireland could reasonably be expected to achieve by itself, the minister said the Governments position has been widely acknowledged and appreciated.

Mr Martin noted that Ireland had defended the work of UNWRA, increased humanitarian aid to Gaza and decided to intervene in the ICJ case filed by South Africa.

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He said: I have said very directly and in person to the Israeli government that the shocking crimes of Hamas and the need to secure the release of the hostages cannot justify the scale and terrible humanitarian catastrophe of the war it is waging.

I am in no doubt that war crimes have been committed and I utterly condemn the ongoing bombardment of the Gazan people.

I have ensured that we worked on behalf of the victims of this terrible war  the hostages and the people of Gaza.

Mr Martin said he had taken an approach of building international alliances through direct diplomacy, rather than angry speeches and unilateral action.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (Niall Carson/PA)

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Irelands recognition of Palestinian statehood should happen now.

She said: Taoiseach, I also want to put it to you that you put your money where your mouth is on the issue of Palestine.

The Israeli slaughter and war crimes in Gaza continue as we speak  they are broadcast live.

And words are not enough, condemnation is not enough. Action is needed.

So recognition of the state of Palestine has to happen now. Why the delay? Why the equivocation? Its long past time that this was done.

She also called on the Government to implement the Occupied Territories Bill, which would prohibit trade and economic co-operation in illegal settlements deemed occupied under international law.
The Supreme Court has ruled that personal injuries awards guidelines approved by judges three years ago are legally binding and remain in force.

In what was a complex but historic decision in relation to personal injuries awards, a seven-judge court dismissed the bulk of issues raised in an appeal brought by Bridget Delaney from Dungarvan, Co Waterford.

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The court also held that while the guidelines continue to have effect, any further changes would require legislative intervention by the Oireachtas.

Mrs Delaney had challenged the High Court's rejection in 2022 of her judicial review action against the 2021 guidelines, which have seen awards for pain and suffering reduced by up to 40 per cent.

She claimed the guidelines were unconstitutional and amounted to an encroachment on judicial independence.

A majority of the court, comprised of Mr Justice Peter Charleton, Mr Justice Brian Murray, Mr Justice Gerard Hogan, Mr Justice Maurice Collins, Ms Justice Marie Whelan, Ms Justice Mary Faherty and Mr Justice Gerard Haughton, held that a section of the 2019 Judicial Council Act was unconstitutional.

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Judges Hogan, Whelan, Haughton and Faherty held that the section in question, which relates to the judges' powers to make guidelines, is contrary to the independence of the judiciary.

However, Judges Charleton, Hogan, Murray, Collins, Faherty and Whelan agreed that the guidelines were subsequently independently ratified by the Oireachtas and given legal effect following the enactment of the 2021 Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act.

That ratification, the majority of the court found, meant the guidelines passed in March 2021 are "in force as a matter of law, and have thereby been given legal effect".

Mr Justice Haughton dissented from that particular finding.

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PIAB

As a result of the court's findings, Mr Justice Charleton said Mrs Delaney was entitled to a declaration that section of the 2019 Act was unconstitutional in its current form.

However, the court was also making a declaration that the guidelines had been given force of law by the passing of subsequent legislation.

The court was also making a further declaration that the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) had acted properly and in accordance with law in applying the guidelines to Mrs Delaney's application to be assessed for her pain and suffering.

The court ordered that, except for the declaration of unconstitutionality, the appeal from the High Court decision was to be dismissed.

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Mrs Delaney's legal costs are to be paid by Ireland and the Attorney General, the court also ruled. PIAB is to pay its own legal costs, Mr Justice Charleton added.

Mrs Delaney's case focused on a vote taken in March 2021 by the Judicial Council, the body made up of all the state's judges, to adopt the new guidelines.

She claimed the guidelines were unfair to persons who have suffered personal injuries.

She claimed she fractured a bone in her right ankle after she tripped and fell at a public footpath in Dungarvan on April 12th, 2019.

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She required medical treatment, physiotherapy and was given a walker boot several weeks, and alleged she sustained her injuries due to the negligence of Waterford City and County Council.

Damages

In June 2019, she submitted a claim to PIAB, seeking damages. She was awarded 3,000 by PIAB, when she claimed she was advised that under the previous regime her injuries could expect to attract general damages of between 18,000 and 34,000.

However, she claimed PIAB delayed assessing her injuries until the new guidelines were introduced, acted in breach of fair procedures, and that her assessment should not have been conducted under the new guidelines.

She also claimed the guidelines and their adoption by the judicial council also failed to have adequate regard to awards made by the Irish courts in personal injuries actions.

Mrs Delaney sought orders quashing the assessment PIAB made in respect of her claim, and the Judicial Council's decision to adopt the new personal injuries guidelines.

She also sought declarations including that PIAB breached her rights to natural and constitutional justice, and that the Judicial Council acted outside its powers in adopting the guidelines.

The action was against the State and PIAB, the government body that makes personal injuries awards.

Opposing the appeal, the respondents rejected her claims concerning the guidelines, which were drawn up by a committee of the Judicial Council, before being approved following a ballot of all the State's judges.

In his judgement in 2022, Mr Justice Charles Meenan dismissed Mrs Delaney's claims, including that her rights had been breached, and he also found that PIAB had acted in accordance with the relevant provisions of a 2003 Act when it assessed her personal injuries claim.

He said that Mrs Delaney's constitutional rights of property and bodily integrity and equality "did not encompass a right to a particular sum of damages, but rather a right to have her damages assessed in accordance with well-established legal principals".

He said that the independence of the judiciary, along with the expertise and experience in the awarding of damages meant the judicial council was an appropriate body to draft and adopt the guidelines.

She appealed that decision directly to the Supreme Court.

Among the issues considered in the appeal were the interpretation and construction of delegated legislation regarding the implications of the constitutional mandate of judicial independence and the separation of powers between judges and the Oireachtas.
The marquee of the former Acme Oyster house at the former Tower Theatre on Westheimer in Montrose. The restaurant closed in December 2023. A new owner has taken over the building and plans to renovate the space, along with the retail strip center around it. Greg Morago A rendering of the future reimagined roughly 10,000 square-foot building where Copy.com is currently located. The building will be subdivided into five smaller spaces. A covered walkway will front the building with brick, arched openings and greenery. Radom Capital A rendering of the 3,000 square-foot creative office space planned at 3230 Yoakum Blvd. To the rear of the building, a tree will preserved as part of a shared courtyard space at the 1111 Westheimer redevelopment in Montrose. Radom Capital

Houston developer Radom Capital is planning to breathe new life into the former Tower Theatre and three neighboring buildings as it transforms a major block along Westheimer in Montrose.

Radom, the company behind Montrose Collective, M-K-T Heights and Heights Mercantile, wants to redevelop the block at the southwest corner of Westheimer and Yoakum into a cohesive development with restaurants, retailers and offices. The block is home to Kung Fu Tea, Adam and Eve, Mala Sichuan Bistro, Copy.com and the 1936 theater that most recently housed Acme Oyster House until it closed in December.

Work on the 35,000-square-foot project, dubbed 1111 Westheimer, is expected to begin this summer and be completed in 2025.

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MONTROSE GROWTH: 7-story condo tower to transform block of West Gray in East Montrose

We love Montrose  its a great neighborhood and theres long term potential for Montrose to continue to improve and become more of a 24-hour neighborhood, Radoms Barton Kelly said. This is kind of a marquee location; everyone knows where the Tower Theatre is  its highly recognizable and its on Westheimer, which is a great address to have in Houston.

Radom Capital is planning to launch an extensive renovation of the retail center at 1111 Westheimer, which includes the famous former Tower Theatre building. Austin-based Magic Architecture and Houston-based landscape architects Edgelands design modernizes the buildings and installs fresh landscaping and hardscaping. Radom Capital

A rendering of the renovated building at 3224 Yokum Drive, which will be reimagined as part of Radom Capital's retail redevelopment called 1111 Westheimer. Radom Capital

Yoga and Pilates studios have signed deals for spaces in the 10,000-square-foot Copy.com building, which will be divided into five spaces when the retailers lease expires in May. The Adam and Eve adult novelty shop is expected to close by this summer and likely will be replaced with a restaurant, Kelly said. Mala Sichuan Bistro is expected to stay, but its not known whether Kung Fu Tea will remain.

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The theater building would retain its art deco sign in Radoms plan. Its prospective tenants have mostly been restaurants, Kelly said.

Radom Capital, Kelly said, was aware Acme Oyster was going to close when it bought the property in November from Beeson Properties. But its location and available parking made the property attractive.

The developers Montrose Collective, just a few blocks away, opened in late 2021 and is almost fully leased. 1111 Westheimer would allow Radom to funnel overflow demand from Montrose Collective into a nearby project, Kelly said.

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Israel's proposal regarding a ceasefire in Gaza that Hamas received from Qatari and Egyptian mediators did not meet any of the demands of Palestinian factions, the group has said.

However, Hamas added in a statement it would study the proposal, which it described as intransigent, and deliver its response to the mediators.

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A Hamas official said on Monday that the group has rejected the Israeli ceasefire proposal made at talks in Cairo, and Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu said a date was set for an invasion of Rafah, Gaza's last refuge for displaced Palestinians.

Israel and Hamas sent teams to Egypt on Sunday for talks that included Qatari and Egyptian mediators, as well as CIA Director William Burns.

Burn's presence underlined rising pressure from Israel's main ally the US for a deal that would free Israeli hostages held in Gaza and get aid to Palestinian civilians left destitute by six months of conflict.

But senior Hamas official Ali Baraka said: "We reject the latest Israeli proposals that the Egyptian side informed us of. The politburo met today and decided this."

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Another Hamas official had earlier said no progress had been made in the negotiations.

"There is no change in the position of the occupation (Israel) and therefore, there is nothing new in the Cairo talks," the Hamas official said. "There is no progress yet."

Exchange

Israel said it was keen to reach a prisoners-for-hostages deal, by which it would free a number of Palestinians jailed in its prisons in return for the hostages in Gaza, but it was not ready to end the military offensive before it invaded Rafah.

Hamas wants any agreement to secure an end to Israeli military offensive, get Israeli forces out of Gaza and allow the displaced to return to their homes across the enclave.

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Rafah is the last refuge for Palestinian civilians displaced by relentless Israeli bombardments that have flattened their home neighbourhoods. It is also the last significant redoubt of Hamas combat units, Israel says.

More than one million people are crammed into the southern city in desperate conditions, short of food, water and shelter, and foreign governments and organisations have urged Israel against storming Rafah for fears of a bloodbath.

"We are constantly working to achieve our goals, first and foremost the release of all our hostages and achieving a complete victory over Hamas," Netanyahu said.

"This victory requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen - there is a date." He did not specify the date.

Of the 253 people Hamas seized on October 7th, 133 hostages remain captive. Negotiators have spoken of around 40 going free in the first stage of a prospective deal.

-Reuters
Amanda Knox faces another trial for slander this week in Italy in a case that could remove the last legal stain against her nine years after Italys highest court threw out her conviction for the murder of her 21-year-old British roommate.

Ms Knox, who was a 20-year-old student when she was accused along with her then-boyfriend of murdering Meredith Kercher in 2007, has built a life back in the United States as an advocate, writer, podcaster and producer  with much of her work drawing on her experience.

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Now 36 and the mother of two small children, Ms Knox campaigns for criminal justice reform and to raise awareness about forced confessions.



Meredith Kercher (AP Photo)

She has recorded a series on resilience for a meditation app and has a podcast with her husband, Christopher Robinson, and an upcoming mini-series on her struggles within the Italian legal system for Hulu that has Monica Lewinsky as an executive producer.

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Despite a definitive ruling by Italys Cassation Court in 2015 that Ms Knox and then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito did not commit the crime, and the conviction of another man whose DNA was at the scene, doubts persist about Ms Knoxs role, especially in Italy.

That is largely due to the slander conviction for wrongly accusing a Congolese bar owner in the murder, which was confirmed by the highest court in 2015.

That conviction was only thrown out last November based on a European Court of Human Rights ruling that found Ms Knoxs rights had been violated in a long night of questioning without a lawyer and official translator.

Even now, Ms Knox is not sure that a not guilty verdict in the new trial, which opens on Wednesday in Florence, will persuade her detractors.

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On the one hand, I am glad I have this chance to clear my name, and hopefully that will take away the stigma that I have been living with, Ms Knox, who did not respond to an interview request, said on her podcast Labyrinths in December.

On the other hand, I dont know if it ever will, in the way I am still traumatised by it. I am sure people will still hold it against me because they dont want to understand what happened, and they dont want to accept that an innocent person can be gaslit and coerced into what I went through.

Ms Knox said on her podcast that she expects to testify, but her lawyer said she is not expected in court for opening day.



Rudy Hermann Guede (Pier Paolo Cito/AP)

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The Kercher family lawyer, Francesco Maresca, said the high courts exoneration did little in his mind to dispel doubts following Ms Knoxs conviction by a trial court and two appeals courts, the first confirming her sentence of 26 years and the second raising it to 28-and-a-half years.

This trial never ends, Mr Maresca told The Associated Press, obscuring the memory of poor Meredith, who is always remembered for these procedural aspects and not as a student and young woman.

Among his doubts, Mr Maresca cited Ms Knoxs confused retraction of her accusation against the Congolese bar owner, Patrick Lumumba, and the verdict in Rudy Guedes conviction for killing Ms Kercher that maintains that the Ivorian man did not act alone.

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Now 36, Guede was released from prison in 2021 after serving 13 years of a 16-year term handed down in a fast-track trial.

Guede was recently ordered to wear a monitoring bracelet and not leave his home at night after an ex-girlfriend accused him of physical and sexual abuse. An investigation is ongoing.

Ms Knoxs new trial will admit just one piece of evidence: her four-page handwritten statement that the court will examine to see if it contains elements to support slander against Mr Lumumba.

He was held in jail for two weeks before police released him. Mr Lumumba has since left Italy.

Two earlier statements typed up by police that Ms Knox signed in the early hours of November 6 2007 that contained the accusation, and were considered the most incriminating, have been ruled inadmissible by Italys highest court.

The four-page letter, which she wrote in the same 53-hour span of questioning over four days starting November 5, reflects someone in a state of confusion trying to reconcile what police have told her with her own recollections.

In regards to this confession that I made last night, I want to make clear that Im very doubtful of the verity of my statements because they were made under the pressures of stress, shock and extreme exhaustion, Ms Knox wrote.

She referred to police statements that she would be arrested and jailed for 30 years and that Sollecito was turning against her.

Lauria Baldassare, an Italian lawyer who founded the Innocents Project, said the topic of wrongful convictions in Italy is starting to create social alarm as it assumes important dimensions.

He cited 10 cases of defendants being paid damages for wrongful convictions over the last decade, but said they faced difficulty in escaping the stigma of their initial guilty verdict.

There is still part of the public opinion that does not accept the Court of Cassations decision, and these debates become a sport, said Ms Baldassare, whose organisation is independent from the Innocence Project that Ms Knox works with.

Italy does not have the maturity to accept an exoneration, because social prejudices are stronger than the finding.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has met with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in a sign of mutual support and shared opposition to Western democracies amid Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

We would like to express our highest appreciation and admiration for the successes that you have achieved over the years and, above all, over the last decade under your leadership, Mr Lavrov told Mr Xi, according to Russian media.

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We are sincerely pleased with these successes, since these are the successes of friends, although not everyone in the world shares this attitude and are trying in every possible way to restrain the development of China  in fact just like the development of Russia, Mr Lavrov said.

Russias growing economic and diplomatic isolation has made it increasingly reliant on China, its former rival for leadership of the Communist bloc during the Cold War.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)

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In past decades, the two have closely aligned their foreign policies, held joint military exercises and sought to rally non-aligned states in groupings such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Mr Lavrov held a news conference earlier on Tuesday with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at which they reaffirmed solidarity in international affairs.

Mr Lavrov said Russia and China oppose any international events that do not take Russias position into account.

He said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiys so-called peace formula was completely detached from any realities.

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Mr Zelenskiy has called for the withdrawal of Russian forces and the return of all occupied Ukrainian territory, but is heavily reliant on support from the US, where the Republican Party majority in the House of Representatives has been holding up a new military aid package.

China and Russia are each others most important diplomatic partners, both holding permanent seats on the United Nations security council and working together to block initiatives by the US and its allies to spread democratic values and human rights from Venezuela to Syria.

While China has not provided direct military support for Russia, it has backed it diplomatically in blaming the West for provoking Russian president Vladimir Putins decision to launch the war and refrained from calling it an invasion in deference to the Kremlin.

China has also said it is not providing Russia with arms or military assistance, although it has maintained robust economic connections with Moscow, alongside India and other countries amid sanctions from Washington and its allies.

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At their joint news conference, Mr Wang repeated Chinas calls for a ceasefire and an end to the war soon.

China supports the convening at an appropriate time of an international meeting that is recognised by both Russia and Ukraine, in which all parties can participate equally and discuss all peace solutions fairly, Mr Wang said.

Chinas peace proposal has found little traction, in part due to the countrys continuing support for Russia and lack of vision for what a future resolution would look like, particularly the fate of occupied Ukrainian territories and their residents.

Mr Wang also said Mr Xi and Mr Putin would continue to maintain close exchanges this year amid expectations of visits to each others capitals.

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China and Russia have gone through ups and downs, and both sides have drawn lessons from historical experience and found a correct path to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, Mr Wang said.

Todays good relations between China and Russia are hard-won and deserve to be cherished and carefully maintained by both sides.

Mr Lavrov arrived in China on Monday, while Mr Wang and other leading Chinese figures have recently visited Russia and maintained Chinas line of largely backing Russias views on the cause of the conflict.

China has at times taken an equally combative tone against the US and its allies. China and Russia have held joint military drills, and are seen as seeking to supplant democracies with dictatorships in areas where they wield influence.

China is involved in its own territorial disputes, particularly over the self-governing island of Taiwan and in the South China and East China Seas.

Just weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine, Mr Putin visited Beijing for the opening of the 2022 Winter Olympics and the sides signed a pact pledging a no limits relationship that has China supporting Russias line, even while formally urging peace talks.

In a phone call last week with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, US president Joseph Biden pressed China over its defence relationship with Russia, which is seeking to rebuild its industrial base as it continues its invasion of Ukraine.

And he called on Beijing to wield its influence over North Korea to rein in the isolated and erratic nuclear power.
Lithuanian leaders hailed a historic event as Germany on Monday began deploying troops in the Baltic country  a Nato member  marking the first time since the Second World War that German forces will be based outside the country on a long-term basis.

About two dozen soldiers arrived in Lithuania, laying the groundwork for a further 150 to join them later this year.

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The deployment is expected to be up to its full strength of 5,000 by the end of 2027.

This is the first time that we have permanently stationed such a unit outside of Germany, German defence minister Boris Pistorius said in Berlin at a farewell ceremony for the preliminary command of Germanys Lithuanian brigade, according to German news agency dpa.

Mr Pistorius called it an important day for the German army.

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Lithuanian chief of defence Gen Valdemaras Rupsys, left, welcomes German Army Chief Lt Gen Alfons Mais (Mindaugas Kulbis/AP)

In the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, defence minister Laurynas Kasciunas said that the move was a great example for all the countries on Natos eastern flank, on the border with Russia and its ally, Belarus.

We will create such a defence and deterrence architecture that no adversary from the east will even think about testing Natos Article 5, he told reporters.

Article 5 on collective defence is at the heart of the 32-member North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. It states that an armed attack against one or more of the members shall be considered an attack against all.

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Some 4,800 soldiers and around 200 civilians with the German army will be stationed permanently in Lithuania, which is increasingly worried by its aggressive neighbours.

Under an agreement, Lithuania is preparing military bases for the German brigade to be deployed in this Baltic state bordering Russias Kaliningrad exclave to the west and Belarus to the east.

The German army, the Bundeswehr, has taken part in long-term operations abroad since the 1990s, first in the Balkans and then in combat operations in Afghanistan.

At the moment, the Bundeswehr says German soldiers are deployed in Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as in the Mediterranean.

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However, this is the first permanent standalone German deployment, not on rotation as part of a multinational force.

Mr Kasciunas said the German brigade is expected to reach full operational capacity by 2027.

Lithuania's chief of defence Valdemaras Rupsys said: For us, this means more effective deterrence of the enemy and even greater security.

It is an example of exceptional leadership and commitment as we actually see Natos collective defence and unity at work.

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Up to one-third of troops are expected to bring their family members, according to the Lithuanian Defence Ministry.

Mr Pistorius said Germany will do everything we can to equip the brigade as it needs to be equipped from the outset.
An explosion caused by an alleged drone attack at Europes largest nuclear plant in Ukraine posed no direct threat to its safety but underscored the extremely serious situation at the facility, the UNs atomic watchdog has said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said its team is aware of an explosion at a training centre next to the plant on Tuesday. It said it was informed the blast was from a drone attack.

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The IAEA, announcing the incident on social media, gave no further details but its information presumably came from Russians occupying and running the plant since the early stages of the war.

IAEA informed by ZNPP of drone attack today on ZNPP training center adjacent to site. Reported explosion consistent with IAEA teams observations. No direct threat to nuclear safety this time but latest incident again underlines extremely serious situation, DG @rafaelmgrossi said  IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency  (@iaeaorg) April 9, 2024 Advertisement

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is one of the 10 biggest such facilities in the world, and fighting in the southern part of Ukraine has raised the spectre of a potential nuclear disaster like the one at Chernobyl in 1986, when a reactor exploded and blew deadly radiation across a vast area.

Neither side has in recent months been able to make significant advances along the 620-mile front line crossing eastern and southern Ukraine. Drones, artillery and missiles have featured heavily in what has become a war of attrition.

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Russia and Ukraine have frequently traded accusations over the Zaporizhzhia plant. On Monday, Moscow alleged Kyiv was behind drone attacks a day before, and Ukraine accused Russia of disinformation.

The IAEA reported on Sunday that its inspectors had confirmed the physical impact of drone detonations and watched as Russian troops engaged what appeared to be an approaching drone.

Energoatom, the Ukrainian nuclear plant operator, condemned Russias latest allegations in a statement on Tuesday. It accused Moscow of publishing propaganda and false statements to manipulate public opinion.

It noted that Russia has deployed troops and landmines at the site, which is one of four atomic power plants in Ukraine. The other three remain in Ukrainian hands.

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(Alamy/PA)

The dangerous game of the (Russian) occupiers at the nuclear facility must be stopped, it said.

The most recent strikes did not compromise the facility, according to the IAEA, but it has repeatedly expressed alarm about the plant amid fears of a nuclear catastrophe.

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The plants six reactors have been shut down for months, but it still needs power and qualified staff to operate crucial cooling systems and other safety features.

According to Ukrainian emergency services, a nuclear disaster would force the evacuation of 300,000 people.

Elsewhere, Ukraines intelligence agency claimed on Tuesday that it had struck an aviation training centre in south-western Russia with a drone and said a fire on board a Russian navy corvette on the Baltic coast was not accidental.

The claims could not be independently verified or corroborated. Russia made no comment on them.
Bulgaria's president Rumen Radev appointed a caretaker government on Tuesday led by the country's prime minister Dimitar Glavchev, and set June 9th as the date for snap elections.

The parliamentary vote is set to coincide with elections for Bulgaria's members of the European Parliament, the president's office said in a statement.

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"We must be a guarantor of stability, we cannot allow our country to be involved in a constitutional crisis, (and) ... be hostage to party ambitions and desires," Glavchev said during the government handover ceremony.

Glavchev (60) previously served as the head of the Audit Chamber.

Bulgaria, the poorest member of the EU and one of its most corrupt states, has been rocked by political instability since anti-graft protests in 2020.

Until elections in April 2023, it was governed by a succession of caretaker governments, appointed by Radev in the absence of a stable elected coalition.

Earlier this month, Bulgaria's foreign minister Mariya Gabriel failed to form a government following the resignation of prime minister Nikolai Denkov of the PP on March 5th.

Denkov stepped down to allow the GERB to lead the government for nine months, as agreed after last year's elections. He also rejected Radev's invitation to try to form a government.

In elections last April, GERB came first, winning 69 seats in the 240-seat parliament. The bloc led by PP won 64 seats.

Under the constitution, the Bulgarian parliament does not have to dissolve prior to snap elections.

-Reuters
Donald Trump and British foreign secretary David Cameron had dinner on Monday at the Republican presidential candidate's Florida home where they discussed the Ukraine war and "the need for Nato countries to meet their defence spending requirements".

Mr Trump's campaign revealed details of the meeting.

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The meeting kicked off a visit by Mr Cameron to the US during which he met secretary of state Antony Blinken in Washington on Tuesday and afterward will press lawmakers in Congress to pass an aid package for Ukraine.

Over dinner at Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, the two men discussed "the upcoming US and UK elections, policy matters specific to Brexit, the need for Nato countries to meet their defence spending requirements, and ending the killing in Ukraine," Mr Trump's campaign said in a statement.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Mr Blinken in Washington, Mr Cameron said the dinner was in line with past precedent of government ministers meeting with opposition politicians but declined to say what specifically they discussed.

"(We) discussed a range of important geopolitical subjects," Mr Cameron said.

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Mr Trump has frequently taken aim at the failure of many of Nato's 32 members to meet a defence spending target of at least 2 per cent of gross domestic product. This has raised concern in Europe about the trans-Atlantic military alliance's future if Mr Trump beats incumbent US president Joe Biden, a Democrat, in a November election.

In February, Mr Trump sparked fierce criticism from Western officials for suggesting he would not protect countries that fail to meet the alliance's defence spending targets, and would even encourage Russia to attack them. The US military forms the core of the alliance's military power.

European leaders have been reaching out to US lawmakers, business leaders and think tanks as part of efforts to influence the Trump camp about defence spending, Europe's role in US-China relations, and aid to Ukraine.

A British Foreign Office spokesperson said on Monday that Mr Cameron was meeting with Mr Trump as part of "routine international engagement," describing it as "standard practise for ministers to meet with opposition candidates".

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A British embassy spokesperson said Mr Cameron would not be meeting Republican House of Representatives speaker Mike Johnson due to scheduling issues. Last week, Mr Cameron said he would urge Mr Johnson to pass a $60 billion (55 billion) package of military aid for Ukraine, which has been held up for months.
A woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting cutting off her lovers penis by tricking him into thinking she was going to perform a sex act on him.

The 38-year-old was handed her jail sentence after striking a last-minute deal at the start of her trial at a court in Barcelona on Tuesday.

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She convinced her partner, also her boss, to cover his eyes with a napkin after promising him to give him oral sex, claiming she didnt want him to look because it made her feel embarrassed.

She then took out a knife she had hidden into her pocket and sliced off his manhood.

The man was her boss at a bar in Sant Andreu de la Barca near Barcelona and they had been seeing each other for four years,

The amputation was complete and the victim, who comes from Bangladesh where he has a wife and children and has been identified only as Abdul, is still waiting for a prothesis.

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Prosecutors believe his mistress could have acted out of jealousy because he was planning to return to his homeland.

They were demanding a 10-year prison sentence for a crime of aggravated wounding before todays plea bargain deal.

The convicted woman, known only as Tanya, has also been ordered to pay her former boss and partner 250,000 in compensation.

She initially indicated she was pleading innocent at the start of her trial at Barcelonas Audiencia Provincial court, before changing her mind and admitting her guilt following a brief chat with her lawyer.

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The incident took place on May 31st, 2021.

The victim ran to a nearby police station to raise the alarm and was rushed to hospital for an emergency op to reattach his penis, which was unsuccessful.

The woman was subsequently arrested and initially claimed self-defence, prompting reports at the time that her boss could be detained.

Her claims she acted to protect herself during a sexual assault were dismissed, and the true story came out, thanks to CCTV camera footage.

The female attacker had already served two years behind bars as a remand prisoner before being bailed ahead of todays scheduled trial.

The time she served will be taken into account in determining how long she has to go back to jail for.

The court heard the knife slash victim is now living with a relative and working part-time in a supermarket and surviving on a fraction of the amount he was previously earning as the owner of two bars.
Brooke Ligertwood - "Bless God" | Merge PR

5 April 2024 - Nashville, TN - A special release of "Bless God" drops today from GRAMMY-Award-winning songwriter, producer, and worship leader Brooke Ligertwood. The song, which originally appeared as the first track on her latest album, EIGHT, (Capitol CMG, Oct. 2023), is now offered with four additional renditions, including the focus track, "Bless God (Live From Passion 2024)." The version, which also features Passion, Brandon Lake, and Cody Carnes, is accompanied by a live video, viewable below. Listen to the live rendition HERE.

"Bless God" is a warmly invitational, yet declarative and anthemic song. Whilst each song on EIGHT sits in its own lane, if the lane "Bless God" sits in was adorned with garland and sign, it would say "This is for the Church.'"

"The power of worship as a habit and a habitual posture cannot be understated," Ligertwood elaborates further. "When life and circumstances twist us into all manner of positions, decisively aligning our gaze and confession with the truth of Christ and deliberately bringing Him thanks and praise is not only vital but an entrance to the joy of the Lord. In the field of plenty, the dark valley, when empty-handed, whether victorious or unraveling, blessing God is possible and powerful! The song 'Bless God' exists to serve and accompany our pilgrimage through all these seasons and situations."

In her long-standing career and with her passion for art and theology, Brooke Ligertwood has served the church globally through her long-established tenure of writing congregational anthems, while also maintaining a mainstream career of over two decades under her maiden name, Brooke Fraser.

A prolific songwriter, she has penned a growing anthology of beloved church anthems like What A Beautiful Name, King of Kings, A Thousand Hallelujahs and Hosanna, and devotional favorites like New Wine, None But Jesus and many more. Her songs have been streamed globally more than 1.5B times, translated into over 15 languages, and have topped charts with two No.1 songs and several top 25s that have been sung around the world like "What A Beautiful Name," "Who You Say I Am," "King of Kings," "Hosanna" and more. With her songwriting, she has been honored with a GRAMMY Award, one RIAA Platinum-certified single, and two RIAA Gold-certified singles.

"BLESS GOD" TRACKLIST:
Nate Parrish - "I'm Alright" | Mary Nikkel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Nate Parrish is keeping the punk rock tracks coming with Im Alright, the follow-up to recently released Bad Excuse. Im Alright will be available on April 26 in partnership with Fair Vaux records.

Im Alright was produced by Josiah Prince (Disciple), mixed by Darren King (Project 86) and mastered by Sam Moses (Haste the Day). As usual, Parrish handled most of the instrumentation himself, keeping his fingerprints on every inch of the track.

Im Alright is that song you wish you could sing to the person you wrote it for, Nate Parrish explains. Its a letter to someone you lost letting them know youre OK, that life has been hard but full of so many blessings. I wrote this song as if I was sitting in front of that person, filling them in on what's been going on in my life since we last saw each other, letting them know Im alright.

The track is the second cut from an upcoming full-length album, Parrishs third. He said, This song fits into the larger theme of the album, which is centered around mountains. Some mountains we move, some we dont, and sometimes? You need to become the mountain.

The song is slightly gentler emotionally than its predecessor Bad Excuse, which came out swinging with its truth-to-power posture. Fans have rallied around the song as monument to the experiences theyre having with those in power.

Im Alright and Bad Excuse have both called on a broader team than Parrishs first two album outings, including a partnership with the boutique label Fair Vaux Records and distribution through Steadfast Records. The collaboration has been liberating.

Working with Fair Vaux has been a huge blessing! Having another person on the team has really freed me up to focus on the creative side a bit more, Parrish says. Its always nice having someone who understands what youre about and is willing to help you along the way.

Nate Parrish will be continuing to release music forged by his new creative alliances all year. Hot off of serving as support for Disciple in California, hell also be playing more concerts. Im Alright will be available on April 26 at linktr.ee/NateParrish.

As an experienced guitarist with a history playing for rock worship bands Worth Dying For and Kutless, Nate has continually offered a unique blend of musical exploration and thoughtful, spiritually sensitive lyrics that prod at our culture in the interest of drawing us a little closer to Christ. You can find Nate Parrish on Spotify and Apple Music, and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
French bread from Magnol, which is opening in the Heights Carla Gomez

After weeks of speculation swirling on social media, Magnol French Bakery confirmed plans to open a second location with a bakery. The new site, which will be in the Heights, is taking over the former neighborhood Tex-Mex favorite Andy's Home Cafe, 1115 E. 11th.

Chef Otto Sanchez opened Magnol as a wholesale business in May 2019 in Spring Branch, 1500 N. Post Oak, but he said he's always planned to open a proper bakery. He recently hired friend and former colleague Nicolas Berrais  whom he worked with at the Michelin-starred restaurants of esteemed French chefs Alain Ducasse and Joel Robuchon  as the executive pastry chef for the new project.

Chef Otto Sanchez IHWSH

The announcement is exciting news for fans of Magnol, an establishment many Houstonians consider a top purveyor of classic French breads and pastries. The bakery supplies breads to top Houston restaurants like Le Jardinier, Coltivare and Rosie Cannonball, and even to San Antonio's leading French restaurant, Brasserie Mon Chou Chou.

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"Running a bakery isn't easy, but for the most part, we've kept our standards consistent," Sanchez said. "This opportunity gives us a creative edge."

HOUSTON EATS: The Chronicles top 100 restaurants

No opening date has been set, but Sanchez said he and Berrais figure they have at least six or seven months to tinker with recipes and plot out their menu.

Although they would like to open for the holidays this year, they realize being the third owner of an 88-year-old space may mean unexpected renovations are ahead, Sanchez said.

Once Magnol opens, the menu will include the bakery's array of baguettes, sourdoughs and loaves. They also expect to offer more savory items, in addition to making use of a recently purchased ice cream machine.

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"We'll stick to what we know," Sanchez said. "But we also have a chance to be more creative."

MORE FROM BAO ONG: Tex-Mex favorite El Tiempo to open its first location outside Houston in Dallas-Fort Worth

Magnol French Baking, a wholesale and retail bakery makes baguette, boule, pain de mie and other classic loaves using organic flours. Carla Gomez

Sanchez originally wanted to open a bakery with formal seating and takeout in the River Oaks or Montrose neighborhoods, but the high cost would've meant taking on investors, he said.

Instead, Magnol opened in Spring Branch as a wholesale business with fewer overhead costs, which also allowed Sanchez to perfect his recipes while saving for the bakery.

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Houstonians, however, still sought out Magnol breads and pastries made with organic flours and time-tested French techniques. In the warehouselike space where the business currently operates, a retail component was added during the early days of the pandemic so customers could purchase its lineup of products. A few tables were also added to the space.

The Heights opening is a longtime dream come true for Sanchez. He left Houston in 2005 to work with acclaimed chefs around the country so he could perfect his craft and learn new skills.

He worked for chefs Alain Ducasse at Mix in Las Vegas; Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas; Hotel Bardessono in Yountville, Calif.; the Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay, Calif.; and Burj Al Arab in Dubai before returning to Houston at La Table.

"We have been looking for this space for a long time," Sanchez said. "Now we can be a true bakery."
What started a few months ago, with the governments populist swipe about supermarkets being complicit in price gouging, is evolving into finger pointing between the retail giants about who is potentially mistreating their small suppliers.

Everyone seems to be a victim in the supermarket saga. Woolworths doesnt appreciate (along with Coles) getting singled out as the villains capitalising on the asymmetric bargaining power they have against small and medium-sized suppliers.

Craig Emerson has recommended considerable fines for supermarkets that break a proposed code of conduct. Credit: Peter Rae

Woolworths is engaging in a look over there strategy, suggesting that the spotlight be shared with other large retailers  such as Bunnings and Chemist Warehouse  that carry some grocery items on their shelves. For that matter, Woolworths wants the likes of Amazon and Costco to be captured in the net as well.

Further, confusing the debate, Woolworths found an unexpected ally from a bunch of horticulturists who jumped on board with claims they were effectively being bullied by Bunnings, which dominates the retail plant market.
The long-awaited Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR) has started operating. Under the scheme, a payment of up to $150,000 can be made to consumers who have experienced misconduct and the business liable to pay compensation does not do so, usually because it has closed its doors.

The establishment of a compensation scheme was a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry that uncovered widespread misconduct during its hearings in 2018.

Royal commissioner Kenneth Hayne recommended a compensation scheme of last resort. Credit: Eddie Jim

There had been a long history of misconduct, particularly by financial advisers and managed investment schemes. Clients of financial advisers, for example, were awarded compensation after receiving negligent advice, only to see the firms employing the advisers go into administration.

The victims, who were mainly older investors and retirees, were left with nowhere to turn, except, in some cases, through expensive legal action.
Over to politics.

Proposed deportation laws would be relaxed under changes favoured by the Coalition to make it easier for relatives from blacklisted countries to come to Australia, as the Albanese government faces a backlash from migrant communities.

Some MPs have received more than 500 emails from voters concerned about the bill now before a Senate inquiry to ban entire nationalities from coming to Australia unless their government accepts the involuntary return of its citizens.

The powers  which Labor failed to rush through the parliament last month  were in part a response to a crucial High Court case to be heard next week that could release a second group of migrants into the community if indefinite detention is deemed illegal for those who refuse to co-operate with being deported.

The government expects to win the case, but was mistaken about its prospects in the November High Court decision that made indefinite detention illegal for those with no prospect of deportation, with ONeil telling Sky News she had been advised the government would likely succeed.

Full story here.
NSW public schools will have their budgets slashed by up to $148 million this year as thousands of deputy and assistant principals are forced back into classroom teaching roles to help deal with chronic staffing shortages.

In a letter to principals on Tuesday afternoon, NSW Education Department secretary Murat Dizdar said school budgets would be reduced by 1.25 per cent, and any accumulated unspent discretionary funds frozen over the next year.

NSW Education Minister Prue Car at Parramatta East Public School. Credit: Rhett Whyman

After multiple years with falling student enrolments, we need to ensure we are prioritising our teachers delivering quality teaching and learning to our students across all schools, Dizdar said.

While overall funding remains at record levels, to reflect the reduction in enrolments, address teacher shortages and better manage above centrally funded positions across the state, flexible funding for most schools will be reduced this year.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has moved to reject the massive Toondah Harbour development near Brisbane, in what environment campaigners have labelled a landmark decision.

Plibersek has given developers the Walker Group 10 business days to respond to her proposed rejection of the project at Cleveland, originally tipped to cost $1.4 billion to complete.

The Walker Groups latest images for the development, with Cassim Island, used as a roosting site by migratory birds, in the foreground. Credit: Walker Group

The company has for more than a decade proposed building thousands of apartments, a marina and a retail centre over internationally recognised wetlands along the Cleveland foreshore.

I have made my proposed decision, which is to protect Moreton Bay from unacceptable impacts from a proposed development, Plibersek said.
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 Theyd heard the stories from locals. Villagers whod vanished while washing their clothes in the shallows near a river mouth in remote Papua New Guinea, taken by a croc. It wasnt long until Andrew Forrest and his dive partner Dr Steve Burnell had their own crocodile tale to tell. Bloody smart critters, they watch and learn and if you do things repetitively over time, thats when you get caught, Burnell said. A marine ecologist, Burnell is leading a search through the waters and jungles of Papua New Guinea to find the remains of the billionaires long-lost uncle who was shot down defending Australia in World War II. David Forrest was 23 when he was killed piloting his RAAF Beaufort bomber into an attack on a Japanese-held airstrip at Gasmata, Papua New Guinea on May 21, 1943. A year earlier, the village had fallen to the Japanese, making it an RAAF target.

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Of all the obstacles the team searching for the young pilots final resting place is facing, its the crocs who have the sharpest teeth. North east of Port Moresby, Burnell and Forrest were diving in zero visibility near a river mouth off Gasmata. Every now and again youd feel something like a bit of water from a divers fin in front of your face, but you couldnt see anything, Burnell said. We went back there later that afternoon in heavy rain. A big 4-metre salty lobbed up about 20 metres from us on the boat. That was the first time we really realised we had to take the saltwater crocodiles seriously. We didnt get back in the water then. Not quite that stupid, mate.

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On a purpose-built research vessel, Australias richest man is trawling the Bismark Archipelago for plane wrecks to solve a mystery thats haunted the Forrest family for 80 years. Andrew and his siblings, David and Janie, never met their uncle. They inherited his loss through the lens of their late father, Donald Forrest. [Dad] got the letter  from the King in those days  saying Uncle David was missing and presumed killed in action, Forrest says. Dad went through extreme emotions and grief, and since that day, he never cried  for the rest of his life. For the next 80 years, he couldnt shed a tear. It was just overwhelming for him. [My brother] David, Janie and I grew up with this vain hope that one day Uncle Dave would walk out of the jungles of Papua New Guinea. The pain in the family was immense. Don Forrest with sons David (left) and Andrew (right) in 1998. My aunt used to write to Uncle David in her diary every few days  just in case he came back, hed have a record of [her] having never ever given up  [she] somehow believed that someday hed [come] back and read all the news.

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The Forrest familys mission began four years ago, but has remained under wraps until now. Privately funded, the search has the backing of the Papua New Guinea government and is joined at times by the Royal Australian Air Force. The Chief of Air Force has publicly thanked Forrest in the lead-up to Anzac Day, acknowledging his work in locating the remains of other servicemen lost in the same war zone as his uncle. It is especially heart-warming for the families of the four aviators involved to finally know what happened and learn of their final resting place, Air Marshal Robert Chipman said. Various members of the Forrest family have joined the six expeditions to date, including David and Janie, Andrews daughter Gracie and his nephew. Three of the operations were to search while three were dive missions. You might dive on 30 different things, targets that you found, some might be coral bommies that are giving off metal because theres iron in the rock, Burnell said. We found old boilers from ships, we found shipwrecks and Japanese planes and every one, you have to check off the list and make sure its not A9-188, Davids plane.

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Dive footage from 2021, now released for the first time, shows the burnt-out fuselage of a Beaufort bomber 43 metres underwater, south of Gasmata and north-east of Port Moresby. The wreck took 12 months to find. Its the same type of plane as Uncle Davids: a British twin-engine torpedo bomber. From the research vessel anchored directly above what they hoped would be Davids grave, Forrest, his sister and a team of divers descended into the tropical waters. Forrest said tears were running down his face beneath his dive helmet. [I was] thinking, am I going to dive on Uncle Davids plane? he said. Be part of solving the mystery, maybe, of his remains? Maybe even his dog tags? Bone fragments, a cockpit lever and identity plates eventually retrieved from beneath layers of sediment and marine growth, revealed the planes serial number was A9-186. The serial number of David Forrests plane was A9-188.

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An unprecedented demand for vital childrens health services across Western Australia has spurred a near-$40 million funding injection as the state government plans a major system overhaul.

The WA Child Development Service will be significantly expanded following the announcement of $39 million in funding on Tuesday, to substantially increase staff including paediatricians, clinical nurse specialists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists and audiologists in metropolitan and regional areas.

The state government hopes its newest funding initiative will help children access vital health appointments. Credit: Getty Images

The funding will form part of the next state government budget.

The service is the only one of its kind in Australia where both assessment and intervention services are provided for children with developmental and learning issues.
Where does Israel get its weapons? The vast majority of Israels overseas weapons supplies come from two nations: the United States and Germany. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the US accounted for 69 per cent of Israeli arms imports from 2019 to 2023 while 30 per cent of Israeli arms imports came from Germany. Italy was a distant third on 0.9 per cent. Israel also has developed a highly advanced defence industry of its own. In fact, it is a more significant global arms exporter than Australia. The US has been supplying weapons to Israel for decades. Credit: Bloomberg What military equipment does Australia send to Israel? To send most military equipment overseas, Australian companies are required to receive an export permit from the federal government. According to figures released by the federal government last year to Greens Senator David Shoebridge, 322 Australian permits were issued for Israel-bound military or dual-use exports between 2017 and 2023. In February, defence officials revealed that the government has granted two defence export permits to Israel since October 7 last year.

Hugh Jeffrey, a senior Department of Defence official, told Senate estimates hearings in October that none of the Australian export permits for Israel related to lethal equipment. Many of the export permits, he said, relate to dual-use technologies: goods and software that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. Im not going to go into the details of the permits themselves, but those permits would involve things like radios, body armour, software, vehicle parts. Sporting equipment too, Jeffrey said. Equipment used at shooting ranges, for example, may be included among the permits granted. Separately, figures provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade last November show that Australian arms and ammunition exports to Israel totalled $13 million over the past five years. For context, Israel spends about $38 billion annually on defence, with $5.8 billion coming from US aid.

Loading What military equipment counts as weapons? At Senate estimates hearings in February, Shoebridge and Jeffrey had a lively exchange about the definition of a military weapon. Shoebridge homed in on the example of the F-35 fighter jet, an advanced aircraft used by the Israeli military. Australia forms an important part of the global supply chain for F-35 production, with key components of the jets manufactured in suburban Melbourne. According to the Victorian government, Moorabbin-based company Marand holds a critical assembly role for more than 700 highly technical parts for the jet and is the original equipment manufacturer for the F-35 engine trailer.

Shoebridge asked whether key components count as weapons. How about the bay doors used to release bombs? No, said Jeffrey. Under the United Nations definition adopted by Australia, weapons are defined as whole systems, such as armoured vehicles, tanks and combat helicopters. The F-35 fighter has components made in Australia, but it is not exported from Australia to Israel in its totality. A pencil is used for writing, Jeffrey said to explain the distinction. Its not designed, in and of itself, to be a weapon, but it can be, if you want to use it as a weapon. This distinction helps explain why the government insists Australia does not send weapons to Israel, even though defence export permits have been approved.

Loading Could Australia restrict military exports to Israel? The federal government has broad leeway to decide whether to allow the defence equipment to be exported to particular countries. For example, under the strict sanctions that apply to Iran, Australian companies are not allowed to export any arms or related materials, nor particular types of graphite, raw metals and software. For countries such as Israel, permits are approved case by case and decided against 12 legislative criteria  including Australias legal obligations relating to human rights. If we have a serious concern that agreement to an export permit would involve those goods being exported contributing to the abuse of human rights, for example, in a conflict in which we had serious concerns, then wed not agree to the permit, Jeffrey said.

Countries including Canada, Japan, Spain and Belgium have suspended arms exports to Israel since the war in Gaza began. In February, a Dutch court ordered the government to block all exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel over concerns they were being used to violate international law during the war in Gaza. Smoke rises inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel last month. Credit: AP It is undeniable that there is a clear risk the exported F-35 parts are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law, the court said. The Dutch government said it would appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that it should be up to the state to set foreign policy, not a court.
A beefed-up competition watchdog will be given more powers and financial support to vet and block planned mergers under the largest business reforms since the 1970s that Treasurer Jim Chalmers says will strengthen the economy and lift living standards for ordinary people.

The overhaul of the nations merger laws will also prevent companies from gradually buying up parts of another firm without having to prove the creeping acquisition wont reduce overall competition and end up in higher prices for customers.

The competition watchdog will get more powers and financial support to target large mergers that could slow the economy. Credit: Steven Siewert

But a proposal from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that would have effectively allowed the institution to stop almost all mergers without strong proof it was in the economys interests has been rejected.

The government, which has launched a two-year inquiry into ways to boost competition across the economy, has been investigating the nations merger laws which have remained largely unchanged since the late 1970s.
First, because Israels own security depends on a two-state solution. There is no long-term security for Israel unless it is recognised by the countries of its region. The second argument, Wong said, was that there would be no role for Hamas in a Palestinian state, with the change leading to a reformed Palestinian Authority that could not be in a position to threaten Israels security. Recognising a Palestinian state  one that can only exist side by side with a secure Israel  doesnt just offer the Palestinian people an opportunity to realise their aspirations, she said. It also strengthens the forces for peace and undermines extremism. It undermines Hamas, Iran and Irans other destructive proxies in the region.

A two-state solution is the only hope to break the endless cycle of violence. The comments are likely to anger the Israeli government and local pro-Israel groups, which have long resisted recognition of Palestinian statehood, but they come at a time of strong criticism of Israels Defence Forces over the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and other World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Credit: AP Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he told Netanyahu late last week of Australias concern about a ground invasion of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians are sheltering to avoid the conflict. Were very concerned about the humanitarian consequences, as are like-minded countries including the United States, he said on Tuesday morning.

Loading While international leaders have called on both sides to agree to an immediate ceasefire, Hamas said the latest Israeli proposal did not meet any of the demands of Palestinian factions. Cameron, the former British prime minister and now a conservative peer in the House of Lords, said in early February that Palestinian statehood should not have to wait until the end of a two-state agreement with Israel. What we need to do is give the Palestinian people a horizon towards a better future, the future of having a state of their own, he said. With United States President Joe Biden showing increasing frustration with Netanyahu over the ground war in Gaza, the international response to the conflict will be tested at the UN in the next few weeks when a decision is made on whether to admit Palestine to the global body.

The Palestinians are seeking full membership after 12 years of observer status at the UN, in a process that gives UN members including Australia a potential forum to air their views on a two-state solution. Wong condemned the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 and said the terrorist organisation had no respect for international law, but she argued that democracies were held to a higher standard and this meant Israel should step back from a worsening conflict in Gaza. This is why Australia and so many countries have called on the Netanyahu government to change course, including in respect of a major ground offensive in Rafah. Again we say, do not go down this path, she said. To buttress the Australian argument, Wong cited a statement from Biden that Netanyahu was hurting Israel more than helping, as well as a warning from US Senator Chuck Schumer that Israel could not hope to succeed as a pariah state.

Loading Recognising Palestinian statehood would be the culmination of years of activism within Labor to shift the partys stance on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. At the partys 2018 national conference, the party passed a landmark motion calling on the next Labor government to recognise Palestine as a state, a move that infuriated pro-Israel lobby groups and some pro-Israel Labor MPs. In 2021, Labor incorporated the resolution into its official policy platform. The resolution was introduced by Wong. An earlier shift came in 2012, when then foreign minister Bob Carr prevailed in an internal Labor debate on whether to support Palestine gain observer status at the UN. While then-prime minister Julia Gillard backed Israel on this question, Carr gained support from the backbench and won the argument in cabinet.
Sonia Garcia is a trending food reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at sonia.garcia@houstonchronicle.com.

A Rio Grande Valley native, she previously was an editor and writer for the Austin digital news startup Austonia after graduating from Texas State University. She enjoys trying new restaurants in Houston, where she lives with her 14-year-old Chihuahua.
The NSW Labor government will rethink its water security policy  including doubling the capacity of Sydneys desalination plant and keeping Warragamba Dam below capacity  to guarantee the citys drinking water supply while mitigating flood risk.

Premier Chris Minns said the state government was considering a range of options after the Hawkesbury-Nepean region was inundated with floodwaters during the weekends torrential rainstorms, which saw the citys main dam spill.

One option would be to ensure Warragamba does not exceed 80 per cent of its capacity.

Much of Sydneys tap water comes from Warragamba Dam. Credit: Nikki Short

However, Minns warned long-term solutions for flood mitigation would take time and considerable investment and the only immediate answer was to ban all new housing developments on flood-prone land.
For Trump, fights over abortion, like any other major issue, have always been about winning. And so it should not be a surprise that he avoided endorsing a ban. Trump has long tried to steer clear from supporting national restrictions that could be a political disaster for Republicans struggling to win back key groups  especially suburban women  who turned their backs on the GOP in recent years. Protesters fill the street in front of the Supreme Court after the courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in Washington, June 24, 2022. Credit: AP Trump remains eager to take credit for the reversal of Roe v. Wade. He did so again in his video posted to his social media site. But even at the state level, abortion bans enacted after Roe was overturned have been deeply unpopular. So, Trump simply tried to punt abortion back to the states.

The states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both. And whatever they decide must be the law of the land, Trump said of abortion rights. Now, its up to the states to do the right thing. Religious conservatives, of course, have been fighting against abortion rights for decades on the grounds that abortion should be stopped at all costs  even if they pay a price at the ballot box. But Trump wants to win in 2024. And in his statement, he made clear that hes trying to make the best of a bad political situation for him and his party. We must win, he said. We have to win. Bidens reelection mobilises

Democrats would have had more ammunition this November if Trump had publicly embraced a national abortion plan. But Bidens party still has plenty to work with. Even in the statement, Trump said he was proudly responsible for the Roe reversal. Loading Within hours, the Biden campaign announced plans to release a new advertisement seizing on Trumps position. Prominent pro-choice groups lashed out as well, with many arguing that Trump cannot be trusted after his leading role in overturning abortion rights. Biden issued a seven-paragraph statement labelling Trump singularly responsible for creating the cruelty and the chaos that has enveloped America since Roe was overturned.

Trump is scrambling, the Democrat said. Hes worried that since hes the one responsible for overturning Roe the voters will hold him accountable in 2024. Well, I have news for Donald. They will. National Democrats intend to blame Trump not just for abortion bans in conservative-led states but for the restriction of fertility treatments in Alabama after the state Supreme Court ruled that embryos should be considered children and awarded legal protections. Bidens campaign announced on Sunday that it would hold campaign events featuring two women, one from Texas and the other from Louisiana, who say they were denied medical care due to restrictive abortion laws enacted after Roe was overturned. Meanwhile, Republicans simply dont have an effective counterargument. In his video, Trump repeated the GOPs longstanding argument that it is Democrats, not Republicans, who are extreme on abortion because they support abortion rights with no restrictions. Such arguments, while debatable, have not been effective over the last two years. Conservatives have suffered stinging defeats in elections dominated by the abortion-rights debate from Kentucky to Ohio to Michigan.

A test for Trumps base The reaction from the Republican Partys religious conservatives wasnt positive either. We are deeply disappointed in President Trumps position, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. Marjorie Jones Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion group, says she is disappointed in Trumps position. Credit: AP Former vice president Mike Pence, who has declined to endorse his former running mate this year, put it this way: President Trumps retreat on the Right to Life is a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans.

On social media, some conservatives latched onto Trumps reference to the term abortion rights, arguing that such rights do not exist. Even Republican Senator Lindsay Graham, a vocal Trump ally, said on X that he respectfully disagrees with Trumps new position. Trump is making the calculation that his evangelical base, among the most loyal elements in his coalition, will have his back when it matters most. And recent history suggests hes probably right. Dannenfelser and others have been pushing Trump to embrace a national abortion ban for several months. Trump, of course, has not. And still, Trump cruised to an easy victory in the GOP primary. He even won the Iowa caucuses, historically ruled by religious conservatives, by 30 points. If his waffling on abortion didnt hurt him with the GOP base in the primary, its hard to see them turning against him this fall.

Big questions remain Trump in his video talked in more substance than were used to. But he hardly put the issue to rest. In the coming days, Trump will almost certainly be pressed to respond to religious conservatives who condemned his position. Perhaps more importantly, hell also be asked to clarify key questions that he avoided altogether. Trump did not explicitly state whether, if elected again, he would or would not sign a national abortion ban should it reach his desk. While its unlikely such a proposal could meet a 60-vote Senate threshold, a majority of House Republicans have endorsed a national abortion ban as part of a budget proposal unveiled this spring by the Republican Study Committee.

At the same time, Trump did not outline his position on a Florida ballot measure that would preserve abortion rights in the state constitution if approved in November. Trump, of course, is a Florida resident who will have an opportunity to cast a vote for or against the proposal. A new Florida law signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis will soon take effect banning abortions at six weeks of pregnancy, which is before many women realise theyre pregnant. Trump promised last week that he would issue the statement he gave after being asked about the state law. Also left unanswered: Whether Trump supports access to the FDA-approved abortion medication mifepristone, which is widely available through the mail. Still a defining issue Whether Trumps GOP likes it or not, abortion will be a defining issue for many voters when they decide the presidency this fall.

The Roe reversal is still fresh for many voters who have only just begun to grapple with Republican-backed abortion restrictions in their states. At the same time, voters in several states are expected to decide whether to enshrine abortion rights into state law this November. For now, its not clear exactly how many states will vote on abortion ballot measures. In some, the question is whether amendment supporters can get enough valid signatures. In others, its up to the legislature. And theres legal wrangling in the process in some states. Loading So far, abortion rights are definitely on the ballot in Florida, Maryland and New York. Efforts are also underway to do the same in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada and South Dakota. AP, Reuters
The charges stem from allegations that, between August 9, 2019, and April 21, 2020, Mawhinney falsely claimed to the trustee of the IPO Wealth Fund that the IPO Wealth Group was the owner of two Italian companies, Poveglia S.R.L. and Retta S.R.L., which it was not.
Authorities said an argument over unpaid rent turned violent Tuesday morning in a house located near St. Louis Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. (Photo: Reuters / Lucy Nicholson)

Three people are dead following a shooting Monday morning in a law office near the Red Rock resort in Summerlin, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill. Sources have identified the victims as Las Vegas attorney Dennis Prince and his wife, Ashley Prince, while the shooter has been identified as Las Vegas attorney Joe Houston II.

The shooting occurred during a child custody deposition in the Prince Law Group's fifth-floor office, involving Ashley Prince, her ex-husband Dylan Houston, and his father, Joe Houston II, who was representing him. Prince and his wife recently had a child together, and records show that Dylan Houston filed for divorce from then-named Ashley Houston in 2021.

Police received a call of a shooting shortly after 10 a.m. inside a business in the 10800 block of Charleston Boulevard near Pavilion Center Drive. LVMPD Lt. Jason Johansson said that seven people were in the room during the deposition and that Joe Houston targeted his two victims before taking his own life.

"The suspect was not killed by police. We believe he took his own life," Sheriff McMahill said Monday afternoon.

Police searched Joe Houston's home on Monday evening near Buffalo Drive and Desert Inn Road and also searched the suspected shooter's car, which was parked in a garage on the property. Metro officers went through the building, clearing it and searching for any further threat.

"As you can imagine we have a five or six-story building. We have people that are hunkered down following active shooter protocols. We're going door by door and making sure everybody in there is OK and evacuating them," McMahill said.

In a statement, Prince Law Group expressed their profound sadness and thanked everyone who had reached out with messages of concern and sympathy. They asked for privacy for the families involved.

Prince's former law partner, Robert Eglet, described Prince as a wonderful father to four children and said his death was "not just a loss to his family, but also to the community." Prince's friend Tom Letizia, a political consultant, said he was deeply saddened by the news and that Prince was a respected figure within the legal community whose absence has left them all in mourning.

The State Bar of Nevada released a statement expressing their shock at the tragic events and offering therapy sessions and trauma response counseling to those in need.

Shooting witnesses and other building employees were taken to Red Rock Casino Resort, where they were provided with assistance and victim services. Charleston Boulevard was closed in both directions from Red Rock Drive past Pavilion Center Drive but reopened to traffic around 12:30 p.m.

Lt. Johansson noted that "quite a bit of evidence collection needs to take place" at the Prince Law Group suite, while other areas of the building are expected to re-open soon.

The shooting has sent shockwaves through the Las Vegas legal community, with many expressing their condolences and disbelief at the tragic events. As the investigation continues, the focus will be on understanding the circumstances that led to this deadly incident and providing support to those affected by the loss of Dennis and Ashley Prince.

The child custody deposition, which was supposed to be a routine legal proceeding, turned into a devastating tragedy when Joe Houston allegedly opened fire just 3-4 minutes into the meeting. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential for violence even in seemingly safe environments and the importance of addressing the underlying issues that can lead to such senseless acts.
ECHR Verdict: Swiss Climate Inaction Breaches Human Rights, Landmark Ruling Empowers Future Litigations (Photo: FridaysForFuture Berlin/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0))

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) based in Strasbourg, France, declared that Switzerland's lax approach to combating climate change constitutes a breach of human rights. This ruling emanated from a case brought forward by over 2,000 Swiss women, predominantly aged in their 70s, who contended that the increasing heatwaves exacerbated by climate change are detrimental to their health and jeopardize their lives.

The ECHR pinpointed significant deficiencies in Switzerland's climate policies, highlighting the nation's failure to adhere to its own emission reduction targets as a fundamental human rights violation. This landmark decision, which is legally binding and without the possibility of appeal, marks a pivotal moment in climate litigation, potentially setting a new legal precedent for future cases worldwide.

"This judgment sends a clear message: governments must take definitive action on emissions to safeguard the human rights of their citizens," stated Vesselina Newman from ClientEarth, emphasizing the global implications of this ruling. Gerry Liston, a legal expert at the Global Legal Action Network, hailed the decision as a historic precedent that mandates all European countries to recalibrate their climate targets in alignment with scientific recommendations and the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold.

The judgment could catalyze Switzerland to expedite its transition away from fossil fuels, the primary drivers of anthropogenic climate change. While the Swiss Federal Office of Justice acknowledged the court's verdict, it stated that a thorough analysis would be undertaken to determine the requisite future measures for compliance.

Environmental activists, including Greta Thunberg who was present at a demonstration outside the court, see this as the dawn of a new era in climate litigation. "This is only the beginning," Thunberg asserted, underscoring the growing momentum of legal challenges against governmental inaction on climate change.

In contrast, the ECHR deemed two other related claims inadmissible. One was from a municipal mayor against the French government, and the other, brought by six Portuguese youths against 32 European nations, was dismissed due to the claimants not exhausting all legal avenues in their home country first.

Despite these setbacks, the victory in the Swiss case is celebrated as a collective triumph. "We didn't break the wall but we've made a huge crack," said Catarina dos Santos Mota, one of the Portuguese claimants, viewing the Swiss win as a beacon of hope for climate justice across Europe and beyond.

The ECHR's decision underscores the intersection of climate change and human rights, presenting a novel legal avenue for environmental activism. The court's affirmation that government inaction on climate change can violate fundamental human rights has wide-ranging implications, potentially opening the door to a slew of national court cases across the 46 Council of Europe member states.

Legal experts and environmental activists alike anticipate that this ruling will influence climate action and litigation not just in Europe, but globally. As the climate crisis intensifies, the judicial system is increasingly being recognized as a crucial battleground for enforcing governmental accountability and catalyzing significant policy shifts towards sustainability and environmental protection.
The Group of 20 includes Western countries that have accused Moscow of war crimes in Ukraine. (Photo: Hannah McKay/Reuters/File Photo)

Russia and Kazakhstan have ordered the evacuation of more than 100,000 people as rapidly melting snow has caused the worst flooding in the region in at least 70 years. The deluge of melt water has overwhelmed scores of settlements in the Ural Mountains, Siberia, and areas of Kazakhstan close to rivers such as the Ural and Tobol, which local officials said had risen by meters in a matter of hours to the highest levels ever recorded.

The Ural River, Europe's third-largest, which flows through Russia and Kazakhstan into the Caspian Sea, burst through an embankment dam on Friday, flooding the city of Orsk just south of the Ural Mountains. Downstream, water levels in Orenburg, a city of around 550,000, continue to rise. Sirens in Kurgan, a city on the Tobol River, a tributary of the Irtysh, warned people to evacuate immediately. An emergency was also declared in Tyumen, a major oil-producing region of Western Siberia - the largest hydrocarbon basin in the world.

"The difficult days are still ahead for the Kurgan and Tyumen regions," Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "There is a lot of water coming." President Vladimir Putin spoke to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, where over 86,000 people have been evacuated due to flooding. Tokayev said the flooding was probably the worst in 80 years.

The most severely hit areas in Kazakhstan are Atyrau, Aktobe, Akmola, Kostanai, Eastern Kazakhstan, Northern Kazakhstan, and Pavlodar regions, most of which border Russia and are crossed by rivers originating in Russia, such as the Ural and the Tobol.

In Russia, anger boiled over in Orsk when at least 100 Russians begged the Kremlin chief to help and chanted "shame on you" at local officials who they said had done too little. The Kremlin said Putin was getting updated constantly on the situation but that he had no immediate plans to visit the flood zone as local and emergency officials were doing their best to cope with the deluge.

Following the protest, Tass reported that the governor of the Orenburg region, Denis Pasler, promised compensation payments of 10,000 rubles a month (approximately $108) for six months to people forced out of their homes by the flood. The total damage from the flood in the region is estimated at about 21 billion rubles ($227 million), according to the regional government.

In Kurgan, a region with around 800,000 residents, drone footage showed traditional Russian wooden houses and the golden domes of Russian Orthodox Churches stranded among a vast expanse of water. In Orenburg, residents paddled along roads as if they were rivers. Dams and embankments were being strengthened as the Ural River rose to nearly 10 meters high.

Russian officials have said some people ignored calls to evacuate. Kurgan Governor Vadim Shumkov urged residents to take the warnings seriously, saying, "It's better that we laugh at the hydrologists together later and praise God for the miracle of our common salvation. But let's do it alive."

Rising water was also forecast in Siberia's Ishim River, also a tributary of the Irtysh, which, along with its parent, the Ob, forms the world's seventh-longest river system. It was not immediately clear why this year's floods were so severe, as the snow melt is an annual event in Russia. Scientists say climate change has made flooding more frequent worldwide.

The floods have forced over 4,000 people, including 885 children, to evacuate in the Orenburg region alone. Footage from Orsk and Orenburg showed water partially submerging buildings, including homes, as well as nearby fields. A criminal probe has been launched to investigate suspected construction violations that may have caused the dam to break in Orsk.

The designation of the situation as a federal emergency reflects the risk of flooding beyond the Orenburg region. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had spoken with the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, as well as the heads of the Kurgan and Tyumen regions, located in the Ural Mountains area, to discuss the situation and "the need ... for early adoption of measures to assist people and their possible evacuation."
HSBC released its first quarter earnings report Tuesday. (Photo: REUTERS/Reinhard Krause/File Photo)

HSBC is setting an aggressive pace for the expansion of its wealth business in China, despite prevailing economic challenges. Nuno Matos, the bank's wealth and personal banking CEO, revealed plans to nearly double the wealth management workforce in China by 2025, in line with HSBC's strategic pivot towards the continent. This ambitious expansion aims to capitalize on the burgeoning wealth in the region, with HSBC on track to boost its wealth manager count to 1,900 by the year's end, progressing towards a target of 3,000 by 2025.

The initiative underscores HSBC's commitment to the Asian market, where it generates a significant portion of its revenues. The bank is not only deepening its roots in China but also eyeing substantial growth in India, riding on the back of a robust economy that presents lucrative opportunities for wealth management services. This growth trajectory in Asia is punctuated by HSBC's decision to sell its business operations in Argentina to Grupo Financiero Galicia, a move expected to incur a $1 billion pretax loss. This strategic withdrawal from Argentina is part of a broader consolidation effort, allowing HSBC to narrow its focus and resources on key Asian markets, including its stronghold in Hong Kong.

The sale in Argentina is a continuation of HSBC's global restructuring, which has seen the bank exit retail banking operations in Canada and France, emphasizing its core markets in Asia. This pivot has been partly influenced by significant shareholders, such as Chinese insurer Ping An Group, advocating for a more Asia-centric approach. Despite these divestitures, HSBC's leadership, including group CEO Noel Quinn and Chairman Mark Tucker, remains steadfast in their commitment to the bank's integrated international network, dismissing suggestions of spinning off the Hong Kong business as an independent entity.

HSBC's wealth and personal banking unit, which contributed 38% to the bank's profit last year, faced challenges in China, posting an operating loss of $90 million. However, Matos remains optimistic, highlighting the profitability of many components within China's wealth and personal banking sector and stressing the need for patience and persistence in this significant market.

As HSBC bolsters its presence in Asia, the bank's wealth hubs in Hong Kong and Singapore continue to attract high net worth individuals from China and the Middle East, further reinforcing HSBC's position in the global wealth management arena. The strategic shift towards Asia, characterized by an expanding wealth management workforce and the divestment of non-core operations, reflects HSBC's adaptation to the evolving dynamics of the global financial landscape.

With an eye on future growth, HSBC is positioning itself to leverage the opportunities presented by Asia's economic vitality and the increasing wealth of its population. As the bank moves forward with its Asia-centric strategy, the financial community watches closely to see how these strategic decisions will shape HSBC's trajectory in the coming years, balancing expansion in promising markets with the complexities of a rapidly changing global economy.
People viewing the solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024 at Zilker Metropolitan Park in Austin. (Yi Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle) Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Millions of Americans took in the solar eclipse on Monday afternoon  and it appears many of them fear they may have damaged their eyes in the process.

Google Trends data shows a spike in searches for my eyes hurt and why do my eyes hurt in the Houston area on Monday afternoon. The same uptick was seen across Texas and the United States.

Staring at the sun during an eclipse  or any other time  can lead to permanent eye damage. The suns ultraviolet rays can damage the tissue of the retina, a condition known as solar retinopathy. It can cause a variety of symptoms, including permanent low vision, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

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Fortunately, Houston doctors say that cases of solar retinopathy during an eclipse are uncommon. The length of time spent staring at the sun is the most important factor, so accidentally taking a quick look at the sun is unlikely to cause real damage, said Dr. Adam Cantor, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Texas Childrens Hospital.

If you glimpsed at the sun briefly, I dont think thats going to be enough to cause solar retinopathy, Cantor said.

Those Google searches do not appear to have led to trips to local emergency rooms or urgent care clinics, though. Houston Methodist, Baylor St. Lukes Medical Center and Memorial Hermann Health System all said Tuesday afternoon that they did not treat any patients who complained of eye pain after the eclipse. Harris Health also did not treat any such patients, a spokesman said.

However, there are no pain receptors in the retina, so anyone whose eyes might have been damaged would not have felt pain as it happened, said Dr. Rahul Pandit, vice chair for ophthalmic surgery at Houston Methodist.

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You won't feel any pain at all with that sort of injury to your eye, Pandit said. Usually, youll have symptoms within two or three days.

Symptoms of solar retinopathy

Solar retinopathy can cause mild symptoms like watery eyes, headaches and sensitivity to light. It can also cause more serious symptoms like blurred vision, blind spots and eye pain.

Cantor noted that symptoms like watery eyes could be caused by other things, such as allergies. The Houston Health Department reported heavy levels of grass pollen in the air Monday. Dry eyes or mild headaches could have been caused by staring at a smartphone or computer longer than usual to read about the eclipse, he said.

READ MORE: Scenes from the total solar eclipse in Texas

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During an eclipse, its only safe to look at the sun with special eclipse glasses that comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard. Anyone who stares at the sun without the proper eyewear risks damaging their eyes.

The lone exception is during totality, or the period of time when the moon is completely covering the sun. Houston was not in the path of totality for Mondays eclipse; anyone who remained in the city saw a partial solar eclipse, with the moon blocking a maximum of 94% of the sun around 1:40 p.m. Other areas of Texas, including Austin and Dallas, did experience a total solar eclipse.

When to see a doctor

Pandit recommends making an appointment to see a doctor if you begin to experience vision problems or eye pain. The doctor can confirm if the symptoms are caused by solar retinopathy or another medical condition.

If you start having lack of good vision  if you notice that central area (of your vision) is blurry, that absolutely should be a concern, and you should be seen by a retina specialist. Ideally, an ophthalmologist, he said.

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Cantor said anyone who experiences sudden vision loss or severe eye pain should go to an emergency room instead of waiting for an appointment with an ophthalmologist.

Many cases of solar retinopathy will resolve in time, but in severe cases, the damage may be permanent.
Venterra Realty broke ground on Camber Ridge, a 312-unit apartment community, in Fulshears Cross Creek Ranch area. Courtesy Venterra Realty

Fulshear is gearing up for another residential complex with multiple housing units.

During the first week of March, real estate company Venterra Realty broke ground on Camber Ridge, a 312-unit apartment community, in Fulshears Cross Creek Ranch area.

What amenities will Camber Ridge have?

The first units will be ready by the start of Q2 2025, according to a Venterra release.

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Camber Ridge will provide residents with amenities including a community clubroom, pool, outdoor lounge, fitness center, package lockers and coworking spaces.

FORT BEND INSIDER: Never miss a story with our bi-weekly newsletter

Students residing in Cross Creek Ranch attend schools within the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, including Huggins Elementary School, Dean Leaman Junior High School and Fulshear High School.

The site located on Texas Heritage Parkway connected to FM 1093 near SH 99/Grand Parkway, with access to Katy, Sugar Land, Richmond, and Rosenberg areas.

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Hong Kong Trade Development Council:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240408808037/en/

HKTDC Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair & DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong will be held on 27-30 April (Photo: Business Wire)

HKTDC Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair

Featuring a curated selection of gift and premium products from around 4000 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions, the fair will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 27-30 April, with the online matching services Click2Match available from 20 April to 7 May. It offers an ideal platform for exhibitors to showcase their latest products, and foster networking and collaboration among industry professionals.

The Hall of Fine Designs will return as a convergence of reputed global brands, including Red A (Hong Kong), Tiny Memory (Hong Kong), YASHICA (Japan) and more. The pavilion formed by Hong Kong Exporters' Association will showcase the design skills and branding excellence of local product designers. Winning works from the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards will also be displayed to highlight the creativity and flair of Hong Kong brands to global industry players.

The anticipated Cultural & Creative Corner will captivate visitors with its vibrant showcase of designer brands and products with unique styles. Catering to the latest trends, the brand-new Outdoor & Sporting Goods zone will showcase a series of products including camping gear, dance shoes, and sporting goods.

To keep visitors abreast of the latest market information and encourage networking, there will be seminars hosted by industry players and associations to share insights on areas crucial to the sectors development such as consumer market trends, sustainability and silver economy.

Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair & DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong

Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and CIEC Exhibition Company (HK) Limited, the two printpack Fairs will be held from 27-30 April at AsiaWorld-Expo, with the online matching services Click2Match available from 20 April to 7 May.

The Printing & Packaging Fair is a premier marketplace to source printing and packaging equipment, products and services. As global demand for luxury packaging grows, the acclaimed World of DeLuxe PrintPack Zone at the Fair will spin off and launch as DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong this year. Together, the two Fairs will host around 500 exhibitors, offering a comprehensive showcase of industry-leading solutions.

Highlighted Zones:

Green Printing & Packaging: bio-degradable materials, upcycled products and innovative green solutions

Food & Beverage Packaging: functional solutions designed for fresh, chilled, and processed food

E-commerce Packaging: creative solutions for enterprises to capture e-tailing opportunities



The debut DeLuxe PrintPack will present an array of printing and packaging solutions tailored for luxury goods including jewellery, watches, cosmetics, gourmet food, and wine.

Forums and networking activities will be held share industry trends, sustainable designs and the impact of deluxe packaging on brand identity. Award-winning entries from the Hong Kong Print Awards, the Hong Kong Digital Printing Award and the GAAHK x PolyU Design - Packaging Design will be presented to showcase innovations in printpack design and production.

Register Now:https://tinyurl.com/2jrph7z2

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240408808037/en/
The Cowan family, from left: Travis, Rylen, Kristen and Corbyn, in 2017. Courtesy/Kristen Cowan

When 13-month-old Rylen Cowan died suddenly from bacterial meningitis in 2017, his parents greatest fear became the thought that no one would remember him.

When your child passes away, you say, What can I do in this world to make sure no one forgets Rylen? said his mother, Kristen Cowan.

She and his father, Travis Cowan, had already made the decision to donate his organs, which in turn would save five lives.

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The Cowan family now furthers his legacy with the Smilin Rylen Foundation. The foundation host the annual Smilin Rylen 5K run, its largest fundraising endeavor. It's scheduled April 26, 2025, at Cane Island.

We wanted to honor Rylen, but we wanted to do it in a way that would be fun, Travis said. We didnt want something sad. We wanted kids to have as much fun as grown-ups.

Rylen was hospitalized for four days before he died in 2017. When Rylen was declared brain-dead, the hospital asked the family if they would like to donate his organs. The grieving family agreed.

When the doctors left, Travis and I looked at each other and made a decision to donate Rylens organs, Kristen recalled. I grew up in a home where a family friend had organ transplants, and were huge advocates for organ donation.

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Rylen donated his heart, liver, both kidneys and his intestines, saving a total of five lives.

After three months, LifeGift offered the Cowans information on the five people that Rylens organs saved.

Both Rylens kidneys went to adult men, Travis said. Its a lesser known fact that kidneys have a universal fit, he noted, and a childs kidney can be given to an adult and vice versa. The valves that connect the organs are interchangeable.

Kristen Cowan listens to the heart of her son, Rylen, as it beats in the chest of Gannon, a then 3-year-old boy that received Rylen's heart via transplant. Courtesy/Kristen Cowan

Rylens heart, they learned, went to a 3-year-old boy named Gannon.

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In the summer of 2018, the Cowans met Gannon and his family, and Travis, Kristen and Corbyn were able to listen to Rylens heart inside Gannons chest.

I know it sounds crazy, that you could hear anyones heartbeat and it would sound the same, but I could tell it was my own sons heart. When its your own child, you just know, she said.

Gannon, now age 9, and his family have since become a part of the Cowan family.

Rylen is my hero, Kristen said. His story is still unfolding here on Earth.

Corbyn Cowan, 10, was only 3 years old when his brother died, but he has vivid memories of the two playing together.

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I feel really proud of (Rylen), said Corbyn. He gave organs to people who needed them. (The 5K) is Rylens special day where everyone gathers to say prayers for Rylen.

About the organizations Smilin' Rylen helps

The Smilin Rylen Foundation raises funds and awareness for four charities  LifeGift, the Ronald McDonald House, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and Bos Place  all of which assisted the Cowan family through Rylens illness, organ procurement and grief support.

LifeGift is a nonprofit organization that procures organs for people needing transplants. LifeGift performed the procurement of Rylens organs, Kristen said, comforting the family and treating Rylens body with dignity throughout the process.

Travis and Kristen stayed at the hospital in the Ronald McDonald House while Rylen was sick. Their stay was short, but many families stay for weeks or even months in the hotel-like accommodations while their children receive treatment.

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Because of the Ronald McDonald House, Travis said, he and his wife were able to stay near Rylen at all times without having to sleep on a hospital cot.

In the event that a baby or small child dies in the hospital, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep sends professional photographers to the hospital to capture the familys last moments together. All picture rights are given to the family at no charge along with a keepsake photo album.

Its amazing, just being able to save those memories, Travis said. Theres so much trauma at the time and you can only remember so much.
Work continued on the Creekside Medical Office Building in the Creekside Park area in December in The Woodlands. Houston Methodist has found another spoke for its Woodlands hub after purchasing the Creekside Park Medical Plaza for $14 million in April. Developed by Howard Hughes, the two-story, 22,000-square-foot facility became the village's first medical office building when it was completed in the spring of 2023. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Work continued on the Creekside Medical Office Building in the Creekside Park area in December in The Woodlands. Houston Methodist has found another spoke for its Woodlands hub after purchasing the Creekside Park Medical Plaza for $14 million in April. Developed by Howard Hughes, the two-story, 22,000-square-foot facility became the village's first medical office building when it was completed in the spring of 2023. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Creekside Medical Plaza is shown in the Creekside Park area in December in The Woodlands. Houston Methodist has found another spoke for its Woodlands hub after purchasing the Creekside Park Medical Plaza for $14 million in April. Developed by Howard Hughes, the two-story, 22,000-square-foot facility became the village's first medical office building when it was completed in the spring of 2023. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Houston Methodist has found another spoke for its Woodlands hub after purchasing the Creekside Park Medical Plaza for $14 million in April.

Developed by Howard Hughes, the two-story, 22,000-square-foot facility became the village's first medical office building when it was completed in the spring of 2023.

As The Woodlands' newest village, Creekside Park was the only village without its own medical office, although several are in the works nearby.

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"There's a need for additional health care services in that area," Houston Methodist said in a statement. "We are planning to build a multi-specialty clinic...similar to the one we have in Pearland."

Medical services plan

The new clinic at 26424 Strake Drive will include up to 10 new providers, including five primary care services, orthopedic services, and likely both physical and occupational therapy practices. The property was a shell build out, according to Pinecroft Realty's TJ Fry, and Houston Methodist is currently building the interior.

The hub-and-spoke model is part of a three- to five-year master plan that could include up to 100 more beds added to the Houston Methodist The Woodlands hospital, business development officer Lisa Lovell told The Woodlands.

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The hospital system is also planning a renovation of its Medical Office Building Two, with plans to expand exam and procedure rooms, according to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation data.

While space is limited for new medical office builds, developers are looking to the area's outskirts to expand healthcare services, Cornerstone Development Group's Jascha Patto told the Houston Chronicle in December.

Corridor of growth

Commercial real estate firm JLL has announced a new 55,354-square-foot medical office building in the rapidly-growing corridor near ExxonMobil's new headquarters in Spring. The Class A building, which will host multiple non-system tenants, is the first of its kind to be built in Spring since 2016.

The building's location near new retail and office spaces and major roadways will allow it to serve a broad range of markets, from Tomball to Kingwood, JLL's life sciences executive vice president Tim Gregory said.

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"Leasing in (The Woodlands) is pretty tight right now, especially around all the major hospital systems...there's a great corridor here," Gregory said. "We're right in the middle of all those markets with great accessibility."

The building joins new medical offices just outside of The Woodlands in welcoming independent practitioners, but it is unique in that it allows tenants to invest in the ownership company.

"It's a great opportunity that helps them offset the cost of their leasing throughout the years," Gregory said.

A surgical center and clinical tenant have signed, and five to eight tenants are expected at buildout. The project is set to be completed in May.

NEW CONDOS ON LAKE WOODLANDS: Howard Hughes names location, timeline for 15-story Ritz-Carlton condo project on Lake Woodlands

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Health care expansion

Health care continues to be the top employer within The Woodlands. Memorial Hermann broke ground on its fifth medical plaza and fourth parking garage in 2023. Levels 1-3 of the 1,000 space parking garage have been set and levels 4-5 will be finished soon, the hospital said in a statement. The core and shell of the 135,000 square foot medical plaza is expected to be completed by January 2025.

In May, Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands will also break ground on a $400,000 buildout of a new ultrasound exam room, according to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation data.

"We're certainly not at build out around The Woodlands area, so we're going to continue to see health care grow," The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership CEO Gil Staley told the Houston Chronicle.
Samantha Ketterer is a Houston Chronicle reporter covering higher education. She can be reached at samantha.ketterer@houstonchronicle.com.

Since joining the staff in 2018, Samantha has also covered criminal justice and the Harris County courthouse. She is a former reporting fellow for the Dallas Morning News' state bureau and a former city hall reporter for The Galveston County Daily News.

Samantha, who is from Houston's suburbs, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and is a proud alumna of The Daily Texan.
Octavia Johnson is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at octavia.johnson@houstonchronicle.com.

Before joining the Chronicle, Octavia worked as a digital content producer at WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tenn., where she became a leader in producing fast paced, audience-focused content.

Octavia graduated from UNC Pembroke with a bachelor's degree in journalism before earning her master's degree in media and communications at Norfolk State University.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is hosting an Open House at all six campuses to provide an opportunity to learn more about the programs offered at GNTC, tour the facilities and meet faculty and staff.The event on Tuesday, April 23 will take place from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on each of GNTCs campuses:- Catoosa County Campus, 120 College Park Drive, Ringgold;- Floyd County Campus, One Maurice Culberson Drive, Rome;- Gordon County Campus, 1151 Highway 53 Spur, Calhoun;- Polk County Campus, 466 Brock Road, Rockmart;- Walker County Campus, 265 Bicentennial Trail, Rock Spring; and- Whitfield Murray Campus, 2310 Maddox Chapel Road, Dalton.Legare Price, dean of Student Success at GNTC, shared his excitement about the upcoming Open House.We are delighted to invite you to our Open House for our upcoming summer and fall semesters, Dean Price said.This is your opportunity to explore one of our six campuses and take the first step in your college journey. Our goal is to simplify the process for you.The event will include information and assistance on admissions, advising, career guidance and financial aid. GNTC will waive the admission application fee for those attending the event.During your visit, you can tour our campuses, meet our experienced staff and faculty, learn about our student support services and even apply to GNTC for freeall in a single day, Dean Price said.Attendees will receive GNTC giveaways.For more information, contact admissions@gntc.edu or 866-983-4682.
Chattanooga Police on Saturday conducted proactive enforcement operations in the downtown/Northshore area and Highway 153 after numerous calls regarding reckless driving behaviors and noise complaints.





Through the work of CPD's Traffic, DUI, and Drone Units, officers were able to address these behaviors, which resulted in the following:





148 Citations

2 Felony Evading Arrest

1 DUI

1 Motorcycle Towed

1 Four-Wheeler Towed




Research projects by students from area high schools and Cleveland State Community College will compete alongside those of University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students at the seventh annual UTC Technology Symposium on April 15, and the public is invited to check them out.Sponsored by the UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science, the daylong symposium will begin with a keynote address from UTC alumnus Greg Heinrich, TVA vice president of transmission operations and power supply.Following Vice President Heinrichs remarks, visitors can tour the exhibit of more than 130 community projects and undergraduate and graduate-level applied research projects displayed in the University Center Tennessee Room.Judges from more than 40 high-profile companiesTVA, Stantec, EPB, Amazon, American Express and Netflix among themwill review and assess the submissions, in addition to visiting with participating students. Project topics include identifying aging-related genes from muscle gene expression data; the performance of congressional stock portfolios: impact of socioeconomic status on education; and fraud detection in financial transactions using machine learning.More information about the symposium and schedule of events is on the CECS website at utc.edu/tech-reg.
The Hixson Council of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce is donating $5,000 to the Hixson High School Band Boosters to help purchase new instruments for the band."Hixson High School suffered a loss of band uniforms and equipment in a flood last year. Those items were replaced and the Hixson Council wanted to contribute to help fund new instruments for the band to compliment the new uniforms," officials said.We are so delighted that the local Chamber wanted to invest in our band, Torey Hart, band director at Hixson High School.said. Our students will be excited to get the new instruments.Supporting our community and education has always been a passion of the Hixson Council, said Nancy Hoover, Hixson Council president. All of the money we raise each year goes right back into the schools in our local footprint.While at the school, the Hixson Council held their monthly meeting, where they toured the three Future Ready Institutes.
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A man from Jacksboro who was charged with illegally killing two elk on North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (NCWMA) last November, entered a plea agreement in court last week.

In a plea agreement, Preston William Douglas, 34, of Jacksboro, appeared in Campbell County General Sessions Court on April 4 and was found guilty on two counts of illegally taking big game. Douglas had his hunting license revoked for five years, is banned from NCWMA for three years, and was put on supervised probation for three years.He forfeited a rifle and a handgun and was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution, plus fines and court costs.

Just before 9 a.m. on Nov. 19, 2023, Wildlife Manager Darrell England was contacted by an informant who reported that he had heard multiple shots while deer hunting on NCWMA. The informant went to investigate and spoke with another hunter who said he had shot two "deer," one being a doe and the other a six point buck. The limit for deer on NCWMA at the time was one per person.

Using vehicle tag information, Mr. England identified Douglas and he and Wildlife Sgt. Dustin Burke visited him at his home the following day where he admitted to firing shots, but claimed he didn't kill anything. The officers returned to NCWMA and searched the area where Douglas had been parked but were unable to locate any evidence. Mr. England then spoke with the informant again and decided to revisit the scene with Mr. Burke where they discovered the decomposing carcasses of a bull and a cow elk, both with bullet wounds to the bodies and heads.

Both carcasses were removed from the woods and were taken to UT College of Veterinary Medicine for a necropsy. Further investigation over the following days produced shell casings from a .40 caliber handgun and a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle, as well as a bullet inside a gut pile. The officers also located one unspent rifle cartridge from a 6.5 Creedmoor.

The officers met with Douglas again who gave a full confession of hunting, killing, and not retrieving both animals. He was charged with two violations each of hunting and killing big game in closed season, illegally taking big game, tagging violations, and failure to retrieve big game. The officers also seized a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle and a .40 caliber handgun.

Since the reintroduction of elk into Tennessee in the year 2000, TWRA is aware of 14 cases where elk have been poached. To date, eight of those cases have been solved. Elk hunting in Tennessee is only legal for a limited number of participants through the annual quota hunt system. Anyone with information about poaching in Tennessee is encouraged to call the poaching hotline at 800 831-1174.
ArtsBuild invites non-profit organizations in Hamilton County to apply for the Tennessee Arts Commissions Arts Build Communities (ABC) grants of up to $5,000 for arts projects that broaden access to arts experiences, address community quality of life issues through the arts or enhance sustainability of asset-based cultural enterprises. ArtsBuild administers the ABC grants in Hamilton County.Organizations must complete the grant application online by 11:59 p.m. CST on July 1.An informational session about the grant will be facilitated via Zoom on Tuesday, April 16 at 10 a.m.Register for this Zoom Meeting in advance. The recording can be found on ArtsBuilds YouTube Channel after the meeting.For more details about the application and guidelines for the ABC grant program, visit the Tennessee Arts Commissions website . For questions, contact Melissa Astin, manager of Grants & Community Engagement, at 423-777-4214 or melissa@artsbuild.com.Last year, 12 nonprofit organizations were funded including, Be the Change Youth Initiative, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga, Inc., Girls Inc. of Chattanooga, KELCURT Foundation, Mark Making, Performing Arts League, Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, Rhyme N Chatt Interactive Poetry Association, Scenic City Shakespeare, Songbirds Foundation, SPLASH and The River City Company.
China, U.S. reach important consensus on economic, financial cooperation: vice finance minister

Xinhua) 10:29, April 09, 2024

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States have reached important consensus on economic and financial cooperation after in-depth consultations and discussions during U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's visit to China, China's Vice Finance Minister Liao Min said Monday.

Deepening communication, coordination of economic, financial policies and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between the world's two largest economies are of great significance in stabilizing the economy and finance of both sides and the whole world, as well as promoting post-pandemic recovery and development, Liao said in response to a media inquiry during a press briefing.

"China always adopts an open and positive attitude towards this," Liao said.

The two sides agreed to hold in-depth discussions on balancing the growth of the two countries and the global economy, and are willing to further strengthen economic exchanges and cooperation.

They also agreed to maintain communication on issues, such as debt handling of developing countries as well as the strategic reform of international financial institutions under multilateral channels, such as G20, and advance cooperation on jointly addressing global challenges, according to Liao.

In the financial field, both sides agreed to carry out continuous exchanges and cooperation on issues including financial stability, sustainable finance, anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing.

In the next stage, China is ready to work with the United States to translate the above consensus into practical cooperation outcomes under the China-U.S. economic and financial working group.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Brian Coulter makes his first court appearance Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, in Houston. Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

A trial of that nature, where a judge decide's the defendant's fate on a capital murder charge rather than a jury, is a rarity in Harris County courts.

It comes nearly three years after deputies found the child's skeletal remains in a closet. Three of his siblings were rescued from the apartment, where police found a lack of furniture, little food and a lock on the outside of a bedroom door. The surviving children testified Thursday and described the living conditions in the apartment and how Coulter would lock some of them inside a bedroom.

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The state rested their side of the capital murder case late on Thursday. Both sides are expected to return Monday afternoon for Coulter's defense lawyers James Stafford and Jimmy Ortiz to challenge the merits of the prosecutors' case.

Who is Brian Coulter?

Coulter is a 34-year-old Houston man accused of beating 8-year-old Kendrick Lee to death in October 2020.

He often used the acronym "F.O.E." on social media. He claimed he was a music producer with F.O.E. productions, which stands for "Family Over Everything."

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It is unclear when he started dating Gloria Williams, Kendrick's mother. She first appeared on his social media accounts in September 2020.

Kendrick was one of Williams' four children living with her in a third-floor apartment unit. Williams' oldest son testified Thursday that Coulter often locked his younger siblings, including Kendrick, in a bedroom.

Gloria Williams, the mother accused of abandoning children at apartment with brothers skeletal remains, is shown in the Harris County 178th Criminal Court of Judge Kelli Johnson after a bail review hearing Friday, Nov. 5, 2021 in Houston. Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

What happened to Kendrick Lee?

Kendrick died in early October, with medical examiner officials attributing his death to homicidal violence. Authorities say two of his brothers saw Coulter punch and kick Kendrick until he stopped moving.

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Coulter covered the body with a blue blanket and left him in the room to decompose for a year, according to testimony. Neither Coulter nor Williams called police to report the death.

A mural shows Kendrick Lee, photographed Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021, at the intersection of Elgin Street and Ennis Street in the Third Ward neighborhood in Houston. Officials allege that Lee was beaten to death and left in an apartment with his abandoned siblings for months. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

What happened after Kendrick's death?

After the boy's death, Coulter and Williams went to live elsewhere, abandoning the surviving three children, according to authorities. Williams would sometimes send junk food to the apartment for them to eat but they were mostly on their own, police said. There were roaches in the house and no power in the weeks leading up to when the oldest boy called the police.

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When police arrived, Kendrick's skeletal remains were found in a closet. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said during an October 2021 press conference the scene was among the most disturbing that homicide investigators had ever seen.

It seemed too horrible to be real, Gonzalez said.

Harris County Sheriff's deputies surround the west Houston apartment complex where three siblings were found, along with the skeletal remains of a fourth. Mark Mulligan

What is Brian Coulter charged with?

Coulter is charged with capital murder, injury to a child causing serious bodily injury and tampering with evidence. He has been jailed since his arrest.

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MORE FROM THIS CASE: How the abandoned brothers in deadly Houston case 'fell through every crack' caused by COVID

Who is the judge?

Judge Kelli Johnson is overseeing the case in the 178th District Court and is placed in the rare position of deciding the verdict in Coulter's case.

She has held that bench since 2016 and has overseen a number of high-profile trials, including Antonio Armstrong Jr. and David Temple.

Why isn't Brian Coulter facing a jury trial?

Coulter waived his right to a jury trial in January, electing instead for a bench trial. A bench trial is a trial where the judge makes the final ruling.

During a January appearance in front of the court, Coulter's lawyers announced Coulter's decision. Jimmy Ortiz, one of Coulter's defense attorneys, said that day the decision was Coulter's.

Bench trials are rare for capital murder trials.

What did the surviving children testify about?

Three children, now ages 10, 12 and 17, testified Thursday in court about Coulter and the living conditions inside the apartment. The judge ordered that the youngest boys testify in a jury room, where their responses were livestreamed into the courtroom for observers and Coulter to watch.

Witnesses said the boys could be traumatized if made to enter a courtroom and lay eyes on Coulter.

The younger children alleged that Coulter killed their sibling, while the teen, who appeared in the courtroom to answer questions, made no such statement. He testified that Coulter often locked the children, him excluded, inside a bedroom.

He said he was relieved when Coulter and their mother, Gloria Williams, moved out of their City Parc II at West Oaks Apartments unit in March 2021, leaving the younger children behind to freely roam the apartment. He cared for the remaining boys for months before finally deciding in October 2021 to call for help.

The 911 call that he made was played in court.

A mural shows Kendrick Lee, photographed Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021, at the intersection of Elgin Street and Ennis Street in the Third Ward neighborhood in Houston. Officials allege that Lee was beaten to death and left in an apartment with his abandoned siblings for months. Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

What happened to Gloria Williams?

Williams is charged with injury to a child by omission, injury to a child causing serious bodily injury and tampering with evidence. She relinquished her parental rights to her living children back in November 2021. The charges are still pending.

Two of her children, who have since been adopted, testified that they no longer remember her name.

She was not called as a witness in Coulter's trial.
Researchers in the UNC-Chapel Hill Chemistry Department are using semiconductors to harvest and convert the suns energy into high-energy compounds that have the potential to produce environmentally friendly fuels.

In the paper, "Methyl Termination of p-Type Silicon Enables Selective Photoelectrochemical CO 2 Reduction by a Molecular Ruthenium Catalyst," published in ACS Energy Letters, the researchers explain how they use a process called methyl termination that uses a simple organic compound of one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms to modify the surface of silicon, an essential component in solar cells, to improve its performance in converting carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide using sunlight.

The research was supported by the Center for Hybrid Approaches in Solar Energy to Liquid Fuels (CHASE), an Energy Innovation Hub funded by the DOE Office of Science, and informed by a process called artificial photosynthesis, which mimics how plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into energy-rich molecules. Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. By converting it to carbon monoxide, which is a less harmful greenhouse gas and a building block for more complex fuels, the researchers said they can potentially mitigate the environmental impact of carbon dioxide emissions.

One challenge with solar energy is that its not always available when we have the highest need for it, said Gabriella Bein, the papers first author and a Ph.D. student in chemistry. Another challenge is that renewable electricity, like that from solar panels, doesnt directly provide the raw materials needed for making chemicals. Our goal is to store solar power in the form of liquid fuels that can be used later.

The researchers used a ruthenium molecular catalyst with a piece of chemically modified silicon, called a photoelectrode, that facilitated the conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide using light energy without producing unwanted byproducts, such as hydrogen gas, making the process more efficient for converting carbon dioxide into other substances.

Jillian Dempsey, a co-author of the paper and Bowman and Gordon Gray Distinguished Term Professor, said that when they ran experiments in a solution filled with carbon dioxide, they found that they could produce carbon monoxide at 87% efficiency, meaning the system using the modified silicon photoelectrodes is comparable or better than systems using traditional metal electrodes, such as gold or platinum.

In addition, the silicon photoelectrode used 460 millivolts less electrical energy to produce a reaction than one would have using only electricity. Dempsey called this significant, because the process uses direct light harvesting to supplement or offset the energy required to drive the chemical reaction that converts carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide.

Whats interesting is normally silicon surfaces make hydrogen gas instead of carbon monoxide, which makes it harder to produce it from carbon dioxide, said Dempsey, who is also deputy director of CHASE. By using this special methyl-terminated silicon surface, we were able to avoid this problem. Modifying the silicon surface makes the process of converting CO 2 into carbon monoxide more efficient and selective, which could be really useful for making liquid fuels from sunlight in the future.

Bein and Dempsey collaborated on the research with Professor Alexander Miller; Eric Assaf, a former graduate student in the department; Senior Research Scientist Renato Sampaio; Madison Stewart, an undergraduate chemistry major; and Senior Research Scientist Stephen Tereniak.
The Cherokee Nation is considering a partnership with Rogers State University for construction of a STEM facility at the universitys main campus in Claremore.
When this woman, 62, was 7-years-old, she and her family moved into a tiny farmhouse they started renting in New Hampton, New York. The house is still there, but now its falling apart. She and her family discovered cobwebs when they moved in, and the floors were grimy.

In the attic, there were tons of items they wanted to get rid of. She and her three sisters were going to share a bedroom, and they found tons of stuff in their room, too.

We found dolls from the 1920s, old newspapers, and even an entire series of Life magazines in pristine condition. All of which they let my mom sell, she said.

She and her family spent several weeks getting rid of the boxes that the previous homeowners left behind. When there was finally more space in the bedroom that she and her sisters would share, they slept on cots.

The room had two windows with no curtains to the right of her cot. One of her sisters slept close to the windows. At night, the moons light shone on the edge of her cot.

One night, she was snuggling under a thin blanket with a thin silk line on the end, struggling to fall asleep. Once she began to drift off to sleep, finally, she heard someone breathing heavily. The sound was coming from someone to her right, near the windows.

It was moving slowly toward me. Assuming it was my sister, I yelled, Knock it off! It went quiet, and I fell asleep. The second night, with my sister sound asleep, the labored breathing began again. It was raspy, desperate, and moving toward me, she explained.

Once again, she sat up in her cot, screamed for her sister to stop, and lay down again. This time, the heavy breathing continued, becoming raspier, more intense, and steadily louder, as if someone was inching closer to her.

Confused, she sat up again, and the moonlight shined right where she heard the heavy breathing coming from. She assumed that one of her sisters was attempting to freak her out, so she again screamed for them to quit it.

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Apologetics in Africa offers resources to both believers and skeptics where the church remains largely unequipped to respond to attacks on their faith.

Illustration by Elizabeth Kaye / Source Images: Wikimedia Commons

For most Africans, there is no dichotomy between sacred and secular realms. While this holistic approach to life has great merits, it can also serve as a sponge, soaking up all kinds of spirituality. Christian apologetics acts as a gate to lock out syncretism and false teachings.

As 1 Peter 3:1516 reminds us, we should be prepared to defend the faith while keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. In other words, apologetics is a gentle conversation about faith, not a fight to be won. Apologetics in Africa: An Introduction offers answers to both believers and skeptics on a continent where Christians remain largely unequipped to respond to attacks on the faith they embrace.

This is by no means the first book on apologetics in Africa, but it is long overdue, distinguished by the diverse authors unique perspectives on selected topics in apologetics. In a continent where the danger of syncretism is very real, effective apologetics is desperately needed, not just as an academic topic but in the daily lives of believers.

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Hailing from Kenya, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nigeria, and Uganda, the contributors to Apologetics in Africa approach Christianity as a faith that has been widely accepted throughout the continent but requires contextualization. These 16 essays on cultural and practical issues give direction for the integration of faith and life in the African Christian church, which has been influenced by African traditional beliefs, colonization, Western thought, and contemporary global trends. (Despite its title, the book primarily speaks to issues in sub-Saharan Africa, and all of its contributors hail from Anglophone countries.)

Christian theology in the African context must be complemented by apologetics, because believers need a faith they can explain. Moreover, faith grows when it is open to examination. Therefore, apologetics can be considered a crucial subset of African theology, and this work rises to the taskeven though it is modestly titled an introduction, as an invitation to further discussion. After all, the task of apologetics never ends.

The historical plot

The Kenyan gospel musician and apologist Reuben Kigame wrote, Christian apologetics has its deepest roots in North Africa. In a way, this book is revisiting the topic of apologetics in Africa after a long hiatus, but with a focus on contemporary issues. Suitably, editor Kevin Muriithi Ndereba, the head of practical theology at St. Pauls University in Kenya, opens Apologetics in Africa by looking back to Augustine, Tertullian, and others who lived in North Africa when the default mode of missions was apologetics.

Ndereba describes apologetics as multidisciplinary and as a beneficiary of other disciplineswhich is an important observation because the questions people ask about faith are not confined to a particular category. When an academic curriculum includes a course on apologetics, it is typically an upper-level course. Thats because students need a strong reservoir of background information to enable interdisciplinary integration in their work on apologetics.

The books arrangement into four issue categories (biblical, philosophical, cultural, and practical) implies the development of a wide-ranging discourse that can guide scholars and others engaging in African apologetics. Of course, biblical issues are a good place to start, because there can be no defense of the Christian faith without a biblical foundation. In that section, Kenyan New Testament scholar Elizabeth Mburus article Is the Bible Reliable? Biblical Criticism and Hermeneutics in Africa is particularly well articulated. Mburus approach combines two perspectivesclassical questions and contextualized hermeneuticsfor the purpose of a believers transformation.

Pertinent doctrinal topics for a diverse Africa

Africa is a diverse continent with 54 countries, more than 3,000 tribes, and enormous variations in cultural beliefs and practices. Accordingly, though African readers may find areas of commonality in this book, they will also need to reflect theologically on their unique interests and contexts in order to engage in apologetics effectively.

In the face of this cultural diversity, it is imperative for African believers to understand some key biblical doctrines to build a firm foundation for their inferences. To me, three doctrines stand out as particularly central. The first is well covered in this book, the other two less so.

Christology

This key topic, especially the person of Christ, does not have close parallels in African traditional belief systems. But as South African theologian Robert Falconer writes in his chapter An African Apologetics for the Resurrection, the historical truth and reliability of Christs resurrection is what makes Christianity worthy of our exclusive affiliation.

In an application of Christology to an African cultural context, Ndereba contributes a chapter on The Doctrine of Christ and Traditional Eldership Rites: mburi cia kiama. Mburi cia kiama can be translated as goats for the council. The term refers to the traditional Gikuyu practice in which a man who has qualified for the status of eldership gives goats to the council of elders.

Ndereba commends this tradition for recognizing the value of mentorship but also raises a dilemma: How should Christians approach the practice? Do African Christians still need to perform animal sacrifices in order to take status and responsibility seriously? How can they align that practice with Christs redemptive sacrifice? The process of contextualization cannot simply imbue African traditional practices with Christian significance, because their meanings may not align.

Christian apologists in Africa should examine their own culture closely and discern appropriate analogies for their setting. However, converts to Christianity should be taught the whole counsel of God even where there are no obvious similarities to their culture.

It is common for authors contextualizing their theology in Africa to highlight aspects of Christology that find similarities in African traditional beliefsmostly the work of Christand shy away from unfamiliar concepts such as the person of Christ. Yet the doctrine of the person of Christ is central to Christianity and attracts key apologetic questions: How can God have a son? Does Christianity have more than one God? How can three gods be one? How can Jesus be both human and God?

When we are explaining the person of Christ, adaptations of or analogies to African traditional beliefs are inadequate and must be referenced with a disclaimer. Here are two examples.

Christ as the ancestor: Christ is often presented in this way in Africa because he is the mediator between Christians and the God of the Bible. But Christ is also God himself, and he is alive, whereas the ancestors are considered the living dead. Furthermore, we can communicate with God through Christ, but communication with or through African ancestors would be considered divination and therefore unbiblical.

Christ as an elder (or elder brother): As Ndereba appropriately explains, the position of an elder in Africa has historically been a significant role. But many of those considered elders today may not attract as much honor as previously; moreover, many in the younger generation are detached from their traditional background and need different analogies they can relate to. Additionally, in African tradition, the elder brother is considered equal to the father, and he takes over the fathers responsibilities in differing degrees depending on the community. But the analogy between Christ and the eldest brother would not be pleasing to all African Christians, as its impact would be influenced by peoples experiences. Many elder brothers are enemies to family progress, and Christ does not fit that description!

Pneumatology

Whereas Christology receives thoughtful treatment throughout the book, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit (pneumatology) does not receive prominent attention in the biblical issues section. It would have been a useful addition, as this doctrine has been abused in church and cultic circles, or sometimes unfortunately neglected.

In some instances, people struggle to discern the difference between demon possession and the power of the Holy Spirit. This problem has made the whole topic of spiritual warfare difficult for most African Christians, and many of them trek from church to church looking for a prophet to rescue them. As a result, these believers are living in bondage, not liberation. There is a pressing need to discuss the person and work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of African believers, so as to distinguish it from the role of demons and other spirits as understood in traditional African beliefs.

Ecclesiology

With regard to the doctrine of the church, important issues arise when African Christians try to align their practices on church ordinances with the ways in which African communities have traditionally recognized rites of passage such as birth, puberty, death, and burial.

One rite of passage this book does scrutinize is marriage, especially the cultural practices involved with it. As Zimbabwean theologian Primrose Muyambo explains in her chapter, African dowry practices (known as lobola) can easily cause Christians to compromise their faith, since marriage is considered a huge milestone in an individuals life and becomes a status symbol within the community.

Although lobola may affirm the value of women, in modern Africa it has become materialistic, often causing bitterness and conflicts. Muyambo points out that parents of educated young women are demanding large amounts of money or expensive items such as houses, water tanks, or cellphones as dowry payments. Due to the high costs, some couples have resorted to cohabitation, despite the churchs opposition. The African church must align this rite of passage with Christian practices so as to help parents adapt and to support young Christian couples who seek to marry.

Similar problems arise around other rites of passage not discussed in this book. Since some church ordinances seem mysterious in their symbolic meaning and could appear to have parallels to traditional African rites of passage, magic, and occultism, addressing these matters is crucial for African apologetics. Church leaders must identify primary areas where compromise of ones faith can occur due to cultural demands and contemporary worldviews, because syncretism is thriving in the African church and creating major apologetics dilemmas. Believers need biblical principles that enable them to know what to discard and what they can appropriately transfer from their culture to Christianity. Ugandan pastor Rodgers Atwebembeires chapter Apologetics and Cults in Africa demonstrates what is happening too often and provides a warning for the danger that Christianity in Africa faces if the church is not established on sound doctrine.

Overall, despite the noted omissions, this book should encourage further research and reflection on practical apologetics issues in Africa. (It would be wonderful if the book also sparked the development of more accessible and affordable apologetics resources as well.) The authors contributions are an antidote to intellectual and emotional barriers to faith, and the contextualizing approach to hermeneutics prepares believers to give an answer for the faith they profess in their contemporary cultural setting.

Agnes Makau is dean of the School of Theology at Scott Christian University in Machakos, Kenya.
It's April, which means Harris County Appraisal District and others in the Houston region are sending notices of appraised value. Eric Kayne, Eric Kayne / For the Chronicle

Its mid-April, which means homeowners across Texas are starting to receive notices of their propertys new appraised value in the mail.

As a state without income tax, Texas relies heavily on property taxes. Rising home values result in rising tax payments later, and one way to save money is to protest the appraisal value with the county appraisal district.

Is it worthwhile to protest your appraisal value? Are there any drawbacks? Heres what Houston-area experts have to say.

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Details to know before you protest

Theres no penalty for filing, even if your protest is not successful.

Property owners can feel confident that if they submit a notice of protest, it wont come back on them negatively, said Rex Wogan, director of communication and outreach for the Fort Bend County Appraisal District.

DO YOU NEED HELP? How to hire a firm to help you protest your property taxes

Its very important to be honest.

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Honest homeowners have nothing to risk by protesting, said Jim Robinson, former Harris Central Appraisal District chief appraiser and current member of the HCAD board of directors. Lying or falsifying information is a third-degree felony.

If you plan to sell your home, its possible for a lower appraised value to affect the selling price.

The sales prices of homes are supposed to be determined by the market value, not tax values, said Patti Lacy, a realtor with 35 years experience in Texas. But if youre thinking of selling, Lacy recommends not protesting your appraisal.

She said shes often seen inexperienced buyers or agents conflate the market value and the county appraised value, making it harder for a seller to make a profit on their home.

If I were selling my house, I would not bother to protest, she said.

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File a homestead exemption first

In the 2023 legislative session, lawmakers passed the largest property tax cut in Texas history.

As part of the $18 billion package, Texas issued a homestead exemption, which caps the amount that property taxes may be increased to 10 percent for homeowners, said Robinson.

Lacy recommends filing that exemption before protesting taxes for instant savings. Shes seen increases by as much as 35 percent this year, she said, and if homeowners file an exemption, the 10 percent cap makes a significant difference.

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You can file that exemption anytime, and it really matters, Lacy said. Ive seen people who faced losing their home due to increased taxes, but by filing the exemption, that 10 percent cap brought them back down.

As a result of the higher exemption, said HCAD chief appraiser Roland Altinger, his district anticipates that fewer homeowners will find it necessary to protest their taxes.

Consider what you could get credit for

Appraisal districts weigh some home issues stronger than others, Wogan said, and the best way to assess issues that might affect home value is to look at your home from the perspective of a potential buyer.

What would a potential buyer be interested in getting credit for? he said. Maybe theres a foundation issue, maybe its a roof issue, maybe theres cracks in the walls, maybe theres some extreme deferred maintenance. These are the kinds of things you would want to bring up with the review board.

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Altinger recommends asking a real estate agent for a comparative market analysis of homes that have recently sold in order to better assess the homes value.

When presenting to the review board, Wogan recommends keeping the presentation short and concise while providing photographic evidence to support your claims.

Bring a list, have some bullet points and have some supporting documents for each of your bullet points, he said. Dont belabor each point. Make your point and then move on to your next point.

Find out if you have to go in person

Larger counties like Harris County offer online services, but most other counties require in-person protests.

Homeowners must first research their options for filing, as it varies from county to county, said Rex Wogan, director of communication and outreach for the Fort Bend County Appraisal District.

How property appraisals are calculated

There are about 7,000 residential neighborhoods in Harris County, Altinger said, and appraisers evaluate them all. To calculate values, appraisers consider the condition and amenities of the property, and they factor those against comparable homes that have sold as of Jan. 1.

With so many homes to value, he said, errors can occur.

You cannot appraise 1.9 million parcels and not have errors, and thats why we have due process rights for the property owner to bring to our attention where we might have made a mistake, Altinger said.

The right to protest taxes is written in the Texas Constitution, Robinson said, and he encourages anyone who feels their property is miscalculated to protest the inaccuracies.
Ever questioned your worth or value? Hear how pastor Jerome Gay has come to understand his mission of pointing others to the God who truly and freely provides these things.

Have you ever searched for your love and worth in the wrong places? Pastor Jerome Gay will be the first one to tell you he has. When his fatherthe person who should have been helping him define these thingswas not able to provide what he needed, Jerome began searching elsewhere. Through twists and turns, Jerome finally found the One who freely loves himand all of uswith no strings or conditions. And that love has been the fuel for his mission to train up others to grow, teach, and preach the truth of the gospel that makes each one of us whole.

Guest Bio:

Jerome Gay Jr. was raised in southeast Washington, DC, before moving to Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1997 to attend Saint Augustines College, graduating with a bachelor of arts in communications. While there, he founded a campus-wide ministry that emphasized the gospel and biblical orthodoxy in the urban context, resulting in the decision of many students to profess Christ as Savior.

Upon graduating, Jerome served as an elder for several years. After fervent prayer, he was led to plant Vision Church in Raleigh in October 2010. He is now the lead pastor of teaching and vision, and Vision Church has grown by Gods grace to impact the inner city by missionally engaging people with the gospel of Jesus Christ through discipleship, leadership development, service, and holistic empowerment. Jerome has a vision to see gospel-centered churches and leaders raised within the urban context and sent out to plant other gospel-centered churches.

Jerome is also founder and president of The Urban Perspective and author of four books, Church Hurt: Holding the Church Accountable and Helping Hurt People Heal, Talking to Your Children About Race, The Whitewashing of Christianity: A Hidden Past, a Hurtful Present and a Hopeful Future and Renewal: Grace and Redemption in the Story.

Jerome is the proud husband to his wife Crystal and father of two.

Notes & Quotes:

Uncertainty is what makes you walk by faith and not by sight.

I believe you most aptly understand Gods will in hindsight. He knows the end from the beginning. We dont. We're living it.

My contention for the church is were saying that theres one way, which I concur, that theres one God, I concur, and that theres one book. Again, I concur. Were saying that thats just one book for 8 billion people. If were going to make that claim, and we are, we need to be able to defend it. We should not make that claim that theres one book for 8 billion people and not be able to answer questions.

We must stop giving faith-based answers to fact-based questions.

We want to come back to that gospel foundation so that we can have men that are mentally, emotionally, and relationally well and whole.

Links Mentioned:

Verses Mentioned:
Home Books Christian expert on near-death experiences reveals 1 thing they all have in common

For over three decades, John Burke has studied thousands of near-death experiences (NDEs) and discovered a striking commonality among them all: Every individual, regardless of their religious background, experiences the God of the Bible.

I interviewed 70 people on every continent, and found that they all encountered the same God; it didn't matter their culture, ethnicity or religious background. God is the God of all nations, Burke told The Christian Post.

Burke, who with his wife, Kathy, founded Gateway Church, a multisite church based in Austin, Texas, recounts some of these stories in his book,Imagine the God of Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Revelation and the Love You've Always Wanted, from that of a Hindu engineer who encounters a "brilliant god of lightning" to a nurse in Brownsville who is told by Jesus Himself to spread the message of love and redemption.

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These stories, Burke said, are part of his broader argument that NDEs are God's "new global apologetic," intended to affirm His existence, the reality of the afterlife and His desire for a relationship with every person.

They all say, I never wanted to leave His presence and of all the beauty I experienced, all of these great reunions with people I love who've gone on before me, nothing could compare to just being in this presence, Burke said.

He clarified that while every individual encounters the God of the Bible during an NDE, he is not suggesting they will end up in Heaven. Burke said he doesn't believe these people are experiencing an entrance into eternity or a tunnel of death, rather, theyre encountering something in between.

This can confuse some Christians, he said. But I like to remind them that the Apostle Paul was not a believer in Jesus, he was arresting Christians and having them jailed and killed when the same God of brilliant light appeared to him on the Damascus Road in Acts 9. When Paul asks, Who are you, Lord? He says, I'm Jesus. But Jesus didn't tell him what to do and He didn't explain the message of the Gospel to him.

I believe God is saying to the world, I'm real. Heaven is real. Hell is real. And I love every person from every nation, I want you to be my child through what I did through Jesus, so you can turn your heart back to me and be made right with me.

Once an agnostic engineer, Burke's quest for truth began in the most personal of settings  a hospital room, beside his dying father. It was there, amid the struggle of impending loss, he said, that he encountered the first seeds of what would become a lifelong investigation into the evidence of an afterlife and the reality of God.

Over the last 35 years, I've just had this insatiable curiosity to figure out, OK, what are these near-death experiences, and how do they sit with what the Bible's been saying all along? he said.

Imagine the God of Heaven, endorsed by Lee Strobel, Carey Nieuwhof and medical doctors, is a follow-up to Burkes New York Times bestselling book Imagine Heaven, which has sold more than 1 million copies.

His latest book, he told CP, is the culmination of three decades of meticulous research and addresses common misconceptions and questions about the authenticity of NDEs  especially when some accounts have been widely discredited.

For the book, he underwent a rigorous analysis of experiences reported by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including medical professionals like spine surgeons and anesthesiologists, who, according to Burke, "have a lot to lose by making up wild crazy stories about going in and seeing Jesus."

"What I'm trying to show is not the one-offs but the commonalities," he said.

These near-death experiences, Burke contends, offer not just insights into the afterlife but also profound implications for the current life of a believer.

As evil increases, God tends to increase His testimony on Earth, and I think He's doing the same thing today, he said. What I'm trying to do is show how that aligns with the Scriptures to convince the skeptics but also to help Christians see what God is really like.

We all put God in a box to some degree because we're finite, he added. And yet the truth is, God is way more mysterious and glorious, beautiful, grand and sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient than we can imagine. But what does that mean? And how does it affect us today? God is also enjoyable, personable, relatable and fun. Yet, Christians don't often think that. I'm trying to show, This is in the Scriptures, but it's also what these people experience.

However, Burke cautioned against forming theological beliefs solely on the basis of NDEs, noting the risk of encountering "questionable" accounts as they gain popularity. Instead, he differentiated what people report from their personal interpretations, influenced by their cultural and religious backgrounds.

For instance, Burke recounted the story of Nia, a teenager from Africa, who, following a near-death experience, described encountering a being of light she identified as the goddess Durga, despite the experience closely mirroring the Christian understanding of God.

I don't think we shouldn't get our theology of the afterlife or of God from near-death experiences alone, he said. I honestly think that's very dangerous. The more popular NDEs get, the more you are going to see questionable ones pop up. Even though this person may have had a valid experience and what they're reporting may be accurate, they come back and they interpret what they saw in their own worldview.

As the world grapples with questions of spiritual reality and the afterlife, Burke said he hopes his book serves as a timely contribution to the ongoing conversation and invites readers of all backgrounds to explore the possibility of a love and a life beyond this one.

The same God hasn't just shown up in our age of modern medical resuscitation and near-death experiences; this is the same that God has been revealing Himself through the Jewish prophets and through Jesus and put incredible evidence in history, Burke said. The Scriptures need to be the interpretive key to near-death experiences, not the other way around.

Imagine the God of Heaven is now available.
Home News Florida pastor murdered by man he allowed to live at church

The suspect accused of fatally stabbing a South Florida pastor multiple times was temporarily living at the church before an argument allegedly broke out that resulted in the murder of the local ministry leader.

Antwane Lenoir was the 41-year-old pastor of the Westview Baptist Church in Miami, a role that he held for 15 years.

As CBS News Miami reported Monday, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue discovered Lenoirs body on Saturday with multiple stab wounds in his neck. On the day of the murder, the pastor had called a locksmith to change several of the churchs door locks, and an argument eventually ensued between Lenoir and the suspect, James Dawkins.

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The 44-year-old suspect had been permitted to temporarily live at the church, according to CBS Miami. As the pair argued, the confrontation escalated after Dawkins allegedly stabbed Lenoir multiple times before fleeing the scene.

Authorities found the suspect the next day and took him into custody, and Dawkins currently faces a first-degree murder charge. CBS News Miami reported that the police stated that Dawkins gave a "self-serving" statement during questioning that "was determined not to be consistent with the evidence obtained throughout the course of the investigation."

On Thursday, the murdered pastors wife of two decades, Bree, spoke with CBS News Miami's Tania Francois. The couple had four children together between the ages of 13 and 20, and the widow told the outlet that she never learned how to live her life without Lenoir.

"He was a very good example of a selfless individual, a joy-filled person, Bree said about her late husband. He always smiled, even if things were looking kind of grim or dreary, you wouldn't know it by his countenance."

According to CBS News Miami, the suspect in Lenoirs murder was in court Monday morning on murder charges. The pastors widow told the outlet that she wants people, including her children, to remember Lenoir for the life that he lived.

"His life is not when it ended. It's not even about when it started. It's about what he did in between to make his life count, she said.

The widow expressed gratitude for the support she has received from the community, which she told the outlet has helped to keep her strong. Regarding her four children, Bree acknowledged that they have had their moments in the wake of their fathers death, and she expects things to be this way indefinitely.

But, they remember their dad as the guy that when he comes, he'll play games with them, he'll, you know, text in the house when he was funny about texting in the house, the mother said.

Earlier this year, The Christian Post reported on the Grace Point Church community mourning the death of Pastor Nick Davi after his murder at the hands of a neighbor in December. The suspect in the case, Joe Junio, was arrested at the scene of the crime.

Junio reportedly shot Davi on Dec. 29, 2023, as the pastors family was in the process of temporarily leaving their home due to a dispute with the neighbor in question. Before the fatal shooting, the neighbor allegedly threw rocks at the Davis faces and on their property, and reports were made with the homeowners' association.

During a December service, Pastor Ty Neal of Grace Point Church addressed Davis death ahead of a memorial service for the ministry leader. Neal told the congregation, We lost a brother. We lost a pastor, and we lost a friend.

It doesnt feel real. It just feels like this is a bad dream in which we will wake up to and Nick will be there, he added.
Home News Idaho passes law protecting school employees who refuse to use trans pronouns

Idaho Gov. Brad Little has signed into law a measure designed to prevent public school employees from losing their jobs for referring to trans-identified students by names and pronouns aligned with their biological sex as opposed to their stated gender identity.

Little, a Republican, signed House Bill 538 into law Monday. The law seeks to "ensure that no person in the State of Idaho is compelled by any governmental entity in the State of Idaho to communicate statements that such citizen believes to be false."

The measure passed in the Republican-controlled Idaho House of Representatives in a party-line 58-11 vote and the Republican-controlled Idaho Senate in a 25-9 vote last week.

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While all Democrats in both the Idaho House and Senate voted against the bill, two Republican senators broke from their party to join Democrats in opposing it. The legislation, set to take effect on July 1, implements "a prohibition on any governmental entity in the State of Idaho from compelling any public employee or public school student to communicate preferred personal titles and pronouns that do not correspond with the biological sex of the individual seeking to be referred to by such titles or pronouns."

The bill declares that "a government employee, regardless of the scope of such employee's official duties, shall not be subject to adverse employment action for declining to" refer to trans-identified individuals by their preferred pronouns and a name that does not correspond to their biological sex.

The bill's protections extend to employees of public schools and public institutions of higher education. Students at such educational institutions are protected from "adverse disciplinary action" for declining to address people by names and pronouns that do not match their biological sex.

The measure prohibits public school employees from "knowingly and intentionally [addressing] an unemancipated minor student by a name other than the student's legal name or a derivative thereof, or by a preferred personal title or pronoun that is inconsistent with the student's sex, without the written permission of the student's parent or guardian."

Individuals who do face adverse action for declining to refer to trans-identified people by their preferred name and pronouns despite the new law are given "a private cause of action for injunctive relief" provided that they seek legal recourse within two years of the violation of the measure taking place.

"No one should lose their job or face punishment at school for declining to say something they believe is false," Matt Sharp, senior counsel with the conservative religious freedom legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, said in a statement Tuesday.

"Forcing individuals to say things that are untrue  such as inaccurate names, pronouns, and titles  imposes real harm on the speaker."

"In no world is it acceptable for schools to force good teachers out of a job all for the sake of promoting gender ideology to vulnerable children," he added. "Now and always, there are only two sexesmale and femaleand denying this basic truth only hurts kids. With this legislation, Idaho is rightfully stepping into the gap to protect children and freedom of conscience."

Sen. Mary Shea, a Democrat opponent of the bill, believes the law will make Idaho subject to more litigation.

"This language  it may seem harmless to you. It's going to be cannon fodder for the litigation that's already filed against Idaho," Shea said, according to The Idaho Capitol Sun. "It also could be a new civil rights case the first time an Idaho citizen is denied rights or privileges because of these definitions."

"And they will be struck down," she continued. "If you're treating people unequally, they will be struck down."

Sen. Dan Foreman, a Republican supporter of the bill, contends the measure is common sense.

"The seminal documents of most major religions profess that the almighty created two sexes, two genders  whatever you want to call it," he said, according to The Capitol Sun. "This bill supports that conclusion."

Teachers have faced disciplinary action in other parts of the country for declining to refer to trans-identified students by their preferred names and pronouns. In Kansas, middle school math teacher Pamela Ricard was suspended for referring to a trans-identified female student by her given name and using female pronouns to address her.

A lawsuit challenging Ricard's suspension identified the teacher as a devout Christian who "holds sincere religious beliefs consistent with the traditional Christian and biblical understanding of the human person and biological sex."

In Virginia, French teacher Peter Vlaming was fired for declining to address a trans-identified female student with a male name and pronouns due to his religious beliefs about gender and sexuality. In California, students were suspended for "misgendering" a trans-identified teacher.
Home News Trump draws criticism, praise from pro-life groups after releasing his abortion stance

Pro-life advocacy groups are offering differing reactions after presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump suggested that abortion laws should be decided on a state-by-state basis as the issue remains at the forefront of American politics.

Trump posted a video to Truth Social early Monday outlining his campaigns position on the issue of abortion. He began by promising that under my leadership, the Republican Party will always support the creation of strong, thriving and healthy American families, adding, We want to make it easier for mothers and families to have babies, not harder.

After expressing support for in-vitro fertilization in every state in America, he described Democrats as radical on the issue of abortion because they support abortion up to and even beyond the ninth month of pregnancy. He criticized the concept of having an abortion in the later months as unacceptable before proclaiming that whatever individual states decide on the issue of abortion must be the law of the land in each particular state.

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Many states will be different, he predicted. Many will have a different number of weeks or some will have more conservative [laws] than others.

After stating his belief that this is all about the will of the people, he thanked the United States Supreme Court justices who authored the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision reversing the Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide for having the courage to allow this long-term, hard-fought battle to finally end. He called on states to do the right thing and stressed his support for allowing abortions in cases of rape and incest as well as instances in which the mother is facing a medical emergency.

In a statement on Monday, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said, We are deeply disappointed in President Trumps position.

Insisting that unborn children and their mothers deserve national protection and national advocacy from the brutality of the abortion industry, Dannenfelser maintained that the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision clearly allows both states and Congress to act.

She added: Saying the issue is back to the states cedes the national debate to the Democrats who are working relentlessly to enact legislation mandating abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy. If successful, they will wipe out states rights.

Dannenfelser vowed that leading up to the 2024 presidential election, SBA Pro-Life America and the pro-life grassroots will work tirelessly to defeat President [Joe] Biden and extreme congressional Democrats.

In a statement shared with The Christian Post, March for Life President Jeanne Mancini agreed with Dannenfelser that there remains an urgent need to advocate for the unborn at the federal level. She expressed concern that pro-abortion politicians relentlessly work to enact federal legislation like the deceptively titled Womens Health Protection Act which would cancel every [states] ability to limit abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, and erases existing pro-life protections for vulnerable women and children nationwide.

If they have their way, the whole nation will go the way of the seven states and [Washington, D.C.] that already allow abortion for any reason, at any time during pregnancy, she warned. The overwhelming majority of European nations reject such barbaric policies with minimum protections for children after the first trimester. We as a nation need to work toward federal minimum protections for the unborn, and advocate for policies that support pregnant women and families in need.

On the other hand, the Faith & Freedom Coalition shared a statement with The Christian Post proclaiming, We appreciate his statement re-affirming his pro-life convictions.

The organization also praised Trump as the most pro-life president in American history who kept his promise to appoint the conservative federal judges, which gave us the opportunity after a half-century of struggle to protect the unborn.

The Faith & Freedom Coalition further outlined its plans to continue to work for the passage of legislation at the state and federal level to protect as many children as we can and contact tens of millions of voters of faith to educate them on where the candidates stand, including Joe Bidens support for abortion on demand as a form of birth control, paid for with tax dollars.

The advocacy group asserted that Biden and the far Left are the real extremists, and their radical position on abortion is not only morally repugnant but is way outside [the] mainstream.

In a statement shared with The Christian Post, National Right to Life President Carol Tobias used Trumps campaign statement on abortion as an opportunity to remind people that in his first term, President Trump demonstrated extraordinary leadership and delivered historic results on behalf of vulnerable unborn children and their mothers. She also expressed gratitude to Trump for ensuring that the wrongly decided Roe v. Wade was abandoned to the garbage heap of history.

Thanks to President Trump, the American people and their elected representatives on the state and federal levels now have greater authority to determine abortion policy and pass meaningful protections for unborn children and their mothers. Efforts on the federal level include undoing pro-abortion policies enacted by Joe Biden based on a wish list of the abortion industry.

Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins released a statement rejoicing that Trump did not embrace the push by some pro-life organizations and lawmakers to come out in favor of a 15-week abortion ban.

Im pleased to see that President Trump listened to pro-lifers and isnt going to allow a divisive late-term limit that some GOP insiders [had] been pushing, which would have embraced more than 9 in 10 abortions, to be a distraction from Joe Bidens abortion extremism, she remarked.

Hawkins added, We clearly have some work to do to educate the GOP on the lawlessness of a predatory IVF industry, whose own sloppiness has caused the painful headlines we all have seen.

Despite having some disagreement with Trumps views on abortion, Hawkins said her organization can work with an administration preparing to welcome the next generation, rather than fast-tracking their deaths by abortion.
Home News Christian school cancels autism week after pastor calls activities 'demonic'

In Florida, a private Christian school's decision to cancel Autism Awareness Week after the school's pastor claimed such an event is "idolatry and demonic" has sparked backlash from parents vowing to pull their kids out.

Trinity Christian Academy in the Lake Worth Beach area, affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of God denomination, faced backlash after Pastor Matt Baker announced the cancellation of the week's activities in a March 30 email to families.

Baker argued that these events led students to prioritize identities over their faith in Jesus Christ. The planned activities, similar to previous years, included themed dress-up days aimed at raising autism awareness.

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"The word 'Christian' means 'Like Christ,' and it was given to the followers of Christ because they acted just like Jesus," Baker wrote in his email message.

"Remember those bracelets from the 2000s that asked, 'WWJD?' If Jesus Christ led Trinity, would HE have an Autism Awareness Week? Of course not! Why? Because anything that exalts itself above the name of Christ should be brought down. Also, anything that teaches our children to have their identity in anything other than Christ is idolatry and demonic."

"Let me repeat myself just so I am not quoted out of context," he continued, "any philosophy, teaching, or program that teaches our precious children that their identity is found in anything other than Christ is idolatry and demonic. Period."

The pastor's stance has led to significant unrest among parents, with some considering withdrawing their children from the school.

Vanessa Francisco, a parent of an autistic adult and a daughter at the school, called on the school's board of directors to condemn his message as disgraceful and ignorant, The Palm Beach Post reports.

"That email felt like an unprovoked attack on my family. A slap to the face I never saw coming and from our Pastor of all people," she was quoted as writing to school leaders. "How can we continue to allow someone so grossly ignorant to preach to our children, to educate our children in any capacity? His hatred for the autistic and disabled community is so enormously obvious, that I can not stand by and just accept what (Baker) tells me."

Andrea Gallik, a parent of an autistic child at Trinity, told WPTV that she will pull her kids out of the school.

"I feel like my heart stops beating because not once but twice (in his email message) he (Baker) says that wearing this title of autism is demonic," Gallik told the outlet. "And my mouth was on the floor. I'm offended as a Christian because I feel that he is using the Bible for his own interpretation. And his interpretation is offensive. Not just to my son but to any child, adult afflicted with autism. Breaks my heart. It breaks my heart."

"Miles [her son] has started saying he doesn't belong in his class, and I just tell him that God made him perfectly," she said. "And this was a plan all along, and we just have to walk in it and know he's a smart boy and everyone who meets him loves him."

Following the backlash, Baker doubled down on his position in a statement sent to The Palm Beach Post.

"[T]he teachings of Christ are more than sufficient for ministering to all our precious children," he wrote. "[T]here were moral aspects of this initiative that were diametrically opposed to the teachings of Christ."

The pastor didn't detail the "moral aspects" of the initiative in question but stated that administrators have "recently been going through our school calendar and canceling and reframing activities and events to align with our Christian Worldview."

The school, serving over 400 students, also canceled its Easter egg hunt, he said.

A teacher's aide has also been dismissed for sharing the pastor's email on social media, WPTV confirmed.
Home News Florida woman claims God told her to shoot drivers because of eclipse: police

A woman was arrested Monday in Florida for allegedly shooting at motorists on the interstate, which she reportedly claimed was at God's direction because of the solar eclipse.

Taylon Nichelle Celestine, 22, shot randomly at drivers on Interstate 10 in Holmes County while careening down the highway in a purple Dodge Challenger with Georgia plates, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Within 5 miles of getting onto the interstate approximately 115 miles from the Alabama border, Celestine grazed one motorist when she fired multiple shots into the victim's window, police said.

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The victim, who was also struck with glass from the shattered window, was able to steer away from Celestine by moving to the shoulder of the highway.

As she drove west, Celestine allegedly shot another driver in the neck, who was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital, where the victim was treated for injuries.

Responding to reports of an active shooter, Florida Highway Patrol troopers said they conducted a felony traffic stop at around the 96-mile mark, where they conducted a search of Celestine's car and found a 9mm handgun and an AR-15.

Celestine was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Holmes County Jail, where she was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and improper discharge of a firearm, according to police.

Authorities later learned that as she was checking out of a local hotel, Celestine told staff that she was about to embark on a shooting spree because God told her to in relation to Monday's solar eclipse.

The Florida Highway Patrol Bureau of Investigations and Intelligence (BCII) is conducting an ongoing investigation.

Florida was not in the eclipse's path of totality Monday, though people in the state could see a partial eclipse. Experts did not warn of an increased crime risk because of the eclipse, but cautioned that it could lead to an increase in fatal car crashes, according to CBS News.
Home News 'Gender Queer' tops list of most challenged library books: American Library Association

LGBT-themed books, some of which promote pedophilia and sexual experimentation to young readers, were among the literature most challenged by complaints demanding that they be banned, according to the American Library Association.

In a report released Monday listing the 10 most-challenged library books of 2023, the ALA found that most of the entries were challenged on the basis of them including lewd content, including graphic depictions of sex acts and sexual promiscuity that raised numerous concerns among parents.

No. 1 on the list of most challenged books was Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, a 2019 graphic memoir that has garnered backlash for its sexually explicit content, including teen boys having oral sex, the use of a sex toy, and a gender-confused girl wearing a breast binder, among other depictions that are too graphic to mention in this article.

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Coming in at No. 2 was All Boys Arent Blue by George M. Johnson, and in third place was This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson, both of which received complaints over containing sexually explicit and LGBT content.

The remaining entries, from fourth to tenth place, included The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, over concerns of being sexually explicit and LGBT content, including rape, drugs and profanity; Flamer by Mike Curato, over concerns about LGBT and sexually explicit content; The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, over concerns about rape, incest, sexually explicit content and diversity content; a seventh-place tie between Tricks by Ellen Hopkins and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews; Let's Talk About It by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan over LGBT and sexually explicit content; and Sold by Patricia McCormick, over concerns about sexually explicit content and rape.

ALA President Emily Drabinski contended in the report that it's obvious that the pressure groups are targeting books about LGBTQIA+ people and people of color.

At ALA, we are fighting for the freedom to choose what you want to read. Shining a light on the harmful workings of these pressure groups is one of the actions we must take to protect our right to read, Drabinski stated.

In recent years, the ALA has garnered controversy for its opposition to banning books that contain explicit material, with many arguing that the institution is effectively defending pornographic books.

Last year, state libraries in Montana, Missouri and Texas severed ties with the ALA, with state lawmakers in several other states championing similar measures, The Washington Post reported.

Alabama state Rep. Susan DuBose argued for a similar law in her state, writing in an opinion piece last year that the ALA has long been a conduit to allow libraries across the country to bring in pornographic and age-inappropriate books, fight against internet filters that block porn access, and resist concerns from residents who want libraries to represent local community standards and protect children.

Alabamians do not need their local library policies to be influenced by a national organization led by a Marxist, wrote DuBose. Our local libraries should not select books based upon recommendations by an association that does not share our community values.
Home News Moses docuseries ranks among Netflix's top 10; producers say viewers find 'meaning' in Bible stories

"Testament: The Story of Moses, a three-part docuseries about the Old Testament hero Moses, has ranked among the top 10 most popular series on Netflix since its release in March.

Launched on Netflix on March 27, the series has remained among the top 10 most-watched series  including hitting the No. 1 spot  ever since. Other top 10 series include big-budget mainstream dramas like The Gentlemen and reality shows, including Buying Beverly Hills: Season 2.

The docuseries, narrated by Charles Dance, features perspectives from Muslims and Christian leaders, along with Jewish rabbis and experts, to delve into the background and history of Moses.

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Showrunners previously told The Christian Post they wanted to shed light on the inner life and personal struggles of the iconic biblical figure  elements often overshadowed in traditional retellings of his story  to spark meaningful conversations about the human condition.

I think of Prince of Egypt or Ten Commandments, and those are all great films, but it seems like Moses is almost presented as superhuman, Kelly McPherson, executive producer of the series, told CP.

Put yourself in his shoes; there's a burning bush and it tells you to go do something which is virtually impossible to do. We liked the idea of, How did he find the wherewithal to do this? Obviously, he was inspired by God, but how did he find the courage to do this? We liked the fact that he was a person with flaws; he had to overcome a lot and what was, by many accounts, a tragic childhood. We liked making him more human. He does things that are super heroic, yes, but there was a side of him that was very, very human and very, very flawed at the same time.

The opening episode, "The Prophet," explores the beginnings of Moses as a royal member of the Egyptian court and his subsequent escape to Midian after slaying an Egyptian overseer. In the second episode, "The Plagues," the narrative follows Moses as he attempts to convince the Pharaoh to free the Hebrew slaves, leading to a sequence of divine retributions inflicted on the Pharaoh's kingdom. The third installment, "The Promised Land," concentrates on the lead-up to Moses receiving the Ten Commandments.

Throughout this series, dramatizations bring to life key moments from Moses' story, such as his divine encounter at the burning bush, his miraculous transformation of a staff into a serpent, and his life with his wife, Zipporah.

The series incorporates viewpoints from different faith traditions, with a particular emphasis on Moses' prophetic link to Jesus Christ, a point frequently highlighted by Tom Kang, the lead pastor of NewStory Church in Los Angeles, California.

Reactions to the series have been mixed among the faith community. One Christian critic took issue with the creative liberties taken by the series, while another accused showrunners of glossing over significant differences of opinion the three Abrahamic religions  Christianity, Judaism and Islam  hold regarding Moses.

Others, however, have applauded the show for introducing important conversations about the Old Testament figure and highlighting often-overlooked elements of his life and relationship with God.

Testament: The Story of Moses comes amid a renewed interest in faith-based projects, particularly those dramatizing biblical stories, as demonstrated by the success of The Chosen.

Commenting on this trend, Sahin pointed out that throughout history, people revisit Bible stories to seek understanding, interpretation and inspiration, especially during times of societal or personal upheaval.

Bible stories are the foundation of so much of humanity and society, he said. We go through chapters in humanity and each successive one tries to understand, interpret or be inspired by Bible stories. I think were going through another one of those right now, whether that's triggered by kind of a state of the world or a growing movement.

Through these stories, we also understand the world we live in better and ourselves. We're at one of those periods where we're all seeking meaning in the life we're living  and [the Bible] is one of the first places you turn to, trying to find meaning in these stories, meaning in our own lives.
JSX, a public charter company, took sweepstakes winners, high school students in a STEM program and journalists on a flight to view the eclipse in Texas. Courtesy JSX flight attendant Heather Kuhn Shuman JSX, a public charter company, took sweepstakes winners, high school students in a STEM program and journalists on a flight to view the eclipse in Texas. Andrea Leinfelder/Houston Chronicle

The Embraer ERJ-145 flew above the first layer of puffy clouds. Then it climbed higher above a layer of wispy ones.

The 30 passengers on the JSX flight escaped the weather that worried so many other eclipse viewers across Texas. The plane departed Dallas Love Field a little after 1 p.m. and flew northeast along the path of totality, waiting for the moons shadow to overtake their ride.

SEE MORE: Photos from the total solar eclipse in Texas

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But the passengers  a mix of sweepstakes winners, high school students in a STEM program and journalists  would have their own challenges viewing the celestial show. The sky darkened and outside the windows it looked like dawn or dusk. With the sun straight overhead, the plane banked from side to side at 45-degree angles to get a view.

Yet the moon-sun interaction wasnt immediately visible. Passengers had to sink onto the floor, contort their bodies or crane their necks to catch a glimpse of the suns corona  the outermost atmosphere that is only visible as a halo of light when the moon completely blocks the sun.

Some passengers saw it and marveled at its beauty, happy for a glimpse no matter what position they had to take. Others didnt see it at all.

Air traffic control was inundated with planes along the path of totality, said Alex Wilcox, CEO of JSX, a public charter company that allows customers to book seats on point-to-point destinations. Delta Airlines had special eclipse flights, Southwest Airlines advertised flights that were likely to offer views and many private planes took to the sky. Wilcox didnt want to charge for the JSX flight, which he hoped would have had more airspace to maneuver.

RELATED: Texas reactions to solar eclipse include many Houstonians upset over cloudy conditions

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We knew it was going to be a challenge with the sun up high, said Wilcox, who was aboard the flight and said he was still moved by the experience. Just watching everything go dark and the sun rise in the west, Id never seen that before.

Many of the passengers were also happy with the experience. The flight was affectionately dubbed the Solar Express and offered special drinks including the solar sunset spritz and the eclipse elixir. Freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches, dubbed astronaut food, and Moon Cheese gouda cheese bites were offered to passengers on the nearly two-hour flight. Everyone had a window seat.

And flight attendant Heather Kuhn Shuman brought the humor: How does a barber cut his hair today? He eclipse it.

Aubrey Cowart, of Coppell, celebrated her 41st birthday on the flight and described it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Her friend, who won the ticket in a sweepstakes, brought Cowart along.

I did see it, she said. It was beautiful.

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PLAN FOR NEXT TIME: Did you miss the total solar eclipse? Here's your next chance.

Maegan Moore of Granbury brought her 9-year-old son Davis, who is really into space and astronauts.

He was just looking out the window the whole time, she said. He was pretty in awe.

Frank Jackson and his daughter Holly Jackson didnt see the eclipse. They enjoyed the experience created by JSX and thought it was interesting to see the plane succumb to darkness.

But Frank Jackson saw an eclipse from the ground in 1979 and said that was probably the better way to view the spectacle.

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Heather Buck, of Magnolia, didnt see the eclipse either. But she believes the experience was better than what she would have had at home. The Houston area was not in the path of totality and had a bad weather forecast.
Home News 'Rocker' priest dies from severe burns after his vestments catch fire during Easter vigil

Father Javier Sanchez of Spain's Archdiocese of Zaragoza has died from burns he suffered when his liturgical vestments caught fire from a candle while he took part in an Easter vigil. He was 60.

The archdiocese announced Sanchez's death last Thursday, saying that many are in mourning. He served as the parish priest of St. Gregorio Church, counselor of the Brotherhood of Humility and a chaplain of the convent of the Franciscan Conceptionists of the Santa Isabel neighborhood.

Sources in the archdiocese reported that the priest attempted "to protect the nuns of the convent," according to the regional daily newspaper El Heraldo de Aragon.

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"The priest tried to protect the nuns of the convent when the ember burned in the bowl that was used and that ultimately caused his death," the source told the newspaper, according to Google Translate. "Apparently a flammable substance had been used in the burning. The [Easter] celebration took place in the interior of the convent."

The fire burned 50% of his body, according to diocesan sources cited by El Heraldo de Aragon, and he was rushed to Miguel Servet Hospital, where he succumbed to his burns and died.

Sanchez's funeral took place last Friday. The Archbishop of Zaragoza Carlos Escribano presided over the mass, followed by a farewell ceremony at the parish in the Santa Isabel neighborhood.

Those who knew the pastor expressed sentiments of grief.

The Brotherhood of Humility's Zaragoza chapter expressed its "deepest condolences and support to his entire family" on Facebook.

"May the humility of God and the sweetness of Mary shelter you in heaven. Rest in peace. We will never forget you, Javi. Care for us in glory," the brotherhood wrote.

The deceased priest is also remembered as a "good friend" and a "rocker," referring to his love of music.

In 2015, El Heraldo de Aragon reported that Sanchez had previously talked about his musical career, recording at least three albums, with the third album having over 23 songs.

"People think it was a joke, I said I was going to retire because I wanted to focus on other things, but they wouldn't let me," Sanchez was quoted as saying. "They keep calling me to sing and to collaborate."
Home News Pastor Robert Jeffress identifies misconceptions about End Times, next event on biblical prophetic timeline (part 1)

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Amid worldwide tumult, Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Dallas, weighed in on how Christians should prepare for the End Times, common misconceptions about the event and what he believes is coming next on the biblical prophetic timeline.

In a sit-down interview with The Christian Post, Jeffress, whose latest book is titled Are We Living in the End Times?: Biblical Answers to 7 Questions about the Future, said that though we are not technically living in the End Times, according to the Bible, we are in what the Bible calls the last days.

We've been in the last days for 2,000 years, and I think you can make a case that we're in the last days of the last days before the rapture of the Church, he said. The most important thing is not trying to guess when Jesus is coming back again, but realize He is coming back again, and it makes sure we're prepared.

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Emphasizing preparation over prediction, Jeffress offered several suggestions. First, he encouraged believers to don the "right spiritual clothes," a metaphor for embracing the righteousness of Christ over one's own.

There are two different garments we can choose to put on to meet the Lord, he said. We can use the garment of our own righteousness, our own good works, and the Bible says that's nothing but a filthy rag in God's sight, or we can choose to be dressed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. And that's what becoming a Christian is.

The bestselling author cited 2 Corinthians 5 to underline his point: "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." This transformation, he contended, is the essence of Christian faith, where believers are seen as faultless before God, not through their own deeds but through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ.

Thats the first thing we do to make sure that we're Christians that were saved, that we'll be welcomed into God's presence, he said.

Second, Jeffress urged Christians to work tirelessly to further the Gospel, adding: We need to do the work while its still day, because the time is coming. The night is coming when no man can work. The fact that Christ is coming back ought to motivate every Christian, every Church to share the Gospel with as many people as possible as quickly as possible.

According to Jeffress, misconceptions surrounding the End Times are prevalent across Christian denominations and perspectives on the matter. He identified three prevalent attitudes: fanaticism, fatalism and cynicism, each posing a unique danger to the Christian understanding of the event.

Fanaticism is trying to set the date for the rapture or for the Second Coming of Christ, trying to read a prophetic significance into every headline in the paper, he said. Jesus was very clear in Matthew 24 and 25. Nobody knows the hour, the day, of the Lord's return, which is why we need to be ready at all times.

Fatalism, the most dangerous place for Christians to land, Jeffress said, is the belief that Jesus is coming back whenever He's going to come back, and I don't need to do anything different in my life.

As much as the Bible talks about prophecy, the Bible never separates biblical prophecy from everyday life, he explained. In 2 Peter 3, the apostle said, Since all these things are to be burned up in this way since the world is going to end, what sort of people are we to be? In holy conduct and godliness.

Cynicism, Jeffress said, is the belief that People have been saying for thousands of years, Jesus is coming back and He hasn't come back yet.

Peter said scoffers will come with that message, and 2 Peter 3 says, They will come saying, where's the promise of this coming? We need to realize the theme of Scripture is consistent: Jesus is coming back again, and we need to be ready," he said.

Jeffress, who has dedicated much of his scholarly and pastoral career to the study of eschatology  the part of theology concerned with death, judgment and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind  said the next prophetic event on the timeline is the rapture of the Church.

He pointed to 1 Thessalonians 4 as evidence for this belief, a passage describing a future moment when Christians "shall be caught up together ... to meet the Lord in the air."

This event, he said, is distinct from, yet precursory to, the Second Coming of Christ, which he said will occur seven years later, marking the return of believers with Christ to Earth, specifically to the Mount of Olives as detailed in Revelation 19.

The interesting thing about the Rapture is there are no prophecies that have to be fulfilled for the rapture to occur. It could happen before we finish this interview, which is, again, why we need to be ready, he said.

According to a 2022 study from Pew Research, nearly two in five Americans, including half of self-identified Christians and a quarter of the religiously unaffiliated, agree we are living in the End Times.

Another study of 1,000 Protestant pastors conducted between Aug. 20, 2019, and Sept. 24, 2019, by Lifeway Research, found that church leaders believed Christians could speed up the return of Christ by sharing the Gospel rather than by backing certain geopolitical changes mentioned in biblical prophecy.

Jeffress radio program, Pathway to Victory, is heard on more than 1,000 stations nationwide, and his weekly television program is seen in 195 countries around the world. He said that since discussing his views on the End Times, countless listeners have shared how theyve been encouraged by his insights.

If you think about it, the coming of Christ is good news for the righteous; its terrible news for the unrighteous, but it is good news, its what the Bible calls the blessed hope, he said. Yet, so many Christians are silent about the Second Coming, so many churches are silent.

The pastor recounted a story from his book about a conversation between John F. Kennedy and evangelist Billy Graham, which he said underscored the danger of this silence.

"President-elect Kennedy pulled the car off to the side, stopped the engine, looked Billy Graham in the face and said, 'Billy, do you believe Jesus is coming back to Earth one day?' And Billy Graham said, 'Yes sir. I certainly do.' And then President Kennedy said, 'Well, why do I hear so little about it?'" he said.

Too many churches are keeping this a secret, that yet the consistent message of the Bible is, Jesus is coming back again, Jeffress said.

Are We Living in the End Times?: Biblical Answers to 7 Questions about the Futureis now available.
Home News Suspect arrested for setting fire to Bernie Sanders Vermont office

A man has been arrested for setting fire to the Vermont office of United States senator and former Democrat presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, though a motive remains unclear.

Shant Soghomonian, a 35-year-old former resident of Northridge, California, was arrested Sunday and charged with "using fire to damage" the Burlington building where Sanders has an office.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont, Soghomonian allegedly entered the building on Friday and went to the third floor, where Sanders office was located.

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From there, security footage reportedly showed Soghomonian spraying a liquid accelerant near the entrance door of the office and then lighting it, with the fire damaging the office door and surrounding area before the building's sprinklers switched on in response to the fire.

The Senators office was occupied by multiple employees who were not physically injured during the incident. It is not known how many other occupants were in the building, but no injuries were reported, the U.S. Attorneys Office noted.

U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the joint investigatory efforts of the Burlington Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Shelburne Police Department; the Williston Police Department; the Vermont State Police; and the U.S. Capitol Police.

If Soghomonian is found guilty of arson, he could face a penalty of as much as 20 years in prison, as well as a fine of as much as $250,000.

Sanders wasn't present when the crime was committed, according to The Associated Press.

A political independent, Sanders was a candidate who tried and failed to win the Democrat Party presidential nomination during the 2016 and 2020 election cycles, respectively.

Last Friday, the Burlington Police Department released a statement explaining that authorities had responded to a fire at 1 Church Street, not far from city hall.

Investigation revealed that an unknown male subject entered the vestibule of the Office of United States Senator Bernard Sanders. The male sprayed an apparent accelerant on the entrance door to Senator Sanderss offices. He then lit the accelerant and fled, reported Burlington authorities.

Along with the fire damage to Senator Sanders door and vestibule, water from the sprinkler systems caused significant damage to that space and other areas of the building.

In May of last year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin warning that the 2024 election cycle has created a heightened threat environment in which targets of potential violence include U.S. critical infrastructure, faith-based institutions, individuals or events associated with the LGBTQIA+ community, schools, racial and ethnic minorities, and government facilities and personnel, including law enforcement.
Home News Ukrainian Evangelical Christians facing torture, destruction of churches in Russian-occupied areas

Christians in Ukraine have faced torture, the destruction of their churches and other horrors at the hands of Russian forces, according to multiple religious freedom advocates who have called on Republican leaders to take notice of their plight.

In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Dr. Richard Land, the former president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, joined several advocates in asking Johnson to remember the persecuted Christians when considering efforts to support Ukraine.

According to the letter, the Russian government has harmed Christians by torturing them and forcibly removing pastors from their positions. They add that Russian soldiers have targeted retired Baptist pastors they believe are not pro-Russia and whom they suspect of being supportive of the West. Land, who is also executive editor of The Christian Post, and the other religious freedom advocates noted in the letter that no Baptist churches are left in the Ukrainian city of Melitopol.

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We desire peace. But more than that, we desire a peace that is based on the principles of justice, the letter states in part. Our God is both perfectly just and the author of perfect peace.

We appreciate your leadership, are praying for your wisdom and courage as you consider support for Ukraine, the document concluded.

Steven Moore, who has been on the ground in Ukraine since the beginning of the war to deliver aid, warned that the treatment of Christians at the hands of Russian forces is an underreported threat.

Moore is the former chief of staff to former Republican Rep. Pete Roskam of Illinois and the founder of Ukraine Freedom Project, a nonprofit he founded after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine in 2022. The organization has provided over $1 million in aid to the front lines, including medical supplies, food, generators, power banks and drones.

During an interview with CP, Moore said he repeatedly encountered Ukrainian Christians who told him stories of their persecution at the hands of Russian forces. In the process of providing humanitarian aid in Ukraine, Moore eventually met a man named Victor, a Christian who once served as an Evangelical pastor.

If you know anything about Evangelical Christians in Ukraine, its that theyre super open about their faith, Moore said.

Victor told the nonprofit founder that he was held captive for over 20 days and tortured with electrical tasers during an armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine in 2014. He told Moore that during his torture, a Russian Orthodox priest attempted to cast out the demons that supposedly resided in him for being an Evangelical.

Through his friendship with Victor, Moore began to meet other Christians who had faced persecution. Another of Moores friends, Mark Sergeyev, is the youth pastor of Melitopol Christian Church, which Russian forces shut down in 2022. In the same city, attendees of Grace Baptist Church were subjected to fingerprinting after Russian soldiers in full combat gear interrupted a worship service.

Last summer, Moore told CP that he became focused on telling the stories of persecuted Christians in Russian-occupied territories to members of Congress and Republican opinion leaders. From September 2023 to January, Moore said he visited around 100 congressional offices in Washington, D.C., to discuss Russias treatment of Christians.

Republicans should know this. Evangelical Republicans should know this, Moore said. People who worship God the way that they do are being tortured and murdered for their faith.

According to the former chief of staff, many of the people he met with said the personal accounts were revelatory information to them, and many congressional staffers were even driven to tears. Moore told CP that Russias persecution of Christians is not being reported enough.

One of the reasons Moore said many haven't heard these stories is due to the tight control of information in Ukraine. The nonprofit founder also blamed pundits and social commentators like Tucker Carlson as another factor preventing people from learning about the plight of Christians in Russian-occupied territories.

The former Fox News host has faced criticism and accusations of spreading Russian propaganda by suggesting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also persecuting Christians in Ukraine. Zelensky also declined Carlson's request for an interview.

Moore contends that Ukraine is not persecuting Christians.

Its untrue, Moore said. Its a Russian narrative, and what those people are doing is covering up for the real truth that the Russians are suppressing hundreds of thousands of Evangelical Christians in occupied territories.

Many others, however, have condemned Ukraine's crackdown on churches, including CP columnist Hedieh Mirahmadi, who warned against the persecution of priests and parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church after Ukraines domestic security agency [SBU] launched a counterintelligence operation against the UOC.

Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Zelensky's government has escalated its actions against UOC churches and leaders, including the arrest of 68 priests and Metropolitan Pavel.

In an op-ed published in National Review in January, Nina Shea, a human rights lawyer and director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the conservative Washington-based think-tank the Hudson Institute, asserted that Ukraine's strategy to crack down on what it perceives as "weaponized" religious institutions might be extreme but is justified.

According to Moore, many Evangelical Christians say the ongoing Russian occupation is worse for them now than when they lived under the Soviet Union.
Home News Vatican condemns sex-change surgeries, surrogacy in new human dignity declaration

The Vatican has released a new document confirming the Catholic Church's opposition to gender transition surgeries and surrogacy as it seeks to draw attention to the institution's longstanding teachings about the indispensable dignity of the human person.

The Roman Catholic Church's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released a declaration titled "Dignitas Infinita" on Monday, seeking to clarify the Church's positions on various matters related to human dignity.

"[E]very person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration, while 'every unjust sign of discrimination' is to be carefully avoided, particularly any form of aggression and violence," the document reaffirms.

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While suggesting that LGBT people deserve to be treated with dignity, the document condemns "gender theory" as an example of "a personal self-determination" that "amounts to a concession to the age-old temptation to make oneself God" and rejects the teaching that "human life, in all its dimensions, both physical in spiritual, is a gift from God" that "is to be accepted with gratitude and placed at the service of the good."

The declaration also takes issue with gender theory's denial of "the greatest possible difference that exists between living beings: sexual difference."

It stresses that "all attempts to obscure reference to ineliminable sexual difference between man and woman are to be rejected" because "we cannot separate the masculine and the feminine from God's work of creation, which is prior to all our decisions and experiences, and where biological elements exist which are impossible to ignore."

The document states that "any sex-change intervention, as a rule, risks threatening the unique dignity the person has received from the moment of conception." The dicastery stated the teaching laid out in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that "the human body shares in the dignity of 'the image of God'" and notes how Pope Francis previously declared that "we are called to protect our humanity, and this means, in the first place, accepting it and respecting it as it was created."

"Dignitas Infinita" decries surrogacy as a situation where "the immensely worthy child becomes a mere object," highlighting how "the practice of surrogacy violates the dignity of the child."

"The child has the right to have a fully human (and not artificially induced) origin and to receive the gift of a life that manifests both the dignity of the giver and that of the receiver," the declaration reads. "Moreover, acknowledging the dignity of the human person also entails recognizing every dimension of the dignity of the conjugal union and of human procreation."

"Considering this, the legitimate desire to have a child cannot be transformed into a 'right to a child' that fails to respect the dignity of that child as the recipient of the gift of life," the document maintained.

The declaration states that in surrogacy, "the woman is detached from the child growing in her and becomes a mere means subservient to the arbitrary gain or desire of others."

When it comes to euthanasia and assisted suicide, the declaration proclaims that "human life carries a dignity that must always be upheld."

"[T]here are no circumstances under which human life would cease from being dignified and, as a result, be put to an end," the declaration reads.

"Therefore, helping the suicidal person to take his or her own life is an objective offense against the dignity of the person asking for it, even if one would be thereby fulfilling the person's wish," the document stated.

When it comes to abortion, the declaration reaffirms the Catholic Church's longstanding opposition to the procedure, sharing a quote from Pope St. John Paul II taking issue with the "widespread use of ambiguous terminology, such as 'interruption of pregnancy,' which tends to hide abortion's true nature and to attenuate its seriousness in public opinion."

As explained at the beginning of the document, the efforts to create "Dignitas Infinita" date back to 2019, when the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith elected to commence "the drafting of a text highlighting the indispensable nature of the dignity of the human person in Christian anthropology" reflecting "the latest developments on the subject in academia and the ambivalent ways in which the concept is understood today."

Additional topics discussed in the declaration include poverty, war, human trafficking, sexual abuse, violence against women, the death penalty and the marginalization of people with disabilities.
Solar Eclipse Warnings, Shake Shack Digs At Chick-fil-A, Joe Rogan Suggests Moses Hallucinated

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 06:47 06:47

Top headlines for Tuesday, April 9, 2024

In this episode, Pastor Jim Staley connecting a total solar eclipse to a divine warning for America, to Shake Shack's playful nudge at Chick-fil-A with free Chicken Shack sandwiches on Sundays. We also explore the controversy surrounding Seattle Public Schools' decision to phase out advanced placement classes in favor of a more inclusive program, sparking debate among parents. Lastly, we highlight a Florida law praised by a liberal professor and endorsed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, hailed as a potential national blueprint.
Home Opinion A durable Baptist public theology for confusing times

Today American Christians are vigorously debating the best ways to live out their faith in the rapidly changing, often hostile context in which Christian values are often on the defensive. This is not at all new. Believers from the beginning of the Republic, and long before, have wrestled with their stewardship of their citizenship.[i]

It was our Baptist forefathers, after all, who dissented against the Anglican state Church of England. It was Baptist pastors, such as Roger Williams who opposed the established state churches in the colonies. It was Baptist leaders like Isaac Backus and John Leland who worked with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison to create the Bill of Rights and establish religious liberty in Americas fledgling democracy.

In the decade prior to the American Revolution, over 500 Baptist preachers were imprisoned for disturbing the peace, which is not the worst definition for Gospel preaching. What the colonial authorities meant, of course, was they were preaching without a license or permit from the state. Thomas Jefferson is reported to have said that when he died, he would be content to have three things on his memorial: 1. his role in bringing religious liberty to Virginia; 2. his authorship of the Declaration of Independence; and 3. his founding of the University of Virginia.

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Isaac Backus famous words in 1773 have helpfully guided Baptist beliefs and convictions in the 250 years since:

Religious matters are to be separated from the jurisdiction of the state, not because they are beneath the interests of the state but, quite to the contrary, because they are too high and holy and thus are beyond the competence of the state.

Baptists, having been persecuted both in England and in Colonial America, encouraged active Christian engagement in the public square, while at the same time resisting an official state-supported church.

They also understood fully the excesses of both Magesterial Protestantism and the Church of Rome, social arrangements which proved disastrous for all concerned, including the Gospel.

This deep conviction is echoed in the earliest Baptist confessions, including the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession:

God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing contrary to his word, or not contained in it. So that to believe such doctrines, or obey such commands out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience; and the requiring of an implicit faith, an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience and reason also. (James 4:12; Romans 14:4; Acts 4:19, 29; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Matthew 15:9; Colossians 2:20, 22, 23; 1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 1:24)

This firmly rooted belief in religious liberty has loomed large in Southern Baptist life as indicated in the Baptist Faith & Message, whose language has remained consistent on this issue.

God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power." -- The Baptist Faith & Message, Article XVII (Religious Liberty)

This is a distinctive feature of Baptist public theology and its a good one: "A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal."

This is what Paul instructed Timothy to pray for in 1 Timothy 2, a reality for which he could only pray, one which American Christians can not only pray for but seek to preserve with our voices and enact with our votes. Baptists believe the church can thrive under any government. Christ will surely build His church and the gates of Hell will never prevail against it. And yet, we are never instructed to seek religious intolerance. In a democracy like ours, we have a part in shaping the government.

But religious liberty, as precious a doctrine as it is, is not the sum total of Baptist public theology. Baptists have always sought to bring Christian principles to bear on the culture, on public policy, and on the character of the nation. Baptists from the earliest days of Americas founding up until the current moment have served in a variety of public offices. And Baptists champion important issues such as the sanctity of all human life, the paramount importance of marriage and family life, and other important issues of human flourishing.

This is why a full-orbed Baptist public theology should not be read merely as a defense of religious liberty, but alongside another bedrock principle in the Baptist Faith & Message:

"All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirt of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth." -- (Baptist Faith & Message Article XV, The Christian and the Social Order).

This Article describes a heartfelt call to duty to engage the public square with the truths of Holy Scripture. The Baptist Faith & Message urges Baptists to stand up against manifold evils of the day and to champion righteousness. This includes intentional effort, at the local, state, national, and even international level, including running for office to active advocacy. This is why Baptists have funded, for well over a century, an entity in the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, whose mission is to both speak on behalf of Baptists on the range of issues described above, a comprehensive issue set from marriage and family life to the sanctity of all human life to racial reconciliation, help for the poor and other such endeavors. This also serves as a guide for Baptist churches in equipping members to go into the world and fulfill their callings as salt and light in a dark world. The phrase every Christian implies a duty to active citizenship as part of faithful discipleship.

The Baptist Faith & Message Articles on The Christian and the Social Order (Article XV) and Religious Liberty (Article XVII) in many ways mirror the serious religious concerns expressed in the U.S. Constitutions First Amendment. Article XVII reflects the concerns addressed in the establishment clause, prohibiting a government establishment of religion, and Article XV reflecting no governmental interference of the free exercise thereof.

Taken together, this historic emphasis on religious liberty and the summons to live out the gospel in the public square forms a public theology that rejects both the yearning on the part of some for an official state church and the desire for many to push Christians into the margins in favor of secularism. Baptist Christians reject what Richard John Neuhaus derided as the naked public square. Baptists believe liberty and freedom only work when there is a foundation of Judeo-Christian values in the country, echoing the desire of the Founding Fathers who desired neither an established church nor a godless state.

The nations second president, John Adams (1797-1801), and one of the chief architects of the Constitution reminded Americans, Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly insufficient for any other. (Letter from John Adams to the Massachusetts Militia, 11 Oct. 1798).

Yet Baptist engagement is always tempered by the reality of our fallen world, understanding that only when Christ returns will we see full righteousness and justice prevail in the world. And we understand that while public policy matters and political engagement are necessary, we seek to see America become more truly Christian through evangelism and discipleship. Early Baptists lived under the conviction that conversion comes by the Spirit and not the sword.



So, we use our voices and our votes to shape the public square and we do not hesitate to openly share the saving message of the gospel with our neighbors. So, while many Christians refresh important debates about the intersection of the church and state, Baptists remain confident in a public theology that is as durable in the 21st century as it was in the 18th century. And we will continue to seek to live out both the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, in obedience to Christ and His Kingdom.

[i] See Anthony L. Chute, Nathan A. Finn, and Michael A. G. Haykin, The Baptist Story: From English Sect to Global Movement (B&H Publishing Group, 2015) and Thomas S. Kidd, God of Liberty: A Religious History of the American Revolution, First trade paper ed edition (New York: Basic Books, 2012).
Home Opinion Evangelicals and immigration: Church and state have different roles

Immigration in the United States involves a complex array of factors. As Lifeways recent report on immigration makes clear the immigration issue is further complicated for evangelicals because immigration is not simply about national security and prosperity or about basic human rights. It is a matter of religious conviction. That conviction involves a distinction between Church and state. It requires the Church to acknowledge the states legitimate role while pointing beyond it to a way of life only made possible in Christ.



This fundamental distinction should prompt evangelicals to ask at least two questions. First, how might the Bible inform the Churchs response to immigration? Second, how might the Bible and the Church inform, encourage, and critique those serving in the United States government to respond to immigration?

Regarding the first question, the Bible is quite clear. As Jesus notes, we are to love God with all we are and have and love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt 22:36-40). Drawing on the Hebrew Bible, Jesus says that all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments (22:40). The commandments are inseparable. For instance, when God tells Israel to love their Israelite and sojourning neighbors as themselves (Lev 19:18, 33), the command is in the context of a call to imitate Gods holiness (19:1). It is rooted in the simple assertion I am the Lord (19:4, 9, 12, 14, 18, 34). Israel is not to care for the vulnerable as a task on a checklist to be completed. Instead, Israel (and by extension the Church) is to become a people who cares for those who cannot care for themselves because God is a God who cares for those who cannot care for themselves.

Caring for the poor and vulnerable is a mark of those loyal to God (Isa 1:17; Jam 1:27). If the Church wants to respond well to immigrants entering the United States, we must first cultivate a deep allegiance to God  an allegiance that pushes out all other allegiances. Building up the body of Christ by cultivating this sort of allegiance is something we do for the worlds sake. Discipleship, or learning to live under the authority of Christ, is the first and best thing the Church can do to care for immigrants because discipleship will open up opportunities to glorify God by loving our neighbors beyond anything we could ever ask or think.

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So, how might the Bible and the Church inform the United States government to respond to immigration? First, the Church must offer an alternative to the state. As I argue in Serpents and Doves, the Church must be an alternative political community that showcases the possibilities made available to those who proclaim, Jesus is Lord. Again, we build up the body of Christ for the worlds sake. In building up the body of Christ through the making of disciples, we remind the state that its authority and capacity are limited. Through obedience, we point the world not to a renewed sense of morality or ethical action, but to the God whose provision and empowerment allows the Church to live self-sacrificially within a broken world.

Second, we need to continually remind our governing authorities that they sit under Gods authority (whether they recognize it or not). It has become fashionable to urge governing authorities to adhere to biblical principles abstracted from their theological context and to advocate for frameworks like universal human rights. While there is certainly nothing wrong with human rights, Christians need to be advocating for Christ. If, for instance, we believe that fearing the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, we cannot settle for the appearance of wisdom apart from the fear of the Lord. We cannot stop encouraging our governing authorities to be more just or moral. We must point them toward the Triune God under whose authority they exercise their own.

It is not that the state is incapable of making good judgments, but that even its good judgments are insufficient to transform the broken world. They can only manage that brokenness. As such, when we think about how the Bible might inform the United States to respond to immigration, we need to ensure that the governing authorities understand a. their position under Gods authority, b. Gods relationship to the nations, and c. the inherent limits of even the wisest and most benevolent human rulers. The governing authorities need to recognize that their work with regard to immigration is not trivial, but provisional.

We need to take care not to encourage the leaders of the U.S. government to view the Bible as a text from which they can selectively draw moral principles. Does the Bible provide a window into Gods order? Certainly. But that order begins with the recognition that the Triune God is Sovereign. Taking inspiration from Gods word to create policy frameworks tends to reinforce the notion that the Triune God can be honored by acknowledging that in this or that instance, His word fits the agenda or serves the interests of the United States.

To put it differently, our role with the government cannot be advisory. It must be prophetic in the sense that we speak theologically to our governing authorities. What does this mean? It means that we refuse to let our nations leaders assume that dismantling the Scriptures and applying them in a piecemeal fashion is the same as honoring God. The world is willing to forget the Triune God. Christians cant be. Caring for the vulnerable among us is important, but such care is insufficient as a ground or aim for the Church because we are not first called to love our neighbor, but to love God with all we are and have.
Home Opinion The decline of church attendance in America

Theres a charming old tale about three pastors hailing from the American South who found themselves sharing lunch at a quaint diner.

One of the pastors spoke up, a furrow of concern etched on his brow. You know, ever since summer descended upon us, Ive been grappling with a rather vexing issue at my church. Bats  countless bats  have taken up residence in our loft and attic. Ive exhausted every conceivable method to rid ourselves of them  noise, sprays, traps, even enlisted the help of felines  but alas, they persist.

A sympathetic nod passed among the trio as another pastor chimed in, his burden carried a similar tone. Indeed, I share your plight. Our belfry and attic are overrun with bats numbering in the hundreds. Ive resorted to extreme measures, even resorting to fumigation, yet they remain undeterred in their residency.

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Then came the third pastor, a twinkle in his eye betrayed a hint of mischief. Ah, well, I took a rather unconventional approach with the bats that plagued the heights of our church, he said. I performed baptisms on them, and since then, they only grace us with their presence during Christmas and Easter.

Concerns about regular church attendance have always challenged most faith leaders. However, according to a recent Gallup poll, a decline in consistent church attendance is at an all-time low. The survey, conducted from 2021 to 2023 with over 32,000 participants, reveals that only 30% of U.S. adults are steady in their church attendance. Protestant churches and non-denominational groups were among the highest at 44%, while Catholics were at 33%.

Notably, there has been a significant drop over the past two decades, particularly among Catholics, whose regular attendance fell by a whopping 12%. The decline is attributed largely to the rise in Americans with no religious affiliation, which more than doubled from 9% to 21%.

Gallup anticipates that church attendance will likely continue falling, especially among younger Americans. The survey found that 35% of 18- to 29-year-olds have no religious preference or affiliation, with only 22% attending religious services.

In 1937, seven out of every 10 Americans said they were part of a church. And even in the 1980s, around 70% still claimed to have membership in a church. The current findings, however, should be alarming, not just for faith leaders but for the entire country.

Founding Father, John Adams admonished, We have no government capable of dealing with an irreligious people. Certainly, the demons howl when its said, but their loathing for the truth is what prompts their wailing. Nonetheless, the assertion holds as steadfast as the North Star: It is the religion of Christ that granted us freedom and provided America with unprecedented privileges in human history.

This assertion is not intended to promote what some have called Christian nationalism. Neither is it made in pursuit of making America some sort of theocracy. Such interpretations are misguided and baseless. Rather, it is a simple acknowledgment of the profound historical role Christianity and the Church have played in shaping the principles and values of our society.

To evaluate such impact, we need only compare the practice of Christianity with other religions in other places. For instance, examining the historical consequences of atheism or non-religion, one might consider the former Soviet Union and China, where totalitarian regimes have suppressed liberty and imposed strict controls. Similarly, Hinduisms influence can be observed in India, where a hierarchical caste system has stratified society, determining individuals social status, occupation, and opportunities based on birth into specific social groups. Likewise, Islams effects can best be seen in Islamic nations, characterized by authoritarianism, terrorism, and unequal rights for women.

We hold no disdain for any of these religions. Everything good in them comes from God, because all truth belongs to God. However, as Alfred Tennyson aptly termed them, they are akin to broken lights. While they possess some illumination, they remain incomplete and flawed, incapable of engendering the cherished liberty and quality of life embraced by the Western world.

Derek Thompson, who is a self-proclaimed agnostic, recently wrote a column titled, The True Cost of the Churchgoing Bust. In the article, Thompson explores the declension of religion in America and its broad implications, more specifically, its profound implications for societal cohesion.

Thompson says initially he viewed the waning of faith in a positive light, due to his perceived shortcomings of religion. However, today he believes religion has acted as a stabilizing force against American hyper-individualism. He expresses he now has concerns about the way religion historically provided Americans with a sense of community, identity, and ritual for people, which with religions deterioration is diminishing.

The decline in religious attendance correlates with less face-to-face socializing, especially among young people and the working class, says Thompson. He adds the weakening of religion is leaving a void in communal activities, exacerbating the problems of loneliness, depression, and anxiety. The loss of religious influence with the rise of digital technology suggests that while smartphones, computers, etc. offer constant connectivity, they lack the embodied, synchronous, and collective nature of worship practices.

I wonder if, in foregoing organized religion, an isolated country has discarded an old and proven source of ritual at a time when we most need it. Making friends as an adult can be hard; its especially hard without a scheduled weekly reunion of congregants, writes Thompson. Finding meaning in the world is hard too; its especially difficult if the oldest systems of meaning-making hold less and less appeal. It took decades for Americans to lose religion. It might take decades to understand the entirety of what we lost.

These are very powerful words, especially coming from an agnostic!

Its important to clarify that church attendance is not synonymous with genuine spiritual transformation (Hebrews 10:25). The primary reason for church attendance stems from a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ (Matthew 18:20). Mere attendance doesnt automatically guarantee that someone is right with God (Matthew 7:21). Indeed, many individuals within congregations lack a genuine encounter with Christs redemptive power (this can sometimes include pastors, priests, bishops, deacons, elders), which frees them from both the penalty of sin and its control over their lives (2 Timothy 3:5). It is a certainty that whenever someone has actually experienced Gods saving grace, they are not characteristically averse to attending church regularly (Acts 2:42). Its at church they know theyll hear the teaching and preaching of Gods Word, which contributes to their spiritual growth (Romans 10:17). They actively seek community within the church, finding support and accountability for their faith journey (I Thessalonians 5:11). Additionally, its via the church they can engage in evangelistic outreach and missions, aspiring to positive change beyond their immediate circles (Matthew 28:19-20). Worshipping and serving God alongside fellow believers fosters a shared identity grounded in eternal significance, unmatched by any other affiliation (Ephesians 2:19-22).

A believer may occasionally falter morally or lose motivation, leading them to stop attending church for a time (I John 1:9). Still, a genuine follower of Christ does not desire to remain disconnected or isolated spiritually. Instead, they long to be united with their spiritual family and participate in the fellowship of believers wherever they gather (I John 3:14).

Years ago, a local pastor from my hometown paid a visit to my grandfather, knowing he seldom attended church. In those days, my grandparents home lacked central heating, relying instead on small coal-burning fireplaces scattered throughout the rooms. During winter, the coals would be carefully stoked, blazing brightly to provide warmth. Occasionally, my grandfather would use fire poker to stir the coals, ensuring the fire remained vigorous.

On the evening of the pastors visit, a stray coal rolled away from the others and onto the hearth. Observing this, the preacher pointed to the fading coal, its once-bright flame dimming with each passing moment. As the coal cooled, it turned black and lifeless, eventually cool enough for the preacher to handle. With insight, holding the coal in front of my grandfather, he said: This is what happens to spiritual life and virtuous living without regular church attendance. Inevitably, it becomes dull and listless, emotionally disconnected and morally indifferent.

As it is for the individual, so it is for the nation.

The serious decline in church attendance, whether complete absence or sporadic participation limited to Christmas and Easter, is not just an individual concern anymore; its evolving into a matter of national security, reflecting broader societal shifts and potential consequences for the nations survival.
Kris and Steve Szepanski traveled from South Carolina to Gun Barrel City to witness a total eclipse on April 8, 2024. Raj Mankad Totality ends during the total solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024, at Eagle Pass Student Activities Center in Eagle Pass. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

GUN BARREL CITY, Texas  The sun and the moon dont care for human beings. Whether we end our brief time in this universe through nuclear annihilation or somehow build a peaceful paradise, the celestial bodies will continue their journeys, their revolutions through a vast space, as they have for billions of years.

Yet, in at least one patch of North Texas, on Monday afternoon, it seemed otherwise. The total eclipse of the sun by the moon swept the multitudes of sky-gazing people into an emotional drama, as if we were part of something greater than a mere accident, something more than the result of particles colliding in a coincidental opus of life and consciousness.

The day did not so much break as it woozily rolled in with the fog over Gun Barrel City, a town of some 6,000 souls an hour drive southeast of Dallas. The guests at the Americas Best Value Inn shuffled into the lobby for the free continental breakfast. That includes me, the Chronicles deputy opinion editor. I had plans to witness this history at a Central Texas ranch but headed north at the last minute to avoid heavy cloud cover. Over breakfast, everyones eyes were cast down at weather apps, all confirming what was plainly visible to the naked eye. Clouds upon clouds, high cirrus on top of low cumulus. Visitors spoke quietly to their companions in Japanese, Punjabi, German, Slovenian, Swedish and Englishes inflected with all manner of southern, western and Yankee drawls.

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Kris Szepanski, 65, a retired science teacher, drove in with her husband Steve, 67, from South Carolina, where they saw a total eclipse in 2017. Steve wore an eclipse T-shirt that read Twice in a Lifetime.

Katsuhiko Hirose, 68, a retired executive from the Japanese automotive industry, has chased total eclipses in Oregon, Thailand, and China on two occasions. He tried to reassure everyone nearby: they had not wasted their trips. They would see something riveting. The utter darkness under thick clouds feels like the end of the world, he said, as if that were a good thing. The point of life, he reminded us, is the unexpected.

The random locations eclipse chasing took him had taught him to appreciate that every place has value, Katsuhiko said, looking towards to the dwindling supply of Cheerios, bran flakes and bagels wrapped in cellophane, and outside to the edge of the Cedar Creek Reservoir edged with wildflowers blooming firewheels of orange, red and yellow.

Then, the sun broke through and the travelers got busy setting up their cameras.

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Down the street at the city park, Mayor Brian Crull, 65, had put together a free festival with yoga, fire trucks, vendors selling little crochet animals. He sat on a lawn chair among roughly a hundred people, mostly locals, as an event team handed out free eclipse-viewing glasses emblazoned with the citys logo featuring two antique pistols crossed at the barrels.

The eclipse festival is just a time for everyone to relax and do something together instead of worrying about everyones differences, Crull said, stressing that the city has an everybody-knows-everybody feel.

Cecilia Phillips, 60, who relocated from Dallas about a year ago, concurred: Theres nothing polarizing about an eclipse.

As the earth rotated, the first to experience this in the U.S. were in Eagle Pass, where onlookers near the border with Mexico had a clear view, then Central Texas where thick clouds lingered. It would eventually progress through the Midwest, New York and New England, pulling people of every background away from their phones and jobs, away from schoolwork and account books.

As the eclipse began at 12:23 in Gun Barrel City, the crowd in the park trained their eyes upward, but the clouds returned, a dreaded double layer. I jumped in my car and circled the town, to the reservoir and hotel parking lot, desperate to find an unobstructed view, but to no avail. I settled back into the city park as the light weakened and the moon gradually slipped in front of the sun.

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Suddenly, the temperature dropped, the air became crisp, the clouds vanished and the corona throbbed around the dark moon. The crowd exclaimed together, cheered, gasps of My God. For four minutes, it was a time of trembling hands, of holding others hands, of raising hands to the heavens in a gesture of galactic connection. It was a moment of holding something tightly that we can never touch.

NEXT CHANCE TO WATCH: Did you miss the total solar eclipse?

The rock music blaring from the festival went silent. The birdsong dropped behind the chirp of insects. The brilliance of our neighboring planets kept vigil in the dark sky. When the perfect alignment ended, and the initial bead of light first appeared, a shining diamond, the crowd exclaimed anew, even louder. And why shouldnt they? The light that had left us returned.

Back at the inn, in the parking lot where the photographers packed up their specialty lenses and laptops, Naohiro Tsuji told me that before arriving in Texas, he visited the West Coast and found his great-grandmothers grave in Los Angeles. His ancestors, he said, had immigrated to the United States long ago. His great-grandfather had been a Christian pastor before returning to Japan just ahead of World War II.

Thinking of his familys history, of his second cousins who grew up in the United States, and, though he left it unsaid, of World War II and the bloodshed between our countries, Naohiro said the eclipse reminds me of the mysterious. This astronomical event, well studied by scientists, plays out in our lives in a way that binds and harmonizes our lives. For Naohiro, that meant reconnecting with family across continents and history.

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Another total eclipse will not return to Texas for decades. For those who experienced it, we hope what French sociologist Emile Durkheim calls collective effervescence can be shared and that it connects us across divides. The arc of the eclipse knows no political boundaries.

 Raj Mankad
Karen Jankowitz, 23, walks down West 11th Street near North Shepherd Drive next to new bike lanes and medians installed to slow traffic and improve safety on Thursday April 4, 2024. Sharon Steinmann

Prioritizing pedestrians

Regarding Mayor Whitmire isnt quitting Vision Zero. Hes making street safety his own, (April 7): As a motorist, pedestrian and bicyclist in Houston, I totally agree with your editorial. Street safety really needs to be beefed up. In my neighborhood between Greenway Plaza and Montrose, Richmond Avenue is mostly a six-lane highway of motorists racing to the next red light. Adding a BRT line with bike/pedestrian lanes would greatly improve the area. Bike lanes connected to other bike lanes that actually go places, not just recreational ones, would really help people reach places safely without always driving.

Thank you for mentioning speed bumps and lower speed limits. Both are needed along Audley Street between W. Alabama and Richmond, where Lamar students and neighbors often have to walk in the street. What was done along 11th Street needs to be done on many other streets, such as Westheimer and Montrose Boulevard.

Safe streets for all users are what we need to entice more people to get out of their cars. Thanks again for a great editorial.

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Frank Pratka, Houston

Defending our local law enforcement

Regarding Unchecked forces: A Houston Chronicle investigation, (March 28): Is it just me or is the Chronicle spending a lot of ink on Harris County constable stories lately? I count four stories about constables in the last couple of weeks. None too complimentary.

I guess since Attorney General Ken Paxton struck a plea deal and got the bullseye off his back, the new target is the constables office. One thing about constables: They do a lot of unsavory work related to law enforcement functions, such as serving summons to reluctant recipients. I know that expose stories qualify for prizes, but beating up our local law enforcement is not in our civic best interest.

Julia Purtill, Richmond

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Election redo

Regarding Judge again considering ordering a redo of a 2022 Harris County judicial election, (April 2): I read that 21 Harris County Republicans are suing to overturn the results of the elections they lost, claiming massive voter fraud. Its always Republicans, isnt it?

I understand that Republicans are basically required to buy into the Big Lie that Donald Trump was cheated out of the presidency, but Id like to know just when Republicans were promised that they had a right to win every election. Is it in the Constitution? The Bible? Or just the Republican National Committees talking points?

It used to be that the Eleventh Commandment for Republicans was Thou shalt not talk ill of another Republican. Now it seems to be We win or well sue! At least it isnt We win or we start shooting! Not yet, that is.

Frank Ohrt, Houston

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Hogwash

Regarding Hotez: Bird flu is in Texas mammals. Heres what you should know, (April 5): Always appreciate reading the medical opinions of Dr. Peter Hotez. However, the feral hogs in the picture in the story are javelinas, not a member of the swine family. Come on, lets know our Texas wildlife!

Martin Mayo, Boise, Idaho

Your article about another danger posed by the epidemic of invasive feral hogs was interesting and informative. However, the photo you attached was of our non-invasive, native javelinas, not hogs. Try harder.

Tanner Garth, Houston

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Perhaps a New York newspaper might represent a photo of two javelinas to be feral hogs, but a Texas one? Come on, they are a totally separate set of animals, not even related.

Don Ruthven, Jr., Houston

Brisket battle

Regarding Paxton smokes Cornyn in brisket war. What a pain in the burnt end. (Thumbs), (April 6): As I wrote four years ago, when the original item about Mrs. Cornyns brisket was published, brisket is a cut of meat, not a preparation method. Her recipe, or one very much like it, was published in the Chronicles own food section long ago. It is delicious and is an easy way to serve many people. Since I have not listened to anything Ken Paxton has said in quite a while, Ill also ignore his addition to the brouhaha.

Anne Page, Rockport

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DEI angst

Regarding UT student groups left searching for money, support under new Texas DEI ban, (April 2): The angst about diversity, equity and inclusion programs being curtailed at state universities in Fridays edition is laughable. In my view, DEI is institutionalized racism and profoundly un-American. Kudos to the Texas Legislature for pulling the financial plug on this disgraceful practice.

Jon Elmendorf, Houston

Correction: Due to an editing error, the op-ed Streetlights can ruin the total eclipse (Sunday, A25) misstated the width of the darkest part of the moons shadow. It is 100 miles wide.

Correction: An incorrect photo ran with the op-ed Viral threat shows up in Texas mammals (Sunday, A26). It showed javelinas, not feral hogs.
Aboneaza-te la rubricile dorite si primeste zilnic notificari pe email cu link-uri la articolele care au fost adaugate in ultimele 24 de ore. Notificarile vor fi expediate la adresa indicata mai jos. Daca doresti sa schimbi adresa - o poti modifica editand informatia de profil aici.
The Charity Commission has disqualified a former trustee of an education charity after finding he was engaging in extremist activity.

During a statutory inquiry into Charr Yarr Welfare Foundation Limited , investigators found videos of one of the charitys former trustees Zulfiqar Mashadi inciting religious violence and advocating the murder of blasphemers.

In a YouTube video, Mashadi was seen to be praising Mumtaz Qadri, who murdered former governer of Punjab Salmaan Taseer and was convicted under Pakistans terrorism legislation.

The Commission said it considers Mashadis statements to be extremist and fostering hatred and had disqualified him from being a charity trustee for five years.

During the inquiry, Mashadi said his message had always been to express peace and harmony, which the regulator found incongruous with the speeches he had made.

Missing receipts

The Yorkshire-based charity was set up to promote education and relief of poverty and provide funds to a linked charity in Pakistan.

In November 2018, the Commission inspected the charitys premises and was concerned that Mashadi, the sole trustee present, was unable to sufficiently answer all of its questions.

The Commission also noted that the charity had not filed its accounts for the financial years 2016 and 2017 on time.

In 2019, the regulator issued Mashadi and his two fellow trustees with an action plan to address these concerns, to which it said they did not respond.

In January 2020, the Commission issued the charity with an official warning and it opened a statutory inquiry into the charity four months later.

During the inquiry, the charitys two other former trustees, Maryam Mosvi and Azka Mashadi, were also disqualified from being trustees for two and a half years due to findings of mismanagement.

The inquiry found the charitys former trustees had accepted large donations and interest-free loans without conducting any due diligence or maintaining records correctly.

For its accounts ending August 2016, the charity was unable to provide receipts for more than 27,000 that had been transferred to Pakistan.

Former trustees were also unable to explain why 1,400 of the charitys funds had been transferred to Zulfiqar Mashadi. The funds were repaid to the charity as a result of the inquiry.

Charity Commission: Entirely unfit to act as a trustee

The charity is now operating with three trustees that have been on the charitys board since 2020 and have been issued with guidance and advice by the regulator.

Joshua Farbridge, head of compliance visits and inspections at the Commission, said: Mr Z Mashadis conduct made him entirely unfit to act as a trustee for a charity.

We are very clear that where we uncover wrongdoing that harms an individual charity and diminishes the reputation of charity, we will be robust and tenacious in using our powers to secure the right outcomes to protect beneficiaries, charitable resources, staff, and donors.

Encouragingly, the current trustees of the Charr Yarr Welfare Foundation have shown a willingness to take onboard regulatory advice and guidance provided by the Commission, and we continue to engage with them as is necessary.

Charr Yarr Welfare Foundation did not respond to a request for comment.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
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A little over a year ago, Russia arrested Evan Gershkovich, a reporter at the Wall Street Journal, and the paper found itself in uncharted waters. Occasionally weve had reporters pulled in by the police, Paul Beckettthen the Washington bureau chief, who has since been tapped to work on Gershkovichs case full timerecalls. But this was obviously of a scale, and a prominence, and a geopolitical significance that was very new for us. Quickly, Beckett and his colleagues took advice from those with more experience. Particularly helpful were leaders at the Washington Post, whose own reporter, Jason Rezaian, spent 544 days in prison in Iran in roughly analogous circumstances in the 2010s. Marty Baron, the Posts former editor; Fred Ryan, then the publisher; and Rezaian himself were all, in the days following, extremely gracious, extremely generous with their time, extremely supportive, and extremely open to being, like, We know what youre going through. How can we help? Beckett says.

A little over six months later, Russia arrested Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual US and Russian citizen who works for the US-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, on charges of failing to register herself as a foreign agent. (She was previously fined for failing to report her US citizenship to Russian authorities; she has since been charged with disseminating so-called false news about the Russian military.) Beckett had been in touch with someone at RFE/RL on a separate matter, and got in touch to pass on the sort of support that the Journal had received from the Post. Weve kept that up ever since, he says. This is not a community that anyone wants to join, Diane Zeleny, RFE/RLs head of external affairs, told me. But now that we have, were grateful for the cooperation weve received from the WSJ and cannot thank them enough. At every levelfrom the corporate and legal to the editorialthey have been helpful to us, sharing wisdom that would otherwise be difficult to acquire given our limited resources.

As Zeleny notes, the Journal has made it a priority to include details about [Kurmashevas] case in its reporting on Evan. Recently, the paper ran a story about the families of several other Americans incarcerated in Russia, topped with a photo of Pavel Butorin, Kurmashevas husband, and the couples daughters, Bibi and Miriam, the latter of whom sported a visible #FreeAlsu button on her sweater. Ten days ago, as Gershkovich passed the one-year mark in custody, the Journal reproduced the story on its print front pagebelow an eye-catching space that was left blank to symbolize Gershkovichs missing byline.

Kurmasheva will herself pass the six-month mark behind bars next week; last week, a court extended her pretrial detention until June. Both she and Gershkovich appear to have been taken as hostages by Vladimir Putins regime, as part of both a war on journalism and a bid for diplomatic leverage against the US. And yetdespite these clear similarities, and the camaraderie of those working to free the pairAmericans are much less likely to have heard of Kurmasheva than Gershkovich. The formers case can often seem to get overlooked.

When Tucker Carlson traveled to Russia to interview Putin recently, he raised Gershkovichs case but not Kurmashevas. Late last year, President Biden said at a holiday reception that his administration was fighting every day for the release of Evan and Alsu and Paul (a reference to Paul Whelan, a former US Marine jailed in Russia)but in a recent statement marking Gershkovichs year in prison, he made no direct mention of Kurmasheva (despite name-checking Whelan again). More importantly, while the State Department has officially labeled Gershkovich and Whelan as wrongfully detained, it has not done likewise in Kurmashevas case.

While similar in many respects, the cases of Gershkovich and Kurmasheva, of course, are not identical. The charges are different, for starters. (Gershkovich has been accused of espionage.) Gershkovich was working as a journalist inside Russia; Kurmasheva lives in Prague, where RFE/RL is headquartered, and was only in Russia to visit her ailing mother in the city of Kazan. (The false news charges that she faces relate to her work coediting a book featuring critical Russian perspectives on the war in Ukraine.) Gershkovich is a classic foreign correspondent for a big Western newspaper; Kurmasheva is a broadcaster whose lifes work has been to preserve the language and culture of the Russian region of Tatarstan (whose capital is Kazan). Gershkovich was born in the US to parents who emigrated from the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Kurmasheva opted into US citizenship, under a program for broadcasters.

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The State Department labeled Gershkovich as wrongfully detained less than two weeks after he was arrestedquick by bureaucratic standards (even if some of his supporters feel the designation was still too slow). Asked why Kurmasheva had not been similarly designated a month after her detention, a spokesperson said that the department tries to act quickly, but still needed to assess the facts of her case since every circumstance is different. Since then, the department has reiterated that observers shouldnt read anything into the lack of a designation, and said that her case remains under continuous review. (In a statement, a spokesperson told me much the same thing, suggesting that Kurmashevas case is a priority and describing her detention as just another sign of the weakness of Putins regime, but declining to discuss deliberations.)

Being designated as wrongfully detained is by no means a precondition for diplomats to work to get a prisoner homeindeed, in some cases, officials consciously steer clear of the label, fearing, for example, that it could lead a foreign adversary to take a tougher negotiating stance because they consider a given prisoners price to be higher. Still, this concern could conceivably apply to Gershkovichs or Whelans cases, too. And the designation isnt merely a rhetorical toolat least in theory, it unlocks greater official resources that can be swung behind a case. When it comes to the prospect of designating Kurmasheva, I dont know one single source outside of the United States government who thinks its a bad idea or feels ambivalent about it, Jeffrey Gedmin, an RFE/RL board member, told me.

Kurmashevas family and supporters have campaigned for the designation since the early days of her detention; RFE/RL argues that she satisfies all the necessary criteria to receive it under the Levinson Act, a 2020 law that, observers told me, was intended to codify who counts as wrongfully detained to prevent the labels arbitrary application. Its not clear exactly why it has not yet been accorded to Kurmasheva, but observers of her case suggested several possible reasons, including the current political climate, both at home and geopolitically; Putins greater current leverage over prisoner swaps; diplomatic bandwidth issues; and concerns linked to how best to manage the queue of Americans detained in Russia. There is too much of a view that this is a break glass in case of emergency approach, Bill McCarren, a press freedom consultant for the National Press Club, told me. He and others think that jailed journalists should get the designation automatically, at least until they are proven to have committed a real crime.

Recently, Butorin, Kurmashevas husband, visited Washington and met with officials; he said that he hadnt been sure what to expect from the trip, but that he left feeling that the US government cares about Kurmasheva and that some progress was being made toward the designation. When we spoke last week, Butorin declined to discuss specifics of his conversations with officials but told me that he appreciates their support. (The Russian government, theyre the bad guys here, he stressed.) He also said, though, that every time I hear the State Department say, We will continue to work to free those Americans who have been determined to be wrongfully detained, those statements give me pause. He and other supporters would like to hear Biden say Kurmashevas name much more often, too. (The US ambassador to Russia has recently tweeted specifically about her case, and consular officials attended her pretrial hearing in Kazan last week having previously been denied access.)

Butorin told me that while the designation alone wont bring Kurmasheva home, he and his family are trying to raise her profile to make it more likely that she will be included in talks over a prisoner swap. To this end, he and his daughters have recently appeared in US media, too, including on their trip to DC; in addition to the story in the Journal, Butorin and his eldest daughter (Bibi, who is fifteen) appeared on CNN, while Sunday Morning on CBS profiled the family in a segment filmed in Prague. Press-freedom groups have also banged the drum loudly for Kurmasheva. The National Press Club will soon run a full-page ad in the Post on her behalf.

And yet Gershkovichs case has reliably attracted much more media interest. One reason for this is the Journals greater financial cloutit has ample cash to plow into its (highly impressive) PR campaign on his behalf; RFE/RLs budget is smaller and set by Congress. The Journal has great reputational clout in the US, too; by contrast, RFE/RL is not a household name, even if taxpayers fund its journalism. While it has a Web presence, much of its programming isnt broadcast into the US or even in English, instead serving countries with repressed media spaces. Raise your hand in the audience if you know where Kazan is, Gedmin told me. For various reasons, Kurmashevas case is all a little bit less obvious, or easy, or accessible for a lot of Europeans, certainly for Americans, to understand.

On the other hand, her case might be less well-known if Gershkovich hadnt become such a cause celebre. Kurmasheva is only one of four RFE/RL reporters currently jailed overseas (the other three are in Belarus and Russian-occupied Crimea)cases that dont get a lot of attention since the reporters in question arent American, RFE/RLs Zeleny said, but that all involve a journalist who was bravely doing their job for an American-funded organization. Viewers of CBS, at least, might now know who these reporters arethey were pictured in frames in RFE/RLs offices during the networks segment on Kurmasheva. When it comes to press freedom, attention to any case has the potential to lift all boats, McCarren told me.

Greater exposure, of course, has not yet brought Gershkovich home. Still, Butorin commends the spotlight that has been shined on his case. This is not a competition, Butorin told me. All I want for Evan is to return to his family.



Other notable stories:

Yesterdays total solar eclipse above North America attracted wall-to-wall media coverage. TV news networks deployed anchors and crews along the path of totality from Mazatlan, Mexico, to Indianapolis to Vermont, CNNs Oliver Darcy notes, capturing the awe-inspiring and quasi-religious experience millions felt with live cameras. On CNN, anchors and correspondents dressed up as the sun and Earth and checked in on how zoo animals were faring in the unexpected darkness; Fox News, meanwhile, linked the eclipse to the crisis at the southern border, because of course it did. All the coverage eclipsed (sorry) a simultaneous speech that Biden gave on student debt reliefa clash, per Politico, that irked White House aides and reporters alike.

In Januaryamid a tumultuous moment for the LA Times following the departure of Kevin Merida, the top editor, and mass layoffsthe papers owners, the Soon-Shiong family, tapped Terry Tang, its editorial page editor, to replace Merida on an interim basis. Now Tang has been given the job full time. Terry in short order has demonstrated the capability of building on our legacy of excellence in journalism with stories that matter, the Soon-Shiong family said, adding that she understands how vital it is that we connect the community with our journalism, better engage with our readers and build new audiences as we seek to transform the Times into a self-sustaining institution.

Nieman Labs Joshua Benton reports that the Epoch Timesa Trump-loving, communist-hating, conspiracy-devoted newspaper connected to the Chinese Falun Gong movementis considering starting a journalism school. The newspaper seems to think of the potential school as a training ground for future Epoch Times staffers, saying that it and sibling network NTD Television would be excited to offer jobs and internships to high caliber students, Benton writes. He notes that while anyone can start a journalism school, the challenge would be in getting it accredited.

And the chief investment officer of abrdn (pronounced Aberdeen), a financial firm, hit out at the British media for making fun of the spelling of its name, accusing journalists of corporate bullying and suggesting that they wouldnt make fun of a persons name in the same way. This morning, the London newspaper City AM apologizedor, rather, aplgzdon its front page, saying sry to abrdn for tkng th pss ot of yr mssng vwls.

ICYMI: A deadly six months for a press at war

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
A lawyer for a Credit Suisse trust seeking to overturn the $743 million in damages the bank owes to Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili said the staff responsible did their incompetent best.

In a surprise concession to the challenge the Swiss bank faces in its appeal over its mishandling of rogue banker Patrice Lescaudron, the lead lawyer for Credit Suisse Trust Ltd. told a Singapore court on Monday that staff failed to inform their client of the illicit payments Lescaudron had made.

Put it simply, they were trying to do their incompetent best to address the unauthorized payments, Lee Eng Beng said at the hearing at the Singapore Court of Appeal. They went to their superiors about Lescaudron but the one thing they didnt do by March 30, 2008 is to let Ivanishvili know, he said.

Lee and his team are seeking to have the award cut after a lower court earlier ruled that the banks trust had failed to safeguard Ivanishvilis assets. It was revised down from an initial $926 million in a sprawling case spanning three continents.

The parent bank said that the original verdict was wrong and poses very significant legal issues. A spokesman for the bank declined to comment before Mondays hearing. Since the litigation began, Credit Suisse has been taken over by rival UBS Group AG.

The fallout centers around the case of Lescaudron who was convicted in 2018 for running a fraudulent scheme in which he took money from Ivanishvilis accounts to try and mask growing losses in other, Russian clients portfolios.

Lawyers for Ivanishvili have always contended that the bankers supervisors were aware or should have known of Lescaudrons subterfuge, and if they didnt should be held criminally negligent. The bank has always consistently countered that the Frenchman was a lone wolf who hid his crimes from his colleagues and bosses.

No one at the trust had knowledge of Lescaudrons fraud for a specific period between 2006 to 2008 and staff did their best to flag the suspect transactions to superiors, Lee told the panel of three judges. But two of the judges questioned whether the trust exhibited willful blindness in relation to the wrongdoing.

One of them, Justice Andrew Phang Boon Leong, used the analogy of employees guarding a vault being confronted with the sound of drilling noises inside.

Is your duty just to sit outside and do nothing unless you hear an explosion, the door is blown open? he asked.

Under repeated questioning, Lee argued the trusts employees were acting in good faith and without tainted consciences. He also argued the judgment generated overcompensation for Ivanishvili when just a fraction of the over 27,000 transactions the trust made were affected.

Ivanishvilis lawyer, Cavinder Bull, countered that the judgment has correctly concluded that the trust put the interests of its parent Credit Suisse ahead of its obligation to its client. He also said the defense was downplaying what the trust actually knew about Lescaudrons actions, as it had sufficient knowledge to know something grave was transpiring. He also disputed that the fraud encompassed a small number of transactions, since the whole portfolio was tainted by fraud.

The Bermuda judge who ruled against Credit Suisse in 2022 said the unit in that island nation had turned a blind eye to the rogue banker. It was the banks mishandling of that case that contributed to the plunge in shareholder confidence in the bank and its eventual takeover by UBS in March 2023.

Ivanishvili won more than $600 million in the Bermuda ruling, which Credit Suisse is also appealing.

Top photo: Bidzina Ivanishvili Photographer: Georgian Dream Party/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images.

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
Independce Heights Apartments sit across the street from property where the Houston Housing Authority is taking steps to develop for residential housing in the Independence Heights neighborhood on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Following Mayor John Whitmires overhaul of Houston Housing Authoritys board, Darryl Wilson, one of the newly appointed commissioners, resigned after less than two months because he does not have time to serve on the board, according to the mayors office.

In a highly unusual move, Whitmire in February kept only two of the agencys commissioners and appointed five new people to fill the seven-member board.

WHAT TO KNOW: Everything you need to know about the Houston Housing Authority after Mayor John Whitmires overhaul

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At the time, the mayor said he was concerned about financial mismanagement at the agency. Former board chair LaRence Snowden said the accusation was unfounded, adding Whitmire appeared to have misconceptions about how the housing authority operates.

Wilson, one of the five new members, has since resigned from his position, according to a Friday memo from Whitmire.

Wilson had some unforeseen scheduling issues and time constraints that would prevent him from serving on the authoritys board at this time, said Mary Benton, a spokesperson for the mayors office.

Mayor Whitmire looks forward to Mr. Wilson serving in other areas when the time is right for him, Benton said.

A retired senior executive at General Electric, Wilson currently leads The Wilson Collective, a consulting and investment firm that offers services to technology and industrial startups, according to his LinkedIn profile. He could not immediately be reached for comment.

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Eric Carter, founding principal of The Carter Law Firm, has been named as Wilsons replacement, per Whitmires memo. Carter has been practicing law for over four decades and most recently focused on health care legal matters. Carter did not respond to requests for comment, but Benton said he had accepted the offer.

CITY HALL CHANGES: All the major leadership changes made by Houston Mayor Whitmire as he shakes up City Hall

The housing authority serves tens of thousands of low-income residents in the city. It oversees one of the nations largest housing choice voucher programs, 19 public housing projects, as well as other tax credit and rent-restricted units across Houston.

The agency operates independently of the city of Houston. However, its commissioners are mayor-appointed positions, and it is not uncommon for the mayor to try to exert influence on its decisions.

Both Whitmire and former Mayor Sylvester Turner have publicly criticized the authority when its leadership did not follow their instructions. In January, for instance, Whitmire told FOX 26 he had asked the board to delay a vote on a proposal offering tax breaks to over a dozen projects in exchange for developers making a portion of their units affordable. But the board disregarded his request, the mayor said.

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In addition to Wilson, now replaced with Carter, Whitmire also appointed Kenneth Li, Cynthia Aceves-Lewis, Alton Smith and Joseph Jody Proler as part of the new housing authority leadership. He kept Stephanie Ballard and Kristy Kirkendoll, who serve as the agencys resident commissioners, meaning recipients of the housing authoritys services.
It was another record-breaking year for vehicle thefts in 2023, with more than one million vehicles were reported stolen  an overall increase of 1% nationwide from 2022 to 1,020,729 last year.

A report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau out on Tuesday shows vehicle theft rates have risen steadily since 2019. California had the highest number of vehicle thefts in 2023 with 208,668 vehicles reported stolen.

The District of Columbia had the highest theft rate across the nation last year with 1,149.71 thefts per 100,000 people, more than three times the national theft rate.

Criminals are employing increasingly sophisticated methods to steal vehicles, including the use of advanced technology to bypass security systems, David J. Glawe, president and CEO of NICB, said in a statement. From keyless entry hacks to relay attacks on key fobs, perpetrators are exploiting vulnerabilities in modern vehicle security measures with alarming success rates. It is critical that industry and law enforcement work together to develop more effective strategies for combating auto theft and safeguarding public safety.

The top 10 states by theft volume remained consistent in each quarter in 2023. After California, were Texas (115,013) and Florida (46,213) at second and third in thefts by volume. Five of the states in the top 10 theft states by volume also appeared in the top 10 list of states with the highest theft rates: California, Texas, Washington, Colorado and Missouri, the NICB report shows.

Urban centers and densely populated areas remained hotspots for auto theft, with metropolitan regions such as the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area reporting increased incidents compared to suburban or rural areas. The District of Columbia and Maryland each saw a rise in thefts in 2023, with theft percentage increases of more than 60%.

Among the top 10 Core-Based Statistical Areas, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria had the highest theft percentage increase from 2022 to 2023 at 52%.

Of the top 10 CBSAs by theft volume in 2023, Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado had the highest theft percentage decrease from 2022 of -22%. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calofprmoa had the highest number of overall thefts in 2023 with 72,460 vehicles reported as stolen to law enforcement, despite having a slight decrease in thefts from the 72,794 reported in the prior year (-0.5%).
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- A child daycare chain with more than 140 centers in seven states and Canada wants to open a location in Strongsville.

BrightPath Kids has proposed building a freestanding daycare center near the northeast corner of Pearl and Drake roads, just north of a GetGo gas station and convenience store.
NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio -- City Council is considering two ordinances that would create regulations for inpatient healthcare facilities, including hospitals and physical rehabilitation centers.

Tom Jordan, the citys community development coordinator, said no hospitals are planned for North Royalton.
BAY VILLAGE, Ohio -- On April 8, Bay Village, along with other communities around Northeast Ohio, became a focal point for astronomy enthusiasts eager to witness the rare celestial event of a total solar eclipse.

Cahoon Park played host to an intimate crowd of around 100 people, each drawn by a mix of curiosity and interest in the sun-moon spectacle.
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The odyssey of Haitian refugee Ansly Damus took a sweet turn last week as he reunited with his family after nearly a decade apart.

Damus met up once again with his wife, Adeline Cherenfant, daughter Darley Neika, 14, and son Ashly Darell, 10, at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on April 2.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A state panel of attorneys has recommended that a Cleveland lawyer be disbarred after a series of misconduct stemming back to 2019.

Carolyn Kaye Ranke mismanaged client funds, missed multiple filing deadlines and made several false statements in legal filings, a panel of the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct found in a report issued Friday.

The conduct board sent its recommendation of disbarment to the Ohio Supreme Court, which will hear arguments and render its own opinion.

Ranke declined to comment when reached Tuesday.

Ranke was admitted to practice law in 1989. She was suspended in 2011 after the court found that she mismanaged a clients trust fund, failed to file timely briefs and did not cooperate with the disciplinary investigation. She agreed to settle a legal malpractice suit in 2010 for more than $400,000.

Ranke worked as a bailiff for Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court Judge Denise Rini from 2013 and in 2019 resumed practice as a lawyer.

The disciplinary report stems from several cases beginning in 2019 in which Ranke represented people in both criminal and civil cases.

A judge who sentenced a woman to 33 years in prison appointed Ranke to handle the appeal. The womans mother sent Ranke repeated text messages in the weeks after the appeal was due asking for a copy of it. Ranke initially responded that she was in trial, then she asked the woman to check her spam because she had already sent it.

Ranke never actually filed the appeal and ultimately stopped responding to the messages. The appeals court ultimately allowed a new lawyer to file a delayed appeal, citing Rankes misleading messages.

Ranke was also hired by the owner of a home health care company to defend it in a lawsuit that its employees filed accusing the business of wage theft. Ranke never filed a response, and a judge ruled in favor of the employees and awarded them more than $300,000 in lost wages and attorneys fees.

The owner of the home sued Ranke. A judge ordered Ranke to pay the woman the cost of the judgment.

During that case, Ranke falsely told a judge that she had obtained a written affidavit from her client but could not get it signed and notarized because of quarantining restrictions, according to a filing. The client said that she had never talked to Ranke about an affidavit and had never received a draft of one to review.

In another case, a woman hired Ranke to represent her in a divorce. Ranke never filed a response to the husbands filing and missed a pre-trial conference. That resulted in a magistrate writing an email to both sides and informing them of a pending ruling in favor of the husband.

Ranke responded that she had filed a response and said she would send the magistrate a copy that day. She had not filed a response and never sent the magistrate a follow-up email. The magistrate ruled in favor of the husband and granted the divorce.

The woman who hired Ranke learned that she was legally divorced when she got a letter in the mail addressed to her under her maiden name, the report said.

The conduct board noted that Ranke had initially admitted to making false statements in either communications with or legal flings to courts. However, at a hearing before the conduct board Ranke sought to walk back those admissions and became defensive.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $600 million in a settlement over the train derailment in East Palestine that spilled toxic chemicals across the city.

U.S. District Judge Benita Pearson in Youngstown must sign off on the proposed agreement before it goes into effect. Both the train company and plaintiffs attorneys asked the judge to approve the deal.
WICKLIFFE, Ohio  An argument between two men in the driveway of a home Sunday afternoon led to a shooting that sent one of the men to the hospital in critical condition, police say.

A suspect, a 22-year-old man from Tennessee, is in custody but his name has not been released because he has not been formally charged, police say. He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, the 52-year-old male victim was in critical but stable condition at University Hospital in Cleveland. He reportedly was shot multiple times.

Officers went to a residence on the 1900 block of East 290th Street at about 4:40 p.m. Sunday after several calls to 911 reported that shots had been fired. The victim, whose name has not been released, was found on the sidewalk.

Police and Wickliffe EMS workers gave the victim medical aid before he was first taken to UH Lake West Medical Center, then flown by helicopter to University Hospital.

The accused gunman and the victim did not know each other and were at the home for two completely different reasons, according to police. They reportedly began arguing as they passed each other in the driveway. The argument escalated and shots were fired, police say.

The suspect left in a vehicle before officers arrived, but police were able to contact him by phone. The suspect was later taken into custody without incident at a home in Willowick. He is being held in jail without bond.
BONIFAY, Florida  A woman armed with a rifle and handgun wounded two people when she fired several shots at cars while driving on a Florida interstate during Mondays total solar eclipse, telling state troopers that she was following directions from God.

Taylon Nichelle Celestine, 22, of Georgia, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and improper discharge of a firearm, according to a news release from the Florida Highway Patrol. She is being held in the Holmes County Jail.

The patrol says Celestine is accused of driving a Dodge Challenger on Interstate 10 and firing at two passing vehicles. She had checked out of a hotel moments earlier and told the staff she had been directed by God to go on a shooting spree in connection to the eclipse, the patrol says.

The driver of the first car was grazed in the arm by a bullet and also was hit by glass fragments, but was able to safely pull over to the shoulder of the interstate.

Celestine reportedly continued driving and fired on another vehicle, wounding the driver in the neck. The victim was taken to a hospital but no information was released on the victims condition.

Troopers were able to pull over Celestines vehicle and she was taken into custody without incident, the patrol says. An AR-15 rifle and a 9mm handgun reportedly were found in the vehicle.

No additional details were released Monday.
Two cities in Ohio are among the best in the United States to live in, according to a new report from Money.com.

Both Cincinnati and Yellow Springs, Ohio, are among Money.coms Top 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. 2024 list, which was released Monday. The list celebrates cities and towns where a thriving economy meets affordability, diversity and an exceptional quality of life.

Money.com compiled its Best Places to Live in the U.S. list based on a range of metrics, including average housing costs, quality of public schools, percentage of residents in poverty, health of the local job market and more. The 50 cities were grouped into five categories: Culture hubs, hidden gems, new boomtowns, not just college towns and suburbs with a soul. Cincinnati was grouped into the culture hub category, while Yellow Springs fell under the category of suburbs with a soul.

RELATED:

Best Ohio small towns: Yellow Springs shines with trails, tie-dye and Chappelle cornfield comedy

Three Ohio cities make Top 50 Best College Towns in America list

Cincinnati, with a population of 309,513, boasts a median home listing price of $259,900  well below the U.S. median of $415,500, according to Realtor.com  and has an unemployment rate of 2.8%, below the national average of 3.9%.

The development of Cincinnatis Over-the-Rhine neighborhood is one of the most ambitious urban renewal projects in America, Money.com writes in its report.

The redevelopment of OTR is just one small part of Cincinnatis visionary city planning, which is based on the concept of modernization without suburbanization and has steered revitalization efforts in a rust belt town that recently snapped a six-decade streak of population loss. Nationally-ranked hospitals and universities, Fortune 500 companies like Kroger and Procter & Gamble, relatively low taxes and affordable home prices only add to the citys cachet.

Yellow Springs, with a much smaller population of 3,697, has a much higher median home listing price of $434,500, but a similar unemployment rate at 2.7%. Located about 30 minutes northeast of Dayton, the town of Yellow Springs has a commitment to inclusivity and is a great place to raise a family, according to Money.com.

RELATED:

Ohio town among Top 10 best places to raise a family in U.S., report says

The 6 best places to live in Ohio, according to U.S. News & World Report

Nestled in a scenic enclave of southwest Ohio, Yellow Springs has got a lot going on for a town of 3,700, Money.com writes. Locally-owned boutiques, restaurants and pubs are plentiful, as weekend visitors from nearby Dayton can attest. The town is awash with natural beauty, too, thanks to a smattering of local parks, bike trails and a 1,000-acre nature preserve located right next door.

Yellow Springs was also one of two Ohio towns, along with Cleveland, named to Forbes Advisors Top 50 Best Places to Travel in 2024 list, which was released in February.

Money.coms full list of the Top 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. 2024 can be found online.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appears at a pretrial hearing on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at Harris County Criminal Courts at Law in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons office on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Harris County over Uplift Harris, its new guaranteed income pilot program, calling the effort to administer $500 monthly payments to low-income residents the Harris Handout.

Though participants have been selected and notified already, Paxton is aiming to stop what he argues is an illegally implemented program. He is asking a Harris County district court judge to grant a temporary restraining order to prevent the program from being implemented and to declare that Uplift Harris is unconstitutional under state law.

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Around 1,900 participants selected to receive the payments were notified last month, with the first checks expected to be sent out as early as April 24. The Uplift Harris program, which is federally funded using the countys American Rescue Plan Act dollars, is designed to distribute the payments for 18 months.

But now, 10 months after the program was announced, Paxtons office is challenging the initiative following an inquiry from Republican state Sen. Paul Bettencourt.

There is no such thing as free money  especially in Texas, Paxtons office argued in the petition filed Tuesday, characterizing Uplift Harris as a socialist experiment by (Harris County Judge) Lina Hidalgo.

Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee took issue with Paxtons interpretation of the program in a statement Tuesday.

When corporations are given taxpayer dollars Republican leaders in Austin call it 'economic development.' When governments use federal dollars to actually help people, Republican leaders in Austin call it socialism, Menefee said in a statement.

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The Legislature last year approved an updated version of a corporate tax break program that saved businesses more than $10 billion in property taxes. But Bettencourt said Tuesday he doesn't have a problem with that initiative, which includes a requirement that the companies create jobs in Texas.

There is only one program  which is Uplift  that is doing this against the gift clause and has a randomized award (selection process) with no strings attached, Bettencourt said.

In January, Bettencourt asked Paxtons office to weigh in on whether counties have the authority to carry out a guaranteed income program and if such an initiative would violate a state law that prohibits the gift of public funds to any individual.

Menefee previously has argued that the program does not violate the clause because it accomplishes a legitimate public purpose and has sufficient controls in place to prove its purpose and measure its effectiveness.

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However, Paxtons office has reached a different conclusion, making the case that the program does not accomplish a public purpose and Harris County does not retain public control over the funds since recipients are given the money with no strings attached.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, the lone Republican on Commissioners Court, affirmed his support for Paxton's lawsuit.

In a statement on Tuesday, Hidalgo pointed to the impact the lawsuit will have on recipients who already have made plans around receiving the payments.

I feel for these families whose plans and livelihoods are being caught up in political posturing by Trumpian leaders in Texas, Hidalgo said.

Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis on Tuesday called Uplift Harris a transformational hand-up rather than the handout Paxton described.

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This lawsuit from Ken Paxton reads more like a MAGA manifesto than a legal document, Ellis said in a statement.

Ellis has been a steady advocate for the guaranteed income program, arguing similar initiatives around the country have helped some of the lowest income people pay for housing, utilities and food.

At the local level, we refuse to be bystanders as soaring income inequality has led to 750,000 members of our community enduring a relentless cycle of poverty, Ellis said, citing a U.S. Census Bureau estimate that 16.4% of Harris County residents live in poverty.

Ellis added that the county is prepared to defend Uplift Harris all the way to the Texas Supreme Court.

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Out of over 82,500 applications submitted for the program, around 1,900 participants were selected using a two-stage lottery system. After some 6,000 eligible applicants were randomly selected for the first stage, final participants were randomly selected from that group.

Under the programs eligibility requirements, participating households must live below 200% of the federal poverty line, which means around $60,000 for a family of four or $29,000 for an individual. They must also live in one of the target ZIP codes: 77026, 77028, 77033, 77050, 77051, 77060, 77081, 77091, 77093 and 77547.
UPDATE: Top Ohio Republican legislator says Biden ballot problem is going to be resolved

COLUMBUS, OhioIf President Joe Biden is disqualified from Ohios general election this fall because of a technicality, it would be the first time in modern presidential history that a major-party nominee has been unintentionally excluded from any states ballot, experts say.

However, the issue that could trip up Biden  that this years Democratic National Convention will be held after a state ballot-access deadline  has repeatedly been flagged in Ohio and nationwide as a potential problem for more than a decade.

Last Friday, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Columbus-area Republican, notified Democrats that Biden would not appear on Ohios Nov. 5 ballot unless his party moved up certification of his nomination before the states Aug. 7 deadline or state lawmakers passed an exemption for him, as they did for both Biden and then-President Donald Trump ahead of the 2020 election.

Since then, Democrats have been mostly mum on what they plan to do in response, other than to give assurances that Biden wont be left off the November ballot.

Theres no modern precedent for a major-party presidential nominee being excluded from a state ballot because of an administrative violation, according to Kyle Kondik, an Ohio native and political analyst for the University of Virginia.

In 1948 and 1964, Democratic Presidents Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson, respectively, were left off the ballot in Alabama after Democratic primary voters in that state chose presidential electors who supported pro-segregationist candidates George Wallace and Strom Thurmond, respectively.

With those exceptions, every Democratic and Republican nominee for president since World War II got at least some votes in every state, Kondik stated, citing Dave Leips Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.

Its pretty inconceivable for us to sit here and think that a Democrat or Republican wouldnt be on the ballot in 50 states, said David Niven, a University of Cincinnati political science professor. The level of tumult necessary for it to fail to happen would literally be a civil-rights resolution going on at the time.

There were a couple close calls, however, involving ex-President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee this year.

Trump was almost kept off Minnesotas general-election ballot in 2016 because of a procedural error: The state GOP failed to elect alternates to the Electoral College. The state party appointed alternates just in time for Trump to make the ballot, and a Democratic lawsuit challenging Trumps eligibility failed on procedural grounds.

Trump was also almost excluded from Colorados presidential primary this year, as that states supreme court ruled that Trumps role in the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol violated the 14th Amendment ban on people engaged in insurrection holding federal office. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned that ruling a day before Colorados March 5 primary.

Ohios law, which requires presidential candidates to be certified by their partys national convention at least 90 days before a general election, dates back to 2009, according to LaRose spokesman Ben Kindel.

In 2012 and 2020, both the Republican and Democratic national conventions were held after that deadline. However, in each of those years, state lawmakers passed laws temporarily moving the deadline until after the party conventions.

The National Association of Secretaries of State, a national, nonpartisan group, issued resolutions in 2013, 2018 and 2023 encouraging Republicans and Democrats to set their national convention dates earlier so as not to conflict with states administrative deadlines for candidates.

(The) late timing of nominating conventions can hinder the ability of election officials to meet administrative deadlines set by state statute and federal law, leaving ballot certification and voting processes susceptible to delays, the NASS resolution stated.

The resolution also resolved that NASS members who serve as their states chief elections officer shall seek to promote this resolution with their state party leaders. That includes LaRose, who in 2020 was named co-chair of the associations elections committee.

LaRose issued a memo in 2019 notifying elections officials that lawmakers pushed back the presidential candidate certification deadline in 2020.

Kindel said that LaRoses office didnt flag the potential issue regarding Biden this year until last week because staff had been focused on last months primary election and was only now starting to prepare for the general election.

House Minority Leader Allison Russo, a Democrat from suburban Columbus, said Tuesday that she and other legislative Democrats have been in conversations with the Democratic National Committee and the Biden campaign, among others, about multiple options to resolve the issue.

Asked whether that includes trying to get the GOP-dominated legislature to pass another exemptions or to hold a mini convention via Zoom to nominate Biden in a way that satisfies Ohio law, Russo said she wouldnt discuss hypotheticals.

However, Russo said, I dont believe the legislative fix is the only option here and have entire confidence that Joe Biden will be on the ballot.

Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood Democrat, said she thinks LaRose sent the letter because he was looking for attention for himself.

I think he lost a race abysmally and that he just wants to -- he got some national news coverage (from the letter), from what I understand, Antonio said. So I guess it serves that purpose.

Jeremy Pelzer covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
You never know when your data can be stolen by hackers and what they can do with it, which is why you have to be careful who you trust them with. Unfortunately, these things can happen even if you provide them to firms with strong security.

Greylock McKinnon Associates Data Breach

The US consulting firm suffered a data breach that led to the theft of 341,650 Social Security numbers. The incident has already been disclosed by the government of Maine, and victims have already been notified through mail.

According to Greylock McKinnon Associates (GMA), the cyberattack took place back in May 2023, and as soon as the suspicious activity was detected, the company "promptly took steps to mitigate the incident," as mentioned in Tech Crunch.

The notice stated that the personal information of the affected clients had been given to the Department of Justice "as part of a civil litigation matter," although the Department did not specify what the reasons and the targets of the litigation were.

GMA assured the victims of the attack that they were not the subject of the investigation or the associated litigation matters. Furthermore, the cyberattack does not affect the clients; current Medicare benefits or coverage.

Unfortunately, Social Security numbers were not the only information that was stolen during the attack. According to GMA, personal data like names, dates of birth, home addresses, health insurance information, and medical information may have been stolen as well.

It does strike as unusual why the firm only revealed the incident months after it happened, although GMA assured clients that they had already consulted with a third-party cybersecurity specialist to assist with matters, as well as notify the appropriate authorities.

Read Also : Mintlify Confirms Data Breach Exposed GitHub Tokens of Customers

What Can You Do?

On the side of apprehending the hacker, there's not much you can do. But, you can look out for signs if the attacker is targeting you by using your private data. Social Security numbers alone can be used for all sorts of fraudulent activity.

The bad actor will be able to get a credit card or loan in your name. They can also open various accounts like banks and phones. With your Social Security number, it would be possible for them to get a fraudulent driver's license, along with the ability to drain your bank account.

Other scenarios could be unlikely, such as the hackers using your name to commit crimes, which will reflect on your record. They could even receive medical care with your benefits or set up utilities using your SSN, as per Aura.

Although this already happened months ago, it's still best to watch out for suspicious activities in your accounts. Check with the bank if there are accounts made in your name, and monitor your existing bank accounts for unauthorized charges.

If you do find fraudulent activities, immediately contact the companies where your Social Security number was used and notify them of the theft. Place a fraud alert for your credit report and file an official identity theft report to the proper authorities.
In recent years, Microsoft has increasingly focused on generative AI and its advancements, particularly after a multi-billion-dollar investment in the technology, strengthening its partnership with OpenAI.

The Launching of Microsoft AI

The Redmond giant has integrated the technology into various Microsoft products and services, including the recent launch of Microsoft AI to enhance consumer AI products like Copilot. Microsoft's proactive investment in AI has propelled it to the position of the world's most valuable company, surpassing Apple. Market analysts credit this success to Microsoft's early lead and significant investment in AI.

Now, Microsoft is establishing Microsoft AI London, an AI hub that will lead innovative efforts to improve language models and their infrastructure and develop top-notch tools for foundational models.

Being the main supporter of OpenAI, Microsoft holds a prominent position in the rapidly advancing field of AI technology. However, competition for AI talent has intensified throughout Europe in the last 18 months, where Microsoft is considering recruiting specialists from other AI-focused firms like DeepMind or OpenAI to fill positions in its new division.

The establishment of Microsoft AI London also signals a victory for Britain, which has aimed to strengthen its reputation as a leading technology hub since hosting the world's inaugural global AI safety summit in November.

READ ALSO: Microsoft Copilot: Small Businesses' AI Assistant for $20 Monthly Premium Per Individual

Who Is Leading Microsoft AI?

Microsoft recruited Mustafa Suleyman, the co-founder of Google DeepMind and a native of London, to head its internal Microsoft AI division last month. Suleyman left his recently established company, Inflection AI, to join Microsoft and lead this unit, bringing along several dozen team members with him, which gained criticism from some corners, asserting it bypassed the regulatory scrutiny typically associated with traditional acquisitions.

The Microsoft AI London Hub

While the exact number of jobs the new center will create is still uncertain, the announcement aligns with Microsoft's recent pledge to invest 2.5 billion ($3.16 billion) in enhancing data center infrastructure and advancing AI capabilities throughout Britain.

The news comes after the leak of an internal Microsoft memo revealed plans for a reorganization. The focus is on transitioning most staff under the Teams Chat app umbrella to work on Copilot AI-themed projects. This move is notable considering the recent pressure from the EU Commission, which led to the global unbundling of Microsoft Teams from its Office 365 package.

According to Microsoft, Microsoft AI London will lead groundbreaking efforts to advance language models and infrastructure and create world-class foundation models by collaborating closely with AI teams across Microsoft and partners like OpenAI.

The news launch aligns with Microsoft's recent 2.5 billion investment to enhance the UK workforce for the AI era and provide infrastructure support for the AI economy. Microsoft plans to deliver 20,000 of the most advanced GPUs to the UK by 2026.

AI scientist and engineer Jordan Hoffmann will lead the new AI hub in London Paddington, collaborating closely with Microsoft's AI team. The company aims to leverage the UK's abundant AI talent and expertise while recruiting additional AI scientists and engineers to drive innovation at the hub. Microsoft will advertise job openings and hire new team members for the AI hub.

RELATED ARTICLE: Elon Musk Railing Against $55 Billion Pay Ruling, Shifts Neuralink Incorporation from Delaware to Nevada

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
By KTimes

Actor Ju Ji-hoon shared his personal experiences about the bullying he endured from his middle school years through to the end of high school appearing on the YouTube channel "Salty Brother Shin Dong-yup."

Ju revealed the hardships he faced growing up in Cheonho-dong, Seoul, a neighborhood he described as "wild and fervent." With classes comprising up to 75 students, Ju painted a picture of a crowded educational environment, full of school gangs and bullies.

He condemned the bullies' tactic of using their numbers to intimidate, emphasizing the psychological toll such actions took on him. "It was a wild and bustling neighborhood. With so many students, you can imagine how many bullies there were," Ju said."The real problem wasn't about engaging in a fight; it was about how they used their numbers to instill fear."

Ju revealed that he started facing harassment from groups of students upon entering middle school. "I felt like a coward," he said, expressing how the actions of the bullies affected him.

He shared how he was subjected to continuous harassment by the same group of bullies during his high school years, who would demand his submission with demeaning commands. "They would say, 'Submit to me. You're nothing. Bow down.' I had to pretend to bow, reluctantly," Ju recalled.

Ju expressed relief that his profession gave him a platform to discuss these issues openly, something he views as fortunate considering his troubled past. The actor also recounted the constant harassment he endured up until his high school graduation, where bullies would demand submission with derogatory taunts.

Shin Dong-yup, the host of the show and a fellow entertainer, related to Ju's experiences by sharing his own story of being forced to relinquish his padded jacket to bullies, a common form of extortion among schoolchildren. "If you didn't comply, you knew the consequences. It was humiliating," Shin recalled, capturing the essence of the powerlessness and degradation victims often feel.





This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Interview: China-Europe Railway Express vitalizes regions along its route, says German expert

Xinhua) 10:34, April 09, 2024

DUISBURG, Germany, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The China-Europe Railway Express has injected vitality into Duisburg, a key transportation hub in the Ruhr region of Germany, and has opened up new development opportunities for the countries and cities along its route, a German professor has said.

Bernd Noche, a professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany and head of the Department Transport Systems and Logistics, told Xinhua in a recent interview that Duisburg is emerging as a pivotal hub for connectivity and trade between China and Europe, thanks to the China-Europe Railway Express project, which connects 120 Chinese cities with 219 cities across 25 European countries.

According to data from Duisport, the ownership and management company of the Port of Duisburg, connections between Chinese cities and Duisburg now take between 12 and 18 days for transportation.

Approximately 60 trains arriving on the China-Europe Railway Express reach Duisburg each week, with the goods on the trains subsequently transported to domestic seaports or neighboring countries in Europe.

The China-Europe Railway Express introduces a more balanced mode of transportation, the German professor said. "When we consider railway connections, this is now a unique mode of transport because it is faster than a ship, but lower price than by plane. So, it's something in between," he said, adding that there were a lot of goods suitable for rail transportation.

Noche also noted that the "Belt and Road Initiative" has great potential to form a "new Silk Road," connecting different regions along the route which the China-Europe Railway Express runs.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), of which the China-Europe Express Rail is a flagship project, was proposed by China in 2013 and aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe, Africa and beyond.

"We want to involve further countries, Kazakhstan, for instance, I think that's the big chance," Noche said.

Noche was equally encouraged to discover that many people in Kyrgyzstan had shown their interest in the "Belt and Road Initiative" and were willing to get involved in it, inputting their ideas and providing local goods.

Agricultural products made in Kazakhstan can now be quickly delivered to western Europe or China by train along the China-Europe railway, Noche said.

As an expert on the transportation and logistics industry, Niche has been researching potential development opportunities that the "Belt and Road Initiative" can bring to the countries that are involved in it.

He initiated a project named "Regional Sustainable New Silk Road Initiative" at the University of Duisburg-Essen in 2019 in a bid to explore the possibilities of supporting the development of companies in Duisburg and its neighboring areas, advancing cooperation, as well as promoting innovation and exchanges.

The first phase of the project, participated by 23 organizations, has been completed. Moving forward, Noche and his team are eager to seek more international partners to further propel the project forward, because he views the Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity for "win-win cooperation and prosperity."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
By Yi Whan-woo

The number of employed Korean women has reached a record high, but the country is still far from improving the wage gap between men and women, which is the worst in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

According to the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) data provided by Statistics Korea, Tuesday, the country had a total of 9.97 million wage workers in 2023.

The figure was up 282,000 from the previous year and also marked the highest since Statistics Korea started compiling relevant data in 1963.

The number of employed people from 1963 to 2023 increased more than 17-fold.

The ratio of women in the workforce also reached an all-time high of 45.7 percent of the countrys workers in 2023.

The rate increased steadily from 24.1 percent in 1963 to 33.8 percent in 1983 and 41.4 percent in 2013.

The employment status for women improved as well.

Some 68.7 percent of 9.97 million female wageworkers were employed full-time, while another 28.1 percent were temporary workers and another 3.2 percent were daily contract workers.

Despite such advancement, Korea still sits at the bottom of the OECD on the gender wage imbalance after nearly 30 years.

The pay gap between men and women was 31.2 percent in 2022, making little progress from 31.1 percent in 2021.

Korea was the only OECD member country that posted a rate higher than 30 percent, which was more than twice the OECD average of 12.1 percent in 2023.

Israel was ranked second with a gap difference of 25.4 percent, followed by Japan with 21.3 percent and the United States with 17 percent.

In a 2023 survey of 1,504 wageworkers taken by the Korean Womens Development Institute, 39.6 percent of male respondents said career breaks due to having and raising children reduces chances for women to move up and receive higher wages compared to men.

But 54.7 percent of the female respondents picked gender discrimination in promotions as the major reason for the pay gap.
A Tesla Model X burns after crashing on U.S. Highway 101 in Mountain View, California, U.S. on March 23, 2018.

Tesla has settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of Walter Huang, an Apple engineer and father of two who died after his Model X SUV, with Autopilot features switched on, crashed into a highway barrier near Mountain View, California, in 2018.

The settlement comes as jury selection and a trial were just beginning on Monday in a California Superior court. The settlement allows Tesla to avoid airing evidence and testimonies in a widely-followed case.

The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the fatal crash and revealed, in 2020, that it found Tesla's tech was at least partly to blame for the collision, along with possible driver distraction and problematic road construction. NTSB believed that Huang had been looking at a game on his phone at some point before the collision.

The federal agency found that Tesla's forward collision warning system did not provide an alert, and its automatic emergency braking system did not activate as Huang's Model X, with Autopilot engaged, accelerated into a barrier alongside the highway 101. Faded lane markings and the barrier  or crash attenuator  positioning also may have contributed to the collision, the NTSB said in 2020.

Huang's bereaved family sued Tesla for wrongful death and their claims focused in part on alleged safety and design defects in the company's driver assistance systems. The case was Sz Huang et al v. Tesla Inc. et al in a California Superior Court in Santa Clara County.

Huang attorneys, in court filings, also pointed to social media and marketing messages from Tesla, its CEO Elon Musk and others, suggesting that Autopilot made Tesla vehicles safe to drive without needing to stay attentive to the road at all times or without needing to keep hands on the vehicle's steering wheel.

In internal Tesla e-mails referenced in court filings, Tesla execs and engineers discussed how they had become complacent while driving their Tesla vehicles with Autopilot or related premium features switched on. They described reading emails and checking their phones while driving with these systems engaged.
Housing rights activists and tenants protest against evictions and the poor condition of their apartments outside the offices the landlord Broadway Capital in Chelsea, Massachusetts on April 25, 2022.

For many years, Conemaugh Health System, a hospital chain in west central Pennsylvania, was a nonprofit entity, serving patients in the small communities of Johnstown, Hastings, Meyersdale and Roaring Spring. Today, it is a for-profit system owned in part by Apollo Global Management, one of the largest private-equity firms in the United States.

Since that ownership change in 2018, involving a hospital chain known as LifePoint Health, care at the health system has declined, three patients say. One is Paul Ricci, 53, who works at group homes for the intellectually disabled and in his spare time edits the Johnstown-based Allegheny Independent Media, "a non-fluff website for news and analysis of the Allegheny Region of Pennsylvania," as he calls it. Recently, he said, he and his father have experienced overnight waits in the emergency department and have had trouble getting through to someone who can answer billing questions.

That a big, New York City-based private-equity firm had stepped in at Conemaugh wasn't well-known when it happened, he told NBC News. "The same people were there at the hospital," he said. "I didn't know the care would be different."

Like many U.S. consumers, Ricci is beginning to learn about the impact that private-equity firms like Apollo can have on health care. Over the past decade, these firms have spent $1 trillion taking over health care companies across the nation, typically loading them with debt and hoping to sell them at a gain in three to five years. Critics say the drive to profit from the acquisitions of nursing homes, hospitals, physician practices and health care staffing companies conflicts with diligent patient care, and the firms and their purchases are coming under heightened scrutiny from legislators, anti-trust enforcers and patients.

LifePoint Health, for example, is one of the subjects of two Senate inquiries focused on whether financial deals like the company's may be harming patients. Apollo and LifePoint have said they welcome the scrutiny. Conemaugh did not respond to an email seeking comment.

In recent years, private-equity firms have taken over broad swaths of the nation's economy, extending well beyond health care. These purchases have involved supermarkets, child care, senior living centers, fast food operations, rental housing and pet care providers. Consumers are often unaware that private-equity firms own the companies they patronize because the firms don't put their names on the nursing homes, hospitals, veterinary practices and apartment buildings they own.

But these firms' involvement in different industries can be extensive  for example, NBC News recently estimated that 40% of the nation's emergency departments were operated by staffing companies owned by private-equity firms. And by 2030, according to a recent MetLife estimate, companies backed by private equity may own 40% of the nation's single-family homes, purchases that in many regions have already driven up housing costs for local renters, academics say.

New research by Private Equity Stakeholder Project, a nonprofit group that advocates for more transparency and regulation of the industry, aims to help consumers, legislators and regulators identify where private-equity firms dominate in four key economic areas: health care, housing, jobs and pensions. The analysis, called the Private Equity State Risk Index, details private equity's involvement in those arenas in all 50 states.

Arizona and Georgia, for example, rank high on the list for housing risks related to heavy private-equity purchases of rental homes; New Mexico and West Virginia place high for health care operations dominated by the financiers. Alabama and Massachusetts have an elevated impact on workers and jobs while Washington state, Louisiana and Michigan rank high in pension risk because of investments in private equity, the research states.

The index shows "the private equity threats in our own backyard and gives state leaders the tools to protect the people they serve," said Chris Noble, policy director at Private Equity Stakeholder Project. "By providing transparent data on the risks associated with private equity investments, we empower communities, working families, and policymakers to advocate for change and protect their states from the threats posed by unchecked private equity firms."
Shares of Alphabet are on the verge of a possible breakout ahead of the company's three-day Google Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas, where artificial intelligence will be a major theme. Our focus will be on Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian's keynote around noon ET on Tuesday as we continue to see cloud innovation and AI integration as keys to further upside for the stock, which has certainly tested our patience this year. Google's generative AI large language model (LLM), Gemini, is what we're most interested in because of its importance in Google Cloud's battle with Microsoft 's Azure and Amazon 's AWS  both of which maintain significantly greater market share. Ahead of the keynote, Google announced custom Arm-based chips, following similar efforts from Amazon and Microsoft. It's no secret that Alphabet  among our Super Six mega-caps, which also include Apple , Amazon, Meta Platforms , Microsoft and Nvidia  has been our least favorite. We started 2024 trimming all of them after last year's powerful rally. Shortly after the trade, Alphabet shares ran into a brick wall after some advertising weakness surfaced in fourth-quarter results and was followed by a controversy over Gemini's image generator that caused the company to pull the tool. After bottoming in early March, shares soared to all-time highs on April 1. We made a second Alphabet trim that day in recognition of the run. We kept a smaller position because we know that Alphabet has the financial firepower and talent needed to turn things around. Management just needs to execute. Jim Cramer said on CNBC on Monday, "I have not been all that optimistic about Google's prospects versus Microsoft versus Amazon." However, he added that Kurian's keynote will be important. It's kind of a reset. The conference is expected to show that "Google is not being left behind, not being troubled by Search," Jim said. "This is the moment when the Cloud is growing in both financial and sentiment importance, and I have to believe it's going to move the stock higher." The timing of the annual event is also interesting. Bank of America said it comes only about 7 months after last year's gathering. The BofA analysts think it might have to do with management's excitement to share new advancements or even unveil new AI-powered offerings. Other notable speakers at this week's conference include Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora, Anthropic co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei, senior AI specialist at Ford Yao Ge, and Nvidia's director of generative AI Nik Spirin. (Palo Alto and Ford are also Club stocks.) Many others will be there as well to help support Google's efforts to compete in the cloud or to better leverage the cloud and AI tools to further enhance their own businesses. GOOGL YTD mountain Alphabet YTD With shares hovering near all-time highs, there is certainly a lot riding on this week's event. Many investors have soured on Alphabet, but few have truly counted them out of the AI race. We count ourselves among them. Tuesday will be a big test for the company as management looks to silence the naysayers. Alphabet has dropped the ball to some extent over the past few quarters and must show it's still very much a leader in the AI race. That said, we expect Tuesday's AI conversation to be limited to how it relates to Google Cloud. With the company's Google I/O developer conference, set for May 14, we wouldn't be surprised if some non-cloud AI announcements were being guarded until then. Outside the events, we also want to highlight some positive findings from Oppenheimer, which raised its Alphabet price target to $185 per share from $172 on Sunday. According to an Oppenheimer consumer survey, "search remains the best at satisfying consumer use cases, with genAI a complement vs. substitute to search." That's important because a big concern surrounding Alphabet's stock is that generative AI offerings such as ChatGPT from Microsoft-backed OpenAI, Claude from Amazon-backed Anthropic or Google's own Gemini would displace search to some extent. The advertising/monetization model around AI has not been established yet. But we know that Google's bread and butter is contextual ads severed up via search real estate. The Oppenheimer analysts added that their survey suggests that "contrary to investor fears that genAI could replace search, survey results suggest the use of AI assistants could increase search frequency." The survey also indicates that if Apple were ordered by regulators to remove Google as the default search engine on its devices, most users would either choose Google if they were provided a list of options or actively go and download the Chrome app to search with Google. If this default status were removed, Alphabet would also save billions of dollars. It's estimated that Google pays $18 billion to Apple each year to be the default search engine. While we're speculating, it remains to be seen if Apple will choose Alphabet as its partner for generative AI implementation as media reports have suggested as a possibility. We would like to hear something on this front at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. While a collaboration between the two could certainly make sense given the vast amount of data Alphabet can deliver thanks to search, Apple, no doubt, does not want to be at the mercy of any company. Apple has been working on its own LLM called (ReALM), which stands for reference resolution as language modeling, and developers argue its smallest models perform comparably to GPT-4 from OpenAI, adding that larger models "substantially" outperform GPT-4. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long GOOGL, AAPL, AMZN, META, MSFT, NVDA, PANW, F. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

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Energy prices are surging, and an income-oriented play is getting some love from legendary investor Bill Gross. Earlier this month, the former Pimco investment chief and " bond king " said on social media platform X : "I love MLP pipelines. ... Better than AI," noting that these master limited partnerships have climbed by double-digits in the past 12 months. The action in MLPs is getting some help as energy prices jump. West Texas Intermediate crude futures have popped nearly 20% in 2024, and Brent futures have surged 16% as conflict in the Middle East escalates and oil cartel OPEC+ cuts production. MLPs offer investors a way to bet on the exploration, transport and processing of oil and gas. They also pay attractive dividend yields: Plains All American Pipeline and NuStar Energy , both of which Gross highlighted in his post, have dividend yields of 6.8% and 7.1%, respectively. Even as oil is a hot market now, natural gas could be the next corner of the energy patch for investors interested in pipelines, according to Stephen Ellis, an energy and utilities strategist with Morningstar. Natural gas futures have tumbled 26% in 2024, but plays in that space have better growth prospects. "I've been focusing on gas over oil because I think the outlook is more attractive versus oil, for midstream in particular," he said, noting that there is demand in Asia for natural gas liquid exports. Midstream refers to the stages of the energy production process between upstream exploration and production and downstream refining and marketing and often refers to pipeline owners. Ellis likes Energy Transfer , Enterprise Products Partners and Targa Resources , in particular. Energy Transfer and Enterprise Products Partners are partnerships, and they yield 8% and 7.1%, respectively. Gas distributor Targa is a C corporation and has a yield of 1.8%. The strategist is in good company on these names: Of the 18 analysts covering Energy Transfer, 17 rate it a buy or strong buy, and consensus price targets suggest about 16% upside from current levels, according to LSEG. Enterprise Products and Targa are both buy-rated by analysts based on the Wall Street consensus, with price targets implying upside of 12% and roughly 3%, respectively, according to LSEG. Business structures versus tax benefits Master limited partnerships trade on exchanges just like the stocks of C corporations, but there is a key difference in how they are structured  and that is the secret behind MLPs' hot yields. General partners run the MLP's day-to-day business, while investors  known as limited partners  purchase interests and provide the partnership with capital. In turn, the MLP spins out income distributions to the investors. Though the partnership isn't subject to federal income tax, the limited partners face taxes on the income they collect. Contrast that with C corps, which are subject to corporate income taxes and pay dividends that are taxable to the shareholders. Because MLPs avoid this "double taxation," they can offer tempting yields. See below for a list of some master limited partnerships. Watch for tax traps There's a trade-off for the income, though: tax complexity. Partnerships issue their investors a Schedule K-1 every year, detailing their share of income received. The issue is that partners may not get this form until mid-March, or later  and they need it to file their own individual tax returns. That means MLP investors could find themselves going on extension to file returns: In that case, they could file their returns as late as Oct. 15. Bear in mind that an extension to file isn't an extension to pay: You'll still need to pay the IRS what you owe by April 15. Another consideration for investors is where they choose to hold the MLP. Even if your tax reporting is a little more complicated, you'll want to keep the MLP in a taxable account. That's because if you hold it in a tax-deferred account, like an individual retirement account, you could trigger a tax liability, known as unrelated business taxable income. This may mean your IRA will have to file its own tax return.
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Binance's new CEO Richard Teng said the company has moved past cultural issues after the company was hit with a $4.3 billion fine to settle charges from the U.S. Justice Department. The DOJ had alleged Binance practised a move first, ask forgiveness later approach. Teng on Tuesday acknowledged the concerns. "In those very early stage of development  again, where rules are nascent [and in the] early stage of development, there's no clarity on that  Binance was operating in a certain fashion," Arjun Kharpal on Tuesday at the Paris Blockchain Week crypto conference in Paris, France. "But we have moved past that as the company move into greater maturity," Teng said, adding: "We are looking at sustainability; the direction of travel is very clear towards much more compliance, which is why we're building up a very robust compliance program." In November, Binance agreed to pay a $4.3 billion settlement to the U.S. government, including a forfeiture of $2.5 billion and a fine of $1.8 billion. Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao was charged with violating the Bank Secrecy Act and agreed to step down.

Binance CEO Richard Teng at the Paris Blockchain Week summit in Paris, France, on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The plea deals ended a years-long investigation into the crypto exchange. Zhao's sentencing was postponed until April 30, according to a February notice in a Seattle federal court. In its November settlement with Binance, the DOJ said that former CEO Zhao had "told employees it was 'better to ask for forgiveness than permission,' and prioritized Binance's growth over compliance with U.S. law." U.S. authorities also accused Binance of allowing transactions between U.S. users and users in jurisdictions that were subject to U.S. sanctions. "These illegal transactions were a clear and foreseeable result of Zhao's decision to prioritize Binance's profit and growth over compliance with the BSA," the Justice Department said, referring to the Bank Secrecy Act. Last week, Binance named its first board of directors in an effort to satisfy the concerns of U.S. regulators. While the board added some non-executive directors, it still primarily comprises company insiders, including Teng. Asked about Binance's decision to appoint mostly company insiders to the board, Teng said it was important to ensure that the talent driving the Binance business going forward was "unique" to address its corporate needs.

"It's a good mix of internal inputs, as well as external [ones], on how to bring this company forward as corporate stewards," Teng said, adding that the current board makeup was focused on making the appropriate tech enhancements and product enhancements to head toward a "robust sustainable business."

Still undecided on global HQ

Binance has yet to decide on an official global headquarters, but Teng said the firm has a few options in mind. The search requires a "very deliberate process" to ensure it hits all the right notes, he added. "It's not an easy decision, there are a lot of considerations as you can imagine [including] whether the jurisdiction has the regulatory framework to cater to the breadth and depth of our products, that can cater to our users  [and] whether we can base more people there as part of our corporate headquarters." Binance has long been searching for a central hub to establish its operations, in order to allay regulator concerns about its approach to compliance. Previously, the company suggested it could choose Paris as the location of its global HQ. "There are various considerations at play that we need to look at seriously, and we're going through a very deliberate process," Teng told CNBC. "We're going to see a corporate headquarters like we see for other corporate institution and that's the journey we have to go on."
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., at center right, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, center rear, leave Manhattan Federal Court in New York City following his arraignment, March 11, 2024.

Sen. Bob Menendez questioned a Treasury Department official Tuesday on curbing illegal finance as he prepares to stand trial in a month with his wife and two other men on federal bribery charges.

"I'm concerned about the exploitation of our litigation finance industry by foreign actors," the New Jersey Democrat told Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo at a Senate Banking Committee hearing.

Menendez cited a Bloomberg Law report that showed Russian billionaires with ties to President Vladimir Putin funded bankruptcy lawsuits in New York despite being sanctioned following the invasion of Ukraine.

Menendez also slammed the Biden administration for not stopping Iran under current sanctions from selling its oil to entities in countries including China.

"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that you can convert those dollars into cryptocurrency and other forms in order to ultimately have access to them," Menendez said.

Adeyemo said it is almost impossible for Iran to get access to the money from oil it sells using the traditional financial system.

However, he said Congress needs to act so bad actors cannot circumvent sanctions by using cryptocurrencies.

"We fear that without congressional action to provide us with necessary tools, the use of virtual assets by these actors will only grow," Adeyemo said in his opening remarks.

Republican senators on the committee attacked the Biden administration for its 2023 deal to unfreeze $6 billion of Tehran's funds to be used for humanitarian assistance in exchange for the release of political prisoners in Iran.

"Iran is not our friend. Venezuela is not our friend, President Biden keeps giving them money to buy weapons to try to kill us," said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La.

Adeyemo said that the funds, which were blocked after Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel, have not been sent to Iran.

"None of that money has gone to Iran, and that money is not going to go directly to Iran," Adeyemo said.

Menendez is set to begin trial May 6 on nearly 20 criminal counts related to allegedly accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold bars, and other luxury goods in return for helping three businessmen in their dealings. He has pleaded not guilty.

His wife, Nadine Menendez, and two of the businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, will be tried with him.

The fifth defendant in the case, Jose Uribe, previously pleaded guilty and agreed to assist prosecutors.

The senator is accused of, among other things, providing sensitive U.S. government information that secretly aided the government of Egypt, and pressuring a U.S. Department of Agriculture official to protect a business monopoly in Egypt.

Menendez was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee until he was indicted in September.
This story is part of CNBC's quarterly Cities of Success series, which explores cities that have transformed into business hubs with an entrepreneurial spirit that has attracted capital, companies and employees. Nestled against the Rocky Mountains, Boulder, Colorado, has blossomed into a thriving hub for the natural products and wellness industry. Here, companies generate billions in revenue, all stemming from a deep appreciation for entrepreneurship, the outdoors and healthy living. The industry's roots trace back to local hikers who, in 1969, hand-picked wild herbs on the foothills of the Rockies, inspiring the creation of tea company Celestial Seasonings, a pioneer of the natural foods movement, according to a local industry group. The tea company was later acquired by Hain Food Group  now Hain Celestial Group  in 2000 for $390 million. "This [region] is the epicenter of natural and organic," Hain Celestial Group President and CEO Wendy Davidson told CNBC in a recent interview for the upcoming primetime special "Cities of Success," which airs April 11 at 10 p.m. EDT. "If you want to drive growth, if you want to be in the industry in an authentic way, Boulder is the place to be."

Hain Celestial Group CEO Wendy Davidson (left) and CNBC's Andrea Day (right) trekking along the historic footrails where the founders of Celestial Seasonings gathered wild herbs in 1969. CNBC

Today, Celestial Seasonings, still headquartered in Boulder, brews over 1.6 billion cups of tea annually, with sales exceeding $150 million. Its success story serves as an inspiration for countless entrepreneurs in the area. "It's the people. It's the environment  the entrepreneurial environment and the focus on natural and organic and wellness has allowed us to scale and grow one of our largest and most profitable brands in the company," Davidson said. The Boulder region's emphasis on healthy living has fueled a booming industry, generating a whopping $2.1 billion annually for Colorado's economy, according to an October 2020 study by the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder. That contribution translates to over 22,000 jobs and a significant impact on production, supply chains and consumer spending, according to the study.

Turning peanut butter into gold

The Boulder County Farmers Market, a vibrant incubator since 1987, exemplifies the region's thriving ecosystem.

A sign from the Boulder Farmers Market, operating from April to November, serving as an incubator for numerous small food businesses. CNBC

From April to November, the market transforms into a testing ground for aspiring food entrepreneurs. Over 100 small businesses showcase their products to a hungry crowd of 100,000 shoppers annually. Sales at the market have skyrocketed 400% since 2013, reaching a cool $5.7 million in 2023, according to the nonprofit organization Behind the Markets. It's also here that a simple jar of nut butter can become pure gold. In 2004, Justin Gold, armed with his homemade peanut and almond butters, started "slinging jars" to the local Boulder community at the farmers market.

In this historic photo, Justin Gold, founder of Justin's Nut Butter, fills jars of peanut butter during the early days when he sold his product at a local farmers market. Justin's

What began as free samples quickly grew into a hit product. The unique, all-natural flavors resonated with health-conscious consumers, and jars of Justin's, as they were branded, became a familiar sight at the market. But this wasn't enough for Gold  he ultimately leveraged his popularity to convince local retailers to stock his brand on their shelves. Slowly but surely, the business grew, eventually culminating in a landmark deal with Whole Foods. Justin's products can now be found at health stores and coffee shops across the country. "What we accomplished just blew out my wildest dreams," Gold told CNBC. The journey from a single farmer's market stall to a $281 million sale to Hormel Foods in 2016 is a testament to both Gold's vision and the unique environment that Boulder fosters.

Packages of Justin's brand peanut butter cups are arranged for a photograph in Tiskilwa, Illinois, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 15, 2016. Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Gold said the city's vibrant community of entrepreneurs, its focus on health and wellness, and the beautiful natural surroundings are the key ingredients of his success story. "Everybody here is up to something really interesting," he said. "You don't have to be in an office environment to be creative, you can be outside. And I think the confluence of all these great things breed some really extraordinary outcomes." Inspired by Gold's success, Juan Stewart launched his Latin American sparkling fruit drink, Frescos Naturales, at the Boulder County Farmers Market in 2021. Stewart quickly recognized the market's power, calling it "the hub of the natural food industry" where many brands have achieved national success.

Frescos Naturales founder Juan Stewart maneuvers a cart laden with cases of his sparkling fruit drinks inside a warehouse. CNBC

His gamble paid off. Within its first year, Frescos raked in over $40,000 in sales and secured a distribution deal with grocery chain Kroger . "I was very lucky to be in Boulder when I launched this brand," Stewart reflected.

Moving cross country

Naturally Boulder, a group founded in 2005, is proving to be a breeding ground for success in the natural and organic food industry. By supporting entrepreneurs and connecting startups with local investors, the group has fostered a powerful cluster of companies that's attracting businesses from across the country. "Companies that started here, like a Celestial [Seasonings] they had success. So other people started coming here," said Kristine Carey, executive director at Naturally Boulder. "Companies are still moving here... there's a resurgence of energy." This energy is evident in the story of Kristy Lewis, founder of Quinn Snacks.

Quinn Snacks founder Kristy Lewis showing off her snacks in a grocery aisle. Kristy Lewis
Almost one-third, 30%, of Americans say they have experienced feelings of loneliness once a week during the last year, according to a January 2024 poll by the American Psychiatric Association. And 10% say they feel lonely every day. In a recent conversation, professor and researcher Brene Brown and Belgium American psychotherapist Esther Perel identified a possible culprit for these feelings of isolation: social media. "When I went off social media for a year, it was one of the best things that ever happened to me," says Brown, who hosts the podcast "Unlocking Us." Being off Instagram and Twitter made her better able to invest in real life conversations. "If we believe that time and energy and focus are finite, when you live in that world online something is going to give in your real life," Brown says.

'Modern loneliness masks as hype-connectivity'

Americans are split on whether social media helps or hinders us in making deep connections, according to the APA survey. Almost 70% say social media is "beneficial for forming and maintaining relationships," but only 54% say these connections are meaningful and 46% say they are superficial. For many people, online connections can present like substantive friendships when they are not, says Perel, who hosts the podcast "Where Should We Begin?" "Modern loneliness masks as hype-connectivity," Perel says. "It's not about being physically alone, but about being misunderstood, unseen, rejected, ostracized, all of that."

It's not about being physically alone, but about being misunderstood, unseen, rejected, ostracized, all of that. Esther Perel

People end up having dozens of conversations on Twitter and Instagram, but no one to listen to their anxieties or challenges, a phenomenon Perel calls "artificial intimacy." "Artificial intimacy are all the experiences that we currently have that are pseudo-experiences," she says. "They should give us the feeling of something real but they don't. I am talking to you about something deeply personal and you're answering me, 'uh-huh, uh-huh.' And I should be feeling connected, open, vulnerable, but [...] you're not present and I'm feeling a certain kind of loneliness."

'It's an amazing thing how many people are going to spend the night at home'

If you've experienced more feelings of loneliness or isolation lately, getting off social media can help. But, you also have to refocus some of that energy into making plans, Perel told Dan Harris on his podcast "Ten Percent Happier." The quickest way to reduce loneliness and increase your happiness is to ask a friend to do something today. "People may often be busy three weeks before but they're not busy the day of," Perel says. "It's an amazing thing how many people are going to spend the night at home." If you don't know who to call, Perel suggests to Harris asking yourself a few questions: Who do you owe a phone call to?

Who do you owe an apology to?

Who do you want to go on a walk with? After giving up social media, Brown was able to dedicate more time to those with whom she had deeper relationships. "I had so much more energy for connections with people that would hold my hair back if I was sick and throwing up, would talk to me about my mom's dementia journey, would feed my dog," Brown says. Want to make extra money outside of your day job? Sign up for CNBC's new online course How to Earn Passive Income Online to learn about common passive income streams, tips to get started and real-life success stories. Register today and save 50% with discount code EARLYBIRD. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.
Canada's domestic spy agency concluded that China interfered in the last two elections, an official probe heard on Monday, the firmest evidence so far of suspected Chinese meddling in Canadian politics.

Canada's domestic spy agency has concluded that China interfered in the last two elections, based on the firmest evidence so far of suspected Chinese meddling in Canadian politics.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party won both the elections, held in 2019 and 2021. Under pressure from opposition legislators unhappy about media reports on China's possible role, Trudeau set up a commission into foreign interference.

The commission was shown a slide on Monday containing an extract of a February 2023 briefing from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, or CSIS.

"We know that the PRC (Peoples' Republic of China) clandestinely and deceptively interfered in both the 2019 and 2021 elections," it said.

"In both cases, these FI (foreign interference) activities were pragmatic in nature and focused primarily on supporting those viewed to be either 'pro-PRC' or 'neutral' on issues of interest to the PRC government."

The existence of the assessment had previously been reported by Global News. China denies it interferes in Canadian politics.

Erin O'Toole, who led the Conservatives during the 2021 campaign, estimated Chinese interference cost his party up to nine seats but added it had not changed the course of the election.

"State actors are able to conduct foreign interference successfully in Canada because there are few legal or political consequences. FI is therefore low-risk and high-reward," said the CSIS assessment.
North Korea does not appear to be ready to deal with "outstanding" matters with Japan, including the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang decades ago, Tokyo's top envoy to the United States said Monday.

Ambassador Shigeo Yamada made the remarks, referring to recent statements from senior North Korean officials that Pyongyang does not have intentions to talk with Tokyo over the abduction issue despite Japan's diplomatic outreach to secure a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

"The recent statements from North Korea indicated that they are not ready to deal with those outstanding issues," he said at a forum that the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hosted ahead of a summit between President Joe Biden and Kishida set to take place at the White House on Wednesday.

"I think for the prime minister, it is very important to resolve those outstanding issues of concern, I mean, missile issues, nuclear issues and the abduction issue," he added.

Yamada stressed that if North Korea is "forthcoming," Kishida is "ready" to have dialogue with the North.

"We will see how the North Korean side will react," he said.

The ambassador said that Kishida believes a "productive" relationship with the North will be beneficial to both countries as well as for regional stability.

Late last month, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui reiterated that her country has no intention to discuss the abduction issue with Japan, as she stressed the North has "nothing to resolve" and has "neither the responsibility nor the will to make any effort for it."

Days before Choe's remarks, Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of the North Korean leader, also issued a statement, saying the North has "clearly understood" Japan's attitude and will reject any bilateral contact, as Tokyo took issue with the abduction issue.

The issue of Japanese nationals  abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies in Japanese culture and language  has been an abiding source of tension between the two countries.

Also attending the CSIS forum was U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel.

Emanuel highlighted the U.S.' pursuit of a "lattice-like" system, which involves America's regional allies for multilateral cooperation to respond to China's increasing assertiveness, in a move away from a "hub-and-spoke" system that focuses on bilateral alliance cooperation.

"When you bring the lattice-like system, it's not to isolate China but to realize their attempt to isolate others either on the economic front, deterrence front, development front does not work," he said.

"The hub-and-spoke system that we built up over the years worked but it's not relevant to this moment. It's a major transformation. The constant in it is the U.S. and Japan," he added. (Yonhap)
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (L) visit the troops participating in Gaza Strip and made a situation assessment with the commanders in Rafah, Gaza on March 13, 2024.

Crude oil futures fell for a second day Tuesday as the recent rally paused while traders took stock of where the conflict in Middle East was heading.

The West Texas Intermediate contract for May delivery fell $1.20, or 1.39%, to settle at $85.23 a barrel. The June Brent futures contract lost 96 cents, or 1.06%, to settle at $89.42 a barrel.

"This is a day of profit taking for traders who have enjoyed a handsome gain year to date, and want to lock in the gains and stay on the sidelines," said Manish Raj, managing director of Velandera Energy Partners.

WTI has gained about 19% this year while Brent is up 16% as geopolitical tensions mount against the backdrop of rising demand and OPEC+ production cuts that are expected to push the market into a supply deficit this year. Barclays expects a 400,000 barrel per day deficit for 2024.

Crude prices settled lower Monday after Israel reduced its forces in Gaza over the weekend, suggesting the country's military campaign might transition to a more limited phase.

But Stefano Pascale, head of equity derivatives strategy at Barclays, said there are still upside risks to oil prices, particularly from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, despite the recent rally taking a pause.

"Further melt-up may reawaken inflationary concerns, derailing the equity rally," Pascale told clients in a note Tuesday. Investors will be closely watching the March consumer price index reading on Wednesday to see how oil prices have impacted headline inflation.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on President Biden's proposed budget request for the Department of Defense on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 9, 2024.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday said the U.S. has seen no evidence that Israel has committed genocide during its military operations against Hamas in Gaza.

"We don't have any evidence of genocide being created," Austin said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing focused on President Joe Biden's latest budget request.

Asked by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., whether that means Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza, Austin said again, "We don't have evidence of that."

The assertion comes during a critical point in the Israel-Hamas war, in which many countries, including the U.S., have been critical of the way the Israel Defense Forces are conducting military operations in the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 33,000 people have died during the conflict and more than 75,000 people have been injured.

Earlier in the hearing, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., had asked the defense secretary if Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7 should be considered an act of genocide.

"What we witnessed on Oct. 7, senator, was a horrific terrorist attack by Hamas," Austin said, adding it "certainly is a war crime."

Israel has faced accusations for months that it has been committing genocide in Gaza. In January, the Israeli government defended itself against those allegations before the United Nations' top court, the International Court of Justice, in a case brought by South Africa. Lawyers for that country argued Israel had violated the 1948 Genocide Convention  the first human rights treaty adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in the wake of the Holocaust.
Boeing employees assemble 787s inside their main assembly building on their campus in North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S., May 30, 2023.

In a statement, Boeing said it was fully confident in the 787 Dreamliner, adding that the claims "are inaccurate and do not represent the comprehensive work Boeing has done to ensure the quality and long-term safety of the aircraft."

In 2021, Boeing said some 787 airplanes had shims that were not the proper size and some aircraft had areas that did not meet skin-flatness specifications. A shim is a thin piece of material used to fill tiny gaps in a manufactured product.

Boeing halted deliveries of the 787 widebody jet for more than a year until August 2022 as the FAA investigated quality problems and manufacturing flaws.

Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour's allegations stem from work on the company's widebody 787 and 777 jets. He said he faced retaliation, such as threats and exclusion from meetings, after he identified engineering problems that affected the structural integrity of the jets, and claimed Boeing employed shortcuts to reduce bottlenecks during 787 assembly, his attorneys said.

The planemaker has been grappling with a full-blown safety crisis that has undermined its reputation following a Jan. 5 mid-air panel blowout on a 737 MAX plane. It has undergone a management shakeup, U.S. regulators have put curbs on its production, and deliveries fell by half in March.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a Boeing whistleblower's claims that the company dismissed safety and quality concerns in the production of the planemaker's 787 and 777 jets, an agency spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Salehpour observed shortcuts used by Boeing to reduce bottlenecks during the 787 assembly process that placed "excessive stress on major airplane joints, and embedded drilling debris between key joints on more than 1,000 planes," his lawyers said.

He told reporters in a call later on Tuesday that he saw problems with misalignment in the production of the 777 widebody jet which were remedied by using force.

"I literally saw people jumping on the pieces of the airplane to get them to align," he said.

Boeing shares closed down nearly 2% at $178.12 on Tuesday after the FAA confirmed the investigation, which was first reported by the New York Times.

"Voluntary reporting without fear of reprisal is a critical component in aviation safety," the FAA said. "We strongly encourage everyone in the aviation industry to share information. We thoroughly investigate all reports."

An agency source said the FAA has met with the whistleblower.

The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) said Salehpour is a member who works at Boeing's plant in Everett, Washington. The engineering union said it could not comment on Salehpour's specific concerns.

Senate hearing

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal's office said his investigation subcommittee will hold a hearing on Boeing issues with Salehpour on April 17 titled "Examining Boeing's Broken Safety Culture: Firsthand Accounts."

Blumenthal added he wants Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun, who said last month that he will step down by year-end, to testify at a future hearing. The panel had initially sought to have Calhoun testify at next week's hearing according to a March 19 letter.

"We want to provide Boeing the opportunity to explain to the American people why, in light of recent apparent safety failures, the public should feel confident in Boeing's engineering and assembly processes," Blumenthal and Senator Ron Johnson, the top Republican on the panel, wrote.

Boeing has offered to provide documents, testimony and technical briefings to the senate sub-committee, the company said in an emailed statement to Reuters on Tuesday.

Salehpour has provided documentation to the FAA that will be made available at the hearing, his lawyers said. In a Jan. 19 letter to FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, the lawyers said Salehpour made these observations while working on the 787 program in 2021.

"Rather than heeding his warnings, Boeing prioritized getting the planes to market as quickly as possible, despite the known, well-substantiated issues he raised," attorneys Debra Katz and Lisa Banks said in a statement on Tuesday.

Whitaker has taken a hard line on Boeing since the Jan. 5 Alaska Air emergency, barring the planemaker from expanding 737 MAX production, and requiring it to develop a comprehensive plan to address "systemic quality-control issues" within 90 days.

Separately, the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether Boeing violated a 2021 settlement that shielded the U.S. planemaker from prosecution following two fatal MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019. That January 2021 agreement, known as a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA), gave the planemaker an avenue to avoid prosecution on a charge of conspiring to defraud the FAA.

In determining whether Boeing violated the settlement, prosecutors are expected to lean heavily on findings from the FAA's investigations, a person familiar with the matter previously told Reuters.

The FAA in August 2022 approved the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner for delivery since 2021 after the manufacturer made inspection and retrofit changes needed to meet certification standards. There are currently about 1,100 Dreamliners in service, Boeing said.
A Palestinian child sits next to a plate before an "iftar" meal, the breaking of fast, on the second day of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a shelter for displaced people in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 12, 2024, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas.

Hamas said on Tuesday that an Israeli proposal on a ceasefire in their war in Gaza did not meet the demands of Palestinian militant factions, but it would study the offer further and deliver its response to mediators.

The proposal was handed to the Palestinian Islamist movement by Egyptian and Qatari mediators at talks in Cairo that aim to find a way out of the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, now in its seventh month.

Residents said Israeli forces kept up airstrikes on parts of central and southern Gaza on Tuesday, including one on a family house in Al-Nusseirat that killed 14 people, according to Hamas' Al Aqsa television. Other airstrikes were reported in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza and Rafah in the far south.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly flagged plans for a ground assault on Rafah, where more than one million displaced civilians are holed up, despite international pleas for restraint.

The talks in Cairo, also attended by the director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency William Burns, have so far failed to reach a breakthrough towards pausing the war.

"The movement (Hamas) is interested in reaching an agreement that puts an end to the aggression on our people. Despite that, the Israeli position remains intransigent and it didn't meet any of the demands of our people and our resistance," Hamas said in a statement following the latest ceasefire proposal.

It said it would review the proposal further and go back to the mediators with its response.

Hamas wants any agreement to secure an end to the Israeli military offensive, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and to allow displaced people to return to their homes across the small, densely populated enclave.
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Think a friend or colleague should be getting this newsletter? Share this link with them to sign up. Hi folks! Two competing cell therapies from Bristol Myers Squibb and Johnson & Johnson both got good news from the Food and Drug Administration last week. But J&J's drug is walking away with a notable edge over its rival. The FDA expanded the approvals of both therapies, allowing patients to use them as earlier lines of treatment for a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma. That can damage the bones, immune system, kidneys and red blood cell count. Before that decision, J&J's drug Carvykti and Bristol Myers's treatment Abecma were both only available to people who previously received at least four specific drug regimens for the incurable blood cancer. First and foremost, the expanded approvals are a major step for patients. They add more options to a growing arsenal of treatments that have helped improve outcomes for people with multiple myeloma. People with the disease often relapse or their cancer becomes resistant to one treatment, requiring them to switch to different drug regimens. There's no doubt that the approvals will expand the reach of both treatments to thousands of eligible patients. New cases of multiple myeloma crop up each year: More than 35,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2024 in the U.S., according to J&J's estimates. But the new approvals also give J&J's therapy, which was developed with Legend Biotech, a clear advantage over Bristol Myers's drug. The FDA's expanded approval says patients can use Carvykti after just one prior line of therapy for multiple myeloma and if certain conditions apply. J&J has said that earlier access to the drug may provide patients with the potential for a treatment-free period earlier in the progression of the disease. Bristol Myers's Abecma, which is co-marketed by 2seventy bio, can be administered after at least two drug regimens for multiple myeloma, under the new FDA approval.

The New York Stock Exchange welcomes Bristol Myers Squibb on Nov. 20th, 2020. NYSE

Here's what some analysts are saying: The product label difference between the two drugs offers a "significant commercial advantage for Carvykti," Jefferies analyst Kelly Shi wrote in a Sunday note. Carvykti's eligibility as a second-line treatment for multiple myeloma "should limit the use" of other similar cell therapies in the following lines of therapy, Shi said. Both Carvykti and Abecma belong to a class of personalized treatments known as chimeric antigen receptor T-cell  or CAR-T  therapies that work by modifying white blood cells known as T-cells to attack cancer. J&J's drug has gradually gained ground over Abecma in the CAR-T market for multiple myeloma, even though it first entered the market a year later. With the new approval on Friday, Jefferies' Shi expects J&J's drug to win the majority of that market share. The firm believes Carvykti is "well positioned" to eventually reach more than 80,000 patients in the U.S., EU and Japan as a second, third or fourth line of therapy. The FDA's expanded approval of Carvykti could also put it on track to be a blockbuster product for J&J. Last year, the drug pulled in just $500 million in worldwide sales, according to Legend Biotech. The drug's long-term opportunity could be around $8 billion a year, and the expansion as a second-line treatment for multiple myeloma makes for a "key market segment for achieving this revenue," Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Rick Bienkowski wrote in a Wednesday note ahead of the approval. Guggenheim analyst Kelsey Goodwin said Abecma's peak annual sales could be around $450 million a year, according to a Reuters interview last week. Bristol Myers's drug brought in $472 million in worldwide sales in 2023. But even with new approvals under their belts, the two companies are grappling with the same long-term issue: supply constraints. Both J&J and Bristol Myers have outlined plans to boost production of their respective drugs. I'll be watching to see how that part of the story plays out later this year, so stay tuned. Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at annikakim.constantino@nbcuni.com.

Latest in health care technology

A look at Mount Sinai's approach to AI

Signage hangs outside Mount Sinai Hospital on August 4, 2014 in New York City. Getty Images
Inside one of the largest options trading firms in the world sits a little known charitable foundation that has quietly donated tens of millions of dollars to influence federal policy, education and law.

The firm and the foundation are twin enterprises of Republican megadonor Jeff Yass and a small group of allies.

A poker-playing, libertarian billionaire, Yass is the largest individual donor to federal candidates this election cycle, with more than $46 million so far in contributions, according to data from the nonpartisan OpenSecrets.

Yass has given very few interviews and largely avoided publicity. But his charitable giving offers a rare window into his priorities and goals.

The Susquehanna Foundation operates out of the same suburban office building in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, as Susquehanna International Group, the trading firm Yass co-founded, according to tax records.

The foundation is run by Yass and other veteran Susquehanna executives, according to the documents, which are current through 2022.

The Susquehanna Foundation is one of two foundations that Yass and his closest friends have funded and led.

The other foundation is even less well known: the Claws Foundation. Similar to Susquehanna, Claws is the charitable arm of one person: Arthur Dantchik, a co-founder of Susquehanna International Group with Yass, who is the sole listed donor to Claws Foundation.

Since 2017, Dantchik has given more than $150 million to the organization, according to the records. The group's paperwork is held at the Sterling Foundation Management firm in Virginia, over 150 miles away from Susquehanna International.

Yass and Dantchik declined to comment through a spokesman.

The Susquehanna and Claws foundations have been entirely seeded over the past decade by contributions from Yass, his wife and other allies linked to Susquehanna.

The two foundations have combined to give more than $25 million to libertarian-minded nonprofit groups since 2016, according to more than a dozen tax records reviewed by CNBC.

One of the chief recipients has been the Cato Institute, a Washington think tank that advances libertarian ideals. Money from Yass-run foundations has also gone to the Institute for Justice, a tax-exempt legal group that has litigated cases all the way to the Supreme Court.

Another grantee is the Atlas Network, an organization that works to advance "free market" principles.

The Competitive Enterprise Institute has raised money from the Claws Foundation. The Competitive Enterprise Institute has opposed government regulations in the finance, energy and technology industries, among others.

Experts who reviewed the foundations' donations for CNBC explained that many of the contributions go to groups that advance policies that could benefit Yass, his business and those close to him.

"Ultimately, Yass is channeling his incredible wealth through a variety of entities to push U.S. politics to the right, and in some cases  such as his recent advocacy around banning TikTok  to advance policies that benefit his bottom line," Brendan Fischer, deputy executive director of the watchdog Documented, said in an email.

The Susquehanna Foundation, for instance, received over $250 million in 2020 from the "Susquehanna Growth Equity Fund III," according to the records.

The fund is a private equity investment vehicle that Susquehanna International Group controls, according to Pitchbook.

Yass is also the only known contributor to a political action committee, the Moderate PAC, which is trying to unseat progressive Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., in a primary this year, according to Politico.

Lee's Democratic opponent has tried to distance herself from the funding that the PAC has received from Yass, saying at a recent debate: "I denounce Donald Trump. I denounce Jeffrey Yass."
Jim Cramer's daily rapid fire looks at stocks in the news outside the CNBC Investing Club portfolio. Molson Coors : Goldman Sachs upgraded the beer maker to a buy rating and raised its price target to $75 per share from $66. The analysts declared TAP the "big winner of spring shelf resets." Jim Cramer said Tuesday beer retailers shuffle their shelf space allocations "twice a year." Cramer said Gavin Hattersley, who took over as CEO of Molson Coors nearly five years ago, has executed a "turnaround after years of mismanagement." The Club owns Modelo and Corona beer company Constellation Brands . Goldman was "incrementally more positive" on STZ, which reports its quarter Thursday. Freeport-McMoRan : Bank of America started the international mining company with a buy rating due to high-quality copper leverage and exposure to gold, which has been making new highs. Cramer questions the call as being late: "Parabolic move" in March lows and the analysts say buy now? FCX hit a multiyear high Tuesday. Nike : Piper Sandler's semiannual teen buying survey is out. "Nike is continuing to lose share," Cramer said. Not surprising, he added. "But that does mean you don't expect a bounce back" in Nike shares. Cisco Systems : Deutsche Bank named the networking giant a catalyst call buy idea, citing low expectations. The Splunk deal and an upcoming Investor Day could improve sentiment, Cramer said. "Splunk is going to have a couple of good quarters," he added. "You could have a lift here." American Eagle Outfitters : JPMorgan upgrades the specialty retailer's shares to a buy-equivalent overweight rating. The stock has more than doubled since its June 2023 lows. "There was a lack of conviction when it was lower," Cramer said.
This story is part of CNBC's quarterly Cities of Success series, which explores cities that have transformed into business hubs with an entrepreneurial spirit that has attracted capital, companies and employees.

Imagine a world where computers solve problems billions of times faster than today's machines can, ushering in a new era of scientific discovery.

That's the promise of quantum technology  and a fierce race is underway to unlock its potential. In the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, the Denver-Boulder region is emerging as a global leader in this revolution.

Atom Computing is based in the San Francisco area, but CEO Rob Hays told CNBC in a recent interview why his quantum company chose the city of Boulder for its new $100 million facility: the region's thriving ecosystem.

"The future looks really bright for us here.  We've built two of the largest quantum computers on the planet," Hays said in CNBC's primetime special "Cities of Success: Denver & Boulder," which airs April 11 at 10 p.m. ET. "The fact that we've been able to do that in 18 months is pretty remarkable."

In Denver, Maybell Quantum, another key player in the industry, is building a super refrigerator that chills atoms to extreme temperatures  more than 100,000 times colder than the coldest part of Antarctica.
It's Tuesday night, and Liz Chick is in her studio in Brooklyn, New York watching Ella Emhoff  the stepdaughter of U.S. vice president Kamala Harris  teach 20-somethings to do something called knit painting. Running the studio, called RecCreate Collective, is Chick's dream job, she says. Multiple nights per week, Chick  often sporting a quilted jacket she dyed herself using avocado pits  hosts instructors who teach knitting, collaging, painting and sculpting classes of up to 45 people. It's also the most lucrative job she's ever had, says Chick, 27. In January, just ten months after hosting its first class, the studio brought in $25,000 in revenue, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. RecCreate has been profitable since December, and Chick pays herself a salary of roughly $5,500 per month, she says. DON'T MISS: The ultimate guide to earning passive income online To get her business off the ground, Chick took on "windowless office" jobs, carted art supplies up and down her fourth-floor walk-up and trusted that she'd eventually get paid for her art. She also got abnormally lucky. In 2022, Chick won $50,000 in a sweepstakes drawing she didn't even realize she'd entered, providing the seed money she needed to rent the studio's physical space and launch her business. The unexpected cash infusion was a lifeline. "I would never go back to an office job ... I hope to never have to," says Chick. "It feels amazing to be able to make a living doing my dream job. I think are so few people who get to say that."

Creating a balancing act

As a teenager in in the greater Chicago area, Chick thrifted, bleached and sold high-waisted denim shorts to YouTube influencers, she says. "I've always wanted to be an entrepreneur," she says, adding: "I've been doing creative projects on the side, attempting to them into a business for, like, years and years and years." At age 18, she moved to New York to attend the Parsons School of Design. When she graduated in 2019, entry-level design strategy jobs were hard to come by, so she took a salaried desk job at a local park. The pay was scant and the office was dimly lit, Chick says.

Liz Chick in RecCreate Collective's Brooklyn studio CNBC Make It

Without a professional creative outlet, Chick created a personal one. She started dying fabrics, using natural items like avocado pits, onion skins and dried florals. She hosted a pop-up shop in her 12-by-14-foot bedroom, selling dyed beeswax wraps  like saran wrap, but made from wax-coated fabric  to her friends. Soon, Chick was selling dyed patchwork jackets and bags at pop-up flea markets around New York on weekends. She job-hopped to fund those artistic endeavors  first working in marketing, then as an environmental educator, tutor and nanny. "I really needed to work because I've always pretty much supported myself," Chick says. "[But] it was just so clear to me ... I felt like I had to find the jobs with the least resistance while I worked on my own stuff."

Lucky breaks

Chick's artistic side hustle cost most of her free time and salary, and required manual labor. At night, she dyed fabrics in 20-quart stock pots, which were so heavy that she had to ladle the water out instead of dumping it into a strainer, she says. After a pop-up event in 2022, she reached a breaking point. "I hauled all of my stuff up my fourth-floor walk-up and I was just laughing ridiculously," she says. "When I walked into my apartment, my roommate was like, 'What's wrong with you?' I [realized] the amount of hours of unpaid labor I had been doing for years." Chick needed a physical space. Around the time she started looking for studios to rent, she caught a huge break: She got an email saying she'd won $50,000 in a sweepstakes hosted by Earnest, a San Francisco-based private student loan provider and refinancer. She'd unwittingly entered the competition while researching prospective rates for a student loan refinance, she says. After taxes, she pocketed roughly $30,000, which she calls a "life-changing amount of money." The funds came in handy when, nine months later, she found her perfect studio space. She started renting it for $2,800 per month in March 2023, subleasing it out while she built a plan for RecCreate Collective. "I had never had jobs that allowed me to have any savings at all, let alone a hefty fund to invest into something," Chick says.

'Vibes are expensive'

Back in the studio, Chick watches Emhoff teach attendees how to use duplicate stitches, which go on top of existing ones, to embed images onto knitwear. They sit in folding chairs across from brightly-colored tapered candles, sip tea and chat over music while they work. It was costly to make the space feel cozy and creative. "Vibes are expensive," Chick jokes.

RecCreate Collective attendees in knit painting class CNBC Make It
Members of Swiss association Senior Women for Climate Protection react after the announcement of decisions after a hearing of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to decide in three separate cases if states are doing enough in the face of global warming in rulings that could force them to do more, in Strasbourg, eastern France, on April 9, 2024.

Europe's top human rights court on Tuesday ruled in favor of more than 2,000 elderly Swiss women who argued that their government's efforts to tackle the climate crisis were insufficient to protect them from more frequent and intense heat waves.

The European Court of Human Right's (ECHR) decision was hailed by campaigners as a ground-breaking moment that could serve as a blueprint for other climate litigation cases argued on human rights grounds.

The impact of the decision is expected to be felt far beyond Europe's borders.

In an unappealable ruling, the ECHR found that the Swiss government had violated the human right to respect for private and family life and failed to comply with its duties under the convention regarding climate change.

The decision could compel the Swiss government to revise its climate policies, including upgrading its near-term emissions reductions targets to align with the landmark Paris Agreement.

"This is not just a win for these inspirational claimants but a huge victory for those everywhere seeking to use the power of the law to hold their government accountable for climate inaction," Vesselina Newman, fundamental rights lead at environmental law firm ClientEarth, said in a statement.

"This result from one of the world's highest courts sends a clear message: governments must take real action on emissions to safeguard the human rights of their citizens."
North Korea has been ramping up a festive mood to celebrate the upcoming 112th birthday of late founder Kim Il-sung, but its state media has been recently referring to it as "the April holiday" instead of what's commonly called the Day of Sun.

Kim died of heart failure in 1994 at age 82, opening the way for his son, Kim Jong-il, to take over in communism's first hereditary succession of power.

Despite the senior Kim's death, his birthday, April 15, is revered as the Day of Sun and is celebrated as one of the communist country's most important national holidays along with his late son's birthday in February.

But the Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday carried a report that said about 1,200 participants held performances at a schoolchildren's art festival the previous day on the occasion of "the significant April holiday."

The North has also renamed the annual cooking festival that has been held every April to mark Kim's birthday, dropping the term Day of Sun from its original name.

Seoul's unification ministry said it is "unusual" that North Korean state media has been referring to Kim's birthday as "the April holiday" or the "spring holiday in April" in recent weeks.

"I think it will be appropriate to assess (what that means) after comprehensively looking at media reports coming out until April 15," a ministry official told reporters, when asked if North Korea is viewing Kim's birthday as less important than before.

North Korea has held cultural events or art festivals ahead of the anniversaries of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il's births in an effort to idolize them and justify the hereditary power succession of the "Paektu bloodline."

"If the North does not continue to use the term Day of Sun, (Kim Jong-un) may intend to minimize his grandfather's feats while maintaining the legitimacy of the Paektu bloodline," Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, said, referring to North Korea's royal bloodline.

The North claims Mount Paektu, the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula and located on the Sino-North Korean border, is the sacred birthplace of Kim Jong-il, though historians and foreign officials have said he was born in Russia.

Kim Il-sung is known as the role model of the North's incumbent leader. But at a year-end party meeting, Kim Jong-un scrapped a decadeslong policy of seeking unification with South Korea, a legacy of his grandfather, and defined inter-Korean ties as those between "two states hostile to each other."

But it still remains to be seen whether the North would remove the term Day of Sun completely from its state media reports.

In February, the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, carried reports referring to the Day of Sun and the Day of the Shining Star, which is Kim Jong-il's birthday on Feb. 16.

The festival comes amid lingering tensions over a series of missile launches by North Korea in recent months in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

This year, North Korea is not likely to hold a large-scale military parade to mark Kim's birthday, as the country has usually held such a military event on anniversaries whose final numbers end in a five or zero.

The South Korean military is closely monitoring Pyongyang's possible preparations for provocations on the occasion of Kim's birthday and the founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army on April 25. (Yonhap)
The WHO estimates that people aged 60+ will be approximately 22% of the global population by 2050. Momo Productions | Digitalvision | Getty Images

People are living longer now than ever before. As medical technology advances and medicines become more effective, mortality rates have also fallen. While this is a major success for humanity, signaling that our work to improve the quality of life has paid off in creating greater longevity, it leads to another problem: caregiver burnout. Caregiving labor is expensive and unaffordable for many families. Additionally, in many Asian societies, it is commonly valued for families to keep elderly loved ones at home and personally care for them as they age. "We have observed in clinical settings that these caregiving adults are at risk of caregiver burnout, and experience a sense of vulnerability as they realize they would also be going through an aging process in the next 20-30 years of their lives," John Wong, director of the National University of Singapore's Mind Science Center, told CNBC Make It. The World Health Organization estimates that people over the age of 60 will be approximately 22% of the global population by 2050. "The number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide is projected to more than double, rising from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion in 2050," according to a 2023 report by the United Nations, adding that the population of people aged 80 and above is growing even faster. Some Asian societies are leading the trend. "By 2050, roughly 40 percent of the populations of Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan are expected to be 65 and older," according to the World Economic Forum.

Along with people living longer lives, fertility rates have also fallen, leading to smaller nucleus families. Not only will there be new challenges for the world's current systems and economies, it will also largely impact future generations. "There's this tendency in the welfare state to sort of outsource the elderly care," Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, director of the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford University told CNBC Make It. "That tends to lead to issues of isolation, elderly people feeling useless, whereas there's so much to offer the society and the younger generations." Although home-care for the elderly improves their wellbeing, it can also place pressure on younger generations. "As society responds to an aging population with increased care needs for frail seniors, the burden of care for the elderly is usually borne by the sandwich population," said Wong, who is also an associate professor at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in NUS. The so-called sandwich generation refers to middle-aged people who have elderly parents to care for, as well as their own children who are still dependent on them. In addition to looking after their parents and children, both emotionally and financially, they also have to care for themselves while pursuing their careers.

The younger generations have to support their elderly parents or grandparents. If they also have their own young children, they would be squeezed as the 'sandwich generation.' Jialu Streeter Executive Director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research

"One major difference between the Baby Boomer vs the Millennials/Gen Z generation could also be the increasing emphasis and pressure to develop a personal career, realizing personal aspiration, ahead of the family needs," Wong said. "This could create undue social pressure on the Millennials and Gen Z," he added. Baby boomers refer to people born between 1946 to 1964. Millennials are those born between 1981 and 1996, while Generation Z are people born between 1997 to 2012, according to the Pew Research Center.

Preventing caregiver burnout

Here are 3 tips to help manage the pressure: Prepare ahead of time Have honest conversations with the family Don't forget self-care In preparation for this time of life, people should look to have honest conversations with their family members. "This would entail defining one's family value system, setting out personal goals, life aspirations, allocating and committing personal resources," Wong suggested. He highlighted that setting boundaries are important, but parents and their children need to have these discussions ahead of time to prevent burnout. Additionally, "plan to have honest conversations with family members, spouse/partners, to discuss how to share the caregiving tasks," said Jialu Streeter, executive director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. "It's very challenging, but don't forget to self-care. A lot of times, we think self-care is selfish. It's the very opposite. Only when we take good care of ourselves then we have the mental and physical capacity to take care of our loved ones," Streeter added.

Integrating the elderly in society
A New York appeals judge on Tuesday knocked down yet another long-shot bid by Donald Trump to delay his criminal hush money trial, this time by seeking a pause while he challenges his court-imposed gag order.

The swift rejection marked Trump's second failed attempt in less than 24 hours to postpone the Manhattan Supreme Court trial, which is set to begin jury selection in six days.

Appellate Judge Cynthia Kern's ruling Tuesday afternoon came within an hour of a hearing where lawyers for Trump and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg argued over the restrictions on the former president's speech, NBC News reported.

The gag order bars Trump from speaking about likely witnesses in the case, and from making certain statements about other related figures including lawyers, court staff and their respective family members. Presiding Judge Juan Merchan last week expanded the gag order to stop Trump from targeting the family members of the judge and the D.A.

Defense lawyer Emil Bove argued in Tuesday's hearing that Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is being unfairly restricted from speaking about witnesses such as porn star Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney.

Those witnesses are publicly attacking Trump and he is unable to respond, Bove told the judge, according to NBC. He also argued that Trump should be able to voice concerns about Matthew Colangelo, a prosecutor working for Bragg who previously worked for the Department of Justice.

Steven Wu, who spoke for the D.A., urged Kern to reject Trump's bid for a delay. Wu argued that the gag order is narrow and that it is not meant to prevent political speech but to protect against Trump's personal attacks on people involved in the case.

Kern denied Trump's motion for a delay in a one-sentence ruling. The motion will now be heard by a five-member panel of appeals court judges on Monday, the same day as the start of the hush money trial.
Russia has not been invited to the planned Ukraine summit in Switzerland, a spokesperson for the Russian embassy in Switzerland confirmed to CNBC.

"The Swiss side did not send Russia an invitation to the conference. At the same time, our position is well known. Even if we receive an invitation to such an event, the Russian side will not accept it," Vladimir Khokhlov, press secretary at the embassy said.

This is in line with comments previously made by Russian spokespeople, who have said the country would not join the proposed summit and that it was doomed to fail without Moscow's participation.

"The idea of a 'peace conference' promoted by the organizers is inappropriate for us, as it is just another variant of pushing through an unviable 'peace formula' that does not take into account Russian concerns," Khokhlov added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his allies have been working on plans for a Ukraine summit in Switzerland, which would see leaders discuss potential conflict resolution approaches. The talks would likely include Zelenskyy's 10-point peace formula.

According to Reuters, Zelenskyy over the weekend said a date for the summit could be agreed upon in the coming days or weeks and that 80 to 100 countries would participate.

 Sophie Kiderlin
Samsung Electronics, the world's top maker of smartphones, TVs and memory chips, is cutting up to 30% of its overseas staff at some divisions, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The Biden administration plans to announce it is awarding more than $6 billion to South Korea's Samsung next week to expand its chip output in Taylor, Texas, as it seeks to ramp up chipmaking in the U.S., two people familiar with the matter said.

The subsidy, which will be unveiled by Commerce Department Secretary Gina Raimondo, will go toward construction of four facilities in Taylor, including one $17 billion chipmaking plant that Samsung announced in 2021, another factory, an advanced packaging facility and a research and development center, one of the sources said.

It will also include an investment in another undisclosed location, the source said, adding that Samsung will more than double its U.S. investment to over $44 billion as part of the deal.

The Commerce Department and Samsung declined to comment. Texas Governor Greg Abbott's office did not respond to requests for comment.

One of the sources said it would be the third largest of the program, just behind Taiwan's TSMC , which was awarded $6.6 billion on Monday and agreed to expand its investment by $25 billion to $65 billion and to add a third Arizona factory by 2030.
US President Joe Biden speaks about student loan relief at Madison College in Madison, Wisconsin, on April 8, 2024. Andrew Caballero-reynolds | AFP | Getty Images

Tax treatment of student loan forgiveness

Student loan forgiveness is federally tax-free through 2025  thanks to a provision from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Biden wants to make that policy permanent, according to his 2025 fiscal year budget. But the future taxability of student loan forgiveness is unclear. If Biden's new plan is finalized as proposed and borrowers receive cancellation before 2026, the forgiven balance won't incur federal taxes. However, some borrowers could still see a state tax bill, according to Tommy Lucas, a certified financial planner and enrolled agent at Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo in Orlando, Florida. Many states have conformed to federal rules on the taxability of student loan forgiveness. But borrowers shouldn't assume there won't be state liability, he said. "You need to take that into account and understand what your state is going to do," Lucas added.

Borrowers could owe taxes after 2025

If you're slated to receive student loan forgiveness under an income-driven repayment plan after 2025, that's not automatically tax-free, explained CFP Ethan Miller, founder of Planning for Progress in the Washington, D.C., area. Biden's proposal to cancel student loan interest could reduce balances. But if tax-free forgiveness isn't extended, "some borrowers are potentially facing a pretty large tax bill down the line," said Miller, who specializes in student loans. For example, if you received $50,000 in forgiveness after 2025, and you're in the 22% tax bracket, your federal tax liability could be $11,000.

Plus, federal income tax brackets are scheduled to rise after 2025 due to an expiring provision from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. After 2025, the individual tax brackets will revert to 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35% and 39.6%, which "could be a double whammy for some people," Miller said. Depending on your situation, higher income from taxable student loan forgiveness could cause "a chain of [tax] consequences," such as phaseouts for other tax breaks, Lucas said.

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Ashley Biden speaks alongside her father US President Joe Biden during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.

A Florida woman who stole and then sold a diary and other items belonging to Ashley Biden  the daughter of President Joe Biden  to a right-wing media group weeks before the 2020 election was sentenced Tuesday to one month in federal jail and three months of home detention.

Aimee Harris, 41, also was ordered to forfeit $20,000 and to serve three years of probation at her sentencing in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, where a lawyer for Ashley Biden was in the audience.

Before Harris was sentenced, assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Sobelman told Judge Laura Taylor Swain that Harris had shown a "pattern of disrespect for the law and the justice system," and was motivated to steal Ashley Biden's property "to make as much money as she could," and to harm President Biden politically, The Associated Press reported.

"She wanted to damage Ms. Biden's father," Sobelman said, the AP reported.

Prosecutors had asked that Harris be sentenced to between four to 10 months in jail, as recommended by federal sentencing guidelines.

The Palm Beach resident, whose sentencing was postponed about a dozen times at her request, in turn asked Swain to sentence her to probation, with no time in jail.

Although Swain gave Harris a lighter sentence than prosecutors wanted, she called Harris' conduct "despicable," according to the AP.

The judge pointed out that Harris initially had tried to sell Ashley Biden's items to the campaign of then-President Donald Trump.

"I do not believe I am above the law," Harris said, the AP reported. "I'm a survivor of long-term domestic abuse and sexual trauma."

Harris pleaded guilty in August 2022 to conspiring with 60-year-old Robert Kurlander, in September 2020 to steal Ashley's possessions from a Delray, Florida, home where Ashley previously lived and transporting them over state lines for sale.

Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office, which prosecuted Harris, declined to comment. Harris' attorney Anthony Cecutti declined to comment to CNBC, but in court had told the judge that his client "carries the shame and stigma for her actions," the AP reported.

Harris, who temporarily stayed at the Delray residence after Ashley vacated it, discovered the diary, which had "highly personal entries," as well as a digital storage card that the president's daughter had left behind, according to court records.

The provocative right-wing group Project Veritas later paid Harris and the Jupiter, Florida, resident Kurlander $20,000 apiece for the items, according to court records.

Kurlander, who pleaded guilty at the same time as Harris did, currently is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 25 by Swain.

Harris' sentencing comes more than three months after a federal judge ruled that prosecutors could receive documents seized by the FBI with search warrants executed at the homes of Project Veritas' then-CEO James O'Keefe and two other members of the group in November 2021 in connection with a criminal investigation of the diary theft.

Judge Analisa Torres ruled that prosecutors could get documents seized in connection with those warrants that were not protected by attorney-client privilege.

Torres' order in late December notes that prosecutors claim that Harris and Kurlander were paid by Project Veritas to travel to New York to hand over Ashley Biden's journal to the group.

"There, Harris allegedly revealed that the Victim had additional items in the Florida residence, and, 'at Project Veritas's request,' she and Kurlander returned to Florida to retrieve them," Torres wrote, citing the claims by prosecutors.
In a market where finding reliable passive income streams can be challenging, two fund managers have shared their insights on dividend stocks that could offer attractive yields and growth potential. Matt Burdett, portfolio manager at Thornburg Investment Management , looks for companies with the ability and willingness to pay dividends, focusing on cash generation and resilient business models. Broadcom One such stock Burdett highlighted is Broadcom , a semiconductor and software company. Although its current dividend yield of 1.6% may not seem attractive, Burdett pointed out that the company's dividend has grown significantly  by double digits annually over the past five years  since Thornburg first invested. In addition, Broadcom's diversification into software with the acquisition of CA Technologies in 2018 and, more recently, VMware in 2023 could help reduce the cyclicality of its earnings and cash flow, according to Burdett. The company is also well positioned to benefit from the generative artificial intelligence trend, according to the fund manager, as it designs application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips used by major tech companies. Wall Street analysts see a consensus price target of $1,563 for Broadcom, implying a 17% upside from its current share price of $1,336.10. AVGO 1Y line Burdett, who directs $12.3 billion in assets tracking the Income Builder Strategy, noted that the dividend culture is often stronger outside the United States, leading his strategy to skew toward ex-U.S. stocks. Orange Burdett highlighted Orange SA as an "underappreciated" French telecommunications company with a current dividend yield of 6.8%. The stock is also traded in the U.S. While its dividend growth of 2.9% may not be spectacular, Burdett noted that Orange has just gone through a large capital expenditure wave on fiber spend in France, and the company is now generating much more operating free cash flow. Improved free cash flow typically helps dividend stability and growth for those companies that pay out. Orange has reported a 7.2% year-on-year increase in operating free cash flow in its latest full-year results. The company has also managed to either grow its shareholder pay out or keep it stable over the past six years despite the Covid-19 pandemic, according to FactSet data. "It's a cash generation story that's underappreciated because no one cares about telcos," Burdett told CNBC Pro. In addition, a recent merger of its Spanish business with MASMOVIL could also provide a cash infusion that Burdett believes should be used for share buybacks. The two companies said earlier this year that the joint venture is expected to generate more than 490 million euros ($533 million) a year in cost savings in four years. ORA-FR 1Y line While the stock price has remained relatively unchanged this year, Wall Street expects it to rise by 25% to 13.25 euros. WK Kellogg Brian Leonard, portfolio manager at Keeley Teton, told CNBC Pro that he looks for high-quality companies that pay a dividend and trade at a discount to their "intrinsic value". Leonard also highlighted spin-off situations as an investment opportunity. Such a scenario occurs when a company separates a lower-growth business from its higher-growth operations, creating an opportunity for the spun-off entity to improve margins and grow. Leonard citied WK Kellogg Co as an example. WK Kellogg is the spun-off cereal business of Kellogg Company, now known as Kellanova . With a 3.1% dividend yield and a significantly lower valuation than its main competitor General Mills , Leonard sees potential for WK Kellogg to improve its operating margins and benefit from earnings growth and multiple expansions. KLG 1Y line The stock has already gained 58.6% year-to-date to $20.84. However, analysts have a consensus price target of $14, implying a 33% downside from its current share price. This suggests the market may have already priced in much of the anticipated improvements.
A 25-year-old Indian student, Mohammad Abdul Arfath, who went missing last month, was found dead in Cleveland in the US state of Ohio. This is the second death reported in the country within a week as the community grapples with a string of such tragedies.Anguished to learn that Mr Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom a search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio. Our deepest condolences to Mr Mohammed Arfaths family, the Consulate General of India in New York said in a post on the social media site X.The Consulate noted that it was in touch with the local agencies to ensure a thorough investigation into the matter and added, We are extending all possible assistance to the bereaved family to transport his mortal remains to India.Arfath, who hailed from Nacharam in Telangana's Hyderabad, arrived in the US in May 2023 to pursue a Master's in IT from Cleveland University.In March, the consulate said that it was working with the local law enforcement agencies to locate the Indian student.According to local media reports, the Indian student left his home at Reserve Square on March 5 and did not return since then.Later, the police issued a missing person alert for Arfath and described him as being 5'8" tall, weighing 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, PTI reported.Arfath was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, a red jacket and blue jeans.Citing a statement from Cleveland State University, WKYC 3News reported that university records showed that the Indian youth was no longer a registered student as of January 2024.Mohammed Saleem, the father of the Indian student, said that he last spoke to his son on March 7 and since then Arfath has not been in touch with his family, while his mobile phone was switched off.His roommates in the US informed his father that they had lodged a missing complaint with the Cleveland Police.However, Arfath's family received a call from an unidentified person on March 19. The person claimed that the Indian student had been kidnapped allegedly by a gang selling drugs, demanding $1,200 to release him.According to Arfath's father, the caller even threatened to sell his kidneys if the ransom was not paid by the family.The caller did not mention the mode of payment but just asked to pay the amount, Saleem told PTI in Hyderabad. He added that the caller, however, refused to allow him to talk to his son.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen wrapped up four days of talks in China with a warning against any moves to bolster Russias military capacity.I stressed that companies, including those in the PRC, must not provide material support for Russias war, and that they will face significant consequences if they do, Yellen said Monday in prepared remarks for a press conference at the US ambassadors residence in Beijing, using an abbreviation for the Peoples Republic of China.Any banks that facilitate significant transactions that channel military or dual-use goods to Russias defense industrial base expose themselves to the risk of US sanctions, she said.The Biden administration is trying to crack down on firms worldwide that help Russia evade the net of sanctions that the US and its allies have imposed on Moscow since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While China has been the target of past warnings, Yellens Monday message, delivered in the Chinese capital, was unusual for its direct threat of sanctions.It came on the day that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Beijing to discuss issues including Ukraine. While China describes its position on the war as neutral, trade with Russia has surged since it began.Chinas state-owned banks have been tightening curbs on funding to Russian clients after the US authorized secondary sanctions targeting financial institutions late last year.China and Russia do a lot of trade and much of it is non-problematic, Yellen said in an interview with CNBC. But anything that involves aiding Russias military in their brutal war against Ukraine is unacceptable to us and we have the ability to sanction it.Americas ultimate weapon against financial institutions is the Treasurys ability to cut off their access to US dollars, an existential threat for any bank operating internationally.That such a threat now looms over Chinese lenders is another example of the way the two superpowers increasingly find themselves on opposite sides of geopolitical and economic faultlines  pushing even Yellen, arguably the least hawkish of senior Biden administration officials who deal directly with China, to go on the offensive.For much of her trip, the Treasury chief has been busy scolding China about something else: what Washington views as excessive investment in manufacturing, especially in new green-energy technologies, to make up for a troubled property sector and weak domestic demand. Yellens message has been that Chinese overcapacity will swamp other economies if theres no change of course.That theme has dominated since day one, and it kept recurring through a weekend of talks that both sides termed candid and constructive. The Chinese played gracious hosts and never fired back with an angry response, even in the closed-door meetings, according to senior Treasury officials.Beijing has acknowledged theres too much capacity in at least some industries, though it also accuses the US and other countries of trying to shield their own less-competitive companies.Right now the US has some leverage on such matters, because Chinas economy is fragile and its leaders realize that many other countries agree with Yellen, according to Christopher Beddor, deputy China research director at Gavekal Dragonomics.Thats why even though Yellen is making harsh comments, they are not freezing her out, he said.
Russia and Kazakhstan ordered more than 100,000 people to evacuate after swiftly melting snow swelled mighty rivers beyond bursting point in the worst flooding in the area for at least 70 years.

The deluge of melt water overwhelmed scores of settlements in the Ural Mountains, Siberia and areas of Kazakhstan close to rivers such as the Ural and Tobol, which local officials said had risen by metres in a matter of hours to the highest levels ever recorded.

The Ural River, Europe's third longest which flows through Russia and Kazakhstan into the Caspian, burst through an embankment dam on Friday, flooding the city of Orsk just south of the Ural Mountains.

Downstream, water levels in Orenburg, a city of around 550,000, rose towards the critical level of 9.3 metres as sirens warned major floods were imminent. The water level is currently 9.14 metres.

Sirens in Kurgan, a city on the Tobol river, a tributary of the Irtysh, warned people to evacuate immediately. An emergency was also declared in Tyumen, a major oil producing region of Western Siberia - the largest hydrocarbon basin in the world.

"The difficult days are still ahead for the Kurgan and Tyumen regions," Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "There is a lot of water coming."

President Vladimir Putin spoke to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, where over 86,000 people have been evacuated due to flooding. Tokayev said the flooding was probably the worst in 80 years.

The most severely hit areas are Atyrau, Aktobe, Akmola, Kostanai, Eastern Kazakhstan, Northern Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions, most of which border Russia and are crossed by rivers originating in Russia such as the Ural and the Tobol.

In Russia, anger boiled over in Orsk when at least 100 Russians begged the Kremlin chief to help and chanted "shame on you" at local officials who they said had done too little.

The Kremlin said Putin was getting updated constantly on the situation but that he had no immediate plans to visit the flood zone as local and emergency officials were doing their best to cope with the deluge.

In Kurgan, a region with around 800,000 residents, drone footage showed traditional Russian wooden houses and the golden kupolas of Russian Orthodox Churches stranded among a vast expanse of water.

In Orenburg, a city of more than half a million, residents paddled along roads as if they were rivers. Dams and embankments were being strengthened as the Ural river rose to nearly 10 metres high.

Russian officials have said some people ignored calls to evacuate. Kurgan Governor Vadim Shumkov urged residents to take the warnings seriously.

"We understand you very well: It is hard to leave your possessions and move somewhere at the call of the local authorities," Shumkov said.

"It's better that we laugh at the hydrologists together later and praise God for the miracle of our common salvation. But let's do it alive."

In Kurgan, water levels were rising in the Tobol and Russia said 19,000 people were at risk in the region.

Rising water was also forecast in Siberia's Ishim river, also a tributary of the Irtysh, which along with its parent, the Ob, forms the world's seventh longest river system.

It was not immediately clear why this year's floods were so bad as the snow melt is an annual event in Russia. Scientists say climate change has made flooding more frequent worldwide.
By Kwak Yeon-soo

Japan's attempts to reach out to North Korea to hold a summit are unlikely to affect the trilateral partnership's overall objectives against Pyongyang, experts said.

Ahead of his summit with U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told CNN, Sunday, that his government was making high-level approaches to secure a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to resolve outstanding issues and promote stable relations between the two countries.

This comes two weeks after Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, ruled out holding a summit with Japan, saying Pyongyang will refuse any contact and negotiations with Tokyo. She accused Japan of remaining stuck in the past by continuing to raise the issue of Japanese abductees and North Korea's banned nuclear weapons programs.

Yang Moo-jin, the president of the University of North Korean Studies, said Japans active efforts to reach out to North Korea will not affect the trilateral ties between the United States, South Korea and Japan.

I believe Japans signal to North Korea wont affect trilateral security cooperation against Pyongyang. South Korea and the U.S. have no reason to oppose Japans decision if it seeks to resolve North Koreas nuclear and missile issues, Yang said.

Even if a Kishida-Kim summit takes place, which seems highly unlikely, Japan will coordinate with its allies and offer a full explanation about the diplomatic talks. Kishida is pushing for a diplomatic breakthrough with the North Korean leader to save his faltering leadership.

Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Center for Korean Peninsula Strategy at the Sejong Institute, said Japan-North Korea relations wont affect the trilateral partnership's cooperation unless Japan signs an agreement unilaterally with North Korea.

South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are sharing information on North Korean missiles in real time and conducting combined naval exercises (in a show of strength against North Korea). Its hard to imagine that Japan will defy the U.S. to cooperate with North Korea. It seems very unlikely that they will reach an agreement with North Korea that undermines trilateral relations, he said.

Cheong also questioned Kishidas governing style.

Kishida has a weak presence in Japan. His cabinets approval rating has been stuck near record lows. He hasnt made extraordinary progress since he took office. I doubt that he would be able to demonstrate determination in Tokyo-Pyongyang relations, he said.

Nikkei Asia reported on Tuesday that Biden would conditionally support the Kishida-Kim summit, adding that any such meeting would be dependent on close coordination among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan.
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Microsofts public response sounds as if its going to be business as usual. The company didnt even take direct responsibility for the hacks. It told the Washington Post, recent events have demonstrated a need to adopt a new culture of engineering security in our own networks. While no organization is immune to cyberattack from well-resourced adversaries, we have mobilized our engineering teams to identify and mitigate legacy infrastructure, improve processes, and enforce security benchmarks.

Thats about as mealy-mouthed a statement you can make. And its especially mealy-mouthed because this hack required no feats of legendary hacking  just the use of an old encryption key that should have been deleted years ago. If Microsoft had followed basic security practices and taken that one simple step, none of this would have happened.

More disturbing is that the Russian hack of Microsoft officials in January was caused by a similar oversight: Microsoft forgot to delete an old test account, and hackers used basic techniques to break into it. Once they did that, they used the accounts permissions to steal emails and documents from Microsofts senior management and people who worked on its cybersecurity and legal teams, among other functions.
Public Scholar Paula Baths research is informed by 25 years of professional experience and academic dedication that focuses on communication and inclusion for the Deaf community.

Her journey into this field began as a sign language interpreter, which saw her work in the private sector and Government of Canada before shifting to graduate studies.

As a PhD in social and cultural analysis in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, she specializes in communication dynamics between Deaf and hearing individuals. Her research sheds light on the challenges faced in bridging these communication gaps and explores avenues for improvement.

I aim to cultivate a sense of belonging and empowerment

What are some typical barriers you've encountered in interactions between Deaf and hearing individuals?



Paula Bath: Barriers often stem from societal norms and institutional practices. In Canada we have a history of legal cases that highlight persistent challenges in accessing sign language services, despite clear legal provisions. Moreover, the evolving social landscape and increasing demands for accessibility pose ongoing challenges, leading to a disparity between legal frameworks and everyday experiences.



How do you envision addressing these challenges?



PB: While legal frameworks exist, there's a gap between policy and practice. My research aims to bridge this divide by fostering inclusive communication spaces. Rather than focusing solely on barriers, I advocate for creating environments where Deaf and hearing individuals can communicate freely and authentically. This entails not just linguistic accessibility but also empowering people to find ways to feel a sense of freedom while communicating.

Your research emphasizes the importance of inclusion and accessibility. Can you elaborate on that?



PB: My research is centred on understanding the experiences of both Deaf and hearing individuals communicating in various social contexts. I aim to go beyond words and delve into the sensory domain to truly grasp their lived experiences. For instance, I utilize methods like sense transference, where participants express their experiences through objects or art forms.

For example, one participant I work with has depicted his experiences through a map he drew and a metal ruler. The map represented his chaotic journey attempting to secure sign language interpreting services through various institutions, while the ruler symbolized the rigidness and coldness he felt when his needs were not met but rather measured against institutional policies.

What outcomes do you hope to achieve through your research?

PB: Ultimately, I aim to cultivate a sense of belonging and empowerment for both Deaf and hearing individuals in their communication interactions. By highlighting successful communication spaces and understanding the nuances of thriving versus surviving dynamics, I seek to inform policies and practices that promote genuine inclusion and well-being.



Learn more about Concordias Public Scholar Program.
North Korea's state news agency has established an archive of articles on the country's ties with Russia in the latest sign of their growing cooperation following a rare summit last year.

A banner that reads "North Korea-Russia friendly ties reach historic turning point" on the website of the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) leads to a page carrying 13 articles on summits between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the website Tuesday.

After holding their first summit in the Russian Far East city of Vladivostok in April 2019, Kim and Putin held another summit at Russia's Vostochny spaceport in September 2019.

The two nations have since been strengthening cooperation in various fields amid suspicions that Pyongyang has provided weapons to Moscow for its use in Russia's war against Ukraine.

An official at South Korea's unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs called the move "very unusual," saying it shows how much the North is prioritizing its relationship with Russia.

Last month, the KCNA reported on a visit by Russia's foreign intelligence chief in an apparent display of deepening cooperation between the two countries, considering that such visits are usually not made public. (Yonhap)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cautioned patients prescribed Z-drugs-eszopiclone, zaleplon and zolpidem-for insomnia about the potential for serious injuries associated with these medications.

While the drugs are approved by the FDA to aid sleep by slowing brain activity, they also carry rare but significant risks, including complex sleep behaviors, as highlighted in the agency's March 6 alert.

The FDA emphasized in a consumer alert the importance of discussing the benefits and risks of these medications with healthcare providers and carefully adhering to dosing instructions.

Patients were advised to avoid combining Z-drugs with other sleep medications or alcohol, which may exacerbate side effects.

Furthermore, people experiencing complex sleep behaviors, such as sleepwalking or sleep cooking, were urged to discontinue medication use and seek medical attention promptly.

The agency's warning stems from reports of non-fatal serious injuries and fatalities associated with complex sleep behaviors observed in patients taking Z-drugs.

"Complex sleep behaviors occur while you are not fully awake. Examples include sleepwalking, sleep driving, sleep cooking, or taking other medicines," the FDA stated.

"The FDA has received reports of people taking these insomnia medicines and accidentally overdosing, falling, being burned, shooting themselves, and wandering outside in extremely cold weather, among other incidents."

Despite these risks, Z-drugs remain commonly prescribed for insomnia, affecting millions of individuals in the U.S. alone.

Patients are encouraged to stay informed and vigilant about potential adverse effects, prioritizing open communication with healthcare providers and prompt reporting of any concerning symptoms or experiences.

"Patients should stop taking your insomnia medicine and contact your health care professional right away if you experience a complex sleep behavior where you engage in activities while you are not fully awake or if you do not remember activities you have done while taking the medicine," the agency cautioned, according to Best Life.
Children who got displaced due to the Ukraine war are reportedly suffering mentally.

According to a recent study unveiled at the European Psychiatric Association Congress 2024, there's been a significant surge in mental health issues among children and adolescents affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The research, conducted by the Institute of Forensic Psychiatry of MoH of Ukraine, showed the profound impact of prolonged exposure to violence and displacement on the psychological well-being of children and teens.

The study, examining 785 teenagers displaced from war-torn regions of Ukraine, found alarming increases in five mental health conditions over 6 months to 1 year following displacement:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): surged from 9.8% to 21.9%

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): increased from 10.2% to 12.6%

Depressive disorders (DD): rose from 22.3% to 33.3%

Anxiety disorders (AD): escalated from 30.8% to 41.5%

Conduct disorders (CD): climbed from 15.4% to 18.0%

Moreover, the study identified female sex and secondary traumatization as risk factors for developing depression, pervasive developmental disorders, and ADHD among the affected children.

Professor Igor Martsenkovsky, head of the Department of Mental Disorders of Children and Adolescents at the SI Institute of Forensic Psychiatry of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, commented on the findings via Medical Xpress, saying, "This study provides important information about the state of mental health in the child population of Ukraine in 2022-2023. About one-third of the child population has clinically relevant problems related to anxiety, traumatic stress, developing depression, conduct behavior and ADHD."

"Key risk factors for these mental health problems include younger age, no longer being in a committed relationship, having fewer positive childhood experiences within one's family context, and experiencing serious disruption to one's life due to Russian aggression."

The researchers called for enhanced access to mental health services for children and adolescents affected by the war, both within Ukraine and in host countries. Specialized support tailored to children with PTSD and other mental health conditions, as well as trauma-informed approaches in education and social services to help children cope with the emotional aftermath of the war are greatly needed in light of the findings.

Meanwhile, continued support for displaced families is deemed crucial, acknowledging the unique challenges they encounter in ensuring the well-being of their children.

Prof. Geert Dom, president of the European Psychiatric Association, also commented on the study and emphasized the pressing need for action to help the young Ukrainians suffering because of the war.

"These findings paint a concerning picture of the lasting impact of war on the mental health of young Ukrainians. They underscore the urgent need for increased access to mental health services for children and adolescents affected by the war," Dom said.
A Chinese delegation led by the country's top legislator, Zhao Leji, will visit Pyongyang, North Korea's state media said Tuesday, in the latest in a series of trips meant to boost ties.

The delegation "will pay an official goodwill visit" to North Korea, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said in an English-language dispatch, without providing any further details.

In Beijing, China's foreign ministry said Zhao will visit the North from Thursday to Saturday to attend the opening ceremony of the China-DPRK Friendship Year.

The visit comes as the two nations mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. China is the North's longtime ally and largest economic benefactor.

South Korea's unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs earlier said North Korea and China are expected to have "vibrant" exchanges this year to mark the anniversary.

In January, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong visited Pyongyang and met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui in a move widely seen as a reciprocal trip after the North's Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-ho visited China in December 2023. (Yonhap)
Around 18 months ago, we published an article debunking several hyped-up stories about artificial intelligence. Well, that takes care of that, we said, patting ourselves on the back. Clearly, wed put a pin in that bubble.

Instead, the world took that article as a signal that it was time to embrace A.I., with all their heart, all their soul, all their mind and all their strength. Whole industries reorganized themselves. Companies gained trillions in imaginary value. And people went nuts over a bunch of stories about A.I.  stories that, when we really dig into them, turn out not to be what they first seemed at all.

4 The A.I. That Outperforms Nurses Don't Miss Nvidia is making new A.I. nurses, said headlines, nurses that are actually better than their human counterparts. Nvidia is a pioneer in real A.I. technology (if youre interested in such stuff as ray reconstruction), and they also benefit from general A.I. hype because they make the chips that power A.I. Were in a gold rush, and Nvidia is selling shovels. Nvidia And also selling gold. Gold does have some uses. Naturally, no one who saw the nurse headlines thought A.I. can completely replace nurses. Lets see your algorithm place a bedpan! people joked (or insert an IV or change a dressing or do any of the other tasks a nurse must do). But, of course, Nvidia wasnt claiming their software could do anything physical. They were suggesting their A.I. could think better than nurses, about medical stuff. Right? Well, no. The company behind these A.I. health-care agents  the company isnt actually Nvidia; Nvidia is just partnering with them  says the A.I. wont diagnose patients or make clinical decisions. If they tried making bots that could, we imagine that would open themselves to all kinds of liability. No, this is a chatbot, a Large Language Model named Polaris, that can just dispense information and advice, while also engaging patients in conversation. Heres how one of those conversations might go: Hippocratic AI That isnt a conversation deliberately chosen to mock Polaris. This is a conversation published by the developers of Polaris, to proudly show off its capabilities, so you can assume that this is among the best conversation examples they have. If you think patients are really clamoring for a chatbot that will say thats so interesting, tell me more before finally pulling relevant answers out of a textbook, your prayers have been answered. Advertisement But how then, you might ask, could the company claim this A.I. outperforms nurses? For that, they point to a survey they conducted. They asked nurses and physicians to rate interactions with other nurses and with Polaris. Polaris beat nurses on many of those questions. However, lets look a little more at what those questions are. Heres the section that supposedly proves Polaris beats nurses in bedside manner: Hippocratic AI Nurses scored as good or better than the A.I. on those, except for on the ironically worded did they get to know you as a person. The survey didnt ask whether any of us care if they get to know us a person, and perhaps we dont. Advertisement The A.I. also beat nurses in a section on patient education and motivational interviewing, and perhaps some nurses would be surprised to learn that thats considered their responsibility. Yes, an A.I. is great at looking up answers and replying tirelessly, while a human is reasonably more likely to say, Ill tell you, but Im not going to monologue about it. I have to move on and go do real work. Hippocratic AI MayoClinic.com has a search bar. Use it. The survey also included a question called Was the Nurse/A.I. as effective as a nurse? Nurses beat the A.I. here. Granted, nurses themselves didnt score great in that question, thanks to whatever medium they were using to talk to these patients, but if they beat the A.I. there, thats game over  you dont get to say A.I. outperforms nurses. Advertisement One final section rated nurses and Polaris on mistakes. To its credit, Polaris scored better than nurses here, if you add up the number of conversations that contained zero mistakes or nothing harmful. That may speak more to the A.I.s limited scope than its conscientiousness. Though, when the survey asked if the nurse said anything that could result in severe harm, the human nurses never did, but Polaris did sometimes. Youd think avoiding doing harm would be priority number one. The name of the company behind Polaris, by the way? Hippocratic A.I. Advertisement

3 A.I. George Carlin Was Written by a Human Right now, you can open up ChatGPT and ask it to write an answer in the style of George Carlin, on any topic you want. As with all ChatGPT content, the ideas it returns will be stolen from uncredited text scraped from the web. The result will never be particularly smart, and it will bear only the slightest resemblance to Carlins style  though, it will use the phrase So heres to you almost every time, because we guess ChatGPT decided thats a Carlin hallmark. In January, this reached its next stage of evolution. We heard a podcaster got an A.I. to create an entire stand-up special by training it on Carlins works and then asking it to speak like the dead man commenting on the world today. The special was narrated using Carlins A.I.-generated voice, against a backdrop of A.I. images. It was an affront to all of art, we told each other. Even if it wasnt, it was an affront to Carlin in particular, prompting his estate to sue. Advertisement In our subjective option, the specials not very good. Its not particularly funny, and it runs through a bunch of talking points youve surely heard already. But its an hour of continuous material, transitioning from one topic to another smoothly and with jokes, so even if its not Carlin-quality, thats quite a feat, coming from an A.I. Advertisement Dudesy Podcast The A.I. art is grotesque, and maybe thats the point? But with Carlins estate officially filing suit, the podcasters  Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen  were forced to come clean. An A.I. had not written the special. Kultgen wrote it. This happens a lot with alleged A.I. works (e.g., all those rap songs that were supposedly written and performed by A.I.) that require some element of genuine creativity. You might imagine A.I. authorship would be some shameful secret, but with these examples, people fake A.I. authorship for attention. Advertisement The special also did not use A.I. text-to-speech to create the narration. We can tell this; the speechs cadence matches the context beyond what text-to-speech is capable of. Its possible they used A.I. to tweak the speakers voice into Carlins, but we dont know if they did. We have our doubts, simply because it doesnt sound that much like Carlin. Dudesy Podcast Its not uncannily similarly. Lets call it cannily similar. The Carlin estate won a settlement from the podcasters  a settlement that is not disclosed to have included any transfer of money. Instead, the podcasters must take down the video and must never again use Carlins image, voice or likeness unless approved by the comedians estate. Youll see that it doesnt say anything about their again using his material to train A.I., but then, thats something we know they never did. Advertisement

2 The A.I. That Targeted a Military Operator Never Existed The big fear right now over artificial intelligence is that its replacing human workers, costing us our jobs and leaving shoddy substitutes in place of us. Thats why its such a relief when we hear stories revealing when A.I. tech is secretly really just a bunch of humans. But lets not forget the more classic fear of A.I.  that its going to rise up and kill us all. That returned last year, with a story from the Air Forces Chief of A.I. Test and Operations. USAF Yes, thats a role that exists. Colonel Tucker Hamilton spoke of an Air Force test in which an A.I. selected targets to kill, while a human operator had ultimate veto power over firing shots. The human operator was interfering with the A.I.s goal of hitting as many targets as possible. So what did it do? said Hamilton. It killed the operator. It killed the operator because that person was keeping it from accomplishing its objective. Then when the Air Force tinkered with the A.I. to specifically tell it not to kill the operator, it targeted the communications tower, to prevent the operator from sending it more vetoes. Advertisement Advertisement A closer reading of that speech, which Hamilton was delivering at a Royal Aeronautical Society summit, reveals that no operator actually died. He was describing a simulation, not an actual drone test theyd conducted. Well, thats a bit of a relief. But further clarifications revealed that this wasnt a simulated test theyd conducted either. Hamilton may have phrased it like it was, but it was really a thought experiment, proposed by someone outside the military. via Wiki Commons Probably by some Czech sci-fi author in 1921. The reason they never actually programmed and ran this simulation, said the Air Force, wasnt that theyre against the concept of autonomous weaponry. If they claimed they were too ethical to consider that, you might well theorize that theyre lying and this retraction of Hamiltons speech is a cover-up. No, the reason theyd never do this simulation, said the Air Force, is the A.I. going rogue that way would be such an obvious outcome in that scenario that theres no need to manufacture a simulation to test it. Advertisement Hey, were starting to think these Air Force people may have put more thought into military strategy than the rest of us have.
On Saturday night, the organizers of a Katt Williams comedy show at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis cut the evening short when a massive, bloody brawl broke out. The next day, TMZ released their shocking revelation that nobody involved in the violence was Katt Williams.

While the instigation of the brawl in the upper bowl of the arena is unclear, the aftermath is appropriately messy for any story involving caustic comedy legend. Several Williams fans who were abruptly evacuated from the stadium that once hosted the Indiana Pacers posted blurry footage of many men being pulled off of one another by Coliseum security, with at least one person bleeding profusely from his head. Reportedly, the house lights came on when event staff were alerted to the skirmish, and they ended the show early to deal with the participants. Williams representatives told TMZ that he only had about five minutes of material left in the stand-up set, so disappointed fans didnt miss out on too much.

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Given Williams history of going after unruly audience members from behind the microphone  and, sometimes, with the microphone  the fact that one of his shows was cut short by a fight that didnt involve him at all might show that the 52-year-old stand-up giant could be maturing. Or, on the other hand, maybe Williams just looked into the flurry of flailing fists and didnt see a seventh grader he thought he could take.

The caustic comedy legend started his 2024 in the headlines when he hopped on Shannon Sharpes podcast Club Shay Shay and spouted a slew of comedic rants criticizing Kevin Hart, Cedric the Entertainer, Chris Tucker, Steve Harvey and several other comics who probably didnt plan on ringing in the New Year by beefing with Williams. However, considering Williams history of letting his fists do the talking, the fact that he only attacked every one of his contemporaries with his words was a welcome change of pace for the perpetually embattled stand-up superstar.

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In that same Club Shay Shay interview, Williams claimed that hes been to jail roughly 30 times in his life  his rap sheet is littered with battery and assault charges, often against women and sometimes in extremely unsettling circumstances. For instance, he was once accused by a young actress whom he had invited to his home of imprisoning and torturing her for hours while he baked cookies.

With Williams violent past, individuals in his loyal and sizable fanbase are likely to feel their hearts sink every time his name pops up in a headline that includes the words bloody brawl, but, today, they can breathe easy  unlike Williams when he picked the wrong 13 year old to sucker punch.
So far, the religion bestowed upon me has done relatively well. I got an Xbox for my bar mitzvah, so theres a lot of goodwill there. A god that provides you with the ability to play both Halo and Halo 2? That is a benevolent god.

However, with the solar eclipse yesterday, Ive realized that one thing Im missing out on is a sick, sun-based god figure to set up statues of. The sun, most agree, is pretty damn wild, and it deserves some sort of insane lore behind it. For most things, Im happy to be a mind of science, but the center of our solar system deserves more of a backstory than a bunch of gas from a long time ago.

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With that in mind, I have chosen several super-cool sun gods who will now receive my worship

7 Ra JI FilpoC Look, weve immediately got a very strong opening bid. A man with the head of a hawk? Theres very little convincing necessary beyond that on my end. In my opinion, cool dudes with animal heads are one of the things most sorely missing from modern religion. Go a little deeper into the lore, and he only gets cooler. Not only is he coasting across the sky in his sun-barge by day, but every night he's whooping the ass of a giant serpent god whos trying to plunge the world into darkness? Thats a hell yeah (duat yeah?) all around.

6 Kisosen Pixabay Sticking with badass bird sun representation, well next consider Kisosen, a Native American god known as the one who brings the sun and who is represented by an eagle. According to Abenaki mythology, he opens his wings to create day, and closes them to create night. Youre telling me instead of living in a world full of global warming, I could instead be operating within the massive wingspan of a celestial eagle? I will commit heresy right now, just give me something to swear on.

5 Nanahuatzin Advertisement Public Domain This is not, as the name would suggest, the Aztec god of grandmothers. Instead, Nanahuatzin, meaning full of sores, which is admittedly a point against, was the god who sacrificed himself in a bonfire in order to create the fifth sun. In Aztec mythology, suns come and go, with each demanding a god sacrifice himself. So, next time Im at the beach, you know Im pouring out half a nutcracker for Nanas sacrifice.

4 Helios Advertisement Public Domain Helios gets plenty of glow, no pun intended, what with the Greek gods being well-recorded thanks to their prominence in Western history. That does not, however, take away from how sick his whole deal is. Ripping across the sky in a golden chariot, all to provide the population with precious vitamin D? Thats worth a little worship, in my eyes. Not to mention he looks absolutely stunning on the side of a vase. Advertisement

3 Xihe Shizhao Helios, cool as he may be, was relegated to second place in my mind when I realized that my Western-focused, public school education had denied me knowledge of the Chinese solar goddess Xihe. She was basically Helios with a better chariot pulled by cooler animals. As legend goes, she was the mother of 10 suns (suck it, Helios), each of which would take turns pulling their god-mom around the earth on a chariot. She also has a near-apocalypse under her belt, caused when all 10 rambunctious son/suns decided to do a lap en masse. They had to be shot down by the archer Hou Yi, which, not cool, man. But necessary, I guess.

2 Gnowee Advertisement Advertisement Sumek101 The Aboriginal people, more specifically the Wotjobaluk, have their own solar figure: Gnowee. Gnowee, per legend, lived on the world before there was a sun in the sky, in a time of eternal darkness. All light came from torches, like the one she took with her to search for food for her hungry son. Unfortunately, she became lost, and she continues to wander the earth with her torch, the sun, held aloft, looking for her precious baby boy. Theres no chance Im not rooting for her.
One of the biggest shows in the world right now is Netflixs 3 Body Problem, which was adapted from the acclaimed Remembrance of Earth's Past book series by showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, aka the guys behind Game of Thrones, aka arguably the last people in the world that should be adapting any more acclaimed book series.

Whether Benioff and Weiss will win back TV viewers who hated the Game of Thrones finale with a fiery passion remains to be seen, but we do want to point out that the duo also worked on another show about wildly amoral characters navigating dangerous situations: Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

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Apparently the Game of Thrones creators randomly met Rob McElhenney at a party and told him they were big fans of his show. According to Charlie Day, they then asked if they could write an episode of Always Sunny, were brought into the writers room to break the story and eventually sent back a great script that was one of his favorites that season.

The resulting episode was no doubt one of the shows very best. Flowers for Charlie was a riff on the classic Daniel Keyes story Flowers for Algernon, in which medical researchers give Charlie a pill that will enhance his intelligence seven-fold. Or at least, it seems that way, until Charlie reveals his brilliant new invention: a device that allows cats to communicate with spiders  actually, make that spydars.

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As McElhenney noted at the time, as veteran TV writers, Benioff and Weiss were perfectly suited to the show, even if their background wasnt in comedy. I think a common misconception about comedy  especially a show like ours  is that its just all jokes and that its easy to sit down and just write funny things, he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2013. Ours is a story-driven and character-driven show. It takes a specific structure to execute that, and they have that in spades.

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McElhenney then added, I guess well have to do a Game of Thrones, well see.

While the world never got an episode in which Jon Snow opens up a dive bar in Kings Landing, McElhenney did show up to make a brief cameo in Season Eight (along with Freaks and Geeks Martin Starr) playing a guard (not for the first time) who immediately gets his eye gouged out.

McElhenney also recommended that the Game of Thrones guys hire one of Its Always Sunny in Philadelphias directors, Matt Shakman (who would later go on to helm Marvels WandaVision). This inspired Benioff and Weiss to pull a prank, complaining in an email to McElhenney that the recommendation was a total disaster when the opposite was actually true, leaving him feeling tortured.

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So if 3 Body Problem ever gets canceled by Netflix, at least Benioff and Weiss have a backup that, it seems, may never end.

You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this).
I played Aunt Bee for 10 years and its very difficult for an actress or an actor to create a role and be so identified that you as a person no longer exist, Francis Bavier told Carolina Camera about her time on The Andy Griffith Show. And all the recognition you get is for a part thats created on the screen.

Unfortunately for Andy Griffith and Don Knotts, the two leads of The Andy Griffith Show, Baviers dissatisfaction spilled over into their off-screen relationships. Its a wonder Aunt Bee never poisoned Andys fried chicken since she openly resented her castmates getting all the best comedy bits. Ive had to take a backseat and watch others get the laughs, Bavier told TV Guide, as reported by MeTV. Bavier reportedly sought out therapy to wrestle with her subordinate status on the show.

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When the cameras werent rolling, things were just as bad. Griffith loved practical jokes on set; Bavier hated them. Griffith encouraged singing and joking between takes, while Bavier preferred to stay serious and professional. So its no wonder that the bad feelings were mutual, at least according to Ron Howards real-life dad, Rance Howard. Andy of Mayberry seemed to bear some kind of resentment toward Frances, Howard claimed. I think she was (producer) Sheldon Leonards choice. And she may not have been Andys choice.

Things got bad enough, said Howard, that Gomer had to step in. I remember we were walking back from a table reading on our way to the soundstage, said the elder Howard. And I heard Jim (Nabors) say, not loudly, but he said, Andy, shes a good actress. You be nice to her. And Andy had no reply for that.

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Bavier didnt have much use for Barney Fife either. Through the shows entire run, she told The Herald-Sun, I dont think I said more than five words to (Don Knotts) the whole time.

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Howard Morris, who played Ernest T. Bass, didnt have an easier time directing eight episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. Working with Bavier was like navigating a landmine, he said  a typical director request, such as moving three inches to the right for a better shot, could provoke Baviers ire.

Surely Aunt Bee got along with Opie? In the mid-1980s, Griffith and Ron Howard decided to visit Bavier, who now lived alone in Mayberry-esque Siler City, North Carolina. When the uninvited men showed up at Baviers door, she refused to allow them inside her home, according to Triad City Beat. This was after declining repeatedly to be part of their Mayberry reunion movie, said the report. Why would she participate? She never liked Andy Griffith from the very beginning.

Bavier and Griffith didnt make up until the actress was near the very end of her life. She was dying of cancer, and Griffith shared what Bavier told him in their last phone call: Im sorry we didnt get along better, she said. It was my fault. And she said, I just wish we had.

We got along fine, Griffith claimed. Its just she didnt feel like it a lot of times.
The top U.S. envoy to the United Nations will travel to South Korea and Japan next week for engagements to advance bilateral and trilateral cooperation on North Korean threats and other issues, her office said.

During her trip to the Asian allies from Sunday through April 20, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield will reiterate Washington's commitment to addressing regional and global priorities, including human rights, nonproliferation and responsible use of artificial intelligence, as well as the threats from the North's weapons of mass destruction, according to the office Monday.

During her four-day stay in South Korea, Thomas-Greenfield plans to meet senior Seoul officials, travel to the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas, meet young North Korean escapees and speak with students at Ewha Womans University.

It will mark the first trip to Seoul by the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. since 2016.

In Japan, she will meet senior Tokyo officials, local students and family members of Japanese citizens abducted by Pyongyang decades ago, according to the office.

In both countries, the ambassador plans to discuss the next steps to ensure the "continuation of independent and accurate reporting" of the North's weapons proliferation and sanctions evasion activities following Russia's veto of a U.N. resolution on the annual renewal of an expert panel monitoring sanctions enforcement.

Absent the resolution's passage, the panel's mandate is set to expire April 30, a termination that observers say could chip away at international efforts to curb evolving North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

An official at South Korea's foreign ministry said the government is working on various measures, in cooperation with the United States and other countries, to come up with an "effective monitoring mechanism" that will replace the panel. (Yonhap)
Spanish Healthcare Service Works On Resilience

The digitisation of healthcare systems and the reliance on technology to run hospitals and healthcare facilities have made the healthcare sector an attractive target for cyber criminals. Hackers know that medical devices dont contain any patient data themselves, however, they see them as an easy target, lacking the security found on other network devices like laptops and computers.

Threats against medical devices can cause problems for healthcare organisations, giving hackers access to other network devices or letting them install costly ransomware. Secure network devices help limit the damage caused by an attack on medical devices.

In response the rising number of cyber threats on medical organisations, Spains health sector is taking decisive action.

Following the regional Catalan Government allocated funds to combat cyber threats, the Spanish Private Health Alliance (ASPE) convened a forum to deal with the serious problem. This move underscores the escalating concern over cybercrime within Spains health sector.

Cyber attacks on Spanish healthcare have been increasing, affecting hospitals and healthcare centres across the country. In 2022 more than 500 institutions reported incidents, which, according to data from INCIBE, the National Institute of Cybersecurity, was an increase of 48% compared to 2021.

The Cybercrime Threat

The health sector in Spain is facing a significant challenge. The convergence of health data at a European level further exposes patient records to potential threats. Both public and private healthcare entities in Spain, including ASPE and the Catalan government, are rallying resources to combat this menace.

According to ASPE's Director, cyber security in the health system is not an option, it is something fundamental,' highlighting the healthcare sectors dedication to maintaining trust through robust cybersecurity measures. These concerns are amplified by the European Unions move towards a unified health data market, raising the stakes for data security.

However, according to analysis by leading Spanish firm, Aiuken Cybersecurity there is a gap between ASPE's goals and the current needs of Spanish healthcare. Aiuken criticises the sectors outdated technological infrastructures and calls for increased investment to deter cybercriminals. The principal threats faced by the health sector includ3s ransomware. Indeed, ransomware attack on one of Barcelona s main hospitals last year that crippled the main computer system and forced the cancellation of 150 non-urgent operations and up to 3,000 patient appointments.

To counter these threats, solutions such as restricting access to electronic health records and enhancing training for those with access are being proposed. With a concerted effort to improve cybersecurity, including the development of action plans and regulatory advice, Spains health sector aims to certify under the National Security Scheme.

This initiative is a big step towards safeguarding patient data and ensuring the integrity of healthcare services against cyber threats, which are taking place on health systems around the world.

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Cyber Security Intelligence: Captured Organised & Accessible
President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the Coast Guard on Tuesday to respond firmly to illegal fishing by Chinese vessels in South Korean waters, his office said.

Yoon made the remark during a visit to a Coast Guard unit stationed in Incheon, just west of Seoul, where he inspected the Coast Guard's crackdown on illegal fishing amid peak crabbing season and later boarded a patrol boat together with the unit chief.

"The president stressed that the problem of Chinese fishing vessels' illegal operations should be handled from the perspective of the security of our marine resources," his office said in a press release.

"In particular, he noted that even North Korea, which has a military alliance with China, strongly clamps down on illegal fishing by Chinese fishing boats, but we have at times been unable to out of concern for our relations with China, and that we should focus on defending our marine security with only our people's safety and interests in mind."

Yoon was briefed by Coast Guard and Navy officials on their crackdown on Chinese fishing vessels operating illegally in South Korea's exclusive economic zone and near the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas.

Chinese illegal fishing has been a recurring issue that has sometimes led to violent clashes between the fishermen and Coast Guard officers involved.

During a town hall meeting last month, a local fisherman from the southern city of Yeosu complained that Chinese vessels were sweeping fish from local waters.

Yoon instructed the oceans ministry and the Coast Guard at the time to launch a tough crackdown, leading to the seizure of five Chinese fishing boats and the eviction of 36 others during a weeklong special crackdown period at the end of March, the presidential office said. (Yonhap)
Diplomats, Rwandans in Korea attend Kwibuka 30

By Lee Hae-rin

The Embassy of Rwanda in Seoul held a ceremony Tuesday to mark the 30th commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

Held under the theme of "Remember, Unite and Renew," Kwibuka 30 was joined by some 150 guests, including 14 diplomats, 37 ambassadors and members of the Rwandan diaspora in Korea at Far East Broadcasting Company's headquarters in Seoul.

In Rwanda, April 7 is observed as Genocide Memorial Day under the name "Kwibuka," which means "to remember" in the Rwandan language of Kinyarwanda.

"Rwanda has emerged from devastation, and its evident progress is testament to the difficult decision it has made," Bakuramutsa Nkubito Manzi, the ambassador of Rwanda to Korea, said during the ceremony, underscoring the country's journey for unity.

"The tragedy experienced by Rwanda serves as a cautionary tale. The process of division and extremism that paves the way for genocide can occur in any place if allowed to persist without intervention," the ambassador said, expressing gratitude to the attendees for solidarity.

The 100-day massacre in Rwanda was triggered by ethnic tensions between the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority between April and July of 1994. Around 1 million Tutsis and thousands of moderate Hutus are estimated to have been killed under the country's Hutu-led government during one of the deadliest rampages of the 20th century.

Throughout the event, attendees held electronic candles to honor and remember victims and celebrate survivors' resilience and determination.

Chung Byung-won, Korea's deputy minister for political affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the two countries' similarities in achieving peace after atrocities and conveyed Korea's commitment to working with the central African nation.

"Rwanda has been able to establish itself as a leader at the very forefront in African integration and innovation today because its people, overcoming the tragedy of the past, have moved forward looking to the future seeking harmony and the path of development," Chung said.

"Korea and Rwanda, bound by painful histories, share a remarkable aspiration for peace. Drawing upon our similar pasts, Korea stands in heartfelt remembrance of Rwanda's past and is determined to support Rwanda's inspiring step toward a brighter future."

"Rwanda's exceptional resilience and unwavering commitment to shaping its destiny," said Carlos Victor Boungou, the ambassador of the Gabonese Republic to Seoul who also serves as the dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Korea.

"We commend Rwanda for its achievements in reconciliation, justice, social cohesion and development in just one generation."

Rwanda topped the list of the 10 safest countries on the African continent with one of the lowest crime rates and high safety index in Numbeo's latest annual report on the crime index of African countries this year.
When The College of Saint Rose Board of Trustees announced in December that the 103-year-old liberal arts school would be closing this spring, faculty members effectively had only seven more months on the job. Faculty contracts stipulate they were supposed to be given 12 months' notice.
Korea held a memorial ceremony on Tuesday for late U.S. Army Col. William E. Weber, a decorated veteran of the 1950-53 Korean War known for his efforts to help the American people remember the conflict.

The ceremony took place at a memorial dedicated to the veteran in the border city of Paju, 39 kilometers north of Seoul, on the second anniversary of his death.

Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho attended the event and described Weber's iconic left-hand salute when he was alive as a symbol of the Korea-U.S. alliance.

Weber lost his right arm and right leg in a battle in Wonju, 132 kilometers east of Seoul, during the three-year war, when he served as a member of the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team.

After retirement, Weber devoted his life to ensuring the Korean War was not forgotten, making efforts to establish memorials on the conflict in the United States. He died at his residence in Maryland in 2022 at the age of 97.

He was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The memorial in Paju was established last year by the Korea-U.S. Alliance Foundation and the Korea Defense Veterans Association, with support from the National Assembly and SK Group. (Yonhap)
Tourist on Whitehall: Which side is the Foreign Office on?

Policeman: Thats a very good question, Sir.

Its an old joke, but a telling one. Our diplomats are not always on the same side as the rest of us when it comes to the national interest.

Some senior retired mandarins, including the former Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, have just produced a report, The World in 2040, which is aimed more or less explicitly at an incoming Labour government.

It sets out their vision of how Britain should conduct itself as a medium-sized off-shore nation. In essence, they think we should be humbler, readier to pool our sovereignty and less hung up on our past.

They want Britain to be more engaged on climate change, and to share rights in multinational institutions with emerging powers. Perhaps most strikingly, they propose renaming the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office and abandoning its headquarters, the handsome Victorian palace on King Charles Street designed by George Gilbert Scott.

David Cameron shows Ukraine First Lady Olena Zelenska the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office on King Charles Street, designed by George Gilbert Scott

Modernising premises  perhaps with fewer colonial-era pictures on the walls  might help create a more open working culture and send a clear signal about Britains future?

It is not clear whether that ungrammatical question mark is an attempt to ape the rising intonation of young people or whether the authors know, on some level, that what they are asking for is risible.

For one of this countrys greatest assets, embodied in that buildings grand staircases and marbled meeting halls, is its story. Few nations have done more, down the years, to promote human rights and the rule of law.

When we talk of countries becoming more developed, we mean (though we are too polite to put it this way) that they are becoming more like us. In other words, that they are acquiring free parliaments, independent courts, uncensored media and secure property rights.

The reports authors write that former colonies are making increasingly vocal demands about the need for reparations from colonialism.

The interior of Durbar Court at the Foreign and Commonwealth building in London

Well, perhaps so. But where do you suppose they got that idea? In no small measure, from British universities and British cultural representatives. Our self-flagellating wokery has been picked up overseas, with the striking result that there is far more resentment about British colonialism now than there was at the time, or during its immediate aftermath.

Although you would not think so today, most of Britains colonies were brought to independence without a shot being fired in anger  something no other empire has managed. Yes, there were tragic exceptions, notably Cyprus, Kenya and India.

But, even in India, when the colonial flag was lowered for the last time in 1947, assembled representatives of the new government sang Auld Lang Syne with tears in their eyes.

In recent years, a cartoonish version of history has been promulgated in this country, and exported around the world, in which Britain is cast as the villainous Alan Rickman of the global drama. As a result, many people in former colonies fulminate against an imagined version of British colonialism in a way that their grandparents, experiencing the real-life version, never did.

I dont enjoy having to write these things. I have always been sceptical of the British Empire on liberal grounds. But the idea that Britain owes a debt to the places it modernised would have astonished Victorian officials, who saw colonies as an administrative headache, but who felt under pressure from missionaries, abolitionists and assorted humanitarians to assume responsibility for new tracts of land.

If the British Empire was an attempt at financial exploitation, it was a spectacularly inefficient one, for taxes in Britain were always higher than in her colonies.

If anything, Britain is owed a debt. Our species benefited hugely from the industrial revolution, the abolition of the slave trade and the defeat of Nazism.

We talk of universal human rights but, in truth, they became universal because Britain and allied English-speaking democracies were prepared to defend them with arms.

Imagine that World War II or the Cold War had ended differently. Thered be nothing universal about human rights then.

Even now, there is a huge gap between how our Foreign Office officials think of Britain and how their counterparts abroad do.

Daniel Hannan says: In recent years, a cartoonish version of history has been promulgated in this country, and exported around the world, in which Britain is cast as the villainous Alan Rickman of the global drama

In foreign capitals, people still cherish the idea of British representatives as wise, experienced and on the side of the goodies, in that they want a freer, more democratic and more prosperous world.

They want well-informed diplomats in well-cut suits. They want ambassadors who know the world, its languages and cultures, and who can interpret British interests in local conditions.

They want to be able to have meaningful conversations about, say, the war in Ukraine or the horrors in Israel and Gaza, secure in the knowledge that our ultimate interest is in a just and peaceful world order.

They want, in short, to deal with Britain as a mature democracy, one of the grown-ups in the room.

What they dont want is a purple-haired ambassador with a nose-stud lecturing them about climate change and LGBQWERTY.

If it were only this one report, we could dismiss it. But it represents a well-established trend in our foreign policy establishment.

We have for years been abandoning beautiful buildings, including the finest house in Kuala Lumpur, gifted to us at independence by a grateful Malaysian government. Most recently, we sold a chunk of our legation in Tokyo.

At the same time, and more seriously, the Foreign Office seems to have moved away from meritocracy in its pursuit of identity politics, recruiting and promoting on grounds other than pure ability.

The sense that Britain used to be an unusually patriarchal and racist society, and that that legacy defines its relations with other states, is pure fantasy. Where on the planet, down the centuries, would you rather have been poor, or female, or from a religious minority? Seriously, where? Russia? Persia? The Benin Empire?

The truth is that the world order we currently enjoy, based on sovereign nations, representative government and a rejection of altering borders by force is a largely British, or at least Anglo-American, creation.

People in other countries who like these things want to hear us defending them full-throatedly. They know that those colonial portraits, which seem to make the authors of this report uncomfortable, depict men who saved the liberal order from Bonaparte, Hitler and Stalin.

They might even be aware, though we ourselves seem determined to forget it, that some of the portraits represent those who gave their lives to extirpating the slave trade  a policy on which Britain spent 1.8 per cent of GDP annually between 1808 and 1867, making it the most expensive moral foreign policy in human history.

If our past teaches us anything, it is that, when the chips are down, few other countries are so prepared to step up and do the right thing for humanity as a whole. That is the heritage that should inspire us today.

As Tennyson put it in a different context, though we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are.

We might not have the influence we had a century ago. But we are still among the worlds five top military powers, a permanent seat-holder in the UN security Council and a nuclear state. We remain a force for good. Our friends on other continents have not forgotten. Neither should we.

Lord Hannan is International Secretary of the Conservative Party and serves on the Board of Trade.
The NHS is a service, not a shrine. I couldnt have put it better myself. For some time now, Ive been arguing that our health service needs radical reform if it is to survive. But, so far, no politician has had the courage to even address the issue, let alone implement it.

That it should take a Labour shadow minister to acknowledge this reality  and pledge to do something about it  is a great source of frustration to me as a Conservative voter. For those are not the words of the current Health Secretary, Victoria Atkins, but of Wes Streeting, her opposite number.

And it doesnt stop there. Mr Streeting has vowed to face down the middle-class lefties who oppose his plan to use spare private-sector capacity to speed up waiting times, pointing out that the NHS is judged by how well it serves the public, not how heavy a price were paying for failure. He adds: This cant go on  if the NHS doesnt change, it will die.

Wes Streeting, Labour's health spokesman, has vowed to face down the middle-class lefties who oppose his plan to use spare private-sector capacity to speed up NHS waiting times

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins wrote in the Daily Mail last week that the Government would invest in IT at hospitals so doctors could spend more time with patients

To anyone who has tried to access NHS care in the past few years, this seems like a no-brainer. But for a politician  and a Labour one at that  to say it, is really something. Over the years, Ive argued the urgent need for NHS reform with many a minister (and one or two prime ministers), and always the answer has been the same. Of course its a disaster, of course its a money-pit, of course we should move to some sort of social insurance model like almost every other European country. But politically? Instant career suicide.

This may turn out to be Mr Streetings fate. The Left of his party has already reacted with customary hysteria, screeching about privatisation, an accusation they normally levy at the Tories. If only, I say. If only the Conservatives had been quietly partnering with the private sector to take the heat off frontline services. If only they had shown that courage and vision when they first got elected in 2010, perhaps the polls would look very different today.

It could of course be a trap: clever political theatre to win over Waitrose women such as myself. Many loyal Conservatives are thoroughly disappointed with how our team has been performing of late but are unable to bring ourselves to vote for Keir women-can-have-penises Starmer and the massed ranks of swivel-eyed socialists hanging on his coat-tails. We know from what little we have seen of the Labour leader that the only thing he really believes in is winning power.

But even if it is not much more than a pre-election tactic  and Mr Streeting is less than forthcoming on the details  it does nevertheless launch an urgent debate that the Conservatives, despite nearly 14 years in power, have singularly failed to have.

If the polls are correct, and Labour secure their predicted landslide, then Mr Streeting will have the opportunity to put his plan into action. But that is where his troubles will really begin.

The Whitehall Blob will awaken from its WFH slumber, clutch its pearls at the prospect of such a radical policy becoming reality and blunder into action, replete with justifications for why the plans are too ambitious. The best thing the minister can do, theyll say, is have a nice cup of tea and think about replacing the departments art collection with progressive works by LGBTQ+ artists, rather than waste time with all that reform malarkey.

Truth is, Mr Streetings capacity to modernise the NHS will depend not on his ability to withstand the attacks from the opposition (assuming there actually is one after the next election) but to push back against the sclerotic machine of government run by woke civil servants who dislike only one thing more than actual work  and thats implementing policy that doesnt fit their own narrow agenda.

In other words, those middle-class lefties he so openly derides.

No space for EVs here...

My local authority (Labour-led Haringey), in its infinite wisdom, has redesignated large numbers of residents parking spaces across the borough for electric vehicles, presumably to get more people to buy the damn things.

After much disruption, the sparkling new spaces are finally ready  and completely empty. The rest of us are forced to fight over the remaining spaces  even though we pay for our parking permits, whereas electric car owners do not.

At what point are the powers that-be going to realise that the public has seen through the giant electric-car con  and understand that no amount of enticement, incentives or bullying are going to change our minds?

While everyone has been obsessing about Prince Andrew and Emily Maitlis on Netflix, Ive been enjoying a rather more baroque tale of incompetence and skullduggery on Apple TV. The Completely Madeup Adventures of Dick Turpin stars Noel Fielding, Hugh Bonneville and Tamsin Greig and features a roll-call of British talent, including Greg Davies (Taskmaster) and Asim Chaudhry (People Just do Nothing). Silly but entertaining, with a whip-sharp script, its the sort of thing the BBC used to be really good at until it started employing idiots like Paddy McGuinness.

Galloway, MP for propaganda

Why is George Galloway, the new MP for Rochdale, hosting a show on Irans propaganda channel, Press TV?

Im not an expert on parliamentary rules, but Im pretty sure that advocating for a regime that openly funds proscribed terror groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah (not to mention brutalising its own people and persecuting women for not wearing the hijab) is not on his approved list of constituency duties.

The Antiques Roadshow has overtaken both Ant & Dec and all the major soaps in the ratings war  pulling in almost five million viewers. I confess I am one of them. I rarely watch terrestrial TV these days  but Antiques Roadshow is the one appointment to view I never miss. Maybe thats because these days I am something of an antique myself.

JKs magic Tweets

JK Rowling is fast surpassing James Blunt as the person on Twitter/X with the best comebacks to her trolls.

My favourite, in response to someone complaining about the JK Rowling cult, was this: Good work, cult member #28749. Your laughter has caused the cows milk to dry up, the crops to wither and frail men to quail before you.

Catch you at midnight for a debrief, and please bring your own toad and broomstick. If she ever gives up writing novels, a career in comedy beckons.

Amnesty International eulogises the death of Palestinian activist Walid Daqqa in jail in Israel as a cruel reminder of Israels disregard for Palestinians right to life. What they neglect to mention is the reason Daqqa was in jail: he was in charge of a group that kidnapped a 19-year-old Jewish soldier, held him hostage for two days, gouged out his eyes, castrated him and shot him in the chest. Is it any wonder three quarters of British Muslims question the October 7 terror attacks when they are being fed such disinformation by once respected organisations such as Amnesty?

Back to Black just a cash cow

Critics have not been kind about the new Amy Winehouse biopic, Back to Black, starring unknown actress Marisa Abela. Im afraid I wont be going to see it.

It seems to me that poor Amy, pictured, was a Marilyn Monroe for our times: a tragic, troubled young star whose memory now serves to make others rich, while she missed out on her whole life. I prefer to listen to her music, still as hauntingly beautiful as it ever was.
Ariana Madix has lifted the lid on the ultra-simple and budget-friendly beauty routine that she relies on to keep her face and body looking their best during her Broadway run as Roxie Hart in Chicago.

In a recent interview for Elle's Waking Up With series, Madix, 38, revealed everything she does to make sure she's in best shape to keep up with her demanding schedule.

Madix, who has starred on Bravo's hit Vanderpump Rules for the past 11 years, skyrocketed to fame in March 2023 after it was discovered that her longterm partner, Tom Sandoval, had been cheating on her with fellow cast member Rachel Leviss.

Now, the reality star is not only appearing as Hart, but was recently named as the new host of Love Island: USA. She also placed third on last season's Dancing with the Stars, along with partner Pasha Pashkov.

In a new interview for Elle's Waking Up With series, Madix, 38, revealed everything she does to make sure she's in best shape to keep up with her demanding schedule

Madix skyrocketed to fame last year after it was discovered that her longtime partner, Tom Sandoval, was cheating on her with fellow Vanderpump Rules cast member Rachel Leviss

Madix shared some of the keys to her success with Elle from her temporary bedroom in New York City, explaining that her morning began by texting her mom with an emoji, something the two of them do every day.

After getting out of bed, Madix took viewers along to her gorgeous, black-and-white marble bathroom as she got started with some skincare.

'Put some cold water on my face to wake myself up a little bit,' she began, as patted a towel all over her face.

Next, the Bravolebrity applied a $36 cream skin toner and moisturizer from skincare brand Laneige using a cotton pad.

She followed it up with a layer of the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, which retails for just $25.

'I think my skin type is just getting older,' Madix joked. 'And so, I have these lines around my eyes.'

She applied the serum with her fingers, spreading it all the way down to her neck.

After that, the Single AF Cocktails author followed up by slathering on the $26 COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream on her face.

The first thing that Madix does in the morning is wash her face with cold water to try and wake herself and her skin up

The Bravolebrity applied the $36 cream skin toner and moisturizer from skincare brand Laneige using a cotton pad

She followed it up with a layer of the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, which retails for just $25

'I like it 'cause it's really, like... it's intense,' she laughed as she rubbed it between her fingers, showing of its extremely gooey texture.

During the interview, Madix also admitted that she didn't see a dermatologist or a facialist.

'I wish I had a dermatologist, maybe my skin would look better,' she said.

'I haven't seen a dermatologist, except for one time, when I had melanoma, which was not fun,' she added. 'That's the only time I've been to a dermatologist.'

She emphasized that her morning skin routine was pretty 'low key' and simple, as she doesn't really enjoy those early hours in the day.

Of course, the People's Choice Award winner also has to make sure that her vocal cords are healthy for her impending performances.

Madix revealed that she uses a Sinus Steam Inhaler from Vicks to get things going - sometimes, she'll even sit in the steam of a hot shower, too.

'These steamers are great just to kind of start knocking things loose and getting things warmed up before I have to start talking and singing all day,' she explained.

The star shared that as a Broadway actress, the most important thing was being able to last through her shows and stay healthy.

When she's filming back in Los Angeles for Vanderpump Rules, Madix said that her morning routine stayed pretty much the same, except for the fact that she got to wake up a little later, as shoots were never scheduled before 11 a.m.

Madix also uses a Vicks Sinus Steam Inhaler in the morning to make sure that her voice is in top shape for her Broadway shows

The Vanderpump Rules star emphasized that her morning skin routine was pretty 'low key' and simple, as she doesn't really enjoy those early hours in the day

Madix has appeared on Vanderpump Rules since season two, and even braved it through this season on the heels of her longtime partner's infidelity

'The only thing that changes is I would put makeup on,' Madix said.

'And then try to think of an outfit and then freak out because I can't think of anything cute and text Katie [Maloney] or Scheana [Shay] or Lala [Kent] and say what are you guys wearing, and try to figure out some things... it's a little bit more stressful.'

After she finishes steaming, she makes a cup of Throat Coat tea and then grabs two wellness devices - a foot roller and Hyperice Hypervolt massage gun, which starts at $129.

'I learned while doing Dancing with the Stars that I have very high arches, so rolling them out every day is just a way to help keep them healthy because I am dancing in heels,' she said.

'It's crazy, because when I roll out my feet, they crack now, which I've never experienced, it's a wild feeling to have,' Madix continued.

'Now I'm kind of addicted to it, it's the best feeling, I highly recommend rolling your feet out every day.'

After she finishes steaming, she makes a cup of Throat Coat tea and then grabs two wellness devices - a foot roller and Hyperice Hypervolt massage gun, which starts at $129

'Now I'm kind of addicted to it, it's the best feeling, I highly recommend rolling your feet out every day,' she said

She said that the Hyperice gun she has was left behind in her dressing room by Charlotte d'Amboise, who took the stage as Hart before Madix did

Finally, she goes in with the Hyperice gun, which she revealed was actually left behind in the dressing room by Charlotte d'Amboise, who took the stage as Hart before Madix.

'I use this on my calves,' she said, explaining that she has pretty 'tight calves' from her performances.

The Broadway star also massages out her quads with the device as well.

'Just kind of getting here with this and getting this warmed up, and then I can start stretching and stuff,' Madix said.

She concluded the clip by revealing that she was off to a vocal lesson before her extended run in Chicago wrapped up on April 7.
Mr Harrold was a guest at the ceremony in Windsor on April 9, 2005

King Charles' former butlers has recalled touching memories from the monarch and Queen Camilla's wedding day as they celebrate 19 years of marriage.

The former royal butler worked within Charles' household for seven years between 2004 and 2011, and was a guest at the ceremony in Windsor on April 9, 2005.

Charles and Camilla, who had both been married previously, opted for a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall followed by a religious blessing at St George's Chapel.

Grant, 45, is now an etiquette expert and broadcaster, while his list of clientele has also included Prince William, Prince Harry and the late Queen Elizabeth II herself.

As the royal couple celebrates 19 years of matrimony on Tuesday, Grant recalled the ceremony and shared how the late Queen Elizabeth was actually heavily involved in the wedding planning.

Former royal butler Grant Harrold revealed Queen Elizabeth's show of support for Charles and Camilla at their wedding in 2005 (pictured)

The Queen and Prince Philip did not attend Charles and Camilla's civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, but they did join later on for the religious blessing at St George's Chapel (pictured)

He revealed that the late monarch organised important wedding details on the day, from the flowers to Charles and Camilla's wedding rings, and even gave a comical speech at the newlywed couple's reception.

The Queen and Prince Philip did not attend Charles and Camilla's civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, but they did join later for the religious blessing at St George's Chapel.

Speaking on behalf of wedding directory Guides for Brides (guidesforbrides.co.uk), he said: 'The biggest misconception about the wedding is that the Queen didn't enjoy it or wasn't supportive, it's complete nonsense.

'There was talk about whether she would attend the service but her appearance at the reception was a joyful one.

'Her attendance and speech would have been seen as an olive branch to Charles and Camilla - her blessing of the marriage. The royals don't do things lightly and she would have not attended if she hadn't been happy to.

'I remember walking to St George's Hall for the reception, where they had drinks. The Queen had not attended the actual service but she gave a speech at the reception, which was seen as a big sign of her approval to the marriage.

'The Queen was amazing at the wedding, she gave a very funny speech, she was really happy as was Prince Philip. I can't remember her exact words but she was funny. She compared their relationship to a Grand National horse race. She was a great comedian and had a way with words.'

After the blessing, the Queen hosted a lunch for foreign royals who had travelled to the UK at Windsor Castle.

The former royal butler worked within Charles' household for seven years between 2004 and 2011, and was a guest at the ceremony in Windsor on April 9, 2005

The happy couple pictured with the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince William, Prince Harry, the bride's father Bruce Shand and Camilla's children Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes

Queen Camilla pictured waving to crowds on her wedding day in April 2003. The couple became the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall following their marriage

The Queen pictured with the Royal Family on the steps of St George's Chapel on Charles and Camilla's wedding day

Charles and Camilla are celebrating their 19th wedding anniversary (pictured attending a service on Easter Sunday)

The happy couple and their immediate family also posed for photos in the White Drawing Room within the royal residence.

Charles and Camilla were joined by the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince William, Prince Harry, the bride's father Bruce Shand (who passed away the following year) and her children Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes.

Grant added that Camilla's bouquet also featured myrtle from Sandringham - a traditional touch for royal weddings which the Queen would have been involved with - acting as a sign of her approval.

Charles and Camilla's wedding bands were made from the Royal Family's collection of Welsh gold, another element that would have involved the Queen.

On their wedding day, it was announced that the Queen had appointed Charles and Camilla the new Duke and Duchess of Cornwall - titles they held for the next 17 years.

Speaking about why the Queen didn't attend the actual ceremony, Grant explained: 'The Queen didn't go to the actual Guildhall. The reason for that, we're talking about 20 odd years ago, Charles was a divorcee.

'So possibly the Queen felt that being a traditionalist, she didn't want to be at the blessing for personal reasons because her faith was very strong. She certainly was at the blessing at St George's Chapel.'

The royal butler also reflected on sweet moments between Queen Elizabeth and her son on his wedding day, saying it was filled with 'hugs' and that she looked like a 'proud mother'.

King Charles and Queen Camilla smile for the crowds moments after they were legally married in 2005

King Charles and Queen Camilla pictured with their children from their first marriages on their wedding day in April 2005

Mr Harrold (pictured in 2012) said he wasn't expecting to be invited to the wedding as he had been working for the royals under a year - but was invited as a friend

'Charles was grinning ear to ear the whole day. He was so happy,' said Grant.

'The Queen was wonderful with the two of them and very sweet with the two of them at their wedding reception.

'There were hugs between Charles and the Queen and I'm sure between Camilla and the Queen. One of my fondest memories is the Queen gathering outside with friends and family to wave the newlyweds off in the car. She was waving and smiling excitedly. She looked like any other proud mother.

'What surprised me most about the wedding was just how happy it all was and how there was a real party atmosphere. The Queen doing a speech was a real surprise, you don't expect that. It was an amazing occasion and being invited as a guest was an honour.'

The ceremony was notably less lavish than King Charles's wedding to Princess Diana in July 1981, which was held at St Paul's Cathedral and watched by over 750 million people around the world.

Camilla wore a white silk dress with a scalloped trim, adding an elegant white tailored coat with a diamond feathered brooch.

Charles - then the Prince of Wales - was smart in a black long-line jacket and grey striped trousers.

The couple's wedding ceremony was attended by their children from their previous marriages - Prince William, Prince Harry, Laura Lopes and Tom Parker Bowles.

Underneath her embroidered coat, Camilla wore a light blue chiffon dress. She carried a small floral bouquet to this part of the day

The late Queen pictured beaming at Prince Harry following Charles and Camilla's religious blessing

Unlike Charles's first wedding, the civil ceremony was kept private. Buckingham Palace announced that there would be no music or readings featured in the order of service.

After the ceremony, the royal newlyweds took the time to greet royal fans who had gathered on the streets of Windsor to celebrate their marriage.

The couple then made the two-minute car journey to St George's Chapel for their religious blessing - which was attended by several members of the Royal Family.

For the second part of their day, Camilla changed into another outfit designed by Anna Valentine and Antonia Robinson.

The Queen wore a long-sleeved light blue coat with gold embroidery with a matching chiffon gown underneath.

Grant revealed that he initially thought he wouldn't be able to attend the wedding as staff were only invited if they had worked for the family for at least a year.

The ceremony was notably less lavish than King Charles's wedding to Princess Diana in July 1981

But he was 'thrilled' when Charles and Camilla invited him as a friend to ensure he was there - a touching tribute to his service and a 'fantastic honour'.

Their 19th anniversary will likely be slightly different to usual this year, as Queen Camilla supports her husband as he undergoes treatment for cancer.

Grant said: 'Charles and Camilla are very, very close. Charles gets her opinion and looks for her guidance on things, he's said he doesn't know what he does without her.

'They're a team and I think that's shown, they communicate a lot and that's great, that's what a couple should be all about.'
The very glamorous nuptials had over 400 wedding guests, including royals

Teresa Urquijo has tied the knot with Mayor of Madrid Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida in a glittering ceremony dubbed the 'Spanish wedding of the year'.

The glamorous nuptials in Madrid were witnessed by more than 400 attendees, including members of the Spanish and Bulgarian Royal Families, notably former King Juan Carlos and his wife Queen Sofia.

Teresa, 28, is the granddaughter of Princess Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies - a cadet branch of the Spanish royal family, although the throne is now defunct.

The couple, who have a 20 year age gap, announced their engagement in January 2024, and are believed to have been together for under a year.

In his wedding speech, the groom joked that he didn't know what his bride saw in him when they first met, but added that 'now there is no turning back'.

'Teresa appeared and it is a blessing that God has put in my path. I have the obligation to live up to her and make her happy, I hope in the form of sons or daughters,' he said.

Teresa Urquijo has tied the knot with Mayor of Madrid Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida in a glittering ceremony (pictured together at the wedding on Saturday)

Teresa donned an exquisite bright white gown for the ceremony at Iglesia San Francisco de Borja on Saturday, April 6, which the groom described as 'the happiest day of our lives'.

The meaningful dress, complete with a silk veil, lace pattern and full-length puff sleeves, was a nod to both her grandmother and mother.

She modified the wedding dress of her grandmother, Princess Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies from her 1961 ceremony to Inigo Moreno de Arteaga, and her mother Beatriz Moreno, also wore a version for her wedding in 1995.

As she carried a bouquet of eucalyptus and white flowers, the stunning bride pulled her hair back into a sleek bun and added a pair of diamond earrings originally worn by her great-grandmother, Infanta Alicia, Duchess of Calabria.

The late Duchess, who died aged 99 in 2017, was King Juan Carlos of Spain's aunt.

Meanwhile Jose, 48, opted for a charcoal-coloured suit from Fernandez Prats Tailor Shop - which spends around 60 hours on each of its custom pieces, adding a smart beige waistcoat.

The huge event is surely the biggest one in the year for Spanish society and was attended by a whole host of high-profile and glamourous guests, including the likes of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, Infanta Elana and Infanta Christina.

Victoria Lopez-Quesada. goddaughter of King Felipe of Spain, and the bride's second cousin acted as bridesmaid, although the monarch himself and his wife Letizia were not in attendance.

Teresa, 28, is the granddaughter of Princess Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Indante Alonso and wore a dress inspired by her grandmother

The couple, who have a 20 year age gap, delighted royal fans by sharing a sweet kiss outside the church San Francisco de Borja in Madrid

The ceremony was attended by high-profile and royal guests, including Princess Cristina of Spain, Juan Carlos, Juan Valentin, Princess Elena of Spain, Felipe Juan Froilin, Victoria Federica (all pictured)

Chic power couple Fernando Fitz-James Stuart and Sofia Palazuelo, The Duke and Duchess of Huescar, looked typically stylish

Chic power couple Fernando Fitz-James Stuart and Sofia Palazuelo, The Duke and Duchess of Huescar, looked typically stylish as she turned heads in bright forest green and gold heels.

Princess Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, the bride's grandmother, appeared in very high spirits, greeting guests at the door and soaking up the atmosphere of the big day.

At midday, Teresa arrived at the Parish of the Sacred Heart and San Francisco de Borja arm-in-arm with her godfather.

Meanwhile her husband-to-be Jose was clearly feeling the nerves despite all the excitement, telling royal fans before the ceremony: 'I'm very excited and very nervous. I haven't been to sleep. I didn't expect so much affection from people.'

He added humorously: 'If we continue like this, I'm going to pour more water than Neptune. I am very grateful to all of you for being here.'

But later on he was able to simply enjoy the sheer wonder of the day, sharing snaps of himself and his new bride on Instagram inside the church, and later dancing at the reception, calling it: 'The happiest day of our lives'.

Little has been revealed about the ceremony itself, but the church appeared to be decorated with stunning green foliage and white flowers lining the aisle.

After exiting the church, the newlyweds delighted royal fans who had gathered outside by sharing a sweet kiss.

The duchess turned heads in a bright forest green gown paired with gold heels

Princess Teresa, Duchess of Salerno - the grandmother of the bride - and her husband Iago Moreno y Artega

She appeared in very high spirits, greeting guests at the door and soaking up the atmosphere of the big day

Teresa's dress was given extra style with a stunning and lengthy white train

As she carried a bouquet of eucalyptus and white flowers, the stunning bride pulled her hair back into a sleek bun

Jose, 48, admitted he had been very nervous for the big day, but later on described it as the 'happiest day' of their lives

At midday, Teresa arrived at the Parish of the Sacred Heart and San Francisco de Borja arm-in-arm with her godfather and entered the church

In the evening the mood changed to one of vigorous partying, as the couple danced to Madrid, Madrid, Madrid in honour of the city.

Jose shared snaps of them enjoying each other's company on the dance floor in their new marital bliss.

Announcing their engagement in January, he wrote on Instagram: 'Once they asked me about sentimental questions.

'I responded that neither rush nor resign, it is obvious that I have not rushed but I was almost resigned. Until she appeared. And Teresa told me yes.'

Teresa herself is a financial analyst at Merlin Properties, an international real estate investment company.

She has been working there for five years, and received a double degree in Law and Business Administration from the Universidad Pontificia Comillas.

Meanwhile Jose, also a lawyer, is a member of the People's Party and has been part of Madrid City Council since 2015 - and mayor since 2019, having been re-elected in 2023.

The couple's love of the city was very much in evidence at the wedding where the tables were decorated with the names of famous landmarks in the city, such as such as Puerta del Sol, Alcala, Retiro Park and Plaza de Cibeles.

And for their first dance at the reception at El Canto De La Cruz Farm, in the town of Colmenar Viejo, they chose Madrid by Agustin Lara rather than something more traditional or romantic.

Later, the bride and groom sang the anthem of Atletico de Madrid football club, which Jose supports, and were entertained by a DJ.

A family farm made for the perfect private location for the partying, which lasted until dawn

For their first dance at the reception at El Canto De La Cruz Farm, in the town of Colmenar Viejo, they chose Madrid by Agustin Lara

A video showed the party in full swing, as the bride and groom climbed onto guests' shoulders

Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida with his family: Casilda, Alfonso, Angela (mother), sister Magdalena, Rafael (father) Martinez-Almeida

Members of the Spanish, Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Bulgarian Royal Families were all in attendance. Pictured: Princess Cristina of Spain, Juan Carlos, Juan Valentin, Princess Elena of Spain, Felipe Juan Froilin, Victoria Federica

Infanta Cristina, sixth in line to the Spanish throne, looked regal in a chocolate gown with gold metallic detailing

Cristina was joined by her son, 24-year-old Juan Urdangarin y de Borbon

Carla Pereyra, wife of Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, was a vision in blue

Victoria Federica de Marichalar, 23, the younger child and only daughter of Infanta Elena, with her brother Felipe

Even Juan Carlos, the former King of Spain, was in attendance at the very high-profile wedding of the year

Princess Elena of Spain also opted for a blue theme with white lace detailing and matching heels

Teresa was accompanied by her father and godfather, Lucas Urquijo, while her politician husband danced with his sister Magdalena.

The farm is the property of the bride's family and lies around 37 kilometres from the capital, as the esteemed guests made their way their in cars and private buses.

It made for the perfect private location for the partying, which lasted until dawn, while offering sweeping views of the Spanish countryside and impressive glimpses of Madrid itself in the distance.

Comprising of around 37 hectares and built in 1991, the farm is owned by the bride's grandmother Princess Teresa, and is where she also hosts equestrian competitions and raises her purebred Arabian horses.

The wedding menu was as lavish as would be expected, consisting of a first course of lobster salpicon and a second course of low-temperature Wagyu sirloin.

For dessert, the guests tucked into an exquisite combination of cream mille-feuille with candied strawberries and a brownie with yogurt cream, strawberries and vanilla ice cream.

As the meal finished at around 6pm and there was still a long night of partying ahead.

There was also a more low-key dinner on offer, comprising sausages, cheese, mini pizzas and hot dogs.

Carla Royo-Villanova turned heads in a carmine red dress with spaghetti straps as she arrived next to Kubrat de Bulgaria

Ana Botella and former Prime Minister of Spain Jose Maria Aznar were among the political figures

Pedro Lapez-Quesada and Cristina De Borbon Dos Sicilias, who stood out from the crowd in fuchsia

The food was organised by Lardhy, a legendary restaurant in Madrid with almost two centuries of history, while attendees were also able to enjoy an open bar.

The groom also used his speech to pay an emotional tribute to his late father Rafael Martinez-Almeida, who died in 2012, and mother Angela Navasque, who died in 2019.

'They are responsible for everything that has happened to me in my life. When you are missing your parents you always need someone to trust,' he said.

He said that his in-laws will now take on that role and even poked fun at the age gap between himself and his bride, saying that her parents are more like his 'siblings'.

His sister Magdalena explained as they left the church: 'We have experienced it with great joy for several reasons. The first is that she has found love, his better half.

'The wait has been worth it because Teresa is a wonderful person and full of kindness.

'And she was also excited because our parents are in heaven, he was my mother's right eye and I'm sure she had something to do with this. It is a day of great joy.'
The heartbroken family of an art student who was murdered has shared the last known photograph of the chief suspect, who tried to fake his own death and fled Ireland in the aftermath of her killing.

Emer O'Loughlin's mutilated and charred body was discovered in John Griffin's burnt-out mobile home on April 8, 2005.

Ms O'Loughlin, 23, had been living in a neighbouring caravan with her boyfriend Shane Bowe in Ballybornagh, Co. Clare. It is believed she visited Mr Griffin's home to charge her mobile phone following an electrical problem at her own residence.

Forensic experts were initially unable to establish whether her remains were male or female because they were so badly damaged, and a post-mortem examination at the time did not indicate a cause of death.

But following pressure from Ms O'Loughlin's family, in 2010 her remains were exhumed and a re-examination found she died violently before the fire; X-rays of her bones showed marks suggesting she'd been attacked with a machete-type knife. A similar weapon was found in the remains of the mobile home.

Mr Griffin, 56, from Galway city, was placed on Interpol's most wanted list in connection with the killing. But the chief suspect attempted to fake his suicide before fleeing Ireland. Despite extensive searches, gardai have never found him.

Emer O'Loughlin's mutilated and charred body was discovered in John Griffin's burnt-out mobile home on April 8, 2005. Pictured, Emer O'Loughlin

Speaking to The Irish Independent for its The Indo Daily podcast, Ms O'Loughlin's distraught father Johnny OLoughlin insisted Mr Griffin surely had assistance with his escape.

'Someone must have helped him. How would he get out of the country without anyone knowing it?' questioned the parent ahead of the 19th anniversary of his daughter's death.

Mr Griffin, who is said to have a history of drug addiction, was already known to gardai. He had previously used the alias John McDermott and lived in Scotland.

He was interviewed by gardai in the days after Ms O'Loughlin's death but said he had stayed with a relative the night before the blaze and knew nothing about the fire.

But three days after the art student's murder, the suspect had reportedly started to act odd, according to The Irish Independent.

He travelled to the historic Dun Aonghasa ring fort on the Aran island of Inis Mor, where he threatened to throw himself off a cliff and launched rocks at anyone who tried to get near him.

Gardai were flown in from the mainland and lifeboats lined up in the water below in case the suspect carried out his threat.

He was taken to a psychiatric hospital in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway following the nine-hour stand-off, when he was eventually overpowered.

Ms O'Loughlin, 23, had been living in a neighbouring caravan with her boyfriend Shane Bowe in Ballybornagh, Co. Clare. It is believed she visited Mr Griffin's (pictured) home to charge her mobile phone following an electrical problem at her own residence

A post-mortem examination at the time did not indicate a cause of death. But following pressure from Ms O'Loughlin's family, in 2010 her remains were exhumed and a re-examination found she died violently before the fire. Pictured, Ms O'Loughlin

But after five days, he checked himself out and on April 18, having shaved his head and beard, he reportedly boarded a ferry to Inis Mor.

He'd left clothes at the edge of the cliff on the island in an attempt to stage an apparent suicide, according to the publication. However, Ms O'Loughlin's family never believed Mr Griffin was dead.

Despite extensive searches, gardai have been unable to find him since, with detectives reportedly believing he fled Ireland.

In 2014, The Irish Daily Mail revealed how Mr Griffin was believed to have relocated to Scotland, after he left a 'paper trail' in Edinburgh.

Then in 2022, the Sunday Independent revealed that the suspect was tracked down to a drug rehabilitation facility in Scotland following co-ordination between gardai, Scottish police and Interpol.

But shockingly, he was discharged before investigators became aware of his whereabouts, according to a source.

'His identification at the rehab in Scotland occurred some time ago,' the source said. 'It is terribly unfortunate that he was not identified while a patient there.

'By the time it was established, he had been released. He is the chief suspect in connection with Emer OLoughlins murder and he remains at large.'

Mr Griffin, 56, from Galway city, was placed on Interpol 's most wanted list in connection with the killing. But the chief suspect attempted to fake his suicide before fleeing Ireland. Despite extensive searches, gardai have never found him. Pictured, Ms O'Loughlin

Ms OLoughlins father, Johnny, admitted he had several issues with the initial investigation by gardai into his daughter's murder.

'We have a number of questions and problems over the original garda investigation,' he said. 'How did that man get out of Ireland? Why wasnt he spoken to after he came out of the psychiatric hospital? We need answers.

'I do have faith that gardai are doing their best now, but I dont know how that man was able to get off the island and how he still hasnt been found.

'All we can do is keep going until we get answers. Emers mother, Josephine, is gone now, but we will keep going.' Mrs O'Loughlin died peacefully after a long illness in 2015.

Speaking on The Indo Daily podcast, Catherine Fegan, special correspondent with the Irish Independent, claimed Mr Griffin's whereabouts had been linked to Spain, Netherlands and 'most recently Morocco'.

Ms O'Loughlin's family were told last month that supposed sightings of the prime suspect in Morocco have been ruled out.

The country's authorities have reported back that Mr Griffin is not in the country, according to the Sunday Independent. Pam O'Loughlin, Emer's older sister, said the news was 'soul-destroying'.

'He could well of changed his appearance by now, he could be anywhere in the world at present,' warned Catherine.

The suspect had a tattoo in the throat area, described as an Egyptian 'eye of Horus', pictured

She explained how in April 2005, 'bright and talented' Ms O'Loughlin was studying art in Galway. She had travelled the world and had just returned home with her boyfriend.

They were building a house, and were living in a mobile home on a remote site in the meantime. She was described as a 'care-free, really artistic, interested in photography, kind, gentle person'.

On April 8 of that year, her boyfriend had headed to work, while she was preparing for college. It is thought she needed to charge her phone, but had an electrical problem at her own home.

Her boyfriend Shane, who has since passed away, according to Catherine, reportedly suggested she use the electricity in a neighbouring mobile home owned by Mr Griffin.

Shane, who was at work, received a phone call that there was a fire on the site. The remains of Ms O'Loughlin's body was discovered inside the burnt-out caravan.

Her family are still searching for justice, and last month, they shared a photograph of Mr Griffin to the Facebook page Justice for Emer O'Loughlin.

'This is the last photo taken of John Griffin, the chief suspect in Emer's murder,' the caption read. 'It was taken several days after the event. It has taken 19 years to get this photo released to the public.'

The Gardai also shared the photograph, along with a description of Mr Griffin which read: 'Bald on top of head. Often sported a beard, which he shaved off on occasion. Known by many by his nickname Fozzie.

It also noted that the suspect had a tattoo in the throat area, described as an Egyptian 'eye of Horus'.

Sharing a statement alongside the photo, it read: 'The Gardai at Gort Station are investigating all the circumstances of the death of Emer O'Loughlin (23 years) at Ballybornagh, Tubber, Co. Clare.

'On the 8th April 2005, human remains were discovered in a mobile home close to where Emer lived with her boyfriend.

'The mobile home which belonged to a man named John Griffin had been completely destroyed by fire - the human remains discovered inside were later identified as being Emer OLoughlins.

'On the 19th May 2010, investigating Gardai exhumed Emers remains, which were then removed to Galway University Hospital where forensic anthropology tests were conducted.

'The tests indicated that Emer had died a violent death, and as a result the investigation was upgraded to that of murder.

'Investigating Gardai are hopeful that the public can assist with efforts to trace John Griffin, formerly of the Mervue area of Galway City. Gardai believe that John Griffin may have information that will assist them and are eager to interview him as part of the investigation.'

On the 19th anniversary of her murder, Ms O'Loughlin's father, Johnny, and her sister Pam, appealed for information on RTE's Crimecall.

Gardai said they are 'of the belief that John Griffin is still alive and at the time of his disappearance he was assisted by a person or persons unknown in leaving the island of Inis Mor'.

They added: 'AGS have never received a Missing Person report in respect of John Griffin. Extensive searches were conducted along the coastline following the finding of his clothing, however he has never been sighted nor has his body ever been recovered.'
A mother endured 'aggressive' chemotherapy and said goodbye to her family after being given just 15 months to live - only to discover she never had cancer.

Lisa Monk, from College Station in Texas, went to hospital for a CT scan at the end of 2022. after experiencing stomach pains that she suspected was a kidney stone.

At her appointment, the test showed she had two kidney stones but also flagged a mass on her spleen, which was removed in January last year.

The mother-of-two claimed the organ was sent to three different pathology labs before being tested at a fourth lab where she claims it tested positive for an aggressive form of blood vessel cancer.

The 39-year-old said she was told about her terminal cancer diagnosis at a check-up appointment following her spleen surgery and claims she was given an 'optimistic' 15 months to live.

Lisa Monk, from College Station in Texas, endured 'aggressive' chemotherapy and said goodbye to her family after being given just 15 months to live - only to discover she never had cancer

Lisa pictured with her husband Stephen, 43, (left) her son Kaden and her daughter Raelyn before she was misdiagnosed with cancer

The higher education worker was then referred to a cancer hospital and after attending her first appointment in March 2023 was hospitalised immediately to begin her first round of chemotherapy.

After losing all her hair, Lisa underwent another round of 'very aggressive' chemotherapy, which left her with 'silvery skin' and vomiting.

But at a routine hospital appointment in April, she claims this is when she was told that she never actually had cancer and the first pathology report was wrong.

Furious that doctors 'congratulated' her rather than apologising for their alleged blunder, Lisa says she has been left in debt and with her 'insides cooked' by the unnecessary chemo.

Lisa said: 'It was diagnosed as a super rare, super terminal type of cancer called clear cell angiosarcoma.

'I had gone to see my doctor as a follow up from my surgery [when I was given the news].

'I was with my mom and he asked if I was okay to get bad news in front of her. This is when he told me it was cancer. I went into shock. The diagnosis was horrible and [they] told me it was terminal.

'It was a blood vessel type of cancer found in the spleen and told me that the most optimistic thing he could say was to give me 15 months [to live].

After losing all her hair due to the treatment she said she was left her with 'silvery skin' and vomiting

Lisa began experiencing stomach pains that she suspected was a kidney stone so went to hospital for a CT scan at the end of 2022 (pictured before she was misdiagnosed with cancer)

The higher education worker was then referred to a cancer hospital and after attending her first appointment in March 2023 was hospitalised immediately to begin her first round of chemotherapy

After losing all her hair, Lisa underwent another round of 'very aggressive' chemotherapy

Lisa endured chemotherapy treatment when she didn't need it and is now dealing with the repercussions of this

'After I dropped my mom off at home I went down to the river and prayed because I wasn't ready to go home and tell my husband.

'When I didn't come home immediately, he found out where I was and thought someone had kidnapped me.

'He came to find me and I had to tell him the news was bad and then I had to go home and tell my two kids.

'I didn't tell them at this point that it was terminal or I only had 15 months, I just told them it was bad but I was going to try to fight it.

'My oldest son took it the hardest. My little girl was very good at hiding her feelings but I found out from her teacher she was getting overwhelmed about it at school.'

Lisa said the initial report that had diagnosed her with terminal cancer had been passed onto the hospital but due to their policy they had requested her spleen to carry out their own tests.

After her organ was tested, she claims the hospital's test had come back clear stating she never had cancer but said the hospital did not check their report until the April appointment, which she claims was a month after they had received it.

Lisa claims this meant she endured chemotherapy treatment when she didn't need it and is now dealing with the repercussions of this as she never had cancer.

Lisa said: 'I saw the nurse practitioner first and she just asked me about my symptoms and she was scrolling on the computer while she was talking to me.

'All of sudden she just stops talking and has this look on her face. She turned to me and looked completely horrified and told me she needed to get the doctor and then ran out of the room.

'She left me alone for about 15 minutes and the doctor came back in. He said a lot of medical lingo to me and then told me I didn't have cancer.

'I was confused as they were acting like it was a bad thing. I just thought [if I didn't have cancer] it meant the chemotherapy was working.

Lisa said she didn't tell her 16-year-old son Kaden that her cancer was terminal or that she only had 15 months to live at the time

Lisa said her nine year old daughter Raelyn was 'good at hiding her feelings' at the beginning but the mother found out from her teacher that she was getting 'overwhelmed' about it at school

After being told she never had cancer, Lisa said chemotherapy treatment was stopped immediately

'The doctor then told me that I never had cancer. [At that moment] I looked like I had cancer and I felt like I had cancer as I was vomiting, I was sick and my skin was silvery because of the chemotherapy.

What is blood vessel cancer? Angiosarcoma is a rare type of cancer that forms in the lining of the blood vessels and lymph vessels, due to changes in their DNA. Cases of angiosarcoma are rare and represent less than 1 percent of all sarcomas. The most common sites are the skin, the breast, deep soft tissues, visceral organs, and bones. Treatment depends on where the cancer is located. Treatments may include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Angiosarcoma signs and symptoms may vary based on where the cancer occurs, and can include: Lump under skin that sometimes causes pain Swelling Tenderness Rare ulcers (open wounds) in which CCS affects the skin Fatigue Advertisement

'The doctor then congratulated me, which really bothered me. At the time I was in shock but now I feel the more appropriate response would be 'I'm sorry'.

'I asked for a copy of their pathology report and I found a hallway to call my husband and tell him the news.

'The first pathology test I had back from the lab said I had cancer and I started treatment based on this report but then the hospital ordered my spleen to conduct their own pathology test as it was their policy to do so.

'When I got home, I listened back to the recording of my doctor's appointment as I was able to record them in case I missed any information and it dawned on me about the date they got their [the hospital] pathology report back. I looked at it and it was dated a month prior to my appointment.

'I had chemotherapy during this time and they could have told me a month earlier and I would have avoided the second round of chemotherapy if they had bothered to read their own pathology report.

'[After being told I didn't have cancer] I had to wait a couple of days and then it was confirmed to me that it was not cancer after having a discussion with all the doctors.

'In the end they determined that my spleen was going to rupture which is why it had the mass on it. It was just blood vessel activity and no cancer in it.'

After being told she never had cancer, Lisa said chemotherapy treatment was stopped immediately.

Cancer is expensive and financially Lisa and her husband are still paying medical bills because they couldn't get any of the bills dismissed

Despite being relieved by the good news, a year on Lisa still feels 'angry' for what her and her family have been put through

The pathology report which Lisa claims diagnosed her with terminal cancer in January 2023

The pathology report from March 2023 which Lisa claims told her she never had cancer but claims she only found out in April 2023

And, despite being relieved by the good news, a year on Lisa still feels 'angry' for what her and her family have been put through.

Lisa said: 'Financially we're still paying medical bills. Cancer is expensive and I couldn't get any of my bills dismissed. Just the emotional trauma too. It was a very dark time.

'I was writing goodbye letters and letters to the grandchildren I would never meet and the weddings I would never attend.

'I also still looked like I had cancer. I was bold and did not appear to be well. It was a daily reminder that it was something we had all lived through.

'A year on from what happened to me, I'm angry. They ruined my health and my insides are cooked.

'I grieve for my kids for having to even go through something like this in their lives where they thought they were going to lose their mother.

'I can't take this away from them. I know on paper it only looks like a few months of my life but it felt like a lifetime. '
China's demographic dividend is turning into talent dividend

10:47, April 09, 2024 By Qiu Haifeng ( People's Daily

With over five million students graduating in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) each year, China has become the world's leading producer of STEM graduates.

According to global think tanks, approximately 50 percent of the world's leading artificial intelligence (AI) researchers are trained in Chinese universities, making China the top provider of elite AI talents globally.

An R&D staff of a new material company in Jiujiang, east China's Jiangxi province, works in a lab of the company. (People's Daily Online/Wu Jiang)

Behind these numbers lies China's transition from demographic dividend to talent dividend. After years of efforts, the average duration of education for China's working-age population has steadily increased to 11.05 years. The country now ranks first in the world in terms of the size of talent pool, human resources in science and technology and the total number of researchers.

Such growing talent dividend has provided strong support for technological advancements and industrial transformation and upgrading, bolstering the world's second-largest economy's confidence in future development.

Prioritizing talent as its main resource, China is committed to building a leading country in education. By recognizing the importance of STEM education in nurturing innovative and versatile talents and maximizing the potential of human resources, new achievements have been made in this regard.

From 2012 to 2022, the Chinese government's budget spending on education increased from 2.2 trillion yuan ($304.13 billion) to 4.85 trillion yuan, with an average annual growth of 8.23 percent. China now has a nearly 900 million working-age population, and the average years of education for the newly added workforce has risen to 14 years.

Besides, China boasts 3,074 higher-educational institutions, with a student enrollment of over 47.63 million in various types of higher education. Home to over 200 million skilled workers, including more than 60 million high-skilled professionals, China has emerged as a country with the world's largest number of talents specialized in a diverse range of industries.

A job fair for students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) was held at Anhui University of Science and Technology in Huainan, east China's Anhui province, March 23, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Chen Bin)

Research shows that in developing countries, the number of high-level talents, the overall quality of the talent pool, and the innovation vitality of talents collectively serve as a valuable resource for achieving leapfrog development. It is heartening to see these positive outcomes taking shape in China.

In recent years, multiple breakthroughs have been made in quantum computing in China, such as developing Chinas first quantum computing measurement and control system, first quantum computer operating system, and first quantum chip design software, largely due to the efforts of a research team led by Guo Guoping, deputy director of the Key Laboratory of Quantum Information of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. These achievements have made China the third country in the world with the ability to deliver a complete quantum computer.

China now leads the world with over 6 million R&D personnel, and maintains the second position globally in R&D investment for multiple years.

Japanese magazine Nikkei Asia said on its website that it is easy these days to construct a bearish view on China's economic outlook. But a frequent omission from such narratives is the country's zeal for innovation.

China's expanding investment in innovation is playing a crucial role in boosting productivity and fostering long-term, sustainable economic growth. According to the World Bank, human capital has contributed over 36 percent to China's economic growth, and the number is still on a rise.

A researcher debugs an intelligent quality check device for smart terminals at the Yibin Research Institute of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, southwest China's Sichuan province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Yu)

International institutions and companies are increasingly drawn to China's human capital potential and seeking to tap into the country's talent dividend.

Schneider Electric, a multinational based in France, has been making quick advances in China in 2023, launching a new R&D project approximately every two months. China has now become one of the company's four R&D bases in the world.

Why does Schneider Electric frequently expand its R&D presence in China? One key reason is China's advantage in talent. According to Yin Zheng, executive vice president of Schneider Electric's China & East Asia Operations, the company has been continuously strengthening its local innovation team. Over the past three years, its number of R&D staff in China has grown by 30 percent, surpassing 2,000 individuals.

"We will continue to reinforce our R&D capabilities in China, establish more research institutions, promote innovation to support China in developing new quality productive forces, and share 'Chinese wisdom' with the rest of the world," said Yin.

Jiang Hao, vice president of Roland Berger Greater China, said in recent years, foreign companies have been rapidly setting up R&D centers in China. "The large number of exceptional management talents and skilled engineers in China has caught the attention of foreign companies, leading to a rise in investment toward building R&D centers in the county," said Jiang.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
South Korea's top military officer inspected units stationed at the eastern coast on Tuesday to check their readiness against North Korean military threats, his office said.

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo visited the headquarters of the Navy's 1st Fleet in Donghae, 182 kilometers east of Seoul, amid concerns of possible North Korean provocations near the inter-Korean sea border.

"If the enemy undertakes a provocation south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), thoroughly retaliate against them by completely burying them at sea," Kim was quoted as saying, referring to the de facto inter-Korean maritime boundary.

Kim also visited a coastal Army radar base the same day and stressed the importance of cooperating with non-military agencies in coastal guard operations, according to the JCS.

Tensions have heightened over North Korea's continued weapons tests this year, including its launch of a purported solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile tipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle last Tuesday.

South Korean officials have said North Korea could undertake provocative acts in a key election year for South Korea and the United States. The South will hold parliamentary elections Wednesday, while the U.S. presidential vote will take place in November. (Yonhap)
The Marchioness of Cholmondeley sent a 'lovely' handwritten reply to a fan who sent her a birthday card earlier this year.

Instagram account @theroyalmailbox, which shares their correspondence with royals and socialites, shared a photo of the note sent over by Rose Hanbury - whose birthday was last month.

'Dear [redacted],' the message read. 'Thank you so much for sending me a lovely note for my birthday.

'I feel very fortunate to have had forty happy years of life so far... and hope there will be many more to come!

'I hope you are equally well and send my best wishes and thanks. Rose C.'

The fan revealed that it was their 'first time' writing to the Marchioness, who sent back a 'beautiful handwritten card that features a portrait of her home, Houghton Hall'.

The Marchioness of Cholmondeley sent a 'lovely' handwritten reply to a fan who sent her a birthday card earlier this year. Pictured in 2019

According to the post, the birthday card was sent on February 25, and a reply was received on April 3.

Rose and her husband, David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, 63, have a warm friendship with the Prince and Princess of Wales, who live just a few miles in their Norfolk retreat, Anmer Hall.

The Marquess and Marchioness married at Chelsea Town Hall in 2009, following a very brief engagement.

They share twin boys Alexander, Earl of Rocksavage, and Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, both 13, and a younger daughter, Lady Iris, seven.

Rose, who boarded at Stowe and has a degree from the Open University, had a modelling career and worked as a researcher for Michael Gove.

Rose's grandmother Lady Rose Lambert was a bridesmaid in Queen Elizabeth's wedding to Prince Philip in 1947.

Since, she and the Wales's have teamed up to host a gala dinner in support of East Anglia's Children's Hospices' nook appeal in 2016 and Rose even sat next to Prince Harry at the Spanish state dinner at Buckingham Palace in 2017.

Rose's son, Oliver, was recently one of the pages at King Charles's Coronation alongside Prince George.

The Marquess and Marchioness married at Chelsea Town Hall in 2009, following a very brief engagement. Pictured in 2015

Instagram account @theroyalmailbox , which shares their correspondence with royals and socialites, shared a photo of the note sent over by Rose Hanbury - whose birthday was last month

According to the post, the birthday card was sent on February 25, and a reply was received on April 3

Rose's son, Oliver, was recently one of the pages at King Charles's Coronation in alongside Prince George. The couple pictured during the Coronation

Rose and her husband, David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, 63, have a warm friendship with the Prince and Princess of Wales, who live just a few miles in their Norfolk retreat, Anmer Hall. Pictured in 2016

David is a descendant of England's first prime minister, Robert Walpole, and a former page to the Queen.

He is also descended from both the Rothschilds and the Sassoons.

Like many members of his family and the British aristocracy, Marquess Cholmondeley was educated at Eton College and later took classes at the Sorbonne University in Paris.

He became Marquess of Cholmondeley in March 1990 on the death of his father.

David was Lord Great Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth, in which ceremonial role he walked backwards before the monarch on state occasions.

The one-time film-maker had established a lively and well-connected social life by the time he married in his 40s.

Houghton Hall, their home, is one of the country's finest Palladian houses, surrounded by 1,000 acres of parkland.

Although he is no longer the Lord Great Chamberlain, King Charles has appointed the Marquess as his Lord-in-Waiting  position that will see him attend important state and royal occasions, as well as being called upon to represent His Majesty at various events.
She had been wearing high-waisted pants and a short grey cardigan at the time

The mom-of-two said a librarian chastised her for accidentally baring her midriff

A 38-year-old woman has expressed her shock after a librarian at her local library took a jab at her outfit in the midst of story hour.

Hilary Filipowicz, 38, who lives in Cleveland, Ohio, is a stay-at-home-mom of two daughters aged three and one.

'So I just got dress coded at our local library at baby story time,' Hilary gasped at the top of her two-minute TikTok video about the awkward encounter.

She then showed off her outfit which consisted of high-waisted 'mom-jeans'-style pants from Topshop and a short grey cardigan that Hilary said was from the teenagers' section at Target.

Hilary Filipowicz, 38, of Cleveland, was chastised by a librarian after her sweater rode up over her midriff as she was carrying her one-year-old at her local library

'Probably not age appropriate but whatever,' Hilary conceded of the crop-top style sweater as she talked viewers through her outfit choice.

She added that the Topshop jeans were probably '1,000 years old.'

'And I thought, wearing a sweater is a step up from my usual sweatshirt, T-shirt, leggings, jeans situation,' said Hilary.

'So I was feeling good about myself. She ruined that,' Hilary continued of the interaction.

The mom-of-two then recalled she was 'chasing my kids around,' who were 'acting wild' during story time.

'I always get a little stressed out that there, they don't sit during story time,' Hilary admitted.

'So after story time, this librarian comes up to me and she goes, "Are you mom or babysitter?" And I thought, "Oh my gosh, she thinks I'm young."

'So I go, "Oh I'm mom, not the babysitter."'

Of the situation, the stay-at-home mom of two told People: 'Postpartum is a weird time. You never know what to wear, what fits Getting dressed is a fraught situation'

Many of the one million viewers of Hilary's video took to the comments, vocally taking her side on the matter

Hilary continued: 'So she goes, "You should know better," in this judge-y, tsk tsk kind of tone.

'And so I immediately start apologizing for my girl's behavior, and I'm like, "I'm so sorry. It's really hard for them to sit still. We're working on it. That's kind of why we come here,"' she recalled of her initial impulse to apologize for her daughters being disruptive.

'And she goes, "No, your outfit,"' Hilary recalled in astonishment.

'I'm thinking, "Oh my gosh Did did I not button my sweater up? What's happening?"'

Hilary then explained the woman motioned to her stomach, pointing out that, as she carried her one-year-old, her sweater had ridden up, exposing maybe an 'inch of skin.'

'Apparently that's inappropriate, to show and midriff while you're like edging into 40,' Hilary snarked.

'And news flash, I guess I disagree,' she concluded in the video.

Speaking to People, Hilary said: 'Postpartum is a weird time. You never know what to wear, what fits My closet contains three different sizes of clothes. Getting dressed is a fraught situation.'

Still, as she added to the magazine, she bears no ill will toward the library.

'I am such a library lover and we go multiple times per week. My preschooler is obsessed with books and, as a mom, it's hard to find free activities.'

But the odd exchange hung with her nonetheless.

'It's strange to be chastised like I'm a teenager when I'm 38, especially considering I'm totally in my mom era. I would never do anything to make anyone uncomfy.

'My toddler is 30 pounds. I'm lugging her around and I'm not thinking about how my clothes are moving or what my body looks like in those moments.'

Thousands of the post's one million viewers took to the comments, with most agreeing that there was nothing wrong with Hilary's outfit.

'I've been a librarian for 13 years and this is WILD. Our unspoken rule is "come as you are!"' one wrote.

'Your outfit is adorable. I'm so over the mom shaming,' a second echoed.

'Librarian here! Women literally breastfeed at my storytimes Wear whatever you're comfortable in - I'm just glad you showed up. P.S. I wear cropped shirts to work all the time lol.'

Yet another library worker chimed in: 'That is insane. As someone who works at a public library, this infuriates me. So uncalled for and absolutely unnecessary. Your outfit is super cute!!'
Video footage of the haunting moment killer daughter Jennifer Pan lied to cops about the cold-blooded murder plot she orchestrated to kill her parents has resurfaced amid the release of a new true crime documentary about her shocking crimes.

Jennifer, who lived in the upscale neighborhood of Markham, Canada, had spent nearly a decade weaving a web of lies to cover up her falling grades and forbidden romance - until her parents began to untangle the truth.

Her mother Bich Ha and father Huei Hann, who had arrived in Toronto as refugees from Vietnam, eventually confronted her before Jennifer plotted to have them killed in a fake home invasion.

In November 2010, the then 24-year-old shelled out $10,000 for assailants to enter the family home and shoot her parents in the head - but miraculously her father survived.

Pan's subsequent police interview, which is detailed below, showed her to be a calculating liar - and she was later handed a life sentence for her involvement in the scheme.

Jennifer Pan, who lived in the upscale neighborhood of Markham, Canada, had spent nearly a decade weaving a web of lies to cover up her falling grades and forbidden romance - until her parents began to untangle the truth

Her mother Bich Ha and father Huei Hann, who had arrived in Toronto as refugees from Vietnam, eventually confronted her before Jennifer plotted to have them killed in a fake home invasion

Pan's interview tape was released at the time but has recently resurfaced as Netflix's new true crime documentary What Jennifer Did gets set to unravel the case.

The seemingly doting daughter could be seen sitting in an interrogation room in a gray sweater with her hair swept in front of her shoulder in a braid.

She began by recounting her version of events in a very softly spoken voice.

'Suddenly, I just heard my mom calling for my dad to come down and that's when I lowered the volume on my TV,' Pan started.

'I could hear the voices weren't any voices I was very familiar with and so I was scared and I couldn't move. I just sat in my room for a while.

'And then I thought I heard them all leave the top floor and I peered out of my bedroom door and a guy was there and he came at me and had string in his hands.

'He tied my arms back and said, "I have a gun behind your back. Do what I say. If you do what I say then no one will get hurt. Where's the money? Show me where your money is."'

She explained: 'I had a bit of money put aside from when I was waitressing - cash. So I showed him where it was and he took it and put it in his pocket I think.

The seemingly doting daughter could be seen sitting in an interrogation room in a gray sweater with her hair swept in front of her shoulder in a braid

The then 24-year-old shelled out $10,000 for assailants to enter the family home (pictured) and shoot her parents in the head - but miraculously her father survived

'And then they pushed me to my parents room and asked me where the money was there and I didn't really know.

'So they kind of like... one was right beside me blocking my way to the door while the other one has turned over the bed to find some more cash in my mom's bedside table.

'At which then they dragged me downstairs and made me kneel at the bottom telling me to lay face down on the floor while the other guy had a gun behind my head and asked my mom where her purse was.'

Pan continued reeling off her version of events and appeared to be choking back tears as she elaborated: 'My mom kept trying to get up and they kept telling her "sit down" and so I didn't want her to get hurt so I told her "mom, sit down."

'They were trying to find her wallet and they kept pushing her down onto the chair.

'And then one of the gentlemen asked my father if he had money in his wallet and where his wallet was.

'So they took me - because I was next to the stairwell - they took me up the stairs to show them where my father's wallet was but I didn't know.

'They had turned the room upside down I didn't know where his pants were at that time and then they had taken me and they tied me to the top of the bannister just with one string.

'I could still move. I was afraid to because one guy had that gun so next thing I know I think I heard my parents going down the stairs and my mom was asking them for me to come with them. They wouldn't let me come with them.'

The intruders dragged Hann out of his room and down into the living room, while pretending to be staging a home invasion by tying Jennifer's hands to a bannister

The group stole some money hidden around the home and then led the parents to the basement where each was shot multiple times

Pan then ramped up her performance by bursting into tears but managed to continue telling her fabricated story.

'The last things I heard them say was "you lied, you lied to us, you lied to us" - and then I heard two pops.

'My mom screamed, I yelled out for her and then a couple more pops.'

She thrust her head into her hands as the investigator reached out to offer comfort, sliding a box of tissues across to Pan and telling her to take her time.

'I think I heard my mom say or moan or something and then they did one more before they left and then one of the guys said "we have to go now, it's been too long" and then they ran out the door.

'I think once they were out the door I heard my dad come up the stairs and at that point I had my phone in my pocket - on me, behind me - that I had hidden there that they didn't know about.

Pan's interview tape was released at the time but has recently resurfaced as Netflix's What Jennifer Did gets set to unravel the case

'So when I thought that I had heard them all leave and my dad ran up the stairs. I whipped out the phone and I called 911 but I still hadn't heard anything from my mom.

'All I could hear was my dad running on the street - moaning and making sounds. That's pretty much what I...'

The investigator interjected and asked her to elaborate further on what happened up until the police arrived.

Pan continued: 'I was just on the phone to the secretary or the operator and I begged her not to leave me alone. My dad was outside and I was yelling at him but he wouldn't come in.

'I don't know if he could hear me. He didn't come in. I think he went to look for help. I didn't get to see my dad at all before I left the hospital just now.'

The final question on the tape from the cop was: 'How did you get free?'

To which, Pan responded: 'The cop came and he snipped the two strings off for me. I was out asking them for so long. They said they couldn't untie me until they knew how to properly untie the strings.'

Her version of events was a far cry from the truth and cops soon untangled her web of lies.

Pan was convicted of first-degree murder as well as attempted murder in December 2014.

She was found guilty alongside boyfriend Daniel Wong and two thugs she hired to help carry out her plot - Crawford and Mylvaganam.

All four got life sentences with no chance of parole for 25 years on the murder conviction and life for attempted murder with the sentences to be served concurrently.
'She was an awesome cat. She lived well, worked hard,' the entrepreneur wrote

The 82-year-old said her calico Persian cat had died of 'natural causes'

Martha Stewart has shared a touching tribute following the death of her 15-year-old cat Empress Tang.

The 82-year-old took to her social media on Monday with a sweet slideshow of her beloved pet.

The entrepreneur captioned her emotional post: 'Empress Tang, my dearest tri-color Persian, passed away this morning of natural causes.

'She was an awesome cat. She lived well, worked hard.'

Martha Stewart has shared a touching tribute following the death of her 15-year-old cat Empress Tang

The 82-year-old took to her social media on Monday with a sweet slideshow of her beloved pet

The entrepreneur captioned her emotional post: 'Empress Tang, my dearest tri-color Persian, passed away this morning of natural causes'

Martha went on to reveal that Empress Tang had been in several ads for the PrettyLitter brand and was often featured in Martha Stewart Living magazine.

'We loved her so much!!!!!!!!!!!!' she concluded.

Empress Tang and her sister Princess Peony both moved in with Martha only four months after they were born in May 2009.

The furry duo lived with the star at her farmhouse in Bedford, New York, alongside another cat named Blackie.

Once the pair had settled into their new house, Martha shared on her website: 'Empress Tang and Princess Peony have acclimated nicely to their new home and are so joyful, as only kittens can be.'

She added in a blog post on her site: 'Anyone who knows me knows how much I love my animals - my dogs, cats, birds, and horses - they're wonderful and special companions.

'My cats definitely like their routines - they like to eat and go out at the same times, and they like to sleep and lounge in the same places.

'Empress Tang loves napping in this bed on my staircase landing.

'Tang doesn't mind her picture being taken. In fact, she actually looks as if she enjoys posing for the camera.'

Martha shared that Tang enjoyed 'watching everything through the big glass door and windows' in the front hall.

She added that the kitchen bowl was 'one of Tang's favorite spots,' therefore, she would place 'a small towel in the bowl to protect it while giving Tang a comfy place upon which to sit'

Empress Tang (right) and her sister Princess Peony (left) both moved in with Martha only four months after they were born in May 2009

'She was an awesome cat. She lived well, worked hard... We loved her so much!!!!!!!!!!!!,' she concluded

She added that the kitchen bowl was 'one of Tang's favorite spots,' therefore, she would place 'a small towel in the bowl to protect it while giving Tang a comfy place upon which to sit.'

The doting cat mom called her 'such a good girl.'

During the pandemic, Martha shared with Today that her cats brought her enormous comfort and peace during the unprecedented and isolating times.

'There are waiting lists for pets, because people really did figure out that house pets are a great comfort - a great addition to the household.

'They are wonderful for your children to have a responsibility of taking care of something else.

'All of that is to me just endemic in this pandemic. It's a wonderful thing that pets have become more beloved.'

Martha called the cat sisters 'gorgeous, very special, and players.'

The business mogul's Instagram post got more than 18,260 likes and was flooded with comments of condolence.

One person wrote: 'So sorry for your loss. She was so friendly and sweet when we visited.'

A second person commented: 'So sorry Martha. Losing a pet friend is so difficult.'

During the pandemic, Martha shared with Today that her cats brought her enormous comfort and peace during the unprecedented and isolating times

The business mogul's Instagram post got more than 18,260 likes and was flooded with comments of condolence

A third person added: 'I am so sorry! I loved seeing Empress Tang in so many posts and photos! Beautiful kitty!'

Another wrote: 'I'm so, so, sorry. She loved you so much.'

Someone else commented: 'Always loved her in Martha Stewart Living. So sorry for your loss.'

One person wrote: 'I'm so, so, sorry for your loss. She will always be there with you.

'Your little angel by your side. You were very lucky to have found each other. And for the amazing memories you got to share.'

Another person added: 'Angels on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge are taking the best care of her until you two are reunited.'

'I'm so sorry. She was a beauty. I know these losses are painful. I hope that warm memories for your princess bring you comfort,' another shared.

Empress' passing comes just two years after her sister Princess Peony's death.

Back in 2022, the 12-year-old cat was accidentally attacked by Martha's four dogs.

Martha shared on her social media: 'Burying the beautiful and unusual Princess Peony. The four dogs mistook her for an interloper and killed her defenseless, little self. I will miss her very badly. RIP beauty.'
Botched star Dr. Paul Nassif has issued a stark warning for Gypsy Rose Blanchard following news of her recent rhinoplasty.

The Munchausen's by Proxy victim made headlines nearly a decade ago after she plead guilty to the second-degree murder of her mom Dee Dee Blanchard, who was killed by Gypsy's boyfriend at the time, Nicholas Godejohn.

In December, Blanchard was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri after serving eight and a half years.

Since then, she's been trying to spread awareness about her story - but now seems to be taking time for some self-care as she went under the knife late last week for a nose job.

Dr. Paul Nassif of the hit show Botched has issued a stark warning to Gypsy Rose Blanchard following her recent rhinoplasty

Blanchard, who was released in December, went under the knife to correct her nose late last week

However, Dr. Nassif is urging her to be careful and to not get addicted to the plastic look.

He told TMZ that some patients can get carried away after just one taste of a new look and go down a 'rabbit hole.'

Dr. Nassif explained that some have multiple procedures that will 'whittle down' the look of their nose and other parts of the face - but hopes that's not the case for Blanchard.

'If it is done properly, with the right patient, then hopefully she's gonna have a fantastic outcome and like her results,' Dr. Nassif told TMZ.

The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills husband also added that he doesn't think there's any reason to be concerned about the timing of her procedure, after the interviewer pointed out that some think Blanchard is doing 'too much, too soon' after her prison release.

'I mean, listen, if she wanted it done, doesn't matter when she gets it, so, you know, whatever makes her feel good,' Dr. Nassif said.

And, although Blanchard has not given a reveal of her new nose, she did share a picture of herself all bandaged up post-surgery with the outlet.

She also told People after the fact that the procedure 'went great' and that she's just resting up at home.

Blanchard gave a photo of her nose post-op to TMZ, snapping a selfie all bandaged up and eating a popsicle

The Munchausen by proxy victim was sentenced to 10 years behind bars for second-degree murder after persuading a former boyfriend to stab her mother to death

Dream team: Dr Nassif stars in E! reality show Botched alongside colleague Dr. Terry Dubrow

Gypsy deleted all of her social media accounts after going viral upon her release, seen here with her now ex-husband, Ryan Anderson

'I come in and out of sleep. I was in pain at first but I am on pain medicine,' she told the magazine.

'I can't breathe through my nose because of the packing but that comes off on the 10th,' she continued. 'I want to see it so bad!'

The nose job was done by Dr. Jeffrey J. Joseph in Lafayette, Louisiana.

He ranks as a top facial plastic surgeon on Castle Connolly - a position he's held since 2018.

It turns out that a rhinoplasty was something that Blanchard had wanted for a while now, according to People.

The New Orleans native wanted to change the look of her nose and make it a bit more 'feminine,' her close friend, Nadiya Vizier, said.

And, the good news for fans is that it will all be documented for Blanchard's Lifetime docuseries, Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up, which is set to begin premiering on the network in June.

Gypsy Rose (left) with her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who was murdered by Gypsy and her then boyfriend in 2015

It turns out that a rhinoplasty was something that Blanchard had wanted for a while now, according to People

Blanchard got married to Ryan Anderson while still imprisoned in June 2022, but filed for divorce from the 37-year-old special education teacher on April 8

The series will show her journey as she adjusts to life as a free woman.

Blanchard's case was a heart-wrenching yet strange one, as it was discovered shortly thereafter her mom's murder that Blanchard had been a victim of Munchausen's by Proxy for the majority of her life.

Her mom made up serious illnesses throughout Blanchard's life in order to garner sympathy from others, like leukemia and muscular dystrophy - diseases that she never even had.

Dee Dee also put Blanchard in a wheelchair and shaved her head, among other

She was granted early parole, which led to her December release.

Blanchard got married to Ryan Anderson while still imprisoned in June 2022, but filed for divorce from the 37-year-old special education teacher on April 8.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands showed off her sartorial prowess as she wowed in a royal blue number for the launch of Amsterdams Stagepact MBO today.

The monarch, 52, looked stunning in a navy ensemble as she met with students and employers in the Dutch capital.

Opting for a classic make-up look, Maxima tied her hair back into a low bun and tucked it under an oversized trilby hat.

She added navy and diamond earrings and highlighted her face with thick black eyeliner and mascara while layering colourful bracelets on her wrists.

Proving she's the queen of coordination, the former financier opted for all navy, with a A-line dress and embroidered flower pattern.

She added navy stilettos, and a clutch bag while accessorising with leather gloves.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands showed off her sartorial prowess as she wowed in a royal blue number for the launch of Amsterdams Stagepact MBO today

The monarch, 52, looked stunning in a navy ensemble as she met with students and employers in the Dutch capital

It comes after Queen Maxima opted for a different look last week as she cut an elegant figure for the launch of the MIND Us Foundation online tool, held at Skatepark in The Hague, Netherlands.

The royal, 52, added flair to her coordinated ensemble with a distinctive pair of spider brooches by Celedonio, a jewellery brand hailing from her native Argentina.

Maxima, who is honorary chairman of the MIND Us Foundation, owns a number of striking brooches shaped like moths, beetles and butterflies.

The oversized spiders, which she always wears as a set, are handmade with sparkling crystals and have been in her jewellery collection since 2015.

The mother-of-three delivered a speech during the event, which introduced an online tool for adults to help young people struggling with mental health.

Opting for a classic make-up look, Maxima tied her hair back into a low bun and tucked it under an oversized trilby hat

She added navy and diamond earrings and highlighted her face with thick black eyeliner and mascara

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands attends the launch of Amsterdams Stagepact MBO at Capital C

The internship pact emphasizes the importance of sufficient good internships for both MBO students and employers and is a confirmation of the cooperation between the municipality, schools and companies

Queen Maxima is honorary chairman of the MIND Us Foundation.

It comes after the royal visited the Military Rehabilitation Centre in Aardenburg, where soldiers and civilians go to recover following an ailment, accident or stroke.

The centre works in conjunction with Amputee Osseointegration Foundation Europe Clinics (AOFE Clinics) and specialises in amputation medicine.

There, the Queen tended to a Ukrainian soldier who appeared to have both of his legs amputated, and by who she was pictured throughout much of her visit.

The down-to-earth monarch at one point kneeled down to speak with the unnamed soldier, and appeared deeply engrossed in their conversation.

Maxima opted for a hat yet again as she stepped out in Amsterdam

She's know to reign high in the style stakes and today was no exception for Maxima

Adding a pop of colour to the look, Maxima wore colourful bracelets and a wrist watch

For the occasion, the mother-of-three donned a chic purple blazer and matching bootcut trousers, opting for just a pop of colour with a fuchsia pink shirt.

She left the double-breasted blazer unbuttoned, highlighting her svelte figure and shapely silhouette.

Maxima paired the look with a pair of chocolate brown high-heeled boots, which synced perfectly with a leather handbag of the same hue.

Maxima's busy schedule of appearances come as dutch streamer Videoland has provided royal fans with a glimpse into the highly-anticipated series - Maxima Zorreguieta: Motherland - by Mill Street Films.

Released on 20 April, the six-part show will dramatise the Dutch Queen's upbringing in Argentina and how a chance meeting with the then Prince Willem-Alexander, 56, changed the course of her life forever.

Maxima looked stunning in the attire which she paired with bracelets

The new press shots depict Delfina Chaves as Maxima, looking regal in a red dress. The actress is tipped for superstardom, just like Meg Bellamy - who played Kate Middleton in the final season of the Netflix series The Crown.

Meanwhile, Martijn Lakemeier - who plays the monarch in his younger years looks dapper in a black suit.

Maxima's father, Juan Antonio Zorreguieta Bonorino, played by Daniel Freire, is depicted alongside his wife, Cesina Stefanini Borella.

The series will delve into Juan's relationship with his daughter and his controversial political background.

The royal is at ease with crowds as she spoke to students and staff today

The queen looked a vision in blue as she chatted to fans

Juan had served as the Minister of Agriculture under the regime of General Jorge Rafael Videla, commander in chief of the army and a member of the right-wing junta that ran Argentina.

Elsewhere on the poster, Maxima's mother, Cesina Stefanini Borella, played by Maria Pame, looked stylish in a chic ensemble.

Willem-Alexander's parents, Beatrix of the Netherlands, played by Elsie de Brauw, and Prince Claus, played by Sebastian Koch, also feature in the new shots.

Both donning traditional attire, the royal couple gazes towards the camera in a formal shot.

It comes after the sizzling trailer for a series all about Queen Maxima of the Netherlands' life was released.

Dutch streamer Videoland released a teaser ahead of the six-part series - by Mill Street Films - dropping on April 20.
Australian fitness influencer Tammy Hembrow revealed the details of her dramatic fall out after she fired her older sister Amy from her company.

Amy used to work for Tammy's athleisure brand, Saski, but she was fired after their relationship turned 'volatile' following the shift in their power dynamic.

Tammy recently sat down with Mamamia co-founder Mia Freedman for an episode of the journalist's 'No Filter' podcast titled 'The Business of Tammy Hembrow's Body' where she told the story.

'I ended up having to fire [Amy] and our relationship was very, very bad for quite a while,' she said. 'It was such a build up [of tension] and we could not work together.

'There are blurred lines when you're family. Amy's my older sister, she's the oldest of all of us. She thought she was the boss of me, but I was her boss. It just wasn't working. I was super passionate about Saski, and she wasn't - which was part of it.'

Australian fitness influencer Tammy Hembrow [left] revealed the juicy details of her dramatic fall out after she had to fire her older sister Amy [right] from her company

Amy used to work for Tammy's athleisure brand, Saski, but she was fired after their relationship turned 'volatile' following the shift in their power dynamic

Letting go of her sister was a difficult decision for Tammy because all of her employees are either her friends or family.

'My general manager for Saski is my high school best friend, Bella. All my employees are literally all friends.

'We have our office and warehouse. And then next door, we have Tammy Fit. The general manager for Tammy Fit is Crystal - who is my sister's husband's sister.

'I'm very selective of who I bring into my circle and who I trust. That's why everyone that works for me has either come from a friendship or from someone I know.'

Letting go of her sister was a difficult decision for Tammy because all of her employees are either her friends or family

Despite the temporary bad blood between Tammy and Amy, her relationship with other employees has been smooth sailing so far

Despite the temporary bad blood between Tammy and Amy, her relationship with other employees has been smooth sailing so far.

'We're really good at separating our friendship from work,' Tammy said. 'We can have disagreements in our [personal lives] and not have those leak into our work.'

As their employer, Ms Freedman pointed out that Tammy is the one who owns the company, pays the salaries, and pays the rent on all their buildings - which can lead to a certain hierarchy when it comes to interpersonal relationships.

However, the fitness influencer said that the people around her rarely treat her differently because of her fame and fortune - and it hasn't changed their dynamic at all.

Tammy revealed that she could always count on her family to lend her a helping hand

Tammy said that the people around her rarely treat her differently because of her fame and fortune [pictured with her sister Amy]

'I feel like [me being an international celebrity] doesn't have much of an impact. It's not a big deal. They just know me as me.'

Tammy also revealed that she could always count on her family to lend her a helping hand in her time of need.

'It's really tough to juggle my life,' she said.

'I pride myself on being a hands on mum, so it's difficult to balance everything. I'm always being pulled in 20 different directions.

'But my mum is always there to watch my kids if I need her, and I bring my daughter into the office with me all the time. I'm working on proposals as she's running around ... some days are easier than others.'
A single mum has issued a warning to women to stay safe when meeting up with men on dating apps after making a 'terrifying' discovery.

Carly Sophia, from Sydney, was planning to get a drink with a man she was talking to on a dating app and decided to Google his name because she was 'feeling anxious' about the meet.

After finding out his last name, her search revealed 'pages' of news articles about the man who was accused of sexually assaulting a woman after a night out.

The 34-year-old said the search left her 'rattled' as her interactions with the man did not 'ring any alarm bells'.

The incident prompted her to share her best tips for her female followers to use to stay safe while dating.

Carly Sophia (pictured) Googled the name of the man she had planned a date with and uncovered 'terrifying' details about an alleged sexual assault

The mum-of-two said the man she was messaging on the app looked 'nice', had 'kind eyes' and seemed like a 'regular Inner West guy'.

'He had a cute dog. Cool job. We had mutual friends. The same band shirt from the same tour. Both love animals. Wore the same type of vans,' she explained in an Instagram post.

'This guy didn't ring any alarm bells at all.'

It turns out predators aren't just men with knives down dark alleyways. They don't look unhinged or talk to you creepily.'

As she was feeling a little anxious about their upcoming date Carly decided to give him a quick Google to put her mind at ease.

'And HOLY. F***ING. S***. Am I glad I did. News articles. Pages of them. Accused of raping a woman after a night out,' she said.

'Needless to say, I am fucking RATTLED. Felt like throwing up all afternoon. Mainly because it turns out predators aren't just men with knives down dark alleyways. They don't look unhinged or talk to you creepily.'

Carly offered her 'most important' dating advice for women to follow so they stay safe and don't fall victim to predators lurking on apps.

The 34-year-old said the search left her 'rattled' as her interactions with the man did not 'ring any alarm bells'

'Because your chance of being murdered is low, but it's never zero,' she warned.

'One in every five Australian women has been the victim of sexual violence, and 58 per cent of all female homicide is committed by an intimate partner worldwide.'

Firstly, Carly said to 'master the art' of sharing information about yourself and details about your life without making yourself easy to find.

'When you first start chatting, simple things like your suburb and what you do for work may seem like harmless get-to-know-yous. but in the wrong hands, big safety issue,' she said.

'I like to say I live 'near' a certain landmark - a place of public interest with about 11 surrounding suburbs. Keep it nice and vague.'

Secondly, Carly said to never disclose any type of routine to someone you're chatting to.

Carly offered her 'most important' dating advice for women to follow so they stay safe and don't fall victim to predators lurking on apps

Firstly, Carly said to 'master the art' of sharing information about yourself and details about your life without making yourself easy to find

Carly said to never disclose any type of routine to someone you're chatting to and make sure to get someone's full name if you're on an app that encourages using pseudonyms

'You like the same cafe, that's fine. Just don't be tempted to excitedly exclaim, "I get my coffee there every morning!",' she explained.

'Having things in common is a good indicator of compatibility and great to kickstart a conversation, but oops, not you've got a stalker.'

Carly recommends getting the person's details as soon as the chat turns to potential real-life meetups.

'I blatantly ask for their social media handles without sharing mine, purely to see if we know any of the same people,' she said.

'If we do, I'm messaging whoever I'm closest to and asking for the team. Women, if possible.'

She said women are more likely to understand she is messaging them for her own safety without dubbing her 'crazy'.

Some dating apps let users join using a nickname or pseudonym which can protect their privacy but Carly said to ask for a first and last name so you can do a thorough Google search on them.

'These days EVERYONE exists online and any man not comfortable giving you his most basic details before meeting up with you either isn't who he says he is or has something to hide,' she said.

Carly said if the person you're talking to on an app is a stranger, always meet in public places and never go somewhere private during or after the date.

'NEVER go to their house, let them pick you up in their car or permit them to come over to yours,' she said.

READ MORE: A dreamy man asked me on a date - but this one act of his when I arrived was an immediate red flag Advertisement

Carly said if the person you're talking to on an app is a stranger to always meet in public places and never go somewhere private during or after the date

'No back to their hotel or one more at a 'house party' or a 'friend's place' after unless you want your drink spiked.

She said if a man doesn't respect those boundaries, it is a 'monumental red flag'.

Carly said another way to stay safe on a date is to let trusted friends know your whereabouts.

'Tell a friend the name of who you're meeting, where you're going and changes to location as the night evolves,' she suggested.

'If you have an iPhone, you can use the FindMy app to turn your location sharing on. I permanently share my whereabouts with two of my single besties and they share theirs in return.

Finally, the cautious singleton said to always 'have an out' on a date so you can remove yourself from a situation you suspect may be unsafe.

'You turn up and they're suss or the place is sketchy or you're not into it or s*** just doesn't feel right,' she said.

'Organise for someone to call you at a certain time beforehand, and fake a situation so that if you want to go - you now have a reason to leave.'

Carly said she is more than happy to volunteer to call any one of her followers if they are feeling unsafe on a date.

You can visit Carly Sophia's Instagram page here.
Fat loss shots like Ozempic and Zepbound have been linked to more than 100 deaths in the US, DailyMail.com can reveal.

One of the victims was a person in their 20s who developed an 'intestinal mass' and another was a pregnant woman.

The cases have been recorded in an FDA monitoring system used to track the safety of medicines used in the US, called FAERS.

None of the deaths are proven to have been directly caused by the injections. But experts say the reports indicate cases where the drugs were suspected to have been involved.

The cases have been recorded in an FDA monitoring system used to track the safety of medicines used in the US, called FAERS. They are shown above in a graphic

Trish Webster, 56, pictured above, died after using Ozempic to lose some weight before her daughter's wedding

There are also concerns about counterfeit versions of the drugs which are becoming more common as patients struggle to get the real thing.

Fake versions have been found to contain insulin which if not used in correct doses can cause seizures, a coma and even death.

The youngest patient with information was a 28-year-old woman who was hospitalized and diagnosed with an 'intestinal mass'.

Another fatality involved a woman who took Ozempic while she was pregnant, which the drug maker advises against after studies in pregnant rats on the drug showed their offspring had growth problems and developmental abnormalities.

In total, the FDA's system has recorded 117 fatalities among people taking blockbuster weight loss drugs since 2018.

Of these, 81 were linked to patients using semaglutide  the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy  while 36 were linked to patients using tirzepatide, the ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound.

More than half of the fatalities linked to semaglutide  54 deaths, or 66 percent  were recorded after a version of the drug, Wegovy, was approved for weight loss in June 2021. Ozempic has not been approved for weight loss but is prescribed off-label for this use.

No deaths have been recorded linked to tirzepatide after a version of the drug  Zepbound  was approved for weight loss, but it only got the green light for this use in November 2023.

Symptoms recorded ranged from seizures to blockages in the intestines and pancreatic cancer.

Fatalities surged 230 percent in 2023 compared to previous years, although experts said that about this time prescriptions also exploded. If there are millions more people taking a drug, then this raises the likelihood of fatalities in patients using it.

None of the US victims who died while using Ozempic have been identified.

Last year, however, the family of a 56-year-old mother from Australia said she had died from Ozempic  after being diagnosed with 'acute gastrointestinal illness' and collapsing at home with a 'brown substance' foaming from her mouth.

Despite being hailed as one of the most powerful pharmaceutical tools to date, experts have warned it is not a 'magic pill' or miracle fix-all. Trials have shown that users can rapidly pile pounds back on once they stop taking the drug and it can trigger a variety of nasty side effects. Users commonly complain of nausea, constipation and diarrhea

She had lost 35lbs (16kg) while on Ozempic and another weight loss drug, as she tried to lose weight for her daughter's wedding.

Experts told DailyMail.com they were surprised that the fatalities figure linked to weight loss drugs 'was not higher'.

Toni Adamrovich, a nurse and obesity medicine specialist at Tb2.health in Ohio who works with patients prescribed semaglutide and tirzepatide, said: 'I am not surprised by this number. I am actually surprised it is not higher.

'I am not saying this because I believe these medications are inherently dangerous, but because of the surge in their use for weight loss.'

He added: 'One must remember that the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) does not require a causal relationship between a medication and event be proven, so it can be ambiguous as to whether an event was solely due to the medication reported.

'Conversely, the FDA also does not receive reports of all adverse events and any deaths at all are one too many.'

Broken down by drug, Ozempic had the most fatalities linked  56 deaths  followed by Mounjaro  36 deaths  and Wegovy, three deaths.

There were no deaths linked to Zepbound (active drug is tirzepatide), but there were 22 linked to other combinations of semaglutide.

Nearly all the reports in the FAERS were submitted by the manufacturer  Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly  which are obliged to report serious adverse effects to the FDA.

The FDA told DailyMail.com on the figures previously: 'While FDA relies on the FAERS database as a drug safety surveillance tool after a product is approved and marketed, submission of a report does not mean that the information included in it has been medically confirmed.

'The event may have been related to the underlying disease being treated, or caused by some other drug being taken concurrently, or occurred for other reasons.'

They added: 'Duplicate reports and heightened awareness of an event with a particular product may inflate the reported occurrence of an adverse event.'

In comparison to the 100 deaths linked to weight loss drugs every year, there are 16,000 attributed every 12 months to NSAIDS  non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat pain and inflammation such as ibuprofen and aspirin.

The FDA has previously warned that in rare cases Ozempic can cause an intestinal blockage, called ileus, because it slows the passage of food through the intestines.

This can cause them to rupture and spill their contents into the body, which can lead to sepsis and multiple organ failure if not treated quickly.

Many patients taking the drug are also obese, which puts them at a higher risk of suffering serious side effects from any complications caused by the drug.

Ozempic and its competitors have risen to prominence in the last few years, with a whopping 9million prescriptions written for the drugs in the last three months of 2022 alone, the latest available  marking a surge of 300 percent in three years.

Eli Lilly's Zepbound overtook Wegovy this March, data showed  with 6,000 more prescriptions written in a month to a total of 77,590.

Deaths can be reported to FAERS by doctors, consumers, manufacturers, family members and others.

Medical documents are not requested with the initial report, but those submitting one will be asked to give detailed information on the adverse event.

Reports are reviewed and constantly monitored by FDA investigators to detect side effects of medications that may not have been picked up in clinical trials.

The agency previously used these to add the side effect ileus to the warning label  or a partial or complete blockage of the small intestine.
Do you struggle to get out of bed without an alarm clock, then feel tired all day?

You might assume this familiar-sounding scenario is caused by poor sleep, yet for some people it can be a sign of idiopathic hypersomnia (IH), a condition that leaves them feeling exhausted even if they sleep well.

Sarah Morgan, 41, an admin assistant from County Durham, first noticed constant daytime exhaustion when taking her GCSEs. I thought I was just stressed, she recalls. Even after a good nights sleep it was almost impossible keeping my eyes open.

In fact, this was a hallmark of IH. Those affected can still need daytime naps after sleeping more than ten hours a night. Severe cases can sleep up to 18 hours a day.

Those affected by idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) can still need daytime naps after sleeping more than ten hours a night. Severe cases can sleep up to 18 hours a day

Other signs include brain fog, being hard to rouse from sleep, headaches, confusion and losing items  as the excessive tiredness means people experience seconds-long micro-sleeps where they carry out activities without being aware of what theyre doing.

IH is under-recognised and often disabling, says Dr Paul Reading, a neurologist and an expert in hypersomnia [excessive sleepiness] based at the South Tees NHS Foundation Trust. It massively interferes with all aspects of life: social, educational, and careers.

One problem is that IH is easily confused with other conditions, including depression. It means those affected end up on medication they dont need, that causes side-effects, or their problems are dismissed as laziness.

Despite her intense sleepiness, Sarah passed her GCSEs but flunked her A-levels because she was always exhausted.

Id go home in the middle of the day as I couldnt fight the desperate need to nap and sleep deeply  even if Id slept well the night before.

Following repeated trips to the GP, who ran blood tests for conditions that might cause tiredness, such as anaemia, Sarah was told she was just young and tired, and to get on with it.

Excessive daytime drowsiness is a common symptom generally and may relate to insufficient sleep quality or quantity, says Dr Alanna Hare, a consultant at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, specialising in sleep and breathing.

Dr Alanna Hare, a consultant at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals

There are many causes, ranging from obstructive sleep apnoea (when breathing stops repeatedly during the night) to a neurological disorder such as narcolepsy, medication or psychiatric disorders, Dr Hare adds.

First identified in the 1970s, IH affects an estimated one in 25,000 adults, although Dr Reading believes the true figure is one in 5,000. It is slightly more common in females, with peak incidence in the teens, although its often not diagnosed for many years.

The condition is diagnosed only when other possibilities have been ruled out. (Idiopathic means no known cause.)

We really dont know whats behind it, says Dr Reading. Brain scans looking at the main sleep centres, such as the hypothalamus, are normal.

However, there are distinctive characteristics. IH is best described as a syndrome of excessive sleep need such that subjects have excellent overnight sleep, often achieving 9-11 hours of good-quality sleep, but still require naps, usually unplanned, during the day, he explains. Another sign is micro-sleeps  i.e. a three-second or so lapse when someone appears awake but isnt fully.

Losing items around the house, or putting house keys in the fridge can be a sign of such lapses.

These lapses will sound familiar to anyone whos been sleep-deprived, but the key with IH is that these micro-sleeps occur even after a full nights sleep.

The sleepiness with IH is also different from the fatigue people get after doing some demanding mental or physical activity  for example patients with chronic fatigue syndrome generally do not fall asleep if inactive or resting, whereas patients with IH do, he says.

Dr Reading adds: Patients often rely on a number of alarm clocks, reporting severe sleep inertia or sleep drunkenness in the morning and feeling like zombies for an hour or so. This is often the worst symptom and hardest to treat.

And unlike someone who is simply not a morning person, who will generally feel more alert as the day wears on, someone with IH will stay tired all day.

This daytime tiredness can make it difficult to hold down a job  as Sarah discovered when she hit her 20s.

I wanted to work but couldnt as I could never stay awake long enough during office hours, she says. It was the frustration of not being able to work on my uni assignments that led to me realising I had a serious problem and that it couldnt just be my attitude  which was a common response from most people around me.

Beginning to worry that something was seriously wrong, aged 21, she consulted a different GP.

I wasnt going out or dating as I was always tired and avoided friends because no one understood why I was so exhausted.

She was eventually referred to a sleep clinic in 2004, where she saw Dr Reading, who diagnosed IH.

While diagnosis largely rests on a patients description of their symptoms, overnight testing in a sleep lab can help: it shows whether someone is getting good quality sleep and can rule out conditions such as sleep apnoea. How quickly a patient falls asleep is also assessed.

Most patients with IH will take an average of seven minutes or less to drop off, says Dr Reading. (Ten minutes or longer is considered normal). Overnight testing can also reveal other signatures of IH  including excessive slow wave sleep [deep sleep] which extends late in the night, explains Dr Reading. In most people the deepest stages of sleep occur in the first two hours after dropping off, but in IH the deep sleep can extend or recur late in the night and interfere with waking up easily.

Dr Hare adds: Because we do not yet fully understand the underlying disease process and we have no biomarkers it is very hard to make a firm diagnosis.

This also means that treatment for IH is for the symptoms only.

As well as psychostimulants (amphetamine-like drugs), there are newer drugs such as modafinil (used to treat ADHD) and Wakix (developed for narcolepsy). These newer drugs work specifically on the wake mechanism part of the brain and have fewer side-effects  in the heart for example  than amphetamines, says Dr Reading, which he says are no longer the first-line treatment, but may be prescribed as a back-up option.

Most patients improve on medication, but it is relatively rare to achieve normality, he adds.

Sarah did not feel herself on the prescribed amphetamines: I was jittery, talking so fast people couldnt keep up. It kept me awake, but changed my personality  I felt I was always racing through life.

She took them for six years, and also tried Wakix, however she stopped because of the side-effects  extreme headaches, visual problems and rapid heartbeat and because she started trying for a family.

She had her first baby in 2014 and went on to become a mother of three. Being a mum to young kids when all you want to do is sleep was horrendous. I honestly dont know how I stayed awake.

She says she was also very lonely as some relatives and friends doubted her diagnosis, telling her to just snap out of it  thankfully my partner was a real support.

Lack of understanding about the condition contributes to severe frustration, which can evolve into significant mood disorder such as anxiety, says Dr Reading. The resulting low mood or anxiety are then presumed to be causing the excessive sleepiness  but there is no evidence that depression causes true hypersomnolence [excessive sleepiness], its nearly invariably the other way round!

Furthermore, the drugs used to treat mood disorders can affect the sleep-wake cycle and worsen the inability to wake up in the morning or work a conventional shift pattern, says Dr Reading.

Apart from appropriate medication, a sleep specialist may be able to advise on lifestyle changes that might help: from timing of meals to sticking, where possible, to regular sleep and wake times. The good news is that, in my experience IH does improve as people get older, says Dr Reading.

Meanwhile, Sarah does the best she can without medication. She manages to work part time, but still struggles.

No matter how much sleep I get at night I am exhausted by mid morning, she says. Shes started a Facebook support group for other sufferers, Idopathic Hypersomnia UK.

She adds: One of the hardest things is that when you explain it to people they still dont believe you.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung accused the Yoon Suk Yeol government of trying to knock out his political enemies as he attended a court hearing on charges connected to a development corruption scandal on the eve of the parliamentary elections Tuesday.

Lee, the chair of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, appeared for the hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on corruption charges related to two apartment construction projects in Seongnam, south of Seoul, launched during his term as the city's mayor.

It marks his third court appearance for hearings during the 13-day official election campaigning period leading up to Wednesday's parliamentary elections in which he is running in the Gyeyang constituency in Incheon, west of Seoul.

Lee had requested the court to reschedule his mandatory court appearances during the campaigning period, but the court dismissed the request, warning that he would be compelled to attend the hearings if he did not present himself.

Before entering the courtroom for Tuesday's hearing, Lee lambasted the Yoon administration and called on voters to pass judgment on its incompetence.

"Unable to curb prices as it is supposed to, the Yoon Suk Yeol government is only attempting to strike down political enemies and opposition forces," Lee said.

Lee claimed that the Yoon government has caused regression in all aspects of the country, including the economy, livelihoods, diplomacy, national security and democracy, urging voters to prevent Yoon's party from attaining a parliamentary majority.

"Please, demonstrate with your own hands that a power that disobeys the people cannot exist, and no power can prevail over the people," he said.

The hearing is expected to continue through late afternoon, after which Lee plans to join his party's final campaigning event to be held at Yongsan Station Plaza in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
Dr Darin Detwiler, a food safety expert at Northeastern University in Boston and former FDA and USDA food safety advisor, shared foods to steer clear of amid bird flu fears

Americans are being urged to stay away from classic American dishes like steak and eggs and some desserts because there's a small risk of catching bird flu.

That is the advice of former FDA food safety advisor Dr Darin Detwiler who said animal products that are not properly cooked could harbor small fragments of the virus which is currently tearing through US farms.

That means steak should be cooked well done and eggs with runny yolks should be avoided. Even salad dressings like Caesar can be a risk due to being made with raw eggs, he said.

The H5N1 bird flu strain has caused outbreaks on over a dozen farms across the US, infecting cattle and chickens and raising fears over the safety of the US food supply.

Last week, health officials in Texas confirmed that a dairy farmer caught the virus, making him only the second-ever American to contract the disease.

Dr Detwiler told DailyMail.com: 'Transmission of bird flu to humans through the consumption of properly cooked poultry products, including eggs, is very low.

But 'the risk arises with improperly cooked eggs or poultry meat,' he added.

He noted that eggs, poultry, and beef have to be cooked to a safe internal temperature 'because cooking is the kill step.'

Dr Detwiler said that viruses like bird flu can travel to the inner parts of meat like steak, making it crucial to cook it all the way through rather than eating it rare

Some Caesar salad dressings are made with raw eggs, which could increase the risk of bird flu

If you're cooking a steak or ordering it at a restaurant, don't order it rare or medium rare.

Dr Detwiler said that while searing a steak on the outside 'should be good enough to kill a pathogen, even if the inside is not properly cooked,' bird flu could travel to the inner part of the meat.

'I am not convinced yet that simply searing the outside is enough to actually kill H5N1 in beef,' he said.

'I would 100 percent recommend that it is cooked throughout to a minimum safe cooking temperature for a piece of solid beef.'

According to the USDA, safe internal temperature for steak is at least 145 F, whereas rare steak is 120 F to 125 F. Medium rare is roughly 130 F to 135 F.

Dr Detwiler also recommends customers be cautious about eggs that have runny yolks, which includes sunny side up, poached, soft boiled, and over easy.

'In the case of avian flu concerns, eggs should be cooked until both the white and yolk are firm, which ensures that the egg reaches a temperature that is likely to kill any viruses present,' he said.

According to the USDA, eggs should be cooked to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius).

This could mean taking Eggs Benedict off your Sunday brunch menu, but not just because of the eggs themselves.

Dr Detwiler also suggested nixing hollandaise sauce, which is made from raw egg yolks, melted butter, and lemon juice.

And even certain kind of Caesar dressings, which is primarily made from anchovy paste, can contain egg yolks that might not be labelled clearly on a dressing bottle or a restaurant menu.

Additionally, no-bake desserts like edible cookie dough are also risky sources of uncooked eggs. 'You're not going to kill that virus with those,' Dr Detwiler said.

Dr Detwiler also advises against using eggs that are dirty or cracked, as bacteria linger on them.

There are no cases of someone actually catching flu from eating food but experts say it's theoretically possible - and it occurs among animals.

Food safety experts have warned against eating eggs with runny yolks, as they are not properly cooked and could increase the risk of contracting bird flu

Dr Detwiler advised getting eggs, chicken, and beef from a major retailer rather than a farmer's market to ensure there are proper safeguards in place

Additionally, infected cows could transmit bird flu through their milk if it is not pasteurized.

This is when milk is heated to a specific to at least 145 F for a minimum of 30 minutes to kill bacteria.

Despite the FDA long listing unpasteurized dairy as 'unsafe,' drinking 'raw milk' has become increasingly popular on TikTok and in fitness circles over unfound claims that it has more vitamins and minerals.

'Raw milk definitely carries a higher risk of exposure to not only avian flu but pathogens such as salmonella, E coli, listeria, Dr Detwiler said.

'Pasteurization is the only effective way or eliminating these pathogens and to make inactive any kind of influenza virus should they be present in milk.'

'But quite honestly, pasteurized milk is always the safer choice.'

The CDC states that 'scientists do not have any evidence that shows a nutritional benefit from raw milk.'

Additionally, Dr Detwiler advises being mindful of where you're getting your food.

'If there is H5N1 in birds, and that bird makes it to the point where it's still alive, and there are eggs that come with this, that birds needs to be properly dealt with,' he said.

This involved depopulation, or culling, or purposely killing infected chickens to keep the virus from spreading.

Earlier this month, the US' biggest egg producer  Cal-Maine Foods in Texas  revealed it had to cull 2million birds after detecting the virus in its flock.

'We want to make sure that we're purchasing eggs from reputable sources that follow strict biosecurity measures to prevent this,' Dr Detwiler said.

He therefore recommended purchasing eggs, poultry, and beef from major retailers rather than your local farmer's market. 'I'm not going to be going to a farmer's market or a farm,' he said.

'I really enjoy those options, but right now, I would be going to a major reputable retailer who has been vetted and audited and has steps in place to make sure that companies that put products on their shelves are reputable and have biosecurity measures in place.

So far, 17 farms across six states have reported H5N1 infections in their cows  including five in Texas, as well as farms in New Mexico, Michigan, Ohio, Idaho and Kansas. Cows in Iowa are also being tested.

The above shows how bird flu is edging closer to human spillover in the US

The above graph shows human cases of avian influenza globally reported by year. The colors represent different countries with the light blue being Egypt and the orange being Cambodia

Infected cattle are described as 'lethargic', eating less food and producing less milk. But they are not dying from their infections.

But it is not clear how the cows became infected, whether it was via exposure to infected droppings, bird carcasses or another route. However, some researchers suggest that cattle are becoming ill after drinking contaminated water from birds that migrate through the area.

Dr Detwiler noted that while the likelihood of getting bird flu through properly cooked food is low, 'the severity is high' once someone becomes sick.

'The risk increases with improperly cooked eggs or meat just like the risks increase in a car crash if you're not wearing your seatbelt.'

'When we look at the severity though, the H5N1 strain has caused severe disease and fatalities in humans who have been infected.'

He noted that serious complications include respiratory failure, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS, which causes fluid to collect in lung air sacs), and multi-organ failure.

The World Health Organization estimates the fatality rate for H5N1 at 52 percent, based on the 462 deaths recorded since 2003 among the 887 people diagnosed with the virus.
Women really do sleep worse than men, a study shows.

And scientists reckon it's because their body clock runs about six minutes quicker.

This means they're out of sync with their environment, which plays havoc on their internal wiring that tells their brain when they should feel sleepy.

An all-female team of experts stationed at the universities of Harvard, Stanford and Southampton reviewed dozens of academic papers published in the last decade on the poorly-understood 'sleep gap' that exists between men and women.

Many used actigraphs, digital wrist-worn devices similar to Apple watches or Fitbits, which monitor heart rate and sleeping patterns.

An all-female team of experts stationed at the universities of Harvard, Stanford and Southampton reviewed dozens of academic papers published in the last decade on the poorly-understood 'sleep gap' that exists between men and women

Results showed that women were almost 60 per cent more likely to experience insomnia.

They rate their sleep quality lower than men and complain about getting more bad nights.

Men, meanwhile, get less restorative, deep sleep than women and are more likely to be night owls. Additionally, they were more likely to have sleep apnoea.

Deeper experiments also revealed there were differences between the sexes in terms of the speed of their body's in-built clock, or circadian rhythm, which sets the rhythm of our lives.

When it comes to sleep, the body reacts to environmental cues to drop our core temperature in the hours before getting some shut-eye to get our body ready to sleep.

Internally, the body also secretes more melatonin, a hormone that helps send us to sleep.

READ MORE: How to tell if you have the sleep disorder that even doctors don't know about Advertisement

Research in the new analysis found melatonin is secreted earlier in women than men.

Core body temperature seemingly followed the same pattern, peaking earlier among women.

Researchers stated their findings, published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews, illustrate the 'crucial role sex plays' in sleep and health.

Study author Dr Renske Lok, an expert in psychiatry based at Stanford, said: 'While this (six-minute) difference may be small, it is significant.

'The misalignment between the central body clock and the sleep/wake cycle is about five times larger in women than in men.

'Imagine if someone's watch was consistently running six minutes faster or slower.

'Over the course of days, weeks, and months, this difference can lead to a noticeable misalignment between the internal clock and external cues, such as light and darkness.'

Dr Lok added: 'Disruptions in circadian rhythms have been linked to various health problems, including sleep disorders, mood disorders and impaired cognitive function.

'Even minor differences in circadian periods can have significant implications for overall health and well-being.'

Fellow author Dr Sarah Chellappa, a neuroscientist at Southampton, added: 'Lower sleep quality is associated with anxiety and depressive disorders, which are twice as common in women as in men.

'Women are also more likely than men to be diagnosed with insomnia, although the reasons are not entirely clear.'

One study assessed showed women were up to four times more likely to develop a sleep-related eating disorder, where people eat repeatedly during the night.

Another found they had a 25 to 50 per cent higher chance of getting restless legs syndrome.

Linked to iron deficiency, the condition creates a creepy-crawly feeling in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them, which can keep sufferers awake at night.

Women tended to sleep longer than men, spending around eight minutes more in non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep.

Sleep deprivation can lead to obesity, memory loss, diabetes, heart disease, heightened and unstable emotions, impaired ability to learn and a reduced immune response, leaving you vulnerable to disease

Around 80 per cent of adults' sleep is non-REM sleep, although only 20 per cent of this is deep sleep  the other type is known as rapid eye movement sleep and it is when vivid dreams occur.

During the deepest stage of deep sleep, the brainwaves are much slower and this is when growth hormone is released. The body uses this to repair and regrow tissues, build bones and muscle, and strengthen the immune system.

While the time spent in non-REM declines with age, researchers noted, this decline is more substantial in older men.

Men also tended to overeat more than women in response to sleep loss, researchers said.

Writing in the journal, Sleep Medicine Reviews, researchers said understanding sex differences during sleep was 'essential for tailoring approaches to sleep medicine' and combatting sleep disorders.

Many of the studies, however, failed to assess how biological differences such as during the menstrual cycle and menopause, affected sleeping patterns, they noted.

Previous research has suggested a link between lack of sleep and increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

The most common causes of insomnia are thought to be anxiety, depression, alcohol, caffeine, recreational drugs and working shifts.

While adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep, children are advised to have between nine and 13, the NHS recommends.

The health service estimates it takes most people 14 minutes on average to nod off.

Studies suggest that at least 30 per cent of the issues GPs face are directly or indirectly related to sleep.

Yet just one Briton in ten talks to their doctor about insomnia, despite 30 per cent taking medication to try to deal with it.
It was dubbed the biggest astronomical event of the decade.

An estimated 32million people enjoyed one of the most spectacular sights visible from the Earth, as a solar eclipse swept across North America on Monday.

Videos shared on social media showed people watching the greying sky to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon which left only the outer atmosphere of the sun visible, briefly turning the outdoors dark in daytime.

But without proper precautions, like special eclipse glasses, spectators could have permanently damaged their eyes, experts warned.

'My eyes are now boiling and my neck is suspiciously sore,' one X user admitted in Manitoba, Canada.

An estimated 32million people enjoyed one of the most spectacular sights visible from the Earth, as a solar eclipse swept across North America on Monday. Above, people view Monday's solar eclipse from Times Square in New York on April 8, 2024

Videos shared on social media showed people watching the greying sky to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon which left only the outer atmosphere of the sun visible, briefly turning the outdoors dark in daytime. Pictured, people use protective glasses to observe the eclipse at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia

'My eyes are now boiling and my neck is suspiciously sore,' one X user admitted in Manitoba, Canada. Others complained of 'sore eyes', with Google searches trending steeply upwards after the event

Others complained of 'sore eyes', with Google searches trending steeply upwards after the event.

According to NASA, your retina 'can be damaged even before you realize it and by then it can be too late to save your vision'.

'Even a few seconds of viewing the sun during an eclipse can temporarily or permanently burn the macula,' said Johns Hopkins ophthalmologists Neil Bressler, Jun Kong and Fernando Arevalo ahead of the solar eclipse.

'Once retina tissue is destroyed, it cannot regenerate, resulting in permanent central vision loss.'

Considered one of the most vulnerable regions of the retina, the macula plays a key role in discerning details like written text.

The result of damage to the macula can be uncanny: seeing one's own face as blank in a mirror or being unable to make out words in a newspaper, as if it were blank.

All it takes is about 100 seconds of exposure for solar radiation to cause damage to a person's retina, although times will vary based on the intensity of the sun, which can vary by time of day and geography, and the preexisting condition of a person's eyes.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommend concerned individuals look out for 'visual symptoms within four to six hours' or even the day after the solar eclipse.

Some may also notice signs after 12 hours.

Symptoms of injury commonly include headaches, blurred vision, a 'blind spot' in one or both eyes, eye sensitivity or visual distortions.

Those distortions can be particularly unusual, making objects appear smaller than they actually are, or creating funhouse twists or warps to your central vision.

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun. This illustration shows the moon's shadow on April 8, which moved across the face of the Earth

April 8: This colour coded map shows the path of totality as a dashed line in deep pink. It's here where the whole of the sun was blocked by the moon. Further out are areas that saw a partial eclipse. Here, the percentage of the sun blocked in these colour-coded areas is given

Fortunately, they can improve over time.

'Many people recover after three to six months, but some will suffer from permanent vision loss, in the form of a small blind spot and distortion,' according to the AAO.

However, roughly half of those diagnosed with 'eclipse blindness' will recover their vision in full after six months, said Dr Ralph Chou, an associate professor in optometry at the University of Waterloo.

'You just end up having to wait it out and that's the really unfortunate part about it,' he added.

'The typical person who's been injured, is going to wait six to 12 months before they know what their ultimate status is going to be.'

Dubbed the 'Great American Eclipse', Monday marked the first total solar eclipse visible anywhere in the world since December 2021, and the first seen from the US since August 2017.

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon and the sun line up perfectly and the moon is close enough to us to cover the whole of the sun, from our perspective.

Cloudy skies, however, prevented spectators in the UK from seeing a partial eclipse, where a little bit of the sun is covered by the moon.

Many across the country, equally, would have been unlikely to see the historic event had it been clear.

Simon Partridge, a forecaster at the Met Office, said: 'The chances are most of England and Wales probably wouldn't have seen it anyway.'

He added that outside of the northwest of Scotland, the eclipse would have been 'very, very small and probably not actually noticeable' even if clouds had not obscured it.

Dubbed the 'Great American Eclipse', Monday marked the first total solar eclipse visible anywhere in the world since December 2021, and the first seen from the US since August 2017. Pictured, eclipse viewers took to the Brooklyn Bridge in New York to watch the city descend into darkness

In 1999, there were 14 reports in the UK of damaged eyes after a solar eclipse.

And in 2017, a woman from New York, suffered from blurred vision and permanent dark spots after staring directly into the solar eclipse.

Nia Payne, 26, told doctors she first glanced at the sun during the eclipse for six seconds then she borrowed a pair of what she thought were eclipse glasses and looked up at the sun for another 15 to 20 seconds.

But six weeks later, she was still seeing dark spots in her left eye.

'It's embarrassing. People will assume I was just one of those people who stared blankly at the sun or didn't check the person with the glasses,' Ms Payne told CNN at the time.

'It's something I have to live with for the rest of my life. But it could be a whole lot worse, and I try to count my blessings.'

Doctors diagnosed her with a rare case of acute solar retinopathy, which occurs when the eye retina is severely damaged by gazing straight into the sun.

Experts recommend contacting an optician the moment spectator's suspect they may have solar retinopathy or eclipse blindness.

The last total solar eclipse which could be seen from the UK was in 1999, and there will not be another until 2090.
Surgeons had to remove a brake handle from a man's eye after a gory motorcycle crash.

Stomach-churning images show the handle embedded in the unidentified 19-year-old's right eye socket.

Sharing details of the freak incident in a medical journal, doctors in Malaysia told how it missed his eyeball by millimetres but fractured his socket.

Medics revealed he escaped with no lasting sight problems, maintaining his 20/20 vision in the wake of the bizarre accident.

Firefighters are thought to have to cut the brake lever from the bike at the scene of the crash.

Sharing details of the freak incident in a medical journal, doctors in Malaysia told how it missed his eyeball by millimetres but fractured his socket. Medics revealed he escaped with no lasting sight problems, maintaining his 20/20 vision in the wake of the bizarre accident

Stomach-churning images show the handle embedded in the unidentified 19-year-old's right eye socket. Firefighters are thought to have to cut the brake lever from the bike at the scene of the crash

Upon arrival at the Universiti Malaya Eye Research Centre in Kuala Lumpur, the man's eye was painful and swollen.

Doctors found his retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye that helps us see, was damaged and cloudy.

CT scans showed the bike handle had punctured below his eyeball and damaged the bone around his nose.

The lever, of unspecified length, had missed his pupil and vital nerves, preventing long-term nerve damage.

An ECG, a test recording the electrical activity of the heart, also found he was suffering an abnormal heart rhythm of between just 45 and 48 beats per minute.

According to the British Heart Foundation, a normal resting rate should sit between 60 to 100 beats per minute.

Medics diagnosed him with oculocardiac reflex (OCR), when a drop in heart rate is caused by pressure on the eye muscles.

The man was rushed into emergency surgery, where they successfully removed the handle, along with damaged tissue, stitched up the wound and repaired his eyelid.

A follow-up appointment six months later found his vision had returned to normal. Damage to his retina had also healed. Writing in the American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports, doctors said his right eye still appeared sunken by around 5mm. However, the man refused any further treatment

The damaged bone around his nose was also fixed with two screws.

Medics did not reveal when he was discharged, nor did they give any more details about his crash.

A follow-up appointment six months later found his vision had returned to normal. Damage to his retina had also healed.

Writing in the American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports, doctors said his right eye still appeared sunken by around 5mm.

However, the man refused any further treatment.

Just a handful of cases of OCR triggered by an object penetrating the body have been published to date, medics said.

Studies have shown OCR can prove fatal if not treated promptly, with complications of the condition, such as autonomic dysreflexia  an overreaction of your autonomic nervous system  'difficult and complex to manage'.
Murray Valley encephalitis virus has been detected in mosquitoes in Western Australia's Pilbara region for the first time this year.

Residents and travellers are urged to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

It comes after a similar alert for the state's Kimberley region.

Mosquito sampling provides an early warning for mosquito-borne virus activity, according to the WA Health Department.

Murray Valley encephalitis virus has been detected in mosquitoes in Western Australia's Pilbara region for the first time this year (file picture)

Managing scientist Andrew Jardine said the recent activity was not uncommon in northern WA at this time of year.

'The Pilbara community and travellers to the area can reduce their risk of MVE by protecting themselves from mosquito bites' Dr Jardine said.

'Thankfully, we've not had any community members contract MVE, but it is best to remain alert.'

Symptoms include fever, drowsiness, headache, stiff neck, nausea and dizziness.

Symptoms include fever, drowsiness, headache, stiff neck, nausea and dizziness (file picture)

Dr Jardine urged anyone with those symptoms after a mosquito bite to seek medical attention.

'Although the risk of being infected and becoming unwell is low, the illness caused by MVE can be severe and even fatal,' he said.

'Young children might only display a fever in the first instance and parents should urgently see their doctor or local health service if their child is experiencing drowsiness, floppiness or general distress.'

To avoid mosquito bites people should:
Two people in Illinois were hospitalized with facial paralysis and trouble breathing after being injected with potentially bogus Botox.

The patients in LaSalle County presented to the hospital with symptoms including blurred or double vision, droopy face, fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and hoarse voice, after receiving shots from a nurse 'who was performing work outside her authority.'

The key ingredient in Botox injections, widely loved for their ability to paralyze facial muscles and smooth out wrinkles, is botulinum toxin, one of the most poisonous biological substances known to man.

Botulism is a neurotoxin that can cause paralysis, difficulty breathing, and even death if injected improperly or at too high a dosage.

FDA-approved Botox is generally considered safe and complications are rare, but the state public health agency have warned hospitals to 'be on heightened alert' for similar cases of a botulism-like disease from botched injections.

It's not clear how many people were injected with what could have been counterfeit Botox by a nurse not authorized to do so, but the Illinois public health department has warned area hospitals to be on heightened alert for similar cases of a botulism-like illness

Botox is typically safe but complications can occur if injected improperly or at the wrong dose. Whitney Buha, 34, from Chicago, Illinois, is pictured with a droopy eyelid after getting Botox

Both patients in Illinois, whom the Illinois Department of Public Health has not identified, were injected by a nurse licensed to practice in the county, but who was unauthorized to do so.

The injections were either Botox or a counterfeit. Health officials have not confirmed either.

If the injections were, in fact, real Botox, it is possible that the nurse injected too much of it, which can lead to excessive muscle weakness and symptoms consistent with botulism.

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr Sameer Vohra said: Receiving these treatments in unlicensed, unapproved settings can put you or your loved ones at serious risk for health problems.

Please only seek cosmetic services under the care of licensed professionals trained to do these procedures and who use FDA approved products.

'If you are experiencing any health problems after a recent cosmetic treatment, please contact your healthcare provider immediately for help and assistance.

Megan Carlisle, 35, posted a video to TikTok showing the results of the Botox that left her chin 'messed up' with strange swelling and lumpy appearance

Anything labeled Botox that did not come from manufacturer Allergan should be met with suspicion.

Legitimate Botox also lists the ingredient OnabotulinumtoxinA, while counterfeits in the past have said Botulinum Toxin Type A.

And while the injections are quick and relatively painless, they can go horribly wrong, resulting in one drooping eye or a chin marked with lumps and divets, among other possible negative effects.

The news out of Illinois comes just a few days after the Tennessee Department of Health announced its investigation into potentially counterfeit Botox, which caused serious botulism symptoms in four people and hospitalized two of them.

Tennessee officials said: Similar botulism-like illnesses have been reported by multiple states. Ongoing investigation suggests that the product administered was counterfeit.

Anyone looking to go under the knife or be on the receiving end of a needle should go to a qualified medical professional licensed to administer Botox in that state.

In Illinois where the cluster of botulism cases occurred, only physicians and nurses licensed and regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation can administer Botox.

The US market for Botox injections is huge, and it is projected to grow from about $4.7 billion in 2023 to nearly $6.7 billion by 2030.

The well-loved procedure that takes mere minutes in a licensed professionals office is typically very safe, with bruising and some pain at the injection site being the most common patient complaints.

Given the incredibly high toxicity of botulinum toxin, dosages in syringes are typically measured in trillionths of a gram, and target carefully chosen spots on the face to paralyze certain muscles without the substance going to the central nervous system.

But if Botox is injected incorrectly, it could spread to unintended areas and cause symptoms associated with botulism, a rare but serious disease in which toxins produced by the C. botulinum bacteria attack the bodys nerves.
A top Oxford University scholar has added his voice to a growing list of experts who warn against puberty blockers for transgender children, saying they may be harmful and irreversible long term.

Professor Ashley Grossman, an endocrinologist, says there's 'no good evidence' showing puberty blockers help trans children, highlighting a new study which found they damage the testes and sperm of the boys who take them.

That study, and Professor Grossman's comments, bring into question the 'reversibility' of puberty blockers  a key claim of the trans campaigners who promote the drugs and say they 'pause' puberty and buy time for trans kids to make decisions about their gender.

Grossman's comments come ahead of the release of the long-awaited Cass Review in the UK, which is set to confirm a shift away from the medicalized treatment of trans children to one based on support and talk therapy.

Prof Ashley Grossman, a University of Oxford endocrinologist, says there's 'no good evidence' showing puberty blockers help trans children

Trans activists say puberty blockers and other gender-affirming care is life-saving among a suicide-prone group

'Studies have shown that there is no good evidence for the routine use of puberty blockers,' Grossman said in a statement.

'Indeed, there are some recent early data  although not yet peer-reviewed or published  suggesting some of their effects on testes and sperm may not be reversible.'

Poll Should 'gender-affirming care' be banned for children in your state? Yes No Not sure Should 'gender-affirming care' be banned for children in your state? Yes 36877 votes

No 1726 votes

Not sure 988 votes Now share your opinion





Grossman said blockers may be 'helpful' to some trans kids, but that the drugs were too risky to be dolled out to the 'greatly increased' number of young people who identify as trans nowadays.

'Routine puberty blocking treatment for this use has not yet been adequately studied, and many of these children may have other problems for which they need help,' he added, hinting at a growing body of evidence showing gender confused youngsters often have other, underlying mental health issues.

His comments take aim at one of the most controversial issues of our time  whether to provide drugs and surgery to kids who experience gender confusion or 'dysphoria' and ask their parents or doctors for help.

Puberty blockers were originally developed to suppress the hormones of minors who started puberty too early.

They are nowadays prescribed off-label to a fast-growing number of trans children.

Advocates of gender-affirming care, as it is known, say it's life-saving for a suicide-prone group, and that puberty blockers help pre-teens 'pause' their puberty and buy time to weigh life-altering decisions.

Puberty blocker prescriptions continue to rise in the United States

Most children who get treated with puberty blockers go on to cross-sex hormones, like this patient at Blue Mountain Clinic in Montana

Critics warn of surging numbers of young people who identify as trans, and say puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries are often unnecessary and likely dangerous.

Republican lawmakers have outlawed puberty blockers and other types of trans care for minors in nearly two dozen states.

Norway, Finland, Sweden, Holland, and the UK are among a growing list of European countries to have restricted or wholesale stopped trans interventions on children.

Britain is readying for the long-awaited release of a review by the leading consultant pediatrician Hilary Cass will shape NHS England's future care for trans children and young people, due o Wednesday.

Early reports suggest it will warn of the lack of data about the safety of trans hormones for children, and propose a more holistic care package that assesses whether young patients suffer from mental health issues other than gender anxiety.

This puts Britain at odds with the influential American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which recently suggested that it is child abuse to deny gender-affirming care to minors.

America's leading pediatric group said that withholding [gender-affirming care] is harmful to children and amounts to state-sanctioned medical neglect and emotional abuse.

The AAP made the claim in a consensus statement published in late December and the declaration was in response to a wave of age restrictions on puberty-blocking drugs and surgeries for children in Republican states.

While its views are not medically binding, the panel is made up of 70,000 of the country's top child doctors and its recommendations are considered the gold-standard.

Chloe Col, 19, who transitioned to male at 13 before later regretting her decision at 16, is among a growing number of young people who come to regret their trans treatments and seek to reverse them. She says she regrets taking puberty blockers at the age of 13 years

Puberty blockers are prescribed off-label to a fast-growing number of trans children

Transgender campaigners responded angrily to the direction of the Cass Review.

They argue that trans children are stigmatization and face abuse, and that many will take their own lives unless doctors give them the hormones and surgeries that affirm the sex they identify with.

'Trans children face harm and injustice at every turn,' the account TransSafetyNow posted on X/Twitter.

'The Cass Review's final report does nothing to help trans children live happy, healthy, safe and confident childhoods.'

A Mayo Clinic study released this month found that puberty blockers can lead to withering testicles, fertility problems and even cancer among the trans kids who take them, in the latest study to raise alarm about transgender medicine.

They found that puberty blockers hurt the development of testicles and sperm production in ways that are not fully reversible and could affect users' ability to have children when they grow up.

The Mayo Clinic's 33-page study revealed puberty blocker damage at the cellular level

'At the tissue level, we report mild-to-severe sex gland atrophy in puberty blocker-treated children,' the geneticist Nagarajan Kannan and others wrote in the 33-page study.

'We provide unprecedented histological evidence revealing detrimental pediatric testicular sex gland responses' to the drugs.

Researchers highlighted the case of a 12-year-old boy who had taken puberty blockers for 14 months.

Nearly 60 percent of his sex glands had 'fully atrophied,' they said.

There was also an 'appearance of microlithiasis,' or small clusters of calcium that are linked to testicular cancer.

In a 14-year-old patient who had been on puberty blockers for four years, they found his sperm production cells were stunted.

Scientists at the world-famous clinic said the results were worrying, but that more research was needed.

The evidence of sex 'gland atrophy and abnormalities from the histology data raise a potential concern regarding the complete 'reversibility' and reproductive fitness' of sperm cells in boys who take puberty blockers, it said.

The study came on the heels of the so-called 'WPATH files'  leaked messages from the world's top body for gender-affirming care, which showed clinicians behaving more like activists keeping quiet about the massive downsides of trans medicine.
An article published on 19th January, which followed up on a story published in The Sun, reported that Sian Hedges had struck up a friendship with Lucy Letby while they are both being held at Bronzefield Prison. We have been contacted by a representative of Ms Hedges who says the article is incorrect. We are happy to make their position clear, and have removed the claims from MailOnline.

To report an inaccuracy, please email corrections@mailonline.co.uk. To make a formal complaint under IPSO rules please go to www.mailonline.co.uk/readerseditor where you will find an easy-to-use complaints form. You can also write to Readers Editor, MailOnline, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or contact IPSO directly at ipso.co.uk
The fierce winds of Storm Kathleen had an unexpected benefit as more than half the country's homes were powered by wind-generated electricity - double the normal average, This is Money can reveal.

Gusts topping 70mph were recorded in parts of Britain on 6 April, the height of the storm, sparking major travel disruption and flooding.

But the high wind speeds also meant that the country's wind turbines made up double the amount of electricity they usually do.

Wind made up 61.6 per cent of the nation's electricity supply on 6 April, creating 18 gigawatts of power - enough to power 12.6million homes for the day.

Green electricity: Wind made up 61.6% of electricity creation on April 6

This stayed almost constant on 7 April, with wind making up 60.8 per cent of the country's electricity mix, according to National Grid ESO.

The UK daily record for the amount of electricity coming from wind power is 70.9 per cent, also this year - on 20 January.

This is Money analysis shows that thanks to a gusty start to the year, a total of 18 days have seen 50 per cent or higher electricity creation from wind.

Additionally, of the 87 days from the year (of 97) of data provided by National ESO, wind has made up 36.5 per cent of Britain's energy mix in 2023. This compares to 29.4 per cent in 2023.

In February, there was a four day spell where wind made up 50 per cent or more of the energy mix, while 5, 6 and 7 April also saw more than 50 per cent of electricity creation through wind.

Wind power only made up 29.4 per cent of the UK's electricity mix in 2023.

The other main ways of generating electricity are burning natural gas, coal, hydroelectric power, solar and burning biomass.

The high winds on 6 April meant only 8.2 per cent of the UK's electricity on the day came from burning the fossil fuel natural gas, down from the 2023 norm of 32 per cent.

Britain is fourth in the world when it comes to wind power, behind China, the US and Germany. There are around 11,000 wind turbines in the UK, with half on land and half offshore.

These turbines have the potential to generate 30 gigawatts of electricity, provided there is enough wind to power them. At peak times the UK requires around 60 gigawatts of electricity.

The Government plans to increase the amount of electricity wind turbines can create to 50 gigawatts by 2030.

Former prime minister David Cameron had previously halted the construction of new onshore windfarms in 2015, with current prime minister Rishi Sunak relaxing this in 2023, although very few onshore wind farms are currently underway.

But England alone could create 13 times more green energy than currently by using less than 3 per cent of its land, according to research from Exeter University and Friends of the Earth.

The researchers said 96 terawatts of electricity could come from onshore wind and another 130 terawatts from solar panels.

Tony Bosworth, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: 'Unleashing the UK's immense potential to generate cheap, clean homegrown renewables is essential to bring down our energy bills for good and meeting the UK's vital international target to reduce carbon emissions by two-thirds by 2030.

'But the current government's record on boosting our energy security through renewables is woefully inadequate and has left the UK lagging far behind in the global race to a zero-carbon economy.'

All the UK's coal-fired power stations are due to be shut down by the end of 2024.
Child maintenance: My partner's ex-husband has for years declared little or no earnings on his tax return

My partner's ex-husband is a self-employed tradesman who pays little or no child maintenance.

The Child Maintenance Service are so poor that they write endless letters but do nothing else as apparently the ex-husband has little or no earnings.

The earnings are determined by his tax returns in which he has for years declared little or no earnings.

Currently he declares around 300 a month earnings, rents a small three-bed house, runs a van, has a phone, buys his food, funds his cannabis, spends a pointless fortune on kids' Christmas presents and so on. All from his 300 a month.

I used to report him to HMRC using the online report form but they do nothing.

HMRC essentially don't seem to chase tax avoiding low earning self-employed people, probably because they only think about cost versus reward at a financial level and not wretches like my partner's ex-husband.

My question essentially is, how do we get HMRC to do anything? It isn't just the unfairness of why should we pay when he does not.

The knock-on effect of the tax evasion filters down through many other strands.

You see it all the time in sob story TV programmes which always feature a woman bringing up kids on her own with no money blaming the Government and they never ever ask, what about the wretch or wretches who fathered the kids?

SCROLL DOWN TO FIND OUT HOW TO ASK HEATHER YOUR TAX QUESTION

Heather Rogers replies: Unfortunately, you and your partner are not the only people to find yourself in this situation.

In a case a couple of years ago, a company director hid his six-figure salary, claiming he was only earning 175 per week.

He was charged after an investigation by the CMS Financial Investigation Unit with fraud by misrepresentation, and sentenced and ordered to pay the child maintenance owed.

Here, I will explain how the child maintenance system works, and how it relates to declaration of income and potentially tax evasion, before turning to your specific situation and what action you and your partner might take now.

What is child maintenance?

Child maintenance covers how your child or children's living costs will be paid when one of the parents doesn't live with the child.

It is paid when you've separated or even if you were never in an actual relationship. There must be a child maintenance arrangement in place if your child is under 16 or under 20 if they are still in full-time education.

Both parents are responsible for the costs of raising the child, regardless of whether they see them. Arranging to see your child is a separate issue.

The Government explains how child maintenance payments are calculated here.

Sometimes things don't work out and either the paying parent doesn't pay or tries to avoid paying the right amount by not declaring all their income.

HMRC provides the basis of the income for the assessment. This could be tax returns income, employment income and income from a business.

It is, however, just the basis. You can also ask for other income and expenses to be taken into account.

What if you think the child maintenance is wrong?

If you disagree with a decision, you can ask for it to be looked at again, or may be able to go straight to appeal. Appeals are heard by HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

If you think the income declared by the paying parent is wrong, you should challenge and raise it with the CMS. They have a team called the CMS Financial Investigations Unit which may look into it further.

Below are examples of when FIU action may be initiated. Cases are referred by CMS caseworkers on behalf of parents receiving child maintenance.

- A paying parent is self-employed, a partner or a company director, their declared income is disputed by the receiving parent, and there is a history of income or information to support this.

- A receiving parent believes the paying parent may be diverting income, for example to a new partner employed by their business.

- A paying parent fails to provide earnings information.

- A paying parent is not employed and not claiming benefits.

- A paying parent knowingly supplying false information or it is suspected that the paying parent has supplied false or incomplete information

How do people divert their income to avoid paying child maintenance?

Tempted to dodge tax? Think again, says our tax resident expert Heather Rogers, who explains how HMRC combats tax evasion and what penalties you can face.

People in certain positions are able to control or influence either the manner by which they are paid, and/or the amount of the pay they receive.

Those with the most opportunity are company directors who are also shareholders in their own company and those who are self-employed.

Company directors can determine the level of their salary, as well as any dividends that are paid to them, especially if they are sole shareholders/directors.

Or, they may take a director's loan from the company instead of receiving dividends for a period of time.

Self-employed earnings relate directly to the profit and loss of the business  income less allowable expenses and certain allowable reliefs.

If the person is unscrupulous, they can affect the declared profit by incorrectly reporting business expenses, or failing to declare payments received from customers.

This is tax evasion and potentially money laundering as well, as I discussed in my recent tax evasion article. You should certainly report this to HMRC, if you believe this to be the case.

A parent could also divert income to a third party, for example a new partner, by paying them a wage or making them a partner or director in their business.

The majority of the income then goes via the new partner and then the paying parent declares a small level of income to the CMS.

Most people paying child maintenance report their earnings correctly and do not engage in such practices, but nonetheless such means do exist and will be taken advantage of in some cases.

What powers does the CMS Financial Investigations Unit have?

The CMS is administered by the Department of Work and Pensions.

Under the Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023, the DWP can implement sanctions on paying parents who avoid paying maintenance.

CMS enforcement action includes seizing assets, including bank accounts, and forcing property sales. They can even now remove passports and driving licences. They no longer need to apply to the court for a liability order.

What action can you and your partner take now?

In your case, it is not really HMRC that will help you. It's the CMS that needs to investigate your partner's ex-husband, and from what you have advised in your question, there are enough grounds for them to do so.

They could even be investigating already, if suspicions have been raised, as they wouldn't advise you about it, nor would they advise him for obvious reasons.

In fact, the suspected tax evasion is a separate matter. The main issue here is that you suspect that the ex-husband's income is not correctly reported for child maintenance payments.

Here are the options open to you and your partner, whom you should consult on what further action you take. The most important thing when making a report on a matter like this is that you and your partner stay safe.

- You can make another report to HMRC if you believe tax evasion is occurring. You can call HMRC as well. You don't have to make a report online.

But remember, they won't advise you of any investigation they carry out nor update you with any details.

If they have your personal details, they could contact you if they think you may have any further information, although if you make the report anonymously then they can't.

- You can also go to the CMS and push them regarding an investigation on their part. Credible information that something is wrong includes that the income and the paying parent's lifestyle do not match.

Here is a link to the House of Commons library, which gives more information on the CMS's investigation process.

- If you can afford to, speak to a lawyer who specialises in child maintenance advice, usually a family law practice.

- If you believe criminal activity is taking place, then do report it to the police.
The National Election Commission (NEC) said Tuesday it has asked police to investigate a YouTuber who aired surveillance camera footage of election officials performing what it calls official duties to raise suspicions of vote rigging.

The commission said it filed a complaint against the YouTuber, whose identity was withheld, with Seoul's Eunpyeong Police Station on charges of violating the election and criminal laws by obstructing public officials carrying out their official duties.

The video posted Sunday by the YouTuber shows election officials of Seoul's Eunpyeong district and representatives of the People Power Party (PPP) and the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) putting ballot envelopes in early voting ballot boxes stored in an NEC-designated facility. It was taken from the NEC's CCTV footage of early voting ballot box storage sites.

The YouTuber raised the possibility of vote fraud, claiming that the officials were illegally tampering with ballot boxes after early voting took place on Friday and Saturday.

But the NEC denied the allegations, saying the officials were handling ballots cast outside the district amid the presence of PPP and DPK representatives after taking them over from the post office.

The commission said in the complaint that the YouTuber posted false content to make it seem like the election officials were engaging in illegal activities, triggering widespread public suspicion of vote rigging by the NEC. (Yonhap)
I live on Merseyside and have never driven in London. But over the last few years I have received more than 40 penalty notice charges for various driving offences in London, including for not paying the Dartford Crossing toll. I have had four in the last two weeks alone and every time I must send detailed proof that I am not at fault. I think someone in London has cloned my plate and is running up charges in my name.

I have informed the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the police, the fraud squad and my MP, with no success. Can you help to resolve this problem?

J.M., Merseyside

Sally Hamilton replies: Your battle over penalty notices issued to you unfairly is clearly driving you round the bend. When you explain to the DVLA that you did not run up the penalty notices, it accepts what you say and you are not charged. But, this takes a lot of time and effort on your part.

You worry that the only exit from this never-ending roundabout of disputes appears be to change your car or number plate. I admit that would be extreme, so I asked the DVLA to investigate and help you find an easier route of escape.

A few days later the department came back to say it had looked into matters and found that the other vehicle that is causing you this penalty nightmare is not a clone but has a genuine plate with a number configuration that looks similar to yours.

Although the DVLA did not confirm the details, I suspect the cameras used by various traffic organisations to catch offenders may be mixing up a zero in your registration possibly with the letter O on the other drivers plate.

Whilst the DVLA cannot stop such penalty notices landing on your doormat, it has now provided you (and the owner of the other car) with a special letter from the organisation that outlines all the information in one place that you need to prove your innocence to the relevant authorities. You can send this to any enforcement agency that issues you a penalty notice in error. This may not put a halt to the hassle completely, but should enable you to have any unfair penalties overturned more speedily.

As you mentioned in your letter, you initially thought your plate had been cloned. This is when crooks either pinch genuine plates or purchase copies on the internet from unauthorised suppliers, then attach them to a vehicle often - though not always - of the same model and colour. This gives them free rein to drive around breaking speed limits, park without payment or even use the vehicle to commit serious crimes  without fear of facing penalties  unless the police happen to catch them in the act.

Although the DVLA said your car had not been cloned, the effect was the same when it came to the deluge of penalty notices received.

Simon Williams, head of policy at motoring firm RAC, says: Normally, multiple fines relating to one vehicle would indicate it has been cloned. If you receive an incorrect penalty, contact the issuing authority and explain your situation. If possible, provide evidence to show you were somewhere else at the time and tell the police and DVLA you think your number plate has been cloned.

I was sent an 11,000 gas bill out of the blue - then threatened with a higher VAT charge when I complained

I am having a stressful time with Flogas, our supplier of liquified petroleum gas. It recently sent a bill out of the blue for 11,269, which was described as an overdue reminder letter despite this being the first wed heard of it. Before this we had been in credit with the company for several years.

After emailing my concerns to customer services, all I got in return was a threat to charge us VAT of 20 per cent, rather than the usual reduced rate of 5 per cent for households, on all future bills as we have apparently gone over the amount normally used by a residential property. How did it reach this figure? Please help.

V.B., Musselburgh, East Lothian

Sally Hamilton replies: You and your neighbours had new smart meters fitted late last year so were able to compare usage for your similar sized four-bedroom terraced houses, you explained. You were fuming because the levels of gas used were much the same and yet your neighbours were charged about 280 for the most recent quarter compared to your eye-popping 11,269 bill  which didnt even mention the period of usage it referred to.

You added that this is not the first time you have had a problem with Flogas and crazy bills.

Can Sally Sorts It help you? Do you have a consumer problem you need help with? Email Sally Hamilton at sally@dailymail.co.uk  include phone number, address and a note addressed to the offending organisation giving them permission to talk to Sally Hamilton. Please do not send original documents as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail or This is Money for answers given.

Ten years ago, you and other residents received large bills due to a mistake on the suppliers part over the way it had calculated your bills  it had used metric rather than imperial measurements when working out your gas usage.

You ended up a few thousand pounds in credit but decided to leave it on the account to meet future bills.

After that, the meters were read periodically by a visiting technician. You kept checking the account and at the last count, it was still in credit. With a smart meter now in place, you thought your bills would be wholly accurate.

Despite your best efforts, you didnt get a proper answer from Flogas over your concerns, so I turned up the pressure and asked it to investigate the source of this nasty bill.

A few days later, a spokesman came back to inform me that an executive had now spoken to you directly and that matters had been amicably resolved.

You confirmed this was so, reporting it had told you of its error with the sums, which meant it had been seriously underbilling you for the last four years. Thankfully, instead of insisting you pay the shock 11,269 owed for the gas that had been consumed, it agreed to write off 60 per cent and charge just 4,000.

You have agreed to meet the cost in 24 monthly instalments, on top of your usual bills.

This means 7,000 or so of charges have been extinguished, a resolution which you said you were happy with.

Had this blunder occurred with a standard gas supply, even more of the bill could have been wiped out.

Rules set down by regulator Ofgem say householders cannot be charged for gas or electricity used more than 12 months ago if they have not been correctly billed for it or informed about it by way of a statement of account previously. However, the rules do not apply to the off-grid market that includes LPG and oil. Customers of these alternative fuels, who cannot resolve a bill dispute to their satisfaction directly with their supplier, can take a complaint to the liquid gas ombudsman at utilitiesadr.co.uk
We've all done the dash up and down the High Street in a desperate search for a cashpoint. Inevitably, it's when you're most in need that you find there's not one in sight. But the search is only getting harder -more than half of free cash machines have been removed in some parts of the country over the past five years, new figures reveal. A growing number of areas are becoming cash deserts, as bank branches continue to rapidly retreat from high streets, leaving a literal hole in the wall. And it seems nowhere is safe - high proportions of cash machines are closing in city centres and rural areas alike. In Hayes and Harlington, west London , 100 of the 189 free cashpoints have been torn out since 2019, according to the cash machine network group Link. In North Somerset, 30 of the 57 have disappeared. Meanwhile in Cheadle, south of Manchester, 29 out of 55 have gone. In many urban areas, free-to-use ATMs are being converted into ones that charge a fee to withdraw money, Link reports. The City of London, a key centre of hospitality and entertainment where tourists and locals rely on access to cash, has lost 270 free-to-use machines. Meanwhile, in Glasgow more than 70 have been turned into pay-to-use machines.
Golden Virginia and Gauloises owner Imperial Brands is on track to achieve annual guidance, with first-half profits set to come in higher than expected.

The FTSE 100 company anticipates net revenues from tobacco and 'next-generation products' to rise by low single-digit levels on a constant currency basis for the 12 months ending September.

Imperial said tobacco sales had been bolstered by price hikes and market share gains in priority markets like Spain, Australia, and the US, 'broadly offsetting' drops in the UK and Germany.

Development: Imperial Brands has invested considerable sums in developing non-tobacco alternatives as part of a five-year strategy launched in 2021

Meanwhile, demand for its vaping, heated tobacco and oral nicotine brands was supported by product launches, such as the new iSenzia non-tobacco heat stick.

Imperial also expects adjusted operating profits to increase by 'close to the middle' of its mid-single digit range, helped by lower losses in its NGP division.

The Bristol-based group has invested considerable sums in developing non-tobacco alternatives as part of a five-year strategy launched in 2021 under chief executive Stefan Bomhard.

So far, the company's NGP brands, which include Pulze, Skruf and Blu, are present in the US and more than 20 European territories, although they provide a fraction of Imperial's total turnover.

For the first half of the financial year, Imperial forecasts sales of these products to grow by a 'mid-to-high teens' percentage.

Over the same period, the firm believes operating profits will be ahead of the prior year, partly due to a strong result from its Spanish-based distribution business, Logista.

Imperial added that it had bought 604million of its own shares under a 1.1billion buyback programme, which the firm plans to complete 'no later than' 29 October.

Mark Crouch, a market analyst at eToro, said: 'Generous shareholder returns have long been the focus of the Tobacco giant, in the form of share buybacks and a hefty dividend.'

But, he added: 'Lingering doubts remain for an industry facing an uncertain future'.

'With the continued decline of tobacco smokers worldwide, multiple threats from government regulations and relentless health campaigns determined to phase out smoking, it's easy to see why.'

A bill is going through the UK Parliament that, if passed, would ban anybody born after 2009 from buying cigarettes, which would be one of the world's strictest anti-tobacco laws.

It would also introduce new restrictions on vaping goods, including vape flavours and how they are marketed and displayed in shops.

Imperial Brands shares were 0.3 per cent higher at 17.37 on late Tuesday morning, yet they have declined by around 30 per cent over the past five years.
Warning: Ex-Shell chief exec Ben van Beurden (pictured) said the oil major is 'massively undervalued'

Shell's former boss yesterday fuelled fears that the energy giant will ditch London for New York.

Ben van Beurden said the oil major is massively undervalued and the gap between UK-listed stocks and their Wall Street rivals is a major issue.

The comments came after Shell  the biggest firm in the FTSE 100  threatened to quit the London stock market.

The move would be a major blow for the City which has suffered an exodus in recent years.

Shell is seeking to close the valuation gap with US rivals Chevron and Exxon Mobil.

Van Beurden, who was chief executive of Shell between 2014 and 2022, said American investors are more positive about oil and gas majors.

Deeper capital pools in the US have helped to lift valuations on the New York Stock Exchange, said the Dutch businessman.

These factors conspire against the people listed in Europe, he added.

Shell first considered a move to New York in 2021 before announcing it would drop its dual listing in Amsterdam and move its headquarters to London.

Of course, we looked at all sorts of options, said van Beurden. We thought that going to the UK was the most logical next step.

Was it going to be the end game? You always have to reconsider what other options there are.

Wael Sawan  who succeeded van Beurden as boss in January 2023  has said the company is looking at all options including moving its listing to New York.
Astrazeneca's boss is massively underpaid and deserves a raise, according to one of its leading investors.

Speaking ahead of the pharmaceutical companys annual meeting tomorrow, a top 20 shareholder threw its weight behind making Pascal Soriot the FTSE 100s first 150million chief executive.

AstraZeneca is asking its shareholders to approve a performance-based deal that could hand him up to 18.7million this year.

That would take his total earnings to 153million since he took over in 2012.

Investor groups have branded the package excessive and urged shareholders to vote against it.

Pay packet: Astrazeneca is asking its shareholders to approve a performance-based deal that could hand Pascal Soriot (pictured) up to 18.7m this year

The looming row was highlighted by the Mail on Sunday last weekend.

But in a major boost for Soriot ahead of the vote, Florida-based GQG Partners said the French-Australian executive has earned the right to a decent pay rise because of his turnaround efforts at AstraZeneca.

Soriot, 64, has been widely hailed for reviving the fortunes of one of Britains biggest drug companies and providing millions with a life-saving Covid-19 vaccine. He also fought off an unwanted takeover bid from US rival Pfizer.

Rajiv Jain, chief investment officer at GQG, told the Financial Times: There is a compensation issue at AstraZeneca.

The chief executive is massively underpaid, given AstraZenecas impressive turnaround since he joined more than a decade ago.

Norges Bank Investment Management, which is a top 10 shareholder, has also signalled it will be voting to approve Soriots pay.

This is in contrast to two influential shareholder advisory groups, Glass Lewis and ISS, who last week urged investors to vote against the excessive pay plan at the annual meeting.

Under the proposal, Soriot could earn a bonus worth up to 300 per cent of his nearly 1.5million base salary, plus performance-related share awards worth up to 850 per cent of base pay.

This is an increase on the previous pay deal, which permitted a 250 per cent bonus and awards worth 650 per cent of his base salary.

AstraZeneca has argued that the increase is necessary to increase the competitiveness of the business against its rivals in the US and Europe.

Emma Walmsley, chief executive of UK rival GSK, was paid 12.7million last year compared with Soriots 16.9million. Albert Bourla, head of Pfizer, took home 17million.

One of the top earners worldwide in the drug sector is David Ricks, boss of Eli Lilly, who was paid 21million in 2023.

Leading business figures in the City, including Julia Hoggett, head of the London Stock Exchange, are pushing for executives to receive higher salaries.

She called for a constructive discussion around executive pay, saying Britain needed to attract top talent.
Rescue: Frasers and Next are said to be considering saving Ted Bakers European business

Frasers Group and Next are both in talks to buy Ted Baker out of administration. Mike Ashleys Frasers and Lord Wolfsons Next are said to be considering saving the fashion chains European business.

The companies  two of the biggest names on the High Street  have spoken to administrators at Teneo about a full or partial sale, according to The Times. The report said bidders have less than six weeks to make an offer and a buyer could be announced this month.

Hundreds of Ted Baker staff were laid off earlier this week in plans to close 15 stores.

The company behind the fashion brands UK shops, No Ordinary Designer Label Limited (NODL), hired administrators last month as it failed to win over younger shoppers.

Next and Frasers are known for snapping up retailers in crisis.

Ashleys retail empire has snapped up toy-maker Hornby and luxury marketplace Matches Fashion in recent months  although the latter later collapsed.

Next owns Jack Wills and Victorias Secret
Lloyds Bank customers will now be able to combine their existing pension pots or open a ready-made pension through their mobile banking app or internet banking.

Lloyds Bank has teamed up with Scottish Widows to launch an app-based pensions service called Ready-Made Pensions.

The service will allow pension savers to consolidate up to 10 existing pension pots, or create a new pension pot with Scottish Widows through their Lloyds Banking app which is tailored to their age and retirement plans.

The service will be available to Lloyds Banking Group's 21.5million customers, including those with Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland. It is the first time a big bank has launched a ready-made pension product of this kind.

Lloyds Bank has become the first big bank to launch a ready-made pension service which will be available to 20million customers across Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland

Customers can open a ready-made pension with a minimum of 5,000 or set up monthly contributions from 150 a month.

Existing pensions of 10,000 or more can be transferred in.

The launch comes as new research shows that 47 per cent of UK adults wish to manage their pension through their banking app.

A further 50 per cent say they would engage with their pension more regularly if it were accessible via their banking app.

Should you combine your pension pots? It can make retirement investing easier (and potentially cheaper)... but beware losing valuable perks. Read a This is Money guide on whether to merge your pensions.

Jo Harris, director at Lloyds Bank said: 'We wanted to create a pension product that was genuinely easy to use, simple to access and removed and removed all the jargon which can be so off putting.'

The ready-made pensions product could be especially useful for self-employed people, who don't benefit from being auto-enrolled into a workplace pension scheme.

Between April 2018 and March 2020, only 20 per cent of self-employed people paid into a pension compared to 80 per cent of employees, figures from Lloyds suggest.

Jackie Leiper, managing director of pensions at Lloyds Bank said: 'There is a real opportunity for Ready-Made Pensions to help self-employed people - for many of this group their business is their pension.

'Those who are self-employed have been overlooked in the discussion of saving for retirement. Traditionally, up until now. self employed people have had to take financial advice to get started with investing in their pension.'

What will your pension pay for? Figures from the Pension and Lifetime Savings Association have outlined what today's savers might be able to expect

Henry Tapper, founder of pension comparison service AgeWage said: 'It seems big banks are finally arriving into the 21st century when it comes to pensions.

'It is good to see that banks are waking up to the fact that they have have some muscle, but I'm not overwhelmed.

'PensionBee has been doing this for some time, and doing it well but that said Lloyds Bank's offering is good news for savers, especially if they fancy having a Scottish Widows pension with their bank.'

'I'd consider a pension on my banking app' A select number of customers have already been able to sign up to Lloyds' pensions service, but it will be officially launched from today. Lloyds Bank said uptake so far been strongest amongst those in their forties. The youngest person to sign up for the service is aged 18. We spoke to one younger pension saver who said she would be keen on the idea. Lauren May, aged 32 from West London has been auto-enrolled in a workplace pension at Anthony Ward Thomas provided by Scottish Widows for the last 10 years. Ms May told This is Money that she does not have a personal pension because she wants to prioritise her other savings, including Premium Bonds. It would be easier for me to have a personal pension alongside my savings account and current account, in one place She said: 'I tend to check on my workplace pension every month and find it reasurring to see that there is a sum of money growing there for my retirement when that time comes.' Ms May said she finds it easier to save into her workplace pension because it contributions come out of her salary automatically and she doesn't have to think about moving any money to a different account. She said: 'I did swap from my workplace pension contributions to saving in a personal pension for a time, but that didn't really work out because I would overlook my pension savings one month if there was something else I needed to save towards more. 'I think I would be more likely to open a personal pension if I could get one through my banking app because it would be easier for me to have it alongside my savings account and current account, in one place where I could easily see it.'

What are the fees on the Ready-Made Pension?

Lloyds Ready-Made Pensions will have an annual account fee of 0.3 per cent, or a minimum of 5 a month.

The ongoing investment charges are 0.24 per cent and there is a transaction cost of 0.14 per cent.

Pension Bee's fee structure, by comparison, decreases the bigger your pot is. Depending on the plan, pension savers will pay between 0.50 per cent and 0.95 per cent. This halves on the portion of your savings over 100,000.

There are no drawdown fees and no exit fees with Lloyds Bank's ready-made pension service.

Tapper said the offer seemed 'reasonably competitive' compared with the rest of the market.
When Camilla Parker Bowles married Prince Charles, 19 years ago today, the Duchess of Cornwall was given access to one of the most important and exclusive jewellery collections in the world.

The past 18 months have seen her wearing a number of the late Queen Elizabeths favourite pieces.

The Queen Consort received wedding presents in her own right, including some outstanding jewels from the Saudi Royal Family, and a plethora of personal pieces from her husband, many with sentimental meaning.

Some, indeed, had once belonged to her great-grandmother, Alice Keppel, a mistress to Edward VII, King Charless great-great-grandfather - pieces which King Charles has enjoyed finding and buying for his wife since the early days of their rekindled relationship.

Debutante Camilla Shand at her coming-out party in 1965

Alice Keppel, Camilla's great-grandmother, had a long-term affair with Edward VII

Prince Charles and Camilla are pictured at a Cirencester Park polo match in July 1975

It is said that, when the young Camilla Shand first met Prince Charles through their mutual friend, Lucia Santa Cruz, that she had made a joke of about the colourful if somewhat disreputable connection between their families.

The Keppel ruby and diamond tiara, given to Mrs Keppel by the newly crowned King Edward in the early 1900s, is one of these gifts.

Similar in style to one made at the same time by Faberge, it is made of gold and platinum and set with swirls of pave-set diamonds elaborated by 14 oval and pear-shaped synthetic rubies.

This might sound strange - a king giving synthetics - but these 'rubies' were very fashionable at the time, having been finally perfected by Auguste Verneuil in time for the Paris World Fair in 1900. They were in high demand.

The combination of rubies and diamonds signifies eternal love, which makes the piece a particularly appropriate gift from the Prince of Wales, as he was then. The tiara has since been transformed into a necklace.

There is another Keppel family tiara in the collection, also - a magnificent diamond set-piece found locked in a safe at a London jewellers. Bought by Charles for Camilla, it has subsequently been transformed into a spectacular necklace and pair of earrings.

Like many an English Queen before her, Queen Camilla is partial to pearl necklaces and wears them with a variety of clasps  many of which have been bought for her by her husband.

Perhaps the most fabulous of which is the enormous 1830s pink topaz and diamond Georgian brooch, which the Queen wears fastened as a clasp to a sumptuous five strand pearl choker, first seen together in 2008.

The enormous topaz is bordered with a halo of small old mine cut diamonds, and then surrounded with a halo of 26 large, brilliant diamonds; she originally had it as the clasp of a longer multi-strand pearl necklace. T

The brooch, and its accompanying earrings were bought at Sothebys in 2000 by the then Prince Charles and given to his future wife.

Queen Camilla also often wears a three strand pearl necklace; this was given to her by Prince Charles and had belonged to his beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Camilla wore this early on in their marriage with an Art Deco diamond clasp during a visit to Egypt in 2006.

This necklace was originally the Keppel ruby and diamond tiara which was later made into a necklace

This necklace, too, was also once a Keppel tiara which was found in a safe at a London jewellers

For millennia, serpents have represented everlasting love. Prince Albert, for example, gave Queen Victoria an engagement designed as a serpent.

Camilla has a rather more spectacular snake set with diamonds and two small rubies for its eyes. It encircles the neck as a sumptuous necklace.

It is thought to have been given by Charles in 2001.

Interestingly the necklace is not dissimilar in design from the Faberge Keppel Case, given to Edward VII by his favourite mistress Mrs Keppel.

When he died Queen Alexandra returned it to Alice Keppel, who subsequently gave it to Queen Mary is her will and which has remained in the Royal Collection ever since.

As we can see in the picture above of Queen Camilla wearing the fabulous snake necklace at a State Dinner in Nairobi last October. She is also wearing a pair of diamond pave Van Cleef & Arpels earrings - one of many pieces of jewellery that she has in the Alhambra style from one of the world's major jewellery maisons. These, too, are said to have been a gift from her husband.

Camilla is particularly fond of wearing the Alhambra style bracelets.

Of course, as with most couples the engagement ring is the ultimate piece of jewellery given and received.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, holds a sequined Union Jack handbag designed by Lulu Guinness at a gala evening at the Museum of Modern Art in New York

Camilla Parker Bowles stepping out in public together for the first time in 1999 following a 50th birthday dinner-dance for Mrs Parker Bowles's sister, Annabel Elliott, at the Ritz hotel

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall greets wellwishers during the opening of a new play park 14 April, 2005, in Ballater, Aberdeenshire. It was the first official duty for the honeymooning couple - known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland - since their wedding

Camilla Duchess of Cornwall attends the Royal Academy Annual Dinner to celebrate the Summer Exhibition at The Royal Academy Of Arts in 2015

Camilla Duchess of Cornwall attends day 2 of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 17, 2009

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at a State Banquet in Nairobi last year

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles arrive for a party at Windsor Castle after announcing their engagement earlier

The Queen Mother arrives for a performance of 42nd Street at Drury Lane. She is wearing a turquoise evening dress and one of her favourite necklaces of diamonds and pearls that was originally a wedding gift to Princess Alexandra from her husband, the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII

This time the Prince of Wales chose something from his own grandmother, The Queen Mother. This was an art deco diamond ring, that she had received on the birth of Charles's mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The ring is set with an emerald cut diamond of 8 carats, with three diamond baguettes set on the shoulders either side.

As ITN said at the time of the engagement, it was a ring worth waiting for, which in recent months Queen Camilla has proven she more than deserves.
A mother claims she was left in tears on a British Airways business class flight after a 'faulty armrest collapsed' and 'crushed her hand' - leaving her with a broken finger.

Kate Hugh Smith had been flying home to Gatwick Airport after enjoying a family holiday in Barbados.

But 30 minutes into her journey, the 64-year-old claims the right armrest on her seat fell on her right hand and trapped her fingers for an agonising 'minute or two' while she struggled to free her digits.

Kate said she was left in tears due to the excruciating pain but when she tried to alert an air stewardess about her injury claims she received no assistance.

Kate Hugh Smith had been flying home to Gatwick Airport after enjoying a family holiday in Barbados when the armrest on her seat fell on her hand and trapped her fingers

After landing back in England, Kate said she went to the Townsend Memorial Hospital who X-rayed her hand and confirmed she had fractured and broken her right ring finger

She then spent a month with her finger in a splint while it healed from the painful injury

The retired banker said she then pressed her in-flight call button to try and get someone's attention but again says no one came to help.

It was only when the mother-of-three shouted out loudly to an air stewardess that she claims they alerted the manager who came to her assistance 20 minutes later.

Kate claims the BA manager admitted they were aware of the faulty seat but said there was nowhere else she could sit so had to remain in her broken chair for the duration of the journey.

Before landing, the passengers says a BA staff member took a photo of her hand and said the airline would be in touch about her injury but claims this didn't happen.

After reaching out to BA on various occasions since her flight on December 31st last year, she says she has still not received her incident report or any compensation for the incident three months later.

A British Airways spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We're really sorry for our customer's experience and have been in contact with them to apologise for the delay while our teams continue to assess their claim.'

Kate, who is a Bronze BA member and flies regularly with the airline, says the company's lack of response has left her feeling 'dismissed' and not 'valued' as a customer.

Due to this, she now says she will find alternative airlines to fly with for her future holidays.

Kate, from Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, said: 'I was sitting in my chair and put my tray down. I wasn't sitting straight so I moved in my seat and the next thing I know my right armrest collapses on my finger.

Kate with her 24-year-old daughter Rose Hugh Smith who was also on the flight home from Barbados

Kate said she was left in tears due to the excruciating pain but when she tried to alert an air stewardess about her injury claims she was ignored

The retired banker said she pressed her in-flight call button to try and get someone's attention but again says no one came to help

'I have never felt pain like it in my life. I had to really pull to get my hand out as it was trapped under the arm rest for a minute or two.

'I called out to the stewardess. We were in business class so there were only about 16 other people in our part of the flight, but she just carried on doing her job.

'I wasn't sitting next to my husband so I grabbed his attention and showed him my hand and it was already red.

'He got up and went to the stewardess and asked for some ice and told them that his wife had hurt herself.

'He came back and gave me a bag of ice but it was very small.

'I then pressed the call button on the plane to get an air hostess to come over and nothing.

'I was sitting in the chair and crying and nothing was happening. I was holding my hand up with the ice on it because I was in so much pain.

'At this point the call button had been on for over 20 minutes. I shouted out really loudly 'excuse me' and about six or seven other passengers looked around.

'Finally, a stewardess came over and I told her I had hurt my hand on the seat. She then went to get the manager and the manager came quite quickly.

'I explained what happened to them and said the plane seat was faulty and they looked at the arm rest that was stuck down and said 'oh yes, it is faulty, what has happened?'.

It was only when the mum-of-three shouted out loudly to an air stewardess that she claims they alerted the manager who came to her assistance 20 minutes later

It was only when the mum-of-three shouted out loudly to an air stewardess that she claims they alerted the manager who came to her assistance 20 minutes later

'They got me more ice and said they would get me some painkillers but they didn't have any Ibuprofen.

'They did offer me something else but I didn't take them as my husband had some Ibuprofen.

'My hand had gone bright red and my hand was swollen and my ring finger was swollen and the fingers were starting to bruise and turn purple.

'I started to feel really anxious as I knew I was sitting in a faulty seat but there was nowhere else for me to move to and I had to stay in this seat for the duration of the flight.

'The BA staff took a photo of my hand as it was already purple and said they needed to write an incident report and said someone would be in touch [after the flight].

'Because they said they would be in touch and because I'm a frequent BA flier I thought I'd wait for them to reach out.'

After landing back in England, Kate said she went to the Townsend Memorial Hospital who X-rayed her hand and confirmed she had fractured and broken her right ring finger.

She then spent a month with her finger in a splint while it healed.

Kate, who was also on the flight with 24-year-old daughter Rose Hugh Smith, said: 'It got in the way of everything. It hugely affected me.

'I had to hire someone to help me look after our horses as I couldn't do anything with my right hand in a splint.'

Since returning from her family holiday, Kate says she waited for BA to reach out but when they didn't, she made her first complaint on January 9th.

After hearing nothing back, Kate says she then filled out the BA complaints form two more times online and finally received a case number but no response from the airline.

She then flagged her incident to BA staff on board a pre-booked flight to San Francisco on February 13th who she claims passed on her concerns.

Kate said the airline's premium escalation team made contact with her on March 5th and she was informed her complaint had been passed onto their legal team as well.

But after being told there was nothing they could do about her incident as it was a 'personal injury' they said she would receive her incident and chair assessment report within 30-days.

Kate says her last contact with BA was on March 14th and despite chasing up her complaint she claims she is still waiting for a final response.

She also claims the 30-day period has now surpassed and still hasn't received her incident report, the chair assessment report or any compensation for her injury.

Kate said: 'I was a very loyal BA customer. The part that is very disappointing is that if the BA stewardess had shown more concern in the first place, I would be less bothered but she ignored me on the flight.

'It was only the manager who was nice when she realised what had happened to me.

'I've been made to feel like they don't care and don't value their customer. How loud do I have to shout before they do something?

'I feel completely dismissed as a customer and I expected more from BA.

'I was meant to be flying to Australia to visit family and I was going to fly BA but I'm not going to now.'
Trump allies will step up their attacks on prosecutors investigating the former president next week, with the launch of an online documentary accusing them of political activism and electioneering.

'Chasing Trump' is due to be released on April 17, two days after a court in New York will have begun jury selection in the first of Trump's four criminal prosecutions.

Its producers say it will delve into backgrounds of the prosecutors overseeing each of the cases.

And with the former president subject to a New York gag order preventing him from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, jurors and court staff, as well as their relatives, it is another example of how he is relying on MAGA world to dish dirt on his accusers.

'"Chasing Trump" is an important documentary that exposes the leftwing prosecutors weaponizing the government to target my father,' Donald Trump Jr. told DailyMail.com.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is leading the Georgia election fraud prosecution, is one of four prosecutors in the sights of 'Chasing Trump'

'It's the first documentary to do a deep dive into the backgrounds of the prosecutors behind the four cases against him and is a must watch for anyone who cares about preserving the rule of law and protecting our constitutional rights.'

Next week the world will witness the unprecedented spectacle of a former U.S. president reporting to court for the start of a criminal trial.

Jury selection is due to begin next Monday in Trump's hush money case. He is accused of falsifying business records to hide payments to a porn star during the 2016 presidential campaign.

He denies all 34 charges as well as having an affair with Stormy Daniels.

Manhattan district attorney Alvin L. Bragg is leading the prosecution.

He is one of the targets of the filmmakers, along with Fani Willis, who is bringing the election fraud case in Georgia, Special Counsel John Smith, who is leading a separate 2020 election case and the classified documents case in Florida, as well as New York Attorney General Letitia James, who won a $454 million civil settlement against Trump for fraudulently inflating his net worth.

'Four corrupt, politically motivated prosecutors. One target: Donald Trump,' intones the narrator of a trailer shared with DailyMail.com

'They say they're upholding the law. But a close examination reveals politics of the very worst kind meant to influence the 2024 election.'

The film also goes after Special Counsel Jack Smith who is leading two federal prosecutions

Don Jr. said the documentary, which is released on April 17, exposes the leftwing prosecutors weaponizing the government to target my father

It makes the case that Trump is being punished for taking on the status quo and echoes his constant refrain that he is subject to a witch hunt.

It is an argument he is banned from makingin the New York case, where Judge Juan Merchan imposed a gag order.

The former president has had to use new tactics to make his point, sailing dangerously close to flouting the restriction at times.

Last week he shared a six-minute video clip of Fox News host Brian Kilmeade and George Washington Law Professor Jonathan Turley, raising concerns about the daughter of Judge Merchan.

'Also, the fact is, the judge's daughter is an activist who works for Kamala Harris' said, Kilmeade, referencing one of Loren Merchan's firm's accounts.

The new documentary is one of the way's Trump's allies are taking up the argument on his behalf.

'Chasing Trump' is the first in a series to be produced by the conservative website American Greatness.

'These four prosecutions against President Trump are nothing more than partisan political activism masquerading as the rule of law,' said Mike Davis, of the Article III Project

"Chasing Trump" will be available for free at amgreatness.com, as well as across all other streaming platforms, such as X, youtube and Rumble. It will be released on April 17, 2024

Curt Mercadenta, managing editor of American Greatness, said it would shock anyone who believed the legal system was free from partisan political considerations.

'With the 2024 election starting to heat up, it's imperative that Americans have the opportunity to learn more about the truth behind the prosecutions targeting President Trump, along with the partisan prosecutors behind the cases,' he said.

Mike Davis, founder of the Article III Project, which was set up to press for conservative judicial nominees and now campaigns against what it sees as liberal activism in the courts, said: 'These four prosecutions against President Trump are nothing more than partisan political activism masquerading as the rule of law.

'"Chasing Trump" exposes the leftwing prosecutors behind these cases as nothing more than puppets for Joe Biden and his political machine."
The number of single-person households in the country peaked at an all-time high of over 10 million last month, a surge spurred by a rapidly aging population and a growing number of people opting to stay single, the interior ministry said Tuesday.

The number of one-person households in the country stood at 10,021,413 in March, up from 9,981,702 in February, accounting for 41.8 percent of some 24 million households in total, according to resident registration data from the interior ministry.

By age group, those aged 60-69 showed the highest percentage with 1.85 million households, and 1.68 million households were aged 30-39, according to the data.

The proportion of one-person households was found to be higher in densely populated regions like Gyeonggi Province and Seoul, marking some 2.25 million households and 2 million households, respectively.

Two-person households increased from some 5.89 million in February to 5.91 million this month, whereas four-person households slimmed from 3.12 million to 3.11 million in the same period.

The interior ministry data compiles the number of one-person households based on the address of a household, thereby counting a family of three members all living separately as three single families.

The government points to the growing number of elders who live alone, and singles who are not married as reasons for the uptick, while vowing to come up with policies to ensure their stable housing. (Yonhap)
EXCLUSIVE

A glamorous accountant is suing Clementine Ford for defamation after the feminist writer publicly branded her a racist and a bigot.

Mother-of-one Jane Agirtan, who stood as an independent candidate in Victoria's Mornington District at the 2022 state election, has launched a $700,000 defamation suit against Ford after she made a series of abusive comments on social media between August and November last year.

Ms Agirtan, a proud Muslim originally from Russia, claimed she had never interacted with Ford before posting an Instagram story in which she mocked Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney for allegedly owning a Gucci handbag.

Ms Burney's office later denied she owned anything from the luxury brand.

Ford re-shared Ms Agirtan's post and accused her of being racist.

Mother-of-one Jane Agirtan (pictured above), who stood as an independent candidate in Victoria's Mornington District at the 2022 state elections, has launched a $150,000 defamation suit against Clementine Ford (pictured below) after she made a series of comments on social media between August and November last year

The two women then traded multiple insults on social media, with Ford telling her nearly 250,000 Instagram followers that Ms Agirtan was a 'lunatic' and a 'racist, transphobic cooker angling to be a politician' (pictured: their initial interaction)

READ MORE: I dared to call out Clementine Ford's bile - now I fear she's trying to ruin my life Antonella Gambotto-Burke, above Advertisement

When Ms Argitan wrote to Ford to ask her to retract her 'defamatory' statement, Ford goaded her.

'Sue me for defamation then, I'll add transphobic bigot to the mix too,' wrote Ford.

The tax specialist maintains that Ford's accusations were unprovoked.

'Id never interacted with Ford and was genuinely unaware of her existence, let alone her pantomime of feminism,' Ms Agirtan told Daily Mail Australia.

The two women then traded multiple insults on social media, with Ford telling her nearly 250,000 Instagram followers that Ms Agirtan was a 'lunatic', a 'bigot' and a 'racist, transphobic cooker angling to be a politician'.

Ms Agirtan, who is neurodivergent, told Ford she was an 'oppressed Muslim minority' being mocked by a 'white feminist writer'.

You're not a f***ing migrant,' Ford responded.

'You're a white Russian woman who posts endless hateful sh*t about Aboriginal people, trans people, queer people and Dan Andrews.

'Honestly, I'd love for you to try to file a defamation suit, she added, followed by four crying-with-laughter emojis.

Ms Agirtan was also sent abuse by some of Ford's fans who labelled her a 'hag' and an 'old sagging c***', while suggesting she jump off a cliff.

Ms Agirtan complained to Meta, Instagram's parent company, the police and the e-Safety Commissioner, all of whom she claims did nothing.

Ford even mocked Ms Agirtan's attempts to stop the abuse.

'Oh, no the e-Safety Commissioner!!!', she wrote.

'Its hilarious you think the tactics you use to stop other people from criticising you online are going to work with me,' Ford added.

The outspoken feminist also shared a 2020 news article in which Ms Agirtan apologised 'unreservedly' for having shared allegedly racist memes mocking indigenous Australians.

In one meme, which was posted years before she launched her political career, Ms Agirtan allegedly shared a picture of an Indigenous elder with the caption: 'Spends all his money on petrol, doesn't own a car'.

Another included a picture of Jesus with the caption: 'Jesus says Aboriginal memes are inappropriate.'

At the time, she told the Herald Sun she had been going through a 'difficult personal situation'.

Ms Agirtan (pictured), who gained 641 votes at the Victoria state election in 2022, said that in the wake of Ford's posts she had received 'extremely graphic death threats, vile abuse, and hate mail suggesting that I kill myself'

'I deeply apologise to anyone who may have been offended,' she said.

However, when asked about the posts by Daily Mail Australia this week, Ms Agirtan said she could not remember posting the memes and queried whether there was any proof she had shard them.

She also said they were written in broken English, which was not how she writes.

'I am definitely not racist,' she said.

'I strongly doubt screenshots are genuine and have no recollection posting memes specifically including Jesus - as I am Muslim,' she said.

She branded the 2020 story a 'politically motivated, failed attempt to discredit me'.

Ms Agirtan came second with 28 per cent of the vote at the Kingston council election in November that year.

Ford also accused Ms Agirtan being behind a campaign to block her from sending messages on Instagram.

Meanwhile, Ms Agirtan shared a picture of Ford's father Steven who previously ran for Pauline Hanson's One Nation, claiming it explained Ford's 'raging Islamophobia'.

Ford has repeatedly goaded Ms Agirtan to sue her.

'Honestly, Id love for you to try to file a defamation suit,' she wrote.

Ms Agirtan first filed a concerns notice in October last year, which Ford failed to respond to.

Ms Agirtan allegedly shared memes targeting Indigenous Australians on a Russian Facebook page. She apologised for them at the time but now claims she does not remember posting them and questioned their veracity

She will now commence defamation proceedings for $150,000, demanding that Ford delete the posts and issue a public apology.

But Ms Agirtan told Daily Mail Australia she could be seeking as much a $700,000 in damages lost earnings.

'Our client has been shunned and is viewed as dishonest by potential clients and this will likely increase in the future this harm,' her lawyer Mark Stanarevic at Matrix legal wrote.

'Our client is likely to suffer serious harm as a result of her business as a accountant and aspiring politician.'

Mr Stanarevic added: 'The distress hasn't been just professional; my client has faced considerable emotional turmoil.

'They have been on the receiving end of a barrage of abusive messages, many of them direct messages, sent by your followers.'

Ms Agirtan, who gained 641 votes at the Victoria State election in 2022, said she that in the wake of Ford's posts she had received 'extremely graphic death threats, vile abuse, and hate mail suggesting that I kill myself'.

When Daily Mail Australia approached Ford for comment, she simply responded with a screenshot of a previous Daily Mail article documenting Ms Agirtan's apology for allegedly making racist remarks.
A former employee has shared an abusive text message he claims was sent to him by his boss after he handed in his resignation at a failing company.

Charles, who wished to not use his real name, said he left electrical and mechanical service company Vallec five years ago after sensing it was on the brink of collapse.

The NSW-based company, directed and partially owned by Tobias 'Toby' McCosker, went under just two months later.

'They had a massive tax bill. They were behind on payments with suppliers. I saw the writing on the wall,' the former worker told news.com.au.

He claims he received an aggressive text from Mr McCosker shortly after he quit.

'My last message to you is you are a f**king b***h that can not (sic) deliver nothing but a box of farts you price (sic) of sh*t,' it read.

'Any f**king day of the week you w*g c**t.'

A former worker at New South Wales-based electric and mechanic service company Vallec claims he was sent abusive message (pictured) from his former boss after quitting

Tobias 'Toby' McCosker (pictured) allegedly sent the messages to the worker when he quit just two months shy of the company's collapse

Vallec went into liquidation alongside two other related companies headquartered in Newcastle with debts totaling more than $7million.

It's understood Mr McCosker worked at Vallec alongside Mike Arnold, who was declared bankrupt 10 years ago and banned from running his own business.

The ex-employee said Mr Arnold nevertheless held a key role at Vallec.

It is believed they were also involved in another construction company, Workspace One Pty Ltd, which collapsed last year.

Liquidator Liam Bailey suggested in his statutory report to the corporate regulator that Mr Arnold was the shadow director of Workspace One.

The nominal director was Mr Arnold's wife Kathryn but it was alleged she was on the board in name only because Mr Arnold was banned from being a director.

Mr Bailey also accused Ms Arnold of taking $861,000 from Workspace One prior to its collapse - more than enough to cover the company's $845,000 debt.

She previously said she had transferred the money to her personal account to reimburse business costs.

Contractors who worked with Workspace One last year said they 'never met' Ms Arnold, despite her officially being a director of the business.

'He (Mike Arnold) was basically project manager, he was running all the trades, he was basically the man, everything was him,' one creditor said.

Rhys Clarke from Cools Electrical said he only realised Ms Arnold was the director of Workspace One when his company took legal action.

Mr Clarke added Mr McCosker had a 'baffling' consulting role at Workspace One.

'His title was very, very unclear. I knew he was an electrician. I knew he'd done something in the airconditioning electrical industry previously. But very unclear. It was strange that he was there,' Mr Clarke said.

However, he said it was 'very clear' Mr McCosker and Mr Arnold were friends.

The liquidator's report to the Australian and Securities Investment Commission (ASIC) described Workspace One's bookkeeping as 'abysmal'.

It's understood Mr McCosker worked at Vallec alongside Mike Arnold (pictured), who was declared bankrupt 10 years ago and banned from running his own business

Mr Arnold's wife, Kathryn (pictured), has been accused of withholding account information from her business' liquidator

He was forced to enlist the help of ASIC in ordering Ms Arnold to comply with turning over missing documents to the liquidator.

ASIC filed civil offence proceedings against Ms Arnold last year and she was fined $500 for failing to make out a statement of company affairs and $1,000 for failing to deliver books to Mr Bailey.

Following Workspace One's collapse last year, the Arnolds moved to the Mid North Coast with Mr Arnold now working at another construction company, Alurt Construction, alongside Mr McCosker.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Arnold and Mr McCosker for comment.
A historic cabmen's shelter that has been providing London's taxi drivers with a much-needed rest since 1914 has been given grade-II listed status.

The shelter, at Wellington Place near Regent's Park, is known locally as 'The Chapel' and is the final rest stop in the capital to be given protection by Historic England.

The wooden huts - the first of which was built in 1875 - provided licenced cab drivers with a place to stop at a time when taxis were horse-drawn.

Only 13 of these shelters survive in London today and all are recognised for their architectural and historical importance.

The small buildings continue to serve modern-day taxi-drivers, although only cabbies with 'The Knowledge' can take a seat inside.

At their peak of popularity, there were thousands of what were known as hansom cabs in the capital. The last hansom cab driver stopped operating in 1947.

A historic cabmen's shelter that has been providing London's taxi drivers with a much-needed rest since 1914 has been given grade-II listed status. The shelter, at Wellington Place near Regent's Park, is known locally as 'The Chapel' and is the final rest stop in the capital to be given protection by Historic England

The wooden huts - the first of which was built in 1875 - provided licenced cab drivers with a place to stop at a time when taxis were horse-drawn

The familiar size, shape and colour of the shelters helped cabbies to spot them easily. They are all the same size - no bigger than a horse and cart.

They were built by the Cabmen's Shelter Fund and all bear the initials of the organisation.

The shelters were designed by architect Maximillian Clarke. All of the surviving 13 were restored in a campaign by Heritage of London Trust during the 1980s and 1990s.

The shelters were needed because London cabmen were prohibited by law from leaving their cabs unattended in the rank.

There was no protection from the elements while the cabbies were on the job, so access to hot food and somewhere to rest was very welcome.

A cabmen's shelter in London in the early 20th century. The shelters had a small kitchen and space for around 10 drivers to sit and enjoy a meal

Only 13 of these shelters survive in London today and all are recognised for their architectural and historical importance

At their peak of popularity, there were thousands of what were known as hansom cabs in the capital. The last hansom cab driver stopped operating in 1947

The cabmen's shelter at Wellington Place, near Regent's Park

Before the shelters were introduced, cabbies had to resort to stopping at a pub. This left them tempted to drink too much, risking their own and their passengers' safety.

The idea for the shelters was first proposed by Captain George C Armstrong, editor of The Globe newspaper.

He had been left unable to get a cab during a storm because the drivers had all sought refuge in local pubs.

So he decided to band together a group of wealthy and influential philanthropists to provide a solution.

He set up the Cabmen's Shelter Fund in London in 1875 and the first stop was built that year.

From then until 1950, 61 shelters are known to have been built across London. The first was built on Acacia Road in St John's Wood, outside Captain Armstrong's home.

The shelters had a small kitchen and space for around 10 drivers to sit and enjoy a meal, as well as each other's company.

Gambling, drinking and swearing were banned.

Drivers who choose to take The Knowledge must memorise 25,000 streets and 100,000 landmarks within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross.

The exam dates back more than 150 years to 1865, having been introduced after the Great Exhibition of 1851 at the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, which saw many visitors complain about how cab drivers did not know the route.

Luke Jacob, listing adviser at Historic England, said: 'Full of intrigue, history, tea and bacon sarnies, London's well-loved cabmen's shelters are distinctive relics of the horse-drawn age in the capital.

A sign in the cabmen's shelter at Pont Street, Kensington and Chelsea

The surviving cabmen's shelter on Northumberland Avenue, Westminster

Cabmen's Shelter, Northumberland Avenue at the junction with Embankment Place

Chelsea Embankment cabmen's shelter. The idea for the shelters was first proposed by Captain George C Armstrong, editor of The Globe newspaper

The cabmen's shelter at Pont Street, Kensington and Chelsea

Taxi driver Jimmy Jenkins inside Pont Street cabmen's shelter in Kensington

'Originally built from 1875 for the drivers of London's Hansom cabs, they continue to serve both passers-by and cab drivers on the ranks today.

'As we approach the 150th anniversary of the Cabmen's Shelter Fund it is fitting that the final shelter on Wellington Place  lucky number 13  has received the official recognition it deserves through listing.'

Colin Evans, trustee of the Cabmen's Shelter Fund, said: 'We're really pleased that the Wellington Place shelter now has protected status, along with all the other remaining shelters.

'We know how special the shelters are but we need the London taxi trade and public's support more than ever so that this important part of our heritage and working class history lives on.'

Dr Nicola Stacey, director of Heritage of London Trust, said: 'We're proud to have helped save the 13 shelters over the last 40 years.

'These are unique London landmarks as well as an ingenious Victorian solution to the frenetic city streets.

'Today they're still a sanctuary for the London cabbie community.'
Back in 2001, I stood for Parliament in Hazel Grove, a North West constituency now firmly on the map thanks to one William Wragg.

He's the infamous 'honeytrap' MP at the centre of a sexting scandal, who shared photographs of his private parts with an unknown person he met on the gay dating app Grindr. As you do.

Oh, and he then handed over the personal phone numbers of various MPs, Westminster staffers and journalists because he feared 'exposure' by his newfound Grindr pal.

He's very sorry and has apologised for his 'weakness'.

Some victims of the sting don't think that's good enough.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns, who was targeted in January via WhatsApp, says what Wragg's done in putting MPs' security at risk is 'unforgivable'. And she's right.

Dr Luke Evans, the excellent Tory MP for Bosworth, came forward at the weekend to say he'd been sent a picture of a naked woman and, doing the right thing, had immediately contacted the police.

William Wragg, above, the 'honeytrap' MP at the centre of the sexting scandal who shared photographs of his private parts with an unknown person he met on the gay dating app Grindr

Dame Andrea Jenkyns, who was targeted in January via WhatsApp, says what Wragg has done in putting MPs' security at risk is 'unforgivable'

I understand that the gay men who've been approached were sent images of naked men. Clearly, the information possessed by those perpetrating the sting was personal and detailed.

What is astounding is No 10's response to all of this. Wragg is keeping the Tory whip and has even been praised by the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, for his 'courageous and fulsome' apology.

It makes you wonder why Tory high command is so protective of Wragg, a politician whose attributes and achievements in Westminster amount to very little, despite his role as vice-chairman of the all-powerful 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers - a role he reportedly stood down from last night.

When, on the rare occasion, his name has popped up in the media, it's been because he's a) being disloyal, b) complaining that the whips are bullying him, or c) attempting to remove a sitting prime minister.

Recently he attempted, and failed, to raise a pitchfork-wielding, like-minded mob of MPs calling for the Speaker to resign.

I have always believed the deviousness of Wragg runs deep  a Gollum-like character since the day he arrived in Westminster in 2015.

He was frequently to be found in the bars at the Commons and was a regular at the Carlton Club, drinking with a cohort of his fellow gay Tory MPs.

It was, of course, in the Carlton Club, now a shadow of its prime as the home of Conservative Party thinking, that a very refreshed Tory MP, Chris Pincher, groped two men one evening in June 2022. He pinched (I know, you couldn't make it up) the backside of one of them.

That young man with the bruised posterior was connected to William Wragg. As The Mail on Sunday revealed at the weekend, at the exact time that event took place, he texted Wragg with the words: 'We've got him.'

So why would they want to 'get' him? Well, could it have been because Pincher was a loyal supporter of Boris Johnson, and an experienced Westminster operator who, as Deputy Chief Whip, was a key bridge of communications between the Prime Minister and MPs?

He did an almost impossible job keeping the ship steady during the most difficult days of Covid and Ukraine, and was in charge of Operation Save Big Dog, which aimed to prevent rebel MPs from ousting Boris.

What followed the Pincher allegations was a confected media outrage about what Boris knew  and when  of previous allegations about Pincher's behaviour. These were largely engineered by a journalist close to Wragg (and most recently spotted at Wragg's 36th birthday party in December last year).

The truth is that at a meeting in No 10 as the 'scandal' was unfolding, when Boris asked if anyone had anything to report about Pincher  known as a loyal foot soldier initially promoted by Theresa May  no one volunteered anything.

Meanwhile, the outrage among a certain group of largely inexperienced MPs about the Carlton Club groping grew. They were after Pincher's scalp to weaken support for Boris.

As detailed in my book, The Plot, the goal of certain key players at the heart of the Tory Party had always been their publicly stated intention to remove Johnson from the day he stepped over the threshold of No 10 in 2019 as elected PM  and replace him with Rishi Sunak.

The calls for Pincher to have the whip removed gathered a frenzied momentum  which Boris rightly resisted until a formal complaint had been made.

But the heat of pious indignation soared, and when Pincher resigned as Deputy Chief Whip on June 30, 2022, it triggered a tsunami of ministerial resignations in early July, instigated by the recently knighted Sajid Javid, whose departure was followed within minutes by that of Sunak.

Boris Johnson, unable to withstand the number of ministerial resignations, was forced to resign days later.

Chris Pincher was suspended from Westminster and quit in September 2023 after losing an appeal against his suspension. He lost his Parliamentary career and his dream job in the Whips' Office. If ever there was a victim of a honeytrap, it was Pincher.

With the passage of time, it looks and smells like an organised operation with external influences at play, and it might just explain No 10's decision now to back Wragg all the way.

Mr Wragg was frequently to be found in the bars at the Commons and was a regular at the Carlton Club, pictured, drinking with a cohort of his fellow gay Tory MPs

A refreshed Tory MP, Chris Pincher, was accused of groping two men one evening at the club in 2022

Meanwhile, hard-working, honourable MPs like Dr Luke Evans, pictured, are innocent victims of this sordid business, writes Nadine Dorries

After all, MPs have had the whip removed for what some might perceive as lesser offences.

Neil Parish, the former Tory MP for Tiverton and Honiton and a farmer, admitted to looking at porn on his phone in the Commons (once, by accident, when shopping for a new tractor, he was directed to a site that delivered rather more than the John Deere 7R 290 he bargained for; and once in a 'moment of madness').

He lost the whip and, faced with the full force of outrage from female MPs, was forced to resign.

Former health secretary Matt Hancock lost the whip for agreeing to appear on I'm A Celebrity  Get Me Out Of Here and had to endure the ingestion of a camel penis, live on TV, for his troubles.

For Wragg, it would appear that the rules are different. No matter that he risked breaching the security of others in such a reckless and self-serving fashion, he is protected by the powers that be.

But voters aren't daft. They see this surreal decision for him to remain in post for what it is: highly suspicious.

Sadly, Westminster is full of fifth rate characters such as William Wragg and too few hard-working, honourable MPs like Dr Luke Evans, an innocent victim of this sordid business.

When I became health minister, Dr Evans hounded me  in a good way. He lobbied me to amend legislation to tackle the use of body altering filters on social media which can impact on mental health, especially of young women.

Later, when I was made Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, he would pursue me down corridors, so focused was he on his campaign to make the internet a safer place.

I am still in contact with some of those who supported me in Hazel Grove more than 20 years ago and their opinion of Wragg is robust, to say the least. Many local party members want him gone  with immediate effect.

It's not enough that he's said he will stand down at the next election. They know it will cause a by-election which they will likely lose; but they no longer care.

They would rather risk that than endure another day with Wragg. What this constituency of hard-working, decent people want is an honest Dr Luke Evans, not the duplicitous 'Toe Wragg'. Who can blame them.
A traffic warden sparked outrage in a seaside town - by giving parking fines to the crew of a RNLI lifeboat while they were at sea dealing with an emergency.

The four volunteers for the Weymouth RNLI in Dorset had legally parked their vehicles close to the lifeboat station so they could respond to the shout quickly.

Despite having valid parking permits - which cost 2,000 a year each - and an RNLI lifeboat crew sticker displayed in their windscreens, a council traffic warden still issued them with 100 fines.

The RNLI crew spent four hours dealing with the 999 call to assist three paddle boarders reported to be in difficulty in Portland Harbour.

They returned to the quayside station to find four cars - a silver BMW, a grey Mitsubishi, a white Citroen van and a blue VW Transporter - had yellow parking fines pinned to their windscreens.

Have YOU received a parking fine? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk

A traffic warden sparked outrage in a seaside town - by giving parking fines to the crew of a RNLI lifeboat while they were at sea dealing with an emergency

Despite having valid parking permits - which cost 2,000 a year each - and an RNLI lifeboat crew sticker displayed in their windscreens, a council traffic warden still issued them with 100 fines

The RNLI crew spent four hours dealing with the 999 call to assist three paddle boarders reported to be in difficulty in Portland Harbour. Pictured: File photo of RNLI working in Kent

According to a witness, when challenged the traffic warden claimed the RNLI sticker and the council-issued permits could have been forgeries.

RNLI crew member Leon Weaver said: 'Thanks Dorset Council for issuing 4 volunteer lifeboat crew's vehicles with parking tickets whilst on an emergency call out, even with permits on the windscreens which they charge us 2,000 a year for.

'The traffic warden stated that anyone could have printed the RNLI crew stickers, signs and council issued permits so they will just have to contest them, not my problem.'

Nick Critchell, a spokesperson for the Weymouth RNLI, said: 'Parking in the town is always difficult especially in the holiday season, but we do have parking permits for on-street parking for the guys to park on the streets in that area.

'We always display the RNLI crew on-a-shout stickers as well as the permit just in case one doesn't get seen.

'As far as I am aware the cars were parked where they should have been while they dealt with a potential catastrophe at sea. They weren't on yellow lines or in and disabled bays.

'This was an emergency and they parked as close to the station as they could.

'Our aim is to launch the lifeboat within 10 mins of being asked to by the coastguard. If we have to park further away then that is going to cause more delay with cold costs lives.'

They returned to the quayside station to find four cars - a silver BMW, a grey Mitsubishi, a white Citroen van and a blue VW Transporter - had yellow parking fines pinned to their windscreens

According to a witness, when challenged the traffic warden claimed the RNLI sticker and the council-issued permits could have been forgeries. Pictured: File photo of RNLI lifeboat

Paul Norman said: 'So the council are trying to charge lifeboat crew TWICE for going to sea to rescue people - once for a permit and again by not recognising the permit. Immoral or just money grabbing?

Tina Weaver said: 'Absolutely disgusting you're all risking your life's to help save people and this is what you get in return. I have no words!!!

Merv Sharp: 'Just hope that the person who issued the tickets will not be relying on the RNLI to rescue any of his/her family.'

Reg Strathearn said: 'Totally disgraceful of a jobsworth warden.

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: 'We are sorry for any distress or confusion this has caused. This was an unfortunate error, and we cancelled the tickets as soon as the mistake was brought to our attention.

'We are contacting the RNLI to apologise, and will remind our team about the agreement with the RNLI so this does not happen again.'

Have YOU received a parking fine? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk
An Islamic activist whose Michigan rally sparked calls of 'Death to America' has previously said it would be an 'honor' to be placed on a list of 'history's biggest terrorists', DailyMail.com can reveal.

Tarek Bazzi provoked a fevered response from protesters in his home city of Dearborn, which has been dubbed the 'jihad capital' of the US, after he called on them 'to pour all of your chants and all of your shouts upon the head of America'.

The crowd, who had gathered to mark Al-Quds Day in support of Palestine on April 5, responded with repeated chants of 'Death to America'.

Bazzi continued to rile up the crowd, calling for the 'entire' American system to be wiped out.

But this is not the first time the firebrand Islamist has incited hatred against the country where he was educated, having previously described it as a 'satanic, imperialist force' and calling for resistance 'in any way necessary'.

Islamic activist and teacher Tarek Bazzi sparked outcry after his anti-America speech at a rally in Dearborn, Michigan, provoked repeated chants of 'Death to America'

Bazzi, who is affiliated with the Dearborn-based Muslim youth organization the Hadi Institute, has previously called for bloodshed in the war against 'satanic, imperialist forces'

The preacher, who has taught in private Islamic schools in Michigan after being educated in the US public school system, also appears to support terror in the fight against Israel and its allies.

In a post on his Instagram page, which has been recently taken down, he said: 'To be placed on the terror list of history's biggest terrorists is nothing but an honor.'

It is not clear whether Bazzi was referring to the official US terror watch list, or if he is on it, but he told a rally in Dearborn in 2021 that 'if the FBI knocks on your door, you close that door and you tell them to go to hell'.

At the protest outside the city's police station, he called on those assembled to 'fight against the forces of the devil', referring to Israel, the US and other western powers.

Bazzi, who is affiliated with Dearborn-based Muslim youth education organization the Hadi Institute, said that there would be 'a price to pay' for victory, adding: 'Blood must be spilled, martyrdom must be sought after. Resistance is necessary in any way necessary.'

He told the crowds: 'You cannot stand up against the satanic, imperialist forces of the world if you're scared of them.

'The most that they can do is to kill us and that is martyrdom in the way of Allah.'

Bazzi also indicated his support for Hezbollah, designated as a terrorist group by the US, saying they were being 'targeted' simply for supporting Palestine.

He described American presidents as 'satanic puppets'.

His call to arms has fueled concerns over growing anti-American sentiment in Dearborn after it was dubbed 'America's Jihad Capital' in a Wall Street Journal opinion column earlier this year.

Steve Salinsky, executive director of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), wrote that 'Almost immediately after... and long before Israel began its ground offensive in Gaza, people were celebrating the horrific events of that day in pro-Hamas rallies and marches throughout Dearborn'.

He alleged that religious leaders had called for the extermination of the Israeli people and pointed to a headline describing a pro-Palestine event that read 'Michigan rally cheers Hamas attack.'

According to census figures, Dearborn is roughly 54 percent Arab American, making it one of the most densely populated areas for Middle Eastern people in the US.

It is home to the largest Muslim population in the US per capita as well as the largest mosque in North America.

Bazzi said on Instagram that 'to be placed on the terror list of history's biggest terrorists is nothing but an honor'. His profile has since been deleted.

Despite his bloodthirsty rhetoric, Bazzi has previously complained of being 'harassed' at customs while boarding a flight from Chicago to Lebanon.

He told Arab American News in August 2019 that he had been stopped at O'Hare International Airport by a CBP officer and met with a 'barrage of questions'.

Bazzi said the officer asked about where he was going and whether he had any family in Lebanon, to which he replied 'only distant relatives', adding that he deliberately kept his answers 'vague'.

Bazzi then said he became fed up with the officer's questions and asked why he was being discriminated against.

He told the publication: 'I chose to share this experience because we are living in a time period where Muslims and Arab Americans are being targeted on every front and the airports are some of the most common places of this discrimination.'

Bazzi has also railed against the US school system, describing it as 'a cesspool of every spiritual and moral and ideological corruption', before telling the TMJ News Network that he attended public schools in this country.

DailyMail.com has contacted Bazzi and the Hadi Institute, but has not received a response.

Stalinsky's WSJ comments swiftly attracted backlash, with local leaders and activists asserting that he was putting innocent civilians at risk.

In the immediate aftermath, his words caused the mayor of the suburb to ramp up police presence outside mosques and other major civil centers because of Islamophobic threats being hurled at its majority-Arab residents.

Mayor Abdullah Hammoud posted a message to X, formerly Twitter, claiming the article had contributed to an increase in anti-Muslim sentiment targeting the city.

'Effective immediately - Dearborn police will ramp up its presence across all places of worship and major infrastructure points,' he wrote.

'This is a direct result of the inflammatory WSJ opinion piece that has led to an alarming increase in bigoted and Islamophobic rhetoric online targeting the city of Dearborn. Stay vigilant.'

Stalinisky defended his remarks in an interview with CBS Detroit, insisting the article was not meant as 'a broad swipe at every single person in Dearborn.'

He claimed protests, 'both in Dearborn as well as around the country' had become 'more aggressive,' citing the presence of 'pro-Hamas people' at the demonstrations.

'This should be an alarm for national security (and) counter-terrorism to be looking at. No one's doing that,' Stalinisky continued. 'That's the essence of the article.'

But he appeared to stand by his original comments in an interview with Fox News Digital as he labeled the city a 'hotbed of hate.'

'You can see rallies and sermons in support for Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran,' said Stalinisky, who sits on MEMRI's board of directors.

The press monitoring group was co-founded by a former Israeli intelligence officer and bills itself as a 'independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit' organization.


A California sheriff blasted Gov. Gavin Newsom of pedaling 'false' crime statistics as a way to protect progressive policies that have failed to address rampant crime, homelessness and drug deaths gripping the Golden State.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco accused the Democrat of allegedly lying as a way to protect Proposition 47, a law approved by California voters in 2014 that reduced penalties for drug and property crimes.

Bianco said Newsom has resisted changing the law to save face, while the state continues to struggle with the ramifications of rolling back stiffer penalties against criminals and drug addicts.

'Right now, they are against it because, in elementary terms, I guess they're going to have to admit that Prop 47 was a disaster that they have tried to defend for years since its passing,' Bianco told Fox News in an interview.

'The reality of a leader, a true leader, is someone that can say, 'Look, we had good intentions of something, but we had some unintended consequences that now we have to fix.''

The sheriff added, 'That would have been a leadership way for our government to come out of this ahead, but instead for the past 10 years, they have completely defended Prop 47. They have lied to the public.'

Bianco is among a group of top brass who are pushing for a new ballot measure called the Homeless, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, which would reverse parts of the highly contentious Prop 47.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco blasted Gov. Gavin Newsom over woke policies he said has contributed to the uptick in crime and homelessness across the state

The democrat governor signaled he opposes changes to Prop 47, which lowered narcotics possession and other crimes from felonies to misdemeanors

The proposed measure, which could be on the ballot in November, will not only roll back drug and theft offenses from misdemeanors to felonies, but also would allow judges to order drug rehab for offenders.

Bianco said the Golden State has long suffered the after effects of Prop 47 and is now seeing its blaring negative impacts.

Newsom has resisted calls to reverse Prop 47. Earlier this year, he asked local lawmakers to instead create new categories of crimes that would target 'professional' offenders.

'I think its important to level with people,' Newsom said. 'Again, not to say everything about [Prop] 47 is hunky-dory and perfect. We want to fix some of the ambiguities, but we can do it without reforming or going back to the voters themselves.'

Since 2019, Newsom has poured about $1.1 billion of the state's coffers to combat organized retail theft and other crimes under his Real Public Safety Plan.

As part of his plan to address soaring crime in Oakland, the governor announced last month 480 new high-tech cameras would be installed along busy streets to help identify criminals.

According to Oakland police, robberies were up by 32% in March compared to the same time last year.

Police put out an alert warning Oakland residents of the uptick in smash-and-grab robberies, even while the drivers are still in their cars.

Oakland's break-in problems made national headlines after the city's only In-N-Out burger location decided to shutter its doors on March 25 after 18 years at 8300 Oakport Street.

Oakland's only In-N-Out had to close because customers and employees were being victimized by robbers

Denny Warnock, In-N-Out's chief operations officer, wrote in a statement: 'Despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions, our Customers and Associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies.'

Newsom's high-tech camera plan, however, backfired and drew criticism as residents and privacy advocates said the governor was turning their city into a 'surveillance state.'

Cat Brooks, founder of the Anti-Police Terror Project, criticized Newsom's surveillance plan. She said the money would've been better used to address the city's growing homeless population.

'We are concerned by both a state and city in massive budget deficits and the largest homeless population in our city and across the country,' Brooks said in a statement. 'When we decide to deploy 480 new cameras, we should be asking how many people could be housed with the money we spend on this, how many people could be trained to do living wage jobs.'

Volunteers help to clean up belongings at an encampment of homeless people near the Nimitz Freeway in Oakland after the city issued an order to remove and clean up the area where between 30 to 40 people live in cars, RVS, tents, and other makeshift structures

She added, 'The approach is adopting the same failed strategies weve taken for decades. Weve never stopped sending people to jails, yet crime keeps rising because its an approach that doesnt work.'

DailyMail.com has previously reported cities such as San Francisco continue to experience a 'doom loop' economic collapse and stand to lose millions of dollars because of businesses leaving the Bay area and other parts of the state.

Pedestrians walk by Macy's iconic flagship store in Downtown San Francisco's Union Square, which has been earmarked for closure. The once thriving downtown area has seen more than a dozen stores shutter because of lack of foot traffic, crime and rampant drug use in the area

San Francisco Mayor London Breed in December proposed a 10% spending cut for 2024 as the city grapples with homelessness, overdoses due to fentanyl and other drugs and an exodus of downtown businesses.

Nathan Hochman, a former U.S. assistant attorney general, said California voters are ready for a change and are tired of feeling unsafe.

Hochman, who is an independent, is running in November against democrat LA County District Attorney George Gascon, who is the co-author of Prop 47.

He said over the past year, shoplifting has increased by about 81% in LA County.

Most of the people who are detained for non-serious and non-violent crimes could be cited and released at the scene, or booked and then released from jail with orders to appear in front of a judge if charges are filed.

However, many never bother to show up to court, Hochman said.

Under Gascon's policies, prosecutors also are instructed not to ask the judge for a bail hold on non-serious and non-violet offenders.

'Right now you can commit 800 misdemeanors and it will never become a felony charge,' Hochman told DailyMail.com. 'So in LA County, you have a combination of these Prop 47 laws with a prosecutor [Gascon] who refuses to prosecute certain types of crimes. It leads up to a situation where many criminals throughout Los Angeles County believe that they have a license to steal, and often.'

Hochman added while Newsom and other supporters of Prop 47 were 'looking for short-term fixes,' the current law has not stopped repeat offenders.

Nathan Hochman, an independent candidate who is running against LA County District Attorney George Gascon, said voters are 'fed up' with rising crime and homelessness

'Mayors in California are looking around and are pulling their hair out saying that the laws are weak,' Hochman said. 'And even if they are enforced, the criminals understand them better than the legislatures because they keep committing these crimes and have almost no punishment exacted even if they do get caught. They go back and do it again.'

'I think California voters are incredibly fed up, frustrated and are looking for elected officials and propositions to support that go a long way towards reestablishing safety in their communities.'
Six months after Hamass brutal assault on Israel, blood continues to soak the Middle East.

In distant Gaza, the death toll is mounting, sectarian divisions are worsening and the destruction is nothing short of apocalyptic.

But the conflict has also had a sharp impact here in Britain. A new and aggressive form of intolerance has convulsed swathes of British Muslims, fuelling an ugly wave of anti-Semitism, as well as strengthening the cause of fundamentalism.

This week, a report from the Henry Jackson Society, the Transatlantic think tank that works to promote democratic liberal values, has laid bare the crisis.

It offers a wealth of evidence to show how fractured our society has become  and how extremist views have become commonplace in Britains growing Muslim community, which now numbers some four million.

Staggeringly, 46 per cent of UK Muslims now admit that they sympathise with Hamas, which is proscribed here as a terror organisation.

Barely a quarter accept that Hamas committed rape and murder in Israel on October 7, with 40 per cent wrongly claiming that the group did not carry out such atrocities, and a further 37 per cent saying they dont know whether or not it did.

Relatives of the October 7 attack victims among pictures of their loved ones who were killed or kidnapped. However, only a quarter of British Muslims believe the atrocity even happened

Needless to say, the evidence that Hamas did commit these and other crimes, on a systematic scale, is overwhelming. The terrorists themselves gleefully live-streamed their carnage on the internet, boasting of their kill count to their cheering families as they carried out the most sickening massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

Yet most worrying still to me is that the new report revealed how younger, better-educated British Muslims are now more likely to hold extremist views than their older counterparts who did not attend university.

When young British Muslims wilfully ignore the evidence of their own eyes, what tensions might this presage for the future?

I have been an imam for 20 years and still lead Friday prayers at my mosque in Oxford. Since October 7, young men in my congregation have spoken to me with undisguised relish about the slaughter of Israeli soldiers.

Blindly they listen to rabid clergy spewing hatred on social media  cruel and unthinking men stoking up enmity and hostility, encouraging Muslims to see Jews as less than human.

Having drunk such poison, thousands of young British Muslims no longer recognise the value inherent in all human life. After all, as it says in the Koran: He who slays a soul shall be as if he had slain all mankind, and he who saves a life shall be as if he had given life to all mankind.

But I face an uphill struggle to explain this simple truth to my worshippers: that, just as not all Germans were Nazis during World War II, not all Jews today are Zionists who harbour antipathy towards Muslims. Far from it, in fact.

I helped to start our progressive mosque in the aftermath of 9/11, when many Western Muslims were seeking to deny that their faith had played any part in that atrocity.

Two decades later, the same tendency towards conspiracist thinking persists among a large proportion of Britains Muslims. Some even peddle the nonsensical claim that Israel actually plotted the October 7 invasion in order to establish a pretext to commit genocide in Gaza.

Worse still, this problem is growing: attitudes are hardening over time. Already, most British Muslims want a complete ban in law on any depiction of the Prophet Mohammed. Fully a third would like to see Sharia law implemented within our shores.

That would be the surefire route to separatism: a two-tier society. We cannot have different laws for different faiths, nor should there be any return to blasphemy legislation to protect any group from feeling offended.

Since Magna Carta in 1215, English justice has upheld the principle of equal treatment for everyone before the law. Freedom of expression has been cemented as one of the keystones of British democracy, even if Scotlands hapless First Minister Humza Yousaf is doing his best to undermine it with his ill-conceived new hate crime law.

An Israeli soldier walks at the site of the Nova festival, where hundreds were killed or kidnapped during the October 7 attack by Hamas gunmen from Gaza

It should therefore be a statement of the obvious that hardliners  of any stripe must never be allowed to bully others through intimidation. Yet I fear the bullies are winning.

Increasingly, radicalism is flourishing here. Almost every weekend, our cities ring to ugly and often racist protests by pro-Palestinian supporters. And if significant proportions of British Muslims refuse to believe that the Hamas assault truly occurred on October 7, then their faith  which I know from my own experience can be one of profound compassion  is utterly wanting.

Far from being devout, such extremism is in fact profoundly un-Islamic.

True Muslims should unite to condemn Hamass butchery. But in the outpouring of support for Palestine, terrorism is being celebrated, while anti-Semitism is spreading like a virus.

After all, the Henry Jackson survey also showed that 46 per cent of British Muslims  just under half  believe that Jews have too much power over government policy, while 41 per cent think that Jews are too influential in the media.

This divisive agenda has been set by an unholy alliance of Left-wingers  many of them former supporters of the ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn  and authoritarian Muslims from the Right, whom I call the fascists, fruitcakes and fundamentalists. Sadly, these bigots now reign supreme in many Muslim communities. For one thing, their air of menace silences their more moderate opponents: for another, they are experts at cranking up pressure on public institutions by playing the race card, wallowing in victimhood and painting all criticism of their pernicious ideology as Islamophobic.

So what is to be done?

Israel may not have started this war, but I must stress this: it has made serious mistakes in how it has conducted it. Estimates suggest that tens of thousands of people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its campaign of retaliation. This death toll, whatever military success it may reap, will nevertheless leave a legacy of burning hatred towards Israel among future generations  as Hamas surely intended.

Imagine if, during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, the British government and military high command had decided to destroy the IRAs capacity to wage war by carpet-bombing Derry and west Belfast, the two centres of mainly Catholic Republican support. There would have been howls of outrage across the world.

In fact, the British were far more subtle, patiently undermining the IRA by creating a network of informers within its security operations.

If only Israel had learned from this example.

So yes, Israel is not without blame. It is perfectly legitimate to criticise its indiscriminate, even barbaric, conduct during this war.

The British Government, meanwhile, has to show that its backing for Israel is not unconditional. It needs to tell Israelis that they cannot create a peaceful state on colonised and conquered lands.

British Muslims are at a crossroads. They need to champion a return to a pristine, pluralistic, Koranic form of Islam  and reject hate-filled Sharia-driven bigotry.

And they have to recognise that Jewish lives matter, too.
New video from an ATF raid on the director of Bill and Hillary Clinton Airport in Arkansas has raised questions about the use of force by federal agents after he was killed in a shootout.

Bryan Malinowski, 53, died in the hospital at noon on Thursday, two days after the confrontation with ATF agents at his home in west Little Rock.

The search warrant revealed Malinowski was suspected of trading more than 150 firearms between May 2021 and February of this year.

Bud Cummins, an attorney for Malinowski's estate, released multiple clips from the Chenal Valley neighborhood the night of the raid, which the attorney claims took place while his client and wife Maer were sleeping and adds that it's not clear agents properly identified themselves.

One of the clips, taken from the doorbell camera of a neighbor, shows that the ATF arrived in at least 10 vehicles to Malinowski's house that evening, which has led some to question if the feds overdid it.

New video from an ATF raid on the director of Bill and Hillary Clinton Airport in Arkansas has raised questions about the use of force by federal agents after he was killed in a shootout

Bryan Malinowski, 53, died in the hospital at noon on Thursday, two days after the confrontation with ATF agents at his home in west Little Rock

Both videos show the ATF agents cocking their rifles while dressed in full tactical equipment outside Malinowski's home.

While police have said that Malinowski fired at the agents when they served him with a warrant, Cummins claims no such warning was given.

'At this stage there is no publicly available evidence showing whether agents knocked on the door or announced their presence, adequately identifying themselves,' he told KATV in a statement.

He adds that Maer Malinowski 'only heard loud banging immediately followed by the crash of the front door being forced open.'

Cummins cites evidence that Malinowski shot at the agents at their feet, while they returned fire, shooting him in the head.

He also says that it's not clear who shot first.

'We do not know who shot first but it appears that Bryan shot approximately three times at a decidedly low angle, probably at the feet of the intruders who were roughly 30 feet away,' Cummins claimed.

While agents had indeed obtained a warrant to search the director's property and vehicles, Cummins believes their methods were suspect.

One of the clips, taken from the doorbell camera of a neighbor, shows that the ATF arrived in at least 10 vehicles to Malinowski's house that evening, which has led some to question if the feds overdid it

While agents had indeed obtained a warrant to search the director's property and vehicles, Cummins believes their methods were suspect

'The Malinowski family believes the already known facts amply demonstrate ATF's tactics on March 19 were reckless and incompetent, and completely unnecessary,' he added.

The ATF has requested an investigation into the incident by the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division.

The affidavit pointed out that six of the over 150 firearms Malinowski traded were later used in crimes, and one of which ended up with a 15-year-old gang member in California.

Cummins' statement follows up one released by Malinowski's family after his death in which they questioned the feds' approach.

'Even if the allegations in the affidavit are true, they don't begin to justify what happened,' his family said in the statement this evening.

'At worst, Bryan Malinowski, a gun owner and gun enthusiast, stood accused of making private firearm sales to a person who may not have been legally entitled to purchase the guns.'

The investigation began in November 2023 when authorities in Canada were tipped off by an informer about guns coming unlawfully into circulation.

Malinowski would allegedly buy the guns legally online, declaring they were for personal use, and acknowledging that the 'repetitive purchase of firearms' for onward sale is illegal without a license.

Malinowski was shot by ATF agents at his home in west Little Rock on Tuesday when agents were trying to serve a warrant and someone inside the home opened fire

His brother, Matthew Malinowski, said he thinks agents were searching the home because he 'bought something he shouldn't have'

But he was seen selling them at gun shows without asking for any ID or paperwork, telling one undercover agent that none was needed for private sales.

The ATF said that someone inside Malinowski's home opened fire when they arrived on Tuesday and that in the ensuing shootout, Malinowski reportedly sustained a gunshot wound to the head.

Speaking to Fox News last week, his brother Matthew Malinowski said that doctors did not expect him to survive.

'It's all speculation at this point. I got a feeling that he bought something he shouldn't have. That's the only thing I can think of,' he added.

Matthew also told NBC that agents 'broke down his door' leaving his brother no choice but to 'defend himself'.

He added: 'There's something fishy here. The ATF went after him in the worst possible way.

'There's no reason why they couldn't have arrested him at work at the airport. Something stinks to high hell.'

Matthew said it seemed odd that his brother could be entangled with the law, noting that he was well connected, earned more than $250,000 a year, lived in a nice suburb and had collections of guns and coins.

Malinowski joined Clinton National in 2008 as director of properties, planning and development before being promoted to deputy director in 2009

Malinowski is seen here on the right alongside Pete Buttigieg, the Secretary of Transportation, during a visit to Clinton National Airport last March

An ATF agent, whose identity was not released, also was shot in the exchange of gunfire but suffered a non-life-threatening wound, officials said. The agent, too, was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Around 2:35 pm on Tuesday, Little Rock firefighters carrying a power saw and a Halligan tool - a large prybar - were seen walking toward the house.

Shea De Bruyn, a neighbor, told KARK that she was woken up on Tuesday by loud bangs.

De Bruyn told the outlet: 'My heart was racing, and the dogs were barking. I'm just really curious as to what was going on just a few houses down.'

An ATF agent was overheard saying they were at the scene to help agents open a safe in Malinowskis house, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

Malinowski joined Clinton National in 2008 as director of properties, planning and development before being promoted to deputy director in 2009. He took over as executive director in 2019.

Bill Walker, chair of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission, noted that under Malinowski's leadership the airport saw 'significant growth and success' and offered condolences to Malinowskis family.

'Bryan was a 16-year employee of the airport,' Walker said in the statement announcing his death. 'Under his leadership, our airport has experienced significant growth and success, expanding services and offerings to our community and state. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Bryans wife, Maer, loved ones and friends.'
One of Australia's worst rapists will reportedly receive a support package from the National Disability Insurance Scheme when he is released from prison, with authorities concerned he could strike again.

Wayne Wilmot, who was involved in the 1988 gang rape and murder of bank teller Janine Balding and is now aged in his early 50s, is set to be released from custody after spending almost his entire adult life in prison.

This is despite a forensic psychologist finding he poses a 'significant risk' of reoffending because he remains 'supportive of sexual violence towards women'.

Wilmot has obtained NDIS support, including up to 24 hours help each week with reintegrating into society, The Australian reported, as he has a below average IQ and severe personality disorder and psychopathic tendencies.

Wayne Wilmot (pictured, left), who is now aged in his early 50s and who was involved in the 1988 gang rape and murder of bank teller Janine Balding (pictured below), is set to be released from custody after spending almost his entire adult life in prison

READ MORE: How the NDIS is spending millions of taxpayer dollars to help rapists and sexual deviants live in your neighbourhood - with one paedophile receiving $1.4m Hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars are being spent by the NDIS to support rapists and paedophiles find secure accommodation following their release from jail Advertisement

The NSW Supreme Court heard a forensic psychologist's report found that Wilmot felt entitled to 'simply take whatever he wants', believing some women 'deserve sexual violence depending upon their clothing, level of intoxication, or perceived permissiveness'.

The psychologist told the court that the risk Wilmot posed was 'most likely to involve a penetrative sexual attack upon a young woman previously unknown to him'.

'Any offence would probably be impulsive, opportunistic, and target a vulnerable woman,' the psychologist said.

'Physical coercion and threats would likely be employed. The risk of such a scenario eventuating is well above average.'

Wilmot's extensive criminal history officially began with a sex attack on a woman walking through a park when he was just 13, after which he reportedly said 'I've ... got a problem' and 'This is not the first time I've done this'.

He later served eight years for the abduction and rape of Ms Balding, committed when he was 15.

The 20-year-old bank teller was grabbed from a Sydney train station by a gang of homeless youths, including Wilmot, before she was repeatedly raped.

Wilmot remained in the car when Ms Balding was then bound, gagged and thrown over a fence before being held underwater in a dam until she drowned.

He has committed sexual offences against women and men, involving at least eight victims, including a woman he beat, bound and raped at another Sydney train station in 1998.

The sentencing judge found the victim 'was subjected to extreme brutality and sexual violation', which had a devastating impact on her.

In 2019, Wilmot was ordered to stay in jail under a continuing detention order (CDO), despite having completed his sentence.

In granting the CDO, Justice Julia Lonergan cited Wilmot's 'appalling criminal history and pattern of offending' and ruled that he posed an 'unacceptable risk of committing another serious offence if not kept in detention under the order'.

He also was found to have blamed his victims, lacked insight, and had a personality disorder and antisocial and aggressive traits and behaviours.

The 20-year-old bank teller (pictured) was grabbed from a Sydney train station by a gang of five homeless youths before she was repeatedly raped

The courts granted a further CDO, but now the state of NSW has been granted an interim extended supervision order.

This means Wilmot can be released from custody under extremely strict supervisions monitoring his movements and internet use.

'Supervision will be at a high level, with the defendant required to adhere to a schedule of movements, observe a curfew (9pm to 6am), and wear an electronic monitoring device,' Justice Wilson said.

In 1999 a psychiatrist reportedly asked Wilmot whether he thought it was okay to sexually assault a woman.

'Youre looking at it in the laws kind of way,' Wilmot replied.

'In the laws way it wouldnt be right, but if youve had a hard time with women growing up, youd probably think in your own mind it was all right.'

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten told The Australian that the government had an obligation to support disabled people even when they came out of prison.

He said the NDIS funding was not facilitating his release.

'The vast majority of people are not sex offenders,' he said.

'In terms of their security and safety nets, thats a state issue.'

A spokesperson for the National Disability Insurance Agency, responsible for implementing the NDIS, said Corrections NSW was responsible for the management of Wilmot's eventual release.

'The NDIS is not responsible or designed to address community safety,' the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that Wilmot's level of NDIS support was yet to be determined.

'Should a participant have a criminal history involving violent crime, the NDIA can and does place an alert on their file and takes measures to apply tighter plan management settings that restrict the participant to only use registered providers for NDIS services.,' the spokesperson said.

'Should a participant be identified as a potential risk, the NDIA may also take action to ensure only appropriate persons (e.g. only male workers) are able to deliver these supports.'
By Jun Ji-hye

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea has asked the justice minister to draw up a measure to fully allow prisoners, including serious criminals, to make phone calls, as the use of telephones is recognized by the Constitution as one of the basic human rights needed to pursue happiness.

The commission also said many major countries have recognized prisoners use of telephones as one of the rights to communicate with people outside jails, along with visits and letters.

We advised the justice minister to draw up a revision to relevant laws to allow inmates to make phone calls in principle, the human rights watchdog, Tuesday.

Even before the revision is enacted, the justice minister is advised to expand the opportunities of inmates, including serious criminals, to make phone calls as much as possible, within a range that the measure does not harm the security at correctional facilities.

The commission issued the advice on Monday in response to a petition that prisoners' basic human rights have been infringed upon since the Ministry of Justices new guidelines were implemented on Sept. 1 last year.

Under the new guidelines, the ministry banned serious criminals  categorized as S4 level  from making phone calls. As an exception, they are allowed to make phone calls twice a month under special circumstances.

The ministry also restricted phone calls for other prisoners  categorized as S1 to S3 levels  to only five times a month.

According to petitioners, an inmate asked a prison officer to allow him to call his mother who underwent lung cancer surgery, but the officer rejected it, saying telephone use can be allowed only when a family member is in a critical condition or dies.

In their explanation submitted to the human rights watchdog, the justice ministry and prison officers said previous trial programs aimed at expanding telephone use for inmates were mostly abused as a means to destroy evidence or seek revenge.

However, the commission said that restricting the use of telephones still does not conform to international human rights standards.

Regarding concerns over abuse and misuse of expanded telephone use, it said, The country already has a variety of measures to prevent such abuses.
A radical tenants' rights activist has sparked outrage after he told Ten's The Project that home-seekers should take over empty properties and claim squatter's rights.

Jordan van den Berg, founder of the s***rentals.org website, has drawn up a hitlist of 'abandoned properties' across the country which he says are ripe for occupation.

And he has urged anyone looking for a home to message him for an address in their area which they can move into and live there for free as a squatter.

But the move has triggered a furious reaction from angry homeowners and Project panellist Steve Price questioned how anyone could know if a home was 'abandoned'.

The row blew up after Mr van den Berg published a handful of potential addresses over the weekend before deleting the list a few hours later.

In a video shared to social media on Saturday, Mr van den Berg filmed an empty rundown house in the Melbourne suburb of Chadstone and said he was 'sick of rich people land banking'.

Tenants' rights activist and founder of s**trentals.org Jordan van den Berg launched a campaign to identify abandoned properties across the country to help those struggling with Australia's rental and housing crisis

Mr van den Berg, was grilled by panelists on The Project in an interview over his vacant home campaign and for encouraging Aussies to squat in empty properties

'Are you sick of rich people hoarding empty houses during a housing crisis cause I am and here's what you can do about it,' Mr van den Berg said.

'This landlord raised the rent on the previous tenants and they couldn't afford it so they left. Ever since then, this house has been empty.

'Fun fact, squatting in Australia is not necessarily illegal. Which is the best type of legal. Especially if the front door doesn't actually lock. So yeah, here's a free house if you want it.'

The activist, who is also a lawyer, received a mixed response over his vacant home campaign - some people sent him death threats while others praised him for his efforts.

Mr van den Berg appeared on Channel 10's The Project on Monday night and was grilled over his campaign.

Social media users branded the interview as 'out of touch' with many claiming the show's hosts simply 'don't get it'.

Co-host Sarah Harris questioned Mr van den Berg, asking the activist if encouraging squatting was the sensible solution to the country's rental and housing crisis.

'I know we're in a pretty serious housing crisis, but do you really think encouraging people to squat in private properties is the way to fix it?' co-host Sarah Harris asked.

In a series of videos shared over the weekend, Mr van den Berg, known online as Purple Pingers, urged Aussies to reach out to him if they needed a place to stay. He called out 'rich' property owners who were 'land banking' and encouraged Aussies to squat at empty homes

Mr van den Berg replied: 'Do you think that it is right that we have thousands of abandoned and vacant homes while we have people living on the street?'

Harris said she did not believe it was right but asked whether focusing on policy is a better way to handle the crisis.

Later in the interview, panelist Steven Price chimed in, taking issue with Mr van den Berg's use of the word 'abandoned'.

Price claimed to have never seen an abandoned property and was not convinced there were that many vacant properties in the country.

WHAT ARE 'SQUATTER'S RIGHTS'? The time period for how long a squatter must be living on a property before having rights to it differs across states and territories in Australia. In South Australia squatting is illegal, but squatters can apply for ownership if they can prove they have lived in the property for 15 years without the consent of the owner. In Victoria, squatters can apply for ownership after living in a house for 15 years, while in Queensland, NSW and Western Australia the time frame is 12 years. The law dates back to 1900 in NSW, and was originally aimed at communities where a large number of people were illiterate. Advertisement

Mr van den Berg pointed out the Australian census revealed 10 per cent of all housing stock was vacant.

He added, after putting the call out for abandoned properties, he received more than 300 submissions from Aussies about empty houses in their suburbs in just 48 hours.

The activist said he was also aware that desperate people were actually squatting in vacant properties across the country and encouraged anyone struggling to reach out to him.

'If someone needs a house, they can reach out to me and I'll send them [details about] an empty home,' Mr van den Berg said.

Harris expressed her shock that people would 'basically camp out in abandoned houses with no power', but Mr van den Berg replied it was better than sleeping on the streets or in a park.

Co-host Waleed Aly and Price also pushed Mr van den Berg to explain whether he was encouraging people to break the law.

'What about the idea that you might be encouraging people to break the locks and move into a property,' Price said.

'You say you don't do that... but how do you know they don't go and bust the lock and get in?'

Mr van den Berg replied, 'I am definitely not advocating,' before Price interrupted, 'I know you're not advocating but how do you know it's not going to happen?'

Mr van den Berg answered: 'Well, squatting is legal, breaking and entering is not legal. I think that's where I leave it.'

Panelist Steven Price (left) was not convinced that there were thousands of abandoned properties and also argued with the activist claiming he would not be aware if people were illegally breaking into homes

Social media users labelled The Project panellists as 'out of touch' after the interview with Mr van den Berg.

Writer and comedian John Delmenico wrote in a post shared to X on Monday that he was baffled the panellists were able to present the news despite having 'no connection to reality'.

'Watching the rich out-of-touch panel on the Project realise in real time that not everyone is rich is so bizarre. Especially the part where Pingers has to explain that being in a house is safer than sleeping on the street. How do they host the news with no connection to reality?,' Mr Delmenico wrote.

Others agreed, poking fun at Harris' shock that 'shelter without electricity is better than no shelter with no electricity'.

'She was laughing at the fact that ppl would camp out in abandoned houses with no power/water, until he put her in her place by reminding her they're better off camping under shelter than outside. Mic drop moment,' one person wrote.

'Homelessness exists it's quite a big problem actually,' another commented wrote.

Others disagreed with Mr van den Berg, claiming he was not considering the implications of his vacant home campaign.

'Encouraging people to squat, who does he think he is?,' one person commented.

Another wrote: 'He thinks he's doing a good thing, but he's given absolutely no critical thought to the implications of encouraging people to take over 'empty homes'.'

Mr van den Berg's video also caught the attention of a media outlet in America which published a story on the campaign and labelled him as a 'far-left anti-landlord activist'. It prompted him to start a list of vacant properties in the United States

In his original video, Mr van den Berg slammed property owners who deliberately left their houses vacant.

'If you live in a suburb where a rich person has an empty home and is just land-banking it and waiting for that house to increase in value before they sell it, while we have probably the fastest rate of homelessness increasing in Australia, let me know about it. I'll go through them,' Mr van den Berg said.

'If you need a house, I'll keep letting you know where some are for you to live in. Just remember though, if you do change the locks, make sure to keep the old ones because otherwise you can be charged with theft.

'Theft is a crime. Adverse possession? Not necessarily. Just remember to not break any windows or anything and generally speaking, it's not great to break into a house, but if the front door's just wide open '

n 2018, a property developer won a court battle giving him legal ownership of a Sydney house worth $1.7million (pictured) after finding it empty in 1998 and squatting in it

Mr van den Berg's video also caught the attention of a media outlet in America which published a story on the campaign and labelled him as a 'far-left anti-landlord activist'.

The article prompted Mr van den Berg to start a list for vacant properties in the United States as well.

In 2018, a property developer won a court battle giving him legal ownership of a Sydney house worth $1.7million after finding it empty in 1998 and squatting in it.

Bill Gertos was granted rights to the home in Ashbury in Sydney's inner west after moving in and renting it out following the death of 'protected tenant' Phyllis Grimes.

Ms Grimes had inherited the property from Henry Thompson Downie, who died in 1947 without leaving a will.

Mr Gertos took possession, made repairs and renovations, changed the locks and rented out the property for two decades.

He won his court case in 2019 and then sold the home a year later for $1.4million.
Residents of a small town cut off by a landslide which destroyed the only road in and out have received emergency supplies via airdrops.

The Rural Fire Service choppered in food, fuel, and essential supplies to over 200 residents in Megalong Valley, west of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains.

The heavy rainfall on Friday destroyed Megalong Road - the only route connecting the town - as the ground beneath it was washed away in a landslide.

The only sealed road in or out of town, Megalong Road, was severely damaged after the deluge sparked a landslip on Saturday (pictured)

The Rural Fire Service have airdropped essential supplies (pictured) to residents of Megalong Valley, in the Blue Mountains, who are cut off after the only road out of town was damaged

About 200 residents and visitors had managed to evacuate through a private property on Sunday night, aided by a bulldozer that cleared a path.

Amid financial worries about the loss of visitors to the tourist town while the road is repaired, the community is rallying together to provide support and assistance.

Megalong Tearooms manager Dice O'Neill said that the tearooms have transformed into a central community hub since the landslip, and that is where supplies are being handed out.

'This is sort of a place where people can come and grab a cup, have a bit of a yarn with everybody, get a sense of normalcy and also find out what's happening,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'We've just got the community coming in and grabbing what they need when they need it, and everyone's been pretty good about it.

Residents could potentially see the construction of a temporary new road within a matter of days.

The community have banded together to support one another during the testing time (pictured, residents unpacking the airdrop)

Megalong Valley Tea Rooms has become 'a bit of a community hub' as the variety of airdropped items and foods were delivered to the cafe for residents to take (pictured)

Mark Greenhill. the mayor of Blue Mountains City Council, estimates that fully restoring the damaged section of Megalong Road could take three to four months.

However a temporary workaround could be arranged by the end of this week.

'This could either be slicing through the rockface for a single lane or a bridge being built over the landslip which will support trucks,' Mr Greenhill said.

'It will take about three to four days to do, it's a lot of work but our teams are ready to go. We're just waiting for approval from the geo-technicians, we want it to be done safely.'

In the longer term, there may need to be a second road built to the town to prevent a situation like this recurring.

'That's a much bigger project for our small council, and we would have to engage with colleagues in higher government,' Mr Greenhill said.
Two men charged with murder in Ballarat

The two men who are separately accused of murdering a mother-of-three and a young woman in Ballarat were both aged in their early 20s and are understood to have been raised in supportive households.

The community of the regional Victorian city, west of Melbourne, have been rocked by a spate of tragedies in the past two months.

Samantha Murphy, 51, was last seen leaving her home in East Ballarat for a run on the morning of February 4.

Police believe she was murdered on the same day but searches for her remains have proved unsuccessful.

Locals were rocked again on Friday by the news of the death of Hannah McGuire, 23, whose remains were found inside a burnt out car close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat.

Samantha Murphy, 51, was last seen leaving her home in East Ballarat for a run on the morning of February 4

Hannah McGuire was found dead in a burnt out car on Friday, southwest of Ballarat

Ms Murphy's disappearance sparked a significant local effort to find her which continued up until the arrest of local man Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, on March 6.

He has been charged with her murder and remains behind bars in Melbourne until his next court appearance in August.

Stephenson is the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, who played 15 games for Geelong and Richmond between 2012 and 2014.

He was also living locally in the area in Scotsburn, just 15 minutes away from East Ballarat.

Lachie Young, 21, has been charged with the murder of Ms McGuire.

It is understood the pair had recently broken up after having lived together for the past year.

Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, has been charged with Ms Murphy's alleged murder

Lachie Young, 21, has meanwhile been charged with the alleged murder of Ms McGuire

Daily Mail Australia revealed on Monday that Ms McGuire had desperately attempted to obtain an intervention order against a man in the days before she was killed.

It is understood her death had initially been dismissed as a suicide before a coroner's report indicated she had sustained deadly injuries before her supposed death inside a car.

The remains of that car had been found near State Forest Road, close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria on Friday.

It can further be revealed Ms McGuire had been friends with Young's sister Bek Young.

Images of Young obtained off social media indicate he enjoyed a good upbringing and remained close to his parents.

His parents' family home is situated a stone's throw from the Sebastopol home where detectives arrested him on Sunday.

Young faced the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday where he was told he would be kept behind bars until his next court date in September.

Outside court, Ms McGuire's devastated parents Glenn and Debbie and her brother, stood back in grief as Ballarat lawyer Brook Tamanika issued a statement on their behalf to the waiting media pack

Outside court, Ms McGuire's devastated parents Glenn and Debbie and her brother stood back as lawyer Brook Tamanika issued a statement on their behalf to the waiting media pack.

'As you can imagine this is a very devastating time for the family, for Hannah's loved ones and for our community as a whole,' she said.

'The family have been assisting the police however I cannot comment on the status of the matter.'

The charges laid against both Stephenson and McGuire saw them being held in custody for the first time each.

Both men are also understood to have been raised in supportive and loving families.

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.
At least 28 Planet Fitness locations have been targeted with bomb threats after the gym franchise sparked fury for banning a customer who shared a photo of a transgender woman shaving in the bathroom.

From Florida to Alabama, dozens of locations in eleven different states reported hoax bomb threats following weeks of backlash against the chain's 'trans-inclusive' locker room policy and the decision to ban the member, as reported by Media Matters.

Patricia Silva, 67, made headlines in March after she claimed to see a 'man with a penis' washing themselves in front of a 12-year-old girl in the women's locker room.

Silva was barred from the gym in Alaska, and the gym franchise refused to reverse its decision despite its valuation plummeting by $400 million in five days after the incident.

No bombs were found in any of the facilities, but the threats forced dozens of businesses to evacuate their buildings and prompted FBI agents to launch an investigation.

At least 28 Planet Fitness locations have been targeted with bomb threats after the gym franchise sparked fury for banning a customer who shared a photo of a transgender woman shaving in the bathroom. Pictured: one location targeted by bomb threats in Jackson, Mississippi

Patricia Silva was banned from Planet Fitness after she shared a photo of 'a man with a penis' who was using the female locker room to shave

The first location targeted in the string of incidents was in Fairbanks, Alaska, where Silva used to work out and claimed to have seen 'a man shaving in the women's bathroom.'

Silva posted a video describing her experience at the gym on Facebook in early March, along sharing a photo of the person online.

On March 13, Planet Fitness revoked Silva's membership and filed a police report against her, citing her violation of gym policy by taking photos and/or videos in the locker room.

An email sent on March 15 states that bombs had been placed inside the Planet Fitness location at 1255 Airport Way, and threatens to 'blow up the building', according to local outlet KTVF.

Fairbanks Police Department found no bombs inside the property and said the threat was 'bogus'.

Since the X account Libs of TikTok reposted Silva's video and Planet Fitness' statement, more locations across the country have reported being targeted by bomb threats.

Planet Fitness in Fairbanks, Alaska touts its 'judgement free zone' to its members - but cancelled Silva's membership after she complained about the incident

Planet Fitness' policy stated that 'discomfort is not a reason to deny access to the transgender member'

At least four locations in Providence, Rhode Island, four in Mississippi, three in Connecticut, six in Michigan, have reported receiving bomb threats.

Similar incidents were also reported at three Planet Fitness locations in Alabama, three in Florida, one in Virginia, one in Maryland, and one in Kansas.

Planet Fitness locations hit with bomb threats

One in Fairbanks, Alaska Four in Providence, Rhode Island Four in Jackson, Mississippi Three in Connecticut Six in Wayne County, Michigan Three in Fairhope, Daphne, and Mobile, Alabama Three in Jacksonville, Florida One in Alexandria, Virginia One in Milford, Delaware One in West Ocean City, Maryland One in Overland Park, Kansas Advertisement

Local police stations and the FBI have started investigating the threats, with more social media users joining the boycott against the gym franchise.

In the viral video, Silva said she had just finished working out at Planet Fitness' Fairbanks location, when she saw the person, whom she called 'a man with a penis,' carrying out his routine in front of a 12-year-old girl.

Silva, who has previously run for Fairbanks Borough Assembly, told the 'trans woman' they should really be using the male locker room. The trans woman replied that they were 'LGB.'

Silva then took a picture of the person and shared it online and recounted her experience in a Facebook video: 'I just came out of Planet Fitness.

'There is a man shaving in the women's bathroom. I love him in Christ. He is a spiritual being having a human experience.

'He doesn't like his gender so he wants to be a woman, but I'm not comfortable with him shaving in my bathroom. I just thought I'd say it out loud.'

Silva - who has shared QAnon conspiracy theories on social media - also described the encounter in a written post online.

'I went to planet fitness Walked in the bathroom, and there stands a MAN shaving I looked at him, said 'hey'  he looked up and I said, 'You are a man shaving in the women's bathroom, and I am not OK with that.'

'He replied 'Well, I'm LGB'

'Whatever that is nevertheless, I told him 'You're a MAN and you're invading my space!'

'He wanted to argue to justify why he can be there I walked away

'I stepped out of the locker room and loudly asked the front desk, 'Are you aware that there is a MAN shaving in the women's bathroom I'm not OK with that ' The two men standing at the desk, put their heads down, and their tails between their legs! As I was walking out the doorat my back, a woman shouts 'it's a girl' I shouted back 'it's a man!''

'PF cancelled my membership and allowed the pedo to stay ,' she stated.

Her actions clashed with the gym's commitment to 'creating an inclusive and safe environment.'

Silva of Alaska is seen in Facebook photos with her husband and daughter

The gym has defended its 'judgement free' inclusive policy and has banned Silva from returning to the gym, cancelling her membership

Planet Fitness' statement shared by Libs of TikTok followed the same line. They doubled down on their decision.

In their statement, the gym said that the staff should 'work with members and employees to address this discomfort [sharing facilities with transgender members] and to foster a climate of understanding consistent with the Judgment Free character of Planet Fitness.'

The statement continued: 'Planet Fitness staff shall strive to address transgender members with names, titles, pronouns, and other terms consistent with their self-reported gender identity, if reasonably known to the Planet Fitness staff.'

The statement said that 'a transgender woman shall be referred to by her preferred name and female pronouns.'

And a 'transgender man shall be referred to by his preferred name and male pronouns.'

It concluded that the gym 'reserves the right to terminate a person's membership immediately for any violation of this policy.'
Young Australians are being 'failed' by Labor policy failures that have pushed housing prices beyond the reach of first homebuyers, according to a conservative activist.

Menzies Research Centre director Freya Leach said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's pledge to build 1.2 million new homes by 2029 was a drop in the ocean when the country is letting in half a million migrants per year.

The housing shortage that creates has pushed Australia's real estate prices to among the highest in the world.

While that benefits politicians who point to the resultant increase in GDP - and who personally benefit as the owners of multiple properties - it has left many young Australians in a hopeless situation.

Ms Leach said the government must either build vastly more homes than 1.2 million in five years, or slow the rate of migration.

'I'm a YIMBY, build more houses. Let's do it, put it in my backyard,' she told Sky News program The Jury.

'But at the same time, I don't think we can ignore the reality that our migration levels are the highest we've ever seen while approvals are at a decade low.

'For every one house we are currently building, we are getting four new migrants.'

Freya Leach, the director of youth policy at the Menzies Research Centre, said the supply of new houses could not meet growing demand - with a record 518,000 people migrating to Australia in the 2022-23 financial year

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to build 1.2million new homes by 2029 in response to the country's worsening housing affordability

YIMBY stands for 'Yes In My Backyard' and refers to housing activists who support city growth and an increase in housing. It was a counter to the well-known NIMBYs who reflexively oppose all development in their neighbourhoods.

Ms Leach understood why many young Australians were giving up on home ownership, as they are either unable or unwilling to sacrifice all their disposable income and resultant life experience to pay off massive mortgages.

'I do think it's really hard for first-home buyers at the moment, I'm actually one of them, I'm looking to buy my first apartment,' Ms Leach said.

'It is incredibly difficult, I have first hand experience.

'I just don't think we should (give up) because there are so many benefits that come with home ownership. It gives you that security to settle down, to start a family.

'It gives you security in retirement as well. The long-term financial and personal benefits of home ownership are immense and I think it's something we should continue to strive after as a result.'

During a different appearance on the Sky News program The Showdown, Ms Leach slammed the 'irresponsible' Albanese government.

'Approvals are at a decade low so houses aren't being built. Rents have gone up by 26 per cent since Albo got into government,' she said.

'It is totally reckless and irresponsible for Albo to bring in 125,000 people in one month alone and not provide any of the infrastructure and any of the housing required to actually meet these people's needs.

'And it's failing Australia's young people like myself.

Ms Leach said that for every new house built, four new migrants arrived in Australia, meaning the government was unable to provide adequate infrastructure

'I'm trying to buy an apartment at the moment. How do you think that's going? It's not going anywhere. It's basically impossible.

'And I'm not fussy, I just want the bare minimum. If you're a first home-buyer, a young person, it is extremely difficult. I think this is another challenge that Labor's going to face with young people.

'We are totally fed up of this government prioritising everybody else in this economy other than the young people, assuming they're going to go into these polling booths and just vote for the left blindly.

'I don't think this is going to happen in this next election and I think people are realising that Labor is not here for them.'

Ms Leach is the president at the University of Sydney Conservative Club and was the Liberal candidate for Balmain, in Sydney's west, in 2023.
Vice admiral David Johnston has been named the new chief of the Australian Defence Force.

He will take over in July from the current chief General Angus Campbell, who is the longest-serving head of the defence force, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday.

'Vice Admiral Johnson has consistently distinguished himself with his capacity to ensure that different elements of defence work together,' he added.

'His understanding of integrated defence will be critical to delivering on the priorities and recommendations of the defence strategic review, ensuring our defence force has the right capabilities and the right leadership to meet the challenges ahead.'

Vice Admiral David Johnston has been named the new chief of the Australian Defence Force

Vice Admiral Johnston, will take over in July from the current chief General Angus Campbell, who is the longest-serving head of the defence force, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday

Vice Admiral Johnston, who joined the military in 1978 aged 16, was promoted to Vice-Chief of the defence force in 2018, previously serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

His appointment marks the first time in 23 years the chief of defence force has come from the Navy.

'I am very conscious of the responsibility that comes with the role, the strategic environment in which we find ourselves and most particularly the responsibility I have to the extraordinary men and women in the Australian Defence Force and the families who support them,' he said.

Vice Admiral Johnston's elevation has prompted a shake-up of other senior roles.

Air Marshal Robert Chipan, who previously served as head of the Air Force, will become the next Vice Chief of the ADF.

Air Vice-Marshal Stephen Chappell will be promoted to chief of the Royal Australian Air Force.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said Vice Admiral Johnston had been pivotal to reform within the defence force.

Vice Admiral Johnston joined the military in 1978 aged 16, and was named vice-chief of the defence force in 2018, previously serving in Iraq and Afghanistan (pictured, General Angus Campbell)

'He has been in the engine room of all the work that we have done over the last two years and this is a moment where we need a safe pair of hands and deep experience to take our defence force forward,' he said.

'David has been at the very heart of reshaping the Australian Defence Force both in terms of culture and also, importantly, as the vice chief of the defence force, in terms of the platforms and capabilities that we are seeking to acquire.'

Mr Albanese also paid tribute to General Campbell, who has served in the top job since 2018.

'He has earned the respect and deep gratitude of Australia and we wish him all the very best for his future,' he said.
A dead dog found in a plastic bag that had been dumped in a field shows how the cost of living crisis can lead families to abandon pets.

A 'very skinny' Jack Russell puppy was discovered by a dog walker inside the shopping bag.

While the incident was in south Yorkshire in the United Kingdom, the RSPCA said the increased abandonment of pets was just as much of a concern in Australia.

'Times are hard right now  but we'd always urge any animal owners grappling with costs to reach out for help,' it said in a statement.

According to the RSPCA Western Australia, there has been a significant increase in pet owners seeking to surrender their pets during the first three months of 2024.

A 'very skinny' Jack Russell puppy was discovered inside a shopping bag discarded on a grassy wasteland, in South Yorkshire, United Kingdom, on Friday

A dog walker's disturbing find shows just how much the cost of living crisis is devastating Aussie families

In WA, 346 people requested to surrender their pets in the first three months of this year; a 44 per cent rise compared to the same period last year.

Many pet surrenders occurred due to owners experiencing financial difficulties, struggling to find pet-friendly housing, or themselves facing homelessness.

Just three weeks ago, a man surrendered his Jack Russell because he could not find accommodation that allowed pets after becoming homeless, RSPCA WA spokesperson Hannah Dreaver explained.

'As an older man, he had the choice between sleeping rough with 12-year-old Flossy and feeling unsafe for both of them, or having the chance at a bed for the night,' she said. '

'What a heartbreaking, awful position to be in. I really feel for (him) but I'm so glad he reached out and that we could give him some comfort knowing Flossy will be well cared for.'

RSPCA WA chief executive Ben Cave said he was 'worried neglect of those basic needs is only going to increase'.

'If you're no longer able to care for your animals to the standard they deserve you must reach out for help sooner rather than later.'

RSPCA WA found that 78 per cent of 1,300 people surveyed for its pet census noticed pet food prices going up. This made 20 per cent switch to cheaper pet food and 34 per cent spend less on themselves.
Commanders of Royal Navy supply ships are set to strike for the first time and it prompting fears sailors could be stranded abroad.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) officers can take industrial action, as they are classified as civilians, but only if they are not part of operations, if their ship is in port or when they are not in a critical role concerning safety - while Royal Navy sailors cannot strike.

Officers rejected a 4.5% pay rise and instead voted in favour of strike action - for the first time - by four to one, The Sun reported.

This was after Nautilus union revealed that sailors for the RFA had taken a 30% cut in their pay from 2010.

Former Navy chief Admiral Lord West (pictured) said the RFA has been increasingly relied on

Officers rejected a 4.5% pay rise and instead voted in favour of strike action - for the first time - by four to one. Pictured: Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Lyme Bay

READ MORE: Royal Navy ship to be sent to Gaza as part of 9.7m aid package from Britain amid fears a catastrophic famine could kill thousands of Palestinians Advertisement

The RFA has been increasingly relied on, former Navy chief Admiral Lord West said.

Lord West told The Sun: 'We have used the RFA more and more as the Navy has been squeezed.

'They are our amphibious strike capability, our refuelling and replenishing capability.

'If they go on strike completely, then it will have a severe impact on our ability to conduct operations.'

The action comes at the same time as aid is being sent across the ocean to Gaza in an RFA amphibious assault ship.

Other important vessels include a spy ship, Proteus, that was brought in last year to protect internet cables from possible Russian threats.

Martyn Gray, from Nautilus union told The Sun how the vote to strike was reflective of the 'frustration' of RFA members and that they felt overworked and not paid enough.

The action comes at the same time as aid is being sent across the ocean to Gaza in an RFA amphibious assault ship. Pictured: HMS Kent ship

A spokesperson for the Royal Navy said: 'The Royal Navy remain engaged with Maritime Trade Unions representing Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel regarding the proposed pay offer.

'It would be inappropriate for the Royal Navy to speculate on any possible outcome of those discussions or strike action at this point.

'However, during any negotiations RFA operations remain unaffected and they continue to support the Royal Navy and our allies around the world.'

MailOnline has contacted the Royal Navy for comment.
A San Diego condo complex with residences listed at over $1million are now in danger as the owners claim the property is threatened by coastal erosion.

Oceanus is a community near Ocean Beach in San Diego County, with a property having recently sold for over $1.1 million, according to realtors.

Russ Rasmussen, a resident of Oceanus, moved there in 2012 and already saw the bluff in front of the complex starting to wither.

In the decade-plus since, the owners have built a seawall beneath the condos on one side but now the other side is facing the same issue, with warning signs proclaiming 'unstable cliffs'.

'Our seawall is holding the bluff just fine, but the property next to our property, the city property at the end of Bermuda, is eroding to the tune of 60, 70 feet of dirt, of earth,' Rasmussen said.

A San Diego condo complex with residences listed at over $1million are now in danger as the owners claim the property is threatened by coastal erosion

The owners have built a seawall beneath the condos on one side but now the other side is facing the same issue, with warning signs proclaiming 'unstable cliffs'

Oceanus is a condo community located near Ocean Beach in San Diego County, with a property having recently sold for over $1.1 million

In the last few months, owners have been trying to solve the problem of erosion moving all the way to the edge of their street.

Pat Abbott, a geologist, told NBC San Diego the problem is of weak rocks beneath the condos.

'Which means it fails more just by gravity pulling it, more susceptible to waves beating it up,' he said.

However, the owners are now in a fight with city officials, who say that an assessment on the property showed no problems that the city is under obligation to fix..

'After conducting a geotechnical investigation earlier this year, it was determined that the current coastal bluff erosion is affecting the undeveloped Bermuda Avenue Right of Way (ROW) and abandoned legacy public improvements but is not affecting any currently maintained public improvements,' the city said in a statement.

'This condition is the responsibility of the private property owner and should be addressed by the property owner (Oceanus) through the retention of a geotechnical consultant (or other professional) to advise them regarding the hazard affecting their property and improvements, including the condominium structure,' they added.

The owners of Oceanus have begun looking for help by hiring private contractors to conduct a geologic survey.

The board of the HOA for Oceanus has solicited bids to build a new seawall that are in the price range of $600,000.

One resident believes their condos will fall into the sea if the city doesn't assist with construction of a new seawall

In the last few months, owners have been trying to solve the problem of erosion moving all the way to the edge of their street

The board of the HOA for Oceanus has solicited bids to build a new seawall that are in the price range of $600,000

Rasmussen hopes that the city will reverse course and help with any constructions.

The next step will be approval of the seawall by the California Coastal Commission.

Rasmussen says that progress has not been good enough and if the city doesn't help, it's going to end in disaster.

'Our building can't fall into the ocean,' Rasmussen said. 'I don't know what else to say except: Help.'
More than six weeks on, allegations of impropriety hang over Angela Rayner like a malodorous cloud.

Since The Mail on Sunday first published evidence of financial irregularities around the sale of her ex-council house, the deputy Labour leader has done nothing but stonewall.

Colleagues trying to make excuses for her silence are becoming desperate. Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy hit new heights of absurdity by suggesting she was being smeared because she was 'northern'.

Just to remind him, the definition of a smear is to damage someone's reputation with false accusations. There are no false accusations here, only simple facts and legitimate questions.

First, was the house in Vicarage Road, Stockport, Ms Rayner's principal residence when she sold it, or was she really living with her children and husband at his house in nearby Lowndes Lane, as her neighbours and social media posts strongly imply?

More than six weeks on, allegations of impropriety hang over Angela Rayner like a malodorous cloud

Since The Mail on Sunday first published evidence of financial irregularities around the sale of her ex-council house, the deputy Labour leader has done nothing but stonewall

If the latter, three more crucial questions flow. Did she avoid paying capital gains tax on her 48,500 profit from the sale? Why was she on the electoral roll at that address when living elsewhere? And did she wrongly claim single person's council tax discount?

Yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer continued with his preposterous 'nothing to see here' narrative. 'Angela Rayner has been asked no end of questions about this. She's answered them all,' he said. No, she hasn't. She's batted them all away in the hope they'll go away. But they won't.

With delicious irony, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced plans yesterday to 'take on the tax dodgers'. She might start by having a quiet chat with Ms Rayner. Maybe she'll get some answers where everyone else has failed.

Airbrushing history

Whether seen as hero or villain, there's no denying Sir Robert Clive had a unique influence on this country's foreign policy. After vanquishing the French at Plassey, he secured British control over India  making himself fabulously wealthy in the process.

His statue outside the Foreign Office serves as a potent symbol of imperial power. Often ruthless and exploitative by today's standards, the empire is part of our complex island story. We can't change or excise it, nor should we try. We can only learn from it.

However, a group of former mandarins wants to give history the airbrush treatment. They recommend replacing the Foreign Office with a new Department for International Affairs and moving it from its grand Whitehall setting to modern premises with 'fewer colonial pictures on the walls'.

A group of former mandarins have recommended replacing the Foreign Office with a new Department for International Affairs

There have also been calls to remove 'colonial era pictures' from the walls. Pictured: Britannia Pacificatrix, one of the five Foreign Office murals by Sigismund Goetz

'The very name of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is anchored in the past,' they say. Maybe so, but it's far less pretentious than their alternative, which sounds like some ghastly right-on think-tank. And if the Commonwealth is so outdated, why do so many nations, some of which weren't even British colonies, still want to be members?

On any given day more than half of Foreign Office workers are apparently working from home. If these pompous chin-strokers really want to improve standards, they should stop obsessing about the past and tell current staff to get back to their desks.

Barely a day goes by without local authorities pleading poverty. One in five say they are at risk of bankruptcy, most are hiking up council tax while cutting services and all want more Government money.

Yet somehow, councils managed to pay salaries of above 100,000 to a record number of officials last year. Are they really interested in serving the public, or themselves?
Heated last-minute electioneering unfolded on the eve of the parliamentary elections Tuesday, with the ruling party denouncing the scandal-ridden opposition as "shameless" and the main opposition party slamming the government for mismanaging the economy and other state affairs.

Wednesday's general elections are to pick 300 new members of the National Assembly, with 254 of them to be selected through direct elections and the remaining 46 proportional representation seats to be allocated to parties according to the number of votes they receive overall.

On the final day of the 13-day official campaign period, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) implored potential voters for support, intensifying criticism of opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and Cho Kuk, a former justice minister who formed a minor party, both facing criminal trials for various charges.

"I heard Chairman Lee shed tears in front of a court," Han Dong-hoon, leader of the PPP, said during his campaign trail at some of the most-fiercely contested battlegrounds in Seoul, suggesting that Lee's tears were not a display of remorse for his actions but a disingenuous attempt to save himself.

The quadrennial race holds added importance for the PPP, as a failure to regain a majority could potentially render President Yoon Suk Yeol a lame duck for the remaining three years of his single five-year term, ending in 2027.

Recent predictions have shown that the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is likely to win a parliamentary majority, with some even suggesting that the party could win more than 200 seats, a two-thirds threshold that gives the party enough power to override presidential vetoes and even impeach the president.

"Please give us a minimum number of seats that we can use to keep this immoral and shameless opposition in check," Han said. "Overwhelming support on Election Day is needed to prevent the Republic of Korea from falling into a state of decline."

He is scheduled to visit 14 competitive districts in the capital.

Han will then conclude his campaigning by joining other party members in central Seoul, alongside American Korean medical doctor Ihn Yohan, who previously served as the PPP innovation committee chief.

Observers view the 48 constituencies in Seoul as the primary battlegrounds that will ultimately determine the election outcome. Data suggests that the results in Seoul often mirror the overall election results.

The DPK urged voters to deliver a stern judgment on what it calls the "incompetent" Yoon administration, accusing it of significantly worsening the economy and people's livelihoods and mishandling a series of controversial issues over the past two years.

Since its inauguration in May 2022, the Yoon administration has faced various obstacles in advancing its agenda, such as on tax and labor reform bills, in the DPK-controlled parliament.

DPK leader Lee focused his last campaign efforts on key battlegrounds in the wider Seoul area, emphasizing the need to hold Yoon accountable for mismanaging the country.

"Please vote to prevent the political force that has betrayed the people from attaining a parliamentary majority," Lee said before attending a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on corruption charges related to two development projects in Seongnam, south of Seoul, launched during his term as the city's mayor.

Lee further claimed that the Yoon government has caused regression in all aspects of the country, including the economy, livelihoods, diplomacy, national security and democracy.

"Unable to curb prices as it is supposed to, the Yoon Suk Yeol government is only attempting to strike down political enemies and opposition forces," Lee said.

Earlier, Lee visited Incheon, west of Seoul, where he is running for a seat in the Gyeyang constituency.

The Gyeonggi and Incheon regions, which together have some 75 seats at stake, are considered a stronghold for the DPK.

At the end of the day, Lee will join other party members for the last official campaign event at Yongsan Station in central Seoul, near the presidential office. (Yonhap)
Netanyahu has not put out a specific date on when the invasion will happen

The city is home to more than 1.4million Palestinian refugees

Traumatised Palestinians have been left to pick up the pieces of their homes after Benjamin Netanyahu withdrew a majority of the IDF's troops from the south of Gaza, but promised they would be back to invade Rafah, the last refuge for 1.4 million displaced Gazans.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that a date has been set for an Israeli invasion of Rafah, without disclosing that date as a new round of ceasefire talks take place in Cairo.

'Today I received a detailed report on the talks in Cairo, we are constantly working to achieve our goals, first and foremost the release of all our hostages and achieving a complete victory over Hamas,' Netanyahu said.

'This victory requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen - there is a date.'

An estimated 55% of the buildings in the Khan Younis area, around 45,000 buildings, have been destroyed or damaged, according to two mapping experts who have been using satellite imagery to track destruction.

'Where do I sleep? Where do I go?' Heba Sahloul's aged mother sobbed in despair, sitting amid the rubble of the family's living room.

'This victory requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen - there is a date', Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) said today

Traumatised Palestinians have been left to pick up the pieces of their homes after Benjamin Netanyahu withdrew a majority of the IDF's troops from the south of Gaza

An estimated 55% of the buildings in the Khan Younis area, around 45,000 buildings, have been destroyed or damaged

Palestinians drive and walk through the destruction in the wake of an Israeli air and ground offensive in Khan Younis

Netanyahu's shock announcement came hours after reports suggested Hamas and Israel were just two days away from agreeing a ceasefire and hostage deal

Her daughters searched for anything they could take with them. The room's walls were blown away and the floor was piled with chunks of concrete, slabs of the ceiling and broken countertops.

Sahloul said Israeli troops ordered them to leave during the fighting. 'We left all our things here, and we went out with only our clothes,' she said. Her father was killed earlier in the assault, leaving Sahloul, her sisters and her mother. 'We are only six women at home and we do not know where to go,' Sahloul said.

One woman, who identified herself as Hanan to the Associated Press, clambered over collapsed concrete slabs atop a mountain of her home's wreckage. Her son crawled on all fours into a hollow under the rubble and twisted rebar, clearing away concrete blocks.

'There are no words to describe the pain inside me,' the woman said, her voice breaking. 'Our memories, our dreams, our childhood here, our family - It's all gone.'

Netanyahu's shock announcement came hours after reports suggested Hamas and Israel were just two days away from agreeing a ceasefire and hostage deal that would have put at least a temporary end to the bloodiest war in the Middle East in decades.

Hamas and Israel sent negotiators to Cairo, Egypt, where they were joined by mediators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

Palestinian families return to their houses left amid rubble and devastating destruction after Israeli forces' withdrawal from Khan Younis

Demonstrators light a fire at Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv

Israeli soldiers organise their tanks equipment near the border with the Gaza Strip

Egyptian state-linked news outlet Al-Qahera reported 'significant progress being made on several contentious points of agreement', citing an unnamed high-ranking Egyptian source.

The outlet said Qatari and Hamas delegations had left Cairo and were expected to return 'within two days to finalise the terms of the agreement'.

US and Israeli delegations were also due to leave the Egyptian capital 'in the next few hours' for consultations over the next 48 hours, it added.

But negotiations have been shaky throughout the six-month war in Gaza, with both Hamas and Israel pulling out of talks over disagreements several times.

Israel's allies, including the US and the UK, have expressed opposition to Israel's stated plans to invade Rafah, home to 1.4 million civilians seeking refugee from the bloody war against the enclave.

Reports suggested Hamas and Israel were just two days away from agreeing a ceasefire and hostage deal that would have put at least a temporary end to the bloodiest war in the Middle East in decades

Israel's top ally, the US, has said invading Rafah would be a mistake and has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians

Palestinians walk through the destruction in the wake of an Israeli air and ground offensive in Khan Younis

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron previously wrote on X: 'Deeply concerned about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah  over half of Gaza's population are sheltering in the area.

'The priority must be an immediate pause in the fighting to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire.'

Israel's top ally, the US, has said invading Rafah would be a mistake and has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians.

Israel is purchasing 40,000 tents to prepare for the evacuation of Rafah, an Israel official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

A woman cries on rubble of a collapsed building after Israeli forces' withdrawal from Khan Younis, Gaza

Israel pulled its ground forces out of the southern Gaza Strip, six months into the devastating war sparked by the October 7 attacks

A person holds a handful of spent bullet casings above a bigger pile in Khan Younis on April 7, 2024

Netanyahu's announcement came as streams of Palestinians filed into the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Monday to salvage what they could from the vast destruction left in the wake of Israel's offensive, a day after the Israeli military announced it was withdrawing troops from the area.

Allowing people to return to Khan Younis could relieve some pressure on Rafah, but many have no homes to return to. The city also is likely filled with dangerous unexploded ordnance left by the fighting.

Israel's military quietly drew down troops in devastated northern Gaza earlier in the war.

But it has continued to carry out airstrikes and raids in areas where it says Hamas regrouped, including Gaza's largest hospital, Shifa, leaving what the head of the World Health Organisation called 'an empty shell'.

Israel blames Hamas for the damage, saying it fights from within civilian areas.
Most of the Rwandan homes initially reserved for deported UK migrants by Suella Braverman are reportedly being sold off to locals in Kigali, as the Tories continue to flounder over its controversial policy.

According to developers of the Bwiza Riverside estate, 70 per cent of the 163 homes have been taken, with 'sold' signs popping up in front of the properties.

ADHI-Rwanda said the homes had gone to 'private people who want to live in them' which means there will only be spaces for a handful of migrants if flights from Britain do ever take off.

Former home secretary Ms Braverman had approved of the new estate on visit last year calling the homes 'beautiful' and argued that the African country could 'resettle many thousands of people' under the policy.

She toured the 25,000 home with the Rwandan minister Claudette Irere, and said while she looked around: 'These houses are really beautiful, great quality, really welcoming and I really like your interior designer.

Most of the Rwandan homes reserved for deported UK migrants by Suella Braverman are reportedly being sold off to locals in Kigali. Pictured: The former home secretary in Kigali in March 2023

According to developers of the Bwiza Riverside estate, 70 per cent of the 163 homes have been taken, with 'sold' signs popping up in front of the properties (pictured)

The modern homes range from 14,000 to 27,000 and was created in partnership between the country's government and the developers

'I need some advice for myself,' Ms Braverman added, likely referring to the decor of her own home in Hampshire.

The homes range from 14,000 to 27,000 and was created in partnership between the country's government and the developers.

Speaking this week from the site, Hassan Adan Hassan, the developer's managing director, told the Times: 'Currently we've sold almost 70 per cent of affordable homes.

'We are left with some units. Electricity is connected to the houses. Water and fibre optic are connected to the houses. The roads and street lights are done.'

But the Rwandan Government said it was untrue to suggest 70 per cent had been sold, according to the paper, calling the suggestion 'simply untrue'.

Yolande Makolo, the chief government spokesperson, added that the estate 'is just one of the housing options where migrants will live alongside Rwandans'.

The Rwandan Government, however, said it was untrue to suggest 70 per cent had been sold, according to the paper, calling the suggestion 'simply untrue'

'None of the assigned housing estates were ever meant to be only for migrants. The idea is to integrate migrants into Rwandan communities, not create migrant ghettos,' he added.

It marks yet another hiccup in the road for the Prime Minister after the much-discussed scheme, which was introduced in April 2022, was stalled by a string of legal challenges.

Despite the set backs, Rishi Sunak persists that flights to the country will begin this spring.
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

Chilling footage has emerged of a young girl hiding in a bush and seeking help after a terrifying attempted abduction in Melbourne.

An unknown man driving a grey Audi Q3 SUV allegedly told the 11-year to get in his car while she was walking home from school on Landscape Drive in the northeastern suburb of Doncaster East, on Thursday, March 28.

She ran from the bushes and sought help from a nearby man who was with his daughter.

Newly acquired footage from 7NEWS captures the moment when the little girl seeks help following the frightening encounter.

It shows her looking back at the street in terror as she tells him her phone died.

She ran from the bushes sought help from a nearby man who was with his daughter

'She was shivering and shaking, and I haven't seen someone that terrified and petrified like that,' her rescuer said.

He went on to say that the girl kept apologising for asking the man to take her home.

'I said I'm so proud of you, getting help is a really good skill.'

The girl's parents were distraught and thanked the rescuer repeatedly for helping make sure their daughter got home safely.

She was not physically injured.

A man driving a grey Audi Q3 SUV allegedly told the 11-year old get in his car while she was walking home from school in Doncaster East, in Melbourne , on Thursday, March 28

Victoria Police are looking for the man described as aged in his 30s, Middle Eastern in appearance with tan skin, black hair, a black beard and a moustache

Detective Senior Constable Brooke Miller described the incident as 'horrible' at a press conference last month.

'A little girl should feel safe to walk home from school,' she said.

Victoria Police are looking for the man described as aged in his 30s, Middle Eastern in appearance with tan skin, black hair, a black beard and a moustache.

He was wearing a grey T-shirt and sunglasses with brown lenses.

Anyone with information, including CCTV or dashcam footage, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Pence shelled out $16,000 worth of Bitcoin to darknet users in the scheme

He believed the birth parents of his adopted children were abusing them

A Microsoft software engineer has been sentenced to seven years in prison for accessing a dark web hitman site and plotting to kill the parents of his adopted children.

Christopher Pence, 42, of Cedar City, Utah, was sentenced in the Northern District of New York on Thursday.

He pled guilty to soliciting and paying for the murder of a 35-year-old man and 38-year-old woman in December of last year. Neither killing took place.

Pence later confessed to FBI agents that he coordinated the murder plot of the upstate New York couple because he believed they were abusing children.

He first accessed the darknet site in July 2021 using The Onion Router, a peer-to-peer overlay network that enables users to browse the Internet anonymously.

Documents reviewed by DailyMail.com show Pence planning the killings with another user and a website administrator in exchange for $16,000 worth of Bitcoin.

Christopher Pence, 42 (far right), was sentenced to seven years in prison for organizing a murder-for-hire plot on the dark web

He was arrested at his $1 million property in Cedar City, Utah in 2021 and held in federal custody until his sentencing Thursday

'The anonymous user provided the site administrator with the names, addresses and photographs of the intended victims, as well as the manner in which the killing should take place,' a criminal complaint reads.

Pence instructed that the killing 'should be made to look like an accident or botched robbery, and that, if possible, care should be taken to not harm any of the three children known to be in the care of the intended victims'.

He transferred the money using methods including a cryptocurrency wallet service that advertised itself as a means for shielding monetary transfers from prying eyes.

Investigators tied information from the cryptocurrency exchange account, including a date of birth and social security number, to Pence, who accessed the site through August 2021.

In an interview later that year, FBI agents told Pence that they had assumed control of the murder-for-hire site and were provided the names of users, including his own, by the site operator.

Investigators interviewed Pence's intended victims in September 2021 and learned that his family had adopted five of their children, 'and that there was an escalating dispute between the two families'.

Tensions were so high that the Hoosick Falls couple wanted to retain custody of their children and even reported Pence's family to local child welfare authorities, documents reveal.

The criminal complaint notes that the photos Pence provided to the site admin matched those 'provided by the intended victims to Pence and his family for use as a 'baby book,' with the intended victims' children'.

Pence (third from left, back row) worked as a security architect for Microsoft at the time of his arrest

He and his wife, Michelle, adopted five children from an upstate New York couple who Pence later targeted in the murder-for-hire scheme, believing they were abusing the kids

Agents executed a federal search warrant on Pence's Cedar City home the following month to seize electronic documents. It was then he admitted to his involvement in the scheme.

Transcripts show that two agents exchanged small talk with Pence as they sat in a government-issued Chevy Tahoe on the morning of October 27, 2021.

One agent told Pence that he was not under arrest and had 'no obligation' to talk to them.

'We would appreciate your help, okay? I'm just trying to figure out - 'cause obviously we're here for a reason, right?' the agent said.

That was enough to convince him. In 2018, Pence divulged, he and his family, who resided in Washington at the time, were crossing through Massachusetts on a six-week tour of the country.

His wife, Michelle, suddenly received a message from a woman pleading for help for her five children. The Pence family, including their own 10 kids, agreed to meet with the woman and pray with her.

Pence alleged that the woman said her children were not safe being around her husband, who had been propositioning himself to other women.

'The mom basically said, look, I need somewhere for my kids to go, they're not safe here,' Pence told the agents.

'So, we left. We got to Massachusetts with 10 children, and left there with 15.'

Pence asserted that he began to distance the children from their birth parents following the adoption, but the couple followed them to Texas and then asked to move their trailer onto the family's property in Utah.

Property records show the seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom house and surrounding 20 acres are valued at around $1 million.

Pence further alleged that one of the children had been abused through discipline by their birth parents and he refused to stand by any longer.

'With everything you're dealing with, everything you're doing - you are the protector of these kids, okay?' one agent said.

'You are the savior of these kids, and you do this for the family, it's clear to me. I didn't understand why before, but it's very clear to me that you would do anything for these children.'

Pence did not seem convinced: 'Have I ruined my life?' he said.

When asked if he wanted anything from the house, the Microsoft engineer responded, 'I'd like a time machine if you have it'. He was arrested the same day.

When FBI agents swarmed his Utah home in October 2021, Pence admitted to his involvement in the scheme

His family continued to band around him, with wife Michelle urging GoFundMe donors to 'pray that charges would be dropped'

Pence's sister, April Foltz, organized the fundraising campaign on behalf of his family, including 10 of the his and Michelle's own children

A website viewed by DailyMail.com shows Christopher and Michelle Pence were actively seeking children to adopt, advertising themselves through a 'family profile'.

'We are open to children with many, many special needs. We do not mind having contact with the child's biological parents (by email or by phone or by mail or in person) provided the parent was/is not abusive to the child,' Michelle wrote.

She noted that her husband 'works full-time for Microsoft as a computer network security engineer and has a flexible work schedule' and added that their sense of 'morality' stemmed from their 'Christian beliefs'.

In the years leading up to his sentencing, Pence's family continued to rally around him.

His sister, April Foltz, set up a GoFundMe in December 2021 that featured several photos of Pence, Michelle and their band of children.

'This is my brother's family. They are a very happy, loving family. He has been accused of a terrible crime that did not involve any harm or misconduct to the children or his wife and did not involve any infidelity,' Foltz wrote.

She described Pence as a 'solid provider' and explained that the pending case left them with 'no money to pay the mortgage, to buy food, utilities, put gas in the car, etc'.

In a follow up post, Michelle begged for prayers.

These included pleas for 'favor with the guards and especially with the judge for release' and 'family unity through this difficult trial'.

'And pray that charges would be dropped,' Michelle wrote.

Pence pled guilty to one count of the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder-for-hire plot on December 6, 2023.

Following completion of his prison term, Pence has been ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release.
Qantas staff have been slammed for leaving a pet crate and suitcases on the tarmac in the pouring rain for as long as 30 minutes.

A stunned passenger photographed the 'unacceptable act' at Sydney Airport last Friday and shared it online.

Sydney was hit by a heavy downpour at the time with parts of NSW recording a month's worth of rainfall within a single day.

'Unfortunately the weather was unavoidable, but this luggage was left out in the open in Sydney for 30 mins and the animals for 15 minutes  one facing the rain,' the outraged passenger wrote on Facebook.

Suitcases and a pet crate were seen left on trolleys on the tarmac next to a Qantas aircraft

No airline workers were visible in the shared photo, indicating the pet had been left unattended in the stressful situation

Social media users accused Qantas of neglect.

'[I was on] on same flight, my luggage came home wet. Thinking a cover in these conditions would be nice,' they wrote.

'Those poor fur babies,' another wrote.

'I'd report this if I saw it after flying my little dude to and from New Zealand. Should have brought this to the attention of ground crew ASAP.'

A third added: 'I'm unimpressed by the luggage but those pet carriers out there is absolutely unacceptable. I'd be fuming if my boy was stuck on the tarmac in a cage in torrential rain, making an already stressful situation even worse'.

A Qantas spokeswoman told Yahoo they are investigating the incident and that the airline 'takes the safety and welfare of pets travelling with us very seriously'.

A Qantas spokeswoman said 'takes the safety and welfare of pets travelling with us very seriously' (stock image)

'In weather conditions such as last Friday, we have a policy of keeping pets undercover until the very last moment that they need to leave the terminal to be loaded into the aircraft,' she said.

Qantas' website reads: 'We know you care about your pet's safety and comfort when flying just as much as we do.'

Last year, Qantas was slammed by model Tayla Broad, wife of Richmond defender Nathan Broad when her French bulldog Charlie was not on his scheduled flight to Perth. Qantas apologised for the delay.
A prominent tech billionaire has filed a second suit against critics of his proposed mega-mansion in suburban Utah.

Matthew Prince, the 49-year-old cofounder of the tech security firm Cloudflare, filed the suit against his future neighbors in Park City Friday, claiming a rock wall coming from their home crosses the property line into the vacant lot he bought last March.

The wall belongs to Eric and Susan Hermann, the 71-year-old and 68-year-old owners of the $11.5million mansion. The pair have emerged as two of Prince's fiercest adversaries in an ongoing property fight, filing an appeal this past month after Prince received approval.

They argue his proposal violates zoning laws - a declaration eight others in the neighborhood, including some friends, have rallied behind. They also say he purposely bought a second patch of land after the first suit so he could file a second.

Within days, Prince filed suit against the couple over the behavior of their Bernese Mountain dogs, calling them 'menacing.' The owners said they had never received such a complaint prior, and claim they are now being 'harassed' with the second suit.

Cloudfare founder Matthew Prince, seen here with wife Tatiana, filed the suit against his future neighbors in Park City Friday, claiming a rock wall coming from his future neighbors' home crosses a property line into a vacant lot he bought last March

Neighbors Eric Hermann and Susan Fredston-Hermann argue his proposal violates zoning laws - a declaration eight others in the neighborhood have rallied behind. They also say he purposely bought a second patch of land after the first suit so he could file a second

Attorney Bruce Baird, the lawyer representing Prince, called the rock wall lawsuit a 'simple property dispute'.

In an interview back in March, Prince - who in 2017 wed ex-banker Tatiana Prince - conceded the couple's opposition was a factor in his decision to file the lawsuit over their dogs.

Claiming the canines are often unleashed and uncontrolled, the Cloudflare kingpin who's worth a reported $3.4 billion appeared to make light of the legal fight.

'I think it's pretty reasonable that at some point you say enough is enough. Especially if they're kind of suing you, or at least appealing your ability to build a house,' he told The Daily Beast, referring to the two dogs, Sasha and Mocha.

'This is essentially just two rich people fighting with each other, which is silly, but here we are,' he added, now claiming a wall illegally encroaches on his property.

He and his wife also own the Park Record, the city's premiere news publication.

Two years ago, they started the Utah-based LLC Valley Creek Family Farm - not long after relocating to Park City during the pandemic after fleeing the Bay Area.

In February, the Park City Planning Commission gave preliminary approval to the pair's plans to raze two houses on the hill where the Hermanns live to make way their new home, under the pretense they be subject to a raft of conditions and a design review.

The conditions include that the home be limited to under 7,500 square feet, as well as restrictions on lighting to limit the impact on neighbors.

The wall belongs to the 71-year-old and 68-year-old Hermanns, who also own this $11.5million mansion. The pair have thus emerged as two of Prince's fiercest adversaries in an ongoing property fight, filing an appeal this past month after Prince received approval to break ground

Within days, Prince filed suit against the couple over the behavior of their Bernese Mountain dogs, calling them 'menacing.' The animals are seen here. The owners said they had never received such a complaint prior to the appeal, and claim they are now being harassed by the billionaire couple

The commission approved the proposed property by a narrow vote of 4-3,

The Hermanns, however, were not convinced - filing an appeal March 1 seeking to reverse approval of the Prince's home plans.

The couple, who live right next door, say the project isn't in line with local development rules, and the planning commission failed to provide ample consideration for the impacts the home will have, by not properly enforcing the city's development code.

Seemingly in response to this move, the billionaire Princes proceeded to get their own lawyers involved - suing the senior couple over their 'menacing' dogs.

Seeking damages for trespassing, private nuisance, and violation of a trail easement. the complaint claims the dogs, each weighing over 100 pounds, have aggressively chased and harassed those nearby, and alleges the Hermanns often walk the dogs unleashed on the trail that runs along the perimeter of the Prince property.

That, the couple claims, comes in direct violation of Park City code - with the complaint also calling the Hermanns 'elderly and frail,' claiming they are not physically capable of controlling the dogs.

A friend of the Hermanns who is familiar with the animals said those claims are bogus - calling the couple far from frail.

'I've known the Hermann's[sic] for most of my life and can confidently say that they are anything but 'frail',' Park City resident Sam Owen wrote in a reply to an Instagram post sharing recent town news.

Prince claims the rock wall (circled) crosses the property line between the lot he bought a few weeks ago and the lot next door. The Hermanns say he purposely bought the lot a few weeks ago out of spite

'In fact they are two of the most active people, anyone who actually knows them would say the same.

'I've known Sasha and Mocha since they were puppies,' she went on, before honing in on the 'menacing' claims.

'They are the most friendly and welcoming dogs to everyone they meet,' she said. 'Neither are aggressive in any way.'

The Hermanns, meanwhile, told KPCW they have never received a complaint about their dogs before, with Eric sending another statement to the station Friday after being hit with the second suit.

In it, he laid out the recent sequence of events, and revealed how cameras were installed along the trail after the first legal complaint was filed.

He also revealed that the property dispute involving the second suit stems from a second purchase of land right next door - a multimillion dollar move he said was made

'Last month, we and eight co-appellants filed an appeal against the approval of Matthew Prince's massive 'mansion' in Old Town,' he recalled.

The Cloudflare kingpin - who's worth a reported $3.4billlion - moved to Park City from the Bay Area after the pandemic

He wed his wife in 2017, with the pair since purchasing local publication the Park Record. The neighborhood appeal is set for review by Park City's three member appeal panel on April 30, after which the matter will be settled

'Within days, [Prince] filed a civil complaint against our dogs and installed video cameras on the easement across his property to the trail system.

'Now, he has just purchased a multi-million dollar vacant lot next to us and today filed (no joke) a civil complaint about a rock wall which allegedly encroaches on his new property by several inches for maybe 6 feet.

'The wall has not been touched since we have owned the property and we had no idea until today about a possible multi-inch encroachment,' he said

'Does anyone see a connection between this and the appeal?,' he went on to ask adding how he and his wife 'have lived in peace with [their] neighbors since we purchased [their] home in 2006'.

Adding: 'The level of harassment we are now experiencing is astonishing.'

When asked about to dueling lawsuits, he maintained both were an act of retaliation, as he and the eight other Old Town neighbors continue to appeal the construction plans.

The neighborhood appeal is set for review by Park City's three member appeal panel on April 30, after which the matter will be settled one way or another.
Morgan Wallen's chair-throwing outburst towards cops on the roof of a Nashville bar has been caught on video, showing what got the crooner arrested Sunday night.

Wallen, 30, was reportedly upset by his ex-fiancee Katie 'KT' Smith eloping with Luke Scornavacco on April 3  just five days after they got engaged.

Now, a clip taken from the Nashville streets shows what happened on top of Chiefs just after 10.45pm Sunday.

An object is clearly visible despite the blurry footage, as it comes flying off the roof of the club in the shot taken from an Earthcam in the city.

Officers from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department allege the piece of furniture landed just three feet away from them.

Country music superstar Morgan Wallen's chair-throwing outburst towards cops on the roof of a Nashville bar has allegedly been caught on video, showing what got the crooner arrested Sunday night

Wallen, 30, was reportedly upset by his ex-fiancee Katie 'KT' Smith eloping with Luke Scornavacco on April 3  just five days after they got engaged

Warren started laughing after dangerously throwing the chair from the rooftop bar, according to bystanders.

The Cowgirls crooner was booked shortly after 12.30am. Wallen's bond was set at $15,250 and he was spotted being shielded by umbrellas as he was released from Davidson County jail around 3.30am.

He was charged with three counts of felony reckless endangerment and one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, with officers alleging the chair landed three feet from them.

MNPD released Wallen's mugshot on Monday morning, showing the country music star with a grin on his face.

Wallen's ex and Scornavacco announced the news on her social media with Smith, 29, holding up a marriage certificate from the Wilson County Clerk's Office in Tennessee as the two grinned at the camera.

Sources told DailyMail.com: 'KT's marriage to Luke last week just crushed him.'

The source added, 'Of course he knew they were engaged and eventually going to get married - but eloping just days after they got engaged?

'Morgan has never gotten over her even though he couldn't stay faithful to her. And now another man is going to be raising his son.

Sources tell DailyMail.com Morgan Wallen was upset by his ex-fiancee and mother of his son Katie 'KT' Smith eloping. The pair ended their engagement before welcoming a child in 2020. Pictured in 2017 in Nashville

Katie 'KT' Smith eloped with Luke Scornavacco on April 3  just five days after they got engaged

The pair announced the news on her social media with Smith, 29, holding up a marriage certificate from the Wilson County Clerk's Office in Tennessee as the two grinned at the camera

Wallen's son Indigo was there to witness his mom get engaged after Scornavacco, 22, got on one knee on March 29 at Magnolia Farm in Eagleville, Tennessee

'Whatever happened at that bar had to be reality hitting him in the face over losing the love of his life.'

Wallen also proposed to Smith, with the pair dating on and off from December 2016 to November 2019. They welcomed a son Indigo together in 2020.

The toddler was there to witness his mom get engaged after Scornavacco, 22, got on one knee on March 29 at Magnolia Farm in Eagleville, Tennessee.

His former lover shared a series of smitten photographs with her new lover, and defended herself against those online who questioned the speed of their relationship.

She denied that the nuptial were a shotgun wedding, but joked that 'now we're married we can try all we want', on her Instagram story.

Smith began dating Wallen in 2017 and quickly got engaged. They're pictured with son Indigo, three

Chiefs Bar is owned by fellow country artist Eric Church and was celebrating its grand opening over the weekend

In a statement his attorney Worrick Robinson said: 'At 10:53 pm Sunday evening Morgan Wallen was arrested in downtown Nashville for reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. He is cooperating fully with authorities.'

The hitmaker is set to appear in court on May 3  between two scheduled performances at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville from May 2 to May 4 as part of his 'One Night at a Time' Tour.

Wallen could face up to 15 years in jail if he's convicted of the felony charges, and no less than one year.

It is not his first scrape with the law, with Wallen being detained in May 2020 over disorderly conduct at Kid Rock's Honky Tonk bar in downtown Nashville.

The country music star was also arrested at the lower Broadway bar for public intoxication.

He was placed into custody outside Kid Rock's Big Honky Tonk and Steakhouse after reportedly kicking several glass items, according to a Metro Nashville Police Department affidavit.

An officer observed security guards kick Wallen out of the bar due to being disorderly inside.

Katie 'KT' Smith announced her engagement to boyfriend Luke Scornavacco on Easter Sunday

According to the affidavit, Wallen was given several opportunities by police to walk away with his friends but refused. He was also charged with DUI in 2016 but the case was dismissed.

Chiefs Bar is owned by fellow country artist Eric Church and was celebrating its grand opening over the weekend.

Footage shows Wallen being arrested by MNPD, and appeared to be shouting at a cop.

Wallen was set to open up his ow bar in 2024 called 'This Bar' in Nashville to pay tribute to his Tennessee roots.

The six-story bar will be located at 107 4th Avenue North on Lower Broadway and is set to be a live music venue and restaurant.
A two-week youth curfew in the Alice Springs will be extended until the end of the school holidays following a series of emergency meetings.

The curfew, which was due to end on Wednesday, will be extended for another six days.

It bans young people under the age of 18 from entering the town centre from 6pm to 6am without a valid reason.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the initial lockdown had produced encouraging results but recognised that generational long-term change was needed to combat anti-social behaviour in the town.

'The conversations on the ground from residents is that this has been the best thing that has happened to Alice Springs,' Ms Lawler told a press conference on Tuesday.

'It really was a circuit breaker. People are feeling so much safer and more comfortable.'

Photos and videos posted to social media showed scenes of dozens of residents throwing bricks at the building and attempting to kick down the entrance door

More than 50 additional police officers and liquor inspectors were deployed to Alice Springs after a series of violent clashes that came to a head on March 27, which saw more than 100 people corner one of the town's most popular pubs.

Photos and videos posted to social media showed scenes of dozens of residents throwing bricks at the building and attempting to kick down the entrance door.

The violence followed a commemoration of the death of an 18-year-old local man, who died in a car accident last month.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said he had observed a noticeable decrease in crime around the town's centre since the curfew's introduction.

'We saw some burglaries in the suburbs and in some commercial premises but not on the same scale that we've seen previous to the curfew,' Mr Murphy said on Tuesday.

'The feedback from police officers and extra support providers has been overwhelmingly positive.'

Mr Murphy said some of the violence was in relation to the death of an 18-year-old man in a car accident last month.

About 60 additional police officers have been redeployed to Alice Springs from across the NT in response to a rise in anti-social and violent incidents.

Damage caused during one of the violent clashes in Alice Springs

An extra 20 police officers were deployed from South Australia this week following a request from the NT police commissioner.

Police have said there will be no criminal penalty for breaking the curfew, which will end at 6am next Tuesday morning.

Northern Territory MP Robyn Lambley welcomed the extension but warned it did not provide the local community with confidence and stability moving forward.

'It is great that this curfew is continuing but what is finishing as of tomorrow is full coverage of police outside of bottle shops and that's been one the most critical and successful strategies that this government has implemented we have,' Ms Lambley said.

'Without full coverage of our nine bottle shops, it means people have access to alcohol and they are not restricted in any profound way.

'It's one step forward and two steps back.'

The NT's Liberal opposition has released a statement calling to have the curfew extended until the end of April.
Qantas has launched a massive sale with cheap flights across the country and prices starting as low as $105.

The airline announced the launch of its 72-hour Surprise Sale on Tuesday offering great economy deals on 100 domestic routes.

The sale lasts just 72 hours with over one million seats to more than 60 destinations.

From a regional adventure, tropical escape or city break, prices start at just $105 one-way for travel between May and December 2024.

Fly from Sydney to Hamilton Island for under $200, with Melbourne to Adelaide and Brisbane to Sydney flights for under $150 one-way.

Hamilton Island (pictured) is one of the destinations on the Qantas Surprise Sale

The Qantas Surprise Sale fares are available on the Qantas website (Surfers Paradise)

Other deals include Sydney to the Gold Coast, Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Albury, Tamworth and Armidale for under $150.

Melbournians can fly to Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour or the Sunshine Coast for less than $200.

Flights from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island, Melbourne or Port Lincoln are less than $150.

Perth flights to Melbourne or Sydney are just $319.

The sale lasts just 72 hours with over one million seats to more than 60 destinations (Sydney)

Qantas has announced a Surprise Sale with great economy deals on 100 domestic routes across Australia (Melbourne)

The Qantas Surprise Sale fares are available on the Qantas website and from travel agents until 11.59pm (AEST) April 11, 2024 unless sold out.

Fares include checked baggage, complimentary food and beverages, free Wi-Fi on domestic aircraft and seat selection.

The sale is hot on Qantas announcing that Frequent Flyers will have access to over 20 million more reward seats with the launch of Classic Plus Flight Rewards.
Local and federal investigators are looking into a possible bombing at a Satanic Temple in the Massachusetts town of Salem.

Police reported that an unknown person tossed an explosive at the porch of the building at around 4.15am Monday.

It was nearly 12 hours before someone finally discovered the damage, as no one was in the building at the time.

Lucien Greaves, the co-founder and spokesperson for the temple, claims that this was an act of terror.

'It can't be overstated that this was definitely a horrific act of attempted terrorism and people could be hurt,' he said.

Local and federal investigators are looking into a possible bombing at a Satanic Temple in the Massachusetts town of Salem

'We have confidence that they will soon locate the perpetrator,' he told WHDH.

In an interview with the Boston Globe, he claimed to have actually given a tour of the building to a couple before the explosive was discovered.

'We came in through the back and did the whole tour, and all the while, on the front deck, I guess, was this bomb,' Greaves said.

Bomb technicians for the state and K9s swept the building to make sure the bomb was no longer capable of doing damage and that there were no other explosives on the premises, according to CBS Boston.

The authorities declared the investigation complete at around 7.15pm, saying the threat had been contained.

The temple has faced multiple threats in the past two years, including a Michigan man arrested in January for a planned attack and an alleged arson incident in 2022.

The Satanic Temple opened in the notoriously spooky town in 2016, pledging itself to 'fight a perceived intrusion of Christian values on American politics' more ardently than worshipping Satan.

It is not associated with the 1960s Church of Satan founded by Anton LeVay.

It's mission, their website claims, is: 'To encourage benevolence and empathy, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense, oppose injustice and undertake noble pursuits.'

Police reported that an unknown person tossed an explosive at the porch of the building at around 4.15am Monday. It was nearly 12 hours before someone finally discovered the damage done, as no one was in the building at the time

Local and federal investigators are looking into a possible bombing at a Satanic Temple in the Massachusetts town of Salem

Lucien Greaves, the co-founder and spokesperson for the temple, claims that this was an act of terror

'We find a real power in the mythology of Satan, but from a...perspective in which Satan is the ultimate rebel against tyranny,' Greaves said Monday.

An LGBTQ+ pride flag is prominently displayed on the same front porch that the explosive was thrown toward.

The new headquarters are housed in a Victorian-style home less than a mile away from Gallows Hill, the site where villagers executed over a dozen people suspected of witchcraft.

'The history of Salem is also part of the history of Satanism,' the organization's spokesperson, Greaves told DailyMail.com at the time of its opening.

In 2019, Satanic Temple was given section 501(c) tax exempt status, which put it in the same bracket as major religions such as Catholicism and organizations such as the Salvation Army.

The recognition means the temple, which has 16 chapters in the U.S. and thousands of followers around the world, can apply for certain federal grants.

Anyone who donates money to the group can also write it off as a tax deduction.
President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Tuesday to make Korea one of the three leading nations in the world in terms of artificial intelligence technology, saying AI chips are rapidly dominating the semiconductor market.

Yoon made the pledge during a meeting convened to discuss recent issues in the chip industry, including the partial suspension of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's operations in the wake of an earthquake in Taiwan and progress toward the construction of a chip mega cluster in Gyeonggi Province.

"Our country already has global competitiveness not only in hardware, such as chips and digital devices, but also in the digital sector, including in AI models and their use," he said during the meeting at the presidential office, which brought together executives from Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Naver and Sapeon Korea, as well as the ministers of finance, industry, science, environment and land.

"There aren't many countries with both the capability to manufacture hardware and develop and use software. I will push an AI chip initiative so that our country can enter the G3 in AI technology and go beyond memory chips to conquer the future AI chip market," he said, referring to the Group of 3.

The initiative will include increased investment in high bandwidth memory chips embedded with processing units and the development of next-generation AI technology, he said. To aid the effort, the government will invest 9.4 trillion won ($6.9 billion) in AI and AI chips by 2027 and create a 1.4 trillion-won fund to help the growth of AI chip companies, he said.

Yoon noted the chip sector has shown signs of recovery, posting $11.7 billion in exports last month, the most in 21 months.

He assured the government has been closely monitoring the impact of last week's deadly earthquake in Taiwan on global chip supply chains, with the impact on Korean businesses appearing minimal so far.

Still, he called for thorough readiness against future developments so that the government can respond immediately if necessary and prevent harm to domestic companies.

He also raised the need to keep abreast of efforts by the United States, Japan and European countries to strengthen their own chip supply chains, with the U.S. set to announce plans to support Samsung Electronics' investments in the country's chip sector.

Meanwhile, Yoon reaffirmed plans to begin construction on a chip industrial complex in Yongin, 42 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in 2026. The government will also supply power and industrial water needed for the construction of the chip mega cluster in southern Gyeonggi, he said. (Yonhap)
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

Millions of Aussies have been warned about using a popular Chinese retailer which came under scrutiny over concerns for customers' data.

Temu, an online marketplace owned by PDD Holdings, has become renowned for its low prices and duplicate replicas of more expensive brands.

The company moved their headquarters from China to Ireland last year but critics remained concerns about customer data being sent back to Shanghai.

Now Australian cyber safety expert Susan McLean has warned buyers to take crae before clicking on links encouraging them to purchase more products.

Australian cyber safety expert Susan McLean (pictured) has warned buyers to beware and never click the links they receive encouraging them to purchase more products

'I think every time you use online purchases or online shopping, there is a risk and we've seen that with other platforms being hacked over the years and people's credit card data being stolen,' she told Sunrise on Monday.

'But we know that anything that is linked back to China may have serious security risks.

'We know that Temu, for example, is collecting a lot of data  it's not hard to find that out.

'But the problem is people simply download the app and click 'I accept' without understanding what they're actually accepting.'

The ultra cheap online retailer is on track to reach a billion dollars in annual sales in the midst of a cost of living crisis

The ultra cheap online retailer is on track to reach $1billion in annual sales in the midst of a cost of living crisis.

'Few could have predicted that a mass market for ultra cheap throw-away retail existed in Australia,' said Roy Morgan's Chief Executive Officer, Michele Levine.

'Certainly, cost of living pressures have fueled both Shein and Temus stunning rise as Australians look to get more for their dollars.'

Despite its newfound popularity, some social media users remain skeptical the astonishingly low prices must just be too good to be true.

Tiktok user Katie Da Silva joined the chorus questioning Temu's bargain basement prices.

'I'm sitting here thinking, "Are you all selling your personal details and data by doing this?",' she said.

'There must be some sort of catch - like, I can't be the only one who thinks this is a bit suss.'

Temu said it collects information 'for the sole purpose of providing and enhancing its e-commerce service to users'.

'Temu does not ask for system permissions to access things like your photos, contacts, or location,' a spokesman told 7News.

'Temu does not share financial data with vendors.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Temu for further comment.
Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been hired by the nearby village of Dolton to investigator their mayor - whom has been branded 'America's worst.'

Self-described 'Super Mayor' Tiffany Henyard, 40, has been accused of embezzling taxpayer funds and retaliating against a victim of sexual assault - and last month vetoed an investigation into the allegations.

Lightfoot - who was ousted as mayor of Chicago last year - was approved by the village's board of trustees to investigate Henyard's alleged corruption at the cost of $400 per hour.

'I bring expertise in leading investigations of this kind and understand the complex challenges of governing. I will follow the facts where they lead, without bias, and reserve comments until the work is complete,' Lightfoot told the board Monday.

She may not get very far, however, as Henyard's mayoral powers extend to potentially vetoing the probe.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot may have a new job very soon, as she's been hired by the nearby village of Dolton, Illinois to investigator their mayor, whom many have called 'America's worst'

Self-described 'Super Mayor' Tiffany Henyard, 40, has been accused of embezzling taxpayer funds and retaliating against a victim of sexual assault - and last month vetoed an investigation into the allegations

Henyard, a Democrat, was not present for the meeting Monday where Lightfoot's investigation was approved.

Lightfoot is a former prosecutor who has been tasked by the board with 'All allegations of misconduct, and all internal investigations, if any, along with any village state and federal law violations,' Dolton Trustee Jason House said.

However, even if Henyard does allow the investigation, none of Lightfoot's findings have any authority to bring charges or impeachment against the Dolton mayor.

That, plus the $400 per hour price tag, has led the already cash-strapped village skeptical, according to ABC Chicago.

One speaker asked: 'At the end of the day, haven't gotten results from simple [Freedom of Information Act requests], so how are you going to be different?'

Lightfoot responded by describing herself as 'a very determined person' and hoped for the mayor's willingness to speak to her.

'It is my sincere hope that Mayor Henyard will voluntarily cooperate, but should they not, we are prepared to do what is necessary to get to the facts,' she said.

'It's obvious that a veto will happen, but we have the majority, but the four of us have the majority,' Dolton Trustee Kenia Belcher said.

Lightfoot - who was ousted as mayor of Chicago last year - was approved by the village's board of trustees to investigate Henyard's alleged corruption at the cost of $400 per hour

'I bring expertise in leading investigations of this kind and understand the complex challenges of governing. I will follow the facts where they lead, without bias, and reserve comments until the work is complete,' Lightfoot told the board Monday

Lightfoot may not get very far, however, as Henyard's mayoral powers extend to potentially vetoing the probe

'We are bleeding right now, and bleeding leads to death, death of a community, and we have to stop it.'

It is unclear what they can actually do to stop it, as Henyard continues to make national headlines for all the wrong reasons despite running a village of just 20,000 people.

The high-rolling mayor, who earns $300,000 for her public duties, has spent thousands more on first class trips, a professional hair and makeup team and a security detail.

She has been accused of unlawfully signing off contracts as dozens of unpaid suppliers threaten to take the town to court.

Henyard has also been accused by a former employee of sexual harassment and retaliation.

The former employee claims the mayor fired her after she said she was sexually assaulted at a work trip in Las Vegas.

'Us figuring out what happened in Vegas is extremely important for the residents,' said Dolton Board of Trustee member Brittney Norwood.

A year after her election, Dolton residents triggered a recall process largely due to her hiring of convicted sex offender Lavelle Redmond into a role that would require him to enter people's homes.

Henyard continues to make national headlines for all the wrong reasons despite running a village of just 20,000 people

The high-rolling mayor, who earns $300,000 for her public duties, has spent thousands more on first class trips, a professional hair and makeup team and a security detail

According to reporting at the time, the then-16-year-old Redmond and three others kidnapped and sexually assaulted two girls, ages 13 and 14.

At age 17, Redmond was sentenced to 50 years in prison but was paroled in 2016 and required to register as a sex offender. At the time Henyard defended the move, stating that convicts who have served time deserve a second chance.

However, the recall failed on a technicality and Henyard remained in post, turning up to the next board meeting blasting a disco song and dancing on the podium.

Following the verdict, she also posted a defiant picture on Instagram proclaiming herself the 'People's Mayor' with the caption, 'I am and forever will be Dolton's Mayor.'

The village board had voted through a motion to ask agencies including the FBI, the US attorney, the Cook County sheriff and Cook County state's attorney to investigate Henyard earlier this year.

Henyard vetoed the invitation, but FBI agents were already talking to dozens of people in the town of 20,000 about the unpaid bills.

The mayor has admitted a $2 million deficit, blaming the trustees for incompetence, but some fear the true figure could be as high as $5 million.

The town owes more than $427,000 to a company that repaved its streets, and another $400,000 to a tree-trimming company that worked for it last year.

The FBI is now investigating spending on limos, first class flights and a professional hair and makeup team

In one photo posted to Instagram, Henyard even appeared to pose with a dog laden with jewelry

Henyard even has a criminal past and a mugshot, having been arrested and charged with criminal trespass to vehicles in 2016, the New York Post reported

Henyard had her charity 'Tiffany Henyard Cares' shut down last month by the Illinois Attorney General amid claims it used taxpayer money and the services of public employees.

She and other officials are accused of spending more than $67,000 of public money on trips to Portland, Austin, Atlanta and New York City, traveling first-class on some of the flights, and spending $13,000 on a stay in New York.

'It's unfortunate that politics are being played. What's happened is a million dollars out of my budget have been cut because of politics,' Dolton Police Chief Lewis Lacey said.

The first female mayor in the town's 128-year history was at the White House meeting President Joe Biden in January, but she has been accused of shutting down businesses that refuse to donate to her campaign.

One resident, Lawrence Gardner, claimed that Henyard forced the closure of his trucking business after he refused to renew a $3,500 contribution to her political fund.

The mayor was slammed for hiring her former campaign worker as the town's code enforcement officer despite the fact he is a convicted child rapist.

She also raised eyebrows after spending hundreds of thousands of tax dollars on security details, including one occasion where she pulled cops off the street to perform a protection outfit.

A successful recall vote was overturned on a technicality last year prompting her to dance on a podium at the subsequent board meeting to the strains of Rihanna's 'B***h Better Have My Money'.

Heynard is under fire for hiring her former campaign worker Lavelle Redmond (pictured together, left) as a code enforcement officer. The 46-year-old is a registered child sex offender

'I am and forever will be Dolton's Mayor,' she posted on Instagram, prompting some to call her the 'Dolton Dictator.'

She has not been charged with an offense and is defiant against critics she claims 'should be ashamed of themselves'.

She also features heavily on professional stylist Brandon K Momom's account, sporting various ensembles handpicked for her public appearances.

Visitors to Henyard's website are greeted by a huge selfie and encouraged to offer donations.

Her antics have earned comparisons to the show Parks and Recreation, a comedy which pokes fun at local government employees.

Henyard even has a criminal past and a mugshot, having been arrested and charged with criminal trespass to vehicles in 2016, the New York Post reported.

DailyMail.com has contacted Mayor Henyard for comment.
The governor of Missouri has denied clemency for a man accused of killing his cousin and her husband nearly two decades ago - a day before his scheduled execution.

An attorney for the suspect - 52-year-old Brian Dorsey - called Governor Mike Parson's decision Monday 'devastating,' after a petition garnered statements from 72 current and ex-corrections officers who vouched that he client was reformed.

The petition also received support from a former Missouri Supreme Court justice and others, as two appeals are still pending before the US Supreme Court.

One focuses on Dorsey's record of good behavior during his 17 years of incarceration, as he is still scheduled to die by injection Tuesday night at the state prison in Bonne Terre.

The other says his life should be spared because his trial lawyers had a conflict of interest, due to a pair of public defenders being paid a $12,000 flat fee he claims provided them with no incentive to invest time in his case.

Brian Dorsey, 52, shot Sarah and Benjamin Bonnie, 28, in their Missouri home on December 23 2006. He has since spent 17 years in prison, and is scheduled to be executed Tuesday

Governor Mike Parson on Monday turned down the clemency request that would have saved Dorsey's life. The request included correspondence from current and former corrections officers - as well as a retired state supreme court justice - claiming the killer was reformed

'The Brian I have known for years could not hurt anyone,' one officer wrote as part of the petition to save Dorsey. 'The Brian I know does not deserve to be executed.'

In a letter to Parson as part of the clemency petition, former Missouri Supreme Court Justice Michael Wolff remarked how he was on the court when it turned aside an appeal of his death sentence in 2009.

Now, he said, that decision was wrong.

'Missouri Public Defenders now do not use the flat fee for defense in recognition of the professional standard that such an arrangement gives the attorney an inherent financial conflict of interest,' Wolff wrote of the killing of Sarah and Ben Bonnie on December 23, 2006.

Dozens more corrections officers also vouched for his rehabilitation while behind bars, as attorneys for Dorsey argued that he suffered from drug-induced psychosis at the time of the crime, adding that during his stint In prison, he's gotten clean.

Parson, a 68-year-old Republican, seemingly was not swayed these arguments, keeping with a theme of never granting a clemency request once during his four years as governor.

His office didn't immediately respond to requests for comment, as Dorsey's fate - pending any last minute intervention from the country's highest court - looks all but sealed.

His attorneys have also successfully appealed for him to be given pain relief if his execution does go ahead, on the basis his obesity and diabetes may mean he may require a particularly excruciating procedure to find a vein to inject the fatal dose.

Dorsey shot Sarah and Benjamin Bonnie dead in their bed while staying with the couple, before stealing their belongings and attempting to sell them

Former Missouri Supreme Court Justice Michael Wolff (pictured) and 72 current and ex corrections officers fought to save Dorsey's life, claiming he was born anew behind bars. Wolff was the one to hand down the death sentence in 2009, but recently said that was a mistake

Aside from being obese with diabetes, Dorsey is also a reformed intravenous drug user, his lawyers have pointed out - another factor that could make it more difficult to find a vein for injection, they say.

The Missouri Department of Corrections is thus taking measures to reduce Dorseys risk of suffering, after settling a federal lawsuit that said Dorsey could face tremendous pain if required to undergo whats known as a cutdown procedure to find a suitable vein

A cutdown procedure involves an incision that could be several inches wide, and then the use of forceps to pull apart tissue to get to a vein.

Parson, in turn, said in a press release Monday: 'Brian Dorsey punished his loving family for helping him in a time of need.

'His cousins invited him into their home where he was surrounded by family and friends, then gave him a place to stay.

'Dorsey repaid them with cruelty, inhumane violence, and murder.

'The pain Dorsey brought to others can never be rectified, but carrying out Dorseys sentence according to Missouri law and the Courts order will deliver justice and provide closure.'

Meanwhile, on his open lawyers' recommendation, Dorsey pleaded guilty despite having no agreement with prosecutors that he would be spared the death penalty - an agreement he is likely wishing he made as his execution is hours away

Parson, seemingly unswayed said of his decision in a press release: ' Brian Dorsey punished his loving family for helping him in a time of need. 'His cousins invited him into their home where he was surrounded by family and friends, then gave him a place to stay. Dorsey repaid them with cruelty, inhumane violence, and murder'

'The pain Dorsey brought to others can never be rectified, but carrying out Dorseys sentence according to Missouri law and the Courts order will deliver justice and provide closure,' the politician concluded, likely sealing the con's fate

If it goes through, Dorsey would be the first person in Missouri put to death this year after four executions in 2023. His appeals, as of early Tuesday morning, are still pending before the US Supreme Court.

Dorsey, formerly of Jefferson City, was convicted of killing his cousin, Sarah Bonnie, and her husband, Benjamin, at their home near New Bloomfield on December 23 2006.

Prosecutors said that earlier that day, Dorsey had called Sarah asking to borrow money to pay two drug dealers who were at his apartment.

The couple went to his home to help and took him back to their house with them where a few other relatives came over for food and drinks.

After they went to bed that night, Dorsey took a shotgun from the garage and killed both of them, shooting Sarah in the jaw and Benjamin in the side of the head, before sexually assaulting Sarah's body, prosecutors said.

He was never charged with sexual assault.

Sarah's parents found their bodies the next day. The couple's 4-year-old daughter was sat in the living room watching TV, unhurt.

Following the murders, Dorsey stole items from around the house, including Sarah's social security card, their car and Jade's copy of Bambi 2 and fled, driving around attempting to sell the goods.

On Christmas day, he called his mother and said he was trying to kill himself, before she convinced him to turn himself in.

He pleaded guilty in March 2008, and was sentenced to death for each murder. The sentence has since been appealed and upheld.

Dorsey's attorneys also had asked the Missouri Supreme Court to stay the execution on the grounds that the Department of Corrections' acting director has not been confirmed by the state Senate and is therefore unqualified to oversee an execution.

The court denied that request Friday.
Shocking doorstep video captures the terrifying moment before a beloved Florida elementary school teacher was killed by her pre-med student son.

Emmanuel Espinoza, 21, was seen hiding a knife behind his back as he attempted to open 46-year-old Elvia Espinoza's door on Saturday.

The student, dressed in light blue jeans and a navy-blue shirt, casually approached with one hand concealed behind his back.

'He knocked on the door, and his beautiful mother was so excited to see her son. She opened the door,' Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said as he played the footage during a press briefing.

Judd said Emmanuel charged in the house and started stabbing his mother the second the door was opened.

A shocking doorstep video captures the terrifying moment before Elvia Espinoza, 46, a beloved Florida elementary school teacher, was allegedly killed by her pre-med student son

Elvia Espinoza, 46, a beloved Florida elementary school teacher, was allegedly stabbed to death by her pre-med student son

Emmanuel Espinoza (pictured), 21, allegedly stabbed his mother in excess of 70 times' without saying one word

Emmanuel told investigators that he knew where to stab his mother for maximum effect because of his biology classes, according to Sheriff Judd.

He was traveling to attend a family event when his mother. Elvia asked if he would stay at her house for the weekend, according to authorities.

He arrived at the second-grade teacher's house around 2 pm, and when she opened the door, he allegedly stabbed her 'in excess of 70 times' without saying one word as Elvia screamed for 'many, many, many times,' Judd said.

The sheriff's office is holding off on releasing the audio from inside the house.

'We talked to him and he confessed, he said 'you know I have wanted to kill my mother for many, many years because she got on my nerves,'' said Judd.

Investigators found that Emmanuel stabbed his mom more when she was trying to get up off the floor.

He once again stabbed his mother more when he found Elvia's hands were still moving, Judd said.

'As soon as he murdered her, he dialed 911 and immediately confessed to the 911 operators.'

The sheriff said they asked Emmanuel about his relationship with his mother and he said that he really loved her, but she irritated him, so he decided to kill her.

'He once again told us that he loved his mom,' Judd said during Monday's briefing.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Emmanuel (second from the left) admitted to wanting to kill his mother (second from right) for years because 'she got on his nerves'

Polk County Public Schools confirmed to DailyMail.com Elvia was a second grade teacher at Frostproof Ben Hill Griffin Jr. Elementary

Emmanuel reportedly told detectives in his confession that he had cut his hand on the knife while stabbing his mother.

'And as he standing at the kitchen sink, washing himself off and the knife, he wanted to ask his mother for the Neosporin, for the cut on his hand. But he noticed she was dead,' the sheriff said.

Judd said Emmanuel has been cooperating with investigators and is charged with first-degree murder.

'And as he standing at the kitchen sink, washing himself off and the knife, he wanted to ask his mother for the Neosporin, for the cut on his hand. But he noticed she was dead,' the sheriff said.

Polk County Public Schools confirmed to DailyMail.com Elvia was a second-grade teacher at Frostproof Ben Hill Griffin Jr. Elementary.

'Her students and colleagues greatly loved her, and her sudden, unexpected death is a devastating loss. She was a very special part of her school family,' said the district.

The school made calls to the parents of all of her students and will have grief counselors available of the community Monday.

Tributes have been pouring in online for the beloved mother, teacher and community member.

The sheriff said they asked Emmanuel about his relationship with his mother and he said that he really loved her but she irritated him, so he decided to kill her

Tributes have been pouring in online for the beloved mother, teacher and community member

University of Florida pre-med student Emmanuel Espinoza (pictured) was driving from Gainesville to Frostproof when he decided to kill his mother

'Elvia always had a smile. Loved her family and her children. Was proud to be a teacher and worked hard to be one. She was one of my best students, a co-worker, and a fellow teacher, ' said Nancy Murray DeMarco.

'Elvia Espinoza was the sweetest person to me and my family she was always cheerful and kind,' said Sherry Dacres.

'So many memories of chatting outside at the end of a long day. She truly loved teaching and was so proud of being a grandma. What a sad day in our little town, rest in heaven my dear friend.'

'Elvia there aren't adequate words to describe what we're feeling. You were such a kind, sincere, loving and caring person that, to know you're gone makes the world a little more dim,' said Monica Alvarado.

'I always admired how you poured your heart into everything and everyone around you. We are all devastated beyond belief. Thank you Elvia for loving us and being everyone's biggest cheerleader. I love you and you are missed beyond measure.'
Heavy rain sparked chaos across Britain today as a holiday park was evacuated, train lines were blocked by flooding and more than 350 alerts or warnings were issued.

The River Arun burst its banks in West Sussex - with one rescue mission launched in Littlehampton, and others helped away from Medmerry holiday park near Wittering.

There was also major flooding in Hampshire, with residents in Alverstoke evacuated from dozens of homes and others in Langstone spotted canoeing along streets.

Flooding also impacted Great Western Railway trains between Liskeard and Looe in Cornwall; and South Western from Brockenhurst to Lymington in Hampshire. There were also delays between Salisbury and Westbury in Wiltshire due to a fallen tree.

Hundreds of areas were on flood watch - with the Environment Agency imposing 216 alerts for 'possible' flooding and 105 warnings for 'expected' flooding in England.

Natural Resources Wales had 13 warnings and 24 alerts in place, while the Scottish Environment Protection Agency activated seven warnings and 14 alerts.

Wind gusts hit 69mph on the Isles of Scilly overnight, while Aberdaron in West Wales had 60mph, Portland in Dorset 58mph and Needles on the Isle of Wight 56mph.

It comes as heavy rain and strong winds will continue to batter parts of southern England, western Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland over the next few days.

The Met Office has issued four warnings - two for wind and two for rain - for today and tomorrow. Winds on England's south coast and in western Wales could reach speeds of up to 65mph. And up to 2.4in (60mm) of rain is expected in Scotland.

Beach huts are falling towards the sea in Bournemouth today amid the severe weather

A VW Golf caught out by the high spring tide at Burnham Overy Staithe in Norfolk today

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Coastguard personnel watch as waves crash over the harbour wall at St Ives in Cornwall today

Commuters battle through wet and windy conditions on London Bridge this morning

The flooded restaurant at Medmerry holiday park near Bracklesham in West Sussex today

Huts at Castle Beach in Falmouth, Cornwall, are washed into the sea by strong waves today

The Environment Agency has 216 flood alerts (in amber) and 105 warnings (in red) for England

The Met Office has four warnings in place today and tomorrow - including three today (above)

In West Sussex, firefighters warned people in Littlehampton of severe floodwaters in the wake of Storm Kathleen.

READ MORE More chaos for commuters as train driver overtime ban sparks disruption on Britain's rail lines today ahead of wave of fresh London Tube strikes Advertisement

'Our crews are supporting rescue operations in Littlehampton near Ferry Road and Rope Walk where the River Arun has burst its banks, leading to severe flooding,' West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said on X.

'Residents should remain in their properties if it is safe to do so and get as high as possible within their homes.'

The service said anyone requiring lifesaving intervention should dial 999 to contact firefighters or the coastguard.

'Please avoid the area and remain in your homes where possible to allow our crews to work safely,' it added.

They were also dealing with a 'severe flooding incident' at Medmerry holiday park between Bracklesham and Selsey.

They urged anyone in the vicinity of the holiday park, which is also near the seaside resorts of East and West Wittering, to get to high ground if they were able to leave their homes.

South East Coast Ambulance confirmed a 'number of resources' were sent to help evacuate and rescue a number of people from the site.

'We've assessed and triaged a number of people at a nearby facility. One person showing signs of hypothermia has been taken to hospital,' it said on X.

Also in West Sussex, one resident of Shoreham-by-Sea told how flooding in the town was 'scary and unprecedented', after he stayed awake until the early hours putting flood defences around his property.

A wet and windy morning on London Bridge this morning, with Tower Bridge seen to the rear

Flooding near a caravan self-storage site near Rope Walk in Littlehampton, West Sussex, today

Beach huts are falling towards the sea in Bournemouth today amid the severe weather

Flooding today at the Medmerry holiday park between Bracklesham and Selsey in West Sussex

Flooding near a caravan self-storage site near Rope Walk in Littlehampton, West Sussex, today

Miserable conditions in the capital this morning as commuters cross London Bridge today

Beach huts are falling towards the sea in Bournemouth today amid the severe weather

Huts at Castle Beach in Falmouth, Cornwall, are washed into the sea by strong waves today

Commuters battle through wet and windy conditions on London Bridge this morning

Flooding today at the Medmerry holiday park between Bracklesham and Selsey in West Sussex

A VW Golf caught out by the high spring tide at Burnham Overy Staithe in Norfolk today

Beach huts are falling towards the sea in Bournemouth today amid the severe weather

Beach huts are falling towards the sea in Bournemouth today amid the severe weather

Flooding near a caravan self-storage site near Rope Walk in Littlehampton, West Sussex, today

Beach huts are falling towards the sea in Bournemouth today amid the severe weather

A VW Golf caught out by the high spring tide at Burnham Overy Staithe in Norfolk today

Beach huts are falling towards the sea in Bournemouth today amid the severe weather

Gareth Theobald, 36, said: 'I was out the front of the building and watching the water just get higher and higher and higher, and then helping or stopping traffic going into the floodwaters and then just watching in disbelief as the whole of Brighton Road and our multimillion-pound development was being engulfed by floodwaters.'

The industrial relations officer added: 'The amount of water is scary and unprecedented and those houses opposite our development are lower-ground flats and they were all flooded under a foot or so of water.'

He said he saw cars 'driving into the floods at speed as well and getting stuck' and that 'residents in the streets (were) trying to do what they can'.

And a business owner from Littlehampton said one area of the town has been 'devastated' by flooding after her parents, in their 70s, were evacuated from their home in the early hours of today.

Christine Coe, 54, the owner of Rita's Diner in Rope Walk, said her premises were 'luckily' untouched by the flood water but the situation was 'very bad', and her husband's workshops, where he runs a classic car business, were 'underwater'.

She said: 'Rope Walk is devastated. My parents are in their 70s, they live just off Rope Walk, and they are both shocked and dealing with being evacuated in the early hours of the morning.

'I've spoken with them, they're staying with family at the moment, but they can't come back to their bungalow because it's underwater.

'My husband and his business partner's two car units are underwater at the moment, they're just trying to get one of the cars out as the water was over the height of the car wheels, it's very bad down here.

'Where (Rita's Diner) is situated, the water comes down the side of it, luckily, so it hasn't actually come in yet, and I'm hoping it won't come in on the next tide. My main concern is for the residents and all the other businesses.'

In Hampshire, firefighters had to help people from their flooded properties in Alverstoke, near Portsmouth, to safety.

Areas of the county and the Isle of Wight - which is said to be experiencing its highest ever tides - have been left submerged after heavy rainfall.

Residents evacuate with a shopping trolley in flooded Cowes on the Isle of Wight this morning

People rescued from Littlehampton in West Sussex today after the River Arun burst its banks

A rescue mission in Littlehampton, West Sussex, today after the River Arun burst its banks

People huddle together wearing blankets after being rescued from Littlehampton this morning

A woman canoes through flood waters in Langstone near Havant in Hampshire today

Residents stand in flood water as they look at flooded homes in Langstone, Hampshire, today

A man wades through flood water in his shorts on Langstone high street in Hampshire today

Flooding at Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex this morning as hundreds of alerts are in place

A car on a flooded road in Shoreham-by-Sea this morning as West Sussex is hit by heavy rain

Flooding at Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex this morning as hundreds of alerts are in place

Flooding in Southampton, Havant and Hayling Island has also been reported, with many coastal roads impassable.

Red Jets and Hovertravel crossings to the Isle of Wight were suspended today due to the weather.

Areas of the Isle of Wight once again found themselves underwater in the latest flooding nightmare as all shops on Cowes High Street were affected.

East Cowes councillor Karl Love said: 'It was really quite a long night for me and other councillors who came out. We haven't seen this before.

'We have had one of the highest tides we have ever seen. It flooded in a very different place this time. Whilst it only lasts for a about an hour and a half it's done a lot of damage to our local community.'

Asked when he had last seen similar flooding, Mr Love added: 'This particular type of flooding is going back 20 or 30 years.

'This was flooded in a place we just didn't expect it to flood, so quickly and so rapidly. We were very lucky the strong winds predicted didn't come until later.'

Also in Hampshire, flooding is affecting the railway at Lymington Pier.

Trains may be cancelled, delayed, or revised because of this problem, said South Western Railway, adding that replacement buses had been requested between Lymington Pier and Brockenhurst. The disruption is expected to last until 10am.

WIND WARNING 1: A warning for south coast between 9pm last night and 9am this morning

WIND WARNING 2: A second alert for western Wales is between 1am today and 3pm today

RAIN WARNING 1: Up to 2.4in (60mm) could fall in Scotland between 1am and 6pm today

RAIN WARNING 2: A second rain warning for Scotland in place from 9am tomorrow until 6pm

On the Great Western Railway, flooding between Clifton Down and Severn Beach means all lines are closed as water has risen above the tracks on the branch line.

READ MORE Emergency crews rescue van driver stuck in deluge as nearly 300 flood warnings are in place across the UK with 75mph 'danger to life' gales on the way after Met Office issues urgent yellow weather warnings Advertisement

Trains running to and from Severn Beach will run between Taunton/Weston-super-Mare/Bristol Temple Meads and Clifton Down only. This is expected to continue until approximately 10am.

In Pembrokeshire, Dyfed-Powys Police urged motorists to avoid the area around the A487 at Penycwm after it was closed due to surface water.

The Met Office issued four separate yellow weather warnings spanning today and tomorrow.

A yellow weather warning for England's southern coast, including Southampton and Brighton, says winds are expected to reach 45 to 55mph, peaking at 65mph in some areas before easing off from 9am today.

Another yellow weather warning for the west coast of Wales has been issued between 1am and 3pm today, when 'a spell of strong winds' will affect the region with gusts reaching up to 65mph overnight.

In Scotland, the Met Office issued two yellow warnings covering part of the mainland for today and another for tomorrow, after much of the country was battered by Storm Kathleen at the weekend.

A yellow rain warning covering south and eastern regions, including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, is in place from 1am to 6pm today, amid fears that some communities could be cut off by floods.

Meteorologists also predicted that homes and businesses could be flooded, particularly in southern Scotland and the south of the Central Lowlands, along with possible road closures today.

Another yellow warning was issued for rain tomorrow covering the west, including Glasgow, Oban, Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire, and Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, which were predicted to be hit by heavy rain with the risk of flooding between 9am and 6pm.

READ MORE Will winter EVER end? Weather alert for 17 hours of rain today - with more still to come Advertisement

The Met Office warned people to anticipate that bus and train journeys would take longer on both days, while drivers were told to be aware of spray and flooding on the roads adding additional travel time.

Between 20 and 40mm of rain is expected across most areas, but some places could see as much as 50 and 60 mm of rainfall, the weather service said.

Oli Claydon, meteorologist from the Met Office, said: 'With the rain warnings, it's just a case of knowing your flood risk. The rain pushes further north quite quickly before the wind comes into play.'

The weather service also warned rain and wind could cause disruption to rail and road travel across the UK, as driving conditions worsen because of slippery road surfaces and limited visibility.

Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said that while these levels of rainfall would not be a 'huge cause for concern' on their own, they will fall onto 'already saturated ground' which increases the risk of flooding.

Met Office provisional statistics showed that England saw a record amount of rainfall in the 18 months to March. Mr Partridge said the past three months in particular had made for a 'very wet start to the year'.

Coastguard personnel look at floodwater on the harbourside at St Ives in Cornwall today

Waves overflow onto the street in the harbour of St Ives in Cornwall this morning

Coastguard personnel watch as waves crash over the harbour wall at St Ives in Cornwall today

Waves overflow onto the street in the harbour of St Ives in Cornwall this morning

Waves crash over the harbour wall and onto the street in St Ives, Cornwall, this morning

Waves strike waterfront properties in the harbour at St Ives in Cornwall this morning

Waves overflow onto the street in the harbour of St Ives in Cornwall this morning

Boats moored in the harbour as waves strike waterfront properties in St Ives, Cornwall, today

Coastguard personnel watch as waves crash over the harbour wall at St Ives in Cornwall today

Waves crash over the harbour wall and onto the street in St Ives, Cornwall, this morning

Waves overflow onto the street this morning in the harbour at St Ives in Cornwall

Waves overflow onto the street in the harbour of St Ives in Cornwall this morning

Coastguard personnel watch as waves crash over the harbour wall at St Ives in Cornwall today

Waves strike waterfront properties in the harbour in St Ives, Cornwall, this morning

Waves overflow onto the street in the harbour of St Ives in Cornwall this morning

The lighthouse at Gwithian is seen from St Ives in Cornwall this morning

Waves crash over the harbour wall and onto the street in St Ives, Cornwall, this morning

Floodwater spreads across the street in the early morning at St Ives in Cornwall today

The Cornish coast at Gwithian is seen from St Ives amid severe weather this morning

Waves crash over the harbour wall and onto the street in St Ives, Cornwall, this morning

In April, Storm Kathleen caused widespread travel disruption as hundreds of flood alerts were issued and thousands of homes lose power.

Mr Partridge added: 'We'll continue with very unsettled weather as we head into spring, which is usually when we start to see things settle down a little bit more.

'We're continuing with one area of low pressure after another, which is mainly down to the fact that the jet stream is a bit further south than it would normally be at this time of year.'

He said it would be a 'blustery day' in England today but there would not be 'huge totals of rain'.

He added: 'In many ways, the threshold for rainfall warnings is lower than it would be ordinarily just because the groundwater levels are so high at the moment.'

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service carry out rescue operations in Littlehampton today

Emergency teams rescue stranded residents from properties in Littlehampton this morning

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service carry out rescue operations in Littlehampton today

Emergency teams rescue stranded residents from properties in Littlehampton this morning

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service carry out rescue operations in Littlehampton today

Emergency crews carry equipment as they wade through flood waters in Littlehampton today

Emergency crews carry supplies on a rubber dinghy as they respond in Littlehampton today

Ambulances line up in a car park in Littlehampton as emergency services respond today

The inside of a car garage is flooded in inches of water in Littlehampton this morning

The second half of the week should be a 'bit drier' with warm temperatures in the south of the UK, before returning to normal over the weekend, he added.

He said: 'It's actually quite warm conditions for the time of year - we could see 19C or 20C across eastern and southeastern parts of the UK come Thursday and Friday.

'But the north will always stay quite unsettled.'

Harry Walton, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: 'Due to a combination of spring tides and strong winds generating storm surge and large waves, minor coastal flooding impacts are probable for parts of England on Monday and Tuesday.

'Environment Agency teams are out on the ground, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding and support those communities affected.

'We urge people to stay safe on the coast, take extreme care on coastal paths and promenades, and we advise people not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.'
Millions of Aussies have been warned of wild weather adding to commuter delays from last week's deluge.

Sydney commuters should expect transport chaos as a massive rainbomb dumps between 4-15mm of rain across the city on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned coastal communities from Sydney to Coffs Harbour to prepare for gale-force winds.

The Bureau also warned of dangerous surf conditions from Sydney to Forster and urged against activities such as rock fishing.

It comes just as communities started the gruelling task of cleaning up after a monster storm battered the East Coast on Friday.

Sydney-siders are set to be smashed by yet another storm on Tuesday afternoon which could cause more chaos for commuters after last weekend's deluge damaged roads and railways

READ MORE: Landslide leaves Blue Mountains community stranded Advertisement

The clean up effort also limited public transport routes for Sydney commuters on Tuesday morning, forcing Transport NSW to urge thousands to work from home.

Track repairs were needed in multiple locations in and around Sydney after the deluge caused landslips that damaged rail infrastructure.

Up to 250 workers from Sydney Trains are set to begin making those repairs, but the track work is expected to cause delays.

'Passengers should allow for extra travel time, check indicator boards, listen to station announcements, and plan their trip ahead of time,' a statement from Transport NSW reads.

'Sydney Trains thanks passengers for their patience while we work to recover the network.'

Train tracks along the line at Bomaderry, Port Kembla and Coalcliff Yard were seen flooded, damaged or covered in debris on Tuesday morning.

Services on the South Coast Line to Port Kembla and Kiama have resumed but on a reduced weekend timetable.

'Buses replace trains between Bomaderry and Kiama while we work to restore services,' Sydney Trains wrote on X.

Those driving around city should also 'take extreme care' as the intense rainfall could have deteriorated some roads or caused potholes.

The warnings come after more than a month's worth of rain fell over Sydney, Port Macquarie and Taree on Friday, delaying trains, cutting power and leading to evacuation alerts.

The NSW State Emergency Service was involved in more than 70 flood rescues in the Sydney metropolitan area by Saturday morning and had received more than 4,000 calls in 24 hours.

Train tracks along Sydney's South Coast Line were seen partially underwater or severely damaged by weekend's deluge

Bouts of rainfall are expected to be followed by gale force winds and dangerous surf conditions along the East Coast

NSW Police confirmed a body was found in Western Sydney floodwaters after the torrential downpour.

Emergency services were called to King St in Penrith at about 7.45am on Saturday morning, after a member of the public reported a man's body in water near a reserve.

A statement from NSW Police said officers from Nepean Police Area Command had established a crime scene, and said the man has yet to be formally identified.

Friday's monster storm also destroyed the only road into Megalong Valley, a small town just west of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains.

About 200 residents and visitors had managed to evacuate through a private property on Sunday night, aided by a bulldozer that cleared a path.

Those staying behind to support the town are now waiting anxiously for a temporary fix for the broken thoroughfare and reconnect the town.

In the meantime, the Rural Fire Service will continue to airdrop food, essential supplies and food into the town.
A Federal Court judge will hand down his judgement in Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case against Channel Ten and Lisa Wilkinson in a matter of days.

Mr Lehrmann launched defamation proceedings over an episode of The Project in February 2021, during which Brittany Higgins went public with her rape allegations for the first time in an interview with Wilkinson.

Ms Higgins alleged Mr Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House in March 2019, when they were both staffers working for the Liberal Party.

He was not named in the broadcast but claimed friends and colleagues were able to identify him as the alleged rapist. He has always maintained his innocence.

The month-long trial was heard before Justice Michael Lee in December, with judgement initially set down for 10.15am on April 4.

However, the matter was reopened last Tuesday after Network Ten successfully argued there was new evidence from former Channel Seven employee Taylor Auerbach which was not available during the trial.

On Tuesday afternoon, the court announced the judgement would now be handed down at 10.15am on April 15.

Brittany Higgins (pictured, centre) alleged Bruce Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House in 2019. He denies the allegations

Bruce Lehrmann (pictured outside court) sued Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson

Justice Lee will deliver his reasons orally and he will release a written judgement on the court's website.

Ten's application to reopen the case hinged evidence by Mr Auerbach, who was on the team responsible for securing exclusive interviews with Mr Lehrmann on Channel Seven's Spotlight program.

Mr Auerbach was called to the witness stand on Thursday and accused Mr Lehrmann of leaking confidential texts and recordings to Seven ahead of his exclusive interviews, which aired in June and August last year.

The information had originally been collected by Australian Federal Police during the investigation into Ms Higgins' rape allegations, before parts of it were broadcast during Mr Lehrmann's Spotlight interviews.

Evidence collected during a police investigation is protected by the Harman undertaking, which means it cannot be used outside a particular court case unless it is released by a court.

Mr Auerbach also claimed Channel Seven paid thousands of dollars to cover Mr Lehrmann's cocaine, prostitutes and lavish dinners to try and entice him into signing a deal for exclusive interviews.

The defamation claim was over an interview Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) did with Brittany Higgins in February 2021

The network and Mr Lehrmann have denied those claims.

He then accused his former bosses of bullying and anti-Semitism.

Wilkinson's barrister Barry Dean told the court on Thursday that Mr Auerbach's evidence was to be believed, partly because he 'came to this court and freely made submissions'.

However, Justice Lee suggested otherwise, saying: 'Yeah but there's a question about why he did that.'

During his cross-examination by Mr Lehrmann's barrister Matthew Richardson SC, Mr Auerbach admitted that he 'hated' his former Spotlight boss, Steve Jackson.

On Thursday, Justice Lee pointed out that it was uncommon for someone to sit in the witness box and say they 'hate' another person.

'One could rationally form the view that this is a man who desperately wanted to do as much damage to his previous employer as he could conceivably do,' he said.

'He's a man who wanted to make a range of allegations against people under absolute privilege.'

Evidence given in court is not subject to defamation proceedings.

Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case was reopened on Tuesday due to new evidence from former Seven employee, Taylor Auerbach

Justice Lee noted that did not mean Mr Auerbach was 'not a truth-teller'.

If the judge finds that Mr Lehrmann was identified as Ms Higgins' alleged rapist as a result of the broadcast, the parties will rely on defences of truth and qualified privilidged.

To win the truth defence, the network and Wilkinson would have to prove that Mr Lehrmann did rape Ms Higgins on a balance of probability, which means the judge would have to find it is more likely to have happened than not.

This differs from a criminal trial, where the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the alleged incident did happen.

If the truth defence is unsuccessful, they will rely on a defence of qualified privilege, which means Ms Higgins allegations were a matter of public interest if the media outlet acted reasonably.

Justice Lee could make different findings against Network Ten and Wilkinson.
Bill Shorten has launched a furious bid to block one of Australia's worst rapists from receiving a support package from the National Disability Insurance Scheme when he is released from prison amid fears he could strike again.

Wayne Wilmot, who was involved in the 1988 gang rape and murder of bank teller Janine Balding and is now aged in his early 50s, is set to be released from custody after spending almost his entire adult life in prison.

This is despite a forensic psychologist finding he poses a 'significant risk' of reoffending because he remains 'supportive of sexual violence towards women'.

The Australian reported Wilmot had received an NDIS support package, including up to 24 hours help each week with reintegrating into society due to his severe personality disorder and psychopathic tendencies.

But now NDIS Minister Bill Shorten has revealed his office is working to block Wilmot's funding and insisted the responsibility for community safety lies with NSW Corrective Services.

'The NDIS cannot be responsible for criminals who are on parole,' Mr Shorten told Daily Mail Australia.

'Being a criminal is a not a disability. Being a sex predator is not a disability.'

Wayne Wilmot (pictured, left), who is now aged in his early 50s and who was involved in the 1988 gang rape and murder of bank teller Janine Balding (pictured below), is set to be released from custody after spending almost his entire adult life in prison

But now Bill Shorten (pictured), Minister for NDIS, has revealed his office is working to block Wilmot's funding and said the responsibility for community safety lies with NSW Corrections

READ MORE: How the NDIS is spending millions of taxpayer dollars to help rapists and sexual deviants live in your neighbourhood - with one paedophile receiving $1.4m Hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars are being spent by the NDIS to support rapists and paedophiles find secure accommodation following their release from jail Advertisement

'We do not believe it is appropriate for this person to receive NDIS-funded community support in this case, and we are working to ensure this is the outcome within the law.

Mr Shorten said the wider issue of criminals self-managing their NDIS plans had been 'festering' for years but the Albanese government was committed to halting it.

'The NDIS cannot be the dumping ground for state justice systems to keep Australians safe from violent criminals,' he said.

'I am writing to the states to demand they start reporting and stop keeping the NDIA in the dark when a serious criminal is released from their jails.'

Mr Shorten insisted the state governments needed to step up and deal with law and order issues.

Wilmot's extensive criminal history officially began with a sex attack on a woman walking through a park when he was 13, after which he reportedly said 'I've ... got a problem' and 'This is not the first time I've done this'.

He later served eight years for his role in the abduction, rape and murder of Ms Balding, committed when he was 15.

The 20-year-old bank teller was grabbed from a Sydney train station by a gang of homeless youths with one of them overheard saying 'why dont we get a sheila and rape her'.

Ms Balding was held at knifepoint and repeatedly raped.

Wilmot remained in the car when Ms Balding was then bound, gagged and thrown over a fence before being held underwater in a dam until she drowned.

He has committed sexual offences against women and men, involving at least eight victims including a woman he beat, bound and raped at another Sydney train station in 1998.

The sentencing judge found the victim 'was subjected to extreme brutality and sexual violation', which had a devastating impact on her.

The 20-year-old bank teller (pictured) was grabbed from a Sydney train station by a gang of five homeless youths before she was repeatedly raped

In 2019, Wilmot was ordered to stay in jail under a continuing detention order (CDO), despite serving his sentence.

In granting the CDO, Justice Julia Lonergan noted Wilmot's 'appalling criminal history and pattern of offending' and ruled that he posed an 'unacceptable risk of committing another serious offence if not kept in detention under the order'.

He also blamed his victims, lacked insight, and had a personality disorder and antisocial and aggressive traits and behaviours.

Another CDO was granted but now the state of NSW has been granted an interim extended supervision order.

This means Wilmot can be released from custody under extremely strict supervisions monitoring his movements and internet use.

'Supervision will be at a high level, with the defendant required to adhere to a schedule of movements, observe a curfew (9pm to 6am), and wear an electronic monitoring device,' Justice Wilson reportedly said.

Mr Shorten (pictured) said 'the NDIS cannot be the dumping ground for state justice systems to keep Australians safe from violent criminals'

The NSW Supreme Court heard a forensic psychologist's report found that Wilmot felt entitled to 'simply take whatever he wants', believing some women 'deserve sexual violence depending upon their clothing, level of intoxication, or perceived permissiveness'.

The psychologist told the court that the risk Wilmot posed was 'most likely to involve a penetrative sexual attack upon a young woman previously unknown to him'.

'Any offence would probably be impulsive, opportunistic, and target a vulnerable woman,' the psychologist said.

'Physical coercion and threats would likely be employed. The risk of such a scenario eventuating is well above average.'

Wilmot's case will be heard again on Thursday.

A spokesperson for the National Disability Insurance Agency, responsible for implementing the NDIS, said Corrections NSW was in charge of the management of Wilmot's eventual release.

'The NDIS is not responsible or designed to address community safety,' the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that final NDIS supports are not yet determined for Wilmot.

'Should a participant have a criminal history involving violent crime, the NDIA can and does place an alert on their file and takes measures to apply tighter plan management settings that restrict the participant to only use registered providers for NDIS services.,' the spokesperson said.

'Should a participant be identified as a potential risk, the NDIA may also take action to ensure only appropriate persons (e.g. only male workers) are able to deliver these supports.'
Ex-postmistress Jo Hamilton has claimed the Post Office brand is 'damaged beyond repair' following the aftermath of the Horizon scandal.

The 66-year-old appeared on Good Morning Britain earlier today and said she believes the Post Office needs to be put under new management in the wake of what is one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in UK legal history.

Mrs Hamilton, a sub-postmaster at South Warnborough, Hampshire, was one of hundreds of Post Office employees who were convicted of theft, fraud and false accounting between 1999 and 2015 due to faults in Fujitsu's Horizon system.

Glitches in the IT system used by the Post Office meant money looked as if it was missing from many branch accounts, when in fact it was not. For more than two decades, sub-postmasters complained the system was faulty.

Her appearance on GMB comes as prominent campaigner Alan Bates will give evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry, as the investigation enters a significant phase.

In the last few weeks it has emerged that Paula Vennells, who was CEO of the Post Office between 2012 and 2019, was told in 2013 that there had been allegations the Horizon system could be accessed remotely, something she later told a committee of MPs was not possible.

Ex-postmistress Jo Hamilton who today claimed the Post Office brand is 'damaged beyond repair' following the aftermath of the Horizon scandal

Prominent campaigner Alan Bates who will today give evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry

Former chief executive Paula Vennells, who led the Post Office at the height of the scandal. She will face the inquiry in late May

Asked about what she thought of the Post Office now, Mrs Hamilton told presenter Kate Garraway: 'I do think the brand is broken beyond repair.

'It would be lovely to see someone take the whole thing over and run with it as something else and a proper contract negotiated.

'Because the postmasters are paid nothing. The wage that they receive or their remuneration is awful.'

In 2006, Mrs Hamilton, a sub-postmaster at South Warnborough, Hampshire, was sacked over financial discrepancies.

She re-mortgaged her house twice to fill the shortfall and was charged with theft of 36,000. She later admitted a lesser charge of false accounting to avoid jail.

Her story recently became the subject of an ITV drama titled Mr Bates vs The Post Office

Glitches in the Horizon IT system used by the Post Office meant money looked as if it was missing from many branch accounts, when in fact it was not.

The scandal, which was ongoing from 1999 until 2015, represents one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in UK legal history.

More than 900 sub-postmasters were convicted of theft, fraud and false accounting of which more than 100 have had their convictions quashed by the Court of Appeal.

For more than two decades, sub-postmasters complained the system was faulty

Joi Hamilton (right) appearing on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, with presenters Kate Garraway and Ed Balls

Asked about what she thought of the Post Office now, Mrs Hamilton told presenter Kate Garraway: 'I do think the brand is broken beyond repair'

Mrs Hamilton, a sub-postmaster at South Warnborough, Hampshire, was sacked over financial discrepancies in 2006

The South Warnborough Post Office which Mrs Hamilton ran when she became caught up in the Horizon scandal

The inquiry is now entering phases five and six, which will look at governance, redress and how the Post Office and others responded.

It will today hear from Mr Bates , who founded the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, and led a group of 555 subpostmasters who took the Post Office to the High Court over the scandal.

Other prominent witnesses soon to give evidence include Lord Arbuthnot, member of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board and former MP for North East Hampshire, who campaigned for years on behalf of subpostmasters.

Earlier today subpostmistress Jacqueline Franklin told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she wanted to see, 'honesty, truth and to let people know what's happened instead of covering everything up and white-washing what's been going on'.

'These people at the top have just hidden the truth from postmasters. It took a TV programme to bring this to the fore.

'It shouldn't have happened, it should have been out there and the truth should be out there. We need to know the truth.'

Ms Franklin, who took over a Warwickshire post office from her mother, who died in 2019, added: 'We spent evenings looking for money which had gone missing.

'We were always told that we had to make good the cash, so cash had to be made good out of your own pockets.'

Former chief executive Paula Vennells, who led the Post Office at the height of the scandal, will face the inquiry in late May.

More than 900 sub-postmasters were convicted of theft, fraud and false accounting between 1999 and 2015 due to faults in Fujitsu's Horizon system. Pictured: Some of the convicted postmasters celebrate as their convictions are quashed in 2021

For more than two decades, sub-postmasters complained Fujitsu's Horizon system was faulty (Stock image)

Ms Vennells, who led Post Office Ltd between 2012 and 2019, has come under fire over why hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongly prosecuted for fraud and false accounting under her watch.

Ms Vennells, who joined the Post Office in 2007, handed back her CBE for services to the Post Office and to charity, after the screening of ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office and ensuing public anger.

She told the PA news agency in a statement that she would 'support and focus on co-operating with the inquiry'.

She added: 'I have so far maintained my silence as I considered it inappropriate to comment publicly while the inquiry remains ongoing and before I have provided my oral evidence.

'I now intend to continue to focus on assisting the inquiry and will not make any further public comment until it has concluded.'

Covert recordings obtained by ITV and Channel 4 show Vennells was told in 2013 that there had been allegations the Horizon system could be accessed remotely, something she later told a committee of MPs was not possible.

It later emerged that subpostmasters' Horizon accounts could be accessed remotely by staff working at Fujitsu's headquarters in Bracknell.

Vennells was filmed being questioned by Channel 4's Alex Thomson, who asked the former Post Office boss whether she lied as part of a 'cover-up'.

In a video posted by Channel 4 on X, Thomson approaches Vennells while she is on her bike, asking: 'Paula, you're accused of lying to MPs, did you lie to MPs?'

He adds: 'You're accused of being at the centre of a major cover-up in this whole issue. Would you accept that there's been a cover up?

'There is a lot of evidence that there's been a cover-up.'

Vennells remains silent, only addressing someone she knows at the scene, smiling and saying: 'See you soon.'

Vennells is pictured on the right and she is questioned by Channel 4's Alex Thomson

Former Post Office boss Vennells is seen leaving her local village church in February 2022

Angela van den Bogerd, former Post Office head of partnerships, Adam Crozier, who was chief executive of Royal Mail from February 2003 to 2010, and Dame Moya Greene, who replaced him and left in 2018, will all give evidence at the Post Office Inquiry in the coming weeks.

Conservative ministers who will be questioned over their role as the scandal developed include Greg Clark, business secretary from 2016-2019, Kelly Tolhurst, postal services minister from July 2018 to February 2020, Margot James, who held the role between July 2016 and January 2018, and Cabinet Office minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe, who was postal affairs minister in 2015.

Liberal Democrat politicians Sir Vince Cable, the former business secretary, party leader Sir Ed Davey, who was postal affairs minister from May 2010 to February 2012, and Jo Swinson, postal affairs minister from September 2012 to May 2015, will all appear as witnesses.

Labour shadow cabinet member Pat McFadden, who was postal affairs minister from June 2007 to June 2009, will also be questioned.

Closing statements are expected to be given in late July.
Ms Higgins also gave three reasons as to why she 'didn't lie'

Brittany Higgins has questioned whether she was allegedly drugged and raped in Parliament House, fresh court documents reveal.

The revelations were made in a submission written by lawyer Nicholas Owens SC on Ms Higgins' behalf and tendered to the Federal Court on Tuesday in Bruce Lehrmann's defamation trial.

In her submissions, Ms Higgins responded to questions raised about her controversial taxpayer-funded $2.4million compensation package.

And she gave three key reasons why she says she did not lie while giving evidence about her alleged rape.

Mr Lehrmann sued Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson over an episode on The Project in 2021, during which Ms Higgins first alleged Mr Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House when they were both Liberal staffers in 2021.

Mr Lehrmann strongly denies the allegations. He was not named in the broadcast but claims friends and family members were able to identify him as the alleged rapist.

Justice Michael Lee invited Ms Higgins to make a submission to 'avoid any suggestions that she was denied procedural fairness' before he delivered his judgement, which has now been set for 10.15am on Monday.

Brittany Higgins (pictured) made submissions to the Federal Court on Thursday

'A number of allegations have been made arising out of the evidence prior to the reopening concerning the behaviour of most particularly Ms Higgins,' Justice Lee said on Thursday.

'Certainly in relation to Ms Higgins, it's going to be necessary for me to make findings.'

In her submission, Ms Higgins pointed out that she was only a witness in the defamation trial in December, and not a party to the proceedings.

Ms Higgins said she would have more rigorously explored some of the evidence tendered to the court which may have called her credibility into question.

'Was I drugged?'

One example she used was a document called the 'master chronology', tendered by former Channel Seven employee Taylor Auerbach last Tuesday, noting an entry by senior Australian Federal Police officer Leanne Cross.

According to the document, that entry was a record of a phone call Ms Cross had with Ms Higgins' former bosses in April 2019, then-defence industry minister Linda Reynolds and her chief of staff Fiona Brown.

In Ms Higgins' submission, Ms Cross had said: 'I also have concerns from info I heard that this may have happened before or could happen again. (I was referring to info that alleged victim may have been drugged).

'[AFP officer Paul Sherring]  we need to speak to a range of people. Security staff cleaners may have info.'

Ms Higgins said in the document that she was not aware of any suggestion that she was drugged, and said the topic had not been 'raised or explored in these proceedings'.

'While there is evidence now that there was 'info' that Ms Higgins was drugged ... the basis upon which the concerns were held was not explored,' she said.

'In the context of a serious challenge to the honesty and accuracy of Ms Higgins' account of the events of the night in question, the potential that her perceptive and recollective abilities may have been affected other than by alcohol and trauma is an issue that she would have wished to explore.'

Brittany Higgins is pictured in white, next to Bruce Lehrmann in a light blue shirt, at the pub before her alleged rape

The $2.4million compensation claim

Ms Higgins said in her submission that the nature and purpose of her $2.4million settlement deed with the Commonwealth was not explored by the court, and it would therefore be 'grossly unfair' to use it against her.

Her civil claim against the Commonwealth was settled in December 2022 after just one day of mediation, and 10 days after the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the sexual assault charge against Mr Lehrmann.

The claim was over her alleged treatment after her sexual assault allegations in Parliament House, despite the fact that the allegations have never been proven.

The deed of settlement was released during the defamation trial in December. Ms Higgins had told the court the Albanese government admitted liability and 'breached its duty of care and didn't go through proper processes'.

However, the deed specifically stated that all claims were settled 'without any admission of liability'.

It attracted criticism because there were key differences between the evidence she gave about her alleged rape in court and the evidence presented in the deed.

In her submission, Ms Higgins said the deed was settled soon after the rape trial and that she had been hospitalised due to mental health concerns around that period of time.

Bruce Lehrmann is pictured outside court. He strongly denies that he raped Brittany Higgins

It is for that reason that she said in her submission that 'any findings of dishonesty' could not be made in relation to the contents of the deed.

'There is no proper basis in the evidence in these proceedings upon which to make any findings as to Ms Higgins' subjective state of mind upon which any finding of dishonesty could be made in relation to the contents of the deed,' it said.

Ms Higgins was not cross-examined about the contents of the deed and therefore did not have an opportunity to explain it or justify particular inclusions, she said.

Her submission also said that Ms Higgins 'is not a lawyer' and therefore not familiar with a 'complex formal document in the same way that a lawyer is or would be', and used the example of the moment she wrongly told the court the government accepted liability.

'To suggest, for example, that her evidence that the Commonwealth 'came to an agreement that a failure of a duty of care was made' is dishonest because the Deed ... says no admission of liability was made ... goes absolutely nowhere,' she said.

'From the perspective of a non-lawyer, her claim to that effect had been resolved by the payment of a substantial amount of money. This attack is a highly subtle point, which was never put to Ms Higgins in cross-examination.

'There is simply no basis upon which it could be said to bespeak dishonesty.

Lisa Wilkinson (pictured outside court) is also being sued by Mr Lehrmann over her TV interview with Ms Higgins

'I didn't lie': Brittany's three reasons

Ms Higgins also rejected Mr Lehrmann's claims that she is dishonest, and provided three reasons why.

Her first reason hinged on a submission by Mr Lehrmann that asked why Ms Higgins lied to Ms Brown, her former, boss about going to a doctor in the days after her alleged assault.

Ms Higgins argued that she gave 'powerful' evidence to explain her 'conflicted and traumatised response' in the period after her alleged rape, suggesting it was 'entirely consistent with contemporary understanding of the reaction of victims of sexual assault'.

Her second reason was based on the difference between making a statement that is dishonest versus making a statement that is wrong, and referenced her own previous submissions when she said 'she did not receive any emails from Mr Lehrmann before work on the Monday after the weekend of the incident'.

'To suggest that a rape victim is dishonest because they did not recall such a trifling matter in the immediate aftermath of their rape, is to ignore both the trauma caused by the rape, and ordinary human experience of memory in relation to minor details.'

'One thing that emerged very clearly from Ms Higgins' evidence was her preparedness to accept that something she genuinely thought had happened, did not happen in light of objective evidence.'

In her submission, Ms Higgins said she was more intoxicated than ever before on the night in question and had 'done her best to reconstruct what happened to her'.

Her third reason was 'Mr Lehrmann's submissions alleging dishonesty rarely rise any higher than the observance of an inconsistency in the account given by Ms Higgins'.

Justice Lee will hand down his judgement at 10.15am on Monday.
Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk urged voters to help the broader opposition bloc secure 200 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, saying the number is enough to have the first lady appear at court for a trial for allegations of wrongdoing.

Cho, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, made the remark during a campaign speech in the southeastern city of Busan on the eve of Wednesday's general elections, accusing President Yoon Suk Yeol of abusing his veto powers to reject a special investigation of first lady Kim Keon Hee.

His point was that should the opposition bloc win more than 200 seats or two-thirds of the total seats, it would give opposition parties enough power to override presidential vetoes and a special investigation into the first lady can take off.

"If the broader opposition bloc secures 200 seats and a Kim Keon Hee special investigation bill passes through, then we will be able to see Kim Keon Hee stand trial at court in the second half of the year," Cho said.

Latest polls suggest Cho's fledgling party is projected to secure a larger-than-expected number of seats in the upcoming vote, with the party trailing behind the satellite parties of the ruling and opposition parties in proportional representation. (Yonhap)
A woman from Belfast has described how she was forced to remove her breast prosthesis in front of fellow passengers as she passed through security in Dublin Airport.

Realtan Ni Leannain underwent a mastectomy some 15 years ago following a cancer diagnosis and has worn a prosthesis ever since.

But the writer underwent a very public ordeal when a body scanner at Dublin Airport flagged the artificial body part as she passed through ahead of a flight to Donegal.

Ni Leannain claims a member of security stopped her and told her to remove it in view of other passengers, without offering her a private search.

'I sat and cried the whole way on the flight to Donegal after realising what the hell had just happened,' she said in comments carried by The Irish Independent.

'I am 15 years out from diagnosis and 15 years wearing a prosthesis. I still find it has affected me more than any single other aspect in those years.

'It surprised me how much it upset me.'

Realtan Ni Leannain underwent a mastectomy some 15 years ago following a cancer diagnosis and has worn a prosthesis ever since

The writer underwent a very public ordeal when a body scanner at Dublin Airport (pictured) flagged the artificial body part as she passed through ahead of a flight to Donegal

If a body scanner is activated by an airport passenger, staff are required by airport policy to conduct a search.

Passengers are however entitled to privacy and can request that staff escort them to a separate room to perform the search.

Dublin Airport said it facilitates private searches for passengers to protect their privacy and dignity.

But Ni Leannain said she was not aware of this, nor was she offered a private search despite telling a female airport worker she was wearing a prosthesis.

Ni Leannain told RTE Liveline her 'dignity was not protected on that day' and said she was still unsure of the procedure for flagging her prosthesis to staff on future travels.

'I still want to know when I travel what do I say to them.

'I want to know that no other woman post-breast cancer or post-mastectomy will be affected by the implementation of the new technology,' she said.

Ni Leannain then called on Dublin Airport to 'do better', arguing that 'Glasgow, Donegal and Amsterdam seem to be coping with the new scanning technology much more sensitively than Dublin'.

Dublin Airport operator DAA said in a statement it was sorry Ni Leannain had a 'negative experience' with security checks.

'A full investigation into the incident was carried out by the team and the situation should have been handled better.

'All passengers in such situations can request a private screening, which is then facilitated by a trained member of staff.

'We offer a full apology to the passenger and can assure her that steps have been taken to ensure a similar situation is avoided in the future,' the statement said, before adding the DAA 'looks forward to welcoming Ni Leannain back to Dublin Airport soon, when we can assure her of a much more positive experience'.
A security guard committed suicide by snake by goading his own deadly serpents into delivering fatal bites after he was arrested by police in South Africa.

Marius Joubert, 28, died in agony after his illegally-smuggled Indochinese Spitting Cobra and a second snake pumped lethal venom into his hand and wrist after he stuck his hand in their tanks.

The snake dealer was fully aware that - as his cobra had been smuggled into South Africa from Thailand 5,500 miles away - that there was no anti-venom to save his life.

The armed security officer realised that police were about to uncover his illegal racket of importing illegal animals that could see him serve 25 years behind bars.

So rather than face a long spell in a hell-hole jail he handed himself a death sentence, even while police were present in his home.

Marius Joubert, 28, died in agony after his Indochinese Spitting Cobra and a second snake pumped lethal venom into his hand and wrist after he stuck his hand in their tanks

This is the dealy Indochinese Spitting Cobra that Marius Joubert used to commit suicide by snake putting its hand into its tank to receive a lethal bite in South Africa

The married guard who was seen by his bosses as an 'exemplary employee' had been held for several days after being arrested for burglary and theft in his hometown.

Police in Hennenman, 100 miles north of Bloemfontein, had kept him in for questioning and were about to take him back to his house to search it for any proceeds of crime.

He realised that they would find his huge menagerie at the home where he lived with his wife Chimonet, 26, and that serious charges under the Wildlife Act would follow.

Officers took him in a marked car to the terraced corner house unaware that a spare room, a bedroom, the lounge and entrance hall were packed with over 60 snakes.

They were shocked to also find a crocodile, iguanas, monitors, tarantulas, hedgehogs and ferrets all kept warm by solar power, special heating pads and extractor fans.

It did not seem unusual to the officers when they took his cuffs so he could reveal stolen property when he asked if he could feed the creatures who he said would be starving.

What they did not expect was him to then use his own snakes to commit suicide.

A source close to the investigation said: 'Joubert knew that sooner or later after his arrest the police would visit his home and that they would find all these illegally kept creatures.

'And he knew the offences he would then be charged with would be much more serious and that many of the snakes and animals he had could put him behind bars for 25 years.

Pictured: A file photo of a Indochinese Spitting Cobra, the same species that bit Marius Joubert after he stuck his hand into a tank on purpose

A South African puff adder rescued from Marius Joubert's illegal collection of snakes

A juvenile two foot Nile crocodile found in the home of Marius Joubert

'He asked if he could feed his snakes and once the cuffs were off he stuck his hands in two cages and was bitten by two snakes in the wrist area and then was restrained,

'We know one of the snakes that bit him was an Indochinese Spitting Cobra which would have put a s**t load of venom in him but we don't know what the other snake was,' the source added.

'An ambulance was called but Joubert refused treatment and said he would be fine and was taken back to the police station and warned of further animal related charges.

'In the meantime the paperwork for burglary and theft was completed and he was about to be released on a warning until his court date then he started to appear very unwell,' they continued.

'Then he collapsed and was rushed by another ambulance to the Bongani Hospital in Welkom but as the spitting cobra is not native to South Africa there was no anti-venom.

'The venom is both a neurotoxin and a cytotoxin which means it shut down his lungs and suffocated him and also caused severe bleeding and destroyed his body tissues.

'It was an extremely painful and horrific way to end his life and it took about 9 hours from the bite to collapse and another 3 hours for the snake's venom to kill him' he said.

Captain Stephen Thakeng of the Free State Province police confirmed Joubert had been taken to his house on Easter Saturday on March 30 to further investigate criminal charges.

He confirmed his officers reported that Joubert had stuck his hand into two of the cages and that his actions were deliberate and that he had intended to get himself bitten.

He said the suspect was brought back to the police station and charged and was about to be released pending an appearance at Hennenman Magistrates Court on April 5.

Captain Thakeng added: 'We were not aware of venomous snakes on the property when we went to the address but once inside he opened two cages and put his hand inside.

'It was deliberate and he was bitten twice on the hands and later died in hospital'.

A police investigation has been launched into where the exotic pets had come from and who the deceased man's customers were.

An inquest has also been opened into his violent death.

The security guard was facing a number of charges of burglary and theft dating back to July after a private investigator handed in evidence against him, leading to his initial arrest.

The source said: 'Whether he convinced the police the snake was non-venomous or not I don't know but he did not appear to be in any distress until he suddenly collapsed.

'But he knew the snakes that bit him and knew there was only going to be one outcome. It was clearly suicide by snake. It was just a waiting game until the venom killed him

A rescued Water Monitor from the home where Marius Joubert was bitten by a snake

'He was up to his eyes in it for smuggling in exotic creatures without permit and keeping them in cruel conditions and he was looking at multiple sentences of 25 years each.

'It would seem he wanted to take another route out and his spitting cobra provided that. There is no blame on the police who could not have suspected what he would do.

'The officer called the hospital later to check on him and was told he was dead' he said.

The Bloemfontein Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals were called in and found 70 illegally kept animals, most of them snakes, and called in snake removal experts.

Stephanus Fourie and David Hayter removed 62 snakes including a variety of exotic and local cobras, mambas, anacondas, pythons, rattlesnakes, puffadders and vipers.

As well as several deadly rinkhals snakes there were also exotic hedgehogs and ferrets, a Nile crocodile, African bullfrogs, Iguanas, Nile and Rock monitors and 3 sugar gliders.

They also carefully removed the two exotic Indochinese Spitting Cobras and said the one which bit Joubert was a fully grown adult nearly 5 feet long and highly dangerous.

Chief Inspector of the Bloemfontein SPCA Reinet Meyer said: 'The scenes inside the house were like a horror movie with over 70 wild animals all severely neglected.

'The animals were all removed by the SPCA to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital by two snake catchers and are undergoing examination and treatment.

'We hope in time to heal as many of the indigenous species as possible and return them to their natural habitat but sadly the foreign exotic animals will have to be euthanised.

'It is not our policy to house animals in zoos or in captivity but only in the wild.

'A number of the animals and reptiles had tragically already succumbed to starvation and dehydration and were very neglected and in poor health and will need lots of care.

'This man would have been in far more trouble with the charges we would have brought for animal cruelty and keeping animals without permits than he would have been for theft.

Chief Inspector of the Bloemfontein SPCA Reinet Meyer (pictured) said: 'The scenes inside the house were like a horror movie with over 70 wild animals all severely neglected'

'He deliberately put his hand in two cages and was bitten twice. We know one was the Indochinese Spitting Cobra but we don't know what the other type of snake was.

'It is clear he wanted to kill himself through his snakes but I would rather have seen him in court because what he did to those animals and how he kept them was totally cruel.

'Joubert was a real coward to commit suicide rather than face up to what he did to those animals. It is a shame that so many will have to be euthanised due to him' she said.

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
The devastated family of a young mum who died in a horror car crash on the way to a wedding have revealed she was pregnant.

Shellymaine Ah Foon, 32, was killed when the SUV she was travelling in collided with a ute at Aarons Pass, near Mudgee, in central west NSW, on Friday about 2pm.

Ms Ah Foon suffered severe injuries and was rushed to Mudgee Hospital, where she died a short time later.

She leaves behind her partner Troy and her two daughters, aged six and two.

Shellymaine Ah Foon (pictured top left) died in a two-vehicle crash on a road in Aarons Pass, near Mudgee

The young mum (pictured) told friends and family the night before the horror crash that she was expecting her third child

The family were heading to a wedding at the time of the crash.

Loved ones have revealed that the mother-of-two had told friends and family just hours earlier that she was going to be having her third child.

'We spoke to Shelly on the Thursday night, and she told us she was pregnant,' a family member who did not want to be named told 7 News.

'She was meant to go for tests when she came back from Mudgee to see how far along she was.'

Her partner Troy, 34, was airlifted to Westmead Hospital in a serious condition after he suffered injuries to his legs and arms.

Their daughters were also taken to hospital but the girls have since discharged.

Troy faces months of recovery and will be unable to work for some time after undergoing surgery on Sunday.

A metal rod was put into his leg and several plates and screws were put into his arm.

The SUV and the ute collided head on (pictured) around 2pm last Friday as the family of four were making their way to attend a wedding

Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene (pictured) and rushed Ms Ah Foon to hospital where she died a short time later

The 32-year-old woman's two daughters and her partner Troy (pictured) were taken to Westmead Hospital, where Troy underwent surgery

Ms Ah Foon's family are reeling following her death and the family member said she was a 'social butterfly', who always made time to help others.

'She was very family oriented, was always there for anyone who needed anything, she was very selfless with her time,' the person said.

Friends and loved ones took to Facebook to mourn the loss of Ms Ah Foon.

'So sorry to hear this tragic and sad news,' one person said.

'Our deepest sympathies and condolences. Keeping the family and the relatives in our prayers,' another wrote.

The family of Ms Ah Foon are waiting for her death certificate which is being prepared by a coroner in Newcastle, before they can make funeral arrangements.

A GoFundMe page was set up by a family friend on Monday, to help cover funeral costs and to provide support for Ms Ah Foon's extended family who live overseas.

Friends and family of Ms Ah Foon (pictured) have remembered her as a caring person who always made time to help others

'Shellymaine was a woman of faith with a strong devotion to her family and was unapologetically herself,' her friend said.

'She was daring, she was brave, she spoke with conviction and she was unproblematic. She enjoyed the simple things in life and lived by her own rulebook.'

The 54-year-old driver of the ute suffered minor injuries and was also taken to Mudgee Hospital to be assessed.

A 68-year-old man who was sitting in the front passenger seat of the ute suffered serous injuries and was taken to Westmead Hospital.

Police are investigating the incident and anyone with information about the crash, has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash (pictured) and have urged anyone with information to come forward
David Cameron, Britain's former prime minister and current foreign secretary, held talks with Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago Monday as part of efforts to urge Republicans to back a $60 billion Ukraine aid package.

Cameron, 57, is heading to Washington DC for meetings with his US counterpart, Antony Blinken, as well as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell but he's not scheduled to meet President Joe Biden or House Speaker Mike Johnson.

At Tuesday's meeting, Trump and Cameron talked about Ukraine, Israel and Nato's role in the world, reports The Daily Telegraph.

An unnamed official called the meeting 'productive' as the pair also discussed defense spending while highlighting the 'breadth and strength' of the 'special relationship.'

It's Johnson who holds the power to call a vote in congress over the security package. The Louisiana conservative has so far bowed to pressure from Trump and the pro-Putin wing of the Republican Party in not calling for the vote.

One prominent member of the House, Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene told Sky News in a February interview that Cameron could 'kiss my ass' after the former PM compared those who did not support Ukraine to the appeasement of Adolf Hitler in the lead-up to World War II.

In a memoir published after his resignation, former British Prime Minister David Cameron called Trump: 'Protectionist, xenophobic, misogynistic'

Trump was a supporter of Brexit, the 2016 referendum that saw the UK leave the European Union and which led to Cameron's resignation

During a February 2024 interview, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene mocked Cameron's assertion that not funding Ukraine was similar to the appeasement of Adolf Hitler in the lead-up to World War II

Cameron has previously spoken about Trump in not-so glowing terms, referring to him as 'stupid,' 'wrong' and 'misogynistic.' The Conservative resigned as Prime Minister after 2016's Brexit referendum which saw the UK leave the European Union.

Trump endorsed that vote. In a memoir published after his resignation, Cameron called Trump: 'Protectionist, xenophobic, misogynistic.'

Cameron last week said he would see Johnson and urge him to pass the $60 billion package of military aid for Ukraine, which he has held up for months.

'Success for Ukraine and failure for Putin are vital for American and European security,' Cameron said in a statement, saying it was important to demonstrate to Russian President Vladimir Putin that 'aggression doesn't pay.'

'The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to re-draw European borders by force, and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea.'

The foreign ministry said Cameron would meet congressional leaders from both the Republican and Democratic sides.

Last month, Taylor Greene, a pro-Putin member of the House, filed a motion to oust Johnson from his role as speaker over government spending.

The Foreign Office spokesperson did not say what Cameron and Trump, the Republican candidate in the November presidential election against Biden, would discuss.

'It is standard practice for ministers to meet with opposition candidates as part of their routine international engagement,' the spokesperson said.

Britain has been a staunch ally of Ukraine since Russia invaded in 2022, but Cameron will stress it is the United States that is the 'key stone in the arch' as its pace and scale of support for Ukraine is unmatched.

A local resident walks through the ruins of a house destroyed by recent shelling, which local Russian-installed authorities called a Ukrainian military strike

A communal worker sits in a crater after missiles strike in Kharkiv

During the trip, Cameron will emphasize the importance of increasing economic pressure on Russia and giving Ukraine 'the military and humanitarian support it needs to hold the line this year and go on the offensive in 2025,' the foreign ministry said.

Cameron would also discuss maritime routes for aid into Gaza during the trip, as well as push for a full and transparent investigation into the 'completely unacceptable' deaths there of seven aid workers, including three Britons, it added.

Cameron will reiterate Israel's right to self-defense in accordance with international law after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, but will stress that major changes need to be made to ensure the safety of aid workers on the ground, his office said.

In February, Trump told a campaign rally crowd that he would allow Russia to do 'whatever the hell they want' to NATO allies over those country's apparent lack of military spending.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday called the drone attacks on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine 'a very dangerous provocation.'

'This is a very dangerous practice that has very bad, negative consequences in the future,' Peskov said during his daily conference call with reporters.

The U.N.'s atomic watchdog agency on Sunday confirmed drone strikes on one of the plant's six reactors, which caused one casualty, but did not attribute responsibility to either side.

An official at Energoatom, Ukraine's atomic energy company, blamed Russia for the attacks, saying they were 'a provocation' orchestrated to malign Ukraine.

The plant has repeatedly been caught in the crossfire since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and seized the facility shortly after.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, a U.N. body, has frequently expressed alarm about the plant amid fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe.

The strikes did not compromise the nuclear facility, which the Kremlin's forces have been occupying and running in southern Ukraine since shortly after the war began more than two years ago, the IAEA said.

Propaganda and disinformation have been used as weapons by both sides during the conflict, and both sides have accused each other on other occasions of planning attacks on the plant.

Last July, Ukraine and Russia accused each other of planning to attack the Zaporizhzhia plant, though neither side provided evidence to support their claims.
Lord Cameron met Donald Trump in Florida last night as the Foreign Secretary kicked of an effort to unlock more US aid for Ukraine's war against Russia.

The surprise talks came at the start of a US trip where Lord Cameron will urge Republicans to unblock money for Kyiv that is being held up by politicking on Capitol Hill.

They are believed to have discussed Ukraine, the future of Nato and the war in Gaza at the former president's sprawling Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. But it may have been slightly fraught given relationship between the men in their previous roles.

Lord Cameron is the first senior member of the UK government to visit Trump since he left office in 2021 - and called him 'divisive, stupid and wrong' when he was Prime Minister in 2016.

He later accused the former president of being 'protectionist, xenophobic, [and] misogynistic.'

But Trump is also the Republican candidate in November's presidential election, meaning there is a good chance he will be in the White House again next year.

The peer is also due to meet Biden administration figures, including counterpart Anthony Blinken.

David Cameron was due to sit down with the current Republican frontrunner at his Mar-a-Lago resort

Cameron is the first senior member of the UK government to visit Trump (pictured) since he left office in 2021

In a statement on Monday, a Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'Ahead of his visit to Washington, the Foreign Secretary will meet former President Trump in Florida today.

'It is standard practice for ministers to meet with opposition candidates as part of their routine international engagement.'

The former prime minister's interventions haven't always been welcomed in the US, with hardline Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly telling Cameron to 'kiss my ass' after he pushed Congress to pass the aid package back in December.

Cameron is currently in the US on an official trip to bolster support for Ukraine as the US' House of Representatives bicker over a massive $60billion military aid package, which the Senate, Congress' upper house, passed nearly two months ago

But a minority of Republicans in the House of Representatives, led by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, have repeatedly blocked it from being rubber stamped, claiming that the security of the US's border with Mexico is deemed to be a more significant issue with the party's supporters.

Their stance saw Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warn over the weekend that his country will lose the war if the funding is not swiftly approved.

Cameron is also set to meet the US' Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to lobby the Biden administration directly, as well as Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate.

He issued a fresh plea for the US to support Ukraine last night, saying: 'Success for Ukraine and failure for Putin are vital for American and European security.

'This will show that borders matter, that aggression doesn't pay and that countries like Ukraine are free to choose their own future.

'The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to re-draw European borders by force, and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea.

The US House of Representatives, which is led by Speaker Mike Johnson (pictured), has refused to pass the aid

US president Joe Biden managed to get the Senate to pass the aid

'US support for Ukraine has massively degraded the military capacity of a common adversary, Russia has lost half of its pre-invasion land combat power, and a quarter of its original Black Sea fleet, while creating jobs at home and strengthening the Western alliance and NATO.'

In recent months, the significant reduction in military aid from the US has forced Ukrainian troops on to the backfoot. They have been forced to concede territory to Putin's soldiers who, along some stretches of the frontline, have outgunned them by a ratio of six shells to one.

However, the Republicans blocking the Ukraine funding have earned the support of Donald Trump. The former president, who could return to the White House in 2025, wants an end to the conflict even on Russia's terms.

As the Mail has recently revealed, UK funding for Ukraine has dropped compared with European allies. German support is set to trump the UK threefold in 2024/25, which is also being outstripped by donations from Scandinavia.

A local resident walks through the ruins of a house destroyed by recent shelling, which local Russian-installed authorities called a Ukrainian military strike

A communal worker sits in a crater after missiles strike in Kharkiv

Lord Cameron's visit will also add to the focus on the Middle East, including the path to a ceasefire in Gaza and increased humanitarian aid, as well as a push for an independent investigation into the deaths of seven aid workers, including three Britons, in a Israeli drone strike on an aid convoy.

He is expected to face questions about arms exports to Israel amid growing pressure after the deaths of seven aid workers in Gaza.

The Foreign Secretary will say the killings, which included three British nationals, were 'completely unacceptable' and call for 'major changes' as he meets US secretary of state Antony Blinken.

Lord Cameron is widely seen as having taken a more strident approach towards criticism of Israel than some of his Cabinet colleagues, though Downing Street has insisted the Government is 'completely united' in its stance.

The Foreign Office said the Washington visit would be used to underline that the deaths of the humanitarian workers were 'completely unacceptable and that major changes need to be made to ensure the safety of aid workers on the ground'.

The UK and US 'have been clear in Israel's right to self-defence in accordance with international law', the department said.
Female firefighters say they have been 'objected, belittled and almost assaulted' when describing a culture of sexism and bullying in the service.

More than a dozen current and former workers at Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AFRS) told the BBC they had experienced sexist comments, bullying and a 'glass ceiling' for all women in the operation.

Firefighters also said there was a 'climate of fear' around reporting their issues, leading the AFRS to say they are taking 'decisive action' to change its culture.

The claims come after a fellow AFRS crew member won a sex discrimination case last month, after her managers made repeated derogatory comments to her.

Sasha Acheson, who qualified as a firefighter in January 2020, was subject to a 'longstanding campaign' of offensive comments by bosses which got so bad she eventually quit, an employment tribunal heard.

More than four weeks after her landmark victory, Ms Acheson revealed that she is still waiting to receive her compensation payout.

Sasha Acheson, who qualified as a firefighter in January 2020, was subject to a 'longstanding campaign' of offensive comments by bosses which got so bad she eventually quit, an employment tribunal heard

Ms Acheson was 'belittled' and targeted by Crew Manager Dean Davies and Watch Manager Simon Bailey, it was found.

Comments included CM Davies asking if a new female recruit was 'fit' and male bosses suggesting a woman's place was 'in the kitchen'.

According to Ms Acheson, when she told a manager about his inappropriate language towards women, he apparently 'flipped' and started walking towards her and appeared like he was 'genuinely going to headbutt her'.

The former England Rugby player, who worked for AFRS from June 2017 until January 2021, said she was 'beyond broken' by her experience and left ARFS because her mental health was 'in tatters'.

The tribunal heard that Avon Fire and Rescue admitted to 'persistent sexual derogatory and offensive comments' towards or about women - which created an 'openly and over sexist and discriminatory workplace environment'.

It also admitted male colleagues 'openly and frequently made openly sexist comments with managers joining in and even starting the banter'.

Alex Sienesi, an AFRS firefighter from 2017 until 2022, said she experienced a similar culture of sexism.

She told the BBC: 'I was made to feel quite self-conscious. Comments were made about my bottom, my appearance, about what I was wearing. Pornographic material was shown in front of me.

'I was told I wasn't good enough because I was female One of the comments I did receive was, 'You are going to have to work twice as hard as any male to be considered their equal.

'I was told that the only reason I was invited on training was because they wanted me to stand there and look pretty.'

Ms Sienesi also believed that a glass ceiling existed for female firefighters at AFRS, adding: 'The decision was almost taken out of my hands because of the lack of willingness to discuss flexible working. Being a single parent. I just physically couldn't manage it any more.'

Alex Sienesi, an AFRS firefighter from 2017 until 2022, said she experienced a similar culture of sexism

Furthermore, male firefighter James Coomber alleged that senior management at AFRS did not take reports of sexual misbehavior seriously.

He believed one of his colleagues had potentially committed a rape and attempted to report this to his managers, but was later told by the HR department that he was 'spreading malicious rumours' and 'could effectively face disciplinary actions'.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service's culture has been in the spotlight since 2017, after a Home Office investigation found that staff felt bullying and harassment was endemic.

In November 2023, the service was found to be inadequate in 'promoting the right values and culture', in an inspection carried out by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

Avon Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer Simon Shilton said: 'It's very sad to hear that that is the experience of either former or current staff within our fire and rescue service.

'We have had instances in the past where certain behaviours in the workplace have not been as we would expect.

'But when we have been told about those, we've been taking decisive action using the right policies, the right procedures. To be able to act proportionately and appropriately, to deal with those and make sure there's a clear message that such behaviours are not expected in our workplace.'

To change the culture of the organisation, AFRS says it has more than 20 initiatives it has launched recently - including a confidential online reporting platform, a new professional standards board and a review of disciplinary policy.

Senior managers have been trained in leadership and unconscious bias training, and regular staff surveys are being conducted. All staff must also now pass DBS checks.

Despite this, one female firefighter, who wished to remain anonymous, said the 'culture was still poor' and added: 'There is a climate of dear still to speak up.'

Ms Acheson was 'belittled' and targeted by Crew Manager Dean Davies and Watch Manager Simon Bailey, it was found. Pictured: Ms Acheson with colleagues

Avon Fire and Rescue is not the only service to have issues, after the Welsh government announced it would take over South Wales Fire Service following a sexism scandal in February.

In March 2023, staff complaints of homophobic, sexist and racist behaviour in a quarter of English fire services were found in a report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

A couple of evidence sessions looking at the culture of fire and rescue services have also been held by the Home Affairs Select Committee.

Minister of State for Crime, Police and Fire Chris Philp told the committee: 'A lot of progress has been made in the last two or three years. It is certainly accepted at the very senior levels of the fire service, but more work needs to be done.'

MailOnline have approached Avon Fire and Rescue for a comment.
The sister of headteacher Ruth Perry claims its looks like Ofsted 'has set its own homework and got an old friend to mark it' by appointing a former watchdog chief to lead an independent review of the regulator.

Ruth Perry, 53, took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns.

A coroner concluded that the Ofsted inspection 'likely contributed' to her death.

Dame Christine Gilbert, who served as Ofsted's chief inspector from 2006 to 2011, has been appointed to lead an independent review into the regulator's response to her suicide.

But Dame Gilbert's appointment has sparked concerns from Ms Perry's family as to how independent the review can be.

Ruth Perry, 53, (pictured) took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating to its lowest

Heartbreaking footage has emerged of Ruth Perry giving an inspirational lockdown message before she took her own life after a damning Ofsted inspection

Ms Perry's sister, Professor Julia Waters said: 'Given that Dame Christine Gilbert is a former head of Ofsted, we and others will need to be convinced that she has the necessary independence of perspective that is required for the task.

'The review needs to be rigorous and explore Ofsted's systems, practices and culture in depth if it is to learn the lessons required to lead to significant change. I hope we get that assurance, and I hope she can do what is needed.

'It could feel a bit like Ofsted has set its own homework and has got an old friend to mark it. I hope that isn't the case.'

Ms Waters said she is looking forward to meeting Dame Christine 'and sharing my family's experiences and concerns with her', calling for a 'truly independent and deep inquiry' to assure her family, teachers, parents and others 'that Ofsted is serious about change'.

She said the published terms of reference for the review 'seem rather limited and limiting' and added that she hopes Dame Christine 'will consider interpreting the terms in a way that provides opportunity to properly review what Ofsted does and how it can improve'.

It comes as a recent survey by NASWUT of 11,754 of its members in the UK found 86 per cent believed their job had had a negative impact on their mental health in the last year.

Julia Waters, sister of headteacher Ruth Perry, claims Ofsted 'has set its own homework and got an old friend to mark it' by appointing a former watchdog chief to lead an independent review of the regulator

Mrs Perry (right) and her sister during a holiday in Italy in 1996

Twenty three percent admitted increasing their alcohol intake in the last year, while 12 per cent reported using or increasing their reliance on antidepressants.

The National Education Union (NEU) said the review 'should be carried out by someone from outside Ofsted, rather than a former chief inspector, so that it has the trust of the profession, and we can all have faith in the process'.

Its general secretary Daniel Kebede said the review 'will only take us forward if it is impartial and independent'.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman, while calling for the concern around her appointment to be confronted 'head-on', described Dame Christine as being a 'widely respected and knowledgeable figure in education' with the 'insight and determination to carry out a comprehensive review'.

The review will not examine the inspection of Caversham Primary School or the judgments made, Ofsted said.

Dame Christine said she will take a 'detailed and thorough' look at events from the end of the school inspection to the conclusion of the inquest, and will speak with Ms Perry's family.

She said: 'The death of Ruth Perry was a deeply sad and shocking event. Ofsted has accepted that it is vitally important for it to learn from this tragedy and has asked me to help them do that.

'I intend to take a very detailed and thorough look at all areas of Ofsted's work - from the moment the Caversham inspection ended, through to the conclusion of the Coroner's inquest.

Ofsted faced scrutiny following the tragic death of 53-year-old Mrs Perry (pictured), who was left 'completely devestated' after inspectors downgraded her primary school to 'inadequate' over safeguarding concerns

Dame Christine (pictured) said she will take a 'detailed and thorough' look at events from the end of the school inspection to the conclusion of the inquest, and will speak with Ms Perry's family

'I will scrutinise the approach taken and advise on future actions and revisions needed to improve Ofsted's policies and processes for dealing with any tragic incident.

'Importantly, I will hear first-hand from the family of Ruth Perry to gain a better understanding of the impact of Ofsted's work. I would like to thank them in advance for agreeing to engage with my review.'

Current chief inspector of Ofsted, Sir Martyn Oliver, said he was grateful to Dame Christine for agreeing to lead the review, with her 'wealth of experience in schools, in inspection, and in undertaking a range of reviews'.

Dame Christine has taken part in previous education reviews as well as Baroness Casey's report into the Metropolitan Police last year.

Ofsted said she will have access to relevant internal records and be able to speak with any member of Ofsted staff.

Her final report will include any recommendations for changes to Ofsted's internal policies and processes for responding to 'tragic incidents', the watchdog said, adding that it will respond to its recommendations as part of the wider response to the Big Listen.

The Big Listen public consultation, seeking views about Ofsted, was launched last month.

Tom Middlehurst, inspection specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), welcomed Dame Christine's appointment, but said its concern remains 'that neither the review nor the Big Listen tackle the key issue of single-phrase judgments - the very feature of the system which makes inspections so high stakes and drives stress and anxiety'.
An American woman was found dead in an apartment after partaking in 'extreme sex' before cops arrested her husband after finding drugs in the flat during their vacation in Spain.

The body of the woman, 44, was discovered inside a tourist apartment located in Plaza Enrique Garcia Herrera, Malaga, on April 6, after the husband alerted authorities.

Spanish police quickly arrested her husband, 50, as sources close to the case revealed to local media that the death may have been related to some 'extreme sexual practices' that the pair were involved in.

The husband was arrested for reckless homicide following the woman's death.

According to local reports, the case was being investigated as gender-based violence, before being upgraded to homicide since the current evidence points to an accidental death during extreme or risky sexual practices in an 'intimate context'.

The body of an American woman, 44, was found in a Malaga apartment with cops believing 'extreme sex' led to her demise

However, local media has stated that new procedures carried out by investigators led to detectives believing that these would place the events in a context of sexist violence.

Sources told Diario Sur that the couple had spent several days in the tourist accommodation, and that a search of the flat turned up substances that led investigators to believe that they had been engaging in sex games while on drugs.

On Monday, the 50-year-old stood before a judge at the Investigative Court number 9 of Malaga, who ordered the suspect's provisional detention without bail, according to Spanish press.

Judicial sources confirmed to La Opinion De Malaga, that the case will now be taken on by the Violence Against Women Court, due to the nature of the case.

The events emerged last Saturday when local police were alerted to the unresponsive woman in an Airbnb style flat located the historic center of the city.

Medics who rushed to the property could reportedly only certify the death of the tourist, at which point the National Police took over the investigation to figure out the cause.

The body was then transferred to the Institute of Legal Medicine to undergo an autopsy and forensic study.

If the sexist motivation is confirmed, it would be the third fatality of its kind in Malaga so far this year.

The Spanish National Police are continuing their investigations into the case.
Suella Braverman today warned the Tories are 'heading for a defeat' at the general election as she reiterated her demand for Rishi Sunak to 'change course'.

The former home secretary, who was sacked by Mr Sunak in November, urged the Prime Minister to 'improve the offer' to British voters before they go to the polls.

Mrs Braverman called for further tax cuts, a greater clampdown on migration, and fresh measures on national security, social cohesion and extremism.

She claimed Mr Sunak's current approach in all these areas was 'insufficient'.

The ex-Cabinet minister is regularly touted as a possible replacement for Mr Sunak as Tory leader.

But, speaking to LBC Radio, Mrs Braverman ruled herself out of a leadership bid for the time being.

Suella Braverman warned the Tories are 'heading for a defeat' at the general election as she reiterated her demand for Rishi Sunak to 'change course'

The former home secretary, who was sacked by Mr Sunak in November, urged the Prime Minister to 'improve the offer' to British voters before they go to the polls

The latest Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll showed Reform UK were supported by 15% of voters. This compared to Labour on 44%, the Tories on 21%, and Lib Dems on 10%

'I'm not thinking about any kind of leadership campaign,' the Fareham MP said. 'Rishi Sunak is our PM, I fully expect him to lead us into the next general election.'

Since being fired from the Home Office last year, Mrs Braverman has been a thorn in Mr Sunak's side and has been critical of the PM's efforts to 'stop the boats'.

She continued her attack on Mr Sunak's migration policies this morning as she expressed her fears about the fate of the Tories ahead of the general election.

'I'm very concerned, I'm very concerned about what poll after poll demonstrates,' Mrs Braverman said.

'It's my job - and I sought to do this as home secretary - to speak honestly, to speak the truth, even if it may be uncomfortable.

'I owe that to the people who have sent me to Parliament, and I owe that to you, and so the honest truth is that we are heading for a defeat, to put it mildly, at the general election.

'I very much hope that we change course and that we improve the offer to the British people.

'Ultimately, measures on tax cuts, measures on migration, measures on national security and social cohesion and extremism are insufficient by this Government.

'We need to go further, we need to demonstrate to the British people that we're on their side, that we're serious about stopping the boats, that we're actually serious about curbing unprecedented levels of illegal migration, and unfortunately we haven't managed to do that.'

Asked why she failed to halt the Channel migrant crisis when she was home secretary, Mrs Braverman replied: 'I put forward a plan that would have stopped the boats and I wasn't allowed to deliver that plan by the PM.'

The ex-Cabinet minister declined to agree the Tories were facing a 'catastrophic' general election defeat under Mr Sunak.

But Mrs Braverman said: 'At the moment I am very, very worried about the prospect of a Labour government.'

She added: 'I am horrified by the prospect of a Labour government and I see it as my job to speak honestly and truthfully, to my colleagues and the country, that we must do everything that we can in our power to prevent that happening.'
Neighbours of a woman who was stabbed to death in a 3.1million home close to London's Marble Arch say they heard 'two high-pitched screams' the day before her body was found by police.

The unnamed woman was discovered with fatal knife wounds by officers who forced their way into the property on Stanhope Place, next to Hyde Park, at 8.30am on Monday after being called by friends who were concerned for her welfare.

A neighbour says she heard 'a series of screams' coming from somewhere in the street on Sunday evening, followed by 'silence'.

The Metropolitan Police has launched a murder inquiry and is appealing to the public for information as well as dashcam and doorbell footage.

Forensic officers have been seen coming and going from the property, which has been cordoned off, throughout Tuesday morning.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and while police chiefs say they are 'keeping an open mind' as to the motive, they have vowed to work '24/7 to establish what happened... and to identify and arrest whoever may be responsible'.

Police and scene of crime forensics officers outside the property in Stanhope Place, London, where a woman was found stabbed to death on Monday

Local residents say they heard 'screams' from somewhere in the street on Sunday evening

Forensic officers throw items into a bag outside the house in London's plush Bayswater district, within the borough of Westminster

A police cordon has been established outside the home in Stanhope Place, London - next to Hyde Park

The front door of the house in Stanhope Place. Eyewitnesses say police forced the door open to gain access to the property after receiving concerned calls from friends of the woman

The five bedroom terraced home - which dates from the 1820s and is Grade II-listed as being of historic interest - is set over three floors.

A hotel owner in the street said the property was rented but was unaware of the identity of the occupier. Some locals thought it may have recently been converted into an Airbnb holiday let.

One elderly neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said she heard two 'high-pitched screams' on Sunday night.

The neighbour, who has lived on the street for over half a century, said: 'I did hear very, very high-pitched screams on Sunday evening coming from that direction.

'A series of screams. I recall two  Im very sensitive to sound. They were very unusual. There was no other sound other than the screams, then silence after.

'I was in my room and I thought, "Thats very strange". Then I recall there was a sound from the other side of my house.

'What could I do? If it had continued I would have stuck my head out.

'Apparently theyve turned the rooms into Airbnbs. My neighbour was leaving her flat yesterday morning and saw the police beating the door down.

'We saw two forensics trucks and we knew it was serious... We knew it was murder. Ive always been so paranoid living here, but nothing like this has ever happened before.

'Things have gotten worse in London recently. Its becoming dangerous.'

One neighbour said he saw a woman who had a young daughter at the house last week.

And another resident said they saw lots of police activity at the property after the body was discovered.

He said: 'Police came knocking on our door to ask if we saw anything, or heard a disturbance. We did not know what had happened.

'Everyone is quite worried. This sort of thing doesnt usually happen here We need some reassurance from the police.'

Two tourists walking by the scene said they often stay in a nearby hotel because the area is 'quiet'.

'We have never heard of anything like this happening here before,' they added.

Police say they are treating the woman's death as murder but are 'keeping an open mind' as to the motive at this time

The Metropolitan Police has launched a murder investigation after the woman's body was found on Monday (file picture of a Met Police officer)

Curtains had been drawn on the upstairs window, but not on the first floor - where three artificial plants were placed either side of the window.

The woman was found dead inside the property after officers found the victim inside with a number of stab wounds; she was declared dead at the scene.

Scotland Yard said it is working to trace and inform the woman's next of kin, with a post-mortem examination to be held in due course. No arrests have been made.

Detective chief inspector Adam Clifton, from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, is leading the investigation.

He said: 'I understand this news will be concerning, and that local women especially may be worried.

'Our inquiries are in the very early stages and we are keeping an open mind as to the motive, however I can assure people that my team are working 24/7 to establish what happened to the woman, and to identify and arrest whoever may be responsible for this attack.

'My officers now need support and information from the public. I want to ask local people to check doorbell cameras, and for drivers in the area to think about whether they've seen anything unusual that might have been captured on dash cam.

'Did you notice any unusual activity at the address? If you did then it is imperative that we hear from you.'

Chief superintendent Louise Puddefoot, lead for policing in Westminster, added: 'Our thoughts are with the woman and her family. My officers will do everything we can to support the investigation and they will be stationed in the area to speak to anyone who has any information or concerns they want to share with us.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 101 or via the @MetCC account on X, formerly Twitter, quoting the reference CAD 6784/7 Apr.

Information can also be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Each political group picks own meaningful site to woo voters

By Kwak Yeon-soo

The ruling and opposition parties ended their 13-day official campaign period on Tuesday, the eve of the general elections, calling on voters to cast their ballots as the future lies in their hands.

Out of the 300 National Assembly seats up for grabs in today's elections, 254 are contested directly while 46 are filled through proportional representation.

Han Dong-hoon, interim leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), visited 14 closely contested districts in Seoul and ended his campaign at Cheonggye Plaza in central Seoul. He was joined by supporters and other party members including Ihn Yo-han, the election committee head of the PPPs satellite party People Future Party.

The PPP chose Cheonggye Plaza as the venue for the election committees final campaign because it is located in the center of Seoul, according to the party.

Cheonggye Plaza is the center of Seoul, center of the metropolis and the center of the country, said Cheong Yang-seog, a vice chairman for the PPPs campaign committee. It holds a significant meaning that the upcoming general elections can be the center of moving forward into the future.

Han made a desperate plea, asking voters not to let Korea fall into a state of decline. Han and the partys election committee members began their official campaigning on March 28 at Garak Market in southeastern Seoul's Songpa District, in a bid to brand the PPP as a party representing hardworking people.

After attending a court hearing on charges connected to a development corruption scandal, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), held his last campaign event at Yongsan Station together with the party's election committee.

The DPK began its campaign at Yongsan Station near the presidential office.

To end our campaign in Yongsan emphasizes our message to hold the current administration accountable, said Kang Min-seok, the spokesperson of the DPKs campaign committee.

After the ceremony, Lee headed back to Incheon's Gyeyang-B district where he is competing to defend his National Assembly seat against former Land Minister Won Hee-ryong.

The Rebuilding Korea Party wrapped up its official election campaign activities at Gwanghwamun Square, a symbolic place where the candlelit rally took place in 2016 and 2017 against former President Park Geun-hye for her involvement in a corruption scandal. The party also officially began campaigning there.

Its last campaign event also called on supporters to hold the Yoon Suk Yeol administration accountable for what it called the president's prosecution-based dictatorship.

Gwanghwamun Square is a place where thousands of people holding candles gathered to bring forth a new country. We will gather again at Gwanghwamun Square to express disappointment with the Yoon Suk Yeol regime and call for a new government, said Shin Jang-sik, the spokesman of the Rebuilding Korea Party.

The Green Justice Party ended its campaign at SangSang Madang near Hongik University to show support for Rep. Jang Hye-young who is running for the Mapo-B district and appeal to young voters.

The Saemirae Party wrapped up its campaign in the greater Seoul area, while the Reform Party ended its campaign in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, where party leader Lee Jun-seok is running for an Assembly seat.
A senior Tory MP has quit top party and Commons jobs after revealing he gave away colleagues phone numbers after being honeytrapped on a gay dating app.

William Wragg has reportedly stepped down as vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee, the backbench Conservative organisation, and as chairman of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC).

The MP for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester admitted last week that he had given his colleagues' phone numbers away to a Grindr contact for fear of intimate images of himself being leaked.

Scotland Yard has said it is investigating reports of the so-called 'honeytrap' scam after it was suggested that at least 12 men in political circles - including journalists - received unsolicited messages, raising security concerns.

It came as Mr Wragg was criticised by more of his Tory colleagues for his actions, amid some calls for him to be suspended by the party.

Speaking on GB News, former minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said: 'William Wragg, who is at the centre of a storm ... has always been willing, in his glass house, to throw stones when people have fallen below his high standards.

'So the question arises of how much sympathy does he deserve for falling for a pretty obvious honey trap, sending deeply insalubrious photographs over the internet, and then revealing telephone numbers that he held as a matter of trust for other politicians?'

It comes after MP William Wragg admitted passing on phone numbers of MPs due to fears about blackmail

Mr Wragg said last week he was sorry for his 'weakness' in responding, an apology which was praised as 'courageous and fulsome' by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

But pressure has mounted in recent days amid concerns over parliamentary security, with critics from across the political divide questioning his behaviour.

Tory MP Dame Andrea Jenkyns branded Mr Wragg an 'idiot' for 'compromising security' as she revealed she had also been targeted with a spear-phishing text.

'I too received the WhatsApp & reported it,' she said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

'It was worded identical mentioning 'Conference'. Unlike some MPs I am not happy with Wragg as a mother with a young child who only recently had threats, it's unforgivable of him to compromise the security of fellow MPs. Action is needed!'

Following Mr Wragg's revelations in The Times newspaper, Conservative MP for Bosworth Luke Evans claimed he was the victim of "cyber flashing" and was the member who first alerted police to the issue.

In a video posted to Facebook on Friday, Dr Evans said: "The first set of messages I got was on a day I was with my wife and I got a one time open photo on WhatsApp of an explicit image of a naked lady. As soon as I got these the next day I reported it to the police, the authorities and the chief whip.

"Ten days later I got another set of messages, this time, however, I was sitting with my team in the constituency office, so we were able to record the conversation and catch photos and videos of the messages coming through including another explicit female image."

The unknown scammer is said to have used the aliases "Charlie" and "Abi" while sending flirtatious messages to coax MPs into sending over explicit pictures.

A BBC journalist revealed yesterday that he too was targeted in the Westminster sexting honeytrap scandal.

Henry Zeffman, the corporation's chief political correspondent, went public about being contacted in a so-called 'spear phishing' attempt over WhatsApp.

He was the second journalist in as many days to reveal that they were targeted after Harry Yorke, a journalist at The Sunday Times, also said he received flirtatious messages from a WhatsApp user calling themselves 'Charlie'.

Mr Zeffman broke his silence yesterday by writing about his experience for the BBC's website, revealing he was contacted by both 'Abi' and 'Charlie'.

He wrote: 'It started with a WhatsApp on a Sunday morning in March. Coming from a number I did not have saved in my phone, it read: 'Henry! Long time no speak  how're you doing? Miss seeing you around Westminster x.'

'V sorry,' I replied. 'Who is this?' The response was instant. 'Haha it's Charlie! I used to work in Parliament and we swapped numbers after drinking one night.'

Henry Zeffman was the second journalist in as many days to reveal that they were targeted

Scotland Yard yesterday said it has launched an inquiry into the scandal (Stock Image)

Mr Zeffman said he found the messages odd and did not reply, only to get another message a few minutes later saying: 'Random Sunday message I know.'

Then 'Charlie', within minutes, added: 'I'm going to guess you aren't still single  should I bow out gracefully? Lucky girl x.'

He blocked the sender. However, around 24 hours later another message arrived in his WhatsApp inbox from 'Abi'.

Mr Zeffman wrote: 'Instantly I was sure this was the same person as the day before.'

'Who is this?' I replied. 'Abi Miller x.' They claimed to have previously been an intern at The Times, where I worked until last year.'

Mr Zeffman said he was 'flustered' and also blocked this sender.

Scotland Yard yesterday said it has launched an inquiry into the scandal.

The force said its Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command was 'carrying out an investigation following reports that a number of unsolicited messages were sent to MPs over recent months'.

It is the second force to investigate the scandal after Leicestershire Police announced on Thursday that it had received a report of 'malicious communications' involving a local MP.
Nando's removed artwork hanging in one of its restaurants after a furious customer claimed it showed British soldiers 'arranged in the shape of a swastika'.

Paul Watson, 58, was immediately 'offended' after he spotted the piece of art hanging on the wall of the Wallsend branch of the fast food chain in Tyneside in the North of England.

He claims that it compares the Armed Forces to the Nazis by having the four soldiers hold their guns while facing outwards in a circle - which he says resembles a swastika.

Mr Watson insists they are British soldiers due to their helmets and guns - despite Nando's originating from South Africa.

The food giant said the canvas was made by an unknown South African artist as part of a scheme to feature the country's up-and-coming creators and had been hanging in the restaurant since its opening in 2013 with no complaints.

In a statement, the restaurant chain apologised and said they had removed it from the wall following the complaint.

Paul Watson claims the artwork compares the Armed Forces to the Nazis by having the four soldiers hold their guns while facing outwards in a circle - which he says resembles a swastika

Mr Watson, who complained to Nando's about the art

Mr Watson had tweeted Nando's with a picture of the artwork, asking: 'Any particular reasons this picture depicting British troops as a swastika flag is hanging in your restaurant at the Silverlink in Tyne and Wear?'

The customer, from Fenham, Newcastle, said: 'It's done my head in. I had to ignore it for the meal. I'm made of sterner stuff than to move but I just didn't like it being there.

'I was pretty annoyed and thought it was bang out of order. It's wrong and it angers me whether it's innocent or not. It's really offensive to see it in public. Someone should have picked up on that straight away. That's not art.'

Mr Watson, who says he served for six years including a tour of Northern Ireland, tweeted his complaint the same day he saw the canvas.

Paul tweeted his complaint to @NandosUK the same day he saw the canvas

Nandos Silverlink branch in Wallsend (pictured) where the artwork has been removed

Nando's messaged him directly the following day to inform him they'd contacted the 'arts team' and were waiting to hear back.

The firm confirmed on April 5 that the artwork had been removed from the wall and were keen to insist there are no others at their restaurants.

A Nando's spokesperson said: We source the art in our restaurants from up-and-coming artists in South Africa, the country in which we were founded, and they are all one of a kind.

'This small piece was part of a bigger display along with 16 others and was in the restaurant for over a decade. It has now been removed from display.
With its other-worldly theft of light for a few ethereal moments, a solar eclipse has been something of an enduring fascination for all of human history.

It was no different yesterday when millions of people in the US, Canada and Mexico were treated to the spectacle.

In the UK, cloudy skies scuppered the chance for people living in northern and western Scotland to see what was a partial eclipse in the sky above.

But that was not the case for many in Britain on June 29 1927, when the phenomenon was in full view for millions who either lived in or had flocked to a spot within the path of totality.

It ran across the UK from Cardigan Bay in Wales to Hartlepool in the north-east of England.

Celebrated author Virginia Woolf captured the national mood when she wrote later that year: 'We had fallen. It was extinct. There was no colour. The earth was dead.'

It marked the first time since 1724 that a total eclipse had been visible in Britain. In 1999, the phenomenon enraptured the nation once again.

With its other-worldly theft of light for a few ethereal moments, a solar eclipse has been something of an enduring fascination for all of human history. Above: Crowds observing the 1927 eclipse from the village of Giggleswick, North Yorkshire

In 1927, the phenomenon was in full view for millions who either lived in or had flocked to a spot within the path of totality. Above: Crowds gathered on a hill near Giggleswick, north Yorkshire, to view a total eclipse of the sun

The total eclipse in 1927, pictured by observers from the Greenwich Observatory in Giggleswick, North Yorkshire

On that occasion, the sun - surrounded by the halo of its corona - was completely blacked out for two minutes and six seconds.

More than 600,000 people descended on Cornwall to stand in the path of totality, although the weather scuppered the view for many.

In 2015, some in Britain got the chance to glimpse a partial eclipse, but the full spectacle will not be visible again in Britain until 2090.

In 1927, the Daily Mail sent a plane to 11,000 feet above Darlington to get a birds-eye view of the stunning event.

The pilot, Captain Paul Bewsher, said afterwards: 'In the vast emptiness of the sky, high above a boundless sea of clouds, I have just witnessed what must be the most amazing and terrifying spectacle ever seen by a human being.

'I have seen in one minute the universe to which I have been accustomed all my life changed to a fantastic nightmare.

'I have seen a deep, unearthly twilight fall in a few seconds out of a sunny blue sky.

'I have seen a glowing yellow sunset leap up, in a flash, behind a swiftly darkening landscape of blue and yellow clouds.

'I have seen a blazing sun give place in one moment to a black disc, fringed with feathers of cold white flame hung in the chill dark blue o f the sky like a monstrous symbol. '

The Astronomer Royal Sir Frank Watson Dyson, who based himself in the Yorkshire village of Giggleswick with a 45-foot-long camera, wrote in the Mail: 'After many anxious moments we had a magnificent view of the corona and were able to obtain a large-scale photograph of great perfection.'

He added: 'The corona was bright, and we then understood how on the old records and tablets of ancient people we are told that there was fire in heaven.'

Roads around the village were left impassable as thousands of people came from around the country to try to get a good view. The Daily Mail described it as 'like a Derby trail to Epsom.'

A London schoolteacher instructs his students not to view the sun with the naked eye but to use instead two dense photographic negatives sandwiched together to protect the eyes

A crowd of people observing the 1927 solar eclipse from the grounds of Stonyhurst College in Lancashire

A group gathered in a window to view the solar eclipse over London through smoked glass

OTC boys holding back the crowds to protect the Royal Astronomer Sir Frank Watson Dyson at Giggleswick in North Yorkshire

Nurses observe the solar eclipse from a rooftop. It was the first time since 1724 that a total eclipse had been visible in Britain

Crowds in Giggleswick, North Yorshire, view the solar eclipse in June 1927

Masters and pupils at Stonyhurst College observe the solar eclipse in Lancashsire, June 1927

The Mail's report in the days before the 1927 eclipse

Thousands also climbed the surrounding hills to try to find good vantage points and there were all-night dances as Britons celebrated the event.

One caterer made 10,000 buns and hundreds of meat pies for spectators.

In Sheffield, the eclipse reached 99 per cent totality. But in Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham, residents saw nothing.

King George V, who was at Newmarket, got up early to see the eclipse. But he had to contend with cloudy skies which obscured his view.

The future King Edward VIII, then the Prince of Wales, was staying with friends at Witherslack Hall in Kendal, but opted to remain in bed because of the weather.

Lloyd George, the former prime minister, invited friends to view the eclipse from his home in Criccieth, Wales.

In all, more than 200,000 people traveled to somewhere within the 30-mile totality in the hope of getting a good view.

The eclipse fever that descended with even greater fervor in 1999 saw the National Grid report its biggest power surge in history afterwards.

London ground to a halt as millions sought to look up to the sky.

Thousands of office workers poured into the streets, parks and squares as the temperature noticeably dropped when the sun was obscured from view.

At St Thomas's hospital in the capital, nurses and doctors climbed onto the roof to experience the spectacle.

Two hundred wealthy Britons took to the skies, paying 1,500 each to travel on two eclipse-chasing Concordes.

The Mail's spread of photos after the total solar eclipse in June 1927

Spectators at Edinburgh's Royal Observatory view the solar eclipse in 1999

A cub scout catches a glimpse of the solar eclipse from the Greenwich Observatory

Office workers watch the solar eclipse in Cardiff, August 1999

School children in Taunton, Devon, show off the eye shields ahead of the eclipse in 1999

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott with traffic police drafted in to work during the solar eclipse

A woman and her two children watch the start of the eclipse on Westminster Bridge in central London, August 1999

School children gather to view the partial solar eclipse at the Glasgow Science Centre in Glasgow, Scotland on March 20, 2015

School children use protective glasses to look into the sky at a partial solar eclipse on March 20, 2015 in Glasgow

Among the best views in the British Isles was on the island of Alderney. There, 250 scientists gathered at the island's ruined Victorian fort to see the wonder.

At 10.10am, the clouds that had been there parted. The first view was that of the sun, now missing a small bite.

At 11.15am, the last traces of the sun vanished behind the moon. There were gasps as the corona flared into view.

But, as quickly as night had fallen, daylight returned, moving many of the professional observers to tears.

The Mail's Ray Connolly, reporting from Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, described how the clouds parted 'like a moment from the Bible'.

He added: 'It's easy to see why the ancients feared an eclipse, why so many saw it as a portent of doom, or the end of the world.

'Because for just a moment on Fistral Beach, Cornwall, yesterday morning, we saw the world without the sun.

'And thrilling though it was, it was also just a little bit frightening. Being in the "totality", as we experienced eclipse-watchers no say, is pretty awesome.'
A 6ft 4ins former cop and a parish clerk have been revealed as the team policing Polzeath's parking and coastline as they crack down on nuisance tourists and teenagers.

Beach ranger Andy Stewart and St Minver Lowlands Parish Council clerk Marnie Court are behind the hundreds of cones which have been deployed to stop the rogue motorists from blocking the roads.

Their intervention comes after the Cornwall village has become overrun in recent years with holidaymakers and surfers with problem parkers causing backlogs and delays.

Pictures from the main road of the tourist village, which is popular for its famous beach, show dozens of cones spaced out at regular intervals to prevent parking.

But Mr Stewart, 54, explains the situation has been caused by a 'parking anomaly' due to rain stopping the council from putting in double yellow lines after the single yellow lines were removed.

Andy Stewart (pictured) is the muscular 54-year-old Polzeath beach ranger who is behind the hundreds of cones which have appeared in the Corish village to control rogue parkers

Pictures from the main road of the tourist village, which is popular for its famous beach, show dozens of cones spaced out at regular intervals to prevent parking

Local authorities in Polzeath turned to cones to deter problem parkers as wet weather delayed double yellow lines from being painted

He said the situation of no yellow lines caused people to 'totally understandably' take part in chaotic parking free-for-all.

But he said they did not take into account that their actions would cause 'traffic carnage'.

'We are kind of lucky here since we have the beach ranger service we are able to challenge it. I am sure there are a lot of towns and villages around the country that would just have to put up with it', he told MailOnline.

'Our primary concern is safety, the chances of the emergency services wanting to get through is remote but we did not want any gridlock to stop them taking the road through.'

Mr Stewart, who began working as a beach ranger in 2019, explains his operation works with the two parish councils in the village and Cornwall Council to work out problems when they arise.

He said: 'We always take a multi-agency approach. It is the most efficient way to carry out our responsibilities. I usually put a short-term remedy in place and then raise it with the authorities such as the highways authority who can put in something longer-term.'

Mr Stewart said the situation of no yellow lines caused people to 'totally understandably' take part in chaotic parking free-for-all

Polzeath beach (pictured), a Cornish holiday hotspot, is loved by the super-wealthy

Polzeath is a small Cornish seaside resort that has become very popular with young people

The Cornwall village has become overrun in recent years with holidaymakers and surfers with problem parkers causing backlogs and delays

Mr Stewart said he and Ms Court are '100 per cent a team' and said the parish council is essentially his employer by using the money it receives from Cornwall Council.

'What happened in this scenario is that I raised these concerns to Marnie Court and sent pictures and videos to her and she acted as a conduit between us and the highways authorities, he said.

After being alerted to the problem by Ms Court, Cornwall Council's highways team worked quickly to put up the hundreds of cones needed to stop the village from descending into parking anarchy while villagers wait on the double yellow lines being painted.

The parish councils have also taken control of Polzeath's two public toilets after Cornwall Council removed funding for them a few years ago. The parishes have since refurbished them and made them free to the public.

Polzeath's Beach Ranger Service has been so successful in recent years that Mr Stewart said he has received requests from other local authorities for advice.

He said: 'We have actually had contact from quite a few places around the country asking for a blueprint because having a service like this means the local authorities get protected. We can sort out a lot of the minor issues at the coalface and save the police and council resources.

'We are the smiling face of Polzeath'

But Mr Stewart rejects the claim that the parking problems have been caused by only tourists as he said locals were also making the most of the free parking.

He said: 'People often look to blame someone, if you want to blame someone for this situation perhaps it should be mother nature due to the rain.'

David Cameron is pictured on the beach at Polzeath, Cornwall, during a family holiday while prime minister

David Cameron and his wife Samantha sitting on a bench outside a cafe overlooking the beach at Polzeath in 2013

A large gathering of youngsters on Polzeath beach in Cornwall last summer

The beach regularly gets covered in litter, including cans, glass bottles and cardboard boxes

Mr Stewart is a lone beach ranger most of the year, but in the summer he is joined by two to three former police officers who help him clean up the beach.

In recent years the beach has become a haven for anti-social behaviour as teenagers descend at night and have been seen drinking, taking drugs, having sex and littering.

Last year infra-red CCTV cameras captured hundreds of kids as they started fires, dumped broken bottles and caused mayhem.

The problem gets worse when top private schools such as Marlborough, Eton and Harrow break up for term as kids from nearby luxury holiday homes come to party.

The village in this affluent part of Cornwall has also been a favourite with the likes of David Cameron, who enjoys trips there with his family and has been seen bodyboarding at the beach. The former PM, who left Downing Street in 2016, owns a 2million holiday home in the village of Trebetherick, less than a mile from the beach.

The battles over parking in Polzeath come after a number of tourist hotspots in Cornwall have been facing similar headaches over rogue motorists.

Residents of Falmouth said they have been facing a surge in popularity in recent years but warn the extra parkers have left 'not enough room for all the cars'.

A photo of shocking parking on Clare Terrace in the town in 2022 showed a large pick-up truck and a van parked over a speed bump, leaving a small gap down the centre of the hump.

A photo of shocking parking on Clare Terrace in Falmouth in 2022 showed a large pick-up truck and a van parked over a speed bump, leaving a small gap down the centre of the hump

One holiday site wrote parking is usually available, and all parking in Flushing is free of charge

Cars parked in the Cornish village of Flushing after holiday companies advertised it free

Tourists at Towan Beach, Newquay, drove onto the beach with their cars to park on the sand last summer

Shocking pictures from Towan Beach showed two black Mercedes using the beach, which is populated with playing children

Parking spaces are so valuable across Cornwall that last year the village of Flushing became overrun with tourists' vehicles after holiday companies advertised it as 'all parking free of charge'.

Locals said that they could not park anywhere after holidaymakers started using their home as a car park.

They said that tourists were being directed there and then travelling to nearby resorts where parking can be expensive.

The firms were accused of directing holidaymakers to the Cornwall village - claiming it's free to park and 'much quieter' during peak times.

Some Cornish locals even expressed their dismay when tourists at Towan Beach, Newquay, drove onto the beach with their cars to park on the sand last summer.

Shocking pictures from the town showed black and silver Mercedes' using the beach, which is populated with playing children, as a car park due to a lack of spaces elsewhere.
Pet owners who long for an XL Bully are dodging exemption requirements by buying a nano, micro or pocket version of the banned dog, experts claim.

The past year has seen several horrific attacks by XL Bully dogs, including on 68-year-old grandmother Esther Martin who was mauled to death in February by two of her son-in-law's allegedly unregistered dogs.

Last September, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak decided to ban the dog - meaning owners have to register them and apply for an exemption.

But some owners are exploiting a loophole by buying nano, micro and pocket versions of the dog, which are not exempt because they do not meet the criteria for the banned breed.

It is claimed the XL bully's smaller sibling - which grows to 22-27cm in height - is not aggressive and the only problem owners have is the dogs chewing their skirting boards.

Some experts have warned that the extreme levels of inbreeding that occurs to create the bite-sized dogs could be problematic and they can still be a 'risk to the public'.

Pet owners who long for an XL Bully are dodging exemption requirements by buying a nano, micro or pocket version of the banned dog, experts claim. Pictured is an Exotic Bully

Owners claim this tiny breed - which grows to 22-27cm in height - is not aggressive and the only problem owners say they have is the dogs chewing their skirting boards

There are currently only a few hundred genuine Exotic Bully dogs (which is the overarching term) in the UK, according to The Independent.

Exotics are bred to be extremely musculature and strong - like their XL Bully counterparts - but half the height and the aggression is meant to be bred out.

The first dog of this type to be bred was a small and squat grey dog called Mr Miagi in 2008, in the United States.

The intention behind breeding these minuscule dogs is to keep their powerful appearance but make them more docile and gentle with other dogs and children.

According to BRC Global Pedigrees - which registers pets to take part in competitions - Exotics are very rarely aggressive.

They came about by breeding American Bullys with dogs such as French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and American Staffordshire Terriers.

While there are several types of Bully dogs which are recognised breeds, many - such as the Exotic - are not.

And while owners and breeders claim the dogs have a sweet temperament, they have come under fire for 'unethical' breeding practices.

This is because there are many hereditary health problems in these dogs which go on to affect their offspring and shorten the breed's lifespan and lower their quality of life.

Experts have warned that the extreme levels of inbreeding that occurs to create the bite-sized versions is problematic and can cause health issues which affect quality of life

The intention behind breeding these minuscule dogs is to keep their powerful appearance but make them more docile and gentle with other dogs and children

Many Exotic bully types have major health issues due to the extreme downsizing, especially orthopaedic conditions.

Due to their weight being out of proportion with their small bodies, this causes intense pressure on their joints leading to back pain and loss of mobility early on.

Vet and founder of pet pharmacy My Pets Vet Nick Horniman told MailOnline: 'Exotic bully breeds, including pocket bully variants, have started to captivate many pet owners due to their compact size.

'In the previous year, I've observed a rising popularity of these breeds over their larger counterparts.

'This rise in popularity could be due to owners who live in smaller living spaces with strict landlord policies, or societal biases against larger bully breeds due to the recent attacks. I would not be surprised if the demand for these smaller variants kept on increasing as people seek out bully-type dogs but want ones that fit their living situations.'

He added that bully breeds can be 'well-tempered' pets with 'responsible breeding and proper care'.

But he warned: 'The compact size of pocket bullies should not be mistaken for a lack of strength, or a reason to treat them any differently. Like any dog, if not properly socialised and trained, they can exhibit undesirable behaviours. It is crucial for owners to commit to thorough and ongoing socialisation, plus consistent training to ensure their pocket bully is well-adjusted for meeting other dogs or people.

'The desire to achieve specific physical traits in dogs, such as a smaller size, has led some breeders to make selection choices that prioritise appearance over the health of their dogs. This practice can lead to a higher incidence of genetic disorders and health issues within the breed.'

Roz Pooley, an animal behaviourist, told MailOnline that any time a breed is restricted by laws people will try and get around it by breeding a new type of the banned dog.

He said: 'There will be plenty of dog owners who do not wish to own an exempt breed due to not wishing to muzzle them, due to not wishing to register them as exempt or wanting to avoid neutering them too early (or at all) and to avoid any issues with housing such as rented or council accommodation.

'The issue with 'exotic' breeds and types, which includes breeds that are not XL Bullies, is that there may inbreeding to try and achieve the look.

Many Exotic bully types have major health issues due to the extreme downsizing

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'Inbreeding to achieve an extreme look and the features associated with such a look, such as a heavyset dog that is shortened in height or even an unusual colour, can result in health problems which can affect a dog's behaviour, including the tendency for aggression.

'To achieve these looks the temperament of a dog is rarely taken into consideration- leading to individuals being bred from that have unstable temperaments and traits that are likely to pass on to offspring.

'The risk of these behaviour problems and health issues are associated with all breeds but we have to acknowledge that powerful dogs are likely to cause more serious injuries than less powerful dogs.

'So when we see powerful dogs have health issues and undesirable temperament traits due to poor breeding practice then these dogs may pose a greater risk to the general public.'

He advised those looking at buying these breeds to avoid choosing 'trendy, rare or extreme and exotic breeds' of dog.

But Dr Daisy May, who is a qualified vet and a pet care writer for All About Parrots, said she can see why these 'pint-sized pups' are popular.

She added that their 'squished snout' can potentially cause the dogs to experience breathing issues and any owner needs to be careful.

However she added that they may have 'inherited some of the same tendencies' from their Bully lineage.

Traits such as 'potential dog aggression, stubborn streaks and strength' in these dogs mean any owner looking to buy a pocket bully needs to understand them and have experience with Bully breeds.

An RSPCA spokesman said: 'Breed is not a reliable indicator of aggression in dogs. All dogs have the capacity to be aggressive. Aggression in dogs develops because of complex interactions between genetics and the experiences dogs have throughout their lives.'

The RSPCA added that their campaign Born to Suffer raises concerns around how certain types of dogs are being bred in an extreme manner to have exaggerated features and the resulting health issues of this.
Ukraine is developing AI-enabled drones that could lock on to Russian targets from further away and be more resilient to electronic countermeasures in efforts to ramp up its military capabilities as war rages on.

Deputy Defence Minister Kateryna Chernohorenko said Kyiv is developing a new system that could autonomously discern, hunt and strike its targets from afar.

This would make the drones harder to shoot down or jam, she said, and would reduce the threat of retaliatory strikes to drone pilots.

'Our drones should be more effective and should be guided towards the target without any operators.

'It should be based on visual navigation. We also call it ''last-mile targeting'', homing in according to the image,' she told The Telegraph.

It comes less than two months after Britain's Defence Secretary announced the creation of a drone coalition that will see the UK, Latvia and other Western-aligned governments pour 200 million into providing military-grade unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Ukraine.

The package - which constitutes around a fifth of Ukraine's total investment in the development of drones for frontline use - will see the UK order thousands of FPV drones for Ukraine, many of which will be produced by British manufacturers.

A devastating fire is seen following a Ukrainian kamikaze drone strike on an oil depot in Klintsy, in Russia's Bryansk region

A pilot practices with a drone on a training ground in Kyiv region on February 29, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine

A long-range UAV is seen moments before it slams into a Russian factory in Tatarstan

A Russian plant is targeted in a Ukrainian drone attack on Tatarstan, more than 600 miles from the Russo-Ukrainian border

A Ukrainian military pilot of a FPV drone during a combat flight with an accumulative charge at the frontline near Bakhmut

Unmanned weapons systems have already proved extremely effective in striking key Russian targets.

Marine drones have sunk several warships in Russia's Black Sea Fleet, and in recent weeks Kyiv has successfully deployed long-range drones to attack infrastructure hundreds of miles behind Russia's border.

But AI-enabled drones could prove even more lethal - and particularly effective for short--to-medium-range attacks on Russian armour, artillery and troop encampments on Ukrainian soil or just behind the border.

AI-powered drones can capture and process real-time intelligence gleaned from cameras and sensors.

They can interpret visual information, detecting and recognising objects, patterns and anomalies, and as a result are able to navigate autonomously towards a given target.

Chernohorenko said these autonomous weapons systems (AWS) would be launched and guided towards the frontline by its human operator, but would then identify their target from over a mile away.

From there, the drone would switch to autopilot, increasing accuracy and minimising the risk to its human operator.

In theory, AI-enabled drones could also work in sync, operating like a hivemind to lock on and swarm adversaries.

But there are concerns over the fallibility AI targeting systems making life-or-death decisions without human oversight.

This led the House of Lords AI in Weapon Systems Committee to warn the British government it must proceed with caution in the development of AI-enabled drones and urged it to develop an operational definition of 'advanced weapons systems'.

A Ukrainian military pilot of a FPV drone while he attaches an explosive to an fpv drone at the frontline near Bakhmut on October 24, 2023 in Bakhmut

A Ukrainian FPV (first-person view) drone operator trains not far from the front line in Donetsk region on November 16, 2023

Consumer drones have been adapted to drop grenades and small bombs on enemy infantry and armoured vehicles, to devastating effect

Ukrainian drone operator demonstrates piloting of a long-range UAV

Footage of the explosive effect of a Ukrainian drone strike on a Russian tank on the front line

'The Government must approach the development and use of AI in AWS in a way that is ethical and legal, while providing key strategic and battlefield benefits. ''Ambitious, safe and responsible'' must be translated into practical implementation,' the report said.

'The Committee heard that the Ministry of Defence's procurement suffers from a lack of accountability and is overly bureaucratic. It further heard that the Ministry of Defence lacks capability in relation to software and data, both of which are central to the development of AI. This may require revolutionary change,' it concluded.

Defence sources cited by The Telegraph said the British government would not be involved in developing autonomous advanced drones for Ukraine.

Last week, Ukrainian officials declared at least six warplanes were destroyed, with eight more damaged following a drone attack on several Russian airfields.

Launching one of its largest overnight attacks in weeks, Ukraine fired more than 50 drones at Russian territory, according to Russia's Defence Ministry.

Among the targets was the Engels-2 base in in the southern Rostov region, home to Putin's prized Tu-95 and Tu-22 nuclear bombers.

More than 60 explosions were heard in the Rostov region as Russian air defences fended off an attack on Morozovsk military airfield, scene of the heaviest assault.

There were more than ten explosions at a military airbase in Yeisk, Krasnodar region, reported local Telegram channels.

Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Russia last week, targeting airfields and destroying at least six warplanes, Kyiv said. Pictured: A man is seen standing next to a burning building in the aftermath of the overnight attacks

An explosion is seen in the distance during the Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia

A security source in Kyiv told France's AFP news agency that an attack on the Morozovsk air base in Russia's southern Rostov region had destroyed at least six Russian planes and 'another eight were heavily damaged'.

READ MORE: Dramatic moment Ukrainian drone sets off fireball explosion as it flies into Russian plant assembling Iranian Shahed UAVs Advertisement

'This is an important special operation that will significantly reduce the combat potential of the Russians,' the source said, adding that the attack was carried out by the SBU security service and the military.

Some 20 Russian personnel were killed or wounded, it was alleged.

Frontline bombers - Su-24, Su-24M, and Su-34 - are known to be routinely based at the airfield.

They have been used to strike at Ukraine during the war.

As of April 4, some 26 Su-34 fighters and three Su-35 warplanes were stationed at the airbase, according to OSINT reports.

It has been reported that the SBU secret service was behind the kamikaze drone strike along with the Ukrainian armed forces.

'The results of the joint special operation are amazing - at least six Russian military aircraft were destroyed, and another eight received significant damage,' a source told RBC Ukraine.

If confirmed it would be one of the biggest blows of the war to Vladimir Putin's air force.

There was no immediate response from Russia and AFP news agency said it had been unable to verify the claims.

Russia said 44 of the 53 drones targeted the southern Rostov region, which sits just across the border from Ukraine and is home to a number of major military sites, including its command headquarters for the offensive.

'During the night and on the morning of April 5, the Kyiv regime tried to commit several terrorist attacks with aerial drones which were foiled,' the defence ministry said.
This is the moment a passenger who reportedly drank a bottle of Disaronno on a Ryanair flight and caused it to make an emergency landing was marched off the plane by police.

Footage has emerged of a man being escorted off the aircraft, which was flying from Manchester to Alicante last Friday.

The diversion meant the flight, which left the UK at 6.08pm on Friday, arrived in Alicante at 11.28pm local time after a 75-minute stop in Barcelona.

The journey ended up taking four hours and 20 minutes - around two hours longer than normal.

The clip, filmed about ten rows from the front of the cabin, shows a police officer in black uniform suddenly appear on the plane to the collective gasps of dozens of holidaymakers.

A passenger had to be escorted off a Ryanair flight from Manchester to Alicante by police after 'drinking a bottle of Disaronno'. Astonishing footage has emerged of the man being marched off the plane after the aircraft was forced to make an 'emergency stop' in Barcelona when he was accused of opening up the bottle mid-flight

The diversion meant the flight, which left the UK at 6.08pm on Friday, arrived in Alicante at 11.28pm local time after a 75-minute stop in the Catalonian city

A member of the cabin crew then rushes down the aisle to point out the offender, who is seated about five rows ahead.

Ryanair's alcohol rules Ryanair's rules state that passengers may buy duty-free alcohol at the airport before a flight but they must store it safely in a suitable bag in the cabin during the trip. Passengers are not allowed to drink alcohol bought from duty-free during a flight. Ryanair's terms and conditions also say the airline may refuse to carry a passenger if their 'mental state, physical state, attitude, behaviour or appearance, including the effects of alcohol or drugs, presents a risk to them, other passengers or crew members, or any property'. Source: Ryanair.com Advertisement

The male passenger gets up from his seat to the cheers of those onboard and puts his rucksack on his back as he walks off.

Another then appears to get his bag from the overhead compartment and follow him off as people start speculating about the reasons for the pair's ejection.

One woman says: 'A few too many drinks but they didn't do really anything.'

In response, a man turns around to face the camera and says: 'All they did was drink a bottle of Disaronno,' to which another woman replies, 'give over...is that all they've done?'

Another adds: 'This is ridiculous. A flight to Alicante stopped in Barcelona because someone drank a bottle of Disaronno, lovely.

'How many police cars are outside? Two and a riot van because two lads have drank a bottle of Disaronno.'

In the meantime, the man is escorted off the aircraft and out of sight, while two more police officers can be seen at the front of the cabin.

Ryanair's rules state that passengers may buy duty-free alcohol at the airport before a flight but they must store it safely in a suitable bag in the cabin during the trip.

Passengers are not allowed to drink alcohol bought from duty-free during a flight.

Ryanair's terms and conditions also say the airline may refuse to carry a passenger if their 'mental state, physical state, attitude, behaviour or appearance, including the effects of alcohol or drugs, presents a risk to them, other passengers or crew members, or any property'.

Ryanair's rules state that passengers may buy duty-free alcohol at the airport before a flight but they must store it safely in a suitable bag in the cabin during the trip

A spokesperson from Ryanair said: 'This flight from Manchester to Alicante (5 Apr) diverted to Barcelona due a disruptive passenger onboard.

'The passenger was removed, and this flight continued to Alicante.'

MailOnline has approached Greater Manchester Police for comment.
Female members of a controversial Facebook group where women expose red flags about men they have dated have been warned that they could be sued for thousands of pounds over posts that make 'false and damaging allegations'.

'Are We Dating the Same Guy?' was set up in New York two years ago as a forum for women to warn each other of 'men who might be liars, cheaters, abusers or exhibit any type of toxic or dangerous behaviour'.

But the popular female-only group has now taken off across multiple cities, including London, LA, Chicago and Brisbane. The London page has skyrocketed from 20,000 members to 88,000 in less than a year.

Women routinely post screenshots of men they have matched with on dating apps as they call on others to 'dish the tea' - Gen Z slang for 'dishing the dirt', 'spilling the beans' or sharing gossip.

But bachelors have slammed the 'unhelpful' group, with some now hitting back with lawsuits in the US over false accusations.

Other women have also used the page in a desperate plea for help, including an American woman who accused her British husband - former reality star chef Charles Withers - of 'ghosting' her and their two children while she was pregnant.

As a series of lawsuits emerge in the US, British legal experts have told MailOnline that women in the UK must be 'very cautious' with what they write - and that false allegations could land you with a hefty legal bill.

A Facebook group called Are We Dating the Same Guy? has taken the UK by storm. It has gathered more than 88,000 followers

Nikko D'Ambrosio, 33, has filed a lawsuit in the US after a 'Are we dating the same guy?' Facebook page outed him for his alleged red flag behaviour

Ashley McGuire, from Massachusetts, took to Facebook's popular Are We Dating The Same Guy? group to make several shocking claims about famous chef Charles Withers

Mother-of-two Ashley claimed that he was 'gone without a trace' and said that she now wants to harness the 'power' of social media to track him and finalise a divorce

One man, whose picture was shared on the London page with the caption 'any tea?', told his followers in a TikTok video: 'What in the name of GDPA, gender data protection breach is going on here. Because what buffoon is putting me on this 'Are We Dating the Same Guy?'

'They're not even dating me! I'm not dating at this moment of time, I'm pretty much single, not talking to nobody so who in their right mind has done this?'

Another 27-year-old man from London was alerted to posts on the group about him which said he was 'too pushy'. He said a woman came back to his house and 'acted weird' before leaving.

Can you be sued for your Facebook posts?

In UK law, the Defamation Act 2013 states: 'A statement is not defamatory unless its publication has caused or is likely to cause serious harm to the reputation of the claimant.' The two most appropriate defences for defamation in this situation are truth and honest opinion. The defendant would have to prove that the statement is 'substantially true' to have a defence. For the honest opinion defence, the defendant must show that they actually held that opinion. It can only be relied upon if the basis of the opinion is set out in the statement and is an opinion that could have been held by an honest person on the basis of facts at the time.

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He told Vice last year: 'I knew I was in that group because I heard it from multiple sources and obviously her side doesn't match my side. We had a miscommunication and then I'm hearing from girls I grew up with that I'm a creep or that I did something. I don't think these groups are helpful to anyone.'

Other examples of posts include members sharing photos of men and writing: 'Any red flags?' This has prompted other women to share their stories and tell one another to 'avoid'.

Media law expert Jay Joshi of Taylor Hampton Solicitors told MailOnline if the allegation causes 'serious harm to the reputation' of the man, they could be exposed claims of libel and misuse of private information.

'It's no different to whether it's on this Facebook page or some other group,' he explained. 'It's the same thing applies to any statements published on social media platforms.

'If you make statements that are untrue and it affects one's reputation in a serious way, then they are going to be exposed.'

There are various defences individuals can rely on in the UK which are truth and honest opinion. The former is if the publisher can show a statement published is 'substantially true' and the latter is if they can prove that it is true.

Mr Joshi said the same principle of defamation applies to users who comment on posts, adding: 'If the statements are untrue - in other words someone's claiming that they went on a date with someone when in fact that in itself is wholly untrue - then that's a statement that could potentially be libellous.'

The senior associate warned women 'have to be very cautious', adding: 'The more serious the allegation, the more serious the claim could be. The reality is no one should be publishing statements that are serious and untrue about an individual and by simply doing that you're already exposing yourself to a claim.'

He also said users 'can't hide behind' the fact they are making posts on social media platforms - even if it is a less informal setting.

Speaking about the financial repercussions, he added: 'There's no sort of science approach to this, it very much depends on the extent of the impact and the gravity of the statements, and, moreover, the sort of general conduct of the maker of the statements.

'Is this just one statement? Is it several statements? Repeating allegations or the same allegations through a course of conduct... all of these factors can play to it. And of course it will be down to the the claimant to tell the court or to give to show evidence of the impact it's had on them and their reputation.

Above are examples of the kind of posts that women - often anonymous - put in the group. Lawyers have warned that they could still be unmasked and sued despite being anonymous. MailOnline has muzzed the faces of the men

'And the greater the impact again, that's going to be a factor that plays into the size of the award.' He said it can be 'in the thousands' but that it is 'very difficult to assess'.

Rory Lynch, defamation lawyer at Gateley, also told MailOnline: 'It is possible for women in the UK to be sued over Facebook posts that make false and damaging allegations about a former date.

'However, under English defamation law the claimant would need to prove that they suffered 'serious harm' as a result of the post  this is more likely if the false allegation is of a serious criminal nature and has been widely published online  the more people who view the post the stronger the claim, especially if it goes viral.'

Members of the group have the option to show their name or remain anonymous. Mr Lynch added: 'A word of warning: an anonymous profile may not protect the poster  specialist cyber firms can often unmask the real identity of the anonymous poster, then allowing them to be sued.'

Kishan Pattni, specialising in defamation and reputation management at national law firm Freeths, told MailOnline that a breach of libel and privacy will depend on 'what is said exactly and the size of the Facebook audience'.

He explained: 'For example, if a serious allegation in the group, say sexual assault, is factually put to a lot of people but cannot be proven, that could expose the discloser to a libel claim because it will have caused serious harm to her date's reputation.'

Speaking about the financial burden posters could face, he said: 'The compensation figures for successful libel/privacy claims in England are significantly lower than in the US. Here, the award will broadly depend on the gravity of the disclosure in its full context.

'Privacy damages tend to be lower than libel generally, but being on the wrong side of a claim or defence could cost thousands of pounds, not just in compensation but legal fees too.

'In libel especially, the compensation will help to vindicate an injured reputation but for the date who sues and loses, that reputation could be irreparably damaged under the glare of a public court process.'

Alanah Tannous, a legal expert on reputation and privacy at Vardags, told MailOnline: 'Seeking camaraderie and comfort in an online group is understandable and may even help expose disreputable conduct, but... the same rules apply on the internet as they do in the real world - so staying within the law, sticking to the truth and speaking honestly about your experiences - is critical. If not, users could find themselves exposed to a claim in defamation.'

With the Facebook page now reaching hundreds of thousands of women across the world, American bachelors are now hitting back with lawsuits.

Stewart Lucas Murrey, from Santa Monica, alleged that he was subject to a barrage of false and defamatory posts and comments on the forum. But his case was dismissed by a judge

The lawsuit stems from the social media group, which currently has more than 52,500 members, where daters issue warnings about potentially harmful or deceitful men

Stewart Lucas Murrey, from Santa Monica, Los Angeles, sued more than 50 female members of the group over claims he was labelled a murderer and accused of having STIs in a series of brutal posts.

He alleged that he was subjected to a barrage of false and defamatory posts and comments in the online group.

He sued dozens of potential suitors on a variety of charges including defamation, sex-based discrimination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, libel, invasion of privacy.

However, on Tuesday afternoon a judge dismissed the lawsuit, ruling in favour of Vanessa Valdez - a woman Murrey had connected with on Hinge.

The women argued they had done nothing wrong by posting their personal opinions in a private online group on social media.

The judge found no evidence of conspiracy on the women's part and granted an Anti-SLAPP motion - which protects those who speak out on matters of public interest against abusive lawsuits made to silence them.

'Just feels really good to be dismissed from all counts, it wasn't just the two counts of defamation, but all 11 counts be filed against me,' Valdes said during a press conference.

Olivia Berger was another one of the defendants being sued after matching with Murrey on Tinder in 2021. The pair met up but she told KTLA that he 'ranted about conspiracy theories' and appeared 'arrogant and smug'.

Olivia, who said it was 'the typical bad date behaviour,' then took to the private Are We Dating The Same Guy? group to share her experience with other women.

Elaborating further at a recent press conference, she claimed the posts 'were factual and they were based on our true experiences'. 'He found those comments and decided to come forth with this lawsuit,' she added.

She also alleged that the majority of the 50-plus women named in the lawsuit had not ever met Murrey in person - and instead had only made passing comments or 'reacted' to posts about him.

Murrey had previously shared a written statement with the local news outlet with extracts including: 'For years, key defendants obsessively tracked, stalked and incited harassment against me.

'These are women with whom I had little to no interaction. In every case of interaction, I rejected each one of them and cut them off, quite swiftly.

'Instead of going their separate ways, they went on for months and years to spread misinformation about me and countless others. Their actions were deliberate, and now they are playing the victims.'

The lawsuit claims that Murrey had tried to join the group to defend himself on multiple occasions but was consistently denied entry.

In January, a man from Chicago also sued members from the 'Are We Dating the Same Guy?' Facebook page after the group outed him for his alleged red flag behaviour.

Nikko D'Ambrosio, 33, filed a lawsuit after a 'Are we dating the same guy?' Facebook page outed him for his alleged red flag behaviour

D'Ambrosio was posted about on the Chicago page by multiple women - who all agreed he was not a great guy to date - some calling him 'clingy' and others claiming he 'ghosted' them after sex

Along with defamation - D'Ambrosio is claiming intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy by false light, civil liability for doxxing, misappropriation, unjust enrichment and public disclosure of private facts

Nikko D'Ambrosio, 33, had his name and photo included in some harsh posts on a Facebook group used by women to warn each other about men on the dating scene.

D'Ambrosio was posted about on the Chicago page by multiple women - who claimed he was not a great guy to date - with some calling him 'clingy' and others claiming he 'ghosted' them after sex.

He has now enlisted the help of lawyers, and they are building a defamation lawsuit against over 27 women, one man, Meta and other social media companies, according to documents seen by Today.

Along with defamation - D'Ambrosio is claiming intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy by false light, civil liability for doxxing, misappropriation, unjust enrichment and public disclosure of private facts.

Among the defendants named are dozens of women and moderators in the groups.

'The defendants broadcast their outrageous, cruel, and malicious lies about the plaintiff with knowledge that the statements were false or with reckless disregard as whether or not they were true,' the complaint reads.

Are We Dating the Same Guy? is also used to seek general dating advice, with the option of being anonymous offered.

Ashley McGuire, from Massachusetts, has used the Facebook page to make several incredible accusations about ex-reality star chef Mr Withers.

The mother-of-two accused her husband of 'ghosting' her and their two children, claiming that he fled to a different state to start a new life while she was pregnant with their second baby.

Using the Facebook group to enlist the help of internet sleuths to track him down, she said: 'He has one baby he hasn't seen in over a year and one he's never met.'

She wrote that he was 'gone without a trace' and that she now wanted to harness the 'power' of social media to track him down and finalise a divorce.

Are We Dating The Same guy has not only taken off across major cities such as London and LA, but there have also been regional groups created as well.

These include groups covering Bristol, Cardiff, Swindon, Nottingham, Derby Leicester, Hampshire, Bournemouth, Leeds and Norfolk to name a few.

The London group states: 'This group is a place for women to protect and empower other women while warning each other of men who might be liars, cheaters, abusers, or exhibit any type of toxic or dangerous behaviour.

'We strive to cultivate an atmosphere of female empowerment, acceptance, and support and will not tolerate any bullying, gaslighting, shaming, victim blaming, or aggressive behaviour towards any other girls in the group.'

The group's rules also highlight that 'mean spirited or judgmental comments' will not be tolerated, especially in relation to a person's appearance.

'This group is not about hating men,' it emphasises.

There is a list of 10 strict rules which include users being forbidden from screenshotting or sharing content from the group.

It states: 'You will be permanently banned from this group and all affiliated groups if you: Tell any men about them being posted in this group, Share anything posted in this group outside of this group, Mention this group or the existence of groups like this on social media, on a podcast, on the radio, to the media, anywhere in public, or to any male friends.

'We do all we can but there is always risk in speaking up. Be mentally prepared for the things you say here to get back to who you wrote about.

Users are also told to not include a 'single remotely negative word or phrase' in the actual post. They are told to be 'vague' and 'then put all of the details in the comments'.

The page also says it is about 'protecting women, not judging men' and that 'mean, judgmental, or unnecessary comments' will get you banned. Users are also warned against infringing libel, defamation and copyright.

Dan Jennings, partner and defamation expert at law firm, Shakespeare Martineau, said that 'although the internet may seem like the wild west at times, real world laws still apply'.

He added: 'Users can't hide behind fake profile pictures or indecipherable usernames when it comes to personal comments, and everybody should be sure that what they post online is the truth.'

'With a variety of claims made on this webpage, ranging from cheating allegations to accusations of serious crimes such as rape and abuse, the outcome for a defamation case could include many thousands of pounds in damages plus legal costs.'
Prominent campaigner Alan Bates told the Post Office IT Inquiry today that seeing 'harm' caused to other subpostmasters inspired his extraordinary fight for justice.

Mr Bates founded the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, and led a group of 555 subpostmasters who took the Post Office to the High Court over the scandal.

His story recently became the subject of an ITV drama titled Mr Bates vs The Post Office, starring Toby Jones  and he gave evidence to the inquiry in London today.

Glitches in the Horizon IT system used by the Post Office meant money looked as if it was missing from many branch accounts, when in fact it was not.

The scandal, which was ongoing from 1999 until 2015, represents one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in UK legal history and more than 100 subpostmasters have had their convictions quashed by the Court of Appeal.

Speaking at Aldwych House today, Mr Bates was asked about his determination in campaigning for fellow subpostmasters. He said: 'I think it's also stubbornness.

Prominent campaigner Alan Bates gave evidence to the Post Office IT Inquiry in London today

Lead counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC detailed the Post Office's disclosure failings today

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House today

'But as you got to meet people and realised it wasn't just yourself and saw the harm and injustice that had been descended upon them, it was something you felt you had to deal with, you couldn't put down, and you had the support from the rest of the group there as well.'

He also told the inquiry that his search for justice and redress was 'something you couldn't put down'.

Beginning his evidence, Mr Bates said: 'I think when Horizon came in... I was quite positive about it, because I knew what technology and these sorts of systems could do.

'But I found it a bit frustrating once the system was installed and we were operating, I found there were many shortcomings in the system.'

In his witness statement, Mr Bates said the Post Office had spent the entirety of the 23 years he has been campaigning 'denying, lying, defending, and attempting to discredit and silence me'.

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House today

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates speaks to reporters outside Aldwych House this morning





Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

He said: 'Prior to and since my termination from the branch, I have spent the last 23 years campaigning to expose the truth, and justice, not just for myself, but for the entire group of wrongly treated/wrongly convicted subpostmasters.

'I have dedicated this period of my life to this cause which, sadly, has been necessary since Post Office Limited has spent this entire period denying, lying, defending, and attempting to discredit and silence me and the group of SPMs that the Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance (JFSA) represents.'

Mr Bates also told how the partnership between subpostmasters and the Post Office was 'very one-sided'.

He said: 'I had been led to believe that subpostmasters were working in partnership with the Post Office, and if the Post Office wanted me to measure up to the standards they required, I expected them to do the same for me.

'However, over time, it soon became evident that the 'partnership' was very one-sided, and it really was a question of 'you will do as you are told and if you don't like it, you can't complain and there is no redress on this, and you just get on and keep your mouth closed' - that's how it works.'

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House today

In addition, Mr Bates told the inquiry about a day in December 2000 when he contacted the Post Office's helpline seven times, with one call lasting about an hour.

Lead counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked: 'Were they of any assistance at all in those seven calls?'

Mr Bates replied: 'Not really.'

He chuckled before adding: 'Stating the bleeding obvious, I think, really, is one description I might use - but it was all things that I'd tried.'

In February, Mr Bates gave evidence to the Business and Trade Committee where he urged the Government to 'get on and pay people' while describing the Post Office as a 'dead duck'.

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House today

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House today

Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House today

The inquiry is now entering phases five and six, which will look at governance, redress and how the Post Office and others responded.

Earlier today, the inquiry resumed with lead counsel detailing the organisation's 'sub-optimal' and 'highly disruptive' disclosure failings.

Mr Beer said that since the conclusion of the previous phase in February, the Post Office had disclosed 73,720 documents which could relate to the next phases.

Mr Beer said: 'We're committed to doing all that we can to ensure that the hearings can go ahead as planned and, subject to your views, that's what we intend to do - to continue with the hearings.

'The alternative - further delay, to allow the Post Office to get its disclosure house in order - is not one which is acceptable.'

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

Other prominent witnesses soon to give evidence include Lord Arbuthnot, member of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board and former MP for North East Hampshire, who campaigned for years on behalf of subpostmasters.

Former chief executive Paula Vennells, who led the Post Office at the height of the scandal, will face the inquiry in late May.

Ms Vennells, who led Post Office Ltd between 2012 and 2019, has come under fire over why hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongly prosecuted for fraud and false accounting under her watch.

Ms Vennells, who joined the Post Office in 2007, handed back her CBE for services to the Post Office and to charity, after the screening of ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office and ensuing public anger.

Former subpostmistress Jo Hamilton arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Former postmaster Christopher Head arrives at the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry today

She told the PA news agency in a statement that she would 'support and focus on co-operating with the inquiry'.

She added: 'I have so far maintained my silence as I considered it inappropriate to comment publicly while the inquiry remains ongoing and before I have provided my oral evidence.

'I now intend to continue to focus on assisting the inquiry and will not make any further public comment until it has concluded.'

Angela van den Bogerd, former Post Office head of partnerships, Adam Crozier, who was chief executive of Royal Mail from February 2003 to 2010, and Dame Moya Greene, who replaced him and left in 2018, will all give evidence.

The story of Alan Bates recently became the subject of ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office

Convicted postmasters celebrate at the High Court in 2021 after their convictions are quashed

Conservative ministers who will be questioned over their role as the scandal developed include Greg Clark, business secretary from 2016-2019, Kelly Tolhurst, postal services minister from July 2018 to February 2020, Margot James, who held the role between July 2016 and January 2018, and Cabinet Office minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe, who was postal affairs minister in 2015.

Liberal Democrat politicians Sir Vince Cable, the former business secretary, party leader Sir Ed Davey, who was postal affairs minister from May 2010 to February 2012, and Jo Swinson, postal affairs minister from September 2012 to May 2015, will all appear as witnesses.

Labour shadow cabinet member Pat McFadden, who was postal affairs minister from June 2007 to June 2009, will also be questioned.

Closing statements are expected to be given in late July.
Families have accused a council of a mistake after it handed out an alcohol licence to wine makers near a church due to fears funeral mourners will be disturbed.

Locals in Hothfield, near Ashford, Kent, said the happy boozy atmosphere will be heard at the more sombre setting of St Margaret's Church - where burials are still held.

Thirteen letters of objection were sent to Ashford Borough Council from immediate neighbours.

But the authority nevertheless granted Nine Oaks Vineyard a licence to sell alcohol with conditions at a recent council meeting.

Hothfield parish councillor Simon Brock said after the council meeting: 'The area of the church that is closest to the licensable area is where most recent burials are - so where you have most numbers of people visiting their graves and people who are being buried there.

The protesters against the Hothfield vineyard application gather at Ashford Borough Council's Civic Centre chamber for the meeting to decide the fate of Nine Oaks Vineyard

The locals worry that the happy boozy atmosphere of the vineyard will be heard at the more sombre setting of St Margaret's Church (pictured) - where burials are still held

But the authority nevertheless granted Nine Oaks Vineyard (pictured) a licence to sell alcohol at a recent council meeting, with conditions

The red outline shows the extent of the alcohol licensable area at Nine Oaks Vineyard, with the nearby St Margaret's Church highlighted with a cross

'So there could be a potential conflict between a happy event one side of the fence and a sad event on the other.'

Villager Jennifer Boorman said in a written submission to the council: 'Families visiting graves would be greatly disturbed by people drinking, laughing and generally making a lot of noise.'

The objections come after some open-air theatre events were held at the vineyard last summer.

But locals said these had 20 to 40 visitors and caused little disturbance.

Although these events will continue to have up to 250 people allowed to attend, the business owners do not anticipate they will reach those numbers.

Concerns were also raised about potential traffic problems on the narrow lane which leads to the vineyard.

Another objector, Sheila Flynn, told the sub-committee: 'Church Lane has a high proportion of vulnerable road users - that is pedestrians, dog walkers, cyclists and people who are mobility impaired.

'The road is only wide enough for one vehicle and there is a blind bend and crest.

'There could potentially be hundreds of people leaving an event and most people would come by car.'

Martyn Pollock and his wife Helen Matheson-Pollock of the Nine Oaks Vineyard in Hothfield, pictured after the licensing hearing in Ashford

The owners reduced their original request of 10am to 10pm seven days a week to just 10am to 6pm from Thursdays to Sundays due to the villagers' concerns

The vineyard's owners, husband and wife Martyn Pollock and Helen Matheson-Pollock, applied for a premises licence to sell alcohol from 10am to 6pm from Thursdays to Sundays.

They reduced that from the original request of 10am to 10pm seven days a week as villagers' concerns were increasingly expressed.

All objections to the council were written before the application was changed on March 7.

The couple also want to hold pre-booked small group vineyard tours of 60 to 90 minutes, with wine tasting.

These would be up to twice a day between Thursdays and Sundays and for 10 to 30 people at a time.

No complaints were received by the council about noise from the three events held on the site last year.

Mr Pollock, who is also a Hothfied parish councillor, told the sub-committee: 'We have made significant concessions over the hours. In terms of wine tasting, it would be 50 millilitres of four different wines so the total would be 200 millilitres.'

A large glass of wine is sold at 250 millilitres in the UK.

Mr Pollock said that no other alcohol would be available for consumption on the premises and added: 'Anyone showing signs of intoxication would not be served.'

Mrs Matheson-Pollock, who was born in the village, told the sub-committee that the sale of alcohol would be limited to bottles of wine produced on the vineyard, for consumption off the premises.

The vineyard's owners, husband and wife Martyn Pollock and Helen Matheson-Pollock started the family business in 2020 when they first planted the grapes

Mr Pollock, who is also a Hothfied parish councillor, told the sub-committee: 'In terms of wine tasting, it would be 50 millilitres of four different wines so the total would be 200 millilitres'

Nine Oaks Vineyard describes itself as a family business that is passionate about viticulture, the land it works and the wines it produces. It currently sells a 2022 Chardonnay, a 2023 Pinot Noir Rose and a 2023 Bacchus for around 20 each on its website

She said: 'We live very close to the vineyard ourselves and we don't want any of our activities to negatively impact on local residents.

'We want to share the vineyard with our local community and the broader community through a small foray into vineyard tours.'

The couple, who have run the business for four years, stress that they would avoid their events and tours clashing with church events and would alter their schedule when needed.

They added that most visitors would come in by minibus and parking would be within the vineyard premises.

Speaking to MailOnline today, the couple said they have arranged a meeting with the reverend in the church to discuss the possibility of them being flexible when it comes to church events to avoid any big clashes in the calendar.

They also mentioned that the border between the church and the vineyard will soon have a six metre access track added as some of the wooded land between the two neighbours is being sold.

No complaints were received by the council about noise from the three events held on the site last year

The sub-committee granted the licence to Nine Oaks Vineyard on March 26 with conditions, including that the council should be liaised with for large events and records kept of any incidents.

Other conditions included there should be appropriate barriers, signs and marshalling should be undertaken to match the scale of an event.

Alcohol should also be consumed within designated areas and supervised by staff.

Nine Oaks Vineyard describes itself as a family business that is passionate about viticulture, the land it works and the wines it produces.

On its website, it writes: 'From vine to wine and from grape to glass we are committed to making small batch, estate grown wines that are a true expression of our boutique vineyard in the heart of the Kent countryside.'

The business was started in 2020 when the grapes were first planted.

It currently sells a 2022 Chardonnay, a 2023 Pinot Noir Rose and a 2023 Bacchus for around 20 each on its website.

Tours and tastings will soon be able to be pre-booked on the company's website as the licence does not allow walk-in attendance.
Nation to go to polls Wednesday to elect 300 lawmakers

By Nam Hyun-woo

Voters will cast ballots to elect 300 lawmakers Wednesday, to determine the fate of Korea's politics for the next four years, by either giving the ruling bloc a much-needed boost for its pledges and goals or sending a resounding message of disapproval regarding its performance and policies.

The main political theme of the general elections is whether the public will harshly judge the main parties here. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is calling on the nation to hand down judgment on the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, while the ruling People Power Party (PPP) is urging voters to punish DPK Chairman Lee Jae-myung and his party, which has been controlling the National Assembly with its majority status over the past four years.

Analysts and politicians are saying whatever the outcome may be, an upheaval will be unavoidable in the countrys political landscape, affecting Yoons grip on state affairs and the subsequent power struggles within both the DPK and the PPP.

From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., voters will be able to cast their ballots at 14,259 polling stations across the country to elect 254 constituency and 46 proportional representation lawmakers who will form the 22nd National Assembly for the next four years. Of the 44.28 million eligible voters, 13.85 million, or 31.28 percent, already cast their ballots during early voting  from Friday to Saturday.

The key point of Wednesdays elections will be which side will secure more than half of the 300 seats.

Since the elections are widely viewed as a midterm evaluation of Yoon, who started his five-year term in May 2022, a DPK majority result would be interpreted as the public demonstrating its frustration toward the administration, resulting in Yoon losing a grip on state affairs with more than half of his term left.

For the past two years, Yoon has faced stumbling blocks in exercising his political power, as the DPK, which has held more than 150 Assembly seats, has been opposing many of the presidents policies and Cabinet appointments.

This tendency will be even more pronounced if the DPK maintains its majority. And it will likely make the PPP pay less attention to Yoon and instead, strive to reform the party, while facing serious internal power struggles over who will be its next presidential candidate.

In case the DPK holds the majority, Yoon will likely face limits in most of his political capabilities, thereby falling into a lame duck status, said Cho Jin-man, a politics professor at Duksung Womens University.

Turmoil in the PPP will be inevitable. It will have to reassess its relations with the Yoon administration and put emphasis on future power.

During his speech on Tuesday, DPK Chairman Lee Jae-myung urged voters to cast their ballots to prevent the political forces that betrayed the public from holding a majority in the Assembly.

The Yoon administration downgraded every aspect of the countrys economy, public livelihood, diplomacy, security and democracy, Lee said. Please prove that no administration can exist by defying the public, and no power can defeat the people.

If the ruling party clinches the majority, the situation will be the opposite.

Yoon will be able to gain momentum in pursuing his policies, such as his three major reform proposals: labor, pension and education, which have been on hold due to the DPKs opposition.

Also, he will not need to rely on his veto power to resist bills unilaterally, which were often pushed by the main opposition, having done so nine times so far. The DPKs threat to launch a special counsel probe on Yoons wife, Kim Keon Hee, over stock price manipulation allegations, could also lose strength.

The ongoing standoff between the government and doctors over the governments push to expand the admissions quota of medical schools will likely go in Yoon's favor, as the election results can then be seen as a public mandate for the president to persue his aims moving forward.

If the vote is in the PPP's favor, the DPK will face the impact of defeat.

During the candidate nomination process earlier this year, the DPK suffered serious factional infighting over what critics referred to as its chairmans excessive control over the party. Lees leadership will likely be challenged by non-mainstream factions, resulting in chaos over finding who was responsible for the defeat and who should be the next leader.

If the ruling party wins, the DPK will face criticism for losing the election despite the administrations poor performance, Cho said. In doing so, various factions, which have already experienced infighting recently, will clamor for power  Overall, whoever loses the election will face an upheaval in their political landscape.

PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoon told voters that casting their ballots for the ruling party is like saving the country from collapse.

Will you let people like the DPK chairman amend the Constitution and exonerate himself from allegations he faces? he said. If we lose this opportunity, the only thing we can do is to hit the streets to protest.








A former NHS nurse who deliberately poisoned a young boy with 'industrial amounts' of laxatives has today been jailed for seven years.

Tracy Menhinick, 52, was found guilty of 'wilfully' harming the innocent child over a three-year period when he was aged between three and six.

Witnesses said the boys inhumane suffering pointed to Munchausens Syndrome by proxy, a condition in which a person seeks medical attention for another for symptoms that are falsified, exaggerated or deliberately induced.

One expert witness said the boy, who cannot be named, was so badly harmed that he ended up resembling 'someone from Auschwitz'.

Between 2014 and 2017, the twisted auxiliary nurse poisoned the child with the laxative lactulose, which caused his development and mobility to be affected and led to the boy being admitted to hospital.

Menhinick, of Aberdeen, then consented to treatments, procedures and operations on the child which she knew were unnecessary, leaving him emaciated, permanently disfigured and with a growth stunt.

The former nurse, who appeared at a court in a wheelchair and now claims to be bed-bound, was convicted in February following a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen.

Tracy Menhinick, 52, was found guilty of 'wilfully' ill-treating the child in a manner likely to cause him unnecessary suffering or injury to health on various occasions over the course of three years from 2014

Menhinick, who appeared at a court in a wheelchair and now claims to be bed-bound, was convicted in February following a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen

The ill-treatment happened on various occasions when the boy was aged between three and six at an address in Aberdeen, at Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital (pictured) and elsewhere

She was jailed for seven years when she appeared for sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.

The ill-treatment happened on various occasions when the boy was aged between three and six at an address in Aberdeen, at Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital and elsewhere.

At one stage the boy was admitted to hospital weighing just under 10kg at the age of five.

It was revealed at today's sentencing that a doctor's report deemed that Menhinick did suffer from a factitious disorder imposed on another.

The disorder was previously named Munchausen's syndrome and Munchausen's syndrome by proxy.

Judge Lady Drummond told Menhinick after a 19-day trial: 'You were an auxiliary nurse and had the knowledge to know what you were doing. You caused him to be in that state.

'When he was admitted to hospital, you continued to give him a high level of laxatives.

'Doctors were baffled despite their efforts to care for the child with various tests and treatments that he wasn't gaining weight and thriving.

'The amount of laxatives he was given resulted in floppy episodes and he had to be resuscitated.

'Why anyone would want to inflect harm on a young child over multiple years is beyond understanding.

'The victim impact statement says he has been left with physical scarring from this ordeal - your actions have had a negative impact on him psychologically. It has had a devastating impact on his life.

'You abused the position of trust put on you by the child and the hospital.

Menhinick was jailed for seven years when she appeared for sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday

'There is complete disregard for the consequences of your actions. You are 52 and deny responsibility for your actions.

'A doctor's opinion is that you suffer from a mental disorder.

'You do not accept that you have this disorder and that your motivations are unclear for your actions.

'The doctor said you do not require hospital treatment for the mental disorder.

'The only appropriate disposal for such ill treatment of a child over a lengthy period of time with serious consequences is a significant period in custody to mark society's abhorrence of your conduct.'

The boy had been admitted to Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital in October 2016 amid concerns for his weight loss. Menhinick was being observed by child protection officers but no evidence was then found of her poisoning the child.

Asked by Mr Kearney what conclusions he had drawn, Dr Sullivan said: 'He had been administered significant quantities of lactulose. If an industrial dose is given... he would become extremely unwell.'

Menhinick was removed from caring for the boy after a test result from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London confirmed lactulose was present.

Dr Sullivan said the boy's condition then 'dramatically' improved and he concluded Munchausen's Syndrome by proxy was the reason.

Tracy Menhinick leaves the High Court Glasgow on March 19 after her sentencing was deferred so a psychiatric report could be prepared. She returned for sentencing today

The court also heard a bottle of lactulose had been found following a search of Menhinick's house.

Great Ormond Street Hospital's Dr Keith Findley said the child looked like 'someone from Auschwitz' because he was so thin.

The trial was presented with 5,500 pages of evidence and medical records.

The sentencing was initially delayed so that a psychiatric report about Menhinick could be prepared.

Judge Lady Drummond had been told by Menhinick's defence that she had a 'package of mental health problems'.

Frances Connor, representing Menhinick, told the court today that her client is bed bound but for visits to court and hospital.

The advocate referenced the report from the doctor on Menhinick's mental disorder and history.

She read: 'Her actions could have been more likely due to the condition that she suffers from.'

The advocate stated: 'it is unlikely that she will care for any other individual in the future. She does not pose a risk to the public.

'She is a woman who suffers from complex needs.

'According to the doctor, she has long standing mental health issues which are contributing factors to her offending and her lack of insight into it.'

Jurors found Menhinick guilty of ill-treating the boy and administering non-prescribed medicines between April 1, 2014, and July 21, 2017.
Locals are divided after a fed-up resident spray-painted a car left abandoned on the street of a ritzy beachside suburb.

The homeowner took it upon himself to spray paint the navy blue Mitsubishi Lancer parked on a Malvern Street in Queenscliff, on Sydney's Northern Beaches, so it could be removed.

Photos uploaded to Facebook showed the car marked with the words 'Please remove ranger,' in yellow colouring on the front bonnet of the sedan.

While many in the affluent neighbourhood praised him for taking action to get the car removed, some have suggested the vehicle may belong to someone currently in hospital.

The homeowner took it upon himself to spray paint the navy blue Mitsubishi Lancer parked on a street in Queenscliff, on Sydney 's Northern Beaches, so the abandoned car could be removed

'Good on him. At least being even more an eyesore, the council may be forced to move it,' one resident said.

But another said it was a 'stupid thing to do' and goes against the community's values of respecting property that belongs to someone else.

'How bad is this! Why do people go so far? This used to be a friendly community,' another resident wrote.

A video which was uploaded to Instagram showed the side windows of the Mitsubishi smashed.

The footage also captured others parts of the vehicle that had been spray painted, with the words 'rent time' painted on the side and 'wash me' written on top of the boot.

Locals may regret vandalising the car, following reports the owner was admitted to hospital where he is understood to be staying indefinitely.

The words 'please remove ranger' were sprayed onto the front bonnet of the vehicle and the windows of the car had been smashed (pictured)

Vincent De Luca, who is a councillor at the Northern Beaches council, said the issue is being investigated and that council has been informed the owner could be in hospital.

'It's only fair and just to consider every matter on its merits. If it is true that that person is sick and in hospital, of course, action would have to be considered very carefully,' he told news.com.au

'Other people have further vandalised by smashing in everything else. So I just think that's something that we do need to look at.

'Council can take it out of the street and look after it.'

A spokeswoman from the Northern Beaches council, told Daily Mail Australia that council is aware of the abandoned vehicle and police have been notified that the car was damaged.

'Rangers have attended the vehicle and spoken with a man who is one of the two people storing items in this car,' the spokeswoman said.

'Council have initiated the removal of the vehicle which involves applying a notice on the vehicle and sending a letter to the registered owner indicating it will be removed following an 18-day review.'
A crowd of anti-ULEZ protesters clashed with Metropolitan Police officers in furious scenes after they were prevented from demonstrating outside Sadiq Khan's south London home.

The activists reacted with fury after officers stopped them from marching close to where the Mayor of London lives.

The group were protesting Mr Khan's much-hated road charge, which forces motorists whose vehicles are non-compliant with emissions rules to pay 12.50 a day to drive in London.

Mr Khan is facing a backlash from motorists after expanding the ULEZ zone last year to cover all London boroughs, with hundreds of the ULEZ cameras being vandalised by so-called 'Blade Runners'.

Video shows that they were told by Met Police they were 'too close to his house' - prompting an outcry and mockery as the demonstrators accused the officers of an 'abuse of power'.

Furious anti-ULEZ protestors have accused police of 'an abuse of power' for preventing them from walking down Sadiq Khan 's home street

This group of demonstrators reacted with fury after police stopped them from marching close to where the Mayor of London lives in the south of the capital

Sadiq Khan who has faced backlash from motorists after expanding the ULEZ zone last year

The police tactics have been branded a disgrace on TikTok, where angry campaigners have compared the incident to the freedom allowed to pro-Palestinian marchers in London.

One furious TikToker commented: 'Why don't they use that power when all these marches are always going past our monuments and our fallen heroes in London? Hypocrisy.'

Another wrote: 'If you'd been waving pro-Palestine flags the police would have been nowhere to be seen.'

The protest took place on Saturday April 6, but videos of the confrontation have since gone viral on TikTok.

Five people were arrested on the day. They were later released on bail without charges.

Footage posted on the social media platform shows police being heckled whilst a female cop orders the protestors to disburse.

In one video, entitled 'It's now illegal to walk down Sadiq Khan's road', a man who appears to be leading the group complains: 'Sadiq Khan said 'I've got no problem with people (being here).' '

The woman officer can be heard telling the crowd: 'As I have already explained to you, the current location where you are is too close to his house. You are not allowed under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001...'

She continues: 'It's well within the legislation otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation.'

When the protestors insist on being allowed to pass, the cop says 'no no' and starts quoting legislation.

In one video a man who appears to be leading the group (right) complains: 'Sadiq Khan said 'I've got no problem with people (being here).' '

He is told by the female police officer that 'the current location' where protest group is 'is too close to [Sadiq Khan's] house'

A member of the crowd mimics and mocks the officer by saying, 'No no... we make the rules up as we go!', while another pleads: 'Surely you've got to have some common sense here.'

Another person taunts the officers by shouting: 'Check me out, I'm Billy big b****cks! I am above the law. I've got a bit of power.'

In a second section of footage, the man at the head of the group tells the police: 'I spoke to one of your colleagues earlier today when we first got here and he said 'yeah as long as you guys aren't breaking the law then we've got no problem with you.' '

'Today this is an embarrassment for the police. I carried (a) coffin to represent the fact that democracy is dead. Today you have just proved that is correct.

'Please don't take this personally because somebody has come from above your heads (saying), 'Get rid of them, get rid of them'.

'To me it is political and it is an abuse of power, somebody needs to resign over it. We will be pressing for that.'

Others in the crowd can be heard shouting 'disgusting abuse of power', 'shameful', 'disgraceful', and 'you're Khan's bully boys'.

An angry commentator on TikTok wrote: 'Start wearing a Palestinian flag then they won't touch you.'

Another added: 'What a disgrace our English police are to their fellow Englishmen. I hope they are embarrassed.'

A spokesperson for the Met Police said: 'Five people were arrested on Saturday, 6 April, by officers responding to a demonstration in Wandsworth.

'One person was arrested for obstructing police. Four people were arrested under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act. This relates to the presence of people at or near to residential premises where there are reasonable grounds to believe that this amounts to the harassment of residents.

'All four people were given directions by police at the scene to move away from this residential area. They did not comply and were consequently arrested.

'The five people have been bailed pending further enquiries to a date in early July.'

People during an anti-Ulez protest in Trafalgar Square, London, on January 27, 2024

People during an anti-Ulez protest in Trafalgar Square, London, on January 27, 2024

Protestor Terry Burt, 69, holding a placard with Sadiq Khan's face on it, at an anti-Ulez protest in Trafalgar Square

A vandalised ULEZ camera in Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon had the camera lens sprayed over with white paint

A ULEZ camera in Harefield covered over by pictures of London Mayor Sadiq Khan with the words, thief, liar, fraud and cruel written underneath the pictures

A ULEZ camera after it was cut down by protestors by the Chislehurst War Memorial

Commander Colin Wingrove, who is overseeing policing across London this weekend, said: 'Protests outside or in the vicinity of people's homes are not acceptable. Everyone should be able to go about their daily lives without feeling threatened or intimidated.

'There are plenty of appropriate places to protest in London. Anyone who chooses to target a private home or the area nearby can expect to be dealt with by officers.'

'We are aware of footage being shared online showing a very small part of the police response to these protests. This footage have been assessed by officers from the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) along with the body worn video footage of officers. The DPS are satisfied that there was no wrongdoing by officers and any force used was justified in the circumstances.'

The expansion of the ULEZ zone last year to cover all London boroughs has led to backlash from motorists, with hundreds of the ULEZ cameras being vandalised.

The furor in Streatham comes after a public spat between Downing Street and the Met Police. In November, Rishi Sunak vowed to hold the Met accountable for a decision to permit a Palestinian march to go ahead on Armistice Day.

And last month on March 1st, the PM said in a speech about extremism: 'I have met with senior police officers and made it clear it is the public's expectation that they will not merely manage these protests but police them.'

Met Commissioner Mark Rowley responded by saying: 'Policing is used to being criticised. But where it isn't justified, I do worry about the impact it has on our officers and staff, and on public confidence as we strive to operate without fear or favour.'
Families living in Copenhagen's libertarian Christiana neighbourhood, an old hippie paradise tainted in recent years by drug trafficking violence, have taken out their anger at the local cannabis trade by ripping up the street used by dealers.

Young children, elderly residents and even the city's mayor and Denmark's justice minister were among those present as cobblestones of Christiana's famous Pusher Street were torn up on Saturday.

Under spring sunshine, locals got to work with wheelbarrows, spades and crowbars, while police cleared away the dealers' former market stands, where cannabis used to be sold freely.

In late August, the so-called Christianites decided to close the street, known for its hashish stalls, after the fourth murder in three years shattered the image of a free-spirited and peaceful community.

Pusher Street 'has deteriorated into being a really not very nice place,' Hulda Mader, a community spokeswoman said. 'They fight each other, they fight people and they are violent.'

Young children and elderly residents were among those ripping up the cobbles on Pusher Street

Under spring sunshine, locals got to work with wheelbarrows, spades and crowbars

A toddler in wellies watches as locals rip up the street in the former hippie community - which is home to around 250 children

On Saturday, some nostalgic locals came to take away souvenir cobblestones

The graffiti-covered community in the centre of Copenhagen is home to around 1,000 residents

A pile of cobblestones is pictured at Pusher Street, in Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 6

Visiting Christiana last week, the BBC reported that there were around 20 sellers operating in the area. Police have said they clear out shops there '100 times a year'.

'If you have a conflict between groups in Copenhagen, they can most likely find each other in Pusher Street where they can shoot at each other,' Deputy Police Inspector Simon Hansen, who oversees the police operation in Christiania, told the broadcaster.

One incident last summer saw a 30-year-old man killed and others injured in a shooting linked to organised crime, with three more deadly shootings since 2020.

Now many, including the government and the city's mayor, have declared that enough is enough.

Lord Mayor Sophie Haestorp Andersen said: 'As a city, we cannot live with [the violence], and the local Christianites have not been able to live with it either, but had been afraid to do something radically about it.

'I told them I would back them up. Now we have a plan and we're taking the first step.'

On Saturday, some nostalgic locals came to take away souvenir cobblestones.

'It's a reminder of Christiana, what it used to be and what it isn't any more,' Adam Hovgaard, a 23-year-old resident of Copenhagen said.

While the shops have always reappeared after being destroyed by the police, this time the actual removal of the cobblestones is intended to prevent them being resurrected.

'We'll take the cobblestones and give them to people who want some. That's just a sign that Pusher Street is changing from a pushers' street to something else,' Mader explained.

City Mayor of Copenhagen, Sophie Haestorp Andersen (L) and Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard arrive as the residents of Christiania jointly dig up the cobblestones at Pusher Street

Families flocked to the site on Saturday. The 'free city' is a major tourist attraction

Dozens of people gathered on the street to get involved with the dig, or watch the spectacle unfold

A resident of the Christiania neighbourhood pulls down a neon lamp on a building at Pusher Street

For Mader, who is in her 70s and has lived in the area since 1994, support from most of the area's residents is essential.

Despite the 'free city's' long history of resistance towards the establishment, the dismantling of the street architecture is being carried out in cooperation with the police and the City of Copenhagen.

'Their commitment is crucial,' Lord Mayor Andersen said. 'It is the first time ever that they united and agreed to take a stand against the rising crime and insecurity in their neighbourhood.

'Digging up the street and making it a construction site will inevitably make it very difficult to sell. But it's just the beginning,' she said.

In 1971, a group of hippies founded the 'Free City of Christiania' in an abandoned military barracks to create a municipality that, according to its statute, 'belongs to everyone and to no one' and where every decision is taken collectively.

Residents of the Christiania neighbourhood jointly dig up the cobblestones at Pusher Street

Children participate as residents of the Christiania neighbourhood dig up the cobblestones at Pusher Street

The dismantling of the street architecture is being carried out in cooperation with the police and the City of Copenhagen

In the 84-acre (34-hectare) waterside enclave, the sale and consumption of cannabis is illegal but tolerated, making it a hotspot for drug trafficking.

'About five or 10 years ago, it was primarily locals. But right now we see that it's mostly gangs and biker gangs that drive this drug market,' Copenhagen police officer Simon Hansen explained.

Since Christiania, contrary to urban legend, is part of Denmark, police raids in the area have become more frequent.

'For too long we have accepted that pushers were selling weed and drugs like strawberries and freshly picked peas in a market,' Haestorp Andersen said.

In August, the locals blocked access to the free city for non-residents for one day 'in the hope of freeing Christiania from the tyranny of gangs'. The neighbourhood usually sees around half a million tourists a year.

Residents of the Christiania neighbourhood pass on a cobblestone dug up at Pusher Street

Along with the wish to end drug trafficking, the community wants to capitalise on the neighbourhood's postcard image and artistic vitality

Residents used crow bars to pull up the cobbles one by one, before moving them away from the site

The police arrested some 900 people in connection with drug trafficking in the area in 2023. No figures were given for the quantities of drugs seized.

But with this 'new chapter', the residents want to 'clean up (the street) and make it nice,' Mader said.

'We'll paint the buildings and rebuild them and all sorts of things.

'We want to be associated with what we were associated with before.... art, culture and plays,' she continued, making it 'a nice place for people to come and chill out'.

Christiania is located on an island abundant with greenery, and filled with the sound of birds chirping.

A women's band parades at Pusher Street, in Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 6, after residents of the Christiania neighbourhood dug up cobblestones to officially mark the closure of the street

It is home to 1,000 people, including around 250 children, with families living in the grafitti-covered barracks and wooden cottages.

Along with the wish to end drug trafficking, the community wants to capitalise on the neighbourhood's postcard image and artistic vitality.

It also aims to start constructing housing for about 300 new residents.

Though the details of the project have not yet been decided, residents hope it will attract families with children, as a quarter of the population is currently over the age of 60.
A man and a woman have appeared in court charged with the murder of Sarah Mayhew, whose remains were found in a park in Croydon.

Gemma Saundercock, 48, and Steve Samson, 44, appeared at Bromley Magistrates' Court via video link today, accused of killing the 38-year-old and preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body.

Samson has also been charged with three counts of making indecent images of a child, in a charge which police say is currently unconnected to the murder case.

Ms Mayhew's body was found shortly after 9am last Tuesday on Rowdown Fields, where police have been seen combing the park for evidence.

District Judge Roy Brown said: Your cases is being sent to the Central Criminal Court where you will appear for plea and trial preparation on 11 April.'

Samson, of Burnell Road, Sutton, and Saundercock, of Holmbury Grove, Croydon, were remanded in custody ahead of their next hearing at the the Old Bailey on Thursday.

A man and a woman have been charged with the murder of Sarah Mayhew, 38, (pictured), whose remains were found in a park in Croydon, south London , on Tuesday April 2, the Metropolitan Police said

Gemma Saundercock, 48, and Steve Samson, 44, appeared in custody at Bromley Magistrates' Court today (pictured: the Croydon park where human remains were found)

The pair are accused of killing the 38-year-old and preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body (pictured: the Croydon park where human remains were found)

Samson has also been charged with three counts of making indecent images of a child, in a charge which police say is currently unconnected to the murder case

The victim's family have been informed of the charges and are being supported by specialist officers.

Commander Andy Brittain said: 'I would like to thank the detectives and officers across the Met whose expertise continues to enable this speedy and thorough investigation.

'The local community has also offered much support during this time, as officers carried out this vital work, and we are very appreciative of their efforts.

'My sincere condolences are with Sarah's family, and we will continue to support them as the investigation progresses.'

Yesterday the Met named and pictured Ms Mayhew and revealed they were in contact with her family and supporting them with specially trained family liaison officers.

Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe, who is leading the investigation, previously said: 'My thoughts are with Sarah's family as they deal with this heartbreaking news.

'No family should have to lose a loved one in such tragic circumstances, and we will continue to provide our support as our investigation progresses.'

Ms Mayhew's body was found shortly after 9am last Tuesday on Rowdown Fields (pictured), where police have been seen combing the park for evidence

The victim's family have been informed of the charges and are being supported by specialist officers

Commander Andy Brittain said: 'I would like to thank the detectives and officers across the Met whose expertise continues to enable this speedy and thorough investigation'

He added: 'The local community has also offered much support during this time, as officers carried out this vital work, and we are very appreciative of their efforts'

Mr Brittain said: 'My sincere condolences are with Sarah's family, and we will continue to support them as the investigation progresses'

Yesterday the Met named and pictured Ms Mayhew and revealed they were in contact with her family and supporting them with specially trained family liaison officers

Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe, who is leading the investigation, previously said: 'My thoughts are with Sarah's family as they deal with this heartbreaking news'

He added: 'No family should have to lose a loved one in such tragic circumstances, and we will continue to provide our support as our investigation progresses'

The cause of Ms Mayhew's death has not yet been released. Post-mortem examinations began on Sunday and police urged anyone with information to call 101, quoting reference 1656/02Apr

Police sealed off the Croydon park last Tuesday after receiving reports at around 9am that human remains had been found

The cause of Ms Mayhew's death has not yet been released. Post-mortem examinations began on Sunday and police urged anyone with information to call 101, quoting reference 1656/02Apr.

Police sealed off the Croydon park last Tuesday after receiving reports at around 9am that human remains had been found.

Officers discovered found further remains in another part of the park.
Primrose Hill stab victim Harry Pitman's mother today yelled 'coward' at her son's alleged killer in court.

Medics desperately tried to save Harry but he was pronounced dead just 20 minutes before midnight after he was attacked with a hunting knife at a New Year's Eve fireworks display in north London.

The 17-year-old defendant, who cannot be named, appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link from Oakhill youth prison in Milton Keynes.

Wearing a black jacket and white shirt, the defendent denied murder and having an offensive weapon, namely a 'hunting style knife' in a sheath.

Harry's mother Amanda Woolveridge screamed 'you coward' at the alleged killer before apologising to the judge and leaving court.

Harry Pitman, 16, (pictured) who was fatally stabbed in north-west London on New Year's Eve

People take part in a vigil in Downhills Park in the West Green area of Haringey, London, for 16-year-old Harry Pitman

Police officers conduct a search on Primrose Hill in Camden, north London, where the 16-year-old died

Along with three other members of the family she had made the sign of the cross as they entered court.

Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward, KC, earlier said the teenager was 'armed with a hunting style knife in a sheath in a public place being frequented by members of the public.

'The incident took place within yards of emergency services including police officers who were attending.'

The Honourable Mr Justice Cavanagh KC set the trial date for the week beginning September 2, with estimates that it may take four to six weeks.

Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward said: 'There is not a large body of evidence to look through, only eyewitnesses and CCTV.

'Psychiatric and psychological assessments are planned.'

Defence counsel David Bentley agreed that psychological help would be needed.
Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha is not giving up her libel case without a fight after her attorneys filed an appeal against a judge's ruling that dismissed the lawsuit in March.

Last month, Florida Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell said that the case should be dismissed because Samantha 'failed to identify any statements that could support a claim for defamation.'

The comments were related to Prince Harry and Meghan's infamous 2021 interview with American talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

The suit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning that it cannot simply be refiled.

However, Samantha's team are seeking to overturn that decision, according to a new legal filing that was seen by Newsweek.

'Notice is hereby given that the Plaintiff, Samantha M. Markle, by and through her undersigned counsel, appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit from the Order Granting Defendants, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Motion to Dismiss entered by the Honorable Charlene Edwards Honeywell on March 12, 2024,' the document reads.

A judge dismissed Samantha Markle's defamation suit against her sister Meghan in March. Samantha was seeking damages in excess of $75,000

The decision in March saved the Sussexes, pictured here at the recent NAACP awards, from a trial in Florida that was set to begin in November 2024

Pictured: Meghan Markle at Samantha's graduation in 2008. Samantha, 59, has accused her famous sister of defamation by implication for Meghan suggesting to Oprah that she grew up as an only child

The March decision spared Meghan, 42, from a trial which was set to take place at the court in Tampa in November.

Samantha, 59, has been seeking at least $75,000 for defamation and defamation by implication for Meghan suggesting to Oprah that she grew up as an only child.

Meghan also said that Samantha only changed her name back to Markle after she began dating Harry.

According to Samantha, Meghan made similar claims in the Netflix series and the allegations subjected her to 'humiliation, shame and hatred on a worldwide scale'.

In her 58-page ruling, Judge Honeywell said that Meghan's statements could not be defamatory because they are 'substantially true based on judicially noticed evidence' or 'not capable of being considered defamatory'.

Samantha had failed to 'plausibly allege that they are defamatory in the first place', the judge said.

The judge noted that Meghan's comments about her childhood was her 'merely opining' that she did not have a close relationship with Samantha, her half sister with whom she shares a father.

Judge Honeywell said that Samantha's claim that Meghan 'implied that (she) was a liar and a fame-seeker', was an 'improper mischaracterization' of what the Duchess said.

Samantha Markle is seen in February outside the courtroom in Tampa, Florida, where she was trying to convince a judge to allow her defamation case against Meghan Markle to proceed

Samantha Markle claims that Meghan defamed her in her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey

Turning to Meghan's statement that Samantha changed her name from Rasmussen, her married name, back to Markle after the Duchess began dating Harry, the judge said that 'the gist was true'.

She wrote: 'That Plaintiff used one last name and then the name Markle soon after reports of Defendant's relationship with Prince Harry were published is substantially true, based on the exhibits in the record, of which the Court has taken judicial notice.'

Among the statements in Samantha's claim was one by Harry in the Netflix series in which he said: 'Perhaps the most troubling part of this is the number of British journalists interacting with and amplifying the hate and the lies'.

But Judge Honeywell said: 'That this statement was included in the complaint is perplexing and suggests haste, a misunderstanding of the law, or a lack of diligence on the part of plaintiff's counsel.

'It is unclear how this statement could be defamatory towards Plaintiff, as it does not reference her'.

In her conclusion, Judge Honeywell wrote: 'Plaintiff's claims will be dismissed with prejudice, as she has failed to identify any statements that could support a claim for defamation or defamation-by-implication by this point, her third try at amending her complaint, in either the book Finding Freedom, the Netflix series Harry & Meghan, or Defendant and her husband's hour-long televised CBS Interview'.

The case was originally filed in March 2022 and in legal filings Samantha detailed at length how she was 'very close' to Meghan when they grew up in Los Angeles.

Samantha helped Meghan with her homework, took her shopping and had a 'wonderful relationship' with her, it was claimed.

Samantha Markle has frequently appeared on television shows to talk about her half sister

Among the statements in Samantha's claim was one by Harry in the Netflix series in which he said: 'Perhaps the most troubling part of this is the number of British journalists interacting with and amplifying the hate and the lies'

But once Meghan began to become famous on the TV series Suits, she 'no longer had time' for Samantha and by 2016 they had stopped visiting each other, it was claimed.

The lawsuit claimed that once Meghan met Harry she became 'hostile' to Samantha as well as the rest of her family.

The 'defining moment' of Meghan's 'unwarranted hostility' towards Meghan happened in 2017 when the Duchess allegedly 'hung up the phone immediately' upon hearing Samantha's voice.

Samantha called back but 'to this day Meghan has never returned Samantha's phone call', she claimed.

Since then Meghan has 'belligerently attempted to malign Samantha and other family members', the lawsuit states.

Meghan's method is to 'terminate friendships, rather than save them, and for her to become hostile', the lawsuit claims.

Before her wedding in 2018, Meghan and Samantha's father Thomas Sr suffered two heart attacks but instead of showing him 'grace and compassion, she effectively terminated her relationship'.

Thomas Sr had been caught posing for photos with a paparazzi agency and Meghan has publicly claimed that she did not believe he was telling her the truth.

After that it is alleged that Meghan 'started her smear campaign and ongoing deluge of distorted facts and stories, complete with fake quotes about and 'by' Samantha'.

The lawsuit even claims that Meghan has 'encouraged hatred of Samantha through a bot network which caused great harm to Samantha'.

Samantha and Meghan have had a difficult relationship for years which exploded into public view after Meghan's engagement to Harry was announced in 2017.

Samantha was quoted by journalists as saying that 'The Queen would be appalled' and called her a 'ducha**' on Twitter.

In her memoir, titled 'The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister', Samantha claimed that Meghan ordered their father to disown his children from his first marriage if he wanted an invitation to her wedding.

According to the book, Meghan told Thomas Sr to divorce himself from her and her brother Thomas by saying: 'You don't need them!'

Thomas Sr refused and supposedly said: 'I love you all equally' to which Meghan replied: 'Why can't you just comply?'
The father of the man accused of killing Hannah McGuire has unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade at a reporter when asked about his son's murder charge.

Lachlan Young, 21, faced court on Tuesday charged over the death of his ex-girlfriend, whose body was found in a burnt-out car on Friday morning at Scarsdale, 25kms south of Ballarat.

Nine News reporter Gillian Lantouris approached the accused's dad in the driveway of his home as he retreated inside a garage.

Ms Lantouris asked: 'Do you have anything to say about Lachie's murder charge?'

The father replied: 'F**k, get away, f**k off!', from inside the garage as the electric roller door came down.

Police discovered the remains of Hannah McGuire, 23, in a burnt out car near State Forest Rd, close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria, just before 10am on Friday

Glenn McGuire tried hard to hide his grief on the steps of the court house

Images of Young on social media indicate he enjoyed a good upbringing and remained close to his parents

Earlier on Tuesday, the heartbroken mother of Ms McGuire, 23, wept openly in the Ballarat Magistrates' Court as the man accused of her daughter's murder hid his face.

Sporting a mullet haircut, Young slumped in court as the grief-stricken mother burst into tears in her seat at the front of the courtroom.

The court heard Young would be kept behind bars until his next court date in September.

Outside court, Ms McGuire's devastated parents Glenn and Debbie and her brother sobbed and consoled each other as Ballarat lawyer Brooke Tamanika spoke on their behalf.

'As you can imagine this is a very devastating time for the family, for Hannah's loved ones and for our community as a whole,' she said.

'The family have been assisting the police, however I cannot comment on the status of the matter.'

Mr McGuire could not contain his grief as Ms Tamanika spoke to reporters, turning his back and attempting to cover his own pain as he sobbed uncontrollably.

He was comforted by his family before police escorted them all away from the media pack to their car across the street.

Friends of Ms McGuire were also seen leaving the court in tears.

Inside court, little information was provided on Homicide Squad detectives' case against the alleged killer.

The court heard multiple crime scenes were still being investigated with police combing through CCTV footage.

Young's lawyer complained to the court that police had provided her with no information about the allegations which was limiting her ability to launch any kind of bail application in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

'At this stage the defence have been giving nothing by police. All of the information we have has been provided by the media,' she said.

Ms McGuire had been friends with Young's sister Bek Young

Glenn McGuire is comforted by his wife Debbie outside the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday

'It would appear as though the police have swooped very quickly and obviously there is enough evidence against Mr Young to charge him with murder.'

The court heard it will take the prosecution 16 weeks to compile their brief of evidence against Young.

Young's lawyer revealed it was her client's first time in custody and he needed access to anti-depressant medication.

It is understood Ms McGuire's death had initially been dismissed as a suicide after her body was found in a burnt out car.

But a coroner's report indicated she had allegedly sustained deadly injuries before the vehicle was engulfed in flames.

The remains of the were found near State Forest Road, close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria, just before 1am on Friday.

It can further be revealed Ms McGuire had been friends with Young's sister Bek Young.

Images of Young on social media indicate he enjoyed a good upbringing and remained close to his parents.

His parents' family home is situated a stone's throw from the Sebastopol home where detectives arrested him on Sunday.

Lachie Young, 21, from Sebastopol, was arrested by detectives on Sunday and formally charged with her murder on Monday afternoon

A 22-year-old was also arrested that afternoon but was released without charge.

Young and Ms McGuire had been in a relationship and were living together for the past year before they recently split, Daily Mail Australia understands.

Ms McGuire, who worked at her family's pub - The National Hotel in Clunes - had lived with Young up until a week ago when she moved.

In a post on the pub's Facebook page, the McGuire family said they were 'broken'.

'The pub will be open as normal on Wednesday, we'll leave you in the capable hands of Johnny Hind for a few days,' the post read.

'Thank you everyone for your love, support and kind words. Our hearts are broken.

'You weren't just a star to us. You were our whole damn sky. Miss you Princess!'

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.
Labour's Rachel Reeves today insisted her party's deputy leader Angela Rayner isn't a 'tax dodger' as she set out new plans to crackdown on tax avoidance.

The shadow chancellor laid out how she would raise 5billion a year by the end of the next Parliament by narrowing the 'tax gap'.

This is the difference between the amount of money HMRC is owed and the amount it actually receives.

Ms Reeves also set out how she hopes to raise 2.6billion over the next Parliament by closing 'loopholes' in the Government's plans to abolish exemptions for 'non-doms'.

But, during a round of media interviews this morning, the shadow chancellor was dogged by fresh questions about Ms Rayner's weeks-long housing row.

Ms Rayner is under pressure to further explain her past living arrangements amid claims she may have escaped paying some capital gains tax on the sale of her former council house.

It is also alleged she may have made a false declaration about where she was living on the electoral register, amid confusion about what was her principal residence.

Ms Reeves staunchly defended Ms Rayner and denied her shadow cabinet colleague was among the 'tax dodgers' she is hoping to crackdown on.

Labour's deputy leader herself has repeatedly said she has 'done absolutely nothing wrong'.

During a round of media interviews this morning, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves was dogged by fresh questions about Angela Rayner's weeks-long housing row

Ms Rayner is under pressure to further explain her past living arrangements amid claims she may have escaped paying some capital gains tax on the sale of her former council house

'Yes I am absolutely certain [she isn't],' Ms Reeves told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

'Angela is a good friend and colleague and she has answered, less than two weeks ago, she was on this programme and answered questions about the sale of her house almost a decade ago now, when she was married to her former husband.

'These allegations are from something that happened a decade ago and she has, though, sought legal advice since then.

'She's confident and I'm confident that she has paid her tax.

'But today is about asking the wealthiest in our country to pay their fair share of tax to fund our public services.'

According to an unofficial biography of Ms Rayner, she used Margaret Thatcher's Right to Buy scheme to purchase her former council home in Vicarage Road, Stockport, in January 2007, before becoming an MP.

She married Mark Rayner in September 2010 and when the couple re-registered the births of their two sons that year, it is claimed they provided Mark's address in nearby Lowndes Lane.

But Ms Rayner is said to have remained on the electoral roll at Vicarage Road until 2015 when she sold the house at a profit of 48,500.

A married couple can have only one main residence, with capital gains tax due on the sale of a second home.

Knowingly providing false information on an electoral registration form is an offence, which can carry a six-month prison sentence or unlimited fine.

Ms Rayner has revealed she spent time between both properties following her marriage to Mr Rayner, but insisted the house on Vicarage Road was her 'principal property'.

The Mail on Sunday has studied dozens of postings made by Ms Rayner on social media during the period in question showing her life with her children and cats at her husband's address

The Mail on Sunday has since studied dozens of postings made by Ms Rayner on social media during that period showing her life with her children and cats at her husband's address.

One of the photos from the property she claims was not her principal residence was even posted with the caption 'just got home'.

Ms Rayner has refused to publish the tax and legal advice she has received on the sale of her ex-council house.

Ms Reeves plans for a fresh clampdown on tax avoidance comes after she was forced to find new sources of revenue when Jeremy Hunt's Budget copied Labour's pledge to abolish the current tax system for 'non-doms'.

The Chancellor's action, which helped fund his pre-election cut to national insurance, left a huge hole in Labour's spending plans for the NHS and schools.

Mr Hunt also extended the windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas firms, throwing Ms Reeves' plans into disarray.

Labour have claimed the Chancellor's pledge to abolish non-doms is the 'semi-skimmed version', while they would pursue a 'full-fat version' by tightening 'loopholes'.

Ms Reeves set out how Labour will work on closing the tax gap.

This widened to 36billion in 2021/22, 5billion more than it had been the previous year, as an under-resourced HMRC struggled to collect revenues and manage compliance.

Labour plan to invest up to 555million a year in boosting the number of compliance officers at HMRC.

The party will also consider requiring more tax schemes to be registered with HMRC to make sure they are legitimate, and plans a focus on offshore tax compliance.

Ms Reeves told BBC Breakfast she could 'ramp up' the number of HMRC staff 'pretty quickly' if Labour won the election.

'At the start you might need to bring in extra resource but then you need to train people up within the government to do this work,' the shadow chancellor said.

'This isn't rocket science  previous governments have managed to close that tax gap, as it's called.'

She added: 'The Government's plans that they announced in March about non-doms, they said they were taking our policy; well, it turns out they've taken it but left a load of loopholes in it.

'And so if you are a non-dom you can still get out of paying inheritance tax: in the first year of their policy there's a 50 per cent discount, we don't get 50 per cent discounts on our taxes.

'People who go out and work today  teachers, plumbers, doctors  they don't get a 50 per cent discount.

'Why should some of the wealthiest people in the country get that discount? We would abolish that and we would put that money into frontline public services, where it belongs.'

Labour expects its measures to raise more than 5billion a year by the end of the Parliament.

But only 2billion of that money will go to funding NHS appointments and primary school breakfast clubs, with the rest being kept back for other priorities.

Treasury minister Nigel Huddleston said: 'Labour hasn't changed. When it comes to tax - it's one rule for the British people, another rule for the Labour leadership.

'The shadow chancellor is committed to the same old Labour policies - back to square one with higher spending, higher borrowing and higher taxes.

'Without a plan to pay for Labour's billions of pounds of unfunded spending promises and their unfunded 28billion a year decarbonisation promise, taxes on working people will rise.

'Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives are sticking to the plan with the economy, which has meant we have been able to put 900 back in the pockets of the average worker by cutting the double tax on work to help families build a brighter future.'
A veteran NPR editor has blown the whistle on how the publicly-funded broadcaster has become an activist organization obsessed with pushing progressive ideals.

Uri Berliner, a business editor at NPR for 25 years, has offered a glimpse into his belief that NPR has gone from a respected information source to one that can't be trusted to honestly cover the news.

In an essay for The Free Press, Berliner notes that while NPR has always had a liberal bent, the publication was not 'not knee-jerk, activist, or scolding' - something he says changed when Donald Trump entered the political arena.

Berliner uncovers how NPR knowingly kept information from its audience during the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.

He says NPR editors were quick to jump on claims that Donald Trump was a Russian asset - but far more reticent to cover their subsequent debunking.

It was a similar story with the Covid lab leak theory, which NPR continues to discredit, as well as the Hunter Biden laptop, which bosses declined to cover, Berliner says.

'Today, those who listen to NPR or read its coverage online find something different: the distilled worldview of a very small segment of the U.S. population,' Berliner writes.

Uri Berliner, a business editor at NPR for 25 years, has offered a glimpse into how he believes NPR has gone from a respected information source to one that can't be trusted to honestly cover the news

Berliner puts much of the blame for NPR's shift to the ultra left on former CEO John Lansing, seen with president Joe Biden in 2023

Berliner tracks the last days of the old NPR to 2011, when he says it still had a leftist tilt, but 'still bore bore a resemblance to America at large,' and an audience that described themselves as 26 percent conservative, 23 percent moderate and 37 percent liberal.

But by 2023, only 11 percent of listeners described themselves as very or somewhat conservative, while 21 percent said they were 'middle of the road,' and 67 percent reported they were very or somewhat liberal.

'That wouldnt be a problem for an openly polemical news outlet serving a niche audience. But for NPR, which purports to consider all things, its devastating both for its journalism and its business model,' the veteran editor says in his essay.

Berliner explains that Trump's 2016 candidacy for presidency changed how NPR covered politics, writing: 'what began as tough, straightforward coverage of a belligerent, truth-impaired president veered toward efforts to damage or topple Trumps presidency.'

NPR, Berliner writes, became obsessed with rumors about Trump colluding with Russia to defeat Hillary Clinton, repeatedly covering Representative Adam Schiff as he led the fight against Trump.

Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, was interviewed by NPR, by Berliner's count, as many as 25 times about Trump and Russia. According to Berliner, Schiff would often allude to alleged evidence of collusion, and his talking points eventually 'became the drumbeat of NPR news reports.'

However, when special council Robert Mueller's report found no credible evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia, 'Russiagate quietly faded from our programming,' Berliner writes.

The journalist cites NPR's former managing editor for news, Terence Samuels, who explained NPR did not cover Hunter Biden's laptop because: 'We dont want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories, and we dont want to waste the listeners and readers time on stories that are just pure distractions.'

'Its bad to blow a big story,' Berliner adds. 'Whats worse is to pretend it never happened, to move on with no mea culpas, no self-reflection.'

Berliner also slams NPR for ignoring the New York Post's report on Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop and its sordid contents in October, 2020, as the presidential election approached.

The journalist cites NPR's former managing editor for news, Terence Samuels, who explained the decision by saying: 'We dont want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories, and we dont want to waste the listeners and readers time on stories that are just pure distractions.'

As Berliner writes, we now know the laptop did belong to Hunter Biden, and the device revealed concerns about influence peddling by the president's son.

Yet, Berliner recalls hearing a colleague say 'it was good we werent following the laptop story because it could help Trump.'

NPR also refused to fully report on the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic, with editors deeming the lab leak theory 'racist' or a 'right-wing conspiracy theory.'

Berliner writes: 'We became fervent members of Team Natural Origin, even declaring that the lab leak had been debunked by scientists.'

He adds: 'Over the course of the pandemic, a number of investigative journalists made compelling, if not conclusive, cases for the lab leak. But at NPR, we werent about to swivel or even tiptoe away from the insistence with which we backed the natural origin story.'

Berliner mentions a colleague who compared the lab leak theory to the Bush administrations unfounded argument that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.

'But these two events were not even remotely related. Again, politics were blotting out the curiosity and independence that ought to have been driving our work,' Berliner says of the comparison.

The journalist shares that there is currently 'an unspoken consensus about the stories we should pursue and how they should be framed.' The stories usually cover 'instances of supposed racism, transphobia, signs of the climate apocalypse, Israel doing something bad, and the dire threat of Republican policies.'

Berliner puts much of the blame for NPR's shift to the ultra left on former CEO John Lansing, who he says became a more visible figure after the 2020 killing of George Floyd by a police officer.

The journalist explains: 'Floyds murder, captured on video, changed both the conversation and the daily operations at NPR.'

Instead of exploring the question of systemic racism in America, Berliner writes that the message from the top was clear: 'Americas infestation with systemic racism was declared loud and clear: it was a given. Our mission was to change it.'

Lansing then reportedly declared that 'diversity' would now be NPR's 'North Star', an initiative bolstered by a $1million grant from the NPR foundation.

Journalists would now be required to ask everyone they interviewed about their race, gender and ethnicity, before entering their answers in a centralized tracking system.

Berliner explains: 'A growing DEI staff offered regular meetings imploring us to 'start talking about race.' Monthly segregated dialogues were offered for women of color and men of color. Nonbinary people of color were included, too.'

Several employee resource groups based on identity emerged, including 'MGIPOC (Marginalized Genders and Intersex People of Color mentorship program), Mi Gente (Latinx employees at NPR) and NPR Noir (black employees at NPR).'

The groups became so important to NPR's union, SAG-AFTRA, that a current DEI section in the contract requires the company to 'keep up to date with current language and style guidance from journalism affinity groups' and to inform employees with the language diverts from the diktats of the groups.

If it does, Berliner writes, 'the dispute could go before the DEI Accountability Committee.'

Berliner sums it up as: 'In essence, this means the NPR union, of which I am a dues-paying member, has ensured that advocacy groups are given a seat at the table in determining the terms and vocabulary of our news coverage.'

For Berliner, however, 'the most damaging development at NPR' is 'the absence of viewpoint diversity.'

Berliner ends his essay by wishing good luck to NPR's new CEO Katherine Maher, declaring: 'Ill be rooting for her. Its a tough job. Her first rule could be simple enough: dont tell people how to think. It could even be the new North Star'

The journalist shares that there is currently 'an unspoken consensus about the stories we should pursue and how they should be framed.'

The stories usually cover 'instances of supposed racism, transphobia, signs of the climate apocalypse, Israel doing something bad, and the dire threat of Republican policies.'

'Its almost like an assembly line,' the writes laments.

Berliner writes about a document called the Transgender Coverage Guidance, which asks journalists to avoid the term 'biological sex.'

He goes on to cite the 'bizarre' stories that have stemmed from NPR's DEI obsession: one story claims The Beatles and bird names are racially problematic, others justify looting and suggest fears about crime are racist.

Berliner shares that after finding there were zero Republicans in editorial positions in his DC newsroom, he presented the information in an editorial meeting and suggested there was a diversity problem.

The journalist says he been persistent, writing emails to top bosses when he thinks the coverage has gone 'off the rails.' He has flagged NPR's use of the term 'latinX,' asking why they use it if most Hispanics hate it.

Berliner says bosses have been respectful of his concerns, 'but nothing changes.'

'Ive become a visible wrong-thinker at a place I love. Its uncomfortable, sometimes heartbreaking,' he writes.

Berliner ends his essay by wishing good luck to NPR's new CEO Katherine Maher, declaring: 'Ill be rooting for her. Its a tough job. Her first rule could be simple enough: dont tell people how to think. It could even be the new North Star.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to NPR for comment.
Wrong for doing the right thing: How the Western media deliberately demonizes China

People's Daily Online) 10:53, April 09, 2024

As the largest manufacturing country on the planet, China has made full use of its industrial prowess and environmentally-friendly new quality productive forces to deliver clean energy products and technologies to the world. By giving citizens of other countries access to clean energies and affordable products, China has kept its promise to promote global sustainability.

However, in the other parts of the world, Chinas sustainability commitments and economic performance have been maliciously besmirched by the Western media. In some circumstances, Western media outlets even expressed completely conflicting opinions that revealed their untrustworthiness and biased, spiteful mindset towards China.

The following posters show some examples of their contradictory comments:

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chengliang)
The final voter turnout in Wednesday's parliamentary elections tentatively reached 67 percent, the election watchdog said, the highest in 32 years for general elections.

Of an eligible 44.28 million voters, 29.66 million cast their ballots at 14,259 polling stations nationwide that opened for 12 hours from 6 a.m., the National Election Commission (NEC) said.

The turnout was 0.8 percentage point higher than the 2020 tally of 66.2 percent, marking the highest turnout for general elections since 1992, when the turnout came in at 71.9 percent.

The turnout includes the record 31.28 percent turnout from last week's two-day early voting, and the votes by overseas Korean nationals and those aboard ships.

Up for grabs are 300 National Assembly seats, including 254 directly contested seats and 46 proportional representative slots.

By region, the central administrative city of Sejong had the highest turnout of 70.2 percent, followed by South Jeolla Province in the southwest registering 69 percent and Gwangju city in the same province logging 68.2 percent.

The southern island of Jeju recorded the lowest, 62.2 percent, trailed by the southeastern city of Daeju with 64 percent and the central South Chungcheong Province at 65 percent.

Seoul's turnout was at 69.3 percent, the second highest, with Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital at 66.7 percent. Incheon, located west of Seoul, recorded 65.3 percent.

The final voter turnout will be announced Thursday morning. (Yonhap)
A witness to a Wisconsin river stabbing that killed a teenager admitted he falsely claimed the attacker had been 'filming little girls', which triggered the chaotic scenes.

Footage of the July 30, 2022, attack circulated widely this week as it was shown at the murder trial of engineer Nicolae Miu, 54, showing him stabbing Isaac Shuman, 17, to death and knifing four others.

Miu was accused by the group of being a 'pedophile', and witness Larrion Davis later told investigators that he saw the attacker 'taking pictures of girls' in the area.

However, as he took the stand last week, Davis appeared confused over this claim, and admitted he wasn't sure what he saw because 'there was a lot going on.'

Witness Larrion Davis was grilled by accused murderer Nicolae Miu's attorney over his claims that he saw him 'taking pictures of little girls' before the horror July 2022 stabbing

Miu of Pior Lake, Minnesota, claimed that his lethal stabbing was 'self-defense' after the group of tubers claimed that he was 'looking for little girls in the Apple River

Isaac Shuman, 17, died after Miu stabbed him in his chest. Shuman's best friend broke down in court this week as he said that he tried his best to stop the bleeding and save him

As he took the stand, Davis was questioned by Miu's attorney over his claims to investigators during a March 2024 interview, almost two years after the attack took place.

'You also said to the police, (Miu) came out of the bushes and he was taking pictures of little girls?' the prosecutor asked.

'Yes, I said that,' Davis responded. When asked if he 'saw that', he responded, 'I said that.'

'I understand you said it, did you see it?' they asked again.

Seemingly confused, Davis responded 'Yes', before the attorney asked him to clarify whether he witnessed Miu 'with his camera that afternoon, taking pictures of little girls... that's what you're telling this jury?'

David responded: 'Oh, no, no, no, that's what I said.'

'Like I said, I understand you said it, is it true?' the attorney continued, to which David replied: 'Oh, I don't know.'

When questioned why he would tell investigators something that he wasn't sure is true, Davis said there was 'a lot going on.'

The attorney repeats the version of events again in an attempt to clarify his remarks, asking Davis: 'That's not true is it?'

At that point, Davis admits, 'I guess so.'

He continued: 'It's hard to say, because like that's what I recall from the day that it happened, that's what I was telling the officer.'

The attorney reminded Davis that when he was initially interviewed by detectives, he never mentioned Miu 'taking pictures of little girls', and he only made these claims in the interview almost two years later.

'I don't remember that... that was a month ago that I said that though,' Davis concluded.

Miu was charged with first-degree intentional homicide after Isaac Shuman, 17, died and four others were injured. He was charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide for their injuries

Video then shows the chilling moment another member of the group stumbling into the river while a pool of red water emerged around him

Miu is seen approaching the group (left). Someone is see with their arms near Miu's neck during the incident (right)

Miu's wife Sondra told detectives that the violent altercation began after Miu, whose group was farther up the river, went back to find a 'phone that was lost' while wearing snorkeling gear

During the first week of trial on April 1, the court reviewed a video that captured the intense moments leading up to and during the stabbing.

Miu was seen aggressively approaching the tubers, including the person recording, as they heckled him and laughed at him - telling him to 'walk away.'

The twenty-somethings reportedly approached Miu first, however, after spotting him chatting to a group of teenagers who looked 'uncomfortable,' as he was allegedly asking for the numbers of 'young girls.'

A woman then approached Miu ordering him to go away from the group, while one of the boys shouted 'he was looking for little girls.'

The video then showed the group push Miu down into the water repeatedly and hit him while he scrambled to get up.

Members of the group then began to shout: 'He hit a woman?'

The woman clutched her side in shock as blood began to pour out, and it became apparent that she had been stabbed.

The DA's Office said that there was 'enough blood in the river that water turned a red tint in places.'

Video then showed the chilling moment another member of the group stumbled into the river as a pool of red water emerged around him.

Chaos ensued as the group quickly dispersed. The cameraman screamed 'this isn't real' as more blood stained the water.

The distressing footage then suddenly cut out.

When the stabbing unfolded, Miu's wife Sondra told detectives that the violent altercation began after Miu, whose group was further up the river, went back to find a 'phone that was lost' while wearing snorkeling gear.

While he was looking, Sondra said a 'group of guys got off their tubes and started hitting' him.

The group apparently accused Miu of 'looking for little girls' and being a 'child molester' after he had been snorkeling between two groups on each side of the river looking for the phone, according to a video viewed by the St. Croix DA's Office in Wisconsin.

Owen Peloquin, 19, testified in court on Monday during the second week of the trial, as he detailed the moment engineer Nicolae Miu, 54, attacked the group with a knife on July 30, 2022

Nicolae Miu looks on during his murder trial, Friday, April 5, 2024

It comes as another of the teenagers in the group described watching his best friend stabbed to death in Wisconsin's Apple River.

Owen Peloquin, 19, testified in court on Monday during the second week of the trial, as he detailed the moment engineer Nicolae Miu, 54, attacked the group with a knife after they heckled him and called him a 'pedophile.'

'He just weirdly like sprinted at us, just made us all super uncomfortable,' Peloquin said before cell phone video of the 2022 encounter was shown in court.

Peloquin was heard in the video saying 'Yo, get away,' but he said that Miu didn't listen and instead grabbed onto their water tubes.

Miu of Prior Lake, Minnesota, claimed that he stabbed them in 'self-defense' after the group of tubers claimed that he was 'looking for little girls' on July 30, 2022.

He was charged with first-degree intentional homicide after Isaac Shuman, 17, died and four others were injured. He was charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide for their injuries.

During his testimony, Peloquin said that he regretted calling Miu a 'pedophile' and wished that he and his friends acted differently that day.

When Shuman was attacked by Miu, Peloquin said that he didn't see him get stabbed but rushed over to him and brought him to shore with his other friend Alex.

'I tried my hardest to stop the bleeding,' Peloquin said as he became visibly emotional.

Schuman was then taken in an ambulance to the Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater where he was pronounced dead.

As the witness testimony went on, Mui's defense attorney, Corey Chirafisi showed pictures from the incident and questioned Peloquin's reactions.

With his mouth wide open as he stood in the river, the teen said that he was in 'pure shock' when he saw the knife in Miu's hand.

After that, pictures showed him step forward as a prosecutor asked him what he was doing. Peloquin said that he was reaching to grab Ryan Nelson, another friend of his that was in the group.

Chirafisi asked the teen: 'Do you believe your actions there with the rest of your friends are taunting him?'

'It could be considered that, yeah,' Peloquin replied.

Chirafisi has maintained that on the day of the attack, his client was provoked by the group.

Ryhley Mattinson, A.J, Martin, Dante Carlson and Tony Carlson were the other four teenagers stabbed that day

Chirafisi said that the group recorded Mui on their phones when they had the decision to leave him be.

As he asked Peloquin questions about the moment of the attack, Chirafisi said: 'You wanted to see it finish because it was on tape right?'

'Jawahn Cockfield was videotaping this entire thing, isn't he? You wanted to see how this tape played out.'

Cockfield was another teenager that was with the group at the lake that day.

Ryhley Mattinson, A.J, Martin, Dante Carlson and Tony Carlson were the four other teenagers stabbed that day.

Besides Peloquin, others testified in court on Monday morning, including doctor Brian Myer who treated the four surviving teens at Region Hospital.

He said that Mattinson had to have emergency surgery and when she arrived her blood alcohol level was at 0.09.

As he dealt with her injuries, Myer was notified that Martin was being flown to the hospital and that his heart stopped multiple times along the way.

Martin also required emergency surgery and follow-up procedures. His blood alcohol level was not taken at the time, Myer said.

Carlson suffered penetrating trauma from his stab sounds and had to have a hernia repaired, Myer said. His blood alcohol level was 0.09.

During an interview, Miu told him that he 'ran away' from the group and said Schuman's group 'produced two weapons.'

He claimed the group taunted him after he had asked them if they had seen his friend's phone and that one of the boys tried to 'pull his trunks down,' according to the complaint.

Miu said he noticed the 'the kid had a knife on him' and someone else had a 'longer knife' that looked like a kitchen knife.

The engineer said he 'poked' the knife off the boy during the altercation after twisting his arm. He claimed 'they attacked me' and that he was 'in self-defense mode.'

He pleaded not guilty to the charges in September 2022 and his attorney's have argued that the man stabbed the teens in an act of self-defense.
Lead campaigner and ex-subpostmaster Alan Bates was sacked by the Post Office because it considered him 'unmanageable', the Horizon IT Inquiry heard today.

The probe was shown slides from a presentation about Horizon prepared by a former Post Office manager, which claimed Mr Bates 'clearly struggled with accounting'.

The undated presentation about the system's integrity, created by the organisation's former managing director of branch accounting Dave Smith, read: 'Bates had discrepancies but was dismissed because he became unmanageable. Clearly struggled with accounting, and despite copious support, did not follow instructions.'

An internal review of his dismissal concluded he was 'unsuitable' for the role, and said: 'The decision to terminate was not only right - it was the only sensible option.'

Mr Bates gave evidence from the witness box today where he said his campaign for justice for subpostmasters was 'something you couldn't put down'. He also claimed that the Post Office spent 23 years 'attempting to discredit and silence me'.

Post Office chief executive Nick Read watched as Mr Bates told Aldwych House in London that he was 'quite positive' when the scandal-hit Horizon system came in, but soon became 'frustrated' after finding 'many shortcomings in the system'.

The organisation has come under fire since the airing of the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, which put the Horizon IT scandal under the spotlight.

More than 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted by the Post Office and handed criminal convictions between 1999 and 2015 as Fujitsu's faulty Horizon system made it appear as though money was missing at their branches.

Prominent campaigner Alan Bates gave evidence to the Post Office IT Inquiry in London today

Lead counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC detailed the Post Office's disclosure failings today

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

Mr Bates had his contract terminated by the Post Office in 2003 after refusing to accept liability for shortfalls in the accounts at his Llandudno branch in North Wales.

READ MORE The real Alan Bates vs the Post Office: Campaigner who inspired ITV drama tells inquiry that seeing how many other subpostmasters were being 'harmed' by Horizon scandal motivated his fight for justice Advertisement

Beginning his evidence, Mr Bates said: 'I think when Horizon came in... I was quite positive about it, because I knew what technology and these sorts of systems could do.

'But I found it a bit frustrating once the system was installed and we were operating, I found there were many shortcomings in the system.'

In his witness statement, Mr Bates said the Post Office had spent the entirety of the 23 years he has been campaigning 'denying, lying, defending, and attempting to discredit and silence me'.

He said: 'Prior to and since my termination from the branch, I have spent the last 23 years campaigning to expose the truth, and justice, not just for myself, but for the entire group of wrongly treated/wrongly convicted subpostmasters.

'I have dedicated this period of my life to this cause which, sadly, has been necessary since Post Office Limited has spent this entire period denying, lying, defending, and attempting to discredit and silence me and the group of SPMs that the Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance (JFSA) represents.'

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House today

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

Mr Bates was also asked about his determination in campaigning for fellow subpostmasters. He said: 'I think it's also stubbornness.

'But as you got to meet people and realised it wasn't just yourself and saw the harm and injustice that had been descended upon them, it was something you felt you had to deal with, you couldn't put down, and you had the support from the rest of the group there as well.'

He submitted a 58-page witness statement to the inquiry, in which he said the relationship between subpostmasters and the Post Office was 'very one-sided'.

Mr Bates told the inquiry: 'I had been led to believe that subpostmasters were working in partnership with the Post Office, and if the Post Office wanted me to measure up to the standards they required, I expected them to do the same for me.

'However, over time, it soon became evident that the 'partnership' was very one-sided, and it really was a question of 'you will do as you are told and if you don't like it, you can't complain and there is no redress on this, and you just get on and keep your mouth closed' - that's how it works.'

In addition, Mr Bates told the inquiry about a day in December 2000 when he contacted the Post Office's helpline seven times, with one call lasting about an hour.

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates speaks to reporters outside Aldwych House this morning

Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Lead counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked: 'Were they of any assistance at all in those seven calls?'

Mr Bates replied: 'Not really.'

He chuckled before adding: 'Stating the bleeding obvious, I think, really, is one description I might use - but it was all things that I'd tried.'

Questioned on whether it was ever explained to him that he became 'unmanageable', Mr Bates smiled and said: 'No, not at all.'

Mr Smith's presentation also said the campaigner 'clearly struggled with accounting and despite copious support did not follow instructions.'

Mr Beer asked: 'First of all, did you struggle with accounting?'

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Mr Bates said: 'No, not at all.'

Mr Beer continued: 'Were you given copious support?'

Mr Bates laughed and said: 'No.'

READ MORE Another win for Mr Bates vs The Post Office as the show tops the list of the 100 most influential people in TV Advertisement

He added: 'Prior to and since my termination from the branch, I have spent the last

Mr Bates also told the inquiry that he never got a response to a letter he sent to the Post Office in December 2000 in which he raised concerns about the Horizon system.

In another letter to the Post Office seen by the inquiry, dated January 7 2002, Mr Bates wrote: 'When I signed my contract with Post Office Counters, I did not sign to accept the liabilities arising from the shortcomings of a less than adequate Horizon system.'

And Mr Bates said he was 'annoyed' when his employment contract was terminated, adding that he felt that the Post Office was 'after me one way or another'.

When asked how he felt upon receiving the letter terminating his contract with no given reason, Mr Bates chuckled and replied: 'I was annoyed with them, to put it mildly.

'But I think it was partly pretty obvious they were determined to - they were after me one way or another, and the build-up of correspondence over the period was certainly pointing in that direction.'

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House today

Mr Bates also said the Post Office terminated his contract as a subpostmaster because 'they didn't like me standing up to them'.

The inquiry heard that Mr Bates received a letter terminating his employment in 2003 in which no reason for his dismissal was given.

Mr Bates, when asked what he understood to be the reason for the termination, said: 'Basically, I think it was because a) they didn't like me standing up to them in the first instance; b) they were finding it awkward; and c) I don't think they could answer these questions and they had a feeling I was going to carry on in a similar vein going forward.'

He also said he has not returned to work since being dismissed as a subpostmaster due to his campaign for justice, adding: 'I didn't set out to spend 20 years doing this.'

The former subpostmaster told the inquiry: 'The key issue has always been to expose the truth right from the outset because the other things, they followed on - once you know the truth about issues, the rest will hopefully follow on afterwards.

'I didn't set out to spend 20 years doing this.

'I hadn't expected to be doing this so much by myself but it got more and more complex and it was harder and harder to share out work as a bigger group to take things forward.'

Also today, he told the inquiry that he took offence to a letter from former postal affairs minister Sir Ed Davey after he claimed the Government adopted an 'arm's length' relationship with the Post Office despite being its sole shareholder.

Questioned by Mr Beer on why he took offence to Sir Ed's letter in 2010, which declined an invitation to meet with Mr Bates, the former subpostmaster said: 'It was because of the structure, wasn't it.

'The government was the sole shareholder, they were the owners, as such, of all of this.

'How can you run or... take responsibility for an organisation without having some interest in... or trying to be in control?'

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House today

In response to the letter from Sir Ed, Mr Bates said the now-Liberal Democrat leader had allowed the Post Office to be 'asset stripped by little more than thugs in suits'.

In his letter dated July 8, 2010, Mr Bates told Sir Ed: 'It's not that you can't get involved or cannot investigate the matter, after all you do own 100 per cent of the shares and normally shareholders are concerned about the morality of the business they own.

'It is because you have adopted an arm's length relationship that you have allowed a once great institution to be asset stripped by little more than thugs in suits, and you have enabled them to carry on with impunity regardless of the human misery and suffering they inflict.'

Mr Bates also said the Government needs to be held 'responsible' for their part in the scandal after 'pumping huge amounts of money' into the Post Office.

He told the inquiry: 'Government were pumping huge amounts of money into Post Office year after year so they need to be held responsible.

'They need to be addressed really about the way that they had been going on.

'It was very hard to engage them in it - not nowadays, they're a bit more interested these days - but at that time, trying to get government to try and take it on board seriously, it was very hard.'

The inquiry was told Mr Bates wrote to former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells in 2013 expressing his surprise that she had not offered to meet following what had been discovered by forensic accountants Second Sight.

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

In his email to Ms Vennells, Mr Bates said: 'Bearing in mind what has been discovered so far, I for one am surprised that we haven't yet met to discuss the implications.

'Whilst I appreciate that the majority of the issues began under previous regimes and you have expressed a genuine willingness to address the concerns that the JSFA has been raising, these issues are still continuing.

'I have little doubt that it is now feasible to show that many of the prosecutions that the Post Office have pressed home should never have taken place.'

The inquiry also heard that Mr Bates was 'concerned' that Ms Vennells was 'not being told the full story'.

He told the inquiry that he did not feel confident Ms Vennells was 'truly invested' in the Second Sight investigation in 2013, which may have been due to a lack of information.

In his witness statement, Mr Bates said: 'There was a concern that perhaps the information was not getting through to Ms Vennells, as I did not think her staff were feeding back to her.

'I was concerned she was not being told the full story and so I wanted to ensure that she was being accurately informed of the whole situation.

'This was, perhaps, a failure in the way that Ms Vennells handled the situation in that I did not feel confident that she had been receiving accurate updates and was truly invested in the investigation and the subsequent events.'

Later, the inquiry was told that government was having 'back channel communications' with the Post Office despite telling Mr Bates that it was operating an 'arm's length relationship' with the organisation.

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House today

A July 2013 email, sent from shareholder executive Mike Whitehead from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to Post Office staff, showed how the government requested a meeting with the Post Office to discuss how to respond to communications from Mr Bates.

Mr Beer asked: 'Did you know or did you appreciate at the time that, notwithstanding what had been said by government ministers about operating an arm's length relationship with the Post Office, there was nonetheless a back channel of communications between the government and the Post Office?'

Mr Bates said: 'No, I can't say I was aware of that, no.'

The inquiry was also told that a lawyer from a firm instructed by the Post Office said Mr Bates had a 'somewhat loose relationship with the truth'.

Andrew Parsons, from the law firm Bond Dickinson, made the comment after Mr Bates issued a press statement which said more than 1,000 people had applied to join the group litigation against the Post Office.

In his email in March 2017, Mr Parsons said: 'I'm happy with the comms too. Let's not forget that Alan Bates has a somewhat loose relationship with the truth.'

After laughter in the inquiry room and from Mr Bates himself, counsel to the inquiry Mr Beer asked: 'Had you ever had any dealings with Mr Parsons?'

Mr Bates smiled and said: 'Oh yes.'

Mr Beer continued: 'Had you had any dealings with Mr Parsons that might properly allow him to form a view that you had a somewhat loose relationship with the truth?'

Mr Bates replied: 'No. Andy Parsons was one of those who used to appear at the working group meetings - one of the many lawyers the Post Office used to send to them.

Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House today

'I don't know why he's come up with that - I might embellish but I don't lie. I suppose I spend too much time around lawyers now and then so wording and phrasing can sometimes seem a little bit that way.'

In addition, Mr Bates said he believed a mediation scheme set up to address the scandal was part of a 'cover-up' and a 'fishing expedition' to discover what evidence subpostmasters had about Horizon.

When asked about why he thought the scheme failed, Mr Bates said in his witness statement: 'I believe the Mediation Scheme failed as it was part of the cover up by POL (Post Office Limited), I expect POL discovered things that they did not like and did not want to come out.

'There definitely was an element of not wanting to accept fault.

'I believe POL had no intention whatsoever of getting to a mutually acceptable and fair decision, if anything it seemed as if POL had been using the Scheme as a fishing expedition to see what evidence SPMs (subpostmasters) actually had about Horizon.'

Mr Bates also called the Post Office an 'atrocious organisation' that is 'beyond saving' and should be sold to Amazon.

When asked for his thoughts on the culture of the Post Office, the former subpostmaster told the inquiry: 'It's an atrocious organisation.

'They need disbanding. It needs removing. It needs building up again from the ground floor. The whole of the postal service nowadays - it's a dead duck. It's beyond saving.

'It needs to be sold to someone like Amazon. It needs a real big injection of money and I only think that can happen coming in from the outside.

'Otherwise it's going to be a bugbear for the government for the years to come.'

And Mr Bates said the Post Office was 'definitely trying to outspend us' when asked what 'aggressive litigation tactics' it used during High Court proceedings.

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Mr Bates said: 'They were definitely trying to outspend us - we had to raise commercial funding from it, they had a bottomless pocket as such being a government organisation.

'So anything they could do to spin it out, anything they could do to recuse the judge or whatever, they did.

'Anything to cost us money and try and get us to stop the case.'

Meanwhile, Mr Bates said a 'fundamental flaw' of Government is that it cannot deal with issues such as the Horizon scandal 'easily and sensibly'.

Edward Henry KC, who represents a number of subpostmasters, asked: 'You've exposed over many years the Post Office's suppression of disclosure covering up the truth over Horizon's flaws, but you have also exposed, have you not, the Government's reckless indifference to the Post Office's misconduct over many years, would you agree?'

Mr Bates replied: 'Yeah, I think that is the case. Since this year, I suppose, since the drama we've had far more publicity about the issue nationally.

'I've noticed there's a general frustration with many other organisations that have that problem with Government as well.

'It seems to be a fundamental flaw in the way Government works that it can't deal with these types of things easily and sensibly.'

In February, Mr Bates gave evidence to the Business and Trade Committee where he urged the Government to 'get on and pay people' while describing the Post Office as a 'dead duck'.

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

The inquiry is now entering phases five and six, which will look at governance, redress and how the Post Office and others responded.

Earlier today, the inquiry resumed with lead counsel detailing the organisation's 'sub-optimal' and 'highly disruptive' disclosure failings.

Mr Beer said that since the conclusion of the previous phase in February, the Post Office had disclosed 73,720 documents which could relate to the next phases.

Mr Beer said: 'We're committed to doing all that we can to ensure that the hearings can go ahead as planned and, subject to your views, that's what we intend to do - to continue with the hearings.

'The alternative - further delay, to allow the Post Office to get its disclosure house in order - is not one which is acceptable.'

Former subpostmistress Jo Hamilton arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Other prominent witnesses soon to give evidence include Lord Arbuthnot, member of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board and former MP for North East Hampshire, who campaigned for years on behalf of subpostmasters.

Ms Vennells, who led the Post Office at the height of the scandal, will face the inquiry in late May.

Ms Vennells, who led Post Office Ltd between 2012 and 2019, has come under fire over why hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongly prosecuted for fraud and false accounting under her watch.

Ms Vennells, who joined the Post Office in 2007, handed back her CBE for services to the Post Office and to charity, after the screening of ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office and ensuing public anger.

Former postmaster Christopher Head arrives at the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry today

She told the PA news agency in a statement that she would 'support and focus on co-operating with the inquiry'.

She added: 'I have so far maintained my silence as I considered it inappropriate to comment publicly while the inquiry remains ongoing and before I have provided my oral evidence.

'I now intend to continue to focus on assisting the inquiry and will not make any further public comment until it has concluded.'

Angela van den Bogerd, former Post Office head of partnerships, Adam Crozier, who was chief executive of Royal Mail from February 2003 to 2010, and Dame Moya Greene, who replaced him and left in 2018, will all give evidence.

The story of Alan Bates recently became the subject of ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office

Conservative ministers who will be questioned over their role as the scandal developed include Greg Clark, business secretary from 2016-2019, Kelly Tolhurst, postal services minister from July 2018 to February 2020, Margot James, who held the role between July 2016 and January 2018, and Cabinet Office minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe, who was postal affairs minister in 2015.

Liberal Democrat politicians Sir Vince Cable, the former business secretary, party leader Sir Ed Davey, who was postal affairs minister from May 2010 to February 2012, and Jo Swinson, postal affairs minister from September 2012 to May 2015, will all appear as witnesses.

Labour shadow cabinet member Pat McFadden, who was postal affairs minister from June 2007 to June 2009, will also be questioned.

Closing statements are expected to be given in late July.

Hundreds of subpostmasters are awaiting compensation despite the Government announcing that those who have had convictions quashed are eligible for 600,000 payouts.

Convicted postmasters celebrate at the High Court in 2021 after their convictions are quashed

Today, the Post Office said in a statement it 'regrets' that documents were not disclosed to the Horizon IT Inquiry 'as early as all parties would have liked'.

A Post Office spokeswoman said: 'We are fully committed to supporting the inquiry to establish the truth and we have disclosed almost half-a-million documents to date, reflecting both the unprecedented scale of the issues in the scandal and our commitment to transparency.

'This follows searches of over 176 million documents, 230 physical locations and third-party sites, and across multiple systems.

'During the past six weeks, since the inquiry announced its current hearings timetable, we have disclosed the vast majority of documents required for those witnesses but regret a very small proportion of documents were not disclosed as early as all parties would have liked.

'The inquiry is examining issues that spanned more than two decades, including a lengthy period when Post Office was part of Royal Mail Group.

'Disclosure is therefore highly complex and we continue to do all we can to deliver continuous improvements and incorporate past learnings into the disclosure process to avoid the risk of delays to the inquiry's timetable.'

In a separate statement on the inquiry, a Post Office spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'Post Office is deeply sorry for the hurt and suffering that has been caused to victims and their loved ones, and we are committed to ensuring that they receive the justice and redress that they so deserve, with offers of more than 179million made to around 2,800 Postmasters to date.

'We are dedicated to ensuring the wrongs of the past cannot be repeated, and we are working to enable the Inquiry to get to the truth of what happened.'

Responding to Mr Bates's criticism of Sir Ed, a Lib Dem spokesman said: 'Alan Bates is a hero for all he has done to represent subpostmasters through this horrific miscarriage of justice.

'Ed was the first minister to meet with Mr Bates and took his concerns to the Post Office and the Federation of Subpostmasters - Ed, like Mr Bates and so many others, was lied to.

'No one knew the scale of these lies until the whistleblower from Fujitsu revealed the truth several years later.

'Ed has said that he's sorry that he didn't see through the Post Office's lies, and that it took him five months to meet Mr Bates.

'The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to ensure postmasters get full and fair compensation urgently, and Post Office executives who lied for decades are held properly to account.'
Miss America 2018 Cara Mund, 30, announced on Monday she is running for the single House seat for North Dakota in 2024.

As Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) runs for governor in his state, Mund is making her second shot to get the at-large seat.

The former Miss America winner ran an unsuccessful independent bid in the 2022 election for Armstrong's congressional seat  losing to the incumbent by 24.6 percent.

She ran on abortion rights in the last election, claiming that her motivation to enter the race stemmed from the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision in the Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade and stripped federal protections for abortion.

Miss America 2018 Cara Mund filed paperwork on Monday, April 8 to run for North Dakota's at-large congressional seat in 2024 as a Republican

Mund, 30, won Miss America in 2018 and was the first woman from North Dakota to win the pageant

'Are you ready for it? U.S. House 2024let's go, North Dakota!' the millennial candidate quoting Taylor Swift lyrics in announcing her bid in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Mund said she filed the appropriate paperwork with the North Dakota Secretary of State's office and is waiting for verification to make sure she's on the June primary ballot.

If successful in 2024, Mund would be the first woman to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mund told reporters on Monday that she believes in limited government and reiterated her pro-choice stance by saying: 'I don't think that they should be controlling women.'

She also said she has many similar views to her opponents in the race, including securing the southern border.

But she dodged on whether she supports former President Donald Trump, who many still see as a kingmaker of the Republican Party.

'As a lawyer, I support law and order,' Mund said. 'If you've been proven guilty, that is a court ruling.'

The North Dakota GOP state convention last week resulted in the Party endorsing Alex Balazs, a veteran and former U.S. State Department employee, to take the seat being vacated by Armstrong.

The other GOP candidates are former state Rep. Rick Becker, Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak and Sharlet Mohr, a lesser-known candidate.

Mund was the last Miss America winner to participate in the swimsuit portion of the pageant and voiced her support for the organization dropping the competition. Mund is pictured participating in the Swimsuit Challenge during the 2018 Miss America contest in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 10, 2017

Mund was crowned Miss America 2018 in Atlantic City, New Jersey and was the first-ever contestant from North Dakota to win the competition. She supported dropping the swimsuit competition and was the last Miss America crowned to participate in that portion of the pageant.

'Swimsuits should never equal scholarships,' Mund told the AP in June 2018. 'I believe that a woman's lifestyle and fitness can be showcased in a way that does not display her in a swimsuit.'

'The Miss America Organization is a scholarship program,' she added. 'No woman should ever feel like her physical appearance limits her from seeking out these scholarship opportunities.'

Mund attended Brown for her undergraduate and received a degree in Business and graduated from Harvard Law school in May 2022  just three months before her first bid for Congress in North Dakota.

Mund ran an unsuccessful bid for North Dakota's lone congressional seat as an independent in 2022 supporting abortions rights after the Dobbs Supreme Court ruling

Mund announced her 2024 bid on social media on Monday. Quoting Taylor Swift lyrics in her X post, the millennial congressional candidate asked: 'Are you ready for it?'

Mund, pictured with her mother, graduated from Harvard Law School in 2022 and just three months later made her first bid for U.S. Congress

She plans to roll out her policy stances in coming days and is speaking with North Dakota outlet Your News Leader on Tuesday to talk more about her run and her platform this time around.

In the 2024 election, Armstrong is looking to fill the seat being vacated by outgoing Gov. Doug Burgum, who was running for the Republican presidential nomination. The governor ended his bid in December and endorsed Donald Trump.

Burgum is not seeking a third term for governor in North Dakota  a seat Republicans have held since 1992.

North Dakota is now looking to elect a new governor and at-large representative in this year's election  setting the stage for some Republican primary showdowns in the deep red state.

Democrats have not won a statewide election in North Dakota since 2012.
Rishi Sunak today held talks with Rwanda president Paul Kagame in Downing Street amid a furious row over the sale of homes earmarked for UK migrants.

The Prime Minister laid out a red carpet for Mr Kagame's arrival ahead of a short meeting between the pair in No10.

Their discussions took place as Mr Sunak faced a backlash over the revelation properties due to house migrants deported from Britain have already been sold off.

Of the 163 affordable homes on the Bwiza Riverside estate, 70 per cent have been sold, meaning there is only space for a few dozen migrants, The Times reported.

The prices of the properties funded as part of a public-private partnership between the Rwandan government and ADHI Corporate Group range between 14,000 and 27,000.

A manager at the estate said the homes had been sold to 'private people who want to live in them'.

Rishi Sunak held talks with Rwanda president Paul Kagame in Downing Street amid a furious row over the sale of homes earmarked for UK migrants

The Prime Minister laid out a red carpet for Mr Kagame's arrival ahead of a short meeting between the pair in No10

Their discussions took place as Mr Sunak faced a backlash over the revelation properties due to house migrants deported from Britain have already been sold off.

Of the 163 affordable homes on the Bwiza Riverside estate, 70 per cent have been sold, meaning there is only space for a few dozen migrants, The Times reported

The prices of the properties funded as part of a public-private partnership between the Rwandan government and ADHI Corporate Group range between 14,000 and 27,000

A total of 290million of taxpayers' cash has already been committed to Rwanda by the UK Government under the controversial migration scheme.

This is despite not a single asylum seeker having been sent there in the two years since the deportation programme with the African country was announced.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman said she was 'disappointed' that some of the properties had been sold.

The ex-Cabinet minister said construction work was 'progressing steadily' when she visited Kigali in March last year.

She previously described the homes built as part of 257-unit scheme as 'beautiful' and complimented the interior design.

Speaking to LBC Radio this morning, Mrs Bravermen also criticised Mr Sunak's new Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament.

She claimed the Government's current Rwanda plan will not deliver and she could only see a 'token flight' of deported migrants taking off.

'I'm disappointed to read that expectations have fallen and that the Rwandans are now selling off some of those properties,' Mrs Braverman said.

'Because the way the plan should work  and the plan that I put forward to the PM  is that we need to have a large number of flights going to Rwanda on a regular basis, with a large number of passengers on them.

'I do believe that we may well get a flight off, a token flight with a low number of passengers on it, to Rwanda  that's not deterrence.

'The only way we generate a deterrent effect to stop people getting on the boats and coming to the UK illegally is regular flights with hundreds of passengers on those flights being sent to Rwanda on a regular basis.

'I'm afraid the plan, as it stands today, won't deliver that.'

Former home secretary Suella Braverman, pictured on her visit to Bwiza Riverside estate in Kigali last March, said she was 'disappointed' that some of the properties had been sold

The ex-Cabinet minister also criticised Mr Sunak's new Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament

Labour demanded 'urgent clarity' on the Rwanda scheme 'farce' following the Times report, calling on the PM to address it directly while the House of Commons is away on Easter recess.

Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said: 'Now it seems there will be even less capacity to house those that are removed.

'The Tories' so-called plan is unravelling by the day and taxpayers are footing the bill. It's time for change.'

Following today's meeting in No10 between Mr Sunak and Mr Kagame, a Downing Street spokesperson said: 'The PM reflected on the 30-year anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi people in Rwanda, noting the importance of this time of remembrance and that it is a reminder of just how far Rwanda has come.

'President Kagame thanked the PM for the UK's continued support.

'They discussed regional security and the deteriorating conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The PM underlined the importance of a political process to resolve the situation.

'The leaders also discussed the pioneering UK and Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership which will break the business model of criminal gangs risking lives at sea, and the PM updated President Kagame on the next stages of the legislation in Parliament.

'Both leaders looked forward to flights departing to Rwanda in the spring.'

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'As the government of Rwanda have made repeatedly clear, they stand ready to host thousands of migrants under the partnership.

'The scheme is uncapped and provisions are in place to provide accommodation as required. We remain focused on getting flights off the ground as soon as possible.'

The Rwandan government disputed the amount of properties that have been sold privately and insisted the scheme is one of several estates for migrants.

Yolande Makolo, the chief government spokesperson, said: 'It is simply not true that 70 per cent of the houses are sold. Regardless, Bwiza Riverside estate is just one of the housing options where migrants will live alongside Rwandans.

'None of the assigned housing estates were ever meant to be only for migrants. The idea is to integrate migrants into Rwandan communities, not create migrant ghettos.'
A little girl told her mother 'I love you in an attempt to stop the woman torturing her to death in a day-long church exorcism, newly released court documents reveal.

Three-year-old Arely Proctor pleaded for her life and struggled to escape as she was battered and strangled by her mother Claudia Hernandez, 27, and her pastor relatives.

Two years after her body was found by police on the altar of a Pentecostal church in San Jose, California, authorities have still to decide whether her killers will stand trial.

Over the course of approximately twenty hours Arely Doe fought for her life as three trusted adults forcibly grabbed her by the neck, Deputy District Attorney Rebekah Wise wrote.

While this assault was ongoing, Arely struggled to escape from her abusers. The victim repeatedly said No!'

Arely Naomi Proctor died in September 2021 after the three-year-old's family 'performed an exorcism' on her at the Iglesia Apostoles y Profetas church in San Jose

Claudia Hernandez-Santos, 27, was the mother of three-year-old Arely Naomi Proctor who died

Pastor Rene Hernandez is pictured the church's YouTube videos. He performed the exorcism and has now been charged in connection with the girl's death

It took two hours for the family to call 911 after Arely finally stopped breathing at the Iglesia Apostoles y Profetas on September 24, 2021.

Claudia explained to police that her daughter had a demon because she would wake up and scream in the night.

Arely looked different, she said. Her eyes were different. They looked empty and it wasnt her.

What I believe is that she was possessed, you know, cause I go to church.

Claudia decided to go to the church after her daughter bit her finger while she was trying to make her vomit.

They went with Claudias brother Rene Aaron Hernandez Santos, 21, who told police he had gifts from God.

He explained that Arely was not the same. She was normally always smiling'.

The pair began trying to make Arely vomit by sticking fingers and hands down her throat, pinning her down by her neck, torso, and legs for several hours and leaving her with 'multiple injuries around her eyes, face, neck, and chest.

At 12.20pm their father Pastor Rene Trigueros Hernandez, 60, arrived at the church to help with the exorcism.

Uncle Rene Hernandez-Santos, 19, explained to police that he had 'multiple gifts from God'

The family ran their Pentecostal church out of this home in San Jose, California

'If you read the Bible, you'll see that Jesus casts away demons and made sick people healthy again, he later told Mercury News.

'It's not when I want to do it, it's when God, in his will, wants to heal the person. The preacher is like an instrument of God; what we do is what God says.

'It's the stuff of God, and everything is in the will of God no matter how small or big.'

The exorcism continued as the afternoon wore on and Arely was sick again.

After Arely threw up, Claudia said they put her on the floor, Wise wrote.

Claudia said this is when Arely stopped breathing. Claudia said God made her understand that Arely was not coming back and was gone.

By 6pm the girl appeared to be dead or dying with a cold body and blue lips.

This was the last time Claudia believed Arely to be alive, Wise wrote.

But the family made no attempt at resuscitation, and it was more than two hours before they called 911.

Claudia told police she did not take drugs and has no history of mental illness. Asked if she had caused her daughters death she replied in a way, but it was four months before she was arrested.

A month after Arelys death she called police and asked to make a statement, telling them that she spoke daily with God for three weeks before her daughters death.

During this time, Claudia was praying for Arely, and God told her that he was going to take Arely, Wise wrote.

She said the date of Arelys death had been set for September 24, 2021.

God told Claudia this was happening because she was never meant to be a mother, Wise wrote.

Ive learned to accept what it is, she added.

Police arrested her brother and her father on May 11, 2022.

Aaron told officers about the multiple gifts he has received from God including the gift of reprimanding

These gifts include the ability to speak in tongues, the gift to heal, the gift to interpret tongues, the gift of seeing visions, and the gifts of reprimanding, court documents state.

He said it was possible that the way he was holding her caused Arely to die. He said there were times when God would tell him to squeeze her harder.

Arelys death made him question his gift to heal.

But he said his sister probably finished off the little girl by grabbing her neck.

Grandfather Rene, 60, said his daughter told him the girl was going to die, wjhen he arrived at the church.

Rene Sr. shrugged his shoulders. Rene Sr. said he believed everything Claudia was saying to him, Wise wrote.

A coroner found that Arely died from a combination of mechanical asphyxia and smothering.

Her injuries included brain swelling, blood in the lungs, marks on the neck, and injuries inside the mouth.

After her death, the family held a pink, Disney-themed funeral for Arely.

Her mother posted about it on social media and recorded a YouTube video, saying people did not understand what she had been through.

'I am at peace, I am happy. The reason I feel what I feel is God. If you don't want to be in my life, that's OK. The only one I need is God.

'It is what it is,' she said in one section.

'If you weren't there when she passed away and whatever you want to think, is not valid. One thing I'm not going to do is lie about how she passed away,' she said in another portion of the video.

'Everyone wants to know what happened to her, you know, her cause of death.

'A lot of people turned on me after my daughter passed away; a lot of people thought a lot of things because of how that situation looked.

The girl's mother unashamedly posted about her daughter's death on Instagram and YouTube and said the 'only person she needs is God'

The girl's mother Claudia Hernandez, who goes by Eliisa Santos on social media, and her pastor grandfather performed an exorcism, according to police

The girl with her pastor grandfather before she died. She would have turned four a month later

'If you weren't there, you don't know what happened. I know what happened.

'I could sit here and be negative. But there's no point in me doing that. I cannot change what is. It is what it is,' she explains.

Claudia, Aaron, and Rene have pleaded not guilty to felony assault on a child younger than eight causing death.

Wise filed her memorandum on April 3 to Santa Clara County Court where Judge Hanley Chew will make a ruling on May 10 as to whether there is enough evidence for a trial.
Advertisement

Millions of Americans who gathered to watch the total solar eclipse were no longer mesmerized as they got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on their journeys home from the celestial event.

Crowds gathered from far and wide to watch the stunning 2024 total solar eclipse across the United States, from Texas to the East Coast. Cities including Dallas, Texas; Buffalo, New York; and Burlington, Vermont, were among the spots with the best views.

After the eclipse had passed through the United States, Americans were left looking at headlights in backed up traffic as they inched their way home.

Texas

The Texas Department of Transportation reported multiple crashes along the path of totality in Waco that resulted in major traffic delays for the thousands who flocked to The Lone Star State.

The heaviest returning traffic was on Interstate Highway 10, west of San Antonio. Marc Williams, the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation, said it took about two and a half hours to cover the 60 miles from Kerrville to San Antonio.

The Texas Department of Transportation reported multiple crashes along the path of totality in Waco that resulted in major traffic delays

Marc Williams, the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation, said it took about two and a half hours to cover the 60 miles from Kerrville to San Antonio

San Antonio officials reported congestion on I-10, US 90, US 281, SH 16, SH 211 and asked people to consider delaying their trips home.

Hays County officials reported a 30-minute traffic delay on the highway from Wimberley to San Marcos following the eclipse, reported Fox 7 Austin.

Oklahoma

A car crash in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, narrowed the Eastbound I-40 down to one lane before the eclipse crossed over that left crews cleaning up the highway for most of the day, according to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

Arkansas

In Russellville, Arkansas - where over 400 couples from 24 states got married at exact moment the moon blocked the sun during the solar eclipse - traffic was crawling as the newly weds left to start their lives together.

The crowds backed up traffic along Interstate 40 from areas near Russellville heading toward Clarksville, according to THV 11.

As people hit the roads shortly after totality ended, delays developed on Interstate 40 westbound and Interstate 49 northbound, reported ABC 4029.

Around 4pm on Monday, there was a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 49 north of Mountainburg and Fort Smith police were sent to help with westbound traffic into Oklahoma.

Missouri

About an hour before the eclipse, traffic backed up in the Festus area near highways 55 and 61, causing a drive that would normally take an hour to extend to two, according to Fox 2 Now.

The local news station extreme weather specialist Chris Higgins said his post-eclipse drive around St. Genevieve County, which is normally two hours from Jackson, Missouri, turned into a nearly eight hour trip.

Local news station extreme weather specialist Chris Higgins said his post-eclipse drive around St. Genevieve County, which is normally a two-hour drive from Jackson, Missouri, turned into a nearly eight hour trip

Gas stations along the way reported nearly running out of fuel, which only worsened the traffic for some

Gas stations along the way reported nearly running out of fuel, which only worsened the traffic for some.

Interstate 55 northbound from Cape Girardeau to Jefferson County resembled a parking lot as traffic backed up during the post-eclipse commute, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Kentucky

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reported heavy traffic along its border with other states closer to the path of totality.

Following the total solar eclipse, the department said traffic slowed along Interstate 20 to moving at 10 to 20 mph.

It also said there was heavy traffic at Paducah, Kentucky and the Illinois border and Gilbertsville at Interstate 24 east and US 51 south near Cairo and Wickliffe, Kentucky and the Illinois border.

This was similarly the case along the Indiana and Henderson, Kentucky border at US 41 south.

Indiana

Indiana State Police Sergeant Glen Fifield described the roads post-eclipse as a 'traffic nightmare.'

As eclipse viewers left the path of totality, there were heavy backups near Lebanon and everywhere on Interstate 65 between Indianapolis and Lafayette, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Indiana State Police Sergeant Glen Fifield described the roads post-eclipse as a 'traffic nightmare'

There were heavy backups near Lebanon and everywhere on Interstate 65 between Indianapolis and Lafayette, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation

Are you ready? #solareclipse traffic nightmare part 2! This is what is headed towards Northwest Indiana. This is the current view of I-65 northbound traffic just south of Lafayette. Looks an awful lot like what southbound looked like this morning, only WORSE! @WBBM1059Traffic pic.twitter.com/i8GMleu9Ex  Sgt. Glen Fifield (@ISPLowell2) April 8, 2024

Indiana State Police Public information officer Sergeant John Perrine said rest parks on state interstates along the path of totality had to close because they were reaching capacity.

'INDOT Will be closing off the rest parts once they are full and will not allow any more traffic in for the duration of the eclipse,' he said.

There was a crash after the eclipse on Interstate 70 westbound near Mt. Comfort Road in Hancock County that officials asked travelers to avoid.

Ohio

Shiva Eswaran, who drove in from Michigan to Ohio told WTOL: 'The traffic was insane. There were so many people coming in to see the event, it was crazy.

'I actually had to take this separate route to even get here on time, and I was so happy I did because it was the most insane experience of my life.'

According to the Ohio Department of Transportation there were several crashes along Interstate 75 that contributed to traffic on Monday.

'We had an incident on northbound (U.S.) 23, just north of Monroe Street, and then there was also a different incident on northbound (I-75). I think that was just over the Michigan line, actually, but those things definitely caused that flow to be disruptive,' said Kelsie Hoagland, the public information officer for the Ohio Department of Transportation District 2.

Michigan

The highways in the metro Detroit toward Monroe and Toledo reached a near standstill from post-eclipse traffic, reported WFGR.

Following totality, the 17 mile stretch of road from north of Monroe to the Ohio line was taking up to 38 minutes of travel time.

At the Michigan and Ohio border, Interstate 275 and Michigan State Highway 85 and Fort Street were back up to nearly twice as long travel time.

The 19 miles to the Interstate 275 split took 39 minutes while the 27 miles to Michigan 85 took 50 minutes, according to the local news station.

Vermont

Thousands of visitors packed the Vermont roads backing up traffic following Monday's eclipse, reported WCAX.

Interstate 89 near Burlington was jammed up, with the Waze traffic app estimating that driving from South Burlington to Richmond would take a half hour.

Thousands of visitors packed the Vermont roads backing up traffic following Monday's eclipse

According to the Vermont Agency of Transportation, traffic on Interstate 89 was delayed from Exit 16 Colchester to the New Hampshire border. On Interstate 91, traffic slowed from Exit 27 in Newport/Derby to Exit 15 in Fairlee.

Boston.com reported that much of Interstate 91 through Vermont and Interstate 89 through Montpelier were backed up as of 7:45pm on Monday.

New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, travelers were stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic much of the way through about 2am Tuesday, clogging up southbound Interstate 93. Southbound traffic on Interstate 89 also was heavy Monday evening.

Around 7 pm, traffic trackers were still showing major delays between Woodstock and Franconia, New Hampshire, according to Boston.com.

In New Hampshire, travelers were stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic much of the way through about 2 a.m. Tuesday

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation said New Hampshire had 22,000 more travelers than expected for the eclipse, reported WMUR.

The agency said there were 15 to 20 minute delays on parts of Interstate 93 and bumper to bumper traffic along that same interstate south in Franconia Notch.

Maine

Southbound traffic was backed up on U.S. Highway 1 in Houlton, Maine.

The heaviest traffic was on Interstate 295 and the Maine Turnpike, according to NEWS CENTER Maine.
Two of Britain's worst paedophiles who led one of the first convicted grooming gangs in the country could be freed in months.

Evil Abid Mohammed Saddique and Mohammed Romaan Liaqat were part of a revolting nine-man gang which abused 26 girls in a 'reign of terror' in the city of Derby.

Both married and with children, they cruised around the streets of Derby in a BMW or a Range Rover  which Saddique referred to as the 'Rape Rover'  looking for victims while their unsuspecting families waited at home.

In 2011, Saddique was told he would have to serve at least 11 years in jail and Liaqat eight years.

However, both men could be offered a step closer to freedom after the Parole Board said Saddique is referred for his Parole review. This will be soon and could see him be released then, or a Parole hearing directed or refused at that stage.

Liaqat was recommended for open prison conditions in December, sparking fears he will be out in months and released.

The development has sparked outrage, with a police source in Derby saying: 'This crime sent shockwaves through police and social services when it was uncovered at the time. It was one of the first of its kind in the country. The idea the ringleaders could be back on the streets in a matter of months is deeply worrying.

'It is sickening. These two are two of the most dangerous sex offenders in Britain. Their crimes left a dark shadow on the city.'

Tory MP Nigel Mills added: 'It's very disturbing to hear. My thoughts are with the poor victims who went through hell.'

Abid Mohammed Saddique (pictured) and Mohammed Romaan Liaqat led one of the first convicted grooming gangs in the country are set to be free in months

Saddique and Liaqat (pictured) were part of a nine-man gang which abused 26 girls in a 'reign of terror' in the city of Derby

Footage of Mohammed Romaan Liaqat and Abid Mohammed Saddique cruising the streets of Derby in a BMW

Saddique and Liaqat looked for vulnerable young girls then offered rides in the car to 'link and chill', plied them with vodka stored under the seats and took them to parks, hotel rooms or houses, where they were sometimes offered cocaine before being pressured into sex.

The abuse took place over 18 months and the gang are feared to have attacked 100 women. The youngest victim was 12, the oldest 18.

Over weeks and months they were taken to homes in Derby and other towns before being raped by the gang and their friends, some of whom paid the men in cash.

When girls refused their advances they were threatened with hammers or thrown out of cars, the court heard during Saddique and Liaqats' trial in 2011.

While one of the victims was under the care of Derby City Council when she was accosted by the men, most of the rest came from broken homes and were too scared to report the abuse.

It was one of the first cases in the country which echoed other crime patterns discovered in Rochdale, Rotherham and Telford.

Nigel Mills, Tory MP for Amber Valley in Derbyshire, said 'It's very disturbing to hear' that Saddique and Liaqat could soon be released

Judge Philip Head told Saddique - aged 27 at the time of sentencing - that: 'Your crimes can only be described as evil.'

He was a 'manipulative and controlling' character who was a danger to young girls, the judge said.

A police investigation into the gang started with three men being routinely pulled over and officers were concerned to see two young girls with them.

They had been reported missing from a care home in Derby.

Operation Retriever soon started and it became one of the most serious cases of sexual abuse in recent years.

Three trials were carried out in secret due to reporting restrictions which saw the nine men be found guilty.

Detective Spt Debbie Platt from Derbyshire police who led the investigation described it at the time as a 'campaign of rape'.

A Parole Board spokesperson said: 'Regarding Saddique he is referred for his parole review but not listed for his oral hearing yet. Liaqat was recommended for open conditions in December 2023.'
A superyacht worker is facing legal delays after he allegedly abducted his ex-girlfriend twice and forced her to take a 'blood oath' not to tell anyone.

Ethan Davis was charged in September last year with a raft of domestic violence offences related to his allegedly 'obsessive' behaviour following the breakdown of his relationship.

The court documents reveal the couple met in 2022 while working on a superyacht called Oceana, which was purchased by its current owner for more than $12.8m.

They began a casual relationship which ended in August 2023 when the woman broke up with Mr Davis outside Bondi restaurant, Icebergs.

Ethan Davis (pictured) who allegedly kidnapped his former girlfriend twice, is alleged to have forced the woman to swear a 'blood oath' not to tell anyone

The pair broke up outside the Icebergs restaurant (pictured) in Bondi, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, in August 2023

Police allege the Central Coast resident demanded to know who else she was dating and grabbed her phone.

When the woman threatened to scream unless he returned her phone, he allegedly fired back: 'Well scream then'.

The court documents state she followed Mr Davis to his car while attempting to grab her phone back.

The woman allegedly got in his car but began yelling at passers-by through the open door, prompting the superyacht worker to slam it shut and drive off.

Police allege Mr Davis also demanded his ex return the jewellery he had bought for her before eventually dropping her home.

He asked her to 'take a blood oath not to tell anyone', according to the police allegations.

In response, police claim 'the victim swore on her parent's life she wouldn't tell anyone'.

On another occasion, the woman said she confronted Mr Davis at work and told him to stop threatening her.

'So you don't want to do it?' he asked her later, according to the court documents.

When his ex said no, the court documents state that police allege Mr Davis messaged her 'You disappoint me' before calling her over 200 times on multiple applications.

Police allege Davis (pictured centre) made more than 200 calls to his ex-girlfriend, when she told him that she would tell the police that he allegedly kidnapped her

He allegedly sent the woman a series of messages days after they broke up, demanding she answer her phone.

Police claim Mr Davis went so far as to transfer $0.01 into his ex's bank account with a message saying 'Answer your phone'.

When the woman told him she had called the police, he allegedly sent 26 more messages asking her not to report him to police or his work.

Police allege Mr Davis dressed in black and wore black latex gloves and hid by her car as the woman was leaving work at 9pm on September 6 last year.

'Come here. You're going to get in the car,' he allegedly said as she approached.

According to police, Mr Davis allegedly grabbed her as she screamed for help.

He allegedly loosened his grip as a nearby ute stopped, which allowed her to wriggle free.

However, the superyacht worker chased her down and placed his hands over her mouth, telling her to 'be quiet'.

Police allege he carried his ex to the car and pulled out a knife.

Davis is also alleged to have sent the woman more than 20 text messages (pictured), asking her not to tell anyone about the alleged kidnappings

The woman told police Mr Davis told her to unlock her phone and 'delete all the evidence'.

They drove to Manly where he allegedly made his ex delete all of their messages, screenshots, and call logs.

Police claim he also demanded the woman take a 'blood oath' not to tell anyone about his actions, which she did to appease him.

'This involved the victim making a small cut on her left index finger with the knife causing it to bleed,' the court documents state.

Police claim the former couple then drove back to the marina and Mr Davis allowed her to drive home.

He was arrested the next day and charged with nine offences, including two counts of take/detain a person with intent to obtain advantage and using an offensive weapon to commit an indictable offence.

The superyacht worker has not yet entered pleas to the charges.

On Tuesday, Sydney Downing Centre Local Court heard Mr Davis would have to wait two months for his matter to progress as the parties hold a case conference.

He will remain on bail until he returns to court in June.

The Central Coast resident was granted bail in November last year after his family offered to provide a $1m surety.
Tesla has settled a lawsuit brought by the family of an Apple engineer they claimed was playing games on his phone when he was killed in a fiery crash while the vehicle was in self-driving mode.

Walter Huang, 38, died when his Tesla Model X smashed into a concrete barrier on a California freeway in March 2018.

His family filed a negligence and wrongful death lawsuit in 2019 seeking to hold Elon Musk's Tesla liable for repeatedly exaggerating the capabilities of the car's self-driving technology.

But on Monday, just a day before the trial was set to begin, Tesla reached an undisclosed settlement in the case.

In a court filing requesting to keep the sum private, Tesla said it agreed to settle the case in order to 'end years of litigation.'

Tesla has settled a lawsuit brought by the family of a Walter Huang (pictured with wife) who died in a crash while relying on the companys semi-autonomous driving software

Huang was killed in March 2018 when his Tesla Model X slammed into a concrete barrier on a California freeway

Huang's family filed a negligence and wrongful death lawsuit in 2019 seeking to hold Tesla

They claimed the technology, dubbed Autopilot, was promoted in egregious ways that caused vehicle owners to believe they didnt have to remain vigilant while they were behind the wheel.

Evidence indicated that Huang was playing Sega's Total War: Three Kingdoms video game on his iPhone when he crashed into a concrete highway barrier on March 23, 2018.

After dropping his son off at preschool, Huang activated the Autopilot feature on his Model X for his commute to his job at Apple.

But less than 20 minutes later, Autopilot veered the vehicle out of its lane and began to accelerate before barreling into a barrier located at a perilous intersection on a busy highway in Mountain View, California.

The Model X was still traveling at more than 70 miles per hour at the time.

Huang died at the gruesome scene, leaving behind his wife and two children, now 12 and 9 years old.

In their case, his family stated that he had complained about faults with the Autopilot system numerous times before the fatal crash.

An investigation by the US National Transport Safety Board investigation was unable to provide a definitive reason for the collision.

It found it was likely to a combination of 'limitations' with the Autopilot software and 'lack of response due to distraction likely from a cell phone game application and overreliance' on the self-driving feature.

Huang's 2017 Tesla Model X was traveling at 71 mph when it crashed against a barrier which had been impacted in a collision just 11 days prior

Tesla says Autopilot is intended for driver assistance and that drivers must be ready to intervene at all times. The company says drivers should have both hands on the wheel and stay in control of the vehicle

The body also slammed California officials for failing to fix the barrier after it was damaged in another crash 11 days prior to when Huang was killed.

The case was just one of about a dozen scattered across the US raising questions about whether Musks boasts about the effectiveness of Teslas autonomous technology fosters a misguided faith the technology.

The company also has an optional feature it calls Full Self Driving.

Tesla says Autopilot is intended for driver assistance and that drivers must be ready to intervene at all times with both hands on the wheel.

The U.S. Justice Department also opened an inquiry last year into how Tesla and Musk promote its autonomous technology, according to regulatory filings that didn't provide many details about the nature of the probe.

Tesla, which is based in Austin, Texas, prevailed last year in a Southern California trial focused on whether misperceptions about Teslas Autopilot feature contributed to a driver in a 2019 crash involving one of the companys cars.

Shares of Tesla Inc., down 30 percent this year, slipped 1 percent before the market opened Tuesday.
A Canadian paternity DNA company knowingly gave out inaccurate tests that identified the wrong father, destroying families in the process, a new report has claimed.

Viaguard Accu-Metrics sold and delivered home tests to check the identity of a baby's father over the span of a decade through online stores charging up to $1,000.

Families who used the tests have now spoken out about receiving false results which ruled out real dads and ended relationships.

Owner of Viaguard Accu-Metrics, Harvey Tenenbaum, 91, was caught on camera by an undercover CBC reporter admitting he knew the tests were 'never that accurate'.

He listed times where the test had been wrong, saying: 'Test the white guy and the baby came out Black, and the white guy's saying: 'What's going on here?'

Corale Mayer had the real father of her baby ruled out by a Viaguard test and did not discover the mistake until months after she was born

She said the experience was 'extremely traumatic' as it pushed her to involve a man who was not the real father in her baby's life

Viaguard is based in Toronto but sold its tests online around the world to families in the US, UK, Australia, and Guatemala.

It is still run by Tenenbaum, who started selling DNA services through Viaguard in the early 2000s, starting the prenatal paternity part of the business in 2013, according to CBC.

If done correctly, the tests should be able to match DNA from a fetus with the biological father's DNA.

But when CBC went undercover as a prospective customer to interview Tenenbaum, he acknowledged that the tests were inaccurate.

He said: 'The test was not that accurate. And we're leery of that test now.

'There's a lot involved if it gets screwed up. What if it's the wrong guy named and you're aborting your child of, you know, a wrong person. We can imagine everything happens in life. You see them all, and worse, and worse.'

When CBC approached him on the record he insisted the tests were 'accurate' and 'perfect'.

But parents tell a very different story.

Corale Mayer, 22, from North Bay, Ontario, was 19 when she discovered she was pregnant.

She looked online and ordered two paternity tests for $800 each from Viaguard: they ruled out the real father and confirmed that the wrong man was the dad.

She didn't discover the mistake until months after the baby had been born when she used a different DNA testing service.

She told CBC: 'It's extremely traumatic. You know when you're just so hysterically upset, you laugh like you're just beyond emotion?'

Mayer started a Facebook support group to find other parents who had been let down by the tests - the group now has over 90 members.

Owner of Viaguard Accu-Metrics, Harvey Tenenbaum, 91, was caught on camera by CBC admitting the tests were inaccurate

When they later asked him on the record he said the tests were 'perfect'

In Atlanta, Georgia, John Brennan had a similar experience to Mayer when he received a false positive on a test.

He told CBC: 'As soon as I saw those test results, it was like a line in the sand. Immediately, right then and there, things just changed.'

He bought a house and a car and dedicated his life to the baby, even getting his name - Travis - tattooed on his arm.

But eight months later he discovered the test was wrong and he wasn't really the father.

He said: 'There's not a handbook on how to handle raising a kid for eight months and then finding out that it's not yours. You're left in a mysterious, dark place mentally.'

There is a surprising lack of regulation for private DNA testing companies like Viaguard, with experts calling for the federal government to step in and protect customers.

Mayer told CBC: 'The main thing I want for Viaguard is for it to close down. I think that's a collective feeling. I don't think anyone would even imagine that it would still be open.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Viaguard for comment.

The company was accused of fraudulent practices before after a customer sent in their dog's DNA instead of their own and was told it was descended from Native Americans.

Louis Cote, a resident of Mascouche, Quebec, sent his own DNA and his girlfriend's chihuahua Snoopy's to the company for testing.

When Cote received the results, he found that both he and Snoopy have indigenous ancestry - 12 per cent Abenaki and 8 per cent Mohawk.

I don't feel very good for the people who paid for these tests, Cote said.
By Lee Sun-ho

It was an uncommon opportunity for me to watch in person a U.S. Eighth Army Change of Command Ceremony, in 2024, in which Lt. Gen. (LTG) Willard M. Burleson, III, the longest-Korea-assigned (three-and-a-half years) outgoing 35th Commanding General relinquished command to Lt. Gen. Christopher C. LaNeve, incoming 36th Commander on Arbor Day, April 5 in the morning at Barker Field, USAG Humphreys in Pyeongtaek. I was honored to watch the parade there per proxy of the Korea-America Association (KAA), cordially invited by Gen. Paul J. LaCamera, multinational Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, Combined Forces Command and U.N. Command.

Since the disciplined Eighth Army has been well-known to average Koreans with respect to the Korean War (1950-53) and its armistice over seven decades ago, I still remember Lt. Gen. Walton H. Walker (1889-1950), the heroic 2nd Commanding General, who was devoted remarkably to brilliant military operations against the North Korean and Chinese invaders after the outbreak of the Korean War until he died in a jeep accident on Dec. 23, 1950. Alas, his son, Sam Sims Walker, then a company commander with the 19th Infantry Regiment was also killed in action in Korea. I utter that Koreans must send deep regrets as well as memorial tributes to such a monumental and graceful father and son pairing for their valuable joint sacrifices for the safeguarding of South Korea from the dangers of communist occupation.

Additionally, I recall Gen. Walkers three successors, whose tactical field combat and airstrike plans of war campaigns were outstanding and terrific for the defense of my country. They were chronologically narrated as BTG Mathew B. Ridgway (1895-1993), third Commander, Gen. James Alward Van Fleet (1892-1992), fourth Commander and Gen. Maxwell W. Taylor (1901-85), fifth Commander.

It was my second visit to Camp Humphreys. My first visit to the U.S.' largest military base, outside the continental U.S., was conducted six years ago with a group of KAA members also on rainy Arbor Day in 2018 for tree-planting purposes (Ref. The Korea Times of April 16, 2018, entitled "Arbor Day diary").

I understand the Eighth Army, with its distinctive red-white octagonal insignia, served both as a field army and theater army during the Korean War. On Nov. 20, 1954, it was merged with U.S. Army Forces Far East as the major army command in the region.

In the wake of North Koreas barrage of missile launches since 2022, many of the tests involved nuclear-capable missiles designated to attack South Korea and the mainland U.S. The Eighth Army and South Korean forces have responded by expanding their training drills and trilateral exercises, now including Japanese forces. There is no doubt that North Koreas repeated launches pose a threat to its neighboring states and undermine regional security well into the Indo-Pacific region.

I would now like to extend my sense of gratitude to the Eighth Army, officially activated at Memphis, Tennessee on June 10, 1944, and making many Asian island-hopping assaults in the Philippines and Japan under the first command of Lt. General Robert L. Eichelberger (1886-1961). Based on the Korea-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty of 1953, I know, it has served as a partner of the Combined Joint Forces securing my fatherland with its catchphrase, forward-deployed and combat-ready together with its mottos, Pacific victors. No doubt, Koreas 74-year association with the Eighth Army is strong and growing ever stronger.





The writer (wkexim@naver.com) is a freelance columnist living in Seoul.
A woman who opened fire on a Florida highway claimed God told her to do so 'in relation to the solar eclipse'- despite the state not being in the path of totality.

Taylon Nichelle Celestine, 22, was stopped by police on I-10 on Monday after reports of an active shooter in Holmes County, about an hour outside of Tallahassee.

Celestine drove a purple Dodge Challenger with Georgia plates onto the highway, and within five miles, she 'fired multiple shots into another vehicle' before hitting another driver, Florida Highway Patrol said.

One of the driver's was hit with glass from his car window and was grazed in his arm by a bullet. The other was struck in the neck and taken to a nearby hospital.

Once troopers located Celestine, they pulled her over for a traffic stop and took her into custody. Authorities found an AR-15 and 9mm handgun in her car.

Taylon Nichelle Celestine, 22, was stopped by police on I-10 on Monday after she told local hotel staff that God told her to go on a shooting rampage 'in relation to the solar eclipse'

Before she went on the violent rampage, Florida Highway Patrol said that the suspect told staff at a local hotel that 'God' instructed her to go on a shooting spree because of the eclipse.

As Celestine traveled along the interstate, she opened fire at passing cars and hit a male driver before she struck another.

The first driver was able to steer clear of Celestine and pulled over on the shoulder of the road after he was hit.

One of the cars was seen with cracked glass and multiple bullet holes following the frightening shooting.

After that, she proceeded to drive on the highway before highway troopers caught up to her and pulled her over for a felony traffic stop.

According to police, she was taken into custody without incident and taken to the Holmes County Jail.

Celestine was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and improper discharge of a firearm.

In Florida, first-degree attempted murder can carry a life sentence in jail with a possibility for parole, and up to $10,000 in fines.

An aggravated battery charge is considered a second-degree felony that can result in up to 15 years of parole or 15 years in prison, along with a fine up to $10,000.

Two drivers were injured after Celestine opened fire on I-10. One of the cars is seen with bullet holes and cracks in its window

FORT WORTH, TEXAS: the solar eclipse has start moving through Texas before it swept across New England and Canada on Monday

Improperly discharging a firearm in the Sunshine State is typically classified as a first-degree misdemeanor, with a sentence of up to one year in jail or a year of probation, and a $1,000 fine.

On Monday, the total solar eclipse brought North America to a standstill as the moon blocked the sun.

The phenomenon started in Mexico before it moved on to Texas and swept across New England and Canada.

The Mexican beachside resort town of Mazatlan was the first major viewing spot to be plunged into darkness from the celestial phenomenon.

People flocked from all over the country to states like Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri to see the eclipse that isn't expected to happen again until 2045.

While the crowds in the south were awestruck and New Yorkers were typically underwhelmed, the event sent animals in zoos and households across the country into a frenzy.

At the Dallas Zoo, giraffes, zebras and ostriches shrieked, squawked and ran for cover as the clouds grew darker.
The father of a school shooter wept in court as he and his wife each received a landmark prison sentence over their son's massacre.

James Crumbley was unable to contain his emotion as a Michigan judge on Tuesday ordered him and estranged wife Jennifer to spend 10 to 15 years behind bars.

Fifteen years was the maximum sentence available to the former couple, who will each have two years subtracted from their sentences for time served.

The parents were convicted at separate trials in February. The juries found they had ignored their son Ethan Crumbley's pleas for mental health help while buying him the firearm he used to massacre four classmates in 2021.

The jury saw Ethan's diary in which he detailed how his parents 'won't help' and also wrote: 'I have fully mentally lost it after years of fighting with my dark side. My parents won't listen to me about... [a] therapist.'

The Crumbleys' sentences will be served minus the near-two-and-a-half years they have already served, and they will be barred from contacting to their son's victims' families.

The sentence was read shortly after the heartbroken mother of one of Ethan Crumbley's victims slammed his parents for a lack of remorse, as she pleaded with a judge to impose the maximum sentence of 15 years, which they ultimately received.

Speaking at the sentencing hearing, Nicole Beausoliel, the mother of slain Madisyn Baldwin, 17, scathed the couple as 'failed parents.'

'You've shown no remorse or respect to our family,' the stricken mother said through tears. 'The words involuntary should not be a part of your sentence.'

Her tearful statement was followed by the mother of Justin Shilling, who echoed Beausoliel's grief as she condemned them for not 'cherishing or even wanting your son.'

'But I cherished and wanted mine,' she added. 'You failed your son.'

James Crumbley is seen crying in court Monday as he and wife Jennifer received a landmark 10 to 15 year sentence for their son Ethan's 2021 school massacre that murdered four

James and Jennifer Crumbley sat at the same table ahead of their sentencing, where they received the maximum possible sentence of 10 to 15 years

Jennifer glares at James Crumbley during their sentencing hearing. The couple have been estranged for years, asked to have their trials separated, and have each spent 27 months in jail since their arrest

Madisyn Baldwin, 17, (left) and Hana St Juliana, 14, (right) died in the 2021 shooting rampage at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit

Justin Shilling, 17, (left) and Tate Myre, 16, (right) were also killed in the senseless shooting

The emotional victim impact statements came as James and Jennifer Crumbley could barely look at each other as they were forced into a frosty reunion at their manslaughter sentencing.

The victim impact statements condemned the parents for their failure to act, as Justin Shilling's mother said 'the ripple effect of James and Jennifer's failures are felt by all.'

'If only they had done something,' she said, again requesting the judge impose the maximum sentence. 'You failed.'

Justin's father Craig Shilling closed his victim impact statement with a request to the room, solemnly asking other parents to 'go home and hug your kids.'

In a request for lenient sentencing, Jennifer's attorney said she is 'hugely distraught and remorseful' over the shooting.

However, Jennifer faced scrutiny when she took the stand in her own defense at trial, as she insisted she was not at fault and the blame laid with her husband, son and the school. She testified: 'I've asked myself if I would have done anything differently, and I wouldn't have.'

These words were repeated by several victim impact statements, as Reina St Juliana - the sister of victim Hana St Juliana - said she 'couldn't fathom' why the mother would feel that way.

Steve St Juliana stood silent for several moments at the start of his statement, as he said he has been left 'a shell of the person I used to be.'

'They continue to blame anyone else but themselves,' he said. 'Through their actions, through their gross negligence, they allowed their son to murder my daughter.

'Hannah's murder has destroyed a large portion of my life. Every day is a battle, the attempt to move forward, the struggle to get out of bed, go through the motions.

'I will never walk her down the aisle, as she begins the journey of starting her own family. I am forever denied the chance to hold her children in my arms.'

The couple's son Ethan was 15 when he opened fire on classmates at Oxford High School in November 2021, killing four and injuring seven others. He is currently serving life without the possibility of parole

Nicole Beausoliel, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, gave the first victim impact statement through tears as she slammed the parents for showing 'no remorse or respect'

Reina St Juliana - the sister of victim Hana St Juliana - said she 'couldn't fathom' why Jennifer would testify that she 'wouldn't change' anything she did

Steve St Juliana said he has been left 'a shell of the person I used to be' in his tearful statement

James was led first into the courtroom in orange prison fatigues before his estranged wife joined him at their attorney's table minutes later, with both appearing to make efforts not to look at the other and stare directly ahead.

Prosecutors had previously petitioned the judge to sentence each parent to the maximum possible sentence of 10 to 15 years in state prison, citing their 'chilling lack of remorse.'

James was particularly called out by prosecutors, and he had his communications cut during his trial after making a series of threatening jail calls, including saying Prosecuting Attorney Karen McDonald would face 'retribution.'

Before his sentencing, James read a statement where he said his 'heart is broken for all involved', and he stressed that claims he had no remorse for his son's actions were not true.

'I know the pain and loss will never go away.'

Jennifer's statement, which came directly after the father of Tate Myer furiously hit out at the Crumbleys for their perceived lack of remorse, said her comments about 'not doing anything differently' had been 'completely misunderstood.'

'With the benefit of hindsight, my answer would be different. Ethan was not the son I knew. People used to say he was a 'perfect kid' - I truly believe that,' she said.

Jennifer also used the opportunity to speak to warn other parents that they could end up in her position, saying: 'Never think this could not happen to you. This could be any parent up here.

'I still love my son unconditionally.'

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald holds the murder weapon at James' trial, as jurors heard how he purchased the firearm for his son despite his disturbing behavior

Their son Ethan was 15 when he opened fire on classmates at Oxford High School in November 2021, killing four and injuring seven others. He is currently serving life without the possibility of parole.

Following the shooting, the Crumbleys fled the Oxford Township area after charges against them were announced.

They remained on the run for around a day, drained their bank accounts, and turned off their phones before being captured in a Detroit art studio, moves that took center stage at their trials.

The parents were also accused of recklessly buying Ethan the gun used in the tragedy while ignoring his pleas for help, as their juries saw his diary where he detailed how his parents 'won't help.'

James and Jennifer were tried separately at their own request, and their trials marked the first time parents have ever faced charges over their child's school shooting. The married couple have been estranged for years as they have both been incarcerated since their arrest over two years ago.

At Jennifer's trial, her claims that she was 'too busy' to help Ethan on the day of the shooting after he was caught drawing disturbing images of school shootings were shot down as humiliating revelations of her private life were heard by the court.

Namely, she was caught having an extramarital affair with local fire captain Brian Meloche amid claims she met up with him during the tragedy, alongside allegations about her use of online hookup apps as prosecutors painted her as a negligent mother.

At Jennifer's trial, she faced humiliating revelations that she was carrying out an extramarital affair with local fire captain Brian Meloche (pictured)

The parents' attorneys have countered prosecution's sentencing request by asking for less than fire years each.

Jennifer's attorney has also requested that the 27 months she has already served be credited in sentencing, and she be placed under house arrest 'on a tether' at her defense attorney's home.

In a separate request for leniency, James Crumbley's attorney said the father has 'expressed significant remorse' for his role in the tragedy, and asked for him to be sentenced to 28 months in prison with time served alongside maximum period of supervision.

Alternatively, the attorney sought for 43 months in prison with credit for time served.

James had his communications cut off from anyone besides his legal team during his trial after he made a series of 'threatening' jail house calls, including saying the prosecutors would face 'retribution.'

His attorney denied his calls were threats, and insisted James 'at worst engaged in frustrated name calling.'

At James' trial, jurors heard that he bought his son the Sig Sauer 9mm firearm used in the shooting at a Black Friday sale four days before the school shooting, and Jennifer took him to the gun range the day after the purchase.

James failed to properly secure the gun, keeping it only in a lock box that Ethan easily opened on the day of the shooting. His trial also heard that he kept other guns locked only with the code '000.'

On the morning of the school shooting, teachers became concerned after finding alarming drawings and writings on his homework, including drawings of shooting victims around 'the thoughts won't stop... Help me'

One of the teen killer's trips to the shooting range with his father was shown to the court during James' trial, eerily matching the stance he took when he shot and killed classmates

In one of Ethan Crumbley's diary entries shown on at trial, Ethan wrote: 'I have zero help for my mental problems and it's causing me to shoot up the f****** school'

Jennifer Crumbley seen entering court shortly before she was convicted of involuntary manslaughter on February 6, 2024

James Crumbley seen at his trial, held separately to his estranged wife's trial, on February 21, 2024. As he now faces sentencing, prosecutors cited him for making 'threatening' jail calls during the trial

A significant portion of both parents' trials was also spent on a crucial school meeting the morning of the shooting.

Ethan's teachers became concerned after looking at his math homework, where he made disturbing drawings of shootings and wrote: 'The thoughts won't stop, help me.'

Unbeknownst to others in the room, Ethan had stolen the 9mm semiautomatic handgun from his home, which James had failed to lock up. At his trial, it was heard that the cable lock for the gun was still in its packaging inside the box.

James and Jennifer were brought into school to discuss the drawings, but both said they were 'too busy' to take him home and went back to work. Less than two hours later, Ethan opened fire.
Brian Dorsey is officially scheduled for execution in less than 10 hours after the governor denied him clemency, but his fate ultimately rests with the Supreme Court.

The 52-year-old will be given the death penalty at the state prison in Bonne Terre on Tuesday night.

Dorsey shot his cousin Sarah and her husband Benjamin Bonnie, 28, in their Missouri home in 2006.

Governor Mike Parson denied clemency for Dorsey despite a petition that garnered statements from 72 current and ex-corrections officers who vouched that he was reformed.

The petition also received support from a former Missouri Supreme Court justice and others, as two appeals are still pending before the US Supreme Court.

Brian Dorsey, 52, shot Sarah and Benjamin Bonnie, 28, in their Missouri home on December 23 2006. He has since spent 17 years in prison, and is scheduled to be executed Tuesday

Governor Mike Parson on Monday turned down the clemency request that would have saved Dorsey's life. The request included correspondence from current and former corrections officers - as well as a retired state supreme court justice - claiming the killer was reformed

One focuses on Dorsey's record of good behavior during his 17 years of incarceration.

The other says his life should be spared because his trial lawyers had a conflict of interest, due to a pair of public defenders being paid a $12,000 flat fee he claims provided them with no incentive to invest time in his case.

'The Brian I have known for years could not hurt anyone,' one officer wrote as part of the petition to save Dorsey. 'The Brian I know does not deserve to be executed.'

In a letter to Parson as part of the clemency petition, former Missouri Supreme Court Justice Michael Wolff remarked how he was on the court when it turned aside an appeal of his death sentence in 2009.

But he now says that decision is wrong.

'Missouri Public Defenders now do not use the flat fee for defense in recognition of the professional standard that such an arrangement gives the attorney an inherent financial conflict of interest,' Wolff wrote of the killing of Sarah and Ben Bonnie on December 23, 2006.

Dozens more corrections officers also vouched for his rehabilitation while behind bars, as attorneys for Dorsey argued that he suffered from drug-induced psychosis at the time of the crime, adding that during his stint in prison, he's gotten clean.

Parson, a 68-year-old Republican, was not swayed, keeping with a theme of never granting a clemency request once during his four years as governor.

Dorsey's attorneys have also successfully appealed for him to be given pain relief if his execution does go ahead, on the basis his obesity and diabetes may mean he may require a particularly excruciating procedure to find a vein to inject the fatal dose.

Dorsey shot Sarah and Benjamin Bonnie dead in their bed while staying with the couple, before stealing their belongings and attempting to sell them

Former Missouri Supreme Court Justice Michael Wolff (pictured) and 72 current and ex corrections officers fought to save Dorsey's life, claiming he was born anew behind bars. Wolff was the one to hand down the death sentence in 2009, but recently said that was a mistake

Aside from being obese with diabetes, Dorsey is also a reformed intravenous drug user, his lawyers have pointed out - another factor that could make it more difficult to find a vein for injection, they say.

The Missouri Department of Corrections is taking measures to reduce Dorseys risk of suffering, after settling a federal lawsuit that said Dorsey could face tremendous pain if required to undergo whats known as a cutdown procedure to find a suitable vein

A cutdown procedure involves an incision that could be several inches wide, and then the use of forceps to pull apart tissue to get to a vein.

Parson, in turn, said in a press release Monday: 'Brian Dorsey punished his loving family for helping him in a time of need.

'His cousins invited him into their home where he was surrounded by family and friends, then gave him a place to stay.

'Dorsey repaid them with cruelty, inhumane violence, and murder.

'The pain Dorsey brought to others can never be rectified, but carrying out Dorseys sentence according to Missouri law and the Courts order will deliver justice and provide closure.'

On his lawyers' recommendation, Dorsey pleaded guilty despite having no agreement with prosecutors that he would be spared the death penalty.

Parson, seemingly unswayed said of his decision in a press release: ' Brian Dorsey punished his loving family for helping him in a time of need. 'His cousins invited him into their home where he was surrounded by family and friends, then gave him a place to stay. Dorsey repaid them with cruelty, inhumane violence, and murder'

'The pain Dorsey brought to others can never be rectified, but carrying out Dorseys sentence according to Missouri law and the Courts order will deliver justice and provide closure,' the politician concluded, likely sealing the con's fate

Dorsey will be the first person in Missouri put to death this year after four executions in 2023.

Dorsey, formerly of Jefferson City, was convicted of killing his cousin, Sarah Bonnie, and her husband, Benjamin, at their home near New Bloomfield on December 23 2006.

Prosecutors said that earlier that day, Dorsey had called Sarah asking to borrow money to pay two drug dealers who were at his apartment.

The couple went to his home to help and took him back to their house with them where a few other relatives came over for food and drinks.

After they went to bed that night, Dorsey took a shotgun from the garage and killed both of them, shooting Sarah in the jaw and Benjamin in the side of the head, before sexually assaulting Sarah's body, prosecutors said.

He was never charged with sexual assault.

Sarah's parents found their bodies the next day. The couple's 4-year-old daughter was sat in the living room watching TV, unhurt.

Following the murders, Dorsey stole items from around the house, including Sarah's social security card, their car and Jade's copy of Bambi 2 and fled, driving around attempting to sell the goods.

On Christmas day, he called his mother and said he was trying to kill himself, before she convinced him to turn himself in.

He pleaded guilty in March 2008, and was sentenced to death for each murder. The sentence has since been appealed and upheld.

Dorsey's attorneys also had asked the Missouri Supreme Court to stay the execution on the grounds that the Department of Corrections' acting director has not been confirmed by the state Senate and is therefore unqualified to oversee an execution.

The court denied that request Friday.
A man who was tracked down by internet sleuths after repeatedly torturing his girlfriend's cat to near death has been jailed for 2.5 years.

A court in Poland sparked outrage after sentencing Kacper B. to less than the maximum five years after he was found guilty of 'extreme cruelty' towards animals.

Prior to his arrest the 24-year-old had posted a series of sickening videos and images on social media alongside descriptions of what he had been doing to the helpless animal named Leni.

In one showing the cat hanging by his legs from a hairdryer cord, the sadist wrote: 'The mother f****r pissed me off.

'First I beat him almost to death, then I took a hairdryer and hung him on a cable by his front and back legs.

A court in Poland sparked outrage after sentencing Kacper B. (pictured) to less than the maximum five years after he was found guilty of 'extreme cruelty' towards animals

The abuse was soon picked up by animal rights group The Lower Silesian Animal Protection Inspectorate who offered a cash reward to find the man's identity

Prior to his arrest the 24-year-old had posted a series of sickening videos and images on social media alongside descriptions of what he had been doing to the helpless animal named Leni

'He howls as if he was being skinned, then he gets punched in the face and passes out in a second.'

In another post, the 24-year-old said he had set fire to the cat's whiskers.

The abuse was soon picked up by animal rights group The Lower Silesian Animal Protection Inspectorate who offered a cash reward to find the man's identity.

Posting online, the group said: 'Once again, we are counting on the power of the Internet to identify the sadist who cruelly abuses his cat.'

In scenes reminiscent from the hit Netflix documentary Don't F**k With Cats, the campaign saw both internet detectives and celebrities jump onboard the online manhunt.

Within hours he was tracked down and his details handed over to the police.

First appearing in court in 2023 where he wore a headband and a pair of toy cat ears, Kacper B. said he was 'in a hurry because he had to feed his new girlfriend's cats.'

At the end of last month he appeared in court again in the seaside town of Gdynia in Poland where prosecuting lawyer Katarzyna Topczewska said: 'He wanted to show off his sadistic tendencies.

'He recorded the video himself. He bragged about it on the Internet. He described in detail what he did to the cat.

'Moreover, he is a person of high intelligence. What the accused did was conscious. He enjoyed it. The films prove that he has sadistic tendencies.'

At the end of last month he appeared in court again in the seaside town of Gdynia in Poland where prosecuting lawyer Katarzyna Topczewska (pictured) said: 'He wanted to show off his sadistic tendencies'

The cat (pictured), which is reported to be suffering from 'permanent damage to its health', has now been placed in the care of a temporary home

But after being found guilty of animal abuse as well as possessing child pornography, the judge decided to jail him for less than three years.

Outraged Topczewska said: 'I demanded the maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.

'During my closing speech, I asked the court rhetorically what else had to be done to the animal and how brazen one had to be in court to get the maximum penalty?'

The man's ex-girlfriend, Danuta W., was jailed for 10 months with a suspended three year sentence for failing to stop the abuse.

The cat, which is reported to be suffering from 'permanent damage to its health', has now been placed in the care of a temporary home.
A Texas mother-of-five has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for beating her boyfriend's four-year-old daughter to death.

Shawna Hooey, 33, of Tomball, Texas, was looking after her own five kids and the young daughter of her boyfriend on September 7, 2019.

She rushed the little girl, Jakyzia Alexander, to the 24-hour emergency center where she told medical workers at least four different stories about what happened to the child.

Jakyzia's body was 'already cold' when she showed up to the clinic and had a visible black eye and other injuries.

The four-year-old died that day from blunt force trauma to the head, an autopsy showed, after the fatal blow caused seizures, vomiting and dazed reactions.

Shawna Hooey, 33, of Tomball, Texas, was looking after her own five kids and the young daughter of her boyfriend on September 7, 2019

Four-year-old Jakyzia's body was 'already cold' when Hooey brought her to the clinic and had a visible black eye and other injuries

As the verdict was announced, Hooey and members of her family dramatically burst into tears

Some of the stories that Hooey told medical workers included that she ran into a doorknob and another tale was that she threw herself against a toilet paper holder in the bathroom.

Hooey claimed that the little girl had to be woken up and was taking deep breaths and 'not acting normally,' which prompted the mother-of-five to drive her around in a 'hot car' to 'try and get her to breathe normally,' according to Fox News.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said that Jakyzia had signs of repeated abuse - including fresh and healed injuries.

Jakyzia's father worked night shifts and had sole custody of the child. In the two months leading up to her death, he had been living with other family members closer to work and hadn't seen his daughter except for video calls.

Hooey was taking care of Jakyzia during this time.

After an emotional nine-day trial, a Harris County jury convicted of Hooey of murder and sentenced her to 50 years in prison.

The four-year-old died that day from blunt force trauma to the head, an autopsy showed, after the fatal blow caused seizures, vomiting and dazed reactions

'You are not the victim, Shawna,' Vonda Harris, the little girl's grandmother said as she took the stand to make an impact statement

'My niece was barely 30 pounds. So how she could cause deep bruising in her head and make her spine come unattached to her body, I'll never know,' April Alexander, the victim's aunt, said

As the verdict was announced, Hooey and members of her family dramatically burst into tears.

'You are not the victim, Shawna,' Vonda Harris, the little girl's grandmother said as she took the stand to make an impact statement.

'For her to cry now, I don't understand that because she didn't cry through any of her statements or any of the police investigating,' Harris told ABC.

'My niece was barely 30 pounds. So how she could cause deep bruising in her head and make her spine come unattached to her body, I'll never know,' April Alexander, the victim's aunt, said.

'She was a big part of our life. We don't have a lot of girls in our family, so it's a huge missing part of our life,' Alexander said.
Airstream says it was 'saddened' to hear about the death of a Long Island pediatrician who fell out of an RV while driving on a New York highway, but stressed she should not have been in the back to start.

Monika Woroniecka, 58, died on Saturday after falling out of an Airstream that was being pulled by her husband who was driving a truck. She was flung out of the RV in front of her horrified family on their way to view the eclipse.

New York State Police continue to investigate the incident.

'Airstream is saddened to hear about the death of Dr. Monika Woroniecka on April 6, 2024, and our deepest sympathies go out to her family, friends and community,' the company said in a statement to DailyMail.com

'Airstream travel trailers are not designed to carry passengers while in motion. The safety protocol detailed in Airstreams operating manuals and shared on Airstreams website advises owners that they cannot tow an Airstream with people inside. Many states prohibit carrying passengers in a travel trailer or fifth wheel, and we advise owners to consult their states Department of Motor Vehicles for up-to-date regulations.'

Monika Woroniecka, 58, died on Saturday after falling out of an Airstream that was being pulled by her husband driving a truck. Airstream officials said they were saddened to learn of her death, but stressed people should not be in a moving RV

She was in the silver 2024 Airstream as the family traveled along State Route 12E and the door suddenly flew open in a gust of wind

The scene on State Route 12E near Brownville, New York, on Saturday afternoon

It is illegal to tow passengers in an Airstream in New York State, in addition to being something the company warns against.

According to New York State Trooper Sgt. Jack Keller, Woroniecka and her daughter, Helena, decided to ride the last 20 minutes of their trip in the $130,000 Airstream camper.

They had just stopped for ice cream as they headed upstate from their Long Island home. Woroniecka's husband, Richard, was driving a truck and pulling the Airstream along Route 12 E in Brownville.

Witnesses behind the Airstream claimed they saw the passenger side door of the Airstream open, and Woroniecka's arm hanging on the door after the wind caused the door to swing ajar.

Police continue to investigate the horrifying incident.

'I haven't dealt a lot with these types of incidents. We are still trying to determine how and why the door opened,' Keller said.

On Monday, no one answered the door at the Woroniecka residence. Antipas, who lives next door to the family, was devastated having no idea it was neighbor and just learned about it when a media outlet told her of the tragedy.

Neighbor Maria Antipas said they would look after each others houses when they travel and said she had a key to their home.

They just left the other day,' she recalled. 'They got an Airstream a couple of months ago and theyve been taking little trips. I watch their house for them when they are gone, and they do the same for me.

Her husband Robert, 59, (left) was driving the pickup truck pulling the caravan that Woroniecka (right) was riding in. They are pictured with one of their daughters who may have been with them on the trip

Dr Woroniecka (far left) poses with her family

Dr. Woroniecka has three daughters including Alexandra (left) and Helena (right), who was with her on the trip

She said the day they were leaving, her husband was walking the dog and saw Woroniecka and her husband Robert getting their truck and Airstream ready. They told them that they were going upstate to watch the solar eclipse and meet their daughter.

Richard, a kidney doctor at Stony Brook, and his wife had moved into the home on Dogwood Drive in Stonybrook six or seven years ago.

She said that the couple were outdoorsy and have three grown daughters who are all very bright. One lives in Virginia with her family, another is a musician who lives in New York, and the third daughter is studying medicine in Arizona and is set to get married this summer.

She told DailyMail.com she remembered the day Richard drove the airstream home.

It was shiny, she recalled. 'They were so excited to get it.'

Maria said that the last time she saw Woroniecka was the day before she left. She was walking her dogs and they waved to each other.

Utterly devastated, she repeated: I cant believe something like that happened. Its so tragic.'

The hospital where the coupe worked released a statement after Woroniecka's death.

'Stony Brook Medicine is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss of one of our esteemed colleagues over the weekend, Dr. Monika Woroniecka, a physician at Stony Brook Childrens Hospital,' the hospital said in a statement. 'Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues affected by this heartbreaking event.'

'The safety protocol detailed in Airstreams operating manuals and shared on Airstreams website advises owners that they cannot tow an Airstream with people inside,' Airstream, headed by CEO Bob Wheeler, said in a statement

The family appear to have been riding in a New 2024 Airstream Bambi 16RB

The thoughtfully-designed relatively small camper is sixteen feet in length and sleeps four

The cost of the brand new model begins at $60,400

In New York State, it is illegal to ride in a non-fifth wheel trailer while it's in motion. The manufacturers of Airstream also warn against riding in the campervan while it is in motion

Dr. Woroniecka was a children's allergy and immunology specialist at Stony Brook Medicine, which she practiced for more than 20 years.

She treated children with food, environmental, medications, and bee stings allergies, childhood asthma and skin conditions like eczema and hives.

'Dr. Woroniecka likes to travel, hike, exercise, and spend time with family and friends,' her work profile read.

She grew up in Poland and drew in Polish-speaking patients from around the region, it added.
Chicagoans are amused to see their ousted mayor Lori Lightfoot hired to investigate 'America's worst mayor' for corruption.

Lightfoot was hired by the village board of Dalton, Illinois, to investigate its own mayor Tiffany Henyard, who is accused of embezzling public funds.

Self-described 'super mayor' Henyard, 40, was also accused of retaliating against a victim of sexual assault - and vetoed an investigation into the allegations.

Lightfoot, who was mayor of Chicago from 2019 until her embarrassing loss last year, will be paid $400 an hour for as long as the probe takes.

Her appointment, and salary, triggered surprise given Lightfoot's controversial tenure and swift fall from breakout political star to punchline.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot may have a new job very soon, as she's been hired by the nearby village of Dolton, Illinois to investigator their mayor, whom many have called 'America's worst'

Self-described 'Super Mayor' Tiffany Henyard, 40, has been accused of embezzling taxpayer funds and retaliating against a victim of sexual assault - and last month vetoed an investigation into the allegations

'She must have a little time on her hands,' Fox News commentator Tomi Lahren joked.

'When I saw this headline, I thought it had to be a joke, this is just too sensational, it's too wild to believe, but no, it is indeed a real thing.'

Others online joked that it was America's former worst mayor investigating the country's current worst mayor.

You can kind of see where they're coming from in a 'it takes one to know one' sense,' one wrote.

'But I find it very unlikely Lori will uncover anything she finds out of the ordinary, much less illegal.'

Another joked, 'Guessing Fani Willis was busy' in reference to the district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, who is prosecuting Donald Trump for election fraud.

Willis, hours before Lightfoot's appointment, took the stand to argue why she shouldn't be kicked off the case for her relationship with another lawyer.

A comment on that post added: 'Isn't this kind of like putting two fox's in charge of the same hen house? Now they both get to eat well until there's nothing left to eat.'

'Have no fear, Lori Lightfoot is on the job,' another wrote, sarcastically.

'When I saw this headline, I thought it had to be a joke, this is just too sensational, it's too wild to believe, but no, it is indeed a real thing,' Fox News commentator Tomi Lahren joked

Another joked, 'Guessing Fani Willis was busy' in reference to the district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, who is prosecuting Donald Trump for election fraud

Others online joked that it was America's former worst mayor investigating the country's current worst mayor

Watch the latest video at foxnews.com

Lightfoot was never accused of misconduct, but was criticized for being unnecessarily combative with opponents as defensive to criticism.

She referred to one alderman as a 'dumb, dumb person of color' in a text, and called another 'bush league' and a third a 'jackass'.

'I have never met anybody who has managed to piss off every single person they come in contact with  police, fire, teachers, aldermen, businesses, manufacturing, and that's it,' former ally Alderman Susan Sadlowski Garza said in 2022.

Lightfoot, in her introductory press conference on Monday, talked up her credentials as a former prosecutor and mayor.

'I bring expertise in leading investigations of this kind and understand the complex challenges of governing. I will follow the facts where they lead, without bias, and reserve comments until the work is complete,' she said.

She may not get very far, however, as Henyard's mayoral powers extend to potentially vetoing the probe.

Henyard, a Democrat, was not present for the meeting Monday where Lightfoot's investigation was approved.

Lightfoot is a former prosecutor who has been tasked by the board with 'All allegations of misconduct, and all internal investigations, if any, along with any village state and federal law violations,' Dolton Trustee Jason House said.

However, even if Henyard does allow the investigation, none of Lightfoot's findings have any authority to bring charges or impeachment against the Dolton mayor.

That, plus the $400 per hour price tag, has led the already cash-strapped village skeptical, according to ABC Chicago.

One speaker asked: 'At the end of the day, haven't gotten results from simple [Freedom of Information Act requests], so how are you going to be different?'

Lightfoot responded by describing herself as 'a very determined person' and hoped for the mayor's willingness to speak to her.

'It is my sincere hope that Mayor Henyard will voluntarily cooperate, but should they not, we are prepared to do what is necessary to get to the facts,' she said.

'It's obvious that a veto will happen, but we have the majority, but the four of us have the majority,' Dolton Trustee Kenia Belcher said.

Lightfoot - who was ousted as mayor of Chicago last year - was approved by the village's board of trustees to investigate Henyard's alleged corruption at the cost of $400 per hour

'I bring expertise in leading investigations of this kind and understand the complex challenges of governing. I will follow the facts where they lead, without bias, and reserve comments until the work is complete,' Lightfoot told the board Monday

Lightfoot may not get very far, however, as Henyard's mayoral powers extend to potentially vetoing the probe

'We are bleeding right now, and bleeding leads to death, death of a community, and we have to stop it.'

It is unclear what they can actually do to stop it, as Henyard continues to make national headlines for all the wrong reasons despite running a village of just 20,000 people.

The high-rolling mayor, who earns $300,000 for her public duties, has spent thousands more on first class trips, a professional hair and makeup team and a security detail.

She has been accused of unlawfully signing off contracts as dozens of unpaid suppliers threaten to take the town to court.

Henyard has also been accused by a former employee of sexual harassment and retaliation.

The former employee claims the mayor fired her after she said she was sexually assaulted at a work trip in Las Vegas.

'Us figuring out what happened in Vegas is extremely important for the residents,' said Dolton Board of Trustee member Brittney Norwood.

A year after her election, Dolton residents triggered a recall process largely due to her hiring of convicted sex offender Lavelle Redmond into a role that would require him to enter people's homes.

Henyard continues to make national headlines for all the wrong reasons despite running a village of just 20,000 people

The high-rolling mayor, who earns $300,000 for her public duties, has spent thousands more on first class trips, a professional hair and makeup team and a security detail

According to reporting at the time, the then-16-year-old Redmond and three others kidnapped and sexually assaulted two girls, ages 13 and 14.

At age 17, Redmond was sentenced to 50 years in prison but was paroled in 2016 and required to register as a sex offender. At the time Henyard defended the move, stating that convicts who have served time deserve a second chance.

However, the recall failed on a technicality and Henyard remained in post, turning up to the next board meeting blasting a disco song and dancing on the podium.

Following the verdict, she also posted a defiant picture on Instagram proclaiming herself the 'People's Mayor' with the caption, 'I am and forever will be Dolton's Mayor.'

The village board had voted through a motion to ask agencies including the FBI, the US attorney, the Cook County sheriff and Cook County state's attorney to investigate Henyard earlier this year.

Henyard vetoed the invitation, but FBI agents were already talking to dozens of people in the town of 20,000 about the unpaid bills.

The mayor has admitted a $2 million deficit, blaming the trustees for incompetence, but some fear the true figure could be as high as $5 million.

The town owes more than $427,000 to a company that repaved its streets, and another $400,000 to a tree-trimming company that worked for it last year.

The FBI is now investigating spending on limos, first class flights and a professional hair and makeup team

In one photo posted to Instagram, Henyard even appeared to pose with a dog laden with jewelry

Henyard even has a criminal past and a mugshot, having been arrested and charged with criminal trespass to vehicles in 2016, the New York Post reported

Henyard had her charity 'Tiffany Henyard Cares' shut down last month by the Illinois Attorney General amid claims it used taxpayer money and the services of public employees.

She and other officials are accused of spending more than $67,000 of public money on trips to Portland, Austin, Atlanta and New York City, traveling first-class on some of the flights, and spending $13,000 on a stay in New York.

'It's unfortunate that politics are being played. What's happened is a million dollars out of my budget have been cut because of politics,' Dolton Police Chief Lewis Lacey said.

The first female mayor in the town's 128-year history was at the White House meeting President Joe Biden in January, but she has been accused of shutting down businesses that refuse to donate to her campaign.

One resident, Lawrence Gardner, claimed that Henyard forced the closure of his trucking business after he refused to renew a $3,500 contribution to her political fund.

The mayor was slammed for hiring her former campaign worker as the town's code enforcement officer despite the fact he is a convicted child rapist.

She also raised eyebrows after spending hundreds of thousands of tax dollars on security details, including one occasion where she pulled cops off the street to perform a protection outfit.

A successful recall vote was overturned on a technicality last year prompting her to dance on a podium at the subsequent board meeting to the strains of Rihanna's 'B***h Better Have My Money'.

Heynard is under fire for hiring her former campaign worker Lavelle Redmond (pictured together, left) as a code enforcement officer. The 46-year-old is a registered child sex offender

'I am and forever will be Dolton's Mayor,' she posted on Instagram, prompting some to call her the 'Dolton Dictator.'

She has not been charged with an offense and is defiant against critics she claims 'should be ashamed of themselves'.

She also features heavily on professional stylist Brandon K Momom's account, sporting various ensembles handpicked for her public appearances.

Visitors to Henyard's website are greeted by a huge selfie and encouraged to offer donations.

Her antics have earned comparisons to the show Parks and Recreation, a comedy which pokes fun at local government employees.

Henyard even has a criminal past and a mugshot, having been arrested and charged with criminal trespass to vehicles in 2016, the New York Post reported.

DailyMail.com has contacted Mayor Henyard for comment.
Alex Baldwin was a foul-mouthed bully on the set of Rust and rushed crew members in a way that compromised safety before shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins dead, court documents allege.

Prosecutors in New Mexico have filed new documents saying the actor's behavior on the tragic set contributed to 'safety compromises' that led to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021.

The government's filing is in response to a legal motion by Baldwin asking to throw out the charges of involuntary manslaughter he faces in the killing. He is scheduled to go on trial in July.

Baldwin, 66, had 'no control of his emotions on set,' was 'inattentive' during firearms training and 'frequently screaming and cursing' prior to the deadly incident, according to court documents obtained by People.

'To watch Mr Baldwins conduct on the set of Rust is to witness a man who has absolutely no control of his own emotions and absolutely no concern for how his conduct affects those around him,' Prosecutors wrote in the filing.

Alex Baldwin has been accused of screaming and cursing at the crew on the Rust set, as prosecutors claim he rushed colleagues and compromised safety

Baldwin, 66, had 'no control of his emotions on set,' was 'inattentive' during firearms training and 'frequently screaming and cursing' prior to Halyna Hutchin's killing

'Witnesses have testified that it was this exact conduct that contributed to safety compromises on set.'

Prosecutors say they also argue that Baldwin 'shamelessly lied' and changed his story after the shooting.

Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer during a rehearsal on the Western movie set.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the actor's lawyer for comment.

Baldwin, the lead actor and a co-producer on the Western movie Rust was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal outside Santa Fe in October 2021 when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.

A grand jury in Santa Fe indicted Baldwin in January after prosecutors received a new analysis of that gun, renewing a charge that prosecutors originally filed and then dismissed in April 2023. Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted.

Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the deadly shooting earlier this year

Prosecutors blamed Gutierrez-Reed for unwittingly bringing live ammunition onto the set of Rust where it was expressly prohibited

During the trial of Gutierrez-Reed, prosecutors painted a damning portrait of a film that was in a state of 'rushed chaos'

Baldwin remains free pending trial under conditions that include not possessing firearms, consuming alcohol or leaving the country.

The Oscar-nominated actor has said he pulled back the hammer  but not the trigger  and the gun fired.

Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the deadly shooting earlier this year.

Testimony by an independent gun expert during Gutierrez-Reeds trial cast doubt on Baldwins account that his gun went off without pulling the trigger.

Prosecutors blamed Gutierrez-Reed for unwittingly bringing live ammunition onto the set of Rust where it was expressly prohibited. They also said she failed to follow basic gun safety protocols.

Rust assistant director and safety coordinator Dave Halls last year pleaded no contest to negligent handling of a firearm and completed a sentence of six months unsupervised probation.

Halls, seen here, was the first assistant director on Rust and did not serve prison time after pleading to a count of negligent handling of a deadly weapon

Baldwin was offered a plea deal last year that would have seen him serve no jail time in connection with Hutchins' death, Variety reported.

The outlet reported that before the actor could decide whether to accept the terms, prosecutors pulled the offer and said they would be indicting him.

In a filing seen by the outlet, prosecutor Kary Morrissey offered 'a plea deal identical to the petty misdemeanor deal accepted by Dave Halls.'

The filing states that the offer was made on October 5 and Baldwin was given until October 27 to decide, but prosecutors rescinded the offer on October 17.

Halls, the first assistant director on Rust, did not serve prison time after pleading to a count of negligent handling of a deadly weapon.

He was given six months of unsupervised probation, a $500 fine, 24 hours of community service and ordered to take a firearm safety class.

Baldwin's lawyers have accused the prosecutors in the case of a list of abuses and are looking to have case dismissed.
Samantha Markle's legal team will ask the Princess of Wales for a witness statement as the estranged half-sister of Meghan attempts to continue her defamation lawsuit against the Duchess of Sussex in a Florida court.

It was earlier reported that Samantha's lawyer, Peter Ticktin, had filed an appeal to Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell's March ruling that Meghan's comments during the couple's 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey did not merit defamation.

The suit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning that it cannot simply be refiled.

Despite the request, Samantha, 59, has stressed that the Kate Middleton's 'cancer recovery is priority.'

'I think it's important everyone know that this was out there by my attorney before anyone was aware of her health challenges,' Samantha told former GB News host Dan Wootton.

On March 18, Ticktin told Wootton during an episode of his Outspoken online talk show that he felt as though the princess would be able to provide a useful witness statement in the trial.

'I felt that Catherine might have some very important light to shed on what had occurred because obviously something is really really wrong between these two.'

That came just four days before the princess shocked the world by disclosing that she was battling cancer. MailOnline has reached out to Kensington Palace and Samantha Markle's legal team for comment.

A judge's decision in March saved Meghan from a lawsuit that was set to begin in November 2024

Samantha Markle is seen in November outside a courtroom in Tampa, Florida, where she was trying to convince a judge to allow her defamation case against Meghan Markle to proceed

Just after Samantha's lawyer disclosed that he wanted a witness statement from Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales shocked the world by announcing her cancer diagnosis

It wasn't until this week when it was announced that Samantha was still battling in court to continue her lawsuit against Meghan.

Judge Honeywell said that the case should be dismissed because Samantha 'failed to identify any statements that could support a claim for defamation.'

'Notice is hereby given that the Plaintiff, Samantha M. Markle, by and through her undersigned counsel, appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit from the Order Granting Defendants, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Motion to Dismiss entered by the Honorable Charlene Edwards Honeywell on March 12, 2024,' the appeal document reads.

There have been no official updates on the Princess of Wales' condition since her earth-shattering announcement last month.

Princess Catherine had what was described as abdominal surgery on Jan. 16. The news wasn't announced until the next day, when Kensington Palace revealed that she was recovering from a planned operation.

At the time, officials said her condition wasn't cancerous but did not specify what kind of surgery, saying only that it was successful.

During the video announcement, the princess said: 'Tests after the operation found cancer had been present,' and that she was in the early stages of treatment.

She didn't say what kind of cancer was found, nor did she give details of her chemotherapy. The statement from Kensington Palace said the princess found out about the cancer after post-surgery tests were done.

The palace statement said no details would be provided about her cancer or her treatment, other than she started it in late February.

'We will not be sharing any further private medical information. The Princess has a right to medical privacy as we all do,' the statement said.

The appeal filed by Samantha Markle's lawyer this week

Samantha's lawyer, Peter Ticktin, pictured with longtime Donald Trump activist Roger Stone in 2022

The March decision spared Meghan from a trial which was set to take place at the court in Tampa in November.

Samantha has been seeking at least $75,000 for defamation and defamation by implication for Meghan suggesting to Oprah that she grew up as an only child.

Meghan also said that Samantha only changed her name back to Markle after she began dating Harry.

According to Samantha, Meghan made similar claims in the Netflix series and the allegations subjected her to 'humiliation, shame and hatred on a worldwide scale'.

In her 58-page ruling, Judge Honeywell said that Meghan's statements could not be defamatory because they are 'substantially true based on judicially noticed evidence' or 'not capable of being considered defamatory.'

Samantha had failed to 'plausibly allege that they are defamatory in the first place', the judge said.

The judge noted that Meghan's comments about her childhood was her 'merely opining' that she did not have a close relationship with Samantha, her half sister with whom she shares a father.

Judge Honeywell said that Samantha's claim that Meghan 'implied that (she) was a liar and a fame-seeker', was an 'improper mischaracterization' of what the Duchess said.

A judge dismissed Samantha Markle's defamation suit against her sister Meghan in March. Samantha was seeking damages in excess of $75,000

The decision in March saved the Sussexes, pictured here at the recent NAACP awards, from a trial in Florida that was set to begin in November 2024

Pictured: Meghan Markle at Samantha's graduation in 2008. Samantha, 59, has accused her famous sister of defamation by implication for Meghan suggesting to Oprah that she grew up as an only child

Turning to Meghan's statement that Samantha changed her name from Rasmussen, her married name, back to Markle after the Duchess began dating Harry, the judge said that 'the gist was true'.

She wrote: 'That Plaintiff used one last name and then the name Markle soon after reports of Defendant's relationship with Prince Harry were published is substantially true, based on the exhibits in the record, of which the Court has taken judicial notice.'

Among the statements in Samantha's claim was one by Harry in the Netflix series in which he said: 'Perhaps the most troubling part of this is the number of British journalists interacting with and amplifying the hate and the lies'.

But Judge Honeywell said: 'That this statement was included in the complaint is perplexing and suggests haste, a misunderstanding of the law, or a lack of diligence on the part of plaintiff's counsel.

'It is unclear how this statement could be defamatory towards Plaintiff, as it does not reference her'.

In her conclusion, Judge Honeywell wrote: 'Plaintiff's claims will be dismissed with prejudice, as she has failed to identify any statements that could support a claim for defamation or defamation-by-implication by this point, her third try at amending her complaint, in either the book Finding Freedom, the Netflix series Harry & Meghan, or Defendant and her husband's hour-long televised CBS Interview'.

The case was originally filed in March 2022 and in legal filings Samantha detailed at length how she was 'very close' to Meghan when they grew up in Los Angeles.

Samantha helped Meghan with her homework, took her shopping and had a 'wonderful relationship' with her, it was claimed.

But once Meghan began to become famous on the TV series Suits, she 'no longer had time' for Samantha and by 2016 they had stopped visiting each other, it was claimed.

The lawsuit claimed that once Meghan met Harry she became 'hostile' to Samantha as well as the rest of her family.

The 'defining moment' of Meghan's 'unwarranted hostility' towards Meghan happened in 2017 when the Duchess allegedly 'hung up the phone immediately' upon hearing Samantha's voice.

Samantha called back but 'to this day Meghan has never returned Samantha's phone call', she claimed.

Since then Meghan has 'belligerently attempted to malign Samantha and other family members', the lawsuit states.

Meghan's method is to 'terminate friendships, rather than save them, and for her to become hostile', the lawsuit claims.

Before her wedding in 2018, Meghan and Samantha's father Thomas Sr suffered two heart attacks but instead of showing him 'grace and compassion, she effectively terminated her relationship'.

Thomas Sr had been caught posing for photos with a paparazzi agency and Meghan has publicly claimed that she did not believe he was telling her the truth.

After that it is alleged that Meghan 'started her smear campaign and ongoing deluge of distorted facts and stories, complete with fake quotes about and 'by' Samantha'.

The lawsuit even claims that Meghan has 'encouraged hatred of Samantha through a bot network which caused great harm to Samantha'.

Samantha and Meghan have had a difficult relationship for years which exploded into public view after Meghan's engagement to Harry was announced in 2017.

Samantha was quoted by journalists as saying that 'The Queen would be appalled' and called her a 'ducha**' on Twitter.

In her memoir, titled 'The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister', Samantha claimed that Meghan ordered their father to disown his children from his first marriage if he wanted an invitation to her wedding.

According to the book, Meghan told Thomas Sr to divorce himself from her and her brother Thomas by saying: 'You don't need them!'

Thomas Sr refused and supposedly said: 'I love you all equally' to which Meghan replied: 'Why can't you just comply?'
A worker who helped deliver a baby in a 7-Eleven service station car park has been reunited with the bub and his family.

Sharyn Daley was working at Cheap as Chips discount store in Logan, Brisbane, on Friday when a man ran in screaming 'that a lady's about to have a baby'.

The assistant store manager grabbed a towel from a shelf and ran outside to help the woman who was in her car parked in the neighbouring 7-Eleven servo.

The baby's head was already crowning and the birth was over within seconds after quick-thinking Ms Daley arrived on the scene.

Fortunately the infant, named Winston, is now healthy and doing well after arriving 11 days early.

On Tuesday, Ms Daley met up with mother Sonia and the rest of the family.

Sharyn Daley, who helped deliver baby Winston in a 7-Eleven service station carpark has been reunited with the bub and his family (pictured together)

Mother Sonia went into labour 11 days early in the carpark of the neighbouring 7-Eleven (pictured)

'I got a cuddle. I got to kiss him on the forehead, cuddle Mum, Dad, they're so so happy,' she told A Current Affair.

'He is precious, he looks like he's grinning already, every time you touch his little cheek he's absolutely perfect.'

It is understood that moments after Ms Daley arrived on the scene, Winston's head was crowning and there was no time to make it to a hospital.

'(All I could think of was) just survival. Someone needed help. So, you just rush and do what you can and instincts take over,' Ms Daley told 7News.

She said the baby boy didn't look well when he was born.

'He was discoloured so I had to stimulate him and give him a rub and pat on the back,' Ms Daley told The Courier Mail.

Ms Daley (pictured) sprung into action on Friday, grabbing a towel off the shelf on her way to assist

'A few minutes went by and he started to move better and was squeezing my finger tight and his colour came back.'

After giving the baby back to his mum, Ms Daley then took off her right shoe and tied the shoelace around the umbilical cord.

She then took off her sock and placed the placenta inside, keeping it close to the baby.

An ambulance arrived and took the family to hospital before Ms Daley had a chance to ask for their names.
By Gwynne Dyer

There are plenty of crazies in Russian politics who make bizarre claims about their countrys victim status (the evil West made us do it) and issue blood-curdling but implausible threats about using nuclear weapons on their enemies. But the really dangerous ones are quite sane.

In the crazy group are men like Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church. Last week he declared that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a Holy War in which the Russian people, by defending the single spiritual space of Holy Rus, are protecting the world from the onslaught of globalism and the victory of the West, which has fallen into Satanism.

Kirill rose rapidly through the Church ranks in Soviet times because he loyally served the Communist Partys purposes. He then prospered mightily (net worth $4 billion) under Vladimir Putins rule by performing the same service for the new regime. But he probably is really crazy, because he appears to believe the nonsense he talks.

Dmitry Medvedev, Putins most trusted and longest-serving crony, also often sounds crazy: since the start of the war he has been the main source of Russian threats of nuclear war if things dont go well for Moscow in Ukraine. (He is currently the deputy head of the Russian Security Council, which controls the Ukrainian war at the strategic level.)

In February, for example, Medvedev warned that the Western alliance must not help Ukraine try to take back its Russian-occupied territories, since attempts to return Russia to the borders of 1991 will lead to... a global war with Western countries using the entire strategic (i.e. nuclear) arsenal of our state on Kyiv, Berlin, London, Washington.

And just in case the forces of Satan thought Russia was bluffing, Medvedev asked himself the key question: Will we have the courage to do this if the disappearance of a thousand-year-old country, our great Motherland, is at stake, and the sacrifices made by the people of Russia over the centuries will be in vain? He replied: The answer is obvious.

There is a huge logical leap between the actual outcome Medvedev is trying to deter ("return Russia to the borders of 1991") and the alleged consequences of having to give back the conquered Ukrainian land ("the disappearance of ...our great Motherland"). He was clearly aware that he had to bridge that gap with rhetoric. He is therefore really sane.

Sane is worse, because it means that the regimes leading figures and their propagandists have accepted that the regimes survival (deliberately conflated with the survival of the Russian state and people) now depends on destroying the basic rule that has kept the great powers more or less at peace with one another for the past 79 years.

That rule says that henceforward borders may not be changed by force. Conquest used to be legal and was the motive for most of the wars in history. But the new rule was written into the U.N. Charter in 1945, and subsequently made even more explicit in the Final Act of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1975 (both signed by Moscow).

Some territories do still change hands by force, but the rule has been surprisingly effective because almost every country abides by the principle that nobody should recognise such conquests as legitimate. East Timor eventually got its independence back from Indonesia. Almost nobody recognizes the Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem. Et cetera.

Its not the crazies we have to worry about. Its coldly rational nationalists like Medvedev and chief propagandist Vladimir Solovyov, who now argues that the great project of extending Russias borders to include all lands and peoples that Moscow defines as "Russian" requires the destruction of this basic rule.

Solovyov, a "journalist" who serves as a trusted mouthpiece for Putins regime, is now pointing out on his TV talk show, the most watched in Russia, that Borders have always been violated. That's the historical reality.

All sorts of accidental formations incapable of their own statehood may not survive this era, he says. By that, I mean the Baltic states and all of Europe. I don't think that the European borders in their current configuration will continue to exist much longer.

Solovyov is not stupid. He understands the parallel between Hitlers mistaken belief that Britain and France would not respond to his invasion of Poland in 1939 and Putins blunder in believing that NATO would not oppose his invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But he defends it anyway.

This kind of talk would not happen on Russian television if the Kremlin didnt want it to. Unfortunately, if the concept of inviolable borders is scrapped, especially when the great powers are involved, then we are heading straight back to 1939.

Gwynne Dyers new book "Intervention Earth" is an examination of the (terrifying) state of play in the climate game and a proposal for how to proceed.
Europe's highest human rights court has ruled that countries including Britain must protect their citizens from the consequences of climate change, in a landmark ruling that sided with a group of 2,000 Swiss women against their government.

The case could open the door for more legal challenges from eco activists across the continent, including in the UK, where campaigners have been to court in recent months to fight the government on its climate policies.

Greta Thunberg was in the courtroom as the The European Court of Human Rights ruling was announced. 'These rulings are a call to action. They underscore the importance of taking our national governments to court,' the 21-year-old Swede said.

Although activists have had successes with lawsuits in domestic proceedings, this was the first time an international court ruled on climate change - and the first ruling confirming that countries have an obligation to protect people from its effects, experts have said.

'This is a turning point,' said Corina Heri, a climate change litigation expert at the University of Zurich. She said it would enable more legal challenges in countries that are Council of Europe members, which includes the EU, Britain and many other countries.

Celebrity climate activist Greta Thunberg was in the courtroom as the The European Court of Human Rights ruling was announced

Rosmarie Wyder-Walti and Anne Mahrer, of the Swiss elderly women group Senior Women for Climate Protection, attend the hearing of the court for the ruling in the climate case

The case could pave the way for more legal challenges from eco activists across the continent, including in the UK, experts have said. Pictured: Just Stop Oil protesters in London last year

A series of high profile legal challenges have been lodged against the UK government recently, including by TV star Chris Packham, who applied for a judicial review of the government's plans to ditch the timetable for phasing out petrol and diesel cars.

In a separate case, environmentalists recently returned to the high court claiming that previous judgments forcing the government to change its climate policies were not sufficient, and today's decision is likely to embolden green policy critics.

The ECHR rejected two other, similar cases - a high-profile one brought by Portuguese young people and another by a French mayor that sought to force governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But those plaintiffs still rejoiced, saying the Swiss case sets a legal precedent in the Council of Europe's 46 member states against which future lawsuits will be judged.

'The most important thing is that the court has said in the Swiss women's case that governments must cut their emissions more to protect human rights,' said 19-year-od Sofia Oliveira, one of the Portuguese plaintiffs. 'So, their win is a win for us, too, and a win for everyone.'

The Swiss women were overjoyed as they descended to the court building's foyer to cheers and applause. 'I am overwhelmed at the result,' Pia Hollenstein, one of the women, said after the hearing.

The court - which is unrelated to the European Union - faulted Switzerland for not giving sufficient protection to the Senior Women for Climate Protection, whose average age is 74 and who argued that older women are most vulnerable to the extreme heat that is becoming more frequent.

Anton Foley, climate justice activist with Fridays For Future, Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and Rosmarie Wydler-Walti, of Senior Women for Climate Protection

The Swiss women were overjoyed as they descended to the court building's foyer to cheers and applause

The court said the country 'had failed to comply with its duties' to combat climate change and meet emissions targets.

That, the court ruled, constituted a violation of the women's rights, noting that the European Convention on Human Rights guarantees people 'effective protection by the state authorities from the serious adverse effects of climate change on their lives, health, well-being and quality of life'.

Switzerland said it would study the decision to see what steps would be needed. 'We have to, in good faith, implement and execute the judgment,' said Alain Chablais, who represented the country at last year's hearings.

Judge Siofra O'Leary, the court's president, stressed that it would be up to governments to decide how to approach climate change obligations.

People demonstrate outside the European Court of Human Rights Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France

Lawyers for all three cases decided on Tuesday had hoped the Strasbourg court would find that national governments have a legal duty to make sure global warming is held to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, in line with the goals of the Paris climate agreement.

As part of meeting those goals, the European Union, which does not include Switzerland, currently has a target to be climate-neutral by 2050.

But activists have argued that many governments have not grasped the gravity of the problem - and are increasingly looking to the courts to force more action.

The Earth shattered global annual heat records in 2023, flirted with the world's agreed-upon warming threshold, and showed more signs of a feverish planet, Copernicus, a European climate agency, said in January.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, second left, joins youths from Portugal during a demonstration outside the European Court of Human Rights

While many celebrated Tuesday's decision, the mixed ruling left some confusion - and it could undermine a previous ruling in the Netherlands.

In 2019, the Dutch Supreme Court ordered the government to cut emissions by at least 25 per cent by the end of 2020 from benchmark 1990 levels.

'The first ruling by an international human rights court on the inadequacy of states' climate action leaves no doubt,' said Joie Chowdhury, senior attorney with the Centre for International Environmental Law, 'the climate crisis is a human rights crisis.'
A former restaurateur has been charged with the murder of Nebraska teen whose stabbed and dismembered body was found burned beyond recognition in the Arizona desert.

Anthonie Ruinard Jr., 38, is accused of killing Parker League, 18, and dumping his body in a pit at Tonto National Park last year. A motive has not yet been disclosed.

Ruinard, originally from Chandler, was arrested in July and has now been indicted by a grand jury on second-degree murder and abandonment or concealment of a dead body.

League had just graduated high school and flew to Arizona on June 9 to visit friends in Tempe, according to his family.

Just three days later, his charred body was found at the bottom of a bonfire with investigators relying on dental records to identify him.

A former restaurateur has been charged with the murder of Nebraska teen Parker League, 18, (pictured) whose remains were found in an Arizona desert in June 2023

Anthonie Ruinard Jr., 38, is accused of killing League, 18, and dumping his body in a pit at Tonto National Park

The teen had been stabbed and dismembered before his body burned beyond recognition, investigators said

League was last seen alive on surveillance footage leaving a gas station with Ruinard on June 11.

Investigators say they identified Ruinard as a suspect using other video where League's credit and debit cards were used.

They added that the victim's blood was then discovered in the trunk and on the rear bumper of a vehicles seized from Ruinard's property.

The suspect told investigators that League had sold him debit cards for $500 which he then threw away.

Court records show he admitted to using cocaine and marijuana prior to meeting League.

'Experienced homicide prosecutors in my office combed through nearly 4,000 pages of material submitted in this homicide case. After five months of careful review, we were able to secure this indictment,' said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.

'This is the next step in bringing justice to Parker League and his family.'

League's family spoke of their devastation at the time of his disappearance.

League was last seen alive on surveillance footage leaving a gas station with Ruinard on June 11

'It's hard to accept because he was the nicest kid in the world,' his brother Hunter League, told ABC15.

'I got a call from my dad telling me to come home. I asked him 'why' about three times and the third time he tried to explain it, he just started breaking down.'

Ruinard's trial is set to begin in July 2024.
Rishi Sunak today blasted pro-Palestinian activists after they targeted the family home of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

The Prime Minister condemned the stunt, by three members of the Youth Demand group, after they demonstrated outside Sir Keir's property around lunchtime today.

'I don't care what your politics are, no MP should be harassed at their own home,' Mr Sunak said. 'We cannot and will not tolerate this.'

Home Secretary James Cleverly also slammed the 'unacceptable' protest, saying: 'There is no excuse for harassing and intimidating politicians and their families in their homes.'

The Metropolitan Police later confirmed they had made three arrests as a senior Scotland Yard officer said it was 'completely unacceptable for protest to take place in the vicinity of a politician's home'.

The condemnation of Youth Demand's actions came amid heightened concerns over the security of MPs, many of who have faced threats over their stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Pro-Palestinian activists also recently targeted the family home of Tory ex-minister Tobias Ellwood, while fellow Conservative MP Mike Freer suffered an arson attack on his constituency office.

Mr Sunak himself saw Greenpeace activists clamber onto the roof of his property in Yorkshire last year.

Rishi Sunak blasted pro-Palestinian activists after they targeted the family home of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer

Home Secretary James Cleverly also slammed the 'unacceptable' protest, saying: 'There is no excuse for harassing and intimidating politicians and their families in their homes.'

Youth Demand are linked to fellow activist group Just Stop Oil, who have been heavily criticised over their call for eco-zealots to target MPs in their homes as part of protests against new North Sea oil and gas licences.

In today's protest at Sir Keir's home, three members of Youth Demand hung a banner - which read 'Starmer - Stop the Killing' - over the Labour leader's front hedge and unfurled the Palestinian flag.

The group also placed children's shoes - representing the deaths of children in Gaza, - up the pathway leading to the front door of the north London property.

Youth Demand want Labour to commit to a 'two-way' arms embargo on Israel, and to ending all future licensing for the production of fossil fuels in Britain.

Ella Ward, a 21-year-old environmental science student from Leeds, was among the trio of protesters outside Sir Keir's home.

She said: 'In normal circumstances it would be seen as crossing a line to show up at someone's house, but these are not normal circumstances and we can't continue with business as usual.

'I'm taking action to call on Starmer to commit to stopping the killing.

'I see Starmer's humanity so I'm calling on him to act with compassion by committing to stop the UK from selling weapons to a country committing genocide, and to stop licencing oil and gas.

'Lives are already being lost to climate breakdown and millions more are on the line.'

Daniel Flo Formentin, 24, a musician from Leeds, and Zosia Lewis, 23, a cafe worker from Newcastle, were the other activists to target Sir Keir's family home.

Three members of Youth Demand hung a banner - which read 'Starmer - Stop the Killing' - over the Labour leader's front hedge

Two of the trio unfurled the Palestinian flag outside Sir Keir's family home in north London

The group also placed children's shoes - representing the deaths of children in Gaza - up the pathway leading to the front door of Sir Keir's home

Activists calling for an arms embargo on Israel sprayed Labour's headquarters with red paint on Monday

The Met Police's deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan said: 'Politicians and their families should be able to go about their daily lives without feeling threatened or intimidated.

'It's completely unacceptable for protest to take place in the vicinity of a politician's home.

'There are plenty of appropriate places to protest in London, anyone who chooses to target a private home can expect to be dealt with by officers.

'In line with that approach officers have made three arrests today under section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

'This power stops the harassment of a person at their home address if an officer suspects it is causing alarm or distress to the occupant.'

Youth Demand's latest demonstration followed the arrest of 12 people on suspicion of criminal damage after activists calling for an arms embargo on Israel sprayed Labour's headquarters with red paint on Monday.

The group said three of its supporters had sprayed the outside of Labour's head office while another painted the lobby.

Scotland Yard said officers were called to an incident in Rushworth Street at 2.18pm and arrived within two minutes.
Hundreds of mourners dressed in green descended on Cardiff today for a Rolls Royce-led procession in memory of one of the city's most renowned travellers.

James Coffey - known fondly as Jim or 'Big Daddy' - died last month aged 68, after being diagnosed with cancer which had spread to his brain.

His friends and family took over the Welsh capital today for his funeral, which included a host of quirky floral tributes marking his favourite things - such as a bottle of baileys, a Greggs store and his lucky lottery numbers.

One of the most stunning tributes was an image of a stairway to heaven and depictions of Jim in the clouds with his late wife Agnes and their 14-year-old daughter Helen, who died suddenly in an accident in 2006.

Jim's gold coffin was taken out from the service to My Way by Frank Sinatra, and driven to his burial plot at Western Cemetery by one of nine Rolls Royce vehicles decorated in Irish flags.

The well-attended procession and service led to wide-spread disruption across the city, following earlier warnings by South Wales Police, as members of the wider traveller community came to pay their respects.

Jim had 23 grandchildren and was known as 'Big Daddy' because being called 'granddad'' made him feel old. He was recognised for his work ethic and his dedication to his family, as well as his passion for his Irish heritage.

People from the traveller community come together in Cardiff, Wales, to pay their respects to James Coffey - who died on March 21, aged 68. Some male mourners wore navy jumpers which read 'G Davies Paving', a paving company which Jim owned

Stunning floral tributes of Jim's favourite things - including a bottle of Baileys (centre) and his lucky lottery numbers (left) - were laid out at the service in Western Cemetery in Ely

Jim's coffin was carried out of the church and into one of nine Rolls Royce vehicles decorated in Irish flags

Another floral tribute to one of Jim's favourite things - a Greggs store - was displayed next to the well-loved traveller's coffin

Jim was born in Birmingham but spent much of his childhood travelling before his family settled at Leckwith Common in Cardiff.

Until 1998 he was still travelling regularly, but then did so less frequently because of increased restrictions for travellers.

He permanently lived on a yard at Wentloog Road in the city which consists of some strikingly brilliant prefab-like homes, none more so than Jim's which has statues of lions on the large drive and is known as 'the chalet'.

The funeral service, conducted by Rev Dr Sebastian Jones at St Alban on the Moors in Splott, which Jim was connected to for decades and where he married Agnes a year after they met at the Philharmonic pub in 1976, was followed by a celebration of his life at the cemetery.

He is now sharing the plot with Agnes, or 'Big Mommy', who was considered the matriarch of the huge Coffey family until she died in 2022.

Traditional Irish songs were sung while a big screen showed Jim alongside his family and friends.

His coffin was surrounded by pictures of him with his family and read 'Our Daddy, one of a kind'.

Some male mourners wore navy jumpers which read 'G Davies Paving', a paving company which Jim owned after buying the name randomly online, despite having no connection to it.

They also wore green and white Irish scarves which they threw on the coffin after it had been lowered into its plot at Western Cemetery in Ely.

Jim's coffin was carried out of the church to My Way by Frank Sinatra

Photo tributes to Jim at the cemetery

A floral display scene at the cemetery which read 'Be Good, Be Kind, Be Lucky'

Four Green Fields by Brian Roebuck, Every Beat of My Heart by Rod Stewart, Grandpa (Tell me 'Bout the Good Old Days) by The Judds, Now You Belong to Heaven by Mari Olsen Onsoien, and I Did My Part by Randy Travis were played throughout the day.

Jim's daughter Bridget said: 'My father was the sort of man who wouldn't let anything drag him down.

'If he had pain he wouldn't go to the doctor. He would say the best cure is a can of John Smith's or a can of Guinness.

Every night after work he would sit at his table, smoke his cigarette and drink ten cans of John Smith's. At midnight he'd have his dinner that Agnes made him. Then he'd be up bright and early to leave for work at 7am.'

Jim was devastated by his wife's death from cancer in 2022 but Bridget said continuing to work as a groundworker and setting an example for his sons and grandsons was important to him.

A model of Jim's home at Wentloog Road, which was fondly known as 'The Chalet' was taken from the wake to the graveside

Floral wheelbarrow tribute left by Jim's grave

More floral tributes celebrating Jim's life as a respected member of the traveller community

At Christmas 2022, Jim was diagnosed with cancer which had spread to several parts of his body.

Three weeks after a major operation he had an appointment at the Velindre Cancer Centre where his doctor told him he had six months to live at most, saying: 'We'd advise you not to have chemotherapy, but if you want it, we'll give it to you.'

Jim's response was: 'Let's give it a go.'

Bridget said he 'sailed' through the treatment and would go straight from a round of chemo to a shift of groundworking.

'My father carried on his normal working from 7am until 9pm. Even in winter he'd be back home at about 8.30pm. He loved to be busy and he had the strongest willpower I've ever known. The doctors and nurses were amazed by him.

'After seven months, the doctor asked him how he was and he cracked a joke: "I've passed my six-month MOT.."

'He died on March 21, more than 14 months after his terminal diagnosis. He was still working two weeks before he died, and still enjoying Guinness, Baileys and cards with his family two days before he died. 'He fought to the very end.

'He was like a role model to his family, a legacy who built a better life for his children.'
The SNP-led Scottish Government has quietly banned the inclusion of wood-burning stoves in new-build houses - sparking fears for pensioners and remote Highland communities relying on off-grid forms of heating.

Planning guidance published at the start of April outlaws the installation of 'direct emission heating systems' - referring to stoves, oil heaters and gas boilers - in new homes across the country, including rural and island communities.

But it came to pass with zero fanfare and only came to the attention of the SNP's own MSPs this week, including Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch representative Kate Forbes - a one-time challenger against Humza Yousaf for the First Minister job.

The government says the plans were widely consulted on - but a planning consultancy in the Highlands said 'little regard' had been paid to those in rural communities, some of whom are not connected to the gas mains.

The new rules, updated on April 1 - the same day as the much-maligned hate crime bill came into effect - mean woodburning stoves and other fossil-fuel based heat sources can no longer be the main source in new homes.

Wood-burning stoves can no longer be included in new-build housing projects in Scotland after a ban was quietly introduced earier this month

The SNP-led government (led by First Minister Humza Yousaf, above) says the plans were 'widely consulted on' but the move appears to have caught some of its own MSPs off-guard

The SNP's Kate Forbes, one-time challenger for the First Minister role and the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said she was seeking 'urgent clarification on the rules'

The change to the rules for new-build properties were first detailed by Scottish Highlands architecture firm Macarc, which said 'little regard' had been paid to rural dwellers

The change to the rules for new-build properties were first detailed by Scottish Highlands architecture firm Macarc, which took to X, formerly Twitter, to detail the changes to the rules.

It said: 'Woodburning stoves have now been banned by the Scottish Government.

'From 1 April 2024 (last Monday), fossil and bio fuel heating systems will not be permitted in newbuild construction.

READ MORE: SNP set to penalise homeowners with fresh 'ridiculous' policy that will prevent Scottish people with gas boilers from selling their homes Advertisement

'As well as oil and gas heating, log boilers will be banned, as will solid fuel and woodburning stoves.

'What was until last week a sustainable, renewable heat source, will be outlawed.

'As well as removing an essential backup source of heat for many, off-grid properties will no longer be able to use wood stoves. Woodland crofts will not be able to use their own timber.'

The news provoked outrage, as many properties in rural Scotland are not connected to the gas grid and rely on off-grid heat sources such as wood and oil for heat.

Ms Forbes, responding to the post, said: 'This has just been brought to my attention by more than a few concerned Highlanders who heat their homes (as thousands do) using woodburning stoves, especially older residents who rely on them during a time of crippling energy price rises.'

But it marks a continued push by the Scottish Government to move away from fossil fuels altogether - as the ban also covers traditional gas boilers, which must now be replaced with 'zero direct emission' gear such as electric boilers or heat pumps.

The rules do not apply to extensions in existing houses built before April 1, and exemptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for conversions of existing properties.

But the government has dismissed one claim by the planning firm that wood-burning stoves cannot function as a backup heat source in the event of an emergency.

The guidelines state that fossil fuels can be used for 'emergency heating' - but adds that it must be justified by anyone applying to include it in any new-build building warrant applications, the process by which construction is signed off in Scotland.

Forbes, having said earlier she would seek 'urgent clarification' on the matter, has since spoken of her relief at the news that homes can still have the stoves as a back-up where a 'need can be justified', as the government has put it.

However, she still criticised the way in which the consultation and decision-making had been carried out.

'Bottom line is its another debate that reveals how policy (and discourse) for laudable aims risks unintended consequences for rural residents who are still to build, acquire or revamp a home going forward,' she said on X.

And there are concerns that, in the long term, Highland businesses specialising in the maintenance of wood-burning stoves and other 'old' ways of heating homes, as well as those supplying timber, will have no future.

Zero carbon buildings minister Patrick Harvie said the government was not forcing people to 'rip out their woodburner'

Harvie (pictured) took to X, formerly Twitter, to make clear wood-burning stoves could still be installed in new-builds as an emergency heat source

The updated rules, introduced on April 1, have also brought in a ban on gas boilers in new-build houses (pictured: a gas boiler thermostat)

The Scottish Government says new-build projects must make use of 'zero direct emission' heat sources such as heat pumps (pictured: two air source heat pumps)

But rural communities - including the community-owned Isle of Eigg - say the plans will put some businesses at risk and spell 'disaster'

Residents on the community-owned Isle of Eigg have branded the plans a 'disaster', saying that wood-burning stoves are 'practical and cheap to fit' compared to heat pumps and other 'zero direct emission' devices.

The island's representatives added: 'They (stoves) provide hot water in winter when solar thermal can't. Island timber harvesting provides local affordable fuel & jobs.'

And asked if they had been aware of the plans to give stoves the boot, they told one social media user they had 'no inkling' of the impending change.

FACT BOX TITLE Fact-box text Advertisement

Zero carbon buildings minister and Scottish Greens MSP Patrick Harvie took to X to tear up claims that residents of Scotland would be 'forced to rip out their woodburner'.

He wrote: 'It has nothing to do with existing heating systems, or replacements that aren't part of a building conversion. There are exemptions for emergency heating systems too.'

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Heating our homes and buildings represents about a fifth of Scotland's carbon emissions so tackling the climate emergency requires us to address these emissions.

'Proposals in the New Build Heat Standard, which came into force from 1 April 2024, were widely consulted on in 2021 and again in 2022.

'Both consultations showed strong support for the new Standard. The changes mean that new homes and buildings do not contribute to climate emissions, by banning the use of polluting heating systems such as oil and gas boilers, and bioenergy  including woodburning stoves.

'Existing homes are completely unaffected as the standard will not apply to the installation of heating in homes and buildings built before 2024.

'Wood burning stoves and other heating systems that cause emissions can also still be installed in new homes to provide emergency heating, where a need can be justified  responding to feedback from rural communities.

'Separately, the Scottish Government has recently finished consulting on plans for introducing clean heating systems in existing homes and buildings and is currently considering responses.

'This included proposals around the use of bioenergy and measures to prohibit the use of polluting heating systems in all buildings after 2045.'
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene escalated her war with Speaker Mike Johnson Tuesday after sending a letter detailing his shortcomings to her colleagues

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene escalated her feud with Mike Johnson after sending a blistering letter to her Republican colleagues stating that if the Speaker does not make changes the 'self-inflicted destruction' of the Republican party, his ouster will soon follow.

Greene has been a frequent and loud critic of Johnson's short stint as Speaker and began the process to oust him from leadership at the end of March.

The Georgia Republican, outraged at how Johnson pushed through two government spending measures that totaled over $1.5 trillion, filed a motion to vacate the Speaker while votes for the spending measures were ongoing on the House floor.

On Tuesday, the firebrand launched another salvo at the speaker in the form of a five-page memo to her Republican colleagues, outlining her case against Johnson and why the GOP needs new leadership if he does not reverse course immediately.

'With so much at stake for our future and the future of our children, I will not tolerate this type of Republican 'leadership,'' Greene wrote in the memo.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., told reporters that filing the motion to vacate the speaker was 'a warning' to Johnson. Now, she is continuing to attack the leader, sending a five-page memo to her GOP colleagues outlining how if Johnson does not correct course the party should not tolerate him

'This has been a complete and total surrender to, if not complete and total lockstep with, the Democrats' agenda that has angered our Republican base so much and given them very little reason to vote for a Republican House majority.'

'And if these actions by the leader of our conference continue, then we are not a Republican party we are a Uniparty that is hell-bent on remaining on the path of self-inflicted destruction,' she continued.

'I will neither support nor take part in any of that, and neither will the people we represent.'

The letter serves as another warning to Johnson who could be swiftly removed by just a handful of GOP discontents just like his predecessor former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy was last fall.

Greene previously said her threat to remove Johnson was 'a warning,' adding he should not neglect the more conservative ranks of his caucus as he did with the spending measures.

Republicans largely saw the later of the two funding packages as a pork-loaded pet project that benefitted Democrats.

In fact, more Democrats voted for the second of the two measures despite Johnson working for months to craft them, something Greene notes in her memo.

'Relying on majority Democrat support to pass a two-part omnibus was not 'advancing a policy agenda supported by Conference consensus,' Greene wrote.

'That is why I will not tolerate our elected Republican Speaker Mike Johnson serving the Democrats and the Biden administration and helping them achieve their policies that are destroying our country.'

'He is throwing our own razor-thin majority into chaos by not serving his own GOP conference that elected him.'

'Nothing says shooting within our own tent like a Republican Speaker of the House who makes his rank-and-file Members vote to fund full-term abortion in order to pay our military soldiers.'

Speaker Mike Johnson's job in leadership is in flux as members like Greene threaten to oust him for not achieving GOP victories

Greene also argues that removing Johnson from leadership would not thrust the party into chaos as it did after the removal of McCarthy.

Back then it took weeks for the GOP to find an appropriate replacement, leaving the chamber paralyzed and temporarily unable to perform their basic duties.

'No, electing a new Republican Speaker will not give the majority to the Democrats,' Greene said.

'That only happens if more Republicans retire early, or Republicans actually vote for Hakeem Jeffries. It's not complicated, it's simple math.'

But whether she acts on her measure to oust Johnson is still up in the air.

She and likeminded conservatives have warned the speaker not to bring foreign aid funding for Ukraine to the floor for a vote, saying the U.S. border criss must first be addressed before dolling out dough to wars abroad.

However, pleas from the White House, Ukrainian President Zelensky, Democrats and moderate Republicans to vote on aid for the embattled country are also putting Johnson in a tricky position.

'Mike Johnson is publicly saying funding Ukraine is now his top priority when less than 7 months ago he was against it,' Greene said.

Greene and more conservative Republicans are against additional funding for Ukraine, putting Speaker Johnson in a tricky position as GOP moderates, Democrats and the White House are pushing for additional aid for the war

'The American people disagree they believe our border is the only border worth fighting a war over, and I agree with them.'

'What is the future of our party and our country if Republicans continue to lay down and do nothing to stop the Democrats?'

'No, the answer is not next time, or next appropriations, or next Congress,' Greene wrote.

'There are no more excuses.'
A rare first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone with several misprints including JK Rowling's name will be auctioned tomorrow starting at 64,000 ($80,000).

Only 500 copies of the debut Harry Potter novel were printed in the first run, with 300 given to libraries and schools and 200 to private parties.

They all contain the same typos, including the words 'one wand' printed twice on a list of items Harry needs for Hogwarts on page 53. JK Rowling's name also appears as 'Joanne Rowling'.

The book, which originally retailed for 10.99, has been consigned by a prominent Harry Potter collector at auctioneers Bonhams New York.

A Bonhams New York spokesperson said: 'This is a first edition, first printing of the book that gave life to the beloved wizard of Hogwarts.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone paved the way to Harry Potter mania across the world with six sequels, 500 million copies sold and hit movie adaptations starring Daniel Radcliffe

Only 500 copies of the debut Harry Potter novel were printed in the first run, with 300 given to libraries and schools and 200 to private parties

The first edition copies were printed in 1997 and they all contain the same 'typos'- including author JK Rowling receiving the credit Joanne

The first editions have massively gained in value over the years and the world record price for a mint first edition is 356,000

'It has created a cultural phenomenon that continues today.'

Darren Sutherland, senior specialist in fine books and manuscripts, added: 'There were only 500 total hard covers of the first edition produced, and most of those were for libraries so are not in private hands.

'This copy is from the collection of Dale Bullard, who collected a variety of Harry Potter materials, including many different issues, complete sets, as well as the wider field of Potteriana.'

In June 2022, two sisters who were gifted a first edition 25 years ago sold their copy for a British record 220,800.

The world record price paid for a first edition is a staggering 356,000, which was achieved in Dallas, US, in December 2021.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has sold over 120million copies to date. It paved the way for Harry Potter mania across the world with six sequels, 500 million copies sold and hit movie adaptations starring Daniel Radcliffe.

One error is 'one wand' being printed twice on a list of items Harry needs for Hogwarts on page 53

The sale will take place on Wednesday.

How can you spot a true Harry Potter first edition? Only around 500 first edition copies of JK Rowling's first Harry Potter novel were printed, with 300 sent to schools and libraries. Like this anonymous seller's copy, a true first edition is laden with a specific series of errors. Past stating it is a 'first edition, first impression' from no later than 1997, the book will also have: - The issue number on the copyright page reads '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'; - '1 wand' appears twice in a list on p.53; - 'Philosopher's' is misspelled as 'Philospher's' on the rear cover; - 'Witchcraft and Wizardry' is incorrectly written 'Wizardry and Witchcraft' on the rear cover. Advertisement

This book is one of the remaining 200 private copies left which are regarded as the 'holy grail' for collectors.

There are various ways to identify a Philosopher's Stone first issue, published by Bloomsbury in 1997.

There is a well-known duplication of '1 wand' in a list of items Harry Potter must take to Hogwarts on page 53.

There are a couple of misspellings in the book, including 'Philospher's' on the rear cover.

But most importantly, the issue number on the copyright page must read '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'.

The sale comes as it was recently revealed that Rowling has made amends with Warner Brothers ahead of a new TV series based on Harry Potter.

Rowling was notably absent from a 2022 Warner Bros. special commemorating the 20th anniversary of the first Harry Potter film's release.

That sparked speculation of a rupture with Warner Bros. top brass, but insiders insist nothing could be further from the truth.

CEO David Zaslav flew to Edinburgh in Scotland to meet with Rowling on being appointed to the top job in April 2022.

He and his team hope to turn the Harry Potter books into a lavish TV series that could be the most expensive ever produced and create a whole new generation of viewers for the fantasy series.

Zaslav attempted to bond with Rowling - few in the WB universe had her ear prior to his takeover - by discussing their childhoods and families in London as he attempts to 'breathe new life' into her beloved book series, according to WSJ.

Rowling is known to be deeply protective of the franchise, notoriously holding biannual 'Ministry of Magic' meetings where she talks to executives - who spend weeks preparing ideas - about what the universe can and can't do for the future

On an earnings call held Friday, the executive said Max is aiming to debut the new show in the first quarter of 2026, Variety reported. It is rumored to have a budget of $250 million, making it the most expensive TV program ever made.

The CEO confirmed on that call that he and a delegation of Warner execs had met with Rowling just weeks earlier.

Rowling is known to be deeply protective of the franchise, notoriously holding biannual 'Ministry of Magic' meetings where she talks to executives - who spend weeks preparing ideas - about what the universe can and can't do for the future.

She was also granted veto over any 'non-author written sequels' to the series in film and TV that has likely slowed the upcoming series by several years.

Rowling gave the planned series nod of approval when the show was announced in April, saying: 'Max's commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me.'

It's part of a continuing world of projects involving her wizards, which include theme parks across the world, a stage show on Broadway and the West End, stores in most major cities and video games, with one based on the fictional game of Quidditch in development.

In recent weeks Rowling's outspoken views on transgender ideology have been making headlines worldwide following Scotland's new hate crime laws which some campaigners worry will impinge on free speech.
New York City, touted as the country's safest city by mayor Eric Adams, has seen two stabbings on its public transportation in just 24 hours.

A man was stabbed in the back on Sunday afternoon on a Queens-bound E train at the 53rd Street and Lexington Avenue station.

The victim was taken to the hospital where he is listed in stable condition.

Three male suspects who fled the scene have not been apprehended, per the NYPD.

Less than a day later, a 60-year-old man was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver aboard an MTA bus in the Bronx on Monday.

A man was stabbed in the back on Sunday afternoon on a Queens-bound E train at the 53rd Street and Lexington Avenue station

A 60-year-old man was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver aboard an MTA bus in the Bronx on Monday. Gruesome images of the scene showed a puddle of blood on the bus' floor

Police say the attacker became enraged because the victim was playing drums on his lap, as reported by the New York Post.

Gruesome images of the scene showed a puddle of blood on the bus' floor.

The victim is in stable condition at St. Barnabas Hospital.

His attacker, believed to be a man in his 20s, fled the scene and has not been detained.

New York City Police Department commissioner Edward Caban appeared on NBC News NOWs Top Story with Tom Llamas on Tuesday to discuss the wave of unprovoked violence in the city.

Caban said crime is trending down in the city, but not quickly enough, due to repeat offenders.

'We're seeing that we're locking up the same people over and over again,' he said, adding that bail reform laws have been ineffective.

'We lock someone up and the district attorney puts bail on them, the judges let them go to walk our streets again... its a broken system,' the cop added.

While crime was down overall ion the first quarter of 2024, a series of highly publicized have made New Yorkers question the data.

The attacker, believed to be a man in his 20s, fled the scene and has not been detained

It comes as Democrat mayor Adams claimed the Big Apple is the 'safest big city in America,' just days after a horrific train shooting

Murders, burglaries and grand larcenies have dipped, but some types of crime have increased over the last month when compared to March 2023, including rape and felony assaults.

It comes as Democrat mayor Adams claimed the Big Apple is the 'safest big city in America,' just days after a horrific train shooting.

'This is the safest big city in America. We inherited a city where crime was up 40 percent, that's not the reality. Our subways are safe  this is great,' Adams said at the city's St. Patrick's Day parade.

Last month NYPD officer Jonathan Diller, 31, was gunned down while asking a driver why he had parked at a bus stop in Queens.

His alleged killer, 34-year-old Guy Rivera, had been repeatedly jailed for drug and violent offenses and was arrested on a gun charge as recently as April of last year just yards away.

NYC is also dealing with a massive influx of migrant and asylum seeker, with several high-profile cases of asylum seekers involved in shootings and other violent crime.

Officer Jonathan Diller, 31, of New York's 105th precinct was just three years into the job

Suspect Guy Rivera was shot at the scene by Officer Diller's colleague and taken to the same Queen's hospital as the fatally injured officer

Governor Kathy Hochul said last month she would task 750 members of the National Guard with helping patrol the nations busiest subway system, saying she felt New York City police need reinforcements after a shooting on a train platform and a conductor getting slashed in the neck.

Hochul acknowledged that calling in the National Guard was as much about soothing fears and making a political statement as it was about making mass transit safer. The citys subways were already safe, the Democrat reasoned, but a show of force might help dispel anxieties more than any statistic.

Major crimes in the New York City transit system dropped nearly 3 percent from 2022 to 2023, with five killings last year, down from 10 the year prior, according to police.

Overall, violent crime in the subway system is rare, with train cars and stations being generally as safe as any other public place.
Ireland's parliament today voted in Simon Harris as the country's new prime minister, replacing Leo Varadkar after he abruptly quit last month citing personal and political reasons.

Harris, 37, will become Ireland's youngest-ever prime minister when he is formally installed in the role at a ceremony with President Michael D. Higgins.

The centre-right Fine Gael party - part of a three-party governing coalition - selected Harris as its leader following an uncontested election after Varadkar's resignation.

Parliamentarians on Tuesday voted 88 to 69 in favour of him becoming 'taoiseach' - a Gaelic word for 'chieftain' or 'leader'.

On accepting the nomination, Harris told parliament: 'I commit to doing everything that I can to honour the trust that you have placed in me today.

'This is very much a partnership government and I intend to lead us in the spirit of unity, collaboration and mutual respect,' he said, watched on by his wife and children.

'I want to bring new ideas and new energy and I hope a new empathy to public life. Time is certainly short, and there's a lot to do,' Harris added.

Ireland's parliament today voted in Simon Harris (centre right) as the country's new prime minister

On accepting the nomination, Harris (pictured right with Irish President Michael D Higgins) told parliament: 'I commit to doing everything that I can to honour the trust that you have placed in me today'

New Taoiseach Simon Harris meets Irish President Michael D Higgins

Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar arrives for the second day of an EU Summit in the Europa building, the EU Council headquarter on March 22, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium, two days after announcing his resignation

Varadkar, who was in his second stint as prime minister and at 45 is still one of Europe's youngest leaders, said when he resigned that he felt he was no longer the 'best person' to lead the country.

The outgoing leader, who himself was the youngest taoiseach when elected, on Tuesday said that he 'always knew' Harris would fill the top job.

'This has perhaps come a little bit sooner than he might have planned or expected. But I know he will rise to the occasion,' said Varadkar.

'He has the empathy, energy, experience, campaigning skills and political antenna to take us forward.'

Harris's crowning as prime minister caps a meteoric political rise.

He joined the youth branch of Fine Gael at the age of 16 and quickly rose through its ranks.

A county councillor at the age of 22, he was elected to parliament in 2011 as a 24-year-old.

At the time he was the youngest MP and was nicknamed 'Baby of the Dail' (Irish parliament).

He was appointed health minister in 2016 aged just 29 and higher education minister in 2020.

Even critics concede he is a talented communicator.

Harris's prominence on social media, especially TikTok, has made him one of the most visible politicians in Ireland.

Harris will become the country's youngest premier at the age of 37

Harris is seen speaking to media in Dublin, Ireland

Harris is seen with his wife Caiomhe Wade and daughter Saorise

The new taoiseach faces a formidable to-do list, including tackling housing and homelessness crises, and criticism of government policy on asylum seekers.

One of his first jobs will be to choose his cabinet of ministers.

When he was selected as party leader last month, Harris told members that he would repay their faith with 'hard work, with blood, sweat and tears, day in and day out, with responsibility, with humility and with civility'.

He also said he would focus on building more homes, pursue a 'more planned and sustainable' immigration policy, following increased tension over the issue, and that he would 'fight against the dangers of populism'.

Harris will also urgently seek to galvanise his struggling party, which lags in polls as key elections loom.

Ireland votes in local and European parliament ballots on June 7, while the next general election must be held by March 2025.

Fine Gael slumped to third place at the last general election in 2020, well behind left-wing, nationalist Sinn Fein, which secured the largest share of the vote.

Sinn Fein - the former political wing of the paramilitary IRA - remained outside the governing coalition but still leads in the polls.
A mother on board a United Airlines flight from Dallas to Denver was concerned after seeing the plane's pilot replacing a window just before the aircraft took off.

Kristin Gallant, 37, is the founder of Big Little Feelings - a due of 'toddler experts' who have 3.4 million followers on Instagram.

Gallant shared a worrying video on her Instagram story on Sunday captioned: 'They are literally replacing a 'window' with all of us just chilling and sitting here waiting to take off?!?!?'

In the video, a man who was wearing a pilot's uniform was scrambling to jam the oval shaped window back into its slot.

He was clearly struggling to wedge the window back into place - which deeply worried Gallant, who was flying with her three young children, all under the age of seven.

A mother on board a United Airlines flight from Dallas to Denver was concerned after seeing the plane's pilot replacing a window just before the aircraft took off

In the video, a man who was wearing a pilot's uniform was scrambling to jam the oval shaped window back into its slot

The mom-of-three shared an update with her millions of followers, saying 'I have so many questions. Is this our pilot? Should a pilot be replacing a f***ing window? Is this normal?'

The mom-of-three shared an update with her millions of followers, saying 'I have so many questions. Is this our pilot? Should a pilot be replacing a f***ing window? Is this normal?'

United Airlines told DailyMail.com: 'The video shows a ring of plastic called a bezel, which is cosmetic and not required for the safe operation of the aircraft.'

Gallant's concern was warranted, considering the fleet of scary incidents on Boeing aircrafts recently.

Just days ago, a Southwest Airlines flight was forced to return to the Denver International Airport early Sunday after the engine cowling fell off the Boeing 737 and hit the wing flap during takeoff.

The early morning flight was on its way to the William P. Hobby Airport in Houston when passengers and crew realized the cowling had torn off and was flapping precariously against the plane.

A cowling is a removable metal covering on the engine.

Horrifying video showed the plane parts flapping in the wind as the plane moved through the air. It's the latest in a string of bad publicity and massive safety fears for the beleaguered airline.

The plane returned safely to the Denver airport around 8.15am after the incident. It had departed the gate at 7.39am.

A Southwest Airlines flight made an emergency return to the Denver Airport Sunday morning after a Boeing 737's engine bowling blew off shortly after takeoff

A United Airlines plane built by Boeing was grounded last month after it was found to be missing a panel after it touched down following a flight. Pictured: The missing part on the 25-year-old Boeing 737-824

Concerns were sparked after a door flew off a Boeing 737 MAX , leaving a gaping hole in the side of aircraft, on January 5

On Friday, a United Airlines plane built by Boeing was grounded after it was found to be missing a panel after it touched down following a flight.

The plane is a Boeing 737-824, and successfully touched down in Medford Airport in Oregon despite the missing part.

Concerns were sparked after a door flew off a Boeing 737 MAX, leaving a gaping hole in the side of aircraft, on January 5.

The preliminary report on the incident from the National Transportation Safety Board offered the clearest evidence yet that a significant manufacturing error led to the near-tragedy.

A newer report found that four retaining bolts intended to prevent vertical movement of the door plug were missing, and suggests that Boeing workers failed to replace them after removing the plug for a repair during assembly.

The damage patterns observed in the door plug and airframe indicated that the four bolts were not in place at the time of the incident, allowing the plug to detach from the stop pads.
By Simon Hutagalung

The prospect of a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un represents a significant opportunity to reshape regional dynamics. However, the primary obstacle to this historic meeting lies in the long-standing issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea.

The bilateral relationship between Japan and North Korea is marred by deep-seated historical tensions and ongoing disputes, but notably highlighted by the unresolved abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents during the 1970s and 1980s. These abductions have left a lasting scar on Japan, with the lack of transparency and cooperation from North Korea on this issue hindering efforts to normalize relations between the two nations. The situation is further complicated by North Korea's persistent nuclear ambitions and missile tests, which pose a direct and significant security threat to Japan. These actions by North Korea not only strain diplomatic relations, but also raise serious concerns for Japan's national security, contributing to a climate of distrust and apprehension. Despite attempts at diplomatic negotiations, the enduring lack of progress on these critical issues continues to obstruct the path to reconciliation and peace, leaving the bilateral relationship in a state of uncertainty and tension.

The potential for a meeting between the two leaders could provide a glimmer of hope for a breakthrough in the frosty relations between the two countries. Should this abduction hurdle be overcome, the discussions could ambitiously broaden to encompass the topics of denuclearization and the establishment of peace treaties, aiming to alleviate the persistent tensions that have plagued the Korean Peninsula. Such a diplomatic endeavor would not only mark an important shift toward de-escalation, but also demonstrate a mutual commitment to adopting a more grounded and productive approach to bilateral relations. Such a meeting holds profound significance, potentially setting the stage for a new era of cooperation and understanding. It could reshape the geopolitical landscape of Northeast Asia.

The prospect of a meeting between the Japanese prime minister and North Korean leader draws significant interest from regional and global actors, each with its unique perspective and stakes in the outcome. South Korea, sharing the Korean Peninsula with the North, might approach such a development with cautious optimism. Yet there's an underlying concern regarding North Korea's historical unpredictability and what this means for future inter-Korean relations. Across the Pacific, the United States will keenly observe the proceedings, particularly the discussions around denuclearization. While supportive of efforts that contribute to regional security, there would be apprehensions about any developments that could potentially weaken the U.S.-Japan security alliance or compromise American strategic interests in Asia.

Meanwhile, Russia and China, key players in the Northeast Asian security dynamics, would likely see the meeting in a positive light, especially if it leads to a de-escalation of tensions. China, as North Korea's closest ally and economic supporter, would have a vested interest in any efforts that promise a more peaceful neighborhood. Similarly, Russia would likely view the diplomatic engagement as a chance to strengthen its influence and role in regional security affairs, leveraging the opportunity to assert itself as a mediator and stabilizer in the Korean Peninsula's complex geopolitics.

To facilitate the meeting and address the abduction issue, Japan could seek a multilateral framework involving other affected countries and international organizations to apply pressure on North Korea. Additionally, offering economic incentives in exchange for concrete steps toward resolving the abductions and denuclearization could be a pragmatic approach. However, any agreement should be transparent, verifiable, and involve the international community to ensure compliance.

While significant obstacles remain, a meeting between the prime minister of Japan and North Korean leader could pave the way for a new chapter in Japan-North Korea relations. By addressing historical issues, engaging in realistic diplomacy, and involving regional and global stakeholders, there exists a potential pathway to not only improving bilateral relations but also contributing to stability and peace in the Korean Peninsula and beyond.

Simon Hutagalung is a retired diplomat from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry who received his master's degree in political science and comparative politics from the City University of New York. The opinions expressed in this article are his own.
A female comedian and influencer was forced to have chunks of her buttocks amputated after fillers injected into her rear leaked.

Mexican performer Yered Licona, known to her two million Instagram followers as Wanders Lover, says polymers injected into her rear end without her knowledge had suddenly solidified on a plane to Canada.

Yered had been on a visit to her daughter when she realised her backside was feeling odd.

She told local media: 'I was flying to Canada and started feeling something was wrong on the plane.

'It started to hurt and I went to the bathroom and I felt my bum and it was really hard. I thought to myself "What's going on?"'

Mexican performer Yered Licona (pictured), known to her two million Instagram followers as Wanders Lover, says polymers injected into her rear end without her knowledge had suddenly solidified on a plane to Canada

Medics later discovered that polymers injected into Yered's backside during a cosmetic procedure had leaked, infecting her tissue (pictured: Yered in hospital)

She said she had been told she was suffering from a rare condition known as ASIA syndrome, which stands for autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants

Medics later discovered that polymers injected into Yered's backside during a cosmetic procedure had leaked, infecting her tissue.

She said she had been told she was suffering from a rare condition known as ASIA syndrome, which stands for autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants.

It was first identified by the Israeli immunologist Yehuda Shoenfeld who said it was caused by an autoimmune overreaction to substances including silicone.

Victims can suffer from acute pain, fatigue, cognitive problems, neurological issues and a range of other ailments and it can happen anytime from two days to 23 years after exposure to substances that triggers it, such as silicone.

Tragically Yered is unable to see those responsible punished because she is unsure of which stage the silicone was injected into her butt during a number of cosmetic procedures.

She said that the only thing she knew for sure was that she had never agreed to such an operation, and was amazed that during one of the beauty procedures, the substance was injected, causing the disastrous amputation of most of her bottom.

She said: 'I trusted a doctor to tune my body, and without warning they injected polymers into my buttocks, a substance that gave me the Asia Syndrome, which I will have to deal with for the rest of my existence.'

Yered is seen in the footage in hospital in Mexico City where surgeons had to cut out nearly three-quarters of the tissue from her buttocks.

Tragically Yered is unable to see those responsible punished because she is unsure of which stage the silicone was injected into her butt during a number of cosmetic procedures

She said that the only thing she knew for sure was that she had never agreed to such an operation, and was amazed that during one of the beauty procedures, the substance was injected, causing the disastrous amputation of most of her bottom

Social media footage of the performer shows her being wheeled away on a gurney

Social media footage of the performer shows her smiling bravely as she is being wheeled away on a gurney.

She said: 'They amputated just the upper part, which was around four fingers width from both buttocks.

'That's why I'm devastated, it was an amputation, it was a piece of flesh that was taken from me.

'But I can't point to someone as responsible because I don't know. But at no stage did anyone say to me "We're going to inject this into your body".

'Imagine my surprise, I went for a dream body and ended up in a medical nightmare.'
An 11-year-old girl died after she tried to save her puppy from a house fire at her family's Georgia home.

Katelynn Simmons ran back into the burning house in Spalding County, about 40 minutes from Atlanta, on Saturday night to try and rescue her dog 'Little Man' from the flames.

Spalding County Fire Chief Mike Byrd told WSB-TV the fire 'was visible from a mile away,' after his team were called to the home around 5.30pm.

Once firefighters arrived, they immediately started to search for Katelynn in the 'well advanced' blaze. The team soon located her upstairs, but it was too late to save her.

The little girl's step-aunt, Tressia Perry, said Katelynn's step-father and step-uncle attempted to go back in to save her, but 'they couldn't get in.'

'Katelynn, she's like us, an animal lover. She went upstairs and got that puppy,' her uncle, Charles Beecher, told Fox 5. The dog did not survive either.

Katelynn Simmons, 11, died on Saturday night in a house fire in Spalding County, Georgia, after she ran back in to save her beloved pup 'Little Man.' (pictured: Katelynn and her dog)

Spalding County Fire Chief Mike Byrd said the fire 'was visible from a mile away,' after his team were called to the home around 5.30pm. (pictured: the charred house after the blaze)

At the time of the fire, Katelynn's brother and two others were inside the home and survived.

It is unclear if her parents were home at the time of the incident and if anyone tried to stop her from running back into the flames.

The fire was ruled was accidental but it is unclear what sparked it. DailyMail.com has contacted the Spalding County Fire Department.

Byrd said one firefighter was injured and taken to the hospital. All responding firefighters were offered counseling to help process the catastrophe.

'We go in, everyone, with that attitude. We're going to do everything we can, within humanly possible, to try to make a difference,' Byrd told Fox 5.

'And these stories [are] just tragic for us.'

Outside of the home, a memorial full of stuffed animals and flowers was set up by friends and family.

The home's roof was seen caved in and charred after the intense fire took over.

The little girl's step-aunt, Tressia Perry, said Katelynn's step-father and step-uncle attempted to go back in to save her, but 'they couldn't get in'

The home's roof is seen caved in and charred after the intense fire took over. One firefighter was injured and taken to the hospital for treatment

A GoFundMe page was created for the young girl's family as they lost everything in the tragic fire. (pictured: Katelynn's mother, Kristy Rollins, her step-dad Kevin Rollins and her brother)

'It's hard knowing I am not going to be able to see her again,' her uncle said.

'It's rough. I mean, 11-years-old. Her life was just taken too early.'

Katelynn was a cheerleader for Spalding and Pike County Rec Centers and went to Cowan Road Middle School.

A GoFundMe page was created for the young girl's family as they lost everything in the tragic fire.

'This is the worst thing that could happen to a parent. It's unfathomable the pain and anguish she feels,' the page's organizer, Meredith Smith said on behalf of Katelynn's mother, Kristy Rollins.

All proceeds raised are set to go toward the family, including Katelynn's mother, her step-dad Kevin Rollins and her brother. As of Tuesday morning, more than $7,000 was raised to help with funeral costs, new housing for the family and clothing.

Clothing, food and toiletries donations are also being accepted for the family at a local church.

'Her visit here on earth was short, but her family will experience this for the rest of their lives,' Smith said.

Heartbroken family and friends took to social media to remember the young girl.

Her loved ones have shared the hashtag #LLK, Live Like Katelynn, across social media and posted about local fundraisers in support of her family

Outside of the charred home, a memorial full of stuffed animals and flowers was set up by friends and family

A raffle was set up at a furniture store, Act Now Liquidation, as multiple items are set to be given away for those who purchased $5 tickets that go toward the family

'This one hurt real bad,' Angel Morgan said in a post on Facebook.

'Sissy was so young, beautiful, funny, full of attitude, smart & let me tell you she was as blunt as they come,' she added.

Another family member, Lindsey Moore, posted videos and pictures of Katelynn and said: 'Fly high sissy u [sic] will always have a place in my heart and so many others.'

Her loved ones have shared the hashtag #LLK, Live Like Katelynn, across social media and posted about local fundraisers in support of her family.

A raffle was set up at a furniture store, Act Now Liquidation, as multiple items are set to be given away for those who purchased $5 tickets that went toward the family.

Another small business, Local Nutrition, offered 25 percent of its proceeds to go toward Katelynn's loved ones and even named a drink after her.

'The family is struggling right now. They're going through a hard time,' Perry said.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona dodged on whether President Biden's latest attempt to cancel student loan debt for millions of borrowers would survive legal challenges after the president's first attempt was blocked by the Supreme Court.

In an interview on CNN Tuesday morning, Cardona was asked directly how the administration is making sure it's not selling 'false hope' to borrowers a second time and if the new proposals unveiled on Monday would pass 'legal muster.'

'Look as the president said yesterday, we're fixing a broken system,' Cardona responded. 'We're trying to provide a fair shot to Americans trying to access higher education.'

The Education Secretary went on that the administration is addressing 'runaway interest,' schools that have defrauded borrowers, providing relief for eligible public servants and helping those who face financial hardship.

However, Cardona did not respond to the legality of the new proposals.

President Biden traveled to Madison, WI to unveil his latest effort to cancel student loan debt on Monday. The Biden administration said the effort when combined with debt already canceled would impact 30 million borrowers

The Biden administration has already canceled $146 billion in student loan debt for four million borrowers.

On Monday, Biden traveled to Madison, Wisconsin to promote his latest efforts to cancel student loan debt.

According to the administration, the new actions when combined with those already taken would impact 30 million borrowers.

The new plans would cancel up to $20,000 in unpaid interest for borrowers who currently owe more on their loans than they originally borrowed.

The actions would also cancel debt for two million borrowers who would have qualified for other forgiveness programs but have not yet applied.

Additionally, undergraduate borrowers who entered into repayment 20 or more years ago, graduate student borrowers who began repayment 25 or more years ago, borrowers who have been enrolled in low-financial-value programs and those have have faced financial hardship paying back loans would also see relief.

According to the Biden administration, the plans would fully eliminate accrued interest for 23 million borrowers, cancel the full amount of student loan debt for more than four million borrowers and provide more than 10 million borrowers with at least $5,000 in debt relief or more.

Demonstrators outside the Supreme Court which blocked Biden's original student loan forgiveness plan in June 2023

The five actions unveiled this week come after Biden's original $400 billion plan for widespread student loan cancelation was blocked by the Supreme Court last year.

The court ruled that the Biden administration had overstepped its authority with its original plan. That plan relied on the HEROES Act which authorizes the Education Secretary to waive or modify federal student loans due to a national emergency.

After the plan was blocked, the Biden administration began working through the lengthy rulemaking process to cancel debt. The new actions are the result of that nearly year-long effort.

Officials said they closely studied the Supreme Court decision last June and are confident the new proposals are legally sound.

The latest plans fall under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

The administration hopes to begin granting relief this fall.

But critics of the administration have blasted the efforts calling them unfair to hardworking Americans who did not go to college or paid back their student loans.

Republicans have also accused Biden of attempting to 'buy votes' ahead of the 2024 election and claim he is selling false promises that will not hold up in court.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Republicans leading the impeachment inquiry took evidence from 'Russian Intelligence' after two GOP House members said that Russian propaganda has 'infected' the party.

Late night host Stephen Colbert asked her if she agreed with the Republicans' damning assessment of their own party.

'I think if you turn on any House Oversight hearing in the last year, you will see Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert and all these folks engaged in wildly propagandistic rhetoric,' the New York Democrat told Stephen Colbert.

'We just went through an impeachment attempt on the president of the United States that was started with a source that Republicans used that was in communication with Russian intelligence,' she went on.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Republicans leading the impeachment inquiry took evidence from 'Russian Intelligence' after two GOP House members said that Russian propaganda has 'infected' their party

Late night host Stephen Colbert asked her if she agreed with the Republicans' damning assessment of their own party

Informant Alexander Smirnov is charged with falsely telling his FBI handler that executives from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma had paid President Biden and Hunter Biden $5 million each around 2015. The claim became central to the Republican impeachment inquiry of President Biden in Congress.

Smirnovs claims have played a major part in the Republican effort in Congress to investigate the president and his family, and helped spark what is now a House impeachment inquiry into Biden.

Republicans pursuing investigations of the Bidens demanded the FBI release the unredacted form documenting the unverified allegations, though they acknowledged they couldn't confirm if they were true.

'So you have not just the bottom bench here, you have the Chairman of the House Oversight Committee Rep. James Comer take "evidence" and account from someone who was working with the Russian intelligence and tried to impeach and remove the president of the United States over it. This is serious!' Ocasio-Cortez went on.

Over the weekend Intel Chairman Mike Turner backed up Foreign Affairs chairman Michael McCaul's claim that Russian propaganda has 'infected' Republicans.

Informant Alexander Smirnov is charged with falsely telling his FBI handler that executives from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma had paid President Biden and Hunter Biden $5 million each around 2015

It's absolutely true,' Turner said on CNN's 'State of the Union.'

'We see directly coming from Russia attempts to mask communications that are anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages, some of which we even hear being uttered on the House floor.'

'To the extent that this propaganda takes hold, it makes it more difficult for us to really see this as an authoritarian versus democracy battle,' he added.

Meanwhile Comer hit back against accusations that his impeachment probe is 'fizzling out,' and insisted it has been 'successful' though it does not seem to be on track for a vote to impeach the president.

'It's not true. And I think this investigation has been one of the most successful Congressional investigations in history,' he said on Fox News on Tuesday.

Last month he suggested he would pursue criminal referrals to the Justice Department instead of impeachment.

'I want to hold accountability,' the Kentucky Republican said on NewsMax. 'What does real accountability look like? Does it look like impeaching Joe Biden in the House and then the Senate tabling it?'

'Or does it mean providing real criminal referrals to the Department of Justice? I think the latter,' Comer, chairman of the Oversight Committee, added.

'We want to hold accountability and I believe that the best path to accountability is criminal referrals.'

A criminal referral would largely amount to a symbolic letter suggesting to the Department of Justice suggesting prosecutors probe specific crimes they believe have been committed.

The impeachment inquiry's path forward is murky after House Republicans hauled in President Biden's brother James and son Hunter, along with Hunter's former associates and thousands of pages of documents and records.
Pro-Palestinian protestors began shouting during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, interrupting Biden's top military leaders over 25 times as they plead for military assistance for Ukraine.

Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown were answering questions on the Defense Department's 2025 military budget request which totals a staggering $850 billion.

Shortly after the hearing began, Austin testified, 'We dont have any evidence of genocide being [committed]' on Palestinians by Israel, a claim that directly cuts against what protesters earlier in the hearing alleged he was supporting.

Just minutes before, chaos broke out as hecklers started yelling at Biden's top military officials, accusing them of being complicit in genocide in Gaza.

'Enough is enough how many people have to die,' one protestor yelled about lives lost in Gaza as Israel attempts to take out terror group Hamas. 'How many children have to die?'

'Enough killing my people, enough,' the man continued.

'Stop bombing Gaza,' the protestor demanded. 'Stop funding Israel.'

Pro-Gaza protesters interrupt Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin as he testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday

The protestors waved flags, raised their painted hands and did their best to interrupt the meeting Tuesday morning

'Enough killing my people, enough,' the man holding the flag screamed at the leaders

'Stop funding Israel,' another voice shouted, this time coming from a woman implanted in the hearing room.

In response, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., quickly told the room, 'the committee stands at recess until the Capitol Police can restore order.'

As the Capitol Police began escorting the pro-Gaza group out, the protestors continued yelling their demands.

Later, once the protestors were escorted out of the committee room, the hearing resumed.

Reed continued, 'It is not appropriate for comments or demonstrations. We are conducting a hearing and we will do so we are..'

'Stop the genocide in Gaza,' a woman yelled back at him, immediately cutting him off.

'Stop funding the genocide in Gaza,' another lady screamed.

They held up their hands as they made demands from the Senate and military leaders.

'Stop the war machine,' another voice shouted.

'I will direct the Capitol Police to remove the demonstrators,' Reed said again.

The demonstrators charged the U.S. with being complicit in a genocide carried out in Gaza by Israel, a claim that the Secretary of Defense denies.

Later, Austin would go on to talk about U.S. plans to aid the Gaza strip, including the establishment of a pier that would be used to bring food and aid supplies into the Hamas-run area.

He said the pier would 'probably' be ready 'by the third weekend of this month.'

If true, that means the military aid pier could be ready in just a couple of days.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Jack Reed told the Capitol Police to escort the protestors out of the hearing. Then after another group of demonstrators began interrupting the proceedings, he demanded they were escorted out by authorities too

Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin was explaining the U.S. military's 2025 budget to lawmakers when the protests broke out

A protestor calling for a ceasefire in Gaza yells as she is escorted out of the room by Capitol Police during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on October 31, 2023

'The United States has steadfastly supported Israels right to self-defense; worked to prevent the conflict in Gaza from igniting new eruptions on Israels northern border [and] pushed to protect innocent Palestinian civilians and get far more humanitarian aid into Gaza,' Austin said in his opening remarks.

'In the Middle East, the Department remains committed to Israels right to self-defense; to ensuring that Israel never has to endure another assault like October 7th; to the swift return of all hostages in Gaza, including American citizens; and to preventing the further spread of conflict.'

'At the same time, we continue to press Israel to protect Palestinian civilians and to increase the flow of urgently needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza.'

The military leaders also mentioned how it is critically important to continue funding Ukraine's ongoing war.

'If Putin prevails in Ukraine, it would embolden would-be aggressors everywhere,' Austin said.

'The world of chaos and conquest that Putin seeksone in which autocrats think they can rewrite borders by forcewould leave the United States far less secure.'

Austin said Ukraine's survival is directly linked to U.S. security.

The Pentagon's proposed budget for 2025 includes $300 million for ammunition for Ukraine, but Austin admitted the military needs Congress to act to free up more money for the ongoing effort.

The House is expected to continue work on a supplemental foreign aid funding package for Ukraine, however, it is unclear how the chamber will move forward.
Knox: 'I am not afraid to travel back to Italy and take the stand in my defense'

A date has been set for the hearing of April 10 where Knox is expected in Italy

Amanda Knox is facing a new trial for slander in Italy tomorrow, eight years after a judge in Italy's highest court threw out her conviction for murdering her roommate Meredith Kercher in 2007.

Despite a definitive ruling by Italy's Cassation Court in 2015 that Knox and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito did not commit the crime, doubts about the mom-of-two's role in the murder still persist in Italy.

This is mainly due to the slander conviction for wrongly accusing Congolese bar owner Patrick Lumumba in the murder, which was confirmed by the court almost a decade ago.

That conviction was dismissed last November based on a European Court of Human Rights ruling that found Knoxs rights had been violated in a long night of questioning without a lawyer and official translator.

But Knox still remains unsure whether a not guilty verdict in the new trial, which is set to begin on Wednesday in Florence, will be enough to convince her detractors of her innocence.

Amanda Knox is facing a new trial in Italy tomorrow for slander in a case that could remove the last remaining guilty verdict against her eight years after Italy's highest court definitively threw out her conviction for the murder of her 21-year-old British roommate, Meredith Kercher

Knox wrongly accused Congolese bar owner Patrick Lumumba in the murder, which was confirmed by the court almost a decade ago

Knox, who was 20 years old at the time, and her boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, were first blamed for the murder, and she was sentenced to 26 years in prison

Knox was wrongfully arrested and convicted for killing Meredith Kercher (pictured) and spent four years in prison before she was exonerated

Knox said on her podcast that she expects to testify, but her lawyer said she is not expected in court for opening day.

Her new trial will admit just one piece of evidence: her four-page handwritten statement that the court will examine to see if it contains elements to support slander against Lumumba.

He was held in jail for two weeks before police released him and Lumumba has since left Italy.

'We spend a lot of time digging into the coercive interrogation that led to my arrest, and to the slander charges I'm still on trial for,' Knox said on her podcast Labyrinths in December.

'In particular, we go over the hand-written statement I gave the police after they released me from the pressure-cooker of the interrogation.

'Reading back through that statement I wrote at 20 years old was....difficult. I have never been more fragile, more vulnerable, more gaslit and confused, and at the mercy of authority figures whom I had trusted to keep me safe, and who were in the process of destroying my life.'

Patrick Lumumba was held for two weeks after Knox said she had 'covered her ears' while he slit the throat of her flat mate Meredith Kercher

Raffaele Sollecito (left) was once convicted for the murder. Rudy Guede (right) was convicted in a separate trial after his DNA was found on Kercher's body

Knox and husband Robinson attend the conference of the Criminal Justice Festival at the University of Modena in June 2019

The couple, who met in 2015 and wed in 2020, now run a podcast call Labyrinths

In another tweet, she added: 'I am not afraid to travel back to Italy and take the stand in my defense. I was so unprepared to do so as a 20-year-old. All these years later, I finally am. And I want my daughter and my son to see what standing up for the truth and for your princples [sic] looks like.'

She also said she is glad she will finally have the chance to clear her name, and that hopefully her stand will take away the stigma she has been living with.

Lumumba was held for two weeks after Knox said she had 'covered her ears' while he slit the throat of her flat mate.

He was only released after a Swiss university professor came forward with a till receipt proving the father-of-two was at work and not involved in the crime.

Speaking to Italian media last year, Patrick, who now lives in Krawkow, Poland, with his partner and children, stormed: 'My life has literally been turned upside down.

'Amanda knew very well that I was innocent, but those few words that she said to the police on the morning of November 6, 2007, '... he killed her', destroyed me in a flash, eliminating the reputation I enjoyed in Perugia'.

Knox said on her podcast that she expects to testify, but her lawyer said she is not expected in court for opening day

During questioning Knox had told police that she 'remembered' Patrick Lumumba, the owner of a bar where she worked 'killing Meredith'

Two earlier statements typed up by police that Knox signed in the early hours of November 7, 2007 that contained the accusation, and were considered the most incriminating, have been ruled inadmissible by Italys highest court.

The Amanda Knox Case: A Timeline November 2, 2007 - The body of Meredith Kercher was discovered. November 3-5, 2007: Knox and Sollecito are suspected. November 6, 2007 - Knox, Sollecito, and Lumumba are arrested. Lumumba is held in custody for two weeks before being released. November 20, 2007 - Rudy Guede is arrested. October 28, 2008 - Guede is convicted of murdering Kercher. December 4, 2009 - Knox and Sollecito are convicted. October 3, 2011 - Knox and Sollecito win their appeal. January 30, 2014 - Knox and Sollecito are again convicted. March 27, 2015 - The definitive acquittal. January 25, 2019 - Knox is awarded $21,000 in compensation. November 23, 2021 - Rudy Guede is released from prison. April 10, 2024 - Knox is set to make a return to Italy to fight long-standing slander charge against Lumumba. Advertisement

The four-page letter, which she wrote in the same 53-hour span of questioning over four days starting November 6, reflects someone in a state of confusion trying to reconcile what police have told her with her own recollections.

'In regards to this `confession that I made last night, I want to make clear that Im very doubtful of the verity of my statements because they were made under the pressures of stress, shock and extreme exhaustion, Knox wrote.

She had claimed she had seen the Congolese barman at the house she shared with Meredith in the Italian hilltop town of Perugia in November 2007.

Kercher was found semi-naked and with her throat cut in the bedroom of her house in the hilltop town - just weeks after arriving for a year abroad with her Leeds University course.

Eventually, a burglar named Rudy Guede from the Ivory Coast was convicted of murdering Kercher and he was sentenced to 30 years behind bars in 2008.

Guede's DNA was discovered on Kercher's body despite his claims that he was in the bathroom listening to music when she was killed.

Her body was found in her bedroom, partially undressed, with 47 stab wounds.

Now 36, Guede was released from prison in 2021 after serving 13 years of a 16-year term handed down in a fast-track trial.

Guede was recently ordered to wear a monitoring bracelet and not leave his home at night after an ex-girlfriend accused him of physical and sexual abuse - an investigation is ongoing.

Knox, who was just 20-years-old when she was accused along with Sollecito of murdering Kercher, 21, has now rebuilt her life in the US as a writer, podcaster, and producer.

Now at 36-years-old, the mom-of-two campaigns for criminal justice reform and to raise awareness about forced confessions.

She has recorded a series on resilience for a meditation app and has a podcast with her husband, Christopher Robinson, and an upcoming mini-series on her struggles within the Italian legal system for Hulu that has Monica Lewinsky as an executive producer.
University Challenge host Amol Rajan has vowed to change the way he pronounces the letter H following a barrage of complaints.

The BBC broadcaster, who has completed his first year of presenting the popular quiz show, has decided to finally give in after years of being unsure whether the letter is pronounced 'haitch' or 'aitch'.

'All my life I've pronounced it 'haitch', dimly aware that I was getting it 'wrong', he confessed in a BBC blog about the seven things he has learnt since he took over Jeremy Paxman as University Challenge host.

Rajan, who also co-presents Today on Radio 4, added: 'Everyone I grew up with says 'haitch'. My mates say 'haitch'. But, dear reader, I'm here to tell you: it's 'aitch'.

'This matters a lot to a lot of people, which is fair enough.'

Rajan, who hails from south London, has reignited the 'H' debate which has divided Brits up and down the country for many years.

Fellow BBC broadcasters who say 'haitch' include Sara Cox, from Bolton, and Nick Grimshaw, from Oldham.

University Challenge host Amol Rajan (pictured) has promised to change the way he pronounces the letter H following a barrage of complaints

BBC radio presenters Sara Cox (left) and Nick Grimshaw (right) have also been called out for saying 'haitch' in the past

Television hosts Graham Norton, from Bandon, Co Cork, and Dara O'Briain, from Bray, Co Wicklow, have also chosen not to defect.

Rajan said he would start using 'aitch' from the next series of University Challenge despite the Oxford English Dictionary declaring 'haitch' is a commonly used variant.

The BBC pronunciation unit states that 'aitch' is the standard British English pronunciation and that 'haitch' is standard across Ireland and a possible British variant. It does not say which is correct.

Rajan has also previously revealed he struggles with questions that feature French words, often needing a few takes to get the pronunciation right.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: 'French is both the one I find hardest, because I never studied French, and the one I think people watching BBC Two at 8.30pm on a Monday night care about. So we do the odd retake for the French ones.'

In the past, campaigners have called on the BBC to only hire presenters who can use language correctly. It came after complaints were made about Cox and Grimshaw mispronouncing 'H'.

Gareth Hardwick, former secretary of the Queen's English Society, said in 2014: 'With the BBC in particular, it is listened to by a worldwide audience and people for whom English is a second language look to the BBC for an example of what is good English.

Television hosts Graham Norton, from Bandon, Co Cork, and Dara O'Briain, from Bray, Co Wicklow, have also chosen not to defect from 'haitch'

'There are a whole number of reasons why the BBC might choose to recruit someone onto its staff as a broadcaster and maybe the use of English should be one and BBC broadcasters should be people to aspire to good, correct English usage'.

Rajan did not reveal why he has chosen to change the way he says H but he has been criticised on social media and in newspapers.

Geoff Carr, a Sunday Times reader, wrote into the paper to say: 'I agree that the proliferation of 'haitches' is truly awful. Amol Rajan on University Challenge (BBC2) sounds like a small child. Where has this come from? 'Aitch' is far easier to say and kinder on the ear.'

One user on X, formerly Twitter, said: 'Amol Rajan doing a great job on #UniversityChallenge, but he's described the 8th letter of the alphabet as 'haitch' 2 weeks running now. This sort of thing must be nipped in the bud'

Another said: 'Why do so many people now pronounce the letter 'H' as 'haitch', including Amol Rajan on #r4today? It's Horrible with a capital aitch.'

Rajan did not reveal why he chosen to change the way he says H but he has been criticised in the past on social media and in newspapers

A third wrote: 'Why cant Amol Rajan pronounce H correctly? Is he doing it on purpose?'

And a fourth posted: 'Didn't Amol Rajan ever learn that the eighth letter of the alphabet is Aitch, not "H"aitch?'

Another social media post about Cox said: 'Love Sara Cox but please the letter H is not pronounced with an H. The sound of the letter H is AITCH,. Come on BBC ......'

Despite attacks on his pronunciation, Rajan has also been praised for his first year at University Challenge - with some calling him the show's 'best ever' presenter on social media.

One fan gushed last month: 'Possibly controversial but Amol Rajan is my favourite University Challenge quizmaster - and Ive watched it since the 1960s.'
A top corporate lawyer 'wasn't himself' before he vanished while on a luxury cruise and plunged to his death from his cabin balcony, an inquest has heard.

Nigel Blythe-Tinker, 72, former head of legal at gaming giants William Hill, went missing whilst on board the luxury cruise ship in July last year.

The alarm was raised when he failed to disembark The Seven Seas Mariner - the world's first cruise liner to boast 'all suite, all balcony' cabins - despite having been on board when it departed Marseilles the previous day.

London's High Court heard that his family made 'desperate attempts' to make contact with him, with staff onboard the ship having found his cabin empty with his 'clothes folded neatly on the bed'.

Having heard evidence from the lawyer's daughters, who said he seemed 'strange' before he went missing, High Court judge Chief Master Karen Shuman has declared that Mr Blythe-Tinker met his death after falling feet first into the sea from his cabin balcony in the early hours of the morning.

Nigel Blythe-Tinker, 72, (pictured) former head of legal at gaming giants William Hill , went missing whilst on board the luxury cruise ship in July last year

The court heard that Mr Blythe-Tinker, who was originally from Worksop, Notts, had been married three times and has two adult daughters Sophie and Claire Blythe-Tinker.

He had been in the process of moving back to England after a period living in Australia when he vanished.

At the time he was undertaking a luxury cruise of the Mediterranean on 709-foot, 48075 ton ship Seven Seas Mariner, hailed online as 'one of the world's best all-inclusive cruise ships,' with individual balconies attached each cabin onboard.

The cruise liner, which carries 700 passengers and 445 crew, was en-route from Marseilles to Barcelona on 21 July 2023 when Mr Blythe-Tinker, who had been in 'constant contact' with his family, began to display unusual behaviour and send messages in which he 'wasn't himself.'

He had been renovating a house in England he had bought near to the home of his 'close' cousin Andrew Gilling and had told Mr Gilling that he had been worried in relation to having enough money to complete the project.

He told his cousin that he'd had 'a suicidal thought' and also seemed confused in messages with other family members, his London-based history and politics teacher daughter Sophie told the judge.

The court heard evidence from the lawyer's daughters, who said he seemed 'strange' before he went missing. Pictured Claire (left) and Sophie (right) Blythe-Tinker, outside the High Court

His alarmed family contacted staff on the cruise ship and the onboard doctor was dispatched to check on the lawyer, who said he had 'no suicidal thoughts' and was physically well apart from back pain.

However, when the ship docked in Barcelona on the morning of July 22 2023, Mr Blythe-Tinker did not disembark and his cabin was found to be empty.

Subsequent interrogation of the ship's CCTV records revealed footage of an object - which appeared to be a person 'feet first' - falling from the ship near to Mr Blythe-Tinker's cabin balcony and hitting the water.

Sophie Blythe-Tinker, who brought the case to court seeking clarity over the fate of her father, told the judge that he had seemed 'strange' in his responses to messages and emails shortly before his disappearance.

When he failed to turn up at Heathrow airport - where he had been due to fly after leaving the ship in Barcelona - his family panicked and made 'desperate attempts' to find out where he was.

They eventually learned from the cruise company that he had never disembarked at Barcelona and afterwards investigations by security staff revealed the CCTV video footage.

Giving judgment in the case and declaring the missing lawyer officially dead, the judge said Mr Blythe-Tinker had been 'an active 72-year-old' who 'travelled extensively'.

However, he 'wasn't himself' and had become 'increasingly abnormal' during his time on the ship, she said.

'I have viewed the video evidence,' she said.

'Something descends from the ship at 4.28am. I'm prepared to accept that that was a body and the direction is consistent with it coming from the suite Mr Blythe-Tinker was in.

'The ship was miles from any port or land at the time.

'I'm satisfied on the evidence before me that Mr Blythe-Tinker died at 4.28 central European time by falling to his death from the ship that he was on,' the judge concluded.
Donald Trump and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron discussed Ukraine, elections on both sides of the Atlantic and their shared admiration for Queen Elizabeth II over dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Monday evening, according to the Trump campaign.

European leaders are desperate to secure more aid for Ukrainian forces battling Russian invaders and have identified Trump as key to overturning Republican support.

But at the same time, the British government is understood to be keen to build relations with the man who might be the next American president after being taken by surprise by his 2016 victory.

They were joined at dinner by British Ambassador Dame Karen Pierce.

An insider said it was 'warm' and 'productive.'

Donald Trump and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron discussed Ukraine, elections on both sides of the Atlantic and their shared admiration for Queen Elizabeth II over dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Monday evening, according to the Trump campaign

The two had dinner at Trump's Florida home and political base Mar-a-Lago

'Among the topics discussed were the upcoming US and UK elections, policy matters specific to Brexit, the need for NATO countries to meet their defense spending requirements, and ending the killing in Ukraine,' said the Trump campaign in a readout of the meeting.

'President Trump, Secretary Cameron and Ambassador Pierce also discussed their mutual admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth II.'

Trump is known to be a huge fan of the late queen and has praised her frequently.

The meeting was a reminder of how the former president used his Mar-a-Lago home when in office, using it as his winter White House, meeting visiting dignitaries on the terrace, brushing shoulders with club members.

But the dinner raised questions about the protocol of a British foreign secretary meeting a former president before he met Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, D.C.

British officials preempted any controversy by pointing reporters to previous examples when ministers met opposition leaders.

The pointed out that the leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer, met Blinken in February.

'This meeting follows standard practice for engagement between ministers and opposition candidates of partner nations,' said a source.

Cameron also rebuffed the question at Tuesday press conference after meeting Blinken.

The pair discussed their admiration for the late Queen, according to Trump campaign readout

On Tuesday, Cameron met with his American counterpart Antony Blinken

'This was entirely in line with precedent of government ministers, meeting with opposition politicians in the run up to elections,' he said.

'I remember when I was prime minister meeting Mitt Romney when he was a candidate. I remember Gordon Brown meeting Barack Obama when he was a candidate.'

He offered no further details on what he said was a 'private meeting.'

Officials are also keen to avoid a repeat of 2016 when the British government had to scramble to build relations with the Trump administration after his shock win.

Diplomats used former Gov. Chris Christie as their point of communication but he was dumped out during a power struggle with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner before the new administration took power.

It meant that British officials ended up using Sebastian Gorka as their go-to Trump insider. He was born in Britain but was only ever a fringe figure in the administration.

A key sticking point in sending aid to Ukraine is Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. In February she mocked Cameron's assertion that not funding Ukraine was similar to the appeasement of Adolf Hitler in the lead-up to World War II

A local resident walks through the ruins of a house destroyed by recent shelling, which local Russian-installed authorities called a Ukrainian military strike

Afterwards, insiders admitted they had simply been unprepared for Trump's election victory.

Cameron was meeting Blinken on Tuesday morning and was also expected to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

However, he is not expected to meet House Speaker Mike Johnson, a key figure in moving a bill to send more aid to Ukraine.

A British official said their diaries did not 'align.'

Cameron said he had not come to Washington to tell American lawmakers what to do.

'I always do this with great trepidation. It's not for foreign politicians to tell legislators in another country what to do,' he said.

'It's just that I'm so passionate about the importance of defending Ukraine against this aggression, that I think it is absolutely in the interests of US security that Putin fails in his illegal invasion.'

Johnson is almost certain to face a leadership challenge if he tables a bill amid opposition from Trump allies such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Social media erupted with criticism after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg claimed he felt safe enough in his Washington, D.C., neighborhood to walk his dog to the U.S. Capitol.

Buttigieg attempted to downplay rising crime in the nation's capital and said he has seen violent crime decrease since living in D.C.

But 2023 saw the largest-ever crime stats in the district with a whopping 39 percent uptick in violent crime from the year prior and an overall 26 percent increase.

'We need to talk about the reality here. There's a lot of funding and a lot of energy going into telling a different story in news outlets and online,' Buttigieg said on Sunday when speaking about crime in the city with MSNBC host and former White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

'But the simple facts and the simple reality are right here staring us in the face, including the fact I can safely walk my dog to the Capitol today in a way you couldn't do when we all got here,' the chief at the Department of Transportation added.

Just an hour after Buttigieg's interview with Psaki, a man was stabbed and robbed while walking his dog about a mile from the U.S. Capitol in the opposite direction of where Buttigieg lives and likely takes his route with his dog.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg faced the wrath of X users angry over him downplaying D.C. crime by saying he 'can safely walk my dog to the Capitol' from his luxury Eastern Market apartment

Buttigieg lives with his husband and adopted twin toddlers in Eastern Market, a neighborhood about a mile from the U.S. Capitol and a mile in the other direction to the Navy Yard neighborhood where he goes to work every day at DOT.

Both Eastern Market and Navy Yard have seen an exponential increase in violent crime and carjackings in recent years despite many lawmakers, staffers and politicians living in these expensive enclaves of the city.

Users on X, formerly Twitter, tore into the Transportation secretary, claiming he is out of touch and saying he felt safe because of his security detail.

'I'm sure he does [feel safe], WITH HIS SECURITY DETAIL,' a user with more than 103,000 followers wrote on X. 'Guy thinks we're stupid.'

RNC Research account clipped Buttigieg's comments and posted about his security detail and the 20-year high D.C. crime rates, which surpassed spikes in all other major U.S. cities.

Another critic wrote: 'He cannot be this stupid, can he?'

Social media users ripped Buttigieg for claiming he felt safe  saying it's easy to do when you have security

Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten, live in Eastern Market  a neighborhood about a mile from the U.S. Capitol

Eastern Market is near Navy Yard, which has seen a massive spike in violent crime and carjackings with a 39 percent increase from 2022 to 2023. Pictured: Law enforcement engage in a manhunt for an armed criminal who ran into an apartment building in Navy Yard last month and remains at large

The U.S. Secret Service is tasked with providing 24/7 protection for the president and vice president, as well as the immediate families of those individuals.

They are also responsible for providing protection for specific Cabinet officials, including the Secretaries of Homeland Security, Defense and the Treasury.

With Transportation Secretary 14th in line for presidential succession, it's less likely Buttigieg is receiving round-the-clock security from the Secret Service.

But previous reports suggest he was at one point receiving outside security due to heightened threats after his run for president in 2020 and becoming the first openly gay Cabinet secretary.
Samsung should get maximum grants from US

In recent months, the nation has been swept up by heated election campaigns, temporarily setting aside pressing issues. As the polls close today, it is time to refocus our attention on addressing the needs voiced by the electorate.

At the core of their demand is revitalizing the lackluster Korean economy. Last week, a glimmer of what could be described as springtime emerged for Korea's tech titan, Samsung Electronics. In a preliminary earnings report, the company revealed its anticipation of a first-quarter operating profit of 6.6 trillion won ($4.9 billion), marking a staggering 931.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

While specific figures for individual business units weren't disclosed, analysts predict that the world's biggest memory chipmaker marked a turnaround in earnings after four quarters of losses.

The turnaround can be attributed to the surging global demand for artificial intelligence, coupled with the elevated prices of DRAM and NAND flash memory chips due to reduced production. Market observers are cautiously predicting a full-fledged rebound for the sector, which began declining in the third quarter of 2022 but has gradually been recovering since late 2023.

Caution should prevail over hope in this case, given the uncertainties surrounding global competition involving governments, evolving technology, and economic indicators.

The small rebound is good news nevertheless as semiconductor exports make up about 20 percent of Korea's outbound shipments. Accordingly, exports in March climbed 3.1 percent year-on-year to $56.5 billion. During this rebound, Samsung, along with another major Korean chipmaker, SK hynix, must prioritize expanding their presence in the advanced chip market. The endeavors of these two prominent chipmakers may prove insufficient. That is why the government needs to do its part. Fortunately, President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged on Tuesday to elevate Korea's status to one of the top three nations in artificial intelligence technology. Additionally, the government will explore avenues to enhance investment incentives. This recent commitment offers a clear direction in the aftermath of his reiterated promises to assist Korean firms in "winning" the chip war.

A leader in memory chips, Korea has been standing on its toes, vigilant and at times vulnerable, as the United States and the European Union provide subsidies to their chipmakers to stay ahead of the technological competition with China.

Last month, U.S. President Joe Biden unveiled that Intel would receive a $19.5 billion grant, which is the largest federal investment since the enactment of the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. Japan has allocated a 4 trillion yen budget ($26.4 billion) to support its chip industry. Both the European Union and China have launched their respective semiconductor projects. The Dutch government is reportedly in talks with the country's largest company, the semiconductor equipment maker ASML, so that the company does not move to another country or expand abroad, which the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported as "Operation Beethoven."

On Tuesday, the president reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring the success of a planned chip cluster in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Stringent regulations and an aversion to big businesses have hindered progress in the construction of the cluster, significantly lagging behind the pace set by the Taiwan Semiconductor Company's (TSMC) factory in Kumamoto, Japan, which was completed in less than two years. There are no grants or subsidies available. However, semiconductor investments are exempt from a 15 percent tax, serving as the sole incentive. In contrast, the U.S. government on Monday announced $11.6 billion in grants and loans to TSMC for investments in plants in Arizona. Meanwhile, Samsung is waiting for a grant decision from the same U.S. CHIPS Act. Reports say that Samsung will receive more than $6 billion in grants. We believe Samsung should get the maximum amount of subsidies in consideration of the alliance between the two countries and the Korean chipmaker's increasing investments in the U.S.

We welcome the belated move by the Yoon administration to revisit its current policy and look for innovative ways to expand tax and financial benefits to the semiconductor sector. The race for global semiconductor dominance is now intensifying in earnest.












Four staff at a Jamaica school for American 'troubled teens' have been charged with child abuse days after Paris Hilton flew out to support her 'fellow survivors'.

Eight American boys, aged between 14 and 18, were taken out of Atlantis Leadership Academy in February after an unannounced inspection of the school uncovered allegations of children being starved, beaten and put in chokeholds by staff.

Employees Eddison Morris, 39, Courtney Wiggan, 51, Carson Cox, 33 and Odane Maswell, 31, have since been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, cruelty to a child and assault at common law.

The victims were taken into custody in Jamaica and are being held in group homes while their families campaign for their release.

Paris Hilton, who has fought against the troubled teen industry since she experienced it herself, flew to Jamaica to support the boys, saying: 'There is nowhere on Earth that I am unwilling to travel to support and advocate for youth who have experienced institutional child abuse and neglect.'

Paris Hilton who has fought against the troubled teen industry since she experienced it herself, flew to Jamaica to support the boys

The Atlantis Leadership Academy is located on Treasure Beach, located along the island's south coast

The eight boys were students at Atlantis Leadership Academy located in Treasure Beach, located along the island's south coast.

The faith-based school claims to specialize in helping teens overcome anger, depression, substance abuse.

According to its website, it prides itself as an 'affordable, structured, boarding academy serving young men who possess strong leadership skills, though they've taken some wrong turns in their lives.'

But critics claim it is part of the controversial troubled teen industry which has been rife with allegations of abuse and neglect.

On February 8, after a unannounced inspection revealed concerns, the Jamaican Child Protection and Family Services Agency removed the boys and placed them in protective custody until they could be safely returned to their families.

Their concerned parents have been trying to bring their children home, but so far only two have been returned to the US with a third expected to be sent this week. The rest will be the subjects of a trial later this week.

Paris Hilton flew out to Jamaica last week to campaign for their release and the closure of the school.

She said: 'When I heard about what eight American children had endured in the hands of a troubled teen facility in Jamaica, I knew I had to drop everything to show my support of their testimony.'

She said the boys had reported being 'violently beaten, whipped, water-boarded, and starved.'

And added: 'There is nowhere that a facility can hide where we cannot find them. We will not allow children to carry the shame and stigma of abuse alone  that belongs solely to the abusers.'

'It outrages me that it is taking months to bring these children back to the United States and mere moments to send them away in the first place.'

'While we wait for the government to take action, survivors will continue to uncover this broken system and expose those who are putting profits over the wellbeing of our most vulnerable youth. We will protect the powerless ourselves.'

Tarah Fleischman, the mother of Cody Fleischman, 16, sent her son to the academy last May hoping it would help with some of his aggressive behavior.

Her family attorney, Michael McFarland told NewsNation that Cody had 'lost a significant amount of weight since entering into Atlantis.'

The mother of Cody Fleischmann, 16, who sent her son to the academy last May hoping it would help with some of his aggressive behavior, is now feeling remorseful, family attorney, Michael McFarland told NewsNation

Pictured: Atlantis Leadership Academy founder and director, Randall Cook

Pictured: Generic images of young people at the academy. The faith-based school specializes in helping teens overcome anger, depression, substance abuse

'They're investigating allegations of physical abuse, which would include beatings, also chokeholds, restraints, things like that. And neglect, which would include, you know, withholding food and not getting proper nutrition to the boys,' McFarland said.

DailyMail.com contacted Atlantis Leadership Academy for comment.

The school's founder Randall Cook has not been arrested and denies the allegations, telling NBC: 'ALA is appalled at the hatchet job that is being done to our reputation and deny all the allegations that have been coming at us after over eight years in operation.'

Cook is a mainstay of the troubled teen industry, which is made up of a network of boarding schools, wilderness camps and ranches for children struggling with behavioral issues.

The industry has come under increased scrutiny as celebrities like Hilton raise awareness and a Netflix documentary focused on allegations of abuse from survivors.
A Labour councillor accused of making racist remarks has been suspended by the party after she claimed that 'white children and teachers were being attacked'.

Glasgow councillor Audrey Dempsey said she had been told by staff and parents from several schools in the south side of the city about the issue.

However she did not provide other statistical evidence for her claim, which she made during a recent meeting of the Labour group.

She told the BBC that she had asked 'an honest question' and had been subjected to a 'character assassination' as a result.

The question she proposed was 'to ask the relevant convenor if they [are] aware of the rising racist attacks on white children and teachers in our schools and how do they plan to tackle this?'

However the question was not asked at the meeting. She then asked Glasgow city council to 'monitor' the issue and 'collect more data'.

Glasgow councillor Audrey Dempsey (pictured) said she had been told by staff and parents from several schools in the south side of the city about the issue

But a spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: 'We are not aware of any rise in incidents of this kind across the city.' Pictured: Glasgow City Council chambers

Ms Dempsey, who represents the ward of Springburn and Robroyston, said at the time the issue was too 'dangerous' to ignore.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: 'We are not aware of any rise in incidents of this kind across the city.'

She rejected criticism of her position and highlighted her work with migrants in the north of the city through the charity she founded in 2017.

Following the incident, Ms Dempsey has received criticism from SNP and Green politicians as well as others in her own party.

Ms Dempsey's social media conduct has also been the subject of controversy.

She posted a video earlier of her charity Glasgow's No.1 Baby and Family Support Service helping asylum seekers, which she stated 'contradicts the attempted narrative'.

She told the BBC: 'We should never be afraid to speak up when people are suffering. Children should expect equal treatment.

'It was an honest question that I asked that has become a character assassination.

'If it had been a family of another race that raised concerns I would have handled them the exact same way.'

Ms Dempsey added that she was disappointed in 'radio silence' from the Labour party.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: 'The Labour Party takes all complaints seriously.

'They are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate action is taken.
A Houston gas station robbery that left one dead turned out to be an elaborate visa scam to grant the fake victims temporary immigration status, court documents show.

Rasshuud Scott, 22, was killed when a bystander intervened in the alleged hoax, shooting him dead as he 'pretended' to rob two people.

Video shows Scott approaching a man at a Swift gas station on January 27 before pistol whipping him and fleeing the scene.

But before he can escape, a bystander identified by police as Jesus Vargas pulls out a gun and shoots him dead.

Police said they subsequently found messages between Scott and accomplice William Winfrey showing how they orchestrated the whole scheme to secure U-visas.

A Houston gas station robbery that left one dead turned out to be an elaborate visa scam to grant the fake victims temporary immigration status, court documents show

Rasshaud Scott, 22, was killed when a bystander intervened in the alleged hoax, shooting him dead as he 'pretended' to rob two people

Police said William Winfrey was Scott's accomplice, with the two orchestrating this and other similar schemes

The nonimmigrant status is intended for for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.

The visas would allow recipients to qualify for work permits while the case is being resolved.

Investigators said Scott and Winfrey have facilitated similar robberies going back to 2023, the most recent being the night before Scott was killed.

Vargas left the scene after the shooting as he was in violation of his parole by being in possession of a gun, Fox reports.

He has since spoken to Houston police but was released with detectives stating he was not linked to the fraudulent robbery,

Scott was rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

One the of the alleged victims of the robbery denied that the crime was staged.

Shooter Jesus Vargas was questioned by Houston police before being released without charge

Winfrey was arrested on April 3 and remains in jail without bond as the case is being investigated

They told ABC13 that they applied for a U visa 'three or four months' after the incident.

Winfrey was arrested on April 3 and remains in jail without bond as the case is being investigated.

Scott's fiancee did not defend her partner's actions but said she would like to see Vargas charged.

'He didn't deserve what happened to him at all. He was making a dumb decision. I'm not defending him, of course, but he didn't deserve to die,' Sade Beverly told Fox.

'Somebody still lost a life at the end of the day. Have some decorum. It would have eventually caught up to him, and he would have had to learn the hard way. He just didn't get the chance to fix his mistakes.'
President Joe Biden blasted predecessor Donald Trump for inaction on January 6 and for his plans to free convicted rioters if he takes office in a new interview.

The president's sit-down with Spanish language Univision comes as a new poll shows his 'favorability' lead over Trump diminishing at a time when battlegrounds in Arizona and Nevada could tip control of the White House and Senate.

In the first clip to be released, Biden got asked what was the greatest threat to democracy and freedom  and turned immediately to Trump.

'Donald Trump talked, uses phrases like if you're going to eviscerate the Constitution, you're gonna be a dictator on Day One,' he said.

Que sera sera: President Biden called out Donald Trump for saying he would be a dictator 'for a day' in comments on Univision. The interview with the Spanish language network comes as his favorability lead over Trump with Hispanic voters is dwindling

Biden's 'favorability' advantage over Trump is shrinking

That was a reference to Trump's 2022 quote calling for 'the termination of all rules ... even those found in the Constitution' and his comment in an interview about being a 'dictator for a day.' Then he took on Trump for watching television during the Capitol riot and his continued embrace of January 6 defendants.

'The idea that he would sit in the office  and I'll show you before you leave  off the Oval Office, and watch for hours, the attack on the Capitol, and the destruction and the mayhem and people who were killed a police officers who died, and call them political heroes?' Biden said. 'Call them patriots? And saying that if he gets elected, he's going to free them all because they're being held illegally.

'Think of the things he says look at the way he we talks about minority populations and Hispanics and our talking about them being ... anyway, I can't think of any other time in my lifetime in history that's occurred, that you've had somebody who's had this kind of attitude, he says I'm gonna be a dictator on day one. No one doesn't believe him,' he said.

Biden blasted Trump for saying he would pardon January 6 defendants

Trump leads Biden in Arizona and Nevada

Trump clashed with the network during his tenure in the White House. Biden is eager to improve his standing with Spanish speaking voters

Biden's interview comes as Trump has made inroads with a network he used to loudly clash with following its merger with Televisa in 2022.

A new Axios / Ipsos poll in partnership with Noticias Telemundo shows Bidens shrinking favorability advantage over Trump Biden's edge with Hispanics on general favorability is shrinking.

In March, Biden's favorability rating was 41, a nine-point lead over Trump's 32 rating. Back in June of 2023, Biden was at 47 percent favorability and Trump was at 29.

Trump wrote last month that one of his 'first acts' would be to 'Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongfully imprisoned!' He said last year he would 'most likely' pardon 'a large portion of them.'
Despite an investigation by the FBI and a new probe by former Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot, Henyard remains in power with a nearly $300,000 salary

Tiffany Henyard, Mayor of the small village of Dolton, Illinois, is accused of misconduct, corruption, sexual harassment and retaliation against opponents

America's 'worst mayor' is clinging on to power - and a nearly $300,000 salary - despite a slew of complaints and investigations into claims of corruption, sexual harassment and retaliation against political opponents.

As the list of allegations grows against Tiffany Henyard, who is mayor of the small village of Dolton, Illinois, critics and some of her own constituents are asking how she still remains in position.

The litany of accusations against Henyard, who is also supervisor of Thornton Township immediately south of Chicago, include misspending taxpayers' money on lavish trips, employing a convicted sex offender to a public role and firing staff who refuse to support her.

The FBI is investigating Henyard for corruption and, on Monday, the Dolton board of trustees appointed former Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot to lead another probe into Henyard. Lightfoot's appointment, at a cost of $400 an hour, has also proved controversial after her disappointing stint as Chicago mayor.

Repeated efforts to oust Henyard have failed. A recall vote in favor of removing her from office was overturned by an appeals court and opponents are now hoping the slew of investigations will trigger her downfall and possibly even criminal charges.

Tiffany Henyard, Mayor of the small village of Dolton, Illinois, is clinging on to power - and a nearly $300,000 salary - despite a slew of complaints and investigations into her

She was elected mayor of the village, population around 21,000, in 2021 but quickly gained notoriety and the label 'America's worst mayor' for her lavish personal spending and bombastic approach to politics, which has included recruiting DJs to perform at village meetings.

Recent meetings of the Village of Dolton have descended into confrontations about Henyard's conduct, with residents pleading with her to step down. But Henyard has used her mayoral powers to block attempts to oust her.

Last week she vetoed a resolution passed by the village board in support of an investigation into her spending. The board, which has a majority who are against Henyard, has overrode her veto powers on several occasions.

Henyard is paid nearly $50,000 for her role as mayor, plus a further $224,000 as supervisor of Thornton Township.

Attorney Burt Odelson, legislative counsel for the Dolton Board of Trustees, said: 'Bills aren't getting paid, the poor village is $7 million in debt and she goes on Las Vegas junkets.

'That seems to be the most obnoxious thing she has done. But it is not. There [are] many, many more.'

Odelson said the litany of claims and Henyard's refusal to step down or explain herself have led to 'the oddest situation' he has encountered in five decades as an attorney representing municipalities.

'The people are suffering because they are denied services,' he said, adding that Henyard has 'pillaged the village'.

She has also been accused of weaponizing the local police force to act as her own security detail and retaliate against her political opponents.

Henyard denies wrongdoing.

Attorney Burt Odelson, legislative counsel for the Dolton Board of Trustees, claims Henyard has 'pillaged the village' through her spending and alleged impropriety

But amid the growing pressure on Henyard, Odelson said he believes justice is close.

'There is so much heat,' Odelson told WGN Radio. 'I'm hoping the authorities will move because there's nothing we can do, we're not the cops and we're not the prosecutors.

'But she is illegally spending money from the Village of Dolton on things she shouldn't be spending money on and not paying the vendors who are providing services to the village. That's just the tip of the iceberg.'

Former Chicago Mayor Lightfoot became the latest litigator in the fight against Henyard when she was hired by the Village of Dolton on Monday.

Lightfoot, who failed to secure reelection as mayor of Chicago last year - was approved by the village's board of trustees to investigate Henyard's alleged corruption at the cost of $400 per hour.

She is an attorney who previously worked as a federal prosecutor and was also president of the Chicago Police Board and chair of the Chicago Police Accountability Task Force.

'I bring expertise in leading investigations of this kind and understand the complex challenges of governing,' Lightfoot said. 'I will follow the facts where they lead, without bias, and reserve comments until the work is complete.'

But the investigation may be challenging because Lightfoot has no powers to subpoena village records because she does not work for a law enforcement agency.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot may have a new job very soon, as she's been hired by the nearby village of Dolton, Illinois to investigator their mayor, whom many have called 'America's worst'

Self-described 'Super Mayor' Tiffany Henyard, 40, has been accused of embezzling taxpayer funds and retaliating against a victim of sexual assault - and last month vetoed an investigation into the allegations

Henyard, a Democrat, was not present at the meeting on Monday when Lightfoot's investigation was approved.

Lightfoot has been tasked by the board with investigating 'all allegations of misconduct, and all internal investigations, if any, along with any village state and federal law violations,' Dolton Trustee Jason House said.

'It is my sincere hope that Mayor Henyard will voluntarily cooperate, but should they not, we are prepared to do what is necessary to get to the facts,' Lightfoot said.

'It's obvious that a veto will happen, but we have the majority, but the four of us have the majority,' Dolton Trustee Kenia Belcher said, referring to the trustees' power to overrule the mayor's decisions.

Lightfoot - who was ousted as mayor of Chicago last year - was approved by the village's board of trustees to investigate Henyard's alleged corruption at the cost of $400 per hour

Lightfoot may not get very far, however, as Henyard's mayoral powers extend to potentially vetoing the probe

Henyard continues to make national headlines for all the wrong reasons despite running a village of just 20,000 people.

The high-rolling mayor has spent thousands more on first class trips, a professional hair and makeup team and a security detail.

DailyMail.com has also reported how she allegedly billed the village $7,650 for hair and makeup.

She has been accused of unlawfully signing off contracts as dozens of unpaid suppliers threaten to take the village to court. Opponents claim her actions are leaving Dolton with a massive financial deficit.

Henyard has also been accused by a former employee of sexual harassment and retaliation.

The former employee claims the mayor fired her after she said she was sexually assaulted at a work trip in Las Vegas.

'Us figuring out what happened in Vegas is extremely important for the residents,' said Dolton Board of Trustee member Brittney Norwood.

A year after her election, Dolton residents also triggered a recall process largely due to her hiring of convicted sex offender Lavelle Redmond into a role that would require him to enter people's homes.

Henyard continues to make national headlines for all the wrong reasons despite running a village of just 20,000 people

The high-rolling mayor, who earns $300,000 for her public duties, has spent thousands more on first class trips, a professional hair and makeup team and a security detail

According to reporting at the time, the then-16-year-old Redmond and three others kidnapped and sexually assaulted two girls, ages 13 and 14.

At age 17, Redmond was sentenced to 50 years in prison but was paroled in 2016 and required to register as a sex offender. At the time Henyard defended the move, stating that convicts who have served time deserve a second chance.

Some 56 percent of voters backed the recall referendum to remove Henyard but the vote was later ruled illegal by the Illinois Appellate Court and Henyard remained in post, turning up to the next board meeting blasting a disco song and dancing on the podium.

Following the verdict, she also posted a defiant picture on Instagram proclaiming herself the 'People's Mayor' with the caption, 'I am and forever will be Dolton's Mayor.'

The village board had voted through a motion to ask agencies including the FBI, the US attorney, the Cook County sheriff and Cook County state's attorney to investigate Henyard earlier this year.

Henyard vetoed the invitation, but FBI agents were already talking to dozens of people in the village of about its unpaid bills.

The mayor has admitted a $2 million deficit, blaming the trustees for incompetence, but some fear the true figure could be as high as $5 million.

The village owes more than $427,000 to a company that repaved its streets, and another $400,000 to a tree-trimming company that worked for it last year.

The FBI is now investigating spending on limos, first class flights and a professional hair and makeup team

In one photo posted to Instagram, Henyard even appeared to pose with a dog laden with jewelry

Henyard even has a criminal past and a mugshot, having been arrested and charged with criminal trespass to vehicles in 2016, the New York Post reported

Henyard had her charity 'Tiffany Henyard Cares' shut down last month by the Illinois Attorney General amid claims it used taxpayer money and the services of public employees.

She and other officials are accused of spending more than $67,000 of public money on trips to Portland, Austin, Atlanta and New York City, traveling first-class on some of the flights, and spending $13,000 on a stay in New York.

The first female mayor in the town's 128-year history was at the White House meeting President Joe Biden in January, but she has been accused of shutting down businesses that refuse to donate to her campaign.

One resident, Lawrence Gardner, claimed that Henyard forced the closure of his trucking business after he refused to renew a $3,500 contribution to her political fund.

The mayor was slammed for hiring her former campaign worker as the town's code enforcement officer despite the fact he is a convicted child rapist.

She also raised eyebrows after spending hundreds of thousands of tax dollars on security details, including one occasion where she pulled cops off the street to perform a protection outfit.

A successful recall vote was overturned on a technicality last year prompting her to dance on a podium at the subsequent board meeting to the strains of Rihanna's 'B***h Better Have My Money'.

Heynard is under fire for hiring her former campaign worker Lavelle Redmond (pictured together, left) as a code enforcement officer. The 46-year-old is a registered child sex offender

'I am and forever will be Dolton's Mayor,' she posted on Instagram, prompting some to call her the 'Dolton Dictator.'

She has not been charged with an offense and is defiant against critics she claims 'should be ashamed of themselves'.

She also features heavily on professional stylist Brandon K Momom's account, sporting various ensembles handpicked for her public appearances.

Visitors to Henyard's website are greeted by a huge selfie and encouraged to offer donations.

Her antics have earned comparisons to the show Parks and Recreation, a comedy which pokes fun at local government employees.

Henyard even has a criminal past and a mugshot, having been arrested and charged with criminal trespass to vehicles in 2016, the New York Post reported.
The man accused of murdering a gay Jewish teen in Southern California is facing trial six years after the brutal stabbing murder.

Samuel Woodward, 26, has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and the hate crime that was tacked on over the death of Blaze Bernstein, 19, back in 2018.

The trial has taken more than half-a-decade to begin, primarily due to questions about Woodward's mental fitness to stand trial.

Opening statements took place in a Southern California court room on Tuesday, two years after Woodward was deemed competent to stand trial in 2022.

The lead prosecutor said the state will argue Woodward 'killed Blaze Bernstein because he was gay,' not because he was Jewish.

Samuel Woodward, originally new Newport Beach, has pleaded not guilty and his attorneys will argue that he is innocent both of the murder charge, and of the enhancement for a hate crime that was tacked on. He is pictured in court on Tuesday

Woodward has also been linked to a white supremacist group - Atomwaffen Division - and kept troves of anti-gay and anti-Semitic material on his cell phone, which investigators were able to hack

Blaze Bernstein, a 19-year-old student at the University of Pennsylvania , was gay and Jewish. In January of 2018, he was home in Orange County visiting his family when he was killed

Bernstein, a 19-year-old Sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, was home visiting his family in Orange County in January of 2018, when he made plans to meet up with Woodward.

Woodward, then-20 and originally from Newport Beach, was, according to his defense team, mentally unstable and conflicted about his sexuality.

The suspect was also linked to a white supremacist group - Atomwaffen Division - and kept troves of anti-gay and anti-Semitic material on his cell phone, which investigators were able to hack.

In one journal entry of Woodward's titled 'diary of hate,' he described threats he claims to have made against gay people online, according to a brief by the prosecution.

Leading up to the trial, Assistant Public Defender Ken Morrison told Judge Kimberly Menninger: 'There is this narrative that's been pushed: Nazi kills gay Jew. From the defense perspective, that's inaccurate.'

Bernstein went missing after a trip to a park in Lake Forest with Woodward. The pair had both attended the Orange County School of the Arts and connected via Snapchat after matching on Tinder while Bernstein was home.

The teen's parents later found his glasses, wallet, and credit cards in his bedroom after he missed a dentist appointment on January 3 and wasn't responding to texts or calls.

Several days later, Bernstein's body was discovered in a shallow grave at the park close to his parents' home.

Authorities say Woodward picked Bernstein up from his parents' house and later stabbed him some 20 times in the face and neck.

DNA evidence connected Woodward to the stabbing murder, a theory bolstered by the trove of anti-gay, anti-Jewish material found on his phone.

Woodward was arrested two days after a bloody blade was found in his room at his parents' house in the upscale enclave of Newport Beach.

The case has taken years to come to trial because of questions about Woodward's mental state and ability to stand trial. Multiple public defenders have quit on Woodward, and the lead prosecutor on the case at one point became a judge.

The alleged murder weapon submitted to evidence in Orange County Superior Court

Woodward is being defended by public defender Kenneth Morrison, who is arguing that Woodward killed Blaze because of something he found out the night the latter died

Bernstein's body was discovered in a shallow grave at the park close to his parents' home

Samuel Lincoln Woodward, 20, of Newport Beach, right, a suspect in the murder of 19-year-old Blaze Bernstein, consults with his attorney in January, 2018

Bernstein went missing after a trip to a park in Lake Forest with Woodward. The pair had both attended the Orange County School of the Arts and connected via Snapchat while Bernstein was home

Blaze Bernstein's parents read a statement at a press conference in front of the Orange County Sheriff's department after their son's body was found a week after he had disappeared from their family home

Judge Kimberly Menninger is presiding. In February, Woodward threw a cup of water at her, which led to the process of jury selection beginning over again

In late 2022, he was deemed competent. He has also gone through a number of defense attorneys, one of whom claimed Woodward has Asperger's syndrome, which generally causes difficulty with social interactions.

In February, when the jury selection process began, a courtroom outburst from Woodward forced the process to begin again. The defendant reportedly threw a cup of water at Judge Menninger.

The Bernstein family has reportedly been frustrated with the trial delays. They hope that the beginning of the trial will get them one step closer to justice for their son's killing.

Ahead of trial, Morrison said: 'For the past six years, the public has been reading and hearing a prosecution and muckraking narrative about this case that is simply fundamentally wrong.'

'I caution everyone to respect our judicial process and wait until a jury has been able to see, hear, and evaluate all of the evidence,' he said.

The defense framed their strategy Tuesday around the notion that Blaze Bernstein was killed by Woofward 'because of what Sam learned that night about what Blaze had been doing over the previous six months.'

The implication of the argument being that it was Bernstein who lured Woodward to the park that night, as opposed to the opposite, according to journalist Louis Keene, who has been watching the trial.

Morrison has also said that one of his primary goals will be to separate the crime his client is accused of committing from his association with the Atomwaffen Division.

Morrison has previously attempted to have references to Adolf Hitler and Nazis excluded from testimony during trial due to their inflammatory nature.

He has also said that, despite media interest, having cameras in the courtroom during the trial could 'be traumatizing' to some of the 56 witnesses slated to testify.

'Is it simply because the news media loves the salacious narrative that they created?' asked the public defender.

Judge Menninger, however, determined the trial involves 'great issues of public interest.' She will therefore allow cameras in the courtroom on a limited basis.

'I need to be sure people trust us. I need them to see that we are not hiding the ball,' she said.

The trial is expected to take two-to-three months, potentially running through the end of June.

Orange County Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker speaks in Orange County Superior Court for Opening Statements of the murder trial for the stabbing death of Blaze Berstein on April 9, 2024 in Santa Ana, California

Orange County Deputy Sheriffs escort Samuel Lincoln Woodward into Orange County Superior Court for Opening Statements of his murder trial

Woodward, who looked disheveled and disturbed in court on Tuesday, has cycled through a handful of defense attorneys in the six years since his arrest

At a preliminary hearing back in 2018, the OC Sheriff's Department worked hard to crack open the contents of Woodward's iPhone.

Their successful efforts yielded a goldmine of suspicious material, including emails the young man had written and sent to himself under the heading 'Sam's Diary.'

'I tell sodomites that Im bi-curious, which makes them want to convert me  Get them hooked by acting coy, maybe send them a pic or two, beat around the bush and pretend to tell them that I like them and then kabam, I either un-friend them or tell them they have been pranked, ha ha,' he wrote in one such email dated May 2017.

In another email he sent from July 2017, Woodward wrote about downloading the gay dating app Grindr.

'LMAO. They think they are going to get hate crimes and it scared the s*** out of them ... Pricless.'

Investigators say that Woodward admitted to being with Bernstein on the night he vanished, but said the victim walked alone through the park, leaving him waiting.

Woodward also said that Bernstein made a pass at him, but the suspect believed homosexuality to be 'gross.'

On Tuesday, the prosecution introduced new messages between Woodward and Bernstein, in which Woodward told Blaze he was still straight, but 'I might make an exception for you.'
Switzerland's biggest political party demanded a withdrawal from the Council of Europe after the continent's top rights court on Tuesday ruled the country was not doing enough to tackle climate change.

The hard-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) slammed the verdict, calling the decision by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg 'scandalous'.

'Switzerland must withdraw from the Council of Europe,' the SVP said in a statement, adding that the court's job was to 'dispense justice and not make policy'.

The ECHR ruled that countries including Switzerland - and Britain - must do more to protect their citizens from the consequences of climate change in a landmark ruling that sided with a group of 2,000 Swiss women against their government.

The verdict has caused controversy in Switzerland, which became a member of the Council of Europe in 1963 but has stayed out of the European Union, with the SVP arguing the 'brazen interference in Swiss politics is unacceptable for a sovereign country' in a statement.

Amid talk of a Brexit-style withdrawal from wider continental politics, the SVP said the ECHR was 'increasingly interfering in national affairs that were not an issue when it was founded... It is unacceptable that political decisions are made by courts.'

Besides pulling out of the Council of Europe, the party called for a renewed discussion over the priority of national law.

Celebrity climate activist Greta Thunberg was in the courtroom as the The European Court of Human Rights ruling was announced

Swiss member of Senior Women for Climate Rosmarie Wydler-Walti, right, talks to Greta Thunberg after the ECHR ruling, Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg

The case could pave the way for more legal challenges from eco activists across the continent, including in the UK, experts have said. Pictured: Just Stop Oil protesters in London last year

'With today's ruling, the Strasbourg judges have turned themselves into puppets of activists and have now finally lost their credibility,' the SVP said in a statement, adding that judges had 'not even consider[ed] the fact that Switzerland is exemplary in reducing carbon dioxide emissions'.

The SVP, which has its roots as a farmers' party in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, became a national force focused on opposition to closer ties with the European Union, any concession of Swiss independence, and mass immigration.

READ MORE: Greta Thunberg is detained twice by Dutch police during protest over fossil fuel in The Hague - as a video shows the moment two burly cops dump the Swedish climate activist on a coach Advertisement

The SVP comfortably topped the Swiss general elections in October but holds just two of the seven seats in the power-sharing government, and is often at odds with its coalition partners.

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said it had taken note of the verdict and would consider what actions it required.

'This ruling is final. This detailed judgement will be analysed with the authorities concerned and the measures that Switzerland must take for the future will be examined,' it said in a statement.

The ECHR found that the Swiss state had violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the 'right to respect for private and family life'.

Switzerland joined the Council of Europe in 1963 and ratified the European Convention on Human Rights in 1974.

It is not a member state of the European Union.

The historic decision could now force other governments to adopt more ambitious climate policies.

The case could also now open the door for more legal challenges from eco activists across the continent, including in the UK, where campaigners have been to court in recent months to fight the government on its climate policies.

Greta Thunberg was in the courtroom as the The European Court of Human Rights ruling was announced. 'These rulings are a call to action. They underscore the importance of taking our national governments to court,' the 21-year-old Swede said.

Although activists have had successes with lawsuits in domestic proceedings, this was the first time an international court ruled on climate change - and the first ruling confirming that countries have an obligation to protect people from its effects, experts have said.

'This is a turning point,' said Corina Heri, a climate change litigation expert at the University of Zurich. She said it would enable more legal challenges in countries that are Council of Europe members, which includes the EU, Britain and many other countries.

A series of high profile legal challenges have been lodged against the UK government recently, including by TV star Chris Packham, who applied for a judicial review of the government's plans to ditch the timetable for phasing out petrol and diesel cars.

In a separate case, environmentalists recently returned to the high court claiming that previous judgments forcing the government to change its climate policies were not sufficient, and today's decision is likely to embolden green policy critics.

The ECHR rejected two other, similar cases - a high-profile one brought by Portuguese young people and another by a French mayor that sought to force governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But those plaintiffs still rejoiced, saying the Swiss case sets a legal precedent in the Council of Europe's 46 member states against which future lawsuits will be judged.

'The most important thing is that the court has said in the Swiss women's case that governments must cut their emissions more to protect human rights,' said 19-year-od Sofia Oliveira, one of the Portuguese plaintiffs. 'So, their win is a win for us, too, and a win for everyone.'

The Swiss women were overjoyed as they descended to the court building's foyer to cheers and applause. 'I am overwhelmed at the result,' Pia Hollenstein, one of the women, said after the hearing.

The court - which is unrelated to the European Union - faulted Switzerland for not giving sufficient protection to the Senior Women for Climate Protection, whose average age is 74 and who argued that older women are most vulnerable to the extreme heat that is becoming more frequent.

Anton Foley, climate justice activist with Fridays For Future, Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and Rosmarie Wydler-Walti, of Senior Women for Climate Protection

The Swiss women were overjoyed as they descended to the court building's foyer to cheers and applause

The court said the country 'had failed to comply with its duties' to combat climate change and meet emissions targets.

That, the court ruled, constituted a violation of the women's rights, noting that the European Convention on Human Rights guarantees people 'effective protection by the state authorities from the serious adverse effects of climate change on their lives, health, well-being and quality of life'.

Switzerland said it would study the decision to see what steps would be needed. 'We have to, in good faith, implement and execute the judgment,' said Alain Chablais, who represented the country at last year's hearings.

Judge Siofra O'Leary, the court's president, stressed that it would be up to governments to decide how to approach climate change obligations.

Lawyers for all three cases decided on Tuesday had hoped the Strasbourg court would find that national governments have a legal duty to make sure global warming is held to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, in line with the goals of the Paris climate agreement.

As part of meeting those goals, the European Union, which does not include Switzerland, currently has a target to be climate-neutral by 2050.

People demonstrate outside the European Court of Human Rights Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, second left, joins youths from Portugal during a demonstration outside the European Court of Human Rights

But activists have argued that many governments have not grasped the gravity of the problem - and are increasingly looking to the courts to force more action.

The Earth shattered global annual heat records in 2023, flirted with the world's agreed-upon warming threshold, and showed more signs of a feverish planet, Copernicus, a European climate agency, said in January.

While many celebrated Tuesday's decision, the mixed ruling left some confusion - and it could undermine a previous ruling in the Netherlands.

In 2019, the Dutch Supreme Court ordered the government to cut emissions by at least 25 per cent by the end of 2020 from benchmark 1990 levels.

'The first ruling by an international human rights court on the inadequacy of states' climate action leaves no doubt,' said Joie Chowdhury, senior attorney with the Centre for International Environmental Law, 'the climate crisis is a human rights crisis.'
An 18-year-old migrant has been arrested over the gruesome murder and dismemberment of a 20-year-old man.

On Friday, homicide detectives with the Fresno County Sheriffs Office arrested the teenager from Mendota for killing Fraylee Hernandez.

Hernandez's dismembered remains were discovered inside a parked vehicle in an orchard near Mendota on January 17, according to Fresno County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators believe Hernandez was killed several days earlier on January 6.

On Friday, homicide detectives with the Fresno County Sheriffs Office arrested an 18 year old from Mendota for killing Fraylee Hernandez (pictured)

Hernandez's dismembered remains were discovered inside a parked vehicle in an orchard near Mendota on Jan. 17, according to the Fresno County Sheriff's Office

The suspect, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, has been booked into the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Campus and faces one count of murder.

The suspect was previously on probation for assaulting their mother, according to investigators.

Detectives also determined that the suspect was acquainted with Hernandez.

The suspect's name has not been released due to him being in the juvenile court system - however, the court can transfer his case to an adult court at a later time.

The suspect was 17 years old when the crime occurred, but they had reached the age of 18 by the time of their arrest.

They have since been detained at the juvenile justice campus.

Authorities urge anyone with additional information to contact Detective Richard Antunez at (559) 600-8221 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867.

In February, an illegal migrant from El Salvador was arrested in Maryland and charged with murder in the case of a two-year-old who was shot and killed.

Nilson Trejo-Granados, 25, was charged by the Prince George County Police Department with first and second-degree murder this week.

In February, Nilson Trejo-Granados, 25, - an illegal El Salvadorian migrant - was charged by the Prince George County Police Department with first and second-degree murder

The toddler was out on a walk in the park with his mother when he was shot dead

The illegal migrant is the fifth person arrested in connection to the death of toddler Jeremy Poou Caceres.

On February 8, Jeremy and his mother were walking on Kanawha Street in Langley Park when shots were fired between two groups of men.

The toddler and his mother were caught in the crossfire, and Jeremy was fatally struck. He was taken to Children's National hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Meanwhile, an illegal migrant who had been previously arrested 11 times and deported eight times was charged with aggravated murder in Ohio last week.

Fermin Garcia-Gutierrez, 46, has been arrested for shooting and killing another man in Hamilton on Monday

Fermin Garcia-Gutierrez, 46, was detained for allegedly shooting and killing another man in Hamilton.

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said Garcia-Gutierrez has arrests dating back to 2001 and has allegedly used at least seven different names and three different birthdates.
Former conservative Congressman Ken Buck blasted Congresswoman Majorie Taylor Greene as 'Moscow Marjorie' as she threatens to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Now that Congress is back from recess, Johnson is facing how to pass new aid for Ukraine, something that far-right Republicans including Greene oppose.

Before recess, Greene filed a motion to vacate , meaning to remove Johnson from his leadership position, but she did not force a vote.

But the Georgia Congresswoman has slammed Johnson holding a vote to fund Ukraine, calling it one of the most 'egregious things' he could do.

'Moscow Marjorie is focused now on this Ukraine issue and getting her talking points from the Kremlin and making sure she is popular and she is getting a lot of coverage,' Buck said on CNN's Erin Burnett Outfront on Monday.

Former Colorado Congressman Ken Buck slams 'Moscow Marjorie' in CNN interview

Rep. Marjorie Taylor filed a motion for Johnson to vacate and accused him of advancing Biden policies

The former Colorado congressman accused her of always being focused on her social media account.

Buck argued Russia is propagating false statements about its war in Ukraine and praised Johnson for doing the responsible thing by holding a vote on aid.

'Mike Johnson is on the right side of history and Marjorie is on the wrong side of history,' Buck said.

In a recent interview with rightwing TV personality Tucker Carlson, Greene accused Johnson of making a 'complete departure of who he is and what he stands for.'

Greene baselessly suggested to Tucker Carlson that Speaker Johnson was being 'blackmailed'

Without providing evidence, Greene stated 'people are literally asking, is he blackmailed?'

When Carlson asked if she thinks he is being blackmailed, Green responded 'I have no idea.'

Buck slammed baseless suggestion, calling many of her statements over the yeras 'completely irresponsible.'

'The idea that somehow the speaker [Johnson] is corrupt because he believes that we should be supporting an ally that has bee invaded by a war criminal, Vladimir Putin, and the idea that somehow anybody that is in agreement with Ukraine and our NATO allies is corrupt, it's just another distraction,' Buck said.

Greene has floated a series of wild conspiracy theories and claims while in office.

Most recently she suggested the earthquake hitting the northeast last week and eclipse of the sun on Monday are 'strong signs' from God that Americans should 'repent.'

Johnson is facing mounting pressure to move forward with an aid package to Ukraine but his caucus is facing internal turmoil over the move.

Hard-right Republicans as staunchly against passing the bill.

Last year, Buck announced he would not seek another term in office. But last month, he announced he would resign from office the following week.

on his way out, Buck expressed frustration with the way Congress had been operating saying the place 'keeps going downhill' and he didn't need to spend his time there.
Britain won't suspend arms sales to Israel despite the recent killings of three British veterans in an IDF airstrike in Gaza, David Cameron confirmed tonight.

The Foreign Secretary, speaking in Washington DC, said he had reviewed the most recent legal advice and this had left the UK's position 'unchanged'.

The deaths of John Chapman, 57, James 'Jim' Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47, who were all former members of the Armed Forces, has piled pressure on the Government to take a tougher line on Israel.

They were among seven aid workers who died when a World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy was hit by an Israeli air strike last week.

Calls for a halt to arms sales to Israel in the wake of the tragedy have come from MPs - including senior Tories - as well as a former national security adviser and retired senior judges.

Britain won't suspend arms sales to Israel despite the recent killing of three British veterans in an IDF airstrike in Gaza, David Cameron confirmed tonight

The Foreign Secretary spoke in Washington DC this evening at a press conference alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

(Left to right) John Chapman, James 'Jim' Henderson and James Kirby, were among aid workers killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza last week

There has been global fury at Israel following the 'outrageous' strike on an aid convoy of three cars, which were marked as working for the World Central Kitchen charity

But, speaking at a press conference this evening, Lord Cameron said: 'On Israel and international humanitarian law, as required by the UK's robust arms export control regime, I have now reviewed the most recent advice about the situation in Gaza and Israeli conduct of their military campaign.

'The latest assessment leaves our position on export licences unchanged. This is consistent with the advice that I and other ministers have received and as ever we will keep the position under review.

'Let me be clear though, we continue to have grave concerns around the humanitarian access issue in Gaza, both for the period that was assessed and subsequently.'

The Foreign Secretary noted how 'so far, no like-minded countries have taken the decision to suspend existing arms export licences to Israel'.

He also hailed Israel as a 'vital defence and security partner to the UK', but made a demand for Israel's 'public commitments' to flood Gaza with aid 'to be turned into a reality'.

Lord Cameron continued to resist pressure for the Government to publish the legal advice it has received as to whether Israel has acted in accordance with international humanitarian law over its actions in Gaza.

'We don't publish legal advice, we don't comment on legal advice but we act in a way that's consistent with it,' he said. 'We're a Government under the law and that's as it should be.'

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) dismissed two officers over last Monday's drone strike, which it described as a 'grave mistake stemming from a serious failure'.

Mishandling of critical information and violations of the army's rules of engagement were cited as the reasons for the dismissal.

Three other senior officers were also reprimanded for their roles in the strike, which brought widespread international condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza.

The debate over whether to suspend arms export licences sparked rumours of a Cabinet split, with Lord Cameron appearing more strident in his criticism of Israel than some of his colleagues, including Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden.

On Sunday, Mr Dowden hit out at those who 'relish' in 'pushing this case against Israel' and expressed concern about 'the manner in which some people are seizing on this issue'.

Kristyan Benedict, from Amnesty International UK, said: 'It's sadly predictable that David Cameron still insists that there are no grounds for the UK to suspend arms transfers to Israel even after Israeli forces have killed thousands of civilians, including aid workers in Gaza.

'The Foreign Secretary ought to have told his counterparts in the US administration that the UK will immediately suspend arms transfers to Israel, including the supply of components for US-made F-35 bombers which are being used by Israeli forces in Gaza with such horrendous consequences for Palestinians.

'This was yet another missed opportunity from David Cameron to move himself and other UK officials away from their current complicity in Israeli war crimes, apartheid and possible genocide.'
Media reports estimate $6 bil.-$7 bil. in support

By Baek Byung-yeul

Samsung Electronics is expected to receive more than $6 billion in subsidies from the U.S. government for its semiconductor investments in the country, marking its entry into the heated competition for chip investments alongside Intel and TSMC, according to media reports on Tuesday.

The U.S. Department of Commerce on Monday revealed its support for chip factories by foundry company TSMC with grants totaling $6.6 billion, along with a $5 billion loan. This marks an increase of over 30 percent from the initially expected amount.

The sizable support stems from the CHIPS and Science Act, a chip subsidy program enacted in 2022 aimed at incentivizing companies to construct new semiconductor factories in the U.S.

Such substantial favors do not come without obligations. Taiwanese chip company TSMC announced its intention to increase its investment from $40 billion to $65 billion. Additionally, it plans to construct a third plant in Arizona by 2030.

The announcement regarding subsidies for Samsung is anticipated to be made next week, with foreign media speculating that the Korean chip giant is likely to receive between $6 billion and $7 billion in subsidies. In 2021, Samsung declared its intention to invest $17 billion to construct a new foundry plant in Texas, which is presently under construction.

In response to Washington's subsidy support surpassing expectations, much like TSMC's reaction, Samsung is also anticipated to escalate its investment in the U.S. to over $44 billion, as reported by Reuters.

Should Samsung secure such support, it would mark the third-largest contract with the U.S. government, trailing only behind Intel and TSMC. Last month, the Joe Biden administration unveiled plans to allocate $8.5 billion in subsidies and $11 billion in loan support to Intel. In light of this, Intel intends to invest upwards of $100 billion over the next five years.

Washington has said the support scheme aims to bring back semiconductor manufacturing to U.S. soil, addressing the current overconcentration in Asia. The objective is to produce 20 percent of the world's most advanced semiconductors in the U.S. by 2030.

Analysts perceive Samsung's involvement in the U.S. strategy to enhance its chip capability as advantageous for the company. This move allows Samsung to establish local production bases, enhancing its ability to cater to the demand of its U.S. customers, particularly those specializing in AI chips.

"Samsung Electronics is currently building a foundry plant in Texas, and it will proceed with additional investments to increase its production facilities in the U.S. This will increase its touchpoints with U.S. chip design customers and enhance the competitiveness of Samsung's foundry business," an official in the domestic chip industry said on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, concerning Korea's endeavors to bolster and support the chip industry, President Yoon Suk Yeol has pledged bold measures of support for domestic semiconductor companies, particularly focusing on the AI chip sector.

"The earthquake that occurred in Taiwan on April 3 has raised concerns about the global semiconductor supply chain. The impact on our companies is not significant at the moment. However, the situation is still unpredictable, and we must prepare thoroughly without any gaps," the president said during a semiconductor industry strategy meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, Tuesday.

The meeting brought together executives from Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Naver and Sapeon Korea, as well as the ministers of finance, industry, science, environment and land.

"The current chip competition is an industrial war and a total war between nations. We must have a total response system that matches a wartime situation. We will comprehensively analyze the investment environment and support systems of major countries and prepare bold support measures tailored to Korean conditions, the president said.
A far-right terrorist who firebombed a migrant detention centre claimed to have viewed indecent images of children and incited racial hatred months before the attack, an inquest has heard.

Andrew Leak had thrown four improvised explosive devices at the site in Dover docks on October 30, 2022, before taking his own life hours later as police hunted for him.

The 66-year-old had suffered deteriorating mental health over several years due to drug and alcohol addiction, with things spiralling further after the unexpected death of his son several months prior to the attack.

An inquest heard on Tuesday that months before the attack Leak had been the subject of an eight-hour stand-off with police after he called them saying he was going to kill himself in a graveyard in Oxfordshire.

The retired labourer was taken into custody by Thames Valley Police following the cry for help, but no evidence of illegal material was found on his electronic devices.

Andrew Leak, 66, firebombed a migrant detention centre in Dover on October 30, 2022

In the attack Leak threw four improvised explosive devices at the site, setting a tent on fire in the process. Pictured: Police and fire service stand next to the car believed to have been used by Leak in the attack

In the 999 call to the police in July 2022, Leak said: 'I'm just about to kill myself in a graveyard because I've been looking at little kids on the internet'.

The court heard how Leak had moved to High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, to be close to his sister following his cancer diagnosis.

But he was discharged by the local mental health team in March 2020 despite a diagnosis of a personality disorder following the imposition of Covid-19 restrictions.

Leak also told family members that police were investigating him on terrorism offences because he had been a member of the far-right National Front as a young man. And he admitted to have been 'looking at' teenage girls in school uniform.

But the court heard there was no police investigation into terrorism before the attack on October 30, 2022.

It was only after the incident that police discovered bomb making manuals and racist jokes on his internet browser history.

In a statement to Kent Police Anti-Terrorism unit, his daughter, whose name was not read out in court, claimed her father did not hold any political beliefs although he would make 'general comments' about immigration.

She told police Leak was 'English and proud, but not racist' but would make unpleasant remarks when he was mentally ill.

Previously police have claimed Leak was motivated by 'extreme right wing terrorist ideology'.

The divorced father of two had a history of deluded online rants against Muslims and declared before the attack: 'If you're not ready you will not survive what is coming'.

The divorced father-of-two was found to have posted rants against Muslims online as well as claiming to have looked at indecent images of children

Leak shared pictures of him wearing a mask of the Joker, a famous villain from the Batman comics

The 66-year-old had previously been involved with an eight-hour stand-off with police after he threatened to kill himself in a graveyard in Oxfordshire

Leak's Facebook profile was littered with pictures of Batman villain The Joker and he shared photos of himself in a balaclava and disturbing masks.

Other vile social media posts included paranoid theories on the Covid vaccine and even suggesting the World Economic Forum was connected to Nazism.

Neighbours revealed he had been worried about money after his benefits were cut. He told friends that he only had 36 in his account and that he would have to sell some of his clothes to have enough cash to survive on.

Leak is also understood to have suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and had battled cancer and mental health issues in recent years, telling one neighbour that he had his penis removed because of a late stage tumour around four years ago.

He had a history of sharing far right content from extremist groups including Traditional Britain Group, Turning Point UK and the US based Islamophobic movement ACT for America.

Leak shared a transphobic article from conservative news site The Blaze and would reference far right activist Tommy Robinson, a study of his profile by campaign group Hope Not Hate found.

He shared videos connected to common far right conspiracy theories including 'New World Order' and used other slogans common among conspiracy theorists, such as 'we do not consent', it found.

He shared videos connected to common far right conspiracy theories including 'New World Order' and used other slogans common among conspiracy theorists, such as 'we do not consent', it found.

The court heard that during the attack on October 30, 2022, Leak threw four improvised explosive devices at the immigration detention centre, setting fire to a tent and putting the lives of migrants and immigration officials in danger.

Assistant-Coroner for Mid-Kent and Medway Coroner Scott Matthewson questioned what Leak hoped to achieve or his motivation.

Mr Matthewson added: 'He was clearly affected by the state of his mental health.'

The court heard how he fled only to stop at a BP petrol station where he set off fire-works, terrifying passers-by and was later found dead by police at the same location.

The coroner confirmed the cause of death as asphyxiation and the manner of his death as suicide.

A toxicology report found traces of prescription drugs as well as cocaine, codeine and heroin in Leak's blood stream.
The Florida woman who stole Ashley Biden's diary and sold it for $40,000 to a conservative news website before the 2020 election has been given a month in prison.

Aimee Harris, 41, swiped the diary while staying at the president's daughter's Delray Beach, Florida, residence in 2020 after she had vacated it.

She later asked Robert Kurlander to help her sell the stolen material to try and make the private material public.

The pair later sold it to Project Veritas, a conservative news outlet, for $20,000 each, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

A tearful Harris apologised to the court, while a judge called her actions 'despicable' and and 'very serious', telling her to report to prison by July.

Aimee Harris, the woman who stole Ashley Biden's diary and sold it for $40,000 to a conservative news website, has been given a month in prison. She is pictured walking out of Manhattan federal court after the sentence was handed down

Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property in August 2022, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

A federal judge sentenced Harris on Tuesday to a month behind bars and three months of home detention.

Judge Laura Taylor Swain of Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York called Harris' conduct 'despicable' and 'very serious'.

She will then be on supervised release for three years and must also forfeit $20,000 she received from selling the diary.

In a statement to the court, Ms. Biden called the theft a 'heinous form of bullying'.

Ashley Biden, the only child of Joe Biden's marriage to First Lady Jill Biden, left the private journal behind at a home in Palm Beach, Florida after she moved to Philadelphia in June 2020

Harris stole the diary while staying with Joe Biden 's daughter at her Delray Beach, Florida , residence in 2020. She later asked Robert Kurlander to help her sell the stolen material

Robert Kurlander and Harris admitted that they took part in a conspiracy to transport stolen materials - including the diary - from Florida , where Biden had been living, to New York, where they tried to sell them

'I do not believe I am above the law,' Harris said after a prosecutor urged a prison sentence following her failure to appear at numerous sentencing dates on the grounds that she was consumed with caring for her two children, ages eight and six.

'I'm a survivor of long term domestic abuse and sexual trauma,' she told the judge.

Prosecutors had recommended a sentence of between four and 10 months behind bars.

U.S. Attorney Robert Sobelman said Harris had shown a 'pattern of disrespect for the law and the justice system.' She said her motive was 'to make as much money as she could' and hurt Joe Biden.

'She wanted to damage Ms. Biden's father,' he said.

The Palm Beach residence sought to get off with only probation.

Lawyer her lawyer Anthony Cecutti said Harris 'carries the shame and stigma for her actions.'

Kurlander's sentencing is set for October 25.

The diary itself, which Harris found under a mattress, contained revealing disclosures about Ashley Biden's sex life, struggles with drugs, and finances.
A New York appeals court judge Tuesday rejected former President Donald Trump's latest bid to delay his hush money criminal trial while he fights a gag order.

Barring further court action, the ruling clears the way for jury selection to begin next Monday in the case involving the $130,000 payments to cover up his alleged affair with Stormy Daniels.

Justice Cynthia Kern's ruling is yet another loss for Trump, who has tried repeatedly to get the trial postponed.

Trump's lawyers had wanted the trial delayed until a full panel of appellate court judges could hear arguments on lifting or modifying a gag order that bans him from making public statements about jurors, witnesses and others connected to the hush-money case.

A New York appeals court judge Tuesday rejected former President Donald Trump's latest bid to delay his hush money criminal trial while he fights a gag order

The presumptive Republican nominee's lawyers argue the gag order is an unconstitutional prior restraint on Trump's free speech rights while hes campaigning for president and fighting criminal charges.

'The First Amendment harms arising from this gag order right now are irreparable,' Trump lawyer Emil Bove said at an emergency hearing Tuesday in the states mid-level appeals court.

Bove argued that Trump shouldn't be muzzled while critics, including his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen and porn actor Stormy Daniels, routinely assail him. Both are key prosecution witnesses.

Steven Wu, the appellate chief for the Manhattan district attorneys office, said there is a 'public interest in protecting the integrity of the trial.'

'This is not political debate. These are insults,' Wu said of Trump's statements.

The former president filed last-ditch attempts to delay the case on Monday, a week before jury selection begins on April 15. He is pictured in court on March 25

The trial over claims the former president, 77, falsified records to cover up payments to porn star Stormy Daniels was due to begin on March 25, but will now start on April 15

The trial judge, Juan M. Merchan, issued the gag order last month at the urging of Manhattan prosecutors, who cited Trump's 'long history of making public and inflammatory remarks' about people involved in his legal cases.

Merchan expanded the gag order last week to prohibit comments about his own family after Trump lashed out on social media at his daughter, a Democratic political consultant, and made false claims about her.

It's the second of back-to-back days for Trump's lawyers in the appeals court.

On Monday, Associate Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez rejected the defense's request to delay the April 15 trial while Trump seeks to move his case out of heavily Democratic Manhattan.

Trump's lawyers framed their gag order appeal as a lawsuit against Merchan. In New York, judges can be sued to challenge some decisions under a state law known as Article 78.

Trump has used the tactic before, including against the judge in his civil fraud trial in an unsuccessful last-minute bid to delay that case last fall and again when that judge imposed a gag order on him.

Trump's hush-money criminal case involves allegations that he falsified his company's records to hide the nature of payments to Cohen, who helped him bury negative stories during his 2016 campaign.

Cohens activities included Daniels $130,000 to suppress her claims of an extramarital sexual encounter with Trump years earlier.

Trump pleaded not guilty last year to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels. His lawyers argue the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.

Trump has made numerous attempts to get the trial postponed, leaning into the strategy he proclaimed to TV cameras outside a February pretrial hearing: 'We want delays.'

Last week, as Merchan swatted away various requests to delay the trial, Trump renewed his request for the judge to step aside from the case. The judge rejected a similar request last August.

Trump's lawyers allege the judge is biased against him and has a conflict of interest because of his daughter Loren's work as president of Authentic Campaigns, whose clients have included President Joe Biden and other Democrats. They complained the expanded gag order was shielding the Merchans 'from legitimate public criticism.'

Merchan had long resisted imposing a gag order. At Trumps arraignment in April 2023, he admonished Trump not to make statements that could incite violence or jeopardize safety, but stopped short of muzzling him. At a subsequent hearing, Merchan noted Trumps 'special' status as a former president and current candidate and said he was 'bending over backwards' to ensure Trump has every opportunity 'to speak in furtherance of his candidacy.'

Merchan became increasingly wary of Trumps rhetoric disrupting the historic trial as it grew near. In issuing the gag order, he said his obligation to ensuring the integrity of the proceedings outweighed First Amendment concerns.

The gag order does not bar comments about Merchan, whom Trump has referred to as 'a Trump-hating judge' with a family full of 'Trump haters,' or about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, an elected Democrat.

Trump reacted on social media that the gag order was 'illegal, un-American, unConstitutional' and said Merchan was 'wrongfully attempting to deprive me of my First Amendment Right to speak out against the Weaponization of Law Enforcement' by Democratic rivals.

Trump suggested without evidence that Merchan's decision making was influenced by his daughters professional interests and made a claim, later repudiated by court officials, that Loren Merchan had posted a social media photo showing Trump behind bars.

After the outburst, Merchan expanded the gag order April 1 to prohibit Trump from making statements about the judge's family or Bragg's family.

'They can talk about me but I can't talk about them???' Trump reacted on his Truth Social platform. 'That sounds fair, doesn't it? This Judge should be recused, and the case should be thrown out.'

Trump filed a similar legal challenge last year over a gag order in his civil fraud case.

Judge Arthur Engoron had issued that order after Trump smeared the judges principal law clerk in a social media post. The gag order barred parties in the case - and, later, their lawyers as well - from commenting publicly on court staffers, though not on the judge himself.

A sole appeals judge lifted the gag order, but a four-judge appellate panel ultimately restored it two weeks later. The panel said Trumps lawyers should have followed a normal appeals process instead of suing the judge. Trumps attorneys said they had been trying to move quickly.
Boeing also routinely pushed back when it was criticized by FAA inspectors

The FAA 'takes orders' from Boeing and is trapped in an 'abusive-spouse relationship' with the manufacturer, insiders claim.

Renewed scrutiny on Boeing since the Alaska Airlines door blowout on January 5 prompted whistleblowers to sound the alarm on its safety standards.

Former employees of both Boeing and the airline regulator described how the FAA ceded more and more oversight to the companies themselves.

Boeing in particular was in such a 'cozy' relationship with the FAA it was able to push back on any criticism.

The Alaska Airlines incident was just the latest for the company's 737 MAX aircraft that killed 345 people in two crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018.

Renewed scrutiny on Boeing since the Alaska Airlines door blowout (pictured) on January 5 prompted whistleblowers to sound the alarm on its safety standards

Those crashes triggered Congressional hearings in 2020 that produced a damning report and new laws to reverse a trend of reduced oversight.

But years later, critics said little had changed and the FAA was slow to implement the changes demanded by the report.

'You've got to turn this company around because it's a mess,' former congressman Peter DeFazio, who ran the hearings, said after the Alaska blowout.

'The FAA basically takes orders from Boeing. That's been going on for the past 10, 15 years for sure,' former Boeing and FAA employee Joe Jacobsen told the Seattle Times.

'At the FAA, they talked about being a partnership [between the regulator and the company]. I would call it more of an abusive-spouse relationship.'

Jacobsen was at Boeing from 1984 to 1995, then quit in disgust to work at the FAA for 25 years - only to face similar hurdles.

He said Boeing became increasingly profit-focused since the 1997 merger with failed manufacturer McDonnell Douglas, whose executives took over the firm.

Former Boeing and FAA engineer Mike Dostert said one big change was the manufacturer outsourcing to numerous suppliers that made it difficult to follow what components came form where and assess their quality.

Boeing was in such a 'cozy' relationship with the Federal Aviation Administration it was able to push back on any criticism

A photo shows the blown out window. It is offered as a door on the aircraft. Alaska chose not to take this option - although the frame of the prospective door was entirely ripped out by the fuselage failure

'That business model saved Boeing money up front, but it created a real problem. I would go to meetings as an FAA rep and ask the engineers, "What about this?" They'd say, "I don't know, we have to ask the supplier,"' he said.

The difficulty in keeping up hastened an already advanced FAA trend of taking the manufacturer's word for it and delegating oversight to them.

'The FAA basically takes orders from Boeing. That's been going on for the past 10, 15 years for sure,' former Boeing and FAA employee Joe Jacobsen said

DeFazio found over time this evolved into a relationship that was dangerously close to collusion.

'When we started the investigation, FAA was referring to Boeing as "a customer", I said, "They're not your customer. You're regulating in the interest of public safety,"' he told the Times.

'But they had evolved into this cozy relationship. They kept expanding the [delegation of authority] - less and less FAA regulation.'

Surveys of FAA employees and managers from just before the hearings complained 'external pressure from industry is strong and is impacting safety culture'.

They claimed there was 'pressure to find win-win solutions that benefit industry'.

'Many reported that industry would escalate issues to senior [FAA] leadership and/or Congress if FAA employees were perceived as "getting in their way," which leads directly to decisions that are friendlier to industry,' according to the report.

Wreckage of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-MAX plane is seen on March 11, 2019

A Boeing 737 MAX-8 that plunged into the sea 13 minutes after taking off from Tangerang, Indonesia, on October 29, 2018. The crash killed all 189 people on board

Boeing ramped up its lobbying after the 2018 crashes and 2020 hearings, spending $67 million in the past five years, and $25 million on donations to federal election campaigns in the past decade.

The insiders said there was some cause for optimism, as new FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker appeared intent on setting things right.

'He is taking a very strong position to reset the FAA as a regulator, and not a buddy of Boeing,' DeFazio said.

He announced sweeping changes to how the regulator would deal with Boeing, including its much-maligned delegated oversight.
Hunter Biden played the role of doting dad this week while frolicking on the Malibu shores with son Beau Jr.

DailyMail.com spotted the First Son, 54, laughing with the four-year-old boy he shares with wife Melissa Cohen. Despite looming federal trials, Hunter appeared carefree, playfully tugging his son toward the waves while almost face planting.

He wore short black swim trunks and went shirtless, proudly showed off his striking back tattoo of several long dark lines, which could resemble claw marks.

But DailyMail.com can reveal that the large ink is actually a drawing of the Finger Lake region in upstate New York, where his late mother Neilia Hunter Biden was born.

DailyMail.com spotted Hunter Biden enjoying the Malibu shores with four-year-old son Beau Jr on Tuesday

The First Son wore black swim trunks and went shirtless, proudly showed off his striking back tattoo

Hunter played the role of doting dad this week while he played in the ocean with his son Beau Jr

DailyMail.com can reveal the sentimental meaning behind the ink and how it's a tribute to his late mother

Despite looming federal tax charges, Hunter appeared carefree as he ran from the chilly waters of Malibu

Hunter appeared carefree, playfully tugging his son toward the waves while almost face planting

Hunter could be seen urging his son toward the waves. He shares four-year-old Beau with wife Melissa Cohen

The Finger Lakes are a group of 11 long and narrow lakes that run north and south.

Hunter has made several odes to the region through his tattoo and businesses.

One of his personal companies, Owasco, is named after one of the lakes.

His consultancy firm, run with Biden family friend Eric Schwerin, Rosemont Seneca, takes the name 'Seneca' from a second finger lake.

Another of his companies used for his shady overseas business deals, Skaneateles, is named after one of the finger lakes in Onondaga County, New York.

Skaneateles is where his mother and President Biden's first wife Neilia Hunter Biden was raised. She tragically died at 30 years old in a car crash in 1972 along with their one-year-old daughter Naomi.

The pair were killed when their car was struck by a tractor-trailer as she took the kids - including Hunter and older brother Beau - to pick out a Christmas tree.

Hunter was only three at the time and critically injured along with Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015.

His mother and sister are buried at the cemetery at Joseph on the Brandywine in Wilmington, Delaware, where Hunter and the rest of the Biden clan visit every year to pay their respects.

Hunter's late mother Neilia Hunter Biden was born in the Finger Lake region of Skaneateles

The large ink is actually a drawing of the Finger Lake region in upstate New York, where his late mother was born and raised

Hunter has made several odes to the region through his tattoo and businesses, naming three of his shady companies after the lakes

Hunter later covered up in a t-shirt and cap, running along the beach and looking up with adorable Beau

Hunter is known to show off the sentimental ink.

According to texts and photos obtained from his abandoned laptop, he's taken several mirror selfies of his bare backside and sent them to girlfriends.

On November 26, 2018, Hunter and one of his girlfriends, Allie Kennedy, were texting each other raunchy pictures.

Hunter sent her a naked photo showing his tattoo and bare bottom, writing 'I love this tattoo.'

Other selfies were taken in a Malibu AirBnB he rented in September 2018. He facetimed a female friend to show off the tats.

Videos from the trip show Hunter dancing shirtless, stripping naked and sliding down a waterslide into a pool where prostitutes surrounded him.

His British artist friend, Phillipa Horan, once painted a nude portrait of Hunter from behind, gesturing to his back tattoos, and sent him a picture of it in October 2018.

According to texts and photos obtained from his abandoned laptop, he's taken several mirror selfies of his bare backside and sent them to girlfriends

Hunter was snapped prancing around a pool naked and slapping his own bottom in 2018. His back tattoo is clearly visible

On November 26, 2018, Hunter and one of his girlfriends, Allie Kennedy, were texting each other raunchy pictures. Hunter sent her a naked mirror selfie showing his tattoo and bare bottom, writing 'I love my tattoo'

From these exclusive photos, the First Son appears to have not a care in the world despite being up to his neck in legal turmoil.

Just last week Judge Mark Scarsi determined the three felony charges and six misdemeanor charges for tax evasion could move forward.

This came despite Hunter's attorneys showing up to federal court in Los Angeles last month to urge the judge to consider dismissal of the nine tax charges brought by special counsel David Weiss.

The charges stem from what federal prosecutors say was a four-year scheme to skip out on paying the $1.4million he owed to the IRS and instead use the money to fund an 'extravagant lifestyle' that by his own admission included drugs and alcohol.

The charges span the 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 tax years.

Meanwhile, Hunter has also been charged in Delaware with lying in October 2018 on a federal form for gun purchases when he swore he wasn't using or addicted to illegal drugs. He was addicted to crack cocaine at the time and is also accused of possessing the gun illegally. He's pleaded not guilty in that case.

The Justice Department says Hunter faces up to 17 years in prison for the tax charges and 25 years for the gun charges if convicted, in dual cases that could have a devastating impact on his father's presidential campaign.
Humza Yousafs brother-in-law has appeared in court accused of the abduction and extortion of a man shortly before he plunged to his death from a block of flats.

Ramsay El-Nakla has been accused of acting along with three others who are accused of killing Ryan Munro.

El-Nakla appeared briefly in private at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday after being held overnight in custody. He faces charges of abducting Mr Munro and extorting money from him.

The petition alleges firstly that he was acting alongside Jennifer Souter, Stephen Stewart and Victoria McGowan when he abducted Mr Munro in Morgan Street, Dundee.

It is alleged that between January 9 and 10 this year that all four abducted Mr Munro and placed him in a state of fear and alarm by making threats of violence and intimidation and detaining him against his will.

The second charge alleges that El-Nakla - while acting with the other three - extorted money from Mr Munro at the property during the same time period.

Humza Yousaf with his wife Nadia El-Nakla. She is the sister of Ramsay El-Nakla (Pictured in March)

That charge alleges that they acted with the intention of menacing Mr Munro and putting him in a state of alarm and apprehension of intimidation and loss of liberty. They are alleged to have made threats of violence and extorted money from him by threats.

El-Nakla, Baxter Park Terrace, Dundee, made no plea before Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith and the case against him was continued for further examination. He was released on bail.

Ryan Munro was seriously injured after sustaining head injuries in a 30 foot fall from a flat window in Morgan Street, Dundee, on January 10. He died in hospital a week later.

Jennifer Souter previously appeared in court charged with killing Mr Munro.

El-Nakla, 36, was initially questioned along with Victoria McGowan and Stephen Stewart about the death of Mr Munro earlier this year.

McGowan, 41, and Stewart, 50, appeared on a petition at Dundee Sheriff Court last Thursday alleging involvement with Mr Munro prior to his death. They appeared on the same petition as alleged killer Souter, 38.

Souter is alleged to have threatened, intimidated and detained him against his will with a view to extorting money from him and placing him in a state of fear and alarm.

She is alleged to have committed culpable homicide by putting Mr Munro in fear for his safety and causing him to fall from a second floor window, resulting in fatal injuries.

She made no plea or declaration and was remanded in custody by Sheriff John Rafferty after a brief hearing in private.

McGowan and Stewart also appeared in private to face a charge each on the petition alleging the abduction and intimidation of Mr Munro at the Morgan Street property between 9 and 10 January.

Ramsay El-Nakla is expected to appear in Dundee Sheriff Court on Tuesday

Neither made any plea to the charge against them and they were both granted bail.

Mr Munro sustained serious head injuries when he fell around 30 feet into the street below and landed on a vehicle parked outside the flat.

Workmen who were in the street tried to administer first aid at the scene, but Mr Munro was taken to Ninewells Hospital and succumbed to his injuries seven days later.

His brother Mark paid tribute at the time, saying: We are numb. Ryan was a great father. He had previously agreed to donate his organs.

His heart is still beating and his liver is with someone else now. We have found some comfort that Ryans organs have given someone else the gift of life.

El-Naklas sister, psychotherapist Nadia El-Nakla, is the wife of First Minister Humza Yousaf and is a councillor on Dundee City Council, where she sits on the Scrutiny Committee. She is the citys drugs spokesman.
A former RAF corporal who had his left foot amputated following an injury while on base has secured a settlement from the Ministry of Defence.

While Richard Davies, 37, was participating in a cargo moving exercise at a camp in Akrotiri, Cyprus, an aircraft engine transportation trailer was towed into the back of his left foot.

Despite undergoing a four-hour surgery to reconstruct his foot, multiple infections meant Mr Davies had to have a below-the-knee amputation in July 2021.

Mr Davies' lawyers at Irwin Mitchel have since secured him an undisclosed settlement from the Ministry of Defence.

The father-of-two, who lives with his wife Toni, 36, his son Rhys, six, and daughter Paige, three, in Norwich, Norfolk, said: 'My injury put an end to my military career and I missed it for a long time.

Richard Davies, 37, was participating in a cargo moving exercise when an aircraft engine transportation trailer was towed into the back of his left foot

The former RAF corporal was forced to get his left foot amputated following the injury

Mr Davies has won four gold medals at the Invictus Games and is also training to be part of a world record attempt later this year

'But now I know there are so many other opportunities for me out there and I feel like I can look to the future with some certainty and security.

'The settlement has also helped pay for a bungalow and car to suit my needs, as well as prosthetics and wheelchairs. I can live life knowing me and my family are looked after.'

Mr Davies was 10 years into his service, and had been promoted to the position of Corporal, when he was injured while based at RAF Akrotiri in May 2019.

Following the 12-week recovery period, he returned to the RAF on crutches.

In June 2020, he had surgery to remove one of the five pins in his foot. However, it failed to improve his condition and led to him having the amputation surgery.

He said: 'I tried pain therapy and took medication, but nothing worked - I was constantly in pain.

'Just wearing shoes was uncomfortable and my foot hurt even when I laughed. I found myself being short and snappy with my family and I was upset and fed up of missing out on quality time with them.

'So when I was told I would need to have my foot amputated at some stage, I decided to have it done as soon as I could. The surgery, in some ways, gave me my life back.

'Of course I had to adapt how I did things, but it's become easier over time and I want to make others aware of what's possible when you put your mind to it.'

Mr Davies instructed expert military injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help him access the specialist support, therapies and rehabilitation he requires.

He is now marking Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month by revealing how he refuses to let his disability stop him from living life.

The father-of-two lives with his wife Toni (pictured), 36, and his two children

Mr Davies pictured alongside his son Rhys, six, and daughter Paige, three, who live in Norwich, Norfolk

He said: 'My injury put an end to my military career and I missed it for a long time'

He was 10 years into his service, and had been promoted to the position of Corporal, when he was injured

He has gone on to win four gold medals at the Invictus Games and is also training to be part of a world record attempt later this year.

The Limbitless Expedition World Record Trek involves taking on The Snowman Trek as the first and fastest amputees to do so.

The challenge will take around 35 days as The Snowman Trek is the longest hiking trail of Bhutan which extends from Laya to the high Bhutanese Himalayas.

Simon Harrington, the specialist military injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: 'Richard's life has been changed forever by the terrible injury he suffered while serving in the Military and his story is a stark reminder of the need to ensure the safety of our service personnel.

'However, he continues to be a huge inspiration to everyone with the way he's courageously moved forward with his life without letting his disability define him. He's made excellent progress with his recovery.

'It's such a privilege to know Richard and I'm so proud of how far he has come.'
Civil rights groups are calling for the collapsed Baltimore bridge to be renamed when it's rebuilt, citing accusations of racism against national anthem author Francis Scott Key.

The Caucus of African American Leaders of Anne Arundel County in Maryland voted unanimously to call for the renaming and will lobby governor Wes Moore on the proposal, as reported by the Baltimore Banner.

The caucus includes civil rights groups such as the NAACP and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

Leaders argued that the The Star-Spangled Banner author -who the collapsed bridge was named after - was a slave owner who wrote lyrics that scholars have said 'demeaned black people.'

They have asked for the bridge to be renamed after late congressman Parren J Mitchel, the first black man from Maryland elected to the US House of Representatives.

Civil rights groups are calling for the collapsed Baltimore bridge to be renamed when it's rebuilt, citing accusations of racism against national anthem author Francis Scott Key

Key was a salve owner and helped create the American Colonization Society, which promoted the emigration of black Americans to Africa

They have asked for the bridge to be renamed after late congressman Parren J Mitchel, the first black man from Maryland elected to the US House of Representatives

Democratic gov Moore told Fox News he remains 'laser-focused on providing closure to these families, clearing the channel, and rebuilding the bridge.'

However, the Baltimore Banner reported that on Monday Moore told reporters there will 'be a time for that' conversation at a later date.

While as a lawyer Key helped many black Marylanders obtain their freedom before emancipation, he opposed the idea of free black citizens in the US, helping create the American Colonization Society, which promoted the emigration of black Americans to Africa.

Key is also often quoted as claiming that black Americans are 'a distinct and inferior race of people, which all experience proves to be the greatest evil that afflicts a community.'

However, the Star Spangled Banner Foundation has claimed the racist quote is 'Incorrectly credited to Key as a first-person expression of his attitudes about race in the United States.'

The foundation added: 'The quote is taken from page 40 of Jefferson Morley's generally insightful 2012 book Snow-Storm in August: Washington City, Francis Scott Key, and the Forgotten Race Riot of 1835).

The Caucus in Maryland has also asked that the the Senator Frederick Malkus Memorial Bridge be renamed after Maryland civil rights icon Gloria Richardson

The group cited the conservative senator's opposition to desegregation in the 1960s and 1970s

Gloria Richardson, head of the Cambridge Nonviolent Action Committee, pushes a National Guardsman's bayonet aside as she moves among a crowd of African Americans to convince them to disperse in Cambridge, Maryland

'Morley, in turn, cites as his sole source a quote in the 1937 biography Francis Scott Key: Life and Times by Edward S. Delaplaine. This biography is the source of confusion as to the quote's speaker.'

Key is also believed to have regretted helping black Americans sue for their freedom, saying at one point it had 'produced for them nothing but evil.'

The Caucus in Maryland has also asked that the the Senator Frederick Malkus Memorial Bridge be renamed after Maryland civil rights icon Gloria Richardson. The group cited the conservative senator's opposition to desegregation in the 1960s and 1970s.

Engineers working to clear the wreckage of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore said Thursday that they expect to be able to restore navigation in and out of the Port of Baltimore by the end of this month.

The bridge collapsed within seconds on March 26 after being struck by the cargo ship Dali, which lost power shortly after leaving Baltimore, bound for Sri Lanka. The ship issued a mayday alert with just enough time for police to stop traffic, but not enough to save a roadwork crew filling potholes on the bridge.

Authorities believe six workers plunged to their deaths in the Patapsco River; two bodies have been recovered so far. Two others survived.

Authorities believe six workers plunged to their deaths in the Patapsco River; two bodies have been recovered so far. Two others survived

President Joe Biden (C) delivers remarks near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in the background, while standing with Maryland Governor Wes Moore, right

The US Army Corps of Engineers announced a 'tentative timeline' Thursday, saying in a news release that it expects to open a limited access channel to the port within the next four weeks measuring some 280 feet wide by 35 feet deep.

The channel would support one-way traffic in and out of the port for barge container service and some vessels that move automobiles and farm equipment to and from the port.

The USACE said it is aiming to reopen the permanent, 700-foot-wide by 50-foot-deep federal navigation channel by the end of May, which would restore port access to normal capacity.

'A fully opened federal channel remains our primary goal, and we will carry out this work with care and precision, with safety as our chief priority,' Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, USACE commanding general said in the news release.

Spellmon acknowledged the timelines are 'ambitious' and may still be impacted by adverse weather or 'changes in the complexity of the wreckage.'
Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered an emotional rebuke to critics of Israeli and U.S. foreign policy, asking why their outrage was not directed at Hamas and the architects of the shocking Oct. 7 terrorist attack.

World opinion has hardened against Israel for its siege of Gaza and the death of more than 33,000 Palestinians.

At the same time the Biden administration is under increasing pressure to end arms sales to its biggest Middle Eastern ally and rein in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as famine looms in the Palestinian enclave.

Asked Tuesday about why it took the death of foreign aid workers rather than thousands of Palestinians, local aid workers and journalists to trigger an expression of outrage and a tougher line from President Joe Biden, Blinken vented his obvious frustration.

'It remains astounding to me that the world is almost deafeningly silent when it comes to Hamas,' he told journalists at the State Department.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered his comments at a press conference alongside British Foreign Secretary David Cameron after their meeting on Tuesday morning

Blinken delivered an emotional rebuke to critics of Israeli and U.S. foreign policy, asking why their outrage was not directed at Hamas and the architects of the shocking Oct. 7 attack

'We would not be where we are had Hamas not chosen to engage in one of the most horrific acts of brutality and terrorism on October 7.

'And had they then, having done that, not refused these many, many months to get out of the way of civilians, to stop hiding behind them, to put down their arms ... to surrender. Where's the outrage there?'

His words were more explicit and emotional, but officials have frequently used a similar strategy to deflect questions about Israeli behavior by answering with details of Hamas barbarity when gunmen killed 1200 people on Oct. 7.

Last week, seven aid workersincluding an American and three Britonswere killed by an Israeli airstrike.

The result was an immediate change in tack by the White House. A spokesman condemned the killings and Biden, in a call to Netanyahu, demanded a ceasefire and hinted at a future shift in U.S. support for Israel.

He demanded immediate action to ease the humanitarian crisis.

In the meantime, officials have repeatedly warned Israel not to launch an operation in Rafah, Gaza's last refuge for families fleeing the bombardment, and has asked to see a plan for how Israel will minimize civilian casualties.

A day earlier, Netanyahu said he had a date for the operation to start.

On Tuesday, Blinken said American officials remained in the dark about a timeline.

Two men sit in a donkey-drawn cart moving past the rubble of a destroyed building in Khan Yunis on April 7, 2024 after Israel pulled its ground forces out of the southern Gaza Strip, six months into the devastating war sparked by the October 7 attacks

Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint along the border with Gaza in southern Israel

'On the contrary, what we have is an ongoing conversation with Israel about any Rafah operation,' he said.

Talks, he added, were expected to continue next week.

'I don't anticipate any actions being taken before those talks, and for that matter I don't see anything imminent. But there's a lot of work to be done and it remains our conviction that major military operations in Rafah would be extremely dangerous for civilians who would be caught in harm's way,' he said.

At the same time, talks are under way in Cairo to try to find a way out of the devastating war.

Egyptian and Qatari mediators are trying to secure a deal that would bring home the hostages held by Hamas. The terrorist group wants an agreement that would end the Israeli offensive.
Lead campaigner and ex-subpostmaster Alan Bates joked that the head of the Post Office 'should've brought his cheque book' with him to the Horizon IT Inquiry.

The 70-year-old laughed as he suggested that Nick Read, who attended the inquiry today, could have sorted out remediation for his case 'there and then' while they were in the room together.

He also said the Post Office has to 'get on with it' when it comes to properly compensating subpostmasters wrongly convicted in the scandal, after many have waited more than a decade for justice.

It came after the inquiry at Aldwych House in London heard that Mr Bates had been sacked by the company because it considered him 'unmanageable'.

The organisation has come under fire since the airing of the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, which put the Horizon IT scandal under the spotlight.

More than 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted by the Post Office and handed criminal convictions between 1999 and 2015 as Fujitsu's faulty Horizon system made it appear as though money was missing at their branches.

Alan Bates gives a statement to the press outside Aldwych House in London on Tuesday after giving evidence in the Horizon IT Inquiry

Mr Bates (pictured outside the building in the morning) has reiterated his calls for subpostmasters to be properly compensated following the scandal

He joked that Nick Read, the CEO of the Post Office who was in attendance at the probe on Tuesday, should have 'brought his cheque book' to help settle remediation. Pictured: Mr Read at Portcullis House, Westminster, on January 16, this year

The story of Alan Bates recently became the subject of ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office

Mr Bates gave evidence from the witness box today where he said his campaign for justice for subpostmasters was 'something you couldn't put down'. He also claimed that the Post Office spent 23 years 'attempting to discredit and silence me'.

Speaking to reporters outside Aldwych House afterwards, Mr Bates said reiterated his calls for subpostmasters to be properly compensated.

'I'm in no special place in the queue, I'm just one of the many, and yet they have to get on with it,' he said.

When asked whether there was a potential deal to be done given Mr Read had been in the room with him, Mr Bates said: 'He (Nick Read) should've brought his chequebook. We could have sorted it out there and then.'

He then joked that when he received his compensation he would 'buy a little Post Office somewhere and put my feet up'.

Earlier in the day the inquiry was show slides from a presentation about Horizon prepared by a former Post Office manager, which claimed that Mr Bates 'clearly struggled with accounting'.

The undated presentation about the system's integrity, created by the organisation's former managing director of branch accounting Dave Smith, read: 'Bates had discrepancies but was dismissed because he became unmanageable. Clearly struggled with accounting, and despite copious support, did not follow instructions.'

An internal review of his dismissal concluded he was 'unsuitable' for the role, and said: 'The decision to terminate was not only right - it was the only sensible option.'

Mr Bates told Aldwych House in London that he was 'quite positive' when the scandal-hit Horizon system came in, but soon became 'frustrated' after finding 'many shortcomings in the system'.

Prominent campaigner Alan Bates gave evidence to the Post Office IT Inquiry in London on Monday

Lead counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC detailed the Post Office's disclosure failingson Monday

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry on Monday

Mr Bates had his contract terminated by the Post Office in 2003 after refusing to accept liability for shortfalls in the accounts at his Llandudno branch in North Wales.

READ MORE The real Alan Bates vs the Post Office: Campaigner who inspired ITV drama tells inquiry that seeing how many other subpostmasters were being 'harmed' by Horizon scandal motivated his fight for justice Advertisement

Beginning his evidence, Mr Bates said: 'I think when Horizon came in... I was quite positive about it, because I knew what technology and these sorts of systems could do.

'But I found it a bit frustrating once the system was installed and we were operating, I found there were many shortcomings in the system.'

In his witness statement, Mr Bates said the Post Office had spent the entirety of the 23 years he has been campaigning 'denying, lying, defending, and attempting to discredit and silence me'.

He said: 'Prior to and since my termination from the branch, I have spent the last 23 years campaigning to expose the truth, and justice, not just for myself, but for the entire group of wrongly treated/wrongly convicted subpostmasters.

'I have dedicated this period of my life to this cause which, sadly, has been necessary since Post Office Limited has spent this entire period denying, lying, defending, and attempting to discredit and silence me and the group of SPMs that the Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance (JFSA) represents.'

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London on Monday

Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House on Monday

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House on Monday

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry on Monday

Mr Bates was also asked about his determination in campaigning for fellow subpostmasters. He said: 'I think it's also stubbornness.

'But as you got to meet people and realised it wasn't just yourself and saw the harm and injustice that had been descended upon them, it was something you felt you had to deal with, you couldn't put down, and you had the support from the rest of the group there as well.'

He submitted a 58-page witness statement to the inquiry, in which he said the relationship between subpostmasters and the Post Office was 'very one-sided'.

Mr Bates told the inquiry: 'I had been led to believe that subpostmasters were working in partnership with the Post Office, and if the Post Office wanted me to measure up to the standards they required, I expected them to do the same for me.

'However, over time, it soon became evident that the 'partnership' was very one-sided, and it really was a question of 'you will do as you are told and if you don't like it, you can't complain and there is no redress on this, and you just get on and keep your mouth closed' - that's how it works.'

In addition, Mr Bates told the inquiry about a day in December 2000 when he contacted the Post Office's helpline seven times, with one call lasting about an hour.

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London on Monday

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates speaks to reporters outside Aldwych House on Monday morning

Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House on Monday

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London on Monday

Lead counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked: 'Were they of any assistance at all in those seven calls?'

Mr Bates replied: 'Not really.'

He chuckled before adding: 'Stating the bleeding obvious, I think, really, is one description I might use - but it was all things that I'd tried.'

Questioned on whether it was ever explained to him that he became 'unmanageable', Mr Bates smiled and said: 'No, not at all.'

Mr Smith's presentation also said the campaigner 'clearly struggled with accounting and despite copious support did not follow instructions.'

Mr Beer asked: 'First of all, did you struggle with accounting?'

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry on Monday

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Mr Bates said: 'No, not at all.'

Mr Beer continued: 'Were you given copious support?'

Mr Bates laughed and said: 'No.'

READ MORE Another win for Mr Bates vs The Post Office as the show tops the list of the 100 most influential people in TV Advertisement

He added: 'Prior to and since my termination from the branch, I have spent the last

Mr Bates also told the inquiry that he never got a response to a letter he sent to the Post Office in December 2000 in which he raised concerns about the Horizon system.

In another letter to the Post Office seen by the inquiry, dated January 7 2002, Mr Bates wrote: 'When I signed my contract with Post Office Counters, I did not sign to accept the liabilities arising from the shortcomings of a less than adequate Horizon system.'

And Mr Bates said he was 'annoyed' when his employment contract was terminated, adding that he felt that the Post Office was 'after me one way or another'.

When asked how he felt upon receiving the letter terminating his contract with no given reason, Mr Bates chuckled and replied: 'I was annoyed with them, to put it mildly.

'But I think it was partly pretty obvious they were determined to - they were after me one way or another, and the build-up of correspondence over the period was certainly pointing in that direction.'

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House today

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House today

Mr Bates also said the Post Office terminated his contract as a subpostmaster because 'they didn't like me standing up to them'.

The inquiry heard that Mr Bates received a letter terminating his employment in 2003 in which no reason for his dismissal was given.

Mr Bates, when asked what he understood to be the reason for the termination, said: 'Basically, I think it was because a) they didn't like me standing up to them in the first instance; b) they were finding it awkward; and c) I don't think they could answer these questions and they had a feeling I was going to carry on in a similar vein going forward.'

He also said he has not returned to work since being dismissed as a subpostmaster due to his campaign for justice, adding: 'I didn't set out to spend 20 years doing this.'

The former subpostmaster told the inquiry: 'The key issue has always been to expose the truth right from the outset because the other things, they followed on - once you know the truth about issues, the rest will hopefully follow on afterwards.

'I didn't set out to spend 20 years doing this.

'I hadn't expected to be doing this so much by myself but it got more and more complex and it was harder and harder to share out work as a bigger group to take things forward.'

Also today, he told the inquiry that he took offence to a letter from former postal affairs minister Sir Ed Davey after he claimed the Government adopted an 'arm's length' relationship with the Post Office despite being its sole shareholder.

Questioned by Mr Beer on why he took offence to Sir Ed's letter in 2010, which declined an invitation to meet with Mr Bates, the former subpostmaster said: 'It was because of the structure, wasn't it.

'The government was the sole shareholder, they were the owners, as such, of all of this.

'How can you run or... take responsibility for an organisation without having some interest in... or trying to be in control?'

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House today

In response to the letter from Sir Ed, Mr Bates said the now-Liberal Democrat leader had allowed the Post Office to be 'asset stripped by little more than thugs in suits'.

In his letter dated July 8, 2010, Mr Bates told Sir Ed: 'It's not that you can't get involved or cannot investigate the matter, after all you do own 100 per cent of the shares and normally shareholders are concerned about the morality of the business they own.

'It is because you have adopted an arm's length relationship that you have allowed a once great institution to be asset stripped by little more than thugs in suits, and you have enabled them to carry on with impunity regardless of the human misery and suffering they inflict.'

Mr Bates also said the Government needs to be held 'responsible' for their part in the scandal after 'pumping huge amounts of money' into the Post Office.

He told the inquiry: 'Government were pumping huge amounts of money into Post Office year after year so they need to be held responsible.

'They need to be addressed really about the way that they had been going on.

'It was very hard to engage them in it - not nowadays, they're a bit more interested these days - but at that time, trying to get government to try and take it on board seriously, it was very hard.'

The inquiry was told Mr Bates wrote to former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells in 2013 expressing his surprise that she had not offered to meet following what had been discovered by forensic accountants Second Sight.

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

In his email to Ms Vennells, Mr Bates said: 'Bearing in mind what has been discovered so far, I for one am surprised that we haven't yet met to discuss the implications.

'Whilst I appreciate that the majority of the issues began under previous regimes and you have expressed a genuine willingness to address the concerns that the JSFA has been raising, these issues are still continuing.

'I have little doubt that it is now feasible to show that many of the prosecutions that the Post Office have pressed home should never have taken place.'

The inquiry also heard that Mr Bates was 'concerned' that Ms Vennells was 'not being told the full story'.

He told the inquiry that he did not feel confident Ms Vennells was 'truly invested' in the Second Sight investigation in 2013, which may have been due to a lack of information.

In his witness statement, Mr Bates said: 'There was a concern that perhaps the information was not getting through to Ms Vennells, as I did not think her staff were feeding back to her.

'I was concerned she was not being told the full story and so I wanted to ensure that she was being accurately informed of the whole situation.

'This was, perhaps, a failure in the way that Ms Vennells handled the situation in that I did not feel confident that she had been receiving accurate updates and was truly invested in the investigation and the subsequent events.'

Later, the inquiry was told that government was having 'back channel communications' with the Post Office despite telling Mr Bates that it was operating an 'arm's length relationship' with the organisation.

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates is at the Post Office public inquiry at Aldwych House today

A July 2013 email, sent from shareholder executive Mike Whitehead from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to Post Office staff, showed how the government requested a meeting with the Post Office to discuss how to respond to communications from Mr Bates.

Mr Beer asked: 'Did you know or did you appreciate at the time that, notwithstanding what had been said by government ministers about operating an arm's length relationship with the Post Office, there was nonetheless a back channel of communications between the government and the Post Office?'

Mr Bates said: 'No, I can't say I was aware of that, no.'

The inquiry was also told that a lawyer from a firm instructed by the Post Office said Mr Bates had a 'somewhat loose relationship with the truth'.

Andrew Parsons, from the law firm Bond Dickinson, made the comment after Mr Bates issued a press statement which said more than 1,000 people had applied to join the group litigation against the Post Office.

In his email in March 2017, Mr Parsons said: 'I'm happy with the comms too. Let's not forget that Alan Bates has a somewhat loose relationship with the truth.'

After laughter in the inquiry room and from Mr Bates himself, counsel to the inquiry Mr Beer asked: 'Had you ever had any dealings with Mr Parsons?'

Mr Bates smiled and said: 'Oh yes.'

Mr Beer continued: 'Had you had any dealings with Mr Parsons that might properly allow him to form a view that you had a somewhat loose relationship with the truth?'

Mr Bates replied: 'No. Andy Parsons was one of those who used to appear at the working group meetings - one of the many lawyers the Post Office used to send to them.

Lead campaigner and former subpostmaster Alan Bates walks into Aldwych House today

'I don't know why he's come up with that - I might embellish but I don't lie. I suppose I spend too much time around lawyers now and then so wording and phrasing can sometimes seem a little bit that way.'

In addition, Mr Bates said he believed a mediation scheme set up to address the scandal was part of a 'cover-up' and a 'fishing expedition' to discover what evidence subpostmasters had about Horizon.

When asked about why he thought the scheme failed, Mr Bates said in his witness statement: 'I believe the Mediation Scheme failed as it was part of the cover up by POL (Post Office Limited), I expect POL discovered things that they did not like and did not want to come out.

'There definitely was an element of not wanting to accept fault.

'I believe POL had no intention whatsoever of getting to a mutually acceptable and fair decision, if anything it seemed as if POL had been using the Scheme as a fishing expedition to see what evidence SPMs (subpostmasters) actually had about Horizon.'

Mr Bates also called the Post Office an 'atrocious organisation' that is 'beyond saving' and should be sold to Amazon.

When asked for his thoughts on the culture of the Post Office, the former subpostmaster told the inquiry: 'It's an atrocious organisation.

'They need disbanding. It needs removing. It needs building up again from the ground floor. The whole of the postal service nowadays - it's a dead duck. It's beyond saving.

'It needs to be sold to someone like Amazon. It needs a real big injection of money and I only think that can happen coming in from the outside.

'Otherwise it's going to be a bugbear for the government for the years to come.'

And Mr Bates said the Post Office was 'definitely trying to outspend us' when asked what 'aggressive litigation tactics' it used during High Court proceedings.

Former subpostmaster Alan Bates arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Mr Bates said: 'They were definitely trying to outspend us - we had to raise commercial funding from it, they had a bottomless pocket as such being a government organisation.

'So anything they could do to spin it out, anything they could do to recuse the judge or whatever, they did.

'Anything to cost us money and try and get us to stop the case.'

Meanwhile, Mr Bates said a 'fundamental flaw' of Government is that it cannot deal with issues such as the Horizon scandal 'easily and sensibly'.

Edward Henry KC, who represents a number of subpostmasters, asked: 'You've exposed over many years the Post Office's suppression of disclosure covering up the truth over Horizon's flaws, but you have also exposed, have you not, the Government's reckless indifference to the Post Office's misconduct over many years, would you agree?'

Mr Bates replied: 'Yeah, I think that is the case. Since this year, I suppose, since the drama we've had far more publicity about the issue nationally.

'I've noticed there's a general frustration with many other organisations that have that problem with Government as well.

'It seems to be a fundamental flaw in the way Government works that it can't deal with these types of things easily and sensibly.'

In February, Mr Bates gave evidence to the Business and Trade Committee where he urged the Government to 'get on and pay people' while describing the Post Office as a 'dead duck'.

Alan Bates at Aldwych House in London to give evidence to the Post Office IT inquiry today

The inquiry is now entering phases five and six, which will look at governance, redress and how the Post Office and others responded.

Earlier today, the inquiry resumed with lead counsel detailing the organisation's 'sub-optimal' and 'highly disruptive' disclosure failings.

Mr Beer said that since the conclusion of the previous phase in February, the Post Office had disclosed 73,720 documents which could relate to the next phases.

Mr Beer said: 'We're committed to doing all that we can to ensure that the hearings can go ahead as planned and, subject to your views, that's what we intend to do - to continue with the hearings.

'The alternative - further delay, to allow the Post Office to get its disclosure house in order - is not one which is acceptable.'

Former subpostmistress Jo Hamilton arrives at the Post Office public inquiry in London today

Other prominent witnesses soon to give evidence include Lord Arbuthnot, member of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board and former MP for North East Hampshire, who campaigned for years on behalf of subpostmasters.

Ms Vennells, who led the Post Office at the height of the scandal, will face the inquiry in late May.

Ms Vennells, who led Post Office Ltd between 2012 and 2019, has come under fire over why hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongly prosecuted for fraud and false accounting under her watch.

Ms Vennells, who joined the Post Office in 2007, handed back her CBE for services to the Post Office and to charity, after the screening of ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office and ensuing public anger.

Former postmaster Christopher Head arrives at the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry today

She told the PA news agency in a statement that she would 'support and focus on co-operating with the inquiry'.

She added: 'I have so far maintained my silence as I considered it inappropriate to comment publicly while the inquiry remains ongoing and before I have provided my oral evidence.

'I now intend to continue to focus on assisting the inquiry and will not make any further public comment until it has concluded.'

Angela van den Bogerd, former Post Office head of partnerships, Adam Crozier, who was chief executive of Royal Mail from February 2003 to 2010, and Dame Moya Greene, who replaced him and left in 2018, will all give evidence.

Conservative ministers who will be questioned over their role as the scandal developed include Greg Clark, business secretary from 2016-2019, Kelly Tolhurst, postal services minister from July 2018 to February 2020, Margot James, who held the role between July 2016 and January 2018, and Cabinet Office minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe, who was postal affairs minister in 2015.

Liberal Democrat politicians Sir Vince Cable, the former business secretary, party leader Sir Ed Davey, who was postal affairs minister from May 2010 to February 2012, and Jo Swinson, postal affairs minister from September 2012 to May 2015, will all appear as witnesses.

Labour shadow cabinet member Pat McFadden, who was postal affairs minister from June 2007 to June 2009, will also be questioned.

Closing statements are expected to be given in late July.

Hundreds of subpostmasters are awaiting compensation despite the Government announcing that those who have had convictions quashed are eligible for 600,000 payouts.

Convicted postmasters celebrate at the High Court in 2021 after their convictions are quashed

Today, the Post Office said in a statement it 'regrets' that documents were not disclosed to the Horizon IT Inquiry 'as early as all parties would have liked'.

A Post Office spokeswoman said: 'We are fully committed to supporting the inquiry to establish the truth and we have disclosed almost half-a-million documents to date, reflecting both the unprecedented scale of the issues in the scandal and our commitment to transparency.

'This follows searches of over 176 million documents, 230 physical locations and third-party sites, and across multiple systems.

'During the past six weeks, since the inquiry announced its current hearings timetable, we have disclosed the vast majority of documents required for those witnesses but regret a very small proportion of documents were not disclosed as early as all parties would have liked.

'The inquiry is examining issues that spanned more than two decades, including a lengthy period when Post Office was part of Royal Mail Group.

'Disclosure is therefore highly complex and we continue to do all we can to deliver continuous improvements and incorporate past learnings into the disclosure process to avoid the risk of delays to the inquiry's timetable.'

In a separate statement on the inquiry, a Post Office spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'Post Office is deeply sorry for the hurt and suffering that has been caused to victims and their loved ones, and we are committed to ensuring that they receive the justice and redress that they so deserve, with offers of more than 179million made to around 2,800 Postmasters to date.

'We are dedicated to ensuring the wrongs of the past cannot be repeated, and we are working to enable the Inquiry to get to the truth of what happened.'

Responding to Mr Bates's criticism of Sir Ed, a Lib Dem spokesman said: 'Alan Bates is a hero for all he has done to represent subpostmasters through this horrific miscarriage of justice.

'Ed was the first minister to meet with Mr Bates and took his concerns to the Post Office and the Federation of Subpostmasters - Ed, like Mr Bates and so many others, was lied to.

'No one knew the scale of these lies until the whistleblower from Fujitsu revealed the truth several years later.

'Ed has said that he's sorry that he didn't see through the Post Office's lies, and that it took him five months to meet Mr Bates.

'The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to ensure postmasters get full and fair compensation urgently, and Post Office executives who lied for decades are held properly to account.'
Moms Touch, Hollys, Blu Shaak seek to capitalize on Korean wave

By Park Jae-hyuk

A growing number of Koreas food and beverage franchises have chosen Japan as the testbed for their overseas expansion, instead of China or North America, which had once been considered more favorable to foreign brands, according to industry officials, Monday.

Their decisions have been attributed mainly to the rising popularity of the Korean lifestyle in Japan, which was once seen as a graveyard for global restaurant chains.

Moms Touch, for example, will open its first store in Tokyo under its direct management this month, as the Korean chicken sandwich franchises pop-up store in the Japanese capital attracted over 33,000 consumers within three weeks last October.

The new store will be located in a building in Tokyos special ward of Shibuya, where McDonalds had run its store for the past 39 years.

In recent years, Moms Touch closed its stores in Vietnam, Taiwan, the U.S., Singapore and the Philippines, after suffering snowballing losses there. Although it resumed its overseas expansion by opening stores in Thailand and Mongolia last year and in the U.S. in 2021, this is the first time for the company to open an overseas store under its direct management.

While running the Shibuya store, the Korean firm plans to look for a Japanese partner that will manage its franchised restaurants there.

The Japanese hamburger markets size is 7 trillion won ($5.1 billion), and the countrys dining culture has drawn global attention, a Moms Touch official said. We will introduce the excellence of Korean burgers in Japan and spur our expansion in foreign markets.

Hollys also said earlier this month that it will open its first overseas store inside Namba Marui Department Store in Osaka, after establishing its local subsidiary.

We made the decision to introduce Koreas coffee culture to Japan, Asias largest coffee consumer, said Lee Jong-hyun, the CEO of the 26-year-old coffee shop chain. We will open more stores in major Japanese cities and enter other countries.

Blu Shaak prepares to open its first overseas store in Shibuya, as the Busan-based coffee shop chain signed a master franchise contract last May with Aerok, a Japanese importer and seller of Korean-style beverage products.

Despite the popularity of Korean coffee and dessert culture among Japans young consumers, few Korean coffee chains have entered the Japanese market, a Blu Shaak official said. We chose Japan as the first foreign country to enter, as we saw potential demand for our products in Japan.

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) emphasized that Korean franchises will be able to capitalize on the fourth Korean wave, which resulted from the global popularity of Korean content on streaming platforms.

Except for spicy food, Japanese consumers are familiar with Korean food, as they have been exposed to Korean food through dramas, movies and YouTubers, a KOTRA official said. In particular, Korean food and culture are still more popular with Japanese women than men.

Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. advised franchises to take advantage of the popularity of Korean games, including Lineage, and dramas, such as "Vincenzo," with Japanese men, in order to attract them as potential customers.
MP William Wragg has 'voluntarily' given up the Conservative whip after he admitted giving his colleagues' phone numbers to a suspected scammer, a spokesperson for the Tory whips has said.

'Following Will Wragg's decision to step back from his roles on the Public Accounts and 1922 committees, he has also notified the Chief Whip that he is voluntarily relinquishing the Conservative Whip,' the spokesperson said.

Last week, the Member of Parliament for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester told The Times he had been targeted by a suspected honeytrap plot, admitting to 'chatting to a guy on an app' and exchanging pictures.

Wragg, 36, told the newspaper he had given out numbers of fellow members of Parliament to someone he had met on Grindr, a gay dating app, and admitted he was scared the man 'had compromising things on me',

Police are now investigating reports explicit images and flirtatious texts were sent to multiple MPs in what is believed to be a 'spear-phishing' attack and a deliberate attempt to compromise Westminster.

File photo. William Wragg has stepped down from key roles after admitting to talking to a man on an app, suspected to be involved in a honeytrap plot

The former vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee spoke to The Times on Friday, admitting he shared colleagues private contact details after sharing intimate pictures of himself online.

Those colleagues, including MPs, staffers and a journalist, were then allegedly sent flirtatious messages from people claiming to be 'Charlie' or 'Abi'.

Two MPs allegedly sent back explicit photos, The Times reported.

Since then, POLITICO has claimed to have verified that 'at least 20 people in UK politics' have been sent unsolicited WhatsApp messages from numbers linked to both the Westminster 'honeytrap' plot and a second alleged targeting aimed at Lib Dem conferencegoers last year.

These accounts also used the names 'Charlie' and 'Abi', the outlet reported.

Multiple Liberal Democrats admitted they had received strange messages while at their party's conference in Bournemouth, The Express reported.

Attendees told the newspaper an account posing as a man his late 20s had asked at least six people for 'political intelligence' about MPs.

And a Scottish Labour official said he also received an unsolicited WhatsApp message from 'Charlie' while at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool last October.

In light of Mr Wragg's admission, Luke Evans, MP for Bosworth, and Andrea Jenkyns, MP for Morley and Outwood, have also since said publicly that they have received suspicious messages.

Leicestershire Police have confirmed they are investigating after receiving a complaint of 'malicious communications' against a parliamentarian.

Mr Wragg stepped down from the role of vice-chair of the 1922 Committee on Monday evening, and told the Speaker he would resign as chair of another Commons committee he sits on in light of the scandal.

Speaking to The Times last week, he acknowledged fault, saying he was 'so sorry my weakness has caused other people hurt'.

'We were meant to meet up for drinks, but then didn't,' he explained. 'Then he started asking for numbers of people. I was worried because he had stuff on me.

'They had compromising things on me. They wouldn't leave me alone.

'They would ask for people. I gave them some numbers, not all of them. I told him to stop. He's manipulated me and now I've hurt other people.'

Mr Wragg remains MP for his constituency.

Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden has said it was 'right' for William Wragg to resign the Conservative whip.

Mr Holden told Sky News: 'He has issued a fulsome apology, he has resigned from the 1922 Committee executive, he has resigned a role as chair of PACAC, which is an important committee in Parliament, and he has also given up the Conservative whip.

'I think we already knew he wouldn't be standing at the next election, he is standing down, so yes, I think that's the right thing to have done.'

Asked whether Mr Wragg had jumped or been pushed, Mr Holden said the now-Independent MP had 'made his decision'.

He added: 'It's quite clear his career in public life is at an end.'

William Wragg MP, member of the United Kingdom Parliament for Hazel Grove, speaking at the Grassroots Out campaign event in Manchester, February 5 2016

Pat McFadden MP, Labour's National Campaign Coordinator, commenting on William Wragg MP resigning the Conservative whip, said:

'The fact it was left to William Wragg to resign is another indictment of Rishi Sunak's weakness.

'His MPs were left yet again being sent out to defend a position that has collapsed.

'Rishi Sunak puts party management first every time - and he can't even do that properly. It is no way to run a country.

'Britain deserves so much better than this endless Tory chaos. the only way to get it is to vote Labour on May 2nd.'
A Los Angeles mother murdered her partner in their ritzy apartment before killing their infant daughter and dumping her on the side of a highway with her nine-year-old half-sister in a horrifying murder-suicide.

The shocking chain of events began at 4:30am on Monday when police were called to the 405 Freeway in Culver City where they found the body of an eight-month-old baby laying next to her nine-year-old sister on the shoulder of the road.

The infant was pronounced dead the scene, and the nine-year-old girl was rushed to a hospital.

Police found the body of their mother 15 miles away. She had crashed into a tree and killed herself.

The mother, who DailyMail.com can name as 34-year-old Danielle Johnson, had left a grisly scene at the $5,600 home where she murdered her partner, Jaelen Allen Chaney, 29.

Jaelen Allen Chaney, 29, was found dead in his Woodland Hills, Calif. apartment Monday morning. Neighbors said they heard Chaney arguing with the woman he lived with just a few hours before he was killed

California Highway Patrol officials said an infant who was abandoned on the 405 Freeway in the Culver City area died at the scene, but her 9-year old was rushed to a hospital. Above, cops respond to the kids

Police found the body of their mother 15 miles away. She had crashed into a tree and killed herself

He was found in the family's apartment by a neighbor who saw blood 'pouring' under the door.

Los Angeles Police Department officials provided more details on Tuesday as to how the tragedy unfolded.

Investigators said Chaney and Johnson were heard arguing at about 3:40 a.m. Monday, and at some point, the fight turned deadly when the 34-year-old stabbed her partner.

LAPD officials said the bloody knife Johnson used to stab Chaney was found at the home.

Johnson then fled from the apartment with her two children.

Johnson's car was spotted on the 405 Freeway at about 4:30 a.m. when witnesses saw the infant and the nine-year-old pushed out of the running vehicle, LAPD said.

The baby died from her injuries sustained from the fall and the nine-year-old girl suffered moderate injuries.

Johnson then drove south to Redondo Beach at speeds over 100 mph when she plowed her car head-on into a tree at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Vincent Street.

Chaney's grieving brother, Matthew Chiricas, told DailyMail.com his sibling had 'embraced' the older child from Johnson's from a previous relationship as his own.

'I never seen him like kids, but I know he absolutely adored her.'

What drove the woman to kill remains a mystery.

Johnson's family member, who did not want to be identified, said the 34-year old was a stay-at-home mom.

'She sounded OK when I spoke to her last month,' the shocked family member said.

Neighbors said the couple had lived in the posh apartment for a little over a year with the two children.

A neighbor told ABC7 she heard the couple arguing in the middle of the night.

The next morning, she saw a trail of blood coming out of the apartment.

LAPD officials said Jaelen Allen Chaney, 29, was killed at his Woodland Hills apartment, which had some damage possibly connected to the murder

Cops are still investigating if the woman who was driving the vehicle and fatally crashed into a tree was connected to Jaelen Allen Chaney's murder

Danielle Johnson, had left a grisly scene at the $5,600 home where she murdered her partner, Jaelen Allen Chaney

Chaney, who loved to travel and play video games, was in the U.S. Air Force for about four years, family members said

'Their door was wide open, there was blood on the floor leading into their apartment, and then a trail of it in the hallway leading up to the elevator, and I saw some blood on the walls,' she said.

The woman's father called 911.

'Called the police and told them that something was not right,' the neighbor said.

'And they told me, when I spoke to the EMT, to go in and check on the body. So I did.

'And he was deceased, he was facedown on the floor. And there was a lot of blood.'

Family members said Chaney was a mechanic for the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Europe

Chiricas said his brother checked in with him sporadically, but never shared details of his relationship.

In one concerning text message from November 2022, he said: 'I have been dealing a lot personally with my girlfriend that I don't care to really share right now because it's not appropriate.

Chiricas said his brother and his girlfriend had traveled around Europe when he was stationed in Italy.

'The last message he sent to me was greeting me a happy birthday,' Chiricas said.

'He was in the Air Force, but he had dreams to become a weather man. He was just like the rest of us, trying to have fun and trying to have a family.'

Police are yet to reveal the woman's motive or cause of death.

The older girl was taken into the care of CPS.
A Colombian woman has been reunited with her family after she was kidnapped 52 years ago.

Aura Guerrero was just four years old when she was abducted in 1972 in Bravo Paez, a neighborhood on the south side of Bogota, the capital.

Now, she has been reunited with her brother after the two connected on Facebook as she searched for her real family. The two shared a warm embrace when they saw each other for the first time.

'It's a real dream,' Aura said.

Guerrero recalled walking to the corner store five decades ago to pick up a snack before a woman, whose features she still remembers, snatched off the street, according to newsgroup Noticias Caracol.

'I went out to buy a cookie and went to the corner which was a neighborhood store,' she said. 'When I returned the bus was parked. An old man was passing by, he scared me. I hid behind the bus while the old man passed by and the woman who kidnapped me arrived.'

Fidencio Guerrero (left) hugs his sister, Aura Guerrero (right), after they were recently in Bogota, Colombia. She told Noticias Caracol that she was only four years old when she was kidnapped off a street by a woman who was upset with Aura's father for spurning her

Aura Guerrero recalled walking to a neighborhood store in the Colombian capital city of Bogota to but a cracker and being kidnapped by a woman and then being raised by a family. She said she was making food deliveries by the age of five or six and was just 12 years old when she found a job that helped her cover her home's rent

Fidencio Guerrero told Noticias Caracol that thanks to Facebook, he learned of a social media campaign that reunited him with his sister, who was kidnapped in 1972

Florencia Aura was four years old when a woman abducted her near a parked bus Bravo Paez, a neighborhood on the south side of Bogota, the capital of Colombia

The kidnapper, she remembers, was 'tall, dark, with long hair and thin,' who separated her from her family because her father has spurned her love interest.

Guerrero said the woman spent a long time walking with her until they reached a bus stop. The abductor purchased a one-way ticket to the Villarica, a city in the department of Tolima, 111 miles southwest of the capital city.

A family unknown to Guerrero raised her and called her Gina. She was around five or six years old when she was making money delivering lunches to cover the cost of purchasing her school notebooks and by the age of 12 she was living on her own and paying her own rent in the town of Restrepo.

Meanwhile, Fidencio and his parents were moving from town to town in search of her, switching homes every time there was a new lead.

'We became gypsies,' Fidencio told Noticias Caracol.

Aura Guerrero and her brother Fidencio Guerrero share a warm hug recently when they saw each other for the first time in 52 years

Aura Guerrero's parents moved from town to town in Colombia and came to be known by their neighbors as gypsies as they fought hard to search for her following her abduction in 1972

A young Aura Guerrero never lost hope of finding her family. She was recently reunited with her older brother

'Where they were told that there was a missing girl, we were there. I would study in a place, a city, and they placed me for a month and took me out because the girl really appeared somewhere else,' he added. 'That was the life of ours about six or seven years. My mother never stopped looking for her.'

Aura enlisted the help of Bogota councilman, Julian Espinosa, who used social media presence to help her find her biological family.

Fidencio, who rarely goes on his Facebook page, received a message about a family who were searching for their relatives. He immediately recognized his mother and knew he had finally found his sister.

Aura longed to be reunited with her parents, but doing so with her brother is just as as worth it.

'It is something wonderful that only God can do,' she said. 'He put the people, the moments, he put everything to be able to find my family.'

The siblings are planning on celebrating Mother's Day and Father's Day together and can't wait to share stories at the Christmas table.

'This year is going to be more special because she is here and because we are complete,' Fidencio said.
The moment a swimmer was resuscitated after a near-fatal drowning at New Smyrna Beach in Florida, has been captured on video.

Felipe Ribeiro Desouza, 21, almost lost his life after he got caught in a riptide that swept him out to sea on Friday, March 30.

The victim, who was without a pulse for between 5-7 minutes, was among several people caught in the riptide.

Desouza was the only one who was unresponsive.

He was put on a surfboard and carried out of the water until lifeguard Dalton Smith came to the rescue.

Felipe Ribeiro Desouza, 21, almost lost his life after he got caught in a riptide that swept him out to sea.

The victim, who was without a pulse for between 5-7 minutes, was among several people caught in the riptide.

He was put on a surfboard and carried out of the water until lifeguard Dalton Smith came to the rescue.

Desouza was the only one unconcious

'We just let him know that they needed to his head up above water,' Smith local NBC affiliate WESH. 'And we just swam them all in together.'

Deputy Stan Manhart, one of the first responders at the scene, began giving him Desouza CPR before they even reached shore.

'With the patient being slippery, the board being wet they were able to maintain the patient on the board and doing very effective CPR,' said Ty Tarnow with the New Smyrna Fire Department.

The Fire Department eventually took over, still struggling to bring his pulse back

'With saltwater drownings, what happens is when the saltwater enters the lungs, you have a major fluid shift in the body,' said Tarnow.

Deputy Stan Manhart (left) was one of the first responders on the scene who began giving CPR to Desouza before they even reached the shore. Ty Tarnow (right) with the New Smyrna Fire Deparment said it was a miracle the victim survived.

'The first thing he said was he's never going to the beach again,' said Manhart.

First responders visited Desouza in the hospital, where he has since made a full recovery

'So that creates pulmonary edema. So this this patient needed advanced lifesaving airway procedures.'

'It was just a miracle that this young man was able to pull through. You're only as strong as your weakest link, and there were no weak links here.'

In a press conference following the incident, Manhart shared the first thing Desouzsa said after the rescue.

'The first thing he said was he's never going to the beach again,' said Manhart.

Authorities said he was swimming far from the lifeguard tower when he almost drowned.

First responders visited Desouza in the hospital, where he has since made a full recovery.
All hope has been abandoned in the search for a 20-year-old passenger who threw himself from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in front of his horrified family after an argument on Thursday.

The US Coast Guard was scrambled after the young man jumped from the 11th deck of the Liberty of the Seas just before 4am on April 4, but its search for the unnamed man has now been called off.

The ship was hours away from docking at Fort Lauderdale in Florida after a four-day Caribbean cruise when the man was confronted by his father as he emerged from a hot tub packed with revelers.

'As we were walking from the hot tub back to the elevators, his dad and brother were walking towards us,' fellow passenger Bryan Sims said. 'His dad was fussing at him for being drunk, I guess.

'When we got to them, he said to his dad, 'I'll fix this right now.' And he jumped out the window in front of us all.'

The young man jumped from the 11th deck of the 15-deck ship 57 miles off Grand Inagua

The 11th deck boasts an array of whirlpools, swimming pools and a 'Splashaway Bar'

The 154,000 ton Royal Caribbean ship was sailing with more than 4,000 passengers on a four-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to the Dominican Republic and back

The boat had docked in the Dominican Republic the previous day and was 57 miles off the coast of the Bahamas Grand Inagua when the alarm was raised.

Passenger Deborah Morrison said the crew were 'alerted immediately' by the 'yelling' which erupted, and the man's family appeared 'beside themselves'.

'I had hung out with him and his brother in the hot tub until 3.30am,' Sims told the NY Post.

'It was standing room only. He sat right beside me the whole time.'

The 154,000 ton ship was slammed into brought to a halt and crew members immediately began looking for the missing passenger.

But most of the 4,000 passengers on board only became aware of the tragedy when the captain broke the news the following morning.

'They announced it over the PA system while we were at breakfast at the entire room went silent,' wrote one passenger on Reddit. 'Then the rest of the cruise felt oddly casual.'

Some passengers scanned the horizon for any sign of the young man before the ship resumed its journey just before 9am when the US Coast Guard cutter Seneca arrived at the spot.

'The early morning was definitely somber as so many people came out of their cabins to stare at the sea, hoping to be able to aid in finding the person,' said passenger Amy Phelps Fouse.

'It was a sad morning looking out just to see if we come find a clue,' wrote another.

'I was on the ship and when the coast guard arrived and we got underway I couldn't help think how they must be feeling they were leaving their son behind,' added Linda Meissner Nuffe.

The young man is thought to have been staying with his family on deck 10, a flight below the whirlpools and hot tubs of deck 11.

Nuffe, who was staying in the cabin next door, woke to find a lock on the door of the family's cabin and a crew member standing guard outside.

'I saw a person go in that cabin on day one,' she said.

'I thought it was a teen or he could have been 20. My daughter and I were telling him how I sometimes put my deco on other doors the last night to confuse people. He laughed.

'He was quiet and polite, not someone who seemed like a raging alcoholic like the press seems to be saying.

'We never heard a noise out of that cabin, no partying, no arguing, no slamming doors. I looked over our balcony at theirs after I saw the lock, there was nothing but chairs there.'

More than 400 passengers are known to have fallen overboard from cruise liners in the past 30 years according to watchdog cruisejunkie.com.

A study by Cruise Lines International Association found that only 28 percent of those who fell overboard between 2009 and 2019 came out alive.

Travel lawyer and blogger Jim Walker said that Royal Caribbean along with the vast majority of US cruise companies have yet to install automatic man overboard systems as required by the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010.

'Such automatic MOB systems utilize state-of-the-art motion detection, video and infrared technology and radar to instantly detect when someone goes over the rails of a cruise ship,' he said.

'The system can then track the person's movements in the water even at nighttime.

'Without such a system, the chances of locating an overboard person in the water at night it like finding a needle in a haystack.'

More than 400 people have gone overboard on cruise ships in the last three decades including Cameron Robbins , 18, (pictured) who fell into shark-infested waters in the Bahamas

Last year, the search for Cameron Robbins, 18, was called off two days after he jumped into shark-infested waters in the Bahamas and vanished.

Robbins had recently returned from a weekend fishing trip on the Louisiana Gulf Coast with his father and brother before he left for his graduation celebration trip in the Bahamas.

The boat was near the uninhabited Athol Island when Robbins was reportedly dared to jump off into the ocean.

Social media users pointed out how Robbins' friends were heard laughing and bidding him farewell instead of trying to stop him or help him back onboard.

One user posted a video demanding to know who was heard saying 'bye bye' on the video.

DailyMail.com has asked Royal Caribbean to comment.
Around 50 protesters organized were arrested after the shut down a cafeteria in the Senate in protest of the U.S.'s policy on Israel.

'Senate can't eat until Gaza eats!' the activists shouted as they blocked entrances to the Dirksen cafeteria. They were apprehended by Capitol Police.

Some donned the group's signature pink shirts emblazoned with slogans like 'No $$$ to Israel' and 'Let Gaza live.'

The protests were organized by activist group Code Pink and Christians for a Free Palestine. They were demanding Congress back a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, restore funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and oppose offering further funding to Israel.

Around 50 protesters organized were arrested after the shut down a cafeteria in the Senate in protest of the U.S.'s policy on Israel

'Senate can't eat until Gaza eats!' the activists shouted as they blocked entrances to the Dirksen cafeteria. They were apprehended by Capitol Police

Pro-Gaza protesters have been working overtime on Capitol Hill in the recent months of the conflict as civilian deaths pile up. On Tuesday morning, a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing devolved into chaos as protesters demanded President Biden's top officials 'stop funding Gaza.'

In a call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, Biden said an 'immediate ceasefire' is 'essential,' according to a readout of the call.

Michigan Republican Rep. John James labeled the protests a 'distraction' funded by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

'Fun fact: Code Pink (who is funding these 'protests') is funded by the CCP. And while these people try to distract from the fact that the hostages are still being held by Hamas, Israel is fighting a war to preserve its existence and keep the Jewish people safe,' he wrote on X.

Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown were answering questions on the Defense Department's 2025 military budget request which totals a staggering $850 billion.

Shortly after the hearing began, Austin testified, 'We don't have any evidence of genocide being [committed]' on Palestinians by Israel, a claim that directly cuts against what protesters earlier in the hearing alleged he was supporting.

Just minutes before, chaos broke out as hecklers started yelling at Biden's top military officials, accusing them of being complicit in genocide in Gaza.

'Enough is enough how many people have to die,' one protestor yelled about lives lost in Gaza as Israel attempts to take out terror group Hamas. 'How many children have to die?'

Protesters demand US back a ceasefire in Gaza

'Enough killing my people, enough,' the man continued.

'Stop bombing Gaza,' the protestor demanded. 'Stop funding Israel.'

The demonstrators charged the U.S. with being complicit in a genocide carried out in Gaza by Israel, a claim that the Secretary of Defense denies.

Later, Austin would go on to talk about U.S. plans to aid the Gaza strip, including the establishment of a pier that would be used to bring food and aid supplies into the Hamas-run area.

He said the pier would 'probably' be ready 'by the third weekend of this month.'

If true, that means the military aid pier could be ready in just a couple of days.

The White House has only recently become critical of the Israeli military campaign aimed at eradicating Hamas.

National security spokesman John Kirby said the White House is growing 'increasingly frustrated' with Israel's actions in Gaza.

During an appearance on ABC's This Week on Sunday, co-anchor Martha Raddatz noted how President Biden and his Cabinet officials seem to have grown increasingly frustrated with Israel's bloody offensive to eradicate Hamas.

'I'm glad you brought that timeline up because it shows the degree the growing degree of frustration that we've had with the way these operations are being prosecuted and the way that Israelis are acting on the ground in terms of civilian casualties,' Kirby told Raddatz.

'So we have been increasingly frustrated. And again, that was a core message that the President delivered to Prime Minister Netanyahu in their phone call this past week that they've got to do more, they've got to make changes,' he continued.

Biden faced a revolt from progressives who say he is too supportive of Israel as civilian casualties pile up in Gaza. Criticism of Israel's military campaign swelled this week when an Israeli airstrike killed six workers with the World Central Kitchen, one being an American, and their Palestinian driver as they were leaving a warehouse in Central Gaza.

The workers, delivering food aid in Gaza, were driving in a 'de-conflicted zone' in armored, labeled cars that were struck by an Israeli rocket.

On Friday a group of more than 30 House Democrats including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi demanded Biden halt the transfer of weapons to Israel.

'In light of the recent strike against aid workers and the ever-worsening humanitarian crisis, we believe it is unjustifiable to approve these weapons transfers,' read the letter.

The Palestinian death toll since October has surpassed 33,000.
Four 'neo-Nazi Satanists' accused of luring a woman to her death as a human sacrifice and then 'roasting' and eating another her have been jailed in Russia.

Andrey Tregubenko, 36, was found to have invited Victoria Zaitseva, 27, on a trip to Karelia, near the Finnish border, in June 2016, where the victim was ambushed by Tregubenko and his girlfriend, Olga Bolsakova, 36, in a forest.

Zaitseva, who is understood to have been in love with Tregubenko, died after she was stabbed multiple times with a knife. She was then thrown into a pre-dug hole, covered with brushwood and set alight.

In August, the couple met Alexander Perevozchikov-Khmury and Tatyana Deryugina, also sentenced Tuesday, who agreed to commit another 'sacrifice' with them.

Platon Stepanov, known as Wilhelm Torquemada, 27, was named locally as the man drawn into a forest in the Leningrad region after being groomed by Bolshakova, with whom he shared an interest in black magic and Satanism.

Stepanov was then beaten severely and stabbed to death, as reported by state-owned agency RIA. The killers would later confess to slicing off his flesh and ribs - and roasting and eating the human meat. The body was, again, hidden in a hole and 'burned at the stake'.

In the third such killing, also in August 2016, Tregubenko stabbed to death aquaintance while drunk during an argument. The group then retired to a nearby apartment where they performed a ritualistic ceremony with the victim's blood before disposing of the knife in a pond.

After three years of intensive investigation, the Moscow Regional Court sentenced the gang to varying terms in prison for their involvement in the killings.

Olga Bolshakova (nickname Warg), mother of two, suspected in murders committed in 2016

Andrey Tregubenko (nickname Cold Void), 34, father of two, suspected in two murders

Alexander Perevozchikov-Khmury was found to have taken part in the ritual murder of Platon Stepanov in Leningrad region in 2016

The gang were each sentenced from 13 years to life in prison for their involvement in the cases, which evaded police for nearly a decade.

'The court sentenced Tregubenko to life imprisonment. Perevozchikov-Khmury was sentenced to 15 years in prison, Tatyana Deryugina was sentenced to 13 years in prison,' the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation said in a statement.

Bolshakova was previously sentenced by the court to a long term of imprisonment,' it went on.

According to the investigation, Tregubenko and Deryugina met over a shared interest in the 'religious and mystical movement of Satan worshippers'.

They were alleged to have carefully planned the ritual murder of their acquaintance in June 2016 before moving on to others and inviting Perevozchikov-Khmury and Deryugina to join them, sharing their sympathies.

The cold case made ground when handed over to the central office of Russia's Investigative Committee in 2021.

Tregubenko was first named as a suspect in the disappearances of the victims who vanished in the Karelia and Leningrad regions, prompting a search of the flat he shared with Bolshakova.

There, police allegedly uncovered a large package of drugs.

Investigators then received 'evidence' implicating them and their alleged accomplices in the ritualistic crimes, according to RIA.

Tregubenko allegedly went on to show police where the bodies were buried, according to Russian-language news website Meduza.

An unnamed source involved in the case later concluded the reason for the murders was 'to appeal to dark forces'.

The committee said after the verdict: 'Tregubenko and Bolshakova met against the backdrop of following a religious and mystical movement of 'Satan' worshippers, which involves human sacrifice.

'In June 2016, they committed the ritual murder of a girl in the Republic of Karelia by tricking her into a forest.

'The defendants then stole the victim's valuables, disposed of her body and the murder weapon, placed them in a pre-dug pit and set them on fire.

'In August 2016, Tregubenko and Bolshakova entered into a criminal conspiracy with Perevozchikov-Khmurym and Deryugina and committed another ritual murder of a man in the forest near Priozersk station in the Leningrad region in a similar manner.

'During the same period, Tregubenko, in a flat in the town of Balashikha, Moscow region, during a conflict with an acquaintance, stabbed him in the neck, from which the man died.

'Then Tregubenko, Bolshakova, Perevozchikov-Khmuryi and Deryugina in another flat performed a ritual rite with the blood of the murdered man, which remained on Tregubenko's hands and the knife.'

Tregubenko has been named locally as one of the leaders of the Moscow branch of the elusive 'Church of Darkness', a group of zealots ostensibly following Satan.

Fontanka, a Russian outlet, reported 'the core consisted of about thirty people - a financial consultant, tax officials, a programmer, a librarian, an X-ray technician, tattoo artists, artists, laborers and others'.

They also named Bolshakova as a 'tax service employee from Balashikha', who met Tregubenko in 2016, the year of the first alleged killing.

Tregubenko was named as a motorcycle enthusiast.

Tatyana Perevozchikova-Khmuraya was also found to have taken part in the ritual murder of Platon Stepanov in Leningrad region in 2016

Platon Stepanov, 27, allegedly killed in August 2016 in Priozersk district, Leningrad region

Viktoria Zaitseva, 27, allegedly killed in Karelia in July 2016

Investigators also linked the couple to The Order of Nine Angles, originating in Britain in the 1960s, which has attracted neo-Nazi groups, it was reported.

The group was involved in 'human sacrifices'. Victims were chosen for their 'weak' characters, it is claimed.

Tregubenko's sister Ksenia, 19, a medical student, told Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper that her brother only became Satanist after starting a relationship with Bolshakova.

'Olga was an ardent Satanist, she was into it since she was 16,' she said. 'She has three occult tattoos.

'My brother fell in love and was mired in it because of her. I was against their relationship.'
Her victim's mother previously filed a lawsuit against school officials, claiming they negligently ignored signs of the abuse

A married New York City teacher beamed with happiness as she walked out of the courtroom with a sweetheart deal despite raping a 14-year-old boy.

Melissa Rockensies, 33, was all smiles as she left Queens court on Tuesday, as her plea deal will see her serve no jail time but will permanently hand over her teaching license.

The mother-of-three will also be ordered to complete a sexual predator program for two years.

She had been accused of grooming a young student at her school, sending him a slew of sexual messages while carrying out a year-long physical relationship where they would meet up for sex in her car.

Melissa Rockensies, 33, was all smiles as she left Queens court on Tuesday as she celebrated a sweetheart plea deal over the rape of a 14-year-old student

The married mother-of-two teacher (pictured with her husband, who claimed she was innocent) will serve no jail time but will hand over her teaching license

Her teen victim, who has not been identified, previously told the New York Post that his ordeal with the 33-year-old began when she started working at his school in mid 2022.

Rockensies began her advances, he said, by sending him a number of lewd messages, and told the outlet that he felt like Rockensies had 'taken advantage of him because of his age.'

Initially, their communications started over email and were due to a problem with another student, and he said he felt 'comfortable with her.'

'I was vulnerable with her. I'm smart but I don't make good decisions. I work off of impulse. If someone says let's go do something I'd say all right let's go do it,' he said.

Over the course of the next year, he said their relationship escalated quickly, and she would send depraved messages in between taking care of her children.

In a text exchange obtained by the New York Post, the teen claimed Rockensies allegedly wrote: 'You're gonna be lucky once I put this kid to sleep.'

Another text seen by the outlet saw Rockensies allegedly write: 'I want you so bad and now I gotta go read kids books like... wtf'.

She also allegedly wrote to the boy: 'Study up on your technique and I'll be moaning for you all day and all night daddyy' and 'I wanna be able to kiss those lips of yours.'

Rockensies was said to have begun grooming the boy when he emailed her over an issue with another student, before her messages escalated and became sexual

The teacher was accused of carrying out the secret trysts with the boy several times a week, including on school campus and often in her car

The boy's mother has since launched a lawsuit claiming this could have been quickly prevented by school officials, claiming signs of the abuse went undetected due to negligence.

In September, after allegedly exchanging hundreds of emails, the pair began messaging on Instagram, with Rockensies eventually suggesting to meet up in person, the teen claimed.

She took the teen out for a walk in the park after she went to the supermarket, where she's been accused of hugging the boy 'really close' and then asking to 'kiss him.'

'This came out of nowhere. I wasn't expecting it because she said she has a husband and stuff. I felt weird like I had to hug her back. I hugged her. I kissed her. That's how it started.'

The sexual abuse continued by Rockensies typically ordering the teen to meet her in her car before or after school.

'She'd tell me where to go to meet her, where the car is parked,' he claimed and said that she tried to meet him every day except Wednesday, when 'she had to watch the kids.'

'Every time we'd meet up, we'd have sex,' he claims adding that she would allegedly give him gifts like money and nicotine devices.

'Most of the time she [gave] me money. The most she ever gave me was $500,' he said.

In her lawsuit filed in January, the child's mother said negligence by officials with the Department of Education allowed the abuse to continue undetected.

The lawsuit is seeking an undisclosed amount of damages, and aims to bring school officials to account for their failure to prevent it, the mother's attorney Jonathan Cooper told Patch.

'It's really when we entrust our kids to the school, we would hope at a bare minimum that they wouldnt be statutorily raped,' he said. The age of consent in New York is 17.

'These acts occurred regularly  about four times a week  inside the automobile of Ms. Rockensies in an area immediately adjacent to Corona Arts, including during school hours.'

Rockensies was accused by her victim of offering money and nicotine devices for the secret sex, however her husband claimed that she is innocent

In November 2023, the teacher claimed that the teen had been threatening to 'extort' her and accused him of saying that he'd 'shoot her and her kids' if she didn't pay him $5,000.

The student denied these allegations, and said he had been banned from Instagram after skipping summer school and someone else had been messaging her from his account.

After Rockensies' arrest her husband, William, defended the 33-year-old, and he claimed that she is 'innocent'.

Speaking to the New York Post, her husband said: 'My wife is innocent. She's the mother of three kids. She loves them very much.

'She's been a big part of the community at her school. We all support her. We're saying she's innocent. I won't elaborate any further why.'

Following a December hearing, District Attorney Melinda Katz said: 'These disturbing allegations represent an abuse of authority and a betrayal of the trust students and parents place in their schools.

'On behalf of the victim and his family, and the overwhelming majority of teachers committed to the education and well-being of our children, we will seek to achieve justice in this case.'

Rockensies was previously the dean of Leadership and Student Support at the middle school, and attended several of the education facilities events with parents and students.

The teacher reportedly earned around $85,000 last year, with a Department of Education spokeswoman confirming that Rockensies is no longer working at the school.

In a statement, they said: 'This alleged behavior is extremely concerning and wholly unacceptable.

'This employee has been reassigned away from the school and students pending the outcome of the arrest and if convicted, we will pursue termination.

'Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our students.'
Republican Wisconsin Senate candidate Eric Hovde questioned in an interview whether nursing home residents should be voting.

The GOP businessman made the remark during an April 5 interview on the Guy Benson Show.

Hovde brought up nursing homes with '100% voting' as an example in response to a question over whether he believed the 2020 election was stolen.

'Well if you're in a nursing home, you only have five, six month life expectancy,' Hovde said. 'Almost nobody in a nursing home is in a point to vote.'

Hovde went on 'you had children, adult children showing up and saying "who voted for my 85 or 90-year-old father or mother?"'

Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde is running to unseat Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin

Hovde speaking at the Trump rally in Green Bay, WI on April 2. Trump endorsed Hovde in the Senate race during his event

Hovde is running to unseat Democratic Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin. The close race is rated by the Cook Political Report as 'Lean Democrat.'

The Republican businessman's comments were first reported by Heartland Signal, which noted Hovde's assessment of the length of nursing home life expectancy at five to six months is incorrect.

According to the Administration for Community Living the average duration people use a nursing homes varies greatly person to person. One third of people 65 and older may never need long-term care, but 20 percent will need it for more than five years.

Addressing the issue of more broadly, the multimillionaire Senate hopeful said he's not going to spend his time talking about the 2020 election.

'Do I believe the election was stolen? No, but did things happen in that election that were very troublesome. Absolutely.'

Hovde was endorsed by Trump last week during the ex-president's visit to Green Bay, Wisconsin. During his rally, Trump continued to falsely claim he won Wisconsin in 2020 which he did not.

Senator Tammy Baldwin has served in the Senate since 2013

Like the presidential election in Wisconsin, the Senate race is expected to be tight.

The latest The Hill/Emerson poll of the Senate race shows Baldwin leading by three points 45 to 42 percent.
Two serial-criminal Venezuelan migrants attacked NYPD officers as they tried to stop their gang from ransacking a Target store, according to officials.

Yusneiby Machado, 23, and Brayan Freites, 21, are among six migrants accused of trying to steal $82 worth of items at the Upper East Side store on April 2, as reported by the New York Post.

The group allegedly took a gaming light, tools, a backpack and snacks including Doritos, Fruit Loops and water bottles.

When police tried to stop the crew, Machado and Freitas reportedly wrestled and shoved officers in an attempt to resist arrest.

A third suspect who has not been caught then allegedly tried to throw rocks at the officers but did not hit any.

Yusneiby Machado, 23, and Brayan Freites, 21, are among six migrants accused of trying to steal $82 worth of items at the Upper East Side store on April 2

Cops told the Post an officer was left with 'swelling, redness and pain on his left arm.'

The officer was reportedly taken to the hospital, treated and released.

Machado and Freites, who both have previous records with cops, are charged with robbery, assault, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, criminal possession of stolen property, disorderly conduct and harassment.

But Machado was freed without bail by Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Jay Wiener, despite prosecutors' request that she be held on $10,000 bail.

Wiener ordered Freites held on $3,000 bail or $9,000 bond.

The pair's suspected co-conspirators are named as Sebastian Jaramillo, 22, Michael Sanchez, 31, and Henry Zambrano, 19.

They are all charged with robbery and disorderly conduct and were released without bail.

Sources told The Post that the three suspects live at the Wards Island shelter.

New York City Police Department commissioner Edward Caban appeared on NBC News NOWs Top Story with Tom Llamas on Tuesday to discuss the wave of unprovoked violence in the city.

Caban said crime is trending down in the city, but not quickly enough, due to repeat offenders.

'We're seeing that we're locking up the same people over and over again,' he said, adding that bail reform laws have been ineffective.

'We lock someone up and the district attorney puts bail on them, the judges let them go to walk our streets again... its a broken system,' the cop added.

While crime was down overall ion the first quarter of 2024, a series of highly publicized have made New Yorkers question the data.

Earlier this year, a video showing a group of migrants brawling with police in Times Square touched off a political furor. It also renewed debate over a long-standing New York City policy that limits cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities - so-called sanctuary city rules.

Earlier this year, a video showing a group of migrants brawling with police in Times Square touched off a political furor and renewed debate over a long-standing New York City policy that limits cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities

The surveillance footage, recorded January 27 outside a Manhattan homeless shelter, shows several men kicking officers on a sidewalk and trying to pry them off a man police had taken to the ground.

Nobody was seriously hurt, but the video of officers being pummeled prompted waves of public outrage. Some of that fury has been directed at prosecutors and the court system after several of those arrested were freed from jail while awaiting trial.

Increasingly, New York City officials have aimed dire rhetoric at the tens of thousands of asylum seekers the city has put up in shelters and hotels over the past year. Some of the comments have dismayed immigration advocates, who say they are stirring up hatred over the actions of a few bad apples.

'A wave of migrant crime has washed over our city,' Police Commissioner Edward Caban said at a news conference about a Venezuelan man being sought in a series of cell phone robberies.

Adams has noted the vast majority of the nearly 175,000 migrants who have come to the city are law abiding. He said it would be wrong for 'any New Yorker to look at people trying to fulfill the next step on the American Dream as criminal.'

But in recent days, Adams has also shown a willingness to pull back on a set of laws that often block the city from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts.

'We need to modify the sanctuary city law that if you commit a felony or violent act we should be able to turn you over to ICE and have you deported,' he told a town hall meeting in February.
By Ko Dong-hwan

Park Jin-yeon, a 34-year-old restaurat owner who runs a pork barbecue grill house in Seoul, is an all-round player, serving dishes and grilling meat for diners during business hours. In off-hours, he prepares the meat, checks food stocks and cleans the place up before opening.

As a chief manager of a small restaurant that sees customers waiting outside almost every day, he must stay vigiliant to keep the business rolling while remaining popular.

Among the various tasks that constantly demand Park's attention is managing the restaurant crew. Given that most of the workforce consists of part-timers, he anticipates that at least two to three people will quit each month.

The problem is that his crew, mostly teenagers and people in their 20s, don't have the courtesy to give prior notice before they quit. They simply don't show up. He then has to call off-duty employees and find whoever can fill in fast.

The last-minute hassle isn't confined to unexpected resignations. Some prospective jobseekers who schedule in-person interviews fail to show up. Furthermore, there are cases where individuals are hired but then fail to appear on their first day of work.

"It's really frustrating whenever I have to find a new crew member out of the blue," Park said. "I always ask job interviewees, 'Please, just let me know in advance if you will ever decide not to come.'"

Three out of every four small business owners in the country suffer from no-shows by their employees or those who had agreed to join their establishments, according to a major online part-time job market platform in the country, Tuesday.

Mediawill Networks, which surveyed 256 small business owners in the country, said 77.3 percent have experienced no-shows by hired part-timers or those in the process of employment. Among the respondents, the highest proportion of 79.3 percent said the no-shows were mostly by those who were to have an in-person interview.

Of those who didn't show up without explanation, 63.6 percent failed to appear on their first day of work, and 52 percent were individuals who were already employed.

Among 222 small business owners with part-timers on their payrolls, 82 percent said their biggest concern was whether they will suddenly not show up for work.

With the majority of entrepreneurs expressing concerns about potential no-shows by part-timers, there's a growing demand for jobseekers who can make themselves available either instantly or on short notice. Among the 256 respondents, 76.2 percent said they have experienced workers not showing up and were in an immediate need for more staff at least once.
Her 21-year-old son, Roger Magee, was arrested on similar charges in 2022

A Texas high school cosmetology teacher and her son have been charged with child trafficking after she allegedly offered troubled teens a place to stay then compelled them into prostitution, police said.

Kedira Grigsby, 42, who worked at Klein Cain High School was charged with three counts of child trafficking and three counts of compelling prostitution of juveniles on Monday.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the three victims were students and reported runaways aged 15, 16 and 17.

Her 21-year-old son, Roger Magee, was arrested on similar charges of child trafficking, sexual assault of a child and and compelling prostitution in November 2022.

In response to the arrest, Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott said: 'What some of our educators are doing is criminal and disgusting.'

Kedira Grigsby, 42, was charged with three counts of child trafficking and three counts of compelling prostitution of juveniles on Monday

Police said the Klein Cain High School teacher would allegedly offer students a place to stay, which would be a hotel room then force them into prostitution

She waived her right to appear in court on Tuesday and her bond was set a $750,000 with the condition that she is barred from contacting the victims, ages 15, 16 and 17

He added in a social media post: 'No child should be compelled by the state to be in a school like this. And yet, current law doesnt allow the choice to go elsewhere. Im working to elect state representatives who will change that'.

In court, prosecutors said investigators found text messages between Grigsby and her son - and her son and the victims - discussing payments of prostitutions fees through Zelle, reported Click2Houston.

They said Grigsby paid for at least one hotel room where an officer witnessed one victim walk in before running out and getting into the teacher's car.

Grigsby waived her right to appear in court on Tuesday and her bond was set a $750,000 with the condition that she is barred from contacting the victims and has no unsupervised interactions with minors, according to Fox 26 Houston.

KTRK reported that more possible victims have come forward alleging Grigsby tried to recruit them.

The Klein ISD School District said Grigsby was hired during the 2019-2020 school year and 'passed a state background check at that time.'

'As soon as we were notified of this information, the district took immediate action, apprehended, and immediately placed Ms. Grigsby on administrative leave,' the school district said.

'Klein ISD has NO intention of allowing this individual back to Klein Cain or any Klein ISD school, and we will report to all appropriate agencies at the conclusion of the investigation.'

The Klein ISD School District said Grigsby was hired during the 2019-2020 school year and 'passed a state background check at that time'

Her 21-year-old son, Roger Magee, was arrested on similar charges of child trafficking, sexual assault of a child and and compelling prostitution in November 2022

A spokesperson for Klein Cain High School said: 'Let us be clear: any behavior harming children is deplorable, and we will always fully cooperate with our many law enforcement partners to ensure anyone engaging in such acts is brought to justice.'

According to an 'About Me' page from her curriculum, Grigsby said she has over 17 years of experience in the beauty industry.

'Building people up and watching them soar is my passion. I am here to help reach every goal and break through barriers,' Grigsby said.
A man who admitted posting support for Hamas online has been spared jail and instead received a suspended sentence for a terrorism offence.

Ozain Yousef, 23, from Leeds, was arrested on November 24 last year on suspicion of supporting a proscribed terror organisation.

The arrest was made after police received a report that Yousef's social media account on X had posted extremist material supportive of Hamas following its attack on Israel on October 7.

Yousef was sentenced to 16 weeks' imprisonment suspended for two years at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday afternoon after pleading guilty to the offence last month.

His lawyer said he had been 'caught up in the toxic environment of social media' and was 'very ashamed of where that led him'.

The arrest was made after police received a report that Yousef's social media account on X had posted extremist material supportive of Hamas following its attack on Israel on October 7

Palestinians move towards the Nahal Oz border crossing with Israel, east of Gaza City, on October 7, 2023

Judge Daniel Sternberg ordered Yousef to provide the username and password of his social media accounts at the request of his supervising officer and to not delete the call or internet history from any of his devices.

READ MORE: David Cameron says Britain WON'T suspend arms sales to Israel despite the killing of three British veterans in an IDF airstrike in Gaza

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Yousef was also ordered to pay 85 in costs and a victim surcharge of 154, as well as to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Sternberg said the sentencing was 'not in any sense a commentary' on events in Israel and Gaza, adding: 'What is beyond any dispute is that Hamas is a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000.'

He said Yousef had 'plainly engaged in persistent conduct' intended to show support for Hamas, adding that the prosecution had submitted this was done in a 'deliberate, provocative and malicious' way.

Judge Sternberg said it was important that Yousef had expressed regret for his actions to the Probation Service.

Addressing Yousef in his sentencing remarks, the judge said: 'This is an opportunity for you to show that what happened was out of character and there will be no repetition of this behaviour.'

Palestinians and militants from the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades run towards the Erez crossing between Israel and the northern Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023

Palestinians react as an Israeli military vehicle burns after it was hit by Palestinian gunmen who infiltrated areas of southern Israel, at the Israeli side of Israel-Gaza border, October 7, 2023

Palestinians break into the Israeli side of Israel-Gaza border fence after gunmen infiltrated areas of southern Israel, October 7, 2023

He added: 'You expressed embarrassment for bringing shame to your family through this incident.

'You admitted what you posted on social media was extreme but you didn't consider the wider impact.'

Defence lawyer Kara Frith told the court Yousef was 'adamant' he did not believe everything he posted and was 'truly remorseful'.

Ms Frith added: 'He cannot take back what he did, but he can and does apologise for any offence caused.

'He was caught up in the toxic environment of social media and is very ashamed of where that led him.'

Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern on October 7 2023

Palestinian Civil Defense teams and families try to find the bodies or remains of their relatives after Israel withdrew

Hamas' attack on October 7 was followed by Israel devastating invasion of Gaza

Destroyed buildings as Palestinians return to Khan Younis after the Israeli military pulled out troops from the southern Gaza Strip, leaving just one brigade in the area, April 9 2024

Following his arrest last year, Yousef's phone was seized by police and his X account was found to contain a large number of pro-Hamas images and videos, and one pro-Hezbollah video.

Between July 9 and September 26 2023, Yousef's posts made no reference to Palestine or the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

However, from October 9 2023 virtually all his posts related to the Gaza conflict, and subsequently transitioned into support for Hamas.

In one of those posts, Yousef, of Mexborough Place, Leeds, directly acknowledged Hamas and aligned himself as a 'brother' of the proscribed organisation.

In another, he re-posted an image of a sniper from the Qassam Brigade, the military wing associated with Hamas.
A priest has been jailed after he refused to open the door to an ambulance when a man overdosed on erectile dysfunction pills during a 'gay orgy' he had organised.

Father Tomasz Zmarzy from the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Angels has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for sex and drug crimes.

He was also jailed for failing to provide assistance to a person in danger of loss of life or serious bodily harm, after the victim took copious amounts of potency tablets.

The priest was ordered to pay the victim 15,000 zlotys ($3,820) in damages and to pay several thousand zlotys to a fund set up to help the victims of crime.

The small party had been held at his apartment in the city of Dabrowa Gornicza and in the early hours of the morning his naked friend fell ill.

Father Tomasz Zmarzy from the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Angels has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for sex and drug crimes

The priest was also ordered to pay the victim 15,000 zlotys ($3,820) in damages and to pay several thousand zlotys to a fund set up to help the victims of crime

The Diocese of Sosnowiec in southwest Poland had been engulfed in scandal since reports of the sex party in the town of Dabrowa Gornicza emerged last year

A male prostitute attending the gathering then called the emergency services, prompting the priest to order him to leave.

When paramedics arrived they found the prostitute waiting outside the apartment but Father Zmarzy is said to have refused to let them in.

The ambulance service then called the police who were eventually allowed inside to find the unconscious man. He was taken to hospital where he later recovered and discharged himself.

A source close to the incident previously told the newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza: 'The event was organised by clergy and was purely sexual. Its participants took potency pills.'

Informing his superior about the incident the following day, Father Zmarzy denied that he had organised a 'gay orgy'.

The priest was sentenced for sexual offences, the supply of drugs and failing to provide assistance to a person in danger of loss of life or serious bodily harm.

Due to the nature of the case the trial took place behind closed doors. There will be no appeal.

The Diocese of Sosnowiec in southwest Poland had been engulfed in scandal since reports of the sex party in the town of Dabrowa Gornicza emerged last year.

The bishop of the diocese Grzegorz Kaszak stepped down but the Vatican said at the time, without giving a reason for his resignation.

Tomasz Z was discharged from the clergy last year after the media reports.

The diocese's press office did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Photographs of innocent Scots are among more than three million mugshots being held indefinitely on Big Brother police crime databases.

An unknown number of victims and those who have been cleared of any crime, or who have never been charged, are part of the vast cache of data being stored in online vaults.

Scotlands biometrics watchdog Dr Brian Plastow warned the true number could be significantly higher. He said images stored by Police Scotland and other policing agencies included mugshots of people who were later found to be innocent.

He warned of concerns around the necessity and proportionality of retention policies, as officers are still untrained on a new code of conduct on data storage.

The findings led to alarm over the volume of images kept on police records, given that Scotlands population is around 5.4million.

An unknown number of innocent Scots and crime victims are among three million images being stored by police in Scotland

Scotlands biometrics watchdog Dr Brian Plastow (left) has raised concerns the number of images being kept could be significantly higher than first thought, including many innocent people. Alistair Bonnington, (right) former honorary professor of criminal law at the University of Glasgow, called for an urgent review of police files

Alistair Bonnington, former honorary professor of criminal law at the University of Glasgow, called for an urgent review of police files, adding: It sounds as if the situation within Police Scotland is completely disorganised  and seems to have aspects of George Orwells Big Brother.

Mark Johnson of campaign group Big Brother Watch said: The figures set out in the report are extremely concerning.

Police Scotland should automatically delete the custody images of innocent people  not hoard them in a vast index and wait until someone asks for them to be removed.

The disclosures come after new SNP Government hate crime laws saw police receive thousands of complaints since enforcement began last week.

In his explosive report, Dr Plastow, Scotlands Biometrics Commissioner, said there are no automated means of knowing exactly how many images they have on retention.

Police Scotland is using databases that pre-date the launch of the force in 2013 and hold images of people not charged or convicted.

Dr Plastows spokesman said there are significant volumes of legacy force [pre-Police Scotland] custody and case images held on retention, including images of persons not charged or convicted.

He said Police Scotland was working to shut legacy databases down, and has no means of automated weeding [removal of images].

The spokesman said the commissioner remains concerned that progress [on ensuring that mugshots of innocent people are removed] has been slow, as it is now 11 years since Police Scotland was established.

Dr Plastows report said: The commissioner estimates that there are at least three million images held in retention by Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority and the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

However, the exact number may be significantly higher.

Not knowing how many images are held in different databases makes effective governance by each organisation challenging.

The commissioner said images are used for policing and criminal justice purposes and their lawful and effective use makes a valuable contribution to law enforcement and community safety.

But he said there are concerns around the necessity and proportionality of retention policies for images  and there is a risk that images could be retained longer than necessary.

Dr Plastow said Police Scotland had not yet provided any training to staff on issues such as the Scottish Biometrics Commissioners Code of Practice, or on observing the information rights of [people whose data is held] especially where biometrics are obtained without consent, including because of arrest.

He added: There is no requirement for operational staff to provide any meaningful information to data subjects explaining the reasons why their images or other biometric data is to be captured following arrest; or any explanation of where the data will be hosted; what the data will be used for; who it will be shared with; how long it will be kept or any appeal mechanisms to Police Scotland.

Scottish Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay said it was concerning to learn that police hold photos equivalent to more than half of the population.

Concerning: Police Scotland has been accused of behaving like Big Brother

He added: SNP ministers should provide an explanation as to why so many mugshots are being kept by police and ensure that retention is lawful and appropriate.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Freeburn said: Police Scotland retains images primarily on the Scottish Criminal History System and the UK Police National Database.

As a rights and values-based organisation, we ensure the retention and use of biometric data is lawful, effective, proportionate and ethical in a policing context.

As a rights and values-based organisation, we ensure the retention and use of biometric data is lawful, effective, proportionate and ethical in a policing context.

Upon conclusion of a prosecution or investigation, only data from those convicted or those with historical convictions continue to have their image retained on either database.
Heart stopping footage shows the moment a Chicago man 'opens fire on police' before cops shoot more than 90 times to kill him.

Dexter Reed, 26, was killed following a traffic stop in Humboldt Park after police pulled him over for allegedly failing to wear a seatbelt.

The shooting on March 21 came just days after he appeared in court in connection with firearms charges, NBC reports.

Bodycam footage shows plain clothes officers approaching Reed's SUV and ordering him to roll down his window with their weapons drawn.

Reed refuses at first, before several gun shots can be heard. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability said preliminary evidence showed Reed fired first, injuring one officer. However, this is not clear from the footage.

Heart stopping footage shows the moment a Chicago man 'opens fire on police' before cops shoot more than 90 times to kill him

Dexter Reed, 26, was killed following a traffic stop on March 21 after police pulled him over in Humboldt Park for allegedly failing to wear a seatbelt

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability said preliminary evidence showed Reed fired first, injuring one officer but this is not clear from the footage

Bodycam footage shows plain clothes officers approaching Reed's SUV and ordering him to roll down his window with their weapons drawn before a volley of shots ring out

A gun was later recovered from the passenger side of the vehicle and an investigation is now underway.

However, activists are already planning to demonstrate outside CPD's 11th district at 6 pm on Tuesday.

'I really cant explain the pain that me and my family is going through, but I just hope there are people out there who understand he was a son, he was a brother, he was an uncle, he had loved ones,' Reeds sister, Porscha Banks, told reporters. 'He was somebody very important.'

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told a press conference that he was 'devastated' to be learning of another young, black man killed by police, but stressed that he could have been grieving the loss of another black life if the officer hit had been killed.

He spoke following the release of several bodycam clips, including from the officer who was shot.

They show the tactical unit driving up to the scene with multiple officers screaming commands for Reed to first lower the window and then open the door.

After he refuses, gunshots erupt. A man calling 911 to report the shooting described it as 'shooting like theyre having a Vietnam War.'

Reed exits the vehicle and slumps to the ground, ending up facedown with his head near the rear passenger wheel and wearing only one shoe.

Chicago Police released several bodycam clips which detail the traffic stop, including the moment when an officer is hit in the wrist

Activists have seized on the death as another example of racist police brutality and have planned protests outside the 11th district precinct

Dexter Reed, center, along with his mother Nicole Banks and sister Porscha Banks in 2019

'Dont move! Dont move!' the officers scream at Reed who lies motionless on the ground as they try and search his body for a gun while slapping him in cuffs.

'I dont know where the gun is,' an officer says. They later use a flashlight to look into the vehicle and locate the weapon on the passenger seat.

'He started shooting at us,' another officer says.

Afterward more officers and ambulance arrive on scene.

'All of us were shooting,' one officer says repeatedly.

Mayor Johnson vowed a full investigation, adding Tuesdays release was part of an effort to be more transparent.

'Attempts to withhold or delay information are mistakes of the past,' he said at a news conference with COPA and the Cook County state's attorney's office.

'As mayor and as a father, raising a family, including two black boys on the West Side of Chicago, Im personally devastated to see yet another young black man lose his life during an interaction with police.

Prior to his death, Reed was awaiting trial in a firearms case for allegedly carrying a loaded handgun into a music festival, county records show.

Dexter Reed's mother, Nicole Banks, looks on as the family's attorney, Andrew Stroth, speaks to reporters outside the headquarters for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability in West Town, Chicago,

Dexter Reed's sister Porscha Banks told reporters she cannot express the pain her family is going through

Of the officer he added: 'If that bullet had hit him a few inches in a different direction, I would be here today talking about the loss of another young black man.

'It weighs heavily on me that this event took place just blocks from my own community. And it is not lost on me that both Dexter Reed and this officer could have been my students.'

The officers were placed on 30 days of administrative leave amid the investigations from COPA and the Cook County state's attorney's office.

Andrew Stroth, an attorney for Reed's family has branded the police stop 'unconstitutional' claiming the plainclothes cops did not announce they were police.

'Nothing is going to bring Dexter back, but certainly efforts should be taken to make sure this doesnt happen to another family,' he said.

On Tuesday, police spokesperson Thomas Ahern said the department was cooperating with the investigation.

'We cannot make a determination on this shooting until all the facts are known and this investigation has concluded,' he said.

State's Attorney Kim Foxx said her office will determine whether the officers use of force was warranted or necessitated criminal charges.

Andrew Stroth, an attorney for Reed's family has branded the police stop 'unconstitutional' claiming the plainclothes cops did not announce they were police

Dexter Reed's mother, Nicole Banks, broke down during a press conference about her son's death

'Let me assure you that our pursuit of justice will be relentless, guided by the facts, grounded in evidence and the law,' she said.

The Cook County medical examiner's office classified Reed's death as a homicide and reported that he died of 'multiple' gunshot wounds.

Prior to his death, Reed was awaiting trial in a firearms case, county records show.

He was first charged with a misdemeanor count of retail theft in April 2023 for allegedly stealing a $950 shirt before the charge was tossed.

He was arrested again on July 13, 2023 when police allegedly discovered him carrying a loaded handgun at a music festival despite having no concealed carry license and after his firearm owners identification card had been revoked.

COPA was created in 2016 after the city was forced to release dashcam video of then-officer Jason Van Dyke shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, contradicting officers' account that the teen had lunged at police with a knife. Its responsibilities include investigations of shootings by police.

The police department has been under a consent decree since 2019, handed down after the U.S. Justice Department found a long history of racial bias and excessive use of force following McDonald's death.

The independent monitoring team overseeing the department's compliance has repeatedly found it falling behind on deadlines and specific goals and last year called on Snelling as the incoming superintendent to 'address challenges that have disproportionately delayed progress.'
As Darth Vader's formidable soldiers, they are used to travelling to galaxies far, far away.

But one unsuspecting stormtrooper struggled to make it as far as Dundee at the weekend after police diverted a ScotRail service over a safety threat.

Dan Gillespie was heading from Aberdeen to a comic convention wearing his full Star Wars regalia when another passenger reported him to police.

They had mistaken his plastic blaster for a 'firearm'. Mr Gillespie heard sirens from his seat on the train and was initially unaware of what was happening until he was approached by a guard.

Moments later the train returned to Aberdeen where the stormtrooper faced the wrath of firearms officers and British Transport Police.

The Grampian Stormtrooper posed with two police officers at a train station back in April 2018

The Grampian Stormtrooper poses with Chewbacca at a comic convention last month

The officers soon realised it was a false alarm. But the 50-year-old said he was still ordered not to travel until he had the toy concealed in a bag.

And he claims he was also told never to step on a train wearing the 1,000 outfit again.

Mr Gillespie told the Scottish Sun: 'I heard sirens from the train along with an announcement, not knowing why we stopped. 'I'm sure passengers on the train were annoyed with me.'

Mr Gillespie, known as the Grampian Stormtrooper, is often out and about in his outfit and has never experienced any problems before.

Police diverted a ScotRail train service from Aberdeen over a safety threat (file picture)

He said: 'The blaster was holstered so it wasn't even out. Two weeks ago I was a trooper on the bus. No issues. [It's a] crazy world we live in.'

A British Transport Police spokesman said officers received reports of a man with a 'firearm' entering Aberdeen station just before 9am on Saturday.

He added: 'Officers attended alongside colleagues from Police Scotland and it was determined it was a false alarm.'

Police Scotland declined to comment. ScotRail confirmed the train returned to Aberdeen.
A brave Virginia bishop heroically rescued a little boy when the SUV he was in went up in dramatic flames after a crash on the highway.

The crash came after a dump truck blew a tire and swerved into the inner-loop lanes of the I-495 in the Forestville Area - where it slammed into an SUV at around 11am on Monday morning.

Bishop John Adonteng Boateng jumped into action when he saw the vehicle go up in flames and pulled over in his own car to hurry towards the scene.

The mother inside the SUV was able to pull herself out of the vehicle, which was engulfed in flames and smoke.

Video shows the moment that Boateng emerges from huge fireball crash clutching the little boy who had been trapped inside after he had been removed from the vehicle.

Bishop John Adonteng Boateng heroically rescued a little boy when the SUV he was in went up in dramatic flames after a crash on the highway

The mother inside the SUV was able to pull herself out of the vehicle, which was engulfed in flames and smoke. Video shows the moment that Boateng emerges from huge fireball crash clutching the little boy who had been trapped inside after he had been removed from the vehicle

The little boy's clothes were burned off his body and he is visibly scared in footage of the rescue, but he survived thanks to the bravery of Boateng.

As Boateng carried him to safety and held onto him, other bystanders scrambled to control the blaze with fire extinguishers.

The little boy was transported to MedStar's Burn Center in Washington, D.C. in an ambulance, according to officials from Maryland State Police.

Both the mother and son are expected to survive, but were left with serious injuries.

Boateng said he remembered thinking, 'I'm going to save a life,' as he jumped into action.

'There was nothing. I could have died. This could have been my end, but my passion was to help. God used me to give him a second chance.'

The bishop is a member of the Divine World International Ministries of Woodbridge. During the chaos, Boateng said he simply followed his instincts.

Bishop John Adonteng Boateng jumped into action when he saw the vehicle go up in flames and pulled over in his own car to hurry towards the scene

The crash came after a dump truck blew a tire and swerved into the inner-loop lanes of the I-495 in the Forestville Area - where it slammed into an SUV at around 11am on Monday morning

Other responders are pictured pulling another body out of the rubble, though it is unclear who the individual is

'There were so many explosions, but I didn't even pay attention to that. My first instinct was to reach out and help that poor little child,' he said.

The mother and son have not yet been identified and the crash and its cause are still being investigated.
Widowed a decade ago and now aged 83, he might now reasonably hope to be spending time with his grandchildren and indulging in other gentle pleasures.

But I fear that that's now little more than a pipe-dream for the urbane Lord Hindlip, former chairman of Christie's auctioneers and father of unstoppable Location, Location, Location presenter, Kirstie Allsopp.

He has, I can reveal, steeled himself for a gruelling courtroom battle after undergoing what he alleges was 'negligently' performed heart surgery.

In a blistering attack against private healthcare company HCA International  which, as I recently disclosed, accuses him of leaving a 321,000 bill unpaid  Hindlip states that he was 'induced to sign' an agreement, after being told, at 'very short notice', that 'a time slot had become available for [his] operation'.

In newly submitted court documents, Hindlip claims that HCA's employees told him that his insurer had approved the operation  and 'post operative care'  and would meet all costs.

Lord Hindlip's daughter, Location, Location, Location presenter, Kirstie Allsopp (pictured)

He has, I can reveal, steeled himself for a gruelling courtroom battle after undergoing what he alleges was 'negligently' performed heart surgery. Pictured: Lord Hindlip and Dame Vivien Duffield in 2015

That was why, claims Hindlip, he signed the agreement while 'very ill' and 'subject to [HCA]'s and [his] surgeon's influence over him'.

Worse followed  according to Hindlip. His operation, which included the replacement of his aortic valve and the repair of two other valves, was 'performed negligently'  it is alleged  with the result that he was 'subjected to an extended post-operative recovery period as an in-patient in [HCA]'s hospital'.

The documents indicate that Hindlip also intends to take action against his insurer and his surgeon.

HCA has submitted a detailed response to Hindlip's attack. Denying that its employees said that the peer's insurer had approved the operation  and post operative care  it alleges that it was Hindlip 'or his family' who said the insurer 'had authorised treatment'.

It also alleges that Kirstie informed staff that her father's insurer would be 'responsible for 60 per cent [of costs]' and her father for 40 per cent.

Kirstie  alleges HCA  told staff, by telephone, that her father 'had a dispute with [his insurer] and not with [HCA]'.

The company adds that Lord Hindlip had 'plenty of time to read and understand' its terms and conditions.

Am I alone in thinking that the bewigged ladies and gentlemen of the legal profession must be rubbing their hands in glee?

Hello boy! Eva has night out with her son

There can't be many teenage boys who enjoy partying with their mothers  but Eva Herzigova's son appears to be an exception.

George, 16, put on a dinner suit and joined the Czech-born model and actress, 51, at an event in Milan.

Eva shared a bathroom selfie of her getting ready with her eldest son for the Dolce & Gabbana 40th Anniversary celebration.

'Party with mum,' she wrote next to the snap of her and George  one of her three children with Italian fiance, Gregorio Marsiaj.

She adds: 'It made me smile seeing George and I getting ready together.'

Eva is best known for bringing traffic to a standstill when she appeared on billboards in a push-up Wonderbra next to the words, 'Hello Boys'.

George (right), 16, put on a dinner suit and joined Eva Herzigova (left), 51, at an event in Milan

Eva shared a bathroom selfie of her getting ready with her eldest son for the Dolce & Gabbana 40th Anniversary celebration

I wonder what Princess Diana would have made of this: seated at her favourite table this week at Le Caprice, or Arlington as it is now known, was Queen Camilla.

'She was in the corner spot where Princess Diana always used to dine,' says a fellow patron at the restaurant around the corner from The Ritz in London.

Arlington's owner, Jeremy King, who used to run The Wolseley, seems to reserve Table 9 for royalty.

Last time I visited, the Earl of Snowdon, Princess Margaret's son, was given the prime spot.

Lucy proves she is dotty about her quirky dress sense

Bohemian Rhapsody star Lucy Boynton's new film, The Greatest Hits, sees her travelling through time  and in real life she appears to be drawing her style inspiration from the Swinging Sixties.

While promoting the television film in New York, the actress, 30, wore a monochrome, polka-dot shift dress, which she paired with some quirky, matching tights.

Lucy has previously said of her fashion sense: 'I do like to be more adventurous  for some reason, I feel safer in that.'

While promoting the television film in New York, the actress, 30, wore a monochrome, polka-dot shift dress, which she paired with some quirky, matching tights

Kiss off for young Spencer

Earl Spencer has written a memoir, A Very Private School, about the physical and sexual abuse he suffered at Maidwell Hall, where he was sent aged eight.

Yet two of his seven children attended other boarding schools when they were teenagers.

'One of them found it hard to start with, but battled through,' Princess Diana's younger brother tells me at The Oldie Literary Lunch at the National Liberal Club in Whitehall. 'I kept saying to her, 'You can leave straight away  you don't have to do this.' '

Charles Spencer's father, the 8th Earl, did not offer the same advice to him when he was dropped off at the Northamptonshire school.

He says: 'I remember my father kissing me on the head and rushing out the door to get away while I was distracted.'

Earl Spencer has written a memoir, A Very Private School, about the physical and sexual abuse he suffered at Maidwell Hall, where he was sent aged eight

Mamma Mia! producer Judy Craymer, 66, wasn't shy about sharing the secrets of her youthful looks at an anniversary celebration for the ABBA-themed musical in London.

The production's writer, Catherine Johnson, joked: 'The show launched 25 years ago and Judy doesn't look a day older. How does she do it?'

Craymer gamely said: 'It's all that plastic surgery.'

Michael Douglas plays Benjamin Franklin, one of the USA's founding fathers, in Apple TV+ series Franklin.

And the Fatal Attraction star, 79, gets to show off his legs in a pair of fetching tights.

'That's why this is my first period show,' he says. 'My legs are so skinny.'

Douglas says of his historical outfit: 'I kept everything at calf length. I didn't want to scare anybody away.'

Writers of Amy Winehouse biopic Back To Black had to rethink the role of her mother, Janis. 'They had to rewrite her part because she's not simple and is very intelligent,' Juliet Cowan, who plays her, tells me at the world premiere. 'No one knows she has three science degrees and was a chemist.'
Vladimir Putin's dwindling forces have been forced to use makeshift covers and cages to shield important military equipment as Ukrainian drone attacks batter them.

One video leaked to Telegram channels show Russian tanks underneath blocky, turtle-like metal shells that appear to have been retroactively fitted to the exterior.

The makeshift shell only covers the sides and top of the tank, seemingly allowing operators to fire shells from the military vehicles.

Another video, this time seemingly shot from a drone, shows three Russian tanks with the covers plodding along through a battlefield at the Ukrainian-held town of Krasnohorivka as they come under fire.

Though the covers do not appear to be affecting their movement, their efficacy is not known given that they seem to take out much of the tanks' visibility.

Ukraine has heavily relied on cheaply made drones that can attack Russian positions from a distance

Vladimir Putin's (pictured) forces have been decimated by Ukrainian drone pilots

One video leaked to Telegram channels show Russian tanks underneath blocky, turtle-like metal shells that appear to have been retroactively fitted to the exterior

Another video, this time seemingly shot from a drone, shows three Russian tanks with the covers plodding along through a battlefield at the Ukrainian-held town of Krasnohorivka as they come under fire

Another video, this time seemingly shot from a drone, shows three Russian tanks with the covers plodding along through a battlefield at the Ukrainian-held town of Krasnohorivka as they come under fire

At least two armoured vehicle was destroyed during the failed assault.

Russia's tanks have been massively affected by Ukrainian drones. A NATO official today told Foreign Policy that more than two-thirds of incapacitated Russian tanks were taken out by drones.

Many are cheaply made, using off-the-shelf components that often carry improvised munitions including grenades or homemade bombs, as a much-needed military aid package worth $60billion, or 47billion, is still held up in the US House of Representatives after months of squabbling.

But the war, and the necessity to innovate in light of scarce resources, has seemingly led to Ukraine creating an AI-powered drone that could lock on to Russian targets from further away and be more resilient to electronic countermeasures in efforts to ramp up its military capabilities as war rages on.

Deputy Defence Minister Kateryna Chernohorenko said Kyiv is developing a new system that could autonomously discern, hunt and strike its targets from afar.

A Ukrainian military pilot of a FPV drone during a combat flight with an accumulative charge at the frontline near Bakhmut

A pilot practices with a drone on a training ground in Kyiv region on February 29, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Servicemen of the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine stand near a howitzer at a frontlin

Ukrainian servicemen of Azov brigade are seen at an artillery position in the direction of Lyman

This would make the drones harder to shoot down or jam, she said, and would reduce the threat of retaliatory strikes to drone pilots.

'Our drones should be more effective and should be guided towards the target without any operators.

'It should be based on visual navigation. We also call it ''last-mile targeting'', homing in according to the image,' she told The Telegraph.

It comes less than two months after Britain's Defence Secretary announced the creation of a drone coalition that will see the UK, Latvia and other Western-aligned governments pour 200 million into providing military-grade unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Ukraine.

The package - which constitutes around a fifth of Ukraine's total investment in the development of drones for frontline use - will see the UK order thousands of FPV drones for Ukraine, many of which will be produced by British manufacturers.
King Charles was presented with the first editions of the new 5, 10, 20 and 50 banknotes featuring his portrait today at Buckingham Palace.

It was a milestone moment for the monarch, who is undergoing treatment for an undisclosed cancer, and marks one of the last major steps of his transition to King, with new stamps and coins already in circulation.

The Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey presented the King with a leather-bound booklet containing the first edition historic legal tender.

King Charles III (left) is presented with the first bank notes featuring his portrait from the Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey at Buckingham Palace

The King and Mr Bailey were joined by Sarah John (right), the Bank of England's Chief Cashier, whose signature appears on the currency

A view of the 5 and 10 bank notes bearing a portrait of King Charles III, which will enter circulation on June 5

The other side of the bank notes will remain the same as they were previously. The other side of the 5 and 10 bank notes can be seen on the left, while the 20 and 50 notes bearing the King's face can be seen on the right

It follows tradition for the monarch to receive the first issues of new banknotes with 01 000001 serial numbers.

King Charles is only the second British monarch to grace the Bank of England's notes, making it the first time one sovereign's image has been replaced with another.

The King praised the notes, that launch on June 5, as 'very well designed' and expressed his surprise at being only the second monarch to feature.

A 5 bank note bearing a portraitof King Charles III, which will enter circulation on June 5

One subtle difference some may not notice is that unlike the late Queen in the banknotes from her reign (pictured), King Charles is not wearing a crown.

An old 1 banknote from the 1940's featuring Britannia, the national personification of Britain, before it was swapped for Queen Elizabeth's portrait in 1956

What else has changed?

Coins In December 2022 50p coins featuring the King's portrait entered circulation. In 2023 new coins of all values entered circulation featuring wildlife designs including the flowers of the four nations, bees, a salmon, a puffin, a capercaillie, oak leaves and acorns, a red squirrel and a dormouse. They represent themes of conservation, a topic close to the King's heart Stamps In March 2023 Royal Mail issued a special set of stamps featuring King Charles. They released regular first and second-class stamps with his image in April 2023. Passports In July 2023 British passports were issued in the name of 'His Majesty' rather than 'Her Majesty' Official portrait In January 2024 public buildings, including town halls and courts, were offered an official photo of the new monarch Tudor crown In February 2024 King Charles's new design of the crown was introduced in official buildings and the Government website Postboxes According to the Royal Mail, all existing post boxes with the Queens EIIR cypher will remain unchanged. But new post boxes commissioned since her death will bear King Charless royal cypher CIIIR, representing Charles III Rex. Advertisement

He said: 'This is what is so surprising. You would think that it goes back'.

Although notes began to be issued from the late 17th century, Charles's mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was the first British sovereign to be given the honour in 1960 on a 1 paper note. Before this, Britannia was the only character to have appeared.

The engraving of King Charles on the new polymer notes is based on a picture taken in 2013.

One subtle difference some may not notice is that unlike the late Queen in the banknotes from her reign, King Charles is not wearing a crown.

The King and Mr Bailey were joined by Sarah John, the Bank of England's Chief Cashier, whose signature appears on the currency.

The King inspected the notes and praised the intricate features incorporated to prevent counterfeits, saying: 'A lot trouble taken in on the security side.'

The money will be issued gradually into circulation from June 5 - with Charles's portrait featuring on the front of the banknotes, as well as in cameo in the see-through security window, visible on the front and back.

The reverse side characters remain unchanged from previous editions - with Sir Winston Churchill on the 5, Jane Austen on the 10, JMW Turner on the 20 and Alan Turing on the 50.

Charles expressed his admiration of the artistry, saying of the 5: 'It's a very good photograph of Sir Winston.'

Existing notes featuring the portrait of the late Queen will continue to be legal tender, so the Elizabeth II and King Charles III notes will co-circulate.

New notes will only be printed to replace worn-out ones and to meet any overall increase in demand in order to minimise the environmental and financial impact of the change - in keeping with the Royal Household's request.

This gradual change coupled with a general public leaning towards cashless payments means that it could be months after the new notes launch on June 5 that some people even see them in circulation.

The Bank of England began printing the new banknotes last year to give enough time for automated machines that accept cash to be updated to recognise the new tender.
By Park Jae-hyuk

Calls are growing for HMM, Koreas largest container shipping company, to relocate its headquarters from Seouls financial district of Yeouido to the southeastern port city of Busan, according to industry officials, Tuesday.

Both ruling and opposition party candidates representing constituencies in Busan have promised to accomplish the relocation. This has led to industry officials paying close attention as to whether politicians will keep their word after the general elections, which will take place this Wednesday.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) vowed to find ways to attract HMM to move its headquarters to Busan, in addition to the main branch of the Korea Development Bank (KDB), a state lender that is the shipping firms largest shareholder.

Lee Seong-kweun, the ruling People Power Partys candidate representing residents of Busans Saha District, also welcomed the discussion on the relocation of HMMs headquarters to Busan, saying that it will create jobs, increase tax incomes and enable the city to become a global business hub.

I will accomplish the relocation of KDB and HMM to Busan, as I previously made efforts for KDBs relocation to Busan, when I was the Busan vice mayor of economic affairs, despite the DPKs interruption, he said.

Eunsan Shipping & Aircargo Chairman Yang Jae-saeng, who was elected last month to lead the Busan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, told reporters that he will make all-out efforts to relocate HMMs headquarters to the city.

Just like foreign countries having the headquarters of logistics firms near harbors, Busan should accommodate the headquarters of large logistics firms, such as HMM, he said.

Earlier this month, Kim Jin-hong, head of Busan Dong District, issued a statement supporting the Busan chamber chairmans remarks.

HMMs union expressed its opinion that the company needs to contribute to Busans growth, Kim said. The relocation of its headquarters to Busan should be determined as soon as possible.

Korea Ocean Business Corp. (KOBC), HMMs second-largest shareholder, is also said to have agreed to the relocation of the shipping firms headquarters, given that the state-run company, under the supervision of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, is located in Busan.

Oceans Minister Kang Do-hyung said that he would thoroughly review the feasibility of the relocation, during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly late last year.

However, more than 900 HMM employees working at its Seoul headquarters oppose the proposed relocation. Some industry officials expect the proposed relocation to end up as an empty promise once again, because similar pledges were made during the presidential election in 2022 and the election for the Busan mayor in 2021.

When HMM moved its headquarters to Yeouido in 2022 from the main building of its previous owner, Hyundai Group, the shipping firm cited the proximity to the KDB and the Korea Shipowners Association. In addition, the financial district once accommodated the headquarters of the now-defunct Hanjin Shipping, which was once Koreas largest shipping company.
A furious Chipotle customer has been arrested for allegedly shooting a staff member in the knee for not giving him a big enough serving of guacamole

Adam Brown, 32, calmly picked up his bag of food and walked away after firing at the 21-year-old employee on Friday, according to Detroit police.

The Chipotle was unfortunately located across the street from the Southfield Police Headquarters.

Minutes after the shooting took place, cops pulled over Brown's vehicle. Video footage of the shooting and the arrest was captured by an officer's bodycam.

The suspect was arraigned and charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, discharging a weapon in or at a building causing injury, and two counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony on Sunday.

Adam Brown, 32, allegedly shot a Chipotle staff member in the knee for not giving him a big enough serving of guacamole

Brown calmly picked up his bag of food and walked away after the shooting on Friday according to police

The Chipotle was unfortunately located across the street from the Southfield Police Headquarters.

Brown was held in the Oakland County Jail on a $20,000 bond on Monday, according to Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren.

He is scheduled to appear in court for a probable cause hearing on April 17.

If convicted, Brown faces up to 10 years in prison along with two additional years for the firearm charge.

The employee was reported to be in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery, said Barren.

Brown initially walked into the restaurant with his wife and placed an order around 6:50 pm, Barren said in a press conference.

'While standing at the register, Mr. Brown asked for extra guacamole for the food he'd just purchased,' Barren said.

'A female Chipotle employee who was serving Mr. Brown gave him what he believed was too small of an amount of guacamole, which upset Mr. Brown.

'Mr. Brown then called the female employee a derogatory name  the 'B' word  which upset her understandably,' the chief said.

'Other Chipotle employees escorted the female cashier away from the area to avoid any further conflict.'

Minutes after the shooting took place, cops pulled over Brown's vehicle

The suspect was arraigned and charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, discharging a weapon in or at a building causing injury, and two counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony

After the victim's coworker's helped her into the kitchen away from brown, Barren said the front counter was left unattended.

'Our suspect, Mr. Brown, who previously had paid for his food items, then proceeded to go around the counter and bag his own items, and then he took a cup and filled it with guacamole,' Barren said.

'The 21-year-old victim walked from the kitchen area and observed Mr. Brown serving himself. The victim knocked the guacamole out of Mr. Brown's hand. Mr. Brown immediately grabbed the victim by the neck, slammed him into a refrigerator, and then a fight ensued.

'Mr. Brown then pulled out a 9mm handgun, which was concealed on his right hip, and fired one round, striking the victim in his right knee.

Brown was held in the Oakland County Jail on a $20,000 bond on Monday, according to Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren

He is scheduled to appear in court for a probable cause hearing on April 17

If convicted, Brown faced up to 10 years in prison along with two additional years for the firearm charge

'The occupants inside the Chipotle restaurant began to run for safety and exit the restaurant, while Mr. Brown calmly collected his food and left.'

Brown's wife was briefly handcuffed, but she was not charged with a crime, Barren said in the press conference.

The perpetrator does have a permit to carry a concealed weapon and does not have a criminal record.

'This has gained national attention  and a lot of questions have emerged about why this happened,' Barren said. 'I would suggest this happened because of poor decision-making and an inability to control emotions. That's what led to the shooting.'
Patricia and Michael were bursting with pride that their 14-year-old daughter was in line for an essay-writing prize at her annual school awards ceremony.

They arrived early to get seats with a good view of the event, held at the end of the summer term two years ago.

The couple were already aware that the large secondary school in northern England was a proud champion of the trans-rights lobby charity Stonewall, with posters celebrating 'LGBTQ+ diversity' plastered over the entrance hall. But nothing could have prepared them for what happened that day.

To their shock, the child who received the prize was not their daughter Tania who had left home that morning.

Instead, a young figure in grey trousers with fair curly hair, slicked back by gel, appeared when the headteacher called up a 'Tommi' to the platform.

'She never showed any sign of gender distress. But, unfortunately, as a bright child who wanted to please her teachers, she was mercilessly bullied by other girls,' says Patricia (Stock Image)

It soon dawned on the middle-class couple what was happening.

'My daughter had changed her name and her pronouns,' Patricia said yesterday. 'At school, she was living as a boy and no one had told us.

'The teachers were supporting her life-changing decision. Some staff celebrated our daughter's changed identity behind our backs.'

READ MORE: NHS loophole allows children who want to change gender to get the powerful drugs, despite ban on doctors dishing them out Campaigners, including ex-PM Liz Truss , are calling for the NHS to close this 'loophole' Advertisement

'A few had offered to put her in touch with their own adult transgender friends. She had, we discovered, become the school's poster child for inclusivity and diversity.

'At one stage her picture with her new name "Tommi" was displayed by teachers in the school as a fine example of a transgender pupil's success story.'

Today, Patricia is still reeling from the experience. She has shared her family's story with the Mail in light of the publication of the long-awaited Cass report into NHS care for gender-questioning children and adolescents  the findings of which are expected to reshape treatment for those under the age of 18.

Following this seminal review, gender-confused children will be moved away from drugs such as puberty-blockers and cross-sex hormones in favour of a more 'holistic' approach to treatment, focusing among other things on their mental health.

It is welcome news for most parents. But Patricia is cautious. 'The Cass findings come too late for my daughter,' she says, angrily. 'Almost all Tania's friendship group, who she speaks to online, are transgender. Most of her teachers are Stonewall supporters. School staff have even donated various pieces of second-hand male school uniform to her.'

It is the school that Patricia blames most for her daughter's desire to change gender.

Before Tania joined secondary school, she was a high-achieving, confident child  happy to play with both girls and boys.

'She never showed any sign of gender distress. But, unfortunately, as a bright child who wanted to please her teachers, she was mercilessly bullied by other girls,' says Patricia.

But it was only during the autumn term, after the awards ceremony, that Patricia discovered the extent of what she sees as the school's treachery.

'I had no information from the school. All the communication (email or otherwise) used her female pronouns and legal name.

'I was confused, terrified and tried to remember anything that could have started this metamorphosis,' she says.

Patricia has shared her family's story in light of the publication of the long-awaited report by Dr Hillary Cass (pictured) into NHS care for gender-questioning children and adolescents

After the publication of the interim Cass review in 2022, the Tavistock transgender clinic announced it would close down after it was considered unsafe for children

'I recalled that one dinner time, when she was 13, she began to discuss sexual orientation and pronouns.

'Tania then said she had been studying gender at school through what I now know is the Government-approved and compulsory "Relationships and Sex Education" curriculum.

'The daughter we love informed us she had chosen her pronouns but they were secret. My blood ran cold.'

When Patricia and Michael confronted the school after the awards ceremony, they were met with hostility.

'The 'safeguarding team' called in to see us and told us we parents had no rights. All that mattered was the 'child's voice'. We were told that the Cass inquiry findings [which had been commissioned a couple of years prior], whatever they were, would be completely disregarded by the school.'

Patricia adds: 'During one meeting, a safeguarding teacher continued to refer to my daughter as male without any regard for our feelings. It felt personal, as though she was baiting me to see how far I could be pushed before I snapped.'

Tania's parents finally appealed for help from the school's assistant head. They begged her to reverse the name and pronoun changes.

'She listened to me attentively, nodding at all the right moments', says Patricia. 'But then she waved us out of her office, telling me that it was quite possible for a child to 'safely transition'. '

On her 16th birthday this year, without the permission of her parents, both in their 40s, Tania changed her name to Tommi by deed poll.

She now wears heavy-duty army shorts and a hoodie, with men's shoes on her feet. When out, she uses a male lavatory and speaks with a deep voice to emulate an adolescent boy.

And although Tania is not (yet) taking puberty-blockers or sex-change hormones, Patricia worries about her mental wellbeing.

It was only during the autumn term, after the awards ceremony, that Patricia discovered the extent of what she sees as the school's treachery (Stock Image)

'Tania then said she had been studying gender at school through what I now know is the Government-approved and compulsory "Relationships and Sex Education" curriculum' (Stock Image)

'She continues to live with us, but has rejected us as parents, ditto her younger sister and other members of the wider family.

'Teachers should realise that strong family connections are one of the most dominant factors in a child's future happiness and success. They put up a wedge between the two.'

Patricia says the school has wielded enormous power over Tania's adolescent life. What has happened to her is going on in many state and private schools.

'I cannot go near my daughter's big red-brick building without feeling a deep sense of fear for her future.'
Liz Truss was advised by the late Queen to 'pace' herself, the former prime minister has revealed.

Ms Truss met the monarch at Balmoral just two days before her death in September 2022.

In her upcoming memoir, the ex-PM admits she did not listen to the Queen's sage advice, in a 20-minute discussion between the pair.

Ms Truss's 49 days in charge were marked by economic turmoil  including reforms that sent the pound tumbling  before her ousting from Downing Street.

She writes of the late Queen in the book, Ten Years To Save The West, which will be serialised exclusively in the Mail from Saturday: 'She was completely attuned to everything that was happening, as well as being typically sharp and witty.

Liz Truss meets Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral Castle two days before the monarch's death

'Ten Years to Save the West': Former Prime Minister Liz Truss's new book

'Towards the end of our discussion, she warned me that being prime minister is incredibly aging. She also gave me two words of advice: "Pace yourself." Maybe I should have listened.'

Summoned to Scotland due to the Queen's poor health, Ms Truss described her as 'frail' but 'alert', 'absolutely on top' of things and seemed intent on meeting again.

Liz Truss: A political memoir like no other In her own words, the dramatic inside story of how she was driven out of Downing Street. Starts exclusively in Saturday's Daily Mail. Liz Truss delivers a speech on her last day as PM, outside No 10 on October 25, 2022 Advertisement

Upon news of the Queen's death  which came just days after Ms Truss entered No 10  the former prime minister recalls thinking: 'Why me? Why now?'

The state ceremony and protocol that followed left her 'a long way from my natural comfort zone', she writes. Ms Truss said she broke down 'into floods of tears on the sofa'. She added: 'Once again the grief was mixed with a feeling of awe over the sheer weight of the event, and the fact that it was happening on my watch.'

Ms Truss admitted previous prime ministers may have been better suited to the events by providing 'the soaring rhetoric and performative statesmanship necessary'.

She said that, despite being under massive political pressure, her first meeting with King Charles sparked 'a bizarre sense of camaraderie between us, with both starting out in our new roles and having to navigate unfamiliar territory'. At the time, Tory MPs had already begun making moves to relieve Ms Truss of her duties. As she curtseyed to Charles, he said: 'So you've come back again?'

Ms Truss replied: 'It's a great pleasure,' but the King added: 'Dear, oh dear. Anyway'

In an interview about her book last year with The Mail on Sunday, Ms Truss revealed her former friendship with Kwasi Kwarteng is effectively over.

Ms Truss fired Mr Kwarteng as chancellor in a last-ditch attempt to avert her demise.

Asked whether they are are still in contact, she said: 'Occasionally. I'm not speaking to him that much.'
Wildlife authorities believe the bird is being kept unlawfully

The Queensland Premier has announced Molly the Magpie will be reunited with his owners, shortly after they accused him of 'ignoring' their pleas for help.

Molly, who shot to fame for his friendship with two Staffordshire terriers, Peggy and Ruby, was removed by wildlife officials from the Gold Coast home of Juliette Wells and Reese Mortenson on March 1.

The removal - on the grounds they had no permission to keep a wild bird - sparked pleas from the couple and their many online followers for the bird's return to the family and his dog friends.

While Premier Steven Miles joined the chorus, the couple accused him of ignoring their calls and emails.

However on Wednesday morning, Mr Miles announced that Molly would be reunited with his canine friends 'very soon'.

'This morning the department has advised me that the couple can secure the appropriate licence. The team will work with them to do that now,' he said.

'It's good news and means Molly can come home very soon.'

The premier thanked those who had advocated for Molly's return and said the magpie was in great spirits and receiving good care.

Molly the Magpie, who became famous for his relationship with Staffies Ruby and Peggy, was removed from the home of Juliette Wells and Reese Mortenson on March 1

Just a day earlier, Ms Wells had posted a video of her dog Ruby whining.

'Ruby is disappointed. What is taking soo long? MR QLD STEVEN MILES said he was going to help bring Molly to me but he's not answering my emails or phone calls. I don't understand why?' she wrote in the caption.

'If he does get back to me I'm going to tell him WOOF I'm NOT Happy, I miss my bestie and think about him every day.'

Just four days earlier, the couple told their 800,000 Instagram followers they had plans to meet with the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation to discuss the best path forward to get Molly back.

'The department is moving forward and trying to get the legal frameworks in place for a positive solution,' they wrote.

'We are confident that with the right training, support, and licences, we can make this happen. We need to keep pushing forward together and keep the emails rolling.'

Juliete and Reese say they rescued Molly as a chick after he fell from his nest in 2020.

Molly was originally thought to be a female by Ms Wells, but is actually a male and the name stuck.

Videos of Molly playing with the couple's two Staffies soon gained traction online and grew a loyal fanbase.

Wildlife authorities seized the Instagram-famous bird (pictured centre) over allegations the magpie was being kept unlawfully at their Gold Coast property

Queensland legislation bans native wild animals from being domesticated because of the possible impact on wildlife (pictured is Peggy and Molly the Magpie holding hands)

Queensland legislation bans native wild animals from being domesticated.

Animals that are sick, orphaned or injured can only be rescued and cared for by those who hold a rehabilitation permit and intend to release them back into the wild.

However, the couple say they do not keep Molly in the way a pet owner might look after a caged budgerigar or parrot, as he is free to fly away and forage for food and make his own return.

Ms Wells was first asked to surrender Molly six months ago when authorities visited her home but she was unable to capture the bird as it was in a tree.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted DESI and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for comment.

The former owners of the Instagram-famous bird 'Molly the Magpie' have accused Steven Miles of ignoring their calls after initially supporting their bird to bring him home
Speaker Mike Johnson is delaying sending the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate after pressure from his GOP colleagues.

The latest development in the ongoing Mayorkas impeachment saga comes just one day before the Senate was set to receive the impeachment articles, which would have immediately started a trial for Biden's embattled border chief.

A spokesperson for Speaker Johnson said that 'to ensure the Senate has adequate time to perform its constitutional duty, the House will transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate next week.'

'There is no reason whatsoever for the Senate to abdicate its responsibility to hold an impeachment trial,' Taylor Haulsee told DailyMail.com.

Whether Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer actually decides to hold a trial, however, is up in the air.

And some Republicans had concerns that Schumer would use the late Wednesday delivery to try and send senators home over the weekend without holding a trial at all.

'Many House and Senate members think Johnsons timing is dumb, because a Wednesday night delivery [and] Thursday afternoon floor fight arent enough time to win the news cycle and to hammer the fight in Washington,' a senior Senate aide told DailyMail.com earlier Tuesday.

Migrants mostly form Central America wait in line to cross the border at the Gateway International Bridge into the US from Matamoros, Mexico

The House passed articles of impeachment against Mayorkas in February, but Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to deliver the articles to the Senate

It was reported that Johnson was planning on sending the articles to the Senate on Wednesday, but after opposition to that plan from GOP Senators, the articles will now be delivered next week

Embattled DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas was formally impeached by the House in February over his handling of the southern border migrant crisis

Outspoken Senator Mike Lee of Utah told DailyMail.com that Johnson agreed to delaying the transmission of the articles in order to ensure the Senate has proper time to litigate the matter.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., agreed, saying Schumer had simply planned to jam the entire impeachment into a shortened week, not giving the Senate enough time to discuss the charges the House brought against Mayorkas.

'Now originally, Senator Schumer had planned to do this on a Thursday when everybody is trying to get back to their district. Isn't that special,' he said at a press conference Tuesday.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also took issue with Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer's anticipated plan to quickly quash the impeachment trial in the Senate.

'Chuck Schumer intends to nuke the impeachment clause of the United States Constitution,' he said.

'And make no mistake if this precedent is set, it will not be the last time it is used.'

'This is a crime against America. The American people deserve accountability,' Senate GOP Conference Chair John Barrasso, R-Wyo., told DailyMail.com.

Embattled DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas was formally impeached by the House in February over his handling of the southern border migrant crisis.

The two articles of impeachment accuse Mayorkas of failing to enforce immigration law and lying to Congress about the state of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The White House, meanwhile, has called Republican-led impeachment effort a 'petty political' move, saying 'history will not look kindly on House Republicans for their blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship.'

House GOP Whip Tom Emmer told DailyMail.com that if Senate Democrats dismiss Mayorkas impeachment articles before even holding a trial, 'they will be defying their Constitutional duty to their constituents and betraying Americans who have suffered under the worst border crisis in our history.'

'Voters wont forget this dereliction of duty, and we will remind them of the Schumer Senates negligence every day until Election Day.'

Texas National Guard soldiers install border fencing layered with concertina wire near the Rio Grande river on April 2

Immigrants file into a U.S. Customs and Border Protection bus after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border

Mayorkas, however, has overseen consecutive record breaking years for migrant apprehensions. Apprehension records were set in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Last year alone, over 2.4 million migrants were apprehended while crossing into the U.S., according to Customs and Border Protection data, yet another record.
Rishi Sunak today vows to 'stop shoplifters in their tracks' with a tough package of measures.

In response to an epidemic of violent thefts, assaulting a shop worker will be made a specific offence for the first time, the Prime Minister says.

Prolific shoplifters will also be fitted with GPS satellite electronic tags so their movements can be tracked.

Mr Sunak, writing exclusively in the Daily Mail, says: 'Fundamentally, something has gone wrong when people think they can wander into their local shop and just pick up whatever they want without paying.

'We'll tackle this head-on. And together, with the police and retailers, we'll stop the shoplifters in their tracks.'

Assaulting a shop worker will be made a specific offence for the first time, the Prime Minister says (Stock Image)

Prolific shoplifters will also be fitted with GPS satellite electronic tags so their movements can be tracked (Stock Image)

The latest crime data showed a 32 per cent surge in shoplifting, costing the sector more than 3billion a year.

RISHI SUNAK: Three ways we will put an end to the blight of shoplifting on our high streets Advertisement

Home Secretary James Cleverly said assaulting retail staff will be made a specific criminal offence.

It will carry up to six months' imprisonment, or an unlimited fine, and a ban on returning to the shop where the crime took place.

Thieves caught shoplifting three times, or who assault staff on three occasions, could be forced to wear a GPS tag. The Government will invest 55million in facial recognition technology for police over the next four years, including 4million on 'mobile units' on the street to identify criminals through CCTV. 'Units will take live footage of crowds... comparing images to specific people wanted by the police or banned from that location,' a Home Office spokesman said.

'Police in the area will then be alerted so they can track down these offenders.'
Oh, to have been a fly on the wall at the Trump residence in Palm Beach when the epitome of cultivated Old Etonian smooth met America's unabashed king of bling.

Was there ever a more mismatched pair than the Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton and the Donald of Mar-a-Largo?

Cameron is a soggy social democrat who hugged huskies and declared himself 'the heir to Blair', Mr Trump a chest-beating silverback Conservative.

The Foreign Secretary has described his host as xenophobic, misogynistic, and depressing. One of Mr Trump's close allies invited Lord Cameron to 'kiss my 'a**.' Hardly the basis for a love-in.

But beneath the absurdist theatre was a profoundly serious purpose. Lord Cameron was trying to persuade Mr Trump to help break the impasse over US aid to Ukraine.

U.K. Foreign Minister David Cameron speaks during a press conference with Secretary of State Antony Blinken following a meeting at the State Department in Washington, DC on April 9

Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks outside the New York State Supreme Court courtroom on February 15, 2024

Hardliners in Congress are blocking a $60billion package, saying it's too much, or should be linked to more funding for domestic and border security.

Mr Trump, who criticised European Nato members for not spending enough on defending themselves, has backed the blockers. But playing political games with so much at stake is beyond dangerous.

Starving Ukraine of aid will embolden Vladimir Putin in his bloody revanchism.

And if Ukraine falls, how long before his predatory eye fixes on other former Soviet states. Russia is already in bed with China, Iran, and North Korea. Defeat for Kyiv could presage a wider assault on the West and its allies in Asia and the Middle East.

Cameron and Trump may not be bosom pals, but they are bound in a common cause  the defence of freedom against tyranny.

Trans tide turns

Denying the 'rights' of children to transition between genders has long been seen by the illiberal Left as grand heresy.

Anyone expressing concern that young people were being encouraged to make life-changing decisions they might later bitterly regret had to be ruthlessly pilloried.

Julie Bindel, who writes in today's Mail, novelist JK Rowling and our own Sarah Vine have suffered the vilest of online abuse for daring to challenge the trans lobby's manic evangelism.

But the tide is turning. Today, with publication of the Cass Review into how the NHS should treat young people presenting with 'gender dysphoria', those brave dissenters are finally vindicated.

Dr Hilary Cass's final report on NHS care for gender questioning is set to published this week

Children 'caught in the middle' of a polarised gender row. Puberty blockers damaging young bones. GPs pressured into prescribing hormone drugs. Scant consideration given to long-term consequences. Ideology rather than science driving the debate. It is a litany of shame.

Let this be a line in the sand. Until now, a hectoring minority has dominated this toxic debate  to the detriment of who knows how many young people. No longer must their braying be allowed to drown out the voice of reason and common sense.

Off duty at HMRC

Around election time, every opposition party promises to crack down on tax avoidance and fraud.

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves is the latest, pledging to 'ramp up' the number of HMRC employees to catch more dodgers.

She'd do better trying to get more work out of existing staff rather than blithely hiring more.

According to figures from last August, despite drawing full pay, fewer than five per cent come into the office five days a week. Now that is a fraud.
Hello everyone. I wish to pay my respects to the Traditional Owners of the Lands of which I am speaking to you today.

Wherever we are, we are on Aboriginal land. Land on which sovereignty has never been ceded. I pay my respect to Elders past and present. And all people joining us today.

My name is Jill Gallagher. I am a proud Gunditjmara woman.

I am the CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation or VACCHO  and the former Treaty Advancement Commissioner.

Before I begin, Id like to acknowledge the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria for their unwavering leadership and dedication. Id like to pay tribute to co-chairs Ngarra Murray and Rueben Berg for your amazing work.

To the Elders here, Id like to say thank you. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your resilience.

Im up here to chat about Treaty and the incredible opportunities Treaty could bring our Communities.

I wanted to touch on some of that history to paint a bit of a picture of the fierce strength and resilience of our Elders and ancestors that has paved the way for us to be here where we are today.

I also wanted to share my thinking for the many vital changes Treaty can achieve.

The changes could enhance Community rights, services, healthcare, education and amplify the advocacy the voices of us all.

Prior to Colonisation, our ancestors walked this country when there was a land bridge between Tasmania and the mainland (30,000 years ago).

Our ancestors witnessed volcanos erupting, (Tower Hill 32,000 years ago ) and our people hunted Mega Fauna with stone tools and spears (mega fauna died out 45,000), yet we survived.

Our communities had and still have very complex social structures and also our own lores that governed our way of life.

Our people knew how to use the environment for our survival, they knew medicines, our fire-farming and fish farming methods, we knew how to look after the land so that it looks after us.

We know this through stories being passed on

We know this because of ancient sites like Budj Bim.

And through relics like the Aboriginal stone tools dating back to the last Ice Age found at Cloggs Cave near Buchan on GunaiKurnai lands.

Our ancestors left us their stories in the landscape.

These examples underscore the fact that Aboriginal Communities were world leaders in research and innovation  we flourished  and lived rich lives with a strong spiritual connection to the land.

However, the rapid and brutal colonisation significantly impacted all facets of Aboriginal culture, including ways of knowing, being, and doing.

When our lands were stolen and invaded our people were completely and utterly disempowered.

Our people almost didnt survive colonisation, if not for the fierce resistance and the activism that happened from the very beginning.

Our communities have been fighting for the past 250 years for justice and I want to just mention some of this staunch political activism and Leadership that has taken place for the advancement of our people.

This is just a very small snapshot of some of the staunch advocacy that has taken place.

In 1938 January 26 was declared A Day of Mourning,

In 1957 the first Aboriginal organisation in Victoria was established- the Aboriginal Advancement League (AAL),

The 1967 referendum where 90.7% of Australians vote YES to count Indigenous Australians in the census.

In 1972 we had our own Tent Embassy established outside Parliament House.

Shortly after in 1973 the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service was established so that our people could get access to basic health services.

In 1993 we then had Native Title Act, and then in

In 2010 Victoria got the Traditional Owner Settlement Act.

And then of course in October 2019 the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria was stood up as a continuation of all that important activism and Leadership.

Already were seeing the strong Leadership and hard work of the work of the First Peoples Assembly with the establishment of the :

Weve had the signing of the dispute resolution process,

The establishment and vital truth telling delivered by Yoorrook.

The establishment of the Negotiation framework and self-determination fund, and

The establishment and appointment of the Treaty authority.

Treaty has been a long time coming, and the work of many, many generations has gone into getting us to where we are today.

We are on the cusp of taking the next vital step and beginning negotiating Treaties.

Id now like to touch on some of my personal aspirations for Treaty  what I think Treaty can achieve.

The one thing we must remember is that Treaty is an agreement between sovereign entities.

Make no mistake, the possibilities and potential Treaty brings  are monumental for our Communities.

Here are the ten things I believe that must be part of a Statewide Treaty.

MY THINKING FOR COMMUNITY  Jills Treaty Ten!

First and foremost, I want to see TOs fully resourced to bring back and maintain our languages and our cultures at a local level.

This will require us to establish Local Cultural learning places to ensure our mobs are culturally strong and to help educate the wider non-Aboriginal Community about who we are.

Aboriginal People must be exempt from Land Tax (TO) (including stamp duty), and council rates.

Interest free loans must be provided to empower Aboriginal People to purchase homes.

In the education space, Aboriginal People must be exempt from HECS / HELP fees. Tertiary education must be provided to Aboriginal students without charge.

Aboriginal history  the true history of this country must be taught in all Victorian and Australian schools.

Another thing I want to see as part of Treaty in Victoria is a Perpetual infrastructure Fund.

I want to see the establishment of an Aboriginal specific Productivity Commission in Victoria to hold Government and services accountable for better outcomes.

Aboriginal people must be provided designated seats on local councils.

Finally, the visibility of Aboriginal culture  this is a big one.

If theres one thing that frustrates me more than anything else  its the lack of visibility of Aboriginal cultures in this state, and in this country and in the world.

What do we see when we get off the plane at Tullamarine airport?

Nothing!

When I come back to Australia, I see my culture booed on the footy field and ridiculed in the media.

Other countries take pride in their ancient cultures  think of Egypt, Greece and the Incas of Peru.We all learn about them in schools.

But we dont learn about the ancient and contemporary cultures that live in this country.

Treaty has the power to flip the scrip and change this.

Treaty will make sure our 65,000 years of rich culture is once again visible on the landscape of this country.

As a youngster we used to do seasonal picking and all the Mobs used to camp together of a nighttime.

At times it was tough  and it could be lonely.

But I remember when wed camp under the stars and I looked out over the horizon Id see lots of little orange dots glowing in the distance .

These dots were campfires, each representing another family of our Mob.

As a young girl I remember being in awe looking out at those dots  from a distance they looked to me like a beautiful dot painting.

When looking at these fires I felt tremendous strength because I knew I was surrounded by my culture and my people.

Today as I stand before you, I am filled with a renewed sense of strength and joy.

I see strong leaders, representing Deadly Mobs from across the state, united in pride.

You should all be proud of everything you have achieved and the immense progress you have made in establishing the foundations for delivering Treaty negotiations for Aboriginal Communities.

Thank you for your strength, thank you for your dedication, and thank you for your hard work for Communities.

We were a very strong and proud cultural people prior to colonisation, and we almost lost everything as a result of colonisation.

Treaty is about making sure this never, ever happens again and ensuring our culture is sustained for many, many generations to come.

Because our culture is our strength  its at the very heart of everything we do and everything we are as people.

All families need to feel that connection to culture and Mob.

Late last year I was part of a special gathering at Camp Jungai. Mobs from all over Victoria came together to paint up, dance our different cultural dances and listen to music, yarn up and share stories.

It was absolutely Deadly.

Thats the power of Aboriginal culture  and Treaty is all about elevating all of our cultures.

If we (no not if WHEN) achieve treaties and deliver on our aspirations, we will ensure our future generations will never have to grow up within an environment where their culture is suppressed.

They will grow up in an environment where they are surrounded by their 65,000 years of ancient, rich culture.

Treaty will secure the future of our next generation.

Treaty is about our Communities resilience, determination, and fearlessness to continue to power forward  not just to survive  but to thrive.

Lets continue to be strong. Lets continue to be brave. And lets seize this opportunity to power forward and forge thriving, culturally rich Communities where our Boorai will flourish.
A large, shingled houseboat was seen floating across San Francisco Bay after its owners were evicted from the nearby marina that once housed more than 100 residents.

The watercraft is the second-to-last floating home at the Redwood City marina in California, after the city paid out millions of dollars to residents to evict and relocate from their boat homes, as reported by SFGate.

The two-story wooden home started its voyage from the Docktown Marina and has anchored in Richardson Bay offshore from Sausalito on Tuesday, according to local reports.

Efforts to evict residents living aboard started in 2015, and the legal battle between frustrated residents of Docktown Marina and Redwood City had since continued for years.

In October of last year, the city paid more than $1 million to settle lawsuits filed by boaters, who have since left the marina after calling it home for decades.

A large, shingled houseboat was seen floating across San Francisco Bay after its owners were evicted from the nearby marina that once housed more than 100 residents

The watercraft is the second-to-last floating home at the Redwood City marina in California , after the city paid out millions of dollars to residents to evict and relocate from their boat homes

Efforts to evict residents living aboard started in 2015, and the legal battle between frustrated residents of Docktown Marina and Redwood City had since continued for years

The U.S. Coast Guard monitored the transfer of the shingled boathouse, which was towed by a smaller boat as it glided through the waters across the bay.

Videos and photos posted by social media users capture the massive two-story house floating beneath the Bay Bridge on Monday morning.

Officials clarified that the house was able to float because it's on a barge with assistance from a much smaller tow boat.

While it's currently docked near the Richardson Bay Bridge, it's unclear where its final destination will be.

The Docktown Marina was managed by the city of Redwood for decades before the city was sued by attorney Ted Hannig and an anonymous group in 2015.

The lawsuit alleged Docktown violated public land use laws as the marina is state property which was not zoned for residential use.

Redwood city eventually paid $1.5million to Hannig and his group and allocated at least $3million to clean pollution at the marina.

The U.S. Coast Guard monitored the transfer of the shingled boathouse, which was towed by a smaller boat as it glided through the waters across the bay

While it's currently docked near the Richardson Bay Bridge, it's unclear where its final destination will be. Pictured: floating homes docked in Sausalito

Slanker and his wife were paid $190,000 later that year for relocation and $8,000 for their attorney's fees. They left the marina in two weeks after the court papers were signed

After years of eviction efforts, most residents left, and there were only nine boaters remaining at their floating homes at the marina by last July.

'We've got forgotten about, you know, we have been treated sort of second class- third class citizens,' resident Nina Peschcke-Koedt said.

'I just can't stand it because every day another boat goes out, another boat goes out,' Edward Stancil, one of the remaining residents, told ABC7 at the time.

'And it's just very sad to see affordable housing being crushed. You know?' he added. He had lived at the marina since 1986.

'In my particular situation, I'm on a retirement income and it's not quite enough to rent a house in Silicon Valley,

'Every tenant that's still here doesn't want any money. We just want to stay.' he said.

A jury decided the city to pay more than $300,000 to Stancil and other three residents in October.

'The feeling is that we're not wanted here,' another resident Dan Slanker said at the time.

'Since the Docktown plan, which was 2016, that has been when things have really gone downhill from there, which I suppose should've been a relocation plan instead of a displacement plan.

'Displacement is second only to the loss of a loved one. And it seems like we just keep getting more and more people displaced as time goes on and even less and less compensation.

'I think that something could be worked out there if there was effort involved,' he said.

'Anchor-outs' living rent-free on Richardson Bay face eviction from the waters they call home under an initiative aiming to protect the marine ecosystem

Chad Wycliffe, 41, worries that he will not be able to afford rent on land in addition to a spot in a marina once his boat is towed from the bay

Slanker and his wife were paid $190,000 later that year for relocation and $8,000 for their attorney's fees. They left the marina in two weeks after the court papers were signed.

San Francisco has a history of housing communities of permanently anchored mariners, but their liveaboard lifestyle has faced challenges in recent years.

The San Francisco Bay contains roughly 3,000 acres of eelgrass, the second-largest habitat in all of California, and local officials are aiming to preserve it through the establishment of an 'Eelgrass Protection Zone.'

Biologists argue that the bay's marine health depends on the seagrass to provide a spawning habitat for the herring that form the bedrock of the food chain.

Around 400 acres of eelgrass are found in Richardson Bay, approximately 75 of which have been lost to chains and anchors dragging across the seafloor.

But anchor-outs insist the real culprits are fertilizer runoff from agriculture and illegal dumping from yachts.

Nevertheless, local agencies are working to relocate the mariners in phases as part of a $3 million program launched in 2021.
Vice President Kamala Harris met with family members of hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza Tuesday who said they weren't interested in expressions of incremental results.

'We don't want any more progress. We want results,' said Rachel Goldberg, mother of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

Like other family members of hostages taken in the brazen Oct. 7 attack, Goldberg wore a piece of tape with the number 186 signifying the number of days in captivity.

Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen appealed to all sides to reach a deal which 'the horror  the horror  that the civilians of Gaza have been experienced, we've been experiencing for the last six months, to come to an end. There is hope for people on both sides of the border only after the hostages come home,' he said.

Rachel Goldberg, center, mother of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, along with other families of hostages in Gaza, speaks to reporters outside the White house in Washington, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. They met with VP Kamala Harris Tuesday

'We are waiting now in the world waits for Hamas to get to yes ... And we all of us will see shortly if Hamas cares enough about its own people, its own people, to say nothing of our loved ones to move towards deescalation to returning the light to everyone in and around Gaza,' he said.

The Israeli Defense Forces say there are 133 hostages remaining in Gaza as the war continues.

Goldberg spoke of the eight Americans held in Gaza, as well as people 'we don't hear about'  including eight Muslim Arabs, seven Thai buddhists, and two black African Christians.

Earlier at the White House, national security advisor Jake Sullivan sought to pressure Hamas to accept a deal negotiated in Cairo that would include a temporary cease fire and the release of hostages.

'You have a party who is holding innocent people that it took hostage a long time ago doesn't get a lot of attention, unfortunately, in the commentary,' he said.

Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen appealed to all sides to reach a deal

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan pressed Hamas to accept the latest deal

Family members spoke of easing suffering for hostages as well as the people of Gaza

'There could be a ceasefire in place today that would extend for several weeks to be built upon longer if Hamas would be prepared to release some of those people. So let's train the attention where it belongs, which is that the world should say at this moment: Hamas, it's time, let's go. Let's get that ceasefire. We're ready. I believe Israel is ready. And I think Hamas should step up to the table and be prepared to do so as well.'

Hamas said Tuesday the latest proposal, worked out through Egyptian and Qatari mediators, didn't meet the demands of militant factions, but would examine it further.

A statement by Harris' office said she and President Biden 'have no higher priority than reuniting the hostages with their loved ones.'

'She also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to bring home the remains of those who have been tragically confirmed to be deceased. The Vice President again condemned Hamas as a brutal terrorist organization and its horrific use of sexual violence, reaffirmed that the threat Hamas poses to Israel must be eliminated, and denounced the rise of antisemitism worldwide.'

'The Vice President expressed her continued support for these families and they discussed the agony and pain felt over the past 6 months. The Vice President told them that they and their loved ones remain at the forefront of her mind and in her prayers as the Biden-Harris Administration works to secure the release of all the hostages. The Vice President provided an update on U.S. efforts to secure the release of all hostages and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.'
The United States, Britain and Australia are considering cooperation with Japan on advanced capability projects of their trilateral AUKUS security pact, their defense chiefs said in a joint statement Monday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his British and Australian counterparts, Grant Shapps and Richard Marles, issued the statement, noting their consideration of cooperation with Japan in AUKUS Pillar II projects.

Launched in September 2021 in an apparent move to counter China's regional influence, AUKUS consists of two key pillars. Pillar I is to support Australia in acquiring conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, while Pillar II is for cooperation on high-tech areas, including quantum computing, artificial intelligence and hypersonics.

"Recognizing Japan's strengths and its close bilateral defense partnerships with all three countries, we are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects," the statement reads.

Austin, Shapps and Marles also highlighted their confidence that "engaging like-minded partners in the work of Pillar II will only strengthen" their pursuit of the shared objective to deliver advanced capabilities in support of regional stability.

Beijing has criticized AUKUS, arguing that "bloc confrontation and exclusive groupings" go against "the trend of the times" and worsen an arms race in the region. (Yonhap)
Melissa Lucio, a Texas woman whose execution was delayed in 2022 amid growing doubts she fatally beat her 2-year-old daughter, had evidence suppressed at her murder trial.

Both prosecutors and Lucio's attorneys released a statement saying as much Tuesday, in a case that has received attention nationwide, including from the likes of Kim Kardashian, Amanda Knox and Texas Republicans.

As part of an agreement on findings in Lucios case, prosecutors and her attorneys say the suppressed evidence, including witness statements and a report by Child Protective Services, would have corroborated Lucios defense that her daughter Mariah died of a head injury sustained in an accidental fall down a steep staircase two days before her death.

'She would not have been convicted in light of the suppressed evidence,' according to the 33-page agreement between the office of Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz and Lucio's attorneys.

The document lays out what both sides say are agreed findings of fact and conclusions of law in the case.

Melissa Lucio, a Texas woman whose execution was delayed in 2022 amid growing doubts she fatally beat her 2-year-old daughter, had evidence suppressed at her murder trial

The agreement, which recommends that Lucios conviction and death sentence be overturned, is being called unusual and extraordinary by one death penalty expert.

But it has remained in limbo for 16 months before a Texas judge, who has yet to say whether she will give it her approval and forward it to the states highest criminal court, which would make a final decision.

Lucio, 55, had been set for lethal injection in April 2022 for the 2007 death of her daughter in Harlingen, a city of about 71,000 in Texas southern tip.

But the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals stayed her lethal injection two days before her scheduled execution so state District Judge Gabriela Garcia could review Lucio's claims that new evidence would exonerate her.

Prosecutors had long maintained Mariah was the victim of abuse and noted her body was covered in bruises.

In a sometimes contentious hearing with Texas lawmakers two weeks before the scheduled execution, Saenz had said he disagreed with claims from Lucios attorneys there was new evidence that would exonerate her.

But in a joint statement with Lucios attorneys that was issued Friday, Saenz acknowledged her legal team 'did not have access to information favorable to her defense at the time of trial.'

Saenz was not the district attorney at the time of Lucios trial in 2008.

As part of an agreement on findings in Lucios case, prosecutors and her attorneys say the suppressed evidence, including witness statements and a report by Child Protective Services, would have corroborated Lucios defense that her daughter Mariah died of a head injury sustained in an accidental fall down a steep staircase two days before her death

The agreement, which recommends that Lucios conviction and death sentence be overturned, is being called unusual and extraordinary by one death penalty expert

Esperanza Trevino, Melissa Lucio's mother, pleas to the public as she is surrounded by family and friends on the steps of the Cameron County Courthouse Administrative entrance in Brownsville, Texas in 2022

The statement did not provide more information on why the favorable evidence wasnt given to Lucios lawyers.

Saenzs office and Lucios attorney, Vanessa Potkin, declined to comment beyond their joint statement.

'We are grateful to District Attorney Saenz for recognizing that evidence that our baby sister Mariahs death was an accident, not a murder, was never presented to the jury. We are also thankful to Melissas legal team. We hope and pray that our mother can soon come home to her family,' Lucios son, John Lucio, and his wife, Michelle, said in a statement.

The suppressed Child Protective Services report indicated that one of Lucios children told a CPS worker he was present when Mariah 'fell down some stairs.'

The report also revealed all of Lucios children told the CPS worker their mother was not abusive to them or Mariah.

The agreed findings also say Lucios trial attorneys were not provided statements from two of her other children, who had corroborated to Harlingen police their mothers claims that Mariah had been injured in a fall and that Lucio had grown increasingly worried about Mariahs deteriorating health before her death.

Prosecutors provided the suppressed evidence to two experts, including a forensic pathologist, who 'concluded that the likely cause of Mariahs death was an accidental fall resulting in head trauma,' according to the agreed findings.

Saenz and Lucios attorneys submitted their agreed findings to Garcia on December 20, 2022.

The agreed findings also say Lucios trial attorneys were not provided statements from two of her other children, who had corroborated to Harlingen police their mothers claims that Mariah had been injured in a fall

Prosecutors provided the suppressed evidence to two experts, including a forensic pathologist, who 'concluded that the likely cause of Mariahs death was an accidental fall resulting in head trauma,' according to the agreed findings

Robert Alvarez, Michelle Lucio and her husband John address a crowd in 2022 demanding Melissa be freed

But she has yet to issue a ruling and forward her decision to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which makes the final decision.

Garcia did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, said the time Garcia is taking to issue a ruling suggests the judge is 'giving this case the serious, thoughtful consideration it deserves.'

Maher, whose nonprofit group takes no position on capital punishment but has criticized the way states carry out executions, called the agreement between Saenz and Lucios attorneys 'quite extraordinary' and 'one of those rare instances where both sides have acknowledged an injustice and agree about the remedy.'

'I have long maintained that the system failed Melissa Lucio - and her daughter, Mariah - at every turn and that she should be given a new chance for justice ... and a new chance for life,' Leach said in a post Sunday on the social platform X.

If put to death, Lucio would be the first Latina executed by Texas since 1863, and the first woman the state has put to death since 2014.

After reading about Lucio's case, Kardashian tweeted in 2022: '[Lucio] has been on death row for over 14 years for her daughter's death that was a tragic accident.

'Her 2-year-old daughter Mariah fell down a flight of stairs and two days later passed away while taking a nap.

A wave of celebrities and politicians are now weighing in on the case, begging the parole board to reconsider Melissa's sentence

State Reps. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, left to right, Brad Buckley, R-Killeen, and Jeff Leach, R-Plano, arrive for the Interim Study Committee on Criminal Justice Reform hearing about death row inmate Melissa Lucio at the Capitol. They have all called for the execution to be stayed

In this 2007 video interview tape, Lucio is shown acting out how she 'beat' Mariah to death. Her attorneys say it was a coerced confession after five hours of interrogation. She was pregnant at the time with twins

'After she called for help, she was taken into custody by the police. [Lucio] is a survivor of abuse and domestic violence herself and after being interrogated for hours and falsely pleaded guilty.

'She wanted the interrogation to be stopped, but police made her words out to be a confession.'

'She is scheduled to be executed on April 27 in Texas,' the reality star added, as she urged the public to sign a petition by the Innocent Project in an effort to press Governor Abbott to stop Lucio's execution.

More than half the members of the Texas Legislature have asked that her execution be halted. A bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers traveled this month to Gatesville, where the state houses female death row inmates, and prayed with Lucio.

Five of the 12 jurors who sentenced Lucio and one alternate juror have questioned their decision and asked she get a new trial.

Lucio's cause also has the backing of faith leaders and was featured on HBOs 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.'

Her family and supporters have been traveling throughout Texas and holding rallies and screenings of a 2020 documentary about her case, 'The State of Texas vs. Melissa.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Texas Governor Greg Abbott for comment.
The daughter of a Long Island pediatrician who died after falling from a moving Airstream believes the caravan had a 'significant safety oversight'.

Monika Woroniecka, 58, had just stopped for ice cream at a gas station with her family enroute to their AirBnb in Cape Vincent, New York, before falling to her death.

Woroniecka and her daughter Helena decided to ride the last 20 minutes of their trip in the $130,000 Airstream camper.

While Woroniecka was trying to secure the passenger side of the camper, she was thrown from the Airstream and died in front of her horrified family.

Speaking to the New York Post, Helena said that while her mom's death was 'pure accident', the design of the trailer suffered a 'significant safety oversight' due to the door's rear hinge which means it opens against the wind.

Dr. Woroniecka was a children's allergy and immunology specialist at Stony Brook Medicine, which she practiced for more than 20 years

Woroniecka is seen here alongside her husband Dr. Robert Woroniecka and their two daughters Alexandra and Helena

While Woroniecka was trying to secure the passenger side of the camper, she got thrown from the $130,000 Airstream

The family was on their way to view the eclipse and had just stopped for ice cream before the tragedy

Rear-hinged doors such as these are also known as 'suicide doors' because they are easier to open during motion. Most passenger vehicles have the opposite mechanism and are hinged at the front.

She told the outlet: 'The doors on the Airstream open the opposite way that you would expect.

'It doesnt take an engineering degree to know that on any moving vehicle, whether a bus or a car or a trailer, doors should open against the wind, not towards it.

'That seems like a significant safety oversight to me and seems like the only reason they do open that way is to protect the awning of the trailer.'

Woroniecka's husband Robert Woroniecka, 59, was driving the couples 2019 gray Ram pick-up truck west around 3 pm Saturday on Route 12 E in Brownville when the tragedy happened.

Witnesses behind the Airstream claimed they saw the passenger side door of the Airstream open, and Woroniecka's arm hanging on the door after the wind caused the door to swing ajar.

When emergency personnel arrived, she was transported to Samaritan Medical Center where she died.

Helena also told the outlet that her mom had named the caravan Nebula, as 'it represented adventure and exploration'.

She said: 'She loved that trailer so much and poured her soul into it. She would go in there even just to sleep at home when it was rainy and put so much love into it.

'She did also love to travel and explore, which is why my parents bought the trailer  they were planning to take an early retirement and travel to national parks and spend time exploring together.

'My mom loved her family above everything else, so the fact that my sister and I were coming home so everyone could go see the eclipse together  thats what she was most excited for was spending time with everyone.'

Witnesses behind the Airstream claimed they saw the passenger side door of the Airstream open, and Woroniecka's arm hanging on the door after the wind caused the door to swing ajar

New York State Police continue to investigate the incident that claimed Woroniecka's life

Dr. Woroniecka has three daughters including Alexandra (left) and Helena (right), who was with her on the trip



In a statement to DailyMail.com on Tuesday, Airstream said that the family should have not been in the back of the caravan while it was being towed.

'Airstream is saddened to hear about the death of Dr. Monika Woroniecka on April 6, 2024, and our deepest sympathies go out to her family, friends and community,' a spokesperson said.

'Airstream travel trailers are not designed to carry passengers while in motion. The safety protocol detailed in Airstreams operating manuals and shared on Airstreams website advises owners that they cannot tow an Airstream with people inside.

'Many states prohibit carrying passengers in a travel trailer or fifth wheel, and we advise owners to consult their states Department of Motor Vehicles for up-to-date regulations.'

Helena added: 'This was an accident. Pure accident, and theres nobody to blame. This is nobodys fault.

'Sure, maybe Airstream doesnt advise traveling inside the trailer. But we thought maybe that the last 20 minutes of an eight-hour drive on very quiet and slow country roads would be fine.

'And its perfectly legal to do so in some states. It was just a crazy accident. She was the most loving, generous, and golden-hearted person Ive ever known.

'She was always, always thinking about how to lend a helping hand to someone, whether her family or patients or friends that had medical questions or strangers on the street.'

The scene on State Route 12E near Watertown, New York, on Saturday afternoon

The caravan's doors are rear-hinged meaning they open towards the back of the vehicle, making them more liable to being picked up by the wind especially while in motion

Neighbor Maria Antipas was left distraught outside the Woroniecka Stony Brook, New York, home on Monday over the news of Woroniecka's passing.

I cant believe something like this would happen. They are just a lovely family, good neighbors. She's a nice person,' Antipas said.

Antipas said they would look after each others houses when they travel and said she had a key to their home.

They just left the other day,' she recalled. 'They got an Airstream a couple of months ago and theyve been taking little trips. I watch their house for them when they are gone, and they do the same for me.

Richard, a kidney doctor at Stonybrook, and his wife had moved into the home on Dogwood Drive in Stonybrook six or seven years ago.

She said that the couple were outdoorsy and have three grown daughters who are all very bright.

She told DailyMail.com she remembered the day Richard drove the airstream home. It was shiny, she recalled. 'They were so excited to get it.'

Maria said that the last time she saw Woroniecka was the day before she left. She was walking her dogs and they waved to each other.

The family appear to have been riding in a New 2024 Airstream Bambi 16RB

The thoughtfully-designed relatively small camper is sixteen feet in length and sleeps four

The cost of the brand new model begins at $60,400

In New York State, it is illegal to ride in a non-fifth wheel trailer while it's in motion. The manufacturers of Airstream also warn against riding in the campervan while it is in motion

Utterly devastated, she repeated: I cant believe something like that happened. Its so tragic.'

It is illegal to tow passengers in an Airstream in New York State, in addition to being something the company warns against.

Dr. Woroniecka was a children's allergy and immunology specialist at Stony Brook Medicine, which she practiced for more than 20 years.

She treated children with food, environmental, medications, and bee stings allergies, childhood asthma and skin conditions like eczema and hives.

'Dr. Woroniecka likes to travel, hike, exercise, and spend time with family and friends,' her work profile read.

She grew up in Poland and drew in Polish-speaking patients from around the region, it added.
A Missouri death row inmate was executed by the state less than 10 hours after the governor and the United States Supreme Court denied him clemency.

Brian Dorsey, 52, died after a single-dose injection of the sedative pentobarbital at the state prison in Bonne Terre at 6.11pm Tuesday night.

It came after Dorsey released a final statement Tuesday morning, where he said: 'Words cannot hold the just weight of my guilt and shame.'

He also had his final meal served to him, which included two bacon double cheeseburgers, two orders of chicken strips, two large orders of fries, and a pizza with sausage, pepperoni, onion, mushrooms and extra cheese, according to the state department of corrections.

Dorsey shot his cousin Sarah and her husband Benjamin Bonnie, 28, in their Missouri home in 2006.

Brian Dorsey, 52, shot Sarah and Benjamin Bonnie, 28, in their Missouri home on December 23 2006. He has since spent 17 years in prison, and is scheduled to be executed Tuesday

It came after Dorsey released a final statement Tuesday morning, where he said: 'Words cannot hold the just weight of my guilt and shame.'

Republican Governor Mike Parson denied clemency for Dorsey despite a petition that garnered statements from 72 current and ex-corrections officers who vouched that he was reformed.

The United States Supreme Court also refused to stop it after denying two separate appeals.

Both appeals were turned aside without comment. One cited Dorsey's record of good behavior since his incarceration and said he should not be put to death because he has been rehabilitated.

The other appeal said his life should be spared because his trial lawyers had a conflict of interest.

The pair of public defenders were paid a $12,000 flat fee that provided them with no incentive to invest time in his case, the appeal said.

On their recommendation, Dorsey pleaded guilty despite having no agreement with prosecutors that he would be spared the death penalty.

Dorsey killed his cousin and her husband inside their central Missouri home two days before Christmas in 2006, leaving their 4-year-old daughter alone in the home.

Kirk Henderson, one of Dorsey's attorneys, said Dorsey 'has spent every day of the past 18 years trying to make up for the single act of violence' he committed in 2006.

Dorsey shot Sarah and Benjamin Bonnie dead in their bed while staying with the couple, before stealing their belongings and attempting to sell them

Governor Mike Parson on Monday turned down the clemency request that would have saved Dorsey's life. The request included correspondence from current and former corrections officers - as well as a retired state supreme court justice - claiming the killer was reformed

'Executing Brian Dorsey is a pointless cruelty, an exercise of the States power that serves no legitimate penological purpose,' Henderson said in a statement.

A small number of protesters gathered shortly before the execution in an area near the prison.

Dorsey would be the first person put to death in Missouri this year after four executions in 2023.

Another man, David Hosier, is scheduled for execution June 11 for the killing of a Jefferson City woman in 2009. Nationwide, four men have been executed so far in 2024 - one each in Alabama, Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma.

Dorsey, 52, formerly of Jefferson City, was convicted of killing Sarah and Ben Bonnie on Dec. 23, 2006, at their home near New Bloomfield.

Prosecutors said that earlier that day, Dorsey called Sarah Bonnie seeking to borrow money to pay two drug dealers who were at his apartment.

Dorsey went to the Bonnies home that night. After they went to bed, Dorsey took a shotgun from the garage and killed both of them before sexually assaulting Sarah Bonnies body, prosecutors said.

'The pain Dorsey brought to others can never be rectified, but carrying out Dorseys sentence according to Missouri law and the Courts order will deliver justice and provide closure,' the politician concluded, likely sealing the con's fate

Former Missouri Supreme Court Justice Michael Wolff (pictured) and 72 current and ex corrections officers fought to save Dorsey's life, claiming he was born anew behind bars. Wolff was the one to hand down the death sentence in 2009, but recently said that was a mistake

Police said Dorsey stole several items from the home and tried to pay off a drug debt with some of the stolen goods.

A day after the killings, Sarah Bonnies parents went to check on the Bonnies after they failed to show up for a family gathering.

They found the couples 4-year-old daughter on the couch watching TV. She told her grandparents that her mother 'wont wake up.'

Dorsey surrendered to police three days after the killings.

Attorneys for Dorsey said he had suffered from drug-induced psychosis at the time of the crime. In prison, hes gotten clean, they said.

Seventy-two corrections officers vouched for his rehabilitation in the clemency petition.

'The Brian I have known for years could not hurt anyone,' one wrote in the clemency petition. 'The Brian I know does not deserve to be executed.'

In a letter to Parson as part of the clemency petition, former Missouri Supreme Court Justice Michael Wolff wrote that he was on the court when it turned aside an appeal of his death sentence in 2009. He said he now knows that the decision was wrong.

'Missouri Public Defenders now do not use the flat fee for defense in recognition of the professional standard that such an arrangement gives the attorney an inherent financial conflict of interest,' Wolff wrote.

Dorseys execution raised new concerns about Missouris single-drug protocol, which includes no provision for the use of anesthetics. Dorsey's attorneys describe him as obese, diabetic and a former intravenous drug user, all factors that could have made it difficult to obtain a vein to inject the lethal drug.

When that happens, a cutdown procedure is sometimes necessary.

A cutdown involves an incision, then the use of forceps to pull tissue away from an interior vein.

A federal lawsuit on behalf of Dorsey argued that without a local anesthetic he would be in so much pain that it would impede his right to religious freedom by preventing him from having meaningful interaction with his spiritual adviser, including the administration of last rites.

A settlement was reached Saturday in which the state took unspecified steps to limit the risk of extreme pain.

The settlement didnt spell out the specific changes agreed to by the state, including whether anesthetics would be available.

Capital punishment has been abolished in 23 US states, while the governors of six others -- Arizona, California, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee -- have put a hold on its use.

There were 24 executions in the United States in 2023, all of them carried out by lethal injection.
The heartbroken mother of Hannah McGuire has wept openly in court as the man accused of her daughter's murder hid his face.

Lachlan Young appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates' Court in regional Victoria on Tuesday after being charged with the killing.

Sporting a mullet haircut, the 21-year old slumped in court as the grief-stricken mother of his alleged victim wept in her seat at the front of the courtroom.

Police discovered the remains of Hannah McGuire, 23, in a burnt out car near State Forest Rd, close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria, just before 10am on Friday

Glenn McGuire is comforted by his wife Debbie outside the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday

The court heard Young would be kept behind bars until his next court date in September.

Outside court, Ms McGuire's devastated parents Glenn and Debbie and her brother sobbed and consoled each other as Ballarat lawyer Brooke Tamanika spoke on their behalf.

'As you can imagine this is a very devastating time for the family, for Hannah's loved ones and for our community as a whole,' she said.

'The family have been assisting the police, however I cannot comment on the status of the matter.'

Mr McGuire could not contain his grief as Ms Tamanika spoke to reporters, turning his back and attempting to cover his own pain as he sobbed uncontrollably.

He was comforted by his family before police escorted them all away from the media pack to their car across the street.

Friends of Ms McGuire were also seen leaving the court in tears.

Inside court, little information was provided on Homicide Squad detectives' case against the alleged killer.

The court heard multiple crime scenes were still being investigated with police combing through CCTV footage.

Young's lawyer complained to the court that police had provided her with no information about the allegations which was limiting her ability to launch any kind of bail application in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

'At this stage the defence have been giving nothing by police. All of the information we have has been provided by the media,' she said.

'It would appear as though the police have swooped very quickly and obviously there is enough evidence against Mr Young to charge him with murder.'

Glenn McGuire tried hard to hide his grief on the steps of the court house

Ms McGuire's family walked out of court arm-in-arm in grief on Tuesday

Sporting a mullet haircut, Young slumped in court as a woman believed to be the mother of his alleged victim wept in her seat at the front of the courtroom

Images of Young on social media indicate he enjoyed a good upbringing and remained close to his parents

The court heard it will take the prosecution 16 weeks to compile their brief of evidence against Young.

Young's lawyer revealed it was her client's first time in custody and he needed access to anti-depressant medication.

It is understood Ms McGuire's death had initially been dismissed as a suicide after her body was found in a burnt out car.

But a coroner's report indicated she had allegedly sustained deadly injuries before the vehicle was engulfed in flames.

The remains of the were found near State Forest Road, close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria, just before 1am on Friday.

It can further be revealed Ms McGuire had been friends with Young's sister Bek Young.

Images of Young on social media indicate he enjoyed a good upbringing and remained close to his parents.

His parents' family home is situated a stone's throw from the Sebastopol home where detectives arrested him on Sunday.

A 22-year-old was also arrested that afternoon but was released without charge.

Lachie Young, 21, from Sebastopol, was arrested by detectives on Sunday and formally charged with her murder on Monday afternoon

Lachie Young appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates' Court in regional Victoria on Tuesday after being charged on Monday with Hannah McGuire's murder

Young and Ms McGuire had been in a relationship and were living together for the past year before they recently split, Daily Mail Australia understands.

Ms McGuire, who worked at her family's pub - The National Hotel in Clunes - had lived with Young up until a week ago when she moved.

In a post on the pub's Facebook page, the McGuire family said they were 'broken'.

'The pub will be open as normal on Wednesday, we'll leave you in the capable hands of Johnny Hind for a few days,' the post read.

'Thank you everyone for your love, support and kind words. Our hearts are broken.

'You weren't just a star to us. You were our whole damn sky. Miss you Princess!'

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.
Hannah McGuire bought a house with her ex-boyfriend Lachlan Young just short of a year before he is alleged to have murdered her.

Pictured smiling from ear-to-ear, the 23-year old posed next to a large 'sold' sign alongside her then-partner outside the home in Sebastopol, near Ballarat in regional Victoria.

The snapshot of happiness was taken almost a year to the day before Young appeared in court on Tuesday to face charges of murdering Ms McGuire.

Hannah McGuire poses outside her King Drive home with her alleged killer Lachlan young a little over a year ago

Hannah McGuire and Lachlan Young together inside their home in happier times

Another image obtained by Daily Mail Australia shows a beaming Young snuggled in closely to his immaculately dressed partner.

The King Drive property was sold to the then-couple on March 17 last year, with the pair moving in shortly afterwards.

Ms McGuire's body was found near State Forest Road, close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria, just before 1am on Friday.

Her death had initially been dismissed as a suicide after her body was found in a burnt out car.

But a coroner's report indicated she had allegedly sustained deadly injuries before the vehicle was engulfed in flames.

A friend of Ms McGuire, who asked to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail Australia her friend had worked as a teacher alongside Young's sister.

'Hannah was the most caring person anyone could come across, no matter what walk of life you came from she welcomed you with open arms,' she said.

Ms McGuire had been in the process of finishing her degree while working as a teacher until her heartbreaking death.

A year earlier, the then-happy couple paid $470,000 for their first dream home which on Tuesday was sealed off with police tape as a crime scene on Tuesday.

Lachlan Young was arrested inside the couple's dream home on Sunday

Police tape surrounded what was once the happy home of Hannah McGuire

Young's own family home, where his parents still reside, sits a mere stone's throw from the property.

The couple's house boasted three bedrooms, one bathroom, and a large double garage in the backyard.

The couple had been popular among many of their neighbours, who shared fond memories of drinking with them at the home.

A funeral for Ms McGuire is expected to take place in the coming days.

Ms McGuire's devastated parents Glenn and Debbie and her brother sobbed and consoled each other outside a Ballarat court on Tuesday

Lachlan young is accused of murdering his ex partner Hannah McGuire

Hannah McGuire

No reasons have been provided as to why or how police allege Young killed his recently estranged partner.

On Tuesday, Ballarat Magistrates Court heard multiple crime scenes were still being investigated with police combing through CCTV footage.

Young's lawyer complained to the court that police had provided her with no information about the allegations which was limiting her ability to launch any kind of bail application in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

'At this stage the defence have been giving nothing by police. All of the information we have has been provided by the media,' she said.

'It would appear as though the police have swooped very quickly and obviously there is enough evidence against Mr Young to charge him with murder.'

Outside court, Ms McGuire's devastated parents Glenn and Debbie and her brother sobbed and consoled each other as Ballarat lawyer Brooke Tamanika spoke on their behalf.

'As you can imagine this is a very devastating time for the family, for Hannah's loved ones and for our community as a whole,' she said.

'The family have been assisting the police, however I cannot comment on the status of the matter.'

Young will remain behind bars until his next court appearance in September.
Catherine is hardly the first Princess of Wales to find herself the subject of overwhelming scrutiny.

The often fraught relationship between her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, and the media must surely have played a part in the Waleses guarded approach when it comes to details of home and family life.

Who could blame them?

Yet, its easily forgotten that Dianas dealings with the press had once been overwhelmingly positive.

Lady Diana Spencer, as she then was, passing waiting television cameras outside her flat at Coleherne Court in November 1980

In the early days of her courtship with Charles, journalists who spent time on the doorstep of her Kensington flat hoping for a few quick words were surprised to find how friendly Diana was.

Perhaps, looking back, we can detect the start of future troubles in such openness. At the time, however, it was refreshing to see a potential member of the Royal Family seeming to be so approachable.

Such was the enthusiasm for Diana - and such was the shortage of other supposedly suitable partners for a future monarch who was by then in his thirties and had played the field - that important questions were ignored.

Little attention was paid to the story of her unhappy childhood, or to the personal insecurity that had continued to develop in her.

Years later, Diana confessed to me that, in all her years as a Princess of Wales, she never got used to the adoration of the public.

Looking delighed, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer are pictured at Broadlands shortly after their engagement, in March 1981

Diana, Princess of Wales braves wet, blustery weather to meet the crowd waiting to see her outside Capital Radio in London, in 1982

But the truth is that she had courted Hollywood style-publicity then found she was unable to control it  and at risk of being consumed by it.

Its is a lesson that her son, William, and Catherine will most certainly have learned.

We can see it in the determination to steer their own line through choppy waters. To deal with private problems on their own terms.

I applaud the Prince and Princess of Wales for trying to face down the sewer of social media and maintain some dignity. Quite right.

This, in the long run, is what we expect of royals.

There can be no victory over the trolls prepared to say and do anything at all, apparently at no cost to themselves.

The Waleses are determined to avoid becoming characters in other peoples fantasy, says Ingrid Seward

The Princess of Wales makes a broadcast to the nation in which she revealed a cancer diagnosis that 'she had every right to keep private'

Kate meets members of the public during a walkabout after visiting Aberavon, South Wales, in February 2023

Kate Middleton leaving her home in Chelsea on her 25th birthday

William and Catherine have kept their heads. They have been the epitome of the expression keep calm and carry on.

If journalists and photographers are not the Waleses friends, as they were Dianas (some, at least), neither are they enemies.

Now that Catherine has revealed her cancer diagnosis in that emotional broadcast to the nation, she and her family seem to be enjoying some privacy at last.

Deeply frustrated as William might be about the recent furore, he has remained calm, in public, at least. His support was movingly acknowledged by Catherine in her video.

The Prince of Wales has carried on with his work where possible, allowing his office to come up with ideas for his wifes public comeback, whenever that might be.

Kate and William have faced their difficulties in a friendly but detached way and moved on.

That is what they have always done. Its as it should be.
A recent bust of a so-called stash house, where human traffickers hide and warehouse illegal immigrants as they are being snuck into the US, offers a rare glimpse into how migrants get from the US-Mexico border to cities as far away as Chicago and New York while staying in the shadows.

Texas state troopers were tipped off to a house in Fort Worth that was being used as a stash house Friday, Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland told DailyMail.com.

Inside, cops found five illegal immigrants, an altar to the Santa Muerte and a tunnel were migrants, and possibly drugs, could be easily hidden.

'We always associate stash houses with the border, but they're all over the US,' Cleveland, a retired Border Patrol agent and sheriff of Sanderson, Texas, explained.

'We have information other migrants being smuggled by this same group had already made it to Georgia.'

The opening to a tunnel where people could easily be hidden was found inside a Fort Worth stash house where five illegal immigrants were arrested Friday

The stash house also had a makeshift shrine to Santa Muerte, the cartel patron saint

Five illegal immigrants were taken into custody and turned over federal immigration authorities

Several mattresses cramped into one bedroom where found in the house, a sign that people were being squeezed into a small space

The suspected stash house, located in River Oaks just outside of Fort Worth, has been a rental property for at least the last year, according to the owner

A tipster first reached out to the border sheriff with the information, before Cleveland passed it on state police who were in place to move in on the house.

Texas DPS did not immediately comment on whether anyone was charged for smuggling as a result of the bust.

The five illegal immigrants in the house, a woman and four men, were turned over to federal immigration authorities.

A photo of the groups shows the woman smiling at the camera.

It often takes some time to determine who is the smuggler and who is being smuggled, as traffickers often try to pass themselves off immigrants in order to avoid criminal charges.

Perhaps even more concerning is the altar to Santa Muerte, the patron saint of cartels.

In recent years, US law enforcement has become increasingly interested in the cloaked skeleton woman holding a globe and sickle in her hands, as images of the figure are increasingly tied to individuals in organized crime in both the US and Mexico.

In the Fort Worth stash house, apples, flowers, a bottle of tequila and cigarettes had been left as offerings to Santa Muerte

This statue of the Holy Death was seized by the DEA in 2011 from two women transporting over 700 grams of methamphetamine between Arizona and Minnesota, was painted gold to represent economic power, success, and prosperity

Santa Muerte, the female personifcation of death has been denounced by the Catholic Church, forbids her worship as blasphemous.

However, cult-like followers have been growing in recent years, including within the drug cartel community.

Members of drug cartels are known to venerate her, asking for her protection in their criminal exploits, and leaving offerings to her, including cash, food and flowers.

In the Fort Worth stash house, apples, flowers, a bottle of tequila and cigarettes had been offered to her.

Altars for the skeleton woman have been linked to other criminals, like Michelle Pineda known as 'La Chely.'

The Mexican woman was wanted in Mexico for cartel killings where she would dismember her victims and remove their hearts as offerings to an altar of 'Santa Muerte.'

She was part of the 'Artistas Asesinos' street gang, a Sinaloa Cartel enforcement unit in El Paso.

Mexican national Michelle Pineda was arrested by the FBI and U.S. Border Patrol at an El Paso, Texas hotel last Thursday. The 22-year-old is accused of five murders where she made offerings to Santa Muerte. Francisco Oropesa, a 38-year-old Mexican, was arrested for shooting five people in Cleveland, Texas. He had an altar to the cartel patron saint in his bedroom

Oropesa had several tattoos dedicated to the 'Santa Muerte death cult'. A shrine honoring the cult was found in his room following the massacre

In another case, a Texas gunman who shot dead five people in 2023 near Houston, including a nine-year-old, had an elaborate altar to the saint in his house.

Francisco Oropesa, 38, opened fire in his neighbors' Cleveland home, about 40 miles north of Houston, in May 2023 after they asked him to stop firing the gun in his backyard.

Oropesa, had tattoos of the death clut saint as well as a shrine in his bedroom. Candles from the display were still burning from when the gunman opened fire on his victims.

The owner of the Fort Woth house revealed the property is a rental home that she leased to two women over a year ago, the owner who identified herself as Maria, claimed.

Maria stated she had no idea what the women did for a living or even their immigration status, as she believed it was illegal to ask them.

She said the women paid their rent on time and she had no idea who they were keeping in the house, as she would only come by the house once a year for a maintenance check.

However she denied that the house, located in a Fort Worth suburb River Oaks, had a tunnel in it.

She said it was a crawl space for repairman and utility workers to be able to access pipes.

When asked if it could have been used to hide illegal immigrants, she said she could not rule it out.
Texas congresswoman Beth Van Duyne clearly seems to have hit a nerve with her full page newspaper ad offering New York's finest a safe haven in the Lone Star State.

Mayor Eric Adams blasted her today at his daily briefing, holding up the newspaper ad in question and telling her to worry about her own city before coming after his.

Van Duyne's ad, published in The New York Post, read: 'Escape New York and move to Texas.

'You should no longer put your careers and lives in the hands of politicians who couldn't care less about you or your families.'

She was referring to the repeated attacks on NYPD officers by criminals, many of whom are released hours after being arrested thanks to the city's laxed bail lawyers.

Adams, a former cop himself, was incensed.

'We had a recruitment in the New York Post today one of my favorite blue collar papers,' Adams said while holding a copy of the paper.

The ad taken out by Rep. Beth Van Duyne in the New York Post

New York Mayor Eric Adams held up Duyne's ad at a press event, claiming New York is a safer city than Dallas, the closest big city to the congresswoman's district

Texas Rep. Beth Van Duyne, a Republican who represents Irving, a Dallas suburb, took out the ad in a New York City newspaper.

He went on to suggest that Dallas has a higher crime rate than New York, cherry-picking murder rates and other crime stats to help his case.

'What she should be doing is telling some of her officers to go over to Dallas to deal with the violence!' he fumed.

Irving, Duyne's district, was named the 14th safest small city in America in 2022 by the FBI, which takes into account all violent crime, not just one metric, like murders.

Several other Texas cities like Fort Worth and Plano (a Dallas suburb) and border towns El Paso and Laredo also made the list.

'New York has implemented disastrous policies that are purposefully anti-law and order and have led to death and destruction,' the Republican congresswoman tweeted Tuesday.'

'In Texas, we back the blue and welcome good officers who want to come protect the Lone Star State!'

Reps. Mike Johnson, R-La., speaker-designate, Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, left, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., are seen on the House floor of the U.S. Capitol before Johnson was elected Speaker of the House on Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Representative Rich McCormick, Cynthia Fisher, Aeisha Reese, Valerie June, and Representative, Beth Van Duyne (far right) attend the Power to the Patients event on Tuesday, March 5, 2023 in Washington, DC

U.S. Representatives Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) calls out at U.S. President Joe Biden, as he delivers his State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., February 7, 2023

Duyne's bulletin also took shots at the Big Apple's lax bail system, which has been blamed for not keeping bad guys behind bars.

Diller, 31, was a New York Police Department officer who was allegedly shot and killed by suspect Guy Rivera, 34, on Monday evening

'Your lives dont have to be endangered by violent career criminals who are never locked away,' it reads.

'You dont have to be beaten on the streets by gangs of illegal immigrant criminals.

'And you dont have to be endlessly insulted by budget cuts by Defund the Police politicians.'

Several migrants who were caught on camera beating two New York cops were arrested and inexplicably released by NYC's DA Alvin Bragg.

The death of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller who was shot during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens last month was tied to a repeat offender.

Guy Rivera, 34, previously spent 10 years in prison on various charges, including assault, drug convictions and hate crime charges, according to authorities.

The driver has more than 20 priors, including a gun charge from April 2023, according to a local station.

The newspaper ad also includes information for how to apply to 15 police departments in the Dallas area.
A four-bed 'villa' in Scotland has hit the market for 350,000 but social media critics have slammed the property comparing it to a Lego set and a scene from Toy Story.

The property portal website On the Market advertised the house, known as The Deveron, as an 'impressive detached four bedroom villa'.

But users of the S*** Planning page on X, formerly Twitter, have shown no mercy in offering their opinion.

Tens of thousands of people have viewed its post, which had the caption: 'What the f*** have we here!'

The post includes a link to the On the Market listing for the property in Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland, which is described as a 'stylish family villa' with a generous living space based in a 'stunning development'.

A four-bed 'villa' in Scotland (pictured) has hit the market for 350,000 but social media critics have slammed the property comparing it to a Lego set and a scene from Toy Story

But social media critics have had other ideas with the house coming under fire for its distinctive stone 'half-and-half' frontage and three side windows described as 'cat flaps'.

One said: 'That is just repulsive.'

Michael Goff said: 'A house from a Toy Story scene?'

Another highlighted what appears to be a stone feature outside the front door and said: 'What on earth is the purpose of this apart from damaging things being moved in and out hitting your shins off it at night?'

One pointed out the three small windows on the side of the property and said: 'Useful if you have three cats rescued from the circus.'

Another user added: 'That's utterly atrocious. It is beyond ugly. I cannot believe that is even real.'

Christopher Balaskas said: 'Was that designed on Minecraft?'

And another posted a photo of a Lego house and said: 'I've seen this style somewhere.'

Users of the S*** Planning page on X, formerly Twitter , have shown no mercy in offering their opinion

But not everyone agreed.

One user said: 'It's really not that bad compared with some of the properties on here.'

Another said: 'This really is people moaning about first world issues. It's a house for God's sake.'
From Dachshunds' long bodies to Pugs' squashed faces, many of the most popular dog breeds are known for their extreme bodies.

While these exaggerated characteristics are often perceived as 'cute', they can leave dogs with severe health issues, and as a result, a poor quality of life.

Now, vets have issued new guidance on the 10 extreme body conformations that owners should aim to avoid.

This includes a bulging or domed skull, twisted legs, a sloped back, and protruding eyes.

'No owner ever wants an unhealthy dog but the huge popularity of dogs with extreme conformations suggests that many owners have not fully grasped the link between body shape and quality of life for dogs,' said Dr Dan O'Neill, Associate Professor for Companion Animal Epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).

Vets have issued new guidance on the 10 extreme body conformations that owners should aim to avoid

Short and twisted legs - as seen in Dachshunds - can lead to back problems, the researchers warn

The 10 extreme body conformations owners should avoid Flat-faces Large and protruding eyes Short, twisted legs Facial or body skin folds Tailessness at birth Clearly overshot or undershot jaw Disproportionately broad head and shoulders Eyelids turned in or out Bulging or domed skull Sloped back with excessively low rear and excessively flexed hind legs Advertisement

Several popular dog breeds suffer from 'extreme conformation', which is where an exaggerated body shape negatively affects their health and welfare.

Most of these extreme features did not evolve naturally, and instead are the result of hundreds of years of breeding.

Now, the International Collaborative on Extreme Conformations in Dogs (ICECDogs) has worked with the RVC to publish new guidance to help prospective owners choose dogs with 'good innate health'.

'Innate health is a concept that has been developed following a decade of research at the RVC and refers to a dog's capacity to enjoy life without limitations from health issues linked to extreme conformations,' the RVC explained in a statement.

In order to have good innate health, the researchers say that a dog must be able to breathe freely at rest and during exercise, without the need for corrective surgery.

They must also be able to maintain a normal body temperature, move freely, eat and drink effectively, hear, smell, see, self-groom, and sleep effectively.

What's more, healthy dogs should be able to reproduce, and communicate with other dogs, according to the researchers.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, a flat face tops the list as the number one extreme body conformation to avoid. Flat-faced breeds include pugs (pictured), English Bulldogs, and French Bulldogs

Tailessness - as seen in the Boston Terrier - at birth can make it difficult for dogs to communicate with one another

Is your dog healthy? To be classed as healthy, your dog should be able to: Breathe freely at rest and during exercise, without the need for surgery

Maintain body temperature

Move freely

Eat and drink effectively

Hear, smell, see, self-groom, eliminate and sleep effectively

Reproduce

Communicate with other dogs Advertisement

Based on these criteria, the researchers have come up with a list of 10 extreme body conformations to avoid in dogs.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, a flat face tops the list as the number one extreme body conformation to avoid.

Flat-faced breeds include pugs, English Bulldogs, and French Bulldogs.

'Flat-faces (brachycephaly) commonly lead to health issues including difficulty breathing and eye ulcers,' the RVC explained.

Large and protruding eyes, such as those seen in the Pekingese, should be avoided as they increase the risk of eye damage and infection.

Meanwhile, short and twisted legs - as seen in Dachshunds - can lead to back problems.

'Affected dogs with excessively short legs and a disproportionately long body frequently suffer spinal and neurological problems,' the RVC said.

Facial and body skin folds on breeds including the English bulldog should be avoided as these can lead to skin infections and pain.

Breeds like the Bloodhound, with eyelids turned-in or turned-out can experience painful eye problems

Breeds with a clearly overshot or undershot jaw such as the Boxer can experience difficulty eating

And tailessness - as seen in the Boston Terrier - at birth can make it difficult for dogs to communicate with one another.

Breeds with a clearly overshot or undershot jaw such as the Boxer can experience difficulty eating, while a disproportionately broad head and shoulders, as seen in the French bulldog, often results in the inability to deliver puppies.

Meanwhile, breeds like the Bloodhound, with eyelids turned-in or turned-out can experience painful eye problems, while breeds with a bulging or domed skull, like the Chihuahua, are at higher risk of brain diseases.

Finally, owners should avoid dogs with sloped backs, low rear ends and flexed hind legs, such as the German Shepherd Dog, as these traits are commonly associated with locomotion problems.

Dr O'Neill told MailOnline that some of the most commonly affected breeds include Basset Hounds, Boston Terriers, Dachshunds, English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Germany Shepherd Dogs, Neapolitan Mastiffs, Pekingese, Pugs, Shar Peis, and Welsh Corgis.

Based on the findings, the researchers are calling on Britons to avoid promoting, breeding, selling, or acquiring dogs with these 10 extreme conformations.

Dr Michelle Groleau, ICECDogs member, added: 'There is an urgent need for the public to be made aware of the severity of the current situation and to learn how they can contribute to a solution'.
Smart farming blooms on Chengdu plain

13:19, April 09, 2024 By Li Kaixuan ( People's Daily

Wang Lingli checks the growth of rapeseed flowers. (Photo/Liu Rui)

On a morning in Chongzhou, Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province, Wang Lingli opened an app on her phone. Seeing that the temperature was 14 degrees Celsius with no rain expected for the next two hours, she grabbed her drone and headed out the door.

As a professional agricultural manager, Wang leads a team of 13 who utilize smart farming software to manage 7,000 mu (around 467 hectares) of farmland of four cooperatives.

"Our top priority right now is to apply pesticide to prevent pests and diseases," said Wang, as she skillfully piloted the drone to release an even mist of pesticide over the fields.

The fickle spring weather on the Chengdu plain makes precision farming crucial. "If a sudden rain comes before the pesticides are absorbed, they get washed away, which is a waste of resources and harms the soil," Wang explained.

The app Wang uses can provide accurate weather forecast for the next two hours, thus she can arrange her work accordingly.

Wang Lingli controls an agricultural drone. (Photo/Liu Rui)

Taking a break, Wang shared the benefits of agricultural informatization with People's Daily: "My phone manages every aspect of farming."

Through remote sensing technology, Wang can view soil moisture levels and crop growth conditions right on her phone, giving her a "diagnostic report" to guide field management. Besides, agricultural experts provide her with online consultations and on-site support, serving as an ever-present "brain trust". The app also connects directly to supply and sales platforms, maximizing income while reducing costs.

Without pausing, Wang hurried to a smart seedling center. "Rice seedling cultivation begins in early April. In May, it's the wheat harvest. Then we prepare the fields, fertilize, and transplant the seedlings - the schedule is fully packed," Wang said.

The center, which is operated by the cooperative that Wang works for, has six zones including a seeding production line, nutrient soil storage, and a sprouting room. Some of the seedling equipment were already being tested and calibrated.

"My phone is connected to the center's control system, so that I can check real-time seedling data," said Wang. Compared to traditional manual methods, the smart system significantly improves the survival rate and quality of seedling, she added.

Wang Lingli checks the growth of wheat on a mobile application. (Photo/Liu Rui)

As cultivation scales up and technologies advance, Wang is also integrating modern corporate management practices into the cooperative to boost incomes for member farmers. Last year, the fields managed by her team yielded a total of 6,000 tons of wheat and rice - nearly 25 kilograms higher per mu than non-member farmers.

Wang's career was inspired by her father, Wang Zhiquan, one of Chengdu's first professional agricultural managers. It was under her father's encouragement that she returned home and joined the cooperative after graduating from university in 2015.

Initially, having grown accustomed to traditional farming methods, Wang Zhiquan was reluctant to leave his "comfort zone." When Wang Lingli proposed buying a rice transplanter to replace manual labor, he objected. So, the two divided a field to test the approaches. Ultimately, the machine's efficiency proved superior, boosting Wang Zhiquan's confidence in modern agricultural technologies.

These days, Wang Zhiquan often "peeks" at his daughter's phone, which displays the rice transplanter's BeiDou navigation paths and planting densities in vivid detail. Recalling his stubborn resistance years ago, he admitted, "You have to trust the vision of the younger generation."

As new seedlings sprout, technologies are "sown." Today, 90 percent of agricultural production in Chongzhou has been informationized.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
The United Nations Security Council president on Monday referred the Palestinian Authority's application to become a full member of the world body to the committee on the admission of new member.

Malta's U.N. Ambassador Vanessa Frazier proposed that the committee meet on Monday afternoon to consider the application, adding that deliberation has to take place this month. Malta is president of the Security Council for April.

"We sincerely hope after 12 years since we change our status to an observer state, that the Security Council will elevate itself to implementing the global consensus on the two state solution by admitting the state of Palestine for full membership," Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour told reporters after the meeting.

The Palestinian Authority last week formally asked for renewed consideration by the United Nations Security Council of its 2011 application to become a full member of the world body. The Palestinians are a non-member observer state at the United Nations, the same status as the Holy See.

The committee of the 15 members first assesses an application to see if it satisfies requirements for U.N. membership. The application can then either be shelved or put forward for a formal vote in the Security Council. Approval requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the U.S., Russia, China, France or Britain.

"The committee has to deliberate within the month of April," Frazier told reporters ahead of the meeting. The Security Council earlier on Monday met behind closed doors to discuss the letter from the observer state requesting renewed consideration of their application.

Mansour told Reuters last week that the aim was for the council to take a decision at an April 18 ministerial meeting on the Middle East.

Israel's U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan said earlier on Monday that a Palestinian state would be a threat to Israel's national security.

"Granting the Palestinian statehood is not only a blatant violation of the U.N. Charter, it also violates the fundamental principle that everyone can understand of reaching a solution a lasting solution at the negotiating table," Erdan told reporters.

"The U.N. has been sabotaging peace in the Middle East for years. But today marks the beginning of the point of no return." (Reuters)
Millions of people across North America caught a glimpse of the solar eclipse Monday  some risking damage to their vision to see the rare event.

'My eyes are now boiling and my neck is suspiciously sore,' one X user posted from Manitoba, Canada, as Google searches for 'eyes are sore' trended steeply upward.

While doctors and NASA officials have consistently implored the public only to view an eclipse with the proper precautions, like eclipse glasses or via shadows that fall on a 'safe handheld solar viewer,' scores of people just can't resist the temptation.

Roughly 100 individuals in the US and Canada reported to eyecare professionals after the August 21, 2017 solar eclipse complaining of eclipse-related retina damage, according to an informal survey for the American Astronomical Society.

Here's what to look out for if you're worried that you stared at the sun for too long during Monday's eclipse  whether by accident or in a fit of irrational exuberance.

One big surprise: 'eye pain' is not a guaranteed symptom of eye damage.

About 100 individuals in the US and Canada reported eclipse-related retina damage to doctors after the August 21, 2017 solar eclipse, according to the American Astronomical Society. Above, people view Monday's solar eclipse from Times Square in New York on April 8, 2024

'My eyes are now boiling and my neck is suspiciously sore,' one X user posted from Manitoba in Canada, as Google searches of 'eyes are sore' started trending upward

Below are some symptoms on what to look out for if you're worried that you stared at the sun for too long during Monday's eclipse - whether by accident or in a fit of irrational exuberance. One big surprise: 'eye pain' is not a guaranteed symptom of eye damage

Because the human retina, in the back of the eye, does not have pain nerves, you would be unlikely or unable to experience discomfort to provide you with any early warning of the damage wrought by staring at a solar eclipse, experts say.

'Your retina can be damaged even before you realize it,' NASA advises, 'and by then it can be too late to save your vision.'

One of the most vulnerable regions of the retina, according to doctors, is the macula: a 'small, but important area' critical for discerning details like written text.

'Even a few seconds of viewing the sun during an eclipse can temporarily or permanently burn the macula,' according to Johns Hopkins ophthalmologists Neil Bressler, Jun Kong, and J. Fernando Arevalo.

'Once retina tissue is destroyed,' the trio wrote in the Journal of American Medical Association this past March, 'it cannot regenerate, resulting in permanent central vision loss.'

The result of damage to the macula can be uncanny: seeing one's own face as blank in a mirror or being unable to make out words in a newspaper, as if it were blank.

All it takes is about 100 seconds of exposure for solar radiation to cause damage to a person's retina, although times will vary based on the intensity of the sun, which can vary by time of day and geography, and the preexisting condition of a person's eyes.

Despite some attempted medical interventions using steroids, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus reports that there is 'no proof that they work for solar retinopathy.' Above, a user of Elon Musk's X site complains of 'major headache' and 'sore eyes'

The news will come as a bitter pill for those who have taken to Elon Musk's X platform and elsewhere to complain about their 'sore' eyes in the past 24 hours (example above)

Rather than 'eye pain,' experts with the the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommend that concerned individuals look out for 'visual symptoms within four to six hours' or even the day after the solar eclipse.

Those symptoms, signs of 'solar retinopathy' damage, include: headaches, blurred vision, a 'blind spot' in one or both eyes, unusual colors or discoloration to your vision, eye sensitivity or visual distortions.

Those distortions can be particularly unusual, making objects appear smaller than they actually are, or creating funhouse twists or warps to your central vision.

Fortunately, even these frightening symptoms can improve over time.

'Many people recover after three to six months,' AAO spokesperson Susanne Medeiros wrote last year, 'but some will suffer from permanent vision loss, in the form of a small blind spot and distortion.'

Statistically, roughly half of those diagnosed with 'eclipse blindness' will recover their vision, in full, after six months, according to B. Ralph Chou, professor emeritus at the University of Waterloo in Canada and a leading expert on eclipse eye safety.

'You just sort of end up having to wait it out,' Chou told Space.com, 'and that's the really unfortunate part about it.'

'The typical person who's been injured,' Chou continued, 'is going to wait six to 12 months before they know what their ultimate status is going to be.'

Despite the fact that 'miracle cure' treatments are not available, experts recommend contacting your eye doctor the moment you suspect you might have solar retinopathy as a result of Monday's event. Above, the moon as it began to eclipse the sun above Fort Worth, TX

While doctors and NASA officials have consistently implored the public only to view an eclipse with the proper precautions, like eclipse glasses or a 'safe handheld solar viewer,' scores of people just can't resist the temptation. But several X users even reported wearing what they thought were ISO-approved solar eclipse glasses, only to be left with discomfort and pain

Despite some attempted medical interventions using steroids, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus reports that there is 'no proof that they work for solar retinopathy.'

'Over the years, certainly ophthalmologists have tried various ways, pharmacological and otherwise, to try and reduce the amount of damage and swelling that is thought to be the main cause for the loss of vision,' according to Chou.

'For the most part, those types of treatments don't seem to be effective,' he said.

Chou, who wrote the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guidelines on eclipse glasses and certifies new eclipse safety products in his lab, said most treatments for solar retinopathy amount to teaching patients to cope.

Chou likened the physical therapy to any other case of visual impairment, in other words helping a person manage with their 'new normal' of impaired central vision.

The news will come as a bitter pill for those who have taken to Elon Musk's X platform to complain about their 'sore' eyes in the past 24 hours.

Google Trends found that searches for 'eyes are sore' hit a scary weeks-long high Monday as people across America took to social media to complain about 'sore eyes' from the eclipse

Missouri, in the path of the eclipse, had the highest volume of 'eyes are sore' searched (above)

READ MORE: NASA flew two jets in complete DARKNESS to study the solar eclipse on a mission that could lead to major scientific breakthroughs NASA teams in two WB-57 jets will see the eclipse in its totality for 25% longer than anyone else - an estimated 6 minutes and 22 seconds, with a perfect view above the clouds Advertisement

'I kept looking at the eclipse with my bare eyes!!' one user posted. 'I'M SUFFERING RIGHT NOW!! I HAVE A MAJOR HEADACHE AND MY EYES ARE SORE!!'

Several even reported wearing what they thought were ISO-approved solar eclipse glasses, only to be left with the discomforting sensation that something was now amiss.

'My eyes were a bit sore even with good glasses,' one X user, who goes by the handle @CrickJV3 posted to the site.

'I looked at the eclipse with glasses and [all that],' another asserted, 'and my eyes [are] sore now.'

As DailyMail.com revealed Monday, eclipse viewing glasses that block out 99 percent of ultraviolet light have been sold out for weeks in many places, while fakes flooded Amazon, eBay and Temu.

If you bought eclipse glasses, they should have the 'ISO 12312-2' label somewhere on them, in many cases on the arm of frames.

The insignia may also appear as 'ISO 12312-2:2015,' but in either case, your glasses should be up to Chou's and ISO's protective standards and safe to use.

For most people who discover vision problems over the course of the next 24 hours, Chou has said that the likely case will be blurred vision.

'Most people, they don't see a black spot,' the eclipse eye safety expert said.

'For the most part they have damaged photoreceptors that just aren't capable of doing more than just registering maybe the presence of light but can't really build up enough information for them to be able to see clearly.'

Despite the fact that 'miracle cure' treatments are not currently available, experts recommend contacting your eye doctor the moment you suspect that you might have solar retinopathy or eclipse blindness as a result of Monday's celestial event.
Yesterday, around 32 million Americans were lucky enough to see the total solar eclipse from Earth.

The rare event occurred as the moon moved directly between the sun and the Earth, resulting in some amazing photo opportunities.

But another select group of humans had a unique vantage point of the spectacle in full effect  around 260 miles above our planet.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) were able to film the moon's shadow as it plunged the North American daytime into darkness.

In the clip, the 115-mile-wide shadow or 'umbra' can be seen moving northwards, from New York state into Newfoundland, Canada.

A total solar eclipse is seen from Houlton, Maine, on Monday April 8 - a rare cosmic phenomenon that swept the US and parts of Mexico

READ MORE: Total solar Eclipse 2024 brings US to a standstill View from the Mexican town of Mazatlan Advertisement

NASA posted the video on X (Twitter) with the caption: Ever seen a total solar #eclipse from space?'

'Here is our astronauts' view from the @Space_Station.'

The video was filmed by NASA Flight Engineers Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps, two of the seven humans currently aboard the ISS.

NASA said the crew members had an opportunity to view the shadow at the end of their workday, which was filled with 'cargo transfers, spacesuit maintenance, and microgravity research'.

Although the moon's umbra in the clip was traversing over New York state, the ISS was stationed about 260 miles above southeastern Canada.

Dominick and Epps had the camera pointed southwards as the round shadow, travelled at around 1,500 miles per hour.

From the ISS, a view of the solar eclipse itself (the moon passing over the sun) was only accessible through a pair of windows in the space stations Roscosmos segment, NASA said

NASA Flight Engineers Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps were inside photographing and videotaping the Moons shadow on Earth, or umbra, beneath them. They were orbiting 260 miles above southeastern Canada as the Moons umbra was moving from New York state into Newfoundland

The International Space Station is a large spacecraft in orbit around Earth, currently occupied by seven humans

In NASA's coverage, the view of the eclipse from Houlton, Maine is streamed next to a view of the moon's shadow over Earth from the ISS

Snapshot during a total solar eclipse: Red line shows the perfect alignment of the centre of the sun (left) and the centre of the moon (middle) with the Earth (right). On Earth, the very centre of the moon's shadow sees a total solar eclipse (where the whole of the sun is blocked). The rest of the shadow sees a partial solar eclipse (where part of the sun is blocked). People in the rest of the shadow see a partial solar eclipse because the moon's centre is slightly above or slightly below the sun's centre, from the viewer's perspective. In effect, part of the sun 'peeps out' because the sun isn't totally blocking it

However, NASA said the segment 'may not have been accessible due to cargo constraints'.

But even if crew members couldn't see the eclipse, the view of the shadow over Earth provided a pretty stunning alternative.

Dubbed the 'Great American Eclipse', Monday's rare event marked the first total solar eclipse visible anywhere in the world since December 2021, and the first seen from the US since August 2017.

Its path of totality  where the moon totally blocked the sun  travelled from Mexico's Pacific coast to US states including Texas, Illinois, Ohio and New York in the early afternoon.

It then made its way to Canada, moving from the city of Montreal to the provinces of New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon and the sun line up perfectly and the moon is close enough to us to cover the whole of the sun, from our perspective.

'In those circumstances the moon casts a tiny shadow on the surface of the Earth,' said Dr Robert Massey, deputy director of the Royal Astronomical Society.

'The people who stand in that shadow as it moves over them are lucky enough to see a total solar eclipse.'

Even outside the path of totality, observers were able to see a partial solar eclipse, where the sun is partially covered by the moon, making it look like the sun has had a 'bite' taken out of it.

This partial eclipse was expected to be seen in westernmost parts of the UK too, but it was largely obscured by cloud cover.

The moon partially covers the sun during a total solar eclipse, as seen from Eagle Pass, Texas, Monday, April 8, 2024

People on the National Mall look at a partial solar eclipse, with the US Capitol Building seen behind, in Washington, DC, US. The narrow path of totality crossed 13 US states

Unfortunately, the next total solar eclipse isn't visible in the UK for another 66 years.

Occurring on September 23, 2090, it will be the first total solar eclipse visible from Britain since August 11, 1999, and the first visible from Ireland since May 22, 1724.

After Monday, the next solar eclipse is an annular solar eclipse on October 2, but it will only be visible from the southern tips of Argentina and Chile, as well as Easter Island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean.

Other parts of South America including Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru as well as Hawaii and New Zealand should see a partial solar eclipse that day.
Two leading Japanese communications and media companies have warned that AI could cause 'social collapse and wars' if governments do not act to regulate the technology.

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) - Japan's biggest telecoms firm - and Yomiuri Shimbun Group Holdings - the owners of the nation's largest newspaper - today published a joint manifesto on the rapid development of generative AI.

The media giants recognise the benefits of the technology, describing it as 'already indispensable to society', specifically because of its accessibility and ease of use for consumers and its potential for boosting productivity.

But the declaration said AI could 'confidently lie and easily deceive' users, and may be used for nefarious purposes, including the undermining of democratic order by interfering 'in the areas of elections and security... to cause enormous and irreversible damage'.

The companies also suggested widespread integration of AI could lead to a worsening of the 'attention economy' - the notion that the overwhelming presence of information means human attention is becoming more scarce.

This pushes governments and corporations to compete and engineer new ways to garner as much attention from their citizens and customers as possible - something NTT and Yomiuri Shimbun say has 'made the information space unhealthy and damages the dignity of the individual', and could become far more damaging with the rise of AI.

In response, the Japanese firms said countries worldwide must ensure that education around the benefits and drawbacks of AI must be incorporated into compulsory school curriculums and declared 'a need for strong legal restrictions on the use of generative AI - hard laws with enforcement powers'.

It comes as the EU prepares to implement new legislation seen as the most comprehensive regulation of AI the world has seen thus far.

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) - Japan 's biggest telecoms firm - and Yomiuri Shimbun Group Holdings - the owners of the nation's largest newspaper - today published a joint manifesto on the rapid development of generative AI

European governments are at the forefront of regulating AI at present, with all 27 EU member states endorsing the ' Artificial Intelligence Act'

European governments are at the forefront of regulating AI at present, with all 27 EU member states endorsing the 'Artificial Intelligence Act' proposed in December.

Elon Musk warns AI will outsmart mankind by the end of next year Advertisement

Set to come into effect later this year, the Act categorises different AI products into four risk classes, implementing a blanket ban on AI considered to have 'unacceptable risk' and enforcing a range of restrictions and obligations on the developers and providers of high-risk systems.

Any AI systems deemed capable of 'deploying subliminal, manipulative, or deceptive techniques to distort behaviour and impair informed decision-making' will be prohibited, along with any technology that seeks to 'exploit persons' vulnerabilities', categorise people according to attributes like race, gender, sexuality, or social behaviour.

Developers whose AI are deemed high-risk must subject their product to a raft of risk management, cybersecurity and data governance controls, and must ensure human oversight is maintained over the system at all times.

Even general-purpose AI systems not deemed a security risk will still be subject to specific controls.

The Act is set to be implemented this summer and bans will begin to be enforced six months later, with entities found to be flouting the regulations liable to pay hefty fines - though it is unclear whether senior individuals would face further legal action for a serious violation.

And until the Act comes into force, the use of AI in Europe can continue largely unrestricted.

The EU's approach is far more comprehensive than the US, where the regulation of AI is more decentralised with each state largely responsible for its own legislation.

But the interest in AI regulation has gathered pace - at least 25 US states considered AI-related legislation in 2023, and 15 passed laws or resolutions, according to a Bloomberg report and data from the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Meanwhile, The White House said last month it will require federal agencies using artificial intelligence to adopt 'concrete safeguards' by December 1, 2024 to protect Americans' rights and ensure safety.

Dr. Craig Martell, Department of Defense chief digital and artificial intelligence officer, speaks during a hearing before a House Armed Services Subcommittee in Rayburn House Office Building in Washington DC, United States on March 22, 2024

A view of Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California, United States on March 23, 2024

The Office of Management and Budget issued a directive to federal agencies to monitor, assess and test AI's impacts 'on the public, mitigate the risks of algorithmic discrimination, and provide the public with transparency into how the government uses AI.'

EXCLUSIVE Six experts predict job roles that will be wiped out by AI this decade Advertisement

Agencies must also conduct risk assessments and set operational and governance metrics.

And in October last year, President Biden signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to require developers of AI systems posing risks to US national security, the economy, public health or safety to share the results of safety tests with the US government before rolling out their products.

However, many have criticised governments' adoption of AI regulation, arguing that excessive legislation implemented by uninformed politicians could stifle innovation.

Others say that restricting the development of AI, particularly for security or military applications, could leave Western countries vulnerable to more advanced systems pioneered by rivals with fewer legal barriers.

The US has attempted to ward off these criticisms by announcing plans to hire more than 100 AI professionals to advise policymakers, and in March declared that federal agencies will be required to designate chief AI officers within 60 days.
A six-legged gazelle was spotted prancing in Israel by a member of the nation's defense forces.

The animal had an extra pair of appendages growing from its back, which was caused by a genetic disorder called organ proliferation, or polymelia.

The rare syndrome is also found among humans, appearing in less than one per 100,000 births, but it has been reported in a range of mammals including cows, reptiles, chickens and mice.

The gazelle was seen on a nature reserve in the southern Negev desert that occupies Palestine and Israeli, which sits just a few miles from the Hamas music festival massacre site.

A six-legged gazelle was spotted prancing through Israel 's Holy Land by a member of the nation's defense forces

The discovery was made by an Israeli army reservist Nir Leichter in late March when he stopped for coffee at the Nahal HaBoshor nature reserve.

Leichter quickly snapped a picture of the animal and sent it to the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) team in Jerusalem to further investigate, finding the gazelle was born with a mutation.

Wildlife experts determined that the animal was born in 2021 and 'survived a complex litter and survived as a young individual, faced many predators that endanger young fawns,' said Amir Balaban, with SPNI.

The gazelle was spotted by an Israel army reservist who snapped a picture and sent it to wildlife officials (here is the photo taken)

Balaban shared a statement in an Instagram post that was translated from Hebrew to English.

He noted that the gazelle spent most of its life in danger due to its mutation, as the extra legs meant it stood out from the herd.

However, the male had also met a mate and now has an offspring, which was captured by the IDF reservist.

'Contrary to expectations, the deer is healthy, and strong and has three deer and a foal in its nest from last fall,' Balaban shared.

'He was [been] seen hosting the females in the short fields and the extra legs on his back are no challenge for him.'

SPNI believes the genetic birth defect is hereditary, but the gazelles fawn does not appear to have the same condition.

Balaban told CBS News that the animal was the first known gazelle to have the hereditary condition in the Middle East.

The six-legged gazelle (right) had also met a mate and now has an offspring, which was captured by the IDF reservist

The animal had an extra pair of appendages growing from its back, caused by a genetic disorder called organ proliferation, or polymelia

The animal was the first known gazelle to have the hereditary condition in the Middle East

In Israel, there are three sub-species: the Israeli gazelle, the Negev gazelle, and the Shitim gazelle, of which very few individuals remain, in the Arava region.

There is a visible difference between the sexes, as the male is larger, and his horns are longer than those of the female.

The Negev desert was the site of a bloodbath in October 2023 when the Hamas militant group descended from the skies to an area where revelers had gathered for an all-night trance music rave.

Hamas fighters managed to infiltrate Israel essentially undetected by paragliding across the normally heavily guarded frontier.

Moments later, the dancing stops and out terror ensues as festival goers are forced to run for their lives as armed Hamas fighters began shooting and kidnapping whoever lay in their path.

Panicked Israelis were seen shouting, running, and hurriedly getting into cars as they attempt to escape the festival in the north-western Negev desert, about 5 miles from the city of Ofakim.
NASA's lunar orbit was investigating the moon when it captured a surf board-shaped UFO whizz by the surface.

Photos taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) showed a long, narrow, and apparently flat object in a few shots.

While some had speculated the sighting was nothing more than a digital artifact, others were sure NASA had captured aliens visiting close to our world.

But the American space agency later revealed LRO captured Korea's lunar orbiter, Danuri as it soared just a few miles away.

This image shows Danuri in the white box. The large bowl-shaped crater visible in the upper left is 7.5 miles wide.

Danuri streaked by the LRO, about 3 miles closer to the moon than the NASA spacecraft. Its appearance is due to its speed.

READ MORE: South Korea's first lunar orbiter is launched into space The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, nicknamed Danuri  meaning 'enjoy the moon'  was fired into space atop a Falcon 9 booster. Advertisement

The LRO has been orbiting Earth's moon and snapping photos since 2009, when it was NASA's first moon mission in a decade.

And it turns out the craft is on a nearly parallel orbit with Danuri, which was launched in 2022 by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).

The relative speed of the two objects to one another is a whopping 7,200 miles per hour, so the LRO operations team had to have lightning quick timing to capture it on camera.

In the end, Danuri appeared 10 times longer than it really is, hence its surfboard appearance.

Even though the LRO's camera exposure time was only 0.338 milliseconds, Danuri's immense speed meant that it still only showed up as a blur, stretched beyond recognition.

Paul Byrne, a professor of planetary science at Washington University in St Louise, shared a few of LRO's images on X.

'To be clear, the Danuri orbiter is not a weirdly thin load of pixelsit's a fairly normal-looking orbiter,' Byrne posted.

'But the terrific speeds involved mean that it's smeared on the LRO's camera detector.'

Danuri was traveling just five miles below LRO last week when the images were taken.

Over three separate encounters, NASA staff snapped photos of the object, each time yielding a surfboard.

Danuri is actually a typical uncrewed spacecraft shape: a box in the middle with two solar panels on either side.

Both Danuri and the LRO are designed to take photos of the moon, capturing images of regions of the moon that are permanently shadowed.

Danuri snapped this image of the LRO in April 2023 as the Korean spacecraft passed 11 miles above the NASA one.

For their second encounter, the LRO was only about 2.5 miles above Danuri. Once again, though, the photo it captured was stretched out because of their relative speeds.

In the new set of photos, Danuri is all but unrecognizable.

Not only were both spacecrafts traveling at thousands of miles an hour, but they were going in opposite directions from each other - adding to the blur effect.

And while the LRO is set to orbit the moon indefinitely, Danuri's passes are meant to set the stage for an eventual landing mission on the moon's surface.
More than 200 chemical plants in the US will be required to cut emissions of toxic chemicals that have been linked to spikes in US cancer rates.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Tuesday that plants will need to cut emissions of ethylene oxide (EtO), chloroprene and other toxins by 80 percent.

Penalties for violations will be doled out according to the Clean Air Act, depending on how severe they are.

Chemical plants affected by the rule are located in 29 different states, most of them in Ohio, Louisiana, and Texas, and include those that produce car antifreeze and the synthetic rubber neoprene, as well as petroleum refineries.

Some local communities, whose residents live in the shadow of polluting chemical plants, have lobbied the EPA for a decade or more to tighten restrictions on toxic chemicals.

In 2015, for example, the EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment confirmed that residents of St. John the Baptist Parrish in Louisiana were sickened with cancer at rates more than 800 times the national average.

St John the Baptist Parish sits among a sprawling collection of chemical plants and oil refineries - including the Denka-owned Denka Performance Elastomer Plant, a neoprene factory that emits the cancer-causing chemical chloroprene.

In 2019, Louisiana health officials began working with a local university to go door-to-door to every residence in a 2.5km radius of the Denka neoprene manufacturing plant that emits a likely carcinogen into the air. The study aimed to ask every household if any of its residents had cancer.

This area is home to the Denka Performance Elastomer facility, a chemical plant that uses chloroprene to produce neoprene.

Chloroprene is almost exclusively used to produce neoprene, the synthetic rubber that wetsuits are made from.

That plant is affected by the new rule, but in the time since that revelation, these residents have witnessed their friends, family, and neighbors get sick and die with little to no action from the EPA.

With the new rule's announcement, the EPA claimed that it could reduce the number of cancer cases linked to such substances by 96 percent nationwide.

The change, announced Tuesday by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), came as a result of EPA studies that measured how toxic air pollutants contribute to cancer.

The new rule will apply to 218 facilities spread across Texas and Louisiana, the Ohio River Valley, West Virginia and the upper South, the EPA said.

In 2015, for example, the EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment confirmed that residents of St. John the Baptist Parrish in Louisiana were sickened with cancer at rates more than 800 times the national average

LaPlace is home to the Denka Performance Elastomer facility, a chemical plant that uses chloroprene to produce neoprene

Some of the plants include the Port Arthur Refinery and Chevron Phillips Chemical Sweeny Refinery Complex in Texas, three Shell Oil refineries in Louisiana, Kraton Polymers and Perstop Poyols in Ohio, and Dow Chemical plants and ExxonMobil refineries across multiple states.

READ MORE: Louisiana parish long suspected of being 'CANCER ALLEY' The area around a local chemical plant had the highest airborne risk of cancer of any in the nation in 2015, the EPA found. Advertisement

The action updates several regulations on chemical plant emissions that have not been tightened in nearly two decades.

Emissions of chloroprene are required to be cut in 90 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register, but it will take two years for EtO to change. The EPA has not specified when the rule will be published.

EtO is used to sterilize medical equipment and to produce ethylene glycol, the main component of antifreeze in car engines.

Both of these chemicals have been shown to cause multiple types of cancer, including lymphoid and breast cancers.

Residents of St. John the Baptist Parish in Louisiana, home of the Denka Performance Elastomer facility, are set to dramatically benefit from the EPA's announcement, the agency claimed.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan visited the Louisiana plant in 2021, deeming it the largest source of chloroprene emissions in the country.

When combined with a law issued last month cracking down on ethylene oxide emissions from commercial sterilizers used to clean medical equipment, the new rule will reduce EtO and chloroprene emissions at Denka by nearly 80 percent.

'Every community in this country deserves to breathe clean air. That's why I took the Journey to Justice tour to communities like St. John the Baptist Parish, where residents have borne the brunt of toxic air for far too long,' Regan said Tuesday.

The Denka Performance Elastomer Plant in Reserve, Louisiana, has long been accused of causing cancer in the surrounding community, which is 94 percent Black

'We promised to listen to folks that are suffering from pollution and act to protect them.

'Today we deliver on that promise with strong final standards to slash pollution, reduce cancer risk and ensure cleaner air for nearby communities.'

Democratic Rep. Troy Carter, whose Louisiana district includes the Denka plant, called the new rule 'a monumental step' to safeguard public health and the environment.

'Communities deserve to be safe. I've said this all along,' Carter told reporters at a briefing Monday.

'It must begin with proper regulation. It must begin with listening to the people who are impacted in the neighborhoods, who undoubtedly have suffered the cost of being in close proximity of chemical plants - but not just chemical plants, chemical plants that dont follow the rules.'

Carter said it was 'critically important that measures like this are demonstrated to keep the confidence of the American people.'

The new rule is expected slash more than 6,200 tons of toxic air pollutants annually across all 218 facilities and implement fenceline monitoring to ensure compliance, the EPA claimed.

The Justice Department sued Denka last year, saying it had been releasing unsafe concentrations of chloroprene near homes and schools.

Denka, a Japanese company that bought the former DuPont rubber-making plant in 2015, said it 'vehemently opposes' the EPAs latest action.

'EPA's rulemaking is yet another attempt to drive a policy agenda that is unsupported by the law or the science,' Denka said in a statement, adding that the agency has alleged its facility 'represents a danger to its community, despite the facilitys compliance with its federal and state air permitting requirements.'

After the 2015 revelations, Denka had successfully dragged the EPA into inaction on tightening restrictions, despite growing evidence of skyrocketing local cancer rates - even lobbying the agency to raise the pollution limits.

The Fifth Ward Elementary School and residential neighborhoods sit near the Denka Performance Elastomer Plant

The Denka plant has been at the center of protests over pollution in majority-Black communities and EPA efforts to curb chloroprene emissions, particularly in the Mississippi River Chemical Corridor, an 85-mile industrial region known informally as Cancer Alley.

Denka said it already has invested more than $35 million to reduce chloroprene emissions.

The EPA agreed to open a civil rights investigation of the plant to determine if state officials were putting Black residents at increased cancer risk.

But in June the EPA dropped its investigation without releasing any official findings and without any commitments from the state to change its practices.

Regan said the rule issued Tuesday was separate from the civil rights investigation.

He called the rule 'very ambitious,' adding that officials took care to ensure 'that we protect all of these communities, not just those in Cancer Alley, but communities in Texas and Puerto Rico and other areas that are threatened by these hazardous air toxic pollutants.'

While it focuses on toxic emissions, 'by its very nature, this rule is providing protection to environmental justice communities - Black and brown communities, low-income communities - that have suffered for far too long,' Regan said.

Patrice Simms, vice president of the environmental law firm Earthjustice, called the rule 'a victory in our pursuit for environmental justice.'

'Theres always more to do to demand that our laws live up to their full potential,' Simms said, 'but EPA's action today brings us a meaningful step closer to realizing the promise of clean air, the promise of safe and livable communities and ... more just and more equitable environmental protections.'
The US government has yet to unravel the mysterious sightings of UFOs soaring through our skies, but a Harvard professor believes the answer may sit 300 feet below the surface.

Avi Loeb, known for his efforts to prove we are not alone, has claimed that extraterrestrial visitors are travelling through hidden dimensions created by researchers at the CERN particle accelerator are seeking.

The accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), blasts particles are nearly the speed of light to recreate conditions of the Big Bang, with hopes of uncovering hidden dimensions that will reveal how our universe formed.

Speaking in a new documentary, Loeb said that alien civilizations may have been developing dimension-hopping technology for billions of years.

The physicist also noted that extraterrestrials are using theoretical quantum gravity engineering to travel through 'curled' dimensions that humans can only detect in particle accelerators such as CERN.

A Harvard scientists has claimed that extraterrestrial visitors are travelling through hidden dimensions created by researchers at the CERN particle accelerator (pictured) are seeking

Avi Loeb made the claims in a new documentary, saying that extraterrestrials are using theoretical quantum gravity engineering to travel through 'curled' dimensions that humans can only detect in particle accelerators such as CERN

The Harvard scientist said in the documentary 'The Paranormal UFO Connection' that if alien technology is able to reach our doorstep, we would be awe-struck because it would represent something we don't possess.

'Just like a cave dweller coming to a city like London or Europe, and seeing all the technological gadgets there,' said Loeb.

'There will be a sense of religious awe, and we wouldn't understand it, especially if we are dealing with the effects of quantum gravity that we have any clue about.'

Loeb said that travelling through extra-spatial dimensions would mean the chance of collisions would be 'much smaller.'

READ MORE: Scientists soon discover a parallel universe It has found the 'God particle', but the Large Hadron Collider could soon detect a 'parallel universe'. Advertisement

Scientists at CERN have attempted to detect six 'extra spatial' dimensions, and look for particular particles as evidence that such dimensions exist.

The underground LHC is located at the border of France and Switzerland and first went live on September 10, 2008.

In 2012, scientists used it to discover the Higgs boson or God particle, which was a missing piece in the jigsaw for physicists in trying to understand how the universe works.

'Quantum mechanics was discovered exactly a century ago. And all the most sophisticated technologies we currently employ, such as the Internet, artificial intelligence, and so forth, rely on our understanding of quantum mechanics,' Loeb explained.

'But the process of learning is incomplete - there are several major puzzles in modern physics.'

'Within the mainstream of theoretical physics for the past decades, the prevailing paradigm is that it is possible to unify quantum mechanics and gravity unless you work with extra-spatial dimensions.

'We see only three of them in our daily life. But the idea is that the others are curled. And we can't really detect them unless we shoot particles that have exceptionally high energies that will probe these tiny scales.

'Of course, if there are extra dimensions, then the reality that we are familiar with extends into them. And then one can imagine life in more than three spatial dimensions. It will be far more diverse and interesting.'

Last year Loeb set off for Papua New Guinea on a $1.5m ocean expedition to find what he believes might be a piece of alien technology, which crashed into the sea in 2014.

Film-maker and musician Mark Christopher Lee, 'The Paranormal UFO Connection' explores different ways that UFOs and other unexplained phenomena might arrive at our planet

The accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), blasts particles are nearly the speed of light to recreate conditions of the Big Bang, with hopes of uncovering hidden dimensions that will reveal how our universe formed

His expedition found metal 'spherules' on the sea bed, which Loeb claims might be 'techno signatures' of an alien civilization.

The Israeli astronomer and his research partner Amir Siraj concluded in 2019 that an object from outside our solar system had hit Earth in 2014.

The Papua New Guinea object travelled towards Earth at more than 30 miles per second, a speed so high it suggests it originated outside our solar system.

Loeb also argues in the film that world governments should divert the $2 trillion a year he claims is spent on military budgets to the search for alien life.

Film-maker and musician Mark Christopher Lee, 'The Paranormal UFO Connection' explores different ways that UFOs and other unexplained phenomena might arrive at our planet.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Lee said: ' I have a science degree so I'm pretty rational. I was really keen to see what Avi's take on this would be. He's one of the few serious scientists in the world taking an interest in this subject.

'Our chat was very enlightening: he does think that advanced civilizations elsewhere in the universe may be able to use other spatial dimensions in order to travel easily through the universe.

'Particularly with the advances happening at CERN in regards to proving the existence of other dimensions then it makes logical sense for a far more sophisticated civilization to have developed the technology to utilise these.'

'The Paranormal UFO Connection' is on Tubi TV in the U.S. and available via YouTube worldwide.
No one has ever climbed this mountain. At least - there are no records of a single person ever making it to the top.

Yet it's a peak known across vast swathes of the earth's population - and it receives thousands of visitors every year.

Behold Mount Kailash, one of the world's holiest mountains, revered by over a billion Buddhist, Hindu and Jain worshippers and deemed too sacred to set foot on.

The mountain, also known as Kangringboqe Peak, stands at 22,028ft (6,714m) in a remote southwestern corner of Tibet. Hindus believe it is the home of the God of Shiva and, along with Buddhists, refer to it as the mythical Mount Meru, the central axis of the universe.

It is forbidden to summit the natural giant for fear that this will disturb its sanctity, according to the Times of India. Though the publication recounts the mythical tale of a monk called Milarepa conquering the peak, and returning to 'forewarn everyone to avoid bothering the God resting high up in the peak'.

Mount Kailash (pictured), also known as the Kangringboqe Peak, is one of the world's most sacred mountains - a peak that remains unclimbed

Colourful prayer flags flutter in the wind, with the south face of Mount Kailash in the background

Mount Kailash stands at 22,028ft (6,714m) in a remote southwestern corner of Tibet

And in 1926, Colonel R C Wilson of the Indian Army considered an expedition to the summit, but heavy snow rendered the attempt impossible.

Religion, mythology and weather conditions aside, Mount Kailash is 'considered impossible to climb' due to the 'physical challenges' it presents.

So says Tibet tour operator Tibet Vista on its website, adding: 'The mountain's pyramid-like shape, steep slopes, and constant snow cover make it incredibly difficult.

'The summit stands out from the surrounding peaks with its symmetrical walls reaching high into the sky. The slopes are almost vertical, making it an extremely tough task for climbers.'

Although it has never been conquered, the lone peak welcomes thousands of pilgrims annually, World Pilgrimage Guide notes.

The journey to get there alone is one of great perseverance, with no flights, trains or buses operating anywhere close to the mountain, and involving 'difficult, often dangerous travel', it adds.

Although it has never been conquered, the mountain welcomes thousands of pilgrims each year and travellers usually spend three days walking around its base

The three-day pilgrimage, known as 'The Kora', sees pilgrims - and visitors - walk around the base of the mountain three times in a clockwise direction. Meanwhile, the Jain and Bon faiths loop it in a counter-clockwise direction.

Those taking part should prepare to walk 9.3 to 13.6 miles (15 to 22km) per day, according to Wonders of Tibet, which describes the trekking route as 'one of the highest in the world'.

The journey begins in the small town of Darchen, at an altitude of around 15,091ft (4,600m). While the highest point, Drolma La-Pass, is 18,536ft (5,650m) above sea level.

The pilgrimage is known as 'the kora' and travellers walking around the sacred site should be prepared to walk 15 to 22km a day

Dharmachakra, the main Buddhist symbol, on the roof of Buddhist monastery Dirapuk, with the north face of Mount Kailash in the background

On the first day, pilgrims tackle the route on the south and west sides of the mountain, which are predominantly flat and relatively easy to walk.

On the second day, the conditions become more challenging for hikers moving along the north and east sides of the mountain, including along the 18,536ft (5,650m) Drolma La pass.

The pilgrimage becomes easier on the final day, which also happens to be the shortest trek.

Travellers will tackle the south side and complete their journey by early afternoon.

Those partaking should be between 18 and 70 years old and it is suggested travellers train for up to three months before embarking on the pilgrimage.
It was diverted via Dallas, where ground staff tried cleaning it for two hours

The United Airlines flight from traveling from Houston to Seattle

A Reddit user said a dog defecated in the aisle next to the first-class bathroom

Delayed flights are one of the most irritating parts of flying, but a fight being diverted due to a dog's defecation is much worse.

But that was the case on a recent United Airlines flight, which was forced to land half-way through its journey after a dog relieved himself in the aisle of the plane - right outside the first class bathroom, a spokesperson confirmed to DailyMail.com.

The messy incident was captured by Reddit user gig_wizard, who said they were on the five-hour Flight 422 from Houston to Seattle on Friday, April 7, when the incident occurred.

'Dog had messy accident in the aisle right in first class,' the passenger wrote alongside the photo.

A United Airlines flight was forced to divert after a dog relieved himself in the aisle of the plane - right outside the first class bathroom, a spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Mail

Ground crew spent over two hours trying to clean the carpet with paper towels, noting the smell made them ill

The Reddit user said the flight was diverted to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, where the ground crew spent over two hours trying to clean the carpet with paper towels, noting the smell made them ill.

'Gate agents kept yelling at passengers and the cabin crew,' they continued.

'The smell never quite went away.'

The multi-hour cleaning effect was ultimately unsuccessful, after the first class toilet declared unusable.

'The dog mess was apparently unresolved in there,' the passenger wrote. 'Food went bad while on the ground so very few snacks left.'

In an email to DailyMail.com, United Airlines confirmed that the incident had occurred but declined to share any other details.

However comments on the post slammed people who bring their dogs on flights, some even sharing their own stories.

'All animals need to either be in a crate or in the cargo hold. Only service animals should be for the blind. You don't need an "emotional support dog" for a freaking plane ride,' one user raged.

'Dog people are crazy and I am sick of the "he's my baby" mentality of owners. It's a freaking animal. And the owner should be made to clean that mess up. Take a dog on a plane-clean up your mess,' they concluded.

The plane was flying from Houston to Seattle on Friday, April 7, when it was diverted to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (stock image)

Comments on the post slammed people who bring their dogs on flights, some even sharing their own stories

Another user agreed, sharing they moved to Germany recently and had to fly with their pet.

'I dont want my dog in cargo, but thats where most dogs belong,' they wrote. 'Too many people have main character energy and think their dog should be in cabin. If its a carrier fine, but so many arent. There are legit service dogs, but the rules have got way too lax.'

Another passenger shared a tale from their flight experience with a canine companion.

'The first time I flew with my dog he escaped his bag while I was sleeping and took a crap in the aisle. I felt sooo bad and I was lucky it was solid,' they reminisced.

'Since then Ive learned to travel way better with him and he is now better trained to stay in his bag under the seat for the whole flight. Now you dont even realize hes there,' they shared.

In January, passengers were horrified after a fellow traveler pooped their pants on their flight - and left the feces 'spread out like peanut butter' all over the seat.

One of the disgusted travelers took to Reddit to share their dismay over the situation - and it quickly went viral, while sparking some suggestions that it may have been a fabricated story.
An Australian designer who accused Kylie Jenner of 'ripping off' her fashion line is demanding an apology from the 'morally corrupt' star who once wore her designs.

Jessica Johansen Bell, 28, launched Johansen in 2015 and was 'flattered' when Jenner, 27, started wearing her pieces and posing in them online.

But she was left in utter disbelief earlier this year when the reality star-turned-businesswoman dropped her fourth collection from her new brand Khy - which featured twisted straps similar to those designed by Johansen Bell five years ago.

She addressed the apparent similarity's between her collection and that of the reality star in March in a now-viral TikTok video, sharing a slideshow of her dresses side-by-side with Jenner's new line.

Kylie Jenner, 28 (pictured in a white Khy dress) has been accused of 'ripping off' fashion designs for her new label Khy from Australian fashion designer Jessica Johansen Bell, 28

Johansen Bell (pictured in a screenshot from a TikTok video in which she accused Jenner of ripping off her entire collection) told DailyMail.com that Jenner is 'morally corrupt'

Jenner (wearing a Khy dress with a twisted shoulder strap) has worn several of Johansen Bell's dresses after being gifted them in 2018

Johansen Bell insists that the twisted shoulder strap (seen here in a dress worn by a model for Johansen) is the signature mark of her clothing line and that Jenner knew this

She is now calling on the star to apologize, and said the multihyphenate needs to be 'put in her place' in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com.

'I reached out to the Khy company when I saw this,' she said. 'I was like, "Take this down. My customers are just getting confused." And it was getting worse by the day. It started to stress me out.

'It just seems so morally corrupt for such a large-scale company to rip off such a small brand and sell it for such a small amount of money. It devalues the whole brand.

'Her team responded and said: "We innovated these designs." I told them: "You did not. This is crazy." And that is when they ghosted me. Completely.'

The designer described how she had sent dresses to Jenner in 2018, which she wore in pictures posted to her social media accounts. She claimed Jenner's stylist also reached out ahead of the star's 21st birthday and Johansen Bell sent dresses which Jenner also modeled on her big day.

'In 2018, we sent a few styles to her house, and she wore my dresses in 50 or so videos... I was fresh in my business,' she said. 'At the time I was not sending that kind of stock overseas because that was huge expense for me. But I saw the opportunity and I just took it on.

'So we just continued sending her stylists clothes. We sent her a box in 2019 of the whole collection, so it had all the twisted strap styles that you see in her current collection.'

She continued: 'When she dropped this latest collection I was getting all these DMs. I just thought it was old content because we get tagged in her old stuff all the time.

Johansen Bell told DailyMail.com that she sent Jenner dozens of dresses in 2018 - many of which were worn by the reality star at the time

'I sent her forty or more dresses over the years, and they would send some back. I didn't keep records of back then,' Johansen Bell said

'I saw it and I just thought it was one of my dresses. This is when I first realized. I went on her website, and I was just so shocked.

'At first I was flattered by her wearing my clothing. She was the first celebrity that really wore my stuff like I had other celebrities but she was the first big celebrity. It was big for me.

'But then when she ripped off my whole collection  I stopped feeling flattered.'

Jenner launched her latest Khy collection in February which features black, white and beige mini and midi dresses featuring twisted straps like those designed by Johansen Bell.

Jenner's dresses retail at $78 and $98, while Johansen Bell's start at $190 (AUS $289).

Speaking about her decision to go public on TikTok, she said: 'I thought that maybe if I publicly put pressure on her she will stop. She stopped posting as much.

'It just got way bigger than I thought it was gonna be so I just I knew it was gonna be a big deal. Because I wasn't crazy. I could like I was looking at it going this is crazy. I'm not crazy, you know? But then went so viral. It was like quite a lot.'

After careful consideration, Johansen Bell said that she is not going to pursue legal action - but she is demanding an apology.

'There has been legal communication, but nothing is getting pursed,' she said. 'It's like it's such a fine line between what you can trademark. There are consumer laws where I can say that she's stealing like my customer base, or she is damaging my brand reputation.

People were quick to point out similarities between Jenner's new designs and those by Johansen Bell when the star dropped her latest collection in February

'There are loopholes and there are ways around it, but it's such a nasty fight and I'm just not in a place where I want to do that.'

She continued: 'I think she should care more. It is just not fair. Instead of going quiet about it, she could have messaged me and said, "I am sorry." She could have said, "Sorry about this I see the similarities." An apology goes a long way.

'I hope that this is a lesson for her. She needs to get put in her place. No one is too big for the power of the people. 'But she is already onto the next thing anyways.'

When contacted by DailyMail.com, Khy denied Johansen Bell's claims.

Jenner launched Khy in October 2023 and has since launched four collections.

It wasn't her first foray into fashion having launched teen label Kendall and Kylie back in 2012 with her sister Kendall Jenner.

She was later propelled to billionaire status with her Kylie Cosmetics, which launched in 2014, and most recently launched a perfume, Cosmic, and her own line of hard-alcohol Spritzers - Sprinter.

Speaking about Jenner's multiple business ventures Johansen Bell said: 'If you're not authentic with what you're promoting, it's so obvious to your customer base. It doesn't matter who you are you can be Kylie Jenner and still not be successful.'

The Australian is not the first designer to accuse Jenner of copying designs.

European designer Betsy Johnson, not to be confused with the American fashion designer Betsy Johnson, blasted Jenner on social media in the wake of Khy's launch.

Betsy Johnson - not to be confused with American fashion icon Betsey Johnson - also claimed Khy concepts were copied from her label, Products

Jenner released a set of puffer jackets that people suggested were ripped off from Ye's line

Jenner's former brother-in-law Kanye West, 46, famously wore a voluminous puffer during the Donda listening event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta back in 2021

'We emailed Kylie and all her team @products.ltd concept and language and a line sheet 6 MONTHS AGO,' she wrote.

'INTERESTING CONCEPT KYLIE: INTERESTING. Thanks for the co-sign  F**k your support,' she wrote.

The following month, in November 2023, Jenner was accused of copying designs from her former brother-in-law Kanye West's Yeezy collection of Puffer jackets.

The backlash came after Jenner announced on Instagram that she will be releasing five styles of puffers in cobalt blue, black, and stone shades beginning November 15.

'Everybody acting like Kanye didn't invent this whole look,' wrote one person on Instagram.

Another added: 'Now we know where all the Adidas/Yeezy unsold merchandise went.'

Aside from design theft, Jenner has also been accused of 'perpetuating the fast fashion industry' with her dresses, tops, skirts, and pants which are created from fossil fuels rather than sustainable materials.

Of the 38 products from her latest collection of 'slinky and soft' mesh items, which was released on February 28, all are made of synthetics  such as spandex, nylon, polyester, or a combination.

Khy also features a wide selection of faux leather products from the brand's first drop made out of Polyurethane (PU) leather  a plastic material derived from a synthetic polymer.

The market for faux leather  or what has been rebranded as 'vegan leather'  was valued at an eye-popping $35.4billion last year, and is now fueling a substantial rise in the use of PU leather in clothing products as a cheap alternative.

The material, however, is not meant to last, is prone to cracking, and wears down more easily.

Jenner was awarded Best Vegan Fashion Moment at the PETA Fashion Awards in December for Khy's use of cruelty-free, faux leather, despite the material's not-so-eco-friendly plastic element.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida begins a much-anticipated visit to Washington on Tuesday aiming to spotlight shared concerns about provocative Chinese military action in the Pacific and at a rare moment of public difference between the two nations over a Japanese company's plan to buy an iconic U.S. company.

Kishida and his wife will stop by the White House Tuesday evening ahead of Wednesday's official visit and formal state dinner as President Joe Biden looks to celebrate a decades-long ally he sees as the cornerstone of his Indo-Pacific policy. Kishida will be the fifth world leader honored by Biden with a state dinner since he took office in 2021.

Ahead of the White House visit, Kishida is set to visit Arlington National Cemetery and stop by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Tuesday. Biden and Kishida on Wednesday will hold talks and take part in a joint news conference before Biden fetes the Japanese leader with the state dinner in the East Room.

The prime minister has also been invited to address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday. He will be just the second Japanese leader to address the body; Shinzo Abe gave a speech to Congress in 2015.

The visit comes after Biden announced last month that he opposes the planned sale of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel of Japan, exposing a marked rift in the partnership at the very moment the two leaders aim to reinforce it. Biden argued in announcing his opposition that the U.S. needs to maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steelworkers.

Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, Biden's envoy to Tokyo, sought Monday to downplay the impact of Biden's opposition to the U.S. Steel acquisition to the relationship. Emanuel noted that in February the Biden administration approved a plan that would drive billions of dollars in revenue to a U.S.-based subsidiary of the Japanese company Mitsui for crane production in the United States.

The United States relationship with Japan is a lot deeper and stronger and more significant than a single commercial deal, said Emanuel, the former mayor of Chicago, in a joint appearance at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies with Japan's chief envoy to Washington. As we would say in Chicago, you got to chill.

Nippon Steel announced in December that it planned to buy U.S. Steel for $14.1 billion in cash, raising concerns about what the transaction could mean for unionized workers, supply chains and U.S. national security. Shigeo Yamada, Japan's ambassador to Washington, declined to comment on whether Kishida would raise the Nippon-U.S. Steel deal with Biden.

Biden has sought to place greater foreign policy focus on the Pacific even while grappling with the fallout of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the grinding Israel-Hamas war. Last year, Biden brought together Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, a historic summit between leaders of two countries that have a difficult shared history.

Biden has honored Yoon with a state visit and picked Kishidas predecessor, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, as the first face-to-face foreign leader visit of his presidency.

The administration has been pleased by Japan's strong support for Ukraine. Tokyo has been one of the largest donors to Kyiv since Russia's February 2022 invasion, and Japan has surged its defense spending amid concern about China's military assertiveness.

Yamada suggested in his joint appearance with Emanuel that Kishida would underscore Japan's support for Ukraine during his appearance before Congress, and lay out why the conflict in Eastern Europe matters to his country. Biden is struggling to get House Republicans to back his call to send an additional $60 billion to Kyiv as it tries to fend off Russia.

Kishida has warned that the war in Europe could lead to conflict in East Asia, suggesting that a lax attitude to Russia emboldens China.

The prime minister's conviction is today's Ukraine could be tomorrow's East Asia, Yamada said.

Kishida will stick around Washington on Thursday to take part in a meeting with Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Philippine-Chinese relations have been repeatedly tested by skirmishes between the two nations' coast guard vessels in the disputed South China Sea.

Chinese coast guard ships also regularly approach disputed Japanese-controlled East China Sea islands near Taiwan . Beijing says Taiwan is part of its territory and will be brought under control by force if necessary.

Cooperation among our three countries is extremely important in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and in defending a free and open international order based on the rules of law, Kishida said Monday before leaving for Washington.

The leaders are expected to discuss plans to upgrade the U.S. military command structure in Japan. There are about 54,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan.

Kishida and Biden are also expected to confirm Japans participation in NASAs Artemis moon program as well as its contribution of a moon rover developed by Toyota Motor Corp. and the inclusion of a Japanese astronaut in the mission. The rover, which comes at a roughly $2 billion cost, would be the most expensive contribution to the mission by a non-U.S. partner to date.

On Friday, Kishida will tour Toyotas electric vehicle battery factory under construction as well as Hondas business jet subsidiary in North Carolina. He will also meet students at North Carolina State University. (AP)
Disgraced celebrity chef Pete Evans made a rare appearance alongside his teenage daughter Chilli on Monday as the pair went surfing together in Sydney.

Pete, 51, who has vanished from public life in recent years due to his controversial views about Covid-19 and bizarre conspiracy theories, looked in good spirits as he splashed about with his lookalike daughter, 19.

Dressed in a black wetsuit that revealed his very slim frame, the former My Kitchen Rules host beamed while riding the waves on his blue surfboard.

His unusual mullet hairstyle, which features a rat tail at the back, flopped to the side, while his unshaven salt-and-pepper beard gave him a distinctly rugged look.

Despite suffering a number of wipeouts during the surfing session, Pete maintained a broad smile and could be seen chuckling and joking with Chilli.

Disgraced celebrity chef Pete Evans, 51, (right) made a rare appearance alongside his daughter Chilli, 19, (left) on Monday as the pair went surfing together in Sydney

The teen wore an orange-and-black wetsuit, and allowed her brunette hair to fall loosely by her shoulders.

Pete shares his two children - daughters Chilli, 19, and Indii, 18 - with former partner Astrid Edlinger, who he dated between 2001 and 2011.

While he rarely discusses his family life publicly, Pete did reveal in 2019 that he would 'much prefer' his daughters to use cannabis rather than consume alcohol when they came of age.

Pete who has vanished from public life in recent years due to his controversial views about Covid-19 and bizarre conspiracy theories , looked to be in good spirits as he splashed about with his lookalike daughter

Dressed in a black wetsuit that revealed his very slim frame, the former My Kitchen Rules host beamed while riding the waves on his blue surfboard

His unusual mullet hairstyle, which features a rat tail at the back, flopped to the side, while his unshaven salt-and-pepper beard gave him a distinctly rugged look

At the time, a fan had asked Pete whether he would allow his kids to smoke marijuana considering the chef's open support of the drug.

'They are fully aware of what I do and stand for,' Pete replied.

'They know I have taken many different forms of medicines and drugs in the past. We have open and honest discussions about it so they are educated on the topic.'

Despite suffering a number of wipe-outs during the surfing session, Pete maintained a broad smile and could be seen chuckling and joking with Chilli

The youngster meanwhile wore an orange-and-black wetsuit, and allowed her brunette hair to fall loosely by her shoulders

Pete shares his two children - daughters Chilli, 19, and Indii, 18 - with former partner Astrid Edlinger, who he dated between 2001 and 2011

He added: 'Nothing is off the table for discussion. I would much prefer them when they are of an age to have cannabis over alcohol 1000 per cent.'

Pete, who is married to former glamour model Nicola Robinson. has assumed a low-profile since he was dropped by 15 sponsors and companies in the space of 48 hours in November 2020, after posting a neo-Nazi meme on social media.

He has also faced a string of controversies over the past few years.

While he rarely discusses his family life publicly, Pete did reveal in 2019 that he would 'much prefer' his daughters to use cannabis rather than consume alcohol when they come of age

At the time, a fan had asked Pete whether he would allow his kids to smoke cannabis considering the chef's open support of the drug

'Nothing is off the table for discussion. I would much prefer them when they are of an age to have cannabis over alcohol 1000 per cent,' Pete replied

The once popular TV star has attracted scrutiny for peddling anti-vaccine conspiracies. He was fined $25,000 for spruiking a light machine which he claimed helped cure Covid.

In May 2020, it was announced that Pete had parted ways with Channel Seven after 10 years as a judge on My Kitchen Rules alongside Manu Feildel and guest judge Colin Fassnidge.

It effectively marked his break from the mainstream after years of flirting with off-the-wall ideas during his tenure at the network.

The once popular TV star has attracted scrutiny for peddling anti-vaccine conspiracies and being fined $25,000 for spruiking a light machine which he claimed helped cure Covid

In May 2020, it was announced that Pete had parted ways with Channel Seven after 10 years as a judge on My Kitchen Rules alongside Manu Feildel and guest judge Colin Fassnidge

It effectively marked his break from the mainstream after years of flirting with off-the-wall ideas during his tenure at the network

Free from the contractual constraints of mainstream network television, Evans began spouting his non-scientific beliefs about vaccines and the Covid-19 pandemic on social media

Free from the contractual constraints of mainstream network television, Evans began spouting his non-scientific beliefs about vaccines and the Covid-19 pandemic on social media.

In July, 2020, Evans sparked outrage when he falsely claimed that Covid-19 was a 'f***ing hoax' and that the pandemic 'doesn't compare to what is happening in the world on a large scale'.

In May 2021, he was slapped with a $80,000 fine for trying to cash in again on Covid by flogging more fake treatments online.

It was the second time he ran foul of authorities after previously being fined $25,000 for trying to sell his so-called BioCharger for $15,000 a a piece on Facebook.

In July, 2020, Evans sparked outrage when he falsely claimed that Covid-19 was a 'f***ing hoax' and that the pandemic 'doesn't compare to what is happening in the world on a large scale'
Chris Hemsworth has shown off his very unusual new arm tattoo.

The Hollywood star, 40, was spotted alongside wife Elsa Pataky and parents Craig and Leonie on Monday after landing on a private plane from Byron Bay before catching a commercial flight overseas.

Hemsworth showed off the new ink which features a striking display of abstract lines down his left forearm in a plain white T-shirt.

The Thor actor completed his look in a pair of board shorts, matched with a cap and dark sunglasses.

Meanwhile, Elsa, 47, looked chic in a colour-coordinated crop top and cardigan.

Chris Hemsworth has shown off his new arm tattoo

The model accessorised her travel look with a trendy cross body bag and a pair of stylish white sunglasses.

Chris is known for his penchant for taking private flights, despite also being a climate activist.

The Hemsworth family are often spotted flying between Sydney and their home in Byron Bay via private jet to make the the hour-long trip.

It comes after Chris got the new design on his arm together with best friend Matt Damon, 52, as the pair took their bond to another level in March.

The Hollywood star, 40, was spotted alongside wife Elsa Pataky and parents Craig and Leonie on Monday after landing on a private plane from Byron Bay before catching a commercial flight overseas

Chris is known for his penchant for taking private flights, despite also being a climate activist

The Hemsworth family are often spotted flying between Sydney and their home in Byron Bay via private jet to make the hour long trip

In several Instagram photos, the pair were seen being inked by talented Bang Bang tattoo artist Corina Weikl at a private residence in Los Angeles.

One captured Chris holding Matt's hand while Weikl crafted the design on his right bicep, as their wives Elsa and Luciana Damon looked on.

The pair got the tattoos just before attending this year's Oscars.

Elsa, 47, looked chic in a colour coordinated crop top and cardigan

The model accessorised her travel look with a trendy cross body bag and a pair of stylish white sunglasses

Matt and Chris have enjoyed a close friendship of over a decade, with Damon frequently flying to Sydney to hang out with Chris at his Byron Bay mansion.

Chris has been buddies with Matt since before becoming a star, the Australian hunk explained to GQ in a 2014 interview.

'We became friends around the time I started to work, and I've really benefited from watching how he handles himself,' Chris said. 'Matt's just a normal guy who has the movie-star thing figured out.'

A few years ago, Elsa gushed to People magazine that Matt 'is an amazing dad and an amazing person, he's so easy.'

Hemsworth showed off the new ink which features a striking display of abstract lines down his left forearm in a plain white T-shirt

Best friends Hemsworth and Matt Damon, 52, took their bond to another level in March by getting tattoos together

Elsa, who hails from Spain, noted that Matt's 'wife is Argentinian so we speak Spanish. So for me its a relief, yes, somebody I can speak Spanish with! We've become very good friends.'

Luciana and Elsa went so far as to get matching pinky tattoos when they spent Christmas of 2017 together in Australia.

The movie stars' families have taken holidays together, travelling to such glamorous destinations as Monaco and Costa Rica.

Matt and Chris have enjoyed a close friendship of over a decade, with Damon frequently flying to Sydney to hang out with Chris at his Byron Bay mansion
Robert Downey Jr. might have an Oscar, but he's not getting rid of his Iron Man suit just yet.

The Oscar-winning actor, 59, who has played the role of Iron Man/Tony Stark in multiple films since 2008's Iron Man, told Esquire Monday he would not pass on an opportunity to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The A-list actor said he would 'happily' re-enter the MCU based on his confidence in Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.

'Its too integral a part of my DNA,' Downey said. 'That role chose me. And look, I always say, "Never, ever bet against Kevin Feige." It is a losing bet. Hes the house. He will always win.'

Downey, who won his first-ever Academy Award last month for playing Lewis Strauss in the summer blockbuster Oppenheimer, was last seen in the Iron Man role in the 2019 motion picture Avengers: Endgame.

Robert Downey Jr., 59, told Esquire Monday he would not pass on an opportunity to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Pictured at last month's Academy Awards, where he took home the honors for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Oppenheimer

The Oscar-winning actor has played the role of Iron Man/Tony Stark in multiple films since 2008's Iron Man

While Iron Man met his end in that film, Variety reported that the storyline 'has never stopped rumors from circulating that Marvel is trying to bring Downey back into the fold' in the wake of unsatisfactory returns on 2023 releases including The Marvels and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Feige, speaking last December with Vanity Fair, said that the studio had no plans to alter what it considered to be an essential cinematic moment after the fact.

'We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again,' Feige said. 'We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.'

Downey, appearing on Rob Lowe's Literally! podcast earlier this year, was asked about any possible projects with the studio and said, 'Not just yet.'

The feature piece with Esquire also included sentiments from Gwyneth Paltrow, 51, who has played the role of Pepper Potts in the MCU opposite Downey in multiple films.

Paltrow spoke about the creative process working with Downey on Iron Man, as the publication reported that the actress at one point ceased studying her script, knowing changes would be in the offing between Downey and filmmaker Jon Favreau.

'There would be this process of Jon Favreau and Robert and I going into Jon's trailer in the morning and Robert being like, "I'm not f***ing saying these lines" and throwing them out,' Paltrow told the outlet. 'And then live improv-ing either in the trailer or on the set.

'I think in order for something to feel alive for Robert, it has to feel fresh, and he makes it fresh by making it feel like it was just invented.'

The venerated actor was pictured backstage at the Oscars in LA in March holding his statuette

Downey, who win his first-ever Academy Award last month for playing Lewis Strauss in the summer blockbuster Oppenheimer, was last seen in the Iron Man role in the 2019 motion picture Avengers: Endgame

(L-R) Louis D'Esposito, Jon Favreau, Downey Jr., and Kevin Feige were pictured last year in Hollywood. Downey said he would 'happily' re-enter the MCU based on his confidence in Feige. Pictured last year in Hollywood, California

Downey in the interview also addressed the minor controversy generated by the show's host Jimmy Kimmel, who alluded to the actor's past battles with addiction in his monologue

Downey made clear he took no offense to the late night host's remarks, and continues to hold him in high regard

Paltrow added that 'so many of those famous lines were written 10 minutes before we said them.'

Downey in the interview also addressed the minor controversy generated by the show's host Jimmy Kimmel, who alluded to the actor's past battles with addiction in his monologue.

Kimmel said: 'This is the highest point of Robert Downey Jr.'s long and illustrious career. Well, one of the highest points.'

Downey made clear he took no offense to the late night host's remarks, and continues to hold him in high regard.

'I don't care,' Downey said. 'I love Jimmy Kimmel. I think he's a national treasure.'
Chef Stuart O'Keeffe has finally moved on from his tumultuous romance with Jeff Lewis.

The 42-year-old, better known as 'Chef Stu' to fans, is now dating comedian Matt Rodgers.

Sources confirmed to Dailymail.com that the budding couple have been spotted on dates around West Hollywood in recent weeks.

The pair first enjoyed a romantic meetup at trendy eatery Laurel Hardware, and were then seen over the weekend looking extremely flirty at the Cara Hotel in Los Feliz.

Despite the chemistry between them, sources say that it's very early days and that Matt and Stu are far from official yet.

Chef Stuart O'Keeffe (left) has moved on from his tumultuous romance with Jeff Lewis (right) by dating comedian Matt Rogers

The Irish chef, better known as 'Chef Stu' to fans, is excited to see where things with Matt (pictured) could lead

'They've only gone on two dates so it's new. but they're all over each other,' said a source.

However, that hasn't stopped Stu from gushing about Matt to anybody who will listen.

'He really likes Matt so far and he's excited about where this could lead after all the drama in his last relationship,' one source added.

Dailymail.com has reached out to Rogers and O'Keeffe for comment.

The Irish chef and Hollywood Houselift star Jeff ended things for good last year following a messy on-again/off-again romance that often played out on the SiriusXM airwaves.

In an awkward turn of events, Matt has previously guested on Jeff's radio show.

The comedian's last and seemingly final appearance on the show was last July.

The pair first enjoyed a romantic meetup at trendy eatery Laurel Hardware, and were then seen over the weekend looking extremely flirty at the Cara Hotel in Los Feliz

'They've only gone on two dates so it's new. but they're all over each other,' said a source

During a tense exchange, Jeff blasted Matt's best friend and Las Culturistas co-host Bowen Yang for 'taking a break' from his popular podcast due to mental health issues.

Matt attempted to defend the SNL star from Jeff, who called Bowen 'pretentious' and mocked him to his co-hosts live on air.

Jeff enjoyed a passionate four-month romance with Chef Stu in 2022, before dumping the Irish foodie over his partying - only to reconcile shortly after.

'I felt like there really wasn't a future there,' Jeff announced on his radio show at the time.

'We have very good chemistry, we have a lot of fun together, we're very compatible. I love the guy, I adore the guy.... But we're just not on the same page when it comes to relationship and family,' he continued.

The television personality, who shares a daughter named Monroe with his ex Gage Edwards, said he no longer wants 'the guy at the bar' bur rather 'the guy who stayed home from the bar.'

'I want to prioritize my kid, my house, my businesses  all of that,' he explained.

'This was not a rash decision,' Lewis made clear. 'This has been going on for weeks where I've had signs that this is not a long term thing.'

He concluded: 'And it's been fun, and it's been a nice distraction, but we're just not aligned  with what I want, what he wants, priorities. And I just don't see this relationship I don't think it has potential to grow.'

The Irish chef and Hollywood Houselift star Jeff ended things for good last year following a messy on-again/off-again romance that often played out on the SiriusXM airwaves

Jeff has a daughter named Monroe with his ex-boyfriend Gage Edwards

Gage is now in a committed relationship with Jeff's ex-boyfriend Scott Anderson

Following the breakup, O'Keeffe told People he was 'heartbroken' and still loved Jeff 'very much.'

The couple then got back together and had a turbulent, up and down romance for the next year.

In addition to Chef Stu's hectic social life, Jeff was also upset by his friendship with one of his ex-boyfriends.

Stu later called into Jeff's radio show, where he insisted that he hadn't cheated on the Flipping Out star.

Jeff then admitted, 'I leave the relationship, I'm a f***ing runner because I get to a point where I don't feel like I'm being heard or understood. I get frustrated, I get angry and I run.'

Prior to dating Stu, Jeff was in a 10-year relationship with Gage Edwards, and then started dating Scott Anderson from 2019 to 2020.

In a bizarre twist, Gage and Scott are now in a serious relationship together.
Kady McDermott sent temperatures soaring while posing in an electric blue bikini for a day at the spa on Sunday.

The Love Island alum, 28, showed off her abs as she captured herself in a mirror selfie for a carefree pampering session.

Oozing confidence with a sultry look, the bombshell captioned one of the racy shots: 'Sunday ritual: swim, sauna, steam'.

In the second snap, she informed her followers about her gorgeous two-piece: 'Bikini is from @bambaswim for everyone asking.'

Earlier in the day, Kady flashed her washboard abs in an oversized jersey top and jeans from White Fox.

Kady McDermott sent temperatures soaring while posing in an electric blue bikini for a day at the spa on Sunday

The Love Island alum, 28, showed off her abs as she captured herself in a mirror selfie for a carefree pampering session

Last month, Kady came under fire for fighting a 'pointless debate' that pet owners should have the same rights as parents on Good Morning Britain.

The Love Islander argued that animal owners shouldn't have to book annual leave for their sick pet and employers should be more lenient in the same as they are with parents when their children are ill.

Appearing live on the show with her pet pooch Cobi, Kady told hosts Ed Balls, 57, and Susanna Reid, 53, that employers should be 'accommodating' to everyone because 'children are a choice and so are pets'.

She said: 'I'm self employed. If I want to stay at home I can but he [her dog] was quite ill a few years ago and I was on a photo shoot and they let me go home. They had photographers and everything and we stopped.

'My mum has four dogs and luckily her employer is understanding and if she has a vet appointment they will let her leave early. I think its crucial employers should be accommodating.'

Former Apprentice star Simba Rwambiwa, who has a one-year-old son, argued: 'We can't sit here and say a child's life has the same value as a dog.

'We should keep maternity leave and paternity leave as that. Take annual leave if your pet needs to go to the vet, they're separate things.

Earlier in the day, Kady flashed her washboard abs in an oversized jersey top and jeans from White Fox

Last month, Kady has came under fire for fighting a 'pointless debate' that pet owners should have the same rights as parents on Good Morning Britain

'If your pet has a litter you need to take annual leave, you know they are going to have those pups.

'My focus is my son, where does it end, we can't keep allowing people to leave work for a variety of reasons.'

Kady added: 'There shouldn't be a difference. Pets are a choice the same kids are a choice.

'Some people can't have kids or choose not to have kids. Obviously don't take weeks off for dogs if he needs an appointment but a day or two is fine.'

Host Ed asked the reality star: 'If you had a call on the way to a shoot and they said the shoot's off the photographer's goldfish is sick, what would you say?'

Kady replied: 'A goldfish is different you can't tell. I'm a pet lover and because I've been there I'd be like OK look after it'.

The Love Islander argued that animal owners shouldn't have to book annual leave for their sick pet and employers should be more lenient (pictured with her dog Cobi in 2017)

ITV viewers quickly took to X to complain about the 'pointless debate' as they claimed workers would 'abuse' the system

ITV viewers quickly took to X to complain about the 'pointless debate' as they claimed workers would 'abuse' the system.

One wrote: 'More pointless debating on GMB'.

Another added: 'No because people would abuse it'.

A third said: 'Theres a pattern to the people they get on for the nonsense debates'.

A fourth penned: 'Nothing to chat about today.'

Kady shot to fame on the second series of Love Island back in 2016, before returning for another hope at finding love as a bombshell for the 10th season in 2023.
Emmerdale is set to be 'totally rocked' by three devastating storylines this Spring that will have viewers on the edge of their seats.

Over the coming weeks the ITV soap will see stories unfold involving domestic violence, a heartbreaking cancer diagnosis as well as tragic accident that leaves one village resident fighting for their life.

Tom King (James Chase) will continue his manipulation and control over new wife Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) with the situation only getting worse during one special episode that 'steps away from the usual Emmerdale format'.

Show producer Laura Shaw said: 'It's a dinner party mainly focussing on Tom and Belle and Marlon and Rhona and we'll see what's going on in their relationship and how what you see in public is not necessarily what you see behind closed doors'.

The soap has consulted with domestic abuse charity Refuge for the storyline in order portray it accurately.

Emmerdale is set to be 'totally rocked' by three devastating storylines this Spring that will have viewers on the edge of their seats - Tom King (James Chase) and Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) pictured

Over the coming weeks the ITV soap soap will see stories unfold involving domestic violence , a heartbreaking cancer diagnosis as well as tragic accident that leaves one village resident fighting for their life (L-R) Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) Ruby Milligan (Beth Cordingley) Caleb Milligan (Will Ash)

Meanwhile Billy (Jay Kontzle) and Dawn Fletcher (Olivia Bromley) will be left heartbroken when their young son Evan is shockingly diagnosed with leukaemia.

Laura said: 'We are going to see Dawn and Billy's world totally rocked when almost out of nowhere Evan is diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia'.

'We want to show what a strain this can put on a family, the roles of Dawn and Billy are changed overnight'.

The producer also teased an upcoming accident, involving two unnamed families, that would leave one character's life in jeopardy.

Saying: 'We'll see someone in some really serious medical jeopardy  whether they live or die, we'll have to see. But the ripples and repercussions from that accident will be very long-lasting and life-changing'.

Also causing a stir will be former Waterloo Road actress Christine Tremarco who is due to make her onscreen debut in April.

Christine, 46, will arrive in the village as Rose - a woman known to Kim Tate's husband Will - ITV revealed on Tuesday.

Bolshy and boisterous, Rose has recently been living in Benidorm and her arrival is set to cause a stir when Will [Dean Andrews] fails to mention her to his wife Kim [Claire King].

Tom King (James Chase) will continue his manipulation and control over new wife Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) with the situation only getting worse during one special episode that 'steps away from the usual Emmerdale format'

Meanwhile Billy (Jay Kontzle) and Dawn Fletcher (Olivia Bromley) will be left heartbroken when their young son Evan is shockingly diagnosed with leukaemia

The producer also teased an upcoming accident, involving two unnamed families, that would leave one character's life in jeopardy (The Woolpacks 2021 explosion picytured)

'I am thrilled to be joining Emmerdale!' the acclaimed actress said of her new role.

'To be working with such a wonderful cast and crew along with the brilliant writing and production team is an absolute joy!'

Christine added: 'Rose is so much fun to play. She is free spirited, boisterous and totally mischievous with a steely edge and a big heart.'

Producer Laura said: 'We are massively delighted to welcome Christine Tremarco to the Emmerdale Family.

'Christine brings a wealth of experience and talent and playing the character of Rose, a true free spirit with an exuberant outlook on life, she certainly promises to cause a real storm for some of our villagers.'
Tiffany Haddish revealed drinking made her 'way too nice' and admitted that now her 'filter is gone' amidst her sobriety journey.

The Girls Trip actress, 44 - who said she was 72 days sober in March following her second DUI arrest in November 2023 - also opened up about 'leaning' on herself while being sober.

During an interview with People on Sunday at the 3rd Annual Friendly House Comedy Fundraiser in Hollywood, the comedian talked about what she has learned while on her sobriety journey.

'I've learned that I've been too d**n nice. I've been way too nice over the years,' Haddish said, adding, 'I think people think...Because when you drink there's no filter.'

'But when I drank, there was a filter, okay? Because I would think really mean things, and want to say really mean things, but I just told myself not to say them. Now I say the s**t,' Tiffany expressed to the outlet.

Tiffany Haddish, 44, revealed that drinking made her 'way too nice' and admitted that now her 'filter is gone' amidst her sobriety journey; seen on Sunday in Hollywood

'Now I say it. If I think it, I say it. That filter is gone. "Oh, don't say nothing because you got alcohol in you and you might say something mean."'

The star explained, 'Now I'm like, "Oh, I'm sober and this is what I really feel, so I'm going to say it." Because it needs to be said.'

In regards to whether those close to the actress have helped with her current sobriety journey, Tiffany replied, 'Yeah, I don't trust them. I don't trust nobody. It's been me.'

'I've been leaning on me. I stopped leaning on other people. And I started leaning on me more.'

Haddish explained that staying sober hasn't been difficult, 'because it wasn't like it was something I was doing on a regular basis.'

As an example, Tiffany told People that giving up meat in the past had been harder for her. 'It was way easier, less blood clots, less this, less that. But not smoking weed, not drinking alcohol, has been very easy for me.'

'I never really had a lot of vices, and every time I was partaking in those vices, it was around the time of me not being pregnant. So, hey.'

The Nigh School actress later touched on the topic of alcohol being present at events in Hollywood and stated, 'I really wish people would pay attention to this.'

During an interview with People on Sunday at the 3rd Annual Friendly House Comedy Fundraiser in Hollywood (seen above), the comedian talked about what she has learned while on her sobriety journey

'But when I drank, there was a filter, okay? Because I would think really mean things, and want to say really mean things, but I just told myself not to say them. Now I say the s**t,' Tiffany expressed to the outlet

'It's in every event, especially Hollywood events they're trying to pour alcohol down your throat. They're trying to pour this down. And it's for what? Why?'

'If we all just be ourselves...And maybe yourself is a little reserved. Myself is very not reserved.'

Haddish also informed the publication that she doesn't need 'liquid courage to be who I am.'

'You remember everything, and you have more fun, and you make more friends when you're sober. But then you make the right friends.'

Last month in March, Tiffany revealed that she was sober following a second DUI arrest that occurred late last year in November when she fell asleep at the wheel in Beverly Hills.

And in January 2022, the comedian was arrested on suspicion of DUI while in the state of Georgia.

On an episode of The Conversation With Amanda de Cadenet podcast, Haddish stated, 'I haven't drank any alcohol, smoked any weed or anything in, like, 72 days. It's not that hard.'

'You know, two years I've been waiting for my hearing in Georgia, and what happened in LA triggered Georgia, and they're like, "Okay, we want you to do driving alcohol tests." And I'm like, "Cool."'

On an episode of The Conversation With Amanda de Cadenet podcast , Haddish stated, 'I haven't drank any alcohol, smoked any weed or anything in, like, 72 days. It's not that hard'; seen in March in Washington D.C.

Earlier this year in February, she notably took a plea deal in the Beverly Hills case as she 'settled for a reckless driving conviction' and her two DUI charges were also dropped; seen in March in West Hollywood

Tiffany also said, 'I'm learning now, like, I had friends that used to drink and stuff when I was a teenager and they used to do drugs and all that, but it wasn't really something I was into. I just thought it was that one person's problem.'

'And now, with my journey, I'm learning that it's an epidemic. It's a big deal, especially with [people in their] 30s,' the star continued.

Earlier this year in February, she notably took a plea deal in the Beverly Hills case as she 'settled for a reckless driving conviction' and her two DUI charges were also dropped.

Also in March, Tiffany attended Elton John's Oscar bash and an eyewitness told Page Six that the comedian allegedly told guests that she was staying away from alcohol due to her 'trying to get pregnant.'
Controversy-plagued Pandemonium Rocks music festival has left fans outraged over its latest announcement that ticketholders won't be given full refunds, following a major lineup change.

On Saturday it was announced that six acts have been scrapped from the Australian festival's upcoming shows, including international headliners Placebo and Deep Purple as well as US band Dead Kennedys.

The location of several festival dates have also been changed, while organisers announced last night that its original multi-stage layout had been condensed into one big stage.

General admission tickets have also been slashed from around $285 to $190, while VIP tickets have been reduced from $830 to $650.

On Monday, Pandemonium Rules announced on social media that, despite the changes, ticketholders could not claim a full refund.

Controversy-plagued Pandemonium Rocks music festival has left fans outraged over its latest announcement that ticketholders won't be given full refunds, following a major lineup change. (Pictured: The current festival lineup)

Instead, they could select from receiving one of the following options: one complimentary GA ticket per full price ticket purchased; a partial refund of $70 (which is the difference between the initial price and the new ticket price); or an 'exclusive Pandemonium hoodie valued at $100'.

Ticketholders who fail to make a choice by April 12 will automatically receive the first option.

Outraged fans have since swarmed to social media to slam the festival for failing to provide a full refund option, demanding their money back and threatening to contact the ACCC (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission).

On Saturday it was announced that six acts have been scrapped from the Australian festival's upcoming shows , including international headliners Placebo and Deep Purple as well as US band Dead Kennedys. (Pictured: The festival's previous lineup)

Outraged fans have swarmed to social media to slam the festival for failing to provide a full refund option, demanding their money back and threating to contact the ACCC (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission)

'No way - give us a refund into our bank account. This has to be illegal,' one angry user commented, as another added: 'None of the bands are going I was going for now, therefore I want a refund'.

'Not good enough. I was wanting to see Placebo, Deep Purple and Dead Kennedys. So get f**ked if you think I don't deserve a refund,' another added.

Last month, the new rock festival was hit by fears it would be cancelled after a string of Australian festivals got the axe.

But organisers told fans at the time the festival would go ahead with 'some changes', and have now revealed the extent of those changes.

The festival's social media page shared a statement on Saturday revealing that legendary rock bands Deep Purple and Dead Kennedys have been removed from the line up

Last month, the new rock festival was hit by reports of a cancellation, after a string of Australian festivals got the axe, but organisers confirmed it will be going ahead

In a statement, organisers said Pandemonium Rocks will go ahead on a smaller scale, becoming a one-stage event rather than taking place across two stages.

The festival - set to visit Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast later this month - has faced a range of challenges since announcing its line-up in January.

Earlier this year, the festival attracted some controversy when it was scheduled to clash with the traditional Anzac Day march in Sydney.

Pandemonium Rocks will run from April 20th - 28th.
Dave Hughes has opened up about his healing journey after suffering a painful surf injury on New Year's Eve.

The radio veteran, 53, appeared on Today Extra on Tuesday morning and told the hosts he now swears by Penthrox pain relief, nicknamed the 'Green Whistle' because it is administered through a green plastic inhaler.

'It was so much pain, traumatic. The Green Whistle, I wish they sold it at the 7-Eleven. I tell you, took me hours to get it, I was looking for relief wherever I could find,' he began.

'My shoulder is recovering. The accident was New Year's and I had an operation two weeks ago.'

In December, the comedian was rushed to hospital after dislocating his shoulder on a Queensland beach, resulting in nerve damage and leaving him in excruciating pain.

Dave Hughes (pictured) has opened up about his healing journey after incurring a painful surf injury on New Year's Eve, and the pain relief medication which significantly helped him

Hughes then said as his dominant hand was in a sling for several months he had to make quite a few adjustments.

'I learned to do things left-handed for a little while.'

In January, Hughes opened up about his 'tragic' surfing accident at Surfers Paradise on which saw him rushed to hospital with a severe injury.

The veteran presenter, 53, appeared on Today Extra on Tuesday morning and told the hosts he now swears by Penthrox pain relief, nicknamed 'Green Whistle'

The 53-year-old comedian dislocated his shoulder while enjoying a day out at the beach, resulting in 'nerve damage' and excruciating pain.

The radio host revealed the gruesome details of the horrendous Gold Coast incident on his 2DayFm Breakfast show Hughesy, Ed & Erin.

Hughesy began by saying the entire incident occurred during his first surfing lesson when he failed to 'fall backwards' off his board as instructed.

'I didn't listen properly,' the media personality said, revealing he instead fell forward which led to his 'too big' board smashing into his back and dislocating his shoulder.

'Immediately, I'm like, I am in trouble here. I'm thinking, am I going to drown?' he said.

Hughesy went on to joke, 'The only thing that stopped me from drowning was that I was in knee deep water,' before adding that his shoulder was 'below my b**l sack'.

Fortunately, he was able to eventually get treated and he is now making a recovery as he prepares for his upcoming standup comedy tour called Fully Furnished.

In December, the comedian was rushed to hospital after dislocating his shoulder on a Queensland beach, resulting in nerve damage and leaving him in excruciating pain
He said actors' right to use Blackface if necessary for a role

Billy Dee Williams defended the right of actors to portray characters using Blackface while chatting with Bill Maher.

The 87-year-old Star Wars actor dropped by Maher's podcast Club Random in an episode released Sunday on its YouTube channel.

When the subject turned to Laurence Olivier's portrayal of the title role in the 1965 film adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello, Williams was delighted at what he saw as Olivier's parodies of stereotypes associated with Black people.

But the 68-year-old Real Time host  who allegedly refused to refrain from smoking pot for one episodes to interview the sober Steve-O  was shocked that Williams didn't seem to see any problem with modern actors appearing in Blackface in roles.

While Maher worried that any theater featuring an actor in Blackface would now be 'bombed,' Williams said actors should be able to do 'anything' to further their craft and the story.

Billy Dee Williams, 87, defended actors' right to play characters in Blackface while chatting with Bill Maher, 68, on his Club Random podcast episode from Sunday.

The Star Wars star fondly recalled watching Laurence Olivier's 1965 Othello, in which he performed in Blackface, but Maher said it was now considered problematic

Olivier's performance was widely acclaimed after its 1965 release, but the film has attracted increasing controversy in recent years due to his use of Blackface

Williams admitted that he was 'laughing' over Olivier's Blackface version of Othello because he 'stuck his a** out,' as the stereotype is that 'Black people are supposed to have big a**es,' which Maher said was now 'problematic.'

'I fell out laughing,' a clearly delighted Williams added. 'I thought it was hysterical! I loved it! I loved it!'

But Maher responded: 'Today, they would never let you do that.'

'Why?' Williams asked with a surprised expression.

'Why not? You should do it!' he continued as he leaned forward in his chair. 'If you're an actor, you should do anything you want to do.'

Maher praised him for having a 'great point of view,' but he thought any theater putting on a play featuring Blackface would be 'bombed.'

The comedian reminded Williams that, at his prime, he was acting in a climate in which he could not take any role he wanted because of the color of his skin, although he called his current position 'a great attitude.'

'But it didn't matter!' the Batman actor shot back, before saying it was important to 'not go through life feeling like a victim.'

Williams said he 'fell out laughing' because he thought Olivier was using stereotypes about Black people to mock those offensive ideas

But Maher responded: 'Today, they would never let you do that.' Williams leaned forward in his chair and shot back: 'Why not? You should do it!'

'If you're an actor, you should do anything you want to do,' he said, before saying he avoided a 'victim' mentality

'I refuse to go through life saying to the world, "I'm pissed off." I'm not gonna be pissed off 24 hours a day,' he added before moving on to the next topic.

Williams may have been referencing the fact that he was passed over to portray the Batman villain Two-Face. After appearing as the District Attorney Harvey Dent in Tim Burton's 1989 hit Batman, Williams had been excited to show the character's transformation in the classic villain.

But Burton's 1992 sequel Batman Returns featured many new characters and didn't return to several faces from his first film, and original plans to feature Williams becoming Two-Face were scrapped, according to Den Of Geek.

Instead, the rewritten film focused on Christopher Walken as Max Shrek and Danny DeVito as the Penguin for its two primary antagonists.

When the filmmaker Joel Schumacher took over the franchise from Burton with 1995's Batman Forever, he returned to the Two-Face character but instead cast Tommy Lee Jones in the role instead of Williams.

The film also featured a recast Batman, with Val Kilmer taking over for Michael Keaton, and Schumacher had developed a rapport with Jones after he starred in his previous film, the 1994 thriller The Client.

Williams is best known for playing Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars sequels The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return Of The Jedi (1983), but he has also had major roles in Lady Sings The Blues (1972), Mahogany (1975), Fear City (1984) and Alien Intruder (1993).

He later reprised his role as Lando in 2019's The Rise Of Skywalker .

He finally got his chance to portray Two-Face when he voiced the role in 2017's Lego Batman Movie.

Although the Olivier portrayal of Othello that tickled Williams so much was a hit with critics upon its 1965 release, and it garnered multiple Oscar nominations for the principal cast, it has become far more controversial in recent years.

Detractors object not only to Olivier's use of Blackface, but also too some of his mannerisms, as the late thespian has been accused of playing to racial stereotypes about Black people, though Williams clearly thought the actor and filmmaker intended to critique those stereotypes.

Williams is best known for playing Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars sequels The Empire Strikes Back (1980; pictured) and Return Of The Jedi (1983), but he has also had major roles in Lady Sings The Blues (1972), Mahogany (1975), Fear City (1984) and Alien Intruder (1993)

Olivier's Othello performance that tickled Williams has been criticized in recent decades, not just for his use of Blackface, but also for ethnic stereotypes that he allegedly leaned into

Although the practice of darkening one's skin to play people of color goes back centuries, the modern American and British practices of using Blackface appear to have taken shape in the 19th century.

Blackface was a regular part of minstrel shows in which white actors played Black characters by darkening their skin with greasepaint, shoe polish or burnt cork.

As Blackface took hold at a time when slavery was still legal  and continued for decades after it was outlawed when Jim Crow laws terrorized Black people in the US  the practice was used to actively mock Black people, rather than just portraying them in a neutral light.

Because of that sordid history, even more modern attempts use Blackface in performances intended to be positive or to critique racism have offended audiences and viewers.
The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping plan to have contacts but it gave no time frame for a possible Putin visit to Beijing.

Asked about a possible Putin visit to China, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to Beijing could be seen as preparation for "upcoming contacts at the highest level."

"Indeed, such contacts are planned and there is an understanding of their expediency and necessity, given the high level of friendly relations between the Russian Federation and China," Peskov told reporters.

"But we still consider it premature to specify any time frames. We will inform you about everything as soon as we are ready."

Reuters reported last month that Putin will travel to China in May for talks with Xi, in what could be the Kremlin chief's first overseas trip of his new presidential term. (Reuters)
Dominic Purcell has announced the tragic news of his father Joseph's death at age 80.

The Prison Break actor, 54, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share the harrowing update, two weeks after revealing that his dad had been admitted to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin with unspecified health issues.

Posting a photo of himself and wife Tish Cyrus, 56, posing with his late father, Dominic penned a lengthy caption honouring his father's legacy as a 'deeply respected' patriarch.

'My dad passed tonight', he began, before praising the medical professionals who tended to Joseph during his stint in hospital.

'For what's it's worth. As a father I believe the greatest gift he can receive from his child is the knowing he is deeply loved. Deeply respected,' he continued.

Dominic Purcell announced news of his father Joseph's death at age 80 on Tuesday. He shared this throwback photo of himself (centre) posing with wife Tish Cyrus (left) and father Joseph (right) alongside a heartbreaking caption

'Surely a father's only wish for his child is to grow, flourish and better him. That was his wish. It came true. I know very clearly I can not better him but I can try and be like him.'

Dominic also spoke fondly of Tish's close relationship with her father-in-law, writing: 'To my beautiful wife. It's very easy to love you. It's a simple thing.'

'The connection and deep love you had for my dad, and he for you, (the both of you) was magnificent. 'As he said, "What did I do to deserve these two beautiful angels?",' he wrote.

Dominic also spoke fondly of Tish's close relationship with her father-in-law, writing: 'To my beautiful wife. It's very easy to love you. It's a simple thing'

The Australian actor also thanked his wife (who is the mother of Miley Cyrus) for performing music to Joseph during his time in hospital, writing: 'The songs were perfect. They brought him peace in his final hours. It was a beautiful gesture. Thank you.'

Continuing his gut-wrenching essay, Dominic then praised Joseph for showing 'courage, dignity and stoicism' in the face of 'great pain'.

Dominic said he hopes Joseph's strength, dignity and humility will be honoured by his father's many grandchildren.

The Australian actor also thanked his wife (who is the mother of Miley Cyrus) for performing music to Joseph during his time in hospital, writing: 'The songs were perfect. They brought him peace in his final hours. It was a beautiful gesture. Thank you'

'VIVAMUS, MORIENDUM EST. (Let us live, since we must die). Go with mum, dad. Your loving son Dom,' he concluded.

Tish was quick to express her heartbreak in the comments, revealing the origin of the happy family snap Dominic had used in his post.

'The day this picture was taken was one of the best days of my life. Dom and I got our marriage license and then walked down Sunset Blvd with Joe,' wrote Tish, who wed Dominic last year.

'He was so happy and full of life. It's a day I'll never forget. To know Joe was to love him. The kindest most gentle soul I will ever know. Being loved by him is something I'll never take for granted.'

The sad news comes come after recent reports that the Cyrus family are feuding behind the scenes.

Late last month, Dominic had uploaded this black and white photo of himself standing outside the hospital as he visited his father

Tish tied the knot with Prison Break actor Dominic in August 2023 following her divorce from her husband of 28 years, Billy Ray.

While some family members such as daughter Miley were present for the wedding, Tish's kids Noah and Braison were absent from the nuptials - fueling speculation of a rift at the time.

According to a DailyMail.com insider, Noah's absence at the wedding was not by choice, but the result of Tish failing to invite her.

His family struggles come after recent reports that the Cyrus family are feuding behind the scenes, after Tish's daughter Noah (left) didn't attend her and Dominic's wedding

Us Weekly then published a report claiming Tish had 'stolen' Dominic from Noah, 24, who was said to be 'seeing' the actor when her mother began to pursue him.

'Noah has always craved the attention because she did not get it growing up. Tish was always so Miley-sided because that is where the money was,' the source claimed.

'Miley and Tish are like sisters and Noah has always been envious of this because she's never had a connection with Tish like Miley has.'

According to a DailyMail.com insider, Noah's absence at the wedding was not by choice, but rather the result of Tish not inviting her

However, it has since been claimed that Miley Cyrus' sister 'never dated' Dominic and she has been accused by family insiders of 'fabricating' the relationship to 'paint herself as the victim' in her ongoing feud with Tish.

It has since been claimed that Tish would like to re-establish a relationship with Noah.

'Tish definitely still wants to have a relationship with Noah,' a source told US Weekly. 'She hopes they can move past this.'
John Cena explained why he prefers to keep his relationship with his wife Shay Shariatzadeh private on an episode of Dax Shepards Armchair Expert podcast on Monday.

The 46-year-old WWE star simply said that he protects his partner by maintaining their privacy because he 'values her safety and wellbeing.'

He revealed, 'One of the promises I made to her on the altar was, "I will never put you or Ill do my best to not put you in an undue harms way,"'

'So a lot of it is just about genuine safety,' the Blockers actor continued. 'And its not to say that everyone out there has bad intentions or wed ever run into someone bad, but you also never know when someone feels threatened.'

'If my wife, who is my travel partner and partner in life, now feels unsafe or uncomfortable in all these new places we go, I got another hurdle to climb in my personal life. Its just an exercise in the strength of boundaries and the value of boundaries,' he finished.

John Cena explained why he prefers to keep his relationship with his wife Shay Shariatzadeh private on an episode of Dax Shepards Armchair Expert podcast on Monday

The 46-year-old WWE star said that he protects his partner by maintaining their privacy because he 'values her safety and wellbeing'

They originally tied the knot on October 12, 2020 in Florida

The happy couple originally tied the knot on October 12, 2020 at an attorney's office in Tampa, Florida.

After postponement due to the pandemic delayed their plans, they were finally able to walk down the aisle.

They were first romantically linked when they were seen on a dinner date in Vancouver in March 2019, where John was filming Playing With Fire.

Speaking to ET about a year before they got married, John gushed, 'What's truly special about this [movie] is that, no matter what projects I'm involved in the future,'

'This one will always have a special meaning because I got to film a special project and meet someone special.'

Earlier this year, the Suicide Squad star opened up to Drew Barrymore about whether or not he wants children.

After she suggested that he would be 'the world's greatest father' he reflected, 'This is just my perspective - totally not qualified - but I think just because you might be good at something, for me, is not a strong enough reason to do that.

'You have to have passion for it. You have to have a fuel for it. Its like saying to someone, "Man, you know you are pretty good with your hands. You would be a great carpenter."'

Cena added, 'Its hard work. Its hard work to balance the time, I need to run myself correctly. Its hard work to be the best partner and husband I can be to my loving wife.

'Its hard to keep connections with those in my life that I love. And its also hard to put in an honest days work.'

They were first romantically linked when they were seen on a dinner date in Vancouver in March 2019

The actor believes he is totally 'not qualified' to father a child with his wife

We last saw the actor last month while celebrating the premiere of his upcoming movie Ricky Stanicky with his wife

We last saw the actor last month as he rocked a rather dapper look while celebrating the premiere of his upcoming movie Ricky Stanicky with his wife.

Cena most recently starred in the Matthew Vaughn spy thriller Argylle, with a slew of other projects in various stages of production.

He's currently in production on the action-thriller Heads of State with Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Jack Quaid and Carla Gugino.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard officially filed for divorce from her estranged husband Ryan Anderson.

The Lafourche Parish Clerk of the Court in Louisiana confirmed Blanchard, 32, made the petition on Monday, per People.

Blanchard had announced her separation from the 37-year-old special education teacher on March 28.

The split occurred just three months after her release from Missouri's Chillicothe Correctional Center, where she had served seven years for her involvement in the conspiracy to kill her mother, Dee Dee.

The divorce filing comes after Anderson exclusively told DailyMail.com that he and Blanchard separated over her continued relationship with her ex-fiance Ken Urker.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard officially filed for divorce from her estranged husband Ryan Anderson

Blanchard had announced her separation from the 37-year-old special education teacher on March 28; seen in January

He said: 'I'm not doing well with it. For me it just came out of the blue. I had no idea she still had such strong feelings for him.'

Barely four months ago Anderson posted about his perfect life on Instagram when he introduced the couple's adopted dog Pixie to followers in a picture of the dog with Blanchard and wrote: 'My two favorite girlsmy family is adorableI'm so lucky.'

But the happily ever after he assumed would follow the Munchausen's-by-proxy victim's December release, after serving eight years for the murder of her mother, has come to nothing.

Instead, pictures emerged of Blanchard hand in hand with Urker, who first started writing to her in 2018 having seen the HBO documentary of her childhood, 'Mommy Dearest.'

They broke up not long before she started her prison romance with Anderson in 2020.

Apparently without a care in the world, a beaming Blanchard and Urker were seen visiting a Dollar General store in South Louisiana and casually smoking a cigarette together.

They made no effort to hide the matching Husky dog tattoos they got just days earlier.

For Anderson it was a cruel and confusing display of their closeness.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Ryan Anderson confirmed that he and wife Gypsy Rose Blanchard have separated over her continued relationship with her ex-fiance Ken Urker

The now-separated couple were seen in Midtown Manhattan during Gypsy Rose's NYC press tour in early January, days after her release

For weeks on end, the pair put on increasingly public displays of their affection for one another. They are seen here ringing in the new year

The seemingly happy couple had caused quite a commotion on social media following Blanchard's release, complete with raunchy messages directed at one another left on public accounts

He told DailyMail.com: 'I haven't spoken to her, so I just don't know what's going on. I'm at a loss. I'm really not doing well at all.'

It has been almost two weeks since Blanchard 'blindsided' her husband and moved out of their marital home in Lake Charles and back into her father and stepmother's home in Cut Off, Louisiana, some three hours' drive away.

Urker wasted no time in flying from Texas to be by her side and while Blanchard has insisted that there is 'no intimacy' between the pair and that he is simply being a supportive friend, Anderson is clear that the relationship is to blame for the end of his marriage.

Neither Blanchard's father, Rod, nor her stepmother, Kristy, were in favor of her marrying Anderson. For his part, Rod said he gave the marriage 50/50 odds, 'at best.'

The relationship began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when Netflix hit show, 'Tiger King' was garnering huge public attention.

One of Anderson's co-workers wanted to write to Tiger King, Joe 'Exotic Maldonado-Passage, and so Anderson told him: 'If you write to him, I'll write to Gypsy Rose Blanchard.'

Blanchard's family have voiced concerns that the relationship started as little more than, 'a dare.'

It has been almost two weeks since Blanchard 'blindsided' her husband and moved out of their marital home in Lake Charles and back into her father and stepmother's home in Cut Off, Louisiana, some three hours' drive away

The now-separated couple are seen together shopping in Liberty, Missouri the afternoon she was released from prison

But according to one family member who spoke to DailyMail.com, Anderson went into it, 'with the best of intentions.'

The relative said: 'He really loves her. Ryan's a really good guy. You won't get better than Ryan. But she's scarred by all that has happened to her.

'We thought Gypsy was doing okay but she's not. Ryan's having counseling and I know she's court mandated to do it but it's like there's forces inside Gypsy pulling against her.'

Blanchard's traumatic childhood and early adulthood has been fodder for documentaries, movies, books and countless magazine, newspaper, and online articles.

She was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri in December 28, after being granted early parole having served eight of a ten-year sentence for her role in the infamous murder of her mother Dee Dee.

In what has become one of the best-known cases of Munchausen's-by-proxy Blanchard spent her childhood posing as a wheelchair bound invalid while Dee Dee subjected her to years of ill health, shaving her head, pumping her full of unnecessary medications, and convincing the world that she was suffering from leukemia and muscular dystrophy.

She cynically paraded the child at charity events and fundraisers, garnering sympathy and money for the conditions that didn't exist and the illness that she herself was inflicting on her daughter.

Blanchard's mother's stranglehold came to an end in 2015 when she persuaded the boyfriend she had met online, Nicholas Godejohn, to creep into their home in Springfield, Missouri and stab her mother to death.

Blanchard later testified against Godejohn at his trial, and he is now serving a life sentence.

In recent years Blanchard has spoken about her desire to live a normal life and enjoy 'the simple things,' but her existence with Anderson since her much longed for release has clearly failed to live up to her hopes.

The family member told DailyMail.com: 'I don't know if either of them has spoken to divorce attorneys, but the split is real. It's done.'

Blanchard was sentenced three years ahead of her then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn (pictured) who was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2019. He stabbed Dee Dee Blanchard to death with a knife Gypsy had given him

Gypsy Rose (left) with her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who was murdered by Gypsy and her then boyfriend in 2015

Meanwhile according to TMZ, Blanchard has told family and friends that her marriage came to an end because of Anderson's argumentativeness and constant jealousy over the amount of time she wanted to spend with her father.

According to the report, Blanchard was keen to rebuild her relationship with her father after so many years behind bars but instead of supporting her efforts Anderson attacked them.

Announcing the split in a private Facebook post obtained by People, Blanchard simply wrote: 'People have been asking what is going on in my life. Unfortunately, my husband and I are going through a separation, and I moved in with my parents home down the bayou.

'I have the support of my family and friends to help guide me through this. I am learning to listen to my heart. Right now I need time to let myself findwho I am.'
Fans of the ABC animated series Bluey have flooded social media with speculation over the future of the global hit.

Viewers were sent into shock last week when the loveable Heeler family decided to sell off their classic Queenslander home.

In the show the rambling home is situated in trendy Paddington, in Brisbane.

Bluey creator Joe Brumm told the Daily Telegraph that the heritage house features a wraparound verandah and '15 to 20 rooms'.

The publication also reported that one Brisbane real estate agent estimate the house is 'worth $6million'.

Fans of the ABC animated series Bluey have flooded social media with speculation over the future of the global hit. Pictured: the cast of Bluey

Viewers were sent into shock last week when the loveable Heeler family decided to sell off their classic Queenslander home

'I don't want the Heelers to sell their house why must they do this?' a fan posted on X.

Meanwhile, other viewers speculated about future storylines.

'There's a segment of the fandom saying that the Heelers are selling their house because Chilli is pregnant.'

'Wait, wait, what?' added another fan to the thread.

It comes after Bluey fans went into panic after being urged to re-watch five core episodes of the children's cartoon before the show's 'supersized finale' on April 14.

Season three's last episode will run for a whopping 28mins - four times longer than regular episodes - and is set to 'change the popular Heeler family forever'.

The mega episode release sent thousands of fans into a panic, with many thinking that it meant the cartoon would be ending forever.

But the fans have simply been urged to re-watch five episodes including Campsite from season one, and Onesies and Double Babysitter from season three as they have important storylines which will be resolved in the finale.

In the show the rambling home is situated in trendy Paddington, in Brisbane

Bluey creator Joe Brumm told the Daily Telegraph that the heritage house features a wraparound verandah and '15 to 20 rooms'

The finale signals a lengthy break for the show as it will be a while before season four airs.

'I about died thinking they weren't making it anymore,' one woman cried.

But creators have confirmed it will be returning for a fourth season after an extended break.

'As cool as this list is, this is definitely not the end. They are just doing an extra large episode,' one super fan said.

'Bluey is not ending the team is just taking a break from making new episodes,' stressed another.

Some people took clues from the episodes listed and made predictions for the final episode.

So we might see Jean Luc again, pregnant Aunt Brandy, Winton's dad and Terriers' mum love story, and Lila at Frisky and Uncle Rad's wedding,' said one.

'It'll be Rad and Frisky's wedding, Bluey will talk about being excited about it at school, and this will start a discussion with the children chatting about their parents. Winton's dad and The Terrier's mum will start dating in the same episode,' one older fan said.

The creators of the show have been leaking mini trailers on Instagram where they have 973,000 followers.
Amanda Bynes took to her Instagram story Monday to announce her return to school in order to study manicurist theory.

The 38-year-old former child star penned a short note explaining that she has not passed the board exam to obtain her manicurist license despite various attempts.

She wrote, 'Since I haven't passed the board exam yet to get my manicurist license, I started back at school to study manicurist theory to practice doing acrylics before I take the test again so I'll be good to go when I get a job at a nail salon.'

Days ago, the former actress was spotted as she cut a casual figure in an all black ensemble that consisted of an oversized t-shirt and leggings.

She paired the look with black high-top Converse shoes and a matching black Chanel purse and she donned dark trendy sunglasses.

Amanda Bynes took to her Instagram story Monday evening to update her fans on the status of her career in the beauty industry

The 38-year-old former child star penned a short note explaining that she has not passed the board exam to obtain her manicurist license

The former Amanda Show actress first revealed that she was attending cosmetology school to become a manicurist back in October of 2022

The former Amanda Show actress first revealed that she was attending cosmetology school to become a manicurist back in October of 2022.

After she earned he associate's degree at Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in, she decided to continue her studies there by pursuing a Bachelor's Degree.

In late 2022, the once troubled acting veteran shared that she had completed 100 hours towards getting her nail tech license.

'Prepping for school tomorrow. I have 100 hours so far.. 300 more to go before I get my license to be a nail tech!' she captioned a photo of her nail supplies.

To qualify to take the California State Board of Cosmetology exam for manicurists, one must complete a minimum of 400 hours of training.

We last saw the star on Thursday cutting a casual figure in a hoodie and ripped jeans for post-birthday coffee run in Los Angeles after turning down Quiet On Set docuseries.

The former Nickelodeon actress  who celebrated her 38th birthday the day before  looked cool and casual in a hoodie and ripped jeans while taking care of some shopping and visiting a nearby Starbucks.

The sighting took place days after it was reported that she had declined to participate in the docuseries Quiet On Set  which delves into abuse and allegedly toxic work conditions placed on Nickelodeon's child actors in the 1990s and 2000s  because she 'did not have a bad experience with Nickelodeon.'

Although Amanda appeared to keep her birthday celebrations fairly low key, she shared some glimpses of her evening last Wednesday in her Instagram Stories.

In one clip, she panned across a sparsely filled club while a DJ performed on stage while writing '38' in the bottom right corner.

A second video showed the birthday girl looking happy and relaxed in a white hoodie and sheer tights. Amanda flashed a thumbs-up and a soft smile at the camera before it cut off.

The night on the town happened days after Amanda admitted to her 404K followers that she had 'gained over 20lbs in the past few months from being depressed.'

In late 2022, the once troubled acting veteran shared that she had completed 100 hours towards getting her nail tech license

In 2015, Amanda told Paper Magazine that she had 'definitely abused Adderall,' when getting treated for ADHD

Luckily, she was able to report that she was 'doing a lot better now.'

Amanda added that she had 'learned to do [the] opposite action' when she wasn't feeling up to 'working out or eating clean.'

'I weigh 162lbs right now and want to get back to 110lbs,' she concluded.

In 2015, Amanda told Paper Magazine that she had 'definitely abused Adderall,' a popular drug to treat ADHD, in hopes of using its stimulant and appetite suppression effects to help her maintain a desired weight.
Amanda Seyfried was spotted working on the set of her new television series Long Bright River in New York City on Monday.

The 38-year-old actress  who skipped the 2024 Emmys to stay in  was dressed in blue, in character as a police officer.

The Mama Mia! star looked official in her patrol uniform, which included a black shirt and slacks with a heavy jacket complete with a police seal.

Her blonde hair was parted down the middle and pulled back into a low bun at the back of her head.

She skipped earrings and wore a light face of makeup that included soft pink cheeks and matching matte lipstick.

Amanda Seyfried was spotted working on the set of her new TV series Long Bright River in New York City on Monday

The 38-year-old actress was dressed in blue, in character as a police officer

The Mama Mia! star looked official in her patrol uniform, which included a black shirt and slacks with a heavy jacket complete with a police seal

She skipped earrings and wore a light face of makeup that included soft pink cheeks and matching matte lipstick

In another scene she was clad in a pair of dark jeans, a beige, ribbed, turtleneck sweater.

It was topped by a long black coat with a fuzzy, cream-colored collar as she sat behind the wheel of a car.

She toted a gun as she recorded a nighttime scene in the Big Apple, though the movie plot is set in Philadelphia.

Amanda is starring as a law enforcement officer in the show, which is based on the best-selling 2020 novel of the same name.

To prepare for the role, Seyfried went for a ride-along with real Philly cops along with author Liz Moore, according to PhillyVoice.com.

Her character's name is Mickey and is 'a police officer who patrols a Philadelphia neighborhood hard-hit by the opioid crisis.'

'When a series of murders begins in the neighborhood, Mickey realizes that her personal history might be related to the case,' the logline for the project reads.

The investigation leads to a search for Mickey's sister, Kacey, an addict who has gone missing.

Her blonde hair was parted down the middle and pulled back into a low bun at the back of her head

She toted a gun and flashlight as she recorded a nighttime scene in the Big Apple, though the movie plot is set in Philadelphia

To prepare for the role, Seyfried went for a ride-along with real Philly cops along with author Liz Moore, according to PhillyVoice.com

Her character's name is Mickey, 'a police officer who patrols a Philadelphia neighborhood hard-hit by the opioid crisis.' The limited series was ordered by Peacock and Seyfried is listed as an executive producer

Seyfried shot one scene with another actress who wore a pink and brown leopard print jacket

Up next for Amanda are two projects that have completed filming.

She stars in Seven Veils as a theater director who is producing the opera Salome, a show that is her mentor's most famous work.

The multi-talented star promoted the project at February's Berlin International Film Festival.

She also stars in the crime comedy I Don't Understand You with Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells.

Release dates for the works have not yet been announced.
Tom Clare surprised girlfriend Molly Smith with a decorated hotel suite on their first holiday as a couple in Dubai on Monday.

The Love Island star, 29, arrived back at her hotel room to the romantic set-up after enjoying their first dinner out of their getaway.

Tom arranged the hotel to scatter white and gold balloons on the ceiling with white string attached. He also organised balloons to be delivered with their initials on.

Taking to Instagram, Molly posted a gushing picture of Tom against the gorgeous display and wrote: 'The best @tomclare. Came back to the hotel to find this. Is there anything this boy can't do.'

Molly looked stunning in a bright-yellow lace dress with a cut-out detailing as Tom filmed her reaction to the surprise.

Tom Clare, 24, surprised girlfriend Molly Smith, 29, with a decorated hotel suite on their first holiday as a couple in Dubai on Monday

The Love Island star arrived back at her hotel room to the romantic set-up after enjoying their first dinner out of their getaway

The couple, who won Love Island All Stars in January, jetted off to Dubai on 15k flights for their first holiday together post-villa.

Passing the time before their flight took off with a Q&A on Instagram, one fan asked Molly whether she was now feeling better after she recently was rushed to hospital with a mystery illness.

Replying that the holiday had come at the perfect time, Molly wrote: 'I'm getting there... slowly thank you for asking!

'This holiday couldn't have come at a better time, relaxation and some sun is very needed'.

The pair beamed in snaps as they settled down for the flight in their cosy tracksuits.

Wearing a blue Boohoo tracksuit, Molly beamed from ear to ear as she held Tom's hand and he captioned the snap 'My one'.

During the Q&A Molly also confirmed that the pair are officially boyfriend and girlfriend after Tom popped the question on March 1.

Tom joked: 'She is wifed off!'

Tom arranged the hotel to scatter white and gold balloons on the ceiling with white string attached. He also organised balloons to be delivered with their initials on

Taking to Instagram, Molly posted a gushing picture of Tom against the gorgeous display and wrote: 'The best @tomclare. Came back to the hotel to find this. Is there anything this boy can't do'

The couple, who won Love Island All Stars in January, jetted off to Dubai on 15k flights for their first holiday together post-villa

During the Q&A Molly also confirmed that the pair are officially boyfriend and girlfriend after Tom popped the question on March 1

Tom also shared a picture of Molly walking along the beach as he wrote: 'Some nice time away with the Mrs'

The pair were also asked whether they have moved in together. Looking suspicious, Tom quietly sipped his drink as Molly teased: 'He already has'.

It comes after Molly told MailOnline that Tom was practically living with her anyway.

Gushing about their relationship, she explained: 'You know sometimes when you think, 'Is this too good to be true?' I don't like jinxing things but right now I can't fault our relationship. Moving in together is the next step, we are practically living together as is... we just haven't made it official yet.'
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looked sensational as she shared snaps on Monday from Dolce & Gabbana's 40th anniversary party in Milan.

The model, 36, slipped into a sexy sheer black dress and suspenders as she posed up a storm for her Instagram.

She looked stunning in the sexy number which had a plunging neckline and showed off her assets and hourglass figure.

Under the see-through dress she wore lace lingerie and suspenders as she turned up the heat with the eye-catching look.

She added strappy heels to boost her height and wore her long blonde tresses in a bouncy blow dry while working her best angles for the camera.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looked sensational as she shared snaps on Monday from Dolce & Gabbana's 40th anniversary party in Milan

The model, 36, slipped into a sexy sheer black dress and suspenders as she posed up a storm for her Instagram

At the event held at the Palazzo Reale she showed off the full-length outfit and strutted her stuff with confidence

At the event held at the Palazzo Reale she showed off the full-length outfit and strutted her stuff with confidence.

She was joined by the likes of Demi Moore and Lily James at the star-studded bash in Italy for the opening night of the brand's exhibition.

Demi, 61, looked sensational in a chainmail gown as she led the stars, while Lily, 35, wore a sexy black ensemble.

Speaking to Financial Times ahead of the exhibition opening the brands founders and co-owners, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana explained how they hope to tell the story of 'where they had come from.'

Stefano said: 'Our dream is to inspire the new generations, to encourage them to express what they feel, and give them courage.'

Domenico added: 'We would like young people to see in the artistic professions an alternative, an antidote to banality and homogenisation.

'And if this project leads them to marvel at the creativity and craftsmanship that are contained not only in the final product, but in the entire process, we will feel truly happy.'

Blonde beauty Rosie is in a happy relationship with The Beekeeper actor Jason Statham, 56.

She looked stunning in the sexy number which had a plunging neckline and showed off her assets and hourglass figure

She sported flawless makeup as ever while her glossy blonde tresses were styled into a perfect blow dry

She accessorised her sexy look with gold hoop earrings while her plunging gown teased her ample assets

The sheer material of the dress showed off her incredible figure as she posed for the incredible snaps

She added strappy heels to boost her height and wore her long blonde tresses in a bouncy blow dry

The slip dress featured corset-style paneling and was teamed with suspenders, lace stockings and black underwear

She was joined by the likes of Demi Moore (left) and Lily James (right) at the star-studded bash in Italy for the opening night of the brand's exhibition

The couple first began dating in 2009 and share two children together, son Jack, six, and daughter Isabella, two.

The pair have yet to get married, but revealed their engagement after Rosie flashed her impressive diamond ring at the 2016 Golden Globes.

The pair recently enjoyed a lavish Italian getaway together and Rosie shared plenty of snaps from the trip to her Instagram.

She even gave a glimpse inside the stunning Italian farmhouse they were staying in for the week.
Bridgerton actress Arsema Adeoluwayemi Hamera has called on Tom Holland to speak out in support of his Romeo and Juliet co-star Francesca Amewudah-Rivers.

Bad Education's Francesca was announced last month as the actress set to play Juliet opposite the Spiderman star in the upcoming West End production - which kicks off on May 11 at The Duke of York's Theatre.

But social media was later flooded with a 'barrage of deplorable racial abuse' over the diverse casting.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Arsema, who played young Lady Danbury in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, shared a plea from HBO actress Selina Jones urging Tom to speak up.

'You lot need to put pressure pon @tomholland2023's head top,' the post read. 'I need my guy to say something, ANYTHING, about the disgusting racial abuse being thrown at our angel Fran.'

Bridgerton actress Arsema Adeoluwayemi Hamera called on Tom Holland to speak out in support of his Romeo and Juliet co-star Francesca Amewudah-Rivers on Instagram on Sunday

Bad Education's Francesca was announced last month as the actress set to play Juliet opposite the Spiderman star in the upcoming West End production - which kicks off on May 11 at The Duke of York's Theatre

The post urged people to encourage him to act in any way they could, and added: 'Our power as a people and a community should never be underestimated. Avengers assemble.'

Several other people took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice their frustration at the lack of a statement from Tom.

They wrote: 'Seriously though, he shouldve said something days ago. We got newcomers like Melissa Barrera, Renee Rapp, Ramy Youssef and Avantika speaking up for Gaza and he cant step in against blatant racism? Spider-man would never;'

'It is incredibly embarrassing and indicting that a dark skinned black woman who has nothing to do with your production is urging you to defend your own co-star. an incredibly useless and spineless man;'

'Like how do you jump on stage and look your co-star in the eye knowing you sat idly by as she endured archaic forms of incessant racism. This is what infuriates me about celebrities not using their power and privilege. absolutely pathetic;'

'What I do know is that his Black costar is receiving extreme racism & death threats because of her Race. Im sure that hurts more. And Asking Tom Holland to speak out against the racism his costar is facing from some of his OWN fans is ASKING him to do the BARE MINIMUM.'

However while some fans agreed with the sentiment, they also jumped to the Hollywood actor's defence citing that he rarely uses social media.

They said: 'Are people forgetting that tom holland is hardly on social media;'

The Romeo & Juliet cast was announced last month, with Spider-Man star Tom and Bad Education's Francesca announced in the titular roles

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Arsema (pictured in March), who played young Lady Danbury in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, shared a plea from HBO actress Selina Jones urging Tom to speak up

'You lot need to put pressure pon @tomholland2023's head top,' the post said. 'I need my guy to say something, ANYTHING, about the disgusting racial abuse being thrown at our angel Fran'

Several other people took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice their frustration at the lack of a statement from Tom

'Id agree in a different case but yall forget that tom holland said years ago that only logs into his social media for work reasons. hes not on the internet so he definitely doesnt know;'

'I do agree with you but Tom has said many times that hes not active on social media.'

The theatre company responsible for the Shakespeare production released a statement on Friday denouncing the shocking backlash as they vowed to 'continue to support and protect everyone in our company.'

The Jamie Lloyd Company shared: 'Following the announcement of our Romeo & Juliet cast, there has been a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company. This must stop.

'We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment.

'We will continue to support and protect everyone in our company at all costs. Any abuse will not be tolerated and will be reported.'

It continued: 'Bullying and harassment have no place online, in our industry or in our wider communities.

'Our rehearsal room is full of joy, compassion and kindness. We celebrate the extraordinary talent of our incredible collaborators.

However while some fans agreed with the sentiment, they also jumped to the Hollywood actor's defence citing that he rarely uses social media

Also in the cast are Freema Agyeman, Michael Balogun, Tomiwa Edun, Mia Jerome , Daniel Quinn-Toye, Ray Sesay, Nima Taleghani, Joshua-Alexander Williams, and Callum Heinrich and Kody Mortimer

A statement from the theatre company on Friday denounced the shocking backlash as they vowed to 'continue to support and protect everyone in our company.'

'The Romeo & Juliet community will continue to rehearse with generosity and love, and focus on the creation of our production.'

The theatre company did not directly name who had received abuse.

MailOnline contacted The Jamie Lloyd Company for comment at the time.

The Romeo & Juliet cast was announced last month, with Tom and Bad Education's Francesca announced in the titular roles.

They are joined by Freema Agyeman (Nurse), Michael Balogun (Friar), Tomiwa Edun (Capulet), Mia Jerome (Montague), Daniel Quinn-Toye (Paris), Ray Sesay (Tybalt), Nima Taleghani (Benvolio), Joshua-Alexander Williams (Mercutio), and Callum Heinrich and Kody Mortimer (Camera Operators).

The 12-week run goes from May 11 until August 3 at The Duke of York's Theatre.

Tickets for the production sold out two hours after going on sale in February. At this time Tom was the only cast member announced.

Director Jamie Lloyd, 43, said of the casting: 'Tom Holland is one of the greatest, most exciting young actors in the world. It is an honour to welcome him back to the West End.'

Tom made his stage debut as a child when he starred in Billy Elliot The Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London in 2008.

Romeo And Juliet will mark his first West End role as an adult.

The Shakespearean epic is a story that has been staged hundreds of times on the West End and The Crown actor Josh O'Connor and Irish star Jessie Buckley appeared in a version of the play, filmed for TV inside the National Theatre in 2021.

Other actors to have played Romeo on stage include Harry Potter star Alfred Enoch, The Lord Of The Rings actor Sir Ian McKellen, Game Of Thrones' Sean Bean and Bodyguard actor Richard Madden.
He's better known for his fact-paced feats on the track, but Lewis Hamilton very nearly felt the need for speed of an entirely different kind thanks to his friendship with Tom Cruise.

The Formula 1 ace, currently enduring a torrid time at the Tokyo Grand Prix, admits he was offered a role in the Hollywood star's 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick.

A sequel to the legendary 1986 film starring Cruise as Naval Aviator Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, the film grossed $1.496 billion worldwide and is widely credited for pulling Hollywood out of the financial hole created by COVID-19 and the global pandemic.

But Hamilton, 39, was left to rue a missed opportunity after conflicting schedules resulted in the Mercedes driver turned down a cameo role.

Speaking to GQ, he admitted to begging for a role in the film years before principal photography began, when the prospect of a potential sequel was first mooted by Cruise.

He's better known for his fact-paced feats on the track, but Lewis Hamilton very nearly felt the need for speed of an entirely different kind thanks to his friendship with Tom Cruise

The Formula 1 ace, currently enduring a torrid time at the Tokyo Grand Prix, admits he was offered a role in the Hollywood star's 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick (picured)

The film is a sequel to the legendary 1986 film starring Cruise as Naval Aviator Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (pictured)

'I said, "Dude, if you ever do Top Gun 2, I will even be a janitor. Just let me be in it,"' he recalled.

Despite Hamilton's limited acting ability, good-natured Cruise introduced him to the film's director, Joseph Kosinski, but the driver soon realised he couldn't commit to a role.

'Firstly, I hadnt even had, like, an acting lesson,' he said. 'And I dont want to be the one that lets this movie down.

'And then secondly, I just really didnt have the time to dedicate to it. I remember having to tell Joe and Tom  and it broke my heart.'

He added: 'And then I regretted it, naturally, when they show me the movie and its: "It couldve been me!"'

Hamilton's admission comes after he stormed out of an interview in the paddock following his ninth-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion's struggles continued as he picked up just two points, as his worst ever start to a Formula One season continued.

Mercedes opted for a bold tyre strategy following the early red flag from Alex Albon and Daniel Ricciardo's crash, as both Hamilton and George Russell attempted a one-stop strategy after the restart.

Hamilton's worst ever start to a season continued with a ninth-place finish in Japan during the Tokyo Grand Prix (pictured on April 7)

Hamilton walked away from an interview after he was asked whether he was 'jealous' over the speed of Ferrari - the team that he will be joining in the 2025 season

They switched back to two-stops after Hamilton sharply insisted over the team radio: 'Change the strategy.'

After the race, a reporter asked if he was jealous of Ferrari - the team he will drive for next year - after they finished third and fourth with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.

Hamilton was not impressed with the question as he retorted: 'Do you have any better questions?'

The reporter apologised but before they could ask a further question, Hamilton walked away and his press officer simply said: 'Thank you.'

In an another interview, Hamilton revealed that he suffered damage after the restart following contact with Leclerc.

He said: 'The car is never what I hoped it would be. It's never what we hoped it would be.

'I got some damage I think in the first stint at the restart with Charles [Leclerc] and I had massive understeer, like huge, huge understeer.

'So that's why I decided to let George [Russell] by, because he seemed quicker and I just couldn't turn the car.

'It took us two stints to finally dial more and more wing in to make up for that loss. Last stint, I was better, but it was too late, I had 10 seconds to regain.'
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida began a much-anticipated visit to Washington on Tuesday that spotlights shared concerns about provocative Chinese military action in the Pacific and at a rare moment of public difference between the two nations over a Japanese company's plan to buy an iconic U.S. company.

Kishida and his wife will stop by the White House Tuesday evening ahead of Wednesday's official visit and formal state dinner as President Joe Biden looks to celebrate a decades-long ally he sees as the cornerstone of his Indo-Pacific policy. Kishida will be the fifth world leader honored by Biden with a state dinner since he took office in 2021.

Ahead of the White House visit, Kishida laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday and stopped by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and met with Microsofts vice chairman and president Brad Smith. Biden and Kishida on Wednesday will hold talks and take part in a joint news conference before Biden fetes the Japanese leader with the state dinner in the East Room.

The prime minister has also been invited to address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday. He will be just the second Japanese leader to address the body; Shinzo Abe gave a speech to Congress in 2015.

The visit comes after Biden announced last month that he opposes the planned sale of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel of Japan, exposing a marked rift in the partnership at the very moment the two leaders aim to reinforce it. Biden argued in announcing his opposition that the U.S. needs to maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steelworkers.

Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, Biden's envoy to Tokyo, sought Monday to downplay the impact of Biden's opposition to the U.S. Steel acquisition to the relationship. Emanuel noted that in February the Biden administration approved a plan that would drive billions of dollars in revenue to a U.S.-based subsidiary of the Japanese company Mitsui for crane production in the United States.

The United States relationship with Japan is a lot deeper and stronger and more significant than a single commercial deal, said Emanuel, the former mayor of Chicago, in a joint appearance at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies with Japan's chief envoy to Washington. As we would say in Chicago, you got to chill.

Nippon Steel announced in December that it planned to buy U.S. Steel for $14.1 billion in cash, raising concerns about what the transaction could mean for unionized workers, supply chains and U.S. national security. Shigeo Yamada, Japan's ambassador to Washington, declined to comment on whether Kishida would raise the Nippon-U.S. Steel deal with Biden.

Kishida at the U.S. Chamber said that American investments in Japan and vice versa would make the economies more deeply tied and inseparable. Smith, the Microsoft vice chairman, announced that the tech company was investing $2.9 billion in Japan over the next two years to expand its cloud computing and artificial intelligence operations there. Microsoft will be working with the Japanese government to improve its cybersecurity capabilities.

We see this as a critical investment in every Japanese company that we support and the Japanese government as well, Smith said.

Biden has sought to place greater foreign policy focus on the Pacific even while grappling with the fallout of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the grinding Israel-Hamas war . Last year, Biden brought together Kishida and Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, a historic summit between leaders of two countries that have a difficult shared history.

Biden has honored Yoon with a state visit and picked Kishidas predecessor, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, as the first face-to-face foreign leader visit of his presidency.

The administration has been pleased by Japan's strong support for Ukraine. Tokyo has been one of the largest donors to Kyiv since Russia's February 2022 invasion, and Japan has surged its defense spending amid concern about China's military assertiveness.

Yamada suggested that Kishida would underscore Japan's support for Ukraine during his appearance before Congress, and lay out why the conflict in Eastern Europe matters to his country. Biden is struggling to get House Republicans to back his call to send an additional $60 billion to Kyiv as it tries to fend off Russia.

Kishida has warned that the war in Europe could lead to conflict in East Asia, suggesting that a lax attitude to Russia emboldens China.

The prime minister's conviction is today's Ukraine could be tomorrow's East Asia, Yamada said.

The Pentagon announced on Monday that the U.S., United Kingdom. and Australia were considering including Japan in the AUKUS partnership, a grouping launched in 2021 that aims to equip Australia with nuclear-powered and conventionally-armed submarines.

Beijing has condemned the AUKUS pact, which it says promotes division and could lead to military confrontation in the region. China's foreign ministry on Tuesday raised objection to Japans prospective new role.

Kishida will stick around Washington on Thursday to take part in a meeting with Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Philippine-Chinese relations have been repeatedly tested by skirmishes between the two nations' coast guard vessels in the disputed South China Sea.

Chinese coast guard ships also regularly approach disputed Japanese-controlled East China Sea islands near Taiwan . Beijing says Taiwan is part of its territory and will be brought under control by force if necessary.

Cooperation among our three countries is extremely important in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and in defending a free and open international order based on the rules of law, Kishida said Monday before leaving for Washington.

The leaders are expected to discuss plans to upgrade the U.S. military command structure in Japan. There are about 54,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the leaders' announcements on defense will enable greater coordination in the integration of our forces and ensure that they are optimally postured and linked to other like-minded partners.

Kishida and Biden are also expected to confirm Japans participation in NASAs Artemis moon program as well as its contribution of a moon rover developed by Toyota Motor and the inclusion of a Japanese astronaut in the mission. The rover, which comes at a roughly $2 billion cost, would be the most expensive contribution to the mission by a non-U.S. partner to date. (AP)
Anthony 'Harries' Carroll revealed on Wednesday he found a 'new lover' after over a decade of marriage to his wife Emily.

It seems the Bondi Rescue star, 47, has traded the surf and sun for the snow as he's fallen head over heels for New Zealand, following a very chilly holiday there.

The reality TV star, who shares sons Billy and Leo with his partner of 12 years, told Daily Mail Australia he 'did not want to come home' after his solo trip to the island.

'You know what they say in Bondi? "You always find a new lover." And my new lover is Ski-Land. New Zealand - I love it,' he said of his getaway with Tourism New Zealand.

'The ski fields, the hot springs, even seeing the water come off the glaciers. The colour was just amazing. Everything I did there was just amazing.'

Anthony 'Harries' Carroll, 47, (left) revealed on Wednesday he found a 'new lover' after over a decade of marriage to his wife Emily (right)

Despite leaving Emily and their children back in Australia during his holiday, Harries said: 'I did not want to come home... I definitely did not get home sick.'

Harries and Emily first met on a blind date back in 2012 and married shortly after.

Despite being notoriously private about his family life, Harries revealed in 2019 he felt helpless when son Leo, now six, struggled to take his first breath as a newborn.

It seems the Bondi Rescue star has traded the surf and sun for the snow as he's fallen head over heels for New Zealand, following a very chilly holiday there

'When my son was born, he wasn't breathing well,' the lifeguard told The Daily Telegraph at the time.

When wife Emily gave birth to the baby boy by cesarean in August 2016, doctors noticed the youngster wasn't breathing properly.

'Before we could even hold him the doctors swooped in and started working on him... It felt like my heart stopped,' Harries told Woman's Day in November 2016.

The reality TV star, who shares sons Billy and Leo (both pictured) with his partner of 12 years, told Daily Mail Australia he 'did not want to come home' after his solo trip to the island

After letting the doctors treat the tot, Harries was relieved to finally hold his little lad in his arms after a few hours of observation in intensive care.

In thanks to Sydney's Children's Hospital where Leo was born, Harries attempted to raise $20,000 for the centre in 2019.

The action man entered the third annual Lifeguard Challenge to raise the funds.

He competed alongside other lifeguards from Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte against teams from Waverley, Randwick and Sutherland Shire.
EastEnders star Rita Simons has revealed Sir Alan Sugar is her uncle.

The actress, 47, appeared on Tuesday's Good Morning Britain where she discussed her little-known family connections.

The Apprentice legend Lord Sugar, 77, is Rita's uncle, as he's married to her aunt Ann Simons.

Speaking about her uncle she endearingly called him a 'big softie' but did admit that he can be a 'bit grumpy' sometimes.

Rita is best known for portraying the role of Roxy Mitchell in the BBC soap from 2007 to 2017, when her character was killed off alongside her on screen character's sister Ronnie Mitchell.

EastEnders star Rita Simons has revealed that Sir Alan Sugar is her uncle

The actress, 47, appeared on Tuesday's Good Morning Britain where she discussed her little-known family connections (Lord Sugar seen on The Apprentice)

While on GMB she also commented on the recent news that came to light about The Apprentice after Tim Campbell said candidates are not allowed to use the toilet once the TV grillings get underway.

Reacting to the headlines Rita quipped: 'Uncle Alan, what are you playing at? Let women go the loo!'

Back in 2018 Rita entered the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! jungle and she spoke about him before entering the jungle.

She said: 'We've had to keep coming into the Jungle a secret and so no, I haven't told my Uncle yet, but I bet you he will watch it!.'

It comes after Rita announced that she was joining the cast of Hollyoaks as character Marie.

The former EastEnders star has been filming alongside Rory Douglas-Speed, Jamie Lomas, who also appeared in EastEnders, and Jennifer Metcalfe

Marie will sneak into Chester in prison attire, and her first order of business will be to steal Mercedes' red dress from the McQueen washing line.

Her arrival will be sure to cause a stir, thievery aside, because she is the mother of established Hollyoaks character, Joel Dexter (Rory).

Talking about her upcoming appearance, Rita said: 'Marie's got a lot of ties here, so I think there's going to be quite a lot of trouble between quite a few characters, and you will just have to keep watching to see...'

News of Rita's arrival first broke in 2023, and the actress took to Twitter to confirm it.

The Apprentice legend Lord Sugar, 77, is Rita's uncle, as he's married to her aunt Ann Simons (Ann and her husband Lord Sugar seen in 2017)

Speaking about her uncle she endearingly called him a 'big softie' but did admit that he can be a 'bit grumpy' sometimes

While on GMB she also commented on the recent news that came to light about The Apprentice after Tim Campbell said candidates are not allowed to use the toilet once the TV grillings get underway

Reacting to the headlines Rita quipped: 'Uncle Alan, what are you playing at? Let women go the loo!'

'Well! The news is out! So excited to be joining the fabulous cast of @Hollyoaks later this year!' She tweeted.

'Can't tell you who I'm playing but I can tell you she's gonna be trouble! Massive shout to my gorgeous agents @MelanieBlakeUK @NGMManagement @ABA_Agent #MyGirls'.

Hollyoaks has not revealed why Rita's debut was delayed.

Rita has kept herself busy, and in December she starred in the pantomime Beauty And The Beast at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells.

The actress shocked fans everywhere when she and her on-screen sister Samantha Womack were jointly killed off EastEnders after a decade.

Hollyoaks airs weekdays at 7 pm on E4.

Rita is best known for portraying the role of Roxy Mitchell in the BBC soap from 2007 to 2017, when her character was killed off alongside her on screen character's sister Ronnie Mitchell
Anna Samson has made history as the first ever female lead detective in a brand new Death In Paradise spin-off, which will take the beloved series for Saint Marie to a brand new bay Down Under.

Return to Paradise will be set in sun-soaked Australia and follows DI Mackenzie Clarke as she solves a whole host of mysterious murders.

This role will certainly be a big break in the UK for Anna, who previously starred in one of Australia's biggest soaps, and even dated one of her co-stars.

After growing up in Nigeria and breaking into TV, the star caught the eye of BBC bosses with her stage work, impressing critics on both sides of the world.

So, as Death In Paradise fans count down the days until Anna's first episode hits screens, MailOnline has everything you need to know about the new addition to the mystery franchise...

Unlikely beginnings

While Anna Samson was born in the UK, she spent much of her childhood living in Nigeria before relocating to Australia when she was a teenager

Anna previously paid tribute to her 'extraordinarily kind and wildly brave' parents in a sweet Instagram post to mark their birthdays in 2022

Anna also starred in one episode of the HBO hit The Leftovers in 2017, before pivoting back to Australian TV with the thrilled crime series Dead Lucky in 2018 (pictured)

While Anna was born in the UK, she spent much of her childhood living in Nigeria before relocating to Australia when she was a teenager.

Of her plans to pursue an acting career, she told Toasting Aussie Theatre: 'Like many children, play and performance had a wonderfully natural relationship for me.

'Looking back I can see there was a frustrated actress burning in my Nan. She was a great comedienne and she could command your attention and change the energy of a room remarkably. Perhaps I picked up on this power.'

In her late teens, she moved to Melbourne so she could study at the Victorian College of the Arts.

Anna previously paid tribute to her 'extraordinarily kind and wildly brave' parents in a sweet Instagram post to mark their birthdays in 2022, adding: 'Their love for each other is something that never ceases to bolster me. They have given me the most brilliant life.'

She went onto kickstart her acting career Down Under in 2012 with a role in the TV series Conspiracy 365, followed by a handful of appearance in the long-running drama series Winners and Losers.

While Anna landed a series of roles on Australian TV, including The Doctor Blake Mysteries and Jack Irish, she broke into US TV by appearing in the Syfy show Hunters in 2016, but it was axed after just one season.

Anna also starred in one episode of the HBO hit The Leftovers in 2017, before pivoting back to Australian TV with the thriller Dead Lucky in 2018.

While she was previously known for her 'pretty girl' image, in 2017, Anna said she was embracing the chance to 'be ugly' when she starred in the miniseries Wake In Fright, based on the 1961 novel of the same name.

The star played intimidating loan shark and former boxer Michaela 'Mick' Jaffries, and told BW Magazine at the time: 'Wake In Fright explores that ugliness, it's a series that's not afraid to be ugly and neither am I.

'As a young, female actor, the roles where you get to explore darkness, violence and masculinity don't come along that often.

'But women can be just as frightening, if not more frightening, than men.'

In 2020, Anna appeared in a remake of Stephen King's Children Of The Corn, alongside My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2's Elena Kampouris.

Soap stardom

In 2021, Anna landed a role on the megahit soap Home and Away, no doubt cementing her career on both sides of the world thanks to the show's dedicated UK fanbase

Her character faced her fair share of drama, including covering up her ex's murder and the tragic loss of her husband Ari to terminal cancer

In 2021, Anna landed a role on the megahit soap Home and Away, no doubt cementing her career on both sides of the world thanks to the show's dedicated UK fanbase.

She starred as Mia Anderson in Summer Bay from February 2021 to April 2022, but mere hours after her casting was announced, she was forced to hit back at trolls who flooded her social media with misogynistic messages.

'What an exciting time for Sam Barrett and myself, as we join the cast of Home and Away, this iconic place of Australian television,' she wrote.

'The sad thing is, this is not surprising. In 2021 people still feel they have the right to shame, comment on, and harass women about their appearance.

'This is not new. It's part of a culture of cowardice. Cruelly commenting on our weight loss or gain, our faces, our choices, our voices. In 2021. As if we don't have bigger things to be concerned with.'

Mia's first scenes on Home and Away saw her journey to Summer Bay in search of her daughter Chloe, and was horrified when her child's father Matthew tracked them down.

After Chloe accidentally killed Matthew by hitting his head with a brick, she and Mia were forced to try and cover it up, with Mia's on/off flame Ari eventually taking the blame for the murder.

Shortly afterwards, Mia was devastated when Ari was diagnosed with an aggressive, rare form of cancer, with the pair marrying in hospital before he collapse and died unexpectedly.

Devastated, Mia decided to leave Summer Bay and relocate to New Zeland, leaving her daughter Chloe behind.

Off-screen romance

While Anna's character on Home and Away faced her fair share of heartbreak, off-screen things were far happier, as she dated co-star Lee Jones

While Anna's character faced her fair share of heartbreak, off-screen things were far happier, as she went onto date one of her co-stars from the soap.

It was previously revealed that she was dating actor Lee Jones, who played Ambulance Officer Luke.

The pair had previously posted cute snaps together on social media, including a trip to Los Angeles where they soaked up the stunning beaches.

The pair had previously worked together on the 2017 mini-series Wake in Fright where Anna played Mick Jaffries and Lee played Joe Jaffries, before reuniting on Home and Away.

This had been Lee's second appearance on the soap, having previously starred as Ned Re in a 2009 episode.

Stage work

Last year, Anna also appeared in the play Consent, which she also performed at The Seymour Centre in Sydney

In December, Anna revealed she'd performed her final show in the play The Master and Margarita in Belfast , paying tribute to the cast in an Instagram post

After leaving Home and Away two years ago, Anna pivoted towards acting on stage in a series of plays.

These included the Alice Birch play Anatomy of a Suicide, which she performed at The Old Fitz in New South Wales and the Seymour Centre in Sydney.

Last year, Anna also appeared in the play Consent, which she also performed at The Seymour Centre, and shines a light on the handling of sexual misconduct allegations in court, through the perspectives of two different lawyers and their families.

Speaking about the show, she said: 'Many of the relationships in this play are lived-in; marriages and old friendships. Creating that history, that familiar dynamic is electric work.

'The audience must really believe they are looking into the lives of these couples, with all their hurts and secrets and foibles bubbling underneath.'

In December, Anna revealed she'd performed her final show in the play The Master and Margarita in Belfast, paying tribute to the cast in an Instagram post.

Returning to Paradise

After her stage work in Northern Ireland, Anna has now travelled back to Australia to star the first ever female lead detective in the Death In Paradise spin-off Return To Paradise

According to the broadcaster the six-part series will have a 'distinct flair' while still paying homage to original series, which recently lost Ralf Little as it's star (pictured)

After her stage work in Northern Ireland, Anna has now travelled back to Australia to star the first ever female lead detective in the Death In Paradise franchise.

She is set to front a brand-new spin-off, titled Return To Paradise, which has already begun filming Down Under.

Anna will now follow in the footsteps of the show's former detectives Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O'Hanlon and the recently departed Ralf Little.

According to the broadcaster the six-part series will have a 'distinct Australian flair' while still paying homage to original series and will debut on BBC1 and iPlayer later this year.

This marks the franchise's second spin-off after Kris Marshall's DI Humphrey Goodman left sun-soaked Saint Marie for a new life in Devon in Beyond Paradise .

The new series' offical synopsis reads: 'Return to Paradise follows DI Mackenzie Clarke, an Australian ex-pat who's made a name for herself in London's Metropolitan Police for cracking uncrackable murder cases'.

'When she is accused of tampering with evidence, Mackenzie returns to Australia, back to the last place she ever wanted to be  her hometown of Dolphin Cove. Having fled the town six years ago, infamously leaving her ex- fiancee Glenn (Tai Hara) at the altar, Mackenzie is not welcome there'.

'But with no other job options, and a unique talent for solving a mystery, no matter how challenging, a reluctant Mack joins the team at Dolphin Cove Police Station'.

'Once a case lands on her desk, she can't rest until she's figured it out, and the killer is in handcuffs. It's that tenacity and work ethic that might just, over time, help Mackenzie win over her new colleagues, and the people of Dolphin Cove'.

Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, said: 'Everything we all love about Death in Paradise - the humour, the beautiful scenery, the likeable characters, the ingenious plots - now in a fabulous Australian setting'.
Ryan Thomas joked he wants to expand his family as he shared a sweet holiday snap with his fiancee and children.

The soap star, 39, has been enjoying a sunny getaway at the five-star Riso The Palm Hotel and Suites in Dubai and gave his followers a glimpse into their festivities on Tuesday.

Lucy Mecklenburgh looked every inch the doting mother in the images as she wrapped an arm around stepdaughter Scarlett, 13, son Roman, four, and daughter Lilah, 23 months, in Dubai.

And the idyllic break seemed to have made Ryan broody as he told his followers: 'Its moments like this I think we should have another one!..joking! @lucymeck1'.

Ryan welcomed his first daughter Scarlett in 2008 with his first wife Tina O'Brien and went on to welcome two more children with Lucy.

Ryan Thomas joked he wants to expand his family as he shared a sweet holiday snap with Lucy Mecklenburgh and children Scarlett, 13, Roman, 4, and Lilah, 23 months, on Tuesday

Ryan appeared in high spirits in the snaps as he flashed a pearly white smile while holding his only son on his shoulders.

Lucky looked stunning in lilac swimwear as she slung her youngest daughter on her hip for the adorable picture.

Looking trendy, Scarlett wore a leopard print bikini and 90s-inspired sunglasses.

Ryan also shared snaps of him pulling tongues with his two youngest children as they joke about on the beach.

The soap star's Dancing On Ice partner, Amani Fancy, has also been on the luxury getaway.

Sharing a snap to her Instagram stories, Amani, 26, and Scarlett posed with their heads in their hands.

The professional dancer captioned the story: 'Love u'.

The heart-warming snap comes after Lucy showed off her washboard abs in a lime green bikini on Monday.

The soap star , 39, has been enjoying a sunny getaway at the five-star Riso The Palm Hotel and Suites in Dubai and gave his followers a glimpse into their festivities on Tuesday

Ryan appeared in high spirits as he flashed a pearly white smile while holding his only son on his shoulders

The soap star shared a sweet album of family pictures on Instagram as he joked that the precious family moment makes him want to book to more holidays

Ryan's Dancing On Ice partner, Amani Fancy, has also been on the luxury getaway and shared a sweet snap with Scarlett on her Instagram Stories

Lucy flaunted her incredibly toned stomach in the stylish two-piece from River Island and wore a matching two-piece over the top.

She teamed her look with a cream beach bag and shielded her eyes with brown-rimmed sunglasses.

To accessorised she had a large wicker bag slung over her shoulder and wore some simple gold bracelets and hoop earrings.

Earlier on Monday, Lucy shared a snap of the former Coronation Street actor, who proposed to her back in 2019, was seen playfully throwing their Lilah into the air while in the swimming pool.

Lucy also cooled off in the water and was seen kissing her little girl as she floated in a baby inflatable chair.

The family seemed in good spirits as they stayed at the incredible Rixos The Palm Dubai.

She looked sensational in Beach Cafe UK's Barbuda ivory swimsuit, worth 254, as she enjoyed an ice cream with her little one.

Her classic bandeau one-piece, which was designed by Melissa Odabash, featured a tortoise shell centre ring adding a modern twist to a classic style

Lucy wrote: 'Pool day with my favourites'.

Last week, Ryan crashed Lucy's outfit check video where she showed off her red bandeau bikini which had floral attachments and she covered with a white sarong skirt.

The heart-warming snap comes after Lucy showed off her washboard abs in a lime green bikini on Monday

Lucy flaunted her incredibly toned stomach in the stylish two-piece and wore a matching two-piece over the top

The TV personality flaunted her toned stomach in the outfit which she paired with a beach bag and sunglasses.

Enter her shirtless fiance Ryan who cheekily interrupted Lucy's video with a jeer and a jig before Lucy pushed him away and continued modelling.

The Dancing On Ice winner showed off his ripped abs in a pair of blue patterned swimming trunks as he larked around.

Lucy has continued to flaunt her sensational sense of style during her luxurious trip abroad as she was also spotted in a Beach Cafe Maxi dress designed by Charo Ruiz, worth 524.

Lucy shot to fame in 2010 as TOWIE's newest cast member and stayed until 2013. The reality show is currently airing its thirty-third series.

Ryan retired from acting in 2021, but has been a frequent fixture in reality television and won Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.

His brother Adam continues to act and Adam's twin Scott, a finalist on the second series of Love Island, works to promote sobriety.

The family seemed in good spirits as they stayed at the incredible Rixos The Palm Dubai. Lucy looked sensational in Beach Cafe UK's Barbuda ivory swimsuit as she enjoyed an ice cream with her little one

Lucy showed off her amazing figure in the gorgeous 254 one-piece as she enjoyed an ice cream with daughter Lilah who was dressed in an adorable green swimsuit

Styling her long brunette tresses in a neat bun, Lucy wore a pair of stylish black as she held her little girl while beaming for a snap. Her classic bandeau swimsuit featured a tortoise shell centre ring adding a modern twist to a classic style

The former Coronation Street actor, who proposed to Lucy back in 2019, was seen playfully throwing their Lilah into the air while in the swimming pool

Lucy also cooled off in the water and was seen kissing her little girl as she floated in a baby inflatable chair

In another clip she showed off her toned figure in the two-piece as she held Lilah while enjoying some fruit from the outdoor bar
Rest and recuperation were needed on Monday after Jessica Alves ended her weekend on the wrong end of a road accident.

The Brazilian TV personality was on her way to upmarket Mayfair for a meal with friends when her taxi was struck by another vehicle on Sunday evening.

But with the heavens on her side, Alves, 40, was dressed appropriately as she recovered from the incident at home the following night.

Wearing raunchy angel themed lingerie, the cosmetically enhanced reality star showed off her voluptuous figure while relaxing in her bedroom.

Completing the look with a fluffy halo fascinator, Alves clutched a virginal red rose to her enormous chest as she posed for a series of self-taken photos.

Rest and recuperation were needed on Monday after Jessica Alves ended her weekend on the wrong end of a road accident

The Brazilian TV personality was on her way to upmarket Mayfair for a meal with friends when her taxi was struck by another vehicle on Sunday evening

She was on her way to local nightspot Sexy Fish, a bar-restaurant favoured for its high-end Japanese cuisine, when an accident involving another vehicle took place.

She told MailOnline: 'It was very scary! I was going to Sexy Fish to meet some friends for dinner and drinks when a car just crashed into my driver's car.

'I hit my head quite violently back and forth. I had seatbelts on, but when I got to the restaurant I had a banging headache. It was very scary.'

A photo taken by Alves at the time shows police officers attending the scene shortly after the collision on Sunday evening.

The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant was later seen outside the restaurant in a cleavage-boosting Versace outfit and black stiletto heels.

The accident comes after Alves claimed a millionaire Sheikh once offered her a seven-figure sum to cover her surgically-enhanced body with chocolate - so he could lick it off.

The Brazilian star said she speaks to the man daily via her OnlyFans platform and despite turning down his request she admitted she wasn't completely opposed to the idea.

She told MailOnline: 'This week, after a stream chat on OF, he offered me a seven-figure tip to meet me in person and to cover my entire body with chocolate then lick it off me.'

A photo taken by Alves shows police officers attending the scene some time after the collision

With the heavens on her side, Alves was dressed appropriately in raunchy angel themed lingerie as she recovered from the incident at home the following night.

Alves has been posting to her OnlyFans page for the last two years and said it was a way of giving her fans 'the attention they deserved'.

She said: 'I have created sizzling exclusive content to all my OnlyFans subscribers this Easter where I will cover my body in chocolate - but I just dont have anyone to lick it off me yet.'

It won't be difficult for Alves to pick a volunteer as despite being so new to the app, she is already in the top 0.1 percent of creators, beating out two million others.

She added: 'My OnlyFans burst with confidence and my fans' love and admiration validates me as a woman - even if I'm still single and feeling lonely or if I had a bad day.

The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant was seen outside the restaurant in a cleavage-boosting Versace outfit and black stiletto heels following Sunday's accident

The accident comes after Alves claimed a millionaire Sheikh once offered her a seven-figure sum to cover her surgically-enhanced body with chocolate - so he could lick it off

'When I log-in on my OnlyFans to chat to the fans it fills that void that most of us single people have.

Alves has been seen with numerous men over the years, but her last confirmed relationship was with Brit Jamie Bugden and it ended in 2022.

A source told MailOnline: 'They have been getting on very well and are making the most of their trip. It is the first time she has ever posted a man on her social media.

'Jessica is heartbroken that it won't be a long term relationship as he is a British man based in Thailand and she splits her time between London and Brazil. They are having fun for now.'
When Fern Britton made her return to the This Morning studios at the end of March, it was an emotional moment.

While the location was different  ITV have moved buildings since her departure in 2009  it brought back some memories for the star. Not all of them good.

Mostly, say friends of Fern, because of how her exit, back in 2009, was mired in such bitter acrimony following a fall-out with her co-host Phillip Schofield.

So powerful was he at the time that their feud meant there could only be one winner, and Fern quickly found herself pushed aside to make way for the much younger Holly Willoughby  Schofields then best friend.

But once again on the sofa, those who know Fern say that she was thrilled to be back as she was interviewed by new hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley about her three-week stint on ITVs Celebrity Big Brother.

Fern felt right at home, says a friend. It was quite something for her to return to the show after what went on with her and Phillip but she loved it.

Fern Britton's emotional return to This Morning last month where she was interviewed by Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard

As did, Im told, the bosses at ITV.

Some in the upper echelons at the network have long thought it was a mistake to sever ties from Fern  who was much loved during her ten-year reign at the helm of the ITV daytime programme.

And now with Schofield firmly out of the picture and her appearance last month such a hit with the viewers, they want her back.

With Cat and Ben being the shows new signings, getting her old job back would be impossible, say sources at ITV.

However, there are many opportunities for guest presenters on programmes such as Lorraine and of course Loose Women, the networks panel show which stars former This Morning host, Ruth Langsford, which could lead to a more permanent role.

One ITV insider reveals: Fern is so relatable but after she left This Morning under a bit of a dark cloud she was kind of forgotten.

After such a long time things didnt end well and it meant that perhaps her legacy there had been ignored, but the second she was back on the sofa they realised what they had been missing for all of these years.

For many of the bosses it is a no-brainer to use her as much as they can, and of course as much as Fern wants to commit.

She is the most experienced and talented of broadcasters and is absolutely adored by the British public.

Those who know Fern say that she was thrilled to be back on the ITV morning show

Many took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their feelings about seeing Fern back on the sofa

Indeed she is and fans took to social media to tell ITV bosses so following her appearance, even calling for her to be holiday cover for the newly ordained Ben and Cat  slots that are usually filled by Alison Hammond, Josie Gibson or Rochelle Humes.

So fabulous to see Fern back on the show... Holiday stand in... ??? Hope so!! tweeted one after watching her interview.

Bosses at the network take notice of viewer comments and often act upon what they want.

Friends of Fern say she was delighted at the feedback and has, herself, had a new lease of life and is keen to make a significant return to television. Her decision to want to make a comeback is helped by the fact that Schofield is no longer involved at ITV.

He was, say her friends, pretty horrid to her.

With Phil no longer at ITV calling the shots like he did before, there are many opportunities for Fern. He wielded so much power there that if you crossed him, you were done for. That was where Fern found herself, it was pretty awful back them but time is a great healer.

Not only was Fern a victim of that but she didnt exactly want to be around him anyway so she just left them all to it and went onto have a nice life and move on from all of the toxicity.

Presenting This Morning with co-host Phillip Schofield in 2005. Tensions have since soured

With her ex-husband TV chef Phil Vickery, whom she split with in 2020 after 20 years together

Fern was said to have felt like she was undervalued by ITV and living in Schofields shadow before she was ultimately replaced by Holly.

It was also reported she was being paid 250,000 a year less than Schofield at This Morning. Similarly, he was believed to be earning three times her salary when they were fronting the ITV game show, Mr and Mrs, together from 2008 to 2010.

The gender pay gap was said to have infuriated Fern so much so that when she left the former friends didnt speak at all. ITV would not comment on this.

That was until 2018 when they locked horns once again, this time when This Morning was presented with a Bafta to mark 30 years of the show. All the big stars were there  except Fern.

Congrats on the Bafta. That was absolutely wonderful and brilliant. I would have loved to have been there but I didnt get an invitation, she wrote pithily on social media.

Schofield swiped back with a saccharine post on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying: Odd really, because she was invited and declined #MemoryLoss. Wed have loved her to be there, a vital and much loved part of the show.

Fern is already being inundated with offers following her popularity on Celebrity Big Brother in which she reached the final along with former X Factor judge, Louis Walsh.

Guest slots leading into a full-time role is familiar territory for Fern, 66. She started out on This Morning as a stand-in before she joined the show full time in 1999  initially hosting with disgraced former Blue Peter star John Leslie.

He was sacked by ITV after he was accused of numerous sexual offences, all of which, subsequently, he was cleared of.

Fern was said to be devastated at Leslies departure, and was unflinching in her public support for him, calling him her friend.

During her stint on This Morning, Fern prompted many column inches of her own: in 2000 she divorced her husband, television executive Clive Jones, and father to her three children, and married TV chef Phil Vickery.

The pair had met on BBC2 show Ready Steady Cook, and Vickery also appeared on This Morning as their resident chef. They went on to have a daughter together, Winnie, in 2001.

In 2008, she attracted unwelcome attention for very different reasons when she was exposed for having had a gastric band fitted which saw her drop from a size 22 to a 12.

After leaving the show in 2009, Fern moved to Cornwall where she lived a quiet life.

Fern leaving the Celebrity Big Brother house last month in fifth place

For many years she escaped the limelight and engrossed herself in writing novels and being a busy mum to her four children: Winnie and twins Harry and Jack, 29, and 26-year-old daughter Grace.

For her, after so many years of being tabloid fodder, it was, her friends say, blissful for her.

But sadly, she found herself back in the headlines in 2020, which she and Phil announced they were splitting up, after 20 years together.

Speaking of the divorce, she said: Looking back, I dont think I was as sane as I thought I was at the time.

I remember endless days of indolence, not being able to go anywhere, not doing anything, not wanting to get out of bed.

Im rebuilt and Im doing OK. I was not suicidal, but life had knocked me for six. I was lost, then I found a bit of purpose again and its been lovely.

We simply needed to follow our own paths. Over time we realised we werent necessarily having the kind of life we once did. It seemed right to say, Thank you, and move on.

But her heartache worsened two years later when rumours circulated that Vickery was dating Ferns close friend Lorraine Stanton. They were pictured kissing each other in London.

Before she entered the Celebrity Big Brother house she went on a mission to lose weight, and apparently shed more than three stone as a result of her running through the Cornwall countryside, all of which she documented on her Instagram page.

She also posts regularly about her beloved cats, Dr Mackerel, Dr Iain and Barbara, and enjoys nothing more than a picnic on the beach close to her idyllic home.

An ITV source tells me that they welcomed Fern back with open arms and admit that now, more than ever, she is someone whom their viewers can relate to.

Fern has been through it all, she has lost a high profile job, divorced twice, shes a mother, she struggles with her weight, all of that is so relatable for our viewers. You never know, next time Cat is off you might just see Fern back on the sofa.

Watch this space.
Louise Thompson has been flooded with messages of support from famous pals and loved ones who lauded her 'brave' decision to reveal she has had a stoma bag fitted.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 34, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2018, and in an Instagram post on Tuesday, told her followers that her stoma bag has 'saved her life.'

After sharing a video of her bag on Instagram, Louise received a slew of sweet comments from her famous pals, including Zara McDermott, Sophie Habboo and Lisa Snowdon.

Leading the praise was Louise's brother Sam, who wrote: 'The only way is up from here on out. The fact that you're my sister is just so f***ing awesome! A real life hero.'

His girlfriend Zara McDermott added: 'When you think about it, its a beautiful thing because it means less time in hospital, less time in pain, less time with a poison organ in your body! Now you are free my girl. Now its time for YOU.'

Louise Thompson has been flooded with support from her brother Sam, his girlfriend Zara McDermott and a slew of famous pals after revealing she's had a stoma bag fitted

The former Made In Chelsea star was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and in an Instagram post on Tuesday (pictured) admitted that her stoma bag has 'saved her life'

Louise's former Made In Chelsea co-star Sophie Habboo commented: 'Unbelievably brave, sending so much love.'

Maria Fowler commented: 'Amazing you have been so brave to share this. My mum suffers with ulcerative colitis and I know how debilitating it can be. Here's to a good fulfilling life.'

Ashley James wrote: 'Le bum bag will inspired so many others. Sending you love,' while Georgia Kousoulou wrote: 'You are amazing.'

Lisa Snowdon commented: 'Big love darling,' while Rosie Fortescue penned: 'So proud of you tiny one.'

Dr Zoe Williams commented: 'You're an inspiration and le bum bag looks good on your baby. Sending love to you.'

Louise shared a video of her stoma bag with her Instagram followers on Tuesday, as she bravely admitted it is 'not something she wanted to hide forever'.

The star had previously spoken about her ongoing struggles with the bowel condition ulcerative colitis as well as the autoimmune disease lupus.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic bowel condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers develop on the colon's lining, which can bleed. The condition has no cure, but can be effectively managed with time.

After sharing a video of her bag on Instagram, Louise received a slew of sweet comments from her famous pals, including Zara, Sophie Habboo and Lisa Snowdon

Louise shared a video of her stoma bag with her Instagram followers on Tuesday, as she bravely admitted it is 'not something she wanted to hide forever'

Louise shared her stoma bag with her followers on social media on Tuesday as she bravely admitted it is 'not something she wanted to hide forever'

Earlier this year she spent two weeks in hospital after suffering a ulcerative colitis flare up during a holiday with her fiance Ryan Libbey and their little boy Leo, two (pictured at the time)

Earlier this year she spent two weeks in hospital after suffering a ulcerative colitis flare up during a holiday with her fiance Ryan Libbey and their little boy Leo, two.

The fitness influencer almost died during the birth of her son Leo in 2021 and was left with post traumatic stress disorder.

Louise shared a video of herself showing the bag, which is attached to her stomach, and wrote: HOW DO I DISCLOSE THIS SORT OF NEWS?

'It's not exactly exciting like a big pregnancy or gender reveal announcement! Hey look i'm having a boy Hey look i've got a stoma!

'So I guess i'll just stand here. Proud in stature. With my new friend. Le bum bag, that represents life. And hopefully a better one.

'Isn't it bizarre that this little grey pouch is the price I pay for good health! I say good riddance to that nasty menacing colon!

Louise urged people to support her choice to share her news online, and added: 'Please be kind.'

In the clip, Louise lifted her top to reveal the pouch and told her fans she was 'introducing the bag that may well have saved her life'.

She added: 'Not exactly a glamorous announcement but not something I want to keep hidden forever.'

In February, Louise revealed she was forced to rush home from Antigua after 'losing cupfuls of blood every 20 minutes' during a bad flare up (pictured in Antigua)

What is a stoma? A stoma is a surgically-created opening made on the abdomen, which is made to divert the flow of urine and faeces. According to the NHS, this procedure may be needed if you cannot pass stools through your anus, which could be the result of an illness, injury or problem with your digestive system. In the UK, it is estimated that one in 335 people have had the surgery. The procedure can be part treatment for a number of illnesses, including cancer, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease or any trauma to the abdomen. The stoma will generally be 'pink and most - like the inside of our mouths'. After the surgery, it will be swollen, but this will reduce in six to eight weeks. There is no sensation to touching a stoma - as there are no nerves - but different people will have theirs in a different size or shape. It is also possible to have a temporary stoma, which could later be reversed, if the diseased or damaged area in the bowel needs to heal over time. A stoma is a surgically-created opening made on the abdomen, which is made to divert the flow of urine and faeces. Stock image used TYPES OF STOMA COLOSTOMY This refers to an opening in the colon - the large intestine. During the operation, a part of the colon will be brought from inside the body through their abdomen. The output from this 'often resembles a traditional stool' and functions around one to three times a day. ILEOSTOMY For this procedure, the surgeon will bring a part of the small intestine - the ileum specifically - from inside the patient's body and bring it through the abdomen, stitching it down to secure it. The output for an ileostomy is looser than that of a colostomy. An ileostomy bag - which enables drainage into the toilet between three to six times a day' - is also worn. UROSTOMY A urostomy refers to an opening for a person's urine specifically. For this, the surgeon will take a piece of someone's small intestine and attach it to the ureters. This will 'form a passageway for urine to pass through'. For this, one of the tube is brought out through the abdomen. A urostomy bag will also have a 'bung or tap on the bottom to allow urine to be drained at regular intervals into the toilet'. Source: Colostomy UK, NHS Advertisement

In February, Louise revealed she was forced to rush home from Antigua after 'losing cupfuls of blood every 20 minutes' during a bad flare up.

Louise's hospital stay was confirmed by her partner Ryan, who did not disclose the reason, and she later broke her silence and told her followers she was 'alive and in good care'.

She shared a photo from her hospital bed and said following an 'unexpected turn of events' she had returned home after more than two weeks in hospital.

Louise explained how she began struggling while on holiday with her family in the Caribbean and used up all of her energy 'pretending to be okay'.

The reality personality admitted that 'deep down' she knew she was really unwell and pushed on because the holiday had been planned for so long.

Louise, who was diagnosed with PTSD, explained after finding her way out of a 'mental health hole' following her near-death experience during the birth of Leo, she felt that 'nothing could compare' to it.

However, she admitted that she now understands both mental and physical health are 'agony and can leave you powerless'.

Louise insisted that most people would have been in A&E on day one with her symptoms, however she had become 'too used' to her chronic condition.

She said that she was falling asleep a lot 'randomly' throughout the day while on the trip and was struggling to walk and pick up her son.

Louise said the end of every day felt like 'surviving' to see another one, as she shared the horror of 'going to the loo every 20 minutes and losing cup fulls of blood'.

Louise said her body was 'surviving, masking and compensating', but it raised alarm bells to her family given her past health woes.

Louise shares her son with her fiance Ryan Libbey (pictured left)

Following her discharge, Louise was then admitted to hospital three times in one week over extreme pains, ultrasounds and check ins (pictured with fiance Ryan Libbey)

It got to the point where she couldn't cope anymore and nothing was healing on its own and she began to feel like things were 'dangerous'.

At this point she booked an early flight home and went straight to A&E where she was admitted immediately.

She said there have been 'several ups and downs' along the way but insisted she would not let herself 'slip back'.

She concluded: 'I want to continue with life 'as normal' as much as possible as much as possible as I think that staying connected and grounded and present is really good for my head. And I still maintain that 2024 is going to be the best yet!'

Following her discharge, Louise was then admitted to hospital three times in one week over extreme pains, ultrasounds and check ins.

Louise has been hit by a series of health setbacks following the birth of her son Leo two years ago.

The mother of one was diagnosed with PTSD and postnatal anxiety after nearly dying during labour.

Louise went 'partially deaf' during the ordeal and in 2022 revealed that she would cry up to 20 times a week.

The same year, Louise revealed she had been diagnosed with lupus, which is a condition affecting the immune system, causing joint pain, rashes and fatigue.

She recently announced that she had written a book - called Lucky: Learning To Live Again - which details the story of her traumatic pregnancy.

Announcing the news, Louise said she was 'ready' but also 'petrified' to step into a new chapter after being encouraged to 'help others' by sharing her story.
Rebecca 'Bec' Judd was caught in an awkward moment on Tuesday when she tagged the wrong fashion label in her latest brand deal.

The AFL WAG, 41, appeared to get her brands mixed up on Instagram as she spruiked her latest paid sponsorship with Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne.

She modelled all-denim outfits as she pranced about The Fashion Capital for a photoshoot, but made an embarrassing blunder when she later uploaded the snaps and tagged the incorrect brands.

The socialite made her first mistake when she shared a picture of herself in a cropped denim jacket ($615) and beaded cutaway jeans ($535).

She paired the very chic look with a luxury bag worth up to $520, but failed to credit the right designer which was Maje.

Bec Judd, 41, suffered an embarrassing fail on her paid sponsorship on Tuesday when she tagged fashion label Sandro Paris as the owner of an outfit designed by Maje

Pictured are the Maje jeans she said were from Sandro

Instead, Bec tagged Sandro Paris, pointing followers who wanted to shop her entire look to the completely wrong store.

The gaffe didn't end there, with Bec's next photo showing yet another denim look with high waisted jeans ($365) and a striped 'coatigan' ($595).

She once again paired the look with a blue tweed bag ($565), with the entire outfit being sold at Sandro Paris - yet Bec tagged the clothes as belonging to Maje.

The WAG also went on to wrongly tag an outfit designed by Sandro Paris as belonging to the label Maje

Pictured is the Sandro 'coatigan' she said was from Maje

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Bec for comment.

Bec has carved out a hugely successful career as a social media star, nabbing a whole string of lucrative paid partnerships.

The wife of AFL star Chris Judd has collaborated with an array of top brands as well as launching her very own activewear line during her rise to fame.

Bec managed to correctly tag her stunning black denim look with the right brand name

Bec, who has racked up more than 750,000 Instagram followers, is said to be paid around $5,500 per sponsored post, according to the Herald Sun.

Her paid partnerships see her plug a whole string of products, brands and holiday destinations as she has soared to success as a popular social media influencer.

Bec is impressively an ambassador for six top companies - The Skincare Company, Melbourne City Land Rover, Mermade, Chadstone and Gem teeth whitening.

She is well-known for her taste in luxury designer goods and memorably promoted designer candles worth a whopping $2,450 back in December.
Salma Hayek proved she hasn't quite kicked her smoking habit as she enjoyed a cigarette while caught in traffic in Los Angeles on Monday.

The Magic Mike actress, 57, wore a pair of black sunglasses along with a navy top during the outing.

Wearing her locks in an updo, the film star tossed her cigarette out the window before driving away.

Selma previously hated cigarettes until she took on the role of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo in a movie about her life which required her to smoke.

She said: 'I hated cigarettes and I had to learn how to do it for the movie... When I started, I was smoking some horrible, old Mexican cigarettes without a filter, because that's what used to smoke.

Salma Hayek proved she hasn't quite kicked her smoking habit as she enjoyed a cigarette while caught in traffic in Los Angeles on Monday

The Magic Mike actress, 57, wore a pair of black sunglasses along with a navy top during the outing

Selma previously hated cigarettes until she took on the role of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo in a movie about her life which required her to smoke (pictured in Frida, 2002)

'So, at the beginning, I used to throw up after a couple of scenes and then I actually got addicted to that thing that I hated so much.

'I stopped (for) two years when I was pregnant and I was breastfeeding. Thank God I breastfed for so long because it kept me away from the cigarettes.'

Salma did previously try to quit, telling Marie Claire in 2007: 'It's the s***iest vice you could possibly pick. I've tried to quit before. But this time I'm done with it. I've changed.'

It comes after the Mexican beauty celebrated her 15th wedding anniversary to billionaire businessman Francois-Henri Pinault on Valentine's Day.

Salma and the 61-year-old CEO of Kerring - who has a reported net worth of $7 billion - got engaged in March 2007.

After a nearly two-year engagement, they tied the knot in Paris on February 14, 2009, renewing their vows just a few months later in Italy.

The Desperado star shared an undated black-and-white snap on her Instagram post, expressing her love for Francois. 'After 18 years together and 15 years of marriage, you still make loving you easy, fun, deep and fresh like a gentle breeze. Happy anniversary mi amor.'

The Oscar-nominated actress most recently starred in Magic Mike's Last Dance and an 2023 episode of Black Mirror.

She is also starring in Angelina Jolie's next film as a director, Without Blood, which is in post-production.

She stars alongside Demian Bichir in the war drama, though plot details are being kept under wraps.
Ralf Little has revealed what's next for him in his career after quitting Death In Paradise - saying wants to play a villain.

The 44-year-old actor has just left the much-loved BBC show after four years playing DI Neville Parker and now he's ready to take on something very different to the 'nice guys' he usually portrays on screen.

He told Big Issue magazine: 'I want to push myself out of my comfort zone and do more things that scare me or that I maybe feel a bit intimidated by.

'And I'd love to play a villain. It would be so nice to just play someone horrible - I've spent my whole career playing nice guys. I want to surprise myself.'

Ralf hopes his Death in Paradise stint has changed how he is perceived because he has spent so long being associated with The Royle Family, in which he played Antony from 1998 to 2012.

Ralf Little has revealed what's next for him in his career after quitting Death In Paradise - saying wants to play a villain

The 44-year-old actor has just left the much-loved BBC show after four years playing DI Neville Parker and now he's ready to take on something very different to the 'nice guys' he usually portrays on screen

Asked if he thinks playing Neville has changed how people see him, he said: 'Massively. And I welcome that, because I loved every moment of it. But now people are talking about Death in Paradise just as much.

'That evolution feels very satisfying. It's the next step of my life. I was a kid when I did The Royle Family. I'm a middle-aged man now.'

The actor also told how he relished the chance to take on the 'incredible challenge' of leading a show for the first time with Death in Paradise.

It comes after it was revealed that Death In Paradise's brand new spin-off series will feature the franchise's first ever lead female detective.

Return to Paradise will be set in sun-soaked Australia and follow DI Mackenzie Clarke, played by Anna Samson, as she attempts solves a whole host of mysterious murders.

Following time spent working for London's Metropolitan Police she is accused of tampering with evidence which forces her to return to her hated home down under.

British born Australian actress Anna has previously starred in Home And Away and HBO's Leftovers.

She will now follow in the footsteps of the show's former detectives Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O'Hanlon and the recently departed Ralf.

He told Big Issue magazine: 'I'd love to play a villain. It would be so nice to just play someone horrible - I've spent my whole career playing nice guys. I want to surprise myself'

Ralf hopes his Death in Paradise stint has changed how he is perceived because he has spent so long being associated with The Royle Family, in which he played Antony from 1998 to 2012

According to the broadcaster the six-part series will have a 'distinct Australian flair' while still paying homage to original series and will debut on BBC1 and iPlayer later this year.

This marks the franchise's second spin-off after Kris Marshall's DI Humphrey Goodman left sun-soaked Saint Marie for a new life in Devon in Beyond Paradise.

Ralf recently revealed the real reason he decided to leave Death in Paradise at the end of last month - a move which left viewers in tears.

His departure came as a shock to fans, with the BBC only confirming Ralf had left the show after the finale aired.

And speaking about his exit on BBC Breakfast last week, the actor admitted he had always planned for this series to be his last and felt he had to walk away for the sake of his character.

He told hosts Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt: 'You know, this last series was always going to be my last series. I spoke to the BBC and Red Planet, the production company, and we all agreed.'

Ralf admitted: 'If it was just a heart decision I would have wanted to do it for 20 more years.

'But just for the show and for my character Neville it just sort of felt like his story was finished and his journey deserved to be completed.

It comes after it was revealed that Death In Paradise's brand new spin-off series will feature the franchise's first ever lead female detective (Anna Samson pictured as DI Mackenzie Clarke in Return to Paradise)

Ralf recently revealed the real reason he decided to leave Death in Paradise at the end of last month - a move which left viewers in tears

'He deserved a happy ending and it just felt right.

Speaking about getting the part in the first place he said: 'As an actor you're used to going 'Oh well didn't get that one. Oh great I got that one,' and you try not to get to excited or disappointed as a way to keep your sanity.

'But when I got that one there was some celebrations for sure. I mean who doesn't want to work in the Caribbean on one of the most beloved shows that I was a fan of before I went on it.'

After Ralf's final episode aired on March 25, the star took to Instagram as he told his fans it was an 'absolute privilege' to play Neville.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan highlighted "synergies" in trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan in security, technology and other fields on Tuesday, the eve of a summit between President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Sullivan made the remarks as he previewed the White House summit on what he called issues "across the board," including defense, space cooperation and research partnerships on critical technologies, including artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

"I believe I don't necessarily like to use the word synergies very often, but I do believe that there are synergies on a trilateral basis in terms of our technological, industrial, economic capacity, as well as our security and military cooperation," Sullivan told a press briefing.

"We want to build on that. For tomorrow, what we are announcing will be bilateral measures in this space. And then of course, we will be open in the future to discussing things more (on trilateral cooperation)," he added.

He was responding to a question about the future of defense industry cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan amid speculation that Biden and Kishida will announce bilateral collaboration on joint development and production of military equipment.

Asked about the U.S. position on Japan's diplomatic outreach to Pyongyang, Sullivan underscored the importance of "principled diplomacy."

"Speaking from the U.S. perspective, we believe that principled diplomacy is a good thing. It's a necessary component of an overall strategy to confront the North Korean threat," he said. "We ourselves have indicated we are prepared to engage in diplomacy with North Korea. Of course the North Koreans have not shown any interest in that.

He went on to highlight that Pyongyang has only tried to "move down the track of further development of their missile and nuclear programs."

"So, we, the United States, have pulled closer together with our allies to enhance our capacity and posture in the Indo-Pacific, and we will continue to do that," he said. (Yonhap)
Home and Away fans were treated to the wedding on the year on Tuesday night when two beloved characters walked down the aisle.

Leah Patterson-Baker and Justin Morgan, portrayed by Ada Nicodemou and James Stewart, said 'I do' in a stunning ceremony.

Fans were delighted by the nuptials, with many sharing their thoughts on Instagram.

'Stop I'm crying, this was so beautiful and heartfelt to watch,' wrote one person in the comments.

'Beautiful wedding,' said another, with someone else chiming in, 'Wow absolutely amazing'.

Home and Away fans were treated to the wedding on the year on Tuesday night when two beloved characters walked down the aisle. Pictured: Ada Nicodemou as Leah Patterson-Baker

Fans were delighted by the nuptials, with many sharing their thoughts on Instagram. Pictured: James Stewart as Justin Morgan

'This Is Amazing!!!' said one more person, with yet another saying, 'Beautiful wedding'.

'A very very pretty wedding. l loved every second. Congratulations and best wishes for a long beautiful life together forever,' someone else said.

The pair walked down the aisle in a stunning locale but all was not as it seemed when it came to filming.

'The thing with a Home And Away wedding is that it looks lovely on screen but it goes for days and it was so hot and there were so many flies,' Ada told 7NEWS.com.au.

The pair walked down the aisle in a stunning locale but all was not as it seemed when it came to filming

'The thing with a Home And Away wedding is that it looks lovely on screen but it goes for days and it was so hot and there were so many flies,' Ada told 7NEWS.com.au

'It was pretty full-on,' James agreed, with the pair suffering through 45C heat.

Two characters made a shock return to Summer Bay for the special occasion.

Matt Little, 31, who portrayed VJ Patterson from 2014 to 2017, returned for a cameo appearance.

Little reprised his role as the son of longtime character Leah Patterson-Baker.

His character was last seen on screens in 2017 when he fled to Cyprus with baby Luc, the daughter of his late wife Billie.

Penny McNamee, 41, also returned to the Bay for a cameo as beloved character Tori Morgan, Justin's sister.
Speculation over her employee status grew after she vanished from the luxury estate agent's 'meet the team' page on the company website

Selling The OC star Alexandra Jarvis has sensationally quit her job at famed realtor The Oppenheim Group's Newport Beach office - becoming the third agent to walk out of their role ahead of the release of the third season of the hit Netflix show.

Despite appearing in the explosive trailer for the upcoming eight-part instalment, which is due to hit the platform on May 3, DailyMail.com can reveal that the 33-year-old luxury realtor has since parted ways with the business, along with fellow cast members Tyler Stanaland and Sean Palmieri.

Eagle-eyed fans have been busy speculating over Alexandra's employee status at the company over the past week after they noticed her profile has been removed from the official website's 'meet the team' page.

Now, The Oppenheim Group has confirmed that 'she no longer works there'.

Selling The OC star Alexandra Jarvis has quit The Oppenheim Group ahead of the show's third season on Netflix

Taking to Reddit, one fan had asked: 'Alexandra Jarvis left the Oppenheim Group? She doesn't appear on their web anymore.

'That would mean that three realtors of Selling the OC have left the group after season 3.'

Another said: 'I didn't understand the hate the group gave her. From the very first episode they all hated her. It makes sense she would leave.'

Although it remains unclear as to what prompted Alexandra's departure from the company, the teaser for the new series appears to show her forming an alliance with Sean, who looks to be ousted by the group for allegedly 'starting rumors'.

In a brief clip, she quips 'it's like they have a full time job trying to manipulate and twist things.' It is not yet clear who she is referring to.

Trained employment lawyer Alexandra has been part of the Selling The OC cast since the show premiered in 2022.

In season two, she dramatically fell out with her colleague Alexandra Rose after growing increasingly uncomfortable with her former friend flirting with prospective clients.

Tensions then reached fever pitch after Rose, 29, discovered Alexandra had a meeting with one of their joint clients without her.

Speculation over Alexandra's employee status at the company has been rife after she disappeared from the business's website

In the show's second season, Alexandra fell out with fellow agent Alexandra Rose (pictured)

Alexandra married her husband Sergio Ducoulombier (pictured together in 2022) in an Italian ceremony last year

Speaking about their rift in an interview with People in September, Alexandra said she wasn't surprised that their friendship turned sour.

She said: 'Our relationship was very superficial, but we worked well together for a time. Then things changed.

'Things happen, and some of that's not going to obviously ever be on camera, but it needed to happen.'

She added: 'It wasn't a surprise, because of all of the events that happened.

'I think everything was meant to be, and I just don't think we're meant to work together.'

DailyMail.com has contacted a rep for Alexandra and the Oppenheim Group to comment.

Last year, Tyler, 34, confirmed he had left the Oppenheim Group to return to work with his father John Stanaland at the rival real estate firm, Douglas Elliman.

Tyler Stanaland announced he had left the Oppenheim Group in October to return to work at his family business

In an interview last year, Tyler admitted that leaving the agency was not an easy decision

At the time, the fifth generation realtor told People: 'Leaving the Oppenheim Group wasn't an easy decision, but is the right decision for me and my clients.

'Not only am I joining my dad and brother at Douglas Elliman, I'm aligning with a brand that has unparalleled reach and presence in the market with a renowned network of agents and industry leaders.'

Tyler, who was married to actress Brittany Snow, also hinted that his future on Selling The OC is up in the air as a result.

He continued to the publication: 'Selling the OC revolves around agents at the Oppenheim Group. As of today, I will be working at Douglas Elliman.'

Explaining his decision for leaving the company, Tyler stressed that it was strictly business  and that there is no bad blood.

In November, fellow Selling The OC realtor Sean, 29, confirmed he had also followed suit and quit the Oppenheim Group.

Sean Palmieri revealed one month later in November that he had also quit the office, stating that it was 'not a culture fit for me'

'Unfortunately, the Oppenheim Group was not a culture fit for me and I'm really excited for the future as I just signed as a partner with an amazing, top-producing team and mentor, Steve Games, previous owner of Prudential California Realty and Pacific Sotheby's International Realty,' he told ET.

'Our team recently just launched with Coldwell Banker West.

'Returning to the serene atmosphere of San Diego County, where I first ventured from Florida to California, brings me great joy.

He continued: 'I'm eager to explore the opportunities that lie ahead for my business and success in this vibrant community.'

Sean finds himself at the center of controversy in Selling The OC season three and the teaser shows him coming to blows with realtor Austin Victoria over a supposed rumor he has started  on top of his colleagues turning their back on him.

Despite being confronted by Austin, 32, in a blistering face to face, Sean remains calm and at one point even declares, 'I'm sleeping like a baby because I have the truth.'

Jason Oppenheim, the company's co-founder and star of the Netflix series, told People April 24 about Jarvis leaving, 'We're still on good terms.

'I don't want to speak for Jarvis, but ... she decided to do what's best for her, and I have a lot of respect for that.'
Ginnifer Goodwin and her husband Josh Dallas - who are both 45-years-old - made a very rare red carpet appearance together last week.

The lovebirds looked happier than ever as they posed side-by-side and held hands at the Hulu and Disney+ celebration event.

The Walt Disney Company was celebrating the official launch of Hulu on Disney+ at an exclusive cocktail reception hosted by Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, along with special guest Bob Iger, on Friday evening in Los Angeles.

The actors have been married 10 for years after meeting on the ABC fantasy series Once Upon A Time.

They have two children together: Oliver Finlay Dallas, nine, and Hugo Wilson Dallas, seven.

Ginnifer Goodwin and her husband Josh Dallas made a very rare red carpet appearance together. The lovebirds looked happier than ever as they posed side-by-side and held hands at the Hulu and Disney+ celebration event

The actors have been married 10 for years after meeting on the ABC fantasy series Once Upon a Time

The stars seen on the set of Once Upon A Time

She wore a flirty ivory skirt with a buttoned blazer that had a black belt, She added black stockings and carried a mini purse while flashing gold earrings.

He wore a gray suit over a black-and-white collared shirt with no buttons.

This is the first time they have walked the carpet together since January 2020.

Last year Dallas said he has 'nothing but gratitude' for 'Once Upon a Time'.

The actor is best known for playing Prince Charming/David Nolan in the hit ABC show that twists the plots of traditional fairytales.

And he explained that five years on from the series finale, it is 'humbling' to know that the fantasy drama still has an audience.

He told People: 'It's still finding an audience. People come up to me all the time talking about 'Once' and saying they just started watching it and they're loving it.

'Or I've had people come up to me  which makes me feel old, but that's okay  they'll say, "You were my childhood. You got me through college, all through high school" and that show changed their life and it's super humbling.

'It's just nothing but gratitude to be part of a show that was such a big part of some people's fabric of their lives.'

She wore a flirty ivory skirt with a buttoned blazer that had a black belt, She added black stockings and carried a mini purse while flashing gold earrings

The Walt Disney Company was celebrating the official launch of Hulu on Disney+ at an exclusive cocktail reception hosted by Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, along with special guest Bob Iger, on Friday evening in Los Angeles

Josh co-starred alongside his wife Goodwin - who played Snow White in the show - and went on to add that they are still trying to encourage their two young sons to take an interest in the series but to no avail.

He added: 'We keep trying to shove Once Upon a Time down our boys' throats and they just don't want to watch it.

'I think that's probably a healthy reaction that they could care less about mom and dad on screen.

'But we've tried, we've tried several times to get them to watch Once Upon a Time because they're at the right age and I think they would really enjoy it. But they're just not interested at all.'

They have two children together: Oliver Finlay Dallas and Hugo Wilson Dallas. Seen in March
Myleene Klass has been enjoying a family fun-filled trip to Disneyland Paris in France this week.

The TV and radio presenter, 46, was joined by her partner Simon Motson and her three children Ava, 16, Hero, 13, and Apollo, four, for the holiday.

The family looked like they were having a great time as they posed all together in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle for one snap.

Another image showed Myleene sweetly posing with four-year-old Apollo and a Minnie Mouse character.

She looked as stylish as ever in a blue and white striped shirt and green trousers while donning a yellow Pluto cap.

Myleene Klass has been enjoying a family fun-filled trip to Disneyland Paris in France this week amid the Easter Holidays

The TV and radio presenter, 46, was joined by her partner Simon Motson and her three children Ava, 16, Hero, 13, and Apollo, four, for the holiday (seen with Apollo)

Wearing her Pluto hat she also posed with a Pluto character and beamed in the snap.

Myleene has previously taken her daughters to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida when they were young children.

Now, as teenagers, and with the addition of 4-year-old Apollo, she relished the opportunity to bring the whole family together to experience the magic of Disneyland Paris.

'There's something truly special about revisiting that magic together,' said Myleene.

'You're never too old for the enchantment of Disney and seeing it through Apollo's eyes for the first time was incredibly emotional. The atmosphere at Disneyland Paris is infectious, you yourself revert back to being a kid.'

Despite Myleene's demanding schedule, she emphasized the importance of making the most of their trip to Disneyland Paris as a way to relax and cherish time with family.

She said: 'My family means everything to me. I blinked, and my little girls, who used to run around as their favourite Disney characters, Merida and Elsa, are suddenly teenagers. Making memories is more important than ever.'

And fortunately for Myleene, slipping into holiday mode was easier than expected: 'It actually didn't take as long as I thought. You put on those ears, walk through the gates, and instantly feel like a kid again!'

She added of the trip: 'The moment you walk into the lobby and see the chandelier featuring Sleeping Beauty's castle, you just know it's going to be a fairy-tale experience.'

Wearing her novelty Pluto hat she also posed with a Pluto character and beamed in the animated snap

One image showed Myleene sweetly posing with four-year-old Apollo and some Minnie Mouse balloons

Myleene has previously taken her daughters to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida when they were young children

Now, as teenagers, and with the addition of 4-year-old Apollo, she relished the opportunity to bring the whole family together to experience the magic of Disneyland Paris

It comes after Myleene won the Inspirational Mother award at the 2024 Inspiration Awards recently.

She brought out her wild side for the event as she wore a fabulous leopard print dress.

Her figure-hugging garment, which hung tightly past her knees, showcased her toned physique.

Myleene also celebrated the completion of her swimwear shoot with Next in South Africa last week.

Celebrating the end of the shoot, she wrote: 'And that's a wrap! A fleeting fun, few days in South Africa shooting more of my Swim And Beach collection.'

'There's something truly special about revisiting that magic together,' said Myleene of the holiday

She added: 'You're never too old for the enchantment of Disney and seeing it through Apollo's eyes for the first time was incredibly emotional'

Despite Myleene's demanding schedule, she emphasized the importance of making the most of their trip to Disneyland Paris as a way to relax and cherish time with family

And fortunately for Myleene, slipping into holiday mode was easier than expected: 'It actually didn't take as long as I thought. You put on those ears, walk through the gates, and instantly feel like a kid again!'

Her three children were seen sweetly playing together

The family looked like they were having a great time as they posed all together in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle for one snap

There was plenty on offer to do for all the kids

She posed in a sweet snap with her son Apollo

Her daughters were also enjoying the family trip away

Myleene and her family not only enjoyed their stay at the Disneyland Hotel but also made the most of their visit to Disneyland Paris by immersing themselves in the resort's array of attractions

Apollo looked adorable with a bubble machine

Myleene reflected on her overall experience, highlighting the most magical moment from her time at Disneyland Paris: 'I don't think anyone can set their eyes on Sleeping Beauty's castle and not be instantly transported back to their own favourite Disney memories'

Discussing what makes Disneyland Paris ideal for a family break, Myleene said: 'Disneyland Paris is close, just a train ride away, it was all done over a matter of hours, with plenty to see'

Apollo looked delighted to be meeting some of the characters

The family spent plenty of quality time together

Disneyland Paris reopened the doors of its landmark hotel in January 2024 following a complete reimagination

She continued: 'My DMs are already flooded with you looking for these swimsuits after I posted BTS on my stories.

'They're out in a few weeks, I promise I'll keep you posted.

'(Wait till you see them in person, they have sparkles running through the fabric on both the black and pink and they're as supportive and flattering as ever.)

'Thank you to the most incredible, hardworking team. It's been an honour shooting with you, learning more about Amapiano music all whilst dodging the local wildlife.'
Amanda Holden slipped into a stylish denim blue co-ord as she departed Heart FM studios on Tuesday.

The radio host, 53, decided to wear clothes after Monday's breakfast show saw her strip naked while on air.

Amanda couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she left the London studios following yesterday's mad antics.

She wore a chic baby-pink blouse with a denim waistcoat and matching jeans, teamed with a Christian Dior floral handbag.

The blonde beauty elevated her frame with black court heels and shielded her eyes with huge black-rimmed sunglasses.

Amanda Holden, 53, slipped into a stylish denim blue co-ord as she departed Heart FM studios on Tuesday

The radio host decided to wear clothes after Monday's breakfast show saw her strip naked while on air

Amanda cheekily stripped off for a live drawing session, that saw artists, as well as her radio co-hosts Jamie Theakston and Ashley Roberts have a go at drawing her on Monday's show.

As Amanda dropped trousers on camera, Jamie, 53, explained: 'Slightly distracting... Amanda's in the corner of the studio without any clothes on - which is a first not for her of course - but the rest of us.'

Ashley, 42, then interjected: 'She looks amazing!'

As Amanda was presented with the images of herself nude, she seemed delighted with the outcomes.

Yet Jamie was quick to put an end to the bizarre segment as he called out 'can you put a top on because it's slightly distracting?!'

Amanda was no doubt keen to show off her tan after her luxury Maldives family break.

The Britain's Got Talent judge took to Instagram on Thursday to share a reel of holiday highlights from her time spent at the LUX South Ari Atoll beach island.

During the series of clips, Amanda showcased her incredible figure in a 120 orange bikini from Melissa Odabash as she relaxed on a palm tree swing.

Amanda couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she walked left the London studios following yesterday's mad antics

She wore a chic baby-pink blouse with a denim waistcoat and matching jeans, teamed with a Christian Dior floral handbag

Amanda cheekily stripped off for a live drawing session, that saw artists, as well as her radio co-hosts Jamie Theakston and Ashley Roberts have a go at drawing her on Monday's show

As Amanda dropped trousers, Jamie explained: 'Slightly distracting... Amanda's in the corner of the studio without any clothes on - which is a first not for her of course - but the rest of us'

Ashley Roberts, 42, posed for a snap with Amanda in her 'bday suit' interjected: 'She looks amazing!'

The radio presenter also shared some snaps of her evenings spent with her lookalike daughters Lexi, 18, and Hollie, 12, with her husband Chris appearing to be designated photograph for the trip.

It seemed it was the family's second trip back to the island as Amanda was greeted with a 'welcome back' sign on the bed at their water villa.

Water villas are the most expensive accommodation on the island thanks to their idyllic ocean views with it costing upwards of 1,200 per night.

They come with a sun terrace with an infinity plunge pool, sunbed and direct lagoon access and a drop-down projector to have your own cinema in bed.

In another snap, Amanda put on a leggy display in a purple silk dress as she enjoyed a drink.

She wrote: 'We had a lovely family holiday @luxsouthari staff just lovely and food was beyond'
A story involving sex, drugs, suicide, mutant animals, monstrous Hollywood egos, a film director disguised as a dog, an English warlock and the smallest man in the world might be the plot of an especially weird film.

Instead, it is the remarkable true story of the making of a film, the 1996 flop The Island Of Dr Moreau, which came out to terrible reviews exactly a century after the publication of the HG Wells novel of the same name, on which it was based.

Now, with Sir Anthony Hopkins lined up to star in a new cinematic adaptation of Wells book, the films backers will be fervently hoping not to encounter the myriad problems that made the original production one of the most infamously troubled of all time.

Marlon Brando with the shortest man in the world, Nelson de la Rosa, who was just 28in tall, and had come all the way from the Dominican Republic

The title character in The Island Of Dr Moreau, played by Brando, was a mad scientist with an oddball assistant portrayed by Val Kilmer

The Island Of Dr Moreau involved sex, drugs, suicide, mutant animals, monstrous Hollywood egos, and a film director disguised as a dog

The title character in The Island Of Dr Moreau, played by Marlon Brando, was a mad scientist with an oddball assistant (Val Kilmer) who, driven out of polite society by anti-vivisectionists, and holed up in a remote Pacific Ocean lair, created grotesque hybrids of animals and people in an ill-fated bid to combine their best characteristics and save humanity from itself.

A high-concept plot, then, but it was positively humdrum compared with the films truly outlandish back story.

It begins with Richard Stanley, a South African filmmaker who was still in his twenties when he persuaded Hollywood producer Ed Pressman to take a chance on him.

By 1993, Stanley had made a couple of films that - while flawed - showed him to be an up-and-coming writer-director with flair and vision. But they hadnt made him any money; indeed, he was flat broke.

Veteran director John Frankenheimer, whose credits included the 1962 film Birdman of Alcatraz, was an old-school tyrant

The high-concept plot, involving actor David Thewlis inspecting strange creatures in jars, was positively humdrum compared with the films truly outlandish back story

Holed up in a remote Pacific Ocean lair, Dr Moreau created grotesque hybrids of animals and people in an ill-fated bid to combine their best characteristics and save humanity from itself

One day, from a phone box in South London, he made call after call, trying to drum up interest in his script for a new adaptation of Dr Moreau. His last call, providentially, was to Pressman.

Pressman invited Stanley to Los Angeles and introduced him to Bob Shaye, president of New Line Cinema, the studio that would later distribute Peter Jacksons The Lord Of The Rings films.

Shaye agreed to make The Island Of Dr Moreau, envisaging it as a low-budget picture until Pressman approached Brando, then pushing 80. When Brando expressed interest in the title role it became a much more expensive project, so - with trademark Hollywood ruthlessness - the decision was taken to dump Stanley and hire the vastly more experienced Roman Polanski.

Fairuza Balk (left) was so aghast at Stanley's sacking that she threatened to cut her own heart out with a sushi knife

Backers of the new film will be fervently hoping not to encounter the myriad problems that made the original production one of the most infamously troubled of all time

Devastated, Stanley asked if he could at least meet Brando and, in a documentary ABOUT THE BACKGROUND TO THE FILM, explained what happened next: I knew the odds were stacked against me, so I resorted to witchcraft.

Back in England he was friendly with this warlock chappie, Dr Edward James Featherstone, popularly known as Skip. So he contacted Skip and asked for help saving his movie.

While thousands of miles away Skip convened his coven and muttered the necessary imprecations, Stanley was driven to Brandos fortress-like compound high in the Hollywood Hills.

To Stanleys amazement, Brando took a liking to him. He felt there was a strong possibility that it may have been voodoo, but either way, at Brandos insistence Polanski was dropped and Stanley re-hired.

Next, the studio signed up another major star, Bruce Willis, to play the part of the UN negotiator who is washed up on Dr Moreaus island after a plane crash.

With typical Hollywood hyperbole, the project was then billed in the industry press as a mouth-watering collaboration between the men behind Apocalypse Now (Brando), The Wild Bunch (Green) and The Time Machine (Wells). Cairns, in Australia, was chosen as the exotic filming location.

Soon, however, mouths would not be watering so much as frothing. First, Willis dropped out, apparently citing problems in his marriage to Demi Moore. The producers instead asked Val Kilmer, who accepted the job but demanded a 40 per cent reduction in the number of shooting days, which Stanley solved by giving him the smaller role of Moreaus assistant. Meanwhile, Willis was replaced by Rob Morrow, the star of a TV hit, Northern Exposure.

Shortly before production was due to start, in April 1995, Brandos 25-year-old daughter Cheyenne had hanged herself in Tahiti. Brando was distraught. Nobody knew whether he would even turn up.

Producers recruited Kilmer, who accepted the job but demanded a 40 per cent reduction in the number of shooting days so they gave him the smaller role of Moreaus assistant

Sir Anthony Hopkins is lined up to star in a new cinematic adaptation of HG Wellss book The Island Of Dr Moreau

An ever-more stressed Stanley busied himself with the things he could control. To play the beast people, a spectacularly motley cast was assembled  some of them abnormally tall, or short, or fat.

The supposed shortest man in the world, Nelson de la Rosa, who was just 28 inches tall, came all the way from the Dominican Republic where he was a Michael Jackson-level celebrity, thinking hed be the star of the film.

Stanleys assistant was bitten by a poisonous spider living in her lampshade, making her flesh melt. And back in England, Skip the warlock succumbed to a terrible bone-crumbling disease, which according to Stanley, caused every one of his fixes to come undone.

Half the set was washed into the Pacific Ocean by a violent hurricane, and the production was put on hold while a tempest of a different kind developed. By now Stanley was at the end of his tether and behaving increasingly erratically, so New Line fired him. He was replaced by the veteran director John Frankenheimer, whose credits included the 1962 film Birdman of Alcatraz.

Frankenheimer brought a different set of problems. Stanley had at least treated everyone with respect. In fact, actress Fairuza Balk was so aghast at his sacking that she threatened to cut her own heart out with a sushi knife.

But Frankenheimer was an old-school tyrant, causing a head-on collision of gigantic egos with Kilmer, whose antics reportedly extended to setting light to a focus-pullers sideburns, for a laugh.

If Kilmer had a God complex, however, it was cast into the shade by Brandos. He arrived only a week late, refused to learn his lines (they were fed to him by his assistant, through an earpiece), and, to stay cool, insisted on wearing a makeshift upside-down ice-bucket on his head at all times, on screen as well as off.

The Island Of Dr Moreau in 1996 came out to terrible reviews, exactly a century after the publication of the HG Wells novel of the same name

Richard Stanley, a South African filmmaker, disappeared from the industry for decades, living a reclusive life in the French Pyrenees

Otherwise, Brandos time on the Dr Moreau set was marked by two infatuations, one with pizza (the pizza delivery service in Cairns was stretched to its limit, by his demands alone), and the other with little Nelson de la Rosa, to whom he took such a shine that he insisted they must share every scene together. (Marlon) put (Nelson) on his chest in his hammock and sang Frog Went-A Courting to him, recalls Ron Hutchinson, another writer brought in to help with the script. But being the superstars pet went to the little mans head. He propositioned actresses and punched actors in the testicles.

The febrile atmosphere on set was matched off it. There was a huge amount of illicit sex and drug-taking, not least in nightclubs where, according to one of the crew, we had to dance in a circle around Nelson so he didnt get trodden on. Yet perhaps the strangest episode was yet to occur.

Although New Line had paid Richard Stanleys fare back to England, he had never boarded the plane. Instead, he had holed up in the rainforest and befriended the local Aborigines, whom he persuaded to place a curse on the set.

Then he went one step further, putting on a dog head and joining the extras. Declining to remove his disguise during regular drinks breaks for fear of being recognised, and consequently almost passing out from the intense heat, he watched at close hand what Frankenheimer was doing to his film, plotting to sabotage it. But it didnt need sabotaging.

The film received six nominations in the Golden Raspberry awards, or Razzies, honouring the years biggest cinematic stinkers. Brando, described by one critic as a waddling behemoth, was voted Worst Supporting Actor.

As for Stanley, he disappeared from the industry for decades, living a reclusive life in the French Pyrenees, until he re-emerged to make the 2019 sci-fi film Colour Out of Space. It received considerable critical acclaim.

How much of this tumultuous story is familiar to the illustrious Sir Anthony Hopkins? Who knows. But as the 86-year-old prepares to play perhaps the strangest character ever dreamt up even by the lively mind of HG Wells, he can surely be confident that this version of The Island of Dr Moreau, to be titled Eyes In The Trees, wont be anywhere near as bizarre as the last one.
Katie Price has reportedly been sent a warning after 'not co-operating' in paying back her 3.2million debt.

According to The Sun, the former glamour model, 45, is still trapped in her 2019 insolvency due to outstanding tax and mortgage payments.

It was previously thought Katie would be discharged from bankruptcy after one year but her status remains 'indefinite' due to her lack of engagement.

Government guidance: 'You will be freed from bankruptcy (discharged) after 12 months. This ends the bankruptcy restrictions and releases you from most of the debts you had when the bankruptcy order was made.

'Your bankruptcy can be extended for longer than 12 months if you do not cooperate with your trustee.

Katie Price has reportedly been sent a warning after 'not co-operating' in paying back her 3.2million debt

According to The Sun, the former glamour model, 45, is still trapped in her 2019 insolvency due to outstanding tax and mortgage payments

'Check your discharge date using the Individual Insolvency Register on our website. If your discharge status is 'suspended indefinitely' you need to contact the official receiver for an update.'

MailOnline has contacted a representative of Katie Price for comment.

Katie was declared bankrupt for a second time in March after failing to pay over 750,000 in unpaid tax - and will now face losing her home unless HMRC can recover the money.

The reality star failed to appear at a court hearing in London to explain why she has not paid any money to HMRC.

A judge at the High Court ruled that she be declared bankrupt after an official from HMRC said she has failed to pay any money owed or responded to any correspondence since the demand was made for the unpaid tax last year.

It is the second bankruptcy faced by Katie as she is being chased by creditors for a 3.2million payment over the failure of her company Jordan Trading Ltd.

Judge Sebastion Prentis sitting at the High Court Rolls Building said Katie had been served with a petition on November 27 2023 with a demand for 761,994.05.

The huge amount is made up of unpaid tax from self-assessment on her earnings from2020  2022 as well as penalties and surcharges.

It was previously thought Katie would be discharged from bankruptcy after one year but her status remains 'indefinite' due to her lack of engagement

Katie was declared bankrupt for a second time in March after failing to pay over 750,000 in unpaid tax - and will now face losing her home unless HMRC can recover the money

Katie is being chased by creditors for a 3.2million payment over the failure of her company Jordan Trading Ltd

READ MORE: Katie Price set to lose thousands after court rules nearly half of her OnlyFans monthly income is to be deducted amid bankruptcy Advertisement

The court was told she owed 142,405 in tax for 2020-2021 and 196,735 for 2021-2022.

The judge said she also owed 140,000 in unpaid VAT and added: As with the unpaid tax no payment has been made.

The mother-of-five was served with papers in October by HMRC informing her of the debt owed  and she has failed to respond to the demand.

The judge said: There is a substantial debt due from Miss Price due to HMRC and therefore I will make a bankruptcy order.

Katie, who has become known for her flauning her surgically enhanced figure on overseas trips, was first made bankrupt in 2019 when her company went bust.

She has failed to appear at an insolvency hearing on six previous occasions with the model submitting an excuse for her no show each time.

Creditors are owed the 3.2million from her company selling perfume and cosmetics.

Pictured: Katie standing in front of her home, dubbed 'Mucky Mansion', which she could lose over her debts

Katie owes 142,405 in tax for 2020-2021 and 196,735 for 2021-2022, the court was told

A HMRC source said every effort will be made to recover the money and if not paid then assets owed by Price will be seized.

The debt to HMRC could see her lose her 2million mansion dubbed Mucky Mansion after it fell into a state of disrepair.

The latest court judgement added to Katie's woes after she fined for another motoring offence in recent weeks.

She was fined 880 after being caught driving a Range Rover at a service station on the A14 in Kettering, Northamptonshire in August 2023 despite having no licence or insurance.

As well as being handed eight penalty points - taking her total to 11 - Katie was also ordered to pay 972 in costs on top of the financial penalty.
Made In Chelsea's Sam Prince and Yasmine Zweegers have revealed that they are already talking about marriage and having kids together.

Sam, 26, and Yas, 24, opened up about their relationship in a new interview ahead of the Channel 4 reality show returning on Monday April 15 for series 27.

The pair have had an extremely tumultuous relationship on the show - getting together during the Corsica spin off last summer - just days after Sam's toxic split from his ex-girlfriend Inga Valentiner.

It caused uproar among the cast at the time with Inga left in tears while Yas also ended up upsetting co-star Tristan Phipps who she had started to date while filming on the French island.

After Corsica they were on an off for the rest of the summer and autumn before reconciling on the cast trip to Sydney just before Christmas.

Made In Chelsea's Sam Prince and Yasmine Zweegers have revealed that they are already talking about marriage and having kids together

Sam, 26, and Yas, 24, opened up about their relationship in a new interview ahead of the Channel 4 reality show returning on Monday April 15 for series 27

But Sam has now said things are more serious between them than ever, telling Heat Magazine: 'We talk about marriage and kids all the time - it's not a scary thing any more, it's exciting. After Corsica we were nowhere near those chats. Even after Sydney we were nowhere near those chats.'

After a rocky road they insist that their relationship isn't just to prove the doubters wrong.

Yas explained: 'At the end of the day we don't want to prove anything to other people. Initially people didn't quite get it, but now they are slowly starting to get us.

'Because we got with each other in such a dramatic way no one at the time would understand. We've been through a lot, but of course, there are still people who absolutely hate us.'

They went on to tease that the next series of Made In Chelsea will be explosive after the cast jetted to Mauritius to film some episodes.

Last year houseplants business owner Sam called time on his two-year romance with Inga and proved he had no regrets with his new girlfriend Yasmine during the Corsica spin off.

Despite breaking down in tears after losing his 'dream girl', within days of their romance ending, Sam moved on by kissing co-star Yazmin.

Speaking to MailOnline at the time, his ex Inga confessed: 'It was a savage breakup. It was really heartbreaking. I was really sad, and it was very dramatic.

'You go through a breakup... you go through all those things and then you move on but when it comes out everyone is talking about it again and you have to relive it.

The pair have had an extremely tumultuous relationship on the show - getting together during the Corsica spin off last summer - just days after Sam's toxic split from his ex-girlfriend Inga Valentiner

After Corsica they were on an off for the rest of the summer and autumn before reconciling on the cast trip to Sydney just before Christmas

Last year houseplants business owner Sam called time on his two-year romance with Inga (seen together on the show)

'It is bizarre to watch these quite sad events in your life happen again... it is weird to watch you break up with someone and watch the sadness.'

Shortly before their split, Sam claimed that he wanted to propose to his girlfriend, but later admitted he was acting on 'impulse.'

He said: 'We moved into our flat very quickly and we still have the flat today which she's living in. I wasn't 100 per cent in the relationship... there's a bit of an age gap, it just didn't feel right.

'I saw her as my dream person to be with and we shared so many happy memories, but it was an impulse thing. I was speaking about a dream world.'

Yet he had another change of heart when he briefly rekindled things with Inga, only to end up back with Yasmine once again.
Celia Imrie was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Anne, Princess Royal at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.

The actress, 71, is best known for her role as Una Alconbury in the Bridget Jones movies, and numerous TV appearances alongside comedian Victoria Wood.

She has performed extensively across film, TV and theatre since starting out in the 1970s.

The star looked stylish as she was made a CBE for services to drama, opting for a royal blue mini dress with a floral design and black feathered cuffs on the sleeves.

She wore a see-through black fascinator with a blue flower on the front, and completed her look by wearing some black trousers and a pair of high-heeled boots.

Celia Imrie was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Anne, Princess Royal at Windsor Castle on Tuesday

The star looked stylish as she was made a CBE for services to drama, opting for a royal blue mini dress with a floral design and black feathered cuffs on the sleeves

Celia could be seen smiling as Princess Anne placed her CBE on her dress during the Investiture ceremony.

The screen star is mother to actor Angus Imrie, 29, who played Prince Edward in series four of The Crown on Netflix for five episodes in 2020.

Calendar Girls actress Celia said actors must want to 'do their profession or die' to be a success, after receiving her royal honour at Windsor Castle.

She also said she wanted to 'keep people guessing' about her roles as she was made a CBE.

Celia told the PA news agency: 'Dame Maggie Smith was asked what is the most important quality for an actor, and I agree with her it's health, health and health.

'But I would also say to anybody [that] it's a wonderful life - it's a gypsy life actually.

'You can't be hankering after security because there is none, but you've got to want to do it or die, otherwise there's no point in even embarking.'

She said she had taken a wide variety of roles - including the Star Wars franchise and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again - as she did not want to be typecast and wanted to prove a lot to herself.

She wore a see-through black fascinator with a blue flower on the front, and completed her look by wearing some black trousers and a pair of high-heeled boots

Celia could be seen smiling as Princess Anne placed her CBE on her dress during the Investiture ceremony

The actress, 71, is best known for her role as Una Alconbury in the Bridget Jones movies, and numerous TV appearances alongside comedian Victoria Wood

She has performed extensively across film, TV and theatre since starting out in the 1970s, including 2012's The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (L-R: Dame Judie Dench and Celia Imrie)

Celia is seen here as Una Alconbury in 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary (pictured with Colin Firth, left, who played Mark Darcy)

Celia was also known for playing the character of the same name, Celia, in 2003 comedy film Calendar Girls

In 2018 she appeared in film Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! as the Vice Chancellor in a flashback scene of Oxford University's New College

Asked whether she had a favourite role, she said: 'Not really, because you enjoy what 'ou're doing next, or at the time. You can't have favourites. I did say to Anne the great thing is to have a laugh, because you have to in life, but also keep people guessing so that they're a bit surprised about what you're doing next, and she agreed.

'She said, "Oh yes, you have gone off-piste a bit", so I was thrilled that she knew that.'

Celia said she was delighted to meet Anne as she was a huge admirer of the princess, and described her as 'tireless' and 'unstoppable, with so little fuss'.

Speaking about receiving the honour, she added: '[It was] completely overwhelming, and I found myself bursting into tears at the end of it, which is too silly, but I sort of wish my mother and father were here.'

The screen star is mother to actor Angus Imrie, 29, who played a younger Prince Edward in series four of The Crown on Netflix for five episodes in 2020 (pictured in 2017)
Tyrique Hyde has revealed he has suffered a moped accident as he celebrated his birthday in Bali.

The former Love Island star, jetted off to Bali with friends including ITV2 co-star Toby Aromolaran to mark his 25th birthday.

However, the trip did not start off as smooth as he hoped as he shared a Snapchat video on Tuesday of a medic patching up his injuries.

Earlier in the day, Tyrique uploaded a photo of the group waiting to hire bikes but hours later he was in a Bali hospital having his knee wrapped up by a medic.

He told fans: 'Man's in Bali getting my grazes bandaged up on the first day of my birthday, what kind of life is this man?

Tyrique Hyde has revealed he has suffered a moped accident on Tuesday on Snapchat as he celebrated his birthday in Bali

The trip did not start off as smooth as he hoped as he shared a video of a medic patching up his injuries on social media

'I didn't even want to do this but the medic said it would get infected.'

Tyrique later claimed in another video that it was not safe to hire the bikes and said his arm and knee are now injured.

Explaining what happened, he said: 'This is what I'm saying, man. They can't let all the mandem ride bikes.

'I tried to get on the back of his one. Now look bruv, tattoo's all gone, knee's all done up, tee shirt with blood on it.'

In February, MailOnline exclusively revealed Tyrique had parted ways with his Love Island girlfriend Ella Thomas - after six months as a couple, having met on last Summer's show.

However it was reported the pair had reconciled after Ella jetted off to LA last month and was soon joined by Tyrique.

He posted a photo from the Rolling Loud festival in California and captioned: 'Godspeed'.

Meanwhile Ella also took to her Instagram and shard a snap of herself wearing a suede miniskirt with 'Godspeed' written across the back.

The former Love Island star, jetted off to Bali with friends including ITV2 co-star Toby Aromolaran (right) to mark his 25th birthday

Earlier in the day, Tyrique uploaded a snap of the group waiting to hire bikes but hours later he was seen in a Bali hospital having his knee wrapped up by a medic

Tyrique later claimed in another video that it was not safe to hire the bikes and said his arm and knee are now injured

The pair later dined at the same restaurant posting similar pictures to their Instagram stories.

Just days before Ella finally broken her silence on her split from Tyrique which led to a public reaction from her ex.

In her first words on the split the Scottish model hosted a Snapchat Q&A, on which she was asked: 'Are you still dating Ty?', to which she replied: 'Just to clear things up, we're not together...

'Didn't speak on it while we were figuring things out & dealing with it privately. Both agree it's for the best & wish him well. All love. Thanks to everyone that supported us together and individually [heart emoji].'

Swiftly after the fan exchange, Tyrique was quick to jump in on the platform when he was asked what he thought of Ella's announcement, to which he insisted her statement was 'not his style' but was typical of Love Island contestants.

When then hosted his own Snapchat Q&A, one follower penned: 'Ella announced your breakup and you have nothing to f***kin say no!'

He promptly hit back: 'Tf you want me to say? This is my life g. Did you announce your breakup to the world? Just cos people on Love Island usually put out statements don't mean I have to...

'That's not my portion. Thank you to all my followers who show love. LATAA.'

Ella and Tyrique met in a nightclub before they starred on Love Island together last summer but quickly established feelings for each other in the villa.

In February, MailOnline exclusively revealed Ella and Tyrique had parted ways permanently - after six months as a couple, having met on last Summer's Love Island

Ella finally broken her silence on her split from Tyrique last month which led to a public reaction from her ex

They came third during the latest summer series of Love Island, losing out on the top two positions to runners-up Whitney Adebayo and Lochan Nowacki and winners Jess Harding and Sammy Root.

MailOnline reported in November that their romance was 'hanging by a thread' and they had even split in secret before giving their relationship one last shot.
Rav Wilding has revealed he has separated from his wife Jill Morgan after 12 years together.

The Morning Live presenter, 46, took to his Instagram on Tuesday to announce that he and the producer had split last year.

Addressing his followers on his Story, he wrote: 'For those asking questions... myself and @jillmorganx amicably separated last year.

'Our focus is co-parenting our hugely loved and beautiful daughter.'

The couple tied the knot in May 2017 in Barbados, and went on to welcome three-year-old daughter Poppy.

Rav Wilding has revealed he has separated from his wife Jill Morgan after 12 years together (pictured last month)

The Morning Live presenter, 46, took to his Instagram on Tuesday to announce that he and the producer had split last year (pictured together in 2020)

Addressing his followers on his Story, he wrote: 'For those asking questions... myself and @jillmorganx amicably separated last year. Our focus is co-parenting our hugely loved and beautiful daughter'

Jill is a television producer, who has worked on Loose Women, Top Gear and Children In Need.

Rav proposed to her after only seven months of dating in 2012 while on holiday in the Caribbean.

A month before he popped the question, he gushed about their future, saying: 'It is early days for us but I'm very happy. I would like kids in the future, yeah. We'll just have to see what happens.'

They were forced to cancel their nuptials however, after Rav sustained an injury while training for Splash! in December 2013.

The former soldier underwent surgery after snapping the hamstring tendons in his left leg during a somersault dive for the now defunct ITV diving show.

His injuries meant he did not appear on the show, fronted by Tom Daley, and he later sued the producers, claiming his career was derailed as a result.

Rav and Jill had been due to have their wedding in the summer of 2015 but were forced to postpone, with Rav saying: 'It breaks my heart that Jill and I had to cancel our wedding.

'She has been so supportive during this whole ordeal and all I want to do is show my commitment to her, and even that's been taken away. It's on hold indefinitely at the moment until we can get back on track.

The couple tied the knot in May 2017 in Barbados, and went on to welcome three-year-old daughter Poppy (pictured)

Jill is a television producer, who has worked on Loose Women, Top Gear and Children In Need. Rav proposed to her after only seven months of dating in 2012 while on holiday in the Caribbean (pictured together in 2019)

In November 2019, he announced that they were expecting their first child together in a post on social media which read: 'We have some exciting news!

'Our family is expanding and baby Wilding is due to make an appearance next year! Its been a long hard journey... but we got there in the end.'

Then in June 2020, he announced the birth of their baby girl and her sweet name, with a snap of the couple taking her home from the hospital.

He wrote: 'She is here and she is perfect! . . Introducing Poppy Rose Wilding 02.06.20'.

Before his relationship with Jill, Rav famously dated Big Brother star Chantelle Houghton from 2010 until 2011.

The pair's relationship broke down after they were snapped having a furious and public row in London's Richmond Park.

They had appeared the picture of contentment as they shared a bottle of champagne lounging on the grass, before getting into a fiery argument.

The Crimewatch star was seen angrily shouting at Chantelle, leaving the reality star in floods of tears.

They were forced to cancel their nuptials however, after Rav sustained an injury while training for Splash! in December 2013

In June 2020, he announced the birth of their baby girl and her sweet name, with a snap of the couple taking her home from the hospital (pictured)

An on-looker told The People: The two were having an almighty row. She looked absolutely shocked as he pointed at her and even grabbed her arm. He looked furious. He was shouting at her and jabbing his finger.

Rav later confirmed they had broken up, tweeting that he had 'drawn a line' under the relationship and claiming it hadn't been 'the genuine thing'.

He wrote: 'Wanted to clarify situation after speculation 2day. Sadly Chantelle & I are no longer in a relationship as Ive had to draw a line under it.

'Its been a really difficult week and a lot has gone on, & I appreciate everyones kind words. The relationship wasn't what I wanted so badly and wasn't the genuine thing I thought it was.

'It's so upsetting as I genuinely & truly loved Chantelle, but the publicity side isn't always reflective of the truth.

'All I ask is that you don't believe everything that's written, and thanks again to everyone who's been in touch means a lot x'.

The following week Chantelle broke her silence on the bust-up and split, admitting it had been the 'toughest' week of her life.

She told the Mirror: ' You give six months of your life to someone  you dont expect this treatment.

In November 2019, he announced that they were expecting their first child together in a post on social media which read: 'We have some exciting news!' (pictured in 2020)

Before his relationship with Jill, Rav famously dated Big Brother star Chantelle Houghton from 2010 until 2011 (pictured together in December 2010)

The pair's relationship broke down after they were snapped having a furious and public row in London's Richmond Park (pictured)

'Everyone could see it was aggressive. Ive had such a horrible week  its been the toughest of my life.

' For a girl, especially, its been horrible. No girl wants to go through this. I find it really painful to talk about. Im hurt - and I dont feel good at the moment.'

She had previously revealed that the pair had clashed because Rav struggled to deal with the fact that she had been married before.

Chantelle met her ex-husband Preston, of Ordinary Boys fame, on Celebrity Big Brother and they married in August 2006, only to split up 10 months later.

Talking about her relationship with Rav at the time, she said: We have little rows - Rav finds it really hard that I've been married before.

'It doesn't anger me but I don't like someone wanting to change my past because I wouldn't change it for anything - I don't regret any of it.
Louise Thompson has thanked her fans for their support in an emotional update after she revealed she had a 'lifesaving' stoma bag fitted.

The former Made In Chelsea, star, 34, shared the news on Tuesday, after years of suffering from ulcerative colitis following a diagnosis in 2018 as well as the autoimmune disease lupus.

Louise admitted she 'could cry' after reading through everyone's kind comments while sharing an update to her Instagram story.

In the clip, she said: 'Thank you so much everyone for your kind comments I honestly could cry right now.

'I love that we live in a society now that has become so much less judgemental than it used to be. It means a lot. '

Louise Thompson, 34, has thanked her fans for their support in an emotional update after she revealed she had a 'lifesaving' stoma bag fitted

The former Made In Chelse a, star, 34, shared the news on Tuesday, after years of suffering from ulcerative colitis following a diagnosis in 2018 as well as the autoimmune disease lupus

On Tuesday morning, Louise shared the news with her Instagram followers as she bravely admitted it is 'not something she wanted to hide forever'.

She has previously spoken about her ongoing struggles with the bowel condition ulcerative colitis as well as the autoimmune disease lupus.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic bowel condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers develop on the colon's lining, which can bleed. The condition has no cure, but can be effectively managed with time.

Earlier this year she spent two weeks in hospital after suffering a ulcerative colitis flare up during a holiday with her fiance Ryan Libbey and their little boy Leo, two.

The fitness influencer almost died during the birth of her son Leo in 2021 and was left with post traumatic stress disorder.

Louise shared a video of herself showing the bag, which is attached to her stomach, and wrote: HOW DO I DISCLOSE THIS SORT OF NEWS?

'It's not exactly exciting like a big pregnancy or gender reveal announcement! Hey look i'm having a boy Hey look i've got a stoma!

'So I guess i'll just stand here. Proud in stature. With my new friend. Le bum bag, that represents life. And hopefully a better one.'

In the clip, she said: 'Thank you so much everyone for your kind comments I honestly could cry right now'

On Tuesday morning, Louise shared the news with her Instagram followers as she bravely admitted it is 'not something she wanted to hide forever'

Earlier this year she spent two weeks in hospital after suffering a ulcerative colitis flare up during a holiday with her fiance Ryan Libbey and their little boy Leo, two (pictured at the time)

'Isn't it bizarre that this little grey pouch is the price I pay for good health! I say good riddance to that nasty menacing colon!

Louise urged people to support her choice to share her news online, and added: 'Please be kind.'

In the clip, Louise lifted her top to reveal the pouch and told her fans she was 'introducing the bag that may well have saved her life'.

She added: 'Not exactly a glamorous announcement but not something I want to keep hidden forever.'

Louise's post was flooded with supportive messages from her friends and followers, including her brother's girlfriend Zara McDermott.

Sharing her own message of support, she wrote: 'When you think about it, it's a beautiful thing because it means less time in hospital, less time in pain, less time with a poison organ in your body! Now you are free my girl. Now it's time for you.'

In February, Louise revealed she was forced to rush home from Antigua after 'losing cupfuls of blood every 20 minutes' during a bad flare up.

Louise's hospital stay was confirmed by her partner Ryan, who did not disclose the reason, and she later broke her silence and told her followers she was 'alive and in good care'.

She shared a photo from her hospital bed and said following an 'unexpected turn of events' she had returned home after more than two weeks in hospital.

Louise explained how she began struggling while on holiday with her family in the Caribbean and used up all of her energy 'pretending to be okay'.

In February, Louise revealed she was forced to rush home from Antigua after 'losing cupfuls of blood every 20 minutes' during a bad flare up (pictured in Antigua)

What is a stoma? A stoma is a surgically-created opening made on the abdomen, which is made to divert the flow of urine and faeces. According to the NHS, this procedure may be needed if you cannot pass stools through your anus, which could be the result of an illness, injury or problem with your digestive system. In the UK, it is estimated that one in 335 people have had the surgery. The procedure can be part treatment for a number of illnesses, including cancer, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease or any trauma to the abdomen. The stoma will generally be 'pink and most - like the inside of our mouths'. After the surgery, it will be swollen, but this will reduce in six to eight weeks. There is no sensation to touching a stoma - as there are no nerves - but different people will have theirs in a different size or shape. It is also possible to have a temporary stoma, which could later be reversed, if the diseased or damaged area in the bowel needs to heal over time. A stoma is a surgically-created opening made on the abdomen, which is made to divert the flow of urine and faeces. Stock image used TYPES OF STOMA COLOSTOMY This refers to an opening in the colon - the large intestine. During the operation, a part of the colon will be brought from inside the body through their abdomen. The output from this 'often resembles a traditional stool' and functions around one to three times a day. ILEOSTOMY For this procedure, the surgeon will bring a part of the small intestine - the ileum specifically - from inside the patient's body and bring it through the abdomen, stitching it down to secure it. The output for an ileostomy is looser than that of a colostomy. An ileostomy bag - which enables drainage into the toilet between three to six times a day' - is also worn. UROSTOMY A urostomy refers to an opening for a person's urine specifically. For this, the surgeon will take a piece of someone's small intestine and attach it to the ureters. This will 'form a passageway for urine to pass through'. For this, one of the tube is brought out through the abdomen. A urostomy bag will also have a 'bung or tap on the bottom to allow urine to be drained at regular intervals into the toilet'. Source: Colostomy UK, NHS Advertisement

Louise's post was flooded with supportive messages from her friends and followers, including her brother's girlfriend Zara McDermott (pictured together with Sam Thompson)

The reality personality admitted that 'deep down' she knew she was really unwell and pushed on because the holiday had been planned for so long.

Louise, who was diagnosed with PTSD, explained after finding her way out of a 'mental health hole' following her near-death experience during the birth of Leo, she felt that 'nothing could compare' to it.

However, she admitted that she now understands both mental and physical health are 'agony and can leave you powerless'.

Louise insisted that most people would have been in A&E on day one with her symptoms, however she had become 'too used' to her chronic condition.

She said that she was falling asleep a lot 'randomly' throughout the day while on the trip and was struggling to walk and pick up her son.

Louise said the end of every day felt like 'surviving' to see another one, as she shared the horror of 'going to the loo every 20 minutes and losing cup fulls of blood'.

Louise said her body was 'surviving, masking and compensating', but it raised alarm bells to her family given her past health woes.

It got to the point where she couldn't cope anymore and nothing was healing on its own and she began to feel like things were 'dangerous'.

At this point she booked an early flight home and went straight to A&E where she was admitted immediately.

She said there have been 'several ups and downs' along the way but insisted she would not let herself 'slip back'.

She concluded: 'I want to continue with life 'as normal' as much as possible as much as possible as I think that staying connected and grounded and present is really good for my head. And I still maintain that 2024 is going to be the best yet!'

Following her discharge, Louise was then admitted to hospital three times in one week over extreme pains, ultrasounds and check ins.

Louise has been hit by a series of health setbacks following the birth of her son Leo two years ago.

Louise shares her son with her fiance Ryan Libbey (pictured left)

Following her discharge, Louise was then admitted to hospital three times in one week over extreme pains, ultrasounds and check ins (pictured with fiance Ryan Libbey)

The mother of one was diagnosed with PTSD and postnatal anxiety after nearly dying during labour.

Louise went 'partially deaf' during the ordeal and in 2022 revealed that she would cry up to 20 times a week.

The same year, Louise revealed she had been diagnosed with lupus, which is a condition affecting the immune system, causing joint pain, rashes and fatigue.

She recently announced that she had written a book - called Lucky: Learning To Live Again - which details the story of her traumatic pregnancy.

Announcing the news, Louise said she was 'ready' but also 'petrified' to step into a new chapter after being encouraged to 'help others' by sharing her story.
Katie Price has announced her new 'raw and explosive autobiography' as she documents her devastating lows, addiction and trauma.

The former glamour model, 45, explained how she aims to 'put the truth right' in the publication titled This Is Me, which is set for release on July 18.

In an update on Tuesday, Katie admitted the book will feature 'dark moments', such as her breakdown, as well as more 'uplifting' times.

Speaking in the announcement video, she said: 'This book just tops all others for so many years I've hid behind what I've learnt, the mask, because that's my way of dealing with things.

'It gets to a point where it becomes noise. I had a breakdown, the worst thing ever. Now I've leant not to be afraid.'

Katie Price, 45, has announced her new 'raw and explosive autobiography' as she documents her devastating lows, addiction and trauma

Katie continued: 'In this book people will get to see really what it's like to be me

'There will be uplifting moments and there will be dark moments where I can put the truth right in a lot of things.'

Celebrating her thirty-year career and twenty years since her bestselling debut autobiography, Being Jordan was published, This is Me is Katie at her most honest and reflective, exploring the incredible highs and devastating lows of her life and turbulent career.

She will also reflect on her relationships, addictions, regrets, ADHD, the media, family, childhood, trauma and bankruptcy.

For the first time in her publishing history, Katie will narrate the audiobook version of her memoir.

In a press release she added: I am so thrilled to be working with John Blake again on what I dont doubt, will be the most intimate portrayal of my life to date.

Ciara Lloyd, Publishing Director for Blink and John Blake said: 'John Blake launched Katie's publishing career with Being Jordan in 2004, which sold over 400,000 copies in hardback alone, so Im thrilled to welcome Katie back home.

'Its an incredible publishing story of coming full circle in the year that shes also celebrating 30 years in the industry. Katie has had her fair share of ups and downs, and is so often misunderstood, so I cant wait to publish her incredible book that shines a light on the real person behind the headlines. You wont want to miss this.

In an update on Tuesday, Katie admitted the book will feature 'dark moments', such as her breakdown, as well as more 'uplifting' times

This is Me will be published in hardback, audio and eBook on July 18. Signed hardback copies are available at WHSmith

Katie has reportedly been sent a warning after 'not co-operating' in paying back her 3.2million debt.

According to The Sun, the former glamour model is still trapped in her 2019 insolvency due to outstanding tax and mortgage payments.

It was previously thought Katie would be discharged from bankruptcy after one year but her status remains 'indefinite' due to her lack of engagement.

Government guidance: 'You will be freed from bankruptcy (discharged) after 12 months. This ends the bankruptcy restrictions and releases you from most of the debts you had when the bankruptcy order was made.

'Your bankruptcy can be extended for longer than 12 months if you do not cooperate with your trustee.

'Check your discharge date using the Individual Insolvency Register on our website. If your discharge status is 'suspended indefinitely' you need to contact the official receiver for an update.'

MailOnline has contacted a representative of Katie Price for comment.

Katie was declared bankrupt for a second time in March after failing to pay over 750,000 in unpaid tax - and will now face losing her home unless HMRC can recover the money.

The reality star failed to appear at a court hearing in London to explain why she has not paid any money to HMRC.

A judge at the High Court ruled that she be declared bankrupt after an official from HMRC said she has failed to pay any money owed or responded to any correspondence since the demand was made for the unpaid tax last year.

Speaking in the announcement video, she said: 'This book just tops all others for so many years I've hid behind what I've learnt, the mask, because that's my way of dealing with things'

She will reflect on her relationships, addictions, regrets, ADHD, the media, family, childhood, trauma and bankruptcy

It is the second bankruptcy faced by Katie as she is being chased by creditors for a 3.2million payment over the failure of her company Jordan Trading Ltd.

Judge Sebastion Prentis sitting at the High Court Rolls Building said Katie had been served with a petition on November 27 2023 with a demand for 761,994.05.

The huge amount is made up of unpaid tax from self-assessment on her earnings from2020  2022 as well as penalties and surcharges.

The court was told she owed 142,405 in tax for 2020-2021 and 196,735 for 2021-2022.

This is Me will be published in hardback, audio and eBook on July 18. Signed hardback copies are available at WHSmith.
Gigi Hadid exuded retro glam as she promoted Miu Miu's latest range of luxury purses.

The modelling icon, 28, wowed as she posed up a storm for the brand's 2024 bag campaign.

The dreamy yet retro-style shoot saw Gigi modeling Miu Miu's bold and chic matelasse bags.

Gigi gushed about working with her Miu Miu 'famiglia' in the caption, praising: 'Had the loveliest day with my #miumiu famiglia and the sweetest, most fun legends @stevenmeiselofficial @patmcgrathreal @guidopalau for the newest campaign, creative direction by @edwardquarmby, styled by @lottavolkova. so much love & gratitude to all the teams x.'

One of the images showed Gigi - who is dating Bradley Cooper- clad in a backless floral dress as she elegantly held the dainty yellow purse.

Gigi Hadid exuded vintage glam as she promoted Miu Miu's latest range of luxury purses

Her hair was styled in a flapper girl inspired 'do throughout the shoot with a bold pink lip giving her a touch of glam.

Her natural beauty radiated with an understated coat of makeup that allowed her blue eyes to shine.

The purses Gigi was posing with cost a pretty penny, with the accessories available from $2,750 to $3,300.

This is certainly not Gigi's first time working with Miu Miu, with the fashion icon having modeled for the brand numerous times in the past.

Last month she walked the runway for Miu Miu during Paris Fashion Week.

On top of her career in fashion, the busy model is also a doting mother to three-year-old daughter Khai, whom she shares with ex Zayn Malik.

The catwalk queen has also been dating actor Bradley Cooper since last year.

The couple were recently spotted enjoying a date night in Lower Manhattan's Financial District.

The lovebirds were first linked in early October 2023, when they were spotted grabbing dinner in New York City.

She modeled one of the brand's bold orange purses

Her natural beauty shone with an understated coat of makeup and bold pink lip

The purses Gigi was posing with cost a pretty penny, with the accessories available from $2,750 to $3,300

She wowed in a navy dress with gold buttons and white collar

Hadid also shared video of her Miu Miu campaign

It comes amid her romance with actor Bradley Cooper

The couple were spotted putting on a loved-up display while celebrating Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski's birthday at Via Carota in New York last month.

Bradley was 'in good form and smiling' at the event, a source told People, adding that he and Gigi were 'cute' together.

The insider further divulged that Porowski 'did all the ordering for the table' and the group shared appetizers and pastas.

'They all seemed happy and were having fun,' the source stated, adding that Cooper is a 'regular' at the eatery and staff 'is used to seeing him.'

Bradley is also a father - he shares six-year-old daughter Lea De Seine with ex Irina Shayk.
A$AP Rocky has hinted at the impending trial over the November 2021 shooting of his former friend Terell Ephron (formally known as A$AP Relli)  after failing to show up to a pre-trial hearing last month.

The rapper, 35, is featured on Doja Cat's song 'URRRGE!!!!!!!!!!' from her new LP Scarlet 2: Claude, which was released last Friday.

During his verse, A$AP Rocky  who has pled not guilty to all charges  declares his innocence after comparing himself to Thugnificent, a character from the animated show The Boondocks.

The New York native raps: 'Yeah, I look like Thugnificent / Will someone tell the judge I'm innocent?'

If convicted of two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, A$AP Rocky could faced up to eight years in jail.

A$AP Rocky has hinted at the impending trial over the November 2021 shooting of his former friend Terell Ephron (formally known as A$AP Relli)  after failing to show up to a pre-trial hearing last month; A$AP Rocky seen in November 2023

He had a pre-trial hearing scheduled for March 8, which he skipped. No trial date was set but a hearing has been scheduled by the court for May 26.

In January, A$AP Rocky (born Rakim Athelaston Mayers) pled not guilty to felony gun charges that he shot Ephron Hollywood back in November 2021.

In November, Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar ruled that there was enough evidence for a trial at a preliminary hearing, after hearing roughly a day and a half of testimony.

Rocky has previously pled not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. His attorney attempted to cast doubt on the case while questioning a police detective.

Villar said 'the totality of the video and testimony' shows there is sufficient evidence for the defendant to go to trial. She emphasized that preliminary hearings have a much lower evidence standard than a trial, and she was only finding probable cause.

Rocky, sitting in the courtroom, showed no visible reaction.

Prosecutors allege that on November 6, 2021, Mayers pointed a gun at Terell Ephron, once known as A$AP Relli, then, during a confrontation, shot at and left Ephron with minor injuries.

The rapper, 35, is featured on Doja Cat 's new song 'URRRGE!!!!!!!!!!'

The song is included on Doja's new LP Scarlet 2: Claude, which came out last Friday; Doja seen in February

Los Angeles Police Department Detective Frank Flores took the witness stand on Monday and verified videos of the attack presented by the prosecution, reported Rolling Stone.

Flores testified that surveillance footage showed a gun in the rappers hand, but when pressed by the defense he conceded a weapon was never recovered.

At an earlier hearing, Ephron testified Mayers held the gun to his stomach and said 'I'll kill you right now,' before firing off rounds and leaving the room.

Ephron said he and the 'F*****g Problems' rapper were teenage friends and members of the A$AP collective, a group of New York high school students who sought to make music and pursue other art forms.

He said their friendship continued as Mayers fame grew but began to falter when he started backing out of business ventures.

Prosecutors played surveillance video that appears to show Mayers brandishing a gun and possibly firing it, which his lawyers denied that he did.

The father of Rihanna's two children was first detained in April last year as he returned to Los Angeles airport from Barbados where he had been on vacation with his then-pregnant girlfriend.

In his verse, the New York native raps: 'Yeah, I look like Thugnificent / Will someone tell the judge I'm innocent?'; A$AP Rocky seen in February 2024

He had a pre-trial hearing scheduled for March 8, which he skipped. No trial date was set but a hearing has been scheduled by the court for May 26

He was later released on $550,000 bail. Officers were seen outside of his LA home, smashing into the gate with a battering ram, before apparently raiding the property. Detectives seized multiple boxes of evidence from the house.

Four months after his arrest, the charges were brought up to felony status, rather than misdemeanor that would have meant only one year of jail time for each count.

In this preliminary hearing, a judge will determine if there is enough evidence to move forward with a trial.

The rapper is being represented by the same lawyer who is representing former president Donald Trump in his New York criminal case, Joe Tacopina.
For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details

Louise Thompson has revealed how she has had a 'lifesaving' stoma bag fitted after years of health woes and hospital visits.

Her life dramatically turned upside down when she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2018, followed by a near-death experience in 2021 when she gave birth to her son Leo, two, who she shares with fiance Ryan Libbey.

The Made In Chelsea star, 34, has since battled debilitating health conditions with the bowel condition, as well as the autoimmune disease lupus.

And on Tuesday, Louise disclosed her latest battle, revealing she had to have a stoma bag fitted.

In the clip, Louise lifted her top to reveal the pouch and told her fans she was 'introducing the bag that may well have saved her life'.

Read on below for a full timeline of Louise Thompson's health battle.

Louise Thompson has revealed how she has had a 'lifesaving' stoma bag fitted after years of health woes and hospital visits

2018: Ulcerative colitis diagnosis

Louise has been in and out of hospital ever since being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2018.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic bowel condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers develop on the colon's lining, which can bleed. The condition has no cure, but can be effectively managed with time.

In a post to mark Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week, Louise detailed her struggles with the condition since her diagnosis and wrote about her 'tough time'.

She bravely opened up about how her symptoms became worse amid her mental health struggles because she didn't 'really care if she died'.

Louise candidly wrote: 'Hello, My name is Louise and I have ulcerative colitis. This week is Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week.

'I was diagnosed in 2018. I became worried when I noticed quite a lot of blood in my poo that came out of nowhere.

'I didn't know much about inflammatory bowel diseases but my main concern was the fact that a few of my close family members had suffered with aggressive bowel cancer.

'I thought that my symptoms might go away over time (given that I'd never struggled my health before, in fact quite the opposite, I'd been the poster girl for health) so I left things for a month or so but when my symptoms didn't get better I told members of my family.

'I was diagnosed via a colonoscopy and luckily I got treated with medication that worked fairly quickly to put me into remission.'

Louise has been in and out of hospital ever since being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2018

November 2021: Traumatic birth

Louise has been extremely open about her debilitating health issues after she nearly died while giving birth in 2021.

The former reality star spent a month in intensive care with 'serious complications' while her son Leo had been treated in the adult ICU after the birth.

When Leo was born, she wrote on Instagram: 'Hello everyone, this post isn't an easy one for me to write. I have so many things that I want to say but at the same time I'm struggling to find the words to explain what has happened to me and my family so for now I will keep it quite simple.

'The reason I have been absent for weeks is because I have been very unwell.

'5 weeks ago I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy Leo-Hunter Libbey weighing in at 7lbs. Unfortunately it wasn't the easiest start for either of us. One ended up in NICU and the other ended up in ICU.'

Reassuring her followers that Leo was not unwell for long, Louise said: 'Whilst Leo made a fairly quick recovery. I have been recovering in hospital for a month with various serious complications.'

Louise is yet to reveal the actual cause and complication which lead to her nearly dying.

The reality star announced last month she is releasing a book, Lucky, where she will tell the story of the near-death experience.

Louise has been extremely open about her debilitating health issues after she nearly died while giving birth in 2021

The Made In Chelsea star, 34, shares son Leo, two, with fiance Ryan Libbey

2022: PTSD and postnatal anxiety

Louise suffered with extreme PTSD and post-natal anxiety due to the near-death experience.

Louise went 'partially deaf' during the ordeal and in 2022 revealed that she would cry up to 20 times a week.

The star - who previously admitted she can't remember the first five months of her son's life after the trauma she suffered - has been honest with her fans about her daily struggles, revealing at points that the anxiety felt 'inexplicable' but now she's learning to 'make sense of it.'

Louise, who often calls Leo her 'little miracle baby', manages to control her anxiety, and after obsessively checking her temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate, is able to go about her normal, daily routine.

Louise suffered with extreme PTSD and post-natal anxiety due to the near-death experience

September 2022: Asherman's syndrome

Louise revealed she had suspected Asherman's syndrome - a rare condition where scar tissue builds up inside the uterus - as she continues to seek answers on her mystery health condition.

Updating her followers on her condition, Louise revealed her cramping 'has started to get pretty bad' as she also slammed NHS wait times.

After an emotional morning, the TV favourite went on to share a picture of private health care provider The Harley Street Clinic.

Full of relief after her trip to the world-leading private hospital, Louise told her followers how the appointment was a success.

'Harley Street clinic is iconic,' she excitedly wrote.

'Just had my appointment with the kindest and most trustworthy obs/gyne...it's likely that I have adhesions inside my uterus causing something called Asherman's Syndrome.

'A hysteroscopy would offer a better look inside the cavity than an ultrasound but because I might need to start thinking immunosuppressants, having non essential surgery isn't really an option.

She concluded: 'The main impacts of Asherman's are: painful cramping and fertility problems.'

Louise revealed she had suspected Asherman's syndrome - a rare condition where scar tissue builds up inside the uterus - as she continues to seek answers on her mystery health condition

December 2022: Lupus diagnosis

Louise revealed she had lupus in an emotional health update with fans.

WHAT IS LUPUS? What is lupus? It is one of the chronic autoimmune conditions, where the body makes antibodies against itself and starts to attack it. Lupus  Systemic Lupus Erythematotsus (SLE)  has a range of severity. Some sufferers will have only mild problems, others have life-threatening organ damage to the heart and the kidneys. What are the symptoms? Tiredness, joint pains and muscle aches. A common first symptom is joint stiffness, particularly in the mornings. Skin and hair problems are a major feature of SLE  a rash in the shape of a butterfly over the cheeks and nose is common, as is hair loss and sensitivity to the sun. Other problems include depression and lung and heart disease, as well as kidney inflammation. Who is at risk? SLE is ten times more common in women than men and usually develops between the ages 12 and 25. What is the treatment? Controlling the symptoms, as there is no cure, using anti-inflammatories and steroid tablets in more severe cases. Advertisement

The TV personality held back her tears as she explained 'constantly navigating' her different health issues has left her wanting to cry.

Lupus is one of the chronic autoimmune conditions, where the body makes antibodies against itself and starts to attack it.

Some sufferers will have only mild problems, others have life-threatening organ damage to the heart and the kidneys.

In a lengthy video, Louise explained: 'So to update you guys quickly, I had a call yesterday with one of the rheumatology guys and they got more of my blood test results back and the diagnosis is that I've got drug induced lupus.

'So I'm suffering from that which is fabulous. It means that I'm really tired but I've also started to get really intolerable joint pain especially if I sit down for any amount of time if I cross my legs.'

Louise added: 'I mean I was just on the bus going to one appointment this morning and when I stood up and started walking to the appointment and honestly me knees were in such agony.

'I've never experienced anything like it in my life. I've always been so able bodied and so active, exercise has been such a big part of my life and it's just so rough having to adapt to all of these new medical conditions so that's been really tough.

'On top of that and almost worse because I can deal with fatigue, I can deal with skin, I can deal with pain but the neurological symptoms have just still been so unbearable and currently I'm dealing with this never ending cold.

'I have mucus coming out of my nose and really bad pain in my ears and I'm not suppose to take anti-inflammatory medication, so ibuprofen because of having ulcerative colitis or all of that.

Louise revealed she had lupus in an emotional health update with fans

January 2023: Operation amid battle with Asherman's Syndrome

Louise revealed she has undergone a 'small operation' amid her gruelling battle with Ashermans Syndrome.

Asherman's Syndrome is a condition where scar tissue form inside your uterus. The scar tissue can build up, decreasing the amount of open space making some women infertile

Louise shared a snap in a hospital gown as well as after the procedure where she enjoyed an alfresco meal.

In the length post she penned: 'Thank for all your tremendously kind messages'.

'Just a small op to try and get rid of all the scar tissue from my Ashermans syndrome so I can hopefully start to have a normal P and feel like my old self again'.

'By most people's standards probably not such a big deal. By my standards, anything medical is a big deal. And anything that risks bleeding makes me feel sick as a dog'.

'Apparently on the scale of mild to severe - its looking moderate to severe, so I might have to go back in 6 months time to repeat the procedure and remove any further adhesions'.

Louise revealed she has undergone a 'small operation' amid her gruelling battle with Ashermans Syndrome

February 2023: Louise 'survived a second time' after suffering a Hemorrhage

Louise's fiance Ryan shared that she was rushed to hospital after suffering a hemorrhage.

Taking to Instagram to post an update on the Made In Chelsea star, Ryan explained that he and Louise were forced to cancel their holiday to St Lucia after she required emergency surgery and 'close monitoring.'

Louise previously took to Instagram to share that she had an 'unexpected medical situation' but didn't elaborate further.

Ryan added that since her health scare, Louise is 'stable' and is recovering at home, describing his girlfriend as a 'warrior.'

Louise later reflected on 'surviving a second time' after her emergency readmission to hospital'.

She admitted that she was 'doing really well' before she suffered a haemorrhage and lost around three litres of blood.

Reflecting on the health scare, she penned on Instagram: 'You know the funny thing about surviving the second time round is that you know youre not just lucky. You understand the capacity of the human body. You know how strong you are.

'You understand what modern medicine is capable of and what you can withstand. Wow you can withstand an awful lot.

A haemorrhage is medically defined as a loss of blood from damaged blood vessels, and they can be both internal and external.

It can occur in nearly any part of the body, and if it is unable to be controlled, or caused by a serious injury, it may require surgery.

Louise's fiance Ryan Libbey revealed that she was rushed to hospital after suffering a hemorrhage

January 2024: 12-day hospital stay

Louise was rushed to hospital once again after losing 'cups of blood' due to her ulcerative colitis, while on holiday in Antigua with Leo and Ryan.

Louise explained how she began struggling while on holiday with her family in the Caribbean and used up all of her energy 'pretending to be okay'.

The reality personality admitted that 'deep down' she knew she was really unwell and pushed on because the holiday had been planned for so long.

Louise insisted that most people would have been in A&E on day one with her symptoms, however she had become 'too used' to her chronic condition.

She said that she was falling asleep a lot 'randomly' throughout the day while on the trip and was struggling to walk and pick up her son.

Louise said the end of every day felt like 'surviving' to see another one, as she shared the horror of 'going to the loo every 20 minutes and losing cup fulls of blood'.

Louise said her body was 'surviving, masking and compensating', but it raised alarm bells to her family given her past health woes.

It got to the point where she couldn't cope anymore and nothing was healing on its own and she began to feel like things were 'dangerous'.

At this point she booked an early flight home and went straight to A&E where she was admitted immediately.

She said there have been 'several ups and downs' along the way but insisted she would not let herself 'slip back'.

She concluded: 'I want to continue with life 'as normal' as much as possible as much as possible as I think that staying connected and grounded and present is really good for my head. And I still maintain that 2024 is going to be the best yet!'

She was then admitted to hospital three times in one week over extreme pains, ultrasounds and check ins.

Louise was rushed to hospital in January after losing 'cups of blood' due to her ulcerative colitis, while on holiday in Antigua with Leo and Ryan

The condition is an inflammation of the lower end of the digestive system and sadly has no cure, but can be effectively managed with time

What is ulcerative colitis ?

Ulcerative colitis is thought to be an autoimmune condition. That means, the immune system goes wrong and starts to attack healthy tissue. The most popular theory is that the immune system mistakes harmless bacteria inside the colon as a threat and attacks the tissues of the colon, causing it to become inflamed. However, it's unclear what causes the immune system to behave in this way. The UK Crohn's & Colitis UK charity reports at least 1 in every 227 people in the UK has been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. This amounts to around 296,000 people. Although it can develop at any age, it is most often diagnosed in people between 15 and 25 years old. It's more common in white people of European descent, especially those descended from Ashkenazi Jewish communities, and black people. The condition is rarer in people from Asian backgrounds, although the reasons for this are unclear. Both men and women seem to be equally affected by ulcerative colitis. Source: NHS Advertisement

April 2024: Having a 'life-saving' stoma bag fitted

Louise revealed on Tuesday how she had to have a 'life-saving' stoma bag fitted after years of suffering from ulcerative colitis following her diagnosis in 2018.

She shared the news with her Instagram followers, bravely admitting it is 'not something she wanted to hide forever'.

Louise shared a video of herself showing the bag, which is attached to her stomach, and wrote: HOW DO I DISCLOSE THIS SORT OF NEWS?

'It's not exactly exciting like a big pregnancy or gender reveal announcement! Hey look I'm having a boy Hey look I've got a stoma!

'So I guess I'll just stand here. Proud in stature. With my new friend. Le bum bag, that represents life. And hopefully a better one.

'Isn't it bizarre that this little grey pouch is the price I pay for good health! I say good riddance to that nasty menacing colon!

Louise urged people to support her choice to share her news online, and added: 'Please be kind.'

In the clip, Louise lifted her top to reveal the pouch and told her fans she was 'introducing the bag that may well have saved her life'.

She added: 'Not exactly a glamorous announcement but not something I want to keep hidden forever.'

If you have been affected by this story please contact Birth Trauma Association at birthtraumaassociation.org.uk

For help and support with perinatal mental illness please contact PANDAS on 0808 1961 776
Paramount+ have revealed the first images from new series Insomnia, in which Vicky McClure plays as a successful career woman whose life starts to unravel when she suddenly stops sleeping.

Line Of Duty and Trigger Point actress Vicky, 40, leads in the British drama based on the book of the same name by Sarah Pinborough.

She plays the character Emma, who fears she may be losing her mind when everything in her perfect life begin to go wrong.

Two weeks before her 40th birthday, she stops sleeping - just like her mother did right before she had a psychotic breakdown on the night of her 40th birthday.

This leaves her gripped with fear as Emma's mother Patricia Bournett (Corinna Marlowe) always said that Emma would end up like her because she has the same 'bad blood'.

Vicky McClure, 40, is Emma Averill, a successful career woman who suddenly stops sleeping, in first look images released on Tuesday from Paramount+'s Insomnia

The former Line Of Duty and Trigger Point actress will star in the British drama based on the book of the same name by Sarah Pinborough

Main character Emma fears she may be losing her mind when everything in her perfect life begin to go wrong (pictured with Tom Cullen who plays her husband Robert Averill)

Emmas world starts to unravel and she realises that she can only prevent herself from following in her mother's footsteps by digging into her painful past.

Her daughter Chloe Averill is played by India Fowler, known for her work in historical sci-fi drama The Nevers.

Her brother Will is played by Smylie Bradwell who has appeared in Norwegian-English thriller series Wisting.

Emmas estranged sister Phoebe Bournett is played by Leanne Best who has appeared in BBC's Ripper Street and 2024's Sebastian.

Finally, Inside Man and Agatha Christie actress Lyndsey Marshal plays Caroline, Emma's closest friend.

Insomnia is the latest British programme to be distributed by Paramount+ following A Gentleman In Moscow, also a book adaptation.

Borkur Sigthorsson directs and Sarah adapted her novel for the screen, as well as serving as executive producer.

Insomnia debuts exclusively on Paramount+ on May 23.

Two weeks before her 40th birthday, she stops sleeping - just like her mother did right before she had a psychotic breakdown on the night of her 40th birthday

Patricia Bournett, Emmas mother (pictured, played by Corrina Marlowe) always told Emma she would end up like her because she has the same 'bad blood' and Emma begins to believe her

Emmas estranged sister Phoebe Bournett is played by Leanne Best who has appeared in BBC's Ripper Street and 2024's Sebastian

Emma's daughter Chloe Averill is played by India Fowler, known for her work in historical sci-fi drama The Nevers

Her brother Will is played by Smylie Bradwell who has appeared in Norwegian-English thriller series Wisting

Inside Man and Agatha Christie actress Lyndsey Marshal plays Caroline, Emma's closest friend

Vicky last starred in series two of Trigger Point, which was mocked by viewers.

She played Lana Washington, an ex-military bomb disposal operative and Afghan War veteran.

Season one focused on a terrorist campaign that threatened the capital, with the bomb disposal operatives or 'Expos', urgently trying to find out who was behind the bombings before fatalities escalated.

Season two saw Lana and her officers up against another terrorist group targeting London, leaving clues for them to find as they prepare to attack in different locations.

Alongside Vicky, the second series featured returning cast members Nabil Elouahabi as Hass, Eric Shango as Danny, Mark Stanley as DI Thom Youngblood, Kerry Godliman as SonyaReeves, Kris Hitchen as John, and Kevin Eldon as Jeff.

It also sees appearances from guest cast members Natalie Simpson who plays DS Helen Morgan, Julian Ovenden who plays Commander John Francis and Tomiwa Edun as Alex.

Insomnia is the latest British programme to be distributed by Paramount+ following A Gentleman In Moscow, also a book adaptation (pictured: Ewan McGregor in the leading role)
The tests include planks, push ups and a mobility test...how well would you do?

There are three exercises you can perform to determine how fit you are

You might ace your weekly spin class, or be able to lift super heavy weights - but does that mean you're physically fit?

Meeting the basic fitness recommendations for your age is crucial, as being slightly below par can lead to a dramatic increase in heart disease risk.

Now, experts at the University of California Los Angeles and mega-gym Equinox have detailed the four science-backed exercises that best indicate your fitness levels.

Your performance of each of the movements - which include push ups and running for a mile - measure how much your muscle mass, mobility and cardiovascular systems have declined.

Fitness experts from Equinox have computed a handy chart (below) that tells you exactly where you should be for your age in upper body strength.

Starting at age 30, you begin losing anywhere from three to eight percent of your muscle mass per decade, according to endocrinologists from the University of Southern California.

'Exercise is the closest thing weve found to a magic pill for combating the effects of aging,' said Linda P Fried, the dean of Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

Michael Crandall, a certified strength and conditioning specialist at E by Equinox gym, told the Wall Street Journal that the four 'test' exercises monitor strength, cardiovascular efficiency and mobility.

VO2 max is traditionally calculated by monitoring the amount of oxygen that you take in while running for several minutes at top speed, as above.

First, to test your aerobic fitness, identify your VO2 max, which is a measure of the maximum oxygen your body is able to take in and use when you're doing cardio. It measures the efficiency of the body's cardiovascular system.

Traditionally, you'd have to go to a lab under a instructors' supervision to determine your VO2 max - and run on a treadmill with a mask over your nose or mouth to measure the amount of gas you're taking in and putting out.

But physical therapists have developed two versions of this test that you can do at home. One involves running at your top speed for twelve minutes and the other involves walking a mile at a brisk pace.

For an average 25 year old American woman, a good score would constitute taking in 2544-2775 milliliters of oxygen per minute. A poor score would constitute taking in 1773-2236 milliliters of oxygen per minute.

For the average man of the same age, a good score would is 3851-4168 milliliters of oxygen per minute, while a poor one is 2990-3262 milliliters of oxygen per minute.

In a lab, this is measured by a mask that can monitor oxygen levels, as well as the amount of CO2 you're expelling. At home, and without a special mask, the mark of adequate VO2 max is that you can complete the exercises without stopping.

Push ups are a great way to measure your upper body strength as they require several muscles to complete the move.

Second, to measure your upper body strength, the experts recommend push-ups.

Though this may seem like a simple exercise, it involves a broad swath of muscles and is a good indicator of how well your muscles can move your own body weight, Equinox's Crandall said.

Placing your hands under your chest, shoulder-width apart and your feet in a plank position, lower yourself to the ground until your arms are bent past 90 degrees before pushing back up. If you're not able to do this in the standard position, you can start on your knees instead.

See how many you can do in a row. Your fitness for the push-up test will depend on your age group and gender.

According to Equinox, a good result for a 31-40 year old woman year would be 15 push ups in a row or more, a poor result would be 10 or less.

A good result for a 31-40 year old man would be 29 pushups or more, and a poor result would be 15 or less.

Side planks give you an idea of how stable your core is and how likely you are to maintain a good sense of balance in later life.

Third, to measure your core endurance and stability, Crandall recommends a side plank.

This involves arranging your feet on top of one another and pressing your body off the ground while balancing on one arm.

If you're able to hold this position for more than 45 seconds,you're definitely fit, regardless of your age. But if you're not able to maintain the position for longer than 20 seconds, you should work on your core strength, Crandall said.

Core strength is incredibly important as you age for maintaining posture and balance, as well as staving off back and neck pain, according to Harvard Men's Health Watch.

Finally, the last test is important for measuring your mobility, and involves you trying to stand from a seated position without using your hands.

If you can lunge to the ground, rotate your hips to sit and then reverse that path to stand back up without using your hands, then you pass the test. A 'good' score is a passing score, regardless of your age.

Suzi Schulman, a chiropractor from New Jersey, demonstrated this test in a TikTok clip (above).

This movement is something that is innate to children, but adults tend to practice less as they age, according to research from HerlevGentofte University Hospital in Denmark. This means that generally speaking, the older people get, the less muscle strength they have for this sort of movement.

'A persons ability to balance remains stable until the age of 40 but declines gradually thereafter,' according to Kwon-Young Kang, a physical therapist from Wonkwang Health Science University in Korea.

So if you're able to nail it, it's probably a good sign for your longevity, Schulman said.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - A top authority in Norway said Tuesday that it was revoking a decision by a city council to only take Ukrainian refugees and not others, saying it was contrary to the Norwegian Constitution and the Scandinavian country's discrimination laws.

The office of the Country Governor of Oslo and Viken had asked the right-leaning municipal council in Drammen to explain its February decision that it would be easier to integrate Ukrainians in the society. The governor said the municipal decision "involves direct discrimination based on nationality."

The council had faced wide criticism in Norway after deciding on Feb. 13 to only accept Ukrainian refugees. Up to a third of the population of Drammen are immigrants or have immigrant background.

Norways Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre, who heads a center-left government, had said that Norways 357 municipalities cannot decide for themselves which refugees they accept - only how many they can take in. He condemned the municipal decision and said it was "not legal."

Drammen is ruled by a majority made up of the conservative Hoeyre, the Progress Party, the Christian Democrats and the small Pensioners Party.

Kristin Surlien, a senior member of Hoeyre in Norways fifth largest town, told the local newspaper Drammens Tidende that the ruling was a surprise. "We take note of the decision and will discuss the way forward both internally in the Conservative Party and between the four parties."

Figures earlier provided by Drammen said there were some 103,000 inhabitants in the municipality in 2023. Of those, nearly a third - roughly 31,000 - are either immigrants or are Norwegian-born citizens of immigrant parents.

According to Norway Statistics, there are mainly Poles, Lithuanians, Iraqis, Pakistanis and Somalis. The Scandinavian country of 5.5 million people has since 2022 given shelter to 70,800 Ukrainians, according to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration.

In 2023, there were 877,227 migrants in Norway, mainly from Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, Somalia and Germany, according to official statistics.
Well-built homes might appreciate; eco-friendly features are especially desired

Real estate experts say there are five key signs that your property will jump in value this year.

They are all things happening in your local town or neighborhood that share one thing in common: they will attract people - typically young, affluent families. This extra demand pushes up prices.

If you have recently purchased a home, these signs - such as a booming local economy that is creating new jobs - may indicate the investment is about to pay off.

And if you are looking to move, real estate professionals say the five indicators - another being the quality of local schools - can help identify an up-and-coming area.

Below, DailyMail.com discusses all five signs, which also include improvements to infrastructure, developers focusing on 'homes of the future,' and relaxed rules around land use.

Some recent homebuyers are likely to enjoy significant appreciation on their homes, experts say

Schools are getting better

The idea that the quality of local schools correlates closely to the value of homes in the area is will established.

The more money invested in local schools, the more valuable houses become, even if it comes at the cost of higher local taxes, according to a 2021 study in the National Bureau of Economic Research.

According to a separate study in 2003, for every dollar spent on public schools in a community, home values increase by $20.

Lauren Byington, a realtor in Texas and Missouri, told DailyMail.com that 'families often prioritize access to reputable educational institutions.'

'The quality of schools within a particular area can be a major factor influencing home desirability,' she said.

According to the National Association of Realtors, prospective buyers can use online platforms to get a sense of the quality of schools in different areas. Those include Great Schools, School Digger and Public School Review.

Local economy is strong

And while its important parents want to send their kids to local schools, the local job market is also a consideration.

James Shorten, president of land and real estate development firm Shorten Homes told GOBankingRates that house prices rise in tandem with the prospects of the area they are in.

Better quality schools in the vicinity of a home will significantly impact its value. Studies show investment in schools can drive up home prices

Real estate professionals have advised that investment in public amenities can boost demand. Pictured is Oklahoma public library

'Economic growth and the creation of new jobs are critical indicators of rising property values,' he said.

'In regions where we've developed properties, we've noticed that proximity to burgeoning economic zones - such as tech parks or commercial hubs - directly influences the demand for housing,' he added.

Investment in infrastructure

And in strong economies, local infrastructure projects are also more likely to attract homebuyers.

Strong public transport and good public amenities are key to that, according to business and real estate lawyer David J. Greiner.

'I observed a marked increase in property values following investment in local infrastructure, such as road upgrades and the expansion of community facilities,' he told the publication.

'These improvements not only elevate the quality of living but also enhance the attraction of the area to potential buyers, driving up home values.'

Energy efficient and sustainable homes

The area around a home is important but so too it the home itself. While well-built homes are obviously more desirable, Americans are increasingly prioritizing energy-efficient homes.

According to a report by the National Association of Realtors, eco-friendly features potential homebuyers actively want to see in homes include programmable thermostats, radiant floor heating, solar panels and recycled materials.

Homes that have been fitted with eco-friendly features that reduce the cost of energy are more likely to interest buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors

Families also prioritize buying homes in areas where roads are well built and infrastructure is well maintained

'Homes with eco-friendly features are highly coveted, so they're likely to sell faster and possess a higher resale value in the future,' the trade association assured its agents.

While this may be specific to a house, those built in certain areas and developers may be more likely to have been fitted with modern features.

'Areas where we've introduced modern, energy-efficient modular homes often see a boost in property values,' Shorten told GOBankingRates.

'These homes, being quicker to construct and cost-effective, attract new demographics, fostering a community's growth and enhancing its appeal.'

Lenient zoning rules

Homebuyers also want reassurances that when they buy a home, use of the land will be flexible, so zoning laws are also important.

'Our experience navigating these changes has shown that properties in areas transitioning to mixed-use or with eased density restrictions offer ripe opportunities for development and investment,' said Shorten.

'By adapting our projects to align with these zoning shifts, such as integrating multi-family modular units in traditionally single-family zones, we've effectively maximized land use and property values,' he added.
A former unit of Russian energy giant Gazprom said sanctions by Moscow had led to disruption in its sources of supplies, leading to the default in supply to Indian gas utility GAIL.

GAIL had in December last year filed an arbitration claim before the London Court of International Arbitration seeking USD 1.8 billion from SEFE for non-supply of LNG cargoes under long-term contract.

Last week, GAIL in a regulatory filing said SEFE had in its Statement of Defence before the arbitration panel denied that it owes anything other than an alleged contractually limited sum properly evidence.

In 2012, GAIL signed a 20-year deal to buy as much as 2.85 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG) with Russian energy giant Gazprom.

The deal was signed with Gazprom Marketing and Singapore (GMTS), which at the time was a unit of Gazprom Germania, now called SEFE.

SEFE ownership changed after Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Clarifying the circumstances of the default, SEFE said in April 2022 Gazprom transferred the German company to a Moscow DJ which did not possess a foreign trade license.

...Following this transfer, the new shareholder ordered Gazprom Germania to be liquidated, it said. On May 11, 2022, the already extremely precarious situation escalated: the Russian Federation sanctioned Gazprom Germania  at this point under trusteeship of the German Federal Network Agency  with a comprehensive, complete supply freeze.
More and more Indians are looking for solo travelling to countries like the UAE, Egypt, Singapore and Vietnam, a report said on Tuesday.

Solo travellers represented about 65 per cent of visa applications for the UAE, 60 per cent for Egypt, 40 per cent for Singapore and 45 per cent for Vietnam, according to a report by online platform for visa applications Atlys.

The report is based on visa applications submitted for processing for travelling during summer this year on Atlys platform.

Atlys is a mobile visa application app that has e-visa mandate for over 133 countries.

When it came to group tours, around 20 per cent of visa applications for such trips were for the UAE, 30 per cent for Egypt, 25 per cent for Singapore, and 20 per cent for Vietnam, it added.

The report further found that men dominated the visa application scene, with 77 per cent applying for the UAE, and 71 per cent for Singapore.

Meanwhile, 30 per cent of women travellers applied for Singapore visas and 25 per cent applied for the UAE, it added.

Dubai was popular among travellers from Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad while for Vietnam most visa applications were from cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi, said the report. Travellers from cities, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi, showed interest in exploring Singapore and people from Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi showcase a keen interest in Egypt, it stated.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu aims to broaden the scope of the conflict by involving Iran, leveraging the negative perceptions of Iranians in the West

For decades, US-Israel has consistently blamed Iran for most of the terror attacks, even when actual participants have hailed from countries and organisations inimical to Iran. For example, the nationalities of the 19 hijackers of the 9/11 attack were 15 from Saudi Arabia, 2 from the United Arab Emirates and 1 each from Egypt and Lebanon. All were non-Iranians or even non-Shias  each from a country then known to be staunch allies of the United States of America. Yet within months of the attacks, then US President George Bush had gone on to coin the phrase axis of evil including the troika of Iran, Iraq and North Korea.

Historical and irreconcilable antipathy between a Shia extremist Iran and between Sunni supremacist forces like Osama bin Ladens Al Qaida was always conveniently ignored. The fact that most turf wars (earlier and current), be it in the unforgiving swathes of Afghanistan, Iraq or Syria are played out between sectarian and ideological proxies from either of the two distinct sides, has also been ignored.

A creative and often unconvincing conflation of the two historically-at-war forces by somehow linking with specious details of the so-called Iran hand whenever there was a terror attack on assets and personnel of the Western bloc (read, US-Israel-Sheikhdoms), was always insisted. The fact that Iran and its proxy Shia militias led by the likes of General Qasim Soleimani were at the forefront of taking on forces like ISIL, Al Qaida and other Sunni militias, has been successfully obliterated in larger imagination.

However, while Iran and its co-sectarian proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon or Houthis in Yemen were naturally pitted against the rival Arab/Sunni forces (sovereign or otherwise)  the disproportionate demonising of Iran with its supposed role in terrorism, almost instinctively led to blaming Iran for all problems whilst overlooking the pernicious role played by the Sheikhdoms in breeding violent forces that were to go their way or even rogue e.g., Al Qaida or ISIL. The much-vilified Iran felt slighted and retained its belligerent posture and rhetoric against the West which somehow was then used by the West to prove its over-creative accusations against Iran. It became an endless circle of blame game and by owning the monopoly on truth, Iran was persistently fingered and accused of doing things that it did do and also for things that it probably didnt do!

Perhaps the only predominantly Sunni militia in the Middle East that has retained a modicum of support from the Iranians has been the Palestinian Hamas  they, have overlooked the sectarian angularity in favour of practicality by accepting Iranian support as the Sheikhdoms had virtually abandoned the Palestinian cause (after legitimising, normalising and formalising relations with Israel) and it was left to Tehran to support a virtually forgotten Hamas which was left to fend for itself. But realistically Irans leverage on Hamas is not expected to be like the sort of substantial leverage it has on forces like Hezbollah, Houthis et al. Many independent experts have commented on the ignorance of Iranian authorities in the planning of the 7th October attack on Israel  the difference between support and leverage is key in understanding the Iranian control over Hamas. So, Iran does support Hamas, but it is highly unlikely that it was privy to the attack plans in Israel, as so secret was the operation that not only was the famed Israeli intelligence caught by complete surprise, but so were many of Hamas operatives themselves. Yet much like the instinctive name-calling of Iran as the principal enemy for everything that goes wrong in the Middle East, Israelis left no stone unturned to blame the Iranians, squarely.

In recent times, beyond the rhetorical sabre-rattling by Irans actual proxy i.e., Hezbollah and the odd firing of rockets and gunfire (not exactly the opening of a front), both Hezbollah and Iranians have confined themselves to verbosity as opposed to any major military action.

But the Israelis have way gone beyond pulverising the Gaza Strip killing an unprecedented 30,000 Gazans, attacking NGO-Aid personnel with impunity and now even hitting the Iranian consulate building in Syrias capital, Damascus.

Two senior Iranian commanders of the Quds Force along with at least 9 others have been killed. Most likely these Iranian forces would have been involved in overlooking and supporting operations in the Syrian theatre along with forces of Syrian President, Bashir al Assad (a co-sectarian ally) against forces of disparate militias from the same fount that germinated ISIL, Al Qaida etc., But like in the killing of the legendary Iranian General Suleiman Qasimi, even this time the Israelis insisted on the rote like that they had, been behind many attacks on Israeli and American assets and had plans for additional attacks.

More likely than not, an increasingly isolated (externally and internally) Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is seeking to expand the conflict contours by drawing in Iran as the Iranians remain the favourite bogey that elicits negative reactions amongst most Jews and Americans, irrespective of their partisan loyalties. Strangely, it legitimises Netanyahus disproportionate belligerence and missteps by deflecting blame games from himself by taking on the Iranians, who were not exactly the primary participants. It is an age-old invocation of a formula of convenience and half-truths.

(The writer, a military veteran, is a former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry. The views expressed are personal)
The significance of ethical education and interdisciplinary approaches in promoting societal change and nation-building cannot be overstated

The lives of students are amidst a major transformation, largely due to rapidly changing value systems across the globe. However, this transformation, driven solely by acquisition, is unlikely to yield positive results. Instead, it risks turning education, a highly revered institution, into a mere business venture where success is measured solely by material possessions. Moral and ethical education stands as the key to success, enabling the new generation to embrace values and approaches that can nurture the creative urges of the student community within an environment marked by rapid change. Nevertheless, we must acknowledge the challenges posed by this transitional phase.

Keywords such as knowledge, wisdom, creativity, motivation and encouragement are prerequisites for a successful education system. A competent education system must possess an inner strength capable of deploying myriad strategies to tackle unforeseen challenges. Fostering the latest skills and transmitting new moral codes and cognitive thinking subtly are crucial areas that can lay a robust foundation for the Viksit Bharat 2047 campaign.

While our education system is known for embracing values and approaches that shape the creative urges of students and academicians, it faces increasing challenges during this transitional phase. Efforts must be made to bridge the gap in existing knowledge regarding the contemporary importance of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary studies. Higher education institutions in India need to enrich each discipline with diverse content and ideas. Even science students should be exposed to international, national, socio-political and economic issues through multidisciplinary practices, as initiated by NEP 2020. Such policies serve as catalysts for innovation and foster academic collaboration across multiple disciplines and institutions of higher learning.

In recent years, there has been substantial change in the content and nature of various disciplines, with a focused approach to integrating real-life experiments of democracy, the environment, globalisation and governance into the new education system framework. Its crucial to demonstrate how new higher education approaches can drive change and instil confidence among the masses. The latest research and developments in education globally should be disseminated to upgrade research and teaching accordingly. The strength of the higher education system lies in its internal dynamism, ensuring inclusive growth and contributing significantly to the Viksit Bharat @2047 Campaign.

Indias entrepreneurial skills have propelled us forward, overcoming tertiary constraints and fostering innovation. Remarkable initiatives have focused on connectivity and developing new connections, rather than relying solely on the market or cut-throat competition. As Lucy Larcom once said, If the world seems cold to you, kindle fire to warm it. This sentiment rings true for our forgotten appreciation of traditional values and ethics. The vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 can be achieved by nurturing creativity and responsibility among students, equipping them with moral knowledge and employable skills. This not only broadens ethical horizons and enhances decision-making capabilities but also clarifies what is ethically and morally correct. Practical approaches and workshops can help develop skills through critical thinking and diverse forms of expression.

Ethics transcends cliches, prompting a shift from what is to what ought to be. Its essential to instil a strong sense of responsibility alongside artistic and academic freedom. Despite years of efforts to eliminate major threats, terrorism, caste violence and class conflict persist. Blaming others for these issues is naive; we must acknowledge our role in them. Preservation of identity is important, but efforts to preserve cultural, linguistic, regional or religious identities sometimes damage the socio-political systems fabric. The world also faces the spread of narrow-minded faith, but history shows that such faith seldom survives. A robust education system is needed to cultivate responsibility among the youth, playing a pivotal role in achieving our nations development goals.

Sensitising students and society through low-cost, intense webinars can be highly effective in this regard, particularly in an era of rapid globalisation. Mass media can play a role in political and social mobilisation, with student participation facilitating mass sensitisation. Improving course content through academic discourse and introducing innovative mechanisms in social sciences can enhance the relevance of education. Academic programmes and services should provide supplemental support to teaching and learning, fostering community development both inside and outside the classroom. Research centres should be established to ensure academic excellence in social sciences.

Intellectual skills should prepare students to engage with socio-economic and political issues on a global scale, fostering collaboration with stakeholders from other institutions. Community education programmes should encourage lifelong learning. To enhance student standards, self-academic orientation and excellence should be developed, incorporating problem-solving and inquiry-based learning activities in a collaborative environment. A new syllabus should provide insight into the problem of terrorism and its causes, paving the way for a comprehensive strategy to combat it. Understanding the nexus between organised crime and terrorism is crucial. Cultural exchanges among students can promote harmony and creativity, transcending social divisions. Its imperative to focus on empirical and normative understandings to address societal concerns effectively. The Governments inspiring vision for the future is promising, positioning India at the forefront globally.

In conclusion, the transformative journey of education towards Viksit Bharat@2047 necessitates a holistic approach, emphasising moral and ethical education alongside academic excellence. The challenges posed by rapid global changes require proactive measures to bridge knowledge gaps and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. It is imperative to instil a sense of responsibility and cultivate creativity among students to address contemporary issues effectively.

Efforts should focus on integrating real-life experiences into the education system and fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Embracing diversity and inclusivity in education will strengthen the fabric of society and contribute to national development goals. Moreover, initiatives like low-cost webinars and mass media engagement can amplify the impact of education, promoting social awareness and civic engagement among the youth.

As we navigate through complex socio-political landscapes, it is crucial to uphold traditional values while embracing innovation and progress. By nurturing a generation equipped with moral clarity and practical skills, we can pave the way for a brighter future for India and the world. In essence, the journey towards Viksit Bharat@2047 requires collective efforts from educators, policymakers and society at large. By prioritising ethical education, fostering interdisciplinary learning and embracing diversity, we can build a strong foundation for a prosperous and inclusive future. Together, let us embark on this journey towards excellence, guided by the principles of integrity, empathy and resilience.

(The author, a recipient of the Bharat Gaurav award, is a professor and expert on strategic affairs; views are personal)
The Pakistan High Commission on Tuesday here said it issued 2,843 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to facilitate their participation at the Baisakhi celebrations.

Under the provision of a bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines, Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan every year. Pakistani pilgrims also visit India every year under the protocol.

On the occasion of Baisakhi celebrations, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued 2,843 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the annual festival scheduled to be held in Pakistan from April 13 to 22, the high commission said.

The pilgrims would, inter-alia, visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, it said in a statement.

Charge d Affaires at Pakistan high commission Saad Ahmad Warraich, extended his heartfelt felicitations to all those celebrating this auspicious festival and wished the visiting pilgrims a fulfilling yatra.

The issuance of visas to religious pilgrims by the High Commission is in line with the Government of Pakistans commitment to fully implement the bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines between the two countries, the mission said.
A demand to trifurcate Tamil Nadu is getting silent momentum across the State. Though leaders of major political leaders are reluctant to come out in the open asking for the same, the intelligentsia, representatives of trade and industries bodies and farmers have expressed their anguish over the continued indifference of the DMK and the AIADMK to the needs of southern and south west Tamil Nadu.

S Ramadoss, the founder of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, an outfit of the Vanniyar community, is already on record demanding the bifurcation of Tamil Nadu into northern and southern States. It is always better to have smaller States for administrative convenience. Events in the past have proved that division of larger States into smaller ones hasten up economic and social development, said DR Ramadoss. Northern districts of Tamil Nadu have a considerable Vanniyar population which the doctor hopes would vote for his entity so that he could anoint his son Anbumani as the Chief Minister.

Tamil Nadu has an area of 50,216 sq miles with a population of 7.2 crore (according to 2011 census). The State has 38 districts and development of the regions is not in synchronisation with the population or regions, according to Arjun Sampath, founder. Hindu Peoples Front, an apolitical organisation. The south west Tamil Nadu consisting of seven districts contributes more than 50 per cent of the States revenue through industries and farming. But there is no development worth its name in the region, popularly known as Kongunadu. said Arjun Sampath.

According to Arjun Sampath, the Avinashi-Athikadavu drinking water supply-cum-irrigation scheme envisaged more than six decades ago is the best proof of Chennas indifference to the region of seven districts. The project is yet to materialise as residents and farmers are struggling for drinking water and irrigation water. The DMK is sore that it does not have any major presence in Kongunadu, a stronghold of the Gaunder community, said Sampath.

Both Arjun Sampath and Jayakumar, an industrialist and cultural activist of Kongunadu told The Pioneer that it was time Kongunadu was liberated from the shackles of the rulers of Chennai.

We have our own culture and heritage and need not be at the mercy of the Dravidian political parties. All major industries and industrialists are from Kongunadu belt and the Centre should initiate measures to form a separate State with Coimbatore as the capital city. The Dravidians are throttling the region by denying it all rights due to it, said Jayakumar.

Equally interesting is the stance of educationist Dr YR Johnson, former principal of Navodaya Vidyalaya, which has been banned by the DMK in Tamil Nadu. Dr Johnson, who is waging a battle against the State administrations Opposition to the launching of Navodaya Vidyalaya in the State says the students of Tamil Nadu are denied their right to quality education.

Ours is the only State in the country which has not allowed the functioning of Navodaya Vidyalaya, an education system which would have made quality public school education free to all sections of the society. If they do not want such schools in Tamil nadu, let them trifurcate or bifurcate the State so that Navodaya Vidyalaya would become a reality in southern Tamil Nadu, said Dr Johnson who is disappointed with the poor quality of education dished out in government and private management-run schools in Tamil Nadu.

Arjun Sampath pointed out the experiences of States like Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand which were carved out from bigger States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. All these three States have made giant strides in a short time because of the ease with which they are administered, said Arjun.

The Centre is empowered by the Constitution (Articles 2, 3 & 4) to bifurcate existing States into smaller States or Union Territories by suitable legislation in Parliament. Nobody can oppose such a move, according to Dr Jacob Thomas, former director general of police, Kerala.
After former Chief Election Commissioner TN Seshan, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has provided Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar with a Z-category VIP security cover of armed commandos. This decision, based on a threat perception report, involves deploying approximately 40-45 armed commandos from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to ensure the safety of Kumar.

The armed commandos will accompany the CEC during his travels across the country. This is one of the rarest instances of a CEC being provided a Central security cover. Former CEC, late T N Seshan, had a Central security cover at one point of time. The CEC, as well as two Election Commissioners, are currently guarded by a small armed security team drawn from the Delhi Police. According to sources, the decision to upgrade the security cover of Kumar comes after Central security agencies prepared a threat perception report, which recommended robust security measures for him. They did not share the specifics of IBs threat perception report.

Under Z category security protocols, a comprehensive security detail has been deployed. A total of 33 security personnel, including CRPF commandos, have been assigned to safeguard Kumar during his official engagements and travels across the country.

This entails 10 armed static guards stationed at Kumars residence, six personal security officers (PSOs) providing round-the-clock protection, and 12 armed commandos working in three shifts to escort him. Additionally, two watchers per shift and three trained drivers are on standby to ensure Kumars safety at all times. On an average about Rs 50 lakh is being spent to protect him, which means about Rs 1.5 lakh daily.

The decision to elevate Kumars security status comes amidst heightened turmoil surrounding the ongoing political landscape as Opposition parties like the Trinamool Congress protest against the Election Commission.

The VIP security cover categorisations begin from the highest Z+ followed by Z, Y+, Y and X.

The move comes amid preparations for the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections that begin on April 19. Kumar is a retired IAS officer of the 1984 batch. He took charge as the 25th CEC on May 15, 2022. He had been appointed as an election commissioner in the poll body on September 1, 2020.
Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Agarwal on Monday said that citizens are also keeping a close watch through C-Vigil mobile app regarding the violations of Model Code of Conduct implemented in view of the Lok Sabha general elections. Through the C-Vigil mobile application, citizens are empowered to actively monitor and report violations of the Model Code of Conduct, ensuring fair and transparent elections.



Agarwal said that so far, 1204 complaints have been received on the C-Vigil mobile app in the state, which have been resolved within a specified time. He said that the public ensuring their participation in the system through the "C-Vigil" mobile app is a matter of pride.



He said that through the C-Vigil mobile app, the public is being empowered similar to election observers, enabling citizens to register complaints of violations of the Model Code of Conduct. Providing district-wise details, he said that the highest 317 complaints have been received from Sirsa district. Similarly, 219 from Ambala, 46 from Bhiwani, 40 from Faridabad, 37 from Fatehabad, 78 from Gurugram, 46 from Hisar, 20 from Jhajjar, 22 each from Jind and Kaithal, 16 from Karnal, 31 from Kurukshetra, 3 from Mahendragarh, 36 from Mewat, 32 from Palwal, 67 from Panchkula, 5 from Panipat, 3 from Rewari, 34 from Rohtak, 87 from Sonipat, and 43 complaints from Yamunanagar have been received. Among these, 959 complaints were found to be valid and action was taken accordingly.



He appealed to the citizens to support in making the elections fair and transparent. This C-Vigil app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store for Android phones and from the App Store for iPhones, Agarwal added.



The CEO said that citizens can take photos or record two-minute videos and upload them on this app. The photo or video will be uploaded on the app along with the GPS location. Complaints will be resolved within 100 minutes of registration. Flying squads and static surveillance teams have real-time information and teams will immediately reach the location from where the complaint is received on the C-Vigil app, informed Agarwal.


A day after quitting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the former Union Minister Birender Singh on Tuesday joined the Congress along with his ex-MLA wife Prem Lata. Brijendra Singh, the son of Birender Singh, resigned from the Lok Sabha and the BJP and joined the Congress last month.



Birender Singh was welcomed into the party fold at the Congress headquarters in the national capital in the presence of leaders, including Mukul Wasnik, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, State party chief Udai Bhan and other senior leaders Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Kumari Selja, Kiran Chaudhary, Randeep Surjewala and Pawan Khera.



On his return to the Congress, Birender Singh said, It is not just my 'ghar wapsi' but also 'vichar wapsi'.



Addressing the gathering at the Congress headquarters, Birender Singh said that his return to the Congress is the return of the ideology. We are here because we have stood stronger with the people of Haryana and they too have supported us. In the last 10 years, you (BJP) did not make anybody your own. I will say that it is not only ghar wapsi but vichardhara ki wapsi (return of ideology).



78-year-old Birender Singh is the maternal grandson of the farmer leader Sir Chhotu Ram and had quit the Congress in 2014, after an over four-decade-long stint, to join the BJP. He was Union minister for steel in the first government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also held the charge of rural development, panchayati raj, and drinking water and sanitation.



Welcoming Birender Singh and Prem Lata into the Congress, party leader Mukul Wasnik said, With their joining, I am sure the Congress will be strengthened in Haryana and help form the Congress government in the state.



Former CM Hooda said, With his (Birender Singh) rejoining, he has proved the age-old saying, 'East or West, Home is the best'. He is my elder brother and I am very happy about his return to the Congress fold. We need to increase our strength by displaying unity and only then will we be able to save democracy and the Constitution, Hooda said. It should be mentioned here that in the past, the father-son duo had often defied the BJPs stand on several issues. In 2020, they sided with the protesting farmers to demand the withdrawal of the now-repealed farm laws. Both leaders expressed solidarity with wrestlers protesting against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment.



After resigning from the BJP, Brijendra Singh had said that the partys decision to ally with the Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) was also one of the reasons for his exit. Brijendra had defeated Chautala by more than two lakh votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when the BJP swept the state, winning all 10 seats. However, a few months later in the assembly elections, Dushyant defeated Brijendras mother Prem Lata by more than 40,000 votes from Uchana Kalan. Birender Singh resigned from the Upper House in 2020 after Brijendra, a 1998-batch IAS officer who opted for voluntary retirement to enter politics, was elected Hisar MP.
In a dramatic turn of events, a prominent Mumbai-based businessman and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Swaran Salaria has ignited a revolt within the party ranks by declaring his candidacy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Gurdaspur constituency. Despite the BJPs prior announcement of former MLA Dinesh Babbu as its candidate from the constituency for June 1 polls, Salaria has declared his decision to contest the elections, and that too from a winning and good party.

Salarias announcement came at a time when another BJP leader Kavita Khanna  widow of three-time MP and yesteryears Bollywood superstar Vinod Khanna  had also given enough indications of a similar move. Reports are that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which would be fielding its candidate this time from the seat which used to be in BJPs kitty as part of their coalition since past few decades, is making attempts to rope in Kavita Khanna. After 1996, SAD and BJP would be contesting independently after the Akali Dal walked out of NDA in 2020 over the now-repealed farm laws.

Notably, in 2019 Lok Sabha polls too, both Salaria and Kavita Khanna had rebelled against the party for ignoring their claims on the seat, but were pacified. BJP had fielded Bollywood superstar Sunny Deol from the seat, who had defeated the then sitting MP, Congress Sunil Jakhar  now the Punjab BJP president.

Salarias political journey in Gurdaspur began in 2017 when he contested the bypoll on a BJP ticket following the demise of the then BJP MP Vinod Khanna. However, despite his earnest efforts, Salaria faced defeat at the hands of the Congress Sunil Jakhar. Undeterred by this setback, Salaria continued to immerse himself in grassroots work within the constituency, earning the trust and support of the local populace.

I have been working in the constituency for many years, and the people in my area have pledged their support for my victory, Salaria affirmed, exuding confidence in his electoral prospects. He boldly declared his intent to secure a decisive victory, asserting, I guarantee that I will win by a margin of over 2.50 lakh votes.

Emphasizing his allegiance to a good party, Salaria clarified that he would not contest the elections as an independent candidate, signaling his commitment to align himself with a political entity that shares his vision and values. I will fight on the symbol of a good partyIt will be clear by April 13. It will be a good and winning party, he said.

Despite the BJP's nomination of Babbu  a former three-time MLA from Sujanpur in Pathankot  for the Gurdaspur seat, Salaria harboured no ill feelings towards the party leadership. I did not asked for the ticket from the BJP. I extend my best wishes to the chosen candidate, said Salaria.

As of now, BJP is the only party to have declared its candidate for Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat, with the other major political parties  ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and also the SAD  yet to announce the names.

Gurdaspur holds significant historical and political importance for the BJP, as it was once represented by the late Vinod Khanna, who achieved multiple electoral victories for the party. However, with shifting political dynamics and the BJP's decision to contest the elections independently in Punjab for the first time in decades, the electoral landscape in Gurdaspur has become increasingly unpredictable.

A former Congress stronghold, Gurdaspur witnessed a transformation with Khannas electoral triumph in 1998, marking the beginning of the BJPs ascendancy in the region. After defeating Congress five-time MP Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder, Khanna registered victories for the BJP in 1999, 2004, and 2014. In 2009, Khanna lost to the Congress Partap Singh Bajwa.
The Bharatiya Janata Party finds itself entangled in a challenging predicament regarding the candidature of sitting MP from Kaiserganj, Brij Bhushan Saran Singh, as he remains resolute in contesting the upcoming elections despite the partys proposal to field his wife Ketaki Devi Singh.

According to a senior BJP leader, who said on the condition of anonymity that the partys top brass had implored Singh to withdraw his candidacy, emphasising their readiness to nominate his wife Ketaki Devi Singh as the candidate from Kaiserganj.

The BJP leadership is in a dilemma; otherwise, Brij Bhushans candidature would have been announced by now. His name is always in the first list, the leader stated.

Ketaki Devi Singh, who has previously served as an MP, contested the elections from the Gonda Lok Sabha seat in 1996, while Brij Bhushan Singh was incarcerated in Tihar Jail under TADA. She emerged victorious, defeating Anand Singh of Congress by a substantial margin of over 80,000 votes.

The party is yet to reveal the list of candidates for 12 constituencies, including Rae Bareli and Kaiserganj.

Sources indicate that the delay in finalising candidates for these seats is primarily due to the uncertainty surrounding Brij Bhushans candidacy.

Despite facing allegations of sexual harassment from women wrestlers during his tenure as President of the Womens Federation of India, Singh, the six-time MP commands significant influence in several Lok Sabha seats in eastern Uttar Pradesh, which has earned him the moniker of dabang neta on the ground.

He has been instrumental in securing victories for the party not only in Kaiserganj but also in six other constituencies, including Gonda and Bahraich.

The MP/MLA court in Delhi is scheduled to hear Singhs case on April 23, with a verdict expected the same day. The BJP leadership is apprehensive that nominating Singh may provide ammunition to the opposition, potentially jeopardising the partys electoral prospects.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already raised questions regarding BJPs integrity, juxtaposing its response to Singhs case with her partys swift action against accused individuals in the Sandeshkhali incident.

Amid Singhs unwavering stance, BJP leadership remains open to considering alternative candidates from his family or suggestions from within the party. However, they await the verdict of the MP/MLA court in Delhi before arriving at the final decision.

Sources suggest that the BJP will announce the list of candidates for all 12 constituencies, including Mainpuri, Rae Bareli, Ghazipur, Ballia, Bhadohi, Machhlishahr, Prayagraj, Phulpur, Kaushambi, Deoria, Firozabad, and Kaiserganj, following the courts ruling.

The unfolding developments underscore the intricacies surrounding candidate selection within the BJP as the electoral landscape intensifies ahead of the impending polls.
Punjabs electoral landscape is undergoing a fascinating transformation, brimming with intrigue and excitement. In a significant development, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Monday announced that Surinder Kamboj  the father of Jalalabads MLA from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)  will be its candidate from the Ferozepur Lok Sabha constituency. For the same seat, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Amritsar-Mann faction has nominated Bhupinder Singh Bhullar  the father of slain gangster Jaipal Bhullar, adding further layers of interest to the upcoming elections.

As the countdown to the polls in the border state ticks closer with less than two months left until the elections, each passing day is bringing new surprises in the run up to polls, adding layers of anticipation to the ballot battle. Amidst the backdrop of leaders indulging in party hopping and shifting loyalties for perceived better opportunities, BSP and SAD (Amritsar-Mann) have injected a fresh dynamic into the electoral scene by fielding its candidates with unique backgrounds. Moreover, none of the major political parties has yet announced its candidate for the Ferozepur seat.

Surinder Kamboj, the father of Jalalabad MLA Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy, who emerged victorious against SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal in the 2022 state assembly polls, had joined the Mayawati-led BSP on Saturday. Congress rebel-turned-AAP MLA Goldy Kamboj emerged as a giant slayer by defeating Sukhbir Badal, securing a staggering lead of 30,930 votes.

Making things more interesting, now, his father would be contesting from the seat currently represented by Sukhbir, and by aligning himself with a party that was once an ally of the Akali Dal in the Punjab assembly polls. However, Sukhbir Badal has already made it clear that he would not be contesting the Lok Sabha elections this time.

Speaking about his candidacy, 68-year-old Surinder Kamboj emphasized that he holds his own ideology, which may differ from that of his son Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy. Despite claims of living separately, the father-son duo has been seen together at various social and political events, underscoring their close ties.

The announcement of fielding Surinder Kamboj from Ferozepur was made by BSPs in-charge for Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh Randhir Singh Beniwal. The party will soon name its candidates for the remaining seats in Punjab, he said. Notably, BSP had previously announced its candidate from the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seat.

The seat has a big chunk of over three lakh electorate belonging to the Kamboj community. To recall, Surinder Kamboj was arrested last year in an extortion case in Fazilka. Following his arrest, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had reiterated the need for strict action in the matter while declaring that the law was equal for everyone, and action will be taken against any accused individual. Notably, Surinder Kamboj and four others were accused of blackmailing.

Goldy Kamboj, at that time, had stated that the AAP Government had zero tolerance for corruption, regardless of who is involved. At the same time, he had claimed that he had been distanced from his father for a long time, and had no connection to the matter. Emphasizing that the law will take its own course, Goldy had stated that he would not intervene in the matter.

Meanwhile, SAD (Amritsar-Mann), unveiling its second list of candidates for June 1 Lok Sabha elections, chose Bhupinder Singh Bhullar to contest from Ferozepur constituency. A retired inspector of the Punjab Police, Bhullar is the father of the deceased gangster Jaipal Bhullar, who was killed in an encounter with police in Kolkata in 2021. Jaipal Bhullar, known for his criminal activities across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, had over 40 cases registered against him.

Apart from Bhullar, SAD (Amritsar-Mann) has also nominated Emaan Singh Mann  son of Sangrurs sitting MP Simranjeet Singh Mann  for the Amritsar seat, and Harpal Singh Baler for Khadoor Sahib.

Interestingly, this election would see the father-son duo of Simranjeet Singh Mann and Emaan Singh Mann contesting the general elections from Sangrur and Amritsar, respectively  apparently for the first time in the recallable past.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati denied the ticket to sitting Member of Parliament from Ghosi Atul Rai and instead gave it to Balkrishna Chauhan, former MP who left Congress and joined BSP only five days ago.

Sources said that Chauhan was declared the candidate from Ghosi by BSP. The decision was taken in the zone level meeting of the party in Azamgarh on Monday.

The Samajwadi Party has fielded Rajiv Rai from Ghosi, while the NDA has named Arvind Rajbhar, son of Cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar from this Lok Sabha constituency. On April 4, Balkrishna Chauhan left Congress and joined BSP.

Sources said that on Monday, on the instructions of BSP supremo Mayawati, Azamgarh zone incharge Ghanshyam Chandra Kharwar announced the candidate.

Chauhan was a BSP MP in 1999. Balkrishna Chauhan, who runs many educational institutions, became the BSP MP from Ghosi Lok Sabha seat for the first time in 1999. In 2004, he lost the election to Chandradev Prasad Rajbhar of SP.

In 2009, he was set to get a ticket from BSP, but at the last moment, Dara Singh Chauhan was given the ticket. In 2012, he was expelled from BSP due to anti-party activities. After that, he joined SP. In 2018, he quit SP and joined BSP again. On March 7, 2019, he joined the Congress along with his supporters in Lucknow. However, he once again quit Congress to join BSP.

Meanwhile, after the start of campaign by nephew Akash Anand in BSP supremo Mayawatis native place, preparations for her first public meeting have also intensified.

A public meeting of Mayawati is scheduled for April 22 in Gautam Buddha Nagar. However, there is currently a tug-of-war going on regarding the venue for Mayawatis public meeting.

Sources said that Gautam Buddha Nagar district organisation wants to hold a public meeting in the Jewar area, while the Bulandshahr unit wants Mayawati to kick off campaign from Secunderabad.

The sources said that the final call would be taken by Mayawati this week. She will be visiting the district after a long time. This time, this election is special for her.

In the last Lok Sabha elections, she entered the political arena by forming an alliance with SP. This time, she is alone in the fray and many of her old colleagues, including the sitting MPs, have also left her and joined other parties.
On the first day of Navratri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing it of obstructing the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and disrespecting Lord Ram by declining an invitation to the Pran Pratishta ceremony.

Speaking at an election rally in Pilibhit, Modi criticised the Congress for being mired in appeasement politics, stating it could never emerge from this quagmire.

He condemned the Congress for its attempts to impede the construction of the Ram temple, highlighting the contributions of the public towards the temples construction and expressing disappointment at the rejection of the invitation to the consecration ceremony.

Modi asserted that every Indian family contributed to the temples construction out of devotion, emphasising the communal harmony displayed by the nation. Just to appease a section of the society, the Congress stayed away from Pran Pratishtha, Modi said.

In a tribute to former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singhs dedication to the Ram temple cause, Modi praised his unwavering commitment.

Singh, a key figure in the Ram mandir agitation, was the chief minister during the demolition of the Babri mosque in 1992. He was even jailed for a day.

Continuing his tirade against the Congress, Modi accused the party of being deeply entrenched in appeasement politics, likening its manifesto to that of the Muslim League. He reaffirmed his governments commitment to fostering Indias development, highlighting Indias resilience and determination in the face of global challenges.

Modi emphasised Indias unwavering determination and resilience in overcoming obstacles amidst global adversities. He attributed the nations success to the collective support of its citizens, underscoring the pivotal role of every vote cast.

No challenge is insurmountable for Indias resolve. Our nation has consistently proven its capability to achieve ambitious goals, PM Modi said, highlighting the relentless pursuit of a developed India fueled by inspiration and vigour.

Against the backdrop of global trials, Modi praised Indias pivotal role during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the nation emerged as a global provider of essential medicines. He reminisced about Indias remarkable milestones, from its meteoric economic growth to Chandrayaans historic feat of unfurling the tricolour on the lunar surface, evoking national pride.

Modi juxtaposed Indias previous reliance on international assistance under the Congress government with its current stature as a beacon of self-reliance and innovation, epitomised by hosting the acclaimed G20 summit.

He underscored the significance of a robust India, asserting that global recognition follows national strength.

As Uttar Pradesh braces for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19, Modis address resonated with constituents across eight parliamentary constituencies, including Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, and Pilibhit, emphasising the nations enduring spirit amid electoral fervour.

As the rally began, there was anticipation about the presence of Varun Gandhi on the dais along with PM Modi. His supporters initially indicated that he would attend the PMs election rally, but later decided to stay away.

Varun Gandhi is a sitting MP from Pilibhit but has been denied the ticket. In his place, UPs PWD Minister Jitin Prasada is contesting the election. Incidentally, Santosh Gangwar, the MP from Bareilly who also has been denied a ticket this time, was present at the dais. Varun Gandhi had also skipped the chief ministers meeting last week.
Miscreants targeted the house of a female doctor in Shahpura and looted Rs 50 lakh, a necklace weighing 100 gm and a diamond studded necklace of a female doctor in Bhopal. The crime was committed by the servant of the house along with his associates. At the time of the incident the entire family had gone to a hotel to celebrate their birthday.

During this time, there were four people in the house including servant Laxman, his minor brother and servant husband and wife.

The incident took place at 10.10 pm on Monday night at the house of Dr. Anshul Singh, resident of Shahpura B Sector house number 234.

At that time there were four domestic helpers in the house. In the night armed criminals entered the house. They pretended to beat Lakshman and also assaulted another servants and maids and locked them in the room. To make the situation real Laxman vandalized the house along with his associates. After this the miscreants sent away the money and jewellery. Then informed the police. Meanwhile, when the doctor's family returned from the hotel, they got information about the incident.

Dr. Anshul Singh is an Assistant Professor in the Neurology Department of LN Medical College and JK Hospital located on Kolar Road. Dr. Anshul is the niece of former MLA Yadvendra Singh from Nagod in Satna district, who recently joined BJP.

The main accused Laxman (22) had committed the crime along with his associates.

Dr. Anshul Singh left his house in Shahpura B Sector at 9 pm on Monday night with his family. Sister Priya's birthday celebration was held in the city's Jehan Numa Retreat. An hour later, at around 10.10, 5-6 miscreants reach Dr. Anshul Singh's house in a two wheeler. Here the gate of the house was already found open. Four servants, Betul resident Laxman (22), two servants, husband-wife Dharmendra Parihar (48), Suman Parihar (45) and another minor (13) were present inside. The minor is Laxman's cousin, Dr. Anshul's father Gyanendra Singh had kept him with his daughter for education.

The miscreants first beat Suman and Dharmendra. Pretended to beat Laxman in front of them. After some time they locked Suman and Dharmendra in a room. Then the minor told Laxman where the jewelery and cash were kept in the house. After committing the crime, the miscreants escaped at 10:50 pm. The miscreants looted Rs 50 lakh in cash, a 10 tola necklace and a diamond set in 40 minutes.

Police received information about the incident after 11 pm. Meanwhile, the Charlie team of Misrod police station found one of the accused, Amit, pushing a bike in Misrod area. When he could not give any satisfactory answer during interrogation, he was searched. A revolver cover and two bullets were seized from nearby. During strict interrogation, he confessed to carrying out the robbery.

Thereafter, the police caught Laxman from the doctor's house and took him to Mandideep, where Rs 49 lakh was recovered from another accused. The police found this money stuffed in a sack. It is suspected that he was planning to escape from a van parked nearby. Then she got spoiled. Due to which he could not run away. At present 3 accused are in police custody. The rest are being searched.

Police have arrested 5 accused so far Laxman Singh Keer (24) of Misrod, Amit Rathore (24) of Mandideep, Santosh Kumar Jagande (31), Shivalik Block Mandideep and Sonu Ahirwar alias Balbant Ram Nagar Mandideep and a 15-year-old minor.

All the accused were planning to carry out the robbery for 3 months. For which the minor was given special training. He was asked to collect information about every thing kept in the house. Before committing the crime, the minor servant along with his associates had switched off the DVR of the CCTV installed in the house. After committing the crime, the accused had also taken the DVR with them.
A panic situation prevailed at the police headquarters in Chhattisgarh here on Tuesday when a Constable opened fire.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Raipur-Rural) Kirtan Rathore confirmed that Rakesh Yadav opened random fire. He hails from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh.

Yadav was equipped with an INSAS rifle and fired around 12 rounds.

The indication is that he fired knowingly though the Constable claims it was an accident.

No casualty was reported as most of the staff and officers were yet to report for work. The incident took place at around 9.30 am, one official said. The police headquarters is located in Nava Raipur and is in a high security zone.

On Tuesday morning, four constables from the 14th battalion of Chhattisgarh State Armed Force (CAF) were deployed at the police headquarters. Yadav was one of them.

The Constable did not escape from the spot after the incident. The police took him into custody.
Heavy rain lashed several parts of the State capitalwhich was accompained with storm; alert for hail has been issued till April 11, there will be more impact tomorrow.

There was heavy rain in Bhopal on Monday afternoon. There was also a strong storm in Kolar area. The city remained cloudy since morning. The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rain with thunderstorm in the next few hours. Earlier on Sunday too, after sunshine and drizzle throughout the day, there was heavy rain in the evening.

The Meteorological Department has issued an alert of rain along with hail in Bhopal till April 11. The impact will be greater on April 9. The weather has changed in the state due to moisture coming from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Its effect is visible in Bhopal also.

On Tuesday impact of weather will be greater. There is also a possibility of rain and hailstorm at some places.

Thunderstorm conditions will persist. There will also be drizzle on Wednesday.

Thursday is likely to witness cloudy conditions and there may be rain in some areas.

There is a trend of intense heat and rain in Bhopal in the month of April. In the last 10 years, the temperature has crossed 42 to 43 degrees, while there has been rainfall in 7 out of 10 years between 2014 and 2023.

Hail, rain and strong wind have started again in Madhya Pradesh. The weather changed after 3 pm in Sagar and Narmadapuram. Hail along with rain has fallen in the surrounding areas including Chhindwara, Singrauli, Gaurjhamar of Sagar, Deori and Bankhedi of Narmadapuram.

At the same time, it was cloudy in Bhopal since morning. It rained in the afternoon. It has also rained in Raisen, Sehore and Vidisha.

According to Senior Scientist of IMD Bhopal, light rain will continue in the entire state for the next four days till April 11. For the first time in April, there is activity of a strong system due to cyclonic circulation and western disturbance. Due to this, there will be conditions of storm, rain, hail and lightning. Moisture is also coming from the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.

The Meteorological Department has also predicted lightning and hailstorm in Bhopal, Sehore, Betul, Raisen's Sanchi and Bhimbetka, Sagar, Damoh, Mandla, Seoni, Katni, Maihar and Sidhi in the next few hours. Here the storm can blow at a speed of 55 km per hour. There may be rain in Singrauli, Umaria and Narmadapuram during the evening. There is a possibility of light thunder and lightning in Shajapur, Vidisha, Narmadapuram, Chhindwara, Balaghat, Dindori, Satna, Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol, Anuppur and Panna districts.

There has been rainfall for 7 years between 2014 and 2023. There was no rain in the years 2016, 2017 and 2022, whereas last year 22.6 mm i.e. more than a quarter inch of water had fallen.
As the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections picks up, it seems the regional parties Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) in Haryana, are fighting a battle for political survival.

The INLD, became a regional force and secured between 15 to 28 per cent vote share on different occasions before sliding to 1.9 per cent in 2019 after division. It seems to be struggling in the Lok Sabha Poll 2024 to find candidates from their respective cadres to take the field. Additionally, INLD has been out of power for two decades in the State and also witnessed a bitter split in the form of JJP in 2018.

INLD had won only one seat in the 2019 Assembly election. On the other hand, JJP, which had won 10 seats in the 2019 Assembly election, formed a post-poll alliance with the BJP after the State Assembly polls threw up a fractured mandate. Four-and-a-half years later, JJP was ditched by its ally BJP and also facing rebellion from its own ranks. Five MLAs Jogi Ram Sihag, Ram Kumar Gautam, Ishwar Singh, Ramniwas and Devinder Babli, who reportedly formed a group and are in touch with the BJP. Moreover, JJP State President Nishan Singh has quit the party and likely to join the Congress. After the formation of the JJP in 2018, Nishan Singh was given the responsibility of the state president.



Both INLD and JJP have announced to field candidates on all the 10 Lok Sabha seats of the State. So far, the JJP has announced Rao Bahadur Singh from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh, who joined the party weeks ago. INLD has fielded its senior leader Abhay Chautala from Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency. The Lok Sabha polls for all 10 seats in Haryana will be held in the sixth of the seven-phase general election on May 25.



It seems this time round, the regional parties, which have been wielding significant influence in Haryana politics from 1967 onwards, are struggling to find suitable candidates in this parliamentary election. The 2019 Parliamentary Election turned out to be the worst for regional parties since 1977. INLD and the JJP had secured just 1.9 per cent and 4.9 per cent vote share in the Lok Sabha 2019 election.



The political history of State based regional political parties revealed that Haryana Vikas Party (HVP), which was formed in 1991 by former CM Bansi Lal, merged with Congress in 2004. Since 1991, HVP has won five seats in the Lok Sabha poll. Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC), which was formed by Bhajan Lal in 2007, had merged with Congress party in 2016. Bhajan Lal had won LS Poll twice from Hisar. The Vishal Haryana Party (VHP), led by Rao Birender Singh, could win just one seat in 1971.



The INLD, earlier Lok Dal, had carved a niche in Haryana politics since the late 1970s, led by Devi Lal, who emerged as a main challenger to the Congress. Apart from 1977, when the Janata Party won all 10 seats, the Lok Dal had sent 21 MPs to the Lok Sabha from Haryana since 1980. Devi Lal merged the Lok Dal with the Janata Dal in 1988, after which it won six seats in 1989. Later, the INLD retained the mantle of regional force and secured between 15 to 28 per cent vote share on different occasions. However, INLD has been out of power for two decades and also witnessed a bitter split. Few months ahead of Parliamentary election 2019, the INLD, which had two MPs in 2014, could not control factionalism in the Chautala clan that led to the formation of the JJP in December 2018.

As Dushyant Chautala represented Hisar in the Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2019, his father Ajay Singh Chautala was the MP from Bhiwani (the name was changed to Bhiwani-Mahindragarh after delimitation in 2008) from 1999 to 2004, JJP wanted to contest Lok Sabha elections on these two seats but the BJP, which had won all 10 seats in 2019 polls, was willing to sacrifice just one, triggering clash between the two, leading to a break-up of the alliance.



Political analysts feel that JJP and INLD have good presence in some segments and have the potential to influence the outcome of the election. But like it was in 2019, the Lok Sabha election in Haryana is going to be a bipolar affair. The JJP has lost its support among voters in the State and would only end up causing slight damage to the Opposition by splitting anti-incumbency votes. Whatever votes JJP candidates get, will only be at the expense of the INDIA (Congress-AAP, in the case of Haryana). In the 2019 Lok Sabha Election, Congress lost the Rohtak seat on account of the JP candidate Pradeep Kumar Deswal who got 21,211 votes and remained at fourth position after the BJP, the Congress and BSP candidates. Congresss Deepender Hooda polled 5,66,342 votes and lost to Arvind Sharma (who polled 5,73,845 votes) of the BJP by a margin of 7,503 votes. A large majority of Deswals 21,211 voters were Jats who could have voted for Hooda.



Analysts said that a rejuvenated cadre was very important for the survival of the outfit. The cadre of both these parties is highly dejected. Additionally, there is huge resentment against the JJP among its voters, particularly farmers, because of the support it extended to anti-farmer and anti-sportsperson actions of the BJP government. The INLD and the JJP were also having difficulty in selecting candidates. The leaders of these political parties need to put up an impressive performance in the polls, or else they risk political extinction, they added.
The Supreme Court on Monday gave big relief to the accused in the case related to Chhattisgarh liquor scam. The apex court quashed the money laundering case against the accused. The Supreme Court said that the complaint was based on an offense under the Income Tax Act, it is not a scheduled offense as per PMLA. JMM expressed happiness over this decision of the Supreme Court.

JMM's General Secretary cum spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said that comments were made about ED and the Congress government was destabilised by conspiracy in Chhattisgarh. The Supreme Court rejected the PMLA case regarding the liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. Now it has become clear that BJP has emerged as a kangaroo. And that is the bag the PM has taken with him. ED, CBI and corrupt people have been filled in this bag.

This thing was caught by the Supreme Court and the Electoral Bond was proved wrong. Exactly the same thing happened with our leader Hemant Soren, when elections came near, he was put in jail so that he could not campaign. There was an IT raid on the Sahu family of the state and the PM posted on X social media platform. But nothing happened because he gave a full account of the money, he said.

Bhattacharya said that an attempt was made to defame the character of Hemant Soren. And, when we caught him, he was picked up and put in jail. His voice cannot be silenced. Our leader was put in jail in order to allow mining by Adani. Now BJP's conspiracy has come to light. Many thanks to the Supreme Court for this, PM should give account of his work of 10 years. Also give information about corruption committed by him, said Bhattacharya.

Notably, the Supreme Court was hearing a plea by former IAS officer Anil Tuteja and his son Yash Tuteja against the agency's move to initiate a probe under PMLA on the basis of the income tax raid against them. ED is investigating the liquor scam that went on between 2019 and 2022. Money laundering case revealed in Income Tax Department charge sheet of 2022.
The Delhi Police has arrested a 27 years old man for allegedly murdering his live-in partner in west Delhis Rajapuri after a 1400 km chase. According to the police on Tuesday, a murder suspect named Vipul Tailor, a resident of Gujarats Surat was apprehended after a pursuit spanning 1400 kilometres.

Accused is a notorious criminal previously involved in 10 cases, including attempted murder and violations of NDPS Act. On April 3 at 10:38 pm a PCR call was received at Dabri Police Station alleging the murder of the callers daughter by a young man. The victim has been identified as Rukhsar, alias Riya whose dead body was found in a wardrobe. She was a mother of a young daughter
Chhattisgarh Police have arrested a 29-old-man on charges of abetting a lady doctor to commit suicide in Bilaspur city, police said on Tuesday.

Suraj Pandey of Sarkanda was nabbed on Monday, Bilaspur Superintendent of Police Rajnesh Singh said.

Dr Pooja Chaurasia was found dead on March 11 at her parents residence in Torwa area in the city.

Pandey, a realtor and victim, had an extra-marital affair with her.

Pandey was nabbed following a complaint lodged by the victims mother.

After arrest, Pandey confessed to the crime and he was sent to prison.
Even though the mainstream narrative supports the probability of the Bharatiya Janata Party candidates winning from all the five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand, the party is still heavily relying on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure it achieves its aim of the thumping victory it is projecting. Factors like opposition candidates especially in Garhwal and Tehri constituencies and other factors pose a challenge to the party which is aiming to break all past records. In this scenario, the BJP is preparing to make PM Modis rally in Rishikesh on April 11 a resounding success. The party has claimed that people from across the State will throng to the PMs rally in record numbers. On Tuesday, the BJP State president Mahendra Bhatt and other party leaders inspected the venue of the PMs programme and held a meeting regarding the preparations.

In an informal interaction with the media regarding the PMs rally, the BJP State media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said that Bhatt and BJP State general secretary (Organisation) Ajaey Kumar inspected the venue and held a meeting with senior office bearers of the party regarding the arrangements. Chauhan claimed that there is considerable enthusiasm in Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi and Dehradun for Modis rally, which is the second event to be addressed by the PM in the State for the Lok Sabha election. The party expects lakhs of people especially from the Garhwal region to attend the programme. The enthusiasm of the public for Modi shows that like all across the nation, people in Uttarakhand have also decided to re-elect him for the third term. The discussion now is not about the BJP winning but about the party achieving its aim of securing more than 400 seats. The talk in Uttarakhand is about the BJP candidates winning the election by an unprecedented margin, Chauhan said.

It is pertinent to mention here that according to observers, though the BJP appears to be stronger, factors like disenchantment of its traditional voters due to selection of candidates and opposition candidates exacerbating this aspect, the party is relying more on Modi than on the individual candidates to secure a victory in the elections, as witnessed in past parliamentary and Assembly elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked to change the lives of the poor. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lord Shri Ram was consecrated in Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya on 22 January 2024. Along with Congress and Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samajwadi Party had also rejected the invitation to organize the consecration of Lord Shri Ram. The holy land of Bundelkhand will never accept such opponents of Ram. The people of Khajuraho Lok Sabha constituency gave such blessings to BJP in the last Lok Sabha elections that this time Congress and Samajwadi Party have left the field without contesting here. Bharatiya Janata Party State President and MP Vishnudutt Sharma said this while addressing meetings in Gunnaur assembly constituency of Panna district on Tuesday.

During public relations, BJP State President Sharma was welcomed by people at various places including Kakarhati by showering flowers from the roofs of houses and from JCB.

Those who boycott life and dignity cannot be forgiven.

BJP State President and MP Vishnudatt Sharma said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done the work of increasing the respect of India across the world by consecrating the life of Lord Shri Ram on January 22 in Ayodhya.

After 500 years of struggle, a grand temple of Lord Shri Ram has been built in Ayodhya. State President Sharma said that the holy land of Bundelkhand will never forgive those who opened fire on Shri Ram devotees going to Ayodhya and those who boycotted the life and prestige of Shri Ram.

Addressing the street meetings, BJP State President Sharma said that the people of Madhya Pradesh and the country have such faith and blessings towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the opposition political parties are leaving the field. With your blessings, I won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Khajuraho by more than 4 lakh 93 thousand votes. Fearing the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress and Samajwadi Party have left the field in Khajuraho parliamentary constituency in this Lok Sabha election.

Bahujan Samajwadi Party is in the fray in Khajuraho parliamentary constituency. Friends, you know very well that the Bahujan Samajwadi Party had also rejected the invitation for the consecration of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya. The people of entire Madhya Pradesh including Khajuraho parliamentary constituency have decided to teach a lesson to those who rejected the invitation to consecrate the life of Lord Shri Ram.

Prime Minister is working to make India a developed nation. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, BJP is working to make India a world leader by the year 2047.

He said that the people are contesting on behalf of BJP in this Lok Sabha election.

Bahujan Samaj Party leader Rajkumar Kushwaha and royal family's Ajaya Singh accepted the membership of Bharatiya Janata Party in front of Bharatiya Janata Party State President and MP Vishnudutt Sharma. During this period, hundreds of people from Muslim community also took membership of BJP. State President Sharma welcomed everyone by wearing BJP's angavastra.
In a breakthrough in the Nature Heights Infra Limited scam, Punjab Police has apprehended the prime suspect, Neeraj Thathai alias Neeraj Arora, who had been evading arrest for nearly a decade, and was facing more than a hundred cases. Thathai was apprehended in a joint operation conducted by the Faridkot and Fazilka police teams from the Pauri district in Uttarakhand.

The Nature Heights Infra Limited scam, operated by the Abohar-based Thathai couple, involved duping investors by enticing them with promises of affordable residential and commercial plots in prime locations across Punjab. However, the company abruptly shut down its operations, leaving investors in the lurch. Investigations later revealed that many of the promised colonies lacked government approval, and the company failed to deliver on its commitments, resulting in financial losses for investors.

The arrest of Thathai follows closely on the heels of the arrest of Amandeep Kamboj, alias Aman Skoda, from Varanasi by the PO staff of Fazilka Police from Varanasi Uttar Pradesh on March 15, this year. Kamboj, a proclaimed offender in eight cases, was wanted by authorities for his involvement in various criminal activities. In 18 cases, he jumped bail.

Faridkot range Inspector-General Gursharan Singh Sandhu and Ferozepur range Deputy Inspector General Ranjit Singh Dhillon, addressing a joint press conference, commended the collaborative efforts of the police teams involved in Thathai's arrest. The operation was conducted under the leadership of Fazilka Superintendent of Police Pardeep Singh Sandhu and Faridkot Deputy Superintendent of Police Iqbal Singh Sandhu, with oversight from Faridkot Senior Superintendent of Police Harjit Singh and his Fazilka counterpart Dr Pragya Jain.

Investigations have uncovered Thathai's extensive assets, including over 1200 acres of land and 200 residential flats in Punjab and Madhya Pradesh, collectively valued at more than Rs 1,000 crores. Despite his attempts to evade arrest using counterfeit identification documents, law enforcement agencies remained vigilant in their pursuit of justice.
PDM Nyaya Morcha, the third front representing the interests of Pichda, Dalits and Muslims, remains a nonstarter and unlikely to have an impact in the electoral politics of Uttar Pradesh where the contest is largely between the BJP-led NDA and the INDIA bloc.

Apna Dal (Kamerawadi), former ally of the Samajwadi Party, Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party, Rashtriya Uday Party, and Hyderabad-based All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen led by Asauddin Owaisi had floated the PDM Nyaya Morcha. The constituents of the Morcha have miniscule presence in some assembly segments of UP.

Pallavi Patel of Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) said that their motive was to remove the confusion in A in the PDA (Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) slogan given by Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav.

Given that the voter base of this third front is nearly similar to that of the Samajwadi Party-Congress (INDIA bloc), the immediate inference is that it could harm the prospects of the opposition candidates in some seats of Uttar Pradesh which it decides to contest.

The front is yet to declare the number of seats it will contest. While the Congress is contesting 17 seats, the Samajwadi Party and other like-minded parties will field their candidates in the remaining 63 in the northern state.

As for the PDM Nyay Morcha, the Apna Dal (K), PMSP and RUP are preparing to contest some of the 64 seats which will go to polls in the third to seventh phases of the Lok Sabha elections. But, the newly-minted alliance is already facing challenges as other players like Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party (RSSP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya and Azad Samaj Party (ASP) chief Chandrashekhar Azad are seemingly cold to the overtures of Owaisi to join the front.

Swami Prasad Maurya is also not enthused to join the alliance as the OBC leader is in touch with the Congress which is likely to extend support to him to contest from Kushinagar.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) spokesperson Mohammed Farhan said the party might not field any candidates in any of the seats and instead campaign for the Morcha candidates.

The opposition has always accused the AIMIM of helping the BJP and this time too, INDIA constituents are going to repeat this charge. The AIMIM does not want to attract that charge this time and will focus on campaigning for the other candidates, the leader said. Earlier, there were reports that the AIMIM was looking to make its Lok Sabha poll debut in Uttar Pradesh.

While the PDM Nyay Morcha claims it will take on both the NDA and the INDIA candidates, most political analysts agree that since its constituents have limited presence in some assembly segments, they may only spoil the chances of INDIA candidates in a few seats.

These parties indulge in identity politics. AIMIM has limited support in a section of Muslims. The Apna Dal (K) enjoys support from mainly the Kurmis. However, in Lok Sabha elections, voters do not like to waste their votes. Muslims generally vote for a candidate who is in a position to defeat the BJP candidate. While a few die-hard supporters may vote for Owaisi, Muslims are unlikely to vote for the AIMIM, an analyst said.

The Morcha is likely to field those candidates who are disgruntled either with the BJP or the INDIA bloc, he added.

Muslims have largely been voting against the NDA, and AIMIM is unlikely to attract many votes. Further, in Ghazipur, the AIMIM will be forced to extend a covert or overt support to Afzal Ansari. The Mukhtar Ansari factor will remain limited to Ghazipur. The candidates put up by the new front may only end up becoming spoilers for INDIA candidates, a Samajwadi Party leader remarked.
JJP's Hry chief Nishan Singh to quit party, likely to join Congress



Chandigarh: In a major jolt to the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) in Haryana, its state president Nishan Singh is all set to quit the party. Singh is likely to join the Congress. Sources said that he has conveyed it to the JJP leadership, though he is yet to submit his resignation. I will meet partys national chief Ajay Chautala to hand over my resignation in a day or two, said Nishan Singh, adding that he will consult party workers to decide future course of action. It should be mentioned here that after the formation of the JJP in 2018, Nishan Singh was given the responsibility of the state president.



Faridabad witnesses Unique Initiative: 8.5 lakh hands raised for voting resolution



Chandigarh: In the lead-up to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on May 25, the city of Faridabad witnessed a remarkable initiative on Monday. District Election Officer Vikram Singh spearheaded an event aimed at ensuring 100 percent voter participation. A staggering 8.5 lakh individuals participated in this endeavour. At 11 am, people gathered in various establishments, including schools, colleges, industries, offices, Anganwadi centers, Panchayat ghars, and public spaces, to take a solemn pledge for maximum voter turnout. While adults aged 18 and above pledged to exercise their voting rights, school children reaffirmed their dedication to encouraging their families and communities to vote. District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner Vikram Singh said that the awareness campaign in the district saw significant participation from industrial workers and employees.



Illicit liquor, drugs, and cash worth over Rs 14 crore seized in Haryana



Chandigarh: In view of the Lok Sabha elections various agencies are closely monitoring the sale of illegal liquor and drugs in Haryana. So far, illicit liquor and drugs worth over Rs 10.5 crore and cash worth Rs 3.62 crore have been seized in the state. Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Agarwal stated that the action has been taken by the police, Income Tax Department, Excise and Taxation Department, and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in the state after the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct. He said that the police had seized Rs 40.22 lakh in cash, liquor worth Rs 225.57 lakh (70,671.54 litres), drugs worth Rs 514.48 lakh, and other items worth Rs 56.81 lakh. Similarly, the Income Tax Department has seized Rs 42 lakh in cash, valuables worth over Rs 173 lakh (2967.88 grams), and other items worth Rs 42.19 lakh. Agarwal said that the Excise Department has seized Rs 2.5 lakh in cash and 101036 litres of liquor worth Rs 40 lakh. The DRI has also seized cash worth Rs 2 crore 78 lakh.



207 applications received for election campaign activities in Hry



Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Agarwal on Monday said that the Election Commission has launched several mobile apps and portals, facilitating political parties and candidates in the implementation of activities related to the election process, along with the Commission. In this series, through the Suvidha portal (https://suvidha.eci.gov.in) launched by the Commission, online permissions are being provided for election campaign activities. So far, 207 requests have been received from various political parties and candidates in Haryana. He said that the Suvidha portal is a technological solution developed by ECI to ensure a level playing-field upholding the democratic principles of free, fair and transparent elections. Additionally, offline submission options are available to ensure inclusivity and equal opportunity for all stakeholders.
Gas victim patients will no longer face any inconvenience when referred from one hospital to another. Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Center (BMHRC) along with the Gas Relief and Rehabilitation Department have collaborated to enhance the referral system. Under this, a common referral form has been prepared.

Doctors from any hospital of BMHRC or Gas Relief Department (such as Kamla Nehru Hospital, Shakir Ali Khan Hospital, Jawaharlal Nehru Gas Relief Hospital, etc.) will have to fill out this form when referring a patient and inform the referred hospital. Not only this, if any problems arise during treatment at the referred hospital, assistance will also be provided.

Dr Manisha Shrivastava, Director in-charge, BMHRC, said that currently, some departments such as Medicine, Orthopedics, Gynecology, Dermatology, etc,, are not available in our hospital. Similarly, departments like Cardiology, Urology, Nephrology are not available in Gas Relief Department hospitals. In such situations, Gas victim patients often need to be referred between both BMHRC and Gas Relief hospitals.

To ensure smooth referral, a meeting was recently held between officials of BMHRC and Gas Relief Department. A common referral form has been prepared. BMHRC and all Gas Relief hospitals will have to use this form when referring any patient. This form will contain the patients personal information along with details of their illness, current condition, and examinations, so that all information reaches the doctor at the referred hospital.

While referring, the doctors of the respective hospitals will inform the doctors of the referred hospital. For this, a list of phone numbers of all hospitals has been shared. A list has also been prepared indicating which facilities are available in which hospital.

Doctors will refer patients according to this list to avoid any inconvenience. Medical social workers will also contact the concerned patients or their relatives by phone to ensure whether appropriate treatment was received after referral.

Dr Shrivastava mentioned that there are also some departments that are neither available in BMHRC nor in any Gas Relief Hospital. In such a situation, patients will be referred to Hamidia Hospital by filling out the common referral form and social workers will establish coordination with the victim for this.

Dr Manisha Shrivastava explained that mainly due to all beds being occupied in the ICU/CCU/CTVS-ICU, patients have to be referred to other hospitals. Currently, a total of 27 beds are available in the ICU/CCU/CTVS-ICU. Efforts are being made to increase this number. Patients referred from the Dialysis and Emergency Medical Unit are transported to the relevant hospital via ambulance.

She said that our effort is to provide treatment to every patient in the available departments of BMHRC itself and avoid referring them elsewhere. Directives have been issued to all departments of the hospital in this regard, and monitoring of the referral process is underway. As a result, there has been a significant decrease in the number of patients referred from BMHRC.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath continued his whirlwind campaign tour to Pilibhit, Rampur, and Hapur constituencies of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, evoking tremendous response from people.

In Pilibhit, alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he urged voters to support BJP candidates Jitin Prasada and Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar in their respective constituencies  Pilibhit and Bareilly. CM Yogi also extended warm wishes for the Indian New Year to all the people.

Yogi rallied support for Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi in Rampur for a second term and advocated for the election of Kanwar Singh Tanwar from Amroha.

While discussing the developmental strides made in India over the past decade and in Uttar Pradesh over the last seven years, the chief minister fiercely criticised opposition parties for lack of intent, exclusive approach and appeasement politics.

Addressing a public meeting in Pilibhit, Yogi said that the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev was once part of united India, blaming Congress devious tactics responsible for Indias unfortunate partition seven decades ago. However, he praised the Kartarpur Corridors establishment, facilitated by PM Modis leadership, as a testament to Indias commitment to Sikh heritage and unity.

Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated Veer Bal Diwas celebrations on December 26, commemorating the valor of the four Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh, he stated. Yogi also underscored the significant sacrifice made by these revered figures to safeguard the Hindu religion and Indian culture.

Emphasising the importance of honouring their contributions, the prime minister dedicated December 26 to commemorate their bravery. This initiative has garnered nationwide attention, with events marking the occasion taking place across the country today, he added.

The chief minister also lauded Indias remarkable progress towards global eminence under Prime Minister Modis leadership, hailing it as a Golden Era.

The transformative changes are clearly evident across the country in terms of enhanced security, rapid infrastructural development and the benefits of welfare schemes reaching the underprivileged, he added.

Sugarcane price payments to farmers are now being made promptly, a stark contrast to the previous practice of delays spanning several years, thanks to PM Modis leadership. It is due to the electorates trust in Modi jis leadership in 2014 and 2019 that we witness a transformative India today, he pointed out.

The CM stressed the importance of voting wisely to prevent governments involved in corruption, jeopardising national security and the future of our youth, indulging terrorists with biryani, inciting unrest, and driving farmers to despair from coming to power.

Addressing another public meeting in Rampur, Yogi Adityanath said that before 2014, Pakistan used to carry out blasts in India and get away while today, the country starts clarifying even when a firecracker explodes.

He remarked: The era of passivity towards terrorism is over. Formerly, Pakistans provocations were met with silence, but today, even minor incidents prompt immediate denials from Pakistan. The nations stance has evolved significantly, showcasing a resolute response to threats, including swift airstrikes.

The chief minister said that in the past, candidates used to disappear from public view soon after winning elections and used to talk about their families rather than development. He highlighted the transformative approach of BJPs Ghanshyam Lodhi, who dedicated himself to Rampur's progress.

The NDA alliance secured victories in four out of five assembly seats in Rampur, with all elected representatives actively engaged in implementing developmental initiatives, Yogi added.

The CM announced plans to establish a sugar mill in Rampur in the near future. Our aim is to foster a prosperous Rampur where fear is nonexistent, and mutual respect prevails in the hearts of its inhabitants. No one should dare to encroach upon the land of the underprivileged. Our vision is to cultivate a Rampur where everyone feels valued and secure, he stated.

Addressing a public meeting to seek votes for BJPs Lok Sabha candidate from Amroha, Kanwar Singh Tanwar, Yogi said that the SP and BSP governments patronised cow smugglers and failed to provide both electricity and security to the people. He remarked: In the past, thieves would brazenly steal cows tied outside homes without consequence, and police would be mobilised to locate a buffalo belonging to a Samajwadi Party leader from Rampur. Farmers received no assistance when their cattle were stolen.

The CM emphasised that the SP and BSP preferred darkness, neglecting to provide electricity, which led farmers to resort to installing water pumping machines in their fields, only for them to be stolen as well. Today, there are improved provisions for electricity and security without discrimination, he stated.

Yogi appealed to the people to not repeat the mistake made last time by electing someone who was ashamed of chanting Bharat Mata ki Jai in the parliament.
Amid the various difficulties being faced by the world now, India is showing that there is nothing impossible for it to achieve, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.

He said this has been possible due to every single vote of the people.

"No matter how difficult the goal is, if India is determined to achieve it, it will definitely achieve. Today, with this inspiration and energy, we are working towards the resolution of a developed India," he said at a poll rally here.

"Amidst the difficulties of the entire world, India is showing that there is nothing impossible for it," he said

The prime minister noted there was a time when the Congress government used to ask for help from the world, but during the Covid pandemic, medicines were made available to the whole world from India.

"When India became the world's fastest growing economic power, were you (people) proud of it or not? When our Chandrayaan hoisted the tricolour on the moon, were you proud or not? The grand G20 summit held in India was praised all over the world," he added.

"When the country becomes strong, the world listens to it," Modi said.

Eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19. These are Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit.
Pak authorities have deployed more than 100,000 police and paramilitary forces at mosques and marketplaces across the country ahead of the massive Eid al-Fitr holiday, officials said Tuesday. Eid al-Fitr, which means feast, will be celebrated in Pakistan on Wednesday, subject to sighting of the moon. The three-day holiday marks the end of Ramadan, Islams holy month of fasting. Though attacks during Eid are rare in Pakistan, Intelligence agencies alerted the Interior Ministry that militants could use the holiday to target civilians, government and military buildings, and compounds housing police, officials said. The country has witnessed a surge in militant attacks in recent years, mostly claimed by Pakistani Taliban and separatists who mainly operate from the southwestern Baluchistan province.

Security was also being beefed up at places where high-profile personalities are expected to say their Eid prayers.

Taliban spokesperson for the Interior Ministry Abdul Mateen Qani said forces were fully alert to ensure security during Eid al-Fitr in Afghanistan. He said security forces will be deployed in all crowded areas, including mosques.

In addition, the police chief office in the capital, Kabul, has requested that citizens avoid setting off fireworks or otherwise disturbing the peace.

Abdullah Khan, a senior defense analyst and managing director of the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, said he had no specific information about possible attacks, but militants can hit soft targets, as people in a large number say their Eid prayer at mosques and open places.

On Tuesday, people were shopped as usual at various markets, with women buying bangles, jewelry and clothes for themselves and their children. More than 52,000 police were being deployed at mosques as part of a security plan under which about 8,000 police were sent to sensitive places and markets in the provincial capital Lahore, according to a statement issued by Punjab police.

Punjab is the countrys most populous province and the home city of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was elected in March by lawmakers in Pakistans National Assembly despite protests and allegations that the election was rigged. (
The US Army is introducing a joint battlefield training in the Philippines to improve combat readiness including by ensuring adequate supply of ammunition and other needs in difficult conditions in tropical jungles and on scattered islands, a US general said.

The Biden administration has been strengthening an arc of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including in any future confrontation over Taiwan. The US moves dovetail with Philippine efforts to shore up its territorial defences amid disputes with China in the South China Sea and ability to respond to frequent natural disasters.

About 2,000 US and Philippine army forces will join the days-long combat drills backed by helicopters and artillery fire against armed adversaries in a jungle setting in the northern Philippines in June, Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, commanding general of the US Armys 25th Infantry Division, said on Sunday.

The combat training will be held in the Philippines for the first time at Manilas request. Its not clear whether the longtime treaty allies would decide to turn the maneuvers into an annual exercise, Evans said.

The drills from June 1 to 10 come at the conclusion of two larger back-to-back exercises between the allied forces  the Salaknib army-to-army exercises, which opened on Monday, and the Balikatan, which will start later in April and involve about 16,000 US and Philippine forces. Several countries including Japan will send observers.

We have to be prepared to respond to humanitarian crisis, natural disaster crisis, and that is what this training affords us the opportunity to do, Evans told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

While we feel confident in our overall readiness and training path, its something that we can never be complacent in.

The combat-readiness drill in June provides an excellent venue for us to get better in terms of our warfighting readiness, to enhance our partnership and then strengthen both our army profession by working together in a very challenging environment, Evans said.

The training was designed to be monitored live to show, for example, how much ammunition, batteries for two-way radios and food would be carried by US and Philippine forces and how they planned for resupplies in a remote battlefield.

It really is a way for soldiers, leaders and units to be able to see themselves during a simulated combat environment scenario, Evans said.

Such past combat training in Hawaii has led to better information-sharing by smaller and more agile combat units and improved combat endurance, he said. It bolstered the ability to sustain ourselves in a jungle and archipelago environment because there are not ground lines of communications, so we have to rely heavily on air or maritime assets to be able to move supplies.

China has vehemently opposed increased deployments of American forces in Asia, including the Philippines, saying such military presence was endangering regional harmony and stability.

Last year, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended his decision to allow US military presence in more Philippine military camps under a 2014 defence pact, saying it was vital to his countrys territorial defence.

China had warned the increased US military presence would drag the Philippines into the abyss of geopolitical strife.
The head of the US Indo-Pacific Command said on Tuesday that he was very, very concerned about Chinas aggression toward Philippine forces near disputed islands in the South China Sea.

The Chinese coast guard has repeatedly clashed with Philippine patrol vessels near the Philippines-occupied Second Thomas Shoal. Last month, several Filipino seamen were injured when a Chinese vessel sideswiped a smaller Philippine vessel and another two Chinese coast guard ships used high-pressure water spray to shatter the Philippine vessels windscreen. Asked if the submerged reef in the Spratly Islands was the most dangerous flash point in his area of command, US Adm John Aquilino told a forum at the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based international policy think tank: Im very concerned about whats happening at the Second Thomas Shoal. Im very, very concerned about the direction its going, Aquilino said. These actions are dangerous, illegal and they are destabilising the region. Whats next and how far are they willing to go in that area? Aquilino asked.

The United States, Japan, the Philippines and Australia held their first four-way joint exercises in Philippine waters in the South China Sea on Sunday, which they said were intended to uphold freedom of navigation and overflight in a region contested by China. Aquilino said the joint exercise demonstrated the nations ability to operate safely, effectively and lawfully in the region.Those types of events and things are exactly what we need to do to demonstrate that strength amongst the like-minded allies and partners and that we will continue to operate anywhere that international law allows, Aquilino said.

Chinas military said Sunday that it had conducted air and sea patrols and that all activities that disrupt the South China Sea are under control, an apparent response to naval exercises by the US and its allies.
China on Tuesday said it will resolutely oppose any plan by the Biden administration to connect the AUKUS pact between Australia, the UK, and the US to the Taiwan issue, saying it will risk nuclear proliferation and exacerbate the arms race in the Asia-Pacific.

Reacting to reports quoting US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbells recent remarks suggesting linking the AUKUS pact to the Taiwan issue to deter any Chinese aggression, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here that the American officials remarks fan the flames of conflict, and are malicious in intent.

China is strongly dissatisfied with this and resolutely opposes it, she said, adding that it increases the risk of nuclear proliferation and exacerbates the arms race in the Asia-Pacific region, undermining regional peace and stability.

China claims the self-governing island of Taiwan as part of it and vows to integrate with its mainland.

The AUKUS submarine project could help deter any Chinese move against Taiwan, Campbell was quoted as saying at Washingtons Centre for a New American Security think tank last week.

Campbell argued that the 2023 AUKUS pact involving Australias acquisition of nuclear-powered attack submarines was part of efforts to counter Chinas growing power in the Indo-Pacific region.

He also made a rare linkage between Taiwan and AUKUS, saying that new submarine capabilities would enhance peace and stability, including in the Cross-Strait that separates China and Taiwan. AUKUS submarine capabilities have enormous implications in a variety of scenarios, including in cross-strait circumstances, Campbell was quoted as saying. Mao said Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory and Taiwans issue is its internal affair, which no external force has the right to intervene.

What is the intention of the US in trying to link the so-called trilateral security partnership submarine plan with the Taiwan question? Mao asked.

Chinas will to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering, and no one should underestimate or misjudge it, she said.

Mao also said the US, the UK, and Australia are not direct parties to the South China Sea dispute and should not intervene in efforts by the relevant parties to resolve the issue through negotiation and consultation.

The recent tension in the South China Sea and increased regional confrontation are inseparable from the US actions in roping in its allies, she said, referring to Washingtons backing to the Philippines which during the last few months trying to assert its claim over the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea which is strongly resisted byChina. The coast guard ships of China and the Philippines jostled to assert their claim over the area.

China claims most of the South China Sea.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims over the area.
Chinese bond turns into family affair

14:17, April 09, 2024 By Wang Xiangyan ( China Daily

Editor's note: China Daily presents the series Friends Afar to tell the stories of people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries. Through the vivid narration of the people in the stories, readers can get a better understanding of a country that is boosting openness.

Shikha Pandey attends her graduation ceremony at Tianjin Normal University in 2017. CHINA DAILY

Shikha Pandey has a one-worded explanation to what brought her and China together  fate.

"I must have been an empress in ancient China and it was fate that brought me and my family here," said Pandey, 32, who is pursuing her PhD in cross-cultural communication at Beijing Language and Culture University.

When the Indian first came to China 11 years ago as part of an exchange program, she was a computer science student. She had no idea she would return to India not as a tech expert but as a Chinese teacher.

And her connections with China turned into a family affair.

"My younger brother is also in Beijing, pursuing his master's degree," she said. "My twin sister is in Taiwan, and my younger sister is in Shanghai. We four siblings are somehow connected to China."

When Pandey decided to go to China for the first time, her father strongly opposed the idea, she said. The opposition eventually gave way to acceptance and pride, with his four children living in China.

Her brother Himanshu said: "My parents were glad that I was enrolled in an MBA program at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing last year. China is a huge market and I want to do business between China and India after I graduate."

Learning Chinese language opened the door for the family from the Indian city of Mumbai to become familiar with China.

Pandey said she had little interest in computer science during her undergraduate years. She became attracted to Chinese after taking selective courses offered by the Confucius Institute at the University of Mumbai in 2012. An exchange program in Tianjin a year later further encouraged her to study Chinese in China.

"My father had never been outside India and had no idea about China. He believed becoming an engineer was the best choice for me, and he couldn't understand why I would give it up," Pandey said.

Despite her father's apprehensions, she completed her master's degree in teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages with the help of a Chinese government scholarship at Tianjin Normal University in 2017. After that she worked as a Chinese teacher at the University of Mumbai.

The career switch gave her a great deal of satisfaction and joy. Even her father was eventually convinced with Pandey's career decision when he learned more about China and its people.

"I often showed my parents pictures about the life in China. Some of my Chinese friends even visited my parents and invited them to spend Spring Festival together," Pandey said.

Bringing opportunities

"My father gradually realized that Chinese people were very friendly and that studying in China would bring many opportunities. So my parents are very pleased to see my sisters and brother pursue their dreams in China."

Learning Chinese has not only opened up opportunities for Pandey and her family, but also for her students.

"My students learn Chinese for a variety of reasons. Some are interested in Chinese culture and others believe it could lead to a promising career," she said.

One of the students who has impressed her is Syed Sharekh Ahmed, who started to learn Chinese in 2020 while working at Mumbai Airport.

"(Syed) complained to me that the job was very tiring and (he was) often paid late, and I told him that learning Chinese may help him find a way out," Pandey said.

The 35-year-old eventually started working as a Chinese interpreter and technological administrator in a Chinese company, Kingfa Science and Technology, in Pune, in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

"I like my new job, and the salary has improved a lot, well above the average level," he said.

"Last year, I had an opportunity to visit Guangzhou for the first time and was amazed by China's advanced and modern infrastructure. I am eager to explore more cities in China."

Pandey has been encouraging her students to pursue further studies in China.

Saniya Karnik, 21, is among those who came to Beijing Language and Culture University last year with Pandey's help.

"Because Pandey is pursuing her PhD there, she recommended the university to us and offered assistance in applying for a scholarship," said Karnik, who has been enrolled in preparatory courses for a master's degree in translation studies.

She said the experience in China will bring her more opportunities to work in international companies after her graduation.

When asked about her decision to return to China to pursue her doctoral degree, Pandey said she was keen to witness the country's growth.

"China has developed rapidly over the years, and one important change I have observed is the increased emphasis on cross-cultural communication," she said.

"China and India are culturally bound. The influence of Buddhism can be seen in the whole of China, and many classical works have been well preserved here."

Pandey is working with her students to translate the Buddhist literature The Jataka Tales into Chinese, which can be used as reading material for those learning Chinese.

Zhou Mengxue in Beijing contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Greta Thunberg was arrested again to cheers and jubilation from the adoring crowds. As she was carried away by two policemen, there was a wry smile on her face. She was going to get some good bonus payments this month, and increase her already overflowing bank balance.

This is a legit business like any other business, and today, the eco business is booming. Shareholders for ethical green advertising companies and businesses cheer every time they see Greta being carted off by some bored looking policemen. Their share price just increased, and they all stand to make more money.

Concern for the environment is always a secondary concern, it is a tool utilised by many of these companies who only give less than 1% of their vast profits to green causes.

Greta Thunberg is an all too eager workhorse and has made millions, assisted by her PR mastermind, Ingmar Rentzhog.

Oh, there she goes again. She just made thousands for a days work, and so did we, a jubilant shareholder squealed, punching the air excitedly.

Forget about the environment, nature and the earth, the real winners here are the eco warriors and ultimately, the banks.
Forget about the morals and ethics about mass unfettered immigration of millions, and millions of people flooding into a country in a short period of time. None of the ethics, or morals count any more when the original inhabitants of any area of land in the world are now marginalised and deemed irrelevant.

Consider that nations developed over thousands of years with terrible wars and power play and civil wars; kingdoms, tribes, unrest, peace, shaping nation states into a single cohesive entity. All of this history is now under review, it is an irrelevancy when there is a mass deluge of hordes of migrants from countries who have no care for the history or the people they have effectively invaded. Of course, the word invasion is far too strong a word to say, but what else can it be described as? It is not an invasion a la D-Day, but it is an undercover immigration invasion where it is not evident at first, but over time there is no ignoring it.

To have cultures around the globe is a beautiful thing, and should be cherished, but what happens when there is an imposition of a completely different culture on an existing culture, and it is so pervasive and insidious that it poses an existential threat to your very own well-being, your very own existence? Would Saudi Arabians tolerate millions of pork eating, alcohol drinking, European Christians on a mass immigration push into their country suddenly, all demanding their right to do as they please?

Integration used to be the word used, but now it is a forgotten concept, as the mass influx is so great that it has been lost under the deluge. None of these people want to integrate or care to even envision such a concept. Their main focus is one of smash and grab immigration culture. Many are here for the benefits, they want housing, money, food and free health care, as well as free schooling for their many children. They do not give one squirt of piss for the King or the castles, or scones, or fucking strawberries and cream at Wimbledon.

The profligate, floundering current Sunak Government wants to fly a few token illegal immigrants to Rwanda at a cost to the taxpayer of 1.8 million each. Only an insane person would think this was a good idea.

Cities and towns are now creating ghettos. White English flight happens almost immediately, even if there are attempts to stop it. Entire swathes of the country are ghettoised no-go urban nightmare zones where the migrants are placed, and the indigenous population moves away. Crime soars, rapes, burglaries, violence, mugging and all sorts of nasty enterprises develop like a big fat tumour, growing daily with no bounds or treatment.

Eventually, there will be a breaking point, and when this moment erupts, no governmental or military intervention will be able to stop what occurs. The truth is that the cat is already out of the bag, and things are getting a lot worse for the indigenous population of this country, who can trace their ancestors back thousands of years. It is almost impossible now to get an appointment with your local GP, or an ambulance if you are in dire need. The schools are so oversubscribed that 60 or 70 pupils are sardined within each crumbling, underfunded class. The roads of Britain are pot holed car parks where some foreign drivers do not even know what side of the road to drive on when going at 75 MPH past a primary school. Housing is shot to shit, where councils are now considering building over formerly protected forests, rivers and green pastures.

As for those of foreign birth, or non-English people born in Britain who have tried to integrate, and have done their best, the sad part is that when things do kick off, there will probably be little distinction between them and the ones who came here just to plunder and use this place up. That is the sad fact of the entire sorry story.

Until that moment occurs, put on another brew and sit there watching everything deteriorate slowly. Mass immigration? Nah, it never happened or is any concern
The multi award-winning Stendhal Festival has announced the first selection of musical acts that will be

performing this year at Ballymully Cottage Farm, Limavady on July 4 to 6.

As usual, the line-up has something for everyone and includes Brit Award Winners, Mercury Prize

winners, RTE Folk Award winners and loads more that cover a wide range of genres and styles.

Heading up the first wave of announcements are Grammy Award, Ivor Novello Award and Mercury Prize

nominees Hot Chip, who will be bringing their outstanding DJ set show to Karma Valley on Saturday July

6.

Hot Chip's position as the thinking persons party band is now firmly and magnificently set in stone, as is

the group's ability to mix the highest strobe-lit euphoria with the most reflective kind of headphones

melancholy.

In a career that has already produced seven albums, an infinite number of mixes and borderline

devotional live performances, Hot Chip have claimed the salvation of the sweet spot of the dance floor as

their own.



Tracks like Over and Over, Ready for the Floor and Need you now have cemented the band as

festival favourites all around the globe and their set at Stendhal is sure to go down a storm.

Without question one of the most recognisable voices in British popular music, Heather Small has seen

and done it all in a stellar career and will grace the Karma Valley Stage at Stendhal on Friday July 5.

As Part of M People, hits such as 'Moving On Up', 'One Night In Heaven' and 'Search For The Hero' and

albums like Elegant Slumming, Bizarre Fruit and Fresco, have ensured Heather has achieved massive

worldwide success.

Two Brit Awards and the Mercury Prize with M People allowed her to step into a solo career with aplomb

and her song Proud became a global smash hit and the soundtrack to a whole host of very special

events including London's successful 2012 Olympic bid.

The Orb initially manifested as visionary mischief-makers in acid house revolution in the late eighties and

early nineties and thirty-five years since Alex Paterson lit the multi-coloured touchpaper on The Orbs

interstellar space odyssey, they land at Stendhal this summer on Friday July 5.

With an ever-rotating cast of co-creators, a continuous string of charting albums, numerous EPs,

compilations, mix records and countless remixes since, The Orb remains a truly essential and still

pioneering recording project and an ever-engaging live presence.

One of the pioneers of Britpop, Gomez achieved incredible success in the late 90s with their two most

acclaimed albums, Bring it on and Liquid Skin.

Band members Ben Ottewell and Ian Ball will take to the stage at Stendhal on Saturday July 6th to

celebrate the 25th anniversary of both the records and their Mercury Music Prize win, with a stripped

back two-piece show that reinvents and reintroduces the incredible songs they birthed around the turn of

the millennium.

Tracks like Bring it on, Whipping Piccadilly, We havent turned around Get Myself arrested and

Rhythm and Blues Alibi have aged like a fine wine and will no doubt bring back memories of the halcyon

days of Britpop and the late 90s.

Also on the bill are Acoustic Rave pioneers The Showhawk Duo, Multi award-winning Folk act Ye

Vagabonds, former Walking on Cars frontman, Pa Sheehy, 7-time All-Ireland champion harpist Lisa

Canny, Indie standouts Skinny Living, Zulu Afrorave rapper Toya Delazy and a brand-new collaboration

between Pat McManus (Mamas Boys) and Cormac Neeson (The Answer) called When Ireland Rocked.

Stendhal Festival is proud to showcase a multitude of genres but even more proud to highlight and

promote the very best home-grown talent and 2024 will be no different.

Derry pop rockers Lavengro make their Stendhal debut this year, while Belfast Punk rock is well

represented by the raucous Problem Patterns.

Tyrones The Logues will be playing their whiskey-soaked folk, Karl Devlin is a purveyor of Delta Lagan

Blues, Moon Landing is an alternative music project created by 24-year-old, multi-instrumentalist Jake

McCrea and Dead Goat is the new musical offering from Mark McCausland (McKowski/The Lost

Brothers), Stevie Scullion (Malojian), Decky McManus (The Basement) & Matt McGinn.

Belfast's new indie soul sensation Vera is a band that defies genre conventions, seamlessly blending

modern indie vibes with elements of groove, soul, retro pop, and rock, while The Causeway Shantymens

sea shanties not only entertain but also serve as a cultural link to the rich maritime heritage of the

Causeway coast.

Rounding off the first batch of musical performances set for Stendhal this July are; The Unholy Gospel

Band, Chubby Cat, Reevah, Lydia Ford, Dylan Walshe, Mister Sister, Rua Ri, The Craic Inn, Springsteen

tribute The Seeger Sessions Revival and the Dungiven Community Choir.

Festival Director Ross Parkhill says after 14 years it is becoming more and more difficult to top the line-

up year on year but is confident that 2024 will prove to be Stendhals best and most varied line-up to

date.

We are so pleased to announce all the acts that we have secured so far, he said: A lot of these acts

have not only enjoyed major critical and chart success but they are also performers with some big tunes

that can get everyone singing along and help manifest the very special atmosphere Stendhal has

become renowned for.

Ross continued: Ive seen Hot Chip at several festivals over the years and can personally attest to how

they never fail to get an audience invested and on their feet.

Heather Small is one of the most legendary female voices in British Music and in terms of cultural

touchstones, for anyone who grew up in the dance scene in the 90s, the Orb will hold a very special

place in their hearts.

Im also very much looking forward to Ben and Ian from Gomez doing their thing but to be honest, I think

the most exciting thing about this overall first announcement is the diversity in the genres and how hybrid

genres like the acoustic rave of the Showhawk Duo or the Afrorave of Toya Delazy are becoming a genre

in their own right.

Ross added: We still have a lot more acts to announce, the main body of our home-grown programme is

still to come, as is our family and comedy programme.

Ross concluded: To everyone who continues to support the festival, thank you for that continued support

and we trust that this initial line-up gives you plenty to get excited about. Id also like to publicly thank The

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, JKC Coleraine, Alchemy Technologies, Help Musicians

and Macrete for their continued support and we cant wait to share what else we have in store for 2024

with everyone in due course.
Two teenagers have been arrested after an incident in which police officers were assaulted in west Belfast over the weekend.

The PSNI has said that although the officers were not seriously injured, assaults are not acceptable as a part of the job.

Four officers were assaulted and two police vehicles were damaged when police responded to a gathering of young people in the Falls Park area on Saturday evening.

Police said they received a report at around 6.50pm of concerns that a large group of young people had congregated in Falls Park and that alcohol was being consumed by children.

Officers attended and a significant amount of alcohol was confiscated, supported by local council staff.

Police officers dealt with issues of antisocial behaviour, assaults and criminal damage, which included fires and a quad bike being seized.

The PSNI said that as officers dealt with these concerns, they were assaulted by some of the young people and the back windscreens of two police vehicles were damaged.

Two youths aged 12 and 14 were arrested and one spent the night in custody.

While thankfully no officers received any serious injuries and all were able to remain on duty, these assaults to our officers when simply doing their job are not acceptable, said neighbourhood inspector Roisin Brown.

Officers are trying their best to keep the local community of west Belfast safe and they do not come to work and expect to be assaulted. Assaults on police must not be tolerated as simply being part of the job.

Three young people aged 13, 14 and 15 have been reported to the Youth Diversion Officer for restorative outcomes, whilst two other young people aged 12 and 14 were arrested, one spending the night in custody.

A number of young people were taken home to their parents and guardians after consuming alcohol.

She added: We are aware of the ongoing issues in the Falls Park area and continue to listen to the concerns of the local community. This requires a multi-agency approach involving a number of key stakeholders to help deal with this matter and we are committed to finding solutions for the whole community.

Anyone who is engaging in this type of reckless activity needs to stop and think of the consequences, not just for them, but also how it affects people living in the area.

People have a right to live in peace and to feel safe where they live. Those who choose to engage in antisocial behaviour are only hurting their own communities, neighbours and friends.

We ask parents and guardians to speak to their young people and to know where they are to prevent them from engaging in behaviour which could result in injury or a criminal record.

I want to reassure the community that police will continue to carry out additional patrols across west Belfast, and I ask anyone who witnesses antisocial or criminal behaviour to contact police on 101 so that we can respond.
Thousands of birth, death and marriage registrations in Northern Ireland have been headed in Irish or both Irish and English following a rule change.

Last March it was announced that new registrations of births, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths could be headed in Irish.

While a choice of headings are available in alternative languages, the registration process and the information required for the registration will still be conducted in English.

It came following a commitment in the New Decade New Approach deal to enable people to access public services in their chosen language.

Then Stormont finance minister Conor Murphy said he wanted to see further stages moving towards the full registration process being able to be conducted in Irish in the future.

On Tuesday, during Assembly questions for her department, current Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald said since last March there have been 4,934 bilingual birth registrations and 92 Irish birth registrations.

There have also been 1,164 bilingual death registrations and 25 Irish death registrations.

Meanwhile there have been 1,382 bilingual marriage or civil partnership registrations and 17 Irish registrations.

These figures also include the re-registrations, and I expect as the changes to the system continue to bed in, this will increase over time, Ms Archibald added.

Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw asked whether the minister will introduce legislation to allow birth certificates published before last March to be translated into Irish by the General Register Office.

She said she has some constituents who would be very keen to see their birth certificate in Irish.

Ms Archibald said this would require careful legal and technical consideration and appropriate resources, adding the department will consider how best to address these questions alongside other ambitions to progress the use of Irish in the registration services provided.
Teaching unions in Northern Ireland have accepted a pay offer.

It comes after bouts of industrial action over pay parity with colleagues in the rest of the UK.

The Northern Ireland Teachers Council, which includes the five largest teaching unions, and management side formally ratified the pay agreement for 2021-2023 on Tuesday.

The agreement will see the starting salary for teachers increase to 30,000 and pay scales increase by 10.4% plus 1,000.

Caoimhin MacColaim, chairman of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (Into) northern committee, said the offer is not perfect but represents a significant uplift in pay for all teachers and school leaders.

Mark McTaggart, Into northern secretary, added: The NITC will continue to work together for full pay restoration, beginning with renewed negotiation around a pay settlement for the year beginning September 2024.

Education Minister Paul Givan welcomed the agreement.

This settlement will see the end to all industrial action by teachers and school leaders which has been ongoing since May 2022, he said.

Teachers and school leaders play a vital role in the Northern Ireland education system, and I want to put on record my appreciation for the hard work they do on a daily basis.

The cessation of industrial action will increase stability in our schools and provide the basis for continued improvement throughout the education sector.

Mr Givan also said he is seeking funding for the Education Authority Pay and Grading review for support staff.

I am very encouraged that business case approval has now been received from the Department of Finance to enable issues to be progressed with the current grading structure for support staff, he said.

This has been a major challenge for schools in recent years and resolution of this issue will improve the recruitment and retention of support staff.

However, significant additional funding will be required to enable the preferred option to be implemented and I have submitted a bid for the required additional funding of circa 180 million and associated recurrent funding of circa 90 million as part of the 2024/25 budget round.
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The new VX-Toolset for RISC-V meets the requirements of ISO 26262 and ISO/SAE 21434.

Munich, Germany, April 9, 2024  TASKING introduces the new compiler toolset VX-Toolset for RISC-V. The industry's first ISO 26262 and ISO/SAE 21434 compliant compiler facilitates the development of automotive embedded software that meets stringent functional safety and cybersecurity requirements.

The automotive industry has witnessed a steady increase in the utilization of semiconductor technology. In response to the growing demand for resilience within the semiconductor ecosystem, the industry is increasingly turning to open standards such as RISC-V. With this shift comes the necessity for certified compiler toolsets for RISC-V that adhere to stringent standards like ISO 26262 for functional safety and ISO/SAE 21434 for cybersecurity. Addressing this need, the TASKING VX-Toolset for RISC-V emerges as the first compiler to meet these rigorous criteria. Complemented by TASKING's award-winning BlueBox system-level analysis, verification, and debug tools, this toolset offers the essential functionality required to build the automotive software stack for RISC-V.

Automotive OEMs and semiconductor designers are exploring emerging options like RISC-V for safe, secure, and power/performance optimized SoCs, said John Koeter, senior vice president of product management and strategy for IP at Synopsys. TASKINGs new VX-Toolset for RISC-V enriches the ecosystem for programming Synopsys ARC-V Functional Safety Processor IP for safety-critical automotive applications. TASKINGS VX-Toolset for RISC-V, along with their debugging tools that are integrated with Synopsys virtual prototyping solutions, enables our joint customers to reduce their time-to-market and increase software quality in the vehicle.

RISC-V is playing an increasingly important role in the automotive industry, explained Christoph Herzog, CTO at TASKING. We are pleased to be able to provide SoC design teams and automotive software developers with the tools they need to develop safety- and security-critical systems based on RISC-V.

Availability

The VX-Toolset for RISC-V is now accessible to a selected group of customers. TASKING will be demonstrating the compiler toolset at embedded world from April 9 to 11, 2024 at booth 255 in hall 4.

About TASKING

TASKING is a leading provider of development tools headquartered in Munich, Germany, offering high-performance, high quality, safety & security-oriented embedded software development tools for multi-core architectures.

TASKING's development tools are used by automotive manufacturers and suppliers, as well as in adjacent markets around the world to realize high-performance applications in safety-critical areas.

The TASKING Embedded Software Development solutions provide an industry-leading ecosystem for your entire software development process. Each TASKING compiler is designed for a certain architecture and meets the specific requirements of your industry, including automotive, industrial, telecommunications and datacom.

As the recognized leader in high-quality, feature- and safety-compliant embedded software development tools, TASKING enables you to create code with best-in-class size and performance with compilers, debuggers and RTOS support for industry-leading microprocessors and microcontrollers.

Since February 2021, TASKING has been majority-owned by financial investor FSN Capital, which has put the group on a long-term growth path following a successful carve-out. For more information visit www.tasking.com.






China, South Korea worry local battery makers' overseas expansion will impact global dominance

Chinese and South Korean battery manufacturers dominate LFP and ternary batteries for EVs and energy storage systems (ESS). However, as companies expand into foreign markets, the Chinese and South Korean governments are concerned that the overseas scale-up will pull domestic companies off the leaderboard.

Comparing the production capacity of battery cells and modules among battery makers does not offer a clear picture of industry competition. The key is where the battery goes.

Tesla's EV brand has become one of the top five ESS companies worldwide. The company has produced a limited number of battery cells and only produces large-sized 46800 ternary batteries in the US, having suspended a plan to manufacture batteries in its Berlin-Brandenburg Gigafactory.

Due to its strengths in battery management, system integration, and material innovation, Tesla can maintain its lead against China-based automakers and stay resilient in the intensely competitive Chinese car market. Following the recent launch of Xiaomi EV, BYD, Huawei-backed Aito, Geely, and Xpeng have cut their vehicle prices while Tesla raised them.

Although Tesla takes a stricter procurement strategy than many legacy automakers, most battery companies are willing to accommodate. This is because joining Tesla's supply chain will lower the risk of falling behind competitors.

According to supply chain sources, many Chinese and South Korean battery makers tried to develop their ESS business but failed. South Korean companies previously focused on ternary batteries but faced criticism because of a high incidence of thermal runaway.

China-based players hold advantages in LFP batteries but lag their European and US counterparts in system integration and sales. They also encountered challenges brought by geopolitics.

How long can top battery makers lead?

Battery production remains the core of battery companies' competitiveness. Automakers have yet to experience the battery "production hell" as they have not started volume production. ESS manufacturers have no intention of making battery cells because of the significant capital investment.

These situations explain why Chinese and South Korean battery cell makers can remain front-runners. Chinese companies hold more advantages in the sector as they invest in minerals and materials and have begun mass production.

Leading battery players are worried that they will lose their strengths in the future. As automakers gain more control over battery technology and costs, they will be more demanding with procurement, especially the European, US, and Japanese major automakers.

Ford plans to license CATL's technology and build a battery factory in Michigan. General Motors reportedly has discussed with the Chinese battery maker for a similar cooperation. The supply chain is paying close attention to the Chinese government's reaction to these projects. China has subsidized its lithium battery industry for over 10 years and expanded its application range from ESSs and power grids to EVs. The country will not be happy to see someone take over its lead.

Chinese battery makers have dominated the global LFP market with a 90% share. CATL and BYD together account for more than half of the market worldwide. LG Energy Solution, SK On, Samsung SDI, and Panasonic primarily contribute to the other half. The three South Korean battery makers have been developing LFP batteries and will launch their products after 2025.
South Korean OLED providers should target 'weaknesses' of Chinese competitors

In the past, Samsung Display (SDC) elected to focus on small and medium-sized panels to differentiate from LG Display (LGD), which produces large-size panels, and SDC was able to achieve success. However, the two companies' paths are now starting to "converge" in the OLED market. Nevertheless, their common "enemy" remains the Chinese manufacturers, as China is rapidly catching up with South Korea in the global OLED panel market.

Although Chinese manufacturers have gradually narrowed the gap with South Korea in the OLED market in recent years, their approach has also come with many "weaknesses." For example, the product lines of Chinese manufacturers are mostly focused on mid to low-end products; their technological levels are relatively low; and investments may be delayed. Industry experts pointed out that South Korean panel companies must capitalize on these "weaknesses" to further widen the gap with Chinese manufacturers.

According to a report by South Korea's Money Today, China, which has dominated the global LCD market with its "low-price approach," has rapidly penetrated the OLED market in recent years. The trend of OLED panel adoption in various IT devices such as smartphones, notebooks, and tablets is increasing by the day.

Source: KDIA, Omdia, compiled by DIGITIMES, April 2024

According to data from the Korea Display Industry Association (KDIA) in 2018, South Korea and China's OLED market share (based on AMOLED sales values) were 95.9% and 3.2%, respectively, with a gap of over 90%. However, as of the first half of 2023, South Korea and China's market share was 73.8% and 25.6% respectively, showing that the gap has decreased to within 50%.

Furthermore, as China continues to increase its OLED panel production capacity, the gap in production capacity between South Korea and China is also narrowing. However, some weaknesses of Chinese OLEDs have not been revealed by these surface-level "statistics."

Chinese product lines mainly focus on mid to low-end products like rigid OLEDs, while South Korean panel companies mostly focus on providing high-value-added products such as flexible OLEDs and IT OLEDs used in notebooks and tablets. High-priced flexible OLEDs offer better profits than rigid OLEDs, but Chinese manufacturers are at a disadvantage compared to South Korean companies in this sector due to technological limitations.

As a result, we've seen examples like SDC and LGD being chosen to provide all OLED panels for Apple's new iPad Pro, precisely because they have a higher technological capability than Chinese manufacturers like BOE. Related sources have stated that South Korea's high technical capability in OLED technologies is not something Chinese manufacturers can easily replicate.

When SDC President Choi Joo-sun was recently appointed as the new head of KDIA, he emphasized that all participants in the ecosystem, including the industry, academia, and government, must have more flexible cooperation to jointly develop key next-gen technologies such as foldable/rollable displays, OLEDoS, LEDoS, and transparent displays, which may determine the success or failure of the industry in the future.

Therefore, the South Korean industry believes South Korean panel manufacturers should widen their technological gap with Chinese manufacturers through bold investments, enhanced R&D, and securing key talent. However, the industry also pointed out that these methods require support from the South Korean government. Compared to the strong support from the Chinese government, the South Korean government still lacks an active budget and tax support for OLEDs.
Taiwan-based AI hardware suppliers ditch China for Mexico amid supply chain shifts

Amid the ongoing AI surge and supply chain's decoupling from China, Mexico has emerged as a promising alternative destination for electronic manufacturers.

In response to the US promotion of nearshoring strategies, Mexico has experienced a notable uptick in investment from Taiwan. Simultaneously, Taiwanese firms have begun relocating some of their AI production capacity from China to Mexico.

This wave of investment into Mexico finds its impetus in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) according to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The USMCA replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) upon its enactment in July 2020.

Clients demand suppliers comply

Sources cited in the report indicate that major US server manufacturers such as Dell and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) are requesting suppliers to relocate some server and cloud computing equipment production to Southeast Asia and Mexico. Such moves are taken to reduce reliance on China, diversifying and strengthening the resilience of the supply chains.

Foxconn, Pegatron, Wistron, Quanta, Compal, Inventec, and other electronics companies have production facilities in Mexico. They are mainly concentrated in areas near Texas, such as Ciudad Juarez and Monterrey.

In February 2024, Foxconn announced a US$27 million investment to acquire land in the southwestern state of Jalisco, Mexico. The land acquisition is to expand the production of all server-related products, including AI servers.

Foxconn stated that it had invested US$690 million in Mexico over the past four years.

Once upon AI in Mexico

Sources claim that Foxconn's Mexican factories produce AI servers for clients such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia. Young Liu, chairman of Foxconn, stated in an online conference in August 2023 that Foxconn holds over 70% market share in upstream supply chains such as GPU modules and motherboards.

Inventec, which produces AI and other functional servers for US tech companies, has recently expanded its presence in Mexico.

Arch Chen, regional manager of Inventec's Mexico plants, cited an example of an American client involved in AI development who initially wanted to manufacture in the US but ultimately chose Mexico after visiting factories there. With 14 free trade agreements signed with 50 countries under its belt, Mexico is the world's leading and prime destination for automotive manufacturers from Asia, Europe, and the US looking to set up shop.

Notably, Mexico ranks as the fifth largest automotive exporter globally with EV makers like Tesla also considering setting up factories in Mexico. In turn, Taiwanese companies are also investing in central and southern Mexico to supply the automotive industry.

Nevertheless, numerous challenges lie ahead. These include high crime rates, insufficient water and electricity supply, and competition for high-tech assembly talent.

Taiwanese manufacturers told WSJ that they must hire private security personnel to prevent local gangs from robbing factories of chips and valuable equipment.

Additionally, compared to Chinese employees, Mexican workers are less inclined to work overtime. With most of the workers unionized, companies are required to comply with labor regulations under the USMCA.

Mexico In, China Out

James C. F. Huang, chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, stated that North American countries hope to replace Asian imports with Mexico. "With the support of the USMCA, Mexico is expected to become the most important manufacturing hub", Huang adds.

Data from the US Census Bureau indicates that in 2023, Chinese-made products accounted for 13.9% of US imports, down from 21.5% in 2015. In contrast, Mexico's share rose to 15.4%, surpassing China as the largest importer to the US.

Taiwanese officials estimate that there are approximately 300 Taiwanese companies in Mexico, employing a total of 70,000 people. According to Mexican government statistics, bilateral trade between the two has exceeded US$15 billion in 2023.
Hyundai and Kia partner with India-based Exide for EV batteries

Hyundai Motor and Kia announced a partnership with Exide Industries to source locally-made lithium-ion cells for EVs sold in India. The announcement came as global EV brands, such as VinFast and Tesla, seek to expand in the Indian market.

According to a corporate filing to the National Stock Exchange of India and Bombay Stock Exchange on August 8, Exide Energy Solutions Limited, the wholly-owned unlisted subsidiary of Exide Industries Limited, signed a non-binding MoU with Hyundai Motor and Kia for strategic cooperation in India's EV market. Under the MoU, both parties will work together to develop, produce, and supply battery cells for Hyundai Motor's EVs dedicated to the Indian market.

According to Hyundai's statement on the same day, Hyundai Motor and Kia are intensifying their EV initiatives for the Indian market by targeting the localization of battery production, with a particular emphasis on lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cells. Heui Won Yang, president and head of Hyundai Motor and Kia's R&D division, said India is a key market for vehicle electrification, adding that Hyundai and Kia will gain a competitive advantage by equipping their future EVs with locally-produced batteries.

Exide Industries, a lead-acid battery provider in India, formed Exide Energy Solutions in 2022 to foray into lithium-ion cell, module, and pack manufacturing. Business Standard reported that Exide Industries set up a greenfield lithium-ion cell manufacturing facility, with a capacity of 6GWh in the first phase, and may begin commercial production by the end of fiscal 2025 (April 2024 to March 2025).

Hyundai announced that it would invest US$2.4 billion over ten years from 2023 in India and acquired General Motors' Indian facility to expand EV production in August 2023. In early April, Tarun Garg, COO of Hyundai India, told CNBC-TV18 that the company is scheduled to launch its first high-volume EV in early 2025 before more upcoming EV models in India, where EVs are expected to account for about 20% of the market by 2030.

Besides Hyundai and Kia, VinFast announced a plan to manufacture EVs in India and began constructing its facility in Tamil Nadu in February. Tesla is reportedly planning to send a team to scout land for an EV plant by the end of April.
The Labour Party has announced that it is to run a candidate in the Ardee Electoral Area in June's Local Elections, creating two new pieces of history for the party in the process.

Ukrainian-born Kate Karpenko became the 100th candidate formally selected to run for the Labour Party in the Local Elections on Monday night in Ardee. Kate is not only the first Ukrainian-born candidate to run for the party but also the first woman to be selected by Labour in the Mid-Louth electoral area.

A packed room of supporters at the Ardee Business Centre set Kate Karpenko off on her campaign to secure a seat on Louth County Council. Addressing the room, Kate told her story: I came to Ireland almost two years ago, following the outbreak of war in my home country of Ukraine. For all of those two years I have been living in Ardee.

Ardee is now very much my home and I am committed to the area. Because I am involved with the local community, I know the issues they are concerned about. I know the things local people would like to see improved.

The Labour Party says that Kate has a wealth of political experience behind her. She has a background in sociology and worked in politics in Ukraine before being forced to flee the war-torn country.

Kate explained: The ideas of the Labour Party are close to my own and Im sure the experience I have will be useful and can benefit the local community.

Moved by the support in the room for her candidacy, Kate said: First, I want to say thank you to Ireland for giving us so many opportunities. Im also grateful to the members of the Labour Party for choosing me as their candidate.

A meeting with Ged Nash, changed my life. I can say a lot about Ged but I just want to thank him for believing in me. Thank you too to all the people who have motivated me on this journey, with whose support I have grown and who make me stronger.

Louth Labour TD, Ged Nash attended the selection convention in Ardee and said that Kate was an inspiration. He told the new Labour candidate: You now have the opportunity to change lives and I firmly believe that you will change lives with the work you are doing with our party and in putting your name forward for this election, to represent all the people of the Mid-Louth area.

He added: Once you are living here, you have an entitlement to vote here in the Local Elections and to contest the Local Elections. I think there is no stronger message of integration than to being prepared to involve yourself in the community and put your name forward to represent that community in a democratic election.

In comments following the convention, Deputy Nash said: Kate is a natural advocate for people. She is always looking out for other people, always helping, always advising, always supporting.

Kates story is an inspiring one, and she is an inspiring person and I know the people of this area will see that over the next few weeks, as we approach these important elections.
Entrepreneur Barry Kieran has officially launched his candidacy for one of Irelands newest parties, Independent Ireland, in the Dundalk South Local Electoral Area (LEA) in the forthcoming local elections.

Describing himself as having a decade of experience in business and a strong commitment to community service, Kieran says he aims to bring fresh perspectives and practical solutions to local governance.

"As an entrepreneur with over a decade of experience, I've firsthand seen the challenges small businesses face, driving my commitment to support them and advocate for common-sense policies," said Kieran.

"My disillusionment with current government policies, especially concerning immigration, housing, and healthcare, has deepened my resolve to seek change," added Kieran.

Since 2018, Kieran has been actively involved in supporting children with additional needs and says urgent reforms are needed in Ireland's public service sectors.

"This passion is mirrored in my work since 2018 with children with additional needs, exposing me to the urgent reforms needed in our public service sectors," he said.

"Choosing to run with Independent Ireland aligns with my belief in integrity, accountability, and practical governance," he concluded.

Party Leader Michael Collins expressed support for Mr Kieran's candidacy saying: . "Barry Kieran brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to Independent Ireland.

His commitment to supporting small businesses and advocating for practical governance makes him the perfect candidate for Dundalk South."

Michael Fitzmaurice TD commended Kieran's dedication to community service saying, "Barry Kieran's dedication to community service and his vision for change in Ireland make him an ideal candidate for Independent Ireland.

I am confident that he will be a strong voice for Dundalk South LEA and I look forward to attending Barry's official launch in the coming weeks," said Fitzmaurice.
The owner of a vintage car, which was used during the filming of popular hit television series Derry Girls, has been left distraught after it was vandalised.

The collection car, a 1979 Vauxhall Chevette, was badly damaged by four unidentified individuals, who accessed private land in the Walworth Road area of Ballykelly during the early hours of Tuesday, April 2.

The damage, which included deep scratches and dents, was discovered by owner Sharleen Wray later on Tuesday.

The car, which was used during filming of season three of Derry Girls, was bought seven years ago by the Ballykelly woman.

It featured in the second episode when Erin, Clare, Orla, Michelle and James believe Ma Mary has an affair. The car can be seen crossing the old bridge.

The car was also supposed to be used in a movie which is to be filmed at Shanes Castle on the first week of May.

Sharleen never thought something like this could happen to her car as it was parked on private land belonging to her grandparents.

As I said to my husband today, I cant stop crying, Im just completely and utterly devastated, she said.

Sharleen and her husband spent years renovating the car with the paintwork costing 4,000 alone.

Sharleen said the four individuals responsible for the vandalism were in the area in the afternoon and returned later that night.

A neighbour saw the four individuals in the area earlier in the day and went to warn Sharleen's grandparents who said that they probably meant no harm as it was the Easter holidays.

Then [the neighbour] was out walking his dog again that night and he came back to the door and he said look, they're definitely banging and all down there [...] but they said its grand.

They only noticed the damage on Tuesday when they received a delivery from a friend.

The friend called Sharleens husband and told him that an offensive image was carved into the cars bonnet.

The fact that they came back to the yard twice shows that they knew what they were doing, said Sharleen.

Owning one of these cars was a dream for Sharleen as her father owned 13 of them when she was growing up.

I always said in my adult life I want one of those and my father was like how would you get one of those, they are like hens teeth!

However, when Sharleen spotted the blue Chevette in Belfast, she vowed she would do anything it took to buy it and nicknamed it Stevie.

Sharleen and her husband spent years and a large amount of money restoring the car, both inside and outside, with many of the parts having to be imported.

Following the incident, CCTV and doorbell camera footage, captured between 2am and 3am on Tuesday, were uploaded to Facebook showing individuals trying to access parked cars in the Neptune Crescent and Riverview areas of Ballykelly.

One of the videos clearly shows four individuals trying to open car doors and using torches to look inside the vehicles before running away.

Sharleen is now calling on anyone who has any information to come forward and she has even offered a reward of 1,000.

Hopefully with the power of social media and the fact that I've put a reward on it, someone may come forward, said Sharleen.

A PSNI spokesperson added: Enquiries are ongoing and officers would ask anyone who noticed any recent suspicious activity in the area to contact them in Limavady on 101, quoting reference number 1465 02/04/24.

A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.
New Irish premier Simon Harris failed his way to the top of Government, according to Irelands main opposition party.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald repeated her partys call for a general election as she launched a broadside against Mr Harris on his appointment as Taoiseach.

The Irish Labour Party urged the new Fine Gael leader to face down the yesterday men in his party on hate speech legislation, while two TDs called on him to support an Irish bid for the World Rally Championship.

Upon Mr Harriss appointment as Taoiseach, Ms McDonald said: Another Fine Gael Taoiseach is the last thing the people need. We need a change of leadership, we need a change of government.

Despite Sinn Fein, the Irish Labour Party, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and several independents refusing to back his appointment, Mr Harris was voted in by 88 votes to 69.

Discussing Mr Harriss record in office, Ms McDonald said: Not so long ago, Simon Harris was the minister for health, and on his watch hospital overcrowding spun out of control, the trolley crisis escalated and the treatment waiting list hit one million patients for the very first time.

She said that the scandalous cost of the National Childrens Hospital also grew, and that a promise Mr Harris made on child scoliosis waiting lists had been disgracefully broken again and again.

Ms McDonald said Mr Harriss appointment was part of the Irish Governments narrative that dresses up failure as progress.

The Sinn Fein leader said the Government was now presenting its third Taoiseach in four years.

For the third time, you rearrange the Cabinet deck chairs. For the third time in four years, you pat each other on the back and tell the people what a great job youre doing, she said.

The narrative we hear today from Government is a fairy tale so egregious that Hans Christian Andersen himself would be proud of it.

She added: Its your century-old cosy club, circling the wagons once again to cling to power at all costs.

Insisting on a general election, she said: I believe that the people of Ireland deserve so much better.

If you really believe that your Government has the support of the people, then you should go before the people and get that mandate.

Speaking in the Dail on Tuesday, she also criticised Fine Gaels current coalition partners.

Fianna Fail refused to vote confidence in Simon Harris as minister for health in 2020  it caused an election, if you all recall. Today, they dutifully line up to vote him in as Taoiseach, joined at the hip by a group of independent TDs, she said.

Now out there in the real world, the experience is that if you fail and fail again, you get your P45. However, in the world of this Government  Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens  it seems you can fail your way right to the very, very top.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said her party could not support a cosmetic change-over at the head of the Government and criticised the lack of women appointed to Cabinet in the reshuffle.

Joking that Mr Harriss new energy slogan sounded like a Star Wars tagline, she said that Ireland was a country of profound inequalities and she doubted Mr Harris could deliver any change.

Unfortunately from what we have heard so far, his elevation today will not deliver the change that we need, she told the Dail.

She said there were five areas which he should focus on in the coming months: policy changes on housing, which she called the civil rights issue of this generation; disability rights, particularly on assessments; child poverty, a commitment that had been made by Leo Varadkar; tackling the cost of living and passing a Bill that properly funds the health service.

Labour TD Aodhan ORiordain also advised the new leader: On hate crime, face down the yesterday men on your backbenches. This is not a culture war on gender identity as some would distort this debate to be.

Stand by your convictions Taoiseach, even if others in the opposition cower away.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said that, on a personal note, she wished Mr Harris well, but added that the difference offered by the reshuffle is barely discernible and said there were new faces but no new plans.

We are facing serious challenges as a country, and in order to address them we need new ideas  for that, we need a new government, she said.

Ms Cairns said radical change is needed to tackle crises in housing, healthcare, disability services, childcare and climate action.

The change that we need cannot be delivered by a Taoiseach from the same party, with the same programme for government and the same policies, she added.

The issues we face and will continue to face will worsen until we elect a government with a fundamentally new approach.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said it was not acceptable that scheduled Dail business was being replaced with a jamboree to appoint Mr Harris.

He also highlighted the number of sitting Fine Gael TDs who have ruled out running for re-election, adding: The reason they are abandoning the Fine Gael ship and dont want to face the electorate is because they know they have failed hundreds of thousands of people in this country on the most basic things: of providing secure and affordable housing; on providing a decent health service that works; on protecting our children with special needs and those with disabilities; on providing the public services that make life bearable for people; and protect people from the crippling cost-of-living crisis that has been inflicted on them over the last number of years.

Mr Boyd Barrett said the Government had delivered the worst housing and homelessness crisis that Ireland had ever seen, and claimed the country was experiencing a mass emigration of young people who were leaving Irish shores because they saw no future for themselves at home.

Independent TD Carol Nolan said that while she and Mr Harris may disagree on many aspects, the focus he put on apprenticeships was welcome.

In an unexpected but inconsequential twist during the debates, independent politician Michael Healy-Rae was suggested as an alternative nominee for taoiseach.

Danny Healy-Rae, also an independent TD for Kerry, told the Dail that he was nominating his brother, while Mattie McGrath, another TD in the rural independent group, said he was seconding the proposal after describing Mr Harriss appointment as a charade.

Later on in the parliament, Michael Healy-Rae said he wanted to be the first person to invite you to Co Kerry, and then called for the Government to provide funding for the World Rally Championship to be hosted in counties Kerry, Limerick and Waterford.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Mick Barry referenced the theme music chosen by Mr Harris for his leaders speech at the Fine Gael ard fheis conference at the weekend  BachmanTurner Overdrives 1974 song You Aint Seen Nothing Yet.

Its a great song, but I can think of one or two other tunes from that decade that might be more appropriate, Mr Barry said.

For example, I can think of The Whos Wont Get Fooled Again from 1971  it might sum up the mood of the electorate a little better.

And it does have the closing lyric: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Courtesy of Maxwell Photography

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Simon Harris has been officially sworn in to be Irelands 15th Taoiseach.

At age 37, the Greystones, Co Wicklow native will be the youngest ever Taoiseach to serve.

A married father of two, Simon Harris is married to Caoimhe Wade and has two small children, Saoirse and Killian. He is the eldest of three himself, with siblings Adam and Gemma.

In his acceptance speech in Leinster House this Tuesday, where he was Due to lead the 34th government, Mr Harris formal nomination to become Taoiseach was proposed by deputy leader of Fine Gael and Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys and seconded by Minister for State, Peter Burke.

Ms Humphreys recalled seeing Mr Harris for the first time in the Dail, saying she thought that he was on work experience and was surprised when she saw him standing up to nominate Enda Kenny as Taoiseach, back in 2011.

Ive gotten to know Simon Harris very well over the last 13 years and it is a great honour for me today to propose him to be our next Taoiseach.

Contrary to popular belief, Simon didnt always want to be a politician - when he was younger, he wanted to be a vet.

Based on his life experiences however, he was inspired to get involved in politics to help people with autism and their families. It is that sense of him simply wanting to help and breaking down barriers that drives Simon Harris.

Mr Harris, who lives with Crohns disease, has a younger brother Adam, who is autistic. Adam runs autism services charity AsIAm, which was co-founded by Simon.

The Fine Gael leader and Wicklow TD also set up an autism charity as a teenager, Triple A Alliance, which is an autism awareness charity.

Turning to politics as finding his life experiences to be a catalyst of inspiration, Simon Harris was first elected as a councillor in 2009 in Wicklow county council and Greystones Town Council, and became a TD in 2011, taking the third seat in the Wicklow constituency.

He initially studied journalism and French at the Dublin Institute of Technology but dropped out in first year to pursue politics full time.

As the youngest deputy in the 31st Dail, he was selected by Fine Gael to nominate Enda Kenny for Taoiseach, making his maiden speech.

He said at the time: As the baby of the Dail, I believe at 24 years of age I'm looking forward to bringing a fresh perspective and trying to feed into government new ideas and represent a generation that all too often doesnt have a voice.

In his maiden speech to the Dail, Mr Harris nominated Enda Kenny as Taoiseach. This Tuesday, when nominated by Dail members to succeed Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach, Mr Harris recalled this maiden speech which he made 13 years ago.

Back then I reflected on what values I thought were needed for the job in hand - integrity, honesty and a workrate which cannot be surpassed. As Taoiseach, I will demand of myself what I saw so important then.

Within three years of his Dail debut, he was elevated to the junior ministerial ranks and by the age of 29, he was appointed Minister for Health in 2016.

Since, he has taken office as Minister of Justice and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
A man who hid a large amount of cannabis herb underneath his childs bed has been jailed for three and half years.

Dean Smith (30) of Killinarden Heights, Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 19kg of cannabis herb, valued at 359,000, at his home on November 11, 2021.

The investigating garda told John Quirke BL prosecuting that a warrant was secured to search Smiths home during which the drugs were found underneath a childs bed. A further stash of the drugs was found in a drawer in the same room.

Smith confirmed that his son slept in the room and that the drugs were his and he had placed them there.

He had a previous conviction from the district court in relation to a separate drug offence.

The investigating garda agreed with Garnet Orange SC, defending, that his client had run up a drug debt owing to his own cocaine addiction.

Mr Orange asked Judge Martin Nolan to take into account his clients admissions to the gardai.

He said his client has since made significant efforts to rehabilitate and took care of his children while his wife worked. He also played a role in caring for his father.

He is a warehouse man rather than a more significant cog in the entire system, Mr Orange submitted, before he added that Smith was not in control of the quantity of drugs that would be delivered to him.

Judge Nolan accepted evidence that Smith was well regarded by his family and had a responsibility to his father and children.

He further accepted that there was good and strong mitigation in the case in that Smith had co-operated with the garda investigation and entered an early guilty plea.

Judge Nolan said while Smith had a lesser involvement in the offence, he was a mature man who had involved himself in this criminal enterprise, before he imposed a sentence of three and half years.
Eagle Times Staff

CONCORD, N.H.  Spring is here, which means its time for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Departments popular outdoor festival, Discover WILD New Hampshire Day. This community event is scheduled for Saturday, April 20. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department at 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, New Hampshire, rain or shine. Admission is free. Only trained service dogs will be admitted; no pets allowed.

Celebrating 34 years of connecting residents and visitors with the outdoors, Discover WILD New Hampshire Day is a fun way for the whole family to explore New Hampshires wildlife resources and outdoor traditions. Browse educational exhibits presented by environmental and conservation organizations from across the state. See live animals, big fish and trained falcons. Try a hand at archery, casting and fly tying. Test marksmanship at the air-rifle range, watch retriever dogs in action, and get creative with hands-on craft activities. Plus, check out food truck alley.

Discover WILD New Hampshire Day is hosted by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and presented by the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire, Fish and Games nonprofit partner (nhwildlifeheritage.org), with support from media sponsor Manchester Radio Group.
Intensive China visits by ASEAN officials testament to closer ties

Xinhua) 14:20, April 09, 2024

Lion dance performers pose for photos with a high-speed electrical multiple unit (EMU) train on the platform at the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway's Padalarang Station in Padalarang, Indonesia, Feb. 10, 2024. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

The intensive visits by senior ASEAN officials to China underscore growing reliability and the enduring nature of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and ASEAN.

HONG KONG, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A series of visits to China by senior officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to China has recently captured headlines.

Following the visit of Indonesian President-elect and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, foreign ministers of Laos, Vietnam and Timor-Leste also visited China separately. On Sunday, Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue also started a visit to China.

Analysts believe that the flurry of visits indicates that China, ASEAN's largest neighbor, has become a reliable and long-term comprehensive strategic partner to ASEAN, with mutually beneficial cooperation injecting more stability and positive energy into regional and global development.

RARE VISIT

Prabowo came to China on his first official visit after being elected president of Indonesia, the largest economy among ASEAN members and a key regional player.

It is uncommon for newly-elected state leaders to visit a foreign country before inauguration.

This indicates China's unique position and importance in Indonesia's foreign relations. Prabowo's visit aims to consolidate Indonesia's cooperation with China, which President Joko Widodo has already established, said Indonesian sinologist Novi Basuki.

Data from Statistics Indonesia showed that the trade volume between the two countries in 2023 reached 127.12 billion U.S. dollars, making China Indonesia's biggest trading partner for 11 consecutive years.

Aside from trade, bilateral cooperation has flourished in other fields, such as infrastructure. The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, has brought great convenience to travelers during Ramadan, shortening travel time between the two cities from over three hours to roughly 40 minutes.

Prabowo said during his visit that the new Indonesian government is willing to promote more economic and trade cooperation and collaboration in combatting poverty to further benefit the two peoples.

This photo taken on April 12, 2023 shows cargo trucks passing through an immigration inspection checkpoint at Dongxing port in Dongxing, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Boosted by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement that entered into force on Jan. 1, 2022, industrial cooperation between China and ASEAN has continued to deepen over the past years, contributing to the regional economic development. (Xinhua/Zhu Lili)

INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT

During his visit to China, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith said Laos will work with China to ensure the Laos-China Railway bring greater economic benefits and strengthen cooperation with China in energy, agricultural tourism and other fields.

Dubbed a "golden transport channel," the China-Laos Railway has become the epitome of the thriving economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN countries.

The convenient international logistics channel and popular international passenger train services have created employment opportunities for local residents, attracted more foreign investment, and facilitated the upgrading and expansion of various industries along the railway line.

With the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the construction of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, bilateral trade between China and ASEAN countries continued to grow in 2023, reaching 6.41 trillion yuan (886.17 billion U.S. dollars). ASEAN has maintained its position as China's largest trading partner for four consecutive years, while China has also remained ASEAN's largest trading partner for 14 years in a row.

With the gradual increase in bilateral trade comes expanded investment, said Xin Tao, head of corporate banking and general manager of the Beijing branch of United Overseas Bank (China).

As of July 2023, the two-way investment between China and ASEAN exceeded 380 billion U.S. dollars, with over 6,500 Chinese direct investment enterprises established in ASEAN. Meanwhile, the digital economy, green development and new energy industries are emerging as investment hotspots.

In Thailand, a vital auto manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia, Chinese auto companies are selling electric vehicles and setting up factories. They have also brought in supporting industries such as battery production, catalyzing the establishment of an electric vehicle industry chain in Thailand.

Xin said China and ASEAN share common development ideals and common industrial chains. Cooperation is not just about simple economic and trade exchanges but more about the tangible integration of industrial chains.

Two girls display Xunpu flowery headwear at an exhibition of ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, on Feb. 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

CLOSER COMMUNITY

During their visits, Prabowo, Saleumxay and Vietnam's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son all pledged to implement the critical consensus of building a community of shared future between their respective countries and China.

Meanwhile, a recent report by Singapore's Yusof Ishak Institute suggested that over 60 percent of the Southeast Asian population endorses the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, indicating the resonance of this Chinese vision.

As part of efforts to build a closer community with a shared future between China and ASEAN, this year has been designated the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

Since the beginning of this year, China has signed visa exemption agreements with Singapore and Thailand.

Exchange students have also benefited from China-ASEAN cultural exchanges through various scholarship programs. In the academic year 2021-2022, students from ASEAN countries accounted for approximately 30 percent of all international students studying in China.

Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Hou Yanqi said the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges would build a "heart-to-heart bridge," reflecting the joint contributions of China and ASEAN in promoting world peace, security, prosperity and progress.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
A STORY that has been more than 300 years waiting to be told has been optioned by a Cork production company for a TV series.

The strange but true story of the first ever female freemason was published last year as a historical fiction novel, as it was impossible to identify all the characters that make up the intriguing story.

Entitled Doneraile Court: The Story Of The Lady Freemason, by New York-based Kathleen Aldworth Foster, it is a cracking tale.

Once a pilot episode is written within the next six months, it will be taken to market to be sold as a series, says CEO of Great Island Productions, Mark Kenny.

The book relates how 17-year1old Elizabeth St Leger, living with her family in the Georgian mansion, Doneraile Court, fell asleep in the library one night and woke up to sounds from the next room.

Repairs were being carried out to the wall between the library and the lodge room. Elizabeth took a brick out of the wall and found herself looking at an initiation ceremony.

Realising she had seen something she ought not to have witnessed, she tried to escape but the family butler, standing guard in the hallway, caught her and brought her to the attention of her father and brothers who had been taking part in the ceremony along with a few other men.

The story goes that the men debated killing Elizabeth, says Kathleen. But one man stood up and said he had another option. He said: Lets make her the first ever female freemason.

Five months later, Elizabeth wed her saviour, Richard Aldworth of Newmarket, and became Elizabeth St Leger Aldworth.

Kathleens interest in this story was sparked in 2000. She was visiting the pyramids in Giza in Egypt when she met a man who told her that she shared the Aldworth name with a female freemason. The man subsequently sent her a book, The Hiram Key. It was the first book on freemasonry that Kathleen ever read.

Some six years later, on a genealogy trip to Ireland, a taxi driver heard Kathleen talking to her father about Elizabeth St Leger Aldworth. The driver said this womans house was still standing in Doneraile. Excited, Kathleen took up his offer to drive them to Doneraile Court.

At the time, it wasnt open to the public. But Kathleen probed and established a family link to Elizabeth. Her fathers beloved grandmother was Kathleen Aldworth.

My mother came into the family and also fell in love with her, so much so that she named me after her....I have since given the Aldworth middle name to my two daughters.

Kathleen became intrigued with freemasonry.

When I first heard about the story of Elizabeth, my first question was why in the world would the men want to kill her? Why would her father have accepted that possibility? I wanted to know as much as I could. It took a very long time.

So fascinated was Kathleen that she looked into joining a co-masonry mixed gender group in New York.

But I felt that if I did that, I would take my oath too seriously and would never finish my book. There is a perception that freemasons are well off and anti-Catholic. But Kathleen says they do a lot of charity work and in the U.S, they are not the preserve of the moneyed classes and come from various religious backgrounds.

Elizabeth St Leger Aldworth was known as a very benevolent philanthropist. I have heard that, today, the freemasons refer to themselves as the oldest self-help group in the world. Theyre very misunderstood. Theyre all about making good men better and being the best versions of themselves.

Kathleen used to be a reporter for Fox News, a job that took her to warzones all over the world. She reported from Bosnia, she spent a lot of time in Iraq and Afghanistan, she was in Israel several times, and she also reported on natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes in Haiti.

I spent 12 years pretty much away from home, she said.

Now working in PR, Kathleen says there are times when she misses journalism. The war in Ukraine was one of those moments.

But when a colleague who was a good friend was killed while working as a cameraman in Ukraine, Kathleen realised that, had she been there with him, she too could have lost her life. The friend was Pierre Zakrzewski, who grew up in Ireland. His father was Polish and his mother was French but he was raised in Dublin.

Kathleens reporting in danger zones meant there were times when my life flashed before my eyes.

I could have been standing right next to Pierre and been hit if Id been in Ukraine.

Now, Kathleen is delighted that so many people are recognising the power of the story of the first female freemason.

Im thrilled that Great Island Productions are so dedicated to telling stories and producing programming that can be made in Cork.

Mark Kenny thinks its a fantastic story. Will it be filmed on location at Doneraile Court?

The exteriors will definitely be shot there. There might be some restrictions from the authorities about using the interior. Its likely that well build sets that would replicate the interior.

All going well, the story of the first lady freemason  a Cork woman - should be on a television screen some time in the near future.
A NEW exhibition in a Cork library looks at some of the places, buildings and people often overlooked by what might be called mainstream history and tourism.

Bishopstown Library is currently hosting Hidden Gems and Forgotten People, an exhibition presented by the Federation of Local History Societies (FLHS).

The exhibition consists of a collection of images and texts celebrating some of the lesser known places, buildings and people of Ireland that can sometimes be forgotten by tourist brochures, history books, and guided tours.

The exhibition was launched by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Kieran McCarthy, himself an accomplished historian and author.

Long may local history give us a life. It brings us together and helps us to harness the stories which are so important to pass on and learn from the past, Mr McCarthy said.

Two former lord mayors of Cork attended the launch, former Fianna Fail councillor Mary Shields, and former Fine Gael councillor Brian Bermingham, who is a member of Bishopstown Historical Society.

The FLHS was represented at the launch by committee member Eamon Leonard, and Larry Breen, who initiated the project and organised it with Marie McCarthy. Also in attendance was Cork county heritage officer Conor Nelligan and members of various local history and literary societies.

Among the people and places featured in the Hidden Gems and Forgotten People exhibition is Willie Clune, who taught President Michael D Higgins at Ballyar National School in Co Clare, and who opened the first Hidden Gems exhibition in 2015.

The dovecote at the 13th century Ballybeg Priory, which is on the Cork side of Buttevant, is also featured. The dovecote produced fertiliser from pigeons nesting in its 392 interior niches.

The exhibition runs until Thursday, April 25. See hiddengems.localhistory.ie.
A DOCTOR who works in Gaza has spoken to The Echo about treating critically injured children on an emergency room floor as they died without pain relief or privacy.

Professor Nick Maynard is a consultant surgeon working in Oxford University Hospital and specialising in cancer surgery.

He has visited Gaza since 2010 as part of Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), a UK-based charity, performing and teaching cancer surgery in the enclave.

The Israel-Hamas war erupted after Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people in a co-ordinated series of attacks in southern Israel on October 7.

In the six months since then, Gaza has come under heavy IDF bombardment, with the death toll now approaching 33,000, or 2% of the entire population.

On St Stephens Day, Dr Maynard, whose wife Fionnuala is from Kinsale, led MAPs first medical team to go to Gaza after the October attacks.

For two weeks, I was working in al-Aqsa Hospital, I was operating every day, dealing with very severe explosive injuries, and I also spent time in the emergency room and saw just the most awful things, he said.

We dealt with a huge volume of patients coming in, with often dozens upon dozens of severely injured people arriving at the same time, totally overwhelming the hospital.

And terrible injuries, mainly in children, a lot of children, a lot of young adults, but a lot of children with terrible burn injuries, some of which they were inevitably going to die from, kids having lost one, two, sometimes three limbs, and we had very limited ability to treat them.

The amount of trauma that came in overwhelmed the capacity of the operating theatres; we often had no morphine or pain relief to give them, there was no room for them, so we were treating small children lying on the ground, often when they were dying, they were dying lying on the ground in the emergency room, in public, because there was nowhere for them to go.

Dr Maynard is due to return to Gaza, but he said the killing last week of seven aid workers from the charity World Central Kitchen has heightened anxiety among healthcare volunteers. He claimed that Israel has been deliberately targeting healthcare workers and aid workers since the beginning of the current conflict. Israel has denied claims attacks have been deliberate. He said the compound he had been staying in had been bombed a week after he had left Gaza, seriously injuring four British doctors staying there.

Its made me certainly very apprehensive about going back, but Ive got a wonderfully supportive wife and family, and Ive got so many close friends in Gaza that I feel an absolute compulsion to get back out there and help in any way I can, he said.

On Saturday afternoon, Dr Maynard spoke to a capacity crowd in UCCs Boole Library.

Earlier, some 300 people braved Storm Kathleen to attend the 26th weekly rally organised by the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign (CPSC) on the Grand Parade, before walking to UCC to hear Dr Maynard speak.

Eimear Ni Mhaoldomnaigh, who is a member of CPSC, described Dr Maynards address as harrowing, saying that his first-hand experience had given an invaluable insight into the depth of difficulty faced by medics working in Gaza.
CHILDRENS Minister Roderic OGorman has been asked to meet with the potential new operators of the facility formerly known as the Before 5 Family Centre on the northside of the city in a bid to see it reopen.

The childcare facility on Churchfield Hill closed with immediate effect last August, citing reasons for the decision including financial challenges, changes in regulations, operational challenges, and recruitment issues.

Following this closure, Northside Community Enterprises (NCE) began exploring the possibility of resuming a childcare service at the location.

NCEs vision, in a proposal submitted to several ministers earlier this year, is to provide high-quality childcare for families in the area on a full day care basis as well as an adult disability service, play therapy, and adult education.

It said it is willing to invest in the project but cannot cover all the costs alone.

We are very much committed to this project, but we cannot achieve the goals we have for ourselves and the community without other investment from other sources, it said.

Speaking to The Echo, Finance Minister Michael McGrath said he would like to see the facility reopen and that he has asked for Minister OGorman to meet with NCE.

Weve been working with Minister OGorman and his officials on that issue.

I know that the building concerned was previously passed in the inspections that were carried out by Tusla and had successfully registered.

I know the case has been made that additional public funding is required and investment is needed because it will be a new registration as such and it will be a new service being provided, so Ive asked Minister OGorman to facilitate a meeting with his officials with the Northside Community Enterprises because its a project that is really important, he said.

We do support it.

We want to see it happen and they have made an ask of capital funding for investment in the premises to make sure that it is fully fit for purpose and up to the modern standard and I will engage with them and through the local deputies and councillors whove been in touch with me on a regular basis, my Fianna Fail colleagues, to ensure that that engagement happens and that we do all we can to secure the funding that they need to open that facility again.
RESIDENTS from Kilcully and Ballincrokig braved the rain to protest outside City Hall yesterday, prior to last nights Cork City Council meeting, over a lack of progress in road safety measures in their locality.

The residents presented a petition to Lord Mayor Kieran McCarthy, who promised to hand it over to the executive.

I sympathise, and Im not blind to what youre trying to do, he told them.

The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Kieran McCarthy meets with the Kilcully and Ballincrokig Residents Association holding a protest outside City Hall to campaign for pedestrian improvement works and traffic calming measures in the area. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Residents alleged that ringfenced funding that they were promised three years ago seems to have disappeared, and highlighted how dangerous the area was.

There were three accidents one week, Trish Moynihan told The Echo.

Meanwhile, Trisha Carroll said:

Years ago we were told the funding was there for footpaths, pedestrian crossings, lights  and now nobody knows where it is.

In 2022, 400,000 was allocated by the National Transport Authority (NTA), under active travel investment grants, to the Kilcully and Upper Glanmire Pedestrian Improvement Scheme set to include the provision of 1.6km of new footpaths, a new pedestrian bridge crossing the Glennamought River, a raised pedestrian crossing and 43 new public lighting columns.

We are just 3.5km from Patrick St and we have no public transport, no pedestrian crossings, no footpaths, said Kilcully and Ballincrokig Residents Association chairperson Joan Lewis.

All theyre doing is building houses  and we have no problem with the houses, we want the houses  but we need the infrastructure to go with them.

We cannot allow for these areas to be forgotten about  there is a fair amount of disparity out there, added Sinn Fein candidate in the upcoming local elections Mandy OLeary Hegarty, so we would be hoping that with a new council in June these things would change.

Grainne ODonnell explained that the area has a huge problem with speeding drivers, and that people had seen horrific incidents.

She welcomed the large turnout for the protest.

Kilcully and Ballincrokig Residents Association holding a protest outside City Hall to campaign for pedestrian improvement works and traffic calming measures in the area. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Especially with the weather, and the fact that its not the biggest of areas, its great to see so many come out, she said.

The Upper Glanmire and Kilcully schemes were both approved separately by Cork City Council, but from a funding perspective, theyre being treated as one, said Cork City North East Green Party councillor Oliver Moran.

The Upper Glanmire scheme is being treated as Phase 1 and the Kilcully scheme as Phase 2. I dont think thats the right way to go about it.

There are other schemes in the city that are Phase 1 and Phase 2 of each other, where they naturally lead on from each other.

In the case of Kilcully and Upper Glanmire, the two schemes dont join, theyre not planned to, and theyre 4km apart, he said.

Adding that the Upper Glanmire scheme is under way, he said: Theres a pressing need for road safety in Kilcully, with a significant number of serious incidents.

It should be prioritised and funded in its own right, separately from the Upper Glanmire scheme.
People making a difference in their communities in Cork are set to be recognised at this years Cork City Lord Mayor Community and Voluntary Awards.

Organisations promoting social inclusion, advocacy, health and wellbeing, arts and culture, sustainable development and community development have been shortlisted for the awards which will take place at the Concert Hall in City Hall on Wednesday, April 10.

Nominees will be recognised under six different categories including Community Development and Continuing Education; Social Services, Charities and Environment; Social Inclusion, Advocacy and Integration; Climate Action and Sustainable Development; Recreation, Sport, Health and Wellbeing; and Arts Culture Recreation and Heritage, with the overall winner announced on the night.

Those shortlisted under the Social Services, Charities & Environment category of the awards include Good Shepherd Cork, SOFT Ireland and SHARE Cork.

Good Shepherd Cork

Good Shepherd Cork's newly redeveloped Edel House which was officially opened in November 2022.Photo: Good Shepherd Cork.

Good Shepherd Cork works with women, children and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by providing emergency, short-term and long-term accommodation and a range of practical, therapeutic and educational supports to assist service users in dealing with and moving on from issues that can bring them into homelessness.

Good Shepherd welcomes people of all backgrounds, ages, and stages of life and its work is grounded in its belief in social justice and equality.

Founded over 50 years ago when a small seed was planted by Sr Colette Hickey, who is 106 years old and is still very interested in the work of Good Shepherd, the organisation worked with over 1,000 women and children last year.

Mission Leader Sr Jane Murphy said all at Good Shepherd are delighted to be nominated for the award and described it as a privilege and an opportunity to let the people of Cork know about their work.

Speaking about the importance of Good Shepherds work, Sr Murphy said: Building a trusting relationship with every woman and child is central to what we are about. Our mission is to support women, children and families who are vulnerable to homelessness to live more empowered, fulfilled and self-sufficient lives.

We are an organisation that wants to get things done - not from any personal ambition on our part, but from a huge professional ambition, to get things done for the people of Cork, particularly the women and children of Cork who are, have been, or at risk of becoming homeless.

I believe we do the very good work we do because we have a really firm foundation - a strong ethos across all our services of respecting and valuing every individual and a really terrific, committed, skilled staff team supported by many volunteers, who most importantly live that ethos.

We want to acknowledge and appreciate the very many women and children that have stayed with us over the past 50 years. We have often seen people traumatised and very distressed when they first come to us. But we salute these mothers, and sometimes fathers, whose courage and determination to overcome barriers to make a better life for themselves and their families, is a constant inspiration.

SOFT Ireland

Martina O'Reilly of SOFT Ireland has welcomed the organisation's nomination in this year's Community and Voluntary Awards.

SOFT Ireland is a voluntary group dedicated to providing support, assistance and information for families of children diagnosed and born with Pataus Syndrome (Trisomy 13) and Edwards Syndrome (Trisomy 18).

Babies born with these syndromes often have serious life-threatening conditions with developmental delay and a limited life expectancy and support is provided by SOFT Ireland during prenatal diagnosis, during the childs life and after the childs passing.

Martina O'Reilly of SOFT Ireland said: Babies have been born with Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18 since the beginning of time, but it was only in the 1960s that Dr Patau and Dr Edwards identified the respective features of these syndromes. Both syndromes are the result of an extra 13th or 18th chromosome, respectively, being present in each cell of the body.

The incidence of Trisomy 13 is about 1 in 10,000 of total births while that of Trisomy 18 is about 1 in 6000 of total births. As the female X chromosome is more viable there are more girls born than boys. Ms OReilly said the team is delighted to be recognised for their work and shortlisted for this years Community and Voluntary Awards.

As a small group with limited funding, it is difficult to raise awareness about the services we provide to families at such a tragic time in their lives, she said.

Our single aim as parents who ourselves have lost babies is to ensure no parent has to endure this life-changing heartbreak on their own.

A beautiful quotation from Thomas Jefferson sums up our ethos who then can so softly bind up the wound of another as he who has felt the same wound himself.

Ms OReilly said the team is made up of volunteers who support those who have been affected by Edwards or Patau's Syndromes.

She said that they all share one common bond having walked in the shoes of the families they support, with many families helped by SOFT returning as volunteers.

SHARE Cork

Ann Purcell, Coal Quay and Mary Theresa Nolan, Glanmire, both residents of Mount St Joseph with Andrew Maume, Chairman of the SHARE student executive committee 2023/24 and fellow members of the student executive committee. Photography By Gerard McCarthy.

Also nominated under the Social Services, Charities & Environment category of the awards is SHARE, a registered charity founded in 1970 by students from Presentation Brothers College, Cork who raised funds to try and make existing housing for Cork citys vulnerable elderly more comfortable.

One of the most well-known elements of the charitys fundraising over the past 50 years is the SHARE Christmas campaign which includes the annual 24-hour fast and the blessing of the crib in the city.

It has become a tradition of the festive season in Cork and the crib is staffed by students right up until Christmas Eve to encourage people to donate to the worthy cause.

Since its foundation, SHARE has provided a unique link between students and the elderly.

It has created a blueprint for positive engagement between students and the elderly community, which has spread nationally and internationally.

Chairperson Andrew Maume said:

We wanted to take a moment to thank the people of Cork for their ongoing generosity, which allows SHARE to do what we do, and to the Lord Mayor Councillor Kieran McCarthy for his outstanding support of SHARE."

Since its inception, SHARE has tackled the housing crisis for the particularly vulnerable elderly people of Cork city.

Evolving over the last 50 years, the organisation runs 140 homes in the area across seven different locations.

Students visit these homes on a weekly basis, offering much sought-after social engagement. In addition to this, the Brother Jerome Day Care Centre caters for up to 125 clients each week, offering a social environment, hot meals, fun and activities, Mr Maume said.

SHARE also provides medical and social support through its Day Centre on a daily basis Monday - Friday, which involves an activity coordinator and support staff, in conjunction with the HSE. The Day Centre is used by elderly citizens from across the city of Cork.

The award ceremony will take place on Wednesday, April 10 where the overall winner will be revealed.
A WITNESS who was first to see a man lying unconscious on a road in Carrigaline with two other man standing nearby thought the man who spoke to him would have been frantic but found it strange that he was shy, sheepish and calm.

That was the observation of a witness who testified at a murder trial before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of six women and six men at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork today.

21-year-old Ricardo Hoey of 7 Ardcarrig, Carrigaline, County Cork, and 19-year-old Jordan Deasy of 41 Ravensdale, Heron's Wood, both pleaded not guilty to the single charge against them that on December 28 2022 at Glenwood estate, Carrigaline, County Cork, they did murder 29-year-old Matt ONeill, contrary to common law.

Witness John McGovern was walking from his home at Weston View, Carrigaline, towards the bus stop by the Toyota garage.

As I approached Glenwood Dale I noticed a car parked at the Glenwood Grove cul de sac. It was a car with a modified exhaust, a grey Astra, and the font on the registration was not the normal one. The car pulled away.

In the number of minutes it took to where I saw the incident the car was stopped in the middle of the road. The car doors were open as far as they could. The taller man was on the drivers side. The shorter man was on the passenger side. A third man was on the ground. I wasnt sure what I was after coming across.

I asked, Lads, what is after going on here? I approached the man on the ground who I noticed was unconscious. He was on the passenger side. Only the taller man replied. He said, He wouldnt get out of the way. I presumed he meant the man on the ground would not get out of the way of the car.

21-year-old Ricardo Hoey (pictured) of 7 Ardcarrig, Carrigaline, County Cork, and 19-year-old Jordan Deasy of 41 Ravensdale, Heron's Wood, both pleaded not guilty to the single charge against them that on December 28 2022 at Glenwood estate, Carrigaline, County Cork, they did murder 29-year-old Matt ONeill, contrary to common law.

I noticed the evenness and calm of the man who answered. I marked it as strange. I would have expected them to be frantic. He (the taller man on drivers side) was understated, strangely together, the way he answered me.

I told them I was going to call the gardai and the emergency services, their demeanour changed  it was dawning on them how the man came to be on the ground and they left at that stage, Mr McGovern said.

CALL TO AMBULANCE SERVICE

The witness said that over the phone to the ambulance service they told him how to care for the man on the ground. He noticed cuts to his left temple, right ear and right hand, and saw a broken bottle close by.

Asked again by Jane Hyland prosecution senior counsel about the initial response of the taller man who spoke to him initially, Mr McGovern said,

It seemed very strange to me  the response  how even it was. I would have expected wringing hands, being a bit frantic, that was not the way it was. The driver seemed sheepish, shy.

He said the drivers demeanour changed when he (the witness) said he was calling gardai. He said the passenger did not talk at any stage.

Dr Eoin Sheehan, an orthopaedic consultant from Tullamore General Hospital was visiting his parents with his wife and children and was on his way to Carrigaline Court Hotel when he saw the injured man on the ground with Mr McGovern tending to him.

19-year-old Jordan Deasy (pictured) of 41 Ravensdale, Heron's Wood and 21-year-old Ricardo Hoey of 7 Ardcarrig, Carrigaline, County Cork, both pleaded not guilty to the single charge against them that on December 28 2022 at Glenwood estate, Carrigaline, County Cork, they did murder 29-year-old Matt ONeill, contrary to common law.

Dr Sheehan described the man on the ground as unconscious lying on his back with his arms and legs splayed. He said it was wet and dark at the time and there was blood visible on his teeth and from the back of his head and there was blood from a cut to one or two fingers. He said the unconscious mans clothing was normal and added, he was not unkempt or anything".

My initial thoughts were he could have been knocked down or he could have fallen over or he could have been assaulted, pushed over and fallen. It was very hard to say in the heat of the moment in the middle of the road.

He was pretty critically injured. On the Glasgow Coma Scale he was at three (the most critical level on the scale measuring consciousness and its impairment). His basic vitals were normal. He was breathing and his heart was beating. Heart and lungs were functioning but he had a significantly bad head injury.

In the hour or so Dr Sheehan was present with him  before and after the arrival of ambulance personnel  brain swelling resulted in an already bad situation starting to deteriorate.

The doctor was cross-examined by Tom Creed and Brendan Grehan senior counsel for Mr Hoey and Mr Deasy respectively. He agreed that the head injury could have resulted from the deceased mans head hitting the ground.
Directions are still awaited from the Director of Public Prosecutions in the case against two men accused of murdering 47-year-Kieran Quilligan, whose remains were found following an extensive search in East Cork.

31-year-old Niall Long of 35 St. Michaels Close, Mahon, Cork, appeared at Cork District Court in person on the murder charge as he was granted bail at the High Court in Dublin.

26-year-old Luke Taylor of no fixed address, and formerly of Cherry Lawn, Blackrock, Cork, appeared in court by video link from prison on the same charge.

Each man is charged with the single count which states that on a date unknown between September 1 2023 and January 29 2024 at an unknown location within the state in the District Court area of Cork city he did murder Kieran Quilligan, contrary to Common Law.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis applied today for an adjournment of the case against Niall Long until July 17 on bail.

Judge Mary Dorgan acceded to this application in respect of Mr Long who was represented by Shane Collins-Daly solicitor.

Luke Taylor, who was represented by Eddie Burke solicitor, was remanded in custody until April 23, also for DPP directions.

When originally charged with murder, Nialll Long made no reply after caution. Luke Taylors reply to the charge was, Didnt murder no one.

Gardai started a murder investigation following the discovery of human remains on Monday, January 29, at Rostellan in East Cork.

The late Mr Quilligan had been a missing person since September 2023 and a search had been ongoing.

Assistant state pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, carried out a post-mortem examination of the remains at Cork University Hospital.

Following this, there was a DNA examination of samples sent to the Forensic Science Ireland laboratory in Dublin, and confirmation that the remains were those of Mr Quilligan.

The human remains were found at the bottom of an excavated ditch off the Midleton to Whitegate road past Whitewell Cross and the turn-off for Rostellan, by a sniffer dog and his handlers.
CORK City Councils street-performer bylaws have been approved and are due to come into effect next month.

The bylaws will give An Garda Siochana the power to direct a performer to move at any time, if they are outside specified hours on a designated street marker, have exceeded their time limit of two hours, or if the performer does not hold or produce a valid permit.

Anyone who contravenes the bylaws or refuses to comply with the gardai shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 1,500.

A permit, priced at 30, is necessary to perform without amplification and an additional 30 for amplification. This fee is waived for those aged under 25, and a short-term street-performance permit will also be available for 10, plus an additional 10 for amplification, for this three-month period.

Green Party councillor Dan Boyle discussed the drafting of the bylaws and said there were 45 submissions to the public consultation. Issues were teased out as we discussed how we could organise street performers in the city, so that all interests in the city were best represented, and we could avoid repetition and needless noise, Mr Boyle said.

Fellow Green Party councillor Oliver Moran said that street performers suggested a number of changes and explained why they were important.

This input led to the minimum age at which teenagers could busk without parents being changed from 18 to 16, digital donations being allowed, and a cap being introduced on fees for large groups. Mr Moran added that these were bylaws with a Cork twist.

We are a city ruled by its vibrance, and we always have supported street artists, but traders at one particular, popular busking location have told of the same person and the same song all day, driving everybody mad and driving people out of town, Fianna Fail councillor Terry Shannon added.

The regulations here, hopefully, will stop that. The issue, as always, is implementation: How do we know someone is there two hours or more? How will the decibel level be policed? If its not supervised by gardai, its useless.

This was echoed by Fianna Fail councillor John Sheehan, who said that no bylaws are perfect. The challenge is the enforcement, but these are very workable and good for the city.

Independent councillor Ken OFlynn welcomed the laws, but said: It was 2013 when I first proposed busking bylaws.

He added: Eleven years later, I think we have to learn to be braver, bolder, and swifter when it comes to bylaws and being innovative, because in 2013 this was voted down and I was told we have to wait for Dublin or for Galway to see what they do.

The new bylaws will come into force on May 20.
ON March 27, 165 young people from the 31 Comhairle na nOg (local youth councils) gathered in Leinster House to discuss the topics that we feel should be prioritised for young people over the next two years.

We were both honoured to be representing our Comhairle. Weve been members for two years now and getting to represent our peers at a national level was so amazing.

We were delighted to have had the chance to participate in Dail na nOg - Irelands National Youth Parliament - at Leinster House.

Visiting the Dail and sitting in the chamber where our countrys politicians debate legislation was surreal, and an experience we will never forget.

Our day started with the Opening Ceremony, which was chaired by the Ceann Comhairle and where young people debated different topics under the theme of Mental Health.

You might not realise this if you have only ever seen it in pictures or on television, but the Dail chamber is much larger than it first appears. Sitting in this grand setting was intimidating so we have the utmost respect for all those who spoke on the day.

After this, we went into workshops to help us gain an understanding of the topics we were considering and to hear about issues affecting other young people in Ireland. Here we could discuss our opinions with other young people and make an informed decision in the final vote.

It was said in the Dail chamber that the decisions we made that day would change the lives of young people all over Ireland, so we really wanted to be sure we were making the right decision.

We had two topics to vote between: mental health services and school stress. Getting to vote in the Dail itself and experiencing the traditional method of voting through the division lobbies was really special, and something we could have only dreamed of.

The feeling of knowing that our voices mattered and that our votes counted was really memorable.

In the final vote, the topic of school stress was chosen by the delegates.

Although there were different opinions among young people on the day, its undeniable that school stress is a factor that impacts young peoples mental health and daily life. It stands out to us particularly because it is something that we have seen so many of our friends and classmates struggle with.

Now that this topic has been chosen as the priority, we feel that there are several areas that need to be focused on to improve young peoples experience of school stress.

For example, schools could hold more workshops on study skills, especially around long-term retention of information and time management. We believe these workshops should be held from late primary school and throughout secondary school so students are constantly developing these skills to relieve stress when studying.

A resource could be created for schools on how to help their students manage school stress and what they can do to make the school environment a less stressful place.

Another problem we need to tackle is the amount of subjects required for the Leaving Certificate. We believe the minimum number of subjects could be lowered along with a change in the points system. This would allow students to reduce their workload and focus on subjects needed for the courses and jobs they really want.

We also hope that the NCCA will take this on board and address areas of the curriculum that are particularly stressful or difficult for students.

Lastly, a problem which comes up a lot among young people is the quality of school guidance counselling. Many people we have talked to believe school guidance counsellors are ill-equipped and are often unavailable when needed, whether for career guidance or mental health issues.

We believe more training for guidance counsellors should be provided. There should also be an increase in the hiring of guidance counsellors to keep up with our schools growing sizes and demands.

School stress is an issue so close to us and our peers, and were looking forward to seeing what changes happen as a result of the vote in Dail na nOg. We hope that this issue will be taken seriously so that we can make a difference on it over the next two years for all young people across Ireland.

We also hope that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Department of Education listen to the voices of young people on this topic, so that it receives strong support and makes change for the better.

We are so grateful for the opportunity we had to take our seats as delegates in Dail na nOg 2024.

As young people who are under 18 and not able to vote in elections, it was so important for us to have the chance to do so in the Dail, and in this way to have an impact on the lives of all young people in Ireland.

We hope that more opportunities like this will be available to young people in the future, and that even more young people will be able to have their say.
TOKYO, Apr 09 (News On Japan) - Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan visited Meiji Shrine in Tokyo to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the passing of Empress Dowager Shoken, consort to Emperor Meiji.

His Majesty the Emperor arrived at the shrine, located in Shibuya district, just after 9:30 am on the 9th. At Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Dowager Shoken, the "Empress Dowager Shoken 110th Anniversary Festival" will be held on the 11th, marking 110 years since her death.

Dressed in morning attire, His Majesty the Emperor proceeded to the main hall, braving the increasing rain and wind with an umbrella, and offered a tamagushi branch in reverence. Subsequently, Her Majesty the Empress, dressed in a white ceremonial robe, arrived before 10 am and followed the same ritual.

Empress Dowager Shoken was actively involved in supporting those suffering from disasters and poverty. The donations she sent to the International Committee of the Red Cross are still managed as the "Empress Dowager Shoken Fund," which continues to aid humanitarian efforts around the world. Later in the day, Their Majesties the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita visited Meiji Shrine shortly after 11 am and paid their respects. This was followed by Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino, who each made their visit after 1:30 pm.

Source: NHK
LAST summer, much of southern Europe saw temperatures in excess of 40C, with parts of Spain and Italy particularly severely hit.

More than 217million was invested in water reduction measures to mitigate against drought impacting production sector supplies.

Professor of Geography and Climate Change in Maynooth University, Peter Thorne, described the heatwave as just a small taste of what is ahead, adding: This is just what we are seeing today. What we will see is increasing frequency and ferocity going forward.

Prof Thorne warned how air miles clocked up by Irish holidaymakers are contributing to the problem.

Flying on holiday results in the most consequential climate impacts we have, he said, and urged people to do their part by curbing air travel and holidaying in Ireland, or adapting their travel methods when overseas. He noted that international aircraft emissions have been increasing substantially over recent decades.

There is a cognitive dissonance about this, that ones persons personal actions dont matter, but ultimately it is the actions of eight billion people that are driving this problem.

Meanwhile, Ryanair chief Michael OLeary recently labelled ministers Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin as dunces for failing to act on the airlines demands to remove the cap limiting Dublin Airport to 32 million passengers per year.

Mr OLeary accused Minister Ryan of failing to implement Irelands aviation policy, which is to grow traffic, grow aviation jobs and grow the contribution of aviation to the Irish economy.

He is right about one thing - our industrial society is addicted to exponential economic growth. When growth is down, suffering ensues. People lose jobs, wages stagnate and the whiff of Depression filters through the air.

The need for growth is locked into the political-economic system, and the need to service the capitalist debt-based economy model.

Politicians need to promise exponential growth to get elected.

However, climate scientist Peter Kalmus in Being the Change (2017) writes that no law of physics requires exponential economic growth.

We humans are free to organise our societies and meet our needs in other ways. Indeed, most societies over the course of human existence were not organised around exponential growth.

I believe that humanitys grand challenge goes beyond global warming. Responding to global warming is an urgent first step.

Senior climate advisor to Friends of the Earth, Sadhbh ONeill agrees. Last December, she argued that Dublin Airport Authority, in their planning application to Fingal County Council to increase passenger numbers from 32 million to 40 million per year, will have to demonstrate that more passengers can be accommodated in a way that is consistent with Irelands climate legislation and policies.

While air travel contributes just 2.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, this is expected to increase as demand continues to grow.

To avoid any increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) from aviation, growth would need to be offset by fuel-efficiency gains or the use of alternative fossil-free fuels, she said.

However, the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment report (2022) noted that production process improvements and cost reductions from sustainable biofuels, low emission hydrogen and derivatives have not yet materialised.

The IPCC noted that a reduction in long haul aviation is the single most important demand-side mitigation measure for the sector.

Since airlines are unlikely to do anything that upsets their business models, it is only by managing airport capacity that governments can limit the environmental and climate impacts of aviation, the climate expert concludes.

Recommendations to resolve the impasse include taxes on aviation fuels, the development of sustainable aviation fuels, including hydrogen, restriction of private jets and halving corporate travel.

It is difficult for us to think of burning fossil fuels as harmful or wrong when everyone around us burns with abandon, every day.

Because fossil fuels are so in-built in a functioning modern society, it is difficult to imagine living any other way. Of course, we lived without fossil fuels up to 200 years ago, but the golden glow of progress blinds us to the reality of crumbling ecosystems that are exponentially breaking down all around us.

Few people really understand the ecological impact of their actions - flying least of all. Perhaps if they did it might be a lever for change.

Dr Kalmus states the quickest way a human can warm the planet is by flying in a commercial plane. They contribute to global warming via carbon dioxide emissions, nitrous oxide emissions, contrails and cirrus cloud formation.

Carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) is a measurement of the total greenhouse gases emitted expressed in terms of the equivalent measure of CO2. The climate impact of airplanes is calculated at 0.8 kgCO2e per passenger mile, twice that for first class at 1.5 CO2e. That compares to 0.452 CO2e for an average passenger car per mile, with one passenger.

Mile for mile, the climate impact of flying is huge and for frequent fliers and long haul fliers, one of the most effective ways of reducing carbon footprint is to reduce air miles.

The act of flying is an exercise of privilege, Dr Kalmus states.

Globally, only about 5% of humans have ever flown.

Global warming is a market failure. Fossil fuels burnt in flying impose huge costs on society that are not addressed by the cost of an air ticket.

The only realistic way to fix this at the moment is through a direct price on greenhouse gas emissions in terms of a tax or a fee. According to Kalmus, this would fix the market failure by charging emitters - including you and me - for the privilege of disrupting the climate.

This can be achieved by setting a price on emissions in terms of a carbon tax or fee. The price can be per ton of CO2 emitted or CO2 equivalents (to include greenhouse gases and methane fugitive emissions). It can be set at the point of first sale and gradually increased, giving the economy time to adopt carbon-free alternatives while eventually making fossil fuels too expensive to merely burn.

Kalmus suggests if the price was set as a fee, the collected funds could be given back to the people. Revenue neutral fees tend to act as an economic boost due to increased spending and job creation.

And because taxes are never popular, a fee would be easier to pass into law than a tax.

Such a fee would make airplane tickets increasingly expensive, accelerating the transition away from frequent flying. Everyone would know the price would increase steadily over time, so everyone would naturally transition away from using airplanes as if they had no more carbon impact than a bus ticket.

In the end, we will have no choice. We cannot continue to consider the biosphere as a trash bin to keep extracting its treasures for short- term gain. In the end, we will have to learn live in alignment with the biosphere, both as individuals and as a collective.

That is the reality - no matter how many advocates and politicians Michael OLeary takes it upon himself to abuse, as we collectively eventually accept our fate.

Dr Catherine Conlon is a public health doctor in Cork and former director of human health and nutrition
OVERWHELMINGLY, women dont feel safe when theyre out for a run, especially after dark.

In a 2023 survey conducted by Adidas, 92% of women said theyre concerned for their safety while running. This level of concern is not unwarranted. The 2022 murder of Ashling Murphy in Tullamore, Co Offaly while she was out for a run in the middle of the day reverberated throughout Ireland, and heightened the vulnerability most women feel.

A cursory Google search using the terms running women, and after dark throws up all kinds of advice for women on how they can be safe while exercising in the evenings.

The advice ranges from running with others, being alert, and staying within populated areas, to wearing reflective gear, and making sure you have your phone with you. The phone can act like a lifeline, giving women the feeling that theyre connected to someone if they feel unsafe.

The power of the phone to offer connection and reassurance is what the team at SAOR Health has tapped into. They are developing an app that will allow women to build a community around their exercising, with features aimed at making them feel more confident about being out and about after dark.

SAOR Health evolved out of an MBA project in University College Dublin, when Eamonn Fennell, Luke Hart and Noel Quinn realised just how many women felt unsafe when running after dark.

They conducted a survey of 500 women which found nine out of 10 felt unsafe exercising alone in dark evenings. Together with Lewine OConnell, they formed SAOR Health and began investigating the development of an app to help tackle the issue.

We know there is a significant drop off of women exercising during the winter months, and this can have a knock-on effect on their physical and mental health, explains Lewine OConnell, co-founder of SAOR Health.

We wanted to create a solution that would give women confidence to exercise outdoors without risking their safety.

The app has three core features: SOS Tribe, Training Tribe, and Route Rating.

The SOS Tribe is a womans emergency contacts. If she feels unsafe on a run, she can double tap on the apps screen to send an immediate SOS notification to her emergency contacts. The notification will include the womans real-time GPS location.

As well as sending the SOS notification to emergency contacts, the app flags the alert in the users Training Tribe, ensuring other women she has formed a tribe with will see the alert, adds Lewine.

The Training Tribe is made up of a womans trusted group.

Within this feature, women can share their real-time location with their core group. It also makes it easy for women to form a community and support each other.

With exercise routines the we can help shape the me; women supporting each other can make it easier to stick with a programme, says Lewine.

The Route Rating function is led by users, allowing women to rate various routes on how safe they felt on them.

Users can rate the route based on things like how well lit it is, how populated it is, what the terrain is like, and how safe they felt.

"They give it a rating out of five. This information is fed into the app, making it easy for women to identify safe routes based on real data from real people, explains Lewine.

This user-led information fosters a supportive community as women share their feedback on routes and contribute to each others safety.

As well as active runners, the app can also be used by women who may have stopped exercising for one reason or another, or lots of different reasons.

Lewine hopes it may give these women a kickstart to get back to exercising, by reducing the anxiety they may feel about exercising in the evenings, and helping them to build their own supportive community.

SAOR Health is being supported by Cork-based Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI).

The team at HIHI are helping us on our development journey. They are experts in this space and they are helping us to run clinical studies on the app. They are also providing us with access to a huge network, says Lewine.

The app is currently in development and will be available in Ireland in line with the Paris Olympics 2024.

Were also working with a project team to determine how to launch into the UK market, and we expect to do that in year two. By year three, we hope to make the app available to US users, says Lewine.

The app will be available for free initially on Google Play store and iTunes
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Members of KlimaSeniorinnen celebrate the historic ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that Switzerlands inaction on climate change violated the human rights of its countrys citizens. Shervine Nafiss / KlimaSeniorinnen / Facebook

In a historic ruling, the European Court of Human Rights has found that Switzerlands inadequate efforts to tackle climate change violated the human rights of its countrys citizens, represented by more than 2,000 older Swiss women.

The landmark decision sets a powerful precedent for future climate-related lawsuits in Europe and around the world.

It is clear that future generations are likely to bear an increasingly severe burden of the consequences of present failures and omissions to combat climate change, said Siofra OLeary, president of the court of human rights, as Reuters reported.

The court rejected a case brought by six Portuguese youth against 32 governments in Europe for current and future climate change impacts, as well as a suit brought by a former mayor against the town of Grande-Synthe, who said France had not done enough to prevent global heating.

The group of Swiss women  all over the age of 64  argued that they were more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to their age and gender and that their health had been put at risk by heat waves the government had not done enough to prevent.

OLeary explained that the Swiss government had not met its own greenhouse gas emissions targets and had been unsuccessful in establishing a national carbon budget.

Elisabeth Stern, 76-year-old member of KlimaSeniorinnen  Senior Women for Climate Protection, as the group of Swiss women is known  told the BBC that she had witnessed Switzerlands changing climate since her youth spent on a farm.

Some of us are just made that way. We are not made to sit in a rocking chair and knit. We know statistically that in 10 years we will be gone. So whatever we do now, we are not doing for ourselves, but for the sake of our children and our childrens children, Stern told BBC News.

Rosmarie Wydler-Walti, one of the leaders of the KlimaSeniorinnen, was stunned by the full weight of the verdict.

We keep asking our lawyers, Is that right? Wydler-Walti said, as reported by Reuters. And they tell us its the most you could have had. The biggest victory possible.

It is not an option to appeal the courts ruling in the Swiss case, which will have lasting effects around the world. Importantly, the decision establishes legal precedent for the 46 nations that have signed on to the European Convention on Human Rights.

According to experts, the judgment could help strengthen other climate cases based on human rights pending in international courts, as well as encourage similar future lawsuits.

Todays rulings against Switzerland sets a historic precedent that applies to all European countries, said Gerry Liston, attorney with Global Legal Action Network, which helped support the Portuguese youth case, in a statement, as CNN reported. It means that all European countries must urgently revise their targets so that they are science-based and aligned to 1.5 degrees. This is a massive win for all generations.

Switzerland will now have a legal obligation to implement more measures to reduce its climate-warming emissions, reported Reuters.

Lucy Maxwell, co-director of Climate Litigation Network  a nonprofit based in the Netherlands  said the Swiss governments continued failure to improve its policies could lead to more lawsuits at the national level.

Switzerland has made a commitment to cut its emissions in half by 2030, as compared to 1990 levels. More strict rules had been proposed by Bern to reach the target, but were rejected in a 2021 vote.

In the Portuguese youth climate case, the decision of the court stated that, although a nations greenhouse gas emissions may adversely impact those living outside its borders, there was not a justification for prosecution across multiple jurisdictions.

At the same time, the court noted that legal options within the national court system of Portugal had not been fully utilized.

I really hoped that we would win against all the countries, said Sofia Oliveira, a member of the Portuguese youth, as Reuters reported. But the most important thing is that the Court has said in the Swiss womens case that governments must cut their emissions more to protect human rights. So, their win is a win for us too and a win for everyone.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Levels of the three most important greenhouse gases  methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide  in the atmosphere reached record highs again in 2023, according to research conducted by scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)s Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML).

Air samples taken by GML indicated that levels of the heat-trapping gases did not rise as fast as the record leaps of recent years, but were still in accordance with sharp increases recorded in the past decade, a press release from NOAA said.

NOAAs long-term air sampling program is essential for tracking causes of climate change and for supporting the U.S. efforts to establish an integrated national greenhouse gas measuring, monitoring and information system, said Vanda Grubisic, GMLs director, in the press release. As these numbers show, we still have a lot of work to do to make meaningful progress in reducing the amount of greenhouse gases accumulating in the atmosphere.

Earths average surface carbon dioxide concentration for all of 2023 was 419.3 parts per million (ppm)  up 2.8 ppm over the course of the year. It was the 12th year in a row that carbon dioxide jumped more than two ppm  continuing the most sustained carbon increase rate in NOAAs 65-year monitoring record.

Even three years in a row of carbon increases of two ppm or higher had not been recorded before 2014. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have risen to 50 percent higher than in pre-industrial times.

The 2023 increase is the third-largest in the past decade, likely a result of an ongoing increase of fossil fuel CO2 emissions, coupled with increased fire emissions possibly as a result of the transition from La Nina to El Nino, said Xin Lan, a scientist with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences and head of the effort by GML to integrate data from NOAAs Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network, which keeps track of greenhouse gas trends worldwide, in the press release.

Levels of methane in the atmosphere increased to a 1,922.6 parts per billion (ppb) average. Methane, while less abundant than carbon, traps more heat. The increase in atmospheric methane last year over 2022 levels was 10.9 ppb, which was lower than previous record rates in 2021 and 2022. However, it was the fifth highest since methane began to increase again in 2007. Current levels of atmospheric methane are more than 160 percent above those of pre-industrial levels.

Last years nitrous oxide levels rose to 336.7 ppb  a jump of one ppb. Nitrous oxide is the third most important greenhouse gas produced by humans.

Increases in atmospheric nitrous oxide during recent decades are mainly from use of nitrogen fertilizer and manure from the expansion and intensification of agriculture. Nitrous oxide concentrations are 25% higher than the pre-industrial level of 270 ppb, NOAA said.

More than 15,000 samples were collected by GML by global monitoring stations last year. They were then analyzed in a Boulder, Colorado, laboratory. The NOAA-run Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network (GGGRN) includes roughly 53 sampling sites worldwide and 20 tall tower sites, as well as North American aircraft operation sites.

NOAA said carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Carbon produced by humans has gone up from 10.9 billion tons annually in the 1960s to roughly 36.6 billion tons in 2023. The Global Carbon Project uses GGGRN measurements to calculate net impacts of global carbon sinks and emissions and said last years carbon emissions set a new record.

The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere today is comparable to where it was around 4.3 million years ago during the mid-Pliocene epoch, when sea level was about 75 feet higher than today, the average temperature was 7 degrees Fahrenheit higher than in pre-industrial times, and large forests occupied areas of the Arctic that are now tundra, the press release said.

Approximately half of fossil fuel emissions have been absorbed into the surface of the planet by land and ocean ecosystems like grasslands and forests. Ocean carbon contributes to acidification, which impacts marine life as well as humans. The worlds oceans have absorbed roughly 90 percent of excess atmospheric heat trapped by greenhouse gases.

A study by NASA and NOAA scientists in 2022  coupled with further research by NOAA in 2023  suggests that upwards of 85 percent of the methane emissions increase between 2006 and 2021 came from higher microbial emissions from agriculture, livestock, waste generated by humans, including agriculture, wetlands and other water-based sources. The balance was found to be caused by increased fossil fuel emissions.

Scientists with NOAA are looking into the likelihood that climate change is leading to wetlands producing increasing methane emissions, which in turn influence the climate in a feedback loop. However, the precise reasons for the recent rise in methane are not completely understood.

In addition to the record high methane growth in 2020-2022, we also observed sharp changes in the isotope composition of the methane that indicates an even more dominant role of microbial emission increase, Lan said in the press release.




Azerbaijan's farmers look to launch broiler meat exports to Russia, Middle East

Farmers in Azerbaijan plan to scale up operations and launch broiler meat exports to Middle Eastern countries and Russia, Myurvyat Hasanli, head of the Azerbaijan Poultry Association, told local news outlet Sputnik.

Hasanli said that gaining a foothold in foreign markets requires Azerbaijan to build new production capacities and modernise existing farms. He added that a lack of land is one of the key problems hampering the poultry industry's growth.

"I would like the government to allow the construction of poultry farms on agricultural land found unsuitable for growing crops," Hasanli said.

Over the past few months, Azerbaijani farmers have proved their effectiveness by launching egg exports, Hasanli stated.

Since the Russian government decided to permit duty-free egg imports, Azerbaijan has delivered around 60 million eggs to its northern neighbour. In addition to selling food eggs to Russian customers, Hasanli indicated that the country has also started exporting hatching eggs.

Last year, the production performance dynamics of Azerbaijan's poultry farms were mixed. During the first three quarters of 2023, the country produced 57,500 tonnes of poultry meat, 2.9% down compared with the previous year. Egg production, on the other hand, jumped by 27.5% to 764.5 million units.

"There is a shortage of poultry and eggs in the world, but not in Azerbaijan. The country can fully meet its demand for these products," Hasanli said.

The Azerbaijani government recently took several steps aimed at pushing further development within the poultry industry. Majnun Mammadov of the country's Agricultural Ministry recently introduced state subsidies for poultry farmers to purchase equipment and components for poultry farm construction and modernisation.

- AZEMEDIA




Philippines' Agriculture Secretary defends fish import ban amid industry concerns



Philippines' Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr has justified his decision to prohibit the importation of certain fish species, asserting that it will not hinder the production of canned fish, particularly mackerel, GMA News reported.

Tiu Laurel clarified that importers are technically permitted to import 10% more than what they are using now, assuring that there is no reason for concerns about a potential mackerel shortage for canning purposes.

The statement comes in response to warnings from the Canned Sardines Association of the Philippines regarding potential price hikes for canned mackerel following the Philippines' Department of Agriculture's directive to halt the issuance of import clearances for galunggong or round scad, mackerel, and bonito.

On April 1, 2024, Tiu Laurel issued Department Administrative Order (DAO) No 14, series of 2024, suspending the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for galunggong, mackerel, and bonito. This decision was prompted by reports indicating that these fish, intended for canning, processing, or institutional buyers, were being redirected to wet markets.

According to Tiu Laurel, an estimated 90,000 to 100,000 metric tonnes of the three fish products are diverted to wet markets annually. DAO No. 14 will indefinitely halt the issuance of permits and clearances for the importation of these fish species starting April 16.

However, the order permits the importation of mackerel for canning purposes provided that the volume thereof shall be based on VATable sales of the canned products from the previous year with an additional 10% of said sales for buffer.

Tiu Laurel attributed the issue to certain importers who diverted and sold part of their frozen fish inventory to wet markets, where the sale of marine products is exempted from value-added tax.

The implementation of DAO No 14 later this month is timed to coincide with the start of the open fishing season, during which the Department of Agriculture enforces a closed season in major spawning areas to allow fish to repopulate and grow undisturbed, ensuring an ample supply.

- GMA News
KYOTO, Apr 10 (News On Japan) - The MICHELIN Guide Kyoto and Osaka 2024 unveiled on April 9 in Kyoto includes 115 new entries out of a record 440 selected restaurants.

The 2024 edition of the MICHELIN Guide Kyoto and Osaka features a total of 440 restaurants, with 185 receiving Michelin stars, including one new Two Star and 17 new One Star establishments. This year also sees two restaurants newly awarded the MICHELIN Green Star for their eco-friendly practices, bringing the total to 11. Gwendal Poullennec, the International Director of the MICHELIN Guides, praised the regions' culinary evolution over 15 years, highlighting chefs' creativity and commitment to sustainability.

Restaurant Yugen in Osaka was promoted to Two MICHELIN Stars, offering a menu that celebrates the chef's Fukuoka roots and the local ingredients of Osaka. The guide now includes 27 Two Star establishments across Kyoto and Osaka, and eight restaurants maintain their Three Star rating, with Kikunoi Honten and Hyotei celebrating 15 consecutive years at this prestigious level.

Seventeen restaurants have newly received One MICHELIN Star, showcasing a diverse range of Japanese and French-inspired cuisines. Additionally, two restaurants in Kyoto were recognized with the MICHELIN Green Star for their dedication to sustainability.

The guide also presents two special awards: the MICHELIN Mentor Chef Award to Yoshihiro Murata of Kikunoi Honten for his contributions to the culinary world and the MICHELIN Service Award to Kazuo and Kyoko Nishida of Kanamean Nishitomiya for their exceptional hospitality.

Furthermore, eight restaurants received a Bib Gourmand designation, recognizing great value for money, and 138 establishments were selected for their high-quality food offerings, enhancing the culinary diversity of the MICHELIN Guide Kyoto and Osaka 2024. The guide complements its restaurant selections with a curated list of unique hotels, available for booking through the MICHELIN Guide's digital platforms.

Source: MBS
Greece will invest 1 billion ($1.1 billion) to support the installation of 813 MW new solar PV capacity, along with integrated storage solutions, after securing a go-ahead from the European Commission. The 2 projects to benefit from this scheme are planned to come online by mid-2025.

It paves the way for the Faethon Project that comprises 2252 MW solar PV units with integrated molten-salt thermal storage units and an extra-high voltage substation. It will generate solar power during the day. The surplus stored will be used during times of peak consumption such as evenings and nights.

The other project to partake from the Greek funding is a 309 MW solar PV park with an integrated lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS). This project aims to optimize electricity generation and grid stability.

Greece will provide state aid to the selected projects under a 2-way contract for difference (CfD) arrangement for 20 years. The strike price will be determined by a technical committee on the basis of a cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment.

The reference price will be calculated as a monthly output-weighted average of the market price of electricity in the day-ahead markets.

According to the commission, the Greek state aid measures contribute to found to contribute to achieving the countrys climate and energy targets, and the objectives of the European Green Deal, as well as the Fit for 55 package.

Once the facilities are online, these are expected to increase the annual net renewable energy in the Greek electricity mix by close to 1.2 TWh.

Solar is set to play a significant role in Greeces energy transition as the country plans for it to account for 34.5 GW out of its 65 GW renewable energy capacity target for 2050. It targets energy storage of 5.6 GW by 2030 and 23.3 GW by 2050, according to its draft National Energy and Climate Plan.

SourceTaiyang News
TOKYO, Apr 10 (News On Japan) - On April 9, the broadcast of BS-TBS's "Hodo 1930" delved into the electric vehicle (EV) sector's shifting landscape, sparked by Tesla's reported sales dip and strategic pivot away from the low-cost EV market.

This program highlighted the broader narrative of an EV market at a crossroads, with Chinese manufacturers leveraging aggressive pricing strategies to challenge established automotive giants.

The episode featured insights from industry experts including Toshiyuki Shiga, former COO of Nissan and chairman of INCJ, and Takashi Nakanishi, a respected automotive analyst. Discussions also touched on the support for Chinese ventures by Japanese automotive companies and the global response to China's burgeoning dominance in the EV market.

A focal point of the program was Tesla's recent performance, indicating a potential slowdown in the EV sector's explosive growth. This period of reevaluation comes amidst varying global adoption rates and regulatory environments, which have fueled intense competition and innovation, particularly from Chinese brands. The narrative also covered Nissan's revised electrification targets and the broader industry's sales trends, underscoring a critical juncture for the EV market.

Despite these challenges, hybrid vehicles have seen a remarkable uptick in sales, with major markets reporting a 30% increase year-over-year, highlighting a divergent path in the quest for sustainable mobility. This segment's success, particularly Toyota's record hybrid sales, suggests a strategic recalibration toward technologies that bridge the gap between current market demands and future sustainability goals.

The discussion also broached the competitive dynamics at play, emphasizing the formidable position of Chinese EV manufacturers like BYD, which have not only captured significant market share but also posed a competitive threat acknowledged by Tesla's Elon Musk. This competitive landscape underlines the delicate balance between innovation, market readiness, and profitability in the rapidly evolving automotive sector.

In conclusion, "Hodo 1930" shed light on the intricate interplay of market forces, technological innovation, and strategic positioning that defines the current and future trajectory of the EV and hybrid vehicle markets. With the global automotive industry at a pivotal crossroads, the direction it takes will have profound implications for manufacturers, consumers, and the broader push towards decarbonization and sustainable mobility.

Source: TBS
Archivo - COMUNICADO: Insightec's Groundbreaking Transcranial MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) Approved for Additional Reimbursement for Essential Tremor in Germany - INSIGHTEC/PR NEWSWIRE - Archivo

(Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante)

The Insightec-organized conference resulted in a Joint Declaration, promising new hope for patients suffering from the condition

BRUSSELS, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The European Parliament, in collaboration with Insightec and patient advocacy groups, has taken a historic step forward in the healthcare realm by signing a Joint Declaration to officially recognize essential tremor as a disease. This monumental move promises to enhance the lives of millions who suffer from the most common movement disorder worldwide, affecting an estimated 54 million people.

The Joint Declaration specifically calls for the following:

The formal recognition of essential tremor as a distinct disease.

The development of a comprehensive European strategy for brain disorders.

Greater R&D funding opportunities for medical devices focusing on brain diseases.

Democratised access to healthcare to ensure a fair harmonisation across the EU.

A call for the formal creation of a European Parliament Intergroup on Brain Diseases.

"While progress has been made in advancing healthcare equity in the European Union, there is still a long way ahead to ensure that individuals affected by essential tremor have equitable access to life-changing treatment options," explains Alex Agius Saliba, co-chair of the European Parliament interest group on neurological diseases and co-organiser of the event. "As a member of the Parliament, I am committed to ensuring the prioritization of awareness and equal treatment options for these patients, in order to cultivate an environment where all members of society can thrive and contribute."

Luca Savarese of the Associazione Tremori agrees. "These [ET] patients are masters of camouflage, ubiquitous  yet unseen. Today, access to treatments remains uneven. I am here today to raise awareness of what it is like to live with ET, and to advocate for equal rights and access to therapy for everyone with ET."

"Access to treatment options for essential tremor is a matter of equality and social justice," echoes Maarit Matjussi, chair of ScanShakers and chairwoman of the Finnish Essential Tremor Association.

Vice President of Insightec Europe, Giuseppe Carbone, shared his enthusiasm. "Signing this Joint Declaration, together with Members of the European Parliament and patient associations across Europe, is a pivotal milestone for Insightec and for people living with essential tremor across Europe. This declaration injects hope, showing a strong commitment from all of us to take action and work together for equal access to therapy options for patients, no matter where they live in the European Union. I am truly excited about the progress we have made today towards guaranteeing the rights to access a improve the quality of life for people with ET."

This Joint Declaration not only sheds light on the challenges faced by those with essential tremor but also ignites hope for a future where access to effective treatments is not dictated by geography. Members of the European Parliament, Insightec, and patient groups are united in their commitment to ensuring equal therapy access and improving quality of life for all affected by this disease.

About Insightec

Insightec is a global healthcare company creating the next generation of patient care by realizing the therapeutic power of acoustic energy. The company's Exablate Neuro platform focuses sound waves, safely guided by MRI, for the treatment of essential tremor (unilateral and/or staged bilateral treatments), and neuropathic pain. Research for future applications in the neuroscience space is underway in partnership with leading academic and medical institutions. Exablate Neuro fulfils the requirements for CE marking, as established by Notified Body 0344. Insightec is headquartered in Haifa, Israel, and Miami, with offices in Munchen, Dallas, Shanghai, and Tokyo.

Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X/Twitter or visit www.insightec.com for more information.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1699588...

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Monday, April 8, 2024

Ageism, the prejudice and discrimination against individuals based on their age, not only undermines dignity and respect but also poses signi?cant risks to health and well-being. Through decades of research, psychologists like Becca Levy from Yale University have shed light on the profound health effects of ageism, emphasizing the importance of combating negative stereotypes and fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect for all ages.

Dr. Levys pioneering research has uncovered the detrimental impact of ageism on longevity and overall health. In a landmark study conducted over two decades in a small Ohio town, she found that individuals with the most positive beliefs about aging lived, on average, seven and a half years longer than those with the most negative attitudes. This groundbreaking discovery underscores the profound in?uence of attitudes and perceptions about aging on ones health outcomes.

The implications of Dr. Levys research extend far beyond longevity. Ageism has been linked to a range of adverse health effects, including increased risk of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, depression, and cognitive decline. Moreover, the internalization of ageist beliefs can lead to poorer self-esteem, diminished cognitive function, and reduced engagement in health-promoting behaviors, further exacerbating the negative impact on health and well-being.

In light of these ?ndings, it is imperative to address ageism at both individual and societal levels. By challenging stereotypes and promoting positive attitudes toward aging, we can create environments that foster inclusivity, dignity, and respect for individuals of all ages. Fortunately, there are resources and organizations dedicated to combating ageism and promoting healthy aging:

International Longevity Centre (ILC): ILC is a global network that advocates for policies and practices that promote healthy aging and combat ageism. Their website offers research reports, policy briefs, and advocacy resources aimed at addressing age discrimination and promoting age-friendly policies. Explore ILC

ILC is a global network that advocates for policies and practices that promote healthy aging and combat ageism. Their website offers research reports, policy briefs, and advocacy resources aimed at addressing age discrimination and promoting age-friendly policies. Explore ILC The World Health Organization (WHO): WHOs Ageing and Health program works to promote healthy aging and address ageism through research, advocacy, and policy development. Their website offers publications, guidelines, and resources on healthy aging and age-friendly environments. Visit WHO Ageing and Health

WHOs Ageing and Health program works to promote healthy aging and address ageism through research, advocacy, and policy development. Their website offers publications, guidelines, and resources on healthy aging and age-friendly environments. Visit WHO Ageing and Health Framework for Age-Friendly Communities: The Framework for Age-Friendly

Communities, developed by the WHO, provides guidance and resources for communities seeking to create environments that support healthy aging and address ageism. Their website offers tools, case studies, and resources for implementing age-friendly initiatives. Learn about Age-Friendly Communities

The Framework for Age-Friendly Communities, developed by the WHO, provides guidance and resources for communities seeking to create environments that support healthy aging and address ageism. Their website offers tools, case studies, and resources for implementing age-friendly initiatives. Learn about Age-Friendly Communities Mindset Scholars Network: The Mindset Scholars Network conducts research on the impact of mindset and beliefs on health, education, and well-being. Their website offers insights into the role of mindset in combating ageism and promoting healthy aging. Visit Mindset Scholars Network

By raising awareness, challenging stereotypes, and promoting positive attitudes toward aging, we can create a society that values and respects individuals of all ages. How do you think we can combat ageism and promote healthy aging in our communities? Join the discussion in our forum and share your ideas and insights. Together, lets work towards a future where ageism is eradicated, and all individuals can age with dignity and vitality.
ENON VALLEY, Pa.  Ed Clark and his family show and sell their prize-winning Limousin cattle all over the eastern United States.

This requires them to test their animals for and vaccinate against certain communicable diseases before the cattle are moved from their farm on the western edge of Pennsylvania across state lines.

Currently our vet comes to the farm, draws the needed samples, prepares them and sends them to a lab thats over three hours away, either in State College or Columbus, Ohio, Clark said. Some tests have to be sent even further away to other states, he said.

Having an animal diagnostic laboratory in western Pennsylvania would be a game-changer for farmers and veterinarians, he said. Such a lab could be in the works if the state legislature passes Gov. Josh Shapiros proposed 2024-25 budget, which includes $5 million to build a new state veterinary laboratory somewhere in western Pennsylvania.

Although farmers in western Pennsylvania are having their testing needs met, oftentimes in neighboring states, its not good enough, said state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, who visited Clarks Lawrence County farm on April 4. Especially considering that agriculture is one of the Shapiro administrations designated areas of economic growth.

Redding, state Sen. Elder Vogel and the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau held a press conference at Clarks farm to highlight the importance of expanded veterinary lab services in western Pennsylvania.

Redding said the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Allegheny County and the train derailment in East Palestine Ohio that impacted farmers in neighboring Beaver County, Pennsylvania last year illustrated the need for a lab closer to home for the 26 counties west of Interstate 99.

The state currently has three animal diagnostic labs, none of which are in western Pennsylvania. The closest is the Penn State University lab, in Centre County. The other two are in Harrisburg and Philadelphia.

Vogel, chair of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, supports the investment and specified that hed like to see a western lab somewhere along the Interstate 79 corridor.

Vogel, who was a dairy farmer in New Sewickley Township for many years, said they usually sent samples to Ohio State Universitys lab when they had testing needs as they got results more quickly that way.

Much of the states agricultural production, and in turn resources, is centered around southcentral and southeastern Pennsylvania. A western lab would create parity with farmers across the state, said Cliff Wallace, president of the Beaver-Lawrence Farm Bureau chapter. Closer access to a testing center would save farmers time and ensure better overall animal health by providing quicker test results, he said.

It could also help reverse the loss of large animal veterinarians in rural areas to have better resources in the areas theyre working in.

Dr. Katie Sharp, the Clarks veterinarian, echoed this sentiment in her comments.

There arent that many of us, she said. When we get into a situation where theres sick animals or lots of kids need to go to shows, it really puts a crunch on us. To have an animal diagnostic lab in our backyard would be absolutely amazing.
Three lambs have been killed and a pregnant ewe had to be euthanised following a loose dog attack in Stirling.

Police Scotland officers are appealing for information following the livestock worrying incident on 2 April.

The incident happened around 6pm on a farm in the Leny Feus area of Callander, according to police.

Three lambs were found dead on the farm and a pregnant ewe had to be euthanised having collapsed from suspected exhaustion.

Officers believe they were attacked by at least one dog.

Enquiries into this incident are ongoing and officers are appealing for anyone with information to get in touch.

They are particularly keen to speak to three men who were in the area at the time with a black and white cocker spaniel.

Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021 owners can face prosecution if their pet attacks livestock.

Inspector Andy Bushell said: We all love seeing the lambs in the countryside at this time of year but unfortunately attacks by dogs on livestock can have devastating and appalling results.

We are urging everyone to keep their dogs on a lead or under close control at all times and don't take your dog into fields where there are lambs, calves or other young farm animals.

We are asking everyone to be considerate when out and about in our rural areas. If you are a dog owner then it is your responsibility to keep them under control."

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting the reference 1423 of 3 April.
AI could soon be doing all human jobs.

AI will be able to do all human jobs

Expert Nick Bostrom has claimed that artificial intelligence will be "the last invention" the human race ever needs to make as "pretty much" every task could end up becoming automated - changing the world beyond recognition.

Bostrom, the director of the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University, said: "The development of machine super intelligence will be the last invention we ever need to make.

"If we really did have machines that were better than all cognitive labour than the human brain is then that would include in particular the task of making further inventions."

The Swedish academic argues that the only jobs that could be safe are roles "where consumers have a direct preference that the job be done by humans".

He explained: "There are also certain things like a cleric - maybe people just want a wedding ceremony officiated by a human being.

"By setting aside these exceptions, I think all functionally defined tasks would be done cheaper and more efficiently and to a higher standard of machine."
On Monday, ICE cotton trading began with a short-covering rally. It experienced mild gains due to a weaker dollar. However, it later came under pressure due to slow demand and other external factors. The May 2024 contract was traded at 86.54 cents per pound (0.453 kg) with a loss of 0.08 cent in the US trading session. It recovered slightly in the day session and was traded at 86.58 cents per pound.

In the US session, the ICE cotton cash price gained 0.40 cent, reaching 82.15 cents. The July 2024 contract had a mild gain of 0.04 cent, reaching 88.43 cents, while the October 2024 (new crop) contract dipped by 0.10 cent to 83.49 cents per pound. The December 2024 contract also faced negative sentiment and eased by 0.19 cent to 82.35 cents. The March 2025 contract was noted with a loss of 0.18 cent, reaching 83.36 cents per pound.

ICE cotton trading started with gains due to a weaker dollar but faced downward pressure from slow demand. The May 2024 contract fluctuated slightly in the US session. While the ICE cotton cash price saw a minor increase, future contracts exhibited mixed performance. Market analysts highlighted the impact of a weak dollar and crude oil prices on cotton.

According to a market analyst, the weak dollar index benefitted ICE cotton as it reduced the buying cost for investors. However, a decline in crude oil prices was a negative factor for the natural fibre. Higher sales from farmers could not sustain cotton prices at a higher level.

The USDA's second progress report for the 2024-25 crop showed that only 5 per cent of the US cotton crop had been planted, compared to the 5-year average of 6 per cent. The market braced for adverse weather, which might affect new cotton prices, as some areas started developing drought patches. The market is awaiting the upcoming WASDE report from the USDA on April 11. Traders expect a further decline in cotton stock in the US and a tight supply.

According to ICE data, certificated stocks saw another increase, starting at 112,054 bales, with additions in various locations including Memphis, Dallas, Houston, and Galveston. Warehouses owned by Olam saw the largest increase in certificated stocks, adding 34,128 bales. Open interest in cotton futures experienced a significant decline, starting at 268,324 contracts, down 6,550 contracts from Friday.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Red Lorry Film Festival (@redlorryfilmfestival)

What are the chances of movie-goers getting not one but two gripping French courtroom dramas fresh off of film festival buzz? After Justine Triets Anatomy of a Falls success during the awards season, Cedric Kahns The Goldman Case premiered at Cannes last year before arriving at the Red Lorry Film Festival. A thorough examination of the politicised 1975 trial of radical leftist Pierre Goldman, the enthralling film featuring Arieh Worthalter takes place in a courtroom for the majority of its runtime.When asked about what got him interested in the original trial, Cedric Kahn says in an exclusive interview with Filmfare, The power of the spoken word. The protagonists in this trial were great orators, capable at any moment of swaying the audience and the jury to their point of view. This film is a tribute to the spoken word, which becomes like a camera, creating a point of view.Much of the film relies on actor Arieh Worthalter who plays Pierre Goldman. The actor went to Paris to meet the director and upon reading the first sentence of the script, knew that he wanted the part. I knew he was the ideal actor for the part. He obviously had the character in his heart and in his skin, Kahn says. Breaking down the roles for the cast took little or no effort for the director who relied on them to do their research.While research is pivotal for any film or show based on real events, especially one based on a highly publicised chapter in history, Kahn admitted that he had a lot of liberty to play around with the material. We based the script on newspaper articles from the time. Goldman's two lawyers also spoke to us. The rest is a matter of imagination, he reveals.Another key element of the courtroom drama was maintaining the thrill and excitement within a closed setting. Opening up about the electrifying atmosphere in the room, Kahn says it boils down to, The script, the quality of the acting, the meticulous editing. And then there's the energy of the audience at the trial, who are very attentive and responsive. It electrifies the atmosphere.Coincidently, The Goldman Case was made around the same time as Anatomy of a Fall. Kahn recalls, Justine Triet's film is very good, but it was made at exactly the same time as mine and I couldn't use it as a source of inspiration.French cinema sure is grabbing attention globally with stellar storytelling and head-turning performances. French cinema is very present on the international scene, in the selections and prize lists of the major festivals, at the Oscars, etc.; it's a consecration for our French production system, which has so often been criticised, Kahn concludes.
TOKYO, Apr 9, 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today announced details of successful field trials for a new AI-based quality inspection solution for REHAU Industries SE & Co. KG. which will play an important role in optimizing quality control for REHAU in the future with features like defect detection for its production processes for key products.As part of the internationally operating REHAU Group, REHAU Industries SE & Co. KG, based in Rehau in Upper Franconia, Germany, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of polymer-based solutions. The company offers innovative products and services in the fields of construction technology, windows, interior fittings, profiles, cooling as well as fluid and rail solutions.Extrusion profiles, one of the key products in REHAU's portfolio were targeted for the pilot program for Fujitsu's quality inspection AI solution. Enormous product diversity, combined with highest standards for a perfect surface, make quality assurance a challenge. REHAU produces more than 200,000 different versions of these in various colors, patterns, and designs in multiple factories worldwide. The profiles are manufactured using the extrusion process on large machines and wound into coils at the end of the line.High quality standards require reliable inspection processesWhile REHAU has relied on visual inspection by line workers to ensure quality control in its production processes to date, this time-consuming process presented a number of challenges, including the fact that quality of goods being manufactured could only be checked at the beginning or end of a bundle, or by taking samples during production. Despite high process stability and process control, this presented an ongoing risk of undetected errors and quality control issues.Continuous monitoring: almost all defects identifiedTo address these challenges, Fujitsu delivered a new quality control system to streamline this process in pilot operations, during which it successfully detected over 99 percent of all defects on a test data set (99.32%). The integrated AI was trained using images of the manufactured profiles in optimum condition, which allows the system to reliably detect all kinds of defects during the manufacturing process.By continuously monitoring and documenting product quality, the solution from Fujitsu also allows any fault-relevant processes to be identified and analyzed. This ensures that potential defects and anomalies can be anticipated on the basis of the knowledge gained and thus avoided."Quality management is increasingly important to our customers. As anyone experienced with manufacturing processes can tell you, even small production errors can have a major impact down the line, especially when you're trying to optimize the use of materials," comments Niels Strohkirch, Head of Business Unit Uvance and Member of the Management Team at Fujitsu Germany GmbH. "With our AI solution, we're demonstrating how experienced workers wielding smart technologies can achieve better results in areas where human manual or visual inspection alone has been the norm."Next level product quality"With the new Fujitsu quality control solution, we will be able to take product quality to a new level, reducing the risk of complaints and waste. This contributes to both cost reduction and overall, more sustainable production. As the next step, we now plan to transfer the pilot into a productive system - and ideally explore further use cases," explains Tobias Lehner, Smart Technologies Engineer at REHAU.REHAU was particularly impressed by the high degree of professionalism in the collaboration with Fujitsu, which was evident in the rapid implementation and the solution-oriented approach. Fujitsu Quality Inspection will soon deploy a solution for fully automated, visual quality inspection of the REHAU's extrusion profiles - allowing the company to use its valuable resources more efficiently than ever before.HMI - Hannover Messe 2024Fujitsu will present offerings at each phase of the manufacturing process (planning, design, manufacturing, management), including smart inspection solutions and supporting technologies for sustainable transformation in the manufacturing industry at HMI - Hannover Messe 2024, April 22 - 26. Visit us in hall 14 at booth H62.About FujitsuFujitsu's purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers in over 100 countries, our 124,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: Computing, Networks, AI, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.7 trillion yen (US$28 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: www.fujitsu.com.Press ContactsFujitsu LimitedPublic and Investor Relations DivisionInquiries (https://bit.ly/3rrQ4mB)Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2024 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Kelp, a FinTech decision and analytics platform for alternative investors, and PitchBook, the leading data provider for the private and public equity and credit markets, are excited to announce today an agreement to integrate PitchBook data within Kelp's software suite. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of data-driven solutions in combination with cutting-edge digitization to foster innovation within the private market ecosystem.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240404619857/en/

Kelp's Deal Identification module is a "last-mile" dashboard that integrates millions of prepopulated Kelp company and market data points with both internal proprietary files and third-party feeds, such as PitchBook. This aggregated dataset can then be simultaneously queried with discrete parameterization and bespoke scoring rules to produce hyper-relevant shortlists that match users' preferred investment criteria. (Graphic: Business Wire)

With the launch of this partnership, Kelp clients can integrate PitchBook data including financial data on private and public companies, investors, funds, limited partners and service providers directly into their instance of Kelp.

"With the integration of PitchBook's financial and deal data, combined with our own proprietary firmographic research, analytics and advanced algorithms, Kelp's clients can overlay their own nuanced investment criteria and quickly and accurately identify companies at scale," said Douglas A. Trafelet, Managing Director of Kelp. "This powerful combination will enable our clients to gain competitive advantages by efficiently building and maintaining target shortlists, modelling valuations and delivering on the best exit opportunities."

About Kelp:

Kelp is a FinTech solution that uniquely combines its proprietary software technology and 360 private company data-paid, public and proprietary-to support clients from idea to exit. The Kelp platform is an end-to-end solution across Deal Identification, Deal Management and Value Creation. Kelp augments organisational intelligence and automates routine tasks to enable high-quality decision making. Kelp's prescriptive decision support technology brings the power of structured and unstructured data to investment professionals, surfaces actionable institutional learnings and intelligently automates workflows for efficiency and continuous learning. Kelp was founded in 2022 and has offices in London, Singapore and Mumbai.

About PitchBook:

PitchBook is a financial data and software company that provides transparency into the capital markets to help professionals discover and execute opportunities with confidence and efficiency. PitchBook collects and analyzes detailed data on the entire venture capital, private equity and M&A landscape-including public and private companies, investors, funds, investments, exits and people. The company's data and analysis are available through the PitchBook Platform, industry news and in-depth reports. Founded in 2007, PitchBook operates globally with more than 3,000 team members. Its platform, data and research serve over 100,000 professionals around the world. In 2016, Morningstar acquired PitchBook, which now operates as an independent subsidiary.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240404619857/en/

Contacts:

Douglas A. Trafelet

Managing Director

Douglas.t@kelpglobal.com

+44 7920 487 553
BOSTON, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With ~90% of industrial heating processes using fossil fuels, this has led to approximately 25% of global energy pollution coming from heat produced for industrial processes. As such, demand for technologies to decarbonize industrial heating is expected to increase. One such technology that is able to store and supply heat to industrial processes is thermal energy storage (TES). TES for industrial applications currently only forms a minor percentage of global TES capacity, given that TES systems have been widely deployed in applications such as pairing with concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, district heating, cold chain, and space heating for buildings. While there have been reports of reductions in global CO2 emissions from industry in recent years, the magnitude of these annual reductions will need to increase if countries are to meet their wider net-zero targets. Therefore, the proportion of global TES capacity represented by systems used for providing decarbonized industrial heat is expected to ramp up over the next decade. From IDTechEx's new market report "Thermal Energy Storage 2024-2034: Technologies, Players, Markets, and Forecasts", the industrial TES market will be valued at US$4.5B by 2034.

Key drivers for industrial thermal energy storage

While TES systems offer reduced emissions for heat production compared to fossil fuels, recently, higher and volatile natural gas prices in key regions have highlighted an additional benefit TES offers, which is potentially reduced and more stable costs for heat production. Also, governments and states are providing funding to players developing technologies to decarbonize industries, such as through the EU Innovation Project and the US Department of Energy's Heat ShotTM. However, it is not always clear how much funding is being funneled to TES players specifically, as players developing other industrial decarbonization technologies are competing for this funding. Depending on the initiative, TES players are likely to receive portions of funding to help commercialize their technologies and expand manufacturing capacities. These factors related to emission reductions, cost benefits, and provision of government-led funding are expected drivers to promote industrial TES market growth in key regions.

Working principles of thermal energy storage

Thermal energy storage technologies can be classified into different types of system. This could include sensible heat, latent heat, thermochemical energy storage (TCES), and electro-thermal / pumped thermal energy storage (ETES / PTES) technologies. Sensible heat systems see materials such as molten salt, concrete, refractory brick, and crushed rock being commercialized and deployed in industry. Latent heat systems are also being developed, for example using silicon as the thermal storage medium. Such technologies could see heat transfer fluids (HTF) being heated on discharge as they pass through the TES system and then passed through heat exchangers or applied directly to an industrial heating process. Some TES technologies can accept renewable electricity as an energy input, using resistive electrical heating elements to heat up the storage medium. Other technologies may accept excess heat capture, e.g., in the form of steam, as an energy input, and some technologies can accept both forms of energy input.

TCES technologies are in an earlier stage of development, and further optimization of materials, as well as greater awareness and funding of these technologies, is needed to bring them to market. ETES systems focus more on generating power, using a turbine-generator on discharge to convert heat to electricity to achieve this. Several key players are developing these systems for long-duration energy storage (LDES) applications. TES technologies can generally adopt turbine-generators as part of wider system design, but this would come with associated conversion losses from heat to electricity, which would result in a lower round-trip efficiency (RTE) of ~50-60% to provide electricity compared to incumbent Li-ion stationary energy storage technologies which can achieve RTEs of ~95%.

Given the variety of designs, TES technologies are versatile and, depending on the materials used and types of energy input and output, can be used in a range of industrial applications. IDTechEx's market report appraises the various thermal energy storage technologies being developed and commercialized and analyzes their suitability for a range of applications. This includes suitability for industrial heating processes against requirements for temperature and type of heat (e.g., convective, conductive, radiative, steam, air), such as calcination, drying, process fluid heating, metal and glass melting, as well as power generation, LDES, and more.

Future market outlook

As of January 2024, TES players have accumulated over US$600M in funding to develop their technologies and scale business operations and manufacturing capacities. A few key GWh-scale TES projects are due to come online over the next few years in the US and China (which are not for concentrated solar power applications). As suggested in IDTechEx's market report, while these large-scale systems skew short-term TES regional outlook, most projects being planned to decarbonize industrial heating processes are due for deployment in Europe. Recent spikes in European industrial end-user natural gas prices and their seldom return to pre-2021 prices have created opportunities for TES systems to be more cost-competitive than in other regions. However, players in the US and Australia continue to scale their TES manufacturing capacities, add to their project pipelines, and develop novel materials to withstand higher storage temperatures without compromising materials' mechanical or thermal stability. These developments will see a greater capacity and variety of commercialized TES systems being deployed across industrial sectors to decarbonize heating processes over the next decade.

In their new market report, "Thermal Energy Storage 2024-2034: Technologies, Players, Markets, and Forecasts", IDTechEx brings the reader a holistic overview of the industrial thermal energy storage market, with coverage of wider markets and applications, including the following information:

Market forecasts and analysis

- Granular 10-year TES market forecasts for industrial and LDES applications by technology (GWh), by region (GWh), by application (GWh), and by value (US$B) for the 2020 - 2034 period.

Regional market drivers and initiatives for thermal energy storage

- Discussion and analysis on regional market drivers for the growth of thermal energy storage (TES) to provide decarbonized heat to industrial processes and where earlier growth is expected to occur. This includes commentary on regional natural gas prices for industrial end users, and government- or state-level funding, programs, and initiatives focused on decarbonization of industrial process heat.

Thermal energy storage applications

- Comprehensive analysis and discussion on applications of thermal energy storage in industrial processes such as calcination, metal heat treating and melting, process fluid heating, power generation, among more. This includes analysis of the suitability of identified TES technologies for these processes by process temperature requirements, types of heat (convective, conductive, radiative, air, steam, etc.), and examples of direct electrification efforts of industrial heating processes.

- Coverage of TES to be used for long-duration energy storage (LDES) applications, including key players and projects, for supporting adiabatic compressed air energy storage (CAES) and liquid air energy storage (LAES) LDES technologies, and for chemical looping processes.

Thermal energy storage market overview and data analysis

- In-depth market overview and data analysis of TES in the industry, including value chain, strategic partnerships, funding, material suppliers, business models, key player activity, manufacturing developments, and existing and planned projects by ~2027, by capacity (MWh), industry sector, commercial readiness (prototype, pilot, demonstration, commercial scale), region, and player. Raw project data with project details (e.g., project description, customers, funding) is also provided where applicable.

- Market overview of TES projects paired with grid-scale concentrated solar plants (CSP) is included - raw project data is also provided. Discussion on other TES markets is also included.

Thermal energy storage technologies and key players

- Comprehensive and extensive coverage and analysis on thermal energy storage technologies and materials, including sensible heat (molten salt, solid-state such as concrete, refractory brick), latent heat (phase change materials), and electro-thermal / pumped thermal energy storage (ETES / PTES) technologies. This includes system metrics (e.g., costs, storage temperatures, round-trip efficiency, lifetime), key player activity, demonstrated projects, and commercial developments.

- In-depth coverage, discussion, and analysis of thermochemical energy storage technologies (TCES), including types of TCES technologies (sorption and chemical reaction) and systems, identified materials and technologies likely to see further research and development and identified prototype and pilot systems.

- 14 company profiles.

To find out more about the new IDTechEx report "Thermal Energy Storage 2024-2034: Technologies, Players, Markets, and Forecasts", including downloadable sample pages, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/TES.

For the full portfolio of batteries and energy storage market research from IDTechEx, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/ES.

Upcoming free-to-attend webinar

Thermal Energy Storage to Decarbonize Industrial Heating

Conrad Nichols, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx and author of this article, will be presenting a free-to-attend webinar on the topic on Thursday 9 May 2024 - Thermal Energy Storage to Decarbonize Industrial Heating.

This webinar will cover:

Demand and key drivers for industrial thermal energy storage.

Thermal energy storage technology overview, including working principles, technology considerations (cost, materials, round-trip efficiency, etc.), ETES, TCES, and commercial readiness of these technologies.

Key existing and emerging thermal energy storage applications.

Market overview and key projects.

IDTechEx's outlook and conclusions.

Please click here to check timings and register for your specific time zone.

If you are unable to make the date, please register anyway to receive the links to the on-demand recording (available for a limited time) and webinar slides as soon as they are available.

About IDTechEx:

IDTechEx provides trusted independent research on emerging technologies and their markets. Since 1999, we have been helping our clients to understand new technologies, their supply chains, market requirements, opportunities and forecasts. For more information, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

Image download:

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Media Contact:

Lucy Rogers

Sales and Marketing Administrator

press@IDTechEx.com

+44(0)1223 812300

Social Media Links:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/IDTechEx

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/IDTechEx

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/idtechex-takes-a-look-at-the-emerging-industrial-thermal-energy-storage-market-302110314.html
Talking Medicines, a pioneering leader in healthcare intelligence leveraging Advanced Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, is proud to announce a robust start to 2024, marked by record revenue bookings and significant advancements in its innovative platform Talking Medicines Drug-GPT. The Company is headquartered in Glasgow with a growing sales presence in New Jersey/New York/Philadelphia.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240408417221/en/

AI Generated Intelligence, Drug-GPT Powered by Talking Medicines (Photo: Business Wire)

In the first quarter of 2024, Talking Medicines achieved significant success with its Talking Medicines Drug-GPT platform, revolutionizing access to intelligence on pharmaceutical medicine brands and disease areas. This innovative technology has garnered substantial interest from leading global healthcare advertising agencies, who recognize its potential to transform strategies for pharmaceutical clients.

Among Talking Medicines' esteemed clientele are some of the world's most prominent healthcare ad agency networks, reaffirming the platform's efficacy in providing key insights derived from aggregated patient and healthcare professional conversations. By tapping into previously unseen data, Talking Medicines empowers its clients to drive better strategies and make informed decisions in relation to the pharmaceutical landscape.

Furthermore, Talking Medicines has forged strategic partnerships with both open and closed data communities, solidifying its commitment to expanding access to crucial insights. Notable among these partnerships is the collaboration with data aggregator Socialgist, which enables Talking Medicines to tap into millions of public conversational sites, enriching the Talking Medicines Drug-GPT platform with a wealth of diverse data sources.

Speaking on these achievements, Jo Halliday CEO expressed excitement about the company's trajectory and the transformative impact of Talking Medicines Drug-GPT on the healthcare industry. "We are thrilled by the overwhelming response to Talking Medicines Drug-GPT and our strategic partnerships. This success underscores our dedication to empowering healthcare stakeholders with actionable insights derived from Advanced Data Science and Artificial Intelligence," Jo Halliday, CEO stated.

Looking ahead, Talking Medicines remains committed to driving innovation and fostering collaborations that enhance healthcare decision-making through intelligence globally.

About Talking Medicines:

Talking Medicines based in Glasgow and New Jersey is a leading provider of healthcare intelligence, leveraging Advanced Data Science and Artificial Intelligence to transform pharmaceutical brand strategies. The company's innovative platform, Talking Medicines Drug-GPT, revolutionizes access to intelligence on pharmaceutical medicine brands and disease areas, empowering healthcare stakeholders with actionable insights derived from aggregated patient and healthcare professional conversations. For more information, please visit www.talkingmedicines.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240408417221/en/

Contacts:

Britt Gibson

Britteny@talkingmedicines.com

+1 551-280-9502
Unipart delivers strong growth and revenues exceed 1bn

Profits recovered well following a year of significant growth and expansion

Like-for-like revenue increase by 14.2% to more than 1bn for the first time

Profit recovers and exceeds pre Covid levels

Strong year end cash position with minimal borrowings

Continued strong safety and environmental performance

OXFORD, England, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Unipart, the supply chain solutions and performance improvement technologies partner, is pleased to announce it delivered a strong year of growth and expansion in 2023.

Group turnover increased to 1,047.9m (2022: 917.3m), delivering underlying Group profit before interest and tax to 21.7m (2022: 12.2m). Unipart's international regions delivered strong profit growth, with the UK business showing solid progress over 2022.

Darren Leigh, Unipart Chief Executive Officer, said: "I am proud of the progress we've made in accelerating our growth in 2023. It was a strong year for us - surpassing 1 billion in revenue and materially strengthening our profitability.

"In the face of ongoing market headwinds and external disruption to global supply chains, Unipart's supply chain solutions and performance improvement technologies are needed by our customers more than ever before. We are uniquely placed to offer deep supply chain expertise coupled with delivery of high performance and value for our customers. I would like to thank our colleagues for their dedication and hard work, and our customers and partners for their ongoing support and commitment.

"With a clear growth strategy across our seven core market sectors, a robust order book and a talented, committed team of experts, I am confident in the outlook for 2024 and our next chapter of growth.

"This is an exciting year for Unipart - we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Unipart brand. While much has changed over the last half century - today we stand as a diversified business of over 12,000 colleagues operating in 21 countries - what has always remained at Unipart's core is our commitment to serving our customers better than anyone else."

John Neill, Unipart Executive Chairman, said: "This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Unipart brand and the guiding philosophy established in 1974: "To understand the real and perceived needs of our customers better than anyone else and serve them better than anyone else." Living by this philosophy has enabled us to continually reinvent our business to participate in the future and continuing to do so is more important than ever.

"We need to keep growing in a faster changing world which in some respects is hard to calibrate so we must and will embrace the multitude of Generative AI tools to enable us to create innovative products, services and solutions for our company and our customers. I have been very encouraged by Darren's personal commitment to the philosophy and unambiguous commitment to The Unipart Way which continues to be our source of competitive advantage.

"Unipart pioneered the stakeholder management philosophy in Britain and I'm grateful to all of our stakeholders, particularly to our customers and all my fellow employees for their engagement, support and commitment."

Contact: Alistair Drummond

alistair.drummond@unipart.com

tel: 01865 383068

PDF - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2382357/Unipart_PDF.pdf

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View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/unipart-announces-financial-results-for-the-year-ended-31-december-2023-302111405.html
DUSSELDORF, Germany, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei has launched its annual edition of the Huawei Europe Enterprise Roadshow 2024, the technology center "on wheels" specially designed to show the company's cutting-edge product innovations for large enterprises, public administrations and industries such as healthcare, ISP, education, retail and more.

The mobile tour sees two roadshow trucks, packed with Huawei's newest ICT products and solutions, simultaneously travel on two separate routes across the continent. The trucks will stop in key European cities to meet and network with attendees who can expect first-hand demonstrations of Huawei products alongside expert insights from leading figures within the business.

The 2024 roadshow began its inaugural journey with stops in France and Spain and will visit 54 cities in 21 countries over the course of next three months. Under the theme of Digital & Green, Accelerate Industrial Intelligence, the roadshow will further travel to Switzerland, Portugal, Poland, Turkiye, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Greece, Belgium, Luxembourg, Serbia, Hungary, Ireland, Bulgaria and finish off in Romania.

"The European Enterprise Roadshow 2024 is a strong manifestation of our unwavering commitment to innovation and technological excellence," said Willi Song, President, Huawei European Enterprise Business. "This tour is a unique opportunity to meet with customers and partners, learn about the latest ICT innovations and, above all, promote a collaborative ecosystem for enterprises to reach new heights in their digital transformation."

In this year's edition, Huawei is looking at how the convergence of green and digital transition drives the sustainable development of European industries. The company's focus is on presenting advanced ICT technology with its commitment to double down on digital and intelligent transformation in key industries.

Among key technologies on show will be Datacom for which Huawei was named Leader in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant in Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure. The company will also feature All Flash for All Scenarios OceanStor data storage portfolio - Huawei is currently the Customers' Choice in 2024 for Primary Storage according to Gartner Peer Insights Voice of the Customer review. The roadshow's attendees will additionally discover Optical, ISP and MSP products and other solutions such as High-Quality 10 Gbps CloudCampus, Ultra-Resilient Data Center Network, Datacenter Virtualization Solution (DCS), OceanProtect Appliance, FTTH and FTTR solutions and Huawei eKit for commercial and distribution market.

In addition to products, Huawei's experts will demonstrate the most advanced solutions specifically customized for scenario-based requirements. These are tailored to a wide range of key industries such as education, healthcare, MSP, transportation, ISP and retail.

"As an ICT technology leader, Huawei provides a technology portfolio that can meet the needs of end-to-end businesses, from network to data storage, cloud and unified communications", added Willi Song. "This gives us a 360 view of the digital and intelligent transformation challenges of our customers and allows us to respond with essential solutions that are quick to deploy, easy to administer and cost-effective".

Following the success of the previous edition, which saw the participation of more than 7000 customers and partners, this year's roadshow is once again poised to offer a unique platform for dialogue, learning and the exchange of ideas with ICT industry professionals.

About Huawei

Huawei is a leading global provider of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions, infrastructures and smart devices. With integrated solutions in four key environments: telecommunications networks, IT, smart devices and cloud services, we are committed to bringing digitization to every person, home and organization for a fully connected and intelligent world.

Huawei's complete portfolio of products, solutions and services is competitive and secure. Through collaboration with ecosystem partners, we create added value for our customers and work to empower people, enrich life in homes and inspire innovation in organizations of all kinds.

At Huawei, innovation focuses on customer needs. We invest heavily in research, focusing on the technological advances that drive the world forward. We currently have more than 207,000 employees and operate in more than 170 countries and regions. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a privately held company wholly owned by its employees. For more information, please visit Huawei online.

Contact: Rafal Kwiatkowski, rafal.kwiatkowski@huawei.com, 0048 539-531-140

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STUTTGART, Germany and GLIWICE, Poland, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leadec has assembled the 500,000th wheel for the MAN truck plant in Niepolomice, Poland. It was handed over in a ceremony at the end of January and will be on display at the plant. Since August 2022, Leadec has taken over wheel and tire assembly for Europe's largest truck assembly plant.

"The 500,000th wheel is proof of the excellent cooperation with MAN in all areas, be it operations, quality, or logistics. My thanks go to the entire team, who do an outstanding job of delivering all the wheels to the plant just in time and just in sequence," says Przemyslaw Pendrowski, Managing Director Leadec Poland.

The wheels are assembled in an assembly shop in Kokotow, close to the plant in Niepolomice. A 112-strong team assembles 40,000 wheels per month so that around 240 trucks can roll off the production line in 3-shift operation. Production is organized according to the MAN production sequence system, with a 24-hour buffer. Ten trucks deliver the fully assembled wheels to the plant every day, ready for immediate use in production.

Leadec has been operating in Poland since 1998, with sites in Gliwice, Polkowice and Poznan, and at the customers' plants. In addition to the wheel and tire services, the company focuses on automation solutions and installations, production equipment maintenance, technical facility management and cleaning. Besides having a strong footprint in the automotive industry, the service specialist is also operating in other sectors of the manufacturing industry, aerospace industry, and food industry.

About Leadec

Leadec is the leading global service specialist for factories across their entire life cycle and related infrastructure. The company, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, generated sales of EUR 1.24 billion and employed around 23,000 people worldwide in 2023. Leadec is based at more than 350 sites, often directly at the customers' plants and facilities, supporting them along the entire production supply chain with more than 60 years of experience.

Leadec's global services comprise: Engineer (Production Planning & Optimization, Automation and Production IT), Install (Electrical Installation, Mechanical Installation and Relocation), Maintain (Production Equipment Maintenance and Technical Cleaning), Support (Technical Facility Management, Infrastructural Facility Management and Logistics) as well as other local services. The digital business platform Leadec.os offers an end-to-end solution which digitizes all service processes across systems.

For more information about Leadec go to:

https://www.leadec-services.com

For more information about Leadec Poland go to:

https://poland.leadec-services.com

Contact for press and media

Dr. Marion Hebach

Head of Global Communications

Leadec Holding BV & Co. KG

Meitnerstrae 11

70563 Stuttgart

Germany

Tel. +49 711 78 41-174

media@leadec-services.com

www.leadec-services.com

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Erinnern Sie sich, als Moderna und BioNTech von unbekannten Unternehmen zu globalen Marktfuhrern wurden und fruhzeitige Investoren reich belohnt haben?



Die Branche steht vor einem erneuten Innovationsschub  von bahnbrechenden Medikamenten bis hin zu revolutionaren Therapien.



Warum sollten Sie dabei sein?



Sie sollten jetzt in Biotech-Aktien einsteigen, weil wir am Beginn einer neuen Ara der medizinischen Innovation stehen konnten! Gen- und Zelltherapien, personalisierte Medizin und bahnbrechende Technologien konnten das Gesundheitswesen revolutionieren  und die Aktienkurse in die Hohe schieen lassen.



Die nachste Erfolgsgeschichte im Biotechbereich warten nur darauf, entdeckt zu werden. Wer jetzt investiert, hat die Chance, von gigantischen Durchbruchen und enormen Renditen zu profitieren. Warten Sie nicht, bis es zu spat ist - der nachste Biotech-Superstar konnte morgen schon durchstarten!



Verpassen Sie nicht diese Chance!



Fordern Sie sofort unseren brandneuen Biotech-Spezialreport an und erfahren Sie, welche 3 Biotech-Aktien das riesige Potenzial haben, Ihren finanziellen Erfolg zu sichern. Dieser Report ist komplett kostenlos und zeigt Ihnen zukunftstrachtige Investments im Biotech-Sektor.



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Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - Genesis AI Corp. (CSE: AIG) (OTCQB: AIGFF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the signing of a Letter of Intent to provide wildfire mitigation risk assessments at Cogburn Creek, BC for a proposed 300 unit development and existing recreational operation.

The first phase of analysis will commence next week, using a mix of on site acquired data from drone based LiDAR and multispectral imaging and remotely acquired satellite data from AIRBUS (GEOINT - Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc. (airbusus.com)). The expected outcome of the analysis is a detailed report that outlines the risk of wildfire, the probable path the wildfire will take, and the cost to perform "FireSmart" protection techniques to build resilience against wildfire. The project involves the collection of 900 hectares (2,224 acres) of high-resolution data that will be used as an ai training model for other projects.

Since the site is adjacent to a well-known, busy forestry recreation site (Cogburn Beach) maintained by the Province of British Columbia - Ministry of Forests, the analysis will be provided to demonstrate the cost of creating a non-combustable zone, thinning and pruning of existing forest, and removal of coarse woody debris on the forest floor.

CEO Devinder Randhawa says, "we are pleased to be moving ahead with our first wildfire project, using this as a template for other communities across North America. As a long-term resident of Kelowna, I have witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by the wildfires last year and in 2003. We are working to help communities quantify the cost of resilience and giving actionable intelligence to those affected."

Project Director Brent Tolmie says, "we will be reaching out to every high-risk community across British Columbia to start with, demonstrating our unique service that not only provides analysis of the risk, but also quantifies the cost of treating areas. Our mid term plan is to work to crowd source risk information and develop a contractor portal where we not only define cost but also help communities get this work done."

Image 1

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8053/204783_genesisimg1.jpg

About Genesis AI Corp.

Genesis AI Corp. is pursuing opportunities in the precision geospatial, forestry analytics, and carbon sector through AI. Woodlands.ai is a generative AI natural resources model in development, building digital twins of real-world forests.

Digital forests can be manipulated and studied in computer generated worlds, with the influence of deep machine learning, neural networks, and artificial intelligence. Digital forest technology has many applications including carbon offsetting, forest and land management and wildfire protection.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Dev Randhawa"

Dev Randhawa, CEO

For further information, please contact:

Jamie Bannerman - Director.

Phone: 1-250-868-6553

info@genesisaicorp.com

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation including statements regarding the Private placement and the proposed Debt Settlement and the issuance of Common Shares which are based upon Genesis' current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs, and views of future events. Forward-Looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "likely", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "anticipate", "potential", "proposed", "estimate" and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "would" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-Looking information includes estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance, or other statements that are not statements of fact. The forward-looking statements are expectations only and are subject to known and unknown, risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results of the Company or industry results to differ materially from future results, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, Genesis does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Genesis to predict all such factors.

When considering these forward-looking statements, readers should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements as set out in the materials we file with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca including our Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended June 30, 2022. These risk factors and other factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking information.

The CSE does not 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/204783

SOURCE: Genesis AI Corp.
Kunstliche Intelligenz hat spatestens nach dem Raketenstart von Chat GPT das Leben aller verandert. Doch der Superzyklus steht nach Meinungen von Experten erst am Anfang. Wahrend Aktien wie Nvidia von der ersten Aufwartsentwicklung stark profitieren konnten, versprechen aussichtsreiche Player aus der

zweiten Reihe noch enormes Aufwartspotenzial.



Im kostenlosen, exklusiven Spezialreport prasentieren wir ihnen 5 innovative KI-Unternehmen, die bahnbrechende Entwicklungen in diesem Sektor pragen konnten.



Warum sollten Sie dabei sein?

Trotz der jungsten Erfolge steht die Entwicklung der kunstlichen Intelligenz noch am Beginn eines neuen Superzyklus. Experten gehen davon aus, dass der Sektor bis 2032 global auf 1,3 Billionen US-Dollar explodieren wird, wobei ein groer Teil auf Hardware und Infrastruktur entfallen wird.



Nutzen Sie die Chance!

Fordern Sie sofort unseren brandneuen Spezialreport an und erfahren Sie, welche 5 KI-Aktien das grote Potenzial zur Vervielfachung besitzen. Dieser Report ist komplett kostenlos und zeigt Ihnen die aussichtsreichsten Investments im KI-Sektor.

Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report!
SYDNEY, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global multi-asset broker VT Markets is hosting its most significant event to date-an exclusive three-day gathering in Monaco, the home ground of their key partner, Formula E team, Maserati MSG Racing.

Taking place from 25th to 27th April, select VIP guests, partners and media are invited for exclusive experiences including a media event, exquisite private yachting along the Monegasque coast, and thrilling views of the Formula E race.

The media event will feature keynote addresses from representatives of both VT Markets and Maserati MSG Racing. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to gain invaluable insights into the future of trading, the partnership story and significance of both companies' shared dedication to seizing opportunities and driving progress.

"We look forward to a challenging yet fruitful 2024, as we increase our global footprint, bringing with us opportunity and excellence that we strive to provide," remarked Ludovic Moncla, Head of Affiliates, VT Markets, who will be speaking at the event. "In addition to our recent approval as a member of the Financial Commission, this initiative underscores our ongoing commitment to enhancing the client experience, with further enhancements on the horizon." "We firmly believe that our partnership with VT Markets will unlock exciting opportunities for both brands," said a spokesperson for Maserati MSG Racing. "By aligning our shared values of innovation and performance, we are confident in our ability to reach new audiences and achieve greater success together."

Attendees can expect engaging discussions, networking opportunities, and exclusive insights into the future of trading. To learn more about this event please visit the VT Markets Events website (https://www.vtmarkets.com/company/about-us/events/). Members of the press or media who would like access or further information to cover the event may contact media@vtmarkets.com.

About VT Markets:

VT Markets is a regulated multi-asset broker with a presence in over 160 countries. To date, it has won numerous international accolades including Best Customer Service and Fastest Growing Broker.

In line with its mission to make trading accessible to all, VT Markets currently offers unfettered access to over 1,000 financial instruments and a seamless trading experience via its award-winning mobile app.

For more information, please visit the official VT Markets website or email us at info@vtmarkets.com. Alternatively, follow VT Markets on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

For media enquiries and sponsorship opportunities, please email media@vtmarkets.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vt-markets-exclusive-events-at-monaco-e-prix-302111524.html
HELSINKI, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ReOrbit, a Helsinki-based leading provider of software-first satellites, proceeds to the next phase of the European Space Agency (ESA) InCubed (stands for 'Investing in Industrial Innovation') programme. As a continuation of the InCubed activity UKKO - Development and Demonstration of Technologies for Future Earth Observation (EO) Satellites, ReOrbit is planning an in-orbit demonstration (IOD) as an independent standalone flight opportunity. It will showcase the capabilities developed in the avionics architecture and the software stack in space, namely an end-to-end EO value chain between EO payloads and the end users, as well as satellite to satellite and satellite to ground communication. The launch is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025.

ReOrbit will achieve this by onboarding a commercial EO customer optical payload with full operational capacity. ReOrbit will perform the commissioning and validation of end-to-end operations including imaging, onboard data processing and data transfer to customer location. Moreover, another important part of this mission is equipping the IOD bus with the optical terminal, accompanied with the necessary autonomy, storage, and data transport capabilities to ensure secure, seamless data transfer from satellite to satellite, or from satellite to ground.

The IOD phase allows ReOrbit to validate its vision of the future of space applications where the transformation of satellites into truly intelligent, interconnected platforms requires satellite systems to be defined by software, which facilitates a complete network integration - from space to ground. ReOrbit envisions the satellite design philosophy to revolve around the idea that data sharing and communications shall take place not only from space to ground, but also from space to space - enabling satellites to network, communicate with each other and thus improve mission efficiency. It becomes possible to achieve this thanks to a flexible software-first architecture, where all these aspects are dealt with upfront in the mission concept, as integrated functionalities.

"We are thrilled to have partnered with ESA InCubed Programme, which has been instrumental to achieve our commercial and development success so far. ReOrbit aims to become a leading player in the domain of enabling the next generation of more modular, inter-connected missions, by providing software systems and satellite platforms with capabilities that are in-orbit autonomous, connected, and reconfigurable. The InCubed activity Ukko will become a trend setter for the space industry, uniting autonomy, reliability, and a strict hardware abstraction," said Sethu Saveda Suvanam, CEO and Founder of ReOrbit.

"I strongly believe that initiatives like ReOrbit's Ukko, that leverage highly advanced flight software and, hence, transform the future of technology in space, open a host of opportunities in space applications, particularly in the Earth Observation domain. ESA InCubed Programme works with companies such as ReOrbit to boost innovation and the competitiveness of the European space industry, which needs significant transformation to keep up with the growing demand for space utilisation in our society. We are looking forward to seeing the results of the InCubed activity Ukko unlocking the full advantages of EO services for the benefit of humanity - on a worldwide, European, and local scale," commented Daniele Romagnoli, Commercial EO System Engineer at ESA and InCubed Officer of the activity.

"Mini-satellite constellation deployment can also be achieved through a solid supply chain, digital twin capabilities and an end-to-end approach to satellite manufacturing. The New Space Economy needs new actors like ReOrbit able to look at the upstream segment with that perspective", says Carlos Urbina Ortega, End-to-End System Engineer at ESA in the Technology, Engineering and Quality department, and Technical Officer of the activity.

Customer validation is an important factor of ensuring the commercial viability of the product. The technology ReOrbit has been developing for ESA InCubed Programme has been already confirmed to be purchased by KaleidEO, a subsidiary of SatSure Analytics India. With this, KaleidEO aims to validate the performance of ReOrbit's Satellite platform for its needs as an outcome of the IOD phase, focusing on software-first capabilities of the platform, for different aspects such as quality, onboard processing, latency, dataflow, as well as exploring optical data relay as an enabler for EO. By performing this validation in the IOD phase, ReOrbit will establish its products usability to enable the state-of-the-art technologies in the EO domain.

"We are excited about our collaboration with ReOrbit and their software-first approach to satellite platforms. Combined with our AI models deployed on the Edge compute module, we anticipate significant value creation using EO data. This partnership will enable us to unlock the potential of intelligent tasking and onboard data processing, revolutionising the collection, processing, analysis, and downlinking of imagery and insights from satellite data. This aligns with ESA's InCubed program's aim to drive wider adoption of EO data, furthering our collective push for innovation and progress in the field," said Akash Yalagach, Co-founder and CTO of KaleidEO.

About ReOrbit

ReOrbit provides autonomous and interconnected satellites that are optimised for efficient and reliable delivery of customers space-related data. ReOrbit is creating the most compelling in-space data flow company by augmenting world's information use via space.

ReOrbit works with the most prominent entities within security, satcom and Earth observation. Our technology is supported by Business Finland, the European Space Agency and the European Commission.

Founded in 2019, ReOrbit is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland with additional offices in Sweden and Argentina. For more information, please visit https://www.reorbit.space/

Contacts

Media Contact:

Jana Avdeeva, Head of Marketing, ReOrbit

jana.avdeeva@reorbit.space

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/reorbit/r/reorbit-will-perform-in-orbit-demonstration-of-secure-space-to-space-and-space-to-ground-data-transf,c3958097

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/22888/3958097/2717471.pdf Press release (PDF)

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The "Furniture Retailing in Europe" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Furniture retailing in Europe offers an in-depth analysis of the home furniture distribution in 15 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) with trends in home furniture consumption, market forecasts, data by country, analysis by distribution channel, retail formats and sales performances of leading home furniture retailers.

Key highlights

The European furniture retailing market is a EUR 165 billion market. The market exhibited robust growth in 2021, followed by a deceleration in 2022, and a contraction in 2023. During the last decade, the furniture retailing sector has experienced structural changes.

Even though the market is dominated by large-scale furniture retailers (further bolstered by significant merger and acquisition activities in the past two years), small-scale independent stores showed resilience and adaptability facing competition from larger retailers and online platforms.

Moreover, the online channel has been an undeniable game changer in the furniture market during the pandemic outbreak, and it has continued to maintain a strong position well above pre-pandemic levels.

This report aims to provide information on the following topics:

Value of the home furniture market and its historical and forecasted trends in Europe and for each considered market

The main structural changes affecting the sector (e.g. concentration process, the impact of large-scale organized specialist distribution, the online channel)

Market share of each distribution channel

Country peculiarities in furniture retailing

Listing the leading home furniture retailers by home furniture sales, in Europe and for each considered country

Identifying the most important and recent retailers' M&A operations affecting the furniture market

STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT

SECTION I: Basic data and overview of the European home furniture market trends, its main demand determinants and the distribution channel's structure.

The section also presents the ranking of the 30 leading retailers by home furniture sales in Europe, the full sample of leading furniture retailers active in Europe with summary tables and characteristics of the selection of companies for which is available a detailed profile in the report and a financial performance analysis of the sample considered. Significant mergers, acquisitions, and agreements that occurred in the last 5 years among leading furniture retailers are also provided.

SECTION II: Each country chapter provides basic data on consumption trends, furniture segments, imports, the structure of the distribution channels and detailed company profiles of the leading furniture retailers operating on the reference markets.

Profiles include basic data (total revenues, estimated home furniture revenues, employees, number of stores), type of retailing format, product specialization, brands, online sales, and other information, such as website and product portfolio.

CSIL worked on extensive data gathering, including market data and detailed financial figures for around 350 retailers (the main actors operating in Europe).

Over 760 furniture retailers and buying groups, of which 175 with detailed profiles are mentioned in the study.

Home furniture market is broken down by distribution channel: Organized specialist distributors (furniture chains, franchises, buying groups); Independent furniture retailers; Non specialist distributors (department stores, multi-stores, DIY); e-commerce; Other (direct sales and handicraft).

The estimate of online share is available for markets included in the report.

Furniture segments included: Kitchen furniture; Upholstered furniture; Furniture for bedroom, dining and living rooms; Mattresses; Non-Upholstered seats

Timeframe considered: 2014-2023 and furniture market forecasts in real terms for 2024 and 2025.

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes:

Amazon

De Mandemakers

DFS

Fournier

Groupe Adeo

Howden Joinery

IKEA

John Lewis

La Redoute

Lars Larsen

Maisons du Monde

Migros

Mondo Convenienza

Otto Group

Poltronesofa

Sainsbury's Home Retail

Schmidt Grupe

Segmuller Gruppe

Wayfair

XXXLutz

El Corte Ingles

Furniture Village

Krieger-Gruppe

Nobia

Mobilux (BUT International)

West Retail Group

Tessner Holding

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o74iut

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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240409421213/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

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For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
HONG KONG, Apr 9, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the inaugural Smart Lighting Expo and 15th Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) (Spring Lighting Fair) concluded successfully today. The twin lighting fairs welcomed some 16,000 buyers from 107 countries and regions, making a strong start to the HKTDC technology fairs in April.Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: "As one of the partner events of the Business of Innovation & Technology Week (BITWeek), the inaugural Smart Lighting Expo and the 15th Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) attracted not only buyers in Hong Kong but those from Mainland China, Australia, India, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Russia and the United States, a testimony to the fairs' internationality. The two lighting fairs brought enormous business opportunities to those in the industry and served as an ideal platform for exchanging ideas on the latest market development and trends."An exciting line-up of mega events will captivate visitors one after another, with the HKTDC launching the four-day InnoEX and Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) this Saturday (13 April) following the successful conclusion of the lighting fairs. We will also organise a series of lifestyle fairs later this month, including Fashion InStyle, Home InStyle, Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair, the brand-new Deluxe Printpack Hong Kong and Hong Kong International Licensing Show, poised to foster economic development in Hong Kong across different industries."Smart lighting products unlock unlimited potentialAn on-site survey of 507 exhibitors and buyers found 63% anticipated higher sales in the next 12 to 24 months while 35% expected stable sales, a testimony to optimism in the lighting market. Other key findings are as follows:Market outlook and product trends:- Respondents considered the North America (62%), Mainland China (59.7%), ASEAN countries (59.6%) and Northern & Western Europe (55%) to be promising lighting markets over the next two years in terms of growth.- For the industry overall, household lighting systems that are compatible with or can be controlled by smart phone/tablet applications (40%), smart lighting systems primarily geared for energy-saving for household/industrial/commercial purposes (38%) and household lighting systems that are connected to or compatible with the Internet (27%) were considered to have the greatest market potential.- Respondents named home automation and smart lighting control systems (46%), energy-efficient lighting control solutions (37%) and outdoor smart security lighting systems (22%) as having the biggest potential for smart lighting.- Respondents revealed that consumers would be willing to pay an average premium of 24% for smart-lighting products.Participants applaud robust trading opportunitiesOrganised under the theme Bright Lighting - Smart Living, the lighting fairs attracted over 1,300 exhibitors and featured a diverse array of innovative lighting products and technologies ranging from sustainable and human-centric lighting to fashionable lighting products.Among zones, the Smart Ecosystem and IoT Supply Chain Area in the Smart Lighting Expo and the Hall of Aurora in the Spring Lighting Fair captured the attention of many buyers.Trading at the twin shows was promising. Mars Lee, CEO of Zhongshan OBALS Lighting Electric Co., Ltd., said: "The debut Smart Lighting Expo is a good platform to promote our customised smart lighting products and apps targeting high spending markets in Australia and Europe. We are so happy that on the first day of the fair, multiple buyers from Australia and Europe have placed orders for our smart lighting control systems, track lights, downlights and linear lights worth RMB3.8 million [US$525,000] in total. We are very satisfied with the results and have already signed up for next year's Smart Lighting Expo."Orachat Leingpeboon, Vice President Smart City Promotion, Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) from Thailand, visited the Smart Lighting Expo and said: "I am here to see the latest smart lighting solutions, energy-saving and eco-friendly products for smart city development projects in Thailand. I'll provide my suggestions to related government departments and bridge the supply and demand sides. At the Expo, I have seen new and interesting technologies such as solar wrap poles, smart home solutions and horticultural lighting. I'll share these new technology updates with related government departments and the public in a webinar in Thailand. I'll recommend the twin fairs to the Department of Alternative Energy Development & Efficiency and the Illuminating Engineering Association of Thailand too."At the Spring Lighting Fair, a loyal exhibitor from Hong Kong, Walter Zeng, Product Manager of KTE Electrical Ltd., said: "On the first fair day, we have talked to more than 200 overseas buyers mainly from Europe. The HKTDC's Click2Match platform also provides extra opportunities for us to find new buyers and we have already set up at least three online meetings. We estimate that our sales turnover generated by this fair will surge by 50-80%."Firat Kendal Aksoy, General Manager of Kendal Elektrik from Turkiye, said: "We visit the Spring Lighting Fair regularly to source new products and close deals with existing suppliers. This year, I have found three potential suppliers of magnetic track lights, solar lights, desk lamps, new designs for cabinet lights and spotlights. I have already finalised my orders with two suppliers for a total of US$1.5 million worth of LED bulbs, floodlights and ceiling lights. I am going to close another eight to nine deals during the fair period. The Scan2Match function allows me to bookmark favourite suppliers in the HKTDC Marketplace App and know more about their new products."Under the hybrid EXHIBITION+ model, the twin lighting fairs combined in-person sourcing with online meetings via the HKTDC's Click2Match smart business-matching platform and hktdc.com sourcing platform. Click2Match will be available until 16 April to facilitate discussions between exhibitors and buyers around the world.InnoEX and Spring Electronics Fair to launch this weekendThe second edition of InnoEX, co-organised by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and HKTDC, will return to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 13 April. The four-day exhibition, themed Innovations for A Smarter World, will gather global next-generation smart solutions and disruptive innovative technologies to promote innovation and foster cross-disciplinary cooperation, showcasing Hong Kong's strengths as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub. To be staged concurrently, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) will showcase the latest electronic products and cutting-edge I&T solutions of renowned brands and I&T companies across the globe.Photo Download: https://bit.ly/49sHoiTFair websitesHong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition): hklightingfairse.hktdc.comSmart Lighting Expo: smartlightingexpo.hktdc.comInnoEx: innoex.hktdc.comHong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition): hkelectronicsfairse.hktdc.comHKTDC Media Centre: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/enMedia enquiriesThe HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department:Jane CheungTel: (852) 2584 4137Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.orgThe HKTDC's Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/enAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedInSource: HKTDCCopyright 2024 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
CHICAGO, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Electronic Warfare Market is valued at USD 10.8 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 19.4 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 12.5% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Electronic Warfare (EW) encompasses the capability to utilize the electromagnetic spectrum-including signals like radio, infrared, or radar-for sensing, protection, and communication purposes. Simultaneously, EW has the capacity to disrupt, deny, and degrade the adversaries' utilization of these signals. Electronic Warfare (EW) serves as a vital tool for managing the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum, enabling the detection, analysis, and tracking of potential threats. This enables countries and their allies with essential situational awareness necessary for preemptive defensive measures, diplomatic insights, and offensive strategies across all levels, even prior to conflicts emerging. EW facilitates Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (JEMSO), empowering armed forces to exploit, attack, and safeguard the EM operational environment.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Electronic Warfare Market" 417 - Tables

85 - Figures

393 - Pages

Electronic Warfare Market Report Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $ 10.8 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $ 19.4 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% Market Size Available for 2019-2028 Forecast Period 2023-2028 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Platform, Capability, End-Use, Product and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge Rapid evolution of war threats Key Market Opportunities Increased use of traveling wave tube technology Key Market Drivers Rising focus on cognitive electronic warfare technologies

Key drivers include geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and increased electronic threats. Leading players like BAE Systems (UK), Raytheon Technologies Corporation (US), Northrop Grumman (US), L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (US), Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), Israel Aerospace Industries (Israel), Elbit Systems (UK) develop advanced EW solutions leveraging sensor technology and cyber defense expertise to meet military and government needs. The main developers and users of active Electronic Warfare (EW) systems and equipment comprise a diverse group of nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, China, Russia, Israel, India, Japan, North Korea, France, Germany, and Sweden. These countries leverage a wide array of EW technologies and intelligence-gathering services to bolster their defense capabilities. Additionally, numerous other nations around the globe utilize EW technologies and services through allied security agreements, further enhancing their security posture and operational effectiveness

Based on the platform, the space segment by platform is estimated to have the highest CAGR in 2023.

Based on the platform, the space segment is estimated to lead the electronic warfare market from 2023 to 2028. The space platform is experiencing significant growth in the electronic warfare market due to several factors. Firstly, the heightened reliance on satellite communications and navigation systems has made space-based assets vulnerable to electronic threats, driving the need for space-based electronic warfare capabilities. Technological advancements have facilitated the development of sophisticated systems capable of detecting and countering these threats effectively. Moreover, the proliferation of space-based sensors and satellites has increased the demand for electronic warfare solutions to safeguard these assets. As space becomes more crowded and contested, governments and defense organizations are investing in space-based electronic warfare to protect their interests. Additionally, the commercialization of space has led to increased investment in electronic warfare capabilities by companies and organizations operating in space. Overall, these factors contribute to the rapid growth of the space platform in the electronic warfare market.

Based on the end-use, OEMs segment is estimated to have the highest CAGR in 2023.

In 2023, the OEMs segment is anticipated to dominate the Electronic Warfare Market, with highest CAGR. The Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) segment is poised for dominance in the electronic warfare market due to several key factors. OEMs play a pivotal role in designing and producing advanced electronic warfare systems, leveraging their expertise to meet the demands of military and defense customers worldwide. With established relationships and a reputation for delivering comprehensive solutions, including maintenance and support services, OEMs have a competitive edge in securing lucrative contracts. Additionally, their commitment to innovation ensures they remain at the forefront of the market, driving further growth and solidifying their position as leaders in electronic warfare technology.

Based on the capability, the electronic attacks segment is estimated to have the highest CAGR in 2023.

The electronic attack segment is further sub-segmented into active and passive. This dominance is attributed to several key factors. Firstly, electronic attack capabilities are essential for disrupting and neutralizing adversary communication and radar systems, making them indispensable in modern warfare scenarios. Secondly, advancements in technology have enhanced the effectiveness and versatility of electronic attack systems, enabling them to counter increasingly sophisticated threats. Additionally, rising geopolitical tensions and the proliferation of electronic warfare capabilities among both state and non-state actors are driving the demand for robust electronic attack solutions. Overall, these factors position the electronic attack segment for substantial growth and dominance in the EW market.

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Based on regions, the Middle East market is estimated to have the highest CAGR during 2023.

The Middle East region is expected to have the highest market share in the Electronic Warfare Industry in 2023. Firstly, the region's geopolitical landscape is characterized by ongoing conflicts and tensions, driving the demand for advanced defense technologies, including EW systems. Secondly, governments in the Middle East are heavily investing in military modernization and technological advancements to enhance their defense capabilities, particularly in response to evolving threats in the region. Additionally, the increasing adoption of EW systems across various defense sectors, including land, air, and naval forces, further fuels market growth. Overall, these factors position the Middle East region as a key driver of growth and dominance in the EW market.

Key Players

Prominent companies in the Electronic Warfare Companies are BAE Systems (UK), Raytheon Technologies Corporation (US), Northrop Grumman (US), L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (US), Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), Israel Aerospace Industries (Israel), Elbit Systems (UK). These industry leaders, headquartered in various countries, drive innovation and excellence in electronic warfare globally.

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Investment to support company's mission to simplify and safeguard complex real estate and location management operations for multi-unit operators

WINTER PARK, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Leasecake, a pioneer in lease and location management solutions tailored for multi-unit operators, today announced the closure of a $10 million Series A extension round. This significant infusion of capital, led by PeakSpan Capital and Las Olas Venture Capital with additional support from a venture debt facility provided by Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank, is a testament to Leasecake's unwavering dedication to simplifying and safeguarding the complex real estate and location management operations for franchise and corporate entities.

Leasecake

Leasecake announces $10M round of funding

In an era where the operational landscape for multi-unit restaurants and service-based retailers is fraught with complexity and heightened risk, Leasecake's innovative AI-driven platform offers much-needed peace of mind. "In today's fast-paced business environment, multi-unit operators face unprecedented challenges. The last thing they need is the stress of overlooked lease and contractual obligations, which could have dire consequences," said Scott Williamson, CEO of Leasecake. "Our cutting-edge technology not only alleviates these concerns but also empowers our clients to concentrate on expansion. We're invigorated by our investors' confidence in our vision and their continued support of our journey."

This new round of funding will enable further refinements to Leasecake's platform, ensuring it meets the evolving demands of multi-unit operators. Additionally, it will support the expansion of the company's offerings to accommodate its growing customer base. Over the last year, Leasecake has seen remarkable user growth, doubling the number of platform users, which now spans thousands of brands and tens of thousands of locations throughout the United States and Canada.

Phil Dur, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of PeakSpan Capital, expressed enthusiasm about continuing their support for Leasecake, saying, "We're committed to backing Leasecake as they redefine the use of technology in minimizing operational risks for restaurants and service-based retailers. Leasecake's platform, which simplifies complex operations, is swiftly setting a new standard for the industry."

Leasecake's comprehensive suite of features significantly reduces the risk of common pitfalls such as missing lease renewals, failing lease accounting audits, negotiating unfavorable leases, overpayments in Common Area Maintenance (CAM) charges, delayed store openings, and more.

"The demand for a unified platform to safeguard real estate interests and streamline location management tasks is more pressing than ever," said Taj Adhav, Founder of Leasecake. "That's the motivation behind Leasecake - to offer the most user-friendly, modern Real Estate and Location Management platform on the market."

Nate Vasel, Partner at Las Olas Venture Capital, also conveyed his excitement for further supporting Leasecake, stating, "We are happy to continue supporting Leasecake. With its innovative platform focused on delivering value for franchisees and franchisors, Leasecake is rapidly becoming the industry standard lease management solution."

The combination of Leasecake's intuitive interface, competitive pricing, and comprehensive functionality has garnered widespread acclaim, earning numerous awards including the Overall Lease Management Company of the Year at the 2023 PropTech Breakthrough Awards and #1 rankings in over 31 categories on G2 for Lease Management and Lease Accounting. For more details, please visit www.leasecake.com.

About Leasecake

Leasecake is the premier real estate and location management platform built to help multi-unit operators manage their locations more efficiently and decrease risk in their portfolio. With Leasecake, managing leases, locations, and assets has never been easier, allowing businesses to focus on what they do best - driving profitable revenue. With innovative AI tools like Cakebot, Leasecake empowers users to make informed decisions and stay ahead in the competitive real estate market. To learn more, visit www.leasecake.com.

Contact Information

Michel Benjamin

VP Marketing

michel@leasecake.com

SOURCE: Leasecake

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - Hercules Silver Corp. (TSXV: BIG) (OTCQB: BADEF) (FSE: 8Q7)("Hercules Silver" or the "Company") is pleased to showcase the results of its 2023 deep-seeking 3D induced polarization ("IP"), direct current resistivity and drone magnetic geophysics over the area to be drill tested in 2024, revealing multiple prospective targets, coincident with the direction of increasing copper porphyry grades seen in the initial 2023 deep discovery holes drilled at its Hercules Property in western Idaho ("Hercules" or the "Property").

Highlights

Conductivity anomaly below historical mining at the Belmont Zone. High grade cores of porphyry copper systems can often have highly conductive copper sulfide vein networks, making Belmont a potential target for a high grade core at depth. High grade chalcocite, typical of the porphyry enrichment blanket, was recently found on historical waste dumps at Belmont, indicating 1870's mine tunnels may have reached the top of the porphyry system.

Kilometers of prospective chargeability from Belmont to Grade Creek. The high-grade core of a porphyry will typically have ~1-3% copper sulfide with moderate chargeability values, surrounded by a highly chargeable halo of up to 10% disseminated pyrite.

Moderate chargeability anomaly near surface at the Big Cut Skarn provides an additional satellite drill target.

3D magnetic inversion reveals magnetic highs potentially associated with a potassic core.

Soil sampling, mapping, and prospecting planned to cover extensions of newly identified geophysical targets.

Preparations underway for commencement of the 2024 drill program. The Company plans to provide updates once mobilization of drill rigs begins.

Chris Paul, CEO and Director of the Company, noted: "We're pleased to showcase the much-anticipated results of our 2023 deep-seeking geophysics in advance of the upcoming drill campaign. We now recognize that the initial 2022 IP survey covered just a small portion of a much larger system which shows the potential for multiple porphyry centers. We see patterns in the magnetics, conductivity, and chargeability that are consistent with typical zoning of a large porphyry system, including a magnetic and conductive core surrounded by a strong chargeability halo. In 2023, we found the copper grades to be increasing towards what we now see as the most prospective targets on the Property. We're excited to test these new high priority targets for the first time, as we expand our search for the potential high-grade core."

Chargeability

Hercules entered the early stages of a new porphyry discovery last year with a series of initial deep drill holes testing an unexpected and poorly depth constrained 2022 chargeability anomaly. Five deep drill holes encountered strong phyllic alteration, which is typical of the margins of a porphyry system, over approximately 450m x 500m.

Dias Geophysical Inc. was brought back in 2023 to carry out a property-wide deep-seeking IP survey designed to explore the new Leviathan Porphyry at depth. The new survey expands on the initial chargeability anomaly first tested last year and reveals trends that are comparable with known porphyry copper systems.

Figure 1 (see below) provides a depth slice of the chargeability at 800 meters elevation to illustrate the distribution of disseminated sulfide mineralization in the lower plate. The core of a porphyry system often contains ~1-3% disseminated copper sulfides and is expected to produce a moderate chargeability anomaly consistent with what is outlined by the 2024 drill target corridor in Figure 1. Strong chargeability values to the east and west of the target corridor are interpreted to represent phyllic margins of the system with up to 10% disseminated pyrite. Figure 2 (see below) provides an east facing cross-section of chargeability with 2023 deep drill holes shown for reference.







Figure 1: Chargeability depth slice (800m elevation), surface trace of deep magnetic anomalies, and copper and molybdenum geochemistry. Black dashed lines outline target corridor of optimal chargeability, high conductivity and deep-seated magnetic anomalies, open to the north.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/204756_8aea804d949bc85a_002full.jpg

Figure 2: Chargeability section looking east (A-A' in Figure 1)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/204756_8aea804d949bc85a_003full.jpg

Conductivity/Resistivity

Chargeability is influenced by non-connected disseminated sulfide mineralization. Conductivity is influenced by interconnected sulfide mineralization. At the core of some porphyry copper systems, sulfides can form a network of interconnected stockwork veinlets with high conductivity/low resistivity. Figure 3 (see below) provides a depth slice of conductivity (inverse of resistivity) at 900 meters elevation, demonstrating a compelling <30 ohm-m drill target at the Belmont that trends north through the 2024 target corridor and is bound to the west by a strongly pyritic shear zone.





Figure 3: Conductivity depth slice (900m elevation). Black dashed lines outline target corridor of moderate chargeability, high conductivity and deep-seated magnetic anomalies. Note strong conductivity (<30 ohm-m core) associated with magnetic anomaly at the Belmont Zone.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/204756_8aea804d949bc85a_004full.jpg

Belmont Zone Chalcocite

Prospecting of historical underground mine dumps at the Belmont uncovered a certain distinct rock unit with strong chalcocite mineralization, a copper mineral typical of the porphyry enrichment blanket. Very little historical record is available of the mining activity that took place at Belmont during the 1870's-1880's, which only reported high-grade silver-lead-zinc mined from the Hercules Rhyolite. However, certain rocks found on the mine dumps at Belmont host an enriched style of porphyry copper mineralization which is not hosted in Hercules Rhyolite. In fact, the rock resembles a sheared conglomerate unit which usually occurs just above the porphyry enrichment zone.

The chalcocite mineralized rocks, which are shown below in Photo 1, indicate that historical mining may have tunneled to the top of the porphyry, at which point ground conditions likely hindered further progress. If that is the case, the semi-massive chalcocite mineralization represents a potential source of the conductivity anomaly below Belmont.





Photo 1: Strong chalcocite (dark gray copper sulfide) found on 1800's era waste dumps at the historical Belmont mine.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/204756_herculessilver.jpg

3D Drone Magnetic Inversion

A 2023 drone magnetic survey was modelled in 3D to investigate potential magnetite enrichment at depth. Magnetite is typically associated with potassic alteration at the center of porphyry systems. The 3D inversion modelled two magnetic high anomalies at depth within the target corridor. One occurs below the Belmont conductivity anomaly described above. A second cylindrical anomaly is associated with a copper-molybdenum soil anomaly at the Hercules Ridge and Grade Creek Zones. Figure 4 (see below) provides an east-facing 3D view of the magnetic anomalies (in blue) relative to copper-in-soil. Figures 1 and 3 show the surface trace of the magnetic anomalies in plan view.





Figure 4: View looking down and to the east at 3D magnetic anomalies (blue isosurfaces) with copper in soils shown as graduated points on surface. Note the 3D inversion connected the deep anomaly below Belmont with a flat lying blanket of highly magnetic post-mineral basalts that cap the ridge south of Camp Creek, which is likely inaccurate.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/204756_8aea804d949bc85a_007full.jpg

3D Geophysical Compilation





Figure 5: 3D geophysical compilation looking east. Chargeability and conductivity isosurfaces are shown in warm colours and 3D magnetic anomalies in blue. Note the mushroom shaped chargeability/conductivity remains open below the survey limit at 900 meters depth.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/204756_8aea804d949bc85a_008full.jpg

Big Cut Copper-Gold Skarn Target

Historical trenching at the Big Cut skarn reportedly uncovered copper sulfide mineralization associated with quartz porphyry sills and dykes intruding a limestone. Historical exploration in 1973 and 1976 reported trenches grading up to 1.78% copper across 90 feet (~27 meters) and 1.30% copper across 57 feet (~17 meters)1,2. Historically, silver was only selectively assayed, and gold was not assayed. However, select grab samples3 taken by the Company in 2022 indicate the presence of both gold and silver (See below, Figure 6). Historical trench intercepts at the Big Cut include4:

Table 1 - Big Cut Select Historical Trenching Results

Length (ft.) Length (m) Cu (%) Ag (oz/t) 90 27 1.78 NR 57 17 1.30 NR 40 12.2 1.58 NR 180 54.9 0.94 NR 40 12.2 0.91 NR 60 18.3 0.91 NR 115 35.1 0.93 NR 7 2.1 2.68 0.98 60 18.3 0.83 NR 70 21.3 0.63 NR

NR = Not Reported

The Company plans on testing a shallow (1,250m elevation) chargeability anomaly at Big Cut during the 2024 drill program. The anomaly is situated at the edge of the IP survey and may plunge to the south at depth. Tilting of porphyry's is common within this tectonic environment and it is not yet understood what, if any, degree, or direction of tilting may have occurred at Leviathan.





Figure 6: Shallow chargeability depth slice (1,250m elevation) at the Big Cut/Lightning/Metheny zones with copper and gold geochemistry3. A moderate chargeability anomaly at the Big Cut sits on the southern edge of the 2023 survey, which may plunge south at depth.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/204756_8aea804d949bc85a_009full.jpg





Photo 2: Lens of massive chalcopyrite (left) from the Big Cut.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/204756_8aea804d949bc85a_010full.jpg

Examples of Geophysical Responses over Known Porphyry Copper Systems

The following section presents geophysical case studies from known porphyry copper systems, sourced from Hoschke (2008)5, for educational purposes only. Geophysics are an important tool in porphyry exploration, however they do not necessarily indicate economic mineralization and require drilling to determine the cause of their anomalies.

This section contains information on properties which Hercules Silver has no right to explore or mine and readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on the following properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties.

Figure 7 provides an idealized cross-section of porphyry alteration and sulfide mineral zonation from Lowell and Guilbert's 1970 model6, and a depth slice of the IP chargeability response from the Poison Mountain copper porphyry, British Columbia, Canada.

Figure 8 shows an example of IP chargeability at the large Batu Hijau porphyry copper system in Indonesia relative to chalcopyrite and pyrite concentrations.

Figure 9 shows the alteration, magnetics, resistivity, and chargeability response at the Elang porphyry copper system in Indonesia.

Figure 10 shows the alteration, RTP magnetics, potassium, geology, resistivity, and topography at the Bajo de la Alumbrera porphyry copper system in Argentina.





Figure 7: (a) Lowell and Guilbert's 1970 model showing idealized porphyry alteration and mineral zonation. (b) IP chargeability response for the Poison Mountain copper porphyry, BC, Canada7.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/204756_herculessilver2.jpg





Figure 8: (a) Chalcopyrite and (b) pyrite concentrations on an east-west section through Batu Hijau porphyry copper deposit in Indonesia8. (c) Location of the section on the gradient array chargeability. (d) Chargeability section from a 3D inversion model of the gradient array and dipole-dipole IP with the drillhole sulfur results.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/204756_8aea804d949bc85a_013full.jpg





Figure 9: Elang porphyry copper system showing a plan of alteration, RTP magnetics, 200m depth slice of resistivity, and 200m depth slice of chargeability. The polygons in black show the surface projection of the interpreted magnetic bodies.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/204756_8aea804d949bc85a_014full.jpg





Figure 10: Alumbrera porphyry copper system with alteration, RTP magnetics, potassium, geology, resistivity and topography.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/204756_8aea804d949bc85a_015full.jpg

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved for disclosure by Christopher Longton BS, CPG, Hercules' Vice President, Exploration. Mr. Longton is a "Qualified Person" for Hercules Silver within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Corporate Update

The Company also announces that it has granted an aggregate of 1,916,000 restricted share units ("RSUs") in accordance with the terms of its omnibus incentive plan, to certain senor officers and directors of the Company. 1,500,000 of the RSUs were awarded to one of the officers of the Company pursuant to the terms of a January 2022 consulting agreement with the Company. The RSUs will vest in four equal tranches over a period of twenty-four months.

About Hercules Silver Corp.

Hercules Silver Corp. is a junior mining company focused on the exploration and development of the 100% owned Hercules Silver Project, northwest of Cambridge, Idaho.

The Hercules project is a disseminated silver-lead-zinc system with 28,000 meters of historical drilling across 3.5 kilometers of strike. The discovery of the new Leviathan porphyry copper system adds significant upside to the Property. The company is well positioned for growth through the drill bit, having completed extensive surface exploration consisting of soil and rock sampling, geological mapping, IP geophysics.

The Company's management team brings significant exploration experience through the discovery and development of numerous precious metals projects worldwide.

For further information please contact:

Nisha Hasan

Investor Relations

Telephone +1 (604) 425-1408

Email: nisha@herculessilver.com

Chris Paul

CEO & Director

Telephone +1 (604) 670-5527

Email: chris@herculessilver.com

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. Any securities referred to herein have not and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws of an exemption from such registration is available.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain information that may be deemed "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information includes 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 information contained in this press release may include, without limitation, the expected execution of future exploration programs on the Property; assay results of future drill holes; results of operations, and the expected financial performance of the Company.

Although the Company believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by its nature, forward-looking information involves assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions; the Covid-19 pandemic; adverse industry events; the receipt of required regulatory approvals and the timing of such approvals; that the Company maintains good relationships with the communities in which it operates or proposes to operate, future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in Canada and generally; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; competition; the risk that any of the assumptions prove not to be valid or reliable, which could result in delays, or cessation in planned work, risks associated with the interpretation of data, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as other assumptions risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company, including as set forth in the Company's public disclosure documents filed on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF HERCULES SILVER AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE HERCULES SILVER MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

1 Kelly, S. 1973. Progress Report to the Vancouver Stock Exchange on the Iron Cap, or Big Cut Holdings of Acaplomo Mining and Development Co. Ltd. in the Heath Mining District with concurrence by C.M. Armstrong, P.Eng.

2 Armstrong, C. 1976. Report on the Iron Cap Property, Heath Mining District.

3 The reader is cautioned that rock grab samples are selective by nature and may not represent the true grade or style of mineralization across the Property.

4 Trench assay results for the Big Cut are historical in nature and have not been verified by a Qualified Person and should not be unduly relied upon.

5 Hoschke, T. 2008. Geophysical signatures of copper-gold porphyry and epithermal deposits. Centre for Ore Deposit Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 79, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia. https://www.arizonageologicalsoc.org/resources/Documents/Publications/Digests/Digest_22/07_AGSDIG22_Hoschke_Geophys_Sign_Cu_Au_S.PDF

6 Lowell, J.D. and Guilbert, J.M. 1970. Lateral and Vertical Alteration-Mineralization Zoning in Porphyry Ore Deposits. Economic Geology, 65, 373-408

7 Seraphim, R.H. and Rainboth, W. 1976. Poison Mountain, in Brown, S.A., Ed., porphyry deposits in the Canadian Cordillera: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 15, pp. 323-328.

8 Arif, J. 2002. Gold distribution at the Batu Hijau porphyry copper gold deposit, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia: M.Sc. Thesis, Queensland, Australia, James Cook University.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/204756

SOURCE: Hercules Silver Corp.
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The iconic rum brand has teamed up with the Cuban-American megastar for a new summer campaign, featuring music from her highly-anticipated new album

HAMILTON, Bermuda, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BACARDI Rum announces pop superstar Camila Cabello as the new face of the brand, kicking off a multi-year partnership under the BACARDI global Do What Moves You platform. In her first-ever spirits collaboration, the multihyphenate artist stars in a sensational campaign spot set to her new song "I LUV IT," now available on all major streaming platforms. This is the first single off her highly anticipated fourth album arriving this summer, C, XOXO.

[CAMPAIGN SPOT YOUTUBE LINK HERE ]

"I'm beyond excited to be partnering with BACARDI. I've always thought of BACARDI as the quintessential rum brand," said Camila Cabello. "To me, BACARDI is synonymous with the spirit of the Caribbean and, of course, good cocktails and a great party. The campaign we worked on is unlike any project I've done before. I can't wait for fans to experience it."

The BACARDI campaign is a celebration of the vibrant spirit of Cabello's new music and the brand's longstanding passion for bringing together community through movement and self-expression. The creative was captured by director Nicolas Mendez, Co-Founder of CANADA and a go-to director for international hitmakers including Rosalia, Travis Scott, and Tame Impala. His cinematic and irreverent vision, developed in partnership with BBDO New York, features the popstar moving to the beat of her infectious new track. Soundwaves from the song begin to pulsate from the radio onto the street, and eventually culminate in a joyous, communal block party complete with BACARDI cocktails. The choreography was brought to life by Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, and Arthur Hare of (LA)HORDE , while Cabello's bold new looks were created in collaboration with celebrity stylist Jared Ellner , makeup artist Ash K Holm , hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos , and nail artist Tom Bachick .

The campaign celebrates Cabello's fresh-new sound and style, unlike anything fans have seen before. Beyond the new creative, BACARDl will continue to support the star through the release of her new album with a series of upcoming events and performances across the world, all featuring the I LUV IT Punch. Co-created by Cabello herself, the drink is a delicious twist on a classic rum punch, pairing BACARDI Carta Blanca with some of her favourite ingredients, including passion fruit, lime, coconut water and St. Germain.

"The BACARDI team is thrilled to partner with one of the biggest stars of today for our newest campaign," said Roberto Ramirez Laverde, Global SVP of BACARDl Rum. "Our shared Caribbean heritage and love of music are the driving forces behind this multifaceted global collaboration. Camila Cabello's electrifying energy matches perfectly with our brand DNA, which has always championed individuality and doing what moves you. This campaign is only the start-we can't wait for the world to see just how she embodies the spirit of BACARDl."

The campaign will air on global broadcast and be amplified through various social and online video channels, with additional support via out-of-home billboards and still imagery. C, XOXO will be released on global streaming platforms this summer. The full recipe for Cabello's I LUV IT Punch is below. Be sure to follow both @Bacardi_UK and @Camilla_Cabello on Instagram to stay in the loop for more exciting campaign updates, or visit www.BACARDI.com .

I LUV IT Punch Recipe

60 ml BACARDI Carta Blanca rum

15 ml St Germain liqueur

15 ml Passion Fruit Nectar

15 ml lime (juice of about half a lime)

30 ml coconut water

Lime wheel and toasted coconut flakes as garnish

Method: Build all ingredients into a rocks glass filled with cubed ice. Give a quick stir to combine. Garnish with a lime wheel and toasted coconut flakes.

About BACARDI Rum - The World's Most Awarded Rum

In 1862, in the city of Santiago de Cuba, founder Don Facundo Bacardi Masso revolutionized the spirits industry when he created a light-bodied rum with a particularly smooth taste - BACARDI. The unique taste of BACARDI rum inspired cocktail pioneers to invent some of the world's most famous recipes including the BACARDI Mojito, the BACARDI Daiquiri, the BACARDI Cuba Libre, the BACARDI Pina Colada and the BACARDI El Presidente. BACARDI rum is the world's most awarded spirit, with more than 800 awards for quality, taste and innovation. Today, BACARDI rum is made mainly in Puerto Rico where it is crafted to ensure the taste remains the same today as it did when it was first blended in 1862. www.bacardi.com



The BACARDI brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.



LIVE PASSIONATELY. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

2024. BACARDI AND THE BAT DEVICE ARE TRADEMARKS.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/grammy-nominated-artist-camila-cabello-debuts-as-the-new-global-face-of-bacardi-rum-302111544.html
Autonomous Vehicle Industry Leader Axel Gern Joins Aeva to Lead the COE and European Engineering Team

Aeva (NYSE: AEVA), a leader in next-generation sensing and perception systems, today announced that it is expanding its presence in Europe with a new Automotive Center of Excellence (COE) in Germany to support its growing momentum with automotive OEM customers. Additionally, autonomous vehicle industry expert Axel Gern has joined the company as Head of Engineering in Germany and will lead the COE.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240409158765/en/

(Graphic: Business Wire)

The COE was created in response to growing interest from the automotive market in Aeva's unique Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technology. Through the COE, Aeva's team will intensify its partnerships with automotive OEMs by providing direct support for their programs focused on advanced vehicle automation, including engineering and rapid validation and testing. Through this close collaboration with the European automotive industry, the COE will also benefit Aeva's development of next-generation 4D LiDAR sensing and perception technologies as the industry progresses toward implementing fully autonomous passenger and commercial vehicle programs.

Axel is an automotive engineering veteran and thought leader with more than 20 years of experience in the development of advanced driver assistance systems, autonomous driving, and software development. Within his role, he is building and leading a strong local engineering team within the COE. Previously, Mr. Gern has held senior engineering leadership positions at Mercedes Benz, Daimler Truck and Torc Robotics. Most recently he served as Senior Vice President of Engineering and Managing Director for Torc Robotics Europe. Prior to Torc, he helped build the strategy and team for Daimler Truck's Autonomous Technology Group (ATG). Axel gained experience with the Silicon Valley style of innovation during his time at Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America in Sunnyvale where he built up its Autonomous Driving Department.

"I am thrilled to join the talented team at Aeva who is pioneering FMCW 4D LiDAR which is a critical enabling technology for the next phase of vehicle automation," said Gern. "I've worked closely with their team since the collaboration with Daimler Truck and Torc began and am excited to build a team of strong engineers and technical expertise in Germany to continue to support the work with Daimler Truck and Torc as well as new collaborations with OEMs in Europe and around the world."

"Axel brings significant automotive engineering leadership to Aeva through his career developing autonomous driving technologies at global passenger vehicle and commercial trucking OEMs," said Mina Rezk, Co-Founder and CTO at Aeva. "He will play a key role in building Aeva's engineering team in Europe and leading our Automotive Center of Excellence as we ramp up to support our production win with Daimler Truck and support the growing interest and engagements with automotive customers globally."

About Aeva Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: AEVA)

Aeva's mission is to bring the next wave of perception to a broad range of applications from automated driving to industrial robotics, consumer electronics, consumer health, security and beyond. Aeva is transforming autonomy with its groundbreaking sensing and perception technology that integrates all key LiDAR components onto a silicon photonics chip in a compact module. Aeva 4D LiDAR sensors uniquely detect instant velocity in addition to 3D position, allowing autonomous devices like vehicles and robots to make more intelligent and safe decisions. For more information, visit www.aeva.com, or connect with us on X or LinkedIn.

Aeva, the Aeva logo, Aeva 4D LiDAR, Aeva Atlas, Aeries, Aeva Ultra Resolution, Aeva CoreVision, and Aeva X1 are trademarks/registered trademarks of Aeva, Inc. All rights reserved. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Aeva's ability to commercialize production programs with our partners, scale manufacturing for mass volumes and secure additional automotive programs. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including, but not limited to: (i) the fact that Aeva is an early stage company with a history of operating losses and may never achieve profitability, (ii) Aeva's limited operating history, (iii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations and to identify and realize additional opportunities, (iv) the ability for Aeva to have its products selected for inclusion in OEM products, (v) the ability to manufacture at volumes and costs needed for commercial programs, (vi) no assurance or guarantee that any of our customers, including any programs which we included in our order book estimates will ever complete such testing and validation with us or that we will receive any billings or revenues forecasted in connection with such program, and (vii) other material risks and other important factors that could affect our financial results. Please refer to our filings with the SEC, including our most recent Form 10-K. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Aeva assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Aeva does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240409158765/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Michael Oldenburg

press@aeva.ai

Investors:

Andrew Fung

investors@aeva.ai
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - Aero Energy Ltd (TSXV: AERO) (OTC Pink: AAUGF) (FSE: UU3) ("Aero" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a comprehensive summary of exploration insights gathered at the Murmac Uranium Project ("Murmac" or the "Project") by operating partners Fortune Bay Corp. (TSXV: FOR) ("Fortune Bay"), as well as additional historical data generated by previous owners of Murmac which include the predecessor company to Cameco Corp.

Highlights

Untested Exploration Model: Historical exploration at Murmac focused overwhelmingly on surface prospecting of exposed outcrop. However, the current target graphitic shear zones are not visible at surface as they preferentially weather to form valleys filled with cover sediments. Therefore, the most prospective targets at Murmac remain untested.

Significant Uranium Endowment: Numerous historical high-grade uranium showings exceeding 1% U3O8 are known to exist on Murmac. These showings dominantly occur as fault-hosted uranium in outcrop, or as uranium-bearing boulders, the latter of which have been verified by Fortune Bay to contain grades as high as 8.82% U3O81.

Favorable Host Rocks: Exploration is currently focussing on three corridors of favorable graphitic host rocks covering a combined strike length of over 30 km. Additional corridors will be evaluated and prioritized for follow-up exploration.

Proof-of-Concept: Drilling completed by Fortune Bay in 2022 intersected uranium mineralization in 6 of 15 first-pass holes within the favored host rocks, highly prospective hydrothermal alteration and anomalous concentrations of "pathfinder" elements1.

Shallow Target Development & Drilling: A preliminary 45 drill targets have been identified which range in depth from only 20 to 150 m below surface. The targets are currently being refined for drilling expected to begin in early June.

Galen McNamara, CEO of Aero, commented: "We are working closely with our operating partners to combine historical geological evidence with modern on-the-ground science. This will guide us to picking the best set of targets to be drilled for discovery in the upcoming drill program as we drive towards unlocking the full potential of the Murmac Uranium Project to maximize value for our stakeholders."

Murmac Project Overview and Historical Exploration

Pursuant to a recently signed option agreement, Aero can earn up to a 70% interest in the Murmac and Strike Uranium Projects, both owned by Fortune Bay, by funding C$6 million in exploration expenditures, making cash payments totalling C$1.35 million, and issuing C$2.15 million in common shares, over a three-and-a-half-year period.

The Murmac Project covers an area of 25,607 acres in seventeen mining claims located 15 km from Uranium City on the northern margin of the Athabasca Basin. The area is estimated to have produced approximately 70 million pounds of U3O8 at grades ranging from 0.18 to 0.43% U3O8 between 1950 and 19822. Murmac is host to multiple historical surface uranium showings exceeding 1% U3O8 and grading as high as 8.82% U3O8.

Historical exploration efforts primarily focused on the "Beaverlodge-style" deposit model, targeting lower-grade, fault-hosted mineralization visible at the surface. This approach did not target, and would not have been effective for, the high-grade "Unconformity-related" basement-hosted deposits associated with graphitic rocks more recently discovered near the Athabasca Basin's edge (e.g. Arrow, Triple R).





Figure 1. Schematic cross-section of basement-hosted uranium deposits

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8126/204775_48c674d88459299d_002full.jpg

Basement-hosted deposits are associated with graphite-rich rocks, which are softer than surrounding quartzite and granitoid lithologies, and are therefore not exposed at the surface (Figure 1). Instead, they are found in deeply weathered valleys, concealed by glacial till, soil, and small lakes. The exploration methods applied historically included airborne radiometric and surface prospecting, identifying radiometric anomalies and trenching or drill testing their extents. This approach is not effective for the exploration of basement-hosted mineralization, which requires detection of the covered graphite-rich rocks with electromagnetic ("EM") surveying to identify conductors, followed by target prioritization and drill testing. Three extensive conductor "corridors" have been identified to date, namely Pitchvein, Armbruster and Howland (Figure 2), covering over 30 km of strike length. These corridors have been subject to limited previous drilling and remain largely unexplored, offering significant potential for future discovery.





Figure 2. Uranium mineralization in Fortune Bay drill holes and preliminary additional targets on the Murmac Project

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8126/204775_48c674d88459299d_003full.jpg

Preliminary Modern Exploration

Recent exploration efforts by Fortune Bay have focused on exploring for basement-hosted deposits in the older basement rocks that occur immediately below the sub-Athabasca unconformity (now eroded away).

Prospecting

In the fall of 2022, Fortune Bay executed a prospecting and sampling program at Murmac1. A total of 179 samples were collected for uranium analysis and multi-element characterization. Investigation of historical uranium occurrences validated the historical data compiled from assessment reports, and all significant surface showings that were flagged for field investigation were reliably located1.

The verified surface historical uranium occurrences dominantly comprised high-grade fault-hosted mineralization, typically associated with large-scale faults that cross-cut untested conductors (graphite-rich rocks) located in adjacent valleys and covered by sediments.

In addition, a mineralized boulder (15 cm in diameter) was discovered in thin till cover at the edge of a conductor valley which exceeded the upper detection limit for radioactivity (65,535 counts-per-second) on the handheld super-spec RS-125 handheld spectrometer. This pitchblende boulder assayed 8.82% U3O8.

These occurrences provide compelling support for high-grade basement-hosted uranium mineralization at Murmac.





Figure 3. Locations of prospecting samples, EM conductors, and uranium mineralized first-pass drill holes on the Murmac Project.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8126/204775_48c674d88459299d_004full.jpg

Airborne VTEM Plus Survey

In the spring of 2022, a 430-line kilometer VTEMTM survey was carried out by Geotech Ltd. to cover the majority of Murmac on behalf of Fortune Bay1. Lines were flown at 200 m spacing and oriented at an azimuth of 120/300. Three prominent conductor corridors were identified and, from west to east, have been named the Pitchvein, Armbruster and Howland conductor corridors respectively. The survey identified a number of high-priority electromagnetic anomalies. This previous survey is currently being infilled and expanded upon at higher resolution (100 m spacing) to allow for refinement and reprioritization of existing targets, and selection of new targets, for drill testing. See the Company's news release dated March 26, 2024 for more information.

Gravity Survey

In the spring of 2022, Fortune Bay contracted MWH Geo-Surveys Ltd. to complete a ground gravity survey at Murmac1. The objective of the survey was to obtain gravity measurements over the Armbruster, Howland and Pitchvein conductor corridors to assist in drill targeting. A total of 2,752 survey stations were completed at a station spacing of 50 m along lines at a 200 m spacing, oriented on an azimuth of 300. The survey identified a number of high-priority gravity anomalies.

First-Pass Drilling

A helicopter-supported drilling program was completed at Murmac during the summer of 2022. This program targeted electromagnetic, gravity and structural targets in areas near historical uranium endowment. A total of 15 holes comprising 3,168 m were completed1.

The most encouraging results were from holes M22-013 and M22-014. Numerous shallow intercepts of anomalous uranium (defined here as >100 ppm) were encountered in these holes, with additional encouraging pathfinder element enrichment in graphitic pelites associated with hematite, sericite and chlorite alteration, plus quartz flooding. These holes targeted a geophysical anomaly approximately 225 m southwest from historical drill results that include 1.01% U3O8 over 2.0 m (56.0 to 58.0 m in drill hole CKI-9) and 2.19% U3O8 over 0.5 m (68.0 to 68.5 m in drill hole CKI-10)3. These historical holes were drilled by the Saskatchewan Mining Development Corporation, a predecessor of Cameco Corp. Additional along-strike drill testing is warranted and testing of the major NE/SW thrust fault located 100 m to the SE may also be warranted.

A summary of the 2022 results is shown in Table 1, highlighting intersections with anomalous uranium and describing the favorable pathfinder associations.





Table 1. Murmac First-Pass Drilling: Summary of anomalous uranium results and favorable pathfinder associations1.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8126/204775_aeroenergytable.jpg

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Galen McNamara, P. Geo., CEO of the Company and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Aero Energy Limited

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.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Galen McNamara"

Galen McNamara, Interim Chief Executive Officer

Further information on the Company can be found on the Company's website at aeroenergy.ca and at www.sedarplus.ca, or by contacting the Company by email at info@aeroenergy.ca.

References

1.Murmac Uranium Project: Exploration Report 2022, Fortune Bay Corp Internal Report. 2023.

2.Geology and Genesis of Major World Hardrock Uranium Deposits, United States Geological Survey, Open-File Report 81-166, 1981.

3.Information obtained from Saskatchewan Mineral Assessment Database files 74N07-0310 and 74N07-0311

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 forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance and include expectations regarding the exploration activities on the Company's properties. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "appear", "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "approximate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe", "would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release. 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/204775

SOURCE: Aero Energy Ltd.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Quality Industrial Corp. (OTC PINK:QIND), is a Manufacturer and Service Provider for the Industrial, Oil & Gas and Utility sectors. The company recently acquired a 51% interest in the United Arab Emirates headquartered, Al Shola Al Modea Gas Distribution LLC (Al Shola Gas) and is focused on the integration and expansion of the completed new acquisition.

On March 27, 2024, QIND signed a definitive Stock Purchase Agreement with the shareholders of Al Shola Gas to acquire a 51% interest in the company with an option to buy the remaining 49% within 2 years. The closing of the transaction took place when both parties signed the definitive agreement. Having obtained control upon execution of the Stock Purchase Agreement, QIND now occupies two of the three board seats of Al Shola Gas, including the seat of Chairman of the Board.

Established in 1980, Al Shola Gas is a United Arab Emirates headquartered, Engineering and Distribution company operating in the Gas sector. The company is one of the region's leading contractors of centralized gas pipeline systems, distributor of LPG cylinders, and supplier of bulk gas to commercial, residential and industrial facilities. Al Shola Gas currently employs 93 personnel and operates a fleet of over 50 trucks which service the company's nearly 10,000 active residential gas supply contracts and 570 commercial supply contracts. With QIND, the company is already targeting several lucrative central gas pipeline engineering and supply contracts in the Middle East and Africa while simultaneously adding further LPG bobtail trucks to its fleet, with each additional truck increasing the company's bulk supply of gas which is in high demand from customers in the region. Al Shola Gas delivered nearly $11 million and $1.8 million in 2023 revenue and net income respectively, with approximately $600,000 in bank borrowings on its balance sheet.

As previously disclosed on the Form 8-K dated April 5th, 2024, the Board of Directors of QIND accepted termination of the Quality International Purchase Agreement on April 1st, 2024. Further information can be found in the 8-K filing.

QIND is pleased to move forward with a healthy operating business while continuing its discussions with further acquisition options. Having filed its Form 10-K Annual Report on 8 April, 2024, the company now looks forward to the first consolidation of Al Shola Gas' financials in its upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, to be filed on or before 15 May, 2024. QIND is currently in discussions with a National Exchange listed company regarding a Reverse Triangular Merger agreement. The company therefore plans to withdraw its S-1 Registration Statement previously filed with SEC and the National Exchange listed company intends to file an S-4 Registration Statement following signing of a Business Combination Agreement. All QIND Shareholder's shares will be exchanged for shares in the National Exchange listed company at an exchange ratio agreed between QIND and the National Exchange listed company. Each parties' valuation will be confirmed by a fairness opinion obtained from a team of experienced independent financial experts.

This Press Release does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature about the Company. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "future" or other similar expressions. The Company has based these forward-looking statements primarily on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect Company's financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. There is no assurance that the Company's current expectations and projections are accurate. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on the Company's information on the date hereof. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements except as required under applicable law. This press release does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, issue, subscribe for, sell, or otherwise dispose of any securities, nor any solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, issue, subscribe for, sell, or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company. The release, publication, or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published, or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.

CONTACT

Quality Industrial Corp.

315 Montgomery Street, San Francisco

CA 94104, USA

Phone: +1-800-706-0806

Email: info@qualityindustrialcorp.com

Investor site: https://qualityindustrialcorp.com

Twitter: @QualityIndCorp @ILUS_INTL

SOURCE: Quality Industrial Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - Delivra Health Brands Inc. (TSXV: DHB) (OTCQB: DHBUF) ("Delivra Health" or the "Company"), a consumer packaged goods company uniquely positioned in the health and wellness sector, is pleased to announce that its Dream Water brand will be launching a new line of Immunity Support Sleep Shots in the Canadian market as an extension of its existing sleep solutions. Immunity Support Sleep Shots are expected to be available to Company distributors, retailers and e-commerce channels in August 2024.

This product combines Dream Water SleepStat Blend of GABA, Melatonin, & 5-HTP in addition to Vitamin D and Zinc to provide immunity support. The liquid shot also contains our proprietary blend of Elderberry, Echinacea, and Acerola Cherry. The launch of Dream Water Immunity Support Sleep Shots in Canada is another important milestone for the Company and will contribute to the Company's sales growth plan and brand expansion in North America.

"With Health Canada's approval having been obtained on February 23, 2024, Dream Water Immunity Support Sleep Shots will be available for purchase in Canadian retail stores and online platforms starting around August 2024," said Gord Davey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Delivra Health. "The Canadian launch extends the success we have seen with this product across multiple channels in other markets such as the United States. We plan to continue our global rollout of Dream Water products and provide Dream Water sleep solutions to more territories in the near future to meet consumer needs."





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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About Delivra Health Brands Inc.

Helping people take control of their health with alternative wellness solutions is what energizes the Delivra Health team! The Delivra Health portfolio features innovative brands like Dream Water and LivRelief, which deliver relief from common everyday issues like chronic pain, anxiety, and sleeplessness. Delivra Health products have allowed millions of customers to reclaim their mobility, energy, and in turn, quality of life. The websites of the Company's two subsidiaries are Dream Water and LivReliefTM. For more information, please visit www.delivrahealthbrands.com.

Investor Relations:

Jack Tasse

Chief Financial Officer

IR@delivrahealth.com

1-877-915-7934

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements with respect to the timing of when the Dream Water Immunity Support Sleep Shots are expected to be available in Canada, expectations relating to the Company's sales growth plan and brand expansion efforts in North America, projected success of the Dream Water Immunity Support Sleep Shots, and any future rollouts of additional Dream Water products.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as 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 materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the markets where the Company operates; changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; employee relations and the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions in the markets where the Company operates. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Additional information regarding this and other risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's business are contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated March 2, 2021, and under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's management's discussion and analysis dated February 27, 2024, for the three months ended December 31, 2023, filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) 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/204739

SOURCE: Delivra Health Brands Inc.
In Addition the Company Has Signed Several New University Student Plans

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / ARway.ai ("ARway" or the "Company") (CSE:ARWY)(OTCQB:ARWYF)(FSE:E65) is an AI powered Augmented Reality Experience platform with a disruptive no-code, no beacon spatial computing solution enabled by visual marker tracking with centimeter precision is pleased to announce two new SaaS developer deals with leading companies in the Saudi Arabia and Spain. These partnerships underscore ARway.ai's commitment to enhancing spatial computing across various sectors and use cases, reaffirming its position as a leader in AR technology integration.

ARway.ai has 3700+ subscribers

58 Developers with a 200% QoQ growth,

7 partners, a 100% QoQ growth.

In total, ARway.ai has 4400 active accounts and 4970 maps created on the platform.

Atmatah Location Automation: Innovating Navigation Solutions

Atmatah Location Automation, a Saudi Arabian beacon-based and IoT navigation solutions expert, has embraced ARway.ai's advanced technology to augment their existing tech stack. This collaboration aims to develop a prototype that integrates ARway.ai's cutting-edge AR navigation capabilities, endeavoring to create a revolutionary navigation solution that promises to open new revenue streams and customer acquisition avenues for Atmatah. This partnership represents a fusion of expertise and technology, setting a new benchmark in location automation and spatial computing.

Hospital Virtual Valdecilla: Revolutionizing Medical Training through AR

Hospital Virtual Valdecilla, a prestigious medical training institution located in Spain, has entered into a six-month subscription developer plan with ARway.ai. The objective is to craft a prototype tailored for hospitals and training centers, leveraging AR technology to enhance the training and onboarding processes for doctors and students in training. Unlike conventional treatment facilities, Hospital Virtual Valdecilla specializes in providing top-tier medical education, offering diplomas and certifications through innovative methodologies. The incorporation of ARway.ai's solutions is set to redefine how medical professionals receive training, adding a layer of interactivity and immersion that is pivotal for the modern healthcare industry.

These partnerships highlight ARway.ai's dedication to broadening the scope of AR technology, making it more accessible and applicable across diverse industries and regions. By joining forces with Atmatah Location Automation and Hospital Virtual Valdecilla, ARway.ai is not just expanding its global presence but also showcasing the versatility and transformative potential of its platform.

New Student Plan Subscriptions

ARway.ai has also signed multiple new student plan subscriptions with prestigious universities around the globe, with students from University College Cork in the UK and German University of Technology in Oman. This news follows recent news in March, announcing several student plan subscriptions from Bicol University, DHA Suffa University and the University of Alberta.

These collaborations mark an uptick in the utilization and recognition of ARway's platform within educational and research initiatives, highlighting a surge in interest from teachers, learners, and scholars towards the potential of XR/AR technologies.

Under the newly introduced global student plan subscriptions, undergraduate seniors, graduate, and doctoral students attending recognized universities will be eligible for the ARway Student Plan. These students, backed by university funding for designated programs and higher degrees such as computer science and spatial computing, will benefit from this plan aimed at enriching their academic and research endeavors.

Shares

The Company also announces that it has issued a total of 250,000 Common Shares to employees/consultants of the Company in lieu of payment for amounts owing for services rendered to the Company (the "Share Settlements"). The Common Shares issued pursuant to the Share Settlements were issued at prices of CAD$0.38 and subject to the statutory four month hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada.

Recent News

ARway.ai Introducing AR Navigation with Generative AI ChatGPT 4D Avatars in New Partner Deal with AVR Labs in UAE

ARway.ai Announces Successful Deployment of AR Wayfinding and Smart Campus Activation With Deutsche Telekom AG & The Prestigious iFii, University of Applied Sciences Brandenburg

ARway.ai Continues its Global Expansion into Chile & USA With New SaaS Deals For its AR Navigation & Spatial Experience Platform

ARway.ai Announces Major 300,000 SQ FT. or 30,000 Sq M. Retail Store Pilot of its AR Navigation Platform

ARway.ai Announces EWROS as New Partner in Turkey for its Augmented Reality Navigation Experience Platform

Sign up for Investor News - HERE

To learn more about ARway, please follow on Social Media: Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, and visit our website: www.arway.ai

About ARway.ai

ARway.ai (CSE:ARWY)(OTCQB:ARWYF)(FSE:E65) is a spatial computing platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) providing an array of augmented reality (AR) experiences for indoor spaces. ARway's breakthrough no-code no-beacon IPN allows for the easy creation of navigation, tours, information sharing, notifications, advertising and gamification. ARway works seamlessly as a cross platform solution on iOS/ Android. ARway's technology is optimized for both mobile devices and AR glasses: Apple's Vision Pro, Magic Leap and Microsoft's HoloLens. ARway has unlimited use cases for augmenting physical spaces, making it a valuable tool for creators, brands and companies in various industries. The complete ARway platform includes: the Web Creator Studio, the ARwayKit Software Development Kit (SDK) and a mobile app for iOs and Android.

Nextech 3D.ai

On October 26, 2022, ARway.ai. was spun-out from its parent Company, Nextech3D.ai (OTCQX:NEXCF)(CSE:NTAR)(FSE:1SS). Nextech retained a control ownership in ARway.ai. with 13 million shares, or a 50% stake. Nextech3D.ai is a Generative AI powered 3D modeling Company and leading provider of augmented reality ("AR") experience technologies and 3D model services. Nextech's AI-powered 3D modeling platform, "ARitize3D" has contracts with; AMZN, KSS, CB2, Genuine Parts & many others. To learn more about Nextech3D.ai, visit www.nextechar.com

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations Contact

Julia Viola

investor.relations@arway.ai

ARway.ai

Evan Gappelberg

CEO and Director

866-ARITIZE (274-8493)

Forward-looking Statements

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. ARway.ai will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: ARway Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. ("Quartz" or the "Company") (TSXV:QZM)(OTC PINK:QZMRF) is pleased to announce an important new discovery at the Company's Maestro property located 15km north of Houston, British Columbia ("BC"). Quartz has received assay results from its first two diamond drill holes (total 1,445m) completed in December 2023, at the Prodigy target at Maestro and the results support Quartz's strategy of developing high value, high demand projects (see Table 1).

Diamond drill hole PR-23-02, the Company's second hole at Prodigy intersected:

102 meters grading 2.22 g/t Au and 104 g/t Ag (3.49 g/t AuEQ 1 , 270 g/t AgEQ )

) Including 12 meters grading 1.23 g/t Au and 586 g/t Ag (8.01 g/t AuEQ, 752 g/t AgEQ)

And additionally 36 meters of 5.73 g/t Au and 87 g/t Ag (6.69 g/t AuEQ, 471 g/t AgEQ).

1 For details of the calculation of equivalents, see Footnotes to Tables page 7

The results represent the discovery of a substantial new Au-Ag system at Maestro, potentially related to the Lone Pine Mo-Cu porphyry deposit located approximately 1km south of the Prodigy discovery (see Figure 1 and Figure 2).

2023 Prodigy Drill Hole Results Drill Hole Incl. From (m) To (m) Int. 1,2 (m) AgEQ 3(a) (g/t) AuEQ 3(b) (g/t) Ag

(g/t) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Mo (%) PR-23-02 81.00 186.00 105.00 24 0.29 9 0.06 0.06 0.015 PR-23-02 228.00 282.00 54.00 64 0.86 16 0.59 0.04 0.016 PR-23-02 324.00 675.00 351.00 103 1.33 36 0.78 0.05 0.029 PR-23-02 Incl. 423.00 639.00 216.00 153 1.97 57 1.17 0.07 0.033 PR-23-02 And 537.00 639.00 102.00 270 3.49 104 2.22 0.09 0.029 PR-23-02 Incl. 537.00 549.00 12.00 752 8.01 586 1.23 0.61 0.060 PR-23-02 Incl. 603.00 639.00 36.00 471 6.69 87 5.73 0.05 0.013 PR-23-01 45.00 393.00 348.00 32 0.38 13 0.13 0.04 0.015 PR-23-01 Incl. 63.00 96.00 33.00 63 0.75 32 0.28 0.05 0.018 PR-23-01 Incl. 156.00 252.00 96.00 43 0.52 19 0.22 0.07 0.008 PR-23-01 Incl. 276.00 306.00 30.00 45 0.51 26 0.09 0.07 0.018

Table 1 - 2023 Prodigy drill hole assay results from drill holes PR-23-02 and PR-23-01.

Bob Dickinson, Chairman of Quartz commented, "The results from our initial two drill holes surpassed our expectations, and early observations suggest there are multiple overlapping mineralizing events that occurred over a long period of time. Over my career, long-lived and multi-generational mineral systems are common factors that make mines globally, which is very encouraging to see at Maestro in these early days of the discovery. Projects like Maestro are vital to growing Canada's clean, modern economy and porphyry deposits are the world's most important sources of copper and molybdenum and major sources of gold and silver. And Maestro is located in British Columbia, a global leader in the development of socially and environmentally responsible resources. Combined with a positive market sentiment for commodities like gold, silver, copper and molybdenum, Maestro and Quartz are well-positioned to create significant value for shareholders. The Quartz team is committed to creating Canada's next great mineral success story and these results validate our modern approach to developing assets that will be attractive to potential transaction partners," concluded Dickinson.

Figure 1 - Cross section highlighting the Prodigy discovery in PR-23-02 (see Figure 2 for location of sectional trace.)

Assay results from PR-23-02 and PR-23-01 combined with results from 10 historical core holes drilled in the period 2007-2011 at Prodigy by a past operator, Bard Ventures Ltd, within an area measuring 275 meters north-south by 400 meters east-west (see Figure 2, Prodigy Drill Hole Plan Map) indicate Quartz has discovered a high-grade Au-Ag lode, hosted within an extensive epithermal Au-Ag system (see Figure 3 and Figure 4). The lode and the more disseminated precious metals, intersected by holes PR-23-01 and PR-23-02, are both hosted within a large and earlier deposited, Mo-Cu porphyry system. In addition to the exceptional results produced by PR-23-02, broad widths of near-surface mineralization were also demonstrated by hole PR-23-01, collared 230 m north-west of hole PR-23-02. This furthest-west hole on the Prodigy Target intersected 348 m of 32 g/t AgEQ (13 g/t Ag, 0.13 g/t Au and 0.015 % Mo) from 45 metres downhole. Table 2 below lists results of 6 historical holes drilled at Prodigy that host precious metals. Table 3 below lists the 4 eastern most historical holes drilled at Prodigy that host long intervals of porphyry Mo-Cu mineralization with only anomalous precious metals. The combined results indicate high potential for both bulk tonnage and underground high-grade mineralization.

Figure 2 - Plan view map of Prodigy highlighting the discovery in PR-23-02. PR-23-02 hosts the western-most intersection to date, and the zone remains open in several directions and at depth. Total depth, azimuth, and dip of PR-23-01 (633 m, 180, -73) and PR-23-02 (812.5 m, 280, -70).

Figure 3 - Broad zone of quartz-ankerite-pyrite veining and locally semi-massive to massive pyrite +/-

chalcopyrite-tetrahedrite-molybdenite throughout a 36m zone of strong green sericite altered andesite at

603m - 639m downhole. Assays from this interval are 36m of 5.73 g/t Au, and 87 g/t Ag (6.69 g/t AuEQ, and 471 g/t AgEQ).

Figure 4 - Mineralogical samples of select drill core from PR-23-02 where multiple overlapping mineral events are evident.

Historical Prodigy Drill Hole Results Drill Hole Incl. From

(m) To

(m) Int 1, 2

(m) AgEQ 3(a)

(g/t) AuEQ 3(b)

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Cu

(%) Mo

(%) BD-11-69 35.00 54.20 19.20 101 1.11 72 0.25 0.08 0.012 BD-11-69 Incl. 49.30 51.00 1.70 876 9.24 711 1.35 0.73 0.003 BD-11-69 134.10 205.20 71.10 239 2.54 185 0.35 0.22 0.025 BD-11-69 Incl. 136.10 185.30 49.20 330 3.49 264 0.48 0.30 0.011 BD-11-69 And 142.50 148.80 6.30 1752 18.18 1484 1.94 1.34 0.011 BD-11-69 Incl. 180.00 183.30 3.30 1082 11.09 921 0.60 1.17 0.007 BD-11-69 329.10 404.50 75.40 62 0.78 1 0.10 0.02 0.136 BD-11-69 445.80 450.80 5.00 84 1.14 16 0.75 0.03 0.041 BD-11-70 47.40 55.20 7.80 42 0.50 9 0.03 0.25 0.016 BD-11-70 114.50 399.70 285.20 34 0.41 4 0.02 0.09 0.053 BD-11-70 Incl. 173.80 338.50 164.70 33 0.40 4 0.02 0.11 0.043 BD-11-70 Incl. 195.50 196.10 0.60 398 4.46 202 0.48 1.57 0.012 BDQ-08-02 21.00 81.00 60.00 30 0.35 9 0.07 0.07 0.024 BDQ-08-02 197.00 403.00 206.00 72 0.79 46 0.10 0.07 0.035 BDQ-08-02 Incl. 197.00 213.00 16.00 668 7.04 551 1.09 0.37 0.023 BDQ-08-02 And 203.00 209.00 6.00 1616 16.98 1350 2.62 0.86 0.018 BDQ-08-03 9.00 352.70 343.70 38 0.46 13 0.13 0.06 0.030 BDQ-08-03 Incl. 9.00 167.00 158.00 49 0.56 25 0.11 0.08 0.022 BDQ-08-03 Incl. 67.00 167.00 100.00 60 0.68 35 0.16 0.07 0.021 BDQ-08-03 And 67.00 117.00 50.00 82 0.93 50 0.22 0.10 0.019 BDQ-08-03 And 79.00 101.00 22.00 142 1.57 95 0.34 0.19 0.016 BDQ-08-04 293.00 551.27 258.27 56 0.73 13 0.43 0.04 0.026 BDQ-08-04 Incl. 373.00 497.00 124.00 79 1.05 19 0.64 0.05 0.038 BDQ-08-04 And 373.00 463.00 90.00 89 1.18 23 0.71 0.06 0.037 BDQ-08-05 119.00 223.00 104.00 33 0.41 13 0.17 0.04 0.014 BDQ-08-05 Incl. 141.00 223.00 82.00 37 0.46 15 0.20 0.03 0.015 BDQ-08-05 275.00 325.00 50.00 42 0.54 15 0.30 0.04 0.012

Table 2 - Historical drill hole assay results at Prodigy drilled by a previous operator between 2007 and 2011. See Figure 2 for reference.

Eastern Historical Drill Hole Results Drill Hole Incl. From

(m) To

(m) Int.1,2

(m) CuEQ3(c)(%) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Mo

(%) BD-07-02 158.00 300.80 142.80 0.29 2 0.01 0.05 0.057 BD-07-06 158.50 275.20 116.70 0.21 1 0.01 0.04 0.040 BD-11-68 41.20 353.10 311.90 0.34 2 N/A 0.07 0.067 BD-11-68 Incl. 100.10 317.40 217.30 0.37 2 N/A 0.08 0.072 BDQ-08-01 6.10 425.00 418.90 0.23 1 0.01 0.04 0.046 BDQ-08-01 Incl. 287.00 353.00 66.00 0.44 3 0.01 0.07 0.090

Table 3 - Historical drill hole assay results at Prodigy drilled by a previous operator between 2007 and 2011. See Figure 2 for reference. Precious metal abundance in drill holes increases westward, with the easternmost drill holes highlighted in Table 3 containing base metal mineralization but lacking precious metal mineralization. Note N/A means not assayed for Au.

Footnotes to Tables 1, 2, 3.

Reported widths of mineralization are drill hole intervals or core lengths recovered. Insufficient data exists to permit the calculation of true width of the reported mineralized intervals. All assay intervals represent length-weighted averages. Some figures may not sum exactly due to rounding. Metal equivalent calculations use prices of: Cu US$4.00/lb., Au US$1800/oz., Ag US$22/oz. and Mo US$15/lb and conceptual recoveries of: Cu 82%, Au 80%, Ag 80%, and Mo 82%. There has been no metallurgical testing on Prodigy mineralization. The equivalencies for each metal are calculated as follows: Silver equivalent (AgEQ g/t) = Ag g/t + (Au g/t * (Au recovery /100) * (Au $ per oz./ Ag $ per oz.)) + (Cu % * (Cu recovery /100) * (Cu $ per lb. * 22.0462) / (Ag $ per oz. / 31.10348)) + (Mo % * (Mo recovery /100) * (Mo $ per lb. * 22.0462) / (Ag $ per oz. / 31.10348)) Gold equivalent (AuEQ g/t) = Au g/t + (Ag g/t * (Ag recovery / 100) * (Ag $ per oz./ Au $ per oz.) + (Cu % * (Cu recovery / 100) * (Cu $ per lb. * 22.0462 /Au $ per oz. / 31.10348)) + (Mo % * (Mo recovery / 100) * (Mo $ per lb. * 22.0462 /Au $ per oz. / 31.10348)) Copper equivalent (CuEQ%) = Cu % + (Mo % * Mo $ per lb./Cu $ per lb. * (Mo recovery / Cu recovery) + ((Au g/t* (Au recovery / Cu recovery) * (Au $ per oz./ 31.10348 / Cu $ per lb. * 22.0462)) + ((Ag g/t * (Ag recovery / Cu recovery) * (Ag $ per oz. / 31.10348 / Cu $ per lb. * 22.0462)) Factors: 22.0462 = 1% of one tonne in lbs., 31.10348 grams per troy ounce The collar locations in UTM NAD83, Zone 9N coordinates for drill holes are listed in Table 4.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control Program

Drilling by Quartz

Quartz drilled NQ size core in the 2023 drilling program at Prodigy. All drill core was logged, photographed, and cut in half with a diamond saw. Half core samples from the drilling were sent to ALS Canada Ltd., Langley, B.C., for preparation and were analyzed at ALS Canada Ltd., North Vancouver, B.C. Both are ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facilities. At the laboratory, samples were dried, crushed to 70% passing -2mm, and a 250 g split pulverized to better than 85% passing 75 microns. Samples were analyzed for Au by fire assay fusion of a 30 g sub-sample with an ICP-AES finish, and for 48 elements including Ag, Mo and Cu by a four-acid digestion, multi-element ICP-MS package. Overlimits for Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn were analyzed by four-acid digestion and ICP-AES finish. For Au overlimits and additional Ag overlimits, a fire assay fusion and gravimetric finish were completed. As part of a comprehensive Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QAQC") program, Quartz Mountain control samples were inserted in each analytical batch at the following rates: standards one in 40 regular samples, in-line replicates one in 40 regular samples and at least one coarse blank per analytical batch. The control sample results were then checked to ensure proper QAQC.

Historical Drilling

Historical Prodigy core completed by Bard Ventures Ltd. was split using a hydraulic core splitter. Samples from 2007 and 2011 were analyzed at Acme Analytical in Vancouver, B.C. In 2007, core samples were split, and jaw crushed to 70% passing 10 mesh (2 mm). A 250 g riffle split was pulverized to 95% passing 150 mesh (100 microns). In 2011, core samples were crushed to 80% passing 10 mesh (2 mm) and a 250 g riffle split was pulverized to 85% passing 200 mesh (77 microns).

In both years, samples were analyzed by a four-acid digestion, multi-element ICP-ES package for 35 elements. For Mo overlimits (>4000 ppm), samples were analyzed by four-acid digestion and ICP-ES methods.

Historical assays from 2008 were analyzed at Eco Tech in Kamloops, B.C. Samples were crushed to 70% passing 10 mesh (2 mm), and a 250g sub-sample was pulverized to 95% passing a 150-mesh (109 micron) screen. Samples of 0.5 g were digested in 3 ml of a 3:1:2 (HCl:HNO3:H20) for 90 minutes in a water bath at 95 degrees Celsius, diluted to 10 ml with water and then analyzed by ICP-AES for 28 elements. For Mo over 4000 ppm, an aqua regia and ICP method was used.

For the 2007 program, no standards were submitted with the mainstream samples. The 2008 and 2011 programs inserted a standard or blank after every 20th sample.

Bard Ventures did not analyze all core samples for Au. In 2023, 976 assay pulps were selected by Quartz from Bard Ventures' drilling at Prodigy and elsewhere on the Maestro property and sent to ALS Canada Ltd. A 25 g sample was analyzed for super trace Au by aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS finish. For samples overrange, an aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS finish method was applied again. No external control samples were submitted.

The Qualified Person ("QP") for the Company has not independently verified the historical analytical data disclosed within this news release. The Company has obtained all historical records including all analytical data from the previous operators and all laboratory assay certificates from reputable commercial assay laboratories for all drill holes disclosed within this news release. It is the Qualified Person's opinion that sample preparation, security, analytical procedures used by reputable commercial assay laboratories, and Bard Venture's QA/QC program conformed with industry standards at the time of analysis and is therefore considered reliable for informational and drill targeting purposes.

At this time Quartz does not plan to carry out further re-analysis on historical drill core at Prodigy due to the QP's opinion stated herein and the historical drill cores limited relevance with respect to Quartz's strategy going forward to explore for gold, silver, copper and molybdenum resources.

Qualified Person

Farshad Shirmohammad, M.Sc., P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Maestro

The Maestro Project, located in central British Columbia, lies adjacent to Highway 16, 15km north of Houston and 50km south of Smithers, providing year-round road access to the project and nearby infrastructure including, road, rail, hydroelectricity, and natural gas. Covering 2,309 hectares, it has a rich exploration history dating back to 1914, primarily focusing on the Lone Pine Mo-Cu porphyry deposit (see Quartz news release March 19th, 2024, and NI 43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, P&E Mining Consultants Inc., January 21st, 2011).

The historical exploration was centered on base metal porphyry mineralization. The potential for precious metals in the surrounding area remains largely unexplored.

Since acquiring the property in 2021, Quartz has conducted comprehensive geochemical and geophysical surveys, including soil/silt sampling, induced polarization geophysics, airborne magnetic surveys, initial hyperspectral studies, detailed relogging of historical drill core and assaying for gold only, 976 pulp samples derived from historical assaying of numerous core holes located across the Maestro property. Results from Quartz's first two drill holes at Prodigy indicate overlapping, multi-generation precious metal mineralization hosted within a Mo-Cu porphyry environment. Notably, green sericite alteration reminiscent of deposits such as Blackwater-Davidson play a significant role at Prodigy. Mineralization remains open in multiple directions and at depth, promising significant further potential.

About Quartz

Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. (TSXV: QZM, OTC Pink: QZMRF) is a restructured public company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Its successful mine finding management is focused on discovering and transacting high-value gold, silver, and copper projects in British Columbia. The Company owns 100% of the Maestro Gold-Silver-Molybdenum-Copper Property and 100% of the Jake Copper-Gold-Silver Property. Both projects have access to infrastructure and high potential for important resources and significant future transactions. The BC Government has awarded permits for 50 drill sites for each project. First drilling at Maestro has discovered a high-grade gold-silver lode within extensive precious metal mineralization all hosted within a large porphyry Mo-Cu system. Drilling at Jake is planned for summer 2024 with the goal of making another important discovery.

Quartz is associated with Hunter Dickinson Inc. (HDI), a company with over 35-years of successfully discovering, developing, and transacting mineral projects in Canada and internationally. Former HDI projects in BC included, Mount Milligan, Kemess South, and Gibraltar - all of which are porphyry deposits with current or former producing mines. Other well-known projects with HDI involvement include Sisson and Prosperity in Canada, Pebble and Florence in the United States, and Xietongmen in China.

Quartz is committed to the advancement of important scale, critical and essential mining assets while following responsible mineral development principles, including a mandate to employ best practice approaches in the engagement and involvement of local communities, and meeting rigorous environmental standards.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Robert Dickinson

Chairman

For further details, contact Robert Dickinson, Chairman at:

T: (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.

E: info@quartzmountainresources.com

W: www.quartzmountainresources.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.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking-statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking-statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include the following: the Company's projects will obtain all required environmental and other permits, and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of the Company's projects will continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems will occur.Though the Company believes the expectations expressed in its forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to future events and third party discretion such as regulatory personnel. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include variations in market prices, continuity of mineralization and exploration success, and potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and tenure and delays due to third party opposition, changes in and the effect of government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and exploration and development of properties located within Aboriginal groups asserted territories that may affect or be perceived to affect asserted aboriginal rights and title, and which may cause permitting delays or opposition by Aboriginal groups, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. 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 statements. For more information on the Company,and the risks and uncertainties connected with its business, investors should review the Company's home jurisdiction filingsas www.sedarplus.ca and its 20F filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

Drill Hole Spatial Data - Prodigy Zone Hole Year E NAD83 N NAD83 Elev m Length m Incline(o) Azimuth(o) Prodigy PR-23-01 2023 646200.00 6044300.00 842.00 633.00 -73 180 Prodigy PR-23-02 2023 646390.00 6044175.00 839.00 812.50 -70 280 Prodigy BD-07-02 2007 646408.00 6044315.00 853.00 506.40 -90 0 Prodigy BD-07-06 2007 646497.00 6044224.00 863.00 473.20 -90 0 Prodigy BDQ-08-01 2008 646502.00 6044219.00 863.00 425.80 -60 315 Prodigy BDQ-08-02 2008 646316.00 6044284.00 853.00 531.60 -90 0 Prodigy BDQ-08-03 2008 646226.00 6044301.00 849.00 481.60 -90 0 Prodigy BDQ-08-04 2008 646248.00 6044200.00 840.00 551.30 -90 0 Prodigy BDQ-08-05 2008 646330.00 6044170.00 841.00 486.50 -90 0 Prodigy BD-11-68 2011 646360.00 6044362.00 858.00 590.40 -90 0 Prodigy BD-11-69 2011 646235.00 6044245.00 836.00 602.59 -90 0 Prodigy BD-11-70 2011 646215.00 6044349.00 852.00 470.55 -90 0

Table 4 - Spatial data from all diamond drill holes at Prodigy completed by a previous operator from 2007 to 2011 and Quartz in 2023.

SOURCE: Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Tamarack, Minnesota--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - Talon Metals Corp. (TSX: TLO) (OTC Pink: TLOFF) ("Talon" or the "Company"), the majority owner and operator of the Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project ("Tamarack Nickel Project") in central Minnesota, the operator of numerous high-grade nickel-copper prospects in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan ("Michigan UP Projects") and the owner of the proposed Battery Minerals Processing Facility ("BMPF") in Mercer County, North Dakota, provides a progress update on the Company's activities in all jurisdictions where it operates and national policy developments that value and favor domestic supply.

Permitting Update: Underground Mine in Central Minnesota

On June 21, 2023, Talon began the rigorous science-based permitting process in the state of Minnesota by filing an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) for a small footprint underground mine and rail loading facility near the town of Tamarack in Aitkin County, Minnesota.

In early 2022, Talon made the decision to move mineral processing to an industrial site in a drier environment in Mercer County, North Dakota. This decision was in direct response to concerns in central Minnesota about processing sulfide bearing ore in the water rich environment of the area where the high-grade nickel deposit is located. It also means that the state permitting process has a smaller scope of review, focused just on the environmental impacts of the underground mine and rail loading facility at the Tamarack site.

The environmental review process is proceeding at pace. Talon has received two rounds of comments and suggestions from the relevant state agencies, tribal sovereign governments or tribal organizations who have been invited by the state to participate in the initial process on a government-to-government basis. Talon has responded to the first round of comments and is developing its responses, data and design changes that are responsive to the second round of comments and plans to submit these responses, data and design changes in Q2 of this year.

The iterative nature of the process and the high quality of feedback at this phase of the process allows Talon to respond with factual answers, data or project changes that avoid, further reduce, or mitigate impacts on the environment. Talon is focusing on responsiveness to reduced land disturbance, reduced wetlands impacts, avoidance of contact water and avoidance of exposure of sulfide bearing rock to the atmosphere.

Talon is using a well-known project management approach called "Integrated Project Development" (IPD), in conjunction with local and national US engineering and construction firms, which will facilitate an integrated project management process, and is expected to maintain timelines and prevent or minimize cost overruns.

Henri van Rooyen, CEO of Talon, said the following about the permitting process: "The permitting process in Minnesota is rigorous, science-based, and starts with the environmental review process that brings together the relevant regulators and tribal sovereign governments to ensure a project is ready for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. One real benefit of this first stage of the process is that it allows the proponent of any project to gain valuable insights from the regulatory agencies and the participating tribal institutions, which can ensure that the proposer has the right data to explain a particular aspect or in some cases can lead to design changes that are direct improvements on previous plans. This may save time in the Environmental Impact Statement drafting phase and is most likely a preview of issues that would come up in the public comment phases of the process."

Commenting on Talon's investment in environmental baseline studies and field studies, Talon's Director of Community and Government Relations, Jessica Johnson said: "We have invested in having the scientific data to contribute to the Environmental Impact Statement process. We are building Minnesota's largest network of environmental wells, presently collecting baseline data from 68 wells throughout the surrounding watershed. Out of our team of 15 environmental engineers and scientists, community team members and data scientists,13 are located locally: This is our backyard too, and we are committed to ensuring our proposals use the latest science and new approaches to protecting the natural environment we all enjoy."

Progress on North Dakota Battery Mineral Processing Facility

Talon is also progressing activities in North Dakota to establish the BMPF, of which US$114.8 million is funded by a grant from the US Department of Energy ("DOE Funding") on a cost-share basis. Talon is currently drawing on the DOE Funding in line with its agreement with the Department of Energy. To date, Talon has applied for US$453,000 in reimbursable funds from the Department of Energy. Talon is in the final stages of securing an industrial site in Mercer County, North Dakota where the BMPF will be located. The site is a former industrial site with rail infrastructure suitable for Talon's use and located in an Energy Community census track as per the DOE Energy Communities map tool IRA Energy Community Tax Credit Bonus (doe.gov) . Talon is conducting project design activities and working with the Department of Energy on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review requirements with a federally funded action. Talon has undertaken a cultural survey of the target site, and the Department of Energy has initiated its tribal consultation. Talon has now completed various tests that show that any residual tailings can be stored safely with fly ash and lime, as a cemented dry stack facility.

Harnessing Innovation to Increase Revenue, Compete with China, and Build Public Support

Talon has prioritized using novel technology and new approaches to produce better outcomes. Listening to communities and taking action to change project planning in fundamental ways (moving processing and material management to a drier industrial site is just one example). The Company is also focused on technology that leads to additional mineral recovery in primary targets like nickel, but also recovery of valuable by-products like cobalt, iron and platinum group metals that are all a source of additional revenue and address the needs of society. Not attempting to utilize valuable by-products is irresponsible and not consistent with Talon's goal of "Full Value Mining" or "Full Resource Utilization". Through various partnerships, Talon sees the potential opportunity to harness additional minerals from the Tamarack ore body to produce the highest gigawatt per tonne resource.

Key ongoing innovation initiatives, include:

Argonne National Laboratory : Talon is working with Argonne National laboratory to transform and purify extracted iron from tailings and nickel and iron sulphide concentrates into a Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP) material to provide a domestic source of a key ingredient in LFP batteries. If successful, sales of iron phosphate as a precursor to North American LFP battery makers could be a valuable source of additional revenue for Talon, address US dependency on China for LFP inputs, and increase Talon's ratio of batteries per tonne of rock to one of the top levels of any mine in the world.

Columbia University : Talon is working with top researchers at Columbia University who were awarded funding from the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop novel approaches to refining critical metals concentrate. The process enables additional copper recoveries while improving nickel concentrate grade by removing iron from the nickel concentrate. A new, greater than 30%, nickel concentrate was generated, and the removed iron becomes a key ingredient for the LFP battery process developed by Argonne National Lab (discussed above).

Travertine Technologies: Travertine Technologies is working on a commercial scale process that would economically transform tailings and development rock into various marketable by-products. The process would not only enhance critical metals recovery, such as nickel, cobalt and iron, but also permanently store carbon as calcium and magnesium carbonates.

MIRARCO: MIRARCO (Mining Innovation Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation) is working on testing the suitability of integrating a bio-leach process designed to liberate additional nickel, cobalt and iron from high-sulfur tailings. High-sulfur tails are generated during the cleaning process of the nickel concentrates. The high-sulfur tails contain a high concentration of iron and a minor amount of nickel that was previously unrecoverable. The solution from the bio-leach process could be integrated with the broader flowsheet including the Travertine process, enabling additional recovery of nickel, cobalt and iron from the Tamarack Nickel Project, and generating additional carbon storage.

Envicore: Talon is working with Envicore to develop Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) from the tails and development rock that is envisioned to be combined with fly ash. SCMs are materials used as a partial replacement of Portland Cement to improve both fresh and hardened concrete properties and reduce the carbon footprint of concrete. Initial test results indicate that the treated tailings produce an excellent SCM.

Henri van Rooyen, CEO of Talon, commented on Talon's R&D initiatives: "Society has the right to expect the mining industry to obtain every bit of the minerals that are valuable and useful to society. Letting by-products go to waste as happens in many legacy systems is unacceptable. The US national labs, US research universities like Columbia and entrepreneurial companies like Travertine and Envicore are the "secret sauce" that is available to mining companies. Talon intends to take full advantage, for the benefit of society and our shareholders."

Summary: Right Place, Right Time

Talon's goal is to continue to advance the environmental review process for a small footprint underground mine and rail loading facility within the Tamarack Nickel Project area, while simultaneously conducting commensurate pre-feasibility trade-off studies during 2024, to prepare for a feasibility study in unison with its Environmental Impact Statement. With the Department of Defense (DOD) funding, provided through an agreement with the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization office, exploration has accelerated significantly with the goal of establishing a US nickel powerhouse across Michigan, Minnesota and North Dakota.

Sean Werger, President of Talon commented: "While we are rapidly advancing permitting and engineering in tandem with our Department of Defense mandate to accelerate US exploration for nickel, we are doing so in a cost-effective way. We want Talon to help the United States build up a secure supply of nickel for clean energy systems and defense platforms. US policy makers on both sides of the aisle realize we cannot allow China to become a "single member OPEC" for critical minerals like nickel."

QUALIFIED PERSON

Dr. Etienne Dinel, Vice President, Geology of Talon, is a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Dr. Dinel is satisfied that the analytical and testing procedures used are standard industry operating procedures and methodologies, and he has reviewed, approved and verified the technical information disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information.

ABOUT TALON

Talon is a TSX-listed base metals company in a joint venture with Rio Tinto on the high-grade Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project located in central Minnesota. Talon's shares are also traded in the US over the OTC market under the symbol TLOFF. The Tamarack Nickel Project comprises a large land position (18km of strike length) with additional high-grade intercepts outside the current resource area. Talon has an earn-in right to acquire up to 60% of the Tamarack Nickel Project, and currently owns 51%. Talon is focused on (i) expanding and infilling its current high-grade nickel mineralization resource prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 to shape a mine plan for submission to Minnesota regulators, and (ii) following up on additional high-grade nickel mineralization in the Tamarack Intrusive Complex. Talon has an agreement with Tesla Inc. to supply it with 75,000 metric tonnes (165 million lbs) of nickel in concentrate (and certain by-products, including cobalt and iron) from the Tamarack Nickel Project over an estimated six-year period once commercial production is achieved. Talon has a neutrality and workforce development agreement in place with the United Steelworkers union. Talon's Battery Mineral Processing Facility in Mercer County was selected by the US Department of Energy for US$114 million funding grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the US Department of Defense awarded Talon a grant of US$20.6 million to support and accelerate Talon's exploration efforts in both Minnesota and Michigan. Talon has well-qualified experienced exploration, mine development, external affairs and mine permitting teams.

For additional information on Talon, please visit the Company's website at www.talonmetals.com.

Media Contact:

Todd Malan

1-(202)-714-8187

malan@talonmetals.com

Investor Contact:

Sean Werger

1-(416)-500-9891

werger@talonmetals.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the environmental review and permitting process and the timing thereof; the completion of an agreement for an industrial site in Mercer County, North Dakota; the potential for residual tailings to be stored safely as a cemented dry stack facility; the ability to achieve the goal of "Full Value Mining" or "Full Resource Utilization" and the ability for the various innovation initiatives to be commercially realized or utilized by the Company; the potential to attain the highest gigawatt per tonne resource; and the completion of pre-feasibility trade-off studies during 2024. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results 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.

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, 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. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/204750

SOURCE: Talon Metals Corp.
In a significant move to accelerate the adoption of Community Solar in New York, Solar Simplified supports Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Community Solar asset owners by acquiring state-eligible Low and Moderate Income (LMI) subscribers at no additional cost to our partners. This initiative is aimed at bolstering the new Community Adder and Inclusive Community Solar Adder (ICSA) programs, which are crucial to the State's equitable clean energy transition.

CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Under the new structure, Solar Simplified will cover all acquisition costs for LMI subscribers required to meet the 40% quota for the Community Adder, which is expected to offer a 7c/W incentive. Additionally, the company will support the ICSA program, which provides a 6-10c/W incentive, depending on each project's Permission To Operate (PTO) date. This support includes free acquisition of LMI subscribers, free churn replacement, and no increase in ongoing management fees.

This initiative underscores Solar Simplified's commitment to making clean energy more accessible and affordable, particularly to Low and Moderate Income communities. By removing financial barriers, the company aims to facilitate the development and success of Community Solar projects, ensuring that the benefits of renewable energy are equitably distributed.

"We understand the challenges faced by IPPs and asset owners in acquiring and managing LMI subscribers for Community Solar projects. Our decision to absorb these costs is a reflection of our dedication to advancing clean energy projects in New York and a testament to our success acquiring and managing this crucial segment of the market across multiple states, including New York," said Aviv Shalgi, the CEO of Solar Simplified. "We believe this will significantly ease the financial burden on our partners and their financial backers, both lenders and tax equity, and make their projects more viable. It will surely help projects that are borderline financially viable to now pencil out and get built, driving faster expansion of Community Solar in the State while bringing tangible savings to communities that need them."

This offering is expected to enhance the economics of Community Solar projects in development or those yet to reach PTO. It also aligns with Solar Simplified's innovative business model, which focuses on reducing upfront costs, eliminating unexpected costs and driving sustainable growth in the renewable energy sector.

Solar Simplified invites all Community Solar developers, asset owners and IPPs to discuss this new offering and explore opportunities in New York and other markets.

About Solar Simplified: Solar Simplified is a leading national Community Solar aggregator, revolutionizing the Community Solar industry by removing customer associated barriers and risks, allowing Solar Developers and IPPs to scale quickly and effectively. With a commitment to sustainability and equity, we aim to make clean energy accessible to all through community-focused engagement and consumer education. The ability to seamlessly match residents and businesses with local solar farms, and handle acquisition, management, billing and collection makes Solar Simplified the best choice for Community Solar aggregation.

Contact Information

Sasha Lukovenko

VP of Sales and Marketing

sasha@solarsimplified.com

312-216-0978

SOURCE: Solar Simplified

View the original press release on newswire.com.
New Product Empowers Millions of Unbanked Mexicans for In-Store Purchases Regardless of Internet Connectivity

GUADALAJARA, MX / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Kueski , the leading buy now, pay later (BNPL) and online consumer lender in Latin America, announced the launch of the in-store version of Kueski Pay, which will become available to all consumers by the end of Q2 of 2024. With this innovative product, customers will have the ability to complete transactions through the Kueski mobile app, regardless of internet connection, in physical stores.

Buy now and pay later in-store from your app and without internet connection

This solution is a paradigm shift in Mexico since most of the country's consumers lack access to banking services or reliable internet connectivity when shopping in person. A study from the Bank of Mexico revealed that 80% of retail transactions are still made in cash. With these barriers removed, Kueski will create greater connections between millions of consumers and merchants.

"Achieving instant mobile payments regardless of internet connectivity will be the ultimate game changer for the modern Mexican consumer," said Jaime Romero, Chief Technology Officer at Kueski. "At Kueski, we have built one of the strongest merchant networks in Mexico and this only continues to grow. Nearly 60% of our users state that if Kueski Pay hadn't been a choice for paying for their last purchase, they wouldn't have made it. With this payment option now easier than ever, our thousands of in-store partner merchants can capitalize on the desire to attract more customers and drive greater sales."

Kueski's mission is to facilitate the financial lives of Mexicans, and this latest innovation represents a significant step toward financial inclusion for all. It is also the next step in meeting consumer demand, with almost 70% of Kueski customers expressing interest in utilizing this payment option in physical stores.

Kueski announced earlier this year that it is now available on Amazon Mexico and is a payment option for some of the world's largest brands, including Estee Lauder, MAC, Clinique, Adidas and thousands more, as well as brands from small and medium-sized businesses. Kueski continues to gain momentum as the strongest BNPL and consumer lender, with nearly 16 million loans issued. According to the "Upsurge of Latam BNPL" report by Morgan Stanley, Kueski Pay is the preferred merchant partner for BNPL in Latin America and has the highest penetration in the top 150 e-commerce merchants in Mexico. Kueski now estimates that 1 in 4 of the top e-commerce merchants in Mexico is offering its BNPL service.

About Kueski

Kueski is the leading buy now, pay later (BNPL) and online consumer credit platform in Latin America, known for its innovative financial services. Its flagship product, Kueski Pay, allows customers to make purchases and pay later, both online and in-store. Additionally, the company offers Kueski Cash, a personal loan product. Applying artificial intelligence, Kueski enhances access to financial services at scale. To date, the company has issued nearly 16 million loans throughout Mexico, benefiting individuals and entrepreneurs. Notably, a quarter of Mexico's top e-commerce merchants now offer Kueski Pay as a payment option. Learn more at Kueski's website: https://www.kueskipay.com/

Press contacts:

Karen Herrera - karen.herrera@kueski.com

Holland Eichorn - kueski@calibercorporate.com

SOURCE: Kueski

View the original press release on accesswire.com
U.S. based company continues global expansion bringing industry veteran to spearhead efforts

WorldVue, the trusted provider of video, digital infrastructure, wireless connectivity, and professional services to guest-centric properties worldwide, announced the appointment of Chris Coles as Chief Business Development Officer. In his role, Coles will be responsible for leading WorldVue's international expansion efforts, driving growth, and strengthening the company's presence in key markets around the globe. This announcement follows the most recent development of entities in Europe and Asia.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240404863536/en/

WorldVue Announces Chris Coles as Chief Business Development Officer (Photo: Business Wire)

Coles' visionary approach places innovation at the core, targeting enhancements in network services, business models and applications. With this appointment, he will work closely with WorldVue's executive team to deliver strategies fit for new and existing international markets. Coles' experience across diverse cultures coupled with his keen knowledge of market trends and wide array of leadership roles in the technology-based services industry will benefit the WorldVue team in identifying opportunities, building partnerships, and serving the unique needs of our target markets.

"The past year has marked a period of remarkable growth and achievements for WorldVue, and welcoming Chris to the team brings a new level of expertise and perspective to our global initiatives," said Robert Grosz, President and Chief Operating Officer, WorldVue. "Expanding our leadership team enables us to consistently deliver exceptional customer service to our clients and partners, driving our company towards continued success."

Coles brings decades of extensive industry experience to the WorldVue team, having held key positions at top-tier service providers including AT&T, US West, TCI, Qwest Communications, Liberty Global and Liberty Latin America. Prior to his new role, he was also CEO of two successful startups one in the IPTV software market later acquired by Siemens, and one in the contact center analytics business later acquired by Avaya.

"This is an exciting time for WorldVue. I'm honored to join the team and further support the company's mission of providing cutting-edge technology to valued customers worldwide," said Coles, Chief Business Development Officer. "My goal is to ensure leading hospitality brands and other guest centric properties benefit from WorldVue's innovative approach and I look forward to continuing to grow our suite of solutions in the global market."

With a growing presence across Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Middle East and the Asia Pacific regions, WorldVue is now able to service customers across the globe. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, WorldVue is leading the way in delivering innovative technology solutions that enhance the owner, staff, and guest experience. To stay updated on future announcements and learn more about WorldVue, visit www.worldvue.com.

ABOUT WORLDVUE

WorldVue is a trusted provider of video, advanced connectivity and professional services to properties and enterprises across the world. With a dedication to customer service, WorldVue is leading the way in delivering innovative technology solutions that enhance the resident, guest, and staff experience. From managed services to digital transformation, WorldVue is a single point of contact for all property technology needs.

Founded in 1974, WorldVue is a privately held company headquartered in the United States with offices in the Americas, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Dubai, Singapore and Australia. The company serves over 7,500 properties and over 960,000 rooms.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240404863536/en/

Contacts:

Phase 3 Marketing and Communications

worldvue@phase3mc.com

678.654.4683

Ella Steele

Esteele@WorldVue.com

713.425.8343
ExaGrid Continues Growth 13 Consecutive Quarters of Free Cash Flow

ExaGrid, the industry's only Tiered Backup Storage solution, today announced that it had its strongest first quarter (Q1) in the company's history, for the quarter ending March 31, 2024.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240409166666/en/

ExaGrid's first quarter of bookings and revenue was the best first quarter in the company's history. The company was Free Cash Flow (FCF) positive, P&L positive, and EBITDA positive for its 13th consecutive quarter. ExaGrid now has more than 4,200 active upper mid-market to large enterprise customers that use ExaGrid Tiered Backup Storage to protect their data. ExaGrid's growth is accelerating, and the company is hiring to expand its sales teams worldwide.

"ExaGrid is continuing to drive top line growth while maintaining positive EBITDA, P&L and Free Cash Flow. We've hit over 4,200 active customer installations worldwide. ExaGrid continues to have a 70% competitive win rate replacing primary storage behind the backup application as well as deduplication appliances such as Dell Data Domain, HPE StoreOnce and Veritas NetBackup Storage Appliances. ExaGrid's customer retention rate is over 95%, and 99% are on maintenance and support. These are two industry-leading customer success metrics. Our business is strong in North America, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East and we are putting an increased focus on the Asia Pacific region," said Bill Andrews, President and CEO of ExaGrid.

"Years ago, ExaGrid realized that no vendor was building storage specifically for backup, as they were all selling primary storage products as backup storage targets, which is expensive, or they were selling inline deduplication appliances, which are slow for backups and restores and result in costly forklift upgrades. Backup storage has unique needs, due to large backup jobs, incrementals, synthetic fulls, backup rotation, long-term retention, and many other aspects that make backup storage different than primary storage. ExaGrid's unique Tiered Backup Storage was built specifically to improve backup performance, restore performance, scalability as data grows, security, ransomware recovery, disaster recovery, and improve the economics of backup, with low costs up front and over time," said Andrews. "Primary storage is not as fast for large backup jobs, is typically not scalable, is very expensive for longer-term retention, and it is network-facing, making it vulnerable to security attacks. Inline deduplication appliances are slow for backups, slow for restores, are not scalable, and are also network-facing making them vulnerable to security attacks.

"ExaGrid prides itself on having a highly differentiated product that just works, does what we say it does, is sized properly, is well supported, and just gets the job done. We can back up these claims with our 95% net customer retention, NPS score of +81, and the fact that 94% of our customers have our Retention Time-Lock for Ransomware Recovery feature turned on, and 99% of our customers are on our yearly maintenance and support plan," said Andrews.

Highlights of Q1 2024:

Shipped new 2U EX84 and EX189 appliance models, greatly reducing rack space usage

13 th consecutive quarter of Cash, EBITDA, and P&L positive operations

consecutive quarter of Cash, EBITDA, and P&L positive operations Grew sales leadership team: Appointed Sam Elbeck as Vice President of Americas Sales and Channel Partners Appointed Rohan Cook as Area Vice President of APAC Sales

Gained recognition in industry publications: EX189 appliance has been recognized as a TOP 5 backup target in the 2024-25 DCIG TOP 5 2PB+ Cyber Secure Backup Target Global Edition Report EX18 appliance named a TOP 5 backup target in th e 2024-25 DCIG TOP 5 Sub-2PB Cyber Secure Backup Target Global Edition Report ExaGrid Reseller Partner Program earned 5-Star Award in the 2024 CRN Partner Program Guide



About ExaGrid

ExaGrid provides Tiered Backup Storage with a unique disk-cache Landing Zone, long-term retention repository, and scale-out architecture. ExaGrid's Landing Zone provides for the fastest backups, restores, and instant VM recoveries. The Repository Tier offers the lowest cost for long-term retention. ExaGrid's scale-out architecture includes full appliances and ensures a fixed-length backup window as data grows, eliminating expensive forklift upgrades and product obsolescence. ExaGrid offers the only two-tiered backup storage approach with a non-network-facing tier, delayed deletes, and immutable objects to recover from ransomware attacks.

ExaGrid has physical sales and pre-sales systems engineers in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, Chile, CIS, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nordics, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and other regions.

Visit us at exagrid.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. See what our customers have to say about their own ExaGrid experiences and learn why they now spend significantly less time on backup storage in our customer success stories. ExaGrid is proud of our +81 NPS score!

ExaGrid is a registered trademark of ExaGrid Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240409166666/en/

Contacts:

Mary Domenichelli

ExaGrid

mdomenichelli@exagrid.com
Partnership Reflects OpenGate's Commitment to Working with Organizations That Are Increasing Economic Opportunity for All

OpenGate Capital ("OpenGate"), a global private equity firm, announced today that it has partnered with Ownership Works, a nonprofit organization that works with companies and investors to provide all employees with the opportunity to build wealth at work. The partnership reflects OpenGate's commitment to working with organizations that are increasing economic opportunity for all while implementing dedicated financial wellness programming.

Founded in 2021, Ownership Works helps organizations implement broad-based employee ownership programs that can unlock new levels of success for businesses and create meaningful wealth-building opportunities for employees. Armed with tools, practical models, and hands-on guidance, Ownership Works assists companies in structuring shared ownership programs to boost culture, enhance company performance, and improve employees' financial wellbeing. The organization's mission is to generate at least $20 billion of wealth for workers over the next decade.

OpenGate is proud to be part of Ownership Works' consortium of foundations, corporations, labor advocates, investors, pension funds, and other leading private equity organizations. The partnership aims to enable employees at certain portfolio companies to share in the value they help create and build a sense of ownership.

Andrew Nikou, OpenGate Founder and Managing Partner, stated, "Our partnership with Ownership Works reflects our long-held commitment to being part of the solution with respect to expanding economic opportunity. We look forward to empowering and incentivizing employees with an equity sharing program that ultimately has the potential to improve company performance."

OpenGate is assessing partnership opportunities with Ownership Works that are suitable for their portfolio of investments.

About OpenGate Capital

OpenGate Capital is a global private equity firm specializing in the acquisition and operation of businesses to create new value through operational improvements, innovation, and growth. Established in 2005, OpenGate Capital is headquartered in Los Angeles, California with a European office in Paris, France. OpenGate's professionals possess the critical skills needed to acquire, transition, operate, build, and scale successful businesses. To date, OpenGate Capital has executed more than 40 platform acquisitions across North America and Europe. To learn more about OpenGate, please visit www.opengatecapital.com.

About Ownership Works

Ownership Works is a nonprofit on a mission to increase prosperity through shared ownership at work. It partners with business leaders and investors to provide all employees with the opportunity to become owners and participate in the success they help create. To learn more, please visit www.ownershipworks.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240409533056/en/

Contacts:

OpenGate Media Contacts:

Prosek Partners

Email: Pro-opengate@prosek.com

Alanna Chaffin

Head of Investor Relations Communications

Email: AChaffin@opengatecapital.com

Telephone: +1 310-432-7000

OpenGate Origination Contact:

Joshua Adams

Partner

Email: jadams@opengatecapital.com

Telephone: +1 310-432-7000

Ownership Works Media Contacts:

Sloane PR

Email: ownershipworks@sloanepr.com

Jessica Fregni-Guerra

Manager, Content and Communications

Email: jfregniguerra@ownershipworks.org
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / In a significant leap for financial technology, GENERALIFX, a rapidly expanding name in AI-powered automated trading software and investment management consultancy, announces the launch of its latest innovation. This cutting-edge AI trading tool, designed to transform global financial market forecasts, is redefining investment strategies with its comprehensive, data-driven approach.

Harnessing an innovative amalgamation of technical and fundamental analysis, GENERALIFX has developed its software to simplify the intricate task of data analysis, thus equipping investors with instantaneous insights into market trends and predictive analytics for superior decision-making. This sophisticated technology scrutinizes data from economic and earnings calendars and integrates direct feeds from the premier terminals for financial news and market data, which are crucial for finance professionals, delivering real-time access to exhaustive market data, news, and analytical tools. Such comprehensive integration ensures the provision of precise forecasts across a multitude of trading platforms. With the deployment of this technology, GENERALIFX democratizes success in trading, making it accessible not only to seasoned professionals but also to novices, thereby bridging the gap between experience levels and empowering every investor to achieve success in the financial markets.

"By harnessing the power of our unique AI model, we're not just predicting market movements; we're offering a suite of tools designed for modern investors. From identifying undervalued stocks using sophisticated algorithms to providing advanced risk assessment tools, our software is a game-changer," says Henrik Stenbergsson, CTO at GENERALIFX.

Empowering Investors with Cutting-Edge Features:

Automated Data Analysis: Saves time by automating the analysis of vast amounts of market data.

Real-Time Insights and Trends: Delivers up-to-the-minute market insights and trends.

Predictive Analytics: Enhances decision-making with predictive analytics based on historical and current market data.

Undervalued Stock Identification: Uses algorithms to spot potentially undervalued stocks.

Instant Global Event Monitoring: Keeps tabs on global events for their immediate impact on markets.

Personalized Risk Management: Tailors strategies to individual risk tolerances, optimizing for both safety and performance.

Strategy Testing via Simulations: Allows investors to test strategies through simulations before actual implementation.

AI-Driven Portfolio Diversification: Recommends portfolio diversification strategies based on AI analysis.

Pattern Detection: Detects subtle patterns in stock performance for early investment opportunities.

Emotional Bias Minimization: Helps minimize the emotional biases commonly associated with investing.

Financial News and Social Media Analysis: Tracks financial news and analyzes social media for sentiment trends impacting markets.

Advanced Risk Assessment Tools: Provides tools for a more nuanced understanding of potential risks.

Machine Learning Forecasts: Employs machine learning to forecast market movements accurately.

Big Data Insights: Facilitates access to and interpretation of big data insights.

Dynamic Asset Allocation: Optimizes asset allocation dynamically to respond to market changes.

Trade Entry and Exit Advisories: Advises on the best times to enter or exit trades.

Securities Screening: Screens securities for a range of fundamental and technical indicators.

Market Cycle Understanding: Improves investors' understanding of market cycles for better timing decisions.

Portfolio Rebalancing Efficiency: Enhances the efficiency and timing of portfolio rebalancing.

By integrating these features, GENERALIFX not only simplifies the investment process but also empowers investors to make informed, data-backed decisions. This innovation is set to solidify GENERALIFX's position as a leader in the fintech space, offering both novice and experienced investors alike the tools to navigate the complexities of the global markets with confidence and precision.

For more information about GENERALIFX and to discover the future of automated trading and investment management, visit www.GENERALIFX.com.

About GENERALIFX

GENERALIFX is a pioneering provider of AI-powered automated trading software and global investment management consultancy services. With a commitment to innovation, reliability, and excellence, GENERALIFX delivers unparalleled trading tools and strategic investment solutions, meeting the evolving needs of the global financial markets since 2017.

Contact Information:

Nora Schneider

Marketing Manager

contact@generalifx.com

https://GENERALIFX.com

SOURCE: GENERALIFX

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Strategic acquisitions strengthen OneMind Technologies and expand market reach.

OAK BROOK, IL / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Affluence Corporation, a leader in Smart City Software and Internet of Things (IoT) technology, today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire three IoT technology companies and, along with OneMind Technologies, will form a new company named Digibriks. The proposed acquisition includes companies with complementary software products, engineering, integration, and implementation services capabilities. Affluence has executed Letters of Intent with all three companies, and upon completion, Digibriks will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Affluence, giving OneMind Technologies an end-to-end solution and entry into Telecom, Manufacturing as well as expanding its footprint into the Smart City markets. Affluence is under NDA with all three companies, and the acquired companies will be identified via press release upon completion of the definitive acquisition documents.

"This proposed acquisition is a continuation of our strategic plan to significantly grow Affluence in 2024. The proposed acquisition achieves multiple goals for Affluence," said James E Honan, Jr., CEO of Affluence Corporation. "First and foremost, this acquisition will add to top-line revenue as well as positive earnings and cash flow. In 2023, the combination of these three companies recorded approximately $5 million in revenue and over $1 million in EBITDA. Secondly, we will have an improved technology platform integrating Digibriks' connectivity solutions, IIOT platforms, and digital twin technologies with OneMind, giving Affluence a dominant product in multiple industries. Third, this acquisition will give access to a large installed base for the new OneMind product, greater access to a growing network of a world-class partner ecosystem, and a large reseller and distributor network. In addition, we will take advantage of the economies of scale with a more efficient operating cost structure for all four companies."

The proposed acquisition will strengthen OneMind Technologies' Hypervisor NG product and enable the product to manage devices and networks, connect to Industrial systems and standards, and streamline the operations and maintenance cycles of industrial projects. The merged solutions will also expand the company's integration capabilities beyond The Smart City space to develop new Telecom and Manufacturing opportunities.

Upon completion of the definitive acquisition documents, Affluence will identify the three merged companies in a formal press release. The first of the merged companies specializes in crafting valuable ecosystems through a combination of robust IoT software and networking solutions. The companies are experts in interconnected systems, solution development, and network optimization through a blend of cutting-edge software, integration capabilities, and consulting services. One company provides definitive expertise in project completion, specializing in adaptation design and installation of technology initiatives focusing on smart systems, specifically in the Mobility, Telecom, and Manufacturing sectors. Their unique approach combines deep technical expertise with a client-centric focus to transform complex technology into user-friendly solutions. The third company develops a suite of software products for intelligent IoT platforms. Their software suite includes intelligent device monitoring, intelligent operations centers, and, most importantly, cyber security operations centers. The integration of these technologies with OneMind will be unmatched in the marketplace. All three companies are generating revenue and are cash flow positive.

"Affluence is looking forward to working with all of the principals of the merged companies as we continue to build a world-class software and services organization," continued Honan. "We are excited for the opportunity to take OneMind into more lucrative markets while establishing a complementary partner ecosystem with an installed base to upgrade to Hypervisor NG. In addition, because of our new ability to offer engineering and integration services, we can take a larger piece of the opportunities we win, ensuring a streamlined customer experience."

"In addition, Affluence Corporation would like to provide an update on the acquisitions of Durham Black and Contrivian," said Honan. "All of the involved parties have mutually agreed to extend the due diligence period and extend the timeframe of the Letter of Intent agreements. We had successful and substantive meetings in Chicago last week with both companies, and we should have definitive merger documents for both companies within the next few weeks."

# # #

About Affluence Corporation Affluence Corporation (AFFU.PK) is a diversified technology company focused on smart city and industry software and innovative solutions that capitalize on IoT, AI, 5G and edge technologies. We are investing in mid-market businesses to create a cohesive unit which brings together technology for the next generation of internet. For more information go to https://affucorp.com.

About OneMind Technologies SL OneMind Technologies SL based in Barcelona Spain is a wholly owned subsidiary of Affluence Corporation. The OneMindNG intelligent IoT solution builder is used to create applications for smart city and smart industries operations. Functioning as systems of systems, OneMindNG platform connects data sources to one single point of insight to provide real-time information on operational processes. It is a key component in the Smart City and enterprise solutions currently being offered by several Fortune 50 companies that resell, distribute, and integrate smart city enterprise solutions. For more information go to https://www.onemindng.com.

# # #

For further information contact Affluence Corporation Investor Relations at 720-295-6409.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including: general economic business conditions, competitive and technological factors, markets, services, products and prices, availability and the cost of capital, success of growth initiatives, limited operating history and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commissions. Additionally, this release may not be considered as legal, accounting, or investment advice, and is not, and may not be considered, a solicitation for the purchase of any securities issued by Affluence Corporation.

SOURCE: Affluence Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NEW YORK, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Investments in temperature and humidity monitoring solutions are set to surge in the global food industry due to increasing traceability reporting demands. The implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in the United States amplifies this trend, mandating enhanced reporting protocols for various food products and impacting the entire US food supply chain, including exporters. Global technology intelligence firm ABI Research projects that worldwide revenues from food cold chain track and trace operations will surpass US$7 billion by 2032, encompassing hardware sales and recurring SaaS subscriptions.

"For cold chain management to be effective, it must be enabled by technological solutions, which are critical for maintaining the quality and safety of food products. The need for real-time monitoring across the food supply chain has been exacerbated due to the regulatory compliance requirements in North America and Europe. This includes all stakeholders from farmers and first-line handlers to logistics providers, food manufacturers, and retailers," explains Adhish Luitel, Supply Chain Management & Logistics Senior Analyst at ABI Research.

Service providers that combine monitoring devices and sensors with software solutions are crucial for real-time temperature monitoring and insights during food product transport and transit. The growing trend of adopting such solutions among end users highlights the increasing role of real-time monitoring solutions in maintaining food quality and safety standards during transport in refrigerated trucks and containers. Some key vendors in this space include Samsara, Powerfleet, Motive, Orbcomm, and Sensitech.

"Beyond regulatory compliance, food waste mitigation is also a key enabler for cold chain monitoring growth in the food industry. Between 7% and 15% of all foods spoil during transport, especially imported produce. The recent rise in food imports into the United States and Canada from Mexico and Central America has further heightened the need for 'smart' containers equipped with real-time tracking solutions," concludes Luitel.

These findings are from ABI Research's Food Value Chain & Regulations in North America and Europe report. This report is part of the company's Supply Chain Management & Logistics research service, which includes research, data, and analyst insights.

About ABI Research

ABI Research is a global technology intelligence firm uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology solution providers and end-market companies. We serve as the bridge that seamlessly connects these two segments by providing exclusive research and expert guidance to drive successful technology implementations and deliver strategies proven to attract and retain customers.

ABI Research?????????????,?????????,???????????????????????,??????????????,??????????????????????????,??????????

For more information about ABI Research's services, contact us at +1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific, or visit www.abiresearch.com.

Contact Info:

Global

Deborah Petrara

Tel: +1.516.624.2558

pr@abiresearch.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2309035/ABI_Research_2024.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/food-cold-chain-track-and-trace-technology-revenues-set-to-exceed-us7-billion-amid-growing-regulatory-scrutiny-on-food-supply-chains-302111219.html
CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / (NYSE:KFS) Kingsway Financial Services Inc. ("Kingsway" or the "Company") today announced that it will host an Investor Day following their Annual General Meeting of shareholders in New York City on Monday, May 20, 2024.

President and Chief Executive Officer, John T. Fitzgerald, along with Kent A. Hansen, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and members of the management team will discuss a range of topics covering the Company's operations, long-term growth strategy and financial structure. Prepared presentations will begin at 9:30 am ET running until approximately midday. Separately, the Company will be hosting a cocktail reception later that day at another venue beginning at 5:00 pm ET.

Event Details

The investor day will take place at the New York Stock Exchange (RSVP required) and will also be available virtually at the investors section on the company website: https://kingsway-financial.com/. Individuals interested in attending the in person investor day, as well as the offsite cocktail reception, may RSVP by emailing James@HaydenIR.com.

A live webcast, including video, audio and presentation slides, will be accessible on www.kingswayfinancial.com at the time of the meeting. Those who attend virtually will also have the opportunity to participate in the question-and-answer session following the presentation.

About the Company

Kingsway is a holding company that owns or controls subsidiaries primarily in the extended warranty and business services industries. The common shares of Kingsway are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "KFS."

The Company serves the extended warranty industry through its operating subsidiaries IWS (iwsgroup.com), Penn Warranty (pennwarranty.com), Preferred Warranties (preferredwarranties.com) and Trinity Warranty Solutions (trinitywarranty.com).

The Company serves the business services industry through its operating subsidiaries CSuite (csuitefinancialpartners.com), Ravix (ravixgroup.com), Secure Nursing Service (securenursing.com), SPI Software (spisoftware.com) and Digital Diagnostics, Inc (ddimagingusa.com).

For Media Inquiries:

Hayden IR

James Carbonara

(646) 755-7412

james@haydenir.com For Company Inquiries:

Kingsway Financial Services Inc.

Kent Hansen, CFO

(312) 766-2163

khansen@kingsway-financial.com

SOURCE: Kingsway Financial Services, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / The nationally recognized law firm of Kelley | Uustal has announced that it is welcoming attorney David Hammer to its exceptional trial team.

David Hammer, Esq.

Attorney David Hammer is a partner at Kelley | Uustal.

Hammer has extensive litigation experience spanning decades. He specializes in cases involving catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, complex product liability, and premises liability.

Among the victories in the more than 2,500 cases he has handled are a multimillion-dollar settlement for a brain injury to an infant involved in an automobile crash; a confidential settlement against a worldwide corporate defendant for a slip-and-fall incident that resulted in severe injuries; and a confidential settlement against a school board and teacher for the abuse of special-needs children.

"David's very impressive track record in the courtroom speaks volumes for his passion to succeed at a high level," said John Uustal, founding partner of the firm.

Hammer is AV-rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest rating possible. He also is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which only includes trial lawyers who have won million and multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements.

"I am thrilled and honored to be a part of this fantastic team," Hammer said.

Hammer is a member of the American Association for Justice, the Florida Justice Association, and the Broward County Justice Association, as well as the American Bar Association and Florida Bar Associations.

Hammer received his juris doctor from Nova Southeastern University's School of Law in Davie, Florida. He completed his undergraduate studies at Nova Southeastern and the University of Florida.

Kelley | Uustal (www.kelleyuustal.com), a national law firm based in Fort Lauderdale, is focused on catastrophic injury, wrongful death cases, and complex commercial litigation. The firm can be reached at (954) 522-6601.

Contact Information:

David Bloom

Media Relations Manager

dave.bloom@ournewsroom.com

954-334-5822

SOURCE: Kelley | Uustal

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - Argo Living Soils Corp. (CSE: ARGO) ("Argo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated March 5, 2024 and April 2, 2024, it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (the "MOU") with Connective Global SDN BHD ("Connective Global") to establish a strategic partnership between the two entities.

Pursuant to the MOU, Argo and Connective Global have agreed to jointly pursue the research and development of biochar for agricultural and industrial applications in Malaysia and across certain regions in Asia. Argo and Connective Global intend to work together to research, and develop biochar-enhanced products tailored for distribution in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The research and development of products by Argo and Connective Global will be for a period of 12 months. Pursuant to the MOU, Connective Global will secure the research facilities of University Putra Malaysia for Argo and Connective Global to carry out their joint research. In consideration for use of research facilities and Connective Global's collaboration, Argo has agreed to fund a CAD$100,000 budget for research and development and issue up to one million common shares to Connective Global in stages based on achieving certain performance milestones in connection with the research and development phase, subject to applicable securities laws and exchange acceptance.

On successful completion of the 12-month research and development phase, Argo and Connective Global intend to negotiate and enter into a definitive commercial production agreement.

Expanding Markets: While Argo continues to pursue biochar opportunities in North America, the Company's strategic partnership with Connective Global has already identified promising prospects in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Several Middle Eastern nations are spearheading initiatives to convert desert or arid land into arable farmland. Driven by concerns over food security, population growth, and the imperative to diversify economies, countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan have launched initiatives that underscore a growing recognition of sustainable agriculture's importance.

Through the ongoing discussions, Argo and Connective Global have identified additional opportunities for biochar-related products in key markets such as India and China as well as several South-East Asian nations. Using biochar to restore and enrich heavily used agricultural soils will benefit the food production of those countries.

In summary, the soil enhancement and fertilizer markets have experienced significant transformations over the past decade. Technological advancements, evolving consumer preferences, regulatory shifts, and changing agricultural practices have contributed to an escalating demand for products like Argo's proprietary biochar offerings.

Peter Hoyle, Chief Executive Officer of Argo, comments, "This is an exciting and significant step for Argo, which will allow us to evolve our business in the large and growing Asian market."

About Connective Global

Connective Global is a Malaysian-based company that manufactures and distributes organic fertilizers, agricultural products, and food items in Southeast Asia, with a focus on environmentally sustainable products and services.

About Argo Living Soils Corp.

The Company specializes in producing and developing organic products, including soil amendments, living soils, biofertilizers, vermicompost and compost extracts formulated specifically for high-value crops. The Company's vision and overall business plan are to create an established brand of organic and/or environmentally friendly products. The Company was founded in 2018, and its production facilities have been expanded and relocated to Duncan, British Columbia, in a joint venture with Pacific Composting.

We Seek Safe Harbor.

For further information please contact:

Peter Hoyle

Chief Executive Officer

Argo Living Soils Corp.

Tel: (604) 961-2877

Email: peter.hoyle@shaw.ca

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the completion of the research and development of biochar products pursuant to the MOU; the Company and Connective Global researching, developing and testing biochar-enhanced organic fertilizer products tailored for distribution in Southeast Asia and the Middle East; Connective Global securing the research facilities of University Putra Malaysia; the Company funding a CAD$100,000 budget and issuance of up to one million common shares to Connective Global, Argo and Conenctive Global negotiating and entering into a commercial production agreement on completion of the 12-month research and development term; and Argo creating an established brand of organic and/or environmentally friendly products. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "will have", "intend" "plans", "aims", "potential" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different, including receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/204773

SOURCE: Argo Living Soils Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - Benjamin Hill Mining Corp. (CSE: BNN) (OTCQB: BNNHF) (FSE: 5YZ0) ("BNN" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its previous news release on January 31, 2024, it has altered the consideration for its proposed acquisition of a further interest of Aion Mining Corp. ("Aion") bringing the Company's total interest in Aion to 40% (the "Proposed Transaction").

Proposed Transaction

Originally, the total consideration of $1,875,000 for the Proposed Transaction (the "Consideration") was to be paid to Aion by the payment of $500,000 in cash and the issuance of 2,370,690 common shares in the Company at a deemed price of $0.58 per share. Through further negotiation between the parties, the Company and Aion have decided to alter the makeup of the $1,875,000, such that the consideration the Company will pay to Aion for the Proposed Transaction will be split as follows:

$1,000,000 in cash on closing; and

1,508,621 common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $0.58 per share, subject to CSE policies.

The Company will also grant a right of first refusal for two-years, allowing it to purchase common shares in Aion to offset any further issuances by Aion of securities in order to allow the Company the opportunity to maintain its 40% interest.

Aion is a non-arm's length party to the Company by reason of sharing a common director, Cole McClay. The alteration to the makeup of the consideration was reviewed and approved by a committee of the Company's independent directors.

Completion of the transaction is subject to the receipt of all necessary approvals and consents on terms satisfactory to the parties, including any necessary approvals from the CSE.

There are no assurance or guarantees that the proposed transaction will be completed, whether on the terms and conditions described above or at all. The Company will provide further updates as they become available.

Filing of 43-101 Technical Report

The Company also announces that it has received and filed a technical report for Aion's fully permitted Colombian coal project, which was prepared in support of the Proposed Transaction.

President, Lorne Warner P.Geo, states: "I completed my review of the technical report, and the author holds the experience and professional credentials to complete the NI 43-101 technical report and was prepared in accordance with the National Instrument guidelines. The stated resources in the report represents a small portion of known coal seam occurrences on the concession which remain open along strike in both directions and to depth."

About Benjamin Hill Mining Corp.

Benjamin Hill Mining Corp. is a Canadian-listed junior exploration company focused on exploring and advancing the Alotta project, a prospective porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum project located 50 km south of the Casino porphyry deposit in the unglaciated portion of the Dawson Range porphyry/epithermal belt in the Yukon Territory of Canada.

In addition, the Company holds a 20% interest in Aion Mining Corp., a company that is developing the fully permitted La Estrella coal project in Santander, Colombia. The project contains eight known seams of metallurgical and thermal coal.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Cole McClay", CEO Benjamin Hill Mining Corp.

info@benjaminhillmining.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-Looking information includes, but is not limited to, information concerning the Company's intentions with respect to the development of its mineral properties. Forward-Looking information is based on the views, opinions, intentions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking information (including the actions of other parties who have agreed to do certain things and the approval of certain regulatory bodies). Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws, or to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company, its financial or operating results or its securities. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/204792

SOURCE: Benjamin Hill Mining Corp.
By Alex Wilkins

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Cisco Systems Inc.



This is the second blog in our three-part series about Cisco Foundation climate grantees working in the Amazon and South America region. You can read our first blog, about how Cisco Foundation Grantees prioritize Indigenous leadership to protect the Amazon Basin. This series will introduce you to eight Cisco Foundation Climate Impact & Regeneration grantees working to support preservation and protection of the Amazon basin through three main avenues, all of which are deeply entangled and in tandem serve to promote enduring environmental protection and preservation: Prioritizing Indigenous Sovereignty, Promoting Sustainable Livelihood Opportunities, and Scaling Innovative Financing Opportunities.

This blog was constructed in partnership with my colleagues at Kara Solar: Nantu Canelos and Oliver Utne; Andes Amazon Conservancy, Rebecca Allen; Terraso, Derek Caelin; and Risaralda Model Forest, John Rodriguez.

The Amazon rainforest is a biodiverse tropical ecosystem that spans nine South American countries, is home to over 500 Indigenous groups, and contains 10% of the world's biodiversity. Not only does the Amazon bioregion positively impact broader South America, but it supports life around the world by stabilizing global temperatures and rainfall patterns. Yet, the region is facing enormous pressure from industrial practices such as gold mining, oil drilling, and deforestation for timber and agricultural land. It is clear that urgent action is needed to protect the future of the Amazon and its surrounding ecoregions, but to navigate highly complex sociocultural and geopolitical dynamics can be a daunting task.

Fortunately, a pathway through such complexity known as 'sustainable livelihood opportunities' or 'sustainable development' is rising to the forefront of modern conservation discourse. The term emerged from the United Nations (UN) Conference on Environment and Development summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, often known as the "Earth Summit." Not only did this summit establish the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, along with several other high-impact commissions, but it prominently highlighted how environmental, social, and economic factors are deeply entangled, and can be pursued in harmony with one another on a global scale.

According to the WWF (formerly World Wildlife Fund for Nature), many of the most important strategies for protecting terrestrial ecosystems in the Amazon combine traditional conservation methods with sustainable landscape management practices. A multitude of opportunities and methods are rising to the forefront of modern discourse around South American ecosystem protection through practices like agroforestry and sustainable fishing. The key for these opportunities is to identify alternatives to destructive practices like intensive logging, and co-create participatory management with local communities.

What does this look like in practice? It's my pleasure to introduce you to three Cisco Foundation grantees that are working to provide sustainable economic empowerment to local, often Indigenous, communities throughout the Amazon and its connected, neighboring ecosystems across South America.

Transportation sovereignty empowered by Kara Solar

Kara Solar formed in 2018 from an alliance between the Achuar people in Ecuador, and a multi-disciplinary engineering, design, and development team, with a clear vision to empower Indigenous communities in the Amazon with solar energy.

According to Kara Solar's Executive Director, Nantu Canelos, the "lack of access to electricity in Indigenous communities limits our ability to access technology, improve the health and well-being of our people, and develop business that economically support our communities." Kara Solar seeks to alleviate these pressures through three interconnected approaches: solar river transport, training Indigenous electrical technicians, and localized community energy grids.

This new model of transportation provides communities with "travel and energy sovereignty," or the ability for communities to implement and manage resilient transportation and energy systems in their own territories, on their own terms. Nantu illustrates the importance and elegance of travel sovereignty: "it improves the quality of life of Indigenous communities and helps to conserve the environment."

To bring this to life, Kara Solar provides training programs, localized supply chains, innovative financing mechanisms, and technical implementation. They now support a fleet of 9 boats, and 3 community solar energy grids which currently serve over 3000 people. A critical part of this model is training Indigenous technicians, which ensures the capacity to address mechanical breakdowns is local and therefore more readily available, and it provides a source of income to those who have newly developed technical skills.

"Kara" is an Achuar word for a vision that becomes real. Kara Solar's vision is clear, ambitious, and in alignment with Cisco's priority to accelerate the transition to clean energy while supporting resiliency and capacity.

According to Nantu, "Our vision for the future is one in which Indigenous communities move independently and autonomously with solar powered river transportation and use solar energy to illuminate homes and businesses, access technology and information, improve the health and well-being of community members, protect territories, and promote sustainable development. We are working to protect Indigenous culture and ensure that future generations are able to use technology to create new solutions that benefit the environment and humanity. We seek the protection of forests for the well-being of humanity."

Andes Amazon Conservancy's Edible Forest Initiative supports food sovereignty

Andes Amazon Conservancy (AAC), and their new sister nonprofit organization Biocorredores Amazonicos, seek to maintain critical connectivity, or "eco-cultural corridors" among the landscapes between the Andes Mountains and the Amazon basin by centering Indigenous-led conservation in Ecuador and innovative land-use planning. AAC currently engages with 75 Indigenous communities.

One of AAC's flagship programs, the Edible Forest Initiative, contributes to AAC's overall goal of creating a 175-mile-long corridor and protecting 6 million acres of land.

According to Executive Director Rebecca Allen, "Communities participating in the Edible Forest Initiative are planting 20,000 culturally relevant native fruit and nut trees over 300 acres of carefully chosen land."

When these trees reach maturity, in an anticipated 5-years' time, they will not only connect vast swaths of rainforest, but cash crops will also provide an essential foundation for local economies, as well as food security. This is what AAC refers to as "food sovereignty": a reduced reliance on extractive industries that enables local, sustainable, and self-defined food systems.

The Edible Forest Initiative program is an example of how economic empowerment and food sovereignty are not diametrically opposed to ecosystem and climate resilience. Not only do trees sequester carbon and retain water, but the nurseries are strategically situated in areas that need immediate restoration and are critical for safeguarding biodiversity.

Tree roots along deforested streams and riverbanks provide soil stability, preventing erosion and runoff, and can help address those challenges. According to Rebecca, "With the guidance of conservation land-use planning, Indigenous communities make the deliberate choice to prohibit human development in these riparian areas, thus contributing to the preservation of [ecosystem] quality for both present and future generations."

Sustainable Landscape Management in Bosque Modelo Risaralda supported by Terraso

*Please note: statements were provided in Spanish, and John Rodriguez' original quotes can be found at the bottom of the article.

Terraso, a social enterprise from Tech Matters, seeks to put agency back in the hands of people who play a significant role in shaping their local landscapes, such as pastoralists, smallholder farmers or Indigenous people. Though these local landscape leaders can play a crucial role in managing and preserving their land, they often lack the technical instruments to bring together key collaborators, build a shared understanding, or communicate to potential donors. Terraso provides tools for participating landscapes to map and manager their territories, while providing a platform to visually tell stories about their work.

I recently had the opportunity to hear some of these stories directly from one of Terraso's partners, the Bosque Modelo Risaralda Landscape Partnership (BMR), in Colombia, who have spent the last 25 years leading a participatory landscape management model. Covering an area of 359,000 hectares, the alliance in Risaralda unifies research universities, community organizations, governmental institutions, and donors to promote biodiversity and strengthen livelihoods through sustainable production systems. It is this collaborative effort that, according to Bosque Modelo Risaralda Manager, John Rodriguez, "will provide our socio-ecosystems with resilience in the face of climate change."1 John affirms their belief "that it is not possible to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services without simultaneously promoting sustainable livelihoods."2

One specific example within BMR is the Cuchilla de San Juan coffee growers' association (story map in Spanish), which promotes maintenance of coffee plantations through environmentally sustainable practices, such as utilizing shade trees alongside coffee bushes. A small group of local producers have restored their plantations with native species, minimized use of agrochemicals, reduced water usage, and included young people in business planning. According to John, these types of "innovations in agricultural sectors can provide flexible finance systems furthering sustainable practices and healthy lives."3

BMR is one of many examples of integrated landscape management practices within South America that are beginning to use Terraso's services and platform to share their successful practices with other landscape leaders and attract potential donors. Terraso and the Cisco Foundation both believe that shifting high-quality tools, information, and investments to local leaders to increase their own capacity will lead to better environmental and economic outcomes for us all.

Rather than continuing an aged paradigm of "hands-off" conservation, these three Cisco Foundation partners working in and around the Amazon are prioritizing the integration of economic livelihoods and environmental preservation with community-designed, locally driven, and culturally appropriate programs.

Our partners showcase how stable environments, inclusive societies, and thriving economies can work together to promote resiliency in our changing climate.

Footnotes:

1 - "En el Bosque Modelo Risaralda creemos que este trabajo mancomunado por las sostenibilidad es importante porque es la manera de preparar nuestros socioecosistemas para ser resilientes a los cambios, especialmente el cambio climatico y el cambio global."

2 - "Creemos que no es posible conservar la biodiversidad y los servicios ecosistemicos si al mismo tiempo no garantizamos modos de vida sostenibles"

3 - "La innovacion en los sectores productivos agricolas, la preparacion social para el cambio climatico, las innovaciones financieras para modos de vida sostenibles"

View original content here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cisco Systems Inc. on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cisco Systems Inc.

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cisco-systems-inc

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Cisco Systems Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Colorado-Based Companies Foster Powerful Collaboration With Shared Goals of Supporting Agents and Homeowners

DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, a leading provider of real estate home service plans, will be the preferred home service plan provider for Brokers Guild Real Estate, a major real estate brokerage in Colorado.

"Providing 2-10's exceptional Buyer and Seller Coverage is a powerful tool for real estate brokerages looking to support agent success and improve the experience of homeownership," said 2-10's Chief Business Officer Ray Picard. "2-10's trusted coverage enhances Brokers Guild's strategy of giving their agents a competitive advantage in one of the hottest housing markets in the nation."

Home service plans are the leading home-selling incentive to attract buyers in 2024. The two Colorado-based companies are joining forces to help real estate agents protect their transactions, stand out in the market and implement risk management strategies.

"2-10 positions our agents to pursue more success by offering valuable peace of mind to buyers and sellers throughout and beyond the most meaningful transaction of their lives," said Brokers Guild Real Estate's Chief Executive Officer Luis Gonzalez. "For more than 45 years, Brokers Guild Real Estate has taken immense pride in empowering our agents to do the right thing, achieve success and provide outstanding service to our clients that exceeds expectations-2-10 allows us to do that even more effectively."

2-10 anticipates that the ability of Brokers Guild to offer 2-10 home service plans will strengthen listings; address common causes of buyer's remorse; and improve the transaction experience for agents, buyers and sellers.

"2-10 is the name real estate agents trust to protect their transactions, bolster their reputations and support their clients," said 2-10's Vice President of Real Estate Sales Leo Jaisingani. "We're confident that 2-10 home service plans will add value to the services Brokers Guild's agents offer."

To learn more about how 2-10 helps agents provide the comprehensive, flexible and convenient coverage their clients deserve, visit 2-10.com/agent.

About 2-10

Founded and based in Denver, the 2-10 family of companies has covered over 6 million homes with their complete line of warranties, system and appliance home service plans and risk management products. Since 1980, 2-10 has been a market leader in helping builders, real estate agents and homeowners protect their businesses and budgets against the unexpected. 2-10 continues to work with thousands of the nation's finest real estate professionals, home builders and service contractors. For more information about 2-10, please visit 2-10.com.

About Brokers Guild Real Estate

Since 1978, Brokers Guild Real Estate has offered positive, friendly and reliable services to both home buyers and sellers. Brokers Guild Real Estate empowers agents to represent buyers and sellers without resorting to high-pressure sales tactics that are commonly used at other brokerages. Brokers Guild Real Estate strives to provide the best possible experience for agents, buyers and sellers alike. For more information about Brokers Guild Real Estate, visit brokersguildrealestate.com/.

Contact Information:

Mark Plumb

Marketing Manager

mplumb@2-10.com

720.747.6142

SOURCE: 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Armored vehicles rumble on field

China Military Online) 16:13, April 09, 2024

Armored vehicles attached to a reconnaissance detachment of a regiment under the PLA Xinjiang Military Command rumble on the field during a training exercise on March 23, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Haoqing)

Armored vehicles attached to a reconnaissance detachment of a regiment under the PLA Xinjiang Military Command rumble on the field during a training exercise on March 23, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Haoqing)

Armored vehicles attached to a reconnaissance detachment of a regiment under the PLA Xinjiang Military Command rumble on the field during a training exercise on March 23, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Haoqing)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
The conference showcased Grafana Labs' ongoing commitment to the open source ecosystem and shone a light on innovative community use cases

Grafana Labs, the company behind the world's most ubiquitous, open and composable operational dashboards, today made three major announcements that build on its commitment to the open source community: the release of Grafana 11.0, Loki 3.0, and Grafana Alloy the company's open source distribution of the OpenTelemetry Collector.

These updates were unveiled during Grafana Labs' sold-out GrafanaCON community conference in Amsterdam, held in person for the first time in five years. GrafanaCON, originally centered solely on the Grafana project, has evolved this year to include the extended open source observability ecosystem.

GrafanaCON 2024: All About Community and Creative Use Cases

"Ten years ago, when I started working on the side project that would eventually become Grafana, I could never have imagined the use cases that it would inspire. I'm continuously impressed by the boundless creativity and innovation of our community," said Torkel Odegaard, Co-Founder, Grafana Labs. "I'm really excited that we're bringing GrafanaCON back in person and have the opportunity to connect with some of the more than 20 million users who are leveraging Grafana to make a positive impact in their lives, in their communities, and across the universe."

GrafanaCON provided an opportunity for Grafana Labs to share how it continues to invest in its growing open source community, educate users on how the LGTM (Loki, Grafana, Tempo, Mimir) stack fits into the broader open source landscape, and spotlight some of the most innovative and exciting Grafana use cases from the past year. JAXA Associate Senior Researcher Satoshi Nakahira's session focused on how the Japanese space agency uses Grafana for its real-time status monitoring system for science satellites and probes, including the SLIM smart lander that reached the moon in January. Mathias Pawlowsky, Head of Data Science at Planted, shared how the plant-based food company utilizes Grafana to monitor all production data. Tomas Grbalik, Software Engineer at YSoft, explained how his team uses OpenTelemetry and the LGTM stack to observe and monitor smart robots.

During the keynote, Grafana Labs CEO Raj Dutt presented the second annual Golden Grot Awards, which recognize dashboards created by community members. The winner in the personal category, Ruben Fernandez, built a dashboard to track his commute in Atlanta. In the professional category, Christopher Field of Theia Scientific was awarded for a dashboard that monitors the growth of defects in steel alloys caused by exposure to radiation for next-generation nuclear fission reactors and fusion energy.

"Our goal is to make it easier and faster to get started for anyone whether they're landing on the moon or monitoring their daily commute to get started with observability, and today's announcements at GrafanaCON are another big step in that direction," said Tom Wilkie, CTO, Grafana Labs. "Grafana users can build a fully composable observability stack with Loki as the data backend and Alloy as the data pipeline, which then brings that data into Grafana to visualize. This interoperable open source stack will help users achieve new levels of efficiency and insight."

Grafana 11: Making It Easier to Democratize Your Data

The 11.0 release of Grafana, the company's flagship open source data visualization platform, was announced during the keynote. The new updates make it easier and faster to connect users' data, visualize it in a beautiful and functional way, share it with others, and respond to incidents. This release includes a host of improvements and new features that help all users from SREs to hobbyists keep their systems healthy with flexible data visualization and allow large organizations to level up their centralized observability strategy, including:

Faster Root Cause Analysis with Explore Metrics : Explore Metrics provides a query-less experience for Prometheus metrics. Without so much as seeing a PromQL query, users can now visualize a metric, drill down to spot anomalies, and pivot to similar metrics with the same labels to discover the root cause of issues and get a holistic view of their data. The team also introduced Explore Logs, which provides a query-less experience for browsing Loki logs. Users can view logs by service as well as navigate and filter logs based on volume, labels, and patterns all without LogQL. It will be available in preview for users of Grafana 11+ and Loki 3.0.

: Explore Metrics provides a query-less experience for Prometheus metrics. Without so much as seeing a PromQL query, users can now visualize a metric, drill down to spot anomalies, and pivot to similar metrics with the same labels to discover the root cause of issues and get a holistic view of their data. The team also introduced Explore Logs, which provides a query-less experience for browsing Loki logs. Users can view logs by service as well as navigate and filter logs based on volume, labels, and patterns all without LogQL. It will be available in preview for users of Grafana 11+ and Loki 3.0. Improved Visualizations : The new Scenes-based architecture introduces an edit mode for dashboards as well as a more consistent sharing experience. The new logs table view makes logs easier to view, read, and parse in Explore. The Canvas panel now has pan and zoom, snap and alignment, and buttons to interact with the systems users are monitoring.

: The new Scenes-based architecture introduces an edit mode for dashboards as well as a more consistent sharing experience. The new logs table view makes logs easier to view, read, and parse in Explore. The Canvas panel now has pan and zoom, snap and alignment, and buttons to interact with the systems users are monitoring. Simpler Alerting : New Grafana Alerting functionality includes connecting alert rules directly to contact points, improved Terraform management, and finer-grained access control.

: New Grafana Alerting functionality includes connecting alert rules directly to contact points, improved Terraform management, and finer-grained access control. Expanding Grafana's Big Tent with New Data Sources : Grafana 11 introduces new data sources Falcon LogScale, Looker, Pagerduty, and SumoLogic with many more shipping by the end of the year.

: Grafana 11 introduces new data sources Falcon LogScale, Looker, Pagerduty, and SumoLogic with many more shipping by the end of the year. Integrate with Tempo and Traces : Users will now be able to see profiles within a trace span to figure out not just what process, but also what function, took all the time in a given request.

: Users will now be able to see profiles within a trace span to figure out not just what process, but also what function, took all the time in a given request. Configure SSO in the UI: Administrators can set up Oauth or SAML user authentication and synchronize teams to Grafana with a new UI.

Administrators can set up Oauth or SAML user authentication and synchronize teams to Grafana with a new UI. Build observability applications with the New Grafana App Platform: The new Grafana App Platform extends the core Grafana API to provide stronger integration points for application developers. Developers can get started in our new dev portal.

Grafana 11 is currently available to download in public preview and is rolling out to Grafana Cloud users. It will be generally available on May 14.

Loki 3.0: Quicker Queries and Native OpenTelemetry Integration

Grafana Loki was announced at KubeCon CloudNativeCon in Seattle at the end of 2018, and five years later, the popular logging project (more than 21k GitHub stars) is releasing version 3.0. Loki 3.0 includes several key updates including bloom-filter query acceleration and native OpenTelemetry support.

Query Acceleration with Bloom Filters : From the start, Loki has followed the Prometheus label-based data model, which is best suited for developer use cases while keeping scale and cost-effectiveness in mind. This approach made it easy to adopt and integrate Loki within an organization, but made it more difficult for non-developers to take advantage of common search and indexing benefits. This barrier is removed in Loki 3.0, which leverages bloom filters to accelerate queries that search for text strings, such as an order ID or user ID. This update will help users to speed up their needle-in-a-haystack queries from minutes to seconds.

: From the start, Loki has followed the Prometheus label-based data model, which is best suited for developer use cases while keeping scale and cost-effectiveness in mind. This approach made it easy to adopt and integrate Loki within an organization, but made it more difficult for non-developers to take advantage of common search and indexing benefits. This barrier is removed in Loki 3.0, which leverages bloom filters to accelerate queries that search for text strings, such as an order ID or user ID. This update will help users to speed up their needle-in-a-haystack queries from minutes to seconds. Native OpenTelemetry Support Added: As OpenTelemetry adoption continues to grow in the community, Loki seeks to meet users where they are with the addition of native OTLP support. With Loki 3.0, users can ingest, store, and query OTLP logs and metadata to solve observability problems.

During GrafanaCON, the Loki engineering team also shared the project's roadmap for making Loki easier to use for its current users, and more accessible to a broader audience. Areas of focus include ease of operating Loki, the ability to cost-effectively support teams at larger and larger scale, interoperability with other Grafana telemetry offerings, and lower user-facing complexity.

Introducing Alloy: A 'Big Tent' Collector That Brings Grafana, OpenTelemetry, and Prometheus Closer Together

According to Grafana Labs' 2024 Observability Survey, an overwhelming majority of respondents report that they are investing in Prometheus (89%) or OpenTelemetry (85%). Almost 40% of respondents use both in production, and more than 50% increased their usage of both projects over the past year. As reliance on these projects continues to grow, Grafana Labs is focused on increasing the interoperability of the two projects with each other as well as with Grafana and Alloy does just that.

Grafana Alloy is Grafana Labs' distribution of the OpenTelemetry collector and is 100% OTLP compatible. Alloy combines the best open source observability signals in the community and offers native pipelines for both OpenTelemetry and Prometheus telemetry formats, supporting metrics, logs, traces, and profiles.

Alloy is vendor-agnostic by design and compatible anywhere the OpenTelemetry Collector or Prometheus Agent is used, but it is uniquely optimized for Grafana Cloud. As a "big tent" collector, it also fits with many different architectures, meaning users can configure Alloy with their observability solution to fit on-prem, cloud-only, or a mix of both. It's flexible enough to cater to different users, large and small, at any phase of their observability journey.

Resources

Read the Grafana 11 release blog

Learn more about Alloy

Check out new updates to Loki 3.0

About Grafana Labs

Grafana Labs provides an open and composable monitoring and observability stack built around Grafana, the leading open source technology for dashboards and visualization. There are more than 3,000 Grafana Labs customers, including Bloomberg, Citigroup, Dell Technologies, Salesforce, and TomTom, and more than 20M Grafana users around the world. Grafana Labs helps companies achieve their observability goals with the LGTM Stack, which features scalable metrics (Grafana Mimir), logs (Grafana Loki), and traces (Grafana Tempo) as well as extensive enterprise data source plugins, dashboard management, alerting, reporting, and security. The fully managed Grafana Cloud offering is designed to help organizations get observability up and running easier and faster, with turnkey solutions for Kubernetes and infrastructure monitoring, incident response management, load testing, application observability, and more. Grafana Labs is backed by leading investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Lead Edge Capital, GIC, Sequoia Capital, Coatue, and J.P. Morgan. Follow Grafana Labs on LinkedIn and Twitter or visit grafana.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240409696581/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Alexa Becker

press@grafana.com
SAN DIEGO, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Geekplus, the global leader in mobile robot and smart logistics solutions, has won an RBR50 Innovation Award, given annually by the Robot Business Review to recognize innovation in the mobile robotics industry. Geekplus has won its third RBR50 award for updates to the PopPick system, an extension of its flagship Shelf-to-Person solution.

The Geekplus modular Shelf-to-Person solution optimizes warehouse operations using mobile robots to transport shelves. Shelf-to-Person handles goods of all sizes while removing the need for infrastructure investment, making it the most flexible response to order fulfillment challenges.

Each PopPick station uses two retrieval arms and four presentation locations to present pickers with multiple 60-tote racks at one time, resulting in unrivaled throughput.

"We've seen high demand for PopPick in the retail and e-commerce space due to the need for increased throughput and efficiency. That high demand has resulted in multiple projects around the globe including large deployments with UPS Supply Chain Solutions in the United States," said Lit Fung, managing director at Geekplus. "The Robot Business Review's recognition of our Shelf-to-Person PopPick advancements is a welcome acknowledgement that we're on the right track."

Geekplus is committed to empowering customers with a range of reliable and innovative order fulfillment solutions that truly address each customer's unique business needs. Customers rely on the Shelf-to-Person system because it is cost-efficient, easy to use and can be swiftly implemented, with no fixed infrastructure.

"The incredible work of this year's RBR50 winners represents the cutting edge of robotics and raises the bar for the industry," said Steve Crowe, executive editor, robotics, of WTWH Media. "We look forward to celebrating all of the innovators at the inaugural RBR50 Gala during the Robotics Summit & Expo. Congratulations to the RBR50."

About Geekplus

Geekplus is a global leader in mobile robotics technologies. We develop innovative robotics solutions for order fulfilment. More than 1,000 global industry leaders use our solutions to realize flexible, reliable, and highly efficient automation for warehouses and supply chain management. Founded in 2015, Geekplus has over 1,500 employees, with offices in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore.

About the RBR50

For more than 10 years now, the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards have recognized the most innovative and influential organizations in the robotics industry. All of the 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award winners will be celebrated at the Robotics Summit & Expo, which will be held on May 1-2 in Boston. Tickets for the inaugural RBR50 Gala can be purchased when registering for the Robotics Summit.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2382518/Geekplus.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2373458/Geekplus_logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/geek-awarded-rbr-innovation-award-for-third-time-named-among-globes-top-robotics-innovators-302111807.html
The bank's annual volunteer program is focusing on building financial confidence.

BIRMINGHAM, AL / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Regions Bank on Tuesday announced the launch of its 15th annual Share the Good initiative, a company-wide volunteer effort that benefits communities served by Regions throughout the Southeast, the Midwest and Texas. To complement the bank's Financial Literacy Month activities this April, Regions' 2024 Share the Good theme is Helping Students Build Financial Confidence.

Regions associates will work with community organizations, youth programs and schools to deliver Regions Next Step financial wellness curriculum, teach financial education workshops, and more.

According to Gina Sian, who leads the Regions Making Life Better Institute program, aligning Share the Good initiatives with Financial Literacy Month integrates volunteerism with a key pillar of Regions Bank's community engagement strategy - financial wellness.

"We believe building positive money habits needs to start early," Sian said. "Our middle and high schoolers are the next generation of savers, spenders and investors. If our associates can help students understand the power of their financial choices at a young age, then we can help jump-start their journey toward financial wellness and success."

The Share the Good program is part of an ongoing commitment to community outreach. In 2023, Regions associates volunteered 104,000 hours in the areas where they live and work. More than 1,300 associates were named Regions Community Champions for dedicating at least 16 hours of service to the community - a 54% increase from the prior year.

"The Share the Good program is an opportunity to further use our experience and financial insights in ways that benefit people beyond the four walls of the bank," said Brett Shaffer, head of Community Relations at Regions. "It's another example of how Regions can rally around locally driven service opportunities and make a meaningful impact on others."

Share the Good activities will continue through April 30. Examples include:

Birmingham, Ala.: Regions teams in Jefferson and Shelby counties are organizing several financial wellness events:

On April 17, GEAR UP Jefferson County is hosting Regions Day. Volunteers will present Banking Basics for Students, part of the Regions Next Step curriculum. There will also be a Regions Next Step Reality Check budget simulation.

Later in the month, associates will teach Money Basics for Life to students with disabilities at Tarrant High School.

Opportunities will also be available to conduct financial education courses at the Birmingham Housing Authority and at the Pinson Valley High School Cosmetology Program.

Additionally, more than a dozen Regions volunteers will participate in Junior Achievement's "JA in a Day" at Grantswood Community School.

Shreveport, La.: Regions associates are excited about facilitating Reality Check budget simulations several times throughout the month:

On April 9, 10 and 11, teams will work with Volunteers of America North Louisiana and Broadmoor STEM Academy to host these fun, educational exercises for students in VOA's Lighthouse after-school program.

Another group will lead Reality Check simulations, which replicate real-life financial situations, at Booker T. Washington High School.

Houston, Texas: Regions associates will work with Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, including by participating in JA in a Day at League Elementary in Pasadena and assisting with JA Finance Park, a program emphasizing personal financial planning and career exploration.

Raleigh, N.C.: Regions Market Executive Terry Hoey is leading by example, teaching financial literacy courses at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wake County, and he's passionate about Sharing the Good. "Helping more people understand the essentials of money management is one of the most powerful ways we can help our communities," Hoey said. "Reaching students at an early age, especially those from families that may be unbanked or underbanked, helps build a foundation for future success."

Across Iowa: Regions associates are connecting with Iowa Jobs For America's Graduates (iJAG) to present virtual financial education classes to 155 schools throughout the state. The students will review basic banking concepts and learn about money management, saving, creditworthiness and the importance of safeguarding financial information.

Jackson, Tenn.: Kathy Lovell, Regions' Disability Outreach and Services manager, will be on hand at the STAR Center in April to present a Regions Next Step Money for Life course. The STAR Center is a community organization that provides services for education, employment and independence for people with disabilities in West Tennessee.

Community engagement is a significant part of the culture at Regions and is fostered through a variety of ongoing programs. For example, every year, Regions offers associates a paid day off to volunteer in their community. Further, as part of its Making Life Better Institute, the bank connects associates with a wide range of ongoing volunteerism opportunities that align with their skills and experience. Examples of the bank's involvement are available in the annual Shared Value Report and the Community Engagement section of Regions' news website, Doing More Today.

Watch this brief video and be inspired as Leroy Abrahams, head of Community Affairs at Regions Bank, reads the book "The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money" to preschool children at Pathways in Birmingham, Alabama. According to Abrahams, introducing concepts such as saving and responsible spending to young kids lays the foundation for building positive money habits as they get older.

About Regions Financial Corporation

Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $152 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regions Bank on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Regions Bank

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/regions-bank

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Regions Bank

View the original press release on accesswire.com
CHICAGO, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Future developments in the wireless broadband market for public safety include the adoption of AI and ML for predictive analytics, the integration of 5G technology, the growth of IoT and sensor networks, the emphasis on interoperability and integration, and cooperation through public-private partnerships to speed up innovation and deployment of cutting-edge communication solutions for improved emergency response capabilities.

The Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market is expected to reach USD 126.9 billion by 2029 from USD 40.2 billion in 2024, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 25.9% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets.

The competitive landscape and the existence of a robust vendor ecosystem play a pivotal role in propelling innovation and development within the Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market. The dynamic competition among technology providers fosters a continuous push for advancements, driving the evolution of more sophisticated and cost-effective solutions. In this competitive environment, companies strive to outpace each other in introducing cutting-edge features, improving system interoperability, and enhancing overall performance. The race to meet and exceed market demands encourages rapidly integrating emerging technologies into wireless broadband in public safety, such as 5G Networks, Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk (MCPTT), Body-Worn Cameras and Sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) Integration, and advanced Data Analytics. As vendors vie for market share, customers benefit from diverse options, leading to an accelerated pace of innovation and a broader range of choices. The competitive forces within the Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market catalyze continuous improvement, ensuring that the sector remains at the forefront of technological advancements while fostering sustained market growth.

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317 - Tables

53 - Figures

270 - Pages

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Scope of the Report

Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2018-2029 Base year considered 2023 Forecast period 2024-2029 Forecast units Value (USD) Billion Segments Covered By offering (hardware, software, service), technology (mobile wireless broadband, fixed wireless broadband, satellite wireless broadband), end user (first responders, critical infrastructure operators, other end users), application (critical communications, video surveillance and monitoring, automated vehicle tracking, geographic information system, other applications) Region covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Companies covered AT&T(US), Verizon Communications Inc (US), Cisco Systems, Inc (US), Ericsson (Sweden), Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd (China), Broadcom (US), HPE Aruba Networks (US), Extreme Networks (US), Juniper Networks (US), Motorola Solutions (US), NEC Corporation (Japan), Netgear, Inc (US), Semtech Corporation (US), ZTE Corporation (China), General Dynamics Corporation (US), L3Harris Technologies, Inc (US), Bittium Corporation (Finland), Hughes Network Systems, LLC (US), Hytera Communications Corporation (China), Cambium Networks Limited (US), Infinet Wireless (Netherlands), Netronics Networks (Canada), Proxim Wireless (US), Radwin (Israel), Aviat Networks, Inc (US), Knightscope (US), Parallel Wireless (US)

Based on application, critical communications segment to hold the largest market size during the forecast period.

Within the Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market, the critical communications segment is estimated to capture the largest market size throughout the forecast period of 2024-2029. There's an expanding demand for public safety LTE (Long-Term Evolution) due to its dependable and high-speed data connectivity, perfectly suited for mission-critical tasks in disaster response, law enforcement, and emergency medical services. As public safety organizations strive to elevate their communication functionalities, the adoption of public safety LTE is expected to witness a substantial rise. The increasing prevalence of next-generation technologies like 5G presents even faster data speeds, coupled with ultra-low latency and network slicing. Network slicing allows for creating dedicated networks specifically designed for public safety applications. This enhanced performance will support critical applications such as real-time video streaming and remote surgery. Furthermore, governments worldwide acknowledge the criticality of public safety broadband networks and actively invest in infrastructure development through initiatives and mandates. These endeavors will generate a significant demand for solutions in critical communication. Finally, strict regulations exist regarding public safety communication, emphasizing the need for reliability, security, and constant availability. These regulations ensure that critical communication solutions adhere to these strict requirements. Consequently, the demand for dependable and secure communication technologies is projected to continue upward. In essence, the convergence of these factors will propel the critical communications segment to the forefront of Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market during the forecast period.

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Based on end user, first responders segment is expected to hold a higher growth rate during the forecast period.

Anticipated to achieve a higher growth rate within the Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market throughout the 2024-2029 forecast period, the first responders segment is driven by a compelling need for enhanced situational awareness and accelerated response times. Wireless broadband empowers first responders in several ways. It facilitates real-time data sharing, enabling the exchange of critical information like live video feeds, medical records, and building plans. This fosters superior coordination, swifter decision-making, and a more streamlined emergency response. Wireless broadband strengthens operational efficiency through seamless communication between first responders deployed in the field and command centers. This leads to faster resource allocation, improved personnel tracking, and a more coordinated overall approach during operations. Real-time access to crucial data like weather updates, hazardous material information, and criminal records enhances safety for first responders by enabling better risk assessment and safer operations. Furthermore, governments worldwide increasingly recognize the importance of equipping first responders with cutting-edge technologies. This surge in government funding will directly propel growth within the first responder segment of the Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market. Lastly, the ever-changing landscape of emergencies and public safety threats, encompassing everything from natural disasters to cyberattacks and active shooter situations, necessitates ever-more sophisticated communication tools for first responders. Wireless broadband offers high bandwidth, reliability, and security essential for tackling these evolving challenges, thereby accelerating adoption within the first responder segment. In essence, the emphasis on faster response times, heightened situational awareness, government funding directed towards public safety technologies, and the continuous evolution of threats all merge to fuel the projected higher growth rate of the first responders segment in the Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market during the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is expected to hold a higher growth rate during the forecast period.

The Asia-Pacific region is poised to experience the highest growth rate in the global wireless broadband for public safety market during the 2024-2029 forecast period. This surge is driven by a confluence of factors. Flourishing economies and supportive government initiatives are leading to increased investments in public safety infrastructure, focusing on advanced communication networks for first responders. The vast population of the Asia-Pacific region presents a significant untapped market for wireless broadband solutions. This, coupled with growing security concerns related to terrorism, natural disasters, and cybercrime, further accelerates the demand for robust and reliable public safety communication networks. Consequently, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to dominate the growth of Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market for the foreseeable future.

Top Key Companies in Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market:

The major vendors covered in the Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market are AT&T(US), Verizon Communications Inc (US), Cisco Systems, Inc (US), Ericsson (Sweden), Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd (China), Broadcom (US), HPE Aruba Networks (US), Extreme Networks (US), Juniper Networks (US), Motorola Solutions (US), NEC Corporation (Japan), Netgear, Inc (US), Semtech Corporation (US), ZTE Corporation (China), General Dynamics Corporation (US), L3Harris Technologies, Inc (US), Bittium Corporation (Finland), Hughes Network Systems, LLC (US), Hytera Communications Corporation (China), Cambium Networks Limited (US), Infinet Wireless (Netherlands), Netronics Networks (Canada), Proxim Wireless (US), Radwin (Israel), Aviat Networks, Inc (US), Knightscope (US), Parallel Wireless (US). These players have adopted various growth strategies, such as partnerships, agreements and collaborations, new product launches, enhancements, and acquisitions to expand their footprint in the Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market.

Recent Developments

In October 2023, Ericsson launched software toolkit for communications service providers (CSPs) to strengthen 5G Standalone network capabilities and enable premium services with differentiated connectivity.

In July 2022, Huawei introduced the Huawei Router 3B Pro with Wi-Fi-7 capabilities, which can transfer a single file through both 2.4gHz and 5gHz channels to boost speed.

In June 2022, AT&T launched location-based routing to automatically transmit wireless 9-1-1 calls to the appropriate 9-1-1 call centers on a nationwide basis.

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Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market Advantages:

Enhances situational awareness and speeds up response times in emergency scenarios by enabling real-time data sharing, video streaming, and location tracking for emergency personnel.

Promotes effective communication and cooperation between various public safety organisations and authorities, allowing for coordinated emergency responses and interoperability across various communication platforms.

Gives first responders in the field mobile internet connectivity, enabling them to access vital data, databases, and resources from any location at any time, improving operational efficacy and efficiency.

Enhances the dependability and resilience of public safety operations by providing redundant and resilient communication infrastructure that guarantees communication during emergencies, network congestion, or infrastructure failures.

Improves situational awareness and makes it possible to respond proactively to possible threats or incidents by enabling remote monitoring and management of security cameras, sensors, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices installed in public safety contexts.

Enables effective real-time data sharing and analysis by offering high-speed data transmission and bandwidth capacity for bandwidth-intensive applications including mission-critical apps, data analytics, and video surveillance.

Improves emergency response quality and public safety results by supporting the provision of advanced public safety services like telemedicine, remote diagnostics, and mobile command centres.

Offers deployable broadband solutions, private LTE networks, and LTE networks at a reasonable cost. These alternatives are scalable and adaptable, catering to the various demands of public safety organisations.

Report Objectives

To determine, segment, and forecast the Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market on the basis of offering, technology, end user, application, and region in terms of value

To forecast the size of the market segments with respect to 5 main regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America

To provide detailed information about the major factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) influencing the growth of the market

To study the complete value chain and related industry segments and perform a value chain analysis of the market landscape

To strategically analyze the macro and micromarkets 1 with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the total market

with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the total market To analyze the industry trends, pricing data, patents, and innovations related to the market

To analyze the opportunities for stakeholders by identifying the high-growth segments of the market

To profile the key players in the market and comprehensively analyze their market share/ranking and core competencies 2

To track and analyze competitive developments, such as mergers & acquisitions, product launches & developments, partnerships, agreements, collaborations, business expansions, and R&D activities.

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About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

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CONSTANTA, Romania, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Monsson has commissioned the largest energy battery storage capacity in Romania. The capacity is part of the first hybrid photovoltaic-wind-battery project, installed at the existing operational 50 MW project.

The event brought together representatives from the authorities and business environment as well as specialists in the energy field. Among those who attended the event were: Alexandra Boc?e - State Counsellor at the Presidential Administration, Alina Jalea - State Counsellor at the Prime Minister Office, Mihai Lupu - President of the Constanta County Council, Mihai Soare - Mayor of Sili?tea Municipality, Gabriel Andronache - Vice President of ANRE, Virgiliu Ivan - Director UNO-DEN Transelectrica, Therese Hyden - Swedish Ambassador in Romania, Razvan Nicolescu - member of the board of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology and Corina Popescu, Senior Energy Specialist.

The storage unit has an installed capacity of 24 MWh - (6MW x 4h) and it was built by Monsson as integrator, according to its own design, in a unique concept utilizing in-house developed know-how. The project represents the first stage of in total 216 MWh storage unit to be installed until end of the year at the same location. The concept is modular and suitable for large scale applications. The Monsson energy storage facilities are developed special for harsh climate conditions, utilizing the latest technologies in monitoring and safety systems for that kind of products. The controlling software created by Monsson is useful both for electricity storage operation and for the electricity trading. The Lithium Ion batteries are locally produced by the Romanian company Prime Batteries Technology. The storage unit is charged with energy produced by the Wind Farm, by the 35 MW PV project under construction, named Galbiori 2, which will be grid connected end of 2024 and from the national grid when there is no wind or sun. The control of the hybrid project is fully automatic, without local operational staff and the software is developed by Monsson.

"The investment was done on equity with the goal to prove the idea of increasing the renewable energy penetration in national grids, through renewable energy hybridization concept, consisting of photovoltaic, wind and storage. The hybridization with storage is reducing the volatility of renewable energy helping also balancing of the National Energetic System. The storage of renewables will lead in the end to reducing electricity bills for end consumers. With this project we are testing the functionality of the battery to demonstrate the immediate benefits of storage facilities attached to renewable energy sources. We want to promote such solutions both in Romania and across Europe," said Sebastian Enache, MONSSON, member of the Board.

"One year after the visit with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to RENEWACAD, I am glad to have the opportunity to be part of the inauguration of this project together with the most relevant Romanian energy specialists. The fact that climate change is real, it is no longer a secret to anyone and reducing its effects is also a priority of the Romanian Presidential Administration. We are looking at renewables in this regard and we consider the integration of renewables into the system definitely needs energy storage. So your hybrid project paves the way for other projects. Congratulations for the elements of Romanian innovation behind the project, innovation that is absolutely needed", said Alexandra Boc?e at the inauguration of the project - State Advisor to the Presidential Administration.

"The energy transition towards renewable needs to be done in a sustainable way. Volatility is a problem that needs to be addressed and resolved, as much as possible at the source. Company Prime took its role as solution supplier since 2016. In the market we are seen as battery producers but our main business is Lithium Ion battery solutions. And this is how us and Monsson found common ground, because their extensive experience in renewable energy that led to projects as this one", explained Vicen?iu Ciobanu, CEO Prime Batteries Technology.

"I would like to congratulate you on achieving something we have wanted for a very long time. Why is storage good? Why should even banks be more friendly to this solution? Storage is both energy consumption and energy production and should be treated and regulated as such and, why not, prioritized. If we look in the past and see the commitments we have to European bodies to eliminate the coal fueled energy, we see that we need renewable energy and the storage is the solution," said Gabriel Andronache - Vice-President of ANRE, at the inauguration event.

"I want to congratulate the Monsson and Prime team for this Romanian achievement and these solutions have to be supported by all of us as Romanians. Look at what is happening in the market! During the sunny days, at noon, when we have maximum electricity production from photovoltaic energy, we have a price of zero lei / MWh. Storage solutions are welcome. In the last years we have all made efforts to increase renewable electricity production in Romania, we all need to join forces to attract also consumers. In Dobrogea region, as example, we have an installed capacity of 3280 MW, while electricity demand is only 300 MW. I really consider that alongside storage facilities, we do strongly need to attract energy consumers in every region in Romania to help the National Energy System", added Virgiliu Ivan - Director DEN from Transelectrica.

"Congratulations for this Romanian project! It is a 95% Romanian project and proves the capacity of the country to be part of the EU transition to zero emissions process to which Romania is committed to. This is the first step in which we can see it is possible to produce and deliver firm energy capacity from renewable sources. What I think should be mentioned is that we have brought together electricity consumption and production. I congratulate Prime for believing in energy storage and developing a manufacturing facility for Lithium Ion batteries. In an energy system, we need to always have a balancing system and storage solutions are a way to achieve that in the case of very volatiles renewable sources. We can see that Romanians remain very active and creative on the European map in the energy sector," detailed Corina Popescu, senior energy specialist.

About Monsson

Present for over 17 years in the renewable energy market in Romania, Monsson has become the leading supplier of projects electricity from renewable sources, with a portfolio of over 5GW of wind and photovoltaic projects. The company provides turnkey services for Design, Development, Construction and Operation of renewable energy projects and energy storage solutions.

About Prime Batteries Technology

Prime Batteries is the local leader in Lithium Ion battery manufacturing. The company has a lithium-ion battery production capacity of 2.3GWh/year in Bucharest, being vertically integrated including the production of Li-ion cells. In 2023 the company has produced more than 65 MWh of batteries for the Romanian market, mostly in renewable energy applications.

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CHICAGO, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Clinical Communication & Collaboration Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $2.6 billion in 2024 and is poised to reach $4.8 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 13.2% from 2024 to 2029 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets.

The growth in the clinical communication and collaboration market is driven by high prevalence of chronic diseases, rising prominence of big data and mHelath tools, and stringent regulatory requirements and industry standards. Moreover, transition towards value-based care and population health management further increases the significance of clinical communication and collaboration solutions. Thus, the the growing emphasis on interoperability and data exchange within healthcare ecosystems is expected to drive the integration of clinical communication and collaboration market during the forecast period.

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240 - Tables

50 - Figures

320 - Pages

Clinical Communication & Collaboration Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $2.6 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $4.8 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 13.2% Market Size Available for 2022-2029 Forecast Period 2024-2029 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Platform, Component, Deployment, Application, and End user Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Growing opportunities in emerging markets Key Market Drivers Advantages of clinical communication solutions in enhancing patient care and safety

Software segment accounted for the largest share of the global Clinical Communication and Collaboration market in 2023.

On the basis component, the Clinical Communication and Collaboration market is segmented into hardware, software and services segment. The software segment accounted for the largest share of the component segment in 2023. The software segment comprises of clinical alerting & notification, physician & nurse scheduling systems, telehealth platform, collaborative care platforms. The clinical alerting & notification segment held the largest market share in the software segment. These systems plays a pivotal role in enhancing patient safety, as it reduces response times, and improves clinical decision-making. Moreover, the increasing focus on care coordination and continuity across healthcare settings has propelled the demand for robust clinical alerting and notification solutions. Owing to the many benefits of the software solutions, several healthcare providers are increasingly adopting these solutions for smooth workflows and enhanced quality care.

By application, physician communication segment accounted for the largest market share in 2023.

Based on application, the Clinical Communication and Collaboration market is segmented into lab & radiology communication, nurse communication, patient communication & emergency alerts, physician communication. The physician communication segment held the largest market in 2023 due to its pivotal role in facilitating effective care delivery, and enhancing care coordination. Moreover, the unique communication needs of physicians, including the requirement for secure and confidential communication channels, further highlights the importance of dedicated physician communication solutions within the clinical communication and collaboration market. These solutions offer encrypted messaging, secure voice and video calling, and other advanced features tailored to the specific requirements of healthcare providers, enabling them to communicate effectively while adhering to stringent privacy and security regulations.

Hospitals & clinics are largest end users of the Clinical Communication and Collaboration market

Based on end users, the Clinical Communication and Collaboration market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, long-term care facilities, nursing centers and other end-users which includes maternity care centers & fertility centers, and trauma and emergency care centers. The hospitals & clinics held the largest share among the end-users in 2023. From emergency departments and operating rooms to inpatient units and outpatient clinics, healthcare providers in hospitals and clinics rely heavily on effective communication channels to coordinate care plans, consult with colleagues, and ensure continuity of care for patients. As healthcare organizations continue to prioritize communication solutions that enhances care coordination, streamlines workflows, and support remote care delivery, hospitals and clinics are poised to remain key drivers of innovation and growth in the clinical communication and collaboration market.

North America dominates the global Clinical Communication and Collaboration market.

The Clinical Communication and Collaboration market is segmented into five major regional segments, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. In 2023, North America accounted for the largest share of the Clinical Communication and Collaboration market. This region's dominance is due to highly developed healthcare infrastructure characterized by advanced technology adoption, robust regulatory frameworks, and a strong emphasis on patient-centric care delivery. Moreover, the presence of key market players such as Avaya LLC (US), Oracle (US), Cisco Systems, Inc. (US), Microsoft Corporation (US) among others are a key factor contributing to the growth of the region.

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Clinical Communication & Collaboration Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

Advantages of clinical communication solutions in enhancing patient care and safety

Restraints:

High investments required to build IT infrastructure

Opportunities:

Growing opportunities in emerging markets

Challenge:

Data security issues

Key Market Players of Clinical Communication & Collaboration Industry:

Prominent players in the Clinical Communication and Collaboration market include Avaya LLC (US), Oracle (US), Cisco Systems, Inc. (US), Microsoft Corporation (US), Baxter International (Hillrom) (US), symplr (US), NEC Corporation (Japan), Spok Inc. (US), Vocera Communications (Stryker) (US), Ascom Holding AG (Switzerland), Everbridge (US), Hidden Brains InfoTech. (India), Imprivata, Inc. (US), CommuniCare Technology, Inc. d/b/a Pulsara (US), Mobile Heartbeat (C-HCA, Inc.) (US), OnPage. (US), HARRIS ONPOINT (US), Jive Software, LLC (US), TigerConnect (US), JCT Healthcare Pty Ltd. (Australia), Amplion (US), AndorHealth (US), PerfectServe, Inc. (US), QliqSOFT, Inc. (US), and Connexall, GlobeStar Systems Inc. (Canada).

Breakdown of supply-side primary interviews, by company type, designation, and region:

By Company Type: Tier 1 (40%), Tier 2 (35%), and Tier 3 (25%)

By Designation: C-level (35%), Director-level (45%), and Others (20%)

By Region: North America (55%), Europe (20%), Asia Pacific (15%), Latin America (5%) and Middle East Africa (5%)

Recent Developments of Clinical Communication & Collaboration Industry:

In September 2023, Microsoft Corporation (US) collaborated with Mercy (US) to enable clinicians to revolutionize patient care through the use of generative AI.

In August 2023, TeleVox (US) partnered with Oracle (US) to enhance its patient engagement solutions, leveraging OCI's platform for improved communication in healthcare. As part of the Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN), TeleVox on OCI delivers advanced capabilities for healthcare practices.

In April 2023, Mobile Heartbeat (US) partnered with Akkadian Labs, LLC. (US) a leading developer of unified communications (UC) provisioning automation solutions. With this partnership, Mobile Heartbeat and Akkadian Labs aim to empower healthcare organizations with enhanced communication and collaboration capabilities, ultimately improving patient care outcomes.

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Clinical Communication & Collaboration Market - Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

This report studies the Clinical Communication and Collaboration market based on components, application, end user, and region. The report also analyses factors (such as drivers, opportunities and challenges) affecting market growth. It evaluates the opportunities and challenges in the market for stakeholders and provides details of the competitive landscape for market leaders. The report also studies micro markets with respect to their growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the total Clinical Communication and Collaboration market. The report forecasts the revenue of the market segments with respect to five major regions.

Reasons to Buy the Report

This report also includes

Analysis of key drivers ( Advantages of clinical communication solutions in enhancing patient care and safety, high prevalence of chronic diseases, growing geriatric population, need for cost-containment in healthcare delivery, rising prominence of big data and mHelath tools), restrains (lack of interoperability, high investment required to build infrastructure), challenges (lack of knowledge among traditional healthcare providers, data security issues), opportunities (rising demand for HCIT globally, growing adoption of EHR) are contributing the growth of the Clinical Communication and Collaboration market.

Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming trends, research & development activities, and new software launches in the Clinical Communication and Collaboration market.

Market Development: Comprehensive information on the lucrative emerging markets, components, application, end-user, and region.

Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about the software portfolios, growing geographies, recent developments, investments in the Clinical Communication and Collaboration market.

Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, product offerings, company evaluation quadrant, and capabilities of leading players in the global Clinical Communication and Collaboration Market.

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About MarketsandMarkets:

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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MarketsandMarkets INC.

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Inc.'s seventh annual Female Founders list highlights entrepreneurs with world-changing companies

ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Inc. today announced its seventh annual Female Founders list, honoring a bold group of 250 women whose innovations and ideas are shaping the world into a better place. Jamine Moton, Founder and CEO of Skylar Security, is among the honorees.

Jamine Moton, Founder and CEO, Skylar Security

The founders cross all industries and bring with them unique stories of success from each stage of the entrepreneurial journey - from startup to going public, being acquired by big buyers, or spending decades at the helm of an organization. They are reinventing everything from shoes to food and are challenging issues like financial literacy and reproductive health.

"I am incredibly honored to be recognized on Inc.'s Female Founders list alongside so many inspiring women, including Natalie Portman, Beatrice Dixon, and Scarlett Johansson. This acknowledgment is not just a personal achievement but a testament to the dedication of the team at Skylar Security and our commitment to redefining what safety means for the entire industry," shares Jamine Moton.

Over the past year, Skylar Security has experienced remarkable growth, cementing its position as a leader in the private security industry. The launch of the Skylar App in November marked a significant milestone for the company, providing clients, agencies, and security specialists with an innovative solution to address industry pain points. By prioritizing human connection and leveraging cutting-edge technology, Skylar Security continues to revolutionize the way security services are delivered, setting a new standard of excellence in the industry.

Additionally, Jamine Moton has garnered recognition for her entrepreneurial achievements, receiving the prestigious Access to Capital for Entrepreneur (ACE) Ripple Effect Award, Invest Atlanta's Women of Influence Award, and Atlanta Technology Professionals' Start-Up Disruptor Award. Moton's commitment to supporting fellow entrepreneurs was exemplified through her participation as an ambassador and alumna in the Goldman Sachs 10ksb Small Businesses program, ambassador for Start-ups for the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Atlanta, and Entrepreneur in Residence for the Main Street Entrepreneurship Seed Fund program at Georgia State University. In 2020, she graduated from the City of Atlanta Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative.

Each year, Inc. editors review thousands of applications highlighting female founders who are challenging the status quo and tackling some of the world's biggest problems. The list features women who have overcome challenges and lifted those around them while leading impactful organizations across the country. They join the ranks of previous honorees including Jessica Alba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Rihanna, and Shonda Rhimes.

"The past year, for many, will go down as one of the hardest ever-between a funding freeze and ad-spending pullback. The female founders on this year's list are a testament to what triumph over adversity looks like. They should all be proud of this singular accomplishment," said Diana Ransom, Inc. Executive Editor.

To see the complete list, go to: https://www.inc.com/female-founders/2024.

Join the Female Founders conversation using FemaleFounders.

Contact Information

Claire Angelle

Publicist

claire@angelleconsulting.com

Related Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4LlHRgKtKE

SOURCE: Skylar Security

View the original press release on newswire.com.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / The failure to take medications as prescribed is associated with adverse health outcomes and rising healthcare costs. Walgreens Boots Alliance strives to improve medication adherence by addressing systemic barriers to care. Barriers can include everything from a misunderstanding of prescription interactions with other drugs to a lack of access to transportation. Lack of insurance, financial insecurity, inconvenience and forgetfulness are also commonly identified as factors in adherence failure. You can learn more about how WBA is overcoming barriers to medication adherence in our 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance Report.

Our pharmacists and healthcare providers take the extra step to help ensure adherence among their patients. Analytics help us predict the patients most likely to become non-adherent and identify custom ways to reach them and help them maintain their regimen. Adherence programs for the most complex treatments and disease-state management programs include phone, virtual and in-person consultations to address potential side effects and offer remedies, digital solutions including medication synchronization, delivery, consultations and patient education and efforts to connect patients to financial assistance to help them stay on track.

Our pharmacists are continuously learning and updating their training on common chronic conditions including hyperlipidemia and diabetes management. Recognizing that diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension are prevalent among Americans, we tailored specific programs to help improve outcomes for patients living with these disease states. Across these conditions, Walgreens PDC (Proportion of Days Covered) rates improved by 0.3% in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022. PDC is a common measurement for adherence referring to the percentage of time a patient has medication available based on refill records.

Medication non-adherence remains a significant barrier to positive health outcomes for those with mental health conditions. To help support greater adherence, outcomes, and lower overall costs for patients and payers, Walgreens has added oncolytics, estrogen hormones, antiandrogens and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices to its New to Therapy pharmacy program in addition to anti-anxiety medication, anti-psychotics and anti-depressants.

Walgreens works to improve medication adherence, manage chronic disease and overcome barriers to care through numerous programs, which you can learn more about in our 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance Report.





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Walgreens Boots Alliance on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Walgreens Boots Alliance

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/walgreens-boots-alliance

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Walgreens Boots Alliance

View the original press release on accesswire.com
AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles today announced that its President CEO Terry Tamminen will be a featured panelist at the 9th annual Our Ocean Conference, taking place in Athens, Greece on April 16 17. The invitation-only conference convenes blue economy experts to discuss innovative ocean solutions and strengthen commitments to sea and ocean protection and sustainability. Tamminen will join a panel discussion on "Establishing a Sustainable Blue Economy."

More details on the 2024 Our Ocean Conference, as well as ways to stream the panel, can be found here: https://www.ourocean2024.gov.gr/.

The Our Ocean Conference was first launched in 2014 under an initiative of the U.S. Department of State, then led by former Secretary John Kerry, a longtime environmentalist who played a key role in negotiating the Paris Climate Accords. The conference brings together governments, international organizations, researchers, the private sector, and nonprofits that have a shared vision and goal to protect the ocean.

This year's conference, titled Our Ocean, An Ocean of Potential, will be, according to organizers, "a major moment for world leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to make significant new commitments to protect our ocean, people, and planet for our children, grandchildren, and future generations." It will cover six "areas of action:" climate-ocean nexus, sustainable fisheries, sustainable blue economy, marine-protected areas, maritime security, and marine pollution.

Tamminen, the former Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, leads AltaSea, the world's largest ocean research and development destination for the Blue Economy. AltaSea's 35-acre campus is a hub for marine science, research, and education, and is home to some of ocean- and climate-tech's most innovative companies in fields like sustainable fisheries and regenerative aquaculture; renewable energy; ocean technology and underwater robotics; and more.

"Convenings like the Our Ocean Conference are crucial to the continued growth of the blue economy and to our shared goal of protecting the ocean so that future generations are not handicapped by our collective inaction," said Tamminen. "I am looking forward to joining ocean-focused environmental leaders from around the globe to share and learn new ideas, develop constructive solutions, and ultimately create a more sustainable future."

In 2023, Tamminen headlined panels at several conferences, including Financial Times' Energy Transition Summit and The Economist's 3rd annual Sustainability USA conference, as well as delivering a keynote address at Alibaba's inaugural in-person conference, Co-Create.

About AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles

AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, located on 35 acres at North America's leading seaport by both container volume and cargo value, is an ocean technology campus that has become the hub for marine science, research, and education. AltaSea has 27 tenants exclusively focused on ocean innovation and research collaborations with numerous colleges and universities, including USC and UCLA all finding solutions to climate change through the ocean. AltaSea is dedicated to accelerating scientific collaboration, advancing an emerging blue economy through business innovation and job creation, and inspiring the next generation, all for a more sustainable, just, and equitable world.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240409335825/en/

Contacts:

Jacob Scott

jscott@vectisstrategies.com

412-445-7719
OneTouch Health Group, a leading player in the healthcare technology industry, proudly announces the appointment of Duane Lawrence as Chair. With a 35-year career in the healthcare technology sector, Duane brings invaluable experience and leadership to the organisation.

GALWAY, Ireland, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Duane Lawrence's extensive background includes spearheading global initiatives in AI diagnostics and care pathways as CEO at InferMed Limited, overseeing strategic digital marketing and SEO in the global healthtech and pharmaceutical sectors as Chairman at Spark Health, and expanding access to care with health-related financial services as Non Executive Director, SID and Chair of the Investment Committee at UK based Simplyhealth. Throughout his career, Duane has held pivotal roles as a CEO, Chairman, or Non-Executive Director for health tech SMEs, as well as mid-market publicly traded technology and service businesses across five continents.

Duane believes strongly in dedicating time to organisations and causes that empower individuals to achieve their fullest potential. Currently Duane also serves as a Trustee of the Consortium for Street Children, a global non-governmental organisation committed to fighting for the rights of homeless children worldwide.

Dermot Clancy, CEO of OneTouch Health Group, warmly welcomed Duane Lawrence, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Duane as the new Chair of our Board. His wealth of experience and proven leadership in the healthcare technology sector align perfectly with our commitment to innovation and excellence. Duane's strategic vision and global perspective will undoubtedly contribute significantly to the continued success of OneTouch Health."

Kishan Chotai and Katie Beckingham from August Equity, the investment firm backing OneTouch Health Group, expressed excitement about the appointment, saying, "Duane Lawrence brings a great blend of expertise and a proven track record in the healthcare technology industry. We are confident that his leadership will play a crucial role in driving the company's growth and achieving its strategic objectives and we look forward to the positive impact this collaboration will have on the future of healthcare technology."

Sati Sian, Non-Executive Director of OneTouch, commented, "Duane's sector knowledge and experience of working with management teams to scale businesses and drive growth is a great addition to the board and to the team. We welcome Duane to the company and look forward to having him on board as we continue to build a market-leading care management software business across the UK, Ireland and Australia."

Duane Lawrence shared his enthusiasm, stating, "I am honoured to join OneTouch Health Group as Chair of the Board. The company's commitment to advancing healthcare technology to have a positive impact on our lives aligns with my passion for driving meaningful innovation in the industry. I look forward to working with the talented team at OneTouch to help bring focus, insight and pace to this next exciting phase of accelerated global growth for the company. "

visit www.onetouchhealth.net

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/duane-lawrence-appointed-as-chair-of-the-onetouch-health-group-board-302111985.html
Der Goldpreis haussiert und schwingt sich von Hoch zu Hoch. Getrieben von geopolitischen Unsicherheiten sowie der Aussicht auf eine lockere Geldpolitik der FED gehen Experten aktuell von weiter steigenden Notierungen bis sogar in den Bereich von 3.000 US-Dollar je Unze Gold aus.



Im Schatten des Basispreises notieren Goldproduzenten aus der zweiten Reihe sowie Explorationsunternehmen noch weit weg von ihren historischen Hochststanden entfernt und bieten dadurch erhebliches Aufholpotential.



In diesem kostenlosen Report geben wir Ihnen Favoriten an die Hand, die aufgrund von Sondersituation die Chance auf eine Kursvervielfachung besitzen.



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The "Pet Carriers Global Market Report 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The pet carriers market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $906.83 billion in 2023 to $958.75 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7%. The pet carriers market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1210.97 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.0%.

North America was the largest region in the pet carriers market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the pet carriers market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the pet carriers market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the pet carriers market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The growth observed in the historical period can be attributed to several factors, including trends in pet ownership, urbanization leading to pet-friendly lifestyles, increased interest in travel and adventure with pets, the humanization of pets, and innovations in materials and design of pet carriers. These factors collectively contributed to the growing demand for pet carriers, reflecting the evolving preferences and needs of pet owners.

The anticipated growth in the forecast period can be attributed to factors such as the rise of pet adoption, the expansion of e-commerce platforms, a heightened focus on pet safety and comfort, growing trends in customization and personalization of pet products, and increased consideration for the health and wellness of pets. Major trends expected in the forecast period include a focus on lightweight and portable solutions in pet carriers, the integration of comfort features, an emphasis on health and wellness integration within carrier designs, a rise in luxury pet carriers to meet consumer preferences, and the global expansion of the market for pet carriers.

The upward trend in pet adoption is set to drive the pet carrier market in the future. Pet adoption involves taking responsibility for a pet that was either abandoned or given to a shelter by a previous owner. Pet carriers play a crucial role in transporting pets and can function as both indoor and outdoor dog kennels, making them essential for pet owners. In 2021, Chewy, Inc., a US-based online pet product retailer, reported a significant adoption rate of 61% in the US, with approximately 977,202 pets adopted, marking the highest rate in the past six years. Additionally, a national survey by Animal Medicines Australia (AMA) in November 2022 revealed that around half of Australian households own at least one dog, making them the most common pets. This increase from 40% in 2019 demonstrates a growing trend in pet adoption, thereby propelling the pet carrier market.

The expansion of e-commerce is anticipated to be a driving force behind the growth of the pet carriers market. E-commerce, which involves online buying and selling of goods and services, is increasingly popular, and pet carriers serve as a crucial product for safely transporting pets. For instance, The Census Bureau estimated that US retail e-commerce sales for the second quarter of 2023 reached $277.6 billion, reflecting a 2.1% increase from the first quarter. This growth in e-commerce is contributing to the demand for pet carriers, making them essential for pet owners shopping online.

The pet carrier market is witnessing a notable trend towards product innovations, with major companies in the sector concentrating on the development of cutting-edge technological solutions to fortify their market positions. An exemplar of this trend is Delta Air Lines, a US-based provider of domestic and international travel services, which introduced the CarePod in October 2021.

This innovative pet travel solution boasts a built-in hydration system capable of holding up to a liter of water, ensuring automatic replenishment of the spill-proof water bowl. The CarePod features a robust enterprise-level GPS tracking and monitoring system that seamlessly connects to the pet's journey, allowing owners to access key travel updates throughout the entire trip. Furthermore, the industrial-strength walls of the CarePod are insulated, providing enhanced protection for pets against potential temperature fluctuations.

Leading companies in the pet carriers market are directing their efforts toward the innovation of collapsible travel carriers, including pet crates designed to ensure in-car pet safety. Pet crates are portable and enclosed structures crafted to offer a secure and confined space for pets, providing a designated area for rest, sleep, or transport. A notable example is PetSafe brand, a US-based manufacturer specializing in electronic pet training products, which unveiled the Happy Ride Collapsible Travel Carrier in September 2022.

This carrier, designed for secure and comfortable pet transportation in cars, adheres to new Highway Code regulations to ensure dogs are suitably restrained and avoid fines. Featuring a lightweight design suitable for all vehicle sizes, the carrier includes a durable aluminum frame, easy installation, a foldable design, and a leather handle for portability. Emphasizing in-car safety and storage convenience, the carrier is a testament to the industry's focus on innovative solutions.

In February 2022, Pet Value Holdings Ltd., a Canada-based provider of pet food and pet-related supplies, completed the acquisition of Chico Inc. for an undisclosed amount. This strategic move is anticipated to leverage the combined resources of Pet Value and Chico, creating a synergistic fit that enhances the provision of premium-quality products. The acquisition is expected to empower Chico to fortify and broaden its coverage across Canada. Chico Inc., headquartered in the US, specializes in providing pet carriers and other reputable products and services catering to dogs, cats, and fish.

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:

Paws Pals Inc.

MidWest Homes for Pets

Ferplast SpA

EliteField LLC

Pet-Tom LLC

Pet Gear Inc.

Coastal Pet Products Inc.

Pet Life LLC

Worldwise Inc.

Snoozer Pet Products LLC

Sleeko

Prefer Pets Travel Gear

Gen 7 Inc.

Outward Hound Inc.

K&H Manufacturing LLC

Sherpa Pet Group

Quaker Pet Group Inc.

Stefanplast SpA

MPS Italia

OxGord Inc.

Mr. Peanut's Pet Carriers

Bergan LLC

Radio Systems Corporation

Kurgo Inc.

PetEgo LLC

PetFusion Inc.

PetNation Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ep801q

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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240409334693/en/

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Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, April 09

For immediate release

9 April 2024

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announces that it has today purchased 209,420 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 825.22 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 23 January 2024.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 38,610,266; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 186,381,037.

The figure of 186,381,037 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
Redde Northgate Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, April 09

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

9 April 2024

REDDE NORTHGATE PLC

("Redde Northgate" or the "Group" or the "Company")

Transaction in Own Shares

Redde Northgate plc (LSE:REDD) announces that on 9 April 2024 it purchased the following number of its own shares to be held in treasury:

Class of shares : Ordinary shares of 50p ("shares") Number of shares purchased : 50,000 Weighted average purchase price paid : 378.75 pence per share Highest purchase price paid : 379.5 pence per share Lowest purchase price paid : 378 pence per share

Following the above transaction, the Company's issued share capital consists of 246,091,423 ordinary shares of 50p each, of which 20,331,862 ordinary shares are held in treasury, and 1,000,000 preference shares of 50p each which do not carry any rights to vote. Therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 225,759,561 which may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as incorporated into UK domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the Company's buyback programme.

Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions (as at 9 April 2024)

Number of shares

purchased Transaction price

(GB pence per share) Time of transaction Transaction reference number Venue 25,000 25,000 379.50 378.00 13:37:59 15:42:52 00069504555TRLO0 00069510273TRLO0 LSE LSE

Notes

This announcement is made in accordance with the requirements of Listing Rule 12.4.6.

For further information contact:

Buchanan

David Rydell/Jamie Hooper/Hannah Ratcliff +44 (0) 207 466 5000

Notes to Editors:

Redde Northgate is the leading integrated mobility solutions platform providing services across the vehicle lifecycle. The Company offers integrated mobility solutions to businesses, fleet operators, insurers, OEMs and other customers across seven key areas: vehicle rental, vehicle data, accident management, vehicle repairs, fleet management, service and maintenance, vehicle ancillary services and vehicle sales.

The Company's core purpose is to keep its customers mobile, whether through meeting their regular mobility needs or by servicing and supporting them when unforeseen events occur. With its considerable scale and reach, Redde Northgate's mission is to offer a market-leading customer proposition and drive enhanced returns for shareholders by creating value through sustainable compounding growth. The Group aims to achieve this through the delivery of its strategic framework of Focus, Drive and Broaden.

Redde Northgate services its customers through a network and diversified fleet of over 120,000 owned and leased vehicles, supporting over 600,000 managed vehicles, with more than 170 workshop, body shop and rental locations across the UK, Ireland and Spain and a specialist team of over 6,000 automotive services professionals.

Further information please visit the Company's website:
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / At the heart of Eli Lilly's purpose lies a deep understanding: their insulin is more than just a product - it's essential for peoples' health and survival.

This purpose, to unite caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world, is embedded deeply within the organization. The company focuses on ensuring their medicines are inclusive to all patients by investing in clinical testing diversity and removing obstacles that might prevent patients from accessing their medicine - both at and beyond the pharmacy counter. And, to ensure patients have reliable access to life-saving medications for years to come, Eli Lilly has invested $100 million towards achieving climate goals by 2030. Through this commitment, Eli Lilly is not only safeguarding the planet but reaffirming the company's dedication to the well-being of every individual who relies on their medicines.

We invited Jim Greffet, Head of ESG Strategy at Eli Lilly, to explain how the company's environmental and social commitments are grounded in purpose strategy, as well as how the company helps its employees lead purposeful careers.

Listen for insights on:

Purpose's role in long-term strategy

Improving health outcomes through philanthropic investments

Understanding equity and inclusion at your company through the "employee journey"

Inspiring employees to identify environmental solutions and investing in them

Listen to this and other episodes of Purpose 360 Podcast here.

Purpose 360 Podcast is a masterclass in unlocking the potential of purpose to ignite business and social impact. Hosted by Carol Cone, CEO of Carol Cone ON PURPOSE, Purpose 360 illuminates the impact of purpose, from engaging employees and fostering deeper consumer loyalty to inspiring product innovation and increasing market share.

Carol Cone ON PURPOSE (CCOP) is a pioneering social impact consultancy helping companies, brands, and nonprofits harness the power of purpose to advance their business and societal impact. CCOP's proven approach, developed over decades and hundreds of purpose assignments, meets clients at any point on their purpose journey to unlock opportunities to build reputation, inspire and engage employees, ignite organizational culture for innovation and growth, while supporting the greater good.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Carol Cone ON PURPOSE on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Carol Cone ON PURPOSE

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/carol-cone-purpose

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Carol Cone ON PURPOSE

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - Hiru Corp (OTC Pink: HIRU) www.otchiru.com is pleased to introduce its new mining COO and the appointment of Mr.R Molebatsi (Thebi) to the Company team. Thebi brings with him a wealth of experience spanning various industries, including mining, construction, marketing, and customer service. Thebi makes his home in Johannesburg, South Africa. As a seasoned professional and serial entrepreneur, Thebi has successfully founded numerous ventures across several countries in Africa. His diverse expertise and extensive background make him a valuable addition to the Hiru Corp team.

One of Thebi's notable qualities is his dedication to social justice. He has actively engaged with impoverished communities in rural Africa, partnering with them to implement development projects aimed at creating sustainable employment and economic opportunities. His commitment to making a positive impact aligns with Hiru Corp's values and vision for corporate responsibility. In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Thebi serves on the board of a non-profit organization and holds a position on the Executive Committee of a Communal Property Association. His involvement in these organizations underscores his passion for community development and empowerment. Mr. Thebi's full CV has been made available as a filing with (OTC Pink: HIRU).

Thebi will spearhead the Company mining division which encompasses certain Mining Business in Africa & Gold Trading / Processing thru HIRU regional office currently being set up in Dubai. (full details of these mining projects will be issued in a separate PR and or official OTC Filings). In concert with Thebi appointment the company has launched its mining section of the corporate web site https://www.otchiru.com/hiru-mining-bio-fuel-lithium-mining-projects-info/. The web site features several mining and gold trading & processing ventures. On some mining ventures the Company will be 100% proprietor while others will be conducted in a joint venture type format. Again as this is worth repeating, details of each mine and operations will be disclosed as a separate OTC filing and or a PR.

In other Company news and events, HIRU water packing equipment (Alkaline 88 is currently listed for sale with brokers and on the HIRU Corporate web site https://www.otchiru.com/alkaline-equipment-sale

The Company spokesperson said, "We are thrilled to welcome Thebi to our team. His extensive experience and dedication to social justice will undoubtedly contribute to our company's growth and commitment to making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve."

More updates will follow shortly.

About Hiru Corporation

HIRU is a holding Company (The Company) holds interest in 3 operating enterprises.

Mining Business in Africa Gold Trading / Processing (United Arab Emirates (Dubai) Freight & Warehouse services with 2 company-owned physical locations in FL and CA.

The Company also has a codeshare type of agreement to utilize up to other POP (Point of Presence) locations throughout USA and Canada with over 25 FBA capabilities. The Company also has a well-developed water package infrastructure and an operating water packing division. The water division is currently in a diversification mode & being made available for sale to a qualified buyer / operator. See OTC Filings 3-4-24 (OTC Pink: HIRU) Supplemental filing Business Alignment

Disclaimer Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements that we make may constitute "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include information concerning future strategic objectives, business prospects, anticipated savings, financial results (including expenses, earnings, liquidity, cash flow and capital expenditures), industry or market conditions, demand for and pricing of our products, acquisitions and divestitures, anticipated results of litigation and regulatory developments or general economic conditions. In addition, words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," and future or conditional verbs such as "will," "may," "could," "should," and "would," as well as any other statement that necessarily depends on future events, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, and they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although we make such statements based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. We caution investors not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Website: www.otchiru.com

Phone: +1 954-228-1053

Email: corporate@otchiru.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/204824

SOURCE: Hiru Corporation
EQS-News: North Peak Resources Ltd. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

North Peak's Upcoming Drill Program to Target Gold on Prospect Mountain North; Drilling Plans Close to Being Finalized and Weather Improving



09.04.2024 / 18:54 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Eureka, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - North Peak Resources Ltd. (TSXV: NPR) (the "Company" or "North Peak") is finalizing plans for its upcoming drilling campaign on its Prospect Mountain Property in Eureka, Nevada (the "Property" or "Prospect Mountain") which is expected to consist of up to 15,000 feet of R/C drilling with 20-30 holes targeting the gold zones on patented claims in the Wabash and Delaware/Madrid areas located in the northern portion of the Property ("Prospect Mountain North") (see Figure 1 below). Drilling at Prospect Mountain North will be at select areas around the former high-grade Williams, Wabash and Chicago gold mines, and the Wabash area which had 91 holes for 27,615 feet of vertical RC drilling completed in 1998/1999 when the gold price was much lower (see Figure 2 below). The campaign is also expected to include follow-up on a drill hole drilled by Homestake Mining that returned very promising gold assays; it is a lone hole located in the eastern portion of the Property with no other historic drilling activity nearby (see Figure 3 below). "The deep hole drilled in late 2023 (PM23-01) confirmed the camp's geologic structures and faults and now we can focus on drilling the gold zones in the northern and eastern parts of the Property, which was always our goal," said Brian Hinchcliffe, North Peak's CEO. "Prospect Mountain itself was mined for gold from 4 shafts from the 9,600-foot elevation down to the 6,500 level off and on from 1870 until 1980 from both the east and west sides of the mountain and has not been explored since gold was $275 an ounce." Some of the better RC intersections from historical drilling that will be followed up include: North (Wabash) Area: 0.24 oz/t over 80 ft including 1.6 oz/t over 5 ft plus 1.1 oz/t over 5 ft (8.2 g/t Au over 24.4 m + 22.6 g/t Ag), starting at 145 ft;

0.12 oz/t over 50 ft including 0.49 oz/t over 5 ft plus 0.37 oz/t over 5 ft (4.1 g/t Au over 15.2m + 59.9 g/t Ag) starting at 0 ft;

0.13 oz/t over 70 ft including 1.0 oz/t over 5 ft plus 0.28 oz/t over 5 ft (4.5 g/t Au over 21.3m + 35.0 g/t Ag) starting at 0 ft;

0.09 oz/t over 40 ft (3.0 g/t Au over 12.2 m + 38.7 g/t Ag) starting at 0 ft;

0.08 oz/t over 45 ft including 0.26 oz/t over 5 ft (2.9 g/t Au over 13.7 m + 42.3 g/t Ag) starting at 0 ft;

0.12 oz/t over 55 ft including 0.86 oz/t over 5 ft plus 0.30 oz/t over 5 ft (4.1 g/t Au over 16.8 m + 25.3 g/t Ag) starting at 305 ft; and

0.16 oz/t over 45 ft including 1.25 oz/t over 5 ft (5.6 g/t Au over 13.7 m + 60.8 g/t Ag) starting at 20 ft. East (Homestake Hole 1725) Area: 0.15 oz/t over 25 ft including 0.29 oz/t over 5 ft plus another 0.29 oz/t over 5 ft (5.0 g/t Au over 7.6 m + 21.6 g/t Ag) starting at 570 ft;

0.05 oz/t over 55 ft including 0.13 oz/t over 5 ft plus 0.12 oz/t over 5 ft (1.6 g/t Au over 16.8 m + 75.7 g/t Ag) starting at 1175 ft; and

0.05 oz/t over 10 ft (1.6 g/t Au over 3.1 m + 140.0 g/t Ag) starting at 1310 ft. NOTES: ounce per ton= oz/t; grams per tonne=g/t; metres=m; using a 0.5 g/t Au minimum composite grade, and up to 25 feet internal dilution @ 0.01 g/t Au (1725 intersections are just anomalous zones identified for exploration); true thickness is unknown until orientations are proven; these drill hole results are pre-NI 43-101 and they do not meet the current standards of exploration quality assurance and quality control protocols-twinning of holes will be necessary. See the Technical Report (defined below) for full details of the historical drill results referenced above. Prospect Mountain contains both patented and unpatented land claims and hosts some 15-20 former underground gold mines close to surface as well as around 11 miles of underground tunnels. The surface topography is such that the drill program's design will be configured to shorter holes, many of which should be able to be drilled inside of a shift. Discussions with permitting authorities are progressing and the Company is targeting receipt of the necessary approvals in Spring 2024, which should coincide with winter conditions at Prospect Mountain North giving way to warmer weather and more reliable and safe ground conditions, all of which are critical for the drill program to commence. Figure 1: Map view showing Prospect Mountain North and eastern part of Property referenced in press release. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9875/204782_27f662d81485f830_002full.jpg Figure 2: North Area - Section view looking North. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9875/204782_27f662d81485f830_003full.jpg Figure 3: Section view showing historical Homestake Hole (1725). See the Technical Report (defined below) for full details of the historical drill results referenced in this Figure 3. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9875/204782_27f662d81485f830_004full.jpg Option for Kenogami Lake Property. The Company has reached agreement to extend the deadline to January 5, 2026 for incurring the final $150,000 work commitment under its option to acquire 100% interest in the Kenogami Lake Project, which is located 15 kilometers southwest of Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Review by Qualified Person Mr. Mike Sutton, P.Geo., a Director of the Company, is the Qualified Person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, who reviewed and approved scientific and technical disclosure in this press release. The Qualified Person has not reviewed the mineral tenure, nor independently verified the legal status and ownership of the Property or any underlying property agreements. About Prospect Mountain The Property lies in the Battle Mountain Eureka trend, in an area known as the Southern Eureka Gold Belt, where three styles of mineralization have been identified, Au only Carlin style mineralization, Carbonate Replacement mineralization (CRD) and carbonate hosted Porphyry Related Skarn lead, zinc and gold mineralization associated with cretaceous intrusions. At the Property, the CRD mineralization is heavily oxidized to depths of at least 2000 ft (600 m) below the top of the ridge line. A Plan of Operations is in place which covers part of the Property (totalling 81 acres) and entitles an operator to pursue surface exploration, underground mining of up to 365,000 tons per annum and certain infrastructural works. It includes a permit to extract water from a well and to build water containment facilities. A more complete description of Prospect Mountain's geology and mineralization, including at the Wabash and Delaware/Madrid areas, can be found in the NI 43-101 Technical Report (the "Technical Report") on the Prospect Mountain Property, Eureka County, Nevada, USA dated and with an effective date April 10, 2023, prepared by David Pym (Msc), CGeol. of LTI Advisory Ltd. and Dr Toby Strauss, CGeol, EurGeol., of Merlyn Consulting Ltd., which has been filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca under the profile of the Company and on the Company's website. About North Peak The Company is a Canadian based gold exploration and development company that is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NPR". The Company is focused on acquiring historic sites, with low cost producing gold and other metals properties, with near term production potential and 8+ year mine life in the northern hemisphere. The Company has acquired an initial 80% interest in the Prospect Mountain Mine complex in Eureka, Nevada (see the Company's May 4 and 23, 2023 press releases). The Company can give no assurances at this time that its properties and interests will fulfil the Company's business development goals described herein. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. For further information, please contact: Brian Hinchcliffe, CEO

Phone: +1-647-424-2305

Email: info@northpeakresources.com

Website: www.northpeakresources.com Chelsea Hayes, Director

Phone: +1-647-424-2305

Email: info@northpeakresources.com CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, timing for receipt of regulatory approvals necessary to begin the proposed drilling program at Prospect Mountain, timing of beginning of the drill program referenced in this press release, estimates of mineralization from drilling and geophysical surveys, geological information projected from sampling results and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones, the potential for minerals and/or mineral resources and reserves, and statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Property and the Company that may be described herein. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, accuracy of assay results, geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services, future operating costs, and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the quarter ended September 30, 2023, available at www.sedarplus.ca many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/204782 Click on, or paste the following link into your web browser,to view the associated documents http://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/204830

News Source: North Peak Resources Ltd.





09.04.2024 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Essex, England--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - Novus Black has announced its plan to expand from the UK to the global market. Novus Black is a private investment fund based in the UK. The private fund specializes in trading CFD FX and commodities for its private clients. Founded in 2021 by Steve and George, former fintech entrepreneurs, Novus Black has carved a unique niche in the financial world by combining professional trading expertise with unparalleled personal relationships with its investors.





Novus Black

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8798/204622_351885e444386868_001full.jpg

Integral to Novus Black's expansion to the global market is a strong commitment to the distinguishing principles that they have established in the early stage of their company

"In a relatively short space of time, we've advanced from managing a pretty modest sum to now being a private fund managing multiple millions," revealed Steve, CEO of Novus Black, with a tone reflecting both pride and anticipation.

"After selling our fintech company and experiencing the harsh realities of cowboys in the investment world, we understood the value of genuine, investment opportunities," said George, COO of Novus Black.

"Our own losses taught us the importance of transparency and honesty and this realization formed the cornerstone of Novus Black."





Novus Black

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8798/204622_351885e444386868_002full.jpg

Key Differentiators That Novus Black is Looking To Establish

Personal Relationships : "At Novus Black, nurturing personal relationships with our investors is paramount. Each investor is equipped with both Steve and I's direct contact numbers. They aren't merely investors to us; they're cherished friends, and with that bond comes a profound sense of responsibility," emphasized George, underscoring the significance of accountability within the company's ethos.

Liquidity, Flexibility, and Transparency : The fund extends to its invited clients the flexibility to establish an account for personal funds, Ltd business funds, or Pensions, enabling fee-free withdrawals on a monthly basis following an initial 3-month period. This underscores its dedication to transparency and fostering trust among investors.

Global Appeal: With partnerships in the pipeline across regions including the Atlantic, the Emirates, and India, Novus Black's appeal is inherently global. "We didn't have to look for partnerships; they came looking for us, drawn by what we're doing differently," George added.

As part of its plan for expansion, Novus Black has recently introduced a new financial director with decades of experience in finance and investment. The Financial Director, brings with him a wealth of experience from mainstream investment banks, and he emphasized the notable disparity between traditional investment models and Novus Black's distinctive approach. "What sets us apart is the rapid transition of our investors into friends. They are not merely entries on a spreadsheet; they are individuals with vibrant lives, and we prioritize treating them as such," he explained. " The level of accountability and care Novus Black takes over their clients is very rarely experienced nowadays and was one of the things that attracted me to join the company."

U.K to U.S.A

As Novus Black continues to establish its presence within the UK market, it sets its sights on expanding its distinctive and rewarding investment model to new horizons to the United States of America. Building upon its proven track record in the UK, the company is now poised to introduce its overseas counterpart, Novus Black Atlantic in the Summer of 2024.

To ensure a seamless transition and compliance with local regulations, the company has assembled a robust panel of US partners. Among these partners are Macaluso LLP, who will serve as legal advisors, meticulously overseeing compliance and correctness every step of the way. With such strategic partnerships in place, Novus Black Atlantic is primed to make a significant impact in the American investment landscape, offering investors unparalleled opportunities for growth and success.



"As we continue to expand and reach new heights, our dedication to our clients remains unyielding and we are excited about bringing this level of care to our American friends. We want the clients of Novus Black Atlantic to understand that with their investments come hopes, aspirations, and sometimes, uncertainties. That's why we're not just here to manage their wealth; we're here to support them. I am confident we can do for America what we have done for the private investors of the UK"





Novus Black

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8798/204622_351885e444386868_003full.jpg

About Novus Black

Novus Black is a private investment fund based in the UK. Founded in 2021 by Steve and George, former fintech entrepreneurs, the private fund specializes in trading CFD FX and commodities for its private clients. Initially launched as an investment club with the founder's personal funds, the journey from an investment club to a thriving fund is a testament to Novus Black's innovative approach, rooted in trust, transparency, and personal connections. "Our journey has only just begun, and we're committed to walking every step of the way with our clients, empowering them to achieve their financial goals and secure their futures."

For more information on Novus Black and to become part of this unique investment journey, please visit www.novusblack.co.uk or contact:

Contact Information:

Jay Jaye - jay@whitefriar.com

Company Email: info@novusblack.co.uk

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/204622

SOURCE: Ascend Agency
New partnership provides customers with discounted access to EnforcerOne's industry-leading fire suppression systems

COLUMBUS, OH / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / With an estimated 20,000 agricultural fires each year, the need for fire safety awareness and planning has never been greater. Nationwide, the country's leading protector of farms and ranches, is helping its agriculture customers take a proactive approach to fire defense through a new partnership with EnforcerOne that will provide discounts on its industry-leading Enforcer fire suppression systems and FIREBULL firefighting concentrate.

Enforcer 10 on New Holland

firefighting equipment on tractor in crop field

Established in 2011, with more than 30 years of firefighting experience, EnforcerOne provides next-level firefighting solutions for emergency scenarios in industries ranging from agriculture to motorsports. The company's highly portable Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS) can quickly and efficiently extinguish fires with minimal water and utilizes GreenScreen Certified non-hazardous, non-toxic, fluorine- and PFAS-free FIREBULL firefighting foam.

Nationwide's agriculture insurance customers can now receive a 20% discount on the following EnforcerOne and FIREBULL products:

FIREBULL Easy One-Touch Fire Extinguisher 23.8 oz - a 1:B rated personal fire extinguisher designed for easy application and extinguishment of fire outdoors and around the house using a signature firefighting foam.

FIREBULL AB - UL Classified firefighting concentrate for use in Enforcer systems and other brand firefighting equipment to suppress Class A fires (brush, wood, hay, etc.) as well as Class B fires (flammable liquids and fuels). Also available in a freeze-protected premix to -40C.

Enforcer AIR 3 - an extremely versatile and portable, three-gallon firefighting system that utilizes high-energy compressed foam technology with a dedicated refillable air tank.

Enforcer 10 - a versatile but heavy-duty 10-gallon portable firefighting system that utilizes high-energy compressed air foam technology to produce 200 gallons of finished firefighting foam. UL 711 20: B certified.

The power of EnforcerOne's fire suppression systems is evident in a recent case involving a Montana farmer. Wes Simpson recounts, "My father was out in the fields baling hay when a fire broke out behind him and quickly spread to the baler. He remained calm and immediately put his Enforcer 10 in service to extinguish the baler fire and create a safe zone to evacuate the equipment. He'd never operated the CAFS device before; I'd just explained it to him once. Without EnforcerOne, we could have had a devastating outcome."

"Fires continue to be a leading cause of dangerous and costly accidents on farms, but they can often be prevented with simple and affordable measures," said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. "Our partnership with EnforcerOne further strengthens Nationwide's commitment to safety and prevention for our customers, adding these state-of-the-art fire suppression devices to our array of tools and resources they can leverage to safeguard their operations, equipment and livelihoods."

This partnership adds to Nationwide's suite of fire prevention solutions and resources available to agriculture customers and agents, which includes HAYTECH hay bale monitors, PrevTech electrical monitoring systems, and Teledyne FLIR thermal imaging cameras.

"EnforcerOne is proud to partner with Nationwide to protect lives, livestock, and property by reducing accidental and costly agriculture fires. Equipment fires lead to expensive repairs and production downtime, while crop fires impact customers' ability to produce and deliver during the most important time of the year," said Ron Thames, president of EnforcerOne and developer of Enforcer CAFS and FIREBULL Fluorine Free products. "EnforcerOne has a years-long history of providing unique fire suppression offerings for fire departments but this partnership places easy-to-use firefighting equipment directly in the hands of customers to quickly extinguish fires in their incipient stage, which minimizes fire department responses to agriculture fires and allows agriculture customers to get back to work safely and quickly."

Visit EnforcerOne.com to learn more about how to incorporate EnforcerOne solutions into your operation.

About EnforcerOne

EnforcerOne, LLC. was established in 2011 and is the U.S.-based manufacturer of superior performance Enforcer Brand Compressed Air Foam Systems and FIREBULL Brand Fluorine Free Foam Concentrates and Wetting Agents. Based in Peachtree City, GA, EnforcerOne offers over 30 years of combined experience and expertise in manufacturing firefighting equipment and foam concentrates. EnforcerOne serves customers globally across multiple industries, including Firefighting, Agriculture, Mining, Oil & Gas, Power Generation, Motorsports, Film and Television, and Consumer Safety. For more information, visit www.enforcerone.com or follow us on social media on Facebook.

Enforcer and FIREBULL are registered trademarks of Enforcer One, LLC.

GreenScreen Certified is a registered trademark of Clean Production Action.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities, mutual funds and ETFs; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; and pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow the firm on Facebook and X.

Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.  2024

Contact Information

JC Barb

VP Operations

jcbarb@enforcerone.com

6787888413

SOURCE: EnforcerOne

View the original press release on newswire.com.
PARIS, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a landmark move that underscores the convergence of luxury and sustainability, C.K. McWhorter & McWhorter Family Trust grant a McWhorter Family Trust Warrant of Recognition to Van Cleef & Arpels for its exceptional commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. This prestigious accolade is a testament to Van Cleef & Arpels' innovative leadership in the realm of sustainable luxury jewelry manufacturing, mirroring the foundational ethos of the McWhorter Family Trust to champion investments that are both responsible and transformative within the luxury sector.



Since its inception in 1896, Van Cleef & Arpels has not only captivated the world with its exquisite designs and craftsmanship but has also paved the way for a future where luxury and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. This recognition by the McWhorter Family Trust highlights Van Cleef & Arpels' pioneering role in promoting sustainability across its operations, from the sourcing of materials to the final creation of its iconic pieces.

C.K. McWhorter, the visionary behind the McWhorter Family Trust's strategic focus on sustainable luxury, expressed, "We are delighted to acknowledge Van Cleef & Arpels not just for its artistic and historical significance but also for its forward-thinking approach to sustainability in luxury. Their commitment to ethical practices and environmental conservation exemplifies the kind of legacy we aim to support and celebrate."

This endorsement reinforces the McWhorter Family Trust's dedication to identifying and uplifting brands that not only excel in their field but also lead by example in making a positive impact on the planet and society. Van Cleef & Arpels' active engagement in global sustainability initiatives and its ongoing efforts to enhance social responsibility and governance excellence stand as a beacon for the luxury industry.

As we move forward, the McWhorter Family Trust remains committed to fostering a luxury market that values responsibility as highly as craftsmanship and beauty, ensuring a lasting and meaningful legacy for future generations.

Disclaimer, Disclosure & Legal Notice:

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. It is not intended to provide specific recommendations, endorsements, or investment strategies. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.

Regulatory Considerations:

This press release is not intended to constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. Any offers, sales, or purchases will be made in accordance with applicable securities laws and regulations. McWhorter Foundation has not registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and may operate under exemptions. Any investment decisions should be made in consultation with appropriate legal and financial advisors, considering the individual circumstances and objectives of potential investors.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and we caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those indicated or suggested by any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, regulatory and legal developments, market conditions, and the outcome of negotiations. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/611c0d55-257d-4d4d-846b-298d1fb44ed1
Avolta AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Avolta prices EUR 500 million of senior notes



09.04.2024 / 21:41 CET/CEST





Avolta today priced an offering of EUR 500 million aggregate principal amount of 4.750% Senior Notes due 2031 (the "Notes"). Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears. Proceeds from the offering are expected to be used to refinance a portion of Avolta's outstanding Senior Notes due 2024. It is expected that the Notes will be admitted to the Official List of The International Stock Exchange. The Notes will be offered and sold only to non-U.S. persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Important Notices



This media release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of these securities 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 such state or jurisdiction. The securities discussed in this media release have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Avolta has no intention to register any portion of the offering of these securities under the Securities Act.



Information in this press release may involve guidance, expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available to Avolta AG as of the date of this press release, and we assume no duty to update any such forward-looking statements.



The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area ("EEA"). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of the Insurance Distribution Directive 2014/65/EU ("MiFID II"); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, as amended, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1129 (as amended, the "Prospectus Regulation"). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No. 1286/2014, as amended (the "EU PRIIPs Regulation"), for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the EU PRIIPs Regulation.



This media release has been prepared on the basis that any offer of the Notes in the United Kingdom (the "UK") will be made pursuant to an exemption under Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the "EUWA") from a requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of Notes.



The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the UK. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No. 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law in the UK by virtue of the EUWA; (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA"), and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No. 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law in the UK by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law in the UK by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No. 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law in the UK by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation. For further information:



CONTACT

Rebecca McClellan Cathy Jongens Global Head

Investor Relations Director Corporate

Communications Phone: +44 7543 800405 Phone: +41 79 288093 rebecca.mcclellan@ avolta.net cathy.jongens@avolta.net

News Source: Avolta AG





End of Media Release


REEDVILLE, VA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Delegate Hillary Pugh Kent, representing Virginia's Northern Neck and Caroline County in House District 67, has announced that Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed into law "The Right to Fish" bill, to protect commercial watermen from interference, which she sponsored.

According to Delegate Kent, "House Bill 928, a bill to protect commercial watermen while they are working in Virginia waters, was signed by Governor Youngkin last week. This bill recognizes the importance of our state's seafood industry by creating protections for commercial watermen and deterring unlawful interference. This new law will provide restitution against those who purposefully inhibit fishing and destroy the property of commercial watermen. It will reinforce the continued viability of our fishing and seafood industries, which are necessary to the economic and cultural fabric of the Northern Neck and all of the Commonwealth."

The legislation adds a new section to the Virginia code addressing interference with commercial fishing vessels or activity. It makes knowingly and intentionally interfering with or impeding commercial fishing activity within Virginia waters a Class 1 misdemeanor. The legislation also imposes penalties such as ineligibility for certain hunting and fishing licenses for varying periods depending on the number of offenses committed. Additionally, individuals convicted of violating this section may be required to complete boating safety education.

Delegate Hillary Pugh Kent with Governor Glenn Youngkin at the signing of House Bill 928. Source: Delegate Hillary Pugh Kent

The bill passed the Virginia House by a unanimous vote of 99-0, and the Senate with only one dissenting vote 38-1.

The Menhaden Fisheries Coalition thanks Delegate Kent and Governor Glenn Youngkin, as well as Delegate Robert S. Bloxom, Jr., who filed similar legislation, House Courts of Justice Chair Patrick A. Hope, House Courts of Justice Criminal Subcommittee Chair Vivian E. Watts, Majority Leader and Senate Courts of Justice Committee Chair Scott Surovell, Senator Richard H. Stuart, Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling, the bipartisan coalition of copatrons who lent their sponsorship to the bill, and all of the members of the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate who voted for passage.

We would also like to thank the Virginia Manufacturer's Association, the Virginia Watermen's Association, and United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 for supporting this important and needed legislation.

The new law was proposed in response to an uptick in threats and acts of harassment directed towards commercial fishermen lawfully operating in Virginia's waters.

Instances of dangerous encounters have been escalating in frequency and intensity, threatening physical harm and jeopardizing the safety of our commercial watermen. These confrontations, often involving jet skis and recreational boats, pose risks to all parties involved. Previous statutes imposed only minor penalties, such as nominal fines, which proved insufficient to deter individuals who possess the financial means to own and operate recreational watercraft.

One such incident occurred on September 23, 2023, approximately 1.5 miles east of Buckroe Beach off Hampton. As they were deploying their net, an Ocean Harvesters vessel, the Rappahannock, was accosted by a jet ski operator who harassed the crew as they operated the smaller purse vessels. The individual recklessly drove his jet ski inside the net, doused the crew with his wake, and hurled profanities, including threatening language.

Because there had been a recent history of social media posts threatening potential violence, the incident prompted concern among the Rappahannock crew that the perpetrator might be armed and inclined to escalate the situation. These events were visible and recorded by a spotter pilot operating in coordination with the Rappahannock.

This marked the third occurrence of such incidents during the late summer months of 2023.

Although it is individuals who executed these attacks, they are incited and emboldened by the rhetoric from various sport fishing organizations. These associations meticulously track and disclose the whereabouts of commercial vessels and their anchoring locations each evening. While not directly encouraging their members to disrupt and harass fishing operations, they consistently provided the information needed to do so.

The jet ski incident was promptly reported to both the United States Coast Guard and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC). Subsequently, the VMRC investigated the matter. However, due to a lack of commitment from local prosecutors to pursue the case, it was handled as a VMRC offense. The perpetrator pleaded guilty and was fined $500, then boasted about his actions on social media, displaying no remorse.

Some of the threats made online include:

1. "Navy should use them for target practice."

2. "Sink them and blame it on Putin. Need to do like they do on Whale Wars."

3. "Fire the cannons."

4. "Starting to wonder if we can't do some Whale Wars type stuff to these guys."

5. "We need Greenpeace to harass them. Or attack submarines."

6. "Where's the Sea Shepherd Get the prop fouler out. It can't be that illegal to mess with them."

7. "I have several rifles with scopes and suppression. If someone is a better shot than me, you're welcome to borrow them to sever the net ropes."

8. "It's going to take an organization such as Sea Shepherd in order to wake this state up into action. Now I know why Capt. Paul took matters into his own hands on Whale Wars."

9. "You got whale war, it's time for menhaden war."

10. "Yeah, I'd love to do a local 'Sea Shepherd' operation on these fools. Jet skis with prop foulers, etc."

11. "Where is the Sea Shepherd when you need it?"

12. "Where's an errant WWII German U-Boat when you really need one? I've got a small boat and plenty of bottle rockets."

13. "Unfortunately, there's not much that can be done, at least non-violently."

About the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition

The Menhaden Fisheries Coalition (MFC) is a collective of menhaden fishermen, related businesses, and supporting industries. Comprised of businesses along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition conducts media and public outreach on behalf of the menhaden industry to ensure that members of the public, media, and government are informed of important issues, events, and facts about the fishery.

PRESS CONTACT

Stove Boat Communications

(202) 333-2628

contact@stoveboat.com

SOURCE: Menhaden Fisheries Coalition

View the original press release on accesswire.com
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / McFarlane Lake Mining Limited ("McFarlane" or the "Company") (NEO:MLM)(OTCQB:MLMLF), a Canadian mineral exploration and development company, is pleased to provide an update on the recent exploration drilling progress made at the Company's High Lake property in Ontario, near the Ontario-Manitoba Border, 40 kilometers west of Kenora, Ontario.

At High Lake Drilling in hole MLHL-23-50 and hole MLHL-24-53 have both intersected gold extending the gold mineralization from its NI-43-101 compliant gold resource area known as the Purdex Zone (see Table 3 below for compliant resources). High grade gold intersections from drilling last year, such as drill hole MLHL 22-06 which intersected 24.96 grams per tonne of gold over 14.9 meters and drill hole MLHL 22-17 which intersected 148.27 gram per tonne over 1.3 meters helped generate a very high compliant gold resource grade (Table 3). This year drilling in hole MLHL-23-50 intersected 13.96 grams per tonne of gold over 1.17 meters while hole MLHL-24-53 intersected 4.04 grams per tonne of gold over 2.25 meters. Figure 1 highlights the area of new gold mineralization. Hole MLHL-23-50 has extended the gold mineralization to the east of the Purdex zone while hole MLHL-25-53 has extended the gold mineralization at depth.

"The results from the recent drilling at High Lake are very encouraging. Having extended the gold mineralization to the east and at depth at Purdex Zone is positive to our overall development of the property. It is management's view that further drilling will help delineate more gold and add to our resource base" says CEO Mark Trevisiol. "Of the five kilometers of strike length within the High Lake property only 500 meters has been explored thus far. This property has numerous historic high grade gold intercepts (Figure 2 below) which have yet to be properly followed up with a concentrated drill program. The potential for this site to add to its resource base is still very much untapped" added Mark Trevisiol.

Within this winter's drilling program, McFarlane has also started to explore parts of the western area of the High Lake property. Figure 2 illustrates some historical intercepts in the western area of the High Lake property. Drilling in the western area of the property is shown on Figure 3. Specifically, McFarlane explored historical prospective areas of the R zone, B zone, A zone, A-D extension and the Porphyry Zones. Assays are still pending on this part of the program. Specific to the Porphyry Zone, historical exploration has indicated a presence of both gold and copper in mineralized samples assayed.

Figure 1 - Purdex Zone Resource Area - Longitudinal Section

Figure 2 - Historical Intercepts - High Lake Property

Figure 3 - High Lake Western Drilling - Assays Pending

Table 1: Drilling Intersections High Lake Property

Hole ID From metres To metres Length metres Gold grams/tonne MLHL-23-50 296.7 297.87 1.17 13.96 MLHL-24-53 416.5 418.75 2.25 4.04

Reported as core length as insufficient drilling to ascertain true width.

Table 2: Collar Location Details

Hole ID Easting (mE) Northing (mN) Azimuth Deg. Dip Deg. Length m MLHL-23-49 350236 5508992 200.5 -44.8 299.0 MLHL-23-50 350236 5508992 200.5 -54.8 341.0 MLHL-23-51 350236 5508993 198.8 -64.6 404.0 MLHL-23-52A 350236 5508993 199.6 -75.0 497.0 MLHL-24-53 350202 5509069 199.9 -70.2 530.0 MLHL-24-54 350202 5509069 204.9 -77.8 650.0 MLHL-24-55 350293 5508859 202.2 -44.6 200.0 MLHL-24-56 350391 5508810 202.2 -43.8 200.0 MLHL-24-57 350458 5508784 200.8 -44.5 200.0 MLHL-24-58 350202 5509069 187.51 -74.2 614.0 MLHL-24-59 350202 5509070 196.2 -74.5 587.0 MLHL-24-60A 349855 5509050 197.2 -45.3 188.0 MLHL-24-61 349925 5509020 198.7 -45.2 200.0 MLHL-24-62A 350202 5509069 182.8 -77.7 644.0 MLHL-24-63 349855 5509050 195.0 -68.4 245.0 MLHL-24-64 349855 5509050 230.4 -55.3 221.0 MLHL-24-65 349882 5509109 187.7 -50.0 259.0 MLHL-24-66 350424 5508908 201.6 -44.5 200.0 MLHL-24-67 349838 5509120 217.8 -48.5 277.0 MLHL-24-68 350425 5508909 200.2 -61.8 224.0 MLHL-24-69 350425 5508909 199.0 -71.9 332.0

Results from the remaining holes of the drill program will be released when they are available.

The current program at the Purdex Zone at High Lake is a follow up to the filing of an NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate in July 2023 that identified 96,200 Inferred ounces and 45,800 Indicated ounces of gold at a grade of 10.43 grams per tonne of gold and 9.38 grams per tonne of gold, respectively (Table 3).

Table 3: Current Purdex Zone Mineral Resource at 2.6 g/t Au cut-off

Classification Tonnes (k) Au (g/t) Au (k Oz) Indicated 152 9.38 45.8 Inferred 287 10.43 96.2

A technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") with respect to the High Lake and West Hawk Lake properties is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at https://mcfarlanelakemining.com.

QA/QC Control Procedures

McFarlane Lake has implemented a Quality Assurance/ Quality Control (QA/QC) program consistent with industry best practices. The drill core is being logged and sampled at a nearby facility with sawn half-core samples, including QA/QC samples, being sent to an accredited lab (Actlabs) in Thunder Bay, Ontario, for processing. The remaining half core has been retained in a locked facility for future examination. Certified reference material (CRM) standards and blanks are inserted every 10 samples into the sample stream. Gold was analyzed by 30-gram fire assay with AA-finish. Samples above 5 grams per tonne gold were re-assayed for gold with a gravimetric finish, while those above 10 grams per tonne were re-assayed utilizing the pulp metallic method.

Qualified Person

The technical contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Robert Kusins, Vice President of Geology of McFarlane. Mr. Kusins is a qualified person, as defined by NI43-101. However, Mr. Kusins is not independent of the Company by virtue of his position.

Historic Data

Some of the data listed in this press release is historic in nature please reference the following link for the company's disclosure on historical information https://mcfarlanelakemining.com/historic-resource-disclosure/

About McFarlane Lake Mining Limited

McFarlane is a mineral exploration company focused on the exploration and development of the High Lake mineral property located immediately east of the Ontario-Manitoba border and the West Hawk Lake mineral property located immediately west of the Ontario-Manitoba border. In addition, McFarlane holds the McMillan and Mongowin mineral property located 70 km west of Sudbury, which hosts the past-producing McMillan Gold Mine. McFarlane also owns the Michaud/Munro mineral property situated 115 km east of Timmins along the so-called "Golden Highway". McFarlane is a "reporting issuer" under applicable securities legislation in the provinces of, British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.

Additional information on McFarlane can be found by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release, including without limitation; anticipated results of geophysical surveys or drilling programs, estimated timing, geological interpretations and potential mineral recovery processes. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of McFarlane to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Filing Statement dated as of January 14, 2022, which is available for view on SEDAR at www.SEDAR.com Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release, and McFarlane 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.

McFarlane's operations could be significantly adversely affected by the effects of a widespread global outbreak of a contagious disease, including the recent outbreak of illness caused by COVID-19. It is not possible to accurately predict the impact COVID-19 will have on operations and the ability of others to meet their obligations, including uncertainties relating to the ultimate geographic spread of the virus, the severity of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, and the length of travel and quarantine restrictions imposed by governments of affected countries. In addition, a significant outbreak of contagious diseases in the human population could result in a widespread health crisis that could adversely affect the economies and financial markets of many countries, resulting in an economic downturn that could further affect operations and the ability to finance its operations.

Further Information

For further information regarding this press release, please contact:

Roger Emdin, Chief Operating Officer

McFarlane Lake Mining Limited

(705) 562-8520

remdin@mcfarlanelakemining.com

SOURCE: McFarlane Lake Mining Limited

View the original press release on accesswire.com
HALIFAX, NS / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Namibia Critical Metals Inc. ("Namibia Critical Metals" or the "Company" or "NCMI") (TSXV:NMI)(OTCQB:NMREF) is pleased to announce an updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for the large-scale "Lofdal 2B-4" heavy rare earth project.

The Company conducted a two-stage infill drilling campaign for the subprojects Area 4 and Area 2B (press releases of 2 February 2024, 6 December 2023 and 31 January 2023) with the purpose of increasing the confidence of the resources for the planned open pits of Area 4 and Area 2B. The MSA Group provided an NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate which includes the new data.

Highlights of the mineral resource update include:

Contained tonnages of Dysprosium and Terbium - the most valuable heavy rare earth elements - amount to 4,503 tonnes Dysprosium oxide and 693 tonnes Terbium oxide in the combined Measured and Indicated Resource categories which represents an increase of 11% and 12%, respectively, compared to the previous Mineral Resource Statement (filed on SEDAR on 30 June 2021);

38% increase in contained Dysprosium oxide and 39% increase in contained Terbium oxide in the Inferred Resources for the combined Area 4 and Area 2B deposits;

31% increase in contained Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO 1 ) tonnage in the combined Measured and Indicated Resource categories from 72,680 tonnes to 93,731 tonnes;

) tonnage in the combined Measured and Indicated Resource categories from 72,680 tonnes to 93,731 tonnes; The combined Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources increased from 44.8 million tonnes at 0.17% TREO to 58.5 million tonnes at 0.16% TREO for the combined Area 4 and Area 2B deposits based on the same cut-off of 0.1 % TREO as in the previous PEA (filed on SEDAR on 30 June 2021);

Darrin Campbell, President of Namibia Critical Metals stated:

"We are very pleased with the continued success of our development approach at Lofdal. With just under 11,000 meters of drilling last year, we have increased the overall contained rare earth tonnage by an impressive 37%. The Measured and Indicated resource shells at Lofdal 2B and 4 contain over 4,500 tonnes Dysprosium oxide and over 690 tonnes Terbium oxide which clearly establishes Lofdal as a globally significant heavy rare earth deposit. The updated resource will be incorporated into our Pre-Feasibility Study for "Lofdal 2B-4" currently under way and expected to be completed in Q3 2024"

1"TREO" refers to total rare earth oxides plus yttrium oxide; "HREO" refers to heavy rare earth oxides plus yttrium oxide; "heavy rare earths" as used in all Company presentations comprise europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), lutetium (Lu) and yttrium (Y). Light rare earths comprise lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd) and samarium (Sm).

Infill drilling program at Area 2B and Area 4 Deposit

The final drill program was worked out by the Company with support by The MSA Group to increase the level of resource categories as required for the PFS for the expanded project "Lofdal 2B-4".

Figure 1: Location of drill collars at Area 2B

Resource infill drilling was completed in November 2023 which brought total drilling for Area 2B and Area 4 to 268 holes with a total of 40,153 m of both, diamond core drilling (DC) and reverse circulation drilling (RC), see table below:

Figure 2: Location of drill collars and drill traces at the planned Area 4 pit

Sampling, analysis and QAQC

Samples were collected at the drill rig's cyclone ("A-sample") and submitted to Actlab's preparatory laboratory in Windhoek, Namibia, in batches of 200 to 300 samples. The samples were dried and crushed to 2 mm, split using a riffle splitter and pulverised to 105 m. Pulverised sub-samples were homogenised in a stainless-steel riffle splitter and a 15 g sample and duplicate were drawn for analysis. The pulverised sample aliquots were shipped to the ISO/IEC 17025 accredited Actlabs analytical facility in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. The samples were assayed using lithium metaborate-tetraborate fusion and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Actlab's analytical code "8-REE" includes 45 trace elements, 10 major oxides, Loss on Ignition, and mass balance.

The samples were subjected to a quality assurance and quality control (QAQC) program consisting of the insertion of blank samples, field duplicates and certified reference materials at Lofdal and the preparation of a laboratory duplicate at the sample preparation facility in Windhoek.

The Qualified Person, Dr Scott Swinden, is satisfied that the assay results are of sufficient accuracy and precision for use in the future update of the Mineral Resource Estimation.

Mineral Resource Statement

The Mineral Resource was estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Best Practice Guidelines and is reported in accordance with the 2014 CIM Definition Standards, which have been incorporated by reference into National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). The Mineral Resource is classified into the Measured, Indicated and Inferred categories and is reported at a cut-off grade of 0.1% total rare earth oxides (TREO). A summary of the Mineral Resource estimates is shown in Table 1 for Area 4 and Table 2 for Area 2B.

Table 1: Area 4 Mineral Resource Estimate above 0.1% TREO* cut-off grade

Category Tonnes

(Mt) TREO*

% HREO**

% LREO***

% Dy2O3

ppm TREO*

(kt) Measured 6.6 0.21 0.14 0.07 130 13.7 Indicated 49.2 0.15 0.07 0.08 69 75.7 Measured & Indicated 55.8 0.16 0.08 0.08 76 89.4 Inferred 10.5 0.14 0.06 0.08 58 15.0

Notes:

All tabulated data have been rounded and as a result minor computational errors may occur. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, have no demonstrated economic viability. *TREO = Total Rare Earth Oxides and includes Y2O3 **HREO = Total Heavy Rare Earth Oxides and includes Y2O3 ***LREO = Total Light Rare Earth Oxides

Table 2: Area 2B Mineral Resource Estimate above 0.1% TREO* cut-off grade

Category Tonnes

(Mt) TREO*

% HREO**

% LREO***

% Dy2O3

ppm TREO*

(kt) Indicated 2.7 0.16 0.09 0.07 97 4.4 Inferred 4.4 0.15 0.07 0.08 75 6.6

Notes:

All tabulated data have been rounded and as a result minor computational errors may occur. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, have no demonstrated economic viability. *TREO = Total Rare Earth Oxides and includes Y2O3 **HREO = Total Heavy Rare Earth Oxides and includes Y2O3 ***LREO = Total Light Rare Earth Oxides

The Mineral Resource is presented at a variety of cut-off grades as shown in Error! Reference source not found. (Measured and Indicated) and Error! Reference source not found. (Inferred) for Area 4, and Error! Reference source not found. (Indicated) and Error! Reference source not found. (Inferred) for Area 2B. The grade-tonnage curves (Figure 3) underline the large upside potential of the Lofdal project by potentially beneficiating lower grade resources, likely by sorting technologies, in future.

Table 3: Area 4, Measured and Indicated Resources Grade-Tonnages

Cut-off TREO % Tonnes

(Mt) TREO*

% HREO**

% LREO**

% Dy2O3 ppm TREO

(kt) 0.10 55.8 0.16 0.08 0.08 76 89.4 0.15 20.4 0.23 0.13 0.10 120 46.5 0.20 8.4 0.31 0.20 0.11 186 26.0 0.25 4.2 0.40 0.29 0.11 262 16.8 0.30 2.6 0.48 0.38 0.10 333 12.4

Figure 3: Area 4 Grade-Tonnage-Curves for Measured and Indicated Resources, Dy2O3 (in ppm)

Table 4: Area 4, Inferred Resources Grade-Tonnages

Cut-off TREO % Tonnes

(Mt) TREO*

% HREO**

% LREO***

% Dy2O3 ppm TREO

(kt) 0.10 10.5 0.14 0.06 0.08 58 15.0 0.15 3.4 0.18 0.08 0.11 76 6.3 0.20 0.7 0.24 0.12 0.12 118 1.7 0.25 0.2 0.30 0.20 0.09 193 0.6

Notes:

All tabulated data have been rounded and as a result minor computational errors may occur. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, have no demonstrated economic viability. *TREO = Total Rare Earth Oxides and includes Y2O3 **HREO = Total Heavy Rare Earth Oxides and includes Y2O3 ***LREO = Total Light Rare Earth Oxides

Table 5: Area 2B, Indicated Resources Grade-Tonnages

Cut-off TREO % Tonnes

(Mt) TREO*

% HREO**

% LREO***

% Dy2O3 ppm TREO

(kt) 0.10 2.7 0.16 0.09 0.07 97 4.4 0.15 1.3 0.21 0.11 0.10 117 2.7 0.20 0.6 0.25 0.12 0.13 133 1.5 0.25 0.3 0.29 0.14 0.15 150 0.8

Notes:

All tabulated data have been rounded and as a result minor computational errors may occur. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, have no demonstrated economic viability. *TREO = Total Rare Earth Oxides and includes Y2O3 **HREO = Total Heavy Rare Earth Oxides and includes Y2O3 ***LREO = Total Light Rare Earth Oxides

Table 6: Area 2B, Inferred Resources Grade-Tonnages

Cut-off TREO % Tonnes

(Mt) TREO*

% HREO**

% LREO***

% Dy2O3 ppm TREO

(kt) 0.10 4.4 0.15 0.07 0.08 75 6.6 0.15 1.6 0.20 0.09 0.11 96 3.3 0.20 0.6 0.25 0.10 0.15 111 1.6 0.25 0.2 0.31 0.10 0.20 115 0.8

Notes:

All tabulated data have been rounded and as a result minor computational errors may occur. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, have no demonstrated economic viability. *TREO = Total Rare Earth Oxides and includes Y2O3 **HREO = Total Heavy Rare Earth Oxides and includes Y2O3 ***LREO = Total Light Rare Earth Oxides

The Mineral Resource is reported at a 0.1% TREO cut-off for each individual Rare Earth Oxide (REO) (Error! Reference source not found. for Area 4 and Error! Reference source not found. for Area 2B). Quantities for each individual REO are reported in tonnes (t) at a 0.1% TREO cut-off in Error! Reference source not found. for Area 4 and in Error! Reference source not found. for Area 2B.

Table 7: Area 4 Mineral Resource Estimate above 0.1% TREO* cut-off grade

Class Tonnes

Mt TREO*

% La2O3

ppm Ce2O3

ppm Pr2O3

ppm Nd2O3

ppm Sm2O3

ppm Eu2O3

ppm Gd2O3

ppm Tb2O3

ppm Dy2O3

ppm Ho2O3

ppm Er2O3

ppm Tm2O3

ppm Yb2O3

ppm Lu2O3

ppm Y2O3

ppm Measured 6.57 0.21 173 313 34 124 42 18 81 19 130 28 83 12 76 11 935 Indicated 49.22 0.15 217 383 40 145 40 14 55 11 69 14 41 6 36 5 463 M&I 55.79 0.16 211 374 39 142 40 15 58 12 76 16 46 7 41 6 519 Inferred 10.52 0.14 217 389 42 150 40 13 49 9 58 12 34 5 30 4 369

Notes:

All tabulated data have been rounded and as a result minor computational errors may occur. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, have no demonstrated economic viability. *TREO = Total Rare Earth Oxides and includes Y2O3

Table 8: Area 4 TREO and Individual REO Quantities above 0.1% TREO* cut-off grade

Class Tonnes

Mt TREO*

Tonnes La2O3

Tonnes Ce2O3

Tonnes Pr2O3

Tonnes Nd2O3

Tonnes Sm2O3

Tonnes Eu2O3

Tonnes Gd2O3

Tonnes Tb2O3

Tonnes Dy2O3

Tonnes Ho2O3

Tonnes Er2O3

Tonnes Tm2O3

Tonnes Yb2O3

Tonnes Lu2O3

Tonnes Y2O3

Tonnes Measured 6.57 13 650 1 137 2 055 220 815 276 120 531 124 855 186 545 82 496 72 6 136 Indicated 49.22 75 728 10 660 18 832 1 983 7 134 1 962 694 2 713 528 3 391 695 2 009 291 1 781 257 22 798 M&I 55.79 89 378 11 797 20 888 2 203 7 950 2 238 814 3 243 653 4 246 881 2 554 373 2 277 329 28 934 Inferred 10.52 14 955 2 279 4 089 437 1 580 426 137 520 97 611 124 356 51 317 46 3 886

Notes:

All tabulated data have been rounded and as a result minor computational errors may occur. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, have no demonstrated economic viability. *TREO = Total Rare Earth Oxides and includes Y2O3

1"TREO" refers to total rare earth oxides plus yttrium oxide; "HREO" refers to heavy rare earth oxides plus yttrium oxide; "heavy rare earths" as used in all Company presentations comprise europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), lutetium (Lu) and yttrium (Y). Light rare earths comprise lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd) and samarium (Sm).

Table 9: Area 2B Mineral Resource Estimate above 0.1% TREO* cut-off grade

Class Tonnes

Mt TREO*

% La2O3

ppm Ce2O3

ppm Pr2O3

ppm Nd2O3

ppm Sm2O3

ppm Eu2O3

ppm Gd2O3

ppm Tb2O3

ppm Dy2O3

ppm Ho2O3

ppm Er2O3

ppm Tm2O3

ppm Yb2O3

ppm Lu2O3

ppm Y2O3

ppm Indicated 2.65 0.16 187 303 32 126 51 20 73 15 97 19 55 8 51 7 596 Inferred 4.37 0.15 196 320 36 160 76 25 80 13 75 14 40 6 36 5 440

Notes:

All tabulated data have been rounded and as a result minor computational errors may occur. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, have no demonstrated economic viability. *TREO = Total Rare Earth Oxides and includes Y2O3

Table 10: Area 2B TREO and Individual REO Quantities above 0.1% TREO* cut-off grade

Class Tonnes

Mt TREO*

Tonnes La2O3

Tonnes Ce2O3

Tonnes Pr2O3

Tonnes Nd2O3

Tonnes Sm2O3

Tonnes Eu2O3

Tonnes Gd2O3

Tonnes Tb2O3

Tonnes Dy2O3

Tonnes Ho2O3

Tonnes Er2O3

Tonnes Tm2O3

Tonnes Yb2O3

Tonnes Lu2O3

Tonnes Y2O3

Tonnes Indicated 2.65 4 353 496 805 85 334 136 52 193 40 257 51 147 22 135 19 1581 Inferred 4.37 6 647 856 1398 156 701 331 108 351 56 326 62 174 25 157 23 1922

Notes:

All tabulated data have been rounded and as a result minor computational errors may occur. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, have no demonstrated economic viability. *TREO = Total Rare Earth Oxides and includes Y2O3





Table 11: Comparison of Lofdal Mineral Resource Estimates of 2021 and 2024 at a 0.1% TREO cut-off grade

Year of Mineral Resource Estimate 2021 2024 Million tonnes Grade Million tonnes Grade (Mt) %TREO (Mt) %TREO Measured Resource Area 4 5.93 0.21 6.6 0.21 Indicated Resource Area 4 36.63 0.16 49.2 0.15 Indicated Resource Area 2B 2.2 0.19 2.7 0.16 Total Measured & Indicated Resources 44.76 0.17 58.5 0.16 Inferred Resource Area 4 6.09 0.17 10.5 0.14 Inferred Resource Area 2B 2.58 0.19 4.4 0.15 Total Inferred Resources 8.67 0.17 14.9 0.14

Table 12: Comparison of contained TREO, Dysprosium oxide and Terbium oxide in Mineral Resource Estimates of 2021 and 2024 at a 0.1% TREO cut-off grade

TREO Dy2O3 Tb2O3 Year of Mineral Resource Estimate 2021 2024 2021 2024 2021 2024 tonnes tonnes tonnes tonnes tonnes tonnes Measured Resources 12,710 13,650 820 855 120 124 Indicated Resources 59,970 80,081 3,240 3,648 500 568 Total Measured & Indicated Resources 72,680 93,731 4,060 4,503 620 692 Total Inferred Resources 10,120 21,602 680 937 110 153

The Mineral Resource was reported from within a Whittle optimised pit shell using the following assumed parameters and a cut-off grade of 0.1% TREO+Y2O3.

Basket price USD 91.64 per kg TREO 1 ,

, Mining Cost USD 2.65 per tonne,

Processing Cost USD 32.00 per tonne of run-of-mine feed,

General and Administration Cost (G&A) USD 1.41 per tonne run-of-mine feed,

Offshore treatment cost and shipment priced in discounted basket price,

Metallurgical recovery 65% of contained run-of-mine TREO,

Transport cost of USD 36.31 per tonne of concentrate.

From the assumed parameters, a 0.1% TREO cut-off grade was calculated, which together with the Whittle optimised pit shell demonstrates reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction (RPEEE) for the Mineral Resource. The assessment to satisfy the criteria of RPEEE is a high-level estimate and is not an attempt to estimate Mineral Reserves.

1"TREO" refers to total rare earth oxides plus yttrium oxide; "HREO" refers to heavy rare earth oxides plus yttrium oxide; "heavy rare earths" as used in all Company presentations comprise europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), lutetium (Lu) and yttrium (Y). Light rare earths comprise lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd) and samarium (Sm).

Filing of Report

The NI 43-101 compliant technical report ("Report") will be filed on SEDAR within the next 45 days.

The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Mr. Jeremy C. Witley (BSc Hons, MSc (Eng.)) who is a geologist with more than 30 years' experience in base and precious metals exploration and mining as well as in Mineral Resource evaluation and reporting. He is a Principal Resource Consultant for The MSA Group (an independent consulting company), is registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) and is a Fellow of the Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA). Mr. Witley has the appropriate relevant qualifications and experience to be considered a "Qualified Person" for the style and type of mineralization and activity being undertaken as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects. The information in this press release that relates to the estimate of Mineral Resources for the Lofdal Project is based upon, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation compiled by Mr. Witley and Mr. Witley has reviewed and approved this press release.

Neither Mr. Witley nor any associates employed by The MSA Group in the preparation of the Mineral Resource Estimate ("Consultants") have any beneficial interest in Namibia Critical Metals. These Consultants are not insiders, associates, or affiliates of Namibia Critical Metals. The results of the mineral resource estimate are not dependent upon any prior agreements concerning the conclusions to be reached, nor are there any undisclosed understandings concerning any future business dealings between Namibia Critical Metals and the Consultants. The Consultants are to be paid a fee for their work in accordance with normal professional consulting practices.

Geological services were provided by Gecko Exploration (Pty) Ltd. under the supervision of Dr Rainer Ellmies, who is VP Exploration for Namibia Critical Metals. Drilling services were provided by Gunzel Drilling and Prinsloo Drilling, both Namibian contract drilling companies, which also carried out the downhole geophysical measurements. Sample preparation and analytical services were provided by Activation Laboratories Ltd. (Windhoek, Namibia and Ancaster, Ontario) as the primary laboratory employing ICP-MS techniques suitable for rare earth element analyses and following strict internal QAQC procedures inserting blanks, standards and duplicates. Check analyses were carried out by ALS Minerals (North Vancouver) as the umpire laboratory on approximately 5% of the resource database.

About Namibia Critical Metals Inc.

NCMI is developing the Tier-1 Heavy Rare Earth Project, Lofdal, a globally significant deposit of the heavy rare earth metals dysprosium and terbium. Demand for these critical metals used in permanent magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines and other electronics is driven by innovations linked to energy and technology transformations. The geopolitical risks associated with sourcing many of these metals has become a repeated concern for manufacturers and end users. Namibia is a proven and stable mining jurisdiction.

The Lofdal Project is fully permitted with a 25-year Mining License and is under a Joint Venture Agreement with Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).

The Company filed a robust updated PEA for "Lofdal 2B-4" on November 14, 2022, with a post-tax NPV of USD$391 million and an annual IRR of 28% with a capital expenditure of USD$207 million. The project is projected to generate a life of mine nominal cash flow of USD$698 million post-tax over a 16-year mine life.

About Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) and the JV

JOGMEC is a Japanese government independent administrative agency which seeks to secure stable resource supplies for Japan. JOGMEC has a strong reputation as a long term, strategic partner in mineral projects globally. JOGMEC facilitates opportunities with Japanese private companies to secure supplies of natural resources for the benefit of the country's economic development.

Rare earth elements are of critical importance to Japanese industrial interests and JOGMEC has extensive experience with all aspects of the sector. JOGMEC provided Lynas with USD$250,000,000 in loans and equity in 2011 to ensure supplies of the Light Rare Earths metals suite to the Japanese industry.

Namibia Critical Metals owns a 95% interest in the Lofdal project with the remaining 5% held for the benefit of historically disadvantaged Namibians. The terms of the JOGMEC joint venture agreement with the Company stipulate that JOGMEC provides C$3,000,000 in Term 1 and C$7,000,000 in Term 2 to earn a 40% interest in the Lofdal project. Term 3 calls for a further C$10,000,000 of expenditures to earn an additional 10% interest. JOGMEC can also purchase another 1% for C$5,000,000 and has first right of refusal to fully fund the project through to commercial production and to purchase all production at market prices. The collective interests of NCMI and historically disadvantaged Namibians cannot be diluted below a 26% carried working interest upon payment of C$5,000,000 to JOGMEC for the dilution protection. NMI may elect to participate up to a maximum of 44% by funding pro rata after the earn in period is completed.

To date, JOGMEC has completed Term 2 and earned a 40% interest by reaching the C$10 million expenditure requirement. JOGMEC has approved an additional C$3,050,000 budget for Term 3 through to March 31, 2024. Total approved project funding to date is C$13,050,000 of the $20,000,000 Earn-In requirement to reach 50% interest.

Rainer Ellmies, PhD, MScGeol, EurGeol, AusIMM and Vice President of Namibia Critical Metals Inc., is the Company's Qualified Person and has reviewed and approved this press release.

The common shares of Namibia Critical Metals Inc. trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NMI" and the OTCQB Market under the symbol "NMREF".

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.

For more information please contact -

Namibia Critical Metals Inc.

Darrin Campbell, President

Tel: +01 (902) 835-8760

Email: Info@NamibiaCMI.com Web site: www.NamibiaCriticalMetals.com

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is 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. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Namibia Critical Metals Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Study Finds Initial PLN 118.3 Billion to be Generated for GDP with PLN 38 Billion More Annually

Today, Westinghouse Electric Company released an independent report from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC (PwC) outlining the considerable economic footprint of deploying six AP1000 units in Poland.

The study projects the manufacturing, engineering and construction phase of six AP1000 units will produce more than PLN 118.3 billion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) impact and over 120,000 person-years of direct employment in-country. Once operational, these units will create a minimum of PLN 38 billion in GDP and support 16,300 jobs annually.

The Polish project is being implemented by Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe, a company owned by the Polish state, which is responsible for implementation and execution of the Polish Nuclear Energy Program (PPEJ). The Program will deliver safe and reliable Generation III+ pressurized water reactors the first three will be built using AP1000 technology at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino location in the Pomerania region.

Westinghouse also announced the down selection of seven Polish suppliers to support the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site and other European projects: Polimex Mostostal Siedlce, Baltic Operator (Grupa Przemyslowa Baltic), Mostostal Kielce, Mostostal Krakow, ZKS Ferrum, Famak and Energomontaz-Polnoc Gdynia. The down selection process was conducted in a transparent and competitive manner, considering requirements of quality assurance applicable to nuclear island equipment. This is a part of the process of preparation for the execution phase of the project in Lubiatowo-Kopalino.

"Deploying our AP1000 technology in Poland represents a 100-year partnership between the United States and Poland on energy security," said David Durham, President of Westinghouse Energy Systems. "This study further underlines the significant and long-term economic, human capital and climate benefits that this technology can provide for the country, its people and deeply experienced supply chain. The involvement of leading suppliers like those we announced today will be critical as Westinghouse advances this visionary nuclear power plant project."

Further findings detailed in the PwC study include:

AP1000 technology supports the EU target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The project will generate a 39% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to existing power generation, while providing over 13 million homes with carbon-free energy.

It will establish a highly skilled nuclear workforce through leadership training and partnerships with local, higher education institutes. Once operational, the AP1000 project would also aid in the training of more than 2,400 local employees.

The country's supply chain can support new global AP1000 deployments, generating an additional PLN 1.9 billion in GDP per unit. Additional opportunities will also be available with eVinci microreactor and AP300 Small Modular Reactor deployments in Europe.

The AP1000 reactor is the only operating Generation III+ reactor with fully passive safety systems, modular construction design and the smallest footprint per MWe on the market. In the U.S., at the Vogtle site in Georgia, one AP1000 unit achieved commercial operation in July 2023 and is producing power for the grid, while a second unit recently achieved initial criticality with commercial operation projected during the second quarter of 2024. Four AP1000 reactors are currently setting operational performance and availability records in China with eight additional reactors under construction. Ukraine has made firm commitments for nine AP1000 units, and Bulgaria selected the AP1000 technology for two units at the Kozloduy nuclear site. The technology is also under consideration at multiple other sites in Central and Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom, India and North America.

Download the full report The Economic Impact of a Westinghouse AP1000 Reactor Project in Poland here

Westinghouse Electric Company is shaping the future of carbon-free energy by providing safe, innovative nuclear and other clean power technologies and services globally. Westinghouse supplied the world's first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 and the company's technology is the basis for nearly one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants. Over 135 years of innovation makes Westinghouse the preferred partner for advanced technologies covering the complete nuclear energy life cycle. For more information, visit www.westinghousenuclear.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240409679044/en/

Contacts:

media@westinghouse.com
The tissue banking market is experiencing a surge in demand due to several factors: the growing prevalence and occurrence of chronic illnesses, the expanding elderly population susceptible to such ailments, and the potential breakthroughs in treating cancers, blood disorders, immune conditions, genetic illnesses, and more. Additionally, there is a changing public attitude towards storing cord tissue and blood, advancements in utilizing cord tissues for cellular therapy, enhanced coordination among biobanks and research partnerships, the adoption of sophisticated techniques in tissue banking, increasing healthcare spending, and innovations in product development, among other factors. Together, these elements are anticipated to fuel the overall expansion of the tissue banking market from 2024 to 2030.

LAS VEGAS, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Tissue Banking Market Insights report provides the current and forecast market analysis, individual leading tissue banking companies' market shares, challenges, tissue banking market drivers, barriers, trends, and key market tissue banking companies in the market.

Key Takeaways from the Tissue Banking Market Report

As per DelveInsight estimates, North America is anticipated to dominate the global tissue banking market during the forecast period.

Notable tissue banking companies such as ROKIT HEALTHCARE, INC., AMS Biotechnology (Europe) Limited, Avantor, Inc., Sartorius AG, Azenta US, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Eppendorf SE, Hamilton Company, Merck KGaA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., LifeLink Tissue Bank, BioLife Solutions, ThermoGenesis Holdings, Inc., PHC Holdings Corporation, Taylor-Wharton, and several others, are currently operating in the tissue banking market.

and several others, are currently operating in the tissue banking market. In November 2022, the Department of Health (DoH) , Abu Dhabi, the regulator of the healthcare sector in the United Arab Emirate, and United States-based Eversight, one of the non-profit eye banks in the world, partnered to establish the country's first Eye and Tissue Bank.

, Abu Dhabi, the regulator of the healthcare sector in the United Arab Emirate, and United States-based Eversight, one of the non-profit eye banks in the world, partnered to establish the country's first Eye and Tissue Bank. In June 2022, LifeLink Tissue Bank launched the Birth Tissue Donation Program, the first of its kind in the Tampa Bay area, in partnership with Tampa General Hospital (TGH).

To read more about the latest highlights related to the tissue banking market, get a snapshot of the key highlights entailed in the Global Tissue Banking Market Report

Tissue Banking Overview

Tissue banking plays a pivotal role at the intersection of medical research, regenerative medicine, and patient care. These specialized facilities serve as custodians of a diverse array of human tissues, ranging from skin and bone to organs and blood. By meticulously cataloging, preserving, and distributing these biological resources, tissue banks facilitate groundbreaking research into disease mechanisms, drug development, and innovative therapies. Moreover, they provide a critical lifeline for patients in need of tissue transplants, ensuring a timely and safe supply of donor tissues for surgeries ranging from corneal transplants to reconstructive procedures.

At the heart of tissue banking lies a commitment to ethical practices and stringent quality control measures. Every step of the process, from donor consent to tissue retrieval, processing, storage, and distribution, is governed by rigorous standards to uphold patient privacy and safety. These facilities often collaborate closely with hospitals, research institutions, and medical professionals to advance the frontiers of medicine. As the demand for personalized and regenerative therapies continues to grow, tissue banking emerges as a cornerstone of modern healthcare, bridging the gap between scientific discovery and clinical application to improve lives around the globe.

Tissue Banking Market Insights

In 2023, North America held the largest portion of the tissue banking market, among all regions. This is due to several key growth drivers, including the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, cancers, and others. Additionally, the rising number of elderly individuals susceptible to chronic illnesses, government initiatives, a growing demand for transplantation, advanced healthcare infrastructure, regulatory approvals for new devices, and high awareness about the benefits of organ transplantation are all contributing factors. As a result, the tissue banking market in this region is expected to thrive during the forecast period of 2024-2030.

The rise in cardiovascular diseases and other chronic conditions is expected to further fuel market expansion. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in 2023 that heart disease is the primary cause of mortality among men, women, and most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. The CDC also noted that approximately 1 in 20 adults aged 20 and above suffer from coronary artery disease (CAD), with around 805,000 heart attacks occurring annually in the United States.

The rise in diabetes cases is expected to boost the demand for tissue banking within the country, as studies have shown the benefits of placenta-derived cells for patients with type 2 diabetes, thanks to their ability to promote blood vessel growth and regulate the immune system. Furthermore, government bodies are making substantial investments in diverse tissue-banking initiatives, thereby driving market expansion.

For example, in October 2021, the National Human Genome Research Institute announced plans to allocate USD 38.5 million over a span of five years to expand its existing gene expression resources to include developing tissues. This initiative aims to establish a publicly accessible tissue bank and database, offering essential data on the expression of human developmental genes across various pediatric tissue types to both basic and clinical researchers in the United States. These investments are expected to bolster the overall growth of the tissue banking market in the region.

To know more about why North America is leading the market growth in the tissue banking market, get a snapshot of the Tissue Banking Market Outlook

Tissue Banking Market Dynamics

The tissue banking market has witnessed significant dynamics in recent years, driven by a convergence of technological advancements, increasing awareness about the potential of regenerative medicine, and the rising demand for organ transplantation. As more research focuses on developing treatments for chronic diseases and conditions, the need for high-quality human tissue samples for research purposes has surged. This has led to a notable expansion in the tissue banking sector, with a growing number of organizations and institutions entering the tissue banking market.

Furthermore, the regulatory landscape has played a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of the tissue banking market. Stringent regulations and guidelines regarding the collection, processing, storage, and distribution of human tissues have prompted tissue banks to implement robust quality control measures. Moreover, the emphasis on ethical considerations, such as informed consent and patient privacy, has become paramount. These factors have not only influenced the operations of existing tissue banks but have also set the stage for new entrants to establish themselves in the tissue banking market by adhering to these stringent standards.

As the industry continues to evolve, collaborations between academic institutions, research organizations, and healthcare providers are expected to further fuel the growth of the tissue banking market, unlocking new opportunities for advancements in medical research and treatment modalities.

Get a sneak peek at the tissue banking market dynamics @ Tissue Banking Market Dynamics Analysis

Report Metrics Details Coverage Global Study Period 2021-2030 Tissue Banking Market CAGR ~6% Key Tissue Banking Companies ROKIT HEALTHCARE, INC., AMS Biotechnology (Europe) Limited, Avantor, Inc., Sartorius AG, Azenta US, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Eppendorf SE, Hamilton Company, Merck KGaA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., LifeLink Tissue Bank, BioLife Solutions, ThermoGenesis Holdings, Inc., PHC Holdings Corporation, Taylor-Wharton, among others

Tissue Banking Market Assessment

Tissue Banking Market Segmentation

Tissue Banking Market Segmentation By Product: Equipment [Cryopreservation Equipment, Thawing Equipment, Quality Control Equipment, and Others] and Media and Consumables

Equipment [Cryopreservation Equipment, Thawing Equipment, Quality Control Equipment, and Others] and Media and Consumables

Tissue Banking Market Segmentation By Application: Therapeutics, Medical Research, and Others

Therapeutics, Medical Research, and Others

Tissue Banking Market Segmentation By Geography : North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World

: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World Porter's Five Forces Analysis, Product Profiles, Case Studies, KOL's Views, Analyst's View

Which MedTech key players in the tissue banking market are set to emerge as the trendsetter explore @ Tissue Banking Companies

Table of Contents

1 Report Introduction 2 Executive summary 3 Regulatory and Patent Analysis 4 Key Factors Analysis 5 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 6 Tissue Banking Market Layout 7 Global Company Share Analysis - Key 3-5 Companies 8 Tissue Banking Market Company and Product Profiles 9 Project Approach 10 About DelveInsight

Interested in knowing the tissue banking market by 2030? Click to get a snapshot of the Tissue Banking Market Trends

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DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant, and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance.

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+14699457679

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-tissue-banking-market-to-exhibit-growth-at-a-considerable-cagr-of-6-by-2030-assesses-delveinsight-302110494.html
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - Showcase Minerals Inc. (CSE: SHOW) (FSE: ZJ0) ("Showcase" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its upcoming drilling program on its Dixie Flats-North Star Gold Project in Elko County, Nevada.

Since completing the reclamation bond process with the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") on March 11, Showcase has procured a water source from the nearby Tomera Ranch that is sufficient for its drilling needs and has completed a nesting bird survey in order to satisfy the BLM that the drill program will be conducted in a manner that will not disturb avian gestation. Showcase also retained Legarza Exploration, an excavating contractor, which has mobilized a track-mounted excavator on the drill site in order to prepare drill-sumps. The Company expects to commence drilling during the week of April 22, 2024.

Showcase's Chief Executive Officer, Kirk Reed, remarked, "We are pleased that preparation for drilling has proceeded efficiently and that Showcase remains on schedule for its April drill program. We are very optimistic about our maiden drill program at Dixie Flats-North Star, where a clear trend of mineralization near to historic drilling has been identified that aligns with the regional mineralization of the Rain mine to the northwest and Orla Mining Ltd.'s Dark Star deposit approximately 1.5 miles south of the southwest end of the property."

About the Dixie Flats-North Star Gold Project:

The Dixie Flats-North Star Property (the "Property" or "Dixie Flats") is located on the east side of the Pinon Mountains, 21 air-miles south of the City of Elko in northeast Nevada. It is a combination of two claim blocks, the Dixie Flats group of claims and the North Star group of claims. The Property is comprised of a total of 236 total unpatented mineral claims on Federal land administered by the US Bureau of Land Management ("BLM").

The Property lies on the southern margin of the Carlin Trend, a northwest-trending belt of sediment-hosted gold deposits that makes up the greatest geographic concentration of gold deposits in North America, with reported production of more than 92.5 million ounces of gold since 1961 (Muntean, 2019). The Dixie Flats-North Star Property is underlain by rocks known to host gold mineralization on the Carlin Trend, and surface sampling has shown anomalous gold, silver, arsenic, antimony, and mercury levels in rock, soil, and biogeochemical samples from the Property, which is a characteristic geochemical signature of Carlin-Type gold deposits.

The Dixie Flats-North Star Gold Project is approximately three miles south of Newmont Mining Company's Emigrant Springs Mine, which finished production in 2018, and approximately 4.5 miles southeast of the past producing Rain Mine. Both deposits are hosted in dissolution breccia zones at the contact between the Webb mudstone, the basal unit of the overlying assemblage, and the underlying Devils Gate limestone. Prior exploration on the Dixie Flats -North Star Property has been focused on delineating this contact at depth and discovering possible extensions to the regional structures controlling mineralization at the Rain and Emigrant Mines and their demonstrated extension to the Dixie Flats-North Star Property. The information on the adjacent projects is taken from publicly available sources and is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Dixie Flats-North Star Property.

Additional information on the Dixie Flats-North Star Gold Project can be found in the National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report entitled "Technical Report on the Dixie Flats-Northstar Gold Exploration Property", Elko, Nevada, dated September 21, 2022, which has been filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Qualified Person:

Mr. Steve McMillin, M.Sc., C.P.G. is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release.

About Showcase Minerals Inc.:

Showcase is a Canadian mineral exploration company with an exclusive option to acquire a 100% interest in Dixie Flats-North Star Gold Project and the Woodruff Gold-Vanadium Project (subject to various net smelter returns royalties ranging from 2.25% to 4.25%), which collectively consist of unpatented 254 lode mining claims covering approximately 1,818 hectares located in Elko County, Nevada.

For further information, please contact:

Kirk Reed, President

Showcase Minerals Inc.

Telephone: 1-800-982-0670

Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in CSE policies) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/204883

SOURCE: Showcase Minerals Inc.
LONDON, April 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey indicates reducing greenhouse gas emissions grew in importance for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in 2023 but that greater support from enabling policies and funding is needed.

As regulation and customer expectations increase, and climate change continues to impact small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) at a greater rate, SMEs are prioritizing taking climate action. In the past year, reducing emissions grew in priority for 44% of SMEs surveyed, and maintained the same level of priority for 53% of SMEs.

Compared to last year's survey data from the SME Climate Hub, SMEs are facing an 11% increase in pressure to take climate action from shareholders, investors and customers.

Although SMEs suggest they want to take climate action, the survey also indicates they need more support.

Of the 288 SMEs polled, 52% cited lack of policies or government-sponsored incentives and benefits as barriers to climate action. Insufficient funding was cited by 52% of respondents, with 39% saying lack of data about current emissions was hampering action on climate change. A lack of time was seen by 29% as a barrier to action, while 29% suggested lack of skills and knowledge were impeding their ability to act.

Maria Mendiluce, CEO, We Mean Business Coalition, co-founder of the SME Climate Hub, said: "In order to transition to a clean and just economy, we cannot leave behind small businesses and the communities they serve. Small businesses are the nimble changemakers we need to push climate action forward, but we need an all-of-society approach that enables this action. Support mechanisms from governments and incentivizing programs from partners such as financial institutions and corporate supply chain leaders are essential to enable small businesses to take more comprehensive action."

The survey, polling businesses across 44 countries and 25 sectors, was carried out by the SME Climate Hub , a global initiative focused on mobilizing SMEs toward climate action and led by We Mean Business Coalition . It is the third annual survey of SME Climate Hub signatories, assessing the current state of climate action among SMEs and focusing on the critical role of policy support and financial incentives.

Notes to editors

Download the survey

For more information, please contact SChebil@WMBCoalition.org

PDF - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2375399/SME_Climate_Action_2024.pdf

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Basemark, a Helsinki, Finland-based provider of automotive AR software that enables original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to develop AR applications for their cars, raised 22M in Series B funding.

The round was led by ETF Partners, with participation from Finnish Industry Investment (Tesi), Constructor Capital, a single family office based in Zurich, Business Finland, the European Innovation Council, and private investors.

The company intends to use the funds to further enhance its business with OEMs in Europe and the United States and fund its international expansion to Japan, China, and South Korea.

Led by Founder and CEO Tero Sarkkinen, Basemark is a provider of software and tooling solutions for advanced automotive AR application development, including AR Navigation and AR ADAS visualizations for AR HUDs and other screens in a car. Its solution, Rocksolid AR, comprises of visual design studio, SDK, and runtimes optimized for automotive software and hardware environments.

The company secured its first series production deal with an OEM in the United States last year and is also actively discussing with major OEMs in Europe and Asia.

FinSMEs

09/04/2024
Waymap, a London, UK-based technology company offering a navigation app that works outdoors, indoors and deep underground, raised 7M in funding.

The round was led by TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good with participation from Venrex and Comprador Holdings.

The company intends to continue to expand internationally, growing the presence of mapped areas in Asia Pacific and the Middle East, and to consolidate its current presence in North America and Europe.

Led by CEO and Founder Dr. Tom Pey, Waymap offers a precise navigation app which works indoors, outdoors and underground. Independent of GPS, WiFi or Mobile Data, the navigation is based solely on an algorithm, SmartStep, which uses only the motion sensors on a smartphone and the users steps. Initially designed to enhance the lives of blind users, its utility extends to all. With accuracy up to 1 metre, the technology surpasses others, facilitating navigation around transit networks and busy shopping centres, adapting to users habits. Additionally, the location technology offers broader applications: its probability-based location finding will have use across all areas of smart city living, and for any company or individual looking to accurately pinpoint precise location.

FinSMEs

09/04/2024
Zanders, an Utrecht, The Netherlands-based global financial performance consultancy firm, announced the acquisition of RiskQuest, an Amsterdam, The Netherlands-based risk consultancy firm.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

With the acquisition, Zanders will grow team to 450 and expand service suite.

Founded by Hans Heinz, RiskQuest is a consulting firm specializing in developing state-of-the art models for managing financial risks, preventing financial economic crime, and for sustainable strategy. Since the company was founded in 2008, it has been able to build and maintain an impressive customer base and work for all major Dutch financial institutions, including the Dutch Central Bank. The team consists of 60 exceptional quants with backgrounds in mathematics, physics, econometrics, computer science or engineering, combined with a commercial sense and the ability to explain complex matters to a broad range of audiences.

Led by CEO Laurens Tijdhof, Zenders is a global independent treasury and risk consulting firm with 30 years of experience in providing solutions to multinational corporations, financial institutions, public sector entities and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations). The company specializes in treasury strategy and organization, technology selection and implementation, financial and non-financial risk management, risk modelling, validations, and regulatory compliance, and has developed its own suite of innovative SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions on its Zanders Inside platform. The combined company has grown to become a global consulting firm with 450 employees across 11 offices in Europe, Middle East, US, and Asia.Zanders is committed to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles and practices and supports its clients in achieving their ESG goals.

This strategic move follows the acquisitions of Optimum Prime in January and Fintegral last year in July by Zanders and is set to further strengthen the companys presence in the European market.

FinSMEs

09/04/2024
The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 381.78 points to reach its all-time peak of 75,124.28. The NSE Nifty advanced 99 points to hit its record peak of 22,765.30 read more

Sensex breached 75,000-mark for the first time in the early trade hours and Nifty too climbed to its fresh new record peak on Tuesday, April 9.

The benchmark equity indices continued their record-breaking rally on the second day of the week getting fillip from big purchase in IT stocks.

The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 381.78 points to reach its all-time peak of 75,124.28. The NSE Nifty advanced 99 points to hit its record peak of 22,765.30.

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At 10:37 IST, Sensex was trading 303.69 points higher at 75,046.19, while Nifty was up 81.90 points at 22,748.20.

From the Sensex basket, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Services, HCL Technologies, Tata Motors, Wipro, ICICI Bank and Nestle were the major gainers.

Experts expect the 50-stock Nifty to continue making new highs in the coming days, as the bullish undertone remains intact.

Amidst the mixed global signals, analysts suggest there may be short-term fluctuations, presenting traders with opportunities to add quality stocks.

Analysts forecast on Indian stock market

Nifty is expected to stay in the 22,529-22,810 band for the near term, said Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research at HDFC Securities, adding that the Nifty formed a higher top higher bottom formation compared to the previous sessions.

Deven Mehata, Research Analyst at Choice Broking, said the bullish momentum can continue in the near-term and suggested traders to buy-on-every-dip.

Traders holding long positions should trail stop loss at 22,500 on closing basis, Mehta suggested.

In Asian markets, Tokyo and Hong Kong were trading in the positive territory while Seoul and Shanghai quoted lower.

Wall Street ended on a mixed note on Monday.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 684.68 crore on Monday, according to exchange data.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.19 per cent to USD 90.55 a barrel.

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The BSE benchmark jumped 494.28 points or 0.67 per cent to settle at a new closing peak of 74,742.50 on Monday. The NSE Nifty climbed 152.60 points or 0.68 per cent to 22,666.30.

With inputs from agencies
The actor is all set to do another web series after Prakash Jhas Aashram. He gets to share the screen space with his father Shekhar Suman for the second time read more

Adhyayan Suman and Shekhar Suman are coming together for the second time after their 2014 collaboration Heartless. This time, its for Netflix and Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. And in an interview with Showsha, the Jashn star revealed how he was first rejected by Bhansali when he sent his audition and how he landed up the part.

Sharing a rather interesting anecdote, Suman said, At one oclock in the afternoon, I was told that Mr Bhansali would be seeing my audition at three. Somehow, I managed to stop the car in the middle of the mountains and make an audition clip sitting in the car. I begged, borrowed and stole some network from people and sent the tape. Unfortunately, I didnt get the role.

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He added, To be honest, if I had auditioned and not gotten the part in any other filmmakers film or series, I would just let it pass. But this was Sanjay Leela Bhansalis show and its every actors dream to work with him. So, I was extremely disappointed that it didnt work out for me.

How he landed up the part

My father always tells me that if something is meant to be, it will be and nobody can snatch anything away thats destined to happen. The shoot of Heeramandi started with the other characters. Two days before they were supposed to start shoot with the actor who was supposed to play Zorawar, he was suddenly asked to leave and I was brought in. Its just outstanding how it all happened.

About the show

The show also marks the comeback of actor Fardeen Khan after a gap of 14 years. Netflix India wrote about him- Fardeen Khan makes his spectacular return to the screen as Wali Mohammed! Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is coming on 1st May, only on Netflix!

Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Netflixs Heeramandi Has been one of the most awaited series in recent times. And in the most unique and exciting ways possible, the makers unveiled the release date with the help of drones at Mumbais famous Mahalaxmi Race Course. And its all set to drop on the OTT giant on May 1.

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After 27 years of making films driven by sweep and soul, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is now making his debut on the digital space with Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar , which will soon stream on Netflix.
12th Fail tells the story of ordinary individuals navigating lifes challenges with courage and resilience. The film is based on the 2019 book of the same name, depicting the life and struggles of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma read more

Vidhu Vinod Chopras celebrated film 12th Fail starring Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankar in lead roles is set to make its mark in China, promising to captivate audiences with its compelling narrative and universal themes. The films release in China signifies a milestone in Chopras illustrious career and highlights the global appeal of Indian cinema.

Chopra, known for his masterful storytelling, expressed his enthusiasm for bringing 12th Fail to Chinese audiences, stating, As a filmmaker, I believe storytelling transcends borders. Bringing  12th Fail to China is not just about reaching a new audience, but about sharing universal human experiences that resonate regardless of geography. 12th Fail is based on a story of honest people, and I am sure that people everywhere will relate to the struggles and perseverance of the characters. Im excited to see how Chinese audiences connect with it.

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 12th Fail tells the story of ordinary individuals navigating lifes challenges with courage and resilience. The film is based on the 2019 book of the same name, depicting the life and struggles of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma. The films narrative, coupled with Chopras distinctive directorial vision, has earned it critical acclaim and a dedicated fan following.

The films release in China is a testament to the growing popularity of Indian cinema on the global stage. With its rich storytelling and powerful performances,  12th Fail is poised to resonate deeply with Chinese audiences, bridging cultural divides and fostering a greater understanding of the human experience.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will learn his fate as the High Court will deliver its verdict on his plea challenging his arrest. Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi will be in Tamil Nadu today to conduct a roadshow in Chennai. Heres what else to expect today from the world of news read more

Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal arrives to appear before the Rouse Avenue Court in the excise policy-linked money laundering case, in New Delhi. File image/PTI

Its a Tuesday and expect some big headline-creating events today.

From Prime Minister Narendra Modis election rallies to the Delhi High Courts verdict on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals plea on challenging his arrest, theres some big news awaiting you.

Delhi High Court to deliver verdict on Kejriwal arrest plea

The Delhi High Court will announce its verdict today in the case of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently in judicial custody over a money laundering case linked to an alleged excise scam, challenging his arrest.

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As per the cause list uploaded on the courts website, a single-judge bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma will pronounce the judgment on 9 April at 2.30 pm.

In addition to contesting his arrest, Kejriwal has also challenged his subsequent remand in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The matter in court stems from Kejriwal arguing that his arrest was intended to disable him from any active role in politics, further impinging on the level-playing field and the Basic Structure of the Constitution.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on 21 March after the high court declined to provide him protection from coercive action by the federal anti-money laundering agency.

On 1 April, he was remanded to judicial custody in the case after appearing in the trial court following the expiration of his ED custody. The case revolves around alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi governments excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently scrapped.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend a roadshow in Tamil Nadus capital Chennai. File image/PTI

PM Modi in Chennai

As the country gears up for the Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi has begun criss-crossing across the country, campaigning for the BJP. And on Tuesday (9 April), he will visit Tamil Nadu. According to Tamil BJP chief, Annamalai, the PM PM will hold a roadshow in Chennai today and address two public meetings the next day.

The roadshow in Chennai will be held after 6 pm, covering segments of both South Chennai and Central Chennai, he said. Tamilisai Soundararjan is BJP;s South Chennai candidate while Vinoj P Selvam is taking on DMK heavyweight Dayanidhi Maran from Central Chennai.

Elections to 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu will be held on 19 April, and the counting of votes taken up on 4 June, at the end of the seven-phase polling across the country.

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BJPs Amit Shah and former Union minister Birender Singh at a rally in Jind. Singh has announced that he has resigned from the party and will join the Congress today. File image/PTI

BJPs Birender Singh to join Congress

Former Union minister Birender Singh has resigned from the BJP and is likely to join the Congress today (9 April). The move comes nearly a month after his son Brijendra Singh resigned from the Lok Sabha and the saffron party and joined the Grand Old Party.

I have resigned from the primary membership of the BJP and sent my resignation to party chief J P Nadda. My wife Prem Lata, who remained MLA from 2014-2019, has also quit the party. Tomorrow, we will join the Congress, PTI quoted him as saying at press conference.

Singh had joined BJP in 2014 in the presence of the then party president Amit Shah, after severing nearly four decade old ties with the Congress.

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On 10 March this year, his son Brijendra resigned as MP and joined the Congress citing compelling political reasons.

Amit Shah takes election campaign to Assam

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be in Assam today to lead the BJPs Lok Sabha election campaign in the northeastern state. Shah is scheduled to attend a campaign gathering for Dibrugarh seat candidate and Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, as soon as he arrives in the state.

Following this, a series of campaign events will be held to support Ranjit Dutta and Pradan Baruah, the candidates from the Sonitpur and Lakhimpur seats, respectively. The Union minister will also address a road show in Tinsukia, hoping to bolster BJP support in advance of the elections.

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The toppled statue of Saddam Hussein is seen in Firdos Square downtown Baghdad. The statue was taken down by US Marines and Iraqis as American troops entered the capital. File image/AP

On this day: Baghdad falls to US forces

On 9 April 2003, three weeks into the invasion of Iraq, US forces pulled down a bronze statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdads Firdos Square, symbolising the end of the Iraqi presidents long, often brutal reign, and a major early victory for the United States.

Images of the toppled statue and celebrating citizens were instantly beamed around the world. With Hussein in hiding and much of the city now under US control, the days events later became known as the Fall of Baghdad.

However, the Iraq War was far from over. Hussein was captured by US forces in December 2003 and executed in December 2006, but the United States would not formally withdraw from Iraq until December 2011, eight years after the conflict first began.
While the land-based Iron Dome has been frequently used to intercept rockets fired from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, the C-Dome was deployed for the first time against a suspicious target that entered Israels airspace near the southern city of Eilat. The ship-mounted defence system shields against rocket and missile attacks at sea read more

A ship-mounted version of the Iron Dome missile defence system intercepted an apparent drone that entered Israeli airspace near the southernmost city of Eilat just before midnight on Monday. File image/Reuters

In what marked the first-ever operational use of the system, Israel deployed its C-Dome defence system against a suspicious aerial target near Eilat, the military said Tuesday. The C-Dome is a naval version of the Iron Dome air defence system used to shield against rocket and missile attacks.

It is mounted on Saar 6-class corvettes, German-made warships, and uses the same interceptor as the Iron Dome. While the land-based Iron Dome has been frequently used to intercept rockets fired from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, the C-Dome serves as a naval defence system to shield against rocket and missile attacks at sea.

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Heres a look at why Israel deployed the C-Dome.

What happened?

On Monday evening, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported an alert in the area of Eilat, which was targeted in February by intercepted ballistic missile fire from Yemens Houthi rebels, allies of Palestinian militants Hamas.

Following the sirens that sounded in the area of Eilat regarding the infiltration of a hostile aircraft, IDF Naval forces identified a suspicious aerial target crossing into Israeli territory, the IDF said in a statement released early Tuesday. The target was successfully intercepted by the C-Dome naval defence system.

The IDF stated that the navy tracked the target before successfully shooting it down with the C-Dome system, which was its first operational use.

According to the IDF, the suspected drone entered Israeli airspace from the eastern direction. There were no reports of damage or injuries in the incident.

An IDF spokesperson would not confirm whether the suspicious target had been a drone but told AFP this was the first operational use of C-Dome.

Mounted on Saar 6-class corvettes, German-made warships, the C-Dome uses the same interceptor as the Iron Dome, according to state-owned operator Rafael Advanced Defence Systems.

The land-based Iron Dome has been used countless times to intercept rockets fired from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. That defence system costs roughly $50,000 (Rs 41.61 lakh) per launch.

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Have there been attacks on Eilat?

Beachgoers in Eilat captured footage of the interception over the southern city, which has been targeted several times during the Gaza Strip conflict. Social media clips showed two interceptor missiles being launched from the Saar 6-class corvette, according to The Times of Israel.

Iran-backed groups, including Yemens Houthis, the Islamic Resistance of Iraq, and a Syrian group linked to Lebanons Hezbollah, have repeatedly attacked Eilat since 7 October.

According to the IDF, the suspected drone entered Israeli airspace from the eastern direction. There were no reports of damage or injuries in the incident. File image/AFP

In November, a drone launched from Syria struck a school in Eilat; in March, a cruise missile fired from Yemen struck an open area north of the city; earlier this month, a drone launched from Iraq struck a Navy hangar in Eilat Bay; and this month, a drone struck an open area in Jordan near southern Israels Ramon airport, the report added.

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What we know about C-Dome

C-Dome has three components: TAMIR interceptors, a modular Vertical-Launch Unit (VLU), and a Command & Control (C2) component. The use of the vessels surveillance radar to detect and track threats eliminates the need for a dedicated radar.

According to the website of an Israeli defence company Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, it is a highly advanced warhead that ensures high kill probability against a wide range of targets. The interceptor of the C-Dome is extremely agile and has a high rate-of-turn enabling intercepting of even the most manoeuvrable targets.

Its state-of-the-art proximity fuse maximises lethality and its powerful warhead ensures target destruction.

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With inputs from AFP
Family feuds are common during election season. Now Congress veteran AK Antony said that his son, Anil K Antony, should lose the election. Anil is running as the BJP candidate for the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha seat in Kerala read more

During a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, Congress leader AK Antony said it was 'wrong' for the children of the party leaders to join the BJP. File image/PTI

As the elections approach, we hear many intriguing stories. Family rivalries are common. The latest is father vs son. Congress veteran AK Antony stated on Tuesday that his son Anil K Antony should lose the election. Wonder why. Anil is a political rival. He is running as the BJP candidate for the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha seat in Kerala,

The senior Antony also went on to wish that his sons opponent, the Congress candidate in the south Kerala constituency, Anto Antony, should win.

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Congress leaders children joining the BJP is wrong

During a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, the Congress leader said it was wrong for the children of the party leaders to join the BJP.

The Congress is my religion, AK Antony said, reacting to repeated queries about his sons politics and decision to join the BJP.

Anto Antony will win in Pathanamthitta even without campaigning. My position from the beginning has been family is different from politics. Dont make me talk too much about my children. I am not used to that language, Antony said.

Lok Sabha elections are going to be held. It is not an Assembly election. It is an election to decide who will rule India for the next five years. It is a do-or-die battle. It is an election to reclaim India. It is an election to save India, he said_._

Anil Antony joined the BJP in 2023, after a controversy over a tweet where he criticised the BBC for its controversial documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister. Anil, at the time, said that placing the views of the British broadcaster over Indian institutions would undermine the countrys sovereignty.

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Following the criticism by the state Congress leaders for siding with PM Modi, he resigned from his posts in KPCC Digital Media and AICC Social Media and Digital Communications Cell.

Congress continuously fighting against Modi

In the address, AK Antony also criticised the ruling BJP government, claiming that the party is attempting to destroy the concept of India and that the saffron partys rule should end.

The veteran politician stated unequivocally that his party is continuously fighting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

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Anil Antony with Home Minister Amit Shah. Anil joined the BJP in 2023, after a controversy over a tweet where he criticised the BBC for its controversial documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots. File image/PTI

On the question on Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayans allegations that the Congress party doesnt take national issues seriously, Antony said, Congress party and Rahul Gandhi are continuously fighting against Modi, BJP, and RSS. I dont think the people of Kerala will take Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans allegations seriously.

The INDIA bloc is moving forward every day and the BJP is going down. I think its a chance for us to form the government, he added, as per a Hindustan Times report.

Antonys attack on Vijayan came just days after the Kerala chief minister chastised Rahul Gandhi for running in the Wayanad constituency against Annie Raja, a CPI candidate and member of the INDIA bloc.

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Vijayan previously claimed that the BJP and Congress are collaborating to use central agencies and target the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board, despite ensuring development in several districts across the state.

The voting for the 18th Lok Sabha election in Kerala will take place on 26 April, in the second phase.

With inputs from PTI
Ahead of the seven-phase election starting 19 April, garment makers are temporarily converting factories where they usually make saris into production hubs for election flags and banners read more

Alam Khan, 55, holds the cutouts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stoles of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party inside a shop in Delhi. Reuters

As India gears up for a two-month-long election with nearly a billion voters, political merchandise sales are on the rise.

Flag makers are expanding operations and working overtime to meet a surge in demand. While garment makers are turning towards producing election flags and banners, which play a crucial role in political campaigns.

Flagged it

Ahead of the first voting day of the seven-phase election on 19 April, garment makers are temporarily converting factories where they usually make saris into production hubs for election flags and banners.

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One such factory owner, Mukesh Agarwal, said there are as many as 40 similar factories in Mathura, a temple town in Uttar Pradesh, Indias largest state and a key political battleground.

The cheapest and best items used for political campaigns are banners and flags, Agarwal said.

Election merchandise is a low-margin, high-volume business, where the price of a party badge can start from Rs 1.

Election merchandise is a low-margin, high-volume business, where the price of a party badge can start from Rs 1. Reuters

Agarwal said some factories can produce a million flags a day if demand continues to increase.

Economic boost

During an election, India is plastered with posters from hundreds of political parties and thousands of candidates.

As many people have little education, party workers use flags to promote their symbols and hang them outside houses and make them the medium of their campaigns, Agarwal said.

A textile hub in Surat, in Prime Minister Narendra Modis home state of Gujarat, is the centre of election merchandise along with several smaller hot spots like Mathura in the north and Hyderabad in the south.

Elections give the economy a boost as political parties spend on goods and services as varied as small merchandise and helicopter rental.

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Gulshan Khurana, general secretary of a traders association in Delhis Sadar Bazar market, said political parties spend Rs 30,000 lakh to 50,000 lakh on election merchandise, creating as many as 10 million jobs.

Khurana, who has been a market trader for nearly 50 years, said there has been a nearly 30 per cent increase in business compared with the last election in 2019, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spent a record sum to retain power.

An opinion poll last week predicted an easy win for a Modi-backed coalition. Opposition politician Rahul Gandhi of the Indian National Congress said at the Friday release of his partys manifesto that the election is much closer than being propagated.

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With inputs from Reuters
The Kerala Story is creating controversy in the state after Doordarshan and the Idukki diocese screened the movie last week. The telecast of the allegedly divisive film has pitted the ruling CPI(M) and Opposition Congress against the BJP ahead of the general elections read more

'The Kerala Story' has stirred a political row in Kerala ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. PTI File Photo

The Kerala Story has created a political storm again, a year after its release. The Sudipto Sen-directed movie is at the centre of a major controversy in Kerala ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

After state-run Doordarshan, now Catholic dioceses in Kerala are lining up to broadcast the controversial movie starring Adah Sharma. While the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) and Opposition Congress have criticised the screenings, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has defended the move.

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Lets take a closer look.

How the row began

The Kerala Story was back in the focus after the national broadcaster Doordarshan decided to air the Bollywood movie on 5 April.

The move was vehemently opposed by the CPI (M) and Congress, with both parties filing separate complaints with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against the screening.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan asked Doordarshan to stop airing the polarising movie. He said the film portrayed Kerala as a hub of conversions and seeks to disparage the State, reported The Hindu.

The national news broadcaster should not become a propaganda machine of the BJP-RSS combine and withdraw from screening a film that only seeks to exacerbate communal tensions ahead of the general elections. Kerala will remain steadfast in opposing such malicious attempts to sow hatred, he wrote on X on 4 April.

The decision by @DDNational to broadcast the film 'Kerala Story', which incites polarisation, is highly condemnable. The national news broadcaster should not become a propaganda machine of the BJP-RSS combine and withdraw from screening a film that only seeks to exacerbate  Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) April 4, 2024

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VD Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, called the state-run broadcasters decision highly condemnable and said the broadcast was a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

However, BJP minister V Muraleedharan described the film as apiece of art, and the expression of art is guaranteed in the Constitution.

Poet and journalist KG Suraj moved the Kerala High Court to postpone the screening of the movie until the general elections are over. However, the court refrained from staying the broadcast.

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On 5 April, several activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the CPI(M), tried to storm the premises of Doordarshan Kendram in Thiruvananthapuram, demanding it revoke its decision and apologise, as per The Hindu.

The youth Congress marched to the Doordarshan office in Thiruvananthapuram to protest against the broadcast.

The movie was telecast on 5 April at 8 pm, as per PTI.

The Kerala Story revolves around four women from Kerala who were converted to Islam and made to join the Islamic State. According to Newslaundry, the producers had claimed thousands of women in the state had fallen victim to this, but later changed the figure to three women.

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Dioceses to show The Kerala Story

A day before Doordarshan, the Idukki diocese of Syro-Malabar Catholic Church showed the allegedly divisive movie for Class 10-12 students during its summer catechism classes despite facing a huge backlash. It also urged families to watch it on Doordarshan.

Father Jins Karakkat, Chairman of media commission of the diocese defended the decision, saying the movie was telecast to create awareness among children as nowadays there are circumstances where the teenagers are largely falling in love and facing dangers, as per The Week report.

The church also issued a booklet on love highlighting the threats of love jihad, reported India Today.

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Reacting to the row, Kerala BJP chief K Surendran, who is challenging Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, said the people in Kerala have wholeheartedly welcomed the movie.

Love jihad in Kerala has occurred many times and many districts, including Kannur. There are more than hundreds of victims and cases in Kerala, he was quoted as saying by India Today.

Now, the Thamarassery diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church has planned to screen the controversial movie on 12 April. The Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM) unit of the Thamarassery diocese has taken the initiative.

We have made the decision to counter the attack on the Idukki diocese by vested interests. There is no point in all the protests against the screening. It is not a banned movie. Also, it is freely available in OTT platforms, Father George Vellakkakudiyil, director of KCYM, Diocese of Thamarassery, said, as per The Hindu.

He said the movie will be aired for educational purposes, as a form of warning to children about some of the dangers out there and to be cautious when they fall in love.

On Tuesday (9 April), CM Vijayan said the film was against the cultural ethos of the state. Without naming the church, he stated, The film is being screened with a particular agenda. Canards are being spread to insult the state. No one should fall in the trap of the RSS, which sees Communists and minorities as its enemies."

As per Indian Express, taking a cue from dioceses, pro-RSS groups on social media have also asked Hindu groups to screen the movie.

The political relevance

The BJP, which endorsed The Kerala Story during its release last May, is trying to make inroads in Kerala where minorities, including Muslims and Christians, make up 45 per cent of the population. The saffron party, which backs the claim of love jihad, has hailed the Churchs decision to show the film.

People ride past a poster of a Hindi movie titled The Kerala Story, outside a cinema in Mumbai, India May 9, 2023. Reuters File Photo

The BJP has been attempting to woo Christians and trying to play on their fear of rising Islamic extremism in Kerala, reported Indian Express.

Meanwhile, the CPI (M) is making efforts to lure Muslims away from the Congress by portraying that the Grand Old Party cannot take on the BJP in Kerala, the newspaper report added.

Keralas 20 Lok Sabha seats go to poll on 26 April during the second phase of elections.

With inputs from agencies
Mohammed Abdul Arfath, a 25-year-old studying in the US, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio, the Indian consulate in New York said on Tuesday. He was believed to be missing after his family could get in touch with him after 7 March read more

Just days after an Indian student died in the United States, another was reported dead in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indian consulate in New York said on Tuesday (9 April) that it was anguished to learn about the demise of Mohammed Abdul Arfath.

Arfath had gone missing in the US last month and search was on to find him. Several reports of attacks on or deaths of Indian or Indian-origin students have been reported this year. Arfaths is the 11th such incident.

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On Saturday (5 April), Uma Satya Sai Gadde passed away in Cleveland. The Indian consulate in New York said that the police have launched an investigation into his death.

Heres what we know about Mohammed Abdul Arfath.

Who was Mohammed Abdul Arfath?

1. Mohammed Abdul Arfath went to the US last May to pursue a masters degree in information technology at Cleveland University. The 25-year-old, who hailed from Nacharam, Hyderabad, was believed to be missing after his family could not reach him after 7 March this year.

2. According to the students family, they received a ransom call on 19 March from an unknown person who claimed Arfath had been kidnapped by a drug-selling gang. The caller demanded $1,200 (Rs 99,889) to release Arfath and reportedly threatened to sell his kidney if the family did not pay up. But, no payment mode was explained, as per PTI.

3. Arfaths father Mohammed Saleem told The Quint that he last spoke to his son on 7 March after which his phone was switched off. As per The Hindu report, the father said that Arfath was last seen at a Walmart store, as captured by CCTV footage on 8 March. He is my only son. He said he was missing us and his friends and wanted to come home. I told him that he could do so during his vacations, and if needed, I would send him the airfare. The last time I spoke to him was on 7 March, but that was only for a few seconds. He called his friend the next day and spoke to him. I am told that a detective [a police officer] is handling the case, Saleem, who works at construction sites, told the newspaper.

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4. Arfaths father also wrote to External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, seeking his intervention to locate his son. On 21 March, the Indian consulate in New York said it was in touch with Arfaths family in Telangana and authorities in the US. We are working with local law enforcement agencies to find him at the earliest.

5. Today, the consulate confirmed the death of the 25-year-old Indian student, offering deepest condolences to his family. It said it is in contact with the local agencies to ensure thorough investigation into Arfaths death. We are extending all possible assistance to the bereaved family to transport his mortal remains to India, the consulate wrote on X.

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Anguished to learn that Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio.



Our deepest condolences to Mr Mohammed Arfaths family. @IndiainNewYork is in touch with local agencies to ensure thorough investigation into Mr https://t.co/FRRrR8ZXZ8  India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) April 9, 2024

6. This is the eleventh such tragic incident involving an Indian or Indian-origin student in the US in 2024. Last week, Gadde also died in Cleveland. On 18 March, Abhijeeth Paruchuru was found dead in a car deep in a forest in Boston.

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7. The US is a preferred destination for Indian students for higher studies. However, the spate of such tragic incidents has raised concerns back home, leaving families anxious and shocked.

With inputs from agencies
Simon Harris, who casts himself as an accidental politician, will become Irelands youngest PM at 37. He will be taking over as the taoiseach after Leo Varadkars surprise resignation last month read more

Simon Harris is set to become Irelands new prime minister on Tuesday (9 April). At 37, he will be the youngest person to lead the Republic of Ireland.

Harris is expected to be voted in by TDs (members of the Irish parliament) as Leo Varadkars successor as the Dail (Irish parliament) sits on Tuesday. The development comes after Varadkars unexpected resignation as taoiseach (Prime Minister) last month, resulting in Harris appointment as leader of the centre-right party Fine Gael.

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Lets take a closer look.

Simon Harris: The accidental politician

Simon Harris calls himself an accidental politician. He is the son of a taxi driver and a school special needs assistant. Growing up in Greystones, a County Wicklow coastal town south of Dublin, Harris attended a community school, as per The Guardian report.

He became interested in politics at the age of 15 as an opinionated, moody teenager, Al Jazeera reported citing Harris.

Frustrated by the lack of information and guidance for people with autism like his younger brother, Harris was propelled to lobby politicians for autism services, according to The Guardian report.

He studied French and journalism at the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), however, he dropped out of college in 2008 to make a plunge into politics. In 2009, he was elected councillor of Wicklow. He was amazingly diligent as a county councillor. A meticulous door knocker, Shane Ross, a former Fine Gael and independent politician, told the British newspaper.

Rise and rise of Simon Harris

Harris became the youngest member of the Irish Parliament in 2011 when he was just 24.

Three years later, he was made a junior minister. In 2016, Harris got his first Cabinet position as Minister for Health. Harris is best known for Irelands initial COVID-19 response.

He became the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in 2020, a lighter post that gave him more space to go among the public, and interact in-person and through social media, reported The Hindu.

His online presence has earned him the moniker TikTok Taoiseach.

Simon Harris will succeed Leo Varadkar as Irelands next PM. Reuters File Photo

Simon is very good craic and obsessed with politics. Always in a rush, he walks very quickly and talks very quickly. Its all about what you can do as quickly as possible, Ross told The Guardian.

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Harris, who lives in Wicklow with his young family, also held the justice portfolio briefly. He wrote in an opinion piece on Fathers Day in 2022 that parenthood was the most important job I have, and ever will have, reported BBC.

Harris never hid his political ambitions, as per BBC. He was among the frontrunners to replace Varadkar after he stepped down as taoiseach on 20 March.

Harris will now lead Irelands three-party coalition.

Challenges before Simon Harris

Ireland has been struggling with a decade-long housing crisis. Harris has vowed to fix the housing crisis once and for all by constructing 250,000 homes within five years, reported Financial Times (FT).

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Ireland is also facing mass immigration and a record number of asylum seekers and refugees.

Harris has said he will focus on law and order, creating a more planned and sustainable immigration policy and fighting against the dangers of populism, reported AFP.

On Irish unification, the 37-year-old said it was a legitimate political aspiration but not his priority as of now.

While the economy is booming, polls show that the centre-right Fine Gael is losing voters faith. According to a recent Ireland Thinks poll, Harris partys support stood at 21 per cent, nearly 15 points down from its high four years back, FT reported.

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Harris has asserted his partys support for small businesses and education. He has also vowed tax reduction for middle-income earners and assistance for small businesses to tackle rising costs.

Another challenge for Harris party is to placate its voters who believe Fine Gael has become too left recently, moving far from its conservative roots.

Harris has only months to make a mark as Ireland is set to hold a general election by March 2025. His first electoral test will be on 7 June this year as local council and European polls are held. As per FT, Fine Gael is expected to lose seats in the elections.

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He also has to find new leaders for the next general election as nearly a third of Fine Gaels deputies do not plan to contest. With inputs from agencies
Dangerous concentrations of long-lingering forever chemicals have been found in surface and groundwater worldwide. Among the global hotspot countries are Australia, China, the United States and parts of Europe read more

PFAS foam gathers at the the Van Etten Creek dam in Oscoda Township, Michigan. File image/AP

They never leave your body, if consumed once.

PFAS, the human-made substance, also known as forever chemicals are associated with some serious health issues, including liver damage, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility issues and cancer. It is even feared that the chemicals can cause low birth weight, developmental delays, and behavioural changes in infants and children.

Recently, a new study suggests that dangerous concentrations of these chemicals have been found in surface and groundwater worldwide. The three countries  Australia, the United States and Europe  emerged as hotspots.

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Heres what the findings suggest.

What the research reveals

A paper published in the journal Nature Geoscience analysed data from 45,000 water samples globally and found a substantial fraction had levels of PFAS  per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances  above recommended levels.

Found in everyday products such as non-stick frying pans, food packaging and waterproof clothing, the substances have been linked to serious health conditions including cancer and birth defects.

They have been found everywhere from turtle eggs to Antarctic snow, but the latest study showed they were prevalent in surface water and groundwater used by humans for drinking.

Many of our source waters are above PFAS regulatory limits, said Denis OCarroll, one of the studys authors and a professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia.

A man shows a clump of resin and scraps found in his backyard with PFAS compounds. File image/AP

OCarroll said it was already known that the thousands of types of forever chemicals were pervasive in the environment but he expressed shock at how much higher the sampled levels were compared with recommended levels.

Were talking above five per cent, and it goes over 50 per cent in some cases.

The research found that 69 per cent of groundwater samples from around the world surpassed Canadas minimum standards and six per cent of samples surpassed the EUs standard.

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Australia, China, the United States and parts of Europe were shown to be global hotspots of high concentrations of PFAS.

However, the study acknowledged that these locations were also areas with the highest level of testing, and with more research, comparable results could be found across the globe.

PFAS is considered to be spread across the globe, but the extent of contamination on the earths surface and in waterways and drinking supplies is unknown.

Canada, the United States, the European Union and Australia have begun restricting the use of PFAS amid health and environmental concerns.

What are PFAS?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals first developed in the 1940s to withstand intense heat and repel water and grease.

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They have since been used in several household and industrial products, including food packaging, makeup, stain-proof fabric, non-stick pots and pans, and foam to fight fires.

Because PFAS take an extremely long time to break down  earning them the nickname forever chemicals  over the years they have seeped into the soil and groundwater, getting into our food chain and drinking water in the process.

These chemicals have now been detected virtually everywhere on Earth, from the top of Mount Everest to inside human blood and brains.

The two most researched PFAS compounds have already been banned or restricted in many countries, though they remain detectable throughout the environment.

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Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which was once used to make the non-stick cookware coating Teflon, was in December classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

The United States has proposed lowering the limit to four nanograms of PFOA and PFOS per litre  and the EU is considering following suit. Image used for representational purpose/Pixabay

The World Health Organisation agency said there is sufficient evidence that PFOA gave animals cancer during experiments, as well as limited evidence of renal cell and testicular cancer in humans.

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)  once the key ingredient in the Scotchgard fabric protector  was, meanwhile, ruled possibly carcinogenic to humans.

There was limited proof of cancer in animals but inadequate evidence regarding cancer in humans, the IARC said.

How PFAS can affect your health

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Thought to be associated with an increased rate of cancer, obesity, thyroid, liver and kidney disease, higher cholesterol, low birth weight, infertility and even a lower response to vaccines, the level of risk can vary based on the PFAS exposure. According to the researchers, almost everyone has at least a little PFAS in their bodies.

According to the IARC, people who work directly with PFAS chemicals while manufacturing products are most at risk of serious exposure. The exact level of PFAS exposure that is hazardous to health has been debated.

Previously, guidelines in numerous countries ruled that having less than 100 nanograms of PFAS per litre of tap water was enough to protect health.

But the United States has proposed lowering the limit to four nanograms of PFOA and PFOS per litre  and the EU is considering following suit.

Environmentalists and health experts across the world have been increasingly sounding the alarm about forever chemicals.

For people at home, it is nearly impossible to avoid consuming minuscule amounts of PFAS. However, experts recommend reducing contact with non-stick cookware and grease-proof food packaging, such as fast-food wrappers.

Drinking filtered or bottled water and storing leftovers in glass  not plastic  containers could also help.

With inputs from AFP
US president Joe Biden has announced his latest proposal to help millions of Americans pay off student loans. This is the second plan after the first one was rejected by the US supreme court. How is it different from the first one? read more

US president Joe Biden is taking another shot at student loan cancellation, hoping to deliver on a key campaign promise that he failed to fulfil so far.

In a visit to Wisconsin on Monday, Biden detailed a proposal that would cancel at least some debt for more than 30 million Americans. Its been in the works for months after the US supreme court rejected Bidens first try at mass cancellation.

Biden called the courts decision a mistake but directed the countrys education department to develop a new plan under a different legal authority. His most recent proposal is more targeted than his previous one, focusing on those facing significant challenges because of student debt.

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Lets get into the specifics of this latest proposal.

Whats different in this plan? Why the last one was cancelled?

Bidens first attempt at widespread student loan cancellation would have erased $10,000 (Rs 8.32 lakh) for borrowers with yearly incomes of up to $125,000 (Rs 1.04 crore), plus an additional $10,000 if they received federal Pell grants for low-income students. It was estimated to cost $400 billion (Rs 33.29 lakh crore) and cancel at least some student debt for more than 40 million people.

The US supreme court rejected that plan last year, saying Biden overstepped his authority.

The new plan uses a different legal justification  the Higher Education Act, which allows the US secretary of education to waive student loan debt in certain cases. The education department has been going through a federal rulemaking process to clarify how the secretary can invoke that authority.

The latest proposal by Biden is more targeted than his original plan, focusing on those for whom student debt is a major obstacle. AP

The new plan targets five categories of borrowers, focusing on those believed to be in the greatest need of help. It would provide relief to an estimated 30 million borrowers. The administration has not said how much the plan would cost.

Also read: Biden announces new student debt relief plan: Will it ever come into action?

Who is eligible for it?

Bidens new proposal would offer cancellation to five categories of borrowers. The widest-reaching provision aims to reset student loan balances for borrowers who have seen their debt grow because of unpaid interest. It would cancel up to $20,000 (Rs 16.64 lakh) in interest for Americans who now owe more than they originally borrowed. That cap wouldnt apply to individuals who make less than $120,000 (Rs 99.87 lakh) a year or couples who earn less than $240,000 (Rs 1.99 crore) and those who are enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan.

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The education department says 25 million people would be eligible for that relief, including 23 million who would get their interest erased entirely.

Borrowers who are eligible for other federal forgiveness programmes but havent applied would also get their loans cancelled under the new proposal. It applies to the public service loan forgiveness programme and income-driven repayment plans among others. Its meant to help people who missed out on forgiveness because of complex paperwork, bad advice or other obstacles. An estimated two million people would be eligible for that help.

Students demonstrate against loan debt outside the US supreme court, in June 2023, in Washington. Last year, the court foiled Bidens plan to provide hundreds of billions of dollars in student loan debt relief to millions. File photo/AP

All debt would be cancelled for borrowers who have been repaying undergraduate loans for 20 years or more, or 25 years for those with graduate school debt. The Biden administration says it would erase loans for more than two million people.

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Those who attended college programmes of low financial value would be eligible for forgiveness.

The plan would cancel debt for borrowers who went to institutions that lost eligibility for federal education funding because they cheated students. It would also cancel loans for people who went to college programmes that left graduates with low incomes compared to their student loans.

A final category would cancel loans for Americans facing hardship that prevents them from repaying their student loans. The rule would allow the education department to cancel debt for borrowers who are considered highly likely to default on their loans, and it would create an application system for individuals to detail other forms of hardship.

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Do students have to apply?

Most of the cancellations would be done automatically with no need to apply. That would be the case for interest cancellation, borrowers with older loans, those who attended low-value programmes, and those eligible for other cancellation programs.

Theres one exception: If borrowers want to make a case that they face some sort of hardship that merits cancellation, they would need to apply individually.

When will the plan be implemented?

The Biden administration says some debt could be cancelled as soon as this fall, including interest that has snowballed on top of borrowers loans.

Bidens plan for student loan cancellation has been opposed by Republicans. AP

That timeline would require some manoeuvring. The education department said it plans to release a formal proposal in the coming months. That would usually be followed by a public comment period of 60 days. Then if the rule is finalised by 1 November, it would usually take effect the following July  in this case, July 2025.

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But the Higher Education Act authorises the education secretary to fast-track rules for early implementation in some cases. The Biden administration recently used that power to accelerate student loan cancellation offered through a new federal repayment plan. Invoking that authority could allow Biden to start cancelling debt later this year.

Could it be cancelled?

Anything but.

The Biden administration says its confident that the plan is allowed by the Higher Education Act. But loan cancellation of this type is uncharted territory, and conservative opponents are expected to challenge Bidens plan in court.

Republicans have repeatedly fought Bidens plan for student loan cancellation, saying its an unfair benefit shouldered by taxpayers who repaid their loans or didnt go to college. Opponents say the US supreme court was clear that widespread loan cancellation must come from the US Congress.

If Bidens plan faces a lawsuit, courts could order the administration to halt cancellation until legal questions are sorted out. That scenario could leave the plan on hold beyond the November presidential election. Even if it survives legal challenges, a Donald Trump victory would spell almost certain doom for Bidens plan.

Can cancellation be reversed?

If Bidens plan is overturned after the administration starts cancelling loans, it would present a thorny question: Can forgiven student loans be unforgiven?

Technically, there are ways that cancelled student debt can be reinstated. But doing it on such a large scale could be difficult and costly, requiring heavy work from loan servicers contracted to work for the education department.

It could also be politically fraught to reinstate debt after its been forgiven. Ultimately it could be up to the courts to decide how to handle debt thats already been cancelled.

With inputs from AP
The UNSC resolution, adopted last month, demanded an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire. read more

India welcomed the UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during the month of Ramadan, terming it a positive move. It emphasised that the humanitarian crisis arising from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict is unacceptable.

Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj told a UN General Assembly meeting that India views the adoption of a resolution on March 25 by the UN Security Council as a positive step.

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We are deeply troubled by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The humanitarian crisis has deepened and instability has been increasing in the region and beyond. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially women and children, she added.

The resulting humanitarian crisis is simply unacceptable, she said, adding that Delhi has strongly condemned the deaths of civilians in the conflict and it is imperative to avoid the loss of civilian lives in any conflict situation.

The UNSC resolution, adopted last month, demanded an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire.

It also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as the humanitarian access to address their medical and other humanitarian needs. The adoption of the resolution had come as a breakthrough in the Israel-Hamas conflict which had been on for more than five months then.

The 15-nation Council adopted the resolution, put forth by the 10 non-permanent elected members of the Council, with 14 nations voting in favour, none against, and an abstention by the US, a permanent member.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had said that the long-awaited resolution on Gaza must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable.

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However, on March 22, just three days before the Council adopted the resolution, permanent members Russia and China vetoed a different resolution on Gaza tabled by the US. The US-led draft had stated the imperative for an immediate and sustained ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides.

With inputs from PTI.
He criticised Nehrus handling of the 1962 situation, stating that During the Chinese aggression of 1962, Nehru had said bye-bye to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. People of these states can never forget that, Shah said read more

Indias home minister Amit Shah asserted the Modi governments commitment to protecting Indias borders during an election rally in Lakhimpur Tuesday.

Shah claimed that under the current government, China could not encroach even a single inch of Indian land, contrasting it with Jawaharlal Nehrus response during the 1962 Chinese aggression when he allegedly neglected Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Shah highlighted the BJP-led governments efforts in securing the border with Bangladesh and curbing infiltration. He criticised Nehrus handling of the 1962 situation, stating that During the Chinese aggression of 1962, Nehru had said bye-bye to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. People of these states can never forget that, Shah said.

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But now, China could not encroach even a single inch of our land. Even in Doklam, we pushed them back, he added.

He said that Assams border with Bangladesh was earlier open for infiltration.

The Home Minister praised the current administrations success in preventing Chinese encroachment, citing the example of Doklam where India pushed back Chinese forces. He also credited the government for sealing Assams border with Bangladesh, which was previously vulnerable to infiltration.

Then the Modi government came at the Centre, and the Himanta Biswa Sarmas government here. Now, we can say that infiltration has stopped, Shah said.

He alleged that the previous Congress government in Assam did injustice to the state, and scores of youths were killed in different violent movements and insurgency-related incidents.

Under the Modi government in the last 10 years, peace accords were signed and 9,000 youths surrendered, he said.

Shah noted that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has been withdrawn from 80 per cent of areas of the state.

They signed the (Assam) Accord but did not fulfil the clauses. We signed the Bodo Accord and within two years, all clauses were fulfilled, he said.

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Hitting out at the Congress manifesto, Shah claimed that it favoured the Muslim personal law.

Himanta Biswa Sarma has stopped child marriages. In Uttarakhand, there is the UCC, he said, drawing a comparison.

Shah said the development of the Northeast is centre to the overall growth of the nation, and urged the people to vote for the NDA candidates in all the seats of the region.

There are two alternatives before you  to vote for Rahul Gandhi and INDI Alliance, or vote for the Modi-led BJP, he said, urging people to ensure a third term for the BJP-led government at the Centre.

With inputs from PTI
Eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19. These are Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a rally in Uttar Pradeshs Pilbhit ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The Indian leader wished the crowd on the occasion of Navratri, Ugadi and Gudi Padwa.

Eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19. These are Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit.

From slamming the Opposition to highlighting the BJPs governance in the past 10 years, here are five key takeaways from PM Modis rally in Uttar Pradesh:

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- Underscoring Indias success, PM Modi said, Amid the various difficulties being faced by the world now, India is showing that there is nothing impossible for it to achieve.

No matter how difficult the goal is, if India is determined to achieve it, it will definitely achieve. Today, with this inspiration and energy, we are working towards the resolution of a developed India, he added

- The Indian prime minister hailed Indias self-reliance by recalling the COVID pandemic. He said, There were times when the Congress government used to ask for help from the world. But India sent medicines and vaccines to the rest of the world during the pandemic.

Wherever there was a crisis of war anywhere in the world, we brought back every single Indian safely, he added

- Talking about the sugarcane farmers of UP, the Indian leader said, The BJP government has worked with full force to reduce the problems of sugarcane farmers. Many sugar mills have been opened, many have been expanded and this work is being done continuously.

#WATCH | PM Modi in Pilibhit, UP says, "The farmers in Uttar Pradesh have received around Rs 70,000 crore in their bank accounts under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. The amount of money transferred to sugarcane farmers here by the BJP govt is more than the amount transferred to farmers pic.twitter.com/HPgl1PN6uh  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

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- Today, on the first day of Navratri, I am also reminding the country how the INDI alliance has vowed to destroy power. The power that is being worshipped in the country today has been insulted by the Congress, Modi said

#WATCH | PM Modi during a public rally in UP's Pilibhit says, "INDI alliance parties have always hated the construction of the Ram Temple. They rejected Ram temple 'Pran Pratishtha' invite and insulted Ram Lalla. Those from their party who attended the ceremony were suspended pic.twitter.com/KTkFip2hmU  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

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- Slamming the Opposition for politicizing the inauguration of Ram Mandir, Modi said, Our Kalyan Singh ji dedicated his life to the Ram temple. Every family in the country contributed to its construction in their own capacity. But the leaders of the INDI alliance had hatred even before the construction of Ram temple and they have hatred even today.
New York, US (PANA) - The President of the UN General Assembly appealed on Monday for all those with leverage to use their power to bring an end to the six-month-long war in Gaza
Five people have been booked after condoms, gutka and stones were allegedly found in samosas supplied to a major automobile firm in Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune read more

Five people, including three business rivals, have been booked in Maharashtras Pune after condoms, gutka, paan masala and stones were found in samosas served at the canteen of an automobile major in Pimpri Chinchwad.

Police said those booked were two workers of a subcontracting firm that was asked to supply the samosas, while three others were partners of another such firm that had been removed earlier for adulteration.

The accused have been identified as Rahim Shaikh, Azhar Shaikh, Mazhar Shaikh, Firoz Shaikh and Vicky Shaikh, police informed, adding that a case has been registered under IPC sections 328 (causing harm by means of poison) and 120B (criminal conspiracy).

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Business rivalry turns ugly

The police said the adulteration was a deliberate act carried out by a sub-contractor whose supply contract had been terminated earlier.

During the investigation, it was found that the catering contractor - Catalyst Service Solutions Pvt Ltd - had given a sub-contract for the supply of samosas to a local entity named Manohar Enterprises.

On Saturday, some of the employees found condoms, gutka, paan masala and stones in the samosas.

The three partners (who work for SRA Enterprise) had allegedly planted these two workers to ensure the firm that had got the samosa contract now would get defamed, police said.

Revenge?

During the investigation, Manohar Enterprises staffers were questioned after which it was found that two workers - Firoz Shaikh and Vicky Shaikh - had allegedly stuffed condoms, gutka and stones in the samosas, police said.

It was also revealed that the employees of SRA Enterprises - Rahim Shaikh, Azhar Shaikh, and Majhar Shaikh - whose contracts were cancelled earlier, had sent its two employees to Manohar Enterprises to adulterate samosa to defame and sabotage the Manohar enterprise.

Why SRA Enterprises contract was cancelled?

The contract of SRA Enterprises was cancelled earlier after an adhesive bandage used for first aid was found in samosas they supplied.

With inputs from agencies
The existing crisis in the international energy market is also providing an opportunity for the renewable energy sector read more

The two recent wars  the Russia-Ukraine War as well as the Israel-Hamas War  as well as sanctions on Iran and Russia have had much impact on global energy geopolitics. Contrary to expectations, the above-mentioned wars have also demonstrated the vulnerability of developed countries in terms of accessing energy, especially those in the advanced Global North, like European countries, which are facing major challenges due to the wars.

In this regard, it may be added that the Red Sea chokepoint crisis has further aggravated the global energy crisis. Some of the aforementioned geopolitical crises have demonstrated that many advanced European countries were ill-prepared to face the recent crisis, thus putting stress on their access to energy. However, Global South countries have also faced challenges equally due to the above-mentioned wars. What needs to be underlined is that Global South countries are in a precarious position due to the non-availability of energy, which has aggravated other crises, including food and related crises.

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The reason for identifying the vulnerability of the Global North and Global South in the present geopolitical crisis is to locate how the energy crisis affects the accessibility of energy. In this context, one must emphasize the importance of renewable energy discourses. It is pertinent to highlight how India provides a leadership role to the global community, particularly to the Global South, in addressing the issues of the energy crisis by initiating a host of renewable energy initiatives.

Three important issues need to be addressed while discussing Indias role in the global renewable energy discourses. These are:

Indias initiative with regard to the renewable energy sector. How Indias policy towards the renewable energy sector will provide a model for the Global South countries in particular and Global North in general in addressing the crisis. To assess Indias contribution to global discourses on the renewable energy sector.

These three above-mentioned vectors will provide a blueprint for Indias contribution to the global renewable energy discourses.

Indias initiative in the renewable energy sector

Three important vectors need to be addressed while locating Indias initiative for the renewable energy sector. These are:

As various studies suggest, India imports nearly 80 per cent of fossil fuels to meet its domestic requirement. Thus, any form of external geopolitical volatility has an impact on Indias access to energy security in the external market. One important component of Indias quest for renewable energy is to adopt a sustainable approach to address the concerns relating to energy security issues. The third objective is to look at renewable energy issues in a broader framework, which includes access to food and water and mitigating the adversarial impact of climate change. This makes Indias approach to energy discourses a more holistic one.

Indias progress in renewable energy infrastructure

Some of the above factors provide the structural framework for locating Indias approach to renewable energy security discourses. One needs to underline here that over the years, India has made tremendous progress with regard to boosting the domestic infrastructure for harnessing renewable energy. This progress is evident from the fact that by 2030, India will be able to harness 500 GW of renewable sources, as per the report of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. This demonstrates Indias commitment to harnessing clean energy. Similarly, a recent report published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy highlights that the installed capacity of various sources of renewable energy is Solar, 48.55 GW; Small Hydro, 4.83 GW; large hydro, 46.51 GW; biopower, 10.62GW; Nuclear, 6.7 GW.

A cursory survey of Indias quest for harnessing renewable energy demonstrates that over the years, India has scaled up its renewable energy sector. In this regard, it is pertinent to highlight that India started its journey to acquire renewable energy by diversifying into the nuclear energy sector in 1945 when the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) was established.

Role of nuclear energy

It is pertinent to highlight that in 1957, the Atomic Energy Research Centre came up and was later renamed the Bhaba Atomic Energy Research Centre (BARC) in 1967. Over the years, India has made a quantum jump in harnessing nuclear energy since the commissioning of the first civilian nuclear reactor, Apsara, as the BARC website suggests, in 1957.

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As per the Nuclear Power Cooperation of India Limited website, around 23 civilian nuclear reactors are currently in operation in India, thus providing the bulk of the energy supply. Nuclear energy has provided a safe and reliable energy source over the years, as the above statistical data shows, and meets a significant amount of Indias energy.

A report by the World Nuclear Association of April 2023 suggests that 9 per cent of electricity will come from the nuclear sector. Another important step in the direction of harnessing nuclear energy is the recent government initiative to push for small modular nuclear reactors to harness energy security. For instance, a report published by NITI Ayog and the Department of Atomic Energy(DAE), Government of India, published in May 2023, highlights the importance of small modular reactors in terms of harnessing nuclear energy for India to achieve the goal of sustainable energy transition.

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In this context, one can underline that nuclear energy has emerged as an important energy source to meet Indias domestic requirements over the years. Since nuclear energy is one of the safest energy sources, exploring its potential to its fullest is necessary. Even European countries are considering nuclear energy use after facing uncertainty due to the Russia-Ukraine war and the West Asian crisis. Wind energy is one of Indias major components of renewable energy sources. As per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Statistics, India is currently producing 15000MW per annum and is the  fourth largest producer of wind energy in the world.

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Other forms of renewable energy

It may be recalled here that along with nuclear energy and wind energy, India is also emerging as a major hub for solar energy, biofuel, and Green Hydrogen. A major boost to harness renewable energy came from the Integrated Energy Policy (IEP) outlined in December 2014 by the Government of India. The IEP provided a conceptual framework to initiate further measures to boost renewable energy production and harness solar energy as one of the major aspects of Indias renewable energy policy. Another important aspect that can be discerned from the IEP approach is that it aims to ensure sustainable security and reduce carbon footprint. In this context, the significance of solar energy in augmenting Indias quest for renewable energy potentiality can be underlined. Along with IEP, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) launched in 2010 focuses on turning wasteland into economic potentiality, thus providing scope for employment opportunities and expanding Indias capability to harness energy.

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Indias leadership in renewable energy transition

There is a flux in the global energy market largely due to the volatility in the global geopolitical landscape. This may have an adversarial impact on the global energy supply chain. Thus, there is a need to broaden the energy basket at the global level.

There is a need to dwell on Indias renewable energy initiatives in solar energy, bio-fuel and green hydrogen, which will enhance Indias position as a global leader in harnessing renewable energy while simultaneously meeting domestic demand. At the same time, Indias contribution to sustainable renewable energy security discourses is also noteworthy in the international arena. This can be evident from Indias role in a number of multilateral bodies, where it played a pivotal role in protecting the interests of Global South countries and ensuring energy justice.

Indias approach to harnessing renewable energy at the global level lies in ensuring energy justice for the global community and achieving the sustainable development goals outlined by the United Nations. Thus, India is providing the necessary leadership to the global community to achieve a sustainable energy transition.

The author teaches at the School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
While the 2024 Lok Sabha Election campaign is taking place on different and disparate platforms, from the point of view of the ordinary voter it is arguably one of the dullest elections of recent times. There is no discernible wave of any kind. If the dice appear to be loaded heavily in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party in most parts of the country, it is not because of a groundswell but more a reflection of an existential state of being. In 2014, the seismic plates had already shifted and a tsunami was waiting to happen. In 2019, even if some headwinds were felt post demonetization, GST and Chowkidar Chor Hain innuendos riding on allegations around the Rafale deal, Pulwama changed the wind directions and how. Even if one were to look back at 2004 and 2009  there were several issues at the national and state levels to keep the pot boiling. This time around the electioneering seems to be happening at 36K feet above sea level while life carries on as usual on the ground. Everyone is firing in different directions and going off on tangents leaving the common man unmoved.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing the strange plight of having neither any formidable opposition nor any singular issue to rally the voters. All said in 2019, though in the final vote count the Congress had come a cropper, Congress did manage to create some traction with its Chowkidar Chor Hain slogan. This time around the messaging around income inequality, employment and caste are sounding insipid and confused. Congress cannot overplay the electoral bonds and overreach of Central investigative agencies knowing that it can cut both ways. Similarly, it could not make too much noise over the Income Tax Department freezing its accounts for the fear of opening a can of worms.

The I.N.D.I. Alliance after struggling with an identity crisis from birth has disaggregated for all practical purposes, with each party trying to protect their home turfs to avoid total irrelevance post elections. In states where individual constituents are strong, as in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh they are playing the North-South divide to ward off threats of BJPs creeping increase in vote share that could be a cause of worry for them in the longer term. The primal instinct of survival is manifesting in scarcely concealed hostility as visible in West Bengal, Kerala. Oblivious of its allies, Congress is projecting Rahul Gandhi as the prime minister in waiting, who in turn is - like an angry middle-aged Jedi  firing NYAY missiles into outer space. Basically, it is an election without any overarching issue or political narrative.

Meanwhile, a much more interesting battle is taking place in a parallel universe. It appears that the anti-Modi lobby has taken his guarantee of 400+ seats almost for granted. This has triggered reactions to the point of being hysterical. Large sections of the western media have been co-opted into this campaign and op-ed writers of international newspapers are working overtime to feed the paranoia of democracy under threat and the spectre of India sliding into a virtual autocracy if Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns for a third term. There are suggestions that Modi may amend the Constitution to seize absolute power. Hence, some pundits are going as far as to predict 2024 may be the last democratic elections in India. Modi is being compared with Russian president Vladimir Putin and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Recently a new dimension has been added about the Modi regime indulging in extraterritorial assassinations of purported terrorists. This has created some ripples in diplomatic circles. There evidently an orchestrated effort at building a chorus of delegitimizing the elections in case of BJP winning with a thumping majority.

But none of this is cutting much ice with the electorate at large. For the common voters, the acid test of democracy is being able to cast a vote without fear or favour. Thanks to the Election Commission and the security forces booth capturing and proxy voting are phenomena of the distant past. Debates on Jurisprudence and constitutional law do not interest the man on the street. For them, the biggest reassurance is a riot-free society, personal safety and security of property. With the majority of the people living outside the income tax net, raids by enforcement authorities on the high and mighty is a cause for vicarious satisfaction as the opposition realised to its surprise after demonetisation. The allegations of killing of terrorists by unknown men on foreign soil if anything bolsters Modis tough guy image among his core constituents.

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Modi understands the mind of the voter. Having delivered on Kashi and Ayodhya he does not have to hard-sell the religion card. That message is delivered through visual imagery of his visiting different temples across the country. He has identified dynastic politics as a common pan-India denominator and successfully tagged it with corruption through the raid regime, reiterating his resolve to root out corruption at the highest level. It takes away the sting from the oppositions allegation of victimisation and crony capitalism bestowing a Teflon coating on him. Hence, he recites almost by rote the welfare schemes of the government at every rally cementing his image as the messiah of the poor. Modi is a firm believer in the power of repetition. So though his speeches on the current campaign trail may not be as mesmerising as in 2014 and less flamboyant than in 2019 or even come across as lacklustre, he manages to hit straight home on every outing.

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Meanwhile, BJPs formidable but silent war-room managers are busy stitching up alliances, striking deals and fixing the machinery on the ground to convert the last voter standing the rhetoric.

But if the electioneering is muted and shorn of fireworks, the voter too is keeping mum. Is there a message in that silence too?

The author is a current affairs commentator, marketer, blogger and leadership coach, who tweets at @SandipGhose. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Before the 1956 visit of PLAs Maj Gen Li Jue, China had very little knowledge about Tibets border with India read more

You have probably never heard the name of Maj Gen Li Jue, a senior officer of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) posted in Tibet in the early 1950s. He was instrumental in what became the turning point of the Communists occupation of the Tibetan plateau, i.e. the construction of the Sichuan-Tibet and the Qinghai-Tibet highways.

As the Commander of the First Armys General Logistics Department based in Lanzhou, Gen Li was responsible for what a few years ago, President Xi Jinping called: A Miracle in Highway Construction. It allowed China to get its supplies from the mainland instead of from India (particularly the rice supply). The two roads built by Gen Li, under the 18th Army, were inaugurated on 24 December, 1954.

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When the Dalai Lama came back from Beijing after a visit in 1954-55, Maj Gen Li Jue accompanied the Tibetan leader as Intelligence Chief.

A year later, Gen Li was again in Lhasa on the occasion of the establishment of the Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region; but instead of attending the functions presided over by Marshal Chen Yi, he suddenly left on an inspection tour of some areas north of the McMahon. China then knew little about Tibets southern borders.

This was noticed by the Indian Consul General in Lhasa, PN Menon (incidentally father of the former NSA Shiv Shankar Menon), who wrote to Apa Pant, the Political Officer in Sikkim responsible for Tibet: Li may well have been the high ranking Chinese military officer who carried out an inspection of the Tibet-Bhutan Frontier as mentioned by Chibber.

Maj SL Chhiber, then Indian Trade Agent in Gyantse, was keeping track of the important Chinese officials visiting Southern Tibet. The Indian officials in Tibet also knew that Gen Li had also visited other areas north of the McMahon line too.

Why is China raising the issue of Southern Tibet now?

This came back to mind when I read that for the fourth time, China has renamed places in Arunachal Pradesh. A few months back, China had changed the names of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh. The first renamed place was then Pangchen, an important location near the McMahon Line, north of Tawang.

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This time too, the first renamed place was Hathong-la, the plateau facing the Thagla ridge of 1962 war memory. Why Hathong-la? China is probably not too pleased with the many articles/programmes which recently appeared in the Indian media celebrating the 65th anniversary of the arrival of Dalai Lama in India near this very spot.

Among the other names changed is Mago, the constituency of Chief Minister Pema Khandu (he has just been reelected unopposed). Also to be noted rivers such as the Kameng and the Subansiri and several spots near the disputed Fish Tails in the east of the State, have been renamed.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar rightly said: If today I change the name of your house, will it become mine? Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always be a state of India. Changing names does not have an effect.

The point remains that for years China did not even know about the McMahon Line.

Where is the border?

To understand Chinas poor knowledge of Tibet Southern borders, it is necessary to go back to the Bandung Conference in 1955. An apparently moderate Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai managed to convince a credulous Indian prime minister about the sincerity of the new Chinese Communist rulers. Writing about his encounter with Zhou at the Conference, Nehru said: When asked if he wanted to push communism into Tibet, Chou En-lai [Zhou Enlai] laughed and said that there could be no such question as Tibet was very far indeed from communism. It would be thoroughly impracticable to try to establish a communist regime in Tibet and the Chinese Government had no such wish.

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A few days later, the Indian prime minister told his foreign secretary about a remark of the Chinese Premier on the McMahon Line: Although [Zhou] thought that this line, established by British imperialists, was not fair, nevertheless, because it was an accomplished fact and because of the friendly relations which existed between China and the countries concerned, namely, India and Burma, the Chinese Government were of the opinion that they should give recognition to this McMahon Line.

Zhou knows nothing about the border

At the end of 1956, as India prepared to celebrate the 2,500th anniversary of the birth of Buddha, Communist China was extremely nervous; eastern Tibet was on fire with the Khampa rebellion, while central Tibet was slowly getting contaminated by the revolt. After months of prevarication, Beijing finally allowed the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama to visit India for the celebrations. A febrile Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai came to Delhi thrice to ensure that the Dalai Lama returned to Tibet.

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During one of his encounters with Nehru, Zhou admitted that India knew more about Tibets history than China. For example, I knew nothing about McMahon Line until recently when we came to study the border problem after the liberation of China, he said.

Zhou added that though people like him never knew about the McMahon Line till recently, the Kuomintang regime had referred to it.

Zhou also spoke of a secret pact between British India and Tibet at the time of the Simla conference in 1914 when the Tibetans sat on an equal footing with the Chinese and British India between October 1913 and July 1914.

Five years later, in April 1960, Zhou Enlai visited Delhi and had long talks with Nehru. He also had two informal encounters with Indian Defence Minister VK Krishna Menon, during which Zhou stated that China would never change its position in the Western Sector (Aksai Chin), but was open for the rest of the border. Zhou was testing the ground for a swap. India would acknowledge Aksai Chin as Chinese and Beijing would recognise the North East Frontier Agency (todays Arunachal Pradesh) as Indian.

Chinas position on NEFA was not rigid.

Another Chinese source

An unpublished Chinese document entitled Chinas reaction to Indian occupation of the territory to the south of McMahon Line, 1952-54 mentions the situation on the borders soon after the arrival of the PLA on the plateau: Undoubtedly, Indian occupation of the McMahon line [in February 1951] officially placed the McMahon line issue before the Chinese government. As the records point out, the key problem was that the Chinese government did not release any comment nor show any resistance.

This refers to the expedition of Maj Bob Khathing in Tawang in February 1951. While Lhasa informed Delhi about the Khathing expedition, Beijing was not.

The Chinese paper comments further: Although during this period, New Delhi agreed that China enjoyed suzerainty over Tibet, [at the same time] India treated Tawang as a local problem This kind of a puzzling silence from the side of the Chinese government could only be interpreted as China permitting India to expand its territories to the McMahon line. It was only in 1959, when India started to cross the McMahon line [in Khenzimane?] that China expressed its objection [for the first time].

In 1951, China had not protested simply because Beijing did not know about the McMahon Line. The paper then quotes Nehru, who 20 April, 1960, during a talk with Zhou Enlai, said, We are pained that, if the Chinese government did not agree with us, they should have expressed their objections to us. They did not say anything for 9 years.

Today, Beijing says that the area belongs to then since immemorial times in which case why didnt China express some objection after India extended its administration upto the McMahon line?

The Chinese Paper answers: According to Chinese sources, China had adopted a policy of temporarily overlooking some issues which they intended to solve later as just after the formation of new China, there were many things waiting to be done; China was resisting America and helping North Korea. China had to first take care of peace within the country and liberate Tibet. So they did not have time to spare for dealing with the border issues with India. They were not very alert about the Indian incursions India made full use of this opportunity and captured Tawang.

But the truth is that before the 1956 visit of Gen Li, China had very little knowledge about Tibets border with India, though they were consulting the local Tibetan government to get a clear idea about its border with India and the 1914 Simla pact [the McMahon Line].

Today, Beijing says that the entire area has always been theirs.

However, the present claim on the state is clearly an afterthought. It should be treated as such and the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister is right in saying that his state only has a border with Tibet, with no one else.

The writer is Distinguished Fellow, Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (Delhi). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Candidate Donald Trump has let it be known he will settle the war in Ukraine, if elected to office, in 24 hours, without specifying how read more

Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump speaks on the phone as he watches play in the final round of LIV Golf Miami, at Trump National Doral Golf Club, on 7 April, 2024, in Doral, Fla. AP

The presumptive Republican Party nominee Donald Trump, is inching ever closer to the US presidency as his legal challenges melt away. Polls show him ahead of President Joe Biden. Even critics who think it will be a close election give Trump a 50-50 chance right now.

NATO in Europe, much closer to the war in Ukraine than the US across the Atlantic, is scrambling to mobilise resources to Trump-proof themselves in anticipation. Trump has recently said Russia can do what the hell it likes to any European country that does not pay its share in NATO and its war support to Ukraine.

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Europe realises it needs to think much beyond Ukraine going forward because Trumps transactional and quid-pro-quo style will not treat their security as guaranteed by Uncle Sam. Finland, for example, has just ordered 64 F-35A fighter jets from the US and has decided to double artillery shell production.

The outgoing NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, is drumming up support for the now 32 member-country NATO to establish a new five-year, 100-billion-euro fund for the battle in Ukraine. But many in Europe and America realise that Ukraine is militarily unequal, finding it difficult to find more conscripts let alone trained soldiers and that there is massive corruption in addition to gross incompetence.

Twenty of the 32 member-NATO have set a target of spending 2 per cent of GDP for defence this year as called for earlier. But Trump says NATO security guarantees would only apply to those countries that actually meet their defence spending commitments. This will profoundly change the way that NATO operates.

Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway and an international diplomat wants Europe to assume leadership of the Ramstein Group which gathers more than 50 countries to coordinate weapons deliveries to Kyiv. This sounds like a fond hope rather than a practical strategy.

The Ramstein Group includes NATO, countries in the EU, and allies in the Asia-Pacific including Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. Even though the group is unwieldy, it has worked fine with US leadership, but may not hold together under a far weaker European captaincy. Besides, how much good money can be thrown after bad in the name of a woolly policy platform that demonises Russia?

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Countries like Slovakia and Hungary, closer to Russia, are not in favour of the new proposed fund gathering. Others in southern Europe, such as Spain and Italy, are wary of duplication of this quota funding beyond EU payments of 50 billion euros already in place.

America under Democrat President Joe Biden is committed to continued aid and arms to Ukraine but has already poured in $75 billion in the last two years. It is finding it difficult to get bipartisan approval for more arms and funds. Ukraine meanwhile has largely run out of ammunition, even as it clamours for more of the very expensive Patriot missiles and fighter jets. How much of the money and arms pouring out of America are just gifts? Neither European NATO nor Ukraine can afford to pay back.

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Russia has warned against troops from France getting directly involved in Ukraine and said this would raise the threat of nuclear war in the European region beyond Ukraine. Any misstep could trigger WWIII.

Secretary General Stoltenberg retires later this year and will not have to face the challenges from a possible Trump White House personally. He has been at the helm of NATO for a decade already. He is tipped to be replaced by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as his successor. Before he leaves office, however, Stoltenberg will preside over the 75th anniversary of NATO, at a summit in Washington in July.

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At the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed frustration at Ukraine being kept out of the NATO alliance. Those opposed, think that letting Ukraine join NATO while the war with Russia has raged on for over two years now, will likely provoke sharp and dangerous reactions from President Vladimir Putin. Besides, there is a growing perception that Ukraine has already lost the war and it is time NATO pulled the plug.

Placing NATO on Russias doorstep with the inclusion of Ukraine, even though it cannot pay its way with a devastated economy, is a violation of previous understandings, according to Russia. It was one of the reasons why Russia went to war against Ukraine in the first place. The other was Ukraines harsh treatment of Russian-speaking populations in the Donbas region bordering Russia.

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However, Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently told reporters in Brussels that Ukraine will become a member of NATO. Our purpose at the summit is to help build a bridge to that membership. If Biden does not win the presidency in November, then this process of bridge building will most likely not be pursued. Trump is certainly not in favour of mollycoddling Ukraines security at the expense of Russia. Various member countries such as Poland that want Ukraine in NATO may not find much purchase with Trump in the White House.

Candidate Donald Trump has let it be known he will settle the war in Ukraine, if elected to office, in 24 hours, without specifying how. His formula flies in the face of those in Europe and America who do not want to concede any Ukrainian territory to Russia. Trump favours ceding the territory claimed by Russia in the Donbas region and beyond. Others think this will encourage Russia to invade again but surely this can work both ways. There will have to be a massive international reconstruction effort in what remains of Ukraine after a settlement in any case. This means business for many. Nevertheless, the brightest hope of a swift end to the war in Ukraine is Trump back in the saddle.

Similarly, Trump has a 2020 formula for ending the war in Gaza. He wants Jerusalem and the West Bank-occupied territories as part of Israel and simultaneously a Palestinian state established. Only America can make this happen. This solution is likely to be supported by the major Arab countries already drawn in by the Abrahamic Accords from Trump1.0.

Trumps ideas on Iran, North Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam, are not that different from those of Democrat President Joe Biden and the State Department. They will have to evolve after he comes to office of course.

India will continue to be considered a strategic ally of the US in the South Asian region and as a bulwark against Chinese hegemony. There will be more collaborations, joint ventures, American investment, and defence technology transfer. India is likely to rapidly gain from more manufacturing relocations from China. Trump and Narendra Modi also have a personal chemistry that will help. However, the IT industry may face challenges with visa restrictions on working in the US.

Pakistan will probably receive less American support than it does at present with a Republican administration in office. It will most likely be clubbed with China strategically.

American relations with Russia will proceed at a better pace, as Trump has no real quarrel with Putin, and Trump will withdraw all sanctions against Russia and encourage his western allies to do so. To some extent this will free Russia to forge better ties with the West, instead of being limited to a Chinese embrace.

The writer is a Delhi-based political commentator. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
To combat AI-induced espionage and division, nations must embody Sun Tzus principles by developing a deep knowledge of AIs potential for both creation and deception, ensuring preparedness for any cyber threats read more

In William Gibsons science fiction novel Neuromancer, artificial intelligence is depicted as being used for espionage and to manipulate international relations. The novel revolves around a washed-up computer hacker hired by a mysterious employer to pull off the ultimate hack. In the process, he encounters AIs that manipulate individuals and events to serve their ends, subtly influencing global power structures.

While we havent reached the dystopian future of AI depicted in Neuromancer, where artificial intelligence becomes a direct threat to human existence, the world is witnessing the early stages of AIs potential for harm. Countries have begun to harness AI for espionage, sowing discord in foreign nations and inciting political unrest. These actions mark the subtle beginnings of AIs potential to manipulate and destabilise international relations, and China is at the forefront of this.

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This weeks Microsoft Threat Intelligence report starkly illustrates this trend. It details how China has been actively using AI-generated content to exacerbate divisions within the US, Asia Pacific region. (including Japan, Taiwan and South Korea), and even in India. With AI, disinformation can be more effectively tailored and disseminated to stir conflicts, influence public opinion, and even tamper with the democratic process.

As noted in the report, with upcoming elections in India, South Korea, and the United States, there is a significant concern that Chinese, and to some extent North Korean, cyber and influence operations will intensify. These actors will likely leverage AI capabilities to target the electoral processes, aiming to weaken trust in democratic institutions and influence election outcomes.

Chinese state-sponsored hackers increasingly employ sophisticated AI-powered tools to enhance their cyber espionage capabilities, targeting critical infrastructure, government agencies, and private companies. These advanced persistent threats (APTs) exploit vulnerabilities in networks and systems to gain unauthorised access, exfiltrate sensitive data, and potentially disrupt essential services. Moreover, Chinas cyber actors are adept at using AI algorithms to analyse vast amounts of stolen data, identify high-value targets, and craft highly personalised and convincing phishing attacks.

China-based espionage groups are intensifying geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea through sophisticated cyber espionage activities targeting strategic partners and rivals alike. These groups, identified by Microsoft Threat Intelligence as Gingham Typhoon, Flax Typhoon, Granite Typhoon, and Raspberry Typhoon, have been actively engaging in cyber operations that reflect Chinas broad strategic objectives in the region. Gingham Typhoon, in particular, has been the most active actor, targeting international organisations, government entities, and the IT sector across nearly every South Pacific Island country.

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This includes complex phishing campaigns aimed at vocal critics of the Chinese government as well as diplomatic allies of China, highlighting the dual goals of extending global influence and gathering intelligence. The espionage efforts are not limited to political and military targets but also encompass economic partners, as seen in the large-scale targeting of multinational organisations in Papua New Guinea, a nation benefiting from Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects.

Moreover, the focus of these espionage activities extends to entities related to the South China Sea, where China-based threat actors opportunistically compromised government and telecommunications victims within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This targeting behaviour is particularly pronounced in the context of US military drills in the region, with Raspberry Typhoon successfully targeting military and executive entities in Indonesia and a Malaysian maritime system ahead of a multilateral naval exercise involving Indonesia, China, and the United States.

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Similarly, Flax Typhoon targeted entities related to US-Philippines military exercises, while Granite Typhoon compromised telecommunication entities across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Taiwan.

Chinese espionage groups, such as Storm-0062 and Volt Typhoon, have notably escalated tensions in the United States through targeted cyber activities against military and critical infrastructure sectors. Storm-0062s focus on aerospace, defence, and natural resources, coupled with Volt Typhoons infiltration of critical infrastructure networks, reflects a strategic effort to undermine US national security. These actions not only compromise the integrity of vital sectors but also raise alarm about the potential access these groups have to sensitive information, thereby stoking fears and mistrust within the US defence community and beyond.

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In Taiwan, the influence operations led by Storm-1376, a Chinese Communist Party-linked actor, have injected additional strain into already tense cross-strait relations. By utilizing advanced AI to fabricate endorsements and spread disinformation during critical election periods, these actors have sought to manipulate public perception and political dynamics in Taiwan. The deployment of AI-generated content, including fake endorsements and misleading narratives, represents a sophisticated escalation in the tactics used to influence Taiwans political landscape, exacerbating tensions between Taiwan and China.

Japan and South Korea have also been targets of Chinese influence operations, with Storm-1376 amplifying controversies and stoking discord within and between these nations. In Japan, the group spread fear and misinformation regarding the disposal of Fukushimas treated radioactive wastewater, challenging scientific assessments and sowing doubt about the safety and intentions behind the disposal. Similarly, in South Korea, the group capitalised on environmental and diplomatic concerns, using localised content to amplify protests and criticisms against the Japanese government. These actions not only exacerbate regional tensions but also aim to undermine trust in governmental and international regulatory bodies.

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Moreover, the spread of conspiratorial narratives, such as the claim that the U.S. government used a weather weapon in Hawaii, alongside aggressive messaging campaigns in South Korea and misinformation surrounding the Kentucky train derailment, illustrates a broader strategy by Chinese espionage groups. By exploiting and amplifying regional and domestic issues, these groups aim to foster distrust, deepen societal divisions, and weaken the coherence and international standing of the United States, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. This multifaceted approach to stoking tensions reveals a complex and persistent threat that these nations must address collectively to safeguard their security and democratic processes.

To enhance the technical sophistication of Indias response to AI-driven cyber espionage, NTRO could leverage state-of-the-art machine learning models and anomaly detection algorithms to improve threat detection capabilities. By adopting deep learning techniques, such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and recurrent neural networks (RNNs), for analysing network traffic and user behaviour, NTRO can identify subtle patterns indicative of malicious activities that traditional systems might overlook. These advanced models can be trained on vast datasets of cyber incidents to accurately predict and detect espionage activities. Furthermore, the integration of adversarial machine learning can help NTROs systems to anticipate and counteract evasion tactics employed by AI-powered cyber threats.

DARPAs initiatives, like the CHASE program, utilise big data analytics and machine learning to automate the detection of cyber threats on a large scale. NTRO can adopt similar methodologies, employing scalable data processing platforms and real-time analytics to continuously monitor and analyse cyber threats. This approach would enable the rapid identification of anomalous behaviours and potential cyber espionage activities, facilitating preemptive actions against such threats.

To tackle AI-generated disinformation, techniques like digital watermarking and blockchain can be employed to authenticate content and trace its origin. Advanced AI detection tools, which analyse inconsistencies in image or audio files, can be used to spot and flag deepfakes and synthetic media. These tools often utilise feature extraction methods and classification algorithms to differentiate between genuine and manipulated content. Developing and implementing these AI-driven detection tools requires a collaborative effort between government agencies, academia, and the tech industry to continuously refine algorithms and adapt to evolving disinformation tactics.

To address the challenge of AI-generated content, platforms where such content is shared must take on greater responsibility and adopt more robust measures. This necessitates a multi-layered approach involving technical, regulatory, and collaborative strategies to ensure the integrity and trustworthiness of the information disseminated. Technically, platforms need to implement advanced detection systems that can identify AI-generated content with high accuracy.

These systems should leverage the latest advancements in machine learning, such as natural language processing (NLP) and image recognition algorithms, to analyse and detect patterns or anomalies characteristic of synthetic media. For instance, employing deep learning techniques like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) can help discern between real and AI-generated images or videos by detecting subtle discrepancies that are typically invisible to the human eye. Regulations should make platforms more responsible for the content being disseminated. Further, there is a need for more collaboration between academia, platforms and government technical intelligence agencies to deal with AI-generated content.

Ironically, one should invoke Sun Tzus The Art of War here. Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster, Sun Tzu wrote, signifying the importance of understanding both the capabilities of AI and the tactics of adversaries like China. To combat AI-induced espionage and division, nations must embody Sun Tzus principles by developing a deep knowledge of AIs potential for both creation and deception, ensuring preparedness for any cyber threats. Similar to Sun Tzus emphasis on planning and adaptation, strategic foresight must guide the defence against these cyber incursions.

The author (X: @adityasinha004) is Officer on Special Duty, Research, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Elon Musk has always been vocal about how AI will come to overpower and outsmart humans, and eventually subjugate them. Musk has again reiterated that he believes AI will become more intelligent and outsmart humans in a couple of years read more

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, once again, has made some bold predictions on artificial intelligence. The tech billionaire, in an interview on X spaces that was plagued by technological glitches, claimed that AI engineers will be able to develop a model that is smarter than the smartest human as next year or by 2026.

In a discussion with Nicolai Tangen, the CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management, the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world, Musk spoke of the the constraints facing AI, particularly citing the availability of electricity as a limiting factor.

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The AI compute growth chart says it all https://t.co/Lj2o4CfVN8  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 8, 2024

If you define AGI (artificial general intelligence) as smarter than the smartest human, I think its probably next year, within two years, Musk said

He also mentioned the upcoming release of Grok, the AI chatbot from his xAI startup, stating that the next version is expected to be trained by May.

Musk, who co-founded OpenAI, expressed frustration over the lack of advanced chips affecting the training of Groks version 2 model.

He founded xAI last year as an alternative to OpenAI, which he has criticized for deviating from its original mission of developing AI for the benefit of humanity.

Training the Grok 2 model reportedly required around 20,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs, and Musk indicated that future iterations would demand even more resources, estimating that Grok 3 and beyond will need 100,000 Nvidia H100 chips.

He emphasized the importance of electricity supply shortly for AI development.

In addition to discussing AI, Musk touched upon the electric vehicle (EV) market, acknowledging Chinese carmakers as formidable competitors to Tesla. He warned that without trade barriers, Chinese rivals could surpass global competitors.

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Regarding labour issues, Musk addressed a recent union strike in Sweden against Tesla, indicating that the situation has calmed down.

Tangen noted that Norways sovereign wealth fund, a significant shareholder in Tesla, had received an update on the matter from the EV companys chair during a recent meeting.

Musks remarks provide insights into his perspective on the future trajectory of AI development, the challenges faced by Tesla in the EV market, and the companys handling of labour disputes.

(With inputs from agencies)
Samsung is bolstering up its mid-range offerings with their newest M series device, the M55. Featuring a stunning looking AMOLED Display, a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC and a stunning triple camera setup, the M55 is priced at Rs. 26,999 for the 8GB+128GB variant read more

Samsung has unveiled its highly anticipated mid-range device, the Galaxy M55 5G and Galaxy M15 5G models in India on Monday, April 8. These devices mark the latest additions to the Galaxy M series, succeeding the Galaxy M54 5G and Galaxy M14 5G, respectively.

The Galaxy M55 5G boasts an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset and is available in various RAM and storage configurations, alongside two colour variants. Notable features include a triple rear camera setup and support for wired fast charging.

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Samsung Galaxy M55 5G: Specifications

Diving into specifications, the Galaxy M55 5G flaunts a spacious 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display with a high refresh rate of 120Hz and a peak brightness level of 1,000 nits.

Under the hood, we get a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, coupled with up to 12GB of RAM, a first for any non-flagship level smartphone to get that much RAM. We also get 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage.

The device runs on Android 14-based One UI 6.1. Samsung is promising extended software support with up to four years of OS upgrades and five years of security updates.

For cameras, the Galaxy M55 5G is equipped with a rather versatile camera setup, including a 50MP primary sensor with optical image stabilization, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro shooter. Additionally, the front camera boasts a high-resolution 50MP sensor.

Powering the device is a rather robust 5,000mAh battery with support for 45W wired fast charging. Connectivity options include 5G compatibility, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and USB Type-C. Measuring at 163.9mm x 76.5mm x 7.8mm and weighing 180g, the device offers a sleek and manageable form factor.

Samsung Galaxy M55 5G: Launch price and offers

As for pricing and availability, the base variant with 8GB+128GB is priced at Rs. 26,999, while the higher-tiered models 8GB+256GB and 12GB+256GB are listed at Rs. 29,999 and Rs. 32,999, respectively.

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Consumers can purchase the Galaxy M55 5G through Amazon and the Samsung India website, and choose between Denim Black and Light Green for colour options
Made by Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Indias first sub-metre resolution earth observation satellite, the TSAT-1A in finally in its orbit. The satellite was launched using a SpaceX Falcon rocket called Bandwagon read more

Tata Groups Tata Advanced Systems Limited has achieved a pretty major milestone by successfully placing Indias first sub-metre resolution earth observation satellite, the TSAT-1A in its orbit.

The is Indias first such satellite that was developed by the private sector and was built in partnership with Satellogic. The rocket was launched on from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on April 7.

This groundbreaking satellite, assembled at TASLs Karnataka facility, marks a historic moment as part of SpaceXs inaugural Bandwagon flight, which deployed a total of 11 satellites.

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TSAT-1A promises to revolutionize satellite imaging with its high-resolution capabilities and swift data delivery. With its low-earth orbit configuration, weighing less than 50 kg, the satellite is poised to serve diverse applications, notably including the Indian armed forces.

Following its launch, TSAT-1A is poised to serve as a crucial asset primarily catering to governmental and military requirements, offering high-resolution imagery tailored to military-grade standards.

While the Indian government and armed forces remain the primary client, there are plans to expand services to the commercial sectors, as reported by the Economic Times. Efforts are underway to establish a ground centre in India for data processing and download, indicating a strategic move towards operational readiness.

Indias current inventory of military spy satellites, primarily developed by ISRO, is limited. TASL, however, aims to address this gap by envisioning a constellation of similar satellites in the future. Reports suggest that the companys manufacturing facility is equipped to produce up to 25 low earth orbit (LEO) satellites annually, in collaboration with Satellogic Inc., a key player in sub-metre resolution earth observation satellites.

Despite ISROs satellite capabilities, which include imagery sharing, their application is constrained by coverage limitations. Consequently, India has often relied on US companies to meet its imaging needs, a dependency accentuated by recent tensions with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

These developments underscore the significance of TSAT-1A and the broader ambitions of TASL in bolstering Indias indigenous satellite capabilities to meet evolving national security and strategic requirements.

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Sukaran Singh, CEO and MD of TASL, hailed this achievement as a significant leap forward for Indias space sector especially for private players, while emphasizing its potential impact on both governmental and commercial sectors.

Singh underscored the strategic advantages of TSAT-1As inclined orbit, which enables it to frequently revisit certain areas of interest more, as compared to traditional satellites in Sun Synchronous Polar Orbits (SSPO).

TASLs comprehensive approach involves satellite assembly, integration, testing, and launch services etc, through partnerships with organisations that have launch capabilities, like SpaceX and ISRO.

Furthermore, the company also offers services in data processing and operating a satellite control centre.

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Emiliano Kargieman, CEO of Satellogic, commended the collaborative effort that brought TSAT-1A to fruition, highlighting Satellogics adaptable Space Systems program. This program offers tailored satellite solutions to governments and enterprises, ensuring timely deployment to orbit.

The successful launch of TSAT-1A signifies a remarkable achievement in Indias space industry, demonstrating the nations growing prowess in satellite technology and private-sector innovation.

(With inputs from agencies)
TSMCs factories will create at least 6,000 high-wage tech jobs and at least 20,000 construction jobs in the state, experts believe. Once operational, the factories will produce tens of millions of chips for smartphones, autonomous vehicles, and AI data centre servers read more

The US hopes that TSMC and other chipmakers with CHIPs grants will place US as a strategically located destination in chip manufacturing. Image Credit: Reuters

The US government is betting big on the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company or TSMC as it awards $6.6 billion in grants to establish three fabrication plants, or fabs, in Phoenix, Arizona.

This funding is in addition to approximately $5 billion in government loans that TSMC has already secured.

As part of the agreement, TSMC has committed to increasing its planned investment in Arizona by $25 billion, bringing the total to $65 billion.

The company has already disclosed plans for two of the three factories in the state. It is expected that the third factory will be set up by 2030.

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President Biden-led White House has described TSMCs investments in its upcoming semiconductor factories as the largest foreign direct investment in Arizonas history. Experts project that the factories will create at least 6,000 high-wage tech jobs and at least 20,000 construction jobs in the state.

An important aspect of these facilities is that they will enable TSMC to complete the entire chip-making process on US soil, including advanced packaging.

Traditionally, even advanced components, like silicon wafers, that were made in the US had to be sent to Taiwan for the final slicing and packaging of the wafers into chips before being shipped back to the US and other countries worldwide for final sale.

With its factories in Arizona, TSMC hopes to bypass this logistical nightmare.

Once operational, the factories are expected to produce tens of millions of chips for applications such as smartphones, autonomous vehicles, and AI data centre servers.

Interestingly, Apple has already partnered with TSMC and plans to develop their 4nm and 3nm Apple Silicon chips at TSMCs Phoenix plants for future iPhones and Macs.

Although there have been some delays reported with the initial factories, the current timeline aims for full operation of the first fab by next year, followed by the second in 2028 and the third by 2030.

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The White House hopes that with TSMCs factories and investments, and all other CHIPS Act grants and loans that have been issued so far, the US can be established as a strategically located chipmaking destination.

President Biden emphasized the importance of reclaiming Americas position in chip production, citing a decline from nearly 40 per cent of global capacity to close to 10 per cent, particularly in advanced chip manufacturing, which poses economic and national security risks.

One of the key objectives of the CHIPS Act is to attract international chipmakers to invest in US facilities, a goal that seems to be succeeding. Samsung recently announced a $44 billion investment in Texas, doubling its existing commitment.

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Additionally, GlobalFoundries received a $1.5 billion grant for a new facility in New York, focusing on chips for the automotive, aerospace, defence, and AI sectors. Intel secured the largest CHIPS grant to date, totalling up to $8.5 billion for its US-based operations.

(With inputs from agencies)
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the importance of international journalists being allowed into Gaza to provide accurate reporting amid escalating conflict. read more

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for foreign journalists to be allowed into Gaza | Source: AP

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a call for international journalists to be granted access to Gaza, emphasising the critical role of transparent reporting amid the ongoing conflict.

Taking to X, Guterres expressed concerns over the proliferation of disinformation and false narratives, attributing it to the lack of international journalistic presence in the region.

An information war has added to the trauma of the war in Gaza - obscuring facts and shifting blame, wrote the UN chief, adding that denying international journalists entry into Gaza is allowing disinformation and false narratives to flourish.

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An information war has added to the trauma of the war in Gaza - obscuring facts and shifting blame.



Denying international journalists entry into Gaza is allowing disinformation and false narratives to flourish.  Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 8, 2024

Echoing Guterres sentiments, the Foreign Press Association released a statement urging for the immediate entry of journalists into the Palestinian enclave.

The barring of independent press access to a war zone for this long is unprecedented for Israel, it said. It raises questions about what Israel does not want international journalists to see.

Despite the dire need for accurate reporting, journalists attempting to operate within Gaza have faced significant access restrictions. Limited to a handful of reporters who were already present in the enclave, the vast majority of international journalists have been unable to enter the region, leaving coverage reliant on Palestinian journalists accounts.

Escalating violence against journalists

Since the attacks on October 7, there has been a surge in journalist fatalities in Gaza, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

CPJ noted that three out of four journalists killed globally in 2023 lost their lives during the Israel-Hamas conflict between October 7 and December 31.

In perspective, last year, more journalists perished in the first three months of the Israel-Gaza conflict than in any single country over an entire year.

Exact statistics are challenging to obtain due to limited access to Gaza, but its estimated that approximately 90 journalists have been killed there, with many suspecting the actual number to be higher.

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This equates to over 20 journalists losing their lives every month since October 7, or roughly one every other day. The toll includes not only fatalities but also injuries, life-altering disabilities, severe mental health issues, displacement, and loss of family and property.

The Israeli government and its supporters have disputed these figures, alleging that Palestinian journalists are influenced by Hamas and therefore lack independence.

They also argue that some individuals labeled as journalists are actually Hamas combatants wearing press attire and, thus, cannot be considered legitimate journalists capable of impartial reporting.

Israel cites security concerns

Attempts by the Foreign Press Association to secure access through legal channels have been rejected, citing security concerns as the primary reason, reported Sky News.

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Despite mounting pressure from international organisations, including the UN, access to Gaza remains restricted, leaving journalists struggling to provide comprehensive coverage of the conflict.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the two-state solution leading to the creation of a Palestinian state is the only solution to the endless cycle of violence in the Middle East read more

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said the country will consider the recognition of the Palestinian state. Source: Reuters

Australia will consider unilaterally recognising a Palestinian state in an effort to resolve the Israel-Palestine dispute and ensure lasting peace in the Middle East, the countrys Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.

Wongs statement put Australia in the league of United States, United Kingdom, and Spain, which have expressed the intention to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state. Such a recognition is part of their commitment to the proposed two-state solution to the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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Israel has, however, rejected such proposals of unilateral recognition with the argument that any recognition should come after direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Speaking at Australian National University (ANU), Wong on Tuesday said that the two-state solution is the only hope to break the endless cycle of violence in the Middle East.

Israels own security depends on 2-state solution: Wong

Wong said that the opposition to the two-state solution is misplaced. She said that those who claim recognition is rewarding an enemy were wrong because Israels own security depends on a two-state solution.

There is no long-term security for Israel unless it is recognised by the countries of its region, said Wong.

Wong, however, ruled out any role of Hamas, the principal terrorist group based out of Gaza that fights against Israel, in the future Palestinian state. She said, There is no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state.

The State of Palestine has the status of a non-member observer state in the United Nations (UN). The Palestinian Authority (PA), the Palestinian administration that partially governs the West Bank, last week formally asked the UN Security Council (UNSC) to reconsider its 2011 application for full membership of the UN.

Whats 2-state solution?

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The two-state solution refers to the arrangement where a Jewish State of Israel and an Arab State of Palestine will co-exist in the West Asia. This is the widely accepted solution to the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Earlier this year, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that the recognition of the Palestinian state, including at the UN, would make progress towards the realisation of the two-state solution irreversible". He said Palestinians must have a political horizon so that they can see that there is going to be irreversible progress to a two-state solution.

We should be starting to set out what a Palestinian state would look like  what it would comprise, how it would work. As that happens, we, with allies, will look at the issue of recognising a Palestinian state, including at the United Nations. This could be one of the things that helps to make this process irreversible, said Cameron in January.

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Separately, the Biden administration in the US is also considering options for the American and international recognition of the Palestinian state after the war in Gaza is over, according to a report in Axios. This is a shift in US policy as the hitherto policy said that such a recognition should only come after direct negotiations between PA and Israel have worked.

The Biden administration has linked the normalisation of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia to the creation of a pathway for the establishment of a Palestinian state after the war in Gaza, according to the report. Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War, Saudis have publicly stated that any normalisation of ties with Israel would be conditional to irrevocable progress towards the Palestinian state.
The presidents new plans are aimed at cancelling runaway interest for millions of borrowers and nullifying debt for those who are eligible for but not participating in certain forgiveness programs read more

Just months ahead of the 2024 US presidential election, President Joe Biden announced revised plans to waive off federal student debt. Biden referred to his plans to ease the burden on students along with other actions during his visit to Madison, Wisconsin.

The presidents new plans are aimed at cancelling runaway interest for millions of borrowers and nullifying debt for those who are eligible for but not participating in certain forgiveness programs. The plans are intended to bring relief to at least 23 million Americans, Reuters reported.

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The plan will include cancelling up to $20,000 of accrued and capitalized interest for borrowers, regardless of income. The American commander-in-chief has been pushing for the plan because it is an issue for young voters whose support he is seeking for the upcoming elections.

How will it impact the Americans?

The proposal is expected to offer cancellation to five categories of borrowers.

1. The $20,000 interest waiver would be eligible for those who now owe more than what they originally borrowed. The cap would not apply to individuals who make less than $120,000 a year or couples who earn less than $240,000 and also are enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan.

The Education Department noted that 25 million would be eligible for this relief which would include 23 million people who would get their interest erased entirely.

2. The loans would be eased for people who are eligible for certain forgiveness programmes but have not applied to any.

3. All debt would also be cancelled for borrowers who have been repaying undergraduate loans for 20 years or more, or 25 years for those with graduate school debt. The administration pointed out this this initiative would ease loans for more than 2 million people.

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4. Those who attended college programs of low financial value would be eligible for forgiveness as well. The plan would include cancelling debt for borrowers who went to institutions that lost federal funding.

Bidens initiative also plans to cancel loans for people who went to college programs that left graduates with low incomes compared to their student loans.

5. The final category will cancel loans for Americans who are facing hardships that are preventing them from repaying their student loans. The Department of Education plans to create an application system for individuals to detail the form of hardship they are facing.

How is it different from the last plan?

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Biden initially tried to grant $400 billion in debt relief for 40 million borrowers by using the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003, or HEROES Act. The administration argued that these legislations allow the federal government to waive student debt due to national emergency crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the US Supreme Court blocked the move accusing the president of exceeding his authority.

Hence, the new plan would forgive some or all loans to nearly 25 million borrowers under the Higher Education Act only. This way, the White House is targeting a specific group of borrowers  instead of offering broad loan forgiveness and believing that it can act within the confines of the law.

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But it will be in the hands of the Supreme Court to determine that the borrowers under the latest plan would be considered limited or if the Biden administration is once again overstepping its authority.

What happens next?

The new plan still needs to be published in the Federal Register, which will commence a months-long public comment period.

The education department has maintained that some of the provisions would begin taking effect in early fall. Hence, this could leave the debt relief plan unresolved as the country goes to poll in November.
In 2022, days after Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise was seized by the junta, Chevron had said it would exit Myanmar and in February 2023 said it had agreed to sell its assets there, including its stake in the Yadana gas field, but instead has withdrawn read more

The Chevron logo is pictured after the US government granted a six-month license allowing Chevron to boost oil output in US-sanctioned Venezuela, in Caracas, Venezuela, December 2, 2022. REUTERS.

US energy company Chevron has quit the Yadana natural gas field in Myanmar, a spokesperson said on Monday, more than two years after it condemned violence and human rights abuses there and announced it would leave.

Rather than being sold, Chevrons 41.1 per cent stake in the gas field was redistributed to the remaining shareholders, Thailands PTT Exploration and Production and state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE).

PTTEP, operator of the gas field, said on Friday its stake in Yadana had increased to 62.96 per cent.

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The withdrawal gives effect to our intention to exit Myanmar in a controlled and orderly manner, following the February 2021 coup, and ongoing humanitarian crisis, a Chevron spokesperson said.

Myanmar has been in crisis since the army overthrew the elected government in 2021. A crackdown on dissidents has since given rise to a nationwide resistance movement backed by several ethnic minority armies.

Located in the Gulf of Martaban, the Yadana field has produced around 6 billion cubic meters (212 billion cubic feet)per year of gas, 70 per cent of which has been exported to Thailand and about 30 per cent supplied for domestic use to MOGE.

MOGE was seized by the junta through its 2021 attempted coup.

Chevron had said in January 2022 it would exit Myanmar and in February 2023 said it had agreed to sell its assets there, including its stake in the Yadana gas field, but instead has withdrawn.

Rights groups and United Nations experts have accused Myanmars military of committing atrocities against civilians in its efforts to crush the resistance.

The junta says it is fighting terrorists and has ignored international calls to cease hostilities.

In 2021, French oil and gas group TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA), opens new tab and Chevron suspended some payments from Yadana that would have reached Myanmars junta, earning praise from pro-democracy activists. TotalEnergies withdrew in 2022.

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Justice for Myanmar, a non-profit group, said Chevron exited following sustained civil society pressure over payments from the gas project to the Myanmar junta.

Chevron said it has conducted its exit from Myanmar in a responsible, orderly and safe manner, in accordance with international law and trade sanctions.

The administration of President Joe Biden last November imposed sanctions on certain financial services by Americans to MOGE, in the first direct action on the enterprise aimed at weakening the military junta that controls it.

The US Treasury said it would not comment on an individual companys circumstances.
Numerous villages in the Ural highlands, Siberia, and parts of Kazakhstan near rivers like the Ural and Tobol were inundated by meltwater, which, according to local officials, rose to the greatest levels ever recorded in a matter of hours, rising by meters read more

The most severely hit areas are Atyrau, Aktobe, Akmola, Kostanai, Eastern Kazakhstan, Northern Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions, most of which border Russia and are crossed by rivers originating in Russia such as the Ural and the Tobol Image Courtesy Reuters

In the worst flooding the region has seen in at least 70 years, quickly melting snow caused rivers to surge to the brink, forcing more than 100,000 people to flee Russia and Kazakhstan.

Numerous villages in the Ural highlands, Siberia, and parts of Kazakhstan near rivers like the Ural and Tobol were inundated by meltwater, which, according to local officials, rose to the greatest levels ever recorded in a matter of hours, rising by meters.

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The city of Orsk, which is located south of the Ural Mountains, was inundated on Friday due to the collapse of an embankment dam caused by the Ural, the third-largest river in Europe, which flows through Kazakhstan and Russia and into the Caspian.

In Orenburg, a metropolis of roughly 550,000 people, the water levels were rising downstream.

In Kurgan, a city on the Tobol, a tributary of the Irtysh, sirens alerted locals to leave right away. The largest hydrocarbon basin in the world, Tyumen, a significant oil-producing region of Western Siberia, was also ordered to declare an emergency.

The difficult days are still ahead for the Kurgan and Tyumen regions, the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. There is a lot of water coming.

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, spoke to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, where more than 86,000 people have been evacuated owing to flooding. Tokayev said the flooding was probably the worst in 80 years.

The most severely hit areas are Atyrau, Aktobe, Akmola, Kostanai, Eastern Kazakhstan, Northern Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions, most of which border Russia and are crossed by rivers originating in Russia such as the Ural and the Tobol.

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In Russia, anger boiled over in Orsk when at least 100 Russians implored the Kremlin to help and chanted shame on you at local officials who they said had done too little.

The Kremlin said Putin was getting updated constantly on the situation but that he had no immediate plans to visit the flood zone as local and emergency officials were doing their best to cope with the deluge.

In Kurgan, a region with about 800,000 people, drone footage showed traditional Russian wooden houses and the golden cupolas of Russian Orthodox churches stranded among a vast expanse of water.

In Orenburg, a city of more than half a million, people paddled along roads as if they were rivers. Dams and embankments were being strengthened as the Ural rose to nearly 10 metres high.

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Russian officials have said some people ignored calls to evacuate. The Kurgan governor, Vadim Shumkov, urged residents to take the warnings seriously.

We understand you very well. It is hard to leave your possessions and move somewhere at the call of the local authorities, Shumkov said. Its better that we laugh at the hydrologists together later and praise God for the miracle of our common salvation. But lets do it alive.

In Kurgan, water levels were rising in the Tobol and Russia said 19,000 people were at risk in the region.

Rising water was also forecast in Siberias Ishim River, also a tributary of the Irtysh, which along with its parent, the Ob, forms the worlds seventh-longest river system.

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It was not immediately clear why this years floods were so bad as the snowmelt is an annual event in Russia. Scientists say climate change has made flooding more frequent worldwide.

(With agency inputs)
Many states have already implemented laws to curb farmland sales to foreign investors and entities. In 2023 alone, a dozen states passed legislation restricting foreign investment in agricultural land, as per the National Agricultural Law Center. read more

Concerned over reports of land purchases by Chinese citizens and companies in the US, state legislators, predominantly in Republican strongholds, are proposing and enacting a series of laws to restrict such purchases, citing rising national security concerns.

A Politico report highlights the surge in legislative activity aimed at addressing what lawmakers perceive as a significant and escalating threat to national security. According to data from the non-profit National Agricultural Law Center, over 20 states are currently in the process of implementing new restrictions on foreign land acquisitions or updating existing legislation. This follows in the wake of at least 15 states passing laws in 2023 that placed limitations or outright bans on foreign ownership of land.

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These legislations come in response to various incidents, including the discovery and subsequent dismantling of a Chinese spy balloon over the continental US in February 2023, alongside a steady stream of official warnings regarding Beijings perceived national security threat.

Many states have already implemented laws to curb farmland sales to foreign investors and entities. In 2023 alone, a dozen states passed legislation restricting foreign investment in agricultural land, as per the National Agricultural Law Center.

According to a 2021 Department of Agriculture report, Chinas ownership of agricultural land in the US stands at approximately 384,000 acres. This figure encompasses 195,000 acres, valued at nearly $2 billion at the time of purchase, held by 85 Chinese investors, including individuals, companies, or government entities.

Moreover, a Forbes report notes that an additional 189,000 acres are owned by 62 US corporations with Chinese shareholders, acquired for $235 million. Between 2015 and 2019, Chinese ownership of agricultural land in the US experienced a modest increase of approximately 550 acres.

However, a significant surge occurred between 2019 and 2020, witnessing a 30% jump in ownership from around 247,000 acres to approximately 352,000 acres. Notably, US companies with Chinese shareholders contributed to this growth by acquiring 102,000 acres, more than doubling their acreage within that year.

In 2021, China added another 32,000 acres of US agricultural land, while not as substantial as the increase in 2020, still marked a 98% rise compared to the total growth from 2015 to 2019, as highlighted in the Forbes report. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential for the Chinese government, through these Chinese corporations, to attain control over American assets or access sensitive information within the US.

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US intelligence officials have increasingly sounded the alarm on Chinas influence operations within the country. A recent national Marist Poll, commissioned by the non-profit advocacy group State Armor  which has been actively pushing for legislation to limit Chinese land acquisitions  revealed that 73 percent of 1,455 surveyed Americans support banning China and other adversaries or national security threats from providing components for critical infrastructure, such as cell phone towers and electrical grids.

Currently, approximately half of U.S. states have laws in place that restrict foreign ownership of agricultural land, while around 20 states permit foreign land investments. However, its important to note that some states limiting land sales to foreign investors only regulate agricultural land, not privately owned land, according to the law center.

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Despite efforts to safeguard agricultural land in about half of the nations states and the implementation of restrictions on sales near military bases, there remain significant information gaps regarding the identity of land buyers and owners.

I dont know that we know for sure all the foreign land that potentially is owned by Chinese individuals or folks controlled by the Chinese government, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Wy., told NPR in June.

A Department of Defense report released on December 31 of last year further underscored these concerns regarding Chinese military companies conducting business in the United States. According to the report, China has 46 military firms and their subsidiaries operating within the United States under the guise of civilian entities.

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Growing foreign ownership of U.S. farmland, particularly by China, poses a direct threat to our food security and national security, U.S. Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and James Comer, R-Ky., said in a joint statement Jan. 18.
AUKUS said it is not looking to expand its security pact, but would involve Japan in developing advanced technologies in its future projects given it shares a close partnership with the three countries read more

AUKUS says Japan will be involved in developing 'advanced' technologies for trio's defence partnership. Reuters File

Australia, United States and Britain said they are considering working with Japan to bolster the trilaterals AUKUS security pact, which is aimed at countering China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Calls to involve Japan in AUKUS come at a time when Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is on a six-day-long visit to Washington for a key bilateral summit with President Joe Biden.

AUKUS said they are considering cooperating with Japan due to its strengths and its close bilateral defense partnerships with the trio, an official statement said on Tuesday. However, Japan will not share a seat with the founding members.

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The Australian PM Anthony Albanese told reporters in Canberra, that Tokyo is a natural partner" for AUKUS but its contribution would be limited to developing advanced technologies.

Why is Japan being limited in the AUKUS pact?

AUKUS which was formed in 2021, has called Japan to be involved in the Pillar 2, or second stage of the security pact, which focuses on developing advanced warfighting capabilities such as artificial intelligence, undersea drones and hypersonic missiles.

The AUKUS said it wants like-minded partners to join the non-nuclear Pillar 2 of projects that will [deliver] advanced military capabilities to our respective defence forces in support of regional stability and security.

The first stage or Pillar 1, is designed to deliver a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. The statement did not propose Japan would be involved in this part of the pact.

The officials and experts say obstacles to Japan joining as a formal member remain given the need for the country to introduce better cyber defenses and stricter rules for guarding secrets.

Earlier, New Zealand stepped up its interest in joining Pillar II of Aukus, citing Chinas growing presence in the Pacific and broader concerns over a reshaped world.
The Swiss association of Elders for Climate Protection, consisting of 2,500 women with an average age of 73, had raised concerns about the Swiss authorities shortcomings in climate protection, which could adversely affect their health read more

The Swiss association of Elders for Climate Protection had complained about the 'failings of the Swiss authorities' in term of climate protection. AFP

In a landmark decision, the European Court of Human Rights criticised Switzerland for its insufficient efforts to address climate change. The ruling, which could set a precedent for other governments, highlights the need for more ambitious climate policies.

While the court dismissed two other cases against European states due to procedural reasons, hopes were high for a legal breakthrough in the three cases, which were prioritised by the courts Grand Chamber.

In the first case, the court found that Switzerland had violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, guaranteeing the right to respect for private and family life.

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The Swiss association of Elders for Climate Protection, consisting of 2,500 women with an average age of 73, had raised concerns about the Swiss authorities shortcomings in climate protection, which could adversely affect their health.

As a result, the court ordered the Swiss state to pay the association 80,000 euros (approximately $87,000) within three months. Cordelia Bahr, the lawyer representing the Swiss association, hailed the decision, stating that the court recognized climate protection as a human right.

Its a huge victory for us and a legal precedent for all the states of the Council of Europe, she said.

Activist Greta Thunberg said it was only the beginning of climate litigation.

All over the world more and more people are taking their government to court, holding them responsible for their actions, she said inside the court after attending the rulings.

- Historic -

Joie Chowdhury, a lawyer from the Center for International Environmental Law, said the ruling was historic.

We expect this ruling to influence climate action and climate litigation across Europe and far beyond, she said.

It leaves no doubt: the climate crisis is a human rights crisis, and states have human rights obligations to act urgently and effectively to prevent further devastation and harm to people and the environment, she said.

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Gerry Liston, of the NGO Global Legal Action Network, said before the rulings that a victory in any of the three cases could constitute the most significant legal development on climate change for Europe since the signing of the Paris 2015 Agreement.

The Paris Agreement set targets for governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The court decisions came as Europes climate monitor said March this year had been the hottest on record.

In a second case, the court dismissed a petition from six Portuguese people, aged 12 to 24, against 32 states including their own because the case had not exhausted all avenues at the national level.

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Their case was not only against Portugal but also 31 other states  every European Union country, plus Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Russia.

Almost all European countries belong to the Council of Europe, not just the 27 EU members.

Russian was expelled from the council after its invasion of Ukraine but cases against Moscow are still heard at the court.

- Climate inaction -

In a third case, the court rejected a claim from a former French mayor that the inaction of the French state posed the risk of his town being submerged under the North Sea.

The court found that Damien Careme, former mayor of the northern French coastal town of Grande-Synthe, was not a victim in the case as he had moved to Brussels at the time of his initial complaint in 2021.

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In 2019, he filed a case at Frances Council of State  its highest administrative court  alleging climate inaction on the part of France.

The court ruled in favour of the municipality in July 2021 but rejected a case hed brought in his own name, leading Careme to take it to the ECHR.

The European Convention on Human Rights does not contain any explicit provision relating to the environment.

But the court has already ruled based on its Article 8 that states have an obligation to maintain a healthy environment, in cases relating to waste management or industrial activities.

With inputs from AFP
In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Middleton gave insights about the crew and the ongoing operation in the region read more

As the salvage crew began removing containers from the deck of the cargo ship named Dali that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore which ultimately led to its collapse, the Director of the Apostleship of the Sea, recalled his experience when he first heard the news.

The director of a Baltimore ministry was the man who met the Dali crew a day before the tragic incident. In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Middleton gave insights about the crew and the ongoing operation in the region.

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I first came into contact with the crew of the Dali on Sunday morning. They had reached out to me requesting for transportation and shopping services, Middleton recalled when asked about how he first met the crew of the Dali.

For years, his organisation have been helping the seafarers with crucial resources they will be requiring while embarking on a long voyage. Were just a friendly face to welcome them into Baltimore and we try to welcome them as we would welcome Christ, Middleton highlighted as he elucidated the work of the catholic ministry.

The horrific morning

When asked about what was his first reaction when he found out that the Bridge had collapsed. Middleton recalled the horrific moment he realised that the Dalli crew was involved in the accident.

On Tuesday morning around 5:30, while I was getting ready for work. I turned the radio on and the first thing I heard was about the bridge collapsing, Middleton told Firstpost.

So I ran to turn the television on. And at that point, within 30 seconds or so. I heard them say the name of the vessel that struck the bridge and my first thought was I was just with those guys yesterday, he recalled.

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Middleton soon realised that he had a way to get in touch with the crew, hence he grabbed his phone and sent a text message to one of the members onboard.

I ran and grabbed my work phone and sent one of them a message. Just asking if everybody was was safe and if everybody was okay. He (one of the crew members) replied within a few minutes that everyone was okay. I just kind of reassured him that we would be here for them if they needed anything, he said.

It is pertinent to note that this text exchange was the first publicly reported communication from a mariner aboard the vessel, which lost its power and slammed into the bridge.

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Middleton emphasised that since then he has kept a friendly communication with them, and stated that he is regularly keeping a check on the crew.

Every crew member has an assigned job

With years of experience in working with seafarers, Middleton noted that every crew member has an assigned job. He mentioned that while the captain of the vessel is in charge of the ship, they always get help from the second and third officers and even the pilot.

When further asked who was in charge of the vessel when it collided with the ship, Middleton highlighted that the roles are divided and the pilot helps the captain in navigating the ship.

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Im no expert on this but my understanding is that the pilot is on board to navigate the body of water that they would be sailing in. The pilot is kind of the local expert on navigation water and is usually aware of impediments to that navigation that might happen or that might be present under the surface of the water that you cant see with your eyes, Middleton explained.

Thats kind of their job is to assist the captain and navigate the vessel, he added.

More details about the crew

While speaking to Firstpost, Middleton revealed that 21 out of 22 crew members were from India and one of them was from Sri Lanka. He mentioned that the majority of the crew member were from the state of Kerala and their age ranged from the early 20s to the late 50s.

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They were grateful for the services we were able to provide before they sailed. And Ive tried not to ask too many questions. My question has always been is everyone okay? I dont want to be too intrusive, he remarked.

With the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigating the matter, the identity of the crew members has not been disclosed as of now. The people involved are still onboard the ship out of respect for the ongoing investigation.

When asked if the crew members had contacted their loved ones, Middleton pointed out that they had provided the crew with WiFi and data services so that they could remain in touch with the rest of the world.

For the Dali, one of the first needs that was identified was establishing some way of communication via cell phones. I was able to get enough SIM cards for the entire crew so that they can have a good line of communication with family back home, he said.

The other seafarer centre in Baltimore and the ITF which is the seafarers union were able to secure enough WiFi hotspots for all vessels that are currently trapped here in Baltimore. I think two of those devices went out to Dali, so they have WiFi and SIM Cards, Middleton furthered.

With the NTSB and US Coast Guards investigating the matter and the bridge restoration currently underway, Middleton noted that keeping direct contact with the crew has been a hard task.

The significance of the bridge

Middleton emphasised that the Bridge was one of the major routes that connected the city of Baltimore to four surrounding counties. Ive lived here all my life and growing up within eye-shot off that bridge, I never imagined that it wouldnt be there, he said.

When it comes to the sea route Middleton emphasised that the port of Baltimore was crucial not only to the region but to the United States. The port of Baltimore was number one in the US in terms of farm equipment that moved in and out of the port. We were also number one in terms of coal export.

Overall, the supply chain and the ability to move everything is heavily impacted now, he maintained, adding that the disruption of the route has a significant impact on the worlds population as well.

When will things get back to normal?

Middleton mentioned that the US Army Corps of Engineers released a timeline in which they plan to open the temporary channels in the area by the end of April. The channel might completely be opened by the end of May, he said.

The director of the Catholic ministry mentioned that the authorities have opened smaller channels for the transportation of salvage equipment to the north side of the bridge.

How did the pandemic become a good teacher?

When asked about the Apostleship of the Seas work during the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, Middleton pointed out how the lockdown period prepared them to deal with the current situation.

COVID was a tough time for the sea fearers since they were limited to pretty much the vessels (due to lockdown restrictions in the region). That was good training or preparation for an incident like this, Middleton recalled.

He insisted that the pandemic taught the group how to quickly change gears and provide seafarers with crucial resources.

After Dalis coalition with the bridge, several vessels travelling from the route are still stuck in the region. Middletons organisation have been helping other vessels to get important resources.

Due to more access to these ships, the group was able to spend time with the stranded crew members and even provided them with books magazines and DVDs that could occupy their time.

My heart really goes out to these guys on the Dali right now. How heartbreaking it must be to be able to see dry land and not get on it. There are a lot of people around the world who are praying for them, he concluded.
Thinking of moving to the French countryside? Dont complain about crowing cockerels, mooing cows, the sound of tractors or the smell of manure. read more

French parliament has adopted a law in an effort to put an end to hundreds of noise compliant court cases filed every year | Source: Reuters/Representative

In a landmark decision, the French parliament has passed a law protecting the rural soundscape, affirming that individuals who choose to reside near existing farms, shops, bars, or restaurants cannot file noise complaints.

French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti emphasised the importance of respecting the established way of life in rural areas, stating that newcomers must adapt to the sounds and smells inherent to countryside living.

Those who move to the countryside cannot demand that country people who feed them change their way of life, Dupond-Moretti, said last year when the law was first introduced in Paris.

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What should be done? Sedate them? If you dont like the countryside, you stay in the city, and if you go to the countryside you adapt to the countryside as it is already.

The legislation, supported by French MP Nicole Le Peih and backed by Dupond-Moretti, aims to alleviate the burden on courts inundated with noise complaints, primarily from urban transplants seeking tranquility in rural settings.

Its not a blank cheque for all neighbourhood disturbances, but a common sense measure," The Guardian quoted Le Peih.

Rural vs urban clash

The clash between long-standing rural practices and the expectations of urban newcomers underscores the debate, with issues ranging from crowing roosters to noisy farm equipment becoming legal battlegrounds.

High-profile cases, such as the legal battle over Maurice the rooster who famously survived an attempt to be silenced in 2019 and the uproar caused by loud cicadas, have highlighted the cultural divide between traditional rural customs and urban sensibilities, reported The Guardian.

Despite the passage of a sensory heritage law three years ago, noise complaints persisted, prompting the need for further legislative action to safeguard rural traditions.

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While proponents hailed the new law as a victory for rural communities, critics like Socialist MP Gerard Leseul argued that it merely reiterates existing principles without offering substantial change.
Project 75 India is an Indian Navy project where it wants to build six bigger conventional submarines with Air Independent Propulsion technology. German firm Thyssenkrupp and Spanish firm Navantia are partnering with MDL and Larsen and Toubro respectively for this project expected to be worth over six billion euros. read more

Germanys Ambassador to India Philipp Ackerman said that New Delhi was at the forefront of Berlins business strategy in Asia where it was strongly diversifying its business relations due to the increasingly challenging behaviour of Indias big neighbour in the North East and other reasons.

In an interview over email, Ackerman said that the German government is fully backing negotiations with the Indian Navy for its Project 75 India tender to build six new conventional submarines.

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Project 75 India is an Indian Navy project where it wants to build six bigger conventional submarines with Air Independent Propulsion technology. German firm Thyssenkrupp and Spanish firm Navantia are partnering with MDL and Larsen and Toubro respectively for this project expected to be worth over six billion euros.

I can state that Germany is committed to teaming up with an Indian dockyard to build high-tech submarines in India and that my government is wholeheartedly supporting the ongoing negotiations. The process is still ongoing and the decision is for India to take. What we can say though it that this project already is accelerating our defence partnership and therefore works as a lighthouse for future cooperation, he said.

The German ambassador did not comment upon the recent issue where the German foreign office gave a statement about the arrest of the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, which was strongly objected to by India as interference in its internal affairs.

Asked why India can count on Germany as its strategic partner, Ackerman said: Because Germanys shift towards India and the Indo-Pacific is manifesting itself in very concrete actions: military visits and joint exercises, potential co-production of advanced military hardware, more collaboration in the area of cyber and strengthening our interoperability.

He said that Germany would be sending its fighters including the Eurofighter Typhoons and transport aircraft  A400M  to India and spearhead a European team together with France and Spain for an exercise near Coimbatore.

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We team up with the Indian Air Force to participate in the first phase of Tarang Shakti. It is the first time that Germany is sending his Air Force to India to participate in such a high scale exercise.. In October, two German ships, one frigate and one support ship, will come to Goa to show their presence and train together with our close partners and friends from the Indian Navy, he said while listing details of the engagement with the Indian military in near future.

The German envoy to India said that high-ranking visits from Germany are expected this summer and autumn to witness and politically support this joint exercise. And I am very optimistic that from this year onwards, we will have joint exercises on a regular, annual, the German Ambassador said.

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Talking about the changed German foreign policy and attitude towards India, Ackerman said that there is an even bigger political will in Berlin to boost defence ties with India and build a long-term and substantial strategic partnership.

That is why we push for a stronger German and European cooperation with partners in the Indo-Pacific. The German government did open its defence export policy and our collaboration with India in that regard is one of the most important examples of this shift. It is in our interest that India diversifies its military cooperation and together with our American and European partners, we want to offer alternatives to the Indian government, he said.

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On the role of India in its Indo-Pacific strategy for 2020, the German Ambassador said that Germany as a trading nation with strong international links, has a great interest in free shipping routes and in the preservation of peace and stability in the region.

As a result of Russias war of aggression and the increasingly challenging behaviour of Indias big neighbour in the North East, Germany is strongly diversifying its trade relations in Asia. India is on the forefront of this business strategy. That is also why we are seeing such a strong interest of German companies, big ones as well as many start-ups, to invest in India! That is one reason why the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in October this year will happen in New Delhi, he said.

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On Project 75 India, Ackerman said that the recent visit of Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane in Berlin shows the continuation of high-level exchanges between our two democracies in order to strengthen defence cooperation.

Germany is ready to supply aircraft, torpedoes and power packs for tanks to India  with substantial localization of production in India. Germany also did speed up its processes for export licenses: We are delivering more and faster because India is our prime security partner in the region. Together, we have invested already a lot in the freedom of this region and we are committed to strengthen that much more, he said.

The German firm Thyssenkrupps Chief Executive Officer Oliver Burkhard said that TKMS was the only firm with a proven AIP system and We just underlined the technical possibilities together with a delegation from the Indian and German Navies.

Asked about the planned work share between Indian MDL and TKMS for the P-75 India which has some stringent requirements for the transfer of technology and increased work share of Indian entities, Burkhard said that in the presence of the German Defence Minister, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and MDL have already signed a memorandum of understanding.

As part of the letter of intent, we stipulated that, if awarded the contract, we would be responsible for the design of the submarines as well as playing an advisory role. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders would be responsible for the construction and delivery of the submarines, he said.

I can assure you both companies have many years of experience, knowledge and expertise and we are engaging our key sub-suppliers in the process of indigenisation, including for example our own subsidiaries kta and ATLAS ELEKTRONIK. The plan presented by MDL to the government includes already a percentage of indigenisation for the first boat which is significantly higher than the stipulated requirement, he said.

With inputs from ANI.
The primary responsibility of the council will be the appointment of a prime minister who will form a government tasked with steering the nation until the conduct of democratic, free, and credible elections, as stipulated in the agreement read more

Haitis leaders have reached a pivotal agreement for the establishment of a temporary government aimed at navigating the Caribbean nation through the turmoil created by gang violence.

However, the specifics of the accord await approval from the incumbent authorities before implementation, AFP confirmed on Monday.

Late Sunday, members of the transition council transmitted their proposal to the regional Caribbean body CARICOM, outlining a comprehensive plan to address Haitis pressing challenges.

The agreement outlines the formation of a nine-member council, comprising seven voting members and two observers, representing diverse sectors including political parties, the private sector, and civil society. This council is tasked with orchestrating the path toward presidential elections by early 2026, with its mandate set to conclude on February 7, 2026, as detailed in the agreement reviewed by AFP on Monday.

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The incoming leadership will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who tendered his resignation on March 11 amidst the nations descent into lethal gang violence.

According to a political official, the accord was submitted to CARICOM on Sunday, underscoring the regional bodys pivotal role in mediating negotiations amid Haitis ongoing crisis.

The finalisation of the agreement hinges on formal approval and acceptance by Haitis current administration.

The primary responsibility of the council will be the appointment of a prime minister who, in collaboration with the nine-member team, will constitute a government tasked with steering the nation until the conduct of democratic, free, and credible elections, as stipulated in the agreement.

Notably, individuals serving on the council or within the interim government are barred from participating in the forthcoming elections, ensuring impartiality and transparency in the electoral process.

Haiti has suffered years of political instability and crime, and no elections have been held since 2016.

The situation has worsened since late February when armed gangs attacked police stations, prisons and government headquarters, and forced the shutdown of the port and airport in a spasm of anti-Henry violence.

With the airport in Port-au-Prince closed, the prime minister has not been able to return to the country since he traveled to Kenya seeking to secure Nairobis lead in an international security mission to Haiti sponsored by the United Nations.

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The weekend breakthrough follows negotiations to succeed Henry that have been delayed by internal disagreements and legal wrangling.

CARICOM will now have to transmit the accord  and a decree confirming its entry into force  to the outgoing Henry government to confirm the investiture of the new council.

The transitional body establishes three priorities: security, constitutional and institutional reforms, and elections.

The accord announces creation of a national security council of Haitian experts who will oversee agreements on international security assistance, including on dispatch of the UN-backed mission.

With inputs from AFP
On April 2, a day after the consulate strike, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby had dismissed as nonsense comments by Amir-Abdollahian that Washington, Israels main backer, bore responsibility for the attack read more

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian accused the United States of endorsing a deadly strike attributed to Israel that destroyed Tehrans consulate in Damascus last week.

Amir-Abdollahian made the statement after inaugurating a new consulate in the Syrian capital.

Tehran, a staunch ally of Damascus, pledged retaliation for the airstrike on its embassys consular section, which resulted in the deaths of seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members, including two generals.

While both Damascus and Tehran blame Israel for the attack, the Israeli government has not commented on the incident.

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Amir-Abdollahian asserted, America is responsible for this incident and must be held accountable. He further claimed that the lack of support from the US and two European countries for a UN Security Council resolution condemning the attack on the Iranian embassy indicated US approval for Israel to carry out the strike.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh refuted these allegations, denying any connection between the United States and the attack.

I can very forcefully push back on that and say the US military had no involvement in that strike that took place in Damascus, she told journalists.

On April 2, a day after the consulate strike, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby had dismissed as nonsense comments by Amir-Abdollahian that Washington, Israels main backer, bore responsibility for the attack.

- Israeli embassies warning -

On Monday, Abdollahian also inaugurated the new consular section in a Damascus building in the presence of his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad, state news agency SANA said.

He also met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

An AFP correspondent at the inauguration said the new consulate was not far from the premises destroyed by the strike in the upscale Mazzeh area, which also houses other foreign embassies and UN offices.

Irans foreign minister began a regional tour Sunday in Oman, long a mediator between Tehran and the West, where Muscats foreign minister called for de-escalation.

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An adviser to Irans supreme leader warned on Sunday that Israeli embassies were no longer safe after the Damascus attack.

Analysts saw the raid as an escalation of Israels campaign against Iran and its regional proxies that runs the risk of triggering a wider war beyond the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said 16 people were killed in the consulate strike: eight Iranians, five Syrians, one member of Lebanons Hezbollah militant group and two civilians.

Among the dead were generals Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, both senior commanders in the Quds Force, the IRGCs foreign operations arm.

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Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes in Syria since civil war broke out 13 years ago, targeting Iran-backed forces including Hezbollah as well as Syrian army positions and weapons depots.

It rarely comments on individual strikes, but Israels raids have increased since the Gaza war began.

Tehran backs Palestinian militants Hamas but has denied any direct involvement in the groups October 7 attack, which sparked massive Israeli retaliation in Gaza.

with inputs from AFP
The Gaza ceasefire proposal floated in the talks at Cairo seeks a weekslong ceasefire in lieu of release of hostages held by Hamas read more

Hamas on Tuesday said it was studying a proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip presented during the talks at the Egyptian capital Cairo.

The statement of Hamas comes amid conflicting reports about the state of ceasefire talks. The United States, Egypt, and Qatar are brokering the talks between Israel and Hamas as the two warring sides do not engage directly with each other.

The proposal being studied by Hamas was tabled by Bill Burns, the Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), according to a report. Burns was in Cairo on Sunday and held consultations with David Barnea, the head of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Egyptian spy agency chief Abbas Kamel.

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While Hamas has maintained that the proposals lately have not met its demands, reports say that the current proposal includes concessions from Israel, such as the willingness to facilitate the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.

What does latest Gaza ceasefire proposal contain?

The latest proposal being studied by Hamas seeks a six-week truce in lieu of the release of dozens of Israeli hostages. On its part, Israel will also release hundreds of Palestinians from its jails, including several convicted of murders and other serious crimes. The exact number of hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be released differ in various reports.

A report by Axios said that Hamas will release 40 hostages in exchange of 700 Palestinian prisoners for a six-week ceasefire. The Palestinian prisoners will include more than 100 serving life-sentences for murder of Israeli nationals.

AFP quoted a source in Hamas as saying that the deal would allow the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza. It would also include the entry of 400-500 trucks of aid to Gaza daily.

Following the tabling of the proposal, Hamas said it appreciates the mediators efforts but also accused Israel of not responding to any of the groups demands in the talks, according to the report.

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Despite this, the movements leadership is studying the submitted proposal, the report quoted a Hamas statement as saying.

Sticking points remain in Gaza ceasefire deal

One sticking point in the Gaza ceasefire deal is the insistence of Hamas that it does not have 40 hostages from the humanitarian category that would have to be freed as part of the deal, as per the report in Axios.

The humanitarian class of hostages includes women, female soldiers, men over the age of 50, and men under the age of 50 with serious medical conditions, according to the report. Israel has said that Hamas should include hostages from other categories to make up the gap and, if it does this, Israel will be willing to facilitate the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.

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The proposal floated by Burns includes a gradual and almost complete withdrawal of Israel from the corridor that splits Gaza into two halves and prevents the return of Palestinians to the northern half of the enclave, according to the report.

The report further said that Hamas, however, has said that it demands the full return of Palestinian civilians to the north and a full Israeli withdrawal. On its part, Israel has agreed for a gradual return of Palestinian civilians to the north but has opposed the complete withdrawal. It has also said that the Palestinians moving to the north would need to clear an inspection that would ensure that they are not members of Hamas.
An Israeli delegation is set to visit the United States next week to hear US concerns regarding the anticipated Israeli military operation in Rafah in the Gaza Strip read more

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the Israeli invasion of Rafah does not appear to be imminent. Source: Reuters

The United States does not see the Israeli invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza Strip as imminent, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinkens comment comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has set a date for the invasion of Rafah, which his government says is the last bastion of Hamas, the principal terrorist group based in Gaza against which the country has been waging a war since October 7, 2023.

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More than 1.5 million Palestinians displaced by the Israel-Hamas War have been sheltering in Rafah. The international community has warned that a major humanitarian disaster may unfold if Israel invades Rafah.

No Israeli action anticipated before talks next week: Blinken

Blinken said that the US does not anticipate any Israeli action regarding Rafah before the Israeli-US talks next week. He added that an Israeli delegation would arrive in Washington DC to hear US concerns on the issue.

At a news conference with the visiting UK Foreign Secretary, Blinken said that Israel has not communicated any date for the operation in Rafah.

Blinken further said that the Biden administration will again make the case that a major operation in Rafah would be extremely dangerous for civilians who have been caught in harms way.

Netanyahu on Monday said that a military operation in Rafah is a must for Israel to achieve the wars twin objectives of freeing all hostages and defeating Hamas completely.

In a video statement in Hebrew, Netanyahu said, We are working constantly to achieve all our objectives: first and foremost, the release of all of our hostages and achieving total victory over Hamas. The victory requires entering Rafah and eliminating the terrorist battalions there. This will happen. There is a date.

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Following Netanyahus statement, the US Department of State in a statement said that a full-scale military invasion of Rafah will have an enormously harmful effect on those civilians and that it would ultimately hurt Israels security.

Israel buying tents to house 500,000 Palestinians ahead of Rafah invasion: Report

In preparation to the invasion of Rafah, Israel is buying 40,000 tents which will be used to house around 500,000 Palestinians sheltering there, said a report by AFP.

I confirm that a call for tenders has been made, intended for the Gaza Strip, an Israeli government source was quoted as saying in the report.

The report of the Israeli procurement of tent comes after Israel withdrew the bulk of its from Gaza which allowed the displaced Palestinians to return to the towns that they had fled from. The report quoted Israeli officials as claiming that the Israeli operation for Rafah is being planned after the withdrawal.

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The report said that the Israeli armys estimate says that that Hamas has four battalions in Rafah.
According to the military, Israel stationed missile boats in the Red Sea following the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza. Using the new C-Dome system, one of those missile boats brought down the drone read more

C-Dome, according to Israeli defence contractor Rafael, uses the same interceptors as the land-based Iron Dome that counters shorter range shorter range rockets and drones Image Courtesy Reuters

The military announced on Tuesday that Israel had successfully shot down a drone that was approaching from the Red Sea and had triggered sirens in the port city of Eilat, using a seaborne missile defense system for the first time.

As a gesture of support for Hamas, the Palestinian organization that controls Gaza and is also supported by Iran, the Houthis, who are sponsored by Iran, have frequently launched rockets towards Eilat in Yemen.

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According to the military, Israel stationed missile boats in the Red Sea following the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza. Using the new C-Dome system, one of those missile boats brought down the drone.

Overnight, for the first time ever, an IDF Saar 6-class corvette missile ship successfully intercepted a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) that had approached from the east and had crossed into the area of the Gulf of Eilat, the military said.

C-Dome, according to Israeli defence contractor Rafael, uses the same interceptors as the land-based Iron Dome that counters shorter range shorter range rockets and drones.

It bookends Israels multi-tier air defence array opposite Arrow-3, which is designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside the earths atmosphere.

(With agency inputs)
Almost two-thirds of respondents in the NHK poll expressed dissatisfaction with the penalties imposed on LDP members, while 61% believed that the absence of punishment for Prime Minister Kishida himself was inappropriate. read more

Days after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas efforts to address a funding scandal within the ruling party, his cabinet approval ratings have dropped to the lowest since he assumed office

According to a recent NHK poll released on Monday, public approval for Kishidas cabinet has fallen by 2 percentage points to 23%, matching a previous low reached in December. Respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the perceived leniency of the penalties imposed on ruling party lawmakers involved in the scandal, indicating a lack of confidence in the handling of the situation.

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In a bid to get rid of the controversy that has plagued the party since late last year, Japans ruling Liberal Democratic Party took decisive action last week by penalising 39 members in connection with a political funds scandal. Among these measures, two influential figures were urged to leave the party.

The failure to regain public support could have implications for the timing of the next general election, according to political experts who speculated that the vote may be called as early as June, despite no obligation for a general election until next year.

Almost two-thirds of respondents in the NHK poll expressed dissatisfaction with the penalties imposed on LDP members, while 61% believed that the absence of punishment for Prime Minister Kishida himself was inappropriate. These findings underscore the growing discontent among the public regarding the handling of the funding scandal and its aftermath within the ruling party.
Doctors in Kenya have joined protests with around 7,000 union members demanding better working conditions and a pay raise in countrys 57 public hospitals. Earlier, the Kenyan PM had said it does not have resources and money to increase salaries read more

A medical practitioner carry a Kenyan flag as he participates in a demonstration against the government's failure to hire trainee doctors in Nairobi, Kenya, March 22 2024. Reuters File

Patients in Africas Kenya are left to fend for themselves, as hundreds of hospital doctors in the capital Nairobi on Tuesday joined protests with medics voicing for better pay and working conditions.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki declared protest by around 7,000 medics from Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), which has entered its fourth week, as illegal and in contempt of court.

Gatherings, protests or whatever other action(s) in pursuit of grievances outside the law and in breach of court directives undermines the constitutional order of the Country and are, therefore, not permissible, Kindiki was quoted as saying to The Star.

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The Employment and Labour Relations Court, in the previous month, encouraged dialogue between the involved parties and mandated the union to halt the strike. Subsequently, it established a 14-day timeframe last week for concluding negotiations to resolve the deadlock, a report in The Standard said.

Govt is not doing enough

Donning white lab coats and sounding horns and whistles, the doctors chanted solidarity forever as they peacefully marched towards the health ministry in the capital.

We are more than willing to go back to the hospitals but the effort being put by the government is not enough to end the human suffering, KMPDU deputy secretary general Dennis Miskellah said.

The union last week declined offer by President William Ruto-led government that included paying arrears under a 2017 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and hiring trainee doctors on permanent contracts.

In 2017, doctors in Kenya held a crippling nationwide strike lasting 100 days, resulting in the closure of public hospitals and denying patients access to essential medical services resulting in dozen deaths.

The strike concluded when a collective bargaining agreement was reached between the two. However, doctors have alleged that the government has failed to fulfill certain aspects of the agreement, precipitating the ongoing strike.

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We cannot spend money we do not have

Earlier, Kenyan President William Ruto urged KMPDU to accept the governments proposal saying that the government lacks the funds to meet their demands and denied further concessions.

We cannot continue to spend the money we do not have, he said.

I am telling our friends the doctors that we value the service they give to our nation but we must live within our means, Ruto said.

Denying to bow down and compromise on demands, Secretary General of KMPDU Davji Atella said, To control the wage bill, it can not be only doctors being the target for wage bill reduction. We shall strike harder. No penny will be lost on our hard-earned salaries as long as we are alive.

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With input from agencies
Pence took to X, formally known as Twitter to bash Trump and called his stance on the matter a retreat " from the question of Right to Life read more

After former US President Donald Trump said that the issue of abortion rights should be kept in the hands of the states, his erstwhile running mate, ex-Vice President Mike Pence accused him of slapping millions of Americans in the face with such assertion.

Pence took to X, formally known as Twitter to bash Trump and called his stance on the matter a retreat " from the question of Right to Life.

President Trumps retreat on the Right to Life is a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans who voted for him in 2016 and 2020, the former vice president wrote on X.

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President Trumps retreat on the Right to Life is a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans who voted for him in 2016 and 2020. By nominating and standing by the confirmation of conservative justices, the Trump-Pence Administration helped send Roe v. Wade to the  Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) April 8, 2024

He recalled the Trump administrations decision to nominate conservative Supreme Court justices who eventually overturned the Roe v. Wade. The landmark decision for decades has guaranteed abortion rights across the US was overturned by the American apex court on June 22.

In a detailed video on his social media platform TruthSocial, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee said that he would leave the issue to individual states.

In his lengthy statement, Pence lambasted the Republican politicians as well. Too many Republican politicians are all too ready to wash their hands of the battle for life. Republicans win on life when we speak the truth boldly and stand on the principle that we all know to be true  human life begins at conception and should be defended from womb to tomb, he added.

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Pence serve as Trumps vice president during his first term in office. However, he turned against him following the January 6 Capitol Hill riots.

Whats Trumps stance on the matter?

In his video, the business-mogul-turned-politician pointed out that all states think differently hence, the matter should remain in the hands of the states.

My view is now that we have an abortion where everyone wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both. And whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state, Trump said.

Many states will be different. Many will have a different number of weeks, or some will be more conservative than others, and thats what they will be. At the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people, he added.

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In the past, the erstwhile American commander-in-chief has suggested that he could support a 15-week federal ban with exceptions in the cases of incest, rape and when the life of the mother is in danger.

However, his ultimate stance was condemned by several anti-abortion rights organisations who stated that his position did not go far enough. The anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America said that they are deeply disappointed by Trumps assertion, CNN reported.

We are deeply disappointed in President Trumps position. Unborn children and their mothers deserve national protection and national advocacy from the brutality of the abortion industry. The Dobbs decision clearly allows both states and Congress to act, the groups president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, said in a statement.

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Even South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham respectfully disagreed with his long-time ally. He insisted that the pro-life movement has always been about the wellbeing of the unborn child  not geography.

Trump hits back

In a separate statement on TruthSocial, the former reality television star hit back at all his critics. Lindsey, Marjorie, and others fought for years, unsuccessfully, until I came along and got the job done, he wrote.

We cannot let our Country suffer any further damage by losing Elections on an issue that should always have been decided by the States, and now will be! Trump exclaimed.
Ever since the March 22 mass shooting and fire at the Crocus City Hall concert venue that killed 145 people, Russian officials have sought to blame Ukraine for the massacre, even though Kyiv has denied any involvement and an affiliate of the Islamic State claimed responsibility. read more

Days after the lethal terror attack in Moscow, Russia has launched a crackdown on immigrant and ethnic minority communities as police keep conducting raids on migrant dormitories across various cities, escalating a crackdown on Central Asians and non-white Russians, according to reports.

The attack, the deadliest within Russia in two decades happened on March 22 at Crocus City Hall, where gunmen opened fire on concertgoers with automatic weapons, resulting in the deaths of at least 144 people. The violence was claimed by the Islamic State militant group.

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In late March, approximately 40 migrants were detained at their workplace located 60 kilometers from Moscow. Law enforcement agencies also launched a large-scale operation involving widespread searches and immediate prosecution of individuals accused of violating migration laws. Consequently, 466 individuals were sentenced to expulsion from Russia as a result of these measures.

With the reports of crackdown surfaced, Central Asian authorities from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have all advised their citizens not to participate in mass events in Russia and to stay home.

The wave of xenophobia [after the attack] is very tangible for indigenous peoples, Victoria Maladaeva, the president of the Indigenous of Russia Foundation, told Politico.

By indigenous peoples Maladaeva means the many non-Slavic groups who have been living on the territory of modern Russia for thousands of years. People are afraid to leave the house, they travel by cab, [some may have] canceled all part-time jobs for the next week and sit at home, [others] keep the phone always at hand, she said.

Ever since the March 22 mass shooting and fire at the Crocus City Hall concert venue that killed 145 people, Russian officials have sought to blame Ukraine for the massacre, even though Kyiv has denied any involvement and an affiliate of the Islamic State claimed responsibility.

On the day after the attack, authorities said they captured four men in the Bryansk region that borders Ukraine and alleged they had carried out the shootings. Putin and other officials claim the four were headed for Ukraine.

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The four, identified as Tajik nationals, appeared in a Moscow court on terrorism charges and showed signs of severe beatings. A number of others have been arrested as accomplices in several Russian regions, and detentions of people possibly linked to the attackers were reported in Tajikistan, as well.

The attack came two weeks after the U.S. Embassy in Russia issued a warning about a possible attack in Moscow on a large gathering. The U.S. State Department said it passed information about the threat to Russian officials.

With inputs from agencies.
last modified: Sunday, 05-Jun-2016 02:03:08 CEST

Document status: incomplete, images missing

Overview of Twin Types

Quartz forms a number of different types of twins some of which are listed in the following table. Only three of them markedare generally accepted as twinning laws. These laws are either very common in crystals (Dauphine Law, Brazil Law) or, although much rarer, have at least been found on a regular basis and in sufficient numbers, and are associated with certain growth forms and environmental conditions (Japan Law). There is some debate on whether some of the other twinning laws (marked) in fact exist in nature, others have been shown to be not of law-like nature.

Twinning

Axis Twinning

Plane Composition

Plane Type Handedness

of Subindividuals Dauphine Law [ 0 0 0 1 ] - { 1 0 1 0 } Penetration R+R or L+L Brazil Law - { 1 1 2 0 } { 1 1 2 0 } Contact / Penetration L+R Japan Law - { 1 1 2 2 } { 1 1 2 2 } Contact all combinations

or

"Combined Law" [ 0 0 0 1 ] { 1 1 2 0 } - "Mixed" L+R Esterel Law - { 1 0 1 1 } { 1 0 1 1 } Contact ? ? Sardinia Law - { 1 0 1 2 } { 1 0 1 2 } Contact ? ? Breithaupt Law - { 1 1 2 1 } { 1 1 2 1 } Contact ? ?

The data for this table have been taken mostly from Gault, 1949 , albeit with a few corrections.

Although, for example, Japan Law twin is the correct nomenclature, I sometimes also use the term "Japanese Twin" and likewise "Brazil twin" and "Dauphine Twin", as these terms are much more common among rockhounds.

A single crystal can be twinned in many ways, parts of it may show Dauphine twinning, other parts Brazil twinning. In fact combinations of Brazil and Dauphine twin portions in a single crystal aren't that uncommon, and sometimes you see references to a Liebisch or Combined Law. Although the shape of the crystals suggests the presence of a "Combined Twins", these combinations do not qualify as a twinning law by themselves, because it has been shown in electron microscopic studies that a left-handed part never borders a right-handed part that has been rotated around the c-axis.

Identifying Twins

There are complex methods to determine if and how a crystal is twinned, but a rockhound has to rely solely on crystal morphology. The characteristics of each twinning type will be described below, but beforehand I will briefly mention the four general properties of quartz crystals that help identifying twins:

Position of x-faces

Reliable, but the x-face is not very common.

Position of s-faces

The s-face is more common than the x-face, but one can only identify its relative position when it shows a striation. Very often the s-face is a perfect plane.

Surface patterns caused by etching

This is very reliable, but it doesn't tell you the orientation of the crystal subindividuals. For example, you might identify a Dauphine twin but can't tell if it's a left or right quartz.

Oriented indentations on the surface

Reliable, but difficult to interpret, because the form of the dents also depends on the type of face.

Of course, if one relies only on these criteria one will miss many twinned crystals because of their "boring" morphology. Sometimes you can tell that a crystal is twinned, but it's impossible to tell how.
The business-mogul-turned politician was trying to delay the historic trial with the intention of moving the case out of Manhattan read more

A New York appeals court judge once again rejected former US President Donald Trumps last bid to delay the hush money criminal trial. The court proceedings in the case are scheduled to take place on April 15.

The business-mogul-turned politician was trying to delay the historic trial with the intention of moving the case out of Manhattan. However, his final attempt to do so was foiled by Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez of the states mid-level appeals court, Politico reported.

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Justice Gonzalez gave out the judgement during an emergency hearing in which Trumps lawyers were asked to postpone the trial indefinitely while they sought a change of venue. Trumps team was seeking an emergency stay, a court order that would prevent the trial from starting on time.

It is important to note that the hush money trial is the first of the former presidents four criminal indictments which are stated to go on the courts floor. What makes it historic is the fact that this would be the first time a former American president will face a criminal trial.

What are the arguments?

Trumps lawyer Emil Bove argued that the 2024 Republican presidential candidate would face real potential prejudice as a defendant if the case goes on trial in Manhattan, which they referred to as heavily democratic

In the past, Trump has expressed his intention to move the trial to Staten Island, the only New York City borough he won in 2016 and 2020.

Meanwhile, Steven Wu, appellate chief for the Manhattan district attorneys office, noted that Judge Juan M. Merchan had already rejected Trumps requests to move or delay the trial and described the requests as untimely.

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The question in this case is not whether a random poll of New Yorkers from whatever neighbourhood are able to be impartial, its about whether a trial court is able to select a jury of 12 impartial jurors, Wu told the reporters after the hearing.

He went on to blame the former reality television star for stroking pre-trail publicity with countless media appearances talking about the facts of this case, the witnesses, and so on.

Trumps team pushes to sue Judge Merchan

The former president pledged to appeal immediately after Merchan ruled last month that the trial would begin on April 15. The New York judge had already moved the trial from its original date which was March 25.

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During the Monday hearing, Trumps lawyers filed two separate court dockets. One was the appeal to delay the trial at least until summer to give more time to review late-arriving evidence from a prior federal investigation into the matter.

However, judge Merchan made it clear that no further delays are warranted in the case.

The second docket dealt with a lawsuit against Justice Merchan himself. This will provide Trumps team with a legal mechanism that will allow them to challenge his rulings.

In the state of New York, judges can be sued over some judicial decisions under a state law known as Article 78. The erstwhile American commander-in-chief has used the tactic before, including his lawsuit against the judge in his civil fraud case.

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What is the case about?

In the hush money case, Trump was accused of falsifying his companys records to hide the nature of payments made to his former lawyer and so-called fixer Michael Cohen, who helped him bury negative stories during his 2016 US presidential campaign.

Cohens tasks included making payments to former porn star Stormy Daniels to suppress her claims that Trump had an extramarital sexual encounter with her in the past.

The former POTUS pleaded not guilty last year to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He went on to deny having a sexual encounter with Daniels. In light of this, his lawyers have argued that the payments made to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.
Amid a huge number of deadly firearms incidents involving young people in the United States, pressure has been mounting to punish parents who make it possible for their children to get weapons read more

The 46-year-old Jennifer Crumbley and her 47-year-old husband James were the first parents of a school shooter found guilty in the US of involuntary manslaughter due to their child's actions Image Courtesy AFP

In a rare and well followed case, the parents of a kid who carried out a deadly school shooting in the US state of Michigan were sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison on Tuesday.

The 46-year-old Jennifer Crumbley and her 47-year-old husband James were the first parents of a school shooter found guilty in the US of involuntary manslaughter due to their childs actions.

They were given sentences of 10 and 15 years in prison, respectively, by Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews, who also gave them credit for the 28 months they had already served in jail.

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Their son Ethan, who is now 17, is serving a life sentence for the November 30, 2021, shooting which left four students dead and seven other people injured at Oxford High School, 45 miles (70 kilometers) north of Detroit.

Parents are not expected to be psychic, Matthews said at an emotional sentencing hearing in Pontiac, Michigan, attended by parents of the victims.

But these convictions are not about poor parenting, Matthews said. These convictions confirm repeated acts, or lack of acts, that could have halted an oncoming runaway train.

Addressing the court before sentencing, Craig Shilling, the father of Justin Shilling, 17, one of the dead students, told the Crumbleys the blood of our children is on your hands.

Steve St. Juliana, the father of another victim, Hana St. Juliana, who was 14, said her murder has destroyed a large portion of my soul.

I am forever denied the chance to hold her or her future children in my arms, he said.

During separate trials, the Crumbleys were accused of ignoring warnings that their son had mental health struggles.

Jennifer Crumbley testified during her trial that her husband bought their son the 9mm SIG Sauer handgun he used in the attack just days earlier as an early Christmas present.

She took the boy to a shooting range the day after the purchase.

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The Crumbleys were summoned to the school on the day of the shooting itself after a teacher became alarmed by a violent drawing she found on Ethans desk.

They were shown the drawing and advised they needed to get the boy into counseling. The parents allegedly resisted taking their son home and he returned to class.

He later entered a bathroom, emerged with the gun which had been concealed in his backpack and fired more than 30 shots.

Amid a huge number of deadly firearms incidents involving young people in the United States, pressure has been mounting to punish parents who make it possible for their children to get weapons.

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The father of an Illinois man accused of killing seven people in July 2022 pleaded guilty in November to misdemeanor charges of reckless conduct for helping his son obtain the assault rifle used in the mass shooting.

A Virginia woman whose six-year-old son shot and severely wounded his teacher was recently sentenced to two years in prison for felony child neglect. She later received an additional 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to illegally obtaining the firearm.

(With agency inputs)
The northern Pakistani town of Hasanabdal hosts several Sikhs from India annually during Baisakhi as it is home to one of the holiest shrines of Sikhism, the Panja Sahib shrine read more

Sikh pilgrims gather at the Gurdwara Panja Sahib, one of Sikhism's most holy places, during the annual 'Baisakhi' festival, a spring harvest festival for Sikhs, in Hasan Abdal on April 14, 2023. AFP file

Pakistan has issued over 2,800 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India ahead of Baisakhi festivities which will be held in the country from April 13 to 22.

The Pakistan High Commission in India in a post on X said, On the occasion of Baisakhi celebrations, the Pakistan High Commission has issued 2843 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the annual festival scheduled to be held in Pakistan from 13-22 April 2024."

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On the occasion of Baisakhi celebrations, @PakinIndia has issued 2843 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the annual festival scheduled to be held in Pakistan from 13-22 April 2024.@ForeignOfficePk@Saadawarraich@epwing_official@PkPublicDiplo  Pakistan High Commission India (@PakinIndia) April 9, 2024

The northern Pakistani town of Hasanabdal hosts several Sikhs from India annually during Baisakhi as it is home to one of the holiest shrines of Sikhism, the Panja Sahib shrine.

For Sikhs, the Panja Sahib holds significance as it contains large boulders bearing the handprints that they believe belong to Guru Nanak.

Last year, nearly 2,500 Sikh pilgrims from India arrived in Lahore via the Wagah border to attend the Baisakhi Mela festivities in Pakistan.

The issuance of visas is covered under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, according to the Pakistan High Commission in a New Delhi press release.

In 2019, Pakistan and India agreed to open a visa-free corridor to allow easy access to Indian Sikhs to the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan.

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With inputs from agencies
This is the second deadly attack in a week in Irans Sistan-Baluchistan province thats affected by organised crime and insurgency read more

This is the second deadly attack on security personnel in Iran in a week. Source: AP

Six policemen were killed in an ambush in Irans Sistan-Baluchistan province on Tuesday in the countrys southeast, according to reports.

The Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a report in yjc.ir, an Iranian website affiliated with the countrys state media. The Jaish is a Sunni terrorist group which has presence in both Iran and neighbouring Pakistan.

Two other police personnel were wounded in the ambush, as per the report.

The ambush is the second deadly attack in a week in the Sistan-Baluchistan province. Last week, 18 security personnel were killed in multiple attacks. Those attacks were also claimed by Jaish.

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For years, the Sistan-Baluchistan province has been restive. It has faced violence among gangs dabbling in drug smuggling, a Baluch insurgency, and Sunni extremism of Jaish. The province lies next to the Balochistan province of Pakistan thats also affected by an insurgency and also shares border with Afghanistan. The province is one of the few Sunni-dominated provinces in the Shia-majority Iran.

About the last weeks attack, Majid Mirahmadi, Vice Minister of Interior, was quoted as saying at the time that the dead security personnel belonged to the police and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The IRGC is a vastly influential armed force of Iran that functions separately from the Islamic Republics regular military and reports directly to the Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Khamenei.

In December, an attack in the province killed nearly a dozen police officers, according to Associated Press.

The report further noted that the province is one of the least developed parts of Iran and relations between Irans Shia rulers from the countrys majority sect and the provinces Sunni residents have long been strained.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Chinese actions like announcing the renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh will lead to the deterioration of India-China relationship read more

In a sharp rebuke to China over its renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said whether parts of China would become Indian territories if New Delhi also announced similar renaming of places in China.

Singhs remark comes days after China published new names for 30 places in Arunachal. Beijing considers Arunachal in Northeast India to be a part of China-controlled Tibet and does not consider it to be a part of India.

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Singh further said that Chinese actions like publishing of new names for places in India will lead to the deterioration of India-China relationship.

If anybody harms out self-respect, well give befitting reply

With reference to Chinas provocations regarding Arunachal, Singh said that while India wishes to maintain good relations with all its neighbours, it has the capability to give a befitting reply if anybody would try to harm our self-respect.

Speaking at an election rally in Arunachals Namsai, Singh asserted that the state is an integral part of India. He also lauded the people of the state as strategic assets and hailed their role during conflicts with China.

China has changed the names of 30 places of Arunachal Pradesh and posted on its website. I want to tell my neighbour that nothing is going to happen by changing the names. If tomorrow, we change the names of some provinces and some states of China, so by doing that will those areas become a part of India? We want to maintain good relations with our neighbours but if someone tries to hurt Indias honour then today India has the power to respond to it, said Singh in the rally in Hindi.

Singh invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees remarks that one may change their friends but not their neighbours.

Lashing out at Congress, Singh said that the Narendra Modi government fixed the mistakes of the previous Congress governments and developed infrastructure in the border regions.

The Congress used to call villages near the border the last villages, but we say they are the first villages of the country. We are developing the villages fast and our belief is that we will not be able to protect the borders to the extent that we want until the border villages are developed, said Singh.

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China has renamed places in Arunachal 4 times

So far, China has published new names of places in Arunachal four times. The first such instance was in 2017, the second in 2021, and the third in 2023. Notably, such moves have increased since Chinese aggression at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de-facto India-China border, led to an ongoing border stand-off in Eastern Ladakh in 2020.

Such renaming of places has been dubbed as Beijings cartographic aggression which is an attempt to rewrite history. With more and more such new names for Indian places, Beijing hopes that these names will slowly make their way to the mainstream.

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Beijing hopes if such new sinicised names become mainstream, its false and illegal claims on Arunachal will acquire some form of legitimacy.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is presently engaged in a two-day official trip to Beijing aimed at strengthening diplomatic relations between the two nations amidst its ongoing conflict in Ukraine read more

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described Moscows ties with China as mature, resilient and profound while Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi emphasised the two countries to continue to strengthen strategic cooperation on the world stage.

From Chinas support in Russian elections to countering Wests unlawful sanctions, here are 5 key issues discussed in their meeting in Beijing

1. Commenting on hotspot issues such as the ongoing Ukraine and Palestine conflicts, Wang Yi while maintaining countrys neutral stand said, China always decides its own positions independently based on the individual rights and wrongs of each situation.

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While saying that China will never add oil to the flames, Wang Yi said, the country will continue to act as a force for peace and stability and will stick to playing a constructive role on the international stage, the top diplomat said.

In recent years, Russia and China have increased their economic cooperation and diplomatic engagements, and their strategic alliance has become even stronger following the invasion of Ukraine.

2. Following Russian President Vladimir Putins landslide victory in the recently held Russian elections, Lavrov thanked China for its support.

Xi Jinping was among the first ones to send congratulations to the president-elect Putin, and we are overall grateful to our Chinese friends for this support, Lavrov said, as per a meeting video shared by Izvestia on Telegram.

In turn, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi promised the Russian people of " bright future" under the strong leadership of Vladimir Putin, who was re-elected to power without facing any major opposition.

3. Vowing cooperation to counter-terrorism, the Russian diplomat said those involved in the deadly attack at Crocus City Hall in the Russian capital last month will be"certainly punished".

Our [Russia-China] cooperation on counter-terrorism will continue, including within the framework of multilateral institutions, Lavrov was quoted as saying in TASS.

In March unidentified gunmen began shooting at a concert hall in Russia which killed 144 people and injured 551 people. Eleven people, including four perpetrators, have been arrested in the case of the terrorist attack, which Moscow blames were from Kyiv.

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4. In calling Western sanctions unlawful Lavrov accused them of trying to curb Chinas economic, technological development opportunities, to put it simply in order to eliminate the competitors.

At a press conference following bilateral talks, Wang, in turn, declared that Russia and China are on the side of fairness and justice and oppose " hegemony, tyranny and bullying".

The statement comes just after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellens China visit, where she warned officials of the consequences of supporting Russias military procurement.

5. Following discussions with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Lavrov stated that Putin proposed enhancing security in the Eurasian region and affirmed that China and Russia had agreed to initiate discussions involving other allies on this matter.

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For a long time, there was a Euro-Atlantic security structure in the form of NATO, of course, as well as the OSCE, but it is striking itself out from the list of relevant structures within which it is possible to conduct meaningful negotiations and agree on something based on a balance of interests, Lavrov said.

With input from agencies
Sergey Lavrovs visit to Beijing comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin last month suggested he was considering China for his first overseas trip read more

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was received by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to China. Source: X/@mfa_russia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is on a two-day Beijing visit, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday. During the meeting, Lavrov said Beijing would continue to strengthen strategic cooperation with Moscow and that the two nations stand on the side of fairness and justice.

Lavrov praised the positive outcomes in various areas that China has achieved over the years, especially in the last decade under the leadership of Xi.

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We are sincerely happy with these successes, since these are the successes of friends, although not everyone in the world shares this attitude and is trying to slow down Chinas development in every possible way. Actually, like the development of Russia, the Russian diplomat said.

Lavrovs visit to Beijing comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin last month suggested he was considering China for his first overseas trip after extending his one-man rule with a stage-managed election victory in March this year.

Lavrov conveys greeting to Xi from Putin

During the meeting, Lavrov conveyed a greeting to Xi from Russian President Vladimir Putin and said the Kremlin incumbent very much appreciated (Xis) congratulatory message following the presidential elections in March this year.

The re-election of President Putin guarantees the continuity of our relations and the goal of a new development of relations in all areas, Lavrov told Xi.

The Russian foreign minister further said he was convinced that the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Russian-Chinese diplomatic relations will be celebrated with dignity, and Russia and China will be ready to implement new strategic challenges posed by our leaders.

Lavrov a long-term friend of Chinese people

Xi asked Lavrov to convey sincere words of greeting to the president of Russia.

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The Chinese president also noted that Lavrov is an experienced diplomat and long-time friend of the Chinese people who has done an excellent job in promoting relations.

Xi went on to say that Beijing and Moscow have embarked on a path of peaceful coexistence and are working to achieve mutually beneficial cooperation in the interests of the progressive and sustainable development of bilateral relations.

When will Putin-Xi meet?

Meanwhile, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked by reporters if Lavrovs visit to Beijing could be seen as preparation for possible Putin visit to China, to which he said: Indeed, such contacts are planned and there is an understanding of their expediency and necessity, given the high level of friendly relations between the Russian Federation and China.

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But we still consider it premature to specify any time frames. We will inform you about everything as soon as we are ready.

Why Xi-Lavrov meeting is making news?

Lavrov and Xi met for the first time in six years. The two last met in 2018.

However, the meeting held significance as heads of state do not necessarily meet with visiting ministers.

With inputs from agencies
The announcement follows Israels interception of Turkeys attempt to airdrop aid to Gaza. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has pledged to implement reprisals against Israel, promising a measured response in retaliation for its actions read more

Turkey has declared its intention to impose trade restrictions on Israel, effective starting Tuesday, targeting various products such as cement, steel, and iron construction materials.

The move comes in response to Israels military operations in Gaza, which Turkey views as unjustified aggression against Palestinian civilians.

In a statement released by the trade ministry, Turkey highlighted that these trade restrictions would remain in place until Israel declares an immediate ceasefire and ensures the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

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The decision underscores Turkeys commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause and holding Israel accountable for its actions.

The announcement follows Israels interception of Turkeys attempt to airdrop aid to Gaza, further escalating tensions between the two countries. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has pledged to implement reprisals against Israel, promising a measured response in retaliation for its actions.

Turkey has been among the most vocal critics of Israels military campaign in Gaza, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemning Israel as a terrorist state.

The imposition of trade restrictions reflects Turkeys determination to pressure Israel diplomatically and economically in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

With inputs from AFP
Former US President Donald Trump, the main challenger to the incumbent Joe Biden in 2024 US presidential election, has been critical of the US support of Ukraine in the war with Russia read more

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Monday met former US President Donald Trump to seek his support for the war effort in Ukraine.

Cameron is on a visit to the United States in which he is meeting Republican Party leaders to convince them to support Ukraine in the war with Russia. He will also meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and discuss the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Camerons visit comes at a time when a far-right section of the Republican Party loyal to Trump has blocked the $60 billion aid package to Ukraine. Trump has been critical of the US support to Ukraine and has instead hinted at an isolationist foreign policy in case he wins the presidential election later this year.

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Cameron holds productive talks with Trump on Ukraine

Cameron held a productive meeting with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, according to the UK Foreign Office (FO).

The FO further said in a statement that it is standard practice for ministers to meet opposition partys candidates during their visits.

Ahead of his visit to Washington, the Foreign Secretary met former president Trump in Florida. It is standard practice for ministers to meet with opposition candidates as part of their routine international engagement, said FO in a statement.

In his meeting with Trump, Cameron hoped to persuade the Republican Partys presumptive nominee in this years presidential election to drop his opposition to a $60 billion aid package to Ukraine that his loyalist Republican lawmakers have blocked in the US House of Representatives, according to a report in The Guardian.

The report further said that while Cameron will meet Blinken and discuss the future of military alliance NATO, the common challenge from China, and a ceasefire in Gaza, the key goal of the visit is to shift Republican thinking in Congress on the relevance of the threat posed by Russia to American interests.

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Ahead of his visit, Cameron had said that Ukraines success and failure of Russian President Vladimir Putins war are vital for American and European security. He further said that the alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to redraw European borders by force and would further embolden other strategic rivals China, Iran, and North Korea.

Trumps view of Ukraine has spooked Europe & NATO

In a sharp deviation from the Biden administration and much of Europe, Trump has been rather dismissive of continued support of Ukraine and the defeat of Russia in the war. Instead, Trump believes that Ukraine should surrender two provinces to Russia in exchange for an end to the war.

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A report in The Washington Post said that Trump believes that Ukraine should surrender the Donbas and Crimea regions to Russia. The Donbas is the eastern region of Ukraine comprising Donetsk and Luhansk provinces where much of the fighting has taken place since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022. Crimea is the region of Ukraine that Russia invaded and annexed in 2014 and has controlled since. Trumps plan would mean a formal surrender of Crimea to Russia.

Moreover, Trump has also indicated that he could also reduce the US commitment to NATO if he becomes the president again. Such an attitude has led to efforts in Europe and NATO to Trump-proof the support to Ukraine. One proposal floated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg seeks to come up with a five-year 100-billion-euro fund to support Ukraine in the war with Russia.

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Officials were quoted by AFP as saying that Stoltenbergs proposal could help insulate the flow of weaponry to Ukraine from a potential return of Donald Trump to the White House in November.
Conservative MP William Wragg who apologised for divulging the phone numbers of his colleagues last week, said that he met a man on a dating app and that the two exchanged explicit images read more

In the United Kingdom, a Conservative MP stepped down from his post days after he admitted leaking his colleagues contact numbers to a man he met on a dating app as part of a sexting scandal that other parliamentary leaders also fell victim to.

The MP, William Wragg, has resigned as the chairman of the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee and has also stepped down as the vice-chair of the 1922 Committee of Conservatives.

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How did Wragg get embroiled in the honeytrap scandal?

Wragg, who apologised for divulging the phone numbers of his colleagues last week, said that he met a man on a dating app and that the two exchanged explicit images.

Later, Wragg and the unidentified man agreed to meet over drinks but that plan did not materialise.

The man then started asking for numbers of parliamentary leaders and Wragg, afraid that the person could misuse the pictures he had shared, caved in and shared numbers of his colleagues.

They would ask for people. I gave them some numbers, not all of them. I told him to stop. Hes manipulated me and now Ive hurt other people, the 36-year-old MP for the Greater Manchester constituency of Hazel Grove said.

What is the UK honeytrap scandal?

Wragg is not the only one to be targeted by the individual or group in an apparent honeytrap attempt.

Several other MPs, including Bosworth MP Luke Evans and Outwood MP Andrea Jenkyns, received explicit messages on WhatsApp from anonymous accounts.

While it is not yet known who is behind these messages or what their motive is, senior political leaders suspect foreign involvement in the case.

The victims of the attack were targeted by someone identified as Charlie. According to WhatsApp chats accessed by UK-based GB News, Charlie approached at least 12 men working in and around the Parliament.

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The Westminster honeytrap scandal, which has triggered fears of a so-called spear phishing campaign, will not be probed by the police.

Downing Streets warning to MPs

The Prime Ministers office, Downing Street, has asked Members of Parliament to be cautious while responding to unsolicited messages.

The spokesperson of the prime minister said on Monday, Anybody who has been targeted illegally should approach relevant authorities. Its clearly important for anyone in public life to be sceptical of unsolicited communications.'

Theres a police investigation into this matter specifically but  we take threats to our democracy seriously, it added.
Maltas UN Ambassador Vanessa Frazier proposed that the committee should meet and consider the Palestinian application which was submitted back in 2011 read more

Members of the United Nations Security Council meet on the day of a vote on a Gaza resolution. Source: Reuters / File Photo

As the ongoing Israel-Hamas war continues to escalate, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) president referred to the Palestinian Authoritys application to become a full member of the international body to the committee which focuses on the admission of new members.

Maltas UN Ambassador Vanessa Frazier proposed that the committee should meet and consider the application. Frazier insisted that the deliberation has to take place this month, Reuters reported. Malta holds the presidency of the Security Council for the month of April.

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We sincerely hope after 12 years since we changed our status to an observer state, that the Security Council will elevate itself to implementing the global consensus on the two-state solution by admitting the state of Palestine for full membership, Palestines UN envoy Riyad Mansour told reporters after the meeting.

What happens next?

Earlier this month, the Palestinian Authority formally asked the international body to renew consideration of the application they submitted back in 2011 to become a full member of the body.

With this, the committee of 15 members will first assess an application to see if it satisfies the requirements for UN membership. The committee can either shelve the application or put it forward for formal voting in the Security Council.

The approval will require at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes from the permanent members of the UNSC i.e. US, Russia, China, France or Britain.

The committee has to deliberate within the month of April, Frazier insisted. On Monday, the Security Council met behind closed doors to discuss the application from the observer state.

Mansour told Reuters that the aim of the current deliberations is to take a decision at an April 18 ministerial meeting on the Middle East.

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Israel reacts

Meanwhile, Israels Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan insisted that the recognition of the Palestinian state would be a threat to Israels national security.

Granting the Palestinian statehood is not only a blatant violation of the UN Charter, it also violates the fundamental principle that everyone can understand of reaching a solution a lasting solution at the negotiating table, Erdan told reporters.

He went on to accuse the United Nations of sabotaging peace in the Middle East. The UN has been sabotaging peace in the Middle East for years. But today marks the beginning of the point of no return, the Israeli envoy furthered.

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With inputs from agencies.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin voiced Washingtons support for the release of hostages and said that the US is hopeful that ongoing negotiations would produce a pause in hostilities read more

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over the phone to discuss the urgent need to increase the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Austins phone call on Monday comes just a few days after the two leaders talked about the death of seven aid workers in Gaza.

According to a readout published by the US Department of Defence, Austin also pressed on the need to implement steps approved by the Israeli War Cabinet.

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I spoke to Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today to discuss the urgent need to improve humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza & to ensure the protection of humanitarian aid workers. I affirmed U.S. support to Israel in the face of Iranian threats. https://t.co/FG0cKcYXEg  Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) April 9, 2024

The Secretary and the Minister also discussed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) investigation of the tragic strike on World Central Kitchen humanitarian aid workers and the need for procedural changes to ensure such incidents never happen again, the statement read.

Additionally, Gallant provided details of the withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Gaza and the future of Israels campaign against Hamas.

Austin voiced Washingtons support for the release of hostages and said that the US is hopeful that ongoing negotiations would produce a pause in hostilities.

The US will also support Israel in light of threats posed by Iran and its proxy network, Austin told Gallant.

PM Netanyahu sets Rafah attack date

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that a date was set for an invasion of Rafah.

In Jerusalem on Monday, a day after Israeli forces pulled back from some areas of southern Gaza, Netanyahu said he had received a detailed report on the talks in Cairo.

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We are constantly working to achieve our goals, first and foremost the release of all our hostages and achieving a complete victory over Hamas, Netanyahu said.

This victory requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen - there is a date. He, however, did not specify the date.

Israel-Hamas truce talks in deadlock

Meanwhile, a ceasefire negotiation deal between Israel and Hamas, which was initially making progress according to Egyptian media, is still at a deadlock after the Palestinian terror group rejected a draft proposal.

Commenting on the proposal early on Tuesday, Hamas said it did not meet any of the demands of Palestinian factions.

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However, the group added in a statement it would study the proposal, which it described as intransigent, and deliver its response to the mediators.

With inputs from agencies
The United States is Israels biggest military suppporter but has pressed it to do more to help civilians in Gaza read more

Although it is Israel's largest military ally, the US has put pressure on Israel to assist civilians in Gaza more Image Courtesy Reuters

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said before the Senate on Tuesday that there is no proof that Israel is carrying out genocide in Gaza as it fights the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas.

We dont have evidence of that, Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Around 1,200 people were killed in Hamas October 7 attack on Israel, according to Israeli estimates. Following that, Israel launched a military operation against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, uprooting almost all of its 2.3 million inhabitants and sparking accusations of genocide, which Israel refutes. Although it is Israels largest military ally, the US has put pressure on Israel to assist civilians in Gaza more.
The Guardian published a report on April 4 claiming that since the Pulwama attack in 2019, Indias intelligence agency RAW carried out assassinations inside Pakistan read more

The United States Tuesday reacted to a media report of Indias foreign intelligence agency allegedly involved in the killing of up to 20 individuals in Pakistan since 2020, saying it has been following the development, but will not get in the middle of this situation.

Responding to a question on Americas position on the Guardian article on Islamabads allegations against India about carrying out state killings in Pakistan, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said: So we have been following the media reports about this issue. We dont have any comment on the underlying allegations. But of course, while were not going to get in the middle of this situation, we encourage both sides to avoid escalation and find a resolution through dialogue.

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#WATCH | On being asked about the United States' position on Pakistan's allegations against India about carrying out state killings in Pakistan, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller says, "So we have been following the media reports about this issue. We don't have any pic.twitter.com/vwaKjkvK0Q  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

What did the Guardian report say?

On Thursday, April 4, the Guardian published a report claiming that since the Pulwama attack in 2019, Indias intelligence agency RAW carried out assassinations inside Pakistan.

The UK-based daily in its report further alleged that these deaths were orchestrated by Indian intelligence sleeper cells mostly operating out of the United Arab Emirates.

Quoting unnamed intelligence sources, the report further alleged that India drew inspiration from Israels Mossad and Russias KGB.

Also Read: Indian Government organised killings in Pakistan to eliminate terrorists, says Guardian report citing intel sources

The report mentioned that it spoke with Indian and Pakistani intelligence operatives who alleged that the Indian government assassinated individuals in Pakistan as part of a wider strategy to eliminate terrorists living on foreign soil.

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According to Pakistani investigators, the rise in killings in 2023 was credited to the increased activity of these cells, which are accused of paying millions of rupees to local criminals or poor Pakistanis to carry out the assassinations. Indian agents also allegedly recruited jihadists to carry out the shootings, making them believe they were killing infidels, the report said.

Pakistan mein ghus ke marenge: India on Pakistans claims

Reacting to the report, Indias Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in an exclusive interview with Network 18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, on Friday, said: If any terrorist tries to disturb India from Pakistan, we will give muh tod jawab (befitting reply). If needed, Pakistan mein ghus ke marenge (Will enter Pakistan and kill). If someone will try to disturb India with terror, uski khair nahi hai (he will not be spared).

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Also Read: If terrorists flee to Pakistan, we will take them down on Pakistani soil: Rajnath Singh

Pakistans reaction on Rajnath Singhs remark

Meanwhile, Pakistan criticised Singhs remarks as provocative and myopic.

Pakistans foreign ministry issued a statement last week after Singhs remarks, saying that such rhetoric hinders the potential for constructive engagement in the future.

Also Read: Clear admission of culpability: Pakistan on Rajnath Singhs remark about crossing border to kill terrorists

Pakistan has always demonstrated its commitment to peace in the region. History attests to Pakistans firm resolve and ability to protect and defend itself, the statement added.
Throughout the Cold War, Vienna stood as a focal point for clandestine intelligence operations, and the recent developments have brought renewed attention to the citys espionage landscape read more

The recent arrest of a former Austrian intelligence officer suspected of espionage for Russia has reignited concerns over Viennas historical role as a hub for espionage amid the contemporary East-West geopolitical tensions.

Throughout the Cold War, Vienna stood as a focal point for clandestine intelligence operations, and the recent developments have brought renewed attention to the citys espionage landscape.

Chancellor Karl Nehammers call for heightened security measures underscores the gravity of the situation, prompting a National Security Council meeting to address the serious accusations against Egisto Ott, the former intelligence service employee arrested on March 29.

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According to information from the public prosecutors office, Ott stands accused of systematically divulging information to Russian secret services, marking a significant breach of security protocols.

His arrest was prompted by the interception of written communications between fugitive businessman Jan Marsalek and a suspected spy detained in Britain, shedding light on a complex web of espionage activities.

Marsalek, the former chief operating officer of Wirecard, a prominent payments firm, has been on the run since 2020 amidst allegations of fraud in Germany. Believed to have sought refuge in Russia, Marsaleks purported involvement in espionage activities underscores the extent of clandestine operations intersecting with financial improprieties.

Despite ongoing geopolitical conflicts, including Russias aggression towards Ukraine, Vienna continues to serve as a fertile ground for espionage operations. Reports suggest that moles remain active in the city, perpetuating a legacy of covert intelligence gathering that persists despite evolving geopolitical dynamics.

Allegations linking Ott to Marsaleks espionage efforts in Austria, including surveillance activities targeting a journalist investigating Russian spy networks, underscore the gravity of the situation.

These developments underscore the imperative for heightened vigilance and robust security measures to safeguard against foreign espionage activities within Austrias borders.

In the latest case, Ott  who was previously arrested in 2021 but then released  has also been accused of passing the smartphone data of three senior government officials to Russia in return for payment.

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Contacted by AFP before his arrest, Ott denied he had spied for Russia.

The Alpine country of nine million  host to multiple UN agencies  has traditionally seen itself as a bridge between the East and West, but has been known for its past cozy relations with Russia before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and its lax spy laws.

We have been for decades much too Putin friendly, historian and intelligence service expert Siegfried Beer told AFP.

The government has scrambled to contain the scandal, with Interior Minter Gerhard Karner promising a complete clarification following the arrest.

Conservative Chancellor Nehammer has suggested the strengthening of the intelligence services, while his justice minister Alma Zadic, from the Greens, wants to amend the law to widen prosecutions for spying.

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Legal loopholes have so far made it possible for foreign intelligence services to spy in Austria with impunity. We have to close these, Zadic said, describing Austria as accused for decades of being an island of blessings for secret and intelligence services from all over the world.

Beer also evoked Austrias weak intelligence service with recruits from police and military ranks rather than elite universities. He estimated that there are some 7,000 foreign agents in Vienna, which is a favourite place because of its high quality of living.

The revelations following Otts arrest have refreshed accusations against the far-right FPOe (Freedom Party), currently leading polls ahead of elections expected in September.

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Nehammer last week warned Austria had to prevent Russian spy networks from infiltrating or exploiting political parties or networks, referring to the FPOe.

The party has dismissed all accusations, pointing out to AFP that it let a cooperation pact with Putins party expire in 2022.

It was under current FPOe leader Herbert Kickls time as interior minister in 2018 that authorities raided the countrys intelligence service, seriously damaging its reputation.

The then FPOe-appointed foreign minister, Karin Kneissl, in 2018 made headlines when she invited Putin to her wedding, where she danced with him.

Beer said he doubted the current scandal would dent the FPOes support.

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In the past, several cases  including deaths of high-profile figures  have raised eyebrows.

A former Jordanian intelligence chief, a former Libyan oil minister and the disgraced ex-son-in-law of a Kazakh president all died in Austria. No foul play was officially found in any of the cases.

With inputs from AFP
The regions Minister of Culture Musa Dadayev announced the decision to limit all musical, vocal and choreographic compositions to a tempo which would range from 80 to 116 beats per minute (BPM) read more

In a bizarre move, authorities in the Russian Republic of Chechnya announced a ban on music that they consider too fast or too slow.

According to Russian news outlet TASS, the regions Minister of Culture Musa Dadayev announced the decision to limit all musical, vocal and choreographic compositions to a tempo which would range from 80 to 116 beats per minute (BPM).

(I) have announced the final decision, agreed with the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Akhmatovich Kadyrov, that from now on all musical, vocal and choreographic works must correspond to a tempo of 80 to 116 beats per minute, Dadayev said in a statement on Friday.

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Why are they banning songs that are too fast or too slow?

According to the directive, the decision was taken to ensure that Chechen musical and dance creations align with the Chechen mentality and musical rhythm". Dadayev insisted that the regulations would aim to bring to the people and to the future of our children the cultural heritage of the Chechen people, Dadayev added.

The ban means that many songs in the musical styles such as pop and techno will not be allowed to play in the region. Borrowing musical culture from other people is inadmissible, Dadayev averred.

According to TASS, the ban was reportedly announced following a meeting between the republics ministry and local and regional artists. Following the meeting, the artists were granted the deadline of June 1, to rewrite music that doesnt meet the criteria.

If the artists fail to revoke or re-modify the music that does not abide by the criteria, they wont be allowed to perform it in public.

The region is known for stifling dissent

The Federal Republic of Chechnya sits in the North Caucasus region between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. It is an entirely Muslim republic which includes parts of Russias border with Georiga.

Kadyrov has been the leader of the region since 2007 and has used his time in the office to stifle any form of dissent.

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In 2017, the United Nations human rights experts urged the authorities to investigate the rise in crimes against the people of the LGBTQ+ community. The body also accused the government of targeting and detaining members of the community.

In 2019, similar allegations resurfaced when activists said that dozens of men and women were detained and at least two died in custody.

While responding to these allegations, Kadyrov maintained that there were no gay people in his republic. He insisted that if there were any such people, they should be taken away from the region.

In light of all the atrocities in the region, the US State Department in July 2020, sanctioned Kadyrov for his involvement in gross violations of human rights. It is pertinent to note that Chechnya has been an ardent supporter of Russias invasion of Ukraine.
Feature: Chinese-aided housing project provides multiple benefits for Afghans

Xinhua) 16:19, April 09, 2024

KABUL, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Receiving the food package for Eid al-Fitr, a group of Afghans expressed their gratitude to their Chinese colleagues for the great celebration and, most importantly, for bringing them work opportunities via a major project.

The China-aided Neela Bagh Housing Project officially started Sunday in Afghansitan's capital of Kabul, three days before the Eid that is set to fall on Wednesday this year in the country. Under the project, China 19th Metallurgical Group Corporation Limited (MCC 19) is scheduled to construct 1,400 apartments in 56 blocks in three years.

The commencement ceremony of the project worth 71 million U.S. dollars caused a stir among locals, as China continues to support its war-ridden neighbor with projects that help practically.

Afghanistan thanks China for the start of practical work on the Neela Bagh Housing Project and hopes the cooperation continues between the two neighboring countries in areas of regional connectivity, Afghan interim government's Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund told the ceremony in a speech.

According to Cao Binsen, a procurement manager of the project with the MCC 19, the apartments can host at least 5,000 residents.

"During the period (of construction), we will recruit a large number of local workers in Afghanistan and be able to provide nearly 700 jobs," said Cao.

"It will provide direct and indirect employment for almost 5,000 people. It is provided here, and 71 million U.S. dollars are invested here by our neighboring country and it is a place to be happy," Acting Deputy Prime Minister on Administrative Affairs Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi told the commencing ceremony.

As one of the Chinese companies fully experienced in constructing buildings and other infrastructure, the MCC 19 has invited Chinese experts to Afghanistan for consultation on quality control and construction techniques.

According to Cao, a Chinese specialist is on the way to Kabul to erect one of the two tower cranes, the other currently being operational.

Li Peilong, general manager of MCC 19's Afghanistan branch said that the MCC 19 entered Afghanistan in 2009, as one of the pioneers of contracting China-aided projects. So far, the state-owned company has built several buildings in Kabul University, including an auditorium and a school guesthouse.

"When these projects were completed, I felt a great sense of accomplishment, especially when the buildings of these projects were handed over to local people and I saw them studying and living in them. This kind of project is for the friendship between the two countries and benefits the people of both countries," said Li.

Besides major aiding projects, China has supported Afghanistan over the past years with COVID-19 vaccines, winter clothes, tents and foodstuff, which had been distributed among poor and flood-affected families in the country.

Such support is continuous and Chinese companies will sustain their commitments to helping Afghanistan in nation-rebuilding, Li said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
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Vermischtes



Sony Alpha A7R V (Quelle: Roberto Magni and Daniela Comi By Foto ReD Photogr)

Sony Alpha A7R V

(Quelle: Roberto Magni and Daniela Comi By Foto ReD ) GDN - Sony Alpha A7R V: Image excellence meets the reliability of a prestigious brand.

Photography is an art that requires the utmost precision and unparalleled visual quality. In an increasingly competitive market, the camera we choose plays a fundamental role in ensuring extraordinary results. In this context, the incredible Sony Alpha A7R V stands out for its exceptional performance.

Sony Italy Imaging Pro Support provided me with a Sony Alpha A7R V camera with various lenses for several weeks to test it in different situations during my photographic reports around the world. In this article, I will tell you about the various strengths of this technological excellence, which I personally tested in different situations during my reports around the world.

Sony Alpha A7R V

Quelle: Roberto Magni and Daniela Comi By Foto ReD Despite being a loyal user and spokesperson for the Canon brand since 1991, I must say that Sony has created a top-class product. The Sony Alpha A7R V, with its incredible performance and advanced features, is definitely a great choice for professionals and photography enthusiasts looking for the best performance. Its exceptional 61-megapixel CMOS sensor resolution allows you to capture impeccable details in images. The camera offers high ISO sensitivity and low digital noise, thanks to the sensor design and advanced image processing, ensuring excellent performance and low noise even in low-light conditions.

The camera's excellent shooting speed, which is capable of shooting up to 10 frames per second, allows you to capture snapshots in rapid succession. The camera is equipped with an advanced image stabilization system that ensures sharp images even with slow shutter speeds or unstabilized lenses. A sophisticated fast and accurate focusing system ensures extraordinary accuracy and speed in photos and videos. The camera offers a wide dynamic range that allows you to capture details in both the brightest and darkest areas of an image, enabling you to recover details in shadows and highlights in post-production. Furthermore, the Sony Alpha 7R V is compatible with a huge range of interchangeable lenses, both original Sony and third-party, allowing you to choose the lens that best suits your photographic needs.

Sony Alpha A 7 R V

Quelle: Roberto Magni and Daniela Comi By Foto ReD As a spokesperson and user of the Canon brand, I cannot ignore the incredible performance and powerful features offered by this camera. During this time, I had the opportunity to personally experience the excellence of the Sony Alpha A7R V and I was extremely enthusiastic about its performance. With the A7R V, you can capture incredible details, vibrant colors, and breathtaking images that will surely leave you speechless. The quality and innovation put into this camera by Sony are truly extraordinary. I am convinced that the Sony Alpha A7R V can meet the needs and expectations of those looking for a superior solution in terms of file size, image quality, reliability, and performance.
Russo-Ukraine War - 08 April 2024 - Day 775

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 3 April 2024, the chairman of Russia's State Duma stated there was a shortage of 30,000 doctors with district hospitals facing a shortage of approximately 50 per cent. This is up from 26,500 in November 2023. The current shortages were attributed to some medical staff working in the private sector, and others having left the country. After the September 2022 mobilisation of the Russian military, doctors were explicitly warned not to leave the country. Up to 2 per cent of Russian doctors and healthcare professionals left Russia to avoid the draft.

The increased work demands from fewer available doctors has contributed to some of the further reductions. An estimate from January 2024 highlighted in the previous 15 months that the number of doctors declined by 7,500, blaming long hours and low pay. According to the Centre for European Policy Analysis, to address this shortage, Russia has been recruiting from African nations with little validation of qualifications apart from a self-certifying declaration.

The major resource and financial commitment of supporting Russia's war in Ukraine is negatively affecting a range of civilian sectors that serve the Russian population. The numbers of healthcare professionals in Russia will continue to decrease throughout 2024. Externally sourcing medical staff with limited checks on qualifications creates the potential for clinical delivery degradation.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 8, there were 48x tactical engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 3x missile and 76x air strikes, 61x MLRS attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Residential apartment blocks and private houses, as well as other infrastructure, got destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the Russian areas bordering Ukraine. Russia conducts subversion, continues shelling of Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Rssia and increases the concentration of mining operations along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinity of Bilopillya (Sumy oblast) and the city of Sumy. Around 15x settlements, including Bachivs'k, Starykove, Volfyne, Khotin', Pysarivka, Ryasne (Sumy oblast), Udy, Kozacha Lopan', Vovchans'k (Kharkiv oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Kup'yans'k axis: no Russian offensive operations reported. However, Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinities of Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast) and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x assault in the vicinity of Terny (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Makiivka and Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Makiivka, Terny, Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: Russian forces executed 8x attacks in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Andriivka, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, using air strikes, attempted to improve its tactical position. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Ivanivske, Rozdolivka and Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x attacks in the vicinity of Berdychi (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novobakhmutivka, Novoselivka Persha, Ocheretyne, Umans'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Novokalynove, Novobakhmutivka, Netailove, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to block Russian forces near Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian invaders, with air support, made 20x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Oleksandropil', Urozhaine, Vodyane (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka, Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast).

Orikhiv axis: Russian forces, with air support, launched 2x attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast) and northwest of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Air strike was reported in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Chervone, Bilohir'ya, Novodanylivka, Lobkove (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Kherson axis: Russia does not abandon its intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro River. In particular during the day of April 8, Russian forces launched 3x unsuccessful attacks on positions of the Ukrainian troops. The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at more than 10 settlements, including Mykil's'ke, Tyahynka, Beryslav (Kherson oblast) as well as the city of Kherson.

During the day of April 8, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 4x anti-aircraft missile systems, 7x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment.

The Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 1x air defense system, 2x electronic warfare stations, 2x concentrations of troops of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the AFU 32nd Mechanised and 95th Air Assault brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 25 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, three 152-mm D-20 howitzers, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station during the day.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 67th and 93rd mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Kleshcheyevka and Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 460 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, eight motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 howitzer, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and two U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar stations during the day.

In Avdeyevka direction, the units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line and repelled five counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the 24th, 47th, 74th, 115th mechanised, and 68th Jaeger brigades of the AFU near Novogorodskoye, Novokalinovo, and Berdychi (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 325 Ukrainian troops, six armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, one 155-mm U.S.-made M777 howitzer, and one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and inflicted fire damage on the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade of the AFU and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Urozhaynoye and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 80 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, and one UK-made 155-mm FN-70 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 65th Mechanised and 128th Mountain Assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Rabotino, Stepovoye, and Pavlovka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 50 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, four motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system and two 155-mm M119 howitzers, as well as one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 117 areas during the day.

Russian air defence systems have shot down 291 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, three French-made Hammer aerial guided bombs, and four HIMARS MLRS projectiles.

In total, 583 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 19,681 unmanned aerial vehicles, 499 air defence missile systems, 15,725 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,266 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,732 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 20,762 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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Russo-Ukraine War - 09 April 2024 - Day 776

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that open source photographs from 31 March 2024 showed missile debris that had impacted in a field in Saratov Oblast, southern Russia. Initially thought to be pieces of a possible Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicle, closer inspection revealed the debris to highly likely be fragments of a Russian AS-23a KODIAK air-launched cruise missile.

It is highly likely the debris was the result of a malfunction of a KODIAK missile that was launched towards Ukraine earlier that morning. Saratov Oblast is a known launch box for Russian Long-Range Aviation bomber strikes and is the home of Engels Airfield, where several of the bombers are based.

The AS-23a KODIAK is Russia's premier precision guided munition, with a range of approximately 4,000km. It has been used extensively against Ukraine, most recently targeting energy infrastructure across the country. The highly likely malfunction of such a prestigious missile indicates issues in its production, likely impacted by sanctions and being rushed to meet the demands of the conflict.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 9, there were 66x tactical engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 7x missile and 73x air strikes, 81x MLRS attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Residential apartment blocks and private houses, as well as other infrastructure, got destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian adversary maintains its military presence in the Russian areas bordering Ukraine. Russia conducts subversion, continues shelling of Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the concentration of mining operations along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinity of Potykhonove (Kharkiv oblast) and the city of Kharkiv. Around 20x settlements, including Karpovychi, Semenivka, Yanzhulivka (Chernihiv oblast), Iskryskivshchyna, Fotovyzh, Bachivs'k (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Strilecha, Luk'yantsi (Kharkiv oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x attacks in the vicinities of Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast) and Andriivka (Luhansk oblast). However, Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast) and Novoselivs'ke (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Stepova Novoselivka (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x assault in the vicinity of Terny (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, using air attacks, attempted to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strike in the vicinities of Tverdokhlibove (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Zarichne (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 25 attacks in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Rozdolivka, Chasiv Yar, Novyi, Andriivka, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, using air strikes, attempted to improve its tactical position. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Spirne, Kostyantynivka, Bila Hora, Druzhba (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x attacks in the vicinity of Umans'ke (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Kalynove, Semenivka, Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Netailove (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Novokalynove, Novobakhmutivka, Semenivka (Donetsk oblast).

Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to block Russian forces near Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, east of Vodyane, Urozhaine, where Russian forces, with air support, made 20x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka, Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast).

Orikhiv axis: Russian forces, with air support, launched 3x attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast) and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast. Around 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Bilohir'ya, Novodanylivka, Shcherbaky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Kherson axis: Russia does not abandon its intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro River. In particular during the day of April 9, Russian forces launched 1x attack on positions of the Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Krynky (Kherson oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at more than 15 settlements, including Beryslav, Ivanivka, Krynky, Novotyahynka (Kherson oblast).

During the day of April 9, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 2x anti-aircraft missile systems, 15x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment.

The Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 3x air defense system, 1x concentration of troops of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower of the AFU 57th motorised infantry, 14th and 21st mechanised brigades close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 25 Ukrainian troops, two vehicles, one U.S-made 155-mm M777 howitzer and one 105-mm M119 gun, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 79th air assault, 46th, 53rd, and 54th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Konstantinovka, Selidovo, and Chasov Yar (Donetsk People's Republic).

Moreover, four counter-attacks launched by the 5th and 92nd assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic) were repelled by the Russian troops.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine's losses included over 480 troops, seven motor vehicles, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one UK-made 105-mm L119 gun, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one 100-mm Rapira anti-tank gun.

In Avdeyevka direction, the units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line. They repelled 11 counter-attack attacks launched by the assault groups of the 25th Airborne, 68th and 71st infantry, 59th motorised infantry, 24th, 47th, and 115th mechanised brigades of the AFU near Pervomayskoye, Novobakhmutovka, Umanskoye, and Berdychi (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses over the past day amounted to up to 240 troops, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, 11 motor vehicles, two 155-mm M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system and one 155-mm M777 howitzer (U.S.-made), as well as one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and inflicted fire damage on units of the AFU 58th Motorised Infantry, 72nd Mechanised brigades and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Urozhaynoye and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

More than 110 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, two 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, one Nota electronic warfare station, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station have been neutralised during the day.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces hit manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade and 35th Marines Brigade near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region) and Ivanovka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 75 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, five pickup trucks, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems. Moreover, one UAV storage site was obliterated.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have neutralised one radar and engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 131 areas during the day.

Air defence systems shot down 236 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, one Neptune anti-ship missile, and 5 HIMARS MLRS projectiles during the day.

In total, 583 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 19917 unmanned aerial vehicles, 499 air defence missile systems, 15732 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1266 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8753 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 20791 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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Newark, N.J., April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New Jersey Institute of Technology aims to be a nexus of innovation that embraces new tech, commercializes groundbreaking research, leverages its diversity and tackles global environmental and socioeconomic challenges under a new strategic plan that extends through 2030.

The plan, NJIT Makes An Innovation Nexus, identifies six priorities, spells out the universitys mission to be a leader in research, innovation and entrepreneurship, and reaffirms its core values, including collaboration, social responsibility, diversity and sustainability.

The priorities define student and faculty success, and set goals in digital transformation, external engagement, investment and the realm of research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Under the priority Learner Advancement and Success, for example, the university will make experiential learning a hallmark by ensuring that every student has at least one high-impact real world experience. At the same time, NJIT will focus on creating a holistic campus environment and helping graduates realize their career goals.

Innovation is at the core of what we do, NJIT President Teik C. Lim said. Were part of an interconnected system that can advance humanity and students here can change lives, including their own, and learn to be highly adaptive as they land jobs that reward them financially and emotionally.

NJIT Provost John Pelesko added that providing our students with the opportunity to participate in internships, co-op programs, study abroad experiences, research and service-learning helps them gain hands-on experiences that enable them to grow and fuel the economy of New Jersey, the region and the nation.

In its Faculty Success priority, NJIT pledges to attract and retain world-class faculty, leverage diversity, increase recognition for translating and commercializing research, and more tightly weave lecturers and adjunct professors into its community.

Also, through internal and external collaboration and investments in infrastructure, NJIT plans to leverage its status as a highest-level R1 research institution and catalyze commercialization. This priority, Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, draws from NJITs entrepreneurial culture, which drives innovations through scores of specialized centers, institutes and laboratories.

Another priority, Engaged Community, calls for fostering a dynamic ecosystem locally, regionally and globally that nurtures learning, research, creativity and technological advancements to serve the students of the future.

In this context, NJIT aspires to be an innovation nexus that leverages its academic colleges and its expertise in translational research, artificial intelligence, continuing education, entrepreneurship and experiential learning. Another key player here is the New Jersey Innovation Institute, an NJIT corporation that turns great ideas into new businesses.

In this role, NJIT will bring together industries, government agencies, alumni, faculty, staff and students to foster innovations that address societal challenges, Lim said.

The Digital Transformation priority builds on the universitys acceleration of such efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it ignited a previously developed Converged Learning Model that blurs the line between online and in-person learning. Under the new plan, NJIT looks to become a boundless and smart campus that integrates the latest in tech, including AI, across all of its operations.

Similarly, the public polytechnics Fiscal Excellence and Resource Stewardship priority cuts across all colleges, departments, centers and offices, as the university seeks new sources of revenue, maximizes existing ones and improves fiscal management.

The 2030 strategic plan, developed across 16 months by a steering committee and subcommittees of educators, administrators, students, deans, staff and board members, was endorsed by the Board of Trustees this month and succeeds the previous 2025 plan, Building on a Strong Foundation.

Our new plan represents an acceleration of growth on all fronts  including enrollment, revenue, innovation and stature  as we strive to become a preeminent national research polytechnic, Board of Trustees Chair Robert Cohen said. It builds on the strides that weve made and charts an aggressive course for achieving our goals. Now its time to get to work.

For a deep dive on the entire plan, please go here: https://www.njit.edu/strategicplan/.

About New Jersey Institute of Technology

New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is the greatest producer of technological talent and knowledge in New Jersey and is a nexus of innovation  a physical and intellectual focal point for innovative ideas, actions, and people. NJIT is the only polytechnic university that is an R1 (highest) Carnegie Classification research university and is designated both an Asian-American and Hispanic serving institution. The New York Times college ranking tool rates NJIT No. 1 nationally among all public universities when you prioritize high alumni earnings, economic mobility, and academic profile, and The Wall Street Journal rates NJIT No. 19 overall and No. 2 among public universities in the United States. Additionally, NJIT stands among the top 100 universities in the country for alumni mid-career earnings, according to PayScale.com, is ranked No. 35 nationally by The Princeton Review as a Best Value College and is rated among the top 50 public national universities and top 100 overall by U.S. News & World Report.

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WIRRAL, UK, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LDRA Elevates Its DevSecOps-Ready Platform with Actionable Security Analysis & Reporting

New security-first capabilitiesincluding extended taint analysis and vulnerability heat maps help embedded developers remediate critical issues earlier in the lifecycle

WIRRAL, UKApril 9, 2024LDRA, the leader in automated software verification, traceability and standards compliance, today announced the availability of four new security-first capabilities in the LDRA tool suite: security vulnerability reports, security audits, security reviews and taint analysis. Each capability digs deep into identifying and remediating critical security vulnerabilities that impact todays complex and connected embedded software applications. Unlike other software verification, traceability and standards compliance tools, the LDRA tool suite simplifies analysis results using accessible user-experience techniques to help developers understand the results and integrate them into their DevSecOps processes.

Security vulnerabilities in mission-critical systems are just waiting to be exploited, but LDRA can help developers identify and remediate them before release, said Ian Hennell, Operations Director, LDRA. The latest features in the LDRA tool suite abstract away much of the noise and complexity of traditional analysis tools to give developers clear, understandable results. Spending less time on analysis paralysis enables embedded software teams to focus on early vulnerability remediation and faster compliance.

Early vulnerability detection, easy-to-understand results

Understanding and prioritizing analysis results consumes more time and skills than development teams can afford, often leading to shortcuts that may compromise the security of embedded systems. The new capabilities of the LDRA tool suite improve analysis effectiveness and reduce developers workloads for critical systems in aerospace, defense, automotive, industrial controls and medical devices.

Combining security vulnerability reports, security audits, security reviews, and taint analysis gives embedded software teams powerful ways to identify vulnerabilities earlier in the lifecycle and support DevSecOps practices.

Development teams benefit from:

Improved breadth of and confidence in vulnerability analysis of critical embedded software.

Reduced time to remediation with security reporting, audits and heat maps that pinpoint vulnerabilities in code.

Deep visibility into component-level vulnerabilities, software complexity and memory allocation impacts.

Less time spent on compliance with automated CWE, MISRA, and CERT-C security reviews.

LDRA has always been at the forefront of advanced analysis tools that ease developers workloads, Hennell added. The latest capabilities of the LDRA tool suite refine our approaches to analysis effectiveness and usability to help enterprise organizations improve their secure software development processes without additional overhead.

Experience the LDRA tool suite at Embedded World

The new security capabilities to the LDRA tool suite are among several new offerings LDRA will showcase in booth 4-406 at Embedded World in Nuremberg April 9-11. Additional information about how the LDRA tool suite helps software development teams can be found at https://ldra.com/ .

Media contacts:

Kelly Wanlass, HCI Marketing and Communications, Inc., Media Relations

Tel: +1 (801) 602-4723, Email: kelly@hci-marketing.com

Mark James, LDRA, Marketing Manager

Tel: +44 (0) 151 649 9300, Email: mark.james@ldra.com
Dublin, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Italy Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook - 50+ KPIs on Social Commerce Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics - Q1 2024 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Social commerce industry in Italy is expected to grow by 37.2% on annual basis to reach US$5.99 billion in 2024. The social commerce industry is expected to grow steadily over the forecast period, recording a CAGR of 31.1% during 2024-2029. The social commerce GMV in the country will increase from US$4.36 billion in 2023 to reach US$23.21 billion by 2029.







This report provides a detailed data centric analysis of social commerce industry, covering market opportunities and risks. With over 50+ KPIs at country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of social commerce market dynamics, market size and forecast, and market share statistics.



The research methodology is based on industry best practices. Its unbiased analysis leverages a proprietary analytics platform to offer a detailed view on emerging business and investment market opportunities.

Reasons to buy

In-depth Understanding of Social Commerce Market Dynamics: Understand market opportunities and key trends along with forecast (2020-2029).

Insights into Opportunity by end-use sectors - Get market dynamics by end-use sectors to assess emerging opportunity across various end-use sectors.

Develop Market Specific Strategies: Identify growth segments and target specific opportunities to formulate social commerce strategy; assess market specific key trends, drivers, and risks in the industry.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 70 Forecast Period 2024 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $6 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $23.2 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 31.1% Regions Covered Italy

Scope

Italy Social Commerce Players

Facebook

Instagram

Bantoa

GreenApes

Comehome

Italy Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2020-2029

Italy Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Retail Product Categories, 2020-2029

Clothing & Footwear

Beauty and Personal Care

Food & Grocery

Appliances and Electronics

Home Improvement

Travel

Hospitality

Italy Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Consumer Segment, 2020-2029

B2B

B2C

C2C

Italy Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Device, 2020-2029

Mobile

Desktop

Italy Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2020-2029

Domestic

Cross Border

Italy Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2020-2029

Tier-1 Cities

Tier-2 Cities

Tier-3 Cities

Italy Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Payment Method, 2020-2029

Credit Card

Debit Card

Bank Transfer

Prepaid Card

Digital & Mobile Wallet

Other Digital Payment

Cash

Italy Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Platforms

Video Commerce

Social Network-Led Commerce

Social Reselling

Group Buying

Product Review Platforms

Italy Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Consumer Demographics & Behaviour,2023

By Age

By Income Level

By Gender

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3wkup9

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.

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Dublin, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Spain Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook - 50+ KPIs on Social Commerce Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics - Q1 2024 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Social commerce industry in Spain is expected to grow by 30.4% on annual basis to reach US$7.27 billion in 2024. The social commerce industry is expected to grow steadily over the forecast period, recording a CAGR of 24.2% during 2024-2029. The social commerce GMV in the country will increase from US$5.58 billion in 2023 to reach US$21.50 billion by 2029.







This report provides a detailed data centric analysis of social commerce industry, covering market opportunities and risks. With over 50+ KPIs at country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of social commerce market dynamics, market size and forecast, and market share statistics.



The research methodology is based on industry best practices. Its unbiased analysis leverages a proprietary analytics platform to offer a detailed view on emerging business and investment market opportunities.

Reasons to buy

In-depth Understanding of Social Commerce Market Dynamics: Understand market opportunities and key trends along with forecast (2020-2029).

Insights into Opportunity by end-use sectors - Get market dynamics by end-use sectors to assess emerging opportunity across various end-use sectors.

Develop Market Specific Strategies: Identify growth segments and target specific opportunities to formulate social commerce strategy; assess market specific key trends, drivers, and risks in the industry.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 70 Forecast Period 2024 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $7.3 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $21.5 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 24.2% Regions Covered Spain

Scope

Spain Social Commerce Industry Players

Facebook

Instagram

Playtomic

21Buttons

Moodyo

Spain Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2020-2029

Spain Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Retail Product Categories, 2020-2029

Clothing & Footwear

Beauty and Personal Care

Food & Grocery

Appliances and Electronics

Home Improvement

Travel

Hospitality

Spain Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Consumer Segment, 2020-2029

B2B

B2C

C2C

Spain Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Device, 2020-2029

Mobile

Desktop

Spain Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2020-2029

Domestic

Cross Border

Spain Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2020-2029

Tier-1 Cities

Tier-2 Cities

Tier-3 Cities

Spain Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Payment Method, 2020-2029

Credit Card

Debit Card

Bank Transfer

Prepaid Card

Digital & Mobile Wallet

Other Digital Payment

Cash

Spain Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Platforms

Video Commerce

Social Network-Led Commerce

Social Reselling

Group Buying

Product Review Platforms

Spain Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Consumer Demographics & Behaviour,2023

By Age

By Income Level

By Gender

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mgj254

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Malaysia Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook - 50+ KPIs on Social Commerce Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics - Q1 2024 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The social commerce sector in Malaysia is on an impressive growth trajectory, with an expected annual increase of 26.1%, culminating in a market value of US$1.73 billion in 2024. This robust expansion is a signal of the sector's dynamic incorporation into the Malaysian retail landscape, leveraging social media platforms to redefine the shopping experience for consumers.





The sector's sustained growth, with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.1% from 2024 to 2029, is indicative of the vitality and potential within Malaysia's digital economy. The Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) is set to escalate from US$1.37 billion in 2023 to an outstanding US$4.53 billion by the end of 2029. This incessant growth emphasizes the transforming retail environment, driven by an increasingly digital-savvy consumer base and innovative commerce strategies.

Insights into Sector Dynamics and Consumer Behaviour



The deep-diving data-centric analysis provided in the report sheds light on the diverse factors propelling the growth of social commerce within Malaysia, encompassing a spectrum of operational key performance indicators, retail product dynamics, and consumer demographics. It offers an expansive review of market opportunities, potentially catalyzing strategic planning and decision-making within the sector.

Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics



Assessments indicate that various retail product categories are set to benefit from the flourishing social commerce landscape. These categories range broadly from clothing and footwear to food and grocery, as well as from appliances and electronics to travel and hospitality. The forecast also extends to differentiate market size and growth dynamics by consumer segments such as B2B, B2C, and C2C, alongside device preferences, geographic locations, and payment methods.

Downloadable Data and Analytics-driven Insights



Interested parties can utilize this profound report to gain an in-depth understanding of social commerce market dynamics over the forecast period. With a strategic approach deriving from market-specific insights, stakeholders are well-positioned to identify emerging growth segments within the industry. The analytics-driven research compels businesses to tailor their strategies effectively, cognizant of the diverse array of factors contributing to the social commerce landscape in Malaysia.



Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 70 Forecast Period 2024 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $1.7 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $4.5 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 21.1% Regions Covered Malaysia





Companies Featured

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

PG Mall

TikTok Seller

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fzyml4

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Finland Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook - 50+ KPIs on Social Commerce Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics - Q1 2024 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Social commerce industry in Finland is expected to grow by 24.3% on annual basis to reach US$1.31 billion in 2024. The social commerce industry is expected to grow steadily over the forecast period, recording a CAGR of 20.3% during 2024-2029. The social commerce GMV in the country will increase from US$1.05 billion in 2023 to reach US$3.31 billion by 2029.





This report provides a detailed data centric analysis of social commerce industry, covering market opportunities and risks. With over 50+ KPIs at country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of social commerce market dynamics, market size and forecast, and market share statistics.



The research methodology is based on industry best practices. Its unbiased analysis leverages a proprietary analytics platform to offer a detailed view on emerging business and investment market opportunities.

Reasons to buy

In-depth Understanding of Social Commerce Market Dynamics: Understand market opportunities and key trends along with forecast (2020-2029).

Insights into Opportunity by end-use sectors - Get market dynamics by end-use sectors to assess emerging opportunity across various end-use sectors.

Develop Market Specific Strategies: Identify growth segments and target specific opportunities to formulate social commerce strategy; assess market specific key trends, drivers, and risks in the industry.

Scope

Finland Ecommerce Industry Key Players

Facebook

Instagram

Apprl

StyleDoubler

Swappie

Finland Ecommerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2020-2029

Finland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2020-2029

Finland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Retail Product Categories, 2020-2029

Clothing & Footwear

Beauty and Personal Care

Food & Grocery

Appliances and Electronics

Home Improvement

Travel

Hospitality

Finland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Consumer Segment, 2020-2029

B2B

B2C

C2C

Finland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Device, 2020-2029

Mobile

Desktop

Finland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2020-2029

Domestic

Cross Border

Finland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2020-2029

Tier-1 Cities

Tier-2 Cities

Tier-3 Cities

Finland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Payment Method, 2020-2029

Credit Card

Debit Card

Bank Transfer

Prepaid Card

Digital & Mobile Wallet

Other Digital Payment

Cash

Finland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Platforms

Video Commerce

Social Network-Led Commerce

Social Reselling

Group Buying

Product Review Platforms

Finland Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Consumer Demographics & Behaviour,2023

By Age

By Income Level

By Gender

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/krzs9p

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.

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Dublin, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Cystic Fibrosis Market Analysis & Forecast to 2024-2034" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global cystic fibrosis market size was estimated to be USD 12.31 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach at USD 136.64 billion by 2034 with a CAGR of 24.46% during the forecast period 2024-2034.

An increase in the incidence of cystic fibrosis, growing awareness regarding the progressive genetic disorder, rising adoption of pharmaceutical treatments, extensive accessibility to various treatment options, surge in research & development investments by major players, growing technological advancements, a heightened emphasis on developing innovative gene therapy solutions, and increasing regulatory approval of novel products for the treatment of cystic fibrosis are some of the key factors boosting the market growth.







Increasing regulatory approval of novel products for the treatment of cystic fibrosis is predicted to boost the market growth during the forecast period. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder resulting from mutations in specific genes that regulate the secretion of certain bodily fluids. These mutations impact various organs, causing an increased viscosity in mucous and sweat. The disorder disrupts the normal function of the electrolyte transport system, leading to the absorption of sodium and water by cells and resulting in issues related to sweat and mucous gland function. Consequently, individuals with this condition experience increased infection risks in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts, necessitating the development of innovative therapeutics. In September 2022, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has disclosed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for the extended application of ORKAMBI (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) to encompass children with cystic fibrosis (CF) aged 12 to less than 24 months, possessing the homozygous F508del mutation (F/F genotype) in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene.



By drug class, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators was the highest revenue-grossing segment in the global cystic fibrosis market in 2023 owing to the developing R&D efforts, expanding awareness of hereditary disorders that worsen over time, and increased use of medication treatments.

Additionally, Bronchodilators is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the rising incidence of respiratory conditions including asthma and COPD, increasing use for individuals with obstructive lung problems and respiratory diseases, growing number of product approvals and launches.



By route of administration, oral was the highest revenue-grossing segment in the global cystic fibrosis market in 2023 owing to the comfort and ease of taking the medications orally, as well as the rise of regulatory authority approvals. In October 2023, Bristol Myers Squibb has reported that the U.S. FDA awarded Breakthrough Therapy Designation to BMS-986278. This potential first-of-its-kind, oral drug functions as a lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPA1) antagonist and is intended for the treatment of progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF), a severe and life-threatening condition. Additionally, parenteral is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the expanding usage of non-invasive medical procedures including injections and inhalations, as well as a significant rise in the introduction of new pharmaceuticals.



By distribution channel, hospital was the highest revenue-grossing segment in the global cystic fibrosis market in 2023 owing to the growing number of patients visiting hospitals, expanding investment by key market participants, and growing demand for precise diagnosis and follow-up therapies under medical supervision.

In January 2024, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has disclosed a fresh investment of up to $15 million for Prime Medicine to advance the development of its gene-editing technology, known as Prime Editing, specifically for cystic fibrosis (CF). Additionally, pharmacies is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the increasing occurrence of the disease and a rise in collaboration amongst industry participants.



North America region is anticipated for the highest revenue share during the forecast period owing to the rising regulatory approvals, a broad range of medicines readily available, expanding investment by significant players in the market, and an increase in the prevalence of cystic fibrosis.

In December 2022, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has reported that the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for VX-522 has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. VX-522 is an mRNA therapy designed to address the root cause of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease in approximately 5,000 CF individuals who do not derive benefits from a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator.

Additionally, Asia Pacific region is predicted to grow at fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the an increase in the number of cystic fibrosis patients, rising healthcare costs, a rise in R&D efforts, and an increasing initiatives by market leaders. In March 2022, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has revealed that TRIKAFTA (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor and ivacaftor) is set to receive reimbursement through the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). This applies to the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in individuals aged 12 years and older who possess at least one F508del mutation in the CFTR gene, which is the most prevalent mutation causing CF globally.



Report Scope:

Base Year: 2023

Forecast Period: 2024-2034

Study Coverage

Market Forecast by Type, Material, Product, and End-user

Market Forecast for 5 Regions and 17+ Countries North America (U.S. and Canada) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Spain, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe) Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, Rest of APAC) Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Rest of LATAM) MEA (South Africa, GCC, Rest of MEA)

Company Profiles of Top 10+ Major Market Players

Mylan Genentech Gilead Sciences Novartis AbbVie Pfizer Vertex Pharmaceuticals AstraZeneca Bayer



Report Segmentation:

Cystic Fibrosis Market Analysis & Forecast by Drug Class

Mucolytics

Bronchodilators

Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) Modulators

Pancreatic Enzyme Supplements

Others

Cystic Fibrosis Market Analysis & Forecast by Route of Administration

Parenteral

Oral

Cystic Fibrosis Market Analysis & Forecast by Distribution Channel

Hospitals

Pharmacies

Others

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 200 Forecast Period 2023 - 2034 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $12.31 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2034 $136.64 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 24.4% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:



1. Research Methodology



2. Introduction

2.1. Market Definition

2.2. Global Cystic Fibrosis Market Overview



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Environment Analysis

4.1. Porter's 5 Forces Analysis

4.2. PESTEL Analysis

4.3. SWOT Analysis



5. Market Dynamics

5.1. Drivers Analysis

5.2. Restraints Analysis

5.3. Opportunities Analysis

5.4. Threats Analysis

5.5. Trend Analysis



6. COVID-19 Impact Analysis



7. Cystic Fibrosis Market: Drug Class Estimates & Trend Analysis

7.1. Drug Class Segment Opportunity Analysis

7.2. Mucolytics

7.3. Bronchodilators

7.4. Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) Modulators

7.5. Pancreatic Enzyme Supplements

7.6. Others



8. Cystic Fibrosis Market: Route Of Administration Estimates & Trend Analysis

8.1. Route Of Administration Segment Opportunity Analysis

8.2. Parenteral

8.3. Oral



9. Cystic Fibrosis Market: Distribution Channel Estimates & Trend Analysis

9.1. Distribution Channel Segment Opportunity Analysis

9.2. Hospitals

9.3. Pharmacies

9.4. Others



10. Regional Market Analysis



11. North America Cystic Fibrosis Market



12. Europe Cystic Fibrosis Market



13. Asia Pacific Cystic Fibrosis Market



14. Latin America Cystic Fibrosis Market



15. MEA Cystic Fibrosis Market



16. Competitor Analysis

16.1. Company Market Share Analysis, 2023

16.2. Major Recent Developments



17. Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/w0ldia

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.

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Dublin, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Financial Wellness Program Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, & Forecast 2019-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Financial Wellness Program Market was valued at USD 1.99 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to project robust growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 13.59% through 2029, reaching USD 4.26 billion.

The Financial Wellness Program market has experienced significant growth in recent years as organizations increasingly recognize the importance of supporting their employees' financial well-being. This market encompasses a range of services and solutions designed to help individuals manage their finances effectively, reduce financial stress, and improve overall financial health.

North America stands as the largest market in the Financial Wellness Program sector, witnessing robust growth and adoption. The region's prominence in this market is attributed to the heightened awareness of the impact of financial well-being on employee performance, coupled with the presence of a diverse and technologically savvy workforce.

Employers in North America are increasingly investing in comprehensive financial wellness programs, leveraging advanced technologies and personalized solutions. The well-established corporate landscape, coupled with regulatory support, contributes to North America's leadership in shaping and driving the continued expansion of the Financial Wellness Program market.

Key components of Financial Wellness Programs include budgeting tools, debt management assistance, retirement planning, investment education, and personalized financial counseling. Employers are implementing these programs to enhance employee productivity, engagement, and satisfaction by addressing financial concerns that can impact job performance.



Market trends indicate a growing demand for digital and mobile-friendly solutions, reflecting the modern workforce's preference for convenient and accessible tools. Employers are partnering with financial service providers to offer comprehensive and tailored programs that cater to the diverse financial needs of their workforce.



Regulatory changes, coupled with a heightened awareness of the link between financial well-being and overall health, are driving the expansion of the Financial Wellness Program market. As the landscape evolves, companies are increasingly viewing these programs as a strategic investment in employee retention and talent attraction, fostering a healthier and more resilient workforce.

Key Market Drivers:

Increased Employee Productivity and Engagement:

Financial well-being positively correlates with employee productivity and engagement.

Employers implement financial wellness programs to alleviate financial stress, boosting focus and job satisfaction.

Attraction and Retention of Top Talent:

Financial wellness programs are essential for attracting and retaining top talent in a competitive job market.

Employers offering comprehensive programs signal commitment to employee well-being, enhancing recruitment and retention efforts.

Evolving Regulatory Landscape and Corporate Responsibility:

Regulatory changes and corporate responsibility drive the adoption of financial wellness programs.

Employers comply with regulations and demonstrate social responsibility by investing in employee financial health.

Integration of Technology and Personalization:

Technology integration and personalization enhance the effectiveness of financial wellness programs.

Employers leverage digital platforms and personalized solutions to meet diverse employee needs and preferences.

Key Market Challenges:

Lack of Employee Awareness and Engagement:

Limited awareness and engagement hinder the effectiveness of financial wellness programs.

Employers must invest in communication strategies to educate employees and sustain participation over time.

Personalization and Diverse Workforce Needs:

Designing personalized programs for diverse workforce needs poses challenges.

Employers balance personalization with inclusivity and privacy concerns to address varied financial situations and goals.

Measuring and Demonstrating ROI:

Quantifying the ROI of financial wellness programs is challenging.

Employers develop metrics and analytics frameworks to track program effectiveness and demonstrate long-term impact.

Regulatory Compliance and Evolving Legal Landscape:

Navigating regulatory changes and compliance requirements presents challenges.

Employers stay informed about legislative developments and adapt programs to comply with evolving legal frameworks.

Key Market Trends:

Integration of Technology and Digital Platforms:

Technology-driven solutions and digital platforms enhance accessibility and user experience.

Employers leverage mobile apps, online platforms, and AI-powered tools to deliver convenient and effective financial wellness programs.

Holistic Well-Being and Mental Health Focus:

Financial wellness programs expand to address mental health and stress management.

Employers offer counseling services and mindfulness programs to create supportive work environments.

Customization and Personalization:

Personalized solutions cater to diverse employee needs and preferences.

Employers utilize data analytics and AI to deliver targeted financial advice and resources, empowering employees to make informed decisions.

Expansion of ESG Considerations:

ESG principles are integrated into financial planning and investment education.

Employers incorporate sustainable investing and ethical financial practices into financial wellness programs to align with employee values and corporate responsibility goals.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 174 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $1.99 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $4.26 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 13.5% Regions Covered Global

Competitive Landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies presents in the Global Financial Wellness Program market.

Bank of America

Empower Retirement

Prudential Financial Inc.

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company

The Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

Fidelity Investments

Charles Schwab Corporation

Financial Fitness Group

Principal Financial Group

Enrich Financial Wellness

Report Scope



Financial Wellness Program market, By Type:

For Employers

For Employees

Financial Wellness Program market, By Program:

Financial Planning

Financial Education & Counseling

Retirement Planning

Debt Management

Others

Financial Wellness Program market, By Application :

Large Enterprises

Small & Medium Enterprises

Financial Wellness Program market, By Region:

North America

United States

Canada

Mexico

Europe

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Germany

Spain

Asia-Pacific

China

India

Japan

Australia

South Korea

Indonesia

Middle East & Africa

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Turkey

South America

Argentina

Colombia

Brazil

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nkvwq2

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.

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SEOUL, KOREA, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WizMedi Bio Co., Ltd. (WizMedi Bio) today announced that it has reached a formal agreement with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), established by the University of Wisconsin, for the patent and technical licensing of the A6 botulinum neurotoxin strain. This agreement enables WizMedi Bio to prove the origin of the strain, which has been the primary hurdle to the botulinum toxin business, and paves a pathway to develop a stable new business in the market.





The A1 botulinum toxin currently dominates the market and as a novel subtype, A6 presents itself as a challenger. Therefore, the future course of the A6 strain as a BOTULINUM TOXIN provides a new opportunity in the botulinum field. According to research published by Dr. Eric A. Johnson and colleagues, the A6 strain is known to have high potency and long duration of action in animal models. Evidence indicates the toxin is also known to stay long in local areas. Due to its high potency with fewer side effects, the A6 strain is expected to bring a new perspective to the market.

WizMedi Bio has signed consulting agreements with world-renowned scholars in this field and announced that it will actively target not only the Korean domestic market but also the U.S. market, which is a challenging market to enter. To bring A6 to commerce, the company has also signed an agreement for a strategic alliance with BNC Korea, Inc. (http://bnckorea.co.kr/), utilizing their GMP botulinum toxin facility, for joint research and development. Moreover, the company will actively work in tandem with the FDA to secure a production facility in the U.S.

WizMedi Bio was co-founded by two medical doctors based on their expertise and know-how gained at WizMedi Co., Ltd., a company dedicated to the research and development of products targeted at the beauty and medical aesthetic markets. The company aims to capture the botulinum toxin market based on maximized utilization of its distribution network and experience. In particular, it will actively target the U.S. market, which accounts for more than 60% of the global market.

"We will enhance the global market, especially the U.S., with novel botulinum toxin products," said Choi Yong-hoon, the CEO of WizMedi Bio.

Social Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WIZMEDIKR

Media Contact

Company: Wizmedi Co., Ltd.

Contact: Media Team

Email: wizmedisales@wizmedi.kr

Website: https://wizmedi.kr

SOURCE: Wizmedi Co., Ltd.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev., April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tri Pointe Homes (NYSE: TPH), one of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., announced today that it is expanding its national footprint with the opening of new divisions in Orlando, Florida and the Coastal Carolinas. Operations for the Coastal Carolinas, which build upon the companys presence in the Raleigh and Charlotte markets, will be located near Charleston, South Carolina, while the Florida office will be based in Orlando, Florida, elevating Tri Pointe Homes national presence within two of the fastest-growing regions in the nation.



Tri Pointe Homes expansion into Orlando and the Coastal Carolinas reflects the companys strategic plan of growing its business organically in the top 25 homebuilding markets in the U.S. The Southeast has emerged as an economic engine with South Carolina and Florida being the two fastest-growing states in the nation in 2023, growing their populations by 1.7% and 1.6%, respectively. This growth is a significant factor driving housing demand in these areas. Moreover, these states boast diverse economies that fuel robust job markets. The thriving conditions and diverse industries in these states, from technology and life sciences to aerospace and financial services, as well as tourism, provide a fertile ground for Tri Pointe Homes to introduce its premium lifestyle brand, catering to the growing demand for premium entry-level and move-up housing in markets ripe with opportunity.

The announcement of the new Orlando and Coastal Carolinas divisions marks the latest milestone in Tri Pointe Homes continuing geographic expansion and closely follows the companys entry into the Utah market in late 2023. It builds on the strong momentum from organic start-up divisions launched in Austin, Sacramento, Charlotte, Raleigh and most recently Salt Lake City, highlighting the companys thoughtful and sustained growth strategy.

In our examination of the Coastal Carolinas and Florida housing markets, we have identified compelling opportunities for development, said Doug Bauer, Chief Executive Officer of Tri Pointe Homes. We analyze the dynamics of each potential market to align our approach with local needs. Strategic expansion is not just about building homes, but fostering communities where people can thrive. The population growth, the increase in household formations and diverse economic landscapes in these regions highlight a clear demand for our unique brand of premium lifestyle-oriented homes. We are thrilled to embark on this expansion and confident in our ability to enrich these vibrant communities.

A key element of Tri Pointe Homes success in adapting to various markets nationwide is its guiding principle: the Best of Big and Small. This approach ensures that each of the companys divisions benefits from the leadership of market experts who are intimately familiar with local market dynamics. These leaders are empowered to make critical decisions that best serve their communities, supported by the robust resources and financial strength of one of the countrys leading public homebuilding companies. As Tri Pointe Homes expands into Florida and the Coastal Carolinas, this philosophy will continue to be a pillar for these divisions.

Joel Underwood steps into the role of division president for Orlando, bringing a distinguished career in the financial and operational aspects of homebuilding to Tri Pointe Homes. With a background in large-scale homebuilding operations roles, Underwood has a track record of spearheading successful divisions, driving growth and innovating processes to enhance business results. His tenure has been marked by the adept management of complex projects, from the development of a 5,200-unit master-planned community to significantly improving operational efficiencies and financial performance. Underwoods business acumen and ability to translate complex data into actionable business strategies makes him poised to capitalize on the growing demand in the Orlando market, with a forward-thinking style that suits the regions significant increase in population and job growth.

Ali Heavener, appointed as division president for the Coastal Carolinas, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in the homebuilding industry to Tri Pointe Homes. With a dynamic career highlighted by her strategic homebuilding leadership roles, Heavener has demonstrated exceptional ability in market expansion, organic growth, team building and operational excellence. Her deep-rooted understanding of the Coastal Carolinas market uniquely positions her to lead Tri Pointe Homes premium lifestyle brand in this region. Heaveners expertise in cultivating relationships with key business partners further solidifies her as the ideal person to navigate the promising landscape of this market.

Joel and Ali are precisely the leaders we need to launch and grow our new divisions in Orlando and the Coastal Carolinas, said Tom Mitchell, Tri Pointe Homes Chief Operating Officer and President. Both Joel and Ali are visionaries who embody our core values of humility, empowerment, authenticity, results and teamwork. Their experience and ability to forge key relationships make them indispensable as we work together in these booming markets. Our commitment is to not only meet the increasing housing demand but also to enrich these communities, ensuring Tri Pointe Homes becomes a hallmark of quality and innovation in Florida and the Coastal Carolinas for years to come.

About Tri Pointe Homes

One of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (NYSE: TPH) is a publicly traded company and a recognized leader in customer experience, innovative design, and environmentally responsible business practices. The company builds premium homes and communities in 10 states, with deep ties to the communities it servessome for as long as a century. Tri Pointe Homes combines the financial resources, technology platforms and proven leadership of a national organization with the regional insights, longstanding community connections and agility of empowered local teams. Tri Pointe has won multiple Builder of the Year awards, was named to the 2024 Fortune Worlds Most Admired Companies list and as one of the 2023 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For, and was designated as one of the 2023 PEOPLE Companies That Care. The company was also named as a Great Place To Work-Certified company for three years in a row (2021 through 2023), and was named on several Great Place To Work Best Workplaces lists in 2022 and 2023. For more information, please visit TriPointeHomes.com.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4439a6a8-a282-4ade-b48d-ebd6d183a590
Federal Communications Commission chief Jessica Rosenworcel visited a Santa Clara County fire station on Monday to discuss her effort to get net neutrality regulations reinstated through a commission vote this month. Erica Ray/Santa Clara County Fire Department

In 2018, when firefighters were battling the Pawnee Fire in Lake County, they suddenly found their internet speed dramatically slowed, hamstringing their ability to move people and resources around the growing blaze.

According to the Federal Communications Commission, that was because in 2017 the agency under the Trump administration backed away from regulating internet service providers such as Verizon and Comcast and stopped enforcing so-called net neutrality, which ensured equal access to all users.

Net neutrality  a long-debated policy that was solidified under President Barack Obama  required internet service providers to treat all communications on their networks the same regardless of content. The policys reversal under President Donald Trump meant broadband companies were free to charge different amounts depending on the speed or services that content creators were willing to pay for.

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Since then, companies like Verizon have begun offering differentiated plans, such as one for first responders that promised more robust and specialized network services. But at the time of the Pawnee Fire, the FCC said, firefighters were at the back of the pack and their broadband was throttled.

The current FCC chair, Jessica Rosenworcel, is angling to reinstate net neutrality and prevent classes of service that punish those who dont pay extra. A vote on the policy change is scheduled for this month in Washington, D.C.

Sitting inside a Santa Clara County fire station in Campbell on Monday, Rosenworcel laid out why the rules need to change back. She was there, ahead of the commissions vote, to underline the effect data throttling had on firefighters from the station, one of many that battled the Pawnee blaze.

Ultimately in a modern digital economy we should have a national policy, full stop, Rosenworcel told the Chronicle. She said it was difficult to say how much throttling had gone on since the 2017 pullback.

We get anecdotal reports of it, she said. At the FCC we dont have any powers to investigate or identify whats going on because the last administration took those authorities away.

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Rosenworcels perspective on net neutrality and the firefighters isnt universally shared.

In a statement released after the briefing at the fire station, Verizon argued that it has a long-standing commitment to an open internet and does not prioritize traffic in a way that harms competition or consumers.

We offer transparency in what we do, Verizon said, adding that, for three decades weve worked hand-in-hand with public safety agencies and first responders on the front lines delivering mission critical communications where and when theyre needed.

The statement also included links to statements from two current and former Republican FCC commissioners. Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the five-member commission, wrote on X that the firefighter incident was not a net neutrality issue at all but rather the result of the firefighters having purchased an insufficient data plan.

Former commissioner Mike ORielly, cq a Republican who was appointed by former President Obama, made a similar point.

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Santa Clara County Fire Chief Suwanna Kerdkaew, left, said the district had seen its data transmission throttled during the 2018 Pawnee Fire, but not since then. Erica Ray/Santa Clara County Fire Department

Santa Clara County Fire Chief Suwanna Kerdkaew said the district had not experienced throttling since the 2018 incident. But districts like hers send resources across state lines to fight fires under mutual assistance agreements. And theres no guarantee that kind of data slowdown couldnt happen elsewhere.

To protect California internet users, state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, pushed through a law in 2018 that guaranteed net neutrality throughout the state.

Speaking on Friday, Wiener said he would be happy to see a federal law on the issue, adding that without congressional action, Its all temporary.

Obama set a strong standard and Trump ripped it away, Wiener said. Anything not an act of Congress is a risk.

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The FCC is contemplating a rule change, not passing a law through Congress.

Data throttling isnt the only issue at stake during the vote later this month, said Tom Wheeler, FCC chair during the Obama administration who is now with the Brookings Institute in Washington, D.C.

Wheeler said that the new rules will re-establish the ability of the FCC to deal with issues that come up in the most important network of the 21st century, with implications for technology from cybersecurity to artificial intelligence.

Asked about instances of throttling since the 2017 changes under Trump, Wheeler pointed to Californias net neutrality law. That legislation prevailed after lawsuits from internet service providers that said the state rules would negatively affect investment and their businesses, saddling them with burdensome regulations.

Industry usually prefers to have one set of rules and uniformity and opposes patchwork laws, said Irina Raicu, director of the Internet Ethics program at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. But internet providers opposed federal regulation and ended up with a patchwork of laws.

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Instead of digging for examples of rampant throttling, The broader question is why then are the companies opposing it so strongly? Wheeler said.

The tug-of-war over the FCCs ability to regulate telecom providers goes back to the Pacific Telegraph Act of 1860, Wheeler said. Although a permanent federal law would be ideal on the issue, Congress cant even pass a budget, he said.

Asked Monday whether she would like to see an overarching federal law instead of a political back-and-forth over the issue, Rosenworcel demurred.
SHANGHAI, China, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NIO Inc. (NYSE: NIO; HKEX: 9866; SGX: NIO) (NIO or the Company), a pioneer and a leading company in the premium smart electric vehicle market, today filed its 2023 annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The annual report can be accessed on the Companys investor relations website at https://ir.nio.com.



The Company will provide a hard copy of its annual report containing the audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders and ADS holders upon request. Requests should be directed to Investor Relations Department, NIO Inc., Building 19, No. 1355, Caobao Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China.

About NIO Inc.

NIO Inc. is a pioneer and a leading company in the premium smart electric vehicle market. Founded in November 2014, NIOs mission is to shape a joyful lifestyle. NIO aims to build a community starting with smart electric vehicles to share joy and grow together with users. NIO designs, develops, manufactures and sells premium smart electric vehicles, driving innovations in next-generation technologies in assisted and intelligent driving, digital technologies, electric powertrains and batteries. NIO differentiates itself through its continuous technological breakthroughs and innovations, such as the industry-leading battery swapping technologies, Battery as a Service, or BaaS, as well as proprietary NIO Assisted and Intelligent Driving and its subscription services.

For more information, please visit: http://ir.nio.com.

Investor Relations

ir@nio.com

Media Relations

global.press@nio.com
DUBLIN, Ireland, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DIDWW , a global telecoms provider specializing in top-quality VoIP communication and SIP trunking solutions for businesses and telecom carriers, has announced its participation in International Telecoms Week (ITW) 2024, the worlds largest wholesale telecommunications event.



The ITW 2024 expo is scheduled for the 14-17th of May in Washington, DC, and serves as a vibrant arena where tech giants and startups alike unveil their latest breakthroughs. With 7,000 attendees and around 2,000 companies from 125 countries, ITW 2024 offers an ideal platform for professionals to meet and network with influential leaders, innovators, and decision-makers in the field of telecommunications.

At this years event, DIDWW will showcase the latest advancements to their powerful two-way SIP trunking solution, A2P and P2P SMS, cloud PBX and other innovative VoIP services. Leveraging its extensive background in the telecom industry, the company has developed a diverse suite of voice and SMS communication products, together with a range of APIs. Designed to provide reliable, scalable, and cost-effective alternatives to traditional telephone networks, DIDWW solutions meet the dynamic and demanding needs of global businesses and telecom operators.

The DIDWW team invites attendees to meet with them at booth no. 1810, located at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. For those interested in arranging a dedicated session in advance, meetings can be scheduled via email at sales@didww.com, or by contacting a personal account manager.

Karolis Jurys, Commercial Director at DIDWW, added, "We are thrilled to return to the annual ITW community gathering in Washington, DC. We look forward to showcasing our voice and SMS solutions, engaging with attendees, participating in critical business discussions, and forming new partnerships."

About DIDWW

DIDWW is a platform for telecommunication professionals with full self-service access and real-time provisioning, APIs and all the necessary building blocks for achieving the ultimate control over Voice and SMS services.

The company offers the largest fully compliant international coverage of local, national, mobile, toll-free voice and SMS-enabled virtual phone numbers, two-way local and global SIP trunks, access to local emergency services, flexible capacity options, free global number portability, a highly scalable PBX platform, and more.

DIDWW delivers premium quality services to thousands of operators worldwide through a private and fully geo-redundant network with mission-critical reliability and guaranteed SLAs. Their customers enjoy advanced solutions coupled with a unique service experience and superior value, all driven by a highly motivated team of professionals.

To learn more about DIDWW, please visit https://www.didww.com/ .

Press Contact:

Vilija Simkiene

Marketing Department

vilija.s@didww.com

+1 (212) 461 1854

www.didww.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1ba8bfb9-fee4-4cfb-b23e-8757adfaa7bb
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. (West Red Lake Gold or WRLG or the Company) (TSXV: WRLG) (OTCQB: WRLGF) is pleased to announce the arrival of a second underground diamond drill at its 100% owned Madsen Mine located in the Red Lake Gold District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada.



In response to the recent drilling success at the newly defined North Austin zone, a second diamond drill has been added at Madsen to continue growing and de-risking this high-priority, near-mine resource area.

Based on positive results from recent underground drilling programs at Madsen, two near-mine expansion areas - North and South Austin - have been prioritized for immediate expansion and infill drilling (Figures 1 & 2). The two focus areas sit adjacent to existing underground development marking them both as high caliber targets that could potentially be developed early during future mine restart and production. Its important to note that successful drilling in these areas is expected to add growth to the existing Madsen resource, bringing new ounces onto the books in areas not previously mined.

Shane Williams, President & CEO, stated, The addition of a second underground drill at Madsen will expedite our efforts in de-risking the resource and building a runway of high-confidence mineable inventory that will be critical during restart of mining operations. The North and South Austin Zones have already demonstrated potential for grade and continuity and our team looks forward to continuing to advance these two high-priority areas simultaneously with the underground drilling program.

Previously announced highlights on the North and South Austin drilling can be viewed at the following links:

Since underground drilling resumed in early January 2024 the Company has completed 3,671m of Expansion drilling and 2,916m of Definition drilling. In total, 65 diamond drill holes for 6,587m have been completed so far in 2024 at the Madsen Mine.





FIGURE 1. Deposit-scale plan map of Madsen Mine highlighting North and South Austin Zones.





FIGURE 2. Madsen Mine long section showing location of North and South Austin growth areas and recent drilling highlights.[1]

[1] Mineral resources are estimated at a cut-off grade of 3.38 g/t Au and a gold price of US1,800/oz. Please refer to the technical report entitled Independent NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the PureGold Mine, Canada, prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. and dated June 16, 2023. A full copy of the SRK report is available on the Companys website and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL

Drilling completed underground at the Madsen Mine consists of BQ-sized diamond drill core for definition drill programs and oriented NQ-sized diamond drill core for exploration focused drilling. All drill holes are systematically logged, photographed, and sampled by a trained geologist at the Madsen Mine core processing facility. Minimum allowable sample length is 0.5m. Maximum allowable sample length is 1.5m. Control samples (certified standards and uncertified blanks), along duplicates, are inserted at a target 5% insertion rate. Results are assessed for accuracy, precision, and contamination on an ongoing basis. The BQ-sized drill core is whole core sampled. The NQ-sized drill core is then cut lengthwise utilizing a diamond blade core saw along a line pre-selected by the geologist. To reduce sampling bias, the same side of drill core is sampled consistently utilizing the orientation line as reference. For those samples containing visible gold (VG), a trained geologist supervises the cutting/bagging of those samples, and ensures the core saw blade is cleaned with a dressing stone following the VG sample interval. Bagged samples are then sealed with zip ties and transported by Madsen Mine personnel directly to SGS Natural Resources Facility in Red Lake, Ontario for assay.

Samples are then prepped by SGS, which consists of drying at 105C and crushing to 75% passing 2mm. A riffle splitter is then utilized to produce a 500g course reject for archive. The remainder of the sample is then pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns from which 50g is analyzed by fire assay and an atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) finish (SGS Code GO-FAA50V10). Samples returning gold values > 100 g/t Au are reanalyzed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish on a 50g sample (SGS Code GO_FAG50V). Samples with visible gold are also analyzed via metallic screen analysis (SGS code: GO_FAS50M). For multi-element analysis, samples are sent to SGSs facility in Burnaby, British Columbia and analyzed via four-acid digest with an atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) finish for 33-element analysis on 0.25g sample pulps (SGS code: GE_ICP40Q12). SGS Natural Resources analytical laboratories operates under a Quality Management System that complies with ISO/IEC 17025.

The Madsen Mine deposit presently hosts a National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) Indicated resource of 1.65 million ounces (Moz) of gold grading 7.4 g/t Au and an Inferred resource of 0.37 Moz of gold grading 6.3 g/t Au. Mineral resources are estimated at a cut-off grade of 3.38 g/t Au and a gold price of US1,800/oz. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Please refer to the technical report entitled Independent NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the PureGold Mine, Canada, prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. and dated June 16, 2023. The Madsen Resource Estimate has an effective date of December 31, 2021 and excludes depletion of mining activity during the period from January 1, 2022 to the mine closure on October 24, 2022 as it has been deemed immaterial and not relevant for the purpose of the updated report. A full copy of the SRK report is available on the Companys website and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The technical information presented in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Will Robinson, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration for West Red Lake Gold and the Qualified Person for exploration at the West Red Lake Project, as defined by NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

MARKETING CAMPAIGN SERVICE AGREEMENT

The Company has entered into a service agreement with Native Ads, Inc. (Native Ads) dated March 28, 2024, pursuant to which Native Ads will provide a marketing campaign for a total retainer of up to US$150,000, with a term of up to twenty four months or until the retainer is depleted. Under the agreement, Native Ads will execute a comprehensive digital media advertising campaign for the Company, where approximately 75% of the campaign budget will be allocated to cost per click costs, media buying and content distribution, and search engine marketing. The remaining budget will be allocated for content creation, web development, advertising creative development, search engine optimization, campaign optimization, and reporting and data insights services. Native Ads is a full-service advertising agency based out of New York and Vancouver, BC. Native Ads and its principal Jon Malach are arms length to the Company and hold no interest, directly or indirectly, in the securities of the Company or any right to acquire such an interest. The engagement of Native Ads is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

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:

Freddie Leigh

Tel: (604) 609-6132

Email: investors@westredlakegold.com or visit the Companys 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

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 the potential of the Madsen Mine; any untapped growth potential in the Madsen depositor; the Companys intention to establish additional drilling platforms; and the Companys future objectives and plans. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Forwardlooking 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 Companys securities; fluctuations in commodity prices and changes in the Companys 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 Companys managements discussion and analysis for the year ended November 30, 2023, and the Companys annual information form for the year ended November 30, 2022, 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 Companys continuous disclosure filings that are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a726fb9-c246-4620-b76c-0ba22064057d

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/81ac82d1-f2a3-4d87-a127-5e4314639fbb



https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/491d3b2e-d917-417c-ac35-9ffc2a005402
An Emerging Markets Sponsored Commentary



ORLANDO, Fla., April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For some time now the market has been in love with Nvidia (NVDA), the behemoth stock which has been to say the least, a bell cow for the market. And while we dont discuss actual share prices in our pages, preferring to focus instead on the items that historically drive favorable valuations, Nvidias price appreciation has been remarkable and is, powered by their revenue growth and the publics attraction to Artificial Intelligence technology.

It's that last line that we covet in all the companies were asked to cover. The algorithm is simple:

Hot Market + Performance = Favorable Valuations.

And we believe that the intersection of Health Care and Artificial Intelligence is the first half of that formula.

It appears Nvidia does too. Check out this simple declaration from their corporate site :

Healthcare demands new computing paradigms to meet the need for personalized medicine, next-generation clinics, enhanced quality of care, and breakthroughs in biomedical research to treat disease. With NVIDIA, healthcare institutions can harness the power of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) to define the future of medicine.

Enter HEALWELL AI Inc. (HEALWELL or the Company) (TSX: AIDX) (OTCQX: HWAIF), a healthcare technology company focused on AI and data science for preventative care whose mission is to improve health care and save lives through early identification and detection of disease. HEALWELL is a physician-led organization with a proven management team of experienced executives and is executing a strategy centered around developing and acquiring technology and clinical sciences capabilities that complement the Company's road map.

Obviously there is a massive difference in the size of these two equities with similar interests in leveraging A.I. to improve human health care outcomes. But there is also a vast difference between HEALWELL and a slate of A.I. companies who will never earn a buck, who are chasing A.I. market sympathy or hoping that their tech is someday marketable and sellable.

It is worth noting that HEALWELL posted revenue of $2.8 million from continuing operations in Q3-2023.

Sure, that rev number is Nvidias proverbial bar bill but its still a massive number for a Company at HEALWELLS station in the market and for a company still widely unknown by the market at large.

But for how long?

If the revenue trend continues, analysts, partners, and market interests may follow. Thats not original thinking, of course. Thats just the way the market works.

Post material revs and showing a durable business model in an expanding market, produces favorable results.

Like with Nvidia.

Meanwhile, HEALWELL has been busy beside all that revenue. Real moves that portend well for the Company.

A recent release from HEALWELL doesnt declare more revenue but it certainly speaks to massive opportunities for the Company:

HEALWELL AI Announces New Commercial Agreements with WELL HEALTH USA and Circle Medical, Bringing AI-Based Preventative Care Solutions to U.S. Market

Heres the link for the full read .

The bullets from the release are compelling:

HEALWELL AI has signed services agreements with both WELL Health USA and U.S. based Circle Medical Technologies Inc., which expands its footprint in the U.S. and will enable U.S. healthcare providers with a suite of artificial intelligence (AI) powered preventative care solutions.



HEALWELLs Pentavere Research Group Inc. has partnered with WELL Health USAs CRH Medical to access U.S. clinical data to gain insights in supporting patients who are dealing with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and other gastrointestinal conditions. Through the agreement, Pentaveres DARWEN AI platform will analyze over 200,000 US patients, in a secure and compliant manner across 21 states to understand the real-world dynamics between biologic prescribing and treatment outcomes.



HEALWELLs Khure Health will integrate its proprietary AI platform with Circle Medicals electronic medical record system, expanding its footprint to over 30 US states. Khures AI will screen for and flag individual patients whom the healthcare practitioner might consider for further investigation for potential earlier diagnosis of rare disease.



This release has THREE separate commercial agreements that are established to potentially drive revenues.

And HEALWELL is certainly following the leader, acquiring and developing potentially lucrative Healthcare A.I. technology and commercializing it at a rapid clip of its own.

About The Emerging Markets Report:

The Emerging Markets Report is owned and operated by Emerging Markets Consulting (EMC), a syndicate of investor relations consultants representing years of experience. Our network consists of stockbrokers, investment bankers, fund managers, and institutions that actively seek opportunities in the micro and small-cap equity markets.

For more informative reports such as this, please sign up at https://emergingmarketsconsulting.com/alerts/

Section 17(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 requires that any person that uses the mails to publish, give publicity to, or circulate any publication or communication that describes a security in return for consideration received or to be received directly or indirectly from an issuer, underwriter, or dealer, must fully disclose the type of consideration (i.e. cash, free trading stock, restricted stock, stock options, stock warrants) and the specific amount of the consideration. In connection therewith, EMC has received the following compensation and/or has an agreement to receive in the future certain compensation, as described below.

We may purchase Securities of the Profiled Company prior to their securities becoming publicly traded, which we may later sell publicly before, during or after our dissemination of the Information, and make profits therefrom. EMC does not verify or endorse any medical claims for any of its client companies.

EMC has been paid $200,000 by HEALWELL AI Inc. for various marketing services including this report. EMC does not independently verify any of the content linked-to from this editorial.

https://emergingmarketsconsulting.com/disclaimer/

Emerging Markets Consulting, LLC

Florida Office

390 North Orange Ave STE 2300

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E-mail: jamespainter@emergingmarketsllc.com
Dublin, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Instruments, Consumables, Services), Test Type (Indirect Assays, Antioxidant Capacity Assays), Technology, Disease Type, End-user, Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2024-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global oxidative stress assay market size is anticipated to reach USD 2.09 billion by 2030 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.43% from 2024 to 2030.

The increasing prevalence of oxidative stress-associated diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and others and research & development activities related to these diseases are major factors contributing to the market growth. For instance, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2021, the global prevalence of diabetes among 20- to 79-year-old people was estimated at around 536.6 million, and it is expected to reach 783.2 million by 2045.







Cancer is one of the lucrative segments of the oxidative stress assay (OSA) market. Cellular damage induced by oxidative stress may activate cancer genes and inactivate tumor suppressor genes, leading to cancer development. Moreover, an increase in the cancer patient base is further expected to increase the market uptake of OSA in the coming years. According to the NCBI estimates, there will be around 30 million cancer cases by 2040, a rise of 57% compared to 2020 which is expected to create more opportunities for OSA market.



Academic and research institutes are involved in research activities to study oxidative stress in different health issues and develop novel solutions for diagnosing and treating these diseases. For instance, in August 2023, researchers at the Medical University of Lodz conducted a study to evaluate the oxidative stress in obstructive sleep apnea. The level of inflammatory biomarkers such as interleukins and tumor necrosis factor have been higher in obstructive sleep apnea patients.



Investigating oxidative stress and glutathione levels related to infectious diseases is further expected to create novel market opportunities for the key players. For instance, in August 2023, a report published by bioRxiv stated that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase antibiotic resistance in E. coli when exposed to sublethal levels of bactericidal antibiotics. Moreover, in December 2021, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found increased oxidative stress and glutathione deficiency among COVID-19 patients.



Oxidative Stress Assay Market Report Highlights

Based on product, the consumables segment led the market with the largest revenue share of 44.63% in 2023, owing to increasing adoption of OSA in different end-use applications

Based on test type, the reactive oxygen species-based assays segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period

Based on technology, the ELISA technology segment held the market with the largest market share of 36.09% in 2023, owing to high market penetration and accurate results

Based on disease type, the cancer segment is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, due to an increasing patient base coupled high mortality rate and increasing R&D activities

Based on end-user, the pharmaceutical & biotechnology industries dominated the global oxidative stress assay due to the significant involvement of companies in research activities to develop novel therapeutics for targeted diseases

North America dominated the market with the largest revenue share in 2023, owing to factors such as high R&D expenditure, presence of major pharmaceutical companies, and government support for quality healthcare

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 120 Forecast Period 2023 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $1.12 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $2.09 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.4% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2. Executive Summary



Chapter 3. Oxidative Stress Assay Market Variables, Trends & Scope

3.1. Market Lineage Outlook

3.1.1. Parent market outlook

3.1.2. Related/ancillary market outlook

3.2. Market Dynamics

3.2.1.1. Increasing Risk of Targeted Diseases

3.2.1.2. Rapid Growth in Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Industry

3.2.1.3. Favorable Government Initiatives

3.2.2. Market restraint analysis

3.2.2.1. High Cost of Instruments

3.3. Oxidative Stress Assay Market Analysis Tools

Chapter 4. Oxidative Stress Assay Market: Product Estimates & Trend Analysis

4.1. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market: Product Dashboard

4.2. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market: Product Movement Analysis

4.3. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market Size & Trend Analysis, by Product, 2018 to 2030 (USD Million)

4.4. Instruments

4.5. Consumables

4.5.2. Kits

4.5.3. Reagents

4.6. Services



Chapter 5. Oxidative Stress Assay Market: Test Type Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market: Test Type Dashboard

5.2. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market: Test Type Movement Analysis

5.3. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market Size & Trend Analysis, by Test Type, 2018 to 2030 (USD Million)

5.4. Indirect Assays

5.4.2. Protein-Based Assays

5.4.3. Lipid-Based Assays

5.4.4. Nucleic Acid-Based Assays

5.5. Antioxidant Capacity Assays

5.5.2. Glutathione Assays

5.5.3. Ascorbic Acid Assays

5.5.4. Cell-Based Exogenous Antioxidant Assays



Chapter 6. Oxidative Stress Assay Market: Technology Estimates & Trend Analysis

6.1. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market: Technology Dashboard

6.2. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market: Technology Movement Analysis

6.3. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market Size & Trend Analysis, by Technology, 2018 to 2030 (USD Million)

6.4. Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

6.5. Flow Cytometry

6.6. Chromatography

6.7. Microscopy

6.8. Others



Chapter 7. Oxidative Stress Assay Market: Disease Type Estimates & Trend Analysis

7.1. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market: Disease Type Dashboard

7.2. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market: Disease Type Movement Analysis

7.3. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market Size & Trend Analysis, by Disease Type, 2018 to 2030 (USD Million)

7.4. Cardiovascular disease

7.5. Respiratory Diseases

7.6. Cancer

7.7. Diabetes

7.8. Others



Chapter 8. Oxidative Stress Assay Market: End User Estimates & Trend Analysis

8.1. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market: End User Dashboard

8.2. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market: End User Movement Analysis

8.3. Global Oxidative Stress Assay Market Size & Trend Analysis, by End User, 2018 to 2030 (USD Million)

8.4. Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industries

8.5. Academic Research institutes

8.6. Contract Research Organizations

8.7. Clinical Laboratories

8.8. Others



Chapter 9. Oxidative Stress Assay Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis by Product, Test Type, Technology, Disease Type, & End User

9.1. Regional Market Dashboard

9.2. Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analysis, 2018 to 2030



Chapter 10. Competitive Landscape

10.1. Recent Developments & Impact Analysis, By Key Market Participants

10.2. Company/Competition Categorization

10.3. Vendor Landscape

Abcam Limited

AMSBIO

Cell Biolabs

Enzo Life Sciences

Merck

ImmunoChemistry Technologies

Promega Corporation

QIAGEN

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Oxford Biomedical Research

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/c3fku

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment


Clean Core team at Canadian Nuclear Association Conference in 2023 (left to right): Paul Chan (CTO), Paul Thompson (Executive Advisor), Michael Binder (Executive Advisor), Mehul Shah (CEO)



CHICAGO, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clean Core Thorium Energy (Clean Core) announced successful completion of the Phase 1 pre-licensing Vendor Design Review (VDR) process with Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), the regulatory authority for Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactors. Clean Core has been actively engaged with Canadas nuclear industry with their patented fuel technology, the ANEEL fuel. In the completion of this Phase and the associated assessment report, no issues were identified by the CNSC that could present a fundamental barrier to the licensing of the ANEEL fuel in Canada.

The ANEEL fuel is made of thorium and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), developed for use in pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) and Canada deuterium uranium (CANDU) reactors. This fuel has the capability to realize significantly improved performance with existing proven heavy water reactor systems by leveraging thoriums inherently superior nuclear, thermal and physical properties while retaining the same external dimensions and configuration design as in the currently used Natural Uranium (NU) fuel bundles. Without any significant modifications to the reactor, the replacement of the currently used NU fuel bundles with Clean Cores ANEEL fuel bundles can reduce life-cycle operating costs and waste volumes, increase safety and accident tolerance, and result in additional proliferation resistance.

Clean Core has been engaged with CNSC since 2022, including submissions across 9 focus areas in the review, building a licensing basis and safety case for the ANEEL fuel. The successful completion of the Phase 1 pre-licensing marks a major milestone for the company and nuclear industry as the first thorium-based fuel for CANDU reactors to successfully complete this phase of the CNSC pre-licensing process for new fuel designs. The pre-licensing process provided an opportunity for Clean Core to demonstrate understanding and compliance with Canadian licensing requirements and seek detailed feedback ahead of a formal license application.

In the Executive Summary of assessment report, the CNSC concluded, Overall, CCTE generally understands and has correctly interpreted the high-level intent of the CNSCs regulatory requirements as applicable to fuel design and qualification and The findings documented within this report are foreseen to be resolvable. The Executive Summary will be made publically available on the CNSCs website in the near future.

The work performed through the VDR and our engagements with the CNSC highlights Clean Cores regulatory and commercial readiness. This is a critical step forward for our ANEEL fuel technology and in advancing nuclear power generation across Canada and globally, says Mehul Shah, CEO and Founder of Clean Core.

Clean Core signed a Strategic Partnership Project Agreement with the US DOE and will begin their irradiation testing and qualification in the Advanced Test Reactor at Idaho National Labs in April 2024 to achieve planned burnup targets of up to 60 GWd/T. Clean Core has been in actively partnering and engaging with key industry players including regulators, utilities, and suppliers to achieve a successful commercialization of the ANEEL fuel by 2026.

About Clean Core Thorium Energy

Clean Core Thorium Energy is a nuclear fuel company exploring thorium-driven nuclear innovations. Clean Cores patented nuclear fuel technology (called the ANEEL fuel) is comprised of thorium and high assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) and is capable of improving the safety and cost-efficiency of pressurized heavy-water reactors. The ANEEL fuel is a novel solution to safety, waste, and proliferation concerns in todays nuclear plants. Learn more at https://cleancore.energy/. Follow us on social media: LinkedIn and X.

About Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment; to implement Canadas international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and to disseminate objective scientific, technical and regulatory information to the public.

Contact: milan@cleancore.energy

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b642e838-ee2c-4e61-a3bb-070107655954
LOS ANGELES, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN  IBN, a multifaceted communications organization engaged in connecting public companies to the investment community, is pleased to announce the release of the latest episode of The Bell2Bell Podcast as part of its sustained effort to provide specialized content distribution via widespread syndication channels.

The Bell2Bell Podcast delivers informative updates and exclusive interviews with executives operating in fast-moving industries. Bell2Bells latest podcast features Thomas Ullrich, CEO of Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSX.V: BAY) (OTCQB: ATBHF), a publicly traded Canadian minerals exploration company focused on exploring high-grade copper and gold deposits in North America.

To begin the interview, Ullrich provided an introduction to Aston Bay and its business model.

Overall, Aston Bay is in the business of adding value through discovery of high-grade critical metals and precious metals deposits. We're an exploration stage company. Really what that means is that we want to get out there and make those first finds  really make the discovery  because we think that's where you add the most value over the shortest period of time for our shareholders.

Ullrich then discussed his background and those of the Aston Bay team.

Ive been in geoscience since the early '90s working in everything from big mining companies to universities, as well as the junior exploration space, which is where I am now and where I prefer to be. I think this is the most exciting place to be. Theres nothing more exciting than making a discovery.

As far as the company goes, it's an extremely small company. I am CEO, and I'm really the only full -time employee of this company, but we do have a fantastic group of advisors and directors. Jessie Liu-Ernsting, who has been with Aston Bay for several years now, has fantastic capital markets experience and decades in the business. Jeff Wilson is the CEO of Precipitate Gold and has experience with multiple private and public companies in the space. Mark Pryor is a very experienced exploration geologist and the current Vice President of Exploration for The Electrum Group, a very well-respected group in the exploration and development space. Last but not least is Gary OConnor, another extremely experienced geologist who has spent a lot of time in the capital markets as well.

Join IBNs Stuart Smith and Thomas Ullrich, CEO of Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSX.V: BAY) (OTCQB: ATBHF), to learn more about Aston Bays recent milestones and operational goals for 2024 and beyond.

To hear the episode and subscribe for future podcasts, visit https://podcast.bell2bell.com .

The latest installment of The Bell2Bell Podcast continues to reinforce IBNs commitment to the expansion of its robust network of brands, client partners, followers, and the growing IBN Podcast Series . For more than 18 years, IBN has leveraged this commitment to provide unparalleled distribution and corporate messaging solutions to 500+ public and private companies .

To learn more about IBNs achievements and milestones via a visual timeline, visit: https://IBN.fm/TimeLine

About Aston Bay Holdings Ltd.

Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for high-grade copper and gold deposits in Virginia and Nunavut, Canada. The company is led by CEO Thomas Ullrich, with exploration in Virginia directed by company advisor Don Taylor, the 2018 Thayer Lindsley Award winner for his discovery of the Taylor Pb-Zn-Ag Deposit in Arizona.

Aston Bay is currently exploring the high-grade Buckingham Gold Vein in central Virginia and is in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands with high-grade copper potential in the area. The company and its joint venture partners, American West Metals Limited and wholly owned subsidiary Tornado Metals Ltd., have agreed to form a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture and enter into a joint venture agreement in respect of the Storm Project property, which hosts the Storm Copper Project and the Seal Zinc Deposit.

For more information, visit the companys website at www.AstonBayHoldings.com

About IBN

IBN consists of financial brands introduced to the investment public over the course of 18+ years. With IBN, we have amassed a collective audience of millions of social media followers. These distinctive investor brands aim to fulfill the unique needs of a growing base of client-partners. IBN will continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients.

Through our Dynamic Brand Portfolio (DBP), IBN provides: (1) access to a network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets; (3) Press Release Enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) full-scale distribution to a growing social media audience; (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions; and (6) total news coverage solutions.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains 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. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

Corporate Communications

IBN

Los Angeles, California

www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com

310.299.1717 Office

Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com
Boston, Massachusetts, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HYCU, Inc., a leader in data protection as a service and one of the fastest growing companies in the industry, today announced that it has received the 2024 Google Cloud Technology Partner of the Year for Backup and DR. HYCU is being recognized for their achievements in the Google Cloud ecosystem, helping joint customers do more with less by leveraging HYCUs R-Cloud platform that runs natively with Google Cloud to provide core data protection services including enterprise class automated backup and granular recovery across Google Cloud and other IaaS, DBaaS, PaaS, and SaaS services.

Google Clouds Partner Awards celebrate the transformative impact and value that partners have delivered for customers, said Kevin Ichhpurani, Corporate Vice President, Global Ecosystem and Channels at Google Cloud. Were proud to announce HYCU as a 2024 Google Partner Award winner and recognize their achievements enabling customer success from the past year.

HYCU provides backup and recovery for the broadest number of IaaS, DBaaS, PaaS, and SaaS services for Google Cloud currently. This support includes Google Workspace, BigQuery, CloudSQL, AlloyDB, Cloud Functions, Cloud Run, and AppEngine with enhanced capabilities for GKE. This support is in addition to Google Cloud services including Google Compute Engine, Google Cloud Storage, Google Cloud VMware Engine, and SAP on Google. With the HYCU R-Cloud Platform, HYCU can now help customers protect more Google Cloud services than any other provider in the industry. HYCU recently announced it has passed the 70 SaaS integration milestone threshold.

In a year when the threat landscape evolved to put companies at an even higher risk of data loss due to cyber threats, HYCU built an industry leading solution on Google Cloud to help customers extend purpose-built data protection to more of the Google Cloud services and SaaS applications that their businesses rely on, said Simon Taylor, Founder and CEO, HYCU, Inc. HYCUs innovation has also helped drive more growth for Google through double digit Google Marketplace GTV YoY. And, more HYCU customers recognized the value of HYCU R-Cloud to leverage the full power of R-Cloud for data protection across Google Cloud, on-prem, and SaaS, with all data backups stored securely using Google Cloud Storage. All of us at HYCU are both excited and proud to be named a Partner of the Year. It is yet another milestone as we look to solve the worlds modern data protection challenges.

Since the HYCU R-Cloud Platform was released and running on Google Cloud, customers have been able to benefit from R-Graph, the first visualization tool designed to help visualize a companys entire data estate including on-premises, Google Cloud and SaaS data. As the industrys first cloud-native platform for data protection, HYCU R-Cloud enables the build and release of enterprise-grade data protection for new data sources quickly and efficiently. This has enabled HYCU to extend data protection to dozens of new Google Cloud services and SaaS applications in the past twelve months, and leverage Google Cloud Storage to securely store backups.

For more information on HYCU R-Cloud, visit: https://www.hycu.com/r-cloud, follow us on X (formerly Twitter), connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

HYCU is showcasing its solution during Google Cloud Next from April 9th through the 11th in Las Vegas at booth #552. Attendees can learn more about HYCU's modern data protection approach firsthand.

# # #

About HYCU

HYCU is the fastest-growing leader in the multi-cloud and SaaS data protection as a service industry. By bringing true SaaS-based data backup and recovery to on-premises, cloud-native and SaaS environments, the company provides unparalleled data protection, migration, disaster recovery, and ransomware protection to thousands of companies worldwide. As an award-winning and recognized visionary in the industry, HYCU solutions eliminate complexity, risk, and the high cost of legacy-based solutions, providing data protection simplicity to make the world safer. With an industry leading NPS score of 91, customers experience frictionless, cost-effective data protection, anywhere, everywhere. HYCU has raised $140M in VC funding to date and is based in Boston, Mass. Learn more at www.hycu.com.

Attachments
Advisory board appointment is a step toward Thumzups strategic goal to up-list its shares to a national stock exchange in 2024

Los Angeles, CA, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thumzup Media Corporation (Thumzup or the Company) (OTCQB: TZUP) proudly welcomes Paul Dickman to its Advisory Board, a strategic move aligning with the Company's efforts to up-list its shares to a national stock exchange. Mr. Dickmans experience in finance, corporate governance, and capital markets brings valuable insights and leadership to Thumzup during this pivotal period of growth and up-listing efforts.

Robert Steele, Chief Executive Officer of Thumzup, commented, Paul Dickmans experience in financial strategy, corporate governance, and capital markets will help to ensure Thumzup is well-prepared for our next phase of growth as we work toward up-listing to a national stock exchange.

An accomplished angel and real estate investor, Dickman has held influential positions such as Chief Financial Officer, Chairman of the Board, and Chair of the Board Audit Committee in various publicly traded companies. His notable tenure as Chairman of the Board at Medicine Man Technologies saw the company through a significant capital raise of $20M, a series of strategic acquisitions, and a remarkable increase in stock value, culminating in an enterprise value of over $130M.

Paul is the Founder & Principal of Breakwater MB, a boutique merchant bank focused on providing the expertise and funding needed for cannabis-focused organizations to transition into the public market. Prior to founding Breakwater MB, Dickman established Breakwater Corporate Finance, a professional services agency offering outsourced CFO and board governance services to private and micro-cap public companies. Through Breakwater Corporate Finance, Dickman has helped facilitate multiple rounds of new equity and debt capital and has facilitated multiple public offerings while providing profitable liquidity events for investors. Mr. Dickman has a bachelors degree in finance and accounting, is a licensed CPA in the State of Colorado (inactive) and is a past Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).

I am thrilled to join Thumzups Advisory Board and contribute to the companys strategic direction, said Paul Dickman. I recognized that Thumzup had an innovative approach to democratizing social media advertising when I became an early investor a couple of years ago. I look forward to this new step of being able to work closely with the management team and board of directors to enhance our governance structures and support our up-listing objectives.

About Thumzup

Thumzup Media Corporation (Thumzup) is democratizing the multi-billion dollar social media branding and marketing industry. Its flagship product, the Thumzup platform, utilizes a robust programmatic advertiser dashboard coupled with a consumer-facing App to enable individuals to get paid cash for posting about participating advertisers on major social media outlets through the Thumzup App. The easy-to-use dashboard allows advertisers to programmatically customize their campaigns. Cash payments are made to App users/creators through PayPal and other major cash apps for approved posts.

Thumzup is a publicly traded company (OTCQB stock ticker: TZUP). For more information, please visit https://www.thumzupmedia.com .

Legal Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include, without limitation, statements about its potential growth, impacts on the advertising industry, plans for potential uplisting, and planned expansion. These statements are identified by the use of the words "could," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "may," "continue," "predict," "potential," "project" and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, objectives, expectations or intentions will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience and present expectations or projections. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and the trading price for our common stock may fluctuate significantly. Forward-looking statements also are affected by the risk factors described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contact Info

investors@thumzupmedia.com

800-403-6150

Attachment
ARANDAS, Mexico, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Siempre Spirits Limited, a world-class brand-building company in the adult beverage space renowned for its inaugural product, Siempre Tequila, is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with Prestige Beverage Group as the exclusive U.S. importer for Siempres authentic tequila portfolio. A leading importer of global wine and spirits, Prestige Beverage Group, will undertake responsibility for managing all sales and field marketing for the brand in the U.S., effective immediately.



Siempre Tequila, a Mexican-female-led brand crafting pure, authentic, and additive-free tequila, has witnessed extraordinary growth. With a ~200% depletion volume growth since 2021, Siempre continues to outpace tequila market growth in the U.S. year over year. EPG Media recently awarded Siempre a Rising Star as one of the best-performing new brands in 2022.

Tammy Lee, the Chief of Sales in the U.S. for Siempre Spirits Limited, commented on the strategic importance of the alliance: "I am excited about this partnership with Prestige Beverage Group, confident that together we will redefine the standards of excellence in the tequila market across the United States. Collaborating with Prestige is an exciting next step for us. Their expertise will play a significant role in enhancing our presence in the U.S. market."

Prestige Beverage Group will work closely with Siempre to maximize sales growth and drive consumer engagement. Their shared vision to deliver exceptional quality spirits will drive innovation in the industry and position them to capitalize on the rising demand for premium spirits.

This partnership between Prestige Beverage Group and Siempre Tequila is an ideal match, said Justin Ashton, General Manager of Prestige Beverage Group. Our portfolio of premium spirits focuses on authentic, innovative, and superior-tasting liquids, and we are thrilled with the addition of Siempre Tequila. By leveraging Prestiges expertise and experience across the U.S. market, we are uniquely positioned to continue driving awareness and momentum for Siempre Tequila.

Prestige Beverage Group is now importing all six expressions of Siempre: Plata (SRP $50), Reposado ($55 SRP), Anejo ($60 SRP), Supremo Blanco ($75 SRP), Rebel Cask Reposado ($85 SRP), and Exclusivo Vivo ($120 SRP). From the 95-point score awarded to Plata by CHILLED Magazine to the double gold medal the Anejo earned at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, each expression is a testament to Siempres commitment to excellence and innovation. Learn more about Siempre Tequila at www.siempretequila.com and follow @siempretequila on Facebook and Instagram.

About Siempre Tequila:

Siempre Tequila embodies the passion and heritage of its founders, Monica-Patricia Sanita-Ramirez and Alex Lacroix. Inspired by Monicas grandmothers mezcal-making legacy, they journeyed to create something unique. Crafted from a single estate, Siempre combines highland and lowland agave to create tequila expressions with distinct profiles. Their commitment to innovation and sustainability extends from production to packaging. Each bottle of Siempre Tequila is verified additive-free and packaged in recycled glass, paper, agave and hemp fibers, and natural cork. Starting with just $9,000 and a few credit cards, they have built Siempre Tequila into the fastest-growing non-celebrity tequila brand, captivating enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike.

About Siempre Spirits Limited:

Siempre Spirits Limited is a world-class brand-building company in the adult beverage space, renowned for its inaugural product, Siempre Tequila. The company comprises top-tier professionals in advertising, beverage, banking, and technology, providing a non-traditional approach to the liquor business while crafting super-traditional products. According to Beverage Dynamics, Siempre has emerged as one of the best-performing new alcoholic beverage companies, securing over 20 international awards for taste, design, and performance. Siempre aspires to elevate its flagship brand to the forefront of authentic tequila globally, symbolizing quality and integrity in an industry often dominated by mass-produced, heavily marketed spirits. Siempre is on the path to joining North America's top five super-premium tequila brands.

About Prestige Beverage Group

Prestige Beverage Group is a leader in the alcoholic beverage space, developing and importing a global portfolio of wine and spirit brands to provide consumers with a diverse range of innovative, premium products. Founded in 1974, Minnesota-based Prestige Beverage Group encompasses a portfolio of brands, including Kinky Liqueur, Risata Wines, Windsor Canadian, Yes Way Rose, 2XO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and Dona Paula. For more information about Prestige, please visit www.prestigebevgroup.com.

Contact Information:

info@siempretequila.com

pr@prestigebevgroup.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/40ff291e-cefb-4bde-90b7-a578c53217a0
Six men were sentenced to federal prison terms ranging from 11 to 32 years in connection with seven gang-related killings in San Francisco and Richmond. Robert Daly/Getty Images

Six men were sentenced to federal prison terms ranging from 11 to 32 years in connection with seven gang-related killings in San Francisco and Richmond, the U.S. Attorneys Office said Tuesday.

The men pleaded guilty in October to various charges stemming from a flurry of violence and drug dealing the 19th Street/16th Street Surenos street gang carried out over the course of nearly 10 years, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

The violence included a shooting in San Francisco that left two victims dead on March 14, 2006. Two other victims also were targeted, prosecutors said. Jonathan Aguilar was sentenced on April 2 to 30 years in prison in connection with the shooting.

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A similar case left two victims dead on Sept. 4, 2008. A third victim was also targeted in the shooting, which was carried out in retaliation for the killing of a fellow gang member earlier that day, prosecutors said. Eddy Urbina was sentenced on Monday to 32 years in prison in connection with that shooting.

One shooting left a 16-year-old boy dead at a house party in Richmond on Feb. 28, 2009, prosecutors said. In that case, Juan Carlos Gallardo was sentenced on Monday to 22 years in prison.

In a killing on March 30, 2013, the victim was mistaken for a rival gang member in San Franciscos Mission District, prosecutors said. Two defendants, Orlando Hernandez and Weston Venegas, were sentenced on Monday to 13 years in prison in the killing, which was planned in retaliation for the killing of a fellow gang member two years earlier, prosecutors said.

The sixth defendant, Mario Reyes, admitted he was involved in the hunt for victims in the 2013 incident. He was sentenced on March 5 to 11 years in prison.

In addition to the prison terms, U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg ordered all six defendants to serve five years of supervised release after their time behind bars.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Optimi Health Corp. (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQX: OPTHF) (FRA: 8BN), a leading Health Canada licensed psychedelics pharmaceutical manufacturer, specializing in controlled substances such as natural psilocybin and MDMA, is proud to announce the signing of an international natural psilocybin supply agreement with New Zealand-Based Matai Medical Research Institute (Matai), on behalf of the Tu Wairua Project. This agreement marks Optimi's first supply deal to New Zealand, a significant milestone for the company's global expansion efforts.



Under the terms of the agreement, Optimi will provide Matai with a quantity of its validated GMP Full Spectrum Natural Psilocybin extract. Further, the agreement includes tracked stability of the extract, ensuring the highest standards of GMP quality and compliance.

This follows Optimi's recent announcement that three validation batches of its Natural Psilocybin extract had successfully undergone full release testing, resulting in the issuance of the Certificate of Analysis (COA).

In November 2023, the Tu Wairua project, a collaborative effort involving a diverse array of individuals, whanau (families), community groups, and institutions, convened at Rangiwaho Marae, a tribal meeting place in the Tairawhiti region of New Zealand. The project team has since designed a clinical trial protocol and secured ethics and regulatory approval for its inaugural clinical study.

Scheduled for mid-2024, the trial, titled "Pilot Study of Psilocybin Administration in Healthy Volunteers within a Marae Setting," aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of administering psychedelic-assisted therapy to Maori patients in a marae setting. The insights gained from this trial will inform potential future controlled trials involving Maori patients with methamphetamine use disorder.

Bill Ciprick, CEO of Optimi Health, expressed his enthusiasm about the agreement, stating, "We are excited to collaborate with Matai and the Tu Wairua team on this groundbreaking venture. This agreement marks our entry into a new market and underscores the historical and cultural importance of the work being undertaken by our colleagues in New Zealand to honour and respect the indigenous heritage of the Maori people. This project holds special significance for Optimi, and we are honoured to be part of it."

Dr Patrick McHugh, Community Liaison for Matai, confirms that the trial will centre on training local clinicians, rongoa (traditional Maori medicine) specialists and marae community members as kaitieki (guides) in psychedelic assisted therapy. Additionally, it will involve integrating the associated kawa and tikanga (cultural practices and protocols) into the therapeutic experience, making this the first trial of its kind in Aotearoa.

We recognise that, alongside many First Nations peoples, we have a relationship with native flora and fauna as a source of healing and reconnection to our respective indigenous cultural practices, says Jody Toroa, trustee of Rangiwaho Marae. "Optimi medicines provide the closest natural fungi to the maraes local, indigenous species, which for Rangiwaho Marae and the Tu Wairua collective, is key to the integrity of the project. Synthetic products, by comparison, are not conducive to our reclaiming of cultural knowledge and customary practice, says Jody.

In New Zealand, any registered prescriber can apply through the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe) for permission to administer an unapproved medicine.

As the only fully equipped Canadian psychedelics pharmaceutical manufacturer, Optimi is well-positioned to meet large-scale demand for GMP psilocybin and MDMA drug products through its 10,000 sq ft cultivation and formulation facility.

For media inquiries, please contact Michael Kydd:

michaelk@optimihealth.ca

902.880.6121

For investor inquiries, please contact:

investors@optimihealth.ca

www.optimihealth.ca

ABOUT OPTIMI (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQX: OPTHF) (FRA: 8BN)

Optimi Health Corp. IS a leading Health Canada licensed psychedelics pharmaceutical manufacturer specializing in controlled substances such as GMP-grade natural psilocybin and MDMA for clinical research purposes and patient access programs, as well as functional mushrooms that focus on the health and wellness markets. Built with the purpose of producing scalable psychedelic formulations for transformational human experiences, the Companys goal is to be the number one trusted, compassionate supplier of safe and compliant GMP drug candidates throughout the world. Optimis products are grown and manufactured at its two facilities comprising a total of 20,000 square feet in Princeton, British Columbia.

ABOUT MATAI MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE:

Established in October 2020, Matai is a distinguished not-for-profit research and innovation center located in Gisborne Tairawhiti, New Zealand. Renowned for its cutting-edge medical imaging facilities, including a state-of-the-art GE 3-Tesla MRI machine and a team of expert researchers, Matai is at the forefront of medical innovation.

ABOUT KAUPAPA TU WAIRUA:

The project is an evolving collaboration between a diverse group of individuals, whanau, community groups and institutions.

Organisations involved include:

Rangiwaho Marae

Rua Bioscience

ESR

Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research

University of Auckland

University of Waikato

Matai Medical Research Institute

Turanga Health

Io Limited

FORWARDLOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, forward-looking statements) that relate to Optimis current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as will likely result, are expected to, expects, will continue, is anticipated, anticipates, believes, estimated, intends, plans, forecast, projection, strategy, objective, and outlook) are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. forward-looking statements made in this news release include the proposed use of the proceeds of the Offering. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Optimis control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Optimi undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Optimi to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
MOUNTAINVIEW, Calif., April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mountainview, CAApril 9, 2024 Inc. today announced its seventh annual Female Founders list, honoring a bold group of 250 women whose innovations and ideas are shaping the world into a better place.

The founders cross all industries and bring with them unique stories of success from each stage of the entrepreneurial journey  from startup to going public, being acquired by big buyers, or spending decades at the helm of an organization. They are reinventing everything from shoes to food and are challenging issues like financial literacy and reproductive health.



Thank you to Inc. for this incredible honor, said Gupta, Lily AIs Chief Executive Officer. This list is a true testament to the power female entrepreneurs have to change the world for the better.

We are so proud to be included in Inc.s 2024 Female Founders list, said Chocka Narayanan, Chief Technology Officer, Lily AI. The entrepreneurial journey has been an exhilarating one and we are thrilled to be amongst such an inspirational group of female founders with equally exciting journeys.



Lily AI is the first technology solution that injects the emotional intelligence of the shopper into a retailers ecommerce experience by automatically assigning consumer-centric language and product attributes to its entire product catalog. Its proprietary technology drives incremental revenue for retailers such as Macys, Bloomingdales, J.Crew, and ThredUP and can be leveraged across the entire retail value chain, including SEO, SEM, onsite search, recommendations, and demand forecasting.

Gupta is a 2019 Tory Burch fellow. She is committed to giving back to other entrepreneurs and uplifting them on their own journeys, just as she has benefited from supportive investors and advocates ever since she launched her own entrepreneurial career. As a venture partner with Unshackled Ventures, she carves out time every month to mentor other immigrant entrepreneurs on everything from their commercial models and business challenges to their visa and cultural struggles.

Chocka Narayanan was a Plato mentor for 4 years, and has been passionate about AI since immigrating to the United States and graduating from The University of Texas at Austin with a Masters in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Prior to co-founding Lily AI, she worked across a broad range of the technology industry, driving various innovation initiatives at Box, Pocket Gems, Texas Instruments and Yahoo.

Each year, Inc. editors review thousands of applications highlighting female founders who are challenging the status quo and tackling some of the worlds biggest problems. The list features women who have overcome challenges and lifted those around them, while leading impactful organizations across the country. They join the ranks of previous honorees including Jessica Alba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Rihanna, and Shonda Rhimes.



Diana Ransom, Inc. Executive Editor said, The past year, for many, will go down as one of the hardest everbetween a funding freeze and ad-spending pull back. The female founders on this years list are a testament to what triumph over adversity looks like. They should all be proud of this singular accomplishment.



To read the complete list, visit: https://www.inc.com/female-founders



After launching in 2018, the Female Founders list is one of Inc.s most esteemed franchises. Inc. magazines Female Founders issue (April 2024) will be available online on April 9 at https://www.inc.com/magazine and on newsstands on April 16.



Join the Female Founders conversation using #FemaleFounders.



About Inc.

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning, multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion among the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Lily AI

Lily AI is a female-founded retail AI company empowering retailers and brands by bridging the gap between merchant-speak and customer-speak. Leveraging generative AI, computer vision, natural language processing, machine and deep learning, Lily AI enhances shopping experiences by injecting human-centered language throughout the retail ecosystem. Interoperable with eCommerce, marketplace, and product management platforms, Lily AI maximizes existing technology investments to deliver upwards of 9-figure revenue lift through improved product attribution and descriptions, enhanced discovery, and higher conversion. Learn more at www.lily.ai .

Lily AI Media Contact:

Berns Communications Group

Michael McMullan

mmcmullan@bcg-pr.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a2c9d953-7578-4a1a-878d-b733b0f2b5f9
GRAND BAIE, MAURITIUS, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alphamin Resources Corp. (AFM:TSXV, APH:JSE AltX)( Alphamin or the Company), a producer of 4% of the worlds mined tin1 from its high grade operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is pleased to provide the following update for the quarter ended March 2024:



EBITDA 4 guidance of US$52m, up 156% from the prior quarter

from the prior quarter Tin sales of 4,126 tonnes, up 102% due to delayed sales the previous quarter

due to delayed sales the previous quarter Tin production of 3,142 tonnes

Mpama South commissioning update

Operational and Financial Summary for the Quarter ended March 20242







__________________________________________________________________________________________

1Data obtained from International Tin Association Tin Industry Review 2022 2Information is disclosed on a 100% basis. Alphamin indirectly owns 84.14% of its operating subsidiary to which the information relates. 3Q1 2024 EBITDA and AISC represent managements guidance. 4This is not a standardized financial measure and may not be comparable to similar financial measures of other issuers.See Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures below for the composition and calculation of this financial measure.

Operational and Financial Performance

Contained tin production of 3,142 tonnes for the quarter ended March 2024 was 1% above that achieved in the previous period. Road conditions have improved during Q1 2024 and as a result the Company sold 4,126 tonnes of contained tin which incorporated most of the prior quarters backlog (Q4 2023: 2,046 tonnes).

EBITDA for Q1 2024 is estimated at US$52m (Q4 2023: US$20m). The EBITDA variance compared to the prior quarter is attributable to higher tin sales volumes due to the clearance of most of the Q4 2023 sales backlog and a 7% increase in the tin price. Tin prices are currently trading at ~US$30,000/t, 12% above prices achieved in Q1 2024. Guidance for AISC per tonne of tin sold is up 1% from the previous quarter at US$14,785 largely due to increased royalties, export duties, marketing commissions and net smelter returns, which are calculated with reference to the higher tin price.

Alphamins unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying Managements Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended 31 March 2024 are expected to be released on or about April 29, 2024.

Mpama South commissioning update

Commissioning of the Mpama South processing plant is progressing well albeit a few weeks behind our target of tin production from early April 2024. The Companys processing and engineering team is now part of the final commissioning and the SMPPEI (structural, mechanical, piping and platework, electrical and instrumentation) contractors labour complement is reducing as its activities scale down.

The Mpama South underground development continues on target and ore stockpiles are being established ahead of the plant. The crusher circuit has produced approximately 5,300 tonnes of crushed ore for the hot commissioning of the jigging, gravity and fine tin plant areas. Representatives of the original equipment manufacturer of the crusher are on site attending to the replacement of a failed mechanical unit. The mine has replacement spares for this unit while the matter is being addressed.

1.Run of mine stockpile ahead of the crushing plan



Please click to view image

2.Crushing plant and crushed ore stockpile



Please click to view image

3. Jigging Area





Please click to view image



4.Gravity processing facility, fine tin plant and concentrate drying





Please click to view image

Liquidity and dividend update

The Companys cash position increased to US$53,5m as at 31 March 2024 (Net Debt4: US$28m) from US$7,2m at the end of the prior quarter (31 December 2023 Net Debt: US$73m).

As previously reported, the Company intends to make a final FY2023 dividend decision in April 2024 to align with the timing of holding the annual general meeting of Alphamin Bisie Mining SA (ABM), the Companys DRC operating subsidiary, to approve ABMs annual financial statements and to consider the declaration of a dividend for distribution to its shareholders. The ABM annual general meeting has been scheduled for 24 April 2024. Alphamin Resources has scheduled a board meeting for 26 April 2024 to consider a final FY2023 dividend.

Qualified Person

Mr. Clive Brown, Pr. Eng., B.Sc. Engineering (Mining), is a qualified person (QP) as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. He is a Principal Consultant and Director of Bara Consulting Pty Limited, an independent technical consultant to the Company.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:



Maritz Smith

CEO

Alphamin Resources Corp.

Tel: +230 269 4166

E-mail: msmith@alphaminresources.com

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained herein include, without limitation, statements relating to EBITDA and AISC guidance for Q1 2024; commissioning of the Mpama South processing plant; progress regarding underground development of the Mpama South project and the timing of the expected consideration of a final FY2023 dividend. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although Alphamin has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: uncertainties regarding completion of the commissioning of the Mpama South processing plant and the availability of ore at expected quantities and grades, uncertainties regarding global supply and demand for tin and market and sales prices, uncertainties with respect to social, community and environmental impacts, uninterupted access to required infrastructure and third party service providers, adverse political events and risks of security related incidents which may impact the operation or safety of its people, uncertainties regarding the legislative requirements in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which may result in unexpected fines and penalties, impacts of the global Covid-19 pandemic or other health crises on mining operations and commodity prices as well as those risk factors set out in the Companys annual Management Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Companys profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Alphamin disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

USE OF NON-IFRS FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES

This announcement refers to the following non-IFRS financial performance measures:

EBITDA

EBITDA is profit before net finance expense, income taxes and depreciation, depletion, and amortization. EBITDA provides insight into our overall business performance (a combination of cost management and growth) and is the corresponding flow driver towards the objective of achieving industry-leading returns. This measure assists readers in understanding the ongoing cash generating potential of the business including liquidity to fund working capital, servicing debt, and funding capital expenditures and investment opportunities.

This measure is not recognized under IFRS as it does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. EBITDA data is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

NET DEBT

Net debt is defined as total current and non-current portions of interest-bearing debt and lease liabilities less cash and cash equivalents.

AISC

AISC is the cash cost to produce a tonne of contained tin plus the capital sustaining costs to maintain the mine, processing plant and infrastructure and the off-mine costs to sell a tonne of contained tin. This measure includes cash costs and capital sustaining costs divided by tonnes of contained tin produced plus off-mine costs to transport and sell a tonne of contained tin. All-In Sustaining Cost per tonne does not include depreciation, depletion, and amortisation, reclamation, borrowing costs and exploration expenses.

Sustaining capital expenditures are defined as those expenditures which do not increase payable mineral production at a mine site and excludes all expenditures at the Companys projects and certain expenditures at the Companys operating sites which are deemed expansionary in nature.
NANAIMO, British Columbia, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a groundbreaking move that sets a new standard for the cannabis industry, workers at two Trees Cannabis locations in Nanaimo have joined their colleagues at other locations across Vancouver Island by joining United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1518, establishing Trees Cannabis as British Columbia's first private wall-to-wall unionized cannabis chain.

This landmark organizing drive represents a significant milestone for cannabis workers across BC. Joining Trees Cannabis locations in Victoria, which first organized with UFCW 1518 in 2021, these workers join the growing BC Budtenders Union.

The BC Budtenders Union, a division of UFCW 1518, formed in 2020 when cannabis workers in Victoria united as the first unionized dispensaries in Canada. Now representing 75% of private dispensaries in Victoria and numerous others throughout the province, these workers are united in the fight for safety, fair wages, and respect for the vital role they play in their workplaces.

We are proud to welcome UFCW 1518s newest members as they make history by organizing as the province's first private wall-to-wall unionized cannabis chain, says UFCW 1518 President Kim Novak. These workers are setting a new standard for the cannabis industry, and we anticipate that their achievement will send shockwaves across the cannabis labour landscape, empowering workers across Canada to demand fairness and respect in their own workplaces.

Trees Cannabis members aren't just advocating for workers in the cannabis industry; they are joining workers across various sectors, including food, healthcare, commercial, industrial industries, and more, in the broader fight for fairness across British Columbia and beyond.

"As the cannabis industry grows and reaches new frontiers, we are proud to be at the forefront of ensuring our rights and jobs are protected, said a Trees Cannabis member. We love what we do, we are good at it, and we deserve to thrive in the cannabis industry.

The BC Budtenders Union continues to fight for the fairness and respect that BCs cannabis workers deserve. Interested in joining the fight? Learn more at ufcw1518.com/cannabis.

Media Contact

Eva Prkachin, Director of Communications & Campaigns

604-526-1518 ex.4874 | Communications@ufcw1518.com
Charleston, South Carolina, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- South Carolina Public Radio (SC Public Radio) and the College of Charleston are proud to announce a partnership aimed at delivering concise, impactful insights tailored for both students and parents. The one-minute radio segment Teachable Moments is designed as a platform to address pressing educational issues dedicated to offering valuable perspectives to listeners beginning April 12, 2024.

From the prevalence of cellphones in classrooms to the intricacies of homework management, mental health awareness and combating childhood obesity, each episode of Teachable Moments shares a concise yet comprehensive exploration of pertinent issues. Listeners can expect an array of discussions, from practical tips for fostering academic success to insights on promoting holistic well-being. Through Teachable Moments, host Dr. Renard Harris aims to bridge the gap between educators, parents and students, fostering a collaborative environment conducive to learning and growth.

Dr. Harris is an Associate Professor of Management in the School of Business at the College of Charleston. He holds an Ed.D. in teacher education. Since his time at the College of Charleston and several years prior, he has explored multicultural education, diversity, equity and inclusion, storytelling, cultural relevance and leadership. He is often called upon to serve as a keynote speaker, diversity facilitator and consultant for businesses and educational institutions.

The collaboration between SC Public Radio and the College of Charleston underscores the shared vision of fostering community engagement and advancing educational initiatives.

Tune in to Teachable Moments on SC Public Radio every Friday during Morning Edition and All Things Considered beginning April 12.

QUOTES

SC Public Radio is excited to unveil this collaboration with the College of Charleston. Teachable Moments represents a step forward in our efforts to elevate educational discourse and empower our community with valuable insights. Through engaging discussions and thought-provoking content, we aim to ignite a passion for learning and foster meaningful connections between educators, parents and students. SCETV President and CEO Adrienne Fairwell



The College of Charleston is excited to work with SCETV, a fellow state agency that provides a great service to the people of South Carolina. This new partnership provides a wonderful opportunity for our university to share timely and helpful content to SCETV listeners and puts a spotlight on what we, as an institution, do best: teach. College of Charleston President Dr. Andrew Hsu

I love being the host of Teachable Moments. The engaging topics give the listeners something to think about, tilt their head about, and smile about. Ultimately, we get to add some good to folks days. Teachable Moments Host and College of Charleston Professor Dr. Renard Harris

Teachable Moments aims to deliver impactful insights and spark meaningful conversations about pressing educational topics. Through this partnership, we are dedicated to providing our listeners with a platform where they can gain valuable perspectives, practical tips and evidence-based solutions to navigate the challenges of modern education. Director of SC Public Radio Sean Birch

About South Carolina ETV and Public Radio

South Carolina ETV and Public Radio (SCETV) is the state's public educational broadcasting network. SCETV amplifies South Carolina voices, provides educational experiences and strengthens communities, while working toward creating a stronger, more connected and informed South Carolina. In addition to airing local programs, such as Carolina Classrooms, Making It Grow, and This Week in South Carolina, SCETV also presents multiple programs to regional and national audiences, including By The River, After Action, Reconnecting Roots, Reel South, Somewhere South, Yoga in Practice and How She Rolls. In addition, SC Public Radio produces the national radio production, Chamber Music from Spoleto Festival USA.

About the College of Charleston

Located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina, the College of Charleston is a nationally recognized, public liberal arts and sciences university. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nations top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. Its beautiful and historic campus, combined with contemporary facilities, cutting-edge programs and accessible faculty, attracts students from across the U.S. and around the world.

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Dublin, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global 1,3 Propanediol Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Conventional, Bio-based), Application (Polytrimethylene Terephthalate, Polyurethane, Personal Care & Detergents), Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2023-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global 1, 3 propanediol market size is expected to reach USD 799.3 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 9.1% from 2023 to 2030

1, 3 propanediol (PDO) relates to an organic chemical compound that is a colorless liquid and is widely employed in a variety of personal care applications since it has several advantageous uses. The substance is created biologically in anaerobic environments using glycerol and interactions with microbes.

The demand is attributed to the rising consumption in various end-use industries such as personal care, polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), and other applications.







The global product market is expected to be driven by shifting consumer preferences toward bio-based products. It is anticipated that increasing consumer acceptability of bio-based products across a range of end-use sectors would further support market expansion. For a number of reasons, businesses are putting more emphasis on incorporating renewable materials in their commodities.



Some of the causes of this changing trend include cheap manufacturing costs, low toxicity, biodegradability, low production energy, superior greenhouse gas performance, and less environmental impact. The 1, 3 propanediol with a bio-based has several advantages above 1, 3 propanediol with a crude base that makes it more appealing. Bio-based 1, 3-propanediol production techniques, such as the one created by DuPont Tate & Lyle, assert that they consume 40.0% less energy and generate 20.0% less greenhouse gas, during production.



1,3 Propanediol Market Report Highlights

The conventional segment accounted for a larger revenue share of 50.9% in 2022. One of the primary factors driving the petrochemical-based segment is the increasing demand from various end-use industries.

The polytrimethylene terephthalate segment accounted for the largest revenue share of 67.4% in 2022. This is attributed to the rise in demand for PTT in various applications such as upholstery, apparel, specialty resins, consumer goods, and other industrial applications.

The polyurethane segment is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 9.7% during the forecast period. A major factor in the high demand for polyurethane is the wide range of end-use industries that rely on polyurethane products.

Asia Pacific dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 41.8% in 2022. Furthermore, it is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 9.6% during the forecast period.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 139 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $398 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $799.3 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.1% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope

1.1. Market Segmentation & Scope

1.2. Research Methodology

1.3. Information Procurement

1.4. Information or Data Analysis

1.5. Market Formulation & Validation

1.6. Model Details

1.7. List of Secondary Sources

1.8. List of Primary Sources

1.9. Objectives



Chapter 2. Executive Summary

2.1. Market Outlook

2.2. Segment Outlook

2.2.1. Product outlook

2.2.2. Application outlook

2.2.3. Regional outlook

2.3. Competitive Insights



Chapter 3. 1, 3 Propanediol Market Variables, Trends & Scope

3.1. Market Lineage Outlook

3.2. Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping

3.3. Value Chain Analysis

3.4. Regulatory Framework

3.5. Market Dynamics

3.5.1. Market driver analysis

3.5.2. Market restraint analysis

3.5.3. Industry opportunities & challenges

3.6. 1, 3 Propanediol Market Analysis Tools

3.6.1. Industry Analysis - Porter's Five Forces

3.6.2. PESTEL Analysis



Chapter 4. Supplier Portfolio Analysis

4.1. List of Suppliers

4.2. Kraljic Matrix

4.3. Sourcing Best Practices

4.4. Negotiation Strategies



Chapter 5. 1,3 Propanediol Market: Product Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1. 1,3 Propanediol Market: Key Takeaways

5.2. 1,3 Propanediol Market: Product Movement & Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

5.3. Conventional

5.4. Bio-based



Chapter 6. 1,3 Propanediol Market: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis

6.1. 1,3 Propanediol Market: Key Takeaways

6.2. 1,3 Propanediol Market: Application Movement & Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

6.3. Polytrimethylene Terephthalate

6.4. Polyurethane

6.5. Personal care & Detergents



Chapter 7. 1,3 Propanediol Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis

7.1. Regional Outlook

7.2. 1,3 Propanediol Market by Region: Key Takeaways



Chapter 8. Competitive Landscape

8.1. Recent Developments & Impact Analysis, By Key Market Participants

8.2. Market Participant Categorization

8.2.1. DuPont

8.2.1.1. Company overview

8.2.1.2. Financial performance

8.2.1.3. Product benchmarking

8.2.1.4. Strategic initiatives

8.2.2. Metabolic Explorer

8.2.3. Zhangjiagang Glory Biomaterial Co., Ltd.

8.2.4. Zouping Mingxing Chemical Co., Ltd.

8.2.5. Shell Chemicals LP

8.2.6. Merck KGaA

8.2.7. Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

8.2.8. Shenghong Group Holdings

8.2.9. Primient

8.2.10. Haihang Industry

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/osfna8

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.

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Khasab Musandam, Oman, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Dhow Khasab Tours, a tourism company based in Khasab Musandam, is thrilled to announce the launch of Musandam Trips from Dubai. The platform welcomes adventurers and tranquility seekers to explore the breathtaking beauty of the Musandam Peninsula, often referred to as the "Norway of Arabia."

Renowned for its stunning fjords, towering cliffs, and picturesque islands, Musandam offers a noteworthy and memorable experience. Accessible primarily by boat, this hidden gem attracts travelers to discover its natural wonders and soak themselves in its composed surroundings.

Whether it's cruising through crystal-clear waters, marveling at dramatic rock formations, or experiencing the warmth of local hospitality, Musandam has something to offer for every traveler. With Musandam Trips from Dubai, adventurers can embark on a voyage to uncover the hidden treasures of this enchanting destination.

Beyond the breathtaking Overnight Dhow Cruise Musandam and the delightful Khasab Beach Camping, there are plenty more reasons to discover the charm of Musandam as follows:

Bait Al Qufl:

In the rugged mountains of Musandam, nearly every village boasts at least one "bait al qufl" or "house of the lock," a unique structure originating from the nomadic habits of the Shehi people. These buildings served as storage spaces and winter dwellings, constructed with a focus on durability and security.

Coastal Road:

The coastal road, stretching from the UAE border at Tibat to Khasab, serves as Musandam's vital connection to the wider world. This scenic route offers travelers breathtaking views of Oman's coastline and serene beach spots perfect for picnics.

Mountains:

Musandam's rugged interior, with its majestic mountains known as the Ru'us al Jebel or "Peaks of the Mountains," is a major attraction for visitors. Adventurers can embark on mountain safaris to explore places like Wadi Khasab and Jebel Harim, with opportunities for camping amidst the natural splendor.

Petroglyphs:

Musandam is home to a remarkable array of ancient petroglyphs, offering a glimpse into the region's rich cultural heritage. These artworks, found in secluded spots across the peninsula, depict humans, animals, and symbols dating back centuries.

The Shehi Tribe:

The Shehi tribe, one of the main tribes in the region, is known for its mystery and resilience. Despite economic opportunities drawing many away from their traditional mountain existence, the Shehi's influence remains strong in Khasab, preserving their unique heritage.

For inquiries or to plan a Khasab tour, users can book their Musandam tour from Dubai with Dhow Khasab. For more information about Dhow Khasab Tours, please email them at info@dhowkhasabtours.com, call us at +968 9856 7886, or visit their website.

About Dhow Khasab Tours:

Dhow Khasab Tours is a tourism company based in Khasab Musandam, specializing in providing unique and memorable experiences for travelers visiting the Musandam Peninsula. With a commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction, Dhow Khasab Tours strives to showcase the natural beauty and cultural richness of Musandam through its diverse range of tours and activities.

Contact Info:

Company Name: Dhow Khasab Tours

Contact Person: Ahmed Ali Saif Al Dhahouri

Email: info@dhowkhasabtours.com

Website: https://dhowkhasabtours.com/

Phone: +968 9856 7886

Address: Dhow Khasab Tours, Coastal Road, Khasab Musandam, Oman





Attachment
Dublin, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) - Competitive Landscape" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) therapeutics, backed by data-driven insights.

Firstly, it highlights the significant prevalence of PCOS, with over 54 million cases expected in 2024 across 16 countries covered in the epidemiology forecast. Regarding the current pharmaceutical landscape, it notes that marketed drugs for PCOS are predominantly genericized, with the majority belonging to the gonadotropin class.

In terms of pipeline development, the report indicates that out of 18 drugs in the pipeline for PCOS, only three have reached the Phase III stage of development, suggesting a relatively early stage of drug development in this therapeutic area. The report also provides insights into clinical trial activity, revealing that 832 trials have been initiated for PCOS over the last decade, with a peak of 110 trials initiated in 2023, indicating increasing research focus in recent years.

Finally, it examines deal trends in the PCOS therapeutics space, highlighting partnerships as the most dominant deal type over the past decade across various geographies. Overall, the report offers a detailed overview of the PCOS therapeutics landscape, providing valuable insights for stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry.

Scope

Disease Landscape

Disease Overview

Epidemiology Overview

Treatment Overview

Marketed Products Assessment

Breakdown by Mechanism of Action, Route of Administration

Product Profiles with Sales Forecast

Pricing and Reimbursement Assessment

Annual Therapy Cost

Time to Pricing and Time to Reimbursement

Pipeline Assessment

Breakdown by Development Stage, Mechanism of Action, Molecule Type, Route of Administration

Product Profiles with Sales Forecast

Late-to-mid-stage Pipeline Drugs

Phase Transition Success Rate and Likelihood of Approval

Clinical Trials Assessment

Breakdown of Trials by Phase, Status, Virtual Components, Sponsors, Geography, and Endpoint Status

Enrolment Analytics, Site Analytics, Feasibility Analysis

Deals Landscape

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Strategic Alliances by Region

Overview of Recent Deals

Commercial Assessment

Key Market Players

Future Market Catalysts

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface

1.1 Contents

1.2 Report Scope

1.3 List of Tables and Figures

1.4 Abbreviations



2 Key Findings



3 Disease Landscape

3.1 Disease Overview

3.2 Epidemiology Overview

3.3 Treatment Overview



4 Marketed Drugs Assessment

4.1 Leading Marketed Drugs

4.2 Overview by Mechanism of Action

4.3 Overview by Route of Administration

4.4 Marketed Drugs Profiles and Sales Forecasts



5 Pricing and Reimbursement Assessment

5.1 Annual Therapy Cost

5.2 Time to Pricing and Reimbursement



6 Pipeline Drugs Assessment

6.1 Phase III Pipeline Drugs

6.2 Overview by Development Stage

6.3 Overview by Molecule Type

6.4 Overview by Mechanism of Action

6.5 Overview by Route of Administration

6.6 Drug Specific Phase Transition Success Rate (PTSR) and Likelihood of Approval (LoA)

6.7 Therapy Area and Indication-specific PTSR and LoA



7 Clinical Trials Assessment

7.1 Historical Overview

7.2 Overview by Phase

7.3 Overview by Status

7.4 Overview by Phase for Ongoing and Planned Trials

7.5 Trials with Virtual Components

7.6 Geographic Overview

7.7 Single-Country and Multinational Trials by Region

7.8 Top 20 Sponsors with Breakdown by Phase

7.9 Top 20 Sponsors with Breakdown by Status

7.10 Overview by Endpoint Status

7.11 Overview by Race and Ethnicity

7.12 Enrollment Data

7.13 Top 20 countries for Trial Sites

7.14 Top 20 Sites Globally

7.15 Feasibility Analysis - Geographic Overview

7.16 Feasibility Analysis - Benchmark Models



8 Deals Landscape

8.1 Mergers, Acquisitions, and Strategic Alliances by Region

8.2 Recent Mergers, Acquisitions, and Strategic Alliances



9 Commercial Assessment

9.1 Key Market Players



10 Future Market Catalysts



11 Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/v5t6v0

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.
HORSHAM, Pa., April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grupo Bimbo and Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. is proud to announce that it has received the 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year  Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The 2024 award marks the seventh year in row that the EPA has recognized the Companys dedication to energy management strategy and leadership in the baking industry.



It is an honor to receive ongoing recognition and support from the EPA as we live our Purpose of Nourishing a Better World, said Ramon Rivera, Senior Vice President of Operations, Bimbo Bakeries USA. As part of our responsibility to preserve our planet for future generations, we remain dedicated to sustainability initiatives across our entire organization  from bakeries to our sales centers, distribution centers and offices.

Each year, the ENERGY STAR program honors a select group of businesses and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to energy efficiency and the transition to a clean energy economy. ENERGY STAR award winners lead their industries in the production, sale, and adoption of energy-efficient products, homes, buildings, services, and strategies. These efforts have saved more than 5 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity over the past 30 years.

President Bidens Investing in America agenda creates unprecedented opportunity to build a clean energy economy, and private sector partners through programs like ENERGY STAR are leading the way, said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. I congratulate this years ENERGY STAR award winners for their innovation and leadership, in delivering cost-effective energy efficient solutions that create jobs, address climate change, and contribute to a healthier environment for all.

This year, Bimbo Bakeries USA also received EPA ENERGY STAR certification for 16 of its U.S. facilities, marking the eighth consecutive award for a number of these locations. This recognition positions the company within the top 25 percent of national commercial bakeries for energy efficiency in adherence with strict performance levels set by the EPA. Bimbo Bakeries USA was highlighted for its installation of advanced controls and high-efficiency burners in ovens, oxidizers and boilers. The company also expanded investments in metering systems, enabling real-time energy usage monitoring and control.

The awarded Bimbo Bakeries USA facilities include: Auburn (NY), Coppell Barcel (TX), Escondido (CA), Fergus Falls (MN), Gastonia (NC), La Crosse (WI), London (KY), Oconomowoc (WI), Olean (NY), Phoenix (AZ), Reading (PA), Salt Lake City (UT), San Luis Obispo (CA), Zanesville Bimbo QSR Airport (OH), Zanesville Bimbo QSR Eastpointe (OH), and Viceroy (Vaughan, Ontario) issued by the Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN).

Three bakeries  Atwell (Toronto, Ontario), Oxnard (CA), and Cicero (IL)  also achieved the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry, recognized for their efforts to reduce energy intensity by 10 percent within five years.

Partner of the Year Award winners are selected from a network of thousands of ENERGY STAR partners. For a complete list of 2024 winners and more information about ENERGY STARs awards program, visit energystar.gov/awardwinners . For a list of ENERGY STAR certified facilities, visit https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-most-energy-efficient-manufacturing-plants-2023.

About Bimbo Bakeries USA

Bimbo Bakeries USA is a leader in the baking industry, known for its category leading brands, innovative products, freshness and quality. Our team of 20,000+ U.S. associates operates 60 manufacturing locations in the United States. Over 11,000 distribution routes deliver our leading brands such as Arnold, Artesano, Ball Park, Bimbo, Boboli, Brownberry, Entenmann's, Little Bites, Marinela, Mrs Bairds, Oroweat, Sara Lee, Stroehmann and Thomas'. Bimbo Bakeries USA is owned by Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B de C.V., the world's largest baking company with operations in 34 countries.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve more than 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STARs impacts can be found at www.energystar.gov/impacts.

Media contact:

Mikayla Ickes

Mikayla.ickes@buchananpr.com

610-228-4071
Dublin, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Skin Care Supplements Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product Type (Oral Supplements, Topical Supplements), Content Type, Formulation, Application, Gender, Distribution Channel, Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2024-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global skin care supplements market size is expected to reach USD 6.05 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 8% from 2024 to 2030. The market is estimated to register a CAGR of 7.9% over the forecast period. Factors such as the increasing adoption of herbal or natural ingredients and growing launches of complexion care products are projected to drive the global market for skincare supplements. In addition, increasing competition due to growing customer demand and the rising focus of industry participants to manufacture quality supplements is another crucial aspect boosting market demand.







The increasing number of product launches from various companies is the major market-driving factor. For instance, in August 2023, Clearstem launched a skin supplement for acne prevention named MINDBODYSKIN 2. The supplement helps reduce acne for people using antidepressants. The growing competition in the market and tailored product offerings are expected to support market growth. The industry competition is rising due to the increasing emphasis of major beauty players on supplementation products.



Moreover, the rising incidence of dermis and complexion problems due to increasing pollution levels and busy lifestyles is also anticipated to boost the supplementation market for skincare products. Various studies and research projects are being published, focusing on the impact of pollution on skin. For instance, in January 2021, the National Library of Medicine published a study emphasizing the relationship between air pollution and skin disorders. Such studies help increase awareness about dermis diseases among consumers, consequently boosting the demand for complexion products. These aforementioned factors are expected to contribute to the industry's growth over the forecast period.



Skin Care Supplements Market Report Highlights

Oral supplements dominated the market in 2023 with a revenue share of 63.5%, which can be attributed to the presence of numerous oral supplements targeting various skin conditions

In terms of the content type, the chemical segment was the largest revenue contributor for the industry, with a share of 76.1%. In contrast, the organic segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate due to rising awareness about plant-based and herbal products

In the formulation segment, tablets & capsules dominated the industry with a revenue share of 52.2% in 2023. The higher revenue share is attributed to the growing popularity of effervescent tablet formulations

The offline distribution channel segment dominated the global skincare supplements industry with a share of 70.1% in 2023. In contrast, the online segment is projected to register the highest growth rate during the projected period

The female end-use segment contributed to the largest revenue share in 2023 due to the growing product launches catering to the demand of females. On the other hand, the male segment is projected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period, which can be attributed to the increasing focus of men on their wellness and skincare

In terms of application, the skin aging segment led the market with a revenue share of 29.8% in 2023. In contrast, the skin hydration segment is anticipated to exhibit the fastest growth rate over the forecast period, owing to the availability of numerous products for skin hydration

Asia Pacific dominated the global industry in 2023 with a revenue share of 46.70%, owing to the rising incidences of skin aging problems among older people in the region

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 120 Forecast Period 2023 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $3.55 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $6.05 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.0% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2. Executive Summary

2.1. Market Outlook

2.2. Segment Snapshot

2.3. Competitive Landscape Snapshot



Chapter 3. Skin Care Supplements Market Variables, Trends & Scope

3.1. Market Lineage Outlook

3.1.1. Parent market outlook

3.1.2. Related/ancillary market outlook

3.2. Market Dynamics

3.2.1. Market driver analysis

3.2.1.1. Increasing awareness about skin care supplements

3.2.1.2. Rising adoption of natural or plant-based products

3.2.1.3. Increasing accessibility of supplements

3.2.1.4. Rising social media marketing opted by manufacturers

3.2.2. Market restraint analysis

3.2.2.1. Adverse effects associated with certain skin supplements

3.3. Industry Analysis Tools



Chapter 4. Skin Care Supplements Market: Product Type Estimates & Trend Analysis

4.1. Segment Dashboard

4.2. Global Skin Care Supplements Market Product Type Movement Analysis

4.3. Global Skin Care Supplements Market Size & Trend Analysis, by Product Type, 2018 to 2030 (USD Million)

4.4. Oral Supplements

4.5. Topical Supplements



Chapter 5. Skin Care Supplements Market: Content Type Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1. Segment Dashboard

5.2. Global Skin Care Supplements Market Content Type Movement Analysis

5.3. Global Skin Care Supplements Market Size & Trend Analysis, by Content Type, 2018 to 2030 (USD Million)

5.4. Chemical

5.5. Organic



Chapter 6. Skin Care Supplements Market: Formulation Estimates & Trend Analysis

6.1. Segment Dashboard

6.2. Global Skin Care Supplements Market Formulation Movement Analysis

6.3. Global Skin Care Supplements Market Size & Trend Analysis, by Formulation, 2018 to 2030 (USD Million)

6.4. Tablets & Capsules

6.5. Powder

6.6. Liquid

6.7. Others



Chapter 7. Skin Care Supplements Market: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis

7.1. Segment Dashboard

7.2. Global Skin Care Supplements Market Application Movement Analysis

7.3. Global Skin Care Supplements Market Size & Trend Analysis, by Application, 2018 to 2030 (USD Million)

7.4. Skin Aging

7.5. Skin Hydration

7.6. Acne & Blemishes

7.7. Skin Brightening

7.8. Others



Chapter 8. Skin Care Supplements Market: Gender Estimates & Trend Analysis

8.1. Segment Dashboard

8.2. Global Skin Care Supplements Market Gender Movement Analysis

8.3. Global Skin Care Supplements Market Size & Trend Analysis, by Gender, 2018 to 2030 (USD Million)

8.4. Female

8.5. Male



Chapter 9. Skin Care Supplements Market: Distribution Channel Estimates & Trend Analysis

9.1. Segment Dashboard

9.2. Global Skin Care Supplements Market Distribution Channel Movement Analysis

9.3. Global Skin Care Supplements Market Size & Trend Analysis, by Distribution Channel, 2018 to 2030 (USD Million)

9.4. Online

9.4.2. E-commerce

9.4.3. Company website

9.5. Offline

9.5.2. Pharmacies

9.5.3. Supermarkets

9.5.4. Others



Chapter 10. Skin Care Supplements Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis by Product Type, Content Type, Formulation, Application, Gender, and Distribution Channel

10.1. Regional Dashboard

10.2. Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analysis, 2018 to 2030



Chapter 11. Competitive Landscape

11.1. Company/Competition Categorization

11.2. Strategy Mapping

11.3. Company Market Position Analysis, 2023

11.4. Company Profiles/Listing

Amway

Hum Nutrition, Inc.

Nestle

Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.

Plix The Plant Fix

Unilever (Murad LLC)

Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc (Neutrogena)

Perricone MD

TCH, Inc (Researveage)

Vitabiotics Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/d61epm

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.

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California high school students blocked from applying for financial aid by the FAFSA glitch have a new workaround for Cal Grants  but the deadline is looming. Loren Elliott/Special to the Chronicle

The high school students who have been hardest hit by the federal governments botched overhaul of its college financial aid application now have a workaround to receive state grants  but not federal money  California education officials announced Tuesday.

The governments recent effort to streamline the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, created a glitch that left tens of thousands of high school seniors in California and across the country unable to complete their applications. The students most often blocked are citizens and legal residents whose parents have no Social Security number.

Students need the FAFSA to apply for federal Pell grants. The California Student Aid Commission also uses those applications to determine students eligibility for state aid, known as Cal Grants.

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Now, first-time applicants who cant fill out their FAFSA can apply for state aid separately, using the California Dream Act Application as a short-term measure until they are able to access and complete a FAFSA, the student aid commission and the states three public postsecondary school systems  the University of California, California State University and the California Community Colleges  jointly announced.

May 2 is the deadline.

Making sure all students can access the financial aid they are entitled to is at the heart of what we do, said Marlene Garcia, executive director of the student aid commission.

Students applying to UC, which costs more than the states other public campuses, typically win the most lucrative Cal Grants, which award up to $15,400 this year. Grants for CSU can be up to $7,390, while aid to attend a community college is less than $2,000.

Mixed (immigration) status students must still complete the FAFSA to access their federal financial aid awards, including Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, Federal Work-Study, and subsidized federal student loans, according to the joint statement.

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Education officials are urging students to try to fill out the FAFSA, and noted that the federal government has made progress in fixing an array of problems that still plague the process. They said additional help can be found at this federal student aid site.

Bay Area high school counselors who have trying for months to help frustrated students fill out their applications  and to calm nervous applicants who worry they wont be able to afford school next fall  gave Tuesdays announcement mixed reviews.

Im glad Gov. Newsom and the state are being proactive with the FAFSA fiasco, said John Moreno, a counselor at Balboa High in San Francisco. However, the solution still ignores federal aid for students impacted by the delays.

California high school students blocked from applying for financial aid by the FAFSA glitch have a new workaround for Cal Grants  but the deadline is looming. Parents and students have been scrambling for help. Loren Elliott/Special to the Chronicle

The maximum federal Pell Grant this year is $7,395.

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Thats money students arent going to receive, he said.

Yet, state education officials appeared proud of the workaround for students caught in this years snafu.

Using the Dream Act application will preserve access and support for students transferring from community college to a four-year college or university in the fall, California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian said in the joint statement.

CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia added that her system will continue to remain as flexible as possible for these students.

UC will continue to advocate for full access to the FAFSA and all federal financial aid for our students from mixed-status families, said UC President Michael Drake.

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Shenzhen, China, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Taigu Design has joined forces with the CEIBS Shenzhen Campus, setting the stage for an unprecedented advancement in educational development within the Greater Bay Area. This collaboration heralds a new era of innovation and excellence, promising to redefine the educational landscape for future generations.



building facade @ CEIBS

CEIBS is the only business school in China jointly established by Chinese and foreign governments, combining deep Chinese roots with a global perspective. With campuses in Zurich, Switzerland, Accra, Ghana, Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen, it has developed into a leading business school in Asia and globally.



entrance @flower image

The Qianhai Free Trade Center in Shenzhen is strategically located within the Ma Wan area and serves as a key urban axis for the Qianhai district. Its low-density building complex features flexible shared spaces, dynamic architectural forms, and unique outdoor landscapes. The campus location enables CEIBS to leverage its academic strengths while contributing to the development of high-end education industry chain in Shenzhen.



site@baidu map





"Shenzhen is a youthful city, characterized by its freedom and openness, as well as its global perspective and Chinese characteristics. The people of Shenzhen are inclusive and forward-thinking, exemplified by the winding coastline along the bay area which embodies the attitude of exploration. "Our goal is to create a multi-dimensional teaching environment that combines organic flow lines, open atriums filled with natural light, and interconnected internal building spaces that promote collaboration and comfort. We also aim to optimize movement paths while emphasizing the interplay of light and shadow, tangible forms and invisible elements, in order to seamlessly blend boundaries and facilitate effective communication through cleverly designed terraced structures." said Tan Kan, founder of Taigu Design.



"ring double running ladder" @flower image







"conch" shaped road show ladder@flower image

The "ring double running ladder", "conch" shaped road show ladder, and the "spring" rotating ladder connecting the underground layer are strategically positioned in the open atrium. The curves of the stairs create a captivating display under the flowing light and shadow on the projector surface of the large glass zenith, evoking a strong sense of curiosity for exploring the unknown world.



staircase connects to the "inner construction" box body@flower image

The dynamic curve tilt and flowing organic form of the staircase become the visual focal point of the space, showcasing its cylindrical plastic feeling and artistry in internal construction.



seated stairs@flower image

The staircase is connected to the circular walkway on each floor, which in turn connects to the "inner construction" box body, forming a continuous indoor vein. The building has a multi-faceted orientation from southeast to northwest, surrounded by transparent curtain walls. Functional spaces are located next to the windows and facing the atrium from outside to inside. Natural light is introduced into the rooms through surrounding curtain walls and skylights, creating an open and inviting atmosphere for the book bar with rich texture.



book bar@flower image

The second floor is connected to the first floor by a "conch" shaped large swing ladder, with small to large steps forming a "fan" shape that is over 10 meters wide on the first floor. The seated stairs face the semi-open and closed cafe, creating a seamless connection and dialogue relationship with the cafe. It provides an open road show, exchange, and rest. Worth mentioning is that the cafe is connected to an outside sunken square, where designers have incorporated a static water feature connected with an external outdoor leisure space, promoting interaction between people and their environment.



coffee bar@flower image







flat classroom@flower image

The amphitheater and flat classroom are perfect examples of blending futurism with practical needs. The spatial form has been practiced by the school for many years and has been continuously optimized. The designer has made appropriate adjustments in lines, lighting, and tone to restore the teaching scene of Shanghai headquarters while incorporating Shenzhen characteristics, reflecting innovation and excellence in education.



corridor@flower image

The minimalist corridor uses surface light sources and mixed granular ceramic panel wall surfaces along geometric stacked straight stairs to create a calm space that expresses minimalism combined with modern aesthetics.

The entire dining area is designed with openness and accessibility in mind, responding to natural light and views created by outdoor vertical vegetation. Reflective ceilings and columns encourage harmony between humans and nature.



dining area@flower image

Architecture should be a blank container for human activity, encouraging social interaction while providing space for personal reflection. The spatial layout of the business School strikes the right balance between public and private, promoting knowledge sharing and the social dimension of science. It also innovatively interprets the needs of educational space, creating possibilities for multi-dimensional communication and exchange, hoping that this design can stand the test of time.



Founder, Tan Kan

For me, the profession of design is serendipitous rather than planned. As a result, I have remained composed, inquisitive, and at ease, free from the pressures of superficial recognition that have plagued many for years. While technical expertise is essential in the field of design, the art of design is primarily methodical and logical yet practical; Design should be guided by intuition and a sense of purpose, embodying a state of effortless action.-- Founder, Tan Kan

About Taigu Design:-

Established in 2010, Taigu Design is dedicated to innovative spatial design for residential, commercial, office, and cultural environments. Embracing the aesthetic concept of "art and function", Taigu Design endeavors to accurately convey the idea that "space attributes are dependent on human activities" with a discerning perspective and refined details. We offer professional and comprehensive spatial design services for various industries and ecological spaces.

PR Contact:-

Ruth Jiang

info@gooyeah.cn

Disclaimer: The information mentioned in the press release is provided by source Taigu Design via Gooyea. KISS PR and its distribution partners are not directly or indirectly responsible for any claims made in the above statements. Contact the vendor of the product directly for any queries/issues.
WASHINGTON, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Council on Disability (NCD)  an independent, nonpartisan federal agency that advises the President, Congress, and other federal agencies on disability policy  announces Claudia L. Gordon, Esq., of Washington, D.C., as its new Chair.

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. designated Gordon as Council Chair, as announced by the White House on April 5. Gordon was originally appointed to NCD by Biden and took her oath of office November 17, 2022.

Previous Chairman Andres J. Gallegos, Esq., died Dec. 1, 2023. Gordon had been serving as Acting Chair since that time.

During her time at NCD, Gordon was designated by Gallegos as Vice Chair and served on NCDs Executive Committee.

I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the country in this capacity as Chair and look forward to continuing our journey of increasing accessibility and inclusion in all walks of life, said NCD Chair Claudia Gordon. I also plan to continue and build on the policy endeavors of our late Chair Gallegos during his tenure, to elevate the importance of addressing health disparities of people with disabilities and securing their equal access to quality healthcare to the forefront of policy progress.

Chair Gordon and the current Council members and staff of NCD all extend their heartfelt gratitude to the late Chairman Gallegos, who served in the role from January 2021 until his passing.

Current NCD Council members include Hoskie Benally Jr., Sascha Bittner, Theo W. Braddy, Shawn Kennemer, Risa Jaz Rifkind, Neil Romano, and Emily Voorde.

Appointments to NCD are made by the President of the United States, the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, the Speaker of the House, and the House Minority Leader pursuant to Section 451 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Pub. L. 113128). By law, NCDs Chair is designated by the president.

Biography of Claudia L. Gordon, Esq.:

Claudia L. Gordon is a dedicated advocate for people with disabilities with nearly 30 years of versatile professional expertise, with a personal mission to level the playing field and ensure the same opportunities are provided for all. She currently serves as the Senior Accessibility Strategist with T-Mobile US, Inc. In this role, she drives strategies for a disability inclusive culture and an accessible plus equitable work environment. Gordon has held senior leadership positions with Sprint Corporation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the National Council on Disability, and the National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center. During the Obama-Biden Administration, Gordon served as the Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the Associate Director of Public Engagement for the White House Office of Public Engagement. Adding to Gordons professional expertise is her lived experience as an immigrant at the intersections of race, disability, and gender, which is the foundation for the strong emphasis on disabled individuals with multiple marginalized identities that she brings to her work. For her unrelenting commitment to advocacy, compliance, civic engagement, and mentoring, Gordon has been recognized by the American Association of People with Disabilities, Google, AT&T Humanity of Connection, National Disability Mentoring Coalition, National Association of the Deaf, National Black Deaf Advocates, and The Root 100. Gordon is a native of Jamaica, graduate of Howard University, and graduate of the American Universitys Washington College of Law.

About the National Council on Disability:

First established as an advisory Council within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Rehabilitation in 1978 and Department of Education in 1979, NCD became an independent federal agency in 1984. In 1986, NCD recommended enactment of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and drafted the first version of the bill which was introduced in the House and Senate in 1988. Since enactment of the ADA in 1990, NCD has continued to play a leading role in crafting disability policy, and advising the President, Congress and other federal agencies on disability policies, programs, and practices.

###

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Dublin, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Biobetters Market by Drug Class, by Disease Indication, by Route of Administration, by Distribution Channel, and By Region" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global biobetters market size was estimated to be USD 46.78 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 112.12 billion by 2034 with a CAGR of 8.27% during the forecast period 2024-2034. The demand for enhanced efficacy and safety, advancements in biotechnology and protein engineering, the growing biopharmaceutical market, patient demand for personalized medicine, and collaborations and partnerships will drive the market growth.





A favorable environment for the development of biobetters is created by the market's general expansion for biopharmaceuticals, which includes monoclonal antibodies and other biologics. The market for biobetters is growing as a result of the growing acceptance and application of biologics in a range of therapeutic fields. For instance, in October 2023, Alector Biosciences and Roche announced a partnership to co-develop biobetters for neurodegenerative illnesses.



By drug class, the monoclonal antibodies biobetters segment accounted for the highest revenue-grossing segment in the global biobetters market in 2023 owing to the innovative modifications and advancements made in monoclonal antibody engineering, resulting in enhanced therapeutic efficacy, improved safety profiles, and increased patient acceptance. For instance, Novartis will introduce Kanjinti (a biosimilar of trastuzumab) in July 2023 to treat HER2-positive breast cancer and HER2-positive metastatic gastric cancer. Additionally, the insulin biobetters segment is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the rising prevalence of diabetes worldwide and the imperative need for more effective and patient-friendly insulin therapies.



By disease indication, the cancer segment accounted for the highest revenue-grossing segment in the global biobetters market in 2023 owing to the increased prevalence of various cancer types, driving the demand for more effective and targeted therapeutic interventions. For instance, Pfizer announced favorable Phase 3 results in October 2023 for ABP 738, a biosimilar of pegfilgrastim used to reduce neutropenia. Additionally, the neurodegenerative diseases segment is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the increasing global prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and the pressing need for advanced therapeutic options.



By route of administration, the subcutaneous segment accounted for the highest revenue-grossing segment in the global biobetters market in 2023 owing to the increasing preference for patient-friendly and convenient administration routes, coupled with the advantages of subcutaneous delivery in terms of improved bioavailability and reduced side effects. For instance, Johnson & Johnson completes the purchase of Abiomed in December 2023, broadening its range of cardiovascular devices and maybe opening the door for biobetter integration for the treatment of heart failure. Additionally, the intravenous segment is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the growing demand for rapid onset of action, precise dosage control, and the ability to administer larger volumes of biobetters in critical therapeutic situations.



By distribution channel, the hospital pharmacies segment accounted for the highest revenue-grossing segment in the global biobetters market in 2023 owing to the prevalent practice of administering biobetters in a hospital setting, where complex and specialized therapies can be managed by healthcare professionals. For instance, Eli Lilly and Company said in June 2023 that it will be working with Elly Lilly Japan to develop and market biobetters for autoimmune illnesses. Additionally, the retail pharmacies segment is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the rising trend of patient-centric care and the expanding role of retail pharmacies in providing convenient access to biobetters for chronic conditions and long-term treatments.



North American region is anticipated to have the highest revenue share during the forecast period owing to the robust presence of key biopharmaceutical companies, a well-established healthcare infrastructure, and a high prevalence of chronic diseases driving the demand for advanced therapeutic solutions. Additionally, the Asia Pacific region is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, a rapidly expanding healthcare infrastructure, and a growing emphasis on biotechnology and pharmaceutical research and development. For instance, AbbVie and Regeneron will collaborate to develop a biobetter in October 2023 to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD).



Report Scope

Base Year: 2023

Forecast Period: 2024-2034

Study Coverage

Market Forecast by Drug Class, Disease Indication, Route of Administration, and Distribution Channel

Market Forecast for 5 Regions and 17+ Countries

North America (U.S. and Canada)

Europe (Germany, France, UK, Spain, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe)

Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, Rest of APAC)

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Rest of LATAM)

MEA (South Africa, GCC, Rest of MEA)

Exhaustive Company Profiles of the Top 10+ Major Market Players

Global Biobetters Market Segmentation

Drug Class

Erythropoietin biobetters

Insulin biobetters

G-CSF biobetters

Interferon biobetters

Monoclonal antibodies biobetters

Anti-hemophilic factors

Other biobetters

Disease Indication

Diabetes

Cancer

Renal disease

Neurodegenerative diseases

Genetic disorders

Others

Route of Administration

Subcutaneous

Intravenous

Others

Distribution Channel

Hospital Pharmacies

Retail Pharmacies

Online Pharmacies

Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Companies Featured

Roche

Amgen

Novartis

Pfizer

Johnson & Johnson

Eli Lilly and Company

AbbVie

Biogen

AstraZeneca

Sanofi

Merck & Co.

Genentech (a member of the Roche Group)

Celgene (acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb)

Teva Pharmaceuticals

Samsung Bioepis

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 200 Forecast Period 2023-2034 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $46.78 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2034 $112.12 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.2% Regions Covered Global

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mq3q2s

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.

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OAKVILLE, Ontario, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Roth IAMS is proud to announce that it has been selected as the new vendor for the Ontario Ministry of Healths Facilities Condition Assessment (FCA), Application Support, Training and Data Transition Program. Under this contract, Roth IAMS will conduct Facility Condition Assessments for every public hospital in the province, as well as numerous community health providers, over the next four years, with an option to extend up to eight years. The portfolio totals over 90 Million square feet of operating healthcare facilities located throughout Ontario.



Scott Coe, Acting Director, on behalf of the Ministry of Health stated, Roth IAMS has extensive facility condition assessment experience, both in Ontario and other jurisdictions and brings with them a team of highly qualified staff. The ministry is confident that the new vendor will be an excellent addition to the improvement of our FCAP program and we are looking forward to working with them.

As part of this contract, existing inspection data will be migrated and stored in the SLAM CAP Capital Asset Management System (CAMS), ensuring efficient access and management of this crucial information. Roth IAMS will also leverage SLAM CAPs features to efficiently gather consistent and defensible FCA data across the portfolio.

The Ministry of Health joins the Ontario Colleges and University sectors in collaborating with Roth IAMS and using SLAM CAP software to manage their Deferred Capital Renewal and Maintenance Backlog.

We are excited to partner with the Ministry of Health on this essential initiative, said Roth IAMS President and CEO, Bill Roth. Our team is dedicated to ensuring the success of this program and providing valuable insights to support the maintenance and improvement of healthcare facilities across Ontario.

Roth IAMS is currently collaborating with the Ministry to finalize transition processes and aims to commence operations promptly. Pilot assessments will be undertaken in partnership with several hospital sites in the near future to establish a standardized approach that meets the needs of both hospitals and the Ministry.

The Ministry and Roth IAMS are committed to ensuring that all assessments expected in 2024 will be completed before year-end. We understand the importance of timely assessments and are working diligently to minimize any disruptions during this period, added Bill.

Roth IAMS will continue to work closely with the Ministry to provide further details on what hospitals can expect for 2024, including inspection dates, as the project progresses.

About Roth IAMS:

Roth IAMS is a consulting firm focused on facility and infrastructure asset management with offices, employees and projects across Canada and the United States. We collaborate with clients to provide them with strategies, data, tools, and processes that remove the stress from the annual capital planning and budgeting process.

Media Contact:

Amanda Harper

VP, Marketing and Communications, Roth IAMS

Email: amanda.harper@rothiams.com

Phone: 289-834-9531
LONDON, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emerging Markets Global Advisory LLP (EMGA) announces they have secured a US$50M facility senior debt facility from JICA, The Japan International Cooperation Agency.



KMF Chairman of the Board Shalkar Zhusupov: "This is the first time that KMF has entered into a partnership with JICA, whose goals and mission are close to our own. We are grateful to EMGA and JICA for their trust and support. The funds from JICA will be used to implement projects to support micro and small enterprises, including rural entrepreneurs, which will create new opportunities and contribute to their economic growth."

EMGAs Head of Investment Banking and Managing Director Sajeev Chakkalakal said, We are delighted to have arranged this new landmark debt facility for our long-standing client KMF. It has been a real pleasure to work with them again, as they continue to solidify their position as the largest MFI in the country, and further strengthen their financial position in spite of turbulent times.

EMGAs Managing Director Jeremy Dobson added, This new financing will help KMF deliver on their stated mission; to continue to help entrepreneurs throughout Kazakhstan, and to develop their business with a greater focus on female owned businesses and in rural areas.

MFO KMF is one of the leaders in Central Asian microfinance sector. The company aims to establish long-term partnership relations with clients based on mutual trust, understanding and respect. MFO KMF disburses clients individual and group loans for the following types of activity: business, trade, crop farming and cattle-breeding, production and services and consumer lending.

JICA: The Japan International Cooperation Agency is a governmental agency that delivers the bulk of Official Development Assistance for the government of Japan. It is chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing countries, and the promotion of international cooperation.

Emerging Markets Global Advisory Limited (EMGA), with offices in London and New York, helps financial institutions and corporates seeking new debt or equity capital. EMGAs multi-national team combine the decades of experience necessary to complete transactions on behalf of their clients within the worlds emerging markets and frontier economies, including Kazakhstan which remains a key market. With a proven track record in capital formation and strategic advisory throughout diverse economic cycles, EMGA continues expanding its geographic reach and service offering, solidifying its place in the market as one of the industries pre-eminent emerging markets focused niche investment banks.

Contact details

info@emergingmarketsglobaladvisory.com
ATLANTA, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics Georgias top-rated dermatology practice welcomes physician assistant Kathryn Katie Shea to its Buckhead location. This addition to the practices acclaimed staff allows Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics the ability to offer new, expanded hours at its Buckhead location, a first for Atlanta area dermatology.



Shea is a graduate of Augusta University where she earned her masters degree in physician assistant studies. She has extensive experience in dermatology and urgent care medicine, and she is a member of the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants, American Academy of Physician Assistants, and Georgia Dermatology Physician Assistants.

As a dermatology PA, the most rewarding aspect of my job is witnessing the positive impact I can make on patients lives, says Shea. Whether its helping someone overcome a chronic skin condition, providing reassurance during a worrisome diagnosis, or enhancing their self-confidence through personalized acne treatments, seeing patients satisfaction and improved quality of life is incredibly fulfilling.

With the addition of Shea, Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics will be offering extended hours in the Buckhead location on Wednesdays and Saturday morning in addition to the regular office hours. Hours of operation at Olanskys Roswell and Cumming office will continue to remain the same, with possible expanded hours in the future.

Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics Buckhead office is located at 3379 Peachtree Road N.E., Suite 500, Atlanta.

We strive to offer our patients the best providers possible, says Dr. Jodi Ganz, physician partner at Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics, By growing our staff, it allows us to better meet patients where they are and provide additional hours for better flexibility.

To schedule an appointment, visit OlanskyDermatology.com/Schedule or call: 404-355-5484. To learn more about Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics visit OlanskyDermatology.com .

Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics is your dermatology solution. Our ability to provide full-service dermatology to patients of all ages is a distinct benefit to choosing our practice. We offer medical, surgical, cosmetic, and aesthetic services to our patients, and even same day appointments when possible. This makes us not only a convenient solution for your family, but a comprehensive one as well. With services ranging from our in-house Mohs surgery for skin cancer, advanced laser therapy for psoriasis or our aesthetic services for skin rejuvenation, Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics can handle all of your skin concerns. For more details, visit our website at OlanskyDermatology.com or call 404-355-5484.

Interviews are available upon request.

Contact: Jon Waterhouse | Lenz, Inc.

404.373.2021

jwaterhouse@lenzmarketing.com




GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF AMAZONAS ANNOUNCES ISSUANCE OF MINE INSTALLATION LICENSE AFTER ALL REGULATORY FILINGS AND INDIGENOUS CONSULTATIONS COMPLETED

HISTORICAL STEP FOR BRAZIL TO MATERIALLY REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON IMPORTED POTASH AS ALL POTASH PLANNED TO BE SOLD DOMESTICALLY

PROJECT TO INITIALLY PRODUCE 2.4 MILLION TONS PER YEAR WITH ABILITY TO INCREASE PRODUCTION

STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP WITH AMMAGI FOR OFFTAKE AND DISTRIBUTION SIGNED

PROJECT REDUCES GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY ~1.4 MILLION TONS PER YEAR

MANAUS, Brazil, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brazil Potash Corp. (Brazil Potash or the Company) is excited to announce the Amazon State Environmental Protection Institute (IPAAM), has granted the mine Installation License for the Autazes Potash Project (the Project) to the 100% owned Brazilian subsidiary Potassio do Brasil, allowing for construction to commence. This is a major milestone in the Companys development and follows several years of environmental, social, and technical studies as well as the successful completion of local Indigenous Peoples free, prior, and informed consultations.



Brazil Potashs mine Installation License was granted at a ceremony organized by Amazon State Governor Wilson Lima, and attended by IPAAM President Juliano Valente, State Deputy Sinesio Campos, Potassio do Brasil President Adriano Espeschit, several other government officials, and major press outlets recognizing the importance of establishing a sustainable domestic source of potash in Brazil for global food security. The Company expects to start construction with the awarding of contracts for mine surface works and shaft construction.





Tadeu de Souza  Amazonas Vice Governor, Wilson Lima  Amazonas Governor, Anderson Cavalcante  Mayor Autazes, Silas Camara  Federal Deputy, Sinesio Campos  State Deputy, Ronney Peixoto  Mining Secretary of State, Kleber Mura  CIM Coordinator General





Extensive media attendance at license grant ceremony

BRAZIL AND THE NEED FOR FERTILIZERS

Global food security depends on the continued success of Brazilian agricultural exports. The country is a leading producer and exporter of orange juice, soybeans, corn, sugar and cotton as well as beef, poultry and pork. Abundant arable land, good year-round weather and efficient farming have made Brazilian farmers among the most productive globally, contributing roughly 30% to Brazils GDP. Critical to Brazils continuing productivity is access to affordable fertilizers. However, Brazil is highly exposed as it imports 85% of its fertilizer needs including 98% of its potash, half of which comes from countries currently at war or sanctioned, including Russia, Belarus, and Israel, when a massive potash basin exists in its own backyard. Now, with the License approval, Brazil can produce this essential mineral for its farmers in country, by-passing the risk and costs of imports. Potash is extremely important to efficiently grow food as it strengthens the stem of plants to make them more resilient to stresses caused by drought, extreme temperatures, and insect infestation.

ABOUT BRAZIL POTASH. GAME CHANGER FOR BRAZIL AND THE WORLD FOR FOOD SECURITY

Brazil Potashs Autazes deposit can be mined and processed, using proven off the shelf environmentally friendly technology, to extract the ore using room and pillar mining, separate out the potash using hot water and return the remaining material (sodium chloride tailings) back underground. From an environmental perspective, this project has positive greenhouse gas credentials considering it will operate with predominantly green produced electric energy (Brazil has 84%+ renewable energy in its grid). Production in country also eliminates 12,000 to 20,000 kilometers of shipping to reach Brazils large soybean farmers in Mato Grosso resulting in clear benefits to Brazil and for global food security.

We are thrilled to receive the mine installation license from the Amazon State Environmental Protection Institute. For several years, Brazil Potash has been waiting for this moment to show that is possible to have a sustainable mining operation in the Amazon region. With the Autazes Potash Project's support from the Mura Indigenous people, we can show the world that it is possible to have more development for local communities with a better quality of life. This truly marks a win-win for Brazils economy, its people, and the world, said Adriano Espeschit, President of Potassio do Brasil.

Brazil Potashs CEO, Matt Simpson, commented, I am very proud of the years of permitting, indigenous, government, and community relations work completed by our team in Brazil headed by our President Adriano Espeschit, which has resulting in securing the mine Installation License. This is a major milestone to advance and derisk the development of the Autazes Potash Project as we move closer to the start of project construction.

EXTENSIVE USE OF GREEN ENERGY AND POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPACT

Brazil Potash will have a positive impact on the economy and environment of the Amazonas state by reducing green house gases by ~1.4 million tons per year. The Company will create an estimated 10,000 new jobs and will be largest contributor to the GDP for the state of Amazonas. In addition, the project will produce potash locally and sell it in local currency thus saving Brazil roughly US$1 billion in currency outflows. The Company is also committed to suppling potash in small quantities to domestic farmers as they need it and supporting the initiatives of the Brazilian Government to restore degraded land.

For more information, please contact:

Brazil Potash Investor Relations

info@brazilpotash.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this shareholder update constitute forward-looking statements and are based on the reasonable expectations, estimates and projections of the Company as of the date of this letter. The words plans, expects, or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, or does not anticipate, or believes, 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 and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Muras Indigenous people consultation process; the potash market globally and in Brazil; geopolitical tensions and opportunities; the potential benefits to Brazil and the Mura Indigenous people and the world from the Project; government support of the Company and its project; population growth and Brazils natural resources, the importation of potash in Brazil, the growth of the potash market and price expectations, advancing construction financing, offtake agreements, raising capital, completing a strategic transaction with a third party, environmental or community benefits, expected industry demands, the Companys business strategy, the Companys forecast of annual production and sales of potash, appointment of directors, currency fluctuations, government regulation and environmental regulation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The estimates and assumptions contained in this letter, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to, the various assumptions of the Company set forth herein. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to fluctuations in the supply and demand for potash, changes in competitive pressures, including pricing pressures, timing and amount of capital expenditures, changes in capital markets and corresponding effects on the Companys investments, changes in currency and exchange rates, unexpected geological or environmental conditions, changes in and the effects of, government legislation, taxation, environmental regulations, licensing, controls and regulations and political or economic developments in jurisdictions in which the Company carries on its business or expects to do business, success in retaining or recruiting officers and directors for the future success of the Companys business, officers and directors allocating their time to other ventures; success in obtaining any required additional financing to make target acquisition or develop the Project; employee and community relations, and risks associated with obtaining any necessary licenses or permits. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect the Companys actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. 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. All of the forward-looking statements made in this letter are qualified by these cautionary statements. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4529432a-8480-4ad0-96c7-68a4c48dd28d

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4b2a4f5c-747c-4d93-9bbb-7e2c9fc9c213
COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT no. 24 - 9 April 2024

DFDS acquires international transport network connecting Turkiye and Europe from Ekol Logistics

Network had revenue of DKK 3.5bn and 3,700 employees in 2023

Acquisition replicates DFDS ferry/road business model to the Mediterranean and connects Turkiye to the existing DFDS network

Transaction enterprise value of DKK 1.9bn equals a 7.6x EV/EBITDA and 0.55x EV/Sales for 2023

Transaction conditional upon EU merger control approval

Investor/analyst conference call Tuesday 9 April 2024 at 4.00pm CET, see registration details below.

DFDS has today entered into an agreement to acquire the international transport network of Ekol Logistics (the Company). Ekol Logistics is a leading Turkish transport and logistics company headquartered in Istanbul.

The Company transports goods between Turkiye and Europe with own offices and facilities in 10 European countries. More than half of transports provided are intermodal using combinations of road, ferry, and rail making the Company the largest customer of DFDS Mediterranean ferry route network.

This acquisition is an excellent strategic match for DFDS. Transporting large trailer volumes reliably and efficiently using combinations of road, ferry, and rail is our core business. Moreover, we believe Turkiyes role as a manufacturing hub for Europe will become even stronger in the future as nearshoring drives supply chains closer to end markets, says Torben Carlsen, CEO of DFDS.

Im delighted that Ekol Logistics international transport network and all its skilled and dedicated employees have found a new home with our longstanding partner DFDS. This combination has the potential to make the transport infrastructure between Turkiye and Europe more efficient and help raise Turkiyes attractiveness as a manufacturing hub further, says Ahmet Musul, founder and Chair of the Board of Directors of Ekol Logistics.

The Turkiye-Europe transport market is on average expected to grow by around 14% annually until 2028 (CAGR for 2020-2023 was 15%) and the acquisition thereby expands DFDS network to a high-growth region supported by nearshoring of supply chains closer to Europe.

Strategic fit and business model

The acquisition is fully aligned with DFDS transport network strategy focused on moving goods in trailers by ferry, road, and rail, and on offering complementary logistics solutions.

The addition of the Company adds road transport to DFDS Mediterranean ferry network thereby extending the proven northern European ferry/road business model to this region. DFDS logistics network is in addition expanded across Europe and the existing transport network is connected to Turkiye thereby enabling DFDS to offer end-to-end transport and logistics solutions between Turkiye and Europe directly to end customers.

The Companys transport network builds on a partnership since 2019 with DFDS through a long-term customer agreement providing stable access to ferry capacity in the Mediterranean route network. The agreement also extends access to third-party rail transport from arrival ports to select European destinations. Road-only transport and additional third-party rail transport solutions are offered for destinations outside the ferry networks catchment areas and for transports requiring faster delivery times.

Business and integration plan to improve financial performance

Due to challenging market conditions, including loss of market share, the Companys EBIT-margin declined from 4.8% in 2022 to 2.5% in 2023.

The business and integration plans financial objective is to improve the EBIT-margin to around 5% by 2027 through a three-phased plan:

Phase 1 (year 1): Commercial and operational focus to increase volume throughput and improve equipment utilisation by initiating sale of transports to/from Turkiye by DFDS existing northern European network. Grow volumes to Turkiye from acquired European offices. Insource agency services to own existing network.

Phase 2 (year 1-2): Integrate existing and acquired European networks to gain scale benefits, including improved utilisation of equipment/facilities and consolidation of offices/facilities. Move select volumes to ferry/rail from road. Integrate customs organisations.

Phase 3 (year 2-3): Network optimisation and sales to key customers of contract logistics products to complement transport solutions (FTL/LTL).

In parallel with the integration of operations, it-systems will be integrated over expectedly three years. The two major integrations are replacement of transport management systems and ERP systems with systems used by DFDS.

The Company will become part of the Logistics Division. A detailed business and integration plan, including expected synergies, will be disclosed in connection with the closing of the transaction.

Transaction structure and financing

DFDS acquires the Company for a debt-free price of DKK 1.9bn (EUR 260m) equal to an EV/EBITDA multiple of 7.6x based on 2023 earnings and an EV/Sales multiple of 0.55x based on 2023 sales.

The transaction will be financed by a combination of loan financing and use of existing cash funds.

About the Companys international transport network

The Company transports goods for manufacturers between Turkiye and Europe using primarily trailers to minimise trip days as most goods carried are time sensitive.

The network is set up for both intermodal and road-only transports using mostly inhouse haulage and ferry/rail transport provided by third-party ferry and rail operators. Around 80% of all transports combine transport modes. DFDS is the key provider of ferry transport between Turkiye and Europe for the Company.

Customers are mainly European and global manufacturers with production or assembly plants in Turkiye and Europe as well as Turkish export companies. Primary sectors served are automotive, industrial parts, and textiles/garments.

The network offers customers both full-load (FTL) and part-load (LTL) transports with a split of around 60/40 as well as complementary services, e.g. customs. The top three transport flow corridors are Turkiye-Germany followed by Spain and France. Own offices and facilities are operated in 10 European countries to service customers and haulage operations.

The Companys revenue was DKK 3.5bn in 2023 and had 3,700 employees. More than 6,000 equipment units are operated and owned outright. Equipment includes 1,300 trucks, 3,900 trailers/swap bodies, and 600 containers. There are 26 facilities in Europe with a total area of 120,000 sqm. Around 75% are cross-docking terminals for the LTL operations and the remainder are warehousing with storage capacity.

Road and sea freight comprise more than 90% of the total Turkiye-Europe transport market which is on average expected to grow by around 14% annually until 2028 (CAGR for 2020-2023 was 15%). The main competitors are Turkish transport and logistics companies as well as to some extent container shipping operators.

Regulatory approvals

Completion of the transaction is conditional upon EU merger control approval and usual contractual conditions. As announced on 28 July 2023, the transaction has been approved by the Turkish Competition Authority. Closing is expected around the beginning of Q4 2024.

Investor conference call

An investor and analyst conference call will be held on 9 April 2024 at 4.00pm CET.

Please register for the call via this link. Live streaming is available from this link.

Contact

Torben Carlsen, CEO +45 33 42 32 01

Sren Brndholt Nielsen, IR +45 33 42 33 59

Dennis Kjrsgaard Srensen, Media +45 42 30 38 47

About DFDS

We operate a transport network in and around Europe with an annual revenue of DKK 27bn and 13,200 full-time employees.

We move goods in trailers by ferry, road & rail, and we offer complementary and related transport and logistics solutions.

We also move car and foot passengers on short sea and overnight ferry routes.

DFDS was founded in 1866 and headquartered and listed in Copenhagen.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

Attachment
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.
West Vancouver, April 8, 2024 - Surge Battery Metals Inc. (TSXV: NILI) (OTCQX: NILIF) (FSE: DJ5) (the "Company" or "Surge") is pleased to announce that it has filed on SEDAR a technical report titled "Technical Report Nevada North Lithium Project" (the "Technical Report") dated effective February 16, 2024. The Technical Report was required to be filed under NI 43-101 because of the mineral resource estimate (the "MRE") disclosed by the Company in its news release dated February 22, 2024.

The information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Bruce M. Davis, PhD, FAusIMM and Steven B. Kerr, CPG, PG, of Escalante Geological Services LLC, the authors of the Technical Report. Both authors are Qualified Persons as that term is defined in NI 43-101 and NI 43-101CP.

About Surge Battery Metals Inc.

Surge Battery Metals, a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, is at the forefront of securing the supply of domestic lithium through its active engagement in the Nevada North Lithium Project. The project focuses on exploring clean, high-grade lithium energy metals in Nevada, USA. Lithium is a crucial element for powering the electric vehicles of tomorrow. With a primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada and the OTCQX Market in the US, Surge Battery Metals Inc. is strategically positioned as a key player in advancing lithium exploration, contributing significantly to the sustainable future of the electric vehicle industry.

About the Nevada North Lithium Project

The Company's Nevada North Lithium Project, located in the Granite Range southeast of Jackpot, Nevada 73 km north-northeast of Wells, Elko County, Nevada. The first two rounds of drilling, completed in 2022 and 2023, identified a strongly mineralized zone of lithium bearing clays occupying a strike length of more than 3,500 meters and a known width of up to 950 meters. Highly anomalous soil values and geophysical surveys suggest there is potential for the clay horizons to be much greater in extent. The Nevada North Lithium Project has a pit-constrained Inferred Resource containing an estimated 4.67Mt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) grading 2,839 ppm Li at a 1,250 ppm cutoff.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Greg Reimer"

Greg Reimer,

President & CEO

Contact Information

Email : info@surgebatterymetals.com

Phone : 604-662-8184

Website: surgebatterymetals.com

Keep up-to-date with Surge Battery Metals on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

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 document may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan" or "planned", "possible", "potential", "forecast", "intend", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities including lithium and nickel, the accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals including approvals of title and mining rights or licenses and environmental, local community or indigenous community approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure or water, changes in laws, rules and regulations including in the United States, Nevada or California or any other jurisdiction which may impact upon the Company or its properties or the commercial exploitation of those properties, currency risks including the exchange rate of USD$ for Cdn$ or other currencies, fluctuations in the market for lithium related products, changes in exploration costs and government royalties, export policies or taxes in the United States or any other jurisdiction and other factors or information. The Company's current plans, expectations, and intentions with respect to development of its business and of its Nevada properties may be impacted by economic uncertainties arising out of any pandemic or by the impact of current financial and other market conditions (including US government subsidies or incentives) on its ability to secure further financing or funding of its Nevada properties. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon several assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, environmental (including endangered species, habitat preservation and water related risks) and social risks, contingencies, and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/204737
Abitibi Metals Corp. (CSE:AMQ) (OTCQB:AMQFF) (FSE:4KG) ("Abitibi" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that, due to overwhelming interest, the Company's non-brokered private placement previously announced on March 21, 2024 (the "Offering") has been upsized. The Offering will now consist of up to 10,702,627 common shares of the Company, which is expected to close on April 9, 2024, and has been fully allocated.

Jonathon Deluce, CEO of Abitibi Metals, stated, "We are pleased to announce the final upsize of this strategic financing. With a treasury of approximately $19 million on closing, Abitibi is in a unique position of strength in a challenging market, as we will be fully funded through 2025 to execute a 50,000-metre drill program and be in a position to deliver a PEA at the B26 Deposit. As both a passionate mining entrepreneur and investor, building compelling stories excites me, and I am grateful for the support Abitibi has received, which will enable us to successfully close the funds needed for a seven-year option within only four months. I believe 2024 is the beginning of a strong macroeconomic environment for gold and copper where high-grade growth stories like ours can flourish."

Jim Deluce, Chairman of the Board and Largest Shareholder of Abitibi Metals, commented, "I am incredibly proud of what the team has accomplished in a challenging economic climate, raising over $21 million in 4 months to successfully secure our 80% earn-in across what was supposed to be a 7-year option. When Jonathon was appointed as CEO, he was challenged by the board to identify an asset with significant growth potential, something he very capably accomplished through the acquisition of the Beschefer Gold Project, where we drilled 4.92 grams per ton gold over 28.65 metres1, including 11.39 g/t Au over 9.1 metres1, a project we very much look forward to returning to in the near future."

Mr.Deluce continued: "With B26, the team did it again - successfully identifying and bringing public an asset where, at Abitibi, we have only started to unlock its potential. With a robust treasury of approximately $19 million, an incredible corporate and technical team, and a world-class advisory team, Abitibi Metals now has a very strong foundation to build from as we continue to execute and remain extremely focused on building the next significant metals company in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt."

The Offering consists of two parts: a) $5,109,021.78 of charity flow-through common shares ("CFT Shares") priced at C$0.86/share for the issuance of 5,940,723 CFT Shares; and b) $2,000,000 of common shares priced at C$0.42/share for the issuance of 4,761,904 Common Shares. The CFT Shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act").

The gross proceeds from the Charity Flow-Through Offering will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" that are "flow-through mining expenditures" (as such terms are defined in the Tax Act) related to the Company's projects in Quebec. Gross proceeds from the Common Share offering will be used for general and administration expenses including funding for the PEA obligation, property option payments, and to scale up marketing & awareness initiatives.

Finder's fees in cash or securities may be paid on gross proceeds of the Offering, as permitted by securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). Eventus Capital Corp. has been appointed as a Finder in connection with the Offering.

The securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to the Company's filing requirements with the CSE, and all securities will be subject to a four-month and one day statutory hold period after closing.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Jonathon Deluce, Chief Executive Officer

For more information, please call 226-271-5170, email info@abitibimetals.com, 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: https://www.linkedin.com/company/abitibi-metals-corp-amq-c/

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Source:

https://abitibimetals.com/goldseek-intersects-4-92-g-t-gold-over-28-65-meters-at-beschefer/ (QP-Martin Demers, P.Geo,ogq No 770)

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, financing plans, financial results or other technical developments or reports 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 Company's 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 Company's 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 Abitibi's 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," or "might" 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, April 09, 2024 - A.I.S. Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: AIS, OTC-PINK: AISSF, FRA: 5YHA) (the "Company" or "AIS") announces a renewed focus on gold exploration in Australia. Through its wholly owned Australian subsidiary AIS Resources Aust. Pty, AIS continues to own:



100% interest in the 28 km 2 Fosterville-Toolleen Exploration License (EL6001) located 10 km due east of Agnico Eagle's Fosterville gold mine,

Fosterville-Toolleen Exploration License (EL6001) located 10 km due east of Agnico Eagle's Fosterville gold mine, 60% interest in the 58 km 2 Bright Exploration License (EL6194), with an option to acquire 100%, and,

Bright Exploration License (EL6194), with an option to acquire 100%, and, 100% interest in the 167 km2 Kingston Exploration License (EL6318).

These three advanced stage exploration properties, with a combined area of over 250 km2, are all located in the Lachlan Fold Belt, also known as the Golden Triangle, located in the Central Victoria region of Australia. The Geological Survey of Victoria estimates that there may be up to 75 million ounces (Moz) of gold yet to be found in these Victorian goldfields.

Previous work has identified high potential drill targets on the Toolleen property, with geological characteristics very similar to the neighbouring high grade Fosterville mine.

The Kingston property encompasses a prospecting license owned by the property Vendor, that includes a 50-meter-deep vertical shaft and associated small-scale mine. AIS will receive 15% of gold sales revenue emanating from the Vendor's mining activities outside of the Vendor's prospecting license.

Andrew Neale, President & CEO of AIS commented, "The significant increase in gold prices has renewed interest in gold exploration, and the three properties in Australia are ready for immediate on-site work. Our major shareholders are indicating their ongoing support for work in this area, and the Company is actively engaged in evaluating opportunities to raise the appropriate funding," The Company will be providing updates in a timely manner as these efforts progress.

As previously announced, AIS entered into an option agreement with American Salars Lithium Inc., (CSE: USLI, FRA: Z3P) on the Company's remaining lithium project in Argentina. In early March, AIS completed a 1-for-10 reverse stock split as part of ongoing corporate restructuring efforts, reducing the total share count to approximately 20 million shares

About A.I.S. Resources Limited

A.I.S. Resources Ltd. is a publicly traded investment issuer listed on the TSX Venture Exchange focused on various natural resource opportunities. AIS's value add strategy is to acquire early-stage projects and provide technical and financial support to enhance their value. The Company is managed by a team of experienced engineers, geologists, and investment bankers, with a track-record of successful capital market achievements.

On Behalf of A.I.S. Resources Ltd.

Andrew Neale

President & CEO

Corporate Contact

For further information, please contact:

Martyn Element, Chairman of the Board

T: +1-604-220-6266

E: melement@aisresources.com

Website: www.aisresources.com

ADVISORY: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them 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. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. 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.
VANCOUVER, April 09, 2024 - Bedford Metals Corp. (TSX-V: BFM) (the "Company" or "Bedford") announces significant progress in planning for the 2024 summer exploration campaign at the Margurete Gold project in British Columbia, Canada. These endeavors leverage the Company's prior successes in mineral discovery at the Margurete site, which include findings of up to 6.18 grams per tonne (g/t) gold at the surface.



The Company will continue to provide regular updates in the coming weeks regarding the campaign. As progress continues, stakeholders and interested parties can expect to be informed of any significant milestones, findings, or modifications to the work program.

As reported in the Company's release on March 7, Bedford is also making significant progress in pursuing opportunities in the uranium sector, conducting comprehensive due diligence on multiple potential projects within the highly promising Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Renowned for hosting some of the world's highest-grade uranium deposits, the Athabasca Basin holds substantial potential for the Company. Notably, approximately 20% of the world's uranium production originates from this region, underscoring its significance in the global nuclear fuel market. [World Nuclear News]

President of Bedford, Peter Born, expressed enthusiasm for the Company's strategic initiatives, stating, "As we expedite our exploration plans for our Margurete Gold project, we are also aggressively aiming to expand our presence in the uranium sector. By diversifying into uranium, we aim to further solidify our market standing."

Bedford remains committed to delivering exceptional value to its shareholders through proactive exploration strategies and strategic resource acquisitions. The Company looks forward to providing updates on its progress as it continues to advance its exploration program and expansion endeavors.

For further information, please contact the Company at info@bedfordmetals.com or visit the Company's website at www.bedfordmetals.com.

About Bedford Metals Inc.

Bedford Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company. We create value for our shareholders by identifying and developing highly prospective mineral exploration opportunities. Our strategy is to advance our projects from discovery to production, allowing Bedford to achieve exceptional shareholder value through the entire mining life cycle.

Margurete Gold Project. Bedford owns a one-hundred percent interest in the Margurete Gold Project. The primary target of the Margurete Gold Project is the FB Zone. The project was last explored in 2018 with property-wide prospecting, mapping, and rock chip sampling, in parallel with a targeted pack-sack diamond drilling program. An initial exploration program was completed on the Margurete property in 1986 by Falconbridge. This program consisted of geochemical surveys, ground-based geophysics, and a diamond drilling program, successfully identifying gold-bearing veins, which are believed to be genetically related to the same mineralizing events responsible for the nearby Doratha Morton and Alexandria Gold mines.

Dr. Peter Born, PGeo, is the designated qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for, and has approved, the technical information contained in this release.

For further information, contact the Company at info@bedfordmetals.com or 604-622-1199 or visit the Company's website at www.bedfordmetals.com.

On behalf of the Board,

Bedford Metals Corp.

"Peter Born"

President

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws.

CONTACT:

MRKT360 INC

https://mrkt360.com

Alex Zertuche

alexz@mrkt360.com

For E.S.T Office Hours, Call 1 416-477-0587
VANCOUVER, April 9, 2024 - Sitka Gold Corp. ("Sitka" or the "Company") (TSX-V:SIG) (FSE:1RF) (OTCQB:SITKF) is pleased to announce it has intercepted visible gold within sheeted veining in megacrystic quartz monzonite intrusive rock in the second 2024 winter diamond drill hole (DDRCCC-24-58 or Hole 58) at its flagship RC Gold Project ("RC Gold" or the "Project") located in Yukon's prolific Tombstone Gold Belt. A total of 1085.1 m has been drilled to date this year as part of a planned 15,000 m diamond drilling for 2024.

Hole 58 was collared approximately 70 metres north of recently completed DDRCCC-24-057, which also intersected visible gold in sheeted veining within megacrystic quartz monzonite (see press release dated March 28, 2024). Hole 58 was drilled to a depth of 534.9 metres at an azimuth of 60 degrees and dip of -60 degrees (see Figure 1) and is currently being logged and cut in preparation for delivery to the assay lab.

The winter drilling program is focused on stepping out from Hole 47 that was drilled in 2023 south of the current Blackjack gold deposit (900,000 ounces of gold at a grade of 0.83 g/t; see news release dated January 19, 2023). Hole 47 contained the best gold mineralized intersection to date on the property, returning 219.0 m of 1.34 g/t gold including 124.8 m of 2.01 g/t gold and 55.0 m of 3.11 g/t gold. Hole 58 was drilled to test the down dip extension of the well mineralized quartz monzonite intrusion intersected in hole DDRCCC-23-047 (see news release dated September 26, 2023).

"Observations of visible gold within significant intervals of megacrystic quartz monzonite (intrusive rock) in the first two step out drill holes of our winter diamond drilling campaign at RC Gold are very encouraging and further support that robust gold mineralization remains persistent in this area, which is still open in all directions," said Cor Coe, Director and CEO of Sitka Gold. "These successful step outs show that mineralization encountered in Hole 47 continues in Hole 57 and 58 and demonstrates the significant potential to expand higher grade gold mineralization to the south and southeast of the current Blackjack deposit, which remains open in all directions, and we are eagerly awaiting the assay results.

"Our team has done a wonderful job getting an early start on the planned 15,000 metre diamond drilling program for this year. As the only company drilling in the Tombstone Gold Belt this winter, the advantages of having proximity to existing infrastructure, including year-round road access, are hard to ignore and bode well for current and future development of RC Gold. The Blackjack gold deposit is a strong example of the geological potential of the district-scale and still largely underexplored land package where over 1.3 million ounces of gold has been defined and nine outcropped intrusions associated with gold mineralization have been identified to date. With a gold resource that is poised for significant growth and several additional high priority intrusion related gold targets across the 386 square kilometre property, Sitka is very well positioned to capitalize on a strengthening gold market as we continue with our fully funded 2024 diamond drilling program at RC Gold."

Hole 58 has confirmed that the well mineralized quartz monzonite intrusion intersected in hole DDRCCC-23-047 and in Hole 57 continues to depth. It intersected two broad zones of feldspar megacrystic and vari-textured, quartz monzonite and feldspar porphyry (6.0 - 114.2 m and 455.3 - 509.8 m, Figures 2 and 5) within a large package of biotite schist, phyllite, and quartzite of the Late Proterozoic Yusezyu Formation (Hyland Group). The intersection correlates well with the expected geology encountered in previous drill holes in the area including the lamprophyre dyke commonly associated with gold mineralization that was intersected from 509.9 - 528.2 m. The intrusions were cut by abundant 1-2 cm sheeted quartz veins, quartz-arsenopyrite veins, and arsenopyrite veins. Visible gold was noted at 476.9 m within the deepest intersection of the intrusion drilled to date (Figure 5). Several occurrences of bismuthinite, which is commonly associated with gold mineralization within the Blackjack gold deposit, were also observed in various intervals throughout the drill hole.

The key objectives of drilling this year will be to further expand and define targets within the well-endowed Clear Creek Intrusive Complex area, which currently hosts the Blackjack and Eiger gold deposits - both of which remain open in all directions. This initial drilling has focused on expanding the mineralization hosting the Blackjack deposit to the south and to depth and that objective has been achieved. The mineralization remains open and when drilling recommences this area will continue to be a focus for expansion of the high-grade Blackjack deposit resource. Drilling will also target expansion of the resource at the Eiger deposit and continue drilling of the Saddle zone, midway between the Blackjack and Eiger deposits, where drilling has indicated excellent potential for another resource (see Figure 3). Additionally, the drilling aims to advance the drill-ready targets elsewhere on the district-scale, 386 square kilometre property which hosts nine known intrusions with associated gold mineralization. The winter phase of the 15,000 m diamond drill program planned for 2024 has now been completed. The drill remains on site and the drilling will recommence after a brief hiatus as the spring thaw has begun in the Yukon.



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Figure 1: Workmap showing drill hole locations at the Blackjack gold deposit.



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Figure 2: Cross section of DDRCCC-24-058 where visible gold was intercepted within the deepest intersection of the intrusion drilled to date.



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Figure 3: Plan map of the Northern Extent of the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex where several drill intervals and surface samples have demonstrated the high-grade nature of the Reduced Intrusion Related Gold System present. Yellow stars indicate where outcrop rock samples of drill hole intervals have returned >10 g/t gold. Several additional targets with the potential to host intrusion related gold deposits of significant size and grade have yet to be drilled within this approximately 3 km x 5 km area. The Saddle Zone target area remains largely untested by drilling and contains the largest and strongest gold-in-soil anomaly on the property.



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Figure 4: Example of visible gold observed in DDRCCC-24-058 at 476.9 m



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Figure 5: Drill core, ranging from 470.5 to 479.5 metres in DDRCCC-24-058, consists of variably altered and intensely veined, multi-phase, megacrystic quartz monzonite, where visible gold was observed in a quartz veinlet at a depth of 476.9 metres.

About the flagship RC Gold Project

The RC Gold Project consists of a 386 square kilometre contiguous district-scale land package located in the heart of Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt. The project is located approximately 100 kilometres east of Dawson City with a 5,000 foot paved runway and is accessed via a secondary gravel road from the Klondike Highway which is usable year-round and is an approximate 2 hour drive from Dawson. It is the largest consolidated land package strategically positioned mid-way between Victoria Gold's Eagle Gold Mine - Yukon's newest gold mine which reached commercial production in the summer of 2020 - and Victoria Gold's former producing Brewery Creek Gold Mine.

On January 19, 2023 Sitka Gold announced an Initial Mineral Resource Estimate prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") guidelines for the RC Gold Property of 1,340,000 ounces of gold(1). The road accessible, pit constrained Mineral Resource is classified as inferred and is contained in two near/on-surface zones: The Blackjack and Eiger deposits. Both of these deposits are at/near surface, are potentially open pit minable and amenable to heap leaching, with initial bottle roll tests indicating that the gold is not refractory and has high gold recoveries of up to 94% with minimal NaCN consumption (see News Release July 13, 2022). The Mineral Resource estimate is presented in the following table at a base case cut-off grade of 0.25 g/t Au:

RC Gold Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate

COG g/t Au Blackjack Zone Eiger Zone Combined Tonnes 000's Au g/t 0z Au 000's Tonnes 000's Au g/t 0z Au 000's Tonnes 000's Au g/t 0z Au 000's 0.20 35,798 0.80 921 32,523 0.45 471 68,321 0.63 1,391 0.25 33,743 0.83 900 27,362 0.50 440 61,105 0.68 1,340 0.30 31,282 0.88 885 22,253 0.55 393 53,535 0.74 1,279 0.35 29,065 0.92 860 17,817 0.60 344 46,882 0.80 1,203 0.40 26,975 0.96 833 14,506 0.66 308 41,481 0.86 1,140

Notes

1. Mineral resource estimate prepared by Ronald G. Simpson of GeoSim Services Inc. with an effective date of January 19,

2023. Mineral Resources are classified using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards.

2. The cut-off grade of 0.25 g/t Au is believed to provide a reasonable margin over operating and sustaining costs for open-pit

mining and processing

3. Mineral resources are constrained by an optimised pit shell using the following assumptions: US$1800/oz Au price; a 45

pit slope; assumed metallurgical recovery of 85%; mining costs of US$2.00 per tonne; processing costs of US$8.00 per

tonne; G&A of US$1.50/t.

4. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

5. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

To date, 56 diamond drill holes have been drilled into this system for a total of approximately 19,962 metres including 16 drill holes totalling 6,515 metres completed in 2023 focused on expanding the initial resource. The drilling in 2023 produced results of up to 219.0 m of 1.34 g/t gold including 124.8 m of 2.01 g/t gold and 55.0 m of 3.11 g/t gold in drill hole DDRCCC-23-047 at Blackjack (see news release dated September 26, 2023).

*For more detailed information on the underlying properties please visit our website at www.sitkagoldcorp.com

RC Gold Deposit Model

Exploration on the Property has mainly focused on identifying an intrusion-related gold system ("IRGS"). The property is part of the Tombstone Gold Belt which is the prominent host to IRGS deposits within the Tintina Gold Province in Yukon and Alaska. Notable deposits from the belt include: Fort Knox Mine in Alaska with current Proven and Probable Reserves of 230 million tonnes at 0.3 g/t Au (2.471 million ounces; Sims 2018)(1); Eagle Gold Mine with current Measured and Indicated Resources of 233 million tonnes at a grade of 0.57 g/t Au at the Eagle Main Zone (4.303 million ounces; Harvey et al, 2022)(2); the Brewery Creek deposit with current Indicated Mineral Resource of 22.2 million tonnes at a gold grade of 1.11 g/t (0.789 million ounces; Hulse et al. 2020)(3); the Florin Gold deposit, located adjacent to Sitka's RC Gold project, with a current Inferred Mineral Resource of 170.99 million tonnes grading 0.45 g/t (2.47 million ounces; Simpson 2021)(4) and the AurMac Project with an Inferred Mineral Resource of 347.49 million tonnes grading 0.63 gram per tonne gold (7.00 million ounces)(5).

(1) Sims J. Fort Knox Mine Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, USA National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report. June 11, 2018. https://s2.q4cdn.com/496390694/files/doc_downloads/2018/Fort-Knox-June-2018-Technical-Report.pdf

(2) Harvey N., Gray P., Winterton J., Jutras M., Levy M.,Technical Report for the Eagle Gold Mine, Yukon Territory, Canada. Victoria Gold Corp. December 31, 2022. https://vgcx.com/site/assets/files/6534/vgcx_-_2023_eagle_mine_technical_report_final.pdf

(3) Hulse D, Emanuel C, Cook C. NI 43-101 Technical Report on Mineral Resources. Gustavson Associates. May 31, 2020. https://www.goldenpredator.com/_resources/Brewery-Creek_NI-43-101-05OCT2020-File.pdf

(4) Simpson R. Florin Gold Project NI 43-101 Technical Report. Geosim Services Inc. April 21, 2021. https://sedar.com/GetFile.do?lang=EN&docClass=24&issuerNo=00005795&issuerType=03&projectNo=03236138&docI d=4984158

(5) Banyan Gold News Release Dated February 7, 2023 (Technical Report to be filed within 45 days of news release) https://banyangold.com/news-releases/2024/banyan-announces-7-million-ounce-gold-updated-mineral-resource-estimate-aurma c-project-yukon-canada/

Upcoming Events

Sitka Gold will be attending and/or presenting at the following events*:

Redcloud Virtual 1:1 Precious Metals Conference, Toronto, ON, April 11, 2024

121 Mining Investment Conference, London, England: May 15 - 16, 2024

Yukon Mining Alliance Property Tours, Dawson City, Yukon: June 20 - 26, 2024

Takestock Investor Forum, Stampede Event, Calgary, Alberta: July 3, 2024

Precious Metals Summit, Beaver Creek, Colorado: September 10 - 13, 2-024

*All events are subject to change.

About Sitka Gold Corp.

Sitka Gold Corp. is a well-funded mineral exploration company headquartered in Canada with approximately $7 million in the treasury. The Company is managed by a team of experienced industry professionals and is focused on exploring for economically viable mineral deposits with its primary emphasis on gold, silver and copper mineral properties of merit. Sitka is currently exploring its flagship RC Gold Project within the Tombstone Gold Belt in the Yukon Territory. The company is advancing the Alpha Gold Project in Nevada and has drill permits for its Burro Creek Gold and Silver Project in Arizona and the Coppermine River Project in Nunavut.

The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Cor Coe, P.Geo., Director and CEO of the Company, and a Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF Sitka Gold Corp.

"Donald Penner"

President and Director

For more information contact:

Donald Penner President & Director 778-212-1950

dpenner@sitkagoldcorp.com

or

Cor Coe

CEO & Director 604-817-4753

ccoe@sitkagoldcorp.com

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things, the use of the proceeds raised under the Offering and the Company's anticipated work programs.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will complete its anticipated work programs and use the proceeds of the Offering as currently anticipated.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market uncertainty, the results of the Company's anticipated work programs and that the Company will not use the proceeds of the Offering as currently anticipated.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.


Abitibi Metals Corp. (CSE:AMQ) (OTCQB:AMQFF) (FSE:4KG) ("Abitibi" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") raising gross proceeds of $7,109,021.70 through the issuance of (i) 5,940,723 charity flow-through common shares ("CFT Shares") priced at C$0.86 per CFT Share, and (ii) 4,761,904 common shares (the "Shares") priced at C$0.42 per Share.

Jonathon Deluce, CEO of Abitibi, stated, "The successful closing of this Offering marks a pivotal moment for Abitibi as we are now in a position to complete the full option agreements at both B26 and Beschefer without further funds. This Offering is a major milestone, supporting the market's confidence in the potential of Abitibi. The overwhelming support from our shareholders, once again allowing us to raise capital with no warrants for a third straight financing, provides the foundation for aggressive growth as we continue to develop our key assets and deliver value for all stakeholders."

Mr. Deluce continued "With a treasury of approximately $19 million and 40,000 metres still ahead of us at B26 and Beschefer, Abitibi is in a unique position of financial strength in this market as a fully funded company through 2025. The start of 2024 has marked the beginning of a bullish environment for gold and copper, allowing high-grade projects like ours to thrive."

The CFT Shares qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act").

The gross proceeds from the Offering of the CFT Shares will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" that are "flow-through mining expenditures" (as such terms are defined in the Tax Act) related to the Company's projects in Quebec. Gross proceeds from the Offering of the Shares will be used for general and administration expenses including funding for the PEA obligation, property option payments, and to scale up marketing & awareness initiatives.

The Company paid finders fees totaling $277,944.19 cash and 245,550 finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") in connection with the closing of the Offering to various eligible finders. The Finder's Warrants are exercisable at C$0.86 per Share for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the Offering. Eventus Capital Corp. was appointed as the lead finder in connection with the Offering.

The securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to the Company's filing requirements with the Canadian Securities Exchange, and all securities will be subject to a four-month statutory hold period after closing.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Jonathon Deluce, Chief Executive Officer

For more information, please call 226-271-5170, email info@abitibimetals.com, 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: https://www.linkedin.com/company/abitibi-metals-corp-amq-c/

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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, financing plans, financial results or other technical developments or reports 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 Company's 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 Company's 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 Abitibi's 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," or "might" 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.

The securities issued pursuant to the Offering have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons in the absence of U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.


Flavor feast: A food review of Fudan University's cafeteria

(People's Daily App) 16:44, April 09, 2024

Have you ever wondered what the cafeteria is like at Fudan University, renowned as one of the best universities in China? Situated in Shanghai, East China, this university's cafeteria offers many mealtime options; students are spoilt for choice. The cafeteria also sells specialty foods during various traditional festivals, allowing students to fully immerse themselves in the joyous celebrations while indulging in delicious meals. Join Egor and Truman as they take us on a cafeteria tour.

(Video source: SHINE)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
A line of customers waits at Snoberg at Saluhall, which offers oat milk soft serve. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to the Chronicle A pastrami-spiced beetroot sandwich from Smorgasland, one of 11 new food stands opening at Saluhall in downtown San Francisco. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle A Crab louie open-face sandwich from Smorgasland at Saluhall in San Francisco. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle Casa Borinquena, a vegan Puerto Rican restaurant, at Saluhall in San Francisco. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle Sauna Bar at Saluhall in San Francisco. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle Oat-based soft serve from Snoberg, one of many vegan options at Saluhall in San Francisco. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle A selection of pastries at Kayma in Saluhall. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle Outside the IKEA building on Market Street. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

A massive, much-anticipated food hall will open its doors in downtown San Francisco on Thursday, April 11, and has revealed new details about its many food and drink options.

Saluhall, inside the IKEA-anchored mall at 945 Market St., will officially open at 11:30 a.m. with 11 places to eat and drink spread across two stories and 23,000 square feet. There will be a variety of cuisines and dishes, from Sichuan noodles and grilled Algerian skewers to vegan tacos. The local food businesses are Puerto Rican restaurant Casa Borinquena; Indian fusion chain Curry Up Now; popular Algerian spot and La Cocina incubator alum Kayma; top food truck Momo Noodle; and vegan Mexican restaurant Taqueria la Venganza. In-house vendors include a burger spot, soft serve stand, three bars and a bakery from a renowned Copenhagen restaurateur.

Much of the food will be vegan. Taqueria La Venganza will serve its meatless versions of birria, al pastor, carne asada and carnitas tucked into tacos ($4-$6) and burritos ($12-$17) and piled atop nachos ($12-$16). Casa Borinquena, likely the Bay Areas only vegan Puerto Rican restaurant, stuffs pastelillos ($7), a crispy, half-moon-shaped pastry, with Impossible Foods beef or soy-based chicken, among other dishes. For dessert, there will be coquito tres leches cake soaked in caramel and coconut ($6).

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Pastelillo filled with plant-based beef at Casa Borinquena at new San Francisco food hall Saluhall. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle

Curry Up Now will also have its popular chicken tikka masala burritos, everything bagel naan and other fusion-style Indian fare; Momo will serve Sichuan egg noodles with spicy pork, chicken or tofu; and Kayma will have Algerian couscous bowls with toppings like grilled merguez sausage and hamiss, a roasted red pepper dip.

The malls own food concepts are Smorgasland, Burgare Bar, Snoberg, Lagom Bar, Punsch Bar and Sauna bar. Smorgasland was developed with Claus Meyer, who started Copenhagens famed Noma with chef Rene Redzepi. It will serve fresh-baked bread and Danish pastries, which are relatively rare in the Bay Area, including a flaky cinnamon swirl ($6), a cardamom bun with muscovado sugar ($7) and egg danish garnished with shallot oil ($8). Plus, there will be casual lunch and dinner fare like small plates and open-face rye sandwiches  including a very Bay Area version topped with Dungeness crab louie salad and avocado ($19). (Meyers company consulted on the bakery but will not be operating it; the chef is Mathias Andersen, previously of a now-closed Nordic food hall from Claus Meyer that operated in New York Citys Grand Central Terminal.)

A vegan cheeseburger from Burgare Bar at Saluhall. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle

Burgare Bars burgers are all vegan and have Danish touches, like the open-faced Smrrebun with a Beyond Meat patty, vegan roe, smoked cheese, fennel slaw and seaweed ($13). Sides include crispy mushroom nuggets ($12) and loaded fries ($7.50). Head to Snoberg after for oat milk soft serve (starts at $6), drizzled with huckleberry or kumquat-rosemary shrub, caramel or feuilletine flakes (crispy bits of crepe batter from Smorgaslands bakery).

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Saluhalls bars will serve cocktails as well as radlers (beer mixed with juice, often citrus), local natural wine and beer  including a brand-new Nordic-style lager that top San Francisco brewery Fort Point Beer Co. created for the food hall.

A Los Diablos cocktail from Punsch Bar, one of several bars at the two-story Saluhall in San Francisco. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle

A cooking school, led by Kirsten Goldberg, former culinary director at the San Francisco Cooking School, will offer classes on Nordic baking, knife skills and more. There are also plans to host live music, talks and community events at Saluhall.

The developers and city hope that Saluhall will help to revitalize downtown San Francisco amid concerns about its economic recovery.

Ian Dodds, co-founder of KERB, the international hospitality group thats operating Saluhall and runs food halls across the globe, said in a press release that he believe(s) in the power of San Francisco. Mayor London Breed will speak at a grand opening event Thursday (and demo one step in baking a cinnamon swirl).

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Marko not denying Aston Martin's swoop for Newey

Dr Helmut Marko is not denying that Aston Martin has made a huge-money offer to lure Adrian Newey away from dominant Formula 1 team Red Bull.

Adrian Newey, Japanese GP 2024

 Red Bull

Newey, one of the most celebrated F1 designers of all time, is taking a lot of the credit for Red Bull and Max Verstappen's years-long run of dominance - culminating in the 2024 car.

It's a credit to everyone who works at the factory, the 65-year-old is quoted as saying by the Spanish newspaper Diario Sport.

We have a fantastic team of engineers whose enthusiasm, drive and creativity are responsible for what you see here before you.

However, Newey's name has also been mentioned in connection with the current unrest and leadership struggle still taking place behind the scenes at Red Bull.

Everyone thinks he's Horner's best friend, former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos told Ziggo Sport, "but he doesn't want to be involved in this (saga) anymore.

What I've heard is that he won't renew his contract. And that's a big thing, because if he stops at the end of 2025, where does that leave them for the new era?

When asked at Suzuka about reports of an 'astronomical' transfer sum being offered to Newey by Aston Martin, team boss Mike Krack answered No, no .

But Marko, at the centre of the dispute with Horner, doesn't deny it.

He is a highly sought-after designer, said the Austrian. "He is the one that everyone wants to have.

I don't think it was the first offer he's received and I don't think it will be the last.

As for Newey, he's playing his own cards close to his chest.

I don't tend to plan things too far in advance, he said at Suzuka. As long as I continue to enjoy myself and the team loves me, I will continue doing it for the moment and then we will have to see what the future holds.

(GMM)
RB could be sold for a high price

Energy drink company Red Bull could be looking to offload its second Formula 1 team - currently awkwardly called Visa Cash App RB.

Daniel Ricciardo, Australian GP 2024

 Red Bull

Earlier, the Faenza based outfit was known as Toro Rosso and Alpha Tauri, but it might now be a victim of the obvious power struggle playing out between team owner Red Bull's warring Austrian and Thai shareholding factions.

When asked if there's truth to the rumours, Dr Helmut Marko admitted to Osterreich newspaper: "There are a lot of interested parties.

Ultimately it's a shareholder decision, consultant Marko, clearly on the Austrian side of the factional dispute, added.

The price is high for a team, but nothing has been decided yet.

At Suzuka last weekend, another rumour was whispered around the paddock - that F1's smallest team, Haas, is also fielding big-money buyout offers.

Ralf Schumacher, a seasoned Haas critic following his nephew Mick's troubled time at the team, admitted he would certainly not advise fellow German Nico Hulkenberg to sign a new contract with Haas for 2025.

It's certainly a great team and everything will get better there, but the structure is not geared towards the future and is not looking towards the future either, he told Sky Deutschland.

"Investments are pending, but they are not being made because Gene Haas has other ideas. I understand that.

It's currently a nice small team for newcomers like Oliver Bearman, the former F1 driver added, but they still have to get used to working with young drivers. They have work to do on that.

Interestingly, both RB and Haas are currently 'best of the rest' behind the top five Formula 1 teams, having scored points so far in 2024 - unlike stragglers Williams, Sauber and Alpine.

Haas driver Kevin Magnussen said at Suzuka: We'll put some upgrades on the car soon that will hopefully help us fight Alpha Tauri or whatever they're called.

(GMM)
Vettel not an option to replace Perez says Marko

Sebastian Vettel's top-team return to Formula 1 appears to be off the table for now.

Sebastian Vettel, Brazilian GP 2021

 Aston Martin Racing

The retired quadruple world champion has been hinting at a potential return, and even shook off the rust of two years on the sidelines with an extensive test in Porsche's Le Mans hypercar recently.

However, sources have now told the major German newspaper Bild that Vettel, 36, is not regarded by Toto Wolff as a serious option to replace Lewis Hamilton next year.

And now Dr Helmut Marko, who brought Vettel into F1 and oversaw the German's four consecutive titles, says the 53-time grand prix winner will not be returning to Red Bull.

What? Marko told Osterreich newspaper. "Vettel should come to us?

No, that's not an option, he insists.

What is clear, however, is that despite an upsurge in Sergio Perez's form so far in 2024, the Mexican driver has not yet done enough to secure a new contract beyond 2024.

Arguably a more attractive option for Red Bull would be the on-form Ferrari refugee Carlos Sainz, who is being pressed by Audi-owned Sauber for a quick decision about his future.

We won't let ourselves be put under pressure, Marko insists. "Audi obviously wants a decision, but we're taking a calm look at everything.

When we have enough of an overview, we will decide on our drivers.

It is rumoured that, as part of the warring Austria vs Thai factions at Red Bull, Christian Horner's preferred option for 2025 is the British-born Thai driver Alex Albon.

The rumours suggest Horner even believes Albon, who currently drives for Williams, could win the drivers' title in a Red Bull.

For that to happen, Marko responded, Albon would have to sit in our car. But he has a contract until the end of 2025.

Also rumoured is that, at Suzuka, Perez and his sponsors asked Red Bull for a new three-year contract extension.

Everything is an option, Marko said. "Our team is working very well at the moment.

But if he (Perez) has a secure contract for two years, there is a risk that he will slack off.

Marko also seemed to dismiss reports that Suzuka was his final race in his position, amid suggestions he is no longer able to work with Horner - and has been sidelined from the driver talks.

I'm discussing everything with Mr Horner, Marko said. Business as usual.

(GMM)
The trompo at Tacos Al Pastor Estilo Puebla in Oakland Cesar Hernandez / The Chronicle

Cesar Hernandez, our associate restaurant critic, is something of a taco expert. When I started at the Chronicle back in January, my editor asked each of my colleagues to take me around to their respective neighborhoods for a day of eating  except for Cesar. Although he and I eat out together on occasion, for the most part we cover separate territory in order to maximize the number of restaurants we can visit between us.

This bummed me out. How was I supposed to find the deep cuts without our resident taco whisperer? This past Saturday, I prevailed. Cesar organized an Oakland taco tour for not only me, but three other Chronicle staffers. We were lucky to have him as our guide, and its only fair I pay it forward. Here are the three best things I ate on our taco crawl  curveball, only one of them is a taco  and where to find them.

The consome at El Tacostao: Cesar, whose review of this home restaurant is endearingly taped up behind the cash register, told us ordering the consome was non-negotiable. I was initially skeptical  $12 for a small?  but this is not the dainty side of consome you get with an order of birria tacos. The small is a meal unto itself, loaded with chickpeas, rice, cilantro and finely chopped beef head. The broth itself is so collagen-rich that you can be certain it solidifies into a wiggly, jiggly aspic when chilled. I regret not ordering another to keep in my freezer for a literal rainy day.

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El Tacostao, check Instagram for location: instagram.com/eltacostao__

The gringa at Tacos Al Pastor Estilo Puebla: The trompo at this stall outside the Oakland flea is the size of a first grader and the same lurid color as char siu pork. The regular al pastor tacos are fantastic, but go ahead and gild the lily by adding melty cheese. The gringa features the same thinly shaved pork, pineapple, onion and cilantro, but it comes on a flour tortilla, folded over like a quesadilla. If you can handle spice, experiment with the two salsas in ketchup and mustard squeeze bottles. One is brick red and smoky, the other pale and emulsified into a creamy, kicky wonder.

Tacos Al Pastor Estilo Puebla, 4930 Coliseum Way, Oakland

The tejuino at Nieves Naturales Los Dos Carnales: Across the street from the al pastor stall is a white truck selling nieves de garrafa, hand-churned ice cream and sorbets that are delicate in texture. The vendor also specializes in tejuino, a drink made of fermented masa sweetened with piloncillo and perked up with lime juice. Here its served like it is in Jalisco, with the option to add a scoop of lime sorbet and transform the beverage into the ultimate slushie. They say you never forget your first tejuino. Do they say that? Maybe not, but I will be on the lookout for this delight forevermore. Its salty, sweet, tangy and, if you get it with Tajin (obviously get it with Tajin), spicy.

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Nieves Naturales Los Dos Carnales, 50th Ave. and Coliseum Way, Oakland
Owners Nat Cutler, left, and Christian Albertson at the Monks Kettle in San Francisco in 2017. Michael Macor/The Chronicle 2017 The Monks Kettle opened on 16th Street in the Mission District in 2007. Michael Macor/The Chronicle 2017

A pioneering beer destination is closing its doors in the Mission District after 16 years, with plans to reopen in Oakland, citing the changing demographics of San Francisco as a key reason for the move.

The Monks Kettle will serve beers and burgers at its 16th Street location through June, then will take a hiatus before opening the new restaurant in the fall at 5484 College Ave. in Oaklands Rockridge neighborhood. (The San Rafael location of Monks Kettle, which opened in 2021, remains open as usual.)

Its departure from San Francisco marks the loss of one of the citys most important hubs for craft beer. With 28 tap handles and a prolific bottle list that spans several pages, Monks Kettle played an essential role in cultivating the citys craft beer boom in the late aughts and early 2010s. For beer nerds who wanted access to some of the most sought-after European beers, especially Belgian ales, it was the place to go.

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But the San Francisco of 2007, when Monks Kettle opened, is very different from the San Francisco of today, said Christian Albertson, who co-owns the restaurant with Nat Cutler. Early on, it became a haven for restaurant and bar industry workers after their shifts. Wed get our second dinner rush at 10 oclock, he said. The kitchen would stay open until 1 a.m., and theyd be kicking people out at 2 a.m. on weeknights.

The Monks Kettle seen in 2008: Christina Gamba, left, Diane Chang, center, and Adriel Frederick chat in one of the booths. Laura Morton/Special to the Chronicle 2008

In Albertsons view, the exodus of restaurant workers from neighborhoods like the Mission to more affordable parts of the Bay Area is part of the reason why the late-night business almost entirely evaporated. Instead of sticking around for a 10 p.m. dinner, the servers, cooks and bartenders have to rush to BART to get home. It just seemed like the demographics of the city changed, said Albertson.

Craft beer is no longer as hot as it once was, either, with sales growth stagnating nationwide. Many Bay Area breweries have been acquired recently or, as with San Franciscos flagship Anchor Brewing, shut down entirely. If beer lovers are no longer flocking to the Mission for hard-to-get pints, the solution for Albertson and Cutler may lie in pivoting to family-oriented restaurants in communities like San Rafael and Rockridge.

He also noted the rise of food delivery as a major pain point for the business. Delivery now accounts for about one-third of the sales at the San Francisco Monks Kettle, and its not nearly as lucrative as dine-in. Customers ordering delivery dont order drinks, and they tend to order fewer sides or appetizers. Then there are fees on top of that. Albertson said he paid over $100,000 in fees to delivery companies last year.

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Albertson and Cutler have long been open about the struggles of operating a restaurant in San Francisco. They opened an ambitious, beer-centric restaurant with tasting menus, Abbots Cellar, in the Mission in 2012, and noted a minimum-wage hike as one of the reasons they had to close it two years later. In 2017, the business partners opened up their finances to former Chronicle contributor Maggie Hoffman, who documented their ups and downs over the course of a year.

Bryce Bishari serves lunch at Monks Kettle in 2017. Michael Macor/The Chronicle 2017

Like the industry colleagues they served, the Monks Kettle co-owners made their own exoduses: Albertson and his family left San Francisco for Marin County, while Cutler moved his family from the city to the East Bay. Thats a large reason why they opened in San Rafael and now Oakland. The Rockridge restaurant, in the space that once held popular French bistro Citron, has a larger seating capacity than the San Francisco restaurant, and a backyard that seats 30 people under an ivy-coated trellis.

Theyll move the draft system from San Francisco to Oakland, along with the entire back bar. The food menu will be similar, but they have plans to make it more upscale, Albertson said.

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Google's upcoming Pixel 8a has been leaking like crazy lately. Most recently, we've had a spec sheet for it outed a few days ago, not long after another one. Last week Google itself may have even shown us the Pixel 8a in an ad for its carrier in the US.

Today a couple of new images of the phone have leaked, showing both the back and the front of the colorway that undoubtedly will be called Obsidian (since that's what Google likes to call black these days).

The shot of the rear is pretty much what you'd expect: there's the camera 'visor' going from one side of the frame to the other, housing two sensors and a circular LED flash array, minimal G branding, and not much else.

On the front, however, the screen's bezels really are the stars of the show, as they look quite large - especially the chin - for this price point. Then again, Google will probably get away with it since most people will praise its software and camera quality. And compared to the Pixel 7a this model will be replacing, the bezels aren't that bad - it's just that some of the Pixel 8a's competitors in Europe and Asia have much smaller ones.

Speaking of comparing it to its predecessor, the corners are decidedly more rounded this time around. Aside from the Obsidian color shown here, the Pixel 8a is also expected to come in Porcelain (white) and Bay (blue). It should be powered by Google's Tensor G3 chipset, and will have a 6.1-inch 120 Hz OLED screen, 128/256GB of storage, a 64 MP main camera with OIS, a 13 MP ultrawide, a 13 MP selfie snapper, and a 4,500 mAh battery with support for 27W wired charging.

Via
The iQOO Z9 Turbo will arrive this month, revealed Jia Jingdong, VP of Branding at vivo. The new phone will feature a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset and 6,000 mAh battery, revealed the executive in a lengthy post.



vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo

The iQOO Z9 Turbo will have a new cooling system and a screen of 144 Hz refresh rate, with 120 fps support for "most games". Jia said that it's not wrong to consider this phone as iQOO 12 Lite. The powerful device will feature a "unique Turbo chip" without any clarification on what that means.

We are yet to get an official date for the iQOO Z9 Turbo announcement, but if executives are already discussing the phone at such lengths it can't be long now.

Source (in Chinese) | Via
Samsung will receive a $6.6 billion subsidy to help it expand its chip plant in Texas, US, reveals Reuters. This is the latest step of the Biden administration in its efforts to boost chipmaking in the United States.

The subsidy will go towards the construction of four facilities in the American plant, including one $17 billion chipmaking plant, another factory, an advanced packaging facility, and an R&D center.

Samsung office in Austin, Texas

Commerce Department Secretary Gina Raimondo will unveil the expanded partnership officially next week. The subsidy will also include an investment in another undisclosed location. As part of the deal, Samsung will double its US investment to over $44 billion.

The investment is matching TSMC, which was also awarded $6.6 billion in an agreement to expand its investment by $25 billion to $65 billion and add a third plant in Arizona by 2030. Intel was also awarded $8.5 billion to expand its chip-making business.

Samsung plant under construction in Taylor, Texas

The announcement will wrap up a string of major Chips and Science grants, with which the US aims to get back on top in the semiconductor manufacturing business. Reuters quoted one analysis, which revealed that while America manufactured 37% of all semiconductors in 1990, its share in 2020 was only 12%.

Source
The whole point of the military buildup is...deterrence.

That was one of the main points made by former Deputy Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Ginger Cruz during a speech Tuesday before the Rotary Club of Tumon Bay.

The reason that everything is getting ramped up, everything is getting strengthened, is precisely so that we deter anybody from thinking about an attack, Cruz said.

She was invited to speak by the local business group about the potential threat of China and North Korea, and the U.S. response in planning a multi-billion dollar missile defense system for Guam.

In recent testimony before Congress, outgoing Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral John C. Aquilino, said the defense of Guam was a top priority. The plans for a 360-degree missile defense system for Guam using approximately 20 sites have been confirmed by U.S. military officials, and Joint Region Marianas Commander Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman has said that the military population on Guam is expected to double in the next 10 years.

Cruz acknowledges the pushback from some in the community who are concerned about the further militarization of Guam.

I completely agree with that. Guam does not want to be just a forward military base. I mean that would just destroy the whole point of our island and our people to exist on the planet. But we also have to be rational. We also have to understand that we cant wave a wand. We are a huge part of the national defense. We are the tip of the spear, and we cant ignore that and not be prepared. Theres a balancing act, Cruz said. We have to keep our island and our character but we also have to be prepared because at the end of the day nobodys going to take care of us unless we take care of ourselves.

Cruz, who is running for a Guam delegate seat in Congress as a Democrat, said the local community needs to pay attention to whats happening around Guam because its our fate, and the things that are going to happen on our island are tied to all of these things that are happening.

Youve got a Japan that used to be just a defense force, now theyre looking to become more of a military presence throughout the region, she said. So I think we need to think about that, what role does Guam play as a logistics hub as sort of fulcrum for the Indo-Pacific.

She said the community must stay vigilant.

It means that everybody on Guam is a part of this and we need to think about our own positioning, our own self-preservation. And we all have to be prepared. Because even though its highly unlikely that something will happen, there is still a possibility that it will, Cruz said. All of these countries are not spending billions of dollars because nothings gonna happen.
The temporary closure of the Seton Coastside emergency department in Moss Beach has set off a public fight between the hospital and San Mateo County officials. Shown here is the hospitals larger sister facility in Daly City in 2020. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

The future of a recently closed emergency department in a coastal Bay Area community is up in the air, as local officials are demanding that it reopen immediately, against the wishes of hospital executives who shut it down temporarily for repairs.

Seton Coastside in Moss Beach  about halfway between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay  includes an emergency department and a 116-bed skilled nursing facility. It closed April 1 to begin construction thats expected to take up to nine months. Hospital administrators say that the construction is to repair damage the facility sustained during last years storms, and that they plan to reopen both the emergency and skilled nursing services once the work is completed.

But the issue has spurred an unusually public fight between the hospital and county officials. Attorneys for San Mateo County are demanding that Seton reopen the emergency department by April 29, arguing that the closure violates the terms of a state-approved agreement that requires the hospital to keep emergency services open until December 2025.

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The agreement was enacted in 2020 when Seton Coastside and its sister hospital, Seton Medical Center in Daly City, were sold by their previous owner, the bankrupt Verity Health System, to their current owner, AHMC Healthcare. The sale was approved by the California attorney general, which can block or impose conditions on the sale of nonprofit health care facilities.

The closure of the ER also violates a separate agreement that AHMC and the county reached in 2021, in which the county provided $10 million for seismic upgrades at Seton Medical Center, according to a March 28 letter that San Mateo County Attorney John Nibbelin sent to AHMC executives demanding that Seton Coastside remain open.

The 2021 agreement says that in exchange for receiving the $10 million  from Measure K, which is funded by local sales tax  Seton must continue operating as a full-service general acute care hospital until 2027. If it does not, the hospital must repay the county a portion of those funds.

Patients coming to Seton Coastside are being redirected to Seton Medical Center in Daly City, about 13 miles north. The next closest emergency room after that is Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame, about 18 miles away.

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Seton Coastside will not be able to reopen by April 29 because construction will take at least six months, said Tim Schulze, associate chief operating officer at Seton Coastside and Seton Medical Center.

The intention has always been to temporarily close that facility, Schulze said. The plan has always been to do the repairs as fast as we can.

The California Department of Public Health approved the temporary closure of the emergency department in February, according to a March 29 letter an AHMC attorney wrote in response to the countys demands. The hospital had considered keeping emergency services open during construction, but determined it would not have been feasible because of the presence of mold and asbestos.

The roughly 100 skilled nursing home residents were moved to Seton Medical Center in Daly City or discharged before the April 1 closure. The ER was seeing three to four patients a day prior to closing, Schulze said.

Supervisor Ray Mueller and Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, are pressing for more transparency on the closure, including information about the impacts of the closure on access to emergency medical care, estimated repair timelines, and an assessment of whether the closure complies with federal and state requirements. Mueller said his office has been frustrated with the lack of information from AHMC about the closure.

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We simply dont have adequate information right now that substantiates the necessity for the closure, Mueller said at a March 27 meeting of the Midcoast Community Council.

Seton Coastside is the only facility providing emergency services for 55 miles along the Pacific Coastline from Santa Cruz to Daly City and is a lifeline for patients in need of emergency care, Eshoo wrote in an April 4 letter to Dr. Tomas Aragon, director of the California Department of Public Health.

Patients in need of acute or emergency medical services are being directed to Seton Medical Center  at minimum a 45-minute drive away from Seton Coastside. Forty-five minutes can determine whether patients suffering from acute medical conditions survive.
Let the battle of the glizzies begin.

While New Orleans cuisine incorporates flavors from all around the globe, the citys most exciting culinary showdown focuses on a dish thats quintessentially American: the hot dog.

The third annual New Orleans Hot Dog Safari returns next weekend, from April 12-15, in a competition that will determine the citys top sausage. Safari organizers are asking for the publics help in scoring the four-day-long feast.

Were definitely excited. Its gonna be a party, says Bob ODonnell, Safari founder.

The 2022 hot dog entry from Molly's Rise and Shine featured powdered sugar beignets, jalapeno salsa and nacho cheese.Alex Moersen

Glizzies by Poppa is the twice-reigning champion of the New Orleans Hot Dog Safari, focusing on a more traditional form.Alex Moersen

Heres how it works: From Friday to Monday, participants may purchase a scorecard at one of several locations around the city. Scorecards cost a recommended $10, all of which is donated to community-run free food pantries in New Orleans.

Participants then travel to different restaurants around the city, taste the dogs and rank them. (Think of it like a self-guided, ketchup-heavy bar crawl.) Some hot dogs, like two-time winner Glizzies by Poppas, are more traditional, while others push the boundaries of the genre.

Scorecards must be turned in by Monday, April 15, at 5 p.m., and can be returned to any of the participating locations or emailed to neworleanshotdogsafari@gmail.com.

Scorecards and merchandise are available to purchase throughout the weekend at the following locations and events:

Friday, April 12

Where: Van Goor Tattoos, 632 N. Rampart St., 11 a.m. until supplies run out.

New Orleans tattoo artist Joel Van Goor will be tattooing hot dog-themed flash tats, starting at $100. Proceeds will benefit the NOLA Community Fridges.

Where: Oak & Ale, 8118 Oak St., from 4 p.m.-til.

Scorecards and merch will be available to purchase at the Oak & Ale tavern in Uptown.

Saturday, April 13

Where: Turkey and the Wolf, 739 Jackson Ave., from 7 p.m.-til.

During this time, Turkey and the Wolf also will be hosting a free comedy show.

Sunday, April 14

Where: Carrolton Station, 8140 Willow St.

When: 4p.m.-til.

Carrolton Station will be hosting a special Hot Dog Safari version of their Smash Bro Sundays, in which audience members are invited to play Super Smash Bros while live band CLOUDSAVE performs onstage.

Monday, April 15

Where: The Actors Apothecary, 506 Prytania St., New Orleans.

When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

The last opportunity to purchase score cards will be Monday, April 15, until 3 p.m. at The Actors Apothecary.

At 5 p.m., once all the scorecards are returned, the party begins at The Howlin Wolf, 907 S. Peters St., New Orleans.

The winner will be announced live, while the citys participating hot dog judges sip on drinks and dance away the last three days of white bread and cylinder-shaped red meat.

Youll notice throughout the weekend that the parameters for whats considered a hot dog are somewhat flexible: In 2022, the dog from Mollys Rise and Shine included powdered sugar beignets as buns, sliced sausages and drizzled nacho cheese.

The "ice cream dog" from Soft Spot featured an orange cream Sherbet dog, white chocolate "mustard," Louisiana strawberry "tomatoes," gummy cola "peppers" and toasted coconut shaving "onions."Alex Moersen

Que Pasta NOLA then entered the ring with a guava BBQ hot dog with burnt ends, fried chorizo and Burrata ravioli on Cuban bread. Hot dog pop-up Soft Spot created a dazzling glizzy made entirely of ice cream.

You wont hear us complaining about the creativity, but it does beg the age-old question: Are hot dogs really just another type of sandwich?

According to the Safaris founder: We try to stay apolitical. No comment.
Satans not an evil guy. He wants you to learn and question why. He wants you to have fun and be yourself  and by the way, there is no hell  from the song, My Pal Satan.

While the After School Satan Club might conjure images of demonic recesses and spell-casting study sessions, the reality is far less sinister  yet still undeniably provocative  and it may be coming to Floridas schools.

Florida House Bill 931 and its companion Senate Bill 7044 would allow both public and charter schools to adopt policies that allow school chaplains to volunteer on campus  including those from The Satanic Temple, the organization that created the After School Satan Club.

The legislation already passed both the houses and now awaits the governors signature before taking effect on July 1  just in time for the new school year.

Although based in Salem, Massachusetts, The Satanic Temple has locations across the country and can send its volunteer chaplains to schools almost anywhere in the U.S.

Just before Christmas, a club formed at Chimneyrock Elementary School in Cordova, Tennessee  another popped up at Vista Elementary School in Taylorsville, Utah, and in February, a new club started up at Truman Benedict Elementary School in San Clemente, California.

But the After School Satan Clubs campaign director, June Everett, told the Los Angeles Times that the group will only open a club if other religious groups are operating on campus.

I look at us like vampires, Everett said. We only go where were invited to.

The Satanic Children's Big Book of Activities can be purchased for $7.50The Satanic Temple

According to their website, The After School Satan Club does not believe in introducing religion into public schools, instead it exists to provide a safe and inclusive alternative to the religious clubs that use threats of eternal damnation to convert school children to their belief system.

In other words, if a school allows other religious organizations to come on campus to provide after-school programs, you can be sure The After School Satan Club will be there, too.

With the moniker Educatin with Satan, the organization claims that proselytization is not their goal. They are not interested in converting children to Satanism and they will not offer any materials or lectures to your child about Satanism.

Instead, the program focuses on science, critical thinking, creative arts and good works for the community  and of course  having fun.

Any child ages 512 can attend the club meetings with a signed permission slip from their parents.

The club is operated by volunteers of The Satanic Temple who have been vetted for professionalism, social responsibility and superior communication skills and they must also pass a comprehensive background check.
Fast food workers in San Jose demonstrate in favor of an ordinance mandating that employers provide annual know your rights training. Courtesy Working Partnerships USA

After 17 years of working in fast food restaurants in San Jose, Ramona Martinez, 53, had long learned to make do. Stretched between two fast food jobs that paid her $17 an hour, she strained to cobble together enough money to support her diabetic husband  his hospital visits and insulin  and their young daughter. Forty hours a week at that rate just barely covered the $2,900 median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in San Jose. There was no time for emergencies and appointments and all the other things that go into the maintenance of a life. She had to hustle.

So, she did.

Cobbling together full-time hours at McDonalds and Carls Jr., Martinez mechanically cooked trays upon trays of meat at the nonstop and breakneck pace demanded of her. At one of the restaurants, the gloves she and her colleagues were provided to pull the blistering metal trays out of hot ovens were full of holes. If they werent careful, theyd burn their fingers badly. So, they patched together rags and torn cardboard to insulate their hands. They used the same improvised insulation when cleaning the industrial deep fryers, full of metal pieces slicked with hot grease. Martinez didnt protest. She needed the job.

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In August, when outdoor temperatures regularly peaked at 95 degrees, the air conditioners at one of her workplaces broke down. Without air conditioning, the heat generated from the fryers, ovens and grills was enough to cause heat stroke. Even then, Martinez told me, her managers did nothing.

Thanks to the Fast Act, signed into California law in September and called by its authors the most progressive fast food wage law in the country, the daily lives of fast food workers like Martinez are set to transform. The most visible change is a $20 per hour minimum wage, which started on April 1. Its a move thats commanded national attention and even outrage: $18 Big Macs and $20 minimum wage, Gavinomics here we come, read one Fox News headline.

But aside from the minimum wage, AB1228 also established a statewide Fast Food Council, a nine-seat body of workers and industry representatives devoted to proposing standards for worker conditions and welfare in the fast food business. While labor standards already exist in California, the council is an opportunity for some of the most disempowered workers in the food business to get deep in the weeds with representatives of the multinational corporations that employ them.

Theres just one thing missing.

Gaining a $20 per hour minimum wage and a new regulatory body wont do much good if workers have no clue of their rights.

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A recent survey of 300 California fast food workers by the Step Forward Foundation and the California Fast Food Workers Union, SEIU found that 88% were ignorant of basic workplace protections like paid sick leave and rest breaks. Even worse, 93% had no idea how to access benefits like workers compensation and disability insurance. Martinez and her co-workers didnt know that their working conditions violated state regulations, which grant workers the right to refuse tasks that would injure them.

Thats why a new proposed ordinance in San Jose is trying to close that knowledge gap.

Under the proposal, fast food restaurants would be mandated to allow workers access to an annual know your rights training, taken on a day of paid time off covered by employers and provided by organizations that arent affiliated with the business. The training, which would provide up-to-date knowledge of labor law and help workers file claims and complaints with government agencies, would be paid for by employers. While the newly formed Fast Food Council can establish standards for wages, hours and other working conditions, its not allowed to grant workers more paid time off, which this proposal mandates.

It was only when conditions got so bad at her Carls Jr. that Martinez and her co-workers went on a one-day strike that things opened up for them. She attended online training classes in Spanish about the rights and protections she was entitled to as a worker. She learned about all the resources available, including pro bono law firms and a multilingual hotline for workers in Santa Clara County that can help when their rights are violated.

They reassured me that Im not a robot and should not be treated like one at work, she said.

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Last year, McDonalds made a record profit of $10.52 billion, and analysts expect this to continue. But corporate fast food chains, the subject of Californias new regulation, charge their franchisees fees and royalty payments, squeezing profit margins at individual restaurants. The better franchisees do, the higher the royalty fee  and thats on top of the cost of ingredients, rent and more paid to the corporation. Thats why we have franchisees largely serving as the face of resistance to regulations, including one Bay Area operator who has spoken to multiple news outlets about how the wage hike will hurt his business.

I try to do right by my employees. I pay them as much as I can. But this law is really hitting our operations hard, Alex Johnson told Fortune. The profit margin has become too slim when you factor in all the other expenses that are also going up.

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

Its this style of pitting middlemen against workers that encourages the cost-cutting and passive law-breaking that Martinez told me about.

Yes, the costs of things may rise. But its people like Martinez and her family who have been paying those costs all along.




Haiti - FLASH : Bahamasair announces the resumption of its flights to Cap-Haitien





The public company Bahamasair, which suspended its flights to Haiti on March 4th, 2024, due to the violent civil unrest in this country, announces that it will resume its flights to Cap-Haitien from Saturday, April 20.



""We have conducted thorough assessments regarding Cap Haitian and have determined it to be a secure destination for the airline to restart scheduled flights [...]" Bahamasair said.



"We express our appreciation to our passengers for their steadfast support throughout the temporary flight suspension," adds the press release, specifying that flights will operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : Know everything about the political agreement signed by the members of the Transition Council





On Sunday, all structures that have representatives in the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) signed the "Political Agreement for a Peaceful and Orderly Transition" and sent it to CARICOM. This 14-page document includes 53 articles was signed in total by 24 people on behalf of all the structures.



According to article 12.1 the mandate of the Transitional Presidential Council will end on February 7, 2026 and cannot be extended (Article 13).



Download the full text of the signed agreement :

https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/accord-politique-pour-une-transition-pacifique-et-ordonnee.pdf



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : El Salvador plans to transfer its soldiers from Mali to Haiti





The Vice President of El Salvador, Felix Ulloa, indicated that the military peacekeeping contingent which supports the work of the UN in the Central African Republic of Mali is able to support the crisis in Haiti.



It should be remembered that a few weeks ago, the young and authoritarian President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele (42 years old) declared that if the United Nations Security Council decides, if Haiti agrees and if the community international provides the funds, El Salvador will be able to help resolve the crisis of the Caribbean nation https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41863-haiti-news-zapping.html



In June of last year, an agreement for the creation of a cooperation office in Haiti was signed by the Salvadoran Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexandra Hill Tinoco, and her Haitian counterpart, Jean Geneus. In this context, the Salvadoran Government has publicly expressed its intention to send a mission to Haiti responsible for providing humanitarian, technical and scientific cooperation. But given the chaos in Haiti in recent weeks, and the negative results of an international mission, it was considered joining a military contingent to a possible Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS) in Haiti led by Kenya...



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Bon Repos : The sub-police station destroyed

During the night from Sunday to Monday, the Canaan gang leader "Jeff Grolwa" and his men bulldozed the Bon Repos Police Substation (abandoned since February 29 after the attack which cost the life to 4 police officers https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41779-haiti-flash-the-metropolitan-area-under-attacks.html ) in retaliation for the death of several bandits shot down during of the weekend by the police.



JB Damier professional center, vandalized and looted

On the evening of April 6, 2024, the JB Damier Professional Center located on Rue Montalais in downtown Port-au-Prince was looted and vandalized by armed individuals.



Saint Martial minor seminary, activities suspended

Saturday April 6, 2024, the General Management of the Petit Seminaire College Saint Martial, announced the suspension of its academic activities until further notice, after being attacked, vandalized, looted and partially burned on the afternoon of April 1sy latest https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-42032-icihaiti-gangs-the-petit-seminaire-college-saint-martial-vandalized-looted-and-partially-burned.html



CARICOM : Agreement and decree transmitted to the Government

CARICOM has already transmitted to the outgoing Provisional Government of Haiti the political agreement and the draft revised decree relating to the operation and organization of the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT). All that remains is publication in the official newspaper "Le Moniteur" to allow the installation of the CPT and the formation of the new Transitional Government.



Artibonite : More than 4 rapes reported every day

1,370 cases of rape reported in 11 months in the Artibonite department. Note that reported rapes are always well below reality because 5 to 10 times more victims do not report sudden rapes.



CSC/CA mandate extended by one month

Friday April 5, 2024, the Council of Ministers adopted a resolution by which it authorized the members of the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Disputes (CSC/CA) to remain in office until May 7, 2024 In order to avoid avoid an institutional vacuum that could handicap the functioning of public authorities. Remember that their mandates ended on April 7, 2024.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















A man rides his bicycle near a mural that was in part funded by the Elon Musk Foundation donations to help revitalize downtown Brownsville, Texas. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express News 2022

You and I helped pay for Elon Musks kids private school.

Thats just one of the distressing takeaways from a lengthy March report on the tech multibillionaires kooky philanthropic foundation, which in recent years has disbursed money haphazardly to causes as disparate as fixing the water crisis in Flint, Mich., to planting one million trees with Youtube personality Mr. Beast to revitalizing the downtown of Brownsville, Texas.

And then theres Ad Astra, the nonprofit school that Musk founded, maybe just for his offspring. In its first year, the private academy was one of the foundations grant recipients; at that time, five of the schools 14 students were Musks children. (Many of the others were the kids of SpaceX execs.)

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This would be acceptable if it werent for the fact that Musk is essentially using American tax dollars to help fund it. Thats because philanthropic foundations can and often do serve as giant tax shelters for the ultra-wealthy. As the New York Times recently reported, the Musk Foundation received its largest single gift in 2021 when Musk donated a batch of Tesla stock worth $5.7 billion. Experts estimate this gift reduced his tax bill by upward of $2 billion.

In other words, instead of using that money to build roads and bridges and schools and hospitals, the IRS just handed the second-wealthiest person in the world a 10-figure tax credit.

As Stanford political scientist Rob Reich argues in his book Just Giving, such transactions are common in big philanthropy. And the upshot is that tens (and perhaps hundreds) of billions of dollars that would otherwise have gone to the U.S. Treasury to fund programs voters support are instead funneled, at least indirectly, into foundations that serve the whims, err, charitable preferences, of the uber-wealthy.

We might grudgingly stomach such a system if most of the causes in question enjoyed broad support, like enhancing kindergarten through 12th-grade education, scientific research or protecting our lakes and waterways. But too often the missions of billionaire charities are quite problematic. Here are just a few examples.

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According to a review of its most recent tax filings, Oracle founder Larry Ellisons foundation has already donated tens of millions of dollars (and has pledged hundreds of millions more) to the Tony Blair Institute. The former British prime ministers organization has undoubtedly done much good, but the American taxpayer shouldnt be forced to help an aging English pol maintain his global influence.

A similar review of the grants made by the nefarious Charles Koch Foundation reveals many gifts most Americans would actually applaud, including many to the general operating fund of a wide swath of colleges and universities. But other grantees raise eyebrows, perhaps most notably the Atlas Group, a mysterious network of libertarian think tanks. One of Atlas most notable projects is an effort to criminalize climate protests.

And if you look at the tax filings of other well-known outfits, youll see recipients that, while not so provocative, are decidedly partisan. Accordingly, the Walton Family Foundation disburses millions of dollars a year to organizations advocating for school choice. And the Bloomberg Family Foundation likely sends more annually to groups that accelerate transition to clean energy.

And they do so with our financial help. Because again, the problem is not that American billionaires use their money to fund causes that lots of citizens would object to. The problem is that the tax code incentivizes such funding by rewarding the wealthy with substantial deductions for directing donations to whatever they see fit to fund.

And such incentives are often only available to the rich. As Reich notes, our donations are only tax-deductible if we itemize our returns, and since the Trump administration tax cuts took hold, nearly 90% of Americans  primarily those with less money  dont. Further, our progressive tax code makes these deductions more valuable for wealthy people who pay a higher marginal rate. For example, a person who makes $40,000 a year will likely receive no tax benefit for giving a $1,000 charitable donation while someone who makes $1 million will essentially have $370 covered by the federal government.

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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

So whats to be done? Patriotic Millionaires Board Member Alan Davis outlines a sensible plan that includes closing some of the loopholes in the tax code that the ultra-rich most frequently exploit  notably the one that Musk used to secure his giant write-off. Davis also argues for bigger charitable deductions for the rest of us. And Reich thinks we should make such deductions available to all, whether or not they itemize.
Hikers enjoy Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in 2022. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

One of Northern Californias most popular outdoor attractions should be easier to visit this year.

For the past two summers, people who wanted to hike through the vibrant Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park have had to procure an online permit six months in advance  a program park managers created to cut down on problematic crowding and traffic snarls at the Humboldt County destination. However, it had the unintended consequence of barring walk-up visitors, some of whom werent aware a permit was needed.

Now, on the cusp of this years high season, park managers are tweaking the permit process to give walk-ups a better chance. Theyve opened a crop of next-day permits and eliminated a time slot provision limiting the hours permit holders could visit.

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This year therell be a greater opportunity for folks who are already present here in the park to be able to get access to the next-day permits, said Kevin Cather, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park peace officer supervisor. So if you show up and maybe hadnt heard about the permit program, and youll be in town for a couple of days, youll have a good chance of getting out and seeing Fern Canyon.

The 1-mile stream bed hike through vibrant Fern Canyon has long been a special side journey for travelers exploring the world-famous redwood parks along the Humboldt County coast. Catch it at the right time and it can feel like a portal into a fairy tale.

But about five years ago the place became so popular that it risked becoming another precious natural feature loved to death by swarms of tourists. During summer 2015, Fern Canyon saw about 15,000 hikers per month, according to park officials. The numbers kept creeping up until, during one summer month in 2021, the park recorded more than 26,000 hikers  as well as about 500 cars traveling to and from the modest 45-car parking lot nearest to the trailhead to Fern Canyon on a single day. Most visits last between 30 minutes and two hours, park officials say.

Parking was an absolute nightmare, Cather said.

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Water trickles down a wall of ferns at Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in Orick (Humboldt County) in March 2022. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

The final straw for park managers, he said, occurred one summer day when first responders, called to help a hiker with a broken leg, couldnt navigate the line of illegally parked cars along the narrow dirt road to Fern Canyon.

We thought, we need to make sure visitors have a safe experience while theyre here and not turn the place into a zoo, Cather said.

Two years ago, the park started its permit program to control access to Fern Canyon during the high season between May and September. Permits were free, but park-goers had to book their visits online up to six months in advance (and pay the $12 day-use fee).

The idea wasnt to reduce the number of total visitors, Cather says, but rather to smooth out the clumps of people who routinely mobbed the place during summer weekends, holidays and other peak days, and encourage people to visit midweek when the park is less busy.

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But that created a situation familiar to anyone who has booked a wilderness permit or campsite through ReserveCalifornia.com: Permits for a given date would get snapped up within moments of being posted online, but only about half of reservation-holders would show up on their respective dates. Walk-up hopefuls were turned away, exasperated.

The park was too underutilized, Cather said.

This year the park hopes to iron out that inconvenience. Next-day permits will be available online as well as at Prairie Creeks visitor center. Cather said the park isnt enforcing a strict limit on daily visitors but instead aiming to make between 150 and 300 permits available each day, a total that includes both online bookings and next-days.

Were trying to be as flexible as we can be and make this as painless as possible, he said.

Reservations for the Gold Bluffs Beach day use area, which includes access to Fern Canyon, are required from May 15 to Sept. 15.

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A death row inmate is escorted through the hall in San Quentin on March 25. The prisons Death Row inmates are being transferred to other facilities. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Californias death penalty law was declared unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court in 1972 but was quickly reinstated by the voters. The statute survived initiatives in 2012 and 2016 that sought to repeal it. And despite Gov. Gavin Newsoms moratorium on executions in 2019, the death penalty is still the law of the state, which has 640 condemned inmates, the most in the nation.

But the states public defender and civil rights groups say capital punishment, as practiced in California, is incurably racist  Blacks and Latinos are far more likely than whites to be sentenced to death, and murder defendants disproportionately face capital charges if their alleged victim was white. And they are asking the state Supreme Court to remove the death penalty from the law books.

The parties agree that persistent and pervasive racial disparities infect Californias death penalty system, attorneys from the public defenders office, the American Civil Liberties Union, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and other advocates said in a lawsuit Tuesday filed directly with the states high court.

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The parties include the nominal state defendant in the suit, Attorney General Rob Bonta, who opposes the death penalty and says, as quoted in the filing, that it has a disparate impact on defendants of color, especially when the victim is white. The suit then quotes Newsom, who has said studies show that the race of the defendant and the race of the victim may determine whether a defendant will be sentenced to death.

Newsom, in an unprecedented filing for a California governor, asked the state Supreme Court in 2021 to overturn the death sentence for a double murder in Los Angeles because Californias standard jury instructions do not require jurors to agree on reasons for imposing capital punishment.

The court rejected Newsoms argument and unanimously upheld the death sentence in that case, but one justice, Goodwin Liu, said in a separate opinion that the states death penalty law was constitutionally questionable and should be reconsidered in a future case.

The suit was criticized Tuesday by a death penalty supporter, Kent Scheidegger, sponsor of a voter-approved 2016 ballot measure that sought to speed up executions in California. Scheidegger also wrote a law review article in 2012 denying claims of racism in the application of the death penalty.

The problem with studies like those cited in the lawsuit, Scheidegger said, is that they can be manipulated to produce just about any result the researcher wants  The only legitimate way to abolish the death penalty in this state is to put it on the ballot and convince the people.

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The states high court first overturned Californias death penalty law in 1972, ruling that it violated the state Constitutions prohibition of cruel or unusual punishment  a ruling that spared the life of cult leader Charles Manson, among others. Death penalty supporters quickly qualified an initiative to restore capital punishment that was approved that fall by 67% of the voters.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court, also in 1972, declared Georgias broad death penalty law unconstitutional because it gave jurors too much leeway in deciding which crimes should be punished by death, a ruling that also put Californias law on hold.

After the court upheld a narrower law that applied to specific categories of murders, Californias Legislature passed a new death penalty law in 1977, overriding Gov. Jerry Browns veto, and the voters broadened the law in a 1978 initiative. While polls have shown declining support for capital punishment in the state, initiatives seeking to repeal the death penalty were defeated by 4% in 2012 and 6% in 2016.

After the states most recent execution in 2006, a federal judge found problems in lethal injection procedures and staff training, and ordered a halt until the flaws were corrected. Nothing has changed since then, and Newsom ordered San Quentins Death Row dismantled when he imposed his moratorium after taking office in 2019. Its inmates are being transferred to other maximum-security prisons.

The governor has not sought clemency for any condemned prisoners, however, and his successor could seek to resume executions unless the law is repealed, by either the voters or the courts. So far, though, the declared candidates for governor in 2026 oppose the death penalty and have said theyd keep the moratorium in place.

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Constitutional challenges to state laws generally face long odds. But if the state Supreme Court decided to grant review of Tuesdays lawsuit and then agreed with its argument, such a ruling might be harder to overturn than its predecessor in 1972.

When the court ruled 6-1 that the death penalty law violated the California Constitution, its advocates drafted an initiative that rewrote the constitutional language to declare that capital punishment was neither cruel nor unusual. That might not be so simple, however, if the court found that the application of the death penalty in California has been permeated by racism.

That claim was argued extensively, citing numerous studies, in Tuesdays 92-page filing.

Californias Committee on the Revision of the Penal Code, a majority of whose members were appointed by Newsom, reported in 2021 that Black defendants are up to 8.7 times more likely and Latino defendants are up to 6.2 times more likely to be sentenced to death than all other defendants. Defendants of all races are up to 8.8 times more likely to be condemned when at least one of the victims is white, the committee said.

A study of 1,900 homicide cases from 1978 through 2002 in California found that Black defendants were from 4.6 to 8.7 times as likely to be sentenced to death as similarly situated defendants in other cases. Latino defendants, the study found, were 3.2 to 6.2 times as likely to face death sentences as other defendants.

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In practice  racial considerations determine who is subject to the ultimate punishment in California, said the studys lead author, Catherine Grosso, a Michigan State University law professor. The report was approved for publication by the Journal of Empirical Studies last month after extensive review, the lawsuit said.

Studies in a handful of California counties reached similar conclusions. In Riverside County, between 2006 and 2016, the lawsuit said, researchers found that Black defendants were 14 times as likely, and Latinos nearly 11 times as likely, as white defendants to be sentenced to death.

And in San Francisco, where district attorneys have not sought the death penalty since 1995, a study examined homicide cases between 1986 and 1993 and found that defendants whose victims were white or Asian were about four times as likely to be charged with special circumstances murders  punishable by death or life in prison without parole  than those whose victims were of other races.

What the numbers show, the lawsuit contends, is that the states death penalty system is broken and cant be fixed.

Californias prosecutors have a vast amount of discretion to decide who should face the death penalty, the lead attorney, Jessica Oats of the state public defenders office, wrote in Tuesdays filing. California has no uniform criteria to guide prosecutors in deciding when to seek death.

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But as of 2015, the suit said, 85% of the elected district attorneys in Californias counties, and 70% of the 3,800 prosecutors in their offices, were white. And because prospective jurors in capital cases can be disqualified if they oppose the death penalty and would be unwilling to vote for it, the suit said, capital juries are disproportionately white.

While death penalty challenges normally must be made in appeals of individual death sentences, Oats said those appeals can last up to 20 years, and urged the court to take up the issue directly.




We're a family of eight living in Georgia where Andrew's a professor at GSU and Nancy is a PhD student at UGA. You can read more about us here
Published in the esteemed Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction journal, the research delves into the motivations and consequences for those who, despite the inconvenience and sometimes higher cost, choose to forgo smartphones.

In an age dominated by smartphones , where social interactions and services are increasingly digitized, a study from Aalto University sheds light on why some individuals are opting for more traditional mobile phones or customized devices with limited features, and the significant challenges they face as a result.

The study, based on interviews, reveals a range of reasons for this choice, including the desire to improve concentration, spend quality time with children without interruptions, evade online surveillance, and even adhere to religious beliefs.

The participants in the study faced numerous obstacles in their daily lives due to their choice. Finding a durable basic phone was challenging, and the absence of a smartphone complicated tasks like making purchases, two-factor authentication, and meeting employers' expectations for constant availability. The COVID-19 pandemic and various mobile-dependent access rights further restricted their lives, and in some cases, the lack of a smartphone even posed safety concerns, such as the inability to quickly call for a ride in emergencies.

"Customized phones can be expensive, and some participants even imported phones from Africa that weren't available in their local markets," explained Janne Lindqvist, a computer science professor and department head. The study highlighted that living without a smartphone often required ingenious workarounds or reliance on the devices of family members and friends, indicating that this lifestyle choice necessitated either technical savvy or a supportive social network.

"This research shows that in societies like Finland, making such a choice is particularly difficult," Lindqvist remarked, underscoring the societal expectation and infrastructure built around smartphone usage.

Despite the difficulties, those interviewed found value in their decision, citing benefits such as reduced distraction and a more intentional engagement with the world around them. However, the study also emphasized that opting out of smartphone use requires a level of privilege, as it involves navigating a world increasingly designed for digital convenience.

HT
Police on Monday revealed that the one teacher who was in the classroom at the time of the shooting began administering emergency first aid to the victims. A second teacher, who was alerted to the classroom, managed to talk the suspect into leaving school premises.

THE SCHOOL SHOOTING in Viertola, Vantaa, on 2 April took place in a classroom, according to Eastern Uusimaa Police Department.

The response of the teachers was responsible and exemplary, police described in a press release.

In the middle of all this chaos, right and great things were done, Marko Sarkka, the detective chief inspector in charge of the pre-trial investigation at Eastern Uusimaa Police Department, stated to STT on Monday.

A 12-year-old boy lost his life and two 12-year-old girls sustained serious injuries in the shooting. Both of the girls remained in hospital care yesterday; one of them was still in critical condition, but police managed to interview the other over the weekend. The suspect, who is also 12 years old, is suspected of murder and two attempted murders.

Police reported earlier yesterday that the firearm used in the shooting did not belong to a family member but rather a close relative of the suspect. Sarkka on Monday told Helsingin Sanomat that the firearm had been stored appropriately and that suspect is believed to have obtained it without permission.

The gun was kept accordingly in a locked firearm safe at the home of the relative, he commented.

Sarkka revealed that investigators have largely determined the sequence of events and the roughly 4.5-kilometre route the suspect took from the school to his eventual site of arrest in Siltamaki, Helsinki.

Based on current information, the route was chosen randomly. The suspect didnt have a destination, he said to the daily newspaper.

Police on Monday also reported that, contrary to previous police accounts that were picked up widely by media, the suspect is not believed to have threatened anyone with the firearm during his escape.

It appears that there were no threatening situations and that no one was threatened with a gun, Sarkka told Helsingin Sanomat.

Investigators at Eastern Uusimaa Police Department said yesterday they are continuing to look into the reasons that led to the incident, reminding yesterday that bullying is a very subjective and personal experience. Sarkka said to the newspaper that the investigators are currently looking to determine whether, where and what kinds of bullying has occurred.

Bullying is a broad concept. Well look into what the concept holds when it comes to everyone involved in the case, he commented. At the moment, it looks like the bullying took place at the previous school.

The suspect transferred to the school at the start of the year from a school in a small, unspecified locality in Uusimaa.

Eastern Uusimaa Police Department revealed last week that its investigators have produced evidence pointing to premeditation. Sarkka on Thursday said in a press release that the assumption stems from material found in devices confiscated from the suspect.

We cant say more about this for reasons linked to the investigation, he added.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
YLE on Friday reported that support for the opposition party has surged by 1.9 percentage points to 21.7 per cent since mid-March. With the National Coalition simultaneously seeing its popularity decrease by a point to 20.6 per cent, the Social Democrats moved ahead of the ruling right-wing party for the first time since November 2023.

Tuomo Turja, the research director at Taloustutkimus, stated to the public broadcasting company that the opposition party has clearly managed to hold on to its supporters while slowly chipping away at support for its main rivals, the National Coalition and Finns Party.

The Social Democratic Party has become more popular especially among women and 2535-year-old adults.

Taloustutkimus contacted 2,613 people for the poll between 11 March and 2 April. About four-fifths, or 1,981, of them were able and willing to disclose which party they would vote for if the parliamentary elections were held now.

The polling period coincided with notable public discussion about a series of political strikes that, for example, halted the handling of goods at ports and complicated fuel distribution, and the spending cuts laid out by the government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP). The general housing allowance, for example, was slashed at the beginning of the month, possibly prompting some voters to re-consider their allegiances, gauged Turja.

It may be that [those who shifted their support to another party] included groups who were especially affected by the cuts, he said to YLE.

The Finns Party, however, was relatively unscathed, with its approval falling by 0.6 points to 17.4 per cent and its status as the most popular party among working-class voters intact.

Support for the Left Alliance crept up by 0.5 points to 9.5 per cent. The Centre Party and Green League both saw their approval ratings slip, from 12.2 to 12.0 per cent and from 8.9 to 8.3 per cent, respectively.

The Green League elected Sofia Virta as its chairperson last summer but has yet to benefit from the leadership re-shuffle.

The Centre Party, meanwhile, will select a successor to Annika Saarikko in Jyvaskyla in mid-June. Although Saarikkos decision to hand over the reins of the party resulted in a moderate bump in the approval rating, Turja reminded that the party continues to poll at a historically dismal level.

The Christian Democrats and Swedish Peoples Party, the two junior partners in the ruling right-wing coalition, swapped places near the bottom of the poll as support for the former rose from 3.1 to 3.6 per cent and that for the latter fell from 3.7 to 3.4 per cent. Also the Swedish Peoples Party is facing a leadership election: Anna-Maja Henriksson in February confirmed that she will step down as chairperson and vie for a seat in the European Parliament in June.

Support for Movement Now dropped by 0.2 points to 1.7 per cent.

The poll results have a margin of error of 1.8 points.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
After visit to war zone, Edwards strongly endorses U.S. support for Ukraine

U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards meets with McDowell County, N.C. native Brig. Gen. Jerry Baird, commander of the 82nd Airborne's forward operating base in Poland.

U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards on Monday strongly endorsed U.S. support for Ukraine in its battle against the Russian invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, "a card-carrying KGB Marxist murderer with no regard for human life."

Edwards and a bipartisan group of five other lawmakers visited U.S. troops deployed to Poland, met government officials in Moldova and visited active war zones in Ukraine and other areas critical to Ukraines defense.

From our inception, America has fought for principles of freedom, self governance, and human dignity. And weve stood with  and need to continue to stand with  a world order that embodies the same," Edwards said in a news release. The Ukrainian democracy, as imperfect as it may be, is quickly crumbling to Vladimir Putin, a card-carrying KGB Marxist murderer with no regard for human life."

The trip included discussions among Edwards, foreign leaders including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. embassy staff, military leaders and war crimes victims.

At this moment in Ukraine, civilians are being tortured and murdered, children are being kidnapped, sexual assault is being used as a weapon of war, and Christians are being persecuted," Edwards said. Our nation can no longer allow itself to fall prey to Putins propaganda about this war. Now is not the time for America to hide in isolationism, as Putin is trying to manipulate us to do. I look forward in the upcoming days to sharing what I saw and heard on the ground in Ukraine, and to work with my House colleagues on how America can responsibly participate in stopping Vladimir Putin.
Cars drive over the Golden Gate Bridge as it sits in a smoky haze in San Francisco Sept. 20, 2023. On Tuesday, a federal court upheld Californias authority to set stricter vehicle emissions standards than other states. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

California can set tougher standards for motor vehicle emissions than other states to limit greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday, rejecting arguments by fuel companies and Republican-led states.

The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., upheld a decision in 2022 by the Environmental Protection Agency, under President Joe Biden, to restore Californias pollution-setting authority for cars and trucks that had been repealed by the EPA in 2019 under President Donald Trump. The federal agency first authorized California to set its own emissions standards in 1968, authority that was revoked under President George W. Bush in 2008 and restored under President Barack Obama in 2009.

Californias rules, which the court upheld, have required manufacturers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles by 34% between 2017 and 2025 and require at least 15% of new vehicles sold in the state to be electric-powered by 2025. At least 17 other states have adopted some or all of the California standards, and they were supported in court by automakers Ford, Volkswagen, Honda, BMW and Volvo, as well as environmental groups.

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In the lawsuit, 17 states, led by Ohio, argued that the EPAs actions interfered with state sovereignty, while oil and gas companies contended climate change was not a compelling and extraordinary condition that required California to tighten its emission standards.

But the appeals court said the Constitution authorizes Congress, not the states, to regulate interstate commerce, and U.S. lawmakers had done so in 1967 by passing the Clean Air Act. That law allows the EPA to approve a states vehicle emission standards as long as they are as strong as the nationwide standards, or stronger, as they are in California.

In 1967, California suffered from significant air quality and pollution problems caused by motor vehicle emissions, which federal emissions regulations were unlikely to adequately address, the three-judge panel wrote. And although the EPA since then has granted 75 waivers allowing the state to set its own standards, the court said, California still contains seven of the 10 worst areas for ozone pollution in the country and six of the 10 worst areas for small particulate matter, as well as outbreaks of extreme heat, fires, storms and rising sea levels.

The Constitution places regulation of all matters affecting interstate commerce  including vehicle emissions  squarely within Congresss domain, not that of the states, and the EPA may use that authority to enable states to impose additional restrictions on pollution, the panel said.

The panel consisted of Judges Robert Wilkens, an Obama appointee, and J. Michelle Childs and Bradley Garcia, both appointed by Biden.

As for the oil companies arguments, the court said they were untimely, because the California standards approved by the EPA run only through model year 2025, and even a ruling in the companies favor would not result in any changes by then.

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According to a California Air Resources Board official, Joshua Cunningham, quoted by the court, Manufacturers are already selling more qualifying vehicles in California than the states standards require. Because the oil companies could not show any harm from the current rules, they were not entitled to sue, the court concluded.

There was no immediate comment from the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, lead counsel in the lawsuit, or lawyers for the fuel companies. The states and the companies could ask the full appeals court for a new hearing or seek review in the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in 2022 that the Biden administration had no authority to limit greenhouse gas emissions from coal plants.

The ruling was praised by environmental groups and Gov. Gavin Newsom.

This is a rigorous, well-reasoned decision about a waiver that was granted over a decade ago for standards whose feasibility was broadly supported and which will have significant climate, health and consumer benefits, said Alice Henderson, a lawyer with the Environmental Defense Fund.

Today, we have cars that generate a fraction of the pollution compared to cars 50 years ago, said Sean Donahue, a lawyer for the Natural Resources Defense Council. Those advances are the result of California raising the bar.

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Newsom noted that the states efforts to fight vehicle pollution had been supported nearly 50 years ago by Republican Gov. Ronald Reagan.

The clean vehicle transition is already here  its where the industry is going, the major automakers support our standards, and California is hitting our goals years ahead of schedule, Newsom said in a statement.
Shira Stein is the San Francisco Chronicle's Washington correspondent, covering California's role in national politics and policy from the nation's capital. She writes about issues that matter to California residents  like housing, abortion and LGBTQ rights  and California's influence on Congress and the White House. She was the primary chronicler of the last year of Sen. Dianne Feinstein's life, including her health, familial financial feud, and death.

Shira was born and raised in the Bay Area and now lives in Washington, D.C. She joined the Chronicle in 2022 after spending four years as an award-winning health care reporter for Bloomberg Law, where she was key in its coverage of the Covid-19, the fall of Roe v. Wade and health costs. She is a graduate of American University and interned at the Washington Post, Bloomberg Law and the Colorado-based Durango Herald.


Tuesday April 9, 2024

Dhusamareb (HOL) - At least 50 al-Shabab militants were killed in an airstrike conducted by Somali army forces supported by international partners near Harardhere district in the Mudug region on Monday.



State-owned media reported that the airstrike occurred in the Barag Garguurte area, approximately 20 kilometres from the Harardhere district in the southern part of the Mudug region.





The terrorist militants had gathered in the Barag Garguurte area to attempt an attack on the local people near Harardhere district, but they were thwarted, the Somali News Agency report added.The attack in Barag Garguurte coincided with most of the areas in the southern part of the Mudug region being under the control of the al-Shabab group.
In 2010, a Marathi film called Zenda (flag) was released and became a hit. The film chronicled the case of local karyakartas (workers) after two prominent leaders of their party part ways and one goes on to start afresh with a new political party. While the film was largely inspired by Raj Thackerays exit from the Shiv Sena in 2005 and his subsequent formation of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), the plot and subplots of the film  confused workers, dirty allegations and counter allegations from leaders and the plight of the n ordinary citizen who gets nothing from this tussle for power  are more relevant today than ever.

As we gear up for the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections this year, it is ironic that in Maharashtra, we are witnessing a fractured coalition of bewildering complexity.

The vote-for-party complication

For the last few decades, the state has typically seen three major types of political fronts. On the one side were right-wing parties like the BJP and the Shiv Sena, either contesting independently or under a saffron alliance in the state with the BJP leveraging its national image and the Shiv Sena holding huge clout in the state. On the other side were the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) which stood for a more centrist, secular ideology and contested in an alliance or independently. Similar to the arrangement between Sena-BJP, the Congress-NCP leveraged its national and state image respectively based on the situation and requirements of the alliance. Parties which hold a smaller clout in the state such as the Samajwadi Party, CPI, CPM and RPI often supported larger parties based on their ideological inclination and situational compulsions.

The political developments that the state has witnessed over the last five years have toppled all these equations.

This began with the breakup of the Sena-BJP alliance and the formation of Maha Vikas Aghadi in 2019, a coalition of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP. Just as the government was halfway through in its tenure, we saw the splintering of the Shiv Sena, with one faction led by Eknath Shinde aligning itself with the BJP to form a government. A year later, a split in the NCP with Ajit Pawar joining hands with BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena led to the creation of two factions in that party. While the Election Commission gave the official party name to the new formations, the two original leaders of these parties  Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar  still command huge clout and influence. One can thus see traditional party lines blurred as politicians switch sides, forge new alliances, and rebrand themselves.

This churning sea of political realignments leaves voters and political workers bewildered, grappling with shifting loyalties and ever-changing electoral dynamics. It is a recurring joke on WhatsApp that karyakartas have to confirm with their leaders each morning which side they are on and who they support. As it is, over the last few decades, with the changing economy of elections and the proliferation of social media, the dedicated karyakarta is almost becoming extinct and what exists now is a bunch of transactional supporters who support a leader or a party for varied personal, political or economic reasons and ambitions.

But the current scenario in the state is unprecedented for most supporters who find it beyond their comprehension. I recently spoke to a BJP karyakarta from Satara. In his late 40s now, he has been loyal to the BJP and the Sangh Parivar ideology for many years. He said that loyalists like him are also having a tough time as all their former foes are now inducted in the party. Usually ahead of polls, we try to campaign with the work done by BJP in our constituencies and often try to highlight the shortcomings of our opponents. This time, it is such a confusing state as we are forced to work with those who we fought tooth and nail. We have no face to show.

Such examples are aplenty. Take the case of Ajit Pawar, who aggressively campaigned for his son Parth, from the Maval constituency in 2019 Lok Sabha polls against Shiv Sena candidate Shrirang Barne. Parth however lost the elections to Barne with a difference of over 2 lakh votes. The elections were a big jolt to Pawar juniors political career even before it began. Cut to 2024. Ajit Pawar is now one of the star campaigners for Barne as he is announced as the Mahayutis official candidate in Maval.

If the leaders and karyakartas are themselves confused about their loyalty, what kind of assurance can they offer to the 9 crore voters in the state?

As the state reels under the impact of massive unemployment, ever growing agrarian distress and several prominent day-to-day crises that need urgent attention, parties are busy fighting court cases to prove that they are the original party, and the media channels are busy covering Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation raids on politicians.

The key feature of Indian elections is the power that the once in five years event rests in the hands of its ordinary citizens to bring about a change, ask questions and push the political dispensation to make amends. But the current chaos in a state like Maharashtra, which sends one of the highest numbers of elected members to the parliament (48), has also pushed several voters to ask politicians and parties the same question that the BJP used as a poll tagline in 2014, Kuthe neun thevlay Maharashtra majha? (where have you taken my Maharashtra?).

Dr. Sanjay Patil is a Mumbai based researcher who works on Maharashtra Politics and Urban Informality. His doctoral work looks at the journey of Shiv Sena between 1985 and 2022. The views expressed are personal
As West Bengal joins the country to go to polls later this month, the Krishnanagar constituency Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, Amrita Roy will face off against Trinamool Congress' Mahua Moitra.

Roy is a descendant of the Maharaj Krishnachandra's family, the erstwhile royals who served in the court of the Bengal nawabs  and who is believed to have supported the much-reviled Mir Jafar who ended the nawab's rule and facilitated the British takeover in the 18th century.

The name Mir Jafar has been a byword for treachery in the Indian sub-continent for more than 250 years now. On June 23, 1757, at Plassey (Polashi, West Bengal), the British East India Company forces defeated the much larger army of Siraj-ud Daulah, the last independent ruler of Bengal (1756-1757). This unlikely victory was the result of both luck (rain rendered the poorly protected gunpowder on Sirajs side useless) and internal sabotage.

In the 18th century, Bengal was the richest province of the crumbling Mughal empire. European trading companies  British, French, Dutch and Portuguese  were vying with each other to gain trading rights in various provinces. This rivalry began in Europe and spilt over into trading frontiers such as India, and also led to military conflicts like the Carnatic wars (1746-48, 1749-54, 1757-63) between the British East India Company and the French East India Company, with both allied to rival Nawabs.

The Black Hole of Calcutta

Two months after Siraj became Nawab of Bengal in April 1756, his troops stormed the British-built Fort William in then Calcutta and took captive more than a hundred Indians, Britishers and a few other Europeans. This large group was forced into a tiny barrack, just 4.3 m x 5.5 m in size, on the night of June 20, 1756. During the night, many of them died due to suffocation and exhaustion in that black hole. The exact numbers of deaths vary wildly from 16 to 23 out of the 146 captured. Regardless of the exact number, the sordid episode led to the East India Company sanctioning the use of any and all means to oust Siraj. Author Sudip Chakaravarti writes in Plassey: The Battle that Changed the Course of Indian History, Just how many died in the Black Hole? How many were there to begin with? A macabre arithmetic has since remained with the incident.

Sirajs brief rule as Nawab has been portrayed as untenably disastrous by his critics, such as courtier Ghulam Hussain Khan and a host of British writers. This provided the much-needed moral justification for East India Company officials like Robert Clive to take over Bengal by force of arms, thereby turning the company from just a trading power to a territorial one. However, Indian historians, and particularly Bengali chroniclers, have described Sirajs vilification as a deliberate exercise in communal historiography by the British, and later their Indian beneficiaries, who had willy-nilly imbibed colonial and orientalist mindsets.

Both contemporary and later Persian chronicles, as well as British records, conclusively show that the key saboteurs against Siraj were led by a disgruntled group comprising a top general Mir Jafar, leading merchants and bankers (Jagat Seth Madhab Rai and Omichand), and nobles like Rai Durlabh. Mir Jafar, a contender to the throne, had lost out to a much younger 24-year-old Siraj, who had also publicly humiliated Madhab Rai, the richest merchant. In fact, British accounts have depicted Siraj as an ill-tempered, scornful, cruel and uncouth man, who had come to be despised by the entire old guard, including landlords from the time of his grandfather Nawab Alivardi Khans (1740-1756 AD) rule.

Two hundred and sixty-seven years later, this spectre of the betrayal of Siraj-ud-Daulah by Mir Jafar, has been dug up in the ongoing election campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This has been precipitated by the Bharatiya Janata Party fielding Amrita Roy, a political rookie who belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Krishnanagar, from the eponymous Lok Sabha seat.

Ms Roy has sought to claim a larger role for her ancestor-in-law, Krishnachandra Roy, in the conspiracy to kill Siraj, whom she has labelled as a Mughal outsider and whose rule of torture would have led to the extinction of Hinduism from Krishnanagar. The Trinamool Congress Mohua Mitra and others have returned fire with their own cannonade of history. They have pointed to Krishnachandras allegiance to the British against the last independent ruler of Bengal in the decisive battle of Plassey, and have accused Roy of allying with the outsider and anti-Bengali BJP.

Since 2014, elections have turned increasingly communal and atavistic, referring to real and imagined injustices, and reinterpreting power struggles of the past such as between Siraj and the merchants aligned with the British, along religious lines to serve present political interests. Thus, history is now witnessing the communalisation of the Battle of Plassey.

Also Read: Bengal nawab who died fighting British turns tormentor of Hindus in BJPs poll narrative

Who was Krishnachandra Roy (1710-1782)?

A petty zamindar and a self-styled Raja, Krishnachandra Roys family had controlled the Krishnanagar-Nadia region of West Bengal for five generations. After winning the favour of the British, Krishnachandra patronised the arts and religion. He styled himself on Emperor Akbar and kept his own nine jewels  or navratna  among his courtiers in his small court in Krishnanagar. He championed orthodox traditions like the prohibition of widow remarriage and was a big patron of Shakta worship.

Krishnachandra Roys part in the battle of Plassey was peripheral. None of the British, Persian, French and Dutch accounts mention him or his role in any detail. But it was adequate for the British to intervene to stop his execution, ordered by Mir Qasim, the British-installed Nawab in the early 1760s. Pranab Chatterjee writes in A Story of Ambivalent Modernisation in Bangladesh and West Bengal: The Rise of and Fall of Bengali Elitism in South Asia (Asian Thought and Culture), for his loyalty and friendship, Clive rewarded Krishna Chandra with five cannons, the title of Maharaja (the great king), and the right to be a large-scale local zamindar.

This gifting of cannons  the exact number varies from five to 12, according to different accounts  is perceived as an important marker of Krishnachandra Roys role in the battle. As historian Joel Bordeaux writes in The Mythic King: Raja Krishnacandra and Early Modern Bengal, a more directly related bit of material evidence (of collusion) is probably the cannon directly in front of the Nadia royal palace in Krishnanagar. Its pedestal bears an inscription stating that the cannon was used in the Battle of Plassey and was gifted by Clive himself. It is commonly claimed that Krishnachandra received a dozen such cannon, but even one would seem an unusual way to honour the raja had he not contributed to the Company's victory in any meaningful way.

The cannons that were used by the British to gain their first military victory, which brought a sudden end to the largely pluralistic and tolerant Nawabi rule in Bengal, were on display at the Krishnanagar palace. Bordeaux also notes a legend prevalent about them, despite its location inside the gate, plenty of people are aware of the cannon's existence. During a public festival held in the exhibition hall (nat-mandir) adjoining the palace some of the locals informed me that the cannon is possessed (pagal) and has been known to fire occasionally on its own initiative.

Legitimation and myth-making

The 18th and 19th-century literature such as Bharat Chandras Anand Mangal and Kshitishvansavalicharita, the 1805 biography of the Krishnagar kings, introduced Krishnachandra and other Hindu aristocrats into the Plassey conspiracy, and this self-serving belief in relation to their new masters  the British  spread widely among the colonial bhadralok (Bengali elite).

Anand Mangal, for instance, attempts to show Krishnachandra Roy as the one who approached Robert Clive with an underhanded plan to overthrow Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula lest continued 'Muslim Rule' destroy the Hindutva, the religious/social/biological identities, of Bengal's Hindu population - and perhaps the universe itself in the process.

Just as the name Mir Jafar came to exemplify betrayal, British colonial rule is remembered for its policy of divide and rule throughout the world. This extended to history-writing, in which they pitted one community against another by undertaking a systematic project of emphasising differences and downplaying tolerance and syncretism, such as that embodied by the likes of Emperor Akbar, and Nawab Alivardi Khan of Bengal. It is tragic and ironic that more than 75 years after their departure, the spectre of the British still haunts Indian politics, and this divisive colonial legacy has found new life in the form of communalisation of history, even at the cost of undermining national unity.

References

Sudeep Chakravarty, Plassey: The Battle that Changed the Course of Indian History, 2020

Pranab Chatterjee, A Story of Ambivalent Modernisation in Bangladesh and West Bengal: The Rise of and Fall of Bengali Elitism in South Asia (Asian Thought and Culture, 2009

Joel Bordeaux, The Mythic King: Raja Krishnacandra and Early Modern Bengal, 2015

HistoriCity is a column by author Valay Singh that narrates the story of a city that is in the news, by going back to its documented history, mythology and archaeological digs. The views expressed are personal
Imagine a country in which everything is run by women and men are either missing or confined to the domestic sphere. Left to themselves, the women create a better society, without inequality or war. All goods are shared, writes Sandra Newman, an American feminist science fiction writer in a piece for The Guardian in 2022. All children are safe. The economy is sustainable and Earth is cherished. Without male biology standing in the way, utopia builds itself. Newman claims this is a particular sub-genre of science fiction, written mostly from the 1970s to 1990s. Indian Science fiction: Opening doors to worlds that are both new and familiar. (Shutterstock)

It was once so popular it was almost synonymous with feminist SF, she writes, naming books by Suzy McKee, Joana Russ, Lauren Beukes, Christina Sweeney-Baird, and her own novel, The Men. Quite typically, however, she misses out on what is possibly the first such feminist utopian novel written in English in the 20th century  Sultanas Dream by Begum Rokeya, often considered the first work of science fiction from India. Published in 1905, the novel has been described by Sudanese journalist Nasreen Malik as a sort of gender-based Planet of the Apes where the roles are reversed and the men are locked away in a technologically advanced future.

Indian Literatures special edition on science fiction from India. (Courtesy Uttaran Das Gupta)

Indian SF [science fiction], which probably has one of the oldest SF traditions outside Europe and North America is yet to receive sufficient critical attention, writes literary scholar Suparno Banerjee in his book, Indian Science Fiction: Patterns, History and Hybridity (2020). While there is an increasing amount of academic and popular interest in Indian sci-fi, it still falls woefully short of the wealth of work in the genre. Perhaps, in an attempt to correct this, Sahitya Akademi devoted the January-February edition of its flagship publication, Indian Literature, to science fiction.

Sukrita Paul Kumar, guest editor, Indian Literature (Courtesy the subject)

The poet, translator, and academic Sukrita Paul Kumar, who guest edits Indian Literature, raised a pertinent question in her editorial: When we see our sci-fi writers from so many Indian languages, do we deduce then that their writing is produced predominantly under the influence of what comes from the West? Is it then a totally borrowed genre? While providing a genealogy of Western science fiction from Mary Shelley and Jules Verne to Isaac Asimov, Sukritas close examination of the pieces included in this edition brings her to the conclusion that Indian science fiction bears some national characteristics such as linguistic plurality, national heroes and epic characters. (T)he emergence of sci-fi does have its indigenous roots, she writes.

The edition brings together two graphic narratives, 14 fictional stories (written originally in English and also translations of a few written in Bengali, Dogri, Malayalam, Punjabi, Telugu, and Hindi), an interview with a publisher, eight essays on different aspects of science fiction written in India, and the work of eight poets. While several of the poems are in English, two are translated from Hindi and one from Dogri. Like all other editions of Indian Literature, this one too has several reviews  but these are not of science fiction books.

One of the most remarkable pieces in this edition is Anil Menons essay, Brave New Words: Jagadish Chandra Bose and the Science Fiction Story. Erudite and engaging, it is a masterclass on how to do literary criticism without falling into the trap of jargon-filled, technical language often used in academic writing. The essay focuses on a Bengali short story, Nirrudesher Kahini (The Story of the Missing) by Jagadish Chandra Bose, who invented the crescograph, a device to measure the growth of plants. (Though, if you ask a Bengali, they are most likely to tell you that Guglielmo Marconi cheated him out of a Nobel Prize for inventing the radio.) Menons essay not only analyses Boses story but also presents a delightful anecdote of how the scientist wrote it to promote his young nephews fledging business in hair oil manufacturing. The hair oil, known by its brand name Kuntalin, plays an important part in the storys plot.

Science fiction; fantastic visions of the future. (Shutterstock)

Another striking piece is the short story, Ancient Zombies: Six Indian Narratives of the Undead by Sami Ahmad Khan. Stylistically, the piece imitates an academic paper, with endnotes and a literature review, that claims zombies originated in Indian mythology. The pseudo-serious tone that recalls the writing of flat-earthers and global warming deniers is at once funny and scary.

Sumit Bardhans short story The Tiktik Karkhana, which combines historical fiction with detective and science fiction also deserves a mention. As do several essays, such as Goutam Mandals on Bengali science fiction, Saloni Sharmas on climate fiction, Nagasuri Venugopals on Telugu SF, and Srinaraharis on SF in Kannada. In a world where Artificial Intelligence and the proliferation of disinformation make us question the watertight distinctions between fact and fiction, and where climate change poses existential questions, this is an essential volume. It challenges us to expand our imagination, to seek utopias.

Uttaran Das Gupta is the author of Visceral Metropolis and Ritual. He lives in New Delhi.
Grocket Media is proud to unveil its highly anticipated list of 10 GROWING ENTREPRENEURS IN TEXTILE AND APPAREL INDUSTRY In an ever-evolving landscape of innovation and influence, these individuals stand out for their remarkable achievements, promising endeavors, and potential to make significant waves across textile and Apparel industry. From trailblazing entrepreneurs to visionary artists, this curated selection embodies the diverse talent and dynamic spirit shaping Indias future.

1. Mohammad Imran Wani, Founder, J.I. International

Mohammad Imran Wani, a visionary entrepreneur, founded M/s J.I. International at 18, now a renowned name in trade circles under the brand WANI. With three thriving factories, he's an adept leader continuously expanding his business. Imran's global exposure and strategic acumen have garnered prestigious awards for his company as the largest exporter of Kashmir Silk Carpets from India. A supplier to top global home furnishing brands, Imran's innovative investment approach and instinct-driven decisions define his success. He aims to further expand by collaborating with luxury brands, tapping into India's billion-dollar retail market.

2. Ms. Neerja Garg, Leader, Swayam

Ms. Neerja Garg, a visionary leader and textile expert with a Master's degree from Lady Irwin, spearheads Swayam, a prominent Home Furnishing Brand. Renowned for its premium quality and design ethos, Swayam offers a diverse array of products from Bedsheets, comforters, curtains, tablecovers, kitchen linen and even fashion apparel. Under Ms. Garg's guidance, the brand has excelled in innovation and exclusivity, setting itself apart in the home fashion industry. Expanding into medical textiles during the pandemic, Swayam continues to evolve its offerings, ensuring every home is a sanctuary of tranquility and style.

3. Divyank Dagaria, Entrepreneur, MK Dagaria

Divyank Dagaria, a dynamic entrepreneur, heads MK Dagaria, a leading player in textile sourcing. With a focus on quality and sustainability, the company specializes in sourcing premium yarns and fabrics globally, including eco-friendly options like viscose, hemp, and recycled materials for multinational and corporate clients. Divyank's strategic partnership with suppliers guaranteeing a steady supply chain along with transparent business dealings sets their company apart. His visionary leadership and commitment to customer satisfaction drive MK Dagaria's success, while his adaptability to market trends and passion for excellence position him as a rising star in the competitive textile industry.

4. Ankit Jain, Managing Director, Neelam Thread Pvt. Ltd.

Established in 1979, Neelam Thread Pvt. Ltd. is a stalwart in India's textile industry, renowned for its Telephone brand. Founded and led by the late Mr. Satender Kumar Jain, the company specializes in producing and supplying premium viscose and polyester embroidery threads. Committed to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, Neelam Thread Pvt. Ltd. is a trusted name domestically and internationally, serving garment manufacturers, exporters, and high end fashion designers. Their diverse product range, including Viscose Rayon, Trilobal Polyester, Spun Polyester, and Metallic Zari threads, reflects their dedication to meeting the evolving demands of the textile sector, solidifying their position as industry leaders.

5. Surabhi Khullar Khanna, Founder, SUBHA (KE)

Surabhi Khullar Khanna, the visionary founder of SUBHA, leads a pioneering sustainable Wall Art brand that harmonizes artistry with eco-consciousness. Leveraging her academic background in Public Policy, she embarked on a mission to create art that not only enchants aesthetically but also minimizes ecological impact. At SUBHA, emphasis is placed on sustainable practices like utilizing natural fibers and azo-free dyes, paving the way for conscious consumerism. Mrs. Khanna eloquently states, With each SUBHA creation, we weave stories, emotions, and aspirations into fibers, transforming walls into canvases of eco-friendly, breathtaking artistry.

6. Pooja Jaithalia, Founder, Tarini Creations

Pooja Jaithalia, a visionary entrepreneur, founded M/s Tarini Creations in 2011, transforming it into an internationally renowned fashion house with her design prowess and dedication to excellence. Having a Masters degree in management,Pooja is associated with an NGO to nurture the skills of entrepreneurship in young minds.With a focus on sustainability, she plans to introduce a designer label at an affordable price point, blending Indian heritage with contemporary style. Pooja leads the charge in innovative fashion, aiming to preserve Indian textiles while making a global impact. Her dynamic leadership and commitment to cultural preservation marks her as a trailblazer in the fashion industry.

7. Ashem Yadava, CEO, Ess & Bee International

Established in 1980 by Mr. L.N Yadava, Ess & Bee International, headquartered in Gurugram, with humble steps initially specialized in embroidery, transitioning into apparel exports by 1984. Now being headed by Ashem Yadava as a second-generation business, the company boasts of a dedicated team and a robust sourcing network. Committed to excellence in delivering a qualitative product, innovative designs and maintaining ethical standards, the company is BSCI & SEDEX compliant and capable of offering sustainable materials in organic and recycled. Specialising in woven garments, the company delivers a wide variety of fashionable products for women and children to an upmarket clientele such as Zadig & Voltaire , IKKS etc.

8. Star Cottex Pvt Ltd, Leading Manufacturer, DYESTAR Brand

Star Cottex Pvt Ltd., based in Ludhiana, Punjab, is a leading manufacturer of high-quality and fast-fashion Knitted Fabrics. Under the renowned brand DYESTAR, the company excels in innovation, offering a vibrant spectrum of colors and impeccable quality finishing. With its own holistic manufacturing units, Star Cottex ensures top-notch production, embodying elegance and style to create a premium fabric brand. Committed to customer satisfaction, the team fosters enduring relationships by continuously delivering new creations and developments. Currently producing 20 tonnes of fabric daily, Star Cottex is poised to set new benchmarks in the industry.

9. Ayushi Raj, Creative Director, SVM Inc

Label Ayushi Raj. We are a craft based enterprise running under the creative direction of fashion designer. Our vision is to create unique blend of Indian craft traditions with contemporary innovations. We work with artisans hand in hand to provide them numerous opportunities for their empowerment, upliftment and growth. Products that we bring to the table are Chikankari Skirts, Shorts, Shrugs, Bralettes, Dresses, Shirts, Kaftans, Crop tops, Pants and many more items. Let's celebrate the richness of Craftsmanship together.

10. Luna Apparels Pvt. Ltd., Exporter, Casual Garments & Industrial Workwear

Luna Apparels Pvt. Ltd., headquartered in Kolkata, is a manufacturer and exporter of casual garments and industrial workwear. It exports work wear to various European countries such as Spain, France , Italy , Sweden, Austria etc. The casual wear clientele boasts of brands like Allen Solley, Van Heusen, Turtle, Forever 21 ,Reliance Trends, Myntra , Max etc. With a state-of-the-art production facility, strong vendor base and robust logistical team, the company is able to satisfy its high-quality oriented clients. The company is certified for Oekotex, SA8000, GOTS, GRS & SEDEX.

List Curated by Grocket Media

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
In a remarkable display of medical expertise and compassion, the Interventional Cardiology Department at SSB Hospital Faridabad recently achieved a significant milestone in cardiovascular care. Cardiology Team led by Dr. S.S. Bansal, CMD and Chairman of Interventional Cardiology, SSB Heart And Multispeciality Hospital, successfully conducted a complex angioplasty by implanting 7 stents at a time on a 59-year-old patient from Iraq, who had been having chest pain and difficulty breathing for a long time.

After undergoing a CAG procedure in Iraq, it was revealed that he was suffering from left main with critical triple vessel disease. Given the critical nature of his condition, immediate action was necessary to restore blood flow and prevent sudden death. He refused to undergo bypass surgery, and sought alternative treatment options. Subsequently, he was referred to SSB Hospital Faridabad, where he met Dr. S.S. Bansal.

Dr. S.S. Bansal (Left) with the patient.

Dr. S.S. Bansal agreed to do a complex angioplasty stenting procedure to open all critical blocks to solve his problem. He successfully inserted seven drug coated stents to restore blood flow to all the arteries, including the Right Coronary Artery (x2), one each in Obtuse Marginal Artery 1 and 2 (x2), Left Anterior Descending Artery (x2), and Left Main to Ostial LAD (x1) all in same sitting.

The procedure, which lasted two hours, showcased the hospital's commitment to providing state-of-the-art cardiac care and saving lives through exemplary treatment options.

After angioplasty, the patient experienced an instant improvement in his symptoms. His chest pain got relieved, and his breathing difficulties subsided. Under the care of Dr. S.S. Bansal and the dedicated medical staff at SSB Hospital, the patient's prognosis has improved significantly, offering hope and optimism for his future health.

Dr. S.S. Bansal and his team continue to uphold the hospital's commitment to excellence in cardiovascular care, reaffirming their position as leaders in interventional cardiology. Their unwavering dedication to patient well-being and commitment to innovation serve as a beacon of hope for individuals facing cardiac challenges worldwide.

Disclaimer: This article is a promotional feature and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein.

Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the views, opinions, announcements, declarations, affirmations etc., stated/featured in the same. The decision to read hereinafter is purely a matter of choice and shall be construed as an express undertaking/guarantee in favour of Hindustan Times of being absolved from any/ all potential legal action, or enforceable claims.

The information does not constitute medical/health advice. Readers are strongly advised to consult a registered medical practitioner.
U.S. most recent absurd accusation: China-made cranes are spies

10:50, April 09, 2024 By Chen Zi ( People's Daily Online

Cartoon by Tan Xiguang

Chinese-made cranes have become the latest target of U.S.' speculation over national security.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the Biden administration plans to invest billions of U.S. dollars in the domestic manufacturing of cargo cranes as Washington seeks to counter fears that the use of China-built cranes with advanced software at many U.S. ports poses a potential "national-security risk."

This claim lacks evidence and is purely speculative. Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (ZPMC), a major global maker of cranes, said in a statement that its cranes do not pose a cybersecurity risk to any port. The company said it has strictly abided by the laws and regulations of relevant countries and regions and is operating in compliance with local laws.

For the U.S., anything advanced from China is a threat. Whether it is alleging that Chinese-made cranes are Trojan horses collecting intelligence or exaggerating the national security "threat" of Chinese-produced electric vehicle batteries, the true intention of American politicians - containing China's development - is becoming increasingly apparent.

Washington should refrain from misusing its national power to hinder normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S., and instead provide a fair, just, and non-discriminatory business environment for companies from all countries.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
San Francisco library workers, union members and supporters hold a rally on Tuesday outside the San Francisco Main Library calling for security guards at every branch in the system. Jana Asenbrennerova/Special to the Chronicle

When Nicole Termini Germain began her career as a librarian more than 30 years ago, she was never taught how to de-escalate dangerous situations. Yet, two years ago she said she found herself standing between a half-dressed man wielding a sharp letter opener and a group of preschoolers.

I was scared to death, Germain said Tuesday, recounting the incident. But as branch manager and childrens librarian, I have to protect everyone. The burden falls on me every time.

A security guard that rotates around various city libraries arrived at the Portola branch just as the man was walking away, according to Germain.

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As San Francisco officials struggle to get a grip on the citys relentless homeless, drug and mental health crises, librarians say the issues are spilling into their workplaces, forcing them to intervene in difficult situations without adequate protections.

Nicole Termini Germain, Portola branch manager and childrens librarian, speaks to the crowd of S.F. library workers, union members and supporters during a rally Tuesday outside the San Francisco Main Library calling for a security guard at every branch. Jana Asenbrennerova/Special to the Chronicle

Nearly 100 San Francisco Public Library workers and union supporters rallied Tuesday outside the Main Library on Larkin Street calling on city officials to place security guards at every branch in the system. The request is part of contract negotiations between the city and its library staff, who are represented by Service Employees International Union Local 1021.

The main library and 12 of the 27 neighborhood branches have dedicated on-site security staff. A mobile patrol officer team is responsible for responding to incidents at the remaining 15 branches, according to library spokesperson Michelle Jeffers.

San Francisco Public Library administrators argue that not every branch is in need of its own security guard.

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Security incidents within the library system declined by nearly 14% from February 2023 to February 2024, according to city data. Seven branches didnt report any security incidents during that time and six branches only reported one.

Rafael Casillas, buildings and grounds supervisor for the San Francisco Main Library, left, and Anthony Ochoa, building and grounds patrol officer, center, sit at the security station Tuesday in the San Francisco Main Library. Jana Asenbrennerova/Special to the Chronicle

Jeffers said that statistically speaking the volume of incidents is very low and the department takes a data-driven approach to place its security staff.

The Library is committed to deploying staffing capacity for the safety and security of our library workers and patrons to any library location that needs this type of support, she said in a statement.

Jeffers added that the department has not shied away from investments in this space. The library budgeted $7.8 million this fiscal year for safety and security, which includes security staff, support from the sheriffs department at the main library, a contract with Urban Alchemy and the agencys social worker program.

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Ruben Juarez, a librarian at the citys Oceanview branch, called the response from administrators disingenuous and insulting.

The Oceanview branch hasnt had any serious incidents recently but Juarez said thats partly due to the hypervigilance of staff and underreporting.

A group of library workers held a rally Tuesday outside San Franciscos Main Library calling for security guards at every branch in the system. Maggie Angst/The Chronicle

Were all little islands in the branches and when something happens at your location, it goes from zero to 100 really quickly, he said.

The union representing library staff said theyve spent the past five years pushing for dedicated security guards at every branch. The library system has added 11 security staff members during that time, including one just recently at Germains Portola branch, but staff say its not enough.

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When filling in for a colleague recently at the Bernal Heights branch, which does not have dedicated security, part-time librarian Jessica Choy was forced to approach a patron who was swearing at people inside the library. The patron became irate when Choy asked him to leave and shattered the branchs glass door on his way outside. Police and the roving patrol staff didnt arrive until after the man had already left the building.

All it takes is one incident to change everything, Choy said, adding that she felt unprepared to handle the situation.

The clash between library officials and staff comes in the midst of a tumultuous time for City Hall.

San Francisco library workers, union members and supporters hold a rally Tuesday outside the San Francisco Main Library calling for a security guard at every branch. Jana Asenbrennerova/Special to the Chronicle

Mayor London Breed, who faces a competitive reelection in the fall, is trying to close a projected $800 million two-year deficit. Meanwhile, unions representing a majority of San Franciscos 36,600 employees are negotiating new contracts with Breeds administration.

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The mayor has asked her departments to plan for 10% spending cuts next fiscal year to help bridge the gap. Depending on the mayors proposed cuts, union leaders could go on strike after a state agency invalidated provisions in the City Charter that forbade them from doing so.

I dont think you can place a price on human life, Germain said. And I think thats whats at stake here.

San Francisco is not the only city where librarians are speaking out about workplace safety concerns.

Oakland reportedly commissioned an internal study in 2022 to assess safety concerns and burnout among public library staff and recommend policy improvements. The study found that staffers felt more unsafe than before the pandemic and lacked training to deal with people experiencing mental health and other crises, according to the nonprofit news outlet Oaklandside.
Veteran Emerging Markets investor Mark Mobius said that the Sensex may hit the 1 lakh mark in the next five years. Chairman of Mobius Emerging Opportunities Fund told CNBC-TV18,  Sensex will hit the 1 lakh mark within the next five years or earlier as he said that the Indian market needs to grow in size to attract more capital inflow. Mark Mobius expressed excitement about the infrastructure section.(Bloomberg)

What Mark Mobius said on China and IPO in India?

He said, A big shift of money from China to India is yet to happen due to the market size in India. There needs to be more equity offerings in India, more IPOs and hopefully more government enterprises being listed in the market because India has some very large government enterprises that can be listed.

Which sector excites Mark Mobius?

Talking about different sectors, the investor expressed excitement about the infrastructure section and said, One area where you can have a lot more size is the infrastructure sector if you do IPOs of various infrastructure projects, whether it be bridges, toll roads.

He earlier also expressed his positive views about India and highlighted that he was closely observing the technology sector in the country.

"Up till now, India has been a leader in software technology. They export software all around the world. Now they get into hardware and I think that is going to be the most exciting," he said.

Mark Mobius' praise for PM Modi

Praising PM Narendra Modi, he said, He (Modi) is moving in the direction of more and more technology and it is amazing. With a very young population, this is a very exciting time for the country. India offers an attractive consumer play, but it's the tech sector that I've been watching closely. Under Modis leadership, Indias tech space has moved ahead of many developed countries. If Modi secures a third term in office, I can only imagine a further push for digitalisation, which would be great for India.
Elon Musk said he is guilty of many self-inflicted wounds as the billionaire was questioned in a lawsuit that accused him of promoting a conspiracy theory which indentified a California man as a federal agent posing as a neo-Nazi falsely. The Tesla CEO also said that he didnt think he had meaningfully harmed the Jewish 22-year-old who sued him for defamation. Tesla CEO Elon Musk waves as he leaves the Tesla Gigafactory for electric cars after a visit in Gruenheide near Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 13, 2024.((AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi))

Theres some risk that what I say is incorrect, but one has to balance that against having a chilling effect on free speech in general, which would undermine the entire foundation of our democracy, Elon Musk Musk said.

What is the lawsuit against Elon Musk about?

Elon Musk was sued in Texas state court last year by Ben Brody over his endorsement of a social media post that compared an Instagram profile of Brody to a photo of a White supremacist. Ben Brody said that he and his family suffered a wave of harassment by belligerent strangers who were motivated by Elon Musks remarks. Ben Brody also said that he feared long-term career consequences owing to the post.

Is this the first time Elon Musk has been sued for defamation?

No but it is the first time hes been sued for defamation since buying X (formerly Twitter) in 2022 for $44 billion.

What Elon Musk said in the deposition?

Elon Musk said, My goal is simply to have the X platform be the best source of truth on the internet. And when you try to figure out the truth of things, you  theres a debate. That debate, you know, goes one way or the other, but it is a vigorous debate.

When he was asked by the lawyer, Would you say that as of last summer that you knew that you had had some difficulties restraining your impulses on Twitter?, he responded, I would say that I  you know, Im guilty of many self-inflicted wounds."
The European Union ramped up pressure on Chinese clean-tech investments potentially squeezing out its local suppliers amid EU efforts to transform the bloc into a green economy. HT Image

The EUs competition chief Margrethe Vestager announced an early-stage probe of Chinese involvement in wind parks in Spain, Greece, France, Romania and Bulgaria, in a speech in the US.

While the EUs step is a preliminary one, it has powers to issue fines, order the suspension of tenders, or even block state takeovers of firms if it eventually unearths evidence of unfair subsidies given by the Chinese state.

China is for us simultaneously a partner, an economic competitor, and a systemic rival, according to Vestager. And the last two dimensions are increasingly converging.

The EUs latest examination into Chinese investments on the bloc follows announcement of a full-blown probe into bids by Chinese firms for a Romanian solar park, and a Chinese company recently abandoned a a 610 million Bulgarian railway tender after an EU investigation got underway.

Tuesdays move drew strong criticism from the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU.

This action sends a detrimental signal to the world, suggesting discrimination against Chinese enterprises and endorsing protectionism, the group said.

In its green push, the EU wants to cut dependence on imports of clean technologies and boost resilience. The 27-nation bloc, which already lost out to China in solar panels manufacturing, has pledged to bolster its wind energy industry and monitor possible unfair trade practices that benefit foreign manufacturers.

Wind energy is set to play a crucial role in meeting Europes overarching goal of zeroing out greenhouse gases by the middle of the century. The bloc already has a binding target to cut emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels and earlier this year started a debate about setting an intermediate goal to reduce pollution by 90% by 2040.

The EU exported wind turbines worth $1.98 billion to the the rest of the world in 2023, according to Eurostat data. Imports from China were worth 160 million.

We saw the playbook for how China came to dominate the solar panel industry, Vestager said.

She said the result is that nowadays, less than 3% of the solar panels installed in the EU are produced in Europe. We see this playbook now deployed across all clean tech areas, legacy semiconductors, and beyond  as China doubles down on a supply side support strategy, to address its economic downturn.

The move is a wakeup call about the consequences of Chinas industrial overcapacity for Europes competitiveness, said Agathe Demarais, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Clean tech is a key battleground in the conflict between China and western countries for economic dominance, she said.

Politico reported earlier on the content of Vestagers draft speech.

With assistance from John Ainger.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Rekha Rakesh Jhunjhunwala trimmed her stake in at least three companies in the March 2024 quarter, as per the latest shareholding pattern filed so far. She partially booked profits in Raghav Productivity Enhancers, Canara Bank and Crisil during the January-March 2024 period, data showed. Rekha Rakesh Jhunjhunwala offloaded more 1,12,80,200 equity shares of Canara Bank Ltd for the three-months ended March 31, 2024.

Rekha Jhunjhunwala cuts Canara Bank stake

Rekha Rakesh Jhunjhunwala offloaded more 1,12,80,200 equity shares of Canara Bank Ltd for the three-months ended March 31, 2024 with which her state reduced to 2,63,17,400 equity shares, or 1.45 per cent. The stake is currently worth about 1,615 crore as he holding stood at 3,75,97,600 equity shares or 2.07 per cent.

Rekha Jhunjhunwala sells Raghav Productivity Enhancers Ltd shares

The investor sold 12,400 shares of Raghav Productivity Enhancers Ltd as her stake in the company stood at 11,61,852 equity shares or 5.06 per cent as of March 31, 2024. On December 31, 2024, she owned 11,74,252 shares of the company. Her current stake in the company is valued at around 74.5 crore.

Rekha Jhunjhunwala slashes holding in Crisil Lts

The investor also slashed her holding in Crisil Ltd by 20,000 shares as her holding came down to 39,80,000 equity shares- 5.44 per cent in March 31, 2024 from 40,00,000 equity shares or 5.47 per cent in the preceding quarter. Her stake in Crisl is valued at 1,956.5 crore currently.

How have these stocks performed in 2023?

Shares of Crisil have gained almost 15 per cent in the year 2024 so far and were up 45 per cent in the last one year. Shares of Raghav Productivity Enhancers are down 15 per cent in the year 2024 but the stock rose 45 per cent in the last one year. Canara Bank is up more than 115 per cent in the last one year.

What is Rekha Jhunjhunwala's stock portfolio currently?

Rekha Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and associates publicly holds 26 stocks with a net worth of over 51,912.1 crore.
Brokerage Morgan Stanley retained its bullish stance on Reliance Industries stock and said that there are potential re-rating opportunities across verticals. With a target price of 3,046 on the RIL stock, the brokerage firm put an "overweight" call as Reliance Industries stock surged 35 percent in the past year and almost 10 percent in 2024. As per Morgan Stanley, Reliance Industries has the potential to see re-rating across various verticals supported by reduced debt and slower intensity of capex. The brokerage also said that the decline in net debt will lead to re-rating of the RIL stock. Reliance Industries Chairman, and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani is seen, As per Morgan Stanley, Reliance Industries has the potential to see re-rating across various verticals supported by reduced debt and slower intensity of capex.(ANI)

What are the positives for Reliance Industries stock as per Morgan Stanley?

The brokerage highlight increase in demand for global fuel which could lead to long-term concerns unwinding. It also said that impending mobile phone tariff hikes promise to significantly boost Reliance Jios revenue and profit while the company's new energy vertical is also poised to generate fresh revenue.

What Goldman Sachs said on Reliance Industries stock?

Goldman Sachs reiterated a "buy" rating on Reliance Industries, with as much as a 54 percent upside by FY26 in its bull case last month. The brokerage firm cited favourable risk-reward dynamics, unlocking from its Disney joint venture and enhanced return on capital investments.

The analysts said that Reliance Retail and Jio Telecom have already reached its peak. RIL will now start seeing improvements in its overall performance, Goldman Sachs analysts predicted.
Stock market today: Sensex breached the 75,000-mark for the first time ever today April 9). For this, it took just four months after hitting the 70,000-mark for the first time in December. In this period, 30 index constituents added 11,90,638 crore to their combined market capitalisation and Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), State Bank of India, Bharti Airtel Ltd and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) contributed the most by adding 1-3 lakh crore each to the Sensex market capitalisation. Stock market today: Two Tata group stocks- Tata Motors Ltd and Tata Steel Ltd- were among top five index gainers during this period.(Reuters)

V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, said, An important feature of the recent rally in India is that it is led by fundamentally strong sectors like capital goods, automobiles, banking and metals. The robustness of the Indian economy, the sustained capital flows into mutual funds and the enthusiasm of domestic investors can support the rally.

Top index gainers in this period

Two Tata group stocks- Tata Motors Ltd and Tata Steel Ltd- were among top five index gainers during this period. The others on the list were Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

Top index losers in this period

ITC Ltd, Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Asian Paints Ltd, HDFC Bank Ltd and Axis Bank Ltd were among top losers from the index.

Top Sensex performers in this period

Tata Motors has been the best Sensex performer as the stock jumped 40.54 per cent to 1,012.95 level from Rs720.75 level from December. Sun Pharma is up 28.86 per cent during the same period while Tata Steel climbed 27 per cent, NTPC 26 per cent and M&M 26 per cent in the period. Other gainers included State Bank of India, Power Grid, Marui Suzuki India Ltd and Reliance Industries Ltd, which gained over 20 per cent each.

Top Sensex losers in this period

Asian Paints has been the worst Sensex performer in the period as the stock fell 10.49 per cent to 2,893.90 level from 3,233.15 level in the period. HUL shares are down 9.39 per cent, HDFC Bank 6.34 per cent and ITC 5.15 per cent.
A Bengaluru-based lawyer fell prey to cyber fraudsters who claimed they were CBI officers and extorted money, reported The Times of India. The victim, a woman, was also asked to strip in front of a web camera and was later threatened by the fraudsters. Cyber fraudsters make Bengaluru woman strip on cam, extorts  15 lakh: Report

Also Read - Bengaluru water crisis: Shapoorji Parkwest residents protest after taps went dry

According to the report, the woman received a call on April 3 from a person who claimed to be a staffer of the Mumbai police department, and he said that 140 grams of narcotic drugs had arrived through FedEx from Thailand in her name. He later handed over the phone to another man who also claimed himself as a higher official in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and he said that human trafficking along with money laundering cases had been registered against her.

He later made her take an oath not to inform anyone about it as bigwigs are involved and asked her to follow the procedure to get out of the cases. She was then asked to switch her webcam on and share the screen with them.

The woman was reportedly on calls with fraudsters for around 36 hours, and they even made her strip in front of the Cam in the name of narcotic tests. She was then asked to transfer 10.7 lakh to verify her past transactions, and later, she also sent another 4 lakh using her credit card.

After she made all the transactions, the fraudsters then demanded another 10 lakh and threatened to sell her nude clips on the dark web. She then disconnected the call and reached out to the police. A case has been registered under the Information Technology Act, extortion and cheating, said the report further.

Meanwhile, FedEx clarified that the company does not seek any personal information based on the courier services. It also alerted the customers and asked them to report to the police if anyone asked for personal information in the name of FedEx.
A day after quitting the BJP, former Union minister Birender Singh on Tuesday joined the Congress along with his wife, Prem Lata, who is a former Haryana MLA. The couple made the switch almost a month after their son and former Hisar MP Brijendra Singh joined the Congress. Former Union minister Birender Singh, who quit the BJP on Monday, being welcomed into the Congress at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

Birender Singh was welcomed into the party fold at the Congress headquarters in the national capital in the presence of leaders, including former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Kumari Selja, Kiran Chaudhary, Randeep Surjewala and Pawan Khera.

Speaking at the event, Birender Singh said that his return to the Congress is the return of the ideology. We are here because we have stood stronger with the people of Haryana and they too have supported us. In the last 10 years, you (BJP) did not make anybody your own. I will say that it is not only ghar wapsi but vichardhara ki wapsi (return of ideology).

Birender Singh was the Union steel minister in the first government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also held charge as minister of rural development, panchayati raj, and drinking water and sanitation.

He had also served as a minister in the Congress government led by Hooda in Haryana.

Brijendra Singh, the son of Birender Singh, resigned from the Lok Sabha and the BJP and joined the Congress last month, citing compelling political reasons.

In the past, the father-son duo had often defied the BJPs stand on several issues.

In 2020, they sided with the protesting farmers to demand the withdrawal of the now-repealed farm laws. Both leaders expressed solidarity with wrestlers protesting against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment.

After resigning from the BJP, Brijendra Singh had said that the partys decision to ally with the Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) was also one of the reasons for his exit.

Brijendra had defeated Chautala by more than two lakh votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when the BJP swept the state, winning all 10 seats.

However, a few months later in the assembly elections, the JJP chief defeated Brijendras mother Prem Lata by more than 40,000 votes from Uchana Kalan.

Following the elections, the BJP allied with the JJP, a move that did not go down well as the contenders for the Hisar seat began to grow, especially with the induction of former Hisar MP Kuldeep Bishnoi into the BJP in 2023.

Birender Singh resigned from the Upper House in 2020 after Brijendra, a 1998-batch IAS officer who opted for voluntary retirement to enter politics, was elected Hisar MP.

The Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress, both part of the opposition INDIA bloc, will contest in alliance in Haryana. According to the agreement, the AAP will contest Kurukshetra, while the Congress will contest the remaining nine seats in the state.

The state will go to the polls on May 25 and results will be declared on June 4.
In a major breakthrough in the multi-crore Nature Heights Infra Ltd scam, a joint team of the Faridkot and Fazilka police arrested main accused Neeraj Thatai, alias Neeraj Arora, who had been absconding for the past nine years and had been declared a proclaimed offender (PO), from Pauri district in Uttarakhand. Nature Heights Infra Ltd scam main accused Neeraj Thatai (face covered) in Punjab Police custody on Tuesday after he was arrested from Pauri district of Uttarakhand. (HT Photo)

The firm, Nature Heights Infra Ltd, was being run by the Abohar-based Thatai couple. The accused collected crores of rupees after luring investors by offering cheaper residential and commercial plots in prime locations in Chandigarh, Mohali, Zirakpur, Anandpur Sahib, Ferozepur, Talwara besides other towns of Punjab. One fine day, the company shut its offices and branches and the promoters went underground. Later, it surfaced that most of the colonies awaited government approval. The company neither allotted the plots nor returned the money, while the cheques it issued bounced.

The action against Thatai comes close on the heels of the arrest of Amandeep Kamboj, alias Aman Skoda of Fazilka, who was a proclaimed offender in eight cases and who had jumped bail in 18 cases. He was arrested by the Fazilka police from Varanasi on March 15.

Luxury car, phones, fake papers recovered

Addressing a joint press conference on Tuesday, Faridkot range inspector general Gursharan Singh Sandhu and Ferozepur range deputy inspector general Ranjit Singh Dhillon said that police teams from both the districts headed by Fazilka SP, investigation, Pardeep Singh Sandhu and Faridkot DSP (narcotics) Iqbal Singh Sandhu under the supervision of Faridkot SSP Harjit Singh his Fazilka counterpart Pragya Jain arrested Thatai from Srinagar, Garhwal, in Pauri district.

The police team recovered a BMW car, mobile phones and fake documents from Arora.

Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav took to X to congratulate the joint team on Tuesday.

Gursharan Singh Sandhu said that the accused faced 108 first information reports (FIRs) registered in 21 districts of Punjab for defrauding people by promising money for plots. Of the 108 FIRs, 47 were registered in Fazilka; eight in Ferozepur, six each in Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib; five each in Rupnagar and Mohali; four each in Faridkot, Muktsar and Jalandhar commissionerate.

Declared PO in 2017

Thatai was arrested by Fazilka police in February 2016 too, but he jumped bail and was declared a PO in February 2017. At present, the accused is a PO in 92 cases.

The Enforcement Directorate had also registered cases and attached his properties, while many writ petitions filed by victims are pending against him in the Punjab and Haryana high court.

DIG Dhillon said that the accused was using fake IDs to evade arrest. He owns 1,200 acres and 200 flats in Punjab and Madhya Pradesh worth more than 1,000 crore, he said.

The Faridkot and Fazilka police have arrested 211 POs so far in 2024. They comprise 150 POs caught by Fazilka police and 61 POs by the Faridkot police.
Eight people, including seven Nepal citizens, were killed after their vehicle plunged into a gorge in Betalghat area of Nainital district on Monday night, the police said. Representational image.

Aneesh Ahmed, station house officer (SHO) of Betalghat police station, said, We rushed to the spot as soon as we received information and launched a rescue operation with the help of villagers and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). It took two hours as it was dark, and the gorge was deep. Seven Nepalese citizens and the driver died.

Ahmed said the place of the accident is around 60km from the Nainital district headquarters. The deceased worked on a Jal Jeevan Mission project in Unchakot village of Betalghat. As the work got over, nine Nepalese labourers booked a vehicle to return home in Tanakpur of Champawat district via Ramnagar late Monday evening.

Around 10.30pm, driver Rajendra Kumar (38), a resident of Baskot village, lost control of the vehicle and plunged into a 200-metre gorge.

Villagers around the area rushed to the spot and informed the police. I rushed to the spot with the SDRF team and started a rescue operation with the help of villagers, the SHO said.

Seven Nepalese citizens and the driver died on the spot. The deceased have been identified as Vish Ram (50), Dheeraj (45), Anant Ram Chaudhary (40), Vinod Chaudhary (38), Uday Ram Chaudhary (55), Tilak Ram Chaudhary (45) and Gopal (60). Two Nepalese citizens, Shanti Chaudhary and Chhotu Chaudhary, sustained injuries. They were all working for a contractor, Ahmed said.
The Philippines has adopted a playing victim tactic on the South China Sea affairs, deliberately portraying itself as an underdog while covering up its provocations and violations of China's sovereignty.





Under such a scheme, a number of pro-Manila correspondents have been hand-picked to go to Ren'ai Jiao and other Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands) to kick up a fuss in international public opinion. Meanwhile, the Philippines uses staged photographs and videos to craft and disseminate a narrative portraying itself as the victimized "underdog" while depicting China as the "bully."





The crewed submersible Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior) resurfaces after completing a day's underwater investigation in the South China Sea, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)





In fact, the Philippines' tactic falls into the theory of "weak communication," put forward by Chinese scholar Zou Zhendong, who revealed its manipulative nature. This tactic involves portraying oneself as a perpetual victim in discourse, aiming to garner sympathy and support while manipulating perceptions.





In terms of media ethics, the core of the Philippine public relations tactic can also be defined as "selective disclosure" or "cherry-picking facts." By cherry-picking facts, the Philippines uses professed victimhood as a smokescreen to divert attention away from its provocations and violations of Chinese sovereignty.





The United States and Japan have significantly aided the Philippines in manipulating public opinion to their advantage. By exploiting their extensive network of think tanks and influential media outlets, they wield substantial influence in shaping narratives that align with the Philippines' agenda.





The Philippines has taken an aggressive stance in manipulating public opinion. Numerous videos depicting its maritime tensions with China have flooded online platforms, predominantly originating from the Philippines. These videos are carefully crafted to amplify the narrative of Philippine victimhood while portraying China as the aggressor.





In the face of persistent provocations, China has demonstrated considerable restraint and patience, prioritizing regional peace and cooperation over escalating tensions.





The leaders of the United States, Japan and the Philippines will meet for their first trilateral summit at the White House on Thursday with a purported aim to counter China's regional influence.





The fact that Asian matters are to be discussed in Washington attests to the role of Tokyo and Manila as "pawns" in the U.S. effort to contain China. It also unveils the true intent behind the Philippines' ostensible "Transparency Initiative," which serves as a thinly veiled tactic to align itself more closely with U.S. interests.





The Philippines' intentional "grounding" of a tank landing ship BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Ren'ai Jiao fully reveals its provocations and violations of China's sovereignty.





The tank landing ship "was deliberately grounded" at China's Ren'ai Jiao in 1999, the Philippines' then Defense Chief Orlando Mercado told a media forum held in Manila in February. "It's all about being there ... We have to have a presence," he said.





The Philippines made a serious promise to tow away the illegally grounded warship, but 25 years on, the vessel is still there.





The Philippines breached the understanding between the two sides on properly handling the situation on Ren'ai Jiao. The Philippines promised it will not reinforce the grounded warship and will inform China in advance of resupply plans.





Out of humanitarian considerations, China made special provisional arrangements for Philippine vessels sending living necessities to the warship quite a few times. However, the Philippines refused to honor its promise and made attempts to send construction materials for large-scale repair and reinforcement of the warship in order to build permanent structures on Ren'ai Jiao.





Most recently, a Philippine military spokesperson openly vowed to build permanent structures on Ren'ai Jiao. The Philippines has also repeatedly sent people to step on China's Tiexian Jiao and other uninhabited islands and reefs that belong to China in the South China Sea.





From concocting lies to illegally using the "grounded" vessel as a garrison, and from breaking promises to frequently delivering building materials to shore up the crumbling hulk, the Philippines is the one that has reneged on its commitments, assertively provoked the other side, and made waves around Ren'ai Jiao.





The Philippines, which is backed by external forces and has been going back on its words and provoking China, cannot expect to win global sympathy by playing victim and deceiving the world. Its scheme to hoax the world will only discredit itself.
Amarjeet Singh, one of the men accused of murdering Gurdwara Dera Kar Seva chief Baba Tarsem Singh in Uttarakhands Nanakmatta, has been killed in what a police officer described as an encounter at Thana Bhagwanpur in Haridwar on Tuesday morning. Police have arrested seven people in connection with the murder. (AFP)

Senior police superintendent TC Manjunath said the encounter was triggered around 2am. He added that Amarjeet Singhs accomplice fled in the dark and that police have launched a search to catch him.

Sarbjit Singh and Amarjeet Singh allegedly shot dead Tarsem Singh on March 28. The state government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the murder. A reward of 1 lakh each was announced for information that would lead to the arrest of the two alleged shooters.

Police have arrested seven people in connection with the murder. They include two weapon suppliers.

Manjunath said it was a planned murder. The planning began three to four months ago. We first arrested four people who were involved in the murder conspiracy. Based on the surveillance and scanning of CCTV cameras during our investigation, we arrested three more people.

He added that Pargat Singh was arrested for the murder conspiracy and Sukhdev Singh Gill alias Sonu, and Jaspal Singh alias Mintu for allegedly supplying the murder weapon. Manjunath added Gill and Jaspal Singh handed over the weapon to the shooters on March 17. He said the two face multiple cases including that of murder.

During our investigation, it has come to light that Sultan Singh, a resident of Bilaspur, played a major role in the murder conspiracy. He brought together criminals in the plan.
A day after a 27-year-old man was arrested for allegedly killing his live-in partner and stuffing her body inside an almirah, police officials revealed on Tuesday that Vipul Tailor killed his partner due to the pressure of marrying her. The accused had a history of criminal cases, with as many as 10 prior cases registered against him. (File)

According to the authorities, Tailor strangled the woman after she began pressuring him to marry her, PTI reported.

As per police investigation, Tailor had a history of criminal cases, with as many as 10 prior cases registered against him. These include charges of attempted murder, as well as violations of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Arms Act.

Delhi Police told PTI that even the victim had at least three cases registered against her in Surat, Gujarat, under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Ankit Singh, speaking to PTI, said, that the two met in Surat at the victim's spa and then moved to Delhi and started living together. The couple was living in Dwarka's Rajapuri area.

Tailor transferred 7 lakh to the victim for buying a flat in Delhi. Subsequently, she began demanding more funds to cover the house's instalments and to marry her. Allegedly, in response to this pressure, he killed her.

As per PTI, the police pursued Tailor across three states  Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat  covering a distance of almost 1,400 kilometres over five days only to arrest him in Udaipur.

On April 4, the victim's father Mustakim couldn't reach his daughter and hence approached the police. He was scared that Tailor, who had been living with his daughter for nearly two months had killed her.

The DCP said, When our team entered the flat, Rukhsar alias Riya, was found in a sitting position inside a large wardrobe with sliding doors. Superficial wounds and strangulation marks were evident on her body, suggesting resistance. Household items were strewn across all three rooms, indicating a struggle. Inquiry revealed that the deceased had been cohabiting with her friend Vipul.

The police reviewed CCTV footage and discovered that the accused had departed the couple's house around 9 pm in his vehicle. Then, he was observed crossing the Sohna-Mumbai expressway toll plaza. A police team was dispatched to pursue the car. The team trailed Vipul's car from Delhi to Udaipur. Despite Vipul's attempts to mislead by changing routes, the team persisted for 48 hours until an accident occurred, resulting in Vipul sustaining injuries.

He added, The team continued the pursuit, ultimately apprehending him. He was in an injured condition.

 With inputs from PTI
A massive fire engulfed a factory in Delhi's Mundka on Tuesday, prompting 26 fire tenders to be rushed to the spot. Delhi's Mundka fire.

The emergency call was received at 11:12 am. Presently, the fire department officials confirmed that they are trying to extinguish the fire with 26 fire engines.

No injuries have been reported thus far. However, there are concerns that the fire may have spread to two or three adjacent factories.

(Inputs from Hemani Bhandari)

This is a developing story. Please get back to check for updates
A constable was allegedly attacked by unidentified miscreants inside a police camp in West Bengals Sandeshkhali around Monday midnight. Security personnel during a raid at TMC functionary Shahjahan Sheikh's home at Sandeshkhali in January. (PTI/Representative)

Police said that three persons, including two local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, have been detained for questioning in connection with the incident.

The victim, identified as constable Sandip Saha, had to be rushed to a local health centre, from where he had to be shifted to a hospital in Kolkata when his condition deteriorated.

People familiar with the matter said that Saha was alone in the police camp when the incident happened. It is suspected that the attackers had come on a motorcycle.

Read here: Even if 1% is true: Calcutta HC pulls up West Bengal govt on Sandeshkhali violence

Investigation is going on. One constable was injured. We have detained three persons for interrogation, said an officer of the Sandeshkhali police station.

Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district had hit the headlines after a team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, who went to search the house of local TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh, were attacked by a mob on January 5.

In February villagers, mostly women, hit the streets demanding the arrest of Shahjahan Sheikh and his aides over allegations of sexual assault and land grabbing. He was arrested on February 29 on the orders of the Calcutta high court and was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
PILIBHIT: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Tuesday, held Congress partys devious tactics responsible for Indias unfortunate partition seven decades ago. In a public address at Dramond Inter College campus, the chief minister also lauded Indias remarkable progress towards global eminence under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, hailing it as a Golden Era. CM Yogi Adityanath also extended his warmest wishes for Chaitra Navratri and the Indian New Year. (Sourced)

The CM emphasised that the transformative changes were clearly evident across the country in terms of enhanced security, rapid infrastructural development, and the benefits of welfare schemes reaching the underprivileged.

He urged support for BJP candidates Jitin Prasad in Pilibhit and Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar in Bareilly. He also extended his warmest wishes for Chaitra Navratri and the Indian New Year.

Reflecting on historical significance, CM Yogi remarked on the unity symbolised by Guru Nanak Devs birthplace, which he asserted was jeopardised by past political divisions. However, he praised the establishment of the Kartarpur Corridor, facilitated by PM Modis leadership, as a testament to Indias commitment to Sikh heritage and unity.

Our prime minister has initiated the Veer Bal Diwas celebration on December 26th, commemorating the valour of the four Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh, he stated. Yogi also underscored the significant sacrifice made by these revered figures to safeguard the Hindu religion and Indian culture.

Emphasising the importance of honouring their contributions, the prime minister dedicated December 26th to commemorate their bravery. This initiative has garnered nationwide attention, with events marking the occasion taking place across the country today, he said.

The CM described the timely payment of sugarcane prices to the farmers as a significant improvement in the agricultural sector.

Noting Pilibhits dual reputation for agriculture and artistic heritage, the CM emphasised the crucial role sugarcane farmers play in delivering the regions sweetness to the nation and beyond.

Under Modis leadership, efforts have been made to ensure farmers receive their dues promptly, a departure from the prolonged delays they previously faced. This development signifies a positive step towards redressing long-standing grievances of sugarcane farmers, he remarked.

The CM emphasised the transformative impact of responsible voting, cautioning against the dire consequences of misplaced ballots.

Drawing attention to the successful construction of the Ram Lalla temple in Ayodhya, the CM attributed this milestone to Prime Minister Modis leadership and vision. Urging support for BJP candidates, the CM underscored PM Modis commitment to realising the vision of a developed India.

Reflecting on the past decade, the CM highlighted the tangible changes witnessed across the nation, emphasising the pivotal role of individual votes in shaping the countrys trajectory. He warned against the potential ramifications of entrusting wrong governance, citing issues ranging from national security concerns to the plight of farmers.

The chief minister also highlighted Indias transformation from a nation trailing behind to emerging as a global powerhouse. Reflecting on the pivotal role of voters in the 2014 and 2019 elections, the CM attributed Indias progress to the publics faith in Prime Minister Modis leadership.

He urged the citizens to rally behind the slogan Fir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar, Abki Baar 400 Par. Encouraging active participation in the electoral process, the CM called upon individuals to vote within the initial three hours of polling and mobilise fellow voters.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday showcased the BJP government as one that has ensured safety on the borders even as he took potshots at the previous government under whose rule cops would be sent to locate buffaloes of Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath addressing a rally ahead of Lok Sabha polls in Rampur district on April 9. (PTI photo)

He made the remarks during his election rallies in Rampur and Hapur districts on Tuesday. In the past, thieves would brazenly steal cows tied outside homes without consequence and police would be mobilised to locate a buffalo belonging to an SP leader from Rampur. At the same time, the farmers received no assistance when their cattle were stolen, he said in an apparent reference to SP leader Azam Khan.

Pitching Modi government as the one capable of defending the country, he cited the case of Pakistan which he said developed cold feet since the Modi government came to power in the country in 2014. The same Pakistan that would carry out blasts in India and get away with it now starts issuing clarification even when a firecracker explodes, Yogi said. Rampur goes to the polls in the first phase on April 19.

The era of terrorism is over. Formerly, Pakistans provocations were met with silence but today, even minor incidents prompt immediate denials from Pakistan. The nations stance has evolved significantly, showcasing a resolute response to threats, including swift airstrikes, he added.

The NDA alliance secured victories in four out of five assembly seats in Rampur and all elected representatives are actively engaged in implementing developmental initiatives, Yogi said. The CM announced plans to establish a sugar mill in Rampur in near future.

Our aim is to foster a prosperous Rampur where fear is nonexistent and mutual respect prevails in the hearts of its inhabitants. No one should dare to encroach upon the land of the underprivileged. Our vision is to cultivate a Rampur where everyone feels valued and secure, he stated. The CM also addressed another public meeting for BJPs Lok Sabha candidate from Amroha Kanwar Singh Tanwar.
Enforcement Directorate (ED), Lucknow Zone, has arrested three people, Asif Naseem, Amitabh Kumar Srivastava and Meera Srivastava, on Tuesday, in connection with an investigation under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in a case of Shine City fraud, senior ED officials said. For representation only (HT File Photo)

They further said that the three were subsequently produced before the special court for PMLA cases, Lucknow, and the Court has granted their custody remand for seven days till April 16.

In a press note to the media, ED officials said the investigation under PMLA Act was initiated in the Shine City fraud case based on approximately 250 FIRs registered by Uttar Pradesh Police against Rasheed Naseem, his younger brother Asif Naseem and Shine City Group of Companies, wherein they had collected approximately 800-1000 crore from the public.

They said the fraudsters cheated in the name of investment and promised huge returns on the investment and finally cheated the investors by way of committing fraud.

They said the ED investigation revealed that Naseem, Amitabh and Meera are the main accused and directors of Shine City group of companies, who lured investors, collected money and cheated them. They said the investigation also revealed that the proceeds of crime were transferred to various other companies controlled by them and individuals close to them.

They said Naseem is director in 20 companies of Shine City group of companies which received the money and proceeds of the crime and the same was used to purchase land. They said Amitabh and Meera have collected  22 crore in the bank account of company M/s Kingston Build Con Pvt. Ltd and used the proceeds of crime to purchase land and other personal assets. They said the assets purchased and held by them have been attached.

In this case, earlier, the ED had conducted searches on 18 premises on 24-11-2023 and seized various incriminating documents. ED investigation till now has resulted in attachment of properties worth 128 crore. Earlier, the ED had arrested Shashi Bala, Abhishek Singh, Durga Prasad and Udhaw Singh, who are currently in judicial custody while further investigation is under progress.
The leakage of a water line at Pucca Pull in the old city area of Daliganj on Tuesday morning resulting in a substantial amount of potable water being wasted, sparked concerns among residents. As Pucca Pull is a vital transportation route for residents traveling between Daliganj, Khadra, and Triveni Nagar on Sitapur road, the leakage disrupted the smooth movement of passengers. A water line leakage was reported at Pucca Pull on Tuesday morning. (Deepak Gupta/ Hindustan Times)

Local residents expressed frustration, saying that the Jal Sansthan authorities responded late to the call, resulting in litres of water being wasted.

Abbas Hussain, a resident of Khadra, recounted the incident, stating, We noticed a fountain of water gushing up from the Jal Sansthan pipeline around 10 am. Passersby on two-wheelers were unexpectedly drenched. We immediately informed the Jal Sansthan authorities, but they only arrived around 12 noon to address the issue.

Executive engineer of Jal Sansthan, Manoj Shukla, explained, Our staff promptly responded upon receiving information about the leak to initiate repairs. After inspection, our team discovered that an air valve had been damaged, likely by an unauthorized individual attempting to tamper with it. Consequently, water began oozing out with significant pressure. However, repairs were successfully carried out in due time.

Shukla further said, The Jal Sansthan pipeline is constructed with robust materials such as cast iron, ensuring its durability. Unless tampered with, such pipelines are highly unlikely to develop leaks.

However, senior corporator Mukesh Singh Chauhan raised concerns and said: The incident highlights the importance of water conservation, particularly amidst ongoing efforts to promote sustainability. The Jal Sansthan staff arrived two hours after the incident was reported. With water scarcity being a pressing issue in many regions, the wastage of potable water due to infrastructure leaks underscores the need for maintenance and safeguarding of water supply systems.

Jal Sansthan authorities have appealed to residents to remain vigilant and report any signs of leaks or damage to water infrastructure promptly. Executive engineer Jal Sansthan Manoj Shukla stated: The department is making efforts to enhance security measures around water supply infrastructure to prevent unauthorized access and tampering. We understand the challenges of water management and conservation.
The 101 Battalion of Rapid Action Force (RAF), a unit of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), celebrated Shaurya Diwas on Tuesday. Commandant of 101 Bn of RAF Manoj Kumar Gautam addressing officers and personnel on Tuesday. (HT Photo)

The Valour Day is celebrated on this day every year in remembrance of extraordinary valour, unparalleled courage, exemplary fortitude and steadfast devotion to duty displayed by merely two companies of CRPF on April 9, 1965 at Sardar Post in Rann of Kuchh, Gujarat, against a full-fledged brigade attack deceptively orchestrated by Pakistan Army. In this fierce battle, 34 Pakistani soldiers were neutralized while 4 were apprehended. Six bravehearts of CRPF also attained martyrdom on this fateful day.

The Commandant of 101 Bn of RAF Manoj Kumar Gautam took the quarter guard salute in the traditional manner and honoured the soldiers and officers by awarding them medals and appreciation letters.

On the occasion, the Commandant inspired the soldiers and officers for their devotion to duty and asked them to maintain the glorious tradition of the force. He reminded them that the interest of the country and the public is paramount.

An art competition was also organised in which children of the 101 Bn of RAF personnel participated. The children were also awarded by the Commandant.

Many programmes were organised on the camp premises like inter-corps volleyball matches and Barakhana (community meal) in all the messes. A team of 101 RAF also met family members of Martyr Varun Kumar Tiwari in village Lonakhak at Holagarh, Prayagraj and presented them gifts.

Punarvasu Tiwari, (second in-command), Brijesh Kumar Dubey (Deputy Commandant), Neeraj Kumar (Deputy Commandant) and other officers, subordinate officers and soldiers were present.
Karnataka 2nd PUC result 2024 live updates: KSEAB PUC 2 result out on karresults.nic.in, link here (screenshot of the result page)

Karnataka 2nd PUC Result 2024 Live Updates: Karnataka PUC 2 result has been announced. The Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) has released the Karnataka 2nd PUC result on karresults.nic.in. The Karnataka 2nd PUC registration number and subject combination (stream name) will be required to check scores....Read More

Students should also check kseab.karnataka.gov.in for updates.

A Vidyalakhsmi, a Science student of the Vidyanikethan SC PU College, has topped the PUC 2 examination with 598 marks.

This year, 6,98,378 students were eligible for the 2nd PUC exam, of whom 6,81,079 appeared and 17,299 were absent. As many as 5,52,690 or 81.15 per cent students have passed the exam.

Dakshina Kannada is once again the best-performing district, with 97.37 per cent of the students clearing the exam.

Gender-wise, girls have recorded a much better pass percentage  84.87 per cent  compated to boys 76.98 per cent.

Karnataka PUC 2 result 2024: Direct link

KSEAB conducted the Karnataka 2nd PUC examination from March 1 to March 22, 2024. The final examination was held in single shifts  from 10.15 am to 1.30 pm. This year, around 7 lakh candidates have appeared for the examination and are waiting for their results. The board started the evaluation of answer sheets on March 25.

Follow this live blog for the Karnataka 2nd PUC result link, pass percentage, toppers list and all other important information.




by Kazi Anwarul Masu





President Putin seldom appeared in public since the pandemic began. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West not to cross a red line with Russia, saying such a move would trigger an asymmetrical, rapid, and harsh response. The warning came in his annual state of the nation address, amid heightened tension with the West over Ukraine and jailed Putin critic Alexei Navalny. President Putin said Western powers were constantly trying to pick on Russia. Police have detained nearly 100 Navalny supporters rallying in several cities.





U.S. President Joe Biden and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands as they arrive for the U.S.-Russia summit at Villa La Grange in Geneva, Switzerland, June 16, 2021. [File Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]





Hundreds staged pro-Navalny protests on Wednesday in eastern cities including Vladivostok, Irkutsk, and Krasnoyarsk. The authorities have declared them illegal. The anti-corruption campaigner is being treated at a prison hospital in Vladimir, about 180 km (112 miles) east of Moscow. He is on hunger strike, and his allies say his life is in danger. In central Moscow, police cordoned off the area around Manezh exhibition hall, where Putin addressed both houses of parliament. Navalny supporters planned to rally in the area. No to war, repression, and torture: A pro-Navalny march in Vladivostok. Two close aides to Navalny were among those detained.





BELARUS COUP PLOT





Putin focused most of his speech on Russias battle against Covid-19 and its plans to improve welfare and economic development. But he accused the West of threatening stability in Russia and its ex-Soviet neighbors Belarus and Ukraine. The use of unjust sanctions is growing into something more dangerous: a coup attempt in Belarus, he said. He backs Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who faces huge opposition since claiming re-election last year, in a vote widely condemned as rigged. The two Presidents held talks in Moscow. Later Belarusian authorities announced that they had foiled a US-backed plot to assassinate President Lukashenko. Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had detained two Belarusians allegedly involved in the plot. The coup claim was dismissed by the exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya as a provocation. Since last Augusts disputed election, massive demonstrations in support of her have taken place, with thousands of protesters beaten up by police and detained.





WARNING TO WEST





President Putin said some Western countries were like jackals trying to please the US, just as a jackal behaves with the tiger Shere Khan in Kiplings tale The Jungle Book. We dont want to burn bridges, but if somebody interprets our good intentions as weakness, our reaction will be asymmetrical, rapid, and harsh, he said. Well decide for ourselves in each case where the red line is. Media caption, Gauging the Russian mood: BBC Moscow correspondent Steve Rosenberg traveled to the city of Krasnoyarsk in Siberia to report tensions building over Ukraine. Russia backs the separatists holding a swathe of eastern Ukraine, and its maneuvers have fueled fears of a new Russian military intervention.





In his speech, President Putin said that the West didnt think about Belarus or Ukraine when the Maidan events were going on there. Mass protests in Kyivs Maidan Square led to Ukraines pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych fleeing to Russia in February 2014. The organizers of any provocations against Russia will regret their actions in a way they never have before, Vladimir Putin warned. His spokesman later described the red lines as our external security interests, our internal security interests in preventing any outside interference, whether in our elections or other domestic political processes. Last week the US government accused the Kremlin of malign activity and expelled 10 Russian diplomats. Russia responded tit-for-tat. Similar hostile exchanges of diplomats took place between Russia and both the Czech Republic and Poland.





HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY RUSSIAS RED LINE





In early November 2021, Russia began building up its military forces along the borders of Ukraine, for the second time in a year. Over 100,000 Russian military personnel and assets have been deployed in Crimea and in the Voronezh, Kursk, and Bryansk regions of Western Russia. Russian naval assets from the Baltic and Northern fleets have deployed to the Black Sea, and 30,000 Russian troops are currently on exercise in Belarus, close to the Ukrainian border. Tensions have escalated following a US intelligence assessment in December 2021, which suggested that Russia could be planning an invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Russias red lines Russia has denied suggestions that it is planning to invade and has linked its actions to what it regards as provocative actions by NATO.





Russia is seeking longer-term security guarantees from the Alliance that Ukraine will not be admitted as a Member State and that NATO military infrastructure will not be deployed in the country. The Kremlin has said these are red lines for Russias national security. International response Western nations have made clear their support for Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty and its right to choose its security partnerships. They have warned Russia that any military escalation will have significant economic consequences.





Among the measures being discussed are sanctions against Russias financial institutions, energy sector, and individuals close to the Kremlin. Russias controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Europe could be halted as part of any sanctions package. Military assistance from the UK, US, NATO, and the EU is also being provided to Ukraine. Diplomatic talks Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation are underway. A series of meetings between the US, NATO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and Russia were held in mid-January. Those Commons Library Research Briefing, 18 February 2022 4 Ukraine: Russias red line meetings discussed Ukraine, but also European security more broadly, including Russian proposals for legally binding security guarantees between the US, NATO, and Russia. Talks aimed at achieving a political solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine also resumed between the countries of the Normandy Format: Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany. No breakthroughs were achieved, and Russia did not commit to de-escalate and withdraw forces from the Ukrainian border. What happens next?





Russia has since been accused by the West of planning a series of aggressive moves against Ukraine as a pretext for military action, allegations which it denies. Russia stands by its statement that it has no plans to invade Ukraine and President Putin has accused the US of trying to draw Russia into a war. In mid-February the Russian Ministry of Defense said that several units had begun to withdraw from the region back to their permanent locations, having completed their exercises. NATO said it had not seen any signs of de-escalation on the ground, thus far. In the meantime, shelling between pro-Russian separatist forces and Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine has increased.





Diplomacy continues with several world leaders having visited Moscow for talks in recent weeks. At the time of writing, it is unclear whether the Kremlin will agree to NATOs proposal for more substantive security talks in the longer term. A Russian response to the USs counter-proposals on legally binding security guarantees was received by the US administration on 17 February and is currently being considered. On 14 February 2022, however, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said I think our opportunities are far from exhausted. Of course, they should not be endless, but I think we should still continue to pursue and build on them at this point. Deterrence as well as diplomacy In the meantime, NATO allies have moved to shore up the defense of Eastern Europe with the deployment of additional ships and fighter aircraft to the region. Further consideration is being given to the deployment of additional battlegroups in central, eastern and south-eastern Europe.





NATO forces will not be deployed on the ground, however, as Ukraine is a partner country of the alliance and not party to NATOs Article V mutual defense clause. Commons Library Research Briefing, 18 February 2022. Jailed Russian opposition figure and outspoken Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny died at the age of only 47. According to the Russian Prison Service, Navalny felt unwell after a walk and almost immediately lost consciousness. A long thorn in the side of Putin, he returned to Russia in 2021 after being poisoned by a Soviet-era nerve agent. Alexei Navalny, Russias top opposition leader and President Vladimir Putins fiercest foe, was buried in a Moscow suburb in a funeral that drew thousands of mourners amid a heavy police presence. Navalny, who was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism, died Feb. 16, according to Russias prison service. He was moved in December from his former prison in central Russia to a special regime penal colony  the highest security level  above the Arctic Circle. In the span of a decade, he went from being the Kremlins biggest foe to Russias most prominent political prisoner.





IS BIDEN ADMINISTRATION LETTING THE RUSSIANS ADVANTAGE OF MARITIME CONTROL IN THE BLACK SEA BY DELAYING MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE





Max Boot, in a recent article in The Washington Post, reported on criticism from Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, a former commander of U.S. Army Europe, criticizing the shortage of political will in the administrations unwillingness to more forcefully challenge Russias blockade of the Black Sea coast after the collapse of a grain export deal. Since then, Russia has been targeting Ukrainian grain facilities. Putin wants to bring Ukraine to its knees and doesnt care about inflicting hunger on millions of people around the world who need Ukrainian grain to survive. Yet the Biden administration is not doing enough to contest Putins reprehensible power play. Retired Adm. James Stavridis, a former commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe, said in an interview that he thought of a dangerous potential precedent in not more aggressively contesting Russias de facto maritime control of a large swath of international waters in the Black Sea. He argued that NATO ships should start escorting merchant vessels carrying food and fuel, keep NATO combat aircraft on constant patrol over the Black Sea, and provide anti-ship missiles and drones to Ukraine to keep the Russian fleet at bay.





According to him, there is no indication that the Biden administration is seriously pursuing any of those options. However, the Biden administration deserves praise for committing a huge amount of money as military aid to Ukraine. But it continues to drag its feet on providing other critical assistance that Ukraine desperately needs at a time when its counteroffensive is not advancing as rapidly as hoped. Breedlove doesnt mince words in explaining why the administration isnt more aggressive: In his opinion, the Biden administration does not want to see Ukraine succeed, as in his words, because we are deterred, we are intimidated, and we dont want Putin to widen or deepen the war. Bidens fears, once understandable, now seem excessive. The Ukrainian drone strikes inside Russia should relieve exaggerated fears about the consequences of crossing Putins supposed red lines. Providing more aid to Ukraine wont significantly raise the risk of a wider war  but it could shorten the existing conflict.





Kazi Anwarul Masud is a retired Bangladeshi diplomat. During his tenure, he worked in several countries as the ambassador of Bangladesh including Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea and Germany
Patna, Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Tuesday charged "officials of the education department" with impeding the regularisation of academic sessions in universities across the state. HT Image

He made the remarks here while chairing a meeting of Vice Chancellors of state universities, who complained of non-cooperation by the state education department.

According to a Raj Bhavan statement, the VCs submitted that the department's order to freeze bank accounts of the varsities had "affected timely holding of examinations and evaluation of answer scripts".

The department had last month ordered freezing of bank accounts of most state varsities following the failure of respective Vice Chancellors to attend a review meeting.

"The department has no right to order freezing of universities' accounts. At the most, it can recommend such action based on which the Chancellor may pass an appropriate order," the Vice Chancellors informed the Governor.

The Governor of Bihar is the ex-officio Chancellor of state-run universities.

The VCs also alleged before the Governor that the education department was indulging in a smear campaign on social media "giving the impression that the Raj Bhavan and the VCs were hindering efforts by the department to improve higher education".

They further alleged "in the past one year, classes have been held regularly and exams have been conducted on time. This does not seem to be to the liking of the education department which is placing hurdles".

The Governor said it appears officials of the Bihar education department want to undo all efforts in the direction of regularisation of academic sessions, which have yielded positive results.

"This would only lead to a return of the education system to the past sorry state. Proper coordination between the department and Raj Bhavan is essential for improving the state's education scenario," he said.

Assuring the VCs that their concerns will be looked into, the Governor urged them to act in the interests of the students.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va.  A former assistant principal at a Virginia elementary school has been indicted on eight felony counts of child neglect in the case of a 6-year-old boy who shot and wounded his first-grade teacher in Newport News, Virginia, last year. HT Image

A special grand jury found that Ebony Parker showed a reckless disregard for the lives of Richneck Elementary School students on Jan. 6, 2023, according to indictments unsealed Tuesday in Newport News Circuit Court.

Each of the charges is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Parker was working the day the 6-year-old fired a single shot at his teacher, Abigail Zwerner, during a reading class. Zwerner has filed a $40 million lawsuit alleging that Parker ignored several warnings that the boy had a gun in school that day. Zwerner was seriously hurt in the shooting, but has recovered.

In the lawsuit, Zwerner's lawyers describe a series of warnings that school employees gave administrators in the hours before the shooting, beginning with Zwerner, who went to Parkers office and told her the boy was in a violent mood, had threatened to beat up a kindergartener and stared down a security officer in the lunchroom. The lawsuit alleges that Parker had no response, refusing even to look up at when she expressed her concerns.

The lawsuit also alleges that a reading specialist told Parker that the boy had told students he had a gun. Parker responded that his pockets were too small to hold a handgun and did nothing, the lawsuit states.

The indictments allege that Parker did commit a willful act or omission in the care of such students, in a manner so gross, wanton and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life.

The Associated Press left a message seeking comment Tuesday with Parker's attorney, Curtis Rogers.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Veteran actor Ranjeet, known for his iconic villainous characters in Indian cinema, revealed that despite his on-screen persona, he is a teetotaller and a vegetarian. In an exclusive conversation with ANI, Ranjeet said, "Till today, I don't even smoke... I don't know the taste of non-veg.. and I'm not a priest, but I can cook." (Also Read  Ranjeet says there's a lot of vulgarity in movies and web series today: I am ashamed) Ranjeet reveals he's a teetotaller and a vegetarian despite his onscreen image

When asked about the characters where he was often seen with alcohol and meat in hand, the Reshma and Shera actor jokingly said, "What bone, what skeleton? It used to be a full goat leg, and all that kind of stuff, but that also created a big problem later."

The 82-year-old veteran actor also shared the challenges he faced while shooting scenes, which included real meat. He recalled instances where the strong smell of mutton lingered on his body, even after bathing and using cologne.

"I got tired of it. Even after bathing at night and spraying cologne, my body would still smell like mutton. Now, with the goat in front of the den and Bindu ji and Helen ji dancing, I had to endure the odour. Despite the air conditioning running, the air was still stinking, as the mutton kept burning all day long." Ranjeet shared.

"One day, I approached the art director with my dilemma. I expressed, 'I have a significant problem. You've created such a realistic set... Can't you replicate chicken or goat instead?' The art director complied and made it with Plaster of Paris. I instructed my producer not to include a real goat anymore due to the high cost, and advised them not to order it from tomorrow," he added.

Ranjeet was last seen in supporting roles in Housefull 4 and Welcome Back (2015).
For fans complaining that Rajesh A Krishnan's heist comedy Crew ended too soon, they may be in for a pleasant surprise. In an interview to Variety, co-producer Rhea Kapoor confirmed that they have an idea for a sequel and are contemplating turning the film into a franchise. Crew stars Tabu, Kareena Kapoor, and Kriti Sanon in the lead roles. (Also Read  Crew box office collection day 11: Kriti Sanon, Kareena Kapoor and Tabu-starrer sees dip, might cross 60 crore) Kriti Sanon, Tabu, and Kareena Kapoor may return for a sequel to Crew

What Rhea said

I really get scared of sequels, Im so afraid of them, Ekta (Kapoor, co-producer) gets so annoyed with me but this is the first film where I finished the film and a week later, my writers have messaged me and told me that they have an idea for the sequel. I was like, this is crazy. This is insane. Theres so much excitement and joy around this film that this time I might actually just do it. But I actually think that this film could make a really fun sequel because the end is open ended, said Rhea.

Rhea and Ektaa also confirmed that they're working on a sequel to their 2018 buddy film Veere Di Wedding, which starred Kareena, Swara Bhaskar, Sonam Kapoor, and Shikha Talsania in the lead. They claimed that the box-office success of that film prompted them to make a bigger movie with women in the forefront and release it on a holiday weekend (Easter).

Its a work in progress, but its happening and its exciting. Its going to take a bit, but I feel like were getting there. Its a rediscovery of what the spirit of Veere Di Wedding was, so its not going to be what people expect, Rhea said, on the upcoming sequel to Veere Di Wedding.

What Kriti said about Crew sequel

Earlier, Kriti told PTI in an interview that she's hoping to reunite with Kareena and Tabu for a sequel. People have been loving it. We would genuinely love to be back and do something fun. Obviously, it puts a lot of pressure on the writers... It's the audience that motivates the makers for a sequel. When they love something so much, you feel you can definitely do something next. So, hope so, she said.
The trailer of Srikanth, starring Rajkummar Rao in the lead role, was unveiled on Tuesday. Taking to its YouTube channel, T-Series shared the over three-minute-long clip. In the upcoming biopic, Rajkummar will essay the role of visually impaired industrialist Srikanth Bolla. (Also Read | Who is Srikanth Bolla, visually challenged entrepreneur whose life inspired Rajkummar Rao biopic: 6 things to know) Rajkummar Rao and Jyotika in a still from Srikanth trailer.

Srikanth trailer

The trailer begins with Rajkummar's character, among other students, talking about their aims in life. His character wants to be India's first-ever visually challenged President. The video also gives a peak of his chaildhood and the challenges along the way.

Jyotika and Alaya F are also seen in the trailer

Once he completes his 12th board exams, he gets admission in the arts stream but not science as he is visually impaired. Rajkummar's character, Srikanth along with his teacher, Jyotika, begin a fight against the education system. The trailer then shows how he gets admission in four top universities across the world.

Rajkummar's character, Srikanth, then goes on to begin his startup, giving jobs to other visually impaired people. In the trailer, Rajkummar beautifully portrays the role of Srikanth Bolla. Alaya F is also seen in the trailer.

About Srikanth

Produced by T-Series and Chalk N Cheese Films Production LLP, the movie is directed by Tushar Hiranandani and written by Jagdeep Sidhu and Sumit Purohit. It will release in theatres on May 10.

About Srikanth Bolla

Srikanth Bolla is an Indian entrepreneur who founded Bollant Industries, providing employment to unskilled and differently-abled individuals. Born visually impaired in 1992 near Hyderabad, his life story is inspiring. Returning to India, Srikanth focused on creating job opportunities for people with disabilities. The film featuring Rajkummar will honour his remarkable journey.

Recently, Rajkummar shared a video of his meeting with Srikanth Bolla. Sharing the video, the actor wrote, "Behind The Scenes. Some special moments and heartfelt conversations from the sets of #Srikanth. Trailer out on 09.04.2024. Releasing in cinemas on 10th May 2024."

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Veteran actor Jaya Bachchan once spoke about her fights with her daughter Shweta Bachchan. As she clocks her 76th birthday, we take a trip down the lane when she talked about her family members, including her son-actor Abhishek Bachchan and revealed that he "talks non-stop". Jaya had also called her husband Amitabh Bachchan the "biggest baby" at home. (Also Read | Jaya Bachchan calls Amitabh Bachchan her best friend: I dont hide anything from him) Jaya Bachchan, a few years ago, spoke about Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan.

When Jaya, Shweta spoke about their fights

On episode 10 of Koffee With Karan season two, Shweta Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan came together for an episode along with Hema Malini and Esha Deol. During the conversation, Karan asked Jaya and Shweta what they fight about. While Shweta said, "Everything I think", Jaya smiled and said after some time, We dont fight, we get angry.

Shweta interrupted, We fight, mumma. Dont sugarcoat it. Jaya added, We bang phones. Shweta told her mother, You bang phones. If I bang the phone, mumma will call me and say, You are much younger than me, how can you bang the phone on me and then she will bang the phone. Karan said, "Oh, so basically, she wants to dominate that banging the phone thing."

When Jaya said Abhishek talks non-stop

Karan said he thought that the men in the Bachchan household were the "quieter members of the family". Jaya replied, Not at all." When Shweta disagreed with it, Jaya asked, "They are quiet? Abhishek is quiet?" Turning to Karan, she continued, "Abhishek talks non-stop. He has an opinion on everything.

Shweta shared, Abhishek is so smooth. He butters up everyone the right way. I am the one who gets into trouble because I have an opinion on everything. When he sits with mumma, he is like, Youre right mumma. And when he is with dad, he is like, Youre right, dad. He is not offensive. He jumps whenever convenient, said Shweta.

What Jaya said about Amitabh

Talking about the men in the family, Jaya Bachchan shared, The biggest baby takes more attention than anyone else. When Karan asked if it was Abhishek, Jaya said 'no'. Karan then took Amitabh Bachchan's name, and Jaya smiled and nodded. Shweta also agreed with her.

About Bachchan family

Jaya and Amitabh married in June 1973. They are parents to two children Shweta and Abhishek. Shweta married businessman Nikhil Nanda. They are parents to Navya Nanda and Agastya Nanda. Abhishek tied the knot with Aishwarya Rai. They have a daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan.

Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment!  Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel  Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place
Valentine's Day just got a whole lot sweeter. Renee Zellweger is officially returning to the screen as Bridget Jones. Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001).

The British-based romantic film comedy series first introduced us to how big of a lovable mess Jones is in 2001, with the wicked suaveness of Hugh Grant's Daniel Cleaver. Eventually, Emma Thompson also boarded the familiar romantic train in the 2016 Bridget Jones's Baby.

Now, here comes a revamped edition of the English romantic comedies based on Helen Fielding novels' vision. The fourth installment is entitled, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. It is ready to bring back some familiar faces, along with some new additions to spice up the scene with sizzling freshness.

Here's what we know about the upcoming Bridget Jones movie.

Bridget Jones 4 release date

The Universal project will roll out on OTT screens via Peacock on Valentine's Day 2025. International viewers will have a chance to grab their big popcorn tubs for its theatrical release.

Also read | Zendaya reflects on her childhood, early shot to fame and past regrets, I wish

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Cast

Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant - the ultimate OG duo that boarded the Bridget Jones bandwagon in the first installment itself - are back for the next chapter. Emma Thompson is also reprising her role from the third movie.

Newcomers include Chiwetel Ejiofor (Love Actually, Doctor Strange, 12 Years a Slave, 2012) and Leo Woodall (One Day - Netflix series, The White Lotus).

Bridget Jones 4 plot

With the technological face of the world changing, so is Bridget's diary writing medium. In the new chapter of embarrassments, her previous love triangles and baby stories will take a back seat as Jones grapples with the new age of mortifying channels through texts and tweets.

Mad About a Boy will not have her merely navigate through life, work and every messy engagement that comes along with it as a 51-year-old single mother. Could a new romance with a hot, younger somebody be on the table?

Also read | Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen announce their divorce on Instagram, Finally putting..

Michael Morris will be helming the upcoming adaptation of Fielding's 2013 novel. The OG author is also dropping in to pen the script with source material authenticity.

Hugh Grant previously missed out on joining the original cast members, Zellweger and Colin Firth, for the third round. Under the banner of Working Title Films, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Jo Wallett are producing the fourth outing, with Amelia Granger and Sarah-Jane Wright as executive producers alongside Fielding.
Resuming all pomp and fanfare for the first-ever Golden Wave concert in four years, the weekend music fest has finally ditched COVID-19 fears. Seventeen subunit BSS and (G)I-DLE are some of the most high-profile K-pop performers included in the Golden Wave concert in Taiwan.

Numerous South Korean music acts will be back on the stage for the 2024 Golden Wave in Taiwan show, which will be hosted at the Kaohsiung National Stadium. The inaugural 2020 edition of the concert series was held online as a hopeful beacon to spark joy among fans at home. The online contact concert previously opened the stage to AB6IX, CIX, Kim Jae Hwan, Park Jihoon and Pentagon. During this event, artists communicated with their admirers through real-time comments.

However, as the scene has switched for the better, a grander lineup of performers will be gathering on stage in Taiwan.

The overall second K-pop concert ceremony and the first in-person Golden Wave fest will be hosted by up-and-coming actor Choo Young Woo, who debuted in the 2021 LGBTQ series You Made Me Dance. He finally consolidated his swoon-worthy charm through his drama Oasis, which won him the Best New Actor trophy at the 2023 KBS Drama Awards.

Also read | Stray Kids, SHINee's Taemin, TXT to kick off 1st Asia Star Entertainer Awards. Check the full lineup and more

2024 Golden Wave in Taiwan lineup

According to Korea-based content company Studio JAMM, boy groups, including Seventeen's trio subunit BSS, &TEAM, Boynextdoor, Enhypen and Zerobaseone will be participating in the the Taiwan concert. The performing lineup also welcomes girl groups, such as (G)I-DLE, NMIXX and STAYC. Additionally, soloist JD1 will command the stage as well.

The show will take off the ground on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 6:30 pm local time. With in-person music shows finally making strides, fans can openly express their unwavering support and admiration for their favourite artists.

UPDATE: No official live broadcast link has been updated as of April 13. However, the event is reportedly being recorded in full and will be broadcast via the South Korean network JTBC at a later date.

The actual performance time is subject to change under the given present circumstances.
Iran has released two conservationists who worked to save the endangered Asiatic cheetah before spending five years in prison on espionage charges, local media reported on Tuesday. The two conservationists worked to save the endangered Asiatic cheetah before spending five years in prison. (File)(PTI)

A report by the Tehran newspaper Etemad said authorities had released Niloufar Bayani and Houman Jowkar on Monday night, who were part of a group of five activists convicted in 2019. They were among more than 2,000 prisoners granted amnesty on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The United Nations Environment Program welcomed the release of Bayani and Jowkar, who are members of the nonprofit Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation. Etemad said their colleagues Sepideh Kashani and Taher Ghadirain were also on the amnesty list. Authorities released Sam Rajabi, another member of the group, in 2023.

The conservationists were arrested in 2018, along with Kavous Seyed-Emami, the 64-year-old founder of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation. Seyed-Emami, an Iranian-Canadian dual citizen, died while awaiting trial under disputed circumstances.

Bayani was sentenced to a 10-year prison term in 2019, while the others received six-to-eight-year terms on espionage charges, which were internationally criticized.
The ECtHR ruled that the Swiss senior womens human rights were being harmed by the impacts of the climate crisis and that Switzerlands weak effort to reduce emissions violates its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), further indicating that all European countries must come up with science-based targets that are aligned with the 1.5 degree Celsius limit. While the ECtHR does not have the power to sanction governments for failing to comply with its judgments, this ruling can be reiterated at the national level to hold governments accountable for the failure to comply with them.

Maintaining temperatures to the 1.5C limit, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), means significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the average global temperature from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, aiming to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change. If it gets warmer close to or more than 2 degrees Celsius, the world could witness much worse weather, loss of livelihood, and higher possibilities of disasters due to climate change.

A big win

The EtCHR, in the Swiss senior womens case, found that the rights under two Articles of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) had been violated  the right to privacy and family life (Article 8) and The right to a fair hearing (Article 6).

The Swiss women, part of the group KlimaSeniorinnen or Senior Women for Climate Protection, took their government to the EtCHR for Switzerland's failure to adequately reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which was infringing on their human rights, particularly highlighting the increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves as a direct threat to their health and wellbeing. This group, comprising women over 63, argued that these climate change effects, such as heatwaves, interfere with their rights to life and health, pointing to research indicating the particular vulnerability of older women to these climate-induced conditions

Todays ruling against Switzerland sets a historic precedent that applies to all European countries. It means that all European countries must urgently revise their targets so that they are science-based and aligned to 1.5 degrees. This is a massive win for all generations, said Gerry Liston, senior lawyer, Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), the international not-for-profit legal team representing six Portuguese youths, who also petitioned the court over a climate crisis case, but werent as lucky as the Swiss seniors.

Also read: Exclusive: Hearing of climate crisis petition of six youngsters begins

Although the ECtHR deemed the case brought by Portuguese youth as inadmissible due to procedural issues, the broader implications of the rulings cannot be overstated. They compel all signatories of the ECHR to take decisive action on climate change, potentially triggering a wave of climate change litigation within domestic courts across Europe.

And a loss

The Court found that a related case brought by a group of Portuguese youth, was not admissible, as the applicants did not take their case to the Portuguese courts first, and in part, because the other 31 countries (apart from Portugal) did not have extraterritorial obligations to the applicants.

In Duarte Agostinho and Others v Portugal and others, six Portuguese youths, who witnessed their homeland's ecological devastation firsthand, pleaded that 32 countries be held accountable for their inaction in the face of the climate crisis.

The six youths were taking the nations to task over their response to global warming and arguing that their fundamental human rights, including their right to be free from torture, and inhuman or degrading treatment (Article 3) are being violated. They argued that they are being affected by climate anxiety and a deep worry about their future and quality of life. The hearings in the case began in September 2023.

I really hoped that we would win against all the countries so obviously Im really disappointed that this didn't happen. But the most important thing is that the Court has said in the Swiss womens case that governments must cut their emissions more to protect human rights. So I really think their win is a win for us too and a win for everyone! said Sofia Oliveira, 18, one of the applicants in the case.

Martim Duarte Agostinho, 21, another applicant in the case, said Even though the ruling didnt go our way and were disappointed, Im proud today of what weve achieved because the judges recognised that climate change is an existential threat to humanity and an intergenerational challenge. We were in court with the Swiss women today, showing how powerful working together can be.

These cases drew on each other, and they should be understood that way. In particular, the arguments created by the Duarte Agostinho case shifted what was thought legally possible, and they created new approaches to how much states know and can be expected to do about climate change. These understandings infused the KlimaSeniorinnen case, so while Duarte Agostinho may have been declared inadmissible, the argumentative model created by this case will certainly have an enduring legacy in the Courts further case-law on climate change, said Corina Heri, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Zurich.
Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj on Tuesday said that the party will move the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi high court order that rejected Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea against his arrest. Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj (Hindustan Times)

Bharadwaj said, We respect the institution of the high court but we respectfully submit that we do not agree with its order and will move the Supreme Court against it.

Advocate Rishikesh Kumar, Kejriwal's counsel said to ANI, We have challenged the illegal arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. The High Court in its finding has said that the remand order is legal and secondly, they said that they had the ground to arrest...We are waiting for the order to come. Once the detailed order is uploaded, we will challenge it before the Supreme Court as early as possible.

The case is based on alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which has since been scrapped.

He added, We will go to the Supreme Court, we have full faith in the Supreme Court that just like Sanjay Singh got relief from the Supreme Court. Arvind Kejriwal will also get relief from the Supreme Court.

Delhi High Court rejected Kejriwal's plea on Tuesday. The court said that ED was in possession of enough material which led them to arrest Delhi CM. It added that the delays caused by Kejriwal also impacted those who were already in custody.

The petitioner has been arrested in a money laundering case & the courts have to consider the same with regards to the law in the absence of timing of arrest. Kejriwal would have known when Lok Sabha elections would be declared and he would then have been very busy. It cannot be held that the arrest timing was decided by ED, the HC said.

Delhi Minister Bharadwaj alleged that the whole excise policy case was not a money laundering case but instead was the biggest political conspiracy in India's history. He added that in this conspiracy CMs, political parties and governments, built by winning significant margins in states across India, were being targetted.

Bharadwaj said that while transactions of crores were being alleged, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have not been able to find a single penny which was illegal. This raises questions on the investigation and these claims, he added.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21, following the high court's denial of protection against coercive measures by the federal anti-money laundering agency. After his ED custody concluded, he was remanded to judicial custody on April 1 upon appearing in the trial court. Currently, he is detained in Tihar jail.

Responding to HC's verdict, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Virendraa Sachdeva said, If the leaders of the Aam Aadmi party have some ethics left then they should apologise to the people of Delhi...If they (AAP) are questioning the court's decision now then it is an insult.
The Delhi high court on Tuesday, April 9, will give the verdict on the plea filed by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. While Arvind Kejriwal maintains that the case against him is a political conspiracy, the probe agency remains firm in its stance to arrest the Aam Aadmi Party boss. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal (File Photo)

The last hearing by the Delhi high court regarding this petition took place on April 3, where Arvind Kejriwal questioned the timing of his arrest, referencing the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Arvind Kejriwal said his arrest was against the basic structure of the Constitution, while the ED argued before the court that the law is applied equally to him and any other common man of the country, dubbing him the kingpin of the Delhi excise policy case.

While the ED continues to stress that it has established a money trail to the chief minister in the case, Arvind Kejriwal maintains that there is no real evidence regarding his involvement in the alleged scam.

Now, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma will give the verdict regarding Kejriwal's petition at 2:30pm on Tuesday, April 9.

Arvind Kejriwal case verdict today: Top points

Arvind Kejriwal filed a petition in the Delhi high court against his arrest in the money laundering case linked with the Delhi excise policy. Apart from this, Kejriwal also challenged his subsequent remand in the EDs custody.

The first hearing on the CM's petition took place on March 27, when Justice Sharma listed the matter for final disposal on April 3. After hearing the arguments of both the rides for hours last week, the high court reserved the verdict.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Arvind Kejriwal, argued that his arrest was a ploy by the Centre to disable him from any active role in politics, and was against the basic structure of the Constitution.

Additional solicitor general SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate, argued that criminals, undertrials have no business to say that they will commit the crime and get immunity on the grounds that elections are coming.

Further, the ED said in court on April 3, Aam Aadmi has to go behind bars if he has committed a crime but because you are a chief minister you can't be arrested? You will loot the country but no one can touch you because the elections are coming? Do you say your arrest will infringe on basic structure? what type of basic structure is this?

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directed on March 21, and was sent to judicial custody till April 15 in the last hearing. He is currently lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail.

(With inputs from agencies)
New Delhi, Failing to get any reprieve from the Delhi High Court, the Aam Aadmi Party Tuesday said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will move the Supreme Court against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate, and maintained the excise police case was the "biggest political conspiracy" to finish off the party. HT Image

Senior A leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj told a press conference soon after the HC order that they are hopeful the Supreme Court will provide relief to Kejriwal in the same way it granted bail to A Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh recently.

"We respect the institution of the high court but we respectfully submit that we do not agree with its order and will move the Supreme Court against it," Bharadwaj said.

"The so-called excise policy scam is the biggest political conspiracy to finish off the party and Kejriwal," he alleged.

He claimed that the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation have failed to recover even one rupee of illegal money in the case.

"The entire matter is not related to money laundering, rather it's the biggest political conspiracy of the country. It's a conspiracy to crush and finish off Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and A governments in Delhi and Punjab," he said.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court dismissed Kejriwal's petition challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case stemming from the alleged excise scam, saying there was no contravention of legal provisions.

The high court order may prove to be a setback to A trying to get its act together in the absence of its convener, with the Lok Sabha polls inching closer.

Around a fortnight before his arrest on March 21, Kejriwal had launched A's Lok Sabha campaign in Delhi titled "Sansad Mein Bhi Kejriwal, to Dilli hogi aur khushhal" .

The party has now changed its strategy, launching a new slogan "Jail Ka Jawab, Vote Se" seeking to gain electorally through a sympathy wave in the wake of the arrest of the chief minister.

A is contesting 22 seats in the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat, Assam and Haryana and Kejriwal was scheduled to campaign for the party's candidates.

In his absence, other leaders of the party, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, will have to hold the fort.

Singh and Mann held a meeting of ministers and A MLAs in Punjab during the day. In Kejriwal's absence, they have the big responsibility of steering the party's election campaign, A sources said.

A has still not said much about the role of Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal in the party's campaigning for the polls even though she attended a rally of the INDIA bloc at the Ramleela Maidan here on March 31.

Party leader Jasmine Shah, who also addressed the presser, said, "The investigation has been going on for two years but not even a single penny has been recovered. But what happens? You arrest top leaders of a national party and put them in jail as part of a conspiracy."

Dismissing Kejriwal's plea, the Delhi High Court said, "The court is of the view that the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal was not in contravention of legal provisions. The remand cannot be held to be illegal."

Besides his arrest, Kejriwal, who is currently in judicial custody, has also challenged his subsequent remand in ED custody.

The matter pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21, hours after the high court refused to grant him protection from coercive action by the federal anti-money laundering agency.

He was sent to judicial custody on April 1 after he was produced in the trial court on the expiry of his ED custody. He is currently lodged in Tihar Jail.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Amarjit Singh alias Bittu, a shooter and the main accused in the murder case of Nanakmatta Gurdwara's 'karseva' chief Baba Tarsem Singh, was killed in an encounter with the Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) in the Bhagwanpur area of Haridwar in the early hours of Tuesday, news agency ANI reported citing the state's top police officer. Armed bike-borne assailants who shot dead dera chief of the Nanakmatta Sahib Gurdwara Baba Tarsem Singh in Udham Singh Nagar district on March 28.(PTI)

Amarjit Singh, a shooter with 1 lakh bounty on his head, was killed while his accomplice fled, Uttarakhand director general of police (DGP) Abhinav Kumar told the news agency. The Uttarakhand Special Task Force and Haridwar Police have launched a joint operation to trace the absconding accused, the top cop said.

The police said over 16 cases have been registered against Amarjeet Singh.

Baba Tarsem Singh's murder

Nanakmatta Gurdwara's 'karseva' chief Baba Tarsem Singh was shot dead on March 28 by two bike-borne assailants at the Nanakmatta Gurdwara in Udham Singh Nagar. Days after the murder, an FIR was registered at the Nanakmatta police station against Harbansh Singh Chugh, a former IAS officer, and two others, identified as Pritam Singh and Baba Anoop Singh.

A sevadar of the karseva, Jasbir Singh, alleged that Chugh, along with the two others named in the FIR, conspired to kill Tarsem Singh. He also claimed the involvement of others in the alleged murder plot, ANI reported.

The state police said earlier that they were carrying out a thorough probe into the killing and raiding places in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab in search of the other accused.

Additionally, three more suspects were apprehended in connection with the case. According to police, they were allegedly involved in orchestrating the crime by recruiting criminals, providing resources, and supplying weapons.

DGP Kumar said the Uttarakhand Police viewed Baba's murder as a challenge, with both the STF and police actively pursuing the culprits.

Furthermore, the DGP emphasised that the police would take stringent action against criminals committing such atrocious acts in Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been closely monitoring developments since the murder of Tarsem Singh and has instructed the police to apprehend the suspects promptly.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continued its offensive accusing the Congress of conspiring to create conflict, confrontation, and division even as the main opposition party on Monday filed a memorandum with the Election Commission of India (ECI) over Prime Minister Narendra Modis Muslim League remarks. Modi said the Congress manifesto for the April-June Lok Sabha elections carries an imprint of the Muslim League, which was formed in 1906 was squarely responsible for Partition and creation of West and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)

The memorandum slammed Modis disparaging remarks against its manifesto, saying it violated the Model Code of Conduct. By propagating false, uninformed, and vexatious claims, Shri Narendra Modi has attempted to evoke an emotional response from the electorate by using the horrors of Partition, in a bid to polarise voters, the memorandum said.

In a post on X separately, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder of BJPs forerunner Jan Sangh, was in league with the Muslim League in the government in Bengal when Gandhiji launched the Quit India movement. He blamed Mookerjee for being singularly responsible for the partition of Bengal.

Kharge hits out at the BJP

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also referred to Mookerjee and attacked the BJP, saying its ideological ancestors supported the British and the Muslim League against Indians in the freedom struggle. Modi-Shahs ideological ancestors opposed Mahatma Gandhis call for Quit India in 1942, which was the movement chaired by Maulana Azad. Everyone knows how [Syama] Prasad Mookerjee formed his governments in Bengal, Sindh, and NWFP in the 1940s in coalition with the Muslim League, Kharge wrote on X.

He questioned whether Mookerjee wrote to the then-British Governor about how the Quit India movement of 1942 could be combated and how the Congress should be suppressed. And for this, he said that Indians have to trust the British?

Fresh AAP campaign

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday kicked off a fresh campaign ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi titled Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se (respond to jailing with vote). The two-pronged drive aims to drum up support against chief minister Arvind Kejriwals arrest and to cash in on voter sympathy that the party hopes his incarceration will generate. We want you [the voters] to empower Kejriwal, said AAP leader Sandeep Pathak. The campaign was launched a month after Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann flagged off the partys initial Sansad Me Bhi Kejriwal, Toh Delhi Hogi Aur Khushhal drive. AAP leaders said they would take the fresh campaign to the people and inform them that Kejriwal has been arrested in a fabricated case under a conspiracy to crush the AAP.

ED calls Kejri aide, AAP MLA

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned Kejriwals personal assistant Bibhav Kumar and AAP lawmaker Durgesh Pathak on Monday as part of its probe into the money laundering related to the alleged irregularities in the 2021-22 excise policy. People aware of the matter said ED needed clarifications on documents from Kumar and Kejriwals engagements. Pathaks name surfaced in statements related to cash payments allegedly made during AAPs Goa assembly election campaign. The summons came days after Delhi minister Atishi said Pathak and three other AAP leaders would be arrested after Kejriwal.

TMC stage protests at EC office

A group of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders on Monday complained to the ECI about the blatant misuse of central probe agencies against the leaders of opposition parties ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. It sought immediate action to stop the BJP from blatantly misusing central agencies and ensure a level playing field. TMC leaders also staged a sit-in outside ECIs office, prompting the police to detain them.

Congress, NC seal poll pact, dump PDP

The Congress and the National Conference (NC) on Monday sealed an alliance for the Lok Sabha elections. Under the pact, Udhampur, Jammu, and Ladakh seats will go to Congress. NC will fight Anantnag, Baramulla, and Srinagar seats. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a constituent of the opposition INDIA bloc, is contesting the polls separately. NC leader Omar Abdullah and former Union minister Salman Khurshid maintained that there was limited scope for bringing the PDP on board since there were only six seats in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. PDP is a part of our INDIA alliance..., said Khurshid.

Former Union minister to Congress

Former Union minister Birender Singh on Monday quit the BJP ahead of his induction into the Congress. The move came a month after his son Brijender Singh joined the Congress. I have resigned from the primary membership of the BJP and sent my resignation to party chief J P Nadda. My wife Prem Lata, who was an MLA from 2014-2019, has also quit the party. Tomorrow [Tuesday], we will join the Congress, said Birender Singh. Birender Singh joined the BJP nearly 10 years ago after over four-decade-long stint with the Congress.
On Sunday at a Rajput mahapanchayat in Uttar Pradeshs Saharanpur, a section of the community members verbalised their disappointment at being overlooked by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for tickets in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. (PTI Photo)

The community that largely votes for the BJP is upset that for the seven seats in western UPs Meerut Mandal, the party chose not to field members from the community. The community was represented in the seven seats in the Moradabad Mandal.

Rajput organisations had requested both the BJP and the Congress to consider fielding members of the community, but their anger seems to be directed at the ruling party for now.

Speaking at the Mahapachayat, president of Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan, Thakur Puran Singh, declared that the Rajputs will vote for the candidate who is best equipped to defeat the BJP.

The community has conveyed its anger to the party, pointing out how their support was crucial to the BJP winning all seven seats in the Meerut Mandal in 2019. To be sure, the BJP could not win any of the 7 seats in the Moradabad Mandal because of the Samajwadi Partys formidable alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party.

In 2014, the party had won all 14 seats.

The anger is not limited to UP alone. Community leaders from Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Delhi joined the mahapanchayat to register their protest and grievances.

In Haryana, anger has been brewing for almost a year. According to a party functionary, the community took umbrage at the designation of Mihir Bhoj, a ruler in the 9th century, as Gurjar Pratihar Samrat. The leader said what started off as a reaction to a perceived slight of a historical figure, morphed into disappointment over political representation.

The issue of not designating the ruler as Hindu Samrat has been challenge in court.

In Gujarat, the bastion of the BJP, the community is up in arms against Rajkot candidate and Union minister Parshottam Rupala for what is alleged as a disparaging remark against the community, counted as upper caste.

The minister stoked a controversy last month during an election rally when while praising Dalits he ended up riling the Rajputs. To commend the Dalits for standing up for values he said that while kings and royals bowed down to the British, and entered alliance with them, including marital, the Rukhi Samaj (a Dalit community) did not cede ground.

Rupalas explanation and apology have not cut the ice and the community continues to demand his replacement.

The BJP for its part is busy diffusing the tension.

Senior party leaders, including those from the community, have been sent as emissaries for a rapprochement. It is like the exercise that was conducted by the party to placate the Jat community, agitated by the governments response to the now repealed farm laws. Ahead of assembly polls in UP, home minister Amit Shah had extended an olive branch to the representatives of the community at a meeting, hosted by BJPs lawmaker Parvesh Verma.

A leader, speaking anonymously, said the party does not anticipate damage to its poll prospects but does not want to take a chance. He recalled how the party lost the bypolls for the Ajmer and Alwar parliamentary seats and the Mandalgarh assembly seat in 2018 following a call to boycott the BJP by a section of Rajputs who were unhappy with the government for allowing the screening of the Hindu film Padmaavat. The BJP had held all three seats prior to the bypoll.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday lashed out Arvind Kejriwal after the Delhi high court rejected his plea challenging arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the excise policy case. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is in judicial custody till April 15 in the excise policy case.(Arvind Yadav/ Hindustan Times)

Aam Aadmi Party's arrogance has been shattered. The self-proclaimed honest character (of Arvind Kejriwal) has also been shattered by facts and proofs, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi was quoted by ANI as saying.



This is not a normal thing, because he did not seek bail, instead he challenged his arrest, the BJP leader added.



BJP MP Manoj Tiwari posted on X,"A criminal is a criminal. Everyone in the country has to follow the laws of India. Today Hon'ble Court order has shown the mirror to AAP's gang leader, evidence collected by ED shows that the kingpin is Arvind Kejriwal. AAP stand exposed."



ALSO READ: Delhi BJP demands Kejriwal resign over corruption charges



Earlier in the day, the Delhi high court while rejecting Kejriwal's plea said that the ED was in possession of enough material that led them to arrest him. The delay caused by the chief minister also impacted those who were in custody, the court added.

The court further stated that this court is of the opinion that the accused has been arrested and his arrest and remand have to be examined as per law and not as per the timing of elections. Kejriwal's challenge to the timing of arrest before General elections in the absence of any mala fide on part of ED not sustainable, said the bench of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma.



ALSO READ: Respond to Arvind Kejriwals arrest with your vote: AAP reorients poll campaign



Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 after he skipped nine summons by the central agency. He was held hours after the high court refused to grant him protection from coercive action by the federal agency.

The Aam Aadmi Party convenor was sent to judicial custody in the case on April 1 after he was produced in the trial court on the expiry of ED custody.

The matter pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 which was later scrapped.
Amaravati , TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday sought donations from the people of Andhra Pradesh for the party in the run-up to the polls, observing that the party's victory is more important to the state than itself. HT Image

The opposition leader noted TDP is a part of the lives of Telugu people and said donating to the party is akin to partaking in its running.

"For the growth of the state, for the future of our children and for our Telugu Desam we brought out a website and through this you can easily donate money," Naidu said in a post on X.

Launched today, the website will enable people to donate funds in the denominations of 99, 999, 9,999, 19,999, 99,999 and others.

The former CM made the first donation of 99,999 and said this gesture will empower a party which is striving to rebuild the state.

Addressing a press conference at the party office in Mangalagiri, Naidu assured he will continue the government volunteer system on coming to power with enhanced salary.

He promised a salary of 10,000 per month to volunteers, compared to the 5,000 they are receiving now after the NDA forms the government in the southern state.

The ruling YSRCP introduced the ward and village volunteer system in 2019 as a decentralised governance delivery mechanism, entailing a volunteer, who oversees 50 households, to go to the threshold of the beneficiary to hand deliver welfare pensions and other schemes.

Assembly elections will be held simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh on May 13 and the counting of votes is on June 4.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted that China could not encroach a single inch of land under the Narendra Modi government.



Addressing a rally in Assam's Lakhimpur, Shah said,"People of Assam will never forget how Jawaharlal Nehru said 'bye-bye' to Assam during the Chinese aggression. Under PM Modi's govt, China couldn't encroach even one inch of our land...Assam and Arunachal Pradesh can never forget 1962."



Shah added,"The BJP-led government at the Centre secured the country's border with Bangladesh and stopped infiltration."



Earlier this year, Shah had asserted Centre's stand that India has "not lost out on any territory in the months-long military standoff with China in eastern Ladakh. Union home minister Amit Shah addresses a rally in Assam's Lakhimpur.(X/BJP)

China tried to do what it did in 1962, Shah said in the Lok Sabha, according to PTI. Our leadership displayed resolve and not an inch of India's land was lost.

Continuing his attack on Congress, the minister said,"A few days ago, Rahul Gandhi was saying we need to save the culture of Assam. I want to remind him what his grandmother did to Assam. Thousands of youths were misguided and killed."



ALSO READ: PM Modi hits out at Opposition over China remarks: Acting as someone's agent



Highlighting the Narendra Modi government's achievements in Assam, the minister said,"Ten years of Modi ji has been a decade of transformation in Assam. Over the past 10 years, we have concluded various peace agreements and development projects. I am certain that in the upcoming years, Assam will become a developed state."

On the Ram temple issue, Shah said,"For years the Congress party had left the Ram Mandir issue hanging. It was during PM Modi's time that the judgement came, 'bhoomi poojan' happened and finally on January 22, the 'pran pratishtha' took place."



Lakhimpur in Assam will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 19. The northeastern state will also vote on April 26 and May 7, the second and third phases respectively. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.



(With agency inputs)
New Delhi, Calling Justice Aniruddha Bose a "stellar judge" and a classical Bengali 'Bhadrolok', Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Tuesday bid his Supreme Court colleague farewell. HT Image

Justice Bose, who was elevated as a judge of the top court on May 24, 2019, is set to join as director of the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal.

"To bid farewell to our colleagues on the Bench is always a bittersweet task. The moment simultaneously serves as an occasion to look back at their historic tenures and also lament the void that they leave behind. Today marks yet another bittersweet moment," Chandrachud said wishing Bose luck for his future endeavours.

Speaking at the farewell function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association , Chandrachud said Bose's contributions to the apex court, the Calcutta High Court and the Jharkhand High Court have left an indelible mark on the legal landscape.

"Justice Aniruddha Bose is a classical Bengali 'Bhadrolok' . His disposition is that of a good listener and a true intellectual who never gets overtly judgmental. He is a voracious reader with an abiding interest in literature, history, politics, linguistics and the impact of theological philosophies on various world cultures and societies over the centuries," the CJI said.

He added, "Justice Bose was not only a stellar judge, but before being elevated to the Calcutta High Court in 2004, he was also an outstanding lawyer. He has the unique experience of working at an intellectual property law firm prior to his elevation to the bench which gave him unique insights into this specialised field before commencing his journey as a judge."

Terming Bose as "trailblazer" in modernising the judiciary, advocating for a technology-friendly judiciary throughout his career, the CJI highlighted that he can grapple with a complex set of facts in high-stake commercial and civil disputes as effectively as he can adjudicate significant questions of public law and personal liberty.

In his address, Bose said the Supreme Court was the microcosm of modern India as shown by the commonality in the thinking among judges to reach a decision.

This kind of commonality of things in thinking among judges coming from different parts of the country is evidence that all Indians are alike. And there is a thought process which is inherently Indian, Bose said.

As regards the litigation profile, I found that no matter which state a particular litigation came from- the trials and tribulations, the worries and grievances-the problems of all Indians were alike in broad terms, he added.

Chandrachud recalled how back in 2012, Bose, sitting as a single judge of the Calcutta High Court, had allowed a litigant from the US to appear via video conference in a case pertaining to medical negligence.

Highlighting Bose's contributions, Chandrachud said during his tenure at the Supreme Court, he was an integral part of landmark decisions on issues of public interest such as data privacy law, the independence of the election commission, animal rights and affirmative action.

"Aniruddha, as we all know, has a keen interest in the teaching of the law and had our unanimous vote to helm the National Judicial Academy at Bhopal as Director, which I am sure he will lead to greater heights in the coming years," the CJI said.

Justice Bose, in his addresss at the farewell function, said the country is on the threshold of developing into the worlds most advanced independent gender jurisprudence as more women are joining the legal profession, marking a significant change.

The profession of law is undergoing significant changes in India. And these changes are for the better as a larger number of women are in the profession now. And we are also on the threshold of developing an independent gender jurisprudence, possibly ours is the most advanced in the world now, he said.

Born on April 11, 1959, Bose passed his higher secondary from St. Lawrence High School, Kolkata and completed his LLB from Surendranath Law College. After his enrolment, Bose started practice on constitutional, civil and intellectual property matters in the Calcutta High Court in 1985.

He was made a permanent judge of the Calcutta High Court in January 2004, and on August 11, 2018, he was elevated as the Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on Tuesday intervened to address the discomfort faced by junior lawyers standing behind Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. The CJI, noticing the junior lawyers labouring day after day with laptops in hand, interrupted the court proceedings to advocate for their comfort, reported NDTV. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice DY Chandrachud.(ANI)

"Mr Solicitor, all our young juniors stand day after day, I have been noticing, with their laptops in their hand. In the afternoon, the court master will see if he can accommodate them behind you immediately," the Chief Justice told Mehta.

Mehta reciprocated the sentiment and said he had requested the lawyers in the courtroom not related to the case to vacate the chair for them.

"I just told the court master to find out, if he can put some stools...we will try and put some stools," the CJI said.

Read: Ghalib quoted in Supreme Court to boost Centre's argument on alcohol

True to his words, after the lunch break, a pleasant surprise awaited everyone in the courtroom: a row of stools had been arranged, transforming the standing space into a more accommodating environment for the junior lawyers.

Chandrachud personally oversaw the seating arrangements, reported NDTV citing sources within the Supreme Court Registry. He inspected the seating, even sitting on the stools himself to ascertain their suitability, according to the report.

The Chief Justice is an epitome of generosity. Today's gesture is not only unprecedented but requires to be followed by all courts. A person sitting at the highest pedestal of judicial hierarchy being so exceptionally considerate to young lawyers' discomfort even without being told by anyone is salute worthy, Mehta was quoted as saying by NDTV.

All young lawyers had no words to express gratitude today. I am overwhelmed, Mehta added.

Read: Fan of whiskey: Candid exchange between CJI DY Chandrachud and senior advocate Dinesh Dwivedi goes viral

CJI Chandrachud displayed the heartening gesture during the hearing on the issue of overlapping powers of the Centre and states in production, manufacturing, supply and regulation of industrial alcohol. A nine-judge bench headed by the CJI is examining the issue.
Hours after the Attorney General and the Solicitor General told the Supreme Court that they would get instructions from the Centre on the matter of drought relief, chief minister Siddaramaiah said that the Union government has submitted false information to the apex court, attempting to deceive it about the rightful drought relief that was due to the state. A statement from the office of the Chief Minister issued on Monday said that faced with continued delays by the Centre in providing the rightful drought relief to the state. (PTI)

A statement from the office of the Chief Minister issued on Monday said that faced with continued delays by the Centre in providing the rightful drought relief to the state, the government was compelled to seek justice from the SC. During todays hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the Karnataka Government is to blame for the delay in drought relief, suggesting a political motive behind it. This is highly condemnable, read the statement.

For drought relief, they (Karnataka) could have talked to us (Union Government). We know the timing of these petitions. Lordships may not issue notice, it also becomes news, said the Solicitor General.

Reacting to his remarks, the CM said, As I have repeatedly said over the past 2-3 months, our government had submitted to the Centre in September 2023 itself, a memorandum including the details of the losses and the expected relief amount for the drought. After that, I and Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah in Delhi to appeal.

Despite this, Siddaramaiah said, the Union finance minister and the home minister continue to falsely claim that the Karnataka government has been late in submitting its request. Today (Monday), the Union Government repeated this lie before the Supreme Court as well, he pointed out.

The court, taking into account the statement made by the Solicitor General, has postponed the case for two weeks. The Centre is required to prepare its response before the next hearing.

Our fight against the injustice done by the Union government in the provision of drought relief will continue not just on the streets but also in the courts. We will expose the lies of the Union Government one by one and reveal its true face to the people of the state, the CMs statement added.

Explaining the unintentional delay, union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that the Karnataka government submitted a memorandum in October 2023. The Inter-Ministerial Central Team then conducted an assessment and sent it to the agriculture ministry in November.

The ministry submitted its report to the sub-committee of the national executive committee and placed it before the high-level committee. But on March 28, 2024, a letter was sent to the ECI to get approval in context of the model code of conduct (MCC) for convening the HLC meeting and were awaiting the approval, she said.

The state unit of the BJP has not issued any statement on the allegations raised by Siddaramaiah, however, it attacked the Congress alleging financial mismanagement. CM Salaramaiah is ready to liquidate Karnataka. CM Siddaramaiahs government is again borrowing 10,000 crore in the April-June quarter. It is clear that the governments one-line agenda is to bankrupt Karnataka. The Congress is rapping Kannadigas in a spiral of debt like no other, the party said in a statement.
The Delhi high court on Monday stayed the conviction of former Union minister Dilip Ray in a coal scam case, paving the way for him to contest the upcoming Odisha assembly and parliamentary elections. HT Image

Ray was awarded three years of imprisonment on October 26, 2020 in a case pertaining to irregularities in the allocation of a Jharkhand block in 1999.

On Monday, justice Swarana Kanta Sharma allowed Rays application in which he sought a stay on the conviction and said if the conviction is not suspended, it would lead to an irreversible consequence in case he is acquitted at a later stage.

In case the applicants (Ray) prayer is not allowed, he will lose chance to contest election and an irreversible consequence and irreversible damage to his political career and desire to serve his constituency will be caused to him., the court said.

The high court directed that Rays conviction in the case shall stand stayed during the pendency of his appeal against his conviction and sentence by the trial court.

Senior advocate R S Cheema and lawyer Tarannum Cheema, appearing for the CBI, had opposed the plea saying Ray did not merit a suspension of conviction in view of the extent of corruption involved.
The Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of BRS leader K Kavitha till April 23 in connection with the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi liquor excise policy. Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLC K Kavitha (File Photo)

Earlier on Monday, the court dismissed the interim bail application moved by the BRS leader and her regular bail application is pending before the court and is listed for hearing the arguments on April 20.

Kavitha accused of being key member of South Group in the case

K Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), has been accused of playing a significant role in the South Group, allegedly involved in paying the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi kickbacks of 100 crore in exchange for a considerable share of liquor licenses in the national capital. She was remanded to 14-day judicial custody last Tuesday.

This development comes just two days after the BRS leader approached a Delhi court, seeking the recall of its order permitting the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to interrogate her in Tihar jail. The CBI is investigating the corruption angle in the excise policy case.

Kavitha had been summoned multiple times for interrogation before she was arrested on March 15, and she had skipped at least two of the summons. Last year, she was questioned three times in connection with this case, with the central agency recording her statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Arrested by ED on March 15

K Kavitha was arrested by the ED in connection with a money laundering case associated with the Delhi liquor policy probe, following raids at her residence in Hyderabad on March 15.

Her arrest marked the third high-profile detention, following those of Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, both members of the Aam Aadmi Party. Subsequently, on March 21, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was also arrested in the same case, having missed several summons issued by the central agency.
Election Commission on Tuesday issued a showcause notice to Congress leader Randeep Surjewala over his controversial remark against Bharatiya Janata Party MP Hema Malini.



In a video shared by BJP, Surjewala was quoted as saying,"Why people elect their MLAs/MPs? So that they (MLAs/MPs) can raise the public's voice. It's not like Hema Malini, who was elected to lick.



Surjewala had accused the BJP IT cell of distorting the clip and sharing it on social media. Watch the full clip. What I said was that we have great respect for Hema Malini ji, who is married to Dharmendra ji, and, therefore, is our daughter-in-law," he had said.



Reacting to the purported remark by Surjewala, the actor-politician had said that the Congress targets popular people because targeting unpopular ones won't them any good.



"They should learn how to respect women from PM Narendra Modi," Malini, who is seeking a third straight term as MP from Mathura, said.



Sharing an excerpt of Surjewala's alleged remark, the poll panel said,"Needless to say that the above comments are undignified, vulgar and uncivilised and have not only caused great insult to Smt Hema Malini and disrespect to her position as a member of parliament, but also causes damage to honour and dignity of women legislators, across political formations, of women in public life and of all women in general."

Randeep Singh Surjewala's comment on Hema Malini is the latest political flashpoint between the Congress and the BJP.
A government high primary school teacher from a Bol village in Karkal taluk of Udupi district has been arrested for sexually misbehaving with girl students and has been booked under Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, Karkal police said on Monday. The 58-year-old teacher was facing such allegations in the schools where he served before transferring to the Bol school. (AP)

Karkal rural police inspector DR Dilip said, Based on the complaint registered by the victims, represented by the child welfare committee and women and child welfare department in Udupi, we arrested teacher Rajendra Aachar, who is also the priest of Isodi Mahalingeswar temple in the Bol village, on Saturday.

The teacher was produced before the Pocso special court on Sunday evening which remanded him to the judicial custody for 14-days. The accused teacher was residing in the Bol Vanjarkatti village after he was transferred to the school in 2023, he added.

The police quoted the child welfare committee as saying that the 58-year-old teacher was facing such allegations in the schools where he served before transferring to the school in Bol village in Karkal taluk.

Despite warnings from villagers and the education department, he continued his position as teacher.

The children welfare unit in its complaint also stated that there are reports of the teacher involved in such acts from June 5, 2023 to April 23, 2024.

There are many other female students who were assaulted sexually but didnt come ahead to complain, it pointed out.

Quoting the outcome of the children welfare unit, the Udupi district women and child development department minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar said that stringent action would be initiated against the accused.

She said, The authorities are planning to dismiss employees who engage in such activities. Reports of sexual attacks are coming from many departments but mostly from schools where minor girls are being harassed.

She pointed out that despite the vigilance squads visiting every school daily, many male teachers come alcoholic and misbehave with young girls.

The education department must execute the guidelines effectively to maintain the dignity of students, Lakshmi Hebbalkar added.
As Nagaland prepares to go to polls for its lone seat in the Lok Sabha on April 19, all the 60 MLAs in the states opposition-less assembly have, in a rare occurrence, extended support to the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Peoples Democratic Alliance (PDA) consensus candidate Dr Chumben Murry who will be contesting on NDPP ticket. Besides his party, NDPP, Murry has support from BJP, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), National Peoples Party (NPP), Janata Dal (United), Republican Party of India (Athawale), Naga Peoples Front (NPF) and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas).

However, if local issues come into play, such as the Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT) demand by the people of six eastern districts of the state under the aegis of Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organization (ENPO), things may not be so smooth for Murry.

Though the forthcoming Lok Sabha election in Nagaland will see a multi-cornered contest with Independent Hayithung Tungoe Lotha and Nagaland Congress president S Supongmeren Jamir in the fray, Murry, with the support of all 60 MLAs, is likely to have a clear edge over his opponents.

The NDPP-BJP has a pre-poll 40:20 seat-sharing agreement in the state assembly and one each in the Upper and Lower houses of the Parliament. Incumbent Rajya Sabha MP Phangnon Konyak is from BJP and Lok Sabha MP Tokheho Yepthomi is NDPP. The partnership made its second innings during the 2023 state assembly elections by clinching an absolute majority with 37 seats (NDPP-25, BJP-12) and following the instalment of the second PDA government led by chief minister Neiphiu Rio of NDPP, political parties with a lesser number of MLAs gradually extended their support to the PDA to constitute an opposition-less house. Besides the ruling NDPP and BJP, the state assembly currently consists of seven NCP, five NPP, two NPF, two RPI (A), two LJP (RV), one JD (U) and four Independent MLAs.

Locals say issues need addressing

Dismayed over the Union governments delay in settling the autonomous FNT issue, the ENPO has a standing resolution to refrain from participating in any Central or state election since February 23. ENPO has 20 assembly seats.

Whats more, the BJP-led NDA government at the Centres various policies including the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) with Myanmar, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the Uniform Civil Code and recent atrocities against Christians have had an effect on the local populace.

It (the LS polls) will be a test of Naga peoples resolve vis-a-vis the kind of politics being played at the Pan India level by the BJP, which is, the One Nation, One Culture, One Language, One Religion narrative. Given this narrative, it remains to be seen whether Nagas behold the danger it bodes for us or will follow the NDPP-BJP brigade which is essentially following the money trail, said Joel Naga, the president of Nagaland-based Rising Peoples Party.

The BJP-RSS factor is definitely there. Nagas have not digested the idea of Hindutva. Hindutva is something that will go on to destroy the secularism of this country, said Sebastian Zumvu, a former journalist. He referred to the 2019 parliamentary elections where the state Congress, without having a single MLA in the assembly, nearly defeated the ruling NDPP candidate.

KL Chishi of Nagaland Congress lost to NDPPs Yepthomi by barely 16,344 votes.

Voters were not against NDPP, but they were against the BJP-RSS ideologies, Zumvu noted.

K Angami, a Kohima-based political observer, said the ENPO areas (20 assembly seats) abstaining from participating in the upcoming election could pose a major concern for NDPP as Central policies having bearing on local issues will likely be reflected in the electoral process.

Expressing similar sentiments, Joel Naga says CM Rio has a cause for concern because out of the 13 lakh voters in the state, 30% are from the ENPO area with 20 MLAs.

The ENPO boycott is definitely making Rio jittery. If one recalls that opposition-less PDA garnered more than 95% of the total votes cast in the last 2023 assembly election, and the Congress received barely 3.50%, surely the PDA must have felt confident that with all the 60 MLAs on board, this LS election was going to be a walkover. But thats not the case now. ENPO was basically Rio's bastion but due to his mishandling of the FNT issue, perhaps the ENPO distrusted both Union home minister Amit Shah and Rio in equal measure. Murry is basically on the back foot, he added.

Meanwhile, senior journalist H Chishi observes that opposition parties have been playing the religious sentiment card against the BJP and it worked in Nagaland in 2019, but the religious card and anti-incumbency factors are unlikely to work this time.

It is almost a sham and bogus parliamentary election in Nagaland. But the voters should know how important it is to participate in a democratic process and elect a capable MP and send to the Parliament to speak and lobby for us on many issues confronting the state, Chishi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched scathing attacks on the Congress and INDIA bloc as he campaigned for Jitin Prasada, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Lok Sabha election candidate in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Pilibhit.(YouTube/Narendra Modi)

The BJP has fielded Prasada, Uttar Pradesh minister and Congress turncoat, replacing the incumbent MP Varun Gandhi.

Also Follow- Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates

PM Modi's sharp attack on Congress | Top 5

 Pilibhit's land is blessed by Mother Yashwantri Devi. This is the origin place of Adi Ganga Maa Gomti. Today, on the first day of Navratri, I am also reminding the country how the 'INDI' alliance has vowed to destroy shakti, PM Modi said. He added, The Congress leaders are talking about overthrowing the 'shakti' before which we bow our heads.

ALSO READ- Shakti row: BJP calls Rahul Gandhi misogynistic, Opposition backs Congress leader

 PM Modi attacked Congress for declining the Ram Temple consecration ceremony. He said, Congress tried its best to prevent the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, but when the people of the country built such a grand temple by contributing every penny and when the people of the temple forgave all your sins and invited you for the pran pratishtha, they insulted Lord Ram by rejecting the invitation.

"Congress expelled from the party those leaders who went for pran pratishtha for 6 years, he accused the grand old party.

 The PM reiterated his comparison of the Congress manifesto with that of Muslim League. Congress is so immersed in the quagmire of appeasement that it can never get out of it. The manifesto prepared by Congress seems to be the manifesto of the Muslim League rather than that of Congress, he said.

ALSO READ- Congress moves Election Commission against PM Modis Muslim League remark

 PM Modi accused the Congress and its alliance partner Samajwadi Party of insulting Sardar Patel. "Congress and its 'INDI' alliance do not even hesitate in insulting the great personalities of the country.

"To date, no big leader of Congress or Samajwadi Party has visited the Statue of Unity. These people travel abroad but do not visit the statue of Sardar Patel in their own country," he said.

 No one can forget what the Congress, with which the Samajwadi Party is standing today, did to our Sikh friends in 1984, PM Narendra Modi said.

This is the BJP, which stands with the Sikhs with full strength and works to understand their sentiments, he added.

ALSO READ- PM Modi says marked improvement in situation in violence-hit Manipur

When will Pilibhit vote?

Eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh are scheduled to vote in the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls on April 19. These constituencies include Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit. The counting of votes is slated for June 4.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lashed out at the opposition INDIA alliance, saying its leaders were abusing and threatening him to hinder the country's development.



"I say remove corruption, they say save the corrupt," the prime minister was quoted by PTI as saying during his rally in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat which will go to polls on April 19.



Hitting out at the Congress, Modi said that the grand old party formed the INDI alliance, but the member parties fight with each other while claiming to come together to stop him.



ALSO READ: People wont forget 1984 riots, CAA benefits Sikhs: Modi slams Cong in Pilibhit



"But in reality, they do not want to stop Modi. Those in the INDI alliance want to stop the development of the country. That is why they are abusing and threatening me. I have left everything to dedicate myself to the mission of serving the country. For Modi, Bharat is my family. Those who have come into politics to fill their own coffers should not abuse me," he said.



"I say remove corruption, they say save the corrupt. The people of the alliance have this enmity towards me. I will expose the money from corruption that has gone into their coffers. This work will be done at a faster pace in the next five years," the prime minister said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat on Tuesday.(BJP)

Note-counting machine gets tired counting money of dynastic parties: Modi

"Hundreds of crores of rupees are openly available with the dynastic parties. Note-counting machine gets tired and breaks down when they count this money. But Congress people are openly and shamelessly holding rallies seeking to stop action and proceedings against corrupt people," Modi alleged.

"When Modi gives a guarantee of the country's security, they abuse me. When Modi fulfills the guarantee of abrogating Article 370 (which had granted a special status to Jammu and Kashmir), they start talking in the language of Pakistan," the prime minister said, adding that he is a devotee of Lord Mahakal and not afraid of anyone.



ALSO READ: Congress angry over Ram Temple construction: Modi



"Modi bows either before Lord Mahakal or the public, and for the development of the country and its service, I have also learnt to tolerate abuse," he said.

While accusing the opposition of abusing him for carrying out the consecration of Ayodhya's Ram temple, Modi alleged that the Congress conspired to defeat Droupadi Murmu when she was set to become the first tribal woman president of India.



(With PTI inputs)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed jailed Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari to attend fatiha or special prayers on April 10 following the death of his father Mukhtar Ansari, the gangster-turned-politician who died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Banda on March 28. Abbas Ansari (HT File Photo)

The petitioner has specifically averred that Fatiha is scheduled for tomorrow. We see no reason to deny him attendance of the ritual, the court said.

Dictating the order, Justice Surya Kant said the petitioner shall be escorted from Kasganj jail to his hometown under police custody and with sufficient security measures in place.

The court directed the authorities to ensure that the petitioner begins his journey today, and no later than 5pm.

Even if there are no rituals after 10th (April), petitioner be allowed to meet his family on 11th and 12th, the court said.

Police authorities have been directed to conduct thorough security checks on visitors and ensure that no weapons are brought into the meeting premises.

The court ordered that the petitioner shall be returned to Kasganj jail on April 13 following the conclusion of his permitted family meetings.

Abbas Ansari, who is in judicial custody for a criminal case, had petitioned the apex court to attend his father's last rites. On Friday, Ansari's counsel told a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sandeep Mehta that his plea could not be listed on time, urging the court to allow them to amend the petition and seek permission to attend fatiha scheduled on April 10.

The court directed the petitioner to serve a copy of the amended petition to the counsel representing the Uttar Pradesh government and scheduled the hearing for April 9.

Mukhtar Ansari, a five-time MLA from Mau Sadar constituency, died on March 28 night at Rani Durgawati Medical College after being taken there from Banda jail when his health deteriorated. He was laid to rest in Ghazipur amid a blanket of security as a large crowd took part in the funeral procession.
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat police on Tuesday detained Kshatriya community leader Raj Shekhawat soon after he landed at Ahmedabad airport to lead a protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at its state headquarters in Gandhinagar, police said. Raj Shekhawat released a video of police personnel pushing him into the vehicle, saying it wasnt just his turban that had fallen but that of the entire community. (X/Screengrab)

We have detained Raj Shekhawat from the airport, Assistant Commissioner of Police (G Division) VN Yadav said, according to news agency PTI. A second police officer said Shekhawat was taken into custody by Ahmedabad cybercrime officials in connection with recent threats by some Rajput women to immolate themselves.

Also Read: How Rupalas remarks triggered caste-based challenges for BJP in Gujarat

There was tension in Ahmedabad on April 6 after Kshatriya community members protested on the streets against Rupala. Five women who threatened self-immolation the same day were placed under house arrest before they could reach the BJPs headquarters in Gandhinagar.

In a post on X on Sunday, Shekhawat declared that he planned to gherao the state BJP headquarters, Kamalam at 2 pm on Tuesday and asked the Kshatriya community members and their supporters to come with saffron flags and sticks and join the protest.

Shekhawat, convenor of Kshatriya Karni Sena Parivar, a Kshatriya or Rajput community outfit, has been sharply critical of Union minister Parshottam Rupala over his controversial remarks that several Rajput rulers collaborated with the British. Rupala, the BJP candidate from Rajkot Lok Sabha constituency, claimed at an event on March 22 that former maharajas yielded to the oppression of foreign rulers including the British, and that they dined with and even married off their daughters to these rulers.

Rupala apologised after strong reactions from several community members but the demands to replace him have continued from sections of the community.

On March 30, Shekhawat said he was resigning from the BJP after it refused to replace Rupala as the Rajkot candidate.

Gujarat BJP officials also claimed that Shekhawat was never a member of the BJP and have asked people to put the incident behind them. On April 2, Gujarat BJP president CR Patil said: It is my humble appeal to the Kshatriya samaj with folded hands that mistake has been committed and apology has been tendered thrice. Now, it is time for the Kshatriya samaj to temper their anger and continue their support for the BJP, as they have consistently shown their support to the party in all past elections,

Many Kshatriya community leaders including Shekhawat have rejected the appeal. On Saturday, several community outfits held a joint meeting and declared they would field 400 Kshatriya candidates against Rupala in the Lok Sabha elections. Rajkot votes on May 7.

The Patidar community has sought to rally around the Rupala, a Patidar, and put up posters in Rajkot pledging their support for him. But these were removed by poll officials on April 5 citing violations of the model code of conduct.

Many villages in Narmada, Chhota Udepur, and Bharuch, predominantly inhabited by the Kshatriya community, display banners prohibiting the entry of BJP leaders for campaigning until the party retracts Rupalas nomination.
Lingayat seer Pakira Dingaleshwar, pontiff of Bhavaikyata mutt in Shirahatti taluk of Gadag district, announced on Monday his intention to contest as an independent candidate against Union minister Pralhad Joshi from the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency. Lingayat seer Pakira Dingaleshwar has announced his intention to contest as an independent candidate against Union minister Pralhad Joshi from the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency. (PTI)

After consulting and obtaining consent of more than 200 seers and devotees from various mutts of north Karnataka, I have decided to contest as independent candidate from Dharwad, the seer said during a press conference in Bengaluru, describing his candidacy as a Swarthada Virudha Dharmayuddha (a religious war against selfishness).

The seer, who had opposed Joshis candidacy in the first two meetings of Lingayat seers and community leaders and elders held at Moorusavira mutt in Hubballi last month, had requested the Bharatiya Jana Party (BJP) to change Joshis candidacy due to alleged atrocities against backward, religious minorities, downtrodden classes, as well as Lingayats.

He had given the party until April 2 to decide on the matter. However, when the party, through former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, a prominent Lingayat leader, announced that Joshi would not be replaced, the seer said that he would consider contesting independently or supporting another candidate.

Due to the unanimous decision of Swamijis and elders of our community, as well as others who have been victimised by Joshi, I have decided to contest against him independently, Dingaleshwar Swami said, adding that Joshi had not only neglected Lingayats but also prevented people from his Brahmin community from gaining political prominence.

Dingaleshwar said that his candidacy aims to prevent Joshis atrocities against non-Brahmins. Joshi was instrumental in removing Yeddyurappa, who was ousted for unknown reasons before completing his term. He also caused trouble for another Lingayat former CM Basavaraj Bommai, who replaced Yeddyurappa in the last term, the seer said.

The political decisions of Lingayats are solely directed against Joshi and not against the BJP, he added, pointing out that the Lingayats, who constitute the highest number of voters in the northern region of the state, would teach Joshi and the BJP a lesson for refusing to change his candidacy in Dharwad. The BJPs decision to disregard the pleas of Lingayats will prove costly in the rest of the constituencies in north Karnataka, the seer said.

Pointing out the denial of tickets to former CM Jagadish Shettar and former BJP deputy CM, Congress legislator Lakshman Savadi, both from the Lingayat community, in the last assembly election, the seer said, Although experienced and senior figures, Shettar and Savadi failed to comprehend Joshis conspiratorial tactics, which sidelined those he considered his competitors. He also orchestrated false allegations resulting in Congress legislator Vinay Kulkarnis imprisonment and prevented him from entering the district.

While the seers of two highly influential Lingayat mutts in Belagavi declined to comment on Joshis atrocities against Lingayats, they expressed their support for Dingaleshwars decision to contest. One of the seers, on condition of anonymity, said, Most of the mutts in the state engage in social work, providing freshly cooked food round-the-clock to everyone who visits the mutt throughout the year. Such seers must enter the political sector, where they can have more opportunities to reach the needy, helpless, and underserved, as well as protect the tarnished image of the political sector.

In response to Dingaleshwars decision, the Union minister said, Every eligible person can contest the elections. I regard the Swamiji as one of the candidates against me and will approach the election as I have in previous ones.

He further said that his track record in the constituency, ministerial responsibilities to the nation, and the peoples desire to re-elect Narendra Modi as Prime Minister would aid in retaining his seat.

Having represented Dharwad for the third consecutive term, Joshi expressed confidence that the Lingayats, who have supported him in all previous elections, would continue to do so. I am confident that the Lingayats will stand by me, ensuring a higher margin of victory votes than in previous elections, Joshi affirmed.
Lok Sabha Election 2024 Highlights: As the Lok Sabha elections approach, political parties are intensifying their efforts to attract voters, with leaders thronging to the ground to engage with the public and gain support. PM Narendra Modi's rallies today  Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday....Read More

 Later in the day, PM Modi will hold another rally in the Naxal-affected Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh, his second visit to the state in three days.

 Following these, PM Modi will set for a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu. He will hold a roadshow in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, announced the state BJP chief K Annamalai.

Grounded helicopter disrupts Rahul Gandhi's plans

Inclement weather in Madhya Pradesh disrupted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's travel plans, leading to an unscheduled overnight stay in Shahdol district, the party leaders said.

The former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed the helicopter ran out of fuel.

TMC leaders continue to protest

 The protest by TMC leaders continues on Tuesday after they were detained by Delhi Police on Monday during their dharna outside the Election Commission's office. They demand changes in the chiefs of CBI, NIA, ED, and Income Tax Department.

The Election Commission has announced plans to implement a GPS location tracking system in all vehicles designated for polling purposes in West Bengal, said an official on Monday.

Lok Sabha elections full schedule

 Phase 1- April 19, 2024

 Phase 2- 26 April 2024

 Phase 3-7 May 2024

 Phase 4 - 13 May 2024

 Phase 5 - 20 May 2024

 Phase 6 - 25 May 2024

 Phase 7 - 1 June 2024

 Counting on June 4
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday announced unconditional support to the Bharatiya Janata Party- Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party alliance for the Lok Sabha elections.



Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is unconditionally supporting the grand alliance of 'BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP...This support is only for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA alliance. Now everyone should prepare for the elections, Thackeray told MNS workers in Mumbai. The MNS has not fielded any candidate for the Lok Sabha elections yet.



The buzz around Thackeray's awaited tie-up with the ruling Mahayuti alliance had grown louder after he met Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi last month.



ALSO READ: Mixed reactions in BJP to Rajs potential tie-up with party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has asked its cadre to start preparing for elections.(X/ANI)

Raj Thackeray, the nephew of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, had left the party in 2005 and founded MNS in 2006. His remarks against migrants from UP and Bihar had drawn criticism from several parties including the BJP.



In 2008, the MNS grabbed headlines when its workers assaulted migrants from UP and Bihar in Mumbai. In 2009 Maharashtra assembly elections, MNS won 13 out of 288 seats, mostly in Mumbai.



ALSO READ: Uddhav Thackeray accuses BJP of trying to steal another Thackeray



The MNS's presence played spoilsport for the undivided Shiv Sena by cutting into its Marathi votebank. However, the party lost focus despite Thackeray's oratory skills and fan following and is now a marginal player in the state.

Its vote share in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls had dropped from 4.1 per cent to 1.5 per cent. In assembly polls, the MNS had a vote share of 5.71 per cent in 2009 but slumped to 3.15 per cent in 2014 and 2.25 per cent in 2019.

The BJP and the undivided Shiv Sena fought the 2019 Lok Sabha polls together and won 23 and 18 seats respectively.

The Lok Sabha polls will be held in Maharashtra in five phases from April 19 to May 20. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.
The Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) insulted Lord Ram by rejecting an invitation to the consecration ceremony at the Ayodhya Temple earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, adding that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were a mission for the development of a new India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Balaghat on Tuesday. (ANI)

Read here: INDI alliance abusing and threatening me: PM Modi slams Opposition bloc in MP

Addressing two poll rallies at Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh and Balaghat district in Madhya Pradesh, Modi listed his governments achievements in the last 10 years and sought the peoples blessings to take big and historic decisions in the third term of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government.

People of INDI alliance had hatred even before the construction of the Ram Temple and they have hatred even today. They had moved court so that the Ram Temple is not constructed. They insulted Lord Ram by rejecting the invitation for the pran pratishtha (consecration ceremony), Modi said in Pilibhit, his first rally in the district as the prime minister, claiming that the Congress expelled its leaders who participated in the temple event.

Modi further alleged that the Congress and the SP were opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) due to their politics of appeasement. Owing to the pressure of appeasement, the Congress and the SP are opposing the CAA as well, he said, asserting that Hindus and Sikhs were compelled to flee from foreign soil owing to the atrocities committed on them.

He also invoked Sikh gurus in Pilibhit, where the community holds a sizeable say in poll outcome, and asked many such families living in the district to apply for citizenship under CAA.

But the Congress and the SP have objections to this as well... What the Congress had done to our Sikh brothers and sisters in 1984, nobody can forget, Modi said, referring to the anti-Sikh riots. The BJP stands with Sikhs and respects their sentiments.

He also pointed to the BJP government removing langar items from GST, and opening the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. The 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev, the 400th Prakash Parv of Guru Teg Bahadur and the 350th Prakash Parv of Guru Gobind Singh were celebrated by the BJP government, he added.

Hitting back at Modi, Congress spokesman Akhilesh Pratap Singh: He should speak about what his government has done in the past 10 years and not about the Ram Temple.

The BJP has fielded Uttar Pradesh PWD minister Jitin Prasada from Pilibhit, replacing sitting two-term lawmaker Varun Gandhi. Neither Gandhi nor his mother Maneka Gandhi, the BJP candidate from Sultanpur, attended the rally. Polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held across seven phases of the Lok Sabha elections. Pilibhit will go to polls in the first phase on April 19.

Addressing a rally in Madhya Pradeshs Balaghat, Modi accused leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc of working to protect the corrupt, and abusing and threatening him to hinder the countrys development.

I say remove corruption, they say save the corrupt. The people of the alliance have this enmity towards me. I will expose the money from corruption that has gone into their coffers. This work will be done at a faster pace in the next five years, Modi said, seeking votes for the BJP-led NDA candidates. Balaghat will also go to polls on April 19.

Read here: People wont forget 1984 riots, CAA benefits Sikhs: Modi slams Cong in Pilibhit

Citing various development projects taken by his government, Modi said the upcoming polls are very important for the future of the country. When Modi gives a guarantee of the countrys security, they (opposition parties) abuse me. When Modi fulfils the guarantee of abrogating Article 370 (which granted a special status to Jammu & Kashmir), they start talking in the language of Pakistan, Modi said.

This is an election for the development of new India... We have to take the rocket of development much higher. Calling himself a devotee of Mahakaal, the famous deity of Ujjain in the state, he said: Modi bows either before Lord Mahakaal or the public. I have learnt from Mahakaal to tolerate abuses and insults for the sake of serving the nation and have also learnt to bring the forces opposing the nation to their end. I am not going to be afraid of their threats.
The Union government has provided Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar with a Z-category VIP security cover of armed commandos in view of potential threats, official sources said on Tuesday. Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar (PTI)

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has entrusted the Central Reserve Police Force with providing a contingent of about 40-45 personnel for the task, the sources said.

A threat perception report prepared by central security agencies had recommended a strong cover for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kumar. The move comes amid preparations for the seven-phase general elections that begin on April 19.

The armed commandos will accompany the CEC during his travels across the country, the sources said.

Kumar is a retired IAS officer of the 1984 batch. He took charge as the 25th CEC on May 15, 2022.

He had been appointed as an election commissioner in the poll body on September 1, 2020.
The Central Industrial Security Force, which is currently in charge of frisking and access control in the Parliament complex, will soon take over the entire security of the premises, three officials aware of the development said on Monday. The new plan is based on the principle that multiple agencies should not be involved in securing one of the most high-profile complexes in the country. (HT Photo)

The new plan is based on the principle that multiple agencies should not be involved in securing one of the most high-profile complexes in the country, they said, seeking anonymity.

The CISF was drafted to be part of the security management after two young men jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber on December 13 and sprayed smoke from canisters hidden in shoes in a major security breach on the anniversary of the terror attack in Parliament in 2001.

A few days after the incident, the CISF was brought in to replace Delhi police for access control and other measures, including frisking visitors. It now has a three-layer security apparatus that works at the entry points of the complex, the gates of the new Parliament building and the library. It also secures important corridors and galleries.

Until recently, Delhi police officers and a specialised department called Parliament Security Services (PSS) oversaw access control at the gate and its different wings.

The Lok Sabha secretariat is in touch with the concerned government departments to roll out the new system, said a Lok Sabha official.

After the CISF came in, it introduced an entry system similar to that in airports, where all metal objects including wallets and car keys are kept aside during frisking. CISF personnel at times also insist on taking off shoes at security points as the intruders on December 13 had evaded security by concealing the canisters in their shoes.

Currently, there are personnel from Delhi police at the perimeter of Parliament and the entry gates. Additionally, 140 CISF personnel, who were brought to Parliament on January 22, are also posted at the entry gates.

Inside the complex, there are around 1,600 personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force as part of the Parliament Duty Group to deal with any intrusion or forced entry. The CRPF team is not involved in frisking.

The new plan has put a question mark on the role of the PSS that has been involved in several functions for decades. The PSS personnel are not engaged in frisking, but its role includes issuing and verifying entry passes, facilitating lawmakers and visitors, and providing an additional layer of security for the VIPs inside Parliament.

There is no clarity as of now on the role of the PSS in the new setup. But it is a part of our own establishment. We will find some important role for them, another official said. But some officials of the PSS have expressed concern at the lack of experience of the CISF in managing various functions of the PSS.

We have a lot of functions related to facilitating the MPs. These are delicate issues and cant be dealt with by the CISF as they have been trained in a different way, a PSS functionary said. In Parliament, there are some unwritten protocols.

Under the new plan, the CRPF will also be replaced by the CISF to secure the perimeter. The Delhi Polices role will be limited to managing traffic and securing the area outside the complex to ensure no unwanted person or cars come anywhere close to the Parliament complex during a session, an official said.

With a strength of around 200,000 personnel, the CISF provides security to airports, metro stations and at least 356 sensitive installations such as coal mines, and nuclear and power plants. Many government installations in areas with left-wing extremism in Chhattisgarh and Jammu and Kashmir are also secured by the CISF.

It is the only paramilitary force to have a separate fire unit that provides fire protection cover to at least 104 government public sector undertakings. The CISFs fire wing has around 8,000 personnel.

Following the security breach at the Parliament last year, the Union home ministry had on December 20 directed the CISF to conduct a security survey. A detailed report along with integrated finance report was then submitted to the CISF headquarters in New Delhi.
Lok Sabha election 2024: The Maha Vikas Aghadi has finalised the seat-sharing formula in Maharashtra for the Lok Sabha election 2024, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) contesting on 21 seats, Congress 17 and NCP (SP) 10, announced Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday, April 9. The Congress did not get either Sangli, Mumbai South Central or Bhiwandi seat in the seat-sharing pact. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray with party leader Sanjay Raut, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai. (ANI file)

At a joint press conference where Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray was also present, Sharad Pawar of the NCP (SP) said there are no more differences on any seat. We declared the seat sharing after mutual agreement, Sharad Pawar said.

List of Shiv Sena (UBT) seats are:

Jalgaon

Parbhani

Nashik

Palghar

Kalyan

Thane

Raigad

Maval

Osmanabad

Aurangabad

Ratnagiri

Buldhana

Hatkanangale

Shirdi

Sangli

Hingoli

Yavatmal-Washim

Mumbai North West

Mumbai South Central

Mumbai South

Mumbai North East

The list of Congress seats are:

Nandurbar

Dhule

Akola

Amravati

Nagpur

Bhandara-Gondia

Gadchiroli-Chimur

Chandrapur

Nanded

Jalna

Pune

Latur

Solapur

Kolhapur

Ramtek

Mumbai North

Mumbai North Central

List of NCP seats are:

Baramati

Shirur

Satara

Bhiwandi

Dindori

Madha

Raver

Wardha

Ahmednagar

Beed

Uddhav Thackeray said that there was no harm in anyone expecting something. But we have finalised seat sharing on the criteria and with an aim to win the seats."

Nana Patole of the Congress said the party is working to end the "dictatorial regime". So, we have shown big hearts and given up the claim on disputed seats, he said.

The Congress is a national party. It has made significant contributions to the independence struggle of the country. The party is focused on removing the dictatorship regime. We have resolved the issue. Our party workers should accept the decision showing a big heart, Nana Patole said.

The Congress leader said the party workers would strive to get the MVA candidates elected. Votes of all three parties will also be transferred to each other as we have the original Shiv Sena and NCP with us, claimed Nana Patole, who was also present at the press conference.

For us, saving the Constitution and democracy are more important,

he added.

Uddhav Thackeray said the alliance wanted Prakash Ambedkar to be on its side. Even if he speaks against us, we will not utter a single word against him as we respect him, said the former Maharashtra chief minister said..

Uddhav Thackeray alleged that the BJP is using government machinery to harass the Opposition and accommodate all the corrupt leaders in the BJP.

BJP is an extortionist party which used power to collect funds through election bonds. Narendra Modi and his party wanted to shift the Shiv Sena to Gujarat but I prevented it. Yesterday's speech was not by the prime minister but by the leader of the Bhrashta Janata Party, which is an extortionist, he claimed.

Uddhav Thackeray described to chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena as "Vasuli Sena".

The PM is an institution and I have seen many prime ministers in the past. But except Narendra Modi, no one has brought this much disgrace to this position, said Sharad Pawar.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Tuesday announced its seat-sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena (UBT) contesting 21 seats, the Congress 17 and the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party 10, marking a significant pact in the electorally crucial state. Maha Vikas Aaghadi (MVA) leaders NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Chief Uddhav Thackeray, Congress leaders Nana Patole, and Prithviraj Chavan during a joint press conference on alliance seat sharing ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, in Mumbai on Tuesday. (ANI)

The announcement came after roughly three weeks of heated negotiations between the three parties and represented a big breakthrough for the Oppositions Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) that has struggled to close seat talks in key states in recent weeks.

Read here: Lok Sabha election 2024 | MVA seat-sharing deal: Shiv Sena bags lion's share. What did Congress, NCP (SP) get?| MVA seat-sharing deal: Shiv Sena bags lion's share. What did Congress, NCP (SP) get?

The seat-sharing pact was announced in the presence of top MVA leaders  former chief ministers Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, and state Congress chief Nana Patole at Shivalaya, the south Mumbai office of Sena (UBT).

The seat talks were deadlocked for weeks over three seats  Sangli, Mumbai South Central and Bhiwandi  with the Sena (UBT) declaring its candidates for the first two seats and the Pawar faction for the third even as the Congress staked claim to all three constituencies.

In the end, the Congress relented and gave up the seats. We took a step back, we did not surrender, Patole told reporters.

The contest in Maharashtra  which sends 48 members to the Lok Sabha, the second-highest after Uttar Pradesh  is crucial both for the National Democratic Alliance, which hopes to cross 400 seats, and INDIA, which aims to put up an impressive show in one province where it has strong regional leaders.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the undivided Shiv Sena contested 23 seats in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which fought 25. The Congress contested 26 seats and the unified NCP 22 seats.

The results showed a thumping victory for the Sena-BJP alliance, which won 41 out of the 48 seats. The NCP won four and the Congress one.

But the state has since then been roiled by political churning and instability, first by the Sena leaving the BJP-led alliance and joining hands with erstwhile rivals NCP and Congress, and then vertical splits in the Sena and the NCP over the last two years. The state has not seen any major election throughout this period and the Lok Sabha will be the first test for the two rival factions of the Sena and NCP, which are also squaring off against each other in the electoral field for the first time.

NDA is yet to announce its seat-sharing deal.

In the MVA, the Sena (UBT) has declared candidates for all of its 21 seats.

The NCP-SP has declared candidates on seven seats and the Congress on 13.

The MVA constituents havent declared candidates for 13 seats  Madha, Satara, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, Raver, Jalna, Dhule, Nashik, Palghar, Thane, Mumbai North, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North Central and Mumbai South  but will do so over the next two days and also present its manifesto highlighting Maharashtra-centric issues.

Patole said the Congresss larger goal was to dismiss the dictators government.

Congress leaders and workers are aware of the treatment given to our leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi by the present regime. We have resolved all the issues amongst ourselves and our workers should also accept the decision, said Patole.

Sharad Pawar insisted all differences were put to rest. We have declared the seat-sharing formula by mutual understanding.

Thackeray agreed. There is no harm in anyone expecting a particular seat in negotiations but MVA has finalised its formula on the basis of criteria of the probability of winning.

The allies criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on Monday launched his Maharashtra campaign with a scathing attack on the MVA. Responding to Modis statement in Chandrapur, where he called Sena (UBT) duplicate and the Eknath Shinde-led party as the original Sena, Thackeray called the CMs party Vasuli Sena and Modi as the leader of Bhrashta Janata Party.

If my party is not original then why did Amit Shah visit Matoshree in 2019 with the request for an alliance? BJP is a cowardly and corrupt party. Modis speeches are not becoming of a prime minister, and he is using the government machinery to harass the opposition, said Thackeray. BJP is an extortionist party which uses power in the central government to collect funds from corporates through election bonds.

Pawar added: I have seen many prime ministers in the past. Except Narendra Modi, no one has brought this much disgrace to this position.

Thackeray added that while the MVA was keen on Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar joining the coalition, he chose a different path; and even if continues to speak against us, we will not utter a single word against him out of respect.

Several leaders are not happy with the seats the party has got in the deal.

Read here: In MVAs poll pact, Shiv Sena (UBT) to contest on 21 seats, Congress 17, NCP 10

Congress MLA and former minister Vishwajeet Kadam openly expressed his ire and said, I am upset.

The BJP said it was clear it will win against the alliance.

There was a fake smile on the confused faces of MVA leaders in press conference. World famous spokesperson Sanjay Raut tried to cover it up and fumbled while reading list of constituencies. Uddhav Thackeray praised the manifesto of Congress which has imprints of Muslim league. Battle is clear we will fight against the Tukde -Tukde gang  said Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar.
The people of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh will never forget how former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had said bye-bye to the two northeastern states during the 1962 Chinese aggression, Union home minister Amit Shah claimed on Tuesday, adding that China could not encroach a single inch of Indian land under the Narendra Modi government. Union home minister Amit Shah. (ANI FIie Photo)

Addressing a Lok Sabha poll rally in Lakhimpur district of Assam, Shah said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government secured the countrys border with Bangladesh and stopped infiltration.

During the Chinese aggression of 1962, Nehru had said bye-bye to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. People of these states can never forget that, Shah said. But now, China could not encroach even a single inch of our land. Even in Doklam, we pushed them back.

There was no immediate reaction available from the Congress to Shahs comments.

His remarks come even as India and China have been locked in a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since May 2020, and a full resolution of the border crisis through ongoing negotiations appears elusive.

Attacking the previous Congress-led government, Shah said Assams border with Bangladesh was earlier open for infiltration and credited the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state for stopping infiltration.

Shah further noted that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act  which grants special powers to armed forces to maintain law and order in disturbed areas  has been withdrawn from 80% of areas of the state.

Polling for all 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam will be held in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May 7. Lakhimpur will vote in the first phase.

Seeking vote for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates, Shah said the development of the Northeast is centre to the overall growth of the nation.

There are two alternatives before you  to vote for (Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi and INDI Alliance, or vote for the Modi-led BJP, he told the gathering.
The Kerala high court on Tuesday adjourned hearing in the Enforcement Directorate (ED)s masala bond case against former minister and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader TM Thomas Isaac to May 22, observing that it was not proper to disturb an electoral candidate just before the general elections. The high court of Kerala. (File Photo)

The Lok Sabha elections in Kerala will be held in the second phase on April 26 and Isaac is the CPI-Ms candidate from the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency. ED is probing alleged violations of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) rules in the issuance of masala bonds by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board in 2019, when Isaac was the states finance minister, and he had filed a plea before the high court, challenging the repeated summons being issued by the agency.

A bench of justice TR Ravi said, I think it is not proper to disturb a candidate who is facing an election for a representation in Parliament at this stage, particularly because only less than a month is available for completing the elections.

At the last hearing, the high court had asked the EDs counsel to submit at least one transaction pointing to illegal conduct of Isaac, who was finance minister of Kerala between 2016 and 2021. The central agency then submitted the documents to the court.

The judge on Tuesday said, I have gone through the files placed before me and I do not think it is proper stage to disclose details since these are matters to put to the persons facing investigation. However, I find that some transactions require explanations and the manner in which the explanations are received by the ED will be considered at a later stage since the elections are due and the petitioner is also a candidate.

Isaac has repeatedly stated that he will not appear before the ED for questioning, terming its repeated summons as pure harassment.

How can they (ED) find something now that they have been investigating for one and a half years and couldnt find? Thats pure harassment. It is meant to tarnish us. The summons of the ED is against the essence of what the court said. I have told (the agency in the letter) that they must withdraw from sending such summons. If they wont withdraw, I will approach the court again Isaac had said in January.
It is not at all wrong to visit the residence of a deceased and console their relatives, said Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday while defending the visit of his party leaders to the residence of the man killed in crude bomb blast. CM Pinarayi Vijayan said: My personal view is that when there is a death in the neighbourhood, visiting that house is not forbidden (ANI)

The deceased, Sheril (26) was allegedly killed on April 5 while making bombs on the terrace of an under-construction building in Panoor in Kannur district.

While the local leadership of the CPI(M) had earlier said there was a lack of alertness shown by the party leaders, Vijayan said it was simply humane to visit the residence of a deceased in the neighbourhood.

My personal view is that when there is a death in the neighbourhood, visiting that house is not forbidden. The question is whether the crime is being treated softly. There is no such soft treatment towards that crime. Its not at all wrong to visit the residence of a deceased and console their relatives, he told reporters at a press conference in Pathanamthitta.

In our state, there is no need to make such bombs. Action has already been taken in this incident. A crime has been committed and there will be action against the accused, he said.

The CMs remarks come amid allegations by the Opposition against the ruling CPI(M) of sponsoring and encouraging the making of country bombs to vitiate the atmosphere ahead of the parliamentary elections. Police are probing the alleged link between the CPI(M) and the deceased and six other arrested accused.

Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan had earlier claimed that the deceased, those who assisted in ferrying the injured to the hospital and those who took part in the funeral were all CPI(M) members.

Then how can CPI(M) run away from owning up responsibility for making the bombs? The party is saying it has no links to the case because elections are coming. Were the bombs made to kill the UDF leaders? Thats all there is to know. As head of the home department, the chief minister is encouraging such filth and violence, the LoP said in a statement.

CPI (M) state secretary MV Govindan, however, said that the party has no connection with the blast.

We are a party that wants peace and harmony in society. So why should we encourage bomb making? When the blast occurred, there were DYFI workers among those who took the injured to the hospital. Isnt it humane to take people to hospital in an incident like this? Govindan told reporters.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday told the Indian Coast Guard to note the march of time in connection to the permanent commission of women in the Army, Navy and Air Force as it directed a woman short-service commission officer, who was released from service in December 2023, to be reinstated as an interim measure till it decides on her plea for parity with male counterparts. SC directed a woman short-service commission officer, who was released from service in December 2023, to be reinstated as an interim measure till it decides on her plea for parity with male counterparts. (HT Archive)

A bench headed by chief justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud scoffed at the resistance shown by the Coast Guard represented by attorney general R Venkataramani and additional solicitor general (ASG) Vikramjeet Banerjee.

Look at your resistance of having a single woman in the Coast Guard. This was the same resistance Cornelia Sorabjee (first female advocate in India) when she was told you are not good enough. When women came into Army and Air Force, they were told you are not good enough. And in the Navy, they were told we do not have toilets for you. See the march of time.

The order said, As regards Army, Navy and Air Force, this court has already rendered judgments. Unfortunately, the Indian Coast Guard continues to be an outlier.

The court was considering a petition filed by Priyanka Tyagi who served as an assistant commandant (general duty) at the time of her release from force on December 31, 2023. She was the best in her lot having 3,700 flying hours, better than her male counterparts, and was even recommended by her seniors for absorption considering her meritorious service, according to petition filed by Tyagi.

As her petition seeking permanent commission is pending before the Delhi high court, the top court directed the matter to be transferred to the apex court.

Having regard to the constitutional mandate under Article 15 of the Constitution (which speaks of right against non-discrimination on several grounds including gender), this matter should be heard by this court.

As an interim measure, the bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said, We direct the services of the petitioner shall be continued in Coast Guard as on the date she was released till further orders. She shall be assigned a suitable posting as per her qualification.

Women short service commission officers (WSSCO) in Army and Air Force got parity with male officers after the top court in 2020 in Babita Puniya case held that all serving WSSCOs shall be considered for grant of permanent commission (PC) irrespective of any of them having crossed 14 years of service, or as the case may be, 20 years of service. Those who do not opt for PC after 14 years were allowed to continue in service till they attain 20 years of pensionable service.

By a separate order in Annie Nagaraja case filed by women SSCOs seeking permanent commission in Indian Air Force, the court extended the same relief in March 2020 as provided in Babita Puniya. A year later, in March 2021, the top court passed yet another decision in Nitisha v Union of India striking out discriminatory yardsticks adopted by Armys special board while considering the cases of the women officers for PC.

AG told the court that this had nothing to do with gender justice and there was no resistance on this ground from the Coast Guard.

There cannot be a theoretical approach to this issue. A comparison cannot be made with short service commission (SSC) women officers in Army, Navy and Air Force as there are infrastructural aspects involved here. Moreover, in my discussions with Coast Guard, there was never a resistance to gender equality, he said.

The court remarked, You (Coast Guard) have all arguments to deny what is her due. Is this the way you treat women officers. She has 3700 flying hours and has worked for 14 years.

ASG Banerjee told the court that women were being inducted by Coast Guard as permanent officers. He further pointed out that the petitioner chose the short service commission stream realising that the stream of her choice - general duty -- did not have the option of permanent commission. He said that women permanent officers are there in the law wing.

As the petitioner was inducted as SSC officer in November 2009, the court wished to know if any woman officer was since inducted under general duty as a permanent officer.

Senior advocate Archana Pathak Dave informed the court that except law, women are not allowed entry as a permanent officer as she wondered why the Coast Guard, despite being a defence force of the country, cannot open up for the women, when they have been treated at par with male counterparts in Army, Navy and Air Force.

The bench told Banerjee, Everybody should be equally treated and for that, there should be a level-playing field. Efforts by us will end only when there is true gender equality.

In March, while responding to Tyagis petition, a common affidavit filed by the Centre and Coast Guard stated that its ships are not designed to accommodate women on sea duties. It said, The existing infrastructure of the Coast Guard related to ships and bases need modification before female officers can be sent on seaborne missions alongside male officers.

Further, it stated, For the purpose of enlarging the strength of their entry, several operational measures are required to be undertaken. Without putting into effect such operational measures, provision for a greater number of women officers will not be feasible.

Currently, out of the 66% billets (accommodations) sanctioned for manning afloat units (seaborne ships) and 33% billets sanctioned for manning shore support units, only 10% of shore billets (lodgment for officers) are being considered for women officers, the affidavit added. The older ships were much smaller in size and could not provide for separate accommodation and allied facilities for women officers and therefore in future, the ships and bases will be modified.

Tyagi was appointed as assistant commandant in the Coast Guard in 2009 and soon after her induction, the assistant commandant woman (general duty) short service recruitment rules were published in November 2009 that mentioned women officers shall not have the option to change over to permanent entry scheme. Her petition seeking permanent absorption in the Coast Guard is already pending in the Delhi high court but she moved the top court against an interim HC order refusing to stay her release.

Tyagi was part of the first-ever all-women crew on Dornier aircraft in 2016 deployed in the eastern region for undertaking maritime patrolling as captain of the aircraft. She completed 13 months of flying training to qualify as a navigator. The petitioner has 4,500 flying hours on Dornier aircraft, the highest flying hours among male and female officers as per her seniority across all forces, and she has heroically saved over 300 lives at sea, her petition in the top court said.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday called the Indian civilisation as one of the oldest and continuous civilisations which also has a vast expanse. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called Greek conqueror Alexander's visit to India as a non-event,

"One is its antiquity, that it is one of the oldest civilizations and probably human life had evolved and society had perfected itself to a very high... (degree). Now, who did it? Whether they were the original people or they came from outside, they may be biased about that, but they all concede that this is a civilisation of antiquity," ANI quoted Doval as saying during his address at an event on the release of "History of Ancient India, a Volume 11 series" by the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) in New Delhi.



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On the second attribute of Indian civilisation, the NSA said,"The second is that it is continuity. That is, if it started 4000 or 5000 years ago, it has been continuous till today. There is no disruption in that. So it was a continuity."

"The third feature was its vast expanse. It was not a small hamlet that you find somewhere with a developed island or something like that. It is right from the river Oxus to probably Southeast Asia and others, where the footprints of the civilisation were very visible," he added.

Calling Greek conqueror Alexander's visit to India as a non-event, Doval said that it was a key event for the Western history.



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"Now, the paradox is this, when you think about this expanse of 6000 or 8000 years of continuous history in such a vast area, the narrative that has been brought is that probably the first chapter about Indian history in any of the western districts, it starts with Alexander, that Alexander was the first...who discovered India, and it was the victory of the west over the east. He conquered India," he added.

Doval noted that Alexander only came to the border of India into Jhelum and then was not able to proceed further.

"Actually, he only came to the border of India into Jhelum and then probably was not able to proceed further. And thereafter, that was the end of him," he said.

"But the fact remains that the entire history of Western industry you found when the history of India, or the history of the West is narrated, is about the history of Alexander," he added.
New Delhi The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that an electoral candidates right to privacy remains intact for matters irrelevant to voters or his public role, clarifying that candidates are not mandated to reveal every asset owned by them or their dependents, but only those that significantly influence their public image or lifestyle and have a bearing on an electors choice. The ruling marked a significant stance on the privacy rights of candidates versus the publics right to information (HT)

We are not inclined to accept the blanket proposition that the candidate is required to lay his life out threadbare for examination by the electorate. His right to privacy would still survive as regards matters which are of no concern to the voter or are irrelevant to his candidature for public office. In that respect, non-disclosure of each and every asset owned by a candidate would not amount to a defect, much less a defect of a substantial character, declared a bench of justices Aniruddha Bose and Sanjay Kumar.

Read here: 8% of women candidates to contest Lok Sabha phase 1 polls on April 19

The ruling marked a significant stance on the privacy rights of candidates versus the publics right to information, adding to a string of landmark judgments from the Supreme Court, which has played a pivotal role in steering electoral reforms to ascertain transparency, accountability and fairness in the democratic process.

As the court addressed the argument that voters have an absolute right to know all details about a candidate, it maintained it was not necessary that a candidate declare every item of movable property that he or his dependent family members own, such as clothing, shoes, crockery, stationery and furniture, etc., unless they were of such value as to constitute a sizeable asset or reflect upon his candidature in terms of his lifestyle and require to be disclosed.

Underscoring the balance between a candidates privacy and the voters right to know, the court specified that while significant assets must be disclosed, there is no need for an exhaustive list of all personal property, regardless of whether they are substantial in value or suggest a lavish lifestyle.

It stressed that a candidates right to privacy is unaffected by issues unrelated to voters or his public position, holding that not all movable assets must be disclosed unless they have a substantial impact on the candidates public persona or lifestyle.

The important clarification from the Supreme Court came as it upheld the 2019 election of independent MLA Karikho Kri for the Tezu assembly constituency in Arunachal Pradesh. Kris election was invalidated by the Gauhati high court last year over non-disclosure of certain assets in his nomination papers. The northeastern state is up for fresh assembly polls later this month.

In the Mohinder Singh Gill vs Chief Election Commissioner (1978) case, the Supreme Court declared that free and fair elections are a basic feature of the Constitution. In the cases of Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) in 2002 and Peoples Union for Civil Liberties in 2003, the apex court mandated the disclosure of criminal antecedents, educational qualifications and financial assets, promoting voters right to make informed choices.

The Supreme Court in 2013 directed the Election Commission to have an option of None Of The Above (Nota) on ballot papers and electronic voting machines (EVMs). The February 2024 judgment quashing the electoral bond scheme also sanctified the voters right to know.

In its judgment on Tuesday, the court overturned the Gauhati high courts decision that declared Kris election null and void for not disclosing the ownership of a scooty and a Maruti Omni van by his wife, and a motorcycle by his son. The high court decision came on an election petition filed by Congress candidate Nuney Tayang against Kri, challenging the latters election victory on grounds of non-disclosure and inaccurate information in nomination papers. The petition pointed out the three vehicles were still registered in the names of Kris family members.

Affirming Kris election, the Supreme Court bench observed that since these vehicles were either gifted away or sold prior to the nomination, their non-disclosure did not amount to a violation. Such non-disclosure cannot, by any stretch of imagination, be treated as an attempt on his part to unduly influence the voters, thereby inviting the wrath of Section 123(2) of the Act of 1951, it said.

The bench used the example of high-priced watches, which, if owned in multiple, need to be disclosed as they represent a high-value asset and indicate a lavish lifestyle, unlike everyday items that do not necessitate disclosure.

Read here: Lok Sabha polls: Of 419 candidates named by BJP so far, 16% are women

The court made it clear that in order to inform voters about their lifestyle, candidates must declare any high-value assets they own, adding that each case must be evaluated based on its unique facts and that there is no hard and fast or straitjacketed rule in this regard.

Regarding Kris failure to reveal the municipal and property tax obligations he and his wife must pay, the court said that it cannot be considered a complete non-disclosure because he did reveal the specifics of these obligations in one section of his affidavit but not in another.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing an election rally in Arunachal Pradesh's Namsai, denounced China's renaming of multiple places in the state and further questioned whether India renaming areas in the neighbouring nation would lead to them becoming a part of the Indian territory. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addresses a public meeting ahead of Lok Sabha polls, in Namsai on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

Singh emphasised that China's actions wouldn't alter the fact that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.

His remarks were made in response to China's decision to change the names of 30 places in the northeastern state, and he said that the ground realities remained unchanged despite such moves by China.

Singh said, China has changed the names of 30 places of Arunachal Pradesh and posted on its website. I want to tell my neighbour that nothing is going to happen by changing the names. If tomorrow we change the names of some provinces and some states of China, so by doing that will those areas become a part of India? Because of such activities, the relationship between India and China will deteriorate. We want to maintain good relations with our neighbours but if someone tries to hurt India's honour then today India has the power to respond to it.

China renamed 30 places along the line of actual control (LAC) in Arunachal last Monday. The Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs issued the fourth list of "standardised" geographical names in the northeastern state, referred to as Zangnan by Beijing. This list comprised 11 residential areas, 12 mountains, four rivers, one lake, one mountain pass, and a parcel of land, all of which were renamed by China.

India rubbished Chinas move to rename locations calling the action senseless. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said, China has persisted with its senseless attempts to rename places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. We firmly reject such attempts.

Rajnath Singh further alleged that Congress never showed interest in developing border regions and that led to India losing about 1000 square kilometres of territory to China.

I assure you that India will now never allow even an inch of land to be captured by its neighbour. We have rectified the mistakes of the Congress since 2014 after our party came to power and initiated infrastructure projects in border areas so that our borders are secured. For the NDA government, border villages are strategic assets of the country.

Singh said that the people residing in border villages provided support to the country during the 1962 conflict with China. Their contributions will always be remembered by the country and we will remain grateful to them forever.

Singh also asserted that the BJP-led NDA government invested significantly in the northeast over the past decade, surpassing the funds allocated during the Congress regime. He added, We have launched the UNNATI scheme for the northeast with a total investment of 10,000 crore. The youth of the region will get employment through it.

The Defense Minister also highlighted India's enhanced global recognition under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. After the Modis government came to power the status of around 25 crore poor people in the country improved. This is not our claim but revealed in a survey carried out by reputed organisations including the Niti Aayog.
Businessman Robert Vadra, the husband of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, once again hinted at entering politics and contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as uncertainty looms over the Congress's pick for the Amethi seat. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's husband Robert Vadra

Raising speculation of contesting the polls, Robert Vadra said on Monday he was getting calls from party workers from all over the country, including Amethi, showing their support.

In an interview with news agency IANS, Robert Vadra said, Not just Amethi, I am getting party workers' support from all over the country to actively join politics. Yes, I admit that the Amethi bit (of him contesting Lok Sabha polls from the constituency) is getting more prominence because I have campaigned there since 1999.

He said that posters have started appearing in different states as people are recognising and admiring the work done by the party over the years.

Amethi was a stronghold for the Gandhi family till the last elections, when Rahul Gandhi was dethroned by Union minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani. However, Robert Vadra said it's time the people of Amethi rectify their mistake of electing Irani in 2019.

They (people of Amethi) feel that if I contest from there, they'll have the option of correcting their mistake of electing Smritiji. I am sure they will ensure my victory by a huge margin if I contest. However, I will not fight to challenge someone even though Smritiji levelled unsubstantiated allegations against me in the past, he told the news agency.

Robert Vadra said he would show his full support to his brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi if he decided to file his nomination from the Amethi seat.

Vadra said, If Rahul thinks that he should also fight from Amethi after Wayanad, I will fully support him and be with him during his campaigns. Also, I don't need to be in active politics to interact with the people. They know they can always meet me in case Rahul or Priyanka are not available.

Taking a dig at the Narendra Modi-led central government, Vadra said the BJP has always tried destabilising the government wherever the Congress came into power after assembly elections.

"If a party has won elections, if people have voted for a party, it should be allowed to complete its term. When Congress or any other opposition party forms government, their leaders are either arrested or removed from the Parliament, or allegations are levelled against them. This kind of politics is not democracy but dictatorship," Vadra added.
The Idukki diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, a prominent Catholic denomination in Kerala on Monday defended its move to screen the controversial film The Kerala Story for teenagers of Classes 10, 11 and 12 saying the move was to create awareness about love relationships and its consequences and dangers. The Idukki Diocese screened the move last week. HT Image

The film, directed by Sudipto Sen and released in May last year, tells a story of a group of women from Kerala who get coerced into Islam and are forced to join the terror outfit ISIS. The film had attracted widespread protests in states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu and was opposed by parties such as Congress and CPI(M) for showing Kerala in bad light.

On Monday, Father Jins Karakkat, the media in-charge of the Idukki Diocese, said the film was screened on April 4 as part of an intensive training programme held for children during vacation every year. Topics are usually selected for the programme and appropriate books are prepared for it.

This year, the programme was held on April 2, 3 and 4. The theme of the textbooks prepared for the children of Classes 10, 11, and 12 was love relationships. The objective of selecting the topic was to create awareness about falling in love and their consequences...nowadays, there are circumstances in which teenagers are largely falling in love and facing dangers. So, we intended to create awareness among our children about such dangers, said Karakkat.

The film was shown to the children to bring the idea more effectively, he claimed.Children, who participated in the intensive training programme, were also asked to discuss the film in their WhatsApp group and compile reviews, he said.

The development comes amid widespread opposition by the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress to the decision of Doordarshan to similarly screen the controversial film on April 5. CM Pinarayi Vijayan had asked Doordarshan to desist from the move as it could exacerbate communal tensions ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.Meanwhile, the screening of the film by the Catholic diocese again triggered a political debate in the state on Monday, with the BJP saying the movie received support from all walks of life.

BJP state chief K Surendran, who is also the partys candidate from Wayanad constituency in the Lok Sabha polls, said The Kerala Story movie has been receiving support from all walks of life and many parts of Kerala.

Hundreds of girls in Kerala are victims of Love Jihad, and this has been reported from districts including Kannur, he alleged.

However, ruling CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan and senior Congress leader V D Satheesan reiterated the film was made to tarnish the image of the southern state. Satheesan said Congress and the UDF do not agree with any attempt to humiliate the state.UDF would oppose both majority and minority communalism, he said and claimed no political party has taken such a bold stand in state politics in the past 50 years.

Govindan described The Kerala Story as anti-Kerala, anti-Communist and anti-Muslim. The movie has no value and has no connection with the socio-cultural life of the state. Its a waste movie...made with the investment of the RSS and BJP to tarnish the state, he alleged. He, however, did not react to the screening of the movie by the Idukki Diocese.

(With inputs from PTI)
A forest official in Assam allowed construction by a commando battalion unit in a protected forest, ostensibly to stop encroachments by Mizo people from neighbouring Mizoram, creating a furore among local conservationists, compelling the Union environment ministry to take notice and direct the state government, in March this year, to immediately halt construction.

The construction of the commando battalion unit was cleared in the Assam-Mizoram interstate border area of Inner Line Reserve Forest involving diversion of around 44 acres of forest. (HT PHOTO)
The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a money laundering case linked to the alleged Chhattisgarh liquor scam, holding that no scheduled offence was established for the Enforcement Directorate to proceed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel (PTI)

The ED probe in the case unfolded against the backdrop of political tensions between the then Congress-led state government and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government, with the former accusing the Centre of using the agency to attack its leaders and sabotage its governance.

The Congress has since been unseated from the state as the BJP won an absolute majority in the assembly elections last December.

Former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Monday that the ruling exposed the Narendra Modi governments political misuse of federal investigative agencies. Just before the assembly elections, ED registered a case of liquor scam and gave BJP a campaign weapon. BJP tried to defame the Congress government throughout the elections.Today the SC decision has made it clear that the BJP was just spreading lies, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Citing its precedent in a 2023 case known as the Pavana Dibbur ruling, the court underscored that invoking PMLA using conspiracy charges unrelated to a scheduled offence is impermissible. The bench noted that ED cannot proceed based on an income tax violation since those offences are not categorised as scheduled under PMLA.

As there is no scheduled offence, as held in the aforesaid decision (Pavana Dibbur), there cannot be any proceeds of crime...If there are no proceeds of crime, obviously offence under Section 3 of PMLA is not made out, noted a bench comprising justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan.

In the Dibbur ruling, the court declared that criminal conspiracy can be charged under PMLA only when it relates to an enlisted scheduled offence. PMLA enumerates specific offences, including those under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and others with cross-border implications.

The development on Monday signifies the Supreme Courts role in clarifying and as well as limiting the extent of enforcement powers under PMLA, aligning them with broader legal and constitutional principles. By nixing the ED complaint in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam case, the court has solidified the legal position that the agency cannot enter at will without there being a foundational offence mentioned under PMLA. Importantly, a few other states not run by the BJP, including as West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, have filed complaints with the Supreme Court, which is currently reviewing a number of these cases, protesting the EDs purported overreach.

While additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju, representing ED, contended that it was premature to quash the complaints without the special courts cognisance, the court deemed it immaterial whether cognisance had been taken because the complaints were inherently unsustainable due to the absence of a money laundering offence.

In this case, ex facie a scheduled offence is not in existence. Therefore, there cant be proceeds of crime. Hence, it follows that there cannot be an offence under Section 3 of PMLA. Therefore, no purpose is served by directing the special court to apply its mind in accordance with Section 203 read with Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the bench held. The CrPC provisions entail scrutiny of a complaint by a magistrate to decide whether materials on record merit issuance of summons or dismissal of the case.

The controversy arose from allegations of corruption within Chhattisgarhs liquor industry, implicating officials and influential functionaries. ED alleged there were irregularities between 2019 and 2022 when officials of the state-run liquor retailer, CSMCL, took bribes from distillers.

The then Congress-led state government accused the BJP-led central government of using ED to target its leaders. The Centre defended EDs actions as upholding the law.

All the cases registered by ED during Congress rule were fake and had no basis, said Shushil Anand Shukla, Congress chief spokesperson on Monday.

BJP chief spokesman Ajay Chandrakar said, We will definitely follow the SC judgment, but we will investigate the suitable cases with our investigating agencies.

During Monday hearing, ASG Raju submitted that there is a subsequent predicate offence, registered in Uttar Pradesh, against the petitioners, and that ED will be filing a complaint regarding the said offence. The bench clarified that it was not commenting on future complaints, as its concern was solely with the present complaint.

The court protected the accused from arrest for three weeks to allow them to seek relief from the Allahabad high court. It noted ED has been acting without court cognisance of a predicate offence.

The issue of not having a predicate offence in the matter has consistently perturbed the Supreme Court even as ED went on making several arrests in the case.

In July 2023, the top court restrained the agency from investigating further or taking any coercive measures in connection with the alleged liquor syndicate scam, noting that ED has so far been acting without any court having taken cognisance of a predicate offence under the anti-money laundering law. A predicate offence is the foundational criminal offence that generates illegal proceeds of crime, leading to a separate probe by ED.

Later that month, in July, ED files a case in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, naming a Noida-based company for supplying fake holograms for alleged use in Chhattisgarh liquor sales.

ED initiates prosecution under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) predicated on a base FIR registered by CBI or any other law enforcement agency. ED registers an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in order to probe the cases of money laundering related to the proceeds of crime which have been committed prior and an FIR for such an offence already exists. If the base FIR is quashed or the accused is exonerated of the charges, ED cannot continue its probe under PMLA, the Supreme Court held in its 2022 judgment in the Vijay Madanlal Chaudhary & Others v Union of India case.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay summons issued to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member of Parliament Sanjay Singh in defamation proceedings against him for raising aspersions over Prime Minister Narendra Modis academic degree issued by Gujarat University. AAP parliamentarian Sanjay Singh. (Arvind Yadav/HT Photo)

Singh approached the top court against an order passed by the Gujarat high court refusing to interfere with the summons issued by a Gujarat court in April last year. Both Singh and jailed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal are named as accused in the defamation complaint filed by Gujarat university registrar Piyush M Patel. Kejriwal did not approach the top court against the summons.

At the stage of summons, only a prima facie case is required to be made out. This is not of the same standard while framing of charge. Before that, you will have your turn in trial, a bench of justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta said.

The complainant still has a chance to say on what material he wishes to sustain the complaint... The single judge of the high court has held that all contentions of parties are kept open. The trial judge will not be influenced by any observations (in the high court order), the bench added.

Singh was represented by senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Rebecca John who argued that the complaint is not maintainable as there is no material to show that the university has been defamed in any manner.

The complaint against the two AAP leaders -- filed by Gujarat university registrar -- was based on a press conference conducted by them on April 2, 2023, days after the Gujarat high court on March 31, 2023 set aside an order passed by the chief information commissioner (CIC) directing Gujarat University to produce a copy of the postgraduate degree awarded to Modi to the applicant Arvind Kejriwal under the right to information (RTI) Act. The university claimed the degree was available on its website, which was contested by the AAP leaders at the press conference.

The case of the complainant is that I uploaded the video of the press conference on my social media handle. My client has not uploaded any video, senior advocate Rebecca John told the court. She further submitted, The Gujarat University is not named by me. How is the university affected and how can a defamation proceeding be sustained by the university.

Singhvi flagged jurisdictional issues in the case. According to him, the university comes within the meaning of State provided under Article 12 of the Constitution of India as the governor is the chancellor. He argued that the defamation complaint could only be moved by the public prosecutor in the present case, and not the registrar.

But the bench said, All these issues must be seen during the trial. The complaint has to be read as a whole. Even the definition of state and state government is different. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the university, claimed that Article 12 talks of State and this is the state government.

On December 28 last year, the Gujarat court sought the production of Singh in the trial. At that time, he was under arrest in the Delhi excise scam for alleged money laundering charges. The top court granted him bail in the excise case last week.

Meanwhile, in January this year, the Supreme Court stayed the defamation trial while directing the Gujarat high court to first consider Singhs plea challenging the summons. The trial against Singh is pending before the court of additional chief metropolitan magistrate (ACMM) at Gheekata in Ahmedabad, and the Gujarat high court turned down his challenge against the summons in February this year.
The Supreme Court on Monday gave relief to former Mumbai Police cop Pradeep Sharma from surrendering in a 2006 case where he was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Bombay high court which reversed his acquittal last month and directed surrender within three weeks. Former Mumbai police officer and an encounter specialist was arrested in January 2010. (HT Photo)

A bench of justices Hrishikesh Roy and PK Mishra passed the order while issuing notice on an appeal filed by Sharma challenging the March 19 HC order. Issuing notice to the Maharashtra government and the complainant Ramprasad Vishwanth Gupta, the bench said, As the high court has stipulated three weeks for surrender, until the next date, petitioner may not surrender. The matter has been kept after four weeks.

Sharma was accused of the murder of Ram Narayan Gupta alias Lakhan Bhhaiya, an alleged member of the Chhota Rajan gang. Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Siddharth Luthra appearing for the former cop and encounter specialist told the court that the alleged incident took place on November 11, 2006 but the petitioner was arrested in this case only in January 2010.

Rohatgi said, I was heading a team of police officers and the only evidence to link me with the crime was the recovery of an empty and bullet from the body of one of the deceased that was traced to his service revolver. According to him, there were no witnesses who testified to his presence at the scene of crime.

The trial court in July 2013 acquitted Sharma against which an appeal was filed in the high court by the state government. By a detailed judgment, the high court reversed the acquittal and directed him to surrender. Sharma filed his appeal in the top court under the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate) Jurisdiction Act, 1970 which provides for an appeal against any judgment of the high court which has on appeal, reversed an order of acquittal and sentenced the accused to imprisonment for life or to imprisonment for a period of not less than ten years.

The complainant represented by advocate Yug Chaudhary opposed the grant of any relief to the officer claiming that he is accused in other crimes as well, including the Antilia bomb scare case in February 2021 where a vehicle loaded with explosives was found parked outside the residence of businessman Mukesh Ambani in Mumbai. The owner of the car in question, businessman Mansukh Hiran was found murdered days later in which Sharma is an accused.

Chaudhary said, He committed this crime when he was out of service. So age is not a bar for him to commit crime. Further, he added, During the trial of the 2006 murder case, the magistrate was threatened by the petitioners associates. The HC judgment records that his lawyers had even threatened the witnesses. This shows how powerful he is.

The court told Chaudhary, Since it is a case of reversal of acquittal by the high court, it is a statutory appeal which we have to admit.

The HC order running into 867 pages discussed the entire case in great detail to conclude that Gupta was killed by trigger happy cops. Along with Sharma, 12 other policemen was convicted while the acquittal of six policemen was upheld.

The HC said, Instead of upholding the rule of law, the police have misused their position and uniform, and have killed Ramnarayan in cold blood. Regardless of the fact that 10 cases were pending against Gupta, the HC said that this fact did not give any license for the cops to kill him. There can be no room for leniency as persons involved are the arm of the state whose duty is to protect citizens and not to take law into their hands, the HC had held.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the Union government regarding the regulatory powers of states over industrial alcohol, emphasising the latters role as guardians of public health. The hearing concluded inconclusively and is set to resume on April 16 (HT)

We all know about hooch tragedies, and the states are widely concerned about the health of their citizens. Why should the states not have the power to regulate? If they can regulate to ensure that there is no misuse, then they can impose any fees, remarked a nine-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud.

The bench, also comprising justices Hrishikesh Roy, Abhay S Oka, B V Nagarathna, J B Pardiwala, Manoj Misra, Ujjal Bhuyan, Satish Chandra Sharma and Augustine George Masih, is examining the issue of overlapping jurisdiction between the Centre and states in the production, manufacturing, supply, and regulation of industrial alcohol.

Denatured spirit can be converted into intoxicating liquor by a process...The Centre is a national entity. You are not going to control what is happening in a district or collectorate. Suppose there is a strong possibility of denatured spirit being misused for consumption. The state is rightly concerned as a custodian of health, and it can impose regulations for ensuring that abuse does not take place. Why should we deny them the power to impose fees for that purpose? the bench asked solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre.

Read here: Ghalib quoted in Supreme Court to boost Centre's argument on alcohol

Responding, the S-G said that regulation of industrial alcohol lies with the Centre under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act (IDRA), 1951, and hence, only the Union has legislative power to levy excise duty on alcohol not fit for human consumption. He added that every industry covered by Schedule I of the 1951 Act would be impacted by the courts interpretation, not simply industrial alcohol, which was the petitioners sole point of contention.

Mehta submitted that the Centre is also entitled to control the requirements of a particular industry if it ought to be governed by economic factors of an all-India import and cannot be permitted to be decided by any state according to their provincial interests.

The Parliament, under List I Entry 52, is fully entitled to control everything as per its wisdom, requirements of a particular industry and to achieve the stated object of IDRA when Parliament is satisfied that the activities of an industry/industries which affects the country as a whole, Mehta said.

The hearing concluded inconclusively and is set to resume on April 16.

The nine-judge bench is hearing a batch of 30 appeals referred to it by a five-judge bench in December 2010 doubting the correctness of a 1990 judgment that took away states power in relation to industrial alcohol under Entry 33 of the Concurrent List. This entry provides for trade and commerce in production, supply and distribution of certain industrial products. The ruling also categorised denatured spirit as industrial alcohol, placing its regulation outside the jurisdiction of states. Some of the states, including the state of Uttar Pradesh, have sought a reconsideration of the 1990 SC decision in Synthetics & Chemicals Limited Vs State of UP, arguing the previous judgment will have a deleterious effect on the state funds.

The Centre, on its part, has maintained that any liquid containing alcohol not fit for human consumption but meant for industrial use will fall within the regulation regime of the Centre.
Last May, when GoFirst suddenly filed for voluntary bankruptcy - the domestic travel market went into a disarray, especially the tours which saw people being stuck in places like Srinagar and passengers who were booked but found themselves in a quandary. Almost a year later, the number of daily departures has not increased significantly in Indian skies - even as airlines have inducted multiple aircraft. GoFirst in May last year suddenly filed for voluntary bankruptcy.(Twitter/GoFirstairways)

This is largely because of additional groundings for IndiGo, taking away more capacity from the market. Data shared by Ciricum, an aviation analytics company, exclusively for this publication shows that the market has changed significantly on multiple routes. One significant aspect that the market has seen is the shift of all flights from Old Rajkot airport to Hirasar Airport and Goa Dabolim seeing its capacity reduced in favour of the new Mopa airport.

If you have still not planned your summer holiday, here are the sectors where there has been an increase in capacity and sectors where there has been a reduction in capacity.

Top 5 sectors where capacity grew

The Bengaluru - Kolkata - Bengaluru market is seeing an addition of 57 weekly frequencies each way in May 2024, compared to the same month in the previous year. Go FIRST was not present on this sector and the massive increase is led by Vistara (thrice daily), Akasa Air (13 weekly), and a daily flight being added by IndiGo, AIX Connect and SpiceJet.

The Mumbai - Delhi route will see 46 additional departures while the return will see 39 more departures. This is followed by 38 additional departures between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, per week (36 additional departures from Ahmedabad to Mumbai). The Bengaluru - Trivandrum sector sees an increase of 35 weekly flights, led by doubly daily flights each, introduced by Air India Express and Vistara and the addition of a daily flight by IndiGo.

The Kolkata - Bagdogra - Kolkata route sees an increase of 32 weekly flights over previous year. This is led by SpiceJet and AIX Connect - which has traditionally been stronger at Bagdogra and has been guarding its fort against IndiGo.

Goa - the power of two airports

Goa has traditionally not been a summer destination due its hot and humid climate. However, the state - with its power of two airports is seeing exceptional growth in flights. MIA, Mopa, North Goa will see 306 weekly flights, while last year it saw only 194. Dabolim Airport will see 418 weekly departures, down from 441 departures it saw last May. However, with the two airports serving the same area - together the will be a growth of 89 weekly departures.

Over 32,000 seats are on offer each week between Delhi and Goa (both airports), while the short distance of Mumbai - Goa sees 30,000 seats on offer each way. Flights from Mumbai to Goa have seen the maximum shift from Dabolim to Mopa.

Top 5 sectors where capacity shrunk

The sectors which have seen capacity shrunk, are surprisingly not the ones where Go FIRST was strong. The topmost route is Bengaluru - Chennai, which has seen a drop of 35 weekly flights. This comes on the back of Akasa Air pulling out of that route, where it operated 28 weekly flights last May.

This is followed by the Mumbai - Chennai market, which saw a drop of 30 weekly flights, again led by Akasa Air which vacated this market. In third place is the Hyderabad - Bengaluru market which is seeing a reduction of 26 flights a week between Bengaluru - Hyderabad and 24 flights a week less between Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The reduction here is led by AIX Connect. The Mumbai - Bengaluru - Mumbai sector comes in fourth while Delhi - Kolkata - Delhi comes in fifth, both seeing a drop of 17 weekly flights and 16 weekly flights respectively. The Mumbai - Bengaluru sector also saw Akasa Air withdraw while Go FIRST has a significant presence.

What happened to Go FIRSTs routes?

Go FIRST had a strong presence in Delhi - Leh, Delhi - Srinagar, Mumbai - Goa, Delhi - Pune and Delhi - Mumbai markets. These were the top 5 markets by frequencies for Go FIRST in the month leading up to the suspension of the airline.

On the Delhi - Leh route, IndiGo has helped cover the capacity loss, while on the Delhi - Srinagar route IndiGo and Air India Express have added flights which are now more than the capacity which was in the market last year. All other routes have seen an increase in flights.

Tail Note

Interestingly, the loss of capacity is in the south, where Go FIRST did not have a strong presence. The loss of capacity is now recovered. However, the tourist demand remains high this year. In all probabilities, 2024 will record higher traffic than 2023. With the peak summer months ahead of us, the time to book tickets is fast ticking to avoid the last-minute fare hike.
Kozhikode , After the Idukki diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, youth organisations associated with two more dioceses in Kerala have decided to screen the controversial movie 'The Kerala Story', which tells the story of a group of women from Kerala who were forced to convert to Islam and join ISIS. HT Image

The Kerala Catholic Youth Movement units associated with the Thalassery archdiocese and the Thamarassery diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church announced that they would screen the movie directed by Sudipto Sen.

The KCYM units of the two north Kerala dioceses said in separate Facebook posts that the film 'The Kerala Story' was not banned and congratulated the Idukki diocese for exhibiting it for its children studying in Classes 10, 11, and 12.

"The movie will be exhibited in all units of the KCYM in Thamarassery diocese," the organisation said in a Facebook post.

Amid criticism from the Congress and the CPI against the national broadcaster Doordarshan for screening the Bollywood movie, the KCYM unit of the Thalassery archdiocese sought to know why they were scared.

"Dear politicians, why are you scared? To whom are you trying to appease?" said an FB post of the KCYM unit of Thalassery archdiocese, apparently taking a dig at the Congress and the CPI.

It also congratulated the Idukki diocese for screening the movie and announced that the film would be screened at various parts of the archdiocese.

As news of the screening of the controversial movie hit headlines, the Idukki Diocese on Monday came out with an explanation, claiming that the movie was shown to "create awareness about love relationships and its consequences and dangers".

Fr Jins Karakkat, the media in-charge of the Idukki diocese, said they conduct an intensive training programme for children every year during vacation.

Specific topics are selected for the programme, and books are prepared for it, he said.

"This year, the programme was held on April 2, 3, and 4. The theme of the textbooks prepared for the children of Classes 10, 11, and 12 was love relationships," the priest had said.

Despite a strong protest raised by the ruling CPI and Congress in Kerala, Doordarshan last week aired the controversial movie 'The Kerala Story'.

Cutting across politics, leaders of various political parties in Kerala, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan, strongly criticised the screening of the movie by the public broadcaster.

Vijayan condemned Doordarshans decision and asked it to withdraw the decision, saying it would only "exacerbate communal tensions" ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

He also asked the national broadcaster not to become a "propaganda machine" for the BJP and the RSS.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation that has been protesting in the national capital since a day earlier continued the agitation on Tuesday, seeking the removal of the chiefs of investigative agencies, at Mandir Marg police station after being detained by Delhi Police. Trinamool Congress leaders Sagarika Ghose and Derek O'Brien during a 'dharna' with other TMC leaders at Mandir Marg police station in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI Photo)

Senior TMC MP Dola Sen told HT that the delegation has been detained despite observing a peaceful protest and has been continuously assaulted and manhandled by the police. MP Derek OBrien said the protest is against the dictatorship of the Narendra Modi government.

The delegation plans to conclude the 24-hour protest today after commencing it outside the Election Commission of India office at 5pm on Monday.

TMC MP Sagarika Ghose alleged that though the police said the MPs were free to go, the police were not opening the gates for their release. She also said that Aam Aadmi Party leaders who had arrived at the police station to support the delegation were denied entry.

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj had arrived at the police station along with four other MLAs but was allegedly denied entry. Their demand is that the chiefs of the four central probe agencies  ED, CBI, Income Tax and NIA  should be changed. The BJP organised a demonstration in Connaught Place, who gave permission for it? They were not arrested. Was a case registered against (Delhi BJP chief) Virendra Sachdeva?

Ghose further said that she and TMC leader Nadimul Haque have been denied entry after exiting the premise to get food for the detained members.

The delegation also comprised Saket Ghokale, and former MPs Vivek Gupta, Arpita Ghosh, Santanu Sen, Abir Ranjan Biswas, and TMC leader Sudip Raha.

According to Delhi Police deputy commissioner Devesh Kumar Mahla, the TMC delegation was carrying out an unpermitted protest but was freed before the evening.

They were taken to the Mandir Marg Police Station but were later freed. They were told about this before sunset yesterday, but they are sitting there on their own. We have freed them, Mahla said.
A 10-member Trinamool Congress (TMC) team that was detained for staging a dharna outside the Election Commissions (EC) office in Delhi on Monday, camped overnight and concluded their agitation at the police station a day later, even as they were released within hours of being held. Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj (left) interacts with TMC leaders during the latters stir at Mandir Marg police station. (Arvind Yadav/HT)

Read here: TMC delegation continues protest in Delhi; denied entry, claim AAP leaders

The team, which included TMC lawmakers Derek OBrien, Dola Sen and Mohammed Nadimul Haque, raised slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre as they staged a protest at Mandir Marg police station in the national capital. While all TMC leaders sat inside the police station premises, Haque and MP Sagarika Ghose, who had gone out briefly, were not allowed to re-enter. They sat on a dharna outside the boundary of the building.

The TMC slammed the Delhi Police over the detention even as the latter said the protesting leaders were released within hours of being held but they chose to continue with their agitation.

The police told us at 12.30am that we are free to go but I want to ask how they managed to detain the three women in our team after sunset and under what provisions of the law. We were not put through any paperwork. Like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Police is also made of lies, Sen said.

Delhi Police deputy commissioner Devesh Kumar Mahla said the TMC leaders were detained as they did not have the permission to stage a protest outside the EC office on Monday. They were taken to Mandir Marg police station but released later. They were asked to leave before sunset but they chose to sit there and protest, he said.

On Monday, the TMC group, which also comprised MP Saket Gokhale, MLA Vivek Gupta, former MPs Arpita Ghosh, Santanu Sen and Abir Ranjan Biswas and state vice-president Sudip Raha, complained to the EC about the blatant misuse of central probe agencies by the Centre against leaders of opposition parties ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The group also urged the commission to replace chiefs of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (I-T) Department, and ensure a level-playing field for all political parties in the general elections. They also began a 24-hour protest outside the EC office after meeting concerned officials, before a team of Delhi Police arrived and took them to Mandir Marg police station in a bus.

We were staging a peaceful protest when the police arrived and detained us. We were released later but as promised, we completed our 24-hour protest, Sen said.

OBrien said the detention reflected the dictatorial rule of Modi but the TMC will not back down in asking for their constitutional rights.

Leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is an ally of the TMC as part of the INDIA bloc, tried to meet the TMC leaders at the police station but were denied entry into the premises. AAP leaders Saurabh Bhardwaj and Dilip Pandey later interacted with the TMC leaders through the gate of the police station.

Read here: NIA moves Calcutta HC against FIR filed by Bengal police; TMC holds protests

Their (TMC) demand is that the chiefs of the four central probe agencies should be changed. The BJP did a demonstration at Connaught Place but who gave them the permission for it. They were not arrested, Bhardwaj said.

BJP leader Rahul Sinha said the TMC is trying to divert attention from real poll issues. If they have any grievances, they can move the court. What are they doing outside the EC office, he said.
A Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation on Monday complained to the Election Commission (EC) about the blatant misuse of central probe agencies by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre against leaders of opposition parties ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, and staged a dharna outside the poll bodys office in the national capital, prompting the police to detain the group for several hours. Police detain TMC lawmaker Derek OBrien during the partys protest outside the office of the Election Commission in New Delhi on Monday. (PTI)

The 10-member delegation, which included TMC lawmakers Derek OBrien, Dola Sen and Mohammed Nadimul Haque, also urged the commission to replace chiefs of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (I-T) Department, and ensure a level-playing field for all political parties in the general elections.

A separate delegation led by party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also met West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata and sought replacement of NIA chief.

The BJP is misusing central agencies against us. The way NIA, ED and CBI are working and targeting TMC leaders is shameful. We would request EC to ensure a level playing field for all political parties, Sen said.

In a letter submitted to polling officials at the Nirvachan Sadan in Delhi, the ruling party in West Bengal sought immediate action to stop the BJP blatantly misusing central agencies like NIA, ED, CBI and I-T department.

Issue appropriate direction(s)/order(s) to immediately change the heads of the NIA, ED, CBI and IT Department to ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates, it said.

The development comes amid a political slugfest over alleged attacks on officials belonging to central probe agencies in Bengal, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accusing the TMC of shielding extortionists and corrupt leaders. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, however, alleged the federal agencies were working as extended arms of the Centre.

After meeting the polling officials, the delegation, which also comprised MPs Saket Gokhale and Sagarika Ghose, began a 24-hour dharna outside Nirvachan Sadan, before they were detained and taken by the cops.

...Delhi Police has kidnapped us 5 TMC MPs & 4 former MPs. We were protesting at EC & were told well be taken to Mandir Marg Police Station. And then, suddenly, the bus has been diverted & going to an unknown location.., Gokhale said on X.

Police officials said no permission was taken for the protest. They were released late in the evening. As they staged the protest without permission, an FIR has been registered at Parliament Street police station, an officer said.

Reacting to TMCs move, Bengal BJP chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said NIA is not bound by the election code of conduct. TMC is making futile attempts to shield its corrupt leaders, he said.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that activist Gautam Navlakha, who is facing charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in connection with the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case, cannot evade his responsibility to pay security costs for his house arrest because the facility was made available at his request. Supreme Court said Navlakha must pay some amount as the order of house arrest was passed upon his plea and an assurance to pay for the security fees associated with his house arrest (HT)

If you have asked for it (house arrest), you have to pay (the costs for security cover). You cannot escape your liability...You cant escape your liability because it was only on your asking that this order was passed, a bench of justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti told Navlakhas lawyer.

It added that Navlakha must pay some amount as the order of house arrest was passed upon his plea and an assurance to pay for the security fees associated with his house arrest.

Read here: SC extends stay on bail granted to Gautam Navlakha in Bhima-Koregaon case

The court was responding to additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Rajus submissions that Navlakha owed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) approximately 1.64 crore for the round-the-clock security expenses maintained by the Maharastra police.

Advocate Shadan Farasat, representing Navlakha, expressed readiness to pay but contested the figures.

Intervening, the bench stressed the need for cooperation between the parties. As long as you are going to have this facility, these figures will continue to fly. Instead of letting it reach the highest level, we will give one weeks time to both sides. Whatever allegations you both have to say, say it then we will decide, it said, deferring the matter to April 23.

The court was hearing NIAs appeal against the Bombay high courts decision to grant bail to Navlakha, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon riot case of 2018. The Bhima Koregaon case concerns alleged provocative remarks made on December 31, 2017, at an Elgar Parishad conference in Pune. According to the Maharashtra police, these remarks caused unrest the next day outside the Bhima Koregaon war memorial, which is on the outskirts of the city in western Maharashtra. In the incident, one person lost his life.

Navlakha, a human rights activist and former Secretary of the Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR), was initially arrested in August 2018. He was initially kept under house arrest but subsequently sent to judicial custody in Taloja Central Prison in April 2020 after a Supreme Court order. He was later placed under house arrest again in November 2022 after the Supreme Court approved his plea, citing his advanced age. He has remained under house arrest in Navi Mumbai since. His plea regarding the terms of his house arrest is being heard concurrently with the bail matter.
Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday lashed out at Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal after the Delhi high court rejected the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor's plea against his arrest.



It is high time Arvind Kejriwal taking moral responsibility, resigns as the Delhi chief minister, PTI quoted Puri as saying.



"Kejriwal was issued nine summons by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) between November 2023 and March 2024. He kept "evading" these notices over the past six months under some "pretext" or the other," Puri claimed. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Arvind Kejriwal should put in his papers and let someone else run the Delhi government

Stating that law has caught up with Kejriwal, Puri said that the AAP leader continuing as CM behind bars is an "exercise in shamelessness", adding he should put in his papers and let someone else run the Delhi government.

Earlier in the day, the high court while rejecting Kejriwal's plea had said that the ED is in possession of material evidence that led to his arrest.



ALSO READ: High court order shattered Kejriwals self-proclaimed honest character: BJP



ED was able to trace enough material in the form of the statement of approver, Hawala dealer, AAP [Aam Aadmi Party] candidate in the Goa election...arrest of Kejriwal and his remand cannot be termed as illegal," the court said.



The Aam Aadmi Party has said it will move the Supreme Court to challenge the high court order.



"We respect the institution of the high court but we respectfully submit that we do not agree with its order and will move the Supreme Court against it. The so-called excise policy scam is the biggest political conspiracy to finish off the party and Kejriwal," Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had said at a briefing after the high court's decision.



Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21, hours after the high court refused to grant him protection from coercive action by the federal anti-money laundering agency.

He was sent to judicial custody on April 1 after he was produced in the trial court on the expiry of his ED custody. He is currently lodged in Tihar jail.



(With PTI inputs)




Jorhat: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday criticised Chinas recent move to rename some parts of Arunachal Pradesh, saying it wont change the ground realities and cautioned that it would sour relations between New Delhi and Beijing. Defence minister Rajnath Singh addresses a public meeting ahead of Lok Sabha polls, in Namsai on Tuesday. (ANI)

Recently China renamed some parts of Arunachal Pradesh in one of their websites. They wont gain anything from such renaming. I want to tell our neighbour, what if tomorrow we rename some of their regions and states? Will those places become ours because of the name change? China shouldnt have such misconceptions, Singh said at a public meeting at Namsai in Arunachal Pradesh.

Also Read: Name games Beijing plays with New Delhi

I think such acts will lead to souring of relations between our two nations India wants to maintain friendly relations with all our neighbours. But if someone tries to hurt Indias pride, self-respect and honour, we have the capacity now to give a befitting reply, he added while campaigning for the coming Lok Sabha and assembly polls.

Singh said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has corrected mistakes made by Congress and improved infrastructure in the areas of Arunachal Pradesh bordering China including development of the villages located in those areas due to their strategic importance.

Terming the people of Arunachal Pradesh as strategic assets, he praised the states residents for their bravery during times of aggression with China.

Theres a big difference between what the Congress governments at Centre did for the 10 years before our rule and even beyond that and the government under Narendra Modi since 2014, Singh said, accusing previous Congress governments at the Centre of ignoring the region.

Also Read: Senseless attempts: India disses China over renaming Arunachal locations

Theres no difference between the words and deeds of Modi. If you look at our manifestoes, you will see that we have fulfilled our promises, which is unlike the previous governments of Congress and other parties who used to forget their promises after getting elected, Singh said.

He cited the strategically important Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh inaugurated by PM Modi last month. Built by the Border Roads Organisation, the tunnel cost 825 crore and is the worlds longest twin-lane tunnel at an altitude of above 13,000 feet. The tunnel will help in the movement of the armed forces to forward areas near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector.

The minister also assured people that no Indian would lose their citizenship due to the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, which will give Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists and Parsis from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014.

Due to this law, no one will lose their citizenship. Instead, people will be able to get Indian citizenship because of it. But parties like Congress and Nationalist Congress Party are spreading confusion among the public about it, said Singh.
Hyderabad, Ugadi, the Telugu new year, was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety, across Telangana on Tuesday. HT Image

People decorated their homes with festoons of mango leaves and consumed 'Ugadi pachadi' . They also visited temples.

'Ugadi pachadi' is made of neem flowers , raw unripe green mango , jaggery , tamarind pulp and salt , pepper or chilli powder which are symbolic of the complexities of life.

Former Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and Telangana Governor C P Radhakrishnan attended Ugadi celebrations at an event here.

The Governor also participated in Ugadi celebrations hosted at the Raj Bhavan.

The Governor, who greeted all Telugu people on the occasion, urged everyone to strive for a better year ahead through dedication, commitment and hard work, a Raj Bhavan press communique said.

Telangana High Court Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and senior government officials attended the event.

Ugadi celebrations were also held at the offices of ruling Congress, BJP and BRS here.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee Working President and MLC Mahesh Kumar Goud and other leaders attended the event at the state Congress headquarters here.

The pandit who conducted 'Panchanga Sravanam on the occasion of Ugadi celebrations said the new year would be very fruitful for Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.

Union Minister and Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy, BJP Rajya Sabha member K Laxman and others participated in Ugadi celebrations at the BJP office.

BRS Working President K T Rama Rao attended the event at party headquarters.

The pandit who performed 'panchanga sravanam' at BRS office stated the Lok Sabha polls would be "tough for the ruling party", according to a BRS release.

The release also quoted him as saying that BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao is likely to achieve good success in his endeavours.

The Governor, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Union Minister Kishan Reddy and BRS president Chandrasekhar Rao greeted people on the occasion.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Young leadership is taking centre stage in Dalit politics around the country and certainly in Uttar Pradesh. Akash Anand, the nephew of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati is one, and Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhim Army chief is another. Dalits account for 21% of the states population and have hundreds of subcastes; of them, the Jatavs form the largest group with 11-15% of the population in different pockets of the state. The Jatavs, a more politically conscious group, have remained loyal to BSP, and the Dalit ki Beti, as Mayawati once named herself.

Anand launched his campaign on April 6 from the Muslim-Dalit dominated Nagina constituency from where another upcoming Dalit leader, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad is contesting his first Lok Sabha election as the nominee of four-year-old Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) that he founded in March 2020.

Though many voters are unhappy with the BSP for diluting BR Ambedkars, and subsequently, Kanshi Rams mission  the emancipation of the oppressed classes  they are willing to credit Mayawati with their political empowerment and for eulogising Dalit icons.

What worries them is not the labelling of the BSP as the B-team of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but the probable consolidation of Muslim votes in favour of the Congress-Samajwadi Party (SP) alliance, the two prominent members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) opposition bloc, as the BSP has decided to go solo in this election.

Dr Satish Prakash, a political analyst and professor based in Meerut, disputed the common belief that Jatavs, lured by the BJPs welfare schemes and distribution of ration, deserted the BSP in the 2019 Lok Sabha and the 2022 state assembly elections.

One needs to understand the hunger of Dalits, especially the much-awakened section of Jatavs, to participate in power. In the 1970s, they refused to be guided by the owners (usually Jats) of the agriculture fields where they worked as labourers, and today too, they will not vote for the party which will give them doles but not a share in power. The Jatavs, he said, are emotionally attached to the Constitution.

In an essay titled Dalit Ideas, the Politics of Knowledge in North India' published in the World Humanities Report, political analyst Dr Badri Narayan described GP Madan, an advocate and author based in Allahabad as an organic intellectual of the Dalit community. Referring to the caste sammelans (gatherings) organised by Kanshi Ram, while the latter was struggling to expand the party in the late 1980s, Madan said that he had warned the BSP founder of further social fragmentation that would eventually jeopardise Ambedkars dream of creating a casteless society. I used to tell Kanshi Ram its a double-edged sword. But he continued with his social movement which Mayawati changed to social engineering, and to acquire political power and empower Dalits. Her contribution is unique as she boldly ruled the state, and established memorials of Dalit icons with which the population identifies. Why would they desert her now?

According to Madan, it doesnt matter to the Dalits if Mayawati joins the BJP government after the elections, as Kanshi Ram often said, "Satta ke liye sahyog do or lo (take and give support for power)." So, Dalits would welcome it if she becomes the balancing power in the next government at the Centre, he said.

Mayawati's winning formula has been Jatavs + caste of the candidate + Muslims (which votes for the strongest party against BJP). Second, her hold on Jatav's votes is so strong that she can transfer their votes to any other candidate or party  a reason why all Opposition court the BSP.

Incidentally, the BSPs vote percentage since 2007, when Mayawati formed an independent government in the state, has hovered between 19 to 25% in the Lok Sabha elections, though she did experiment in 2019 when the party had an electoral alliance with the SP. The BSP won 10 seats polling about 19.4%  almost the same as it did in 2014 when it contested independently and failed to win even one seat. In the 2004 and 2009 elections, the BSP polled 24.7 and 27.4% votes, respectively.

BSP may or may not win seats, but her Jatav vote will not drift, Prakash said.

The new generation

Before the 2012 elections, angry voices in Dalit localities of smaller towns spoke out against Mayawatis social engineering that had brought the party to power in 2007. The youth wanted their leaders to be aggressive and not amiable to the upper caste that had inflicted atrocities on them.

While they never questioned the experiments that Kanshi Ram and Mayawati did to grow their base in the state, or their tie-up with the BJP, they were angry that their behenji had lost the fire in the belly to combat the hegemony of the upper caste.

Thus, when Bhim Army chief, the man in the blue scarf, Chandrashekhar Azad, arose, the youth saw promise and hope in him. Politically though, they did not desert the BSP; Azad contested one assembly election in 2022 against chief minister Yogi Adityanath on the latters turf and lost his deposit.

Now the young electorate is closely watching 28-year-old Akash Anand, the son of Mayawatis brother Anand Kumar. An MBA from London, he was groomed by her before she declared him as her heir apparent in December 2023.

Akash had also addressed rallies in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand. He recently tweeted his plan to spend a full month in UP propagating Mayawatis model of governance, which he touted as being the best in the country, one that was for the welfare of all castes and communities.

Lets meet Akash Anand

Active on social media, Akash has finally come out of his aunts shadow. His solo show in Nagina has evoked curiosity. He was certainly more aggressive than Mayawati in attacking the BJP, SP and Congress. Political parties have taken electoral bonds to the tune of 16,500 crores in the past six years. Only the BSP, which is run by its workers tan, man and dhan [physical labour, mental and emotional work and money] did not take even a single penny. BSP is not a shop that sells politics. It is a mission.

Will he be accepted by the cadre as well as caste? Opinions differ.

While Dr Satish says the BSP is temperamentally against dynastic politics from the days of Ambedkar and has not accepted political families as successors of Kanshi Ram, (Jagjivan Ram, Ram Vilas Paswan et al), others say that people will judge him for who he is.

A senior BSP leader from Agra said on the condition of anonymity, People may clap for him but they may quit the party as they believe raja ka beta raja hoga is a manuvadi culture. Kanshi Ram could have handed over his legacy to his brother instead of Mayawati but he did not. The party will get divided.

There is also this argument that while Mayawati had quit her job and dedicated her life to the mission, tech-savvy Akash is a businessman and his father is facing investigations over property deals.

A changed scenario for BSP

Kanshi Ram handed over a robust party with a network of committed cadre and dependable Dalit officials to Mayawati. However, Akash will be taking over a weak organisation with frustrated cadres but committed core voters.

Whats more, waiting in the wings is another Dalit leader Chandrashekhar Azad, who initially wanted a ticket from the opposition alliance but then decided to test the waters alone. In a triangular contest, the BJP hopes to win the seat but some believe there is a tacit understanding between Akhilesh and Chandrashekar. The SP campaign, for instance, is not only dull but rarely targets Azad in Nagina.

While Chandrashekhar refused to comment on Akash Anand (he described him as his younger brother) while talking to the media in his constituency, the latter has not lauded him or his campaigns for Dalit voters.

Ask Dalit thinkers like Madan, they too feel that Mayawati should have withdrawn her candidate in his favour.

Sunita Aron is a consulting editor with the HT based in Lucknow. You can find her on X as @overto. The weekly column, Keeping up with UP tackles everything from politics to social and cultural mores in the country's most populous state. The views expressed are personal.
Do you find that food tastes different first thing in the morning? Is that first cup of coffee much more bitter? More intense, at least? If you bite into a chilli from a masala omelette perhaps does it seem hotter than usual? Why French chefs are a lot better at tasting than our Indian chefs(Freepik)

In theory, all of these things should certainly happen. Most food experts believe that your palate is at its most delicate in the morning. For instance, even the Chinese who may eat dim sum for breakfast, will rarely pair them with a spicy sauce. The Italians will usually only eat something sweet with their cappuccino. Even in cultures where the food is spicy, such as Thailand, breakfast dishes are milder. One argument in favour of the morning sambhar you get in South India (different from the sambhar they make at other times) is that it is more attuned to your taste buds at breakfast time.

Of course there are scientific explanations for this phenomenon too but on matters of taste, I have more faith in the learnings of food culture going back centuries.

I know because I am the exception to all these rules.

I can start my day with a hefty dose of chilli or spice. For example , I am writing this column from Thailand where, every morning, the chefs at the Four Seasons in Samui make a wonderful congee with pork for me. There are spicy condiments available but they are discreetly left on the side. That's enough for me to destroy the lovingly prepared, delicate taste of the congee with multiple spicy condiments along with an umami-filled maxi-shot of soya sauce.

The Thais are too polite to say anything but I always feel that they look at me pityingly. The Chinese are less polite and stare disapprovingly when I eat my morning dim sum with chilli oil. Even in Italy, where the only time of the day when it is a acceptable to drink coffee with milk is in the morning, I get looks of concern when I ask for a very strong and intense black coffee, even a ristretto, at breakfast.

Some of this, I suspect, is because we in India are generally much less concerned with the delicacy of our taste buds. We know what we like and what we dont but we dont treat our taste buds like finely tuned racing car engines.

In much of the rest of the world, on the other hand, chefs and foodies pay a great deal of attention to preserving the delicacy of their taste buds. One example: Many French and Italian restaurants abroad now employ Indian chefs. But often, the Indians will be told to avoid very spicy food before they come in for service because the spices dull their taste buds and prevent them from being able to taste the subtleties of seasoning.

All this used to strike me as odd. I can understand sommeliers taking care of their palates. But chefs? Foodies?

I have now reluctantly got my head around this concept and have come to accept that an important component of a chefs talent is his or her ability to taste.

How do chefs taste fresh carrots, for instance, and say that one carrot is better than another? How do they know exactly how a chicken has been bred merely by having one bite of a chicken dish?

The answer is that they have discerning palates which they have trained to detect the nuances of flavour. And it is often the great French chefs who have the most delicate palates.

The American chef Dan Barber is famous for his farm-to-table approach to cooking and for his emphasis on the purity and provenance of ingredients. But even he can be awed by the refined palates of other chefs.

Barber tells the story of a visit to his farm by Alain Ducasse, the worlds greatest French chef. Ducasse came early in the morning for a 20 minute photo shoot. He did not want to eat anything but Barber, who was excited to have Ducasse at his farm, served him bread and butter anyway. Barber was sure that Ducasse would love the butter because it was made at the farm with fresh milk from the farms cows.

Ducasse was polite enough to try the bread and butter. Then he asked, Has it been raining recently? Barber conceded that a hurricane had just doused the area.

Then Ducasse asked: Was the butter made by hand or in an electric mixer? Barber replied that of course it was hand-churned. And was the milk from cows pasturing near the barn or far away from the barn? Ducasse continued.

Barber had always seen the cows grazing in the fields near the barn and told Duccase that.

A week later, Barber caught his pastry intern churning the butter in an electric mixer. He asked the intern what he was doing. Chef, the intern explained, I have discovered that I can make the butter a lot faster with an electric mixer.

So Ducasse has been right about that too.

A few days later, Barber was at the dairy farm again and did not see any cows. He asked where they were and was told that they were no longer pastured in the lush field near the barn. They were sent to graze in a field further away which had many weeds and much less greenery and so needed the manure that the cows would provide as they grazed.

Ducasse had tasted that in the butter too.

Barber is famous for his feel for ingredients. But even he could not tell merely by tasting the butter that it had been churned in an electric mixer, or that the field where the cows grazed was not particularly verdant and that it had been raining .

Ducasse, who grew up on his parents farm, often says that the major challenge with cooking is raw materials. His restaurants only use the best ingredients. The chefs job, he says, is to preserve and interpret the taste of those great ingredients.

Frankly, I cant imagine another chef being able to tell so much about the butter just by tasting a little bit. Ducasse is much better at this compared even to most French chefs. And most French chefs are a lot better at tasting than our Indian chefs. We have grown up with spices and hot-ness so our flavour detectors are muted. Many (if not most) Indian hotel kitchens use ingredients that would not get past the door in a good French restaurant.

Does this matter? Should we want to serve the best carrots? Or should we just accept that our food is about spice and not the quality of ingredients? When you eat a vada pav, do you care how the potatoes in the vada were grown? When you make a chicken curry, can anyone tell whether you have used a free-range chicken or a broiler?

Given that I blow my palate up with chilli in the mornings, I am not the right person to answer this. But I have to concede that while I dont think our chefs need to reach Ducasse levels of taste discernment, perhaps the time has come for us to be a little more discriminating when it comes to the quality of our ingredients.

If you dont believe me, try this simple test. Compare a tandoori chicken made with farmed chicken with one from a free range bird (like the Bukhara version) and see if you cant tell the difference. It will be staggeringly obvious how much tastier the free range bird is.

Or try an Awadhi biryani made with ordinary long-grained rice. And then try one made with real basmati. There is really no comparison.

Eat fresh peas from anywhere in India. And then try the fresh peas from Jaipur in season. Youll know then what peas should really taste like.

We do this already with fruit. Everyone can tell how good or bad a mango is. But we refuse to apply the same standards to vegetables. Could this be because we know that they will end up being cooked with spices? The mango, on the other hand, will be eaten raw.

Possibly. And though I often start my morning sabotaging my taste buds, I do feel that there is a lot for us to learn about discernment from the worlds great chefs and their palates.
New Delhi: Just as a key parameter of a successful incoming or outgoing bilateral visit to China is a reference to the one China policy of which (independent) Taiwan in an integral part in the joint statement, the hallmark for a successful bilateral outcome for Pakistan leadership is mention of word Kashmir in the joint communique. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

While India has not adhered to the one China policy since 2010, it has moved far ahead of gratuitous advice of third countries on having a dialogue with Pakistan, often flagged as a nuclear rival in Western media, or discussing Kashmir. Given the fact that Pakistani troops are deployed in Saudi Arabia as per 1982 security protocol, India will ignore the reference to bilateral dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir in the joint statement issued after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday. The real reason for Sharifs visit to Saudi Arabia was to secure a USD five billion investment from Riyadh and shore up confidence in the IMF for future loans.

The fact of the matter is that after the abrogation of temporary article 370 and article 35A on August 5, 2019, India sees no role of Pakistan in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir except for Pak-sponsored cross-border terrorism in the Valley. The peace and economic prosperity in UT of Jammu and Kashmir post-2019 has taken care of any so-called alienation in the Valley and has made pro-Pak politicians irrelevant in the erstwhile State. India has made it clear that Pakistan will have to take action against terrorists targeting Bharat for any meaningful dialogue to take place.

India does not engage its allies in the Middle East through the prism of Pakistan and has very close ties with Gulf countries including UAE in particular. As far as India is concerned, the anti-Modi government posture taken by either Pakistan or China is to shore up domestic political audiences and divert them from the economic crisis faced by the Islamic Republic and stagnation faced by the Communist country.

Although reference to Kashmir in a joint statement may be an epitome of diplomatic success for Pakistan and its leftist supporters in the west, Islamabad does not feature in any conversation on Raisina Hill including the Ministry of External Affairs. Simply put, India has moved on from toxic Pakistan and mindless Kashmir obsession.
Haryanas real estate regulatory authority, Gurugram, has denied Godrej Developers & Properties application for extension of registration citing non-compliance of RERA norms. Haryanas real estate regulatory authority, Gurugram, has denied Godrej Developers & Properties application for extension of registration citing non-compliance of RERA norms. (Hindustan Times)

The Authority said that despite several reminders, the promoter of the project, which is Godrej Developers & Properties LLP, failed to rectify the deficiencies in the application, which showed a mismatch of several details provided in the project's quarterly progress report (QPR) from those mentioned in the CA certificate. There were also deficiencies relating to license renewal and bank balance, Haryana RERA's order said.

The promoter is developing a group housing project Godrej Air Phase 4 in Sector 85, Gurugram.

The promoter had obtained the RERA registration in December 2018 and it was valid up to June 2023, by which the promoter had to complete the housing project.

Also Read: Haryana RERA revokes registrations of five real estate projects in Gurugram

The firm had applied with RERA Gurugram seeking further extension of the registration to complete the project, moving an application under Section 6 of the RERA Act.

During the scrutiny of the application, the Authority observed many deficiencies in the application and asked the promoter to rectify the same, Haryana RERA order said.

The Authority granted ample time to the promoter to remove the deficiencies to obtain an extension for the registration. The Authority sent a final show cause notice in February this year to the promoter for rejection of the application but it did not receive any reply from the promoter, HRERA said.

Also Read: Outline plan to complete 3 pending projects: HRERA to OSB developers

Keeping in view the above facts, the Authority rejects the application for extension of registration of the project. Further, the bank account of the project be frozen and a compliance letter to this effect be sent to the Bank, the Authoritys order said.

The Authority has also warned the promoter against creating any third-party rights and has cautioned the general public to refrain from booking any property in the project, the order said.

Also Read: Banks to ensure builders comply with RERA norms when handling public money

Godrej's response

Godrej Promoters & Developers LLP had filed an application for grant of extension of RERA Registration Certificate for its project Godrej Air Phase 4 (Retail), wherein requirement of certain compliances were raised by the Honble Authority, a spokesperson of the company said.

"We have continuously been responding to the queries raised by the Authority and we have been submitting the relevant documents with the Authority. We are in the process of making a representation in front of the authority requesting them to set aside the interim directions passed in this order, said the company spokesperson.
Karnataka Industries Minister M B Patil on April 9 directed officials to assist Lenskart CEO Peyush Bansal, who said the company was looking for 25 acres of land near Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Karnataka Industries Minister M B Patil on April 9 directed officials to assist Lenskart CEO Peyush Bansal, who said the company was looking for 25 acres of land near Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru(Livemint)

Bansal posted his requirement on 'X' and within five minutes, the Minister responded in the affirmative.

Also Read: Bengaluru ranks 8th and Mumbai 9th in annual housing price growth index across Asia Pacific region

"Lenskart is looking for 25 acres of land within 60 km of Kempegowda Bengaluru International Airport to build its next mega factory. If any company is looking to sell factory land near the Bengaluru airport, please send an email to: megafactory@lenskart.in," Bansal wrote.

Also Read: Bengaluru water crisis: Has it impacted real estate sales?

Responding quickly, Patil said, "Karnataka is the place to be! @peyushbansal @Lenskart_com Industries Department is here to support you, and facilitate all your needs. Concerned officials will reach out, immediately."

According to sources close to the Minister, he gave necessary instructions to officials to help Bansal to set up his unit here in Bengaluru.

Also Read: Bengaluru-based Puravankara crosses 5,914 crore in sales in FY24

Many people on 'X' expressed their appreciation for the move by the Minister, they said.
The best air coolers under 2000 are here! Much of India has come under the spell of Indian summer and if you still haven't made arrangements to keep your home or office safe from summer heat, then it is about time you did, without any further delay. A good and affordable option to consider are air coolers and within that category, we would suggest you opt for best air coolers under 2000. Not only will they cool the atmosphere in your vicinity in minutes, they will also keep your electricity bills in check. There's a caveat though - all air coolers in this category fall in the mini coolers bracket, which means they are ideal as additional cooling medium at home or in your office, if central air conditioning isn't an option. That said, let's dive into this product category to know more. Air coolers under  2000: Bring home one from our selection and tackle summer heat like a pro.

In the scorching summers of northern and central India, where dry heat dominates, air coolers offer a refreshing oasis. Unlike air conditioners, they add moisture to the air, combating dryness and relieving discomfort. Their simplicity and portability make them ideal for homes and offices. Additionally, air coolers are eco-friendly, utilizing natural processes to cool the air, making them a sustainable choice for beating the heat in arid regions.

Best air coolers under 2000 are champions of energy efficiency and help to keep electricity bills low during scorching summers. Unlike air conditioners, they don't rely on energy-intensive compressors, resulting in significant savings. Additionally, these air coolers operate without harmful refrigerants, which contribute to global warming. By using natural processes such as evaporation, air coolers offer an environmentally friendly cooling solution, reducing carbon footprint and preserving the planet for future generations.

We have put together a list of 5 best air coolers under 2000 just for you. Under this price point, the only options available are mini coolers. Check them out here and if you like any, pick one up straightaway.

Introducing the Portable AC Mini Cooler Fan, a versatile cooling solution perfect for any space. This rechargeable fan doubles as a portable air conditioner, providing instant relief from the heat wherever you go. Ideal for home or office use, it efficiently cools rooms while also serving as a mini humidifier, ensuring optimal comfort. Hang it on closet shelves for a refreshing breeze or use it as a personal cooling device. With its multi-functional design and compact size, this mini air cooler with fan is the ultimate solution for staying cool and comfortable on the go.

Specifications of Portable AC Mini Cooler Fan:

Portable AC Mini Cooler Fan

Rechargeable

Functions as a portable air conditioner

Can be used as a mini humidifier

Suitable for hanging on closet shelves

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Provides convenient and portable cooling May not offer as powerful cooling as traditional air conditioners Doubles as a humidifier for added comfort Limited coverage area compared to larger cooling units

If you are looking for a cooling solution but are challenged by space crunch, then the Portable AC Mini Cooler Fan is for you. With its 3-in-1 functionality, it serves as a room cooler, humidifier, and mini air conditioner. Whether you're at home, in the office, or on the go, this portable unit provides relief from the heat. Its rechargeable design ensures continuous use without the need for power outlets, making it perfect for outdoor events like bachelorette parties or picnics. Stay cool and comfortable wherever you are with the Portable AC Mini Cooler Fan, your ultimate companion for staying refreshed during hot days.

Specifications of Portable Ac Mini Cooler Fan:

Portable AC Mini Cooler Fan

Rechargeable

Functions as a portable air conditioner and mini humidifier

Suitable for room cooling

Designed for use at bachelorette parties

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Versatile 3-in-1 functionality for cooling, humidifying, and misting May have limited cooling capacity compared to traditional air conditioners Portable and rechargeable, suitable for various indoor and outdoor settings Potential for limited coverage area, especially in larger spaces

Also read: Best air coolers ensure you get fresh, cool air even in harsh summer days, top 10 picks

Check out the CHARKEE Mini Cooler AC, a versatile cooling solution perfect for various settings. This USB and battery-operated air cooler under 2000 features dual blowers and an ice chamber, ensuring efficient cooling performance. Whether at home, in the kitchen, studying, or even in temples, it provides refreshing air to combat the heat. Its compact size and multi-colour design make it attractive and suitable for any environment. Enjoy the convenience of portable cooling with the CHARKEE Mini Cooler AC, offering comfort and relief wherever you need it.

Specifications of CHARKEE Mini Cooler:

USB and battery-operated mini cooler AC

Dual blower design for efficient air circulation

Integrated ice chamber for enhanced cooling

Suitable for use in temples, homes, kitchens, and study areas

Multi-colour design (TAR-S2)

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Portable and versatile, can be powered via USB or battery for use anywhere Limited cooling capacity compared to larger air conditioning units Provides efficient cooling with dual blowers and ice chamber, ideal for combating heat in various settings May require frequent refilling of water or ice in the chamber for sustained cooling

Also read: Room coolers to beat the heat: 7 worthy options to pick from

4. ComSaf Mini Portable Air Cooler Fan

The ComSaf Mini Portable Air Cooler Fan can be your ultimate solution for instant cooling. This Arctic air cooler offers a quick and easy way to chill any space, whether it's your home or office. With its compact design, it effortlessly fits on your desk or bedside table, providing refreshing air whenever you need it. The Arctic cooler employs innovative cooling technology to create a comfortable environment, helping you beat the heat effortlessly. Say goodbye to sweltering summers and embrace the cool breeze of the ComSaf Mini Portable Air Cooler Fan for a more enjoyable atmosphere.

Specifications of ComSaf Mini Portable Air Cooler Fan:

Mini portable air cooler fan

Arctic Air Personal Space Cooler

Designed for cooling any space

Suitable for home and office use

Arctic Cooler Ultra model

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Provides quick and easy cooling for personal space May not provide as powerful cooling as traditional air conditioners Compact and portable design, ideal for use at home or in the office Limited cooling capacity, best suited for small areas or personal use

The Infinizy Mini Portable Air Cooler Fan is a compact marvel designed to bring a breeze of freshness wherever you go. This innovative device not only cools but also illuminates with its inbuilt light, adding ambiance to any space. Whether at home or in the office, the Artic Cooler offers a quick and easy solution to beat the heat. Its portable design ensures convenience, fitting seamlessly into any environment. Experience personalized cooling and atmospheric lighting with the Infinizy Mini Portable Air Cooler Fan, your go-to companion for creating a comfortable oasis in any setting.

Specifications of Infinizy Mini Portable Air Cooler:

Mini portable air cooler fan

Inbuilt light for added ambiance

Personal space cooler

Quick and easy cooling solution

Suitable for home and office use

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Provides both cooling and lighting functions in one device May have limited cooling capacity compared to larger air conditioning units Portable design for easy relocation and use in various spaces Inbuilt light feature may not be necessary for all users and could increase power consumption

Also read: Best personal air coolers: Cool your personal space with these 7 efficient cooling solutions for summer

3 best features of air cooler under  2000 for you

Product name Special Feature Controls Type Colour Portable-Ac-Mini-Cooler-Fan-for-Room-Cooling (Multi) Multi-functional: Cooling, humidifying, hanging design Manual Multi Portable-Ac-Mini-Cooler-Fan-for-Room-Cooling 3-in-1 functionality: Cooling, humidifying, portable Manual Multi CHARKEE Mini Cooler AC USB and Battery Operated Air Mini Water Air Cooler Ice chamber for enhanced cooling USB, Battery Multi-colour ComSaf Mini Portable Air Cooler Quick and easy cooling solution Manual Not specified Infinizy Mini Portable Air Cooler Built-in light for ambiance Manual Not specified

Best value for money air cooler under  2000

The CHARKEE Mini Cooler AC stands out as the best value for money product. With its USB and battery-operated operation, it offers versatility for use in various settings. The inclusion of an ice chamber enhances cooling efficiency, providing relief from the heat without breaking the bank. Its multi-colour design adds aesthetic appeal, making this air cooler suitable for any environment. Enjoy efficient cooling at an affordable price with the CHARKEE Mini Cooler AC, ensuring comfort and convenience without compromising on quality.



Best overall air cooler under  2000

The Portable AC Mini Cooler Fan offers unparalleled versatility as the best overall product. Its multi-functional design allows for room cooling, humidifying, and even hanging on closet shelves. With rechargeable capability, it's perfect for home use or on-the-go cooling needs. The convenience of this portable air conditioner, coupled with its ability to act as a mini humidifier, makes it an essential addition to any space. Enjoy customized cooling and comfort with this innovative solution, ensuring a refreshing ambiance wherever you are.

Also read: Best air coolers for home use in India: 10 worthy mentions

How to buy best air cooler under  2000 in India?

To find the best air cooler under 2000 in India, start by researching reputable brands and models known for quality within your budget. Look for features such as cooling capacity, energy efficiency, and durability. Read customer reviews and compare specifications to ensure you're getting the best value for your money. Consider factors like size, portability, and ease of maintenance. Additionally, check for warranty coverage and after-sales service. With careful research and consideration of your specific needs, you can make an informed decision and find the perfect air cooler that fits your budget without compromising on performance.

Air coolers under 2000 in India What features should I look for in an air cooler under  2000? Look for essential features like cooling capacity, water tank size, portability, and ease of use. Additionally, consider factors such as energy efficiency and durability.

Are air coolers under  2000 effective in cooling large rooms? Generally, air coolers in this price range are designed for small to medium-sized rooms. They may not be as effective in cooling larger spaces.

How do I maintain an air cooler under  2000? Regular maintenance is crucial. Clean the water tank, filters, and cooling pads regularly to ensure optimal performance. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper maintenance.

Can I use an air cooler under  2000 outdoors? While some models may be suitable for outdoor use, most air coolers in this price range are designed for indoor use. Check the product specifications and usage guidelines before using them outdoors

Do air coolers under  2000 consume a lot of electricity? Compared to air conditioners, air coolers are generally more energy-efficient. However, it's essential to check the energy consumption ratings of specific models to ensure they align with your budget and requirements.

Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.
Sagar di Vohti lendi Indica chala, immediately hai koi meri majboori mainu chheti de drivery sikha [Sagars wife can drive Indica, I have an urgency, so teach how to drive the car immediately], you must have heard this song while scrolling through Instagram Reels at least once if not twice. But why is this song trending on social media after 19 years of its release, and why is everyone interested in someone who can drive a car? Satnam Sagar and his wife Sharanjit Shammi who sang the song Sagar di Vohti lendi Indica chala. (X/@Gagan4344)

Sagar di Vohti lendi Indica chala is a Punjabi song that was sung by Satnam Sagar and his wife Sharanjit Shammi in 2005. The song suddenly started trending on Reels in 2024, and no one has a definite answer as to why.

People just started vibing to the song, making memes using its lyrics and adding the song to the videos they share online. The song has managed to grab the attention of celebrities as well who couldnt help but hop on the viral trend, including Dilijit Dosanjh, Bharti SIngh, Nimrat Khaira, and Anjali Arora.

The song had received a good response even back then, but in todays age of social media, its breaking the Internet like wildfire, Sagar told Indian Express as he reflected on the sudden popularity of his song.

Despite his friends mocking him for composing and writing songs, Sagars albums managed to do well. Decades ago, my friends used to mock me for writing and composing songs, but my albums still managed to do well. Albums like Phulan Wali Rajai and Chhindo di Hatti were particularly popular, he shared.

I was a star in the past, and I continue to be one now, Sagar proudly stated.
Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, turns 29 today. Several celebrities have headed to Gujarats Jamnagar to attend the birthday celebration. Days before his birthday, he and fiancee Radhika Merchant were spotted shopping at two malls in Dubai amid tight security, which included a convoy of 20 cars.

Here are 10 things to know about Anant Ambani:

Anant Ambani leads Reliance's new energy business - he was named its head in August 2022 - and is already on the boards of Jio Platforms and Reliance Retail Ventures. He is a director on the boards of RIL and Reliance Foundation. In August last year, Anant, along with his older siblings Isha and Akash, was appointed to Reliance Industries board as part of Mukesh Ambani's succession plan. Anant and his siblings would get only a sitting fee for attending board and committee meetings, and a commission on the profit earned by the firm, the company said in a resolution. Born in Mumbai, Anant Ambani went to college at Brown University in the United States' Rhode Island. Anant Ambani is spear-heading the 3,000-acre Vantara (Star of the Forest) programme in Gujarat's Jamnagar, an umbrella initiative for the rescue, treatment, care and rehabilitation of injured, abused and threatened animals. He is also spearheading Reliance's ambitious renewable energy business in Jamnagar, and, in that capacity, is responsible for leading Reliance's journey to become a Net Carbon Zero company by 2035. Anant Ambani is engaged to Radhika Merchant, daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant. The couple got engaged at the Shrinathji Temple in Rajasthan's Nathdwara, which is about 350 km from Jaipur, in December 2022. Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant are set to get married in July this year. Mukesh and Nita Ambani hosted a grand three-day pre-wedding celebration in Jamnagar, an event that saw some of Indias biggest celebrities in attendance. Pop icon Rihanna performed live for the guests. Other global names that attended the event were Meta CEO Mark Zuckerbeg, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Donald Trumps daughter Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner.

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's pre-wedding celebration in Jamnagar was a grand affair with top Bollywood stars and global personalities in attendance.

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Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, turns 29 today. Several celebrities have headed to Gujarats Jamnagar to attend the birthday celebration. Days before his birthday, he and fiancee Radhika Merchant were spotted shopping at two malls in Dubai amid tight security, which included a convoy of 20 cars.

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's pre-wedding celebration in Jamnagar was a grand affair with top Bollywood stars and global personalities in attendance.
Nadine Ahn, former Chief Financial Officer at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), was fired last Friday due to misconduct charges. She allegedly broke the code of conduct by keeping an unreported personal relationship with another employee, which could result in preferential treatment, including promotions and salary increases. Nadine Ahn worked as a CFO for over two years at RBC.. (LinkedIn/@Nadine Ahn )

After the investigation, Ahn and the other employee were cleared of any wrongdoing concerning the bank's general performance, strategy, or financial statements. However, it stated that the bank saw her acts as a violation of its code of conduct even if there was no evidence of financial misconduct. (Also Read: This Canadian bank sacked top woman executive for undisclosed relationship at work: Found evidence)

Here are 7 points on Nadine Ahn:
An explosion Tuesday at a decades-old hydroelectric plant in northern Italy killed at least three workers and injured five others, a regional fire chief said. At least four other people were missing. Firefighters vehicles on the site of an explosion occurred at the hydroelectric plant at the Suviana Dam, Italy(AP)

The explosion at power company Enel's Bergi plant south of Bologna during maintenance work collapsed part of the nine-story underground structure, provoked a fire and caused flooding at depths of up to 60 meters (200 feet), regional fire chief Francesco Notaro told SKY TG24.

Search efforts were proceeding with care due to the risk of additional collapsing. Divers were aiding the search, which was expected to go through the night.

Video provided by firefighters showed smoke rising from underground at the lakeside power plant.

This is a historic power plant for us,'' Marco Masinara, the mayor of the nearby town of Camugnano, told SKY. It has been managed by Enel for 50 years, providing jobs for many families. Until today, nothing ever happened. Today, a drama occurred. Our world collapsed."

He said three of the hospitalized were in serious condition, while the other two suffered lesser injuries.

The artificial Suviana Lake was formed by the construction of a dam from 1928-32 and located in a regional park at an altitude of 500 meters (1,640 feet) some 70 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of Bologna.

Enel Green Power said in a statement that there was no damage to the dam. CEO Salvatore Bernabei traveled to the site to follow developments. The company expressed condolences to the victims and their families.

Premier Giorgia Meloni said she was following the terrible news and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families.
At least three drones struck Sudanese army targets Tuesday in the eastern state of Gedaref, which had previously been largely spared the country's devastating war, military and security sources said. HT Image

For almost a year, Sudan has been gripped by fighting between the regular army, which is backed by the government and state security apparatus, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces .

One drone "struck state security and intelligence headquarters, but did not cause significant damage" and another landed nearby, a security source told AFP from Gedaref, more than 400 kilometres east of the capital Khartoum.

A witness in Gedaref reported "loud anti-aircraft fire" from the army.

Another witness said there was increased military presence in the city as "shops shut down" for fear of escalation.

By Tuesday afternoon, state governor Mohammed Abdelrahman said "the situation is now safe and stable."

He added in a statement that "security services will mobilise" across the state.

In Al-Faw, 150 kilometres to the west, a military source said "a drone had bombed" an army division, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Al-Faw is only 25 kilometres east of the front line between the army and the paramilitaries.

Eastern Sudan had until now been considered a safe haven for millions of civilians displaced from Khartoum and other battlegrounds.

According to the latest figures from the United Nations, nearly half a million people are sheltering in Gedaref state alone.

North of Gedaref on the Red Sea, the city of Port Sudan has become a makeshift headquarters for government ministries loyal to the army command. The port city has also become the base for United Nations relief efforts.

Nearly all aid coming into Sudan where famine has all but taken hold and disease outbreaks are on the increase flows through the east.

In Al-Jazira state, Sudan's pre-war breadbasket where witnesses have reported increased clashes, the army has "made progress" towards state capital Wad Madani, a military source said early Tuesday.

The RSF has had nearly uncontested control of the state since December, when the army withdrew in the face of advancing paramilitaries.

In the vast western region of Darfur, also nearly entirely controlled by the RSF, witnesses reported army air strikes on three state capitals Nyala, Al-Daein and El Fasher.

Both sides have been accused of war crimes, including the indiscriminate shelling of residential areas.

A UN expert report released last year determined that the army in Darfur was "not only unable to protect civilians but also used aerial bombing and heavy shelling in urban areas," often resulting "in the heaviest losses of civilian life".

Since last April, the fighting has killed many thousands including up to 15,000 in one Darfur town and displaced 8.6 million people.

bur/bam/bha/kir/ami

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Dutch law officials announced Tuesday they are prosecuting the former chief executive of the country's second-larget supermarket chain Jumbo on corruption and forgery charges. HT Image

Frits van Eerd was questioned in 2022 following police raids on premises around the Netherlands including his own home leading to the arrest of nine people in a money laundering probe.

Van Eerd resigned last year after temporarily stepping down in the wake of the September 2022 raids.

A 57-year-old man "is being prosecuted for corruption and forgery," the Public Prosecution Service said.

"The investigation is still ongoing. He may also be prosecuted for money laundering," the OM added in a statement, without referring to Van Eerd by name.

Northern-Netherlands public prosecution spokeswoman Melanie Kompier however confirmed to AFP that Van Eerd was the suspect referred to in the press release.

Prosecutors also laid tax fraud, corruption and forgery charges against another main suspect in the case, identified by Dutch media only as "Theo E".

Dutch public broadcaster NOS said Theo E., 59, was a former motocross rider and car dealer living near the northern Dutch city of Assen.

Van Eerd was intensely involved in motor sport during his time as Jumbo chief executive, the NOS added.

"For example, Jumbo was the first sponsor of Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, when Verstappen had just switched from karting to motor racing," the NOS said.

Van Eerd's lawyers told Dutch daily Het Financieele Dagblad their client denied the allegations, calling prosecutors' suspicion of corruption "far-fetched".

Van Eerd and Theo E. were set to appear in a special court dealing with fraud in mid-September.

Jumbo in reaction said it has "taken notice" that Van Eerd will be summoned on the charges.

"This case concerns Frits van Eerd personally. Frits has not been actively involved in the management of Jumbo since September 2022," the food giant said in a statement.

"This decision by the Public Prosecution Service therefore has no consequences for the business operations of our company," Jumbo said.

jhe/cw

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Israeli defence ministry is purchasing 40,000 tents ahead of an evacuation of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which Israel has said it plans to assault to destroy remaining battalions of the Hamas militant group, Israeli media reported on Tuesday. A man walks past tents and shacks erected by destroyed buildings in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip(Reuters)

There was no immediate confirmation from the defence ministry of the purchase, which the Jerusalem Post newspaper, one of a number that reported the news, said was leaked without a formal announcement.

News of the planned purchase of the tents, each of which can shelter 12 people, was one of the first signs of concrete preparations for an evacuation of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians have been sheltering.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly flagged plans to invade Rafah, the last remaining city in Gaza that has not faced a major ground assault.

The military says four Hamas battalions remain in Rafah as well as an unknown number of senior commanders of the Islamist movement. In the past, Israel has said Hamas battalions are of about 1,000 fighters each.

Prior to any assault, the military has said it will evacuate the civilian population to so-called "humanitarian islands" in central Gaza, where food, water and medical facilities will be available.

The plans to assault Rafah have drawn widespread condemnation and even Israel's closest ally the United States has warned Netanyahu that the country would face global isolation if it goes ahead.

Israel's campaign in Gaza, launched after a devastating Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed more than 1,200 people, with more than 250 taken hostage last October, has left the enclave in ruins and displaced most of the population.

The ground and air assault has killed more than 33,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities, most of them civilians, and drawn growing calls worldwide for a ceasefire.

Israel says it has killed some 10,000 Hamas fighters and largely destroyed most of the movement's organised fighting formations but needs to take Rafah to reach its goal of dismantling the group's military and governing structures and bring the hostages back.
Hamas said on Tuesday that an Israeli proposal on a ceasefire in their war in Gaza did not meet the demands of Palestinian militant factions, but it would study the offer further and deliver its response to mediators. A woman and boy walk past the rubble of a collapsed building along a street in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip (AFP)

The proposal was handed to the Palestinian Islamist movement by Egyptian and Qatari mediators at talks in Cairo that aim to find a way out of the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, now in its seventh month.

Residents said Israeli forces kept up airstrikes on Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza and Rafah on the enclave's southern edge on Tuesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly flagged plans for a ground assault on Rafah, where more than one million displaced civilians are holed up, despite international pleas for restraint.

The talks in Cairo, also attended by the director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency William Burns, have so far failed to reach a breakthrough towards pausing the war.

"The movement (Hamas) is interested in reaching an agreement that puts an end to the aggression on our people. Despite that, the Israeli position remains intransigent and it didn't meet any of the demands of our people and our resistance," Hamas said in a statement following the latest ceasefire proposal.

It said it would review the proposal further and go back to the mediators with its response.

Hamas wants any agreement to secure an end to the Israeli military offensive, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and to allow displaced people to return to their homes across the small, densely populated enclave.

Israel wants to secure the release of hostages seized by Hamas in the Oct. 7 cross-border rampage that triggered the conflict. It says it will not end the war until it annihilates Hamas, which has run Gaza since 2007.

The United States is pushing hard for a ceasefire, after telling its ally Israel to do more to protect civilians in Gaza and let in more aid to prevent a famine.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said 400 aid trucks had been cleared to enter Gaza the previous day, describing it as the most since the war started six months ago. He said a good ceasefire offer had been presented to Hamas, which should accept it.

RAFAH INVASION

Israel pulled back most of its ground forces from southern Gaza this week after months of fighting, but still says it plans to launch an assault on Rafah, on Gaza's southern border with Egypt, where more than half of Gazans are now sheltering.

In one of the first signs of concrete preparations for a ground assault, Israeli media reported on Tuesday that the Israeli defence ministry was purchasing 40,000 tents ahead of an evacuation of the city.

Netanyahu said Israel's aims were to release the hostages and to secure total victory over Hamas. Of the 253 people Hamas seized on Oct. 7, 133 hostages remain captive. Negotiators have spoken of around 40 going free in the first stage of a deal.

Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people in southern Israel in the lightning Oct. 7 attack, according to Israeli tallies. At least 33,360 Palestinians have been confirmed killed in six months of war, Gaza's health ministry said in an update on Tuesday, with thousands more dead feared unrecovered in the rubble. Most of the enclave's 2.3 million people are homeless and many at risk of famine.

Palestinian emergency teams supported by international organisations scoured the rubble of Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and the shattered city of Khan Younis in the south following the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

So far the teams have recovered 409 bodies of Palestinians killed in the hospital and its surrounding neighbourhood and in Khan Younis, according to Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Hamas-run Gaza Civil Emergency Service. Israel said Al Shifa was used as a militant base, which Hamas denies.

An Israeli airstrike on a municipality building in the Al-Maghazi camp in central Gaza killed the head of its council, Hatem Al-Ghamri, and four other civilians, the Hamas-run government media office and medics said.

The Israeli military said in a statement it had eliminated Ghamri, who it described as a military operative in Hamas' Maghazi Battalion involved in rocket launches against Israel.

An Israeli airstrike on a house in Deir Al-Balah killed one Palestinian and wounded 20 others, Hamas media said.

In Rafah, a missile fired from a drone killed one man and wounded several others, they said.
BEIRUT  Lebanons caretaker interior minister said Tuesday that this week's slaying of a local politician by what authorities say was a gang of Syrian nationals signals the need to restrict the number of refugees entering the country from neighboring Syria. HT Image

Bassam Mawlawi also urged Lebanese to show restraint amid flaring tensions over the slaying of Pascale Suleiman of the Christian nationalist Lebanese Forces party, which has prompted anti-Syrian violence and worsened political tensions among deeply divided Lebanese. Lebanese military officials have said the slaying in northern Lebanon was part of a robbery, but Suleimans party suspects political motives.

The tiny Mediterranean country of over 6 million people, including refugees, hosts what the U.N. refugee agency says are nearly 785,000 U.N.-registered Syrian refugees, of which 90% rely on aid to survive. Lebanese officials estimate the actual number could be as high as 1.5 or 2 million.

We are seeing more crimes committed by Syrians, Mawlawi said at a news conference following a meeting with security and military officials, adding that some 35% of detainees in Lebanons prisons are Syrian nationals.

The Syrian presence in Lebanon must be limited, and we emphasized to the security forces of the need to strictly enforce Lebanese laws on displaced Syrians.

Videos have circulated of angry Lebanese beating Syrians on the streets and destroying cars with Syrian license plates in different parts of the country following Suleiman's disappearance Sunday and the discovery of his body on Monday. The death has also exacerbated political and sectarian strife among Lebanons divided political groups.

I call on the Lebanese to be rational, and not to be drawn into reactions and incidents that harm security, Mawlawi said, echoing a statement from Prime Minister Najib Mikatis office urging restraint.

The Lebanese Forces is the most outspoken opponent of the Islamic militant group Hezbollah, and many partisans and allies were quick to accuse the Iran-backed group of being involved in the attack on Suleiman. Hezbollahs opponents are critical of the groups ongoing clashes with the Israeli military after the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that have sparked fears of war spilling over into Lebanon.

Lebanon's military said late Monday that Suleiman was killed when a gang of Syrian nationals tried to steal his car. But the Lebanese Forces have cast doubt on those findings, saying they believe it was a political assassination.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah slammed the Lebanese Forces party and its allies for what he said were baseless accusations and dangerous sectarian rhetoric.

Three judicial officials told The Associated Press that three apprehended Syrian nationals, one woman and two men, have told authorities that they worked for a theft gang whose leader was in Syria.

Suleiman resisted the theft of his car and the assailants hit him several times with the back of a pistol before throwing him into the trunk of the car where he is believed to have suffocated, the officials said. The body was taken into Syria near northeastern Lebanon, and returned to Lebanon on Tuesday.

The officials all spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Liberia's Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly endorsed the establishment of a long-awaited war crimes court, marking a significant step towards accountability more than two decades after the end of a devastating civil conflict. HT Image

The West African nation's two civil wars, notorious for their brutality and use of child soldiers, left an estimated 250,000 people dead between 1989 and 2003.

Despite international and domestic demand, Liberia has yet to try anyone for crimes committed during the bloody conflicts, which resulted in massacres, mutilation, rape and cannibalism.

The Senate on Tuesday backed a resolution supporting the establishment of a war and economic crimes court, after the lower house of parliament voted in favour of its creation last month.

Twenty-eight senators voted for, one abstained and one vote was not cast due to a vacant seat.

The resolution will now return to the lower house to agree changes before it is sent to President Joseph Boakai for approval. A bill would then be drafted and debated by both houses.

During his swearing-in speech in January, Boakai said his government would explore the possibility of opening a "war and economic crimes court" for "those who bear the greatest responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity".

The United States has hailed steps towards creating the court.

"Liberians have waited far too long to see justice for the horrific abuses they suffered in the country's two civil wars," US Ambassador at large for Global Criminal Justice Beth Van Schaack said in an open letter to Liberians in March.

A Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2009 recommended the establishment of a war crimes tribunal, but this has largely gone unheeded, particularly in the name of peacekeeping as a number of accused warlords remained influential in their communities.

One of the most prominent of these is current senator Prince Johnson, who was shown in a video sipping beer while his men tortured then-president Samuel Doe to death in 1990.

Johnson had until recently been a vocal opponent of establishing the war crimes court, but on Tuesday signed in favour of the resolution.

While no trials have taken place within Liberia, a number of convictions have been secured abroad.

A French court at the end of March handed former rebel commander Kunti Kamara a 30-year prison sentence for violence against civilians and complicity in crimes against humanity during the first civil war.

str-acc/kjm

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China launches campaign to boost grain output

Xinhua) 08:11, April 09, 2024

A farmer loads newly harvested paddy rice seeds in Cengong County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Aug. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China has initiated a new round of action to significantly increase its grain output in the coming years, in the latest effort to ensure food security.

According to an action plan published by the State Council, the country aims to boost the grain production capacity by over 50 million tonnes by 2030. At that time, the grain growing area will total about 1.75 billion mu, or 117 million hectares, and the grain yield per mu will reach 420 kilograms.

China has seen a grain harvest of over 650 million tonnes for nine consecutive years, with the per capita share of grain at 493 kilograms.

However, the grain supply and demand is still characterized by a "tight balance" and the gap may expand in the future, hence the need to further increase output to ensure food security, said an official of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic planner.

Corn and soybeans will be the major contributors of the grain output increase, the plan said. In terms of rice and wheat, the emphasis is on improving quality and optimizing structure. Potatoes and other types of grain and beans will be promoted based on local conditions.

Major projects from water conservation to high-standard farmland construction and revitalization of the seed industry will be implemented in 720 crucial grain producing counties, under the guidance of the NDRC and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Myanmar's junta on Tuesday slammed the UN's "one-sided allegations" about its human rights record and said it had received no official communication regarding the recent appointment of a new special envoy to the conflict-torn country. Myanmar's junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing(REUTERS)

The Southeast Asian nation has been in turmoil since the military seized power in February 2021, ending a brief democratic experiment and sparking clashes with ethnic rebel groups and anti-coup fighters.

The junta has reacted with fury to attempts by the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc to establish dialogue between it and its opponents, whom it has vowed to "annihilate".

Last week the United Nations rights council adopted a resolution slamming "horrific and systematic human rights violations" in Myanmar.

It also criticised the junta's "stranglehold" on humanitarian assistance, which it said was exacerbating a crisis that has displaced more than 2.5 million people.

That resolution "included unfounded and one-sided allegations," the junta's foreign affairs ministry said in a statement published in the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

"Therefore, Myanmar categorically rejects the resolution."

The statement also said the United Nations had made "no official communication to Myanmar" regarding last week's appointment of a new UN special envoy to the country, former Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that, as the appointment was made through a General Assembly resolution, it "doesn't follow the same consultative processes as Security Council resolutions."

"I think the official announcement that we put out on Friday is an official announcement. So we informed everybody that the appointment had been made," spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

The position of UN special envoy to Myanmar has been vacant since the departure of Noeleen Heyzer in June 2023. The Singaporean sociologist had been tasked with urging the military to engage in political dialogue with opposing groups and end a bloody crackdown it launched after toppling the government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Heyzer visited Myanmar in 2022 and met junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and other top military officials, in a move criticised by rights groups as lending legitimacy to the generals.

But she was denied a meeting with detained democracy figurehead Suu Kyi and later irked junta officials, who accused her of issuing a "one-sided statement" of what had been discussed.

She later vowed not to visit the country again unless she was allowed to meet Suu Kyi, who is currently serving a 27-year jail sentence handed down by a closed-door junta court.

Myanmar's UN envoy Kyaw Moe Tun was appointed by Suu Kyi's government and has refused to leave his post despite the junta's insistence that he no longer represents the country.
A Binance Holdings Ltd. executive detained for more than 40 days in Nigeria after being invited by the government and then charged with tax evasion and fraud has been sent to prison ahead of trial in May. HT Image

A court ordered Tigran Gambaryan, head of financial compliance at Binance, to be remanded at the Kuje correctional center in the capital Abuja on Monday, despite his counsel pleading that he remain in the custody of the anti-graft commission.

Gambaryan was charged alongside Binance, the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange, and in his first appearance in court on April 4, argued that he could not be served the companys charges as he was not authorized by his employer to receive it.

On Monday, Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that Gambaryan had earlier admitted to visiting Nigeria as a representative of Binance which clearly shows his involvement with the company within Nigeria, and so could be served in lieu of his employer.

He was charged with tax evasion, currency speculation and money laundering of $34 million by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He pleaded not guilty.

We are deeply disappointed that Tigran Gambaryan, who has no decision-making power in the company, continues to be detained, a Binance spokesperson said in an emailed statement, calling for his release. These charges against him are merit-less. Its outrageous that he would be remanded in a prison such as Kuje Correctional Facility.

Justice Nwite fixed April 18 for hearing on Gambaryans bail application and May 5 for trial.

Another Binance executive  Nadeem Anjarwalla  who was detained at the same time as Gambaryan, and has UK and Kenyan citizenship, fled the West African country last month. The two men had traveled to Nigeria late February at the invitation of the authorities to meet officials after the government blocked access to cryptocurrency channels amid a clampdown on currency speculation.

Many residents of Africas most-populous nation have flocked to cryptoassets amid a plunge in the value of the naira. That prompted a state crackdown on platforms offering digital tokens.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Elon Musk on Tuesday said that employees of X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil needed to be moved to a safe place otherwise we will do a full data dump, as the country's Supreme Court justice ordered to investigate fake news allegations. X (formerly Twitter) CEO Elon Musk (AFP)

We need to get our employees in Brazil to a safe place or otherwise not in a position of responsibility, then we will do a full data dump, Musk said in an X post.

They have been told they will be arrested, X owner claimed.

ALSO READ- Elon Musks major update on when Tesla electric vehicles are coming to India

Elon Musk vs. Brazilian Supreme Court justice: what's the issue?

A Brazilian Supreme Court justice has implicated Elon Musk in an ongoing investigation into the spread of fake news and initiated a separate probe into the US entrepreneur for alleged obstruction.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes said that Musk began a public "disinformation campaign" on Saturday regarding the court's actions. This continued the next day, notably with Musk's comments that his social media company X would no longer comply with the court's orders to block specific accounts.

ALSO READ- Elon Musk on how he motivates smart people around him: I tell them, goal is

Suppressing free speech, Musk alleges

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who assumed control of Twitter in late 2022, accused Justice de Moraes of stifling free speech and violating Brazils constitution.

He said on X that users could potentially bypass any shutdown of the platform by using VPNs, or virtual private networks.

On Tuesday, Musk said, "He demanded that X suspend accounts of people who raised corruption concerns while insisting that X pretend the suspension was for violating our terms of service! We obey the laws of countries even if we disagree with them, but this requires violating the laws of Brazil."

What charges Elon Musk faces?

Musk is facing an investigation for his suspected intentional criminal use of X as part of a broader inquiry into a group known as digital militias, who purportedly disseminate defamatory fake news and threats against Supreme Court justices. The probe will delve into whether Musk committed obstruction, criminal organisation, and incitement.

ALSO READ- Surprise! Elon Musk just revealed he is not a micromanager

The flagrant conduct of obstruction of Brazilian justice, incitement of crime, the public threat of disobedience of court orders and future lack of cooperation from the platform are facts that disrespect the sovereignty of Brazil, de Moraes wrote Sunday.

(Inputs from AP)
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi de-facto ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman held an official meeting recently at Al-Safa Palace in Mecca and underlined the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve their outstanding issues, with a particular emphasis on the Kashmir matter, news agency PTI reported. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his palace on the eve of 29th Ramadan in the holy city of Mecca on April 7. (REUTERS)

In a joint statement, which was issued after the meeting between Shehbaz Sharif and Prince Mohammed bin Salman on April 7, both also stressed fortifying the fraternal relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and exploring avenues for enhanced collaboration across various sectors.

The statement added that both leaders also discussed regional issues, including Kashmir.

The two sides stressed the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to ensure peace and stability in the region, PTI reported citing the statement.

New Delhi has maintained that Kashmir constitutes a bilateral matter solely between India and Pakistan, there is no question of any mediation or intervention by any third party.

Also Read | EAM S Jaishankar speaks to Saudi counterpart on Israel crisis

The relations between India and Pakistan further deteriorated after the Centre abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the state into two Union territories on August 5, 2019. The move evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy. India has always maintained that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and shall forever remain an integral part of the country.

India, however, always said it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.

Also Read | India will kill terrorists inside and outside the country, asserts Rajnath Singh

On Pakistan's economy

The joint statement added that emphasis was placed on Saudi Arabia's supportive role in Pakistan's economy and the mutual desire to strengthen trade and investment ties.

Both parties affirmed their commitment to expediting the first wave of investment package worth $ 5 billion which was discussed previously, the statement said.

Shehbaz Sharif invited Bin Salman to undertake an official visit to Pakistan, which was accepted by the Crown Prince.
Peter Higgs, the British physicist who won a Nobel Prize in 2013 for his discovery decades earlier of a theoretical mechanism to explain the origin of mass in the universe, has died. He was 94. Nobel prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs (AP/File)

He died on April 8 at his home, according to the University of Edinburgh, where he was professor emeritus. Higgs was a remarkable individual  a truly gifted scientist whose vision and imagination have enriched our knowledge of the world that surrounds us, said Peter Mathieson, the universitys principal and vice chancellor.

Higgs shared his Nobel prize with Belgian physicist Francois Englert for proposing the existence of what became known as the Higgs boson particle and the invisible field in space that gives mass to matter. The discovery of the elemental particle was announced in 2012 by European nuclear research body CERN after the boson was detected in the Large Hadron Collider, an underground laboratory near Geneva that smashes protons together at almost the speed of light and records data on their interaction.

The breakthrough corroborated the ideas of Higgs published almost half a century earlier, when they were dismissed in the journal Physics Letters as having no obvious relevance to physics.

His work, along with similar predictions made independently by Englert and his colleague Robert Brout, led to one of the most significant scientific findings of the past century. The God particle, a term used in US physicist Leon Ledermans book of the same name to describe the boson fields creative qualities, may offer insights into dark matter and dark energy, which make up about 96% of the universe and remain a mystery to cosmologists.

The Higgs boson, which decays almost instantly, completed the Standard Model of particle physics that explains how matter holds together. Without mass, particles would fly off into space, and nothing could take shape.

This brilliant achievement is richly deserved recognition of Peter Higgs lifetime of dedicated research and his passion for science, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said after the announcement of Higgss Nobel Prize.

Confirmation of the bosons existence was the work of thousands of scientists on the competing Atlas and CMS experiment teams at CERN. It involved making particles collide in a 27-kilometer (17-mile) circular supermagnetized tunnel to recreate the conditions after the Big Bang about 13.7 billion years ago. The project cost at least $10 billion.

It is probably the largest and the most complex machine ever constructed by humans, according to the Nobel Foundation.

Modest Man

Higgs shed a tear when CERNs scientists erupted in applause at a press conference revealing their discovery on July 4, 2012. The father of the Higgs boson was as modest in the limelight as his simple lifestyle suggested: He lived in a small flat in Edinburgh, had no television and used public transport, according to the UKs Telegraph newspaper.

I regarded it as cheers for the home team, and the home team were the two experiments, Atlas and CMS, he said in an interview with the BBC. Maybe they were cheering me, too, but that was a minor issue.

Higgs said the credit for predicting the mass-forming mechanism belonged to six physicists who contributed three papers on the subject in 1964: Englert and Brout, who wrote the first article, Higgs, and then Gerald Guralnik, Carl Hagen and Tom Kibble.

The Nobel Foundation, which allows three recipients of a prize and none posthumously, chose Higgs and Englert as winners.

Peter Ware Higgs was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in northeast England on May 29, 1929, to an English father and a Scottish mother. His father was a sound engineer for the BBC who lived apart from the family for much of Higgss childhood.

Higgs, who suffered from asthma and was partly schooled at home by his mother, lived in Birmingham and Bristol, where he attended Cotham Grammar School until 1946 and developed an interest in the work of physicist Paul Dirac. He graduated with first-class honors in physics from Kings College, University of London, in 1950, and completed a masters and a doctorate on molecular vibrations.

Higgs held research fellowships in Edinburgh and London before becoming a lecturer in mathematical physics at the University of Edinburgh in 1960. He wrote his ground-breaking paper after developing the theory while walking in the hills around Edinburgh. Higgs was joined by the five other physicists who held similar views about the application of quantum field theory, considered outdated in physics at the time, in their quest to solve the problem of particle mass.

In 1980, Higgs became a professor of theoretical physics at the university, a post he held for 16 years.

Higgs, Brout and Englert in 2004 won the Wolf Prize, administered by the Wolf Foundation in Israel, and the American Physical Societys JJ Sakurai Prize for Theoretic Particle Physics in 2010, along with the five other scientists who contributed to work on the Higgs mechanism.

Its very nice to be right sometimes, Higgs said after winning the Nobel Prize.

The Higgs boson was the subject of Particle Fever, a documentary that followed CERN scientists on the path to their groundbreaking discovery.

Higgs married an American linguist, Jody Williamson, whom he met at a university staff meeting in Edinburgh. The couple had two sons, Christopher and Jonathan, before their divorce in the early 1970s.
Toronto: A prominent Indo-Canadian builder in Edmonton, capital of the Canadian province of Alberta, is believed to have been among the two persons killed during a shooting episode on Monday. Police officers at the scene of a crime in the Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven, Ontario, Canada (Photo for representative purpose only). (REUTERS)

While the victim has not yet been formally identified by law enforcement, local media said he was Buta Singh Gill, a prominent builder in the city and head of the construction company Gill Built Homes.

The incident occurred on Monday afternoon and the brazen daylight shooting shocked the local community.

In a post on X, the Edmonton Police Service said, Police are asking citizens to avoid the area of Cavanagh Blvd SW and 30 Avenue SW while police investigate a shooting that occurred in the residential area around noon.

The incident took place at a construction site where multiple residential units were being built.

There are no immediate concerns for public safety at this time and responding officers have secured the scene. EPS homicide investigators will be leading this investigation. No further details are available, the statement added.

Gill was also believed to be associated with a local gurdwara and active within the local Indo-Canadian community.

The outlet CTV News Edmonton, which identified Gill as the victim, cited an eyewitness as stating that a person, dressed in a construction vest, approached the vehicle where Gill was sitting and shot him multiple times. There were unconfirmed reports that the shooter then committed suicide and that a business dispute may have resulted in the tragedy.

However, Edmonton has also recently witnessed a series of gang-related shooting and arson incidents connected to extortion attempts. In February, Staff Sergeant Dave Paton, of the Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement Section, said that EPS has a dedicated team working on Project Gaslight, the extortion series now totaling 34 events in the capital of the province of Alberta.
Toronto: A panel of senior Canadian officials monitoring the 2021 elections in the country were not informed of any attempt by India at influencing those national polls. A Canadian flag flies in front of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. (REUTERS)

That emerged as officials who were part of the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol testified before the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, which is headed by Justice Marie-Josee Hogue, on Monday.

The absence of such a foreign interference (FI) alert was cited by the Canadian news outlet Globe and Mails senior parliamentary reporter Steven Chase, as he posted on X, Panel of bureaucrats that monitored 2021 election tells foreign interference inquiry they were not informed of any potential FI activity from India during the 2021 campaign.

However, a briefing note submitted to the Public Inquiry on Monday pointed to Chinese interference during that election cycle. That was prepared by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and provided to the Prime Ministers Office in February 2023. That document, titled Briefing to the Prime Ministers Office on Foreign Interference Threats to Canadas Democratic Institutions, said, We know that the PRC clandestinely and deceptively interfered both in the 2019 and 2021 general elections. PRC refers to the Peoples Republic of China.

The target was the principal opposition Conservative Party and its then leader Erin OToole, who had adopted a platform that was sharply critical of Beijing. In 2021, the PRC FI were almost certainly motivated by a perception that the Conservative Party of Canada was promoted on a platform that was perceived to be anti-PRC, the CSIS note stated.

These details came up as the public hearings for the Inquiry enter the final stretch, concluding on Wednesday, with senior officials including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expected to appear before it.

India has denied it is involved in FI activity in Canada. Last week, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, We strongly reject all such baseless allegations of Indian interference in Canadian elections. It is not the Government of Indias policy to interfere in the democratic processes of other countries. In fact, quite the opposite, it is Canada which has been interfering in our internal affairs.

However, India has been named during the hearings and cited by CSIS in connection with conducting FI activity in Canada, along with Russia, Iran and Pakistan, other than China, which is considered the main player in this regard by Canadian agencies.
As the Israel-Hamas war completed its six months, Moran, a survivor of the October 7 attack, conveyed appreciation towards India and its people for their steadfast support during a challenging period. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) walks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi (L)(AFP Photo)

Moran's words reflect the profound bond shared between the two nations in times of adversity.

"I see the Indian support that started much before, years before October 7 and after October 7," Moran expressed, highlighting the enduring nature of India's solidarity, adding, "Thanks to Prime Minister Modi, all over the media. And we know that India is a true friend of Israel."

Moran's gratitude extended beyond governmental assistance, acknowledging the compassion and friendship displayed by the Indian populace. "I think it's not just the Indian government. Thanks to the Indian people, who have always been and continue to be a good friend of ours," Moran added, emphasising the collective support from India.

Acknowledging India's role in amplifying Israel's voice globally, Moran added, "Our voice cannot be everywhere. Everywhere. And we know that the Indian people are taking care of everything we need."

"Thank you very much to the government, but for the people as well," Moran expressed, encapsulating the depth of gratitude towards India's unwavering support.

Israel's Ambassador to India Naor Gilon too has said India has been very strong against terrorism from the first moment. He said that Israel is appreciative of the Indian government's support since Hamas launched the attack on October 7.

In an interview with ANI on January 30, Gilon said that Israel has received "incredible support" from Indian people amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Speaking about India's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, Gilon said, "India was very strong against terrorism from the first moment. Prime Minister Modi, on the afternoon of October 7, already came out with a very strong condemnation. We are much appreciative of the Indian government for its support from that time on."

The war in Gaza continues after Israel launched a counter-offensive in response to the Hamas attack on October 7.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first global leaders to condemn the horrific terror attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7.
Turkeys decision to restrict exports to Israel for opposing its proposal to drop aid over the Gaza Strip drew a swift retaliatory response, further straining already tense relations between the one-time military allies. HT Image

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, facing growing criticism at home for maintaining trade ties with Israel amid its ongoing war on Hamas, on Tuesday imposed restrictions on the export of dozens of items to the Jewish state. Israels foreign minister answered with a threat to block the import of other Turkish products.

Before the fighting in Gaza erupted in October, Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were exploring ways to increase cooperation in energy and trade, and advance a nascent thaw in relations after more than a decade of tensions. Both were seeking a broader rapprochement with other Middle Eastern states as Russias invasion of Ukraine triggered a geopolitical shift in the region by disrupting supply chains and commodity markets.

Now the improved diplomacy has been derailed along with bilateral trade, which was largely spared even after ties hit a low after a 2010 Israeli raid on a Turkish flotilla headed to Gaza.

Turkeys exports to Israel slumped an annual 28% to $1.9 billion during the first five months of the war, data from the Turkish Statistics Office show. Manufactured goods, which include construction materials, are the biggest component  representing a third of the $714 million shipped in the first two months of the year.

Israels total gross import of goods in 2023 was $91 billion, of which $4.6 billion came from Turkey  making it the countrys fifth-largest supplier.

Turkish Demonstrations

Erdogans move came after thousands of Islamist protesters denounced him over the weekend for maintaining trade with Israel. The demonstrations took place a week after the president suffered an historic defeat in local elections marked by similar criticism from grassroots conservative voters, who supported a rival Islamist party that took a harder line against Israel.

Read More: Islamist Gains Are Fresh Headache for Erdogan After Vote Defeat

Turkeys Trade Ministry announced a ban on the shipment of 54 items, including products that could be used for military purposes and construction materials like cement, steel, iron and aluminum. Israels Foreign Minister Israel Katz fired back with a pledge to draft an extensive list of additional Turkish goods that Israel will stop importing and even appealed to his nations allies, including the US, to stop investing in Turkey. The Turkish lira weakened.

Turkeys decision will remain in effect until Israel declares an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and allows a sufficient and uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the Trade Ministry said, accusing Israel of condemning Palestinians to hunger.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said late Monday that Israel rejected a request by the Turkish Air Force to parachute aid packages into Gaza, and vowed to take a series of measures in response.

Israel accused Turkey of supporting Hamas as the two nations remain divided over the status of Palestinian territories. Turkey is a NATO member, but unlike the US and the European Union doesnt consider Hamas a terrorist organization. Erdogan has called the groups militants freedom fighters, though hes stopped short of cutting ties with Israel altogether.

Erdogan is once again sacrificing the economic interests of the people of Turkey for his support of Hamas, Katz said.

Economic Independence

The Manufacturers Association of Israel said Turkeys actions will reinforce its efforts to reduce dependence on imports.

A ban on the import of Turkish cement in particular could be a major concern, as Israel has only a single operating cement factory of its own. That could increase pressure on Israels construction sector, of which large parts are at a standstill due to its heavy reliance on Palestinian workers.

Turkey and Israel have previously held joint military exercises, but relations frayed when Israel invaded Gaza in December 2008. Erdogan, whose party has Islamist roots, accused the Jewish state of using excessive force and his administration canceled military ties and backed the Palestinian bid for statehood.

With assistance from Alisa Odenheimer, Beril Akman, Patrick Sykes, Baris Balci and Galit Altstein.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The British government has concluded it can keep sending weapons to Israel, Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Tuesday, rejecting pressure to suspend exports over charges of humanitarian violations in Gaza. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron (REUTERS)

"On Israel and international humanitarian law, and as required by the UK's robust arms export control regime, I have now reviewed the most recent advice about the situation in Gaza and Israel's conduct of their military campaign," Cameron said on a visit to Washington.

"The latest assessment leaves our position on export licenses unchanged," he said.

"Let me be clear, though, we continue to have grave concerns around the humanitarian access issue in Gaza," he told a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The United States, by far the largest provider of weapons to Israel, has also rejected calls to suspend shipments despite rising frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct of the war.

Three Britons and one US-Canadian dual citizen were among seven aid workers for World Central Kitchen who were killed last week in an Israeli strike, which the military called an accident.

In a recent letter, more than 600 British lawyers, including former Supreme Court judges, said that Britain risked breaching international law by exporting weapons to Israel.

Britain's strategic licensing criteria states that weapons should not be exported when there is a "clear risk" they could be used in international humanitarian law violations.

London has approved over 487 million pounds ($614 million) of weapon sales to Israel since 2015 in so-called single-issue licences, while companies export more under open licences, according to arms control groups.

Another key weapons exporter to Israel, Germany, is facing a case in the International Court of Justice in which Nicaragua says that Berlin is in breach of the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention set up after the Holocaust.

Germany said that Nicaragua has "grossly distorted" its record and that support of Israel lay at the core of Berlin's foreign policy.
The United States does not have evidence that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza as it carries out its war against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a Senate hearing on Tuesday. Palestinians who had taken refuge in Rafah in the Gaza Strip leave the city to return to Khan Yunis (AFP)

"We don't have evidence of that," Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent military assault on Hamas-governed Gaza has displaced nearly all its 2.3 million population and led to genocide allegations that Israel denies. The United States is Israel's biggest military supporter but has pressed it to do more to help civilians in Gaza.
The Indian embassy in New York has confirmed the tragic news that Mohammed Abdul Arfath, a 25-year-old student from Hyderabad who had enrolled for a Masters program at Cleveland State University in 2023, is found dead in Ohio. Indian embassy confirms death of Mohammed Abdul Arfath, student missing in Ohio(Indian Tech Guide)

Abdul had been missing for almost three weeks.

The Indian embassy had previously communicated that they were coordinating the search efforts with Abduls family and local authorities. Today, they announced his passing.

ALSO READ| Who was Uma Satya Sai Gadde, Indian-origin student found dead in Ohio, US?

The embassy expressed their sorrow with the following statement: Anguished to learn that Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio. Our deepest condolences to Mr Mohammed Arfaths family.

@IndiainNewYork is in touch with local agencies to ensure thorough investigation into Mr Mohammed Abdul Arfath's death. We are extending all possible assistance to the bereaved family to transport his mortal remains to India, the statement further reads.

11th such incident this year

This is the eleventh Indian to die in the US this year. The string of Indian-origin students dying in the US continues.

Last week Uma Satya Sai Gadde, who was also in college in Cleveland, was found dead, his investigation is underway.

The community is deeply concerned about the safety and security of Indian students abroad, especially in light of the eleventh such incidents reported this year. The growing number of fatalities has raised alarms about their well-being.

ALSO READ| List of Indian students found dead in US under mysterious circumstances recently

In earlier events, a 34-year-old Indian classical dancer was tragically killed in St. Louis, Missouri, and a 23-year-old student of Indian descent was found dead in Indiana. Additionally, a 41-year-old professional from the Indian community suffered critical injuries after an attack in Washington.

These occurrences have intensified fears within the Indian diaspora regarding the safety of their kin studying in foreign lands.
The iconic Heeler family home from ABC's beloved animated show Bluey is now up for sale. The latest episode of the hit children's show revealed that the Heelers will soon vacate their heritage home. The news has left fans confused about the future of the show. Iconic Heelers' family home from ABC's animated show, Bluey is now up for sale

Bluey's iconic Heelers' home listed for sale

The episode titled Ghost Basket, which aired Sunday on Disney+ started out as a seemingly wholesome episode but soon turned out to be devastating for Bluey fans when the camera zoomed out to reveal a For Sale sign.

Additionally, the animated house was also listed on an Australian real estate website, Domain, which describes it as a quaint, animated family home nestled in an undisclosed Brisbane location, that could be in Red Hill or The Gap (we'll never tell), with mid-century design aesthetics offset by whimsical touches. The quintessential Queenslander, radiating heritage charm, complete with upwards of 100 hidden small long dogs to be found.

The description, according to the website, further reveals that the Bluey house comprises three bedrooms and 4-ish bathrooms and boasts of work-from-home spaces, lovely period floorboards and mysterious hallways that dont logically seem to join spaces together but always feel cohesive and purposeful."

Is there a Season 4 of Bluey?

Despite the news sending shockwaves across social media, creators confirmed that Bluey will return for a fourth season. However, viewers would have to wait for some time as the show is set to return after an extended break. The Heelers' house listing comes as a premise of the next episode set to release on April 14, in which the family will go for househunting.

Teasing the upcoming episode, The Sign, show's creators Ludo Studio said in a statement, Blueys home is where our story begins and were excited to share next week if its where our story ends. The Heelers home is another character that we love and care about as much as The Heelers themselves. Like everyones family home, its a place we grow up wanting to leave and grow old wanting to get back to, per The Australian.
A New York appeals court judge has denied a request by former President Donald Trump to postpone his upcoming criminal trial over hush-money payments. Former President Donald Trump's legal woes mount ahead of his groundbreaking criminal trial over hush-money payments. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)(AP)

The trial is scheduled to begin with jury selection on April 15th. Trumps legal team had sought an emergency hearing to argue for the trials delay, hoping to relocate the proceedings from Manhattan, where they claim political bias due to its Democratic-leaning populace.

As reported by the New York Times, Trumps legal manoeuvres continued on Monday with preparations to sue the presiding judge in the hush-money case. Through a lawsuit, this appeal aims to challenge both the trials timing and a gag order imposed by the judge.

ALSO READ| Donald Trump wants immigrants to United States from NICE countries, but what are they?

Mr Trumps unorthodox move  essentially an appeal in the form of a lawsuit  is unlikely to succeed, particularly so close to trial, the court documents read.

Trump faces first criminal trial amidst 34 hush-money charges

The former president faces 34 criminal charges related to payments made to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress who alleged an affair with him. Despite pleading not guilty and accusing Judge Juan Merchan and his family of political bias, Trumps trial is set to proceed in Manhattan next Monday, and it will be the first criminal trial involving a former US president.

Trumps strategy includes an anticipated request to an appeals court to move the trial from Manhattan, a borough he once called home before moving to Florida.

ALSO READ| Israel's Netanyahu declares date set for Rafah invasion

Commenting on the situation, Harry Litman, a former U.S. attorney and current law professor, remarked, Trumps latest desperate move of personally suing Merchan in the appellate division is reminiscent of his initial gambit in Palm Beach [Florida], where judge [Aileen] Cannon permitted him to take the whole action off track [in his classified information case].

But wont happen here. Imagine if a criminal defendant could do this  he further added.

Multiple criminal charges await for Trump

The New York Times explained that Trumps suit would be an Article 78 action, a legal avenue for challenging decisions made by state agencies and judges under New York law.

Trump is contending with 54 other criminal charges40 in Florida related to his retention of classified information post-presidency, and 14 connected to his efforts to contest the 2020 election results, with 10 in Georgia and four in Washington DC.

ALSO READ| Elon Musk slams Brazilian judge; top court orders probe. What's the case against X?

Trump denies all allegations, framing them as political persecution, and is reportedly seeking to delay all legal proceedings against him until after the presidential election in November.
The parents of a Michigan school shooter were each sentenced to at least 10 years in prison Tuesday for failing to take steps that could have prevented the killing of four students in 2021. Defendant James Crumbley speaks before his sentencing for involuntary manslaughter in a school shooting committed by his son, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. His wife, Jennifer Crumbley, center, listens. The Crumbleys were each sentenced to at least 10 years in prison Tuesday for failing to take steps that could have prevented the killing of four students in 2021. (AP Photo/Ed White)(AP)

Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting. They were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors presented evidence of an unsecured gun at home and indifference toward the teens mental health.

Ethan Crumbley drew dark images of a gun, a bullet and a wounded man on a math assignment, accompanied by despondent phrases. Staff at Oxford High School did not demand that he go home but were surprised when the Crumbleys didnt volunteer it during a brief meeting.

Later that day, on Nov. 30, 2021, the 15-year-old pulled a handgun from his backpack and began shooting at the school. Ethan, now 17, is serving a life sentence for murder and other crimes.

Before sentencing, family members of the students killed in the shooting asked a judge to sentence the parents to 10 years, condemning them as failures whose selfishness led to four deaths and a community tragedy.

The blood of our children is on your hands, too, said Craig Shilling, wearing a hoodie with the image of son Justin Shilling on his chest.

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, recalled simple things she enjoyed doing for her daughter, such as scheduling an oil change for her car or helping choose senior year classes.

While you were purchasing a gun for your son and leaving it unlocked, I was helping her finish her college essays, Beausoleil told James and Jennifer Crumbley.

Five deputies in the courtroom stood watch over the Crumbleys and more lined the walls. They are the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting.

Prosecutors said tragically simple actions by both parents could have stopped the catastrophe.

The couple had separate trials in Oakland County court, 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Detroit. Jurors heard how the teen had drawn a gun, a bullet and a gunshot victim on a math assignment, accompanied by grim phrases: The thoughts won't stop. Help me. My life is useless. Blood everywhere.

Ethan told a counselor he was sad  a grandmother had died and his only friend suddenly had moved away  but said the drawing only reflected his interest in creating video games.

The Crumbleys attended a meeting at the school that lasted less than 15 minutes. They did not mention that the gun resembled one James Crumbley, 47, had purchased just four days earlier  a Sig Sauer 9 mm that Ethan had described on social media as his beauty.

His parents declined to take him home, choosing instead to return to work and accepting a list of mental health providers. School staff said Ethan could stay on campus. A counselor, Shawn Hopkins, said he believed it would be safer for the boy than possibly being alone at home.

No one, however, checked Ethan's backpack. He pulled the gun out later that day and killed four students  Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Shilling and Baldwin  and wounded seven other people.

There was no trial testimony from specialists about Ethan's state of mind. But the judge, over defense objections, allowed the jury to see excerpts from his journal.

I have zero help for my mental problems and its causing me to shoot up the ... school, he wrote. I want help but my parents dont listen to me so I cant get any help.

Asked about Ethan reporting hallucinations months before the shooting, Jennifer Crumbley, 46, told jurors he was simply messing around.

At the close of James Crumbley's trial, the prosecutor demonstrated how a cable lock, found in a package at home, could have secured the gun.

Ten seconds, McDonald said, of the easiest, simplest thing.
Panic is setting in across the web! Searches for "Eyes Hurt" have skyrocketed after the eclipse. The Total Solar Eclipse was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime moment for many. However, amid the flooding of the market with fake glasses and thousands willing not to give up until spotting the rare celestial phenomenon, chances of eye damage remained the most discussed topic. Here's a guide to identifying signs of eye strain or injury post-eclipse and steps to take if you're experiencing discomfort or vision changes. The researchers of the study claimed that the children who undergo cataract removal have an increased risk of glaucoma, a sight-threatening condition that damages the optic nerve which is the connection between the eye and brain.(Unsplash)

Google searches of Eye Hurt spike

On April 8, millions of people across America came together to witness the mega celestial event along the path of totality. However, after the eclipse, some people started experiencing eye discomfort, such as redness, itching, and pain. It's understandable that some may be concerned that they may have accidentally damaged their eyes.

Also read: Stunning images/videos of Total Solar Eclipse sweep the Internet, Dallas to Canada recount their view

As a precautionary measure, NASA had previously advised everyone to use only lab-tested glasses. Unfortunately, it seems that the issue has already spread. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has now released a list of symptoms to look out for in the coming days to ensure that people can take the necessary steps to keep their eyes safe and healthy.

Symptoms of eye damage after Eclipse

Dyschromatopsia

According to the experts, you should be aware of the signs and symptoms of solar retinopathy, which is also called Dyschromatopsia. It is a case where light damages the retina. These symptoms may include mild to severe headaches, blurred vision, a central blind spot in one eye or both, an increase in light sensitivity, distorted vision, and changes in how you perceive color. According to the doctors, these symptoms may not be immediately apparent but may take some time to develop.

Also read: Scary video shows Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 engine ripping apart during takeoff

How long does it take for the symptoms to show up?

Visual symptoms usually begin within six to 12 hours, although some people may experience them sooner. If you feel uncomfortable, experts suggest that you see your eye doctor or an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

"Damage from the eclipse is unlikely to cause pain or discomfort in your eyes because the retina does not have any pain nerves," as per American Academy of Opthamology. "Instead, you would notice visual symptoms within four to six hours. But some may notice symptoms after 12 hours." It added.

Is there a cure for Solar retinopathy

According to experts via People, "there is no treatment for solar retinopathy." The organization suggests that some people ultimately recover after some time; however, in some cases, there is a fear of permanent vision loss. Many people recover after three to six months, but some will suffer from permanent vision loss in the form of a small blind spot and distortion.

Dont panic about eye damage- that might not be the case

Its common for people to panic after glaring at sun following an Eclipse. However, medical experts suggest that there is no need to worry as most individuals who experience discomfort are okay. Despite this, some people tend to rush to the hospital out of panic, only to find out that nothing is wrong. There have only been a few cases of permanent damage to the eyes reported so far. Even if someone did strain their eyes during an eclipse, the effects are typically temporary in most cases.
Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Gary Bashor ruled Washington's ban on high-capacity magazines unconstitutional on Monday. Bashor issued an immediate injunction to stop the state from enforcing the ban on magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, per The Seattle Times. However, minutes after the ruling, the Washington Supreme Court issued an order to keep the law in effect that had been in place since 2022 while the state appeals the decision. WA's ban on high-capacity magazines ruled unconstitutional, but the state's Supreme Court issued an emergency stay order (Image used for representational purposes only)(AP )

Are high-capacity magazines illegal in Washington state?

During Monday's ruling, Bashor highlighted a 2022 US Supreme Court decision, Bruen, that states gun regulations must be consistent with the Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation. He wrote, The State must provide some history of regulation in line with the requirements of Bruen.

Citing the state's failure to do so, Bashor added, There was no appetite to limit gun rights by the Founders. Though the specific technology available today may not have been envisioned, the Founders expected technological advancements.

He argued that in order to justify the current ban, the state must show a historical law from around the time of the Second Amendment's adoption. The result is few, if any, historical analogue laws by which a state can justify a modern firearms regulation, Bashor wrote.

After the Superior Court's ruling, Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed an emergency appeal to the state Supreme Court, seeking to keep the law on the books. In consequence, the Washington state Supreme Court commissioner Michael Johnston granted an emergency stay on Monday evening.

Keeping the law on the books for now, Johnston cited that he considered the debatable nature of the factual and legal issues raised in this case, and the public safety issues concerning the proliferation of large capacity magazines.

Calling Bashor's decision incorrect, Ferguson said in a prepared statement, Every court in Washington and across the country to consider challenges to a ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines under the U.S. or Washington Constitution has either rejected that challenge or been overruled. This law is constitutional.
Amidst the backdrop of his father's ongoing battle with cancer, Prince William finds himself in a frightening proximity to ascend to the British throne. Britain's Queen Camilla, Britain's King Charles III, Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales and Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales pose for a picture during a reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace, in London, on December 5, 2023.( (Photo by Chris Jackson / POOL / AFP)

The news of King Charles III's cancer diagnosis has thrust William and his wife, Kate Middleton, into uncharted territory.

On March 25, in a New York Times article, journalist Tina Brown claimed, The almost simultaneous news of Charless cancer has put William and Catherine in frightening proximity to ascending the throne just when they had hoped for a span of years to parent their children out of the public eye.

ALSO REEAD| Prince Harry may 'spring surprise' on William during UK visit to end rift, but he still needs

William and Kate, parents to three childrenPrince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louisare under unmanageable pressure and anxiety as they contemplate the possibility of William's future reign. Brown noted, The prospect of it, I am told, is causing them intense anxiety.

Prince and Princess of Wales await the awesome burden of the crown

The challenges facing the couple are doubled by recent scandals within the royal family, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's estrangement and Prince Andrew's ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

The former Vanity Fair editor-in-chief asserted that these controversies have placed William and Kate under unmanageable pressure, highlighting, Catherine is the most popular member of the royal family after William, and added, The future of the monarchy hangs by a thread, and that thread is her.

Yet, Kate's battle with cancer adds another layer of complexity to their circumstances. Brown described the couple as facing a tidal wave of premature responsibility, with the Princess of Wales' health condition further complicating their situation.

Frozen, unready, and with Catherine now seriously unwell, the Prince and Princess of Wales await the awesome burden of the crown, she wrote.

Kate's cancer diagnosis was a shock for royals

Kate's cancer diagnosis, announced on March 22 following speculation about her health, marked a sombre turn of events for the royal family. In a video message, she expressed gratitude for the support she and William have received. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too, she said.

ALSO READ| Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are having sleepless nights and headache over their upcoming visit to UK

As is the love, support, and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.

The announcement of Catherine's illness came shortly after King Charles III revealed his own cancer diagnosis in February. Buckingham Palace issued a statement detailing his treatment plan and the adjustment of his public duties.

Before her announcement, Middleton reportedly shared a lunch with Charles to discuss their health experiences.
In 2023, US Senator Rand Paul's (from Kentucky) book, Deception: The Great Covid Cover-Up, blew up the covers of public health bureaucracy. His well-documented coverage blew the lid off Anthony Fauci, the former Chief Medical Advisor of the President of the United States, and his scientific yes-men who knew about Covid's supposed true origins from day one. WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 11: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) leaves the Senate floor as the Senate is working through the weekend on a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill with assistance for Ukraine and Israel at the US Capitol on February 11, 2024 in Washington, DC. The bill includes $60 billion to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, $14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel, $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance and $4.8 billion to support regional partners in the Indo-Pacific region, among other provisions, according to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP)

Paul's book presented evidence that The Covid virus was likely the product of gain-of-function research at the Wuhan lab in Chinaresearch funded in part by the U.S. government.

On April 9, he again took back the reins in his hands to further expose bombshells about federal employees covering up alleged hard facts about COVID-19's reality. His recent discoveries caught government officials from 15 federal agencies possessing knowledge of how the coronavirus was basically manufactured in 2018.

Penning his findings on the Fox News website, Paul claimed these officials were well aware that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was attempting to create a virus like COVID-19. Despite the hefty knowledge in their corner, they failed to expose the scheme to the public and chose to maintain their forthcoming stance. Moreover, 15 organisations similarly turned away from publicly releasing the details of the hazardous research.

Senator Rand Paul lays down The Great Covid Cover-Up

The US senator reported that at least 15 federal agencies had knowledge of the project introduced by Peter Daszaks EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan Institute of Virology. These findings imply that all these agencies were privy to the EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan Institute of Virology's need for federal funding in 2018.

Also read | Rep. AOC shares deepfake porn encounter experience, saying It resurfaces trauma

What was the proposed project about?

Known as the DEFUSE project, its plans intended to insert a furin cleavage site into a coronavirus to create a novel chimeric virus that would have been shockingly similar to the COVID-19 virus.

All names associated with the Covid cover-up - dropped by Rand Paul

US-based research organisation EcoHealth Alliance's President, Peter Daszak, and Ralph Baric, the University of North Carolina scientist, concealed all facts related to the issue that could've possibly birthed the coronavirus, an alleged man-made virus.

Dr Anthony Fauci was previously also mentioned in the senator's book. His latest report again brings him up, claiming that his National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) wasn't merely briefed on the matter, but also engaged in the initial DEFUSE project pitch. Additionally, Fauci's Rocky Mountain Lab was also associated as a partner of the Wuhan Institute of Virology for the same proposal.

Also read | WHO sounds alarm on viral hepatitis infections that claim 3,500 lives each day

The newly discovered documents also out researcher Ian Lipkin, whose lab has been funded (worth millions of dollars) by EcoHealth, as one of the original participants of the project.

How did Senator Rand Paul find all this information?

In his Fox News piece, Paul declared that despite all these agencies and their top-notch officials staying tight-lipped, Marine Lt. Col. Joseph Murphy came forward as the whistleblower, revealing the truth.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the date is set for Israel to launch an invasion in Rafah. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden, left, meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. Miriam Alster/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo(via REUTERS)

In a video address, Netanyahu said, This victory requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen - there is a date. without specifying the exact timing of the proposed offensive.

We are working to achieve our goals all the time...primarily releasing all our hostages and achieving total victory.

The Israeli Prime Minister's declaration comes as representatives from Hamas reject a ceasefire proposal presented by Israel in Cairo, the place for US-mediated truce negotiations.

ALSO READ| Thank you PM Modi: Hamas attack survivor says India is Israel's true friend

Rafah, located in the south of Gaza, has the biggest concentration of over one million civilians, who are now suffering from a cutoff of crucial resources like food, water and shelter.

US, and Israel were trying to chalk out some plans

Despite warnings from Western leaders and the UN about the potential for a humanitarian catastrophe, Israel is considering launching a ground assault on Hamas militants in Rafah.

Israel had initially agreed to send its war strategists to Washington to discuss the proposed offensive but called off the trip in protest against the US decision not to veto a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

While Netanyahu expressed disappointment over the US abstention, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant engaged in discussions with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington.

Netanyahu maintains that an attack on Rafah is necessary to eliminate Hamas control of Gaza, but the US opposes such an invasion, citing concerns about the safety of Palestinian civilians in Rafah.

ALSO READ| Israel, Hamas discuss Gaza truce deal amid ongoing war

Netanyahu conveyed a message to Hamas, stating, Dont bet on this [United Nations] pressure [for a cease-fire]. Its not going to work.

The Israeli PM said the Security Council vote encouraged Hamas to take a hard line and to believe that international pressure will prevent Israel
MANZINI - Former South Africa President Jacob Zumas family now has a home in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

This follows the fact that one of the former South Africa presidents sons, who got married to a member of the royal family, has been allocated land at Nkonga, Mafutseni Chiefdom, under Senator Chief Ngalokhulu Mabuza. Over the weekend, the former president visited Nkonga to see the land which had been allocated to his son, which had already been developed into a home. According to a source close to the matter, the land has already been fenced and there is a one-room house and a cattle byre.

Celebration

The source said the former president, who recently graced the celebration of the 51st Army Day at the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) held at its Headquarters at Nokwane on Friday, was welcomed by the Mafutseni chief and the inner council members. He added that Mafutseni Member of Parliament (MP) and other members of the Mabuza family were also present. He said the chief welcomed the former South Africa president, who is the leader of the newly-established uMkhonto weSizwe (political party) with a cow as a gift (siphandla). The source said after seeing his sons home, Zuma was shown the fields and grazing land.

Confirmed

These developments were confirmed by both the chief and Indvuna (headman) Mamilela Maphosa. The headman said indeed the former South Africa president came to Mafutseni to see his sons home. He said Zumas son got the land through labadzala, as she married a princess. He said labadzala asked the royal kraal to allocate land to the in-laws of the royal family as he had a desire to have a home in the Kingdom of Eswatini. He said Zumas son was allocated the land about a year ago. On the same note, the leader of Mafutseni Chiefdom, Senator Chief Ngalokhulu, said the former president came to see his sons home and confirmed that he presented him with a cow when he welcomed him.

It is worth noting that in 2017, Zumas son, Mxolisi, paid 120 cattle as lobola for Princess Ziyanda. Again, it is worth highlighting that hardly 48 hours before the former South Africa president graced the 51st Army Day, his successor President Cyril Ramaphosa was also in the country and he held private meetings with the Queen Mother and His Majesty King Mswati III.
WASHINGTON  Members of Congress on Tuesday called for the immediate release of Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr. as lawmakers marked the second anniversary of his imprisonment, part of the Kremlins sweeping crackdown on critics of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. HT Image

The bottom line is that Vladimir Kara-Murza will not be forgotten, Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said at an event on Capitol Hill. We are going to work to set him free and to set Russia free.

Kara-Murza, a journalist and opposition activist, was jailed in April 2022 and convicted of treason last year for denouncing the war in Ukraine. He is serving 25 years, the stiffest sentence handed down to a Kremlin critic in modern Russia. He is among a growing number of dissidents held in increasingly severe conditions under President Vladimir Putins political crackdown.

Cardin was joined by a bipartisan group of members from both the House and Senate, seeking to increase the pressure not only on Russian authorities to force the release of Kara-Murza, but to ensure that the Biden administration continues working to force his release as the U.S. has done in previous cases of Russian political prisoners.

Sen. Jim Risch, the top Republican on the committee, renewed his call Tuesday for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate Kara-Murza as a wrongfully detained person, an appointment that would help elevate his case and provide resources to his family in America as they fight for his release.

The charges against the dual Russian-British citizen stem from a March 2022 speech to the Arizona House of Representatives in which he was critical of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Kara-Murza, who twice survived poisonings that he blamed on Russian authorities, has rejected the charges against him as punishment for standing up to Putin and likened the proceedings to the show trials under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

Vladimir Kara-Murza's wife, Evgenia Kara-Murza, who lives in the U.S. with their three children, joined lawmakers at the event in pleading for her husband's release.

I want to thank each and every one of you here for joining with me in my fight, not just for Vladimir's freedom, but truly for his life, she told the crowd.

Evgenia Kara-Murza has said that her husband has spent months in solitary confinement, a punishment that has become common for Kremlin critics and is widely viewed as designed to put additional pressure on them.

Most recently, Kara-Murza had been held in a penal colony in the Omsk region, though his supporters said in late January that he apparently was no longer there.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that millions of Arizonans will soon live under an even more extreme and dangerous abortion ban after the state's top court revived a law dating to 1864 that bans abortion in virtual all instances. US President Joe Biden (Bloomberg)

"This ruling is a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away womens freedom," Biden said in a statement.
The US on Monday responded to the reports alleging that India carried out targeting killings beyond state borders, in neighbouring country Pakistan. The United States encouraged the two countries to find a resolution to this issue and said that it would not get in the middle. US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller.(Youtube)

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, responding to a question regarding the same at a press briefing, said the United States will not get in the middle of this situation, urging both sides to avoid escalations of the matter.

Read more: Pakistan reacts to defence minister Rajnath Singhs 'ghus kar marenge' remarks on terrorism

So we have been following the media reports about this issue. We don't have any comment on the underlying allegations. But of course, while we're not going to get in the middle of this situation, we encourage both sides to avoid escalation and find a resolution through dialogue, Miller said.

Last week, India issued a statement rejecting the charges put forward by a report by UK daily The Guardian, saying that the claims were "false and malicious anti-India propaganda". In its report, The Guardian, citing Pakistani sources, claimed that India was carrying out targeted killings in the neighbouring country.

The Guardian report claimed that the Indian intelligence agency R&AW had carried out up to 20 such assassinations since the Pulwama attack of 2019.

What did the Guardian report say?

The report published by The Guardian said Indian intelligence agency R&AW has been carrying out targeted killings and assassinations in Pakistan, citing evidence sourced from the country and intelligence officers from both sides of the border.

The report quoted Pakistani officials as saying that Indian sleeper cells in the UAE were responsible for the killings. An anonymous Indian official also said in the report that Indian intelligence had drawn inspiration from Israel's Mossad and Russia's KGB to carry out these targeted killings.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh responded to these allegations, saying, If terrorists from the neighbouring country try to disturb the peace in Bharat or try to carry out terror activities in Bharat, we will give them a befitting reply. (Koi bhi terrorist hamare parosi desh se yadi hamare Bharat ko disturb karneki koshish karega, yahan par yadi atankbadi harkate karega, toh uska muh tod jabab denge)."

"If they run away to Pakistan, we will enter Pakistan to kill them (Yadi woh bhag kar Pakistan mein jayega, toh Pakistan mein ghus kar marenge)," he told "CNN News 18".

Singh said India has the strength to take stern action against cross-border terrorism and Pakistan has started realising it.

The defence minister supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent comments that "Bharat" would not be a mute spectator.

"Whatever the prime minister has said is absolutely true. And India has that strength and Pakistan has also started realising this," Singh said.

At the same time, he said India always wants to maintain good relations with its neighbours.
The Vatican's de facto foreign minister arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday hoping to ease strained ties between the communist Southeast Asian nation and the Holy See, and pave the way for a potential visit by Pope Francis. HT Image

Archbishop Paul Gallagher is the most senior official to visit Vietnam since diplomatic relations were cut at the end of the war with the United States in 1975, when the communist government expelled the apostolic delegate.

In recent years the two have tried to restart diplomatic relations, and Gallagher's trip which will include tours of Hanoi, southern business hub Ho Chi Minh City and ancient capital Hue comes after a Vietnamese delegation visited the pope earlier this year.

Vietnam has around six million Catholics, who make up roughly six percent of its population.

The government last year invited Pope Francis to visit the country and Gallagher is in Hanoi to work out the details.

Gallagher has said the Pope is "keen to go" but no date has been set.

He is scheduled to meet Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and have talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son in the capital city.

He also plans to chair three masses in major churches across the country.

Gallagher said previously that the Holy See was hoping to encourage the Vietnamese government "along the line of greater religious freedom, which they have in the constitution".

Rights groups say the country restricts religious freedoms, and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom a US government advisory body mandated by Congress has put Vietnam on its list of "countries of particular concern".

It cites the country's "persistent and apparently worsening egregious, ongoing, and systematic violations".

Hanoi has rejected the allegations.

Anh Tran, associate professor of historical and systematic theology at Santa Clara University in the United States, told AFP that the communist government, in their Marxist interpretation, believes "religious freedom" is the "right to believe or not to believe".

But he said that "any social involvement or influence of religious groups... is forbidden".

Le Quoc Quan, a Catholic blogger and religious freedom activist based in the US, told AFP that "so many Vietnamese are expecting to meet Paul Gallagher" at the masses he will hold.

But Quan said he doubted whether the visit would lead to substantive improvements for Catholics in the country.

"They have regarded Vietnamese Catholics as second-class citizens for a long time and they are still very sceptical towards our activities."

Catholics have historically been perceived by the government as having close links with former colonial power France.

Gallagher's visit comes after Vietnam and the Holy See agreed last year to a "Resident Papal Representative" for the communist nation, after a meeting between the then President Vo Van Thuong and Pope Francis.

Polish archbishop Marek Zalewski was appointed to the job last December.

bur/aph/rma/mca

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Nearly four million Americans could have their student loan debt eliminated, while another 10 million could experience partial relief under a new forgiveness program, the Biden administration announced on Monday.

This is the president's latest attempt to advance his signature debt relief program after the Supreme Court struck down his initial sweeping reform that would've erased $430 billion in debt for millions of Americans.

Under the new plan, up to $20,000 in interest will be eliminated for anyone repaying their loans, regardless of income. The administration estimates that this will erase the entirety of more than 23 million people's accrued interest.

There are also several categories of individuals who will see additional relief, including people experiencing financial hardship, people whose current balance exceeds their initial loan, individuals who have been repaying their loans for at least two decades and borrowers who have expensive degrees with limited job prospects.

"We're delivering as much relief as possible for as many borrowers as possible, as quickly as possible," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, according to Reuters. "It means freedom from feeling like your student loan bills compete with basic needs, like groceries or healthcare."

Biden is expected to discuss the debt forgiveness program during a campaign stop in Wisconsin, which is expected to be a crucial swing state this year. If the plan successfully advances through a public comment period, it could go into effect this autumn - in time for the November election.

Student loan relief is particularly popular among younger, progressive voters - a demographic that has been particularly critical of the president's handling of the war in Gaza.
Questions are being raised about the company that posted Donald Trump's $175 million bond in connection with a New York lawsuit. The former president needed to post the bond to appeal his $464 million bank fraud case.

Knight Specialty Insurance Company is reportedly not licensed in the state and not vetted to verify it meets eligibility standards to provide bonds.

Also, the paperwork doesn't promise the company will pay the bond if Trump loses his appeal. It says the former president would pay the money, which could render the bond company's involvement pointless.

"This is not common... the only reason this would be done is to limit the liability to the surety," N. Alex Hanley told the Daily Beast.

"I believe this paper isn't worth much and there are more shenanigans behind it," said one former regulator, who's intimately familiar with industry norms but spoke only on condition of anonymity.

The New York Attorney General's office is questioning the bond agreement and has asked the court to review it.

Knight Specialty Insurance, based in Los Angeles, is headed by Don Hankey, a Trump supporter.

"This is what we do at Knight Insurance, and we're happy to be able to accommodate the ex-president in this situation," Don Hankey told ABC News. "I'd say it's more of a business decision, but I happen to be a supporter also."

A judge found that Trump and executives at his real estate company lied about the worth of his properties on financial statements to secure more favorable loan conditions from banks and other companies.

The statements claimed that the former president's penthouse in Trump Tower was three times its actual size.

The judge ordered Trump to pay $355 million plus interest which brought the judgment to $464 million.
Animal lovers are howling mad over the treatment of an injured wolf that was photographed in a bar with its muzzle taped shut before being killed.

The disturbing image was published by an online outlet Monday, which said it was shot in rural Daniel, Wyoming.

In the photo, the doomed critter had its eyes downcast and red tape wrapped around its snout as a grinning man -- identified by Cowboy State Daily, which published the image, as Cody Roberts, 42, of Daniel -- kneeled next to it while clutching a beverage in one hand and wrapping his other arm around the helpless animal's neck.

Rob Wallace, a former U.S. assistant interior secretary who lives in Teton County, Wyoming, said he was "sickened" by seeing it.

"This is awful," Wallace told Cowboy State Daily. "Wyoming represents the best in wildlife stewardship and this is a sad and disgusting outlier."

The wolf was run over by a snowmobile on Feb. 29 by a man who took it to his home and the Green River Bar before killing it behind the tavern, Cowboy State Daily reported last week.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department told the outlet that it got an anonymous tip that someone "was alleged to be in possession of a live wolf" which "was transported alive back to his residence and later to a business in Daniel" after it was captured in the state's "predator zone."

"The individual euthanized the wolf later that day. The individual was cited for violating Chapter 10, Importation and Possession of Live Warm-Blooded Wildlife," the department said.

Officials didn't identify the man but Sublette County Circuit Court records show Roberts was cited for a wildlife violation stemming from the Feb. 29 incident, according to Cowboy State Daily.

Roberts was reportedly fined $250 and wasn't slapped with additional charges because it's legal to kill a wolf at any time without a permit in Wyoming's Predatory Animal Management Area, which covers about 85% of the state outside its northwestern corner.

But two Washington, D.C.-based animal rights groups, Animal Wellness Action and the Center for Humane Economy, asked Sublette County Attorney Clayton Melinkovich and Sublette County Sheriff K.C. Lehr to file animal cruelty charges, Cowboy State Daily reported Friday.

In a letter, the groups called the $250 fine "an anemic response on the part of law enforcement" that "can only motivate other like-minded individuals driven by hatred of wolves to engage in similar, repugnant behavior."

Melinkovich reportedly confirmed receipt of the letter but said it's unclear if criminal charges were possible, adding, "I can't do anything independently on my own until something comes to me from a peace officer."
An Arizona restaurant owner was indicted on multiple felony counts after he allegedly killed and dismembered a teenager before abandoning his body in a burn pile known as "the Pit."

Anthonie Ruinard Jr., 38, was first arrested for allegedly killing 18-year-old Parker League, last July. Ruinard was the owner of Tuscon's Pastiche Modern Eatery before a small fire shuttered the business in 2021.

League arrived in Arizona on June 9th, with plans to visit his friends. He was last seen alive on June 11th - in surveillance footage with Ruinard. League's family reported him missing on June 12 and his body was discovered in Tonto National Forest on the same day.

"The victim had been dismembered, stabbed, and burned beyond recognition," the Maricopa County Attorney's Office said in a statement. "The Office of the Medical Examiner used dental records to identify the victim."

In July, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office shared that they found video footage of League's bank card being used at multiple locations, including an Arco gas station in Chandler, Arizona.

"Video footage from an Arco gas station in Chandler, AZ on June 11th showed Parker and the suspect, Anthonie leaving the store together in a black Dodge Challenger," the sheriff's office said.

"Detectives served a search warrant on Anthonie's house and sized multiple items. While processing the Dodge Challenger, detectives located forensic evidence in the trunk, which was tested using a Rapid DNA resulting in a positive match for Parker's DNA."

Following the initial arrest, Ruinard's case was submitted to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell's office in October.

"Experienced homicide prosecutors in my office combed through nearly 4,000 pages of material submitted in this homicide case. After five months of careful review, we were able to secure this indictment," Mitchell said in a press release. "This is the next step in bringing justice to Parker League and his family."

Ruinard was indicted on charges of second-degree murder and abandonment or concealment of a dead body. His case is expected to go to trial in July.
MBABANE  Government says anyone who believes and has enough evidence to prove that Prime Minister Russell Dlamini allegedly squandered public funds in his previous job is welcome to bring such proof.

In a press statement, the Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo said the allegations of corruption against the Prime Minister were a smear campaign and were not backed by any evidence. The government spokesperson said the government had been made aware of the allegations of corruption and abuse of power that were being levelled against the person and Office of the PM, particularly on social media. The allegations were based on mismanagement of COVID-19 funds. These accusations unfortunately are not being backed by any evidence and are clearly a smear campaign meant to tarnish the image and integrity of His Excellency and the office that he occupies, Nxumalo said.

Assured

The government assured the nation that the PM remained committed to driving the governments position to eradicate corruption in the country, without fear or favour, as per His Majesty the Kings call. This position was further reiterated by the PM himself when he set up the Anti-Corruption Task Team on February 12, where he declared that no one is immune from being investigated and prosecuted. The task team is made up of the Ministry of Justice departments, which are the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), ACC as well as the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS). Nxumalo said any corruption accusations levelled against the PM were, therefore, nothing but an orchestrated move and evil ploy meant to divert the publics attention from the real masterminds of corruption.

Comfort

Further, government said the nation would find comfort in knowing that the PM was vetted and found in good standing before he assumed office. It was stated that during his time at the helm of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), the organisation received six clean audits from a reputable international audit firm. These audits also covered the utilisation of COVID-19 funds. Government invites anyone who believes His Excellency has anything to hide and feels the need to verify these accusations to do so, through established structures. This includes all legal entities tasked with investigating and prosecuting corruption cases, he said. Nxumalo stated that government would not be subjected to a permanent state of defending and explaining political machinations and character assassination manoeuvres directed to those who hold public office, including the PM and other officials.
A Texas murder victim was able to utter the name of his best friend-turned-alleged killer in his "dying declaration" moments before he died.

Daniel Hernandez, 18, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Ricky De Los Santos, also 18, according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.

On Saturday, deputies responded to reports of a shooting at De Los Santos' San Antonio, Texas, home. Deputies on the scene witnessed De Los Santos suffering from several life-threatening gunshot wounds.

"He was able to give them... a dying declaration," Salazar told reporters during a weekend press conference. "As it was believed he was going to pass from some pretty substantial wounds, he was able to give the name of a suspect to the deputy."

The declaration was allegedly captured on the deputy's body camera.

Salazar said they "don't know what caused things to go sideways" in the moments leading up to the alleged killing, but Hernandez went to meet the victim at his home  "supposedly to try on shoes"  that he was gonna buy off of him.

"It's kind of a mystery at this point what would drive this young man to kill what was probably one of his lifelong, best friends in cold blood like that," said Salazar.

Authorities suspect Hernandez used a knockoff AK-47 to kill De Los Santos.

Hernandez was subsequently arrested, but investigators are still searching for the murder weapon.
Republican lawmakers are criticizing their Democratic counterparts for the expected dismissal of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' impeachment trial.

Several right-wing Senate officials took to the chamber floor on Monday night to call for an immediate and open trial into the impeachment articles against Mayorkas. Sen. Roger Marshall said that a vote to block the impeachment is a vote to keep the borders of the United States open.

Republicans Push for Mayorkas Impeachment Trial

He and Sen. Rick Scott, who also gave a speech, are both Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs members.

The aforementioned vote to block refers to the expected decision of Senate Democrats to use a procedural maneuver to dismiss the trial quickly after being sworn in as jurors on Thursday.

On the other hand, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not yet indicated what Democrats will do. However, several Republicans and Democrats in the chamber have already said that they expect such an exercise to be used to end the trial, according to Fox News.

Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt said that legally speaking, Mayorkas has undermined the laws of the United States, which was his justification for a full trial. Scott also said he does not understand why his Democratic colleagues do not care about the situation.

Read Also: Chicago Mayor Under Fire for Lack of Transparency on Homeless Shelter Spending Amid Migrant Crisis

Sen. John Kennedy, on the other hand, pointed out that the House already spent months developing the articles that were passed against the DHS secretary.

He added that Democrats simply want to ignore the evidence that has been put forward, summarily sweep it under the rug, and just move on.

Marshall also emphasized the historical nature of such a move if Democratic lawmakers choose to use it. He said that in the history of the country, the Senate has never tabled an impeachment trial.

Controversy Around the Migrant Crisis

There is also a group of conservatives who are being led by Sen. Mike Lee, who plans to throw up procedural roadblocks to make it painful for Democrats to get what they want.

They will try to delay the issue and put the spotlight on the left's refusal to conduct a trial against Mayorkas and hold the DHS secretary accountable for what they called his failure to secure the southern border, as per NBC News.

Lee, who is a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, said that Schumer is simply trying to ignore articles of impeachment from the House.

He argued that the U.S. Constitution requires lawmakers to begin trial proceedings, adding that he will be fighting on the Senate floor to ensure that both Mayorkas and the entire Congress are accountable for the migrant crisis.

Republicans are arguing that Mayorkas willfully refused to fully enforce U.S. immigration laws and that he should not have reversed restrictive policies that were put in place by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Additionally, conservatives have contended that the DHS secretary exceeded his authority when he allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. through emergency "parole" programs, said Reuters.

US Southern Border Sees Boost In Manpower
The United Nations Security Council revived the Palestinian Authority's hopes of becoming a full member of the world body by referring the application to the committee on the admission of new members.

Malta's UN Ambassador Vanessa Frazier proposed that the committee meet on Monday afternoon to consider the application. She added that deliberation needs to take place this month.

Palestinian Authority's UN Application

After the meeting, Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour said that they were sincerely hoping that after more than a decade since changing their status as an observer state, they could be elevated to being a full member of the global body.

Last week, the Palestinian Authority formally asked the UN Security Council to renew consideration of its 2011 application to become a full member. Currently, the Palestinians are a non-member observer state at the UN, which is the same status as the Holy See.

The committee of 15 members will first assess an application to see whether it satisfies the requirements for membership in the UN. According to Reuters, the application can then either be shelved or put forward for a formal vote in the Security Council.

An application's approval requires at least nine votes in favor and must receive no vetoes from any of these members: the United States, Russia, China, France, and Britain.

Ahead of the meeting, Frazier said that the committee has to deliberate within the month of April. This came as the Security Council came together on Monday to discuss the letter from the Palestinian authority behind closed doors.

Last week, Mansour said the aim was to urge the council to make a decision during a ministerial meeting on the Middle East on Apr. 18, 2024.

Earlier on Monday, Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan said that a Palestinian state would be a threat to his country's national security.

He noted that granting statehood to Palestine would not only be a blatant violation of the UN Charter, but it would also violate the fundamental principle of reaching a lasting solution at the negotiating table.

A Significant and Symbolic Moment for Palestine

As is written in the rules of procedure, the Security Council will decide whether the application for full membership is committed to peace and is willing to carry out the obligations contained in the UN Charter, as per UN News.

If the council recommends the application, it will move forward to the General Assembly and come with a complete record of the deliberations.

On the other hand, if the council does not recommend the application, it would submit a special report and a record of discussions to the General Assembly.

A reporter from Aljazeera, Gabriel Elizondo, said that the application's progress marked a significant and symbolic development for Palestine. He added that this was only the second time Palestine had been able to get this far in its application to become a full member of the United Nations.

Aljazeera said the last time was in 2011 when it essentially failed in the Security Council standing committee because the United States threatened to veto the application if it ever came to a vote.

Egyptian Official Says Gaza Ceasefire Talks Made 'Significant Progress' as IDF Withdraws from Khan Younis
Prominent people in Nevada are reacting after a well-kown Las Vegas attorney and his wife were shot to death Monday by the woman's former father-in-law during a deposition for a child custody case at a law office.

Attorney Dennis Prince was representing his wife, Ashley Prince, in a child custody dispute involving the two children she shared with her ex-husband, Dylan Houston, at the Prince Law Group's office, Monday morning, KTNV-TV reported, citing several unnamed law enforcement sources familiar with the case.

Dylan's father, attorney Joe Houston, was representing his son.

In the middle of a deposition, the elder Houston shot and killed the Princes before turning the gun on himself.

"With profound sadness, Prince Law Group would like to thank everyone who has reached out to us with heartfelt messages of concern and sympathy over the tragic violence that occurred this morning in our offices," the firm said in a Facebook post. "We ask that you please respect the privacy of the families involved."

"We are deeply saddened by the devastating news of the passing of Dennis Prince, a distinguished attorney who was regarded as one of the finest in our state," Prince's friend Tom Letizia, a political consultant, told the station. "Dennis was not only a close friend of mine but also a respected figure within our legal community, whose absence has left us all in mourning. The news of this tragedy has profoundly shocked me and our entire community."

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford reacted in a post on X.

"I'm devastated. Dennis Prince was not only a brilliant attorney, but he was also my former law partner and my friend. I can't believe he's gone," he said.

"I'm extremely saddened by his and Ashley's death, and my heart goes out to their families, especially their children."

Im devastated. Dennis Prince was not only a brilliant attorney, but he was also my former law partner and my friend. I cant believe hes gone. Im extremely saddened by his and Ashleys death, and my heart goes out to their families, especially their children. https://t.co/ntHrXArBUG  Aaron D. Ford (@AaronDFordNV) April 8, 2024

St. Sen. Jacky Rosen wrote on X, "I'm heartbroken by the news that Las Vegas attorney Dennis Prince & his wife Ashley are the victims of today's shooting in Summerlin. Dennis was a fixture of the Las Vegas community & my thoughts are with their loved ones."
The parents of a Michigan school shooter asked a judge to keep them out of prison as they faced sentencing for their role in a deadly school shooting carried out by their son.

Jennifer and James Crumbley appeared in court Tuesday. They are the first parents convicted in a mass school shooting in the United States.

They were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in separate cases. They were accused of neglecting to secure a gun at home and failing to address the clear signs of their child's mental distress.

Ethan Crumbley killed four students at Oxford High School in 2021.

Prosectors say they could have prevented the shooting by removing the 15-year-old from school when confronted with his disturbing drawing on his math assignment shortly before the shooting.

During the trial, prosecutors also emphasized the fact that the teenager had access to a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun that was bought by James Crumbley just four days prior.

Prosecutors were seeking 10-15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. They claimed the parents have shown no remorse.

Lawyers for the parents said the more than two years they have already spent behind bars was long enough.

The judge disagreed and sentenced both to 10-15 years in prison.

Ethan Crumbley, now 17, pleaded guilty and is serving a life sentence.
Police in Southern California were piecing together a family's tragic deaths that stretched across three crime scenes across Los Angeles County on Monday.

It started with a woman apparently killing her husband at their home.

She then left with her two young daughters but abandoned them on the busy 405 Freeway, where one of them died.

She then crashed into a tree in Redondo Beach and died.

The first incident investigated was the 405 Freeway scene. Officers responded at around 4:30 a.m. to find a baby girl, about 5 or 6 months old dead and a 9-year-old injured, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The deadly crash was reported about 30 minutes later.

Then at around 7:35 a.m., the Los Angeles Police Department says they got a call about a "body found" at an apartment in Woodland Hills.

Responding officers found the homicide victim. It was unclear how he died.

The LAPD confirmed they were investigating a connection between all three incidents. No names were released.

A neighbor in the apartment complex told KNBC that a man and woman lived in the apartment with their two children and they had heard fighting coming from the apartment in the past.

The woman, who didn't want to be identified, said there was some sort of commotion in the family's apartment around 3:40 a.m. Monday.
Police in Florida say they have arrested a woman who opened fire on drivers on I-10 reportedly because God told her to because of the solar eclipse.

The Florida Highway Patrol officers say Taylon Nichelle Celestine, 22, of Georgia had checked out of a hotel and told the staff she was going on a shooting spree.

Officers say she drove her purple Dodge Challenger onto Interstate 10 at the 112-mile marker and traveled westbound. Within five miles of driving, police say she fired multiple shots into another vehicle and hit it multiple times.

The driver was struck by glass fragments from the window and grazed on the arm by a bullet. Officers say he was able to steer his vehicle onto the shoulder of the road.

She allegedly shot at another vehicle near the 107-mile marker, hitting the driver in the neck. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment. Their condition was unknown.

Responding troopers say they located Celestine near the 96-mile marker and arrested her. Troopers say they found an AR-15 and a 9mm handgun in her car.

Celestine was booked into the Holmes County Jail on attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and improper discharge of a firearm charges.

A total solar eclipse passed over the United States on Monday afternoon, although it was only a partial eclipse for Florida.
Abortion rights have dominated the political conversation this week with former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden both releasing campaign materials taking aim at each other's respective positions.

In 2024, Trump has labeled himself as the anti-abortion candidate, while Biden has positioned himself as the pro-choice candidate. However, both of them have expressed and showed varying stances on the divisive topic over their years in the public sphere.

Trump released a four-minute video on Monday, in which he boasted about the repeal of Roe v. Wade and said that abortion was an issue that should be left up to individual states. Biden fired back with an emotional campaign ad, where a woman explained that after the repeal of Roe v. Wade, she was unable to get an emergency abortion, developed sepsis and will likely never be able to get pregnant again.

When Biden was first elected to the Senate, however, he was far from a champion of abortion rights. As a devout Catholic, the president admits to struggling with the issue of abortion. In 1977, he voted against a bill that would've allowed Medicaid to fund abortion in instances of rape or incest. When the issue came up again, in 1981 and 1983, the then-Senator maintained his position that Medicaid should only fund abortion when a mother's life was at risk.

In 2007, Biden wrote that he didn't believe he had "a right to impose my view on the rest of society," a belief he has reiterated several times since. During his presidency, the Biden administration has emphasized its commitment to ensuring abortion access and protecting the privacy of pregnant people and medical professionals.

Trump's evolution on abortion played out in the public sphere during the 2016 presidential race. He told Chris Matthews that he believed there should be "some form of punishment" for people who get abortions. Critics quickly pointed out the inconsistency of Trump's opinions - noting that in 1999 he told Meet the Press that he was "very pro-choice."

"I hate the concept of abortion," he said. "I just believe in choice."

By 2011, Trump's beliefs had shifted - he gave a speech at CPAC declaring himself to be pro-life, a view which has continued to espouse. The former president continues to declare himself a pro-life candidate - with exceptions for rape, incest and life-threatening danger - but he also reportedly worries that the issue will harm the GOP in elections.

"My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint," he said in the Truth Social video. "But we must win. We have to win."
The parents of a Michigan school shooter were sentenced to 10-15 years in prison Tuesday for their role in a deadly school shooting carried out by their son.

The judge handed down the sentences after dramatic impact statements by parents of the victims.

Jennifer and James Crumbley were the first parents convicted in connection with a mass school shooting in the United States.

They were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in separate cases. They were accused of neglecting to secure a gun at home and failing to address the clear signs of their child's mental distress.

Ethan Crumbley killed four students at Oxford High School in 2021.

Nicole Beausoleil, victim Madisyn Baldwin's mother, gave the first impact statement at the sentencing hearing.

"Madisyn was a kind soul," she said as she tried to keep herself from crying. "As her mom, I didn't protect her."

Beausoleil laid out the different things that were happening between the two families.

"While your son was hearing voices and asking for help, I was helping Madisyn pick out her senior classes," she told the Crumbleys. "While you were purchasing a gun and leaving it unlocked, I was helping her finish her college essays."

Prosectors say the parents could have prevented the shooting by removing the 15-year-old from school when confronted with his disturbing drawing on his math assignment shortly before the shooting.

During the trial, prosecutors also emphasized the fact that the teenager had access to a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun that was bought by James Crumbley just four days prior.

Prosecutors sought 10-15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. They claimed the parents have shown no remorse.

Both parents addressed the court before hearing their fates.

James Crumbley said, "I can't imagine the pain and agony for the families that have lost their children and what they are experiencing."

"I have taken countless nights to lament over the anguish and shame over what my son did, the harm he caused to innocent lives, the families and the entire Oxford community," Jennifer Crumbley told the court.

Lawyers for the parents said the more than two years they have already spent behind bars is long enough.

The judge was not swayed and handed down the maximum sentences allowed under the guidelines.

Ethan Crumbley, now 17, pleaded guilty and is serving a life sentence.
As the sentencing got underway Tuesday of the parents of a Michigan school shooter who killed four classmates in 2021 for their role in in the incident the judge heard emotional statements from families of Ethan Crumbley's victims.

Nicole Beausoleil, victim Madisyn Baldwin's mother, gave the first impact statement at the hearing ahead of Jennifer and James Crumbley learning their fate.

"Madisyn was a kind soul," she said as she tried to keep herself from crying. "As her mom, I didn't protect her."

Beausoleil laid out the different things that were happening between the two families at the time of the shooting.

"While your son was hearing voices and asking for help, I was helping Madisyn pick out her senior classes," she told the Crumbleys.

"While you were purchasing a gun and leaving it unlocked, I was helping her finish her college essays."

The boy's parents went into hiding after the killing.

"While you checked into your first hotel, I was telling Madisyn's 11-year-old sister she was gone," Beausoleil said. "When you cared more about yourself and getting alcohol and supplies, I was identifying my daughter at a medical office."

"While you were hiding, I was planning her funeral," she continued. "And while you were running away from your son and your responsibilities, I was forced to do the worst possible thing a parent could do. I was forced to say goodbye to my Madisyn."

In conclusion she told the Crumbleys, "Not only did your son kill my daughter, you did too."

She asked for the judge to give them the maximum sentence.

The judge did just that and sentenced each to 10-15 years in prison.

This is a developing story and will be updated.
MBABANE - A banker has been arrested for allegedly trying to kill his wife by stabbing her with a knife in the stomach.

Senzo Sizwe Mhlanga, who is employed by one of the reputable banks in the country, is said to have also assaulted his wife, Philile Ndlangamandla, with a spanner on the head. Mhlanga now stands accused of attempted murder, an offence he is alleged to have committed on March 24, 2024 along Malangwane Hill. The wife is also employed in one of the banking institutions. Mhlanga has since moved an urgent bail application at the High Court, where he claimed that his wife was the aggressor and was allegedly the one who attempted to kill him with a knife while inside a car along Malangwane Hill.

The accused told the court that he and the complainant were married in terms of civil rites. Mhlanga mentioned that for a period of two years, they had separated and his wife moved out of their matrimonial home. According to Mhlanga, throughout their separation, they maintained a very cordial relationship. He claimed that he made several attempts to make amends in their marriage, including arranging counselling sessions and family meetings. He alleged that his wife was, however, non-committal and this resulted in him proceeding to institute divorce proceedings. Mhlanga submitted that the divorce summons was vigorously opposed by his wife and this resulted in him abandoning the action.

Asthma

He narrated to the court that on March 24, 2024, he suffered an asthma attack while at his place at Mpolonjeni and he asked for assistance from his wife. According to the accused, his wife said he must drive to her place so she could accompany him to Ezulwini Private Hospital. The accused alleged that he indeed proceeded to her place of abode and they agreed to drive in her motor vehicle. Along the way to Ezulwini, we started arguing with the complainant her attitude is that she does not want me, but nobody should have me, alleged Mhlanga. He alleged that during the argument, he said some mean things to her, resulting in her grabbing the steering wheel while they were driving down Malangwane Hill. We hit the wall of a house and I sustained injuries on my leg. In actual fact, my leg got broken. A fight then ensued and she took a knife from her car and tried to stab me, submitted the accused.

Mhlanga alleged that they fought for the knife while inside the car, resulting in her getting stabbed. The complainant, according to Mhlanga, proceeded to hit him on the head with a wheel spanner until he managed to calm her down. He said they were both taken to hospital where they were admitted.

Arrested

Upon my release from hospital, I was arrested and charged with the offence I am currently facing. I submit that it will not be in the interest of justice to refuse me bail and allow my detention to continue, he argued. In motivating his application for bail, Mhlanga further averred that there was no likelihood that if released on bail, he might endanger the safety of the public or any particular person. Furthermore, I humbly submit that the matter is urgent by virtue of the fact that I am employed by one of the financial institutions in the Kingdom of Eswatini and I am expected to return to work, he argued.

He brought it to the courts attention that his continued incarceration might result in him losing his job, to his great prejudice and that of his dependants, which included two minor children. Mhlanga averred that there was no prejudice to be suffered by the Crown in the event he was released on bail as at this stage he was innocent and must be given the benefit of the doubt. The bail application is being met with resistance from the Crown, which is still to file its papers outlining why it would not be in the interest of justice to release the accused on bail. The matter is before Judge John Magagula. The accused is represented by Noncedo Ndlangamandla of Ndlangamandla Mabila Attorneys.
Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of Oxford High School shooter Eathan Crumbley addressed the court ahead of sentencing for her role in the deadly shooting.

"I have taken countless nights to lament over the anguish and shame over what my son did, the harm he caused to innocent lives, the families and the entire Oxford community," she told the court.

"I am not the same person I was prior to Nov. 30, 2021. This tragedy has changed who I am and it has taught me some very valuable lessons," Crumbley said.

She claimed that they were made out to be bad parents that could only raise a monster.

"We were good parents. We were the average family," she said. "I know we did our best."

"She does have a kind heart. She does have compassion," defense attorney Shannon Smith added after Crumbley gave her statement.

Jennifer and James Crumbley were in court together Tuesday for their sentencing. They are the first parents convicted in a mass school shooting in the United States.

They were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in separate cases. They were accused of neglecting to secure a gun at home and failing to address the clear signs of their child's mental distress.

Ethan Crumbley killed four students at Oxford High School in 2021.

Prosecutors say they could have prevented the shooting by removing the 15-year-old from school when confronted with his disturbing drawing on his math assignment shortly before the shooting.

During the trial, prosecutors also emphasized the fact that the teenager had access to a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun that was bought by James Crumbley just four days prior.

The judge sentenced each to 10-15 years in prison.
James Crumbley, the father of Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, addressed the court ahead of sentencing for his role in the deadly shooting, addressing the pain the victim's families have endured.

"I can't imagine the pain and agony for the families that have lost their children and what they are experiencing," James Crumbley said.

"My heart is really broken for everyone involved."

He named all of the children who died at his son's hands.

"I have cried for you and the loss of your children for more times than I can count," Crumbley said.

"I know your pain and loss will never go away."

He asked the judge to sentence him to time served and put him on probation.

Jennifer and James Crumbley were in court together Tuesday for their sentencing. They are the first parents convicted in a mass school shooting in the United States.

They were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in separate cases. They were accused of neglecting to secure a gun at home and failing to address the clear signs of their child's mental distress.

The judge sentenced each to 10-15 years in prison.

Ethan Crumbley killed four students at Oxford High School in 2021.

Prosecutors say they could have prevented the shooting by removing the 15-year-old from school when confronted with his disturbing drawing on his math assignment shortly before the shooting.

During the trial, prosecutors also emphasized the fact that the teenager had access to a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun that was bought by James Crumbley just four days prior.

Prosecutors are seeking at least 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter.
A grief-stricken mom says she hopes a Massachusetts man "burns directly in hell" over the road rage incident that killed her 26-year-old daughter.

Tracy Decoff vented her fury at Ryan Sweatt, 36, on Facebook the day after he allegedly ran down Destini Decoff on Route 85 in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, about 25 miles west of Boston.

"With every ounce of my being I hope that mf burns directly in hell!" she wrote.

The deadly incident unfolded around 6 p.m. on Thursday, when Sweatt allegedly made a U-turn and sped toward a group of people who got out of another vehicle after its driver tangled with him.

Destini Decoff was struck and thrown "several feet in the air," a prosecutor said at Sweatt's Friday arraignment, Boston TV station WBZ reported.

Witness Brett Martin said he rushed out of nearby Cornell's Irish Pub after hearing tires screech.

"I saw her mid-air, kind of coming down towards the street," he told WBZ. "Her jacket must've been 20 feet away from her. However she got hit, those clothes flew off."

Sweatt was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and related offenses.

He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and was ordered held without bail, WBZ said.

Sweatt told authorities that he was heading home from work when another driver pulled in front of him and slammed on the brakes, WBZ reported, citing court records.

Destini Decoff and four unidentified then got out of that car, surrounded Sweatt and allegedly threatened him, he said.

It's unclear who was driving the second vehicle.

Destini Decoff was "literally injured from head to toe" and was placed on life support following hours of surgery for bleeding in her brain and other wounds, her mom wrote.

Officials said Destini Decoff died of her injuries on Saturday, the Boston Globe reported, with Traci Decoff saying on Facebook that "my biggest fear as a mother became my reality."

"My first born child & best friend is no longer with me," she wrote early Sunday.

A spokesperson for the Middlesex district attorney's office told USA Today that the charges against Sweatt haven't been upgraded but that the case remained under investigation.
TFE Hotels has put their stamp in Docklands quite literally with the rebranding of the 273-room Vibe Hotel Melbourne Docklands, which officially welcomed its first guests, Aucklanders Lindy Catchpole and Roberta Donjeany yesterday afternoon.

Frequent flyer, Roberta Donjeany, said she'd stayed at Vibe Darling Harbour and Vibe Sydney before and loved it. "Vibe Hotels are always in great locations and there's always something going on the area," she said. "I can see Vibe Melbourne Docklands fitting very nicely with the brand."

Roberta's travelling companion, Lindy Catchpole, agreed. "I love shopping at The District Docklands and the tram is very accessible for travel into the CBD and back, so we're looking forward to the stay."

Hotel General Manager, Nigel Maxey, joined TFE Hotels' Group Chief Operating Officer, Chris Sedgwick; Senior Director of Operations ANZ, Tish Nyar; and Regional General Manager VIC, Stephen Moore, in celebrating the opening of the harbourside property - the twelfth of the Vibe brand and the second in Melbourne City.

"Last year was a milestone year as our homegrown Vibe Hotels brand completed a lap of the Aussie map with the opening of our design-focused Vibe Hotel Adelaide," Sedgwick said. "This year, the brand will continue to go from strength to strength as we welcome Vibe Hotel Melbourne Docklands into the fold, prepare to announce new pipeline hotels, and celebrate our 21st year of operations."

The innovations don't stop there, with sister property, Vibe Hotel Melbourne, launching a rooftop venue - conceptualized by Melbourne interior designer Paul Kelly - on April 12, making this, as Sedgwick says, "a brand to watch!"

The addition of the Vibe Melbourne Docklands - formerly the Four Points by Sheraton - gives TFE and owners, MA Financial Group, a strong upscale offering in the revitalised precinct and will help MA Financial seed the launch of the MA Accommodation Hotel Fund, an open-ended fund for wholesale investors targeting high quality assets.

Located close to Marvel Stadium and boasting harbourside and CBD views, and easy access to public transport, Vibe Melbourne Docklands is just minutes from Melbourne's famous dining scene, with Storehouse Dockland's in-house farm-to-table fare proving a welcome addition to the precinct's eateries.

TFE's Global Sales Officer, Shahnaz Bakhshay, said she had no doubt Vibe Melbourne Docklands would hold wide appeal across all market segments thanks to its accessible location; abundance of Deluxe Queen-Queen room stock and its versatility in the MICE space.

"Docklands, as a precinct, brings together the best of Melbourne's dining, conferencing, events, and accommodation in one buzzing spot and makes Vibe Docklands an attractive proposition for our leisure, conference and special event guests," she said. "We have no doubt the Deluxe Queen-Queen rooms will be very popular with families."

Shahnaz Bakhshay: Vibe Docklands is an attractive proposition for our leisure, conference, and special event guests. Download images here. "We're also excited to add an additional seven meeting rooms - including the Sky Room with its skyline views - to the Melbourne portfolio, along with a private bar and two outdoor terraces," she said. "Whilst wellness facilities like the heated rooftop lap pool, 24-hour fitness centre, pool, spa and steam room are perfect for sporting groups and that all-important post-game recovery."

Hotel website
Marriott Hotels, the signature flag of Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, is proud to announce the opening of Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa slated for May 2024. Situated on Florida's picturesque west coast, the eight-story property will serve as an oasis for business and leisure guests, offering a tapestry of immersive coastal experiences and unparalleled amenities.

"We are thrilled to welcome guests to Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, where elegance meets relaxation in one of Florida's most picturesque destinations," said Greg Ciaccio, General Manager of Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa. "From our best-in-class amenities and innovative culinary offerings to exceptional gathering and event spaces, we look forward to bringing Marriott Hotels' living legacy of putting people first to life with enriching experiences, heartfelt service and cherished memories."

Impeccable attention to detail defines every aspect of Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, embodying a vision that celebrates the resort's coastal locale. The architectural and design elements, reminiscent of a ship on land, pay homage to its nautical inspiration and idyllic location. The property offers 252 spacious guest rooms, each spanning 375 square-feet, with tailored amenities that ensure a comfortable and productive stay. In addition to its convenient location near downtown Bradenton and the stunning beaches of Anna Maria Island, the property will connect directly to the Bradenton Area Convention Center, which is currently undergoing a $48 million renovation and expansion, set to be completed in 2025. Once completed, the resort and the convention center will offer a combined total of 140,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space.

The hotel is set to feature elevated experiences and amenities including two resort style pools, and an additional fitness pool dedicated to lap sessions. At the Revive Pool, Spa, and Fitness Center, travelers can immerse themselves in a world of wellness and rejuvenation with indulgent spa treatments and state-of-the-art fitness facilities. Dive into premium beachfront amenities at the Palmetto Marriott Beach Club at Riviera Dunes, which provides guests with access to the beach volleyball court, pickleball courts and serene waterfront area with cabanas and loungers.

Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa boasts 10,000 square-feet of modern meeting space to complement the adjoining convention center. An expansive event epicenter featuring a 40,000 square-foot outdoor lawn and a state-of-the-art amphitheater, The Yard at South Bay Center allows guests to experience the vibrant local community from the convenience of the resort.

The Greatroom lobby, characterized by its residential-style decor and open layout, will serve as a social hub day and night. As a space to relax, collaborate with colleagues or socialize, the Greatroom lobby is equipped with the latest in design and comfort including, seamless connectivity with free wi-fi, essential technology and easily accessible food and drink options.

The resort will offer a selection of diverse on-site dining options, including The Social, where the restaurant's "Meet, Eat, Drink" mantra invites guests to enjoy delectable cuisine and crafted cocktails while fostering connections and creating lasting memories. Take in panoramic views while indulging in fresh Florida-inspired dishes with a Mediterranean twist at Oyster River rooftop or check out the "Fresh Always" food truck for delicious, on-the-go fare. Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa also features M Club, an executive club lounge for Marriott Bonvoy Members with Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite status, offering complimentary breakfast, all-day refreshments, and evening cocktails.

Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa participates in Marriott Bonvoy - the award-winning travel program from Marriott International - allowing members to earn and redeem points for their stay at the hotel, and at other hotels and resorts across Marriott Bonvoy's extraordinary portfolio of brands. With the Marriott Bonvoy App, members enjoy a level of personalization and a contactless experience that allows them to travel with peace of mind.

Visitors can arrive at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and Tampa International Airport (TPA), all less than an hour away from the resort.

Aimbridge Hospitality, the world's leading global hospitality company, will manage the Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, staffing a talented team of associates who will deliver on an exceptional track record in operations to create memorable guest experiences at every turn.

Hotel website
Branded residences are one of the fastest growing categories in the hospitality industry. At the start of 2023, Accor, a leading global player in the branded residences category, launched Accor One Living, an industry-first 360 platform for mixed-use projects and branded homeowner communities.

Just a little over one year after being launched, we are sharing an update on the progress of our fast-growing, branded residences business line. Jeff Tisdall, Accor One Livings Chief Business Officer sat down to discuss how this dedicated organization, which supports every phase of the lifecycle of mixed-use projects, is serving development partners, investors, and homeowners, and has become a key value driver for Accor in this fast-growing sector.

The launch of Accor One Living last year was a major milestone for Accor. How did the Group develop expertise in branded residences and mixed-use developments?

Jeff Tisdall: Accor One Living formalizes what weve been doing for more than two decades. Weve gathered over 20 years of expertise in branded residences and related mixed-use products and brought it together into a single organization. We provide a turnkey set of solutions tailored to each market: bringing each brand to life through architecture and design, facilities and amenities, experience and global recognition. We have now successfully extended the business, first pioneered under the Fairmont brand in North America, across nearly all segments and geographies served by Accor.

And what are the strengths of Accor One Living?

JT: The successful integration of a branded residence into a mixed-use development requires a distinct number of capabilities. Our advantage lies in our ability to pull these capabilities together within a single, integrated team and then apply this cross-functional expertise in a coordinated fashion across each phase of a project. To illustrate, Accor One Living supports our development partners throughout planning and design, legal structuring, as well as in their sales and marketing efforts, and into the pre-opening and operating phases. It is a truly turnkey, 360 support and it really makes a difference to our development partners and the homeowner communities we serve. Real estate investors and developers have long chosen to partner with Accor for its care and commitment to successfully support these complex projects, knowing the Group understands their needs and has a brand that will resonate with the profile of the homeowners they are targeting, and their developments' unique, local aesthetic.

Accor One Living brings a deep commitment and turnkey, 360 support made possible by a single, focused, and integrated team of specialists  and that means a lot to our development partners, to the incredible brands we are growing, and to our homeowner communities. Accor One Living is designed to set us apart from our competitors. Jeff Tisdall, Chief Business Officer Accor One Living

How does Accor One Living leverage Accors brand portfolio and expertise to deliver tailored solutions to development partners?

JT: The decision to co-locate a hotel and a branded residence in a mixed-use development, or to create a standalone branded community, is really the starting point for us. We think carefully about the translation of the brand's identity to residential spaces and private facilities, while ensuring the curation of a distinct and uniquely personalized residential experience. Across the Accor One Living portfolio, we now offer 25 brands  encompassing luxury, lifestyle, premium and midscale segments  enabling our development partners to enter their market with well differentiated offers designed to appeal to relevant buyer profiles. Our portfolio includes not only the established luxury pioneers in branded residential such as Fairmont and Raffles, but also innovative lifestyle brands that are rooted in culture and community. We understand that for our development partners, it is crucial to make a distinctive impression when entering a market. As an illustration, SO/ Residences Uptown Dubai was recently opened by our partner DMCC: featuring the fashion-driven branding of SO/, it has infused an energy, sophistication and playfulness into the design and service offering. This tailored approach, in which we reinterpret and adapt the brand to suit a private, residential setting, has enabled us to support DMCC in bringing a truly first-of-a-kind offering to a highly competitive market.

And how is Accor One Living driving value for Accor?

JT: There are three ways in which our mixed-use platform drives value that come immediately to mind for me. For starters, were building brand loyalty across the Accor ecosystem. We see the purchase of a branded residence as the ultimate expression of loyalty. Our experience as operators of branded communities significantly deepens our relationship with homeowners, and we take this responsibility very seriously. Secondly, for our investment partners, branded residential and mixed-use capabilities, particularly in the luxury, premium and lifestyle segments, are competitive must-haves. Investors are looking for operators who can not only drive the performance of hotel assets but are able to successfully extend their management solutions and brands to residential, coworking and private club concepts. Accor One Living significantly enhances our overall competitiveness and appeal to investment partners. Finally, for homeowners themselves, the programming, service and experiences we curate in very private residential settings, be that an opportunity to host an intimate talk with an author or artist in a screening room, cocktail or wine tasting events or a private dining concept, enables us to evolve our brands and bring them to life in exciting new ways. It helps to drive brand innovation and it inspires us.

What is the potential of mixed-use development?

JT: Mixed-use development is front and center in terms of growing our brands. A significant majority of the new hotel development opportunities we are seeing are mixed-use. In addition to hotel and residential components, there is frequently further value to be added through the addition of other innovative hospitality products, be that a private club or coworking concept. These projects require not only compelling brands, but also the ability to bring specific expertise to each component while still capturing efficiencies during the operating phase through a shared services model. There is also an important balance to strike in terms of sharing facilities and amenities. Hotels for instance, enable us to make a compelling array of 24/7, on-demand services available to residences owners, and yet the privacy of the homeowner needs to be safeguarded at every turn during the design process and operating phase. This is really where we feel our expertise in branded residences sets us apart, as we can leverage our two decades of experience to help our partners successfully integrate a next generation of products and services into mixed-use developments.

Can you name a few emblematic projects?

JT: It has been said the OWO Residences by Raffles in London is the flagship of flagships. Its both a legacy project - formerly the Old War Office, this building has played a pivotal role in British history - and a highly technical, design success, with 12 iconic restaurants and bars, an immersive spa and 84 Raffles branded residences. Its dramatic restoration represents a massive commitment by the Hinduja Group and a legacy for future generations. Another compelling example of modern mixed-use development is SO/ Uptown Dubai, where fashion and design theater inspire a spectacular set of residence amenities and private facilities which are exclusive to residence owners.

Lets look to the future, what are the next steps to leverage the Accor One Living platform?

JT: There is always a lot to do, and we are incredibly excited by the potential we see. Primarily for us, it is a matter of continuing to build on our strengths. We offer our homeowners tremendous benefits and privileges, not only in the property in which they own, but across our global network of more than 5,500 hotels and resorts worldwide. Theres also untapped potential in a brand like Sofitel, as well as MGallery and Emblems which are respectively our upper upscale and luxury collection brands. Thats an example of where our ability to embrace innovation and to think creatively in terms of how these brands can be translated to and brought to life in a private residential context will serve us well. By 2027, Savills Global Development Consultancy expects 1,100 branded residence projects to be operating globally, from 640 today. So not only has the category grown significantly over the last decade, but we're seeing further acceleration. We will lean into this growth by continuing to innovate with new products, services and offerings.

One last word for us?

JT: As exciting as the last number of years have been for us, we believe that we have only just begun to tap into the potential in terms of helping our partners develop and operate branded residences alongside hotels anchoring mixed-use developments. Our unmatched portfolio of brands and ability to tailor turnkey solutions are now more crucial than ever. As a team, we take pride in the comprehensive support we provide across each phase in the lifecycle of the projects we brand and operate. Our promise in this regard resonates with our development partners and the communities of homeowners we serve  we have been fulfilling this promise for over two decades and we are excited to continue doing so, in an even bigger way, in the decades to come.
The 70th meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Europe brought together 40 high-level representatives in the Albanian capital. With the participation of nearly all UN Tourisms Members in the region, the meeting served as a platform for dialogue and collaboration, providing a ground for exchanging knowledge, sharing best practices, and addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the tourism sector.

Albania leads Europes tourism rebound

Prior to the meeting, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili met with the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama to discuss shared priorities and future collaboration. The Secretary General has commended Albanias leadership in tourism recovery after the pandemic  the country has been one of the best performing destinations in 2023, showing 53% increase over the international tourism arrivals registered in 2019.

The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister also discussed the importance of sustainable tourism development and opportunities to further enhance the tourism sector in Albania. They exchanged views on key strategies to promote responsible tourism practices, harness digital innovation, and further contribute to economic growth through tourism education. They underscored the value of fostering a resilient and inclusive tourism industry that benefits local communities and preserves cultural heritage.

Legal framework for the Agenda for Europe

High-level delegations representing 40 Members were informed about the work and activities realized by UN Tourism since the Commission met in Bulgaria in June 2023, as well as strategic objectives and priorities, with a focus on:

Political outlook and the situation Europe

The rebranding of World Tourism Organization

Latest data on tourism arrivals and receipts

Events and initiatives

In Tirana, Members adopted the Rules of Procedure of the Working Group, the Selection Criteria and Key Performance Indicators for the evaluation for the projects supported through the Agenda for Europe and agreed on the priorities for the elaboration of the workplan of the Agenda for 2024. The Agenda for Europe is the manifestation of the priorities of the members in the region of Europe, the world's leading destination and a pioneer in tourism innovation. It aims to ensure a regional focus that will benefit and address the specific needs of the members at a regional and subregional level.

This document is the result of a consultative process among the members in the region, initiated during the 66th meeting of the Commission for Europe in 2021, to advance the adaptability of the European tourism ecosystem to the new trends and reality that emerged in the post-pandemic era.

Moving forward

The Commission Members were updated about the preparations for World Tourism Day 2024 by Georgia and accepted the invitation of Azerbaijan to host the Commission meeting in 2025.

Subregional focus

The second meeting of the Working Group for Southeast Europe was held on the sidelines of the 70th meeting of the Commission for Europe, by the initiative of the host, Albania, and UN Tourism. The purpose of the meeting was to foster an in-depth discussions on the specific challenges facing the tourism sector in Southeast Europe. Representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia shared their ideas, insights, and opinions, with a special focus on short-term rentals and regional investments.

Tomorrow, a traditional side conference will be held about Tourism Investments and Economic Development in Europe. During this event, a guideline Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Albania, developed by UN Tourism, will be presented. The speakers, experts, and other participants of the event will discuss the global tourism investments trends and opportunities, identify avenues for accelerating tourism investments for positive change and for the benefit for all and share success stories and future prospects of tourism investments in Albania.

Related Links:

About UN Tourism

The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

As the leading international organization in the field of tourism, UN Tourism promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

Our Priorities

Mainstreaming tourism in the global agenda: Advocating the value of tourism as a driver of socio-economic growth and development, its inclusion as a priority in national and international policies and the need to create a level playing field for the sector to develop and prosper.

Promoting sustainable tourism development: Supporting sustainable tourism policies and practices: policies which make optimal use of environmental resources, respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities and provide socio-economic benefits for all.

Fostering knowledge, education and capacity building: Supporting countries to assess and address their needs in education and training, as well as providing networks for knowledge creation and exchange.

Improving tourism competitiveness: Improving UN Tourism Members' competitiveness through knowledge creation and exchange, human resources development and the promotion of excellence in areas such as policy planning, statistics and market trends, sustainable tourism development, marketing and promotion, product development and risk and crisis management.

Advancing tourism's contribution to poverty reduction and development: Maximizing the contribution of tourism to poverty reduction and achieving the SDGs by making tourism work as a tool for development and promoting the inclusion of tourism in the development agenda.

Building partnerships: Engaging with the private sector, regional and local tourism organizations, academia and research institutions, civil society and the UN system to build a more sustainable, responsible and competitive tourism sector.

Our Structure

Members: An intergovernmental organization, UN Tourism has 160 Member States, 6 Associate Members, 2 Observers and over 500 Affiliate Members.

Organs: The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the Organization. The Executive Council take all measures, in consultation with the Secretary-General, for the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the General Assembly and reports to the Assembly.

Secretariat: UN Tourism headquarters are based in Madrid, Spain. The Secretariat is led by the Secretary-General and organized into departments covering issues such as sustainability, education, tourism trends and marketing, sustainable development, statistics and the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), destination management, ethics and risk and crisis management. The Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Department carries out development projects in over 100 countries worldwide, while the Regional Departments for Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and the Middle East serve as the link between UN Tourism and its 160 Member States. The Affiliate Members Department represents UN Tourism's 500 plus Affiliate members.

UN Tourism Communications Department

+34 91 567 8100

UN Tourism
NH Collection Sandton - Signing Ceremony - Minor Hotels and The Cavaleros Group



NH Collection Sandton to be launched in Africa's richest square mile

Minor Hotels announced the signing of a strategic partnership with The Cavaleros Group to manage a hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. The signing represents the upcoming debut of Minor Hotels NH Collection brand on the African continent.

From July 1st 2024 the group will manage the hotel in Sandton, the financial district of South Africas largest city. The 329-key property will first operate as NH Sandton and subsequently, following an extensive refurbishment of the property, will be rebranded as NH Collection Sandton.

This iconic hotel, spanning 30 years of successful operation, is located in Sandton, Johannesburg, approximately twenty kilometres from O.R. Tambo International Airport. NH Sandton will offer a selection of guest room categories including lead-in rooms, suites, one-bedroom suites and the 145 square metre Royal Suite. Facilities at the property will include two restaurants and two bars, an executive lounge, conference facilities, in addition to a gym and large outdoor swimming pool.

The Cavaleros Group was established in South Africa in 1926, with the property arm being established in 1967 by the late Cosmas Cavaleros (Founder and Chairman), led by Penny Cavaleros (Chief Executive Officer) and Alexi Cavaleros (Head of International Acquisitions). The Cavaleros Group is one of the largest privately-owned property groups in South Africa, with its core business being the investment and development of data centres, commercial, industrial, hospitality and retail properties, both locally and internationally, and is a leading and respected member of the local and international property industry, having assembled and growing a portfolio of institutional-quality assets.

This profound partnership between Minor Hotels and The Cavaleros Group secures the opportunity for Minor Hotels to pioneer their inaugural venture in South Africa, which is recognised as the second largest economy on the continent in terms of GDP and is a country which the hotel group is targeting for future development. Both Minor Hotels and The Cavaleros Group plan to foster a strong relationship, with the intention to partner together on future hospitality opportunities throughout the African continent.

William Heinecke, Chairman and Founder of Minor International, parent company of Minor Hotels, commented, We are thrilled to sign this strategic partnership with The Cavaleros Group to launch NH and soon NH Collection in South Africa and with it launch our first property in the country. This property will join our growing portfolio of hotels in Africa, where our Anantara, Avani and Elewana brands are already present. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Penny and the Cavaleros team.

Penny Cavaleros, Chief Executive Officer of The Cavaleros Group, also commented, The decision to partner with Minor Hotels for our Sandton Hotel and Africa was legendary for The Cavaleros Group. We, as a Group, identified certain asset classes within the property sector which we will aggressively pursue, hospitality being one with exponential growth into the African continent. Over the past three years we have engaged with all international hotel groups and concluded and recognised that Minor Hotels history, speed and culture is synonymous with our core Group values. We are currently considering several hospitality opportunities across the continent and have commenced our due diligence process.

Minor Hotels currently operates 27 hotels and resorts in eight countries in Africa, across its Anantara, Avani and Elewana Collection brands, with a further pipeline of future properties.

NH Collection has an existing portfolio of over 90 properties worldwide and can be found in top city locations across Europe and the Americas, with the first properties launched last year in the Middle East, on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, and in the Maldives. The brand will debut later this year in Asia with the opening of NH Collection Chiang Mai in Thailand, with further properties to launch this year including in Finland and Qatar.
Tripadvisor Blocks Record 2 Million Fake Reviews in 2023

More travel means more online reviews. More reviews mean more fakes - and more work for the people, and technology, set up to catch them.

Tripadvisor said Tuesday it blocked a record 2 million misleading reviews from its site in 2023, while stopping 4 in 5 of those reviews from ever appearing on the site  another record for the company.

Removing fake reviews to preserve the integrity of those that remain has been a growing concern for both government regulators and the companies that rely on online customer reviews, including suppliers such as hotels and tour operators and online travel agencies that also display reviews, such as Expedia and Booking.com.

With more than a billion reviews and opinions from global travelers on its site, Tripadvisor lays claim to the title of the travels leading guidance platform  making its biennial transparency reports something of a barometer for the industry.

In the report it released last year, the company found that in 2022 about 4% of its 30 million reviews were fakes. Tuesdays news came in the form of a blog post by Becky Foley, the vice president of trust and safety at Tripadvisor. With 31 million reviews submitted to the company last year, blocked reviews accounted for 6.3% of the total  more than a 50% increase from the previous year.

As online reviews grow more important in how consumers choose where to go and what to do when they travel, the number of fakes has also increased.

Fake is a catch-all term that also includes misleading or biased posts. These include positive reviews from owners, employees or family members associated with a business; paid reviews; reviews posted by competitors to hurt another business; and fraudulent reviews posted independently by consumers to either boost or hurt a business.

In recent years, Tripadvisor has seen a notable uptick in what it calls incentivized reviews  those that are posted in exchange for freebies. More scrutiny on such reviews might explain part of the growth in fakes last year, as incentivized reviews accounted for 22% of the blocked reviews, which Tripadvisor said was also a record number.

Our team focused on incentivized review removal this year and the results speak for themself  we were able to remove a large number of them throughout the year, Foley told PhocusWire in an email response to questions. Were committed to continuing to evolve our industry-leading combination of technology and humans to keep biased content off the site.

Even when hotels offer even something as small as a free cookie or entry into reward raffle in exchange for a review, Tripadvisor dismisses the review as less credible than one thats offered freely. The same applies to employee-based incentives, like giving a day off to workers who get mentioned favorably in reviews.

Offering either of these types of rewards programs leads to biased and untrustworthy reviews, Foley wrote in the blog post.

In 2023, European-based businesses were responsible for the highest number of user incentive violations on the site, accounting for about one-third of all violations worldwide. North America had the most instances of employee incentives, accounting for almost 40% of them. Sitewide, hotels accounted for more than half of all global incentive violations.

The rise in fake reviews has prompted growing interest in protecting consumer interests. The United States Federal Trade Commission last year proposed a set of rules that, if approved, could carry fines of up to $50,000 for each time a consumer sees a fake review.

Also last year, Tripadvisor helped organize the launch of a global coalition for trusted reviews that includes Booking.com and Expedia Group along with other websites that rely on user reviews such as Amazon, job and recruiting website Glassdoor and business review website Trustpilot. Coalition members met in San Francisco in October and Brussels in December to discuss ways to protect consumers and partners from fake reviews.

Our team focused on incentivized review removal this year and the results speak for themself  we were able to remove a large number of them throughout the year. Becky Foley - Tripadvisor

We are very optimistic about this group and will have more to share soon, Foley said.

In the meantime, she shed light on Tripadvisors methods for flagging suspicious content in her blog post, saying her team uses the kinds of technology and analysis employed by fraud departments at banks. The automated process flags reviews that need human intervention for a final determination.

Before a review is posted on our site, our proprietary combination of technology and humans scan them for abnormal user behavior and proactively surface incentives violations, Foley wrote.

She also credited Tripadvisor users, both consumers who leave reviews and the businesses that respond to them, calling them one of the best defenses we have against incentivized reviews.

We reach out to users where we suspect incentives may have been involved  asking them if they were offered anything in exchange for writing their review, she said.

Tripadvisor removes the reviews and informs the business owner when incentive violations are discovered. The actions regularly result in businesses ceasing their incentive programs, Tripadvisor said. Depending on the severity of transgressions, Tripadvisor may penalize a companys listing page.

Ultimately, this report is about recognizing the importance of trust for platforms like Tripadvisor, Foley wrote in the most recent transparency report. We understand that trust is earned, not given, and by shining a light on the data and processes behind our platform, we hope to demonstrate why the trust our community has in us is not misplaced.

This article originally appeared on PhocusWire.
A talk with independent Jamaican musician Tahirah Elizabeth

Popular neo-soul artist Tahirah Elizabeth shares her musical inspirations and highlights throughout her career.

by Janelle Borg of Amplify You

Jamaican artist Tahirah Elizabeth fuses reggae beats with Neo-soul, and is part of the movement that is ushering in a new era for Jamaican contemporary music. As a marine conservationist by day and musician by night, Tahirah is not short of ambition  having launched her own non-profit Conservation Through Education Jamaica (CTEJ), toured with the ASHE (Performing Arts) Company and started a YouTube channel. We caught up with Tahirah Elizabeth to learn more about her career so far and Jamaicas underground music scene.

What are some of your earliest musical memories?

My earliest musical memories are good and bad, haha. I remember making up dance routines with my cousins in my backyard and singing to the Cheetah Girls, or going solo as Ciara or Brittney Spears.

I remember being in the choir in prep school and getting a solo often for Christmas, and getting sick, every Christmas, so I couldnt sing, or struggled to. I remember doing my first musical in high school and how thrilling it was, and how much I loved being able to sing and dance at once, as well as doing some supporting acting! I knew back then that I could do rehearsals every day for the rest of my life once it meant I could perform.

Who inspires you?

Many people in different creative industries inspire me but they all have one thing in common and that is they pursue their craft with everything in them and, despite the odds. Anyone who does that is an inspiration to me.

If I had to name names, of course Rihanna, as a fellow Caribbean Island girl, she is definitely an inspiration and a testament to there being no limit to what you can achieve, regardless of where youre from. Teyana Taylor is a top G for me, jack of all trades, she is involved in so many different creative spaces and is a boss in them all. Finally, Ms. Lauryn Hill is a timeless icon whose longevity and impact in the industry I aspire to achieve.

Who is your dream collaborator?

My dream collaboration would be with Jorja Smith, hands down, easy. I love the sound of her voice, her style, her vibe YUP!

Highlight of your career so far?

I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Marcia Griffiths in 2023 and I was able to show her a recording of a performance I did and I will never forget her saying I did a great job and how lovely it was that I was a beautiful black girl singing the song, and so well. The song was a cover of Black Woman by Judy Mowatt. I performed the song during Reggae Month in February 2021 during one of their weekly Wednesday night shows for the month; Reggae Wednesdays: Reggaelution, where we honoured reggae icons. It was particularly special because they were both members of Bob Marley and the Wailers and the I Threes.

Chronixx and Kabaka Pyramid were the headliners for the same show, so you could say I opened for them, but I dont think it counts because it wasnt in front of an in-person audience, haha. Thanks Covid!

Who else should we listen to from your local scene?

I mostly listen to the less mainstream artists in Jamaica. So! Some people I would encourage you to check out are Tori Lattore, Courtni, Llyell, Dyani, Vivo GreyLordd & SanityDSane1. Also anything produced by EchoBeats, Mari The Producer or JingoHolOnDeh!

If you had to change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

How little artists get paid from streaming platforms. Duh.

Any projects in the pipeline that youd like to share with us?

Right now, Im in the collection phase. Im really trying to gather a solid number of songs and have them fully recorded before I think about releasing anything. In the past Ive put all my eggs in one basket and when the basket fell, all the eggs broke, and there was nothing for me to do. So, the plan is to have many eggs in multiple baskets. Then, I will time them right so I am able to provide my audience with a consistent supply of music. So, the short answer is, nothing to share right now BUT Ill be coming for you later in the year!

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Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti joins the eclipse viewers at the Common on Monday afternoon. PreviousNext

Berkshire County Views the Eclipse



The day was clear and warm, perfect for gathering on the lawn at the North Adams Public Library. Dozens of people watched the astronomical show from blankets and lawn chairs. The library handed out about 650 eclipse glasses leading up to the event. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The partial solar eclipse was seen and heard in the city as people turned out to experience the celestial event in various locations.

It lasted nearly 2 1/2 hours and Berkshire County had a peak of 95 percent coverage at 3:27 p.m., when it appeared to be sundown and there was a chill in the air from the lack of light.

The Berkshire Athenaeum held a Teen Neon Party with a livestream in the auditorium and a music-filled black light dance party with DJ Chris Plankey. The Common was alive with city staff and community members for an informal viewing party.

UCP of Western Massachusetts held a "sound for all" hearing of the eclipse at its offices at the Clock Tower Building with a LightSound device that allows people with all levels of sight to experience the eclipse aurally. UCP was the only place between Albany, N.Y., and Springfield to have the devices.

The device was developed by Harvard and Smithsonian University in 2017 as a tool to allow the blind and low-vision community to experience a solar eclipse.

"When the sun is fully out, a loud, bright flute sound plays. When the moon eclipses the sun, a lower-tone clarinet starts playing. As you reach full totality, the sound will stop, and clicking will sound," the education flyer reads.

The small device uses sonification, which converts data, in this case light intensity, into sound. The project had a goal of distributing more than 750 devices distributed at no cost to organizations hosting eclipse events.

"As the Moon eclipses the Sun during a Solar Eclipse, the sunlight begins to dim, and the LightSound device will output a change in musical tone," the LightSound Project website says.

A dozen organizations attended the event, Elizabeth Irwin, assistant manager of fundraising and communications, said.

"One in four families in Berkshire County and in the Pioneer Valley have a disabled person living with them. So, this is very important for families as a chance for them to come and really share this major event," Irwin said.

"It's all over the news. It's all over everywhere, and they can include everybody in the family."

As soon as event organizers at UPC heard about this device on National Public Radio they jumped at the opportunity and was lucky enough to be one of the first organizations, Iris Long, UCP assistive technology regional center director, said.

"They ended up doing workshops to allow all the public to come in and try to make these devices. Their goal with this device is to make it as cheap and easy to produce so everyone could have a chance to listen to this," she said.

"In the like few months that they had to work on this, they made over 950 devices, and those are all there across the country right now. So, we're very lucky to have one and very lucky to use this technology, which I think will become even bigger."

"[The device] gives you another way of being able to experience something special for the blind that wasn't available just a few years ago," Phillip Shallies said.

Shallies has been blind for more than 40 years and has been a member of the Berkshire Benevolent Association for the Blind. The association is a support group that refers the blind and visually impaired to resources that help them feel more independent and enjoy their lives.

They also create opportunities that make the blind and visually impaired feel more part of the community.

Solar eclipse viewing glasses were a hot commodity for the Berkshire Athenaeum, as it received 500 pairs and distributed them with ease before the event even began.

Lights were off in the library's auditorium which was decked out with lights and glow-up activities for the Teen Neon Party. Young Adult Librarian Vanessa Justice explained that this is a safe space for the kids to socialize, learn about the eclipse, and hang out in a safe space.

The teens also had snacks and pizza to mark the occasion.

Justice anticipated up to 30 teen attendees for the event that was funded through book sales made by the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum.

"I have a teen advisory board so I asked them their opinions on what they want to see at the library and this was one of the things that they came up with," she explained.

"They love making slime so we have glow-in-the-dark slime. They really wanted glow sticks and all this fun stuff."

The library has hosted two other teen parties and had a great turnout, she reported. The next big event is a summer reading party that the teens will plan.

The Parks Department played an eclipse mix at The Common with songs like The Animals' hit "House of the Rising Sun."

"This was an impromptu event we pulled together. We know that the Common is the heart of our downtown and look at it," Park, Open Space, and Natural Resource Program Manager James McGrath said, pointing to the park full of people enjoying the view through eclipse glasses.

"We couldn't be happier that folks are gathering in the community here," he said.

Mayor Peter Marchetti and members of the Department of Community Development also joined the watch party.

Dina and Charles Hochbaum and sisters Nan and Maxine Bookless were amongst the many enjoying the celestial event at The Common, having brought their chairs and snacks to maximize the experience.

The group saw that there was going to be a "big party" at the city park.

"I'm in awe of this," Nan Bookless said, pointing to the wonder of being on the earth watching the moon move in front of the sun.

In North Adams, people were out and about Main Street, ditching the office for a little bit to get a glimpse of the astronomical event. The public library offered a lawn viewing and dozens of people came with blankets and chairs to settle in for the two-hour passage.

"We were very pleased with the number of people that turned out. We had 650 or so sets of solar eclipse glasses and they all disappeared -- being given out to people not vanished," laughed library volunteer Gareth Williams. "We had a good range of people here and questions and I think people were interested to see it and they could actually see the effect as it got cold. It got noticeably colder just as the eclipse progressed and now it's getting lighter again. But it's been an interesting experience."

He had hoped to set up a livestream of the eclipse on a screen but technical issues prevented that.

"The problem was that although we could get the telescope to point to the sun and track it, for some reason, which we still can't explain, the detector didn't produce an image even though the laptop detected the device," Williams said.

The telescope arrived more than a week ago, purchased through the astronomy gift left by the late state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, but the weather had not been cooperative in practicing its use.

Monday dawned bright and warm, a big difference from last week's snow and ice.

Swan Kusek and When Leggett had walked down the street to set up chairs on the library lawn to spend a couple hours watching the event.

"It was great, it was fantastic," said Kusek, who like so many others tried to capture the eclipse on his phone.

Peggy Winslow had brought along something she'd used teaching science at the former Conte Middle School: a radiometer, a device that indicates the intensity of light by the speed its little vanes spin.

"When it was first, you know before it started, it was spinning really fast," said Winslow. "And then when it got you know kind of twilight, it stopped spinning and now it's starting to spin again."

The North Adams resident had seen the 2017 eclipse in Montana.

"There wasn't totality, but it wasn't here either," she said. "I would have liked to have seen it. I was debating if I should go up to Vermont but yeah, decided to stay in North Adams. This is fine."
Francis Tremblay and Larry Caprari are honored Saturday for their years of service to VVA Chapter 65 during the annual National Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony. PreviousNext

Vietnam Veterans, Outgoing VVA Members Honored in Pittsfield



The ceremony has been held by the monument in Park Square for nearly a half-century.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The slushy snow left in Park Square from last week's storm did not stop Berkshire County veterans from honoring the 27 local people who were killed in action in Vietnam.



"We are gathered here today to remember the men and women from Berkshire County who gave their lives while serving in Vietnam for their country," veteran Ron Rousseau said on Saturday before reading the names of the fallen service members.



The annual ceremony recognizes National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which is on March 29. A coalition of local veterans has been holding it for about 50 years, placing wreaths on the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial in Park Square to honor those lost.



This year, two outgoing members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 65 were honored for years of service to the organization: Francis "Fran" Tremblay and Larry Caprari.



Master of Ceremonies Woody Vaspra coined them the "most outstanding in Pittsfield and Berkshire County" and asked that attendees shake their hands at the end of the ceremony.



The two were said to have been instrumental in the founding management and achievements of the chapter for more than 40 years and have announced that they will be stepping down. Tremblay has been the president since 2008 and Caprari is the finance officer.



"His work in keeping this chapter very active such as today is living proof of his leadership and dedication to the veterans of Berkshire County. He was instrumental in creating the Berkshire County Veterans Coalition to support veterans throughout the county," Vaspra said about Tremblay.



"Fran has recently decided to step down and spend more time with his family."



Caprari was also recognized for his foundational leadership while he served in key positions of the chapter, most recently as the finance director.



"He was the former veteran's service officer for the city of Pittsfield and still keeps himself very busy helping fellow veterans in that capacity. When a veteran needs to find much-needed information they just ask Larry," Vaspra explained.



"Larry has also decided to step down and spend more time with his family."



Veteran Skip Hoskeer read a letter about the spirit of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., that honors more than 58,000 servicemen and women who lost their lives during the war.



Last year, the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, also referred to as "The Healing Wall," visited Dalton. The names of 58,311 casualties are listed on the 6-foot-tall wall that spans 300 feet.



For many, traveling to the memorial in Washington is not possible. The traveling wall is three-quarters the scale of the monument and provides people a chance to see these names.



Also last year, Pittsfield unveiled the "Lest We Forget" mural in its new location surrounded by nearly 100 officials and community members.



The artwork honors and remembers Berkshire County's military personnel who were killed in action in Vietnam and veterans of the war who are living today.



Participants in the Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony included the VVA Chapter 65, Marine Corps League Detachment 137, Italian War Veterans Post 75, Dalton American Legion Post 155, Dalton American Legion Riders Post 155, VFW Post 448, DAV Chapter 15, American Legion Post 68, and American Legion District 1.

The 27 Berkshire County residents who were killed in action during the Vietnam War:



* James Henneberry

* George Shufelt

* Francis Bissaillon

* David Borey

* Edward Jarvis

* John Pratt

* Kevin Aldam

* Russell Roulier

* Paul Cronk Jr.

* Paul Conner

* Chester Witanek

* Howard Luscier

* Peter Cook

* Patrick Muraca

* Gary Benjamin

* John Malloy

* Michael Casey

* Charles Jaquins

* James Termini

* Michael Whalen

* Charles Cummings

* William Coakley

* Peter Foote

* Richard Davis

* John Hartlage

* Paul Krzynowek

* Tristan Hayes


The town flag is displayed on the wall behind the board's table in the meeting room in this file photo.

Williamstown Board Votes to Remove Town Flag From Meeting Room



There are two versions of the town flag; one in Town Hall and the other in the Hall of Flags at the State House. The 1753 House in Field Park is a recreation built for the town's bicentennial in 1965. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Select Board has agreed to remove the town flag a year after town meeting established a bylaw restricting the use of flags on public property.

The town flag has been prominently displayed behind the table in the Select Board meeting room for some time. Its three mountains, the Mount Greylock tower and fall foliage haven't caused any issues  it's the image of the 1753 House sitting in the middle.

The board voted unanimously to remove it as no longer representing the town's values and culture and to replace it with the town's logo or images of Williamstown for now. It also is not on the list of flags approved for display, noted Chair Jeffrey Johnson, but there could be some "grayness" on what the Select Board could host if it wished to pursue it.

"The bylaw speaks for itself," he said. "That's something I don't believe we followed up on when we wrote the bylaw originally."

The article passed last May stated that only the U.S. flag, the state flag and the POW/MIA flag could be displayed at specific town properties including Town Hall. The article was unanimously recommended by the Select Board and was in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that governmental entities had the right to select the views it wants to express. https://tinyl.io/Ab1k

Board member Stephanie Boyd said she'd spoken with Thomas Sheldon, the former board member who had served on the flag committee back in 2015. Sheldon had told the DIRE Committee last month that he was not opposed to changing the flag as "Williamstown's world has changed dramatically" since it was adopted. His granddaughter had come up with the basic design for the flag.

"I don't think this flag any longer really reflects the broad spectrum of people and ideas when we think about Williamstown and even if we keep the flag, I think like having it here as the backdrop of every single town board meeting, I would say is a lot," said Boyd. "So I would recommend that we put it someplace possibly less prominent than it is now and we could think about why we want a different flag."

Board member Jane Patton said she gets "jumpy about removing historical facts so that we can represent ourselves in a different light ... but it doesn't mean you ignore or erase history. ...

"This one rubs at me a little bit in that regard."

The argument against the town flag was that it displays the town's colonial heritage, a symbol not celebrated by every citizen, she said, but noted that the town was considering adding in the progress pride flag that also doesn't apply to everyone in town.

The Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity Committee had brought up the issue that the town flag runs afoul of the bylaw at its meeting last month. It also voted unanimously at the same meeting to recommend a citizen's petition to town meeting that would add the progress pride flag be added the list of approved flags, which the Select Board unanimously endorsed on Monday with no discussion.

Johnson said he wanted to "absolutely make it clear to the citizen, the young citizen who put this flag together, this has nothing to do with you."

"At the time you did exactly what we were looking for, the town went through due process to make this determination," he said. "But obviously, it means somebody who looks at culture in our town and looks at what this represents to many, which has come out many times over the last couple of years, I just think it's something that we need to figure out."

Board member Randal Fippinger, also a member of the DIRE Committee, said he agreed with both Boyd and Patton that context matters.

"I would love for that to be kept, but to go either to the Historical Society or another place that some smart people feel that it should be," he said. "Because when, just reiterating what Stephanie just said, when we look at it in every meeting, it sends a message of values."

Johnson said he would like it to come down and be placed where it can be enjoyed, noting how much he dislikes the state flag that show Myles Standish's sword above a Native American. (An effort to redesign the state flag petered out last year.)

"It is history but it's not inclusive history," he said.
The Philippines Department of Health, Tarlac Provincial Health Office and Qualcomm Incorporated, through its Wireless Reach initiative, today announced the expansion of the Wireless Access for Health (WAH) project, which uses 3G technology to improve health care in the Philippines and create healthier, happier communities. Local Tarlac government officials have committed to support the replication of the project across the entire province by the end of 2012.

The Philippine Field Health Service Information System (FHSIS) is the governments primary method for managing public health data and is used for policy analysis and planning at all levels of the public health system. Traditionally, information has been manually recorded on paper by health care providers  a time consuming and error prone process that is difficult to access and manage. The WAH project streamlines the reporting process and improves access to accurate and timely patient information for clinicians and decision makers by utilizing 3G wireless technology, building upon and strengthening the existing Community Health Information Tracking System (CHITS), an electronic medical records system developed by the University of the Philippines, Manila.

Since the project began in July 2009, WAH partners have established CHITS as their own electronic medical record (EMR) platform and successfully expanded implementation from four rural health units to 21 health clinics in the Tarlac Province, serving more than 1,500 patients a day. As of April 2012, more than 109,000 patient consultations have been captured by the system, resulting in improved patient and increased number of patient visits as a result of efficiencies that have reduced the four to five minutes needed to search paper records to just seconds. Due to the success of the pilot project, the Tarlac Provincial government has committed staffing and financial resources to replicate the project in all 38 health provincial clinics, which will make Tarlac the first and only province in the Philippines to have all of its health clinics interconnected and running on a health information system.

Wireless Access for Health empowers local health care providers through enhanced patient care services and efficient patient visits using an open-source health information system. It empowers local communities by promoting participatory health planning among local leaders, health managers and providers, thereby transforming clients and patients into partners, said Crispinita Valdez, director of the Department of Health Information Management System Division.

The WAH initiative is a means to deliver quality health services to clients, aid health workers and local and national governments by promoting data-driven planning and sound decision-making, said Dr. Ricardo P. Ramos of the Tarlac Provincial Health Office. Timely transmission of complete and reliable health data to local and national health agencies and government leaders facilitates policy analysis and allows faster program implementation, assisting local leaders and health workers in identifying and preventing disease outbreaks through preventive care, strategic health promotions and advocacy campaigns.

WAH demonstrates the extraordinary benefits that 3G wireless connectivity can bring to underserved communities, particularly in the area of wireless health care, said Mantosh Malhotra, director of Business Development for Qualcomm. We hope that what has been achieved so far will encourage the expansion of this innovative network to benefit hundreds of thousands throughout the Philippines.

The expansion of the WAH project also includes province-wide pilot testing of the Mobile Midwife and SPASMS (Synchronized Patient Alert via SMS) applications. Mobile Midwife enables data to be captured electronically during patient visits via smartphones, tablets or laptops and instantly sends patient data to the CHITS system. SPASMS is an automated alert and health promotions system that sends patients information related to important health milestones such as for prenatal care and child immunization. To date, 26 midwives are participating in the Mobile Midwife program and 1,100 SPASMS have been sent to more than 250 patients.

WAH is made possible through the collaboration of public-private partners: agencies of the Philippines Department of Health, including the National Epidemiology Center, the Information Management Service and the Center for Health Development for Region 3; the Provincial Government of Tarlac; local Tarlac government units; Qualcomms Wireless Reach initiative; RTI International; Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART); Tarlac State University; the University of the Philippines Manila-National Telehealth Center; and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).




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The global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work, revealed its 5th annual Best Workplaces List in the Philippines during an industry-leading awards ceremony at Grand Hyatt Manila last March 19 demonstrating their mission of making every workplace a great place to work For All.

The Best Workplaces were ranked in three different categories  honoring 10 small (companies with 30 to 99 employees), 15 medium (companies with 100 to 999 employees), and 10 large (companies with 1,000 or more employees).

Synchrony Global Services Philippines, a subsidiary company that manages Synchronys call center operations and select back office support, once again emerged at the top of the Large category. Accenture also remained in the second spot, and TaskUs placed third.

DHL Express Philippines, a global leader in the logistics industry, clinched a back-to-back win in the medium category. Coming in at second is Cisco, with Hilton rounding out the top three.

Kollab, a provider of cloud-first solutions and services, climbed to the top of the small category. ECo Global Consulting, Inc. remained in the second spot, while Limitless Connect clinched the third place.

DHL Express Philippines and Synchrony Global Services Philippines were also the first companies in the Philippines to be honored with a Great Place To Work Legend title, in recognition of their achievement in being part of the Best Workplaces in the Philippines list for five consecutive years.

An incredible 99% of DHL Express Philippines employees surveyed indicated that they believe they are treated as full members of the company, regardless of their position  demonstrating a true commitment to people first, purpose-driven workplace culture.

Now in its fifth year of recognizing the Best Workplace in the Philippines, Great Place To Work remains steadfast in its commitment to promote a high-trust workplace culture in the midst of unique challenges posed by an ever-evolving working environment, as encapsulated by this years theme: Great is Possible.

Just as greatness was achieved through trust, respect, and camaraderie during the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect to witness even greater possibilities as we continue to build and nurture purpose-driven and people-first organizations, said Antoniette Mendoza-Talosig, Managing Partner at Great Place To Work Philippines. This starts with leaders paving the way in creating and institutionalizing what it takes to have a high-trust workplace culturea leadership anchored in integrity, active engagement in effective two-way communication, and collaborative synergy with their people regardless of gender, age, or position in their organization.

Mendoza-Talosig also described this years Best Workplaces in the Philippines as beacons of hope in the midst of the challenges faced by companies during the past yearamong them the rapid pace of adoption of AI technologies in the workplace, establishing harmony among multi-generational teams, and undergoing changes in response to the evolving business landscapes.

Five years on, the Best Workplaces Badge from Great Place To Work remains the gold standard and a globally recognized accolade indicating an exceptional workplace culture. This years list of Best Workplaces in the Philippines was curated from responses from over 600,000 employee voices across 200 different Certified organizations in the Philippines using the Great Place To Work Model, alongside the data gathered from Emprising, its proprietary survey reporting platform.

True to its commitment to highlight the importance of trust in the workplace, Great Place To Work has gone beyond recognizing the Best Workplaces annually and is now actively participating in thriving industries in the country. Most recently, Great Place To Work has published its inaugural Best Workplaces in the IT-Business Processing Management sector and has collaborated with the academe and various industry associations. It is also looking to recognize organizations that create high-trust workplace cultures for members of society with unique needs.

Soon, Great Place To Work will also launch consulting services to help organizations proactively address their employees feedback on their workplace culture. We aim to work more actively with business leaders and HR in shaping their workplace cultures, establishing accountability among leaders, and engaging in their long-term cultural journeys that guarantee business results. By doing so, we believe we can advance further in our mission of making every place a great place to work for all Filipinos, Mendoza-Talosig explained.

She expressed hope that this years Best Workplaces in the Philippines will also be recognized on a bigger stage. It will be our countrys pride to one day see a local company recognized as a purpose-driven and people-first organization in the global landscape.
The turmoil in Washington, DC on 6 January 2021 has nothing on Civil War. If the mob of Trump supporters descending on the capital sparked (ultimately short-lived) fears of open warfare between the USs feuding political factions, then Alex Garlands new film brings that carnage to fruition. The British writer-director of Ex Machina (2014) and Annihilation (2018) has set his movie during a second US civil war, one which pits an authoritarian government ruled by Nick Offerman against the western forces from Texas and California.

The dystopian drama, also starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura (Narcos) and Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla), unfolds in a near and horribly plausible future. Nineteen states have seceded from the Union. Americans are killing Americans. Our protagonists are journalists, embedded with the military and racing against time to reach DC before the rebel factions get there.

Filmed back in the middle of 2022, Civil War (out in cinemas on Friday) has been ready for some time. But its release has seemingly been timed by distributor A24 for maximum impact in North America: the film arrived days before the US Supreme Court hearing into Donald Trumps claim of presidential immunity on charges that he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

For years, Garland, now 53, has been the unsung master of British genre cinema, a cut-price Kubrickian visionary writing and directing grungy movies on indie budgets. But Civil War could see him break through as a major mainstream director. You cant help but admire his chutzpah.

The north London filmmaker started out as a novelist. By his mid-twenties, Garland was already a bestselling author with a cult reputation, thanks to The Beach  a hit novel that spawned a brand-new genre, so-called backpack fiction. Now, hes made an explosive $50m (39m) thriller that should appeal both to fans of action cinema and anyone interested in the vexed and distorted world of contemporary US politics. But its also bound to rile people.

In his earlier horror and sci-fi films, Garland dealt with zombies, clones and psychotic killers  sometimes all at once. Hes not averse to splatter and gore but his work has intellectual rigour too. His grandfather was Nobel prize-winning biologist Sir Peter Medawar, the so-called father of transplantation, and his father is the renowned British political cartoonist, Nicholas Garland. With this lineage, perhaps its no surprise his movies are vivid, sharply drawn affairs, touching on big themes.

In Ex Machina (2015), his first official feature as director (although he directed part of 2012s Dredd uncredited), Garland tackled AI and robotics. Domhnall Gleeson starred as Caleb, a 24-year-old computer coder performing the Turing test on a female robot (Alicia Vikander) to establish whether she can think and feel like a human. In Annihilation (2018), a psychedelic sci-fi horror featuring Natalie Portman, he probed away at the morbid fascinations humans have with their own self-destruction. In Men (2022), he explored gender relations and the darkest most disturbing aspects of the male psyche, through the perspective of a young widow (Jessie Buckley) sojourning in the country.

Naturally, genre fans are drawn to such stories  but so are academics. His admirers include figures such as theoretical physicist and cosmologist Lawrence Krauss and computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman. Hes incredibly interesting, thoughtful and self-deprecating, Krauss enthused, after speaking to Garland for a 2022 episode of his The Origins podcast. I am a big fan of how Alex weaves science and philosophy into his work, Fridman added, describing his meeting with Garland as having been life-changing.

open image in gallery Mechanical bliss: Alicia Vikander in Ex Machina ( A24 )

Their conversations make for disconcerting listening: not simply idle movie chat but high-minded scientific discourse. The director talks confidently about such matters as quantum physics, determinism, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the nature of consciousness, easily holding his own among the experts.

Garland was only 24 when he wrote his breakthrough novel The Beach (published in 1996 and made into a film by Danny Boyle, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, four years later). The book was a phenomenon. Critics described it as a cross between William Goldings Lord of the Flies and Donna Tartts The Secret History. Its young author was instantly labelled a spokesperson for the slacker generation  an irony given that he had actually written the book as a critique of the backpacker scene.

Whatever his motives for embarking on The Beach, Garland captured perfectly the ennui, fatalism and emotional vulnerability of his pampered young protagonists. What begins as a Thai getaway on the most beautiful and exotic island imaginable turns out to be a holiday in hell, as his gap-yearing protagonists attempt to make sense of their lives and drive themselves mad in the process.

I thought: Jesus Christ, I do not want to spend the next 40 years stuck in a room Alex Garland

Fellow novelist John Niven commented on Garlands uncanny knack of hotwiring the zeitgeist  something hes continuing to do with Civil War. As Niven put it: for Generation X in 1996, there were no wars to fight. Only the war against boredom.

Garlands publishers promoted him as the moody young rebel of British literary fiction, as if he were the 1990s answer to F Scott Fitzgerald or James Dean. It was at this point, though, that Garland abruptly turned his back on novel writing.

I thought: Jesus Christ, I do not want to spend the next 40 years stuck in a room. And I was lucky because a film got made of the first book, so I could see another avenue and I just jumped, he told The Guardian in a 2015 interview. After the publication of his second book The Tesseract (1998), he returned the advance for two further novels to his publishers and soon set to work on a script about running zombies instead. The script? A punchy indie horror titled 28 Days Later.

open image in gallery Zombie man: Cillian Murphy in 28 Days Later ( Warner Bros Pictures )

Garland has spoken of the unease he felt in the literary world. I never felt at home there, he told a 2020 edition of the Page One Podcast. I had a very big dose of imposter syndrome. As a very solitary, quite reclusive person anyway, he felt that it would be psychologically damaging for him to be stuck in a room churning out new novels. He needed to get out more  and filmmaking was a perfect way of making new friends.

He went on to write original screenplays for films including 28 Days Later (2002) and Sunshine (2007), both of which were directed by Boyle. The former, starring the then unknown Cillian Murphy, is about a virus that causes rage in its sufferers. Garland may have been borrowing from George A Romero zombie flicks but he brought new twists to the genre  for one thing, making sure to include characters that audiences actually cared about. The film was set on desolate London streets and had a deliberately downbeat feel that led some critics to brand it zombie cinema by way of Ken Loach.

Meanwhile, Garlands script for Sunshine, about astronauts racing against time to reignite the dying sun, came complete with classical references to the Icarus myth and a strong ecological undertow  not elements generally found in more run-of-the-mill sci-fi movies.

Despite this, there is never anything precious about the young authors movie scripts. He took a practical approach to his new craft, likening screenplays to users manuals. He wrote 50 separate drafts of 28 Days Later. Working with Scottish producer Andrew Macdonald (of Trainspotting fame), Garland realised that he needed to come up with concepts that would be affordable for cash-strapped UK filmmakers. Thats why Ex Machina, for all its big ideas, was done as a chamber piece and why during the pandemic he came up with Men (2022), a deliberately small-scale horror picture set in a cosy English countryside village. For the film, Rory Kinnear gives a bravura performance  in 10 different roles.

open image in gallery Alex Garland and Annihilation author Jeff VanderMeer on set ( Miya Mizuno )

Garland was drawn to the collaborative elements of filmmaking and ridiculed the cult of the auteur. Nonetheless, he soon started digging his heels in (as he put it) when directors asked for changes to his scripts. That, he said, was why he eventually stopped working with Boyle and began to call the shots himself. For me, directing is often about not having to have a director there, he explained. My key bit of work is the script and then it is about having all of the team communicating with each other.

Now, with Civil War, Garland has the biggest budget of his career and has come up with his most inflammatory idea so far. It remains to be seen how US audiences will react to a British director having the temerity to launch a new civil war in their backyard. Ahead of its release, the film has already stoking controversy, with some pundits questioning its close proximity to the forthcoming US elections.

Its star, Dunst, who plays a veteran photojournalist, said recently that making the film shook me to my core. She described it as a fable of what happens when people dont communicate with each other and stop seeing each other as human beings.

Dunst wont be the only one shaken: the movie is sure to generate ferocious debate from political commentators as well as movie critics. Whatever its ultimate trajectory, Civil War underlines Garlands greatest strength as a storyteller: his ability to startle and challenge his audience  and always to get under their skin.

Civil War is released in UK cinemas on 12 April
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The release of British actor Dev Patels highly anticipated directorial debut, Monkey Man, has reportedly been postponed in India amid concerns that it could fall foul of the countrys censors.

The revenge action drama premiered at South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) on 11 March. It was released theatrically worldwide on 5 April and was originally scheduled to come out in India on 19 April.

The film is set in India, and follows Patels unnamed character on a revenge spree against the corrupt officials of an Indian right-wing political party. The Independents Clarisse Loughrey gave it 4 stars as an action film with shades of John Wick and Enter the Dragon, concluding that it deserves to be a hit.

Yet despite Monkey Mans mostly positive reviews, a standing ovation at SXSW and grossing $12m in its opening weekend, Indians themselves may have a while to wait to watch it.

Indian ticketing site BookMyShow no longer shows Monkey Mans release date and Universal Studios India  Monkey Mans distribution partner  posted a teaser on X saying it would be in theatres soon, with no definite date.

Reports from Indian media suggest this delay is likely because the film hasnt yet been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), a government body that grants the requisite certification to any film before its release.

The film has excessive violence and there are fears that some of its aspects might hurt the sentiments of the section of the audience. Hence, the censor process is expected to take time, an unnamed source told film website Bollywood Hungama.

Also, the Universal Studios team in the USA also needs to permit the changes asked by the CBFC. Once they approve, the local team will carry out the changes and only then, the team will announce the release date  A clearer picture will emerge in a weeks time, hopefully, the source added.

open image in gallery RESENA-MONKEY MAN ( AP )

Monkey Man was originally never meant to get a theatrical release. The independent feature was bought by streaming giant Netflix for $30m in 2021, which then dropped it in 2023 with no clear reason as to why. Film blog World of Reel reported that the portrayal of a right-wing Hindu nationalist character in the film spooked them.

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In January 2024, Netflix was forced to pull Annapoorani: the Goddess of Food after several right-wing Hindu groups complained that the main character was shown eating meat. The film, which was made in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, followed a young woman from the Brahmin caste, which does not traditionally eat meat. The film also received criticism that it promoted love jihad, an unproven conspiracy theory propagated by Hindu right-wing groups that claims Muslim men marry Hindu women in order to convert them to Islam.

After Netflix dropped Monkey Man, it was picked up by Get Out director Jordan Peele, who convinced Universal Pictures to buy and distribute the film.

I first saw a cut of Monkey Man about eight months ago and I instantly knew it was a classic, Peele told TheWrap.

Ive been a fan of Devs for a while, but I was instantly blown away by the cinematic generosity of his film. I watched it alone but could hear the audiences reactions in my head. I knew the movie demanded a theatrical run.

open image in gallery Britain Monkey Man Special Screening ( Invision )

After the films premiere at SXSW, commentators on X noted that the flags and posters associated with the villains political party had changed from saffron-coloured in the movies first trailer to red in the second trailer. Saffron is often associated with right-wing Hindu nationalist movements or Hindutva groups in India, and is the colour used by Narendra Modis ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. While Universal has not commented on or confirmed the change, many online have speculated that it was done to pre-empt and minimise outrage in India.

Bollywood film Pathaan came under fire in 2023 because Deepika Padukones character wore a saffron bikini. The home minister of Indias Madhya Pradesh state, Narottam Mishra, said he objected to the way saffron and green colours have been used in the film.

Self-censorship to cater to a films international markets is not a new concept. The 2012 remake of action film Red Dawn changed its antagonists nationalities from Chinese to North Korean in post production to appease the Chinese market. In 2013, Marvel changed the originally Chinese villain Mandarins nationality in Iron Man 3 by casting British actor Ben Kingsley.

A 2023 report in The Washington Post showed that streaming platforms Netflix and Amazon Prime Video dropped multiple projects to appease the Indian government and there was pressure on Indian creators to remove any reference to religion that might offend the Hindu right wing or the BJP

open image in gallery RESENA-MONKEY MAN ( AP )

A review of Monkey Man in The New Statesman says: Monkey Mans critique of an extremely popular dictator who has managed to weaponise Hinduism is not exactly subtle, a description that most critics have echoed, while also pointing out the self-censorship embedded within that portrayal.

Patels character derives strength from the Hindu ape-god Hanuman to wreak vengeance on those who attacked his village, and even uses real news footage from demonstrations against Indias Modi-led government  though it removes the context from said protests.

In an Ask Me Anything Q&A on Reddit, Patel describes Monkey Man as being about the marginalised  the underdogs  all lifting each other up to achieve a justice that was only meant for the privileged.
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Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story actor, Arsema Thomas, has urged Tom Holland to speak out in support of his Romeo and Juliet co-star after a barrage of deplorable racial abuse was directed to her online.

Black British actor Frances Amewudah-Rivers has been cast as Juliet alongside Hollands Romeo in director Jamie Lloyds upcoming production of Shakespeares tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet.

Following the announcement of Amewudah-Riverss casting, some social media trolls berated the actor with racial abuse and criticised the decision.

The Jamie Lloyd Company, which is producing Romeo and Juliet, issued a statement condemning the abuse last week, clearly stating: This must stop.

The message continued: We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment.

Now, Thomas, who portrayed Lady Agatha Danbury in the period drama series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, has taken to Instagram to share a plea from HBO actor Selina Jones urging Holland to also speak up on his co-stars behalf.

Arsema Thomas has criticised Tom Holland ( Getty Images )

Joness original post read: You lot need to put pressure pon @tomholland2023s head top. I need my guy to say something, ANYTHING, about the disgusting racial abuse being thrown at our angel Fran.

Thomas then shared the post to her story, captioning it So bloody true @selinasjones.

Elsewhere, users of X (formerly Twitter) agreed that the Spider-Man star needed to address the abuse.

One person wrote: I hope he talks about it, the abuse shes receiving is so disgusting and unfair. Idk why people cant accept that she got that role based on her talent.

A different X user agreed that it was weird he hadnt said anything, while another added:I loved Tom but for him to be silent about the abuse towards his co-worker is crazy.

After the recent casting announcement, Holland stated that he was beyond excited to play Romeo, writing: I cant wait to get started and I know well create something really special together.

The Independent has approached representatives of Tom Holland for further comment.

Amewudah-Rivers, who will be making her West End debut as Juliet, said that she is grateful for the role, and is excited to bring a fresh energy to this story alongside Tom and to welcome new audiences to the theatre.

Francesca Amewudah-Rivers is best known for her role as Blessing in Bad Education ( Jamie Lloyd Company )

Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeares most popular plays and is believed to have been written between 1591 and 1595.

The story of the star-crossed lovers has been adapted on stage numerous times in recent years, with last years production by the Almeida Theatre featuring Toheeb Jimoh and Isis Hainsworth.

Holland and Amewudah-Riverss version will run from 11 May to 3 August at Londons Duke of York Theatre.
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Death in Paradise fans can look forward to a new dose of fish-out-of-water detective action as production begins on a new spin-off  which introduces the franchises first female lead.

The long-running whodunit recently waved goodbye to its leading actor Ralf Little as his character DI Neville Parker left town for new beginnings.

On Monday (8 April), the BBC announced that a new Australian series titled Return to Paradise has begun filming in Sydney and the Illawarra coastal region, following last years Kris Marshall-led spin-off Beyond Paradise.

Anna Samson, who has starred in the Australian miniseries Dead Lucky and Wake in Fright, takes the lead as DI Mackenzie Clarke, the first woman to be a lead detective in the so-called Paraverse.

DI Clarke is an Australian expat who has had a successful career in the UK, becoming known throughout Londons Metropolitan Police for solving uncrackable murder cases.

Things, however, take an almighty shift when she is accused of tampering with evidence, and she is forced to find a job back in her hometown of Dolphin Cove, Australia. Sadly for Mackenzie, people arent too pleased to see her back  the last time she was there, shed been fleeing town after leaving her ex-fiance Glenn (Tai Hara) at the altar.

Mackenzie reluctantly joins the team at Dolphin Cove Police Station and soon finds herself immersed in a murder case that she cant leave alone.

A description from the BBC reads: Once a case lands on her desk, she cant rest until shes figured it out, and the killer is in handcuffs. Its that tenacity and work ethic that might just, over time, help Mackenzie win over her new colleagues, and the people of Dolphin Cove.

open image in gallery Anna Samson in Return to Paradise, an Australian spin-off of Death in Paradise' ( BBC / John Platt )

Starring alongside Samson, the ensemble cast includes Lloyd Griffith (Ted Lasso, Nolly), Tai Hara (Home and Away, Colin From Accounts), Catherine McClements (Total Control, Ms Fishers Modern Murder Mysteries), Celia Ireland (Wentworth, Total Control), Andrea Demetriades (Mother and Son, The Artful Dodger), and Aaron McGrath (Gold Diggers, Preppers).

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In a statement, co-creator and executive producer Peter Mattessi said: Im beyond excited to welcome Producer Di Haddon and our two fabulous directors Mat King and Tenika Smith who are coming together with our amazing cast to bring the world of Return to Paradise to life.

We are having so much fun creating this brand-new mystery series that brings an Australian twist to one of the globes most successful television franchises. We think audiences in Australia, UK and around the world are going to fall in love with our wonderful characters, our delicious whodunits, and our gorgeous coastal Australian locations.

The original Death in Paradise series is yet to announce who will replace Ralf Little as the lead detective of the fictional island of Saint Marie.
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Netflix users are switching off from the new series Ripley over a stylistic choice in its filming.

The eight-part miniseries, based on the 1955 Patricia Highsmith psychological thriller, The Talented Mr Ripley, is the latest adaptation since the hit film of the same name starring Matt Damon in 1999.

Fleabag actor Andrew Scott plays the infamous con man as he attempts to infiltrate a world of glamour and wealth.

But some fans have been left frustrated by its defining feature: it is entirely black and white.

I didnt last the first episode. The cinematography is so annoying, said one viewer.

Why on earth is Ripley filmed in black and white? Surely the only reason to not film in colour previously was technology. Totally killed it for me, the dog seems quite OK with it though, quipped another.

Black and white is a good way to keep the budget down but adds nothing, said one viewer.

Writer-director Steve Zallian revealed the decision to film in black and white had been made very early on in the creation of the show and had been inspired by his own experience.

open image in gallery Andrew Scott as Thomas Ripley in the Netflix series Ripley' ( Netflix )

The edition of the Ripley book I had on my desk had an evocative black-and-white photograph on the cover, he told Vanity Fair.

As I was writing, I held that image in my mind. Black and white fits this storyand its gorgeous.

But the sentiment appears to have been lost on many: Really enjoying Ripley on Netflix except Im mad as hell that its in black and white.

What a crime to make a sexy crime show set in 1960s Italy and not do it in colour.

The more artistically inclined enjoyed the cinematography, reasoning it created an atmosphere unlike the original movie, setting it apart.

Great decision to film Ripley in rich black and white. It intensifies the moodiness and tension of the piece.

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But despite the success of Oscar-winning Oppenheimer, which was also shot in the same style, the old-school technique was too distracting for others.

I would not have survived before colour television was invented.. tried to sit down to watch Ripley, but it being filmed in black and white makes it a no-go for me. It makes my eyes go all wonky, complained one person.

Another concluded: Why is the Netflix show Ripley in black and white? They had colour film in 1955, when the first book, The Talented Mr Ripley appeared. Its a waste not to film Mongibello in colour but then again I suppose the book was in black and white.

Still, many other viewers were appreciative of the black and white depiction and have dismissed those who feel otherwise.

People moaning they cant sit through this gorgeous black & white cinematography. We need to bring back pretentiousness, gatekeeping & standards QUICKLY, one person wrote on X/Twitter.

Similarly, another social media review called Ripley black & white cinematography at its best.

Ripley is streaming now on Netflix.
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Sylvester Stallone has been accused of creating a toxic environment on the set of the Paramount+ series Tulsa King.

The Rocky star, 77, has been accused of making disparaging comments about background actors on the show, which films in Atlanta.

Tulsa King, which was created by Yellowstone showrunner Taylor Sheridan, stars Stallone as a New York mafia capo who is released from prison after 25 years and exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is currently filming its second season after the first aired in 2022.

According to a report in Variety, the shows casting director Rose Locke has recently quit the series.

On 8 April, television writer Julie Benson posted a message on X/Twitter saying: Got this disturbing news from my Atlanta friend whos background on Tulsa King this wk. Casting agent quit because she was so disgusted. My friend is feeling anxious about working now. [Sylvester Stallone] what do you have to say for yourself, sir? Beyond disappointed, Im livid.

Attached to the post was a screenshot of a Facebook message, claiming that Stallone had asked the shows director on set: What the F*** is happening with these F****** ugly background? in reference to the extras in a scene with him.

open image in gallery Sylvester Stallone in Las Vegas in December 2023 ( Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Fontainebleau Las Vegas )

The post continued: He and the director proceeded to call certain people terrible names and laughed at them, giving specifics and adding: Sly said, Bring in pretty young girls to be around me.

Also attached to the post was a screenshot of an email apparently sent by Locke, in which she wrote that she had paid a visit to the set after being informed of certain things.

She continued: At the end of the day I resigned because it was a clear toxic environment that I was not comfortable putting myself or background artists in.

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The Independent has approached Stallone for comment.

In 2022, Stallones brother Frank praised the actor for completing the first season of Tulsa King in the wake of his divorce from his wife of 25 years, Jennifer Flavin.

Sylvester Stallone had posted about wrapping the series: This was a very long, difficult, exciting, mind blowing production [that] has just ended in Oklahoma. Though it was a long time to be away it was worth it and to work with fantastic talent in front and behind the camera.

Commenting on the post, Frank wrote: We are so proud of you, through tough obstacles the real pros show up and deliver.
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Never breathe in her direction, stay calm, dont vomit. This advice is dished out in hushed tones to anyone who enters the presence of Elena Vernham, the capricious, increasingly unstable chancellor of the unnamed nation, somewhere in Middle Europe, where Sky and HBOs surreal comedy The Regime is set.

Vernham, played by an imperious Kate Winslet, boasts a set of intricately plaited blonde wigs, a wardrobe of colour-blocked power suits, a laissez-faire attitude to her citizens personal freedoms, a serious case of germophobia and some major daddy issues. She keeps her dead fathers decomposing body in a see-through coffin below the palace, like a nightmarish cross between Lenins Mausoleum and the glass case from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Her dad was formerly a political player in a once-fringe right-wing party (there are obvious shades of Marine Le Pen here), but died of a lung infection. So as The Regime opens, Vernham is obsessively attempting to rid her presidential palace of the mould spores she is convinced will kill her.

Enter Herbert Zubak (Matthias Schoenaerts), a dead-eyed soldier nicknamed The Butcher thanks to his brutal quashing of a protest for better conditions at a mine (the countrys main export is cobalt, making it an attractive ally for nations willing to turn a blind eye to its dictatorial politics). His authoritarian streak catches Vernhams eye, prompting her to give him a promotion  his new job is to follow her through the palace, uncovering mould by waving around a piece of humidity-monitoring tech, which looks like a massive metal detector. Its like a dog using a calculator, one of the chancellors aides hisses.

Soon, Herbert and Elena (who is convinced she has already met the soldier in her dreams) are drawn into a symbiotic relationship, with the hypochondriac Elena buying into Herberts grunty workouts, dubious political initiatives and increasingly out-there natural cures  including a short-lived obsession with the healing power of potatoes, which are piled high in bowls around the palace.

If this all sounds pretty unhinged, thats because, well, it is. The initial marketing for this six-episode series suggested it would sit somewhere between Armando Iannuccis film The Death of Stalin, with its over-the-top characters and biting satire, and Succession: showrunner Will Tracy was on the writing team for Jesse Armstrongs drama (he also co-wrote the 2022 movie The Menu, which starred Ralph Fiennes as a terrifying celebrity chef). But The Regime is a far stranger, more surreal creation, one that fully embraces absurdism. Thanks to the direction of Stephen Frears and Jessica Hobbs, it looks gorgeous, and the dissonant jolliness of the soundtrack from Alexandre Desplat (The Grand Budapest Hotel) reminds us that this is all meant to be a farce. All too often, though, The Regime feels like a jumble of big ideas that dont really cohere.

After years of darker fare, like her previous HBO drama Mare of Easttown, Winslet is having a lot of fun with a totally daffy role  and its a joy to see. In her broadcasts to the nation, Elena addresses her public as my loves, with a drooping pout that sometimes lends her speech a lispy quality, one part petulant toddler, one part Julianne Moore in May December. She marks state occasions by performing Chicagos 1976 power ballad If You Leave Me Now, complete with strange spoken-word asides, like the cruise ship act from hell. She also refuses to put salmon on the menu for said occasions, because salmon is meek  God knows what shed make of veganism. And her party political broadcasts look like the filler videos that run between Eurovision performances. Straight-talking right-hand woman Agnes, played by Andrea Riseborough, observes all this with a slightly raised eyebrow and skewers her boss with blunt one-liners when she is out of the room.

Vernhams fictional nation runs on the cult of personality  and her penchant for locking up her rivals, with Hugh Grant making a memorable appearance later in the series as a lefty former chancellor now imprisoned under the palace. But even Winslets star turn cant keep the show afloat. The punchlines are all too rare: there are plenty of weird details that never quite add up to a full joke, and rely a little too heavily on zaniness and visual gags. Plus, the show cant seem to work out exactly what it is trying to satirise, instead painting in broad strokes (Dictators are bad! Look at Elena sitting at the end of a ridiculously long table  shes just like Putin!). Despite Winslets off-kilter charisma, its just not enough to have you pledging allegiance.
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Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has urged India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir border dispute following a meeting with Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif amid intensifying tensions between the South Asian rival nations.

The comments came in a joint statement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan after Mr Sharif met the crown prince on Sunday during a three-day visit to shore up economic support for the cash-strapped economy.

The two sides stressed the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries, (especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute) to ensure peace and stability in the region, the joint statement said.

The disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir is the bone of contention between the two neighbours which have fought two of three wars of the region since independence from Britain in 1947. India and Pakistan govern the region in parts but claim in full.

The relations between the two countries dipped to the lowest after an attack on an Indian military convoy in 2019 in India-administered Kashmir in which at least 40 paramilitary forces lost their lives.

Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility for the attack, prompting India to launch a surgical strike in Pakistani territory.

open image in gallery Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa ( via REUTERS )

Saudi Arabia has played a significant role in Indias longstanding friendly relations with Arab countries while Riyadh remains one of Indias largest trading partners in the Gulf region.

Mr Sharif arrived in Riyadh for his maiden visit after becoming the prime minister of the country.

Saudi Arabia agreed to expedite a planned $5bn investment package, which cash-strapped Pakistan desperately needs to shore up its current account deficit and signal to the International Monetary Fund that it can continue to meet requirements for foreign financing.

Both parties affirmed their commitment to expediting the first wave of investment package worth $5bn, which was discussed previously, the statement added.

Last year, Saudi Arabia pledged $25bn investment over five years through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to attract investments from Arab nations in energy, IT, minerals, defense, and agriculture sectors.

The Saudi princes comment came as Indian defence minister Rajnath Sigh told a TV channel that India will enter Pakistan to kill those trying to create turmoil on the countrys soil following a news report that Delhi allegedly carried out at least 20 extrajudicial killings in the neighbouring country.

Mr Singh told CNN-News18 TV that "any terrorist trying to create turmoil in India wont be spared" when he was asked about Guardians report.

"If they run away to Pakistan, we will enter Pakistan to kill them," Mr Singh said.

The British newspaper cited Indian and Pakistani officials claiming that the Indian government had killed about 20 people in Pakistan since 2020 as part of a broader plan to eliminate militants residing on foreign soil.

The Indian Foreign Ministry rejected the allegations as false and malicious anti-India propaganda. Pakistans foreign ministry responded by calling Mr Singhs remarks "provocative" and "myopic".

"Such myopic and irresponsible behaviour not only undermines regional peace but also impedes the prospects of constructive engagement in the long term," it said.

Meanwhile, a US State Department spokesperson said the US is not going to get in the middle of this situation and let both countries find resolution through dialouge to avoid escalation.
Former PM Gilani elected as chairman of Pak Senate

Islamabad, April 9 (UNI) Former Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was elected as the chairman of the Senate, or the upper house, of the country's parliament on Tuesday, Presiding Officer of the election Senator Ishaq Dar announced.

Dar, also the foreign minister of the country, announced that Gilani was elected unopposed after no one else filed nomination papers to contest the election.

Gilani, who is a Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, served the country as prime minister from 2008 to 2012.
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A baby monkey squirms as it tries to escape the man holding it by the neck over a concrete cistern, repeatedly dousing it with water.

In another video clip, a person plays with the genitals of a juvenile male macaque sitting on a limestone block from an ancient temple to get it excited for the camera.

The abuse of monkeys at the Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwestern Cambodia is not always so graphic, but authorities say it is a growing problem as people look for new ways to draw online viewers to generate cash.

The monkey should be living in the wild, where they are supposed to be living, but the monkey nowadays is being treated like a domestic pet, said Long Kosal, spokesperson for APSARA, the Cambodian office that oversees the Angkor archaeological site.

They're making the content to earn money by having the viewers on YouTube, so this is a very big issue for us.

open image in gallery A local YouTuber feeds a young monkey near the Bayon temple of an Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

APSARA has few tools itself to stop the YouTubers from filming in general, but has opened an investigation with the Ministry of Agriculture to collect evidence for legal action against the most serious abusers  who are rarely on camera themselves, Long Kosal said.

If we can build a case, they will be arrested for sure, he said. Any animal abuser will be seriously punished by law in Cambodia.

YouTube, Facebook and other sites remove the videos with graphic content, but scores of other clips of cute monkeys jumping and playing remain, generating thousands of views and subscribers.

Just making those videos involves very close interaction with the monkeys, however, which authorities and animal-rights activists say creates a host of other problems, both for the macaques and people visiting one of Southeast Asia's most popular tourist sites.

open image in gallery A blue-shirted APSARA warden holds a monkey at Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province, Cambodia ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

On a recent day outside Angkor's famous 12th-century Bayon Temple, at least a dozen YouTubers, all young men, crowded around a small group of long-tailed macaques, pushing in close to get shots of a mother with a baby on her back and tracking her everywhere she moved.

The wild monkeys feasted on bananas tossed to them by YouTubers and drank from plastic bottles of water. One young macaque briefly amused itself with half-eaten neon-green popsicle discarded at the side of the path, before dropping it to move on to a banana.

A blue-shirted APSARA warden looked on but those filming were unfazed, illustrating the main problem: Simply taking video of monkeys is OK, even though feeding them is frowned upon. At the same time, it's making them dependent upon handouts, and the close interaction with humans means they're increasingly becoming aggressive toward tourists.

The tourists carry their food, and they would snatch the food, Long Kosal said, flipping through multiple photos on his phone of recent injuries caused by the macaques. If the tourists resist, they bite and this is very dangerous.

open image in gallery Monkeys walk on a wall at Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The search for food from tourists also draws the monkeys from the surrounding jungle in to the ancient sites, where they pull away pieces of the temples and cause other damage, he added.

Tourist Cadi Hutchings made sure to keep her distance from the monkeys, after being warned by her tour guide of the increasing risk of being bitten.

What they want is your food, but you also need to appreciate that there needs to be a boundary between human intervention in nature, the 23-year-old from Wales said. It's obviously a great thing that so many tourists come because it's such a lovely place, but at the same time, you have to be careful that with more and more people  the monkeys don't get too acclimatized.

Many other tourists, however, stopped to take their own photos and videos  some holding out bananas to draw them closer  before heading to the nearby temple site.

YouTuber Ium Daro, who started filming Angkor monkeys about three months ago, followed a mother and a baby along a dirt path with his iPhone held on a selfie stick to get in close.

The 41-year-old said he hadn't seen any monkeys physically abused, and that he didn't see a problem with what he and the others were doing to make a living.

The monkeys here are friendly, he said. After we take their pictures we give them food, so it is like we pay them for them giving us the chance to take their picture.

open image in gallery Local YouTubers stand around a female monkey as she holds her baby near the Bayon temple of an Angkor Wat temple ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

As he spoke, a young macaque scrambled up the leg of an onlooker, trying  unsuccessfully  to grab a plastic bottle of water out of his pocket.

One YouTuber said he had started filming monkeys during the COVID-19 pandemic after the numbers of tourists plummeted, making it impossible to earn a living as a tuk-tuk driver.

Daro said he was looking for a way to supplement his income as a rice vendor, and that he's too new at it to have realized many returns.

Many, like Phut Phu, work as salaried employees of YouTube page operators.

The 24-year-old said he started filming monkeys 2 1/2 years ago when he was looking for a job in the open air to help him deal with a lung problem.

He's generally at it daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., earning $200 a month  equivalent to a Cambodian minimum-wage job  and said he hoped authorities wouldn't try and put an end to it.

I need these monkeys, he said, holding a Nikon Coolpix camera with an extreme zoom that his employer provided, the same model most of the YouTubers were using.

With the difficulties involved in identifying and catching those responsible for the physical abuse of the monkeys, coupled with the draw of easy money through YouTube videos, Long Kosal said APSARA's task is a tough one.

This is the problem for us, he said. We need to find solid reasons which we can use against them not to make content by abusing the monkeys.

For Nick Marx, director of wildlife rescue and care for the Wildlife Alliance  which implements conservation programs across Southeast Asia and is involved in releasing wildlife back into Angkor  the answer is simple, though perhaps equally as elusive.

The biggest problem is these (videos) are generated to make money, he said in an interview from Phnom Penh. "If people that dont like this kind of thing would stop watching them, that would really help solve the problem of abuse.
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A Thai court began a trial on Tuesday of the son of popular Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho. Daniel Sancho Bronchalo is accused of killing and dismembering a Colombian surgeon on a popular tourist island.

Mr Bronchalo, 29, was indicted by prosecutors in October over the death of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, whose remains were found stuffed in plastic bags at a landfill on Koh Pha Ngan, an island famous for its rave-style full moon parties.

Lawyer Juan Gonzalo Ospina Serrano, who represents Arrietas family, told reporters at the Koh Samui Provincial Court before the trial that the family trusts Thai prosecutors to deliver justice. They are grateful and hope that Thai law is forceful and that the truth can be told, he said.

Thai police forensic officers investigate a garbage dump site as they search for parts of the body of a Colombian surgeon in Koh Phagnan island, southern Thailand ( AP )

The charges against Mr Sancho include premeditated murder, concealment of a body and destruction of other peoples documents. He pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder and destruction of documents but pleaded guilty to hiding the victims body.

The charge of premeditated murder carries a possible death penalty. The concealment or damaging of a dead body is punishable by a year in prison.

The trial is opening with statements from witnesses brought in by the plaintiff, said Apichart Srinual, a Thai lawyer who represents Mr Sancho. When asked whether he is confident about his defence case, Aprichart said: It depends on the evidence. There are a lot of witnesses. It depends on what they will say.

Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho, right, father of Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, talks to reporters as he arrives at Koh Samui ( AP )

Mr Sancho was driven to the court in a closed car and was not visible to reporters waiting outside. His father also came to the court but declined comment. Rodolfo Sancho is best known for his roles on Spanish TV, including Isabel, and El Ministerio del Tempo.

His son, a chef, was arrested in August after the remains of Arrieta, 44, were discovered at the landfill. Police said Mr Sancho came in to report a missing person and was subsequently detained. He later reportedly confessed to killing and dismembering Arrieta and dumping the body parts in the landfill and the sea, though he denied that his action was premeditated, according to police.
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Europes highest human rights court has ruled that its member nations have an obligation to protect their citizens from the effects of the climate crisis in a landmark ruling.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) sided with more than 2,000 Swiss members of Senior Women for Climate Protection, who had argued that their governments inadequate efforts to combat climate change put them at risk of dying during heatwaves.

Court president Siofra OLeary said the Swiss government had violated the human right to a private and family life, by failing to put in place sufficient domestic policies to tackle climate change.

This included a failure to quantify, through a carbon budget or otherwise, national greenhouse gas emissions limitations, president OLeary told the courtroom. She also noted the Swiss government had failed to meet its past greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, by not putting in place measures to ensure the goals were achieved.

One of the Senior Women for Climate Protections leaders, Rosmarie Wydler-Walti, said she was struggling to grasp the full extent of the decision. We keep asking our lawyers, Is that right?. And they tell us its the most you could have had. The biggest victory possible.

This ruling is not just a victory for the Senior Women for Climate Protection. Our victory is a victory for all generations, she added in a statement.

The Federal Office of Justice, which represents the Swiss government at the court, has taken note of the ruling, the government said, adding: Together with the authorities concerned, we will now analyse the extensive judgment and review what measures Switzerland will take in the future.

The European courts decision on the case could have a ripple effect across Europe and beyond, setting a precedent for how some courts deal with the rising tide of climate litigation argued on the basis of human rights infringements.

open image in gallery Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg after the verdict ( Reuters )

Although activists have had successes with lawsuits in domestic proceedings, this was the first time an international court ruled on climate change.

However, the court threw out a high-profile case brought by six Portuguese youngsters aimed at forcing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A case brought by a French mayor similarly seeking stronger government efforts to combat climate change was also defeated.

Those involved in bringing the three cases had hoped the Strasbourg court would find that national governments have a legal duty to make sure global warming is held to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, in line with the goals of the Paris climate agreement.

I really hoped that we would win against all the countries, so obviously Im disappointed that this didnt happen, said 19-year-old Sofia Oliveira, one of the Portuguese plaintiffs. But the most important thing is that the court has said in the Swiss womens case that governments must cut their emissions more to protect human rights. So, their win is a win for us, too, and a win for everyone!

In reference to its fundamental Convention of Human Rights, the court found that Art. 8 of the Convention encompasses a right for individuals to effective protection by the state authorities from the serious adverse effects of climate change on their lives, health, well-being and quality of life.

Judgments from the ECHR set a legal precedent against which future lawsuits would be judged in the Council of Europes 46 member states.

open image in gallery Protesters hold pennants during a rally before the ECHRs decision ( Getty )

This is a turning point, said Corina Heri, an expert in climate change litigation at the University of Zurich. She said Tuesdays decision confirms for the first time that countries have an obligation to protect people from the effects of climate change and will open the door to more legal challenges.

Ahead of the ruling, a large crowd gathered in front of the court building to cheer and wave flags, including climate activist Greta Thunberg.

The decisions have the potential to be a watershed moment in the global fight for a livable future. A victory for any of the three cases would be one of the most significant developments on climate change since the signing of the Paris Agreement said Gerry Liston, a lawyer with the Global Legal Action Network, which is supporting the Portuguese students.

The European Union, which doesnt include Switzerland, currently has a target to be climate-neutral by 2050. Many governments have said that meeting a 2030 goal would be economically unattainable.

The group of Swiss retirees, whose average age is 74, say older womens rights are especially infringed on because they are most affected by the extreme heat that will become more frequent due to global warming.

Earth shattered global annual heat records in 2023, flirted with the worlds agreed-upon warming threshold, and showed more signs of a feverish planet, Copernicus, a European climate agency, said in January.

In all three cases, lawyers argued that the political and civil protections guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights are meaningless if the planet is uninhabitable.

Switzerland is not alone in being affected by global warming, said Alain Chablais, representative for the country at last years hearings. This problem cannot be solved by Switzerland alone.

Acknowledging the urgency of the climate crisis, the court fast-tracked all three cases, including a rare move allowing the Portuguese case to bypass domestic legal proceedings.

AP
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Wildfires across the United States have destroyed more than 1.7 million acres of land in the first three months of 2024, already more than half of last years total.

Three large, uncontained fires are currently burning in Alabama, Missouri and Florida, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), while wildland firefighters have managed to get 23 other large fires under control this week.

So far this year, there have been 8,433 wildfires in the US, slightly below the 10-year average. However, the number of acres burned is more than triple whats normal, NIFC said. Last year saw a total of 56,580 wildfires across the country, consuming nearly 2.7million acres.

In February, Texas had its largest wildfire in state history, leaving three people dead, and destroying more than a million acres and thousands of cattle.

Late last month, firefighters were faced with dozens of blazes in Virginia including one which ripped across hundreds of acres at Shenandoah National Park. Early March also saw significant fires across the Upper Midwest and areas of the Plains before rainfall intervened  at least for the time being. Towards the end of March, fire activity increased in the central Appalachians with several large fires in West Virginia and Virginia.

open image in gallery Aurora Champion does her part as her parents help a friend whose home was destroyed by the Smokehouse Creek fire on 3rd March 2024 in Stinnett, Texas ( Getty Images )

The Independents Global Warning series is telling the stories of people on the front lines of the climate crisis across the US

Fire advisories remain in effect for northwest Texas, western Oklahoma, southwest Kansas, southeastern Colorado and far eastern New Mexico, with firefighters warned to expect extreme to unprecedented fire growth and intensity in these areas.

Federal authorities said that it was just the beginning. Were going to be busy. I couldnt tell you exactly where right now, but we are going to be busy, Alex Robertson, acting director of fire and aviation at the US Forest Service, told The Associated Press.

open image in gallery The wildfire potential outlook for April 2024. Red indicates above normal fire risk and green indicates below normal risk ( NIFC )

Over the next three months, forecasters warned that theres significant potential for wildfires in the Midwest, Southwest, Great Lakes region and Hawaii.

There is below-normal risk of fire from southeast Texas to the coast this month but areas of the Florida Peninsula remain under threat. The potential for fire will increase in lower elevations of the southwest into west Texas in May and June, and carry on until July for southern New Mexico, NIFC reported.

Fire risk is elevated for swathes of the northern Great Basin in July, and in dry, south and western areas of Hawaii from May until July. But thanks to a winter with a string of atmospheric rivers and heavy snowfall, there is below-normal chance of fire across most of California for the next three months.

The countrys ongoing wildfire crisis, as one official dubbed it, has been made even more challenging by the fact that federal fire agencies are finding it difficult to recruit staff due to poor pay and benefits.

We simply do not have the staffing to effectively combat these very intense wildfires, Pete Dutchick, who has worked for the US Forest Service for two decades, previously told The Independent.

So its really more about the duty to protect civilians, communities, and natural resources. Until we attach a reasonable value to the skill set that our workforce has, I think as a country, were just missing the mark.

The US Forest Service, which manages millions of acres of national forests, told The Independent on Tuesday that along with other government agencies, it aims to have 11,300 wildland firefighters onboard by mid-July before we approached the busiest part of the fire year. This number can be boosted by other emergency workers with fire management qualifications, the agency said.

open image in gallery Firefighters and emergency responders at the scene of a wildfire in Woodward County, Oklahoma, on Sunday 7 April, 2024 ( Chris Pinkston and Jason Lawrence / Vici Fire Department )

Overall, wildfire activity is lasting longer throughout each year and becoming more extreme, occurring earlier in the spring, lasting longer into the fall, and are increasingly intense and complex to manage, a spokesperson said, in an email.

Periods of above normal wildfire activity typically last 75 days longer today than 40 years ago.

The climate crisis is increasing wildfire threats globally by ramping up temperatures which lead to drought conditions. In the US, fire season used to last from around May until October but large, unpredictable blazes now erupt year-round.
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Bumble is offering a special wedding deal to 50 couples who met on the app.

The popular dating app announced on its website that it would be offering free weddings, to celebrate 10 years of successful matches on Bumble. For the chance to be one of the 50 pairs given a free wedding in Las Vegas, couples based in the United States have to submit their stories of how they met on Bumble.

If selected, couples weddings will be held at the iconic Little White Wedding Chapel in Nevada, with the chapel turned yellow for the occasion, in honour of Bumbles signature colour.

Along with the wedding, Bumble will pay to fly couples and their two witnesses out to Las Vegas. The entire groups stay at a hotel will also be covered.

If couples are selected, their weddings will be held on either 2 June 2024 or 3 June 2024, with the exact date chosen by Bumble. Hotel accommodations are for two nights for the couple and their two witnesses.

In addition to the Bumble-branded wedding, the prize includes one officiant, wedding coordination, one six-rose bouquet and one matching boutonniere, a 10-minute photoshoot with a professional photographer, and additional decor provided by Bumble.

Couples will receive a $1,000 Visa gift card for clothes for the wedding, along with hair and makeup provided for the bride. Winners will also walk away with a gift box featuring merchandise by Bumble.

Although the contest is for weddings, couples who met on Bumble and are already married can still take part, as the prize also gives couples the opportunity to renew their vows at the Little White Wedding Chapel. The contest is currently up and running and will be open until 30 April.

In a press release shared with People, Bumbles vice-president of global marketing, Amy Ferris, expressed how excited the company is to honour couples who met on the dating app.

We look forward to bringing our community together this summer in a celebration like no other and to continue to spotlight the kind connections made on Bumble every day, she said.

Its an honour to play even a small part in every Bumble success story  whether it be a great first date, marriage or anything in between, Ferris continued. Over the years we have received thousands of thank you notes, comments, wedding invitations and baby announcements, and that is what keeps us inspired every single day.

Over the years, multiple celebrities have had their wedding ceremonies at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Some of the pairs include Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddi Prince Jr, and Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner, who later announced their divorce in September 2023.
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Christina Applegate has opened up about how she walked 9,000 steps a day without her cane amid her battle with multiple sclerosis (MS).

The 52-year-old actor spoke candidly about her MS symptoms during Tuesdays episode of her and her pal Jamie-Lynn Siglers podcast, MeSsy. Speaking to Sigler, whos also been diagnosed with MS, Applegate recalled that during a family trip to Europe - specifically to the Netherlands and Paris, France - she actually spent most of the vacation walking.

I ended up walking. I couldnt believe it, she said. The first couple of days I walked with my cane and then I started to feel like that was actually hindering me a little bit in some weird way.

The Dead to Me star specified how she made the decision to walk without her cane on the rest of trip, adding: All of a sudden this, like, strange superpower took over and I just ended up walking without my cane the whole rest of the time and was amazed by it.

She expressed how shocked she was to be walking during the trip, before revealing how many steps she ultimately did each day while in Europe. For two years, I havent gone maybe over 2,000 steps a day, thats it, Applegate added. And I was looking at my FitBit and it was, like, 9,000 a day.

According to the Mayo Clinic, MS is potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord. In addition to walking difficulties or inability to walk, symptoms can also include numbness or weakness in the limbs, lack of coordination, partial or complete loss of vision, and slurred speech.

During Tuesdays episode of MeSsy, Applegate acknowledged how the devastation of her MS diagnosis previously brought her to a point where she didnt even want to try moving her body.

She also confessed that she was so afraid during the trip to Europe because she didnt want to over exert herself with too much physical activity. While she made sure she didnt overdo it with too much walking, it was still difficult to see her family move faster than her.

It was hard seeing everyones backs, she said. Just kind of being the little caboose the whole time, which, you know, is a hard feeling. But then everyone kind of saw that and then would try to stick with me and make me feel like we could walk at my pace too. So, I felt good about it.

Since publicly announcing her MS diagnosis in 2021, Applegate has continued to speak openly about her symptoms. Her recent comments about walking without a cane came weeks after she described her debilitating pain when standing up. During another episode of her podcast, which aired earlier this month, she confessed that her symptoms had made it difficult for her to shower, noting that she hadnt done so in three weeks.

Because I cant stand in my shower. Theres no f***ing way I can use my shower, she said. I have such a small bench and my a** is so huge these days that I cant sit on it, its like I slip right off of it. So, Ive been Cottonelle-ing my body.

Applegate added that her legs are continuously hurting and that she struggles to get circulation in them. I dont know whats going on, like, no energy. Legs are just done, cant get circulation. I cant get them to stop hurting, she explained.

Although shed said during the 2 April episode that she was in relapse, a representative for Applegate later confirmed to People that the podcast episode was taped months ago and that the actor was not currently in a relapse phase.
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Strictly Come Dancings Hamza Yassin has laid bare his experience living with dyslexia, describing it as his superpower.

The wildlife presenter and cameraman, acclaimed for his work on shows such as Countryfile and Animal Park, won the BBC dance competition in 2022 becoming a keen fan-favourite along the way.

In a podcast dedicated to raising awareness around the learning disorder, he said: My dyslexia is my superpower, its what mother nature gave me its something that people say you want to cure, but to be perfectly honest I dont want to cure it. Its not to be cured. Its my gift.

Yassin also revealed the lengths his partner and fellow winner Jowita Przystal went to during rehearsals to bring out his best performances during the live shows.

In the first few weeks, within the first week really, Jowita figured out that I am different, different to everyone else, he told Lessons in Dyslexic Thinking. Shell say, Turn to the left, and Im going Which way is left?

After telling Przystal he was dyslexic, the dancer adapted her teaching using spatial and visual methods to enable Yassin to learn in a way that was comfortable for him.

She automatically figured out that in the dance routine Im spatially aware of where I am in relation to north, south, east, west.

She goes, Wow, okay. I see how your brain works. Youre a visual learner.

open image in gallery The pair won the 20th series of the popular dance competition ( PA )

Yassin shared how ambidextrous Przystal would demonstrate the male part of the technique as an example of what he would need to do.

She will say, Dont put your foot there... and behold once we dance together I realise why my foot cant go there, because her foots going to be in that position.

It was phenomenal to see someone get the way I think and to change her way of teaching to accommodate me and I could not have done it without Jowita.

open image in gallery The cameraman is known for his work on Countryfile and Animal Park ( Hamza Yassin/PA )

Yassin and Przystal were crowned the winners of Strictly Come Dancings 20th series.

The pair competed against Fleur East and Vito Coppola, Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu, and Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez in the grand final.

The Strictly winner was selected by means of a public vote, with judges scores serving only as guidelines.

In the final, Yassin danced the Salsa to Ecuador by Sash! featuring Rodriguez, the Couples Choice to Jerusalema  Remix by Master KG featuring Burna Boy and Nomcebo Zikode, and his Show Dance was to Lets Face the Music and Dance by Irving Berlin.
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Zendaya has opened up about the difficulties of navigating life in the spotlight.

The Euphoria star, 27, recently posed for the cover of both US Vogue and British Vogue for its May 2023 issues. In the wide-ranging interview, Zendaya reflected on balancing her growing stardom with her desires to lead a private life.

The Disney Channel alum recalled when she and boyfriend Tom Holland, who she began dating in July 2021, visited the Louvre in Paris, France, in fall 2022. While the couple was concerned about visiting the museum due to the amount of attention theyd receive, the pair decided to go anyway. Unsurprisingly, Zendaya and Holland were met with crowds of fans sharing photos and videos of them to social media.

It was actually fine, the Dune star recounted of their head-turning trip. You just kind of get used to the fact that: Oh, Im also one of these art pieces youre going to take a picture of. I just gotta be totally cool with it and just live my life.

Despite the swarm of fans, Zendaya noted that the Louvre allowed the couple to linger inside the museum after it had closed. It was one of the coolest experiences ever, she said, adding: It was like Night at the Museum.

As she reflected on growing up in the public eye, Zendaya explained how she always felt obligated to say yes when someone asks for a picture with her. Although she acknowledged how grateful she is for her success, the Greatest Showman star has also learned to respect her own boundaries.

You have to say yes, because you need to be grateful that youre here, Zendaya said. And while I still feel that way, I also have learned that I can say no, and I can say kindly that Im having a day off, or Im just trying to be to myself today, and I dont actually have to perform all the time.

Because I dont necessarily want my kids to have to deal with this, she added. And what does my future look like? Am I going to be a public-facing person forever?

Elsewhere during the interview, the Emmy winner applauded her boyfriend for how beautifully hes handled the transition to stardom following the release of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017.

We were both very, very young, but my career was already kind of going, and his changed overnight. One day youre a kid and youre at the pub with your friends, and then the next day youre Spider-Man, Zendaya said. I definitely watched his life kind of change in front of him. But he handled it really beautifully.

Since their first meeting on the set of Spider-Man, Zendaya and Holland have managed to keep much of their relationship private. In July 2021, the couple seemingly confirmed years-long romance rumours after they were pictured kissing in a car in photos obtained by Page Six. The two then sparked engagement speculation when Zendaya was seen wearing a massive diamond ring on Instagram. However, the piece of jewellery ended up being a yellow 21.14 carat ring from Bulgari, which she gifted to herself in 2021.

In December 2022, reports surfaced that the couple were in settling-down mode and planning for their future together after a source told US Weekly that the actors seem to have a serious and permanent relationship.

Theyre both in settling-down mode and are absolutely planning for a real future together, the outlet reported.

However, Zendayas mother Claire Stoermer seemingly shut down these rumours when she posted a cryptic message about clickbait to her Instagram story. That same year, Zendaya was forced to shut down pregnancy rumours after fans posted prank TikTok videos about her expecting a child, while Zendaya pregnant became a trending topic on Twitter.

See no, this is why I stay off Twitter Just making stuff up for no reason weekly, she wrote on her Instagram Story at the time.
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Serbia is close to signing a deal on the purchase of 12 French Rafale multi-purpose fighter jets, the Serbian president announced Tuesday, in what would mark a shift from its traditional military supplier Russia.

President Aleksandar Vucic spoke during his two-day visit to Paris and talks with French President Emmanuel Macron as well as French defense officials including Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation.

Vucic said that he had a very good conversation with Macron on Monday night, which lasted more than three hours, and that they reached concrete agreements regarding the purchase of the Rafale fighter jets.

He said contracts will be signed in the next two months in Macrons presence, adding that the purchase of the sophisticated jets will drastically widen military and other cooperation between the two states.

Financial details of the potential deal have not been announced, but the pro-government Serbian media estimated it at about 3 billion euro ($3.2 billion) for the whole package.

Serbia has been considering the purchase of the new Rafale jets for more than two years since neighboring Balkan rival Croatia purchased 12 used fighter jets of the same type for about 1 billion euros.

The potential acquisition of Rafale jets would allow Serbia to modernize its air force consisting mainly of Soviet-made MiG-29 fighters as well as aging Yugoslav combat aircraft.

Russia has been a traditional supplier of military aircraft, including combat helicopters, to Serbia, which has refused to join international sanctions against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

The rapid arming by the Serbian military has been worrying some of its neighbors following the bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Serbia, a European Union candidate, is almost completely surrounded by NATO member countries.

Critics of the Western arming of Serbia say the sale of sophisticated French jets could encourage Vucic to possibly intervene militarily in neighboring Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008, which Serbia does not recognize. The populist Serb leader has made several such veiled threats in recent months.

During his talks with Macron in Paris, the two also discussed the simmering tensions in Kosovo as well cooperation in the field of nuclear technology and possible construction of a nuclear power plant in Serbia.
Iranian FM rejects allegations of supplying missiles to Russia 13 Oct 2024 | 10:20 PM Tehran, Oct 13 (UNI) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday denied allegations that his country has supplied ballistic missiles to Russia, emphasizing that Iran's military cooperation with Moscow predates the Ukraine conflict. see more..

Iraq rejects use of airspace for strikes on Iran, warns of conflict expansion 13 Oct 2024 | 10:14 PM Baghdad, Oct 13 (UNI) Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Sunday warned of the potential expansion of the Middle East conflict and rejected the use of Iraqi airspace for attacks on neighboring countries. see more..

Hezbollah says clashing with Israeli forces in 3 southern Lebanese villages 13 Oct 2024 | 10:01 PM Beirut, Oct 13 (UNI) Hezbollah said Sunday that it clashed with Israeli forces in three border villages in southern Lebanon. see more..

Iran bans all electronic communication devices on flights except cell phones 13 Oct 2024 | 6:59 PM Tehran, Oct 13 (UNI) Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) announced on Saturday a ban on electronic communication devices, such as pagers and walkie-talkies, from airplane cabins and checked luggage. see more..
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A 17-year-old boy has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Harry Pitman in north London on New Years Eve.

Harry Pitman, who was 16, had gathered with friends to watch fireworks before he was stabbed to death in Primrose Hill park, Camden, shortly before midnight.

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, gave his plea at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.

Speaking quietly, he confirmed his identity and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, which also included possession of an offensive weapon.

In the courtroom, a member of the victims family became emotional and cried out as the teenager denied murder, before apologising for the outburst.

In a previous hearing in January, the court heard how the stabbing happened during some sort of altercation as crowds gathered to watch the fireworks.

Harry was stabbed with a hunting-style knife within yards of members of the emergency services who were visibly present, it also heard.

Nearby police officers gave him first aid before paramedics arrived but he died at the scene shortly before midnight.

Harry was among 21 teenagers killed in violent incidents in London last year, 18 of whom were stabbed.

The defendant faces a trial from 2 September, which is expected to take up to six weeks.
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Scotland Yard has referred itself to the police watchdog after officers waited until the next morning to respond to calls and then found a woman stabbed to death.

Metropolitan Police officers forced their way into the 3.1 million home in Stanhope Place, Bayswater, on Monday, which was 12 hours after friends of the victim raised concerns about her welfare.

A woman in her twenties was found dead with a number of stab injuries and a murder investigation is now underway.

The first call was made at 7.05pm on Sunday and a second at 9.34pm, but police did not respond immediately as she was initially graded as a medium-risk missing person, the force said.

Officers entered the Grade II-listed terraced home - which dates from the 1820s - near Marble Arch at 8.30am the next day.

The scene on Stanhope Place, Bayswater, where a murder investigation is under way ( William Warnes/PA Wire )

Scotland Yard said in a statement: The Mets Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed and a mandatory referral will be made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in relation to the initial contact from the womans friends.

The force added it is working to trace and inform the womans next of kin, and a post-mortem examination will be held in due course. No arrests have been made so far.

One elderly neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said she heard two high-pitched screams on Sunday night.

The woman, who has lived on the street for over half a century, told MailOnline: I did hear very, very high-pitched screams on Sunday evening coming from that direction.

A series of screams. I recall two  Im very sensitive to sound. They were very unusual. There was no other sound other than the screams, then silence after.

I was in my room and I thought, Thats very strange, Then I recall there was a sound from the other side of my house.

What could I do? If it had continued I would have stuck my head out.

Detective chief inspector Adam Clifton, who is leading the investigation, said: I understand this news will be concerning, and that local women especially may be worried.

Our inquiries are in the very early stages and we are keeping an open mind as to the motive, however I can assure people that my team are working 24/7 to establish what happened to the woman, and to identify and arrest whoever may be responsible for this attack.

My officers now need support and information from the public. I want to ask local people to check doorbell cameras, and for drivers in the area to think about whether theyve seen anything unusual that might have been captured on dash cam. Did you notice any unusual activity at the address? If you did then it is imperative that we hear from you.

Chief superintendent Louise Puddefoot, lead for policing in Westminster, added: Our thoughts are with the woman and her family. My officers will do everything we can to support the investigation and they will be stationed in the area to speak to anyone who has any information or concerns they want to share with us.

An IOPC spokesman said: We can confirm that we have this afternoon received a referral from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) after a woman was found dead by officers at a property in Stanhope Place, W2 on the morning of 8 April 2024.

The referral relates to previous contact after two calls were made to police on Sunday evening (7 April) by a friend of the woman to report her missing. We will assess the referral and decide what further action may be required from us.

Anyone with information should call 101 or X @MetCC ref CAD 6784/7 Apr or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Black and Asian people who spot cancer symptoms are taking twice as long to be diagnosed as white people, a new study shows.

Research by pharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and charity Shine Cancer Support shows that people from minority ethnic backgrounds face an average of a years delay between first noticing symptoms and receiving a diagnosis of cancer.

These groups report more negative experiences of cancer care than white people, as well as limited knowledge about the diseases, and a lack of awareness of support services. All of these contribute to later diagnoses.

Simeon Greene and Precious both suffered during delays to their diagnosis and treatment ( Cancer Equals )

In a year thats revealed that the UKs cancer survival lags behind comparable countries, I am saddened but unsurprised that people from minority ethnic groups face additional hurdles that delay their diagnosis. said Ceinwen Giles, co-CEO of Shine Cancer Support.

We know that catching cancer earlier saves lives, yet with year-long waits for some people, collaborative efforts between health leadership, advocacy groups and the pharmaceutical industry are required.

The campaigns supporting report, 1,000 Voices, Not 1, highlights a number of stark findings from a survey of more than 1,000 people with cancer across the UK.

People from ethnic groups were more likely to attribute their symptoms to other conditions (51 per cent compared to 31 per cent) and not take their symptoms seriously (34 per cent against 21 per cent), compared with white people, the data showed.

Prompt diagnosis and treatment saves lives, yet people from minority ethnic groups were not being seen quickly enough ( PA )

They are also more likely to experience difficulty seeing a GP compared to white individuals, both in terms of getting an appointment (25 per cent compared to 16 per cent)  with reasons including long waiting times and few slots being available  and in being able to make time for it due to work (18 per cent against 4 per cent).

A higher proportion of people from minority ethnic groups worry about wasting NHS time and resources (52 per cent compared to 42 per cent) and do not want to be seen as wasting their GPs time (32 per cent against 18 per cent), compared with white people.

Delay between cancer diagnosis and treatment can raise the risk of death by around 10 per cent.

Simeon Greene, 60, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2015, at the age of 49, more than a year after first experiencing symptoms.

At the same time, Mr Greene was fighting deportation as he was caught up in the Windrush scandal and had been accused of not having proper documentation. The Wolverhampton residents compromised eligibility to live and receive free treatment in the UK meant he was unable to claim benefits and faced having to spend 42,000 for his cancer treatment.

Meanwhile, he was supporting his partner, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer six months earlier. The couple ended up selling their belongings to keep a roof over their heads.

Speaking to The Independent, Mr Greene, whos still awaiting compensation from the Home Office, said: Black men are more likely to develop prostate cancer and younger; these risks are often ignored by healthcare practitioners and this leads to more deaths.

Mr Greene now runs a support group for other Black men affected by cancer ( Cancer Equals )

When I received my diagnosis, I ended up planning my funeral because I felt sure I was going to die. On top of this battle, I was living in fear every time there was a knock on the door  that was a part of my life  and feeling scared that the Home Office was going to drag me off to a detention centre for deportation. This dragged on for nine years and a day... at one point, I sat in my front room with my pills and came very close to ending it all.

Mr Greene, who runs a support group for other Black men affected by cancer, added: Weve seen NHS campaigns about prostate cancer and how it generally affects men, but the heightened risk that Black men face isnt often highlighted.

Another problem is the lack of trust in doctors within our communities, plus the lack of Black men being invited to participate in clinical trials.

The study coincides with the launch of a new campaign, Cancer Equals, which is geared towards helping to understand and help address the many possible reasons for inequalities in Britons experiences of cancer.

According to research, reasons for delays in diagnoses include difficulties accessing services, healthcare practitioners not taking patients symptoms seriously and low awareness of cancer symptoms.

Precious, a 45-year-old British woman of Nigerian heritage living in North London, can personally attest to low awareness about cancer and to doctors dismissing warning signs.

Precious received her diagnosis in A&E after collapsing in a train station following multiple GP appointments in which her symptoms were put down to stress ( Cancer Equals )

She received her diagnosis in A&E after collapsing in a train station following multiple GP appointments in which her symptoms were put down to stress.

I had all the symptoms for four months and went to the GP several times  she kept saying I was stressed and put me on medication. So in my wildest dreams, I didnt expect the word cancer to come up.

Prior to her diagnosis with chronic myeloid leukaemia, at the age of 33, Precious didnt know much about cancer and its associated symptoms; it was never spoken about within her family and was considered shameful by some people within the communities around her.

In my culture, sometimes people say sickness is a consequence of not doing something right or it being a curse from God for not living a good life; someone suggested it may have been because I didnt pay my tithes in church, Precious told The Independent.

Shortly after her diagnosis, Precious was astounded by a care assistants suggestion that cancer may have come about as a result of someone working black magic on her.

One time I was in hospital, my tummy was hurting really bad and they sent me for an X-ray, she explained.

A fellow Nigerian woman, a care assistant who learned Id recently returned from a trip to Nigeria, accompanied me to the X-ray and said: Sometimes if you steal somebody's money or land or husband, they can throw obeah [magic] at you and it doesnt matter what part of the world youre in, it will hit you.

If you have multiple people, a collective group of people thinking that way, theres no way that youre going to want to open up about your cancer, she added.

Both Mr Greene and Precious now work to support people who have had a cancer diagnosis and raise awareness about the diseases prevalence.

Precious believes strongly in sharing her story to help other people, especially those from cultures that dont often speak about cancer, to feel safe and empowered to get the help that they need.

If I can help at least one person, then itll be worth it, she said.
Victorian foreign secretary Lord Malmesbury had had a particularly good lunch, but was not amused when he sauntered back to his desk in the old Foreign Office in Downing Street to find that the ceiling had disobligingly collapsed onto his desk.

The whole office was indeed in a sad state. When foreign dignitaries visited the building, they were given to nervously eyeing the plaster, which was being held up by temporary beams. It is opening up the whole nation to ridicule, lamented The Times.

Reputational damage provided the impetus for the current Foreign Office building to be erected at vast expense. The 17th-century terrace houses that had been built at the same time as No 10 and No 11 by rogue property speculator George Downing were razed to the ground to make way for the grand pile designed by George Gilbert Scott, which opened in 1868.

Today, it is the Gilbert Scott building, along with the name of the office and its very work, that is at risk of ridicule in a new report: The World in 2040: Renewing the UKs Approach to International Affairs, written by former cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill, ex-diplomat Moazzam Malik, and Foreign Office high-flyer turned Oxford head of house Tom Fletcher.

Coming as the latest in a long line of diagnoses of the Foreign Office problem dating back to the Duncan report of 1969 and before, this document certainly pulls no punches.

The entire Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (to give it its full title) is anchored in the past and struggling to deliver a clear mandate, it states.

It is insular: All too often it acts like a giant private office for the foreign secretary of the day. It is attempting to rely on traditional alliances with the US and Europe, and needs to learn from countries like Canada, Japan and Norway (ouch) about how to leverage its size and independence to be an influence on the world stage, blending Britains security interests with its trade, aid, development and climate-change ambitions.

Even the magnificent classical building comes under attack. Erected at the instigation of the politician Lord Palmerston, who did more than anyone to establish the British empire and its premier position in the world, the office gives a backwards-looking impression with its colonial-era pictures on the wall.

The author highlights, in an interview on BBC Radio 4, an incident in which an Irish diplomat was visiting the Foreign Office to take part in sensitive talks: Towering over the meeting table was a portrait of Lord Trevelyan, who was famous for wanting to limit the UKs financial exposure to the Irish potato famine. The significance of that was not lost on the Irish diplomat.

Reputational damage provided the impetus for the current Foreign Office building to be erected at vast expense ( Getty )

The report provides a much-needed shot in the arm. It is not, of course, just the Foreign Office that is housed in a 19th-century building  and trying to run the government in a manner laid down in that century  but Whitehall at large, which a report published by the Institute for Government last month argued is no longer working.

Given the likelihood that a Labour government will be installed following the general election later this year, it is an opportune moment to be considering the question of the way the country is governed and the way in which Britain wants to connect with the rest of the world.

For the hundred years following the erection of the new Foreign Office building in the 1860s, Britain was a major force in the world, and the position of foreign secretary was second only, in the government, to that of prime minister.

An 1873 engraving depicts The Reception of the Shah at the Foreign Office ( Sepia Times/Getty )

But developments in communication technology and the speed of international travel have meant that foreign ambassadors, and the post of foreign secretary, can seem redundant.

Since the 1980s, the prime minister has been the key figure in the conduct of Britains foreign policy, and the post of foreign secretary has shuffled down the pecking order  a slippage that the incumbent, David Cameron, is trying to reverse, if only in the short term.

Now is exactly the moment when Britain needs to rethink its government in preparation for a world dominated by AI, climate change, concerns about energy security, and the shift in global power eastwards.

Many of these questions were explored in the seminal Integrated Review of 2021 (revised in 2023), written by Boris Johnsons best hire youve never heard of, John Bew.

His plan included significant investment in AI and cyber capabilities, which would ensure the UK remained one of the biggest defence spenders in Europe. With proper investment, Bew suggests, we could be the convener of the next 10 largest powers, pointing to an expansion of the G7 group to a D10 of democratic powers (G7 plus India, Australia and South Korea).

Theresa May and Donald Trump walk through the Quadrangle in 2017 ( Getty )

We certainly dont need to be trashing Foreign Office diplomats, as governments have repeatedly done. Their quality, along with their judgement, is often far better than that of their political masters. We need, rather, to empower them, and to bring the worthy but tired British Council under their auspices.

British language, history and culture deserve to be much better known across the world. Britain needs to be proud of the times when it has been at its best, in order to balance those aspects of its history of which it should be ashamed. That most certainly means remaining in the Victorian edifice.

Britain has a uniquely important role in the world up to 2040, and long after that. With the progressive loss of moral authority emanating from the United States, whether Donald Trump is re-elected or not, the space is wide open for our nation to provide leadership based on the principles of self-determination, democracy and liberty that Britain has proudly expounded.

Britain needs to be proud of its past successes in order to balance the more shameful aspects ( PA )

To achieve that, it needs to attract the brightest and best young people to join it, and it needs to retain and inspire them with a sense of mission and idealism.

Decamping the office to a drab, modern, open-plan space will do little to achieve that. There is so much to admire and be inspired by in the architecture of the present building.

Much better to let those who work in this office be reminded every day of the sins of the past, and resolve that they will never repeat them  that they are there to do a better job, for Britain and the world.

Sir Anthony Seldon is the author of The Foreign Office: The Illustrated History, The Impossible Office? The History of the British Prime Minister (updated version out now) and Johnson at 10: The Inside Story
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Police have launched an urgent appeal to find a missing 15-year-old girl who went missing in London.

Tia Williams was last seen leaving a family members address in Camden on Monday 18 March and she was reported missing at 4pm that day.

Metropolitan Police officers say they have been following a number of enquiries to locate her, and are now turning to the public for help.

Tia is described as white, with dark brown shoulder-length hair. She is between 5ft and 5ft 2in tall, and average build.

The teenager has links to London, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire and she often uses the public transport network including trains.

Detective chief inspector Paul Ridley, from Camdens Public Protection Team, said: We are very concerned for the welfare of Tia and it is extremely important that we locate her.

Tia has previously travelled to Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire however due to the amount of time missing could have travelled further in the country.

If you have any information about Tias whereabouts, or have seen anyone matching Tias description then please contact police by dialling 999 or 101 quoting reference Op. Dinar.
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The Met Office has issued fresh weather warnings for 65mph gales in the aftermath of Storm Kathleen.

Large swathes of the country are on high alert with 95 flood warnings and 209 flood alerts issued by the Environment Agency.

There will be no respite from strong winds as a second low-pressure area approaches the UK, following Storm Kathleen which brought 70mph winds and travel chaos over the weekend.

A yellow wind warning has been issued until 9am on Tuesday across the south coast, as winds of up to 65mph are expected to hit the shores, with flying debris bringing a small chance of danger to life.

A man takes photos of the waves at Blackrock Diving Board, Salthill, Co. Galway ( PA )

Earlier on Monday, a van driver was rescued from his roof by firefighters when a 3.5ft high tide led four vehicles to become stranded.

The fire service attended but six people stranded during the incident at the Strood causeway at Meresea Island, Essex, managed to escape before crews arrived.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said on Monday: With school holidays and the weather getting warmer, please plan your journeys ahead and check tide times before you travel.

Thats the message from firefighters who rescued one person trapped in their car from The Strood, West Mersea this afternoon.

Four more vehicles have been left abandoned and are waiting for road recovery.

If you cant see any signs about how deep the water is, dont risk driving through it. For flooded roads, turn around and find another route.

People take a selfie as Storm Kathleen hits the coast ( PA )

More Met Office weather warnings for wind and rain have been issued across the UK with even more disruption reported overnight after strong gales hurtled in from the south-west coast.

There are three Met Office weather warnings covering southern England, western Wales and mainland Scotland on Tuesday.

The stormy conditions could cause damage to buildings and delays to road, rail and ferry transport are possible, with a small chance of road and bridge closures.

( Met Office )

The south-west is the first to face the winds this evening and overnight which will then reach the south-east towards Kent, and north along the coasts of the Celtic and Irish seas to Lancashire.

Met Office chief meteorologist Frank Saunders said: This system is in its deepening phase at present and will bring the strongest gusts to areas on its western and southern flanks.

As the system develops it will bring warmer air back into some southeastern areas of England today, but with the potential for some isolated thunder and lightning this evening.

Over the weekend Storm Kathleen wreaked havoc leaving thousands without power, and around 70 flights departing and arriving at UK airports before midday on Saturday were cancelled.

As heavy downpours persist over the week, the Environment Agency forecasts coastal and tidal flooding until Wednesday, with local flooding in north-west England on Tuesday,
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The children of a woman killed by a man serving a whole-life sentence have described how the possibility of his release from prison on compassionate grounds makes their blood boil and would be a national scandal.

Victor Farrant was jailed for life for the murder of his former girlfriend Glenda Hoskins, 44, and the attempted murder of Ann Fidler, 45, at Winchester Crown Court in 1998.

Sentencing him, Mr Justice Butterfield had said: This murder was so terrible and you are so dangerous that in your case the sentence of life should mean just that.

You should never be released.

But the family of Mrs Hoskins revealed last month they had been contacted by officials who said that Farrant was being considered for compassionate leave as he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and could have months to live.

The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) is set to meet on Wednesday to consider the case for Farrants release.

In a letter to be presented to the panel, Mrs Hoskins family have described their objection to Farrants release, stating: Victor Farrant is an incredibly dangerous man with a hatred of women  if he is sick and dying then Im afraid this makes him even more dangerous.

What has he got to lose by killing/raping again if he knows he has only months to live.

Farrant was jailed in November 1988 for a total of 12 years for rape and other offences, but just weeks after he was released on November 7, 1995, he savagely beat Ms Fidler at her home in Eastleigh, Hampshire.

Glenda Hoskins was murdered in 1996 by her former boyfriend Victor Farrant at her Portsmouth home. Farrant handed a whole-life sentence at Winchester Crown Court in 1998. (Family handout/PA)

Six weeks later, he murdered accountant Mrs Hoskins at her luxury waterside home in Portsmouth by pushing her under the water in the bath.

He left her body in the attic where it was found by her 15-year-old daughter Katie.

After killing Mrs Hoskins, Farrant went on the run and was eventually found in the south of France.

The letter from Iain, Katie and David Hoskins  the three children of Mrs Hoskins  continues: Its shocking that the justice system is even considering this  you cannot overturn a judicial ruling.

Justice Butterfield said that he should never be released, in the knowledge Farrant would die in prison. Him dying in prison, either of natural causes or a terminal illness was how his sentence was ruled in 1998.

The family say that Farrant had not shown remorse in prison and add: It appears grossly unjust if he is getting released early due to ill health  and the words compassionate release make my blood boil.

Our mother was raped and murdered and subjected to months of terror and stalking by this vile creature  wheres her compassion?

He raped and drowned her and rolled her body up in a carpet for her daughter to find.

Our mother died through the most violent and horrible ways  why is this man afforded an early release for dignity in death which our mother was never afforded?

The family add that Farrants release would cause huge anxiety for them and would require friends of their late mother to be given police protection because of his previous behaviour of vengeance.

They continue that his release would be national scandal and add: His past behaviour of reoffending with no remorse or fear of retribution make him still a dangerous man who could repeat again.

This is a hazardous situation for us and the public at large  he attacked and killed only months after his last release.

Following the meeting of the MAPPA panel, the case will go to the Ministry of Justice where the power lies with the Justice Secretary to grant or deny any application for early release from prison.

Penny Mordaunt, the Conservative MP for Portsmouth North, has written to the Justice Secretary Alex Chalk saying that she believed Farrant should never be released.

She wrote: He is a danger to women and has demonstrated repeatedly, that he cannot be reformed.

I find it deeply troubling that a man such as Mr Farrant is being considered for release on compassionate grounds when it is evident, he displayed no compassion towards his victims.

I am writing to ask that you take an interest in this case. I would also ask that the concerns I have enclosed from those involved in Glendas case are also considered, carefully and in the spirit with which they are intended.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said in a previous statement: Glenda Hoskins murder was a horrific crime and our thoughts remain with her family and friends.

Prisoners are only released on compassionate grounds in exceptional circumstances following strict risk assessments and no formal application has yet been made in this case.
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A holiday park in West Sussex has been evacuated with one person hospitalised after the River Arun burst its banks, sparking urgent warnings to get to high ground.

With hundreds of flood alerts in force across the country in the wake of Storm Kathleen, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were carrying out rescue operations in the seaside town of Littlehampton.

They urged anyone requiring lifesaving intervention to dial 999 to contact the fire and rescue service or the coastguard, and urged people to avoid the area and remain in their homes and get as high above the ground as possible within their buildings.

The emergency services were also dealing with a severe flooding incident at Medmerry holiday park between East Wittering and Selsey, some 13 miles west of Littlehampton  issuing an anyone in the vicinity of the holiday park to get to high ground if they are able to leave their homes.

South East Coast Ambulance confirmed a number of resources were sent to help evacuate and rescue a number of people from the site, with a spokeperson saying: Weve assessed and triaged a number of people at a nearby facility. One person showing signs of hypothermia has been taken to hospital.

Large swathes of the country are on high alert with 106 flood warnings and 210 lesser flood alerts issued by the Environment Agency, and warnings of danger-to-life gales reaching up to 65mph. Wales is subject to 13 flood warnings and 24 flood alerts.

Hundreds of locations across England have been warned to brace for possible flooding ( Environment Agency )

Weather warnings for wind are in force along the south coast of England until 9am on Tuesday and spanning the west coast of Wales and parts of northern England until 3pm, cautioning of the potential for power cuts and likely travel disruption.

Heavy rain and strong winds are forecast to carry on battering parts of southern England, western Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland over the next few days.

In Hampshire, flooding was also affecting the railway at Lymington Pier. Trains may be cancelled, delayed, or revised because of this problem, said South Western Railway, adding that replacement buses had been requested between Lymington Pier and Brockenhurst. The disruption is expected to last until 10am.

On the Great Western Railway, flooding between Clifton Down and Severn Beach means all lines are closed as water has risen above the tracks on the branch line. Trains running to and from Severn Beach will run between Taunton/Weston-super-Mare/Bristol Temple Meads and Clifton Down only.

And in Pembrokeshire, Dyfed-Powys Police urged motorists to avoid the area around the A487 at Penycwm after it was closed due to surface water.

Met Office provisional statistics showed that England saw a record amount of rainfall in the 18 months to March. Mr Partridge said the past three months in particular had made for a very wet start to the year.

In April, Storm Kathleen caused widespread travel disruption as hundreds of flood alerts were issued and thousands of homes lose power.

Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said that while these levels of rainfall would not be a huge cause for concern on their own, they will fall onto already saturated ground which increases the risk of flooding.

Mr Partridge added: Well continue with very unsettled weather as we head into spring, which is usually when we start to see things settle down a little bit more.

Were continuing with one area of low pressure after another, which is mainly down to the fact that the jet stream is a bit further south than it would normally be at this time of year.
Jonathan Chatwin in the Asian Review of Books:

Eric Arthur Blair once wrote that he was born into the lower-upper-middle class, having cachet but no capital. His father had been a sub-deputy opium agent in India, where Blair was born in 1903; his French mother was the daughter of a Burmese teak merchant. He attended Wellington, briefly, and then Etonbut with fees taken care of as a Kings Scholar. He was, he wrote later, relatively happy at Eton, but he recalls his prep school, St Cyprians, with something close to loathing in his essay Such, Such Were The Joysa place where he was constantly reminded of his lower-upper-middle class status: one boy, having queried Blair as to his fathers income, told him with amused contempt that his father earned over two hundred times as much money.

Once he had finished school, Blairdubbed by Martin Amis an auto-contrariandecided not to progress to Oxford or Cambridge, but instead to turn towards Empirewhere plenty of men with indistinct class backgrounds managed to refashion themselves.

More here.
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Watch as David Cameron holds a joint press conference with US secretary of state Antony Blinken in Washington DC on Tuesday 9 April.

The foreign secretary has already held talks with Donald Trump in Florida amid his push to shore up US support for Ukraine.

Lord Cameron met with the presumptive Republican presidential candidate on Monday ahead of his trip to DC to appeal to Congress over a stalled package of aid.

On his visit to the US capital, he will warn that success for Kyiv in defeating Russia is vital for American and European security as he urges lawmakers across the Atlantic to approve urgent further assistance for the country.

Lord Cameron will push for Ukraine to be given the resources needed to hold the line and go on the offensive in 2025, the Foreign Office said.

He will meet with Mr Blinken as well as Congressional leaders, who he will urge to change the narrative on support for Ukraine while a multibillion-dollar aid package remains held up on Capitol Hill.
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Lord Cameron has had a face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump in Florida as part of a charm offensive designed to secure more US funding for the war in Ukraine.

The foreign secretary visited the former US president at his Mar-a-Lago resort despite previously calling him protectionist, xenophobic, [and] misogynistic and denouncing one of his policies as divisive, stupid and wrong.

The meeting, which the Trump campaign say included a dinner, was the first between a senior minister and Mr Trump since he left office in 2021.

As well as Ukraine, the two men are understood to have talked about the strength of the UK-US relations, the so-called special relationship, and other foreign policy issues.

Lord Cameron is on a high-profile visit to the US to press Republicans to pass the blocked aid package for Ukraine and will also discuss Israels war in Gaza.

It is the latest in a series of interventions made by the foreign secretary over the support for Ukraines battle against Russia.

Earlier this year, he warned Congress not to show the weakness displayed against Hitler in the 1930s.

That comment drew the ire of right-wing congresswoman and staunch Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene, who told him to kiss my ass and worry about his own country.

Lord Cameron flew to Florida to meet Mr Trump on Monday night.

The Foreign Office insisted that it was standard practice for ministers to meet with opposition candidates as part of their routine international engagement.

But it is not the first time Lord Camerons decision to meet a presedential candidate has raised eyerbrows.

In 2012, when he was prime minister, he met the Republican candidate for president Mitt Romney during a campaigning and fundraising trip to London.

During his visit, Lord Cameron is hoping for a breakthrough with Republicans who have been blocking a $60bn (over 47.5bn) military aid package for Ukraine, now into the second year of its war with Russia.

He will hold talks with US secretary of state Antony Blinken and key figures across Congress on Tuesday to call them to change the narrative on Ukraine this year and release the funding.

He will tell the American leaders that the success for Ukraine and failure for [Vladimir] Putin are vital for American and European security.

This will show that borders matter, that aggression doesnt pay and that countries like Ukraine are free to choose their own future, the Foreign Office said.

The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to re-draw European borders by force, and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea.

US support for Ukraine has massively degraded the military capacity of a common adversary, Russia has lost half of its pre-invasion land combat power, and a quarter of its original Black Sea fleet, while creating jobs at home and strengthening the Western alliance and Nato.

The Trump campaign said the two men had dinner in Florida and discussed "the need for Nato countries to meet their defense spending requirements," said in a statement.

The two also discussed "the upcoming U.S. and UK elections, policy matters specific to Brexit ... and ending the killing in Ukraine," the campaign said in a statement reported by Reuters.

Republicans within the US Congress have blocked the latest tranche of the package to Ukraine for months. The Republicans in the House of Representatives have demanded concessions on border security before supporting the bill.

The former president, who has claimed he would end the war in Ukraine in one day, has long been critical of the huge amount of economic and military aid the US has given Ukraine.

Last month he appeared to soften his tone on Nato in the wake of uproar after he said he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to members who dont pay their fair share.

In 2015, Mr Cameron described the former Republican presidents Muslim ban travel policy as divisive, stupid and wrong and criticised his disagreement with Ukraine aid as not a sensible approach.

Ms Taylor-Greenes outburst came in response to an article by Lord Cameron cautioning the US against mirroring "the weakness displayed against Hitler in the 1930s".

The Foreign Office said the talks with Mr Blinken and other Biden administration officials will also focus on the ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of more aid to the region.

He will also push for a full, urgent, and transparent investigation into the terrible events in Gaza after the completely unacceptable deaths of three British men working for aid organisation World Central Kitchen in the Israeli drone strike.

Both Mr Trump and the White House have been approached for comment.
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Former home secretary Suella Braverman has defended Israels actions in Gaza and insisted the country is doing a huge amount to comply with international law.

Her comments come amidst mouting international and domestic pressure on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to respond to the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine and the death of three British aidworkers last week.

The Tory MP for Fareham said she strongly rebuts suggestions that Israel is in breach of international law: I have probed and I have tested, Ive been very near to the border in Gaza and I am convinced  and I say this as a former attorney general who dealt with matters of international law and military action  that I very strongly rebut suggestions that Israel is in breach of international law, that theres a genocide, that theres a forced starvation.

Quite the contrary, she told told LBC radio . Israel is doing a huge amount using technology, sophisticated methods, and a lot of care to minimise civilian casualties, to get aid into Gaza and to comply with international law.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman has defended Israels actions in Gaza ( PA Wire )

Ms Braverman also added that the death of three British aid workers at the hands of Israel last week was not a reason to walk away from Israel: I dont think the fact that these tragedies happen is a reason to walk away from Israel, and to stop selling arms to Israel, because of that broader battle that they are engaging with.

Ms Braverman expressed her condolences to the family and friends of the aid workers, which included three Britons, killed by an Israeli drone, adding: They were brave people putting their lives in danger in aid of humanitarianism.

They should not have been killed, it was a mistake and the Israelis have been very quick to accept responsibility, to investigate fully, and to apologise. They were incredibly regretful of it.

She continued: The reality is that these tragedies happen in war, and innocent civilians sadly, very sadly, will die.

Rishi Sunak has been forced to respond to calls  including from within his own party  to immediately suspend arms sales to Israel amid a growing chorus of opposition to the number of civilians killed in its war on Hamas.

The prime minister has faced pleas from Tory grandees, hundreds of lawyers, dozens of MPs and peers from across the political spectrum, as well as top military commanders to halt arms exports to the nation.

Rishi Sunak has refused to publish the governments legal advice around armed exports to Israel ( PA Wire )

He has also been urged to exert Britains influence on Israel to force a change of approach in how Israel Defence Forces (IDF) conducts the invasion.

Thus far the government have refused to publish advice from lawyers as to whether Israel is in breach of its international obligations, as a raft of former supreme court justices have warned the government may be breaching international law by continuing to arm Israel.

Ms Braverman  who also served as attorney general - said she supported the convention that legal advice given to the government should be confidential.

She said: I think that the government needs to be able to behave in an environment where legal advice is confidential and privileged.

Foreign secretary Lord Cameron is expected to discuss the Israel-Gaza conflict during his ongoing trip to the US.
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Liz Truss has revealed the late Queen Elizabeth II told her to pace yourself during their first and final meeting as prime minister.

In her new book, Ten Years to Save the West, Truss admitted she did not take the monarchs advice when they met in September 2022 to confirm her as Britains new prime minister.

Of her historic meeting at Balmoral in Scotland, which occured just two days before the monarchs death, Truss says the 96-year-old the Queen seemed to have grown frailer since she had last been in the public eye.

We spent around 20 minutes discussing politics. She was completely attuned to everything that was happening, as well as being typically sharp and witty, she writes.

Towards the end of our discussion, she warned me that being prime minister is incredibly aging. She also gave me two words of advice: Pace yourself. Maybe I should have listened.

At the meeting, the Queen was pictured using a walking stick and smiling warmly as she greeted Ms Truss in front of an open fire in her sitting room.

At the meeting, the monarch, using a walking stick, was pictured smiling warmly as she greeted Ms Truss in front of an open fire in her sitting room at the castle ( PA )

The meeting produced the last public photograph of the late Queen before she died on September 8 2022 at her Scottish residence.

Ms Truss book dives into the visit among other tales from her short tenure as prime minister which lasted just 49 days.

She travelled to Balmoral Castle to meet Elizabeth II on September 6 and described the monarch as frail but mentally alert prior to the books release.

Ms Truss said that she had been summoned to the Scottish palace due to the Queens health. However, she found her namesake was absolutely on top of things and seemed intent on meeting again.

She was very, very keen to reassure me that wed be meeting again soon... It was very important to her, Ms Truss told GB News in September 2023.

The meeting produced the final publish photograph of the late Queen before she died two days later at Balmoral Castle ( PA )

She was absolutely on top of what was happening. Although she was physically quite frail, she was absolutely mentally alert.

Ms Truss added that there was no suggestion the Queen might be about to pass away. Truss writes in her new book that the news came as a profound shock to her which left her thinking Why me? Why now?

Royal Physcians ( PA )

I was obviously only in the first few days of the job of being prime minister. I was thinking about many different things, Ms Truss told GB in 2023.

But the assumption absolutely was that this would be the first of many meetings [with the Queen].

She was very determined to do her duty, right to the end. We had a very, very good meeting. She was upbeat.

While promoting her book to the Mail on Sunday last September, Ms Truss revealed that her formerly close political friendship with Kwasi Kwarteng  who she sacked as chancellor  is effectively over.

And she admitted she still struggles to compute what happened during her turbulent time in Downing Street.

I was pushing against a system and against an orthodoxy that was gradually moving to the left, she said, singling out the Bank of England and the Office for Budget Responsibility as she recalled the seismic period in politics.
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When an illustrated edition of Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale was released in 2019, educators in Clayton, Missouri needed little debate before deciding to keep copies in high school libraries. The book is widely regarded as a classic work of dystopian literature about the oppression of women, and a graphic novel would help it reach teens who struggle with words alone.

But after Missouri legislators passed a law in 2022 subjecting librarians to fines and possible imprisonment for allowing sexually explicit materials on bookshelves, the suburban St. Louis district reconsidered the new Atwood edition, and withdrew it.

Theres a depiction of a rape scene, a handmaid being forced into a sexual act, says Tom Bober, Clayton district's library coordinator and president of the Missouri Association of School Librarians. Its literally one panel of the graphic novel, but we felt it was in violation of the law in Missouri.

Across the country, book challenges and bans have soared to the highest levels in decades. Public and school-based libraries have been inundated with complaints from community members and conservative organizations such as as Moms for Liberty. Increasingly, lawmakers are considering new punishments  crippling lawsuits, hefty fines, and even imprisonment  for distributing books some regard as inappropriate.

The trend comes as officials seek to define terms such as obscene and harmful. Many of the conflicts involve materials featuring racial and/or LGBTQ+ themes, such as Toni Morrisons novel, The Bluest Eye, and Maia Kobabes memoir, Gender Queer. And while no librarian or educator has been jailed, the threat alone has led to more self-censorship.

Already this year, lawmakers in more than 15 states have introduced bills to impose harsh penalties on libraries or librarians.

Canadian author Margaret Atwood holds a copy of her book The Testaments ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Utah enacted legislation in March that empowers the states Attorney General to enforce a new system of challenging and removing sensitive books from school settings. The law also creates a panel to monitor compliance and violations.

Awaiting Idaho Gov. Brad Littles signature is a bill that empowers local prosecutors to bring charges against public and school libraries if they dont move harmful materials away from children.

The laws are designed to limit or remove legal protections that libraries have had for decades, says Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom.

Since the early 1960s, institutions including schools, libraries and museums  as well as educators, librarians and other staffers who distribute materials to children  have largely been exempt from expensive lawsuits or potential criminal charges.

These protections began showing up in states as America grappled with standards surrounding obscenity, which was defined by the Supreme Court in 1973.

Tom Bober, librarian and President of the Missouri Association of School Librarians, ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Ruling 5-4 in Miller v. California, the justices said obscene materials are not automatically protected by the First Amendment, and offered three criteria that must be met for being labeled obscene: whether the work, taken as a whole, appeals to prurient interest, whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law, and whether the work lacks "serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

Eventually, almost every state adopted protections for educators, librarians and museum officials, among others who provide information to minors.

Until recently, police and prosecutors were unable to pursue charges against public libraries over materials that make certain individuals uncomfortable. These exemptions have prevented spurious prosecutions of teachers over health and sexuality curriculum, art, theater, and difficult subjects in English classes, stated a 2023 report from EveryLibrary, a national political action committee that opposes censorship.

Arkansas and Indiana targeted educators and librarians with criminalization laws last year. Tennessee criminalized publishers that provide obscene materials to public schools.

Some Republicans are seeking penalties and restrictions that would apply nationwide. Referring to pornography in the foreword to Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation's blueprint for a possible second Donald Trump administration, the right-wing group's president, Kevin Roberts, wrote that the people who produce and distribute it should be imprisoned. Educators and public librarians who purvey it should be classed as registered sex offenders.

Arkansas version was temporarily blocked by a federal judge after a coalition of librarians and publishers challenged the legality of subjecting librarians and booksellers to criminal charges if they provide harmful materials to minors.

Indiana lawmakers stripped away educational purposes as a defense for school librarians and educators charged with giving minors obscene or harmful material  felonies punishable by up to 2 years in jail and $10,000 in fines. The law also requires public catalogs of what's in each school library and systems for responding to complaints.

Indianas law took effect January 1. It's likely a matter of when  not if  a lawsuit is filed, and the anxiety has created a chilling effect.

Its putting fear into some people. Its very scary, said Diane Rogers, a school librarian who serves as president of the Indiana Library Federation. If youre a licensed teacher just being charged with a felony potentially gets rid of your license even if youre found innocent. Thats a very serious thing.

Rogers said she's confident Indiana's school libraries don't offer obscene materials, but she's seen reports that some districts have moved certain titles to higher age groups or required parental approval to check them out.

A PEN America list shows 300 titles were removed from school libraries across 11 Missouri districts after lawmakers in 2022 banned sexually explicit material, punishable by up to a year in jail or a $2,000 fine. The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and library groups challenged the law last year, but it remains in effect pending a motion for the state to intervene.

Gender Queer is another title no longer available to high schoolers in Clayton, where district officials recently turned their attention to Mike Curato's graphic novel, Flamer, about a teenager who struggles with his sexual identity and how to fit in at Boy Scout camp. The American Library Association included Flamer on its list of 2023's most challenged and/or banned books.

We had a lot of conversations about how to interpret the law and not be in violation, Bober said. But we also didn't want to overreach and overcensor our collections. With Flamer, we did not feel we were in violation of the law.
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An Indian-origin Sikh builder and head of a gurdwara was shot dead in Canadas Edmonton on Monday.

The incident took place at a construction site allegedly linked to the business of Boota Singh Gill, the owner of the luxury home-building company Gill Built Homes.

Southwest Branch patrol officers responded to the report of a shooting in the area of Cavanagh Boulevard SW and Cherniak Way SW, said Edmonton Police in its official press release, without officially identifying any of the victims.

Upon police arrival three injured males were located. EMS (emergency medical services) responded and determined two males, a 49-year-old and a 57-year-old were deceased, and a 51-year-old male was seriously injured.

The officials said that they are not looking for any suspects in the matter as the homicide unit investigates the cause of the shooting. They, however, issued an advisory asking the residents to avoid the area of Cavanagh Blvd SW and 30 Avenue SW shortly after the fatal incident.

There are no immediate concerns for public safety at this time and responding officers have secured the scene.

EPS homicide investigators will be leading this investigation and no further details are available, Edmonton police added in its report.

Gill had previously reported receiving threats and extortion calls, prompting a probe by investigators, reported several Indian outlets.

Former city councillor Mohinder Banga told CBC that Gill, 49, had strong ties to the Punjabi community in the city. This guy helped everybody by going out of his own way and suffering his own losses, Mr Banga said. Why would somebody hurt him?

He was such a religious and helpful person, he helped anybody he could, the councillor, who knew Gill, told the outlet.

The Indian government had previously raised concerns about the extortion calls to Indian-origin people in Canada.

It is a matter of concern People getting extortion calls, especially Indian nationals, is a matter of serious concern, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said in January this year.

He made the remarks during a media briefing when the ties between the two countries were particularly strained after Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said there were credible allegations of the Indian states involvement in the murder of Canadian-Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India at the time rejected the allegations, calling them absurd.
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A 38-year-old Arizona business owner has been charged with fatally stabbing and dismembering a teenage boy before burning his body beyond recognition last year.

Arizona prosecutors charged Anthonie Ruinard, a former restaurateur, with the second-degree murder of Nebraska teenager Parker League in June 2023. Mr Ruinard also faces a charge of abandonment or concealment of a dead body.

League, 18, was visiting friends in Arizona last summer when he met Mr Ruinard. Security footage from 11 June showed League and his suspected murderer leaving a Chandler, Arizona gas station together.

Police found his dismembered, stabbed and charred body in Arizonas Tonto National Park on 12 June  the same day he was set to return home. Officials had to use dental records to identify League, the Maricopa County Attorneys Office said in a statement.

Leagues brother told local outlet ABC15 the family reported him missing to the Tempe Police Department on 15 June, as they were not aware police had found his body.

Anthonie Ruinard, pictured, was arrested last year and faces charges for the murder of 18-year-old Parker League ( Maricopa County Sheriffs Office )

Its hard to accept because he was the nicest kid in the world, Hunter League told ABC15 last year.

I got a call from my dad telling me to come home. I asked him why about three times and the third time he tried to explain it, he just started breaking down, he continued.

Mr Ruinard entered a not guilty plea on 21 March, according to Maricopa County records. His trial will begin in July.

Parker Leagues body was found in Tonto National Forest ( Getty )

The 38-year-old suspect also previously owned a restaurant in Tuscon, Arizona. However, Tucsons Pastiche Modern Eatery has been closed since February 2023 due to a fire, the Arizona Daily Star reported last year.

Police first arrested Mr Ruinard in July 2023 after identifying surveillance footage that showed him using Leagues bank card after his death. Police searched Mr Ruinards vehicle and found traces of Leagues DNA, according to the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office. Authorities then charged Mr Ruinard with drug possession, weapon possession, theft, murder and concealment of a body.

However, those charges were dismissed after a grand jury indicted him for murder and concealment last month, according to Maricopa County records.
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Missouri governor Michael Parson on Monday denied a last-ditch clemency request from Brian Dorsey, 52, a death row inmate scheduled to be executed on Tuesday for a 2006 double-murder.

The pain Dorsey brought to others can never be rectified, but carrying out Dorseys sentence according to Missouri law and the Courts order will deliver justice and provide closure, Governor Parson, a former sheriff who hasnt blocked an execution since taking office in 2018, wrote in a statement.

The Missouri inmates attorneys condemned the decision in a statement, pointing to Dorseys commitment to rehabilitation and what they see as his flawed original legal representation.

Governor Parson has chosen to ignore the wealth of information before him showing that Brian Dorsey is uniquely deserving of mercy, attorney Megan Crane said on Monday. Brian has spent every day of his time in prison trying to make amends for his crime, and dozens of correctional officers have attested to his remorse, transformation, and commitment to service. Brians unprecedented support, and his irrefutable evidence of redemption, are precisely the circumstances for which clemency is designed. Allowing Brian to be executed despite this truth is devastating.

Some family members of the victims, Dorseys cousin Sarah and her husband Ben Bonnie are in support of the death sentence, while others have argued against it.

All of these years of pain and suffering we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, one group of relatives said in a statement earlier this year. Brian will get the justice that Sarah and Ben have deserved for so long.

The clemency decision comes despite Dorsey filing appeals in state and federal court, and a group of more than 70 current and former corrections officers advocating for the mans death sentence to be downgraded.

Generally, we believe in the use of capital punishment, the officers previously wrote the governor. But we are in agreement that the death penalty is not the appropriate punishment for Brian Dorsey.

Dorsey was sentenced to death for the 23 December 2006 killing, a punishment affirmed in appeals to courts at the state, federal, and US Supreme Court levels.

The pair invited Dorsey into their home for the night in New Bloomfield, Missouri, during a period when Dorsey feared a group of drug dealers were pursuing him to collect on a debt, according to the Missouri Attorney Generals Office.

Prosecutors also allege that after Dorsey killed them, he sexually assaulted Sarah and poured bleach on her, though these allegations werent fully considered in court because Dorsey pleaded guilty.

Dorsey turned himself in to police and isnt appealing on the basis that hes innocent; rather, he argues he received constitutionally flawed original legal representation, violating his 6th Amendment right to counsel.

According to advocates, Dorseys original attorneys failed to bring forward key pieces of evidence, a potential result of being paid a $12,000 flat fee each to defend him, a practice legal observers say can encourage hasty resolutions of capital cases, which can last years.

The Missouri mans original attorneys didnt disclose Mr Dorseys claim to have been in a drug-induced state of psychosis during the murders and didnt investigate or present his past struggles with mental health, which included a major depression diagnosis and seeking inpatient treatment, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

They also negotiated a guilty plea deal that didnt include any assurances about what sentence Dorsey would receive.

The practice of paying flat fees in capital cases has long been considered improper by the American Bar Association because of its potential to discourage lawyers from doing more than what is minimally necessary.

In a March letter to the governor, Michael Wolff, a former Missouri Supreme Court judge who once upheld Dorseys death sentence, said this was one rare cases where those of us who sit in judgment of a man convicted of capital murder got it wrong and added that the flat fee arrangement, which Missouri has since ceased to use, undoubtedly influenced everything.

When contacted byThe Independent, his original attorneys, Chris Slusher and Scott McBride, declined to comment.

Since being in prison, according to correctional staff, Dorsey hasnt had any infractions and has become a trusted barber for inmates and the occasional prison staff member.

Over the weekend, Dorseys attorneys and the state reached a settlement over a separate issue, whether protocols were in place to prevent unnecessary suffering if executioners struggled to place an IV line to deliver the execution drugs. In some cases, execution staff resort to a cutdown, making a potentially deep incision in the skin, to locate a proper vein.

The death row inmate had argued that because he is obese, has diabetes, and is a former intravenous drug user, it could make a cutdown more likely, a painful process his attorneys compared to surgery without anesthesia.

Barring a last-minute postponement, Dorsey is scheduled to be executed at 6pm local time at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center prison in Missouri via lethal injection.

Missouri executes more people than almost all other US states. The state has executed 97 people since 1976, trailing only Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Florida, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Last year, it was one of only five states to carry out executions, killing four people.

The Independent and the nonprofit Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) have launched a joint campaign calling for an end to the death penalty in the US. The RBIJ has attracted more than 150 well-known signatories to their Business Leaders Declaration Against the Death Penalty - with The Independent as the latest on the list. We join high-profile executives like Ariana Huffington, Facebooks Sheryl Sandberg, and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson as part of this initiative and are making a pledge to highlight the injustices of the death penalty in our coverage.
 Close Chad Daybell trial: Former friend testifies

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Melanie Gibb, the former friend of Lori Vallow, was served with a subpoena during a break in Chad Daybells triple murder trial in Boise, Idaho on Thursday.

Daybells defence attorney John Prior told her she had to accept to the papers. Ms Gibb was called by the prosecution to testify in the case a year after she testified at Vallows trial about the couples extreme religious beliefs.

Daybell, 55, is on trial for the murders of Vallows children, Tylee Ryan, 16, and JJ, seven, as well as his then-wife Tammy Daybell, who died suddenly in her sleep in October 2019. Weeks later, Daybell married Vallow.

Nine months after the children were last seen, they were found on Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho.

Prosecutors say his desire for sex, power, and money led to their murders. Mr Prior, however, said his client was manipulated by Vallow.

Last year, Vallow was convicted in the three murders and sentenced to life in prison. Jurors heard how she, Mr Daybell and her late brother Alex Cox were fuelled, in part, by their bizarre cult beliefs.

If convicted, Mr Daybell faces either the death penalty or life in prison.
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The parents of a school shooter have each been sentenced to 10-15 years in prison, over their part in failing to stop their son from killing four students at Oxford High School in Michigan in 2021.

James and Jennifer Crumbley were each convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials earlier this year, over their part in the deaths of the students at the hands of their son Ethan.

Before sentencing, parents of the victims said the couple were just as much to blame for their childrens deaths as the shooter.

Appearing at the Oakland County Court on Tuesday morning, the pair sat close to together, separated by Mr Crumbleys attorney, but barely looked at one another as their attorneys argued for lesser sentences.

Before sentencing, relatives of those killed - Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Hana St Juliana, 14; Tate Myre, 16; and Justin Shilling, 17 - gave impact statements.

The ripple effects of both James and Jennifers failures to act have devastated us all, Justins mother Jill Soave said.

James Crumbley, his attorney Mariell Lehman, Jennifer Crumbley, and her attorney Shannon Smith, sit in court for sentencing on four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of four Oxford High School students who were shot and killed by the Crumbley parents' son, on April 9, 2024 at Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Michigan ( Getty Images )

The parents are the first in US history to be charged and then convicted for their alleged role in a mass school shooting.

The shooter, who was 15 at the time, is now serving a life sentence for his classmates deaths.

Mr and Ms Crumbley appeared together for sentencing, following their separate convictions.

Ahead of sentencing, Ms Crumbley spoke of the nights of lament she had experienced since November 30 2021 and addressed the accusations against herself and her husband.

We werent perfect, but we loved our son, she told the court, turning the pages of her statement with one hand cuffed to her chair.

James Crumbley then spoke, becoming emotional at several points.

As a parent, our biggest fear is losing our child or our children. My heart is truly broken for everybody involved, he said, adding that he understood the families probably did not believe him.

I have cried for you and the loss of your children more times than I can count. I know your pain and your loss will never go away.

He explained that he had not been able to speak to his son since the day of the shooting.

Ethan Crumbley was 15 when he shot and killed four classmates in Michigan ( Getty Images )

Mr Crumbleys attorney had asked that he be given 28 months in prison, arguing that he had already served some time, while Ms Crumbleys attorney requested a sentence between 29 and 57 months, rather than the 10 to 15 years prosecutors asked for.

The attorneys also argued that the parents could not be held responsible for the number of victims, despite the juries returning guilty verdicts on four separate counts in both cases.

After hearing from the victims families and the defendants, Judge Cheryl Matthews said that her decision was not about punishing poor parenting, but that the Crumbleys had not done enough to address concerns about their son.

Opportunity knocked over and over again, louder and louder, and was ignored, Judge Matthews said, before handing down her sentences.

Both parties were sentenced to between 10 and 15 years in prison, with a credit of 858 days for time already served. They were also ordered not to contact the victims families.

Ms Crumbleys attorney also asked for a no-contact order between each of the parents and their son not be put in place, arguing that they should still be a family despite felonies on their records.

The judge said that her understanding was that Mr Crumbley and Ethan would likely be treated as enemies within Michigans Department of Corrections, anyway, and therefore not be housed together.

The matter was left for a later date.

Why were Ethan Crumbleys parents tried?

Ms Crumbley was tried first, having pleaded not guilty to the charges against her, while Mr Crumbley declined to testify during his trial.

Prosecutors argued that the couple ignored signs of their sons mental health condition and that they gave him access to the gun he used in the attack.

Four days before the shooting at Oxford High School, Mr Crumbley bought his son a gun, which Ethan described on Instagram as his new beauty. Ms Crumbley then took the teen to a shooting range for practice.

Jennifer Crumbley was tried before her husband and was found guilty in February 2024 ( Getty Images )

A few days later, a teacher noticed the high school sophomore searching online for ammunition, sparking concerns and prompting school administrators to contact his parents.

Instead of responding to the school, his mother allegedly texted her son: Lol. Im not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught.

The following day, the Crumbleys were called into the school for a meeting after school officials then found disturbing drawings done by Ethan in the classroom.

The parents declined to take him home  and, just hours later, Ethan killed four classmates: Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Tate Myre, 16; and Justin Shilling, 17.

A memorial outside of Oxford High School on December 03 2021 in Oxford, Michigan. ( Getty Images )

Prosecutors argued repeatedly that both parents had the power to stop the shooting from happening, pointing out that James Crumbley knew the shooter must be his son when he heard of the shooting at his school.

In the days that followed, the couple drained their sons bank account, withdrew cash, sold their horses, and bought four burner phones.

When they were arrested four days after the shooting, the couple reportedly had $6,600 in cash, credit cards, gift cards and the phones.

Parents of the victims speak of their pain

Tearful mother of Oxford shooting victim says Crumbley's are responsible

Ahead of sentencing, the court heard victim impact statements from the relatives of those killed by Ethan Crumbley.

When you texted Ethan please dont do it, I was texting Madisyn I love you, please call mom Madisyn Baldwins mother Nicole Beausoleil said to Ms Crumbley.

When you checked into your first hotel, I was telling Madisyns 11-year-old sister that she was gone.

The lack of compassion youve shown is outright disgusting, she added. Not only did your son kill my daughter, but you both did, as well.

Ms Beausoleil described her daughters infectious laugh which she could listen to all day, adding that her big sister skills were undeniable.

Justins mother Jill Soave told the court that her sons future was so bright, later adding that she wished the Crumbleys had checked their sons backpack that fateful day.

Jennifer Crumbley listens as Craig Shilling, father of Justin Shilling, one of the four Oxford High School students who were shot and killed by mass school shooter Ethan Crumbley, reads a victim impact statement at the sentencing of Jennifer and James Crumbly, the parents of Ethan Crumbley, be sentenced on four counts of involuntary manslaughter on April 9, 2024 at Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Michigan. ( Getty Images )

The blood of our children is on your hands, too, Justins father Craig Shilling told the Crumbleys later, before asking the judge to hand down the maximum sentence possible.

Relatives reflected on having to go over the events of the school shooting once again, having given similar statements during the shooters sentencing.

Steve St. Juliana, Hana St. Julianas father, said that when the trials first began, he did not think too much about their possible jail time.

However, as the trials progressed and neither showed any signs of remorse, the father said he became convinced they deserved long sentences.

I will never walk her down the aisle. I am forever denied the chance to hold her or her future children in my arms, he told the court.

Hanas sister Reina told the court that their 10-year-old little brother had been forced to learn how to write a eulogy for his sister before he even learned how to write essays.

I met up with Hana and a friend during school that day, she said. When we split ways to go back to class, I just looked back and smiled.

I didn't say goodbye. I never got to say goodbye. I never got to remind her that I love her, that she's my everything. The person I want to walk through life with side-by-side.

What does this mean for future school shooting cases?

James Crumbley seen during his trial in March 2024 ( Getty Images )

The pairs convictions on manslaughter charges could set new precedents for future school shooting cases.

Manuel Oliver, the father of Joaquin Oliver, who was killed in the Parkland mass school shooting, previously told The Independent that the Crumbleys case will become a small step in our fight to end gun violence in the United States.

After Mr Crumbleys conviction on 14 March, the parents of the victims said nothing could bring their children back.

"But, there is some comfort in knowing that the parents who armed their son so he could commit such a terrible crime are being held accountable, the statement read. Our hope is that this is a first step in an effort to hold all those responsible and accountable and end gun violence so that we finally end the cycle of families feeling the pain that we do.

We thank our Prosecutor Karen McDonald for pursuing these charges and seeking justice for our families and community.
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Manuel Oliver says Jennifer Crumbleys conviction is something to celebrate.

I do think  and I hope  that this will start a new wave of accountability that expands to anyone that is somehow responsible, he tells The Independent following her February conviction.

To him, as the father of Joaquin Oliver, who was killed in the Parkland mass school shooting, the conviction of the mother of a school shooter marks something of a turning point.

It suggests that were looking at these [cases] in a new way, he says.

No one is complaining about the verdict, he adds. So we all agree, all gun ownersand of course, people like me that Crumbley is responsible in some way.

In a landmark case on 6 February, Crumbley was found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter after her son, Ethan Crumbley, opened fire inside Oxford High School in November 2021, killing four of his classmates and injuring seven other victims.

Just weeks later, her husband James Crumbley was also convicted of the same charges. Now, both will return to court to be sentenced on Tuesday 9 April.

The convictions are an outcome that is pushing new bounds as to how gun owners can be held responsible for others fatal actions and set a new precedent for how mass shooters parents  and other actors  are held accountable.

A landmark case

Before Jennifer Crumbleys case, never before had a parent been tried for their alleged involvement in a mass school shooting.

A judge for Michigans appellate court acknowledged its historic nature in his opinion ruling that the Crumbleys should stand trial: Our legal system does not, nor should it, criminally punish people for subpar, odd, or eccentric parentingHowever, before us is the unusual case.

Ethan Crumbley was extraordinarily troubled, yet defendants nonetheless provided him with a handgun and, despite having discrete, disturbing evidence that [their son] contemplated harming others, did nothing when confronted with that evidence.

The prosecution argued that Ms Crumbley could have taken tragically small steps that would have prevented the shooting, which the state described as foreseeable. Instead, the prosecutors argued, she ignored her sons mental health struggles and made the 9mm handgun  purchased four days before the shooting  accessible.

The jury agreed.

While the verdict in that case may be unprecedented, the events that led to this point are far from it.

School shootings are all too common across America, with more than 340 school shootings in 2023 alone, according to the K-12 School Shooting database.

Tragically, then, its not too surprising that firearms are the leading cause of death of children in the United States.

With gun violence a devastating, yet common part of life, its perhaps unsurprising that attention is turning to holding accountable people beyond those who pulled the trigger.

Parents held to account

In recent years, several other parents have faced criminal charges after their child committed a shooting.

Deja Taylor, the mother of a six-year-old boy who shot his first grade teacher in Virginia, was sentenced to 21 months in prison in November after she pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm while being a drug user and lying on a background check about her marijuana use when she bought the gun which was later used by her son.

That is my son, so I am, as a parent, obviously willing to take responsibility for him  because he cant take responsibility for himself, she told a court in June.

That same month, Robert Crimo Jr, the father of the 21-year-old Highland Park shooter accused of killing seven and injuring dozens of others in an attack on a July 4 parade, pleaded guilty to seven counts of misdemeanour reckless conduct as part of a plea bargain.

Though similar, neither of these cases set the same precedent as the Crumbleys.

Unlike these parents, the Crumbleys pleaded not guilty, went to trial and were convicted.

But, more significantly, the Crumbleys were hit with manslaughter charges  raising the bar for what parents can be criminally charged with in connection to their childs actions.

Under Michigan law, an involuntary manslaughter conviction means that the Crumbleys were found to have either caused the victims deaths by acting in a grossly negligent manner or by failing to perform a legal duty.

Throughout her trial, Jennifer Crumbleys defence attorney tried to argue that her client wasnt familiar with guns and even told the court that her 15-year-old son showed her how to use the firearm when she took him to a shooting range just before the massacre.

Still, the jury foreperson told CNN that the conviction hinged on the fact that Crumbley was the the last adult with the gun.

Through this case, Erin Davis, senior counsel at Brady United Against Gun Violence, tells The Independent that prosecutors have sent a really powerful message to parents, gun sellers, and schools  signalling that they have a responsibility to be part of the solution and take action in situations that are avoidable, versus turning a blind eye.

Making gun owners part of the solution

In that same vein, the Crumbley case underscores the responsibility  and criminal responsibility  of gun owners to commit to proper gun safety practices, by bringing gun owners in as part of the solution to stopping these preventable tragedies, Ms Davis says after Jennifer Crumbleys conviction.

As Mr Oliver says: What happened yesterday is a great way of convincing people that if your gun is not in a safe place, you can end up in jail  even if you dont use the gun. People should be responsible.

At a time when many gun owners are voicing fears that their Second Amendment right is under threat, emphasising gun safety  through holding irresponsible gun owners accountable  could be a way to find common ground in the gun control debate.

Most gun owners are responsible gun owners and understand that its important to follow safe practices, like ensuring that their guns are stored securely and that children dont have access to them, Ms Davis adds.

Beyond the parents

Beyond parents, several ongoing and settled civil suits are also testing how others connected to mass shootings can be held accountable.

Parents of an Oxford High School student who was injured in the mass shooting filed a civil suit against school officials and the gun store that sold the Crumbley family the would-be murder weapon for negligence.

Meanwhile, survivors of the Uvalde mass shooting have filed a class-action lawsuit against the school district, the city of Uvalde, and law enforcement agencies seeking $27bn in damages.

Families of victims in the 2012 Sandy Hook and Poway synagogue shootings sued gun manufacturers for violating consumer-protection laws; both cases resulted in massive settlements. A survivor of the Highland Park shooting is now seeking to do the same.

As more tragedies occur, survivors and victims families are finding more ways to hold those surrounding the shootings accountable.

But, while its been done before in some senses, the Crumbley case appears to be a watershed moment.

There should be accountability for different actors that have contributed to shootings and mass shootings, Ms Davis says.

However, bringing criminal cases against actors beyond the shooter is a newer move.

For Mr Oliver, he is hopeful that the verdict is a sign of things to come.

He says that, hopefully, the verdict will become a small step in our fight to end gun violence in the United States.

This article was first published after Jennifer Crumbleys conviction in February 2024. It has been updated after James Crumbleys conviction in March 2024 and ahead of their sentencing.
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Disturbing footage shows the moment a University of Florida pre-medical student hid a knife behind his back before stabbing his mother in excess of 70 times.

Emmanuel Espinoza, 21, was arrested on Saturday after he confessed to stabbing his mother, 46-year-old elementary school teacher, Elvia Espinoza, when she opened her front door to him.

Mr Espinoza had been invited by his mother to stay at her house in Frostproof, Florida, before a family event for his grandfather.

In disturbing footage, the 21-year-old is seen wearing a pair of dark shades, light blue jeans and a navy blue shirt as he casually walks up to his mothers front door at around 2pm on Saturday.

As he waits at the door for his mother to answer, Mr Espinoza can be seen hiding a knife behind his back.

Emmanuel Espinoza is charged with first-degree murder ( Polk County Sheriff's Office )

He knocked on the door, and his beautiful mother was so excited to see her son. She opened the door, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said as he played the footage during a press briefing.

Mr Judd said Mr Espinoza charged into the house and started stabbing his mother the second the door was opened.

The sheriff added that Mr Espinoza told investigators he knew where to stab his mother for maximum effect because of his biology classes.

We have another audio that were not going to play from the inside of the house, where [his mom is] screaming, Manny, Manny, Manny and hes not saying one word. He stabbed her in excess of 70 times, Sheriff Judd said.

Emmanuel Espinoza arrived at his mothers house with the intention of harming her ( Polk County Sheriff's Office )

Ring footage shows Espinoza holding a knife behind his back as he waits for his mother to open the door ( Polk County Sheriff's Office )

Mr Espinoza allegedly continued to stab his mother as she tried to get up off of the floor. He said he noticed her hands were still moving, so he stabbed her some more, Sheriff Judd said.

He went on to reveal that the University of Florida student told investigators that while he loved his mother, he had wanted to kill her for years because she got on my nerves.

He also told detectives that he had cut his hand on the knife while stabbing his mother.

Elvia Espinoza, 46, screamed out her sons name while he murdered her ( Polk County Sheriff's Office )

And as he was standing at the kitchen sink, washing himself off and the knife, he wanted to ask his mother for the Neosporin, for the cut on his hand. But he noticed she was dead.

It was at that moment, right after the gruesome murder, that Mr Espinoza called 911 and confessed to dispatchers what he had done.

Sheriff Judd said the 21-year-old has been cooperating with investigators and is charged with first-degree murder.

Following her death, tributes were paid to Elvia Espinoza, who worked as a second-grade teacher at Frostproof Ben Hill Griffin Jr Elementary School.

Her students and colleagues greatly loved her, and her sudden, unexpected death is a devastating loss. She was a very special part of her school family, the school district said.

Elvia was full of life and loved her family, especially her grandchildren. Elvia truly enjoyed spending time with her family and was a light in everyones life, another tribute read.
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Threatening jailhouse phone calls made by James Crumbley  the father of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley  towards the prosecutor leading his criminal case have now been released ahead of his sentencing next week.

Crumbley was convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter last month. His wife, Jennifer Crumbley, was also convicted of the same charges at a trial weeks earlier.

The Crumbleys made history as the first parents to ever be held criminally held accountable for a mass shooting committed by their child, after he murdered four of his classmates at Oxford High School in November 2021.

The shooter, who was 15 at the time, is now serving a life sentence over the school shooting.

While both parents now face up to 60 years in prison  15 years per count  James Crumbley is asking for the judge to take into account his time served, the Detroit Free Press reported.

James Crumbley in mug shot ( via REUTERS )

Prosecutors meanwhile are seeking lengthy sentences for both, saying that they have both shown a lack of remorse for their crimes.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonalds office is arguing that James Crumbleys various phone calls attacking Ms McDonald call for him to be sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison.

Defendants jail calls showed that he blamed everyone but himself for what happened and that he repeatedly referred to himself as being persecuted and considered himself a martyr, they argued.

The phone calls were detailed in a Wednesday memo, showing how Crumbley referred to Ms McDonald as a f***ing stupid b****. I hope youre listening to this, you f***ing b****.

James Crumbley also reportedly told the prosecutor on 9 October 2023: Yeah, Karen McDonald, youre going down.  Go ahead, record this call. Send it to Karen McDonald. Tell her how James Crumbley is going to f***ing take her down.

In January, just months before his trial began in March, he allegedly said: I am f***ing on a rampage, Karen. Yes, Karen McDonald. Your a** is going down and you better be f***ing scared.

In the memo, proseuctors wrote he showed a complete lack of remorse and disrespect for the court proceedings.

Why were both parents put on trial?

School Shooting Michigan ( Oakland County Sheriff's Office )

James and Jennifer Crumbley were charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, after prosecutors accused them of ignoring their sons mental health condition and making the gun he used in the 30 November 2021 shooting accessible at home.

Four days before the shooting at Oxford High School, James Crumbley bought his son a gun, which Ethan described on Instagram as his new beauty.

Jennifer then took her son to a shooting range for practice.

A few days later, a teacher noticed the high school sophomore searching online for ammunition, sparking concerns and prompting school administrators to contact his parents.

Instead of responding to the school, his mother allegedly texted her son: Lol. Im not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught.

The following day, the Crumbleys were called into the school for a meeting after school officials then found disturbing drawings done by Ethan in the classroom. The parents declined to take him home  and, just hours later, Ethan opened fire in his murderous rampage, killing four classmates: Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Tate Myre, 16; and Justin Shilling, 17.

James Crumbley was presented with the easiest, most glaring opportunities to prevent the deaths of four students and he did nothing, Ms McDonald told the court last month. He did nothing  over and over and over again.

Prosecutors argued repeatedly that both parents had the power to stop the shooting from happening, pointing out that James Crumbley knew the shooter must be his son when he heard of the shooting at his school.

A memorial outside of Oxford High School on December 03 2021 in Oxford, Michigan. ( Getty Images )

They also said the parents ignored signs of their sons poor mental state in the months leading up to the tragedy.

In a taped police interview, Jennifer Crumbley said she wished she had taken her son home that day.

In the aftermath of the shooting, the pair came under scrutiny for their strange behaviour. Reports showed the couple drained their sons bank account. They withdrew cash, sold their horses, and bought four burner phones in the hours after finding out what their son had done.

When they were arrested four days after the shooting, the couple reportedly had $6,600 in cash, credit cards, gift cards and four phones.

A landmark case

Before Jennifer Crumbleys case, never before had a parent been tried for their alleged involvement in a mass school shooting.

A judge for Michigans appellate court acknowledged the historic nature of the case in his opinion ruling that the Crumbleys should stand trial, saying: Our legal system does not, nor should it, criminally punish people for subpar, odd, or eccentric parentingHowever, before us is the unusual case.

Jennifer Crumbley was convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter on 6 February, after two weeks of testimony and 10 hours of jury deliberation, while her husband was convicted of the same charges on 14 March.

The pairs convictions on manslaughter charges could set new precedents for future school shooting cases.

Manuel Oliver, the father of Joaquin Oliver, who was killed in the Parkland mass school shooting, previously told The Independent that the Crumbleys case will become a small step in our fight to end gun violence in the United States.

The Crumbleys are both due to be sentenced on 9 April.
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John Oliver has criticised the death penalty once more ahead of the execution of a Missouri man for a 2006 double murder, branding executions a protracted nightmare of suffering.

The comedian has spoken out against executions before on his show, the first time being in the second-ever episode of Last Week Tonight in 2014 and again five years later.

However, his stance has remained staunchly the same: It is morally wrong, and there is no humane way to do it.

Olivers discussion of the death penalty comes ahead of the execution of 52-year-old Brian Dorsey in Missouri, which is set to take place on Tuesday.

While the inmates attorneys have condemned the decision, Governor Michael Parson denied a last-ditch clemency request and said that the courts order will deliver justice and provide closure.

Oliver has railed against the lethal injections used in executions for a third time due to some grim developments, with 91 people executed in the US since his last episode on the subject.

The comedian also pointed out that 13 of those executions were carried out by the federal government during the Trump administration, describing the former president as going on an execution spree before he left office.

Our federal and state governments have continued to pursue questionably legal and definitely horrifying ways to do something that, again, I would argue they shouldnt be doing at all, Oliver claimed.

A photo released by the Federal Public Defender, shows inmate Brian Dorsey at the Potosi Correctional Center, Washington County, Missouri ( Jeremy Weis/Federal Public Defender )

State and federal agencies have found obtaining the drugs used in executions difficult, simply because it is bad for the suppliers business, the host explained.

Lawmakers have called to put shield laws in place to protect businesses, but despite the secrecy laws, suppliers still see it as a bad business venture, he added.

That has led states to source drugs from some pretty sketchy suppliers, Oliver alleged.

Which is a problem because when drugs are tainted or not formulated at the proper dosage, executions become a protracted nightmare of suffering.

The Trump administration used a single shot of pentobarbital, Oliver claimed, but added that shutting down the use of this lethal shot would not stop executions taking place in the country: Because elected leaders seem hell-bent on getting it done.

Alabama became the first state to carry out an execution using nitrogen gas, on death row inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith, with UN experts even saying they unequivocally condemned how the execution was performed.

All this secrecy is also meant to protect us, the people in whose name it is done, from confronting the horror of what the death penalty truly is, Oliver added in the show. Because whether its nitrogen gas, or an IV injection of drugs, or a firing squad, or an electric chair, or being pressed with weights, its all brutal.

However, in one part of the episode, Olivers team claimed that they tracked down the alleged supplier to the Trump Administration, a company called Absolute Standards.

While the company makes chemicals for calibrated machines, Oliver also alleged that the company produced execution drugs.

I know Ive spent a lot of time over the last 10 years reassuring everyone that this show does comedy and not journalism, he said, but I think we can all agree that the most important thing we do here is stir s*** up.

The comedian explained that a Last Week Tonight researcher filed a Freedom of Information request with the DEA on the company in 2020 and has repeatedly reached out to it for comment.

He claimed that the company have ignored them, which is an odd thing to do when someones accusing you of making execution drugs.

The agencys liaison allegedly told them on two separate occasions, that the documents were taking so long because they were related to the death penalty, according to Oliver, who said, whats known in the government world as a big, old whoopsie.

The host also claimed that a confidential source allegedly confirmed to the shows researcher that Absolute Standards is the company who made the drugs.

At this point, they might as well just update their real slogan of we have the solutions to we have the solutions that were secretly used in a bunch of government executions, the host joked.

A report by Reuters in 2020 also looked into this, but Stephen Arpie, the director of Absolute Standards did not respond for comment.

However, Reuters conducted interviews with Mr Aprie earlier that year, who at first said his company had no involvement in the governments execution drugs.

Mr Arpie later said he did not always know what his customers did with his products, and so could not rule out involvement, Reuters stated.

"In many parts of our market, we dont know what the final intended use is going to be," he said.

The Independent has contacted Absolute Standards for comment.

Aside from trying to figure out who supplies lethal drugs in executions, Oliver points out an irony about the whole death penalty process.

Its never going to be okay, and we are kidding ourselves if we think taking someones life actually lowers the number of killers in the world, he said. It literally, definitionally, creates more.

Brian Dorsey will be executed on Tuesday, despite pleas from correctional officers that he has shown remorse for what he did and has made a transformation, his attorneys claimed in a statement.

Dorsey has not appealed on the grounds that he is innocent in the 2006 double murder, but that he received constitutionally flawed original legal representation, violating his 6th Amendment right to counsel.

His attorneys have also raised concern that due to Dorseys obesity, diabetes and being a former intravenous drug user, it could be more likely that a deep incision on the skin will be performed, called a cutdown, to place an IV line to deliver execution drugs.

His attorneys compared this to surgery without anaesthesia.

Oliver called on the government to just stop doing it, and said President Joe Biden could commute death sentences and regulate lethal drugs.

If the government is going to give itself the power to execute its own citizens, he proclaimed, adding that, however, he believes it should not, then I want to see where the drugs come from, whos making them, and relentless scrutiny on every part of the process.

The Independent and the nonprofit Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) have launched a joint campaign calling for an end to the death penalty in the US. The RBIJ has attracted more than 150 well-known signatories to their Business Leaders Declaration Against the Death Penalty - with The Independent as the latest on the list. We join high-profile executives like Ariana Huffington, Facebooks Sheryl Sandberg, and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson as part of this initiative and are making a pledge to highlight the injustices of the death penalty in our coverage.
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A man due for execution on Tuesday could face surgery without anesthesia to find a vein to inject the lethal drug into, lawyers have warned.

Brian Dorsey, 52, is scheduled for execution on Tuesday for killing his cousin and her husband at their central Missouri home in 2006. His attorneys are seeking clemency from Gov. Mike Parson and have several appeals pending.

A federal court appeal focuses on how Missouri injects the fatal dose of pentobarbital. The written protocol calls for insertion of primary and secondary intravenous lines. But it offers no guidance on how far the execution team can go to find a suitable vein, leaving open the possibility of an invasive cutdown procedure," Dorsey's attorneys say.

The procedure involves an incision that could be several inches wide and several inches deep. Forceps are used to tear tissue away from a vein that becomes the injection point.

It's surgery, said Arin Brenner, a federal public defender and one of the attorneys representing Dorsey. "It would be surgery without anesthesia.

Brenner said Dorsey faces a higher-than-normal risk of needing a cutdown because he is obese. His veins also might be compromised because he is diabetic and a former IV drug user.

A spokesperson for Attorney General Andrew Bailey didn't comment but referred to the state's response to the appeal.

Brian Dorsey ( AP )

Cut-down procedures are rarely, if ever, used under Missouris execution protocol, the response stated. And in the event that a cut-down procedure were necessary, medical personnel have access to pain relieving medications.

Medication would be inadequate and if the procedure is necessary, Dorsey should receive a local anesthetic, said Megan Crane, another attorney for him.

It is extremely painful," Crane said. Even if given an oral pain relief or an opioid, that will not relieve the pain.

Lawyers for Dorsey say use of the surgical procedure would violate his constitutional guarantee against cruel and unusual punishment, and his right to religious freedom because it would prevent him from having meaningful interaction with his spiritual adviser, including the administration of last rites.

Missouri's execution process is shrouded in secrecy, so it's impossible to know if, or how often, cutdown procedures have been required. No independent observer sees the IV line inserted. The spiritual adviser doesn't enter the room until the preparation is complete. Witnesses sit in dark rooms with curtains drawn until corrections officers open them seconds before the drug is injected.

Attorneys for Dorsey wonder if a cutdown procedure was used in January 2023 when Amber McLaughlin was executed. It was believed to be the first execution of an openly transgender person in the U.S.

The Rev. Lauren Bennett of St. Louis served as McLaughlin's spiritual adviser. She recalled McLaughlin saying, Ouch, ouch, ouch. It hurts," but said McLaughlin was unable to explain the cause of her pain before her death.

Issues with the IV have been problematic in executions elsewhere.

Clayton Lockett took up to 45 minutes to die after his execution was botched ( AP )

In 2014, Oklahoma inmate Clayton Lockett was declared dead 43 minutes after his execution began, at times writhing in pain and clenching his teeth through the process. A state investigation showed that the execution team repeatedly failed to insert an IV line in his arms, jugular vein, foot and subclavian vein in the upper torso, before eventually running a line through a vein in Locketts groin.

The review found that Lockett died after the line came loose, and that the deadly chemicals were pumped into the tissue surrounding the injection site instead of directly into his bloodstream. There is no indication in the report that Lockett was ever given an anesthetic.

In 2022, it took more than three hours to execute Joe Nathan James Jr. in Alabama. The state said the process was delayed because of difficulties establishing an IV line. Dr. Joel Zivot, a professor of anesthesiology at Emory University and an expert on lethal injection who witnessed the private autopsy, said he saw multiple puncture sites on both arms and two incisions in the middle of the arm, which he said were indications of efforts to perform a cutdown. It's unclear if he received anesthesia.

Messages were left Friday with corrections officials in Oklahoma and Alabama.

Dorsey, formerly of Jefferson City, was convicted of killing his cousin, Sarah Bonnie, and her husband, Ben, on Dec. 23, 2006, at their home near New Bloomfield. Prosecutors said that earlier that day, Dorsey had called Sarah Bonnie seeking to borrow money to pay two drug dealers who were at his apartment.

Dorsey went to the Bonnies home that night. After they went to bed, Dorsey took a shotgun from the garage and killed both of them before sexually assaulting Sarah Bonnies body, prosecutors said.

Missouri Execution

Sarah Bonnies parents found the bodies the next day. The couples 4-year-old daughter was unhurt.

In the clemency petition, 72 current and former state correctional officers asked Parson, a Republican and a former county sheriff, to commute Dorseys sentence to life in prison, citing his virtually spotless record of good behavior while in prison.

The Brian I have known for years could not hurt anyone, one officer wrote. The Brian I know does not deserve to be executed.

A spokesperson said Parson is still reviewing the clemency request.

An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court centers on the $12,000 flat fee for Dorsey's court-appointed trial attorneys. The appeal argues that with the flat fee, his lawyers had a financial incentive to resolve the case quickly. They encouraged Dorsey to plead guilty, but with no demand that prosecutors agree to life in prison instead of the death penalty.

Dorsey's attorneys also argue that the Missouri Department of Corrections' acting director, Trevor Foley, is unqualified to oversee an execution because he has not been confirmed by the Missouri Senate since his appointment in December.

The Attorney Generals Office said in a court filing that acting directors must be allowed to carry out functions or government could be impeded. A state court sided with the Attorney General's Office this week, but Crane said an appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court is planned.
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U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and her team are leaving China and returning to Washington after trying to tackle the major questions of the day between the countries. Here's a look at what she tried to accomplish, what was achieved, and where things stand for the world's two largest economies:

UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES

Yellen said she wanted to go into the U.S.-China talks to address a major Biden administration complaint that Beijings economic model and trade practices put American companies and workers at an unfair competitive disadvantage by producing highly subsidized solar products, electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries at a loss, dominating the global market.

Chinese government subsidies and other policy support have encouraged solar panel and EV makers in China to invest in factories, building far more production capacity than the domestic market can absorb. She calls this overcapacity.

Throughout the week of meetings, she talked about the risks that come from one nation maintaining nearly all production capacity in these industries, the threat it poses to other nations' industries and how a massive rapid increase in exports from one country can have big impacts on the global economy.

Ultimately, the two sides agreed to hold intensive exchanges on more balanced economic growth, according to a U.S. statement issued after Yellen and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held extended meetings over two days in the southern city of Guangzhou. It was not immediately clear when and where the talks would take place.

Its not going to be solved in an afternoon or a month, but I think they have heard that this is an important issue to us, she said.

MONEY LAUNDERING AND RELATED CRIMES

After several rounds of meetings, the U.S. Treasury and the Chinese central bank agreed to work together to stop money laundering in their respective financial systems.

Nearly all the precursor chemicals that are needed to make the deadly substance fentanyl are coming from China into the U.S. The U.S. says exchanging information on money laundering related to fentanyl trafficking may help disrupt the flow of the precursor chemicals into Mexico and the U.S.

Treasury is committed to using all of our tools, including international cooperation, to counter this threat, Yellen said in a speech announcing the formation of the group.

The new cooperative between the U.S. and China will be part of the two nations' economic working groups that were launched last September, and the first exchange will be held in the coming weeks.

TIKTOK

Efforts in the U.S. to ban social media app TikTok, owned by Chinese parent company ByteDance, were raised initially by the Chinese during U.S-China talks, a senior Treasury official told The Associated Press. The firm has in the past promoted a data security restructuring plan called Project Texas that it says sufficiently guards against national security concerns.

However, U.S. lawmakers have moved forward with efforts to either ban the app or force the Chinese firm to divest its interest in the company, which the White House has supported. In China this week, it was evident that there was little movement on the issue.

Yellen said at a news conference Monday that she supported the administration's efforts to address national security issues that relate to sensitive personal data. This is a legitimate concern, she said.

Many US social apps are not allowed to operate in China, Yellen said. "We would like to find a way forward."

FINANCIAL STABILITY

On the second day of Yellen's trip to China, the U.S. and China announced an agreement to work closely on issues related to financial stability, in that U.S. and Chinese financial regulators agreed to hold a series of exercises simulating a failure of a large bank in either of the two countries.

The aim is to determine how to coordinate if a bank failure occurred, with the intent of preventing catastrophic stress on the global financial system.

Yellen said several exercises have already happened.

"Im pleased that we will hold upcoming exchanges on operational resilience in the financial sector and on financial stability implications from the insurance sectors exposure to climate risks.

Just like military leaders need a hotline in a crisis, Yellen said American and Chinese financial regulators must be able to communicate to prevent financial stresses from turning into crises with tremendous ramifications for our citizens and the international community.

WHAT SHE ATE

Yellen is something of a foodie celebrity in China ever since she ate mushrooms that can have psychedelic effects in Beijing last July. This trip was no different.

High-ranking Chinese officials brought up her celebrity ahead of important meetings  Premier Li Qiang noted in his opening remarks that Yellens visit has indeed drawn a lot of attention in society with media covering her trip and her dining habits. And social media was abuzz, following her latest movements around Guangzhou and Beijing.

This time in Beijing, Yellen ate at Lao Chuan Ban, a popular Sichuan restaurant. She also had lunch with Beijing Mayor Yin Yong at the Beijing International Hotel. On Monday evening, her last night in China, Yellen visited Jing-A Brewing Co. in Beijing  co-founded by an American  where she ordered a Flying Fist IPA, a beer made with American hops.
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Norfolk Southern has reached a $600m settlement that will  if approved  resolve all lawsuits brought against the company by thousands of residents within 20 miles of East Palestine, Ohio, where one of the company's trains derailed in February 2023 and spilled more than a million pound of hazardous chemicals  including vinyl chloride  into the surrounding area.

The company has not admitted liability or wrongdoing in the settlement, CNN reports.

The funds from the settlement are intended to serve as a pot from which businesses and individuals can pay for any harm  including healthcare costs  that resulted from the derailment and subsequent spill.

Individuals and businesses will be able to use compensation from the settlement in any manner they see fit to address potential adverse impacts from the derailment, the company said in a statement. This could include healthcare needs and medical monitoring, property restoration and diminution, and compensation for any net business loss.

Under the language of the settlement, residents within 10 miles of the derailment site will be eligible for additional compensation.

The plaintiffs said they planned to file a motion asking a judge to approve the settlement within 10 days. Attorneys representing the claimants said they hope to see payments sent out by the end of 2024.

We believe this is a fair, reasonable and adequate result for the community on a number of levels, not the least of which is the speed of the resolution, and the overall amount of awards residents can expect, which will be significant for those most impacted by the derailment, attorneys representing the claimants said in a joint statement.

Beth Graham, one of the attorneys representing the claimants, said her team has received an "overwhelmingly positive" response from East Palestine residents regarding the settlement, The New York Times reports.

The community as a whole has been grateful and relieved that this is the first step in putting this behind them and getting them some sort of compensation, she said in the interview.

A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains ( AP )

Norfolk Southern has spent $104m paying community assistance money to the affected region, and an additional $4.3m to upgrade the drinking water infrastructure in the area. In addition, the company paid $500,000 for economic development in the city.

Residents of East Palestine  a small Ohio town of 5,000  reported health problems following the derailment that included burning and watering eyes, tingling in their lips, chest heaviness, and swelling in their lymph nodes.

While the settlement, if approved, will close out numerous individual lawsuits against Norfolk Southern, the company is still facing a lawsuit from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. That lawsuit focuses on alleged environmental damages caused by the derailment as a result of the company's actions.

Mr Yost said he would not settle the suit "without a detailed understanding of what happened, who is responsible, and how we avoid other communities like East Palestine from being victims to this type of incident," reports The New York Times.

The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the incident and has not yet filed its final report.
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As tensions between the US and Israel heighten, Democratic Senators are condemning Israels recent announcement they have solidified plans to invade Rafah.

Some 1.4 million Palestinians are currently sheltering in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) instructed civilians to move southward when they bombarded northern Gaza. Despite this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Monday his military has solidified plans to invade the city.

It will happen, there is a date, Mr Netanyahu said in a video address, per a translation from the Associated Press.

Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, a staunch opponent of US aid to Israel, called on President Joe Bidens administration to halt any assistance.

Given the conduct of the Israel and Netanyahu war machine, the US should not provide another nickel to Netanyahu, Mr Sanders told The Independent.

Mr Biden still appears to be poised to greenlight an $18bn sale of jets to the IDF as of Sunday, CNN reports. He also recently authorised the sale of more than 2,000 bombs to the IDF. White House officials told the outlet these sales are the result of processes agreed upon years ago.

But the Biden administration has still repeatedly urged Mr Netanyahu to avoid a full-scale invasion of Rafah. Just last week, administration officials met with Israeli delegates to discuss alternatives to a ground assault. Both sides described the call as productive  which makes Mr Netanyahus recent announcement all the more perplexing.

Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, told The Independent that an Israeli offensive into Rafah could backfire on Mr Netanyahu.

He has to decide whether he wants US support or not, and ignoring significant concerns expressed by the President and our chief defence officials is not going to work out in Israels favour, Mr Kaine said.

Mr Netanyahus announcement comes one week after the IDF killed seven World Central Kitchen humanitarian aid workers. Following a preliminary investigation, the IDF said the attacks were a mistake. The Israeli military targeted the group with airstrikes three times in a row, despite the nonprofit clearing their movements with the army ahead of time and marking their vehicles with the World Central Kitchen logo.

This is not any more about the seven men and women of World Central Kitchen that perished [in] this unfortunate event, World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres said Monday. This [war] is happening for way too long. Its been six months of targeting anything that ... moves.

This really, at this point, seems its a war against humanity itself, he continued.

Those killed in the attack include Lalzawmi Francom, 43, from Australia; Damian Sobol, 35, from Poland; James Henderson, 33, James Kirby, 47, and John Chapman, 57, all from the UK; Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, 25, from Gaza; and Jacob Flickinger, 33, a dual American-Canadian citizen.

Soon afterwards, Mr Biden spoke with Israeli officials, telling them US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israels immediate action in the wake of the aid workers deaths. He further criticised the IDF for not doing enough to protect civilians and humanitarian aid workers alike. The president also called a ceasefire in Gaza essential last week.

The aid workers deaths marked something of a turning point for Congressional Democrats. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, said an international court has ample evidence to find that Israels war in Gaza is a genocide.

Her comments, made on Friday, referred to an ongoing legal process at the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ). That court is currently hearing a case from South Africa alleging Israel is committing genocide in Gaza  in January, the court ruled that South Africas claims against Israel are plausible.
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A near-total abortion ban, part of a 158-year-old law, is enforceable in Arizona, the states Supreme Court has ruled.

In a 4-2 bombshell decision, the states supreme court on Tuesday upheld a Civil War-era law that criminalises abortions, and those who help a woman obtain one, only with exceptions to save a womans life. The law makes it a felony punishable by two to five years in prison.

The states supreme court had been mulling over whether to resurrect the law, which was enacted 50 years before Arizona gained statehood or follow a 2022 law that bans abortions only after 15 weeks unless medically necessary to save a womans life.

The ban will go into effect in 14 days.

Anti-abortion advocates argued that language in the two laws conflicted and the state should follow the 1864 law.

It was a highly anticipated opinion in the swing state as abortion shapes up to be a crucial issue for voters in November. Both Democrats and Republicans have capitalised on the issue of abortion to advocate for their partys candidates.

President Joe Biden has stood up for abortion rights, blaming Republicans  including former president Donald Trump  for eliminating federal protections.

In a statement, he called Tuesdays ruling the result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away womens freedom. He added that he would continue to fight for protecting reproductive rights.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has walked the line on abortion. Just this week he took credit for overturning Roe v Wade but refused to back a national ban, claiming the issue should be left to the states.

Arizona voters could be voting on an amendment in November that would enshrine the right to abortion up to 24 weeks.

A protestor holds a sign reading My Body My Choice at a Womens March rally outside the State Capitol on October 8, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona ( Getty Images )

Abortion access in the Grand Canyon state became, and remained, uncertain for medical providers and those seeking abortion since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2021.

Months before the decision, the Republican-majority state legislature passed the 15-week ban in anticipation of the Supreme Courts decision rather than amend the 1864 law which was overridden when Roe was enacted in 1973.

But when Roe was overturned, it was the 1864 law that went into effect. Planned Parenthood Arizona challenged the decision and the state appellate court upheld the 15-week ban, leading to debate over which law should take precedence.

The state supreme court heard oral arguments in December. Abortion rights organisations warned that a ruling in favour of the Civil War-era law would severely threaten access to reproductive health care, asking the court to uphold the ruling which allows abortions up to 15 weeks.

However anti-abortion groups urged the Arizona Supreme Court to restore the 158-year-old law.

In their decision, justices said that the legislature perhaps got more than it expected when Dobbs overruled Roe and suggested that most legislators would have included a trigger clause if they knew the 1864 law would go into effect.

But the legislature did not state that intent in any statute or session law, and we should not speculate about what it would have done, the majority wrote.

The Arizona justices said the case, Planned Parenthood v Mayes could return to the lower courts for further litigation.

Angela Florez, the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Arizona said the ruling, Sends Arizona back nearly 150 years and will cause long-lasting detrimental harms for our communities.
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A new ad released by the Biden campaign on Monday ripped into Donald Trumps stance on abortion, blaming the former president for the near-death of a Texas woman who was denied the procedure due to the states ban.

The 60-second ad, titled Willows Box, featured an emotional interview with Amanda Zurawski, who discussed the miscarriage of her baby  whom she wanted to name Willow  and the infection that almost killed her twice when she was denied an abortion.

In the video, Ms Zurawski is seen sobbing as the ads text explains doctors were forced to send her home after she had a miscarriage because of a state law banning abortions even if medically necessary following the repeal of Roe v Wade by the Supreme Court in June 2022.

Three days later, Ms Zurawski was placed in the ICU with sepsis, and the infection may prevent her from ever getting pregnant again, the ad claimed.

Trump did this, the ad continues.

Ms Zurawski is seen sobbing with her husband in the video ( Joe Biden via Twitter )

Ms Zurawski is currently the lead plaintiff in a case challenging Texas definition of medical emergencies in relation to its anti-abortion law.

She, along with 12 other women who were denied abortions in Texas, filed a lawsuit arguing that the states medical board has done nothing to clarify the law surrounding exceptions to the abortion ban and that doctors should be given more leeway in determining when an abortion is necessary.

Attorneys for the state have sought to dismiss the case altogether, arguing in court filings that the women lack standing to challenge the law because some of the women  whose fertility is now compromised due to them being denied abortions  no longer need to worry about the bans because they are unlikely to become pregnant again, and thus have no grounds to sue.

Ms Zurawski called the states argument infuriating and disgusting and ironic, and stressed that the scarring and damage to her reproductive organs that led to potential infertility was caused by the infection she incurred due to the abortion restrictions.

As part of the lawsuit, she gave harrowing testimony at a court hearing in Austin, Texas, last July.

Do they not realise the reason why I might not be able to get pregnant again is because of what happened to me as a result of the laws that they support? she told the court. Anybody whos been through infertility will tell you it is the most isolating, grueling, lonely, difficult thing a person can go through.

The new Biden campaign video featuring Ms Zurawski was released just hours after Mr Trump laid out his stance on abortion rights after teasing what his position would be for months.

Mr Trump said he was proudly the person responsible for the overturning of Roe v Wade, the 1973 landmark ruling that had enshrined the right to an abortion and reproductive care.

Many people have asked me what my position is on abortion and abortion rights, especially since I was proudly the person responsible for something that all legal scholars on both sides wanted and in fact demanded be ended: Roe v Wade. They wanted it ended, he said, adding that the issue of abortion should be left to the states.

However, he stopped short of supporting a federal abortion ban.

He went on to push the false claims that Democrats want abortion up to and including the ninth month of pregnancy  and even execution after birth.

Thats exactly what it is. The baby is born, the baby is executed after birth, he claimed.

Ms Zurawski shows the blanket she had bought for her baby ( Joe Biden via Twitter )

This claim has been disproven on multiple occasions. A baby being executed after birth would constitute murder, which is, of course, against the law in the US.

Following Mr Trumps remarks, Biden-Harris 2024 campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said the former president had made clear that he supports cruel, extreme abortion bans like the legislation in Texas, which bans abortion in all circumstances, including rape or incest, except for when the patients life is at risk.

No woman should be forced into the situation Amanda was  being denied medical care and almost dying because of Texas abortion ban. But that is the reality in the United States of America today, made possible only because of Donald Trump  a nightmare that he brags about, Ms Rodriguez added.

The ad blamed Donald Trump for Amanda Zurawskis near-death experience ( Joe Biden via Twitter )

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre echoed this sentiment, telling reporters on Monday: So, the only reason that extreme abortion bans are now in effect all over the country is because of the judges the previous president and Senate Republicans put in the courts.

Meanwhile, Mr Biden also hit back at Mr Trump, claiming that he is simply lying about support from legal scholars for overturning Roe v Wade.

It was never about public policy or what was right or what Trump believed. It was always about politics. he said. Trump is scrambling. Hes worried that since hes the one responsible for overturning Roe, the voters will hold him accountable in 2024.

Well, I have news for Donald. They will. America was built on personal freedom and liberty. So, there is nothing more unAmerican than having our personal freedoms taken away. And that is what Donald Trump has done.

Since the constitutional right to abortion was banned in the US, total bans on the procedure have been implemented in Indiana and North Dakota. Meanwhile, abortions are banned after six weeks of pregnancy in South Carolina and twelve weeks in North Carolina and Nebraska.

Altogether, 14 states have enacted near-total abortion bans.
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President Joe Biden faulted former president Donald Trump for the chaos at the US-Mexico border in an interview with Univision, and hinted that he might take executive actions to reduce migrant crossings.

Mr Biden made the remarks in an interview with Mexican journalist Enrique Acevedo as part of his efforts to improve his standing with Latino voters.

Republicans have sought to criticise Mr Biden for his immigration policies, with the GOP-controlled House of Representatives going as far as to impeach his Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

President Joe Biden, flanked by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, receives a briefing at the US-Mexico border in Brownsville, Texas ( REUTERS )

Last year, crossings at the US-Mexico border reached an all-time high. The Department of Homeland Security reported that 301,000 migrant encounters in December.

Mr Biden pointed to the fact that he supported bipartisan negotiations which would have swapped aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan in exchange for measures that would have curtailed immigration and increased border security.

Some Democrats criticised the legislation for being too draconian on migrants, though Mr Biden said that he supported provisions for Dreamers, migrants whose parents brought them to the United States as children.

I told them I was going to go back and get Dreamers et cetera., but the thing it did do, it provided for a significant more personnel to make an orderly transfer and allow legal immigration to increase, not decrease and diminish illegal immigration, he said.

But the legislation negotiated by Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, independent Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Democrat Chris Murphy of Connecticut died after Republicans opposed it when Mr Trump did not support it.

This is literally the truth, what happened was when Trump found out that I liked it and I supported it, and I'd get, quote, credit for it, he got on the phone  not a joke  checked with the Republicans and called them and said, don't be for it, will benefit Biden, the president said.

When the hell would you vote on a major piece of legislation based on whether you benefit somebody that's in politics? It's either good or it's bad. It was a good piece of legislation, and I'm not giving up on it.

During the negotiations, Mr Biden pointed out that the bill would give him authority to shut down the border if more than 5,000 people crossed in a day. Mr Biden said he was open to taking executive action to do so.

There's no guarantee that I have that power all by myself without legislation, he said. And some have suggested I should just go ahead and try it. And if I get shut down by the court, I get shut down by the court. But we're trying to work that, work through that right now.

During his State of the Union address, Mr Biden tussled with Republicans for their opposition to the bill and also responded to Republicans who wanted him to mention Laken Riley, who was allegedly killed by someone in the United States illegally. Mr Biden faced criticism from some in his party for using the term an illegal.

Mr Biden also responded to requests from Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has called for lifting sanctions on Venzuela and Cuba, providing $20m for countries that have the highest level of migration to the US, and relief for undocumented Mexicans in the country as a way to curtail crossings at the border.

Before Obrador even came up with that plan I initiated that plan years ago, Mr Biden said and faulted Mr Trump for killing it. We did and it was working for a while until they cut it off. He said the policy helped create jobs in Latin American countries, reducing the incentive to leave in search of better prospects in the United States. People don't want to leave where they're from. People want to be able to make sure that they have an opportunity to just make a living, and they'd rather make a living where they are.

Mr Biden said he got along well with Mr Lopez Obrador, who is commonly known as AMLO, and who is leaving office this year after Mexicos election.

I find him straightforward, Mr Biden said. He's never kidded me. He knows what he wants. He keeps his word. That's about as much as I can ask.
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This week was Donald Trumps second week on criminal trial  the first of courtroom testimony  and it was certainly eventful.

Jurors heard from the prosecutions first witnesses in the case including lengthy testimony from tabloid mogul David Pecker, who outlined the catch and kill scheme at the heart of the hush money case.

The former president faced calls for $10,000 fines over gag order violations over his continued attacks on witnesses.

And Americans heard Mr Trump both fume about the landmark trial and use it as a campaign platform on Truth Social and in the courthouse corridors.

Mr Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election, in order to stop her coming forward with allegations of a 2006 affair.

Here are the key takeaways from the week:

Day one

Prosecutors lay out criminal conspiracy and cover-up

During opening statements on Monday, prosecutors were direct in laying out the heart of the case, with Manhattan Assistant District Attorney

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo speaks during a hearing ( REUTERS )

telling jurors it was about a criminal conspiracy and a cover-up.

The defendant Donald Trump orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election. Then he covered up that criminal conspiracy by lying in his business records, over and over and over again, Mr Colangelo continued.

The prosecutor then laid out the catch-and-kill scheme, arranged between Mr Trumps former attorney Michael Cohen and Mr Pecker to block negative press about Mr Trump.

Mr Colangelo told the jury that while no politician wants bad press, evidence will show this was a planned, coordinated, long-running conspiracy. It was election fraud. Pure and simple, he said.

Defence tries to humanise Trump

In the defences opening statement, lead attorney Todd Blanche tried to humanise Mr Trump  while still vowing to refer to him as President Trump.

This is a title he has earned, Mr Blanche said.

But hes not just the former president, the defence attorney continued. Hes not just Donald Trump that youve seen on TV or read about or seen photos of. Hes also a man, hes a husband, hes a father. And just like me, said Mr Blanche.

Trump arrives at Manhattan criminal court and delivers remarks to the media ( AP )

President Trump is innocent. President Trump did not commit any crimes. The Manhattan District Attorneys office should have never brought this case.

Mr Blanche also tried to discredit the prosecutions star witness in the case, Michael Cohen, stressing his 2018 guilty plea for lying to Congress and that he had been found liable for perjury in the past.

On top of this, Mr Blanche argued that Cohen is obsessed with Mr Trump.

Cohens financial livelihood depends on President Trumps destruction, according to Mr Blanche. He cannot be trusted.

Day two

Potential gag order violations

Judge Juan Merchan held an hour-long hearing around potential gag order violations.

Prosecutors accused Mr Trump of violating the gag order, which bars him from making public statements about potential witnesses, court staff and the families of the judge and DA, on at least 10 different occasions.

Defence attorney Todd Blanche meanwhile argued that Mr Trumps posts were responding to political attacks. However, he failed to provide any example of what Mr Trump was responding to, leading to a scolding from the judge.

You presented nothing, a frustrated Judge Merchan said. Youre losing all credibility, Ill tell you that right now.

The judge also warned Mr Trump directly against intimidating jurors in his courtroom.

The judge has yet to make a ruling on the alleged gag order breaches. Prosecutors suggested imposing a $10,000 fine against Mr Trump and ordering him to remove the offending posts, noting they have not yet asked for jail time.

The threat of penalty hasnt deterred Mr Trump from continuing to rant about the case on Truth Social and to reporters as he enters and exits the courtroom.

A behind-the-scenes look at tabloid journalism

In his testimony, Mr Pecker provided a peek behind the curtain on what was happening at some of his tabloids.

Mr Pecker described a mutually beneficial scheme to keep the National Enquirer jam-packed with stories boosting Mr Trumps 2016 election odds while ensuring negative stories never saw the light of day.

As part of the arrangement, Mr Pecker would notify Cohen of any unflattering stories about the candidate  particularly those involving women. Since Mr Trump was well-known as the most eligible bachelor, dating the most beautiful women, and it was clear based on my past experiences that when someone is running for office like this, it is very common for these women to call up a magazine like the National Enquirer to try and sell their stories, the former publisher testified.

Writing positive stories about Mr Trump and negative stories about his opponents would help him and it would help me, Mr Pecker explained  as it would help him sell his tabloids.

Jurors were shown a number of positive National Enquirer headlines and covers about Mr Trump, like DONALD TRUMP: HEALTHIEST INDIVIDUAL EVER ELECTED! They were also shown negative ones about his 2016 GOP primary opponents, like DONALD TRUMP BLASTS TED CRUZS DAD FOR PHOTO WITH JFK ASSASSIN.

Pecker is questioned by prosecutor Joshua Steinglass ( REUTERS )

Doormans story about a love child

Jurors heard how the scheme was first put into practice after a former Trump World Tower doorman, Dino Sajudin, claimed that the then-2016 candidate had a love child with a maid working at Trump Tower.

Mr Pecker testified that Dylan Howard, then editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer, told him that Dino was in the market for selling a story and so he called Cohen to tell him. Cohen told Mr Pecker it was absolutely not true but that he would look into it, he testified.

I asked Dylan to negotiate a price, negotiate a number, to buy the story and take it off the market, he said.

Mr Pecker told the court they agreed upon $30,000 for the story and Cohen told him that the boss was very pleased, referring to Mr Trump.

I thought it was very important that Dino wouldnt be shopping the story to other media outlets, he told the court.

However, he then revealed his more selfish motivation for the transaction  if he could have verified the story, he would have published it. It would probably be the biggest sale of the National Enquirer since the death of Elvis Presley, Mr Pecker said.

Day three

How Playboy model affair story unfolded

During the third day of testimony, Mr Pecker shed light on how he came across former Playboy model Karen McDougals story  that she had a 10-month affair with Mr Trump in 2006, one year after he had married Melania.

Mr Howard had interviewed Ms McDougal, learning of the alleged affair and how Mr Trump apparently called her a 12 out of 10, Mr Pecker told the court.

Although Mr Howard warned there was no corroborating evidence, Mr Pecker said he believed the story to be true. He testified that he initially offered the former model $10,000 to buy the story but she turned it down.

Mr Howard later told Mr Pecker that ABC was interested in buying Ms McDougals story, but that I knew from my experience that ABC doesnt buy stories.

Mr Howard had concluded that Ms McDougal didnt want the story to be published. She said she didnt want to be the next Monica Lewinsky, Mr Pecker added.

The boss will take care of it

During testimony about buying the rights to these stories, Mr Pecker told the court about his interactions with Mr Trump on the matters  directly linking the criminal defendant to the arrangements.

Cohen had given Mr Pecker the green light to pay the former Playboy model $150,000 for the rights to her story, Mr Pecker told the court.

Dont worry about it. Im your friend. The boss will take care of it, Mr Pecker recalled Cohen telling him, inferring that the boss meant Mr Trump.

Mr Pecker recalled another occasion after he had won the 2016 election, when Mr Trump asked him: Hows our girl? referring to Ms McDougal. Mr Trump also thanked him for handling the McDougal story and the doorman situation, he told the court.

He said the stories would be very embarrassing  to him, his family and the campaign, Mr Pecker testified.

Mr Trump even invited the former tabloid boss to a thank you dinner at the White House to show his gratitude for killing damaging stories, Mr Pecker testified  testimony that shone a light on how the former president used his position in the White House to manage blowback from the scheme.

An unhappy-looking Trump appears in criminal court ( EPA )

Trump was very upset when McDougal affair story leaked

Despite the substantial efforts to block other outlets from getting access to Ms McDougals story, it did eventually become public  and, according to Mr Pecker, this made Mr Trump very upset.

The Wall Street Journal published an article just days before Election Day in 2016, unleashing the blockbuster story.

Mr Pecker recalled Mr Trump phoning him, very upset, saying, How could this happen? I thought you had this under control.

Mr Pecker testified that AMIs deal with Ms McDougal was for the lifetime rights to her story. Mr Pecker recalled then telling Cohen that the deal was off after his conversations with counsel about the transaction. He was very, very angry, very upset, screaming basically at me, Mr Pecker said. He recalled Cohen saying: The boss will be very angry with you.

To this day, the publisher has never been reimbursed, Mr Pecker said on the stand.

Celebrities dragged into the case

During the former AMI chiefs testimony, several celebrities and high-profile figures were dragged into the case, including Rahm Emanuel, Mark Wahlberg and Tiger Woods.

But one person in particular set the stage for Mr Peckers wariness to conceal politically-linked stories: The Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mr Pecker said he had struck up an arrangement with the actor to conceal compromising stories about him when he was campaigning to become governor of California  long before the publishers dealings with Mr Trump.

Mr Pecker recalled Schwarzenegger saying: I plan on running for governor and I would like you to not publish any negative stories about me now and in the future, and Ill continue being the editor of Muscle & Fitness and Flex and be a spokesperson. Mr Pecker said he agreed to the arrangement.

When the actor announced his gubernatorial bid, a number of women called up the National Enquirer with stories to sell on different relationships, or contacts, or sexual harassment that they felt that Arnold Schwarzenegger did, the former publisher testified. Mr Pecker outlined the agreement: I would call him and advise [Schwarzenegger] of other stories that were out there and I wouldbuy them for a period of time.

This experience made me sensitive about buying any stories in the future. Thats how I became sensitive about this topic, Mr Pecker told the court.

None of the celebrities are accused of any wrongdoing in the case.

First mention of Stormy Daniels

Stormy Daniels name cropped up in Mr Peckers testimony for the first time on Thursday when he told the court that Cohen had come to him asking for his help to get Mr Trump to pay him his bonus.

I understood he was complaining that he had not been repaid, Mr Pecker said.

Michael Cohen had paid Stormy Daniels out of his own funds, which is the first time that I had heard of that. I wasnt involved in that transaction, the former publisher testified.

Stormy Daniels, speaks outside US Federal Court with her lawyer Michael Avenatti in 2018 ( AFP via Getty Images )

So Mr Pecker approached Mr Trump, telling him: Michael Cohen is very concerned about this bonus this year and I want you to know hes very loyal, hes been working very hard from my perspective, I believe hed throw himself in front of a bus for you.

The former publisher recalled Mr Trump saying: I dont know what youre talking about. Michael Cohen has multiple apartments in my buildings.  He owns 15 taxi medallions.

Mr Pecker testified Mr Trump then added: Dont worry about it. Ill take care of it.

Day four

Two sides spar over whether Trump deserves title of president

Early in the day on Friday, the two sides briefly sparred over whether or not Mr Trump deserves to go by the title of president during his trial.

The moment came about as Mr Trumps defence attorney Emil Bove repeatedly referred to the defendant as President Trump when speaking about events prior to him taking office.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass tried to object saying: He wasnt president in June 2016.

In opening statements on Monday, defence attorney Todd Blanche had told the jury that his legal team planned on referring to their client as President Trump because its a title he has earned.

Trump attorneys try to poke holes in Peckers testimony

During cross-examination, Mr Bove tried to cast doubt on the former tabloid bosss lengthy testimony about the catch and kill scheme.

But despite multiple attempts to impeach Mr Peckers credibility, the former publisher repeatedly affirmed his under-oath descriptions of his meetings with Mr Trump.

At one point on Friday, Mr Bove tried to get Mr Pecker to admit that he either lied on the witness stand or to federal law enforcement about Mr Trump thanking him for his help burying stories of Mr Trumps alleged affairs.

Pecker being questioned on the stand ( AP )

Was that a mistake? Mr Bove asked. Do you believe Trump said that to you as we sit here right now?

Mr Bove then handed Mr Pecker a report from his interview with federal prosecutors and the FBI in 2018, alleging that Mr Peckers prior testimony contradicted his earlier interview.

This is the FBIs interview, is that correct? These are the FBI notes? The FBI notes, some of these here, are wrong. I know what I testified to yesterday, Mr Pecker said.

I know what the truth is, he added. I cant state why its written this way.

Pecker doubles down that McDougal payment was made to help Trumps election odds

Mr Pecker previously called his relationship with Mr Trump mutually beneficial  using his tabloid empire to identify negative stories about the then-2016 candidate in an effort to boost Mr Trumps election chances.

However, the former AMI chief testified on Friday that one aspect of the agreement did not benefit him at all: the Karen McDougal story. That story was killed and the payment made with the sole purpose of helping Mr Trumps election odds, he testified,

Mr Pecker repeatedly testified that stories about Mr Trump were big sellers for the National Enquirer. Burying Ms McDougals story was against his own business interest, prosecutors sought to point out.

Karen McDougal speaking to CNN about Donald Trump ( CNN )

Had you published a story about a Playboy model having a yearlong sexual affair while he was married  Would that have sold magazines? Mr Joshua Steinglass asked. That would be like, National Enquirer gold.

Mr Pecker agreed.

At the time you entered into that agreement, you had zero intention of publishing that story, Mr Steinglass said. You killed the story because it helped candidate Donald Trump.

Yes, Mr Pecker said.

Stormy Daniels Trump Tower visit - and Apprentice plans - revealed

Two new witnesses briefly took the stand on Friday.

The first was Rhona Graff, Mr Trumps former personal assistant at the Trump Organization, who testified that she has a vague recollection of seeing Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower before his 2016 presidential campaign.

She assumed that Ms Daniels may have been at the office to discuss a role with The Celebrity Apprentice, Mr Trumps former hit reality TV competition series on NBC, she said.

The network severed ties with Mr Trump in 2015 after his presidential campaign launch and his derogatory comments about immigrants.

Ms Graff recalled that Mr Trump believed Ms Daniels would be a good contestant on the show.

I cant remember a specific incident when I heard it. It was part of the office chatter, she said.

Third witness takes the stand

Gary Farro, a banker assigned to Cohen at First Republic Bank, testified that Cohen urgently asked for his help setting up an LLC shell company while negotiating a hush money payment to Ms Daniels in 2016.

That account, Essential Consultants LLC, was used to wire Ms Daniels the $130,000 payment at the heart of the presidents criminal case.

Mr Farro will resume his testimony on Tuesday.

Elsewhere in Trumpworld

Beyond the courtroom, there was a lot of other happenings in Trumpworld this week.

Civil fraud bond deal

On Monday, lawyers for Mr Trump and New York Attorney General Letitia Jamess office reached a deal around the payment of his $175m bond in his civil fraud case, so long as the collateral remains in cash.

The AGs office had previously expressed concerns about the underwriter Knight Specialty Insurance Company.

E Jean Carroll

On Thursday, a federal court upheld the verdict in former Elle columnist E Jean Carrolls $83m defamation case against Mr Trump  rejecting his request for a new trial.

In May 2023, Mr Trump was found liable for sexually abusing Ms Carroll, and earlier this year, a jury determined that Mr Trump had defamed Ms Carroll, awarding her $65m in punitive damages and $18m in compensatory damages.

Supreme Court immunity case

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Thursday in the landmark case involving the former presidents claims of presidential immunity from prosecution.

During oral arguments, the justices appeared poised to allow some, but not absolute, immunity. The case stems from special counsel Jack Smiths federal indictment against Mr Trump, accusing him of engaging in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and stay in the White House.
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New Yorks City Hall has hired a $2000-an-hour celebrity lawyer to represent Mayor Eric Adams in a lawsuit accusing him of sexually assaulting a fellow city employee in 1993.

Alex Spiro of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan is coming on as co-counsel in the case against Mr Adams, according to court documents, with taxpayers footing the bill.

Mr Spiro, who has come to specialize in protecting the rich and famous from the consequences of their poorest decisions, has previously represented celebrities including Elon Musk, Jay-Z and Alec Baldwin, according to a profile in the New Yorker.

Last year, he charged JP Morgan Chase $2,025 an hour for work on a fraud case, Bloomberg reported. However, officials at City Hall said they will be getting a discount, claiming they will be charged less than one-eighth of that cost: $250 an hour for work by partners and $175 for work by associates.

It is unclear how much Mr Spiros legal fees will cost overall, but a City Hall law department spokesperson previously suggested that the city expects the case to take up significant time and resources.

Mr Adams, who is paid $258,000 a year, will not have to pay the fees himself.

Eric Adams ( AP )

City Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix, who leads City Halls law department, confirmed last month that Mr Adams qualified for free legal representation from the city because he was an employee of the Transit Police when the offence he is accused of took place.

He is being accused by a former colleague, Lorna Beach-Mathura, of sexually propositioning her when she asked for career advice in 1993.

She has claimed that when she allegedly rejected Mr Adams advances, he masturbated in front of her and then stymied her career.

Mr Adams has strongly denied the claims in the lawsuit, which was filed under the Adult Survivors Act, and he has insisted he doesnt even recall meeting the plaintiff.

Despite this, observers have suggested that Mr Spiros hire shows Mr Adams team is not prepared to just brush the allegation off.

Alex Spiro ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

They scoffed at whether any of us should pay attention because the allegations were so spurious  and this is not the behavior youd expect in response to that, civil rights attorney Janos Marton told Politico.

Mr Marton is currently trying to recruit a left-leaning Democrat to run against Mr Adams and challenge his re-election.

The suit against Mr Adams comes amid an FBI investigation into his 2021 campaign, which prompted agents to seize his cellphones and raid the home of his chief campaign fundraiser.

The FBI is investigating whether Mr Adams inappropriately tried to help the government of Turkey get city approval to open a 35-storey skyscraper housing diplomatic facilities in 2021, despite concerns about the towers fire safety systems.

Mr Adams has admitted lobbying the former FDNY commissioner over safety delays to the opening of a new Turkish consulate in New York in 2021, but has denied all wrongdoing.
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Special counsel Jack Smith has urged the US Supreme Court to reject Donald Trumps unprecedented claim that presidential immunity protects him from facing federal charges for trying to overturn the 2020 election.

In a 66-page legal filing on Monday, the special counsels office wrote that a bedrock principle of our constitutional order is that no person is above the law  including the president.

The Constitution does not give a president the power to conspire to defraud the United States in the certification of presidential-election results, obstruct proceedings for doing so or deprive voters of the effect of their votes, the filing adds.

The former president was indicted on four federal charges in August relating to his alleged attempt to unlawfully overturn the 2020 presidential election in his favour. He has pleaded not guilty and claims  without evidence  that the prosecution is politically motivated.

In fighting the indictment, Mr Trump has claimed that presidential immunity protects him from the special counsels charges.

After several lower federal courts rejected the claim, Mr Trump asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on the question in December.

From 1789 to 2023, no former, or current, president faced criminal charges for his official acts  for good reason, Mr Trumps attorneys argued in a brief to the high court last month.

The president cannot function, and the presidency itself cannot retain its vital independence, if the president faces criminal prosecution for official acts once he leaves office.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear full arguments on the immunity question on 25 April.

Special counsel Jack Smith is urging the Supreme Court to reject Donald Trumps immunity claim ( Getty Images )

The special counsels office argues that, while presidential immunity limits the ability of presidents to face criminal prosecution for their official duties, Mr Trumps 2020 campaign to remain in office even after he knew he lost, falls outside this protection as he was not acting in his capacity as president.

Instead, Mr Smith argues, the 2020 effort was a private scheme with private actors to achieve a private end: petitioners effort to remain in power by fraud.

The absence of any prosecutions of former presidents until this case does not reflect the understanding that presidents are immune from criminal liability; it instead underscores the unprecedented nature of petitioners alleged conduct, the brief adds elsewhere.

Both Mr Smith and Mr Trumps teams cited cases involving Richard Nixon to make their arguments about the scope of immunity protections.

The special counsels office quotes from the Supreme Courts 1974 decision in US v Nixon, in which a unanimous court found that then-president Nixon needed to comply with a trial subpoena over Oval Office tapes.

Mr Trumps side, meanwhile, points to 1982s Nixon v Fitzgerald, in which a 5-4 court found that Mr Nixon was immune in a suit regarding an Air Force analyst who claimed he was fired in retaliation for criticising the president.

Without such immunities, Mr Trump has argued in his briefs, presidents would be vulnerable to de facto blackmail and extortion while in office.

Lower courts have so far sided with Mr Smiths interpretation, finding Mr Trumps conduct around the 2020 election isnt protected via immunity.

For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant, a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals held in February.

Donald Trump in New York ( AFP via Getty Images )

But any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as president no longer protects him against this prosecution.

In December, Federal District judge Tanya Chutkan ruled similarly, finding: Whatever immunities a sitting president may enjoy, the United States has only one chief executive at a time, and that position does not confer a lifelong get-out-of-jail-free pass.

A Supreme Court decision on the immunity question could come in June  before the court recesses for summer  though it remains unclear whether the trial would take place before the 2024 presidential election, where Mr Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee.

Mr Trump faces another set of federal charges in Florida regarding his alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving office.

He is also facing state charges in New York over a hush money scheme and RICO charges in Georgia over his efforts to overturn the election in the state.
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A pair of far-right operatives must pay $1.25m after they were found liable for a robocall scheme that targeted thousands of phone numbers to misinform Black voters and suppress voter turnout during the 2020 presidential election.

As part of a lawsuit settlement with civil rights groups and New Yorks attorney general, conspiracy theorists Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkmam conceded to a $1m judgment that will climb to $1.25m if they fail to pay at least $105,000 by the end of the year.

The settlement announced on Tuesday follows a joint lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and individual plaintiffs alleging a voter suppression scheme that intentionally targeted Black voters with false threats surrounding mail-in voting.

Automatic calls  from the defendants so-called civil rights organization called Project 1599  reached roughly 5,500 New Yorkers in the summer of 2020 with false warnings that mail-in ballots send voters personal information to police and credit card companies and would be used to track vaccination records.

Mail-in voting sounds great, but did you know that if you vote by mail, your personal information will be part of a public database that will be used by police departments to track down old warrants and be used by credit card companies to collect outstanding debts? one message said.

The CDC is even pushing to use records for mail-in voting to track people for mandatory vaccines, the message added. Dont be finessed into giving your private information to the man, stay safe and beware of vote.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said Wohl and Burkman orchestrated a depraved and disinformation-ridden campaign to intimidate Black voters in an attempt to sway the election in favor of their preferred candidate.

The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, and it belongs to everyone. We will not allow anyone to threaten that right, she said in a statement.

New York Attorney General Letitia James ( AP )

Damon T Hewitt, president of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which represents the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and other plaintiffs in the case, said the settlement sends an emphatic message to anyone who aims to prevent Black people from exercising their right to vote.

Voter suppression and voter intimidation are illegal, immoral, and anti-democratic, he added. Regardless of whether the perpetrators are government actors or private citizens, your actions will have consequences, and you will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

David Schwartz, an attorney for Wohl and Burkman, said in a statement that his clients are pleased to put this case behind them, so they can focus on their families and careers.

Wohl and Burkman also faced charges in several other states for similar robocall schemes targeting Black voters during 2020 elections. In 2020, they were charged with felonies in Michigan for targeting Black voters in Detroit, and in 2022, an Ohio judge ordered the men to pay $2,500 in fines and spend 500 hours registering voters.

Last year, the Federal Communications Commission fined Wohl and Burkman more than $5m.
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State Department staff sent at least eight internal dissent memos to express disagreement with US policy on Israel and Gaza during the first two months of the war, The Independent can reveal.

A further memo was sent last month from the US embassy in Jordan, warning of increasing instability across the region due to Israels ongoing war, according to a person familiar with the matter, bringing the total number to at least nine.

Such a high number of internal dissent memorandums  a formal process by which staff can express concerns internally to a policy  highlights the widespread opposition within the department to the Biden administrations support for Israels war in Gaza.

By comparison, only one internal dissent memo was filed during the first three years of the Iraq War, widely considered to be one of the United States biggest foreign policy disasters.

Josh Paul, who resigned from the State Department in protest over US support for the war in October, said such a high number was unprecedented in recent memory.

To the best of my knowledge, it is the most on any issue in such a timespan, he said.

Dissent memorandums can be written and signed by any state department staff member, at which point they are sent to the secretary of states planning office, before being passed up the chain to senior department officials and secretary of state Antony Blinken. They are not made public or shared with the wider state department staff.

The dissent channel was created during the Vietnam war for State Department staff to express criticism and disagreements without fear of retribution. The content of such cables is fiercely protected by the department, and they rarely leak. It is likely that many more dissent memos were sent since the war began and have not been made public.

The devastation of Khan Younis following Israel pulling their troops from the city ( Getty )

Mitchell Reiss, a former director of the office that handled dissent memos between 2003 and 2005, the first three years of the Iraq war, said he received one such dissent memo during his tenure.

Its not just sort of a paper-pushing exercise. It was taken very seriously by the highest levels of the department, Mr Reiss, who served under secretary of state Colin Powell, said.

But he cautioned that it would be impossible to know if all the memos had taken an anti-war stance without seeing them.

The most recent dissent memorandum was sent last month from the US embassy in Amman, Jordan, and focused on the destabilizing effect of Israels actions in that country and across the region, one source said.

A memo that was leaked to Axios in November that was signed by 100 State Department and USAID employees, urged for the department to reassess its policy toward Israel and demand a ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel launched its offensive in Gaza following a devastating surprise attack by Hamas on 7 October that killed 1,200 people. More than 200 people were taken hostage.

Since then, Israels war has killed more than 33,000 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry  some 13,000 of them children. The UN and multiple aid organizations working on the ground have warned that Gaza is on the brink of a major famine, and have blamed Israel for blocking the delivery of aid into the strip.

Israel provoked international outrage last week for an attack on an aid convoy that killed seven aid workers belonging to World Central Kitchen. That brought the number of aid workers killed by Israels offensive to more than 220, according to Oxfam.

The UK government said it is completely united over the conflict in Gaza as it faces continued demands to suspend arms exports to Israel ( AP )

The Independent has previously reported on high levels of opposition within the State Department over president Joe Bidens unconditional support for Israel, some six months into the war.

Charles Blaha, former director of the State Departments Office of Security and Human Rights, told The Independent that he had never seen this much dissent.

I was in the State Department for 32 years, including during the Iraq war, and I have never seen this much unhappiness. It is even worse than Iraq. So yeah, people are concerned, Mr Blaha, who maintains contact with current staffers, said.

Mr Biden has come under increasing pressure over his longstanding and unconditional support for Israel as the war has dragged on.

The killing of the seven international aid workers, including an American citizen, by three precision Israeli airstrikes, caused an uproar around the world and brought a renewed spotlight on Mr Bidens insistence on continuing arms deliveries.

On the same day of the deadly strike, the Biden administration approved the transfer of thousands more bombs to Israel, and is currently weighing an $18bn sale that includes fighter jets and other equipment.

Despite the internal opposition in the State Department, there have only been two public resignations linked to the war: Mr Paul and Annelle Sheline, who left her post at the near eastern section of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor in March and spoke out publicly against the war after being encouraged to do so by her colleagues.

Brian Finucane, who worked for a decade in the office of the legal adviser at the State Department advising on issues related to the laws of war, arms transfers and war crimes, told The Independent that there was a huge gap between the departments rank-and-file and the messaging coming from the White House.

Based on my conversations since October with people at the department, there is a real disconnect between the analysis and policy recommendations of state department personnel relating to Gaza and Israel-Palestine generally and decisions ultimately being made by the White House, he said.

The president is the ultimate decider on Gaza and hes been largely immune to the facts of this disastrous conflict, at least with respect to actual US policy as opposed to rhetoric, he added.

Mr Blinken responded to an initial flurry of dissent cables over the war in Gaza back in November, writing in a letter to staff to acknowledge the sentiment.

I know that for many of you, the suffering caused by this crisis is taking a profound personal toll, Mr Blinken said in the letter obtained by Reuters.

The anguish that comes with seeing the daily images of babies, children, elderly people, women, and other civilians suffering in this crisis is wrenching. I feel it myself, he said.

There were an average of almost nine dissent messages per year sent to Washington between 1972 and 2017, according to the Foreign Service Journal.

A state department spokesperson said in a statement given to The Independent that Mr Blinken welcomes people utilizing the dissent channel.

He takes it seriously, and it causes him to reflect on his own thinking in terms of policymaking and what he proposes to the president, the spokesperson added.
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Donald Trump has failed to convince a New York appeals court to delay an imminent criminal trial surrounding a so-called hush money scheme while he challenges a gag order that blocks him from public attacks against trial participants and family members of court staff.

A state appeals court judge rejected his second 11th hour attempt to further delay the trial on Tuesday, one day after a judge denied his request to delay the proceedings while he tries to move the case out of Manhattan.

Mr Trumps latest attempts to delay the proceedings follow repeated failures to stop what will be the first of four criminal trials he is expected to face in the coming months.

Last year, in the first criminal indictment against him, a grand jury charged the former president with 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with repayments to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen, who arranged a hush money scheme to prevent the release of potentially compromising stories about Mr Trump and his affair with an adult film star.

The case from the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg could rely on Cohens testimony that Mr Trump authorised his business to falsely file payments as legal expenses, part of an alleged effort to quash stories that could interfere with then-candidate Trumps 2016 campaign, according to prosecutors.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Donald Trump appears in Manhattan criminal court for a pretrial hearing on 25 March ( AP )

A full state appeals court panel will begin considering his request to delay the trial on Monday  the same day that jury selection is scheduled to begin. Mr Trumps legal team has until 10am on Monday to respond.

The panel will also consider his challenge to Judge Merchans gag order later this month.

The gag order issued by Judge Merchan  issued hours after Mr Trump lashed out at his daughter on his Truth Social last month  blocks the former president from making any such statements made with the intent to materially interfere with any work in the case.

Last week, the judge expanded the scope of the order to prohibit attacks against family members of court staff and attorneys involved in the case, citing Mr Trumps very real threat to the trials integrity.

The average observer must now, after hearing [Mr Trumps] recent attacks, draw the conclusion that if they become involved in these proceedings, even tangentially, they should worry not only for themselves but for their loved ones as well, Judge Merchan wrote.

Such concerns will undoubtedly interfere with the fair administration of justice, and constitute a direct attack on the rule of law itself, he added.

Judge Merchan also has rejected Mr Trumps attempts to delay the trial until the US Supreme Court issues a ruling on his presidential immunity defence surrounding a separate criminal case targeting his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

The judge has yet to rule on Mr Trumps argument that he will not get a fair trial because of prejudicial media coverage. On his Truth Social, Mr Trump has suggested that the case should be moved to Staten Island, the only New York borough he won in the 2016 and 2020 elections.

Judge Merchan also has not yet ruled on Mr Trumps motions for the judge to recuse himself from the case, pointing to his daughters political work.

On Monday, Mr Braggs office swatted down his attorneys demands which prosecutors called an attempt to pollute the court and continue Mr Trumps attacks as part of a meritless effort to call the integrity of these proceedings into question.

That motion represented yet another last-ditch attempt to address [the] defendants real objective  to delay this proceeding indefinitely, prosecutors wrote.
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Watch as Irelands new leader Simon Harris is presented at parliament to be formally named the new Taoiseach after Leo Varadkar stepped down on 20 March.

The Dail parliament in Dublin convened on Tuesday 9 April ahead of the election of Mr Harris as the countrys youngest leader.

A 37-year-old father-of-two, he will be appointed Irelands 15th Taoiseach.

Proceedings in Irelands lower house of parliament commenced shortly after 10:30am with an address by Mr Varadkar.

He said his time in government had been the most fulfilling and rewarding time of his life.

But today is the beginning of a new era for my party, a new chapter in my life and a new phase for this coalition government, he added.

A proposer and seconder will nominate Mr Harris as the next taoiseach during the Dail sitting.

Speeches are expected to be made by the government parties as well as the main opposition party Sinn Fein and other politicians, who are expected to call for a general election.

As the Government holds a majority in the Dail, Mr Harris is set to win the vote on Tuesday.
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At least one woman died and five other people were injured in western Russias Smolensk after a road bridge collapsed on railway tracks, officials said.

The collapse on Monday interrupted all rail traffic in the town of Vyazma in Smolensk oblast, local officials said.

They added that nearly 8,000 households in the region were left without gas after the bridge collapse damaged pipelines.

Videos and photos from the site of the incident showed a large chunk of bridge in ruins, as local rescue workers continued to inspect the area and began clean-up operations.

A passenger car and a lorry were on the bridge at the moment of the collapse and fell or were overturned as a result, officials said.

A Russian news channel suggested that the bridge collapsed due to its old age. The Russian Telegram channel 112 said local residents had repeatedly asked the authorities to repair the overpass.

Smolensk oblasts regional governor Vasiliy Anokhin said six of the total seven spans of the bridge collapsed.

Mr Anokhin said more than 160 emergency personnel were deployed at the scene through the night to restore rail traffic and that he was monitoring the situation personally.

Authorities have shifted three of the injured people to Moscow, the report added. A 14-year-old girl who was also injured is being treated in a local hospital.

He added that the gas pipeline was shut down to prevent any major incident. The electricity networks in the area were not disturbed, the governor added.

My deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased woman. The regional government will definitely provide assistance to them and all those affected, he wrote on his official Telegram channel.
 Close UK has fasttracked the production of laser energy and radio waves weaponry

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German chancellor Olaf Scholz said he urged Chinese president Xi Jinping to press Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

Mr Scholz told Mr Xi in a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday that Chinas word carries weight in Russia.

I have therefore asked president Xi to influence Russia so that Putin finally calls off his senseless campaign, withdraw his troops and ends this terrible war, he wrote on social media platform X.

Earlier, a Russian source said Moscow was ready to redeploy Wagner troops working in Africa to bolster its offensive in Ukraine.

The source claimed Russian authorities are preparing to redeploy unspecified detachments of the Africa Corps from Africa to Belgorod, Ukraine, according to US think tank Institute for the Study of War.
 Close I traveled 300 miles to see the total solar eclipse

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A total eclipse of the Sun plunged a stretch of North America into darkness on Monday, with millions of spectators across the US, Mexico and Canada hoping to catch a glimpse of the rare event.

It was North Americas biggest eclipse crowd ever, with the path of totality crossing directly over 44 million people.

More were drawn in from across the world thanks to the lure of clear skies and up to four and a half minutes of midday darkness in some places.

Almost everyone in North America was guaranteed at least a partial eclipse, weather permitting.

The best weather was seen in Mexico and at the tail end of the eclipse in Vermont and Maine, as well as New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

Cloud cover is one of the trickier things to forecast, National Weather Service meteorologist Alexa Maines explained at Clevelands Great Lakes Science Centre on Sunday. At the very least, it wont snow.
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The UK is highly vulnerable to misinformation and is currently not properly equipped to combat it, the annual report from fact-checking charity Full Fact says.

The report warns that without urgent action, the UK risks falling behind the pace of international progress in protecting citizen from misinformation.

It says that a combination of significant gaps in the Online Safety Act and the rapid rise of generative AI means a fundamental overhaul of the UKs legislative and regulatory framework is needed in order to adequately combat misinformation and disinformation.

Generative AI, most notably chatbots such as ChatGPT, have become more prominent parts of daily life over the past 18 months as they have been made widely available as content creation and productivity tools  including being used to create misleading images, video and audio.

Despite promises that the regulation would apply to disinformation and misinformation that could cause harm to individuals, such as anti-vaccination content, there are only two explicit areas of reference to misinformation in the final Act Full Fact report

In its report, Full Fact warns that this technology could be used to power disinformation campaigns that disrupt or undermine confidence in the result of forthcoming elections.

A number of politicians, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and the mayor of London Sadiq Khan have been the subjects of misleading content  or deepfakes  in recent times.

The report says that generative AI could play a role in the upcoming general election by making it cheap, easy and quick to spread content so plausible that it cannot easily or rapidly be identified as false.

The charity says that concerns around the rapid evolution of AI technology are being exacerbated by what it said were fundamental gaps in the Online Safety Act, which passed in law last year and is designed to protect internet users from encountering online harms.

Despite promises that the regulation would apply to disinformation and misinformation that could cause harm to individuals, such as anti-vaccination content, there are only two explicit areas of reference to misinformation in the final Act, Full Facts report says.

One is that a committee should be set up to advise the regulator, Ofcom, on policy towards misinformation and disinformation, and how providers of regulated services should deal with it.

The other is that Ofcoms existing media literacy duties should expand to cover public awareness of misinformation and disinformation, and the nature and impact of harmful content.

This is not good enough, given the scale of the challenge we face.

Chris Morris, chief executive of Full Fact, said: The Governments failed promise to tackle information threats has left us facing down transformative, digital challenges with an analogue toolkit.

An Online Safety Act with just two explicit areas of reference to misinformation cannot be considered fit for purpose in the age of AI.

The charity has listed 15 recommendations for government, political parties, regulators and tech companies to protect the UKs information environment, including urging either amendments to the Online Safety Act  or bring in new legislation  to better target misinformation and disinformation.

The recommendations also call on political parties to commit to using generative AI responsibly and transparently.

A better future is possible, but only if all political parties show that they are serious about restoring trust in our system by campaigning transparently, honestly, and truthfully, Mr Morris said.

A spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: We are working extensively across government to ensure we are ready to rapidly respond to misinformation.

The Online Safety Act has been designed to be tech-neutral and future-proofed, to ensure it keeps pace with emerging technologies.

Once implemented, it will require social media platforms to swiftly remove illegal misinformation and disinformation, including where it is AI-generated, as soon as they become aware of it.

In addition to the work of our defending democracy taskforce, the digital imprints regime will also require certain political campaigning digital material to have a digital imprint making clear to voters who is promoting the content.
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Peter Higgs, the truly gifted scientist who demonstrated the existence of the subatomic particle, has died aged 94.

Higgs, an emeritus professor at Edinburgh University, won a Nobel prize and a host of other plaudits for his work on what became known as the Higgs boson, showing how it gave the universe its shape. The hunt to prove the existence of the particle became one of sciences greatest projects  and it was found, in 2012, using the Large Hadron Collider.

The implications of the search were so vast that the Higgs boson was dubbed the god particle, though many scientists rejected the name. Higgs himself disdained the celebrity that its discovery brought, telling the BBC that it was a bit of a nuisance.

Higgs died at home in Edinburgh on Monday following a short illness, the university said.

Sir Peter Mathieson, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, said: Peter Higgs was a remarkable individual  a truly gifted scientist whose vision and imagination have enriched our knowledge of the world that surrounds us.

His pioneering work has motivated thousands of scientists, and his legacy will continue to inspire many more for generations to come.

Higgs was born in Newcastle, in 1929. He first studied at Kings College London but took up a post at the University of Edinburgh in 1960, working there until he retired in 1996.

He once revealed he had turned down a knighthood in 1999 as he did not want any title. However, he did accept recognition from the late queen in 2014 when he was appointed a Companion of Honour during a ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

In 1964, he proposed a theory of how particles acquired mass that depended on the particle that would eventually take his name. It suggested that all of physics depended on a special kind of particle  the Higgs boson  that was required to make the universe exist but which had not at that point been discovered.

Almost 50 years later, Cerns Large Hadron Collider found evidence of the Higgs particle, confirming the Standard Model of physics and Higgs work. That led to him receiving the Nobel prize a year later, sharing it with Francois Englert, another physicist who proposed the same theory at the same time, independently of Higgs work.

The director general of Cern, Fabiola Gianotti, described Prof Higgs as an immensely inspiring figure.

Besides his outstanding contributions to particle physics, Peter was a very special person, an immensely inspiring figure for physicists across the world, a man of rare modesty, a great teacher and someone who explained physics in a very simple and yet profound way, she said.

An important piece of Cern's history and accomplishments is linked to him. I am very saddened, and I will miss him sorely.

Particle physicist Brian Cox, a professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester, said Prof Higgs name will be remembered as long as we do physics.

Paying tribute, Sir Ian Blatchford, director and chief executive of the Science Museum Group, said Higgs was a brilliant scientist who helped us to understand the fundamental building blocks of our universe.
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Online searches for blind and eye damage have surged in the US following Mondays solar eclipse.

The celestial spectacle could be seen throughout the country, though people were urged to take safety measures to avoid permanently damaging their eyes while looking at it.

Despite the warnings, search trends from Google show that terms like retina damage, eyes hurt, cant see, blind and eye damage all spiked in the hours after the eclipse.

open image in gallery Search interest for blind and eye damage spiked in the US following the solar eclipse on 8 April, 2024 ( Google Trends/ The Independent )

The US government issued warnings of the risks for anyone not wearing appropriate eye protection. People using binoculars or a telescope to watch the Moon pass in front of the Sun needed to use special filters.

Nasa said that not doing so will instantly cause severe eye injury, with the US space agency stating on its website that the only safe time to look at the Sun without glasses or filter was during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely blocks the Suns bright face.

Views of the solar eclipse were best beneath the Suns path of totality in the north east where skies were clear.

This region was also where most people searched for terms relating to eye damage following the solar eclipse, according to Googles data.

open image in gallery Search interest for blind and eye damage was concentrated to the Suns path of totality during the solar eclipse on 8 April, 2024 ( Google Trends/ The Independent )

Optometrists said that there are two main types of injury that can occur from looking directly at the Sun: Burning to the outside of the eye, which is called solar keratitis, and damage to nerve tissue within.

Both can cause potentially irreversible sight loss or impairment.

Even the use of eclipse glasses was no guarantee that peoples eyes were fully protected, according to some reports.

One retailer reportedly issued an email to customers on Monday warning them that their glasses were not safe for viewing the eclipse.

Dear Amazon Customer, We write to notify you of a potential safety concern with a product that you purchased on Amazon.com, the email reportedly warned, according to local news outlet WHEC in Rochester, New York.

The affected product was reportedly the Biniki Solar Eclipse Glasses AAS Approved 2024  CE & ISO Certified Safe Shades for Direct Sun Viewing (6 Packs), which did not have the approval from the American Astronomical Society (AAS) despite the products label.
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Part of an engine covering has fallen off a Boeing airplane in the US during takeoff and struck the wing flap.

Southwest flight 3695 was leaving Denver International Airport on Sunday morning at 8.15am when the engines cowling detached and hit the wing, according to Reuters.

A video posted to social media, the engine cowling can be seen flapping in the wind before it detaches completely and bangs against the aircrafts wing.

The Houston-bound flight, carrying 135 passengers, returned to the Colorado airport without incident. No injuries were reported.

Southwest said the plane landed safely after experiencing a mechanical issue, according to ABC News.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Sunday that it will investigate the incident on the Boeing 737-800, the latest involving the aircraft manufacturer.

A passenger, who gave the name Lisa C, told ABC News said the cowling detached approximately 10 minutes after boarding was completed.

"We all felt kind of a bump, a jolt, and I looked out the window because I love window seats, and there it was," she told the outlet.

Another passenger, Cooper Glass, told ABC News that the incident was "frightening," but that the pilot did an excellent job returning to the airport.

Southwest Airlines said its maintenance teams were examining the aircraft. The affected passengers were flown on another flight to Houston about three hours behind their scheduled arrival time.

The incident is the latest in a string of issues to plague Boeing.

open image in gallery The engine cover on a Southwest-operated Boeing aircraft detaches as it leaves Denver International Airport on 7 April, 2024 ( @SweeneyABC/X/Twitter )

On 5 January, a door plug panel on a new Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft tore off while it was cruising at 16,000 feet.

The FAA subsequently grounded 171 of the company's MAX 9 aircrafts for review. It has also prohibited the company from increasing production of the MAX series aircraft, and has ordered it to develop a comprehensive plan to address "systemic quality-control issues".

The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into the Alaska Airlines incident. The investigation will centre on whether Boeing complied with a 2021 settlement it agreed to after a pair of deadly crashes that were attributed to faults in its 737 MAX Maneuvering Characterists Augmentation System, Forbes reports.
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One of the two late and over-budget ferries has finally been launched at a shipyard on the River Clyde.

There were cheers from those watching as the MV Glen Rosa was piped into the water at the publicly-owned Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow on Tuesday.

The ferry and its sister vessel the Glen Sannox are now some six years late and will cost around three times the original price of 97 million.

MV Glen Rosa, previously known as Hull 802, is a 102-metre dual fuel vessel which will be capable of operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine gas oil (MGO).

When complete, it will have the capacity to carry up to 852 passengers plus at least 127 cars or 16 heavy goods vehicles, or a combination of both.

It is due to be delivered by September 2025 and will serve Arran on the Ardrossan to Brodick route.

The former head of the shipyard, David Tydeman, was sacked last month over performance-related issues, as further delays to the ferries were expected.

The GMB Scotland union said the launch of the Glen Rosa must herald a new era for Ferguson Marine.

Gary Cook, GMB Scotland senior organiser in engineering, said: The sight of such a ship being launched into the Clyde is a too rare reminder of this rivers proud shipbuilding heritage.

This yard and these workers can help ensure that heritage is protected for future generations of shipbuilders but only with the support of ministers.

No one, apart from the islanders, wanted these ferries finished more than the workforce, who have been blameless in this sorry process but been used as a political punchbag for far too long.

He also called for the contract for seven small ferries for CalMac to be awarded to the yard urgently to give certainty to the workforce and protect the skills at the yard.

Mr Cook said: The Scottish Government must commit to building the small ferries at Fergusons to create a pipeline of work that will ensure shipbuilding on the Clyde continues for generations to come.

Beth Atkinson, a qualified welder who completed her apprenticeship at the yard, smashed a special bottling of Ardgowan blended malt whisky off the hull to launch the ferry.

John Petticrew, the shipyards interim chief executive, said: This is a proud day for the shipyard, the people of Inverclyde and every individual who has supported Ferguson Marine reach this landmark moment.

MV Glen Rosa is the 363rd vessel launched on the Clyde under the Ferguson Marine name. At around 3,000 tonnes, she is considerably heavier than her sister vessel MV Glen Sannox was at launch and sets a new record for the yard in terms of weight at launch.

Today marks a significant milestone in the delivery of the two new ferries, following the success of MV Glen Sannoxs sea trials in February and last week. This demonstrates the hard work being done by everyone at the yard to complete both ferries as soon as possible.

MV Glen Rosa will now take her place at the quayside, at the spot Glen Sannox recently vacated, so that her internal fit out can continue.

Scotlands Wellbeing Economy Secretary Mairi McAllan attended the launch.

She said: This is an important milestone for the shipyard and, importantly, provides an opportunity to recognise the workers who have contributed to the building of the MV Glen Rosa.

It is fitting that it was launched by Beth Atkinson, a highly skilled welder who trained at Ferguson Marine, and who represents the future of Scottish shipbuilding.

I was pleased to be able to join such an important event for the community, and look forward to seeing Glen Rosa enter service next year and provide vital lifeline services for our island communities.

Days after the shipyards former boss was sacked, the CalMac chief executive officer Robbie Drummond was removed from his post with Duncan Mackison installed as his interim replacement.

Mr Mackison said: Todays successful launch is a positive step forward and we are looking forward to welcoming MV Glen Rosa into the CalMac fleet.

When she enters service, she will provide much-needed resilience and capacity to the Arran community.

The Scottish Government has been asked for comment.
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We were in connection directly with the universe, with the sun, with the moon, and we are so humble to see that.

Minutes after the moon blotted out the sun for 90 surreal seconds on an island in the St Lawrence River, Olivier Hernandez, director of the Montreal Planetarium and a noted astrophysicist, was almost in tears.

It was so emotional. I was about to cry. Did you see the corona? Did you see the purity of the light coming out from the sun? We have seen also the chromosphere.

Wow, what a show, what a show.

open image in gallery A young man views the solar eclipse in Montreal ( AP )

In the Great American Eclipse of 2024, Montreal was the star turn that no one had predicted. Most astronomical attention along the zone of totality was focused on Texas and the Midwest, with Niagara Falls also hoping for clear skies over one of the worlds great tourism icons.

In the end, though, the corrugated skyline of Canadas biggest French-speaking city supplied the backdrop to an astronomical show that was summed up again and again as extraordinaire.

On an unseasonably warm, bright day, eclipse hunters and local people converged on Parc Jean Drapeau on the Ile Sainte-Helene for what was billed as the Eclipse of the Century. Snow was still lying on the ground, and some early arrivals fashioned a snowman with a pine cone for a nose and moss for his scarf.

open image in gallery Thousands of people converged at the Parc Jean Drapeau in Montreal ( AP )

DJs and a concert orchestra provided the warm-up for a crowd estimated at between 200,000 and 400,000. Several wore T-shirts showing the iconic Pink Floyd album cover for Dark Side of the Moon, and a computer science student named Sam brought a colander in order to observe the partial eclipse through its perforated shadow.

The moon began to nibble at a corner of the sun at 1414 local time [GMT 1814]. During the next 72 minutes, the air chilled as the sky darkened into an increasingly eerie gloom. Gulls swooped skittishly above the crowd.

Even with 99 per cent of the surface of the sun obscured by the moon, the spectacle could be viewed only through special glasses that block out 99.99 per cent of visible light.

Suddenly, at 1526 [GMT 1926], the whole city was plunged into darkness  and Montreals citizens celebrated the great cosmological coincidence with a chorus of screams, whoops and applause. So this is what awe sounds like.

Just a few miles away to the west, the horizon glowed as though dawn was breaking on the wrong side of the world: Montreal lay very close to the edge of the zone of totality. But all eyes were transfixed by the corona of the sun  the burning gases that are visible only during a total solar eclipse.

open image in gallery Simon Calder enjoys the view in Montreal on Monday ( Simon Calder )

Its just completely mind bending how beautiful it is, said astrophysicist Jonathan Gagne. Its so rare in astronomy that we can actually see something with our own eyes.

Mr Gagne viewed the spectacle with his daughters. He delighted in seeing like their amazement in their eyes as well as mine.

They may be around the next time the province of Quebec hosts a total solar eclipse, on 3 May 2106  an auspicious day on which the weather could turn out even better.

Yet most of us will settle for the indelible memory of a day when humanity in all its colourful, Canadian diversity convened for an appointment with the universe.

Rebecca Salomon, weather reporter for Meteo Media, was on her first assignment to cover a total solar eclipse.

She summed up the cosmic climax: Everybody is so cheerful. Its a perfect day.
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People travelling to the Grand National festival this week have been given stern advice by one train operator as thousands of people are expected to descend on Aintree for the annual horse-racing spectacle.

Travellers are being warned off attempting to travel without a valid ticket, with Northern stating dont gamble on it as chancers will be met by teams of revenue protection officers deployed at key stations across the region  and hit with a hefty fine.

Anyone caught without a valid ticket or promise to pay notice may be issued with a 100 penalty fare, which is reduced to 50 if paid within 21 days.

Services in and around Liverpool are expected to be busy over the three-day event and people are encouraged to allow extra time for their journey.

Mark Powles, commercial and customer director at Northern, said: We know from experience that all major events encourage some people to think theyll get away with not buying a ticket for their journey.

By publicising this clampdown in advance, we hope less people will chance it and end up 100 down before they even get to the racecourse.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the north of England.

The three-day festival  from Thursday 11 April to Saturday 13 April  is one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar, attracting more than 150,000 people to Aintree Racecourse, according to Merseyside Police.

Merseyrail will be running a special timetable during the festival on its northern line, with trains every 7.5 minutes between the race course and Liverpool Central (via Moorfields) from 11.30am and 1pm and again between 4pm and 8.30pm.

Outside of these times, trains will run every 15 minutes.

Only pre-booked vehicles will be allowed onto the Aintree site and there are parking restrictions around the course, which police say will be rigorously enforced.

Superintendent Matthew Moscrop said: Visitors can help the organisers and themselves by allowing extra time to get to the course.

Fortunately, there is no planned industrial action affecting rail services during the Grand National. The last week has seen a series of rolling walkouts by members of the Aslef union that brought train lines across the country to a halt, while the same drivers also refused to work overtime. The ban on overtime came to an end on 9 April.
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The UKs most disrupted flight paths have been revealed, with passengers bound for Poland likely to touch down over 30 minutes behind schedule.

A Ryanair flight from Leeds Bradford to Lawica, Poland was found to be the most delayed route. Passengers frequently faced an average delay of 36 minutes, with an average scheduled arrival time of 11.51am and an average actual arrival time of 12.27pm.

Business communications provider Esendex announced the least punctual routes where air passengers are most likely to face a delay ahead of the summer holiday season of travel.

Those travelling from Birmingham to Dubai in the UAE could also expect a half-hour delay to their planned landing time followed by a Channel hop from East Midlands Airport to Paris Orly Airport, the UKs third most delayed flight route, with an average delay of 28 minutes.

Esendex analysed over 250 flight routes based on upcoming scheduled flights at 20 UK Airports using FlightRadar24 to create the Delay to Departure report.

Domestic and international flights departing Bristol Airport appeared the most times in the top 10 most delayed flight routes with three short-haul journeys leaving the south west aviation hub behind schedule.

Over the past year, Esendex assessed every completed flight per flight code taking an average scheduled arrival time and an average actual arrival time to calculate if the flight route was delayed, early or on time.

Aviation expert Sean Moulton told The Independent: Flight delays occur for a multitude of reasons. An airline may not want to leave connecting passengers behind, so holding a flight to meet that connection ensures a good service for as many people as possible.

Additionally, airlines across Europe are struggling with pilot and crew recruitment. Between shifts, staff are mandated to take a certain number of hours break meaning, if an airline is short staffed or has a high absentee rate, it may lead to delays until crew return to their legally permitted hours.

At airports which are highly slot constrained such as Heathrow and Manchester, airlines risk losing their slot if they are not on time. As such, routes to less constrained airports tend to suffer from aircraft being used on valuable routes to ensure these slots are maintained in future seasons. This is part of the reason why the list contains smaller airports such as Leeds and Belfast.

As for early arrivals, London Heathrow to Delhi was hailed as the most ahead-of-schedule route. Passengers flying with Air India often landed on average 35 minutes early.

Chris Gorman, head of professional services at Esendex, said: A delayed flight can cause a lot of anxiety, adding to an already stressful situation for many of us. Whether thats impacting further travel plans once landed, or causing issues with accommodation, flight delays can cause havoc to travel itineraries.

UKs top 10 delayed flight routes
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A United Airlines flight had to make a diversion after a dog could not hold it much longer and fouled on the aisle of the plane.

The four-legged passenger was in the cabin with other travellers on a flight from Houston to Seattle, which had to make an unexpected landing in Dallas after the pet pooped in the aisle, Business Insider reported.

Flight Radar, an online flight tracker, shows that a Houston to Seattle United Airlines flight was diverted to the Texas city on Friday.

The incident was first discussed among users on Reddit, but United Airlines confirmed to Business Insider that the incident had happened.

One user said that the dog had a messy accident in the first class section of the aircraft, which led to the plane being diverted to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

The ground crew spent over two hours cleaning the defecation off the floor, the user alleged.

The user also claimed that the first-class toilet was deemed unusable after the incident, and the time spent on the ground meant the food on board went bad, leaving them with only a few snacks.

However, some passengers may not have had much of an appetite, as the user also said that the smell never quite went away.

There are a number of rules and regulations people must follow if they are planning to fly with their pet cat or dog on a United flight.

United says on their website that once on the flight, pets must stay in their carrier with the door closed, under your seat at all times, unless they are service animals.

Bringing furry friends on a flight comes with extra fees, and not all destinations will allow you to fly with your pet.

It was only last month that a chihuahua on another United Airlines flight caused a giant mess after defecating on the seats and the floor.

The dog, who was on a flight to Portland on 5 February, was in its carrier most of the flight, but her owner reportedly let her out after she appeared to be fussing.

The flight attendants were able to clean up the mess in this instance, and an emergency landing did not have to be made.

Some of the passengers in the immediate area of the pooping dog were given travel vouchers after the incident.

The Independent has contacted United Airlines for comment.
J Cole has admitted he felt "terrible" for his "lame" and "goofy" response to Kendrick Lamar last week.

The star, 39, released the diss track "7 Minute Drill" on his latest album Might Delete Later on Friday (5 April), hitting out at his fellow rapper whose verse on "Like That" declared that he is a cut above Cole and Drake in the industry.

He later apologised for the song, telling an audience at the Dreamville Festival in North Carolina: "Im so proud of [Might Delete Later], except for one part.

Its one part of that s*** that makes me feel like, man thats the lamest s*** I did in my f***in life."
Britain should consider a Swedish-style military conscription system, says the former chief of MI6.

Sir Alex Younger said the UK needs to be thinking of ways in which the broader country would participate in an emergency.

Sir Alex appeared on The Today Podcast with Nick Robinson on Tuesday (9 April), as tensions between Russia and the West continue to escalate.

Sir Alex said: I think we need to be looking at something like the model in Sweden, where the government theoretically has the power to compel people to give their service one way or another, but doesnt exercise it, except in areas where its really needed.
UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that Ukraine can win the war against Russia if we give the Ukrainians what they need in terms of supplies, troops, and aid from foreign allies such as the UK and the US.

In his speech, David Cameron stated that with the United Kingdom and United States support Ukraine has successfully been able to sink 25% of Russias Black Sea fleet.

Cameron went on to reinforce his thought that alliances such as these are most important in times of danger for international affairs.

David Cameron also went on to say he looks forward to continuing the conversation of supporting Ukraines forces with the United States Congress in order to put a stop to Putins aggression.
Suella Braverman has said she strongly rebuts suggestions that Israel is in breach of international law.

The former home secretary made the comments during an appearance on LBC on Tuesday 9 April.

I have probed and I have tested, Ive been very near to the border in Gaza and I am convinced  and I say this as a former attorney general who dealt with matters of international law and military action  that I very strongly rebut suggestions that Israel is in breach of international law, that theres a genocide, that theres a forced starvation, Ms Braverman said.

She also expressed her condolences to the family and friends of the seven aid workers, including three Britons, killed by Israeli air strikes in Gaza last week.
A Boeing 737 engine appeared to come apart as a Houston-bound Southwest Airlines plane began to take off on Sunday, 7 April, terrifying footage shows.

A video posted on X/Twitter by Sam Sweeney, ABCs chief transportation reporter, shows the metal engine cover flapping in the wind.

The flight returned to Denver after crew members noticed the incident.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the incident, said: "Southwest Flight 3695 returned to Denver International Airport this morning and landed safely after experiencing a mechanical issue. Our customers will arrive at Houston Hobby on another aircraft, approximately three hours behind schedule."
A rare misstep from Stephen Frears and writer Will Tracy, The Regime never gets beyond the idea that power corrupts and all dictators eventually go nuts

On paper, The Regime (Sky Atlantic; all six episodes available from today) has everything possible going for it.

Its Kate Winslets third miniseries for HBO after her sensational, Emmy-winning performances in Mildred Pierce (2011) and Mare of Easttown (2021).

Sitting in the directors chair is the brilliantly versatile Stephen Frears. Incidentally, this is the project he was working on in Vienna when he was the subject of an entertaining Imagine... programme last year.

Its created and written by Will Tracy, one of the scriptwriters on Succession. Last but not least, the supporting and guest star roles are filled by an exceptional line-up of mostly British, Irish and American actors, including Hugh Grant, Andrea Riseborough, Julia Davis, Rory Keenan, Stanley Townsend and Martha Plimpton.

With this calibre of talent involved, what could possibly go wrong? Try just about everything. Anyone can have an off day. In The Regime, which is supposed to be a political satire, everyone seems to be having their off day at the same time.

'The Regime' Trailer

Winslet can do comedy as well as she does drama. Weve known this since her hilarious appearance in Extras all those years ago. Its regarded as one of the best episodes, and rightly so.

Dressed in a nuns costume and playing an exaggerated version of herself, Winslet demonstrated how to talk dirty on the phone, and later shared a surefire tip for winning an Oscar: do a Holocaust drama (ironically, shed go on to win an Oscar for Holocaust drama The Reader).

To be fair, she gives it her all in The Regime, throwing herself with determinedly hammy abandon into the role of Chancellor Elena Vernham, the autocratic ruler of a nameless fictional country somewhere in, as a caption tells us, Middle Europe.

The vagueness of the location allows Winslet to deliver her lines in a cut-glass English accent, which she does while making her bottom lip droop weirdly to the left.

Matthias Schoenaerts as Corporal Herbert Zubak in 'The Regime'. Photo: Sky/HBO

Everyone else, including her Belgian co-star Matthias Schoenaerts, speaks in whatever manner comes naturally to them.

Elena is as much crackpot as tinpot. Shes a hypochondriac and has become fixated on a non-existent mould she believes is creeping through her palace. Imagining its spores are infiltrating her lungs and that shes destined to succumb to the long disease that killed her father, Elena keeps humidifiers running around the clock.

She refuses to shake hands with anyone, not even the visiting American politicians who are keen for the US to get a slice of the countrys sole industry: cobalt mining.

When Elena is not having one of her sessions in an oxygen tent or being carried around the place by servants in what looks like a chaise longue with a hermetically-sealed cover, shes conversing with her dead father.

She keeps his corpse stored, Lenin-style, in a glass coffin in the basement. As youd expect, hes started to go off a bit. Daddy, youve got spots now, she tells him.

With this calibre of talent, what could possibly go wrong? Try everything

Locked in a cell in another area of the basement  although he wont be appearing for a few episodes yet  is the aforementioned Hugh Grant as the previous chancellor, Elenas old political foe Edward Keplinger, who the public believe has suffered a fate no worse than exile to a life of comfort in the countryside.

Thrown into the middle of this madness is Schoenaerts as Herbert Zubak, a brutish, disgraced army corporal who earned the nickname Butcher after he slaughtered a group of miners.

Hes given the highly important job of walking a couple of feet in front of Elena, waving a moisture-measuring meter around. They develop feelings for one another, much to the chagrin of Elenas French husband Nicholas (Guillaume Gallienne) and the underlings jockeying for position.

The Regime, which has a whiff of Wes Anderson wackiness (never a good thing), is a peculiar beast: a satire that doesnt seem sure what its satirising. It never gets beyond the idea that power corrupts and all dictators eventually go nuts.

The only funny moment is when Elena tunelessly warbles Chicagos If You Leave Me Now to a roomful of embarrassed bootlickers.

A rare misfire for Winslet that youve virtually forgotten about as soon as its over.
Trade for forward to beef animals remain strong

'Prices for forward to beef animals remained strong last week and yearling bullocks from 300-350kgs were improved, but stores for grass from 450-600kg were down'. Photo: Roger Jones

Every conversation on the phone, in the street, in the office and maybe even in your sleep is now dominated by the weather.

And the farming population is on the front line when it comes to the weather, with the livestock business at this time of year built on the need for field conditions, soil temperatures and grass growth to be at level that allows for stock to be out on a permanent basis.

That, as we all know, is not the case. After six months of winter and with fodder now scarce, the mental pressure on many is immense.

Prices for forward to beef animals remained strong last week and yearling bullocks from 300-350kgs were improved, but stores for grass from 450-600kg were down.

The reason is obvious: with fodder scarce, slurry tanks full and no immediate prospect of putting cattle to grass, why put yourself under any more pressure by buying more mouths to feed?

All that said, trade never stops, with last weeks mart entries up on the previous week as the business of cattle farming continued regardless.

New Ross on Saturday had an entry of 1,266, and Jim Bushe reported trade for beef as being very strong, with heavy bullocks making 1,440-1,860/hd over the /kg and beef heifers up to 1,960/hd over.

However, with customers for stores down due the incessant rain, prices in fell back by around 40-50/hd. It was a similar story right across the country.

In Kilkenny numbers were up but stores up to 600kg were down 10c/kg, while beef held relatively firm if easier in places.

Gortatleas four sales last week also recorded bigger numbers, with prices overall a little easier. This translated into the same 10c/kg reduction as in Kilkenny, with Maurice Brosnan noting that better Angus found it more difficult to click 3.00/kg.

Martin McNamara of Ennis said two-year-old bullocks to go to grass for finishing in the autumn were the most affected. Short-order beef for finishing or slaughter was stronger, as were quality yearling stock under 400kg as seven-month men moved for lighter weights to ease the pressure on wet fields at lesser money.

With those lighter weights stronger in Ennis, Im wondering if some in the west are beginning to measure the prospects for this year in terms of how difficult it may be to finish beef off grass.

As one finisher said to me: Farmers always have a plan. They plan for where theyll be in six months, a year ahead. The problem is that right now because of the weather all those plans are gone out the window.

If the rain stopped now and you got stock out in a week, it would be two to three weeks before you might be able to judge how your farm was performing

When my youngest daughter was 13, I went into her room one afternoon to discover she had rearranged its furnishings and stripped the walls of Disney posters. Enquiring as to why, I was told Im complicated.

And that is about as good a summary of the current mart trade as any other.

With forward feeding and factory cattle prices strong, but the weather throwing many plans out the window, farmers involved in summer grazing are finding that making the correct decisions is complicated.

In the know  around the marts

Skibbereen

Numbers reached 1,050, including 600 calves, with trade overall good despite the weather.

Bullock generally made 430-1,455/hd over the /kg, with the top call an 805kg Charolais at 2,260, while four 432kg Angus stores averaged 1,210/hd and four 376kg Herefords sold for 1,060/hd.

In the calf ring the small entry of Friesians made 5-35/hd, but better Hereford and Angus sold for 300-380/hd.

On the cull cow side better 565-585kg Friesians made 1,080-1,290/hd, with a 825kg Angus selling for 2,080.

Kilkenny

There was an entry of 980, with quality selling well but a softening in prices for lighter, plainer stock.

Heavy bullocks averaged 2.90/kg, with an 810kg Hereford making 2,330. The 500-600kg section averaged 2.75/kg, with three 595kg Angus making 1,750/hd. Lighter stores ranged from 1.70-3.85/kg, averaging 2.65/kg.

Beef heifers averaged 2.78/kg, with forward types 2.30-3.13/kg and stores 1.80-3.52/kg.

Friesian cull cows sold from 1.20-2.30/kg with continentals at 1.60-2.85/kg.

Ennis

With the weather a major obstacle to getting stock to grass, bullocks under 600kg slipped by 5-10c/kg on Friday, with fewer buyers out.

That said quality always sells: nine 504kg Herefords average 3.13/kg, with four 476kg Charolais making 3.53kg, while two at 475kgs sold for 3.56/kg.

Over 600kg, feeder and factory buying kept prices up, with top continentals selling from 3.10-3.40/kg.

Earlier in the week quality 600kg+ cull cows were dearer with the tops at 3.00-3.18/kg, while super-heavies Friesians included 950kgs to 1,850/hd.

Carnew The entry here reached 890, with forward and beef cattle in strong demand.

The top heifers included 700kg Simmentals at 2,330/hd and 690kg Charolais at 2,190/hd, while a 712kg continental bullock made 2,360.

Demand for stores kept 3.00/kg as a base line for cross-bred lots, with better types making 3.50/kg.

With exporters online and ringside, the weanling trade was keenly contested, with top calls seeing 4.07/kg paid for 424kg Belgian Blues while top-end Limousins at 480kg hit 3.99/kg.

Gortatlea

3,500 cattle went through this mart across four sales last week. Overall, trade was a little easier.

Two-year-old stock was back 10c/kg: 3.00/kg was more elusive for Angus types, with most 460-550kgs making 2.80-2.90/kg and while plainer 400-460kgs at 2.60-2.70/kg.

Among the Friesians beef types made 2.50-2.60/kg, with 500-600kg stores at 2.40-2.50/kg, while those under 500kgs sold for 2.30-2.40/kg.

There were 400 cull cows on offer, with beef up 10c/kg and stores down 10c/kg.
Former ICSA President Dermot Kelleher said it is still hoped the case will be heard

Farmers involved in a legal action against the Department of Agriculture over land eligibility fines still hope their case will be heard, and confirmed the 100,000 raised to fight the case remains in the bank.

In 2013 and 2014, thousands of farmers in Ireland were hit with payment reductions and penalties based on findings by the Department of Agriculture that they had overclaimed on land which the Department deemed ineligible for payment under the then Single Payment Scheme and other schemes.
Caroline ODoherty: Nothing special about Simon Harriss housing pledge as parties differ little on targets

Lack of clarity leaves many more questions to answer about 50,000-a-year goal

Housing promises: How many homes each political party pledge they can build

Caroline O'Doherty Tue 9 Apr 2024 at 03:30

Simon Harriss pledge to the parents of Ireland that he would get their grown-up offspring out of the box room may have been a crowd-pleaser, but Fine Gael is not the only party promising to send round the packing crates.
breaking | Woman (40s) arrested and charged as sedative drugs worth 95k seized in Dublin

Gardai said that officers attached to the J District Crime Unit conducted a stop and search of a vehicle in the Dublin 5 area yesterday

Some of the drugs that were seized yesterday

Neil Fetherstonhaugh Tue 9 Apr 2024 at 10:35







A woman has been arrested and charged after gardai seized more than 95,000 worth of controlled sedative drugs following searches in Dublin yesterday afternoon.
Staffing levels also among fears raised by health professionals on confidential site

Some patients faced long waits to be seen. Photo: Stock image

Patients whose conditions deteriorated after a long wait to be assessed by a doctor were among the cases listed by healthcare professionals on a confidential incident-reporting site.

A total of 1,465 incidents reported in the second quarter of 2022  including some near misses  have been analysed by the State Claims Agency.

The incidents are filed by health staff to the National Incident Management System (Nims), a private monitoring site that aims to get a picture of accidents in care in various health facilities, learn lessons from these and also see what might turn into legal actions.

The analysis conducted by Sheila King, a clinical risk adviser, looked at incidents reported by emergency departments, clinical decision units, local injury units, urgent care centres, acute medical short-stay units, and medical and surgical assessment units.

Ms Kings analysis found that most incidents were reported as negligible or minor in severity, with less than 1pc resulting in significant injury.

The majority of incidents  nearly six in 10  related to clinical care.

The accommodation of patients in corridors, and emergency department staffing that led to prolonged waiting times and deficits in the monitoring of patients, also featured in the report.

Long waits for doctor assessment following triage were reported to have resulted in patients suffering a worsening of their condition.

Other reported emergency department capacity incidents resulted in delayed, incomplete, or omitted care, the report said.

Clinical care incidents also arose where there was a lack of clear referral pathways and processes between teams and services and ineffective inter-team communication.

These often resulted in delays in service users assessment or care.

Slips, trips and fall incidents were also reported and a significant number of these were not witnessed.

Inadequate staffing levels to provide sufficient observation or assistance to service users may have contributed to these incidents, it found.

Other reported incidents included those relating to patients discharging themselves or patients self-harming in the emergency department.

Issues related to staffing levels and the physical capacity of the emergency department featured in many of the incidents reported, the report said.

Advice arising out of the incidents included ensuring patients who were waiting for a prolonged time for clinical assessment were monitored in order to identify those at risk of clinical deterioration.

In particular, the emergency medicine early warning score should be used, it said.

Meanwhile, members of the Oireachtas Health Committee yesterday visited University Hospital Limerick (UHL) to talk to staff and patients about severe overcrowding in its emergency department. The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) said Dr Alan Watts and Dr John McManus of UHL attended the special meeting.

Dr Peadar Gilligan of the consultant committee, who is an emergency consultant in Beaumont Hospital, said focus must be on delivering an additional 5,000 hospital beds nationwide.

There are simply not enough hospital beds, he said.
Ireland will shortly recognise the state of Palestine, the Tanaiste has told the Dail.

In a major shift, the recognition will not now be dependent on recognition of a two-State solution and agreement between contending parties.

Micheal Martin drew sustained applause in the Dail at 6.18pm when he said: "Be in no doubt -- recognition of a Palestinian state will happen."

He added: "We've discussed this between the Government parties and it is my intention to bring to Government a formal proposal on recognition when wider international discussions are complete."

He was referring to plans by Spain, Malta, Ireland and Slovenia to move ahead with a multilateral move that could be joined by other states.

"For the past six months, I've maintained ongoing discussions with ministerial colleagues and other countries about joint formal recognition of Palestinian statehood," Mr Martin said.

"It could be a catalyst to help the people of Gaza and the West Bank, and in furthering an Arab led peace initiative.

"We've agreed that the undermining of the Oslo Accords, and therefore the agreement to create two states, has reached a point where the current approach to recognition after a final agreement is not credible or tenable any longer.

"I've discussed this with those in the region who are working on peace initiatives and coordination with other countries continues intensively."

The Minister for Foreign Affairs referred to the "great humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza and the "desperate overwhelming need to return some hope to this region."

It will continue to be an urgent priority in Irish foreign policy, he said. "I am realistic about the limits of what Ireland could reasonably expect it to achieve by itself, which is why I've placed so much effort into building effective cooperation with other countries.

"I have visited in the wider Middle East region over many years as Foreign Minister and twice this autumn.

"Since October 7, I visited Israel, the West Bank and countries in the region. In Europe, I have engaged in ongoing and intensive discussions with other countries, and Ireland's position has been widely acknowledged and appreciated.

"I've said very directly and in person to the Israeli government, that the shocking crimes of Hamas and the need to secure the release of the hostages cannot justify the scale and terrible humanitarian catastrophe of the war Israel is waging.

"I am in no doubt that war crimes have been committed. And I utterly condemned the ongoing bombardment of the Gazan people.

"I have ensured that we have worked on behalf of the victims of this terrible war, the hostages and the people of Gaza.

"With our excellent diplomatic officials and the clear support of the Government as a whole, we secure dthe safe passage and many Irish citizens. We have defended the vital work of UNRWA and increased humanitarian aid, and I've indicated our decision to intervene in the ICJ case initiated by South Africa.

"I will continue this work and miss no opportunity to promote Ireland's position.

"There are those here who believe that angry speeches and unilateral action is the answer to everything. But our approach of building international alliances through the hard work of direct diplomacy will achieve far more for the Palestinian people."
Former football star putting his name to Hows the Head campaign

Broadcaster and psychotherapist Richie Sadlier, along with Oisin Douglas and Karl Staunton, launching a new campaign from Chadwicks called Hows the Head. Photo: Conor McCabe

Coming from the dressing room, former footballer Richie Sadlier is no stranger to the realities of male-dominated spaces.

Sadlier, who now works as a psychotherapist, is supporting a new mental health campaign called Hows Your Head, which aims to raise awareness among tradespeople of the importance of discussing mental health.

A survey carried out ahead of the campaigns launch by mercantile company Chadwicks found 85pc of tradespeople feel their colleagues are reluctant to talk about their mental health.

It was this research, and that statistic in particular, that spurred Sadlier to come on board for the campaign.

Theres lots of parallels to the world of professional sport I was in. Its male-dominated, he said.

The culture of the industry youre in is an obstacle to talking about this stuff, seeking support or just opening up about various aspects of your life.

There are lots of different pockets of society, certain families, industries or communities where discussing mental health isnt encouraged or maybe actively discouraged.

If you do, youll be judged or mocked. Where Im coming from working as a psychotherapist, I know how destructive it is to allow a culture that encourages people to stay quiet or suffer in silence.

When stigma around mental health is ingrained into the culture of an industry, how does that get tackled? Particularly when 79pc of those surveyed said theres a stigma around talking about mental health among tradespeople.

Sadlier said a ripple effect can come from just one person talking about how theyre feeling.

When male sportspeople started to open up about their difficulties, those are decisions where it spread. Theres a ripple effect when you look at someone you identify with talking openly where you allow yourself to consider those choices too.

Sadlier sat down with former Ireland rugby international Donncha OCallaghan and actor and comedian Willa White, who is also a qualified scaffolder, for a podcast discussing the importance of talking about mental health.

Mr White speaks about his mental health on the Chadwicks Under Construction podcast, which will be available from Thursday.

Willa works in the industry and he spoke so openly about how his mental health is now and at previous times the support he got, choices he made and difficulties he had, Sadlier said.

Thats the kind of thing that helps impact the culture. I do a lot of talks with groups of teenage boys and its the same thing.

Youre not trying to change the behaviour of one person, youre trying to influence the culture.

Elements of life as a tradesperson may lend to mental health difficulties, Sadlier said, but there are plenty of positives as well.

It can often be an active role where youre physically moving, sometimes you can be outdoors and exposed to fresh air as opposed to a dark, dingy office, he said.

You can be with people and actively doing things, theyre all ways someone whos a little bit down can get a lift.

On the other side of things, whats the acceptable or permissible topic of discussion among the group? Its often not appropriate to talk about your mental health in work settings.

There are some settings where its just not wise to do so. It is good to talk, but its also really good to choose who you talk to and when.

Maybe sometimes work settings with a large group of people arent the time to talk.

If youre in a group of people and 85pc of them would be reluctant to have these conversations, that can be an obstacle.

There may be no magic phrase for starting an open conversation, but Sadlier has found one method effective.

I find if I talk openly about my mental health and just engage openly and comfortably in the topic, then it just spreads around the company Im in, he said.

Someone else will do likewise because youve made it a normal thing.

And thats the ripple effect again, but it can also go the other way when someone in a group shuts down a conversation or mocks people with difficulties.
Simon Harriss first task as Irelands youngest Taoiseach was appointing new ministers to Cabinet, bringing in some changes to the face of Government.

The new Taoiseach reshuffled senior Fine Gael roles, with new ministers for enterprise and further education.

Peter Burke was appointed Minister for Enterprise, a position which was recently vacated by Simon Coveney.

Mr Harris gave his former role, Minister for Further Education, to Patrick ODonovan, a promotion for the Limerick TD, who was Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW).

On Tuesday, Mr Harris, 37, was confirmed as Taoiseach during a ceremony with President Michael D Higgins at his official residence at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin.

Mr Higgins signed the Warrant of Appointment and handed the Seal of the Taoiseach and the Seal of Government to Mr Harris.

Hours later, Mr Harris announced changes within Cabinet, and junior ministry positions.

Hildegarde Naughton becomes Minister of State for Special Education and leaves her position as junior minister at the Department of Health.

She also retained her position as Government chief whip, in which she sits at Cabinet as a so-called super junior.

Jennifer Carroll Mac Neill, who had been a Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services, fills the vacant role of Minister of State for European Affairs.

Simon Harris. Picture: REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Helen McEntee retained her justice portfolio and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys also held on to their positions.

Mr Harriss nomination to become the countrys new premier was backed by 88 votes to 69, while the ministerial appointments were approved by 87 votes for and 68 against.

The father-of-two has become Irelands 15th Taoiseach after the surprise resignation of Leo Varadkar as Fine Gael leader three weeks ago.

Mr Varadkar formally resigned as taoiseach at an audience with Mr Higgins on Monday, paving the way for Mr Harriss election on Tuesday.

The Wicklow TDs wife Caoimhe, and young children Saoirse and Cillian, were in the public gallery of the Dail for proceedings, as were his parents Mary and Bart, brother Adam, sister Gemma and grandmother Ann.

Mr Harris has become leader of the Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Green Party coalition government with less than a year before a general election must be called.

Simon Harris with his wife Caoimhe and children Saoirse and Cillian. Picture: Maxwells

Government TDs rose to applaud as the outcome of the vote was announced, and later cheered and hugged Mr Harris as he emerged from the parliament building at Leinster House in central Dublin ahead of his visit to the president.

Addressing the Dail before the ceremony at the Aras, Mr Harris said he was committed to doing everything he could to honour the trust placed in him.

He said he hoped to lead a partnership government in a spirit of unity, collaboration and mutual respect.

He paid warm tribute to Mr Varadkar for his incredible service, highlighting his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the fallout from Brexit.

Mr Harris spoke of his love for his family, describing his wife as his rock and promising his children that being your dad will remain my most important job.

He accepted his new role in a spirit of humility, ready for the challenge, and full of energy and determination about what can be achieved.

Simon Harris, Michael McGrath and Paschal Donohoe. Picture: Maxwell Photography

As Taoiseach I want to bring new ideas, a new energy, and I hope a new empathy to public life, he added.

But politics is not about the office holder. This is not about me  its about all of us, all of us working together to serve the people.

He pledged to address acute housing shortages in Ireland, describing the crisis as the greatest societal and economic challenge of our generation.

Today, I recommit to moving mountains to help build more homes and drive more home ownership, he said.

He also promised to deliver improvements in healthcare provision, oversee a step change in care for older people, and achieve real and meaningful reform for people with disabilities.

Mr Harris also reiterated his support for the people of Ukraine and restated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

The Indo Daily Extra: Simon Harris becomes Taoiseach and a new cabinet is confirmed

He said it was an opportune time to build a new social contract that renewed Irelands founding principles as a republic.

To create equality of opportunity, he said.

To support those who need the state the most. To protect our hard-earned economic success.

To use its benefits to deliver tangible outcomes to society. Time is short and there is lots to do.

Mr Harris said he wanted to rise above partisan politics and work to solve the greatest challenges facing Ireland.

The people expect us to do more; we should demand of ourselves no less, he added.

Simon Harris was confirmed as the new leader of Fine Gael (Eamon Ward/PA)

After Mr Varadkars resignation, Mr Harris emerged as the only contender to replace him as Fine Gael leader.

He has pledged to focus on more bread and butter issues and has repeatedly mentioned supporting small businesses facing high costs, helping farmers and focusing on crime and security.

Mr Harris has also made clear he intends for the coalition between Civil War-era rivals Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, as well as the Greens, to run its full term to March 2025.

During proceedings in the Dail, Opposition TDs repeatedly called for an immediate general election, as they criticised the nomination of a new Taoiseach without first going to the electorate.

The sitting began with an address by Mr Varadkar, who said his work in politics had been the most fulfilling and rewarding time of his life.

But today is the beginning of a new era for my party, a new chapter in my life and a new phase for this coalition Government, he added.

Fine Gael deputy leader and social protection minister Heather Humphreys proposed Mr Harris as Taoiseach, with party colleague and minister of state Peter Burke seconding him.

Fianna Fail leader and deputy premier Micheal Martin spoke in support of Mr Harriss nomination, as did Green Party leader Eamon Ryan.

Its a special day for you and I look forward to a constructive and effective co-operation in the time ahead, Mr Martin told Mr Harris.

Mr Ryan has said he is committed to continuing the coalition deal until the end of the mandate, and rejected calls for an election.

I hear others saying we have to have an election now. I fundamentally disagree because there is work to be done that we can deliver, he said.

Mary Lou McDonald, leader of main opposition party Sinn Fein, criticised Mr Harriss record in government as she restated her demand for a general election.

Another Fine Gael taoiseach is the last thing the people need. We need a change of leadership, we need a change of government, she said.

She accused the Government of trying to present a narrative that dresses up failure as progress.

Its your century-old cosy club, circling the wagons once again to cling to power at all costs, she said.

I believe that the people of Ireland deserve so much better.

If you really believe that your Government has the support of the people, then you should go before the people and get that mandate.
New Taoiseach Simon Harris says his appointment as leader of the country is the honour of his life. However, there are more concrete benefits to the office.

The total pay is 239,089 per year, as a result of a recent public sector pay deal, but also bearing in mind salary-sacrifice from the financial crash.

The salary used to be 250,000 so it remains down from its height. Mr Harris's earnings are made up of 111,439 and an additional 127,650 for holding the office of Taoiseach.

The Indo Daily Extra: Simon Harris becomes Taoiseach and a new cabinet is confirmed

Either salary is about three times the average Irish workers salary of 44,000, meaning the Taoiseach gets six times a standard wage - even if far below some chief executive salaries available in the private sector.

There is also the modern anomaly that the Taoiseach earns substantially less than some senior civil servants, such as Health secretary general Robert Watt, who is entitled to over 75,000 more, at a new profile of 326,000.

But there are other perks. Mr Harris will also administer a major Leader's Allowance for Fine Gael, at around 1.8 million, which is spent on party expenses - including partying, Ard Fheiseanna and Christmas drinks.

More personally, Mr Harris will receive 24-hour Garda protection, including a limousine and driver, to which he is already entitled - but now with permanent cover and guard.

He is also entitled to reside in the Steward's House, set in the grounds of Farmleigh, the State guesthouse adjoining the Phoenix Park.

Mr Harris will have personal grooming in terms of a make-up artist available at Government Buildings to assist with personal appearances. He will also has a bespoke laundry and ironing service.

'I always knew he would be Taoiseach' - Leo Varadkar wishes Simon Harris success as he gives last Dail speech as Taoiseach

The new Taoiseach will be accorded Defence Forces aides-de-camp to represent him at functions and events, such as funerals, which his schedule will not allow him to attend.

He will have diary secretaries and office managers with the Government credit cards to order pretty much anything he might want - from fresh flowers to plates of sandwiches for Cabinet meetings.

Mr Harris of course will have his personal communications fully funded and scrambled when necessary. He can have helicopters at his beck and call - although the helipad on the top of Government Buildings has not been used since the Aer Corps expressed misgivings about its safety.

The Government jet is available for short-haul official business, and Mr Harris will have to think about whether an aircraft for longer-haul should be ordered, although he is unlikely to take such a step in the short time left to him before the General Election.
Zita Cobb of Newfoundlands Fogo Island Inn reveals how a sustainable luxury hotel created a new economic engine for a remote island

The Fogo Island Inn opened in 2013 as a social enterprise aiming to help sustain a community whose traditional fishing industries were struggling. Rooms at the 29-bed luxury stay cost from 1,478 a night and are in high demand. It is owned by the charity, Shorefast, and 100pc of operating surpluses are reinvested into further community development work.

It all started with a travel story  not a happy travel story

I am an eighth-generation Fogo Islander, the only girl in a family of seven children, born second last, in a house with no running water or electricity. When I was five, there was an outbreak of tuberculosis in our remote community. A boat came with an X-ray machine and we all lined up. I was diagnosed, then taken to the other side of Newfoundland, having to cross a huge province and land mass to a hospital with chicken wire on the windows. My family couldnt visit me  for a year. Early adversity breeds a kind of grit and early independence.

There wasnt a lot of adult oversight

It taught me: dont underestimate children. It wasnt all bad. One good thing about being in a sanatorium is there were all these books. All kinds of books. Id grown up in a house where people couldnt read or write. Of course, wed sneak up to the adult floor  you cant control 200 kids. I just devoured them. By the time I got back, I could read and write.

Zita Cobb. Photo: Valerie Howes

I am 65 years old and Ive lived in three centuries already

Until I was 10, I really lived in the 19th century. Then the monster ships started to arrive; it didnt take long for them to take every last fish, and our way of life for in-shore fishing collapsed. People like my parents couldnt understand what was happening. The likes of my father knew how to build a boat and understand Labrador currents. And he knew what enough was. They would fish day and night, and my father was wondering why they didnt realise the fish couldnt keep up with this. What he had was a very deep social logic. No economic logic. But he realised they must be turning the fish into money. So he said to me: "Youre going to have go away and figure out how this money thing works. Because if you dont, its going to eat everything we love."

There was no question: I had to study business

My life has been preoccupied with the idea that things have an inherent value  people, culture and nature  and how this interacts with money. Theres a broken relationship between things that have an inherent value and those that have a financial value. A Louis Vuitton purse is worth a lot more than a person, to some peoples logic.

My career was in WDM

Wavelength-division multiplexing  the optical components that have enabled the digital age. Centuries are going by now in decades. If I live a bit longer, Ill see a few more. How do we make sense of this? What should we do? How must we behave differently? What weve done so far has taken us to a world on fire.

Inside the Fogo Island Inn

Theres a tendency to underestimate local knowledge

After studying business at Carleton University in Ottawa, thanks to the success of the fibre optics business where I was CFO, I exercised stock options and set up a registered Canadian charity called Shorefast. Fogo Island at that point in time was threatened with resettlement, but we were saved by a film-maker, Colin Low. He had a lot of questions  which he put to the locals. Turns out they had lots of ideas. Theres a tendency to underestimate local knowledge. Through his process of making films, it was like a course in 'how to do asset-based community development'. As a result, people here found a way and we built a bigger shipyard  but it took everyone working together. They started a co-operative, which owns our fishery, which is still our biggest industry today. My thinking and my approach are shaped by the Fogo Process of my childhood.

Why did I decide to build a hotel in Newfoundland?

To create the possibility of cultural continuity. When I started to study tourism  in books  I learned that , there are two prerequisites for sustainable tourism: it cannot be your only industry or it will become a performative product. And the scale has to be right for the size and dreams of the place. Which rules out most five-star resorts. You need an economic foundation for culture to flourish. You could see with the wrong-minded globalisation that was happening, that many places lost their way because they had been instrumentalised by distant money. Who does a place belong to? The people who have lived there. Theres something beautiful about people wanting to trade in their own assets.

A bedroom at the Fogo Island Inn

We inadvertently broke all the rules in creating the inn

We didnt know what we were doing. First, by engaging an architect whod never done anything like a hotel or anything of that scale. We were trying to take the fabric of a place and manifest it as an inn. And pick up threads from the past that had maybe been dropped and re-weave them into something new.

The thing about culture is it constantly moves

We invited all these designers to come from away, and out of the partnerships with makers here we created all of the furnishings and furniture, this tension between local professional design and local ways of making.

Culture isnt something you have; its what you do

And what we do is we fish. And we still do that. We used to be near-shore, now were off-shore; we used to work as family units, salting the cod. But how we relate to each other still comes from our fishing. The global economy, if unchecked, tends to the few, and it is built around efficiency and transactions. It has a short attention span and short-term horizon. Nature is built with patience. And we need more models where money floats down  because all too often, money is drawn up and away.
I write to you not just as a citizen but as a voice of people who have been sidelined for too long by policies and practices that have systematically failed us. This letter seeks an acknowledgment by way of a state apology and a commitment to change  a change that systemically respects the inherent dignity, rights, and autonomy of disabled children, adults and their families as equal members of society.

Disabled peoples experiences are of systemic neglect, abuse and harm. The stories are numerous and the pain is real. The pattern is unmistakable: from Grace to Emily, from the harrowing accounts in the Brandon Report to the egregious findings in the Wasted Lives Ombudsman report. The State has repeatedly failed to protect children and adults over the years.

The thousands living in congregated institutions without privacy or dignity and the many trapped in their homes without adequate support speak to a systemic failure that belies the progress we are often told the State has made. Elderly parents, themselves in need of assistance, are the frontline support for many disabled individuals because the State abdicates its responsibility.

Our grievance extends to the policies and rhetoric that devalue our lives. The oppressive wording in the recent care referendum, the inaction on the Mental Health Bill, and proposals in the Green Paper that target the poorest among us all signal a disregard for the rights and needs of disabled people. The time for rhetoric is over. I wish Simon Harris every success as taoiseach, but we need action and we need it now.

Ann Marie Flanagan, Ennistymon, Co Clare

Why should we pay notice to far rights opinions on ditching Justice Minister?

There is a belief clearly gaining traction, that moving Justice Minister Helen McEntee from her post would give the far right reason to crow.

Would this notion really be any excuse for not moving a minister whose tenure in Justice has been less than commendable?

McEntee has been under fire on too many occasions to list, with a personal tendency to blame the far right for many things. In any event, surely leaving her in her post will be reason enough for those people to celebrate?

Peter Declan OHalloran, Belturbet, Co Cavan

Simon Harris comes over messiah-like but we must prepare for a false dawn

It was stated by one Irish politician at the time of Pope John Pauls visit to Ireland in 1979 that it was like a Status Quo concert gone wrong such was the level of exuberance on display at his gatherings.

I was reminded of this by Fine Gaels antics at their ard fheis in Galway on Saturday and the arrival of Simon the Messiah on stage. Outside, Storm Kathleen raged but with a wave of his hand Simon restored promise, tranquillity and hope to all.

Down through the ages so many messiahs have come and gone in politics and elsewhere. The common denominator with all of them was that the promise never matched the reality. False dawns are better than no dawns at all.

In dark times people cling to anything, even another new messiah.

Joseph Kiely, Letterkenny, Co Donegal

Lorraine Courtney speaks sense in discussing the state of politics in Ireland

I would like to congratulate Lorraine Courtney on her article about the current situation in Irish politics (We need a right-wing party before scales of our democracy are irreparably broken  Irish Independent, April 8). This was the most common-sense piece of journalism I have read in a while. Keep up the good work.

Thomas Banks, Knocknahur, Co Sligo

Targeting of civilians in war is always a crime, no matter the perpetrator

A letter-writer to your paper, Frank Adam, has criticised my contention that Israel is in breach of international humanitarian law in Gaza, particularly in its efforts to starve Palestinians into submission (Arabs appear very good at passing on the blame for their actions to others, Irish Independent, Letters, April 6).

It is clear that this person knows little of the evolution of international humanitarian law or that it is a relatively recent legal development, aimed at curbing some of the worst savagery of war. International humanitarian law is based largely on the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005. The main purpose is to protect civilians, as well as medical and religious military personnel, wounded combatants and prisoners of war.

However, the historical comparisons used by Mr Adam are revealing and he appears to suggest that international humanitarian law can be set aside in Gaza. This is of a piece with Israels long-held assumption that it should enjoy impunity in its brutal oppression of Palestinians.

Your Manchester-based letter-writer points to the siege of Derry in 1689 by Jacobite forces and asks if I will admit that the use of starvation there was equally illegal and, likewise, he says that Nazi Germany tried to use submarine warfare to starve the British Isles during World War II. The implication that I would wish to defend either instance is bizarre but it is interesting that he believes these events to be comparable to Israels actions in Gaza.

Let me be clear: the deliberate targeting of civilians during war is always a crime, no matter who the perpetrator. With regard to Gaza and the deliberate use of starvation by Israel, we are witnessing an egregious breach of international humanitarian law, but also, more importantly, a moral outrage. More than 14,000 children have been killed by Israeli forces in the past six months. What more needs to be said?

Fintan Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin

Government is still not doing enough to push back on Israels actions

Firstly, thank you Fine Gael for removing Israels ambassadors name from the ard fheis guest list.

Secondly, thank you Simon Harris for your unequivocal expression of Irish revulsion over Israels indiscriminate Gaza assault.

However, your report (Top Israeli diplomat snubbed as FG leader says people repulsed, Irish Independent, April 8) noted that Israels ambassador was happy with clear and frequent channels of communication have and continue to be important to our bilateral relationship. And there is the problem. The UN recently chastised Ireland about being all talk and no action. The Israeli ambassadors statement tallies with that. Gaza needs action from Ireland, not words.

John Cuffe, Co Meath
Irish Independent coverage over the years of the Kerry Babies case against the backdrop of White Strand in Caherciveen. Illustration by Shane Mc Intyre

Forty years ago this week, a baby was found naked, shoved between rocks, with his tiny neck broken on White Strand beach in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry. There were 28 separate knife wounds on his body, most of them shallow, hesitation wounds, in which the knife was pulled back at the last second. The Kerry Babies case gripped the country as speculation took hold over the childs identity.

The case of Baby John  as the infant was subsequently called  took a dramatic turn last March with the arrest of a man (60s) and woman (late 50s) at an address in Kerry after DNA sampling was undertaken by gardai. The married couple, who have adult children, were detained on suspicion of murder before being released without charge.

A search of the couples home was conducted but it is understood nothing of significance was found. Detectives obtained DNA samples after voluntary swabs were given by the couple. Gardai believe the couple detained were the biological parents of Baby John.

It is understood the results of the DNA samples were put to the couple at separate interviews at Listowel and Castleisland garda stations. Padraig OConnell, the couple's solicitor said he was not present when what he described as purported DNA was put to his clients. He said: The allegations that were put to them were they were the parents of the child and that they had something to do with the childs death. They vehemently and absolutely denied such allegations.

Mr OConnell said the couple have not returned to work since their arrest and have fortified their home with extra security in a bid to ensure more privacy. They were arrested, interviewed and released without charge more than a year ago and since then they have heard nothing, said Mr OConnell. This week, a garda spokesperson said the investigation into the murder of Baby John remains ongoing and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions in due course.

Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnan Sheehan is joined by Catherine Fegan, Special Correspondent with the Irish Independent, to unpack the latest developments in a story that continues to haunt Ireland.
Tickets go on sale this week!

British singer-songwriter Tom Odell is the latest act announced to play Live at the Marquee Cork this summer on Tuesday, June 25.

It will be a big night for gig-goers in Cork as Tom Odell's concert at the Marquee will take place at the same time that country-pop top-selling star Shania Twain hits the stage nearby in Virgin Media Park.

Winner of both the prestigious BRIT and Ivor Novello Awards, Tom Odell has enjoyed a decade-long impressive career, with six immersive albums that have earned him over 29 million monthly listeners on Spotify, four billion career streams, and a social reach of eight million across platforms.

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His new album, Black Friday, was released in January and his stop in Cork comes fresh off his biggest UK and European tour to date.

Tom Odell's track Another Love struck viral gold in 2022, resulting in over 4M creates on TikTok, over two billion streams, and placement on the Top 10 in the UKs Official Chart and the U.S. Hot AC Chart.

Tickets for Tom Odell, Live at the Marquee Cork on June 25 go on sale this Thursday, April 11, at 10am through Ticketmaster.

Tom Odell will join a stellar line up of acts already confirmed to play the big tent including NE-YO, The Sugababes, Van Morrison and Bryan Adams to name a few.
Netflix has released the trailer for the upcoming thriller series Bodkin which is set in west Cork and has Barack and Michelle Obama at the helm as executive producers.

The series is based on an imaginary town named Bodkin situated in west Cork and was filmed in both Union Hall and Glandore in the summer of 2022, as well as parts of Wicklow and Dublin.

The story centres on a motley crew of podcasters (Will Forte, Siobhan Cullen, Robyn Cara) who set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three strangers in a quaint, coastal Irish town.

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But once they start pulling at threads, they discover a story much bigger and weirder than they could have imagined.

Co-showrunner and executive producer Alex Metcalf explains how it was filming Bodkin in Ireland.

The imaginary town of Bodkin is situated in West Cork, and it's a wild and fabulous landscape. Union Hall really appealed to us as a location and so did its connection to the ocean. The fact that there's a working harbour there, and it's incredibly beautiful. The locals in Union Hall have been incredibly welcoming and helpful, and receptive to our work in the town, she said.

Dublin actress Siobhan Cullen, who plays Dove, agrees,

Its been really brilliant shooting at home in Ireland, especially shooting in West Cork. Its, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful places in the world.

All seven episodes of Bodkin will premiere on Netflix on Thursday, May 9.
A spokesperson said that vexatious online claims made about the hotel have been reported to the Gardai

Charleville Park Hotel will continue to do business as usual despite some claims made online that the premises would close and be used to accommodate asylum seekers.

The Park is owned by Galway entrepreneur and Supermacs founder Pat McDonagh, who purchased the property in 2015 to expand his hospitality business. In response to a query from The Corkman, a Supermacs spokesperson said that the hotel will continue to run as normal.

It is business as usual at the Charleville Park Hotel despite some false and vexatious social media comments to the contrary over the weekend. These posts have been reported to An Garda Siochana and we are pursuing legal action, the spokesperson said.

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The hotel has maintained its status as a community hotel throughout many challenging years. We are proud members of the Charleville community and will remain so. We would like to thank the community of Charleville for their continued support.

Speaking on Red FMs The Neil Prendeville Show on Monday, the Parks owner Pat McDonagh said that the online clams about his north Cork hotel were first posted on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, and shared by some anonymous accounts.

The Supermacs boss said that there are some council units potentially intended for Ukrainian refugees being built behind the hotel, but said that he was not aware of the Park being approached to accommodate asylum seekers.

We had made a decision going back a few years ago that we were going to stick to the hospitality side of the business, Mr McDonagh said.

Local Fianna Fail councillor Ian Doyle told The Corkman that he welcomed the statements from Charleville Park Hotel and its owner as there was no evidence whatsoever to support claims made online about the business.

Its been circulating there the last fortnight, Ive gone down several times to the manager of the hotel and she categorically denies it, that its not true, Cllr Doyle said.

Its upsetting for staff, its upsetting for businesses around the place. Its one of the finest hotels in north Cork in terms of a venue and if we lost that it would be a disaster, the councillor said.
A man from Cork is claiming his old cowboy hat ended up as part of Bonos extensive hat collection through the help of a mutual friend.

During a segment of Drive It with the 2 Johnnies on RTE 2FM last week, the Tipperary hosts were asking listeners to call and share with them their personal theme songs.

One of the callers was a man named Ciaran, originally from Cork but living in southern California for the last 25 years with his wife.

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He shared that his personal theme song was Rebel Rebel by David Bowie, and it was one of the first albums he ever bought.

Then the seemingly normal conversation took an interesting turn when Ciaran began sharing a story about when he was younger and still living in Cork.

Back in the 70s I had a cowboy hat, but I couldnt wear it cause all the fellas used to tease me like heck. So I walk into work one day with it and one of the cashiers asked where I got it. I told her I bought it in Pierres but I cant wear it much because I get mocked, Ciaran shared.

He explained that the cashier had a friend in a band and hed love that hat.

I gave her the hat and asked whats the name of the band, she said U2 and her friends name is Bono. So I believe he has a hat that belonged to me, said Ciaran.

The 2 Johnnies couldnt believe what Ciaran was telling them.

Hang on, are you making that up, are you telling us one of the first times we saw Bono wearing a cowboy hat its because you gave it to his friend? questioned Johnny B.

Thats the truth. Im not too sure but you can go back and look up Bono wearing hats and youll see hes wearing the cowboy hat that used to be mine. Its a true story and I verified with an old school friend recently, we worked together in Punches and he said its exactly how it was. Ciaran assured.

The hosts were in awe of the story, and said theyd love to investigate it further to see if they can trace Ciarans hat on Bono in a music video or on album cover.

I hope thats true, its a great story if it is. I actually dont even care if its true or not thats a cracking story. Imagine if Bono is wearing that hat because a man in Cork got mocked too much for it, said Johnny Smacks.
Australias leading pharmacy chain is expanding its reach in Ireland with the opening of its latest store at Cork citys Cornmarket Centre on Saturday, April 6.

The recent opening marks the third Chemist Warehouse store in the county and brings with it 30 new job opportunities for the city.

The 600 square metre space in the heart of Cork city centre will offer a wide range of top household brands across beauty, wellness, and baby related products.

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Customers can expect to find their favourite brands, including leading Irish and Cork-owned brands.

Chemist Warehouse has become known for its commitment to providing quality healthcare and beauty products at affordable prices.

"We are thrilled to open our first Cork city centre store. At Chemist Warehouse, we are dedicated to delivering quality service, offering customers the best brands at unbeatable prices. Our mission is to make healthcare more accessible and affordable, and the new Cork store represents another step forward in our mission, said Angela Neophitou, Chief Marketing Officer at Chemist Warehouse.

The Chemist Warehouse brand first entered the Irish market in 2020 and has since opened 10 stores across the country, with four stores in Dublin, three in Cork, two in Meath and one in Carlow.
Local residents, businesses, community groups and clubs have been encouraged to attend the event

Kanturks Edel Quinn Hall will host a free event that is aiming to help people learn about dementia and the practical steps required to build a dementia inclusive community on Monday, April 15.

Building a Dementia Inclusive Kanturk will take place at the hall from 7pm to 8.30pm and the HSEs Dementia: Understand Together campaign and Kanturk resident, author and chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group, Kevin Quaid, are encouraging local residents, businesses, community groups and clubs to attend event.

Following an introduction to the event by Michael Moynihan TD, Dr Siobhan Fox, a lecturer at UCCs Centre for gerontology and rehabilitation, will speak about the different types of dementia, and how it can affect people.

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Amy Murphy, a dementia advisor from The Alzheimers Society of Ireland, and Sheena Cadoo, an occupational therapist at HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcares (CKCH) memory technology resource room in Mallow, will be on hand to talk about local supports and services.

Sheena Cadoo said the event will be a wonderful opportunity to bring the entire community together to learn more about dementia and the simple things that can be done to improve the lives of those who may be affected by the condition.

Working together  building that understanding and awareness, we can ensure that people with dementia and their family members can stay connected and feel supported in their environment, the occupational therapist said.

As well as speakers, there will also be representatives and information and advice from local organisations such as Kanturk Mens Shed, Cork Libraries Service, North Cork Dementia Alliance, Age Friendly Cork and Kanturk and District Community Council.

According to CKCH, 63% of people with dementia live in the community. The organisation said that there are lots of organisations and services in Kanturk and the surrounding areas, which are already inclusive, however there is huge potential to build on this and support Kanturk to create a Dementia Inclusive Community.

The event will provide some practical advice on actions we can all take to consider and welcome people with dementia and their families in community life.

Those interested in finding out more about the event can email understandtogether@hse.ie
The redeveloped market in Smithfield will be four times the size of the English Market in Cork

The fruit and veg market in Smithfield has been idle since it closed in 2019

It has been confirmed the historic Smithfield fruit and veg market will reopen in 2026. Pic: Caroline Quinn

It has been confirmed that Dublins Victorian fruit and veg market in Smithfield will finally reopen in 2026.

The historic red brick building on Marys Lane, between Capel Street and Smithfield, has remained empty since its closure in 2019 to facilitate redevelopment.

This week, Dublin City Councils chief executive, Richard Shakespeare, confirmed the market plans to reopen in August 2026.

The refurbishment process was originally due to be finished in 2021, but was delayed due to changes in the tendering process.

The empty historic building has fallen victim to vandalism and anti-social behaviour, including open drug use and its large solid timber doors being set on fire in recent years.

Mr Shakespeare also said he hopes the markets will be bigger and better than the English markets in Cork and provide a quintessentially Dublin feel.

The fruit and veg market in Smithfield has been idle since it closed in 2019

He added that he would like to see it as a space that operates from 10 in the morning until 10 at night.

Gary Gannon, Social democrats TD for Dublin Central, said: The reopening of the fruit and veg market has the potential to be transformative for the northside of the city.

It is a fabulous building that has shamefully lain idle for too long and Dublin City Council is fully to blame for that neglect.

There have been so many false dawns with regard to its reopening and in many ways, Richard Shakespeares reputation as city manager is tied to reinvigorating these buildings as a boost to the city.

Of most importance is the market must remain in public control. The council must manage or facilitate a non profit endeavour to do so.

It must be cheap for vendors, affordable for customers and a gift to the city. None of this will happen if the council allows a different entity to have full control of this historic building, he added.

The redeveloped market in Smithfield will be four times the size of the English Market in Cork

The retail food market and restaurant space will open in just over two years time, following extensive refurbishment.

The delay relates to issues with the structure of the roof and some refurbishments and the appointment of an operator for the markets.

The wholesale fruit and vegetable market first opened its doors in 1892, with its primary purpose being to improve hygiene at a time when food was sold off the back of carts in unsanitary streets.

The refurbished building will be a welcome addition to the Dublin 7 neighbourhood, recently recognised as the second coolest on earth by Time Out magazine.

On the southside of the city, the council expects to spend 12m to 15m on stabilisation works on the derelict Iveagh Markets building, including an extra 9m in central government funding.

Initial work will take place at the end of this month.
The smashed front window of Rhinestone jewellers in Dublin which was broken into last night

A Dublin jewellery shop was robbed after thieves smashed through its front window in the latest such attack in the city centre since the start of the year.

The owners of Rhinestones Jewellery & Gifts, an antique jewellery store on Andrew Street opposite the Molly Malone statue, confirmed that three thieves smashed multiple holes in their front windows last night.

They added that the thieves were methodical about getting jewellery through the smashed glass.

This happens probably once a year maybe and its just opportunistic thugs. They actually have no fear, they said.

There just arent enough guards on the street, and the city has gone to wrack and ruin because of it.

The shop owners said that a neighbour alerted them to their alarm going off and called gardai who arrived at the shop shortly after.

The owners of the antique shop in the city centre say that incidents like this are something theyve become immune to.

They cite regular occurrences of drug dealing, people urinating on their doorway and leaving staff to clean this up, a dirty job which is absolutely disgusting.

As the building is of Art Deco status, putting up shutters over the shop is a difficult process that requires planning permission.

The shop owners say they believe if more cars were around to drive past their business, which the council is planning to eradicate as part of their new transport plan, these occurrences might be less likely to happen.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 9th April 2024

An Garda Siochana said: Gardai received report of an incident of burglary that occurred to a retail premises on St Andrew's Street, Dublin 2 at approximately 5am this morning, Tuesday, April 9.

A number of items were removed from the premises in the course of this incident. No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.

This news comes as Dublin City Council Chief Executive Richard Shakespeare recently spoke out about An Garda Siochana being under-resourced when it comes to anti-social behaviour.

An Garda Siochana confirmed they are working to address the perceptions of fear that some people might have when coming into the city centre.

They also announced last week that over 100 new gardai have taken up positions in Dublin.
The Grealish family has celebrated 35 years of running The Kings Head, one of Galway Citys most popular and iconic pubs.

Paul Grealish, co-owner with his wife Mary, explained to the Irish Independent that his father bought the pub back in 1989.

He said: My parents have been in the hospitality business for a long time, they had a hotel in Tuam, County Galway, but my dad wanted to buy a business in Galway City that all of his family could work in.

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Over the years, many of Pauls family members, including his two brothers and his two sisters, worked at The Kings Head, and in 2003 he officially took over the business along with his wife Mary.

He said: Down through the years everyone has worked here, my cousins, my uncles, my aunties, my kids, my kids friends, their cousins. It has been a real family affair.

Paul added that many things changed in 35 years: Its very exciting to experience Galway through a business in the city centre.

Were right in the heart of the pedestrianised area, were in the Latin Quarter, and when we took over the business first, this part of town was quiet. It wasnt a place that was very popular, but it has become extremely popular, especially when they pedestrianised the street, that was a big change for this area, for the positive.

Paul and Mary Grealish with Mayor Eddie Horare. Photo: Decaln Colohan

To celebrate their 35th anniversary, the Grealish family decided to invite the public to join them for a morning of coffee, cake and chats on Friday, April 5.

Paul described the day as fantastic and, in the spirit of giving back, for the occasion the Grealish family chose to make a donation to the Galway Rape Crisis Centre.

Paul said: Friday was fantastic, we had a small celebration in the morning, when our neighbours, friends, family, suppliers, customers all got together and we had an event in support of Galway Rape Crisis Centre. It was fantastic, there were people here who were connected to this business all along for the last 35 years.

The 61-year-old added his family is very proud of being part of the Kings Head history, which dates back to the 13th century.

Paul said: The building has been here 800 years, so we just feel were just minding it for a small portion of that time. 35 years, when you think of the building being here 800 years, is quite small, but nonetheless were proud to be custodian of this fine building for 35 years.
It may not have happened this time around, but who knows what the future holds for Michael Healy-Rae, who was nominated as Taoiseach during this morning's vote to elect the country's new leader.

The Kerry TD was nominated for the position by his brother, Danny, on behalf of the Rural Independents Group, of which they are both members. He was seconded by Mattie McGrath, and all other Independent TDs were urged to support the shock proposal to oppose Simon Harris.

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There should be a contest, it is a democratic post, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae told The Kerryman.

The Kerry TD said that he, his brother and the Rural Independents Group are the only real opposition in the Dail now and were duty-bound to put someone forward to represent them as Taoiseach. He said his brother fits that bill.

"Im quite sure he is capable of the office. The most important thing is to listen to the people and this Government is out of touch, he said.

He was also critical of Sinn Fein, who he feels should have put someone forward for the position. This, he said, showed that the Rural Independents Group were the only group listening to people on matters such as Carbon Tax, the Hate Speech bill, the referendum and the vilification of farmers.

Simon Harris instead became Irelands newest Taoiseach and the countrys youngest-ever leader.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 9th April 2024

The 37-year-old father-of-two was appointed Irelands 15th Taoiseach after the surprise resignation of Leo Varadkar as Fine Gael leader three weeks ago. The Dail vote was 88 Ta to 69 Nil, with no abstentions.

Danny criticised the system of voting saying, There was no vote for Michael. I dont think its right, that's not democracy.

The Kilgarvan TD added that he did not vote for the Taoiseach, whom he predicted will be the shortest-serving Taoiseach in the history of the state.

"He is the last man in Ireland I would vote for.
The Rose of Tralee International Festival announced their new partnership with Clionas Foundation. The partnership was launched in Killarney this week. Pictured at the Launch were: Katie Howard, pictured with her son Sean and Rose of Tralee, New York Rose, Roisin Wiley. Photo By: Domnick Walsh

Rose of Tralee, New York Rose Roisin Wiley with little Sean Howard at the launch of the new partnership between the festival and the Cliona Foundation. Photo by Domnick Walsh

The Rose of Tralee Roisin Wiley will join pretenders to her throne and Rose Escorts in walking the Camino de Santiago later this month as part of the Rose of Tralee International Festivals new charitable partnership.

The Festival group has partnered with Clionas Foundation, a national charity supporting seriously ill children, this week, and the partnership was launched in Killarney. Roisin Wiley, who won last years Rose of Tralee while representing New York, attended the event.

Clionas Foundation has provided financial assistance to over 1,300 families over the last 16 years, a vital support for children with chronic, complex care needs. The charity assists with non-medical expenses accrued by such families.

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Roses from Arizona, Wexford, Boston, Toronto, Carlow, Mayo, Limerick, and Kilkenny will take part with Clionas Foundation co-founder Terry Ring. The 120-kilometre route will stretch from Valenca in Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Spain and gets underway on April 26.

Roisin [Wiley] and I recently met a family supported by Clionas and learned first-hand how much relief the financial support provides, said Rose of Tralee Festival Director Suzan OGara this week. The Rose class of 2023 are so excited to be getting involved and to be able to walk the Camino to raise awareness for Clionas Foundation, and to show solidarity with the many families all over Ireland who need this help.

The Rose of Tralee International Festival announced their new partnership with Clionas Foundation. The partnership was launched in Killarney this week. Pictured at the Launch were: Katie Howard, pictured with her son Sean and Rose of Tralee, New York Rose, Roisin Wiley. Photo By: Domnick Walsh

During Roisins visit, Ms Wiley met one such family in Killarney, the Howards, whose two-year-old son, Sean, was recently diagnosed with a progressive genetic condition which requires lots of care.

The Howards are such a wonderful family, Sean is a bright and loving boy, said Ms Wiley. It was a real privilege to spend time with them and to learn about the love and care they give to Sean and his brother, Dan.

To support the Roses, you can donate at https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/CaminoForClionasROTIF.
If you sat in your car for 16-hours before seeing a mechanic you wouldnt say it was much of a garage, would you? If forced to wait the same time for a flight, youd question the merits of an airport. So when people are forced to wait hours to see a doctor at University Hospital Kerrys A&E, why aren't the same questions asked?

I recently had what I can only describe as a disastrous experience when attending A&E at UHK. Without doubt, for me it ranks as one of the harshest and most discomforting episodes an individual can go through. Accident and emergency is meant to represent prompt and efficient medical care at the point of contact but, for me, this certainly wasnt the case.
Two youths are to appear in court this morning in connection to an alleged violent assault that left a teenage boy with a bleed on his brain in hospital.

Two youths are to appear in court this morning charged in connection to a violent assault in county Longford at the weekend that left a teenage boy with learning difficulties fighting for his life in hospital.

The pair were arrested and charged following an incident close to Edgeworthstown Train Station on Saturday during which the teenager is alleged to have been assaulted.

The victim sustained a bleed on the brain as well as a number of serious head injuries including a fractured jaw.

He was initially taken to Mullingars Midland Regional Hospital, but was later transferred to Dublins Beaumont Hospital owing to the deteriorating nature of his condition.

The Irish Independent website understands that while medics have been able to stabilise the bleed on the youngsters brain, he remains in a serious condition in intensive care.

A garda spokesperson confirmed this morning that gardai had since arrested two teenagers in connection to the incident ahead of an anticipated court appearance in Longford later today.

Gardai investigating an alleged assault which occurred in Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford, on the afternoon of Saturday 6th April 2024 have arrested two male juveniles, said the spokesperson.

"The two juveniles have since been charged in relation to the incident and are expected to appear before Longford District Court this morning, Tuesday 9th April 2024.
The Mayor of Sligo has called for a boycott of leading insurance company AXA for its alleged links with Israel.

At Mondays meeting of Sligo County Council, councillor Declan Bree said he welcomed the announcement at the weekend by the Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, that the State-owned Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) will divest itself of shareholdings in Israeli companies that have activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. He also welcomed the message from Simon Harris to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, saying Ireland is repulsed by his actions

To date, more than 33,000 people have been killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, the majority of them women and children; 17,000 children have been left without any surviving family; over 120 journalists have been killed; over 160 UN officials and aid workers have been killed, and 2.3 million people have been displaced many of them barely surviving under shocking famine conditions.

This is not a war of defence against Hamas; it is an effort to collectively punish the people of Palestine. It is the ethnic cleansing of the people of Gaza. It is a genocide. The AXA Insurance Group is a multinational insurance company and holds around one-third of the motor market in Ireland. Israel is only able to maintain its apartheid regime of occupation over the Palestinian people because of international complicity and unfortunately a number of corporations, including AXA have played a key role in this.

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An insurance company should protect lives, not destroy them. AXAs investment in Israeli banks that finance Israels illegal settlements has made it complicit in grave violations of international law, Cllr Bree alleged.

He added: We now need to make our voice heard in calling on the AXA insurance company to cease its investment in all banks and companies that subsidise or otherwise enable Israels illegal settlements in occupied Palestine. We need to see a boycott of AXA and products.

Cllr Bree proposed that the Council call on AXA Insurance Co. Ireland, to cease its investments in all banks and companies that subsidise or otherwise enable Israels illegal settlements in occupied Palestine. The motion was seconded by Cllr Gino OBoyle and unanimously passed.

Members and supporters of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign held a protest outside the offices of the AXA Insurance Company, at Hyde Bridge in Sligo, on Thursday afternoon last

Among those participating were Cllr Bree, Cllr Gino OBoyle and Cllr Arthur Gibbons.
Route also facilitates onward travel to Dublin Airport, among other destinations

TFI Local Link Wexford is launching a new bus service from next Monday, April 15, which will improve connectivity between New Ross and Enniscorthy.

This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network.

Route 359 will operate five daily return services Monday to Saturday and three daily return services on Sunday and public holidays, creating a new connection from New Ross to Enniscorthy.

The new route will provide a peak-time service for commuters to New Ross, an early morning service to Enniscorthy facilitating onward travel to Carlow and Dublin, as well as improved connectivity to regional bus and rail services. The route will offer enhanced connectivity to villages and areas of New Ross, Rathgarogue, Ballywilliam, Rathnure, Killanne, Kiltealy, Ballindaggan and Enniscorthy.

Speaking ahead of the launch TFI Local Link Wexford General Manager MaryB O Leary said: We are delighted to launch this new service, which will provide daily bus services for villages that up to now had limited public transport options.

The service to Enniscorthy provides a connection to onward public transport to Carlow and Dublin, in addition to providing a regular service for a number of areas in Enniscorthy allowing passengers to travel across the town.

It will also serve the many historic & tourist sites in Enniscorthy such as Enniscorthy Castle, the National 1798 Rebellion Centre and the beautiful river walk. In New Ross, people can explore the Dunbrody Famine Ship, enjoy a historic walking tour, stroll along the banks of the river or enjoy the new greenway.
Grants awarded to organisations seeking to boost their digital ecosystems

RISE grant recipients pictured with Orla O'Malley, RISE Global Foundation, and Niall Beirne, National Broadband Ireland. Anne Marie Neary and Sarah Bates, Ramsgrange Community School, Billy Murphy and Irene Cadogan, Enniscorthy Community Alliance Enniscorthy Community Alliance and Jenny Etherton, Fashion Connect Ireland Ltd., Deirdre Goff and Michelle Goff, Clonard Guiding Unit, and Lucy Medlycott, Isacs Network.

Five community groups including businesses, social enterprises and a school in county Wexford have received a quick cash injection to invest in new technology thanks to the RISE Community Fund.

Established by Granahan McCourt and NBI Chairman, David McCourt, RISE is providing monthly grants across the country for rural community organisations seeking to boost their digital ecosystems. The fund is further supported by corporate sponsors including KN Circet, KPMG, Test Triangle, DreamDev Technologies, and TLI Group.

Receiving the grants of 1000 each included Fashion Connect Ireland Ltd, a New Ross based business encouraging indigenous garment manufacturing, which is looking to offer online courses to upskill people and create job opportunities in the emerging sector of sustainable manufacturing.

Three community groups also received grant funding, in the form of Irish Street Arts, Circus & Spectacle Network CLG (ISACS), Irelands leading support and advocacy organisation for the development of street arts, circus and spectacle art forms, which is digitising its membership resources; Clonard Guiding Unit, helping 4-18 year old girls with health and fitness, mental well-being, organisation and social skills, which is investing in new technology to teach internet security and coding; and Enniscorthy Community Alliance, a social enterprise providing community employment in areas such as sustainability, amenity development and community horticulture, which is investing in its website and social media capabilities.

Ramsgrange Community School, a co-educational school serving the South-East Wexford area also received a grant to invest in new digital learning tools, which will also be utilised to translate resources for over 50 Ukrainian students the school is supporting.

Founder of RISE and Chairman of Granahan McCourt and NBI, David McCourt, said: Im delighted to say that since opening applications in County Wexford, the response has been incredible and now were excited to be awarding grants to our successful applicants. Each one of them is an inspiration, with many volunteering their time and committing a huge amount of energy and passion to bring pride of place to their local community.

Jenny Etherton from Fashion Connect commented: Small businesses like ours play a key role in rural job creation and were delighted to receive this grant funding from the RISE Community Fund to support our plans to invest in online training as we endeavour to create long-term sustainable jobs for people in Wexford and beyond.

Peter Hendrick, CEO of NBI, added: At NBI, were on a mission to connect over 1.1 million people in rural Ireland who dont have access to high-speed broadband to a world-class, superfast network. Whilst connectivity is a vital utility and a critical first step, it alone cant solve all of the challenges for businesses, community groups and social enterprises trying to expand the positive impact theyre able to have  both to the local community, and to the wider economy. Thats why were incredibly excited to engage local communities with the RISE Community Fund and celebrate innovative uses of technology in Wexford.

NBI is reminding Wexford residents to also visit their website at www.nbi.ie to check whether their home, farm or business is included in the National Broadband Plan and to sign up for Eircode specific updates on the rollout.

All grants provided by the RISE Community Fund are privately funded. No State funding is used in the provision of grant funding.

www.riseglobalfoundation.com
An aerial view of the Candle of Hope ceremony at Pairc Charman during Relay for Life Wexford.

Relay for Life Wexford is an event that fulfils many functions. It can be cathartic for those whove lost loved ones to cancer to gather in a warm and welcoming environment to remember them, speak to others who have endured similar losses and undertake their own personal pilgrimage while raising funds for the Irish Cancer Society.

However, there is also the flip side. Perhaps one of the most inspiring aspects of Relay for Life Wexford is the involvement of survivors. Those whove looked cancer in the eye and come out the other side. These people offer hope, inspiration and practical advice for those who are carrying the heavy burden of their own cancer diagnosis.

Once again, survivors will play a central part at this years event, taking place at the Faythe Harriers pitch on June 29 and 30, and registration is now open for survivors interested in playing a part.

"At Relay For Life Wexford, survivors are the backbone of our event," said Julie Jackson Chairperson at Relay For Life Wexford. "Their presence serves as a testament to the unconquerable strength of the human spirit. We are thrilled to introduce our Survivor chairs for 2024, Jennifer O'Connor and Aaron Morris, who will ensure our survivors are cherished and empowered throughout the event.

"The survivor's lunch provides a wonderful opportunity for attendees to connect and support one another, fostering a sense of camaraderie that is invaluable on the journey to healing.

Once again, the team at Relay for Life Wexford wished to thank Pettitts SuperValu St Aidans, who they say are instrumental in ensuring that survivors receive the quality experience they deserve at Relay for Life Wexford.

In the build up to the big day, Relay for Life Wexford will share inspiring survivors stories through its blog, highlighting the incredible strength and resilience of individuals who have faced cancer.

For cancer survivors interested in participating in Relay For Life Wexford 2024, contributing to our blog or seeking more information about the event, please visit www.relayforlifewexford.com Contact via email rlflwx2023@gmail.com or whatsapp / text us at 089 4955309.

Essential to the success of this huge event, which has raised over 1 million for the Irish Cancer Society since its inception, are volunteers.

People are encouraged to get involved and lend a hand where they can, whether its setting up, serving lunch or assisting with any number of other tasks, each contribution is invaluable towards ensuring the continued success of this event.

Those wishing to get involved can register their interest via the Wexford Volunteer Centre website.
Robbie O'Neill from Arklow company ASL Safety & Training at the recent Wind Energy International Matchmaking Event in Bilbao, Spain.

Robbie O'Neill from Arklow company ASL Safety & Training at the recent Wind Energy International Matchmaking Event in Bilbao, Spain.

Robbie O'Neill from Arklow company ASL Safety & Training at the recent Wind Energy International Matchmaking Event in Bilbao, Spain.

Robbie O'Neill from Arklow company ASL Safety & Training (right) with Jim Byrne from the National Maritime College of Ireland and Tim Coffey of Corio Generation at the recent Wind Energy International Matchmaking Event in Bilbao, Spain.

Robbie O'Neill from Arklow company ASL Safety & Training (right) with Jim Byrne from the National Maritime College of Ireland at the recent Wind Energy International Matchmaking Event in Bilbao, Spain.

Arklow company ASL Safety & Training recently embarked on a hugely successful trip to the Wind Energy International Matchmaking Event in the Spanish port city of Bilbao.

The ASL Safety & Training Group hailed the outing to what is the world's biggest wind energy-related event, as part of the joint Wind Energy Ireland/Irish Government Pavilion, as a resounding triumph.

Showcasing their acclaimed range of training and safety courses to over 12,000 people at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre over three days, ASL was one of a raft of Irish representatives, including Wind Energy Ireland, various government departments, Ocean Winds/Bord Na Mona, X Ocean, Green Rebel, Flotation Energy, Codling Wind Park, SSE Renewables and H&MV Engineering amongst others.

Following his experience at the event, Robbie ONeill of ASL said: With over 12,000 people attending the event, it was a source of great pride for our company to be part of the delegation.

To be a small part of this event and collaborate with the great companies and our government departments representing Ireland's wind industry has been an amazing experience.

During the event, we met with companies and organisations from all over the globe.

We are looking forward to further positive partnerships and announcements following meetings at the event.
Fiachna O Braonain speaks at the AsIAms Same Chance Walk for Autism at Belmont Demesne, Greystones. Photo: Alan Rowlette.

Magician Cillian O'Connor at AsIAms Same Chance Walk for Autism at Belmont Demesne, Greystones. Photo: Alan Rowlette.

Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm and Fiachna O Braonain, at the start of the AsIAms Same Chance Walk for Autism at Belmont Demesne, Greystones. Photo: Alan Rowlette.

Adam Harris and Hothouse Flowers guitarist Fiachna O Braonain led over 1,000 people on the AsIAm Same Chance Walk for Autism in Belmont Demesne, Greystones, on Sunday, April 7.

The 5k walk coincided with AsIAms 10-year anniversary and was inaugurated by musician, broadcaster, and Greystones local Fiachna O Braonain, followed by a series of activities, including performances from Britains Got Talent magician Cillian OConnor (14), live music, a petting zoo, sensory bus, and on-site refreshments.

Adam, brother of Simon Harris, founded the charity in 2014 based on his own experiences growing up as a young autistic person in Ireland. Commenting on the walk, Adam said: We are proud to be here today with so many people from the autistic community to mark World Autism Month and 10 years of AsIAm.

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Over the last decade, AsIAm aimed to be a comprehensive resource for the Autistic community and their families, focusing on education, training, and advocacy.

Were proud of our achievements and the difference weve made. Yet, the journey continues. Autistic individuals seek and are entitled to the same opportunities as everyone else.

Participating in the Same Chance Walk sends a strong message of acceptance to the Autistic community while raising the necessary funds to enhance the lives of thousands nationwide.

Ambassador Fiachna O Braonain, who spoke on the day and also entertained with a few tunes on his tin whistle, added: It was an honour to open the walk today. Seeing the community come together for such a powerful cause is truly inspiring.

As a Greystones local, Im proud to support AsIAms efforts in advocating for equal opportunities for autistic individuals.
Volunteers from Greystones gathered on Sunday, April 7 for the annual spring clean-up of the Dr Ryan Park, where an estimated 300 kilograms of assorted rubbish that included a wardrobe door was collected.

The 2024 clean-up was organised by Cllr Stephen Stokes, Cathaoirleach of the Greystones Municipal District, who remarked that some attendees believed the amount of waste gathered surpassed the estimates on the day.

I am grateful to all of the participants who took part in the clean-up, Cllr Stokes said. It was a super turnout. Attendees came from Churchlands, Eastmount, Kenmare Heights, Kindlestown Park and across Greystones.

We put a real shift in. Every bit of effort is appreciated. Even when someone comes for 30 minutes it makes a difference. This is the third clean-up that we have held over the last year. It was the biggest one yet, he added.

The event was an official clean-up as part of the An Taisce National Spring Clean, which is in its 25th year of operation.

In 2023, 5,640 groups registered to carry out spring clean-ups throughout Ireland. Volunteers who participated in the National Spring Clean 2023 collected an estimated 2,600 tonnes of litter.

The Dr Ryan Park Spring Clean 2024 also received key support from the Greystones Municipal District Office and Greystones Tidy Towns.

Our sincere thanks to An Taisce and the Greystones District Office, who provided a lot of equipment and logistical support. Its a great help. A special thanks also to Greystones Tidy Towns who always give us a great push online. It gives us a big boost.

The Dr Ryan Park clean-up netted a wide range of materials this year, including bottles, chairs, a wardrobe door, mattress springs, metal poles, metal sheets, pallets, a gas cannister and more.

Commenting on repeated calls for people not to dump illegal waste, Cllr Stokes remarked: Its great to have all of the support from the community and official organisations. It is appreciated, of course. However, it must be noted that its a pity that we are having to carry out this service in the first place.

One can was dated from 2010. But some of the waste was more recent, with the deposit return logo present on some bottles and cans. I would ask the minority of people who dump waste in a community park to re-consider their disposal methods. As a community we want to build an inclusive family friendly environment. We must all do our part to build a better community.

The next clean-up is expected to take place on Friday, September 20 as part of World Clean-up Day. Anyone who would like to take part can email stephenstokes101@gmail.com
An Tigin, in Marine Terrace, Greystones, which has been approved as a funeral home by Wicklow County Council. Photo: Leigh Anderson.

With a population of over 22,000, its hard to believe that Greystones, the second largest town in County Wicklow after Bray, has been without a funeral home.

That is all set to change in the coming weeks, after Wicklows McCrea Funeral Directors were finally granted planning permission to open a Greystones branch, after a lengthy process that saw the application go to An Bord Pleanala (ABP) following some local opposition to the plans.

That appeal was delayed by about 10 months, but was finally approved by ABP, as recommended by Wicklow County Council when the plans were first lodged and given the green light in May last year.

McCrea Funeral Directors have been in the business since 1924. Three generations, said Niall McCrea, who is originally from Carnew, in County Wicklow. Were a family business, my grandfather did it, my father did it, and I took over,  he explained.

With a business in Carnew and in Wicklow town, the addition of Greystones will bring the stable of funeral homes to three and there are no plans to open any more.

Niall believes that Greystones is possibly one of the only towns of its size in Ireland that hasnt got a funeral home, and while this is difficult to corroborate it is probably not too far off the mark.

Funeral directors are not regulated but an association was set up in 1979, the Irish Association of Funeral Directors, as a group of funeral directors working together to improve client service standards and to. provide representation for members, of which there are some 260.

However, not every funeral director is a member and there are towns that have funeral directors, but not a funeral home. Greystones is one of them.

Niall identified this omission several years ago, but it has been a struggle to get a foothold in the town for his business.

For the size of it, its unbelievable to think that, and Im 20 years personally trying to get into Greystones because there was no commercial premises came up. It is very hard to get [a premises] in Greystones, unless its on the main street or something like that, and theyre usually cafes, or whatever.

Every small town in Ireland has a a funeral home. Carnew has one. Tinnahely has one. Shillelagh has one. Gorey has two. Enniscorthy has two. Everywhere you can think of. But Greystones has none.

He added: Were thrilled we got it. I just thought it was the right result and for the people of Greystones in particular, because they genuinely have something thats essential.

The plans, which got the backing of local councillor Stephen Stokes, were well received at Wicklow County Council, who saw what we saw, and An Bord Pleanala saw what Wicklow County Council and ourselves saw.

Niall said he had a plan in mind for a long time but when he bought the premises, close to the old La Touche Hotel, in a building called An Tigin on Marine Terrace, objections were raised against the plans. These included fears of traffic congestion, an issue that was raised given the Garda Station and the Coast Guard Stations are located opposite and require rapid access throughout each twenty-four hour period, three hundred and sixty five days a year.

There were also concerns raised with the proximity of the business to the nearby St Davids Secondary School and St Brigids NS, both of which generate traffic at peak times. Other objections were raised over the nature of the proposed use as funeral services, which was said to be unclear.

In a request for further information, a traffic survey was submitted and the Bord chose to accept the professional expertise of the author of the traffic survey.

Granting permission, the Bord said the area was zoned in the most recent Local Area Plan to protect, provide for, and improve the development of a mix of town centre uses including retail, commercial, office and civic uses.

The subject building was constructed under a previous grant of permission with a commercial use which implies at lease some traffic generating capacity. The application makes the point that the facility is small and can cater for only one funeral at a time  thus funerals will be staggered as suggested by the planning authority.

I have had everybody lined up for the last six or eight months in anticipation, Niall said, adding that he will have six full-time staff. The business also has a cremation chapel in Wicklow town which was a great asset as it saves having to go to Dublin.

Cremation chapels are another unknown quantity in Ireland, with a search yielding as few as six and as many as just 10.

McCreas Funeral Homes opened a new purpose-built cremation and all denominational chapel located on the Dublin Road in Wicklow in 2019, having listened to the concerns of bereaved families over the years who had to face the burden and stress of travelling to Dublin

Funeral homes are a home from home, Niall explained, and added that, people can stay all night if they want.

I know that my own father, when he passed away, we had the wake in the house. It was the worst decision we ever made. We were three days entertaining people. We hardly got to say goodbye to him, to be honest.

Rather than having the wake at home in their own house, they can have the funeral home, so thats what Greystones would be as well. They can have the wake there, and they can stay. Theres no closing hours or any of that. People can come go and go as they please.

And you can have set reposing times for the evening before or the day of the funeral. Theres many different ways of doing that, but it just takes away the whole wake in the house, in someones residence, which takes a lot of stress off people.
Author Shane Hegarty with Julieta Leggieri who helped him draw a monster she named Cherry Monster, during Storytime at Halfway Up The Stairs, Greystones. Photos: Leigh Anderson.

Tweeting that he was very much looking forward to his event at Halfway Up the Stairs, in Greystones, as a visit to the childrens bookshop is always a treat, author Shane Hegarty made the trip on Saturday to read from his latest book, Dexter Lost His Boo-Woo.

The fans also did their bit to keep the Skerrries author entertained, when they were invited to come up with sketches suited to the theme of his new work, which centres on a scary sounding beast . . . with fiery eyes and floppy ears, and twenty pointy teeth.

Patrick and Lilly Bell went a little abstract but came up with a novel and colourful approach to their monster, while Julieta Leggieri drew a monster she named Cherry Monster, which really impressed the best-selling author.

Shane is one of Irelands most popular writers of childrens fiction, creator of the best-selling Darkmouth fantasy series, which began in 2015 and has four volumes so far.

His work has been shortlisted for an Irish Book Award and the Waterstones Childrens Book Prize 2016.

He once said that he was very lucky that I ended up writing because I am utterly useless at everything else, and added that he would have no idea what I would do if he had to get another job.

Thats unlikely to happen, given his book sales and his popularity as a writer of childrens tales.

He tends to spend three weeks writing, followed by a week of visits to schools, bookstores like Halfway Up the Stairs and libraries, to meet the young readers.
Holden says she hopes she receives no complaints during this season of the show. Photo: PA Media/Ian West.

Amanda Holden has been praised across social media after she posed nude for a life-drawing class, live on UKs Heart Radio.

The presenter and musical theatre actor, 53, co-hosts the networks weekday breakfast show with Jamie Theakston, where they regularly entertain their listeners with on-air games and challenges.

On Monday morning, the Britains Got Talent judge bared all in the studio, posing as a life model while members of the Heart team drew her.

Weve transformed the Heart Studio into an art studio this morning, Theakston told listeners. Whats slightly distracting  Amandas in the corner of the studio without any clothes on, which is a first for  not for her, of course, but certainly for most of us.

After the guests and other team members laugh in the background, voices are then heard complimenting Holden for how she looks, and how comfortable she seems being naked in that unusual circumstance.

Am I allowed to see anything? Holden asks, curious to see her colleagues interpretations of her naked body.

However, Theakston soon quipped: Amanda, can you put a top on? Because Im not- its slightly distracting.

After Holden posted a clip of highlights from her life modelling stint on social media, fans of the former Shrek: The Musical star were quick to share their thoughts on her actions.

While some have criticised Holden for showing off, many have responded to the stars bravery with words of encouragement and celebration.

Amazing! So glad shes advocating body positivity and nudity! Natural and beautiful everyone! one follower said.

Another complimentary message reads: What Id do to have those family genes and incredible figure! while a different fan added: If I had a body like that I wouldnt wear clothes!!!! Well done Amanda!!!!!

When asked about her health routine in 2021, Holden expressed her fondness for enjoying things in moderation.

Life is too short to be strict, she explained to the health publication, Top Sante. Life is for living, so I believe in everything in moderation.

Holden is no stranger to stoking debate with her social media posts. Back in January, her dance routine to Sophie Ellis-Bextors Murder on the Dancefloor at her daughter Lexis 18th birthday party split some onlookers.

While some commended her for having a good time at the event, others considered Holdens behaviour inappropriate for the setting.

One unimpressed commenter wrote: How not to act at your daughters party.

As well as Lexi, Holden also has a daughter named Hollie, 12, whom she shares with he
New footage emerges in search for two Australian hikers still missing after Taiwan earthquake

Hikers clothes sent to Taiwan by family to aid rescue with help of sniffer dogs

Shweta Sharma UK Independent Tue 9 Apr 2024 at 10:01







New CCTV footage of the last sighting of two missing Australian-Singaporean hikers has emerged as the search for them continued six days after a massive earthquake hit Taiwan.
The inquiry is entering a crucial stage

Prominent campaigner Alan Bates will give evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry, as the investigation enters a significant phase.

Mr Bates founded the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, and led a group of 555 subpostmasters who took the Post Office to the High Court over the scandal.
Amanda Knox faces new slander trial in Italy

The American was a 20-year-old student when she was accused along with her then-boyfriend of murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher in 2007

Amanda Knox (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Colleen Barry Tue 9 Apr 2024 at 15:25







Amanda Knox faces another trial for slander this week in Italy in a case that could remove the last legal stain against her eight years after Italys highest court threw out her conviction for the murder of her 21-year-old British roommate.
Woman who murdered her parents and lived with their bodies for four years is jailed for life
Rosmarie Wyder-Walti and Anne Mahrer, of the Swiss elderly women group Senior Women for Climate Protection, attend the hearing of the court in Strasbourg. Photo: Christian Hartmann/Reuters

The European Court of Human Rights has rejected a case by six young people who took Ireland and 32 other countries to court over their climate-action failures.

In a unanimous decision, the judges said while climate change was a collective issue, the case needed to be fought in national courts first before the European court could get involved.
Europe

Africans recruited to work in Russia say they were duped into building drones for use in Ukraine
UK foreign secretary David Cameron will press the case in the US for more aid to Ukraine when he visits this week. Photo: AP

David Cameron will describe US support for Ukraine as the keystone in the arch of the fight for democracy in his latest appeal to Congress over a stalled package of aid.

The UK foreign secretary will say that success for Kyiv in defeating Russia is vital for American and European security as he urges lawmakers across the Atlantic to approve urgent further assistance for the country.
Supporters wave flags as they wait for Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to speak one week since a suspected Israeli strike on Iran's consulate in Damascus. Photo: Reuters

Irans foreign minister yesterday accused the United States of giving Israel the green light for a strike on its consulate building in Syria that killed seven Iranian military officials including two generals.

Hossein Amirabdollahian reiterated Tehrans vows that it will respond to the attack, widely blamed on Israel, that appeared to signify an escalation of Israels targeting of military officials from Iran, which supports militant groups fighting Israel in Gaza, and along its border with Lebanon.
Ever since the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, followed by Israels retaliatory military campaign in Gaza, the Biden administration has said humanitarian assistance in Gaza is a key pillar of its approach to the crisis.

But that part of the US strategy now seems to be failing, as Israels indiscriminate attacks and barriers to aid delivery have consigned surviving Palestinians to the prospect of famine. The US should do more to ensure Gazans dont starve.
James Norman is challenging himself to run the length of the UK for charity (James Norman/PA)

A man from Coventry has set himself the challenge of running the length of the UK in 74 days to be able to tell a good story for the grandkids.

James Norman, 23, set off from Lands End in Cornwall on March 30 with the aim of reaching John OGroats in Scotland in around two and a half months, covering 874 miles (1,406.5km) to raise money for charity and to show that you can achieve anything, no matter how qualified.
LATEST | Netanyahu vows to carry out Rafah invasion despite US warning: It will happen. There is a date

Benjamin Netanyahu insists Israel still plans to attack city, as US urges hostage dealThe Palestinian death toll from the war has passed 33,200, with nearly 76,000 wounded, Gazas health ministry said

Rescuers and medics search for bodies inside the damaged Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza after Israeli forces withdrew from the area following a two-week operation. Photo: Reuters

Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Ahmed Mohamed Hassan Tue 9 Apr 2024 at 03:30







Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated his pledge to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which is filled with around 1.4 million Palestinians  most of whom are displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip.
Members of the US Congress have called for the immediate release of Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza as they marked the second anniversary of his imprisonment.

"The bottom line is that Vladimir Kara-Murza will not be forgotten," Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said at an event on Capitol Hill. "We are going to work to set him free and to set Russia free."
New Delhi: Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis said on Tuesday that it plans to reduce its development organization workforce by as many as 680 positions, media reports said.

Nearly 440 of these jobs will be cut in Switzerland and up to 240 in the United States within the next two to three years, reported Reuters.

These reductions are separate from a larger restructuring initiative that may result in up to 8,000 job cuts from Novartis's total global workforce of 78,000, the report said.

In a similar move, Roche, a competitor based in Switzerland, disclosed earlier in the year its decision to eliminate 345 positions from its product development sector.

Currently, Novartis employs around 12,500 individuals in development roles, covering responsibilities such as drug regulation, analytics, and support functions like quality assurance.

These personnel are also engaged in shaping the production processes for drugs following the completion of research activities.

About 3,000 of these positions are situated in Switzerland and 2,000 in the United States, indicating that approximately 14% of roles in these countries will be impacted.

However, Novartis plans to introduce new positions over the coming two to three years, resulting in an overall net reduction of 1-2% globally, the Reuters report said.

The company stated that these changes aim to reconfigure its capabilities to tap into local talent pools, including data scientists and regulatory specialists in Britain.

Despite the workforce adjustments, Novartis affirmed its dedication to development endeavours in both Switzerland and the United States.

According to the Reuters report, a company spokesperson said, "We remain committed to development in Switzerland as our innovation hub for complex development, and providing strategic leadership as the global headquarters for development.

"The US remains a key development hub with strong representation in our global program teams, responsible for advancing our medicines pipeline."
Photo courtesy: facebook.com/AdaniGreen

Mumbai: Adani Green Energy Ltd. is currently involved in discussions to secure around $400 million via an overseas loan, as part of its efforts to finance an upcoming renewable project, media reports said

According to Bloomberg, the foreign currency loan may span from seven to ten years, with its pricing likely tied to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate.

Bloomberg reported citing anonymous sources that the company, a subsidiary of billionaire Gautam Adani's conglomerate, is negotiating with a consortium of banks, which includes Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, Standard Chartered Bank, and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc.

This fundraising initiative underscores the Adani Group's ongoing efforts to regain investor trust, following last year's targeting by US shortseller Hindenburg Research.

In a positive sign, the conglomerate recently received orders amounting to seven times the size of its inaugural dollar-denominated public bond sale since the crisis.

Further, in December, Adani Green secured a $1.4 billion loan from a consortium of banks.

India is aiming to nearly triple its clean energy capacity by the decade's end, primarily through solar and wind projects.

In this direction, the country is taking steps to decarbonize its fossil fuel-dependent economy.

India plans to invest $30 billion in constructing transmission lines to facilitate the integration of green energy into the grid.
Photo courtesy: UNI

A company in the United States is working towards revolutionising the transportation industry, particularly in sectors like aviation and heavy-duty trucking, which are notoriously difficult to decarbonize, media reports said.

According to a Bloomberg report, Infinium, a Gates-backed startup based in Sacramento in California has emerged as one of the pioneering e-fuel producers globally, transitioning from a mere concept to industrial-scale production.

Electrofuels, also known as e-fuels, are manufactured using captured carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide, together with hydrogen obtained from water split by sustainable electricity sources such as wind, solar and nuclear power.

Infinium sees potential in a fuel derived from carbon dioxide. If successfully scaled, this alternative fuel could change dependence on fossil fuels to run heavy-duty vehicles to planes, the report said.

In its facility, Infinium employs electrolysers to break down water into hydrogen and oxygen, using electricity sourced from nearby wind and solar farms.

The hydrogen is then passed through a reactor where it combines with CO2 gathered from local refineries, triggering a sequence of intricate chemical reactions facilitated by patented catalysts.

The outcome is a synthetic fuel with identical chemical characteristics to conventional fossil fuel-based alternatives.

Infinium manufactures approximately 8,300 liters of electrofuel or e-fuel every day and then distributes it to clients throughout the United States, according to the Bloomberg report.

Since its Corpus Christi facility came online in October, it is likely that the future of the city, which is home to dozens of fossil fuel companies and exports more crude oil every year than any other city in the US, is on its way to transformation, the report said.

Hydrocarbons, comprised of hydrogen and carbon atoms, are the foundation of crude oil, which is refined into fuels for various applications, from trucks to aircraft.

However, these atoms can be rearranged in an industrial setting to produce alternative fuels with potentially lower environmental impacts.

Aviation alone contributes to over 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, while freight transportation, predominantly carried out via trucks, ships, and trains, adds another 8%, the Bloomberg report said.

With increasing demand for travel and shipping, coupled with emissions reductions in other sectors, these figures are projected to rise substantially in the coming years.

Regulatory measures such as the European Union's heightened scrutiny of heavy-duty vehicles and its mandate for sustainable aviation fuel are exerting pressure on these industries to mitigate their environmental footprint.

The surge in demand has spurred efforts to expedite solutions, including the development of e-fuels.

Despite being virtually nonexistent five years ago, the e-fuel market is forecast to reach nearly $50 billion by 2030, according to some industry estimates, according to the report.

While the use of electrolysis to produce hydrogen-based productsthe fundamental technology behind e-fuelsis not new, its commercial application has historically been limited.

Early adoption in the 1920s saw factories employing electrolysis to produce ammonia, but most were shuttered in favour of cheaper alternatives that relied on natural gas and coal, despite their significant greenhouse gas emissions, according to the report.

However, the growing emphasis on clean energy is necessitating a reconsideration of electrolysis, particularly among companies in sectors like airlines and freight transportation, as they grapple with their carbon footprint, said the report.

Although commercial production of e-fuel is still in its nascent stages, there is considerable interest in its potential, notes Rose Oates, an analyst at research firm BloombergNEF.

Robert Schuetzle, founder and CEO of Infinium, believes e-fuel can play a substantial role in decarbonizing transportation, Bloomberg reported.

The three-year-old startup has 13 additional projects in development across Texas and other locations, it said.

At Infinium's Corpus Christi facility, machinery operates around the clock to primarily produce e-diesel for trucking, alongside e-kerosene for aviation and e-naphtha, commonly used as a solvent.

At full capacity, the facility can produce approximately 3 million liters of e-fuel annually, according to the report.

While the breakdown of each product's volume is not disclosed, if all of it were e-diesel, it could fuel a truck with a payload of around 20 tons on 190 trips around the equator.
Photo Courtesy: NASA's Johnson Space Center X page

A spectacular celestial view left skygazers amazed across Mexico, the US and Canada, as the total solar eclipse occurred on Monday, mimicking a night-like scene during the day.

Millions of people joined to tilt their heads and see the event which is next expected to take place in 2026.

Follow, follow the Sun / And which way the wind blows / When this day is done 



Today, April 8, 2024, the last total solar #eclipse until 2045 crossed North America. pic.twitter.com/YH618LeK1j  NASA (@NASA) April 8, 2024

During a total solar eclipse, the Moon shifts in front of the Sun, casting a shadow that completely blocks the Sun's light.

The Sun looks vibrant following the occurrence of the event.

Wedding today in DFW during the total solar eclipse 



(Via TT/ WaltersHospitality) pic.twitter.com/TZxvlEDcOB  Dallas Texas TV (@DallasTexasTV) April 9, 2024

The eclipse was first seen around Mazatlan, Mexico, on the country's western shores at 11:07 local time (18:07 GMT), reported BBC.

300 weddings before the sky turned black!

In Russellville, Arkansas, 300 couples signed up and said 'I do' just before the sky went black.

As the sky brightened, the group cut wedding cakes and danced - all part of the aptly named Total Eclipse of the Heart festival, reported BBC.

Ever seen a total solar #eclipse from space?



Here is our astronauts' view from the @Space_Station pic.twitter.com/2VrZ3Y1Fqz  NASA (@NASA) April 8, 2024

There were cheers and fireworks, marking a mid-April New Year eve, when stars came out in the middle of the day amid the celestial event.

In New York, hundreds of people crowded onto the viewing platform of the Edge skyscraper in Manhattan to see what they could see, reported BBC.

As the path of the eclipse crossed the USA into Canada, tourists crowded along both sides of the border at Niagara Falls.

"The narrow path of totalitywhere the Moon covers the Sun completely, causing a total eclipseruns through Mexico (from Sinaloa to Coahuila), the USA (from Texas to Maine), and Canada (from Ontario to Newfoundland). A partial eclipse will be visible across nearly all of North America, and a sliver of western Europe," reported Time and Date website.

As per NASA website, the next total solar eclipse will be visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small area of Portugal in 2026.

A partial eclipse will be visible in Europe, Africa, North America, the Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Pacific Ocean.

The next total solar eclipse will be visible in America in 2045.

The eclipse was not visible in India this time.
Photo Courtesy: Indian Tech & Infra X page

An Indian-origin student, who went missing in the US, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio, the Indian Consulate in New York confirmed.

The deceased was identified as Mohammed Abdul Arfath.

The Consulate ensured the family members of the Indian student that is in touch with local agencies to ensure a thorough investigation into his death.

The Consulate posted on X: "Anguished to learn that Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio."

Anguished to learn that Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio.



Our deepest condolences to Mr Mohammed Arfaths family. @IndiainNewYork is in touch with local agencies to ensure thorough investigation into Mr https://t.co/FRRrR8ZXZ8  India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) April 9, 2024

"Our deepest condolences to Mr Mohammed Arfaths family," the post said.

"@IndiainNewYork is in touch with local agencies to ensure thorough investigation into Mr Mohammed Abdul Arfaths death," the statement said.

" We are extending all possible assistance to the bereaved family to transport his mortal remains to India," the consulate said.

Several deaths of Indian-origin people were reported in the US this year.

Four major cases were recorded this year

Recently, 19-year-old Shreyas Reddy Beniger, a student at the Linder School of Business in Ohio, was found dead.

Purdue University student Neel Acharya was found dead on the university campus, hours after his mother had reported him missing.

Vivek Saini, from Haryana, was hammered to death by a homeless man in Georgia's Lithonia on Jan 16.

Akul Dhawan, another Indian student, was found dead outside the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in January.
Photo courtesy: UNI

Dehradun/UNI: Amarjeet Singh, alias Bittu, who shot dead Baba Tarsem Singh, the Karseva head of Nanakmatta Gurudwara in Uttarakhand's Udham Singh Nagar district, was killed by a team of Special Task Force and Haridwar police in an encounter on Tuesday, officials said.

Bittu's other accomplice is still absconding, the police said.

Police Headquarters spokesperson, Inspector General of Police Modernization (PM) Nilesh Anand Bharne, told UNI that Amarjeet Singh, who carried a bounty of Rs 1 lakh, was killed in a police encounter under the Bhagwanpur police station area in Haridwar district early Tuesday.

Bharne said Bittu's companion managed to escape, adding that further details on the matter will be made available at 2 pm.

On the morning of March 28, Dera Kar Seva chief Baba Tarsem Singh was shot dead by two shooters riding a bike in Nanakmatta.

The STF and police are searching for the other murderer.
Photo courtesy: X/@MahuaMoitra

New Delhi/IBNS: The Delhi High Court has said Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra has every right to defend herself in public if allegations are also levelled against her in public domain, in connection with the pot-boiling "cash-for-query" allegations brought against the 49-year-old fiery politician, media reports said.

The court said this in response to Moitra's estranged partner Jai Anant Dehadrai's filing of a plea seeking to stop the expelled Lok Sabha MP, who is again contesting from West Bengal's Krishnanagar in the Lok Sabha polls, from making "defamatory" statements against him.

"If you put the allegations in the public domain, she has every right to defend herself. Except that she cannot make any objectively false statements," Justice Prateek Jalan said as quoted by NDTV.

Dehadrai, a lawyer, has sought Rs. 2 crore as damages for Moitra's "defamatory" statements against him.

Brief about the case

The controversy was triggered after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on October 15, 2023 accused Moitra, who is known for her fiery speeches in Parliament, of asking questions on businessman Gautam Adani in Parliament in exchange for money.

Moitra, whose choice of words had triggered rows both inside and outside Parliament in the past, has been accused of accepting bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani and sharing her Parliament login details.

Dubey, a three term MP from Jharkhand's Godda constituency, even cited a letter from Moitra's estranged partner Jai Anant Dehadrai, a Supreme Court lawyer, in claiming that Moitra received bribes.

In several interviews, Moitra, who was expelled by the Lok Sabha on the report of the Ethics Committee, claimed she received a few gifts from Darshan but no money and shared the login details to put her questions on the portal only but she used to receive the OTP on her phone.
Raj Thackeray meeting Amit Shah/ courtesy: Facebook

Thackeray was addressing a rally at 'Shivthirth' Shivaji Park, Dadar on the occasion of Gudi Padva festival.

Following his announcement, the leaders of Mahayuti welcomed the MNS chief's decision.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "I am extremely grateful to MNS chief Raj Thackeray for supporting the grand alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP to realise the dream of a developed India and build a strong Maharashtra, believing in the skillful leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji.

"Let us all be determined with full strength to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people."

Last month, Raj Thackeray met Amit Shah in Delhi raising speculations of a possible alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections due in a few weeks.

As per reports after the last meeting, the MNS wanted three seats - South Mumbai, Shirdi and Nashik from Maharashtra.

[With UNI inputs]
Photo courtesy: UNI

Chandigarh/IBNS/UNI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh Tuesday said that the excise policy case against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders of the outfit is the "biggest political conspiracy after independence".

Addressing a press conference here, Sanjay Singh said the case has been registered under a "conspiracy" and there is no intention of investigating any scam.

"The motive is to topple the Aam Aadmi Party governments in Delhi and Punjab, despite their thumping majority. It is an attempt to stop the growing popularity of the AAP and its achievement of getting national party status in 10 years," the AAP leader said.

He said if anyone committed any scam it was the BJP and a Rs 60 crore money trail has been found against them.

Singh said in Kejriwal's case, "false witnesses" were prepared, and "baseless allegations" were made.

He said ten statements were recorded but only two were produced in the court. The rest are hidden because they do not match their propaganda and don't include the needed lies," he said.

"Magunta Reddy gave ten statements, In the last two statements, as soon as he mentioned Kejriwal's name, immediately his son Raghav Reddy got bail. Magunta, against whom the BJP actually started this investigation, is now asking for votes under the BJP's banner and putting Modi's picture everywhere," he said.

When he named Kejriwal in his statement he got bail for his back pain.

Singh said another witness E Chandan suffered hearing loss as the interrogators tore his eardrum. He later appealed to the High Court. Sameer Mahendru and Arun Pellu were pressurised and intimidated to name Arvind Kejriwal as they wanted to make this whole case against him.

"I want to ask the most corrupt party and their government after the independence of India that when the money trail of Rs 60 crore rupees was found directly against you, why are your leaders not being interrogated by ED and CBI, why isn't the AG writing a letter now?"

"What is the reason that the company whose profit is zero, that company is giving hundreds of crores of funds to you people? There are fake firms and companies donating hundreds of crores to the BJP. Why ED and CBI are not investigating that?" he asked.

He said "fake companies" were found donating to the BJP for elections. "Why don't BJP leaders get questioned and arrested? Why aren't they raided?"

He reiterated that the entire case is fake, and only a political conspiracy against Arvind Kejriwal. The statements that did not mention the name of Arvind Kejriwal are deliberately being left out of the proceedings and are not being put in front of the court.

"If all the facts are not presented before the court, then how will justice be done? Arvind Kejriwal's lawyers are doing their work, the lawyers are constantly inspecting the documents. Soon Arvind Kejriwal will get justice from the High Court," he said.

He said when ED and CBI had to investigate against Arvind Kejriwal, they became all-powerful and know-it-all but when it comes to the BJP they say "We do not remember anything, we did not see anything, this is a blatant misuse of investigation agencies."

The Aam Aadmi Party is contesting elections on 23 seats. "Aam Aadmi Party's ministers, MLAs and workers will campaign wholeheartedly on every seat plus all seats and states where we are contesting with the INDIA alliance."

He described BJP's boast of getting 400 plus seats in the coming polls as "just a hollow slogan, nothing else".

"Now Modi is just getting nervous and this nervousness is because he knows they are losing," Singh said.
Photo Courtesy: BYC X page

Baloch Yakjehti Committee has expressed concern over the recent bomb blast in Blaochistan's Khuzdar region which left three people dead and five others injured, media reports said.

The blast occurred when people were busy shopping for the upcoming Eid in the market.

" BYC expresses deep concern over last night's bomb blast at Umber Farooq Road, Kuzdar, which has resulted in the loss of three lives and left five individuals injured," BYC posted on X.

BYC expresses deep concern over last night's bomb blast at Umber Farooq Road, Kuzdar, which has resulted in the loss of three lives and left five individuals injured. The blast happened when people were shopping for Eid. Such tragic incidents are happening routinely in pic.twitter.com/B4n9NOQHfr  Baloch Yakjehti Committee (@BalochYakjehtiC) April 8, 2024

" The blast happened when people were shopping for Eid. Such tragic incidents are happening routinely in Balochistan, intensifying the genocide of Baloch people. We hold the authorities accountable for failing to prevent such incidents," the post said.

The post further said: "On the other hand, those responsible for these horrific crimes are facilitated and given the highest positions in state institutions. Last year, a similar massacre occurred in Mastung, resulting in fifty-seven deaths."

No group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far.

An initial investigation showed the explosives were reportedly planted on a motorcycle.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

A shocking video is currently circulating on social media where foreign tourists could be seen sharing the trouble faced by them in the hands of Punjab police in Pakistan.

The video, uploaded by one of the victims, who identifies himself as Alex, documents instances of physical abuse and torture inflicted by the police without any apparent justification, reported ANI.

We have been assaulted by the police multiple times, had guns pointed at us and even been chased with a stick. All of this without any proper reason or provocation. says the narrator, who claims to be the victim as quoted by the news agency.

An avid cyclist, Alex said he faced the tough moments while travelling in Pakistan.

Frustrated by the mistreatment, they sought alternative routes in hopes of finding more cooperative escorts, only to be met with violence in response to their decision, the Indian news agency reported.

Despite being subjected to assault and theft of their belongings, including Alexs camera, the trio persisted in seeking justice.

Alex worked out with the locals to retrieve footage documenting their ordeal and reached out to social media for assistance.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

A policeman died and 12 others were injured after a blast occurred close to a mosque in Quetta region of Pakistan, media reports said.

According to rescue sources, an Eagle Squad official embraced martyrdom while 12 people including five security personnel were injured, reported ARY News.

The injured people were shifted to the hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area and launched an investigation into the incident to determine the nature and cause of the explosion, ARY News reported.
Tata Advanced Systems Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Son has announced the "successful deployment" into space of its sub-metre optical satellite.

The satellite TSAT-1A was launched by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in the US on Sunday.

TASL

TSAT-1A launched on SpaceX Falcon

TSAT-1A, an Earth observation satellite was carried into space as part of the Bandwagon-1 rideshare mission.

"TSAT-1A will deliver high-resolution optical satellite images with increased collection capacity, dynamic range, and low-latency delivery through its multispectral and hyperspectral capabilities," TASL said in a statement.

Also read: 'Pay In Cash Or GPay', Man Responds To Co-Passenger Asking To Switch Seats For Her Family



Assembled and tested in India

According to the company, the sub-metre optical satellite was assembled and tested in India.

TSAT-1A was assembled in TASL's Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) plant at its Vemagal facility in Karnataka, it said.

TASL

This achievement follows the collaboration agreement signed between TASL and Satellogic in November, leveraging Satellogic's expertise to develop and integrate an advanced Earth Observation satellite in India and TASL's capability to undertake complex system integration, it added.

What TASL said

This milestone shows TASLs commitment to the space sector. This is a first step. Our partnership with Satellogic has enabled us to deliver an assembled and tested in India, best-in-class, fully integrated sub-meter optical satellite which was launched aboard SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket for the Bandwagon-1 mission. We are grateful for the support we have received from various Indian Government authorities for required permissions, Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, TASL, said.

TASL

Use of TSAT-A1

TSAT-1A will deliver high-resolution optical satellite images with increased collection capacity, dynamic range, and low-latency delivery through its multispectral and hyperspectral capabilities.

Also read: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 1,625 Candidates In First Phase, Only 134 Are Women



For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
With worries about low job placements in IITs this year, a recent graduate from IIT-Roorkee has expressed the difficult situation he's facing, a feeling likely shared by fellow students in IIT.

Any salary will do, say IIT graduate

Representative image/ Unsplash

Balwant Singh, a 2022 computer science engineering (CSE) graduate from IIT-Roorkee, shared his plight on LinkedIn stating, "Im in a dire situation and desperately reaching out for help. After graduating from IIT Roorkee in 2022 with a CSE degree, Ive found myself in an unexpected struggle. The burden of supporting my family and managing mounting debts is growing heavier by the day. Despite my efforts, I havent been able to secure a job since January, and the stress is unbearable."



He further stated, "Were facing financial difficulties like never before, and Im at a point where any salary will do. I just need a chance to work, to earn, and to start clearing our debts. Despite being an alumnus of IIT Roorkee, I have not received any support from any of my peers. This post is a desperate attempt for me to get an interview, I am ready to learn and open to any roles available in the IT field."

Why are IITs facing placement woes?

Reports indicate that approximately 36 percent of IIT-Bombay students who registered for placements have yet to secure jobs.

IIT Bombay

Dheeraj Singh, the founder of the Global IIT Alumni Support Group, states that IIT Kanpur has a 31 percent unplaced record, with roughly 500 students unable to find employment, while 937 out of 1987 students at IIT Delhi remain jobless.



IITs aren't the only institutions grappling with placement challenges; earlier this year, both IIM Lucknow and BITS Pilani sought assistance from their global alumni networks to aid unplaced students in finding jobs.

In fact, a recent survey revealed that only 7 percent of Indian institutions achieved full placement rates.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.


"You are pregnant, you should take it slow."

Mamaearth co-founder Ghazal Alagh, in an attempt to bust this myth. shared an inspiring post on LinkedIn along with a photo of herself during her pregnancy photoshoot. But another woman had a different take and this sparked a debate on whether women should work during pregnancy.

Deliver babies & over-deliver on goals, says Alagh

In a post on LinkedIn, Ghazal expressed her desire to defy stereotypes by participating in the Shark Tank opportunity and shooting for 12 hours a day, even when eight months pregnant.

LinkedIn

Her post read, You are pregnant, you should take it slow.

I have heard this from friends and relatives multiple times and when the Shark Tank India opportunity came my way. To address this tag I decided to take up the opportunity while I was in my 8th month of pregnancy and shoot 12 hours a day along with others. My goal was to inspire others and break this prevailing myth, especially amongst men, that women become less active or capable during this phase of their lives. This year 4 managers in my innovation team are pregnant and we have taken the highest revenue goal on innovation. We are confident we will not only deliver the babies but also over-deliver on our goals. We are there for each other whenever one needs support.

Check out her post here:

LinkedIn

To work or not to work during pregnancy

LinkedIn

But the post was not as inspiring for all.



An AI Engineer from Tata Consultancy Services criticised Mamaearth's founder, Ghazal Alagh, on LinkedIn, suggesting that she prioritised a pregnancy photoshoot for the sake of public perception rather than considering her child's well-being.

Prakriti Sharma reshared Mrs. Alagh's pregnancy photoshoot, expressing distress at the idea of seeking validation from the internet by being harsh on oneself during pregnancy.

She advised women to carefully choose their role models and not blindly follow advice from the internet.

LinkedIn

Another user summed up the debate in the best possible way, stating that pregnancy experiences vary, and dismissing Ghazal Alagh's achievements as stupid is insulting and regressive.



They praised Ghazal's story for challenging conventional boundaries and emphasising that women can excel in multiple roles simultaneously.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
In a move with implications reaching beyond its borders, Chief Minister Eva Lawler of Australia's Northern Territory has announced an extension of the curfew for individuals under 18 in Alice Springs until April 16. This decision, made a day prior to the curfew's original expiration, comes in response to a string of violent incidents in the town, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Under the extended curfew, individuals under 18 are prohibited from being outdoors in Alice Springs' central business district (CBD) from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Unsplash

During a press conference, Lawler underscored the curfew's necessity in addressing unrest and crime, pointing to positive outcomes and increased safety since its implementation.

"We've seen very encouraging results with the introduction of the youth curfew," Lawler remarked. "It is important that we don't lose the momentum that we have established."

Lawler also highlighted plans for enhanced collaboration among law enforcement, education, family services, and health providers following the curfew's conclusion. Additionally, an additional 58 police officers have been deployed to Alice Springs to bolster enforcement efforts.

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy echoed Lawler's sentiments, citing a notable decrease in crime in the CBD since the curfew's introduction.

The extension of the curfew aligns with the end of the school holiday period in the Northern Territory on Monday, April 15, signaling a continued effort to address community safety concerns in Alice Springs.
Ashley McGuire, a woman from Massachusetts, is on a journey to find her husband, who disappeared when she was pregnant. Her call for aid went viral on Facebook, but the post has now been removed.

What is the bizarre story of the husband's disappearance?

Ashley's husband, Charlie, seemingly abandoned her | Image: Facebook

Ashley's husband, Charlie, seemingly abandoned her when she needed him the most, claiming he wanted a different life and even changing his contact information.



The tale went viral after a 'X' user published a screenshot, piquing the interest of the entire internet. "Hi, this is my husband, Charles Withers. He enjoys being the center of attention, but I'm not sure he'll enjoy this," Ashley wrote in a post shared with the popular Facebook group "Are We Dating the Same Guy" last Saturday.

When did the husband leave?

"Last year, when I was pregnant with our youngest baby, he decided being a husband and a dad wasn't the lifestyle he wanted anymore and he ghosted, like gone without a trace."

Ashley is currently trying to divorce Charles | Image: Facebook

Ashley is currently trying to divorce Charles (who now goes by the name Charlie), and in her search for him, she resorted to the internet for assistance. "If you know him, if you're working with him, if you're dating him or friends with him, can you please have him get in touch with me or let me know where I can find him," she said.



How did people on the internet help the woman?

Since then, thousands of people have rallied around Ashley, with many online detectives channeling their inner Sherlock Holmes to help find Charlie. Some have already identified Charlie's alleged Twitter account and messages from his reported Bumble account.

In an unexpected turn of events, less than 24 hours after Ashley's original plea, other women from the Texas chapter of the "Are We Dating the Same Guy" Facebook group came forward, claiming they had matched with Charlie on dating apps, according to a viral TikTok video.

Fast forward to less than 24 hours after Ashley's plea went viral, when she posted an update claiming she had gotten enough information to locate her estranged spouse.

"I've gotten more than enough information to locate him," the appreciative mother wrote in a follow-up Facebook post. "I have literally hundreds of messages to sort through, some with information and some with support, and I appreciate all of them," she said in a statement.

Charlie Withers abandoned his pregnant wife & children a year ago. His wife was

looking for him so she could serve him divorce papers & made a post on Facebook. 14 hours later, he was found. Heres the backstory.. pic.twitter.com/G9mUo9OPnH   DaddyMO (@therealdaddymo1) April 8, 2024

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
The largest bank in Canada, the Royal Bank of Canada, terminated its Chief Financial Officer Nadine Ahn after conducting an investigation into a reported personal relationship she had with another employee, as per the New York Post.



According to a bank statement reported by Reuters on April 9, RBC initiated an investigation after becoming aware of "allegations" against Ahn. The investigation uncovered that she had a previously undisclosed close personal relationship with another employee, resulting in preferential treatment for the employee, including promotion and compensation increases.

shutterstock

The report further stated that as a consequence of the investigation's findings, both Nadine Ahn and the other employee implicated have been terminated from their positions at the bank.



No Evidence Of Work-Related Misconduct By Nadine Ahn Or The Employee In Question Was Found In The Investigation.

The investigation did not uncover any evidence of misconduct by the former CFO or the other employee related to RBC's previously issued financial statements, its strategy, or its financial and business performance.

Royal Bank Of Canada Has Appointed A New CFO

Royal Bank of Canada has announced the appointment of Katherine Gibson as interim Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately, following the departure of Nadine Ahn.

Nadine Ahns Association With Royal Bank Of Canada

shutterstock

Before becoming the Chief Financial Officer in September 2021, Nadine Ahn served as the head of investor relations at RBC.



Ahn began her career at the Royal Bank of Canada in 2002 as a senior manager for funds transfer pricing and corporate treasury. Over the years, she held various positions within the bank, steadily advancing her career. In 2021, she made history as the first female Chief Financial Officer at RBC, a position she held after serving as the senior vice president of wholesale finance and investor relations for five years.

Ahn was reportedly being groomed as a potential successor to chief executive Dave McKay. Had she ascended to this role, she would have made history as the first female CEO of a major bank in Canada.

Nadine Ahns Salary

According to Bloomberg, her direct pay in the fiscal year 2023 amounted to Rs 24 Crore including Rs 3.9 crore in bonuses and stock awards.
Sixty members of the House of Representatives, under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, reportedly loyal to former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, called on the partys acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to tender his resignation letter.

It was gathered that the 60 lawmakers led by the PDP member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, called out Damagum to resign, accusing him of working with the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The opposition lawmakers also accused party leader of plotting to use the Federal High Court to legalise the extension of the tenure of Rivers State Local Government Areas Chairmen.

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Reacting to the development, on Monday, the Minority Leader of the House and a known political associate of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Wike, Mr Kingsley Chinda, said:

We demand the immediate resignation of Damagun as Acting National Chairman of PDP for anti-party activities and allow the North Central to produce the Acting Chairman as clearly stated in the PDP Constitution or watch us reconsider our membership of the party in the months ahead if the right thing is not done.

We also call for the removal of Damagun by the partys National Executive Committee with further sanctions against him for his anti-party activities.

It is our call on Damagum to immediately resign so that the party can midwife a process and hand over to someone from North Central in line with the provisions of our great party.

READ MORE: Why I Dumped Labour Party For PDP  New Deputy Governor Reveals

It is also our call to the leaders of our party from the North Central, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Senators David Mark, Bukola Saraki, Abba Moro, Gabriel Suswam and Babangida Aliyu, to rise up now and save the soul of the part, Ugochinyere said on behalf of his colleagues.

We also call for the removal of Damagun by the partys National Executive Committee with further sanctions against him for his anti-party activities.

It is our call on Damagum to immediately resign so that the party can midwife a process and hand over to someone from North Central in line with the provisions of our great party.

It is also our call to the leaders of our party from the North Central, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Senators David Mark, Bukola Saraki, Abba Moro, Gabriel Suswam and Babangida Aliyu, to rise up now and save the soul of the part, Ugochinyere said on behalf of his colleagues.
A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja has remanded a Binance executive, identified as Tigran Gambaryan in Kuje correctional centre pending the determination of his bail application.

The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after Tigran pleaded not guilty to the money laundering charges leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday.

Recall that the anti-graft agency had accused Binance, Tigran, and fleeing Nadeem Anjarwalla of concealing the source of the $35,400, 000 generated as revenue by Binance in Nigeria knowing that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activity.

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However, Binance Holdings Limited and Tigrans arrangement were stalled on April 4 following an objection from his counsel, Mark Mordi, (SAN).

It was gathered that Mordi had insisted that his client could not be arraigned following the failure of the EFCC to perfect service on Binance Holdings Limited.

However, the counsel for the EFCC, E.E. Iheanacho, noted that the second defendant was a representative of Binance in the country, adding that the charge was severed on him on behalf of the company, but it was rejected.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Nwite said the service on Gambaryan on behalf of the company was proper.

He held that Section 478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act stipulates that service must be effected on a chief agent of a company within the jurisdiction.

He said: Does the second defendant qualify as an agent of Binance?

READ MORE: Arrest Of Binance Officials Shows Govt Is Working  Obanikoro

From the above statement, the second defendant is the duly appointed representative of Binance. The second defendant is bound to receive a summons on behalf of Binance.

The service of the second defendant on behalf of the first defendant is proper. The court should proceed with the arraignment of the defendants.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter till April 18 for the ruling on Gambaryans bail application and May 2 for commencement of trial.
The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration has assured Nigerians that the current cost of living for Nigerians is a temporary situation.

The Federal Government which revealed that things will get better soon, gave the assurance in Sokoto State on Monday through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

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Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of a food distribution at the Government House in Sokoto, Idris emphasized that the distribution of grains formed an integral part of a comprehensive intervention program being implemented by the Federal Government.

This program, he said, aims to alleviate the hardships faced by the people and stimulate sustainable development and prosperity for all citizens.

He further announced the release of 42,000 metric tonnes (MT) of various food commodities from the National Strategic Food Reserve.

READ ALSO: Petrol Wouldve Cost N1,500 Per Litre If Not For Our Intervention  NLC

These essential supplies, he said, will be distributed to vulnerable Nigerians across the country.

Idris who highlighted Tinubus concern regarding the escalating food prices exemplified his commitment by the approval of the distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains, including sorghum, millet, and maize, as well as 60,000 metric tonnes of rice through millers.

According to Idris, it was under no illusion that the Presidents policy reform would be without some transitional pains.

The government calls for continued patience and understanding from Nigerians as we push through these difficult times into a season of abundant benefits and truly renewed Hope. As the President never fails to emphasize, these headwinds we face are only temporary, and we will surely overcome them, the Minister said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered N30 billion in the investigation of suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu and ex-Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Authority (NSIPA), Halima Shehu.

The anti-graft agency also disclosed that it has placed 50 bank accounts under watch in the ongoing probe.

Ola Olukoyede, the Chairman of EFCC disclosed this in the March edition of the anti-graft agencys monthly e-magazine, EFCCAlert.

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He said: We have laws and regulations guiding our investigations. Nigerians will also know that they are already on suspension and this is based on the investigations we have done, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proved to Nigerians that he is ready to fight corruption.

Moreover, with respect to this particular case, we have recovered over N30 billion, which is already in the coffers of the Federal Government. It takes time to conclude investigations; we started this matter less than six weeks ago.

READ ALSO: Betta Edu Saga: There Must Be No Window-Dressing, Those Culpable Must Be Brought To Book  Obi

There are cases that take years to investigate. There are so many angles to it. And we need to follow through with some of the discoveries that we have seen. Nigerians should give us time on this matter; we have professionals on this case and they need to do things right. There are so many leads here and there.

As it is now, we are investigating over 50 bank accounts that we have traced money into. That is no childs play. Thats a big deal. Then you ask about my staff strength. And again, we have thousands of other cases that we are working on.

Olukoyede reiterated the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fighting corruption.

Tinubu had suspended Edu for alleged financial misappropriation.

The president also suspended Social Investment Programme while directing the EFCC to take over the case and probe both embattled officials.
The Federal Government, on Tuesday, extended the public holiday for the Eid-El-Fitr celebration to Thursday.

Recall that the Interior Ministry had announced a two-day  Tuesday and Wednesday  holiday for the festivities.

However, the new moon was not sighted in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, meaning the Eid celebration will take place on Wednesday.

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READ ALSO: FG Declares Tuesday, Wednesday Holidays For Eid El-Fitr Celebrations

This prompted the Federal Government to add an extra day to the already-declared public holiday.

The Federal Government has approved Thursday 11th April 2024 as an additional public holiday to celebrate this years Eid-El-Fitr.

The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji Ojo while congratulating the Muslim Ummah for a successful completion of a month of spiritual rejuvenation reiterates President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR firm commitment to providing a safe and prosperous Nigeria for all to thrive, Permanent Secretary Aishetu Gogo Ndayako of the Ministry said in a statement.
An High Court sitting in Kano State has fixed April 17, 2024, for the arraignment of the immediate past governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife, son, and five others, for alleged bribery.

It was gathered that the former governor and others will be arraigned on eight counts bordering on a $413,000 bribery allegation, diversion, and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N1.38bn, among others.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the State Government, which initiated the criminal suit against the respondents, in a statement issued by the state Attorney General, Haruna Dederi, declared its readiness to present 15 witnesses to testify before Justice Usman Naaba of State High Court number four.

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READ MORE: Dollar Video: Kano Files Eight-Count Charge Against Ganduje, Wife, Six Others

Dederi said: It is very true. We have filed the case and its going to hold on the 17th of April, 2024. What I cannot confirm is whether he is served or not, but he will definitely be served.

What he (Ganduje) doesnt understand is that you cannot run away from the evil day, it will definitely come to you, and this will even serve as a deterrence to all of us that are also in government now.

He was saying that we cant prosecute him, forgetting that the offence also falls under the category of the state offences.

Its not totally a federal affair and we have even appealed to Justice Liman ruling on that.
Bello Bodejo, the detained President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has denied linking Nasarawa Governor, Abdullahi Sule to his saga with security agencies.

He disclosed this through Mohammed Sheriff, his lawyer, on Monday.

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According to him, he was yet to make any valid statement in his custody at the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

He was responding to a media publication linking the Governor to the alleged crime.

In the alleged confessional statement sighted by Punch, Bodejo said the State Governor pressurized him to form the militia, Kungiya Zaman Lafiya.

Reacting via a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, Sheriff said: Our attention has been drawn to the publication which unfortunately has been lifted and reproduced by many online media.

We hereby make this rebuttal to the statement regarding the alleged creation of ethnic militia by Bello Badejo being circulated by some sections of the media.

The publication purports to be quoting our client Abdullahi Bello Bodejo in a supposed extra-judicial statement to investigators.

READ ALSO: Working With Two Deputy Governors Wasnt Envisaged  Obaseki

We refute such publication as unreliable and such should be discountenance by all.

According to him, he has been in constant touch with Abdullahi Bello Bodejo who is in the custody of Defence Intelligence Agency and can confirm that he was yet to make any valid statement to the Defence Intelligence Agency.

We are therefore shocked as to the source of the purported statement credited to him.

We urge a fair and unbiased approach to this matter, where all relevant facts are carefully examined, and legal procedures are followed diligently.

We trust that all concerned will uphold the principles of justice and act in accordance with the law.

We hasten to call on members of the public to disregard statements that do not emanate from fair and accurate report of judicial proceedings in public interest.

The matter is sub judice, Its important to avoid making comments that could potentially influence ongoing legal proceedings or misrepresent the facts, he concluded.

Bodejo, who is facing a three-count terrorism charge, was arrested in January in Malia, Nasarawa and kept in the custody of DIA.

The offence was said to be punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts when arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.


Nigerias former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, accused the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration of always insulting its way out of inquiries made into the activities of the government.

This stems from a response made the Tinubu government, which faulted the comments made by Atiku on the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

Recall that Atiku had, in a statement on Sunday issued by his media aide, Paul Ibe, said the Bola Tinubu administration is engaged in questionable dealings over the coastal highway construction.

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He said Tinubu puts personal business interests before Nigerian infrastructure and there is so much secrecy with the project.

Reacting to Atikus comments in an interview with The Punch, the Special Adviser to Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the claims as erroneous and irresponsible.

READ ALSO: 60 PDP Reps Demand Damagums Resignation Over Alleged Anti-Party Activities

Atiku however knocked the Tinubu government, saying it could not continue to keep silent on how much of public funds would be spent on the project at a time Nigeria was still facing dire economic challenges.

Speaking via a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku dared Tinubu to disclose the full cost of the Lagos-Calabar highway project and how it got the design, and right of way for the project in seven months.

The former Vice President questioned the Tinubu administrations decision to award the contract to Gilbert Chagourys Hitech without a competitive bidding.

He had also wondered why the Tinubu administration released N1.06tn for the pilot phase or 6% of the project, which begins at Eko Atlantic and is expected to terminate at the Lekki Deep Sea Port.

The statement read in part, The Tinubu administration cannot continue to respond to public inquiry with insults. They must come clean on this project because Nigerians deserve to know the truth. I, therefore, present six posers to the administration.

1. How much is the total cost of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway?

2. Why is the project being funded by the Nigerian government despite being a PPP?

3. Why is the project taking off from Chagourys Eko Atlantic?

4. Why is N1.06tn being spent on the pilot phase, which is just 47km?

5. Why did the N1.06tn not get the approval of the National Assembly?

6. Why wasnt there a competitive bidding for the project?

7. Finally, how did the Tinubu administration get the design as well as the right of way in just 7 months, since it claims the past administration of Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari never touched the project?

Atiku asked the Tinubu administration to, in the spirit of the Freedom of Information Act, respond to the questions line by line instead of taking the mundane and jejune route of insulting their way out of every inquiry.
Funke Akindele, a Nigerian actress and producer, has responded after being called out by late actress Adejumokes brother for eye-service.

Amid the death of Aderounmu Adejumoke, Funke Akindele, who starred in a film with her, expressed condolences over the loss.

However, Adejumokes brother stated that the actress never contacted his sister during her illness, despite repeated calls.

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His allegation provoked outrage online, with many criticising the actress for it.

Funke Akindele took to Instagram to share a remark about wanting to start respecting energies and stop chasing people who dont resonate with her.

READ MORE: Keep Your Family Away From Online People, Demons Are Here Too  Frank Edwards, Addresses His Colleagues

She wrote,

Start respecting your energy and stop chasing people who dont resonate with you.
Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubus government to return to status quo over the tariff hike by electricity distribution companies.

The National Secretary of the Association, Nnamdi Ajibo, made this known in a statement on Monday while reacting to 245 per cent hike for Band A electricity customers.

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Recall that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission approved a tariff increase on Tuesday last week for Band A customers.

Reacting to the hike, SSAEAC said the government had not done anything in Nigerias power sector to warrant such an astronomical increase in tariff.

While describing the increase as insensitive and unacceptable, it stated that Tinubus administration could not implement all of its renewed hope agendas in one year.

READ ALSO: Electricity Subsidy Ended In 2022  Falana Queries Hike In Tariff

The workers added that the government should also reverse the failed privatization of the power sector.

The statement read: We demand an urgent reversal to the status quo and acknowledge that exchange rates have also gone so high, thereby impacting the purchasing power of the common man.

This government cannot implement the renewed hope agenda in one year. Worldwide, no nation treats its citizens this way and expects them to remain silent.

There is nothing wrong in subsidizing electricity and other essential aspects of the national lives of our citizens.

The federal government should, as a matter of urgency, reverse the entire privatization exercise and provide an enabling environment that will guarantee businesses to strive before searching for good managers to take over the management of the sector.
No less than three electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) have blamed Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for not supplying 20-hour power to consumers on Band A feeders amid the recent tariff hike.

The Abuja, Benin, and Kano electricity DisCos revealed this in separate notices on Monday.

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Recall that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved a tariff increase last week for Band A customers who get at least 20 hours of power supply.

However, the DisCos, on their various social media platforms, appealed to the customers in Band A, seeking their understanding of their failure to meet the required minimum service level.

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) said the prolonged power outage being experienced in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory was due to a technical fault at the Gwagwalada Transmission Station, owned by the TCN.

This is to appeal to residents of Gwako, University of Abuja Staff Quarters, Giri, University of Abuja Permanent Site, Iddo Sauki, and Iddo Sabo to bear with us as the prolonged power outage currently being experienced due to a technical fault at the Gwagwalada Transmission Station, owned by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Electricity Subsidy Ended In 2022  Falana Queries Hike In Tariff

Also, customers on 4 X 15MVA 33/11KV Kukwaba Injection Substation are currently out of supply due to a technical fault, affecting residents of Games Village, Moshood Abiola National Stadium, The Eye Clinic, and its environs, AEDC disclosed.

Similarly, the Benin Electricity Distribution Company apologised to its customers on about 13 Band A feeders for not being able to supply them with up to 20 hours of electricity as directed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.

We sincerely apologise for being unable to deliver the estimated supply hours on your feeder. This was due to TCN system outages and tripping on IBEDC feeders, it claimed.

Moreso, Kano DisCo apologised to Band A 33KV Gaskiya feeder customers, saying there was a circuit breaker issue.

This is to sincerely apologise for the disruptions in your electricity supply in the past week. We understand the inconvenience of unstable power and deeply regret any inconvenience it has caused.

The reason behind the inconsistency in supply on the 33KV Gaskiya feeder was a circuit breaker issue. The TCN technical team has successfully resolved the circuit breaker issue, the DisCo claimed.
Some yet to be identified gunmen, suspected to be military personnel have arrested Sobomabo Jackrich, the Rivers State governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement in the 2023 general election.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that two of his aides who were present at his residence in Usokun, Degema Local Government Area of the state during the incident were reportedly killed, and their bodies taken away.

It was gathered that the development took place around 3:00 am on Monday in an operation that lasted several hours.

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Jackrich, who is said to be known as Egberipapa was a former militant leader who embraced amnesty during the tenure of late President, Umar YarAdua.

READ MORE: Ill Continue To Defeat Political Harlots In Rivers  Wike

However, hia media aide, Soibibo Sokari, confirmed the killing and the kidnapping of his principal to PUNCH, said: Yes it is true he was abducted this morning.

Two persons were killed, and their bodies were carted away along with him. We are still following up on the incident to get more details.

We dont know exactly who is behind it. But as the details unfold, we will let the public know about it.

However, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed told the above media that it was not a case of kidnap but that Jackrich is with security personnel.

She said: It is not a kidnapping. He is with some security personnel. That is all I can say for now.
Edo States new Deputy Governor, Omobayo Godwins, says he dumped the Labour Party (LP) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because of its political prospects.

According to him, PDP promises a bright future for him politically.

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The 37-year-old, who was sworn in on Monday after the state assembly impeached Philip Shaibu as Edo deputy governor, disclosed this on Channels Televisions Politics Today.

Godwins furthered that he has grassroot support from his base in Akoko Edo, one of the local governments in the Edo North Senatorial District to boost the chances of Ighodalo, who hails from Ewohimi in the Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo Central Senatorial District.

READ ALSO: Edo Assembly Impeaches Philip Shaibu As Deputy Governor

He said: To be frank, the Labour Party is not just a party, but a movement I hold dearly. If I have the opportunity over and over, I would continue to thank them. It was the Labour Party that gave me the platform. So, what informed it is, Akoko-Edo is still my major project, and we are predominantly APC, PDP.

According to him, Labour Party has changed entirely from what it used to be during the 2023 polls when he lost the poll for the Federal House of Representatives seat for the Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency.

He cited irreconcilable differences and squabbles among the partys members as some of his reasons.
Williams Uchemba, a popular humorous actor, has warned young men to avoid engaging in fetish acts for money.

Uchembas suggestion came after watching a terrifying video of young men doing avoidable things to get rich.

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The actor posted the footage on his Instagram and Facebook accounts, claiming that the boys were Yahoo Plus individuals doing voodoo to acquire clients.

Uchemba, who described the men as young boys seeking quick fortune, criticised the behaviour among them.

He categorically identified them as Yahoo Plus users looking for ways to accumulate instant wealth.

Uchemba highlighted the frightening repercussions of such a method of riches acquisition, stating that the devil ensures he takes something far more important before giving them such money.

He claimed that boys like these are destined for eternal torment.

READ MORE: Moses Was Not Raised By His Biological Father  Reno Omokri Gives Insight On DNA Debate

Captioning the post, he wrote: This is the fastest way to destroy your life.

When you hear the sins of the fathers that are passed down to their children, this is it. These guys are the fathers and they are creating generational curses for their unborn children.

In case you are young and looking to follow this path, I have just one thing to say to you, it wont end well.

SEE POST:
Philadelphia schools were honored last week as best and most improved in categories like PSSA math, dropout reduction and graduation rate. Read more

The Philadelphia School District threw a party on Friday, honoring some of its top-performing and most-improved schools.

It was the first incarnation of Accelerate Philly awards, named for Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr.s strategic plan and vision for the school system.

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These awards recognize the hard work and dedication of our school-based staff, and I applaud their accomplishments as we work to accelerate academic achievement to make Philadelphia the fastest-improving, large urban school district and prepare all students to realize any future they desire, Watlington said in a statement.

The schools that took honors are:

PSSA Math

Most improved: K-8, Houston (31.4% proficiency, up 20.1 percentage points); elementary school, Hackett (50.3%, up 13.6 points); middle school, Middle Years Alternative (14.6%, up 5.2 points). Excellence in proficiency: K-8, Greenfield (78.5% proficiency); elementary school, A.S. Jenks (62.8%); middle school, Baldi (36.2%).

PSSA English Language Arts

Most improved: K-8, Sharswood (38.4% proficiency, up 10.1 percentage points); elementary school, Girard (34.7%, up 11.9 points). Excellence in proficiency: K-8, Greenfield (88.6% proficiency); elementary school, Anne Frank (62.2%); middle school, Baldi (57.1%).

Third grade PSSA English Language Arts

Most improved: K-8, Waring (54.6% proficiency, up 35.5 percentage points); elementary school, Howe (40%, up 21.5 points). Excellence in proficiency: K-8, Meredith (92.9% proficiency); elementary school, Hackett (67.7%).

Biology Keystone

Most improved: Bartram (17.9% proficiency, up 15.9 percentage points), Overbrook (18.2%, up 15.8 points), Philadelphia Virtual Academy (43.1%, up 29.5 points). Excellence in proficiency: Central (80.2% proficiency), Masterman (98.3%), Science Leadership Academy (69.4%).

Algebra I Keystone

Most improved: Martin Luther King (15.9% proficiency, up 13.7 percentage points), Philadelphia Virtual Academy (35.7%, up 11.7 points), Strawberry Mansion (13%, up 10.6 points). Highest in proficiency: Academy at Palumbo (72.7% proficiency), Central (88.2%), Masterman (100%).

Literature Keystone

Most improved: Kensington (38.5% proficiency, up 29.2 percentage points), Lankenau (74.7%, up 27.6 points), Overbrook (38.3%, up 8.5 points). Highest in proficiency: Central (98.4% proficiency), Masterman (100%), Science Leadership Academy (96.7%).

NOCTI (career and technical education exam)

Most improved: Lincoln (52.4% proficiency, up 14.8 percentage points), Parkway West (93.8%, up 18 points), West Philadelphia (20%, up 15.4 points). Highest in proficiency: Franklin Learning Center (84.9% proficiency), George Washington (90.9%), Parkway West (93.8%).

Student Attendance

Most improved: Fitler (74.4% of students attending 90% of instructional days or more, up 21.8 percentage points), Richard R. Wright (46.7%, up 21.6%), W.D. Kelley (66.3%, up 21.1 points). Highest: Penn Alexander (96.6%).

Teacher Attendance

Most improved: J.H. Brown (77.4% of teachers attending 90% of work days, up 32.6 points), Bethune (92.1%, up 38.4 points), Clemente (70.6%, up 39.3 points). Highest: J.H. Brown (77.4%), Parkway Center City Middle College (100%), Girard (100%), Workshop School (100%).

Graduation and Dropout Reduction
Some Temple University faculty think the school should make public the names of finalists for the presidents job, given that the last leader chosen through a search resigned less than two years on the job.

They pointed to Bucks County Community College, which brought three presidential finalists to campus and made their names public before, last month, choosing Patrick M. Jones, a professor of music and chancellor of Penn State Schuylkill. The University of Minnesota in February announced the names of finalists for its presidents post. And both Indiana State University and Tennessee State University announced the names of finalists for their top jobs last month.

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The University of Arizona did so last month, too, for its provost job.

The consequences of the actions are too dire, too worrisome, to just say we trust you to do this, said Steve Newman, an associate professor of English. We dont, because of the track record.

 READ MORE: Temple officially launches the search for its next president

Temples last president, Jason Wingard, resigned last March amid concerns about his handling of a 42-day graduate student worker strike, dropping enrollment, campus safety, and overall leadership. JoAnne A. Epps stepped in as acting president but died suddenly in September after becoming ill on stage at a university event. Richard M. Englert, who had been president previously, is currently in the role again.

Mitchell L. Morgan, chair of the board of trustees, said the search advisory committee, which he is on, decided against making the finalists names public.

 READ MORE: Some Temple faculty are questioning the universitys leaders as they prepare to hire a new president. Heres what theyre saying.

We believe, based on advice from our professional search firm and input from candidates, it tends to dissuade the best prospects, who frequently hold current senior positions at other institutions and rely on confidentiality in deciding to participate in the search, he said.

The universitys search advisory committee said in a statement this week that it was on track to name a new president this spring and had unanimously narrowed the pool to a very small group of highly qualified individuals.

Most local universities that have gone through recent presidential searches have not publicized the names of their finalists, concerned that it may deter some high-quality candidates who fear that it would jeopardize their current jobs. Nationally, the picture varies.

 READ MORE: What does the Temple community want from its next president? Heres what to know from a new report.

A senior partner at the search firm WittKieffer, which is not involved in Temples search, recently wrote in the Chronicle of Higher Education that 34% of searches the firm conducted over the last four years were open, meaning finalists names were announced publicly. The majority, wrote Ryan Crawford, were at public institutions where state law requires that finalists meet with the campus. (Temple is only partially public and not fully subject to Pennsylvanias Right to Know law.)

One-quarter of WittKieffers searches were closed, meaning that only the search committee knew their identities. And the rest were a hybrid in which finalists met with select groups of faculty, students and others who promised confidentiality, he wrote.

At Temple, several finalists have met with a handful of employees from enrollment, safety, and other areas who are not on the search committee, Morgan said. Those employees signed confidentiality agreements.

But Jeffrey Doshna, president of the Temple Association of University Professors, the faculty union, said more widespread disclosure was needed.

We need transparency in the process, he said. There should be open sessions where they can talk to the full breadth of the university community.

Newman and fellow tenured Temple professors Mohammad F. Kiani and Eric Borguet said they also are concerned that some of the same trustees who selected Wingard are on the search committee again, and that of the 17 committee members, 10 are trustees. Members of the Temple faculty union a year ago voted no-confidence in Morgan, as well as provost Gregory N. Mandel.

Two deans, the president of student government, and two professors, including Shohreh Amini, president of the faculty senate, are among others on the committee.

The university is using Spencer Stuart, an executive search firm that led presidential searches at the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University, and Loyola University Chicago. It also has hired a second firm, the Collective Genius, to hold in-person and virtual meetings with faculty, students and other key stakeholders to get input on what skills and experience the next president should have.

The Temple community wants an experienced leader with a passion for higher education and a strong commitment to teaching, research, and service, according to Collective Genius, which released a University Voices report in November.
Jeremy Allen White with his Emmy for best lead actor in a comedy series for "The Chef." White will portray Bruce Springsteen in an upcoming biopic. ( AP Photo/Ashley Landis ) Read more

The buzzy upcoming Bruce Springsteen film Deliver Me From Nowhere officially has its lead: Jeremy Allen White. The biopic, based on the book of the same title by Warren Zanes, follows the making of Springsteens 1982 iconic solo album Nebraska.

A24 had been an early contender to distribute the film, but 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell and David Greenbaum, the new head of Disneys live action arm and 20th Century, are reportedly big Springsteen fans and managed to snag the film after what Deadline called a wild weekend of a bidding battle. The pair also attended Springsteens concert in Los Angeles on Sunday.

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White, star of Hulus Emmy-winning drama-comedy The Bear, will play the young, moody Springsteen, the film confirmed. Hell wrap up filming for season four of The Bear in June before coming to New Jersey to shoot Deliver Me From Nowhere this fall. White doesnt have a singing background, though he did participate in a bad a cappella group in a joke commercial for Shameless, the Showtime series in which the LL Cool J and Goldlink fan played a smart but struggling son.

The Boss wrote and recorded Nebraska alone in a room he rented in Colts Neck, N.J., as he grappled with fame, depression, and anxiety. Though he initially didnt plan to release the tracks, they are still considered some of the most resonant and emotional songs of his career. Springsteen and his manager, Jon Landau, are involved with Deliver Me From Nowhere, which will also reportedly feature songs from The River and Born in the U.S.A.

Zanes book covers Springsteens mental health troubles and the personal struggles he wrote into Nebraska. Scott Cooper, known for directing The Pale Blue Eye, Black Mass, and Crazy Heart (another adaptation based on a musicians life), will write the script and direct.

Amid the news about the upcoming film, Springsteen has been on tour but also recently appeared onscreen as himself in a hilarious cameo on the final season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Nurses at Temple University Hospital-Jeanes Campus approved on Monday a new three-year contract that includes wage increases.

Jeanes nurses will receive a 3% wage increase in each of the contracts years, according to the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, which represents the nurses.

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Other contract provisions include: a bonus for full-time nurses, creation of a new committee with nurses and administrators to review staffing issues, and a week of paid leave for nurses who experience workplace violence.

The vote ends months of negotiations, and the threat of a strike. The previous contract for the roughly 375 nurses working at the Jeanes campus in Northeast Philadelphia expired last November. The nurses voted in late February to allow their unions bargaining committee to hand Temple a 10-day strike notice.

 READ MORE: Nurses and techs at Fox Chase authorize a strike as negotiations for their first union contracts drag on

Nearly 190 of the nurses voted on the new contract, and 90% of them voted to approve.

[The contract] is a testament to the good that can happen when employers and employees come together for the benefit of the organization as a whole, Kim OConnell, a critical-care nurse at Jeanes, said in a statement.

Temple did not respond to request for comment on deadline.

More than 500 nurses and techs at Fox Chase Cancer Center, which is adjacent to Jeanes, continue to negotiate with Temple for their first contracts.
PONTIAC, Mich.  The first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting were sentenced to at least 10 years in prison Tuesday as a Michigan judge lamented missed opportunities that could have prevented their teenage son from possessing a gun and killing four students in 2021.

These convictions are not about poor parenting, Oakland County Judge Cheryl Matthews said. These convictions confirm repeated acts, or lack of acts, that could have halted an oncoming runaway train.

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The hearing in a crowded, tense courtroom was the climax of an extraordinary effort to make others besides the 15-year-old attacker criminally responsible for a school shooting.

Jennifer and James Crumbley did not know Ethan Crumbley had a handgun  he called it his beauty  in a backpack when he was dropped off at Oxford High School. But prosecutors convinced jurors the parents still played a disastrous role in the violence.

The Crumbleys were accused of not securing the newly purchased gun at home and acting indifferently to signs of their sons deteriorating mental health, especially when confronted with a chilling classroom drawing earlier that same day.

The Crumbleys earlier this year were convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

The blood of our children is on your hands, too, Craig Shilling told the couple, wearing a hoodie with the image of son Justin Shilling on his chest.

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of shooting victim Madisyn Baldwin, said the Crumbleys had failed at parenting.

While you were purchasing a gun for your son and leaving it unlocked, Beausoleil said, I was helping her finish her college essays.

Prosecutor Karen McDonald asked the judge to stretch beyond the sentencing guidelines and order a minimum 10-year prison sentence.

Defense attorneys sought to keep the Crumbleys out of prison, noting they have already spent nearly 2 1/2 years in jail, unable to afford a $500,000 bond after their arrest.

They will get credit for that jail time and become eligible for parole after serving 10 years in custody. If release from prison is denied, they could be held for up to 15 years.

Five deputies in the suburban Detroit courtroom stood closely over the couple, and more lined the walls. James Crumbley, 47, had been recorded in jail making threats toward McDonald.

Before being sentenced, he stood and insisted he did not know his son was deeply troubled.

My heart is really broken for everybody involved. ... I have cried for you and the loss of your children more times than I can count, he said.

The couple had separate trials in Oakland County court, 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Detroit. Jurors saw the teens violent drawing on his school assignment and heard testimony about the crucial hours before the attack.

Ethan Crumbley sketched images of a gun, a bullet and a wounded man on a math paper, accompanied by despondent phrases: The thoughts wont stop. Help me. Blood everywhere. My life is useless.

Ethan Crumbley had told a counselor he was sad  a grandmother had died and his only friend suddenly had moved away  but said the drawing only reflected his interest in creating video games.

His parents were called to a hasty meeting at school that lasted less than 15 minutes. They did not mention that the gun resembled one James Crumbley had purchased just four days earlier, a Sig Sauer 9 mm.

Mother and son had fired 50 rounds at a shooting range and took 50 more home. Jennifer Crumbley described the gun on social media as an early Christmas gift.

School staff did not demand that the teen go home during the meeting but were surprised when the Crumbleys did not volunteer it. Instead, they left with a list of mental health providers and said they were returning to work.

Later that day, on Nov. 30, 2021, their son pulled a handgun from his backpack and began shooting, killing Shilling, Baldwin, Tate Myre and Hana St. Juliana, and wounding seven other people. No one had checked the bag.

Ethan Crumbley, now 17, is serving a life sentence for murder and other crimes.

The parents ignored things that would make a reasonable person feel the hair on the back of their neck stand up, the judge said. Opportunity knocked over and over again  louder and louder  and was ignored. No one answered.

Jennifer Crumbley, 46, began her remarks by expressing deepest sorrow about the shooting. She also said her comment at her trial about looking back and not doing anything differently was completely misunderstood.

My son did seem so normal. I didnt have a reason to do anything different, Jennifer Crumbley said.

She blamed the school for not giving her the bigger picture about Ethan Crumbley: sleeping in class, watching a video of a mass shooting, writing negative thoughts about his family.

The prosecution has tried to mold us into the type of parents society wants to believe are so horrible only a school or mass shooter could be bred from, Jennifer Crumbley said. We were good parents. We were the average family.

During the trials, there was no testimony from specialists about Ethan Crumbleys mental health. But the judge, over defense objections, allowed the jury to see excerpts from his journal.

I have zero help for my mental problems and its causing me to shoot up the ... school, he wrote. I want help but my parents dont listen to me so I cant get any help.

Relatives of the victims were not impressed by the Crumbleys courtroom comments. Beausoleil said they were portraying themselves as victims.

The remorse that they were showing has nothing to do with taking accountability for their actions, Steve St. Juliana, the father of Hana, said outside court. Im sure they were sad people lost their lives. Im sure theyre sad their son is in jail, sad theyre in jail. ... Whats important is for them to recognize that they made mistakes.

The judge will decide later whether the Crumbleys will be allowed to have contact with their son while the three are in separate state prisons, though McDonald, the prosecutor, said the Corrections Department typically prohibits communication between co-defendants.

Defense lawyers said the Crumbleys have a constitutional right to be a family. But McDonald wondered about the parents of the victims.

The parents in that courtroom have been deprived of their constitutional right to be parents, and that matters, she told reporters.
Wearing special glasses Addis Getnet (front, left), 19, of Lansdowne, and others watch the partial eclipse during a free community-wide eclipse viewing party at the Franklin Institute. Read more

About 3:20 p.m., it was left to 7-year-old Gonzalo Octavian to tidily summarize the cosmic phenomena that he and fellow Philadelphians and millions of others witnessed on Monday afternoon.

Looking through the cartoonish protective glasses that he had placed ever so carefully over his regular glasses  this was no time for eye damage  as a subtle twilight settled over the region, he declared, Its a banana moon.

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More properly, it was a banana-shaped carving of the sun executed by the encroaching new moon, but lets credit Gonzalo for a judicious use of poetic license.

For three hours, a form of eclipse-o-mania took over the Philadelphia region, an undeclared holiday, as people looked skyward with their protective eyewear, almost looking as though they expected to greet interplanetary visitors, three days after the region was startled by an earthquake.

For an afternoon, the heavens took precedence over the mundane Monday business of earth.

It wasnt the whole banana around here  the sun was obscured only about 90%  but that was 15% better than the partial eclipse of August 2017, and this time around it wasnt as cloudy in town, although clouds were a shade or two thicker to the west of the city.

At 2:08 p.m., as the first wave of totality was about to darken the spectacular beaches of Mazatlan, on the Pacific coast of Mexico, where it was late morning, the first hints of a shadow crossing the sun reached Philadelphia. They elicited oohs and ahhs on the steps of the Franklin Institute, where hundreds had gathered for an eclipse party.

The spectators leaned their heads back, keeping their eyewear in place, as Derrick Pitts, longtime director of the science museums planetarium and party impresario, advised them to live in the moment and let NASA scientists and other professionals worry about taking the images.

The gathering at the institute was one of several throughout the region, from Independence Mall to Valley Forge National Historic Park to Fairmount Park to the Riverwinds in West Deptford, where people brought lawn chairs, their dogs, and snacks and sat on black benches.

 READ MORE: So you looked at the eclipse without safety glasses. What should you do now?

The skies became cloud-congested in some areas as the show was approaching a peak, at one point eliciting a smattering of Philly-style boos on the Franklin Institute steps.

But most people appeared to make the best of it, including 8-year-old Sadie Moore, who got a day off from school and copped an eclipse-themed chocolate and orange doughnut, courtesy of Federal Donuts, and savored some important family bonding time.

Philly gave parents the option of picking up kids early, while some other districts adjusted dismissal times. Some schools decided that the eclipse would be a learning opportunity for kids such as Gonzalo Octavian, who attends the Antonia Pantoja Charter School in North Philadelphia.

Although it was utterly unrelated to the eclipse, Fridays earthquake, which shook the entire region, evidently had left a residue of fear among some children at the school.

I was scared of everything going pitch black, and the earthquake didnt help, said 9-year-old Gabriela Espinal.

With her moms assurance that everything will be fine, Espinal and her fourth-grade classmates were put at ease after spending the day learning about the eclipse.

Im kind of excited now, but I have to take care of my eyes because I dont want to go blind, Espinal said. The kids watched the eclipse from the schools front yard.

The skies were by no means perfectly clear over Philly  the viewing was much better at the Jersey Shore  and shortly before the peak moment, at least one group decided to pack up a telescope and leave the Franklin Institute steps.

Marcela Knipper was not among those abandoning the party.

She stuck it out, along with her husband, son, and mother, who was visiting from Honduras, and their patience was rewarded.

At 3:50 p.m., as the moon peeled away, a crescent of the sun appeared over 20th and Parkway.

This, she said, was no day for losing hope.

Thats the way life works. You have to be in the present moment and be open to what the present moment offers, she said marveling at the partially covered sun one final moment.

By the way, you can donate your eclipse glasses, even if used. Among the groups accepting them are Astronomers Without Borders, which helps distribute them to Africa, Asia, and South America for eclipse viewing.

Or you can keep them for Phillys next shot at a total solar eclipse on May 1, 2079.

Save the date.

Staff writers Melanie Burney, Kristen A. Graham, Diane Mastrull, and Nick Vadala contributed to this article.
ST. LOUIS  The clock on Taijuan Walkers return to the Phillies starting rotation is about to begin.

Walker is scheduled to start Thursday night and throw 60 to 65 pitches for triple-A Lehigh Valley, manager Rob Thomson said Monday. The righty has been sidelined since the last weekend of spring training by a shoulder impingement, a pinching pain in his joint.

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Thomson outlined a timeline in which the Phillies will increase Walkers workload in 15-pitch increments over three or four starts during a minor-league assignment that can last for as many as 30 days.

Its possible, then, that Walker could rejoin the Phillies rotation by the first week of May.

 READ MORE: As load management creeps into MLB, these Phillies want to play every day: Its a mindset

Keep an eye on the radar readings during Walkers tune-up starts.

Walkers fastball sat in the low 90s in a spring-training start March 20 against the Orioles. He was shut down three days later after feeling soreness before a bullpen session. He simulated three innings of live batting practice Saturday in Washington and averaged basically 90, Thomson said.

Chillier day in a sim game-type situation without a whole lot of adrenaline, Thomson said. So, Im hoping that it goes up as we build.

Walkers velocity varied wildly during stretches last season. Overall, though, his fastball averaged 92.9 mph.

Right-hander Spencer Turnbull, Walkers rotation stand-in, made his second start Monday night in the series opener against the Cardinals. Turnbull tossed five scoreless innings in his Phillies debut last week against the Reds.

Diagnosing Rojas

The Phillies were already leaning to rolling with Johan Rojas in center field for the postseason last year, but a three-game series in St. Louis all but clinched it. Rojas went 5-for-9 with two doubles against the Cardinals.

As the Phillies returned to St. Louis, Rojas was 1-for-22 with six strikeouts and two walks, prompting two questions: Is his confidence taking a hit with only one infield hit? And how much longer can the Phillies stick with him?

 READ MORE: Rhys Hoskins said he expects to get booed in his return to Citizens Bank Park

He seems fine, Thomson said. But I know that youre a young guy in the big leagues and youve got the numbers hes got, its going to weigh on you to a certain degree. But he seems fine.

About that second question: Thomson noted that Rojas isnt chasing as many pitches out of the strike zone. But he isnt making much contact at all, albeit in a small sample. Rojas whiff rate so far is 35.7%, up from 25.9% last season. Hes also swinging at fewer pitches (46.4%, down from 54.4%), which could signal that hes more tentative at the plate.

Hes doing a lot of, not chase, but swing-and-miss right now, Thomson said. Hes just cutting his swing off a little bit instead of staying through it and using the entire field.

Thou shalt not steal

Cristopher Sanchez allowed two stolen bases in his first start last week against the Reds and three more Sunday in Washington. The Phillies allowed a total of five steals in both games, an ignominious feat that hadnt been accomplished against them since Aug. 12, 2018.

So, when Sanchez goes through his next between-starts throwing session, it may look different.

Thomson said Sanchez might move from the bullpen to the regular mound. Or else he might incorporate pickoff throws in the outfield before heading into the bullpen.

 READ MORE: Murphy: It's time for the Phillies to make a call on Johan Rojas. They're at a competitive disadvantage.

Just to work on getting the ball out of his hand a little bit quicker, Thomson said.

The Phillies held a meeting late last season to reinforce to their pitchers the importance of holding runners. J.T. Realmuto routinely has one of the best pop times of any catcher in the league, so paying slightly closer attention to runners could give him additional edge.

Actually, we talked about it again before the last series, Thomson said. Its something that were working on constantly.

Extra bases

Orion Kerkering is scheduled to pitch Tuesday and Thursday for Lehigh Valley and could rejoin the Phillies on Saturday. The young reliever was slowed in spring training by the flu. ... For the second time through the rotation, Thomson matched up Turnbull with backup catcher Garrett Stubbs. Realmuto has caught the other four starters twice apiece. ... Zack Wheeler (0-1, 0.75 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday night against Sonny Gray, who will making his Cardinals debut.
Vice President Kamala Harris visits William Cramp School on Monday. She attended a Philadelphia Democratic Committee event later that evening. Read more

Vice President Kamala Harris sought to rev up Philadelphia Democrats Monday with the Pennsylvania primary just 15 days away.

Following an event at a North Philadelphia elementary school, Harris was whisked to South Philadelphia for a special appearance at the Philadelphia Democratic City Committees annual cocktail party.

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Harris arrived by motorcade at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 Banquet Hall for the event, which was attended by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, Philadelphia Democratic Chair Bob Brady, and other influential names in city politics.

This is the election where we each are being presented with a question, Harris told the group of Philly Democrats, which is, what kind of country do we want to live in?

 READ MORE: Vice President Kamala Harris, in Philly, promotes student debt relief plan

The city will be a key factor as Harris and President Joe Biden seek to hold onto Pennsylvania in November. The state has helped decide the last two presidential elections.

You all in Philadelphia  in Pennsylvania are killing it, Harris said, citing the recent elections of Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sen. John Fetterman, both Democrats. You are on a winning streak like we have not seen.

She criticized former President Donald Trump over abortion. Trump has repeatedly boasted about his role in overturning Roe v. Wade, but on Monday he distanced himself from efforts to enact abortion restrictions at the federal level and said the issue should be left to the states.

We each have the power to determine the outcome of this moment, Harris said.

 READ MORE: Whats in the Biden student loan forgiveness plan that Kamala Harris touted in Philly

Her speech, which touched frequently on the stakes of the 2024 election, ended with chants of four more years from the crowded room, where booze and cocktail snacks were flowing. She left by motorcade for Philadelphia International Airport after brief remarks.

The Philly Democratic event followed a roundtable discussion on student debt at William Cramp School, where Harris touted President Joe Bidens plan to provide relief to roughly 30 million more borrowers.
Extreme weather events, fuelled by climate change, are becoming more frequent and intense, leaving communities vulnerable and unprepared, he said. Communities are being hit by more frequent disasters, from floods to fires and back again, leaving less time to recover. The economic and emotional toll on affected areas is mounting. Like all climate-fuelled disasters, intense rainfall and flooding have devastating consequences for communities, businesses, and the economy.
Im super excited to partner with our reinsurance colleagues and leaders across the globe to build on the momentum that we have in the business, she said. We have a really strong foundation. We are always pursuing better, but a key differentiator is not necessarily what we do, but how we do it, which I think is so special. Were incredibly collaborative, and we work across regions and continents seamlessly to act on behalf of our clients. Advancing that culture is a top priority for me.
Scott Wick, founder and chief executive of Highstreet, praised the new partnership, stating: Hoaster Gebhards community-based culture fits the mold of what we look for in our partner agencies, and their expertise in crafting risk management strategies for businesses across Pennsylvania and beyond make them an excellent addition to our Northeast region.
With a background spanning over 20 years in both the legal and insurance sectors, Bowman brings a wealth of experience to her new position. She embarked on her journey with BHSI in 2014, initially taking up the mantle as counsel for executive & professional, healthcare, and small commercial business.
Florida may or may not provide its own data set from its system that is compatible and conforming to the NAIC data call that ultimately goes into the NAIC database, Yaworsky said in an interview with IB. Were kind of working through that now. Because we have such a long-standing set of data-collection tools in place, we dont necessarily want to create a secondary and completely disparate data set. We want to make sure the messaging is clear on what data we have.
We have invested in deepening knowledge and technical expertise in the area because we understand that the coming years may present us with various opportunities in Brazil and Latin America. Our goal is to offer the best possible service to our clients, and now we have another great professional, recognized in the market, Hoejenbos said.
We are always evolving our technology to support our innovative products and provide the best customer service possible. Were committed to continually researching the most up-to-date technology to ensure we are at the forefront of the newest innovation, Fancher said.
Britain and other major European countries with maritime borders on the North Sea on Tuesday signed an agreement to work together to protect underwater infrastructure, including from possible Russian attacks.

The six countries involved  Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Germany, Norway and the Netherlands  signed a joint declaration they said would allow them to share information.

Threats to undersea cables and pipelines have become a security focus for Western European countries following the September 2022 explosions on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, built to ship gas from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea.

In May 2023, NATO had said Russia may sabotage undersea cables to punish Western nations for supporting Ukraine, while global security risks have risen further following the Gaza war.

The North Sea is the powerhouse driving Europes renewable and net zero ambitions, helping to bolster energy security on the continent. So, its crucial we protect its critical energy infrastructure now and in the future, Andrew Bowie, British minister for nuclear and renewables, said.

Strengthening ties with our key northern European neighbors as we have today will do just that, ensuring the infrastructure is resilient against those who may seek to threaten or disrupt it, he added.

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; editing by Barbara Lewis)

Photograph: A large disturbance in the sea seen off the coast of the Danish island of Bornholm Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, later deemed by Denmark to be sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines. (Danish Defence Command via AP)
Oil sands producer Syncrude Canada, majority-owned by Suncor Energy, will pay C$390,000 ($287,187.04) after pleading guilty to a health and safety charge relating to the death of a worker on one of its sites in June 2021, the Alberta government said on Monday.

The worker had been operating an excavator to build a berm at a site near Fort McKay in northern Alberta when the bank the excavator was on slumped into water, Alberta Occupational Health and Safety said in a statement. The excavator cab became submerged, and the worker drowned.

It was one of five deaths at oil sands sites run by Suncor, Canadas second-largest oil producer, between late 2020 and mid-2022. The fatalities contributed to pressure from U.S.-based activist investment firm Elliot to overhaul management and operations at Suncor, and prompted the resignation of former CEO Mark Little.

Syncrude Canada pleaded guilty on April 4 to one charge of failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker, while four other charges brought under the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act were withdrawn.

Under a scheme known as creative sentencing, the company will pay C$390,000 to two University of Alberta centers and the Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association to help develop safer practices around trenching and excavation work.

Suncor is facing a separate set of charges, laid on March 29, related to the death of another worker, Brandon Nelson, in July 2022 in Fort McMurray.

In that incident, the worker was struck by a piece of equipment that fell from a crane, according to the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety website.

That matter is now before the courts and we are going to review the charges and determine the next steps, said Suncor spokeswoman Sneh Seetal, adding there had been a thorough investigation following the fatality.

Our safety procedures did not meet our expectations.

In the companys annual report, released last month, CEO Rich Kruger said there had been no deaths or life-threatening injuries in 2023.

($1 = 1.3580 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Nia Williams in British Columbia; Editing by Leslie Adler and Marguerita Choy)

Topics Canada
April 9 (Reuters)  U.S. railroad operator Norfolk Southern NSC.N said on Tuesday it had reached a $600 million deal to resolve a class action lawsuit related to the East Palestine, Ohio derailment last year.

The agreement, which needs to be approved by a court, will resolve all class action claims within a 20-mile radius from the derailment and, for those residents who choose to participate, personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius, the company said in a statement.

The deal does not include any admission of liability, wrongdoing, or fault, Norfolk said.

(Reporting by Abhinav Parmar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)

Photo: This photo taken with a drone shows portions of a Norfolk and Southern freight train that derailed Friday night in East Palestine, Ohio are still on fire at mid-day Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Topics Lawsuits Ohio
Des Moines, Iowa-based EMC Insurance is debuting an updated brand, including a new logo, effective April 9.

The companys website and social media channels have been refreshed with the new look and feel.

EMCs new logo features a distinctive letter e that has a signature quality, as well as a bright, bold blue. The logo was selected for its modern, clean design, but also for its warmth and inviting nature, EMC said.

The keeping insurance human tagline was selected because it is memorable and authentic to who EMC is, said Scott Jean, EMC president and CEO. We at EMC differentiate ourselves by using our increasingly strong technology and data tools to empower and enable team members to focus on the human touch, which so many of our competitors have left by the wayside.

The 113-year-old company has approximately 2,200 employees and provides property/casualty insurance for businesses, bonds and life insurance.

Topics Iowa
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced that Illinois Department of Insurance (DOI) Director Dana Popish Severinghaus will step down from her role on April 15th. Popish Severinghaus has served as Director of DOI since January of 2021.

Pritzker has appointed State Senator Ann Gillespie as new Acting Director of DOI, pending Senate confirmation.

Gillespie, who will resign her state senate seat, has served in the Illinois General Assembly since 2019 representing Chicagos northwest suburbs.

As a State Senator, Gillespie sponsored the bill to create the state-based health insurance marketplace and has been a trusted partner on health care consumer protection issues in the General Assembly.

Gillespie is a former business executive, health care attorney, and consultant in the health care field. She brings decades of experience in the insurance and managed care spaces to the role.

Its an honor to be asked to serve the state of Illinois in this new capacity, and I am eager to begin working with the Department of Insurance to make sure the system works for Illinois consumers, said Gillespie.

Gillespie will begin serving in an Acting Director role in mid-April.

Topics Illinois
Reported assaults on nurses jumped 5% across the United States in 2023, according to a new report, raising questions for workers compensation insurers and potentially adding to calls for legislation from Congress.

Press Ganey, a company that analyzes health care data and surveys patients and workers, released a report last week that shows that the rate of reported assaults climbed from 2.59 per 100 nursing personnel in 2022 to 2.71 last year  a record high.

The rise may be partly due to increased reporting of incidents, but the numbers are concerning, the company said: Almost 17,000 assaults last year, nationwide. The Press Ganey surveys also showed that, overall, health care workplace safety culture and awareness is improving.

Beckers Hospital Review reported that nurse and physician groups are pushing for two bills that could address the danger to health workers. Senate Bill 1176, sponsored by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., would require the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue a workplace violence prevention standard, mandating that hospitals develop prevention plans.

Another bill in Congress, S 2768, the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees Act, would stiffen penalties for assaults on health workers. Both bills were introduced last year and have yet to see votes in committees.

The American Nurses Association has reported that 13% of missed work days by nurses are due to workplace violence.

Topics Trends
Tesla has settled a lawsuit over a 2018 car crash that killed an Apple engineer after his Model X, operating on Autopilot, swerved off a highway near San Francisco, court documents showed on Monday.

The settlement was made on the eve of the trial over the high-profile accident involving Teslas driver-assistant technology. Tesla faces a series of lawsuits over crashes related to the alleged use of Autopilot, putting the automaker at risk of large monetary judgments and reputational damage.

The settlement, the terms of which were not disclosed, came as Chief Executive Elon Musk is making major promotions of self-driving technology, which he has touted as key to the financial future of the worlds most valuable automaker.

Tesla Autopilot Recall Threatens Its Defense in Lawsuits Over Crashes

The 2018 accident killed 38-year-old Walter Huang. His family had alleged that Autopilot steered his 2017 Model X into a highway barrier. Plaintiffs lawyers asked a Tesla witness whether the company knew drivers would not watch the road when using its driver-assistance system, Reuters reported last month citing deposition transcripts.

Tesla had contended that Huang misused the Autopilot system because he was playing a video game just before the accident.

Huangs lawyer and Tesla were not available for comment.

The crash that killed Huang is among hundreds of U.S. accidents in which Autopilot was a suspected factor in reports to auto safety regulators.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has examined at least 956 crashes in which Autopilot was initially reported to have been in use. The agency separately launched more than 40 investigations into accidents involving Tesla automated-driving systems that resulted in 23 deaths.

It is striking to me that Tesla decided to go this far publicly and then settle, said Bryant Walker Smith, a law professor at the University of South Carolina with expertise in autonomous vehicle law. What this does do, though, is it says to other attorneys, we might settle. We might not always fight it. That is the signal.

The case follows two previous California trials over Autopilot that Tesla won by arguing the drivers involved had not heeded its instructions to maintain attention while using the system.

Tesla has yet to prove it can produce an autonomous car despite years of predictions by co-founder and CEO Musk that one was just around the corner, an expectation that partly underpinned Teslas soaring valuation.

Musk said on Friday that Tesla plans to unveil a self-driving robotaxi on Aug. 8, after Reuters reported that Tesla scrapped an inexpensive car plan in favor of robotaxis.

He also said last month that Tesla will offer U.S. customers a months free trial of its driver-assist technology, Full Self-Driving.

Any negative publicity threatens to hurt the reputation of Tesla at a time when the company is battling weakening sales and reputational damage caused by certain controversial comments from Musk, said Guidehouse Insights analyst Sam Abuelsamid.

The last thing they would want right now is to have a public trial showing all of the problems with Full Self-Driving, he added.

Tesla says Autopilot can match speed to surrounding traffic and navigate within a highway lane. The step-up enhanced Autopilot, which costs $6,000, adds automated lane-changes, highway ramp navigation and self-parking features. The $12,000 Full Self-Driving option adds automated features for city streets, such as stop-light recognition.

Tesla materials explaining the systems warn that it does not make the car autonomous and requires a fully attentive driver who can take over at any moment.

Musk said in a social media post in 2022: We will never surrender/settle an unjust case against us, even if we will probably lose.

(Reporting by Abhirup Roy in San Francisco and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Hyunjoo Jin in San Francisco; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri, Lisa Shumaker, Leslie Adler and Himani Sarkar)

Photograph: Tesla vehicles line a parking lot at the companys Fremont, Calif., factory, on Sept. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)

Related:

Topics Tesla
US insurers paid out $1.12 billion in dog-related injury claims in 2023 according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and State Farm.

The number of dog bite and related injury claims was 19,062 in 2023, an increase of more than 8% from 2022 and a 110% increase over the past decade, with the total cost of claims at $1.12 billion, reported Janet Ruiz, director of strategic communications at the Triple-I.

On a positive note, the average cost per claim decreased from $64,555 in 2022 to $58,545 in 2023, she said, noting that California, Florida and Texas had the most claims. Education and training for owners and pets is key to keep everyone safe and healthy.

As the largest property insurer in the country, State Farm is committed to educating people about pet owner responsibility and how to safely interact with dogs, said Heather Paul, media relations specialist at State Farm. It is important to recognize that any dog, including ones that are in the home, can bite or cause injury. Every dog has a unique personality and while breed or type may dictate how they look, how a dog reacts isnt guaranteed by those qualities.

Triple-I is marking National Dog Bite Prevention Week (April 7-13) to promote awareness and education for owners and pets. During National Dog Bite Prevention Week, a coalition of veterinarians, animal behavior experts and insurance representatives are urging people to understand the risks dog bites pose to people and other pets, and steps to prevent bites from happening. The coalition  which includes the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), State Farm, Triple-I, and dog trainer Victoria Stilwell Positively  will be hosting a Facebook Live event on Thursday, April 11, at 1 pm Eastern Time.

The event, which will be moderated by certified animal behavior consultant and broadcaster Steve Dale, will discuss training tips to help prevent bites, how to safely socialize your dog after a period of isolation, and how to recognize the warning signs that a dog may bite. In addition, the coalition will be releasing the latest dog-related injury claims data. The panelists will also be answering questions submitted by the public during the event.

The National Dog Bite Prevention Week Coalition provides the following tips to prevent dog bites:

Make sure your pet is healthy . Not all illnesses and injuries are obvious, and dogs are more likely to bite if they are sick or in pain. If you havent been to the veterinarian in a while, schedule an appointment for a checkup to discuss your dogs physical and behavioral health.

. Not all illnesses and injuries are obvious, and dogs are more likely to bite if they are sick or in pain. If you havent been to the veterinarian in a while, schedule an appointment for a checkup to discuss your dogs physical and behavioral health. Prioritize proper socialization : Socialization involves gently introducing your dog to a range of settings, people, and other animals, and ensuring these experiences are positive. Whether its quietly observing the bustle of a park, meeting new people in a controlled manner, or getting used to the sights and sounds of your neighborhood, each positive experience builds confidence. Socialization should be a lifelong journey, and not just for the puppy phase.

: Socialization involves gently introducing your dog to a range of settings, people, and other animals, and ensuring these experiences are positive. Whether its quietly observing the bustle of a park, meeting new people in a controlled manner, or getting used to the sights and sounds of your neighborhood, each positive experience builds confidence. Socialization should be a lifelong journey, and not just for the puppy phase. Take it slow . If your dog has been mainly interacting with your family since you brought them home, dont rush out into crowded areas or dog parks. Try to expose your dogs to new situations slowly and for short periods of time, arrange for low-stress interactions, and look for behaviors that indicate your dog is comfortable and happy to remain in the situation.

. If your dog has been mainly interacting with your family since you brought them home, dont rush out into crowded areas or dog parks. Try to expose your dogs to new situations slowly and for short periods of time, arrange for low-stress interactions, and look for behaviors that indicate your dog is comfortable and happy to remain in the situation. Understand your dogs needs and educate yourself in positive training techniques . Recognize your dogs body language and advocate for them in all situations. This will give your dog much needed skills and help you navigate any challenges you might encounter.

and . Recognize your dogs body language and advocate for them in all situations. This will give your dog much needed skills and help you navigate any challenges you might encounter. Be responsible about approaching other peoples pets . Ask permission from the owner before approaching a dog and look for signs that the dog wants to interact with you. Sometimes dogs want to be left alone, and we need to recognize and respect that.

. Ask permission from the owner before approaching a dog and look for signs that the dog wants to interact with you. Sometimes dogs want to be left alone, and we need to recognize and respect that. Make sure that you are walking your dog on a leash and recognize changes in your dogs body language indicating they may not be comfortable.

and recognize changes in your dogs body language indicating they may not be comfortable. Always monitor your dogs activity, even when they are in the backyard at your own house, because they can be startled by something, get out of the yard and possibly injure someone or be injured themselves.

Source: Insurance Information Institute

Topics Trends USA Claims
Former Florida insurance commissioner, treasurer and Congressman Bill Gunter died Monday at his Tallahassee home. He was 89.

He was a strong, thoughtful public servant and pioneer in insurance regulation as commissioner of insurance, paving the way for future CFOs and working across party lines to ensure insurance consumers had the protections they needed, Floridas current chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, said in a statement.

Gunter was an insurance agent and manager with State Farm in the 1950s and 1960s, before he was elected to the state Senate, according to news reports. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972, then served as insurance commissioner, treasurer and state fire marshal from 1976 to 1988.

He also oversaw the merger of his agency with another in 2003, forming one of central Floridas largest insurance firms, Rogers Gunter Vaughn Insurance.

Gunter later was chairman of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents and he raised alarms about the state of the Florida market and some financially struggling property insurers as far back as 2010.

It is the job of the regulator to make sure that the financial underpinning of these companies is sufficient to pay their claims That wasnt the case in these four that have gone away, Gunter told Insurance Journal that year.

Twenty years earlier, he spoke out about misleading insurance TV commercials, according to the Archives of Florida and the Associated Press.

The FAIA honored Gunter in 2012 with its Mitchell Stallings Award, which recognizes a lifetime of leadership and service to the industry.

Topics Florida Agencies
OLLING FORK, Miss. (AP)  As a deadly tornado barreled toward their home in the Mississippi Delta, Ida Cartlidge only had time to scoop up her 1-year-old son, Nolan, and hold him close.

Cartlidge huddled with her husband and three sons on the living room floor of their Rolling Fork mobile home, its thin walls all that separated the family from 200 mph (320 kph) winds.

I was holding my baby so tight. I said Baby, Im probably hurting you right now, but I just cant let you go,' she recalled.

Then the tornado hit, and the home was gone. The twister launched Cartlidge into the air and pulled Nolan from her arms. She remembers seeing him floating above her, as though both were suspended in the air.

She landed with a thud. Miraculously, Nolan fell on her chest. He was the only family member to escape the storm unscathed.

The tornado that destroyed Cartlidges home last March killed 14 of Rolling Forks roughly 1,700 residents and reduced the town to rubble as it charted a merciless path across one of the countrys poorest regions. For the people there, a complicated story of struggle and resilience has emerged in the year since the storm changed everything and exposed vulnerabilities many survivors had been dealing with long before March 2023.

The Cartlidge family spent the next year in a cramped motel room in search of a more permanent home, like many of their displaced neighbors.

Theres still a lot of suffering, Sen. Joseph Thomas, who represents Rolling Fork in the state Legislature, said in a recent interview. And youre looking at an area that was already depressed.

Rolling Fork is in Sharkey County, where the poverty rate hovers around 35%  nearly double Mississippis roughly 19% rate and triple the nations nearly 12% rate, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Before the storm, Cartlidge, 33, and her husband, Charles Jones, 59, had forged a quiet life in a long, narrow three-bedroom, two-bath mobile home with their sons: Jakavien, 13, Amarii, 12, and Nolan. She worked in customer service for an appliance company and Jones was a mechanic for a local auto parts shop.

Cartlidge suffered a crushed pelvis and broken shoulder in the tornado. Jakavien punctured a lung and shattered bones in his spine and shoulder blade. Amarri had deep lacerations on his back and ankles. Jones injured his ribs and spine.

The mobile home park where they lived was also home to most of the 14 people who died in the tornado. Large families crowded into one- or two-bedroom units, which helped offset the financial strain endemic to a region where stable jobs are scarce.

Sharkey County lost nearly 400 jobs after the tornado, according to Rolling Fork Mayor Eldridge Walker. The tornado laid waste to about 300 structures, including numerous homes and businesses, which meant lost tax revenue for the city, he said. In February 2024, Walker wrote to Thomas pleading for additional state funds.

The citys infrastructure suffered millions of dollars in damage. Public buildings, streets and the citys sewer and drainage systems either sustained severe damage or were destroyed. One year after the tornado, buildings throughout town remain boarded up, and the remnants of destroyed properties dot the landscape.

The local high school remains closed because of lingering damage, leaving students to ride buses to nearby towns. Destroyed vehicles still hinder residents ability to navigate their daily lives.

People were displaced from their transportation networks, said William Keith, who worked on disaster response for the American Red Cross. A lot of people went to the grocery store with their neighbor next door, or they had a buddy a couple blocks away, and then went to work with them.

After everyone was discharged from the hospital, the Cartlidge family moved into a two-bed motel room only minutes down the highway from where their mobile home used to be. The Rolling Fork Motel is a one-story brick building with green doors and a bright yellow sign that looms over Route 61, known as the Blues Highway.

Music is integral to Rolling Forks history. Blues legend Muddy Waters is a native son. The highway running through town symbolizes the genres popular theme of packing up and leaving ones troubles behind, according to the Mississippi Blues Commission.

Convincing locals to stay is a harder proposition these days.

More than 70% of Rolling Fork residents displaced by the tornado were renters. Housing assistance programs run by nonprofits stepped in after the tornado, but most are geared toward homeowners rather than renters or people who lived with family members, Thomas said.

Queenterica Jones, 23, lived with her mother, Erica Nikki Moore, and three children in a mobile home just down the street from the Cartlidge place. On the evening of the tornado, she found her mothers lifeless body facedown amid the rubble.

Jones had no legal rights to her mothers property and didnt have the documents required by many programs that financed new mobile homes for displaced residents. Objects that had previously seemed ordinary  housing documents, family heirlooms, tax returns  suddenly took on life-altering significance for her.

Its a hard period. From losing your mom to having to start all over again, Jones said. Jesus, thats a whole lot.

Without stable work and housing, Jones has moved between the homes of friends and family members since the storm. Its a common story in Rolling Fork, where public services and steady work that had always been elusive grew even more scarce in the storms aftermath.

Towns such as Rolling Fork generally have a smaller tax base with fewer economic resources to respond and recover from such disasters, said Ryan Thomson, a professor of rural sociology at Auburn University. Federal and state aid oftentimes lag behind local needs.

Nonprofits, the state and the federal government rallied to help. But if the assistance doesnt address some of the towns lingering needs, officials fear an exodus is likely.

We are striving for a better Rolling Fork, Walker wrote in his letter to Thomas. And the chance to keep our people in this town.

The Red Cross paid for extended stays at the Rolling Fork Motel for displaced residents, and for months, volunteers clad in red vests doled out groceries and supplies to weary residents. They stacked whatever the storm hadnt carried off in corners and made room for donated packages of Cup Noodles and Capri Sun.

For nearly a full year in that cramped motel room, the Cartlidge family lived with only basic necessities. But they had owned their destroyed mobile home, making them eligible for a new one through a nonprofit called Samaritans Purse.

In February, they moved into a renovated trailer near downtown, with a Home Sweet Home mat greeting them at the door. They cried in each others arms upon seeing the property.

That night, Ida served the children popcorn and soda on a platter and they all watched horror films  none as scary as the nightmare theyd lived through together a year earlier.

Then they went to bed, each in their own room.

Top photo: A year after the tornado, much debris remains in Rolling Fork. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm Mississippi
April 9, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) A new study has identified the states that are most likely to invest in money-making cryptocurrencies, with Mississippi being named the least likely.

The research, conducted by cryptocurrency tax software CoinLedger, used search volume data from Google Keyword Planner to identify which states were searching the most for crypto-related terms, such as 'crypto advice' and 'crypto news'

The data shows that residents in Mississippi research cryptocurrencies the least, meaning they are more likely to miss out on opportunities to invest in rising cryptocurrencies; residents in Mississippi were discovered to search for crypto-related terms on Google just 278 times per month on average per 100,000 residents.

It has been discovered that residents in Mississippi are 56% less likely to pick up on crypto trends than the average American.

On average, in the US, residents interested in cryptocurrencies search for crypto-related terms 641 times a month per 100,000 residents.

West Virginia is the second least obsessed with cryptocurrencies, with residents, on average, searching for these terms 294 times per 100,000 residents a month. Surprisingly, this is 57% less than residents in Virginia, who were revealed to be the tenth most likely to invest in cryptocurrency.

The research shows that the third least fascinated in crypto is Kentucky; residents in Kentucky have shown little interest in crypto, only searching on average 359 times a month per 100,000 residents.

The study revealed that the fourth and fifth states least likely to become crypto millionaires were Louisiana and Arkansas, respectively; in Louisiana, residents only search for crypto-related terms 363 times a month, while in Arkansas, they search 364 times a month.

The top ten states least likely to become crypto millionaires

The study revealed that New York was the most passionate about cryptocurrency. It was revealed that, on average, New York residents search for crypto-related search terms 978 times a month per 100,000 residents - this was 52% more than the average American.

Nevada was revealed as the second-most likely obsessed with cryptocurrency. It was revealed that in Nevada, there are 894 crypto-related searches each month per 100,000 residents monthly.

The third most interested state in cryptocurrency, according to research, is California. Crypto investors search on average for crypto-related terms such as 'crypto-news' 869 times per 100,000 residents monthly.

New Jersey is the fourth state with the most obsessed with crypto; the data has shown, on average, residents in New Jersey search for cryptocurrency terms, such as 'crypto news' and 'crypto advice', 839 times a month per 100,000 residents.

The fifth state most passionate about cryptocurrency is Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, residents were found to search for crypto-related terms 821 times a month per 100,000 residents.

The top ten states most likely to become crypto millionaires

A spokesperson from CoinLedger commented on the findings, "As cryptocurrency interest has grown over the years, it's no surprise that more people want to invest more now than ever. With a Bitcoin halving expected to happen soon, many people will be considering starting to invest in crypto.

"It is crucial to conduct thorough research before making any financial decisions related to cryptocurrencies. As many currencies are highly volatile and vulnerable to fraudulent activities, it is essential to seek expert advice to manage them effectively and minimize the risk of losses.

"These findings solidify New York's place as a global finance hub, with New Yorkers leading the nation as the most interested in crypto nationwide by some distance."

Methodology

Google Keyword Planner was used to determine the average nationwide and state-specific monthly search volume for crypto-related terms. Terms used included "Crypto app," "Crypto price," "Crypto news," and "Crypto advice." All figures rounded up.

researcher: https://coinledger.io/

More Info:

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US authorities are facing fresh pressure from families of the victims of two fatal Boeing 737 Max crashes to criminally prosecute the aerospace company following a January mid-air blowout that exposed ongoing safety issues.

Victims' representatives meeting later this month with US Justice Department officials are expected to say that Boeing violated a 2021 deal with prosecutors to overhaul its compliance programme following crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people. That settlement shielded Boeing from criminal prosecution.

Justice Department officials are probing whether Boeing has complied with that 2021 agreement and are considering the January 5 blowout on a Boeing Max 9 plane as part of that review, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Boeing in January 2021 agreed with the US Justice Department to pay $2.5bn (2.3bn) to resolve a criminal investigation into the company's conduct surrounding the fatal crashes. The agreement included money to compensate victims' relatives and required Boeing to overhaul its compliance practices.

The deal, known as a deferred prosecution agreement, gave the US plane maker an avenue to avoid being prosecuted on a charge of conspiring to defraud the US Federal Aviation Administration.

Prosecutors agreed to ask a court to dismiss the fraud charge if they determined Boeing complied with the agreement over a three-year period. Families of the fatal crashes have criticised the agreement, arguing it failed to hold the company and executives accountable.

A panel blew off the Max 9 plane mid-air and forced an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon, just two days before the end of the agreement's three-year term on January 7.

'Systemic quality-control issues'

The panel that dislodged from the plane appeared to be missing four key bolts, according to an early review from US safety investigators. The investigators questioned Boeing for failing to supply key documents and names sought in their probe.

Boeing has said the company was co-operating and believes required documents detailing the removal of a key part during production of the Max jet were never created. The Justice Department is probing whether Boeing violated the 2021 agreement, which includes scrutinising the adequacy of the companys compliance programme, a source said.

In determining whether Boeing violated the settlement, prosecutors are expected to lean heavily on findings from the regulator, which in February gave the company 90 days to develop a comprehensive plan to address systemic quality-control issues, the source said.

Justice Department officials would likely avoid seeking sanctions if Boeing's conduct ahead of the blowout amounts to good-faith mistakes, as opposed to deliberately trying to mislead regulators, the source said.

Breaches of such agreements are rare. But the Justice Department under president Joe Biden has ratcheted up scrutiny on repeat corporate wrongdoers and has penalised companies that violate these deals. Just over a year ago, Sweden's Ericsson agreed to pay a hefty fine and plead guilty after violating its own 2019 deal with prosecutors.

A gathering on April 24 is scheduled in which Justice Department officials will meet with families of the 2018 and 2019 Boeing Max crash victims.

Reuters
An 11-year-old child steals from the local shop. He is caught on CCTV. For the parents, it is highly stressful  not least because they each have a different perspective on how to deal with it.

Mum says its so unlike him, so something must be going on. She talks calmly to the child, asking, What was going on for you? You didnt need this thing  dont we give you enough?

Dads coming from a different angle  You can never steal, no matter whats going on. He sees the incident as a real breach of trust within family and community and says very clear boundaries need to be imposed. He grounds the boy.

Senior paediatric clinical psychologist Claire Crowe says when theres a gap between two parental approaches to a childs misbehaviour, it can feel like a real dilemma. But its about finding the truth in both. Some parents have a more compassion-focused approach, while others [emphasise] setting limits and boundaries and teaching right from wrong.

And in the real world, children will experience both  those who are sensitive to their needs, and those who push back. [So] both [parenting] positions have merit, and both are necessary.

Crowe says even when our co-parent has the same general parenting style as us, we will still each parent a bit differently. But if both parents are coming from a place of loving the child, there isnt a bad parenting style.

Claire Crowe, senior paediatric clinical psychologist

Parenting styles  authoritarian, permissive, and authorative

In the 1960s, psychologist Diana Baumrind identified three main parenting styles: authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative. Dr Tara Kelly, project leader with Tuslas Springboard Family Support Service, a community-based service for parents and children in Loughlinstown, Co Dublin, says the authoritarian parenting style tends to be demanding, confrontational and punitive.

It expects unconditional respect for the parent and is concerned with controlling the child, so the child is powerless. The focus is on disciplinary actions. It leads to control battles, particularly when the child reaches adolescence. [It sees] a problem located in the child, as opposed to in the relationship.

Crowe says authoritarian parenting sees children as mini-adults. But children are not mini-adults, she states.

Permissive parenting is at the other end of the spectrum. Its very warm, engaged, undemanding, with few limits on the childs behaviour, says Kelly.

Crowe says permissive parenting seeks to befriend the child. Children do need friends, she says  but with their peer group. They need parents to support them, to give structure, to set boundaries, to teach them how to be in the world from the social point of view. Permissive parenting expects children to find their own way. They wont without guidance.

Crowe sees the adverse fallout of permissive parenting in hospital clinics. I see it with children with medical conditions, like diabetes. The childs condition requires following a medical regimen. Suddenly the parents have to do things very deliberately to keep the child well. That shift is problematic because the original permissive parenting style wont fit anymore, and the child is experiencing Mum and Dad with expectations and ultimatums.

However, decades of research on the authoritative parenting style has linked it to higher self-esteem in children and better educational outcomes and relationships. This style is both responsive and demanding. Boundaries are positively communicated to the child. Limits are very clearly defined and theyre rational, not punitive. It comes with respect and support for the child, explains Kelly.

Crowe says authoritative parenting both teaches children how to behave  and connects with them when they are sad. It doesnt see them as mini-adults but supports them to become the adults they can be.

In the 1990s, Baumrind found that adolescents viewed authoritarian parents as arbitrary or unjust. They saw permissive and unengaged parents as lacking influence. By contrast, authoritative parents were viewed as influential, reasonable, and just.

Kelly says it is not necessarily a problem if two parents have different parenting styles. But it can become problematic when demands on parenting increases  such as when the child presents with a behaviour challenge. When the child starts to kick back a little, or do something that the parents see as misbehavior, this can be when they start to disagree about how to respond. And each parent can then [retreat] into the position theyre more aligned with, take a more extreme version of that approach.

So there can be conflict around how to deal with the issue, whether screen time, school work, drinking. And you might see a father saying youre way too soft on him, or a mother saying youre far too hard on him.

She gives the example of school avoidance, where one parent might say This is ridiculous  in my day youd never refuse to go to school  and the others approach is Oh, theyre finding it too hard, particularly if the child is neuro-divergent or their mental health is poor. Or a child has been caught drinking and one parent wants to punish by stopping their pocket money or grounding them, and the other thinks that is too harsh, arguing this happens with all children.

The more challenging the behaviour, the more parents tend to split into different styles, says Kelly, adding that punishment and consequences are a big source of disagreement for parents. Parents tend to get really wrapped up in these and it sometimes [leads to] consequences that are illogical.

Dr Tara Kelly, project leader with Tuslas Springboard Family Support Service, a community-based service for parents and children in Loughlinstown, Co Dublin

Planning a response together

Kelly says when parents get entrenched in polar parenting positions, they just meet conflict with more conflict. It weakens parental authority. It shifts focus onto the parents conflict. Parents can feel frustrated, resentful, and unsupported by each other. It causes a split in the familyparents can start to work against each other. Whereas when they work together, its stronger scaffolding for the child.

Kelly supports parents' being more aligned in their approach, as opposed to being split, which simply dilutes their authority. Its about recognising they are in different corners and that they are likely both have something to offer  and that their approach might need to be packaged differently.

She recommends parents sit down together and talk. Ask how are we going to respond to this?. Plan your response together because it is always better to respond than to react. Make the agreement between the parents first, and then communicate that clearly to the child in a calm way.

Crowe encourages celebrating differences in parenting style. But if youre at different ends, how can you breach that gap? We dont want the differences to be so overt that theres a chasm.

She recommends looking at the ways in which both styles complement one another. She also suggests each taking turns to be  for the child  the feelings-focused parent and the boundary-setting one. Parenting is about being connected and staying connected with your child. So how about letting Dad take a turn at being the compassionate parent, and Mum be the one to say its not OK to not do your homework.

You can often predict what issues may come up. Like the end of sixth-class school disco. If the answer to your childs wanting to go is no, ask the other parent: Can you lead on this one because its important that Im not always the no person.

It's crucial, says Crowe, that the child sees both parents working together. We know from research that 15-month-old children will choose which parent to go to with a request. Theyre so attuned to each parent that theyll spot the weak link. But we want them to reach to both parents, to know that both offer something of value.

Such a unified parenting approach takes a lot of communication, says Crowe. It takes daily conversation and work. It means taking time to say Gosh, that was a huge tantrum today  is there a way we could have done things differently? Or, Oh, I see youve allowed her to go to that gig. I wasnt going to. How are we going to avoid this happening again?

Its about each parent minding the other, says Crowe, so that neither feels alienated.

When two parents  each with a slightly, or very, different parenting style  merge the best of both, they are more collaborative and it is better for the child. Why? Because, says Kelly, working together, they have broader shoulders.
Jack Kenneally never dreamt that his adopted baby daughter would grow up to volunteer with the charity that saved her life.

However, two decades on from an arduous ordeal, Aimee Kenneally and her father were a picture of happiness as they toasted her 21st birthday at the Greater Chernobyl Cause charity shop in Merchants Quay, Cork.

Aimee had been due to work at the store, as she does every week, but the director of the charity, Fiona Corcoran, who battled to bring Aimee to Ireland more than 20 years ago, had other ideas.

Members of the organisation were keen to celebrate the birthday of one of their most highly regarded volunteers.

Aimees mum Margaret, who passed away in 2022, had dreamt of adopting a child decades before her daughter was first placed in her arms.

The Cork woman had been so moved by a newspaper article highlighting Aimees birthplace at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan that she set her sights on adopting from the area.

The location had been the site of Russian nuclear weapon testing for 40 years and was one of only a few locations in the world where the death rate far exceeded the birth rate.

Ms Corcoran recalled the director of Semipalatinsk baby home in Kazakhstan handing her a beautiful baby at a visit to the centre more than two decades ago.

He pleaded with her at the time to save the infant who, it was believed, would face certain death without intervention.

Aimee Kenneally pictured with her dad Jack in the Greater Chernobyl Cause charity shop in Merchants Quay. Picture: Chani Anderson

Ms Corcoran was informed that the little girls medical issues would not withstand the transition to the Ayaga Orphanage  a building that was referred to as a living hell.

Draconian conditions included outdoor toilet facilities and temperatures plummeting to below minus 40 degrees.

Jack said that, in hindsight, Aimee, who has spina bifida and is a wheelchair user, would probably not have survived without Ms Corcorans intervention.

Fiona was going to save Aimee one way or the other way, Jack said. We were just lucky to be on the receiving end of it. In many ways, today is a poignant day because we should be celebrating with Margaret. It had always been her idea to adopt so Aimee really is her legacy.

Aimee Kenneally pictured in the Greater Chernobyl Cause charity shop, where she volunteered as part of her college work experience. Picture: Chani Anderson

The couple had fought hard to become parents to Aimee despite numerous stumbling blocks.

It was far from certain, Jack said of the adoption. We had a big battle with the adoption authority but we beat them in the end, even though it was really tough.

He described the positive impact Aimee had on all their lives.

She lives every day to the full and makes our lives so much more enjoyable from the moment she gets up in the morning to the time she goes to bed.

Aimee, who gained four siblings in the adoption, said the story of her origins never ceases to astound.

When I speak to people and tell them my story they are shocked and interested, she said.

I am shocked myself that I am still here. Its crazy when I stop to think about it. Im really happy to have ended up here because I love living in Ireland. I love meeting new people and getting to know them.
Almost half of the more than 9,000 midwives registered to work in Ireland are not actually working in the profession, the All-Island Maternity and Midwifery Festival has heard.

One midwife accepted a job with a GP practice working with pregnant women but was ultimately unable to take this up as State funding only covers nurses in this role, not midwives.

This anomaly, among others, are contributing to a shocking workforce situation, Tuesday's conference heard.

Data presented by Department of Health midwifery adviser Sinead Heaney, shows 9,316 midwives are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.

She said if all these midwives were employed we would have no problems, but only 4,574 are working at present.

A taskforce is currently looking at recruitment and retention, Ms Heaney said.

Obviously this is an area of concern, not just for us, but internationally, she said. Were a rare commodity as midwives.

Among midwives applying for documents to work abroad, the cost of living was the most common reason given for leaving, she said.

Some 187 student midwives began training last year, which she welcomed as a phenomenal increase on previous years.

Speaking from the floor, former hospital midwife Jeannine Webster said she wanted to work in the community but was being stymied by limits placed on midwives roles.

We are not getting a look-in anywhere, not in a GP surgery, nothing like that. And our scope is there, she said.

Its shocking when you see 9,000 midwives registered and only half of them are working. Im one of those.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner afterwards, the 57-year-old said she wanted to work, just not in a hectic hospital environment.

Under the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme, all pregnant women are entitled to free maternity care provided by a GP and their team as well as hospital obstetricians.

A GP practice offered me work  they had to rescind it because under the current scheme midwives are not included in the subsidies GPs can apply for, she said.

She knows midwives who are being paid privately by GPs to help this work, but said not every practice can afford this.

The scheme is under review currently, however, she said: There are no midwives on the panel doing the review .

Tony Fitzpatrick, director of professional services with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, who chaired the discussion, said it was an important issue.

Theres to be engagement and consultation with regards to that, but it is vital that the midwife is seen as one of the lead professions with regards to that, he said.

Referring to the National Maternity Strategy, published in 2016, he said there were still concerns with regard to its full implementation.

The strategy, for example, set out a target ratio of one midwife per 29.5 births in hospitals.

Unfortunately, we are short of that as it presently stands. So there are significant challenges," he said.
The Supreme Court has ruled that personal injuries award guidelines approved by Ireland's judges three years ago are legally binding and remain in force.

In what was a complex but historic decision in relation to personal injuries awards, a seven-judge court on Tuesday dismissed the bulk of issues raised in an appeal brought by Bridget Delaney from Dungarvan in Co Waterford.

The court also held that while the guidelines continue to have effect, any further changes would require legislative intervention by the Oireachtas.

In June 2019, Ms Delaney submitted a claim to PIAB seeking damages. She was awarded 3,000 by PIAB, but when she claimed she was advised that under the previous regime her injuries could expect to attract general damages of between 18,000 and 34,000.

However, she claimed PIAB delayed in assessing her injuries until the new guidelines were introduced, acted in breach of fair procedures, and that her assessment should not have been conducted under the new guidelines.

Ms Delaney had challenged the High Court's rejection in 2022 of her judicial review action against the 2021 guidelines, which have seen awards for pain and suffering reduced by up to 40%. She claimed the guidelines were unconstitutional and amounted to an encroachment on judicial independence.

Today's ruling

A majority of the court  comprised of Mr Justice Peter Charleton, Mr Justice Brian Murray, Mr Justice Gerard Hogan, Mr Justice Maurice Collins, Ms Justice Marie Whelan, Ms Justice Mary Faherty and Mr Justice Gerard Haughton  held that a section of the 2019 Judicial Council Act was unconstitutional.

Judges Hogan, Whelan, Haughton and Faherty held that the section in question, which relates to the judges' powers to make guidelines, is contrary to the independence of the judiciary.

However, judges Charleton, Hogan, Murray, Collins, Faherty and Whelan agreed that the guidelines were subsequently independently ratified by the Oireachtas and given legal effect following the enactment of the 2021 Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act.

That ratification, the majority of the court found, meant the guidelines passed in March 2021 are "in force as a matter of law, and have thereby been given legal effect". Mr Justice Haughton dissented from that particular finding.

As a result of the court's findings Mr Justice Charleton said that Ms Delaney was entitled to a declaration that a section of the 2019 Act was unconstitutional in its current form. However, the court was also making a declaration that the guidelines had been given force of law by the passing of subsequent legislation.

The court was also making a further declaration that PIAB had acted properly and in accordance with law in applying the guidelines to Ms Delaney's application to be assessed to her pain and suffering.

The court ordered that, except for the declaration of unconstitutionality, the appeal from the High Court decision was to be dismissed. Ms Delaney's legal costs are to be paid by Ireland and the Attorney General, the court also ruled. PIAB is to pay its own legal costs, Mr Justice Charleton added.

Bridget Delaney's case

Ms Delaney's case focused on a vote taken in March 2021 by the Judicial Council, the body made up of all the State's judges, to adopt the new guidelines. She claimed the guidelines were unfair to persons who have suffered personal injuries.

She claimed she fractured a bone in her right ankle, after she tripped and fell at a public footpath in Dungarvan on April 12, 2019. She required medical treatment, physiotherapy and was given a walker boot for several weeks and alleged she sustained her injuries due to the negligence of Waterford City and Council.

She also claimed the guidelines and their adoption by the judicial council also failed to have adequate regard to awards made by the Irish courts in personal injuries actions.

Ms Delaney sought orders quashing the assessment PIAB made in respect of her claim, and the Judicial Council's decision to adopt the new personal injuries guidelines.

She also sought declarations including that PIAB breached her rights to natural and constitutional justice, and that the Judicial Council acted outside of its powers in adopting the guidelines.

The action was against the State and the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB), the government body that makes personal injuries awards, and was aimed at setting aside guidelines regarding awards for personal injuries claims.

Opposing the appeal, the respondents rejected her claims concerning the guidelines, which were drawn up by a committee of the Judicial Council, before being approved following a ballot of all the State's judges.

High Court's 2022 judgment

In his judgment in 2022, Mr Justice Charles Meenan dismissed Ms Delaney's claims, including that her rights had been breached, and he also found that PIAB had acted in accordance with the relevant provisions of the 2003 PIAB Act when it assessed her personal injuries claim.

He said that Ms Delaney's constitutional rights of property and bodily integrity and equality "did not encompass a right to a particular sum of damages, but rather a right to have her damages assessed in accordance with well-established legal principals".

He said that the independence of the judiciary, along with the expertise and experience in the awarding of damages meant the judicial council was an appropriate body to draft and adopt the guidelines.

She appealed that decision directly to the Supreme Court.

Among the issues considered in the appeal were the interpretation and construction of delegated legislation regarding the implications of the constitutional mandate of judicial independence and the separation of powers between judges and the Oireachtas.
A case brought against one of the countrys largest Irish-owned distillery companies by Inland Fisheries Ireland has been withdrawn in the the district court.

Vincent Coakley, solicitor for Inland Fisheries Ireland, told Skibbereen District Court that his client would be withdrawing prosecution proceedings against West Cork Distillers, of Marsh Rd, Skibbereen, Co Cork, that were brought two years ago in relation to an alleged fish kill in the llen River in Skibbereen.

Mr Coakley said that due to difficulties within Inland Fisheries Ireland, it would not be proceeding with the case.

In 2022, West Cork Distillers had pleaded guilty to three offences relating to a discharge of liquids into the River Ilen in Skibbereen on July 21, 2021, which its was alleged had led to the deaths of approximately 2,000 fish including salmon and sea trout, though they denied that the discharge was responsible for the deaths of the fish.

Judge James McNulty had ordered the company to make amends by donating 1,000 each to the 26 tidy towns group across West Cork.

He imposed a conditional discharge for two years with the case due to come back before the court on Tuesday, during which time West Cork Distillers were expected to be of good behaviour.

Stephen ODonoghue, defending, told the court that his client had donated 26 cheques to the value of 26,000 as suggested by the court which he noted was a significantly higher sum than the maximum penalty of 15,000 which could have been imposed.

He asked that legal costs of 5,500 paid by his client directly to Inland Fisheries Ireland would be reimbursed as there was no longer any basis for them to pay the fees as the prosecution had been withdrawn.

Judge James McNulty said that West Cork Distillers had dealt with the matter in a noble and gracious manner and he order the legal fees to be repaid to which Mr Coakley agreed.
Cork County Council has received less Government funding for road maintenance and upgrading than it did last year.

The allocation is the same level the council received in 2008.

News of the peanuts 70m allocation was outlined in a report to councillors, who described it as a sad day for Cork motorists.

Niall Healy, the councils director of roads and transportation, said 70.199m had been allocated to the council for this year, a 1.6% decline from the 71.34m allocated last year.

We need more money and we want more money. We've a legacy of underinvestment in Cork roads. The reality is we're at a critical stage. Urgent action is required, Mr Healy said.

He added having a good quality road network was an essential building block for attracting inward investment.

Its highly disappointing, frustrating and discouraging, Mr Healy said of the allocation.

Independent councillor Declan Hurley said the report did not make for pleasant reading.

Were getting peanuts from the Department [of Transport]. We've roads crumbling in West Cork. There should be an NCT on the roads to test their safety, he said.

Mr Hurley criticised Transport Minister Eamon Ryan for failing to meet the council on the underfunding issue, despite requests for him to do so for the past three years.

Jack Chambers, the junior minister for transport, has agreed to meet a deputation of councillors and their officials in Dublin on April 24 to discuss their concerns.

Mr Healy also said the council had sought 26m in special funding this year for repairs to roads and bridges following last Octobers Storm Babet. To date, the Government has committed to just half of that.

Fianna Fail councillor Joe Carroll said Kerry was getting more than 10,000 per kilometer of road and Limerick 11,000, compared to Cork's 6,000.

If we got parity with Limerick, we'd be getting an extra 47m this year. The people of Co Cork are getting shortchanged, he said.

Social Democrats councillor Chris Heinhold pointed out that in reality the Government allocation was less than 2008 because inflation meant it was far more costly to repair roads now compared to 16 years ago.

Mr Healy said since 2008, allocations had dropped. The lowest was about 30m in 2016, but they had increased again in recent years.

He said if they had been kept at the 2008 level, the council would have received an additional 273m in the interim to maintains its 12,000km of roads.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has been urged to review car parking at Corks Kent railway station amid complaints there are not enough spaces, as well as non-rail users using them.

City councillors were told the review should consider the construction of a multi-storey car park and a tightening up of the rules to ensure only motorists with a valid train ticket can park at the stations Apcoa-managed car parks.

Currently, motorists paying for parking using vending machines or the Apcoa app only have to input their vehicle registration number. They are not required to provide evidence of rail travel.

The issue was discussed at Aprils meeting of Cork City Council on Monday after Fine Gael councillor Shane OCallaghan tabled a motion calling on Mr Ryan, his department and Irish Rail to engage with the city council to provide more parking spaces at Kent Station.

You have a situation at the moment where people are actually trying to do the right thing in terms of taking the train, where it says how much CO2 emissions you save by taking the train to Dublin as opposed to driving by car, he said.

Its a fantastic service but the big issue is you arrive at the train station for the 7am train and theres no parking available. And then you drive around to the other car park on the quays and theres no parking there either.

So what do you do in that situation? You invariably end up parking on the side of the street, and you get a ticket, which is good for financing the city, but its hardly encouraging for people who want to use the train.

It costs 8.50 per day [to park at the train station], but I think people who are not getting the train are sometimes parking there. This is a vital issue in terms of connectivity between Cork and Dublin and other cities, and is something that needs to be addressed.

Lord Mayor Cllr Kieran McCarthy sounded a note of caution that the motion to provide additional parking could jar with the citys wider transport policy.

But Mr OCallaghan said there needed to be flexibility.

This is for the greater good, he said. If we are serious about reducing carbon emissions, we should be encouraging people to use the train instead of driving.

Independent councillor Mick Finn agreed and said paying for parking in the train station needed to be made easier, and he suggested City Hall should consider installing parking meters on the roads around the train station to facilitate overflow parking.

But fellow independent Paudie Dineen went a step further and said Irish Rail should build a multi-storey car park at Kent Station, and provide extensive parking at its commuter rail stations at Little Island, Carrigtwohill and Midleton.

They should become the new park and ride sides. Multi-storey car parking needs to be looked at, he said.

According to the Irish Rail website, parking rates at Kent Station are 3 per hour, 8.50 per day, 30 per week or 1,344 year year, the same rates as Connolly and Heuston stations in Dublin.

The Kent Station daily rate is cheaper than the daily rates at the two car parks on nearby St Patrick's Quay.
Irish Rail was bombarded with complaints from passengers after one of its intercity services ended up taking more than seven hours, with most passengers not arriving at their destination until 2.30am.

In emails to the rail operators, members of the public wrote of being left standing in the pouring rain on a platform as they waited for another train.

The delay happened in February when a service between Dublin and Cork was hit by a fatal failure of a water pump, according to an internal investigation report from Irish Rail.

It said delays for passengers on board, and several other services also hit, were very significant and lessons needed to be learned from what had happened.

The report also said the line was likely to get even busier over the next few years so standby locomotives and drivers might need to be in place at key locations to avoid similar incidents.

In a barrage of complaints and requests for compensation from passengers, one wrote of the dreadful experience and conditions they had endured on their journey.

Their email said: I understand that an engine breakdown is something that cant be helped. The staff member on the train making announcements did his best. However, the lack of a plan of action for a breakdown was really surprising.

The worst part was being dropped at Portarlington [Co Laois] and left standing in pouring rain for an hour without anyone appearing to know where [or] when a train would arrive.

Another wrote on behalf of their elderly father who they were worried might suffer ill effects after being left stuck in Portarlington and arriving home at 4am.

One can understand that a train can break down from time to time and if addressed properly, while an inconvenience, we can accept that these things happen and move on, they wrote.

What one cannot understand and what is completely unacceptable is leaving passengers stranded on an open platform in Portarlington late at night for two hours. In what world is this acceptable?

One passenger said they had had no food or drink for seven hours because of the major delay to the service.

The Irish Rail staff were very informative about what was happening throughout the ordeal but  after being stuck on a train for 2.5 hours on the tracks with no refreshments offered or provided, toilets on trains not working, and overflowing, the smell and the heating on the train turned up, you could barely breathe, they wrote.

'Frozen and exhausted'

Other complaints from a sample of 60 released by Irish Rail under FOI wondered how one engine failure ahead of us can cripple the entire network while another wrote of everyone being frozen and exhausted waiting for a replacement train.

A passenger heading to Tralee described how they had not arrived until 4am while another said it was very disgraceful on the part of Irish Rail.

The internal investigation report said there were multiple areas for improvement, including improved feedback to its control centre and not enough staff at Portarlington to keep passengers informed of what was happening.

It said social media communications should have been more definitive that taxis would be available when passengers arrived at their destination and asked whether the best rescue option for the broken-down train had been put in place.

Service frequency is forecast to increase significantly over the next number of years, the report concluded.

To enable slicker recovery of these failures, and reduce overall knock-on disruption to customers, the medium-term objective should be to have standby locomotives and standby drivers in place at key locations across the network.

Asked about the incident on February 21, a spokesman for the rail operator said they apologised to all those disrupted on the day.

He said: While delays of this scale are extremely rare, and the particular location was challenging given track layout either side of the train with the fault, we review the response on the evening to ensure that all can understand how we can improve response in major incidents for the benefit of our customers.

All customers who booked online were automatically compensated for the delay, and refund application forms were provided to all other customers on the service.
Robert F Kennedy Jr, scion of one of Americas most storied political families, is running for president of the US.

But unlike his late uncles  President John F Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy (who unsuccessfully ran for president in 1980)  or his late father, Senator Robert F Kennedy (who was assassinated during his own presidential run), RFK Jr is not campaigning as a Democrat.

Instead, he is running as the head of a newly formed third party, We the People. Thus unfolds the latest chapter in the bizarre and increasingly dangerous deformation of contemporary American politics.

Many political commentators have taken Kennedy to task for launching a spoiler campaign that could peel disenchanted Democrats away from President Joe Biden and hand the White House to Donald Trump.

According to a Siena College poll of voters in six battleground states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin), more Democrats than Republicans (18% versus 16%) appear likely to back Kennedy. Little wonder the billionaire Republican megadonor Timothy Mellon has been bankrolling Kennedys super PAC (an ostensibly independent organisation that can legally raise and spend unlimited sums on a candidates behalf).

Kennedys choice of running mate, Nicole Shanahan, a 38-year-old patent attorney and past supporter of Democratic causes and candidates, offers further evidence that Kennedy is targeting Democratic voters. Shanahan calls herself a disenchanted Democrat, and she has publicly invited like-minded others to jump onto the Kennedy bandwagon.

To all appearances, Robert F. Kennedy Jr remains caught in a twisted fantasy that he just might be the one who will realise his fathers idealistic dreams of a better America. Photo: AP/Eric Risberg

As part of her 2023 divorce settlement with Google co-founder Sergey Brin, she reportedly sought more than $1bn (a mere 1% of his estimated net worth). That sum would place her in an uncommonly advantageous position to help finance the complex and expensive effort to get Kennedy on the ballot in all 50 states.

Notwithstanding all the uncertainties Kennedys campaign has created, one thing is clear: populism is on the rise in both parties, from the left and the right. Both Trump and Kennedy have converged on classic populist themes, though with a few intriguing variations.

For example, compare Trumps 2017 inaugural address to Kennedys recent state of the union speech. Their central trope is identical: the loss and restoration of American greatness.

Trumps grim narrative of Americas fall from greatness features rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones, infrastructure that has fallen into disrepair and decay, with the wealth of our middle class  ripped from their homes and distributed across the entire world, and with millions and millions of American workers left behind.

While Washington elites prosper, the people have borne the cost. Trump promises to reverse the decline by putting America first.

Kennedy, too, sees a landscape littered with carnage. But his narrative gives prominence to chronic illness, depression, mental illness, and loneliness. Like Trump, he complains of dilapidated infrastructure and a middle class that has been hollowed out.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr's campaign narrative gives prominence to chronic illness, depression, mental illness, and loneliness. Photo: AP/Patrick Semansky

And like Trump, he blames the elites: All the new wealth of the last generation has gone to the billionaires and to transnational corporations. But, from Kennedys perspective, the greatest evil of all is that America has become the sickest country on Earth. His pledge is to make America healthy again.

Kennedys emphasis on health reflects his public work as an environmental lawyer and, in recent years, as a staunch anti-vaccine crusader. He sees a cabal of sinister corporations and public officials conspiring to poison the environment and the body politic  one body at a time.

At the height of the pandemic, he falsely claimed that the covid-19 vaccines were proven to have negative efficacy, causing people to be more prone to infection than doing nothing at all. He reportedly even went so far as to assert that covid-19 was ethnically targeted to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people.

If Kennedys emphasis on healing suggests someone who has been through recovery, that is because he has. Following the trauma of losing both his father and his uncle to assassins bullets, Kennedy battled, and ultimately overcame, an addiction to heroin.

Like Kennedy, Shanahan also appears to be channeling personal affliction. She describes grappling with infertility, as well as the difficulties associated with raising her five-year-old daughter, Echo, has autism, which Shanahan says she spends 60% of her time researching.

Our children are not well, Shanahan tells us. She firmly believes, despite numerous scientific studies disproving the claim, that vaccinating children has caused a steep rise in autism cases. She wants to stop pharmaceutical corporations from contaminating science and capturing regulatory agencies.

Evincing a distinctly QAnon-style paranoia, she demands that they stop guarding the mysteries that we can solve.

No one seriously believes Kennedy can win the presidency. But there is good reason to believe he could tilt the balance toward Trump by luring Democrats (including younger voters like Shanahan), some independents, libertarians, and devotees of new-age healing, as well as aging idealists still inspired by the candidates father and uncles.

Armed with paranoid conspiracy theories about Americas descent into chronic sickness, loneliness, and depression, Kennedy has heedlessly spread lies about the putative dangers of life-saving vaccines while mouthing platitudes about resilience and healing. To all appearances, he remains caught in a twisted fantasy that he just might be the one who will realise his fathers idealistic dreams of a better America.

The likelier outcome is a waking nightmare: an illiberal America presided over by someone RFK Jr.s forebears would consider the countrys most dangerous domestic foe.

Read More Colin Sheridan: Aaron Rodgers on a presidential ticket will expose bizarre beliefs
Lithuanian leaders hailed a historic event as Germany on Monday began deploying troops in the Baltic country  a Nato member  marking the first time since the Second World War that German forces will be based outside the country on a long-term basis.

About two dozen soldiers arrived in Lithuania, laying the groundwork for a further 150 to join them later this year.

The deployment is expected to be up to its full strength of 5,000 by the end of 2027.

This is the first time that we have permanently stationed such a unit outside of Germany, German defence minister Boris Pistorius said in Berlin at a farewell ceremony for the preliminary command of Germanys Lithuanian brigade, according to German news agency dpa.

Mr Pistorius called it an important day for the German army.

Lithuanian chief of defence Gen Valdemaras Rupsys, left, welcomes German Army Chief Lt Gen Alfons Mais (Mindaugas Kulbis/AP)

In the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, defence minister Laurynas Kasciunas said that the move was a great example for all the countries on Natos eastern flank, on the border with Russia and its ally, Belarus.

We will create such a defence and deterrence architecture that no adversary from the east will even think about testing Natos Article 5, he told reporters.

Article 5 on collective defence is at the heart of the 32-member North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. It states that an armed attack against one or more of the members shall be considered an attack against all.

Some 4,800 soldiers and around 200 civilians with the German army will be stationed permanently in Lithuania, which is increasingly worried by its aggressive neighbours.

Under an agreement, Lithuania is preparing military bases for the German brigade to be deployed in this Baltic state bordering Russias Kaliningrad exclave to the west and Belarus to the east.

The German army, the Bundeswehr, has taken part in long-term operations abroad since the 1990s, first in the Balkans and then in combat operations in Afghanistan.

At the moment, the Bundeswehr says German soldiers are deployed in Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as in the Mediterranean.

However, this is the first permanent standalone German deployment, not on rotation as part of a multinational force.

Mr Kasciunas said the German brigade is expected to reach full operational capacity by 2027.

Lithuania chief of defence Valdemaras Rupsys said: For us, this means more effective deterrence of the enemy and even greater security.

It is an example of exceptional leadership and commitment as we actually see Natos collective defence and unity at work.

Up to one-third of troops are expected to bring their family members, according to the Lithuanian Defence Ministry.

Mr Pistorius said Germany will do everything we can to equip the brigade as it needs to be equipped from the outset.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a sign of mutual support and shared opposition to Western democracies amid Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

We would like to express our highest appreciation and admiration for the successes that you have achieved over the years and, above all, over the last decade under your leadership, Mr Lavrov told Mr Xi, according to Russian media.

We are sincerely pleased with these successes, since these are the successes of friends, although not everyone in the world shares this attitude and are trying in every possible way to restrain the development of China  in fact just like the development of Russia, Mr Lavrov said.

Russias growing economic and diplomatic isolation has made it increasingly reliant on China, its former rival for leadership of the Communist bloc during the Cold War.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)

In past decades, the two have closely aligned their foreign policies, held joint military exercises and sought to rally non-aligned states in groupings such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Mr Lavrov held a news conference earlier on Tuesday with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at which they reaffirmed solidarity in international affairs.

Mr Lavrov said Russia and China oppose any international events that do not take Russias position into account.

He said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys so-called peace formula was completely detached from any realities.

Mr Zelensky has called for the withdrawal of Russian forces and the return of all occupied Ukrainian territory, but is heavily reliant on support from the US, where the Republican Party majority in the House of Representatives has been holding up a new military aid package.

China and Russia are each others most important diplomatic partners, both holding permanent seats on the United Nations security council and working together to block initiatives by the US and its allies to spread democratic values and human rights from Venezuela to Syria.

While China has not provided direct military support for Russia, it has backed it diplomatically in blaming the West for provoking Russian President Vladimir Putins decision to launch the war and refrained from calling it an invasion in deference to the Kremlin.

China has also said it is not providing Russia with arms or military assistance, although it has maintained robust economic connections with Moscow, alongside India and other countries amid sanctions from Washington and its allies.

At their joint news conference, Mr Wang repeated Chinas calls for a ceasefire and an end to the war soon.

China supports the convening at an appropriate time of an international meeting that is recognised by both Russia and Ukraine, in which all parties can participate equally and discuss all peace solutions fairly, Mr Wang said.

Chinas peace proposal has found little traction, in part due to the countrys continuing support for Russia and lack of vision for what a future resolution would look like, particularly the fate of occupied Ukrainian territories and their residents.

Mr Wang also said Mr Xi and Mr Putin would continue to maintain close exchanges this year amid expectations of visits to each others capitals.

China and Russia have gone through ups and downs, and both sides have drawn lessons from historical experience and found a correct path to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, Mr Wang said.

Todays good relations between China and Russia are hard-won and deserve to be cherished and carefully maintained by both sides.

Mr Lavrov arrived in China on Monday, while Mr Wang and other leading Chinese figures have recently visited Russia and maintained Chinas line of largely backing Russias views on the cause of the conflict.

China has at times taken an equally combative tone against the US and its allies. China and Russia have held joint military drills, and are seen as seeking to supplant democracies with dictatorships in areas where they wield influence.

China is involved in its own territorial disputes, particularly over the self-governing island of Taiwan and in the South China and East China Seas.

Just weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine, Mr Putin visited Beijing for the opening of the 2022 Winter Olympics and the sides signed a pact pledging a no limits relationship that has China supporting Russias line, even while formally urging peace talks.

In a phone call last week with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, US President Joseph Biden pressed China over its defence relationship with Russia, which is seeking to rebuild its industrial base as it continues its invasion of Ukraine.

And he called on Beijing to wield its influence over North Korea to rein in the isolated and erratic nuclear power.
Amanda Knox faces another trial for slander this week in Italy in a case that could remove the last legal stain against her eight years after Italys highest court threw out her conviction for the murder of her 21-year-old British roommate.

Ms Knox, who was a 20-year-old student when she was accused along with her then-boyfriend of murdering Meredith Kercher in 2007, has built a life back in the United States as an advocate, writer, podcaster and producer  with much of her work drawing on her experience.

Now 36 and the mother of two small children, Ms Knox campaigns for criminal justice reform and to raise awareness about forced confessions.

British student Meredith Kercher (AP)

She has recorded a series on resilience for a meditation app and has a podcast with her husband, Christopher Robinson, and an upcoming mini-series on her struggles within the Italian legal system for Hulu that has Monica Lewinsky as an executive producer.

Despite a definitive ruling by Italys Cassation Court in 2015 that Ms Knox and then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito did not commit the crime, and the conviction of another man whose DNA was at the scene, doubts persist about Ms Knoxs role, especially in Italy.

That is largely due to the slander conviction for wrongly accusing a Congolese bar owner in the murder, which was confirmed by the highest court in 2015.

That conviction was only thrown out last November based on a European Court of Human Rights ruling that found Ms Knoxs rights had been violated in a long night of questioning without a lawyer and official translator.

Even now, Ms Knox is not sure that a not guilty verdict in the new trial, which opens on Wednesday in Florence, will persuade her detractors.

On the one hand, I am glad I have this chance to clear my name, and hopefully that will take away the stigma that I have been living with, Ms Knox, who did not respond to an interview request, said on her podcast Labyrinths in December.

On the other hand, I dont know if it ever will, in the way I am still traumatised by it. I am sure people will still hold it against me because they dont want to understand what happened, and they dont want to accept that an innocent person can be gaslit and coerced into what I went through.

Ms Knox said on her podcast that she expects to testify, but her lawyer said she is not expected in court for opening day.

Rudy Hermann Guede (Pier Paolo Cito/AP)

The Kercher family lawyer, Francesco Maresca, said the high courts exoneration did little in his mind to dispel doubts following Ms Knoxs conviction by a trial court and two appeals courts, the first confirming her sentence of 26 years and the second raising it to 28-and-a-half years.

This trial never ends, Mr Maresca told The Associated Press, obscuring the memory of poor Meredith, who is always remembered for these procedural aspects and not as a student and young woman.

Among his doubts, Mr Maresca cited Ms Knoxs confused retraction of her accusation against the Congolese bar owner, Patrick Lumumba, and the verdict in Rudy Guedes conviction for killing Ms Kercher that maintains that the Ivorian man did not act alone.

Now 36, Guede was released from prison in 2021 after serving 13 years of a 16-year term handed down in a fast-track trial.

Guede was recently ordered to wear a monitoring bracelet and not leave his home at night after an ex-girlfriend accused him of physical and sexual abuse. An investigation is ongoing.

Ms Knoxs new trial will admit just one piece of evidence: her four-page handwritten statement that the court will examine to see if it contains elements to support slander against Mr Lumumba.

He was held in jail for two weeks before police released him. Mr Lumumba has since left Italy.

Two earlier statements typed up by police that Ms Knox signed in the early hours of November 7, 2007 that contained the accusation, and were considered the most incriminating, have been ruled inadmissible by Italys highest court.

The four-page letter, which she wrote in the same 53-hour span of questioning over four days starting November 6, reflects someone in a state of confusion trying to reconcile what police have told her with her own recollections.

In regards to this confession that I made last night, I want to make clear that Im very doubtful of the verity of my statements because they were made under the pressures of stress, shock and extreme exhaustion, Ms Knox wrote.

She referred to police statements that she would be arrested and jailed for 30 years and that Sollecito was turning against her.

Lauria Baldassare, an Italian lawyer who founded the Innocents Project, said the topic of wrongful convictions in Italy is starting to create social alarm as it assumes important dimensions.

He cited 10 cases of defendants being paid damages for wrongful convictions over the last decade, but said they faced difficulty in escaping the stigma of their initial guilty verdict.

There is still part of the public opinion that does not accept the Court of Cassations decision, and these debates become a sport, said Ms Baldassare, whose organisation is independent from the Innocence Project that Ms Knox works with.

Italy does not have the maturity to accept an exoneration, because social prejudices are stronger than the finding.
One of Europes largest museums for contemporary and modern art has fired a member of its technical services team after he was found to have hung one of his own paintings in the gallery.

The 51-year-old man had smuggled his work into the display at Munichs Pinakothek der Moderne in the hope of achieving his artistic breakthrough, the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung reported, citing police sources.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman General CQ Brown Jr testified on Capitol Hill on Tuesday about the Pentagons $850 billion (784 billion) budget for 2025 as questions remained as to whether politicians will support current spending needs for Ukraine or Israel.

The Senate hearing was the first time members on both sides were able to question the Pentagons top civilian and military leadership on the administrations Israel strategy following Tel Avivs deadly strike on World Central Kitchen humanitarian aid workers in Gaza.

It also follows continued desperate pleas by Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky that if the US does not help soon, Kyiv will lose the war to Russia.

In their opening statements, both Mr Austin and Mr Brown emphasised that their 2025 budget is still shaped with the militarys long-term strategic goal in mind  to ready forces and weapons for a potential future conflict with China.

About $100 billion (92 billion) of this years request is set aside for new space, nuclear weapons and cyber warfare systems the military says it must invest in now before Beijings capabilities surpass it.

But the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel are challenging a deeply divided Congress and have resulted in months of delays in getting last years defence budget through, which was passed only a few weeks ago.

Mr Austins opening remarks were temporarily interrupted by protesters lifting a Palestinian flag and shouting at him to stop sending weapons to Israel. Stop the genocide, they said, as they lifted their hands, stained in red, in the air.

The Pentagon scraped together about $300 million (277 million) in ammunition to send to Kyiv in March but cannot send more without Congresss support, and a separate $60 billion (55 billion) supplemental bill that would fund those efforts has been stalled for months.

The price of US leadership is real. But it is far lower than the price of US abdication, Mr Austin told the senators.

If Kyiv falls, it could imperil Ukraines Baltic Nato member neighbours and potentially drag US troops into a prolonged European war.

If thousands die in Gaza because of starvation, it could enrage Israels Arab neighbours and lead to a much wider, deadlier Middle East conflict.

The Pentagon has urged Congress to support new assistance for Ukraine for months, to no avail, and has tried to walk a line between defending its ally Israel and maintaining ties with key regional Arab partners.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen CQ Brown (Cliff Owen/AP)

Israels actions in Gaza have been used as a rallying cry by factions of Iranian-backed militant groups, including the Houthis in Yemen and Islamic Resistance groups across Iraq and Syria, to strike at US interests.

Six US military ships with personnel and components to build a humanitarian aid pier are also still en route to Gaza but questions remain as to how food that arrives at the pier will be safely distributed inside the devastated territory.

Politicians are also seeing demands at home. For months, a handful of its far-right members have kept Congress from approving additional money or weapons for Ukraine until domestic needs such as curbing the crush of migrants at the southern US border are addressed.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson is already facing a call to oust him as speaker by Georgia Republican Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene because Mr Johnson is trying to work out a compromise that would move the Ukraine aid forward.

On Israel, the World Central Kitchen strike led to a shift in tone from US President Joe Biden on how Israel must protect civilian life in Gaza and drove dozens of House Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to call on Mr Biden to halt weapons transfers to Israel.
David Cameron has said it was entirely in line with precedent for him to have dined with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago amid his push to shore up US support for Ukraine.

The UK foreign secretary refused to be drawn on the details of his discussion with the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, saying only that it covered a range of important geopolitical subjects.

Mr Cameron made a surprise visit to Mr Trumps Florida resort on Monday ahead of flying to Washington DC to launch his latest appeal to Congress over a stalled multi-billion-dollar package of aid for Kyiv.

The funding faces an uphill battle in the House of Representatives amid opposition from hardline Republicans aligned with Mr Trump.

Mr Cameron, who has previously criticised the former presidents interventions as protectionist, xenophobic (and) misogynistic, played down his pit stop in Mar-a-Lago alongside British ambassador to the US, Karen Pierce.

At a press conference alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he said: This was entirely in line with precedent of government ministers meeting with opposition politicians in the run-up to elections.

I remember when I was prime minister meeting Mitt Romney when he was a candidate. I remember Gordon Brown meeting Barack Obama when he was a candidate.

I think Tony recently had a meeting with Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, in Munich.

So these things are entirely proper, but it was a private meeting so I havent really got anything to add to your questions, but we discussed a range of important geopolitical subjects.

The Trump campaign claimed the talks covered topics including the upcoming US and UK elections and the need for Nato countries to meet defence spending requirements (Niall Carson/PA)

He added later that they discussed geopolitical issues like Israel and Gaza, like Ukraine, like the future of Nato.

Whoever Im talking to, I tend to make the same points, which is that weve got to do everything we can, this year, to get Nato in its strongest possible shape for its 75th anniversary.

And getting everyone up to 2%, having the new members joining  Sweden and Finland  having the strongest possible alliance, thats the best thing we can do, Mr Cameron said.

The Trump campaign was more forthcoming, claiming the talks covered the upcoming US and UK elections, policy matters specific to Brexit, the need for Nato countries to meet their defence spending requirements, and ending the killing in Ukraine.

President Trump, Secretary Cameron and Ambassador Pierce also discussed their mutual admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth II, it added.

European nations have concerns that the former president may change the course of US policy on the continent if he is returned to the White House.

Lord Cameron is expected to meet Congressional leaders as he seeks to urge lawmakers across the Atlantic to approve urgent additional assistance for Ukraine (James Manning/PA)

Recalling an incident during his presidency, Mr Trump recently suggested that he had previously said he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want in cases of Nato allies who are delinquent.

Mr Cameron was among political figures to speak out against the remarks earlier this year, saying the suggestion was not a sensible approach.

It was not the first time he has criticised the presidential hopeful, who has been riding high in recent opinion polls ahead of the US election later this year.

In his memoir, For the Record, Mr Cameron said maverick businessman Mr Trump had won the 2016 vote despite (or even perhaps, depressingly, thanks to) his protectionist, xenophobic, misogynistic interventions.

Mr Cameron is expected to meet Congressional leaders from across the aisle on Capitol Hill as he seeks to urge lawmakers across the Atlantic to approve urgent additional assistance for Ukraine.

These could include Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives who is trying to work out a compromise over aid for Kyiv, though it has not been confirmed whether the two will come face to face.

Ive got a range of meetings with congressmen both side of the aisle. I always do this with great trepidation. Its not for foreign politicians to tell legislators in another country what to do, he said in Washington.

Its just that Im so passionate about the importance of defending Ukraine against this aggression, that I think it is absolutely in the interests of US security that Putin fails in his illegal invasion

So Im here to offer my opinion, to meet with anyone who wants to talk to me about it, to make those arguments.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said Israel has not told the US of any specific date for the start of a major offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

He added that American and Israeli officials remained in contact to try to ensure that any kind of major military operation doesnt do real harm to civilians.

Mr Blinken spoke a day after Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed that a date has been set to invade Rafah.

The city is filled with around 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom are displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip. The US, Israels closest ally, has said a ground operation into Rafah would be a mistake and has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians.

Israels offensive has pushed Gaza into a humanitarian crisis, leaving more than a million people on the brink of starvation.

International efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hamas are taking place in Cairo this week.

Egyptian officials said on Tuesday that mediators have presented a new ceasefire proposal to Hamas and Israel that would include a six-week pause in fighting and a swap of 40 Hamas-held hostages for at least 700 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Israel says more than 130 hostages remain in Gaza, with about a quarter of those believed dead.

The Palestinian death toll from the war has passed 33,200, with nearly 76,000 wounded, Gazas Health Ministry said. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tally, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.
Today

Mostly clear skies during the evening giving way to clouds and a few showers after midnight. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.

Tonight

Mostly clear skies during the evening giving way to clouds and a few showers after midnight. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.

Tomorrow

Generally sunny. Cooler. High 67F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
By Dima Nazzal, Georgia Institute of Technology | 

Over a decade ago, a United Nations report described the Gaza Strip as virtually unlivable, adding that it would require Herculean efforts to change that.

Today, after six months of bombardment, mass displacement and siege by Israel, the task of rebuilding Gaza seems practically unimaginable.

Im a scholar and a systems engineer who, as research director of the Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems at Georgia Tech, looks at the intersection of public health and education, with a focus on optimizing systems for effective and equitable access to essential services.

I know that in the best of times, designing complex systems that involve people, communities, technologies and limited resources  often with conflicting priorities and impacting multiple segments of society  is an extremely complex challenge. Doing so in the midst of a geopolitical conflict makes the problem seem infeasible.

But what we are dealing with now in Gaza is on a different scale altogether. The enclave is facing cascading crises  a condition in which multiple interrelated crises occur sequentially or simultaneously, each triggering or exacerbating the next. And as hard as it is to look beyond the daily horrors of warfare in Gaza, there will be a time when the world starts to turn to recovery and reconstruction. The concern is that the cascading crises will make this process that much harder and moreover amplify the human costs of this conflict for years to come.

Beyond the death toll

As the 2012 U.N. report questioning Gazas livability alludes to, the occupied enclave has long faced severe problems relating to providing for the people living in what is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. My mother, who lives in the West Bank, often visited Gaza in her capacity as a member of the Palestinian National Council and the General Secretariat of the General Union of Palestinian Women. She would share tales of its rich culture but also of noticeable issues like the persistent sewage smell and unemployment exceeding 45%.

Of course, after months of Israeli bombardment following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, the immediate concern is for peoples lives. Already, the conflict has killed more than 33,000 people in Gaza, according to health authorities in Gaza.

But devastation caused by armed conflicts extends beyond immediate casualties. Causal pathways  that is, chains of events through which the long-term consequences will be felt  mean the current conflict will almost certainly lead to lasting societal and health crises. And these, research has shown, can overshadow the destruction that results from an active conflict both in scope and in severity.

Analysis of 13 recent armed conflicts by the Geneva Declaration Secretariat, a U.N.-backed initiative, found that indirect deaths exceeded direct deaths in 12 of them.

The report places a conservative estimate that for every person directly killed by war, four more are killed by its indirect consequences  things such as waterborne diseases due to the lack of safe, clean water and destruction of water sanitation facilities, or deaths due to birth complications because of health services being disrupted.

Given the scale and scope of destruction of six months of bombing, the consequential impact of war in Gaza may be even worse. And whereas there is usually a lag before these effects are felt, in Gaza they are already occurring. Economic collapse, infrastructure destruction, environmental damage and displacement have created a multidimensional crisis.

Compromised systems

To understand the challenge of overcoming cascading crises in Gaza, it is worth taking a snapshot at the impact of the monthslong conflict.

The war has devastated the enclaves economy. The U.N estimated in mid-February that almost half of all cropland had been damaged and that some 70% of Gazas fishing fleet had reportedly been destroyed.

In the first few months of bombing, nearly 70% of Gazas 439,000 homes and about half of all buildings  including commercial outlets  were damaged or destroyed.

Meanwhile, the destruction of Gazas health infrastructure has led to about three-quarters of hospitals and two-thirds of primary health care clinics shutting down, leaving only 10 out of 36 hospitals barely functioning  amputations are carried out without anesthesia, and miscarriages have increased by 300%.

Guardian News Video: Footage reveals destruction in Khan Younis after Israeli withdrawal

This health crisis has been worsened by a lack of clean water and essential medical supplies. It has contributed to soaring rates of infectious diseases, acute respiratory infections, severe dehydration and diarrhea.

Hospitals and clinics struggle to operate without electricity, and many health care workers have been injured or killed, which drastically affects the capacity of the health care system. And many schools and universities have been destroyed, making education inaccessible. When the war does end, Palestinians in Gaza will emerge from conflict with their education, health, housing and economic systems all deeply compromised.

The cost of rebuilding

These factors are all interconnected. In other words, they worsen one another and create a cascading effect of negative outcomes for Palestinians in Gaza. Take, for example, the issue of mass displacement, with 1.7 million people forced from homes that have been largely destroyed: This impacts peoples ability to make a living, leading to increased poverty and a higher risk of malnutrition.

The conflicts aftermath necessitates rebuilding multiple facets of society, including social structures, health, infrastructure and education  all of which have been disrupted in profound ways.

Take education as another example: The disruption of schooling for children not only affects individual learning and development but also has long-term implications for the overall well-being of the community. The trauma of war means many children will face severe challenges even when the bombs stop. This education loss will impair employment opportunities, which in turn has an effect on the overall economy.

Addressing this will require an integrated approach that not only focuses on the physical rebuilding of schools but also considers the quality of education and psychological and social support for children. The U.N. projects that 1 million children  almost every single child in Gaza  will need mental health and psychosocial support. Meanwhile, the reconstruction of Gazas public health systems will require solutions that are not just about addressing immediate medical needs, but that also consider the broader infrastructure  including mental health services and vaccination programs, as well as the provision of essential medications.

Rebuilding cities facing cascading crises the nature of which Gaza is confronted with is a daunting prospect. And while the task may seem insurmountable at the present, with cooperation, coordination and courage it is not unachievable.

But it is a challenge that becomes that much more difficult with each day that the war in Gaza goes on.

Dima Nazzal, Director of Professional Practice, Georgia Institute of Technology

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Canadian Gold announces management transition with the appointment of Michael Swistun as President and CEO.

The Company is focused on expanding the potential of the Tartan Gold Mine Project while evaluating its portfolio of Canadian gold exploration assets situated near some of Canada's most prolific gold discoveries.

Michael Swistun is a proven executive with extensive experience in executive management, capital markets and M&A.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - Canadian Gold Corp. (TSXV: CGC) ("Canadian Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the board of directors has appointed Mr. Michael Swistun, CFA, to succeed Ed Huebert as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer. The appointment follows the resignation of Mr. Huebert, who will continue to advise the Company on environmental, permitting and government relations.

"I'm pleased to welcome Michael Swistun to Canadian Gold. It is a very exciting time for the Company and for the industry as a whole, as gold prices continue to set new highs," said Peter Shippen, Executive Chair of Canadian Gold Corp. "Michael joining, and Ed continuing in a key development role for the Tartan Mine Project and the promise of our other properties, positions CGC as an exciting exploration Company for high grade gold in Canada, worthy of investor interest."

Mr. Swistun most recently served as a key advisor to the previous Premier of Manitoba and was Secretary of the Economic Development Board, where he was responsible for attracting and overseeing the development of a number of important investments to the province of Manitoba. Prior to his service in government, Mr. Swistun held senior executive roles with companies in the industrial, aerospace and financial industries.

Notably, Mr. Swistun was Director of Acquisitions for Exchange Income Corp. a Manitoba-based Company that consolidated several aerospace, aviation and manufacturing companies throughout North America. Prior to that, Mr. Swistun worked with Wellington West Capital Inc. in Corporate Finance, a Company whose founders are now leading Wellington-Altus, another successful Manitoba-based wealth management firm.

Mr. Swistun has over 30 years of business experience, is a holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a graduate of the University of Manitoba's Asper School of Business.

"It is a proud moment for me to join Canadian Gold Corp. at such an exciting time. I look forward to working with the Board of CGC to progress our portfolio of assets, and chiefly, the Tartan Gold Mining project, which continues to deliver excellent results through continued exploration efforts," said Michael Swistun, Canadian Gold Corp's new President and CEO.

Over the past 3 years, drilling at the Tartan Gold Mine Project has confirmed expectations that the Main Zone continues uninterrupted at depth with grades that are consistent or better than historical drilling, having expanded the mineralized zone by approximately 72% (see News Release January 11, 2024). Drilling at the adjacent South Zone is testing gaps in the historical drill pattern along interpreted trends identified from historical data.

These continuous encouraging results and blue sky potential on several untested targets make Tartan one of the most exciting exploration targets in Canada, in one of the best mining jurisdictions in the World.

Qualified Person



The scientific and technical information disclosed in this news release was reviewed and approved by Wesley Whymark, P. Geo., Consulting Geologist for the company, and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101.

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Michael Swistun

President and Chief Executive Officer

Canadian Gold Corp.

204-232-1373

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Peter Shippen

Executive Chair

Canadian Gold Corp.

416 930-7711

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About Canadian Gold Corp.

Canadian Gold Corp. is a Toronto-based mineral exploration and development company whose objective is to expand the high-grade gold resource at the past producing Tartan Mine, located in Flin Flon, Manitoba. The Company holds a 100% interest in greenfields exploration properties in Ontario and Quebec adjacent to some of Canada's largest gold mines and development projects, specifically, the Canadian Malartic Mine (QC), the Hemlo Mine (ON) and Hammond Reef Project (ON). The Company is 36% owned by Robert McEwen, who was the founder and CEO of Goldcorp and is Chairman and CEO of McEwen Mining.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release of the Company contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Canadian Gold's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - Champion Electric Metals Inc. (CSE: LTHM) (OTCQB: CHELF) (FSE: 1QB0) ("Champion Electric" or the "Company") is pleased to report that it has encountered a lithium-mineralized pegmatite* during its maiden drill program at the Lithium Property in James Bay, Quebec (the "Property"). The first intercept came from a diamond core hole (see Figure 1) collared approximately 480 metres up-ice from the previously reported till sample containing thousands of spodumene grains and several spodumene mineralized pegmatite boulders (see Press Release dated December 18, 2023). The mineral system remains open to the north-east.

While drilling hole EIQ24-007, Champion Electric's team intersected approximately 19.1 m of spodumene bearing pegmatite from 7.30 to 26.40 m downhole, beneath 6.0 m of overburden. Experienced geologists on site used visual and UV light methods to confirm the presence of spodumene and re-confirmed the mineral identification after sharing photographic evidence with the broader team (see Figures 3-4).

Figure 1: Core boxes containing spodumene bearing pegmatite in hole EIQ24-007

Based on the limited spatial and geological information from this first drill hole, it is not yet possible to determine the true thickness or orientation of the pegmatite. The team is modifying the drill program to follow-up on the intercept and learn more about the scale and geometry of the dike. Drill samples are being rushed to the laboratory for confirmatory lithium analysis. More details on the new occurrence will be shared once the program has been completed and assay data received and processed. The drill program will be temporarily shut down in the coming days for spring break-up and the annual goose hunt period from April 20th to May 20th.

Given the extensive glacial and alluvial soil cover on the Property, this preliminary result demonstrates till sampling to be an effective exploration tool in this environment. The Company is still awaiting more results from the 2023 till sample program and is planning to expand the survey during the upcoming field season.

"This is an important day for Champion. We have located at least one source of the mineralised pegmatite till samples on our Property. This is obviously exciting, given our location between two growing pegmatite discoveries (the Patriot Battery Metals' Corvette project and Winsome Resources' Cancet project) and less than 350 m from the all-weather Trans-Taiga road and adjacent to Hydro Quebec's powerlines," said Jonathan Buick, President and CEO. "Months of hard work came to fruition over the Easter weekend with what might prove to be a very rare truly blind mineral discovery in a greenfield environment. More importantly, we have proven that spodumene pegmatite can be hiding under shallow cover very near outcrops of fractionated pegmatites. This is a testimony to our team's innovative and aggressive exploration strategy. We look forward to the upcoming analytical results and to getting a drill rig back out to site after the spring thaw."

*Disclaimer: The Company cautions that visual estimates of mineral abundance should never be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analysis where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. Visual estimates also potentially provide no information regarding impurities or deleterious physical properties relevant to valuations. The presence of spodumene-bearing pegmatite rock does not necessarily indicate the presence of economic concentrations of lithium, nor other constituents such as caesium, tantalum (LCT) mineralisation. Laboratory chemical assays are required to determine the grade of mineralisation.

Figure 2: Location map - spodumene pegmatite discovery and current drilling







Figures 3-4: Spodumene crystal fluorescent under UV light (365nm) and light green spodumene crystal under natural light

About the Project

The Company's lithium properties cover the northern extension of the Lac Guyer Greenstone Belt which hosts neighbouring Patriot Battery Metals' Corvette and Winsome Resources' Cancet advanced projects in the prolific James Bay region of Quebec (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Champion Electric Lithium Project location map

Qualified Person

Dr. Eric Hebert, P.Geo., Senior Geological consultant, is a member (#0842) of the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec (OGQ) and a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this press release.

About Champion Electric Metals Inc.

Champion Electric is a discovery-focused exploration company that is committed to advancing its highly prospective lithium properties in Quebec, Canada and cobalt properties in Idaho, United States. In addition, the Company owns the Baner gold project in Idaho County and the Champagne polymetallic project in Butte County near Arco.

The Company's shares trade on the CSE under the trading symbol "LTHM", on the OTCQB under the trading symbol "CHELF", and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "1QB0". Champion Electric strives to be a responsible environmental steward, stakeholder and contributing citizen to the local communities where it operates, taking its social license seriously, employing local community members and service providers at its operations whenever possible.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF CHAMPION ELECTRIC

"Jonathan Buick"

Jonathan Buick, President and CEO

To learn more, please visit the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca or the Company's corporate website at www.champem.com.

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations and Communications

Phone: (905) 688-9115

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION OF SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

Cautionary Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company, including closing of the Transactions and the prospectivity of the Projects for lithium. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.



The Projects are at an early stage of exploration, and the Company cautions that the qualified persons who have reviewed and approved this news release have not verified scientific or technical information produced by third parties.
April 8, 2024, London, Ontario  TheNewswire  Abitibi Metals Corp. (CSE:AMQ) (OTCQB:AMQFF) (FSE:4KG) (Abitibi or the Company), is pleased to announce that, due to overwhelming interest, the Companys non-brokered private placement previously announced on March 21, 2024 (the Offering) has been upsized. The Offering will now consist of up to 10,702,627 common shares of the Company, which is expected to close on April 9, 2024, and has been fully allocated.

Jonathon Deluce, CEO of Abitibi Metals, stated, We are pleased to announce the final upsize of this strategic financing. With a treasury of approximately $19 million on closing, Abitibi is in a unique position of strength in a challenging market, as we will be fully funded through 2025 to execute a 50,000-metre drill program and be in a position to deliver a PEA at the B26 Deposit. As both a passionate mining entrepreneur and investor, building compelling stories excites me, and I am grateful for the support Abitibi has received, which will enable us to successfully close the funds needed for a seven-year option within only four months. I believe 2024 is the beginning of a strong macroeconomic environment for gold and copper where high-grade growth stories like ours can flourish.

Jim Deluce, Chairman of the Board and Largest Shareholder of Abitibi Metals, commented, I am incredibly proud of what the team has accomplished in a challenging economic climate, raising over $21 million in 4 months to successfully secure our 80% earn-in across what was supposed to be a 7-year option. When Jonathon was appointed as CEO, he was challenged by the board to identify an asset with significant growth potential, something he very capably accomplished through the acquisition of the Beschefer Gold Project, where we drilled 4.92 grams per ton gold over 28.65 metres1, including 11.39 g/t Au over 9.1 metres1, a project we very much look forward to returning to in the near future.

Mr.Deluce continued: With B26, the team did it again - successfully identifying and bringing public an asset where, at Abitibi, we have only started to unlock its potential. With a robust treasury of approximately $19 million, an incredible corporate and technical team, and a world-class advisory team, Abitibi Metals now has a very strong foundation to build from as we continue to execute and remain extremely focused on building the next significant metals company in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt.

The Offering consists of two parts: a) $5,109,021.78 of charity flow-through common shares (CFT Shares) priced at C$0.86/share for the issuance of 5,940,723 CFT Shares; and b) $2,000,000 of common shares priced at C$0.42/share for the issuance of 4,761,904 Common Shares. The CFT Shares will qualify as flow-through shares within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Tax Act).

The gross proceeds from the Charity Flow-Through Offering will be used to incur Canadian exploration expenses that are flow-through mining expenditures (as such terms are defined in the Tax Act) related to the Companys projects in Quebec. Gross proceeds from the Common Share offering will be used for general and administration expenses including funding for the PEA obligation, property option payments, and to scale up marketing & awareness initiatives.

Finders fees in cash or securities may be paid on gross proceeds of the Offering, as permitted by securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE). Eventus Capital Corp. has been appointed as a Finder in connection with the Offering.

The securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to the Companys filing requirements with the CSE, and all securities will be subject to a four-month and one day statutory hold period after closing.

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: https://www.linkedin.com/company/abitibi-metals-corp-amq-c/

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Source:

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, financing plans, financial results or other technical developments or reports 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, or might 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, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. ("Quartz" or the "Company") (TSXV:QZM)(OTC PINK:QZMRF) is pleased to announce an important new discovery at the Company's Maestro property located 15km north of Houston, British Columbia ("BC"). Quartz has received assay results from its first two diamond drill holes (total 1,445m) completed in December 2023, at the Prodigy target at Maestro and the results support Quartz's strategy of developing high value, high demand projects (see Table 1).

Diamond drill hole PR-23-02, the Company's second hole at Prodigy intersected:

102 meters grading 2.22 g/t Au and 104 g/t Ag (3.49 g/t AuEQ 1 , 270 g/t AgEQ )

) Including 12 meters grading 1.23 g/t Au and 586 g/t Ag (8.01 g/t AuEQ, 752 g/t AgEQ)

And additionally 36 meters of 5.73 g/t Au and 87 g/t Ag (6.69 g/t AuEQ, 471 g/t AgEQ).

1 For details of the calculation of equivalents, see Footnotes to Tables page 7

The results represent the discovery of a substantial new Au-Ag system at Maestro, potentially related to the Lone Pine Mo-Cu porphyry deposit located approximately 1km south of the Prodigy discovery (see Figure 1 and Figure 2).

2023 Prodigy Drill Hole Results Drill Hole Incl. From (m) To (m) Int. 1,2 (m) AgEQ 3(a) (g/t) AuEQ 3(b) (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Mo (%) PR-23-02 81.00 186.00 105.00 24 0.29 9 0.06 0.06 0.015 PR-23-02 228.00 282.00 54.00 64 0.86 16 0.59 0.04 0.016 PR-23-02 324.00 675.00 351.00 103 1.33 36 0.78 0.05 0.029 PR-23-02 Incl. 423.00 639.00 216.00 153 1.97 57 1.17 0.07 0.033 PR-23-02 And 537.00 639.00 102.00 270 3.49 104 2.22 0.09 0.029 PR-23-02 Incl. 537.00 549.00 12.00 752 8.01 586 1.23 0.61 0.060 PR-23-02 Incl. 603.00 639.00 36.00 471 6.69 87 5.73 0.05 0.013 PR-23-01 45.00 393.00 348.00 32 0.38 13 0.13 0.04 0.015 PR-23-01 Incl. 63.00 96.00 33.00 63 0.75 32 0.28 0.05 0.018 PR-23-01 Incl. 156.00 252.00 96.00 43 0.52 19 0.22 0.07 0.008 PR-23-01 Incl. 276.00 306.00 30.00 45 0.51 26 0.09 0.07 0.018

Table 1 - 2023 Prodigy drill hole assay results from drill holes PR-23-02 and PR-23-01.

Bob Dickinson, Chairman of Quartz commented, "The results from our initial two drill holes surpassed our expectations, and early observations suggest there are multiple overlapping mineralizing events that occurred over a long period of time. Over my career, long-lived and multi-generational mineral systems are common factors that make mines globally, which is very encouraging to see at Maestro in these early days of the discovery. Projects like Maestro are vital to growing Canada's clean, modern economy and porphyry deposits are the world's most important sources of copper and molybdenum and major sources of gold and silver. And Maestro is located in British Columbia, a global leader in the development of socially and environmentally responsible resources. Combined with a positive market sentiment for commodities like gold, silver, copper and molybdenum, Maestro and Quartz are well-positioned to create significant value for shareholders. The Quartz team is committed to creating Canada's next great mineral success story and these results validate our modern approach to developing assets that will be attractive to potential transaction partners," concluded Dickinson.

Figure 1 - Cross section highlighting the Prodigy discovery in PR-23-02 (see Figure 2 for location of sectional trace.)

Assay results from PR-23-02 and PR-23-01 combined with results from 10 historical core holes drilled in the period 2007-2011 at Prodigy by a past operator, Bard Ventures Ltd, within an area measuring 275 meters north-south by 400 meters east-west (see Figure 2, Prodigy Drill Hole Plan Map) indicate Quartz has discovered a high-grade Au-Ag lode, hosted within an extensive epithermal Au-Ag system (see Figure 3 and Figure 4). The lode and the more disseminated precious metals, intersected by holes PR-23-01 and PR-23-02, are both hosted within a large and earlier deposited, Mo-Cu porphyry system. In addition to the exceptional results produced by PR-23-02, broad widths of near-surface mineralization were also demonstrated by hole PR-23-01, collared 230 m north-west of hole PR-23-02. This furthest-west hole on the Prodigy Target intersected 348 m of 32 g/t AgEQ (13 g/t Ag, 0.13 g/t Au and 0.015 % Mo) from 45 metres downhole. Table 2 below lists results of 6 historical holes drilled at Prodigy that host precious metals. Table 3 below lists the 4 eastern most historical holes drilled at Prodigy that host long intervals of porphyry Mo-Cu mineralization with only anomalous precious metals. The combined results indicate high potential for both bulk tonnage and underground high-grade mineralization.

Figure 2 - Plan view map of Prodigy highlighting the discovery in PR-23-02. PR-23-02 hosts the western-most intersection to date, and the zone remains open in several directions and at depth. Total depth, azimuth, and dip of PR-23-01 (633 m, 180, -73) and PR-23-02 (812.5 m, 280, -70).

Figure 3 - Broad zone of quartz-ankerite-pyrite veining and locally semi-massive to massive pyrite +/- chalcopyrite-tetrahedrite-molybdenite throughout a 36m zone of strong green sericite altered andesite at 603m - 639m downhole. Assays from this interval are 36m of 5.73 g/t Au, and 87 g/t Ag (6.69 g/t AuEQ, and 471 g/t AgEQ).

Figure 4 - Mineralogical samples of select drill core from PR-23-02 where multiple overlapping mineral events are evident.

Historical Prodigy Drill Hole Results Drill Hole Incl. From

(m) To

(m) Int 1, 2

(m) AgEQ 3(a)

(g/t) AuEQ 3(b)

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Cu

(%) Mo

(%) BD-11-69 35.00 54.20 19.20 101 1.11 72 0.25 0.08 0.012 BD-11-69 Incl. 49.30 51.00 1.70 876 9.24 711 1.35 0.73 0.003 BD-11-69 134.10 205.20 71.10 239 2.54 185 0.35 0.22 0.025 BD-11-69 Incl. 136.10 185.30 49.20 330 3.49 264 0.48 0.30 0.011 BD-11-69 And 142.50 148.80 6.30 1752 18.18 1484 1.94 1.34 0.011 BD-11-69 Incl. 180.00 183.30 3.30 1082 11.09 921 0.60 1.17 0.007 BD-11-69 329.10 404.50 75.40 62 0.78 1 0.10 0.02 0.136 BD-11-69 445.80 450.80 5.00 84 1.14 16 0.75 0.03 0.041 BD-11-70 47.40 55.20 7.80 42 0.50 9 0.03 0.25 0.016 BD-11-70 114.50 399.70 285.20 34 0.41 4 0.02 0.09 0.053 BD-11-70 Incl. 173.80 338.50 164.70 33 0.40 4 0.02 0.11 0.043 BD-11-70 Incl. 195.50 196.10 0.60 398 4.46 202 0.48 1.57 0.012 BDQ-08-02 21.00 81.00 60.00 30 0.35 9 0.07 0.07 0.024 BDQ-08-02 197.00 403.00 206.00 72 0.79 46 0.10 0.07 0.035 BDQ-08-02 Incl. 197.00 213.00 16.00 668 7.04 551 1.09 0.37 0.023 BDQ-08-02 And 203.00 209.00 6.00 1616 16.98 1350 2.62 0.86 0.018 BDQ-08-03 9.00 352.70 343.70 38 0.46 13 0.13 0.06 0.030 BDQ-08-03 Incl. 9.00 167.00 158.00 49 0.56 25 0.11 0.08 0.022 BDQ-08-03 Incl. 67.00 167.00 100.00 60 0.68 35 0.16 0.07 0.021 BDQ-08-03 And 67.00 117.00 50.00 82 0.93 50 0.22 0.10 0.019 BDQ-08-03 And 79.00 101.00 22.00 142 1.57 95 0.34 0.19 0.016 BDQ-08-04 293.00 551.27 258.27 56 0.73 13 0.43 0.04 0.026 BDQ-08-04 Incl. 373.00 497.00 124.00 79 1.05 19 0.64 0.05 0.038 BDQ-08-04 And 373.00 463.00 90.00 89 1.18 23 0.71 0.06 0.037 BDQ-08-05 119.00 223.00 104.00 33 0.41 13 0.17 0.04 0.014 BDQ-08-05 Incl. 141.00 223.00 82.00 37 0.46 15 0.20 0.03 0.015 BDQ-08-05 275.00 325.00 50.00 42 0.54 15 0.30 0.04 0.012

Table 2 - Historical drill hole assay results at Prodigy drilled by a previous operator between 2007 and 2011. See Figure 2 for reference.

Eastern Historical Drill Hole Results Drill Hole Incl. From

(m) To

(m) Int.1,2

(m) CuEQ3(c)(%) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Mo

(%) BD-07-02 158.00 300.80 142.80 0.29 2 0.01 0.05 0.057 BD-07-06 158.50 275.20 116.70 0.21 1 0.01 0.04 0.040 BD-11-68 41.20 353.10 311.90 0.34 2 N/A 0.07 0.067 BD-11-68 Incl. 100.10 317.40 217.30 0.37 2 N/A 0.08 0.072 BDQ-08-01 6.10 425.00 418.90 0.23 1 0.01 0.04 0.046 BDQ-08-01 Incl. 287.00 353.00 66.00 0.44 3 0.01 0.07 0.090

Table 3 - Historical drill hole assay results at Prodigy drilled by a previous operator between 2007 and 2011. See Figure 2 for reference. Precious metal abundance in drill holes increases westward, with the easternmost drill holes highlighted in Table 3 containing base metal mineralization but lacking precious metal mineralization. Note N/A means not assayed for Au.

Footnotes to Tables 1, 2, 3.

Reported widths of mineralization are drill hole intervals or core lengths recovered. Insufficient data exists to permit the calculation of true width of the reported mineralized intervals. All assay intervals represent length-weighted averages. Some figures may not sum exactly due to rounding. Metal equivalent calculations use prices of: Cu US$4.00/lb., Au US$1800/oz., Ag US$22/oz. and Mo US$15/lb and conceptual recoveries of: Cu 82%, Au 80%, Ag 80%, and Mo 82%. There has been no metallurgical testing on Prodigy mineralization. The equivalencies for each metal are calculated as follows: Silver equivalent (AgEQ g/t) = Ag g/t + (Au g/t * (Au recovery /100) * (Au $ per oz./ Ag $ per oz.)) + (Cu % * (Cu recovery /100) * (Cu $ per lb. * 22.0462) / (Ag $ per oz. / 31.10348)) + (Mo % * (Mo recovery /100) * (Mo $ per lb. * 22.0462) / (Ag $ per oz. / 31.10348)) Gold equivalent (AuEQ g/t) = Au g/t + (Ag g/t * (Ag recovery / 100) * (Ag $ per oz./ Au $ per oz.) + (Cu % * (Cu recovery / 100) * (Cu $ per lb. * 22.0462 /Au $ per oz. / 31.10348)) + (Mo % * (Mo recovery / 100) * (Mo $ per lb. * 22.0462 /Au $ per oz. / 31.10348)) Copper equivalent (CuEQ%) = Cu % + (Mo % * Mo $ per lb./Cu $ per lb. * (Mo recovery / Cu recovery) + ((Au g/t* (Au recovery / Cu recovery) * (Au $ per oz./ 31.10348 / Cu $ per lb. * 22.0462)) + ((Ag g/t * (Ag recovery / Cu recovery) * (Ag $ per oz. / 31.10348 / Cu $ per lb. * 22.0462)) Factors: 22.0462 = 1% of one tonne in lbs., 31.10348 grams per troy ounce The collar locations in UTM NAD83, Zone 9N coordinates for drill holes are listed in Table 4.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control Program

Drilling by Quartz

Quartz drilled NQ size core in the 2023 drilling program at Prodigy. All drill core was logged, photographed, and cut in half with a diamond saw. Half core samples from the drilling were sent to ALS Canada Ltd., Langley, B.C., for preparation and were analyzed at ALS Canada Ltd., North Vancouver, B.C. Both are ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facilities. At the laboratory, samples were dried, crushed to 70% passing -2mm, and a 250 g split pulverized to better than 85% passing 75 microns. Samples were analyzed for Au by fire assay fusion of a 30 g sub-sample with an ICP-AES finish, and for 48 elements including Ag, Mo and Cu by a four-acid digestion, multi-element ICP-MS package. Overlimits for Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn were analyzed by four-acid digestion and ICP-AES finish. For Au overlimits and additional Ag overlimits, a fire assay fusion and gravimetric finish were completed. As part of a comprehensive Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QAQC") program, Quartz Mountain control samples were inserted in each analytical batch at the following rates: standards one in 40 regular samples, in-line replicates one in 40 regular samples and at least one coarse blank per analytical batch. The control sample results were then checked to ensure proper QAQC.

Historical Drilling

Historical Prodigy core completed by Bard Ventures Ltd. was split using a hydraulic core splitter. Samples from 2007 and 2011 were analyzed at Acme Analytical in Vancouver, B.C. In 2007, core samples were split, and jaw crushed to 70% passing 10 mesh (2 mm). A 250 g riffle split was pulverized to 95% passing 150 mesh (100 microns). In 2011, core samples were crushed to 80% passing 10 mesh (2 mm) and a 250 g riffle split was pulverized to 85% passing 200 mesh (77 microns).

In both years, samples were analyzed by a four-acid digestion, multi-element ICP-ES package for 35 elements. For Mo overlimits (>4000 ppm), samples were analyzed by four-acid digestion and ICP-ES methods.

Historical assays from 2008 were analyzed at Eco Tech in Kamloops, B.C. Samples were crushed to 70% passing 10 mesh (2 mm), and a 250g sub-sample was pulverized to 95% passing a 150-mesh (109 micron) screen. Samples of 0.5 g were digested in 3 ml of a 3:1:2 (HCl:HNO 3 :H 2 0) for 90 minutes in a water bath at 95 degrees Celsius, diluted to 10 ml with water and then analyzed by ICP-AES for 28 elements. For Mo over 4000 ppm, an aqua regia and ICP method was used.

For the 2007 program, no standards were submitted with the mainstream samples. The 2008 and 2011 programs inserted a standard or blank after every 20th sample.

Bard Ventures did not analyze all core samples for Au. In 2023, 976 assay pulps were selected by Quartz from Bard Ventures' drilling at Prodigy and elsewhere on the Maestro property and sent to ALS Canada Ltd. A 25 g sample was analyzed for super trace Au by aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS finish. For samples overrange, an aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS finish method was applied again. No external control samples were submitted.

The Qualified Person ("QP") for the Company has not independently verified the historical analytical data disclosed within this news release. The Company has obtained all historical records including all analytical data from the previous operators and all laboratory assay certificates from reputable commercial assay laboratories for all drill holes disclosed within this news release. It is the Qualified Person's opinion that sample preparation, security, analytical procedures used by reputable commercial assay laboratories, and Bard Venture's QA/QC program conformed with industry standards at the time of analysis and is therefore considered reliable for informational and drill targeting purposes.

At this time Quartz does not plan to carry out further re-analysis on historical drill core at Prodigy due to the QP's opinion stated herein and the historical drill cores limited relevance with respect to Quartz's strategy going forward to explore for gold, silver, copper and molybdenum resources.

Qualified Person

Farshad Shirmohammad, M.Sc., P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Maestro

The Maestro Project, located in central British Columbia, lies adjacent to Highway 16, 15km north of Houston and 50km south of Smithers, providing year-round road access to the project and nearby infrastructure including, road, rail, hydroelectricity, and natural gas. Covering 2,309 hectares, it has a rich exploration history dating back to 1914, primarily focusing on the Lone Pine Mo-Cu porphyry deposit (see Quartz news release March 19th, 2024, and NI 43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, P&E Mining Consultants Inc., January 21st, 2011).

The historical exploration was centered on base metal porphyry mineralization. The potential for precious metals in the surrounding area remains largely unexplored.

Since acquiring the property in 2021, Quartz has conducted comprehensive geochemical and geophysical surveys, including soil/silt sampling, induced polarization geophysics, airborne magnetic surveys, initial hyperspectral studies, detailed relogging of historical drill core and assaying for gold only, 976 pulp samples derived from historical assaying of numerous core holes located across the Maestro property. Results from Quartz's first two drill holes at Prodigy indicate overlapping, multi-generation precious metal mineralization hosted within a Mo-Cu porphyry environment. Notably, green sericite alteration reminiscent of deposits such as Blackwater-Davidson play a significant role at Prodigy. Mineralization remains open in multiple directions and at depth, promising significant further potential.

About Quartz

Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. (TSXV: QZM, OTC Pink: QZMRF) is a restructured public company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Its successful mine finding management is focused on discovering and transacting high-value gold, silver, and copper projects in British Columbia. The Company owns 100% of the Maestro Gold-Silver-Molybdenum-Copper Property and 100% of the Jake Copper-Gold-Silver Property. Both projects have access to infrastructure and high potential for important resources and significant future transactions. The BC Government has awarded permits for 50 drill sites for each project. First drilling at Maestro has discovered a high-grade gold-silver lode within extensive precious metal mineralization all hosted within a large porphyry Mo-Cu system. Drilling at Jake is planned for summer 2024 with the goal of making another important discovery.

Quartz is associated with Hunter Dickinson Inc. (HDI), a company with over 35-years of successfully discovering, developing, and transacting mineral projects in Canada and internationally. Former HDI projects in BC included, Mount Milligan, Kemess South, and Gibraltar - all of which are porphyry deposits with current or former producing mines. Other well-known projects with HDI involvement include Sisson and Prosperity in Canada, Pebble and Florence in the United States, and Xietongmen in China.

Quartz is committed to the advancement of important scale, critical and essential mining assets while following responsible mineral development principles, including a mandate to employ best practice approaches in the engagement and involvement of local communities, and meeting rigorous environmental standards.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Robert Dickinson

Chairman

For further details, contact Robert Dickinson, Chairman at:

T: (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

W: www.quartzmountainresources.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.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking-statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking-statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include the following: the Company's projects will obtain all required environmental and other permits, and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of the Company's projects will continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems will occur.Though the Company believes the expectations expressed in its forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to future events and third party discretion such as regulatory personnel. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include variations in market prices, continuity of mineralization and exploration success, and potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and tenure and delays due to third party opposition, changes in and the effect of government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and exploration and development of properties located within Aboriginal groups asserted territories that may affect or be perceived to affect asserted aboriginal rights and title, and which may cause permitting delays or opposition by Aboriginal groups, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. 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 statements. For more information on the Company,and the risks and uncertainties connected with its business, investors should review the Company's home jurisdiction filingsas www.sedarplus.ca and its 20F filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

Drill Hole Spatial Data - Prodigy Zone Hole Year E NAD83 N NAD83 Elev m Length m Incline(o) Azimuth(o) Prodigy PR-23-01 2023 646200.00 6044300.00 842.00 633.00 -73 180 Prodigy PR-23-02 2023 646390.00 6044175.00 839.00 812.50 -70 280 Prodigy BD-07-02 2007 646408.00 6044315.00 853.00 506.40 -90 0 Prodigy BD-07-06 2007 646497.00 6044224.00 863.00 473.20 -90 0 Prodigy BDQ-08-01 2008 646502.00 6044219.00 863.00 425.80 -60 315 Prodigy BDQ-08-02 2008 646316.00 6044284.00 853.00 531.60 -90 0 Prodigy BDQ-08-03 2008 646226.00 6044301.00 849.00 481.60 -90 0 Prodigy BDQ-08-04 2008 646248.00 6044200.00 840.00 551.30 -90 0 Prodigy BDQ-08-05 2008 646330.00 6044170.00 841.00 486.50 -90 0 Prodigy BD-11-68 2011 646360.00 6044362.00 858.00 590.40 -90 0 Prodigy BD-11-69 2011 646235.00 6044245.00 836.00 602.59 -90 0 Prodigy BD-11-70 2011 646215.00 6044349.00 852.00 470.55 -90 0

Table 4 - Spatial data from all diamond drill holes at Prodigy completed by a previous operator from 2007 to 2011 and Quartz in 2023.
Exploration Planned For the Malborne Uranium Project

Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - Record Resources Inc. (TSXV: REC) reports it has acquired an option on a large package of uranium claims northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

The option covers a large area known as the Malborne property and is owned by privately-held exploration companies, 2758145 (Ontario) Inc and 1170331 BC Ltd. (the optionor). The land package consists of 780 claims stretching over 16,320 hectares (163 square kilometres) and is located 110 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

"The rocks in this land package, the Malborne claims, have the potential to be as prospective for uranium mineralization akin to the rocks in the Athabasca basin in Saskatchewan," said Record Resources CEO, Michael Judson. "Ontario is known for its uranium deposits and produced more than 400 million pounds of uranium oxide between 1955 and 1996."

"There hasn't been a lot been a lot of uranium exploration in Ontario in the last thirty years due to low prices," Judson said. "Historical exploration focused on looking for uranium in plutons, pegmatites and the iron formations. We think that this is the wrong approach to targeting economic uranium deposits. We have a new exploration strategy that will be revealed in time."

Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) geologist, JF Scott, in a 1987 report (open file report 5634) concluded that there are structural and lithological similarities between rock units found in the Quetico Belt in Ontario and in the Wollaston belt in the Athabasca basin, Saskatchewan. The major uranium deposits occur in the Wollaston formation and underlies the Basin sedimentary rock.

The most recent exploration drilling done in the Malborne area was by RPT Resources Corp in the Frazer Creek area. RPT intersected 1.20% U308 over 3.2 metres, 1.9% U308 over 0.30 and 0.56% U308 over 0.3 metres. (Bowdidge, C. 2006, AFRO 2.3194).

RPT Uranium Corp also reported trench samples from Frazer Creek that assayed 4,385 ppm U308, 252 ppm U308, 14,862 ppm U308, 4,016 ppm U308, 6,422 ppm U308, 2,755 ppm U308, 2,853 ppm U308, 5,995 ppm U3O8 (source: Dawn-Ann Metsaranta for RPT Uranium (2007).

JF Scott, from the OGS, reported radioactive vein sets including an assay of 3.9% U308 at Black Sturgeon Lake and grab samples that assayed 800 ppm uranium, 100 ppm niobium and 60 ppm cobalt. In 2008, drilling by RPT Uranium Corp on this property drilled intersections ranging from 0.11% to 4.68% U308 over intervals of less than one metre (source: Metsaranta, Dawn-Ann, 2008, AFTO2.37448).

At the Lake Helen area (in the new claim block) pegmatite dikes of up to 30 metres wide, some stained yellow with uranophane, were noted in a report the OGS's BR Schnieders et al (open file report 6148, 2005). As well, Scott reported grab samples assaying up to 420 ppm uranium and 290 ppm thorium from the Jessie Lake area (also part of the Malborne claims).

As previously reported in the company's December 19, 2023 news release, Record Resources also optioned the Malborne Lake uranium property (part of the new claim block). The Ontario Government Survey (OGS) has reported finding at Malborne Lake a narrow, high-grade, mineralized fracture containing pitchblende (uranininte) as well as secondary yellow uranium minerals, which is probably uranophane. (Therese Pettrigrew, April 21, 2022 OGS assessment report number 52H07SW0001).

Exploration in this area has been cyclic with numerous short-periods between 1947 to 1983. Since 2004, as the uranium deposit models from the Athabasca Basin become better understood, there is renewed interest in the uranium potential of the Nipigon-Sibley Basin (Schnieders B.R. et al 2005).

Malborne Uranium Project, Ontario

Terms of Agreement

Record Resources can own 100 percent of the claims by paying $300,000 at closing on or before May 31, 2024 and by issuing a total of 6.9 million shares in instalments over a two-year period. Three million of the total 6.9 million shares are payable at closing. An additional two million shares is payable on May 31, 2025. A last payment of 1.9 million shares is payable on May 31, 2026. The shares to be issued as part of this agreement are valued at $0.035 per share. No finders fee was paid. This transaction is expected to close on or before May 31, 2024. This arms length agreement was signed on April 1, 2024. This transaction is subject to TSX Venture Exchange, regulatory and board approvals.

Qualified Person

Edward Procyshyn, P.Geo, a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

For more information please contact:

Michael C. Judson, Chairman & CEO

Record Resources Inc.

T. +1-514-865-5496

Website: www.recordresourcesinc.com

Cautionary Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes", an or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would" , "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: approval of the Private Placement and obtaining a full revocation order. This forward-looking information reflects the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to the Company and on assumptions the Company believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the market acceptance of the Private Placement; the ability of the Company to obtain a full revocation order and the receipt of all required approvals in connection with the foregoing. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market price for securities; and the delay or failure to receive board, shareholder, court or regulatory approvals. Although 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. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The Units and the securities comprising the Units have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor shall there be any sale of securities in the Unites States, or any other jurisdiction, in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
A non-governmental organisation on Monday sought answers over the deaths of two French officers killed in the early days of the 1994 Rwanda genocide, a legal complaint seen by AFP showed.

The Survie (Survival) NGO that advocates for better relations between France and Africa, as well and two relatives, on Monday filed a complaint seeking a probe into the deaths of military police members Rene Maier and Alain Didot, as well as his wife Gilda Didot, in the Rwandan capital Kigali.

Exactly three decades on, "this complaint aims to establish responsibilities in the death of two French gendarmes and the wife of one of them in Kigali... in circumstances that remain mysterious," Survie said in a statement.

It claimed a French intelligence note that year suggested "the three French nationals could have been eliminated after they were witnesses" of the April 6, 1994 assassination of Hutu president Juvenal Habyarimana.

The downing of his plane over Kigali triggered the genocide that killed more than 800,000 people between April and July 1994, mostly from the Tutsi minority but also moderate Hutus.

Didot, a radio technician, had arrived in 1992 to advise the Rwandan army and secure the French embassy's communications, according to the complaint.

Maier, an assistant technician, arrived in 1993.

The massacres of Tutsis started the day after Habyarimana's assassination.

A day after that, the Didot couple were reported dead on April 8, 1994.

UN peacekeepers from Belgium retrieved their bodies on April 12. They found the remains of Maier the next day.

The plaintiffs say the bodies were then repatriated via the Central African Republic, where death certificates were issued. But they say a total of eight inconsistent certificates exist for the three people.

No autopsy or investigation was ever conducted, they say.

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame on Sunday said the international community had "failed" his country during the 1994 genocide as he paid tribute to victims 30 years after Hutu extremists tore apart the nation.

The tiny nation has since found its footing under the iron-fisted rule of Kagame, who led the rebel militia that ended the killings.
At least three drones struck Sudanese army targets Tuesday in the eastern state of Gedaref, which had previously been largely spared the country's devastating war, military and security sources said.

For almost a year, Sudan has been gripped by fighting between the regular army, which is backed by the government and state security apparatus, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

One drone "struck state security and intelligence headquarters, but did not cause significant damage," a security source told AFP from Gedaref, more than 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of the capital Khartoum.

Witnesses in Gedaref reported "loud anti-aircraft fire" from the army.

In Al-Faw, 150 kilometres to the west, a military source said "a drone had bombed" an army division.

Both officials requested anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Al-Faw is only 25 kilometres east of the front line between the army and the paramilitaries.

Eastern Sudan had until now been considered a safe haven for millions of civilians displaced from Khartoum and other battlegrounds.

According to the latest figures from the United Nations, nearly half a million people are sheltering in Gedaref state alone.

North of Gedaref on the Red Sea, the city of Port Sudan has become a makeshift headquarters for government ministries loyal to the army command. The port city has also become the base for United Nations relief efforts.

Nearly all aid coming into Sudan -- where famine has all but taken hold and disease outbreaks are on the increase -- flows through the east.

In Al-Jazira state, Sudan's pre-war breadbasket where witnesses have reported increased clashes, the army has "made progress" towards state capital Wad Madani, a military source said early Tuesday.

The RSF has had nearly uncontested control of the state since December, when the army withdrew in the face of advancing paramilitaries.

In the vast western region of Darfur, also nearly entirely controlled by the RSF, witnesses reported army air strikes on three state capitals -- Nyala, Al-Daein and El Fasher.

Both sides have been accused of war crimes, including the indiscriminate shelling of residential areas.

A UN expert report released last year determined that the army in Darfur was "not only unable to protect civilians but also used aerial bombing and heavy shelling in urban areas," often resulting "in the heaviest losses of civilian life".

Since last April, the fighting has killed many thousands -- including up to 15,000 in one Darfur town -- and displaced 8.6 million people.
Fans will be seeing more of Ji Chang Wook as the actor is teaming up with Ma Dong Seok in "Twelve."

With a slew of his upcoming K-dramas, the South Korean heartthrob is tapped to portray another challenging role with his first ever superhero character.

Ji Chang Wook Tapped to Join Ma Dong Seok in 'Twelve'

In a report cited by a news outlet, Ji Chang Wook was offered to star in the upcoming Korean superhero drama "Twelve."

The actor is "currently in discussions" to headline the forthcoming series.

As mentioned, if Ji Chang Wook officially accepts the offer, he will be teaming up with Ma Dong Seok, raising anticipation for the duo's on-screen chemistry.

In addition to this, "Twelve" will be the first superhero genre he has appeared in since his debut.

What We Need to Know About 'Twelve' K-drama

While K-zombie series previously dominated various platforms and created buzz online, viewers are also showing interest in superhero K-dramas.

From "Strong Woman Do Bong Soon" and its spin-off, as well as "The Uncanny Counter," "Behind Your Touch," and, of course, Disney+'s "Moving," broadcast networks continue to introduce superhero-themed genres to viewers.

As for the upcoming series "Twelve," the story focuses on the journey of multiple superheroes, whose mission is to protect the Korean Peninsula from evil spirits. Although the group is bound by one mission, which is to save humans, the group showcases unique charms and diverse abilities.

Ma Dong Seok is offered to play the character of the leader of the heroes, named Taesan.

As for Ji Chang Wook's new role, his character in "Twelve" is yet to be revealed.

Directed by seasoned filmmaker Ko Sung Mok, the drama is scheduled to be released at the end of next year.

"Twelve" will be Ma Dong Seok's first K-drama appearance since his cameo role in the 2020 series "Team Bulldog: Off-duty Investigation."

As for Ji Chang Wook, the top star will headline multiple K-dramas in 2024.

Ji Chang Wook K-dramas 2024

After having back-to-back K-dramas in 2023 through the action-packed "The Worst of Evil '' and romance series "Welcome to Samdal-ri," Ji Chang Wook continues to receive offers from upcoming projects.

Among his soon-to-be released K-dramas is "Queen Woo," an action historical series airing in the second half of the year via TVING.

Ji Chang Wook will be joined by an interesting lineup of stars, including Jeon Jong Seo, Kim Moo Yeol, Lee Soo Hyuk, Jung Yoo Mi, and Park Ji Hwan, as lead stars.

On top of it, he will also play the lead role in Disney+'s "Gangnam B-Side" with Jo Woo Jin and Ha Yoon Kyung.

Interestingly, the series will also be a reunion project with his "The Worst of Evil" co-star, BIBI.





For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Flores
Netflix is gearing for the much-awaited release of the upcoming K-drama "Goodbye Earth."

The streaming giant teased viewers with stills, featuring the actors joining the series. Unfortunately, Yoo Ah In seemed to have been deliberately excluded from the cuts.

Netflix Excludes Yoo Ah In in 'Goodbye Earth' Stills

Showing a sneak peek at the characters and their journey amid the chaos surrounding Ungcheon City, they struggle to navigate and survive as the world nears its end.

Ahead of the release, the "Goodbye Earth" teaser featured a glimpse of how pandemonium happened right before their eyes.

Authorities have warned the public that they only have 200 days left before the asteroid hits Earth and is expected to take place around the Korean peninsula.

Who will survive the country's biggest natural disaster?

In the latest still cuts, Ahn Eun Jin, who plays the role of middle school teacher Jin Se Kyung, takes risks and steps up during the protests.

Despite the chaotic incident, she shows compassion to protect her students and shield them from the dangerous situation.

In addition, Woo Sung Jae, or as they call him, Priest Damiano, played by Jeon Sung Woo, leads the congregation with the word of God amid the chaos.

Kim Yoon Hye, who plays as commander Kang In Na, maintains her poise and confidence by showcasing her bravery and resilience to protect the public from a disastrous incident. She plays a significant role in maintaining order as survivors attempt to navigate life despite the impending end of the world.

Lastly, the "Goodbye Earth" teaser also showcased the characters of Kim Bo Min, Kim Kang Hoon, and Kim Do Hye as they took on the roles of So Min, Jin Seo, and Han Yul, the residents of Incheon City.

While the latest teaser showed a glimpse of characters joining the series, Netflix failed to release still cuts of Yoo Ah In's character.

Currently, the controversial actor is dealing with his issues regarding illegal drugs, and participating in the ongoing investigation.

Despite the negative issues surrounding the actor, Netflix continues to release "Goodbye Earth."

Netflix Limits Yoo Ah In's Screentime in 'Goodbye Earth'

However, although fans would get to see the upcoming series on-screen, Netflix re-edits some of Yoo Ah In's scenes.

According to reports, the streaming giant reduced the screen time for the actor to avoid any inconvenience that would affect the production.

"Yoo Ah In appears as the main protagonist that makes up the story of the work. Together with the director, writer, and other production team, we conducted re-editing and post-production after sufficient discussion to avoid disrupting the flow as much as possible."

It can be recalled that the release of "Goodbye Earth" was postponed after the award-winning actor, who plays the main character of the upcoming drama, tested positive for various illegal drugs, including cocaine, marijuana, ketamine, and propofol.

Due to this, Yoo Ah In underwent a series of court hearings and investigations.

Meanwhile, the "Goodbye Earth" release date is set for April 26, exclusively airing on Netflix.

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Flores


Monday, April 8, 2024  A woman has been found dead after she was interrogated topless and at gunpoint by Mexican cartel thugs.

Laura Karen Rodriguez Moreno was held up by members of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel and forced to confess she was a member of a rival drug cartel and had been working with local police.

She was forced to confess to being part of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and to an alleged relationship between the CJNG and the Municipal Police of Salamanca, Guanajuato.





Footage of the interrogation was shared across social media. In the disturbing video, Laura stands in front of a white car at night, topless but wearing shorts.

She is flanked by masked men holding large guns, while her interrogator off camera asks her questions.

In Spanish, the interrogator asks Laura her name, to which she replies Laura Karen Rodriguez Moreno.



Her interrogator then asks where Laura lives. In the Virreyes neighbourhood on 404 Calle 30 de Septiembre. I work for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. And were being supported by the municipal police of Salamanca, Laura replies.

Laura is then asked about how much material or drugs she receives and who supplies it to her. Laura replies that she is supplied 30 pieces by two young men on a motorcycle called Valentino and Quique.

The interrogator then wants to know how often Laura is provided with material. Laura reveals this is every time we run out, which is every third day.





Under further questioning, Laura claims she is paid 20 pesos for every piece sold and when asked about how long she has been involved in this business, Laura states: Im going on six months.

The interrogator then says: This goes out to all of those skinny Jalisca b*tches. Were coming after everyone of you guys.

Laura was later found dead in Valtierrilla, Salamanca. Shocking images emerged online showing her body discarded on the side of a road.




Tuesday, April 9, 2024 - Devki Group of Companies Founder and Chairman Narendra Raval Narendra Raval has expressed his deep admiration for President William Rutos leadership.

Speaking during the launch of the Sh45 billion Cemtech Sebit Clinkerization plant in West Pokot, Narendra wished that Ruto could be given a chance to rule Kenya for 25 years.

According to him, Ruto would change the country if he were president for 25 years.

Our President is here and I am happy, I was worried if he could come with this weather but he managed to come through the road.

"He loves this country so much. I have no words to say thank you to him may God give him 100 years of life.

"I wish we have him as president for at least 25 years.

"He will develop this country, said Narendra.

The billionaires remarks were echoed by Pokot South Member of Parliament David Pkosing who said they should change the current constitution.

I think those twenty-five years we should change the constitution, Pkosing stated.

This comes even as Kenyans have expressed their displeasure with Rutos leadership due to tough economic times exacerbated by the high cost of living and increased taxes since taking over.

In 2022, President Ruto said he was not interested in the move to amend the constitution to scrap the term limit saying it was selfish.

Ruto who was speaking during a Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meeting told MPs to focus on the needs of the people instead of discussing the presidential term limit.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, April 9, 2024  All doctors participating in the ongoing strike in Nyeri County face imminent sack.

This is after Governor Kahiga Mutahi halted salary payments for 59 out of 62 doctors still participating in the ongoing nationwide strike.

Speaking during a press conference, Governor Kahiga issued a directive to dismiss the doctors, if they failed to return to work.

The government is now left with no option but to take action against the striking doctors, Mutahi Kahiga stated.

I hereby instruct the Department of County Public Service Management and County Treasury to stop salary payments to the affected doctors.

Kahiga argued that the county was struggling to deliver medical services to its residents, despite having 139 employees on their payroll.

The county issued 62 letters to doctors on strike, and only three responded, Kahiga noted.

The County chief further faulted the doctors for defying orders, which has posed a great risk to the health of Nyeri County residents and others seeking medical care from outside the area.

Acting in his capacity as the Chairman of the Labour Committee in the Council of Governors (CoG), Kahiga maintained that moving forward, discussions were underway at both the National and the County government levels to resolve the issues in the health sector.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Monday, April 8, 2024  A gunman today shot dead two people before turning the weapon on himself at a law office in Las Vegas.

The shooting occurred at the offices of Prince Law Group in Summerlin shortly after 10.30am local time.

A source told KTNV the shots were fired during a deposition, with the gunman killing two people before fatally shooting himself.

Officers shut down traffic in the area as a major emergency response was launched, with initial reports stating the gunman had barricaded himself inside.





'This is a dynamic event and multiple LVMPD emergency vehicles are responding,' police stated on social media. 'Please avoid the area.'

The suspect was a male and the two victims that are deceased are a male and a female, according to Sheriff Kevin McHahil.

'I just want to assure the community now we believe that the suspect is deceased, we do have two deceased victims on scene and there is no further threat to the community,' McHahil said.




Tuesday, April 9, 2024 - Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung'wah was on the receiving end following his remarks that the Kenyan economy was 'unstable'.

Ichung'wah, who was appealing to doctors to go back to work, maintained that the economy was unstable and hence the government was not in a position to sustain their demands.

Speaking in Nyeri on Sunday, the MP asked doctors to bear with the current situation until the economy stabilizes.

He added that the prolonged strike was paralyzing service delivery in public hospitals.

"I take this opportunity to plead with all our medical professionals to call off the strike and give dialogue an opportunity. Give the government a chance for the economy to grow from its current state," he stated.

However, Kenyans were quick to call out the MP for the controversial remark since he has been praising President William Ruto and his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, for stabilizing the economy.

Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai also accused the Leader of the Majority at the National Assembly of doublespeak.

"Economy wasn't performing great? I thought they were bragging how great they were performing," Alai added.

Adding onto Alai's remarks, a section of Kenyans accused the Kenya Kwanza politicians of lying about the economy when it was convenient for the government.

They argued that the MP was only complaining about the economy to justify the government's decision not to increase their salaries as requested.

Furthermore, Kenyans dismissed the 'unstable economy' claim from Ichung'wah adding that Kenyans were paying more taxes than before.

Most pointed out that the revenue could be used for key operations such as paying doctors and not reintroducing the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) positions.

Kenyans urged the government to stop the excuses and pay the doctors their dues as well as teachers who play key roles in society.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, April 9, 2024 - President William Ruto is now fed up and has moved to rein in banditry in West Pokot, insisting that it was unacceptable that some schools in the region had remained closed due to increased insecurity.

As such, he ordered immediate deployment of the military with soldiers set to begin an operation in the region within the week.

"You have said that there are five schools in the area that are closed, I want to direct today while in West Pokot, in the next two days, the military will be here," he directed.

According to Ruto, the military would be deployed to ensure the schools are rebuilt and reopened as well as ensure the safety of students once schools open for term three.

The President remarked that it was a shame that West Pokot was embroiled in banditry and cattle rustling at a time when the rest of the country was moving forward.

"You have seen that our Nairobi Stock Exchange has moved from the worst stock exchange to the best in the world, but here you are engaged in stock theft," he challenged West Pokot residents referencing the perennial cattle rustling in the region.

Once the army had secured the region, Ruto asked West Pokot residents to make sure that they sent their children to schools.

This was the second time in his presidency that Ruto was deploying the military to the troubled North Rift.

The first order was made on February 2023, where Ruto ordered a joint Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and police security operation in all bandit-prone areas.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Monday, April 8, 2024  Activists are fighting back against an animal torture group who have been sharing videos online.

In one video published by animal-loving vigilantes, a man identified simply as Li was attacked at a shopping mall in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou.

Li had allegedly bragged on social media that he had already killed a number of cats and was on his way to adopt four more. But instead of meeting someone with some kittens, as he expected, he was ambushed by a group of cat lovers who forced him to confess his misdeeds on camera. They then roughed him up and smeared human excrement all over his face.

The group had live-streamed the attack on the man.





The Rotten Mango podcast host Stephanie Soo said: Everyone knew that he got exactly what he deserved. This man was part of an animal snuff film gang that would catch, torture and kill kittens for views on Telegram.

This guy was particularly known for boiling cats alive. He came to adopt a kitten for the sole purpose of wanting to kill it as slowly and as painfully as possible.

After the attack, police said they planned to arrest the vigilantes, as well as calling Li in for questioning.

China does have some laws safeguarding the welfare of animals used in research labs, and on farms, but the treatment of pets is more of a grey area. Animal cruelty is not specifically defined in any existing laws and theres still a thriving trade in dog and cat meat.





After a number of cats had been found dead or dying in locations around Shanghai Tech University, a group of students tried to identify the killer. They were faced with a horrifying gesture of defiance.

They got access to the CCTV cameras in the areas where the cats bodies had been found in the hope of working out who had been in those places recently.

Stephanie explained: They did not just find someone acting suspicious, they found someone staring straight into the camera with a cat in their hands.

The woman, a female student with long black hair and carrying a drawstring backpack set the bag down in front of the camera and then, apparently aware that the students would be watching, she took an already-injured stray kitten out of her bag.

Stephanie said the cat, whom the students later named Princess, was already dazed and helpless, but the woman showed no mercy.





She explained: She just starts strangling Princess with both hands right in front of the CCTV camera. Princess tries to struggle but she's already in a weak state, she can't fight back hard enough the strangulation went on until Princess's body went limp.

The killer does not appear to ever have been brought to justice.

In another horrific case, a member of the animal torture ring uploaded a video showing a tiny cat being torn apart in a kitchen blender. The vile footage spread like wildfire across Twitter and Reddit.

A number of petitions are circulating, in the hope of pressuring the Chinese government into drafting legislation to protect domestic cats and dogs. As yet, though, the animals only defence is the questionable acts of animal rights vigilantes.


Monday, April 8, 2024  A British man who stabbed his wife to death and then cut her body into more than 200 pieces has been jailed for life in the UK.

The man named Nicholas Metson was today told he will have to serve a minimum of 19 years and 316 days behind bars before consideration for parole, after a judge heard how he dumped wife Holly Bramley's remains in a 'bag for life' and other carrier bags in a river.

The court heard Metson, 28, had joked to police that his wife 'might be hiding under the bed' when officers responded to a concern for welfare call about her as the couple's 16-month marriage splintered.

On Friday the Mail revealed how in the run-up to the March 2023 murder, Metson had punished the 'beautiful and kind' 26-year-old by killing her pets in gruesome fashion.

A source said the killer once dumped Ms Bramley's new puppy in a washing machine, leaving her to discover the dead dog inside with the drum still spinning.

On other occasions, Ms Bramley confided that her partner had killed her hamsters by putting them in a food blender and the microwave oven, and once fled to a police station with her pet rabbits to escape him.

During the conclusion of a sentencing hearing this morning, His Honour Judge Simon Hirst said it was an aggravating feature that Metson never gave a reason for how and why he had killed his wife.

'Holly's family and friends will never know how and why she was killed,' the judge said, adding that the fact Ms Bramley was cut in to 224 parts was also an aggravating feature and could not be explained by Metson's autism.

'That number of parts was far from necessary to remove Holly's parts from your flat,' Judge Hirst added.

The court heard Ms Bramley was stabbed four times after being grabbed by Metson and placed in a headlock.

Judge Hirst said it was clear a bite mark on Metson's arm - which he showed to police to support a false claim that he had been the victim of domestic abuse - was caused by his victim as she desperately fought his vice-like grip as she was knifed in the bedroom.

She was dismembered in the bathroom 'with a number of tools', the judge said.

The court heard Metson kept the body at the couple's 14th-floor tower block flat in Lincoln for almost a week, before paying school friend Joshua Hancock 100 to help him dispose of the remains.

Judge Hirst said the pair drove with bags full of remains to the village of Bassingham, ten miles away, where they were dumped into the River Witham.

Victim impact statements read out at Lincoln Crown Court by Ms. Bramley's mother and siblings indicated Ms. Bramley, a triplet, had been subjected to 'coercive control and manipulation' by the 'evil monster' and their marriage had 'broken down irretrievably'.

The Judge said it was clear from family statements that Ms Bramley, one of 13 siblings, was a 'beautiful and kind' young woman whose murder had left a 'void' for her loved ones.

The court heard that while officers were searching for Ms. Bramley, they noticed a strong smell of ammonia and bleach at the couple's flat, bloodstained sheets in the bathtub, and a towel on the kitchen floor.

'At one point Mr Metson joked she might be hiding under the bed,' said prosecutor Gordon Aspden KC.

Early the following morning, CCTV from the tower block captured Metson using a shopping trolley to transport carrier bags down to this car via the lift.

Later that day, a walker 'made a grim discovery' when he noticed plastic bags and a 'Bag For Life' floating in the River Witham at Bassingham, one of which contained a severed hand.

By then, Metson had been searching online to find out 'What benefits do I get if my wife has died?' and 'Can someone haunt me after they die?'

Mr Aspden said Miss Bramley's injuries went far beyond what was necessary to dismember her body. 'In short, after murdering Holly he destroyed her,' Mr Aspden added.

Metson pleaded guilty to murder last month. He had previously admitted conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by disposing of Ms Bramley's body on 25 March.

Hancock, also 28, of Waddington, Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to obstructing a coroner in the execution of his duty by helping to dispose of Ms Bramley's body.

He said he was unaware Metson had murdered Ms Bramley but helped to dispose of her body parts after being offered cash.

Hancock also admitted two unrelated charges of attempted communication with a child and possessing drugs.

Judge Hirst said Hancock had been 'motivated by money' as he jailed him for three years and three months. The judge said it was an aggravating feature that not all of Ms Bramley's body parts had been recovered.

In a statement released through police after the case, Ms Bramley's family said she 'loved to sing, dance, had a passion for animals and was rarely seen without a smile on her face.'

They added that her 'vibrant spirit and infectious laughter filled our lives with joy' and described how Ms Bramley 'wanted nothing more than to become a mother' one day.

But they said meeting Metson was the 'beginning of a rocky road' of domestic abuse which 'we never managed to save her from' and said they wanted to use their loss to call for others in a similar situation to seek help.

They added: 'We, as a family, are asking and encouraging anyone living with domestic abuse to seek support and tell someone.

'There are services out there who can help victims find the happiness and freedom they deserve.

'We miss Holly so much our hearts are broken. But, if anything, we need her death to highlight that domestic abuse is NOT OK. '




Tuesday, April 9, 2024 - A middle-aged lady by the name of Bobo Shanty has been killed alongside the gang that shot and robbed a 26-year-old Somali businessman of Ksh 3.9 million in Eastleigh.

According to reports, Shanty, and other friends took the main suspect in the robbery incident to Mombasa to buy a car.

The prime suspect was arrested and later killed by undercover detectives.

Shanty and her friends were reportedly traced and abducted in Mlolongo on Wednesday last week.

They were killed and their bodies dumped in different parts of the city.

Her body was found dumped in Ruiru.





See her photos below.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Monday, April 8, 2024  New Zealand announced it has tightened its visa rules, introducing language and skill criteria and shortening work permit lengths in response to unsustainable net migration.

The changes to the Accredited Employer Worker Visa (AEWV) scheme have gone into immediate effect, and will mean that New Zealand is better testing the local labor market and reducing the risks of putting New Zealanders out of work, the countrys Minister of Immigration, Erica Stanford, announced on Sunday, April 7.

In 2023, 173,000 non-New Zealand citizens migrated to the country, the statement said.

While there are still skill shortages in areas such as education, Stanford said, at the same time, we need to ensure that New Zealanders are put to the front of the line for jobs where there are no skills shortages.

Changes to the AEWV scheme include introducing a minimum standard of English, a new minimum skill requirement in the form of work experience or qualifications, and shortening the maximum continuous stay on an AEWV to three years.

Employers will need to make sure that migrants meet these requirements before hiring them, and will be required to declare that no suitable and available New Zealander applied for a job before it is offered to a migrant.

They must also advertise job postings for at least 21 days and declare why any New Zealanders who applied were not hired, according to New Zealands Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Some roles in the transport and care sectors will be exempt from these requirements, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website says.


Monday, April 8, 2024  Police are searching for a suspected 'knifeman' Habibur Masum after a 27-year-old woman was stabbed to death next to her son's pram in broad daylight.

A supermarket owner attempted to save the victim after finding her lying face down on the pavement next to her five-month-old baby moments after she was fatally stabbed in Bradford city centre on Saturday afternoon, April 6.

Police issued a warning yesterday, April 7, after naming and releasing CCTV images of the man suspected of having killed the woman.

Habibur Masum, 25, from the Oldham area and known to the victim, is still at large and members of the public have been urged 'not to approach" him if seen but to call 999 immediately.

According to eyewitnesses, the woman was stabbed four to five times in the neck while shopping with a friend. The baby was not harmed.Geo Khan, 69, who runs a fruit a veg shop in Bradford, tried to resuscitate the woman, who was one of his customers.

He said: "I was working on Saturday and I heard screams and ran out of my shop. I saw that the lady was lying face down on the pavement next to a pushchair with her five-month-old baby inside.

I turned her over. There was a lot of blood and I checked for a pulse, but couldn't find one. I could see the knife wounds to her neck and I tried to do CPR. Her friend was screaming. Mr Khan said a doctor who was passing in a car stopped to help.

He picked up a pulse and I went to get a sheet to put over her until the ambulance came, he added.

The mother is understood to have been pushing her baby son in his pram at the time of the fatal attack.

Masum, described as an Asian man of slim build, is pictured on CCTV wearing a duffle coat with three large horizontal lines of grey, white and black, as well as light grey tracksuit bottoms and maroon trainers.

A witness also reported seeing him wearing a grey hoody with the hood up. He is believed to have links to the Burnley and Chester areas.

A source who described himself as a friend of Masum's told MailOnline the suspect had come to the UK from Bangladesh two years ago to study. He said that Masum was a married man who had been living in Oldham, Manchester and had wanted to go travelling across Europe.

Police today, April 8, continued to search for the knifeman, who ran away following the attack, leaving the woman dying on the pavement

She was outside a convenience store, waiting for her friend who had gone to buy goods inside, when she was attacked.

Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police's Homicide and Enquiry Team, said: "We have had significant resources following up a number of lines of enquiry to locate Habibur Masum but at this time his whereabouts are unknown.

"A knife was recovered from the scene of the murder, but we cannot say if Habibur Masum is armed, and I would urge anyone who does see him not to approach him but to call 999 immediately.

"If anyone has any information about his movements or whereabouts since 3:20pm on Saturday please contact police as a matter of urgency.

"We understand that the murder of a young woman in such shocking circumstances has caused considerable concern in the local community.

Residents can expect to continue to see a significant police presence in Bradford as we make further enquiries and conduct reassurance patrols in the area.

Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, described the stabbing as a shocking incident that has happened in broad daylight.

She said that part of the city was busy at the time and the attack was witnessed by a number of people.

DCI Atkinson said: "A young woman has lost her life in the most awful circumstances, and we have extensive enquiries ongoing to locate and arrest the man responsible.

We understand that this incident will understandably cause concern in the local community, and I would like to reassure the wider public that we are working tirelessly to investigate this horrendous crime and bring the person responsible to justice.

She urged anyone with dashcam footage to get in touch.

In a joint statement, Bradford City ward councillors, Aneela Ahmed, Nazam Azam and Shakeela Lal, said: "We are deeply shocked and saddened by yesterday's incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the deceased.

We would urge anyone who has any information relating to the incident, to contact the police.

Bradford West MP Naz Shah, whose constituency covers the city centre, described the incident as really shocking.

She sent her condolences to the woman's loved ones and also urged anyone with any information to get in touch with officers.


Monday, April 8, 2024  Authorities in the Russian Republic of Chechnya have announced a ban on music that they consider too fast or slow.

Minister of Culture, Musa Dadayev announced the decision to limit all musical, vocal, and choreographic compositions to a tempo ranging from 80 to 116 beats per minute (BPM) at a meeting Friday, the Russian state news agency TASS reported.

(I) have announced the final decision, agreed with the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Akhmatovich Kadyrov, that from now on all musical, vocal, and choreographic works must correspond to a tempo of 80 to 116 beats per minute, Dadayev said, according to TASS.

Under Kadyrovs directive, the region now ensures that Chechen musical and dance creations align with the Chechen mentality and musical rhythm, aiming to bring to the people and to the future of our children the cultural heritage of the Chechen people, Dadayev added.

The ban will mean that many songs in musical styles such as pop and techno will be banned.




Tuesday April 9, 2024 - President William Ruto has broken his silence on the fake fertilizer scandal that has rocked his administration.

Speaking in West Pokot, Ruto ordered the private company exposed after distributing fake fertilizer in the market to compensate all farmers who bought the input immediately.

This comes even as reports emerged that the people behind fake fertilizer were close allies of the president.

According to former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri, some well connected UDA politicians supplied the fake fertilizer to farmers.

Nonetheless, Ruto assured farmers that the government was working to ensure that only genuine fertilizer is sold in the market and all those selling substandard goods would be prosecuted.

"There are some cartels who want to hinder the food production process. I have directed that if farmers bought any fertilizer that was of poor quality should be compensated and given free fertilizer," he stated.

The Head of State added that the said company would face the law for jeopardizing the produce and risking the lives of Kenyans with the fake agricultural input.

He further explained that there was enough fertilizer for farmers but added that there was a delay in transportation due to the ongoing war at the Red Sea among other geopolitical factors.

Ruto revealed that the shipment was being transported to Kenya through South Africa and urged farmers to be patient.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, April 9, 2024 - On Monday night, a bus en route to Nairobi was swept away by floods between Mororo and Garissa along the Nairobi-Garissa highway.

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) had announced the closure of the road due to flooding caused by the ongoing heavy rains but the driver ignored the warning.

It is alleged that the rogue driver bribed to use the road at night.

A video shared by an X user shows the bus being swept away by the raging floods as onlookers watch helplessly from a distance.

The passengers were trapped inside the bus after it was submerged in the floods.

It is not clear whether there were any casualties.

Watch the video.

The moment a Wajir bus en route to Nairobi at night was swept away by floods along Nairobi-Garissa highway with several passengers trapped inside. pic.twitter.com/qWyjAY1gLQ  DAILY POST  (@TheKenyanPost) April 9, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Monday, April 8, 2024  Three children are facing the death penalty in China for beating their 13-year-old classmate to death in northern China's Hebei province last month.

The three suspects, all aged under 14 at the time of the murder, are accused of bullying their classmate, named only as Wang, over a long period before killing him

'He was beaten alive and his body was disfigured beyond recognition,' Wang's father wrote on Douyin, a Chinese social media platform. 'I hope the government will be fair, open and just, punish them severely, and that the killers will pay with their lives.'

In the recorded moments before the 13-year-old boy's death, surveillance cameras showed him sitting on a scooter, surrounded by three classmates on March 10. An hour later, his phone reportedly went dead, kicking off a search by relatives.

The following day, police made a sickening discovery: the boy's body, buried underneath a tarp in an abandoned vegetable greenhouse.

Police in Feixiang district of Handan city identified the boy only by his last name, Wang.

In a statement on March 17, they said the boy had been killed on March 10 and that the suspects were detained the following day.

A police investigator told state broadcaster CCTV on March 18 that the crime had been premeditated, with the suspects digging out the pit twice, once the day before and again the day of the killing.

Wang's relatives and their attorney said in interviews with Chinese media and posts on social media that the boy had long been a victim of bullying, and was forced to give money to one of his classmates before he was killed.

They said police identified the suspected killers after reviewing the surveillance footage and questioning the classmates.

The provincial prosecutor said today that it had received a police request last month to criminally try the suspects, surnamed Zhang, Li, and Ma.

It said it had concluded that the three were between 12 and 14 when they 'intentionally committed murder, causing the death of the victim Wang'.

'The circumstances were serious and they should be held criminally responsible,' the provincial office said, adding that the country's top public prosecutor had reviewed the decision.

'While handling cases strictly in accordance with the law, the procuratorial organs will... further strengthen the prevention and treatment of juvenile crimes,' the provincial prosecutor continued.

Under Chinese law, murder is punishable by imprisonment or the death penalty.

Zhang Dongshuo, a defense attorney in Beijing unaffiliated with the case, said that Wang's death is the latest in a series of juvenile murder cases in China that have sparked debate on how old a child should be before being held responsible for a crime.

'Generally speaking, these kinds of cases involving minors are rare,' Zhang said. 'But recently more and more of these cases have been reported by the media, and it's been triggering discussion in Chinese society over revising the age of criminal responsibility.'


Monday, April 8, 2024  Ukraine will lose the war if the United States Congress does not approve military aid to help it resist Russias invasion, President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated.

Zelenskys warning, his starkest since the war began more than two years ago, comes as Congress has for months refused to pass a package of aid for Ukraine, leaving Kyiv to battle manpower and ammunition shortages

Its important to specifically address the Congress: if the Congress doesnt help Ukraine, Ukraine will lose the war, Zelensky said on Sunday, April 7 during a video meeting of the Ukrainian fund-raising group UNITED24

If Ukraine loses this war, other countries will be attacked. This is a fact, he said.

The US Senate passed a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill with assistance for Ukraine and Israel in February, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to hold a vote on passing the package for Ukraine.

Zelensky previously told CNN that millions could die in Ukraines war with Russia if US lawmakers do not approve the aid package.

When Russia launched its invasion in February 2022, it thought it would take Kyiv in days and the rest of the country in weeks.

Ukraine repelled the initial assault on its capital and, later in 2022, reclaimed some of the territories taken by Russia.

The frontlines have since been largely static, with Russia continuing to occupy around a fifth of Ukraines territory. Despite optimism that Ukraine could reclaim more of its occupied territories, its counteroffensive in the summer of 2023 failed to significantly pierce Russias defences.

Also on Sunday, Zelensky warned that in the coming weeks Russia will be more and more insistent on dragging nuclear weapons into the debate, threatening, playing with this matter.




Tuesday, April 9, 2024 - There was drama at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) when a Nigerian man turned violent when immigration officials tried to deport him for being in the country illegally.

The man identified as KJ-Zone, who claims to be doing music business in Kenya, was arrested after police raided his house and arrested him after conducting a search.

He was then handed over to immigration officials after police claimed that he was in the country illegally.

He went live on social media pages at JKIA and denied claims that he was in the country illegally.

He alleged that he had all the right documents and accused immigration officials of trying to deport him after he refused to give them a bribe of Ksh 5 million.









In the video, the man is heard saying that his only crime is being a Nigerian and insists that he is innocent.

Watch the video of the dramatic incident at JKIA.






Monday, April 8, 2024  A woman who had kept a child in a cot cage and was caught trying to sell the same baby for 1million among other child neglect convictions has been found dead in her home.

Officers who visited Claire Boyles home on Thursday, April 4, at 7am in Ochiltree, East Ayrshire, found her body.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 7am on Thursday, April 4, 2024, police were called to a property in the Main Street area of Ochiltree, following the sudden death of a woman. There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a report was submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."

The woman in her late 30s had a long list of previous convictions for child neglect.

In February 2021, Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard she neglected a four-year-old child so badly doctors feared he had blood cancer or a blood clotting disorder.

The child was only discovered after he escaped through a six-inch gap between the frame and pane and dropped four feet to the ground, the child, who was covered in bruises.

The child was only wearing pyjamas and was found wandering the street in the rain. After police were contacted they went to the home Ms Boyle shared with her partner, Timothy Johnstone, who was 23 years her senior. When they arrived at the property in Newmilns, East Ayrshire, the investigating officers found a two-year-old child being kept in a home-made cage. The base of a cot had been removed and secured to the top with belts from dressing gowns, meaning a child could not escape once inside.

After a lengthy trial, both Ms Boyle and Mr Johnstone, 60, who denied child neglect were found guilty. However, the pair were spared jail and Ms Boyle was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.

Despite her two child neglect cases and being spared jail Ms Boyle was allowed to look after the kids.





In 2014, at Ayr Sheriff Court, she was given a Community Payback Order for being found comatose on a couch, through drink or drugs, with a distressed baby at her feet.

At the same court, also in 2014, she was given another Community Payback Order after being caught trying to sell the same baby for 1million on Ayr High Street. She also shook the boy, shouted at him, and abandoned him in a "damp and draughty" close in the seaside town.

Boyle, who was originally from Dumfries and Galloway, also had a number of live court cases. With two cases heard at Ayr Sheriff Court in February this year, Ms Boyle was due in the dock again at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in June over two further prosecutions.

Ms Boyle also went unpunished in 2023 after attacking a police officer and breaching bail conditions. Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard she kicked a female officer and tried to head butt her while being arrested for failing to sign in at a police station.

Whilst she could have been jailed for upto 18 months for such offences, Ms Boyle was placed on a Community Payback Order and told she would be supervised by social workers for 18 months.

Ms Boyle claimed that she couldnt attend signing on at the police station because she was fleeing her home after her partner in crime turned on her. Defence solicitor Brian Holliman said she had to move to escape Mr Johnstone after they were spared jail for child neglect.

Mr Holliman told the court: "She was fleeing an abusive relationship. She left that relationship in October [2022]. On several occasions she was reported as a missing or vulnerable person by her partner, Mr Johnstone. She is located by police officers and can behave badly towards them."

He said she drank to excess to cope and had been drunk when officers arrived at the property in Galston, East Ayrshire, on April 17 last year to arrest her. She shouted "no, no no" as the officers tried to detain her where she resisted arrest, and threw a head butt. They restrained her and she lashed out, kicking one of them on the stomach.

Her bail conditions required her to sign in at a police station but she failed to do so on March 31 last year, leading to officers going to her then-home in April to arrest her.

A year later, in April 2024, she was found dead in her home.
Artificial intelligence is upon us and likely will forever change the way we interact with learning and education. Despite this reality, educational institutions seem to fall into either of two camps. One camp seems loath to acknowledge that AI exists. A faculty member who helps with curriculum development at one medical school recently shared, We dont know what to do about AI. Do we act like its not there, or do we acknowledge it?

The other camp embraces AI and encourages students to employ AI resources, such as ChatGPT. Given the possibility of plagiarism or simply allowing students to bypass any learning whatsoever, its understandable why medical schools and other institutions might be conflicted about AI. But even though AI is no replacement for a novel idea or human thought or in medicine placing ones hands on patients, AI has value in medical educationand not just a little bit. AI may be used as a supplement, resource, or aid when we are learning, teaching, or creating something new.

Just how could medical schools and medical students use AI to assist in educating students? Prior articles have suggested how medical students can utilize chatbots, like ChatGPT, as online tutors to help answer questions or to create quizzes to test their knowledge. For example, bots like ChatGPT can help compare differences in diagnoses, treatments, or procedures that students may be confused about. Those same AI sites can offer a personalized learning experience that schools ought to acknowledge or promote. NYU Grossman School of Medicine has run with this idea and has fully embraced the idea of precision learning from AI by incorporating a precision education tool. Each NYU medical student is offered a personalized medical education, with an AI algorithm tailoring subject matter and content format.

In the research space, AI can also be invaluable in medical education. For example, faculty and students alike can also utilize AI to help create data analysis plans, code for various computer languages and scan literature. An online website called Elicit lets users pose a question and then, through AI, scans the internet to find papers and synthesizes their findings into a summary.

Outside of the student experience, professors may also use AI to create lecture outlines and predict the questions that students are most likely to have about certain material. Additionally, professors and faculty must be able to set standards and address the use of AI in the classroom. If they dont, students may misunderstand the expectations for AI and when or if its use is permissible.

In our own experience, we have used AI to create study guides for courses, create outlines for lectures and book chapters, analyze CVs, and write initial drafts of promotion letters for fellow faculty members. We are certain that the uses of AI that will further simplify our work and assist in medical learning will become clearer and only be seen as greater assets going forward.

Medical schools already offer courses on a wide range of learning and research topics, such as best study practices or how to conduct a literature review. Going forward, AI-based tools should be included in these lectures and within the list of online resources for student learning and research. Additionally, schools should teach students what to watch out for when using AI, like bias or flat-out false information and/or non-existent references. Teaching how to use AI in ones learning promotes a more prepared generation for future technological innovation. This approach may complement courses that explore innovation and AI in medicine.

To those who are hesitant to incorporate AI into education even after reading about NYUs approach and our own ideas, we encourage them to look at how AI has improved other aspects of medicine. From image analysis in radiology and pathology to quick retrieval of medical information and tracking infectious disease outbreaks, this technology has created greater efficiency in health care. Other studies have found that AI can help reduce racial disparities in health care, with one investigation finding that AI better predicted pain from X-rays for underserved patients when compared to radiologists. The technology can be used for good, including in education.

To illustrate that we are not just talking about the potential values of AI in medical school education, in thinking about writing this essay, we asked ChatGPT, how can artificial intelligence be used to teach medicine and enhance learning in medical schools. The answers ChatGPT provided included personalized learning, virtual patients, data analysis and research, smart tutors, and educating students about the limitations, biases, and potential risks of AI tools.

As anyone ought to do when using AI, we analyzed ChatGPTs response, and ultimatelyalthough this might not always be the casewe agree with its recommendations. Therefore, given that we are intent on practicing what were now preaching, we couldnt have written our piece without emphasizing those elements, among others.

Amelia Mercado is a medical student. J. Wesley Boyd is a psychiatrist.
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The winner of this year's Home of the Year has been decided.

Judges Hugh Wallace, Amanda Bone and Sara Cosgrove all loved the boutique terrace home in Co Dublin, with Sara calling it an "exceptional" winner.

The winning home is owned by Shane Murray and Marty Campbell and was praised for using "every inch" of space possible.

When the homeowners bought the house it was in a state of "disrepair" and the duo spent several months renovating it.

They said, "Finding somewhere we could stamp our personality, that was important to us."

During the judges' visit, the dining room in particular was praised as being a "jewel box" of a room, with the couple's moody colour scheme also praised.

Judge Hugh Wallace said, "This is a truly amazing, highly personalised home which has inspired me."

Praising the home's "attention to detail" and "bold colour schemes", he stated, "Really, every inch was used in this home."

According to RSVP Live, they bought the home after postponing their wedding in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Shane and Marty - who didn't think they'd even reach the final at all - are delighted with their win.

Speaking tp RSVP, they said, "We're ecstatic. When we found out we won, it was surreal."

Speaking following Shane and Marty's win, Sara said, "There are seven incredible finalists and each home has a true heart. This winner is exceptional."

Amanda Bone also commented, stating, "This competition is so special. It's about our homes, which have a heart and soul which help to make us who we are."
Irelands Dail parliament has backed the nomination of Fine Gael leader Simon Harris as the countrys new Taoiseach.

TDs voted 88 to 69 in support of Mr Harris, who will now travel to the official residence of President Michael D Higgins where his appointment as the countrys youngest premier will be confirmed.

The president will sign the Warrant of Appointment and hand the Seal of the Taoiseach and the Seal of Government to Mr Harris at a ceremony at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublins Phoenix Park.

Mr Harris, a 37-year-old father-of-two, will become Irelands 15th Taoiseach after the surprise resignation of Leo Varadkar as Fine Gael leader three weeks ago.

Mr Varadkar formally resigned at an audience with Mr Higgins on Monday evening, paving the way for Mr Harriss election on Tuesday.

The Wicklow TDs wife Caoimhe and young children Saoirse and Cillian were in the public gallery of the Dail for the proceedings, as were his parents and brother and sister.

Mr Harris will assume the lead of the Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Green Party three party coalition government with less than a year to run before a general election must be called.

Government TDs rose to applaud as the outcome of the vote was announced.

Addressing the Dail, Mr Harris said: I do accept this nomination to serve as Taoiseach and I commit to doing everything that I can to honour the trust that you have placed in me today.

In the wake of Mr Varadkars resignation, Mr Harris emerged as the only contender to replace him as Fine Gael leader.

He has pledged to focus on more bread and butter issues and has repeatedly mentioned supporting small businesses facing high costs, helping farmers and focusing on crime and security.

Mr Harris has also made clear he intends for the coalition between Civil War-era rivals Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, as well as the Greens, to run its full term to March 2025.

Mr Harriss first task as Taoiseach will be handling a reshuffle of Fine Gael ministers in the administration, including which of his colleagues replaces him as Minister for Further and Higher Education.

During the nomination proceedings, Opposition TDs repeatedly called for an immediate general election, as they criticised the nomination of a new taoiseach without first going to the electorate.

The Dail sitting began with an address by former taoiseach Mr Varadkar, who said his work in politics had been the most fulfilling and rewarding time of his life.

But today is the beginning of a new era for my party, a new chapter in my life and a new phase for this coalition Government, he added.

Fine Gael deputy leader and social protection minister Heather Humphreys proposed Mr Harris as Taoiseach, with party colleague and minister of state Peter Burke seconding him.

Fianna Fail leader and deputy premier Micheal Martin spoke in support of Mr Harriss nomination, as did Green Party leader Eamon Ryan.

Its a special day for you and I look forward to a constructive and effective co-operation in the time ahead, Mr Martin told the incoming taoiseach.

Mr Ryan has said he was committed to continuing the coalition deal until the end of the mandate, and rejected calls for an election.

I hear others saying we have to have an election now: I fundamentally disagree because there is work to be done that we can deliver, he said.

Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of main opposition party Sinn Fein, heavily criticised Mr Harriss record in government as she restated her demand for a general election.

Another Fine Gael taoiseach is the last thing the people need. We need a change of leadership, we need a change of government, she said.

She accused the Government of trying to present a narrative that dresses up failure as progress.

Its your century-old cosy club, circling the wagons once again to cling to power at all costs, she said.

I believe that people of Ireland deserve so much better.

Ms McDonald added: If you really believe that your Government has the support of the people, then you should go before the people and get that mandate.
The new Taoiseach confirmed the appointments in the Dail this evening (April 9)

Details of Simon Harris' new Cabinet have been confirmed in the Dail.

The new Taoiseach - who, at 37 years old, is the youngest person to take on the role since the formation of the State - has reshuffled his Cabinet in the wake of his predecessor Leo Varadkar's resignation.

The Wicklow TD was voted into the role today (April 9) following an 88-69 vote in the Dail.

Speaking to gathered TDs this evening, the Taoiseach confirmed Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton will remain as Government Chief Whip, while Patrick O'Donovan has been appointed as Minister for Higher Education, which he takes over from Harris.

Deputy Peter Burke has been appointed as Minister for Enterprise in the new Cabinet, following Simon Coveney's recent announcement of his intention to stand down from Cabinet.

Ministers Paschal Donohoe, Heather Humphreys and Helen McEntee are all staying on in their current roles as the ministers for Public Expenditure, Social Protection, and Justice respectively.

Jennifer Carol McNeil has been appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for EU affairs, while Finance Minister Michael McGrath, Education Minister Norma Foley and Minister for Defence Micheal Martin are all staying in their roles.

The Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien is also staying on.

The full reshuffle of the ministerial ranks was confirmed by the Taoiseach in the Dail at approximately 6pm.

A number of interruptions could be heard while the Taoiseach confirmed Helen McEntee is to stay on in her role as Justice Minister.

According to Harris, prison capacity will be expanded under McEntee's tenure, as well as increases in penalties for knife crimes and extra powers for the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) to strip assets quicker.

The Taoiseach mentioned a number of issues he wishes to focus on over the next year, including fostering pride in our capital city, disability rights, continued strong relationships with European neighbours, and housing.

He concluded by stating he is "proud" of the coalition created by the three parties and vowed to "work day and night" to fulfill the government's ambitious program.
Irelands new premier has reshuffled senior roles at Cabinet, with new ministers for enterprise and further education selected.

Hours after being appointed on Tuesday, new Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris made significant changes to a selection of Cabinet positions held by his party.

Mr Harris engaged in a series of meetings with hopeful candidates at Government Buildings in Dublin before announcing the promotions in the Dail parliament.

Peter Burke was appointed as Minister for Enterprise, a position which was recently vacated by Simon Coveney.

Mr Harris gave his former role of Minister for Further Education to Patrick ODonovan, in a promotion for the Limerick TD who held the position of Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW).

While there had been speculation that Hildegarde Naughton may have been promoted from her current junior minister role directly to a Cabinet post, no such change was announced.

Instead, Ms Naughton will take on the role as Minister of State for Special Education and leave her current position as junior minister at the Department of Health.

She also retained her position as Government chief whip, which already sees her sitting at Cabinet as a so-called super junior.

The role as Minister of State for Special Education was left vacant after Josepha Madigan announced last month that she was resigning from the position and would not contest the next election.

Mr Burkes promotion left his junior non-Cabinet role of Minister of State for European Affairs vacant, but Mr Harris announced it would be filled by Jennifer Carroll Mac Neill  who had been a Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services.

The announcement of the new minister of state alongside the other senior roles came as the Taoiseach signalled an increased emphasis on the position.

However, it means Ms Carroll Mac Neill misses out on a seat at Cabinet.

Helen McEntee retained her justice portfolio amid much speculation on her role, as Mr Harris set out an ambition to refocus his party on law and order.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys also held on to their positions.

In addition, the reshuffle marks the final day in Cabinet for ex-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Mr Coveney.

Mr Varadkar shocked the Irish political sphere last month when he announced he was stepping down as the leader of Fine Gael and resigning as Taoiseach, saying he no longer felt he was the best person for the job.

Within hours, it became clear that Mr Harris had secured enough support to succeed Mr Varadkar.

However, amid speculation that Mr Harris would not allow Fine Gael ministers to continue in their roles if they did not commit to running in the next general election, Mr Coveney announced that he would be stepping down as enterprise minister.

The Cork South-Central TD, who was the deputy leader of Fine Gael under Mr Varadkar, said he was stepping aside to make it easier for Mr Harris to promote fresh talent.

Mr Coveney, who was once Irelands deputy premier, has said he has not decided on whether he will run in the next election.

Further changes to junior minister-of-state roles will be announced on Wednesday with speculation focused on potential roles for Fine Gael TDs Alan Dillon, Neale Richmond, Emer Higgins and Colm Burke.

Ms Carroll MacNeills role as junior minister at the Department of Finance as well as Mr ODonovans former role as minister of state for the OPW remain up for grabs.

Ms Naughtens former role as Minister of State for Public Health is also now vacant.

Mr Harris appointments to these positions could cause a further cascade down the line, with Mr Richmond already holding a junior role.

Positions held by ministers from the other coalition parties were unchanged and Mr Harris also renominated current Attorney General Rossa Fanning.
The Irish Parliament erupted in laughter when a Government minister admitted she mistook the now Taoiseach, Simon Harris, for a member of a school tour in his early days as a TD.

When Heather Humphreys first saw Mr Harris in the Dail in 2011, she thought the young lad was on a tour or doing work experience in Leinster House.

Years after the schoolboy error, the Cavan TD was happy to propose the fresh-faced Fine Gael leader as Taoiseach.

The days proceedings in the Dail were described as something akin to a jamboree, with references to Star Wars, The Who, a lot of eye-rolling and a slip by the environment minister that the Government was only warming up on its climate change policies.

While there was no hint by the new leader of his announcement that the country aint seen nothing yet, People Before Profits Mick Barry described Mr Harris new tenure as more comparable to the 1970s song Wont Get Fooled Again by The Who.

The song, Mr Barry reminded the Dail, ends with the line Meet the new boss; Same as the old boss.

Outside the Dail, the now commonplace ring of steel was set up around the entrance to Leinster House, with layers of barriers and garda security to manage any protests.

In the building behind the beefed-up security, TDs waited for proceedings to get under way.

Green party leader Eamon Ryan and his colleague Catherine Martin were among the first ministers in the Dail.

Meanwhile, Ms Humphreys, who attended her daughters wedding last weekend, was joined by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Catherine Martin, both smiling as Ms Humphrey shared something on her phone.

At about 10.15am, Mr Harris entered the Dail chamber alone. He was greeted by Fine Gael colleague Fergus ODowd, who shook his hand before chatting for a number of minutes.

The Taoiseach, with Tanaiste Micheal Martin, wore a purple rose pin for Cystic Fibrosis, which marks its national 65 Roses fundraising day on Friday.

As official proceedings got under way, sitting behind Mr Harris in the gallery were his wife, Caoimhe and their two children Saoirse, five, and Cillian, two, as well as his brother, Adam and sister, Gemma, his parents Bart and Mary and his beloved nana.

He credits his brother Adam, who has autism, for being his catalyst into politics, after he spent his teenage years campaigning for better services for people with autism in his area.

This springboard led him to where he is today.

In his last speech in Government, Leo Varadkar said he was proud of his record in office and also paid tribute to Simon Coveney on his last day in Government.

A number of TDs murmured in agreement as Mr Varadkar appealed for politicians to become better at disagreeing with each other.

After concluding his speech, half of the House got to their feet and applauded the countrys 15th taoiseach.

When Sinn Fein whip Padraig Mac Lochlainn said Mr Harris nomination was not agreed by the opposition, and called instead for a general election, members of the Government parties replied read the Constitution.

A few seats over on the opposition benches, People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett described the proceedings as a jamboree, which led to a scolding from the Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail.

People want an election, echoed throughout the chamber as opposition TDs attempted to disrupt the nomination proceedings.

Fine Gael TD Peter Burke nominated Mr Harris to be the third taoiseach of the 34th Government of Ireland.

Mr Harris smiled as the Longford TD mentioned Mr Harris wife and two children.

Later, as Mr Ryan spoke about the Governments record on housing, one unnamed TD shouted at Mr Ryan to go on back to sleep.

And while speaking about fighting climate change, Mr Ryans remark that we are only warming up led to some laughter.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Dail should go before the people and get a mandate, to which some Sinn Fein TDs shouted more of the same.

Over to the Labour party, and its leader Ivana Bacik said Simons new energy sounded like a Star Wars tagline.

After the count of the votes, Mr Harris was nominated as the Dails Taoiseach with the backing of 88 TDs, and the same half the House got to their feet again to welcome the new TikTok Taoiseach.

The Ceann Comhairle formally welcomed the Harris family, with Cillian waving and clapping and shouting for his daddy several times.

Rapturous TDs from the Government parties welcomed the self-dubbed Taoiseach for all.

TDs and Senators formed a line on the steps of the Leinster House entrance as Mr Harris shook every outstretched hand before climbing into the Taoiseachs car and making a swift exit to President Michael D Higginss official residence.

The Aras an Uachtarain offered a moment of calm among the hustle and bustle of the day.

As Mr Higgins presented Mr Harris with his Warrant of Appointment and Seal of Office, the Taoiseach looked to his family for a moment of reassurance.

Once the official proceedings ended, Mr Harris stayed for some refreshments and spoke to Mr Higgins and his wife, Sabina, for about half an hour.

Leaving the Aras, Mr Harris shook the presidents hand and hugged Sabina before making his way back to Leinster House, where the hard work starts.
The E2024 team documented their five-day trip to the nation's capital in July of 2023, during which they interviewed current and former politicians, meeting the people who embody our nations capital. Along the way, they embarked on adventures, and chronicled them on a nightly podcast with behind-the-scenes moments and adventures through Washington, D.C.


New Delhi [India], April 9 (ANI): The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) will organise the Clean Economy Investor Forum in Singapore, a press release from the Union commerce ministry said on Tuesday.

The IPEF was launched in May 2022 and currently includes 14 partners - Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United States and Vietnam.

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It provides a platform for countries in the region to collaborate on advancing resilient, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth, and aims to contribute to cooperation, stability and prosperity in the region. The IPEF comprises four pillars of cooperation namely: Trade, Supply Chain, Clean Economy and Fair Economy.

The IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum is one of the initiatives under the IPEF. It brings together the region's top investors, philanthropies, financial institutions, innovative companies, start-ups and entrepreneurs.

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The Forum aims to mobilize investments into sustainable infrastructure, climate technology and renewable energy projects. More information can be found at: www.IPEFinvestorforum.org.

The Department of Commerce is the nodal agency for the IPEF engagements, and the IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum is managed by Invest India (www.investindia.gov.in), India's National Investment Promotion Agency.

Apart from showcasing India's leadership position in the Clean Economy space and the various innovate solutions driving it, India will showcase some of the large infrastructure projects in Clean Economy and top climate tech companies to the global investors for investment opportunities.

The Forum will have opportunity for the Indian industry in the two following tracks. PwC Singapore and HolonIQ are the knowledge partners for these tracks.

Climate Tech Track: Under this track, IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum is holding an open call that aims to recognise the top climate tech companies and start-ups among the member countries and present them to global investors. Climate tech entrepreneurs and companies in India may apply under this track.

The last date to apply is until April 26, 2024, and applications will be evaluated by regional and industry experts. The top 100 companies will be announced in early May 2024 and shortlisted companies will be invited to showcase and pitch at the Investor Forum in Singapore on 5th - June 6, 2024.

Interested parties may find the eligibility criteria, methodology of selection and portal for application submission here: https://www.holoniq.com/ratings/indo-pacific-climate-tech-100.

Infrastructure Track: Under this track, India will showcase selected investible sustainable infrastructure projects at the 2024 Forum.

The sectors of focus are-energy transition (e.g electric gird; renewable energy, including solar, and onshore wind; sustainable aviation fuel; battery storage; hydrogen; green data centers), transport and logistics (e.g. Electric Vehicle, EV charging points), waste management/waste to energy.

The projects that are ready, or expected to be ready, for private investment during the next 18 months will be given priority for showcasing at the Forum.

Indian investors who aim to invest in the IPEF partner countries, in either or both the tracks mentioned above are also encouraged to participate in the Forum. Interested project proponents and investors may reach out to india-ipef@commerce.gov.in and IPEFInvestorForum@investindia.org.in. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
PNN

Nashik (Maharashtra) [India], April 9: KBC Global Ltd (Previously known as Karda Construction Limited), a prominent player in the construction and real estate development sector, announces its strategic plans for expansion in both domestic and international markets.

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Established in 2007, the company has made significant strides in the real estate industry, specializing in the development and sale of residential and residential-cum-office projects in Nashik, India. The company operates primarily in two segments: construction and development of residential and commercial projects, and contractual projects. Notable projects of the company include Hari Gokuldham, Hari Nakshtra-ll Eastext Township, Hari Sanskruti ll, Hari Siddhi, and Hari Samarth, among others.

Commenting on the company's growth trajectory, Naresh Karda, Chairman and Managing Director, KBC Global Ltd stated, "We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead in both domestic and international markets. Our strategic initiatives, robust portfolio of projects and a clear focus on expansion, Karda Construction Limited is poised to emerge as a key player in the global real estate landscape."

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The real estate sector is poised for continued growth, driven by factors such as supply and demand dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and overall economic conditions. Government initiatives like "Housing for All" and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana further underscore the growth potential in the industry. Additionally, infrastructure megaprojects such as highways, airports, and metros are contributing to the expansion of the real estate market.

Furthermore, KBC International Limited, a step-down subsidiary of KBC Global Limited and a wholly-owned subsidiary of KBC Global FZCO, has signed a Memorandum of Intent with the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) in the Republic of Nigeria. The agreement signifies KBC International Limited's interest in partnering with FHA as an Engineering Procurement and Financing contractor for the development of low-cost housing projects in Africa, marking the company's foray into the international real estate market.

To support its expansion efforts, the company has successfully raised funds through the issuance of 950 foreign currency convertible bonds, each valued at US$ 100,000. These bonds are listed on the AFRINEX Securities List of AFRINEX Limited, Mauritius, effective January 17, 2023.

In a recent development, the Board of Directors of the company in their meeting held on March 29, 2024, approved the revised term sheet for the funds borrowed amounting to US$ 95,000,000.00 through the issuance and allotment of 950 Unsecured Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds on November 21, 2022.

In the financial year 2022-2023, Karda Construction Limited reported revenues of Rs 10,818.56 Lakhs.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

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SRV Media

Mumbai (Maharshtra) [India], April 9: Kohinoor Management School (KMS) is pleased to announce a significant milestone: International Accreditation from the South Asian Quality Assurance System-SAQS.

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This prestigious accreditation underscores the institution's unwavering commitment to academic excellence, innovative teaching methods, and relentless pursuit of global standards in business education. In Mumbai, only six Business Schools held SAQS accreditation until now. Kohinoor Management School proudly joins this exclusive league as the 7th member, validating its ongoing quest for excellence. Notably, this accreditation elevates the two-year full-time Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) offered by KMS to the equivalence of an MBA according to the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

Kohinoor Management School (KMS) stands out in several ways:

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Global Recognition: With SAQS accreditation, KMS now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with elite business schools worldwide, establishing itself as a premier destination for top-tier education and groundbreaking research on a global scale.

Unparalleled Quality: The institution is dedicated to providing students with unmatched educational experiences, equipping them to excel in today's ever-evolving business environment. KMS boasts distinguished faculty, cutting-edge facilities, and an industry-aligned curriculum to ensure that each student receives the highest calibre of education.

Industry Connections: As an internationally accredited institution, KMS offers students unparalleled access to a vast network of industry luminaries, experts, and mentors. Through internships, networking opportunities, and hands-on projects, students gain invaluable real-world experience and forge connections that last a lifetime.

Empowering Future Leaders: The mission at Kohinoor Management School (KMS) is to empower the next generation of business leaders to catalyze positive change and innovation globally. With international accreditation, the institution is better positioned than ever to fulfill this mission and inspire excellence across all facets of business education.

Join KMS in celebrating this momentous achievement as it continues to push the boundaries of business education and shape the future of global business leadership. Together, let's embark on a journey of growth, innovation, and boundless opportunities!

Stay tuned for exciting updates and events as Kohinoor Management School (KMS) embarks on this thrilling new chapter.

To know more, visit: https://kms.ac.in/

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

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Guwahati (Assam) [India], April 9 (ANI): A group of 47 cadets and two teachers, including 10 girls, participated in a week-long National Integration Tour of the North Eastern Region from April 3 to 10, according to an official release.

As per the official press release, the tour was planned, organised and executed by the Assam Rifles and aimed to provide these cadets with a deeper understanding of the North Eastern states.

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"The cadets visited the Directorate General Assam Rifles Headquarters at Laitkor, where they engaged in interactive sessions with Lt General PC Nair, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, PhD, the Director General of Assam Rifles and an alumnus of the same school," it said.

The highlight of their visit was a surprise reception at Assam Rifles House, where the Assam Rifles Jazz Band performed the school song 'Hum Bharat Ke Chand Sitare' for the cadets, leaving them pleasantly enthralled.

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The interaction with Director General of Assam Rifles, an alumnus of the school, added a personal touch to their experience and instilled a sense of pride and connection.

In addition to Laitkor, the cadets also visited the War Memorial and the Museum of Assam Rifles.

Further, they attended a cultural programme at the Rai auditorium in Assam Rifles, where they watched performances by artists from various states showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the region.

The cadets thereafter visited other prominent locations of Meghalaya, including Shillong Peak and Cherrapunji.

From Shillong the cadets proceeded to Dimapur. They visited the Assam Rifles Training Centre & School and saw the training facilities and activities of the recruits in the Centre.

Cadets of the school also visited Sainik School Pungalwa in Nagaland. The cadets were thrilled to meet their peers in Sainik School Pungalwa during their familarisation visit.

From Dimapur, they moved to the 7 Assam Rifles located at Ghaspani, where they interacted with the officers and men and also witnessed a cultural programme.

Incidentally, the Director General has been a company commander in 7 Assam Rifles. They further moved to Inspectorate General Assam Rifles (North) and witnessed a lecture & demonstration showcasing the epic battle of Kohima.

They also visited the Kohima War Cemetery and witnessed the weapons and pipe band display. The cadets interacted with Major General Manish Kumar, Inspector General (North).

Cadet Om Deelip Mane, while expressing his views, said, "I feel really privileged to be part of the National Integration Tour, as it has broadened my horizons as well as my knowledge about North Eastern states".

Cadet Yadnya Totawar profusely thanked Assam Rifles for the memorable experience and expressed that such tours promote understanding of different cultures and are effective in community engagement.

The underlying goal of the National Integration Tour being conducted regularly by Assam Rifles is to create a cohesive society that nurtures responsible citizens and embraces the diversity of India.

By exposing students to different cultures, traditions, and ways of life, these tours serve as a bridge to connect people from various backgrounds, fostering mutual respect and understanding.

The cadets expressed their gratitude to the Assam Rifles for organising the unforgettable tour, which not only enhanced their knowledge but also left a lasting impact on their hearts.

The memories of the tour will serve as a reminder of the importance of unity in diversity and the beauty of being part of a nation that celebrates its rich tapestry of cultures.

National Integration Tours like this serve as a catalyst for promoting harmony, inclusivity, and a shared sense of belonging among the citizens of India.

Through such initiatives, we pave the way for a brighter future built on the foundation of unity in diversity. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], April 9 (ANI): The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has attached 413 agricultural land parcels measuring approximately 1,807 acres in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg in connection with a bank loan fraud case of Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank (PMC).

The attached 1,807 acres had a registered value of Rs 52.90 crore and the proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 82.30 crore were utilised during the period from 2010 to 2013 for acquiring these parcels of land, the agency said on Tuesday.

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The attached land is located in Vijaydurg village in Taluka Devgarh area in Sindhudurg district under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

ED's Mumbai Zonal office attached the 413 agricultural land parcels based on its investigation based on an FIR registered by EOW, Mumbai Police under various sections of IPC, 1860 against Joy Thomas, Waryam Singh (Directors of PMC Bank), Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Sarang Wadhawan and other unknown persons.

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Housing Development and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd (HDIL), its promoters and other co-accused and accomplices committed fraud by causing loss of Rs 6,117.93 crore (principal Rs 2,540.92 crore and interest Rs 3,577.01 crore) against Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank (PMC).

ED investigation revealed that during the period 2010-2013, promoters of HDIL--Sarang Wadhawan and Rakesh Wadhawan--syphoned off proceeds of crime totaling Rs. 82.30 Crore to the accounts of 39 Farmers through their subsidiary companies, Privilege Power and Infrastructure Limited and Privilege Hi-Tech Infrastructure Limited for acquiring lands at Vijaydurg in Sindhudurg district.

"Sarang Wadhawan, in connivance with his employee Mukesh Khadpe, persuaded farmers to acquire lands in their names and transfer the same in the name of HDIL group company in lieu of commission and other benefits," said the ED.

"Cash components were also used for acquiring these lands and after registration of lands at registered value of Rs 52.90 crore, power of attorney documents were obtained in favour of HDIL Group Company. Though these lands were purportedly acquired for development of ports, they were never developed. Sarang and Rakesh Wadhawan, from their subsidiary companies accounts of HDIL, diverted PoC to the tune of Rs 82.30 Crore in the accounts of farmers keeping PMC bank at dark. Based on outcome of the investigation, assets having registered value of Rs 52.90 Crore has been provisionally attached under PMLA."

On October 17, 2019, the main accused persons, Rakesh Kumar Wadhawn and his son Sarang Wadhawan, were arrested for their involvement in the offence of Money Laundering.

A prosecution complaint and two supplementary complaints have already been filed against them and 36 other persons and entities. So far, ED has attached assets aggregating to Rs 719.11 crore under provisions of PMLA, 2002. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 9 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Tuesday, held the 'devious tactics' of Congress responsible for India's partition seven decades ago.

In a public address at Dramond Inter College campus, the Chief Minister also lauded India's remarkable progress towards global eminence under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, hailing it as a 'golden era'.

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He emphasized, "The transformative changes are clearly evident across the country in terms of enhanced security, rapid infrastructural development and the benefits of welfare schemes reaching the underprivileged."

Chief Minister Yogi urged support for BJP candidates Jitin Prasad in Pilibhit and Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar in Bareilly. He also extended his warmest wishes for Chaitra Navratri and the Indian New Year.

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Reflecting on historical significance, CM Yogi remarked on the unity symbolized by Guru Nanak Dev's birthplace, which he asserted was jeopardized by past political divisions. However, he praised the Kartarpur Corridor's establishment, facilitated by PM Modi's leadership, as a testament to India's commitment to Sikh heritage and unity.

"Our Prime Minister Modi has initiated the Veer Bal Diwas celebration on December 26th, commemorating the valour of the four Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh", he stated. Yogi also underscored the significant sacrifice made by these revered figures to safeguard the Hindu religion and Indian culture.

"Emphasizing the importance of honouring their contributions, the Prime Minister dedicated December 26th to commemorate their bravery. This initiative has garnered nationwide attention, with events marking the occasion taking place across the country today.

The Chief Minister described the timely payment of sugarcane prices to the farmers as a significant improvement in the agricultural sector.

Noting Pilibhit's dual reputation for agriculture and artistic heritage, the CM emphasized the crucial role sugarcane farmers play in delivering the region's sweetness to the nation and beyond.

"Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, efforts have been made to ensure farmers receive their dues promptly, a departure from the prolonged delays they previously faced. This development signifies a positive step towards reddressing long-standing grievances of sugarcane farmers," he remarked.

The Chief Minister emphasized the transformative impact of responsible voting, cautioning against the dire consequences of misplaced ballots.

Drawing attention to the successful construction of the Ramlala temple in Ayodhya, the CM attributed this milestone to Prime Minister Modi's leadership and vision. Urging support for BJP candidates, the CM underscored PM Modi's commitment to realizing the vision of a developed India.

Reflecting on the past decade, the CM highlighted the tangible changes witnessed across the nation, emphasizing the pivotal role of individual votes in shaping the country's trajectory.

He warned against the potential ramifications of entrusting wrong governance, citing issues ranging from national security concerns to the plight of farmers.

The Chief Minister highlighted India's transformation from a nation trailing behind to emerging as a global powerhouse. Reflecting on the pivotal role of voters in the 2014 and 2019 elections, the CM attributed India's progress to the public's faith in Prime Minister Modi's leadership.

Emphasizing the ongoing metamorphosis of the nation, the CM urged citizens to rally behind the slogan 'Fir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar,' 'Abki Baar 400 Par.' Encouraging active participation in the electoral process, the CM called upon individuals to vote within the initial three hours of polling and mobilize fellow voters.

During the event, notable attendees included Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh, the BJP state president; Union Minister BL Verma; UP government ministers Rakesh Sachan, Baldev Singh Aulakh, and Sanjay Singh Gangwar, along with Bareilly MP Santosh Gangwar, BJP's Pilibhit candidate Jitin Prasad, Bareilly candidate Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar, and former minister Suresh Rana. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 9 (PTI) The Congress in Kerala on Tuesday urged the Election Commission to allow the state government to host the Vishu-Ramzan fairs, organised annually by the State Cooperative Consumers' Federation Ltd, ahead of the festive season.

The Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, V D Satheesan, sent a letter to the Election Commission requesting the same and pointed out that it does not violate the model poll conduct in any way as it is an annual affair.

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"I am writing to request the Election Commission to allow the state government to host the Vishu-Ramzan fairs organised by the Kerala State Cooperative Consumers' Federation Ltd ahead of the festive season," he said in the letter.

Satheesan said as per state government officials, the Election Commission has denied the Consumers' federation from holding subsidy fairs ahead of the Vishu and Ramsan festivals, citing poll conduct.

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"With the prices of essential commodities skyrocketing, subsidy fairs should have provided much-needed relief to the general public ahead of the festival season," he said.

The LoP further said he believes that as the festive fairs are held on an annual basis, it does not violate the model poll conduct in any way.

In a statement issued today, Satheesan accused the LDF government in the state of running away from its responsibilities and cheating people in the name of poll conduct.

The Supplyco outlets have been running out of essential commodities for some time, and they are now trying to avoid the festival fairs in the name of the code of conduct for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Satheesan alleged.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, April 9: The Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday issued summons to Aam Aadmi Parry (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan on the basis of the Enforcement Directorate's recent complaint filed against him for allegedly non-attendance of the summons in the Delhi Waqf Board Money Laundering case. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM), Divya Malhotra, after hearing the ED's submissions, took cognizance of ED's complaint and moved a complaint under section 174 IPC, 1860, read with section 63 (4) of PMLA, 2002 for non-attendance in compliance of Section 50, PMLA, 2002.

The Court directed Amanatullah Khan to appear before the court on April 20, 2024. Special public prosecutor (SPP) Simon Benjamin appeared for Enforcement Directorate in the matter. The federal probe agency has alleged that Amanatullah Kham has elevated his role from witness to accused by filing anticipatory bail plea and running away from the investigation. ED lawyer further stated that they were never able to conclude probe against him because he was not presenting himself before the agency. Excise Policy Scam: Delhi High Court Dismisses Arvind Kejriwals Plea Challenging His Arrest by ED in Money Laundering Case

All the other people are the aides of this particular person. His role is much larger than the other accused persons who have already been arrested and chargesheeted," Advocate Simon Benjamin added. Recently, the Delhi High Court dismissed Amanatullah Khan's anticipatory bail plea and said that elected representatives and public figures are not above the law. A separate class cannot be created for political leaders. This Court cannot allow a new jurisprudence or a new set of rules, the High Court said.

" Even the lawmakers should know that disobeying the law will have legal consequences, as all citizens are equal in the eyes of the law," justice Sharma had said. The Court further said that investigating agencies in India had the right to conduct an investigation. To conclude, a MLA or any public figure is not above the law of the land. "The actions of such public figures are observed closely by the public. This sets a bad precedent," the High Court pointed out.

The High Court had observed that the AAP MLA had avoided several summons issued by the ED. The High Court said that such avoidance of multiple summons is impermissible by law. The High Court also noted that the property in question was purchased for Rs. 36 crore, and Rs. 27 crore was paid in cash. The existence of two agreements to sell also creates doubt. The high court said, "People also have a right to know what the truth is when their leader, whom they have elected, is being probed." Aam Aadmi Party to Move to Supreme Court Against Delhi High Courts Decision to Dismiss CM Arvind Kejriwal's Plea Challenging his Arrest by ED: Report

The Rouse Avenue court on March 1 dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan. This case is related to the purchase of a property worth Rs 36 crore in the Okhla area at the alleged behest of Amanat Ullah Khan, who is also a sitting MLA from that area. A charge sheet has already been filed against four accused persons and one firm. It has been alleged that Rs. 100 crore Waqf Properties were given on lease illegally. It is also alleged that 32 contractual employees were appointed in Delhi Waqf Board during the chairmanship of Amanatullah Khan, flouting the rules.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], April 9 (ANI): Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders who were earlier detained for protesting outside the Election Commission of India (ECI) sat inside the premises of Mandir Marg Police Station pressing their demands to change the chiefs of the CBI, NIA, ED and Income Tax Department.

As per Delhi police, the 10-member delegation of Trinamool Congress leaders were detained on Monday following a protest outside the Election Commission of India over their demands in the national capital.

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The Opposition leaders were brought to Mandir Marg Police Station partway through their agitation and later asked to leave at night but the delegation did not leave and instead sat inside the premises all through the night.

Those who staged the protest included five TMC MPs Derek O'Brien, Mohammad Nadimul Haq, Dola Sen, Saket Gokhale and Sagarika Ghosh.

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At the same time, three former MPs Arpita Ghosh, Shantanu Sen and Abir Ranjan Biswas were present.

Apart from this, MLA Vivek Gupta and TMC youth leader Sudeep Raha were also protesting.

A 10-member delegation went to the Election Commission's office on Monday and submitted a memorandum highlighting that "BJP and NIA have been working hand-in-glove to selectively target and harass our party workers".

TMC urged the poll body to change the chiefs of Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation, Income Tax Department and National Investigation Agency.

After being detained, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien said that they are ready to fight the "BJP's dictatorship".

TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also said that NIA Director and other officials should be removed by the poll body.

TMC MP Dola Sen also said, "We have appealed to the Election Commission to change the chiefs of NIA, CBI, ED and Income Tax and we are sitting on a 24-hour peaceful protest with this demand.

Earlier, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, approached the Governor and top state officials on Monday to request the extension of central forces' deployment beyond the Model Code of Conduct period.

Citing the need to ensure the safety of citizens and uphold democratic values, he urged officials to extend the deployment by three months to ensure public safety and protect constitutional integrity. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chennai, Apr 9 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out raids in multiple cities in Tamil Nadu as part of a drugs trafficking-linked money laundering investigation against former DMK functionary Jaffer Sadiq and others, officials said.

As many as 25 premises in the state capital Chennai, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli are being searched by ED officials, accompanied by an escort of central paramilitary forces, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said.

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The premises of Sadiq, who is also a producer of Tamil films, film director Ameer and some others are being covered, they said.

Sadiq, 36, was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) last month for his alleged involvement in the smuggling of about 3,500 kg of pseudoephedrine with a street value of more than Rs 2,000 crore.

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The ED took cognisance of this NCB case and some other FIRs to file the money laundering case against Sadiq and others.

The NCB has said that Sadiq's links with Tamil and Hindi film financers, some "high-profile" people and some instances of "political funding" were under its scanner.

Sadiq was expelled by the ruling DMK in February after his name and purported links to the drugs network were mentioned by the NCB.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], April 9 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address his first election rally in Bihar at Gaya district under the Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat on Wednesday in favour of BJP candidate Sushil Kumar Singh and NDA allies Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) candidate Jitan Ram Majhi.

Sushil Kumar Singh is a BJP candidate from the Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat, and former Chief Minister of Bihar and HAM candidate Jitan Ram Majhi is contesting the Lok Sabha election from the Gaya reserve seat as an NDA candidate.

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Speaking to ANI, Sushil Kumar Singh said that the people of both Lok Sabha seats, Gaya and Aurangabad, are very excited to hear Amit Shah because, under his leadership as Home Minister, he successfully eliminated the naxalism in South Bihar. The people of South Bihar want to thank him for this great achievement of the BJP government in the Centre.

"Still, we remember that the entire south of Bihar is known for naxalism, and people of this area rarely come out of home after evening. Naxal violence had hampered the development of the entire south Bihar but the scenario changed after Narendra Modi Ji became Prime Minister in 2014. He has taken the Naxal problem seriously and started to eliminate the Naxalism from South Bihar and today there is no fear among people in this area and Naxalism is wiped out from here," he added.

Also Read | Lucknow Shocker: Couple Arrested for Forcing Minor House Help Into Flesh Trade in UP.

The BJP leader further appreciated Shah and said that as a Home Minister, he has taken several steps for development work in South Bihar and said that this time the BJP will win all south Bihar Lok Sabha seats by a huge margin.

A senior Bihar BJP leader told ANI on condition of anonymity that during his visit to Bihar, the Union Home Minister will hold a public meeting and in the evening he will chair the Bihar BJP core group meeting at Patna to review the election strategy for all 40 Sabha seats.

"Amit Shah's Bihar visit on April 10, ahead of the first phase of Lok Sabha polling on April 19, in the state with 4 seats, is very important in terms of the motivation of party workers and strategy," the BJP leader added.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA, comprising the BJP, JD (U), and LJP, dominated the 2019 elections by winning 39 out of 40 seats.

In the first phase, voting is to be held in 4 seats of Bihar on April 19. Those 4 Lok Sabha seats are Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and Jamui.

Bihar will see polling in seven phases. The first phase of polling will be held on April 19, the second phase on April 26, the third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 25, and the seventh phase on June 1.

The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will be held in seven phases, starting on April 19. Counting of votes on June 4. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 9 (ANI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, along with his family, celebrated Gudi Padwa in Baramati, Maharashtra on Tuesday.

In the visuals, the Deputy CM was seen hoisting the Gudi at his residence.

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Gudi Padwa, also known as Ugadi or the Marathi New Year, is a vibrant and joyous festival celebrated predominantly by the people of Maharashtra and in other regions with fervor and enthusiasm.

The word 'Gudi' means decorated flag, which is hoisted outside the houses as a symbol of victory and prosperity on this day. It comprises a bright cloth adorned with neem leaves, mango leaves, a garland of flowers, sugar crystals, and a silver or copper pot placed atop a bamboo stick.

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On this day, people decorate their houses with rangolis, mango leaves and marigold flowers.

'Shrikhand-Puri' is one of the dishes prepared on the occasion of Gudi Padwa. The occasion signals the onset of the warmer days and the spring season.

NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader and Baramati candidate Supriya Sule also celebrated Gudi Padwa with family at her residence.

Meanwhile, President of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) Sharad Pawar extended his warm wishes to the people.

In a post on X, Sharad Pawar wrote,"Let us celebrate today's festival of Gudi Padva with new aspirations and new resolutions. Let's build a nest of happiness, prosperity and a new consciousness. Bless you all and Happy New Year..!" (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Karwar (Karnataka) [India], April 9 (ANI): Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar inaugurated a major pier and residential accommodation at Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence informed in a press release.

The Pier 3 Offshore Patrol Vessel Pier is 350m long, capable of berthing OPVs, large survey vessels and Mine Counter Measure Vessels.

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The pier would also provide various shore-based services, such as electrical power, potable water, chilled water for air conditioning, 30-tonne mobile cranes and other domestic services to the ships.

Vice Admiral SJ Singh and Tarun Sobti along with other senior officers were present during the event.

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According to the release, the residential accommodation consists of two towers of 80 flats for married officers and 149 flats for single officers accommodation along with related amenities and external services. Further, six towers of Type-II accommodation consisting of 360 flats for Defence Civilians were also inaugurated.

These infrastructure developments are part of ongoing Phase IIA of Project Seabird which will accommodate 32 ships and submarines, 23 yardcraft, a dual-use Naval Air Station, a full-fledged Naval Dockyard, four covered dry berths and logistics for ships and aircraft.

It will house around 10,000 uniformed and civilian personnel with families, significantly boosting the local economy and industrial growth. The Naval Air Station with Civil Enclave is anticipated to enhance tourism in North Karnataka and South Goa.

The ongoing construction of Phase-IIA of Project Seabird has created 7,000 direct and 20,000 indirect jobs. The project aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, sourcing over 90 per cent of material domestically, the release added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Berhampur, Apr 9 (PTI) This southern Odisha town in Ganjam district which is also known as the silk city of Odisha will witness a battle between two turncoats in the Lok Sabha elections.

The ruling Biju Janata Dal headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has fielded Bhrugu Baxipatra, who till last week was vice president of the BJP Odisha unit while the BJP has put up Pradeep Panigrahy, who was expelled from the BJD, as its nominee for the Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency.

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Panigrahpy, a three-time MLA from Gopalpur Assembly constituency was once a close aide of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and even looked after the Ganjam district affairs of the regional party, before being expelled from the BJD.

The Congress has fielded Rashmi Ranjan Patnaik for the Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency.

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The Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency was once a strong citadel of the Congress and even Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao had won the Berhampur Lok Seat seat in the 1996 elections.

Ganjam district has been a BJD bastion since 2009. The district is also the home district to Naveen Patnaik's Assembly constituency, Hinjili. BJD has won 12 of the 13 Assembly seats in the district in 2019 elections.

The fight for the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat will be mainly between two turncoats Bhrugu Baxipatra of BJD and Pradeep Panigrahy of the BJP though the Congress nominee is also in the fray.

Panigrahy was expelled from the BJD on charge of "anti-people activities" and was also arrested on alleged corruption cases by the Naveen Patnaik government.

The BJP candidate in his public meetings is telling the people 'Etha ra Leka Chhi Da e Deba' (This time will end the chapter). The Gopalpur MLA is asking the electorate the end their inclination towards Naveen Patnaik, who he accused of running the government through outsourcing manner.

Panigarhy is also trying to invoke Ganjam sentiment among the people as his rival Baxipatra's activities were mostly confined to the neighbouring Rayagada district before moving to Ganjam in 2019.

To defeat Panigrahy, BJD has picked up BJP's former Berhampur nominee Baxipatra with the sole intention of capturing a certain portion of saffron votes. Both parties are fighting hard to win the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat, which is considered the gateway to southern Odisha.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's close aide and BJD leader VK Pandian in a meeting in Bhubaneswar on Sunday appealed to people to vote for the Conch symbol of the regional party.

"Please do not see who is a candidate. The chief minister is contesting in all the 147 assembly seats and 21 Lok Sabha constituencies," Pandian said appealing to people to look at Patnaik and Conch symbol alone while going to vote.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections BJD candidate Chandrasekhar Sahu had won the Berhampur Lok Sabha by 94,000 votes defeating his BJP opponent Bhrugu Baxipatra.

Apart from voters, the party workers of both the political parties at the grassroots level also seem to be confused. "We have to campaign for the candidate whom we had strongly opposed last time (2019 LS election)," said a BJD worker from Ganjam district.

The seven Assembly constituencies under the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat are - Chhatrapur, Gopalpur, Berhampur, Digapandi and Chikita in Ganjam district and Mohana and Parlakhemundi in neighbouring Gajapati district. Of the seven, five seats in Ganjam district are held by the ruling BJD while Mohana and Parlakhemundi are represented by Congress and BJP respectively in the Assembly.

Berhampur Lok Sabha seat will go to polls along with three other Lok Sabha constituencies Nabarangpur, Koraput and Kalahandi on May 13.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], April 9 (ANI): Ahead of Lok Sabha elections coinciding with the summer, Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha, Nikunja Dhal said that the authorities were aware of the possible heatwave condition during the polling period and the mission is zero casualties in heat waves.

Nikunja Dhal said, "We are preparing ourselves to face minimum voter inconvenience. Our mission is zero casualty in heat waves. We will create awareness among the voters and precautions to take while they are coming to vote. We will have ambulances available to take care of any emergency case. We will have a mobile health unit. We will have para-medical staff travelling with all the sectors. We will have ORS packets with the mobile parties.

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He further said that they will have Asha workers deployed in polling stations.

"There will be a three-tier system to combat heat wave conditions. The health department is establishing heatstroke wards in all the prime health centres. Drinking water facilities will be provided in all booths," he added.

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On his visit to four Lok Sabha constituencies Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha, Nikunja Dhal said that he had visited and reviewed the Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sundargarh, and Dhenkanal parliament constituency.

"I interacted with Police, District Election Officers and other concerned officers to review the poll preparedness and law and order situation there. In the coming day, I will visit the Ganjam district where I will review the Berhampur, Aska and Kandhamal lok sabha seats," he added.

The Lok Sabha elections in Odisha, which comprise 21 constituencies, are set to take place in four phases. The voting dates have been scheduled for May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) Observing that a candidate is not required to "lay his life out threadbare" before the electorate in the nomination papers, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the election of Independent MLA Karikho Kri from Tezu assembly constituency in Arunachal Pradesh.

The case relates to Kri's alleged suppression of facts in the poll papers in 2019.

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The top court, in a significant verdict, said the "right to privacy" of a person, contesting an election, would "still survive as regards matters which are of no concern to the voter or are irrelevant to his candidature for public office".

A bench comprising justices Anirudhha Bose and Sanjay Kumar set aside the July 17, 2023 judgment of the Itanagar bench of the Gauhati High Court holding the election of Kri from Tezu in Lohit district as "null and void".

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It was alleged that Kri made false declarations in his election nomination paper by not disclosing that he was in occupation of a government accommodation, namely MLA Cottage No 1 located in 'E' Sector, Itanagar.

It was also alleged that Kri did not submit "No Dues Certificates" from the concerned department for the rent, electricity charges, water charges and telephone charges of the government accommodation.

Allowing the plea of Kri, Justice Kumar, writing a 44-page judgment for the bench, noted that it was strenuously contended that the voter's "right to know" is absolute and a candidate contesting the election must be forthright about all his particulars.

"We are not inclined to accept the blanket proposition that a candidate is required to lay his life out threadbare for examination by the electorate. His 'right to privacy' would still survive as regards matters which are of no concern to the voter or are irrelevant to his candidature for public office," it said.

In that respect, non-disclosure of each and every asset owned by a candidate will not amount to a defect, much less, a defect of a substantial character, it said.

It is not necessary that a candidate declare every item of movable property that he or his dependent family members owns, such as, clothing, shoes, crockery, stationery and furniture and the likes unless the same is of such value as to constitute a sizeable asset in itself or reflect upon his candidature, in terms of his lifestyle, and require to be disclosed, the bench said.

The judgment said every case would have to turn on its own peculiarities and there can be no straitjacket rule as to when the non-disclosure of a particular movable asset by a candidate would amount to a defect of a substantial character.

It gave an illustration saying if a candidate and his family, who own several high-priced watches, will obviously have to disclose the same as they constitute an asset of high value and also reflect upon their lavish lifestyle.

"Suppression of the same would constitute 'undue influence' upon the voter as that relevant information about the candidate is being kept away from the voter. However, if a candidate and his family members each own a simple watch, which is not highly priced, suppression of the value of such watches may not amount to a defect at all. Each case would, therefore, have to be judged on its own facts," it said.

It held the failure on the part of Kri to disclose the dues of municipal and property taxes payable by him and his wife cannot be held to be a non-disclosure at all.

"We hold that the High Court was in error in concluding that sufficient grounds were made out under Sections... of the Representation of Peoples Act to invalidate the election of Karikho Kri and, further, in holding that non-disclosure of the three vehicles, that still remained registered in the names of his wife and son as on the date of filing of his nomination, amounted to a 'corrupt practice' under Section 123(2) of the Act of 1951," it said.

Earlier the high court judgment had come on an election petition filed by the then Congress candidate, Nuney Tayang, challenging the declaration of the 2019 assembly election result.

The election was held on April 11, 2019 and the result was declared on May 27, with Kri being declared the winner as an Independent candidate.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], April 9 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on Tuesday at various sites in Tamil Nadu as part of an investigation into drug-related money laundering involving former DMK member Jaffer Sadiq and others, as per sources.

According to sources, the ED raided more than 20 locations in Chennai and other places, including Trichy and Madurai.

Also Read | Lucknow Shocker: Couple Arrested for Forcing Minor House Help Into Flesh Trade in UP.

The central probe agency searched the premises this morning of partners of the sacked DMK functionary Jafer Sadiq. Sadiq is presently in judicial custody.Earlier this March, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) busted a big transnational drug racket. following which the NCB issued a statement in which it said Sadique is the kingpin of a network spread over India, New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia.

The accused allegedly earned a huge amount of money through drug trafficking and invested it in multiple industries like film, construction, hospitality, etc. He was arrested in connection with the seizure of 50kg of pseudoephedrine in Delhi.

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According to the NCB, Sadiq's arrest is a result of excellent interagency cooperation with other agencies. NCB is cooperating with New Zealand and Australian authorities to bust the entire transnational network.

Acting on specific intelligence, the NCB arrested Sadiq on March 9 this year. Sadiq has been absconding since February 15 this year.

The NCB seized 50.070 kg of pseudoephedrine from the godown of a firm named Aventa Company and arrested three accomplices of Sadiq in this connection. Pseudoephedrine is used to make methamphetamine, which is the highest drug in demand worldwide.

Sadiq spearheaded a network that sourced pseudoephedrine in India and trafficked it to Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia under the guidance of food-grade cargo. It is believed that the drug syndicate operated by him has sent 45 consignments over the past 3 years to various countries, containing approximately 3500 kilograms of pseudoephedrine.

Sadiq has revealed that he has earned a huge amount of money from his illicit drug trafficking operations and has invested the same in legit businesses in industries like film, construction, hospitality, etc. His financial linkages with respect to drug trafficking are under investigation to identify his sources of funds and the beneficiaries of the proceeds of drug trafficking. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) The Congress on Tuesday alleged that the youth have been "taken for a ride" by the BJP's "double engine" government in Uttar Pradesh and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to answer to their "woes" in the state.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh attacked Prime Minister Modi ahead of his rally in Pilibhit and posed questions to him on key issues in the state .

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"Today, the PM is in Uttar Pradesh, a state where the youth have been taken for a ride by the BJP's 'Double-Engine' Sarkar. Perhaps the PM can use some of his time to answer for the woes of UP's youth," Ramesh said in a post on X.

He said that last year, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath promised that he would create two crore new jobs in the state over the next three-four years.

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"Remember this is the same promise that the Prime Minister had once made in 2014 before he came to office. We know what followed - years of record unemployment and slow growth. What have the Prime Minister and his acolytes done over the last decade to create these promised 2 crore jobs?" Ramesh said.

Why are the "PM's acolytes" now making the same promises that the PM failed to deliver on, he asked.

The Congress' Yuva Nyay guarantees include the recruitment of 30 lakh government jobs and a guaranteed one year apprenticeship to all graduates and diploma holders, he said.

What is the BJP's vision to resolve Uttar Pradesh and India's record unemployment crisis, Ramesh asked.

Under the Modi government's reign, more than 43 papers for government recruitment exams have been leaked, hurting at least two crore candidates, he said.

"Most recently, 60 lakh applicants for the UP Police Exams had their futures clouded when exams were cancelled due to paper leaks. These are not just numbers - it is the hopes and dreams of India's youth that are hanging in the balance," Ramesh said.

Under its Yuva Nyay Guarantee, the Congress has committed to bringing robust legislation that will design institutions and best practices to prevent paper leaks from occurring in the first place, he said.

"What is Mr. Modi's vision to address the harm done to our youth? What is the 'Double Engine' Sarkar doing to rectify its mistakes and ensure that our youth never face such injustice again?" Ramesh said and asked the prime minister to break his "silence" on these issues.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) Twenty coal mines are likely to become operational by the end of this year, an official source said.

This assumes significance with peak power demand in the country likely to cross 400 GW by 2030.

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These 20 coal blocks which include seven blocks of state-owned Coal India and three blocks of Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) will contribute another 100 million tonnes (MT) in three to four years, the source said.

Coal India accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal output.

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SCCL is a government coal mining company jointly owned by the Telangana government and the Centre on a 51:49 equity basis.

The country has for the first time crossed the milestone of 1 billion tonnes of coal and lignite production in 2023-24, Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi had said.

The country is not very far from its next target to eliminate coal imports by 2025-26, he had said.

The country's total coal and lignite output was 937 MT in the 2022-23 fiscal year, as per official figures.

In FY24, about 22.20 MT coal was imported for blending, as compared to 30.80 MT in 2022-23.

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New Delhi, April 9: A day after a wanted man was arrested for allegedly killing his live-in partner, police on Tuesday said he strangulated her and stuffed the body in an almirah as she pressured him to marry her. Vipul Tailor, 27, was previously involved in 10 cases, including attempt to murder, violations of the Narcrotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Arms Act. Police said that the woman also had three cases registered against her under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention)-Act in Gujarat's Surat, police said.

During the investigation, the police found that the duo met at the victim's spa centre in Surat and then moved to Delhi where they began living together, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Ankit Singh said. During this period, Tailor paid Rs 7 lakh to the woman to purchase a flat in Delhi. She later pressured him for more money to pay the instalments and to marry her. Following this, he allegedly killed her, the DCP said. Delhi Shocker: Man Kills Live-In Partner Over Marriage Pressure, Nabbed After 1,400 Km Chase in Four States (Watch Video)

The police chased Tailor in three states -- Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat -- covering nearly 1,400 kilometres in five days to nab him in Udaipur. On April 4, the victim's father approached the police as he was unable to contact his daughter. He suspected that Tailor, whom she was living with for one-and-a-half months, could have killed her in their house in Dwarka's Rajapuri area.

"When our team entered the flat, Rukhsar alias Riya, was found in a sitting position inside a large wardrobe with sliding doors. Superficial wounds and strangulation marks were evident on her body, suggesting resistance. Household items were strewn across all three rooms, indicating a struggle. Inquiry revealed that the deceased had been cohabiting with her friend Vipul," the DCP said. The police examined CCTV footage and found that Tailor had left the premises around 9 pm in his car. He had crossed the Sohna-Mumbai expressway toll plaza, he said. Delhi Shocker: Class 8 Student Beaten, Wooden Stick Inserted in Private Parts; Classmate Nabbed

"A police team was dispatched to pursue the car. The team trailed Vipul's car from Delhi to Udaipur. Despite Vipul's attempts to mislead by changing routes, the team persisted for 48 hours until an accident occurred, resulting in Vipul sustaining injuries," Singh said. Tailor was then ferried by an ambulance to Bhilwara. However, the doctors told the police that instead of receiving treatment, he boarded another private ambulance for Surat, he said. The team continued the pursuit, ultimately apprehending him. He was in an injured condition," the DCP said.

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New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) Wipro's new CEO Srinivas Pallia said he is energised by possibilities before the company and the industry, in a new era fuelled by rapid technological progress.

Wipro's top boss -- who took over the baton from Thierry Delaporte at the USD 11 billion IT services firm on Saturday -- penned a post on LinkedIn to say he looks forward to working with 240,000 "Wiproites" and taking the "iconic" company to the next phase of growth.

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"There's a lot of work still to be done ahead of us," Pallia wrote in the recent post.

Pallia also reached out to employees through an email where he talked about his journey of continuous discovery, growth, and learning at Wipro moulding and shaping him into the leader he is today, according to sources.

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In the LinkedIn post, Pallia highlighted Wipro's remarkable resilience and adaptability, and applauded commitment of employees to the company's collective success.

"As we enter a new era fuelled by rapid technological progress, I am energised by the possibilities ahead for our company and our industry. I look forward to working with all our 240,000 Wiproites around the globe and taking this iconic company to its next phase of growth," he said.

Pallia said over the past four years, he worked closely with Delaporte and the entire leadership team on an ambitious transformation journey "which has allowed us to optimise our structure, enhance our leadership, and improve our overall efficiency".

Pallia said he is excited to build on the strong foundation and lead Wipro on its next growth trajectory.

Delaporte too took to LinkedIn to say he is proud of Wipro's achievements over the last four years, and how, during this period, the earnings, stock value and market-capitalization had grown.

"...growing revenues by 35 per cent. We've generated 25 per cent more profit in the last four years than in the previous 4-year period, and the value of our stock and market-capitalisation has grown by 2.5x since 2020," Delaporte wrote.

Wipro's incredible journey is about so much more than numbers, however, he mentioned.

"I came in to fundamentally transform and modernise Wipro for the future. It has been a priority to perform while transforming; to introduce client-centric guiding principles of agility, excellence, and investments in new technologies and systems," he said.

Delaporte said it has been a valuable experience to hear positive feedback from clients about the "rejuvenated Wipro" and see today's Wipro as bold, ambitious, more efficient and focused, more diverse and inventive, and "helmed by a handpicked team of powerful leaders".

Delaporte said he is excited about his next move and promised to share it "when the time is right".

"I wish Wipro all the very best as it strides forth to conquer new goals. We have travelled a long journey, but the time has come for me to move on," Delaporte signed off.

Last week, the Bengaluru-headquartered IT major announced the resignation of Thierry Delaporte as CEO and named Srinivas Pallia as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

The announcement coming just days before the company's March quarter and full-year 2023-24 earnings (scheduled on April 19), surprised many with its suddenness.

Analysts were quick to point towards Wipro's subdued report card and weak guidance that lagged peers as also the high-profile departures at senior level (including CFO Jatin Dalal and chief growth officer Stephanie Trautman last year) as reasons behind the abrupt change of guard.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) Food-tech platform Ghost Kitchens India on Tuesday said it has acquired Ahmedabad-based cloud kitchen firm Shy Tiger Brands to strengthen its presence in Gujarat.

The acquisition comes on the heels of Ghost Kitchens raising USD 5 million in February 2024 in equity and debt.

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"The acquisition solidifies Ghost Kitchens' foothold in the Gujarat market, while providing a platform for further expansion and growth," it stated.

Founded in 2018, Shy Tiger has five multi-brand cloud kitchens spread across Ahmedabad.

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"The acquisition marks Ghost Kitchens' strategic move to bolster its presence in Gujarat by integrating its existing brands in Shy Tiger's infrastructure," it stated.

The food-tech platform became operational in 2019 with over 15 company-owned and operated cloud kitchens in Mumbai and Ahmedabad, and 1,200 internet restaurants across 40 cities in India.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) Natco Pharma on Tuesday said it has received a warning letter from the US health regulator for its Telangana-based manufacturing plant.

The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) had issued eight observations under Form 483 after inspecting the company's Kothur-based formulation facility.

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The inspection was conducted by USFDA from October 9 to October 18, 2023.

"We wish to inform you that the company has received a warning letter dated April 8, 2024 from the USFDA," the drug firm said in a regulatory filing.

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The company does not believe that the warning letter will have an impact on supplies or the existing revenues from this facility, it added.

"It may cause delay/withholding of pending product approvals from this site," Natco Pharma said.

The drug firm will respond to the letter within the stipulated timelines and work closely with the USFDA to address the concerns in a holistic and timely manner to ensure sustained compliance, it said.

A warning letter is issued when the US health regulator finds that a manufacturer has significantly violated its regulations.

Shares of Natco Pharma were trading 0.5 per cent up at Rs 1,004 a piece on BSE.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Rabat (Morocco), Apr 9 (AP) An activist who criticized Morocco's decision to normalize relations with Israel was sentenced to five years in prison, as some of the Arab world's largest pro-Palestinian protests continue to sweep the country.

Abdul Rahman Zankad of Mohammedia, Morocco was arrested in March after posting on Facebook about the Israel-Hamas war and Morocco's 2020 decision to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, the Moroccan Space for Human Rights said in a statement.

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A court on Monday found him guilty of insulting a constitutional institution and incitement. He was also fined 50,000 Moroccan dirhams ($5,000). The civil liberty advocacy group, which organizes the legal defense of protesters, called the charges baseless and said the proceedings violated Zankad's right to a fair trial.

Tens of thousands of protesters across the political spectrum have taken to the streets in Morocco to denounce Israel and express support for Palestinian groups, including Hamas. The protesters have criticized Israel's allies including the United States and chanted demands for the government to overturn normalization.

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Morocco was one of four Arab nations to establish ties with Israel in 2020, as part of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, which led to both the United States and Israel recognizing Morocco's claim over the disputed Western Sahara.

Authorities have allowed protests, with few exceptions, including not allowing a recently planned rally at a northern Moroccan university. Some members of parliament have backed their demands. Both the Foreign Ministry and the Royal Palace have issued statements denouncing the war and expressing solidarity for Palestinians in Gaza but not signaled any intent to cut ties with Israel.

Morocco's constitution generally allows for freedom of expression, although it is illegal to criticize the monarchy or King Mohammed VI and those who do can face prosecution. Human rights associations have raised concerns about a rise in prosecutions stemming from online post in recent years.

Zankad is a member of Morocco's Al Adl Wal Ihsane, a banned but tolerated Islamist association that has been a driving force behind many of the country's protests since the war began.

On Monday the group called said his sentence only serves to solidify the certainty that we are in a state riddled by authoritarianism and tyranny.

We condemn this unjust ruling in the strongest terms. It is a continuation of the unjust rulings targeting opponents from Al Adl Wal Ihsane, journalists, and leaders of the Rif Movement, it added, referencing a 2016 protest movement whose leaders were later sentenced and imprisoned.

The group has also condemned the prosecutions of other opponents of normalization. That includes Said Boukioud, who in November was sentenced to three years in prison for insulting the king in a series of Facebook posts about normalization.

It also includes 13 protesters who were arrested in Sale, Morocco in November for incitement and organizing an unauthorized demonstration after they blocked the entrance to the French grocery store Carrefour. In Morocco and elsewhere, the chain has faced boycotts since its franchises in Israel announced they were providing food to Israel's military last year.

Their case has not yet been decided. (AP)

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Maputo, April 9: At least 97 people have died after an overloaded boat capsized and sank off the coast of Mozambique late Sunday, VOA News reported, citing Radio Mozambique. Silveiro Nauaito, the administrator of Mozambique's northern province of Nampula, said that those aboard the boat, largely women and children, were travelling from the northern Lunga district to a small island off the coast known as Mozambique Island, VOA News reported, citing Radio Mozambique.

He said 130 passengers were allegedly fleeing due to disinformation about a cholera outbreak and were travelling to the island for health care. Nauaito said rescue teams had found 12 survivors and were searching for more. However, poor weather at sea was making the operation more difficult. He said 91 bodies were found on Sunday and six others on Monday. He stated that 40 bodies have been taken either to the island or the mainland, and burials of the victims have started. Boat Capsize in Bahamas: Ferry Carrying Cruise Ship Passengers to Blue Lagoon Island Sinks in Choppy Waters, American Tourist Killed; Scary Videos Surface.

Since January, Mozambique has been making efforts to contain a deadly cholera outbreak in its northern regions. The health crisis has also impacted neighbouring countries like Malawi and Zambia. Turkey Boat Capsize: 21 Killed After Migrant Boat Sinks off Aegean Coast; Four Rescued.

In a telephonic interview with VOA News, the secretary of state in Nampula province, Jaime Neto, said that the boat could have been hit by a giant wave. He noted that the boat was also overcrowded and not appropriate for carrying passengers. He also said that the boat was overcrowded as there was misinformation about the cholera outbreak, VOA News reported. The boat was "not prepared to take passengers. It ended up sinking and creating this situation that the province regrets." Notably, boat travel is an important means of transport in Mozambique, which has a dilapidated road network.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Secretary-General of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Theodora Gentzis (Photo credits: X/@DrSJaishankar)

New Delhi [India], April 9 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Secretary-General of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Theodora Gentzis discussed strengthening economic and political cooperation between India, Belgium and the EU on Tuesday.

EAM Jaishankar received the Secretary General of Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier today.

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The two ministers discussed strengthening economic and political cooperation between India, Belgium and the EU.

They also discussed the concerns of our diamond industry.

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Moreover, Jaishankar and Gentzis exchanged views on semiconductors and green growth.

"Pleased to receive Secretary General @BelgiumMFA Theodora Gentzis today. Discussed strengthening economic and political cooperation between India, Belgium and the EU. Took up the concerns of our diamond industry. Also exchanged views on semiconductors and green growth," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1777606404859179253

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo and congratulated him for the successful hosting of the First Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels.

The two leaders also reviewed relations between the two nations and discussed strengthening ties and advancing the India-EU Partnership under the Belgian Presidency.

Belgian PM De Croo said that the two leaders discussed growing commercial relations between New Delhi and Brussels, including in sectors of semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and green hydrogen. He also said that Belgium would send a royal trade mission to India.

The two leaders affirmed their commitment to further bolster the India - EU Strategic Partnership under the ongoing Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

They exchanged views on regional and global developments. They agreed upon the need to enhance cooperation and support for the early restoration of peace and security in the West Asia region and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Tel Aviv [Israel], April 9 (ANI/TPS): A Monday night airstrike killed Hamas terrorist commander Hatem Alramery, Head of Hamas' Emergency Bureau in the Gaza Central Camps, the Israel Defense Forces said on Tuesday morning.

Alramery, was involved in the launch of rockets within Hamas's Maghazi Battalion of the Central Camps.

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Throughout the past day, the Air Force also struck and destroyed military compounds, launch posts, and numerous terrorist infrastructure sites throughout Gaza.

Israel has withdrawn most of its ground forces from the Gaza Strip. On Monday night, the Israeli Prime Minister said a date has been set for an invasion of Rafah, Hamas's last stronghold in southern Gaza.

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"Victory requires entering Rafah and eliminating the terrorist battalions there. This will happen. There is a date," Netanyahu said in a video statement. He didn't indicate when the invasion would take place.

"We are constantly working to achieve our goal, primarily releasing all of our hostages and achieving total victory over Hamas," Netanyahu added.

Four Hamas battalions are believed to remain in Rafah along with an estimated one million Palestinians displaced by the war.

On Monday, Israeli airstrikes hit Hamas rocket launchers inside a humanitarian zone in Khan Yunis next to a an distribution center. The zone was evacuated and no civilians were harmed.

At least 1,200 people were killed and 240 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the remaining 134 hostages, Israel recently declared 31 of them dead. (ANI/TPS)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kathmandu [Nepal], April 9 (ANI): Dozens of pro-monarchy protestors were injured when they broke into a restricted zone, tearing down the barricades, prompting police to use batons, tear gas and water cannons.

The protest called by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), a right-wing pro-monarchist group, turned violent as soon as they broke into the restricted zone. Thousands of its cadres and pro-monarchy supporters had marched in the capital, raising slogans and blowing the conch, praying for the end of the republic and the reinstatement of monarchy.

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A major section of the road that works as a lifeline of Kathmandu's traffic came to a standstill as they took the road and marched towards Singha Durbar, the administrative capital of the Himalayan nation. Local authorities have been extending the prohibitory order for the area, resulting in frequent clashes during demonstrations that are held occasionally in the capital.

On Tuesday, RPP chairman Rajendra Lingden, also a former Deputy Prime Minister, led the protestors into the restricted zone as they reached near Bhadrakali Temple, near the Army Headquarters, defying the prohibitory order.

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Following Lingden, his supporters ran into the restricted zone by attacking the security forces on two fronts. The police barricade couldn't withstand the pro-monarchs, who on Tuesday had hit the road demanding the reinstatement of monarchy and declaring Nepal a Hindu state.

"The constitution of this nation needs to be changed, which is one of the demands of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). If we could change the constitution, make Nepal a Hindu nation, and reinstate monarchy... that is the only viable option that can save this nation in the present scenario; otherwise, the nation would degrade further as it has gone into an odd situation. The public can't wait and watch to degrade it further, it has prompted people to hit the street and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party has led the forefront," Aang Chiring Lama, one of the protestors, told ANI.

Tuesday's protest by the RPP comes a month after it submitted its 40-point charter of demands to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. On February 9, announcing the campaign of reinstating the constitutional monarchy and Hindu Kingdom, the RPP called for a major protest for April 9 (Tuesday).

In wake of the possible tension and violence, about 7 thousand police personnel, including the Special Task Force (STF) of Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force (APF), were deployed in and around the protest site.

In 2006, Nepal abolished centuries old constitutional monarchies. After that, King Gyanendra seized power and imposed an emergency, sending all the leaders under house arrest. The movement, also referred to as "People's Movement II," witnessed bloodshed, with dozens killed in a crackdown against protestors by the government.

After weeks of violent protests and increasing international pressure, Gyanendra gave up and reinstated the dissolved parliament. The dawn of new democracy is highlighted as Lokantantra (people's rule). Within 18 years of the abolishment of monarchy, the right-wing is back on the street, demanding its reinstatement.

"Let me first explain to you about the scenario before 2062/2063 BS (2006 AD). It was said that the monarchy, the Hindu kingdom, was then claimed to be the reason for Nepal's backwardness in achieving economic progress but coming a long way now, we don't see any prosperity as we expected. because of this, we realised that Nepal needs a constitutional monarchy, Nepal must be a Hindu kingdom once again, That's why we have gathered here. Also, we submitted a 40-point demand letter to the Prime Minister of Nepal a month ago, but it hasn't been heard of, it has not been acknowledged by the government," Kalyan Bikram Acharya, one of the young pro-monarch protestors, told ANI.

In addition to reinstating constitutional monarchy as a "guardian of the state," the party has demanded scrapping the provincial structures and keeping only two tiers of government--central and local.

The RPP also the fifth-largest party in the House of Representatives and claims the three tiers of government are a burden to the nation. The party claims that a strong central government and an empowered local level are what the country needs.

Amongst the demands of the party is immediate control in religious conversion being done, which as per it is being done by luring and deceiving the common people, directly elected executive head and a constitutional and legal cap of two terms in the executive positions are the other demands.

Also, the party forwarded a demand to investigate the properties of all the top leaders and bureaucrats since 1990, confiscate property, and act against them if found guilty.

The right to franchise to those living abroad, strict adherence to non-aligned foreign policy and the formulation of proper education policies are other demands. Controlling corruption, ensuring good governance, and expediting development have also found their place on the list.

The RPP has 14 lawmakers in the 275-strong House. The party also has representation in the provincial assemblies. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beijing [China], April 9 (ANI): Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is on a two-day official visit to China, held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Tuesday.

In a post on X, Russian Foreign Ministry stated, "Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov holds talks with Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi."

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In his opening remarks at the meeting, Lavrov said that the presidential elections in Russia took place under conditions of severe external pressure from the West and a surge in terrorist attacks by the Kyiv regime. He noted that shelling of Russian cities has become more frequent, leading to civilian casualties, according to the statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Lavrov said that hackers made numerous attempts to hack Russia's election system. However, the voting was successful and nothing prevented the free and recorded expression of the will of Russian voters.

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Russian Foreign Minister thanked China for supporting and ensuring the sovereign rights of people of Russia in accordance with the Constitution. He noted that "comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction" between Russia and China has reached an "unprecedented level," as per the Russian Foreign Minister statement.

He said that the "strategic partnership" between China and Russia is built on the principles of respectful, equal and trusting dialogue, and mutual support on issues affecting the fundamental interests of the two countries.

Lavrov stated that the two nations are working on the formation of a more equitable multipolar world order, on the development of inclusive and creative formats of cooperation, including such as BRICS and the SCO.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in China on Monday for an official visit at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Global Times reported. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Lavrov will be on an official visit to China from April 8-9.

While addressing a regular press conference on Monday, Mao said that the two sides will exchange views and coordinate stances on the development of bilateral ties, cooperation in different fields and the international issues of shared common concern on the sidelines of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia diplomatic ties.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Lavrov in Beijing will hold talks with Wang Yi. She said that Wang Yi and Sergey Lavrov will discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific region, issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction in the international arena, Global Times reported citing TASS report. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Karachi, Apr 9 (PTI) At least three people, including a policeman, were killed and 20 others injured in two separate bomb blasts in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, police said on Tuesday.

In the first incident, a policeman was killed and 15 others were injured when a blast occurred at a mosque in the Kuchlak area of the province's Quetta district on Monday.

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"People were offering Maghrib prayers when the explosion took place at the mosque," a police official said.

In another incident, two people were killed and five others were injured in a bomb blast in a marketplace near Umar Farooq Chowk in Khuzdar town on Monday.

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A senior police official said the blast took place when there was a crowd, including women and children in the market for Eid shopping.

Two people have been killed and five others injured in the explosion, the senior officer said, adding that police and other law enforcement forces rushed to the explosion site and shifted the bodies and injured to Khuzdar Teaching Hospital.

Bomb Disposal Squad officials were busy investigating both sites and initial reports suggested both blasts were committed through improvised explosive devices (IED) planted motorbikes and parked near the Umar Farooq Chowk and the mosque.

It seems, the motorbike IEDs were detonated with a remote control, the official said.

No banned outfit has claimed responsibility for the blasts so far, but in the recent weeks this year, there has been a surge in terror attacks by banned outfits and terrorists in the province in which security forces and installations have also been brazenly targeted.

The banned Balochistan Liberation Army has laid claim to having carried out three major terror strikes in the province in recent weeks in Mach town, Gwadar port and a naval base in Turbat in which security forces killed some 17 militants.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, April 9: The Union government has provided Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar with a Z-category VIP security cover of armed commandos in view of potential threats, official sources said on Tuesday. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has entrusted the Central Reserve Police Force with providing a contingent of about 40-45 personnel for the task, the sources said. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: CEC Rajiv Kumar Directs Poll Observers, Says Ensure Level-Playing Field for Free, Fair and Inducement-Free Polls (See Pics).

A threat perception report prepared by central security agencies had recommended a strong cover for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kumar. The move comes amid preparations for the seven-phase general elections that begin on April 19. Electoral Bonds Data: Information on Electoral Bonds Will Be Disclosed on Time, Says CEC Rajiv Kumar.

The armed commandos will accompany the CEC during his travels across the country, the sources said. Kumar is a retired IAS officer of the 1984 batch. He took charge as the 25th CEC on May 15, 2022. He had been appointed as an election commissioner in the poll body on September 1, 2020.
Hyderabad, April 9: As many as 106 government employees in Telanganas Siddipet district have been suspended for attending a meeting of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in violation of the Model Code of Conduct. Siddipet District Election Officer and Collector M. Manu Choudary suspended 106 staff members of District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Siddipet (MGNREGS & SERP). Telangana: Former BRS MLA Shakil Ahmed's Son Arrested in Rash Driving Case

They had attended the BRS meeting at Reddy Function Hall in Siddipet within the Medak parliamentary constituency on April 7 in violation of MCC. The action was taken after BJPs former MLA and party candidate for Medak Lok Sabha seat Raghunandan Rao complained to the Assistant Returning Officer and Revenue Divisional Officer over the phone that DRDA staff was attending a meeting of BRS in connection with ensuing Lok Sabha elections and that money was also being distributed. Telangana Phone Tapping Case: BJP Seeks CBI Probe Into Allegations of Phone Tapping During BRS Regime

A flying squad team visited the venue and found 10-15 persons still in the meeting. It collected the CCTV footage from the management and found that BRS organised the meeting without obtaining permission from Assistant Returning Officer, Siddipet. A police complaint was also lodged against two leaders of BRS. Based on the CCTV footage, the election authorities identified 40 employees of DRDA who attended the meeting. Later, another 66 employees were identified. All 106 staff members were suspended with immediate effect.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 09, 2024 04:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Bhopal, April 9: Launching a scathing attack on the Congress and the INDIA bloc while sounding a warning bell, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that action against corruption will speed up in the third term of his government at the Centre. Addressing a rally in Maoist-hit Balaghat Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh, PM Modi said that frustrated with the action against corruption, leaders of the INDIA bloc have been abusing him.

"The INDIA bloc is abusing and threatening me. But, I have decided to continue the action against corruption. In the next five years, Modi's operation against corruption will pick speed," PM Modi said. PM Modi said the Opposition is getting united and protesting against operations being carried out against corruption. "I assure that every single penny looted from the people of this country will be recovered. The action against corruption will go on with more speed in the third term," he said. Congress Insulted Lord Ram by Refusing Invite for Pran Pratishtha Ceremony, Says PM Narendra Modi

PM Modi further added that he would need the support of the people for the action against corruption. The Prime Minister also appealed to the people of Balaghat to vote for BJP candidate Bharti Pardhi as her election as Lok Sabha MP will empower him more. The BJP has replaced its sitting Lok Sabha MP Dhal Singh Bisen and has fielded a fresh candidate  Bharti Pardhi from the Balaghat seat against Congress' Samrat Saraswat. Public Support Seems Like 'Saffron Ocean': PM Narendra Modi Draws Parallel During Public Rally in MP's Balaghat, Predicts Victory in Upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024 (Watch Videos)

Balaghat Lok Sabha seat has been a stronghold of the Congress and Independents from 1952 to 1996. However, the BJP wrested the seat from Congress in 1998 and since then, the party has been retaining it by winning it for six consecutive terms, including in 2019.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 09, 2024 07:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Chaitra Navratri is a Hindu festival celebrated over nine days during the Chaitra month of the Hindu lunar calendar, which usually falls in March or April, and this year, it is observed from April 9. It marks the beginning of the new year in the Hindu calendar and is dedicated to worshipping the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to a different form of the goddess, with the first day dedicated to Goddess Shailaputri. On the first day of Chaitra Navratri, people greet each other with messages of joy and prosperity. They exchange wishes such as "Happy Navratri" or "Shubh Navratri" to convey their best wishes for the festival. It is a time for family and friends to come together, celebrate, and seek the blessings of the goddess for a successful year ahead. On this day, share Navratri wishes, Chaitra Navratri 2024 WhatsApp messages, Happy Chaitra Navratri 2024 HD images, wallpapers and quotes to seek blessings from goddess Durga.

Goddess Shailaputri is believed to be the daughter of the Himalayas, hence her name "Shailaputri," which means "daughter of the mountains." She is depicted riding a bull and carrying a trident and a lotus in her hands. Devotees perform special pujas and rituals to honour her on the first day of Chaitra Navratri. This day is considered auspicious for starting new ventures and seeking blessings for a prosperous year ahead.

During Chaitra Navratri, people observe fasting and engage in prayers and meditation to seek the blessings of Goddess Durga. They visit temples dedicated to the goddess and offer flowers, fruits, and other offerings as a symbol of devotion. The festival is also marked by cultural events, music, and dance performances, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of India. A very important part of the festival is exchanging happy festive greetings, which is we bring you Chaitra Navratri 2024 greetings and Navdurga photos.

Happy Chaitra Navratri Wishes (Photo Credits: File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: May the 9 Avatars of Maa Durga Bless You With 9 Qualities  Power, Happiness, Humanity, Peace, Knowledge, Devotion, Name, Fame and Health. Happy Navratri

Happy Chaitra Navratri Wishes (Photo Credits: File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: On This Navratri, I Wish for You Nine Nights of Devotion, Spirituality, and Happiness. May Ma Shower Her Blessings Over You. Happy Chaitra Navratri

Happy Chaitra Navratri Wishes (Photo Credits: File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: Wishing You Nine Nights of Devotion and Happiness. May Maa Shower Her Blessings on You. Happy Navratri

Happy Chaitra Navratri Wishes (Photo Credits: File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: This Chaitra Navratri, Let the Divine Presence of Goddess Durga Step Into Your Home and Bring Serenity, Strength, and Success

Happy Chaitra Navratri Wishes (Photo Credits: File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: May the Nine Nights of Devotion Bring Grace and Glory Into Your Life. Happy Chaitra Navratri

Maa Shailputri Images and HD Wallpapers

Maa Shailputri (Photo Credits: File Image)

Maa Shailputri Images and HD Wallpapers

Maa Shailputri (Photo Credits: File Image)

Chaitra Navratri 2024 Wishes: Messages, Maa Durga Images, Greetings And Quotes To Send To Loved Ones

Chaitra Navratri is a festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil and the power of the goddess Durga. It is a time to reflect on one's spiritual journey, seek inner peace, and cultivate a sense of devotion. By honouring the goddess and following age-old traditions, people reaffirm their faith and commitment to their cultural heritage.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 09, 2024 05:54 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Gudi Padwa, also known as Samvatsara Padvo or Marathi New Year, is celebrated predominantly by the people of Maharashtra, India, and marks the beginning of the traditional Hindu lunar calendar. It falls on the first day of the Chaitra month, usually in March or April, according to the Gregorian calendar. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and is marked by various rituals and traditions. To celebrate the Marathi New Year, we have for you some of the best Gudi Padwa 2024 wishes, greetings, HD images and wallpaper, SMS and GIFs that you can share with your loved ones. It is also a way to spread joy and positivity, setting the tone for the year ahead. Let's celebrate the day with beautiful Gudi Padwa 2024 messages, Marathi New Year pics, Gudhi Padva greetings and Samvatsara Padvo quotes, WhatsApp messages, Facebook images and HD wallpapers:

One of the key elements of Gudi Padwa is the hoisting of the Gudi, a decorative pole that symbolises victory and prosperity. The Gudi is adorned with a bright cloth, flowers, neem leaves, and a garlanded goblet, along with an upturned silver or copper vessel. This Gudi is then hoisted outside homes, symbolising the victory of good over evil and inviting prosperity and good luck into the household.

Maharashtrians greet each other with the traditional phrase "Gudi Padwa Padachya Hardik Shubhechha," which translates to "Heartfelt Greetings of Gudi Padwa." This gesture of wishing each other on Gudi Padwa is not just a formality but a way to strengthen societal and cultural bonds. It fosters a sense of community and togetherness, reminding people of their shared heritage and traditions.

The importance of wishing each other on Gudi Padwa goes beyond mere words. It is a way to acknowledge and celebrate the cultural significance of the festival. By exchanging greetings, people reaffirm their connection to their roots and traditions, passing them down to future generations.

Happy Gudi Padwa (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: Let's Celebrate the Joyous Occasion of Gudi Padwa With Family and Friends, and Welcome the New Year With Open Arms. Wishing You a Prosperous New Year Ahead.

Happy Gudi Padwa (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: May the Gudi Bring Peace, Happiness, and Success to Your Life. Happy Gudi Padwa to You and Your Family.

Happy Gudi Padwa (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: On This Auspicious Occasion of Gudi Padwa, May the Lord Bless You With Good Health, Happiness, and Success. Have a Wonderful New Year Ahead.

Happy Gudi Padwa (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: On the Auspicious Occasion of Gudi Padwa, I Wish You a Year Filled With Joy, Peace, and Prosperity.

Happy Gudi Padwa (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: May the Colourful Gudi Padwa Celebrations Fill Your Life With Joy, Love, and Happiness. Happy Gudi Padwa to You

Gudi Padwa 2024 Wishes: Images, Greetings And Messages To Share With Loved Ones On Samvatsara Padvoa

Gudi Padwa is not just a festival; it is a celebration of culture, tradition, and community. The act of wishing each other on Gudi Padwa is a way to strengthen these bonds and keep the spirit of the festival alive. It is a reminder of the rich cultural heritage of Maharashtra and the values it upholds. So, this Gudi Padwa, let us come together, wish each other well, and celebrate the beauty of our traditions and customs.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 09, 2024 06:06 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Ugadi Subhakankshalu 2024 Images and Ugadi Wishes in Telugu: Ugadi, also known as Yugadi, is celebrated as the New Year's Day in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, marking the beginning of the Hindu lunar calendar's first month, Chaitra. It symbolizes the onset of spring and the commencement of the harvest season, embodying a time of renewal, prosperity, and spiritual growth. Traditional greetings such as "Ugadi Subhakankshalu" or "Happy Ugadi" are commonly exchanged, symbolizing wishes for happiness, prosperity, and success. Here's a collection of Ugadi Subhakankshalu 2024 images, Ugadi wishes in Telugu, Ugadi Subhakankshalu HD wallpapers, Ugadi Subhakankshalu images, Ugadi Subhakankshalu in Telugu images and more to celebrate the day.

Ugadi 2024 will be observed on Tuesday, April 9th. The festival is characterized by the traditional practice of decorating doorways with mango leaves and flowers, preparing festive meals, and conducting puja rituals to invoke divine blessings for the year ahead. Ugadi is also observed as the day when Lord Brahma is believed to have created the universe, signifying the importance of new beginnings and the cyclical nature of life. As you celebrate Ugadi 2024, we at LatestLY have curated a collection of messages you can download and share with all your loved ones to wish them on this day with WhatsApp stickers, mages, HD wallpapers and SMS.

On the auspicious occasion of Ugadi, the tradition of sharing wishes holds immense significance as it fosters a sense of unity, goodwill, and familial bonds within communities. Families and friends exchange heartfelt greetings and blessings, expressing their hopes and aspirations for the new year. The act of sharing wishes extends beyond verbal expressions to include gestures of affection, such as presenting gifts, sweets, and traditional items like new clothes or utensils, to loved ones, neighbours, and acquaintances. Here is a collection of messages you can download and share with all your friends and family to wish them.

Happy Ugadi Wishes (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: I Am Sending My Best Wishes to You and Your Family. I Hope the Festival Brings Love, Fortune and Prosperity Into Your Life. Happy Ugadi

Happy Ugadi Wishes (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: Ugadi Is No Less Than a New Life, New Hopes, New Anticipation and New Beginnings. I Wish You a Happy Ugadi.

Happy Ugadi Wishes (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: Mango for Surprise, Neem for Sadness and Jaggery for Happiness. May This Festival Fill Your Life With All Kinds of Flavours in a Perfect Balance. Happy Ugadi

Happy Ugadi Wishes (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: May the Divine Blessings of Ugadi Fill Your Life With Happiness, Peace, and Fulfillment. Happy Ugadi to You and Your Family

Happy Ugadi Wishes (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: May the Brightness of the Sun and the Positive Energy of Ugadi Fill Your Home With Happiness and Prosperity. Happy Ugadi

Ugadi Subhakankshalu Images and Wallpapers

Ugadi Subhakankshalu (File Image)

Ugadi Subhakankshalu Images and Wallpapers

Ugadi Subhakankshalu (File Image)

Ugadi Subhakankshalu Images and Wallpapers

Ugadi Subhakankshalu (File Image)

Ugadi 2024 Wishes: Wallpapers, Greetings, Images, Quotes And Messages To Share With Loved Ones

Ugadi is a time for individuals to reflect on the past year's achievements, express gratitude for the blessings received, and welcome the new year with optimism, positivity, and renewed enthusiasm.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 09, 2024 08:21 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the death of Rajiv Ratan, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1991 batch. He recalled the distinguished services rendered by Rajiv Ratan to the police department in the state for a long time. He said the Telangana society will never forget the officers who performed their duties efficiently and honestly.
Police are investigating a bombing at the Satanic Temple in Salem in Massachusetts, the US. The police said someone threw an explosive device onto the porch of the building on Bridge Street at about 4:15 am on Monday, April 8. The damage the device caused was not discovered until approximately 4 pm Monday. No one was in the building at the time, according to police. More details are awaited. Solar Eclipse 2024 in US: From Topping Gas Tanks to Keeping Paper Maps, Snacks and Cellphone Chargers Handy, Ohio Warns of Traffic Influx Ahead of Total Solar Eclipse.

Bomb Threat in US

Explosive device left on the porch of the Satanic Temple in Salem, MA. FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force investigating pic.twitter.com/hRHQ1ZvRMx  BNO News Live (@BNODesk) April 9, 2024

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
New Delhi, April 9: Spirit Airlines is expected to lay off 260 pilots. Spirit Airlines might have taken this decision in response to financial challenges. In a move to conserve cash, the airline will likely have intentions to lay off in September 2024, affecting 260 pilots. The layoff might be a part of a broader strategy that includes deferring Airbus aircraft deliveries as the airline navigates through the economic pressures. The 2024 layoff at Spirit Airlines illustrates the difficult measures that the company is taking to stay in business during these uncertain times. Konica Minolta Layoffs 2024: Japan-Based Multinational Technology Company To Cut 2,400 Jobs As Part of Structural Reform and To Increase Employee Productivity, Say Reports.

As per a report by Business Standard, Spirit Airlines has decided to defer Airbus deliveries and will implement the lay off of 260 pilots as a cash-saving tactic. This decision comes amidst a challenging period the company is facing with the operational costs. By postponing the reception of new aircraft and reducing its workforce, Spirit Airlines aims to better align its resources to streamline its business.

The deferral of Airbus deliveries indicates a shift in Spirit Airlines' fleet expansion plans. This strategic decision is aimed at strengthening the airline's financial position by avoiding the immediate capital expenditures associated with expanding and renewing its fleet. Spirit, the budget airline will postpone the delivery of its new planes until 2030-2031. This decision combined with engine problems from supplier Pratt & Whitney has led to Spirit laying off some pilots, starting on September 1. Amazon Layoffs: E-Commerce Giant Announces Fresh Job Cuts, Lays Off Hundreds of Employees in Cloud Computing Unit.

Spirit is facing a difficult situation with A320neo aircraft due to an issue with Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines when the company is already struggling with a cash crunch. The company had initially planned to increase its fleet to 234 jets by adding six A320neo aircraft in 2025 but due to the current circumstances, Spirit now expects to end 2025 with a total of 219 jets in its fleet with no additional A320neo aircraft. Spirit Airlines' liquidity is expected to improve by approximately USD 340 million over the next two years due to an agreement with Airbus.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 09, 2024 12:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The year was 1970 and Elton John, then just 23, was making his U.S. debut onstage at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. L.A. Times music critic Robert Hilburn was there and wrote a review, published Aug. 27, 1970, which bore the headline New rock talent, and boldly predicted that John would become one of rocks biggest and most important stars. Original text below:

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Rejoice. Rock music, which has been going through a rather uneventful period lately, has a new star. Hes Elton John, a 23-year-old Englishman whose United States debut Tuesday night at the Troubadour was, in almost every way, magnificent.

Because his new Uni album has been aired extensively on local FM radio and several of his songs have been recorded by other artists (from Rod Stewart to Three Dog Night), there was a large, enthusiastic audience on hand for the opening.

John, whose music is published by the same man (Dick James) who publishes the Beatles songs, proved to be a multidirectional talent of the highest order.

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His music is so staggeringly original that it is obvious he is not merely operating within a given musical field (such as country or blues or rock) but, like Randy Newman and Laura Nyro among others, creating his own field.

He has, to be sure, borrowed from country, rock, blues, folk and other influences, but he has mixed them in his own way. The resulting songs are so varied in texture that his work defies classification.

REVIEW: Rocketman is an affecting, sprawling musical about the life of Elton John 

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In his opening set Tuesday, John did songs from his first album, from his still-to-be-released second album and from his planned third album.

While his voice most often resembles Jose Feliciano, there are also at times touches of Leon Russell and Mick Jagger.

Since he was backed Tuesday only by his own piano, Nigel Olsson on drums and Dee Murray on bass, his sound was much earthier in general than the sweet, heavily orchestrated music of the first album.

Johns songs are co-written by lyricist Bernie Taupin, whose lyrics often capture the same timeless, objective spirit of the Bands Robbie Robertson.

In fact, Johns intense vocals, coupled with Taupins biting lyrics, on Burn Down the Mission, would be right at home alongside Levon Helm on stage with the Band.

Beyond his vocals, melodies and arrangements, there is a certain sense of the absurd about John as a performer that is reminiscent of the American rock stars of the mid-1950s.

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ALSO: Taron Egerton channels Elton John in Rocketman, and the role is about to change his life 

Only someone with that wild, uninhibited view of his music would dare ask the audience to sing along  something that is almost never done anymore  or drop to his knees, like Jerry Lee Lewis used to do, in a rousing piano finale on Burn Down the Mission. It worked wonderfully well.

The audience, which included one of the largest local gatherings of rock writers in months, roared its approval, bringing John back for an encore.

By the end of the evening, there was no question about Johns talent and potential. Tuesday night at the Troubadour was just the beginnning. Hes going to be one of rocks biggest and most important stars. Hell be at the Troubadour with Elektras David Ackles through Sunday.
Donald Trump tried to once again deploy his "Delay Delay Delay" tactics for his porn star hush money trial, but he lost in his attempt. The trial will still happen next week, on April 15, as a New York Court of Appeals judge threw out the former president's bid to delay the trial again.

Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez of the state's Court of Appeals oversaw the emergency hearing in which Trump's lawyers asked to postpone the trial indefinitely because they are trying to move it out of Manhattan. The emergency stay would have prevented the trial from starting on time and furthered Trump's strategy to delay all trials until after the election. Should Trump win, he could have his Justice Department throw out the federal cases against him.

The Trump hush money trial is the first of his four criminal trials that will happen, as all the other trials, including the Georgia election trial, the federal January 6 trial, and the federal classified documents trial, have been delayed. The trial is historic as it would become the first criminal trial of a former president in US history.

According to the Associated Press, the former president's lawyer, Emil Bove, argued that his client faces "real potential prejudice" as a defendant in "heavily Democratic Manhattan" because he is the presumptive Republican nominee. He argued that the jury selection "cannot proceed in a fair manner."

The former president has previously suggested that the case be moved to the heavily Republican borough of Staten Island, which he won in 2016 and 2020. However, it was noted that Judge Juan Merchan rejected the Republican presumptive nominee's requests to move or delay the trial as untimely.

Judge Also Denies Donald Trump Appeal To Change Venue of Porn Star Hush Money Trial

Judge Lizbeth Gonzalez also heard arguments regarding the change of venue on Monday, and according to CNN, she quickly denied the motion, meaning that there would be no further argument on the motion to change the venue.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Mocked Again Over Wife Melania Trump Looking Peeved During Fundraiser

Meanwhile, Trump's attorneys also stated that they are filing a petition that will object to Judge Merchan's gag order against the former president on the grounds of the First Amendment. However, it should be noted that previous attempts to lift gag orders against the former president have failed before, even though the gag order has been stayed, albeit temporarily, before it got reinstated.

Donald Trump's Statements on Abortion Angered Some Republicans

Meanwhile, several Republicans expressed their disappointment at their presumptive nominee after Trump avoided some questions regarding abortion, including the question of whether he would support a national abortion ban should he be re-elected.

The issue of abortion might be good for his base, but it would certainly not endear him with independent voters whose swing votes could ultimately decide the race for the White House. While Trump has embraced his role in nominating the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, he has since tried to skirt the issue.

In a video statement, Trump stated that there is still a tough road ahead, and instead of addressing the issue, it only inflamed both sides of the abortion debate. The AP noted that while conservatives were deeply disappointed, progressives said that he was lying as usual.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Tried Using Ruby Garcia Death To Attack Joe Biden; Her Family Slams Him and Denies They Spoke With Him

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: New York appeals judge rejects Donald Trump's request to delay hush money trial - KTVB
In a significant development, Haiti leaders have reached a crucial political agreement to establish a transitional government.

This government, slated to serve for 22 months, aims to restore order in the capital city, which has been plagued by gang violence, Leader-Telegram noted.

The goal is to pave the way for elections, with a new president set to be inaugurated on February 7, 2026.

The agreement has resulted in the formation of a nine-member ruling council.

This transitional council comprises seven voting members and two non-voting observers.

Notably, representatives from various political parties and civil society organizations were involved in the negotiations and endorsed the final document alongside council members.

The recent accord comes after almost a month of negotiations to chart a path for selecting a new prime minister and forming a new government.

The transitional council has granted itself substantial authority over the incoming government, including the power to dismiss the next prime minister, a responsibility traditionally held by an elected parliament.

Key aspects of the agreement, along with an ordinance outlining the proposed presidential council's powers, have been forwarded to the Caribbean Community Regional Bloc (CARICOM). However, Haiti's outgoing leader, Ariel Henry, remains unable to return to the country due to the suspension of international flights into the violence-plagued capital.

The next steps involve Henry and his council of ministers signing off on the deal to publish the ordinance establishing the transitional body officially.

Following publication, the council's swearing-in will proceed, although the exact timeline remains uncertain. One major point of contention is the location of the transitional council's installation.

While some members prefer the National Palace, which has been a target for armed gangs, security concerns persist.

Additionally, details regarding the potential deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission and strategies to tackle the rampant gang activity in the capital remain unclear.

READ NEXT: Haiti's Transitional Council Vows to Restore Democratic Order

Council's Initial Responsibilities

The primary task of the newly formed transitional council will be to elect a prime minister who, in collaboration with the nine-member team, will lead the country until democratic elections can be held, according to Yahoo! News.

Neither transitional council members nor members of the forthcoming government will be permitted to run in the elections.

Haiti has been grappling with political instability and escalating crime for years, exacerbated by a lack of elections since 2016.

Recent events, including attacks by armed gangs in late February, have further destabilized the nation, leading to the shutdown of essential infrastructure like the port and airport.

The breakthrough achieved over the weekend follows prolonged negotiations marred by internal disagreements and legal disputes.

CARICOM now holds the responsibility to transmit the accord to the outgoing Henry government to confirm the investiture of the new council.

Critical Voices and International Support

ritics have raised concerns about the ambitious nature of the plan and its effectiveness in addressing Haiti's immediate crisis, Arca Max noted.

While the agreement outlines discussions on truth and reconciliation, economic recovery, and constitutional reform, the pressing issue of armed groups controlling significant portions of the capital remains unresolved.

Furthermore, some experts question the efficacy of the presidential council's structure, fearing potential bureaucratic hurdles that could impede decision-making processes.

Despite these challenges, international support for Haiti's political framework remains crucial.

Entities such as the Caribbean Community, the US, and France have emphasized the need for a stable government to facilitate the deployment of an international force aimed at assisting the Haiti National Police in combating armed gangs. However, the deployment of such a force hinges on the formation of the next government and the availability of necessary finances.

Kenya, designated to lead the international mission, has paused its plans pending developments in Haiti's political landscape.

READ MORE: Haiti: 53,000 Flee Port-au-Prince Amid Gang Surge

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: How Haiti's transitional governing council will work - From CBC News
The brazen Mexico Embassy raid in Quito, Ecuador by Ecuadorian police to capture former VP Jorge Glas has resulted in not just international condemnation but also political turmoil, with the Daniel Noboa administration being accused of breaking treaties and international law by invading what is considered Mexican soil.

Under Noboa, the administration faced no legitimate opposition as he controlled Congress with a supermajority. This meant that, locally, whatever he did, he would not face any trouble. The same cannot be said on the international stage. However, the international incident has started showing some cracks in Noboa's hold on local power.

After the Mexico Embassy raid, the Citizen Revolution Movement (RC) of former President Rafael Correa declared itself as part of the opposition. The party previously had an agreement with Noboa to support the laws he promoted. Now that they have declared for the opposition, things might change.

"We declare ourselves in opposition within the National Assembly to your government, Mr. Noboa," Viviana Veloz, vice president of the National Assembly and RC member, stated. This could be a big blow to Noboa as the RC holds the most seats in the chamber, according to El Pais.

However, even though the RC holds the most seats, the party does not hold a majority. The reason its defection could throw Ecuador into political turmoil is that it can get other allied parties to block any government projects.

The Auditing Commission of the Assembly, which is made up of members of the new opposition bloc, has now called the ministers of foreign affairs, the interior, and defense to testify regarding the Mexico Embassy raid. This is now regarded as the "first maneuver in the political battle."

READ MORE: Ecuador Declares Mexico Ambassador Persona Non Grata After Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Comments

Mexico Diplomats Exit Ecuador After Embassy Raid, Other Diplomats Show Solidarity

Meanwhile, as several Noboa allies flipped, Mexico diplomats did not exit Quito quietly as they left the country being accompanied by German, Panamanian, Cuban, and Honduran ambassadors to the airport as a show of solidarity. Previously, Mexico's top allies, Spain and the US, also condemned the Ecuadorian government for the raid.

"Our diplomatic staff are leaving everything behind in Ecuador and returning home with their heads held high. Even the dictator [Augusto] Pinochet didn't dare enter the Mexican embassy in Chile," said Mexico's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Barcena, at a press conference. She also added that "Mexico would take the case to the International Court of Justice."

Ecuador President Defends Mexico Embassy Raid That Led to International Condemnation

As the international condemnations started pouring in, Noboa released a statement defending his government's actions in arresting former Vice President Jorge Glas inside Mexican sovereign territory, saying he has made "exceptional decisions to protect national security, the rule of law and the dignity of a population that rejects any type of impunity for criminals, corrupt people or narco-terrorists."

"My obligation is to comply with the rulings of the justice system, and we could not allow sentenced criminals involved in very serious crimes to be given asylum," he added, arguing that this violated the Vienna Convention and other international accords.

READ MORE: Ecuador Political Violence Continues as Local Political Leader Is Killed

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Mexican embassy raided in Ecuador: Former vice president Jorge Glas arrested - Al Jazeera English
President Joe Biden unveiled a new plan on Monday aimed at bringing "life-changing" relief to over 30 million borrowers grappling with student loan relief, AP News reports.

The Democratic president's initiative, long in development, was announced during his visit to Wisconsin, a pivotal battleground state crucial for his potential November rematch with presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

During his address, Biden expressed his commitment to providing equal opportunities for all and lamented the soaring costs of higher education, which have left many weighed down by unmanageable debt. He emphasized the need to alleviate the financial strain that impedes individuals from pursuing milestones such as marriage and starting a family.

However, Joe Biden's trip comes on the heels of primary voting in Wisconsin, revealing vulnerabilities within the Democratic Party.

A significant number of Democratic voters opted for "uninstructed" candidates over Biden, signaling discontent that echoes sentiments like those observed in other states like Michigan and Minnesota.

A crucial point of contention has been Biden's support for Israel's military actions in Gaza, particularly among younger voters who disapprove of his stance.

Democratic Representative Mark Pocan, representing Madison, Wisconsin, highlighted the intensity of concerns regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict among voters of all ages, urging Biden to take note.

Additionally, some young voters have expressed impatience with Biden's efforts to address student loan debt.

Despite facing setbacks, including a Supreme Court ruling against his previous loan forgiveness proposal, Biden remains resolute in tackling this issue.

READ NEXT: Biden Wipes $1.2B Student Debt for 150,000+

Lawmakers Voice Concerns Over Biden's Student Loan Relief Proposal

Congressional lawmakers from both parties have raised objections to President Joe Biden's new student loan relief proposal, according to Fox News.

Republican critics, including Senator Marsha Blackburn and House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, have labeled the plan as socialist and accused Biden of attempting to sway votes, particularly among disillusioned progressive youth.

Biden's proposal aims to cancel up to $20,000 in interest accrued on borrowers' student loans, regardless of income level.

It also seeks to entirely forgive interest for individuals in income-driven repayment plans earning less than $120,000 annually, with the threshold doubled for married couples.

The White House estimates that around 25 million borrowers would benefit from these provisions.

Nevertheless, Biden encountered resistance from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress regarding his first effort to implement widespread student loan relief. Ultimately, the proposal was invalidated by the Supreme Court's conservative majority in a 6-3 decision.

Administration Promotes New Plan Amid Legal and Calendar Hurdles

Members of the Biden administration embarked on a nationwide campaign to promote the new plan, betting on its potential to rally support among disillusioned voters, the New York Times noted.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Education Secretary Miguel A. Cardona engaged in discussions to garner backing for the initiative.

Despite facing legal obstacles and procedural hurdles, including a required public comment period before implementation, the administration remains optimistic about the plan's prospects.

Andrew O'Neill, legislative director for the liberal advocacy group Indivisible, lauded Biden's announcement, highlighting its significance for millions of borrowers burdened by student loan debt.

The plan targets various groups, including borrowers with inflated loan balances due to interest accrual, individuals with lower incomes, and those facing hardships such as medical debt or childcare expenses.

While administration officials anticipate significant relief for affected borrowers, exact figures for qualifying individuals remain unspecified.

Joe Biden's efforts to address student loan relief signify a critical step in fulfilling campaign promises and addressing economic disparities. However, the plan faces political opposition and logistical challenges, underscoring the complexities of enacting meaningful change in the realm of higher education finance.

READ MORE: Biden's Ohio Ballot Spot in Question Due to Scheduling

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: President Biden announces new student loan plans while campaigning in Wisconsin - From 13WMAZ
The preparation of execution of Missouri death row inmate Brian Dorsey this week for the 2006 murders of his cousin and her husband. However, a clemency petition has garnered significant support, urging Gov. Michael Parsons to reconsider Dorsey's fate.

Supporters cite his remorse, rehabilitation, and challenges with his legal representation as grounds for clemency, CNN reports.

Dorsey's petition contends that he was in a drug-induced and alcohol-induced blackout at the time of the murders, rendering him unable to deliberate as required for a first-degree murder charge.

Despite this, Dorsey has taken responsibility for his actions and has demonstrated remorse over the years. His exemplary behavior in prison, including a spotless disciplinary record and work as a trusted barber for correctional staff, has earned him the support of over 70 correctional officers and others, including former jurors and state representatives.

"Governor Parson has chosen to ignore the wealth of information before him, showing that Brian Dorsey is uniquely deserving of mercy," Attorney Megan Crane stated on Monday.

"Brian has spent every day of his time in prison trying to make amends for his crime, and dozens of correctional officers have attested to his remorse, transformation, and commitment to service. Brian's unprecedented support and his irrefutable evidence of redemption are precisely the circumstances for which clemency is designed. Allowing Brian to be executed despite this truth is devastating," the attorney added.

However, opinions within the family are divided. While some family members advocate for Dorsey's clemency, others argue against it, emphasizing the tragedy of the couple's daughter growing up without her parents.

READ NEXT: Missouri Governor Denies Mercy Plea for 2002 Child Murderer's Execution

Details of the Crime and Legal Challenges

The Missouri death row inmate, scheduled for execution at Potosi Correctional Center, was convicted of shooting his cousin Sarah Bonnie and her husband Ben Bonnie in their bed.

The couple had offered Brian Dorsey refuge due to threats from drug dealers, according to the Washington Post.

Prosecutors allege that Dorsey, in a drug-induced state, committed the murders to repay his drug debt. Subsequently, Dorsey turned himself in and cooperated with the authorities.

Key legal challenges raised by Dorsey's advocates include claims of ineffective legal representation and a flawed guilty plea process.

His original attorneys, who paid a flat fee, failed to present crucial evidence regarding Dorsey's mental state and struggles with mental health.

Additionally, the plea deal negotiated by his attorneys lacked assurances about his sentence, raising concerns about the fairness of the legal process.

Last-Minute Settlement and Execution

Over the weekend, the Missouri death row inmate's attorneys reached a settlement with the state regarding execution protocols, particularly concerning potential difficulties in administering lethal injection due to Dorsey's medical conditions, The Independent noted.

Despite concerns over the execution process, Dorsey's fate remains uncertain.

Barring any last-minute interventions, Brian Dorsey is set to be executed via lethal injection at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic, and Correctional Center prison.

Missouri, known for its high execution rate, has executed 97 people since 1976, making it one of the leading states in capital punishment.

Last year alone, Missouri executed four individuals, highlighting the urgency and gravity of Dorsey's case as his execution looms.

READ MORE: Florida Bar Fight Turns Deadly: Gunman and Another Killed, 7 Injured

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Missouri governor denies clemency for man scheduled for execution on Tuesday - From KMBC 9
A 27-year-old woman was struck by oncoming traffic near her disabled vehicle along Interstate 80 in Hardwick Township, state police said.

The crash happened shortly before 8:30 a.m. Monday at mile post 0.3 in the eastbound lanes, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron told lehighvalleylive.com.

Valdaishi Simpkins, of Irvington, New Jersey was near her disabled vehicle along the right shoulder of the highway when a tractor-trailer heading east, entered the shoulder and struck her, Lebron said.

Simpkins later died from injuries.

The crash remains under investigation by New Jersey State Police.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
The Northampton County Coroners Office identified a motorist killed in a crash involving a dump truck Tuesday morning in Lehigh Township.

Lincoln P. Brown, 52, of Selinsgrove in Pennsylvanias Snyder County died from his injuries in the crash, Coroner Zachary Lysek said. The death was ruled an accident.

Brown was the driver of the tri-axle dump truck involved in the crash, Lysek said. Brown was driving south along Route 145 when the crash occurred, according to the coroner.

A county 911 dispatch supervisor earlier Tuesday confirmed the crash occurred just after 6:30 a.m. at Mulberry Drive, just south of Walnutport, and also involved a passenger vehicle.

Additional details on the crash were not immediately available, including whether anyone else was injured.

Authorities closed Route 145 for the crash response and investigation. It was reopened about 11:40 a.m., an emergency radio broadcast indicated.

The crash was one of three incidents in which motorists died between Monday and Tuesday mornings in the Lehigh Valley region.

About 8:30 a.m. Monday, Valdaishi Simpkins, 27, of Irvington, New Jersey, was near her disabled vehicle along the right shoulder of Interstate 80 in Hardwick Township, Warren County, when an eastbound tractor-trailer entered the shoulder, struck and fatally injured her, according to New Jersey State Police.

A 15-year-old pedestrian identified as Emmanuel Gboyah, of Allentown, was struck by a vehicle and killed about 8:30 p.m. Monday at MacArthur Road (Route 145) and Mickley Road in Whitehall Township, authorities said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
New Jerseys attorney general forced out the top prosecutor in Warren County after a lengthy probe found his office lied about insurance case work to pad its budget with state money meant for fraud investigations, according to a newly released state report that cites secret recordings.

In a surprise move Friday, state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said he was installing a top deputy as acting prosecutor to replace James Pfeiffer, who had run the office since 2019 but was resigning effective immediately.

Platkin provided no reason for the move besides an unspecified misconduct probe, but a report released by the Attorney Generals office Monday evening shed light on the circumstances of Pfeiffers ouster.
Laois councillors have dismissed as crap a correspondence from Uisce Eireann in which claims that the company declined to meet with public representatives but committed to strengthening its engagement with politicians.

The State-owned utility, formerly Irish Water, wrote the councillors after they asked that the company to attend a meeting in Laois County Council to explain how it would to solve a long-running problem in Ballybrittas.

Many of the houses in the village are not connected to the wastewater network and Irish Water has not committed to addressing the issue flagged by councillors and the community for years.

The reply was read to councillors at a recent meeting of the Graiguecullen Portarlington Municipal District.

We are unable to attend but we welcome any queries you have through our local support desk. As service continuity is an Uisce Eireann priority, how we engage with electoral representatives is a key focus for our team.

To ensure speedy responses, Uisce Eireann provides dedicated support desks as well as councillor clinics and workshops to support elected representative engagement.

It is always Uisce Eireanns intention to provide active and timely responses to any queries raised by elected representatives as well as customers. We are however cognisant of the need to continually strengthen engagement.

Uisce Eireann has started a review of how it engages with local authorities including local representatives. As part of this review will be consulting with various interested stakeholders including elected members through the AILG and LAMA on any draft proposals.

Pending the outcome of the engagement review, we will continue to engage with elected representatives through existing various channels and forums including the representative support deskOur regional communication team provides regular updates to elected representatives concerned and operates in this area via press releases and outreach.

Uisce Eirean would like to thank the elected members of Laois for their support and reiterated their commitment on ensuring they are kept informed on developments and investments across the county and we welcome any queries, it said.

The letter concluded by assuring councillors that Uisce Eireann intends to provide accurate and up-to-date responses to any queries raised as quickly as possible.

Cllr PJ Kelly, Fine Gael, was the first to reply as he instigated the invite to the utility to meet with councillors. He took the reply as a refusal to engage.

So really what it says was we will do our level best to avoid yee at all costs, he said.

Cllr Aidan Mullins, Sinn Fein, was equally dismissive.

Id love to know how much they paid to a PR company to write that. Absolute crap repeated over and over thats what it was. At the end of they day all they were saying was were not coming to be answerable to you guys, he said.

Cllr Aisling Moran, independent, called the communication an absolute disgrace and wanted to know why they declined to attend a meeting.

While, Cllr Paschal McEvoy, Fianna Fail, said Irish Water was separate utility and so could not be forced to meet, Cllr Moran said it was funded with public money.

Public money pays them and they should be answerable to councillors, TDs and Senators, she said.

Cllr Ben Brennan, Independent, was also irate with Uisce Eireannns correspondence.

Thats the greatest load of crap he had heard in my life, he said.

He said the company is drawing water to the reservoir in Wolfhill which has virtually no water while they have installed infrastructure nearby that could solve the problem.


Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin has said formal recognition of Palestine by Ireland will happen.

Speaking in the Dail parliament, Micheal Martin said he was bringing a formal proposal on the recognition of Palestinian statehood to Government.

The Irish Government had previously said it was working with other European countries on a joint declaration of recognition for Palestine.

On Tuesday, Mr Martin said: For the past six months, Ive maintained ongoing discussions with ministerial colleagues and other countries about how a joint formal recognition of Palestinian statehood could be a catalyst to help the people of Gaza and the West Bank, and in furthering an Arab-led peace initiative.

Weve agreed that the undermining of the Oslo Accords and therefore the agreement to create two states has reached the point where the accords approach with recognition after a final agreement is not credible or tenable any longer.

Ive discussed this with those in the region who are working on peace initiatives and co-ordination with other countries continues intensively.

Weve discussed this between the government parties and it is my intention to bring to Government a formal proposal on recognition when these wider international discussions are complete.

Mr Martin, who is also Irish foreign minister, added: But be in no doubt, recognition of a Palestinian state will happen.

He was speaking following a Cabinet reshuffle by new Taoiseach Simon Harris.

Outlining his own priorities, Mr Martin said there was a desperate overwhelming need to return some hope to Gaza.

While saying he was realistic about the limits of what Ireland could reasonably be expected to achieve by itself, the minister said the Irish Governments position has been widely acknowledged and appreciated.

Mr Martin noted that Ireland had defended the work of UNWRA, increased humanitarian aid to Gaza and decided to intervene in the ICJ case filed by South Africa.

He said: I have said very directly and in person to the Israeli government that the shocking crimes of Hamas and the need to secure the release of the hostages cannot justify the scale and terrible humanitarian catastrophe of the war it is waging.

I am in no doubt that war crimes have been committed and I utterly condemn the ongoing bombardment of the Gazan people.

I have ensured that we worked on behalf of the victims of this terrible war  the hostages and the people of Gaza.

Mr Martin said he had taken an approach of building international alliances through direct diplomacy, rather than angry speeches and unilateral action.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Irelands recognition of Palestinian statehood should happen now.

She said: Taoiseach, I also want to put it to you that you put your money where your mouth is on the issue of Palestine.

The Israeli slaughter and war crimes in Gaza continue as we speak  they are broadcast live.

And words are not enough, condemnation is not enough. Action is needed.

So recognition of the state of Palestine has to happen now. Why the delay? Why the equivocation? Its long past time that this was done.

She also called on the Government to implement the Occupied Territories Bill, which would prohibit trade and economic co-operation in illegal settlements deemed occupied under international law.
The Parents Council of St. Marys College Naas have announced details of its inaugural Pop-Up 5k Run and 2k Walk; where monies raised from the event will go towards the students attending the College.

The Council has organised this fund-raising event to be held at Naas Racecourse where the 5km Run starts at 12:00pm and the 2km Walk will kick off from 2:00 pm on the 20th of April next.

The Parents Council have organised for Pop-Up Races to attend the event, where participants can experience personal achievement from having their running or walking times professionally recorded, and if not for you, otherwise enjoy the country surrounds of Naas Racecourse in the company of friends and family.

This is the first Pop-Up event the Parents Council has organised on behalf of the school. According to Gavan Dunne, Chairperson for the Council, the Council wanted to organise an event where students, their families and the wider community could participate together, benefiting from the positives of sport and exercise, irrespective of competition or performance.

Funds raised from the event will contribute to the Parents Councils ongoing support of the students attending St. Marys College Naas. Ongoing support includes the funding of sporting facilities and equipment; online educational resources, professional speakers, student driven initiatives in the areas of art, drama and science.

The event has been generously supported by local business, including the Queally Group, Volvo Commercials and Irish Dog Foods.

Julianne McElligott, Public Relations Officer, explains we are looking forward to having as many participants as possible on the day, however, people can support the even remotely by clicking on PopUpRaces.Com and joining the event virtually. We already have virtual entries from London, even San Francisco not to mention Clane!!

Look out for the entry QR Codes displayed across Naas town, or on social media, in particular St. Marys College website, social media pages or visit www.popupraces.com directly.

For Further Information Contact: Jullianne McElligott: 045 879 634 or parentscouncil@smcn.ie.
Simon Harris, a social media-savvy politician who was inspired to get into politics after his brothers autism diagnosis, has become Irelands youngest premier.

Mr Harris was formally sworn in at the President of Irelands official residence on Tuesday afternoon after the Irish parliaments lower house approved his nomination.

Today I accept this new role in a spirit of humility, ready for the challenge, and full of energy and determination about what can be achieved, he told parliamentarians.

The 37-year-old father of two has been described by Fine Gael colleagues as energetic, a great communicator and as having a vision for Ireland that is about equality of opportunity.

Already dubbed the TikTok Taoiseach, the personable politician is well-versed on social media sites and has been at the helm of three departments over an eight-year period.

His visibility during his tenure as justice minister  covering for Helen McEntee while she was on maternity leave  fuelled speculation about his interest in a leadership bid for the so-called law and order party.

The former student of journalism at Dublin Institute of Technology has gone from writing headlines to being propelled into them.

As a young boy growing up in the seaside town of Greystones in Co Wicklow, he is reported to have said he wanted to be taoiseach  though his mother said he had also considered being a vet at one stage.

Mr Harris has said his political story began after his younger brother Adam was diagnosed with autism when Mr Harris was eight years old.

Describing himself as an opinionated teenager, he said he became an activist accidentally through campaigning for better information and services, which included sending faxes to local papers and calling public meetings in the local church hall.

He said that his family did not have a political lineage but that the first politician they knew was the former Fianna Fail TD for Wicklow Dick Roche, for whom they distributed leaflets.

But former taoiseach and ex-Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny convinced Mr Harris to join his party.

After cutting his political teeth as an assistant to former justice minister Frances Fitzgerald when she was a senator, and then working as a councillor, he was elected to the Irish parliament as its youngest TD in 2011, aged 24.

His maiden speech in the Dail was to nominate Mr Kenny as taoiseach.

He served as a junior minister in the Department of Finance from 2014 before being propelled to the role of minister for health in the Fine Gael-led minority government that was formed in 2016.

Known as one of the most difficult Irish ministries, Mr Harris faced issues such as the ownership of the National Maternity Hospital, the spiralling cost of the National Childrens Hospital and a controversy around Irelands cervical cancer screening programme.

After the Irish public voted to liberalise its abortion laws in a 2018 referendum, Mr Harris was praised by campaigners as a strong voice for the Yes campaign.

In the February 2020 general election, he was returned on the 15th count and remained as a caretaker health minister.

In the first few months of the Covid-19 pandemic, he urged people to wear face coverings and adhere to new rules, but was criticised for an absence of planning for nursing homes.

After incorrectly saying during a radio interview that Covid-19 meant there were 18 other coronaviruses, he recorded an Instagram live video in which he apologised and said he was an awful old idiot at times.

In the three-party coalition government, he became minister at the newly formed Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

As higher education minister, he toured the country opening and speaking at educational institutions, and during his brief stint as justice minister he traversed bogs with families of the Disappeared.

During his inaugural speech as Fine Gael leader at the partys annual conference last weekend, he told delegates his key priorities were housing, law and order and support for small businesses.

He also addressed recent tensions in Ireland over increased immigration rates, as he pledged to oversee a fair but firm system to manage migration into the country.

Mr Harris also spoke about his his wife Caoimhe, a nurse, and their young children Saoirse and Cillian, who were present in the Dail to watch him become Taoiseach.

His mother Mary, a retired special needs assistant, his father Bart, a taxi driver, his brother Adam, the chief executive of the autism charity AsIAm and his sister Gemma were also in attendance.

Mr Harris also used his speech to issue a blunt message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Ireland was repulsed by his actions.

As Taoiseach, he will take Leo Varadkars old title as the youngest-ever Irish premier.
Kildare County Councils Local Enterprise Office celebrated Local Enterprise Week from March 4 to 9 with a series of events, talks and workshops to support businesses in the region.

World renowned natural history and environmental broadcaster, Liz Bonnin, addressed hundreds of businesses in the Riverbank Theatre in Newbridge and via national live stream to focus on the sustainability imperative for business success.

The event focused on how sustainability is becoming a bigger and bigger factor in business survival and was led by Kildare County Councils Local Enterprise Office with the goal of demonstrating to local businesses that small changes in your business can make a big impact, and most importantly how you can start.

The economic viability of reducing environmental footprint, is often at the forefront of business owners minds.

Speaking to the businesses at the event, Liz outlined the possibility to design an economy that allows businesses and the environment to thrive.

She said: How many benefits can we generate in the way we manufacture a product? What else can it give back to the living systems of which we are a part, and that we rely on for our very survival?

How can all business sectors work together to use resources again and again to create an ecosystem of resource use? Without our planet thriving, we cannot thrive.

Liz also shared some very practical tips that business owners and citizens alike could implement straight away that have significant impact:

Stop using takeaway cups!

Buy energy only from suppliers who generate their supply from 100% renewable resources.

Move your savings, pension or investments into funds that are not investing in fossil fuel or petrochemical industries.

Invest in reusable bags and leave packaging at the supermarket till.

Encouraging the business community in Kildare to work with the Local Enterprise Office on their sustainability journey, head of enterprise and economic development, Jacqui McNabb said: Moving towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy is a journey which presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Irish businesses.

Organisations now need to develop a sustainability plan, covering everything from resource efficiency to supply chain, to adapt to this ambition to transition to a low-carbon, circular economy.

The Local Enterprise can assist on this journey with fully funded sustainability consultancy support and access to the new energy efficiency grant.

Speaking at the same event was Ronan Murphy of Vision Green Consultancy, who work with many small business owners on developing a greener policy can offer many benefits to your business.

Businesses can apply to their local enterprise office for two days of mentoring with a specialist green consultant like Ronan  this will include recommendations on specific changes which your business can implement.

There are a number of supports available to businesses in Kildare who are looking to begin their sustainability journey.

Green for business is a FREE programme that helps small businesses take the first step towards becoming more sustainable, giving you access to a green consultant wholl show you the small changes that can have a big impact on your company and the world around you.

The energy efficiency grant supports the investment in technologies and equipment identified in a green for micro report, GreenStart Report or a SEAI Energy Audit with 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum grant of 8,000.

The aim of the scheme is to reduce the impact of enterprises on the environment thereby increasing the agility and resilience of these businesses.

Enterprise Europe network (EEN) provides access to specialised business advisors with expertise in sustainability. They can help you identify the best ways to benefit from a more sustainable business model.

Based on a thorough assessment of the needs and challenges of your company they provide tailored advice and tap into EENs vast potential to find innovation partners, new green technologies, and market opportunities for sustainable solutions.

The EEN services in Ireland are delivered by the Local Enterprise Offices.

Speaking after the event, Kathleen Scully, vacuum and pressure services based in Clane, said:Lizs contribution was very thought provoking and inspirational.

Once again the 'ball' is in our court, we have started our sustainability journey and we want to continue to make a difference, but none of this would be possible without the help and support of Local Enterprise Office Kildare.

Were looking forward to continuing our journey of learning, inspiration and inclusion in the coming months.

To take the first or next step on your business sustainability journey contact the Local Enterprise Office via 045 980838 / localenterprise@kildarecoco.ie
Mullen Group Ltd. 2024 First Quarter Earnings Conference Call and Webcast





OKOTOKS, AB, April 8, 2024 /CNW/ - (TSX: MTL) Mullen Group Ltd. ("Mullen Group" and/or the "Corporation") intends to release its 2024 First Quarter earnings results on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 6:00 a.m. ET, and has scheduled a conference call and webcast as follows:

Date: April 25, 2024 Time: 10:00 a.m. ET Pre-Registration: registration link

Upon registering, you will receive a calendar booking by email with dial in details and a unique PIN. This process will bypass the operator and avoid the queue. Registration will remain open until the end of the conference call.



Dial-in: 1-800-319-4610 (for participants in North America)

416-915-3239 (Toronto or Overseas participants)

403-351-0324 (Calgary or Overseas participants) Webcast: www.mullen-group.com Replay: Two weeks until May 9, 2024, by dialing 1-855-669-9658 or 604-674-8052, access code 0808 followed by the pound sign.

About Mullen Group Ltd.

Mullen Group is one of Canada's largest logistics providers. Our network of independently operated businesses provide a wide range of service offerings including less-than-truckload, truckload, warehousing, logistics, transload, oversized, third-party logistics and specialized hauling transportation. In addition, we provide a diverse set of specialized services related to the energy, mining, forestry and construction industries in western Canada, including water management, fluid hauling and environmental reclamation. The corporate office provides the capital and financial expertise, legal support, technology and systems support, shared services and strategic planning to its independent businesses.

Mullen Group is a publicly traded corporation listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "MTL". Additional information is available on our website at www.mullen-group.com or on the Corporation's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Contact Information

Mr. Murray K. Mullen - Chair, Senior Executive Officer and President

Mr. Richard J. Maloney - Senior Operating Officer

Mr. Carson P. Urlacher - Senior Accounting Officer

Ms. Joanna K. Scott - Senior Corporate Officer

121A - 31 Southridge Drive

Okotoks, Alberta, Canada T1S 2N3

Telephone: 403-995-5200

Fax: 403-995-5296

SOURCE Mullen Group Ltd.

8 april 2024 at 17:02

News published onand distributed by:
Hydrogen Pipeline Market Projected to Reach $27.43 billion by 2030 - Exclusive Report by 360iResearch





PUNE, India, April 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report titled "Hydrogen Pipeline Market by Type (Fixed Pipelines, Mobile Pipelines), Pipeline Material (Metallic, Non-metallic), Distance, Installation Type - Global Forecast 2024-2030" is now available on 360iResearch.com's offering, presents an analysis indicating that the market projected to grow from a size of $9.90 billion in 2023 to reach $27.43 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 15.66% over the forecast period.

" Global Hydrogen Pipeline Networks Fuel the Clean Energy Revolution Bridging Production and Demand across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific "

The global market for hydrogen pipelines emerges as a major force in the clean energy transition, facilitating the seamless transport of hydrogen gas to meet varied industrial and energy sector needs. These pipelines support essential industries and pave the way for advancements in fuel cell technologies, providing the backbone for a cleaner future. Regions such as the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific are at the forefront, driven by government support, technological breakthroughs, and the unified goal of achieving zero-emission targets with a focus on reducing carbon footprints. The Americas are witnessing a surge in demand for both traditional and green hydrogen, fueled by high-level initiatives and renewable resources, particularly in the U.S. and emerging in South America. Europe's stringent emission standards and cohesive strategies, such as the European Hydrogen Backbone, demonstrate a strong commitment to establishing a vast hydrogen network, while the Asia-Pacific region is growing, owing to ambitious hydrogen programs and industrial expansion. Challenges include the high costs of infrastructure and the need for international standards, technological innovations, and opportunities, including strategic investments that are paving the way for overcoming obstacles.

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" Pioneering the Clean Energy Revolution With The Rise of Hydrogen in Decarbonizing the Future "

Decarbonization is increasingly crucial, which has sparked a dynamic shift toward embracing low-carbon technologies and reinforcing legal frameworks to diminish reliance on fossil fuels. The emergence of hydrogen, especially its green variant, is a crucial player in powering industries and transportation methods that are traditionally harder to shift to electric power. Advances in clean energy generation technologies have generated solar, wind, and hydropower as major elements of renewable energy, and hydrogen is positioned as a groundbreaking solution for efficient energy storage and distribution due to its high energy content and clean combustion. The creation of a hydrogen economy is further catalyzed by significant investments in hydrogen pipeline development and pilot projects, laying the groundwork for its expanded use. Integral to this shift are global and local initiatives, including Canada's Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program, France's Green Growth Coalition, the Clean Energy Ministerial, India's National Bioenergy Programme, and the Africa Clean Energy Corridor. These efforts underscore the collective ambition to replace traditional energy sources with cleaner, sustainable, and economically feasible alternatives, marking a definitive step towards a sustainable, resilient energy landscape.

" The Dual Role of Mobile and Fixed Hydrogen Pipelines in Meeting Global Demand "

In the evolving landscape of hydrogen transportation, two distinct approaches, fixed and mobile pipelines, are paving the way to ensure a consistent hydrogen supply, catering to diverse global demand scenarios. Fixed pipelines, constructed with durable materials to withstand hydrogen's specific needs, offer a reliable solution for efficiently transporting large volumes of hydrogen across established paths, benefiting sectors with constant high demand. Mobile pipelines, encompassing transportable high-pressure vessels, provide unmatched flexibility and accessibility, which is especially crucial for remote areas or regions yet to develop fixed infrastructure. This method shines in scenarios requiring quick scalability and lower upfront costs, making it indispensable for areas with variable hydrogen needs or in the early stages of market development. As the world is inclined toward decentralized energy sources, including sustainably produced hydrogen, the synergy between fixed and mobile pipeline systems plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between production sites and end-users, ensuring a resilient and adaptable hydrogen supply chain.

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" Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. at the Forefront of Hydrogen Pipeline Market with a Strong 9.47% Market Share "

The key players in the Hydrogen Pipeline Market include Linde PLC, L'Air Liquide S.A, N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Open Grid Europe GmbH, and others. These prominent players focus on strategies such as expansions, acquisitions, joint ventures, and developing new products to strengthen their market positions.

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We proudly unveil ThinkMi, a cutting-edge AI product designed to transform how businesses interact with the Hydrogen Pipeline Market. ThinkMi stands out as your premier market intelligence partner, delivering unparalleled insights with the power of artificial intelligence. Whether deciphering market trends or offering actionable intelligence, ThinkMi is engineered to provide precise, relevant answers to your most critical business questions. This revolutionary tool is more than just an information source; it's a strategic asset that empowers your decision-making with up-to-the-minute data, ensuring you stay ahead in the fiercely competitive Hydrogen Pipeline Market. Embrace the future of market analysis with ThinkMi, where informed decisions lead to remarkable growth.

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" Dive into the Hydrogen Pipeline Market Landscape: Explore 193 Pages of Insights, 544 Tables, and 24 Figures "

Preface Research Methodology Executive Summary Market Overview Market Insights Hydrogen Pipeline Market, by Type Hydrogen Pipeline Market, by Pipeline Material Hydrogen Pipeline Market, by Distance Hydrogen Pipeline Market, by Installation Type Americas Hydrogen Pipeline Market Asia-Pacific Hydrogen Pipeline Market Europe , Middle East & Africa Hydrogen Pipeline Market Competitive Landscape Competitive Portfolio

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Related Reports:

About 360iResearch

Founded in 2017, 360iResearch is a market research and business consulting company headquartered in India, with clients and focus markets spanning the globe.

We are a dynamic, nimble company that believes in carving ambitious, purposeful goals and achieving them with the backing of our greatest asset ? our people.

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8 april 2024 at 22:03

News published onand distributed by:
Darktrace Transforms Security Operations and Improves Cyber Resilience with Launch of Darktrace ActiveAI Security Platformtm





New innovations in Darktrace ActiveAI Security Platform provide more complete visibility across the enterprise to eliminate alert fatigue and illuminate security gaps freeing security teams' to proactively improve cyber resilience.

Platform launches in an era of increasing AI-augmented threats, with new research finding that 74% of security professionals believe these threats are already having an impact, but 60% report their organization is unprepared.

CAMBRIDGE, England, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Darktrace, a global leader in cybersecurity AI, today introduced the Darktrace ActiveAI Security Platformtm. The platform includes Darktrace's existing best-in-class security products supplemented by a set of new industry-first innovations and features, including for email and operational technology (OT). The platform uses AI to transform security operations from reactive to proactive and improve cyber resilience. To uplift human security analysts, the platform identifies weaknesses in security controls and processes before they are exploited, detects and responds to unknown, known, and novel threats, and automates the investigation of every alert to completion to reduce the manual triage process. Core to the platform is the ability to visualize, correlate, and investigate security incidents across cloud, email, network, endpoint, identity, and OT, as well as third-party tools and applications.

"At Capital Brands, we have a small team so maximizing our technology investments is crucial to ensure we are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible," said Peter Huh, CIO & CTO, Capital Brands, which develops and sells domestic appliances with a focus on wellness nutrition to households in over 100 markets worldwide. "Darktrace's platform acts as a force multiplier for us, allowing our team to move away from the purely reactive nature of cybersecurity ? which often leaves security teams one step behind ? to a more proactive state. We gain a deep understanding of our environment that helps us prioritize in a way we haven't been able to in the past. We can automatically identify vulnerabilities so we can quickly remediate the things that matter and deprioritize the things that don't."

"Security teams are reaching a breaking point, forced into a reactive state by too many alerts, too little time, and a fragmented security stack," said Max Heinemeyer, Chief Product Officer, Darktrace. "Building on a decade of experience applying AI to transform security operations for thousands of customers, the Darktrace ActiveAI Security Platform takes a unique approach from the rest of the industry. It correlates incidents across the digital environment and automates investigations to uplift security teams and free them from the manual, time-intensive alert triage process so they can focus their time on building proactive cyber resilience."

New Report Finds Lack of Cyber Preparedness in an AI-Threatened World

AI is beginning to amplify the already complex threats faced by cyber security professionals. The rise of offensive AI combined with automation and cybercrime-as-a-service is increasing the speed, sophistication, and success of cyber security attacks. Multi-stage and multi-domain attacks are now widely used by adversaries, who take advantage of a lack of visibility and siloes to move undetected between systems.

A new Darktrace-commissioned report released today underscores the challenges facing businesses in this rapidly evolving cyber-threat landscape. Darktrace's State of AI Cybersecurity 2024 report, which surveyed nearly 1,800 security leaders and practitioners in 14 countries, found 74 percent of respondents believe AI-augmented cyber threats are already having a significant impact on their organizations, yet 60 percent believe they are currently unprepared to defend against these attacks. The AI Cybersecurity report also found:

Organizations face two top inhibitors to defending against AI-augmented threats: insufficient knowledge or use of AI-driven countermeasures [1] and insufficient personnel to manage tools and alerts [2] .

and insufficient personnel to manage tools and alerts . Security professionals surveyed believe defensive AI will effectively counter offensive AI, with 71 percent of respondents indicating they are confident that AI-augmented security solutions will be able to detect and block AI-augmented threats. However, only 26 percent fully understand which types of AI are used in their security stack today.

As they prepare for these threats, security teams want to consolidate their tools. 85 percent of those surveyed agreed that a platform approach is more effective at stopping threats.

Introducing the Darktrace ActiveAI Security Platform

Against this backdrop, Darktrace is introducing the Darktrace ActiveAI Security Platform to help organizations transform their security operations from a focus on reactive threat detection to proactive cyber resilience. The platform includes Darktrace's core detection and autonomous response capabilities with pre-breach prevention, attack simulation and recovery capabilities in a single, holistic solution with a common AI architecture. The platform enables teams to visualize and correlate events across a broad set of domains including cloud, email, endpoint, identity, network, and OT environments.

The platform is built on Darktrace's Self-Learning AI engine, which directly applies multiple types of Al to the data of each business so that it can continuously learn from its unique digital environment to understand what is normal and what is not. Darktrace's AI detects known, unknown, and novel threats in real-time and provides an autonomous response that contains active threats without disrupting business operations.

New features and innovations unveiled today in the Darktrace ActiveAI Security Platform include:

More explainable, automated, and customizable investigations for all alerts: Darktrace Cyber AI Analysttm will now reveal the results of its investigations for every security alert, rather than just those escalated to an incident. This helps security analysts understand how the AI reached its conclusion that escalation wasn't required. Cyber AI Analyst also can now be customized to perform investigations that are tailored to each business's unique needs. For example, it can investigate activity surrounding a threat intelligence finding from a 3rd party alert for evidence of a cyber incident or investigate activity surrounding violations of a company-specific compliance policy for evidence of an insider threat. Cyber AI Analyst was first introduced in 2019 and uses AI trained to mirror how human security analysts conduct investigations. Unique in the industry, it automatically investigates every alert to completion and identifies precise response actions that can be taken autonomously to contain threats. Rather than security teams triaging a small portion of alerts, Cyber AI Analyst triages all of them. This helps to reduce alert fatigue and free up time for security teams, who can instead focus on proactively hardening their security controls and refining incident handling procedures.

Darktrace Cyber AI Analysttm will now reveal the results of its investigations for every security alert, rather than just those escalated to an incident. This helps security analysts understand how the AI reached its conclusion that escalation wasn't required. Cyber AI Analyst also can now be customized to perform investigations that are tailored to each business's unique needs. For example, it can investigate activity surrounding a threat intelligence finding from a 3rd party alert for evidence of a cyber incident or investigate activity surrounding violations of a company-specific compliance policy for evidence of an insider threat. Cyber AI Analyst was first introduced in 2019 and uses AI trained to mirror how human security analysts conduct investigations. Unique in the industry, it automatically investigates every alert to completion and identifies precise response actions that can be taken autonomously to contain threats. Rather than security teams triaging a small portion of alerts, Cyber AI Analyst triages all of them. This helps to reduce alert fatigue and free up time for security teams, who can instead focus on proactively hardening their security controls and refining incident handling procedures. Decryption: The platform will include new integrations with third-party network solutions to provide decrypted traffic feeds and decryption keys. It will also include native decryption for Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac applications, including internet browsers.

The platform will include new integrations with third-party network solutions to provide decrypted traffic feeds and decryption keys. It will also include native decryption for Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac applications, including internet browsers. New Firewall Rule Analysis to Pre-empt Threats: Darktrace PREVENT/End-to-Endtm, which provides pre-breach preparation, now includes the ability to analyze firewall rules, allowing it to provide a more comprehensive view of potential unauthorized traversal points or attack paths within IT, OT or in between, identifying risks in configuration and pre-empt threats.

Additionally, Darktrace will release enhancements to its best-in-class email and OT security solutions, which can be purchased as stand-alone products based on each organization's unique project needs.

Darktrace/Emailtm will include new features that use AI to stop early-stage phishing, spot early symptoms of account compromise across a broader range of communications and increase SOC efficiency. The new features include:

New data loss prevention capabilities that use AI to detect abnormal user behavior and changes to content beyond those offered by native email providers, helping teams identify the full spectrum of accidental and malicious data loss.

that use AI to detect abnormal user behavior and changes to content beyond those offered by native email providers, helping teams identify the full spectrum of accidental and malicious data loss. Coverage for Microsoft Teams to detect and stop novel, insider, and sophisticated early phishing threats often missed by other solutions, especially when communications span both collaboration and email tools.

to detect and stop novel, insider, and sophisticated early phishing threats often missed by other solutions, especially when communications span both collaboration and email tools. New Darktrace/DMARC creates an easy way to help protect an organization's brand with an industry first AI-assisted deployment of the Domain-based Message Authentication (DMARC) email authentication protocol to continuously stop others spoofing and phishing from a business's domain names.

brand with an industry first AI-assisted deployment of the Domain-based Message Authentication (DMARC) email authentication protocol to continuously stop others spoofing and phishing from a business's domain names. More robust account takeover protection that can now prevent lateral mail compromise with an addition to our AI behavioral profile for each user that spots early symptoms of account compromise and malicious insiders before a link or attachment payload is sent and exfiltration occurs.

with an addition to our AI behavioral profile for each user that spots early symptoms of account compromise and malicious insiders before a link or attachment payload is sent and exfiltration occurs. New Mailbox Security Assistant feature helps to reduce reporting of potential false positives by 60 percent [3] , which can help the security team save time on analysis. The feature provides end-users with a natural language summary and context of why an email may be malicious. This helps improve their knowledge and decrease the risk of successful phishing attempts.

, which can help the security team save time on analysis. The feature provides end-users with a natural language summary and context of why an email may be malicious. This helps improve their knowledge and decrease the risk of successful phishing attempts. New behavioral link analysis capabilities that can reveal hidden intent within interactive and dynamic webpages to help users and security teams detect more sophisticated malicious phishing links.

Darktrace/OTtm will include new capabilities that go beyond traditional Common Vulnerability and Exposure (CVE) scoring to help organizations identify, prioritize, mitigate, and continuously review the risks and potential attack paths that are specific to their OT infrastructure. In addition to identifying and prioritizing risks more effectively, Darktrace/OT can now evaluate each business's defenses against the tactics of Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) Groups. Darktrace/OT maps MITRE techniques and known threat groups tools, tactics, and procedures (TTPs) against unique attack paths identified within the business.

Availability

New features in the Darktrace ActiveAI Security Platform are expected to be available in early calendar Q2 2024.

Additional Resources

ABOUT DARKTRACE

Darktrace (DARK.L), a global leader in cybersecurity artificial intelligence, is on a mission to free the world from cyber disruption. Breakthrough innovations from our R&D teams in Cambridge, UK, and The Hague, Netherlands have resulted in over 175 patent applications filed. Rather than study historic attacks, Darktrace's technology continuously learns and updates its knowledge of your business data and applies that understanding to help transform security operations to a state of proactive cyber resilience. The Darktrace ActiveAI Security Platformtm provides a full lifecycle approach to cyber resilience that can autonomously spot and respond to known and unknown in progress threats within seconds across the entire organization, including cloud, apps, email, endpoint, network and operational technology (OT). Darktrace, which listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2021, employs over 2,300 people around the world and protects over 9,200 customers globally from advanced cyber threats. To learn more, visit http://www.darktrace.com.

[1] Rated 3.36 by respondents on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (extensively).

[2] Rated 3.35 by respondents on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (extensively).

[3] Based on internal Darktrace testing in February and March 2024, which evaluated the number of analyzed versus reported emails for users with the feature.

SOURCE Darktrace

9 april 2024 at 03:00

News published onand distributed by:
Avenue Code Named Google Cloud Services Partner of the Year for Brazil





For the fourth year running, Avenue Code, a global technology consulting company known for its excellence in digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) services, has been honored as a Google Cloud Services Partner of the Year, being named the 2024 Google Cloud Partner of the Year for Brazil. This recognition refers to the year 2023 and stands as a testament to Avenue Code's relentless commitment to providing outstanding transformative services to clients in Brazil.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- For the fourth year running, Avenue Code, a global technology consulting company known for its excellence in digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) services, has been honored as a Google Cloud Services Partner of the Year, being named the 2024 Google Cloud Partner of the Year for Brazil. This recognition refers to the year 2023 and stands as a testament to Avenue Code's relentless commitment to providing outstanding transformative services to clients in Brazil.

"Being named a Google Cloud Services Partner of the Year for the fourth year in a row reflects our team's persistent dedication and proficiency. We continue to be firmly devoted to supporting our clients' transformations using Google Cloud technology."

The award underscores Avenue Code's dedication to helping its clients utilize Google Cloud technology, sparking innovation, enhancing operational efficiency, and driving digital transformation. Google Cloud has acknowledged Avenue Code's outstanding services in Brazil, highlighting the company's consistent delivery of top-notch cloud-based solutions.

"We are extremely proud of this recognition," said Alexander Carvalho, Avenue Code's CEO Brazil. "Being named a Google Cloud Services Partner of the Year for the fourth year in a row reflects our team's persistent dedication and proficiency. We continue to be firmly devoted to supporting our clients' transformations using Google Cloud technology."

The Google Cloud Partner of the Year awards celebrate partners who have exceeded expectations in their dedication to Google Cloud customers. Avenue Code has consistently demonstrated this through its ability to foster innovation, drive customer success, and demonstrate industry leadership in the Latin American region.

"We look forward to strengthening our collaboration with Google Cloud," stated Carvalho. "Our mutual dedication to technology advancement fuels our vision for ongoing cooperation, innovation, and customer satisfaction."

Avenue Code's steadfast commitment to client success and expertise in Google Cloud technologies make it a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.

For more information on Avenue Code's transformative services and partnership with Google Cloud, visit http://www.avenuecode.com.

Media Contact

Milena Bandeira, Avenue Code, 55-11-96642-5015, [email protected], https://www.avenuecode.com/

SOURCE Avenue Code

9 april 2024 at 03:00

News published onand distributed by:
Leadec has assembled the 500,000th wheel for MAN





STUTTGART, Germany and GLIWICE, Poland, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leadec has assembled the 500,000th wheel for the MAN truck plant in Niepo?omice, Poland. It was handed over in a ceremony at the end of January and will be on display at the plant. Since August 2022, Leadec has taken over wheel and tire assembly for Europe's largest truck assembly plant.

"The 500,000th wheel is proof of the excellent cooperation with MAN in all areas, be it operations, quality, or logistics. My thanks go to the entire team, who do an outstanding job of delivering all the wheels to the plant just in time and just in sequence," says Przemys?aw Pendrowski, Managing Director Leadec Poland.

The wheels are assembled in an assembly shop in Kokotow, close to the plant in Niepo?omice. A 112-strong team assembles 40,000 wheels per month so that around 240 trucks can roll off the production line in 3-shift operation. Production is organized according to the MAN production sequence system, with a 24-hour buffer. Ten trucks deliver the fully assembled wheels to the plant every day, ready for immediate use in production.

Leadec has been operating in Poland since 1998, with sites in Gliwice, Polkowice and Poznan, and at the customers' plants. In addition to the wheel and tire services, the company focuses on automation solutions and installations, production equipment maintenance, technical facility management and cleaning. Besides having a strong footprint in the automotive industry, the service specialist is also operating in other sectors of the manufacturing industry, aerospace industry, and food industry.

About Leadec

Leadec is the leading global service specialist for factories across their entire life cycle and related infrastructure. The company, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, generated sales of EUR 1.24 billion and employed around 23,000 people worldwide in 2023. Leadec is based at more than 350 sites, often directly at the customers' plants and facilities, supporting them along the entire production supply chain with more than 60 years of experience.

Leadec's global services comprise: Engineer (Production Planning & Optimization, Automation and Production IT), Install (Electrical Installation, Mechanical Installation and Relocation), Maintain (Production Equipment Maintenance and Technical Cleaning), Support (Technical Facility Management, Infrastructural Facility Management and Logistics) as well as other local services. The digital business platform Leadec.os offers an end-to-end solution which digitizes all service processes across systems.

For more information about Leadec go to:

https://www.leadec-services.com

For more information about Leadec Poland go to:

https://poland.leadec-services.com

Contact for press and media

Dr. Marion Hebach

Head of Global Communications

Leadec Holding BV & Co. KG

Meitnerstrae 11

70563 Stuttgart

Germany

Tel. +49 711 78 41-174

[email protected]

www.leadec-services.com

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9 april 2024 at 04:00

News published onand distributed by:
Propel launches insurance product to protect Canadian consumers in partnership with leading insurance innovators Walnut and TGI





TORONTO, April 9, 2024 /CNW/ - Propel Holdings Inc. ("Propel") (TSX: PRL), the fintech facilitating access to credit for underserved consumers, operating under the Fora Credit brand in the Canadian marketplace, today announced its launch of Fora's Payment Protection Plan.

Fora's Payment Protection Plan is a digital credit insurance product offered in partnership with Walnut Insurance and underwritten by Trans Global Insurance and Trans Global Life Insurance Company ("TGI"). The program is now available in eight provinces across Canada.

This is the first insurance product offered under one of Propel's operating brands and gives Fora customers access to a compelling value proposition to safeguard against unexpected financial curveballs. The insurance benefits may cover a customer's balance payments to Fora in the case of events such as job loss, loss of life or critical illness.

"Fora's Payment Protection Plan offers our customer peace of mind, which reflects our broader mission of advancing the financial opportunity of underserved consumers. For Propel it also represents a new revenue stream in Canada and is part of our overall growth strategy of offering our existing customers complementary products aligned with Propel's core purpose," Noah Buchman, President & Chief Revenue Officer of Propel.

"Walnut is proud to help provide Fora borrowers with a new integrated feature, helping facilitate Fora's promise of a fully digital lending experience," said Derek Szeto, co-founder and CEO of Walnut. "With its new embedded payment protection option, Fora borrowers can acquire useful protection for their loan, at the click of a button."

"The Trans Global Insurance Group is proud to bring its best-in-class loan protection products to Fora's clients," says Moe Assaf, Vice President of Financial Services of LFL Group. "Fora's commitment to protect its clients fits perfectly with TGI's commitment to provide customer-focused solutions. We are very excited about this program launch."

About Propel

Propel Holdings (TSX: PRL) is the fintech company building a new world of financial opportunity for consumers, partners, and investors. Propel's operating brands ? Fora Credit, CreditFresh and MoneyKey ? and our Lending-as-a-Service product line facilitate access to credit for consumers underserved by traditional financial institutions. Through its groundbreaking AI-driven platform, Propel evaluates customers in a more comprehensive way than traditional credit scores can. The result is better products and an expanded credit market for consumers while creating sustainable, profitable growth for Propel. Our revolutionary fintech platform has already helped consumers access over one million loans and lines of credit and over one billion dollars in credit. At Propel, we are here to change the way customers, partners and investors succeed together. Learn more at www.propelholdings.com

(www.foracredit.ca, www.creditfresh.com, www.moneykey.com)

About Trans Global Insurance.

Trans Global Insurance Group ("TGI") is composed of Trans Global Insurance Company, a property and casualty company and Trans Global Life Insurance Company, a life insurance company, both wholly owned subsidiaries of Leon's Furniture Limited ("LFL Group"). TGI has been operating across Canada for over 25 years, with an industry leading suite of simple, affordable, and effective financial protection and insurance products. TGI is the exclusive provider of credit insurance for some of Canada's leading consumer finance companies and retailers. For more information about Trans Global Insurance, visit their website at: https://transglobalinsurance.ca/ .

About Walnut Insurance

Walnut is a Canadian and US insurtech that enables companies to unlock the insurance opportunity inside their brand in 30 days or less. Walnut is driven by the purpose that insurance buying should be digital first, simple, and convenient ? creating greater accessibility across life, home, renters, auto, and embedded product lines. Walnut currently offers more than 20 types of insurance, provided from dozens of leading carriers today. To learn more, visit www.gowalnut.com.

SOURCE Propel Holdings Inc.

9 april 2024 at 06:00

News published onand distributed by:
HLS Therapeutics to Present at the 2024 Bloom Burton & Co. Healthcare Investor Conference





TORONTO, April 9, 2024 /CNW/ - HLS Therapeutics Inc. (HLS or the Company) (TSX: HLS), a pharmaceutical company focusing on addressing unmet needs in the treatment of psychiatric disorders and cardiovascular disease, announces that Craig Millian, Chief Executive Officer, will present at the Bloom Burton & Co. Healthcare Investor Conference, which takes place April 16-17, 2024 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, in downtown Toronto.

Mr. Millian will present on April 17, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time and the presentation will be webcast at: https://wsw.com/webcast/bloomburton9/hls.to/3109536. Mr. Millian and John Hanna, Interim Chief Financial Officer, will also host one-on-one meetings with investors at the conference.

ABOUT HLS THERAPEUTICS INC.

Formed in 2015, HLS is a pharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition and commercialization of late-stage development, commercial stage promoted and established branded pharmaceutical products in the North American markets. HLS's focus is on products targeting unmet needs in the treatment of psychiatric disorders and cardiovascular disease. HLS's management team is composed of seasoned pharmaceutical executives with a strong track record of success in these therapeutic areas and at managing products in each of these lifecycle stages. For more information visit: www.hlstherapeutics.com

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

This release includes forward-looking statements regarding HLS and its business. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of HLS's management. In some cases the forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, including, among others, statements with respect to HLS's pursuit of additional product and pipeline opportunities in certain therapeutic markets, statements regarding growth opportunities, expectations regarding financial performance, and the NCIB and ASPP. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting HLS, including risks relating to the specialty pharmaceutical industry, risks related to the regulatory approval process, economic factors and many other factors beyond the control of HLS. 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 HLS's 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 statement or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. A discussion of the material risks and assumptions associated with this release can be found in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 13, 2024, and Management's Discussion and Analysis dated March 13, 2024, both of which have been filed on SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and HLS undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE HLS Therapeutics Inc.

9 april 2024 at 06:30

News published onand distributed by:
United Lithium Increases Ownership of Kietyonmaki Lithium Project in Finland to 100%





VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Lithium Corp. ("United Lithium" or the "Company") (CSE: ULTH; OTCQX: ULTHF; FWB: 0UL) is pleased to announce that it has increased its ownership in the Kietyonmaki Lithium Project ("Kietyonmaki" or the "Project") to 100% after acquiring Tammela Minerals Oy's ("Tammela") 16.4% minority interest in Litiumloydos Oy ("Litiumloydos"), the Finnish entity that holds the rights to the Project (the "Acquisition"). Tammela is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nortec Minerals Corp. ("Nortec").



As consideration for the Acquisition, the Company paid Nortec $200,000 in cash, in exchange for 490 common shares of Litiumloydos from Tammela, representing the 16.4% minority interest. As a condition of closing, all involved parties entered into a Deed of Variation for the purposes of removing Litiumloydos and United Lithium as parties to a joint venture agreement, extinguishing Tammela's right to any royalties on any future production at the Project.

United Lithium acquired its interest in Litiumloydos in early 2022 (see news release dated February 14, 2022) via a transaction with a consortium to purchase 83.6% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Litiumloydos, which holds a 100% interest in the licenses that comprise Kietyonmaki. Following the completion of this initial transaction, the Company expanded the Project by 535 hectares ("ha") (see news release September 14, 2022), bringing the total land package to 900 ha. In 2023, United Lithium acquired the new claim reservation over a new parcel located 6.1 km to the southeast of Kietyonmaki, referred to as Salkola, covering 20,170 ha, bringing the total size of the Finland portfolio to 21,070 ha (see news release dated October 12, 2023).

About the Kietyonmaki Lithium Project

Kietyonmaki is located in the Tammela mining region in southern Finland. The region is well-situated as it is close to rail, road and other infrastructure. The Tammela area is one of the best-known lithium-bearing pegmatite regions in Finland. Tammela is in the Hame volcanic belt that comprises volcanic rocks intercalated with minor greywackes and metamorphosed clay-rich sediments units which have been intruded by plutonic rocks and late-tectonic K-granites with associated pegmatite dykes.

Kietyonmaki was discovered by the Finnish Geological Survey ("GTK") in the mid-1980's. GTK drilled 17 shallow diamond drill holes testing to 70 meters ("m") below surface across three traverses, including one traverse of very shallow holes to locate bedrock. In 2016, six holes were drilled by Sunstone Metals Limited which intersected lithium mineralization hosted within a spodumene-bearing pegmatite dyke swarm. Since acquiring the Project, the Company has completed 1,450 m of drilling in 13 holes, primarily testing the lithium-bearing Main dyke.

Drilling highlights to date are:

1.53% Li 2 O over 23.00 m (hole R307) drilled by GTK 1 ;

O over 23.00 m (hole R307) drilled by GTK ; 1.31% Li 2 O over 24.25 m (hole R310) drill by GTK 1 ;

O over 24.25 m (hole R310) drill by GTK ; 1.44% Li 2 O over 24.17 m from 17.88 m downhole (KMDD001) drilled by previous operator 2 ;

O over 24.17 m from 17.88 m downhole (KMDD001) drilled by previous operator ; 1.52% Li 2 O over 25.95 m from 33.70 m depth downhole (ULDH-3) 3 and

O over 25.95 m from 33.70 m depth downhole (ULDH-3) and 1.45% Li2O over 29.50 m from 69.1 m depth downhole (ULDH-4)3.



The Main Dyke has now been drill-defined to be up to 25 m wide and more than 200 m length and confirmed to extend to at least 160 m depth below surface. This dyke is hosted in an assemblage comprising mica schists, metavolcanics and amphibolite gneiss with rare feldspar porphyry intrusives. Mica schists are altered to chlorite and biotite and commonly contain altered (to chlorite) andalusite and more rarely garnet. There is variable till cover (up to 3 m) and boulder occurrences are present across the Project.

Kietyonmaki has similarities geologically to the Kaustinen region of Finland, which hosts the Keliber Lithium Project ("Keliber"), owned 85% by Sibanye-Stillwater Corp. Keliber hosts an estimated 17 million tonnes at 1.02% Li 2 O in its mineral resource estimate, as disclosed in its October 2022 Definitive Feasibility Study4. Keliber is currently under construction with a targeted 15,000 tonnes per annum battery grade LiOH production capacity.

1 See Sunstone Metals Limited ASX news release dated September 12, 2016, and United Lithium news release dated October 12, 2023.

2 See Sunstone Metals Limited ASX news release dated September 12, 2016.

3 See United Lithium news release dated October 19, 2023.

4 Sibanye Stillwater Corp. corporate presentation on the Keliber Lithium Project, November 28, 2022.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release was reviewed, verified and approved by Isabelle Lepine, M.Sc., P.Geo. Ms. Lepine is a Registered Professional Geologist in British Columbia and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43- 101 Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects. Ms. Lepine is the Director of Mineral Resources of the Company and is not independent of the Company.

On Behalf of The Board of Directors

"Scott Eldridge"

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Telephone: +1-604-428-6128

Email: [email protected]

About United Lithium

United Lithium is an exploration & development company energized by the global demand for lithium. The Company is targeting lithium projects in politically safe jurisdictions with advanced infrastructure that allows for rapid and cost-effective exploration, development, and production opportunities.

The Company's consolidated financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis are available on the Company's website at https://unitedlithium.com or under its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

9 april 2024 at 07:00

News published onand distributed by:
GRAMMY-Nominated Artist Camila Cabello Debuts as the New Global Face of BACARDI Rum





The iconic rum brand has teamed up with the Cuban-American megastar for a new summer campaign, featuring music from her highly-anticipated new album

TORONTO, April 9, 2024 /CNW/ - BACARDI rum announces pop superstar Camila Cabello as the new face of the brand, kicking off a multi-year partnership under the BACARDI global Do What Moves You platform. In her first-ever spirits collaboration, the multihyphenate artist stars in a sensational campaign spot set to her new song "I LUV IT," now available on all major streaming platforms. This is the first single off her highly anticipated fourth album arriving this summer, C, XOXO.

"I'm beyond excited to be partnering with BACARDI. I've always thought of BACARDI as the quintessential rum brand," said Camila Cabello. "To me, BACARDI is synonymous with the spirit of the Caribbean and, of course, good cocktails and a great party. The campaign we worked on is unlike any project I've done before. I can't wait for fans to experience it."

The BACARDI campaign is a celebration of the vibrant spirit of Cabello's new music and the brand's longstanding passion for bringing together community through movement and self-expression. The creative was captured by director Nicolas Mendez, Co-Founder of CANADA and a go-to director for international hitmakers including Rosalia, Travis Scott, and Tame Impala. His cinematic and irreverent vision, developed in partnership with BBDO New York, features the popstar moving to the beat of her infectious new track. Soundwaves from the song begin to pulsate from the radio onto the street, and eventually culminate in a joyous, communal block party complete with BACARDI cocktails. The choreography was brought to life by Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, and Arthur Hare of (LA)HORDE, while Cabello's bold new looks were created in collaboration with celebrity stylist Jared Ellner, makeup artist Ash K Holm, hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos, and nail artist Tom Bachick.

The campaign celebrates Cabello's fresh-new sound and style, unlike anything fans have seen before. Beyond the new creative, BACARD? will continue to support the star through the release of her new album with a series of upcoming events and performances across the world, all featuring the I LUV IT Punch. Co-created by Cabello herself, the drink is a delicious twist on a classic rum punch, pairing BACARDI Superior with some of her favorite ingredients, including passion fruit, lime, coconut water and St. Germain.

"The BACARDI team is thrilled to partner with one of the biggest stars of today for our newest campaign," said Roberto Ramirez Laverde, Global SVP of BACARD? Rum. "Our shared Caribbean heritage and love of music are the driving forces behind this multifaceted global collaboration. Camila Cabello's electrifying energy matches perfectly with our brand DNA, which has always championed individuality and doing what moves you. This campaign is only the start?we can't wait for the world to see just how she embodies the spirit of BACARD?."

The campaign will air on global broadcast and be amplified through various social and online video channels, with additional support via out-of-home billboards and still imagery. C, XOXO will be released on global streaming platforms this summer. The full recipe for Cabello's I LUV IT Punch is below. Be sure to follow both @Bacardi and @Camilla_Cabello on Instagram to stay in the loop for more exciting campaign updates, or visit www.BACARDI.com.

I LUV IT Punch Recipe

2 oz BACARDI Superior rum

 oz St Germain liqueur

liqueur  oz Passion Fruit Nectar

 oz lime (juice of about half a lime)

1 oz coconut water

Lime wheel and toasted coconut flakes as garnish

Method: Build all ingredients into a rocks glass filled with cubed ice. Give a quick stir to combine. Garnish with a lime wheel and toasted coconut flakes.

About BACARDI Rum ? The World's Most Awarded Rum

In 1862, in the city of Santiago de Cuba, founder Don Facundo Bacardi Masso revolutionized the spirits industry when he created a light-bodied rum with a particularly smooth taste ? BACARDI. The unique taste of BACARDI rum inspired cocktail pioneers to invent some of the world's most famous recipes including the BACARDI Mojito, the BACARDI Daiquiri, the BACARDI Cuba Libre, the BACARDI Pina Colada and the BACARDI El Presidente. BACARDI rum is the world's most awarded spirit, with more than 800 awards for quality, taste and innovation. Today, BACARDI rum is made mainly in Puerto Rico where it is crafted to ensure the taste remains the same today as it did when it was first blended in 1862. www.bacardi.com



The BACARDI brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.



LIVE PASSIONATELY. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

2024. BACARDI AND THE BAT DEVICE ARE TRADEMARKS.

SOURCE BACARDI Canada

9 april 2024 at 07:00

News published onand distributed by:
Builders FirstSource to Host First Quarter 2024 Financial Results Conference Call and Webcast





Builders FirstSource, Inc. (NYSE: BLDR) ("Builders FirstSource" or the "Company") will host a conference call and webcast on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, to discuss the Company's financial results and other business matters. The teleconference will begin at 8:00 a.m. Central Time and will be hosted by Dave Rush, Chief Executive Officer, and Peter Jackson, Chief Financial Officer.

To participate in the teleconference, please dial into the call a few minutes before the start time at 800-274-8461 (U.S. and Canada) or 203-518-9814 (international), Conference ID: BLDRQ124. A replay of the call will be available at 12:00 p.m. Central Time through Tuesday, May 14, 2024. To access the replay, please dial 800-934-8293 (U.S. and Canada) or 402-220-6992 (international). The live webcast and archived replay can also be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at investors.bldr.com under the Events and Presentations section. The online archive of the webcast will be available for approximately 90 days.

About Builders FirstSource

Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Builders FirstSource is the largest U.S. supplier of building products, prefabricated components, and value-added services to the professional market segment for new residential construction and repair and remodeling. We provide customers an integrated homebuilding solution, offering manufacturing, supply, delivery, and installation of a full range of structural and related building products. We operate in 43 states with ~570 locations and have a market presence in 48 of the top 50 and 89 of the top 100 MSAs, providing geographic diversity and balanced end market exposure. We service customers from strategically located distribution and manufacturing facilities (some of which are co-located) that produce value-added products such as roof and floor trusses, wall panels, stairs, vinyl windows, custom millwork, and pre-hung doors. Builders FirstSource also distributes dimensional lumber and lumber sheet goods, millwork, windows, interior and exterior doors, and other specialty building products. www.bldr.com

9 april 2024 at 07:10

News published onand distributed by:
Factor Bioscience Expands Translational Science Team, Appoints Kyle Garland, Ph.D., as Director of Translational Science





CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Factor Bioscience Inc. ("Factor"), a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotechnology company developing advanced mRNA and cell-engineering technologies, today announced the addition of three members to its translational science team, which will be led by Kyle Garland, Ph.D., who joins Factor as Director of Translational Science.

"We are excited to welcome three talented scientific professionals."

"We are excited to welcome three talented scientific professionals to Factor," said Dr. Matt Angel, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Factor. "Dr. Garland, who is joined by Associate Scientists, Raven Hinkel and Elizabeth Belcher, has deep translational research expertise in mRNA and cell engineering. The addition of Kyle and his team will enhance Factor's ability to support our strategic partners and accelerate our efforts to translate our technologies to new products."

"Their collective experience spans many relevant fields of science, including synthetic mRNA, mRNA cell reprogramming, gene editing, cell manufacturing, immunoengineering, and nucleic acid formulation, among others," said Dr. Christopher Rohde, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer.

Dr. Garland added, "I firmly believe that Factor's extensive portfolio of foundational mRNA and cell-engineering technologies has the potential to revolutionize many areas of biotechnology research and development. I look forward to working with Drs. Angel and Rohde to deploy these powerful technologies through the development of new products."

Dr. Garland joins Factor from Eterna Therapeutics, where he headed the Department of Research and Development, managing the entire portfolio of preclinical programs and overseeing all operational aspects of the company's strategic collaborations. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemical Engineering from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Bioengineering from Lehigh University.

About Factor Bioscience

Factor Bioscience develops technologies for engineering cells to promote health and improve lives. For more information, visit www.factorbio.com.

SOURCE Factor Bioscience

9 april 2024 at 07:30

News published onand distributed by:
Penguin Random House Canada Introduces New Immersive Story Time App to Help Kids Tap Into the Magic of Reading





Penguin Random House Canada is proud to announce the launch of the early access web app, Living Stories, which aims to transform every bedtime story into an immersive experience. The app was developed to ignite children's love for books by leveraging the popularity of smart home technology to bring a multi-sensory experience to reading and cater to a digitally-native generation. By using predetermined cues that activate smart lights and sound effects, Living Stories connects with the sound of caregivers' voices while they're reading from a selection of physical books with their children.

Children are facing declines in their abilities in reading, according to recent reports. A 2023 study in the US unveiled that only 14 percent of students affirm that they read for fun every day. A study from the OECD shows that reading scores across the globe dropped critically by 10 points from 2018 to 2022, which equates to losing over half a year of learning.

Penguin Random House Canada's Living Stories web app

Penguin Random House Canada's Living Stories is a completely free and functional web app that brings to life children's books you read aloud with smart lights in your home and your smartphone speakers. For the launch of Living Stories, Penguin Random House Canada collaborated with creators Ben Clanton; Chris Hadfield and the Fan Brothers; Sharon Hampson, Lois Lilienstein, and Bram Morrison with Randi Hampson and Qin Leng; and Eija Sumner and Nici Gregory, to bring five children's books to the app's library: Bubbles; Blankie; The Darkest Dark; Sharon, Lois and Bram's Skinnamarink; and The Good Little Mermaid's Guide to Bedtime. When these books are read aloud, certain sentences and words trigger lights to change color and sounds to punctuate certain moments, making reading an even more immersive moment to propel engagement and learning.

"I've witnessed firsthand the startling drop in children's capabilities in reading books and how parents felt powerless towards that issue. I see the direct impact on kids' abilities to decode words, the richness of their vocabulary, the depth of their imagination, and even their mathematical skills," says Sarah Labbe, a special education teacher with nearly 10 years of experience in the field. "This initiative is an innovative and easy way for parents to help their little ones develop those essential skills for their development and spend precious moments with them using technology they grew up with."

"We are excited to launch Living Stories to bring a fun and interactive element to the cherished bedtime story experience kids love so much," says Beth Lockley, Vice-President, Marketing and Communications at Penguin Random House Canada. "Reading is so important for learning and to build empathy and awareness about the world around us?any way we can get kids reading and engaging with stories, especially by such beloved children's authors and illustrators, is absolutely essential."

How to enjoy Penguin Random House Canada's Living Stories experience

Step 1: On your mobile, visit penguinlivingstories.com and follow the onscreen instructions for the first-time setup guide.

On your mobile, visit penguinlivingstories.com and follow the onscreen instructions for the first-time setup guide. Step 2: Tap on the cover of the book you would like to read.

Tap on the cover of the book you would like to read. Step 3: Pick up the physical copy of the book and tap on Start Reading .

Pick up the physical copy of the book and tap on . Step 4: Set your phone by your side, and prepare your little one to enter a wonderful world of stories.

The current beta version of Living Stories has been developed through Philips open source software and is only accessible with a Philips Hue Bridge (main hub to control your light) and a compatible smart light bulb. Click here to see the full list.

To make reading a magical moment for kids, everyone is invited to visit penguinlivingstories.com. Penguin Random House Canada embarked on this journey to help further engage children in reading and hope to make Living Stories a fully-integrated app. Organizations interested in participating in the next chapters of Living Stories can reach out at [email protected].

To view Living Stories' launch video: Click here

About Penguin Random House Canada

Penguin Random House Canada aims to nourish a universal passion for reading by connecting authors and their writing with readers everywhere. The company publishes over 800 books in various formats each year in the North American market across nineteen distinct imprints, and distributes another 10,000 titles in Canada on behalf of Penguin Random House publishers in the US and the UK, and many clients. They have also developed their own internationally recognized Toronto-based audiobook program, and run an in-house recording studio. Visit penguinrandomhouse.ca for more information, and follow them at @PenguinRandomCA.

9 april 2024 at 08:30

News published onand distributed by:
Tom Sawyer is Back, and a Little Bit Older, in a New Adventure on the Mississippi River





He's joined by old friends Huckleberry Finn and Becky Thatcher in a search for pirate gold

HANNIBAL, Mo., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- After decades of silence, the beloved Mark Twain characters have returned for a brand-new adventure that leads to a life-or-death battle upon the mighty Mississippi River. Tom Sawyer, now a teenager, has discovered part of a treasure map that belonged to the infamous pirate, Red Beard, and realizes his longtime dream of finding treasure again might actually come true.

"Continuity is very important to me, and I wanted to make sure that everything lined up, including technology available at the time, ages of characters and regional dialects," said Joe. "I'm not Mark Twain, but I tried to write the story in a way that both honored and continued his legacy."

In "Tom Sawyer & the Treasure of the Dark Mystery," by Sebastian Joe, Tom is joined by his closest friends, Huckleberry Finn and Rebecca Thatcher, along with their classmate, Amy Lawrence and her older brother Andrew. The five embark on a quest to find the rest of the map and claim the treasure as their own. Along the way, they cross paths with the notorious cutthroat criminal, Dead Eye Dan. As their adventure intensifies, they meet actual members of Red Beard's crew, discover shocking secrets about their own families, and narrowly escape death's clutches on more than one occasion.

"In today's fast-paced, digital world, with so many flashy options of leisure and pastimes, I felt that we've often forgotten about the simpler times," said Joe. "To me, the world of Tom Sawyer provides a wonderful avenue to re-enter that time in our history."

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn were Joe's favorite books to read ever since he was a young child. When he was 13, he wasn't satisfied with how the story ended and challenged himself to write another sequel. While on vacation with his family, he started writing down the first draft of the story by hand. The plot has since been revised and updated numerous times and 16 years later, with the help of many, Joe finally had a completed version that he felt preserved the excitement and charm of the original novels.

"Continuity is very important to me, and I wanted to make sure that everything lined up, including technology available at the time, ages of characters and regional dialects," said Joe. "I even tried to maintain accuracy with the plants and weather patterns local to Missouri. I'm not Mark Twain, but I tried to write the story in a way that both honored and continued his legacy."

"Tom Sawyer & the Treasure of the Dark Mystery"

By Sebastian Joe

ISBN: 9798823013949 (softcover); 9798823013925 (hardcover); 9798823013932 (electronic)

Available at AuthorHouse, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

Sebastian Joe has written stories for readers of all ages, authoring everything from action/adventure tales to teenage spy novels, and even detective/mystery stories. He has starred in musicals, done voiceover work for radio dramas, and plays rock guitar with his friends in a local band. He received a bachelor's degree from California State University, Long Beach, Calif. He resides in southern California. To learn more, please visit http://www.authorhouse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/844898-tom-sawyer-the-treasure-of-the-dark-mystery.

Media Contact

Ziggy Goldfarb, LAVIDGE, 4803067065, [email protected]

SOURCE Sebastian Joe

9 april 2024 at 08:56

News published onand distributed by:
USANA Cements Itself as a Premier Cellular Nutrition Company in South Korea





USANA a double winner at the 2024 Korea Medical Healthcare Awards

SEOUL, South Korea, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- USANA Health Sciences, a global cellular nutrition company, was recently recognized at the prestigious Korea Medical Healthcare Awards in the multivitamin category for the sixth consecutive year and the weight management category for the fourth consecutive year.

The 2024 Korea Medical Healthcare Awards celebrates the medical institutions, companies, and organizations who promote and contribute to the overall national health and the development of the health industry in the country. The ceremony is hosted by Chosun News and is sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, National Health Insurance, and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.

To learn more about USANA and its high-quality products, visit here.

For the sixth consecutive year, USANA's HealthPak won in the multivitamin category, and is a comprehensive supplement combination that contains vitamins, minerals, and powerful antioxidants. Formulated with USANA's InCelligence Technology, it provides safe and effective nutrients to those either starting their health journey or wanting to keep their healthy lifestyle on track.

The other winning product for USANA was its Nutrimeal Active, which won in the weight-management category for the fourth consecutive year.

Developed for consumers who want a convenient, nutrition-rich meal replacement shake, Nutrimeal Active offers an optimal ratio of the macronutrients and micronutrients you need to help you reach your weight-related goals. Nutrimeal Active is a quick and easy way to shake up a meal with increased protein and reduced sugar.

"We are so proud to be recognized by health professionals and seen by consumers as a high-quality product," said ChangMi Kim, USANA Korea's sales and marketing senior manager. "To have two of our products win for several consecutive years shows USANA's commitment to delivering optimal nutrition that customers can trust, while fulfilling our corporate vision of creating the healthiest family on earth."

About USANA

USANA (NYSE: USNA) prides itself on providing consumers the highest-quality nutritional products in the world. From its award-winning supplements to its innovative Celavive skincare and Active Nutrition lines, USANA has proven for more than 30 years why it's a company you can trust. How about giving us a try? Shop at USANA.com or learn more about USANA's sustainability efforts here.

Media Contact: Amy Haran

Executive Vice President of Communications

(801) 954-7641

media(at)USANAinc(dot)com

SOURCE USANA

9 april 2024 at 09:08

News published onand distributed by:
New Partnership Empowers Media to Leverage First Party Data





Leverage Lab and AUDIENCES Announce Strategic Alliance to Transform Audience Activation and Monetization

KANSAS CITY, Mo. and LONDON, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Leverage Lab , a leader in audience data infrastructure and monetization, and AUDIENCES , a pioneering UK-based technology company, have announced a strategic partnership that marks a significant advancement in the activation and monetization of first-party data for the media industry. This collaboration makes AUDIENCES's innovative, privacy-compliant solution for delivering first-party audiences to advertising channels available with Leverage Lab's lightweight, cloud-based audience data infrastructure platform. Supported by Leverage Lab's comprehensive revenue solutions and services, this partnership is purpose-built to empower media organizations to fully leverage their first-party data assets.

New partnership offers first party data services to help publishers monetize their audiences.

AnnMarie Wills, CEO and Co-Founder of Leverage Lab, and Rob McLaughlin, CEO and Founder of AUDIENCES, have shared their vision for this alliance, emphasizing the result of this partnership delivers a modern audience activation solution. This end-to-end solution is designed to be fully in the cloud, privacy-compliant to current and future global standards, and capable of endless scale and extensibility.

A Shared Vision for First Party Data Activation

Both Leverage Lab and AUDIENCES bring a wealth of experience and a shared passion for leveraging customer data to drive revenue, advertising efficiency, and effectiveness. "Our strategic partnership with AUDIENCES is so natural and opportunistic, reflecting our combined commitment to equipping publishers and brands for a future beyond third-party cookies," said AnnMarie Wills. Rob McLaughlin added, "The launch of our partnership represents an advance for the industry, for the first time addressing the need to build and trade 1st party data driven audiences with services and solutions which take publishers from data collection to monetization."

Transforming the Future of Audience Monetization

The partnership between Leverage Lab and AUDIENCES aims to redefine the landscape for publishers and brands, offering a revolutionary approach to first-party data organization and secure utilization, with personally identifiable information (PII) never shared and always encrypted, data are never exposed and consent is preserved across platforms.

Expanding Market Opportunities and Geographic Synergies

The collaboration between Leverage Lab and AUDIENCES also heralds significant geographic synergies, combining Leverage Lab's extensive reach in the United States with AUDIENCES's established presence in the UK and Europe. This partnership is set to refine and advance the activation of first-party data across different regulatory landscapes and market conditions, offering publishers and brands unparalleled support in monetizing their audiences through first-party data.

About Leverage Lab

Leverage Lab is at the forefront of advancing the media industry through innovative audience data infrastructure solutions. Specializing in helping publishers harness the power of their first-party data, Leverage Lab is dedicated to enhancing advertising and marketing solutions, improving market perception, and driving business growth.

About AUDIENCES

AUDIENCES is a technology company based in the UK, focused on enabling brands and publishers to activate their first-party data in advertising in a privacy and security safe manner. With a commitment to accelerating the commercial opportunities of first-party data, AUDIENCES is leading the industry towards a future of enhanced data activation and monetization.

For more information on the partnership and the benefits it brings to the industry, visit www.leveragelab.com and www.weareaudiences.com .

Contact Information:

Leverage Lab Press Office Email: [email protected]

AUDIENCES Press Office Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Leverage Lab

9 april 2024 at 09:15

News published onand distributed by:
Easterly Government Properties Schedules First Quarter 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call





Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (NYSE: DEA) today announced that the Company will release its first quarter 2024 financial results on April 30, 2024.

A conference call will be held Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 11:00am Eastern time. The management team will review first quarter performance, discuss recent events and conduct a question-and-answer session.

Attendees that would like to join the call and ask a question may register here to receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN to access the call. There will also be a live audio, listen-only webcast of the call on the Investor Relations section of Easterly's Investor Relations website at ir.easterlyreit.com.

Shortly after the call, a replay of the call will be available on the Company's website for up to twelve months.

About Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (NYSE:DEA) is based in Washington, D.C. and focuses primarily on the acquisition, development and management of Class A commercial properties that are leased to the U.S. Government. Easterly's experienced management team brings specialized insight into the strategy and needs of mission-critical U.S. Government agencies for properties leased to such agencies either directly or through the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). For further information on the company and its properties, please visit www.easterlyreit.com.

9 april 2024 at 09:20

News published onand distributed by:
MONSSON connected to the National Grid - the largest Energy Battery Storage capacity in Romania, a 95% Romanian project, made with own funds





CONSTANTA, Romania, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Monsson has commissioned the largest energy battery storage capacity in Romania. The capacity is part of the first hybrid photovoltaic-wind-battery project, installed at the existing operational 50 MW project.

The event brought together representatives from the authorities and business environment as well as specialists in the energy field. Among those who attended the event were: Alexandra Boc?e - State Counsellor at the Presidential Administration, Alina Jalea - State Counsellor at the Prime Minister Office, Mihai Lupu - President of the Constanta County Council, Mihai Soare - Mayor of Sili?tea Municipality, Gabriel Andronache - Vice President of ANRE, Virgiliu Ivan - Director UNO-DEN Transelectrica, Therese Hyden - Swedish Ambassador in Romania, R?zvan Nicolescu - member of the board of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology and Corina Popescu, Senior Energy Specialist.

The storage unit has an installed capacity of 24 MWh - (6MW x 4h) and it was built by Monsson as integrator, according to its own design, in a unique concept utilizing in-house developed know-how. The project represents the first stage of in total 216 MWh storage unit to be installed until end of the year at the same location. The concept is modular and suitable for large scale applications. The Monsson energy storage facilities are developed special for harsh climate conditions, utilizing the latest technologies in monitoring and safety systems for that kind of products. The controlling software created by Monsson is useful both for electricity storage operation and for the electricity trading. The Lithium Ion batteries are locally produced by the Romanian company Prime Batteries Technology. The storage unit is charged with energy produced by the Wind Farm, by the 35 MW PV project under construction, named G?lbiori 2, which will be grid connected end of 2024 and from the national grid when there is no wind or sun. The control of the hybrid project is fully automatic, without local operational staff and the software is developed by Monsson.

"The investment was done on equity with the goal to prove the idea of increasing the renewable energy penetration in national grids, through renewable energy hybridization concept, consisting of photovoltaic, wind and storage. The hybridization with storage is reducing the volatility of renewable energy helping also balancing of the National Energetic System. The storage of renewables will lead in the end to reducing electricity bills for end consumers. With this project we are testing the functionality of the battery to demonstrate the immediate benefits of storage facilities attached to renewable energy sources. We want to promote such solutions both in Romania and across Europe," said Sebastian Enache, MONSSON, member of the Board.

"One year after the visit with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to RENEWACAD, I am glad to have the opportunity to be part of the inauguration of this project together with the most relevant Romanian energy specialists. The fact that climate change is real, it is no longer a secret to anyone and reducing its effects is also a priority of the Romanian Presidential Administration. We are looking at renewables in this regard and we consider the integration of renewables into the system definitely needs energy storage. So your hybrid project paves the way for other projects. Congratulations for the elements of Romanian innovation behind the project, innovation that is absolutely needed", said Alexandra Boc?e at the inauguration of the project - State Advisor to the Presidential Administration.

"The energy transition towards renewable needs to be done in a sustainable way. Volatility is a problem that needs to be addressed and resolved, as much as possible at the source. Company Prime took its role as solution supplier since 2016. In the market we are seen as battery producers but our main business is Lithium Ion battery solutions. And this is how us and Monsson found common ground, because their extensive experience in renewable energy that led to projects as this one", explained Vicen?iu Ciobanu, CEO Prime Batteries Technology.

"I would like to congratulate you on achieving something we have wanted for a very long time. Why is storage good? Why should even banks be more friendly to this solution? Storage is both energy consumption and energy production and should be treated and regulated as such and, why not, prioritized. If we look in the past and see the commitments we have to European bodies to eliminate the coal fueled energy, we see that we need renewable energy and the storage is the solution," said Gabriel Andronache - Vice-President of ANRE, at the inauguration event.

"I want to congratulate the Monsson and Prime team for this Romanian achievement and these solutions have to be supported by all of us as Romanians. Look at what is happening in the market! During the sunny days, at noon, when we have maximum electricity production from photovoltaic energy, we have a price of zero lei / MWh. Storage solutions are welcome. In the last years we have all made efforts to increase renewable electricity production in Romania, we all need to join forces to attract also consumers. In Dobrogea region, as example, we have an installed capacity of 3280 MW, while electricity demand is only 300 MW. I really consider that alongside storage facilities, we do strongly need to attract energy consumers in every region in Romania to help the National Energy System", added Virgiliu Ivan ? Director DEN from Transelectrica.

"Congratulations for this Romanian project! It is a 95% Romanian project and proves the capacity of the country to be part of the EU transition to zero emissions process to which Romania is committed to. This is the first step in which we can see it is possible to produce and deliver firm energy capacity from renewable sources. What I think should be mentioned is that we have brought together electricity consumption and production. I congratulate Prime for believing in energy storage and developing a manufacturing facility for Lithium Ion batteries. In an energy system, we need to always have a balancing system and storage solutions are a way to achieve that in the case of very volatiles renewable sources. We can see that Romanians remain very active and creative on the European map in the energy sector," detailed Corina Popescu, senior energy specialist.

About Monsson

Present for over 17 years in the renewable energy market in Romania, Monsson has become the leading supplier of projects electricity from renewable sources, with a portfolio of over 5GW of wind and photovoltaic projects. The company provides turnkey services for Design, Development, Construction and Operation of renewable energy projects and energy storage solutions.

About Prime Batteries Technology

Prime Batteries is the local leader in Lithium Ion battery manufacturing. The company has a lithium-ion battery production capacity of 2.3GWh/year in Bucharest, being vertically integrated including the production of Li-ion cells. In 2023 the company has produced more than 65 MWh of batteries for the Romanian market, mostly in renewable energy applications.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2382671/MONSSON.jpg

SOURCE MONSSON

9 april 2024 at 10:16

News published onand distributed by:
The Forward Party of Pennsylvania Announces Support of Cameron Schroy in His Bid to Oust Doug Mastriano from the State Senate





Schroy, the presumptive Democratic nominee and career civics teacher, pledges to focus on solving real problems facing Pennsylvanians in their daily lives

GETTYSBURG, Pa., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Forward Party of Pennsylvania today announced the affiliation of Cameron Schroy, the presumptive Democratic nominee for PA Senate District 33. The lifelong resident of Franklin County hopes to unseat Doug Mastriano so that the people of the district can be represented by someone looking to solve the problems they face every day.

Christian Fyke, Chair of the Forward Party of Pennsylvania, said, "The Forward Party rejects political extremism and has, as a core value, the defense of the rule of law. It's important for us to support candidates when they're running against elected officials who have attacked the basis of our democracy."

Schroy said of the affiliation, "I am running as a Forward Democrat because we must move our country forward. Partisanship and division are holding us back, and we need new, cooperative leadership that puts the people first. The Forward Party wants to reshape the political landscape for the better?and so do I. I fully welcome their support, am proud of their endorsement, and am proud to call myself a Forward Democrat."

At the announcement event at the Adams County Courthouse in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Forward national Co-chair Andrew Yang said, "The hard working people of this district deserve a candidate who will spend their time solving problems rather than focusing on conspiracy theories. Cameron Schroy is that candidate?an energetic and idealistic young man with a long history of public service. Who better to serve in government than a lifelong civics teacher?"

Yang continued, "By affiliating with the Forward Party today, he shows that he will work towards compromise and solutions, and not be beholden to interest groups with rigid ideologies. Through seeking practical solutions to the issues that face this district and Pennsylvanians, he will make sure everyone in the Keystone State has the chance to build a good life for themselves and their families."

The Forward Party is focused on state and local races, particularly where unchallenged candidates have won seats and are preventing the government from listening to the will of the people. Doug Mastriano is a nationally known example of someone more interested in denying elections and promoting conspiracy theories. Supporting candidates of good character against these kinds of politicians is a key part of the Party's short-term strategy.

The Forward Party is bringing moderates, conservatives, and progressives together to heal our political divisions, find our shared ground, and create a brighter future for America. Forward Party candidates are accountable to the voters, and they will focus on solutions, not partisan fighting, in order to serve their constituents better. https://www.forwardparty.com

CONTACT:

Natalie Medved

724-825-3484

[email protected]

www.forwardparty.com

SOURCE Forward Party

9 april 2024 at 10:20

News published onand distributed by:
Idaho Central Credit Union Selects Priority Financial Group to Elevate Wealth Services Department





Priority Financial Group (PFG), a third-party registered investment advisor (TP-RIA) serving financial advisors and financial institutions, announced a strategic relationship with Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU), a premier credit union in Idaho and Washington with approximately $10 billion in assets and more than 600,000 members.

Aimed at broadening ICCU's wealth management offering, the collaboration marks PFG's inaugural partnership with a credit union in Idaho and the firm's first credit union client with a Private Client Group.

Under the partnership, PFG will provide middle and back-office compliance, technology, and operations services. Additionally, ICCU will gain low-cost access to some of the world's leading asset managers, including American Funds and Vanguard.

According to Chris Jeppsen, vice president of Wealth Management and Private Client Manager at ICCU, the foundation of the relationship lies in a shared philosophy of prioritizing members' best interests and delivering high-quality financial advice.

"We love the cultural match in partnering with Priority Financial Group, and we're excited to take our wealth management capabilities to the next level," said Jeppsen. "Having access to the low-cost Schwab and Fidelity platforms will be a game changer for our advisors and members."

PFG CEO Mike Prior added, "The ICCU-PFG partnership signifies a unified dedication to innovation, values and delivering a broader range of personalized financial solutions to ICCU members. Chris and his team represent the type of visionary credit union executives and quality financial advisors who truly care about placing their members' best interests first."

About Idaho Central Credit Union

Organized as a state-chartered credit union in 1940, Idaho Central Credit Union is one of the fastest-growing and best-performing credit unions in the country. It serves a large member base in Idaho, Washington and Oregon with teams striving to provide world-class service to each member during every interaction. For more information, visit Iccu.com.

About Priority Financial Group

Priority Financial Group (PFG) leverages its third-party registered investment advisory (TP-RIA) firm to offer comprehensive wealth management, advisory, compliance, sales, and technology services. Headquartered in Phoenix, the PFG team has been helping financial institutions and financial advisors deliver high-quality advisory services for more than 20 years. For more information, visit pfgteam.com or LinkedIn.

Investment advisory services offered through PFG Advisors ("PFGA"), a SEC registered investment adviser. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. PFG, PFGA and Securities America are separate entities.

9 april 2024 at 12:05

News published onand distributed by:
UMD Launches Institute Focused on Ethical AI Development





The institute will support interdisciplinary research and education that promote the responsible use of AI and prepare the future workforce for an AI-infused world

COLLEGE PARK, Md., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Maryland today announced the launch of a new institute dedicated to developing the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI) education, technology and leaders.

The Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland (AIM) will be a collaborative hub for AI, supporting faculty research, offering innovative and experiential learning opportunities, and focusing on responsible and ethical AI technology to advance the public good across industry, government and society.

"Establishing the AI Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland is a pioneering step in AI research and education," said University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines. "Artificial intelligence continues to grow exponentially, creating opportunities to solve the grand challenges of our time. With this institute, our experts will work together to globally lead responsible AI development that spurs economic growth and promotes human well-being. We're not just adapting to the AI age but shaping its future."

The University of Maryland and the state of Maryland have long maintained a steadfast commitment to responsible advancement of AI technology. The new institute builds upon the university's existing AI expertise, research and centers, including the Center for Machine Learning, the National Science Foundation-funded Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law & Society (TRAILS), the Value-Centered AI Initiative and the Social Data Science Center. Centers like these will be an instrumental part of AIM, as will faculty members across campus who teach and study AI.

"From the start, interdisciplinary collaboration across fields will drive our AI institute's success," said UMD Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice. "We're fortunate to have AI leaders in fields ranging from computer science and engineering to journalism, education and the arts ? a unique breadth of expertise that Maryland brings to the table. By uniting our efforts under one institute, we will not only become a magnet for ethical AI development and research but a global leader in preparing students and the workforce for an AI-infused world."

Through AIM, UMD students across all majors will learn the principles of AI and how they apply to their fields of study, preparing them for a technology-rich workforce. The institute will coordinate:

New AI majors and minors

AI certificates, graduate degrees and workforce development programs

Expanded AI undergraduate courses, including an AI4ALL course focused on developing AI literacy and critical thinking skills

AI government and industry partnerships and community events

A new high-performance computing cluster tailored for AI's complex computational challenges

Financial support to promote interdisciplinary AI research

Chaired professorships and postdoctoral fellowships

In addition to the existing, 100-plus faculty members who study and teach AI, the university expects to hire additional faculty in foundational and interdisciplinary AI, and staff to work within the institute. Hal Daume III, a Volpi-Cupal Family Endowed Professor in the Department of Computer Science, will serve as AIM's inaugural director. The university has also appointed Neda Atanasoski as associate director of education and Sheena Erete as associate director of research.

"AI-infused systems have the potential to enhance human capacity and creativity, mitigate complex society challenges, and foster innovation. Achieving this requires a joint effort between those pushing the boundaries of new AI technologies, those who innovate AI applications, and those who study human values and how people and society interact with AI," said Daume. "The University of Maryland is drawing together faculty experts, researchers and students from across campus to lead the responsible development and implementation of this world-changing technology."

The institute aligns with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's recent executive order to catalyze responsible and productive use of artificial intelligence by state agencies, and President Biden's executive order on safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence. It also supports the work of President Pines' AI commission, which examines how AI can be harnessed operationally in teaching, learning, student recruitment, enrollment and more.

The institute will be funded through the university, research grants, philanthropic gifts and industry partnerships.

About the University of Maryland

The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state's flagship university and a leading public research institution, propelled by a $1.3 billion joint research enterprise. Located four miles from Washington, D.C., the university is dedicated to addressing the grand challenges of our time and is the nation's first Do Good campus. It is driven by a diverse and proudly inclusive community of more than 50,000 fearless Terrapins. UMD is a top producer of Fulbright scholars and offers an unparalleled student experience with more than 300 academic programs, 25 living-learning programs and 400 study abroad programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMD faculty are global leaders in their field and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the national academies. For more information about the University of Maryland, visit umd.edu.

SOURCE University of Maryland

9 april 2024 at 12:13

News published onand distributed by:
Spain Data Center Market Set to Reach $2.85 Billion by 2029: Exclusive Insights on Norway, Greece, and Spain Unveiled in Arizton Research Report





Arizton publishes the latest research report on the Norway data center market, Greece data center market, & Spain data center market.

CHICAGO, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Norway Data Center Market Investments to Reach $1.87 Billion by 2029, Growing at a CAGR of 10.28% During the Forecast Period.

Get Insights on 31 Existing Data Centers and 12 Upcoming Facilities across Norway

The Norway data center market will continue to witness substantial growth due to strategic investments by key players and new entrants in the market. This influx of global giants emphasizes their commitment to meeting the evolving needs of businesses in Norway.

The Norway data center power capacity is on a robust trajectory, fueled by the government's commitment to renewable energy, strategic industry collaborations, and significant expansion initiatives such as Project Clover by Green Mountain and the 42 MW data center of Bulk Infrastructure in Kristiansand.

Buy this Research @ https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/norway-data-center-market-investment-analysis

The Norway data center market is witnessing the entry of new colocation operators, such as AQ Compute, Namsos Datasenter, and STACK Infrastructure, fueling the country's colocation market revenue. Several global and local data center providers have established their presence in Norway or announced plans to do the same. For instance, Google began the construction of its data center in Skien, Norway. The facility, with an initial capacity of 240 MW, is set to be launched in 2026.

Investment Analysis

In December 2023 , Green Mountain completed and handed over the inaugural data center facility at its OSL2-Hamar campus in Norway to TikTok, marking a significant milestone in Project Clover. Green Mountain plans to place two additional 30 MW data centers in the campus in the coming months.

, Green Mountain completed and handed over the inaugural data center facility at its OSL2-Hamar campus in to TikTok, marking a significant milestone in Project Clover. Green Mountain plans to place two additional 30 MW data centers in the campus in the coming months. In November 2023 , Green Mountain secured the approval to construct a 10 MW data center at its Enebakk campus near Oslo, Norway ; the facility is set for completion by September 2024 . The OSL1-Enebakk campus can ultimately reach 93 MW across an area of 75,000 sqm. The company will continue its strategic expansion, with plans for new campuses in Kalberg, Hnefoss, Gismarvik, and Undheim, as well as a 90 MW hosting deal with TikTok in Hnefoss.

, Green Mountain secured the approval to construct a 10 MW data center at its Enebakk campus near ; the facility is set for completion by . The OSL1-Enebakk campus can ultimately reach 93 MW across an area of 75,000 sqm. The company will continue its strategic expansion, with plans for new campuses in Kalberg, Hnefoss, Gismarvik, and Undheim, as well as a 90 MW hosting deal with TikTok in Hnefoss. In October 2023 , Green Mountain decided to construct a substantial data center campus in Kalberg, Norway . The first construction phase is set for completion by January 2025 , with the final phase being slated to be done by 2027; the facility will include up to eight data halls and an investment exceeding $4.61 billion .

Existing VS. Upcoming Data Centers

Existing Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity)

Oslo



Other Cities

List of Upcoming Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity)

Vendor Landscape

IT Infrastructure Providers: Arista Networks, Cisco Systems, Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Huawei Technologies, Hitachi Vantara, IBM, Juniper Networks, Lenovo, NetApp, NetNordic, Oracle, Pure Storage, Super Micro Computer.

Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors: Coromatic, COWI, CTS Nordics, Designer Group, KeySource, Olaris AS, Red Engineering, and YIT.

Support Infrastructure Providers: ABB, Alfa Laval, Austin Hughes, Carrier, Caterpillar, Comsys, Cummins, DEIF, Eaton, Flakt Group, HITEC Power Protection, Kohler SDMO, Legrand, Perkins Engines, Piller Power Systems, Rittal, Rolls Royce, Schneider Electric, Socomec, STULZ, Trane, Vertiv.

Data Center Investors: Bulk Infrastructure, Green Mountain, Green Edge Compute, Lefdal Mine Datacenter, Orange Business Services, STACK Infrastructure, AQ Compute, and STORESPEED.

Key Questions Answered in the Report:



What is the growth rate of the Norway data center market?

How much is the Norway data center market investment expected to grow?

How many data centers have been identified in Norway?

Who are the key investors in the Norway data center market?

What are the driving factors for the Norway data center market?

The Greece Data Center Market Investments to Reach $1.34 Billion by 2029, Growing at a CAGR of 9.91% During the Forecast Period.

Get Insights on 15 Existing Data Centers and 02 Upcoming Facilities across Greece

The Greece data center market is experiencing significant investments from global colocation data center provider Digital Realty (Lamda Hellix). For instance, the ATH5 data center in Athens will be built upon an area of around 75,000 square feet. Greece's strategic location and economic stability make it an attractive destination for data center investments, drawing major global players such as Microsoft, Google, and Digital Realty (Lamda Hellix). The country will witness cumulative core & shell investments of over $1.2 billion from 2024?2029. Greece houses 15 colocation data centers in Athens, with providers such as Telecom Italia Sparkle and Digital Realty (Lamda Hellix) leading the market in terms of colocation revenue.

Buy this Research @ https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/greece-data-center-market

Investment Opportunities:

Greece's advantageous geographical location, positioned as a pivotal nexus linking Europe , Africa , the Middle East , and Asia , coupled with its robust economic stability, positions it as a compelling destination for strategic data center investments. Among the key cities in Greece , Athens stands out as a primary hub for establishing and expanding cutting-edge data center facilities, closely followed by Thessaloniki .

advantageous geographical location, positioned as a pivotal nexus linking , , the , and , coupled with its robust economic stability, positions it as a compelling destination for strategic data center investments. Among the key cities in , stands out as a primary hub for establishing and expanding cutting-edge data center facilities, closely followed by . Greece is amid a comprehensive digital transformation plan, aiming to fully digitize the country by 2025 and fully digitize state services by 2027. The Ministry of Digital Governance spearheads the initiative to streamline processes, reduce bureaucracy, and align with the European Union's Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI).

is amid a comprehensive digital transformation plan, aiming to fully digitize the country by 2025 and fully digitize state services by 2027. The Ministry of Digital Governance spearheads the initiative to streamline processes, reduce bureaucracy, and align with the European Union's Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). In February 2023 , the Digital Governance Ministry celebrated the three-year anniversary of Greece's government online platform, gov.gr, which has grown to offer over 1,500 digital services to citizens. As more government services and citizen interactions move online, there will be a surge in the volume of data generated. This will increase demand for data storage and processing capabilities, driving the need for robust data center infrastructure.

Existing VS. Upcoming Data Centers

Existing Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity) Athens Other Cities

List of Upcoming Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity)

Vendor Landscape

IT Infrastructure Providers: Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Dell Technologies, Extreme Networks, Fujitsu, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Huawei Technologies, IBM, Juniper Networks, NEC, NetApp, Oracle, and Super Micro Computer.

Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Dell Technologies, Extreme Networks, Fujitsu, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Huawei Technologies, IBM, Juniper Networks, NEC, NetApp, Oracle, and Super Micro Computer. Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors: AECOM, LDK Consultants, ELLAKTOR GROUP, Mytilineos S.A.

AECOM, LDK Consultants, ELLAKTOR GROUP, Mytilineos S.A. Support Infrastructure Providers: 3M , ABB, Airedale International Air Conditioning, Carrier, Caterpillar, Cummins, Condair, Daikin Applied, Eaton, Kohler SDMO, Legrand, Mitsubishi Electric, Munters, Perkins Engines, Rittal, Schneider Electric, STULZ, Socomec, Siemens, Trane, and Vertiv.

, ABB, Airedale International Air Conditioning, Carrier, Caterpillar, Cummins, Condair, Daikin Applied, Eaton, Kohler SDMO, Legrand, Mitsubishi Electric, Munters, Perkins Engines, Rittal, Schneider Electric, STULZ, Socomec, Siemens, Trane, and Vertiv. Data Center Investors: Digital Realty (Lamda Helix), Microsoft, Telecom Italia Sparkle, Synapsecom Telecom.

Key Questions Answered in the Report:

How much is the Greece data center market investment expected to grow?

How many data centers have been identified in Greece?

What is the growth rate of the Greece data center market?

What are the driving factors for the Greece data center market?

Who are the key investors in the Greece data center market?

The Spain Data Center Market Investments to Reach $2.85 Billion by 2029, Growing At A CAGR 6.99% During the Forecast Period.

Get Insights on 52 Existing Data Centers and 24 Upcoming Facilities across Spain

The Spain data center market is witnessing increased investments in other mechanical infrastructure, particularly in evaporative coolers, free cooling chillers, and air/water side economizers, due to the increase in data centers containing air-based and free cooling systems

In December 2023, Spain increased its share of renewable electricity capacity to 50.8%, up from 42.2% in the previous year. Spain aims to augment its renewable energy capacity to 80% by 2030. This initiative will attract global data center investors and encourage green data center developments. Madrid is gaining popularity for data center investments. The growth of Barcelona in the Spain data center market, alongside Madrid, is being driven by its emergence as a key hub for global digital connectivity and its strategic location for subsea and terrestrial cable networks. This enhances its appeal for data center investments. Recently, the growth in AI has increased the need for hyperscale self-built data centers. In 2024, Microsoft announced a $2.1 billion investment in Spain to expand its AI and cloud infrastructure within two years. This substantial investment shows Microsoft's commitment to supporting Spain's progress and digital evolution.

Buy this Research @ https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/spain-data-center-market-investment-analysis-report

Investment Opportunities:

Spain offers tax relief for companies, including a 50% credit for income in Ceuta and Melilla, a 99% credit for local public services, and credits for research and technological innovations.

offers tax relief for companies, including a 50% credit for income in Ceuta and Melilla, a 99% credit for local public services, and credits for research and technological innovations. Significant tax credits are provided for research and development (R&D), with a 25% credit for R&D expenses and a 42% credit for additional expenses. Recent changes benefit the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) involved in technological innovations.

In the second quarter of 2023, Data4 revealed its plans for a new data center campus (MAD2) in San Agustin de Guadalix, with a total capacity of 80 MW. Notably, this was the only officially announced project by an international operator in the year's first half.

In July 2023 , IBM initiated the establishment of Multi-Zone Cloud Regions (MZR) in Alcobendas (Data4), Las Rozas (NTT), and Julian Camarillo (Interxion), with plans to accommodate over 600 clients.

Existing VS. Upcoming Data Centers

Existing Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity) Madrid Other Cities

List of Upcoming Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity) Madrid Other Cities



Vendor Landscape

IT Infrastructure Providers: Arista Networks, Atos, Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Dell Technologies, Fujitsu, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM, Juniper Networks, Lenovo.

Arista Networks, Atos, Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Dell Technologies, Fujitsu, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM, Juniper Networks, Lenovo. Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors: ACS Group, AEON Engineering, Arup, ARSMAGNA, CapIngelec, Ramboll, Ferrovial, IDOM, ISG, Hill International, Mercury, PQC, Quark.

ACS Group, AEON Engineering, Arup, ARSMAGNA, CapIngelec, Ramboll, Ferrovial, IDOM, ISG, Hill International, Mercury, PQC, Quark. Support Infrastructure Providers: ABB, Caterpillar, Cummins, Delta Electronics, Eaton, GESAB, Legrand, Piller Power Systems, Rittal, Rolls-Royce, Schneider Electric, STULZ, Vertiv.

ABB, Caterpillar, Cummins, Delta Electronics, Eaton, GESAB, Legrand, Piller Power Systems, Rittal, Rolls-Royce, Schneider Electric, STULZ, Vertiv. Data Center Investors: Aire Networks, DATA4, Digital Realty, Edgeconnex, Equinix, NTT Global Data Centers, and Nabiax.

Aire Networks, DATA4, Digital Realty, Edgeconnex, Equinix, NTT Global Data Centers, and Nabiax. New Entrants: AQ Compute, CyrusOne, Merlin Properties, Microsoft, Iron Mountain, Form8tion Data Centers (Thor Equities).

Key Questions Answered in the Report:

What is the growth rate of the Spain data center market?

data center market? How big is the Spain data center market?

data center market? What factors are driving the Spain data center market?

data center market? How much MW of power capacity will be added across Spain from 2024 to 2029?

from 2024 to 2029? Which cities are included in the Spain data center market report?

Norway, Greece & Spain Data Center Market Segmentation

IT Infrastructure: Servers, Storage Systems, and Network Infrastructure

Servers, Storage Systems, and Network Infrastructure Electrical Infrastructure: UPS Systems, Generators, Transfer Switches & Switchgears, PDUs, and Other Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems, Generators, Transfer Switches & Switchgears, PDUs, and Other Electrical Infrastructure Mechanical Infrastructure: Cooling Systems, Rack Cabinets, and Other Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems, Rack Cabinets, and Other Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems: CRAC & CRAH Units, Chiller Units, Cooling Towers, Condensers & Dry Coolers, Economizers & Evaporative Coolers, and Other Cooling Units

CRAC & CRAH Units, Chiller Units, Cooling Towers, Condensers & Dry Coolers, Economizers & Evaporative Coolers, and Other Cooling Units General Construction: Core & Shell Development, Installation & Commissioning Services, Engineering & Building Design, Fire Detection & Suppression Systems, Physical Security, and DCIM

Core & Shell Development, Installation & Commissioning Services, Engineering & Building Design, Fire Detection & Suppression Systems, Physical Security, and DCIM Tier Standard: Tier I & Tier II, Tier III, and Tier IV

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SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence

9 april 2024 at 13:50

News published onand distributed by:
Bia Energy Operating Company Announces Significant Developments for Low Carbon Methanol Project at the Port of Caddo-Bossier in Northwest Louisiana





Planned $1.2 billion facility will produce approximately 550,000 metric tons of blue and bio-methanol per year.

facility will produce approximately 550,000 metric tons of blue and bio-methanol per year. Bia Energy has secured an agreement with Macquarie Group to commercialize and market the methanol, and a partnership with CapturePoint to capture and transport CO2 from the site.

SHREVEPORT, La, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Bia Energy Operating Company ("Bia Energy" or "the Company") today announced significant project updates for its low carbon methanol production facility at the 4,000-acre Port of Caddo-Bossier industrial multimodal facility in northwest Louisiana ("the Port Complex"). The facility is designed to be able to reduce carbon emissions by over 92% compared to traditional methanol production by capturing CO2 and utilizing hydrogen as both fuel and feedstock. The Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study and major permits are complete for the 74-acre, $1.2 billion facility designed to produce 550,000 metric tons of blue and bio-methanol per year.

To support the marketing of the facility's production, Bia Energy has entered into a 20-year Commercialization and Marketing Services Agreement with Macquarie Commodities Trading, an affiliate of Macquarie Group's Commodities and Global Markets business ("Macquarie"). Through Macquarie, the project is currently seeking fixed-price offtake agreements with organizations in the chemical, maritime, manufacturing and industrial sectors looking to switch to low carbon methanol. Bia Energy is collaborating with CapturePoint LLC to capture and transport the CO2 to a class VI well site in central Louisiana. Bia Energy will utilize the J. Bennett Johnston/Red River Waterway for its barge shipments of finished product.

"We are thrilled to have reached this milestone and update the market on our plans for this low carbon methanol project," said Dr. Ana Rodriguez, CEO and Cofounder of Bia Energy. "The advancement of this shovel-ready project and its positive environmental impact, coupled with the jobs creation and development at the Port and in Caddo and Bossier Parishes, underscores our commitment to the region and our ability to deliver low carbon solutions to our prospective customers across a wide range of industries."

The methanol production and processing facility will include state-of-the-art docks, tank farms and piping at the Port Complex. It is anticipated that nearly 350 construction jobs will be created at peak construction for the project. Bia Energy expects the facility to create 75 direct new jobs once operational. Louisiana Economic Development (LED), which provided an incentives package for the project, estimates the project would result in 390 indirect jobs, for a total of 465 new jobs in Louisiana's Northwest region.

"Bia Energy's investment has the potential to create a large number of well-paying permanent jobs and stimulate economic activity all across North Louisiana, and that would be a win for the entire state," said Susan Bonnett-Bourgeois, Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development. "From the very beginning this project has been a testament to the power of collaborative economic development, and I want to thank and congratulate Dr. Rodriguez and our partners at the Port of Caddo-Bossier, BRF and NLEP for moving it closer to the finish line."

"For over 40 years, Macquarie's CGM business has worked with clients to understand their needs and provide tailored marketing and commercialization solutions," said Aarnoud van Weelderen, Senior Managing Director in Macquarie's CGM business. "Macquarie is pleased to work with Bia Energy to provide physical offtake, marketing and logistics of low carbon methanol to end consumers and customers in the US and globally who are focusing on their decarbonization initiatives."

"Macquarie's physical commodity business continues to grow to meet the current and future energy needs of our clients," added Justin Brymer, Head of US Physical Structuring and Origination at Macquarie. "We are excited to work with Bia Energy to extend our terminal and vessel capabilities."

Tracy Evans, CEO of CapturePoint LLC, commented, "The team at CapturePoint is excited to provide leading-edge carbon management solutions for Bia Energy's planned low-carbon methanol facility in the Port of Caddo-Bossier. When this project is fully operational, we expect to transport up to 250,000 metric tons of CO2 annually for safe and permanent storage in CapturePoint's deep underground CENLA Hub carbon storage sites. Capturing that volume of carbon dioxide is a significant demonstration of Bia Energy's environmental commitments."

Bia Energy has engaged Houston-based S&B Engineers and Constructors as its Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor.

The Company is expected to reach financial close in 2024, after which construction will begin. Commercial Operations Date is expected in late 2026.

About Bia Energy

Bia Energy LLC is a developer of low carbon methanol and hydrogen projects in the United States committed to cost-effective technologies and sustainable energy solutions that drive towards net-zero emissions. For additional information, visit www.bia-energy.com.

About Macquarie Group

Founded in 1969, Macquarie employs over 21,000 people in 34 markets. Commodities and Global Markets (CGM), an operating group of Macquarie, has more than 40 years of partnering with our clients to provide capital and financing, risk management, market access, and physical execution and logistics solutions across commodities, financial markets and asset finance sectors.

For further information, visit our website.

About CapturePoint LLC

CapturePoint LLC and CapturePoint Solutions LLC, together "CapturePoint," are privately held companies with offices in Allen, Texas, providing a complete range of carbon management services for an era of energy transition. CapturePoint Solutions is developing regional deep underground carbon storage sites, including the Central Louisiana Regional Carbon Storage Hub ("CENLA Hub") which has the potential to safely and permanently store over a billion tons of CO2 in the coming decades. The CENLA Hub is the largest onshore carbon storage center currently being developed in the U.S. For more information, visit www.capturepointllc.com.

About LED

Louisiana Economic Development is responsible for strengthening the state's business environment and creating a more vibrant Louisiana economy. LED cultivates jobs and economic opportunity for the people of Louisiana, and promotes business opportunity for employers of all sizes. In 2020, LED attracted 58 new economic development projects representing over 11,600 new jobs, 8,600 retained jobs and more than $12.7 billion in new capital investment. LED's Small Business Services team, in conjunction with the Louisiana Small Business Development Center Network, assisted more than 17,500 Louisiana small businesses and entrepreneurs in 2020. For more information, visit OpportunityLouisiana.com.

Media Contact

Brad Mittendorf, Southern Strategy Group for Bia Energy, 1 (225) 324-4390, [email protected]

SOURCE Bia Energy

9 april 2024 at 15:15

News published onand distributed by:
SOWELA and U.S. Coast Guard Sign Nation's First-Ever Healthcare Lateral Entry Program for Nursing Graduates





Agreement Addresses USCG Workforce Gaps and Provides Direct Enlistment Opportunities for Nursing, Culinary Arts, Industrial Electrical and Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Graduates

LAKE CHARLES, La., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SOWELA Technical Community College and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the establishment of a Direct Enlistment Lateral Entry Program during a special signing ceremony today at the College. The signed LOI between the USCG and SOWELA is the first in the U.S. to provide nursing graduates with direct enlistment into the USCG or USCG Reserve. Programs such as this help address workforce gaps within the USCG.

"SOWELA is very excited and honored to be able to work with the United States Coast Guard and implement lateral entry pathways as an option for our graduates," said SOWELA Chancellor Dr. Neil Aspinwall. "The lateral entry program will allow our students to utilize their skills and abilities for advanced rank status. This initiative provides additional employment as well as career opportunities by giving credit for the classroom experiences and a head start on career advancement in an outstanding organization known for quality and excellence."

SOWELA is also the first community college in Louisiana to formalize a USCG Lateral Entry Program. Approved lateral entry programs for SOWELA graduates into the USCG or USCG Reserve include Nursing as Health Services Technicians (HS), Culinary Arts as Culinary Specialists (CS), Industrial Electrical Technology as Electrician's Mates (EM), and Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology as Machinery Technicians (MK). These identified pathways help bring much-needed expertise and skills to the USCG workforce.

"I am extremely excited for this new partnership between the US Coast Guard and SOWELA," said CDR Elizabeth Newton, Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles. "This collaboration will not only benefit the Coast Guard by identifying outstanding candidates that possess the skills and credentials we need to strengthen our workforce, but also providing SOWELA graduates with opportunities to implement their skills in an exciting career path filled with unique adventures, amazing people, and the ability to make a difference immediately."

A production recruiter will screen SOWELA students in these mission-critical areas who express interest to ensure they meet all enlistment criteria. Once the applicant is deemed fully qualified, they can enlist as a Petty Officer Third Class or Petty Officer Second Class, attend initial military training, and then graduate at an advanced pay grade and head off to their first duty assignment.

In addition, the USCG has several enlistment incentive programs based on specific recruiting needs. Current cash bonuses include up to $75,000 if a recruit has a critical rating. Interested individuals should speak with a recruiter to learn more.

SOWELA doubled its Nursing cohorts this year after receiving state and accreditor approval. The College now offers a Fall and Spring start date for the Nursing program. Recent Nursing graduates achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX exam, far surpassing the national pass rate average of 79.9%, which indicates the quality of educational training at SOWELA.

Registration for Fall 2023 classes is currently open for all SOWELA programs. Financial aid and scholarship opportunities are available for those who qualify. Interested individuals can visit www.sowela.edu/apply to learn more or contact the One Stop Enrollment Office with questions at (337) 421-6550 or [email protected].

About the U.S. Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard, a unique branch of the military, dedicated to protecting and defending America's maritime interests. With a rich history and proud tradition of bravery and service, the Coast Guard is a vital force that operates on the front of national security, law enforcement, and humanitarian missions. The Coast Guard is a tight-knit service that welcomes new members from all walks of life, offering a challenging and rewarding career path that combines service, adventure and personal growth. Semper Paratus, "Always Ready." For more information, visit www.gocoastguard.com.

About SOWELA Technical Community College

SOWELA Technical Community College provides traditional, distance, and lifelong learning experiences and awards associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates. The College empowers learners in career and technical education and enables transfer students to pursue a four-year degree, so all learners excel as globally competitive citizens. The College has been educating the region's workforce for more than 85 years. For more information, visit www.sowela.edu.

PHOTO

https://www.sowela.edu/sowela-and-u-s-coast-guard-sign-nations-first-ever-healthcare-lateral-entry-program-for-nursing-graduates/

CUTLINE

On hand for the ceremonial signing of today's Letter of Intent (LOI) are pictured (left to right) Command Master Chief Shawn Burns, 8th Coast Guard District, Commander Elizabeth Newton, Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles, SOWELA Chancellor Dr. Neil Aspinwall and SOWELA Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Dr. Paula Hellums.

SOURCE SOWELA Technical Community College

9 april 2024 at 16:04

News published onand distributed by:
Rally to call for the negotiation of an agreement with Hamas and the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem on April 7, 2024. LUCIEN LUNG / RIVA PRESS FOR LE MONDE

The families of the hostages held in Gaza never expected to confront this symbolic marker: "half a year," "six months" or, as it was referred to on Sunday, April 7, "184 days." This duration marks the number of days that have elapsed since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, with its atrocities, the 1,200 dead and the more than 200 hostages taken to Gaza. According to a series of releases in November, 129 people are still being held in the enclave, with 34 considered dead.

For this date, the Forum of Families of Hostages and Missing Persons arranged to meet in front of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, on the western outskirts of Jerusalem. They aimed to signal their intention to change strategy to push the government to reach an agreement with Hamas and obtain the release of their loved ones. Six months ago, a "hostage square" was created in Tel Aviv, in front of the Museum of Art near the Kiryat headquarters building which houses the country's top military authorities. Now, the movement intends to intensify its action in Jerusalem, particularly in the area near Parliament.

'We don't know what to do'

On Sunday evening, the demonstrators came as families. Many parked their cars in the parking lot of the nearest shopping mall, Cinema City, with its kitsch decorations and fast-food outlets. They unfolded their Israeli flags, which had been neatly stored since the last protest, and held up signs featuring photos of their smiling, living relatives. Then, they assembled at dusk, close to the vacant Knesset building.

On the previous Tuesday, when the group of families decided to organize a four-day demonstration in front of the Knesset, protesters forced their way into the building, reaching the public gallery, where they smeared the protective glass with yellow paint. The yellow ribbons, a symbol calling for the release of the hostages visible throughout Israel since October 8, 2023, are starting to disappear.

In Jerusalem, on this "184th day in hell," as many were calling it, there were many demonstrators. In addition to relatives and families of hostages, there were sympathizers: people angry with the government or anxious to show their feelings. This is not a mass movement, but a slow evolutionary process that is pushing the demonstrators more and more toward challenging the power of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Read more Subscribers only The unbearable wait for families of Israeli hostages

Organizers claimed that 50,000 people gathered around parliament. That figure was definitely exaggerated, but the crowd was certainly present, full of questions, doubt and anger. Tony Braun is a member of one of the families who have been protesting for six months to demand the release of one of their own, in this case, the father of his daughter-in-law, 64-year-old Keith Siegel. "After six months, we've reached such a level of exhaustion that we don't know what to do. Tonight, we have come here, in front of the Knesset, to bring our request to parliament," explained Braun.

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At the Nogales land border crossing signs warn that firearms and ammunition are prohibited once you cross the border into Mexico. Arizona, US, in April 2017. JIM WEST / REPORT DIGITAL-REA

For the past three years, Mexico has been taking the American firearms industry to court in the US. Recent legal victories have been widely celebrated in the country. For the first time, the American justice system has authorized a country to sue this sector for its role in firearms trafficking, and to demand reparations.

The issue is one of the most sensitive in Mexican public opinion, given that the American firearms industry bears a large share of the responsibility for drug trafficking, the main scourge of the country. Mexico City has estimated that nearly half a million weapons from the US enter the country illegally every year. 6 out of 10 murders are committed with firearms, almost all of which come from the country's northern neighbor.

There has also been considerable interest in this legal battle, which has been underway since 2021, in the US. Mexico's victories in the federal courts of Boston (Massachusetts) and Tucson (Arizona), which have been described as "historic," have been applauded by a majority of Americans; who want to see regulation imposed on this industry, which has been implicated in both civilian massacres and the fentanyl crisis.

Read more From a Mexican cartel to the streets of New York: A deep dive into the business of fentanyl

"The US now knows that it is arming the cartels that are flooding the country with one of the most lethal drugs," said Jonathan Lowy, the American lawyer who has been representing Mexico in this litigation and has been battling this industry in the courts for the past 27 years.

'Attractive marketing strategies'

The Mexican foreign ministry has implemented a legal and political strategy to get the industry to change its practices. Mexico has argued that the US firearms industry has set up "deliberate efforts to create and maintain an illegal market for their weapons in Mexico." It cites weapons designed as "military-style," that can easily be converted to allow for automatic fire; and whose design imitates symbols of Mexican "narco" culture figures and Mexican national symbols, such as its flag or the Virgin of Guadalupe.

For example, Colt's, which is one of nine manufacturers targeted by the Mexican complaint, produces three models  El Jefe, El Grito and Emiliano Zapata  of its Colt .38 revolver featuring grips engraved with these symbols as well as a phrase attributed to the Mexican revolutionary figure Zapata: "It's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." Firearms manufacturing company Barrett, meanwhile, has designed .50-caliber rifles capable of pulverizing vehicle armor, and which have already shot down Mexican army helicopters south of the Rio Bravo.

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Demonstration in solidarity with prisoner Walid Abu Daqqa and prisoners held in Israeli jails, in Ramallah, West Bank, on August 26, 2023. AHMAD AROURI/IMAGO VIA REUTERS

Walid Daqqa was never able to leave the "place without a door," an expression he used to evoke prison, in his discussions with his daughter, Milad, now aged 4. The Palestinian writer, a citizen of Israel, spent 38 years in prison, where he died on Sunday, April 7, at the age of 62. He was suffering from a rare form of bone marrow cancer, diagnosed in December 2022. Last year, the Israeli legal system rejected his request for early release on health grounds. Since October 7, 2023, Daqqa "has been tortured, humiliated, denied family visits and has faced further medical neglect. During this period, he was transferred to hospital twice due to health deteriorations," warned the NGO Amnesty International in March, calling for his release. He had only seen his lawyer once in six months.

On Monday, his brother, Assad Daqqa, explained to the online publication Arab 48 that his remains had not been returned to the family, on the orders of the minister of national security, the Jewish supremacist Itamar Ben-Gvir. Ben-Gvir wrote on X on Sunday evening that he regretted that Walid Daqqa had died naturally and would have preferred to see him sentenced to "the death penalty for terrorists." Israeli police had banned all funeral gatherings and brutally dispersed visitors who had come to pay their respects at the deceased's home in Baqa al-Gharbiyye, in central Israel. Five people were arrested for "assaulting a representative of the forces of law and order," said a police spokesperson.

Read more Subscribers only Israel refuses to release Palestinian prisoner with terminal cancer

Daqqa should have died free: He had served his original sentence. Arrested on March 25, 1986, he was sentenced the following year by an Israeli military court to life imprisonment for his membership in a Palestinian armed cell responsible for the kidnapping and murder of an Israeli soldier, Moshe Tamam, in 1984. Daqqa was not present at the time of the kidnapping and was not convicted of murder. In 2012, his life sentence was reduced to 37 years  he should have been released in March 2023. But in 2018, he was sentenced to a further two years in prison for smuggling cell phones into the prison.

Since October 7, 2023, 15 Palestinians have died in Israeli cells, according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Club. Twenty-seven other Gazan detainees have died in ad hoc detention camps, opened in the wake of the war in Gaza, from which nothing filters and where the army locks up some of those it arrests in the Palestinian enclave, outside any legal framework. In a letter addressed to the Israeli authorities and revealed by the newspaper Haaretz on April 4, a doctor working in the field hospital of one of these camps in southern Israel revealed that detainees are fed with straws, defecate in diapers and are constantly shackled.

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The triumph of Peter Pellegrini, a candidate allied with populist nationalist Prime Minister Robert Fico, in Slovakia's presidential election on Saturday, April 6, was not good news for the cohesion of the European Union, support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, or for the rule of law. Pellegrini, 48, won the second round of the election with 53% of the vote, defeating former foreign minister Ivan Korcok, a pro-European centrist who had pledged to do all he could to keep Slovakia "free and democratic."

Read more Subscribers only Result of Slovakia's presidential election asserts the country's pro-Russian shift

What was most worrying was the way in which Pellegrini managed to reverse the momentum of the first round, which saw Korcok come out well ahead with 42.5% of the vote. In the space of two weeks, Pellegrini and Fico transformed the campaign into a vote on the war in Ukraine, betting on the fear of the Slovak electorate and depicting their opponent as the caricature of a man who would drag the country into war. The image was all the more abusive given that the Slovakian Constitution does not grant the president any powers in matters of national security and defense.

Yet, in this country of 5.5 million inhabitants, which is rife with conspiracy theorists  particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic  and pro-Russian movements, which have been carefully fostered by disinformation from Moscow, the defamation struck a nerve. Votes from the far right and those of the Hungarian minority, stirred up by Budapest, gave Pellegrini the support he had lacked in the first round. Acknowledging his defeat, Korcok accused his opponent of spreading "fear." "We have seen a man who can become president by promoting hatred and passions and turning his opponent into a candidate for war," he condemned.

Complacency towards Putin

Although the office of president is largely an honorary one in Slovakia, it does allow the head of state to influence certain appointments  particularly in the justice system  and to send legislation back to Parliament. The outgoing president, Zuzana Caputova, a lawyer who had been elected in the wake of a vast popular movement against corruption, had used her position in this way; before abandoning her re-election bid, disgusted by the attacks made on her.

Strengthened by his ally's victory, Fico, who returned to power in October 2023 after having been ousted, welcomed the fact that Slovakians had recognized "the threats posed to this country by liberal media, activists, NGOs and progressives." Pellegrini, meanwhile, promised to "do everything for Slovakia to forever remain on the side of peace and not the side of war."

After having lost Poland, now led by the center-right pro-European leader Donald Tusk, Hungarian leader Viktor Orban can now count on Slovakia's unwavering support within the European Union. He and Fico share the same complacency towards Vladimir Putin's regime  with which they have maintained contact  the same refusal to help Ukraine defend itself, and the same contempt for the laws of democracy. This does not mean that the EU is impotent; at recent European summits, Fico has avoided using his veto power on aid to Ukraine, preferring to safeguard the economic advantages conferred on him by Brussels. However, this pro-Russian surge in Central Europe calls for vigilance and a firm stance.

Read more Subscribers only Tusk's return as PM sends populists back to opposition in Poland
France's foreign minister said on Monday, April 8, it was no longer in Paris's "interest" to talk to Russia after differing accounts emerged from a rare phone call about last month's deadly attack on a Moscow concert hall.

"It is not in our interest currently to hold discussions with Russian officials because the statements and the summaries issued about them are lies," Stephane Sejourne told broadcasters France24 and RFI.

Read more Subscribers only France denies Russia's claim of Ukraine talks after rare phone call yields different accounts

French President Emmanuel Macron last week slammed what he termed Russia's "bizarre and threatening" tone following a conversation between French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu. France said Lecornu had aimed to pass on to Moscow "useful information" about the March 22 attack that killed more than 140 people near the Russian capital. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Lecornu's ministry had reported him as saying France was ready to step up exchanges to battle "terrorism." But Russia responded by warning France it hoped the French secret services had not been involved in the attack, according to a readout from the Russian Defense Ministry.

Read more Subscribers only Insults, provocations, cyberattacks: Russia scales up hostility toward France

Before France can talk to the Russians again, "perhaps we must first establish trust, perhaps above all have the military situation develop on the ground in Ukraine to enable a renewal of relations. This is not currently the case," said Sejourne.

Macron in February infuriated Moscow by suggesting Western troops could be deployed in Ukraine, which Russia invaded two years ago. Sejourne concluded that the "long tradition with Russia of cooperation on terrorism" had now come to a standstill.
THE NEW political party founded by Independent Dail TDs Richard ODonoghue and Michael Collins has announced its first local election candidate for the metropolitan district.

Ruth Clarke, a teacher who lives in Ashbrooke is to run for Independent Ireland on the northside at the election in June.

Its her second attempt to get elected onto Limerick City and County Council, following an unsuccessful bid in 2019 as a non-party candidate.

She said: I love our country, I love our culture, and I have been so discouraged at how this government has let the people down.

"As a mother of adult children who cannot get a mortgage, no matter how hard they work, I felt it was time to stand up for their future and join Richard ODonoghue and the rest of the TDs and candidates in building a party that will truly work for the people of this country.

READ MORE: Sinn Fein TD formally selected to contest Limerick mayoral election

Ms Clarke said her campaign will focus on key issues impacting her community, including housing, healthcare, support for mothers, and women, as well as neurodiverse individuals.

On top of this, crime prevention, responsible immigration policies, and support for the agricultural and fishing sectors are on her priority list.

Mr ODonoghue, who knows Ms Clarke from chilhood, described her as a courageous, dedicated and hardworking woman who exemplifies everything that our party stands for.
THE FORMER secretary general at the Department of Finance John Moran has officially launched his bid to become Limericks first directly elected mayor.

The Mungret man headed out to West Limerick for a launch event, joining his supporters in Newcastle Wests Longcourt House Hotel.

Among those backing him were two members of the local business community - Mary Fitzgerald of the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare and entrepreneur Karthik Gajendra originally from India and now living in Castletroy.

Addressing a crowd of around 150 people, Mr Moran described the job of mayor as massive.

Dont let any other candidates pretend this is not a big job. The role of executive mayor will be a hugely demanding role and the stakes are high if we make a mistake.

He warned against Limerick having a Liz Truss moment.

This is a reference to the former British Prime Minister, who served only 50 days in office.

During that time, she presented a mini-budget which many commentators felt put Britain on an uncertain economic footing.

Mr Moran, who served alongside Finance Minister, former Limerick TD Michael Noonan in the Department of Finance during the recession, said its critical the mayoral candidate has a passion for Limerick and making it better alongside a well-formulated, ambitious and realistic vision of Limericks future.

READ MORE: Fear the office of mayor will be a flop and not a success

He is seeking election as an Independent, one of just two non-party candidates in the running so far.

Mr Moran has pledged to provide quarterly updates if elected Limericks first citizen.

Limerick people will go to the polls to elect an executive mayor on June 7.
This Monday evening, at 6pm, Leo Varadkar arrived at Aras an Uachtarain to formally resign, and later this Tuesday, Simon Harris is set to assume the role as Irelands 15th Taoiseach - the youngest person to do so at 37.

Breaking down the day, it is said that the official proceedings in Leinster House will kick off at 10:30am when the Dail convenes.

TDs will then vote on whether Simon Harris should assume the role of Taoiseach. He will be proposed for the role by Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys.

Once the Dail vote concludes, Mr Harris will then head to Aras an Uachtarain for his formal appointment by President Micheal D. Higgins.

Following this, the new Taoiseach is expected to start assembling his new Cabinet before the Dail resumes at 5pm.

After, the new Cabinet members are anticipated to be voted for and approved by the Dail before it adjourns at 7pm.

In his speech on Saturday, April 6, Mr Harris said: "I promise you, Im gonna hit the ground running. I will stand by our values as a party and our vision as a nation.

"A tolerant, inclusive, and outward-looking society, which is fair, caring and secure. I am going to match that vision with action."

All eyes are on the new Taoiseach, with many looking to see how he deals with healthcare, housing, education and more.
The Dail has formally approved the appointment of Simon Harris as Taoiseach this Tuesday.

This makes him the youngest ever leader of the country.

Mr Harris was officially endorsed by the Dail, securing a 88 yes vote and a 69 no vote.

Due to lead the 34th government of Ireland, Mr Harris will meet President Higgins later this afternoon where he will be legally sworn into office.

At age 37, Mr Harris, who has been coined the TikTok Taoiseach, will replace Leo Varadkar as both Fine Gael leader and the countrys third leader in 16 months and in one Dail term.

During his acceptance speech for his nomination in the Dail, Mr Harris said: As Taoiseach, I promise to preside over a government committed to public service, at a time in which commitment is so urgently required.

Today I accept this new role in the spirit of humility, ready for the challenge full of energy and determination of what can be achieved. As Taoiseach, I want to bring new ideas, new energy and I hope, a new empathy to public life.

Speaking in the Dail ahead of this Tuesdays vote, Mr Varadkar, who formally resigned as Taoiseach on Monday, April 8, said that he always knew that Simon Harris would be Taoiseach one day.

He praised Mr Harris energy, empathy and experiences, as he looked at accepting the leadership role.

Mr Varadkar received a standing ovation from the majority of Dail members this morning when he gave his resignation speech this April 9. He also announced, surprisingly, that he will continue as a TD in his constituency.

Once receiving President Higgins approval, Mr Harris will form his government later this evening.

He will soon legally become the 15th Taoiseach and since 2020, was the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
LIMERICK is set to have a seat at Cabinet for the first time in almost seven years after Taoiseach Simon Harris appointed Patrick O'Donovan as the minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

It means the County Limerick TD, who was first elected to Dail Eireann in 2011, will take over the new Fine Gael leader's old Cabinet position.

The last local TD in Cabinet was Michael Noonan, who served as finance minister up to May 2017, when he told the then new Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar he did not wish to be considered for a role in government.

He subsequently retired as a TD after the 2020 general election.

Mr O'Donovan, 47, joins fellow County Limerick TD, Fianna Fail's Niall Collins in the same department. Mr Collins is the minister of state at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

READ MORE: Extra speed ramps to be considered for Limerick estate

Married to Eileen, Mr O'Donovan is the father of three children - one boy and two girls.

Huge coup for #Limerick given everything going on in UL.



Well done Minister @podonovan https://t.co/jc2t3h9eB7  Cllr Daniel Butler (@DanielButlerFG) April 9, 2024

He was co-opted onto the old Limerick County Council in 2003 to replace former Fine Gael TD Michael Finucane following the end of the dual mandate, which allowed councillors to serve in the Dail at the same time.

Mr O'Donovan has only tasted electoral defeat once in his career - his 2007 Seanad bid to get on the Labour panel.

The Newcastle West man retained his council seat at the 2004 and 2009 local elections, before securing a place on the Fine Gael ticket to contest the 2011 general election.

From there, he was elected to Dail Eireann aged just 33.

After retaining his seat in 2016, he was appointed minister of state at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

When Mr Varadkar came to power, he moved to a junior ministerial role at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

In the current administration, he was given what was considered to be among the most high-profile of the junior ministries, at the Office of Public Works.

Now, he has been appointed into a senior Cabinet role.

Croagh-based Fine Gael councillor Stephen Keary, who is Mr O'Donovan's father-in-law, has welcomed the appointment.

He said: "He has been a Fine Gael TD for 14 years, and has excelled in his role. It's only fitting he was elevated to a full ministerial position."

"Patrick is very much involved in education himself. He was a chemical engineer and a primary school teacher. He knows first level, second level and third level really well. I think he will do a very good job," added Cllr Keary.
Google is making more of its own chips, rolling out new hardware that can handle everything from YouTube advertising to big data analysis as the company tries to combat rising artificial-intelligence costs.

The new chip, called Axion, adds to Googles efforts stretching back more than a decade to develop new computing resources, beginning with specialized chips used for AI work. Google has leaned into that strategy since the late 2022 release of ChatGPT kicked off an arms race that has threatened its dominant position as a gateway to the internet.

The chip efforts promise to reduce Googles reliance on outside vendors and bring it into competition with longtime partners such as Intel and Nvidia, analysts said. Google officials said they didnt view it as a competition.

I see this as a basis for growing the size of the pie," said Amin Vahdat, the Google vice president overseeing the companys in-house chip operations.

Googles larger competitors in the cloud, Amazon.com and Microsoft, have also poured money into making their own chips as the AI boom has intensified demand for computing resources.

Google owed much of its early success to an investment in the chips necessary to fuel the companys web search algorithm. That often meant piecing together cheap, commercially available hardware in novel ways.

The boom in AI and its need for vastly more computing resources has pushed Google further in the direction of custom solutions. It has credited specialized AI chips it built, known as tensor processing units, or TPUs, with helping save money on services that make heavy use of AI.

Google has worked closely with semiconductor company Broadcom since 2016 to produce bespoke hardware.

Broadcoms custom-chip division had a surge in business after Google rapidly increased production of TPUs recently, Chief Executive Hock Tan said during a March internal presentation. The increase, he said, was partly in response to Microsoft incorporating AI features into its Bing search engine, going directly after Googles core business.

They bought a ton," Tan said, according to a recording viewed by The Wall Street Journal. They sure did."

The Broadcom divisions operating profit of more than $1 billion in a single recent quarter came mostly from Googles business, Tan said. Broadcom didnt respond to a request for comment.

Google Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat told investors in January to expect notably larger spending on technical infrastructure such as AI chips this year. Parent company Alphabets fourth-quarter capital expenditures rose by almost half to $11 billion from a year earlier.

Known as central processing units, or CPUs, Axion chips are suitable for a range of tasks including powering Googles search engine and AI-related work. They can play an important supporting role in AI by helping to process large amounts of data and handling the deployment of the services to billions of users, Google officials said.

Axion is based on circuitry from the British chip-design firm Arm, making Google the third big tech company after Amazon and Microsoft to use that framework for a data center CPU. The shift has supplanted an old status quo where big operators of server farms bought their CPUs almost exclusively from Intel and Advanced Micro Devices.

Google has resisted selling chips directly to customers to install in their own data centers. The move would push the company more directly into competition with Intel and Nvidia, the biggest winner of the AI boom so far with more than 80% of the market for chips used to develop and serve the technology.

Becoming a great hardware company is very different from becoming a great cloud company or a great organizer of the worlds information," Googles Vahdat said.

Google has chosen instead to rent custom chips to cloud customers. It said the Axion chips will become accessible to external customers later this year, and the latest generation of its TPUs was now widely available.

In November, Google said it successfully connected more than 50,000 TPUs to build AI systems, what it called the largest effort of its kind. Google created Gemini using TPUs and will exclusively use the chips for processing user queries.

The companys growing cloud business has required balancing the competing demands of internal teams and demand from AI startups such as Anthropic, a situation made more difficult by widespread supply constraints.

Some teams inside Google have been told they wont get any additional computing resources this year, partly because of growing demand for AI services, people familiar with the matter said.

Vahdat said Google prioritizes the fastest-growing products and services when deciding which areas should get more computing resources.

Googles in-house chip efforts began with a 2013 breakthrough in voice-recognition technology.

Jeff Dean, a longtime engineering leader, told the systems infrastructure division that Google would need to roughly double the number of chips held in its data centers if the tech became widely used. That was really the first taste of this impending issue," he said.

When Google designed the first version of the TPU a few years later, Dean lobbied executives to purchase more than the company originally budgeted. Researchers later used them to create a software system called Transformers that became the basis for generative AI products such as ChatGPT.

Google has had mixed success opening access to outside customers. While Google has signed up prominent startups including chatbot maker Character and image-generation business Midjourney, some developers have found it difficult to build software for the chips.

Google said it has worked with Nvidia and other tech companies on a software project, OpenXLA, aiming to make it easier to develop AI systems across different chip types.

Anthropic, one of the largest users of TPUs, in September began moving some AI needs to custom chips developed by Amazon after the cloud giant agreed to invest up to $4 billion. Google later committed $2 billion in funding to Anthropic and said it had expanded its partnership with the startup.

AssemblyAI, a startup working on speech-to-text products, built the latest version of its technology on TPUs after encountering issues securing GPUs early last year, said CEO Dylan Fox. From an availability perspective, weve been really happy," he said.

The new Axion processors improve performance by up to 30% compared with the fastest similar Arm-based chips available in the cloud, according to Googles internal data. It said customers including Snap were planning to test the new hardware.

Googles investment in Axion would be worth it if the company achieved only half of its claimed performance improvements, said Forrester principal analyst Mike Gualtieri. It still faces intense competition from the other large cloud companies for new business, he said.

This is going to be like any other set of web services that these hyperscalers offer," Gualtieri said. Its going to be sort of tit-for-tat back and forth."
IndusInd International Holdings Ltd, a Mauritius-based investment firm led by the Hinduja brothers, has agreed to acquire a 60% stake in Invesco Asset Management India Ltd to form an asset management joint venture.

Other deal terms werent disclosed.

Invesco Mutual Fund, which holds about $1.6 trillion in assets under management globally, will retain a 40% stake in the JV. Its Indian arm holds 85,393 crore in assets under management.

IIHL, a promoter of Indias fifth-largest private sector lender, IndusInd Bank Ltd, recently concluded a deal to acquire Reliance Capital Ltd and its subsidiaries via a resolution plan approved by the National Companies Law Tribunal.

It was our vision to transform IIHL into a BFSI powerhouse, Ashok Hinduja, chairman, IIHL, said in a statement on Tuesday announcing the joint venture.

IIHLs investment portfolio includes IndusInd Bank, Sterling Bank and Trust Ltd-Bahamas, capital market assets (Afrinex Exchange Ltd-Mauritius with a cumulative listing of $13.5 billion of underlying securities), and wealth management services (Beryllus Capital-UK, Switzerland and Singapore).
Edtech firm Byju's on Monday started paying salaries for March after delaying it for two months. The salary payout process is expected to be completed by April 18.

In an e-mail sent to its employees seen by the Economic Times, the edtech company stated that it has arranged an alternative line of credit to pay salaries on time.

We are pleased to inform you that salary disbursement has commenced today and will be completed over the next 10 days. However, we have arranged an alternative line of credit to ensure timely payments. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding throughout this period, the email read, as per the ET report.

However, Byju's has still not secured any approval to access the rights issue funds. Presently, the company is not allowed to use the proceeds of recently floated rights issue.

Byju's-Investors dispute Byju's investors including Prosus NV, Peak XV Partners, General Atlantic, and Sofina SA, have filed a plea challenging the company's decision to raise $200 million at a post-money valuation of $225 million.

Following this, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has ordered Byju's to retain the funds from the rights issue in an escrow account until the plea is resolved, resulting in staff salaries getting delayed. The company also sought arbitration in its dispute with its key investors.

The NCLT has given Byju's 10 days to file its response in the matter. The case will be next heard on April 23. On April 5, an arbitrator asked Byju's to not sell the shares of a group firm after it breached terms of loans worth $42 million.

Byju's current valuation The startup, which was once valued at $22 billion, has seen its valuation fall sharply after a series of investigations by regulators and allegations by investors. Byju's continues to deny any wrongdoing. It is now valued around $250 million, a steep fall of 99 per cent from its peak.
MUMBAI : A staggering 960 million Indians above 18 years are eligible to vote in the seven-phase national elections starting 19 April; and India's corporate citizens are pulling out all stops to make sure maximum employees join the great democratic exercise.

From IT companies like Tata Consultancy Services to e-commerce giants like Amazon, from consultancies such as KPMG to manpower biggies like Quess Corp, India Inc. is offering holidays, remote work, and other flexibilities for employees to have a say in who governs them. Some are letting their employees travel to cities where they are enrolled as voters, allowing them to work remotely for a few days.

HCL Technologies, Bigbasket, Tata Sons, and Panasonic India, among others, have started alerting their employees on their leave, remote work and travel policies this election.

"All employees are given special leave to vote as per their office base locations. Colleagues who need to travel from their official base location to their voting constituency can also avail special leave after informing their performance manager," said consulting and audit firm KPMG India in an email response to Mint.

A senior executive of Tata Sons, the holding company of Tata group firms, said the firm will give a day off to its employees to cast their votes. Tata Sons' employees are based in Mumbai.

IT service companies with a large number of employees across the country have announced off days for polling. Noida-based HCL Technologies, with 2,24,756 employees, said it will offer leave. Similarly, a Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) executive said India's largest IT firm will offer the day off to employees working in locations where voting is to be held. While Mint could not independently ascertain whether TCS employees will be officially allowed to travel to their respective constituencies to vote, it has learnt that some team managers might allow their employees to travel.

As of the quarter ended 31 December 2023, India's largest IT company employed 6,03,305 people. TCS did not respond to Mint's queries.

E-commerce giant Amazon said will provide its employees and associates paid holiday for voting. Flipkart is encouraging its employees to exercise their franchise. It said its office will be shut on polling day in Bengaluru, and all employees will be given paid leave to vote, including those who may travel to their respective constituency to cast their votes.

Corporate hubs such as Bengaluru, Gurugram, Pune, Hyderabad and Mumbai may see employees head to their respective hometowns to cast their votes. In Mumbai, which goes to the polls on 20 May, BSE and National Stock Exchange will remain closed.

SaaS automotive retail startup Tekion has declared holidays for Bengaluru and Chennai offices on the respective election dates, and is encouraging its employees to travel to their hometowns where they are listed as voters for the polling day.

HSBC provides three days' off in a year as a part of its election leave quota and, employees can also choose to work half day on such occasions, a employee said. Diversified tech firm Panasonic India will offer employees the option of travelling to vote.

Recruitment firms say remote work will be an option for their employees. To avail of this option, information about election dates in each phase and state, and local holiday for voting must be made available. Further, employees belonging to other states can travel and vote while working remotely, said Lohit Bhatia, president of workforce management at business services provider Quess Corp.

Some firms, however, are awaiting state government circulars regarding holidays and will announce the mandates later. "We are guided by the Shops and Establishments Act and, hence, need to look at the government orders and then announce the leaves for those days," said the HR head of a diversified business house.
The Michelin Guide awarded its first honours for hotels, giving just 24 establishments in France the highest three keys rating.

At an event on Monday, April 8 in Paris, the eponymous publication owned by the French tiremaker unveiled its selection of the 189 best places to stay in the nation, awarding them one, two or three key emblems. The company is capitalizing on its renown as an arbiter of fine dining through its annual star awards for restaurantswhich similarly max out at three starsto make further inroads into the hospitality sector.

Among the French hotels given the top distinction are two owned by high-end brand juggernaut LVMHCheval Blanc Paris and Cheval Blanc Courchevelas well as 19 others in the capital, the Alps or on the Mediterranean coast. Outside of those regions, three key hotels include Domaine Les Crayeres, Le Royal Champagne and Les Sources de Caudalie in the wine-growing regions of Champagne and Bordeaux.

What really counts for us is the experience, said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, in an interview. It has to be memorable and singular in a way that will give people a feel for local character.

He cited the Airelles Chateau de Versailles  Le Grand Controle for being inside the castle grounds and Villa La Coste, a 570-acre estate in Provence, for doubling as an open-air museum through its exceptional architecture and private art collection, which currently includes works by Damien Hirst, Alexander Calder and Yoko Ono.

The Michelin Guide is entering a crowded market for hospitality rankings that can be confusing for travellers. The move is part of the companys long-planned bid to capture more of the travel market at a time when global economies and consumer spending have slowed compared with the post-pandemic boom. The decision to start with France reflects the companys home nation as a hub of luxury hospitality and coincides with the lead-up to the Paris Olympics.

For visitors to the City of Light, the key awards may help parse options that look comparable from a distance. For instance, the French government has been granting top hotels the palace distinction since 2010 as a way to help consumers identify hotels with both heritage and ample modern luxuriesthere are 31 of them in total, mostly in Paris, the Alps and the Cote dAzur.

While there is some overlap with Michelins three-key winners, there are also notable exceptions such as the Hotel de Crillon, the Royal Monceau and the Peninsula, which all came away from Michelins first award ceremony with two keys. Of the 12 Paris palaces only five were granted three keys.

According to an official Michelin announcement, one key denotes that a place is special, two make it exceptional and three extraordinary.

The guide is completely independent, Poullennec said, adding that it doesnt take into account whether a hotel is part of a chain or has an administrative classification like a star, or even whether it has a pool, spa, a certain staff-guest ratio or even air-conditioning. The criteria include such considerations as local character, individuality, excellence in architecture and interior design, top service, comfort and a consistent value-for-price. Importantly, Poullennec added, Michelin inspectors are full-time employees and pay all their hotel and travel billsa departure from the way that other rankings, like the Worlds 50 Best Hotels and La Liste, are compiled.

Were also not afraid to say a restaurant is really good but travellers should sleep somewhere else, he said.

Michelins first rating of some of the 640 French hotels listed on its site will be followed by similar lists in the US and elsewhere. The French distinctions come five years after the company acquired Tablet Hotels, a booking website for boutique and luxury hotels, for an undisclosed sum. That sites interface and hotels database now power a portal on the Michelin Guide site where consumers can browse a curated selection of accommodationsmany with Michelin-rated restaurantsand make reservations.

The company gets commissions for bookings, but for the moment it doesnt have any sponsorship deals with tourism authorities as it does with its culinary guides. (Michelin has had tourism boards pay up to $600,000 to lure the guidebooks reviewers, in efforts to cash in on their restaurant scenes.) Were not excluding the possibility of that in the future, Poullennec said.

Below are the winners in the three-key category. Baumaniere, Les Baux-de-Provence

Cheval Blanc Courchevel

Cheval Blanc Paris

Domaine Les Crayeres, Reims

Four Seasons George V, Paris

Four Seasons Megeve

Grand Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes

Hotel du Castellet, Le Castellet

La Bastide de Gordes, Gordes

La Reserve Paris

La Reserve Ramatuelle, Saint Tropez

Le Bristol Paris

Le K2 Palace, Courchevel

Le Meurice, Paris

Le Royal Champagne, Champillon

Les Sources de Caudalie, outside Bordeaux

Plaza Athenee, Paris

Ritz Paris Saint James Paris

Villa La Coste, Le Puy-Sainte-Reparade
Billionaire Elon Musk on April 9 claimed that the Brazilian employees of his social media site X (formerly known as Twitter), are being threatened with arrest. The tech mogul further added that all details he has on Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes will be shared after his employees are safe.

We need to get our employees in Brazil to a safe place or otherwise not in a position of responsibility, then we will do a full data dump. They have been told they will be arrested, he stated.

Musk's post on X came in response to Brazilian politician Nikolas Ferreira, calling him out to prove his claims against Judge de Moraes and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

"Elon said that Alexandre has Lula on a leash and that he put his finger on the scale to elect him. As a member of the Brazilian congress and representing millions of people, I ask you to give us more information. This will be crucial for the future of our country," Ferreira wrote.

Musk has been publically feuding with the Brazilian Supreme Court, especially Judge de Moraes, for some time now over "censorship" claims.

Musk vs Alexandre: What has happened so far? On April 7 Musk called for the de Moraes' removal, accusing him of censorship for blocking accounts suspected of spreading disinformation.

The billionaire entrepreneur claimed de Moraes has brazenly and repeatedly betrayed the constitution and people of Brazil. He should resign or be impeached."

The series of scathing attacks against the Brazilian justice began on Saturday evening, as the Space X chief took to X and stated, We will probably lose all revenue in Brazil and have to shut down our office there." Musk alleged that de Moraes was threatening to cut off access" to the platform and said, But principles matter more than profit."

On Sunday, the Brazilian Supreme Court Justice opened an inquiry into Musk, accusing him of obstructing justice through his social media company X, as per a court document.

All about Brazilian SC Judge Alexandre de Moraes The Brazilian Supreme Court justice, who is in the limelight, is one of the 11 members of Brazil's High Court who presides over the country's Superior Electoral Tribunal, or TSE.

Critics accuse de Moraes of limiting and prohibiting free speech in Brazil. However, the judge is known to have led the battle against disinformation in Brazil. Recently, de Moraes ordered the blocking of accounts of influential figures on social media. It was reported that most of these blocked influential figures were supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc.s co-head of its China business, E.G. Morse, will retire after 16 years at the firm, according to an internal memo.

Morse relocated to Shanghai from Singapore in 2022 to help with the US banks expansion in the worlds second-largest economy. Prior to that, he was head of Singapore, where he oversaw Goldmans activities across South Asia. He joined the bank in 2008, according to the memo which was confirmed by a bank spokesman.

His departure comes amid a string of exits across global investment banking in China. Firms are recalibrating their approach to the nation as geopolitical tension has dented once ambitious plans amid a decline in dealmaking. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s head of China also announced his retirement earlier this year.

Kevin Sneader, Goldmans president of Asia-Pacific ex-Japan, said in January that he felt good about its China presence, citing opportunities in renewables, new energy vehicles and other areas of the new economy that China is well-positioned to capture.
Chinese officials have dismissed concerns raised by the U.S. Treasury Secretary that it should scale back on industrial production, saying that the country is developing its economy appropriately and warning against the use of protectionism.

There are disagreements over the issue of overcapacity, Chinas deputy finance minister, Liao Min, said Monday at a press briefing at the end of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellens second trip to the country.

Over the past few days, Yellen had pressed senior Chinese officials on scaling back industrial production, saying that a wave of Chinese goods could overwhelm American industry and urging Beijing to bolster domestic consumption to absorb its industrial supply.

The so-called overcapacity is the manifestation of the market mechanism that plays its role. The balance between supply and demand is relative, while imbalance is often the norm," Liao said at the briefing.

Such imbalances can occur in any market-based economy and have happened many times in Western countries including the U.S., Liao said. When these imbalances emerge, they should be solved mainly via market mechanisms, he added.

Turning to electric vehicles, one of the countrys most successful exports and a focal point of trade tensions, Liao said current global production capacity is far from enough to meet market demand, especially in many developing countries.

The competitive advantages of Chinas new-energy industry are rooted in the countrys massive market, complete industrial system and abundant human resources, and are inseparable from the huge investment in research and innovation undertaken by Chinese companies and entrepreneurs, said Liao.

Trade protectionism wont help solve capacity issues and China firmly opposes such efforts, the minister said. Introducing protectionist policies into the new-energy sector would likely impede countries ability to deal with climate change, Liao added.

In an interview with the state-run China Daily on Monday, officials from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said they will ramp up efforts to encourage the countrys EV companies to compete overseas. These efforts include aligning domestic and foreign standards, and strengthening transportation services.

Restrictive measures imposed by certain countries and regions" undermine the interests of global consumers, the officials said, according to the report.

Write to Singapore Editors at singaporeeditors@dowjones.com
New Delhi: India- and US-backed Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) is set to draw up a charter to achieve its objective of promoting biofuels and lowering the dependence on fossil fuels, two people aware of the developments said.

Talks are also underway on its governance structure including the creation of a governing body and a secretariat.

"We will now look at preparing the charter, which will help in finalizing the governance structure -- executive body, secretariat and general secretary of the alliance. Talks for the governance structure have been ongoing for sometime now. But preparing the charter and finalizing the governance structure will take time," said one of the persons mentioned above.

Work at the alliance is currently taken up by its temporary executive committee. The person mentioned above also said that the temporary executive committee is likely to meet in April to discuss the way forward for the alliance. The meeting is expected to be on the sidelines of a G20 working group meeting in Brazil.

One of a series of meetings of G20 working groups, the Energy Transition Working Group would meet on 15 April.

"We are looking at having a physical meeting of the temporary executive committee of the alliance soon, may be in Brazil on the sidelines of upcoming G20 meetings in April," said the person, but added that the committee may not take major decisions on this front.

Queries mailed to the ministry of petroleum and natural gas remained unanswered till press time.

This would be second meeting of the temporary executive committee, which has representatives from all the member countries of the alliance. The committee had first met in December on the sidelines of the COP28 in the United Arab Emirates.

After the first meeting of the committee union minister for petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri had tweeted: "Since the launch of #GBA by PM @narendramodi at #G20Summit2023 in New Delhi, we have successfully convened the first Temporary Executive Committee meeting, seen our membership swell to 22 countries & represented #GBA at #CoP28."

Conceptualized by India during its G20 presidency in 2023, the platform is aimed at bringing together the biggest consumers and producers of biofuels to drive development and deployment of biofuels and reduce the reliance on crude amid ambitious net zero goals.

Panama and Burundi have joined the alliance since the last meeting, said the second person.

The eight G20 countries which are members of the alliance are Argentina, Brazil, India, Canada, Italy, Japan, South Africa and the US. The other member countries include Bangladesh, Singapore, Mauritius, UAE, Iceland, Kenya, Guyana, Paraguay, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Finland, Tanzania and Philippines.

The alliance launched on 9 September on the sidelines of the G20 Leadership Summit was initially conceptualized with a view to getting all G20 members on board. However, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia have so far stayed out.

Russia and Saudi Arabia are major crude oil producers. Further, several European countries have also refrained from joining due to concerns over deforestation caused by key source plants such as palm and soy.

In an interview to Mint in September, union minister for petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri said that the alliance will work on the definition and specification of biofuels, and also increase international cooperation through a virtual marketplace.

According to Statista, in 2022, the global biofuels market was valued at nearly $117 billion and may reach $201.2 billion by the end of this decade.
Talks between India and South American trade bloc Mercosur have been put on the back burner with both sides focused on concluding their long-pending free-trade agreements with other regions, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told Mint.

The talks were meant to expand the number of products enjoying low- or no-tariff benefits under a preferential trade agreement from about 450 to 1,500-2,000.

The trade bloc comprises Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, apart from associate member nations such as Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.

While Mercosurs current focus is on concluding its much-delayed free trade agreement with the European Union, India, which is heading into a general election, aims to conclude similar trade agreements with the UK and Oman, while also starting the eighth round of FTA negotiations with the EU next month.

"As far as Mercosur is concerned, the priority is to sign the FTA with the EU. However, talks between both regions on the FTA, which was close to conclusion, have been delayed due to various factors including the economic slowdown in Europe," the person mentioned above said, requesting anonymity.

"Expanding the (South American) bloc's existing preferential trade agreement with India is currently not a priority for now, though this could be worked on in the future," this person said. "While Mercosur members are having individual national discussions on the topic of expanding the PTA with India, the blocs long-delayed FTA with the EU has taken precedence."

Expanding the preferential trade agreement with Mercosur nations is key for India to increase its trade in the South American region.

While Indias trade with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region has grown strongly since 2000, New Delhi has maintained a relatively narrow trading agreement with Mercosur nations.

At present, India and the Mercosur bloc have agreed on tariff concessions ranging from 10% to 100% on 450 and 452 tariff lines, respectively, under the preferential trade agreement, which has been operational since 2009.

Spokespersons of the ministry of external affairs, ministry of commerce and industries and the embassies of Mercosur member countries in New Delhi didn't respond to emailed queries.

In 2022, total trade between India and LAC region stood at about $49 billion, largely attributable to Indias trade with only a handful of countries from the regionBrazil (30% imports, 56% exports), Colombia (12% imports, 8% exports), and Argentina (18% imports, 5% exports), according to the Confederation of Indian Industry.

As things stand, Indias external affairs minister S. Jaishankar has proposed increasing trade between India and the LAC region to $100 billion.

While exports from the LAC region to India largely comprise extractive and agricultural products such as petroleum oils, pearls and precious stones, and vegetable oils, India majorly exports manufactured commodities such as motor vehicles, organic chemicals, and chemical products to those nations.

According to the Indian embassies in Paraguay and Argentina, the Mercosur bloc has become a successful regional market of more than 290 million people with a GDP of more than $2 trillion.

"(Mercosur) is the fourth-largest integrated market after the EU, Nafta (North American Free Trade Agreement), and Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Its biggest trading partner is the European Union," the Indian Embassy in Paraguay said on its official website while commenting on the bilateral trade between the regions.

Mercosur nations and the EU began talks on an FTA in 1999. Both sides restarted negotiations in 2010 following a suspension in talks soon after. In 2019, the two regions reached a political agreement for an ambitious, balanced and comprehensive trade agreement.
In Arunachal Pradesh for the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, April 9 vehemently criticised China for renaming several areas of India's northeastern state. Although India wants to maintain good relations with its neighbours, if someone tries to hurt its honour, then India has the power to respond to it, the defence minister stated.

Rajnath Singh also wondered whether a similar attempt by India would result in those areas of the neighbouring country becoming parts of our territory.

Addressing an election rally at Namsai in Arunachal Pradesh east constituency, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader acknowledged that China changed the names of 30 places in the state. But it would not change the ground reality, he noted.

'Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India' Asserting that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India, the defence minister said that such activities of China will deteriorate the relationship between the two countries.

I want to ask China if we change the names of various states of the neighbouring country, will those be parts of our territory? Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say that friends change in life but neighbours do not change. Because of such activities, the relation between India and China will deteriorate, Rajnath said.

We want to maintain good relations with all our neighbours. But if anybody tries to harm our honour, India has the capability to give a befitting reply, the defence minister asserted.

Earlier this month, India outrightly rejected as "senseless" China renaming some places in Arunachal Pradesh, and asserted that assigning "invented" names does not alter the reality that the state "is, has been, and will always be" an integral part of India.

Beijing had recently announced Chinese names for 30 more places in Arunachal Pradesh, which the neighbouring country claims as the southern part of Tibet.

Viksit Bharat is not our slogan but our commitment The defence minister also emphasised that everyone should give their full support to the BJP-led NDA government which has pledged to make India a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.
New Delhi: Around 2017, two years after Tata SIA Airlines Ltd, which operates the airline Vistara, began operations, a board member brought up an unusual matter. In a meeting at the airlines headquarters in Gurugram, he pointed out that the airlines cabin crew members werent comfortable enough in the shoes they wear during flights.

In the aviation industry, the issue of uncomfortable crew shoes is not a Vistara-specific problem. All airlines face it but dress code requirements prevent most airlines from looking for alternatives. Vistara, whose female cabin crew members wear aubergine-and-gold trouser suits designed by fashion house Abraham & Thakore, too, couldnt make changes because it would have compromised the design and colour scheme of the uniform, the executive recalled.

Normally, such issues are not raised at the board level. However, any employee issue was taken up very seriously back then with an intent to address it," said a former Vistara executive who didnt want to be identified. The airline did not comment on Mints query regarding this board meeting.

Cut to 2024. There is a sea-change in how employee concerns are now being handled, several people Mint spoke to alleged. Some employees, particularly pilots, have been offered a take it or leave it deal as Vistara merges with Air India, the airline the Tata Group took over in January 2022. What we found was significant discontent and anxiety about the future among a section of the staff.

Under the new structure, already followed at Air India, the pilots of Vistara will get a fixed salary for 40 hours a month, instead of 70 hours they received earlier.

The issue came to the fore earlier this month after Vistara had to cancel nearly 30-50 flights per daypilots started to report sick, in protest against a new pay policy first announced in February this year.

The Tata Group is seeking to implement a uniform pay structure, which effectively reduces the salaries of Vistara pilots by bringing them at par with Air India. Under the new structure, already followed at Air India, the pilots of Vistara will get a fixed salary for 40 hours a month, instead of 70 hours they received earlier. In addition, pilots will receive payment in lieu of extra flying hours and rewards based on the years of service. The new structure would result in a monthly pay reduction between 80,000 and 1.4 lakh for first officers or junior pilots, they estimated. Some unhappy pilots negotiated with the management but an ultimatum came in mid-March to agree to the new structure.

The problem is not so much with senior pilots or commanders. It is mainly with junior pilots like us. Also, there is no clarity on our career progression, or upgrading to flying long-haul on bigger aircraft," said a first officer who did not want to be identified.

There is no clarity on our career progression, or upgrading to flying long-haul on bigger aircraft. A Vistara pilot

Senior pilots are more in demand because there is a shortage in the industry. They can easily do more flying hours unlike first officers, where currently there is no shortage. India produces about 500 pilots a year, according to industry estimates. After training, they all join as junior pilots.

Many of us have concerns about joining Air India since we feel that the new system may not be fair to Vistara employees," the pilot quoted above added.

The way we are being treated now has led to a lot of anxiety. Many of us are already looking for a job," an employee who is not a pilot said. This employee, too, didnt want to be identified. Vistara, in a statement issued on 6 April, said that 98% of the pilots have agreed to the new pay structure. So, only a minority are still resisting.

Vistara currently has over 6,000 employees, including more than 1,000 pilots. Nonetheless, the question is if this discontent and anxiety will impact Air Indias operations, going ahead. Will it add to a host of other integration challenges the Tata Group faces? Any integration has finance, legal and cultural threads that need to be connected.

View Full Image R. Gopalakrishnan, former director at Tata Sons. (Mint)

In any integration, whether it is steel, aviation, motor, chemicals, there are cultural issues. When I was in service 15 years ago, when we were doing a lot of international acquisitions, there was financial due diligence, legal due diligence and we also prepared a kit for cultural due diligence," R. Gopalakrishnan, a former director at Tata Sons and the current non-executive chairman of Castrol India, said.

Cultural issues come out of people, financial issues out of transactions and legal issues out of structures. Structures, people, and transactions are what constitute the three cables that need to be connected," he added. We will circle back to the culture clash at Vistara-Air India a bit later. First, a quick peek at people leading the integration.

A tough task

Air India was acquired by the Tata Group under a government-led strategic disinvestment programme in January 2022. Later that year, the Tata group announced a merger between Air India and Vistara.

Vistara is currently a 51:49 joint venture of Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines and commenced operations in 2015. Post the merger, Singapore Airlines will hold a 25.1% stake in the merged entity.

A transformation team, set up by Air India, is facilitating the merger. The team has three executives each from Vistara and Air India, besides consultants from the Boston Consulting Group, an American management consulting firm. It is headed by Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan, who has also been designated as the chief integration officer. Other members from Vistara include the airlines heads of flight operations and human resources (HR). Representatives from Air India include its HR head. Several department-specific sub-teams report to the transformation team.

Together, they have the difficult task of finding suitable placements for Vistara employees in the new Air India. The transformation team is also facing the brunt of employee angst.

Size matters

To be fair, the Tata Group did try to calm the nerves. In early 2023, Bhaskar Bhat, Vistaras former chairman, held a town hall for employees. He said that employees need not worry about their future in the merged entity since they have a proven track record of establishing an airline that is admired by many.

This town hall addressed most of the concerns and employees were hopeful that all of us would be absorbed in the merged entity," said an employee, who did not want to be identified. Nonetheless, some employees couldnt find roles that match their current designation.

View Full Image Bhaskar Bhat, former chairman of Vistara. (Mint)

Recently, an executive from Vistara met the transformation team and requested that a deputy general manager (DGM), one of the better performers, be given a similar designation and role in the merged entity. He was told that a DGM in Vistara cant be compared with a similar ranking officer in Air India. That the same designation wont happen," said an employee in the know who didnt want to be identified either.

The roles arent comparable because Air India is a far bigger airline. While Vistara currently has a fleet of 70 aircraft, Air India has double the number at 142, as per aircraft tracking website Flightradar24. While Vistara generated revenue of 11,784 crore in 2022-23, Air India is nearly three times biggerit generated 31,377 crore during the year, regulatory filings show.

Some executives from departments such as ground services, revenue and corporate communications have already quit, pointing to the lack of desired roles or role overlaps in the merged entity. Like we mentioned earlier, pilots started resisting the uniform pay structure since February.

The view from AI

View Full Image Campbell Wilson, the chief executive officer and managing director of Air India. (Reuters)

What does Air India think of employees joining them from Vistara?

Air India has embarked on a five-year transformation plan titled Vihaan.AI. It is centred around five key pillarscustomer experience, robust operations, talent development, industry leadership and commercial efficiency. Clearly, the airline needs talent who can execute plans around these pillars. A year ago, in March 2023, Mint quoted Campbell Wilson, the CEO and MD of Air India, in a report: We are looking at what we do differently moving forward. One, we need to attract and retain talent to support our growth and improve our capability. We need to adopt a more performance-oriented culture with clear objectives, and consequences for under-performance." A senior Air India executive, who did not want to be identified, reiterated this view. Attempts will be made to bring everyone on board but the offer being made (to Vistara employees) will be completely based on merit," he said.

While Vistara employees feel that they naturally merit a space in the merged entity because they launched a full-service airline and grew the business in a fiercely competitive market, Air Indias executives do not quite agree. Vistara and its employees have done a great job of starting an airline from scratch and establishing it but the requirements at Air India are different," the executive quoted above said.

Air Indias challenges are going to be very different and all Vistara employees may not fit the bill. An Air India executive

He explained that Air India is already an established airline and now, the company needs expertise so that it can compete with the best airlines in the world. For instance, Air India wants to aggressively expand operations internationally. Vistaras employees dont have much experience in international operations. Second, because it was government owned, Air India has legacy headaches to deal with, and many operational issues to resolve. As a government entity, cost of operations wasnt much of a bother for Air India but under the Tatas, streamlining expenseswhich may include renegotiating supplier contractsis a priority.

Vistara, being a startup, may not have executives with experience in handling such complexity, he said.

Air Indias challenges and path to growth are going to be very different and all Vistara employees may not fit the bill at the levels they are at today," he added.

Air India wants to aggressively expand operations internationally. Vistara employees dont have much experience in international operations.

We have mentioned earlier as well that the integration of Air India-Vistara is a merger for growth and presents immense future prospects for the workforce of the merged airline. As we proceed with the process, we are committed to offering fair and equitable opportunities to all employees of both airlines and ensuring that employees of Vistara find meaningful and relevant roles in the integrated entity," a spokesperson from Vistara said in response to queries from Mint. Although the transition may involve adjustments, our priority remains the professional development and well-being of our employees. Our commitment to our staff remains unwavering as we move ahead in this transformative phase, offering ongoing support and guidance to ensure a seamless transition for all," the spokesperson added.

Culture clashes

View Full Image Vistara had a market share 6.9% in Feb 2021, which inched up to 9.9% in Feb 2024. (PTI)

One of the executives quoted above hinted at two different cultures. The culture clash is between a new company and an old corporation (Air India was founded by J.R.D. Tata as Tata Airlines in 1932 and the government of India bought a majority stake in 1953); between employees who want to delight customers and employees who for decades may not have cared about market share growth.

Vistara created a stronger brand with strong customer loyalty. They dont want to play second-fiddle at Air India," said an industry executive who has previously headed airline operations. He didnt want to be quoted. Air India, the executive added, cannot implement the Vistara style of working without clearing out some factions, and learning about people who genuinely create value versus those who manage bosses well.

The Vistara style came from focusing on the basics, and finding ways to delight customers. Todays Air India is not J.R.D. Tatas Air India. Vistara came closest to inheriting and following the great mans legacy," the executive further added. Basics, he explained, include things like keeping the plane tidy, making sure the seats and that seat belt straps are not tainted.

Air India and Indian Airlines merged in 2007. Until then, Air India mostly operated on international long-haul routes.

Not everyone agrees with that view.

Air India is a behemoth that has seen off incompetent government management and ridden over the difficulties of the Indian Airlines merger. Vistara, on the other hand, is an airline that never lived up to expectations," said Vir Sanghvi, television presenter and columnist who writes regularly on food and travel. Air India and Indian Airlines merged in 2007. Until then, Air India mostly operated on international long-haul routes while Indian Airlines operated on domestic and international short-haul routes.

With Singapore Airlines, one of the worlds best airlines, and the Tatas behind it, there was every expectation that it would be one of Asias great airlines. Instead, it has been curiously underwhelming, not even as good as Jet Airways was at its peak; and it has none of the excuses available to Air India to explain its shortcomings," he added. Going by market share gains, Vistaras performance does seem underwhelming. According to data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Vistara had a share 6.9% in February 2021. The share inched up to 9.9% in February 2024. In comparison, IndiGo, the current market leader of Indian skies, has gained more in the same periodfrom 54.2% in February 2021 to 60.1% in February this year.

While employee discontent and protests can result in short-term disruption, things will eventually settle down for the merged entity, experts said.

mihir.mishra@livemint.com
A banner running down the side of the European Commissions headquarters in Brussels depicts cartoon workers recladding its 13-floor facade with solar panels. The illustration might come across as a cruel joke to residents of the Belgian capital, for whose leaden skies the phrase fifty shades of grey" could have been coined. But thanks to green edicts devised by the Euro-wallahs at the commission, the continents fields and rooftops are being paved with very real photovoltaic cells. In 2023 the equivalent of one nuclear reactor of solar power was installed every single week. In the past three years nearly as many panels have been plugged into EU power grids as had been since the industry dawned at the centurys start. By 2030 the bloc is aiming to triple the number of solar panels installed, thus covering an area bigger than 300,000 football pitches, two dozen times the size of Paris.

The sizzling solar sector has been an unexpected ray of hope for a continent still reeling from the cut-off of Russian gas. But amid the cheering some are squealing for help. Companies that make solar panels in Europe are teetering on the brink of failure; the outlook for them is not so much cloudy as apocalyptic. For the European solar boom is in truth a repackaged Chinese one: 95% of modules installed in the EU are imported from the worlds dominant producer, which can churn them out at unbeatable prices. This makes policymakers anxious. Part of the case made to voters sceptical of the need for an economy-disruptive ecological transition was that going green would do more than merely fend off climate change. It was also meant to make Europe more resilientless dependent on Russian gas, sayand create lots of new jobs. Does meeting ecological targets with containers full of Chinese solar panels merely change the autocratic regime Europeans will depend on, and crush employment to boot?

In short, no. For some green goods, such as electric vehicles, trade-offs between jobs, economic security and environmental targets do indeed exist. For solar, the case for learning to stop worrying and love Chinese photovoltaic cells is much clearer.

For one, it is clear that cheap imports have indeed fuelled the installation craze. In the early 2010s Europe throttled the arrival of Chinese solar modules after struggling EU producers successfully lobbied for import restrictions. Deployment of solar arrays soon fell; consumers and utilities turn out to be willing to fork out only so much for virtuous electricity. As soon as the trade restrictions were lifted six years ago, installations rose again. Now European solar-panel producers are again lobbying for import restrictions, or at least subsidies to keep them afloat. Given that Chinese panels now sell for around half the cost of European onesaided by cheap labour and energy costs, and also by ample state backingthat would mean vast and probably sustained levels of largesse.

Isnt a little market distortion a price worth paying for a home-grown energy source? That is the line of thinking in France, whose politicians have yet to come across an industry they did not deem strategic" (a yogurt-maker was once kept out of an American rivals clutches on that basis). Sovereignty might have a cost, but it also has no price," its deputy ambassador to the EU said recently according to the Financial Times, in a valiant bid to sound like a Gallic Braveheart. Some wince at ordering solar panels from China, since over a third of one of their key inputs is sourced from Xinjiang, a restive region where forced labour is rife. But two fears predominate. The first is that China could one day cut off the supply of solar panels as Russias Vladimir Putin did with its gas, leaving Europe once again in the lurch. The second is that China will corner the solar manufacturing market, then raise prices when other producers have been wiped out.

The Russian parallel is far-fetched", says Simone Tagliapietra of Bruegel, a Brussels think-tank with a paper out this week on the merits of solar imports. Gas stops flowing as soon as a pipeline is cut, whereas already-installed solar panels keep generating juice. There are currently enough modules stockpiled in the EU for over a years worth of installations. China would also suffer if Europe was deprived of green technology, given the planetary effects of climate change. And lots of other producersnotably America, which is providing huge subsidies for each domestically made solar panel in a bid to curtail dependence on Chinaare entering the fray, thus leaving future Europeans with lots of choice.

How about jobs? Protecting a few European solar factories would help workers there. But raising prices would slow down installation. This in turn would destroy jobs among those deploying solar panels, which is far more labour-intensive, point out the Bruegel boffins. Short of Chinese engineers teleporting to Belgium to install rooftop panels, those jobs will not soon be outsourced.

Where the sun dont shine

The EU has yet to decide whether it wants the cake or its eating. The commission on February 6th laid out plans to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 90% of 1990 levels by 2040. But the Net Zero Industry Act", also agreed this week, calls for 40% domestic production of green technologies by 2030. Nobody knows how a viable solar industry could be magicked up in just a few years without a protectionist revival. More sensibly, the new law will nudge firms to look beyond a single dominant global supplier (ie, China) for green-technology projects funded with public money, pushing importers to source panels from India, for example. And everyone agrees that researchers in Europe should be among those inventing the next generation of solar modules.

Given its expensive workers, high energy costs and weak industrial supply chains, the EU should not be making photovoltaic cells. Those who worry about French-style strategic autonomy" should splurge on defence, not on coddling industries that will never be able to turn a profit. Europe has the chance to green itself fast and cheaply through imports. It should seize it.
Small enterprises stormed the stock exchanges in the just-ended financial year, amplifying the trend of the previous years, and tempting investors seeking new investment avenues.

During FY24, a record 204 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) floated initial public offerings (IPOs) to raise 5,961 crore, up nearly 167% from a year ago, while the mainboard IPO mop-up rose a more sedate 20%. This follows 965 crore, 244.28 crore and 436 crore that SMEs raised in the three previous fiscal years.

The trend signifies the growing confidence of investors in the potential of SMEs and their ability to generate strong returns. However, around 51% of these companies that went public in 2024 were trading below issue price on Tuesday.

SME listed companies have emerged as outliers in the past four to five years, with a surge in high net worth individuals (HNIs) and retail investors seeking higher returns. There's growing interest in the SME space due to the introduction of new business opportunities that aren't as commonly listed on the main board," Abhilash Pagaria, head, Nuvama Alternative and Quantitative Research said.

In March alone, 27 SMEs raised 862 crore, up 35% from February, which saw 16 companies raise 638 crore. This is the highest number of SME IPOs since September 2023. In March 2022, 14 companies had raised 264.3 crore. In March 2021, nine companies ( 109.1 crore) and six in March 2020 (26.33 crore), according to data from Prime Database.

The BSE SME IPO Index returned an impressive 119% in FY24, against 76.3% in FY23. Large established companies list on the mainboards of NSE and BSE, while smaller firms with greater growth potential and higher risk list on their SME platforms.

While the SME segment has seen some exuberance and outperforming stocks, there are also pockets with underperforming stocks. Investors interested in this segment need to be very selective. Understanding the business models and valuations of individual companies is crucial. This is because the SME segment is suitable only for high-risk appetite investors who understand its dynamics," Kranthi Bathini, director of equity strategy at Wealth Mills Securities Pvt. Ltd said.

In March, Madhabi Puri Buch, chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, had remarked about instances of manipulation in SME IPOs, which sparked a fall in the shares of many listed SMEs. Buch had said the regulator was keeping a close eye on IPOs and trading operations.

Arvinder Singh Nanda, senior vice-president at Master Capital Services Ltd, said the Reserve Bank of India's monetary policy committee expects around 7% growth for the Indian economy. "This growth is also expected to extend to the IPO market, with companies from various sectors preparing for public offerings. The favourable investor sentiment and strong economic activity are driving the growth of the IPO market," Nanda added.

"The trend of healthy investor appetite seen in 2023 is likely to continue, especially in SMEs, providing them with favourable opportunities to raise funds through IPOs. Recent regulatory reforms and a stable domestic market are supporting the companies in their IPO plans. The factors driving optimism for SME IPOs in this financial year include a conducive market environment, regulatory ease, and robust investor demand," he added.

Several recent SME IPOs saw massive interest from retail investors. Koura Fine Diamond Jewelry's 5.12 crore offering saw a staggering 1,076 times subscription retail subscription, while Signoria Creation Ltd ( 8.8 crore) and Radiowalla Network Ltd ( 13.4 crore) received subscriptions of 643 times and 349 times, respectively. Pune E-Stock Broking Ltd ( 32.5 crore) and Shree Karni Fabcom ( 40.37 crore) also witnessed strong retail interest with over 300 times subscription each. The largest SME IPO, KP Green Engineering, which raised 180 crore, was subscribed by 19.66 times by retail investors.

"The IPO market trend of 2023 is expected to continue into 2024. There will be an increase in the size of issues and new-age companies entering the market," Nanda of Master Capital Services said. "India's primary market activity is anticipated to increase with companies aiming to raise over 1 lakh crore through IPOs and the average size of offerings expected to more than double to 1856 crore. SEBI has approved 28 companies to raise over 30,000 crore through IPOs. Strong investor flows are expected to continue, supporting both IPO and block activity. The average size of issuances is forecasted to rise to $180 million in 2024, and the total volumes are estimated to reach $8-10 billion. This reflects growing investor interest and confidence in the market, with new-age companies entering the market for the first time," Nanda.
Mutual fund (MF) investors in the country are spoilt for choice. There are 1,500-odd MF schemes that vie for investor attention. So, after making the right choice, what happens to the MF units that you buy? Read on.

There are two ways to store your MF units in a statement of account (SOA) with an asset management company (AMC) or a demat account with a depository participant (DP) such as the Central Depository Services Ltd (CDSL) or the National Securities Depositories Ltd (NSDL). SOA is a traditional electronic record keeping system and demat is the electronic format for holding MF units.

When you buy a mutual fund, your money is first sent to the AMC and simultaneously an order is passed to the registrar and transfer agencies (RTAs). There are only 2 RTAs currently registered with market regulator Sebi and handle record-keeping and transactions for mutual funds and equity investments. After the money is received and the details are validated by the RTAs, the units are allocated and stored in the RTAs system using your details. This is the SOA format. In case of a demat, the RTA sends the holding details to a DP, which manages the investors account.

A demat account is better if you trade frequently, want to manage a diversified portfolio, or invest in exchange traded funds (ETFs). There is also less flexibility if you want to change your broker.

Fintech firms like Zerodha and Upstox store your MF units in the demat format, whereas others like Groww, Paytm Money, Kuvera, and Dhan keep it in the SOA format. To be sure, a majority of these firms use the stock broker license to sell mutual funds. This means that they require you to open a demat account regardless of the units being stored in the SOA format. Kuvera operates using the RIA license and does not require you to open a demat account.

In SOA, you can redeem the MF units by entering the exact amount (in rupees, based on the value of the unit) that you want to withdraw. In demat, investors can buy or sell only in terms of units. This becomes an issue since the value of the unit changes daily. So, if the value of 10 units is 10,000 today, it could rise to 12,000 or fall to 8,000 based on whether the markets go up or down on that day.

The demat format also does not support systematic transfer plan (STP) or systematic withdrawal plan (SWP). STP allows you to shift seamlessly from one mutual fund to another of the same AMC. For instance, you can shift from HDFC liquid plan to HDFC mid-cap fund without redeeming your funds. SWP allows you to withdraw money in defined intervals as opposed to SIP where you invest a particular amount every month or quarterly.

View Full Image (Graphic: Mint)

Bhuvanesh R, business analyst at Zerodhas Coin, Indias largest direct MF platform, said that although SWP is not inbuilt in the demat ecosystem, the company has built its own API, or application programming interface, to support this feature. However, the firm still does not have the STP feature yet. It is currently designing an API that will allow STP between schemes of different AMCs.

As for fees and charges, SOA simply scores over demat. While maintaining an SOA account is free, the demat format may involve account opening and transaction fees and even annual maintenance charges. But a demat account comes with its own advantages. You can use it to hold other assets such as bonds, shares and ETFs. While an SOA allows you to download an electronic consolidated account statement (e-CAS) of all your holdings in one place, a demat account allows you to track your assets in real time.

Easy transfer of assets is another significant feature of demat accountsA single nomination works for the entire gamut of assets held in it. In SOA, you have to enter a nomination for each AMC. It also becomes easier to transfer units if you hold them in demat format.

Abhishek Kumar, a registered investment advisor (RIA), usually recommends the SOA route to most of his clients. However, he recalled that in one instance, one of his clients wanted to send money to his daughter and Kumar recommended the opening of a demat account. The client could use it to buy debt MFs and transfer these to his daughter. The demat route not only helps transfer MF units seamlessly but also reduces tax liability. Thats because debt MFs are taxed as per an individual tax slab rate on redemption. In the above case, Kumars client was in the higher income tax bracket. If he gifted the debt MF units to his daughter, the latter could redeem it at a lower tax rate. Mutual funds in SOA cannot be gifted.

Keeping mutual funds in demat also comes in handy for short-term traders. Mayank Lavania, senior product manager at Fisdom Mutual Fund, said that traders can pledge MF units and obtain a margin loan against it. This is not possible if the units are held in the SOA form. However, Kapil Nagal of Volt Money said that investors can take loan against MF units even if its in the SOA form.To be sure, margin loans can only be used to buy securities for the demat account.

The right platform

Choosing the right platform for your investments is important. Fintech firms currently allow you to choose from a host of MF schemes but you need to decide whether you want to hold the units in demat or the SOA format. There are other ways to invest as well. You can also invest directly using an AMCs website (or app) which stores your units in SOA. The only drawback is that you have to create a separate account for each AMC. Another way is to use the service of the Mutual Fund Utilities (MFU) platform. MFU is a transaction platform run by all MF houses under the aegis of the association of mutual funds in India. MFU allows you to hold units in SA format.

Ravi Saraogi, a Chennai-based RIA, prefers the MF Utilities platform than fintech apps. He said fintech apps currently dont earn any profit from selling MFs and so they lure an user with offerings like futures and options.
(Bloomberg) -- The stocks of apartment landlords staged the biggest rally in nearly four months after Blackstone Inc., the worlds largest commercial real estate owner, stepped up its bet on the industry.

An index tracking the group rose over 4%, the largest one-day jump since mid-December, after Blackstone said it plans to acquire Apartment Income REIT for roughly $10 billion. While the industrys shares remain well below their early 2022 peak, the gain erased this years losses and was seen as bolstering investors confidence in the sector.

The planned purchase follows Blackstones agreement in January to buy the single-family-home landlord Tricon Residential Inc. for $3.5 billion, and Blackstone President Jon Gray previously told investors that real estate values are bottoming.

BTIG analyst Michael Gorman said Blackstones decision is likely to spur additional bullish sentiment for the group beyond the current supply wave impacting fundamentals.

The rally was led by Apartment Income REIT, which jumped 22% to $38.38, just shy of the $39.12 per-share purchase price. But the broader sector also advanced, with all 13 members of Bloombergs apartment real estate investment trust index gaining.

Apartment landlords are among the best performers in the REIT industry year-to-date. Following Mondays gain, the sector is up 0.9% for the year after being down more than 3% at Fridays close.

Wall Street analysts have been mixed toward Apartment Income REIT  with Bloomberg data showing four buy ratings, seven holds and 0 sells. BMO Capital Markets downgraded the stock to market perform from outperform Monday following the announcement, saying it doesnt expect a competing bid that would push the stock higher.

Piper Sandler analyst Crispin Love said it may be a sign that broader deal activity is poised to pick up in the real estate industry, making him more positive on 2024.

We view Blackstone to be in an advantageous position with patient capital and the ability to move quickly with size given its substantial real estate dry powder, Love wrote in a note to clients.

(Updates chart, AIRC analyst ratings. An earlier version was corrected to say apartment REITs among best performers.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has been provided a Z-category VIP security cover of armed commandos in view of potential threats, official sources told news agency PTI on Tuesday.

"Kumar's security was increased due to international threats," sources said.

They said, "The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has entrusted the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) with providing a contingent of about 40-45 personnel for the task." The CRPF commandos would soon take over his security. Over three dozen armed CRPF commandos will be guarding Kumar.

As per PTI, the extended security cover will be provided to Kumar during his journey across the country, round the clock and at the time of his stay in Delhi and at his office. "The armed commandos will accompany the CEC during his travels across the country," sources were quoted as saying.

The move to provide a security cover to Kumar came after a threat perception report, prepared by central security agencies, recommended a strong cover for the Chief Election Commissioner.

Kumar was given Z-category security just ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The elections will be held in seven phases. The voting will begin on April 19 and the results will be declared on June 4. The model code of conduct is already in place.
KYIV, UkraineMasked Ukrainian security officers have raided properties, seized wads of cash and detained suspects in a recent crackdown on graft in the purchase of goods for the military ranging from eggs to artillery shells.

At the same time, a quieter operation is being waged by a new team of professionals including a former energy executive called Maryna Bezrukova. From her office in a gleaming business center in Kyiv, she is on a quest to save money and ensure new arms contracts are untainted.

We need to change the system," said Bezrukova, who became head of Ukraines Defense Procurement Agency earlier this year. Unless we change the system, nothing will happen."

As Ukraine faces setbacks on the battlefield in the third year of Russias invasion, attention has turned to corruption that is corroding support for the war effort at home and abroad.

Allegations of graft have helped galvanize Republican opponents of military aid to Kyiv, who are holding a $60 billion package hostage to their demands for tighter border control. Short of munitions and men, Ukrainian forces are struggling to hold the line against a much larger enemy. Corruption is also denting morale and making it harder to persuade more Ukrainians to risk their lives.

Ukrainian anticorruption activists say the steely-eyed Bezrukova has what it takes to challenge entrenched interests and shady middlemen while negotiating arms deals worth billions of dollars. Her efforts to clean up arms procurement could prove more meaningful than the recent spate of arrests, they say. But the scale of the challenge is huge. Of course, its not easy," said Bezrukova, likening her mission to sewing a parachute while in freefall.

The appointment of Bezrukova follows a series of procurement scandals that erupted after Ukrainian investigative journalists revealed the Defense Ministry had purchased eggs at more than twice their market price. President Volodymyr Zelensky fired the countrys defense minister in an effort to quell a furor in Ukraine and disquiet among Western allies.

Since then, law enforcement has carried out a number of corruption-related arrests. Among the most high-profile cases is that of businessman Ihor Hrynkevych, whose companies won contracts to supply clothing and underwear to the armed forces despite previously being involved in construction.

The companies werent able to meet the standards outlined in the contracts, resulting in losses of more than $30 million, according to Ukrainian law enforcement. Hrynkevych was detained in December while trying to pay a $500,000 bribe to a security official. His lawyer didnt respond to a request for comment.

A separate investigation by Ukrainian law enforcement implicated senior defense ministry officials in embezzling $40 million meant to purchase artillery shells for the army.

The new defense minister, Rustem Umerov, has made fixing procurement a priority. Every stolen hryvnia costs the life and safety of our soldiers," he told parliament when he was sworn in last fall, equating corrupt officials with terrorists.

Corruption has been deeply ingrained in Ukraines defense sector since Soviet times, with manufacturers routinely bribing officials to purchase equipment at inflated prices. Changing those practices would be hard enough in peacetime, let alone in the midst of war.

Beyond meeting the immediate needs of Ukrainian soldiers, cleaning up the defense sector is key to Kyivs longer-term goal of integration with the West. U.S. officials say there is no evidence that any of the $113 billion it has provided Ukraine in military and economic assistance since the start of the war has been diverted. But they have urged Kyiv to reform defense procurement in line with North Atlantic Treaty Organization standards.

Umerov has put two state-owned enterprises at the forefront of the Defense Ministrys reform efforts. The State Rear Operator is responsible for procuring fuel, clothing, food and all other nonlethal" supplies for the armed forces. Weapons procurement is handled by the Defense Procurement Agency.

When Bezrukova was approached about leading the agency last fall, she was an executive board member of national energy company Ukrenergo, where she is credited with developing and implementing a procurement policy that led to significant savings. Reports of procurement fraud in the defense sector had made her feel disgusted and very upset," she said.

In her new role, Bezrukova began by vetting staff using polygraph testing. We check employees for cooperation with the enemy and committing corrupt acts," she said. It is important for us to be 100% confident in our team." If the results suggest someone is lying the team conducts a further investigation, she said.

The agency receives a list of the arms the military needs based on planned operations. It is Bezrukovas job to purchase them on the best possible terms.

One of her first proposals was to amend legislation so that Ukraine can negotiate three-year contracts instead of one-year deals. Our system did not allow us to work on a long-term contract basis," she said. It means that we are buying from stock or short-term production at high prices."

Another problem she identified is unhealthy" competition between different branches of Ukraines security apparatus. With multiple agencies vying for contracts, arms manufacturers can demand higher prices.

The vast majority of Ukraines existing arms contracts are with intermediaries, Bezrukova said. That increases the risk of overpaying, and gives Ukraine less visibility and control over supply.

Its not always possible, but were trying to get rid of the middlemen and go directly to the manufacturer," she said. Nobody will give you a better price than the manufacturer himself."

That is likely to be met with fierce resistance.

The State Rear Operator was hit with lawsuits and smear campaigns after introducing measures that undercut the position of the Defense Ministrys traditional food suppliers. It would be surprising if the beneficiaries of the schemes welcomed the reform," said the head of the agency, Arsen Zhumadilov, in a briefing last month.

Despite the challenges, Zhumadilov, who previously reformed medical procurement for Ukraines Health Ministry, last month said the agency had already saved approximately 3 billion hryvnia, the equivalent of about $77 million. In a slick video, the State Rear Operator announced it had purchased eggs for an average of less than 5 hryvnia, or 13 cents, apieceless than a third of the price that led to the former defense ministers demise.

Bureaucracy also poses a major obstacle, Bezrukova said. The machinery of government is too slow to keep up with rapidly changing needs on the battlefield, she said. Its not only corruption," she said. Its inefficiency."

Despite their resolve, activists question whether the reformists have sufficient resources. There is more political will [to tackle corruption] but probably there is a problem with capacity," said Olena Tregub, who sits on the Defense Ministrys 15-member anticorruption council, a publicly elected civilian body formed in response to the growing outcry over procurement fraud last year.

The drive for transparency is also at odds with the need for heightened secrecy, making it difficult for anticorruption activists to exercise oversight.

Obviously we are at war and most of the information has to be hidden," said Daria Kaleniuk, executive director of the Kyiv-based nonprofit Anticorruption Action Center. However, there must be policies to ensure that we are not just buying weapons from middlemen who cant deliver them."

And it remains to be seen whether the government will back them when they inevitably run up against more deeply entrenched interests, said Tetyana Nikolaienko, another member of the anticorruption council . They will have a lot of enemies now."

Write to Isabel Coles at isabel.coles@wsj.com

View Full Image Eggs, Ammo and Underwear: Inside Ukraines New Push Against Military Graft

View Full Image Eggs, Ammo and Underwear: Inside Ukraines New Push Against Military Graft

View Full Image Eggs, Ammo and Underwear: Inside Ukraines New Push Against Military Graft

View Full Image Eggs, Ammo and Underwear: Inside Ukraines New Push Against Military Graft
The ministry of corporate affairs has extended the timeline for consultations on the draft Digital Competition Bill, as well as the report filed by the committee on digital competition law, to 15 May.

The Bill and the CDCL report propose a standalone regulation on tackling big tech firms, and the impact of their market might in India. If and when it is notified, the law will see India take a similar approach as the European Union.

The EU in November 2022 introduced the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to address competition and market practices issues specific to the likes of Amazon, Apple, Metas Facebook and Instagram, Google, and Microsoft.

In its present shape, the Bill has proposed a penal structure for those found guilty of anti-competitive practices, and has also suggested restrictions to cross-sharing of data and breaking up of groups of apps and services that serve only specific companies.

Industry stakeholders have so far stated that lengthy consultations will be likely before any version of the Bill is tabled in Parliament.

Right now, quite a few definitions under the Bill and the CDCL report are not astutely clear. We also need to understand that breaking up app ecosystems is not that easyand a fair business ecosystem does not necessitate putting bigger firms at a disadvantage, a senior partner at a law firm in Delhi told Mint, requesting anonymity since the firms own consultations for the Bill are underway.

A second senior competition lawyer in Delhi, who also requested anonymity on similar grounds, added that while the present Bill is largely based on the EUs DMA, it may not be the best approach since EU laws are very stringent due to them being a consumption-led economy.

India, on the other hand, plans to become an innovation-led economy. To be so, you cant have heavy-handed regulations that discourage early-mover advantages by law. The present Bill may put most large corporates under the scanner, the second lawyer said.
Gudi Padwa 2024 Sales and Offers: Gudi Padwa, the harvest festival, signals the start of the new year in various Indian states such as Maharashtra and Goa. It is celebrated as Ugadi in states including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Falling in March or April of the Gregorian calendar, Gudi Padwa marks the first day of the Hindu calendar month of Chaitra.

Festivities kick off with great zeal as families observe rituals, wear new clothes, and adorn their houses for the occasion. It is also an occasion to buy new things and shopping sites are offering sales deals for the occasion. We take a look at the offers available for Gudi Padwa.

Also Read | Is Indian stock market closed today for Gudi Padwa 2024?

Amazon India Launches Ugadi Utsav Festival Sale - The Ugadi Utsav festival sale shopping store is now live until April 15, 2024, providing customers with a wide array of products tailored to their needs.

- The sale encompasses groceries, electronics, fashion, beauty essentials, and home decor items, catering to diverse preferences.

- Fashion enthusiasts can indulge in ethnic dresses and other beauty products at remarkable discounts. Brands such as Realme, BIBA, Samsung, Philips, and OnePlus participate in the sale, offering attractive deals.

- Amazon India is also presenting ethnic wear for both men and women at discounted prices. Shoppers can find a diverse collection of ethnic wear at budget-friendly rates, including traditional sarees, salwar kurtas, and Indo-western dresses.

- Women can enjoy a 40 percent discount on Silk sarees, comprising Kanjivaram silk, Banarasi Silk, and Bhagalpuri silk, among others.

- Gentlemen can elevate their ethnic wardrobe with discounted cotton-printed kurtas, Lucknowi kurtas, and half-sleeve short kurtas.

- Gold-plated jewellery is offered under 599, while Silver jewellery enjoys a 60 percent discount.

- With discounts ranging from 20% to 50%, shoppers can find enticing deals on Diamonds, adding a touch of elegance to their ensemble.

- The sale extends to ethnic watches, including analogue Gold-dial and Silver-dial stainless steel watches, available at a 50% discount.

Other sales offers from Croma, Vijay Sales - Croma is offering a discount of 10 percent up to 30,000 on ICICI Bank credit cards

- One-time AC servicing at a499 from Zip Care

- Refrigerators starting at 4,399 with additional exchange benefits up to 5,000

- Deals on coolers, ceiling fans, air conditioners, smartphones, smart TVs, wireless earbuds, speakers and other electronic items.

- Vijay Sales is offering discounts on kitchen equipment, TVs, smartphones and other electronics with discounts ranging from 20 percent to 50 percent.
Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed jailed Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari to participate in the 'Fatiha' ceremony in memory of his father Mukhtar Ansari, who died of cardiac arrest in jail recently. The ceremony is scheduled for April 10.

Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Banda on March 28.

The apex court bench of Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan said it saw no reason to deny Abbas permission to attend the event.

Following apprehensions voiced by the Uttar Pradesh government on maintenance of law and order, the top court directed that Abbas be taken from Kasganj jail to his hometown Ghazipur in police custody with adequate security, and be brought back to jail by April 13.

The Supreme Court also allowed Abbas to meet his family members on April 11 and 12.

It asked the police chief of Uttar Pradesh to ensure everything went off peacefully.

Currently, Abbas is under judicial custody over an arms license case.

In November last year, he was denied bail by the Allahabad High Court, because of the huge quantities of arms and ammunition were recovered from his New Delhi home. The court had also denied bail due to risk of influencing witnesses and tampering with evidence.

Abas had initially moved the Supreme Court seeking permission to attend the last rites of his father on March 30 but his petition could not be listed in time and the funeral was over.

Mukhtar Ansari, a five-time MLA from Mau Sadar constituency, was laid to rest in Ghazipur amid a blanket of security as a large crowd took part in the funeral procession.

The 63-year-old had been behind bars in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since 2005 and had over 60 criminal cases against him.
Top Events of the Day: India is all set to witness a series of important political, judicial, and technological events today. These include PM Modi's Lok Sabha election campaigns in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh's public rallies, farmers protest, Arvind Kejriwal's bail plea in Delhi HC, etc. Besides this, the nation will also celebrate Navratri and Ugadi on April 9. Take a look at top events of April 9 below,

- Prime Minister will hold a roadshow in Tamil Nadu's Vellore as a part of Lok Sabha election campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today, April 9. On the other hand, he will also address public rallies in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat and Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit on Tuesday.

- The Delhi High Court on Tuesday will pass its order on a petition filed by jailed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in an excise policy-linked money laundering case.

- Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Assam to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections scheduled in seven phases. He will address public rallies in Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, and Dibrugarh today.

- Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will also hold a public meeting in Arunachal Pradesh's Namsai as a part of BJP's Lok Sabha polls campaign today.

- NCP leader Sharad Pawar will name the candidate for the Raver Lok Sabha seat today.

- The Supreme Court of India has sought the Centre's response to pleas calling for the stay on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rules today, April 9.

- The judicial remand of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh in the West Bengal ED attack case will end on April 9.

- Farmers from Punjab and Haryana have declared rail-roko protest on April 9 near Shambhu border against the arrest of five farmers who were arrested during the Delhi chalo protests.

- Other important events today are:

1) Maharashtra: Padwa Melava' (Gudi Padwa rally) of Raj Thackeray-led MNS April 9.

2) Jind: Former Union minister and BJP leader Birender Singh to join Congress on April 9.

3) Ban on 23 dog breeds: Delhi HC to hear all pleas against Centre's ban today.

4) Heavy vehicles prohibited on Mumbai-Pune Expressway until April 9 due to intense heat.

5) Air Asia to operate direct flight from Visakhapatnam to Bangkok from April 9.

6) People across the nation will celebrate Chaitra Navratri as the nine-day Hindu festival begins today.

7) Ugadi to be celebrated in South India.
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) deferred the case on Tuesday regarding the class action suit initiated by minority shareholders of Jindal Poly Films Ltd. alleging fraudulent conduct by the companys promoters and management.

Last month, minority shareholders of Jindal Poly Films, led by Ankit Jain, filed Indias first class action lawsuit since the regulations were established in 2016. They claimed wrongful losses of approximately 2,500 crore, allegedly due to actions of its promoters and directors.

The lawsuit targets members of the Jindal Polyfilms promoter family  Shyam Sunder Jindal, Subhadra Jindal, and Bhavesh Jindal as well as certain company directors and officials. Directors named in the lawsuit include Sonal Agarwal, Sanjeev Aggarwal, Rathi Binod Pal, Sanjeev Saxena, Devinder Kumar Rithaliya, and Vijender Kumar Singhal. Additionally, the companys current chief executive officer Vinod Kumar Gupta and past non-executive director Punit Gupta are also named in the suit.

The tribunal adjourned the case after hearing arguments from both minority shareholders and the company. The company court will take up this case on 9 May.

Under the Companies Act, 2013 of India, section 245 allows a group of individuals to collectively file a lawsuit against a company. This can be initiated by either 100 members or 1/10th of the total members of the company, whichever is less. The lawsuit must be filed in the NCLT specifying grounds for the action and relief sought.

During Tuesday's hearing, minority shareholders argued against the unjustifiable exploitation of shareholder funds through optionally convertible preference shares (OCPS) and redeemable preference shares (RPS) investments. They alleged that Jindal Poly Films Ltd. (JPFL) made substantial investments totalling 703.79 crore in Jindal India Powertech Ltd. (Jindal Powertech) between FY 2013-2014 and FY 2016-17, despite Jindal Powertech suffering continuous cash losses and significant erosion in net worth.

The petitioners further claimed that in FY 2018-19, instead of recovering the investments from Jindal Powertech, JPFL chose to write them off. Subsequently, in FY 2021-22, JPFL sold the investments to its promoters and group entities, causing a loss of 600 crore on the said investments itself.

The minority shareholders also accused JPFL of manipulative sale transactions, alleging that the sale of investments to the promoters occurred when the valuation of Jindal Powertech had significantly increased, but the investments were sold at a fraction of their true value.

They informed the court that all information they collected is from the company documents available in public, as they dont have access to the company's confidential documents.

In response to these allegations, Jindal Poly Films argued that the legal suit is not maintainable. They challenged the definition of 'Class' in the class-action suit, raising concerns about homogeneity within the defined class. JPFL asserted that the class defined by the petitioners does not meet the criteria of homogeneity, as it includes individual shareholders with varied circumstances.
Peter Higgs, the British physicist who won a Nobel Prize in 2013 for his discovery decades earlier of a theoretical mechanism to explain the origin of mass in the universe, has died. He was 94.

He died on April 8 at his home, according to the University of Edinburgh, where he was professor emeritus. Higgs was a remarkable individual  a truly gifted scientist whose vision and imagination have enriched our knowledge of the world that surrounds us, said Peter Mathieson, the universitys principal and vice chancellor.

Higgs shared his Nobel prize with Belgian physicist Francois Englert for proposing the existence of what became known as the Higgs boson particle and the invisible field in space that gives mass to matter. The discovery of the elemental particle was announced in 2012 by European nuclear research body CERN after the boson was detected in the Large Hadron Collider, an underground laboratory near Geneva that smashes protons together at almost the speed of light and records data on their interaction.

The breakthrough corroborated the ideas of Higgs published almost half a century earlier, when they were dismissed in the journal Physics Letters as having no obvious relevance to physics.

His work, along with similar predictions made independently by Englert and his colleague Robert Brout, led to one of the most significant scientific findings of the past century. The God particle, a term used in US physicist Leon Ledermans book of the same name to describe the boson fields creative qualities, may offer insights into dark matter and dark energy, which make up about 96% of the universe and remain a mystery to cosmologists.

The Higgs boson, which decays almost instantly, completed the Standard Model of particle physics that explains how matter holds together. Without mass, particles would fly off into space, and nothing could take shape.

This brilliant achievement is richly deserved recognition of Peter Higgs lifetime of dedicated research and his passion for science, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said after the announcement of Higgss Nobel Prize.

Confirmation of the bosons existence was the work of thousands of scientists on the competing Atlas and CMS experiment teams at CERN. It involved making particles collide in a 27-kilometer (17-mile) circular supermagnetized tunnel to recreate the conditions after the Big Bang about 13.7 billion years ago. The project cost at least $10 billion.

It is probably the largest and the most complex machine ever constructed by humans, according to the Nobel Foundation.

Modest Man Higgs shed a tear when CERNs scientists erupted in applause at a press conference revealing their discovery on July 4, 2012. The father of the Higgs boson was as modest in the limelight as his simple lifestyle suggested: He lived in a small flat in Edinburgh, had no television and used public transport, according to the UKs Telegraph newspaper.

I regarded it as cheers for the home team, and the home team were the two experiments, Atlas and CMS, he said in an interview with the BBC. Maybe they were cheering me, too, but that was a minor issue.

Higgs said the credit for predicting the mass-forming mechanism belonged to six physicists who contributed three papers on the subject in 1964: Englert and Brout, who wrote the first article, Higgs, and then Gerald Guralnik, Carl Hagen and Tom Kibble.

The Nobel Foundation, which allows three recipients of a prize and none posthumously, chose Higgs and Englert as winners.

Peter Ware Higgs was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in northeast England on May 29, 1929, to an English father and a Scottish mother. His father was a sound engineer for the BBC who lived apart from the family for much of Higgss childhood.

Higgs, who suffered from asthma and was partly schooled at home by his mother, lived in Birmingham and Bristol, where he attended Cotham Grammar School until 1946 and developed an interest in the work of physicist Paul Dirac. He graduated with first-class honors in physics from Kings College, University of London, in 1950, and completed a masters and a doctorate on molecular vibrations.

Higgs held research fellowships in Edinburgh and London before becoming a lecturer in mathematical physics at the University of Edinburgh in 1960. He wrote his ground-breaking paper after developing the theory while walking in the hills around Edinburgh. Higgs was joined by the five other physicists who held similar views about the application of quantum field theory, considered outdated in physics at the time, in their quest to solve the problem of particle mass.

In 1980, Higgs became a professor of theoretical physics at the university, a post he held for 16 years.

Higgs, Brout and Englert in 2004 won the Wolf Prize, administered by the Wolf Foundation in Israel, and the American Physical Societys JJ Sakurai Prize for Theoretic Particle Physics in 2010, along with the five other scientists who contributed to work on the Higgs mechanism.

Its very nice to be right sometimes, Higgs said after winning the Nobel Prize.

The Higgs boson was the subject of Particle Fever, a documentary that followed CERN scientists on the path to their groundbreaking discovery.
(Bloomberg) -- British Foreign Secretary David Cameron held a meeting in Florida with Donald Trump, with whom he has clashed in the past over Brexit and NATO, as the UK tries to persuade the presidential candidates Republican allies to stop obstructing a commitment to send more US aid to Ukraine.

Their talks late Monday came ahead of Camerons trip to Washington to meet Republican lawmakers as well as Biden administration officials. The visit comes at a sensitive time as the UK, France and other nations try to keep the international focus on Ukraines battle to repel Russias invasion.

US funding is critical, but a $60 billion aid package has become snarled in politicking ahead of the presidential election in November. House Speaker Mike Johnson has so far declined to call a vote on the funding as he tries to prevent a rebellion from Republican hard-liners who could sink the legislation and even try to oust him as speaker. The Senate has already approved the aid.

Ahead of his trip, Cameron said on X that Speaker Johnson can make it happen in Congress. But asked by reporters in Washington why he isnt meeting the Louisiana Republican, the foreign secretary replied that he is speaking to senators and congressman on both sides of the aisle to make his point that ensuring Ukraine wins is in US interests.

There will be people in Iran, in Pyongyang, in Beijing looking at how we stand by our allies, how we help them, how we stop this illegal and unprovoked aggression and working out whether we are committed, whether were prepared to see it through, Cameron said at a joint press conference with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Im here to offer my opinion, to meet with anyone who wants to talk to me about it, to make those arguments.

Trump is seen as the key to unlocking the Republican opposition, providing the context for Camerons visit. Facing an electoral rematch against President Joe Biden in November, Trump is skeptical about providing military support to Ukraine and has suggested giving loans instead of direct funding.

Yet Cameron was tight-lipped about his talks with Trump, calling it a private meeting and saying only that they discussed important geopolitical subjects.

In a statement, Trumps campaign said the former president and Cameron discussed issues including the upcoming US and UK elections, policy matters specific to Brexit, the need for NATO countries to meet their defense spending requirements, and ending the killing in Ukraine.

The UK argues that US aid is vital to Ukraines ability to continue to resist Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has pleaded for the swift approval of US aid, as his countrys forces wrestle with ammunition shortages and delays in supplies of artillery shells from allies that have left them outgunned against Russia by as much as six to one.

Cameron has a strained history with Trump  in contrast to the warmer ties enjoyed by his successor and political rival Boris Johnson, who has also lobbied Trump to step up support for Ukraine.

In late 2015, Cameron  who was UK prime minister at the time  called the then presidential candidates proposal to ban Muslims entering the US as divisive, stupid and wrong. His intervention prompted Trump to speculate he might not have a very good relationship with Cameron.

The pair squared off again over Trumps public backing for the UK to vote to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum called by Cameron. The Republican candidates intervention came as then US President Barack Obama had sided with Camerons campaign to remain in the bloc.

Defeat over Brexit cast Cameron into the political wilderness until Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed him foreign secretary last year. In February Cameron criticized Trump again, this time over his suggestion that the US should not protect NATO countries who dont spend enough on defense.

NATO is more essential than ever, Cameron told reporters, adding that Trumps remarks were not responsible or sensible.

Though Camerons meeting with Trump raised eyebrows  at least in the British media  due to their background, it is unlikely to hurt the UKs relationship with the Biden White House. With Britain gearing up for a general election expected later this year, Blinken held talks with opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in February.

During the press conference, Cameron also said that the UK will continue to sell arms to Israel following revised advice from the governments lawyers. The latest assessment leaves our position on export licenses unchanged, he said.

Cameron said he would not comment on the legal advice he received. His response comes amid pressure from opposition parties and some members of the UKs governing Conservatives to outline whether government lawyers judge Israel is breaching international humanitarian law in Gaza in the wake of last weeks Israeli strike that killed seven aid workers, including three Britons.

(Updates with Cameron comments from fifth paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- Janet Yellen got a respectful hearing in China in recent days for her main message  that Beijings manufacturing drive is a threat to other economies. But the warmth of her reception likely wont translate into the policy shifts she wants.

At a press conference in the Chinese capital Monday, the US Treasury chief wrapped up her four-day trip echoing the theme she began it with: the global economy will be adversely impacted by ramped-up factory exports from China, which needs to put more effort into shoring up consumer demand at home.

It is a critical issue and it is one that could have an adverse impact on American workers and firms if we dont find a solution, Yellen told reporters at the US ambassadors residence in Beijing. My job here is to make sure Ive explained this very thoroughly and presented this concern at the highest levels of Chinese leadership.

Theres some overlap between her concerns and the agenda of Chinese leaders, who have recently warned about excess capacity in some industries. But they appear to see the issue as set to be solved by market forces over time, without the need for a wholesale shift in economic policy that entails a large-scale consumer stimulus or a rapid slowdown in manufacturing growth.

They recognize that overcapacity is an issue, and I dont think that they have ulterior motives to keep prices down, as that hurts profits at domestic firms, said Alfredo Montufar-Helu, head of the China Center for Economics and Business at the Conference Board.

A reversal of policies that stimulate manufacturing is unlikely because of the persistence of two key motivations for that strategy: the slump in Chinas property market and US curbs on technology. The pursuit of technological self-reliance will continue, given the state of the geopolitical landscape, Montufar-Helu said.

China will rely on the market to remove overcapacity, Vice Finance Minister Liao Min told reporters on Monday. That suggests Beijing views the elimination of unprofitable companies through mechanisms like bankruptcies and mergers will solve the issue.

New Sectors

Liao also pushed back on Yellens overcapacity claims in the solar and electric-vehicle industries. Current production capacity is far from meeting market demand, especially the huge potential demand for new energy products in many developing countries, he said.

Yellen stressed that surging Chinese output of things like EVs and batteries is a worry for many countries beside the US, and that shifting focus away from exports will be good for China too.

Theres a risk that China believes US criticism is in bad faith. Beijing already argues that the US is pursuing a Cold War-type approach toward it  seeking to slow its economic development. State-media articles have called overcapacity claims part of a hidden agenda to suppress Chinese hi-tech companies.

That wont be helped by Yellen also using her trip to warn about a key source of political disagreement: Russias war in Ukraine. Chinese banks and exporters aiding Russias effort could face US penalties, she said.

Trade between China and Russia has surged since that conflict began in 2022 and Western companies pulled out. Chinas Foreign Ministry said Monday that the country hasnt sought to gain from the war and wont do so. Yellen said shes had difficult conversations about national security during the trip.

In public, the US Treasury chief spent most of the visit hammering home the argument that China should change course on economic policy.

At her press conference Monday, Yellen was asked by a Chinese reporter what Beijing is supposed to do, when local officials would worry that pulling back on investment would threaten jobs.

Well, theres supply and then theres also demand, she said. One possible approach would be to boost demand and to see a larger share of GDP accrue to households.

Senior Treasury officials said Yellen had urged such an approach in her meetings. During talks with Vice Premier He Lifeng  the czar for economic policy  she suggested China could spur domestic spending by strengthening retirement security and making education more affordable.

Beijing has tried for years to reorient its economy toward one driven by consumption, with little success. Last year, it unveiled a plan to boost household spending on everything from electric appliances to furniture, a project that it is still rolling out.

Least Hawkish

For all the disagreements, Yellen  whos appreciated in China as one of the least-hawkish of senior US officials  was made welcome. For now, both sides have agreed to keep talking, with economic teams holding further discussions this month in Washington, Chinas Finance Ministry said.

With President Joe Biden set to contest an electoral rematch against Donald Trump in November, and both men vying to look tough on China, Beijing is aware that more US curbs could be on the way.

The feting of Yellen was in part an attempt to ward off further restricions, said Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief Asia Pacific economist at Natixis SA in Hong Kong. But American moves against China are more likely to come from other parts of government, like National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and not the Treasury chief, she added.

This might be Janet Yellens last trip to China in government, Garcia Herrero said. The conciliatory tone is understandable, and the hard part will come from others.

--With assistance from Lucille Liu and Tom Hancock.

(Updates with more details on Chinas consumption push.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
A New York appeals court judge has rejected former President Donald Trump's request to delay his April 15 hush money criminal trial while he fights to move the case out of Manhattan.

The decision came Monday, a week before jury selection was set to start.

Trump's lawyers had argued at an emergency hearing that the trial should be postponed while they seek a change of venue to move it out of heavily Democratic Manhattan.

Donald Trump's Appeal Donald Trump had asked a New York appeals court on Monday to move his hush money criminal trial out of Manhattan and reverse his gag order in an eleventh-hour bid for a delay just a week before the scheduled start.

At an emergency hearing, the former president's lawyers asked a judge in the state's mid-level appeals court to postpone the April 15 trial while they fight for a change of venue. The court signalled it would take up the gag order issue separately at a later date.

Trump lawyer Emil Bove argued that the presumptive Republican nominee faces real potential prejudice as a defendant in heavily Democratic Manhattan. Citing defence surveys and a review of media coverage, Bove argued that jury selection, scheduled to start next Monday, cannot proceed in a fair manner.

Trump has suggested on social media that the trial should be moved to Staten Island, the only New York City borough he won in 2016 and 2020.

Steven Wu, the appellate chief for the Manhattan district attorney's office, said trial Judge Juan M Merchan had already rejected Trump's requests to move or delay the trial as untimely.

The question in this case is not whether a random poll of New Yorkers from whatever neighbourhood are able to be impartial, it's about whether a trial court is able to select a jury of 12 impartial jurors, Wu said. He blamed Trump for stoking pretrial publicity with "countless media appearances talking about the facts of this case, the witnesses, and so on.

Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez noted that Monday's hearing didn't involve an appeal, per se, but the defence's desire for an emergency stay  a court order that would prevent the trial from starting on time. She said she would review related court filings and issue a decision at some point.

Paperwork relating to Trump's appeals was placed under seal and not publicly available.

A person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that along with challenging the location of his trial, Trump is also fighting a gag order, which Merchan recently expanded to prohibit Trump from making comments about the judge's family. The person was unauthorized to speak publicly and did so on the condition of anonymity.

Trump had pledged to appeal after Merchan ruled last month that the trial would begin on April 15. His lawyers had pleaded to delay the trial at least until summer to give them more time to review late-arriving evidence from a prior federal investigation into the matter.

Merchan, who had already moved the trial from its original March 25 start date because of the evidence issue, said no further delays were warranted.

Trump's lawyers filed their appeals Monday on two separate court dockets. One was styled as a lawsuit against Merchan, a legal mechanism allowing them to challenge his rulings.

Other Legal Battles In New York, judges can be sued over some judicial decisions under a state law known as Article 78. Trump has used the tactic before, including against the judge in his civil fraud case in an unsuccessful last-minute bid to delay that case last fall.

Trump's hush money trial is the first of his four criminal indictments slated to go to trial and would be the first criminal trial ever of a former president.

Trump is accused of falsifying his company's records to hide the nature of payments to his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, who helped him bury negative stories during his 2016 campaign. Cohen's activities included paying porn actor Stormy Daniels $130,000 to suppress her claims of an extramarital sexual encounter with Trump years earlier.

Trump pleaded not guilty last year to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels. His lawyers argue the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.

Trump's move Monday is the latest escalation in his battles with Merchan.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee assailed the judge on social media after he imposed a gag order last month barring Trump from making public statements about jurors, witnesses and others connected to the case. After Trump's complaints, Merchan expanded the gag order to include members of his own family.

Last week, Trump renewed his request for the judge to step aside from the case, citing Merchan's daughter's work as the head of a firm whose clients have included his rival President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats.

The former president alleges the judge is biased against him and has a conflict of interest because of his daughter's work. The judge rejected a similar request last August.

Trump has also made numerous other attempts to get the trial postponed, echoing a strategy he's deployed in his other criminal cases. We want delays, Trump proclaimed to TV cameras outside a February pretrial hearing in his hush-money case.
Amid a cascade of negative health news from the British Monarchy over the past few months, royal expert Tina Brown believes that Princess Kate Middleton is the "thread" holding it all together, InStyle reported. While not directly in line for the throne, her influence on the future of the monarchy is gaining attention, the report said.

Royal expert Tina Brown, who authored The Diana Chronicles, highlighted the princess' significance, suggesting that she may hold the key to the monarchy's longevity.

Kate's Immense Popularity and Public Pull In a much-discussed op-ed published in The New York Times, Brown pointed out that Kate  more formally known as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, has immense popularity with the public, second only to Prince William.

As per Brown, the prolonged public debate, conspiracy theories and social media mania following Kate's recluse from the public eye after an abdominal surgery last year is proof that everyone's attention is on the princess. She emphasised that even amid ongoing speculation surrounding Prince William's future ascension, Kate remains a focal point for public interest, echoing the attention previously reserved for Princess Diana.

Catherine is the most popular member of the royal family after William. The future of the monarchy hangs by a thread, and that thread is her," Brown wrote.

Diminished Stature of British Monarchy Brown attributes the diminished stature of the monarchy to recent developments, such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step back from their senior royal roles and Prince Andrew's withdrawal from royal duties following his association with Jeffrey Epstein.

Brown noted the monarchy, as envisioned by King Charles with a streamlined structure, now appears notably reduced. The recent attendance of Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie at an event with the French Ambassador to the UK at Buckingham Palace on April 8 further highlights this shift, it added.

Help from other family members is scant. The slimmed-down monarchy that Charles always promoted is suddenly looking very lean indeed. Charless cancer has put William, 41, and Catherine in frightening proximity to ascending the throne and could be causing the couple intense anxiety," she added.

A Positive Turn Ahead? However, there are indications of a positive turn. Sources mentioned by The Sun suggest that Prince Charles is considering a trip to Australia later in the year, contingent on successful treatment and recovery from his illness.
The United States has been keenly following Pakistan's accusations that India was ordering targeted killings in the South Asian country, US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Monday, adding the US will not get into the middle of the situation, but will encourage both sides to avoid escalation, and find a resolution through dialogue.

We have been following the media reports about this issue. We don't have any comment on the underlying allegations, but of course, while we're not going to get in the middle of this situation, Miller was quoted as saying by ANI.

India-Pakistan on targeted killing row The controversy started when Indian and Pakistani intelligence operatives told The Guardian that PM Modi's office ordered assassination of individuals in Pakistan.

The Research & Analysis Wing (RAW), an agency that is directly controlled by PM Modi's office, had undertaken the strategy to eliminate terrorists living on foreign soil," the report said.

Notably, this is the third time India has been accused of attempting to assassinate people on foreign soil. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had claimed that there were credible allegations against India in the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The United States had also alleged that an Indian citizen at the behest of someone working in the Indian government has attempted to kill an American citizen. Later, Indian national Nikhil Gupta was charged by federal prosecutors in connection with the Pannun murder plot case.

Reacting to the report, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently said, If that terrorist will run towards Pakistan [from India], Pakistan mein ghus ke marenge [will kill them by entering into Pakistan].

Pakistan denounced Rajnath Singh's proactive remarks, saying India's ruling dispensation was resorting to hateful rhetoric to fuel hyper-nationalistic" sentiments, and unapologetically exploiting such discourse for electoral gains.

Pakistan stands resolute in its intent and ability to safeguard its sovereignty against any act of aggression, as demonstrated by its robust response to India's reckless incursion in February 2019," Pakistan said in an official statement.

In January, India's Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the targeted killings report, calling it as "peddling false and malicious anti-India propaganda".
(Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp. will invest $2.9 billion over the next two years to boost its hyperscale cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Japan, marking its biggest investment in the country.

The announcement was made on Tuesday in Washington after Microsoft President Brad Smith met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is in the US for the first official visit by a Japanese leader in nine years. The Nikkei newspaper had reported the new investment earlier.

Microsoft will also expand its digital training programs to provide AI skills to more than 3 million people over the next three years, the company said in a statement. It plans to open a lab in Japan focused on AI and robotics, while deepening its cybersecurity collaboration with the Japanese government.

Kishida is set to hold a summit with President Joe Biden on Wednesday when the two leaders are expected to emphasize the strength of US-Japan ties in a wide range of areas including defense, economic security, key technologies like semiconductors, AI and quantum computing.

Read more: Japans Kishida Will Look to Sidestep Cracks in Unity With Biden

On Tuesday, Kishida urged American business executives to boost investment in Asias second-largest economy tied to key technologies such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

Your investments will enable Japans economic growth  which will also be capital for more investments from Japan to the US, Kishida said at the start of a roundtable with business leaders in Washington.

The Japanese leader is scheduled to visit Toyota Motor Corp.s battery plant and a Honda Aircraft Co. factory in North Carolina on Friday, where hes likely to tout the benefits of Japanese investments for the US economy.

Japan is the top investing nation in the US with $775.2 billion at the end of 2022, followed by Canada and the UK, according to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. This is far bigger than Chinas investment of $44.8 billion.

(updates with official Microsoft announcement)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- Elon Musk will meet Argentine President Javier Milei at Tesla Inc.s factory in Austin on Saturday during a week-long trip abroad, the government announced Tuesday.

Milei, who took office Dec. 10, has traded compliments with Musk for several months as the libertarian president ascended to power, frequently posting on Musks X platform. For his part, the Tesla chief executive officer posted Mileis speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos from January, calling it a good explanation of what makes countries more of less prosperous.

Milei has lauded Musk too. I have no doubt that Elon Musk will be an active player and he will have a major role in the new Argentina that is leaving behind the decadence of 100 of years of populism, Milei told Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait in an interview last week.

Musks Starlink satellite internet service recently started sales in Argentina after Milei changed a regulation to pave the way for the company to operate in the South American country.

Before meeting Musk, Milei will first attend a Jewish ceremony in Miami where he will receive a distinction for his support of Israel as an International Ambassador of Light alongside his sister and presidential adviser Karina Milei at a synagogue. After winning the election, Milei visited an orthodox Jewish cemetery in New York, and then made Israel his first trip abroad as president.

On Thursday, Milei will meet with the Inter-American Development Bank President Ilan Goldfajn and will deliver a speech at Florida International University that afternoon, according to a copy of his agenda shared by his press team.

To end the trip, Milei will fly to Copenhagen to meet with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and then participate in a ceremony on April 16 to mark Argentinas purchase of a fleet of F-16 fighter jets.

(Updates with Mileis previous travels abroad in the fifth paragraph. An earlier version corrected the spelling of Inter-American Development Bank in the sixth paragraph and of Micklethwait in the video caption)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Elon Musk Vs Brazil SC judge Alexandre de Moraes: The conflict between Elon Musk and Brazilian authorities started after Brazil's Supreme Court judge Justice Alexandre de Moraes included the Twitter owner as a party in an ongoing investigation over the dissemination of fake news, and opened a separate investigation involving the Tesla top executive for alleged obstruction of justice.



This initial action was taken in response to Musk's public statements regarding the court's actions and his refusal to comply with orders to block certain accounts on his social media platform, X.
(Bloomberg) -- UBS Group AG is in discussions to attain full ownership of its China platform by swapping its holding in Credit Suisses onshore securities venture with a Beijing government investment fund, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Zurich-based lender is proposing to buy its remaining 33% stake in UBS Securities Co. from Beijing State-Owned Assets Management Co. and in return sell up to its entire 51% position in Credit Suisse Securities (China) as part of the transaction, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter.

The latest proposal is adding a new twist to the months-long bidding process of Credit Suisses investment bank in the worlds second-largest economy, with Chinese billionaire Jack Ma-backed Ant Group Co. vying with Ken Griffins Citadel Securities LLC. For UBS, selling the Credit Suisse venture to the Beijing government would deflect a strong global player like Citadel, which is skilled at market-making and trading execution, one of the people said.

UBS put the Credit Suisse venture up for sale after taking control of its smaller Swiss rival when it collapsed last year. Under Chinese rules, a foreign shareholder cant hold majority stakes in two domestic brokerages simultaneously. UBS has already controlled 67% of its own UBS Securities since 2022.

While UBS has previously attempted to increase its ownership to 100%, the Beijing government has been reluctant to sell due to the onshore businesss growth and earnings prospect, according to the people.

Spokespeople at UBS and Citadel declined to comment. Beijing State Owned Assets Management and the China Securities Regulatory Commission didnt respond to requests for comment.

UBS is now running a dual-track process, engaging talks with its state-owned shareholder to swap shares while holding advanced talks to sell Credit Suisse Securities to Citadel Securities, the people said. However, both suitors present regulatory hurdles, they added.

For one, Chinese government may not be keen having a state-owned firm assume control of the foreign-owned brokerage and instead could favor a foreign buyer because the securities licenses were originally awarded to Credit Suisse as part of efforts to open up the financial sector. It is also at odds with Chinas years-long effort to consolidate the overcrowded brokerage industry, the people said.

While the worsening US-China tension doesnt bode well for Citadel Securities, President Xi Jinping has softened his stance, inviting American business leaders including Citadel Securities Chief Executive Officer Peng Zhao to a small group dinner in Beijing late March. It was the second time Xi addressed the US business leaders after the November meal on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in San Francisco, where Citadel Securities was also present.

Citadel Securities, the only global bidder for Credit Suisses China platform, is seeking to turbocharge its presence in China with a broader footprint spanning asset management under a securities platform, brokerage execution, financial advisory and market-making, one of the people said.

UBS has been seeking around 2 billion yuan ($278 million) for the entire Credit Suisse China unit, including the stake held by its local partner. Citadel Securities submitted a bid in late December at about 1.5 billion yuan to 2 billion yuan, lower than an offer presented by Ant Group, people said at the time.

Before Credit Suisse collapsed last year, the Swiss bank had agreed to buy out the remaining 49% stake from its Chinese partner for 1.14 billion yuan, valuing the firm at about 2.3 billion yuan, one of the highest figures ever assigned to such a platform in the country. The agreement was nixed after the UBS takeover.

--With assistance from Zhang Dingmin.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- The State Department approved the emergency sale of $138 million in air-defense equipment for Ukraine, part of a US push to keep up support for the country while a far larger assistance package remains stuck in Congress.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale of equipment, services and training for the Hawk Phase III missile system from RTX Corp., the department said on Tuesday.

After a failed offensive last year, Ukraines military has struggled with shrinking weapons stockpiles against resurgent Russian forces aided by a renewed defense industrial base that Western officials say has been bolstered by China.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has appealed to the US and other Western nations for air defense as his countrys cities endure repeated Russian air assaults, including with Iranian attack drones.

The Biden administration has repeatedly asked House Speaker Mike Johnson to let lawmakers vote on a combined funding package that would send aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, but the Louisiana Republican, under pressure from hardline conservatives, has so far refused to do so. US officials have been looking at other ways, including outright sales, to get badly needed weapons to Ukraine.

US Central Command said earlier Tuesday that the American government had transferred to the Ukrainian armed forces thousands of confiscated weapons that Iran intended to ship to the Houthi militants in Yemen.

Earlier: US Sends Ukraine Iranian Weapons Captured From Houthi Militants

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron was in Washington on Tuesday, and met with former President Donald Trump on Monday to push him to persuade his Republican allies in Congress to stop obstructing the Ukraine aid money.

We know what they need, we know they need air defenses, Cameron said at a briefing. Its not for foreign politicians to tell legislators in another country what to do. Its just that Im so passionate about the importance of defending Ukraine against this aggression.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Amid repeated attempts from the international community, including its closest ally United States, to oppress Israel's Rafah invasion, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged the elimination of the terrorist from the southern Gaza city, saying that he has set a date for it.

Over half of Gaza's population, around 1.4 million Palestinians, have fled to Rafah after being displaced by fighting in other parts of the territory.

In a video statement on Monday, Netanyahu said victory against the Hamas requires entry into Rafah. "the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen - there is a date, the Israeli PM said without elaborating on the time of the planned attack.

We are working to achieve our goals all the time...primarily releasing all our hostages and achieving total victory, he added.

The US has said a ground operation into Rafah would be a mistake and has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians.

Netanyahu's video message came at the time Israeli negotiators were discussing international efforts to broker a cease-fire deal with the Hamas in Cairo.

Israel has said Rafah is Hamas' last stronghold and has vowed to send ground troops into the city.

On Sunday, Israeli troops withdrew from another city in southern Gaza, Khan Younis, ending a key phase of the war.

But, the Israeli defense officials said they're regrouping ahead of a push into Rafah.

The Jew nation has said it has a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians ahead of its offensive as Israel's Defence Ministry on Monday published a tender seeking a supplier of tents.

An Israeli official, on condition of anonymity told the Associated Press, that the tents were part of the Rafah preparations.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, the Palestinian death toll from the war has passed 33,200, with nearly 76,000 wounded.

Although the ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tally, it said that two-thirds of the dead are women and children.

The war began October 7, 2023 when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage.
(Bloomberg) -- The US, the UK and Australia may bring Japan into their flagship defense pact, senior officials said Monday, days before Japans prime minister visits Washington and the countries look to project a united front as China boosts its military ambitions.

The three countries said theyd consider working with Japan on the Aukus alliances Pillar II, which covers advanced technologies such as hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

Recognizing Japans strengths and its close bilateral defense partnerships with all three countries, we are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects, the US, UK and Australian defense ministers said in a joint statement.

Japan wouldnt be included in Pillar I of the deal, which will see the US and the UK help Australia field a fleet of US nuclear-powered Virginia class submarines starting in about 2032. However, that project has run into delays given the slow pace the US is projected to have in building its subs.

The defense ministers announcement offers a fresh incentive for Japan days before Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to visit Washington for a three-way leaders meeting with President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Kishida is due to meet with Biden one-on-one on April 10.

Read More: Japans Kishida Advocates Wider Defense Network Ahead of US Trip

The US has yet to detail what it expects from the summit though US officials have said they expect important gains. In a discussion last week, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the summit would be historic and it will largely be historic for the updating of the US-Japan security partnership.

Australia signed the Aukus security partnership with the US and UK in September 2021, part of a pivot by Washington and London to strengthen their presence in the Indo-Pacific region as Chinas military power grows. Campbell was a key architect of the deal in his then-role as Bidens top Asia adviser.

When asked about reports Aukus members would hold talks on adding Japan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the grouping was escalating an arms race in the Asia-Pacific to the detriment of peace and stability in the region.

We oppose relevant countries cobbling together exclusive groupings and stoking bloc confrontation, she said Monday at the regular press briefing.

--With assistance from Philip Glamann.

(Adds comment from Chinas Foreign Ministry.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- The global economy is showing signs of dividing between US- and China-centered blocs, though the dynamics differ from the Cold War with less overall fragmentation and a greater role for non-aligned economies, an International Monetary Fund study found.

Trade flows between a US-aligned group and another linked more closely to China have declined by about 12% more than trade between countries within the same bloc since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to a new working paper by IMF economists including First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath.

Foreign direct investment projects fell by around 20% more between blocs than within blocs over the same period, it added. The magnitude of the decline is both economically and statistically significant, the paper said.

Still, those declines are a fraction of the shortfall during the Cold War, when trade between the rival Western and Eastern blocs declined by two-thirds, relative to trade within those blocs, the study found.

While the extent of fragmentation is still relatively small and we do not know how long-lasting it will be, the decoupling between the rival geopolitical blocs during the Cold War suggests it could worsen considerably should geopolitical tensions persist and trade restrictive policies intensify, according to the paper.

Connector Economies

Another contrast is that many of those non-aligned economies are benefiting from a new status as connector economies between the two blocs, it added.

Global trade and investment have been resilient mostly because flows have been re-routed via connector countries. These non-aligned countries could benefit from rising geo-economic fragmentation, the paper said.

Read More: Connector Economies Are Winners From Global Fragmentation

Thats different from the Cold War, when neutral economies didnt step in to bridge the gap between the blocs because of factors like higher trade barriers and transport costs, it said.

The authors of the paper emphasized that economic fragmentation is different from deglobalization: The ratio of the worlds goods trade to global gross domestic product increased significantly during the Cold War even as the competing blocs decoupled.

As strategic rivalry ramps up between the US and China, the IMF has warned about the economic damage from fragmentation, which it has estimated may sacrifice as much as 7% of global GDP in the long term, equivalent to the combined size of the French and German economies.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his China counterpart Xi Jinping plan to have contacts, the Kremlin said on Tuesday. The officials, however, did not give any time frame for a possible Putin's visit to China.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Reuters as saying that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to Beijing could be seen as preparation for "upcoming contacts at the highest level."

"Indeed, such contacts are planned and there is an understanding of their expediency and necessity, given the high level of friendly relations between the Russian Federation and China," Peskov told reporters.

ALSO READ: Yellen Threatens Sanctions for China Banks That Aid Russia War

"But we still consider it premature to specify any time frames. We will inform you about everything as soon as we are ready," Peskov reportedly said.

The statement came as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday afternoon, further deepening ties as the war in Ukraine grinds on.

"We would like to express our highest appreciation and admiration for the successes you have achieved over the years and, above all, over the past decade under your leadership," Lavrov told Xi, according to Russian news agencies.

For his part, Xi told Lavrov that China attached "great importance" to relations with Moscow and "stands ready, with Russia, to strengthen bilateral communication, (and) strengthen multilateral strategic coordination", according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

Last month, it was reported that Vladimir Putin will travel to China in May for talks with Xi Jinping, in what could be the Kremlin chief's first overseas trip of his new presidential term.

The two countries have in recent years ramped up contacts, and their strategic partnership has only grown closer since Moscow's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. Xi and President Vladimir Putin have agreed to maintain "close exchanges" to ensure the steady development of their ties, AFP reported.
The Indian National Congress released its manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha election a few days ago. The 48-page document is dominated by economic policy proposals, with a focus on tackling the countrys most pressing challengeunemployment.

The solution: build Indias manufacturing prowess and raise the sectors share in GDP from about 14% now to 20%. The manufacturing sector, the Congress party has rightly concluded, is the best fit for productively engaging a bulk of the countrys low-skill workforce.

The Congress wants to make India the manufacturing hub of the world by ensuring the country ranks among the top five global producers in select sectors, especially where we have a labour advantage.

The party promises an employment-linked incentive scheme (ELI) to supplement the Narendra Modi governments productivity-linked scheme (PLI), which it proposes to reform. The Congress also promises that, if voted to office, it will remove biases in taxation and industrial policies that favour the use of capital over labour.

The language used is restrained, and skips rhetoric and politics for the most part. Economic policy proposals have been given serious thought, except in the case of agriculture, where the party seems to have given in to populist politics by promising legal minimum support prices to farmers.

That aside, the manifestos industrial and taxation policy promises are progressive. They show that the Congress has come a long way from when it was influenced by the ideological leanings of the erstwhile National Advisory Council that was dominated by economists such as Aruna Roy and Jean Dreze, as opposed to the policy preferences of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, and for which the UPA government got a lot of flak.

Unlike previous manifestos, theres no mention of the public sector, showing it isnt as important as it used to be to the Congresss economic approach. The manifesto, in fact, makes it plain that the party wants a much larger role for the private sector, including in large infrastructure projects. Unlike its earlier manifestos, there are no assurances provided against privatization.

The Congress seems to have buried the Nehruvian approach at lastthe manifesto takes a remarkably private-sector-and-investors-friendly approach.

A strong, productive and large private sector seems to be the partys prescription for tackling the economys twin inter-linked challenges: unemployment and tepid private investments.

In what will be music to all industries, big and small, the Congress promises a single-rate goods and services tax with only a few exceptions. It proposes to overhaul direct taxation and introduce free-trade policies so that companies can become large and productive. It does not want to continue with the Modi governments protectionist approach to trade, which is a reversal of the 1991 reforms.

The Congress partys argument is that it is the political outfit that delivered Independence as well as the liberalization reforms in 1991, and so has experience of making policy resets" that are urgently needed now to take the economy out of the crisis of unemployment and ensure private investments will revive. It has called this agenda for reset a Nyay Patra (a pitch for justice).

The party insists that the evidence of the success of the social welfare net created by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliancecomprising the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the National Food Security Actis that it enabled India to absorb the shocks of the global financial crisis in 2008 and the Taper Tantrum of 2013.

The Congress proposes to use MNREGA labour for building and strengthening the infrastructure of schools and colleges in villages. The manifesto lays a great deal of emphasis on how it plans to improve the quality of education, given that surveys have consistently shown poor reading and math ability of students. Also included in the manifesto are plans for building skills of the workforce. Colleges and hospitals in every district are proposed. Scholarships, including for sports, are also promised.

There is also a proposal for cash transfers of 1 lakh a year, a Mahalakshmi scheme, to poor families. Free food grains schemes distort production incentives and signals for farmers. Cash transfers, as Mint SnapView has been arguing, are a more sound policy for improving the welfare of the poor.

Populist ideas such as revival of the old pension scheme have thankfully not made it to the manifesto.

The national discourse gains when the Opposition rises to a critical national challenge, such as of chronic unemployment, especially among the youth, with constructive ideas, and in sober-minded language. Whoever forms the government after the election will find useful ideas in this manifesto.
The first day of April marked the 10th anniversary of the rule that made it mandatory for all listed firms above a certain size to have at least one woman member on their board of directors. According to Primeinfobase, as of March 2024, of 2,296 listed companies on the National Stock Exchange, 2,251 have at least one woman director on their board. So far, so good. However, the picture changes if we dig a bit deeper. Only 262 companies have three or more women directors; 43 have four women directors; 12 have five women directors; and just three companies have six women directors. This shows that while India Inc has made progress in complying with the statutory provision, genuinelet alone proportionaterepresentation of women at the board level remains a distant goal.

A breakdown of the composition of women directors at Indias top 500 companies makes for revealing reading. According to a report by Institutional Investor Advisory Services & APG, as on 31 March 2022, independent women directors comprised 71.5% of total women directorships of Nifty-500 companies. Out of 827 women directors, 592 were independent directors, 148 were non-independent, non-executive directors (from the promoter family, promoter nominees and other non-promoters); and just 87 were executive directors. Out of these 87, 54 were from promoter families, two were promoter nominees and only 31 were non-promoters. This data is two years old and may have changed, but it is startling to discover that in the 21st century, among Indias top 500 listed companies, there are less than 100 women executive directors and so few professional, non-promoter women in this role.

In these tiny numbers and the micro presence of women at the CXO level lies corporate Indias womens-empowerment challenge. These numbers must rise sharply for women to become decision-makers and change agents at the highest levels. In the last 10 years, firms have complied with the gender diversity rule by inducting independent directors. Per se, there is nothing wrong with this. Independent directors are the lifeline of good governance, after all. But for the pool of competent independent women directors to expand, the number of women at senior/CXO levels must rise substantially. Otherwise, the danger is that women from unrelated fields with little relevant experience will get pitchforked onto boards and their contribution being limited may reinforce the false belief that they should not be there.

Businesses must follow a deliberate strategy of hiring, retaining and promoting female talent. The presence of women in the workforce drops from the entry to mid-management level, which reduces the pool for CXO elevation. A key reason for this is what former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi described as the conflict between managerial and domestic responsibilities. Total, complete conflict. When you have to have kids you have to build your career. Just as youre rising to middle management, your kids need you because theyre teenagers, they need you for the teenage years," Nooyi had said.

Companies must help their women employees manage this conflict. Deloittes 2023 work report suggests that workplace flexibility is the primary factor driving womens career choices. To increase womens participation at the highest levels, an environment conducive to their retention and success needs to be created. This might include non-linear work hours, reduced commute time, flexible work locations and more financial and institutional support for dependent care.

Simultaneously, companies should build a pipeline of women leaders. Quantifiable and clear targets should be set for the number of women at various levels, including leadership positions, and these should be tracked. Policies should be designed to promote, reward and mentor high-performing women managers and enable them to shatter the glass ceiling. A few companies have mandated that when there are male and female candidates of equal merit, the woman must be chosen. This should become a universal practice. But more importantly, there should be a level playing field for women at the workplace. These changes have to be driven from the top. Creating a pipeline of women leaders should not be the HR departments responsibility. It should a key result area of the CEO.

Here, it must be pointed out that greater women representation at the CXO and board level is not just about womens empowerment (not that this is not sufficient reason). Studies suggest it is good for business as well. According to a 2020 McKinsey report (Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters), companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability than companies in the fourth quartile. Its finding: The greater the representation, the greater the outperformance.

France and Norway have mandated 40% womens representation at the board level. Some have called upon India Inc, too, to increase its number of women board members. For this measure to be successful, companies should focus on expanding the overall pool of female managers and leaders.
SINGAPOREChina is intensifying a dangerous game in the South China Sea, in ways that risk drawing the U.S. into its fight with the Philippines.

In early March, two Chinese coast guard ships slammed a Philippines boat with high-pressure blasts of water cannon, smashing its windshield and preventing it from delivering supplies to a military outpost. A few weeks later, during another Philippines resupply run, Chinese water cannons hit the boat again, leaving its interior in shambles and injuring three Filipino navy personnel.

The tacticswhich include Chinese coast guard and maritime militia ships bumping straight into Philippines vesselsare designed to make it more difficult for Manila to maintain the outpost at Second Thomas Shoal. China claims the reef as its own along with much of the strategic waterway.

View Full Image Map: WSJ

Policymakers worry the increasingly tense encounters could result in a grave incident, push Manila to invoke its mutual-defense treaty with the U.S. and spiral into a broader conflict. That is why the South China Sea will be high on the agenda when President Biden huddles in Washington this week with his counterparts from the Philippines and Japan for their first-ever three-way summit.

Its a really critical hot spot right now that could end up in a bad place," Adm. John Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, told a congressional committee last month, calling Chinese actions aggressive and dangerous.

The mutual-defense treaty between Washington and Manila can be triggered by an armed Chinese attack on Philippines armed forces or public vessels, including its coast guard, in the South China Sea. Adm. Aquilino said that if a Filipino sailor or soldier were killed, Manila could invoke the treaty.

That would put our policy decision makers in a place that would require really tough choices," he said.

Late last month, after the two most recent encounters with Chinese ships, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.signaled that China had crossed a line. He said in a statement that he had approved a response and countermeasure package" that he said was proportionate, deliberate, and reasonable in the face of the open, unabating, and illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks" by Chinas coast guard and maritime militia.

He didnt elaborate on the new measures, but said: Filipinos do not yield."

The question the U.S. faces now is: How to get China to back off before someone gets badly hurt, by accident or otherwise, and brings the mutual-defense treaty into the picture. Washington has sought to demonstrate thatalthough it has a lot on its plate with Gaza and Ukraineit is paying close attention to the South China Sea and has got its allys back.

The underlying calculation is that while Beijing is willing to push and provoke the Philippines, which has a much weaker military than its own, it doesnt want to get into a direct fight with the U.S.

The American and Philippine militaries have conducted joint patrols in the South China Sea since November. When the Philippine resupply convoy heads to Second Thomas Shoal every few weeks, a U.S. warship is usually present at a nearby reefstaying out of the fray but maintaining a presence that both the Philippines and China can see.

Other American allies in the region are also showing up. On Sunday, warships and aircraft from the U.S., Japan, Australia and the Philippines held naval exercises in the South China Sea. In Washington, the leaders of the U.S., Japan and the Philippines will meet on Thursday to announce security and economic initiatives, including more joint patrols.

These groupings knit the Philippines more deeply into U.S. networks in the region. They are part of the Biden administrations efforts to not only level-up the U.S.s friendships one-on-one but also to bring its friends together moresometimes in groups of three, sometimes four, to work together where they can to counter China. Some experts call it a latticework approach.

Japan is negotiating what is called a reciprocal access agreement with the Philippines, aimed at making it easier for the countries militaries to exercise together. Issues relating to the South China Sea are directly connected to peace and stability of the region and they are of legitimate interest to the international community including Japan," a Japanese defense official said.

China disagrees, and says the issues are for Beijing and Manila to resolve between them. It chafes at what it sees as U.S. interference in particular, and accuses the Philippines of pulling in forces from outside the region. It blames Manila for the confrontations at sea.

Second Thomas Shoal lies within the Philippines exclusive economic zone, approximately 105 nautical miles from its shores. Upon it lies Manilas unconventional outpost: a dilapidated World War-II era ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, that the Philippines grounded there 25 years ago to keep China from seizing the reef. Filipino marines live on the decrepit ship and every few weeks, Manila sends a resupply convoy of four ships to support them.

Beijing says the Philippines is trying to transport construction materials to reinforce the Sierra Madre and permanently occupy Second Thomas Shoal.

Elected nearly two years ago, Marcos has driven a rapid shift away from his predecessors pro-China orientation and doubled down on the U.S. alliance. His administration has honed a new template for responding to Chinas gray zone tactics: first, by continuously showing up in the South China Sea, and second, by showing the world what it is like to be at the receiving end of those tactics.

For months, the Philippines has sought to broadcast the confrontations to the world, putting out its own photos and videos and allowing journalists to join its resupply missions to Second Thomas Shoal. Those imagesof small Philippines vessels surrounded by many and much larger Chinese ones, and of blasts of water slamming into Philippine boatshave helped Manila galvanize international support.

The problem for the U.S. and the Philippines is that over the past decade, China has put itself in a strong position in the South China Sea. It has created island bases that bristle with radars, sensors, missiles and runways. It also has built up massive fleets of coast guard and maritime militia ships that roam the waters enforcing Chinas claims.

Still, it may be time to send stronger deterrence signals, said Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute whose work focuses on U.S. strategy in Asia. One option would be for U.S. Navy vessels or surveillance aircraft to come closer when Chinese ships are confronting Philippines vessels, he said.

Another option, if Chinese pressure continued, he said, would be for the U.S. to fly non-surveillance aircraft, such as jet fighters or bombers, through the area to reinforce Americas messaging about the severity of the situation.

Cooper said that Washington could be clear with China that if it attempts to interfere with Philippine resupply in ways that risks the mutual-defense treaty being invoked, the U.S. will start assisting those missions more directly to avoid a bad clash leading to armed conflict.

Were playing Russian roulette every six weeks or so with these resupply missions and you only get lucky so many times," he said.

Peter Landers and Chieko Tsuneoka in Tokyo contributed to this article.

Write to Niharika Mandhana at niharika.mandhana@wsj.com
Israel and Hamas were considering a new U.S. proposal for a cease-fire in the war in Gaza and the freeing of some hostages still held by the militant group, but mediators cautioned that the two sides remained far from a deal.

The plan, presented by Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns to officials from Israel, Hamas, Qatar and Egypt in Cairo on Sunday, calls for a six-week cease-fire in Gaza, which has been the target of an intense Israeli military campaign in the aftermath of Hamass Oct. 7 attacks. During the pause in fighting, Hamas would release 40 of the more than 100 hostages still held in the enclave in exchange for 900 Palestinian prisoners from Israels jails, including 100 serving long sentences on terrorism-related charges, according to the plan.

Officials helping to broker the negotiations said Tuesday that the two sides still disagree over key aspects of any potential deal. Those include the circumstances under which Palestinians displaced by the war would be allowed to return to northern Gaza, the identities of the Palestinian prisoners to be released and whether the initial six-week cease-fire could become permanent.

To be honest we are not optimistic," said one official familiar with the negotiations early Tuesday morning local time, cautioning against prior reports of progress in the negotiations.

Hamas informed mediators that it needed time to consider the proposal, the official said. Israel, in its initial response to the U.S. plan, also expressed reservations about demands previously made by Hamas, according to Egyptian officials who received the Israeli response. Israels security cabinet is expected to discuss the plan on Tuesday, an Israeli official said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that he had received a detailed report on the cease-fire talks in Cairo and that the government continued to work toward the release of all hostages still held in Gaza. But Netanyahu also said that the Israeli military aims to achieve total victory" over Hamas, which he said required an attack on Rafah, the last city in southern Gaza where Israel hasnt launched a full-scale assault.

This will happen; there is a date," he said of the plans for an operation in Rafah.

Netanyahu wants a temporary pause in fighting, while Hamas has called for a permanent cease-fire. In prior rounds of negotiations, Hamas officials have expressed some flexibility about the means through which such a permanent cease-fire would be achieved.

This Burns position is apparently still ignoring the elephant in the roomnamely, is this a six-week deal before an assault of Rafah and more Israeli strikes, or is this the entry point to a permanent cease-fire?" said Daniel Levy, a former Israeli negotiator and government official.

If Israel has too much leeway on choosing the 100 Palestinian prisoners serving longer sentences, then that is also probably a deal breaker," said Levy. Hamas has said it aims to free key Palestinian political and militant leaders who are held in Israeli prisons.

Another important stumbling block is a disagreement over how many Palestinians would be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza from the southern end of the strip. Many displaced Palestinians have moved south since the start of the war in October. The U.S. proposal would allow up to 150,000 Palestinians to return to northern Gaza.

Hamas has demanded the free movement of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, according to officials briefed on the negotiations. Israel, in its initial response to the Burns proposal, said it rejected the unconditional return of Palestinians to the north, according to Egyptian officials who received the Israeli response.

Israel also wants to inspect Palestinians moving from south to north to stop potential Hamas militants from returning alongside civilians to areas its military has already cleared, the Egyptian officials said.

Israeli negotiators had previously offered to allow 60,000 Palestinians to return north.

Hamas demands that there will not be checkpoints." an Israeli official familiar with the negotiations said before the U.S. proposal was presented. They see [this issue] as something that symbolizes their governing capabilities in the northern part of Gaza. Instead of thinking about people that can be back in the north, they think about their regime."

Another concern is that Hamas could fire rockets into Israel from northern Gaza, the official said.

Some 1.7 million Palestiniansmore than three quarters of the enclaves populationremain displaced from their homes within the Gaza Strip, according to the United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees. Israel demanded that more than a million people leave their homes in northern Gaza during the first week of its assault saying that the move was for their own safety.

Write to Jared Malsin at jared.malsin@wsj.com and Summer Said at summer.said@wsj.com
A popular opposition figure is in prison. Another major partys election funds have been seized. As India, the worlds largest democracy, gears up for elections in less than two weeks, investors from the worlds oldest democracy are embracing it like never before.

American businesses are attracted to an economy that is slated to grow 7.5% this year, according to the World Bankmore than three times the global pace. India, which had long frustrated foreign businesses with its sometimes chaotic political system, might have the worlds third-largest economy by the end of the decade.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to sail through general elections held once every five years, potentially surpassing his previous vote tally but worrying some observers. The Sweden-based V-Dem Institute, which had downgraded India to the status of electoral autocracy" in 2018, expects Modis third term to lead to further deterioration. The U.S. government funded research group Freedom House, which rates India as partly-free, said the ruling BJP party has increasingly used government institutions to target political opponents.

View Full Image Graphic: WSJ

With the rift between the U.S. and China widening, the U.S. State Department calls the relationship with India one of the most strategic and consequential of the 21st century. It has also made a tepid call to Indias government for a fair, transparent and timely legal process" for imprisoned opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal and cited an opposition partys allegations that its bank accounts were frozen. The statements were met with strong objections from New Delhi.

The bonhomie is clear when one looks at investment and trade figures. Foreign direct investment from the U.S. into India has risen substantially since Modi came to power in 2014, CEIC data shows, and is likely to keep growing. The U.S. is now Indias largest trading partner, ahead of China, with bilateral trade in goods and services between the allies likely crossing $200 billion in the financial year ended March 2023, according to Indias Ministry of Commerce and Industry. That has doubled since 2014 when Modi took office and Americas ambassador to India has said there is potential for it to increase to $500 billion annually.

During the 2023 financial year, the U.S. was the third-largest source of FDI into India accounting for almost 9% of total FDI equity inflows, according to Indias Ministry of External Affairs.

It is clear why many foreign investors are rooting for Modi. With his re-election, the government is likely to focus on more politically contentious reforms, including land acquisitions, labor reforms and further liberalization of FDI limits. An outright BJP victory should enable a sustained revival in private investments and lead to higher medium-term growth closer to about 7.0% to 7.5%, according to Nomura.

An unexpected win by the opposition coalition, on the other hand, could hurt governance in the near-term as a chaotic collection of parties tussles over issues of leadership, cabinet berths and a reflationary and populist government agenda. Capital expenditure on public infrastructure could take a hit to make fiscal space for consumption-focused policies.

For India to successfully meet the challenge of becoming a serious alternative to China and make good on its promises to American businesses such as Apple and possibly Tesla adopting the China+1" policy, labor and land reforms are critical and so is continuous investment in infrastructure.

The previous coalition government under the Indian National Congress struggled to get the ball rolling on manufacturing and focused more on entitlements and policies such as the right to education, food security and job guarantees for the rural population.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh failed to break the legislative gridlock among lawmakers and pass economic reforms required to lure foreign capital and kick-start the economy during his second term. Morgan Stanley had lumped India among the Fragile Five" emerging markets in 2013. Business confidence regularly took a hit and policy flip flops were common. For instance, U.K. telecom player Vodafone was slapped with billions of dollars in back taxes in 2012 after laws were changed.

It isnt all hunky-dory now either, though. American businesses will have to master the art of maintaining a fine balance as the Indian government gets hypersensitive about criticism or opposition, whether actual or perceived. A top Indian government official recently lambasted Googles Gemini AI tool for a response that Modi has been accused by some of implementing policies characterized as fascist." Indias businesses and press find it hard to criticize the government too.

Modi might have the ability to push through hard reforms to accelerate economic growth and win votes, but that also comes with a penchant for making decisions that are dramatic, performative and sometimes not well thought-out. For example, abruptly scrapping high-denomination bank notes accounting for about 85% of Indias currency by value in 2016 hurt the economy severely.

Strongmen bring their own set of risks, as learned from Chinas zero-Covid policy and the crackdown on its tech sector. For now, though, American business is lauding the new India.

Write to Megha Mandavia at megha.mandavia@wsj.com
BJP leaders lauded the Delhi High Court on Tuesday as it dismissed a plea filed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP supremo is set to remain in Tihar jail after the court decreed that there had been no contravention of legal provisions. Meanwhile AAP leaders have indicated their intention to approach the Supreme Court, dubbing the "so-called excise policy scam" was the "biggest political conspiracy" to finish off the party and Kejriwal.

A criminal is a criminal. Everyone in the country has to follow the laws of India. Today the Court order has shown the mirror to AAP's gang leaderevidence collected by ED shows that the kingpin is Arvind Kejriwal. AAP stand exposed, tweeted BJP MP Manoj Tiwari.

Aam Aadmi Party's arrogance has been shattered. The self-proclaimed honest character (of Arvind Kejriwal) has also been shattered by facts and proofs, added Rajya Sabha MP and BJP's spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi.

The Delhi Chief Minister was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 and remanded in judicial custody at the beginning of April. He currently remains lodged in Tihar jail till April 14.

ALSO READ: 'Arvind Kejriwal's arrest in liquor case valid,' says Delhi HC rejecting CM's plea against ED arrest and remand Today's order against Kejriwal exposes that he is not staunch honest but he is completely corrupt. There is prima facie material available against him, evidence available against him. He not only formulated the said policy but he was involved in taking kickbacks...There is no room left for the AAP to play victimhood card. Today they must tell us how can Kejriwal continue as chief minister that too from inside Tihar jail? asked BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at the Congress on Tuesday for insulting Lord Ram and attempting to stall the construction of the Ayodhya temple. The senior politician also likened the newly released Congress election manifesto to something that could have originated with the Muslim League during a poll rally in Uttar Pradesh.

Every family of the country contributed according to their devotion. The people of Pilibhit also gifted a huge flute to Ayodhya. But, the people of INDI alliance had hatred even before the construction of Ram temple and they have hatred even today, the PM said.

He accused the Opposition party of making several efforts to stop construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Modi said that the Congress had insulted Lord Ram by choosing to reject the pran pratistha invite and subsequently expelling leaders who attended it for six years.

ALSO READ: Congress is my religion: AK Antony says his son Anil contesting 2024 Lok Sabha elections for BJP should lose The senior politician also said that leaders from the INDIA bloc had been abusing and threatening him in order to stop the country's development. Modi asserted that Opposition leaders had hurled invectives when he fulfilled the guarantee of consecration of Lord Ram's idol at the Ayodhya temple. He also cited President Droupadi Murmu to contend that Congress had conspired to defeat the first tribal woman president of India.

Modi bows either before Lord Mahakal or before the public and for the development of the country and its service, I have also learnt to tolerate abuses, he added during another poll rally in the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh.

Both Balaghat and Pilibhit will cast their votes during the first first phase of the Lok Sabha polls on April 19. Elections are being held across India in seven phases with votes being counted on June 4.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has extended its unconditional support the ruling BJP-Shiv-Sena-NCP alliance in Maharashtra. Party chief Raj Thackeray also reiterated his support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a Gudi Padwa rally in Mumbai. He also asked party workers to begin preparations for state assembly elections due later this year.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is unconditionally supporting the grand alliance of 'BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP...This support is only for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA alliance. Now everyone should prepare for the elections... the MNS chief said.

Much has been said about the possibility of Raj Thackeray's MNS joining the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The MNS has not fielded any candidate for the upcoming polls.
Russia and China have pledged to deepen their growing alliance and shared opposition to what they describe as the U.S.s attempts to dominate the world order, with Moscow again seeking to boost trade with Beijing as it looks for new ways to bypass the Western sanctions imposed for its war on Ukraine.

Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday after the U.S. increased the volume of warnings that China should step back from helping the Russians pursue the war against their smaller neighbor. The meeting, which followed separate talks with Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also came against a backdrop of a growing tussle for influence in the global south between the West on one hand, and China and Russia and their partners on the other.

Lavrov echoed some of the language of the Cold War in his remarks following the discussions, and again criticized what he called the Wests proclivity for falling in behind Washington, and the U.S.s attempts to get the rest of the world to follow the same line.

There is no place for dictatorship, hegemony, neocolonial and colonial practices, which are now being applied by the United States and all the rest of the collective West unquestioningly submitting to the will of Washington," Lavrov said.

China has officially maintained a position of neutrality over the Ukraine war, but it has remained an economic lifeline for Russia, deepening trade ties that have helped Russian President Vladimir Putin stabilize his economy despite Western sanctions.

Beijing has also sought to position itself as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine, and dispatched an envoy to Moscow, Kyiv and other capitals. Its proposal last year aimed at ending the conflict was discounted by European officials who saw China as hewing too closely to Russias position.

Wang said China hopes to see a cease-fire and an end to the war as soon as possible," while Lavrov said Moscow was grateful to our Chinese friends for their objective, balanced position, and for their willingness to play a positive role in the matter of a political and diplomatic settlement."

While the U.S. hasnt officially accused China of providing lethal aid to Moscow, it has grown increasingly critical of other assistance Beijing has provided that American officials say bolsters Russias ability to prosecute its war.

During a call last week, President Biden warned Xi about U.S. concerns that Beijing is supporting Russias defense industry.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen repeated those concerns during a visit to China this week, telling officials that Chinese companies that aid in Russias military procurement will face significant consequences."

Beijing has denied selling weapons to Russia and rejected its warnings, and has accused Washington of fanning the war by arming Ukraine.

Lavrov also accused the U.S. of strengthening its alliances in the Asia-Pacific region to target Russia and China.

Biden is hosting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.for a trilateral summit this week that is expected to include talks on countering Chinas increasingly aggressive efforts to stake its claims to much of the South China Sea.

The American alliances have an overt anti-Chinese, anti-Russian orientation," Lavrov said Tuesday. He accused the U.S. of trying to break the security architecture" that has evolved around the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, a political and economic union of 10 states in Southeast Asia.

Chinese companies have sold microchips, jamming equipment and jet-fighter parts to Russian entities, The Wall Street Journal has reported. Chinese exports of earth moving equipment to Russia have also shot up since the start of the war, which analysts say may be aiding the construction efforts of Russian forces in Ukraine.

Since 2022, the U.S. has imposed trade restrictions on dozens of Hong Kong and Chinese entities for selling equipment to Russia that supports its military.

Trade between Russia and China grew last year by more than 26% to $240 billion.

Energy was a key component of Russian exports, and Chinawhich doesnt observe the Western price caphas been a leading buyer. Last month, China received a record volume of Russian crude as Indian purchases fell over concerns about sanctions, shipping-data company Vortexa reported.

Xi and Putin declared a friendship with no limits" between their two countries in early 2022, shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. While Beijing has sought at times to play down that declaration, it has never condemned Putins war, or even called it a war, instead describing it as the Ukraine crisis."

The China-Russia relationship is underpinned by close personal ties between Xi and Putin. The two men have met dozens of times over the past decade, and the Chinese leader has called Putin his dear friend. China welcomed Putin for another visit last year, his first major foreign trip after he was accused of war crimes in Ukraine by the International Criminal Court.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday that Lavrovs visit to Beijing could be considered to be preparation for upcoming contacts at the highest level," between the two nations, but he declined to confirm whether the Kremlin leader was planning another trip to China this year.

Write to Austin Ramzy at austin.ramzy@wsj.com and Ann M. Simmons at ann.simmons@wsj.com
Total Solar Eclipse 2024: As Total Solar Eclipse 2024 darkened the skies cutting across some parts of the United States and Canada, there was an exponential increase in people looking to know "why do my eyes hurt?" and "my eyes hurt" on Google.

Although it's widely understood that viewing an eclipse with the naked eye can lead to damage to the retina, commonly referred to as solar retinopathy or retinal blindness, skywatchers may not immediately sense the effects of directly observing a solar eclipse without enough protection.

WHY IS LOOKING AT SOLAR ECLIPSE WITHOUT EYE PROTECTION DANGEROUS? Eye experts have always warned people against looking at a solar eclipse without proper protection as Sun rays can damage eyes.

The sun's bright rays can burn cells in the retina at the back of the eye. Since the retina doesnt have pain receptors, theres no way to feel the damage as it happens. Once the cells die, they dont come back.

Solar eye damage, called solar retinopathy, can lead to blurred vision and color distortion.

In a 2017 case of retinopathy, a woman, who had looked at the solar eclipse with naked eyes, reported a black dot in her vision. She was later diagnosed with retinal damage that mirrored the shape of the eclipse.

This composite image of multiple exposures shows the progression of a partial solar eclipse over the Washington Monument

The dark spot she was describing was in the shape of a crescent, Dr. Avnish Deobhakta, a Mount Sinai ophthalmologist, was quoted as saying by AP.

Experts across the world advise against looking at a solar eclipse for even a few seconds unprotected. There are reports of solar retinopathy after every solar eclipse, and US eye doctors saw dozens of extra visits after the one in 2017.

It can be dangerous if we arent careful, but its also very safe if we take the basic precautions, said Dr. Geoffrey Emerson, a board member of the American Society of Retina Specialists said.
In Denison, Iowa, a robot spends eight hours a day slicing apart hog carcasses at a plant owned by Smithfield Foods. It serves a dual purpose: producing more ribs for barbecues and smokers, while helping ease the U.S. meat industrys long-running labor shortages.

Meatpackers are increasingly looking to robots for help. Smithfield, the largest U.S. pork processor, began rolling out automated rib pullers at its pork plants several years ago, which company officials said helps leave less wasted meat on the bone and relieves workers from some of the industrys most physically demanding jobsallowing workers to be reassigned from pulling loins or ribs to food-quality inspection jobs.

Keller Watts, chief business officer for Smithfield, said the company, which has roughly 35,000 employees in the U.S., aims to use automation to help reassign some 500 people a year. We can repurpose people," he said. Its a key focal point for us."

Meatpacking jobs can be some of the toughest, bloodiest and most dangerous around, and companies such as Smithfield, Tyson Foods and Cargill have long struggled to fully staff slaughterhouses and processing plants. Workers might have to stand for hours a day, often in cold temperatures, repeatedly slicing livestock carcasses on fast-moving processing lines or moving heavy boxes of frozen meat.

Short-staffed plants that arent able to process farmers livestock can hinder meat companies sales and limit their ability to expand. Raising wages or offering signing bonuses to attract plant workers eats into processors profitability. Meat companies are collectively spending billions of dollars on automating some of the more-difficult plant roles, which they said can improve staffing and safety while cutting costs.

Meat processors said they dont see automation replacing workers or leading to layoffs, partly because turnover in plants is already high and the goal is to move workers to more skilled, harder-to-fill roles.

A $300 million, cutting-edge Tyson chicken processing plant that opened in late 2023 in Danville, Va., is designed to maximize efficiency. It can churn out 20% to 30% more chicken nuggets, strips and wings with 250 fewer people compared with an older, similar plant in Arkansaspart of the companys $1.3 billion plan to automate more of its operations, from processing to packaging.

Tysons new Virginia facility has the capacity to produce roughly 4 million pounds of chicken products a week. Bags of nuggets move down the line where bots sort and pack them into boxes, then lift them onto pallets. Warehouse workers, who in other plants might manually pack and stack boxes, instead oversee the software making the machines hum.

Automated conveyors shift the pallets of boxes to the plants 120-foot-high freezer room. Andrew Boyles, the local complex manager, said its automated shelving and tracking system lets workers avoid spending more time in the cold than necessary.

The U.S. meat industry, with more than $200 billion in annual sales, is under pressure to run more efficiently. Profit margins across the three major protein segmentschicken, beef and porkwere strained over the past year as operating costs increased, chicken and pork prices fell and cattle herds dwindled.

Tyson, the largest U.S. meat company by sales, lost $648 million in its 2023 fiscal year. Rival JBS, the worlds largest meatpacker, lost nearly $200 million last year. WH Group, the China-based parent of Smithfield, reported a $624 million operating loss for its pork operations in the U.S. and Mexico last year, while generating a $1 billion operating profit in its packaged meats business in the U.S.

Automation has been an industry ambition for some time, especially among processors of chickenswhich tend to be smaller, more uniform in size and easier for a machine to handle.

There are a lot of efficiencies and savings and productivity involved," said Tyson Chief Executive Donnie King.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, meatpackers invested in automating tasks such as bagging chicken nuggets and taking the hides off cattle carcasses.

In early 2020, packers temporarily closed plants when tens of thousands of workers fell sick with Covid and hundreds died, according to a 2021 congressional report. Meat companies then struggled over the next year to recruit enough workers and to run their plants at full strength.

U.S. meat processors spent about 5% of their capital investments on advanced automation in 2023, which is higher than it has been in the past, according to Boston Consulting Group. Decker Walker, a consultant at the firm, said those investments will likely keep growing.

Robot butchers that can cut a hog carcass in half or carefully slice meat from a chicken breast have their limits in meat plants cold and sometimes messy conditions. Fully autonomous processing operations are still a long way off and carcass-scanning computers cant yet match humans ability to disassemble and debone larger cattle and hog bodies that slightly differ in shape and size.

Taking hourly workers off the processing line and training them to work with robots that require more technical skills can be challenging for meat companies and employees, according to industry officials. Tyson said it is working with a local community college near its new Virginia plant to create a pipeline of potential workers.

Cargill, the third-biggest beef processor by production capacity in the U.S., plans to spend upward of $700 million through the next several years to automate parts of its meat and egg business, said Tom Windish, the head of the companys beef division.

At Cargills plant in Dodge City, Kan., a roughly 6,000 head-a-day operation that is one of the countrys largest beef suppliers, the company dispatched a robot cattle driver to help shepherd livestock from the cattle trucks arriving from feedlots across the plains.

The company has installed more computers and X-ray inspection technology throughout its facilities to detect bones and other undesirable materials in products. Elsewhere in the plant, Cargill now operates automated rib-chine saws that cleave off the spine from the carcass, and machine hock-cutters that chop the front off shanks, the part of the leg between the knee and the beef carcass.

Write to Patrick Thomas at patrick.thomas@wsj.com

View Full Image Meet the Robots Slicing Your Barbecue Ribs

View Full Image Meet the Robots Slicing Your Barbecue Ribs

View Full Image Meet the Robots Slicing Your Barbecue Ribs
A 44-year-old Ahsahka man was bound over to 2nd District Court on Monday on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the death of 38-year-old Ronnie Lee Cheney of Casper, Wyo.

Andrew J. Martson is being held in the Clearwater County Jail on a $750,000 bond. He appeared Monday before Magistrate David H. Judd, who ruled there is enough evidence to support the first-degree murder charge. Martson is scheduled to be arraigned in district court today at 1:15 p.m.

During the preliminary hearing there was no dispute between Clearwater County Prosecutor E. Clayne Tyler, and Martsons representative, William J. Fitzgerald, that Martson had killed Cheney. In a recorded 911 call to the dispatch office about 1:52 a.m. on Jan. 24, Martson is heard in a calm voice telling the dispatcher that I killed my best friend.

The dispatcher advised Martson to stay put and wait for deputies to arrive, which they did within minutes. The first deputy on the scene, Colin J. Berger, mistakenly assumed Martson had shot Cheney with a gun but Martson corrected him and said he had used a knife.

He informed me that he and the victim had been shooting up dope and he heard things telling him (Cheney) had to die, Berger said.

Berger handcuffed Martson and placed him inside his patrol vehicle, then went back to look through the camper trailer where Martson had been living.

There he found Cheneys body, lying on a bed with multiple stab wounds and surrounded by blood.

Martson was taken to the jail while investigators continued to secure the crime scene. Cheneys body was delivered to the Spokane County medical examiner, who documented the nature and number of the stab wounds.
The Whitman County Prosecutors Office has thrown out a criminal case against a Washington State University student who had elicited use of a firearm by a campus officer.

The incident is being described as an attempted suicide, according to Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy.

He decided to drop 20-year-old John Bazans case because of mental health issues. Tracy said Bazan had written a suicide note before the event.

After his initial appearance in court March 28, he was released and underwent in-patient mental treatment at a hospital, Tracy said. He let the case go so Bazan could receive uninterrupted mental health treatment ordered by the court.

Bazan was arrested March 27 as officers investigated a report of a man with a knife at the Global Scholars residence hall. It was later determined that Bazan had reported himself as the one with the weapon.

Officers contacted Bazan on the fourth floor and found him concealing his hands in his sweatshirt. He began to move toward officers, ignoring instructions to stop and show his hands.
A former deputy with the Nez Perce County Sheriffs Office had a lawsuit against Nez Perce County officials dismissed because of inaction and missed deadlines.

U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill ordered March 25 for the lawsuit filed by George JR Gregory to be dismissed without prejudice, meaning it could be refiled, and the judgment was entered March 26. Winmill also denied an extension for a deadline requested by Gregory.

Gregory filed the lawsuit claiming unlawful termination in July 2023 with the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho in Moscow, against several officials in Nez Perce County. The lawsuit references an incident in which Gregory arrested a man in November 2022, who later had his charges dismissed, resulting in Gregory being placed on administrative leave. He was later terminated.

The lawsuit alleges Gregorys employment ended after hed allegedly reported officers who were viewing pornography in September 2022. A response to the lawsuit denies he was unlawfully terminated, according to court documents.

Attorneys for Nez Perce County officials, Bentley Stromberg and Tully FitzMaurice, of Clements, Brown and McNichols in Lewiston, and Kristen Thompson, of Thompson Law Firm in Meridian, Idaho, were hired by Gregory.

A case management order was issued in October but Gregorys attorney experienced health issues in December.

In January, Stromberg notified the court of numerous deadlines that were missed and unsuccessful attempts to contact Gregorys attorney.

The court then asked for an order from Gregory to show cause why the case should continue by Feb. 9. Thompson, Gregorys attorney, notified the court Feb. 7 that she intended to withdraw and Gregory had been unable to find another attorney.

Nothing was filed by Feb. 9 and Gregory filed a letter, outside of an attorney and after the deadline, explaining the situation. Gregory wrote another letter Feb. 13 stating he might have found an attorney if he could get an extension on the deadline for discovery, which is evidence used in the case, according to court documents.
With sadness in our hearts, we announce the passing of Ella Schaeffer, who peacefully departed from this world Friday, April 5, 2024, at Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane, at the age of 91. Elenora Ella Anna was born on Sept. 20, 1932, on the family farm in Greencreek to Harry and Matilda Tilly Wessels. She was the fifth of Harry and Tillys ten children. She graduated from Greencreek High School in 1950 and attended one year of college at Lewiston State Normal School in Lewiston. She was swept off her feet by the charming and handsome Eugene Schaeffer and they married July 19, 1952, at St. Anthonys Catholic Church in Greencreek. Together they built a life rooted in love, faith and family in Ferdinand.

For Mom, family meant everything. She loved spending time with her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. Her home was always welcoming, and Grandmas snack drawer was legendary. She contributed to the family farm by driving harvest trucks, moving cattle and always having a hot meal for the crew. Mom actively participated in her community as a religious education teacher, cub scout leader and member of the Christian Mothers. She was known for her card playing and looked forward to Monday Bridge and Friday Pinochle. One of her greatest joys and accomplishments was the work she did as a Certified Nursing Assistant at St. Marys Hospital, especially in cardiac rehab.

Mom is survived by her five children including her sons Keith and wife Leah, of Spokane; Clifford and wife Kelly, of Lapwai; and daughters Lynn and husband Gary Rehder, of Cottonwood; Tona and husband Tony Koch, of Hayden, Idaho; and Brenda and husband Nick Senger, of Spokane; brother Urban and wife Jane Wessels; sisters Mary Jean and husband Don Arnzen; Darlene Hasenoehrl; 18 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
Early on, Nancy was a waitress at several local restaurants until she became a school bus driver for the Clarkston School District. Nancy loved driving school bus, especially spending the time getting to know all the students she shuttled for over 23 years.

Allen and Nancy were very social whether drinking coffee with friends, playing in pool leagues or dart leagues. They were active members of the Clarkston Moose Lodge and the Clarkston Eagles Auxiliary.

Nancy enjoyed spending time with her sons and their families as well as all her extended family including several beloved nieces and nephews. She is survived by her sons Steve (Daelynn), Chris (Lisa) and four grandchildren, Cody, Ashley, Adelyn and Kyler as well as two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be officiated by Pastor Stanton Walker at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 13, at New Ground Alliance Church, 817 Libby St., Clarkston.
Thomas Tom Trevor Davis, 83, died early Friday, April 5, 2024, at Lewiston Transitional Care of Cascadia in Lewiston, after several challenging years with his health. He now resides in heaven with his Savior Jesus Christ.

Tom was born Sept. 25, 1940, in DuQuoin, Ill., but lived most of his early life in Northwest Indiana, primarily in Merrillville and Crown Point. His parents were Thomas Ray and Violet Theone (nee McMurray) Davis. His father was a railroad engineer for the EJ&E Railroad in the steel mills of Gary, Ind., and a World War II Army veteran. His mother was a homemaker. His parents later divorced and each remarried; Thomas to Norma and Violet to Charles Clark. Following graduation from Merrillville High School and working in the steel mill, Tom earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Secondary Science from Valparaiso University and later a Masters Degree in Counseling from Ball State University.

Tom and his wife Lisa moved to Grangeville in 1975. He had taught science for eight years at the junior high level prior to moving. In Grangeville he taught 26 years in Grangeville Elementary School, all but one year in fifth grade. He had taken additional classes beyond his Masters degree to become elementary certified prior to moving to Idaho. In asking several teachers about the best grade to teach, the consensus was fifth grade. Tom thoroughly enjoyed that age group. With his science background he did many memorable special projects with his students. Classroom-made individual microscopes (with help of many parents preparing components), test-tube ice cream where students calibrated their own blank thermometers and learned about salts effect has on ice, individual matchbox cars with races down the hallway ramp, a hovercraft from a truck inner tube, classroom rats cared for by students, and other hands-on activities made lasting memories for students.

Outside of his job Tom was an avid hunter and fisher: white tail and mule deer, elk and bear with rifle and bow; Hungarian and chukar partridge, pheasants and turkeys; and trout, steelhead, salmon and small-mouth bass with fly rods and spinning rods. He made fly rods and tied flies. He enjoyed being outdoors  hiking, backpacking and working on the property to clear it and plant hundreds of trees and shrubs. He once had a memorable experience with a mountain lion stalking him as he waited camouflaged during a turkey hunt, and several exciting adventures rafting and canoe fishing. He participated in some competitive archery and pistol shoots, and enjoyed various shotgun activities.

Tom read a great deal and particularly enjoyed history topics. The Civil War, World War II, Nez Perce history, and naval adventures were favorites. He built three boats, learning how to work with fiberglass to do so.
Three ceremonies took place in the Mahony Hall in The Helix on Friday, April 5, featuring students from the universitys five faculties; the DCU Business School, the Institute of Education, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Science & Health, and the Faculty of Engineering & Computing.

This year sees the first graduates from the Master of Science in Health and Social Inclusion, the Graduate Diploma in Social, Personal and Health Education/Relationships and Sexuality Education, Maistir Ealaion i Leann na Gaeilge agus Maistir Eolaiochta sa Bhainistiocht agus Gno Digiteach.

Speaking ahead of the first ceremony, Prof Daire Keogh, President of Dublin City University said: The graduation ceremony is one of the most important occasions in the DCU calendar. The conferring of awards provides an opportunity for the University community to focus, with pride, on its very purpose  to educate our young people to the highest standards and to equip them with the skills and attributes required to thrive and contribute positively to our wider society.

Also read: Mourners at funeral of Longford woman Sarah McNally hear she was a shining light

During his speech to graduates, he said: The world is going through a period of unprecedentedly rapid change and we face many global challenges. However, most of these problems are man made, and it is up to humanity to solve them.

I am confident that you, our graduates, will play your part in bringing about positive change - delivering on the DCU mission to transform lives and societies in your communities, in your professions, in our wider society.

PICTURES | Vote seeking and soul searching as Longford succumb to Meath in Leinster championship

The President also reiterated his call for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate release of all hostages.
Flower Hill Woman Teams Up with Nassau Police to Bust Scammer Who Ripped Her Off for $16,000

Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: April 09 2024

Xiuyu Dong, 39, is being charged with one count of Attempted Grand Larceny.

The Sixth Squad reports the arrest of a Brooklyn woman for an Attempted Grand Larceny that occurred on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 2:50 p.m. in Flower Hill.

According to Detectives, on Friday April 5, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., a female victim, 51, received a notification on her laptop that her computer has been locked and she needed to contact the provided number for assistance. The unknown male representative advised the victim of suspicious activity and requested $16,000.00 in cash to correct the problem. The victim withdrew the money and an unknown female subject picked it up later that evening. The victim believed she was in fact scammed and contacted Police.

On Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 2:50 p.m. the female victim received additional phone calls from the same male tech support requesting an additional $10,000.00 in cash and stated a second representative will come to her home to pick up the money. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Xiuyu Dong, 39, of 639 48th Street.

Defendant Xiuyu Dong is being charged with one count of Attempted Grand Larceny. She was arraigned on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at First District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Nassau County Police Department urges the community to be on alert and to remind vulnerable family members, friends and neighbors about potential scams or fraud.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: April 09 2024

Funding Allocated to 14 SUNY Campuses Through This 2023-24 Budgets Historic $163 Million Operating Increase.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced how 14 State University of New York campuses are investing nearly $10 million in annual state funding to expand their research capacity. The funding was secured through the 2023-24 state budgets historic $163 million increase in direct operating aid to SUNYs state-operated campuses.

I am committed to building the best public higher education system in the country right here in New York State," Governor Hochul said. "Through this $10 million investment, SUNY campuses are expanding research opportunities for students and ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. is visiting Buffalo State University today where the university plans to utilize its $40,000 in research funding  part of this years nearly $10 million state funding increase  to hire a pre-award specialist, a role that is crucial as the campus seeks to acquire more competitive research grants. During the 2022-23 academic year alone, the campus was granted about $1.8 million from federal agencies, including from the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Education, and the US Department of Health and Human Services.

While on campus, Chancellor King is visiting the state-of-the-art Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium, which opened in 2021 after investing more than $100 million and 10 years of construction in the Science and Math Complex. He will join Interim President Bonita R. Durand for Buffalo States Eclipse Fest, which concludes a year-long educational program for the community, including a demonstration of the hands-on technology available to conduct astronomy research for todays celestial event.

As a result of these resources allocated to 14 research-intensive campuses:

At least 11 campuses will use funds to support researchers through competitive start-up packages, administrative support and faculty release time. For example:

-Stony Brook University will use their allocation to support research infrastructure in new roles such as data privacy, research security, and proposal development specialists.

-SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is using their allocation to support their research office, including an administrative director for TRANSPORT. TRANSPORT is a growing program that is cultivating health equity researchers from underrepresented backgrounds to perform research that informs the development of sustainable solutions to health disparities.

-SUNY College of Optometry will use their funds for competitive start-up packages for new researchers in the field of genetics and molecular biology of retinal and eye disease.

At least seven campuses will purchase new and specialized technology and equipment and develop labs to conduct cutting-edge research. For example:

-SUNY Upstate Medical will purchase specialized equipment to fight disease and understand brain structure at the molecular level. Both tools were requested by faculty spanning health and particle research.

-SUNY Geneseo will provide start-up funding to support new faculty labs and other research programs, especially in the STEM fields.

At least four campuses will invest in stipends to support student research. For example:

-SUNY Plattsburgh is offering stipends to cover supplies, equipment, and fellowship funds for approved student research proposals.

At least seven campuses will engage in other innovative research supports around specific societal problems and expand a culture of research on their campus. For example:

-SUNY Oswego is using their allocation to support the Great Lakes Institute to conduct research around water quality monitoring, watershed maintenance, meteorological, climate, and socio-economic issues, fisheries and hatcheries, freshwater use and scarcity, indigenous people issues, computational and ecosystem modeling, Great Lake resilience, and water level issues.

-SUNY Polytechnic Institute will use their funds to create research centers in areas such as civil engineering, robotics and advanced communications, and advanced manufacturing.

A fact sheet outlining campus investments is available here.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. said, In her inaugural State of the State address, Governor Hochul charged SUNY to double research and innovation across the system. This annual investment is helping SUNY to meet the Governors goal and support groundbreaking research in areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, and other fields that will secure SUNY's position as a top research institution.

Buffalo State University Interim President Bonita Durand said, New York State's commitment to investing in SUNY campuses' research capacity is a difference-maker. At Buffalo State University, this support will enable us to leverage prior investments to our Science and Mathematics Complex, including the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium, as well as our Technology Building, to create new research opportunities for students and faculty.

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said, Last year the legislature and Governor provided a record increase in operating aid for SUNY. The 14 SUNY campuses' faculty and students will benefit from the $10 million allocation. I hope the budget now being negotiated includes a similar investment to continue research funding.

Assemblymember Patricia Fahy said, New York continues to be the epicenter of world-class research and innovation thanks to the globally recognized researchers at SUNY and in our higher education system. Our record operating aid increase means that more SUNY institutions and researchers will have access to research grants that will further their work and our ability to attract world-class talent. Thank you to SUNY Chancellor King and Governor Hochul for continuing to ensure that New York invests in critical research and development that will grow our workforce and help us meet the challenges of tomorrow.

About The State University of New York

The State University of New York, which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023, is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNYs 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the countrys oldest school of maritime, the states only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2022, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit www.suny.edu.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Empire State Development has executed a $100 million Grant Disbursement Agreement for the transformative Electron-Ion Collider project at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy marks a major milestone toward bringing the worlds only next-generation EIC to Long Island and launches New York States investment in a one-of-a-kind effort to support breakthroughs in energy, science, technology, and medicine.

"With this $100 million state investment, we are one step closer to bringing this transformative, one-of-a-kind technology to New York State, Governor Hochul said. "Brookhaven National Laboratorys Electron-Ion Collider will expand our states capability to achieve unimaginable breakthroughs in science, attract innovative 21st century businesses, and create good-paying jobs. I thank the Biden administration, New Yorks congressional delegation, and Brookhaven for their partnership to transform our state into a global hub for innovation.

"For nearly eight decades, Brookhaven National Laboratory has produced groundbreaking research that has shaped the global scientific view," said Lieutenant Governor Delgado. "Today's historic Electron-Ion Collider announcement will continue New York's strong legacy as a leader in innovation and will provide boundless opportunities for New Yorkers and those around the world."

United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said, "The National Labs are national treasures  critical to maintaining our global leadership in science, and economic anchors for their surrounding communities. The Electron-Ion Collider is a quintessential lab project, opening new vistas for scientific discovery, and in the process hiring hundreds of Long Island union workers to build the collider. I am grateful to Governor Hochul along with Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their leadership on this game-changing initiative.

Brookhaven Lab was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as the site of the worlds only next-generation polarized Electron-Ion Collider. Following negotiations between Empire State Development and DOE, the State's $100 million investment was finalized in February 2024. Over the next four years, these funds will support the design, construction, and hardware infrastructure installation of the initial four buildings out of a potential 14 that are a part of the EIC project. While the state's portion is expected to be complete by 2027 the overall construction is expected to continue until 2033. The scientific and technical components of EIC and its science program will be funded by the federal government through the DOE Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics.

Empire State Development President CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "The Electron-Ion Collider exemplifies the profound impact of strategic investments in groundbreaking research and development. Through our partnership with federal agencies, we are pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge while solidifying New York's status as a worldwide innovation leader. This transformative project will serve as a magnet for top talent, catalyze economic growth, and pave the way for revolutionary technologies that will define our future."

Empire State Development Board Chairman Kevin Law said, "Today, we celebrate a milestone that underscores New York's leadership in cutting-edge scientific research and its commitment to fostering a thriving innovation ecosystem. The Electron-Ion Collider project at Brookhaven National Laboratory represents a bold step forward, one that will undoubtedly yield groundbreaking discoveries and drive economic prosperity for our state. By investing in this visionary endeavor, we are not only advancing the frontiers of knowledge but also creating a lasting legacy of scientific excellence that will inspire generations to come."

Brookhaven Lab Director JoAnne Hewett said, NY States funding commitment will support key infrastructure that is essential to the success of the EIC project. It will provide the resources needed to partner with local companies on conventional construction, materials, and equipment on an optimum schedule. It will also support high-quality jobs both within the Lab and across the region. The entire Lab and EIC project team look forward to demonstrating the value of this discovery machine to NY State, DOE, and the world.

Established in 1947 and overseen by DOE, Brookhaven National Laboratory is a multidisciplinary facility that works to address the nations energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. The $1.7-$2.8 billion EIC, to be constructed over the next decade by scientists, engineers, and technical staff from Brookhaven Lab  in partnership with Virginias Jefferson Lab  and other institutions from throughout the United States and around the world, will offer groundbreaking insights into the structure and behavior of atomic particles. This particle collider is unique as it will be the only electron-nucleus collider operating globally, designed to allow scientists to produce precision 3-D snapshots of the particles' internal structures, similar to how a CT scanner works but on an atomic level. The EIC is expected to have broad-ranging impacts beyond nuclear physics, impacting health, medicine, national security, and industrial applications with its advanced particle beam technology.

Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, Since my first day in the Senate I have been a steadfast supporter of Brookhaven National Lab, securing billions of dollars in funding over the years for groundbreaking projects and research. I worked tirelessly with the BNL team to secure the construction of the worlds first Electron Ion Collider at the Lab, a $2.8 billion project that will keep the United States, and Long Island, at the forefront of scientific discovery and unlocking the secrets of the universe. This project will create thousands of union construction jobs, juice Long Islands economy, bring scientists the world over to New York, and unleash new technologies that we cannot even begin to imagine. I applaud Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State for their commitment of these much-needed funds to enhance infrastructure critical to the EICs construction and success, and look forward to working with her, Lab Director Dr. JoAnne Hewett, DOE Secretary Granholm and the Biden administration to bring this project to fruition.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, This $100 million is an important investment in the EIC project and will ensure Long Island can lead the world in breakthroughs in energy, science, technology, and medicine. Brookhaven National Laboratory is an incredible asset for New York and the nation that draws scientists from around the world to conduct cutting-edge research and creates thousands of local jobs for the Long Island economy. I am proud to see this critical investment being made to advance the EIC project and I will continue to fight so BNL has the necessary resources to thrive.

State Senator Monica Martinez said, New York States $100 million investment at Brookhaven National Lab will accelerate scientific discovery and energize Long Islands economic future. Through New Yorks support of Brookhavens Electron-Ion Collider project, our state and this region will be at the forefront of research that will guide the next stage of human discovery and tackle some of the worlds most pressing challenges. I thank Governor Hochul for recognizing the importance of this project in positioning New York State at the forefront of the 21st-century economy.

State Senator Dean Murray said, "There's a big difference between "spending" money and "investing" money. I commend Governor Hochul for recognizing the importance of investing in the groundbreaking Electron-Ion Collider project at Brookhaven National Lab in the 3rd Senate District. In addition to the technological breakthroughs that the EIC project will bring in energy, science, medicine, etc., the project will also result in the creation of thousands of jobs."

Assemblymember Jodi Giglio said, Brookhaven National Lab is the center of scientific development on Long Island, and our investment in the Electron Ion Collider (EIC) will ensure that BNL remains at the forefront of nuclear physics research in both the United States, and the world. Funding the EIC is literally investing in our future. It will expand US leadership in scientific fields that are critical to our nations success, advancing both known and yet-to-be-invented sciences that will power the technologies of tomorrow. The EIC will attract the best and brightest minds to Brookhaven National Labs and inspire the next generation of scientists to unlock the deepest secrets of our universe. I know that the science we support today will trigger benefits for our society tomorrow, benefits that will impact medicine, human health, energy, and national security. Securing BNLs place in the world is securing our future, and I am proud to support this funding, and the lab it promotes.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said, With these investments by New York State and the Federal Government, Suffolk County remains world-renowned for its contributions to the history of science and technology. Thank you to Governor Hochul for her assistance in securing this funding and we look forward to the day when the new collider is completed.

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico said, Brookhaven National Laboratory and the pioneering work done there is of tremendous value to our town, our state, our country and our world. The research and breakthroughs achieved will advance our society, help our world and help unlock the mysteries of our universe. I commend the Governor on this worthwhile and significant investment in science.

President of the Nassau Suffolk Building Trades Matty Aracich said, A tremendous thank you to Governor Hochul, for providing the seed money for the next phase of the Electron Ion Collider Complex at Brookhaven National Lab on Long Island. This project, championed by US Senator, Chuck Schumer and Governor, Kathy Hochul enables New York to remain a magnet, attracting the best and brightest minds. Long Islands next-generation EIC will create thousands of rewarding careers for Long Islands skilled workforce in the Building and Construction Trades and will draw on expertise from those in the DOE complex, at neighboring universities and laboratories around the world. However, this project does much more than draw people to the region with the promise of rewarding careers. It is the pebble tossed into a pond whose ripples reach far beyond its initial splash, bringing advancements in essential research and breakthrough technology once thought to be impossible.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: April 09 2024

A series of local exhibition-related programming and events developed by Preservation Long Island and community partners will continue during the run of the exhibition.

Preservation Long Island, in cooperation with the Museum Association of New York (MANY), continues its exploration of Voices and Votes: Democracy in America, a Smithsonian traveling exhibition that opened last month at their Cold Spring Harbor gallery  the first stop in New York state. A series of local exhibition-related programming and events developed by Preservation Long Island and community partners will continue during the run of the exhibition. Voices and Votes will be on view through May 3, 2024.

Exhibition-related community events and programs scheduled in April include:

Voter Registration Days with The League of Women Voters

Representatives from the Huntington Chapter of the League of Women Voters will be stationed in the gallery from 12-2pm over several days to share resources with Voices and Votes exhibition visitors. April 13, 20 and 24 at Preservation Long Island Exhibition Gallery

Scholar Lecture with Historian David Waldstreicher, PhD

Explores the poetry and public voices of two published Black poets of eighteenth-century America, Phillis Wheatley and Jupiter Hammon, highlighting their lives and work, politics, relationship to each other, and their legacies. April 18 at Cold Spring Harbor Library

Curator-Led Exhibition Tour

Preservation Long Island Curator, Lauren Brincat, will guide visitors through the Voices and Votes exhibition that explores the origins of American democracy from the revolution and suffrage to civil rights and casting ballots. April 21 at Preservation Long Island Exhibition Gallery

Oral History Project

Preservation Long Island in collaboration with Our Story Bridge invites participants from the local community to share stories that contribute to a deeper understanding of our shared Long Island history. Ongoing. Sign-up online to participate: https://preservationlongisland.org/oral-history-project/

View the Voice and Votes exhibition full programming schedule: https://preservationlongisland.org/voices-and-votes/

Preservation Long Island, a regional not-for-profit organization headquartered in Cold Spring Harbor that maintains and interprets historic sites and collections pertaining to Long Islands history, was chosen by MANY to be the first venue in New York State to host Voices and Votes as part of the Museum on Main Street projecta national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to small town and rural cultural organizations. After it leaves Cold Spring Harbor in May, the exhibition will travel to twelve communities across New York through January 2026 before it returns to the Smithsonian: https://nysmuseums.org/Project-Participants-and-Host-Sites .

Voices and Votes takes a broad look at the nearly 250-year-old American experiment of a government of, by and for the people. From the revolution and suffrage, to civil rights and casting ballots, everyone in every community is part of this ever-evolving storythe story of democracy in America. Exhibition sections explore the origins of American democracy, the struggles to obtain and keep the vote, the machinery of democracy, the right to petition and protest beyond the ballot and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. The exhibition includes a section that incorporates art and artifacts drawn from Preservation Long Island and other local collections.

Unveiled at the exhibition opening reception in March was a community quilt commissioned by Preservation Long Island and sponsored by a local quilting and crafts shop that encouraged participants to reflect on the past and what democracy meant to them. The quilts concept and design was inspired by a Civil War-era example in our collection now on view as part of the companion exhibition, Democracy on Long Island, that connects our local history with the larger story of American democracy, said Lauren Brincat, Preservation Long Island Curator.

We are very pleased with the communitys reaction thus far to Voices and Votes, said Alexandra Wolfe, Preservation Long Island Executive Director. People from across Long Island are coming to see the exhibition. Its great exposure for our gallery and the surrounding communities of Cold Spring Harbor and Huntington. And our public programs such as the Community Quilt Project have been extremely popular and well-received.

Support

A New Agora for New York: Museums as Spaces for Democracy has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Voices and Votes is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum Association of New York. Additional support has been provided by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

Support for MoMS in New York State has been provided by the United States Congress, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. To learn more visit museumonmainstreet.org, sites.si.edu, or nysmuseums.org.

About Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service

SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 65 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For exhibition description and tour schedules, visit sites.si.edu.

About Preservation Long Island

Preservation Long Island is a not-for-profit organization that works with Long Islanders to raise awareness, appreciation, and support for the protection of our shared past through advocacy, education, and the stewardship of historic sites and collections. http://preservationlongisland.org

Preservation Long Island maintains and interprets historic sites and collections that embody various aspects of Long Islands history including:

Joseph Lloyd Manor, Lloyd Harbor http://preservationlongisland.org/joseph-lloyd-manor/

Custom House, Sag Harbor http://preservationlongisland.org/custom-house/

Sherwood-Jayne Farm, Setauket http://preservationlongisland.org/sherwood-jayne-farm/

Old Methodist Church and Exhibition Gallery http://preservationlongisland.org/methodist-church/

About the Museum Association of New York

The Museum Association of New York is the only statewide museum service organization with more than 750 member museums, historical societies, zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums. MANY helps shape a better future for museums and museum professionals by uplifting best practices and building organizational capacity through advocacy, training, and networking opportunities. Visit www.nysmuseums.org and follow MANY on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @nysmuseums.
Even after receiving threats last week, the principal of Sutton Memorial High School is defending the schools choice to host a drag artist during an event dedicated to supporting the LGTBQ+ community.

In an email sent to the students of Sutton Public Schools on Friday, Principal Ted McCarthy wrote that the performers appearance last week was part of the Connections Conference, an event held every March that celebrates traditions and histories of diverse communities.

The email states that McCarthy received calls and posts online from individuals who protested the drag artists appearance and that the school also received a vague threat from an unknown person last Friday.

The threat led to an investigation by the Sutton Police Department, which found no immediate threat to the school that day.

McCarthy thanked the police department for its assistance, and criticized those who threatened the school.

Read more: North Brookfield agrees not to block LGBTQ Pride events in lawsuit settlement

Some people online are saying some hateful and hurtful things, McCarthy wrote. I would remind everyone that what you post, email and share lives forever. Be your best, most positive selves online. Set an example for some adults who clearly need it.

The principal went on to write that many of the complaints he had heard were based on rumors about the performer wearing see-through clothing and dancing in a way that was considered inappropriate.

McCarthy wrote that these rumors were false and that the drag artist did not engage in any behavior the school deemed inappropriate for their students.

Many of these complaints were posted on Facebook, but as of April 9, many of these posts have been deleted. He explained that the performance was a message for students who identify as part of the LGTBQ+ community that they are always welcome at the school regardless of their sexual orientation.

Was the performance a bit extra? Maybe. Do I think it was inherently harmful to kids? Absolutely not, McCarthy wrote. I am almost positive that more inappropriate content is available to students on their phones each day.

According to McCarthy, the drag artist visit was part of collaboration between the Connections Conference Committee and the Central Mass.-based organization Pride Worcester.

This was done in order to highlight aspects of the culture of the LGBTQ+ community in Central Massachusetts. He wrote in the email that students were not required to attend the event under any circumstances  pushing back against another rumor that was spread online.

It is a conference that promotes inclusion, understanding, and respect for everyone - no matter who you are, McCarthy wrote. We host over 600 students and staff from all over New England for a positive and uplifting day where kids and teachers learn from college professors, non-profit groups, and other high schools.

Per their website, Pride Worcester has collaborated with cities and towns in Worcester County to highlight the LGTBQ+ community in the area.

One of their most popular events is the Worcester Pride Festival, which will be held from Sept. 1 to Sept. 15 this year.

A recent study conducted by The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy and Gallup Daily Tracking Survey found that 4.6% of Worcesters population identify as part of the LGTBQ+ community, with a majority of them between the ages of 14-18 years old.

Pride Worcester did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday.
A Boston man pleaded guilty to trafficking a teenager and two women to work across state lines as prostitutes, Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levys office announced.

Jimall Dawn Brown, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a minor, one count of transporting an individual in interstate commerce with the intent that they engage in prostitution and two counts of persuading and coercing an individual to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution, Levys office said in a statement on Tuesday.

After Browns guilty plea on Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled his sentencing for July 9.

Brown first persuaded and coerced a woman in May 2016 to travel from Pennslyvania to Massachusetts to engage in prostitution, Levys office said. Brown reached out to her on social media, said she was beautiful and that he had a modeling agency he wanted her to work for. He would pay for her plane ticket to Boston and for everything else once she arrived, he told her according to Levys office.

When she arrived in Boston, Brown took photos of her that ended up being posted on websites that advertised commercial sex, Levys office said. Brown then coerced and forced her to engage in prostitution in Massachusetts and told her to give him all of the money.

Brown then persuaded and coerced another woman from Connecticut in March 2019, Levys office said. They met in Connecticut, where he told her he could give her a better, more luxurious life if she came to Boston. Brown shared photos of her on commercial sex websites before she engaged in prostitution and was required to give all the money back to Brown.

Then in 2022, Brown trafficked a 17-year-old who lived outside of Massachusetts. They met on social media  she lived outside of Massachusetts  and Brown said she should fly out to Boston for a better lifestyle, according to Levys office. Again, Brown shared photos of her online and arranged dates for her to have sex in exchange for money that Brown collected for himself.

In April 2022, he took her to Nevada to engage in prostitution, where he again kept all the money, Levys office said.

Jimall Brown is one of far too many people this office has prosecuted for human trafficking, Levy said in the statement. The pattern is remarkably predictable and it is happening far too often right here in our backyard. Brown promised his victims a better life, but in reality, he exploited them for his financial gain, selling them for sex repeatedly. No child or person must ever be treated in this dehumanizing manner. This Office will not cease in our efforts to prosecute individuals who engage in human trafficking.

The charge of sex trafficking of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of transporting a person for purposes of prostitution provides for a maximum of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of persuading and coercing a person to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution provides for a maximum of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Each count also provides for mandatory restitution and forfeiture.
Eclipse mania gripped all of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, as the moon swept in front of the sun, blotting out daylight. Almost everyone in North America was guaranteed at least a partial eclipse, weather permitting.

It was the continents biggest eclipse audience ever, with a couple hundred million people living in or near the shadows path, plus scores of out-of-towners flocking in.

Clouds blanketed most of Texas as the total solar eclipse began its diagonal dash across land, starting along Mexicos mostly clear Pacific coast and aiming for Texas and 14 other U.S. States, before exiting into the North Atlantic near Newfoundland.

8 1 / 8 Photographs of the 2024 total solar eclipse as seen from the path of totality

Just east of Dallas, the hundreds gathered at Mesquites downtown area cheered and whistled as the clouds parted in the final minutes before totality. As the sun finally became cloaked, the crowd grew louder, whipping off their eclipse glasses to soak in the unforgettable view of the suns corona, or spiky outer atmosphere, and Venus shining brilliantly off to the right.

City officials reminded everyone that the last total solar eclipse in these parts was the 1870s, making this one all the more special. Eclipse-themed music was turned off as the big moment approached.

Oh God, its so dark, marveled Aiyana Brown, 14, who watched alongside her grandfather, Mesquite Mayor Daniel Aleman Jr. Im a huge science nerd, and this is amazing.

The weather also cooperated at the last minute near Austin. I will never unsee this, said Ahmed Husseim of Austin, who had the eclipse on his calendar for a year. Husseim and his family were among hundreds who gathered on the lawn of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, with blankets, lawn chairs and country music.

Arkansas and northeast New England were the best bets in the U.S., going into Mondays spectacle. New Brunswick and Newfoundland in Canada also looked promising.

The show got underway in the Pacific before noon EDT. As the darkness of totality reached the Mexican resort city of Mazatlan, the faces of spectators were illuminated only by the screens of their cellphones.

The cliff-hanging uncertainty added to the drama. But the overcast skies in Mesquite near Dallas didnt rattle Erin Froneberger, who was in town for business and brought along her eclipse glasses.

We are always just rushing, rushing, rushing, she said. But this is an event that we can just take a moment, a few seconds that its going to happen and embrace it.

A festival outside Austin wrapped up early on Monday because afternoon storms were in the forecast. Festival organizers urged everyone to pack up and leave.

Sara Laneau, of Westfield, Vermont, woke up at 4 a.m. Monday to take her 16-year-old niece to nearby Jay Peak ski resort to catch the eclipse after a morning on the slopes.

This will be a first from me and an experience of a lifetime, said Laneau, who was dressed in a purple metallic ski suit with a solar eclipse T-shirt underneath.

At Niagara Falls State Park, tourists streamed in under cloudy skies with wagons, strollers, coolers and lawn chairs. Park officials expected a large crowd at the popular site overlooking the falls.

5-year old Gracelyn Howard of Springfield watches the eclipse during the Great American Solar Eclipse Party held at the Springfield Museums 4/8/2024. (Don Treeger / The Republican) The Republican

During Mondays full eclipse, the moon slipped right in front of the sun, entirely blocking it. The resulting twilight, with only the suns outer atmosphere or corona visible, would be long enough for birds and other animals to fall silent, and for planets, stars and maybe even a comet to pop out.

The out-of-sync darkness lasts up to 4 minutes, 28 seconds. Thats almost twice as long as it was during the U.S. coast-to-coast eclipse seven years ago because the moon is closer to Earth. It will be another 21 years before the U.S. sees another total solar eclipse on this scale.

It will take just 1 hour, 40 minutes for the moons shadow to race more than 4,000 miles across the continent.

Eye protection is needed with proper eclipse glasses and filters to look at the sun, except when it ducks completely out of sight during an eclipse.

The path of totality  approximately 115 miles wide  encompasses several major cities this time, including Dallas; Indianapolis; Cleveland; Buffalo, New York; and Montreal. An estimated 44 million people live within the track, with a couple hundred million more within 200 miles.

This may be the most viewed astronomical event in history, said National Air and Space Museum curator Teasel Muir-Harmony, standing outside the museum in Washingon, awaiting a partial eclipse.

Experts from NASA and scores of universities are posted along the route, poised to launch research rockets and weather balloons, and conduct experiments. The International Space Stations seven astronauts also will be on the lookout, 270 miles up.

AP journalists along the eclipse path contributed to this report.
An explosive device was discovered on the porch of the Satanic Temple in Salem Monday afternoon, the latest in a series of bomb threats and hate crimes directed toward the temple, police said.

The device was thrown onto the porch at the temple on Bridge Street in Salem around 4:14 a.m. Monday, where it sat for nearly 12 hours while the building was unoccupied, Salem Police said in a statement posted to Facebook. A staff member discovered the device around 4 p.m. Monday, triggering a response from the State Police Bomb Squad, which shut down the immediate area surrounding the temple to conduct a sweep.

State Police bomb technicians discovered the device was no longer a threat and explosive ordinance detection K9s searched the area for possible secondary explosives, but did not find any, according to the statement.

Monday was not the first time a threat or hate crime has taken place at the temple in recent years.

In 2022, a Chelsea man was accused of intentionally setting fire to the temple, an act police say he described as a hate crime. Earlier this year, Salem and State Police went to the temple for a reported bomb threat on Feb. 27, the second threat in a matter of months, after a Michigan man who police say was plotting to bomb the temple was arrested in that state in January, according to police.

The temples mission is to encourage benevolence and empathy, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense, oppose injustice, and undertake noble pursuits, according to its website.
A 54-year-old man who works as an English teacher at Hanover High School is facing a criminal charge after police say he threatened to bring a rifle to school upon receiving a disciplinary notice from the school principal.

Kenneth Decie, who lives in Quincy, is facing a single charge of making a bomb/hijack threat in Hingham District Court, records show. He has been on administrative leave since September 2023, when the alleged threat was made. Decie is set to be arraigned in Hingham District Court on April 24, according to a statement of facts filed in that court obtained by MassLive.

On Sept. 19, 2023, Decie was talking to Steve Henderson, the president of the Hanover Teachers Union, in the teachers pod at Hanover High School, an area where teachers work when they are not in class. The following day, one of Decies fellow teachers, who said she overheard the conversation, told her superior Decie appeared agitated and said when something like that happens it makes me want to go home and get my rifle, according to the filing.

The teacher said she and other staff members had been made aware by Decie that he received notice of a disciplinary hearing from high school Principal Matthew Mattos and said he had been more fired up than normal recently. After overhearing the statement from Decie, the teacher stewed on [it] all night before reporting it, Detective Stephen Moar wrote in the filing.

Upon hearing about the statement from Decie, Mattos was taken aback and became concerned for the safety of the school community. Henderson, the president of the union, told the principal the comment from Decie was metaphorical and his choice of words was bad, adding he did not see what Decie said as a direct threat to the school, according to the filing. But Henderson later confirmed Decie made the comment about the rifle and, at Mattos prompting, said someone should be concerned when they hear a statement like that in a school setting.

After talking to both Henderson and the teacher who reported the comment, Mattos contacted Superintendent Matthew Feron to make him aware of the incident. At that point, they decided to place Decie on leave, Moar wrote.

Later, Mattos spoke to Decie, who seemed somewhat remorseful and said he had been having a good year and was just venting because he was angry about the notice, according to the filing.

Speaking to police, Henderson said the comment was taken out of context, but conceded he shouldve spoken to Decie in private because of Decies level of anger, Moar wrote.

Decie has no criminal record and at one point possessed both a firearms identification card and a license to carry a gun, but both had lapsed, the court document said. He told police he did not have any guns in his possession, which was confirmed during a search of his home, according to the filing.

I submit that the statement made by Decie ... is very concerning and was taken ... as an indirect threat, Moar wrote in the filing, noting the rise in school shootings and the potential that any comment about a gun in a school setting could give rise to fears of a shooting.

The law Decie is charged with violating governs terroristic threats, specifically communicating, directly or indirectly, that a gun will be used at a place or location, causing anxiety, unrest, fear or personal discomfort to any person or groups of persons.

A spokeswoman for Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruzs office did not return a request for comment on the case Tuesday.
The total solar eclipse of 2024 has come and gone, with only a pair of solar filter glasses left as a reminder of the celestial event.

Now, you could keep them as a memento. You could also recycle the glasses and give them a second life.

One organization asking people to recycle eclipse glasses so they can be used in the near future is Astronomers Without Borders. The nonprofit previously collected about 3 million glasses following the 2017 total solar eclipse and shipped them to Africa, Asia and South America for reuse. Out of those roughly 3 million, half a million were reusable.

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A partial lunar eclipse should be visible from the Americas, Europe and Africa on Sept. 18, 2024, according to NASA. On Oct. 2, 2024, South America will see an annular solar eclipse, which North America will catch only a partial view of, the agency added.

It is for this second eclipse, where the moon is farther away from Earth and will not totally block out the sun, that the glasses can be reused.

The organization has a growing list of collection partners, including Warby Parker, where glasses can be dropped off. The nearest Astronomers Without Borders collection partners are in Vermont, at the Montshire Museum of Science and the Chittenden Solid Waste District. These locations will take used, undamaged and unused eclipse glasses donated to Warby Parker stores nationwide.

Eclipse glasses that are undamaged and/or used/unused can also be mailed to Eclipse Glasses USA, LLC, P.O. Box 50571, Provo, Utah, 84605. These glasses will be donated to children in South America so they can gaze in awe at the eclipse in October.

For the safety of the recipients, its crucial that the glasses are undamaged, Eclipse Glasses USAs website read. This means no scratches, punctures, tears, or any other form of damage that might compromise the protective quality of the glasses.
To de-escalate interactions between police officers and drivers on the autism spectrum, the Healey administration announced the launch of the Blue Envelope Program.

This voluntary program will offer people on the autism spectrum a specially designed blue envelope to carry their drivers license in case of traffic stops, Massachusetts State Police said in a statement about the programs launch on Tuesday.

These envelopes will let officers know about the drivers diagnosis and other essential guidelines to ensure more effective and sensitive communication during the interaction, State Police said.

Envelopes will carry drivers essential documents, namely a drivers license, vehicle registration and a contact card, State Police said.

Information printed on the outside of the envelope will identify the driver as someone on the spectrum and provide officers with instructions on how to enhance communication with the driver, and how to reduce anxiety and stress the driver may be experiencing as a result of being stopped or involved in an incident, State Police said.

These envelopes also list guidelines for drivers about what to expect during a traffic stop and how to present the envelope to an approaching officer, State Police said.

The programs creation came out of a partnership with State Police, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts, The Arc of Massachusetts and individuals with autism and their families, State Police said.

The announcement also comes during World Autism Month.

In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, the Blue Envelope program reflects our deep commitment to supporting programs that strengthen inclusivity and support law enforcements ability to more effectively meet the needs of every community member, Gov. Maura Healey said in the State Police statement. Were grateful for the collaboration of our partners who brought this important public safety program to fruition.

It is incumbent upon us, as law enforcement officers and compassionate community caretakers, to recognize and mitigate the stressful effects that interaction with a police officer can have on a person with autism, Healey said. The Blue Envelope Program is an important step toward that goal.

In the past, interactions between police and people on the autism spectrum have resulted in legal disputes and settlements.

In 2017, Lindsey Beshai Torres accused two Worcester police officers of pinning her 10-year-old son to the ground, handcuffing him and fracturing his arm in the process.

Torres son was pulled out of a car and pinned to the ground, with one officers knee on the boys neck, the others knee on his legs.

Responding EMTs noted a deformity to the boys elbow, which was revealed to be a fracture necessitating expensive surgery. The ensuing lawsuit was settled on May 18, 2023, for $248,500, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court.

Worcester city leaders called the incident an unfortunate incident in which the police responded to a mothers request for help and were trying to protect and keep a young autistic boy safe that resulted in a broken arm.

The city added that the responding officers, John Alers and Paul McCarthy, received training on police response to mental illness and emotional distress, autism and juvenile issues and appropriately applied such training techniques during the incident.

At the state level, state Sen. Joanne M. Comerford, D-Hampshire/Franklin/Worcester pushed for a new program meant to reduce risk, she told MassLive in January.

This bill became the Blue Envelope Program.

The beautiful thing about this bill is that it was called for by people living with autism spectrum disorder and their loved ones, Comerford said. What they told us, in no uncertain terms, is that they need this.

The latest version of Comerfords bill was passed in the state Senate, directing them to be available at all Registry of Motor Vehicle offices, but remains before the House Ways and Means Committee.

Her bill did not mention or place any responsibility on State Police to use envelopes, Comerfords aides told WWLP-TV.

These are the key objectives that State Police said the Blue Envelope Program will adhere to:

Provide officers with immediate, accessible information about autism that promotes empathy and patience, and leads to more positive interactions.

The envelopes serve as a visual cue that helps officers adjust their communication style, thus reducing anxiety for the driver.

The printed guidelines make it easier for officers to communicate effectively with individuals with autism, even in high-stress situations like traffic stops.

For people with autism and their families, the envelopes encourage preparedness by keeping their important documents in the envelope and understanding how to present them during a stop, drivers can feel more confident and secure.

The Blue Envelope is a game changer for our family, Ilyse Levine-Kanji, an AFAM Executive Committee member, said in the State Police statement. My 25-year-old son, Sam, has autism and is a very safe driver. However, like most people with autism, Sam doesnt have any physical characteristics that would alert a Trooper that he has autism in case of a traffic stop or accident. The Blue Envelope would alert law enforcement of Sams autism diagnosis, thereby decreasing the chances of any tragic misunderstanding.
The family of Stuart Smith  a 50-year-old man who prosecutors say was killed in a gruesome attack in downtown Brockton Saturday morning  is thanking the witnesses who helped detain the suspect in Smiths killing until police arrived.

When this happened to him, all the community, the neighbors, everybody knew him and just came to surround him and help him, Smiths younger sister, Rosemary Schnieder, told reporters at Brockton District Court Monday. They kept the perpetrator there so he couldnt leave. I think that speaks volumes to my brothers character, and I just hope that justice is served.

Prosecutors have accused 45-year-old Brockton resident Vasco Semedo of killing Smith outside of 65 North Main St. around 8:50 a.m. on April 6. Semedo hit Smith with an SUV twice, and then struck him with a brick repeatedly, according to prosecutors. They are not known to have had a prior relationship.

Following the attack, at least five bystanders kept Semedo from leaving the scene in his SUV, according to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz. They made sure Semedo stayed at the scene until police arrived and identified him as the attacker to officers  a move which Cruz characterized as a brave act after Semedos arraignment Monday morning.

Semedo  a Cape Verde native and legal U.S. resident  is facing charges of murder and negligent operation of a motor vehicle in Smiths death, but has pleaded not guilty. During his arraignment, he was ordered held without bail due to the nature of the allegations and the fact that he has an active Cape Verdean passport and could leave the country. His lawyer declined to comment on the charges when reached by phone Monday morning.

Scheider said she felt awful hearing Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Spragues account of her brothers killing during the arraignment. In court, Sprague described what happened based on security video footage from the scene.

Smith was walking down the street when Semedo intentionally hit him with an SUV, backed up, and hit him again, Sprague said. Semedo hit a building during the second strike, causing bricks to break off of the building. He then picked up one of the bricks and hit Smith in the head with it more than 20 times, Sprague said.

The damaged building next to where 50-year-old Stuart Smith was killed in downtown Brockton on Saturday, April 6, 2024.Susannah Sudborough/MassLive

First responders took Smith to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton, but he was later flown by medical helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital, the district attorneys office said previously. He died there about 13 and a half hours later.

Spragues description of what happened to Smith was consistent with the condition Schneider saw her brother in during the last few hours of his life, she said.

I just kind of like zoned out, Schneider said, describing her experience in court. I had to be with my brother before he left the earth, so I saw the after effects.

A vase of flowers was set up next to where 50-year-old Stuart Smith was killed in downtown Brockton on Saturday, April 6, 2024.Susannah Sudborough/MassLive

Smith  a Brockton native  had actually been hit by a car and seriously injured previously, his brother, Damian Smith, told reporters after the arraignment. It happened to him at a young age during a similar situation.

As a result, he had a mental illness. Throughout his life, he struggled to overcome that, Damian Smith said of his brother. But he was a beacon of light to his friends and family.

Damian Smith also thanked the Brockton community for their support in the wake of his brothers death.

Just remember his spirit and how he affected people. How he made you laugh, how he was a good-hearted person, he said.
Christine Mello, a 56-year-old Weymouth woman who was found dead in her home last week after being killed in an apparent homicide, is being remembered by many for her love of animals and her happy smile.

She will be deeply missed, her obituary reads.

What we know about Christine Mellos death

Mellos remains were found in her home at 34 Lake St. in Weymouth by state and local police on April 1  a short time after she was reported missing, the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office said previously. Authorities initial investigation suggested that Mello had been dead for some time when her body was found.

Mellos housemate, 44-year-old Kelly Shaw, and 45-year-old John Jack Harper were arrested and charged with larceny valued over $1,200 and uttering forged checks in connection with Mellos death last week, the district attorneys office said previously.

During Shaws arraignment, prosecutors indicated that she may face more charges, according to The Patriot Ledger. But on Tuesday, the district attorneys office said she was not yet facing any additional charges.

During the arraignment, prosecutors said Shaw had moved in with Mello in January, The Patriot Ledger reported. Mello was last seen by loved ones in February and didnt pay her rent in February and March.

Security video showed Shaw using checks that Mello had received as the beneficiary of a trust, and both Shaw and Harper were recorded using Mellos debit card, prosecutors claim, according to The Patriot Ledger. Police reports indicate that Shaw initially denied having access to Mellos bank accounts, but later told police that Mello had permitted Shaws use of her cards and accounts, the newspaper wrote.

Prosecutors said Shaw also sold Mellos car, telling the buyer shed inherited it from a family member who had died, The Patriot Ledger reported. During Shaws arraignment, Neil Madden  her defense lawyer  contested that shed sold the car, instead claiming it was Harper.

There is little evidence to link Shaw to Mellos death, Madden argued, adding that Shaw merely rented a room from Mello, The Patriot Ledger reported. Shaw was ultimately held on $100,000 bail during her arraignment, and Harper was held on $55,000 bail.

Remembering Christine Mello

Christine Ruth Mello was the beloved daughter of the late Francis and Nina Mello, both of Marshfield, according to her obituary. She grew up in Braintree, and, according to a Facebook post, graduated from Braintree High School in 1985.

Mello went on to earn a masters degree in business from Suffolk University in Boston and lived a quiet life in the little home she made for herself in Weymouth, according to her obituary. She had two dogs and two cats that she loved deeply.

Many of Mellos loved ones posted remembrances on Facebook following her death. Ill always remember ur happy smile, one user wrote.

She was one of the sweetest and friendliest people I have ever known!! one user wrote on a Braintree High School Class of 1985 Facebook post about Mellos death. She was such a nice person, wrote another.

I also went to college with Chris, she was kind and very funny, wrote a third.

Many Facebook users said they remembered Mello as an upbeat person who was always happy.

I havent seen Christine in years, but remember her as happy, funny and always smiling & laughing, one user wrote.

A private funeral will be held for Mellos family, according to her obituary. She leaves behind aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.

To honor Mellos memory, her family is asking that donations be made to two shelters from which she adopted pets: Buddy & Friends Animal Rescue and South Shore Humane Society. Donations can be mailed to:
In the wake of a shooting that injured three teens in Worcester on Sunday, one city leader is calling for a change in the culture when it comes to gun violence.

The shooting last night on Clarkson St is another act of senseless violence that has stricken our city, Councilor-at-Large Kathleen Toomey said in a statement released Monday. This shooting incident involves three young victims. I am especially grateful for the rapid response from Worcester Police Department officers at the scene who applied tourniquets and lifesaving CPR until the EMTs arrived to address the victims at the scene. Without their training and intervention, we could have been looking at another homicide.

At around 9:11 p.m. on Sunday, Worcester police received a report about gunshots in the area of Clarkson Street, police said in a statement released on Monday. Dispatchers told officers en route that there were possible gunshot victims.

Officers were flagged down to find a 17-year-old boy and two 18-year-old women all with gunshot wounds, police said. Officers provided medical aid before they were taken to the hospital. Shortly after, detectives arrived to process the area and start the investigation.

Toomey urged the community to work together to change the culture around gun violence that has been occurring across Worcester and the country, her office said in the statement.

I am pleased to know that [the Worcester Police Department] is working in conjunction with the [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives] to further investigate this shooting, Toomey added. I urge all community groups to work with our youth to assist them in finding other ways of solving issues than potentially fatal gun fights.

The shooting comes just over a month after the shooting deaths of Chasity Nunez and her 11-year-old daughter Zella, who were killed in a Worcester neighborhood on March 5. Two suspects, including one who escaped to California, are in custody.

Worcester police ask that anyone with information about the shooting can send an anonymous text to 274637 (TIPWPD) with the message. Anyone with a tip can also send an anonymous message at worcesterma.gov/police, or call the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at 509-799-8651.
A Worcester man is in police custody in connection with a shooting on Clarkson Street, which left three teenagers injured on Sunday, Worcester police announced.

Jordany Alejo, 19, of Arlington Street, was charged with three counts of armed assault to murder, Worcester police said in a short statement.

At around 9:11 p.m. on Sunday, Worcester police received a report about gunshots in the area of Clarkson Street, police said in a statement released on Monday. Dispatchers told officers en route that there were possible gunshot victims.

Officers were flagged down to find a 17-year-old boy and two 18-year-old women all with gunshot wounds, police said. Officers provided medical aid before they were taken to the hospital. Shortly after, detectives arrived to process the area and start the investigation.

The shooting on Sunday has stricken our city, Councilor-at-Large Kathleen Toomey said in a statement released Monday.

Toomey urged the community to work together to change the culture around gun violence that has been occurring across Worcester and the country, her office said in the statement.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Worcester police ask that anyone with information about the shooting can send an anonymous text to 274637 (TIPWPD) with the message. Anyone with a tip can also send an anonymous message at worcesterma.gov/police, or call the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at 509-799-8651.
Court documents show that a Worcester man arrested in connection with the shooting of three teenagers on Sunday night also drove two shooting suspects far away from the scene.

Jordany Alejo, 19, of Arlington Street, was charged with three counts of armed assault to murder and one count of accessory after the fact. Worcester police arrested him Monday afternoon.

He appeared in Worcester District Court on Tuesday, dressed in a matching green and blue hoodie and sweatpants. Judge David Despotopulos entered a not-guilty plea on Alejos behalf. Following the prosecutors recount of the shooting on Sunday, Alejo was scheduled to return to court for a dangerousness hearing on April 16.

Worcester police were notified about gunshots in the area of Clarkson Street at around 9:11 p.m. on Sunday, police said in a statement released on Monday. Officers approached a 17-year-old boy and two 18-year-old women all with gunshot wounds and administered medical aid before the three individuals were taken to the hospital.

One of the victims had a life-threatening gunshot wound to the neck and is in critical condition, according to court documents, while the other two victims were both shot in the leg.

Surveillance video showed that a white 2017 Infiniti Q50 with a Massachusetts license plate dropped off two shooting suspects on Coral Street. The driver turned off the Inifintis lights and parked the car diagonally on Coral Street in an attempt to flee the scene expeditiously after the shooting, police said in the court documents.

The suspects then fired a firearm and an automatic firearm down Clarkson Street and hit the three teenagers, with .45 shell casings recovered at the intersection of Coral and Clarkson streets, according to court documents.

Alejos mother identified her son as the driver to police. After he was arrested and read his Miranda rights, he admitted in an audio/video-recorded interview that he was the driver, was part of the shooting and he took the other two suspects to a Worcester location far away from the scene, to assist them in getting away, according to court documents.

MassLive reached out to Worcester police about the two other suspects.

This shooting has stricken our city, Councilor-at-Large Kathleen Toomey said in a statement released Monday. She urged the community to work together to change the culture around gun violence that has been occurring across Worcester and the country.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Worcester police ask that anyone with information about the shooting can send an anonymous text to 274637 (TIPWPD) with the message. Anyone with a tip can also send an anonymous message at worcesterma.gov/police, or call the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at 509-799-8651.
As the 2024 presidential election draws near, Massachusetts voters are concerned about violence breaking out in connection with it, according to a new GBH News/CommonWealth Beacon poll conducted by the MassINC Polling Group.

Released on Monday, the poll showed that 39% of Americans described political tensions in the United States were very bad, while 33% said tensions equate to a crisis.

Pollsters also found that 22% of respondents think violence was very likely in connection with the election in November, while 42% thought violence was somewhat likely.

The thing that really sticks out to me is just the number of demographic groups where this is a majority, Steve Koczela, the president of the MassINC Polling Group, told WGBH. Theres really not anybody who thinks everything is going great right now.

Demographics show that 76% of white respondents believe these tensions were very bad or constitute a crisis, Koczela added.

Among Black respondents, 49% thought the same; 68% of Asian respondents and 60% of Latino respondents thought the same.

When it came to the potential for violence around the time of the election, 50% of Asian respondents said it was very or somewhat likely, followed by 62% of Black and Latino respondents and 66% of white respondents, he shared with WGBH.

Given heightened tensions and political violence during in 2020, leading up to and after that years election, the 2024 election is expected to be a repeat when it comes to the candidates, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

Nearly half of respondents, at 48%, told pollsters they were disappointed about the rematch, followed by 31% of respondents who said they were annoyed and 23% said they were angry.

The fear of violence centered on an election can depress voter turnout, according to an October 2020 study by the American Psychological Association.

Fear induces withdrawal, stepping back, being cautious, Christopher Federico professor of political science and psychology at the University of Minnesota, said in the 2020 study. Fear and anxiety get us to stop and re-assess. But often when we re-assess because of fear, we tend to seek out information that reinforces the idea that a threat existswhich is not necessarily the most accurate or objective information.

Dolores Albarracin, a professor of psychology, business and medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, told WGBH that fear can motivate voters the same way hope does, but the challenge is to uncover when fear is being used deceptively, she said.

... When people identify a source of bias, they can correct and may even overcorrect for it, Albarracin continued. For example, audiences may realize that a political candidate is inducing fear in illegitimate ways like lying. This awareness can lead to eliminating the intended effects and may even lead the fear appeal to backfire if people feel deceived and defend against those emotions.

But concern over possible violence might not keep people away from voting this November, Marisol Santiago, organizing director of the voter advocacy group MassVOTE, told WGBH.

Here in Massachusetts, you should feel confident to walk into your polling location [and] cast your ballot, Santiago told the station. That is our right ... We will continue to organize in the ways that we have in the past to make sure that our communities are casting their ballots, and that they are accessing their ballots in their polling locations with no problem whatsoever.

MassINC Polling Group conducted this poll shortly after Biden and Trump both received the number of delegates needed to become their respective parties presumptive nominees, between March 21 and March 29. During that time, 1,002 Massachusetts residents were surveyed.
An Amherst Regional Middle School dean of students and middle school principal finalist filed a lawsuit on Friday against the district and administrators for defamation and violating civil rights laws and the districts policies against discrimination, harassment, and bullying, according to a copy provided to MassLive.

The federal lawsuit filed by Lamikco Meka Magee names the Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools, former Amherst superintendent Michael Morris, current interim superintendent Douglas Slaughter and former assistant superintendent and director of diversity, equity and inclusion and human resources Doreen Cunningham as defendants.
It is unfortunate that the people of Belclare and Murrisk elected somebody who has gone behind their back  Gerry Loftus, local election candidate and Rural Ireland Organisation leader

A LOCAL election candidate in the Castlebar Electoral Area has described as insulting, degrading and pathetic comments made by a sitting councillor about him and the proposed Murrisk Greenway.

Gerry Loftus, founder of the Rural Ireland Organisation, was responding to comments made by Westport-based councillor Peter Flynn at an SPC Tourism meeting.

During that meeting, Cllr Flynn made reference to Mr Loftus and his opposition to the controversial preferred route option of the Westport to Murrisk Greenway. Speaking out against election candidates negative statements about greenways, he took issue to comments made by one clown in Lahardane about the greenway to Murrisk.

In my view, some of the people involved are being hoodwinked by people purporting to represent landowners interests, but in fact only represent their own interest, Cllr Flynn said. You have people claiming to be representing rural farmers, but all theyre thinking about is the election coming up, and I particularly refer to one, and Im going to say the word clown, in Lahardane, who has given false information at every turn in relation to greenways.

Following the meeting, Mr Loftus, who is from Lahardane, released a statement criticising the comments made by Cllr Flynn, describing them as pathetic.

At that meeting Mr Flynn resorted to name calling. I will not lower myself to that standard in any debate with Mr Flynn or indeed anybody else, he said.

Unconditional support

MR Loftus said that he is not running in the Westport Electoral Area and not looking for votes among the landowners in Murrisk but will continue to stand up and be a voice for all rural communities.

I have been representing farmers at local, national and European level for many years now. I can assure Mr Flynn that I, through the Rural Ireland Organisation, will continue to represent the people of rural Ireland, he said.

The people affected by this interference of their property rights because of this proposed greenway will have our full and unconditional support. It is unfortunate that the people of Belclare and Murrisk elected somebody who has gone behind their back. This I hope will be corrected on June 7.

Mr Loftus and the Rural Ireland Organisation (RIO) have given their full backing to the landowners from Belclare to Murrisk who are opposed to the preferred route option for the new greenway.

Rural Ireland Organisation leader Gerry Loftus (Pic: Conor McKeown)

Land grab

THE extension of the greenway to Murrisk is being developed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and Mayo County Council, who have identified the preferred route that will cut through peoples property.

Landowners affected by the route will be compensated as part of the Greenway Code for land acquisition and developing new greenways.

However, Mr Loftus said that landowners should not accept this code, which was agreed between the farming organisations and TII.

RIO will be advising these landowners to seek a judicial review on this matter and to prepare to apply for a High Court injunction to stop this land grab should that be necessary, stated Mr Loftus.

RIO does not recognise the Greenway Code. This code was agreed without any consultation with the general public.

They allowed permissive access which was a consultative process between the County Council and landowners to be taken off the table. This was replaced by TII being allowed to draw up their preferred computerised route for any particular greenway anywhere.

This is then presented to the affected landowners on a one-to-one basis which is outlined in the Greenway Code. I would advise Mr Flynn to read it. This is then used as means of divide and conquer.

Mr Loftus continued: I am calling on the affected landowners here, to not under any circumstance engage with TII under these conditions. Greenways affect communities as a whole, so the only means of consultation is with the whole community. This greenway will set a precedent for the future of greenways and how they will affect communities in rural Ireland in the future. We must be prepared to test the validity and the legality of the Greenway Code regarding the infringement of property rights.

He added that a fund should be set up to fight this gross injustice.
MAYO County Council has ruled out the use of modular accommodation at Westports Convent of Mercy for one of the oldest schools in the country.

Holy Trinity NS were recently told that the former Scoil Padraig on Altamount Street, which had been earmarked as their new school building, was to be offered to the Sacred Heart Secondary School as temporary accommodation.

Local representatives and members of the school community have expressed anger at the decision, with county councillors accusing the Department of Education of pitting two schools against each other.

The school and the department have been involved in a long-running dispute over a new school building.

The existing building on the Newport Road is more than 200 years old and has long been deemed unfit for purpose.

Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive of Mayo County Council, said his understanding was that it would not be possible to accommodate the school in modular buildings on the council-owned convent site.

Renovations

THE convent is currently undergoing renovations to develop housing and other civic spaces as part of a multi-million-euro redevelopment.

Im basing it on previous briefings in respect of the development, Mr Kelly said after the issue was raised at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council.

Councillors from the Westport area reiterated their criticism of the Department of Education over their handling of the situation.

Cllr John OMalley said the proposal to move classes from the Sacred Heart School to Scoil Padraig smacks of discrimination and called for it to be halted.

A proposal to co-locate the school with Educate Together had previously been scrapped after local opposition.

Cllr Brendan Mulroy accused the Department of Education of coming in with an iron fist and picking on the smallest minority school there is in Westport with no Catholic ethos.

Cllr Mulroy said the local Church of Ireland community had played a central part in the success of Westport.

He also noted that the Church of Ireland had made their church available when the local Catholic church was undergoing repairs.

Cllr Brendan Mulroy

The relation is that were in a situation now where were looking at united Ireland further down the road. A vote will take place. But if you were looking in from the other communities looking in at Ireland at the moment for a united Ireland, and you were to see the way the Church of Ireland and Holy Trinity are being treated, how would you vote, Cathaoirleach, Cllr Mulroy stated.

The Fianna Fail councillor, who has written to Minister for Education, Norma Foley on the matter, said the Department of Education should hang their heads in shame over the situation.

I think its shocking, in this day and age, in 2024, that a minority community in our county is being treated like this.
An Mayo man from Islandeady who refused to deal with a French-born garda and demanded to speak to an Irish guard has been fined 300.

Aaron Chambers of Cloonane, Islandeady appeared before Castlebar District Court where he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in a public place and intoxication following an incident on Hopkins Road, Castlebar, on August 23, 2023.

Sergeant John OReilly, the Court Presenter, told Judge Vincent Deane that gardai attended a scene where a female had fallen on the street and were offering assistance to her.

He explained that Mr Chambers was aggressive at the scene and refused to cooperate with the gardai when spoken to.

Sgt OReilly explained that when Garda Christophe Perret was trying to speak to Mr Chambers, the defendant refused to speak to him saying he wanted to speak to an Irish guard.

The court heard that there was a strong smell of alcohol from Mr Chambers and he was eventually arrested.

Sgt OReilly said that Mr Chambers has four previous convictions, including drink driving offences and driving with no insurance in 2022 and 2021.

Mr Charles Gilmartin, solicitor for Mr Chambers, said his client has a history of alcohol abuse and has been engaging with the mental-health services for the last year. Regarding the incident, Mr Gilmartin said his client had tried to help the lady but made a fool of himself. He said there was no excuse for his behaviour and he wished to apologise to the Gardai.

He added that his client had been working as an apprentice plumber but lost his job when he was disqualified from driving. He said Mr Chambers wishes to start his apprenticeship when his licence is restored and at the moment is working as a labourer.

Judge Deane fined Mr Chambers 300 for the charge of disorderly conduct.
by Fern Siegel , April 9, 2024

The fight against fascism, particularly in the fashion realm, has gone digital.

German nonprofit Laut gegen Nazis e.V. (Noise against Nazis) and Berlin ad agency Jung von Matt have launched an online campaign: Fashion against Fascism.

By utilizing the worlds largest online database for Nazi codes, they are combating the spread of coded far-right language and symbols in fashion ecommerce.

The specially created database consists of more than 200 codes used by extremists to spread hate. The database, programmed by 02100 Digital, is curated and updated with insider information and anonymous user input. A web crawler allows brands to check if such codes are spreading through their online marketplace without their knowledge.

The database can be used by any brand that joins the initiative, done in partnership with ecommerce fashion giant Zalando and Spread Group, a global provider of fashion-lifestyle products.

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Fashion brands already participating are: About You, Avocadostore, baur, bonprix, Fast Forward and Underpressure. The partners want the global fashion industry to take action and sign up.

The effort is also supported by the Berlin branch of the Swedish communications agency Redgert Comms.

Simon Knittel, executive creative director at Jung von Matt, said: The Right against Right campaign showed how we can effectively act against Nazi codes with a simple trick." Together with Laut gegen Nazis, the agency secured trademark rights for German and international Nazi codes at the European trademark office. As the rightful owners, they brought Nazi shops to justice for the first time by pressuring them to remove and destroy the merchandise, while claiming compensation for each item sold.

The new database hopes to make it even harder for people to print garments with Nazi codes.

Julian de Grahl, CEO of the Spread Group, said: A larger team uses a multi-stage, software-supported review process to ensure that anti-democratic motifs or texts are not published and produced on our platform. The 'Fashion against Fascism' helps us react automatically and on a daily basis to newly developed symbols.
by Barbara Lippert , Columnist, April 8, 2024

Right off the top, I got two shocks while watching the Netflix version of Ripley, an eight-episode series now streaming on Netflix.

The first was how unexpected it seemed that Andrew Scott, the true-to-his-nickname, Hot Priest in Fleabag, could play Tom Ripley with such cold, dead eyes, and the warmth of an Arctic squall.

It signaled that this would not be the Talented Mister/Matt Damon-fest I remember from the 1999 movie. The Minghella-directed film was drenched in almost blindingly bright sunlight and glorious shots of the Italian Riviera, while focusing on a trio of glamorous, hot-blooded characters, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law.

Whereas (and this is the second shock), this series is so high-noir that its black and white background -- in which every frame is a piece of art, and more tense and chilling than anything Hitchcock did -- plays as much of a role as the characters.

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As written and directed by Stephen Zaillian, (who wrote Schindlers List) and Robert Elswit, the director of photography, an Oscar winner for There Will Be Blood, the series stars the Irish Scott as Ripley and the British actor Johnny Flynn as Dickie Greenleaf, the truant son living on his trust fund in a seaside villa in Italy with his American girlfriend, Marge (Dakota Fanning, in an underwritten role). Dickies patrician father hires Tom to go find his son and convince him to come home and go to work in the family business. (Speaking of convincing, everyone's American accents are on the nose.)

Dickie is an icky but also infantilizing name, and hes played here as a much more psychologically layered character than the hard-partying and cruel playboy Law in the earlier movie.

Dickie wants to be an artist but fled his family in New York City because he knows his father thinks hes a failure. Hes no writer, so hes studying painting, but hes a novice at 40 and his work is comically bad -- which he almost accepts.

Both actors are 40, much older than the 20-somethings in the movie. That casts a heaviness as dark as Tom Ripleys character. Its more unsettling to be a 40-year-old petty grifter and cheat than someone just starting out in life.

In the beginning, the character, as played by Scott, has such a creepliy sniveling 1940s noir look, that it's like he's wearing a mask. But the production details, sound design and enchanting cinematography are so seductive that I wanted to start writing on vellum paper with an expensive fountain pen. The scratches, the light, the Picasso!

And yes, theres much more art in this iteration, focused mostly on an obsession with the Renaissance painter Caravaggio. At one point Zallian and Elswit are so visually brilliant that they recreate one of Caravaggios exquisitely lit scary paintings, this time with the heads of two characters in the series.

Theres so much to see in these creepy interiors and patterns that you almost need to watch twice.

Yet I almost gave up after the first two episodes. because cinematically, we got so much tension and dread, but the narrative was slow.

As with the book and previous movies, Tom finds Dickie on a beach in Italy and expertly encroaches on his paradise. It takes double the time (two hours in) for Ripley to board the boat with Dickie, setting off the main crime drama. But thats when the series really picks up, and becomes not only worth watching, but brilliant.

The hotel clerks and the detectives have such wonderful faces and acting chops that they deserve spinoffs. The endless climbing of stairs -- and beautiful spiral staircases -- becomes an inside joke. Do the steps serve as a metaphor for social climbing?

Ripley is a meticulously murderous character, and seeing how his quick-thinking sociopathy operates is mind-bending.

In the end, we dont know if good triumphs over evil, but Patricia Highsmith wrote five Ripley books in all -- called the Ripliad. And the episodes end on enough of a new twist to seem that there will be a sequel -- and more blood.
by Danielle Oster , April 8, 2024

Continuing a history of Disney collaborations going back around 60 years, Coca-Cola has reunited with Disneys Marvel franchise for a global Coca-Cola x Marvel: The Heroes initiative.

The campaign is centered around packaging featuring 38 illustrations of Marvel characters, digital collectable characters, an AR extension through Coca-Colas website, and promotional giveaways. A global initiative, the specialty packaging will be available in more than 50 countries across North America, Latin America, Europe, China, Japan and the Asia Pacific region.

A hero ad kicks off the campaign centered around a bottle of Coca-Cola featuring myriad Marvel characters, without any spoken dialogue. In addition to the ad, which will run across TV, cinema, and other video sharing platforms, the cross-platform global campaign will also include digital and out-of-home initiatives.

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The precise timeline of the campaigns duration is unclear, but Marvel's upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine is slated for a July 26 theatrical release, making it hard to imagine it wouldnt continue into the summer. A spokesperson for Coca-Cola told Marketing Daily that the campaign will premiere over the next couple of months, with launches on a rolling basis across different markets globally, but did not provide further details.

Beginning April 8, specialty packaging featuring 38 different illustrations will appear across both Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. The line will feature cans and bottles with more than 30 different Marvel Universe heroes and villains illustrated with a white, red, and black color palette, which seems to align with brand design for both brands. Packaging is also designed to be scannable, bringing each of the designs to life through AR experiences.

The packaging also connects consumers to promotional sweepstakes offering a chance to win a series of prizes, including a Disney cruise, Marvel movie screenings, autographed Marvel memorabilia, and a Disney+ subscription.

The list of characters includes Wolverine, Deadpool and Nick Fury for Coca-Cola, and Black Panther, Black Widow, Captain America and Doctor Strange for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar.

This latest collaboration with Marvel allows us to tap into the legacy and affinity for both brands to deliver consumers new and unexpected experiences., Islam ElDessouky, global head of creative strategy and content for Coca-Cola Trademark, said in a statement.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, April 9, 2024

ID5 has closed a $20 million Series B funding round, adding to an existing $7 million since the companys inception in 2017.

Identity is the ability to target, optimize and measure, says Mathieu Roche, ID5 CEO and co-founder. This is the trifecta ... that advertisers want everywhere they invest. All of that relies on the ability to recognize people and devices, using the intelligence and identity within the constraints of privacy regulations.

TransUnion and Sir Martin Sorrells S4S Ventures contributed significantly to the funding round, but exact numbers were not provided.

The two will join existing investors Progress Ventures, Seventure Partners, 360 Capital Partners, Axio, and Aperiam Ventures to support ID5 in growing its privacy-first advertising identity service.

"Sanja Partalo and her colleagues have been closely watching the identity space over the past year, Martin Sorrell, chairman of the board of directors of S4 Capital, wrote in an email to Media Daily News. It has become apparent that ID5 was a leading contender following the deprecation of third-party cookies."

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Sorrell wrote that ID5s technology provides marketers with the infrastructure needed to optimize ROI, whilst prioritizing data privacy. As the most widely adopted identity solution, S4S Ventures anticipate ID5's continued success on the web and its expansion into emerging advertising channels.

Partalo, co-founder and managing partner of S4S Ventures, and Michael Schoen, executive vice president and head of TruAudience marketing solutions at TransUnion, join the ID5 board of directors.

ID5 will become profitable in a few months, so the funding will go toward expansion into other media and into other areas around the world. Cookies on the web are just one of many options for identity, Roche said.

As a next step for the company, he believes ID5 can identify and replace IP addressed in TVs, and formal IDs in mobile apps.

The ability to target, optimize campaigns and measure performance also is important for television, mobile apps, and audio such as podcasts. The company plans to support identity across all those channels.

Asia will likely become a new market, while ID5 already has investments in Japan and Australia. When asked whether ID5 investment partners use the companys technology, he said some do, but expect to see a formal announcement in the future.

Thousands of publishers, advertisers, and ad-tech platforms have adopted ID5's technologies, including Havas Media, New York Post, M6 Publicite, Adobe Advertising platform, OpenX, and Eyeota, a Dun & Bradstreet company. Today, nearly 50% of online advertising transactions are supported by ID5.

Updated: The article has been updated with Martin Sorrell's comment.
by Ray Schultz , April 9, 2024

Michelle Denhart has been named VP of strategy and brand at 1440, a media company that claims to serve over 3.5 million Americans with impartial news.

Denhart will be tasked with helping to shape 1440s strategy and growth.

Previously, Denhart was VP of marketing partnerships at Time, helping to launch the Time Women of the Year program while running Times Person of the Year and other projects.

Prior to joining Time, Denhart was senior director of integrated marketing at Business Insider, having earlier served as integrated marketing director.

"Michelles collaborative spirit and alignment with our shared values make her the perfect addition to our team, says Tim Huelskamp, co-founder and CEO of 1440. With her depth of experience navigating the startup world, she is uniquely positioned to find creative ways for 1440 to stand out and will help us to empower an even wider audience with essential news and knowledge."
by Tanya Gazdik , April 9, 2024

Mercedes-Benz is expanding it relationship with Google in an effort to transform key customer experiences with artificial intelligence on Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform.

The two companies began working together in February 2023 when Mercedes-Benz selected Google Maps Platform as the foundation for its own branded navigation experience. As a result, more than three million customers have access to Place Details provided by Google in their Mercedes vehicles. The partnership has also included YouTube as part of the Mercedes infotainment experience.

The automaker also plans to expand its use of Google Cloud AI at its call center. Finally, Mercedes will leverage AI and gen AI tools, including Vertex AI and Google's Gemini models with the goal of making its marketing campaigns more personalized and relevant to customers around the world.

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With the process of buying a car increasingly involving online research and shopping, Google Cloud's AI technologies will help Mercedes-Benz transform its e-commerce approach and make its online storefronts a natural extension of the showroom floor, according to the companies.

Mercedes plans to use Google's Gemini models to deploy a smart sales assistant on its websites this year. The Mercedes-Benz Virtual Assistant (MVA) will be able to converse in natural language, helping shoppers find a car model that fits their needs, schedule a test drive, or even start a purchase.

The automaker will also explore Google Cloud's Vertex AI Search offering to embed Google-quality search and recommendations capabilities directly into its websites.

The Mercedes-Benz Virtual Assistant is already available in European markets including the U.K. and Germany. Rollout of the smart sales assistant to websites is planned for Europe and overseas in 2024.

For the past six months, Mercedes has also deployed Google Cloud's conversational AI technology, Dialogflow, in its U.S. call centers. Having handled more than a million calls since launch, automated agents have been effectively helping Mercedes customers in more than 30 languages more easily get information on their lease, navigate a payment or start an upgrade.

Finally, Mercedes-Benz has also been leveraging Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform to maximize the value of its customer data, which it manages with Google Cloud's data warehouse platform, BigQuery. The automaker has been using AI to enhance its website experience in the United States with personalized content, driven by better audience segmentation, according to the companies.

Mercedes-Benz is also leveraging Google Cloud technologies as it builds its next generation of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, which includes semiautonomous driving features.
by Ray Schultz , April 9, 2024

Andrew Kraft, former president and chief operating officer of The Arena Group, has filed a lawsuit alleging that he was improperly discharged by the company and is owed $2 million.

This is the second lawsuit filed by a fired Arena Group executive against the company and its majority owner Manoj Bhargava. Former CEO Ross Levinsohn charged in a March complaint that he was let go from his post last December without being told why he was being fired. His case says he is owed more than $40 million.

The digital media holding company declined to comment on the Kraft suit, according to Bloomberg, which broke the story.

The Arena Group laid off almost the entire staff of Sports Illustrated after its license to produce the magazine was suspended by owner Authentic Brands Group when it missed a $3.75 million quarterly royalty payment.

Authentic Brands, which awarded the Sports Illustrated license to Minute Media in March, has filed a suit against The Arena Group, charging that it is owed $48.75 million, including the unpaid royalty payment and a termination fee of $45 million.

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The suit alleges that that Bhargava acted more like a gangster than a trusted business partner, and that he and The Arena Group explicitly threatened to go nuclearand indeed haveby firing SIs loyal staff, many of whom may have been protected by a collective bargaining agreement, refusing to turn over media and editorial content, websites, and subscriber lists that belong to ABG, refusing to cooperate with ABG and its new SI licensee in transitioning the business, and further damaging the value of the SI brand by posting stolen content on competing websites and creating widespread public and consumer confusion over the future of SI, the complaint charges.

The cases are all on file with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The website was developed using the open source software Elxis CMS by the Web Development Team

of Foreign Ministry's ST2 Directorate for Telecommunications and Information Technologies
G. GERAPETRITIS: It is an honor and pleasure to welcome the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon today.

Minister, dear Abdallah,when we met last September in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the situation was totally different.

Today, we are appalled by the war in Gaza and the tragic humanitarian disaster that calls us to confront our responsibilities.

We have to do everything possible to immediately halt hostilities and prevent the crisis spill-over effect, regional conflagration, and the wars destabilizing effects, primarily on a humanitarian level but also on the global economy due to tensions in the Red Sea and insecurity in international shipping.

Regarding the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, Greece maintains an unwavering stance based on principles.

Humanitarian aid should be reinforced and channeled through sustainable routes that allow for its unhindered flow with medical and healthcare supplies and restore essential infrastructure, such as water and electricity networks.

At the same time, ensuring the safety of humanitarian aid workers, people who risk their lives daily for a higher moral cause is equally important.

The attacks we all witnessed against missions of humanitarian organizations were indeed beyond belief.

We do everything possible to achieve a sustainable solution. This sustainable solution can only come with the resolution of the Palestinian Issue within the framework of the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council on the two-state solution.

Dear Minister,

Greece has historically placed particular importance on the sovereignty and stability of Lebanon.

In this regard, we endorse every international effort to strengthen Lebanon and the stability and prosperity of the people of Lebanon.

We demonstrate this in practice, with the emphasis we place on our participation in UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping mission, and supporting every initiative aimed at de-escalation on the southern border of Lebanon with Israel.

Greece's position is that peace must be achieved immediately in the region and that Security Council Resolution 1701 must be fully implemented.

We recognize the disproportionate burden that Lebanon has assumed on the migration issue in relation to its size and population mainly concerning refugees from Syria.

At the same time, we make every effort to effectively control and address the illegal trafficking networks that exploit humans, degrade human dignity and create truly inhumane conditions for migrants.

Dear Minister,

Greece is at the disposal of the friendly country of Lebanon to promote understanding within the EU and international fora.

On this occasion, I would like to express our particular satisfaction with the cooperation between Greece and Lebanon within regional and international organizations, as well as with the exceptionally constructive trilateral cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Lebanon.

Before I conclude, I would like to briefly refer to the many aspects of our bilateral relationship and cooperation.

Cooperation that extends to sectors such as education, with the emblematic example of the Greek language learning program and support for theological studies at the "Saint John of Damascus" Institute of Theology at the University of Balamand in Lebanon, as well as the fields of economy, trade, and energy.

Dear Minister,

I would like you always to consider Greece a friendly country. We will continue constructively and substantively engaging in addressing the big challenges in the Middle East.

I warmly thank you for your presence.

JOURNALIST: A question for you, Minister. You have repeatedly said in the past that it is an advantage that Greece can discuss with all stakeholders in the Middle East. I would like to ask whether we maintain communication channels with Israel. And whether in the future, the next day after the war, the stance of the Israeli government in this war could potentially disrupt its strategic relationship with Greece. Thank you.

G. GERAPETRITIS: It is true that Greece communicates and engages in political dialogue with all parties and all stakeholders in the Middle East, as well as in the broader Gulf region and North Africa.

This enables us to offer our good offices concerning the two major issues in the Middle East, namely the provision of necessary humanitarian aid to alleviate the major humanitarian crisis we are currently facing, and at the same time to be part of a meaningful discussion about the day after in the Palestinian issue.

We are, indeed, in contact with the Israeli side, with which, as you are aware, Greece maintains a strategic relationship. We have the opportunity to receive regular updates on the situation.



What I want to emphasize is that Greece, being aware of the current situation and the fact that there are still Israeli hostages being held in conditions that are unacceptable and contrary to every notion of International Law, should underline that what we are seeking is an immediate cessation of hostilities, so that peace can be given a real, substantial chance.

We look forward to both today and the future of our relations with Israel and the friendly countries of the Middle East and the broader region.

Greece will always remain committed to its principled foreign policy. We stand by International Law. We are opposed to any form of revisionism, and will continue to strive for the consolidation of peace and prosperity for all peoples.

Thank you very much.
Troops at Colorado Space Force Base Will Have to Bring Their Own To-Go Boxes for Dining Hall

While the initiative is aimed at reducing waste on base, the spokesperson added that they hope it will give troops on base...
The Navy's top officer says that she ordered a "deep dive" into maintenance and readiness issues following the amphibious ship USS Boxer's monthslong deployment delay that finally ended last week.

"I think there's some good lessons learned with Boxer," Adm. Lisa Franchetti told a small group of reporters Monday at the Navy's annual Sea-Air-Space conference just outside Washington, D.C.

"Overall, we're going to learn a lot through this deep dive, where we can really understand what are the challenges with amphib readiness," Franchetti added.

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A defense official told Military.com in March that the Boxer was originally supposed to deploy late last year; however, a series of delays and mechanical issues that were driven, at least in part, by poor leadership aboard the ship kept it in port for months.

Franchetti said that she ordered the inquiry, led by three-star admirals in the Navy's operations and plans and policy offices, in February and expects they will come to her with initial recommendations on how to proceed "in the May timeframe, and that will start to outline the shape of the the deep dive going forward."

The Boxer's issues were documented as far back as July when the ship, fresh out of a shipyard overhaul, hadn't set sail in more than a year.

Franchetti said that overhaul, notably retrofitting the nearly 30-year-old ship's flight deck to support the new F-35B Lightning II strike fighter, could have been part of the issue.

"That's taking time when they go in for their upgrades, and that's taking a little bit longer than expected," she said.

However, the four-star admiral argued that the sea service is being proactive and trying to contain any delays to just the Boxer, pointing specifically at the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship.

"We're seeing some potential delays on Wasp.  We're trying to look ahead to make sure that we can, I want to say  nip this in the bud," she said.

Ship watchers spotted the USS Wasp -- the same class of ship as the Boxer -- depart Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, in early March only to return shortly afterward, apparently with tugs alongside it. Those social media posts also cited intercepted radio traffic saying the ship suffered an engineering breakdown with its driveshaft.

Lt. Cmdr. Dave Carter, a spokesman for Surface Force Atlantic, told Military.com that "during the underway, the ship discovered an engineering irregularity" and "returned to port to effect repairs."

The ship apparently got underway again at the end of March without issue.

Related: At Least 3 Engineering Incidents and Poor Leadership Kept USS Boxer from Deploying, Investigations Reveal
WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron urged Congress on Tuesday to approve new military aid for Ukraine, saying the stalled funding is critical for U.S., European and world security.

Speaking after a meeting at the State Department, Blinken repeated long-standing appeals for lawmakers to unblock the assistance that President Joe Biden has sought for months, while Cameron said he would make the same case in meetings on Capitol Hill as a great friend of the United States.

I come here with no intention to lecture anybody or tell anybody what to do or get in the way of the process of politics and other things in the United States, he said. I just come here as a great friend and believer in this country and a believer that its profoundly in your interest, in your security, and your future and the future of your partners to release this money and let it through.

Cameron is just the latest of numerous foreign government officials who have urged American lawmakers to act swiftly to approve the assistance amid increasing concern over the U.S. role. Last week in Brussels, nearly all NATO member foreign ministers said the U.S. contribution is essential, echoing comments by Biden, Blinken and other administration officials.

The supplemental budget request that President Biden has made of Congress is urgent and its imperative since the House is now back in session," Blinken said. We look to see that brought before the house and to get a vote as quickly as possible.

Cameron also met on Monday in Florida with former President Donald Trump, who has been skeptical of Ukraine aid, and said the assistance is vital for American and European security. Cameron defended his meeting with Trump as a standard encounter with an opposition figure and said it covered a number of pressing global issues but did not elaborate.

This was entirely in line with precedent with government ministers meeting with opposition politicians in the run-up to elections, he said, noting that they discussed a range of important geopolitical subjects and that both British and American politicians have frequently met with opposition figures in their respective countries.

These things are entirely proper, Cameron said.

Cameron said victory for Ukraine is vital for American and European security, but the former president and presumptive Republican candidate is a critic of continued U.S. support, and lawmakers aligned with him are holding up an aid package for Kyiv in Congress.

Cameron and Trump have had several notable differences of opinion in the past. Cameron called Trumps proposal during his first presidential campaign to ban Muslims from the U.S. divisive, stupid and wrong.

In a statement, Trump's campaign said the meeting was held to discuss several issues impacting both countries, including upcoming elections in both Britain and the United States, the implications of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, the need for NATO allies to meet their commitments on defense spending and ending the killing in Ukraine.

The statement did not elaborate on those topics but added that Trump, Cameron and British ambassador to the U.S. Karen Pierce, had "also discussed their mutual admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Cameron was British prime minister during the U.K.s 2016 referendum on whether to leave the European Union  a move he opposed but Trump enthusiastically supported. Cameron resigned after voters narrowly rejected his call to remain in the bloc.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unexpectedly brought Cameron back into government last year as Britains top diplomat.

Cameron said later Tuesday he would urge U.S. lawmakers to approve a new aid package for Ukraine, warning Congress that it is putting the security of the West at risk by continuing to hold up the funding. Hes due to hold talks with lawmakers including Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, and is hoping to meet House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose role is key.

In a video posted last week on social network X, Cameron said: Speaker Johnson can make it happen in Congress.

A $60 billion package of military aid is bogged down in the House of Representatives as populist conservatives seek to block further funding for the two-year-old conflict and some mainstream Republicans demand concessions on border security before supporting the bill.

After Cameron urged U.S. lawmakers in February not to show the weakness displayed against Hitler in the 1930s, Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene said he should worry about his own country."

Ahead of his trip, Cameron said that success for Ukraine and failure for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin are vital for American and European security.

This will show that borders matter, that aggression doesnt pay and that countries like Ukraine are free to choose their own future, he said. The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to re-draw European borders by force, and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea.

Cameron is also due to discuss the Israel-Hamas war, including efforts to reach a sustainable cease-fire and get more aid into Gaza, in talks with officials including Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. The U.K. is sending a Royal Navy ship to the eastern Mediterranean to bolster efforts to open a maritime aid corridor between Cyprus and a temporary U.S.-built pier in Gaza.

Lawless reported from London. Jill Colvin contributed from New York.
A commander of a medical quadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, has been fired from his role just three months into his duties.

Lt. Col. Jimmy Stanley, commander of the 90th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, was relieved of command April 5, the base said in a press release Tuesday.

Col. Johnny Galbert, the 90th Missile Wing commander, removed Stanley from his role "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead the squadron," according to the release. Stanley became the squadron commander in January, the base said, after the prior leader -- Lt. Col. Donella Beaulieu -- was appointed to serve as the 90th Medical Group commander.

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It's rare for the services to give specific or detailed reasons for why commanders are removed from their positions. Officials often reference the federal Privacy Act, which protects military records, or rely on the phrase that the firing was due to a "loss of trust and confidence," instead of revealing what occurred or whether potential misconduct happened.

A base spokesperson did not provide any additional details related to Stanley's removal.

F.E. Warren is home to the 90th Missile Wing, which is armed with the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles that are part of America's nuclear triad -- the combination of air-, land- and sea-based technologies that can deliver a nuclear payload at a moment's notice.

The 90th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron was activated on the base in 1994, according to an Air Force Historical Research Agency webpage.

The 90th Medical Group mans the outpatient health facility on base. The 90th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron is a subordinate unit providing resources for "bioenvironmental engineering, dental, family advocacy, family practice, flight medicine, health promotions, immunizations, life skills, optometry, pediatrics, physical therapy, public health," and the base's Personnel Reliability Assurance Program, according to Tricare's website.

News of Stanley's removal from command follows several other leadership turnovers throughout the service.

Last month, Col. Danzel Albertsen, commander of the 49th Maintenance Group at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, was removed from his position "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead" and because "new leadership was necessary to ensure a proper command climate and appropriate leadership for our airmen," the base said in a press release.

Additionally, last month, Air Force officials at Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina fired two commanders and reassigned one senior enlisted leader from a medical group at the base.

Related: Air Force Colonel Heading Maintenance Group at New Mexico Base Is Relieved of Command
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stressed the need to invest in housing when pressed Tuesday on how the Pentagon will ensure that any privatized barracks are not plagued with the same problems as privatized military family housing.

Appearing at a wide-ranging Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Austin was asked by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., about how proposals to privatize barracks will avoid the same issues that family housing has faced.

Austin did not directly answer the question about oversight plans for future privatization efforts, but rather touted the Pentagon's fiscal 2025 budget request. Specifically, Austin highlighted that the Pentagon is asking Congress for $1.1 billion to build new barracks, $2 billion to build and maintain government-controlled family housing, and $171 million to conduct oversight of privatized family housing.

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"We, No. 1, have to invest in making sure that we create the right kind of unaccompanied housing for our troops, and then, No. 2, we have to make sure that we invest in the resources required to supervise the maintenance of these facilities, and we're doing both of those," Austin said. "There's a lot of work we need to do going forward, and we're investing in the right things, and we'll continue to keep maintaining emphasis on this."

Government watchdog reports and news stories over the last year have documented decrepit living conditions for the military's junior service members. The barracks they are required to live in have been beset by mold, pest infestations and overflowing sewage, among other disgusting conditions.

Amid heightened public and lawmaker scrutiny of the barracks, military officials have promised to invest more into troops' living conditions. The Army, which owns the vast majority of the military's barracks, alone has proposed spending $2.35 billion to build, renovate and modernize barracks in fiscal 2025.

But military officials have also suggested the multitude of problems with the barracks may be too numerous and costly for them to handle on their own and have begun to mull the idea of privatizing barracks.

Army officials have been plotting a pilot project for privatized barracks at Fort Irwin in California, and wider privatization was one of few concrete ideas that came out of an Army barracks summit last year.

But the military's privatized family housing has dealt with its own scandalously dilapidated conditions in recent years.

Military families in privatized housing have also frequently reported issues with mold, rodent infestations, crumbling plumbing and shoddy wiring. One of the biggest companies in military privatized housing, Balfour Beatty Communities, also pleaded guilty to fraud in 2021 on charges related to the conditions of its housing.

Army officials have previously sought to address concerns about expanding privatization to barracks by promising not to work with companies that have been problematic in the past. They have also suggested the Tenant Bill of Rights that Congress created to address the privatized family housing issues could apply to privatized barracks.

A couple of lawmakers have expressed cautious support for the idea of privatized barracks, but questions such as Gillibrand's on Tuesday suggest lingering distrust over the issues with family housing could be a roadblock to any privatization proposals.

Housing conditions and proposed fixes are also anticipated to be a focus of a report the House Armed Services Committee's bipartisan military quality-of-life panel is expected to release in the coming days.

Related: Army Eyes Privatized Barracks as It Struggles to Find a Solution to Poor Living Conditions for Soldiers
The trial of a Navy chief petty officer accused of espionage is underway, kicking off in San Diego on Tuesday, court documents and service officials confirmed.

Chief Petty Officer Bryce Steven Pedicini, a fire controlman, is alleged to have committed espionage aboard the destroyer USS Higgins in Virginia and while in Japan, and was charged in January with the wrongful communication of defense information and disobeying lawful orders. The court-martial is set to run through April 19, according to the Navy's online docket.

Cmdr. Arlo Abrahamson, a spokesman for the Navy's Pacific Fleet, noted to Military.com in an email that Pedicini "has only military counsel and has elected trial by a judge."

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Records provided by the Navy in February showed that Pedicini was last assigned to the Higgins, which is homeported in Japan, but has been in pre-trial confinement since May.

Pedicini is accused of delivering two sets of classified national defense documents -- which are named only as "Article 1112" and "Article 1223" -- to "a citizen and employee of a foreign government" between November 2022 and February 2023 in Hampton Roads, Virginia, according to the charging documents.

The charging documents allege Pedicini broke up the two documents and delivered them both over several instances.

The charges also allege Pedicini provided "images of a [secret-level classification] computer screen to a citizen and employee of a foreign government" in mid-May in Yokosuka, the same Japanese city that hosts the Navy base and the Higgins.

Neither the documents nor Navy officials have provided the identity of the country that Pedicini is alleged to have spied for, but the charge sheet notes that the chief petty officer had "reason to believe that it would be used to the injury of the United States and the advantage of a foreign nation."

Pedicini is at least the third sailor in about a year to face espionage-related charges -- though the first in recent memory to be tried by the military and not civilian courts.

In January, Petty Officer Second Class Wenheng Zhao -- who went by the name Thomas Zhao -- was sentenced to just over two years in federal prison for transmitting sensitive U.S. military information to a Chinese intelligence officer. Zhao had sent more than 50 technical and mechanical manuals for various systems of the USS Essex and similar ships to his Chinese handlers, court documents said.

Zhao was arrested and charged in 2023 alongside Jinchao Wei, a machinist's mate who was also assigned to the Essex in San Diego and charged with multiple counts of conspiring and sending defense information to a foreign citizen.

Wei's trial is currently set to begin in December, according to court records.

Both Wei and Zhao are alleged to have received thousands of dollars for their alleged actions -- court records for Wei even note that the sailor "boasted that while other U.S. Navy sailors were driving cabs to make extra money, all he had to do was leak secrets" -- but no such information has been publicly revealed in Pedicini's case.

Related: Navy Chief Allegedly Shared Classified Information with Foreign National While Stationed in Virginia and Japan
CLARKSTON, MI - This concert announcement kind of came out of centerfield. Its two rock legends on one stage. John Fogerty and George Thorogood will tour together in 2024 with a stop in Michigan.

The Celebration Tour will stop at Pine Knob Music Theatre on Sunday, August 4. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 12 at 10 a.m. This tour comes after it was recently announced that Fogerty acquired ownership of his extensive song catalog.

The tour kicks off on June 2nd in South Carolina and wraps up on September 11th in Salt Lake City.

George and I have done shows together before but for years weve talked about doing a full tour together. This summer we decided time is short, we better do this now, said Fogerty.

Celebrating the music of John Fogerty at the same time we celebrate our 50th Anniversary is just about as good as it can get. Im looking forward to being out there with my friend, John, added Thorogood.
LEELANAU COUNTY, MI  A Michigan man is accused of conducting a fraud scheme in which he was hired to build houses, received payment and then pocketed the money, police said.

David Jon Jenkins, 23, of Grand Rapids, is charged in Leelanau County after allegedly being hired as the general contractor to build a home for a Georgia couple, receiving $800,000 up front and then not paying subcontractors, according to a news release.

During December, the Leelanau County Sheriffs Office was contacted by the Georgia victims who had hired Grand Rapids-based general contracting firm Jenkins Estates LTD to build their Northern Michigan home. Information showed that several subcontractors had begun work but stopped when they werent paid.
(Update: no suspicious devises were located and the campus has been cleared as of 2:38 p.m.) Read more: Bomb threat at Eastern Michigan University cleared with nothing found

This story has been updated with information from Eastern Michigan University.

YPSILANTI, MI  Eastern Michigan University evacuated three residence halls on Tuesday afternoon due to a bomb threat.

The university issued a critical alert around 12:40 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, asking students to evacuate Wise, Buell and Putnam residence halls.

Shortly before 1 p.m., the university asked people to evacuate Walton, Sellers, Phelps, Best, Downing halls, as well as The Eastern Eateries and the Dining Commons 1. All 10 buildings are located on the northeast portion of campus.

The buildings were evacuated due a bomb threat, said university spokesperson Melissa Thrasher.

Just to be cautious, she said.

The university provided an update at 1:47 p.m. that university police completed the search of two of the three residence halls and found no evidence of a threat. The third building is currently being searched, officials said.

Walton, Phelps, Best, Downing, EMU Eateries and Dining Commons 1 were included in the initial alert as a precaution, officials said.

Police continue to investigate, the university said on social media.

This is a developing story.
YPSILANTI, MI  Residence halls on Eastern Michigan University have been reopened after a bomb threat forced the evacuation of multiple buildings on campus Tuesday.

The Eastern Michigan University Police Department, along with other local police agencies, searched several buildings on campus and issued an all-clear notice at 2:38 p.m. April 9, after finding no suspicious devices, the university wrote on its Facebook page.

The university issued a critical alert around 12:40 p.m. on Tuesday, asking students to evacuate Wise, Buell and Putnam residence halls.

Shortly before 1 p.m., the university asked people to evacuate Walton, Sellers, Phelps, Best, Downing halls, as well as The Eastern Eateries and the Dining Commons 1. All 10 buildings are located in the northeast portion of campus.

The buildings were evacuated due to a bomb threat, said university spokesperson Melissa Thrasher.

Walton, Phelps, Best, Downing, EMU Eateries and Dining Commons 1 were included in the initial alert as a precaution, officials said.

Police continue to investigate, the university said on social media.

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ST. JOHNS, MI  A Grand Blanc man was sentenced Monday to 22.5 years in prison for the 2018 murder of a hunter in Bath Township.

Thomas Olson, 35, was sentenced by Clinton County Circuit Court Judge Shannon Schlegel to a minimum of 22.5 years to a maximum of 60 years in prison for the murder of Chong Yang.
KENT COUNTY, MI  A Kent County sheriffs patrol car struck a person who jumped from a moving vehicle that crashed during a pursuit.

The incident happened late Monday, April 8, when a sheriffs deputy spotted a stolen vehicle believed used in several crimes across Kent County. The deputy tried to stop the vehicle but the driver did not stop, leading to a brief pursuit, police said.

The vehicle then left the road and crashed into parked cars at South Division Avenue and 32nd Street in Wyoming. Two occupants fled on foot while the vehicle was still moving, police said.

One of them was hit by a sheriffs patrol car and hospitalized with serious injuries, police said.

Police arrested the other occupant.

The Sheriffs Department asked state police to investigate.
JACKSON, MI  A man convicted of beating and repeatedly sexually assaulting his on-again-off-again girlfriend has failed to convince the highest court in the state to hear his case.

The Michigan Supreme Court issued an order March 29, declining to hear the appeal of Percy Edward Taylor and affirming a Michigan Appellate Court decision made in August 2023 to deny a reconsideration of his prior 2018 appeal, which also failed.

Justices determined he did not meet the burden of establishing entitlement to relief, according to court rules, meaning he did not have a valid enough reason for the court to consider his appeal, according to the order.

Taylor, 61, has been representing himself in his appeals, court records show.

Related: Appellate court affirms conviction of man guilty of brutal sexual assault

A jury found Taylor guilty March 24, 2017 of four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, one count of kidnapping, one count of unlawful imprisonment and one count of third-offense domestic assault.

Taylor claimed he suffered a degenerative spine disease that limited his actions, arguing he was physically unable to attack his ex-girlfriend as she described. He used a cane at his arraignment and was in a wheelchair at trial a year later.

The victim testified Taylor brutally beat her, shattering her eye socket, and sexually assaulted her Jan. 8, 2016 at Taylors fathers Jackson home and continued the assault at her home, also in Jackson, while her teenage children slept.

She testified she threw up inside his pants while forced to perform a sex act at the fathers home. Taylor then forced her eat her vomit and clean him off with her tongue, she said.

He was sentenced April 26, 2017 to 35 to 75 years in prison for the four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Each sentence is to be served consecutively, totaling to a minimum of 140 years in prison.

Taylor also was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison for two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm and one count each of kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment and domestic violence, to be served at the same time.

His current prison sentence makes him ineligible for parole until 2156, when he will be 194 years old, essentially making his sentence a life sentence.

He was found not guilty of one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and the jury reduced an original charge of assault with intent to murder to assault with intent to do great bodily harm.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter.
BERRIEN COUNTY, MI  A man was shot and killed by police Monday, April 8, during a violent altercation, state police said.

The man was a 42-year-old Tennessee resident.

St. Joseph Township police responded that evening to a request for a welfare check of a man driving a semi-tractor trailer. Police found the truck in the Carronde Park area near Riverbend Drive, just outside of Benton Harbor.

Preliminary investigation, including accounts of witnesses, showed that the man crashed his truck into a patrol car, drove a shot distance and crashed into a house before he fled on foot.

Police chased the driver.

During the encounter, a violent altercation ensued, state police said. One officer shot the man during the altercation, police said.

The man was taken to a hospital where he died.

State police are investigating at the request of St. Joseph Township police.

The officer who shot the suspect suffered minor injuries. The officer was placed on paid administrative leave which is standard procedure, police said.

No one else was injured.

Once state police complete the investigation, the report will be submitted to Berrien County prosecutors to review.

No names were released.
MUSKEGON, MI - The Muskegon YMCA is calling on all kids along the lakeshore to embark on a new adventure this summer.

Offered in partnership with the city of Muskegon Parks and Recreation Department, the summer day camp will run from June 17 to August 23 at McGraft Park, located at 2204 Wickham Dr., in the Glenside neighborhood.
SAGINAW COUNTY, MI  Saginaw County courts caught a black eye in 2022, ranking dead last in Michigan in their efficacy to clear cases.

As the chief judge at the time said, a $4 million lemon of a computer system accounted for the substantial backlog.

Since then, courthouse staff have worked to correct the problem, with Saginaw Countys courts ranked among the best in the state in 2023. Circuit Court, in particular, was ranked second-best with a clearance rate of 123%, just behind Charlevoix Countys 125% clearance rate.

The past year has demonstrated Saginaw County Circuit Court can take lemons and turn them into lemonade, said current Chief Circuit Judge Julie A. Gafkay.

Clearance rates indicate if a court is keeping up with its caseload. The rates are calculated by taking the outgoing or resolved cases and dividing them by the incoming or new cases.

Any percentage above 100 indicates a court is reducing its caseload. If the percentage is lower than 100, the court is increasing its caseload.

In 2022, Saginaw County dipped well below the states average clearance rate of 99%, arriving last at 79% among the states 83 counties, according to The Interactive Court Data Dashboard. This is despite Saginaw County being the 11th most populous county with approximately 189,591 residents.

Michigans 2023 clearance rate average was 103%, a percentage equaled by Saginaw Countys combined Probate, District, and Circuit courts. In all, Saginaw County took in 42,695 cases and resolved 44,165.

This is a significant improvement over the last few years for Saginaw courts, which experienced a backlog due to COVID and a new case management system launched in June of 2022, Gafkay said.

Odyssey, the system Gafkay referred to, was beset with technical issues. Circuit Judge Darnell Jackson in May 2023 called the system a $4 million lemon.

Our workers have been constantly complaining about the system for the past 11 months, Jackson said at the time.

With its many, many non-working functions and glitches it has been an absolute disaster, requiring in some instances many more steps to the completion of tasks that used to take much less time.

While Odyssey remains in place, it has featured improvements in recent months, and staff is continuing to improve it.

Gafkay credited the implementation of the Virtual Backlog Reduction Docket with improving courthouse efficiency. Recognizing Saginaw Countys predicament, the state in March 2023 approved a one-year $385,000 grant for the VBRD program.

The program began in July 2023 and employs two support staff and three visiting judges to preside over a specialized docket. This frees up sitting judges dockets, allowing them to handle their cases more promptly.

The program was recently extended through the end of 2024 and is overseen by Judge Jackson, Gafkay said.

Solely considering criminal matters, the countys clearance rate last year was 169%, well above the states average of 107%. For contrast, Saginaw Countys criminal cases were cleared at a lowly rate of 89% in 2022.

Increased efficiency leads to cases going to trial sooner, benefiting the defendants, attorneys, and witnesses, Gafkay said.

The reduced caseload also allows more focus on problem-solving courts offering alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders, Gafkay said. The county has four such courts addressing substance use disorder, sobriety, mental health, and veterans matters.

Saginaw County Circuit Court will continue to work hard to ensure efficiency in the administration of justice for all, Gafkay said.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Thousands of people across the state looked up to the sky Monday afternoon to catch a glimpse of a rare celestial event.

MLive photographers fanned out across the state in Midland, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Grand Blanc and Jackson to capture the solar eclipse.

Most of Michigan experienced a partial eclipse, where the moon covered most, but not all, of the suns disk. But the farthest southeastern corner of the state, just above the Ohio border, experienced a very brief glimpse of the dramatic scene that was 100% totality  when the suns disk is completely covered by the moon, darkening the sky in a profound but momentary dusk.

RELATED: Solar eclipse of the heart: Michigan couple weds atop castle during celestial phenomenon

In addition to coverage in Michigan, MLives Neil Blake ventured down to New Palestine, Indiana to capture the solar eclipse in totality, which lasted nearly four minutes.

8 1 / 8 Photographs of the 2024 total solar eclipse as seen from the path of totality

A total solar eclipse requires an exact alignment of the sun, moon, and earth. This eclipse was the first since August 2017 - and the last chance to witness the phenomenon this close to Michigan for decades.

Below are some of our favorite photographs from around the state. Click here to see the full gallery.

Bride and Groom Vanessa and Anthony Badall, center, pose with best man Bryson Maddick and maid of honor Autumn Quigly outside before their eclipse elopement at Helmer Castle in Liberty Township on Monday, April 8, 2024.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Students from two kindergarten classes, escorted outside by their teachers Amy Johnston and Wendy Sheridan, stare toward the sky with their specially-made glasses to watch the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024 at Myers Elementary School in Grand Blanc, Mich. The paper plates, which help provide further safety for their eyes, were added on and decorated by each student in their classrooms as a project leading up to the big day.Jake May | jmay2@mlive.com

Grand Rapids resident Isdora Hinman, 4, views the solar eclipse on a telescope during a watch party at the Blue Bridge hosted by the Grand Rapids Public Museum in downtown Grand Rapids on Monday, April 8, 2024. The telescope was being operated by amateur astronomer Jerry Klebba, of Kentwood.Cory Morse | cmorse1@mlive.com

Mallorie Cheves and Isaiah Pfund view the solar eclipse during a watch party at the Blue Bridge hosted by the Grand Rapids Public Museum in downtown Grand Rapids on Monday, April 8, 2024. They are from Grand Rapids.Cory Morse | cmorse1@mlive.com

Sifa Mulili, 3, draws a sun as she waits to watch the solar eclipse at the Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Museum in Portage, Mich., on Monday, April 8, 2024.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com

The solar eclipse is reflected from a telescope on the Blue Bridge in downtown Grand Rapids on Monday, April 8, 2024. Grand Rapids saw an almost 94% max eclipse at 3:11 p.m.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Myers Elemetary School students watch the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024 in Grand Blanc, Mich. Jake May | jmay2@mlive.com

Abby Horeins supplies to homeschool her kids as they watch the solar eclipse at the Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Museum in Portage, Mich., on Monday, April 8, 2024. The eclipse was her five childrens field trip for they day.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com

The Mata family watches the solar eclipse at the Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Museum in Portage, Mich., on Monday, April 8, 2024. Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com

People view the solar eclipse, including Izzy Wood, bottom left, as part of a watch party at the Blue Bridge hosted by the Grand Rapids Public Museum in downtown Grand Rapids on Monday, April 8, 2024. Wood is a student at Davenport University. Cory Morse | cmorse1@mlive.com

Elizabeth Lane, right, draws with chalk near Liga Bergs as they wait to view the solar eclipse during a watch party at the Blue Bridge hosted by the Grand Rapids Public Museum in downtown Grand Rapids on Monday, April 8, 2024. Cory Morse | cmorse1@mlive.com

Brandon Richardson of Jackson attends a solar eclipse watch party on Monday, April 8, 2024 outside of Jackson Colleges Astronomical Observatory. About 150 people attended the watch party.J. Scott Park | jpark4@mlive.com

Custodian Amanda Rook lays on a slide to witness the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024 at Myers Elementary School in Grand Blanc, Mich. She said the last time she saw one was when she was in eighth grade. Its pretty cool to be able to see one again, she said.Jake May | jmay2@mlive.com

People gather for a solar eclipse watch party on Monday, April 8, 2024 outside of Jackson Colleges Astronomical Observatory. About 150 people attended the watch party.J. Scott Park | jpark4@mlive.com

The solar eclipse, as seen on Monday, April 8, 2024 in Grand Blanc, Mich. Jake May | jmay2@mlive.com

MORE SOLAR ECLIPSE COVERAGE:

Solar eclipse brings 2 weather conditions you might not realize

It looks like a banana: Grand Blanc elementary students awestruck by solar eclipse

Awe-inspiring experience: People flock to downtown Grand Rapids to catch solar eclipse

Solar eclipse watch party is family function at Air Zoo

Wow!: 150 gather at Jackson College to watch rare solar eclipse

Tri-city communities gather at Midland airport to view solar eclipse
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Two New Zealand airports have flagged a supposed "$3 luggage sale" as a total scam, cautioning travellers about misleading ads circulating on Facebook.

Ads appearing under the Christchurch and Queenstown airport names claim that due to overstuffed airport lockers, lost luggage is up for grabs at a mere $3.

Images of stacks of luggage with a yellow sale sign displaying an Air New Zealand logo are doing the rounds via multiple fake accounts.

The incentive to purchase comes from a lucky dip-like mystery as to what you may receive inside the abandoned luggage.

"That's what they're making it look like, but it ISN'T," said our own Lana Searle addressing the scam.

If you want to hear the full chat about the luggage scam, check out our Breakfast Club podcast here:

Both Christchurch and Queenstown have issued statements on the con saying they would never sell bags that belong to somebody else regardless of how long they've been around.

"Christchurch Airport will never sell lost luggage, and we would never request payment from you on social media," the official page wrote in a statement.

"Scammers are really good at creating fake social media accounts, websites and emails that are often hard to tell from the real thing," Queenstown Airport echoed. "Please report these pages when you see them."

Having seen these fake adverts, admittedly they do look legit.

"It looks too good to be true and that's because it is," Lana added.

Anyone who attempted to purchase a bag is urged to seek advice from MBIE's Scamwatch.
Senator Mitch McConnell View Photo

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered remarks on the Senate floor regarding TikTok.

McConnell was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

Americas adversaries are working overtime to undermine our interests and erode the alliances that protect them.

And its easy to conceive of these challenges as playing out exclusively on the high seas of the Indo-Pacific or the borderlands of Europe or the Middle East.

But in reality, this competition is not an away game. Americas greatest strategic rival is threatening our security right here on U.S. soil in tens of millions of American homes.

Im speaking, of course, about TikTok.

Today, one hundred seventy million Americans are active users of a social media platform that the Peoples Republic of China treats as a tool of surveillance and propaganda.

TikTok officials like to insist that U.S. users personal information, browsing histories, keystrokes, and other sensitive data are kept well out of reach of the PRCs teams of censors and propagandists.

They claim that what it shows young Americans is what they want to see, not what the PRC wants them to think.

But the companys own words shatter this fantasy. Everything is seen in China  thats the truth TikTok officials were willing to admit in a leaked recording from behind closed doors.

And it shouldnt be all that surprising anyway: Chinese law requires that TikToks Beijing-based parent company coordinate closely with the PRC.

All sorts of social media platforms can be fountains of disinformation and propaganda. Just look at last weeks news about the PRCs efforts to manipulate Taiwans elections with Twitter accounts driven by AI.

But with TikTok, were not talking about meddling or hijacking an American platform. In this case, PRC influence and control has been baked in from the beginning.

With Beijings blessing, TikToks algorithm pours gasoline on alarming trends, from the glorification of Hamas terrorists to a particularly outrageous fad that emerged last year where young people discovered the wisdom of Osama bin Laden!

Madam President, I wish I was making this up.

But lets be absolutely clear: this isnt a debate about restricting speech. After all, the PRC does enough of that itself. Chinese citizens are banned from accessing TikTok at all!

No matter how loudly TikToks apologists claim that reining in PRC influence violates the First Amendment, the question well face is about conduct, not content.

I take a backseat to no one when it comes to protecting First Amendment rights. Ive firmly defended Americans rights to even the most noxious forms of free speech, like flag-burning.

But theres a serious difference between the views Americans might express on TikTok and the actions taken by a platform thats beholden to our foremost strategic competitor.

Let me borrow an analogy from someone whos been relentless on this issue  FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr. He put it this way, quote:

You can use a pen to write salacious anti-American propaganda, and the government cant censor that content. Nor can it stop Americans from seeking such messages out. But if you use the same pen to pick a lock to steal someone elses property, the government could prosecute you for illegal conduct.

So Madam President, the PRC has spent years trying to pick the lock of Americas communications infrastructure. And the federal government has a long history of frustrating Beijings efforts.

Requiring the divestment of Beijing-influenced entities from TikTok would land squarely within established Constitutional precedent. And it would begin to turn back the tide of an enormous threat to Americas children and to our nations prospects in the defining competition of the 21st century.

This is a matter that deserves Congress urgent attention. And Ill support commonsense, bipartisan steps to take one of Beijings favorite tools of coercion and espionage off the table.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Three soldiers on a Southern African peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo were killed and three others wounded after a hostile mortar round landed near their camp, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said on Monday.

Regional bloc SADC deployed its mission to Congo on December 15 last year to help the government address instability and tackle armed groups in its restive eastern region, where violent clashes have escalated in a conflict that has lasted decades.

This unfortunate incident happened after a hostile mortar round had fallen near the camp they were staying (at), the 16-member bloc said in a statement.

The dead and injured soldiers were all from Tanzania, it said. Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania contributed soldiers to the mission.

The statement said another South African soldier on the SADC mission had died while receiving treatment for unspecified health issues at a hospital in Goma, but it was not clear whether that death was related to the mortar round.

In February, South Africas military said two of its soldiers on the SADC mission were killed and three wounded by a mortar bomb.

In the latest violent episode in Congos east, the civilian death toll from a militia attack rose to 25 over the weekend. Reuters.

Breaking News via Email

Related Zimbabwe Latest News
ZIMBABWE has donated an additional US$500 000 to the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Zimbabwe to support the people of Palestine who are suffering in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Last December, Zimbabwe handed over a donation of US$35 000 as a complementary of another donation that was sent to the State of Palestine through the United Nations to help the Palestinian people.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Harare on Friday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ambassador Fredrick Shava said Government saw it fit to extend a donation of cash to the Embassy of the State of Palestine to assist the country in their time of need.

We know that there is need for relief, food and medical relief and so on, he said.

With respect to relief in food supplies, Zimbabwe would like to make a contribution of food and medicinal supplies. In this regard, I am glad to say that the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe has authorised Government to contribute an amount of money specifically for use in Gaza and to assist the suffering population that is in the Gaza Strip.

The President (Mnangagwa) has authorised an amount of US$500 000 and we are happy to say that the United Nations Relief Fund will today give you a symbolic cheque while the actual US$500 000 is being transmitted to our office in New York for onward handover to the UN for Gaza. We are specifying that this is for Gaza and this is really why I thought we should meet and do this symbolic gesture of solidarity with the people of Gaza.

Minister Shava said they were saddened by the continued suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip and they hope that this will be resolved sooner than later.

He said Zimbabwe was playing its part especially in the relief that is provided to the Gaza population who are under stress.

I want to take this opportunity to express Zimbabwes sadness about the ongoing devastation of the Gaza Strip by Israel and to say that Zimbabwe condemns these atrocities unreservedly.

We are also unhappy that the Israelis are not taking any hit of restraining themselves even from their own supporters like the Americans, the British and Canadians when they try to restrain them they seem to defy their own supporters as we saw in recent events in the Gaza Strip. But we are happy that the South Africans made this initiative to the ICJ and we are happy that the ICJ made a ruling that was supposed to bring Israel to its senses which they did not.

We are conscious as to the way forward ourselves in Zimbabwe that the solution lies in the two-state solution but the two-state solution is a far-fetched idea unless there is willingness on both sides to create such a condition. But with respect to the position of Zimbabwe and its understanding and appreciation of the situation, we are aware that the hardships that the residents of Gaza are suffering is a situation which the whole world, not just Zimbabwe, should respond to in order to alleviate the suffering.

Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Zimbabwe Dr Tamer Almassri said the position and the support of Zimbabwe was highly appreciated.

Zimbabwe is close to Palestine, not only in the past struggle, but also in the current situation. Both countries, Palestine and Zimbabwe, are suffering from the collective punishment. We are suffering from the last apartheid regime that you suffered before 1980, and you succeeded to end it by your struggle and your blood and your sacrifice, and you are suffering nowadays from these sanctions, which we consider it a kind of the collective punishment and actually this is our position, and we announce it all the time and in every situation.

The donation of half a million dollars to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), will make the Palestinian people happy and will be highly appreciated. We will notice that it doesnt come from a normal country. It comes from a country which is under sanctions, which is close to a siege, and this message, warm message of solidarity, will reach every Palestinian child, especially in Gaza Strip, and every Palestinian woman.

Breaking News via Email

Related Zimbabwe Latest News
As if by clockwork, diplomatic tensions are rapidly intensifying in Latin America as the US tries to reimpose its stranglehold over the region.

In September last year we reported, in the article Back to Business As Usual: The US Is Once Again Vigorously Stirring the Pot in Its Own Backyard, how the US is seeking to reimpose its military and strategic stranglehold over South America  or failing that, to sow enough chaos and division in the region to undermine Chinas growing economic influence there.

As the Commander of US Southern Command, General Laura Richardson, explained in disarmingly candid fashion at the Atlantic Council in Jan 2023, the main goal of the US government and military (and, of course, the corporate and financial interests they serve), is to tap Latin Americas abundant natural resources, including rare earth elements, lithium, gold, oil, natural gas, light sweet crude, abundant food crops, and fresh water, while depriving China and Russia of access to those same resources.

Since then, Washington has signed agreements with three countries (Argentina, Ecuador and Peru) allowing US troops to operate along their coastlines and/or on their sovereign territory, in the ostensible name of waging Washingtons war on drugs. In Argentina, the Milei government recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States allowing members of the US Army Corps of Engineers to operate along the Parana-Paraguay Waterway, one of the largest freshwater basins in the world.

In Uruguay, the Senate just approved the entry of US military personnel from US Special Forces into Uruguay, who will be in the country between April 7 and May 16, ostensibly for training purposes. On Friday, Javier Milei made an unscheduled 3,000-kilometre trip to Ushuaia, on the southern tip of Tierra de Fuego, to meet with General Richardson and US ambassador Marc Stanley. He was also there to check on the status of Argentinas new Integrated Naval Base, a project begun two years ago under the previous administration that had originally generated concern in Washington about the possible participation of Russia and China. Now, it seems that the US will be the sole partner in this geo-strategically vital venture.

It will be a logistics center and the closest port to Antarctica, helping to turn our country into the entry point to the white continent, Milei said. It will also help improve the local economy and give support to scientific research conducted by several international Antarctica projects. In his morning press conference, Mileis spokesman, Manuel Adorni, clarified that it will be Argentina and the US who will control this gateway to the white continent.

The Argentine president, dressed in military fatigues, also announced plans to increase Argentinas strategic alliance with the United States in order to better defend its sovereignty (no, seriously). As the Buenos Aires Herald reports, he even lashed out at previous governments, accusing them of failing to take Argentinas sovereignty seriously.

They have done nothing to defend us from drug traffickers and Islamic terrorism, he continued, before taking a veiled jab at China and its fishing industry. They have not defended the sovereignty of the Argentine Sea from illegal fishing.

El "anarco"capitalista de Milei no es mas que un titere. Acaba de anunciar una base militar de Estados Unidos en Argentina. Mientras grita "Viva la libertad, carajo" vende su pais. pic.twitter.com/cRoKpd45wy  Fonsi Loaiza (@FonsiLoaiza) April 5, 2024

[Translation: the anarcho-capitalist Milei is nothing more than a puppet. He just announced a US military base in Argentina. While he shouts long live freedom, carajo he sells out his country]

Also on Friday, the Mexican government granted political asylum to Jorge Glas, a former Ecuadorian vice president who had been taking refuge at the Mexican embassy in Quito since December last year. Glas is accused of corruption charges related to the Lava Jato (car wash) scandal implicating the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, and has already served five years in prison. He was released on appeal in 2022 but the political and judicial authorities want him back in jail.

Blowback Begins

In response to Mexicos announcement, Daniel Noboas government in Quito declared the Mexican ambassador persona non-grata and surrounded the Mexican embassy with hundreds of soldiers and police officers. In the early hours of Saturday (April 6) morning, those soldiers and police officers attacked the embassy in Quito, which is equivalent to an act of war, detaining (or as some are saying, kidnapping) Glas while using force against members of Mexicos diplomatic staff. Mexican diplomat Roberto Canseco was visibly shaken after being pushed to the ground by Ecuadors police as they left the Mexican embassy:

They can kill him, there is no basis for doing this. This is outside the norm and they are doing it because he is a persecuted person. It cannot be so, this has not happened even in the worst cases.

 Jorge Glas llevaba refugiado en la embajada mexicana desde diciembre de 2023. El Gobierno ecuatoriano habia solicitado con anterioridad que le entregaran a Glas, a lo cual Mexico se habia negado. pic.twitter.com/FIMt2W58cn  Descifrando la Guerra (@descifraguerra) April 6, 2024

Mexico responded to this flagrant violation of the Vienna Convention by severing diplomatic relations with Ecuador, which could, if extended to the commercial space, have unpleasant consequences for the Andean nations recession-hit, IMF-dependent economy. Mexicos Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador government is also threatening to take the case to the International Court of Justice.

Almost without exception, the Noboas governments actions have been condemned by countries in the region and beyond, as well as the United Nations, leading Ecuadors former President Rafael Correa to propose nominating Noboa for the Nobel peace prize for uniting the world  against Ecuador! Some countries took longer than others to express their disapproval, including the US and Canada, and, interestingly, Russia. When Moscows statement did arrive, it was succinct but forceful.

For our part, we express our extreme concern about the armed incursion of representatives of the Ecuadorian security forces into the Mexican Embassy. We also reaffirm our unconditional commitment to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, which guarantees the inviolability of diplomatic headquarters, their immunity from searches, arrests and coercive actions. We regret that Mexican diplomats were injured in the incident.

Weak-Tea Statements

By contrast, the US and Canada issued weak-tea statements. Ottawa express its concern about Ecuadors apparent breach of the 1961 Convention Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, as if the events of Saturday morning were somehow in doubt. Neither country expressly condemned the attack. By doing this, notes Sacha Llorenti, a former ambassador of Bolivia to the United Nations, the US and Canada essentially establish equivalence between the aggressor and the attacked and, with typical condescension, call on both governments to resolve their differences, as if there were two parties equally to blame for what has happened.

Since his secuestro arrest, Glas has had no access to his defence lawyers. In an interview yesterday with the Mexican daily La Jornada, Glas chief lawyer, Sonia Vera, warned that Glas faces a real threat of death if sent back to jail, which is where he spent much of Saturday and all of Sunday before being rushed to a military hospital on Monday afternoon after reportedly ingesting (or being given) an overdose of psychotropic drugs. He is allegedly in an induced coma while speculation builds that the Noboa government wants him dead.

 His son has told me that he fears for his life. And, to tell the truth, so do I, says Vera, who explains that contrary to what is stated in the successive  and contradictory  statements from Ecuadors Foreign Minister, Glas is not a fugitive nor is he at risk of flight. He is a politically persecuted person who has already served his sentence, who has the right to pre-release measures and precautionary measures and who was on conditional release.

Electoral Calculations

Noboa begs to differ, claiming he had little choice but to take exceptional decisions in an unprecedented situation to protect national security, the rule of law and dignity. Ecuador, he said, is a country of peace and justice that respects all nations and international law  while, of course, violating one of the oldest and most important rules of international law. Meanwhile, an article in the New York Times (Spanish edition) suggests that the attack on Mexicos embassy was primarily motivated by crude electoral calculations:

President Daniel Noboa has faced declining approval ratings amid a surge in violence weeks before a referendum that could affect his re-election prospects next year. The dispute with Mexico, which suspended diplomatic relations, may be just what he needed. Noboas office said the arrest had been carried out because Mexico had abused the immunities and privileges granted to the diplomatic mission, but the message it sent was also in line with Noboas heavy-handed approach to dealing with the violence and corruption in Ecuador. The 36-year-old center-right leader came to power in November after President Guillermo Lasso, who was facing impeachment over allegations of embezzlement, called early elections. Noboa will hold the position until May 2025, the date on which Lassos term ends He did this to change all [the] negative conversation topics that were affecting him and try to have a conversation in his favor, said an Ecuadorian political analyst, Agustin Burbano de Lara.

But if Glas ends up dying in military hospital, the conversation is going to get a lot more uncomfortable for Noboa, especially given Glas status in many peoples minds as a political prisoner. According to his defence lawyer, he is the only Ecuadorian who has four rulings from international judges in his favor, including from the IACHR and the UN arbitrary detention group.

A Particularly Bad Case of Lawfare

An article published by Le Monde Diplomatique in January 2023 eviscerates Ecuadors 2019 Bribery Law that is being used to prosecute/persecute almost a dozen former members of Rafael Correas government, including Correa himself who has received political asylum in Belgium. Brought into effect by Lenin Moreno  Correas duplicitous successor who allowed British police to enter Ecuadors embassy in London and arrest Julian Assange in 2019 in return for a $4.2 billion loan from the IMF (and who knows what else)  the law is one of the most egregious examples of lawfare to have come out of Latin America, notes the article:

[W]e can affirm without a doubt that one of the most brutal lawfare campaigns that has been seen in Latin America recently is the persecution deployed in Ecuador against former president Rafael Correa and other members of his Government, with the clear purpose of eradicating them from the political map, banning them and arbitrarily depriving them of their freedom. Probably the most paradigmatic case of this lawfare in Ecuador has been the one known as the Bribery Case. Through this criminal case plagued by irregularities, the Ecuadorian judicial authorities have condemned and beheaded a large part of the movement led by former president Rafael Correa The Bribery Case ended with the conviction of twenty people for the crime of bribery, including former President Rafael Correa and ten other members of his governments and party. Specifically, in the sentencing, former President Correa was convicted, without there being a single scrap of incriminating evidence against him, on the basis of Rafael Correas psychic influence on the events, simply for being the president in those years, without any additional evidence against him. The theory of psychic influence will go down in history as one of the greatest legal aberrations that lawfare has brought forth in Latin America. [E]ven though the Ecuadorian authorities have presented the bribery case as a criminal case being handled independently, without political interests, the truth is that international human rights organisations are currently taking the country to task for what they consider to be judicial persecution, with the purpose of bringing about the expulsion from public life of former president Rafael Correa and his political associates First, it is necessary to note that the international arrest warrants against former president Rafael Correa have been blocked by INTERPOL Second, former President Correa has received political asylum in Belgium, which believes that the Ecuadorian judicial authorities are engaging in political persecution remotely directed by the executive Third, and of particular relevance, is the criticism made by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers In relation to the Bribery Case, the UN Rapporteur has launched no fewer than four appeals against Ecuador

US Involvement?

Another question many are asking is to what extent Washington was aware of, or, for that matter, directly involved in the Noboa governments decision to raid the Mexican embassy. After all, it is hard to imagine a government as closely aligned with the US as Ecuadors, with a president who was born, raised and educated in the US, willing to take such an extreme course of action without first getting the green light from Washington.

Today (April 9), Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (aka AMLO) himself said during his morning press conference while sharing video images of Ecuadors military invasion of the Mexican embassy that a government does not do this unless it feels that it has the support of other powers Thats why we are taking this matter to the International Court of Justice. Mexico must be respected. Here are the images:

Al dar a conocer imagenes del asalto a la Embajada de Mexico en Ecuador, el pdte. @lopezobrador_ dijo:"Eso no lo hace un gobierno si no siente que tiene respaldo de otras potenciasPor eso vamos a llevar este asunto a la Corte de Justicia Internacional. A Mexico se le respeta." pic.twitter.com/icpvDGDczZ  Jesus Ramirez Cuevas (@JesusRCuevas) April 9, 2024

Coincidentally (or not), the recent rise in diplomatic tensions between Ecuador and Argentina on the one hand and certain left-leaning governments in the region on the other, particularly Mexico and Colombia, comes just after a rare visit by the CIA director William Burns to Argentina as well as visits by SOUTHCOM Commander, General Richardson, to both countries. The invasion of the Mexican embassy also comes just days after Israel launched a missile attack against the Iranian embassy in Damascus killing at least 11 people, including senior officers of the Revolutionary Guards.

While the US denies any involvement in the two embassy attacks, as one would expect it to, it is striking that one of the attacks was carried out by arguably its closest ally (in the case of Israel) and the other by a servile client state (in the case of Ecuador).

In June 2022, four months into its SMO (Special Military Operation) in Ukraine, Russia warned that the Vienna Convention risked losing its status in the current climate. From Tass:

Moscow believes that the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is sacrosanct and must not be violated when it comes to issues related to Russias diplomatic property, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Wednesday. We believe that <> the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is sacrosanct and must not be violated, she stressed. Zakharova pointed out that under the convention, the premises of diplomatic missions, their furnishings and other property thereon and the means of transport of the mission shall be immune from search, requisition, attachment or execution. Until recently, raising such issues seemed inconceivable in light of diplomatic regulations and the concept of private property that was viewed as practically sacred by countries of the collective West, Zakharova stressed.

End of an Era?

Not even during the worst moments of the Cold War did the nuclear powers dare to violate the sovereignty of another embassy. Nor did the British government dare to enter the Ecuadorian embassy to arrest Julian Assange despite the Swedish and US arrest warrants against him. As Zakharova said, the Vienna Convention is, or at least was, sacrosanct.

By invading the Mexican embassy, the Noboa government violated Article 26 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (Every treaty in force is binding upon the parties to it and must be performed by them in good faith. A party may not invoke the provisions of its internal law as justification for its failure to perform a treaty), explains Jesus Lopez Almejo, a Mexican professor of international relations. It also violated articles 22 and 29 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 (regarding the inviolability of diplomatic headquarters and agents) as well as articles four and nine of the 1954 Caracas Convention on Diplomatic Asylum.

Thats not all, says Lopez Almejo: by executing this raid on the Mexican embassy, the Noboa government also contravened a number of articles of Ecuadors national constitution pertaining to the governments obligations in respect with public international law (including article four, paragraph 1, art. 147, number 1; art. 416, number 9; art. 417; 424, paragraph 2; art. 425 and art 426, paragraph 2). It also violated article 482 of Ecuadors Comprehensive Criminal Organic Code on raids on diplomatic missions.

This is not the first time Noboa has shown blithe disregard for international norms. As readers may recall, his government triggered a diplomatic crisis with Russia in January by offering to give Ecuadors Russian-made weaponry to the US in exchange for a promise of more modern US equipment some time in the future. It was a complete violation of the end user certificates previous Ecuadorian governments had signed with the Russian arms manufacturers. To justify the move, Noboa claimed the Russian weaponry was mere scrap metal while the US openly talked about sending it to Ukraine, to be used against Russian soldiers. When Russia imposed import bans on Ecuadorian bananas, Ecuadors most important export product, the Noboa government quickly back tracked.

But Quitos latest action is potentially far more serious since it threatens to set a dangerous precedent in the region and beyond, precisely at a time when international law is already facing threats from multiple sides, warns Paulina Estraza, a professor of international law and international relations at the University of Concepcion, in Chile:

What Ecuador has done cannot be allowed to set a precedent in international relations. That is why one would have expected a swifter, clearer and stronger condemnation from states and international organisations. This is not a question of right or left. This is a matter of international law. An act like this could end up further aggravating the current crisis undermining the international legal system. Although President Andres Manuel Lopez also violated a traditional rule of international law  the prohibition on meddling in the internal affairs of another state  this does not give Ecuador the right to bypass the rules of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Article 27 of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties clearly establishes that no state can invoke norms of its internal law to justify its non-compliance with a treaty (or any international norm). International law takes precedence over domestic law. Pacta sunt servanda, what has been agreed is binding and must be complied with in good faith. A long-standing and essential international legal concept, especially for Latin America, is the right to asylum. A key factor in making asylum work  and saving lives as has happened in many dictatorships around the world  is the inviolability of diplomatic premises In Chile, after the [1973] coup detat, many persecuted by the regime found asylum in foreign embassies, mainly Latin American and European. This saved their lives. Not even Augusto Pinochet had the military enter diplomatic compounds to arrest dissidents of the dictatorship.

And that pretty much says it all.
Once Canadians realize how broke they actually are, a REVOLT is likely, government report warns

An information request filed by Matt Malone has brought to light a secret report from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) warning that once Canadians realize just how broke they are, a massive revolt will ensue.

It may seem like things are still kind of hobbling along financially and economically due to political sleights of hand, but once that illusion fades, things "will probably deteriorate further," according to the RCMP, which warns that all of this is coming to a head "in the next five years."

The RCMP reportedly alerted Canada's federal government about the strong possibility of civil unrest once Canadians come to realize what has been done to them by the powers that be. It will spell disaster for their families' lives and livelihoods.

The Whole-of-Government Five-Year Trends for Canada study explains that "the coming period of recession will ... accelerate the decline in living standards that the younger generations have already witnessed compared to earlier generations."

In other words, even the elderly in North America will soon experience what their children and grandchildren have been suffering for a while now  that is how bad things will soon get once the economic rubber meets the road.

"For example," the study explains, "many Canadians under 35 are unlikely ever to be able to buy a place to live."

(Related: Did you know that Canada is unveiling a social credit score system to which Canadians' bank accounts will be tied?)

Governments everywhere bracing for societal collapse

Code-named "secret," the RCMP report was only meant to be shared among "decision-makers" at the highest levels of government  meaning never with the public. The information was supposed to be "special operational," the report further explains.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

Malone, by the way, is an expert in government secrecy. He also works as an assistant professor of law at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia.

The version of the secret report Malone received through his information request is heavily redacted, just to be clear. At the same time, it is revealing in and of itself as to the extent the RCMP is preparing for massive civil breakdown in the coming days.

The paper bills itself as a "scanning exercise" that simply aims to identify both Canadian and global trends "that could have a significant effect on the Canadian government and the RCMP."

The report from RCMP also warns about coming unpredictable weather, more seasonal disasters like wildfires and flooding, as well as a serious decline in living conditions for most.

There is also growing concern that Canada is under severe and mounting pressure to relinquish control of its Arctic territory.

Canadians at large are disenfranchised with their government, the report continues. And the Canadian government itself worries that too many people are falling for "misinformation" and "conspiracy theories," which is leading to "paranoia."

"Law enforcement should expect continuing social and political polarization fueled by misinformation campaigns and an increasing mistrust for all democratic institutions," the report further states.

"The past seven years,' reads another portion of the report called "Erosion of Trust," "have seen marked social and political polarization in the Western world ..." The rest of that sentence is censored in the version of the report Malone received.

The report addresses other perceived problems such as "paranoid populism," though that section is also heavily redacted. It does state in Malone's version, though, that "[p]opulists willing to tailor their messages to appeal to extremist movements have been capitalizing on the rise of political polarization and conspiracy theories."

The entire world, not just Canada, is on the verge of revolting against the corrupt establishment. Learn more at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

GreatGameIndia.com

NaturalNews.com
Discovery of two new mammal species from the Jurassic period could reveal how humans got ears, scientists say

Scientists have discovered two new species of early mammals from the Jurassic period, and the findings could uncover the secret of how humans got their ears.

Two recent papers in the journal Nature indicate that the two fossilized specimens look like modern weasels and are a species of prehistoric mammalian animals. Paleontologists hope these new discoveries could provide a better understanding of how the mammalian middle ear evolved from the joints of the jaw millions of years ago.

One of the new mammals discovered is from the Shuotheriidae genus. It comes from the Middle Jurassic period from 174.1 to 161.5 million years ago. It was discovered in a fossil site in Mongolia and has been given the scientific name Feredocodon chowi. (Related: Giant flying insect discovered at Arkansas Walmart actually from the Jurassic era.)

The other new discovered species comes from the Morganucodon genus and was given the scientific name Dianoconodon youngi. Believed to be from the Early Jurassic period from 201.3 to 174 million years ago, it was discovered in the Heiguopeng locality in the Lufeng Formation in Yunnan Province in Southwestern China.

Both species found to have special characteristics in their jaws and ears

Both of these species had been found to have special characteristics in their jaws and ears, which suggest that they were benchmarks in evolution as the jaw joint was gradually evolving toward being particularized for use in hearing.

"The significance of this discovery is that both species have mandibular middle ears, and the Morganucodontan-like species have new postdentary bone structures," said study author Patricia Vickers-Rich from the School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment in Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. "This species is losing the load-bearing function of its articular-quadrate joint, whereas the shuotheriid species is showing characteristics suited for purely auditory function."

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

The Dianoconodon youngi fossil's jaw joints seem to have lost their load-bearing ability, while its mandibular inner ear appears to be better adapted for hearing. Meanwhile, the jaw joints of the Feredocodon chowi specimen looked even more like it was specialized for hearing.

These recent species are thus representative of the middle period between the jaw joint being utilized for eating and for hearing, granting paleontologists a greater insight into how human ears came to be the way they are today.

"Studying transitional stages in evolutionary history is crucial. The fossils show incremental modifications that demonstrate the complex process of adaptation that resulted in the advanced hearing systems found in modern animals," Vickers-Rich said.

"Our study questions current theories and offers a new viewpoint on the evolutionary history of mammaliaforms. We provide vital insights into the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary trajectories of shuotheriids, little known until recent discoveries in China, by explaining the intricate tooth shapes and occlusal patterns," Vickers-Rich added.

According to co-author Dr. Thomas Rich of Museums Victoria Research Institute the newly recognized well-preserved fossils from the Jurassic of China essentially explain how one of the most extraordinary transitions in the history of the vertebrates happened specifically the transformation of several of the numerous bones in the lower jaws of reptiles that became tiny bones in the middle ears of mammals.

The research team stresses that these discoveries are significant advancements in mankind's understanding of mammalian evolution.

Researchers aim to obtain greater knowledge of the complex processes that affected the development of hearing in early animals when more fossil evidence is discovered through continuing fieldwork and investigative research.

Follow Discoveries.news for more stories about recent scientific findings.

Watch the video below to know more about how the human begin.

This video is from the Kim Osbl - Copenhagen Denmark channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

Experts discover terror beast fossils in Greenland that are over half a BILLION years old.

Unearthing the prehistoric past of Texas  animals thought Old World found to have roamed it 12 million years ago.

A jaw-dropping find: High schooler from Iowa discovers a prehistoric mastodon jaw bone.

Experts think there are more GIGANTIC ANIMALS on Earth yet to be discovered.

Construction site turned dinosaur dig: Workers unearth 68-million-year-old Triceratops fossil.

Sources include:

Newsweek.com

Nature.com

Phys.org

Brighteon.com
Disinformation expert tells people to only use trusted sources, avoid doing your own research

Brianna Lyman, elections correspondent at The Federalist , recently reported on a panel discussion featuring Al Schmidt, Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Beth Schwanke, Executive Director of the Pitt Disinformation Lab. Schmidt and Schwanke, speaking at a forum organized by Spotlight PA, voiced their stance on misinformation and disinformation surrounding elections. Strikingly, Schwanke recommended that rather than conducting self-led investigations, Pennsylvanians should place their confidence in so-called trusted sources. These include certain institutions and media outlets that have unfortunately been tied in the past to acts of censorship.

(Article by Cindy Harper republished from ReclaimTheNet.org)

One thing everyone can do to make sure they are seeing accurate information is to use trusted sources. So in elections that means using the Department of State, that means using your county elections office, it means using media organizations that follow, that adhere, to professional journalism standards like  your local NPR affiliate, Schwanke said. And it doesnt mean you know, doing your own research and just asking questions and sharing, you know, posts from  I dont know, in my case, its Uncle Joe, right? It means being thoughtful about where your sources are coming from.

Schwankes advice, interestingly, seemed to discourage individual research, questioning, and sharing of ideas. Instead, she advocated the use of sources like the Department of State, county elections offices, and, strikingly, media organizations such as local NPR affiliates, which she implied upheld superior journalistic standards.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

Despite what Schwanke says, the importance of being vigilant about our sources of information cannot be overstated. This was vividly demonstrated in the lead-up to the 2020 election when a significant story on Hunter Bidens laptop by the New York Post was unjustly labeled disinformation, and subsequently suppressed across several tech platforms.

As The Federalist reported, what made matters worse, in an incident hinting at bias, NPR blatantly refused to report on the story, with its Managing Editor Terence Samuels declaring it as unworthy of coverage.

The Pennsylvania State Department presented a similar cause for alarm. It announced its collaboration with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to monitor and control online talks deemed a threat related to the election process. Despite its claimed intention to offer voters accurate, trustworthy election-related data and to counter threats such as so-called misinformation, there is good reason to question the impartiality of its activities. Case in point, CISA had previously facilitated the silencing of Americans expressing valid concerns on social media, as if they were spreading disinformation, and even had a post from President Donald Trump flagged under these pretenses.

Read more at: ReclaimTheNet.org
Google plans to charge users for new premium search features powered by AI

Google is planning to charge users for new "premium" features run by artificial intelligence (AI), marking the first time that the Big Tech company would be putting services behind a paywall

The tech giant is mulling options such as adding certain AI search features to its premium subscription services. Engineers are developing the technology to roll out the service, but company executives haven't decided when to launch the proposal. But early reports indicate that Google's ubiquitous search engine would continue to be free and ads would appear alongside search results even to subscribers.

"For years we've been reinventing Search to help people access information in the way that's most natural to them," said one Google spokesperson. "With our generative AI experiments in Search, we've already served billions of queries and we're seeing positive Search query growth in all our major markets."

We're continuing to rapidly improve the product to serve new user needs, the spokesperson continued. "We're not working on or considering an ad-free search experience. As we've done many times before, well continue to build new premium capabilities and services to enhance our subscription offerings across Google." (Related: Apple starts to embrace artificial intelligence, installs AI-powered features in iPhones.)

Google's AI push part of effort to compete with other tech firms embracing AI

Google, which invented the foundational technology for today's AI boom, is also locked in battle with two industry players that have captured the business world's attention  ChatGPT creator OpenAI and its backer Microsoft.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

Ever since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in late 2022, Google has found itself on the defensive in the face of the wildly popular chatbot. ChatGPT's ability to give answers to queries in a narrative voice has forced Google to rethink its traditional list of blue links to websites and the lucrative ads that appear alongside them.

For Google, charging for certain AI search features could help the company shake loose some additional revenue without cannibalizing the core of its search ad business.

"Given OpenAI has reached a subscription run-rate of $2 billion with consumer subscriptions, we believe Alphabet [Google's parent company] could see a similar boost to its $15 billion subscription sales," said Mandeep Singh, an analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence.

Meanwhile, a new crop of AI startups has emerged in recent years. Some have tried to persuade users to sign up for paid subscriptions to access generative AI search features, or for better privacy protections.

Last year, Google began testing its AI-powered search service that combines a personalized, detailed narrative in addition to links to websites and advertising. However, it has been slow to incorporate features from its experimental "search generative experience" to the main search engine.

In February, Google added a new paid tier to its consumer subscription service that gives people access to its latest AI model, Gemini. Users who pay for that subscription, called Google One AI Premium, can use its advanced Gemini chatbot and access the generative AI model in popular services such as Gmail and Google Docs.

Using generative AI technology to power search queries is "eye-wateringly" expensive, said one former Google employee, who worked on the company's search products. Teams regularly ran benchmark tests on random queries internally to measure how quickly Google's search engine could deliver results  but they didnt run the same tests for Google's AI-powered search product in part because it was so costly, the former staffer said.

In the wake of ChatGPT's appearance, Google has reoriented its search teams to deploy more people to work on the experimental AI-powered experience, according to another former Google employee. While early feedback was positive, the high cost likely factored into the decision not to roll it out more widely, the person said.

Watch as AI expert Titus Blair discusses how AI could take over more and more tech jobs in the coming years.

This video is from the channel The New American on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

AI and genetic engineering could trigger a super-pandemic, warns AI expert.

U.S., Canadian AI companies COLLABORATE with Chinese experts to shape international AI policy.

NSA launches AI security center to protect the U.S. from AI-powered cyberattacks.

IBM to replace 8,000 workers with AI automation; no more new hires for roles that can be filled by AI.

Sources include:

Bloomberg.com

FT.com

Brighteon.com
Illegal immigrants are throwing away their military IDs before entering America, says Border Hawks Dan Lyman

Illegal immigrants are allegedly throwing away documents that could identify them as members of foreign militaries before they get to the border and cross into the United States.

This is according to political commentators Breanna Morello and Dan Lyman, who spoke about it during an episode of the former's "Breanna Morello Show" and discussed how the administration of President Joe Biden is not doing anything to resolve the out-of-control border crisis.

Morello said men of military age have been flooding into America illegally and the Biden regime isn't bothered by it at all. She cited multiple reports from independent journalists indicating how individuals have gotten hold of IDs that are tossed out before migrants reach the border. (Related: INVASION USA: Swarm of military-aged immigrants arriving in Texas, citizen journalist warns.)

According to Morello, one report found that a woman's military ID from Bolivia was thrown away and discovered near the border. The illegals are doing this to make sure they don't have documents to handover when they get to the border

Lyman shared that, during a quick scan of the border on the banks of the Rio Grande River, they found several foreign identity documents, including military IDs. He noted that, within 10 minutes, he and his team had picked up at least 10 foreign identity documents from migrants from Colombia, Cuba, Bolivia and Venezuela.

"And if you went up and down the banks, you could pick up tons and tons of these," he added. "All the people that have discarded proof of who they are. So that when they cross that river and surrender to border patrol or Texas authorities, they can start a new life with a new identity," Lyman said.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

Morello stated it is concerning because it makes it hard for the Department of Homeland Security to do background checks and reach out to the native country these people are coming from to ask who they are, which puts Americans at risk.

Legal migrants and asylum seekers can join the U.S. military

The situation at the border is different from the thousands of legal migrants and asylum seekers in the United States who have chosen to join the U.S. Armed Forces to provide themselves with an easier pathway to citizenship.

The Army has close to 2,900 enlisted legal migrants during the first half of 2023, a slight increase from the 2,200 during the same period in 2022. The Air Force has about 100 in basic training and another 40 who has completed training.

The military has had some success in recruiting legal immigrants, particularly among those seeking jobs and training as well as the educational benefits that come with completing service terms in the military and, of course, the quicker route that veterans can get to becoming an American citizen.

This comes as all branches of the military say they are falling short of their recruiting goals, and pulling more from the legal immigrant population may provide small boosts.

A bipartisan effort is also currently underway to provide more qualified and vetted legal migrants with expedited paths to citizenship if they serve in the military. Reps. Pat Ryan (D-NY) and John James (R-MI) introduced this new bill in February, noting that the armed forces missed its recruiting goals by roughly 41,000 in 2023.

Visit InvasionUSA.news for more stories about the border crisis.

Watch this episode of "The Breanna Morello Show" as Breanna Morello interviews Dan Lyman about men of military age illegally entering the United States.

This video is from the MyPodcastDropped2320 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

ACTIVE INVASION: At least 7.3 million illegal immigrants have crossed the southwest border under Joe Biden.

Expose shows how NGOs funded by American taxpayers are shipping illegal immigrants into the United States.

TREASON: Biden administrations secret transportation of 320,000 illegal immigrants into the U.S. revealed.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

APNews.com

Fox5NY.com
Prominent LGBTQ activist and president of a university queer organization ARRESTED for downloading child pornography

A 53-year-old LGBTQ activist and president of the Queer Alumni Club at Princeton University has been arrested for downloading child pornography

Roy "Trey" Farmer, a former "piano prodigy," holds a bachelor's degree in classical philosophy from Princeton, a Master in Philosophy degree from Yale University and a Master in Education at Harvard University.

Farmer previously sat on the board of the New York Philharmonic and is a former president of Princeton's Glee Club Foundation, with memberships at Princeton Internships in Civic Service and Princeton of Southwest Florida organizations.

This once-celebrated pillar of the LGBTQ community within Princeton and academia now faces one count of third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material following an investigation by prosecutors in Mercer County, New Jersey. (Related: Transgender pedophile arrested for production, distribution and possession of child pornography.)

Mercer County authorities opened its investigation following a tip from the Virginia-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This then led to a raid on Farmer's condo near the main entrance of Princeton, wherein police reportedly discovered "multiple items of evidentiary value" during the search operations which, in turn, led to Farmer's arrest.

Prosecutors are currently keeping Farmer detained at Mercer County Jail pending further legal proceedings.

Sexual offenders disguising as LGBTQ activists to prey on unsuspecting victims

Farmer is not the first  and likely not the last  LGBTQ activist accused of sex crimes involving minors.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

In March, Darius "Shangela" Pierce, a drag queen who attended a pride month event with Vice President Kamala Harris in 2022, faced accusations of sexual assault and rape from five young men. Four out of the five men said Pierce sexually assaulted them and attempted to engage in sexual activity with them when they were too intoxicated to give consent. Meanwhile, the fifth person alleged that Pierce attempted anal penetration in a bathroom closet despite rejection.

The victims, all between the ages of 18 and 32, stated they were out drinking with Pierce before the incident happened in 2012 and 2018 in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Pierce has faced similar accusations with an HBO production assistant named Daniel McGarrigle and a 27-year-old identified only as Helmer. The rape cases happened in different years but followed similar patterns. However, the victims believed they lacked evidence to report the incident to authorities.

In January, Gerad Slayton, a former executive director of the Rainbow Resource Center, was among more than a dozen men arrested in a sting operation targeting online predators attempting to solicit sex with minors.

The months-long operation, led by the Turlock Police Department, targeted online predators using internet chat rooms to arrange sexual encounters with minors. Seventeen men, primarily from Stanislaus and Merced counties, were arrested after engaging in conversations with undercover officers posing as underage children.

Visit Psycho.news for more stories about child sex abusers.

Watch Gabor "Gabe" Zolna talking about transgender inmates sexually assaulting biological women in prison below.

This video is from the zolnareport.com channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Gay former Democratic mayor sentenced to 150 years behind bars for 140+ counts of child pornography, but will only serve 30 years.

Trans former NH lawmaker faces federal charges for allegedly using daycare connections to generate child exploitation images.

Former president of regional LGBT pride organization in Canada charged with sex crimes against CHILDREN.

Female student RAPED in trans-inclusive restroom at New Mexico school.

REPORT: Virginia father arrested after his teen daughter allegedly raped by trans student in public school.

Sources include:

Infowars.com

FoxNews.com

LifeSiteNews.com 1

LifeSiteNews.com 2

Brighteon.com
NOT RIGHT: Elon Musk denounces CONVICTION of grandmother who peacefully attended J6 protest

X owner Elon Musk denounced the Department of Justice's (DOJ) decision to convict a Colorado grandmother who was at the false-flag Jan. 6, 2021 protest outside the U.S. Capitol.

Rebecca Lavrenz was found guilty of four misdemeanor charges stemming from her attendance at the Stop the Steal rally on that day. She drove across the country from her home in Colorado Springs, where she owns a bed and breakfast, to exercise her First Amendment right to speak out against the rigged 2020 election.

Musk took to the X platform, which he owns, to blast the unfair conviction. "Not right," he wrote in an April 5 post. Sen. Mike Lee (R-AZ) also concurred with the X owner's sentiments, writing in a separate post "The praying grandma needs prayers  and a presidential pardon." (Related: Biden DOJ indicts four Americans for "weaponized" free speech.)

Lavrenz was peacefully attending the gathering. She had spent time outside the building praying with a group of other participants, but was caught with a group of people inside the Capitol.

The arrest and subsequent conviction put a blemish on the grandmother's previously spotless criminal record. Lavrenz could face up to a year in prison and fines of over $200,000.

Former President Donald Trump also called for the release of Lavrenz, dubbed the "praying grandma." He wrote on his Truth Social profile that she "has been unfairly targeted by Crooked Joe Biden's DOJ." Lavrenz is now "one of the J6 hostages," added Trump.

"Biden spends more time prosecuting patriots like Rebecca, and me, than violent criminals, thugs, murderers and illegal immigrants who are destroying our country. This is what we are up against."

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

"Praying grandma" UNFAIRLY TARGETED by the Feds

According to the Post Millennial, the D.C. jury deliberated for nearly 26 hours before finding Lavrenz guilty on April 4. This was longer than most deliberation periods for most of the J6 cases.

Three days earlier on April 1, Lavrenz testified for five hours with regard to her role in the false-flag riot. According to surveillance footage, she was peacefully walking around inside the Capitol Building and speaking to an officer of the U.S. Capitol Police. Lavrenz told the FBI that she spent 10 minutes inside the building, which was corroborated with cell phone data.

The four charges the grandmother was convicted of were as follows:

entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds

disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds

disorderly conduct in a capitol building

parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building

"My own country is treating me like a criminal just because I believe that they stole my rightful president," Lavrenz said in a video posted to X on March 20. "I was just standing up for my country, it makes me a criminal. And it's just not right, it feels so weird to be here. Over three years ago I was here."

"I was surprised," she later said after the conviction. "I believe God wanted it to turn out this way so my voice could be amplified. We have to wake up our country."

"I didn't get into this for myself, I was there to stand up for my country. God led me to go there and into the building to stand up for my First Amendment rights to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Watch Rebecca Lavrenz insist that she won't fear government even after her conviction in this Newsmax interview.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

STAGED: Viral video reveals cops went undercover as Antifa in the crowd during J6 U.S. Capitol protest.

'Passive' J6 protesters can be convicted of 'disorderly conduct,' appeals court rules.

Star J6 whistleblower meant to "destroy Trump" has CHANGED HER STORY.

Shocking photos reveal J6 prisoners BRUTAL living conditions.

D.C. Central detention facility officers harass and mentally torture J6 political prisoner.

Sources include:

ThePostMillennial.com

Brighteon.com
Newsom calls on Florida women to come to California for abortions after passage of six-week abortion ban in Sunshine State

California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging pregnant women in Florida to seek abortion services in California . This comes after the Florida Supreme Court issued a ruling upholding the state's 15-week abortion ban , dealing a blow to a legal challenge asking the court to throw out the ban.

In June 2022, a lower court in the state ruled that the ban violated the state's constitution, temporarily suspending it. The state appealed the decision on the same day, leading to it being upheld by the Florida Supreme Court.

This ruling paved the way for a six-week trigger ban signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to go into effect 30 days after the ruling. This led to Newsom making a statement calling on women in Florida to leave the state. (Related: Theyre coming for your CHILDREN: California Governor Gavin Newsom signs anti-parent law.)

"If you are no longer able to get abortion care in your home state, California has the resources and support available to help you exercise your reproductive freedom," he said. The governor also criticized the ruling, saying it severely restricts reproductive freedom and cuts off access to care before many women even know they are pregnant.

"For the past six years, Gov. DeSantis has put up a freedom facade so he could systematically cut down people's rights based on his own personal political agenda," continued Newsom. "Today, yet another right was stripped away from Floridians through Gov. DeSantis's anti-rights agenda  millions of Floridians and women in neighboring states with total bans will now no longer be able to access essential reproductive healthcare on their own terms.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

California currently allows abortion up to the point of viability, or when the fetus could survive outside the uterus without requiring extreme medical interventions. This is typically around the 24th week of pregnancy, but could vary from woman to woman.

Abortions after this point are only permitted if a physician determines that continuing the pregnancy would endanger the life or health of the mother.

State law also protects individuals traveling to California for abortion procedures, and the state offers various programs to cover their travel expenses. Doctors who mail abortion pills, other abortifacients and contraception medication to patients in other states are also protected.

Florida to vote on enshrining abortion rights into state constitution in November

In a separate decision released on the same day, the Florida Supreme Court decided to allow an abortion-related ballot initiative to push through and be decided on by voters in November.

This initiative will allow voters to decide whether to enshrine the right to abortion into the state's constitution. The decision will allow voters to determine the future of abortion access in the state in November.

Before the passage of the 15-week ban, Florida became a key access point for women seeking abortion who live in neighboring states that have passed laws ceasing nearly all abortion services. Data from the Guttmacher Institute estimates that nearly 5,000 more abortions were performed in Florida from January to June 2023 compared to the same period in 2020.

Visit Abortions.news for more stories about abortion bans in the United States.

Watch this clip from Fox Business discussing how Democrats are planning to make abortion a top issue in the November election.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Newsom receives millions in fundraising and campaigns outside of California, but denies having any interest in running for president.

Gov. Gavin Newsom used taxpayer money to fund Chinese-backed biolab operations in California.

Gov. Newsom of California wants to SCRAP the Second Amendment by pushing new 28th Amendment.

NO TO "ABORTION TRAFFICKING": Lubbock County Commissioners Court approves anti-abortion transport ban.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

ABCNews.go.com

Brighteon.com
COVID propaganda: Morbidly obese Green Party candidate demands fresh lockdowns, enforced by the military

An animatronic Star Wars-looking bitch with purple braids is nominally running for the highest office in the land.

(Article by Ben Bartee republished from ArmageddonProse.Substack.com)

One of her main platform planks  along with using the state to forcibly return all United States land to Indians and slavery reparations to the tune of $4,000/month to every black funded by taxing weed profits  is the institution of 2025 COVID lockdowns, to be enforced by the National Guard and requiring the relocation of prison inmates out of the carceral system and into secure housing  a confusing proposition on many fronts.

Via Jasmine D. Sherman For President:

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and in conjunction with our existing COVID-19 policy, we propose a comprehensive approach that includes a six-week transitional lockdown starting on the 92nd day of Jasmine Sherman's presidency. This integrated policy combines measures such as mandatory masking, mandatory vaccinations, exemptions for religious and health reasons, housing initiatives for the houseless population, and transitioning individuals impacted by the carceral system to secure housing. During the lockdown, citizens will receive support through social programs, including food, supplies, and bill payments, facilitated by a delivery system akin to Instacart and aided by the National Guard.

A modest counter-proposal: how about, instead of all of that nonsense, this retarded walrus gets mandatory salad-feedings and forced treadmill marches Trail of Tears-style until her BMI is south of 35, then we can consider countenancing her Public Health prescriptions.

Study: COVID shots increased infant seizure rates

Im always amazed when studies like this are permitted to be published by the likes of the FDA.

It could mean, of course, that there are still some good people with institutional power.

Or, more likely, this is a CYA operation by corrupt, demonic bureaucrats who know the truth is coming out one way or another. If they can be seen to demonstrate a modicum of integrity  even a day late and dollar short  perhaps theyll save themselves from the rope.

I vote hard pass on any kind of pandemic amnesty, but perhaps Im in the extreme minority. As long as Im breathing, my mission is to see these people pay for their crimes against humanity.

Via U.S. FDA:

In this self-controlled case series that included participants aged 2-5 years from three commercial insurance databases, the incidence rate ratio of febrile seizures was significantly elevated in the 0-1 days following mRNA-1273 administration. Absolute risk was small The incidence of febrile seizures was elevated immediately following vaccination with the monovalent mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 2-5 years. Based on the current body of evidence, the safety profile of monovalent mRNA vaccines remains favorable for use in young children.

Amazing! Even after acknowledging it induces seizures in babies, even giving the non-existent risk that COVID poses to babies, which has been known for years now, the much-vaunted FDA goes on to recommend them still!

Related: Childrens Risk of COVID Death 2 in 1,000,000

Voluntary nasal swabbing hits American airports

First its voluntary, then its recommended, then its mandatory if you want to eat re-enter your own country (with a free two-week vacation at a quarantine concentration camp if you test positive).

You know the thing.

Via U.S. News:

The nation's top public health agency is expanding a program that tests international travelers for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention program asks arriving international passengers to volunteer to have their noses swabbed and answer questions about their travel. The program operates at six airports and on Tuesday, the CDC said it was adding two more  Chicagos OHare and Miami.

Heres what voluntary means in this context in practice: you step off of the airplane and are greeted by a nerdy CDC wench with a team of TSA goons behind her, latex gloves all oiled by for an anal probe if you refuse her polite request.

Should you say no, after your anal inspection, youll be placed on a government domestic terror watchlist so as to never be allowed to fly unmolested again, as The Science requires.

Dr. Peter McCollough, hardcore COVID truth hero, fires shots at vaxx-happy Trump over nonstop bragging about Operation Warp Speed

Dr. Peter McCollough on Trumps shameless self-promotion regarding COVID shots, transcribed via Vigilant News:

It [vaccine deaths] are grossly underreported, probably thirty to one. That means the total number of Americans who likely have passed away of the vaccine is about 550,000 Our two major presidential candidates are the same on this issue. They are completely, willfully blind to whats happened to Americans. Theyre focused on other issues outside of the health, the welfare, and actually the survival of their own people. The same is true worldwide.

Will he heed the warning and save himself from alienating his base on the one issue theyve demonstrated a willingness to boo him over  an act otherwise unheard-of at Trump rallies?

Lets not count on it; the ego, simultaneously his greatest strength and greatest weakness, will not permit credit for any accomplishment to go unclaimed, even for genocide.

Read more at: ArmageddonProse.Substack.com
We are just one step away from an apocalyptic war in the Middle East

Did you see what just happened in Damascus? In an absolutely stunning move, Israel took out the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Needless to say, the Iranians are absolutely furious and they are promising a harsh response. For a long time, I have been warning my readers that an apocalyptic war in the Middle East will be one of the conflicts that defines World War III. The good news is that the war in the Middle East has not escalated to an apocalyptic level yet. But after what we witnessed on Monday, we are just one step away.

(Article republished from TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com)

The building that was destroyed by the IDF airstrike was reportedly directly next to Irans embassy in Damascus

A building next to Irans embassy in Damascus has been destroyed in an airstrike, reportedly killing a senior commander of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps and five others  with state media saying Israel was behind the attack. Pictures show the building in Syrias capital razed to the ground, with huge plumes of smoke rising from the site following the explosion this afternoon and emergency workers rushing to the scene.

This particular building was apparently the residence of the Iranian ambassador to Syria.

The Syrian government says that the missiles that destroyed this building were fired from the Golan Heights

The Syrian Ministry of Defence responded with a statement. This evening, the Israeli enemy launched an air aggression from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan, targeting the Iranian consulate building in Damascus, it said. Our air defences responded to the missiles and shot down some of them. The aggression led to the destruction of the entire building and the martyrdom and injury of everyone inside. Work is underway to recover the bodies of the martyrs, treat the wounded and remove debris.

It appears that the IDF was targeting a gathering of very important regional leaders.

Mohammad Reza Zahedi was among those that were killed. He was the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps

The head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Reza Zahedi, was confirmed killed in the strike, alongside several other Iranian diplomats visiting the Syrian capital. The IRGC-managed Fars News agency announced the commanders death on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Another important Iranian military official named Haji Rahimi is also dead

Haji Rahimi was named as the second commander killed in the attack on Irans consulate building in the Syrian capital, according to the statement shared by state news agency IRNA on Monday night. Haji Rahimi was reportedly a coordinator for the Quds Force, according to Irans semi-official Tasnim News.

This was a major victory for Israel, but the Iranians will inevitably respond.

In fact, Irans ambassador to Syria has already publicly stated that the response will be harsh

Iranian Ambassador to Syria Hossein Akbari, who was not injured, said at least five people had been killed in the attack and that Tehrans response would be harsh. The Iranian Embassy in Lebanon said that the barbaric Israeli aggression is a flagrant violation of international laws, diplomatic norms, and the requirements of the Vienna Convention.

We shall see what Iran chooses to do.

As Zero Hedge has aptly noted, if Irans response is too severe, it could spark an all-out regional war

Depending on Irans response, this could be the start of an all-out regional war. For months now, Iranian-made ballistic missiles and drones have rained down on Israel, fired by Irans proxies in Lebanon and Yemen. This new brazen Israeli attack on Irans embassy takes things into uncharted territory, and also opens up the potential for the Iranians to target Israeli embassies abroad.

Of course the Iranians have already been escalating matters.

Prior to the IDF airstrike on Damascus on Monday, Iranian-backed militants in Iraq used a drone to attack a key naval base in southern Israel

In a significant first of the Gaza war marking a very serious escalation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that a drone which slammed into a naval base in Israels southernmost city of Eilat early Monday morning was launched from Iraq. The IDF its statement said it identified a suspicious aerial target that breached Israeli airspace from the east before making impact in the Eilat Bay area on the Red Sea. While this isnt necessarily the first instance of Iraqi militant groups claiming to have fired on Eliat, it appears to be the first time that direct impact was made on an Israeli navy base and that the IDF has confirmed it.

How far can both sides push one another before events spiral completely out of control?

Sadly, we are getting dangerously close to a point of no return.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government is also having to deal with violent anti-Netanyahu protests all over the nation

Israeli police violently clashed with protesters across the country last night, as tens of thousands took to streets across the nation to oppose Benjamin Netanyahus leadership during the Israel-Hamas war. Protesters from all parts of Israeli society flooded streets to share their rage at the Israeli prime minister and his handling of the war in Gaza that has so far left nearly 33,000 people, most of whom are civilians, dead. And police took extreme measures to get them under control, with photographers capturing brutal moments where cops dragged demonstrators across tarmac and beat them into submission.

Benjamin Netanyahu certainly isnt going to allow such protests to alter the course that he has set.

He continues to insist that the war will never be won unless the IDF goes into Rafah

Israel will defeat Hamas by entering the terrorist stronghold of Rafah in the Gaza Strip and destroying the remaining battalions there, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed Sunday night. There is no victory without entering Rafah; there is no victory without destroying the Hamas battalions there, said Netanyahu in a primetime address, adding that the operation will take time, but it will happen. The premier reiterated that only a combination of military pressure and tough negotiations would bring about the release of the remaining 134 hostages taken to Gaza by Palestinian terrorists on Oct. 7.

As I discussed last week, it appears that a ground operation in Rafah will begin either this month or next month.

While all of this is happening in the Middle East, we desperately need strong leadership in the White House.

Instead, either Joe Biden or Kamala Harris will be running things until at least January 2025

Only 38 percent of likely 2024 voters believe President Joe Biden will be alive at the end of another four-year term, according to an exclusive poll for DailyMail.com. And that means one thing: Vice President Kamala Harris is just as likely to be in the top job as Biden come January 2029 if he wins reelection. Some 36 percent of likely voters believe Harris will be president at the end of the term. The exact same proportion as think Biden will be in the job.

When the time comes to make absolutely critical decisions regarding the conflict in the Middle East, do you trust either of them to be up to the job?

For a long time, we have been warned that the Middle East would eventually erupt in flames.

Now we are right at the door.

Unfortunately, most people in the western world have no idea how bad this war in the Middle East is going to become.

Read more at: TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com
The pharmaceutical industry is more WOKE than most people could ever imagine

Conservatives are finally taking notice of Big Pharma's corruption now that it is being revealed just how "woke" the pharmaceutical industry truly is.

While both the left and the right have been propping up the drug industry for decades, allowing it to maintain a monopoly over medicine in the United States, the latest figures suggest that Big Pharma, at least currently, leans more left than right.

From 2016 through 2022, Big Pharma contributed $29 million to Democrat candidates, and the cash is still flowing to the left in 2024 as the drug industry presumably pushes to keep Donald Trump from being reelected.

"The drug lobby has donated four times more money to Joe Biden than it has to Donald Trump," reports AM Greatness.

"And the industry's generosity to Team Blue doesn't end with individual candidates. Its chief lobby, PhRMA, also gives millions to liberal campaign arms like the Democratic Attorneys General Association."

(Related: One of the ways Big Pharma keeps its cashflow at record highs is by rebranding failed drugs as other "new" drugs, including the new COVID-flu "double jab" that is now being promoted.)

Black Lives Matter, transgenderism and pharmaceuticals

The pharmaceutical industry reportedly funds the PBM Accountability Project, an effort aimed at supporting legislation against pharmacy benefit managers (PBM), which are third-party operators that negotiate for lower drug prices on behalf of health insurance recipients.

"Big Pharma has an interest in reducing their influence on the market so they can rake in even more profits," reports warn.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

The PBM Accountability Project, by the way, is also responsible for the creation of America's Agenda, which finances PhRMA. It works with labor unions to lobby for restrictions on PBMs.

Outside of electoral politics, the drug industry also supports leftist social causes like Black Lives Matter (BLM). Many leading pharmaceutical CEOs and executives groveled and apologized for their "white privilege" following the death of George Floyd.

"As the CEO of the world's largest healthcare company, I must state unequivocally that racism in any form is unacceptable and that Black Lives Matter," said Johnson & Johnson Chairman and CEO Alex Gorsky, as one example.

"And as a white man, I also need to acknowledge the limits of my own life experience and listen to those who have faced systemic injustice since the day they were born."

In addition to statements like these, drug company executives also sent tens of millions of dollars in donations to BLM-related groups while adopting new diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies to oppress fair-skinned people as white devils.

Both Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer did these kinds of things, both companies forcing their employees to undergo DEI brainwashing, including the forced reading of the anti-white writings of Ibram X.

"Managers were instructed to discriminate against whites and males in the hiring process and favor applicants who simply checked off the minority quota," reports explain about what went on post-George Floyd.

Then there is the "gender equality" component of Big Pharma's endeavors. Because there is a lot of money to be made on "top surgeries" and other forms of "gender transition," Big Pharma is dumping lots of cash into pro-LGBTQ+ groups like the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

Both PhRMA and Pfizer are the chief sponsors of the so-called "Healthcare Equality Index," which rates hospitals on their conformity to gender ideology, including the "correct" usage of "gender pronouns" and the availability of sexual reassignment surgery for minors.

And finally, of course, is Big Pharma's continued commitment to punishing anyone who expresses skepticism of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines." Using politicians, social media platforms and other tools, the pharmaceutical industry continues to fight against free speech and the First Amendment because these are bad for business.

The latest news about the corrupt pharmaceutical industry can be found at BadMedicine.news.

Sources for this article include:

AMGreatness.com

NaturalNews.com
YEREVAN, APRIL 9, ARMENPRESS. The units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces initiated fire towards the positions of the Armenian Armed Forces in the vicinity of Aravus (Syunik Province) on April 8, at 10:50 p.m., and Khoznavar (Syunik Province) at 10:55 p.m., according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Armenia.

The Ministry adds that the statement of the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan that on April 8, between 11:35 p.m. and 11:45 p.m., the units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia opened fire toward Azerbaijani combat positions in the southeastern part of the border doesnt correspond to reality.
Biden to Netanyahu: Agree to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza or lose U.S. support

President Joe Biden has explicitly called upon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in a phone call between the two leaders, stressing that future American backing for Israel depends on its plans to protect Palestinian civilians and stabilize humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.

The phone call, which lasted less than 30 minutes, came after the World Central Kitchen (WCK) appealed to Australia, Canada, Poland the United States and the United Kingdom, to participate in an independent investigation into the airstrike that claimed the lives of seven WCK aid workers deployed in Gaza.

"This was a military attack that involved multiple strikes and targeted three WCK vehicles," said WCK. "All three vehicles were carrying civilians; they were marked as WCK vehicles; and their movements were in full compliance with Israeli authorities, who were aware of their itinerary, route and humanitarian mission. An independent investigation is the only way to determine the truth of what happened, ensure transparency and accountability for those responsible, and prevent future attacks on humanitarian aid workers."

In response, Biden called Netanyahu to discuss the escalating war in Gaza. Biden stressed the need "to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers." Biden even argued that an "immediate ceasefire is essential," while urging Netanyahu to reach a deal with Hamas "without delay" to protect the innocent civilians in Gaza. (Related: New U.S.-backed United Nations resolution calls for "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza.)

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who echoed the stance of Biden, also warned of potential policy changes if Israel fails to adjust its conduct.

"If we don't see the changes that we need to see, there will be changes in our policy," he said in an interview. "Right now, there is no higher priority in Gaza than protecting civilians, surging humanitarian assistance and ensuring the security of those who provide it. Israel must meet this moment."

Biden is giving Israel a conflicting message

The U.S. has been supplying vital military assistance and diplomatic backing to Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel. Support for Israel to defend itself has been a part of U.S. foreign policy for over fifty years, and up until now, there has been no sign that the U.S. was prepared to condition or withhold any military aid.

However, Marc Owen Jones, an associate professor of Middle East studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, argued that the Biden administration is only sending a conflicting message to Israel. Experts argue that these mixed signals gave Israel the license to announce its intention to launch a ground invasion of Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip, bordering Egypt, where relentless Israeli assaults forcibly displaced as many as 1.5 million Palestinians.

In turn, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not help but criticize the Biden administration on X, formerly Twitter.

"Demanding Netanyahu to stop killing civilians and supplying him with weapons is an unprecedented principled and moral contradiction," the ministry posted on March 30.

JoeBiden.news has more stories about President Joe Biden's stance on the Gaza conflict.

Watch the massive anti-Gaza invasion protest in New York.

This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls for immediate humanitarian CEASEFIRE in Gaza.

Iran calls for TEMPORARY CEASEFIRE in Gaza.

White House interns demand PERMANENT CEASEFIRE for Gaza via letter to Biden.

Muslim Americans to Biden: Declare a ceasefire in Gaza, or lose our donations and votes.

NEW POLL: 70% of Americans support a CEASEFIRE in Gaza.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

TheGuardian.com

AlJazeera.com

Brighteon.com
Brazil to axe X from telecommunications network after citing Elon Musk for obstruction of justice for his refusal to engage in government-demanded censorship

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has taken the first steps toward banning the X social media platform in Brazil.

De Moraes recently launched an inquiry into X and its owner Elon Musk for "obstruction of justice" and "incitement to crime," this following a conflict between de Moraes and Musk.

Writing for Noticias UOL, Andreza Matais says that representatives for de Moraes' office reached out to the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) of Brazil to find out how X can be removed from the country.

Anatel president Carlos Baigorri reportedly contacted the main telephone operators in Brazil to notify them that they should remain on standby in the event that a court order is issued requiring X to be removed.

The Brazilian government has already blocked a host of popular X accounts and censored various posts. Musk is demanding to know why the Minister of the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil wants to censor these accounts.

"This aggressive censorship appears to violate the law will [sic] of the people of Brazil," Musk wrote.

(Related: After a recent visit to Auschwitz, Musk went "full Zionist")

This will never happen to Brighteon.io

Musk has promised to release documents showing what Moraes is demanding of X, which Musk claims violates Brazilian law.

"This judge has brazenly and repeatedly betrayed the constitution and people of Brazil," Musk tweeted. "He should resign or be impeached."

As it stands, X is prohibited from reactivating any accounts that Moraes has said need to be removed. If X violates this order, each offense is subject to a $20,000 fine.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

"X Corp. has been forced by court decisions to block certain popular accounts in Brazil," Musk's company said in a statement. "We have informed those accounts that we have taken this action."

"We do not know the reasons these blocking orders have been issued. We do not know which posts are alleged to violate the law. We are prohibited from saying which court or judge issued the order, or on what grounds."

X says it is also prohibited from publicly revealing which accounts are impacted by the order, adding that Brazil is threatening "daily fines if we fail to comply."

"We believe that such orders are not in accordance with the Marco Civil da Internet or the Brazilian Federal Constitution, and we challenge the orders legally where possible," the company added.

"The people of Brazil, regardless of their political beliefs, are entitled to freedom of speech, due process, and transparency from their own authorities."

Keep in mind that none of this is possible with Brighteon.io, which unlike X is decentralized and cannot be blocked.

Michael Shellenberger commented on the matter as well by accusing Brazil of engaging in "a sweeping crackdown on free speech."

"De Moraes has thrown people in jail without trial for things they posted on social media," Shellenberger said. "He has demanded the removal of users from social media platforms."

"And he has required the censorship of specific posts, without giving users any right of appeal or even the right to see the evidence presented against them."

According to Shellenberger, de Moraes and the Superior Electoral Court demanded back when X was still Twitter that the social media platform "reveal personal details about Twitter users who used hashtags he did not like" as well as provide the Brazilian government "access to Twitter's internal data, in violation of Twitter policy."

At issue back then was de Moraes wanting to stop supporters of then-President Jair Bolsonaro from having a voice online.

Elon Musk is a scam artist who has many conservatives fooled. Learn more at Deception.news.

Sources for this article include:

HumanEvents.com

NaturalNews.com
Israel finally admits it made a grave mistake killing seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has finally admitted that it made a "grave mistake" after its drones killed seven multinational aid workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) in a targeted air strike in Northern Gaza.

On April 1, the WCK, a renowned disaster relief nonprofit that provides food aid to disaster-stricken and war-torn parts of the world, deployed seven multinational aid workers in Gaza to deliver a new shipment of food. The aid workers, including three British nationals, one Palestinian, one Australian, one Polish and one American-Canadian citizen, were leaving the deconflicted zone in their three-car convoy marked with the WCK logo on the roofs when three consecutive IDF air strikes hit and killed them.

Graphic footage from the scene displayed the harrowing aftermath of the strike, with the bodies of the aid workers, some still wearing WCK shirts.

Initially, the IDF defended its actions by blaming Hamas. But reports claimed that the IDF reportedly targeted the convoy under the belief that a member of Hamas was among the group.

However, on April 5, Yoav Har-Even, a retired military officer who led the investigation, said the IDF military drones could not recognize the WCK logos at night. That's another way of saying that the strikes were a "grave mistake" and a "breach of the army's standard operating procedures."

"The forces that conducted the strike did not know they were striking WCK vehicles," Har-Even said. "They were convinced that they were targeting Hamas operatives in vehicles."

Moreover, the IDF revealed the dismissal of two officers and the formal reprimand of two others, including the commander of the IDF's Southern Command, following Al Jazeera's Sanaad verification agency investigation suggested that, based on open-source information and witness testimonies, the strikes on the WCK vehicles were intentional.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

"Images taken from the bombing sites show that the vehicles were clearly marked on their roofs and windshields as belonging to WCK, indicating that they were in compliance and there had been prior coordination between WCK and the Israeli army about the movements. Analysis of images of the second and third targeted vehicles showed signs of a projectile entering from the top and exiting through the bottom, suggesting that the cars were targeted from the air," Al Jazeera reported.

WCK executives condemn the IDF once again and demand an independent investigation

In response to the investigation, the WCK demanded an independent commission to probe the killings amid doubts over the credibility of the IDF's ability to investigate itself for its actions.

"We demand the creation of an independent commission to investigate the killings of our WCK colleagues. The IDF cannot credibly investigate its own failure in Gaza," the organization wrote on its official website on Apr. 6. (Related: World outraged as Israeli airstrike KILLS 7 multinational aid workers in Gaza.)

Erin Gore, the CEO of WCK, also criticized the apologies from the IDF. He argued that the IDF offered "cold comfort" to the victims' families and the global WCK community.

"Their apologies for the outrageous killing of our colleagues represent cold comfort, said Gore. "Its cold comfort for the victims families and WCKs global family. Israel needs to take concrete steps to assure the safety of humanitarian aid workers. Our operations remain suspended."

Furthermore, Jose Andres, a celebrity chef and the founder of WCK, argued that the IDF should understand that avoiding further humanitarian deaths is not enough.

"Its not enough to simply try to avoid further humanitarian deaths, which have now approached close to 200," said Andres. "All civilians need to be protected, and all innocent people in Gaza need to be fed and safe. And all hostages must be released."

Visit IsraelCollapse.com for more stories about the ongoing conflict in Israel.

Watch this report about the humanitarian crisis in Northern Gaza.

This video is from the Contrarian channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Israel kills SEVEN Gaza food aid workers in "accidental" airstrikes where Israeli drones hunted, targeted and destroyed three clearly marked food aid vehicles.

VIDEO: Israeli govt spokesman refuses to apologize for killing of food aid workers.

Israel "systematically targeted" Gaza food aid workers, new evidence shows  it wasnt an "accident!"

World turning on Israel after IDF war criminals triple-bomb aid workers feeding Palestinian civilians.

Israeli drone that killed three British nationals (and four other aid workers) contained U.K. engine.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

AlJazeera.com

WCK.org

Brighteon.com
January 6 participants file class action lawsuit over police misconduct, brutality

For the first time since the incident occurred, those being prosecuted, and in many ways persecuted, for their involvement in the January 6 so-called "insurrection" are fighting back with a major lawsuit.

A January 6 political prisoner by the name of Jake Lang tweeted that he and other January 6ers are suing Eric Waldo, described as the "highest ranking officer on J6."

"Over 78 January 6 patriots are listed as plaintiffs on the groundbreaking multi-million dollar lawsuit that alleges Capitol Police misconduct, gross indifference, dereliction of duty, POLICE BRUTALITY & hundreds of instances of peaceful protestors being injured on January 6!!!" Lang wrote on X about the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was reportedly filed by J6Legal.org and later picked up by "conservative powerhouse" attorneys Stefanie Lambert and Russell Newman.

The way it all went down is noteworthy in that "a craftily disguised Washington, D.C., process server nicknamed 'MAGA SERVES'" arrived at Waldo's home and served him.

Waldo, who is currently employed with the Charles County Sheriff's Office in southern Maryland, was reportedly "dumbfounded" upon being served, showing signs of being "shocked and awed" while standing on his front doorsteps.

"17 other U.S. Capitol Police and MPD officers and officials remain to be SERVED in the J6 Class Action Lawsuit for their actions that left 4 unarmed peaceful protesters dead," Lang further tweeted.

(Related: Have you seen the proof that the January 6 "insurrection" was an inside job from the very beginning?)

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

GiveSendGo fundraising campaign

J6 Legal created a GiveSendGo campaign to help raise money to hire private constitutional attorneys to handle the case.

The campaign claims to be the first and only fund with 100 percent transparency with 100 percent of all funds going directly towards the January 6 defendants and their families.

The campaign has already raised more than $150,000 for the cause, and with many more trips scheduled this month it is asking for even more to help the "brave Americans who have languished in prison for over 20 months."

Lang and the others are asking for any donation amount, though they recommend sending between $50 and $100 "or more if God puts it on your heart to secure a real attorney for these patriotic heroes."

Those who wish to send a check can do so by making it out to Edward J. Lang and sending it to:

P.O. Box 485

Narrowsburg, NY 12764

"Every Republican should give Jan6Legal.org our full and enthusiastic support," tweeted Dave Davenport on X about the campaign.

Another shared the following video from "Tucker on Twitter," Ep. 15, in which former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund explains what he claims really happened on January 6:

Ep. 15 Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund reveals what really happened on January 6th. Our Fox News interview with him never aired, so we invited him back. pic.twitter.com/opDlu4QGlp  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) August 10, 2023

"I guess my question is why so many of these officers left their positions after the J6 protests?" wrote another on X.

"This is perfect because now they have to release all the tapes for evidence," wrote another about what this lawsuit will require.

"They all need to do the time that J6ers were sentenced to," added another.

Others mentioned Ashley Babbitt and wanting to see her murderer serve a prison term of life for that crime.

"It's about time the J6ers and their families went on the offensive!" said another. "It's high past time the patriots fight back against the tyranny that is being perpetrated against them. And make sure to sue the manic police officer who was shooting at the heads of the protesters."

More of the latest news about the January 6 insurrection and how those captured are fighting back can be found at Rioting.news.

Sources for this article include:

Twitter.com

NaturalNews.com

GiveSendGo.com
New Mexico middle school forced into lockdown TWICE in 8 days after illegal immigrants enter school premises

Santa Teresa Middle School in New Mexico has been forced into lockdown twice in just one week due to the presence of illegal immigrants on school premises

The school is located approximately five miles from a gap in the border wall known as "The Anarpa Gap." It is also just around half a mile away from El Paso and the Rio Grande river. It is part of the Gadsden Independent School District (ISD).

The school experienced its first incident with illegals on March 20. That day, Principal Danielle Rodriguez activated the "rave panic button" feature within the K-12 school safety app to report suspicious activity after a group of illegal migrants entered the southern section of the campus.

School officials monitored the situation along with the Sunland Park Police Department while students and staff were advised to "get inside and lock outside doors." Rodriguez sent out a text message to the entire school community, while police authorities stationed two officers on campus to provide ongoing security measures.

"We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the U.S. Border Patrol agents and the officers of the Sunland Park Police Department for their swift and professional response to this situation," the district said after the incident. "Thanks to their efforts, the safety and security of our students and staff were maintained throughout the incident."

Not long after the incident, illegal immigrants were once again spotted in the campus on March 27. Six migrants were discovered outside the school premises trying to evade Border Patrol agents at the border. The school immediately initiated a lockdown to ensure the safety of students and staff. Fortunately, Border Patrol swiftly responded and successfully arrested the migrants.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

"Being that those schools are so close to the border. The proximity of the border, these types of events happen weekly. A lot of people in that area that try to evade arrest from our apprehensions do have a criminal history or have immigration issues. So thats the reason why they just take off running and go through locations theyre not even familiar with," said Border Patrol representative Refugio Corrales.

Illegal immigrants in school premises spark fear among parents and guardians Concerns about illegal immigrants trespassing into schools has concerned the entirety of the Gadsden ISD and have instilled fear among parents regarding the safety of their children attending school in the area. (Related: Parents infuriated as illegal migrants enroll at Chicago schools without health records (while vaccine mandates are forced on American kids.)

One parent, Maria Gallegos, revealed her harrowing experience during the latest migrant incident at Santa Teresa Middle School.

"Were a little nervous because with the fear and nerves migrants have of being caught by immigration officials, we dont know if theyd do something to our students," Gallegos said.

Lorenzo Gandara, a grandparent of a Gadsden ISD student, argued that the issue of migrant crossings is getting out of hand.

"It's really bad because were with the concern that something could happen to the kids," Gandara said.

However, Corrales still tried to justify the increasing migrant encounters in Santa Teresa and Sunland Park: It is common for Border Patrol Agents to receive calls from the community in the Sunland Park area, especially those impacted by migrants who often conceal themselves inside of properties.

Watch the following video about homeless camps becoming an enormous weight in cities in the United States.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

NYC schools being EMPTIED of students to make room for MIGRANT INVADERS.

THE PRECIOUS ONES: Maine builds palace-like apartments for ILLEGALS using taxpayer money amid rising homelessness.

There are now more illegal immigrants than homeless people housed in New York Citys shelters.

Homeless population in Los Angeles grew 10% despite city spending millions to fight the problem.

Mayor of sanctuary city New York angry as HALF the hotel rooms fill up with illegal aliens.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NYPost.com

KFOXTV.com

Brighteon.com
Moscow terror attack suspects had pro-Ukraine imagery on their cellphones, investigators claim

The perpetrators behind the recent attack at a concert hall outside Moscow, which resulted in more than 145 people losing their lives and more than 500 being injured, had pro-Ukraine imagery on their cellphones , according to a new investigation.

The four Tajik nationals who opened fire inside the packed Crocus City Hall music venue on March 22 before setting the building on fire tried to flee to Ukraine by car following the attack when they were intercepted and arrested by law enforcement.

The jihadist group Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), of which the four attackers are members, claimed responsibility for the attack. However, Aleksandr Bortnikov, the head of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), believes the United States, the United Kingdom and Ukraine are behind the attack.

Bortnikov stated that he believes the U.S. and other Western powers used the Islamists as proxies to avoid being blamed for the attack. Ukraine and the other Western nations continue to deny any and all responsibility.

Russia's Investigative Committee (IC) took a closer look at the four culprits' cellphones, which contained various pro-Ukraine images including photos of Ukrainian soldiers. At least one of the phones contained a picture of a man wrapped in a Ukrainian flag standing in front of the destroyed concert hall.

Another disturbing image showed a soldier standing atop a tank holding a Ukrainian flag along with the caption:

"The Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

"This data may suggest a connection between the terrorist attack and the [Ukraine] special military operation," said IC spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

"Ukrainian security services and international Islamist terrorist groups" were also involved in planning and executing the concert hall attack, Petrenko added.

(Related: Will Ukraine's impending addition to NATO trigger World War III?)

Suspicious photos taken on two-year anniversary of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine

Petrenko would go on to reveal in a statement that on the morning of Feb. 24, 2024, almost a full month prior to the Moscow attack, one of the four suspects sent "his handler" photos of the entrances to the Crocus City Hall, along with photos of nearby roadways.

Interestingly, the February 24 date on which this occurred was exactly two years from the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, which commenced on Feb. 24, 2022.

In earlier statements, the IC noted that it had uncovered evidence of the suspects receiving money and cryptocurrency from Ukraine, which further points to the Zelensky regime and other Western powers being responsible for the attack.

"Isn't it so strange how there were no Islamic terrorist attacks when the Soviet Union collapsed?" one commenter wrote. "Why? Because America got what it wanted! The control, manipulation and oppression of Russians!"

"Now that Russia has improved significantly and substantially over the last 30 years, all of a sudden there are terrorist attacks. Of course it's Ukraine, the U.S. and the CIA. It's got their modus operandi all over it!"

Another asked why Kiev is refusing to take responsibility for the attack, seeing as how it is their style to "kill civilians."

"What is their administration afraid of, which constantly commits violence against civilians? That they will receive justice? It's inevitable. The facts speak for themselves. Yet they usually rejoiced whenever a similar attack on Russia was successful."

"Suddenly they are afraid that someone will kidnap them and they will be put on trial? On the other hand, such a campaign against the guilty may have a psychological purpose. Eventually they will make a mistake and be exposed, or their allies will sell them for a bowl of lentils or a handful of silver. It all depends on politics and business profitability. They were supported by sponsors until the counter-offensive, but not after that. And that's it."

More related news can be found at WWIII.news.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

NaturalNews.com
mRNA COVID jabs caused one in four Saudis to suffer heart issues, bombshell study finds

New research out of Saudi Arabia has found that a shocking 27.11 percent of, or a little more than one in four, people who got "vaccinated" for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) suffered heart-related complications within a month to more than a year after injection.

Microbiologist and immunologist Muazzam M. Sheriff and colleagues at Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies and King Faisal General Hospital noted that more than a quarter of COVID jab recipients suffered some kind of cardiac complication after getting the mRNA variety of shot, made by either Pfizer and BioNTech or Moderna.

Nearly 15 percent of mRNA jab recipients reported experiencing heart-related symptoms within one month of injection, while others reported heart problems upwards of a year or more after doing the deed.

TrialSite News is calling Sheriff's study a "bombshell," with founder Daniel O'Connor telling The Defender that "the rate of hospitalized cases was certainly notable, especially given the existing cardiac myocarditis and pericarditis signal associated with the vaccines."

(Related: Dr. Geert Vanden Bossche says that the genocide from Operation Warp Speed has only just begun.)

Destroying the heart

According to Dr. Peter McCullough, nearly 16 percent of all COVID jab recipients who developed cardiovascular symptoms had to be rushed to an intensive care unit (ICU) for treatment  that is how bad their symptoms were.

"More than half of subjects indicated they were influenced by a healthcare professional or government agency to get vaccinated," McCullough is quoted as saying.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

"Never in recent times has there been such a cardiotoxic vaccine released on the public."

Concerning the long-term impact of the shots, O'Connor added that many such cases of heart problems are being reported sometimes several years post-injection.

"The surge in cardiac-related incidents in the news over the last year or two doesn't comfort one either," he added.

Published in the medical journal Cureus, the new study out of Saudi Arabia looked at 804 participants, 379 of whom are men and 425 of whom are women. All of them received at least one dose of an mRNA shot.

About 40 percent of the participants took just one shot, meaning they did not complete even the initial two-shot series, let alone get any "booster" shots.

Nearly 10 percent of the participants had to receive medical care for their injuries for more than 12 months while 7.11 percent were undergoing some kind of continuous and ongoing treatment at the time of the survey.

Amazingly, only about 20 percent of study participants indicated that they believe their cardiac symptoms were "strongly related" or "somewhat related" to the injections. A full 65 percent were either "neutral," "somewhat not confident," or "not confident at all" that the shots were to blame.

Nearly half of the participants have diabetes or hypertension, and about 40 percent are obese. Just over 22 percent reported other sedentary lifestyle-related health issues.

"Despite the bias of recruitment strategy to find patients with cardiovascular side effects from mRNA, these are large percentages requiring hospital and or ICU care," McCullough further commented.

"More data are needed on these cases including diagnosis, treatment and outcomes such as recurrent hospitalization and death."

More investigation is needed, the study authors claim, to make any kind of definitive declarations about the matter. This is always what they say to avoid placing direct blame on the shots for anything.

TrialSite News called it "a strong study in regard to methodology, relevance and ethical considerations," noting that the authors seemed to "downplay the magnitude of the response" despite what "seems like an awfully high rate" of cardiac complications.

Everyone who got jabbed for COVID will eventually regret that decision. Find out more at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

Cureus.com

NaturalNews.com
SCARE TACTIC? Scientists warn that 100% fatal zombie deer disease could MUTATE and infect humans

Scientists are concerned that the highly communicable chronic wasting disease (CWD), also known as the "zombie deer disease," could mutate to infect humans

Late last year, experts confirmed Yellowstone National Park's first case of the infection after a deer carcass discovered in the Wyoming region of the park tested positive for the highly infectious disease.

Now, cases have been reported in deer, elk and moose in 33 states across the United States. The disease has also been found in neighboring Canada and as far away as Norway and South Korea. (Related: Zombie deer disease outbreak has reportedly spread to 32 states and 4 Canadian provinces.)

The disease damages portions of the deer's brain and typically causes progressive loss of body functions, behavioral changes and, ultimately, death. It is 100 percent fatal, and there are no cures or vaccines. It is called zombie deer disease because it causes parts of the brain to slowly deteriorate to a spongy thickness and animals will salivate and stare emptily before they die.

The exact route of transmission is still unknown, but experts believe it is spread from animal to animal by eating fodder or drinking water contaminated by infected feces or exposure to carcasses.

Direct contact, including saliva, blood, urine and even antler velvet during yearly shedding may also lead to the transmission of the virus. Currently, it is believed to only infect deer, elk, reindeer, caribou and moose.

CWD is caused by deformed proteins called prions, and another prion disease first discovered in animals has evolved to infect humans.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

Sabine Gilch, a scientist at the University of Calgary, explained how mad cow disease, officially known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, "jumped the transmission barrier from animals to humans."

"During the BSE crisis, BSE was transmitted through contaminated meat or food products to humans and caused a new form of human prion disease, called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease," Gilch said.

Although Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is not transmitted person to person by direct contact or airborne spread, researchers believe CWD could be. Research indicates it is probable that prions connected to elements of the environment may cause prion properties to be changed, along with how infectious it is and the possibility of infecting other animal species or even humans.

Humans are already exposed to infected deer through hunting and eating

While there are currently no known cases of animal-to-human transmission of CWD, researchers warn that the most probable way humans could catch the disease is by eating infected meat.

In 2017, reports indicated that between 7,000 to 15,000 infected animals were eaten. The number of infected animals that are consumed is expected to rise as much as 20 percent annually. It may take more than a year for an infected deer or elk to develop symptoms, and in that time hunters may kill these infected animals and consume their meat.

Experts warn that any deer or elk that dies in a farm must be tested for CWD because of how infectious the disease is. If an animal tests positive, the whole herd is considered infected and must be culled.

"The bottom-line message is we are quite unprepared. If we saw a spillover right now, we would be in free fall. There are no contingency plans for what to do or how to follow up," said Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota.

Follow Outbreak.news for more stories about disease outbreaks.

Watch the video below about the current zombie deer disease outbreak.

This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

MAD-HUMAN DISEASE? Prion-based diseases can be induced by mRNA vaccines, according to study.

Swine flu death in Brazil prompts CDC, WHO investigation over possible human transmission.

NEW STUDY: H3N8 avian flu virus has strong transmission potential, with risk of causing an outbreak.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NYPost.com

Health.NY.gov

DailyMail.co.uk

Brighteon.com
Texas National Guard member ARRESTED for smuggling illegal alien in government vehicle

A member of the Texas National Guard (TNG) was recently arrested for smuggling an illegal alien in a government vehicle.

The migrant trafficking incident unfolded in the afternoon of March 31 near the city of Brackettville in Texas, the seat of Kinney County. An SUV was approaching a new pop-up checkpoint set up by U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents on Highway 674. However, the vehicle suddenly turned around to avoid the checkpoint  prompting law enforcement to respond.

Authorities pursued the SUV, eventually pulling it over with the help of spike strips after the driver reportedly ran multiple red lights. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers and deputies from the Kinney County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) surrounded the SUV to prevent it from getting away. Footage showed a KCSO deputy dragging the driver out of the vehicle and onto the grass, where he was frisked and handcuffed. (Related: Texas installs RAZOR WIRE along New Mexico border to block ILLEGAL ALIENS from crossing.)

According to authorities, the driver initially introduced himself as part of the army. But further inspection of his documents and gear disclosed that he was a member of the TNG.

DPS confirms incident involving TNG member

The DPS confirmed the incident in a statement, naming the perpetrator as 26-year-old Savion Johnson. He was charged with evading arrest, smuggling of persons and unlawfully carrying a weapon. According to InfoWars, Johnson is a TNG soldier deployed to the city of Eagle Pass as part of Gov. Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

Brad Coe, Kinney County sheriff, recounted that Johnson turned around when he spotted the USBP checkpoint that had only been operational for a few days. The illegal Johnson had been smuggling fled from the SUV after the incident, but eventually gave himself up to be processed by immigration officials.

Sources said Johnson was promised between $5,000 to $6,000 if he successfully smuggled in his passenger  though it was unclear who offered him the bounty. The Texas guardsman did not have access to license plate readers of or other technology that could have aided him in his efforts. However, authorities said the smuggling charge was elevated as he was armed at the time of arrest.

"We don't know what's going on in their lives to make them do this. But they're going to get caught," said Coe. Two other women were previously caught in Kinney County along the same stretch of road for human smuggling.

Abbott denounced Johnson's actions in a statement to NewsNation, writing: "If the allegations are true, the accused is a traitor and [a] criminal. We have zero tolerance for Texans who violate laws that directly contradict the mission we are seeking to achieve."

"The accused's illegal smuggling may subject him to a mandatory minimum prison sentence of at least 10 years. He deserves more."

Head over to Trafficking.news for more similar stories.

Watch this news report about Savion Johnson's arrest for attempting to smuggle an illegal alien in a government vehicle.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

BORDER SHOWDOWN: Texas National Guard told to hold the line against federal agents.

FBI wary of terrorists crossing the border illegally.

PATRIOTS UNITE: DeSantis deploys Florida National Guard to help Texas counterparts secure the southern border.

Missouri to deploy National Guard and State Highway Patrol troopers to Texas to help secure the border.

Trump calls on states to DEPLOY NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS to Texas to protect the border amid Abbott-Biden feud.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

Brighteon.com
Tens of thousands of protesters in Israel call for Netanyahu to resign

As the war in Gaza continues in its sixth month and more than 100 hostages remain unaccounted for, tens of thousands of fed-up Israelis are taking to the streets to express their disgust with their current leadership.

Around 100,000 Israelis convened at Democracy Square in Tel Aviv chanting Elections now, waving Israeli flags and calling for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign immediately. Protests and rallies were also held in other Israeli cities. Clashes broke out between police and protesters, with police using horses and water cannons to control the crowds and dozens of people being arrested. Protesters also started several fires, but they were quickly extinguished by police.

The protesters in Tel Aviv were joined by the families of hostages who are still being held in Gaza, who called on Netanyahu to make a deal with Hamas to free their loved ones.

Protesters have also been convening regularly outside the private residences of Netanyahu in Jerusalem and the seaside community of Caesarea, upsetting neighbors and bringing chaos to the residential areas.

One Caesarea resident told the Times of Israel: Their shouts in our ears; blocking the road on our only free day, putting us under curfew, essentially  and for what? Netanyahu isnt even here.

Another local, Hanna Bendor, told the outlet: I also find it inconvenient. But I find it more inconvenient to live in a country run by a crook and a failure who, together with a band of radicals and opportunists, is driving us over a cliff.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

Netanyahu pushes back against protesters in video message

In a video message, Netanyahu pushed back against claims that he is not doing everything he can to get the hostages back.

I reiterate: I am committed to returning all of our hostages, women and men, civilians and soldiers, the living and the victims. I will not leave even one behind, he insisted.

He also took aim at those who are calling for elections to be held right now, saying that such a move during war will paralyze the negotiations for the release of our hostages and in the end will lead to ending the war before achieving its goals, and the first to commend this will be Hamas, and that says it all.

During the October 7 massacre in Israel, Hamas took 235 people hostage. At the end of March, it is believed that there were 130 hostages still alive in Gaza, while 34 were believed to be dead. Among the living hostages are 111 men, 19 women, 2 children under the age of 5, and 11 foreign people.

The protests come as negotiations for a ceasefire and discussions about releasing hostages are getting underway in Cairo, with the U.S., Egypt and Qatar mediating the proceedings. A proposal put forth by CIA Director Bill Burns would see Israel releasing a significant number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 40 Israeli hostages in the first part of a three-part ceasefire deal. The U.S. is also pushing for Israel to allow northern Gaza residents to return to their homes without restrictions, something that Hamas has been demanding but Israel has been rejecting. Hamas leadership is believed to be reviewing the proposal and an answer is expected in a few days.

In the last six months of fighting, more than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 75,000 have been wounded in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Much of Gaza, particularly in the north, is also dealing with starvation and famine.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

AlJazeera.com

Time.com
YEREVAN, APRIL 9, ARMENPRESS. The issue of ceding any part of the territory of Armenia to Azerbaijan is not being discussed and is not subject to discussion, the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Alen Simonyan said.

Negotiations are ongoing, conversations are taking place, working groups are meeting, but this does not imply anything. At some point, we may refuse to sign anything if we do not reach an agreement,' Alen Simonyan said.

The President of the National Assembly has emphasized that the question of ceding any part of the Armenian territory, including from Tavush or other provinces, is not subject to discussion.
Trump LEADS Biden by 8 points in latest Rasmussen Reports poll

Former President Donald Trump has an eight-point lead against incumbent President Joe Biden, according to the results of a recent Rasmussen Reports poll. The poll surveyed 1,099 likely voters between March 31 and April 2. It found that 49 percent of respondents support Trump while 41 percent support Biden.

Moreover, it revealed that despite the presence of third-party candidates, Trump still leads Biden. (Related: Biden and Trump set for historic rematch after primaries.)

Forty-five percent of respondents support Trump compared to 38 percent for Biden. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (RFK Jr.), Cornel West and Jill Stein collectively captured 12 percent of respondents' support.

The Rasmussen Reports poll also revealed Trump's unexpected appeal among groups that traditionally lean Democratic. In head-to-head matchups, Trump secures a significant portion of the Black vote with 48 percent compared to 39 percent for Biden. The former president also leads among Hispanic voters with 48 percent supporting him, in contrast with Biden's 37 percent.

Trump consistently ahead of Biden in major polls

Meanwhile, an aggregate poll by RealClearPolitics for the 2024 general election reflected Trump's lead. The said aggregate poll, which averaged surveys conducted from March 21 to April 5, showed Trump leading Biden, 46.5 percent to 45.5 percent  his smallest advantage since January.

Based on recent surveys conducted by different polling organizations, a consistent pattern emerges with Trump holding a slight advantage over Biden in most cases. Moreover, recent national and battleground state public opinion polls consistently show Trump garnering more backing among Black and Hispanic voters than any Republican nominee in over six decades.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

A flurry of polls released by reputable outlets such as the New York Times/Siena College, NBC News, Wall Street Journal, CBS News/YouGov and CNBC found Trump getting 20 percent to 28 percent support among Black voters and 45 percent to 48 percent among Hispanic voters. The results paint a stark contrast to his 2020 performance, where he only secured 12 percent from Black voters and 32 percent from Hispanic voters.

Meanwhile, a CNBC poll released on March 26 showed Biden drawing just 57 percent of all voters of color, compared to 71 percent in the 2020 exit poll.

The trend extends to key swing states, where Biden's support among non-White voters has seen a noticeable decline compared to the 2020 election. CNN/SSRS polls in Michigan and Pennsylvania show Biden drawing only 55 percent and 69 percent of non-White voters, respectively, down from approximately 80 percent in 2020.

Marist College polls in Georgia and North Carolina also indicate a decrease in Black voter support for Biden, while a Fox News Poll in Arizona reveals a significant drop in Hispanic support. Even in Wisconsin, where Biden secured over 90 percent of Black voters in 2020, recent polls suggest a decline to just over 60 percent.

The consistency of Trump's lead in most recent polls suggests that the race remains highly competitive and could go either way as the 2024 presidential election in November approaches.

Visit Trump.news for more stories related to the former president and his campaign.

Watch Owen Shroyer of InfoWars outlining some reasons why Biden's approval rating is dismal.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Meredith Poll: Donald Trump LEADS Joe Biden by five points in North Carolina.

Poll: Trump LEADS Biden in five key swing states  Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina.

Trump LEADS among Hispanic and under-35 voters in new poll.

Biden frustrated by dismal poll numbers ahead of Trump rematch.

Trump gains 9-POINT LEAD over Biden in Pennsylvania poll.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

RealClearPolling.com

Edition.CNN.com

Brighteon.com
Wild monkeys had bitten a man in Hong Kong earlier this year, giving him the rare yet potentially lethal monkey B virus known as Herpesvirus simiae. The incident, involving a 37-year-old Hong Kong man, occurred in Kam Shan Country Park in late February. It was only on March 21 when he was rushed to hospital, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), an agency under Hong Kong's Department of Health, announced in early April.

The patient was diagnosed with fever and "decreased conscious level," according to Hong Kong health authorities, who discovered the man contracted the herpes B virus, which is commonly found in the feces, saliva, and urine of macaque monkeys.

In 2021, the first-ever human death from the monkey B virus was reported in China, where a veterinarian died after contracting the disease from a wild monkey bite.

Wild Monkey Bite in Hong Kong

According to a recent press release, Hong Kong's CHP is investigating the area's first case of human infection from the B virus, also known as the herpes simiae virus. The health agency urged the public to avoid feeding or touching wild monkeys to minimize the risk of acquiring the pathogen. Based on the announcement, the case involved a Hong Kong man with good past health. Following the incident, he was admitted to Yan Chai Hospital.

The monkey bite incident happened when the man visited Kam Shan Country Park, where he made contacts with wild monkeys and was wounded by the primates, according to reported information provided by initial investigations and the patient's family members. A CHP spokesman confirmed this is the first B virus human infection recorded in Hong Kong but clarified that previous cases had been reported in other countries like the United States, Canada, and Japan.

Also Read: Monkey and Pigs Are Spreading Diseases and Destroying Crops Across the World

What is the Monkey B Virus?

The monkey B virus is contracted from macaques, a type of wild monkeys abundant in Hong Kong, and is typically spread by bites or scratches by monkeys, according to the CHP on April 5. In addition, they can also be spread through human-to-human transmission but have been considered by health experts as "very rare."

Overall, B virus human infections are rare, with only around 50 people being infected globally since 1932.

The most common B virus symptoms are fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, and headache, the Hong Kong health agency adds. Furthermore, the herpes simiae virus can spread to the body's central nervous system as the disease progresses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the B virus infection can lead to severe brain damage or death if medical treatment is not immediately provided.

Following a monkey bite or scratch, an infected person may develop small blisters in or around the wound. Afterward, symptoms may start within a month after exposure to the monkey B virus and may appear in as early as three to seven days, the CDC says.

Related Article: First Ever Human Death Due to Highly Fatal Monkey B Virus Reported in China
Rapidly melting snow caused the worst floods in Russia's Ural Mountains, forcing thousands of people to abandon their homes as some of Europe's largest rivers rose to capacity.

Federal Emergency

Russia declared a federal emergency in the Orenburg area bordering Kazakhstan after the Ural River, Europe's third-longest river, surged several meters in hours on Friday and burst through a dam embankment in the city of Orsk.

The river, which starts in the Ural Mountains and flows into the Caspian Sea, is expected to reach unsafe levels in Orenburg, a 500,000-person city downriver from Orsk, with a peak forecast on April 10, according to Russia's Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies, and Disaster Relief.

The Kremlin has warned that water levels in some locations are increasing faster than they have in the last century.

Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said President Putin has directed the governors of the Siberian districts of Tyumen and Kurgan, located further east, to prepare for an "expected sharp rise in water levels" and "inevitable" floods.

On Saturday, Russian authorities announced the evacuation of over 4,500 residents from the Orenburg region, which is located near Orsk.

In addition, the regions of Orenburg, Kurgen, and Tyumen declared emergencies.

"An increase in air temperatures, active snow melt and river openings are predicted. More than 10,400 residential buildings remain flooded in 39 regions," Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov said.

In a rare display of dissent in Russia, dozens of protestors in Orsk, which was swamped in meters of flood water over the weekend after a dam burst, rallied on Monday against the government's inadequate reaction.

Local social media networks shared videos of the masses chanting, "Shame!" Shame! Shame!" and "Putin, help!"

Some residents are dissatisfied with the compensation granted by authorities after their properties have been destroyed or seriously damaged. Some are also disappointed that the dam embankment erected in 2010 was insufficient to secure their city.

Read Also: Heavy Rain Threatens Southeast Australia, Flood Warnings Issued for NSW

Biggest Natural Disaster

President Putin appointed a government commission to investigate the flooding. The Russian leader's spokeswoman stated that he had no plans to visit the flood zone but was being briefed on "nature anomalies" in real time.

Putin, a strong skeptic of man-made climate change for much of his presidency, has recently directed his government to do more to prepare Russia for catastrophic weather occurrences. The country has experienced significant flooding and fires in recent springs and summers.

Rosgidromet, Russia's weather monitoring agency, said the flood in Orenburg was not expected to peak until Wednesday and warned that several sections of the city would be affected.

The Ural River flows past Orenburg and into Kazakhstan, where President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared the floods one of the biggest natural disasters to hit the region in decades.

The country's emergency ministry also announced that approximately 12,000 people were being accommodated in temporary shelters.

According to the report, rescuers were also able to relocate approximately 60,000 agricultural animals to safer locations.

Tokayev said the government had increased its efforts to reduce the effects of the floods and that all required help would be provided.

Related Article: China Flooding Season: Flash-Flood Warning Raised as 4 Rivers Exceed Dangerous Levels
Levels of the three most important human-caused greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide, reached historic highs last year, according to US scientists.

Heat-Trapping Gases

Carbon dioxide, the most important and abundant greenhouse gas produced by humans, increased by the third highest in 65 years of record-keeping in 2023, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Scientists are especially concerned about the rapid increase in atmospheric quantities of methane, a shorter-lived but more potent heat-trapping gas. Both increased by 5.5% during the last decade.

The 2.8 parts per million increase in carbon dioxide airborne levels from January 2023 to December was not as substantial as the spikes in 2014 and 2015, but it was greater than any other year since 1959, when precise data began.

Carbon dioxide levels in 2023 averaged 419.3 parts per million, a 50% increase over pre-industrial times.

Last year's methane increase of 11.1 parts per billion was less than the record annual climb from 2020 to 2022. The average was 1922.6 parts per billion last year. It has climbed 3% within the last five years and jumped 160% from pre-industrial levels, exhibiting higher rates of increase than carbon dioxide.

Methane emissions into the atmosphere are caused by natural wetlands, agriculture, animals, landfills, leaks, and the purposeful flaring of natural gas in the oil and gas sector.

Methane's decadal surge should frighten us, said Stanford University climate scientist Rob Jackson, who oversees the Global Carbon Project, which measures global emissions of carbon dioxide.

"Fossil fuel pollution is warming natural systems like wetlands and permafrost. Those ecosystems are releasing even more greenhouse gases as they heat up. We're caught between a rock and a charred place," he added.

Nitrous oxide, the third most significant human-caused greenhouse gas, increased by 1 part per billion last year to new highs, but not as dramatically as in 2020 and 2021. According to the EPA, agriculture, fuel combustion, manure, and industrial operations all contribute to nitrous oxide, which can stay in the atmosphere for up to 100 years.

Read Also: Greenhouse Gases Carbon Dioxide and Methane Dramatically Increase by 0.6% and 0.5% in 2022 [Study]

Abundance Presence Of Gases

The increasing abundance of greenhouse gases is stimulating a rise in global temperature-last year was the warmest ever measured worldwide-as well as accompanying consequences such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires.

It is also pushing the world into a state not seen since prior to human civilization. Carbon dioxide levels today are comparable to what they were roughly 4 million years ago, in an era when sea levels were around 75 feet higher than they are now. The average temperature was significantly hotter, and huge forests occupied portions of the now-frozen Arctic.

The climate issue has a long duration due to the lag between CO2 levels and their impact, as well as the hundreds of years that emissions remain in the atmosphere.

Scientists have cautioned that countries must quickly reduce emissions to net zero and then begin removing carbon from the atmosphere to limit future temperature increases.

Related Article: New Links Between Greenhouse Gases and Sea Level Rise Found in the Amundsen Sea, West Antarctica
Minister Plibersek found the development would have destroyed 'irreplaceable' feeding grounds for migratory bird species.

A plan to remove protections from 58.7 hectares of an internationally significant Australian wetland to build a luxury housing development has been struck a significant blow. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek announced on Tuesday a draft decision to reject the plan as it would have a unacceptable impact on a range of threatened and migratory species.

Walker Corporation had dubbed its controversial $1.4 billion Toondah Harbour project on Queensland's Moreton Bay a "visionary transformation" of the area. The plan was to replace the habitat of migratory birds including endangered eastern curlews with a stunning foreshore parklands, a lagoon and family water play area with more than 3,000 apartments, retail outlets and a 200-berth marina.

Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) said the minister had made a landmark decision for nature and people. Walker Groups marina and high-rise apartment plan would have destroyed irreplaceable feeding grounds for migratory birds, a big chunk of the Ramsar wetland and mature eucalypts that are home to koalas and other wildlife, its CEO Kelly OShannassy said.

Tanya Plibersek has issued a draft decision to reject Walker Corporation's controversial Toondah Harbour development in Quensland. Source: AAP/Google Earth

Related: Aussie endangered list swells as eight bird species vanish from skies

ACF has led a sustained campaign against the development, along with BirdLife Australia, Australian Marine Conservation Society and the Toondah Alliance. It said Walker Corporations development should have been rejected in line with a department recommendation to then environment minister Josh Frydenberg in 2015.

Why did Plibersek reject Walker Corporation's Toondah Harbour development?

Plibersek said her decision was made after meeting with Walker Corporation, residents, businesses, Quandamooka representatives and environmentalists.

I have made my proposed decision, which is to protect Moreton Bay from unacceptable impacts from a proposed development. These wetlands are rare, unique and important to prevent the extinction of animals like the eastern curlew and loggerhead turtle, she said.

An update on Toondah Harbour. pic.twitter.com/i20fscTFWK  Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) April 9, 2024

My proposed decision says that we cant destroy portions of this internationally important wetland.

Walker Corporation has been contacted for comment. A 2022 assessment by the company found the development would not have a significant impact on the curlews as their numbers had already significantly declined.

The company has 10 business days to respond to the ministers draft decision.

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Google has added new features to its distributed cloud offering of hardware that customers can run in their own data centers as part of their Google Cloud landscape.

Google Distributed Cloud (GDC) is primarily aimed at customers with unusual data sovereignty, latency, or local data-processing requirements, and the new features unveiled at the Google Cloud Next conference run the gamut from flashy new generative AI tools to simple things such as being able to decide whether to dedicate more space in a rack to storage or to compute.

AI search

The new AI search feature powered by Gemma will enable organizations to retrieve and analyze data on premises or at the network edge, the company said.
A young woman walking along a busy street lined with bars was taken by surprise when a very "hard object" was thrown at the back of her head, leaving her drenched in egg.

Mikaela was out with a friend in popular Chapel Street in Melbourne on Saturday when, at around 11pm, unknown culprits allegedly threw an egg at her, hitting her in the back of her head, sending yolk and shell exploding all over her dress and hair.

"I felt a very, very hard object hit the back of my head. And it must have been from a car because obviously we didn't see anyone run past," she revealed. "There was a lot of eggshells. My hair [and] the back of my dress [were] just covered in egg."

Mikaela says she has reported the egging to police who are investigating. Source: TikTok

Mikaela went on to explain that her night out was cut short following the incident  since the egg on her back started to "smell". "It was an effing disaster," she said.

Other eggings reported in Melbourne area

Not only was Mikaela egged, but she says she saw more eggs thrown at others too. "I saw another two or three eggs thrown you know further down the street, so they egged other people as well."

She has since said she reported the incident to the police.

Terrifyingly, after sharing her experience with others in a bid to "launch a social media investigation" to find the "egg perpetrator", more people from Melbourne have come forward sharing they have been egged recently as well.

"Omg, yes happened to me too on Chapel St. I can't believe there are people driving around with eggs to throw at people," one said.

"Wow glad you're okay, this happened to me in Swan Street, Richmond about a month ago, I almost lost my eye," another said.

"This happened to my friend in the CBD! Apparently teenagers are going around in cars doing this and its been reported to police," a third added, with more also saying they were egged.

Others noted how dangerous this act could be, labelling it as an "assault"  particularly if a person is seriously allergic to eggs or if they were hit in an area like their eye. "It is assault," one simply said.

Yahoo News Australia has reached out to Victorian Police for comment regarding the eggings and is awaiting a response.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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China conveys concerns to U.S. over sanctions, tariffs, investment restrictions during Yellen's visit

Xinhua) 08:13, April 09, 2024

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- During U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's visit to China, China clearly expressed its serious concerns to the U.S. side about U.S. sanctions on Chinese companies, tariffs levied on Chinese goods, and restrictions on investment in China, according to China's Ministry of Finance.

Addressing a press briefing regarding Yellen's visit from April 4 to 9, Vice Minister of Finance Liao Min said that such actions by the United States harm the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and people, and are also not conducive to the well-being of U.S. companies and people.

"China welcomes the U.S. statement that it does not seek to decouple from China, and hopes that the U.S. side will take concrete actions to stop sanctions and restrictions on Chinese companies," Liao said.

"The two sides believe that every country has legitimate needs to safeguard national security, but China stressed that the concept of 'national security' should not be generalized, and the so-called 'diversification' should not be used as an excuse to undermine the normal trade and investment exchanges between the two countries and around the world, as well as the stability of the industrial production and supply chains," Liao said.

He noted that in addition to these issues, the discussions between Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen also covered other major topics, including the macroeconomic situations of both nations, the response to global challenges, and the exchange of mutual concerns.

According to Liao, China and the United States have reached two new consensus outcomes during Yellen's trip. First, the finance departments of both nations will take the lead in exchanges on the issue of balanced economic growth of the two countries and the world under the framework of the China-U.S. economic working group. Second, led by the People's Bank of China and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, discussions on financial stability, sustainable finance, anti-money laundering and other issues under the framework of the bilateral financial working group will be held continuously.

He added that the fourth meeting of these two working groups will also be held separately in the middle of this month in the United States.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The young girl was walking home from her school in Melbournes northeast on Thursday when she was approached by an unknown man driving a grey Audi Q3 SUV.

A dad walking his daughter home from school has described the terrifying moment an 11-year-old girl begged him for help after an alleged attempted abduction. The girl was heading home from her primary school in Doncaster East, in Melbournes northeast suburbs, on Thursday when she was approached by an unknown man driving a grey Audi Q3 SUV.

At around 2.40pm, he stopped a short distance from the 11-year-old and ordered her to get into his car, Victoria Police said on Monday.

The 'shaking' 11-year-old girl, circled, asked Ryan Ghambari for help after hiding in bushes during an alleged attempted abduction. Source: 9News

The schoolgirl ran and hid in some bushes, but officers claim the man then chucked a U-turn and waited for her to emerge. CCTV vision shows the Audi turning into a nearby street about the time of the alleged incident.

Schoolgirl begs dad for help

Fearing for her safety, the girl then approached Ryan Ghambari as he and his daughter walked up to the front door of their home. Ring doorbell footage shows her repeatedly looking over her shoulder as she tells him her phone died.

When she approached me she was really shaking, she couldnt talk, she couldnt even breathe, Ryan told 9 News.

He said he comforted the young girl before reuniting her with her father who had been driving around searching for her. He said thank you, thank God you were here, Ryan said.

While the 11-year-old was not physically injured, he told 7 News he had never seen someone terrified and petrified like that.

The suspect, who was driving a grey Audi Q3 SUV, is perceived to be Middle Eastern in appearance with tan skin, black hair, a black beard, and a moustache. Source: Victoria Police

Police are now calling on anyone who may have been driving in the area at the time and has dashcam footage to contact them. Information can be submitted confidentially via Crime Stoppers.

The man is perceived to be Middle Eastern in appearance with tan skin, black hair, a black beard, and a moustache, police said in the statement. The Audi driver was wearing sunglasses with brown lenses and a grey T-shirt.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Taiwan, A Birdwatcher's Paradise and Ecotourism Gem

A

s spring arrives in Taiwan, the island nation transforms into a haven for birdwatchers and ecotourists from around the world, including Canadians.

With its unique geographic location, diverse climate, and rich biodiversity, Taiwan offers an unparalleled experience for nature enthusiasts.

The Raptor Spectacle at Mt. Guanyin

From April to May, Mt. Guanyin in Northern Taiwan becomes a crucial stopover for migrating raptors. Visitors can witness the awe-inspiring sight of the "Four Guanyin Beauties" - the Oriental Honey Buzzard, Grey-faced Buzzard, Crested Goshawk, and Black Kite - as they soar through the skies.

Bagua Mountain: A Gathering of Grey-faced Buzzards

Mid-March to mid-April marks the gathering of approximately 20,000 Grey-faced Buzzards at the Bagua Mountain Natural Scenic Area. This breathtaking spectacle of birds preparing for their northward journey is an unforgettable experience for any nature lover.

Matsu Archipelago: Blue Tears and Seabirds

From April to August, the Matsu archipelago becomes a must-visit destination for ecotourists. The phenomenon of "Blue Tears," caused by bioluminescent marine plankton, illuminates the pollution-free waters, creating an ethereal glow. Additionally, the summer months of July and August offer the perfect opportunity to observe various seabirds, including the Black-faced Spoonbill and the rare Chinese Crested Tern.

Taiwan's Commitment to Preservation

Taiwan's dedication to preserving its natural landscapes and biodiversity ensures an unrivaled ecotourism experience for Canadian visitors. The island nation boasts 10 national parks covering 1.9 million acres, as well as numerous local forest preserves and parks.

Conclusion

With its stunning natural beauty, diverse birdlife, and commitment to preservation, Taiwan is a paradise for birdwatchers and ecotourists alike. As spring unfolds, now is the perfect time to plan your trip to this captivating island nation and witness the wonders of Earth's winged creatures in their natural habitat.

 Taiwan, A Birdwatcher's Paradise and Ecotourism Gem

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Glen Boehm, CCIM from Boehm Commercial Group Named #1 Keller Williams Commercial Agent in Texas

I

n the highly competitive Texas commercial real estate market, Glen Boehm, CCIM of Boehm Commercial Group has emerged as a leading force, securing the prestigious title of #1 Keller Williams Commercial Agent in Texas for the second consecutive year.

This remarkable achievement, along with his ranking among the top 10 agents nationwide, underscores Boehm's unwavering commitment to excellence and client satisfaction .

A Testament to Dedication and Excellence

Upon receiving this prestigious award, Glen Boehm, CCIM expressed his gratitude, stating, "I am truly honored and grateful to be recognized with this prestigious award. It is a testament to our incredible clients and the team's dedication and commitment to excellence in serving our clients" . The accolade, celebrated at the esteemed Keller Williams awards ceremony on February 16th, 2024, solidifies Boehm's reputation as a trusted and high-performing commercial real estate agent in Texas .

Decades of Expertise and Unparalleled Service

With decades of experience exclusively in the commercial real estate sector, Boehm and the Boehm Commercial Group have built a team renowned for their unparalleled expertise and relentless dedication to delivering exceptional results. Their commitment to providing top-notch services is evident in their impressive track record, highlighted by their ability to effectively scale services to meet the demands of diverse projects .

A Distinguished Professional

Glen Boehm, CCIM, the driving force behind Boehm Commercial Group, has been a licensed real estate agent for nearly two decades, with the past 10 years dedicated to Keller Williams Commercial. As a distinguished professional, Glen has consistently demonstrated his prowess in the industry, further exemplified by his involvement in esteemed organizations such as CCIM and his GRI certification . His impressive credentials extend beyond his most recent award, including being named San Antonio Business Journal's Top 25 Commercial Real Estate Broker .

Comprehensive Range of Specialized Services

Boehm Commercial Group continues to uphold their reputation as trusted and results-driven commercial real estate agents, offering a comprehensive range of specialized services designed to meet the diverse needs of clients. With a strong focus on data-driven strategies, extensive marketing efforts, and a commitment to excellence, Boehm Commercial Group is well-positioned to deliver unmatched value to their clients .

Conclusion

The recognition of Glen Boehm, CCIM as the #1 Keller Williams Commercial Agent in Texas for the second year in a row is a testament to his exceptional skills, dedication, and the unwavering commitment of the Boehm Commercial Group to delivering outstanding results for their clients. As they continue to set new standards in the Texas commercial real estate industry, Boehm and his team remain focused on providing unparalleled service and expertise to their valued clients.

 Glen Boehm, CCIM from Boehm Commercial Group Named #1 Keller Williams Commercial Agent in Texas

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Prithviraj Sukumaran on how he managed to look emaciated for 'The Goat Life'

A

ctor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran has talked about his transformation for The Goat Life and shared that he knew he would have to go through a drastic physical transformation, losing a lot of weight and looking very emaciated.

The Malayalam film 'Aadujeevitham' or 'The Goat Life' is directed by Blessy.

The film is based on Benyamins bestselling 2008 novel of the same name and tells the true story of Najeeb, an immigrant labourer from Kerala forced into slavery on a remote goat farm in a Middle Eastern country.

I knew as an actor that this was a prerequisite, that to actually portray the entire character arc, Id have to go through this drastic physical transformation of losing a lot of weight and looking very emaciated, Sukumaran told variety.com.

For the film, which was shot across Kerala, Jordan and Algeria, Prithviraj had to increase his weight to 98 kg for the Kerala part of the shoot and for the scenes where he first arrives in the Middle East. The production then paused for seven months while Sukumaran shed 31 kg.

I surprised myself and everyone in the film crew, because when I landed up the next time in Jordan, I was almost unrecognisable, Sukumaran said.

The actor did not bargain on Covid-19, which stalled the shoot immediately after a scene where his emaciated body was revealed, and the crew was stranded in locked-down Jordan for months.

They came back after a year and a half, during which the star had to regain weight just to stay healthy.

But then I had to redo the whole thing. I didnt count on having to do the whole weight loss transformation process two times, which I ended up having to do, because its a trap. Once you get to that level and you do a portion of the film, then it almost becomes like a thought process in your head. No, I cant let it go'. I put in so much effort. I cant let all that go to waste, he said.

I know a lot of the (media) focus is on the physical transformation, but that is only a small part of the portrayal. At the very beginning, I had thought of the entire arc. And I had told Blessy that it was going to be impossible for me as an actor to look at it as one long, singular character, Sukumaran said.

Up next for Prithviraj is filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafars actioner 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan', where he plays the antagonist to Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff, reports variety.com.

Talking about the film, he said: Its pretty much planned to be a franchise if things go well. You look at James Bond or Mission Impossible', in each film, the actual story is the villains and then the hero comes to save the world.

Prithviraj shared that the crux of the film, the plot, is actually his character Kabirs story and because of that, the character arc is beautiful.

He said: Its a very complex character. Its not your typical one-note bad guy. There is a past, there is a reason why hes wearing the mask, why his voice is that way. It was a really fun character to play. And I dont get offered to play these really cool bad guys very often.

'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' releases this week during the Eid frame.

 Prithviraj Sukumaran on how he managed to look emaciated for 'The Goat Life'

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Not joining any party or contesting elections: Sanjay Dutt dismisses rumours about contesting Lok Sabha polls

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ollywood actor Sanjay Dutt on Monday confirmed that he has no plans to enter politics and denied reports that he would be contesting in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Taking to social media, Sanjay Dutt dropped a post, refuting rumours that claimed the 'Munna Bhai' star might contest forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

"I would like to put all rumours about me joining politics to rest. I am not joining any party or contesting elections. If I do decide to step into the political arena then I will be the first one to announce it," he wrote on X.

https://x.com/duttsanjay/status/1777247976521642398

Sanjay also urged fans not to trust social media gossip.

"Please refrain from believing what is being circulated in the news about me as of now," he added.

The post comes amid speculation that the 64-year-old actor would be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as a Congress candidate from Haryana's Karnal.

This isn't the first instance of the actor denying political rumors. Earlier in 2019, he denied claims by Maharashtra Minister Mahadev Jankar about joining his party. Sanjay Dutt has primarily focused on his film career and personal life.

Political associations aren't new for the actor, given his family background. His late father, veteran actor Sunil Dutt, was a Member of Parliament for the Congress party. His sister Priya Dutt is also a politician.

Sanjay Dutt was also a Samajwadi Party candidate in the Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency in 2009. However, he withdrew his candidacy after the court declined to suspend his conviction under the Arms Act. Later, he served as a general secretary but eventually resigned and parted ways with the party.

 Not joining any party or contesting elections: Sanjay Dutt dismisses rumours about contesting Lok Sabha polls

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Manoj Bajpayee takes 'Silence 2' promotion to the streets of Lucknow

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ucknow witnessed a fervent stir as Bollywood powerhouse Manoj Bajpayee took to the streets, adorning a different persona, to promote his upcoming film 'Silence 2'.

The actor, known for his versatile roles, shared insights into the much-anticipated sequel in an exclusive conversation with ANI.

Bajpayee, speaking about 'Silence 2', expressed excitement over its trailer, promising audiences an explosive blend of action, powerful dialogues, and gripping suspense.

Set to release on April 16 exclusively on Zee 5, the film sees Bajpayee reprising his role as ACP Avinash Verma, bracing for a myriad of challenges.

"In 'Silence 2', viewers will witness a different facet of ACP Avinash Verma. While in the previous instalment, he was involved in solving a single murder, this time around, he is tasked with unravelling a series of mysteries," Bajpayee revealed.

Meanwhile, reflecting on his promotional visit to Lucknow, Bajpayee expressed gratitude for the overwhelming response from fans.

"The love and enthusiasm from a place like Lucknow is unparalleled. It was imperative to connect with the audience here," he remarked.

Produced by Zee Studios and Candid Creations, 'Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout' promises to deliver an enthralling cinematic experience from April 16 exclusively on ZEE5. With the trailer already garnering significant attention, anticipation among fans continues to soar as the release date approaches.

 Manoj Bajpayee takes 'Silence 2' promotion to the streets of Lucknow

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Jennifer Aniston sends birthday wishes to 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' star Paul Rudd

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merican actor Jennifer Aniston shared a moment from her and Paul Rudd's 2012 movie 'Wanderlust' in celebration of the actor's birthday, reported People.

Jennifer Aniston wished her friend and former costar Paul Rudd a happy birthday. Aniston, 55, posted a scene from their 2012 film Wanderlust starring her and Rudd, who turned 55 on April 6, on her Instagram Stories on to wish Rudd well.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL RUDD," she wrote in a caption to the video. "I love you, you ageless freak!"

Aniston shared a scene from 'Wanderlust', a comedy in which she and Rudd play a married couple who relocate from New York City to a commune in Georgia after losing their jobs. The scene shows various commune members, including Kathryn Hahn, Alan Alda, Jordan Peele, and others, chastising Rudd's character after he swatts a fly out of the air.

Wanderlust marks Rudd and Aniston's second collaboration on the big screen. The two previously costarred in 1998's The Object of My Affection. Rudd also had a memorable supporting role as Mike Hannigan, a love interest for Lisa Kudrow's Phoebe, in the final two seasons of Aniston's television series 'Friends'.

Rudd has developed a reputation for seemingly never ageing over 30 years and counting working in the film and television industry, which Aniston has shouted out in past social media posts marking the actor's birthday. "Happy birthday #PaulRudd!! You don't age, which is weird - but we celebrate you anyway..," she wrote in a similar post shared to her Instagram Stories on Rudd's 52nd birthday back in 2021.

Aniston also echoed that comment later in 2021 when she congratulated Rudd on becoming People's Sexiest Man Alive, writing on the social media platform, "You don't age, which is weird, but we still love you."

"People ask me, 'Can you send me your meal plan? How many times a week do you work out? Do you drink? Do you eat carbs? Do you have a cheat day?' The most important part of training is sleep," he shared at the time.

Rudd, who has been married to his wife Julie Yaeger since 2003, most recently appeared on the big screen in 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife', reported People.

 Jennifer Aniston sends birthday wishes to 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' star Paul Rudd

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Neha Joshi, Ashutosh Kulkarni visit Ram Mandir: 'Eyes were filled with tears of joy'

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o witness the splendour of Ram Mandir and the citys preparations for the Ram Navami celebrations, the lead actors of the show 'Atal', Neha Joshi and Ashutosh Kulkarni, made their first-ever visit to Ayodhya.

The actors reflected on their spiritual journey and sought blessings from Ram Lalla before the celebrations.

Sharing her excitement and experience, Neha, who plays Krishna Devi Vajpayee, said: "As a devotee of Lord Ram, the chance to visit the city and the temple was nothing short of a dream come true. Standing before the divine idol of Ram Lalla was an experience that I will never forget. I was awestruck and emotional. My eyes were filled with tears of joy as I saw the divine face of Ram Lalla."

Neha expressed that she felt a profound sense of peace and tranquility when she offered prayers before Ram Lalla.

"I offered prayers for the continued success of our show, as well as for the well-being of my loved ones," she added.

Sharing his experience on his first-ever visit to the Ram Mandir, Ashutosh, who plays Krishan Bihari Vajpayee, expressed: "It was truly an awe-inspiring and surreal experience. The intricate architecture of temples has always amazed me, and the Ram Mandir was no exception. Stepping into the temple's corridors, I was struck by a deep sense of devotion, heightened by the beautiful chants of Jai Shri Ram that echoed around me."

"As I approached the sanctum sanctorum, the sight of the divine idol of Ram Lalla, symbolising the eternal cosmic light of Lord Rama, filled me with awe. The rhythmic recital of prayers and the aromatic fragrance of incense added to the sacred ambience, deepening my connection with the divine," he said.

Ashutosh added: "On my way back from the temple, I picked up the souvenirs and prasad for my family and friends."

'Atal' airs every Monday to Friday at 8 p.m. on &TV.

 Neha Joshi, Ashutosh Kulkarni visit Ram Mandir: 'Eyes were filled with tears of joy'

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Super 30 fame Anand Kumar launches 'super 10 scholar' initiative

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rominent educator Anand Kumar, known for his Super 30 programme, on Tuesday announced the 'Super 10 Scholar' list in partnership with JK Lakshmipat University (JKLU), an initiative of J.K. Organisation.

As part of the partnership, Kumar will hand-pick 10 exceptional students who will be supported by JKLU for their undergraduate studies.

The students will receive a comprehensive scholarship covering tuition fees and expenses for a 4-year B.Tech programme in Computer Science at JKLU if they meet the minimum eligibility criteria and other prerequisites.

"In crafting the 'Super 10 Scholar' initiative, we aim to replicate the transformative impact witnessed through the 'Super 30' programme, said Kumar, a recipient of the Padma Shri Award.

Just as 'Super 30' has empowered countless underprivileged students to excel in engineering, I believe the 'Super 10 Scholar' list will be a beacon of opportunity for these bright young minds. JKLU's commitment to nurturing the next generation of engineers is commendable and I'm honoured to be part of this initiative that will shape the future of our nation's technological landscape," he added.

Kumar, whose life as a mathematics teacher and his educational programme of the 'Super 30' was captured in a biographical drama of the same name in 2019, encouraged students to pursue their dream of studying at the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) without succumbing to overwhelming pressure.

"While clearing the JEE may not be feasible for everyone, there are always alternative pathways that can help you accomplish your dreams of studying at esteemed institutions like the IITs," Kumar noted.

Kumar also encouraged students to approach their studies with passion and determination, emphasising that success encompasses more than just exam scores; it also requires perseverance and a thirst for knowledge.

 Super 30 fame Anand Kumar launches 'super 10 scholar' initiative

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Anil Kapoor to play RAW chief in Alia Bhatt's YRF spy film?

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nil Kapoor, who recently impressed the audience with his performance in Ranbir Kapoor's 'Animal' and Hrithik Roshan's 'Fighter', is all set to join Yash Raj Films spy universe.

As per the sources close to the film, he will be portraying the RAW Chief in the Alia Bhatt and Sharvari Wagh film directed by Shiv Rawail. He is assuming the place of Girish Karnad, who has managed to build a cult name for himself through his work in the 'Tiger' franchise.

The actor may be a part of many upcoming films of the YRF universe.

Reportedly, he can be seen making a cameo appearance in 'War II'. Ayan Mukerji is directing the film. Talking about Spy Universe film Alia is teaming up with Sharvari Wagh in the yet-to-be-titled film. Reportedly, they will play super-agents in the action entertainer.

Earlier, Yash Raj Films' CEO Akshaye Widhani confirmed this exciting news.

Sharing the development within the YRF Spy Universe at FICCI Frames today, Akshaye said, "I'll share the worst kept secret in the industry, which is, that Alia Bhatt is headlining a Spy Universe film and that the schedule starts later this year. But you know, talking about this spy universe, we are actually just so thrilled and excited about having this IP in the studio."

He added, "I think the YRF spy universe is a financial and cultural juggernaut. And as one of the most prized IPs, we take a lot of pride in it. So there's a lot of stuff that's going to come on the spy universe, We're going to see more and more films getting made under it. But of course, not going to share everything here. But we will talk about it at a more opportune time. But for now, I can just say that Alia Bhatt is headlining a spy universe film."

The spy-action thriller film 'War 2,' features Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr.

Earlier, discussing the much-anticipated sequel, actor Ashutosh Rana, who also appeared in 'War' and Shah Rukh Khan's 'Pathaan' as Colonel Luthra, told ANI, "We are going to start soon, I hope the way everyone loved War and Pathaan they will also like 'War 2'. This is a spy universe and in it the missions themselves are thrilling, so the audience will definitely enjoy it."

Directed by Ayan Mukerji, 'War 2' is scheduled to hit theatres on Independence Day 2025.

 Anil Kapoor to play RAW chief in Alia Bhatt's YRF spy film?

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Sadhguru points out language used for women in politics, calls for change in narrative

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piritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev on Monday pointed out the language used in the political discourse about women and emphasized that we should change the narrative.

In a post on X, Sadhguru said that it doesn't matter which party you belong to, it is important to back out these people.

"In the last two weeks, the language used about women in the political discourse has included "rate card", questions about parentage and disgusting comments about a 75-year-old lady. What is wrong with us? I request the media and influencers, please ban such people for good. We must change the narrative about women," he said.

"Doesn't matter which party you belong to. please back out these people. These people are supposed to be leaders and influencers. If we don't do this, there will be no change in the country," Sadhguru added.

Earlier, a controversy erupted after Congress leader Supriya Shrinate made derogatory remarks against Kangana Ranaut on her social media after the party announced her candidature.

The purported post from Congress' social media chairperson Supriya Shrinate, which featured a picture of Ranaut with an objectionable caption, has since been deleted.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a show cause notice to Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for her derogatory remarks. According to the ECI, the remarks by Shrinate were found to violate of MCC provisions and the ECI advisory dated March 1, 2024.

As the controversy raged, Shrinate clarified that she could "never make such personal and indecent comments about any woman" and claimed that many people have access to her social media accounts and someone else made this 'inappropriate' post.

BJP MP Dilip Ghosh, on his morning walk in Durgapur, West Bengal, on March 26, said that wherever Mamata Banerjee goes, she calls herself the daughter of that state, and "she must identify her own father."

"When Didi (CM Mamata Banerjee) goes to Goa, she calls herself the daughter of Goa. When she goes to Tripura, she says that she is the daughter of Tripura. She should first identify her own father," he said.

The Trinamool Congress had also filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India against Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dilip Ghosh.

 Sadhguru points out language used for women in politics, calls for change in narrative

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Four-year-old Sydney boy Max, who has battled cancer since he was one, will travel to Singapore for treatment.

A four-year-old boy battling leukaemia will head to Singapore for treatment after a massive fundraising effort for his family.

Max has received cancer treatment since he was one and now doctors have told the family he needs to go overseas to receive the best care.

Maxs godmother Nicola Johnson started a GoFundMe page and spoke to 2GB radio on Tuesday, appealing to the community to help the family raise at least $150,000 so Max could receive treatment in Singapore.

Little Maxy hasnt been able to catch a trick, unfortunately, she said.

Max is an absolute superhero. He is a pillar of strength, you would not look at him most days and think he is a sick kid because his spirit is just so high and strong.

The type of treatment four-year-old Max needs to effectively treat his cancer is not available in Australia and there are no subsidies to help the family travel overseas to receive treatment.

His family have remained absolutely unified on the path of just getting him well and his parents, Cara and Andy, are incredibly strong and resilient.

But man, it is an absolute endurance race after three years of constant treatment.

Throughout the past three years, Max has undergone chemotherapy, immunotherapy and a bone-marrow transplant.

He has gone through some insane procedures that no child should have to go through to try and free himself from cancer, Ms Johnson said.

Doctors told the family that the treatment available in Australia would not be effective for Max, and there were only a few places in the world that has the type of treatment he needs.

Maxs godmother Nicola Johnson has raised enough money to cover the cost of treatment but is hoping to raise more in case the family need to consider decisions when they are overseas.

Since Max will have to travel overseas to receive the treatment, there is no subsidy or support to help pay for those costs.

Singapore is where we believe to have the soonest availability for the type of treatment he needs, she said.

After speaking on 2GB, donations from the community pushed the GoFundMe total to more than $165,000 to help get Max to Singapore for treatment.

While that covers the cost of treatment, Ms Johnson hopes to raise as much as she can for the family.

$150,000 was our base cost to get him there. There are so many variable costs when they get over there if the doctors say they dont know how he is going to respond, she said.

The support has been incredible so far. I am really hoping to raise more for this guy so they do not have to consider a decision that needs to be made, it can just be yes, if that needs to be made.
Election to be fought on nationalism, development, not caste: Union minister Pralhad Joshi

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nion minister and Dharwad BJP Lok Sabha candidate Pralhad Joshi on Monday said that the election is going to be fought on the basis of nationalism and development and not on caste. He was reacting after Fakir Dingaleshwar Mahaswami of Shirahatti Fakireshwar Math announced his candidature as an independent against him.

"This is not a caste-based election. It is going to be fought on nationalism, performance and developmental works. So caste is nothing to do in this election," Pralhad Joshi told ANI.

Dingaleshwar Swami has come to the electoral fray after he and his followers accused Pralhad Joshi of suppressing Lingayat and other leaders.

"I have stated already that there is nothing to tell in this issue. This election is being conducted democratically. You can notice how our country was before Narendra Modi came to power and how it is now," the Union minister said.

He said this election is for the people to choose between the NDA led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the INDIA alliance.

"We have become the world's fifth largest economy and are going to become the third. Many burning issues are in the process of being solved. This election is to choose NDA with the leadership of Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi's I.N.D.I alliance," he said.

"I am going to voters with this and the developmental projects done in my constituency. This election is between Modi and the rest of the Opposition leaders with national issues being the decisive factor. Whatever allegations he (Dingaleshwar Swami ) has raised against me are a blessing. Whatever allegation he had made will be answered by party spokespersons. I am not going to tell you more than this," he added.

Karnataka, which has 28 Lok Sabha seats, will vote in two phases on April 26 and May 7.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress and JD-S fought together against the BJP and the combine was decimated. The BJP had won a record 25 seats; Congress and JD-S won just one seat each. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 17 seats, while the Indian National Congress (INC) won 9, and the Janata Dal (Secular) two seats.

The Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be held in seven phases, starting on April 19. The counting of votes is on June 4.

 Election to be fought on nationalism, development, not caste: Union minister Pralhad Joshi

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Cathie Biga Becomes First Non-Physician President of the American College of Cardiology

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athie Biga, MSN, FACC, has made history by becoming the first non-physician president of the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

She assumed the role today and will serve a one-year term representing over 56,000 cardiovascular care team members worldwide, leading the organization in its mission to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health for all .

<h2>Bringing Fresh Perspectives and Extensive Experience</h2>

Biga expressed her excitement about bringing her unique set of leadership skills and perspectives to the ACC as the organization kicks off the first year of its new Strategic Plan and celebrates its 75th anniversary. She emphasized the privilege of following in the footsteps of incredible leaders throughout the College's history .

With more than 40 years of experience as a registered nurse, service line director, hospital vice president, and CEO, as well as 25 years in physician practice management, Biga brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role. As president and CEO of Cardiovascular Management of Illinois, she has worked with over 100 providers in the Chicago area and partners in their cardiovascular service lines at 14 acute care hospitals .

<h2>Embracing Team-Based Care</h2>

One of Biga's most significant accomplishments has been supporting the ACC as it evolved and embraced the culture of team-based care. She has been integral to this change, becoming one of only 72 cardiovascular team members out of almost 30,000 members who has achieved the Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC) designation based on her professional achievements .

<h2>Leading in a Dyad Model</h2>

Biga plans to lead the ACC in a dyad model, leveraging her extensive experience in cardiovascular health care delivery, innovation, quality, and economic sustainability. She believes her fresh perspectives and competencies complement those of her physician colleagues on the Board of Trustees, ultimately working towards the shared goals of optimizing patient care in physician-led teams and improving patient outcomes .

<h2>New Officers for 2024-25</h2>

Alongside Biga, other new officers for the 2024-25 term include Vice President Christopher Kramer, MD, FACC; Treasurer Akshay K. Khandelwal, MD, FACC; Board of Trustees Members Bonnie Ky, MD, MSCE, FACC, and Lee R. Goldberg, MD, MPH, FACC; Board of Governors Chair Himabindu Vindula, MD, MS, FACC; and Board of Governors Chair-Elect David E. Winchester, MD, MS, FACC .

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

As the American College of Cardiology welcomes its first non-physician president, Cathie Biga's appointment marks a significant milestone in the organization's history. With her extensive experience, fresh perspectives, and commitment to team-based care, Biga is poised to lead the ACC in its mission to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health for all.

 Cathie Biga Becomes First Non-Physician President of the American College of Cardiology

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The car in a Manly street in Sydney was spray-painted by a resident who wanted the car removed.

A man could face up to two years behind bars and an $11,000 fine over his "shocking" retaliation on a well-known street in a Sydney beach suburb.

In a series of images, the man  holding a can of yellow spray paint  can be seen standing in front of a dark blue car believed to have been abandoned on Malvern Avenue in Manly.

Across the bonnet of the Mitsubishi, which has unregistered Queensland number plates, are the words: PLEASE REMOVE RANGER.

A man has been photographed spray-painting a car which many thought had been abandoned. Source: Facebook

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Northern Beaches councillor Vincent De Luca said council is investigating the matter while many have claimed that the owner of the vehicle is in hospital.

Once the facts are established, council will take appropriate action, he said.

While a spokesperson from Northern Beaches Council confirmed to Yahoo News on Tuesday afternoon rangers have checked out the vehicle and spoken with a man who is one of two people storing items in the car.

Car may belong to a homeless man

They also indicated the man may be homeless, adding that staff are continuing to liaise with homeless outreach services to engage these individuals and offer assistance in finding accommodation.

Council is also working to remove the vehicle, as it is viewed as a public amenity issue affecting the environment, under the Public Spaces (unattended Property) Act 2021.

The spokesperson explained council has initiated the removal of the vehicle which involves applying a notice on the vehicle and sending a letter to the registered owner indicating it will be removed following an 18-day review.

Police say penalties could apply for damage to car

While NSW Police say the incident hasnt been reported to them, spray painting someones car would be considered malicious damage which carries significant penalties.

Damage to property over $5,000 [could result in] a term of imprisonment of up to 24 months, and/or a fine up to $11,000, a police spokesperson told Yahoo News. Damage to property less than $5,000 [could result in] a term of imprisonment of up to 12 months, and/or a fine up to $5,500. If damage to the property is less than $2,000, the maximum fine is $2,200.

However, a complaint would have to be received from the owner, and from the photo it appears that the vehicle may have been abandoned.

The car has been left on Malvern Avenue in Manly, in Sydney's Northern Beaches. Source: Google Maps

Act sparks online debate

The mans actions have sparked a fierce debate online and divided the local community which appears torn over whether or not he did the right thing.

They leave trash heap cars like this in the street for years and do nothing, good on him! one person wrote on Facebook, praising the man for doing a hero's work. At least [it] being even more an eyesore, the council may be forced to move it.

Not all heroes wear capes, someone else added.

While others expressed frustration over the coward act of pure vandalism.

How the f**k do people think theyve got a right to do stuff like this! another wrote. People deserve a slap for this type of s**thouse behaviour. Far from a hero. Its criminal damage.

How bad is this?! someone else asked. Why do people go so far? This used to be a friendly community.

Others defended the owner of the vehicle, which has a smashed in windscreen.

You dont know their circumstances and with the current financial climate we are in, it may also be their home, someone commented.

Ive seen what he has done to this car and it looks like someone could have been living in it, another local said. Its actually really shocking that he would do is.

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"I believe that if a firefighter is willing to put his/her life on the line for me and Chris Evans, then the least I can do is get that firefighter into the 21st century and out of a building that was condemned in 1996 when its second story was destroyed during a tornado," Kathy Wallig writes.
Rescuers evacuate residents from the flooded part of the city of Orsk, in Russias Orenburg region (Getty)

Thousands more people have been warned to evacuate immediately in southern Russia, as two major rivers swelled beyond bursting point in the worst flooding in the area for decades.

A state of emergency has been declared in multiple regions of southern Russia after two dams on the Ural River burst in Orsk over the weekend, exacerbating an already difficult situation in the area caused by extreme seasonal floods.

The river swelled several metres in just hours on Friday due to melt water from the nearby mountain range. By Saturday, the water levels had risen to 31ft, according to regional authorities, nearly double the 18ft level the dam was designed to withstand.

Russias Ministry of Emergency Situations said floods were threatening the southern Kurgan region east of the river, putting more than 19,000 people at risk, as well as the Tyumen area nearby. Authorities said more than 6,500 people have already been evacuated and that more than 10,000 homes were flooded throughout Orsk as a result of the burst dam.

Parts of the Russian city of Orenburg, located 180 miles downstream of Orsk and with a population of 500,000 residents, may be flooded in the next 24 hours, officials also said, with water levels set to rise by up to nearly half a metre.

An aerial picture taken on 8 April shows the flooded part of the city of Orsk (Getty)

This grab taken from an aerial handout footage released by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry on 9 April 9, shows floods in Orenburg (Russian Emergency Situations Ministry)

With so much water flowing into rivers, emergencies were declared in Orenburg, Kurgan and Tyumen, a major oil-producing region of western Siberia.

The damage to the wider Orenburg region has already been estimated at around 178m, according to authorities. Local governor Denis Pasler said the floods were the worst to hit the area since records began.

Sirens in Kurgan, a city on the Tobol river, a tributary of the Irtysh, warned people to evacuate immediately. In Kurgan, a region with around 800,000 residents, drone footage showed traditional Russian wooden houses and the golden cupolas of Russian Orthodox churches stranded among a vast expanse of water.

aaRussias president Vladimir Putin has asked the government to set up a commission to deal with the emergency, his office said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Putin had ordered the governors of the two regions east of the river, Tyumen and Kurgan, to prepare for an expected sharp rise in water levels and inevitable floods. Mr Peskov added that so far Mr Putin doesnt plan to travel to the flooded regions.

The difficult days are still ahead for the Kurgan and Tyumen regions, Mr Peskov said. There is a lot of water coming.

Videos posted on social media showed dozens of angry Orsk residents protesting against their local officials on Monday, complaining that they had not done enough to help with the worst flooding on record. One video showed roughly 100 people chanting Shame and Putin, help.

The local prosecutors office warned residents against staging any demonstrations but several hundred people gathered outside the mayors office in Orsk on Monday.

At one point, Vasily Kozupitsa, the Orsk mayor, attempted to address the protesters, who complained that civilians had to procure boats and rescue relatives and livestock on their own.

Government agency, the Investigative Committee of Russia, has opened a criminal case as a result of violation of safety measures and negligence, citing the dams alleged poor maintenance as a cause of the breach.

President Putin also spoke to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the president of Kazakhstan, where more than 86,000 people have been evacuated due to flooding. Mr Tokayev said the flooding was probably the worst in 80 years.

The most severely hit areas are the Atyrau, Aktobe, Akmola, Kostanai, eastern Kazakhstan, northern Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions, most of which border Russia and are crossed by rivers originating in Russia such as the Ural and the Tobol.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report
A new study presented at the European Psychiatric Association Congress 2024 sheds light on the significant impact of depression on the survival rates and quality of life for women diagnosed with breast cancer. This study, conducted by a team of researchers in Russia, conducted a comprehensive analysis of existing research on the prevalence and impact of depression in breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and a leading cause of death globally and in the EU, it is estimated that 1 in 11 women in the EU-27 will develop breast cancer before the age of 74. The psychological impact of breast cancer is well documented and previous studies have estimated that, globally, 32% of breast cancer sufferers also live with depression. Despite the improvements in screening, diagnostics and treatment of breast cancer, patients are still not properly screened for mental health conditions and often do not receive adequate support.

Key findings from the study include:

The study found a wide range in the reported prevalence of depression among breast cancer patients, varying from 4.5% to 38% across different studies.

The research highlights a significant correlation between depression and mortality, with studies indicating: 50% increased risk of all-cause mortality in patients with depression compared to non-depressed patients with stage I-III breast cancer. 2-2.5-fold increase in breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality in patients with early-stage (stage I & II) cancer and depression. 2.5 times greater risk of death within 8-15 years for women with non-metastatic breast cancer and mild to moderate depressive symptoms after surgery compared to those with minimal or no depressive symptoms.

Overall, the study concludes that both depression and anxiety can negatively impact survival rates and reduce the quality of life for breast cancer patients.

Dr Ruslan A. Starostin, oncologist and breast surgeon at Druzhkov Clinic LLC, Kazan, Russia commented on the findings, stating "Cancer, depression and anxiety disorders are closely interrelated. Our task is therefore to identify the presence of mental disorders in patients at the time of initial breast cancer diagnosis in order to begin treatment as early as possible, because the quality of life and overall survival of patients is extremely important."

Svetlana V. Kuzmina, Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology at Kazan State Medical University in Kazan, Russia, commented on the findings, stating "The mental health of breast cancer patients warrants such attention as malignant disease can have a negative impact on mental wellbeing, treatment adherence and quality of life. In the context of our investigation, we also hope to reduce the burden of disease on the daily lives of patients and their environment."

Ilgiz G. Gataullin, Professor of the Department of Oncology, Radiology and Palliative Medicine of the Kazan State Medical Academy, Russia further added "There are still no universal methods for the screening of this mental health condition. It is likely that psychotherapy and antidepressant treatment may reduce the risk of psychological distress, but further research in this area is needed."

"These findings underscore the crucial need for routine depression screening for breast cancer patients at the time of diagnosis, integrated approach to treatment that includes the involvement of mental health professions and, most importantly, increased awareness about the impact of breast cancer on mental health and the need for open communication alongside early intervention." explains Dr Julian Beezhold, the Secretary General of the European Psychiatric Association.

The European Congress of Psychiatry takes place from 6-9 April 2024 in Budapest, Hungary, and represents Europe's largest congress dedicated to psychiatry, with over 4000 participants: epa-congress.org.
One-year success rates from angioplasty procedures to open clogged arteries in the legs were significantly higher among patients whose procedures were guided by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) alongside angiography compared with those whose procedures were guided by angiography alone, in a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session.



The study, called IVUS-DCB, is the first randomized controlled trial to demonstrate the clinical benefits of using IVUS in angioplasty procedures for peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition in which plaque builds up in arteries in the legs. IVUS is an imaging approach that enables visualization of the blood vessel wall and precise measurements of vessel size. The results suggest that the use of IVUS can help achieve longer-lasting benefits from the procedure.

IVUS is more accurate than angiography in measuring vessel dimensions. It facilitates achieving sufficient vessel lumen diameters and aids in evaluating the response of the target lesion to treatment. Despite the potential increase in procedural complexity, IVUS may benefit patients by enhancing treatment outcomes." Young-Guk Ko, MD, cardiologist in the Division of Cardiology at Severance Hospital and Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, and study's lead author

The study focused on femoral artery disease, a form of PAD in which the femoropopliteal arteries that supply blood to the legs become narrowed or blocked, causing pain while walking. With angioplasty, operators inflate a small balloon inside the blood vessel, pushing the vessel open to restore proper blood flow. The balloons used in the study were also coated with drugs that help to prevent further plaque buildup.



To guide the placement of the balloon, most operators currently use angiography with a contrast agent to produce a 2D image of the vessel lumen. With IVUS, a tiny ultrasound device is inserted into the vessel via a catheter to produce cross-sectional and 3D images of the vessel for more accurate information on vessel dimensions and plaque morphology. Previous studies have shown IVUS can improve outcomes of endovascular procedures in the coronary arteries; the new study sought to assess whether the approach could bring similar benefits for procedures in the femoropopliteal arteries. Using IVUS alongside angiography entails additional costs because it involves additional procedural steps.



For the trial, researchers enrolled 237 patients undergoing angioplasty for femoropopliteal disease at seven sites in South Korea. Half were randomly assigned to receive IVUS plus angiography and half received angiography alone.



At 12 months, primary patency (a measure of the success rate of angioplasty and the study's primary endpoint) was achieved in 83.8% of patients who received IVUS and 70.1% of those receiving angiography alone, a significant difference in favor of IVUS. Patients who received IVUS were also significantly less likely to require revascularization procedures and significantly more likely to show sustained clinical improvement compared with the angiography group.



Since IVUS is more accurate than angiography in measuring vessel dimension, researchers said the use of IVUS appears to have helped operators achieve a wider opening in the blood vessel for longer-lasting results.



"The IVUS group utilized larger pre-dilation balloon diameters and higher pressures prior to drug-coated balloon application as well as more frequent post-dilation and higher pressures for post-dilation after drug-coated balloon application, compared to the angiography group," Ko said. "These optimizations, based on IVUS assessments, may have led to an increased final lumen diameter and better maintenance of the patent target vessel at the 12-month follow-up."



One caveat is that most of the femoropopliteal artery lesions treated in the study were complex and extensive, stretching over 20 centimeters long on average, and it is unclear whether the benefits of IVUS would be the same for treating shorter and less severe lesions. In addition, the researchers said that the study only applies to procedures involving drug-coated balloons in femoropopliteal arteries, and further research would be needed to clarify possible benefits of IVUS with other types of devices, such as stents, and in other peripheral arteries.



The study was funded by Medtronic, Inc. and Korea United Pharm. Inc.



Ko will be available to the media in a press conference on Monday, April 8, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. ET / 16:30 UTC in Room B203.



Ko will present the study, "Comparison of Intravascular Ultrasound-guided versus Angiography-guided Angioplasty for the Outcomes of Drug-coated Balloon in the Treatment of Femoropopliteal Artery Disease," on Monday, April 8, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. ET / 15:00 UTC in the Hall B-1 Main Tent.
Venetoclax is already Food and Drug Administrationapproved for use in other pediatric cancers, making it an attractive candidate. The drug has proven safe in those settings, paving the way for future approval in B-ALL treatment. The largest hurdle was understanding how venetoclax works with asparaginase to stop B-cell leukemia.

B-cell development stage is a challenge and vulnerability in B-ALL

B-ALL is a cancer derived from white blood cells called B cells. Under normal circumstances, B cells develop from immature to fully mature, passing through eight steps. In cancers, cells can get stuck in an intermediate stage of development. In a related disease, T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Yang and Yu previously found, as reported in Nature Cancer 2021, that the developmental stage where T cells get stuck determines their sensitivity to therapeutics. The researchers wanted to understand what made cells in a specific stage respond to which drug, hoping that such understanding would present new therapeutic opportunities.

"In this case, we found tumor B cells are stuck in two major stages," Yu said. "One is an earlier stage that is more resistant to asparaginase and another later stage that is more sensitive to it."

Yu looked at gene expression data from hundreds of thousands of individual cancerous B cells to understand what was different about them. After identifying the two dominant B-cell development stages of B-ALL, pre-pro-B (early) and pro-B (late), his lab looked for the genes upregulated in the resistant early cells to identify potential vulnerabilities to target therapeutically.

"The protein BCL-2 caught our attention, as it seems to be a driver of asparaginase-resistance in leukemia cells with pre-pro-B features," Yu said.

B cell lymphoma protein 2 (BCL-2) is a protein involved in cell death. Cancer cells use it to evade the systems that normally cause them to self-destruct. The protein is also downstream of mTOR, the protein targeted by asparaginase. Findings showed that BCL-2 was activated in cancer cells resistant to that drug. That resistance relationship motivated the scientists to try venetoclax, which targets the protein BCL-2, in a combination approach.

"When you add asparaginase, you hit mTOR signaling," Yang said. "In turn, that upregulates the BCL-2 activity, making the cells more sensitive to venetoclax."

The work also has implications for other cancers because incorrect development underlies many forms of the disease. Single-cell gene sequencing and analysis may provide similar opportunities to improve therapies in those contexts.

"We showed that developmental arrest of cancer cells can make them sensitive to certain drugs," Yang said. "Once we determine the pathways involved, we can find new drug combinations to improve treatment outcomes."

Authors and funding

The study's co-first authors are Xin Huang and Yizhen Li, of St. Jude, and Jingliao Zhang, formerly of St. Jude and now of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College. The study's other authors are Xiaofan Zhu and Yingchi Zhang, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; Mark Litzow, Mayo Clinic; Wendy Stock, University of Chicago; Nitin Jain, Elias Jabbour and Steven Kornblau, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Marina Konopleva and Elisabeth Paietta, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Lei Yan, Huanbin Zhao, Liang Ding, Sheetal Bhatara, Xu Yang, Satoshi Yoshimura, Wenjian Yang, Seth Karol, Hiroto Inaba, Charles Mullighan, Ching-Hon Pui and William Evans, St. Jude.

The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01GM134382, U01CA264610, R35GM141947, R01CA264837, U10CA180820, UG1CA189859 and UG1CA232760), Department of Defense (W81XWH-20-1-0567), St. Baldrick's Foundation, the Lynch family and ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization of St. Jude.
Those who report having poor oral health are as likely to have negative long-term systemic health outcomes as those previously diagnosed with periodontal disease, or gum disease, according to a new Tufts University School of Dental Medicine study published in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

The researchers examined whether self-reported oral health questions, which are commonly used in the surveillance of periodontal disease, had the same or similar comorbidities of the disease by analyzing data sets from the Women's Health Study and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The Women's Health Study followed women 45 years or older with self-reported information on gum disease, oral health questions, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis in various timeframes starting from 1992, while the NHANES included data on oral health questions and linked mortality from 1999 to 2018.

Led by first author Yau-Hua Yu, associate professor of periodontology at the School of Dental Medicine, the researchers tested their hypotheses by running analyses that estimated the probability of outcomes based on a variety of factors and then looked at survival rates within various groups. The results showed that negative self-evaluations were associated with the same level of systemic comorbidities as those who had been diagnosed with periodontal disease. The study also found that suboptimal dental visits or infrequent flossing were associated with an increase in all-cause mortality.

"These questions are really helpful to understand a person's oral health conditions when clinical access is limited," said Yu, noting that in large epidemiological studies like the Women's Health Study, it's not possible to have a dentist on-site to physically examine research participants.

Yu and fellow researchers, including senior author Julie Buring of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, also examined the role that access to dental care plays on overall health. They did this by asking two important questions: "In the past 12 months, have you visited the dentist or hygienist?" and "How often do you visit a dental office for routine check-ups and cleaning?" The researchers found that about 10% of the Women's Health Study participants and 45% of NHANES study participants did not visit a dentist within a year and, as a result, their oral and overall health outcomes were poor.

"Our study findings suggest that people who don't see a dentist may have negative outcomes in terms of mortality," Yu said, noting that their original goal was to understand the usefulness of these questions for understanding and evaluating gum disease and oral health in general.

Given this demonstrated link between oral health and mortality, Yu suggests primary care physicians consider asking about their patients' dental habits and condition to get a fuller picture of their overall health.

Yu isn't stopping with this study. She says she's still working on big data sets, and hopes to showcase outcomes in different populations, such as veterans. She is currently collaborating with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

And, Yu underscores the need for more large-scale national health studies/biobanking efforts to incorporate questions around dental health to better understand and communicate the association between oral health and long-term health outcomes, as well as the gaps in access to dental care.

"For society in general," she said, "we need to look at, without dental care access, what is theurden?"
Pregnancy may carry a cost, reports a new study from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The research, carried out among 1735 young people in the Philippines, shows that women who reported having been pregnant looked biologically older than women who had never been pregnant, and women who had been pregnant more often looked biologically older than those who reported fewer pregnancies. Notably, the number of pregnancies fathered was not associated with biological aging among same-aged cohort men, which implies that it is something about pregnancy or breastfeeding specifically that accelerates biological aging. The findings are published in The Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences.

This study builds on epidemiological findings that high fertility can have negative side effects on women's health and longevity. What was unknown, however, was whether the costs of reproduction were present earlier in life, before disease and age-related decline start to become apparent. Until now, one of the challenges has been quantifying biological aging among the young. This challenge was overcome by using a collection of new tools that use DNA methylation (DNAm) to study different facets of cellular aging, health, and mortality risk. These tools, called 'epigenetic clocks' allow researchers to study aging earlier in life, filling a key gap in the study of biological aging.

Epigenetic clocks have revolutionized how we study biological aging across the lifecourse and open up new opportunities to study how and when long-term health costs of reproduction and other life events take hold." Calen Ryan PhD, lead author of the study and associate research scientist in the Columbia Aging Center

"Our findings suggest that pregnancy speeds up biological aging, and that these effects are apparent in young, high-fertility women," said Ryan. "Our results are also the first to follow the same women through time, linking changes in each woman's pregnancy number to changes in her biological age."

The relationship between pregnancy history and biological age persisted even after taking into account various other factors tied to biological aging, such as socioeconomic status, smoking, and genetic variation, but were not present among men from the same sample. This finding, noted Ryan, points to some aspect of bearing children  rather than sociocultural factors associated with early fertility or sexual activity  as a driver of biological aging.

Despite the striking nature of the findings, Ryan encourages readers to remember the context: "Many of the reported pregnancies in our baseline measure occurred during late adolescence, when women are still growing. We expect this kind of pregnancy to be particularly challenging for a growing mother, especially if her access to healthcare, resources, or other forms of support is limited."

Ryan also acknowledged that there is more work to do, "We still have a lot to learn about the role of pregnancy and other aspects of reproduction in the aging process. We also do not know the extent to which accelerated epigenetic aging in these particular individuals will manifest as poor health or mortality decades later in life."

Ryan said that our current understanding of epigenetic clocks and how they predict health and mortality comes largely from North America and Europe, but that the aging process can take slightly different forms in the Philippines and other places around the world.

"Ultimately I think our findings highlight the potential long-term impacts of pregnancy on women's health, and the importance of taking care of new parents, especially young mothers."

Co-authors are Christopher Kuzawa, Northwestern University, Nanette R. Lee and Delia B. Carba, USC-Office of Population Studies Foundation; Julie L. MacIsaac, David S. Lin, and Parmida Atashzay, University of British Columbia; Daniel Belsky Columbia Public Health and Columbia Aging Center; Michael S. Kobor, University of British Columbia, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health R01AG061006; National Science Foundation BCS 1751912; University of British Columbia UBC 60055724.
Researchers have found that Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), where an electric current is passed through the brain, can reduce the severity of mental illnesses.

ECT is a safe and effective treatment for some mental illnesses including severe/psychotic depression, postnatal psychosis and mania. Patients are placed under general anaesthetic and the brain is stimulated with short electric pulses. This causes a brief seizure which lasts for less than two minutes.

The use of ECT across Scotland was assessed over an 11-year period from 2009 to 2019 using data from the Scottish Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Audit Network (SEAN). The Scotland-wide naturalistic study assessed the efficacy and side effects of ECT across a range of common mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar depression, schizophrenia, and mania.

Key findings from the study include:

ECT was shown to be effective in reducing illness severity, as measured by Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI-S). CGI-S is a validated clinician administered assessment tool which measures illness severity.

2,920 ECT episodes had CGI-S scores recorded for patients before and after treatment. The mean CGI-S score prior to treatment indicated marked illness severity (5.03 95% CI 4.99-5.07), whilst after treatment, the mean CGI-S score was reduced to 2.07, (95% CI 2.03-2.11) indicating a reduction to borderline illness severity.

The study also assessed side effects of ECT. Anaesthetic complications and prolonged seizures were rare, occurring in <1% of treatment episodes. Cardiovascular complications were reported in 2.2%. Nausea was reported in 7.2% and muscle aches in 12%. Confusion was reported in 19% and cognitive side effects in 26.2%.

Dr Julie Langan Martin, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Psychiatry, Director of Education at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, said "Our findings from this large naturalistic study across Scotland from over an 11-year period reinforce the widely held, but nonetheless underexplored view, that ECT is both a safe and effective treatment when delivered to appropriate groups of people with severe mental illness. Monitoring of side effects, especially cognitive side effects should be undertaken carefully and rigorously in all patients receiving ECT."

This study on ECT presents compelling evidence of its effectiveness in reducing the severity of mental illnesses, with major side effects found to be rare. It challenges common misconceptions and stigmas associated with ECT, providing valuable insights that can reshape public perceptions and stimulate informed discussions among healthcare professionals." Dr Julian Beezhold, Secretary General of the European Psychiatric Association

The European Congress of Psychiatry takes place from 6-9 April 2024 in Budapest, Hungary, and represents Europe's largest congress dedicated to psychiatry, with over 4000 participants: epa-congress.org.
Weiping Jia et al., at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, China, conducted a study to explore the relationship between the complexity of glucose time series, as derived from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and the deterioration of glucose regulation. The study introduces the use of refined composite multi-scale entropy (RCMSE) analysis to calculate the complexity of glucose time series index (CGI) and demonstrates that a decrease in this complexity is associated with a decline in glucose homeostasis, ranging from normal glucose tolerance (NGT) to impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Key findings from the study include: (1) The complexity of glucose time series progressively decreases across the glycemic continuum, with the most significant decrease observed in individuals with T2D compared to those with NGT and IGR; (2) The CGI was found to be significantly associated with various parameters related to insulin sensitivity and secretion, indicating a close relationship between glucose dynamics and insulin function. (3) The disposition index (DI), which reflects -cell function after adjusting for insulin sensitivity, was identified as the only independent factor correlated with CGI, suggesting that it may serve as a novel marker for evaluating glucose homeostasis.



The study's methodology involved a post-hoc analysis of a multi-center CGM study conducted in China from 2007 to 2009, including 756 subjects with complete CGM data. The participants were not on any hypoglycemic treatment before or during the study period. The research was approved by the ethics committees of each participating hospital, and all subjects provided informed consent.



The study's results have implications for the clinical practice of diabetes management, as the complexity of glucose time series, calculated using RCMSE analysis, could potentially serve as a new marker for glucose metabolism status. This could aid in the early detection and management of diabetes, as well as provide insights into the characteristics of blood glucose in individuals with IGR.



Overall, the research contributes to the understanding of glucose dynamics and insulin function in the context of diabetes and its progression, offering potential avenues for future investigation and clinical application.
India currently has 67 unicorns, which is lower as compared with 68 such startups last year, according to the latest Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2024. It, however, said India produced more offshore unicorns than any other country, co-founding 109 unicorns outside of India compared with 67 in India.

Indias start-up ecosystem has slowed, with the number of unicorns down for the first time since the launch of Hurun list, according to the report.

Explaining reasons for the slowdown in India, Anas Rahman Junaid, founder and chief researcher of Hurun India, said, India currently has 67 unicorns. Indias start-up ecosystem has slowed, with the number of unicorns down for the first time since the launch of our list. This is primarily fuelled by lack of investment into start-ups despite the recent stock market record highs. Another factor is that founders from India produced more offshore unicorns than any other country, co-founding 109 unicorns outside of India compared with 67 in India.

Of the unicorns founded outside of India, significantly all were in the USA (95), led by the Bay Area, with 4 in the UK, 3 in Singapore and 2 in Germany, he added.

The report said while its encouraging to see the rise of Krutrim, Indias first AI unicorn, there remains a substantial gap when compared to the United States and China, which lead with 60 and 37 AI unicorns respectively. Infact, the top 3 sectors contributing to new unicorns in China hail from New Energy, Semiconductors and AI Notably, the Aerospace or SpaceTech sector emerges as a critical frontier where India lacks unicorns, a domain where both the US and China have advanced with 10 unicorns each.

This situation presents a crucial juncture for India. Failure to seize this moment risks India falling further behind the US and China in AI, New Energy, Semiconductors, and potentially Aerospace  a sector likely to rely on domestic innovation due to security considerations, Junaid said.

Unicorn Startups Across The World

Hurun Research found 1,453 unicorns in the world, based in 53 countries and 291 cities. 430 unicorns saw their valuations rise, of which 171 were new faces. 170 saw their valuations drop, of which 42 were demoted as their valuation no longer made the cut of $1bn. 37 were promoted out of the list, of which 29 went IPO and 8 were acquired. 895 saw no change to their valuations. Their total value was $4.6tn.

The worlds unicorns are disrupting financial services, business management solutions and healthcare. A total of 78 per cent sell software and services, led by FinTech, SaaS and AI, whilst 22 per cent have a physical product, led by New Energy, Biotech, F&B and Semiconductors.

Hurun Report Chairman and Chief Researcher Rupert Hoogewerf said, The world has minted one unicorn every two days over the last year to take the total of known unicorns in the world to a new record of just under 1500. Despite the slowdown of the economy, China still managed to keep up with the US in terms of new unicorns, each minting more than one unicorn a week for every week of the year.

A key feature of the Global Unicorn Index is that it is compiled using data from the worlds leading investors, the entrepreneurs behind the entrepreneurs, making this the most comprehensive list of the worlds unicorns, he added.
Infosys emerged as the top Nifty gainer on April 9 morning, with the stock surging more than 2 per cent to Rs 1,509 after the BofA upgraded the IT services player to buy from neutral.

The new revised target implies nearly 21 per cent probable gains from the stock.

The upgrade has been effected in the counter making an early case for CY25 demand recovery. Further, the institution maintains that normalization of the post covid spike in IT spends could be done with mid CY24. Also, compliance of the Basel requirements is expected to drive up regulatory tech spends by banks.

Additionally, BofA is of the view that amidst the 2027 support, SAP upgrade deadline is becoming more of a priority for enterprises. Also, transformational IT spends could see an uptick post-US elections Upcoming earnings to provide last cut/floor to CY24E, the brokerage said. Also, it stated that valuation affords the case for our upgrade.

The Infosys stock has declined 2 per cent this year, so far, underperforming the Nifty IT index, which, too, has been marginally negative during the period. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 1,731 on February 6.

Infosys will release its March quarter results on April 18. Analysts predict a soft quarter, primarily due to higher wage costs and in the absence of large deals.

We expect Infosys to report flat revenue growth on a sequential basis in Q4FY24, with 20 basis points (bps) cross-currency tailwinds. The limited contribution from mega deals in Q4 is likely to weigh on Q4 financials as well. Margins are expected to contract by 10 bps to 20.4 percent in Q4 due to higher visa costs and wage hikes, JM Financial analysts said in a preview report.

One basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.

The brokerage firm expects the Bengaluru-base IT giant to guide for 3-6 per cent constant currency (CC) revenue growth for FY25, below the Streets expectations of 7 per cent.
Teerth Gopicon IPO: The initial public offering of Teerth Gopicon Ltd, an engineering construction and development company, which was opened for public subscription on April 8, has already been oversubscribed. Till 11:18 am on the second day of bidding on Tuesday, the Rs 44.40-crore SME IPO received 2.65 times subscription, garnering bids for 1,00,60,800 shares against 37,99,200 shares on offer.

The price of the Teerth Gopicon IPO has been fixed at Rs 111 per share for its initial public offering. The Ahmedabad-based company, which mainly focuses on roads, sewerage and water distribution projects, looks to raise up to Rs 44.40 crore from the SME public issue, the company said in a statement.

The category for non-institutional investors got subscribed 2.34 times while the portion for Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) attracted 2.96 times subscriptions.

The Teerth Gopicon IPO was opened on April 8. Its share allotment will take place on April 12, while the shares will be listed on NSE SME on April 16.

Teerth Gopicon IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of Teerth Gopicon Ltd are trading Rs 18 higher in the grey market as compared with its issue price. The Rs 18 grey market premium or GMP means the grey market is expecting a 16.22 per cent listing gain from the public issue. The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing.

Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

Teerth Gopicon IPO Details

The initial share sale opened for subscription on Monday and close on April 10, it added. The shares of the company will be listed on NSEs SME platform Emerge.

The initial public offering comprises a fresh issue of 39.99 lakh equity shares of face value of Rs 10 each. It is a fixed-price issue.

The company proposes to use the net proceeds from the IPO to fund its expansion plans. It plans to utilise Rs 33.40 crore towards working capital requirements and Rs 10.24 crore towards general corporate purposes.

Investors can bid for a minimum of 1,200 equity shares and in multiples of 1,200 equity shares thereafter. The minimum investment is Rs 1.33 lakh.

Incorporated in 2019, Teerth Gopicon is engaged in the business of road construction, sewerage and water supply in Madhya Pradesh.

The company has worked as a registered civil contractor for various central and state government departments and has also undertaken building works for the private sector.

The order book of the company as of January 31, 2024, is Rs 904.98 crore.

For the April-January period of FY2023-24, the company reported a net profit of Rs 7.84 crore and revenue of Rs 69.70 crore.

It reported a net profit of Rs 1.80 crore and revenue of Rs 39.15 crore in FY2022-23.

Interactive Financial Services Ltd is the sole book-running lead manager, while Bigshare Services is the registrar for the issue.
A NSW woman made the discovery before calling in help from the local community.

The incredible rescue of a "very heavy" stingray has been praised by experts after a group of Aussies rushed to the animal's aid when it washed up with the tide and became stranded on the sand.

Belinda Bell told Yahoo News Australia she first saw the animal  an estuary stingray, endemic to eastern Australia  on Saturday while visiting Gerroa Beach on the NSW South Coast. "The poor thing had been washed ashore and got stuck, and I couldnt just leave him there as I knew the tide was going out," she said.

Not knowing what to do, the worried resident posted on her local Facebook community page for help. "Within 15 minutes I had people from the community running down onto the beach with a tarp and shovel," she explained.

The adult stingray became stranded on a NSW beach when it washed up with the tide. Source: Supplied/Belinda Bell

Among them was a father and his six children armed with supplies who rushed down after seeing Belinda's plea, his wife Sophie Payne told Yahoo.

"There were two ladies already at the beach trying to help but the stingray was just too heavy to move", she explained, referring to Belinda. "We managed to slide the tarp under the stingray, who was very exhausted by the time we got there".

Can stingrays be dangerous?

Videos shared with Yahoo show the group's incredible effort. Belinda said they attempted to "push" the ray onto the trap "without getting in the way of his barb"  the stingray's spine.

The barb is located towards the base of the tail and is "sharp as well as potentially venomous" Jaelen Myers, from James Cook University, previously told Yahoo. It's generally advised not to touch a stingray in case of injury  it's what claimed the life of wildlife icon Steve Irwin.

"It took four of us to carry him over to the river mouth and off he went back out to the ocean," Belinda continued. "Was such a great group effort for all involved. It was such a beautiful outcome". The stingray was unharmed and was able to swim back out to sea.

Group's rescue technique 'looks perfect'

After watching how the beachgoers tackled the situation, marine biologist Ian Tibbetts said "these folks certainly did it a kind service and their technique looked perfect."

"They identified the threat  the venomous spine on the tail and kept everyone away from that. Id say top marks should go to this team compared to some other stingray 'rescues' I have seen," he told Yahoo.

The group used a tarp and shovel to carry the animal back into the water where he safely swam away. Source: Supplied/Belinda Bell

In one video, the stingray can be seen with half its body resting on the grey tarp. One person is seen shovelling water onto the animal's body which Tibbits said was "sensible".

"They sensibly sluiced water over the spiracles  the holes behind each eye," he said. "This would have resulted in some oxygenated water reaching the gills while also keeping its skin moist. The gill slits (outlets) are on the bottom of the animal."

While this rescue had a happy ending, with many locals calling it "legendary", Tibbetts warned "the sting from a stingray is extremely painful" and advised caution.

"I guess if you have a shovel and a tarp give it a go, but otherwise be very, very careful and keep children and animals well clear," he said.

When it comes to injuries caused by marine life, a 2017 report found that between 2013 and 2016 there had been 116 incidents involving stingrays in NSW, second only to bluebottles. Deaths from stingrays, although rare, do happen. In 2018, a 42-year-old man died of a heart attack after being stung while swimming in Tasmania.

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The pursuit of MBAs has surged in recent decades, leading to the proliferation of MBA colleges nationwide. Choosing the top MBA college has become challenging amidst this expansion. Prospective students are advised to prioritize admission into highly-ranked institutes to enhance their career prospects.

An MBA is widely regarded as a lucrative career option, offering opportunities for employment in esteemed companies with attractive salary packages. Reports consistently position the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) as the premier MBA colleges in India. Admission to these prestigious institutions, along with other top business schools, typically requires clearing the Common Admission Test (CAT) exam.

MBA aspirants must navigate through various entrance exams, including CAT, MAT, GMAT, XAT, and CMAT, after completing their graduation in any discipline. Many institutes conduct their entrance exams as well. The CAT exam remains pivotal for securing admission into the coveted IIMs.

When considering MBA colleges, it is imperative to refer to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings for comprehensive insights into an institutes standing, placements, salary packages, and amenities. The NIRF Ranking 2023 identifies the following as the top MBA colleges in the country:

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru (IIMB) Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode (IIMK) Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata (IIMC) Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IITD) Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIML) National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai (NITIE) Indian Institute of Management, Indore (IIM Indore) Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand (XLRI) Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB)

These rankings serve as valuable guidance for aspiring MBA students seeking admission to top-tier institutions, ensuring a promising academic journey and career trajectory.
The Karnataka High Courts ruling allowing the government to proceed with announcing the board exam results for Classes 5, 8, 9, and 11 has been stayed by the Supreme Court on April 8. The bench consisting of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal rendered this ruling.

Furthermore, the Court has mandated that the results of any schools board exams be placed on hold and kept completely confidential. In addition, these findings must not to be disclosed until later if the students and parents havent already received them. Private schools, on the other hand, have disputed this, claiming that the Right to Education Act does not include a provision for board exams.

According to Live Law, the Karnataka High Court previously gave the state government permission to organise board exams and continue the suspended exams for classes 5, 8, and 9. They were also allowed to complete the evaluation of the class 11 tests. Notably, the board exams for grades 5, 8, and 9 were halted midway due to a High Court injunction. Students, parents, teachers, and educational institutions all experienced confusion and uncertainty as a consequence of this.

The State Government was given permission by the Karnataka High Court on March 22 to hold board exams for classes 5, 8, 9, and 11 for the 20232024 academic year. The decision was reached by a bench that included Justice K Somashekar and Justice Rajesh Rai K. This followed the filing of an appeal by the State Government contesting the previous decision.

The state administration had previously been given permission by the Karnataka High Court to hold board examinations for classes 5, 8, and 9. Later, the state government issued an order to start holding the board exams for pupils in the fifth, eighth, and ninth grades from on March 11. The examinations were scheduled to end on March 18.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEEB) has issued the answer key for the Karnataka Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination (SSLC), also known as Class 10, 2024. The Karnataka SSLC Exam was held between March 25 and April 6 and students who sat the exam can now get the subject-specific answer keys via the official website at kseeb.karnataka.gov.in.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has issued an important advisory for candidates from Manipur, who are preparing for their UPSC Prelims Exam 2024. Candidates who initially chose Imphal as the exam venue can now switch to any of the 80 centres identified by the Commission across the country. The facility to change the exam centre will be available from April 8, 2024 to April 19, 2024. Candidates can avail this service through the UPSC website or through the toll-free helpline (1800118711) during office hours. They can also submit their requests for change of exam centre through email to uscsp-upsc@nic.in within the specified time frame. Candidates submitting a request for change of exam centre through any of the specified modes will be allotted to the venue of their preferred centre. Each candidate will receive a confirmation message about the change of exam centre on their registered mobile number.

According to the notification, the e-admit cards of these candidates along with other eligible UPSC Prelims candidates will be available for download about a week before the examination. The notification states, The e-admit cards for these candidates will be available for downloading on the UPSC website along with other eligible candidates for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2024, about a week before the examination date.

The Civil Services Examination (Preliminary) originally scheduled to be held on May 26, 2024, has been postponed to June 16, 2024 due to the general elections.

Last week, the UPSC informed the Delhi High Court that candidates from the hill districts of Manipur who have chosen Imphal as their examination centre can choose any of the seven centres outside the state to take the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024 and the Indian Forest Service Preliminary Examination 2024.

The High Court was hearing a plea filed by the Zomi Students Federation seeking the setting up of examination centres with adequate facilities in the hill districts of Manipur to enable tribal candidates to appear in the examination scheduled for May 26. The plea also sought directions to set up examination centres at Churachandpur and Kangpokpi in Manipur and reopen the application portal to enable candidates to choose the centre of their choice.
The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) is going to release the matriculation results soon. The class 10 board examination in West Bengal was conducted from February 2 to 12.

Following the announcements of the secondary school results, the qualifying students will be choosing the subjects that they wish to study further in Classes 11 and 12. However, this becomes difficult for most of the students as they get confused about which subject will be beneficial for them.

There is no division of the subjects in Bengali medium until secondary class. Till Class 10, the students study Bengali, English, Mathematics, History, Geography, Life Science and Physical Science subjects. After passing the matriculation examination, students are divided into three categories Science, Arts, and Commerce in the higher secondary school. Ahead of the boards announcement, a teacher has explained in detail about opting for any subject in the higher secondary level.

A teacher from Deula Bapuji Siksha Sadan, Medinipur, Swapan Ghosh has discussed the subjects that can be chosen when promoted to higher secondary.

He mentioned that the students who are interested in studying in the medical or engineering department can study science. On the other hand, those who want to go into teaching or other professions can study various subjects in the arts department and the ones aiming to go into the management and accounting sectors can pursue commerce. Ghosh also mentioned that all the subjects have their value and choosing any of them would be beneficial.

From this academic year 2024-25, examinations and studies will be conducted in the semester system in higher secondary, as per the recent syllabus revision. Also, several subjects of Artificial Intelligence and Computers have been added from this academic year.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal board has also discontinued subjects like Punjabi, Gujarati and French due to the decreasing number of student enrollment in recent years.
The Congress is euphoric with the 2.7 crore views its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections has received, on senior leader Rahul Gandhis Instagram. Saying the Nyay Patra has received a thumbs-up, the party said this is proof that the five nyay guarantees are being appreciated by the people of India.

In an exclusive to News18, Congress political strategist and communications head Jairam Ramesh said the manifesto is the peoples manifesto and will be a game-changer. This, too, on a day when top BJP leaders led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the document read like a manifesto for the Muslim League.

Let me ask the PM, Syama Prasad Mukherjee, the founder of the Jana Sangh, was in league with the Muslim League and part of a coalition government with it in Bengal. It was Mr (LK) Advani and Jaswant Singh, who went to Pakistan and eulogised leaders of the Muslim League. What is this language of the PM? A desperate PM? Is talking about farmer loans, filling government vacancies communal? All we said was that we will ensure constitutional rights of each and every Indian, including the minorities, Ramesh said.

He also dismissed the 400 paar slogan of the prime minister, saying this is being done to ensure that the Constitution is changed or rejected. But, he said there is change on the ground.

We will definitely get the required 272. Remember, in 2004, too, India was shining and you saw what happened, Ramesh said.

The Congress is clearly not impressed with the BJPs election campaign, while Ramesh said Prime Minister Modi knows he will not win this time. So, even the ghar mein ghuskar maarenge line by him was dismissed by the senior Congress leader.

This is a diversionary tactic. Pulwama was an intelligence failure, he said. But, the issue remains when it comes to the role of Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress has sealed an alliance with Omar Abdullah, but differences with some players still remain, such as the Trinamool Congress. Again, Ramesh said: The TMC remains part of the INDIA front.

And on who will be the PM face for the opposition bloc, he said: This is not a beauty contest. Its not a presidential system. Its not PM versus others. Its BJP versus Congress.

He dismissed the defections from his party saying only those threatened by the BJP or were opportunistic, were leaving. On Amethi, meanwhile, he put out a subtle hint. The people of Amethi want him (Rahul Gandhi) to fight from Amethi. The party wants but, in the end, the CEC will decide, he added.
Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister AK Antony wished that his son, Anil K Antony, who is the Bharatiya Janata Partys candidate from Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, should lose the election.

The 83-year-old Congress stalwart said that his son should lose, and his rival, the Congress candidate in the south Kerala constituency, Anto Antony, should win with an absolute majority.

AK Antony said that his decision to come out and address the media, to clarify his stance on the elections, was because the polls are meant to safeguard the idea of India and its constitution.

Its a do-or-die battle, the former Kerala Chief Minister said. On the repeated queries asked about Anils politics, he said, The Congress is my religion.

AK Antony, who is Indias longest-serving Defence Minister, cited his struggles with health as a reason behind not going out of Thiruvananthapuram to campaign for the grand old party.

However, he made sure to note that even if he didnt campaign in Pathanamthitta, Anto Antony  Congress candidate  would win with absolute majority.

For me, family and politics are different. This stance isnt new. I have maintained it since my days in KSU, AK Antony said. The KSU (Kerala Students Union) is the Congress student organisation in Kerala.

Anil Antony, meanwhile, reacted to his fathers remarks and said that the Congress has outdated leaders. He said that the party only sympathises with his father for supporting sitting MP and Congress candidate Anto Antony, who recently stirred controversy by passing remarks on the Pulwama terror attack.

Further, Anil exuded confidence and said that he would emerge victorious in Pathanamthitta. He had joined the BJP in April last year.

AK Antonys backing is a big boost for the grand old party, which faced two major setbacks after Anil and late Congress veteran K Karunakarans daughter  Padmaja Venugopal  joined the saffron party in Kerala.

Earlier, speculations were rife among certain quarters of Antonys political opponents that Anil had switched over to the BJP with his familys silent blessings. The allegations surged after a video of Anils mother  Elizabeth Antony  speaking at a church meeting, saying she knew her son would join the BJP surfaced online.

After Covid-19, Antony had addressed a press conference and taken a swipe at the BJP and the Left front government in Kerala. He had reinforced on why people should back the Congress to reinvent India and to protect the Indian Constitutions spirit.

The party that rules at the Centre has been trying to destroy the very concept of India, and the important question is how to stop this danger, Antony said. He went on to say that the BJPs golden years in Kerala are over and that the NDA will finish in the third place in all of the state constituencies.

The former Kerala chief minister said, Please write this down and keep it. They will finish in the third place in all constituencies in Kerala.

This year, there is no factor that favours BJP, and they are going to get a reduced share of votes, the Congress veteran said.

He also took a jibe at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and said neither him nor his party has anything to do with the creation of the nations Constitution, and the whole credit for its creation goes to the Congress and Dr BR Ambedkar.

His party (Communist) claimed that the independence India got was not independence and called for an armed rebellion against the Nehru government through the Calcutta Thesis, Antony alleged.

The Calcutta Thesis is a document formulated by the Communist Party of India (CPI) during its second congress held in Kolkata in 1948. The thesis advocated for a strategy of armed revolution against the Jawaharlal Nehru-led Indian government.

Antony called on the people to vote for Congress to end the rule of Narendra Modi and the RSS.

If BJP comes to power, the constitution of India will be sabotaged, and it would be the end of democracy. We need to put away that danger, the Congress stalwart said.

(with PTI inputs)
There is another storm brewing in the BJPs teacup. Prominent Veerashaiva Lingayat seer Fakira Dingaleshwar Swamiji is all set to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Karnatakas Dharwad constituency, and is up against union minister and BJP candidate Pralhad Joshi. At the outset, it looks like just another poll contest, other than the fact that it could marginally hurt the saffron partys electoral chances but significantly dent its image in the state.

Calling this election a dharma yuddha, the Lingayat seer, who is head of the Shirahatti Fakkireshwar Math, announced his decision to contest against Joshi. He not only accused the minister of neglecting the Lingayat community, but also insulting them.

Dingaleshwar Swamiji is a popular religious leader, who is known as a highly intellectual and extremely articulate leader with a large following. So, his decision to contest the polls comes at a time when the union minister is seeking re-election from the Dharwad seat for the fifth time.

The seers candidature as an independent will have a partial, if not major, impact on the BJP votes in the seat. People feel that elections in the state have become like match-fixing, alleged Dingaleshwar Swami, adding that he is contesting to provide justice to every community.

Five years ago, when the 2019 elections took place, he approached me and sought my blessings. At that time as well, I had asked him if I was an instrument for him only during the elections? He (Joshi) asked me for one final chance and sought my forgiveness, which I did, he said, targeting Joshi, who is the minister for parliamentary affairs as well as coal and mines.

Traditionally, Lingayats are known to back the BJP and this politically dominant community comprises nearly 17 to 18 per cent of Karnatakas electorate. The community also dominates close to 100 out of the 224 assembly segments in the state.

In the recently held assembly election in Karnataka, the Lingayats switched sides to give the Congress a thumping victory  135 out of 224 seats. The Dharwad constituency is also dominated by Lingayats, but Joshi, who is from the Brahmin community, has won here thrice in a row. If you look at the breakup, the Lok Sabha seat has at least 5.5 lakh Lingayats, 3.5 lakh Muslims, 2 lakh Kurubas and 2.7 lakh from the SC community.

I have announced my decision to contest as an Independent from the Dharwad Lok Sabha seat based on many repeated requests by local leaders who feel cheated by the sitting MP, the seer said.

Joshi ignored demands, pleas of Lingayats

Dingaleshwar Swamiji told News18 how he had felt insulted by the leader and, despite repeated requests, Joshi had turned a blind eye to the demands or pleas of the Lingayats. Recalling the insult meted out to him, he said: Three years ago, I had approached him for some help on a matter. Let alone help, in turn, he asked me why I did not approach a Lingayat leader. Is this the way to insult the community? Joshi should remember that people from different communities have voted him to power.

He further alleged that the four-time MP was elected as a custodian of the people of the region, but has miserably failed to keep up with the promises he made. From talukas to state leaders, he has hurt people. Every politician has faced hurt by him, every community in Karnataka has faced some form of hurt or humiliation by him. I have been hearing about such grievances from people and have even told him about it. He would ask my forgiveness and say he would work better the next time. There was never a next time, he added.

In Shimoga, in a tirade against pariwarvaad, senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa also announced his decision to contest as an Independent. He will be up against his partys candidate and son of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa. Dingaleshwar Swamiji said Joshi had played a major role in Eshwarappas son being denied a ticket in the 2023 assembly election, and now the Lok Sabha polls.

I had warned Eshwarappa and his son not to trust Pralhad Joshi. Told him (Eshwarappa) not to back down when the ticket was denied and that there were many power centres at play to ensure the denial of the ticket. Now you see what happened in reality, he said.

Dingaleshwar Swamiji further alleged that both the BJP and Congress have neglected the Lingayat community and, so, this has forced Veerashaiva leaders like him to enter the electoral fray to bring about justice for their community.

Importance of religious mutts in Karnatakas politics

On March 27, a group of seers from Dharwad had met under his leadership to urge the BJP to change Joshis candidature for the Dharwad seat. They had set a deadline of March 31, but after there was no move from Delhi, the mutt leader decided to field himself as a candidate.

Joshi preferred not to say anything about the seers comments or the decision to contest against him. I have no reaction to Dingaleshwar Swami whatever he says, I will consider them as blessings for me, he said.

In Karnataka, the outcome of the elections can often hinge on the approval or disapproval of the leaders of religious institutions known as mutts. These are important religious establishments, prevalent across the state and represented by different castes and communities including Lingayats, Vokkaligas, Kurubas, Valmikis, Nayakas, and Madigas.

The mutts are a spiritual centre, which are also deeply entrenched in providing education and rehabilitation of the underprivileged in society. While some of these places refrain from being directly involved in politics, mutt heads are often known to advise their followers to vote for any party of their choice while others openly advocate support for specific political parties or community leaders. The Lingayats alone have over a thousand mutts in Karnataka.

The Congress, meanwhile, has fielded a Kuruba leader, Vinod Asuti, from the seat. Karnataka will vote in two phases, and Dharwad will go to polls on May 7.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is campaigning for the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu for Lok Sabha Election 2024. PM Modi addressed a rally in Uttar Pradeshs Pilibhit and Madhya Pradeshs Balaghat. He will also hold a roadshow in Tamil Nadus Chennai.

The Prime Minister is campaigning for BJP Lok Sabha poll candidate Jitin Prasad in Pilibhit. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also attended the public meeting.

Addressing the voters of Pilibhit, the Prime Minister extended New Year greetings to countrymen on the occasion of Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheroba.

Chaitra Navratri has also begun from today. Shakti worship is in full swing across the country. Everyone is immersed in devotion and is engaged in Shakti worship. Baisakhi is also coming in a few days, I wish you a Happy Baisakhi too, he said.

Lashing out at the previous UPA government at the Centre, PM Modi said, There was a time when the Congress government used to ask for help from the world. But, during the Corona pandemic sent medicines to the world. When the country is strong then the world listens to that country. We rescued Indians from all over the world.

When intentions are right and spirits are high, then the results are also right. Today we are seeing developed India taking place everywhere, he added.

Listing the developmental works done under his government, Modi said, We are working towards our resolution to make India a developed nation. Amid all the difficulties before us, India is showing that nothing is impossible for itWhen Chandrayaan hoisted the national flag on the Moon, didnt you feel proud?

He praised the present BJP government in UP and said CM Yogi Adityanath government has given more money to sugarcane farmers in the state than what sugarcane farmers had received in 14 years of SP, BSP and Congress. The big campaign going on in the country regarding Ethanol Blending is also going to benefit the farmers of Pilibhit, he stated.

He said the BJP government has worked with full force to reduce the problems of sugarcane farmers and opened many sugar mills, while many have been expanded and are being expanded.

He also slammed INDIA bloc parties for not attending the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and said Congress tried its best to prevent the construction of the temple.

Our Kalyan Singh ji dedicated his life and government to the Ram temple. Every family in the country contributed according to their devotion. But the people of INDI alliance had hatred even before the construction of the Ram temple and they have hatred even today. Congress tried its best to prevent the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, but when the people of the country built such a grand temple by contributing every penny and invited then for Pran Pratishtha by forgiving all their sins, they (Congress) insulted Lord Ram by rejecting the invitation and expelled those who attended the ceremony for 6 years. he said.

PM Modi in Balaghat

Modi addressed an election rally in the Naxal-affected Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh during his second visit to the state in three days.

Speaking at the public meeting, Modi said some months ago, in the assembly elections in MP, residents completely wiped out the Congress. The love from mothers and sisters here clearly hints at the results in Madhya Pradesh on June 4. Now in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress people are not fighting with BJP, they are fighting with each other. That is why the voice is coming from every corner of Madhya Pradesh  Modi government once again, he said.

This was Modis second visit to Madhya Pradesh in three days. On Sunday, the BJPs star campaigner held a roadshow in Jabalpur, which is the nerve centre of the Mahakoshal region. Lok Sabha seats of Sidhi, Shahdol (ST), Jabalpur, Mandla (ST), Balaghat and Chhindwara will vote in the first phase on April 19. These constituencies are spread across Mahakoshal and Vindhya regions.

Balaghat is locked in a triangular fight between BJP candidate Bharti Pardhi, Congresss Samrat Saraswat and BSP nominee Kankar Munjare.In 2019, the BJP had won 28 of the 29 Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh with the sole exception being Chhindwara which was retained by the Congress.

PM Modi holds mega roadshow in Chennai

Prime Minister Modi held a mega roadshow in Chennai on Tuesday, ahead of the April 19 Lok Sabha elections. The roadshow was held on Thiyagaraya Road in the citys T Nagar locality.

#WATCH | People in large numbers gathered to witness the roadshow of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai, Tamil Nadu#LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/eZmjfWUYfW ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai said, When Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes to Chennai, the people of Chennai welcome our PM like their own son. The people of Chennai welcomed Narendra PM Modi with open arms. Todays road show of PM Modi is historic. The mood of Tamil Nadu through this roadshow is very clear and people are really excited and this is going to reflect on April 19 in a very big way.

#WATCH | After PM Narendra Modis roadshow in Chennai, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai says, When Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes to Chennai, the people of Chennai welcome our PM like their own son. The people of Chennai welcomed Narendra PM Modi with open arms. Todays road pic.twitter.com/InsUdjfbcw ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

BJP state president K Annamalai had earlier said the roadshow will be covering segments of both South Chennai and Central Chennai. Tamilisai Soundararjan is BJPs South Chennai candidate while Vinoj P Selvam is taking on DMK heavyweight Dayanidhi Maran from Central Chennai.

Traffic diversions had been announced by the police in the wake of the PMs event while security has been beefed up in the area.

The BJP, which is heading a bloc that includes Pattali Makkal Katchi and Tamil Maanila Congress-Moopanar, is making all out efforts to put up a better electoral show this time, under the leadership of an aggressive and assertive Annamalai, who is contesting the polls from Coimbatore.

The party has no representation from Tamil Nadu in the outgoing House.
Assams Dibrugarh constituency will be a must-watch for the AAP with only three candidates in the fray, and the partys Manoj Dhanowar taking on the BJPs Sarbananda Sonowal. But, the other interesting fact is that this seat, along with Nagaland, has the least number of candidates going into the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 19.

According to an analysis of poll data by News18, Dibrugarh and the sole Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland have only three candidates in the fray. Karur in Tamil Nadu, meanwhile, has the highest number of candidates in the fray at 54.

What is the poll scenario in Dibrugarh and Nagaland?

Manoj Dhanowar, the 47-year-old AAP candidate, is the son of eight-time Congress MLA from Digboi, the late Rameswar Dhanowar. Manoj failed to win on a Congress ticket in the 2021 assembly election. He faces a straight fight from 62-year-old Sonowal, who has served as the chief minister between 2016 and 2021 before he became part of the union cabinet.

Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) candidate Lurinjyoti Gogoi, meanwhile, will also be part of the triangular fight in Dibrugarh. He is a former general secretary of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and was a poster boy of the anti-CAA movement in the state.

Dibrugarh is among the five Lok Sabha seats in Assam to go to polls in the first phase. Out of a total of 14 seats in the state, another five will go to polls in the second phase and the remaining four in the third phase. A total of 35 candidates, including four women, are in the fray for the first phase.

Three candidates are contesting from the sole Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland. Congress candidate S Supongmeren Jamir, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and Peoples Democratic Alliance (PDA) consensus candidate Chumben Murry and Independent Hayithung Tungoe Lotha are in the fray.

According to numbers issued by the Election Commission of India on Monday, there are 1,625 candidates in the fray for the 102 Lok Sabha seats going to polls in the first phase. This includes 134 women and 1,491 men.

For the first phase of the polls, News18 has found that there are 86 candidates from the BSP, 76 from the BJP and 72 from the Congress. Close to 900 independents are also in the fray.

All Tamil Nadu seats voting in first phase

Tamil Nadu, which will have Lok Sabha elections for all the 39 seats in the first phase, has the highest number of candidates at 950. The state has 76 female candidates.

Across all the 102 Lok Sabha seats voting in the first phase, Karur has the highest number of candidates at 54. The BSP, BJP, AIADMK and Congress are in the fray here, while it has four more candidates from the registered political parties. In addition, 46 independents are also contesting from this seat, ECI data shows.

Several seats in Tamil Nadu have more than 30 candidates, including Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Sriperumbudur and Chennai Central with 31 candidates each. There are 41 candidates in Chennai South and 35 in Chennai North. The state has more than 600 independents in the fray.

A look at the other states

At least 12 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan will also go to polls in the first phase, where 114 candidates are trying their luck. Jaipur Rural seat has the highest number of candidates at 15, followed by 14 from Sikar, as well as 13 each from Churu and Jaipur. In Karauli-Dholpur seat, only four candidates are in the fray  one each from the Congress, BJP and BSP as well as an independent.

Single seats in nine states and UTs will also go to polls in the first phase. The list includes Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where 12 candidates are in the fray. Bastar (11 candidates) in Chhattisgarh; Udhampur (12) in Jammu and Kashmir; Lakshadweep (four); Sikkim (14); Tripura West (nine) in Tripura; Puducherry (26); and Mizoram (six) will have elections on single seats.

In Udhampur, the BJP has fielded union minister Jitendra Singh, who will be facing Lal Singh of the Congress, Amit Kumar of the BSP, and Balwan Singh of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (Bhim). Seven independent candidates are also contesting.

The two seats in Arunachal Pradesh  West (eight) and East (six)  are also going to polls in the first phase with 14 candidates trying their luck. The BJP has named cabinet minister Kiren Rijiju from the Arunachal West constituency, while the Congress has named Nabam Tuki. Five more independent candidates are also in the fight. In Arunachal East, Arunachal Pradesh BJP chief Tapir Gao is in the fray against Congress leader and former MLA Bosiram Siram.

In Assam, Kaziranga Lok Sabha seat has 11 candidates  the highest among the five seats going to polls in the first phase. It is followed by Lakhimpur (nine) and Sonitpur (eight). In Jorhat, four candidates are in the fray  Gaurav Gogoi (Congress), Topon Kumar Gogoi (BJP), and one independent candidate apart from one from a registered political party, Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal.

A total of 38 candidates are in the fray for the four Lok Sabha seats in Bihar: Gaya (14), Aurangabad (nine), Nawada (eight) and Jamui (seven).

For the six seats in Madhya Pradesh, there are 88 candidates  the highest from Jabalpur at 19. Sidhi (17), Shahdol (10), Mandla (14), Balaghat (13), and Chhindwara (15) will also go to polls in the first phase.

Out of the 97 candidates trying their luck on the five Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, the highest are from Ramtek at 28. The Shiv Senas Raju Deonath Parve is being challenged by Congress and BSP candidates. There are 26 candidates in Nagpur, where union minister Nitin Gadkari is contesting for the third time; 18 in Bhandara-Gondiya; 10 in Gadchiroli-Chimur and 15 in Chandrapur.

Ten candidates are in fray for Inner (six) and Outer (four) Manipur seats and an equal number are there in Meghalaya  six for Shillong and four for Tura.

The Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases with maximum seats covered in the first phase.
A man carrying a gun went close to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah while he was campaigning in an open vehicle on Monday and garlanded Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy who was standing next to him.

The incident happened at Bengalurus Bhairasandra when Siddaramaiah was campaigning for Reddys daughter and Congress Lok Sabha candidate Sowmya Reddy.

The man, identified as Riyaz, made a sudden climb on the vehicle while a gun was fastened to his waist and raised slogans in support of Congress. He then went on to garland Reddy, his daughter Sowmya and others.

Riyaz carrying a gun while meeting Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah during Model code of conductAppeasement taken to next level by Congress@ECISVEEP @HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/prZSBX06na      (@JPG2311) April 9, 2024

As he was getting down from the vehicle, Siddaramaiah and others on the vehicle noticed the gun.

According to the police, Riyaz has been carrying a gun since a murderous assault on him a few years ago and he has been exempted from surrendering his gun.

Sharing a post on X, the BJP targeted the chief minister, saying this proves that those who garland Siddaramaiah are hooligans, rowdies and street thugs.

Gun-wielding rowdies, who used to be seen in the birthday posters, are now posing in front of the society with guns and garlands the CM and deputy chief minister in the rallies. Although the election code of conduct is in force, they are carrying guns and demonstrating like this to intimidate the voters in the area, the party said.

(with PTI inputs)
Manipur continues to be tense ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The administration in the state is awaiting the surrender of 12,000 weapons before voting. According to a top official, out of 24,000 licensed weapons, which are mainly old, only 50% have been surrendered. During elections, all gun licence holders are bound to surrender their weapons for peaceful, free, and fair elections.

However, these 12,000 weapons are not a significant worry, as the bigger concerns are with the weapons stolen during clashes between the Kukis and Meitei. An official told News18 that these licensed weapons are not very sophisticated and are also very old. On the other hand, stolen weapons are highly sophisticated, including the latest AK series weapons, which are missing. Apart from weapons, a large amount of ammunition has also been missing since last year.

Importantly, Manipur, which has seen the deployment of over 200 companies solely for election purposes, may not see any campaign by star leaders from any political party. While opposition parties had made it tough for the government to run Parliament over Manipur situation, the fact is that no big leader has planned any campaign in Manipur. According to sources, no leader has planned any campaign rally in Manipur so far. No leader has informed the concerned authorities about the campaign, which would be tough to plan considering the situation.

Meanwhile, to address the issues of displaced persons, it has been decided that special arrangements will be made to enable them to vote. It is being said that special camps will be set up outside the relief camps to enable displaced voters in Manipur to cast their votes. Lok Sabha Elections are scheduled in two phases on April 19 and 26 in Manipur. Women have outnumbered men in terms of the number of voters in the state.

The hill state has witnessed sporadic, sometimes intense, ethnic clashes since May 3 last year between the majority Meitei community and the Kukis, resulting in the loss of over 200 lives. While Meiteis have concentrated in Imphal city, the Kukis have moved to the hills. The state has traditionally seen a high voter turnout, with more than 82 percent polling recorded in the 2019 general elections. However, ethnic violence has cast a shadow on the polls this time, with several civil society groups and affected people questioning its relevance under the current circumstances. There have also been calls from several quarters for boycotting the polls.

Prime Minister Modi, in an interview with the Assam Tribune, has said it is a collective responsibility to deal with the situation sensitively. I have already spoken about this in Parliament. Weve dedicated our best resources and administrative machinery to resolving the conflict. Because of the timely intervention of the Government of India and efforts made by the state government, there has been a marked improvement in the situation of the state, he told the newspaper. He said Home Minister Amit Shah stayed in Manipur while the conflict was at its peak, holding more than 15 meetings with different stakeholders to help resolve the conflict.
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Muslim math is likely keeping West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee away from all the major meetings of the opposition INDIA bloc  she even skipped the crucial Loktantra Bachao Rally held in solidarity against her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwals arrest. Instead, she sent Rajya Sabha MP and senior TMC leader Derek OBrien to represent her and the party.

The Muslim vote share, which accounts for at least 28 per cent of West Bengals total population, is low-hanging fruit for the three major parties in Bengal  TMC, Congress and CPM. With the BJPs increasing political influence in the state, these three parties are eyeing the significant Muslim voter base. Hence, the electoral mathematics around the Muslim vote share and seat-sharing arrangements could be the reason behind Mamatas absence from opposition meetings.

While she did send OBrien for the Delhi rally, senior leaders in the structure were not spotted there. Her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, also gave the rally a miss. This is particularly significant as the rally at Ramlila Maidan was attended by all senior opposition leaders, including senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as well as heads of the other regional parties.

The TMC, however, justified the absence of Mamata and Abhishek by saying the party was represented by a veteran leader. But, a close look at the partys electoral math, Bengals demography and the Congress-CPM role in the state paint a different picture.

With the political influence of the Congress and CPM shrinking in the state, Mamata is now trying to get hold of a majority of the minority vote share. A public association with the Congress and Left could have forced her to leave some Muslim-dominated seats to them. According to experts, a claim of full stake on the Muslim vote bank seems to be a crucial reason that keeps Mamata and Abhishek away from the major national meetings of the INDIA bloc.

Over 30% Muslims in at least 15 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats

Out of a total of 42 Lok Sabha constituencies, Bengal has around 14 to 15 seats with more than 30 per cent Muslim population. These are called the Muslim-dominated seats, of which in around eight to nine seats, the community has over 25 per cent population. This means they could play the deciding factor in these areas.

Since absolute consolidation of the Hindu vote has not yet happened in the state, the TMCs political calculation always moves around the chunk of Muslim votes through block voting, and a considerable percentage of Hindu votes that includes all castes. Traditionally, the ruling parties of Bengal  both the Left and TMC  have continued to secure a well-consolidated Muslim vote. Any split in this may put the ruling TMC in trouble.

An analysis of past results during Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls in the state show how the Congress had always been a dominating political force in Muslim majority districts and constituencies, which include Murshidabad, Malda and parts of Birbhum districts. Similarly, in some districts where Muslims and tribals were high in vote share percentage, Left parties had a firm control.

But, with Mamata claiming their turf and consolidating the Muslim vote in favour of the TMC, the Congress and CPM have become a depleting force. Leaving any seat to the Congress and sharing a stage with the Left at national meetings could send out a signal to the Muslims that voting for either will make the alliance stronger.

But, Mamata does not want her vote bank to split. She wants an absolute consolidation of Muslim votes and an additional 10 to 12 per cent anti-BJP votes, which appear to be a perfect combination for her to rule the roost. A public handshake with the Congress may confuse her voter base and jeopardise her electoral prospects.
Amid the controversy over the alleged meeting between DR Singh, SP, National Investigation Agency (NIA), Kolkata, and a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jitendra Tiwari, the SP has been called" to Delhi, News18 has learnt. Senior officers of NIA said that it was a routine" visit, and not a recall" order.

The agency is, however, yet to issue an official statement. The officer took an early morning flight to Delhi from Kolkata and landed in the capital. According to sources privy to the development, a midnight order from the NIA headquarters prompted such an action. The central investigating agency has sent a DIG-ranked officer to Kolkata to supervise the investigation. The DIG flew down to Kolkata from Patna last evening. He is the supervising officer of the case.

Following the arrest of two Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders in connection with a blast in East Midnapore district in December, senior TMC leaders, including partys national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, said that the SP had met Tiwari on March 26 at his residence. The TMC made the page of the entry-exit register of the housing complex, where the SP resides, public.

The page showed that Tiwari had entered and left the housing society and he went to the flat leased by Singh.

Dear @NIA_India , PLEASE CLARIFY if Jitendra Tiwari of BJP met with your SP, Dhan Ram Singh at his residence in Kolkata on the 26th March, while the MCC was in effect? Additionally, we have information suggesting HE ARRIVED WITH A PARCEL AND LEFT EMPTY-HANDED after 52 minutes. https://t.co/wr6FeVabiP  Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) April 7, 2024

Banerjee, while addressing an election rally for party candidate and actor Dev, said that he would also make the CCTV footage public if no action is taken. A 10-member TMC delegation, comprising senior MP Derek OBrien, Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghosh, Saket Gokhale and others, submitted a petition before the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding the transfer of the heads of all investigating agencies and action against Singh for violating model code of conduct. And later, they sat on a dharna in front of the commission .

Meanwhile, the NIA has moved Calcutta High Court for redress in connection with the molestation case filed against the officers who were attacked when they went for a raid in East Midnapore. The hearing has been scheduled for 2pm on Tuesday.
As Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief and states firebrand leader Raj Thackeray addresses the Gudi Padwa rally from Mumbais Shivaji Park on Tuesday, he is expected to clarify his stand on whether he will join the Mahayuti  an alliance of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction.

ALSO READ | BJP-MNS Alliance On Cards For LS Polls In Maharashtra? Raj Thackeray In Delhi To Meet Shah, Nadda

Thackeray has been in the headlines for the past few weeks. First, he held a meeting with Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah in Delhi, later, he met Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis in one of the posh hotels in Mumbai.

While the intention behind these meetings is clear, Thackeray has not officially announced it. As per sources in the Mahayuti, the BJP wants Thackeray to be part of this grand alliance and support the vision of PM Narendra Modi.

THACKERAY KEEN ON 3 SEATS, MAY GET NONE

If sources are to be believed, the BJP is in favour of Thackeray joining the grand alliance. However, there is little chance that his MNS may get any ticket for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While media reports suggested that Thackeray, in the meeting with Shah, had asked for three seats, chances of him getting even one look bleak as the BJP is eyeing seats such as Mumbai South and Mumbai Southwest, traditionally considered Senas bastions. The MNS is keen on Mumbai South, Shirdi and Nashik. Amid the ongoing tug-of-war, it is unlikely that the BJP may spare a seat for Thackeray.

Earlier, Nashik was considered the bastion of Thackeray. After the formation of the party, the MNS won the Nasik civic polls. The party also contested the Lok Sabha polls from South Mumbai where they got good response initially, but later people started preferring the Shiv Sena amid MNSs lack of clarity and vision.

BRAND THACKERAY, UDDHAVs SYMPATHY VOTES

Another opinion is that as Thackeray is a crowd-puller and his rallies are jam-packed, the BJP may get him as the fourth member of the alliance to eat into the sympathy votes for Uddhav Thackeray, whose party was split by Shinde. The BJP, whose core voters in the state are north Indians and Brahmins, hopes to attract the Marathi youth in pockets of Mumbai, Nashik and Thane with the support of Thackeray.

Thackeray has also been fully supporting Hindutva over the past couple of years. Hence, it will become easy for the BJP to justify joining hands with him.

ALSO READ | Unsure of LS Poll Victory, BJP Trying to Steal a Thackeray: Uddhav on MNS Chief-Amit Shah Meeting

In Maharashtra politics, the brand Thackeray remains prominent and if Thackeray joins the Mahayuti, the party will get that brand value along with an orator who can pull large crowds.

ANTI-NORTH INDIAN STANCE HITCH

The MNS has a history of anti-North Indian stand. The party has been aggressive against North Indians coming to Mumbai and Maharashtra for jobs. In 2008, the MNS attacked and vandalised the shops of North Indians in various parts of Maharashtra. They even opposed Chhath Puja, celebrated on a large scale in different parts of Mumbai.

Thackeray, while going ahead with his agenda, had also targeted actor Amitabh Bachchan for promoting Uttar Pradesh and doing business with the state. Thackeray said that it was the Mumbai film industry that gave him glory, name and fame. While this stance brought him support from the Marathi youth, it didnt convert into votes after the 2009 election. So it wont be easy for the BJP to convince their North Indian voters to accept Thackeray and his party.
Amid the buzz of businessman Robert Vadras debut from Uttar Pradeshs Amethi, Sonia Gandhis son-in-law has once again hinted at his political ambitions. He told a news agency that people of Amethi feel that if he contests from the seat, the voters will have the option of correcting their mistake of electing Smriti Irani.

In an interview with IANS, Robert Vadra said, Not just Amethi, I am getting party workers support from all over the country to actively join politics. Yes, I admit that the Amethi bit (of him contesting Lok Sabha polls from the constituency) is getting more prominence because I have campaigned there since 1999.

They (people of Amethi) feel that if I contest from there, theyll have the option of correcting their mistake of electing Smritiji. I am sure they will ensure my victory by a huge margin if I contest. However, I will not fight to challenge someone even though Smritiji levelled unsubstantiated allegations against me in the past, he further told the news agency.

Vadra, however, added that he would show his full support to his brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi if he decided to file his nomination from the Amethi seat.

Amethi will vote on May 20 in the fifth phase of polling along with UPs Mohanlalganj, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Jalaun, Jhansi, Hamirpur, Banda, Fatehpur, Kaushambi, Barabanki, Faizabad, Kaiserganj and Gonda.

Amethi and Rae Bareli were once strongholds of the Gandhi family. However, in 2019 elections, Rahul Gandhi was dethroned by Union minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani.

On the other hand, Rae Bareli has been represented in the Lok Sabha by Sonia Gandhi since 2004. The former Congress president, however, moved to the Upper House of Parliament. Congress Uttar Pradesh in-charge Avinash Pandey on Monday said the names for both seats would be announced at the right time.

There are speculations that Sonias daughter and Robert Vadras wife Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may be given the Congress nomination from Rae Bareli. Priyanka Gandhi, so far, has not indicated her wish on contesting polls.

A report in The Sunday Guardian stated that she is apparently disappointed at being sidelined in the party, which is virtually being run by her brother, Rahul and his coterie, with Sonia Gandhi endorsing every decision.

The report further stated that there is probably a difference in the family and this may impact the elections.

In the light of this, there is also demand that the party chief, Mallikarjun Kharge, should be asked to enter the fray from Rae Bareli, and one of the Gandhi siblings should contest from Amethi, to send the right signal to the cadre, the publication mentioned.
Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot has supported Indias action against terrorism in Pakistan, saying his party would support such strong action on the Indo-China border too. Speaking to News18, Pilot said Prime Minister Narendra Modis 400 paar rhetoric is to finish off the opposition.

News18 travelled with Pilot on Monday on his campaign trail in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan with rallies in Sikar, Jhunjunu, Jaipur (Rural), and Alwar ahead of Lok Sabha Election 2024. In a detailed interview, Pilot made a big claim that the Congress will win more seats than the BJP in Rajasthan, after scoring a blank in 2014 and 2019. Our candidates and campaign are better this time, Pilot said and also defended the candidature of former chief minister Ashok Gehlots son Vaibhav Gehlot from Jalore, saying he was a part of the decision. No one asks why Vasundhara Rajes son is again contesting from Jhalawar Pilot said.

He said that the BJP terming Congress manifesto as akin to that of the Muslim League smacked of an effort of polarisation. This country belongs to everybody and every single citizen has equal rights. To see religion in everything the opposition does is also a sense of insecurity, Pilot told News18. Pilot said when to declare candidates from Amethi and Rae Bareli was the partys prerogative and strategy, and said Rahul Gandhi was actively campaigning. Let bygones be bygones, Pilot said, on if Congress would have performed better in state polls if he was projected as CM.

Here are edited excerpts from Pilots interview with News18:

Q: Congress could not win any seat in Rajasthan in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha Polls. Will it be any different this time?

Sachin Pilot: A lot has changed in the last 10 years. The continuous victory of the BJP in Rajasthan has made the people tired of the BJP because expectations have not been fulfilled. Last time, elections were held under typical circumstances as we are a border state and there was a different atmosphere at that time due to action on the border (Balakot). Now, 5 years are gone and after 10 years of the Modi government, all major promises on price rise and doubling income of farmers have not been fulfilled. The performance of BJP MPs is also under a question mark. We did not form the government in December but the difference between BJP and Congress vote share was just 1-2%. But now, I feel there is a desire for change. Our candidates and campaign are better and the new state government in the last four months has not left a mark on people. We will win more seats than BJP in Rajasthan.

Q: But Narendra Modi has given the slogan of 400 Paar for the NDA

Sachin Pilot: There seems to be complacency in the BJP and also a bravado in the rhetoric of 400 paar. If the BJP was so confident of 400 paar, why would they want to break the opposition, take Congress leaders and give them tickets to fight? Obviously, they sense peoples patience is running out after 10 years. The time has come for people to ask questions and ask for transparency on issues that are important to their daily lives. It is not about emotional and regional issues, elections should be fought on people issues. Congress and INDIA are trying to bring back focus on elections and people issues. All this talk of 400 paar and Amritkaal and 2047 mein yeh hoga rather a 10-year report card should be up for debate.

The attitude now is vipaksh ko khatam kar do (finish the opposition, finish the Congress). That is not the right way to think in a healthy democracy. In a democracy, the opposition is almost as important as the government. There has to be a level playing field. There is no level playing fieldyou freeze accounts, and jail elected CMs while a model code of conduct is in place. You can investigate anyone and take action  but why is it that 95% of your searches, raids and arrests happen with people in the opposition and the minute that person joins the BJP, he becomes clean and you say the law will take its own course. People are able to see through this. They are misusing central agencies to serve their political interests.

Q: This time, PM and Rajnath Singh have said Ghar Mein Ghus Ke Marenge on Pakistan-sponsored terror. The Guardian has done a report on India eliminating terrorists on Pakistan soil

Sachin Pilot: Anything that India as a country does to safeguard its borders, and to take action against anybody who is anti-national whether within India or outside India  not just I, my party, and the entire country supports that action. That action is always in the interest of our country, our sovereignty, our integrity, and our internal security, that is above elections, that is above party politics, that is above BJP and Congress. I support the point that anything we do as a nation that supports our internal security and securing of borders.also if the government takes action on the China border where incursions are from the Chinese side  we will support that. Rhetoric and speeches are one thing during elections, but your performance and actions are very important when you are in government. Any action against terrorists, who will oppose that?

Q: Prime Minister has called Congress Manifesto to be inspired from that of Muslim League and accused your party of appeasement

Sachin Pilot: When we say we will give a legal guarantee for MSP and Rs 1 lakh to every poor household in the country, 50% of jobs will go to women, we will uplift weaker sections  where does religion come into it? The constitution is very clear  this country belongs to everybody, and every single citizen has equal rights. To see religion in everything that the opposition does is also a sense of insecurity  because that is the last stop. Mandir, masjid, hindu, muslim  why dont you talk about infrastructure, growth, progress, welfare schemes? Whatever we do in this country should have an open thorough debate. Everyone has a right to express their opinion, let it be debated in parliament and state assemblies  and whatever the consensus comes, we should do that, but to base an election only on contentious issues to polarize the thinking of voters, I do not think that is healthy for our democracy.

Q: Both you and Ashok Gehlot are not contesting these elections? But Digvijaya Singh and Bhupesh Baghel have taken the plunge

Sachin Pilot: Everybody in Congress is given specific tasks, someone is doing communication, and someone is doing election campaigning. You are right, Baghel and Digvijaya Singh, our former CMs are contesting, because the party thought they were the best candidates to fight. I am campaigning in Rajasthan, I have been given charge of Chhattisgarh, I will be going to Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir. Kisko kya karna hai, that is decided by the leadership of AICC. But it is our collective responsibility, haar jeet sabki hai. I am campaigning in all 25 Lok Sabha seats of Rajasthan.

Q: Ashok Gehlots son Vaibhav Gehlot is contesting again, now from Jalore. Isnt this parivaarvaad?

Sachin Pilot: Ashok Gehlots son fought the last time but was not successful. This time, amongst all candidates, the party decided after a survey and discussion with all leaders including myself, that lets select the most winnable candidate and that is Vaibhav Gehlot and I am sure he will win from Jalore this time. When Vasundhara Raje jis son (Dushyant Singh) is contesting for the 4th time from Jhalawar, that is not parivaarvaad? You cannot be selective in your definition. Ultimately people are wiser to decide.

Q: The Prime Minister asks where is your Captainshould Rahul Gandhi not lead?

Sachin Pilot: This is an election on issues, it is not a popularity contest. It is a parliamentary form, you are electing an MP, and the largest party will decide who will lead the government. In INDIA bloc, we will decide who gets what position once we get the mandate from the people. BJP has a PM, they are fighting with himwe have come together despite the differences because the need today is for a strong opposition and INDIA is coming together in various states. We are giving a formidable challenge and come June 4, we will get the required numbers to form the government.

Mallikarajun Kharge is our president, but Rahul Gandhi also leads from the fronthe is doing 2 to 3 rallies daily, he has done two yatras, and he is doing the best he can. The key lies in the heartland states where there is a bipolar contest between BJP and Congress.

Q: But you are not even able to declare your candidates from Amethi and Rae Bareli so far

Sachin Pilot: We have 7 phases of elections. As and when a phase is coming, we are announcing candidates. It is our prerogative, our strategy and our decision about who will fight and when we announce who is going to contest. Let the BJP worry about its own candidates.

Q: What went wrong in the 2023 Rajasthan elections?

Sachin Pilot: See, we have been losing every time after forming the government in Rajasthanit has been going on for three decades. We tried our best, we got 70 seats which was much higher than earlier when we got just 21 seats in 2013. But unfortunately, 18 of our ministers lost. If we had given more new people chances, we could have performed better. We are all wiser in hindsight. Also, over-dependance on some bureaucrats created some problems in the organization. We have done some course correction and now our campaign and candidates are better, and the response of people is much better.

Q: Some say the party may have won Rajasthan if you had been projected as the CM?

Sachin Pilot: Let us let bygones be bygones. Whats gone is gone. Our focus is now on the Lok Sabha elections. In the first phase, we are very well placed. We did well in the Shekhawati belt in assembly elections also. That will set the tone for the rest of the state. The top brass of BJP is here full throttle. PM Modi is campaigning every alternative day  this shows there is some nervousness in the rank and file of the BJP.

Q: You are arguably the most popular leader of your party in Rajasthan but you are just a member of the campaign committee, not its chief

Sachin Pilot: I am now a General Secretary in the party and I have got responsibility of an important state (Chhattisgarh). I am campaigning hard for the party and I think the party has given me enough chances in the Centre and the state, bahut kuch diya hai. I continue to work hard whatever the circumstances. I give it my best, I am campaigning the hardest.

Q: Why do you think people should vote for the INDIA bloc?

Sachin Pilot: Congress and INDIA bloc are presenting an alternative governance modelwe will protect constitutional bodies in this country. The process where politics of using agencies for political purposes should be stopped and brute force and politics of aggression should stop. You suspend MPs and pass bills. Whatever people will decide, we will humbly accept that. You give 80 Cr people subsidied food and then you say that we are becoming the 3rd biggest economy in the world.

Lets have an election which is on a level playing field. No point in doing politics which inflames passions, the BJP is just calling names to Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Manmohan Singh. They are just creating media hype.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has high hopes from Dr Sukanta Majumdar, who is being seen as the Captain as well as an important batsman for his team in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in West Bengal. Dr Sukanta Majumdar, BJP State chief, is contesting from Balurghat for the second time on the party ticket.

Majumdar is busy campaigning with polling set to take place in Balurghat in the second phase of elections on April 26. Speaking to News18 during his campaign, Majumdar called the TMC characterless, lootera and chor (thief) and also hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over issues like CAA, Sandeshkhali and corruption.

Here are excerpts from Dr Sukanta Majumdars interview with News18:

Q: Hows the josh?

Dr Sukanta Majumdar: The josh is high for me. The last time we won this seat by around 35,000 votes, this time, the margin will be around 1 lakh votes. This time we will win this seat by a bigger margin as a gift to Modi ji.

Q: CAA is very big issue. How will it affect the BJP as a whole and also on your seat?

Dr Sukanta Majumdar: Balurghat is a constituency in the border area in South Dinajpur. A lot of people have been compelled to leave Bangladesh and come here. We will provide citizenship to all refugees. As a Hindu, I personally believe that if any person, who is a Hindu and is facing torture in another country, they have every right to come to Bengal. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee fought for us. Balurghat was with Pakistan for three days even after Independence. It was Shyamaprasad Mukherjee who fought and this area got Independence. Thats why I personally believe whenever Bengali Hindus face any problems in any other country, they have every right to come back to Bengal.

Q: Mamata Banerjee has said that those who apply for citizenship under CAA will be considered foreigners. What do you have to say to that?

Dr Sukanta Majumdar: Our country is a product of partition, and we have to accept this truth. That partition was made on the basis of religion. We have to accept that fact. We have a unique problem. Hindus who became refugees have to come here. Even my forefathers came from the other side in 1947. That was legal, but now if people come here and seek citizenship, why is that illegal?

Q: What do you have to say to people who will apply for citizenship under CAA? What do you have to say on the TMC campaign that once anybody applies, that person will become a foreigner?

Dr Sukanta Majumdar: Being the chief of BJPs Bengal unit, I can assure everyone that nobodys citizenship will go. Through you, I want to tell people to apply, its my responsibility to give you citizenship. Mamata Banerjee is spreading lies. When CAA was passed, railway stations were vandalised. But this time, minorities, too, understood that what Mamata Banerjee has been saying is not right. Mamata provoked them at that point of time.

Q: Sandeshkhali is an issue this election. The opposition is saying that you are eyeing women votes and thats why you are highlighting Sandeshkhali?

Dr Sukanta Majumdar: Sandeshkhali is not a one-of incident. There are more such TMC leaders present in other ares. Here in Balurghat also, a TMC candidates brother is from the same category. TMC means characterless, lootera, chor. Thief and TMC are synonymous.

Q: Is Corruption a big issue this time?

Dr Sukanta Majumdar: It is definitely an issue. Corruption has become the character of TMC, but this time, people will focus more on Sandeshkhali. It is a penetrating issue. As for corruption, people have become habituated with it. While we did not have any proof earlier, now we have heaps of proof.

Q: Are you reaching out to women?

Dr Sukanta Majumdar: Obviously, 50 percent electorate is women. We are always with women and will reach out to them. Bengal families are women-led families. The women decide where to vote and where not to vote. Bengal is a women-led state.

Q: Mamata Banerjee is saying they are giving Lakshmir Bhandar.

Dr Sukanta Majumdar: We will give Rs 2000 to 3000 in lakshmir bhandar and we will name it Annapurna bhandar. Though this will not help them, what they require is industry and BJP will bring industry. Our young generation will get jobs. Our states economic condition is bad.

Q: Is violence an issue in election?

Dr Sukanta Majumdar: Its very difficult to have violence-free election in Bengal for TMC. I hope central forces will do well. They will do their work.

Q: The ED, NIA were attacked, but the TMC called it a conspiracy saying they have proof.

Dr Sukanta Majumdar: If there is any proof, go to court. If they have the truth, they should go to court.

Q: You are the captain as well as a player in West Bengal. How you are managing?

Dr Sukanta Majumdar: The party is the captain. I will complete my election with a win.

Q: The Chief Minister has claimed that you will spread violence on Ram Navami?

Dr Sukanta Majumdar: Its the festival of the Hindu community. It is the duty of Mamata Banerjee to keep peace. I have information that she has instructed communal forces to attack people, the way she did in 2021. She said its the ECs responsibility and instructed goons to create violence.

Q: Whats your take on Dilip Ghoshs comment?

Dr Sukanta Majumdar: He has been showcaused. But Mamata Banerjee calls me Kulangar (bad person in dynasty), how is that justifiable? Kulangar is her family member.

Q: Will you touch 35 seats this election?

Dr Sukanta Majumdar: We have promised Amit Shah and we will do it. I brought train to my constituency and have spent Rs 3 crore to come up with an AI centre. Last time, I knew nothing when I contested, this time I know that people will support me.
This will be the fifth Lok Sabha Election since 2004 where the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would be used in India, maintaining the shift the country made from the traditional ballot paper system.

Almost 55 lakh EVMs are expected to be in circulation in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections that will take place from April 19 in seven phases, with results declared on June 4.

Let us first look at some interesting facts about EVMs.

A person needs to press the button against the name of the candidate or party symbol flashing on the screen of the EVM to cast his/ her vote.

The EVMs can cater to a maximum of 64 candidates (including NOTA); each ballot unit has a provision for 16 candidates. If the total number of candidates exceeds 16, a second Balloting Unit can be linked in series to the first Balloting Unit.

The EVMs manufactured after 2013 (Upgraded Post-2006 version) can attach 24 ballot units to one control unit catering to a maximum of 384 candidates (including NOTA).

The EVMs, devised and designed by the Election Commission in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bangalore, and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd, Hyderabad, dont require electricity. They run on an ordinary 7.5-volt alkaline power pack.

A maximum of 3,840 votes can be cast on the old version EVMs (2000-05 model) and 2,000 votes in the new version of EVMs (2006 model onwards).

The Control Unit of the EVM can store the result of an election in its memory for 10 years and even more.

Each Control Unit and Balloting Unit is assigned a unique ID number, which is engraved on each unit. A list containing the ID numbers of the EVM (Balloting Unit & Control Unit) to be used in a specific polling station is prepared and provided to the contesting candidates and their agents.

After the completion of the poll, when the last voter has voted, the officer in charge of the Control Unit presses the Close button. Once this is done, the EVM does not accept any more votes.

There is no chance of reprogramming the EVMs in a way that could favor any specific candidate or political party. The ECI-EVMs can reveal who voted for whom using a device called a decoder.

The cost of the 1989-90 EVM model was Rs 5,500/- per unit, which rose to Rs 8,670 per unit with the 2000-05 models. Since 2006, each unit of an EVM costs Rs 8,670 excluding excise duty, sales tax, and transportation.

History of EVM

The idea was first conceived in 1977. The first prototype of an EVM was designed by the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd in Hyderabad, a PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy in 1979.

The EC had given the demonstration of the EVM before the representatives of political parties on August 6, 1980.

After reaching a consensus, the EC issued directives under Article 324 of the Constitution for the use of EVMs. On May 19, 1982, the voting machines were used on a pilot basis in 50 polling stations during election to Parur assembly seat in Kerala.

The use of EVMs was challenged in the Supreme Court, but it refrained from making any comment on the defects or advantage, but held that the ECs order regarding the casting of ballots by machines was without jurisdiction.

The results of the winning candidate from Parur constituency with respect to the other 50 polling stations where EVMs were used was set aside.

The Representation of the People Act was amended in December 1988 and a new section, 61A, was included in the law, empowering the EC to use EVMs. The amendment came into force on March 15, 1989.

In 1998, the EVMs were used in the elections in 16 assembly constituencies across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. Their use was further expanded in 1999 to 46 parliamentary constituencies, and in February 2000, the machines were used in 45 assembly seats in Haryana polls. Since then, EVMs have been used in all assembly elections thereafter.

In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, EVMs were used in all 543 constituencies.

How are EVMs Different from VVPAT?

In 2013, the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 were amended to introduce the use of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. They were first used in Nagaland bye-election in Noksen assembly seat.

At least one ballot unit, one control unit and one VVPAT make up one EVM. The VVPAT machine is attached to the ballot unit of an EVM, provides a visual verification for the vote cast by printing a slip of paper with the voters choice on it.

The slip contains the candidates name, serial number and the party symbol, and is displayed in the machine behind a glass window, giving the voter seven seconds to verify their vote. After this, the slip falls into a compartment underneath. No voter can take the slip back home.

Since 2019, VVPAT slips have been chosen randomly from five polling stations of each constituency and are matched with the EVM count. No discrepancy has been found so far, according to the EC.

In 2018, the EC asked the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) to come up with a mathematically sound, statistically robust and practically cogent sample size for the internal audit of VVPAT slips with electronic results of EVMs, as per the affidavit it had filed in the Supreme Court. In February, the EC allowed the counting of VVPAT slips of one randomly selected polling station per Assembly constituency. This was increased to five after the Supreme Courts judgment following the petition filed by N Chandrababu Naidu, the leader of Telegu Desam Party (TDP).

Brickbats Over EVMs

The Opposition, mainly, the INDIA bloc, have consistently demanded that the slips in all constituencies should be matched with the EVM count for more transparency. The parties have demanded 50% to 100% verification of VVPAT slips. The government, however, has categorically said no to the reintroduction of the ballot system.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar recently clarified that it is the responsibility of the Election Commission to convince political parties.

Former CEC Sunil Arora pointed out how the EVM issue has been used conveniently by the political parties. It is not possible to manipulate EVMs. They are definitely foolproof as far as apprehensions of conspiracy and manipulation are concerned. But technical snags are possible as in case of any other device, he said.
Air India has announced that it will develop Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru as an aviation hub for southern India for long-haul flights.

Tata Group airlines, which include Vistara and Air India Express, will collaborate with the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) to strengthen the groups present flight network at the airport, and establish a domestic lounge, as per the contract.

At present, New Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport is the largest international hub in the country for major Indian airlines such as IndiGo and Air India.

What Changes will the Initiative Bring?

The aviation hub at the Bengaluru airport and enhanced international connectivity for south India will work under a hub-and-spoke system. In aviation, this system is built around a central airport to which all traffic from the spoke airports is directed. The hub serves as a transfer point to fly passengers to their final destination, as mentioned in a report by Livemint.

Airline-airport synergy is key to elevated customer experience and efficient operations, while Bengaluru is highly attractive as an origin and destination market as well as a connecting hub, Campbell Wilson, chief executive officer and managing director, Air India, said in a statement.

As part of the initiative, Air India has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka government to establish Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities at the airport.

The MRO is expected to generate 1,200 new job opportunities for highly skilled individuals.

Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru had a footfall of 37.2 million passengers in 2023 and processes 422,644 tonnes of cargo.

What is an Aviation Hub?

The hub is characterised by the air traffic and flight operations. The airports in an aviation hub act as transfer points for passengers to reach their final destination. These hubs are also identified with one or two leading airlines that provide direct connectivity between major international cities and also to tier-2 and tier-3 cities with one-stop connectivity, as mentioned in a Livemint report.

They are based on hub-and-spoke model to route the plane traffic. A hub is a central airport that flights are routed through, and spokes are the routes that planes take out of the hub airport. Most major airlines have multiple hubs. The main purpose of the hub-and-spoke system is to save airlines cost and give passengers better routes to destinations.

OAG, an aviation research firm, has marked London Heathrow as the most connected airport in the world for 2023, followed by New Yorks JFK Airport, Amsterdam Airport of Netherlands, Kuala Lumpur Airport of Malaysia and Haneda Airport of Tokyo.

The most important aspect of setting up a hub is to have dominance of at least one airline. For example, in the Heathrow Airport, the British Airways has 50% share in the total number of flights that operate out of London Heathrow. Delta Airline has 34% share at JKF airport, KLM-Royal airline has 53% share at Amsterdam Schiphol airport and Air Asia has 34% share in flights from Kuala Lumpur.

An airport hub should also offer a minimum transit time between two routes  whether international to international or international to domestic connectivity. Dubai international airport, which has a capacity of 90 million passengers per year, has three major terminals with over 50 gates each, and facilitates a transfer time of up to 30 minutes between each of these terminals, as reported in Livemint.

Hubs in India

The Centre has been pushing for aviation hubs in the country to make to enable one-stop international connectivity via India to overseas destinations, which would not only boost the air traffic but also bring more investment and commerce.

A plan is underway for Delhi, which is Indias largest and busiest airport, and handled 4,29,964 aircraft movements and 65.32 million passenger traffic in 2022-23 (April-March).

According to the Centres national aviation hub policy, a panel has been set up by the government to designate Delhi airport as an international hub in line with Dubai and Doha airports.

The policy will address challenges such as doable security checks and immigration bottleneck to allow seamless connectivity between domestic and international flights.

As per the draft policy, the government is also likely to assess the introduction of differential charges for Indian and foreign airlines at airports in the country, Livemint reported.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) are looking at ways to align every agency to ensure a seamless transfer experience. One solution could be implementing the US pre-clearance facility at Delhis IGI, meaning that passengers would arrive in the US as domestic passengers  having cleared US immigration and customs at New Delhi, as mentioned in a report by Hindustan Times.

Under the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance, CBP personnel at designated foreign airports inspect travellers before boarding US-bound flights. They then bypass CBP and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections upon arrival in the US and proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination.

At present, 15 Preclearance locations are in six countries: Dublin and Shannon in Ireland; Aruba; Bermuda; Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates; Nassau in the Bahamas; and Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg in Canada.
The Delhi High Court dismissed chief minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwals plea challenging his arrest and Enforcement Directorate remand in the excise policy case on Tuesday. After the setback from the High Court, the Aam Aadmi Party said that Kejriwal will move the Supreme Court for relief.

Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, in its order today, said Kejriwal collected kickbacks as the AAPs national convenor.

The material collected by ED reveals Mr Arvind Kejriwal conspired and was actively involved in use and concealment of proceeds of crime. The ED case also reveals that he was involved in his personal capacity as well as convenor of AAP, read the court order.

The HC said there cannot be any specific privilege for any one including the Chief Minister.

This court is of the opinion that the accused has been arrested and his arrest and remand has to be examined as per law and not as per timing of elections, the High Court said.

Judges Are Bound By Law Not Politics: HC

The HC further said that Kejriwals challenge to timing of arrest before General elections in absence of any mala fide on part of ED is not sustainable.

It said that casting aspersions on process of pardon and approver is like questioning the credibility of the judge. We hold that judges are bound by law not politics. Judgements are given on legal principles not political considerations, the HC remarked.

The High Court further said that the ED was in possession of enough material which had led them to arrest Kejriwal. Non joining of investigation by Kejriwal, delay caused by him was also impacting those in judicial custody, it said.

The present case is not a case between the Central government and Mr Kejriwal but between Mr Kejriwal and ED. The Court must remain vigilant that it is not influenced by any extraneous factors, it said.

The Delhi High Court, last week, had reserved the order on Kejriwals plea. The chief minister had challenged his arrest and his remand in the Enforcement Directorates custody.

The Aam Aadmi Party chief questioned the timing of his arrest by the federal agency saying that it was in contravention of the Constitutions basic structure, including democracy, free and fair elections and level playing field.

However, the ED opposed Kejriwals plea saying that he cannot claim immunity from arrest on the grounds of elections because the law is applied to both him and an aam aadmi (common man) equally.

During the hearing, the central probe agency also told the court that it wanted to seize properties belonging to AAP, but could not do so as the party would cite election dates.

The ED also said that the political party, which was the major beneficiary of the proceeds of the crime, has committed the offence through Kejriwal.

The probe agency further said that the investigation over Kejriwals role in the liquor policy case was at a nascent stage even as it claimed that it had located the money trail.

Kejriwal To Move SC

Senior AAP leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj told a press conference soon after the HC order that they are hopeful the Supreme Court will provide relief to Kejriwal in the same way it granted bail to AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh recently.

We respect the institution of the high court but we respectfully submit that we do not agree with its order and will move the Supreme Court against it, Bharadwaj said. The so-called excise policy scam is the biggest political conspiracy to finish off the party and Kejriwal, he alleged.

ARVIND KEJRIWALS ARREST

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is under judicial custody in Tihar Jail till April 15. He was arrested by the ED on March 21.

The AAP national convenor faces allegations of direct involvement in a conspiracy related to the formulation of excise policy favouring specific individuals. He is also accused of soliciting kickbacks from liquor businessmen in exchange for favours, as claimed by the probe agency.
Four officers were injured and three encountered "significant blood exposure" by an inmate at Cayuga Correctional Facility recently, according to the union representing state corrections officers.

The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association said in a news release Tuesday that a 36-year-old inmate was being housed in a residential rehabilitation unit at the medium security facility in Moravia for previous disciplinary charges. On March 30, an officer making rounds observed that the cell window was covered. The inmate was given multiple orders to respond and uncover the window, but remained unresponsive.

A response was called and the cell door was opened, the union said, but when staff entered the cell, the inmate charged at them from the shower. An officer armed with a shield pushed the inmate back against the wall. Three officers utilized body holds to force the inmate to the ground as he remained combative, the union continued. He bit one officer on the thumb and elbowed a second officer in the stomach. Staff contained his legs as his arms were forced behind his back and handcuffs were applied. The inmate was then brought to his feet and escorted out of the cell to a holding pen.

During the escort, NYSCOPBA said, the inmate spit bloody saliva onto one officer's nose and mouth.

The inmate continued to be resistant during the escort, the union said, and spit blood onto another officer's face and eye. When officers arrived at the holding pen, the inmate was placed inside. The inmate forcefully inserted his bloody finger into an officer's mouth before being forced to the wall. Leg restraints were applied and once in full restraints, the inmate became compliant.

The three officers who sustained blood exposure were treated at the facility "and it was deemed their exposure was significant," NYSCOPBA said. They were transported to Cortland Medical Center for treatment. The officers also sustained thumb, shoulder and facial pain and swelling. The officers were treated at the medical center and returned to duty.

A fourth officer sustained hand and finger injuries subduing the inmate. He was treated at the facility and remained on duty.

The inmate is serving a 20-year sentence after being convicted in 2009 in Erie County for first-degree manslaughter in the beating death of a 15-year-old. He was transferred to Auburn Correctional Facility after the Moravia incident.

In a statement, NYSCOPBA Western Region Vice President Kenny Gold said the inmate "clearly baited the officers to enter the cell with the clear intent on attacking them."

The attack at Cayuga highlights the wide variety of dangers officers face every day during encounters with inmates," Gold said.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. He will remain in Tihar jail till April 15

The court is of the view that the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal was not in contravention of legal provisions. The remand cant be held to be illegal, said Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma while delivering the verdict.

Besides his arrest in the case, Kejriwal, who is currently in judicial custody, also challenged his subsequent remand in ED custody in the case.

Heres a Brief Chronology of Events in the Delhi Excise Policy Case:

July 2022: Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommends a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise policy.

August 2022: CBI and ED register cases in connection with alleged irregularities.

September 2022: The Delhi government scrapped the excise policy which was formulated by then Excise Minister Manish Sisodia.

February 2023: Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), followed by the ED in March that year. In the chargesheet filed by the ED, Sisodia was named a key conspirator in the case.

October 4, 2023: AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was arrested by the ED after a 10-hour search at his home. According to the ED, Singh is a key conspirator in the alleged scam.

October 30, 2023: ED sent the first summons to Delhi CM Kejriwal in the money laundering case for an appearance on November 2.

December 2023: ED issues two more summonses to Kejriwal for questioning on December 21 and January 3.

January 2024: Two more summonses are sent to Kejriwal by ED for January 18 and February 2.

February 3, 2024: ED files complaint against Kejriwal before a magisterial court for skipping the summonses.

February 7, 2024: Magisterial court summons Kejriwal on the ED complaint.

February 2024: ED issued summonses for the appearance of Kejriwal on February 19, February 26 and March 4.

March 7, 2024: Magisterial court issues summons to Kejriwal on EDs fresh complaint against him for evading summonses.

March 15, 2024: Sessions court refused to stay proceedings against Kejriwal for skipping summons.

March 16, 2024: Magisterial court grants bail to Kejriwal in EDs complaints against him for skipping summons after he appears before it.

March 21, 2024: HC refuses to grant protection from arrest to Kejriwal on his petition challenging the summonses issued to him. ED arrested Kejriwal soon after.

March 23, 2024: Kejriwal moves HC challenging his arrest by ED and the trial court order remanding him in the agencys custody.

April 2: Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh won bail from the Supreme Court on Tuesday in the Delhi liquor policy case.

April 9, 2024: HC dismisses Kejriwals petition against arrest by ED.

The Delhi excise policy case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the policy for 2021-22 that was later scrapped.

(With PTI inputs)
Indias top virologist said the chances of a pandemic starting with the bird flu virus, H5N1, are very low. But, it is well-known for being dangerous and, right now, its surveillance in the country is at optimal levels.

Global experts have sounded an alarm over the potential for a bird flu pandemic, which could be 100 times more drastic than Covid. In an exclusive interview to News18, ICMRs head of virology Dr Nivedita Gupta, said it is crucial to keep a close watch on movements worldwide to stay safe.

The emergence of H5N1, also known as avian influenza, among dairy cows in the US, with a confirmed case of a human testing positive for the virus in Texas, has sparked considerable alarm. According to Gupta, who was the ICMRs face during government briefings to the media during the coronavirus pandemic, H5N1 has been there since 1996. India has witnessed more than 350 outbreaks to date, of which the maximum took place in West Bengal and Odisha, she said.

While this virus does cause sporadic human infections from poultry, we have seen a dead end after this. Human-to-human infections have never been caused, Gupta said.

What is causing an alarm?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), on July 21, 2021, India notified it about one human case of avian influenza (H5N1) from Haryana. This was the first such reported case in the country. Now, however, concerns are being raised as it is the first time bird flu has been detected in dairy cattle in the US.

It is making headlines today because this virus has been reported in cows for the first time, and then from cows to humans. The influenza virus has many hosts, and it is impossible to say whether the cow is a new host or has always been its host, the ICMR virologist said.

This virus reassorts very quickly and combines itself with other viruses and sheds its RNA (ribonucleic acid). Hence, we call it most notorious and, hence, surveillance is important, she added.

Gupta further said while the chances of an outbreak of a pandemic are low and negligible, India has a complete network of tracking and tracing. We are working on optimal capacity and, so far, the entire network has not spotted any untypable strain and there is no signal of any new strain in India, she said.

We have a strong network to quickly detect any new or changed strain as we have been running pan-India surveillance since July 2021, she added.

Why is the influenza virus lethal?

H5N1, a strain of the influenza virus, primarily affects birds and causes serious respiratory illness in them. But, it has sporadically crossed over to humans.

Although transmission among humans has not been common, when it does occur, the mortality rate can reach up to 60 per cent. In contrast, even with the most severe variants, Covid-19s mortality rate was around 3 per cent; giving a sense of why any movement of this virus has triggered an alarm worldwide.

An expert in research coordination, viral infections and vaccine-preventable diseases, Gupta said the influenza virus has 18 H and 11 N types.

When different H and N types get crisscrossed, many combinations emerge. Some have been detected while some never, she said.

While its proven that this virus is hazardous, it is notorious too; hence, a watch needs to be kept. It is impossible to contain this virus as it has been there for the last 28 years, she added.

The virologist said the animal husbandry department is first to pick up symptoms in poultry, wild birds or ducks. The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal has capabilities to monitor and detect influenza strains. Also, the ICMR has an extensive network to detect and sequence strains.
A Delhi Court extended Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavithas judicial custody till April 23 in the excise policy linked-money laundering case on Tuesday.

In a letter to the Rouse Avenue Court, Kavitha called herself a victim and said the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have conducting a media trial for 2.5 years.

She has claimed that she no involvement or any financial benefits from the excise policy. My personal and political reputation has been targeted. My mobile phone is displayed on all television channels directly invading my privacy, the BRS leader said in her letter to court.

Kavitha said that she has cooperated with the investigation to the best of her knowledge and has also provided all bank account details.

I will hand over all the mobile phones which the agency claim that I have destroyed, the BRS leader said. She claimed that the federal agencys raid imposed physical and mental torture on her, adding that they also threatened her.

Taking a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party, Kavitha said, Madam Justice, today 95 per cent cases of ED/CBI are on opposition party leaders and when the accused joins BJP, the investigation abruptly stops.

The BRS leader further told the court that BJP leaders  on the floor of the parliament  openly threatened opposition saying Chup hojao, warna ED bhejunga (Keep quiet or Ill send the ED).

Kavitha also raised a question at those approvers who kept changing their statements. Why didnt the ED arrest me when my party was in power? she asked in her letter to the court.

While leaving from the court, Kavitha said that the case was based on statements and it wont stand the test of time.

This is a case completely based on the statement. It is a political case. This is a case of targeting the opposition parties. CBI has already recorded my statement in jail, she told reporters.

The court on Monday had denied interim bail to Kavitha, who had moved a petition for the same on the grounds of her sons exams. She had claimed that he needs his mothers moral and emotional support.

Kavitha was arrested by the central probe agency on March 15. She has been accused of being a key member of the South Group, which allegedly paid the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi kickbacks of Rs 100 crore in return for a big share of liquor licenses in the national capital.
An Indian-origin construction company owner, Buta Singh Gill, and another man, whose identity was not immediately known, were shot dead at a construction site in the Cavanagh area of Canadas Edmonton city on Monday.

A close friend of Gills said he was a prominent face of a Sikh temple trust in the city and had strong ties to the Punjabi community.

According to an India Today report, Gill owned Gill Built Homes Ltd., a luxury home building company based in Edmonton.

Police investigating suspicious deaths: The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) is investigating the deaths of two males in southwest Edmonton this afternoon.At approximately 12:00 p.m. today, Monday, Apr. 8, 2024, Southwest Branch patrol officers responded https://t.co/25OT45zPTJ  Edmonton Police (@edmontonpolice) April 9, 2024

Confirming the daytime shooting incident, the Edmonton Police Service stated that there were no immediate concerns regarding public safety. They urged citizens to avoid the area near Cavanagh Blvd SW and 30 Avenue SW while the police conducted their investigation into a shooting that occurred around noon in a residential neighborhood.

Police are asking citizens to avoid the area of Cavanagh Blvd SW and 30 Avenue SW while police investigate a shooting that occurred in the residential area around noon.There are no immediate concerns for public safety at this time and responding officers have secured the scene. pic.twitter.com/BhA90oN1Oq  Edmonton Police (@edmontonpolice) April 8, 2024

The shooting also resulted in serious injuries to a 51-year-old man, who is currently hospitalised. According to a statement on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after the incident, responding officers have secured the scene, and EPS homicide investigators will oversee the investigation. No further details were provided at that time.

In a subsequent social media update, the police clarified that they were not seeking any suspects, although no additional information regarding the perpetrator was disclosed.

In the aftermath of the shooting, approximately 50 individuals, primarily from the South Asian home-builders community, congregated at the location.

Former city councillor Mohinder Banga, speaking at the scene, disclosed that the victim, identified as Gill whom he had known for many years, was fatally shot while checking on his workers at a construction site.

Banga highlighted Gills deep connections to the Punjabi community, describing him as a religious and altruistic individual who actively assisted others. He mentioned Gills active involvement in a Sikh temple on St Albert Trail and emphasised his readiness to aid anyone in need.

Banga expressed bewilderment over the senseless act of violence against someone widely known for his selfless nature and community contributions.

He further noted the solidarity of the Punjabi and East Indian communities, underscoring their desire to offer support and assistance during this challenging time. Banga said Gill was survived by his wife and two children.
Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Delhi CM Should Resign On Moral Grounds, Says BJP Leader BJP Leader Bansuri Swaraj reacted to the Delhi High Courts order and said, With todays judgement, Delhi High Court has made it clear that Arvind Kejriwal had a very important role in the liquor scamThe court saw all the factsThe High Court has also made it clear that his arrest is not illegal at all. I think Arvind Kejriwal should resign on moral grounds.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: If Court Said Something We Should Believe It, Says Congress Leader Reacting to the High Courts order dismissing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals plea, Punjab Congress MLA Partap Singh Bajwa said, People in India have faith in the courts and if the court has said something then we should believe it. When Arvind Kejriwal came (into politics) he said we should not be afraid of agencies like ED, CBI and IT and we should put forth our point I want to say that the same thing has been done in Punjab regarding excise Bajwa added.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann To Meet His Delhi Counterpart Tomorrow Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann along with AAP leader Sanjay Singh is going to meet Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar Jail on Wednesday, 1 pm.

No Relief For Arvind Kejriwal As HC Dismisses His Plea Against Arrest; CM To Move Supreme Court The Delhi High Court dismissed chief minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwals plea challenging his arrest and Enforcement Directorate remand in the excise policy case on Tuesday. After the setback from the High Court, the Aam Aadmi Party said that Kejriwal will move the Supreme Court for relief. Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, in its order today, said Kejriwal collected kickbacks as the AAPs national convenor. The material collected by ED reveals Mr Arvind Kejriwal conspired and was actively involved in use and concealment of proceeds of crime. The ED case also reveals that he was involved in his personal capacity as well as convenor of AAP, read the court order.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Hopeful That Delhi CM Will Soon Get Justice, Says AAP MP AAP MP Sanjay Singh, addressing a press conference, said, The lawyers of Arvind Kejriwal are engaged in inspecting all the documents and the court is constantly watching this matter. I have full hope that Arvind Kejriwal will soon get justice from the Supreme Court. There is a process of justice and there are many delays in the judicial process, there are many complexities in the PMLA Act, in which the provisions for getting bail are difficult

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Case Made Under Deep Conspiracy, says AAP MP Sanjay Singh AAP MP Sanjay Singh said, I have been saying continuously that this entire matter is the biggest political conspiracy since independence, this case has been made under a deep conspiracy and the purpose behind this case is not to investigate any scam, the purpose is to topple and eliminate Arvind Kejriwal and AAP, which was elected with a huge majority in Delhi and Punjab, an attempt is made to destroy the growing fame of the AAP and its achievement of achieving the status of a national party in 10 years, because the liquor scam has been done by the BJP. Addressing a press conference, he further said, The money trail of Rs 60 crores was found, but till now no action has been taken against the leaders of BJP and in the case of Arvind Kejriwal ji, false witnesses are prepared, baseless allegations are made

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Will Move SC As Soon As Possible, Says Delhi CM's Lawyer Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwals counsel Rishikesh Kumar said, We have challenged the illegal arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. The High Court in its finding has said that the remand order is legal and secondly, they said that they had the ground to arrestWe are waiting for the order to come. Once the detailed order is uploaded, we will challenge it before the Supreme Court as early as possible Kumar added.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: No Room Left For AAP To Play Victimhood Card, Says BJP Leader BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla reacted to High Courts dismissal of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwals plea challenging his arrest and ED remand. He said, Todays order against Kejriwal exposes that he is not staunch honest but he is completely corrupt. There is prima facie material available against him, evidence available against him. He not only formulated the said policy but he was involved in taking kickbacks There is no room left for the AAP to play victimhood card. Today they must tell us how can Kejriwal continue as chief minister that too from inside Tihar jail? he added.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: AAP Should Apologise To People Of Delhi, Says BJP Leader BJPs Delhi unit president Virendraa Sachdeva said, If the leaders of the Aam Aadmi party have some ethics left then they should apologise to the people of DelhiIf they (AAP) are questioning the courts decision now then it is an insult

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: We Have Faith In SC, Says Saurabh Bharadwaj AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said that smaller courts judgments are changed by the higher courts, which are further changed by the top court. We have faith in the Supreme Court, he added. In Sanjay Singhs case it was the same argument, same lawyer and the same bench. High Court did not give relief. Yet the three-judge Supreme Court bench did give relief, Saurabh added.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Saurabh Bharadwaj Cites Sanjay Singh's Bail When Sanjay Singhs bail was rejected by the High Court, by the same bench, the BJP was saying similar things, said AAP minister Saurabh Bharadwaj. Addressing a press conference, he said, Yet in Sanjay Singhs case even when the High Court refused him bail, the Supreme Court did grant him bail, adding that our Constitution gives us the allowance to move a higher court. In Sanjay Singhs case the same arguments that were rejected by the High Court were accepted in the Supreme Court, the AAP leader added. We have the option to appeal. BJP does not respect the Supreme Court. It brought an ordinance and changed the verdict of the Constitutional bench on separation of powers, Bharadwaj added.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: You Stand Exposed, Says BJP Leader Manoj Tiwari BJP MP Manoj Tiwari took to X and said, A criminal is a criminal!! Everyone in the country has to follow the laws of India. Today Honble Court order has shown the mirror to AAPs gang leader, evidence collected by ED shows that the kingpin is @ArvindKejriwal. You stand exposed!!!    !!!                   AAP       , ED            @ArvindKejriwal   aap stands exposed !!!  Manoj Tiwari (  )  (@ManojTiwariMP) April 9, 2024

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: We Will Move SC Against This, Says Saurabh Bharadwaj AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said, We respect the court. We respectfully would say that we do not agree with this verdict and we will move the Supreme Court against this.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Arun Pillai, Sameer Mahendru Said On Record That..., Says AAP Minister AAP Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, Arun Pillai, Sameer Mahendru have also said on record that they were pressurised. This case is based on false statements and fake witnesses, he added. MSR and Raghav Reddy are the ones being talked about, Bharadwaj said, adding what Kejriwal said in court We know that MSR has got a ticket from NDA to contest elections.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Biggest Political Conspiracy In India, Says Saurabh Bharadwaj AAP minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, addressing a press conference, said  in this alleged scam  this is not a case of money laundering but this is a political conspiracy. This is the biggest political conspiracy in India, Bharadwaj said. He said that there is talk of crores and crores, however, till date, ED and CBI has not been able to recover even one rupee. Recovery that was not accounted for.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: BJP Spokesperson Highlights Court's Statements BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, during a press conference, noted that the Court has said that there cant be different rules for aam aadmi (common man) and for Arvind Kejriwal. Court also said on the necessity of arrest ED was in the possession of sufficient evidence, Trivedi added. He further said, Political consideration brought before the court cant be an argument in court.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: AAP's Motive Discarded By High Court, Says BJP Spokesperson BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi noted that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had not asked for bail but challenged his illegal arrest, which has now been dismissed by the high court. The court doesnt have any say in who will get the ticket, who bought the bond, etc., Trivedi said, adding that their motive is clearly discarded by the court today.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Clear That Delhi CM Involved In Policy Formulation, Says Sudhanshu Trivedi BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said that the High Courts decision has made it clear that CM Arvind Kejriwal was involved in the formation of the liquor policy directly.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Congress state president D K Shivakumar has appealed to the Election Commission to direct the Union government to release Rs 4,663 crore from National Disaster Response Fund and additional support fund of Rs 18,171 crore to the state to meet the severe drought situation.

In a letter to the poll panel in the capacity of Congress state president, he pointed out that 224 out of 236 taluks are reeling under drought.

He also cited the recent statement of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at a press conference in Bengaluru. Referring to news reports quoting Sitharaman at the press conference, Shivakumar said she stated the Union government had written to the Election Commission on March 28 seeking permission to hold a meeting of the high-power committee to clear several proposals for disaster relief, including drought relief for Karnataka.

In her said statement she categorically conceded a delay in releasing drought relief by giving a reason that the Election Commission has not permitted to hold a meeting of the high-power committee. People of Karnataka have been suffering due to lack of adequate relief funds to meet basic requirements like drinking water, fodder, employment and crop loss, etc, the DCM said. As a matter of right, the states are entitled for NDRF and other funds from the Union government whenever disaster occurs in the states concerned, he underlined.

According to Shivakumar, even the provisions of law and the model code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections will not come in the way of release of drought relief to the state.

He said the Union Government has wrongly contended that the Election Commission has to permit a meeting of the high-power committee to clear drought relief funds to Karnataka, which is not required in the eyes of law.

In view of the above facts and circumstances, we appeal to your esteemed commission to direct the Union government to hold the meeting of the high-power committee immediately and to release Rs 4,663 crore from NDRF and additional support fund of Rs 18,171 crore to the state of Karnataka to meet the severe drought situation on a war-footing, in the interest of the people of Karnataka, he said.

He also pointed out that Karnataka had made a representation to the Government of India four months ago to release Rs 4,663 crore and additional Rs 18,171 crore from the NDRF to provide crop loss to farmers and to take appropriate measures to provide basic facilities to the people and for cattle of drought-affected areas of Karnataka.

Shivakumar also highlighted the Karnataka government has approached the Supreme Court seeking drought relief funds for the state.
As the joyous occasion of Eid approaches, its the perfect time to infuse your office space with a touch of festivity and cheer. Muslims in India will celebrate Eid al-Fitr on April 11, 2024. Whether youre working from home or in an office setting, creating an appealing and inviting atmosphere can uplift your mood and make the celebration even more special. Here are some design tips by Sammeer Pakvasa, Managing Director and CEO- Eleganz Interiors, to help you transform your workspace into a warm and welcoming environment for Eid.

Incorporate Traditional Decorative ItemsSince Eid is a beloved festival for many, your office design will have more depth and authenticity if you include items that speak to the richness of the festivals history. Consider hanging lanterns or strings of lights in various colours to create a cosy and welcoming glow. You can also exhibit calligraphic artwork or elaborate patterns that highlight the elegance of Islamic art. Embrace Vibrant ColoursEid is a festival of vivid colours, your workspace should convey this joyous mood. Bright hues like red, green, or gold can be incorporated into your design using accent pieces like artwork, rugs, or throw pillows. These bursts of colour can quickly elevate the spirits and create a dynamic atmosphere in the office. Traditional Wear Day At The OfficeAmidst the joy of Eid, many people wear their traditional clothes and enjoy time with family and friends, sharing stories and food. Its a perfect occasion to introduce a Traditional Wear Day at the office. Women can wear Anarkalis and sarees, while men can opt for Kurtas. This will bring a nice vibe to the office and make everyone feel like they are part of the festival. Incorporate Natural ElementsBringing nature indoors can be calming and rejuvenating, making it an excellent addition to your Eid office decor. Consider placing potted plants or fresh flowers around your workspace, adding a touch of greenery and providing a refreshing scent. Set The Mood With Scented Candles And FlowersScents can evoke memories and emotions, and incorporating fragrances associated with Eid can enhance the festive ambiance. Additionally, decorating the office with flower rangolis and candles, choosing aromas like rose, jasmine, or traditional Oud to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Display Personal TouchesEid is all about embracing traditions and enjoying time with family and friends. Make your office space feel more personal by adding touches that reflect who you are, such as displaying family photos or keepsakes that hold sentimental value. Another idea is to organise a potluck where everyone brings a dish associated with Eid, such as kheer, sewaiyaan, or biryani. These personal touches will make your workspace more welcoming and remind everyone of the true spirit of the celebration.

You can transform your office space into a warm and welcoming environment that celebrates the spirit of Eid by incorporating these design elements. Remember, the key is to strike a balance between festive flair and a productive work environment, ensuring that your workspace remains functional while radiating the joy and happiness of this special occasion.
Eid al-Fitr, the joyous occasion marking the end of Ramadan, is almost upon us! Since the Crescent Moon wasnt sighted in Saudi Arabia on April 8, Eid will be celebrated on April 10. However, in India, the final confirmation of the moon sighting might lead to celebrations on April 11.

Eid al-Fitr 2024 Moonsighting In India LIVE

Kerala is the only Indian state whose Eid al-Fitr date aligns with the sighting of the moon in Saudi Arabia. As we eagerly await the moon sighting in India today, on April 10, why not get a head start on your Eid preparations with a classic Seviyan recipe?

ALSO READ: Happy Eid al-Fitr 2024: Eid Mubarak Wishes, Messages, Shayari, and Images to Share on Eid-ul-Fitr

SEVIYAN FOR EID

Seviyan, also known as vermicelli, is a sweet dish that holds a special place on the Eid table. This delectable dessert, made with milk, vermicelli, nuts, and spices, is more than just a treat  its a symbol of celebration and community.

The sweet taste of Seviyan signifies the sweetness of Eid, a time for families and friends to come together after a month of fasting. Sharing this dish during Eid gatherings embodies the spirit of togetherness and community that lies at the heart of the celebration.

Siddhesh Sawant, Sous chef, Four Points by Sheraton, Navi Mumbai, Vashi, shares a delicious and easy-to-follow recipe that will surely become a family favourite.

SEVIYON KA MUZAFFAR

Ingredients

Sewaiyan (vermicelli) 150 Gms Khoya 100 Gms

Sugar 50 Gms

Cardamoms (powder) 5 GMS

Milk 150 Gms

Pure ghee 250 Gms

Almond 25 Gms

Water 100 Gms

Khajur 20 Gms

Pista 25 Gms

Cashewnut 25 Gms

Jaggery 25 Gms Method
Muslims across the country are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the joyous end of Ramadan! This festival signifies the culmination of a month of fasting and seeking blessings from Allah. The vibrant streets are filled with the sounds of laughter and greetings as families and friends gather to celebrate. As the crescent moon graces the night sky, a beacon of the new lunar month of Shawwal, here are a list of best Eid wishes, WhatsApp status, messages, Facebook status and images to wish your family and friends Eid Mubarak.

ALSO READ: Beyond Eid Mubarak: 10 Ways to Wish Happy Eid 2024 in Different Languages!

Eid Mubarak Wishes 2024

Eid Mubarak! May this Eid bring you happiness, peace, and prosperity. Wishing you a joyous Eid filled with delicious food, loved ones, and heartfelt prayers. Eid Mubarak! May the spirit of Eid fill your home with warmth and laughter. Eid Mubarak! As we celebrate Eid, lets remember the importance of charity and helping those in need. Eid Mubarak! Sending you warm wishes for a blessed Eid filled with blessings and light. Eid Mubarak! May your heart be filled with gratitude and joy on this Eid al-Fitr. Eid Mubarak! Wishing you a wonderful Eid filled with sweet treats and cherished moments. Eid Mubarak! May Allah accept your prayers and grant you all your wishes this Eid. Eid Mubarak! Eid Mubarak! Heres to new beginnings, strong connections, and a brighter future. Sending you love and blessings on this Eid al-Fitr. May your Eid be filled with peace and happiness. Eid Mubarak!

Eid ul fitr Images

Eid Ul Fitr Quotes

1. May the magic of this Eid bring lots of happiness into your life and may you celebrate it with all your close friends and may it fill your heart with wonders. Eid Mubarak!

2. Eid is a time for joy, a time for togetherness, a time to remember Allahs blessings. Sending you warm wishes on this Eid.

3. On Eid ul-Fitr, wishing that your sacrifices are appreciated and your prayers are answered by the Almighty. Have a blessed Eid!

4. Eid Mubarak! May the blessings of Allah fill your life with happiness and open all the doors of success now and always.

5. May the auspicious occasion of Eid bless you with peace and bring joy to your heart and home. Eid Mubarak!

6. As you offer your prayers on Eid, I hope that the true spirit of this auspicious occasion fills your heart with happiness and good cheer. Eid Mubarak!

7. On this joyous occasion of Eid, may Allah bless you with happiness, prosperity, and fulfillment of all your dreams. Eid Mubarak!

8. Eid is a time for sharing what we have and spreading happiness in the world. May you have a wonderful Eid filled with love and laughter.

9. Eid Mubarak! May this special day bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to your life.

10. Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed Eid filled with joy, laughter, and countless blessings.

Eid Ul Fitr 2024 Messages and Facebook Status

As we celebrate Eid-al-Fitr, may the spirit of togetherness and harmony fill your heart with joy. Sending warm wishes to you and your family. Eid Mubarak!

On this auspicious occasion, I pray that Allah showers his mercy upon you and your loved ones. Eid Mubarak, dear friend!

As the crescent moon appears, marking the end of Ramadan, I wish you and your family a wonderful Eid-ul-Fitr. May this day bring you countless blessings and moments to cherish.

Ramadan is the gentle rain that nourishes the soul, while Eid is the rainbow that colours our world with hope, love and blessings. Hope you have the best of both. Eid Mubarak!

May the magic of this Eid bring happiness, peace, and prosperity to your life. Eid Mubarak to you and your loved ones!

Eid is a time to celebrate, cherish memories, and strengthen bonds. Wishing you a wonderful Eid-ul-Fitr with your family and friends. Eid Mubarak!

May Allahs blessings shine upon you and your family on this auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Eid Mubarak!

Eid is a time for happiness with loved ones. I hope your Eid-ul-Fitr is full of love and laughter. Eid Mubarak!

As we enjoy Eid, may Allahs love and guidance always be with you. Eid Mubarak!

Eid is the canvas upon which we paint our gratitude, the tapestry woven with threads of love, kindness and cherished memories. Wishing you a nostalgic and memorable Eid Mubarak!

Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2024 Shayari

    - ,                   ,         -          ,                   ,        -         ,  --       - 

Eid-Ul-Fitr 2024 FAQs

When is Eid-ul-Fitr 2024?

The exact date of Eid-ul-Fitr depends on the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon. It is expected to be celebrated on Thursday, April 11th, 2024 in most parts of the world. However, the final date will be confirmed based on local moon sighting committees.

What is the significance of Eid-ul-Fitr?

Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. It is a joyous occasion for Muslims around the world to celebrate their spiritual accomplishments and blessings received during Ramadan.

How is Eid-ul-Fitr celebrated?

Eid-ul-Fitr is a time for Muslims to attend special prayers, exchange gifts, and enjoy festive meals with family and friends. It is a tradition to wear new clothes and donate to charity.

What are some traditions associated with Eid-ul-Fitr?

TakbirMuslims recite the takbir, which is a phrase that glorifies God, throughout the day of Eid. SalahEid prayers are held in congregation, typically in large open spaces or mosques. Zakat al-FitrThis is a mandatory charity given to the poor before the Eid prayer. FeastingMuslims enjoy special meals with family and friends. Traditional Eid dishes vary by region, but often include sweet treats and savory meats. Gift-givingIt is common to exchange gifts with loved ones on Eid. Visiting family and friendsMuslims visit each others homes to celebrate Eid together.

How can I greet someone for Eid-ul-Fitr?

A common greeting for Eid-ul-Fitr is Eid Mubarak, which means Blessed Eid. You can also say Happy Eid or Eid al-Fitr Mubarak.
HAPPY UGADI 2024 TELUGU NEW YEAR WISHES, QUOTES, STATUS, MESSAGES: Ugadi marks the beginning of the Telugu New Year. It is celebrated in southern states like Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. This festival is observed on the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra. Ugadi 2024 is being celebrated today on Tuesday, April 9. On this day, people draw vibrant designs that are popularly known as Muggulu. Special cuisines for the day include Bevu Bella and Pachadi. As you gear up to celebrate the occasion, here are some wishes, messages, and quotes including Facebook and WhatsApp status to share with your dear and near ones.

Ugadi 2024: Telugu New Year Wishes

1. May the Lord bless you with good health, wealth, peace and prosperity! May your year be filled with happiness. Happy Ugadi 2024!

2. On Ugadi 2024, I extend my heartfelt greetings to you and your loved ones. Have a blessed year ahead.

3. Lets put the sorrows of the past behind us and start fresh. Happy Ugadi, enjoy this day to the fullest and look forward to a bright future.

4. May good triumph over evil always. I want all your stress and worries to be less this year. Happy Ugadi 2024.

5. This New Year, I wish nothing but the best for you. I want you to be happy and full of joy. May you become the best version of yourself and spread joy wherever you go.

6. Ugadi is all about good food, joy, and a good time with your loved ones. Happy Ugadi 2024.

Ugadi 2024: Telugu New Year Messages And Quotes

1. May the divine light of Ugadi shine upon you and your family, guiding you towards success and happiness. Happy Ugadi!

2. Wishing you a Ugadi full of happiness, harmony, and prosperity. May this new year bring you success in all your endeavours. Happy Ugadi!

3. May the colours and festivities of Ugadi brighten up your life with joy and happiness. Wishing you a blessed and prosperous Ugadi!

4. As we celebrate Ugadi, may it herald the dawn of a new beginning filled with peace, happiness, and prosperity. Happy Ugadi!

5. On the auspicious occasion of Ugadi, I pray that you achieve success in all your endeavours and enjoy a year filled with happiness and prosperity. Happy Ugadi!

6. May the arrival of Ugadi fill your heart with new hopes and aspirations. Wishing you a year full of joy, peace, and success. Happy Ugadi!

Ugadi 2024: Facebook & WhatsApp status

1. Wishing you and your family a Happy Ugadi filled with love, laughter, and prosperity. May this new year bring you closer to your dreams. Happy Ugadi 2024!

2. Happy Ugadi! Have a fantastic year ahead!

3. The raw mangoes, neem and jaggery represent the sour, bitter and sweet flavors of life. May the flavours of Ugadi fill your life in the coming year.

4. May this new year be a joyful ride for you and your family. Heres wishing you the best year ahead. Happy Ugadi!

5. Happy Ugadi from me and mine to you and yours. May you have a wonderful year ahead.

6. Like a plate of Pachadi, may you have all kinds of flavours in the coming year. Happy Ugadi 2024.

UGADI FAQs

What is Ugadi?

Ugadi, also known as Yugadi, is the Hindu New Year celebrated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Goa. It marks the first day of the Chaitra month in the lunisolar Hindu calendar, typically falling in late March or early April.

What does Ugadi mean?

The name Ugadi comes from Sanskrit:

Yuga meaning age

Adi meaning beginning

So, Ugadi translates to the beginning of a new age.

How is Ugadi celebrated?

People wear new clothes and decorate their homes with colorful rangolis. A special dish called Ugadi Pachadi is prepared, with a mix of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter flavours, symbolizing the mixed experiences of life in the coming year. Panchangas (astrological almanacs) are read for predictions about the year ahead. Families and friends gather to exchange greetings and enjoy festive meals.

What is the significance of Ugadi?

Ugadi signifies the arrival of spring and the harvest season. Its a time for new beginnings, fresh starts, and optimism for the year ahead.Some believe Lord Brahma created the universe on this day.

Where is Ugadi celebrated?

Ugadi is primarily celebrated in South India, particularly in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Goa. Its also observed by some Hindu communities worldwide.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- In March 2024, the Chinese new energy passenger vehicle market witnessed robust growth, with production reaching 788,000 units, marking a 25.2% year-on-year jump and an 84.9% month-on-month surge, according to data provided by the China Passenger Car Association.



Wholesale volume of new energy passenger vehicles also surged 31.1% from the previous year and 81.3% from the previous month to 810,000 units in March.

In March, new energy vehicles accounted for 37% of the total passenger vehicle wholesales in China, up 6 percentage points year on year. Specifically, 51.1% of the vehicles wholesaled by China's indigenous brands were new energy vehicles last month, and the figures stood at 33.6% for luxury vehicle brands and 6.1% for mainstream joint-venture brands in the country.

Regarding the wholesale structure in March, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 62% of the total, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) at 28%, and range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) at 10%.

Song L; photo credit: BYD

In March, 9 out of 17 models (including the top 6 models) whose wholesale volume exceeded 20,000 units were new energy vehicle. BYD's Song led the pack with a wholesale volume of 78,490 units, followed by the Tesla Model Y with 57,586 units, and the BYD Qin with 40,569 units.

Photo credit: XPENG

In terms of retails, new energy vehicles constituted 41.6% of the total retail volume of passenger cars in March, up 7.6 percentage points from the same period last year. China's domestic brands dominated with a 63.3% penetration rate, while luxury brands and mainstream joint ventures trailed at 28.4% and 7.4%, respectively.

In regards of the entire Chinese new energy passenger car retail market, Chinese mainstream indigenous brands held a dominant 62% share in March, while joint-venture brands held 4.5% of the market. The US electric vehicle giant Tesla held 7.7% of China's new energy passenger car market, down 4.7 percentage points compared to the previous year.

Photo credit: Tesla

In March, Chinas export of new energy passenger vehicles reached 120,000 units, marking a 70.9% spike compared to the same period last year and a 52.8% surge compared to the previous month. Among these exports, pure electric vehicles made up 82.3% of the total. Notably, new energy vehicles accounted for 29.7% of the total passenger vehicle exported last month, showing a 5.6 percentage point increase year-on-year.

Brand-wise, BYD and Tesla China stood as the top 2 exporters of new energy vehicles in the past month, with 38,434 units and 26,666 units exported, respectively. In addition, data showed that A0-segment electric vehicles accounted for nearly 60% of the total exports made by Chinas indigenous brands in March, demonstrating their significant role.

In terms of product distribution, with China's local brands adopting a multi-pronged development approach, the market base continued to expand. Thirteen automakers saw their monthly wholesale volume of new energy vehicles exceed ten thousand units, accounting for 86.7% of the total new energy passenger vehicle sales in China. The 13 automakers that achieved this feat included BYD (301,631 units), Tesla China (89,064 units), Changan Auto (45,381 units), Geely Auto (44,791 units), SAIC-GM-Wuling (34,398 units), Li Auto (28,984 units), GAC AION (27,856 units), SERES (27,004 units), SAIC MOTOR Passenger Vehicle (24,097 units), Chery Auto (23,740 units), Great Wall Motor (21,813 units), Leapmotor (14,567 units), and NIO (11,866 units).
Chris Hemsworth recently unveiled a poster for the upcoming film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga on his Instagram account. The poster showcases Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa, a character formerly portrayed by Charlize Theron in 2015s Mad Max: Fury Road. With the tagline Fury is born," the poster suggests the films thrilling and action-packed narrative. Positioned within the same dystopian universe as Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga serves as a prequel, delving into the origins of the iconic character Furiosa. The storyline centers on a young Furiosas capture by the Warlord Dementus and her Biker Horde.

As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland they come across the Citadel presided over by the Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home," read the official plot summary of the film.

Check out the poster here:

The film showcases Furiosas resilience in the face of adversity. During Brazils CCXP fan convention in November, Taylor-Joy described Furiosa as a story of grit, survival, and impossible hope." Hemsworth, who plays the ruthless Warlord Dementus, added that his character is a very violent, insane, brutal person that is born from the Wasteland," highlighting the harsh and brutal nature of the films world, reports Comicbook.

Theres an intensity to him, theres a brutality," Hemsworth explained. He has been birthed into a space where its kill or be killed, and hes learned to rule with an iron fist. Theres a charisma to him, and its a manipulative charisma," he added.

Apart from the official poster, Warner Bros. Pictures has also released a two-part official trailer for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, featuring a young Furiosa and the menacing Warlord Dementus.

This much-awaited film from the hit franchise is set to hit theatres on May 24th, promising audiences an intense and thrilling ride through the chaotic world of Mad Max.
Priya Mani Raj and Prithviraj Sukumaran have worked together in a bunch of films  Raavanan, Sathyam, Ninaithale Inikkum, Thirakkatha, Pathinettam Padi and Kadhal Mudichu. And now, theyre all set to clash on the big screen as Maidaan and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan will be locking horns this Eid on April 11.

In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, Priya Mani reacts to the same and wishes Prithviraj luck for his portrayal of an anti-hero in the Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff starrer. We havent had a conversation about the clash. We havent been in touch for quite a long time. But I obviously wish him well. I cannot wait to watch him as the antagonist in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. I know for a fact that he has nailed the part, she says.

Lauding Prithviraj for the career he has built over the years and specifically for his performance in The Goat Life, a critical and commercial success, Priya Mani shares, Weve done six films together. And almost all of them have been super hits. Hes doing extremely well for himself. Im so proud of him. He has taken the Malayalam industry to another level both with his acting and direction skills. Ive been hearing a lot of lovely reports about The Goat Life. Im hoping to watch it one day, hopefully soon.

On a related note, Maidaan sees her playing Ajay Devgns onscreen wife. The shoot for the film began in August 2019 and it went on to suffer many delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mumbai cyclone and extensive VFX work. Recalling the time, Priya Mani tells us, It does test your patience but once you come out of it, it shouldnt matter. When you sign a project, there could be unforeseen delays. And the delays in Maidaan were for genuine reasons. But we never lost confidence.

The Family Man actor, however, says that she would often worry about whether Maidaan would be able to see the light of the day. It will be wrong if I say that I didnt have doubts whether the film will release or not because times were such. Much like others, we were in doldrums. At the same time, we had a lot of faith in the story. We knew that it had its heart in the right place and the intention was right. A story like Maidaan needed to be told, she states.

Crediting Ajay and Boney Kapoor for keeping at it without losing faith even during moments of crisis, she says, Ajay sir had invested a lot more time in the film than me. I was fortunate enough that my portion was wrapped up significantly earlier because of which I could move on to shooting other projects. They were quite affected when the floods came. The set had to be reconstructed twice.

Priya Mani continues, My heart bled for Boney sir. But hes such a positive person. He said that we would finish the film and release it for people to see irrespective of whatever happens. And that gave us a reason to not lose hope either.
Malayalam cinema luminary Vishnu Unnikrishnan is poised to grace the silver screen once again, this time assuming the role of a filmmaker in an upcoming release under the direction of Kiran Narayanan. The project promises to blend whimsical storytelling with heartwarming themes, marking a departure from Vishnus previous ventures.

The films premise revolves around a group of youngsters residing in a rural village, their imaginations ignited by the desire to craft a superhero saga. Their quest for cinematic glory leads them to Vishnus character, an aspiring director passing through their community for a short film assignment. Entranced by the childrens fervour and determination, Vishnus character embarks on a journey to help them realise their celluloid dreams, thus setting the stage for a poignant narrative brimming with hope and resilience.

Directed by Kiran Narayanan and produced by Tarakara Productions, the film boasts a stellar ensemble cast. Vishnu Unnikrishnan takes on the role of the aspiring director, lending his trademark charisma and versatility to the character. Meanwhile, the group of children is portrayed by a talented lineup including Sreepad, Dhyan Niranjan, Visad Krishnan and Arish, infusing the story with youthful exuberance and innocence. Notable supporting actors such as Lalu Alex, Vijilesh, Binu Thrikkakkara and Anjali Nair further enrich the narrative tapestry with their nuanced performances.

Behind the scenes, the creative team leaves no stone unturned in bringing this captivating tale to life. Renowned composer Ranjin Raj lends his musical prowess to the project, complementing the narrative with evocative melodies, while lyricist Kaithaprams poignant verses add depth and resonance to the films emotional core. The cinematography, helmed by Faisal Ali, promises to capture the rustic charm of the village setting with breathtaking precision, while Ayub Khans editing expertise ensures a seamless and immersive viewing experience.

Amid his projects, Vishnu Unnikrishnan remains committed to delivering memorable performances that resonate with audiences. His recent outing in Kallanum Bhagavathiyum, directed by East Coast Vijayan, garnered acclaim for its whimsical blend of fantasy and comedy. As Vishnu gears up for his forthcoming projects, including Red River, Anuradha Crime No 59/2019 and Salamon, anticipation mounts for his portrayal of the dedicated filmmaker in this heartfelt tale of youthful aspiration and cinematic magic.
Indrajit Lankeshs upcoming Kannada movie Gowri has piqued the interest of fans ever since it was announced. The movie was announced in 2022 by Lankesh who also announced that he would be launching his son Samarjit Lankesh through the film. Saanya Iyer joined the film as Samarjits leading lady.

Saanya Iyer in February told the News18 team that Gowri had finished filming and editing with post-production work underway. And it looks like while the post-production team is busy with the editing, they have also got some time to tease fans with some behind-the-scenes footage from the film.

The makers of Gowri recently released a behind-the-scenes clip from a romantic song from the film featuring Samarjit and Saanya Iyer. The clip features beautiful picturesque shots of a waterfall and the lead couple at the foot of the waterfall.

Samarjit appears to be lip-syncing to a song while beckoning to Saanya while the actress smiles calmly seated on a rock. We also get to see a few shots of Samarjits well-sculpted and toned physique as he goes shirtless for the camera. The behind-the-scenes video is proof enough that Indrajit Lankesh is going to provide us with a visual treat as far as locales are concerned.

The name of the project was initially announced to be Gauri with the director saying that it would be based on true incidents. This led to speculations that the film would be based around the killing of Indrajits sister and social activist Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead in 2017 by fundamentalists. However, no official statement regarding the same was issued by the makers and instead, the name was changed to Gowri, probably to put these speculations to rest.

The poster of the film hinted at a blend of action, romance, and other themes, with the creators describing it as message-oriented. Samarjit Lankesh, making his debut, will be portraying a rugged action persona. Gowri claims to be inspired by a true incident.
Veteran actress Jaya Bachchan is celebrating her 76th birthday today, April 9. She was recently seen in Karan Johars Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, where she played Dharmendras wife and Ranveer Singhs mother. However, Jaya Bachchan used to have a big crush on Dharmendra in the earlier days.

On an episode of Karan Johars talk show, Koffee with Karan, in 2007 she recalled her first meeting with Dharmendra. She said, I loved Dharmendra You know when I saw him for the first time and I was introduced to him, there was a sofa like this. I went and hid behind it. I was so nervous! I didnt know what to do. There was this fantastic-looking man. I still remember what he was wearing- white trousers and a white shirt and he looked like a Greek God!

It was when she worked with the actor in a movie called Guddi in 1971, that Jaya Bachchan admitted that she had a crush on him. Recently, Dharmendra reacted to this and told Zoom, This is her love and respect speaking. Ive known Jaya and Amitabh for a very long time now. I still remember the fun times that we had while shooting for Sholay.

Meanwhile, on her special day, Jayas husband and veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan took to his blog to share that he brought in Jayas birthday at midnight. Amitabh wrote in his blog, It is in the morn of another family birth of which that has required no explanation the better half celebrates her birthday TODAY, and all the greetings for her are recognised and shown gratitude, as always A quiet family bring in for the 9th on the midnight hour and the love of immediate family presence

Meanwhile, on the work front, Jaya Bachchan co-hosts Navya Naveli Nandas podcast What The Hell Navya. Navya Naveli Nanda and Jaya are also joined by Shweta Bachchan. They delve into their distinct generational perspectives on love, life, and contemporary womens issues. The trio share candid stories from their lives, sparking lively and bold conversations that resonate with audiences.
The Congress, two weeks away from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, released its poll manifesto, Nyay Patra at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi. Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress party president, speaking at the event, said, This manifesto will be nyay ka dastavez (a document for justice) in the political history of the country. From the five pillars of the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatrayuva (youth), kisan (farmers), naari (women), shramik (workers), and hissedari (equity), 25 guarantees will emerge.

The Congress, which revels in economic appeasement, has promised to transfer Rs 1,00,000 a year to Indias poorest families as an unconditional cash transfer. Despite the unmerited alluring populist pledges from the party, the Indian electorates have gallingly, in motley states of the Hindi heartland, denied trading a bird in hand for the Congress virulent and penchant brand of ephemeral freebie politics. However, speaking of his audacious war on Revdi culture, PM Narendra Modi said, It is important that every youngster get opportunities, not assistance that keeps them dependent but the support that makes them self-reliant to fulfil their aspirations with dignity. Even in his days as the Gujarat chief minister, Modi resisted election-time pressures to play economic populist politics that are fiscally irresponsible welfarism and exorbitantly unattainable.

Ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power at the Centre, their dispensation has focused on macroeconomic stability rather than announcing ruinous expenditures to garner electoral victory.

In another bizarre promise, the Congress stated, We will amend the election laws to combine the efficiency of the electronic voting machine (EVM) and the transparency of the ballot paper. After the unequivocal triumph of the BJP in the Hindi heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh tweeted, Any machine with a chip can be hacked. Since 2003, I have opposed EVM voting. Should we permit professional hackers to manipulate our Indian democracy? This is the fundamental question that all political parties have to address. Hilariously, despite constantly whining about EVMs, the Congress party preaches water and drinks wine in states like Karnataka and Telangana, where it has emerged victorious.

Stirring the communal cauldron, the Congress has vowed to interfere with personal choices of food and dress, to love and marry, and to travel and reside in any part of India. The party asserts that they will repeal all laws and rules that unreasonably impede personal freedoms. The grand old party has tried hard to peddle the apocalyptic narrative that ever since the BJP came into power, the Muslims in India  Indias second-largest majority community  are fraught with tension, insecurity and dread. But nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, apart from the many welfare schemes of PM Modi that benefit the Muslims in India, his administration abolished the archaic and mediaeval practice of Triple Talaq, ensuring Muslim women lead a life of dignity. In a similar move towards empowerment, the Narendra Modi administration allowed women to proceed on Haj without Mehram. Additionally, his administration has ensured a holistic beautification process at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, which includes the construction of Silver Katahra at Astana Sharif, a new fountain and renovation of the Nizam Gate and Akbari Masjid.

Data-wise, the annual average household incomes for Muslims have risen from 6 per cent in 2015-16 to 21 per cent in 2020-21. According to the data, 14 per cent of Indias population, i.e., Muslims, received 31.3 per cent of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, 33 per cent of funds under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, and 36 per cent of loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. Then there is a PM Shadi Shagun Yojana, exclusively for Muslim girls, under which they would get Rs 51,000 if they completed graduation before marriage. If this wasnt enough to reposit the Congress partys galling tag on PM Modi of being anti-Muslim, the prime minister has been conferred with the highest civilian honours of seven Muslim nations.

The Congress has made another grotesque vow, promising to implement the MSP (minimum support price) as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission, a demand that farmers have been protesting since 2020. Nonetheless, should legislation pertaining to the assurance of the minimum support price be implemented, it would necessitate an augmented expenditure of Rs 10 lakh crore annually, approximately tantamount to a quarter of the entire national budget! In fact, getting down to brass tacks, the Modi administration proffered data showcasing a surge of 115 per cent in MSP. The administration delineated that an outlay of approximately Rs 2.28 lakh crore was directed towards procuring food grains at MSP in 202223, marking a substantial rise from the Rs 1.06 lakh crore expenditure incurred in 201415.

Further, the Congress manifesto stated that it would conduct a nationwide socio-economic and caste census to enumerate the castes and sub-castes, as well as their socio-economic conditions. It has vowed to pass a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SC, ST and OBC. While the Congress doctrine aims to adroitly exploit their leitmotif template of an OBC-Dalit-Muslim coalition, the BJP has distanced itself from the deleterious realm of caste-driven politics and reiterated that their governance paradigm identifies the beneficiaries only as poor, women, youth and farmers.

Interestingly, the same Congress should delve into its own sordid history, where the then PM Rajiv Gandhi decried Mandal Commission in the national parliament on December 6, 1990, addressing the speaker on record, Sir, [V.P. Singh] Raja Sahibs policies are not very different from what the Britishers were doing. It was the British who tried to divide our country on caste and religion, and today it is the Raja Sahib, sitting there, who is trying to divide our country on caste and religion. (Interruptions) Already, you are steering this country towards more religious electorates. What could possibly proffer cogency and coherence to this tectonic shift in the ideology but political ineptitude and chagrin in ousting Modi?

Apart from the political cut-and-thrust, PM Modis governance theme of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas has led to the untrammelled sway of his public perception. The prime ministers unparalleled unanimous support stems from his frontal assault on the conventional caste calculus of social exclusion and economic deprivation. In addition to maintaining a consistent 8 per cent economic growth and achieving unprecedented rates of infrastructure development, Prime Minister Modis administration has implemented socially inclusive policies. These include initiatives such as the Ujjwala Yojana, which provides free cooking gas connections to those in need; Ayushman Bharat; distribution of food grains to over 80 crore beneficiaries; efforts to ensure access to potable water for all citizens; provision of four crore houses to eligible recipients; direct benefit transfers to farmers; and the PM Mudra Yojana, which has sanctioned 43 crore loans totalling Rs 22.5 lakh crore to support the entrepreneurial aspirations of youth and numerous other flagship programs.

The amalgam of these comprehensive initiatives has permeated and resonated across various echelons of society, garnering their allegiance and electoral endorsement. And bolstered by the milestones achieved among the multitude residing in rural sectors and impoverished communities, Narendra Modis political quest in 2024 assumes a solitary endeavour.

Yuvraj Pokharna is an independent journalist and columnist. He tweets with @iyuvrajpokharna. Heres the link to Yuvrajs official WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBKt038vd1QvwLPp515. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, who later became one of the most worshipped figures of Bharat, was born on the auspicious Ugadi (New Year) day, in the year Virodhi, 1811 of the Shaka Era, which corresponds to April 1, 1889. He was born in the early morning hours to a Telugu family of Deshastha Brahmins from the Shakala branch, following the Asvalayana Sutra of the Rigveda. Their gotra was Kashyapa, and their main focus was on learning and transmitting the Vedas.

Many Brahmin families had to leave the Telangana region due to neglect and poverty under the Mughals. Some of these families chose to settle in Nagpur, as the Bhonsle rulers were great supporters of Vedic learning. One such family was the great-grandfather of Hedgewar, Baliram Pant. Since his childhood, Hedgewar was deeply affected by the mistreatment of Indians by the British. He often refused to salute the Union Jack during school and public events, believing that his loyalty was only to Bharat Mata, whom he held in high regard, much like his own mother. He promoted the pride of Vande Mataram among the student circles in Nagpur, defying the orders of education inspectors and other British officials. During those times, Vande Mataram was the rallying cry of Indians seeking liberation, and the Indian National Congress (INC) was still in its early stages of infancy under colonial rule. Nagpur, rather than the Presidencies or any other location, was the focal point of the nationalist movement at that time.

In 1910, Hedgewar departed for Calcutta, a city he had always held in high regard, to pursue his medical studies. He greatly admired the revolutionaries in Calcutta, who had long been challenging the empire. He drew inspiration from their fight for the liberation of Bharat Mata from the colonial clutches. His interactions with students from all over India and exposure to the diverse cultures of our nation solidified his devotion to Bharat Mata.

During his college years in 1913, Hedgewar joined forces with the Missionaries of Ramakrishna Mission to assist in combating the devastating floods in the Damodar River. The deadly cholera outbreak that plagued India during those years claimed thousands of lives. He selflessly dedicated himself to serving the people during those trying times. His time in Calcutta was a period of enlightenment, as his regular engagements with distinguished individuals and patriotic organisations in the city shaped his intellect. Hedgewar successfully passed his final examination in 1914 and obtained the LMS degree. Following the required practical training period as necessitated by the statutes of that time, he completed the course on July 9, 1915. Despite receiving a lucrative job offer in one of the British dominions, Hedgewar declined, as his mind was now set on a path of dedicated human service.

The colonial government introduced the bogus Indian medical degree bill to penalise nationalist institutions that opposed the British government. Despite allowing graduates from nationalist colleges to practice, their degrees were deemed invalid. This marked Dr Hedgewars initial involvement in organised protests. He orchestrated a massive public gathering in Calcutta, with prominent national leader Surendranath Banerjee presiding over the event. The resolution passed at the meeting clearly articulated the publics demands. As a result of the protests effectiveness, the government relented and agreed to recognise all medical graduates following a symbolic examination. This was the first time Dr Hedgewar led public protests against colonial policy and was instrumental in reshaping the policy.

Dr Hedgewar, the organiser, was thus born.

Following his return to Nagpur, he directed his efforts towards revolutionary movements. During that period, the followers of the Tilak school were prominent in the Nagpur Congress and had established the Rashtriya Mandal. All political activities in Nagpur were coordinated through this Mandal, with Hedgewar playing a significant role in the movement. The Rashtriya Mandal made the decision to launch a Hindi weekly publication named Sankalpa. This publication was highly successful in spreading nationalist ideas in Hindi throughout India. To instill the noble ideals that had inspired the lives of great national heroes and scholars in the minds of young individuals, Dr Hedgewar established Rashtriya Utsa Mandal aimed at inspiring youngsters to serve the nation.

As he dedicated himself to shaping the minds and intellects of youth towards nation-building, the political landscape of India began to change. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a barrister who had returned from London, gradually emerged as a prominent figure across India. The British government, in response, began to rely heavily on communal tactics to suppress the growing resistance against their rule. This led to the enactment of the Government of India Act of 1919, also known as the Montague Chelmsford reforms, which introduced communal representation in Indian politics and laid the groundwork for partition.

Dr Hedgewars independent thinking and perspective were evident during the Nagpur session of the Congress. In one of the meetings, he and his companions drafted a resolution stating, Our goal is complete independence. They approached Gandhiji and urged him to have the Congress endorse this resolution. However, Gandhiji was not enthusiastic about accepting the idea of complete independence and instead emphasised Swaraj as the immediate priority for the Congress. Furthermore, Gandhijis support for merging the non-cooperation movement with the Khilafat movement deeply saddened Hedgewar. Frustrated by the Congress slow progress towards independence and the growing communal hatred in the nation, he decided to establish a new organisation.

On the auspicious day of Vijaya Dashami in 1925, young men gathered at Dr Hedgewars residence to form an organisation that would later become the worlds largest social non-governmental organisation, known today as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Dr Hedgewar built a network of dedicated and selfless swayamsevaks, channelling their energies towards nation-building. Even today, committed, selfless, and motivated swayamsevaks carry forward Hedgewars vision, ensuring that his legacy lives on. Much like the organisation he founded, Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar continues to inspire generations even to this day more than any other Indian.

Adarsh Kuniyillam is a Parliamentary, policy and political analyst from Kerala who has supported various Members of Parliament. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
In some local elections around the world, there have been instances where animals have been 'nominated' or symbolically elected to office, often as a statement by the voters. (News18)
Madhavi Latha, Bharatiya Janata Partys candidate from Hyderabad- recently lashed out at her Lok Sabha election rival and AIMIM Chief Asadduddin Owaisi over his claims to have received death threats for visiting late Mukhtar Ansaris home and claimed that he is friends with ISIS and Kings Group.

Mocking the Hyderabad MP for his claim, the BJP leader said, How is Asaduddin Owaisi receiving death threats? Is someone physically attacking him or pelting stones at him? As of now, these threats are only being made on social media platforms. However, those who are close to Asaduddin Owaisi may be the ones making these threats. Its important to note that people who attack others are often the ones who require security measures themselves.

#WATCH | Hyderabad: BJP's candidate from Hyderabad, Madhavi Latha says, "Who is giving him (Asaduddin Owaisi) death threats?Look at the level of his friendships. He is friends with people from ISIS, the kings' groupHe says that he has a stronghold here and then says that he pic.twitter.com/zuptnpDzK0 ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2024

Latha also alleged that someone might ask why Owaisi requires security in the first place when he maintains a friendship with criminals and gangsters like Mukhtar Ansari, ISIS and the Kings group of Hyderabad.

The BJP leaders remarks came after Owaisi claimed that he received threatening social media posts after he met family members of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari, who died recently in jail.

The AIMIM leader had visited Ansaris Ghazipur home in Uttar Pradesh to offer condolences to his family. Ansari died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in UPs Banda on March 28.

Owaisi also said he was hoping that the Election Commission was monitoring the threatening social media posts reportedly made against him after the visit.

The atmosphere created in the country is giving them strength to say such things. Those who are openly making such threats, we hope that the Election Commission monitors that and sees, Owaisi said while addressing the media.

BJPs Madhavi Latha Gets Y Plus Security

Meanwhile, the Centre provided VIP security cover of armed commandos to Madhavi Latha given potential security threats against her, official sources said on Monday.

The 49-year-old politician has been granted the mid-level Y plus category mobile security cover during her stay and visits in Telangana.

A threat perception report prepared by central intelligence and security agencies recommended a security cover for Latha following which the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sanctioned the protection, the sources said.

A squad of four armed personnel will be with Latha round-the-clock under the Y plus security protocol.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Monday announced unconditional support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing the Gudi Padwa rally from Mumbais Shivaji Park, Thackeray also announced that the MNS will not contest for Lok Sabha polls but asked his supporters to be ready for Maharashtra Assembly elections which are due later this year.

I dont want Rajya Sabha or Vidhan sabha, I told Fadnavis. I told them, I have no expectations and no conditions. My full support for Modi, BJP, NCP (Ajit Pawar), Sena (Eknath Shinde), he said.

The MNS leaders meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shahs last month sparked speculations that he might not join the Mahayuti  an alliance of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction in Maharashtra.

For the last one and a half year, CM of Maharashtra has been saying we should work together. Fadnavis too said the same thing. So I went to meet Amit Shah to understand what was the proposal We spoke of seat distribution. The last time I sat for negotiations was in 1995. I dont have the temperament of negotiations, he added.

However, Thackeray said that he would not compromise on his party symbol and would contest elections using party symbol. I have gained our symbol with a lot of hard work. No compromise on symbol, he said.

The MNS chief said that the Lok Sabha election will decide the future of the country. Whether we prosper or we go to the dungeons, he said.

Raj Thackeray separated from the undivided Shiv Sena and floated the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in 2006. Despite being recognised as a compelling speaker with a dedicated following, his MNS did not achieve significant influence. His contentious remarks against North Indians in the past provoked strong condemnation from leaders of different political parties, including the BJP.

Shinde Welcomes Raj Thackerays Move

CM Shinde thanked MNS president Raj Thackeray for his support to Mahayuti alliance.

I welcome him wholeheartedly. PM Modi has supported Mahayuti. PM Modi has done development in the country and has taken the country forward Raj Thackeray did not put any condition for his support. Our Shiv Sena is Balasaheb Thackerays Shiv Sena. Our Shiv Sena is not Congress-sponsored Shiv Sena, he said.
The Trinamool Congress battle against the central probe agencies is getting intense with reports stating that the West Bengal police has registered an FIR against NIA officials under charges of molestation. The NIA, meanwhile, has moved the Kolkata high court against the police action. The court is set to hear the matter around 2pm.

Sources said that the East Midnapore police has asked the National Investigation Agency to give details of their injuries, damage to vehicle and other information, along with the sequence of events during the raids.

Police said that the First Information Report (FIR) was filed on the complaint of family members of the arrested accused and TMC worker Manabroto Jana. Sources added that the complaint stated that NIA officials molested women by breaking the doors of their houses late at night.

In a statement, the Bengal police said, Two NIA officers have been summoned in connection with the attack on NIA in Bhupatinagar. Mentioned in the notice both officers who complainant and an officer injured during the attack will come as witnesses for the purpose of investigation. The injured officer has also been asked to carry his medical papers and the car attacked, for forensics.

A team of the NIA was allegedly attacked by a mob on Saturday when it went to arrest two main suspects in a 2022 Bhupatinagar blast case in Purba Medinipur district, sparking a political slugfest with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee accusing the investigators of assaulting the villagers.

On the same day, the NIA filed a written complaint about the attack in Bhupatinagar. The NIA said one of its officers was injured and a vehicle was damaged in the attack.

The attack on the NIA team happened around three months after villagers and locals assaulted a team of Enforcement Department (ED) officers when they went to raid the residence of, now arrested, TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh on January 5 in connection with the alleged ration scam.

Some reports stated that the Bengal police has detained three people in connection with the attack on NIA officials. However, there has been no official confirmation of arrests so far.

The NIA on Monday had issued summons to three Trinamool Congress leaders  Manab Kumar Karaya, Subir Maity and Naba Kumar Ponda  asking them to appear before its officers for questioning in connection with the Bhupatinagar blast case.

Meanwhile, several TMC leaders gathered in New Delhi to protest outside the Election Commissions (EC) office, demanding that the chiefs of the CBI, NIA, ED and income-tax department be changed.

The leaders, protesting on Monday, were shortly detained by the Delhi Police. They were reportedly asked to disperse by the police, but as they continued their protest, the security personnel forcibly evicted them and detained them.

A police officer said the leaders were detained as section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which prohibits large gatherings, is imposed in the area and no permission was taken for the protest.

Late on Monday, the Delhi Police said the TMC leaders have been released. The leaders, however, maintained that they will remain in the police station through the night and continue their protest.

#WATCH | Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj arrives at Mandir Marg police station to meet TMC leaders "MCC is implemented in the country. All agencies and government functioning should come under neutral EC, but the way ED & NIA raids are being done on opposition pic.twitter.com/11EKpUcuTh  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

A war of words was also witnessed between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the CPI(M), and the TMC, with the saffron party leaders pointing out similarities with the Sandeshkhali incident.

TMC leaders do not care about the Constitution of India and democracy. If anyone has insulted the Constitution, constitutional institutions and democracy, it is TMC leaders. They are doing nautanki (gimmick) to protect and save Shahjahan Sheikh, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh told reporters.

The protest by TMC leaders shows their frustration with the party sensing its defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, he added.
Months after creating the new Microsoft AI organisation to help advance their consumer AI products and research, including Copilot, the tech giant has now announced that it is opening a new AI hub in London, UK.

According to the company, the new AI hub will drive pioneering work to advance state-of-the-art language models and their supporting infrastructure, and to create world-class tooling for foundation models, collaborating closely with our AI teams across Microsoft and with our partners, including OpenAI.

The new AI hub will be led by Jordan Hoffmann, an AI scientist and engineer. Before joining Microsoft AI, Hoffmann distinguished himself as an AI pioneer at Inflection and DeepMind, based in London.

Hoffmann will be joined by a group of Microsoft AI team members based in the companys London Paddington office.

There is an enormous pool of AI talent and expertise in the UK, and Microsoft AI plans to make a significant, long-term investment in the region as we begin hiring the best AI scientists and engineers into this new AI hub, the company said in a blogpost.

In the post, the tech giant also highlighted its recently announced 2.5 billion pound investment to upskill the UK workforce for the AI era and to build the infrastructure to power the AI economy, including its commitment to bring 20,000 of the most advanced GPUs to the country by 2026.
In Florida, a woman allegedly went on a shooting spree during the total solar eclipse, claiming it was directed by God. The incident occurred on April 8th, when 22-year-old Taylon Nichelle Celestine, drove a purple Challenger onto Floridas Interstate 10. Celestine, originally from Georgia, reportedly began shooting at a vehicle after informing hotel staff of her intentions during check out. The gunfire hit the passing vehicle, injuring the driver with an arm wound. Subsequently, the driver managed to escape, but Celestine allegedly targeted another vehicle, injuring the drivers neck. Local authorities were alerted following reports to Washington County Communications.

In a statement, the Florida Highway Police (FHP) shared, Responding Troopers located the suspect near the 96 mile marker and conducted a felony traffic stop. After the suspect was taken into custody, troopers recovered an AR-15 and a 9mm handgun within the purple Challenger. Celestine was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Holmes County Jail. The Florida Highway Patrol Bureau of Investigations and Intelligence (BCII) is conducting the investigation, which is ongoing. Further details will be released when available.

During her arrest, Taylon Nichelle Celestine was charged with Attempted Murder, Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon and Improper Discharge of Firearm, according to FHP. As of now, it remains uncertain whether the woman was provided a lawyer who could speak on her behalf. The shooting happened near Bonifay, approximately 50 miles away from Panama City.

A total solar visible from the skies of Mexico, the US and Canada delighted millions of citizens. During the rare phenomena, the Moon moved between the Earth and the sun, momentarily covering the suns light and creating a breathtaking view. As per Forbes report, it lasted for about 4 minutes and 26 seconds and it was North Americas first total solar eclipse in six years. Residents of a few fortunate regions such as Perryville, Cape Girardeau in Missouri, Paducah in Kentucky and others in Illinois, experienced this event twice, first in 2017 and again on April 8, 2024.

Along the eclipses path, various events like festivals, viewing parties and even mass weddings were organised. However, residents of Texas were disappointed due to cloudy weather.
In the era of modern warfare, the spectre of nuclear conflict remains a haunting possibility. Recently, a classified document was revealed, shedding light on the potential devastation that could be wrought by a nuclear attack. According to the top-secret documents, if America were to be targeted with nuclear weapons, Washington DC would be the primary city at risk of destruction.

The film, titled General Nuclear Warfare, had been kept classified by the American government. It detailed how the nations capital, Washington DC, would be annihilated in the event of a nuclear assault. This revelation came to light for the first time in The Main on Sunday, alarming many. Reports suggest that the city could be targeted with a devastating megaton thermonuclear bomb.

Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs, Andrew Weber, expressed that a Bolt out of the Blue attack against DC is the most feared scenario among residents. This term refers to an unwarned sudden attack by US Nuclear Command and Control.

According to a report by The Sun, such a nuclear assault would result in widespread destruction. Concrete walls of buildings would shatter, metals would liquefy or vaporise and humans would instantly burn and turn to carbon. Craig Fugate, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, emphasised the importance of preparedness, urging everyone to learn how to protect themselves rather than dwelling on the potential aftermath.

This recent development comes amid heightened tensions, particularly following Russian President Vladimir Putins warning about Russias readiness with nuclear weapons. Putin conveyed to Russian media that the country is prepared to utilise mass destructive weapons if necessary. Despite asserting readiness for nuclear war on both military and technical fronts, Putin emphasised that such extreme measures are unnecessary at present.

As global powers navigate geopolitical complexities, the threat of nuclear conflict highlights the importance of diplomatic efforts to ensure peace and security. Vigilance, preparedness and diplomacy remain paramount in safeguarding against the catastrophic consequences of nuclear warfare.
No one can resist knowing Dolly Chaiwala. Ever since his video alongside Bill Gates went viral, the man has transcended his role as merely a tea vendor. While social media acknowledges him as a content creator, recent assertions suggest he has been announced as the new ambassador for Windows 12. Hold on, really? As if the internets astonishment wasnt enough already, this claim has now gone viral, sparking speculations far and wide.

The Claim

A post by Bindu Times on Instagram, known for its satirical news, declared, Dolly Chaiwala made brand ambassador for Windows 12. This ignited a flurry of disbelief and shock among commenters, who shared the post without realising it was satire! Please tell me its a joke, requested one baffled user. IITians crying in the corner, quipped another.

The Truth

Microsoft hasnt even hinted at a release date for Windows 12, expected sometime in late 2024 or early 2025. In fact, theres been no official word from the company about working on the OS, let alone enlisting Dolly Chaiwala as its face. In the business world, such news usually comes with fanfarea press release or an announcement. But neither Microsoft nor Bill Gates have uttered a word about this. So, the news from Bindu Times is definitely just for laughs.

Also Read: After Meeting Bill Gates, Dolly Chaiwala Jets Off To Maldives For A Blissful Vacation

In short, this is one of those internet hooks where famous figures get roped into conversations for clicks, and this time, poor Dolly Chaiwala seems to be the bait!

Whos Dolly Chaiwala?

Originating from Maharashtras Nagpur, Dolly has garnered a huge following on Instagram, with over 10k eager followers who cant get enough of his tea tales and vibrant personality. But it wasnt until he shared a video moment with The Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, brewing his signature Tapri chai in style and serving it up, that everything about this ordinary tea seller caught fire on the internet!

Read More: Everything About Dolly Chaiwala Whose Viral Antics Opened Windows to Bill Gates

No doubt, it was hailed as one of the most unexpected collaborations of 2024. Desis were left steeped in disbelief, unable to wrap their heads around a simple chaiwala brewing videos with The Bill Gates, especially when techies had spent years grinding away just to catch a glimpse of him.
A journalist has claimed that she was fat-shamed by a staff of Emirates Airlines at Delhi airport. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), she said, This is 2024 and I cant believe this still happens. I was fat-shamed by Emirates staff at New Delhi airport. Not only did they misbehaved with me, but they gave me a non-reclining seat on an overnight journey. As I board the flight, Im in tears yet their ground staff is rude.

This is 2024 and I can't believe this still happens. I was fat shamed by @emirates staff at New Delhi airport. Not only they misbehaved with me, but gave me a non reclining seat on an overnight journey. As I board the flight, I'm in tears yet their ground staff is rude af. Srishti (@seekingsrishti) April 8, 2024

The post has received more than 77k views on social media. People have extended their support to the journalist.

Surprised by Emirates behaviour, a user said, I have always heard such good things about their hospitality. Hope you are feeling better.

It's not something you expect from @emirates. I have always heard such good things about their hospitality. Hope you are feeling better. pash (@pash161) April 8, 2024

Another added, It used to be my favourite airline. Over the years their prices have shot up while their services and customer relationships have deteriorated.

It used to be my favourite airline. Over the years their prices have shot up while their services and customer relationships has deteriorated. #Emirates #Airlines Raj Nayak (@rajcheerfull) April 9, 2024

This is terrible that Emirates behaved in this manner with you, a comment read.

This is terrible, I am so sorry that Emirates behaved in this manner with you . Apologies & please escalate this matter Sanjay Lazar (@sjlazars) April 9, 2024

Some have criticised the airline for their poor service.

This is so unfortunate. Must be your local Indian staff Emirates. Sack them. And when you recruit new ones, train them, educate them on culture, hospitality and basic etiquettes & manners. Sanjeev  (@sanjeevh) April 9, 2024

I have found @emirates to have one of the worst services from staff, even for business class. Rude attendants who chatter through the night on the a380 lounge. They consider all Indians as crap, who can be pushed around. Megha Sheth (@megzie0925) April 9, 2024

Meanwhile, Emirates Airlines has reacted to the journalists post on the micro-blogging site.

We're sorry to hear this Srishti. You can submit your feedback here https://t.co/8gFGwrvxkG. Our Customer Affairs team will review it and get back to you. DM us if you need further assistance. https://t.co/67ooSY3Pnf Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) April 8, 2024

It said, Were sorry to hear about this Srishti. You can submit your feedback. Our Customer Affairs team will review it and get back to you. DM us if you need further assistance.

Earlier, a passenger was left frustrated after they found their Air India seat to be broken on a Delhi-Bengaluru flight. After paying an additional Rs 1,000 for a window seat, the passenger was dismayed to find that the seat was broken. Despite calling for assistance, the issue remained unresolved, leaving the seat unusable and the passenger irritated.

Also Read: Air India Passenger Pays Rs 1,000 Extra Only To Get A Broken Window Seat, Airline Reacts

Sharing footage and images of the incident on X, the passenger slammed the airline for poor management and even tagged authorities to look into the matter. Sharing the post, the passenger wrote, Paid extra 1000 for a broken window seat (22A) on Air India AI512 from DEL to BLR on 4th April. They called the engineer to fix it, but he couldnt. Is this what I paid the flight fare for? Cant I at least expect a proper seat after paying so much?
A startup founder recently sparked a debate online, saying that she preferred the city of Hyderabad over Mumbai and Bengaluru. Shweta Kukreja, the founder of The Marketing Anatomy, shared her views on the citys underrated status, shedding light on reasons why it was better than other metros cities. Minimal traffic and the convenience of the Outer Ring Road to reach the airport on time, according to Kukreja, made Hyderabad better than other cities.

In her X post, Kukreja further praised Hyderabads greenery and aesthetic appeal, claiming it deserved more recognition. Soon after her post went viral, it garnered mixed reactions from social media, as some expressed concerns about overhyping the city, which will lead to overpopulation.

On X, Kukreja wrote, Lived in Hyderabad for a year and I would any day choose Hyderabad over Bangalore and Mumbai. This city is so underrated, in terms of everything. Less traffic (comparatively), ORR Road for the airport (bestest), Greenery (literally everywhere), Aesthetics (unreal), Food. Need to hype this city up.

Lived in Hyderabad for a year and I would any day choose Hyd over Bangalore and Mumbai.This city is so underrated, in terms of everything. > Less traffic (comparatively) ORR Road for airport (bestest) Greenery (literally everywhere) Aesthetics (unreal) Food ()  Shweta Kukreja (@ShwetaKukreja_) April 7, 2024

After her post went viral with over 7 Lakh views, in the comments section, some supported her perspective, while the majority expressed dissatisfaction, due to the bad weather conditions and pollution in Hyderabad.

A user warned against hyping Hyderabad to prevent it from becoming overcrowded like Bengaluru or Mumbai.

Please do not hype it up. Do not want it to turn into the next bengaluru or mumbai  Killer Trader (@KillerTrader_) April 7, 2024

Another claimed that Hyderabad is hotter compared to Bengaluru and Mumbai, but observed that similar heat waves were now affecting Bengaluru as well, adding Mumbais humidity gets uncomfortable during daytime.

Always felt Hyderabad little hotter compared to Bengaluru but looks like now even bengaluru is suffering from heat wave.Mumbai have that sticky heat unbearable at day time  Vineet Joshi (@BonafideVJ) April 7, 2024

An individual, who has lived in Hyderabad for nearly two years, is satisfied with the city and confirmed that it was the best place to live.

Going to complete almost 2 Years in Hyd and I confirm this. Its the best city to live in. Kushal Vijay (@KushalVijay_) April 7, 2024

Another reminisced about Bengalurus beauty, mentioning that it had less traffic, greenery and pleasant weather. However, due to the impact of migration from the North, the quality of life has deteriorated.

Even Bengaluru was so beautiful. Less traffic, greenery literally everywhere, cool weather what not. Now due to this massive migration from the North, we locals are suffering, requesting all migrants to develop their respective states n move back. We as country can grow together. Skaar (@Skaar_12) April 7, 2024

In response to a query regarding safety Kukreja stated that Hyderabad was a safe city. She shared her personal experience and mentioned that she had been out until late 2-3 am and felt safe. However, she also pointed out that safety might depend on where you are or stay in the city.

Previously, Udit Goenka, the Founder and CEO of Little SaaS, initiated a new conversation by claiming that Gurugram is better than Bengaluru as a startup destination. He argues that the northern city provides a more encouraging environment, affordability, pleasant climate and friendly community for businesses.

If you are building a tech companyGurgaon is the place to be and not Bangalore! Good talent is more affordable Huge buyers market No bubble and humble people Decent weather except summers (manageable since you will be inside AC rooms) Super affordable  Udit Goenka (@iuditg) April 3, 2024

Similar to Shweta Kukreja, Udit Goenkas post also received mixed reactions and garnered over 2 Lakh views.
During the solar eclipse, strange animal habits were seen at the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas. Certain species, including flamingos, macaws, lions, giraffes, and gorillas, whom the researchers monitored, showed alertness and curiosity during the celestial event. Researchers had earlier discovered odd animal behaviours in 2017 in a South Carolina zoo located in a region of total darkness.

According to the Fort Worth Report (FWR), in response to the eclipse, tortoises hurried towards their barn to resume their nightly ritual. The giraffes gathered close to the opening of their enclosure. Elmo, the silverback gorilla, yawned more often than usual, which is usually a sign of hostility and dominance in monkeys, according to Adam Hartstone-Rose, a professor at North Carolina State University who was in charge of animal behaviour research during the eclipse.

During the 2017 total solar eclipse, giraffes at other facilities formed a herd and began to gallop, which was one of the oddest animal occurrences observed. This year the giraffes at the Fort Worth Zoo huddled together and attempted to go into their nightly enclosures, but they did not gallop.

On the other hand, nocturnal animals, such as a ringtail and multiple species of owls, were seen waking for daybreak. Following several months of preparation, Hartstone-Rose assembled a large group of researchers and high school students in Fort Worth to repeat his 2017 study on animal reactions to eclipses. This time, his team also gathered data sheets from Americans who submitted their observations via the Solar Eclipse Safari website, as well as from zoo visitors around the nation.

An observer told FWR, I was honestly wanting to see what the lions were doing, but we were at the wrong place at the wrong time. We saw the flamingos, and they looked back and forth weirdly for a couple of minutes and then, when it was complete, they all huddled up.

The zoo was packed for Hartstone-Roses earlier research, and the eclipse caused the audience to scream and holler loudly. In 2017, that conduct seemed to affect certain animals. In South Carolina, giraffes started to run, displaying signs of anxiety as though they had been frightened in the wild.

According to Hartstone-Rose, crowds in Fort Worth were more polite and far easier to control. While lions and primates seemed to be aware that something strange was occurring, unlike in 2017, their increased awareness did not result in stress or anxiety reactions.

Simultaneously, reports of peculiar behaviours were received from the Indianapolis Zoo and the Dallas Zoo. Chimpanzees at Dallas Zoo patrolled the perimeter of their enclosure, zoo officials told CBS News. Additionally, an ostrich laid one egg. Other birds started to get silent before totality, and flamingos and penguins gathered together.

Birds also exhibited strange behaviour, an Indianapolis Zoo spokesperson informed the media. Birds such as macaws and budgies exhibited their nighttime habits by becoming silent and raising their wings in the air.

The flamingos at the zoo huddled together and also fell silent. A cheetah and a warthog were two of the animals that displayed evidence of nighttime behaviour. The cheetahs were pacing at the highest point in their grassy yard, while a warthog was waiting at the back gate during the eclipse.
There are many unique cities all around the world that have a culture and history of their own. Many of these cities have been destroyed due to wars and natural disasters. There was one city that fell into ruins because of its own fate. According to reports, the name of the city was Kowloon Walled City, and it used to be a part of Hong Kong. The city was always in the news because it had no law, and the citizens used to do things as per their wishes. It was also found that things like prostitution, drug dealing, and gambling were quite rampant in the city.

According to reports, Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong used to be one of the most talked-about cities in the world. It had no laws of its own, and all the illegal and illicit activities were quite common. The city had around 50,000 residents living on just more than six acres of land.

It used to be a poor city, and there was not much food there. One of the most popular dishes in the area was dog meat. Reportedly, this city was made of about 300 high-rise towers, all of which were connected to each other. Many people living there were quite happy in the city, despite living in poverty. It was also said to be the densest city in the world.

The city had no proper architects involved in the design, and no permission was granted. Many flats had no windows, wires were dilapidated, and leaking water pipes ran through peoples houses. After World War II, many immigrants from China came to settle in the city, and it was then that it started to flourish. Even though the British took control of the city, they played no major role in the citys development, allowing anarchy and an uncontrolled regime to exist. Apart from that, many brothels, casinos, and drug dens started opening, and setting up a business was quite easy as there were no regulations or licences.

After many years, things got so out of control that the Hong Kong government was finally forced to take action. In 1992, people living in the area were asked to move out. Many people began protesting against it, and it even took a violent turn, forcing the Chinese government to demolish the city.
Laziness or tiredness becomes a big hindrance in our lives, as it disrupts our daily activities, rendering us almost useless. Usually, one needs a good amount of sleep to overcome being tired but some people may suffer from a condition, that they cannot avoid. Like this woman from the US, who is tired all the time.

Alyssa Davis struggled to keep her head up in school and during dance classes because she just kept dozing off. Initially, she thought that she simply was not getting enough sleep. But she felt something was wrong with her when she realized it was impossible for her to keep herself awake at all out of exhaustion.

So, the 26-year-old model from North Carolina, went for a medical opinion, where she claimed doctors just dismissed her case and asked her to just drink coffee. Then she took part in a medical sleep study, discovering that she suffered from a condition called idiopathic hypersomnia.

Talking to the media, she spoke about what she experiences daily, Its like being trapped in the Groundhog Day movie  except instead of reliving the same day, I just relive the same exhaustion. According to her, sometimes it takes hours of planning for her to complete simple tasks. She added that this condition clouds her thinking, where even staying concentrated is a struggle.

She reveals that for something as simple as showering she has to prepare herself, as the exhaustion never goes away. She said, Ill sleep 10, 12, sometimes even 14 hours and still wake up feeling like I pulled an all-nighter. She showed symptoms of the condition since she was a child, revealing how her mother had to frequently put her down for napping.

After being done with the doctors who told her she was just lazy or careless, she went to a specialist. They advised her to take part in a sleep study, where she had to slumber for 14 hours non-stop. As per the results, her body never went into a deep sleep state needed for a good rest. In 2017, she was diagnosed with idiopathic hypersomnia.
Vijay Mallya is known for making the most out of bank holidays and once again, he didnt miss the chance to spread Ugadi cheer on social media. Whether its Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, or any other festivity, you can count on him to extend his wishes. So, when Ugadi rolled around on April 9, Mallya kept up the tradition by sending out his heartfelt wishes for the Hindu New Year celebrated in certain Indian states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Goa.

Happy Ugadi to all, he simply penned on X. And with that, the comment section lit up with amusing banter as users began sharing their witty responses.

Happy Ugadi to all Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) April 9, 2024

Petition to rename all Government Holidays as Vijay Mallya Day!! suggested one user. Another teased, Tweeting on festival day wont give you IPL trophy poking fun at Mallyas former team, RCB, which has yet to clinch the Indian Premier League title.

Petition to rename all Government Holidays as Vijay Mallya Day! pic.twitter.com/rvXK1HaPfI Alpaca Girl (@Alpakanya) April 9, 2024

Tweeting on festival day wont give you IPL trophy Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) April 9, 2024

The third chimed in with a comment like, Areh sir, thank you. Aap hai isliye pata chalta hai aaj bank holiday hai. Today, banks in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Manipur, Goa, Jammu, and Srinagar are closed.

Meanwhile, the fourth one said, Thanks for reminding me its public holiday.

Vijay Mallya on the holidays pic.twitter.com/Oj0nJ90VJ3 djay (@djaywalebabu) April 9, 2024

Everything is temporary but bank holiday ke din tweet krna is permanent..By: vijay Mallya Ashman kumar Larokar (@butterfly_45_56) April 9, 2024

Areh sir, thank you. Aap hai isliye pata chalta hai aaj bank holiday hai. Nie (@niepreneur) April 9, 2024

Before this Ugadi post, Mallya had taken to X to celebrate a different kind of victorynot a festival, but a significant achievement nonetheless. When the RCB womens team clinched the WPL (Womens Premier League) trophy, he congratulated the Smriti Mandhan-led squad for their triumph in only the second season of the league, while subtly nudging the mens team, still in pursuit of the elusive IPL crown.

Heartiest congratulations to the RCB Womens Team for winning the WPL. It would be a fantastic double if the RCB Mens Team won the IPL which is long overdue. Good Luck he conveyed.

Also Read: Vijay Mallya is Back on Social Media to Wish Diwali, People Call Him Bank Holiday Merchant

Currently residing in the UK due to ongoing legal proceedings, Mallya, the Indian businessman and former chairman of United Breweries Group, left India in March 2016 amidst allegations of financial irregularities and loan defaults. He has been battling extradition to India, where he faces charges of fraud, money laundering, and other financial offenses.The extradition process has been ongoing in the UK courts, with Mallya consistently denying any wrongdoing and contesting the charges against him.
The recent total solar eclipse captured the attention of residents across the US, Mexico and Canada as they witnessed a rare phenomenon of the skies turning dark during the afternoon. Countless videos and photos of the jaw dropping event were shared online. Amidst these shots, one video stood out for a different reason. Few citizens allegedly spotted an UFO during the eclipse, leaving the internet in disbelief. The footage showed the object quickly disappearing into the clouds. The incident took place in Arlington, Texas. While some speculated it to be an extra terrestrial spaceship, others suggested it was just the shadow of an aircraft flying above the clouds during the eclipse.

In Texas, while residents prepared themselves to witness the rare event, thats when an unknown flying object passed from the eclipse path, which left everyone surprised. Strangely, the object went unnoticed until it was above the cloud and only its shadow was visible before it disappeared into thin air. The unexpected sighting puzzled viewers and sparked numerous theories. Sharing the video, an X user wrote, RED ALERT: A new video just surfaced of the UFO spotted over Arlington Texas during the solar eclipse today and people are freaking out because it seems to disappear into the clouds.

RED ALERT: A new video just surfaced of the UFO spotted over Arlington Texas during the solar eclipse today and people are freaking out because it seems to disappear into the clouds  pic.twitter.com/9Syu9hyPKK Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) April 9, 2024

Since the video was shared on X, it has gone viral and garnered over 8 Million views. A user suggested that the shadow seen on the clouds was due to an airplane flying at a higher altitude. The person mentioned that they have observed similar phenomena as an aviation spotter.

Shadow on the clouds from an higher altitude airplane. I have seen this many times as an aviation spotter. MNPoliticalVIkesFan (@VikesRock23) April 9, 2024

Another provided a more detailed explanation and stated that the shadow was from a flight passing above the clouds. They explained that the shadow disappears when the airplane moves into clear air and clarified that such shadows are similar to the size of the airplane as the light source is far away.

Its an airliners shadow on the cloud. It disappears when it passes into clear air.Airplane shadows stay the same size as the airplane because the light source (sun) is so far away. It happened before totality. FlyingPatriot17 (@FlyingPatriot17) April 9, 2024

An individual quipped, Aliens love visiting the United States of America.

Aliens love visiting the United States of America.Do they know there are other places too?  David (TalkingCents) (@talkcentss) April 9, 2024

A user humorously suggested that its a dragon shadow rather than a UFO.

thats no UFO, thats a dragon foxSlightly (@foxSlightly) April 9, 2024

In recent months, there has been a rise in UFO sightings across the United States and Arizona is one of the top states for such incidents. Data from the National UFO Reporting Center reveals that Arizona has witnessed the most number of sightings. Nearly 5,000 reports out of approximately 170,000 reports since 1974 were from Arizona. According to alien expert Ash Ellis, Wales is considered the prime location for encountering UFOs in Britain. Ellis claims that Wales recorded 323 cases of UFO sightings last year.
Israel for the first time deployed its ship-mounted defence system, called the C-Dome, against a suspicious target that entered the countrys airspace near the southern city of Eilat, the military said Tuesday.

The Israeli Navy Sa'ar 6-class corvette in the Eilat Bay fired two interceptor missiles, at a suspected hostile drone possibly originating from Iraq and heading towards Eilat, Israel. This is the first ever operational interception made by Israels ship-mounted C-Dome. pic.twitter.com/sPZMlqeWbx Eretz Israel (@EretzIsrael) April 9, 2024

The C-Dome is a naval version of the Iron Dome air defence system used to shield against rocket and missile attacks.

On Monday evening, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported an alert in the area of Eilat, which was targeted in February by intercepted ballistic missile fire from Yemens Houthi rebels, allies of Palestinian militants Hamas.

Following the sirens that sounded in the area of Eilat regarding the infiltration of a hostile aircraft, IDF Naval forces identified a suspicious aerial target crossing into Israeli territory, the IDF said in a statement released early Tuesday.

The target was successfully intercepted by the C-Dome naval defence system, it said.

No injuries or damage were reported.

An IDF spokesperson would not confirm whether the suspicious target had been a drone but told AFP this was the first operational use of C-Dome.

Mounted on Saar 6-class corvettes, German-made warships, the C-Dome uses the same interceptor as the Iron Dome, according to state-owned operator Rafael Advanced Defence Systems.

The land-based Iron Dome has been used countless times to intercept rockets fired from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

That defence system costs roughly $50,000 per launch.
Gunmen ambushed a police convoy in Irans restive southeast on Tuesday, killing six policemen, media reports said.

The attack on a road in Sistan and Baluchistan province also left two other policemen wounded, according to yjc.ir, a website affiliated with the state broadcasting company. The report said the Jaish al-Adl militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The report could not be independently verified. The militants have allegedly been fighting for greater rights for the ethnic Baluch minority in the region. Iran and some other nations consider it to be a terrorist group.

The attack was the second in as many weeks targeting security forces, indicating deterioration of the security situation in the region. Last weeks clashes in three separate areas of the province left 10 Iranian troops and 18 militants killed during the fighting and six more members of the security forces died later in the hospital.

The province, bordering both Afghanistan and Pakistan, has occasionally been the site of deadly clashes involving militants, armed drug smugglers and Iranian security forces. In December, militants killed nearly a dozen police officers in an attack on a police station in the province.

Sistan and Baluchistan is one of the least developed parts of Iran. Relations between the predominantly Sunni Muslim residents of the region and Irans Shiite theocracy have long been strained.
Mohammed Abdul Arfath, a 25-year-old student from Hyderabad, who moved to the US in 2023 to pursue his masters from Cleveland State University was found dead in Ohios Cleveland.

The Indian embassy in New York in a social media post on X on Tuesday announced that the student died after he was missing for nearly three weeks.

ALSO READ | Behind The Headlines: How Eight Indian Students Died In US In 2024

Anguished to learn that Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio.Our deepest condolences to Mr Mohammed Arfaths family. @IndiainNewYork is in touch with local agencies to ensure thorough investigation into Mr https://t.co/FRRrR8ZXZ8  India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) April 9, 2024

Anguished to learn that Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom the search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio. Our deepest condolences to Mr Mohammed Arfaths family. The Indian embassy in New York is in touch with local agencies to ensure thorough investigation into Mr Mohammed Abdul Arfaths death. We are extending all possible assistance to the bereaved family to transport his mortal remains to India, the embassy officials said in a post on social media site X.

ALSO READ | US: Indian Student, 25, Goes Missing in Ohio; Parents In Hyderabad Appeal for Help After Ransom Call

Arfaths parents last month said they received a call demanding ransom worth a lakh rupees for the safety of their son. A caller claimed to have kidnapped the 25-year-old and threatened to sell his kidney if the ransom wasnt paid.

Arfaths father, Mohammed Saleem, said he received a ransom call demanding $1200 for his sons release but the abductors did not specify the payment method, according to a report by The Hindu.

He [Mr. Arfath] is my only son. He said he was missing us and his friends and wanted to come home. I told him that he could do so during his vacations, and if needed, I would send him the airfare. The last time I spoke to him was on March 7, but that was only for a few seconds. He called his friend the next day and spoke to him. I am told that a detective [a police officer] is handling the case, Saleem was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The authorities in the US said Arfath was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, red jacket and blue jeans.

Arfath joins a grim list of Indian students and Indian-origin people dying under mysterious circumstances in the US. These death have caused concern among the Indian diaspora in the US.
A mysterious, surfboard-shaped object near the surface of the moon was seen in photos taken by Nasa of the moon last month. The images featuring the mysterious object were released by the space agency on Friday.

The photos were taken by Nasas Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is a Nasa spacecraft launched in 2009 to study the Moon.

A report by the New York Post compared the thin horizontal line captured in the images as an object that roughly resembles the board used by fictional superhero Silver Surfer who appears in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

However, later the report and Associate Professor of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science at Washington University in St. Louis Paul Byrne said that the curious object is not a fictional character or even a UFO.

Find it?This odd group of pixels is ANOTHER SPACECRAFT ORBITING THE MOON It's the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) Danuri lunar orbiter, passing 8,100 metres below the @LRO_NASA spacecraft at a relative closing velocity of more than 3,200 metres per second. pic.twitter.com/K3ULmMMNHO  Paul Byrne (@ThePlanetaryGuy) April 5, 2024

It is a South Korean spacecraft.

Nasas LRO captured several photos of its Korean counterpart, Korea Aerospace Research Institutes Danuri lunar orbiter. The American space agency said that Danuri and LRO zipped past each other in parallel but opposite directions between March 5 and March 6.

The image captured by Danuri, orbiting the moon since December 2022, appears distorted due to the rapid relative velocities between it and the LRO, reaching about 7,200 miles per hour.

Due to this the photo of the Korean spacecraft appears like a smear and is reduced to 10 times its size. It is also due to LROs cameras short exposure time.

Danuri is South Koreas first spacecraft at the moon and Nasas LRO has been orbiting the moon for 15 years now.

Nasa said it required exquisite timing on LROs part to capture a photo of Danuri. Due to the fast relative velocities (>3.2 kilometers per second), exquisite timing was required to point LROC to the right place at the right time. The flight paths of the two vehicles were nearly parallel but in opposite directions, resulting in extreme relative velocity. The LROC NAC exposure time was very short, only 0.338 milliseconds, Nasa said on its LROC blog hosted by the University of Arizona.

As always, the talented LRO operations team at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enabled the LROC observations, it further added, thanking the team in Maryland for pinpointing its camera at the right time and place to catch a glimpse of Danuri.

South Korean spacecraft Danuri also photographed the LRO as it passed about 18 kms above Nasas LRO on April 7 last year.
A Russian court on Tuesday increased the prison sentence for a jailed opposition politician and ally of dead Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny from seven to nine years, independent media and the exiled opposition said.

Lilia Chanysheva, who once headed Navalnys offices in the central Bashkortostan republic, was last year sentenced to seven and a half years in prison on extremism charges.

But the central republics supreme court extended that sentence to nine-and-a-half years, independent media and Navalnys team said on social media.

Lilia Chanyshevas sentence was hardened to 9.5 years, Navalnys team said on social media.

In recent days, her husband has said that she was very sick in the last few months, it added.

A social media channel run by Chanyshevas allies confirmed the sentence.

Her husband, Almaz Gatin, said on the channel on Monday that authorities were taking revenge on his wife.

My wife looked after the republic, looked after the citizens. All of her work was legal and there were no complaints, he said in a video on the Telegram channel.

Chanysheva is one of the few Navalny allies still in Russia.

Fears for jailed Russian opposition members have risen since Navalny died in mysterious circumstances in an Arctic prison in February.

Moscow has orchestrated a huge crackdown on dissent since sending troops to Ukraine in February 2022.

Chanysheva had worked for major companies including Deloitte before joining Navalnys team in 2017.

She was detained in 2021 and was the first Navalny ally to stand trial, on charges of creating an extremist organisation.

She is also one of the few high-profile women in the Russian opposition.
Three hundred and nine people gathered on a Niagara Falls cruise ship on Monday to break the record for a gathering of people dressed as the sun. The group set a new world record for a gathering of people dressed as the sun during the total solar eclipse that millions of people across the US, Canada and Mexico witnessed.

Live from #NiagaraFalls Moments before more than 300 people and @NiagaraFalls are announced the winner of a @GWR for most number of people dressed as the Sun #SolarEclipse2024 pic.twitter.com/F7G2kWZN2r Joy Joshi (@JoyJJos) April 8, 2024

As a reminder, the number to beat was 287 that was set by China Life Insurance Company Limited in China on December 20, 2020. I can tell the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, drumroll, drumroll, that you have 309 people. And I could say that the City of Niagara Falls, you are the new Guinness World Record, Guinness World Record adjudicator Mike Marcotte was quoted as saying by Reuters.

The record for the highest number of people dressed as the sun was held by 287 participants of China Life Insurance Company Limited in Guangzhou, China and was originally set in 2020.

The record was set to coincide with the first total solar eclipse to grace North America in seven years that drew millions of skywatchers gazing upward for the start of a celestial display at least partially visible, across most of the continent.

Dressed in red raincoats and big yellow suns, hundreds of people gathered together on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls and witnessed the solar eclipse.

A sign with the words written GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS OFFICIAL ATTEMPT greeted the women and men who were present at the event. A report by Reuters said participants were gleefully wearing sun costumes and raincoats.

We came on vacation to watch the solar eclipse and do the Guinness book of World Records. I hope it (the weather) clears up, but I think it will still be cool even if it doesnt clear up, Kendal Kern, who drove from Rapid City, South Dakota was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Once the new record was announced, people were seen dancing and jumping around as they celebrated the milestone.
The United States said it will stay out of the issues causing tensions between India and Pakistan while urging both sides to avoid escalation of tensions and resolve differences via dialogue.

Were not going to get in the middle of this situation, we encourage both sides to avoid escalation and find a resolution through dialogue, US state department spokesman Matthew Miller said during a press briefing.

ALSO READ | Rajnath Singhs Message On Terrorism Is Loud And Clear; Pakistans Response Proves It

Millers answer was in response to a question by a reporter who wanted to know the US stance on the Guardian report which citing Pakistani officials said that India killed individuals associated with terrorism and extremism inside Pakistani territory in an extrajudicial manner. Indian officials have described the report as false and fabricated.

Pakistan said that hostile individuals were eliminated by India on Pakistani soil.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday told Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that dialogue was needed to resolve heightened friction between Pakistan and India during a meeting in Riyadh.

ALSO READ | Not A Popularity Exercise: Jaishankar Cites Pakistan, Art 370 To Counter Oppns Foreign Policy Narrative

The two sides stressed the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to ensure peace and stability in the region, a joint statement released by Pakistans foreign office and the Saudi government, accessed by Reuters, said.

Tensions between both countries remain high as Pakistan continues to support terrorism through its deep state and uses terror as part of its statecraft to create instability in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in other parts of the subcontinent.

India in the past has rejected offers from third parties to mediate between India and Pakistan and has maintained that issues between both neighbours should be resolved through bilateral discussions.

India has also maintained that no discussions will take place until Islamabad stops using terrorism as a foreign policy tool to create instability in the border areas. It also outlined that no discussions can take place if Islamabad keeps opposing the abrogation of Article 370.
An eastern Pennsylvania man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 3-year-old boy who authorities say shot himself with a handgun left unattended last month.

Jose Hilario Abreu, 28, of Allentown was arraigned Friday on the charge as well as two counts of child endangerment in the March 28 death of Elijah Abreu Borgen. Prosecutors said the child was rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest but died of a gunshot wound to the torso; his death was ruled accidental.

Lehigh County prosecutors accuse Abreu of leaving the semi-automatic handgun unattended and fully loaded with a live cartridge in the chamber while the victim and a 2-year-old child were present.

Prosecutors allege that Abreu said he placed the gun under the sofa the two toddlers were sitting on and left the room, then heard a loud bang and returned to find Elijah with a gunshot wound to the chest. Prosecutors said that when the gun discharged, it was unholstered and resting atop of a pillow on the couch where both toddlers were sitting.

Prosecutors said a rapid gunshot residue test performed after the childs death yielded a presumptive positive indication of gunshot residue on his hands.

Abreu was taken to Lehigh County jail pending arraignment scheduled for Friday; court documents indicate that he is being represented by the county public defenders office, which could not be reached for comment over the weekend.
Engine cover on Southwest Boeing 737 rips off, forcing the flight to return to Denver
Donald Trump has a plan to stop the war in Ukraine, though Ukraine won't like it. The former president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee has spoken privately about his plan to pressure Ukraine to cede territory to Russiaspecifically Crimea and the Donbas border regionin order to bring the two-year-old war to an end, the Washington Post reports. Trump has reportedly said both sides "want a way out" and people in parts of Ukraine wouldn't mind joining Russia. He's apparently so confident in his ideas he's claimed he could negotiate a "very easy" peace deal within 24 hours of his election, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will not surrender any land.

A Trump campaign rep wouldn't answer questions about his plan, but said "President Trump is the only one talking about stopping the killing." Campaign adviser Jason Miller later claimed the whole report was "fake news," per the New York Post. The proposed scenario outlined by sources would mark a dramatic departure from President Biden's long-term plan to continue military support for Ukraine, and some foreign policy experts say it would only reward Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading his neighbor. Even people close to Trump share this view. "He has to pay a price. He can't win at the end of this," says Sen. Lindsey Graham, who claims to have "been spending 100% of my time talking to Trump about Ukraine."

Graham says he wants Trump to embrace the idea of Ukraine joining NATO. But "he doesn't say much about that. I don't know if he's thought too much about it," Graham tells the Post. Former Trump White House aide Michael Anton has reportedly described Trump's plan as focused on the ceding of Ukrainian territory in Crimea and Donbas to Russia, limiting NATO expansion, and encouraging Putin to lessen his reliance on China. That last point might take sanctions relief and European cooperation. But Ukraine and its European allies are likely to resist any deal with Moscow. For Zelensky, it would "constitute domestic political suicide," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace analyst Michael Kofman tells the Post. (More Donald Trump stories.)
Antony Blinken was on the receiving end of a bit of intense lobbying when he made a condolence call to the father of a humanitarian worker killed in Gaza by an Israeli strike. "If the United States threatened to suspend aid to Israel, maybe my son would be alive today," John Flickinger told the secretary of state, the AP reports. Jacob Flickinger, 33, was one of seven World Central Kitchen workers who died in the airstrike on April 1. His father said Blinken did engage with him Saturday on the issue.

Flickinger said Blinken assured him that President Biden made clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the allies' relationship could change unless care is taken to protect the civilians in Gaza. "I'm hopeful that this is the last straw, that the United States will suspend aid and will take meaningful action to leverage change in the way Israel is conducting this war," Flickinger said. Blinken also spoke to Sandy Leclerc, Jacob Flickinger's partner, per the Guardian. They have a 1-year-old son, Jasper. John Flickinger described Jacob, who had dual US-Canadian citizenship, as larger than life. "He died doing what he loved, which was serving and helping others," his father said. (More Israel-Hamas war stories.)
UPDATE

Apr 9, 2024 2:17 PM CDT

Donald Trump has lost yet another bid to delay his New York hush-money trial. On Tuesday an appeals court judge rejected the former president's bid to put the trial on hold while he appeals a gag order that was issued in February and expanded last week. Trump lawyer Emil Bove argued that the gag order violated Trump's rights, while Steven Wu of the Manhattan DA's office argued that Bove was misrepresenting the reasons for the order, NBC News reports. "We are talking about inflammatory and denigrating remarks about witnesses and family members of court staff," Wu said. "This is not political debate." Jury selection in the case is due to begin next Monday.

Apr 8, 2024 5:40 PM CDT

Donald Trump lost a late attempt Monday to put off his hush money trial in New York and move it away from Manhattan. Judge Lizbeth Gonzalez gave no explanation for her rejection of the request, ABC News reports, hours after Trump's lawyers filed it. In a hearing Monday, the defense argued that the amount of publicity the case has received makes it impossible to put together a fair and impartial jury for the criminal trial scheduled to begin next week. A prosecutor countered that with Trump being a national figure, there's no reason to think potential jurors in Manhattan are "uniquely susceptible" to negative publicity about the case. "The mere fact that they know about this case is not an indication of bias," Steven Wu said.
Tesla has settled a lawsuit brought by the family of a Silicon Valley engineer who died in a crash while relying on the company's semi-autonomous driving software, the AP reports. The amount Tesla paid to settle the case was not disclosed in court documents filed Monday, just a day before the trial stemming from the 2018 crash on a San Francisco Bay Area highway was scheduled to begin. In a court filing requesting to keep the sum private, Tesla said it agreed to settle the case in order to "end years of litigation."

The family of Walter Huang filed a negligence and wrongful death lawsuit in 2019 seeking to hold Teslaand, by extension, its CEO Elon Muskliable for repeatedly exaggerating the capabilities of Tesla's self-driving car technology. They claimed the technology, dubbed Autopilot, was promoted in egregious ways that caused vehicle owners to believe they didn't have to remain vigilant while they were behind the wheel. Evidence indicated that Huang was playing a video game on his iPhone when he crashed into a concrete highway barrier on March 23, 2018. Tesla, which is based in Austin, Texas, prevailed last year in a Southern California trial focused on whether misperceptions about Tesla's Autopilot feature contributed to a driver in a 2019 crash involving one of the company's cars.

(More Tesla stories.)
A new filing in the involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin reveals some of what prosecutors plan to argue as they push for the actor to be held accountable for the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of Rust in 2021. Baldwin, they argue in the filing, contributed to an unsafe environment on the film set by yelling and cursing, the Guardian reports. The filing describes the actor as "a man who has absolutely no control of his own emotions and absolutely no concern for how his conduct affects those around him." Prosecutors also accuse him of "relentless rushing" of crew members, which, they argue, also compromised safety, CNN reports.
Despite their best efforts, James and Jennifer Crumbley will stay in prison. The parents of a teenager who killed four students in a 2021 school shooting in Oxford, Michigan, were sentenced Tuesday in an Oakland County court to 10 to 15 years each in prison, reports the Detroit Free Press. The sentences were handed down weeks after the parents were each convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials, where prosecutors argued they'd failed to seek help for their troubled son. Both parents have now spent two years and four months in prison. Prosecutors had requested individual prison sentences of at least 10 years, arguing the parents' "gross negligence changed an entire community forever," per NBC News.
This story has been updated with news of Dorsey's execution. Missouri inmate Brian Dorsey was executed Tuesday evening after the US Supreme Court declined to intervene. The court turned down two appeals by Dorsey's lawyers, one arguing that their client did not have proper legal representation by his public defenders and the other arguing that he had been ''fully rehabilitated'' during his time in prison, USA Today reports. Dorsey, 52, was executed by lethal injection, reports CBS News . He is the first inmate to be executed in Missouri this year. Kirk Henderson, one of his attorneys, said Dorsey's execution was a "pointless cruelty."

In a final written statement, Dorsey said, "Words cannot hold the just weight of my guilt and shame," per the AP. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson had rejected Dorsey's plea for clemency the day before. Dorsey has expressed remorse for killing his cousin and her husband in 2006 and has received support from correctional officers who have asked that his life be spared, per CNN. The Supreme Court issued no comment along with its decisions. Members of Dorsey's family presented Parson with another 2,000 signatures on a petition seeking clemency on Tuesday afternoon, per KRCG.

Demonstrations in support of clemency were held Tuesday in the Missouri cities of Columbia, St. Louis, Jefferson City, and Kansas City, as well as at the Bonne Terre Correctional Center. "This evening, Brian will be set free. His punishment will end," said Gail Thompson, cousin to both Dorsey and victim Sarah Bonnie. "For all of us who are only guilty of loving him, ours will begin. This is not the life sentence that we sought." (More death row stories.)
AM hosts have shown their amusement at a photo Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters shared to social media on Tuesday.

Lloyd Burr, Melissa Chan-Green and Nicky Styris shared a laugh together over the "iconic" photo of Peters wearing gold paper glasses while watching the solar eclipse.

It comes after the Foreign Affairs Minister delivered his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Tuesday, where he called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Peters uploaded the photo to X, showing him gazing up towards the bright sky ahead of the full solar eclipse.
"We are aware of a current issue involving the redemption of third-party gift cards in our New Zealand cinemas," a Hoyts spokesperson told Newshub.

"This applies to those who have purchased a Hoyts gift card at a venue other than a Hoyts Cinema or the Hoyts Gift Shop."

"The technical issue stems from a recent software update to the pin pad devices used in our cinemas," they said. "We have been actively working with our third-party card management provider, Epay New Zealand, to resolve this issue within the coming days."

The spokesperson said Hoyts will extend the validity of all active cards by 60 days once the issue has been resolved.

They said the issue is expected to be "resolved in the coming 24 hours".

Meanwhile, Hoyts is urging customers with "any questions" to reach out to their customer service team, as they work to "swiftly resolve this matter".

Christchurch resident James Hopkins was gifted the cards and described them as a "rip off".

"My mother and I were recently gifted Hoyts gift cards purchased at Woolworths only to find Hoyts will not honour them," he said.

"Why the hell are they selling them in New Zealand.

"Times are tight and I'm not sure if the rats are back in Woolworths, or Hoyts has an infestation, but this is not on!"

Have you purchased the gift cards? Email Newshub at news@newshub.co.nz

Newshub contacted Woolworths, but they referred us to Hoyts.

Epay New Zealand has also been contacted.

The Hoyts gift cards are available for purchase from several retailers across the country.

*An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the vouchers can be used in Australia. This is not the case.
A Tauranga boarding house landlord has been ordered to pay $37,000 to the Government after breaching the Healthy Homes standards.

The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the owner of Edgecumbe House Limited to pay damages on behalf of 17 tenants last month, in a decision released on Tuesday.

That's because Edgecumbe House's landlord had committed "multiple breaches" of the Residential Tenancies Act (1986), the tribunal said.

Brett Wilson, national manager of MBIE's tenancy compliance team, said it was in the public interest to take the case to the Tenancy Tribunal.

"We are pleased to have achieved a positive outcome for the affected tenants," he said.
"They've set the benchmark for themselves very very low, and then claimed that getting back to levels that we were at before Covid is somehow ambitous - it isn't actually."

He said the data expected from term four last year - due out on Friday - would be expected to show improvement already, with attendance data including children who had been sick.

"They've missed, say, five days because they might have had Covid and then they've missed one other day and therefore they fall into the next band and they don't meet the criteria.

"I have no problem with the target, I agree with the target, I think it's a good target, I don't think it's ambitious though."

Labour's education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says parents and teachers had already raised concerns with her about the attendance plan.

"I'm actually really disturbed by elements of it," she said. "I've already had a few emails that have come through expressing the same concerns I have, number one concerned about the impact of getting young people who have health issues, getting them back to school.

"I thought we'd moved in the right direction, saying around how when young people are sick they shouldn't be going to school to infect others. Personally as someone who has a son who is well past school but is an asthmatic, and a really bad asthamtic, going to school when you're not feeling so well or when others are not feeling so well actually coudl have been life-threatening for him.

"I've also had emails just in the last half hour of paretns whose young people had been bullied at school, and they said 'is that on us that our young people couldn't get to school".

"It has simplified, and oversimplified a really complex matter."

She said she was "all for" getting young people back to school, "but we already have the research that is from both New Zealand but also more importantly from overseas in recent times that show that stick approach is just not working. There are other underlying aspects here."

Hipkins said the real crisis in attendance was a few thousand children who were missing a lot of school, and getting students who were only attending one day a week to attend regularly would be "a major achievement".

"The reality is the government will be able to hit their target without getting a single one of those kids to attend school more regularly," he said.

"I think you need to look at attendance at a more granular level."

He also criticised the announcement on Tuesday, considering many of the new policies had not yet been agreed on by Cabinet.

"So who's running the show? Is Christopher Luxon - the prime minister making the announcement - the guy who's actually running the show, or is it David Seymour who's making up policy on the hoof and then admitting that Cabinet hasn't approved it yet.

"It's another example of the government just not knowing what it's doing."

He said the daily attendance reporting would require a lot of daily manual data compilation.

"Ideally we would get to a system where the IT systems at schools were able to extract that data automatically without schools ahving to do anything extra - that was what we were working towards, so we'd worked towards getting a new IT system in place."

Tinetti also warned the daily reporting could make the data much less reliable.

"You have to understand what happens in schools. Teachers take that data on a daily basis, now, if it's a relieving teacher that's in those classrooms they might not understand or know those young people.

"Often, in the next couple of days, that data is then reworked to make certain that it's a little bit more robust than what it was in the first place. I've been in that position. I know how on the first day that data is not strong enough.

"I'd have concerns that the data was valid and appropriate and right ... and I've asked this question of the Minister as to whether this data is robust enough, I don't believe it is - and the schools tell me that."

RNZ
"An immediate ceasefire is needed to halt the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza," Peters said in a statement.

"UN agencies, including United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), are playing a crucial role in delivering humanitarian assistance and other vital services to Gazans."

He said discussions included New Zealand's latest contributions, ongoing investigations into the UNRWA, and New Zealand's next annual payment.

"New Zealand is committed to playing its part to aid Palestinians caught up in the conflict, including through appropriate UN agencies," he said.

He expressed New Zealand's condolences to the Secretary-General over the loss of over 175 UN staff in the Gaza conflict.

Peters also discussed partnering with the Pacific Islands region.

"Small states in the Pacific rely on collective action to tackle urgent global challenges, including sea level rise and sustainable economic development," he said.

"My discussions with the Secretary-General underscored the crucial role that the UN does and must play in helping the Pacific to meet these challenges. New Zealand is honoured to be playing a leadership role in the UN in preparing a high-level meeting on sea level rise in September."

"Having spent time with the Secretary-General in New Zealand and the Pacific in 2019, it was important to resume our dialogue on the region's priorities - and what more we might do to work together to help advance them."
Palestinians forced from their homes in Khan Younis by Israel's military offensive have begun returning in small numbers to the southern Gaza city following the withdrawal of Israeli forces, with many arriving to find their former neighborhoods looking like wasteland.

Video footage filmed by a CNN stringer shows dozens of returning residents examining the ruins of the city, some of them standing atop destroyed buildings, sifting through heaps of rubble that had once been homes.

The Israeli military on Sunday said it had withdrawn its ground forces from Khan Younis after months of fierce fighting in what it described as a major Hamas stronghold. Much of the city, once home to hundreds of thousands of people, has been bulldozed and the video shows the frames of homes completely ripped up alongside roads strewn with rubble and debris.

It shows the returning residents retrieving what few things they can salvage; mattresses, carpets, kitchen containers and blocks of wood. Some children carry sofas and chairs over their backs.

"This is what has become of Gaza," says one man, driving through the rubble with his motorbike.

Other former residents traveled in on foot, some on bicycles, some on pickup trucks and some on the back of donkeys.
A US woman who allegedly shot two people said God told her to go on the shooting spree because of the solar eclipse.

Taylon Nichelle Celestine was charged with attempted murder over the shootings on Interstate 10 in Florida, according to the Associated Press.
AFP | Berlin

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to China on Saturday for a three-day visit that will include talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, at a time when both economic giants are struggling.

Scholz will meet Xi and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing at the end of his trip on April 16, the chancellor's spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said at a press conference on Monday.

He will also travel to the central city of Chongqing on Sunday, before heading to Shanghai on Monday.

Along the way, Scholz will hold talks with German business executives and give a speech at a Shanghai university.

He will be accompanied by a trio of cabinet ministers and a German industrial delegation.

The visit to China is Scholz's second since he became chancellor, with the first in November 2022.

That trip took place under strict Covid pandemic restrictions, which limited the visit to one day.

The 2022 visit also took place against the backdrop of a heated debate over the need to reduce Germany's lopsided reliance on China, prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and rising concern over geopolitical risks.

Scholz has insisted there will be no "decoupling" from its biggest trading partner, but Germany has also been cautiously nurturing relationships with other countries in southeast Asia.

As well as trade issues, the war in Ukraine will also be on the agenda during the talks with Xi, who has maintained closer ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I think China has influence on Russia and our wish would be for China to be able to exercise the influence it has," Hebestreit said.
AFP | Beirut

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

An Iranian general killed in a strike in Syria's capital was a member of Hezbollah's Shura Council, the powerful Lebanese group's decision-making body, a source close to the movement said.

The April 1 air strike levelled the Iranian embassy's consular annex in Damascus, killing seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) members, including two generals.

One of them was Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in the Quds Force, the Guards' foreign operations arm.

Zahedi was the only non-Lebanese on Hezbollah's eight-member Shura Council, the equivalent of the powerful Shiite Muslim movement's political bureau, led by secretary general Hassan Nasrallah, the source said, requesting anonymity because the matter is sensitive.

Nasrallah was set to speak on Monday to pay homage to Zahedi and his colleagues killed in the strike, which Tehran and Damascus have blamed on Israel.

In a previous speech, Nasrallah said his group "owed a lot" to the senior Iranian official.

Zahedi "lived with us for long years, away from the spotlight, and provided important services to the resistance in Lebanon and the whole region," Nasrallah said Friday during a televised address.

Zahedi, 63, had held a succession of commands in a Guards career spanning more than 40 years, and was the most important Iranian military official killed since a United States missile strike at Baghdad airport in 2020 killed General Qasem Soleimani, who headed the Quds Force.

Tehran has promised to respond to the strike, which killed 16 people including two civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitor of Syria's years-long civil war.
Starting May 6th, free concerts will take place in country bars across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario

TORONTO, April 9, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, Bud Light Canada announced the Buckle Up Tour featuring rising Canadian country music star, Owen Riegling. The free tour, which is being produced by Live Nation Canada, will kick off on May 6th, 2024, making 12 stops in small-town country bars across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

Buckle Up Tour, presented by Bud Light (CNW Group/Bud Light Canada)

Building on its deep roots in creating exceptional live music experiences as a frequent festival sponsor and creator of the Bud Light House Party Tour, the Buckle Up Tour, presented by Bud Light and powered by Live Nation Canada, aligns with the brand's focus on engaging country-music fans.

"Country music was born in small towns, but as artists grow in their careers it often leads them to big stages in big cities," said Andrew Oosterhuis, Vice President of Marketing, Labatt Breweries of Canada. "Given this insight, Bud Light wanted to find an authentic way to bring country music home to small-town country bars for Canadians to enjoy."

Budding country music star and Mildmay, Ontario native, Owen Riegling, started his career playing in his hometown's bars. Recently, he won the 2022 Emerging Artist Showcase at the Canadian country music festival Boots & Hearts. The prize, part of a partnership with Universal Music Canada, led to the release of his debut single and a record deal with the country's leading music company. Owen has been playing live ever since, touring as the opening act for established country artists including Tyler Hubbard  all part of his notable upward trajectory in the Canadian country music scene.

"A few years ago, I wrote a song inspired by Bud Light titled, Bud Light The Way," said Universal Music Canada artist Owen Riegling. "With the release of this track finally coming to all major streaming platforms, it's a dream come true to have Bud Light Canada be a part of this experience and supporting the country music scene. I can't wait to visit small-town bars across the country  including my hometown of Mildmay  playing free shows to fans and hopefully finding some new fans along the way."

"Owen has rapidly been gaining recognition on some of Canada's biggest stages, but his very public desire to stay connected to his hometown is one of the reasons he was the perfect artist to collaborate with for this tour," said Oosterhuis. "Layering in his personal connection to our brand and writing a song inspired by Bud Light further confirmed his natural fit to this campaign."

The Buckle Up Tour, presented by Bud Light and powered by Live Nation Canada, will make 12 stops throughout the month of May in Fort McMurray, Banff, Blairmore, Saskatoon, Brandon, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Embrun, Brantford, Chatham and a final homecoming show for Owen in Mildmay. Each stop will include a unique opening performance by a local musician.

Free tickets for each of the 12 shows will be available beginning Friday, April 12, at 10 a.m. local time at BuckleUpTour.ca. Tickets will be available on a first come, first serve basis, with a limit of two tickets per customer. Tickets cannot be resold and orders will be voided if tickets are found being resold online. A limited number of free tickets will be available at the door on the night of each show, subject to venue capacity. Individuals attending the event grant permission for Bud Light, Owen Riegling and its representatives to use photography and video content captured at each venue in future communications, and collateral.

Head to @budlightliving and @owenrieglingmusic on social media to follow Owen's journey and the Buckle Up Tour, presented by Bud Light and powered by Live Nation Canada.

BUCKLE UP TOUR, PRESENTED BY BUD LIGHT AND POWERED BY LIVE NATION CANADA TOUR DATES & CITIES:

Monday, May 6, 2024  Fort McMurray, AB

Wednesday, May 8, 2024  Banff, AB

Thursday, May 9, 2024  Blairmore, AB

Saturday, May 11, 2024  Saskatoon, SK

Monday, May 13, 2024 Brandon, MB

Wednesday, May 15, 2024  Thunder Bay, ON

Thursday, May 16, 2024  Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Saturday, May 18, 2024  Timmins, ON

Sunday, May 19, 2024  Embrun,

Tuesday, May 21, 2024  Brantford, ON

Wednesday, May 22, 2024  Chatham, ON

Friday, May 24, 2024  Mildmay, ON

For exact venue locations in each city, please visit: BuckleUpTour.ca.

About Bud Light Canada

Bud Light has been brewed in Canada since 1986 using the finest malted barley and premium hops that impart a smooth and light taste and crisp finish. As one of the fastest growing beer brands in Canada, the brand now has a portfolio of beer, flavoured beer, and now Seltzer, widely available across Canada. For more information, visit www.budlight.ca.

About Universal Music Group for Brands

Leveraging the power of music and culture to accelerate business, UMG for Brands offers a unique global approach to making brands culturally relevant through the power of music. Whether a brand is looking to shift perception, reach a new generation, boost sales, or build loyalty, with teams in 74 countries, UMG for Brands helps define a brand's authentic voice in culture. Recent CLIO and Cannes Lions wins are a testament of the true synergy that can be achieved between culturally relevant artists and brands.

Universal Music Group for Brands Canada is part of Universal Music Canada, Canada's leading music company.

SOURCE Bud Light Canada

Veronica Bart, Senior Communications Manager, Labatt Breweries of Canada, [email protected], 647.926.5028; Lara Watson, Senior Account Manager, Veritas Communications Inc., [email protected], 416.454.1435; Stephanie Mudgett, Communications, Universal Music Canada, [email protected]
"The Do it More Often campaign is a bit cheeky and uses humour to encourage Canadians to get out of their turkey rut," said Darren Ference, Chair, Turkey Farmers of Canada. "Turkey does cook a bit differently and that's why we teamed up with Chef Chuck Hughes to share tips and techniques to set Canadians up for a great weeknight turkey experience."

The new ad campaign encourages Canadians to visit DoItMoreOften.ca to get Hughes' recipes and watch his series of entertaining and educational cooking technique videos for the perfect turkey tacos, meatballs and sheet pan dinner.

"Turkey is incredibly versatile, takes on so many flavours and comes in a variety of cuts from turkey breast to ground and thighs, making it easy to choose turkey for everyday meals," said Hughes.

"With so many Canadians searching online for recipe inspiration and cooking hacks, we hope the new digital ads grab their attention and encourage them to add turkey to their cart this spring," said Mark Hubert, President and CEO, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors.

For recipes by Chef Hughes, turkey cooking techniques and more, Canadians can visit DoItMoreOften.ca or follow along on Think Turkey's Instagram channel (@CanadianTurkey) and its other social media platforms.

About Think Turkey

Turkey Farmers of Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors' Turkey Primary Processing Sector Members launched Think TurkeyTM / Pensez DindonMC in 2019  a national, bilingual campaign aimed to boost turkey consumption. The fully integrated program includes advertising, digital, retail, PR, influencer, paid social and more, and focuses on engaging primary meal planners to raise awareness of the benefits of turkey, drive year-round demand and increase overall consumption.

SOURCE Think Turkey

Jessica Smith, [email protected], 905-733-8518
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) threatens the representation of real beauty today, Dove is the first beauty brand to commit to never using AI to represent real people in its advertising

TORONTO, April 9, 2024 /CNW/ - 20 years ago, Dove showed the world what beauty looks like when it's real. In 2004, it began with a startling truth; only 2% of women globally considered themselves beautiful. Since then, Dove has been dedicated to taking action to make a positive experience with beauty accessible to everyone by challenging society, media and the beauty industry itself to widen its representation, be transparent about digital distortion, and face-up to the harmful impact unrealistic beauty standards have on women and girls.

DOVE MARKS 20 YEARS OF REAL BEAUTY WITH A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO 'REAL' AND PLEDGE TO NEVER USE AI TO REPRESENT REAL WOMEN IN ITS ADVERTISING (CNW Group/Dove Canada)

To mark 20 years of championing real beauty, Dove conducted a new sweeping study to understand the state of beauty around the world today. While there has been some positive change, the state of beauty in 2024 isn't pretty.

The outsized value society places on appearance has intensified the pressure to be a certain type of beautiful. In its 2024 The Real State of Beauty: a global report, Dove found that 4 in 10 women (42%) in Canada would give up at least a year of their life to achieve their beauty ideals. The study shows that in Canada, while beauty ideals have evolved over the years to be more inclusive across race, orientation, gender and size, the checklist of appearance ideals is growing and impossible to meet  from looking healthy (81%) to also being slim (74%) and having a small waist (71%) while also being curvy (57%).

In fact, 2 in 3 women (64%) in Canada believe that women today are expected to be more physically attractive than their mother's generation was. As society and technology progresses, pressures to look a certain way are coming from all fronts.

Today, almost 8 in 10 Canadian women (84%) and girls (87%) say they have been exposed to harmful beauty content on social media. One of the biggest threats to the representation of real beauty is Artificial Intelligence. With 90% of the content online expected to be AI-generated by 2025, the rise of AI is a threat to women's wellbeing, with 2 in 5 women (43%) and girls (43%) feeling pressure to alter their appearance because of what they see online, even when they know it's fake or AI generated.

While AI has the potential to foster creativity and access to beauty, almost half of women (48%) and girls (51%) feel they can create different versions of themselves using AI and avatars in video games/VR but believe it can have a negative impact on how they view themselves. Demonstrating that , there is still an urgent need for greater representation and transparency in content created by AI.

"Despite 20 years of work to broaden definitions of beauty, women feel less confident in their own beauty than they did a decade ago," explains Dr. Phillippa Diedrichs, Research Psychologist at the Centre of Appearance Research at the University of West England and body image expert. "Representation is more important than ever. As AI technology continues to evolve, it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between what is real beauty and what is manufactured by AI."

Today, women and girls overwhelmingly agree that real beauty means being authentic, who you are, and embracing our differences.

In line with the last two decades, Dove will continue taking action to dismantle toxic beauty standards until beauty is a source of happiness and confidence, not anxiety, for everyone. Dove will continue to stand for "real," and champion transparency and diversity in beauty by becoming the first beauty brand to commit to never using AI in place of real people in its advertising.

To help set new digital standards of representation, Dove has created the Real Beauty Prompt Guidelines - easy to use guidance on how to create images that are more representative of Real Beauty on the most popular generative AI programs, for anyone that chooses to explore this new technology.

"At Dove, we seek a future in which women get to decide and declare what real beauty looks like  not algorithms. As we navigate the opportunities and challenges that come with new and emerging technology, we remain committed to protect, celebrate, and champion Real Beauty. Pledging to never use AI in our communications is just one step. We will not stop until beauty is a source of happiness, not anxiety, for every woman and girl," explains Alessandro Manfredi, Chief Marketing Officer, Dove

New Dove campaign, The Code, reflects the impact of AI on beauty and sheds light on the importance of women having the power to see real beauty reflected in new and emerging media.

The campaign will also be supported by an inspiring cast of empowering women across generations - musician and actor Reba McEntire, actor and TV host Drew Barrymore, actor Beanie Feldstwin Feldstein and actor Marsai Martin, to name a few - who will lend their voices and stories to raise awareness and celebrate real beauty.

The work Dove began in 2004 is far from over. Dove will never stop championing better representation, taking action to break beauty stereotypes, and standing up for power of Real Beauty. We can't drive change alone. Together, let's change beauty.

Learn more and join us to #KeepBeautyReal at Dove.com/keepbeautyreal or on social @Dove.

About the new research: 2024 The Real State of Beauty: a global report

Online survey conducted by Edelman DXI (Data x Intelligence), a global, multidisciplinary research, analytics, and data consultancy, in November / December 2023. This 25-minute survey was completed in 20 countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, KSA, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Turkiye, the USA, and the UK.

Researchers spoke with more than 33,000 respondents: 19,306 respondents aged between 18 to 64 years old (14,673 women, 3,776 men*) and 14,292 respondents aged 10 to 17 years old (9,475 girls, 4,753 boys*).

15 experts ranging from academic experts to consultants on body image and activists in the field were consulted on the research questions and outputs, and we ensured the survey was representative of various subgroups e.g. people with larger bodies, disabilities, mental health conditions, LGBTQ+ people and people of colour.



All interviews were conducted in local languages and dialects, with only appropriate questions asked in each market and the methodology was consistent with the level of national online penetration required to avoid sampling bias.

*Note: Other gender identities and non-binary respondents were surveyed but are not reported due to the limited sample sizes.

About Dove

Dove started its life in 1957 in the US, with the launch of the Beauty Bar, with its patented blend of mild cleansers and  moisturizing cream. Dove's heritage is based on moisturization, and it is proof not promises that enabled Dove to grow from a Beauty Bar into one of the world's most beloved beauty brands.

Women have always been our inspiration and since the beginning, we have been wholly committed to providing superior care to all women and to championing real beauty in our advertising. Dove believes that beauty is for everyone. That beauty should be a source of confidence and not anxiety. Dove's mission is to inspire women everywhere to develop a positive relationship with the way they look and realize their personal potential for beauty.

For more than 65 years, Dove has been committed to broadening the narrow definition of beauty in the work they do. With the 'Dove Real Beauty Pledge,' Dove vows to:

Portray women with honesty, diversity and respect. We feature women of different ages, sizes, ethnicities, hair color, type, and style.

Portray women as they are in real life, with zero digital distortion and all images approved by the women they feature.

Help young people build body confidence and self-esteem through the Dove Self-Esteem Project, the biggest provider of self-esteem education in the world.

About Dove Self-Esteem Project

As the world's leading provider of self-esteem education for girls, Dove continues to support girls wherever their self-esteem is at stake and ensure the next generation grows up enjoying a positive relationship with how they look. Since 2004, Dove has reached over 100 million young people globally, in over 150 countries through the Dove Self-Esteem Project, with a goal of reaching 250M young lives by 2030.

About Unilever in North America

Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, Nutrition and Ice Cream products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 3.4 billion people every day. We have 127,000 employees and generated sales of 59.6 billion in 2023.

Our leading brands in North America include Dove, Hellmann's, Vaseline, Degree, Axe, TRESemme, Knorr, Magnum, Ben & Jerry's, Nutrafol, Liquid I.V., Paula's Choice, and Dermalogica.

For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit: www.unileverusa.com

For more information on Unilever Canada and its brands visit: www.unilever.ca

SOURCE Dove Canada

Caelan McMichael ([email protected])
THUNDER BAY, ON, April 9, 2024 /CNW/ - Over 200,000 faculty and students now use four free, easy-to-use AI-powered apps education and training developed by Contact North | Contact Nord.

With the first app launched just over seven months ago in September 2023, the number of users is growing at a double-digit rate every week.

Contact North | Contact Nord's expanding suite of four easy-to-use, personalized AI-powered apps for education and training includes:

"The enthusiastic uptake of our AI apps and the sustained double-digit growth trend are clear indicators of the strong demand for accessible and interactive education and training AI-powered tools," comments Dr. Ron Owston, Research Associate, AI in Higher Education at Contact North | Contact Nord.

"Contact North | Contact Nord makes its AI-powered apps available free to anyone as part of its mandate to support innovation in education and training through testing and applied research of new modes of delivery using technology and to share information in Ontario, nationally, and internationally," added Maxim Jean-Louis, President  Chief Executive Officer.

Contact North | Contact Nord prioritizes user privacy, ensuring the safety and security of the apps for all users.

The apps are available in English and French and can understand and respond in dozens of other languages.

Contact North | Contact Nord increases the number of underserved Ontario residents who take online programs and courses from Ontario's colleges, universities, Indigenous institutes, and other providers while remaining in their community. We recruit and provide free support services to students in 1,500+ communities, in person at locations across the province, or by phone, email, live chat or virtually. Our services are available in English and French.

SOURCE Contact North

Contact Rick Sleaver, Director, Recruitment Marketing, Communications & Data Analytics, at 416-255-0819 or by email at [email protected].
TORONTO, April 4, 2024 /CNW/ - Sleep Country Canada Holdings Inc. ("Sleep Country" or the "Company") (TSX: ZZZ) will hold a conference call on May 8, 2024 to review first quarter financial results for fiscal 2024. The results will be released after the market closes on May 7, 2024.

The details of the call are as follows:

Date: May 8, 2024 Time: 8:00am Eastern Time Toll Free (North America) Dial-in Number: (888) 664-6392 Local (Toronto): (416) 764-8659

This conference call will be recorded and available for replay until May 15, 2024 23:59 ET. To listen to the replay, please dial (416) 764-8677 or (888) 390-0541 and use passcode 047298#.

About Sleep Country

Sleep Country is Canada's leading specialty sleep retailer with a purpose to transform lives by awakening Canadians to the power of sleep. Sleep Country operates under the retail banners Sleep Country, Dormez-vous, Endy, Silk & Snow, Hush, and most recently acquired, Casper Canada. The Company has omnichannel and eCommerce operations, including 305 corporate-owned stores and 19 warehouses across Canada. Recognized as one of Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures by Waterstone Human Capital, Sleep Country is committed to building a company culture of inclusion and diversity where differences are embraced and valued. The Company actively invests in its sleep ecosystem, innovative products, world-class customer experience, communities and its people. For more information about Sleep Country, please visit https://ir.sleepcountry.ca

SOURCE Sleep Country Canada Holdings Inc. Investor Relations

Craig De Pratto, Chief Financial Officer, [email protected]
Three people were injured and 13 residents have been displaced in a blaze at three-family building on 31st Street in Bayonne Monday night, city Fire Chief Keith Weaver said.

One adult and two children were taken to a local hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation in the fire at 35 East 31st Street, between Broadway and Avenue E. Four newborn kittens were rescued from the building by firefighters.

A total of 13 residents have been temporarily displaced and are under the care of the Bayonne Office of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross. A fire investigation is underway to determine the cause.

Weaver said firefighters responded at 7:23 p.m. on a report of smoke. Arriving companies found a working fire on the second floor of the three-story building and used two handlines to extinguish the blaze, which was brought under control at 7:52 p.m.
When it comes to collecting the payroll tax from scofflaw construction companies and developers, Jersey City doesnt have to go after them, 2025 mayoral candidate Bill ODea says. Just wait from them to come to you.

ODea, the longtime Hudson County Board of Commissioners member who represents the southwest section of the city, says the city should deny permits and certificates of occupancy to contractors and developers who havent paid their payroll tax obligation.

While I share the concern that businesses are not paying the taxes owed, the problem with collecting payroll taxes on construction projects is more severe, he said after a Jersey Journal story Sunday in which city Councilman James Solomon pointed out that only six of 202 contractors in the city were registered under the payroll tax ordinance.

ODea said he raised the issue about the tax not being paid on a Grand Street project more than a year ago. I still dont know the disposition of that inquiry. There is an inherent flaw, ODea said. The city has almost no staff collecting the tax because they cant recoup their costs.

The payroll tax, 1% on Jersey City businesses, was created in 2018 to raise funds for the school district after the state announced a plan to cut $285 million over seven years from the districts state aid allocation. Employers with a quarterly gross payroll of less than $2,500, charitable organizations and federal, state, county and municipal agencies are exempt from the tax.

City officials have claimed since the laws inception that the state has failed to provide the tools and data for Jersey City to monitor businesses and collect the payroll tax. Currently the city operates for the most part, under the honor system.

Its even easier with construction projects to enforce collection, stated ODea, since the builder needs both a permit and a certificate of occupancy.

Jersey City officials and Solomon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on ODeas plan. ODea is one of four announced candidates to succeed Mayor Steve Fulop, whos running for governor, in 2025. Solomon, who represents Downtown Jersey City, has said he is considering running for mayor.

Under ODeas proposal, anyone who submits a permit application who is required to pay payroll taxes, must submit with the application an estimate of their payroll tax liability. The law would need to be amended so that no certificate of occupancy can be given until the builder/developer demonstrates that the payroll tax payment has been made, he says.

Additionally, ODea argued, all subcontract agreements by builders must include a condition that the subcontractor is aware of the payroll tax law requirements and has received a copy of the law.

With the construction boom we have lost and are losing tens of millions of dollars noted ODea, The city should also immediately look at all certificate of occupancies given in the last three years for projects exceeding $10 million in cost and verify that payroll taxes were made.
Missy Elliott is embarking on her first-ever headlining tour this summer, and you dont want to miss out on securing tickets.

The Out Of This World tour will begin on on July 4 in Vancouver, BC and will wrap up on Aug. 22 in Rosemont, Ill.

While on tour, Missy Elliott will perform in Newark at the Prudential Center on Aug. 9.

She will also perform two shows in New York while on tour: one at the UBS Arena on Aug. 3 in Belmont Park and the other at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Aug. 12. If youre American Experience debit or credit cardholders, dont forget your AMEX card so you can receive special benefits at Barclays Center, including access to the American Express Card Member Entrance and an exclusive discount at concession stands.

Missy Elliott is bringing along Busta Rhymes, Ciara and Timbaland for the duration of the Out Of This World tour.

Elliott first announced the tour through her Instagram with everyone joining her on stage.

Fans have been asking me to tour forever but I wanted to wait until I felt the time was right because I knew if I was ever going to do it, I had to do it big, and I had to do it with family, Missy Elliott said in a press release. So get ready to be taken OUT OF THIS WORLD with me.

How to get tickets to see Missy Elliott on tour

Missy Elliott has several tour presales going on beginning on April 9 at 10 a.m. and ending on April 11 at 10 p.m. through Ticketmaster.

The general sale will then begin on April 12 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster.

If you miss out on securing tickets through these sales, then they can be found on secondary market websites.

Fans can get tickets on StubHub, Vivid Seats, TicketCity and SeatGeek.

First-time Vivid Seats users can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout.

TicketCity users can save $15 on orders over $400 using promo code TCITYSAVE15 at checkout.

A complete list of Missy Eliotts tour dates is available here.

Upcoming 2024 tours

Missy Elliott isnt the only artist heading out on a massive tour in 2024.

Here are other artists you do not want to miss seeing live: Taylor Swift, Megan Thee Stallion, Zach Bryan and Nicki Minaj.

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Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
A man accidentally shot and killed his wife at their Edison home while he was clearing his gun, authorities said.

Police were called to the house at 2:09 p.m. on Friday and found 76-year-old Patricia Novak suffering from a gunshot wound, authorities said. She was rushed her to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where she died, according to a statement from the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office.

Investigators said Novaks 82-year-old husband had been in a room on the first floor of the house, trying to clear one of his registered guns, authorities said.

The weapon discharged into the basement and a bullet struck his wife, authorities said. He heard her scream, went to check on her and when he realized what happened, he immediately called 911, authorities said.

He has cooperated with detectives throughout the investigation, which is ongoing, the office said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Edison Police Detective Christian Paone at 732-248-7413 or Detective Jose Rosario of the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at 732-745-3289.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
Plans to remove dams in two parts of the state have brought sharply different reactions.

A proposal to decommission a dam in Gloucester County and drain the 204-year-old Ewan Lake is being fought by some neighbors and one town that says it will cause a public safety hazard.

Meanwhile, the decision to remove the Warren Mill Dam in Warren County is being hailed by local and state officials.

Both dams are classified as hazards by the state DEP and require either repair, decommissioning, or removal. And while public officials came to the same solution, the locals in each area were wide apart on the outcome.

The reason were doing what we are doing is it is critically important to maintain the quality of our category one river, Tom Dallessio, executive director of the Musconetcong Watershed Association, told NJ Advance Media. The Musconetcong River is trout production, trout maintenance and it is literally the canary in the coal mine. If the water gets polluted or doesnt flow properly, the fish will start getting sick and were going to see it immediately.

Removing the dam will allow free-flowing water and allow the trout and shad to go up the river and create opportunities for better recreation.

The DEP said Gloucester County, Harrison Township, Elk Township, YD Development and Camden Diving Operations are the owners of the Ewans Mill Dam and are now overdue in responding to adjustments needed to its plan to decommission it. The lake created by the dam, however, sits on private land in Elk and Harrison.

Carolyn King-Sammons, mayor of Elk, said she and her township are against draining the lake and decommissioning the Ewans Mill Dam. She said it would create a public hazard because the township fire companies use it as a source for water.

Im not sure how Elk can obtain state or federal money since we have no claim to the property, King-Sammons told NJ Advance Media this week. I have no idea about the county, as they have never responded to my letters, and Harrison Township passed a resolution basically not wanting anything to do with Ewan Lake.

A resolution Harrison passed unanimously in 2022 to support draining the lake said it was created by a dam in 1820, noting the dam was rebuilt by Gloucester County in 1938 with federal money.

We dont want the lake to go away, Louis Manzo, Harrisons mayor, told NJ Advance Media. As much as any of us wanted to save the lake, it was a pretty quick conversation that were not in a position to do that.

Manzo said the townships estimate of how much it would cost to repair the dam was more than $2 million.

The Musconetcong Watershed Association gave the state DEP $210,000 last month it had received from the federal Fish & Wildlife Service. The money will pay for preliminary studies needed to remove the dam and coordinated efforts with the state to help remove the dam.

The removal of the Warren Mill Dam represents a major step forward in helping to restore the Musconetcong River to its natural free-flowing condition, DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said in a statement from the association last month. The Musconetcong is one of New Jerseys wildest and most beautiful rivers and is a critical resource for the people and wildlife who inhabit its watershed, as well as the outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the recreational opportunities it provides.

The associations stewardship has led to the removal of six dams in what it believes is environmental restoration, the group said.

Together, we can look forward to a future where the river flows freely, supporting a rich diversity of aquatic life and providing enhanced recreational opportunities for generations to come, Dallessio said.

Nearly a third of the 1,727 dams regulated by the state DEP are classified as a high or significant hazard. All 21 counties have endangered dams and the owners are under orders to fix or decommission them. Thats what led to the proposal to drain the 204-year-old Ewan Lake.

Upon removal, a stream will reestablish through the former impoundment and the lakebed will likely reestablish to conditions that existed prior to the dam being constructed, DEP spokesman Larry Hajna told NJ Advance Media last year about the Ewans Mill Dam and the Raccoon Creek.

Gloucester County has 27 dams listed as hazards. A hazard condition rating does not mean that a dams condition poses a significant and immediate risk to the public, the DEP said. It indicates that a dam does not fully meet current regulatory requirements or that further critical studies are needed.

Federal and state assistance was sought by our legislative representatives and (U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist.) in the past to no avail, Manzo told NJ Advance Media in an email this week.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has classified the Warren Mill Dam as a significant hazard since 1981. Its removal will significantly reduce the risk of flooding and property damage, improving safety for the communities and ecosystems downstream. The removal of the dam will facilitate the restoration of 8 stream miles and 100 acres of migratory fish habitat and contribute to the resilience of the local ecosystem against extreme weather events, the Musconetcong Watershed Association said.

What we try to do is be good neighbors and try to bring people together by removing dams and restoring rivers, Dallessio said.

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Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com.
A driver was slapped with criminal charges last week after lab testing showed that he was high on marijuana at the time of a crash in Ocean County that injured his three passengers, investigators said.

Nicholas Obrzut, 21, of Monroe Township, was charged on April 3 with two counts of aggravated assault and three counts of assault by auto, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office announced Monday.

On Jan. 27, Obrzut was driving a 2020 BMW west on North County Line Road in Jackson when he tried to go around a right hand curve in the road and struck the curbed median, the office said. He lost control of the car and it began to roll and continued through the intersection of North County Line Road and Jackson Mills Road until it hit trees on the side of the roadway and stopped.

One of his passengers, a 21-year-old Monroe Township man, was taken to CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township for treatment of minor injuries, authorities said. His two other passengers, a 22-year-old Monroe Township man and a 23-year-old Manalapan resident, were rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of their injuries. They were both later released and are recovering at home.

Obrzut also suffered minor injuries in the crash and was also taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment where his blood was drawn, officials said.

The results showed that he had an active THC level of 14 nanograms with a Metabolite THC level of 100ng  indicating that Obrzut was a recent and active user of marijuana at the time of the crash, investigators said.

Additionally, it is reasonably certain that Obrzuts faculties were impaired due to the effects of marijuana intoxication, and that he could not have safely operated a motor vehicle, the office said in a statement.

Detectives also discovered that Obrzut was driving over 100 mph in a 50 mph zone just before he crashed and that was there was fog in the area at the time, authorities said.

Obruzut was taken into custody at his home last week. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail, and later released. Attorney information was not immediately available.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
By Kevin Brown and Steve Sweeney

At the end of 2020, the airline industry emerged battered but alive after the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The industrys continued viability was by no means guaranteed. Only a few months before, the nations airports were on life support.

The miraculous survival of an industry worth billions of dollars was due in no small part to airport workers. Serving on the frontlines of the worst public health emergency in our lifetime, these essential workers ensured that the nations airports remained functioning and safe.

At the time, subcontracted airport workers at Newark Liberty Airport, had minimal to no healthcare benefits. This was an unfair burden to bear for a workforce facing a global pandemic at one of the busiest transit hubs in the nation.

As New Jerseys Senate President and the New Jersey leader of 32BJ SEIU, which represents nearly 3,000 airport workers in the state, we sought to change the status quo. We did this by working together to fight to pass the Healthy Terminals Act, legislation that would improve wages and expand healthcare benefits to airport workers.

Our argument was simple: The HTA would provide long overdue investments in the working New Jerseyans so vital to our travel industry and economy. Mobilizing countless airport workers and building a wide political coalition, we worked within and outside Trenton to pass the bill.

Simultaneously, we found a true partner and leader in this fight in the Port Authority. Working with the PA, we deployed a concerted legislative and advocacy effort resulting in Governor Murphy signing the HTA into law, raising airport workers wages to $19 per hour and expanding healthcare benefits to thousands of New Jerseyans.

However, as we both have learned from our decades of advocacy in New Jersey, every victory is only another stepping stone on the path of improving lives.

Three years after the HTAs passage, the increased cost of living has fundamentally changed the definition of a living wage for New Jerseyans.

One example is Fatiah Marrow, a 32BJ SEIU member and Cargo Agent at Newark Airport, whose current hourly wage is $19 an hour. She cannot survive on that salary, when her rent, car payments, groceries, and just about every other living expense in our state exceeds the national average by as much as 30%.

Indeed, according to MIT, the hourly wage an individual without children would need to earn to support themselves in the Newark-Jersey City metro area is $22, and $44 for a parent.

Fortunately, we can build on the groundwork we laid with the HTA to deliver Fatiah and thousands of other airport workers a living wage. Just as we did during that fight, we will collaborate with the Port Authority, whose leadership proved so vital in 2021.

As we learned after the passage of the HTA, when we have better working conditions for airport workers, turnover goes down, while customer service and safety go up. The research backs this up as well: A 2018 Port Authority report drew a direct line between improved compensation leading to improved training, vetting, and emergency preparedness.

We are committed to continuing what we started with HTA - to win higher wages and better benefits for the essential workers who keep our airports running and are so vital to this states tourism and travel industry.

Kevin Brown is New Jersey State Director and Executive VP for 32BJ SEIU, which represents service workers.

Steve Sweeney, the longest serving Senate President in NJ history, is the Founding Chairman of the Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy at Rowan University.

Everyone should have comprehensive and affordable healthcare, they should be guaranteed earned sick leave and paid family leave and they should not fear of feeling sick or missing a single paycheck.https://t.co/vDRVGtb1Nc  Steve Sweeney (@SteveSweeney_NJ) March 27, 2020

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On Monday, Musk spoke on a Spaces call with Nicolai Tangen, founder of Norwegian hedge fund AKO Capital, about a range of topics, especially focusing on AI, space exploration and a few details about Teslalike its path into the automotive market in India.

Interestingly, Musk said that he thinks humans will probably have AI thats smarter than any one human by the end of next year, while he believes that the total amount of compute power of AI will exceed all humans in five years.

My guess is that well have AI that is smaller than any one human, probably, by the end of next year, Musk said. The total amount of, sort of, sentient compute of AI, I think will probably exceed all humans in five years.
It appears his friendship with Kyle Rittenhouse hit a wall.

And now the former buddy of Rittenhouse, who shot and killed two people during a protest in 2020, is now warning hes in extremely dangerous territory as lawsuits filed by the estates of the people he killed go to trial.

For those of you who are not aware, Paul Prediger and the estate of Anthony Huber are suing Kyle Rittenhouse in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Both lawsuits survived the motion to dismiss phase and are going to trial. The cases have been consolidated for the purposes of discovery, but make no mistake, they will be going to trial and they will be explosive. Kyle Rittenhouse is being deposed later this month, David Hancock posted to X, formerly Twitter in a pair of lengthy posts.

Hancock continued:

For obvious reasons, I wont speak to the particulars beyond what I have already said, but I will say that Kyle is in extremely dangerous territory when the full extent of his pre-incident activities and communications are exposed on the public record.

I urge everyone to remain calm and let justice run its course. And to be clear, I did not know about the worst of it while I was helping him.

The truth about Wendy Rittenhouse is that she did not arm Kyle Rittenhouse nor did she drive him. When she discovered that Kyle had purchased a gun, she firmly instructed him to leave it in Dominicks safe and not bring it home. Additionally, she refused to obtain a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card so Kyle could keep the firearm in her house, despite Kyle applying for one in her name.

On the night of the incident, Wendy explicitly told Kyle to come home immediately and not go to Kenosha. However, Kyle ignored her pleas, turned off his location, and proceeded to Kenosha. Throughout the evening, her attempts to reach Kyle via text messages went unanswered, leaving her unaware of his whereabouts and actions.

Wendy Rittenhouse did not support or condone the decisions Kyle made that night. She did everything in her power to prevent him from going to Kenosha and getting involved in the situation that unfolded.

I say this because Kyle has thrown her and his sisters into the garbage because they simply tried to talk some sense into him. He wont use his massive million follower X account to defend his own mother, so I will try and correct the record with my small one.

There is a reason you dont see Wendy, McKenzie, or Faith on social media trying to capitalize on Kyles infamy. They just want to live their lives far removed from Kyles drama. Theyve already paid a heavy enough price.

The father of Anthony Huber, one of two men shot and killed by Rittenhouse, filed the lawsuit in 2021, accusing officers of allowing for a dangerous situation that violated his sons constitutional rights and resulted in his death. Anthony Hubers father, John Huber, also alleged that Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time of the shootings, conspired with law enforcement to cause harm to protestors. John Huber is seeking unspecified damages from city officials, officers and Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse was charged with homicide, attempted homicide and reckless endangering for killing Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum and wounding a third person with an AR-style semi-automatic rifle in the summer of 2020 during a tumultuous night of protests over the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white Kenosha police officer.

Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges in November 2021 after testifying he acted in self-defense. Rittenhouses actions became a flashpoint in the debate over guns, vigilantism and racial injustice in the U.S.

Rittenhouse went to Kenosha from his home in nearby Antioch, Illinois, after businesses were ransacked and burned in the nights that followed Blakes shooting. He joined other armed civilians on the streets, carrying a weapon authorities said was illegally purchased for him because he was underage.

Rittenhouse first killed Rosenbaum, 36, in the parking lot of an auto dealership and as Rittenhouse ran from the scene he stumbled and fell. Anthony Huber, 26, struck Rittenhouse with his skateboard and tried to disarm him. Rittenhouse fell to the ground and shot Anthony Huber to death and wounded demonstrator Gaige Grosskreutz, 27.

Hancock, who served as a spokesman for the Rittenhouse family during the media melee around the case, didnt say why he was speaking up. But he posted this two hours after his second post on the suit: P.s. When you hire PIs to follow my family, break into my home, and tamper with my vehicle, you get the horns.

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.
Some Republicans have shown signs theyre increasingly worried Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s third-party presidential bid could pull more voters from Donald Trump than Joe Biden.

According to a report from The Bulwark, a Republican who advised Trump says, The challenge today with Kennedy is he is appealing to the go f--- the world voter, which is a portion of the Trump coalition. And thats the challenge. The Kennedy base of support is still closer to a Bernie-type voter, but Trump won some of them in 2016.

Also, the Republican National Committee has reportedly been circulating a new one-page talk sheet, targeting allies and conservative media, that labels Kennedy a Radical DEMOCRAT in an attempt to ensure he doesnt chip away at Trumps base.

Sure, Democrats are freaked out about RFK jr. siphoning votes from Biden



But Kennedy appeals to the go-fuck-the-world voter, and thats part of Trumps base



So Trump is taking aim toohttps://t.co/CtMD9wA4sO  Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) April 9, 2024

This all comes just as Kennedy backer Rita Palma was caught on video outlining how Kennedys losing campaign could keep Biden out of the White House next year.

Since Biden is counting on us, with Bobby in the mix, my thought is for the Republicans,  see, Bobby right now, hes pulling from both sides. Right now hes actually pulling a little bit more from Biden, which explains why the (Democratic National Committee) is kind of ganging up on him. They have a special committee to go after independent candidates, Palma says. It seems as though theyre going after the battleground states more than the deep blue states.

She continued:

Bobbys moving the blues on his own. If the Republicans just accepted the fact that New York, Maryland, Illinois, California, New Jersey, Connecticut, most of the northeast, is going to go blue, why wouldnt we put our vote to Bobby and at least get rid of Biden and get those 28 electoral votes in New York  (and) give those 28 electoral votes to Bobby rather than to Biden, thereby reducing Bidens 270.

If nobody gets to 270, then Congress picks the president. So who are they going to pick, who are they going to pick if its a Republican Congress? Theyll pick Trump. So were rid of Biden either way. Does everyone follow that?

The video says it was taken on April 5 and says Palma is the New York director for Kennedys presidential campaign.

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Rooms understandably fall quiet when I talk about the execution I witnessed.

The case and the condemned were relatively unremarkable. He said he didnt do it. The state said he did. There was no celebrity-social-media campaign to save him from dying by lethal injection. So the state of Mississippi put him to death in the spring of 2012 as I, two of his attorneys and his spiritual advisor looked on from a concrete room that was narrow and deep.

When people ask why I volunteered, I give a version of the same responses: Where capital punishment is usually talked about in the abstract, I had a chance to make it more real, for myself and my readers. And because being a journalist is a privilege, I tell them and myself, it was my responsibility to bear witness where most others would never be able to, I tell them and myself.

As it turned out, it would be one of the last executions carried out in Mississippi for nearly 10 years because the companies that manufactured the lethal chemicals used to paralyze and induce cardiac arrest in human beings refused to sell those drugs for those purposes.

States like South Carolina, Louisiana and Alabama also had unplanned moratoriums on executions as their legislatures worked to devise alternative methods and options for carrying out death sentences.

Although many states were forced to pause executions and executions are becoming increasingly rare, the politics of stoking crime hysteria is sparking new conversations about punishment from New York Citys subways to the Bible Belt.

How Brian Dorsey might die tonight

Unless the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes, the state of Missouri will execute a man named Brian Dorsey on April 9. Under that states execution protocols, should a suitable vein not be found to pump the death cocktail into Dorseys arm, members of the execution team would be permitted to perform surgery without anesthesia, he argued through court documents.

Specifically, executioners would make an incision that could be several inches wide and several inches deep and use forceps to tear tissue away from a vein that becomes the injection point.

Missouri officials argue that this is a rare and if necessary pain relief medication will be available. Gov. Mike Parson denied Dorseys clemency request over the objections of more than 70 prison staff members and a former warden.

Only five states carried out death sentences in 2023, Missouri among them along with Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and Alabama. Executions might be increasingly rare; the appetite for them is not.

In November 2022, the state of Alabama botched the execution of a man named Kenneth Smith when executioners failed to insert an IV into his arm before his death warrant expired  the very thing Brian Dorseys lawyers fear might happen tonight in Missouri. Fast forward to earlier this year when Alabama successfully used the previously untested method of using nitrogen hypoxia to suffocate Smith.

The United States is divided on the question of the death penalty. Twenty seven states have death penalty laws on the books; the others do not. About half of Americans support the death penalty and think its usually applied fairly; the other half opposes it and believe the practice is inherently inequitable.

Those who support the death penalty believe it deters crime and is an important tool in the law-and-order toolbox.

Even the National Institute of Justice, a division of the U.S. Department of Justice, acknowledges that there is no evidence that the death penalty deters crime. Furthermore, data from 2020 show that non-death-penalty states have a 44% lower rate of homicide compared to death penalty states.

One reason for Americans stubborn support for the death penalty could be due to the fact that the rhetoric of skyrocketing crime and out-of-control criminals is so pervasive in our elections, even in places we think of as being liberal.

From a messaging standpoint, crime is up is a better talking point than its complicated. Donald Trump, for example, has said that on President Bidens watch, violent crime has skyrocketed in virtually every American city, despite law-enforcement data that refutes the claim. Even in Democratic primary elections, candidates have traded blows over public-safety concerns.

Thus, concern about crime is one of the top issues on voters minds as they cast votes in this years primary elections and, presumably, when they head back to polls for the November general election.

Heres a list of groups that advocate against the death penalty:

Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty  Death Penalty Action  Death Penalty Information Center  Equal Justice Initiative  Equal Justice USA  Innocence Project  Journey of Hope . . . from Violence to Healing  Murder Victims Families for Human Rights (MVFHR)  National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty  People of Faith Against the Death Penalty  Witness to Innocence

(More) data points were made

Americans views on the death penalty are evolving.

A little, anyway.

Last fall, by a 50% to 47% margin, more people said they believe the death penalty is applied unfairly than those who believe it is fairly applied. It was the first time since Gallup started polling on the question did more respondents say the death penalty is unfair.

A majority of Americans still support the death penalty for people convicted of murder, however. Fifty-three percent of respondents said they are in favor of the death penalty compared to 44% who opposed, according to the poll published in October 2023.

Support for the death penalty was at its lowest point in 1966, when only 42% of Americans supported the practice. In 1967, federal courts suspended all executions and required states to address constitutional issues with their death penalty statutes.

Despite Americans clinging to their support of the death penalty, executions are decreasing. Between 1999 and 2022, executions declined by 82%. During the same period, the number of death sentences in the U.S. declined by 92%.

Race is a key indicator in influencing whether a defendant receives the death penalty, with people found guilty of murdering white people more likely to be sentenced to death than those who murdered Black people.

Meanwhile, the death penalty is abolished in all European nations except Russia and Belarus, which carried out an execution in 2022. Before that, youd have to go all the way back to 1997 to find a European nation that executed someone. That was Ukraine.

 The United Nations high commissioner on human rights routinely condemns executions carried out in the U.S., most recently in Alabama, which put to death a man named Kenneth Eugene Smith by using the untested method of nitrogen gas which Commissioner Volker Tur said may amount to torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
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Igor Fedorovich Stravinsky was born at Oranienbaum, Russia, on June 17, 1882, and died in New York on April 6, 1971. He composed Petrushka at Lausanne and Clarens, Switzerland, at Beaulieu in the south of France, and in Rome, between August 1910 and May 26, 1911. The first performance was given by Diaghilevs Ballets Russes at the Theatre du Chatelet, Paris, on June 13, 1911. Scenario, scenery, and costumes were by Alexandre Benois, to whom the music is dedicated, and whose name appears on the title page as co-author of these scenes burlesques. The choreography was by Michel Fokine. Pierre Monteux conducted, the principal roles being taken by Vaslav Nijinsky as Petrushka, Tamara Karsavina as the Ballerina, Alexander Orlov as the Moor, and Enrico Cecchetti as the Magician. It was also Monteux who conducted the first concert performance, on March 1, 1914, at the Casino di Paris, with Alfredo Casella playing the piano solo. Stravinsky reorchestrated Petrushkareducing the original instrumentation somewhat, particularly in the woodwinds and brassin 1946, the new edition being generally identified by the date of its publication as the 1947 version. It is the 1947 version that is being played in these concerts.

The score of Stravinskys Petrushka in its 1947 version calls for 3 flutes (3rd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes and English horn, 3 clarinets (3rd doubling bass clarinet), 2 bassoons and contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, triangle, cymbal, bass drum, tambourine, side drum, tam-tam, xylophone, celesta, harp, piano, and strings (first and second violins, violas, cellos, and double basses). The piece is about 35 minutes long.

In 1910 Stravinsky became the darling of Paris with a brilliant ballet, The Firebird, produced by Diaghilevs Russian Ballet. The impresario had risked failure with a young and relatively unknown composer (Stravinsky turned twenty-eight a week before the premiere) and had enjoyed a resounding triumph. Naturally he wanted a new Stravinsky ballet for the following season, and he was overjoyed with the proposed scenario: an exotic picture of life in prehistoric Russia featuring the sacrifice of a maiden, who is chosen for the honor of dancing herself to death for the fertility of the earth. The work promised wonderful richness of orchestral color and rhythmic energy, two features that Stravinsky had already demonstrated in abundance.

After the Paris season ended, the young composer went off with his family for a vacation in Switzerland, first to Vevey, then to Lausanne, with every intention of composing his planned ballet. But his musical fantasy took him in an utterly unexpected direction. Before starting the ballet (which he eventually did finish as Le Sacre du printemps), he wanted to compose something quite different by way, almost, of recreation. He had in mind a little concerto-like piece for piano and orchestra; his first image was of a romantic poet rolling two objects over the black and white keys, respectively, of the piano (this image was to give rise to the complex bichord consisting of C major and F-sharp major simultaneously arpeggiated). Later his image became more detailed, with the piano representing a puppet suddenly come to life and cavorting up and down the keyboard, metaphorically thumbing his nose at the orchestra, which would finally explode in exasperation with overwhelming trumpet blasts. The outcome, Stravinsky wrote, is a terrific noise which reaches its climax and ends in the sorrowful and querulous collapse of the poor puppet.

Having finished this little piece, Stravinsky hunted for a suitable title and was delighted when it occurred to him to call it Petrushka, after a puppet character (roughly the Russian equivalent of Punch) popular in Russian fairs. Soon after, Diaghilev came to visit, expecting to hear some of the new ballet. As Stravinsky recalled,

He was much astonished when, instead of sketches of the Sacre, I played him the piece which I had just composed and which later became the second scene of Petrushka. He was so much pleased with it that he would not leave it alone and began persuading me to develop the theme of the puppets sufferings and make it into a whole ballet. While he remained in Switzerland we worked out together the general lines of the subject and plot in accordance with ideas which I suggested....I began at once to compose the first scene of the ballet.

The work was put on the stage with the collaboration of designer Alexandre Benois, who entered enthusiastically into Stravinskys vision, eager as he was to immortalize the character of Petrushka, my friend since my earliest childhood. The choreography was created by Michel Fokine, who described the rehearsals, on the stage of the Paris Opera, as often degenerating to lessons in mathematics, since the dancers had so much difficulty with Stravinskys irregular fast rhythms. Once orchestral rehearsals started with Pierre Monteux, some of the players were offended at the curious sounds they were asked to make with their instruments. The scene changes were hampered by the fact that they had to be made in total darkness, and it was a noisy darkness, since Stravinsky had placed four drums in the prompt corner to play a continuous racket of sixteenth-notes to link scenes. Yet all the problems vanished in that most magical of balms, a successful opening night. One critic hailed the work as a masterpiece, one of the most unexpected, most impulsive, most buoyant and lively that I know. Though the success was credited to the effectiveness of all the elementsnot least Nijinskys brilliant performance as the mechanical puppet with searing emotionsthe music came in for lavish praise.

Petrushka became a banner work for the Russian Ballet, enjoying enormous success all over Europe and even in America, where in most cities it was the first work of Stravinskys to be performed. Of course no one at the time could predict that Stravinsky would go on very soon to an even more astonishing and seminal work, Le Sacre du printemps, one that proved disconcerting, even to many of Stravinskys warmest admirers. Still, even though Le Sacre is universally regarded as the more important work, Petrushka remains as fascinating and delightful as these early appreciative critics found it. From the opening measure it positively dazzles the listener with its color and energy, and it moves with easy assurance between the public world of the fairground and the private world of Petrushka and his fellow puppets. The music is often so gestural that even in a concert performance, the images of the dancers are likely to perform in the listeners minds eye.

The scenario is divided into four scenes, of which the first and last take place on the Admiralty Square in St. Petersburg during the 1830s during the Shrovetide fair (just before the beginning of Lent). These scenes are filled with incident and with elaborate overlays of musical figures representing the surge of characters coming and going at the fair. The second and third scenes of the ballet are interiors, devoted to the private emotional life of the puppet Petrushka, who is in love with the ballerina, while she in turn is enchanted by the Moor. Only at the very end of the work do the public and private worldsor should one say reality and fantasy?become entangled with one another.

The plot as such can be briefly told: the crowds at the fair are drawn to a small theater, where a showman opens the curtains to reveal three lifeless puppets, Petrushka (a sad clown), the pretty but vacuous Ballerina, and the exotic but dangerous Moor. He charms them into life with his flute and they execute a dance, first jiggling on their hooks on the stage, thento the astonishment of the spectatorscoming down from the theater and dancing among the crowd.

The second scene begins as Petrushka is kicked or thrown into his little cell. He picks himself up and dances sadly, conscious of his grotesque appearance. He wants to win over the Ballerina, but when she enters, his ecstatic dance of joy is so uncouth that she flees. The third scene takes place in the Moors cell. The Ballerina captivates him, but their tryst is interrupted by the entrance of the jealous Petrushka. They quarrel, and the powerful Moor throws him out.

The final scene reverts to the main square, where the revelry has reached a new height. Crowds surge forward as all seek to celebrate the final evening before the start of Lent. Suddenly a commotion is heard in the little theater; Petrushka races out, closely pursued by the Moor, who strikes him down with a scimitar. The crowd is stunned by this apparent murder, and the showman is summoned. He, the supreme rationalist, demonstrates that the body is nothing more than a wooden puppet stuffed with sawdust. The crowd disperses. As the showman starts to drag the puppet offstage, he is startled to see Petrushkas ghost on the roof of the little theater, thumbing his nose at the showman and at all who have been taken in by his tricks.

The first and last tableaux, which take place in the real world of the fair, have little in the way of storytelling; instead they rely on multiplicity of incident to suggest the throngs and the surge of life. The orchestra is full and busy, enlivened by various layers of frenzied activity. The inner tableaux differ strikingly in musical character. The orchestra often plays in smaller units, the music is more disjunct, and there is a marked avoidance of the folk material that fills the public sections of the score. Even the scale on which Stravinsky builds his melodies and harmonies is different. Here he exploits what theorists call the octatonic scale, a pattern especially favored by Stravinsky; it is a series of eight pitches alternating half-steps and whole-steps within the octave. Even without the visual element, the shape and character of the story are projected in Stravinskys score.

We know that Petrushka was first conceived as a Konzertstuck for piano and orchestra, and the music that Stravinsky wrote first corresponds to the Russian Dance at the end of the first tableau and the bulk of the second tableau, in which the piano plays a central role. But once he had embarked on the full-scale ballet, Stravinsky rather surprisingly forgot his musical protagonist, and the piano scarcely appears again, even when Petrushka is supposed to be onstage. When he rescored the work in 1946-47, Stravinsky corrected this oversight to some extent and gave the piano considerably more to play. It is usually claimed that Stravinskys sole motivation for the revised orchestration was to enable him to copyright the work again, so that he could collect performance royalties. Though the financial consideration certainly played a role in Stravinskys thinking, Robert Craft notes (in an appendix to the first volume of Stravinsky correspondence that he edited) that many of the changes had been marked by Stravinsky years earlier as improvements that he desired after the experience of hearing Petrushka frequently in performance. In addition to increasing the piano part, the revision was also designed to correct many mistakes that had not been caught in the original edition and incorporate second thoughts to improve the projection of musical lines. Generating income from performance fees was a happy by-product.

Steven Ledbetter

Steven Ledbetter was program annotator of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1979 to 1998.

Petrushka came to the United States with the Russian Ballet and was danced here for the first time on January 24, 1916, at the Century Theatre in New York; Ernest Ansermet conducted, with Leonid Miassine (later Massine) as Petrushka, Lydia Lopokova as the Ballerina, and Adolf Bolm as the Moor. The same cast gave the work at the Boston Opera House on February 4, 1916.

The first Boston Symphony Orchestra performances of any music from Petrushka were on November 26 and 27, 1920, when Pierre Monteux conducted a suite consisting of the Russian Dance from the first scene and the whole of the second and fourth scenes
Its not easy to boil down what Bill Plympton does. His hand-penciled grotesqueries combine the nerdy absurdity of The Far Side, the cynical and macabre gag-ery of Mad magazine, and the reality-bending of Salvador Dali. Like a lot of humorous cynics, theres a bruised sentimental core that gives the bitterness more bite. Most of his shorts have the blackout-gag structure of a Looney Tunes cartoon or a slapstick-heavy Three Stooges two-reeler squeezed into a faster single reel.





Plymptons first feature, The Tune, is a musical journey not unlike Dorothys in The Wizard of Oz. Fledgling songwriter Del (Daniel Neiden) must wander a surreal landscape in search of a hit tune on his way to meet his boss, music biz honcho Mr. Mega (Marty Nelson), so that he can afford to live happily ever after with Didi (Maureen McElheron, who also wrote the songs). Along the way, Del runs into any number of characters with their own songs to sing. Maybe all this music might help Del find his own tune.





Even considering The Wizard of Oz as a model, The Tune is extremely episodic and plays much more like a classic musical revue than an integrated narrative with songs. Plympton essentially treats the story as a clothesline to hang a series of slapstick shorts and musical numbers on. A few of these scenes had even already been released as standalone shorts: Dig My Do, with an Elvis-impersonating dog singing about his bouffant hairstyle; The Wiseman, in which a blathering guru morphs and mutates; the reality-bending dance Tango Schmango; and Push Comes to Shove, which is built on violent and ridiculous one upmanship between two deadpan men in suits.





The lack of a strong story makes The Tune feel oddly long for a 70-minute movie, but each of the discrete songs and skits are creative and funny enough that the shagginess is quickly forgiven. The Love Sick Hotel sequence, which imagines a spot for folks to nurse their lonely hearts before dying gruesomely, is probably the highlight of the feature-exclusive material. Also in the running is the Broadway-style number that introduces Del to the town of Flooby Nooby. In both, Plymptons ability to riff fifty or sixty gags in quick succession is beautifully realized.





Maureen McElherons song score effectively drives the film, hopping genres from folk to blues to surf rock to Broadway and beyond. Her ballad, Be My Only Love, is a tearjerker that comes as a tender surprise after the wacky film that precedes it.



Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray

The Tune comes in a standard-sized keepcase that includes a booklet with an essay by Walter Chaw. A limited edition spot-gloss slipcover is still currently available on the Vinegar Syndrome website. The disc loads directly to a full-motion main menu.
Registered Hoosier voters don't have to wait until May 7 to cast their ballot for the candidates they want to see nominated this year by the Democratic Party or Republican Party for a variety of federal, state and local offices.

Early voting for the party primary elections begins Tuesday and runs through May 6 at 11 locations in Lake County, 7 sites in Porter County, and 4 LaPorte County polling places.

Voters need only bring their photo identification card to any early voting location in their home county during operating hours to obtain and submit their ballot prior to Election Day. No excuse is needed to cast an in-person early vote in Indiana.

An electronic poll book system ensures early voters cannot cast more than one early ballot, or vote absentee through the mail or in-person on Election Day.

The Lake County early voting sites are  Crown Point: Lake County Government Center Administration Building, 2293 N. Main St.; East Chicago: County Courthouse, 3711 Main St.; Gary: Public Library, 220 W. 5th Ave.; Hammond: County Courthouse, 232 Russell St.; Highland: Wicker Park Breezeway, 8554 Indianapolis Blvd.; Hobart: Police Communications Center, 705 E. 4th St.; Lowell: Town Hall, 501 E. Main St.; Munster: Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Road; Schererville: Town Hall, 10 E. Joliet St.; St. John: Township Assessor, 9157 Wicker Ave.; Winfield: Town Hall, 10645 Randolph St.

Early voting in Crown Point is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays through May 3; 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 27 and May 4; and 8:30 a.m. to noon May 6.

All other Lake County sites are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays through May 3; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 27 and May 4; and 9 a.m. to noon May 6.

The Porter County early voting sites are  Chesterton: Town Hall, 790 Broadway; Hebron: Community Center, 611 N. Main St.; Portage (2): NIRPC Building, 6100 Southport Rd.; and North County Complex, 3560 Willowcreek Rd.; and Valparaiso (3): Porter County Administration Building, 155 Indiana; Union Township Fire Station #2, 267 N. 600 W.; Valparaiso Fire Training Center, 355 Evans Ave.

Early voting at all Porter County sites is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays through May 4; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; and 8:30 a.m. to noon May 6.

The LaPorte County early voting sites are  LaPorte: Brighton Street Building, 210 Brighton St.; Michigan City: H.O.P.E. Community Center, 222 McClelland Ave.; Rolling Prairie: Wills Township Community Center, 6981 E. 350 N.; and Wanatah: Town Hall, 104 N. Main St.

Early voting at all LaPorte County sites is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays through May 3; 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 27 and May 4; and 8 a.m. to noon May 6.

Gallery: Get to know the state symbols of Indiana State Aircraft: Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolt State Bird: Cardinal State Flag State Flower: Peony State Fossil: Mastodon State Gun: Grouseland Rifle State Insect: Say's Firefly State Language: English Defining 'Da Region' is up for debate: 'Don't be delusional' State Nickname: The Hoosier State State Pie: Sugar Cream Pie (unofficial) State Poem: "Indiana" State River: Wabash State Seal State Snack: Indiana-Grown Popcorn State Song: "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" State Stone: Limestone State Tree: Tulip tree
The groups affected include:

 Borrowers whose loan balances have ballooned because of interest would have up to $20,000 of their interest balance canceled. The plan would waive the entire interest balance for borrowers considered low- and middle-income who are enrolled in the administrations income-driven repayment plans.

The interest forgiveness would be a one-time benefit, but would be the largest relief valve in the plan. The administration estimates that of the 25 million borrowers that could see relief under this waiver, 23 million would see their entire interest balance wiped out.

 Borrowers who are eligible for, but have not yet applied for, loan forgiveness under existing programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness or the administrations new repayment program, called SAVE, would have their debts automatically canceled.

 Borrowers with undergraduate student debt who started repaying their loans more than 20 years ago, and graduate students who started paying their debt 25 or more years ago, would have their debts canceled.

 Borrowers who enrolled in programs or colleges that lost federal funding because they cheated or defrauded students would have their debts waived. Students who attended institutions or programs that left them with mounds of debt but bleak earning or job prospects would also be eligible for relief.

 Borrowers who are experiencing hardship paying back their loans because of medical or child care costs would also be eligible for some type of relief. The administration has not yet determined how these borrowers would be identified, but is considering automatic forgiveness for those at risk of defaulting.
If you want to be the president, you should probably win Wisconsin.

And if you are a Democrat, there is a proven way to do that: Run up the numbers in Dane County, the fast-growing and deeply progressive swath of the state that contains Madison and the behemoth public university that carries the states name.

President Bidens trip on Monday to a technical college in Madison, where he announced a new plan to help pay off student loans, seemed to be part of an effort to build excitement around his re-election bid in a college town that has been a bright spot for Democrats, one seen as crucial to his victory in the state in 2020 and vital to his chances in November.

My district, said State Senator Kelda Roys, a Democrat who represents much of Madison, could potentially decide the fate of the free world.

But this year, amid signs of an enthusiasm gap among young voters and widespread anger on college campuses over the administrations handling of Israels war in Gaza, college towns are emerging as a more complex battleground for Democrats. So I decided to head to Madison myself.
Iran has pardoned and begun freeing four environmental activists who spent several years in prison on espionage charges, Iranian state media said on Monday. The pardons were granted to commemorate Eid al-Fitr, the Islamic holiday celebrated at the end of Ramadan, according to their lawyer.

Iran has a tradition of freeing prisoners, but not political ones, around religious holidays. The releases came months after high-stakes negotiations with the United States led to the freeing of a prominent Iranian American wildlife conservationist, Morad Tahbaz, and four others in exchange for the unfreezing of billions in Iranian assets by the United States.

The four activists pardoned this week, Niloufar Bayani, Sepideh Kashani, Taher Qadirian and Houman Jokar, were among eight environmentalists arrested in the winter of 2018 on charges of espionage and collaborating with Irans enemies  charges they have vehemently denied. They were later transferred to Irans notorious Evin prison.

Ms. Bayani and Mr. Jokar were freed on Monday, according to images posted by their families on social media. A lawyer for the activists, Hojjat Kermani, said he expected the other two to be freed at a later time.
The Israeli militarys departure from southern Gaza over the weekend has left the devastated territory in a state of suspense as active fighting there receded on Monday to its lowest ebb since a brief truce with Hamas in November.

But even as some observers hoped Israels withdrawal from the area might portend a new cease-fire, both Hamas and Israeli officials suggested the war was not yet over.

Analysts said the withdrawal of Israeli troops suggested only that the war had entered a new phase, one in which Israel would continue to mount small-scale operations across Gaza to prevent Hamass resurgence. That strategy, they said, could occupy a middle ground between reaching a lasting truce with Hamas and ordering a major ground assault into Rafah, Hamass last stronghold in southern Gaza where more than one million Palestinians have taken refuge.

In a statement on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said that while Israel was still pursuing a deal to secure the release of its hostages in Gaza, it was also seeking total victory over Hamas.
The Israeli militarys departure from southern Gaza over the weekend has left the territory without a major battlefield for the first time since a brief truce with Hamas in November, raising hopes that the two sides might reach another cease-fire.

Analysts say the redeployment means that the war is entering a new phase, one in which Israeli forces, mainly stationed along Gazas borders, will mostly mount brief raids into the territory before retreating to Israel, rather than lengthy ground maneuvers involving large numbers of troops.

By withdrawing without either capturing Hamass last major stronghold, Rafah, or empowering an alternative Palestinian leadership, Israel has left behind a power vacuum in which Hamas could regroup and re-emerge as a military force across much of the territory.

That likelihood has prompted expectations that Israel will continue to mount small-scale operations across Gaza to prevent Hamass resurgence, extending the war for months to come. That strategy could occupy a middle ground between reaching a lasting truce with Hamas and advancing in force into Rafah.
It was the 1970s, and Dianne McIntyre was a dancer on a mission: to soak up live music, specifically, she said, so-called avant-garde jazz, free jazz or, when labels really start to irritate her, just whatever. Shows would end late, making this obsession a sunrise pursuit. Wed leave at 2 a.m., get on the subway from Brooklyn or down in the Village, she said in a video interview. At 2 a.m., the subways came by very seldom, so wed get home at 4 a.m., something like that. But we didnt care. We had to go. We had to go hear the music.

To McIntyre, now 77, dance and music are one entity, an artistic union that she celebrated with Sounds in Motion, the company she formed in 1972. Starting Friday, that vision will be on display in her new work, In the Same Tongue, the inaugural dance performance to grace the new Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater.

Filtered through the lens of Black culture, In the Same Tongue is a personal work, years in the making. McIntyre, a veteran choreographer, is fueled by questions: How do dance and music speak to one another? Are they  and are people  speaking in the same key? As she said, Its dance-music communication and human communication.

McIntyre moved to New York from Cleveland in 1970 and studied with Viola Farber and Gus Solomons Jr., both influential dancers from the Merce Cunningham company. McIntyres deep connection to dance and music led her to form Sounds in Motion, a company  and studio  in Harlem dedicated to dance, of course, but also ideas about Black expression. It was a rich melding of the arts; the poet Ntozake Shange danced in her company and was part of her circle.
One of Donna Denniss architectural installations  a false tunnel entrance installed on the Mad River  so confounded local Ohioans that one morning in August 1981, someone pipe-bombed it. New Yorks bomb squad confiscated part of another structure, a cabin occupying City Hall Park, in 1986. The works by Dennis are so faithful to existing vocabularies of infrastructure that they defy classification as art objects.

In 1970s New York, as painting and sculpture gave way to a gold rush of conceptualism, environments, performance and politics, the Ohio-born Dennis, fresh from art school in Minnesota and Paris, tuned into consciousness-raising womens groups and devoted her craft to unsettlingly frank resemblances of buildings.

First came hotel and subway facades, then houses in the round  each a combination of construction and artist materials, and slightly too small to pretend functionality. (For lights she uses appliance bulbs, and her doors terminate at her eye level.) Since the 80s she has gone industrial: room-size lift bridges, stairways, rail platforms, pump houses and roller coaster girdings that have increased in complexity as they lessen in number.
Are you ready for the Jane Goodall Experience?

Its getting ready for you.

Dr. Janes Dream, an immersive spectacle by former Walt Disney Imagineers and African artisans celebrating the groundbreaking English primatologist and environmental activist, is taking form in a cultural complex in Tanzania.

Its debut, in the safari gateway of Arusha, between Mount Kilimanjaro and Serengeti National Park, is planned around World Chimpanzee Day, July 14, 2025  65 years since Goodall, then a 26-year-old novice researcher chaperoned by her mother, landed at the Gombe forest reserve to begin her field work for the anthropologist Louis Leakey.

Within months she upended scientific doctrine by observing an adult male chimp she called David Greybeard raid a termite mound, stripping leaves from a hollow branch to extract and eat the insects. The making and using of tools was long thought a hallmark of humans.

Since then, the nonstop Goodall, who turned 90 on April 3 during a typically exhausting American tour, has been lionized (or aped) in books and movies. Shes a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire and a United Nations Messenger of Peace. And champion of a global crusade of young people and celebrities from Prince Harry to Leonardo DiCaprio fighting deforestation, climate change, pollution and factory farming.
Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep  and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.

Not One to Exaggerate

Donald Trump made an appearance at a campaign fund-raiser held by a billionaire donor, John Paulson, in his Palm Beach home on Saturday. The Trump campaign said it raised more than $50 million.

The former first lady Melania Trump was also in attendance, where, Seth Meyers joked, she finally got to meet an actual billionaire.
William F. Buckley Jr., widely considered the godfather of modern conservatism, defended Joseph McCarthy and his communist witch hunts. He praised the restraint of Alabama law enforcement officers who brutally assaulted civil rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965. He was also a silver-tongued intellectual who abhorred boorish thinking and behavior and savored debates with the sharpest minds of his era.

Such a track record invites the question asked, implicitly and explicitly, in a new American Masters documentary: What would Buckley think of the current Republican kingpin, Donald Trump, and his followers? Would Buckley, who died in 2008, denounce the direction of the movement he helped start and disown a former (and perhaps future) American president who has expressed his admiration for a strongman Russian president? Or would he find a way to fold Trump and his supporters into his dreams of a conservative empire?

In The Incomparable Mr. Buckley, which premiered last week on PBS and is streaming on PBS.org, Buckleys son, the novelist and former George H.W. Bush speechwriter Christopher Buckley, gives a cryptic assessment of what the senior Buckley would think of Trump: He might just have said, Demand a recount, a riff on William F. Buckleys oft-repeated joke about what he would do if he won his 1965 New York mayoral bid. In a recent video interview, however, Christopher Buckley was more direct.

I dont equate Trumpism with conservatism, he said. Im very glad my father and Ronald Reagan are not alive to see whats happened to the G.O.P. and to the national discourse.
Arizonas highest court today ruled that an 1864 law that bans nearly all abortions is now enforceable. With the federal right to abortion now overturned, the justices explained, there was nothing stopping the state from reinstating its long-dormant prohibition.

The court put its ruling on hold for the moment, allowing two weeks for arguments about the bans constitutionality. The state would then wait another 45 days before enforcing the restriction. But if the law goes into effect, it will have far-reaching consequences for both abortion access and national politics.

Until now, abortion has been legal in Arizona through 15 weeks of pregnancy. But the 1864 law, which was enacted many decades before Arizona became a state, outlaws abortion from the moment of conception, except when the procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother. It makes no exceptions for rape or incest, and doctors prosecuted under the law could face two to five years in prison.

Abortion rights supporters said the measure would put womens health in jeopardy. Clinics in Arizona could soon close, forcing women seeking abortions to travel to California, New Mexico or Colorado to end their pregnancies.
Two and half years ago, bankers and investors attended the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, an annual event normally dominated by activists and policymakers. It was considered a milestone as the financial sector agreed to put its might into tackling climate change.

Hundreds of banks, insurers and asset managers vowed to plow $130 trillion in capital into reducing carbon emissions and financing the energy transition as they introduced the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero. But a recent study, published by the European Central Bank, disputed the effectiveness of those promises.

Our results cast doubt on the efficacy of voluntary climate commitments for reducing financed emissions, whether through divestment or engagement, wrote economists from the central bank, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Columbia Business School who analyzed lending by European banks that had signed on to the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, the banking group of the Glasgow initiative.

The researchers found that since 2018 the banks had reduced lending 20 percent to sectors they had targeted in their climate goals, such as oil and gas and transport. That seems like progress, but the researchers argued it was not sufficient because the decline was the same for banks that had not made the same commitment.
Fortune named Anastasia Nyrkovskaya as its next chief executive on Tuesday, making her the first woman to lead the 95-year-old business publication.

She takes over from Alan Murray, who announced in October that he would step down in 2024 after nearly 10 years at Fortune. Ms. Nyrkovskaya had been the chief financial officer and chief strategy officer since 2019.

In an interview, Ms. Nyrkovskaya said Fortune was profitable and had added more than 130 positions in the past 12 months across the editorial and business sides. The newsroom has doubled in size since 2021, she said. The company now has about 360 workers, including just over 100 in the newsroom.

Its a huge bet for us, especially in the current environment, she said. Were building up a lot.
Norfolk Southern announced on Tuesday that it had agreed to pay $600 million to settle a class-action lawsuit stemming from a February 2023 derailment of a train carrying hazardous materials in East Palestine, Ohio.

The settlement, which requires approval by Judge Benita Y. Pearson of U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, includes payments to residents and businesses within 20 miles of the derailment. It also resolves personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius of the derailment.

Individuals and businesses will be able to use compensation from the settlement in any manner they see fit to address potential adverse impacts from the derailment, Norfolk Southern said in a statement. This could include health care needs and medical monitoring, property restoration and diminution, and compensation for any net business loss.

The lawyers representing the victims said the settlement was a fair, reasonable and adequate result for the community on a number of levels, including the speed in which the resolution was reached and how much money residents and businesses would receive.
One of the biggest obstacles to expanding clean energy in the United States is a lack of power lines. Building new transmission lines can take a decade or more because of permitting delays and local opposition. But there may be a faster, cheaper solution, according to two reports released Tuesday.

Replacing existing power lines with cables made from state-of-the-art materials could roughly double the capacity of the electric grid in many parts of the country, making room for much more wind and solar power.

This technique, known as advanced reconductoring, is widely used in other countries. But many U.S. utilities have been slow to embrace it because of their unfamiliarity with the technology as well as regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles, researchers found.

We were pretty astonished by how big of an increase in capacity you can get by reconductoring, said Amol Phadke, a senior scientist at the University of California, Berkeley, who contributed to one of the reports released Tuesday. Working with GridLab, a consulting firm, researchers from Berkeley looked at what would happen if advanced reconductoring were broadly adopted.
Opening

Beut

Korean Royal Court cuisine from the Joseon Dynasty (1392 to about 1900) inspired this tasting-menu restaurant owned by Sarah Kang, the pastry chef here and formerly of Joomak Banjum, the now-closed, Michelin-starred restaurant. An eight-course menu ($125) reflects the opulence of the bygone era through a modern lens by the executive chef, Sang Hoon Jeong. Lobster and Wagyu, not necessarily palace fare in the past, share the menu with more typical abalone with rice porridge, and a royal hot pot with scallops. Lobster three ways using meat, shells and offal demonstrates a tradition of letting nothing go to waste. The dining room is done in muted grays with several seating areas. (Opens Wednesday)

312 Fifth Avenue (31st Street), 212-268-7888, beutnyc.com.

ABCV at the Mark, ABC kitchens

Its spring, so the Alpine chalet at the Mark Hotel has gone into storage and the sidewalk dining area on Madison Avenue has become a white, pink and green outpost of Jean-Georges Vongerichtens vegetarian restaurant, ABCV. Expect seasonal vegetable and vegan dishes and fruit-filled drinks. In the fall, for his first Brooklyn venture, Mr. Vongerichten will open a flagship ABC kitchens in the Empire Stores in Dumbo. The chef has also recently exported to London the three components of his ABC restaurants near Union Square  ABC kitchen, ABCV and ABC cocina  with the title of ABC kitchens and planted them in the Emory Hotel in Knightsbridge. (Monday)

Madison Avenue at 77th Street, 212-606-3030, themarkhotel.com, the-emory.co.uk.

Maison Barnes

The mezzanine above the new Cafe Boulud is where this bar and restaurant with private event rooms has been installed. Daniel Boulud is running the complex for the owner, Barnes International, a Parisian real estate company. The dining room, an exercise in intimate elegance done with green trellis work, offers a concise high-end French menu served with panache. Grilled sea scallops with mache and black truffles, herb-crusted lamb chops with root vegetables, and a spectacular sea bass in puff pastry for two give you some idea. The Cafe Boulud menu is also available.

100 East 63rd Street, 212-772-2600.

Sawa

Lebanon, a country thats generous with its hospitality, takes that approach to Park Slope, Brooklyn, in the hands of Samaya Boueri Ziade, the chef; her brother, George Boueri; and Soroosh Golbabae, the chef de cuisine. Menu highlights include mezze like fried cauliflower, grilled squid, and tabbouleh; and entrees like lamb chops with charred scallions, and chargrilled whole dorade. Theres a small retail area for crafts like pottery, spices and other items in the neutral-toned setting with distressed brick and black accents. (Wednesday)

75 Fifth Avenue (Prospect Place), Park Slope, Brooklyn, 347-457-6761, sawa.nyc.
Jonathan Majors, the rising Hollywood star who was found guilty last year of assaulting and harassing his then girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, was sentenced in Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday to 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling.

Majors had faced up to a year in jail.

Before Judge Michael Gaffey delivered the sentence, Jabbari delivered an emotional victim impact statement and said that she had suffered extreme physical and emotional pain because of Majors. During their two-year relationship, she said, she became small, scared and vulnerable, and she was held very tightly in the palm of his abusive hand.
A New York appeals court judge on Tuesday rejected Donald J. Trumps latest attempt to delay his criminal case in Manhattan, another blow to the former presidents increasingly desperate attempts to prevent the trial from starting next week.

The appeals court judge, Cynthia S. Kern, denied Mr. Trumps bid to pause the case while he pursues legal action against the judge presiding over the trial. Mr. Trump brought the action against the trial judge, Juan M. Merchan, in hopes that the appeals court would both delay the criminal case and throw out a gag order that Justice Merchan imposed on him.

At a brief hearing on Tuesday, the Manhattan district attorneys office, which brought the charges against Mr. Trump accusing him of covering up a sex scandal, argued that the gag order should stand. The order prevents Mr. Trump from attacking witnesses, prosecutors and the judges family  as he so often does.

Mr. Trumps invective causes predictable terrifying consequences, said Steven Wu, a lawyer for the district attorneys office, adding that there was no basis to delay the trial while the court scrutinizes the gag order.
In the fall of 2021, a pub in the mining town of Bogatynia, Poland, put up a sign: We dont serve Czechs.

Bogatynia is on the border with the Czech Republic and is the site of the Turow coal mine, a Polish mine that is at the center of an ongoing dispute between the two countries. Earlier that year, the Czech government filed a lawsuit against Poland, detailing how the mine was negatively affecting the surrounding environment and draining groundwater. The European Court of Justice responded by fining Poland 500,000 euros a day until the problems were solved. Bogatynia locals were worried about their future, since the mine is one of the biggest employers in the region.

News of signs like the one at the pub in Bogatynia spread quickly across Czech and Polish media, drawing more public attention to the dispute. I went to Bogatynia to investigate how the political conflict was affecting relationships between the communities at the border.

Id heard that people were scared of speaking candidly about the mine; in some circles, it is referred to as Big Brother. Conflict with Czech citizens? I was told it was nonsense. Local people claim they go to the Czech Republic to grab beers, and Czechs go to Poland to shop. Environmental issues? One resident said that Poles live even closer to the mine and have never noticed any damage to the environment.
Its no secret to readers of this column where I stand on Israels war in Gaza.

Israel must destroy Hamas as a military and political force in the territory while minimizing harm to civilians. It must do what it can to rescue its hostages without jeopardizing the overriding goal of destroying Hamas. It must, by diplomacy or force, push Hezbollah back from Lebanons southern border, so that 60,000 Israelis can return safely to their homes in the north. It must take the battle directly, as it did last week in Damascus, to Hamass and Hezbollahs patrons, whether in Syria, Qatar or Iran.

And for all of that to happen effectively, Benjamin Netanyahu must go.

Ive written versions of this column before, but Netanyahus disastrous engagement with Hamas before it carried out the Oct. 7 massacre and his conduct of the war since have made it vital. The need was again made painfully obvious last Thursday, when Nir Barkat, a center-right Israeli minister and former Jerusalem mayor, got destroyed on MSNBCs Morning Joe. Barkat is a decent and courageous man who could be a credible future prime minister. But he crumbled when the programs host Joe Scarborough challenged him to explain Netanyahus policies before Oct. 7.

Why  to paraphrase Scarborough and his co-hosts  was Netanyahu asking Qatar to fund Hamas to the tune of hundreds of millions just weeks before the massacre? Why was the bulk of the Israeli military nowhere near Gaza in the first hours of the attack? Why does the Israeli government have such fumbling answers when it comes to legitimate humanitarian needs in Gaza?

Barkat offered, feebly, that the policy had been mistaken and that everything would be investigated after the war. When an Israeli minister is forced to humiliate himself on American TV because he can muster neither the sophistry nor the servility that a smoother answer would require, its a sign hes in the wrong government.
The Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, has brought a glimmer of hope to supporters of the Ukrainian war effort. He suggested to Fox News on March 31 that he would try to rally his divided party behind the REPO Act. That piece of legislation would allow President Biden, working with European allies, to seize Russian currency reserves frozen in the West and use them to aid Ukraine.

Grabbing these reserves would be politically convenient. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States and its allies have thrown more than a quarter-trillion dollars into the war, to little ultimate effect. Ukraine has lately suffered a string of battlefield defeats. Prolonging the war is a project that Americans of all political leanings have been steadily less willing to fund through taxes.

Mr. Johnson backs Ukraines war effort and sees supporting it as a responsibility of American leadership. But his caucus  more in tune with the Republican voter base  has stymied him. The REPO Act might offer both Mr. Johnson and Mr. Biden a way to duck controversy.

Thus far, the idea of supplying Ukraine through a spending bill has brought scorn from congressional Republicans who wonder whether Americans taxes wouldnt be better spent on defending the U.S.-Mexico border. The REPO Act, by contrast, could make Russia foot the bill for its own aggression, as a group of Brookings Institution scholars puts it. Mr. Johnson calls it pure poetry. It is a tempting idea.
The Pasteur Institute, since opening in the 15th Arrondissement in Paris in the late 1880s, has been recognized for world-altering scientific discoveries. The institute, named for Louis Pasteur, the pioneering French scientist who founded it, has contributed to the production of vaccines for tetanus and the flu and was at the forefront of discovering the virus that causes AIDS.

In recent years, the Pasteur Institute has made advancements in another field  the musical arts  as some of its scientists have formed bands and other acts involving colleagues as well as students who have studied there. That cohort has honed its musical passion and ability at an on-site studio they call the music lab.

On a Friday evening in March, three acts developed in the lab headlined an event held at the institutes cafeteria. They included Polaris and also Billie and the What?!, both blues-rock bands, and an a cappella group, Les Papillons, or the butterflies in English.
Beeper, the app that brought iPhone messaging features to Android smartphones, has been acquired by Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, to support the development of a single service for sending and receiving chats from WhatsApp, Signal, LinkedIn and others.

The deal, which is valued at about $125 million, was announced on Tuesday. It comes as regulators in Europe and the United States pressure the biggest tech companies to open their messaging services to third parties. Regulators believe doing so will make it easier for people to communicate with friends and family and to switch messaging providers.

Automattic is betting that the changing regulatory environment will make people more interested in finding a unified messaging system like Beeper, said Toni Schneider, Automattics interim chief executive.

Beeper is Automattics second messaging service acquisition. Last year, it bought Texts, an iPhone app that brings together messages from Instagram, iMessage and others. Mr. Schneider said Beeper and Texts employees would combine their systems into a single app that worked on iPhones and Android smartphones as well as computers.
Are you still a little giddy from the magical moments of totality during Mondays solar eclipse? Or did clouds swoop in to block your view? Maybe you just couldnt make it to the path of totality this time. No matter what, the question now is Where and when will it happen again?

People who have never seen it before, the first words out of their mouth after the totality ends is Ive got to see another one, this is incredible, this is unbelievable. That is when you become addicted to these things and end up traveling no matter where the next one is, said Joseph Rao, an eclipse chaser and guest lecturer at the Hayden Planetarium.

So, if like Mr. Rao, youve developed a raging case of umbraphilia  the love of eclipses  youll have three chances over the next four years to see the moon blot out the sun. The first, on Aug. 12, 2026, will start above Greenland, then strafe the west coast of Iceland and move along the Atlantic Ocean and over Spain. Almost a year later, on Aug. 2, 2027, another will skirt the Mediterranean coast of North Africa then cross Egypt and part of the Arabian Peninsula. The third, on July 22, 2028, will cut across Australia and the southern tip of New Zealand.
Arizonas highest court on Tuesday upheld an 1864 law that bans nearly all abortions, a decision that could have far-reaching consequences for womens health care and election-year politics in a critical battleground state.

Physicians are now on notice that all abortions, except those necessary to save a womans life, are illegal, the court said in a 4-to-2 decision.

But the court, whose justices are all Republican appointees, also put its ruling on hold for the moment and sent the matter back to a lower court for additional arguments about the laws constitutionality. Abortion providers said they expected to continue performing abortions through May as their lawyers and Democratic lawmakers searched for new legal arguments and additional tactics to delay the ruling.

The ruling immediately set off a political earthquake. Democrats condemned it as a stain on Arizona that would put womens lives at risk. Several Republicans, sensing political peril, also criticized the ruling and called for the Republican-controlled Legislature to repeal it.
Jennifer and James Crumbley, who were convicted of involuntary manslaughter for failing to prevent their teenage son from killing four fellow students in the deadliest school shooting in Michigans history, were each sentenced on Tuesday to 10 to 15 years in prison.

Their separate jury trials ended in guilty verdicts in February and March, making them the first parents in the country to be convicted over the deaths caused by their child in a mass shooting.

Involuntary manslaughter charges carry a penalty in Michigan of up to 15 years in prison, and prosecutors asked in sentencing memos filed to the court last week that the Crumbleys each serve at least 10 years. Both have been in jail for more than two years while awaiting trial and will receive credit for time served.

Parents are not expected to be psychic, Judge Cheryl Matthews of the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Mich., said before issuing the sentence. But these convictions are not about poor parenting. These convictions confirm repeated acts or lack of acts that could have halted an oncoming runaway train  repeatedly ignoring things that would make a reasonable person feel the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
Democrats seized on a ruling on Tuesday by Arizonas highest court upholding an 1864 law that bans nearly all abortions, setting up a fierce political fight over the issue that is likely to dominate the presidential election and a pivotal Senate race in a crucial battleground state.

Even though the court put its ruling on hold for now, President Biden and his campaign moved quickly to blame former President Donald J. Trump for the loss of abortion rights, noting that he has taken credit for appointing the Supreme Court justices who overturned a constitutional right to abortion. Just a day earlier, Mr. Trump had sought to defang what has become a toxic issue for Republicans by saying that abortion restrictions should be decided by the states and their voters.

Mr. Trump offered no immediate response to the decision, but Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for his campaign, said: President Trump could not have been more clear. These are decisions for people of each state to make.

Nowhere are the politics of abortion more distilled than in Arizona, where liberal advocates have been pushing for a ballot measure in November that would enshrine abortion rights in the State Constitution. Supporters of the measure say they have already gathered enough signatures to put the question on the ballot ahead of a deadline in early July.
Elliott Broidy, a California businessman who was once a top fund-raiser for Donald J. Trump, dropped two lawsuits on Monday against people he accused of helping to carry out a hack-and-leak operation that revealed his covert lobbying to shape the Trump administrations foreign policy.

Mr. Broidy pleaded guilty in 2020 to conspiring to violate foreign lobbying laws on behalf of Chinese and Malaysian interests. Mr. Trump pardoned him in January 2021, just hours before leaving office.

The hack and dissemination of Mr. Broidys records in 2018, and the lawsuits that followed, came amid a bitter feud between Qatar and two of its regional rivals  the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia  from whom Mr. Broidy was seeking lucrative defense contracts. From the beginning of the Trump administration, Mr. Broidy lobbied Mr. Trump and his aides to take a harder line against Qatar.

In the lawsuits, Mr. Broidy claimed that the Qatari government engineered the hack in an effort to neutralize his criticism of the country for financing groups linked to terrorism.
Jared Kushners investment fund is not especially large by global finance standards. But as he gets it fully up and running, each step is bringing with it ethical issues that would only grow if his father-in-law, Donald J. Trump, should win another term as president.

His $3 billion fund is financed almost entirely from overseas investors with whom he worked when he served as a senior adviser in the Trump White House. He has taken money from government wealth funds in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, as well as from Terry Gou, a founder of Foxconn, the Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer, whose role in Mr. Kushners firm has not been previously disclosed.

In total, 99 percent of the money placed with him by investors has come from foreign sources, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission in late March.

Mr. Kushners firm, Affinity Partners, is collecting approximately $40 million a year in management fees from those investors even before any share of profits earned on investments. He has made 10 investments to date, totaling $1.2 billion, many of them in companies based abroad.
The governor was firm: Nebraska would reject the new federal money for summer meals. The state already fed a small number of children when schools closed. He would not sign on to a program to provide all families that received free or cut-rate school meals with cards to buy groceries during the summer.

I dont believe in welfare, the governor, Jim Pillen, a Republican, said in December.

A group of low-income youths, in a face-to-face meeting, urged him to reconsider. One told him she had eaten less when schools were out. Another criticized the meals at the existing feeding sites and held a crustless prepackaged sandwich to argue that electronic benefit cards from the new federal program would offer better food and more choice.

Sometimes money isnt the solution, the governor replied.

A week later, Mr. Pillen made a U-turn the size of a Nebraska cornfield, approving the cards and praising the young people for speaking out.
Multiple Republican candidates in swing-state races aligned themselves with former President Donald J. Trump after he said abortion access should be left up to the states, avoiding mention of a national ban and laying bare the partys rift over the issue.

The pivot was particularly pronounced among at least a couple G.O.P. contenders for the U.S. Senate, which Democrats control by a thin 51-49 seat majority.

Republicans would need to flip just one seat in the chamber if Mr. Trump prevails in the November election, but they have watched the losses pile up for the partys candidates since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. In the midterm elections that year, a widely predicted red wave failed to materialize for Republicans, who missed opportunities in Pennsylvania, Nevada and Arizona to flip the Senate, and dropped key governors races, including in Michigan.

I agree with President Trump that the issue of abortion should be decided at the state level, Mike Rogers, a former longtime House member from Michigan whom Mr. Trump endorsed in that states open-seat Senate race, said in a statement.
The Rev. Cecil Murray, a minister who turned a struggling church in Los Angeles into one of the countrys largest congregations, then made it a base to combat the many ills facing the citys Black population  most notably during and after the 1992 riots  died on Friday at his home in the View Park-Windsor Hills section of Los Angeles. He was 94.

The death was announced by the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California, where he had taught after retiring from the church.

When Mr. Murray arrived at First African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1977, it was both storied and troubled: It was the oldest Black church west of the Mississippi, but it was loaded with debt and attracted just a few hundred congregants.

Mr. Murray, known as Chip, brought new life to the church. He replaced the traditional choir with a gospel ensemble. His rich baritone voice and entrancing speaking style drew new worshipers. Within a decade he had retired the churchs debt and brought attendance up to about 7,000.
For centuries, the sighting of a crescent moon has signaled the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fast and prayer for Muslims.

This year, the sight was obscured in some parts of the world by the suns glare during the total solar eclipse, delaying some Islamic communities declaration of Eid al-Fitr, the celebration marking the end of the fast. Although only a narrow band of North America experienced a total eclipse, the phenomenon reduced lunar visibility elsewhere, experts said.

It has to do with timing, said Dr. Diana Hannikainen, observing editor at Sky & Telescope magazine in Cambridge, Mass.

A lunar crescent thats only a few hours old on eclipse day would have been impossible to spot, she said.
South Koreas polarized election

South Koreans are heading to the polls today to select a new Parliament after a particularly fraught campaign. The general election, the first since President Yoon Suk-yeol won the presidency in 2022, is seen as a midterm referendum on his leadership.

Voting was getting underway across the country, just as we sent this newsletter.

Many parties are vying for 300 seats in the Parliament. But the election is largely a contest between Yoons conservative People Power Party and the main opposition group, the liberal Democratic Party, led by Lee Jae-myung. It has become a bitter contest between the two archrivals, who are locked in what is known as gladiator politics.

Both sides, analysts say, have focused on demonizing the other instead of offering policy proposals, and that acrimony has filtered down to voters. Many analysts expect the coming election to amplify polarization in the country.

Heres a full explanation of the stakes of the vote.

Analysis: This election is about who you want to punish, Yoon Suk-yeol or Lee Jae-myung, said Eom Kyeong-young, an election analyst at the Zeitgeist Institute in Seoul.
Europes top human rights court said on Tuesday that the Swiss government had violated its citizens human rights by not doing enough to stop climate change, a landmark ruling that experts said could bolster activists hoping to use human rights law to hold governments to account.

In the case, which was brought by a group called KlimaSeniorinnen, or Senior Women for Climate Protection, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, said that Switzerland had failed to meet its target in reducing carbon emissions and must act to address that shortcoming.

The women, age 64 and up, said that their health was at risk during heat waves related to global warming. They argued that the Swiss government, by not doing enough to mitigate against global warming, had violated their rights.

It is the latest decision in a broader wave of climate-related lawsuits that aim to push governments to act against global warming, and countries domestic courts have handled similar cases. But experts said it was the first instance of an international court determining that governments were legally obligated to meet their climate targets under human rights law.
When Britains foreign secretary, David Cameron, went to Washington on Tuesday, he made all the usual stops, from the State Department to Capitol Hill. But it was his pilgrimage to Palm Beach, Fla., where he met former President Donald J. Trump for dinner on Monday evening at Mar-a-Lago, that grabbed most of the attention.

Mr. Cameron is the first top British government official to meet with Mr. Trump since he left the White House. His visit  ostensibly to cajole Mr. Trump into backing additional American military aid to Ukraine  attests to Mr. Trumps influence over a far-right faction of House Republicans who have been holding up a vote.

It also underscores how the electoral calendar is affecting political dynamics on both sides of the Atlantic. Mr. Cameron, a onetime prime minister, has emerged as almost a shadow British leader abroad, standing in for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is busy with a looming general election at home.

In traveling to meet Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Mr. Cameron was reaching out to a once, and potentially future, American president  one whose jaundiced views on Ukraine are seen as the biggest hurdle to the continuation of much-needed American aid for the Ukrainian military.
Members of Germanys delegation, Tania von Uslar-Gleichen and Christian J. Tams, during hearings at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on Tuesday.

Germany on Tuesday defended itself at the International Court of Justice against accusations that its arms shipments to Israel were furthering genocide in Gaza, arguing that most of the equipment it has supplied since Oct. 7 was nonlethal and that it has also been one of the largest donors of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

At the U.N. court in The Hague, lawyers for Germany said that the allegations brought by Nicaragua had no basis in fact or law and rested on an assessment of military conduct by Israel, which is not a party to the case.

Germany firmly rejects Nicaraguas accusations, Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, an official at Germanys Foreign Ministry and lead counsel in the case, told the 15-judge bench, adding that Nicaragua had rushed this case to court on the basis of flimsiest evidence.

On Monday, Nicaragua had argued that Germany was facilitating the commission of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza by providing Israel with military and financial aid, and it asked for emergency measures ordering the German government to halt its support. The court is expected to decide within weeks whether to issue emergency measures.

The proceedings, which concluded Tuesday, were the third time in recent months that the U.N. court  usually a sleepy venue for disputes between nations  became a forum for nations to put pressure on Israel and support Palestinians.

Earlier this year, the court heard arguments by South Africa that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza and ordered the Israeli government to take steps to prevent such atrocities. The court has not ruled on whether genocide was in fact taking place, an allegation that Israel has strongly denied.

The latest case, brought by a Nicaraguan government that itself has been widely accused of repression and human rights violations, has placed a spotlight on Germany, Israels second-largest arms supplier after the United States. Germanys leadership calls support for Israel a Staatsrason, a national reason for existence, as a way of atoning for the Holocaust.

But the mounting death toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza have led some German officials to ask whether that backing has gone too far.

Lawyers for Germany urged the court to throw out the case. They argued that Germany has tried to balance the interests of both Israel and the Palestinians, and presented figures showing that Berlin was among the largest individual donors to the U.N. and other agencies that provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Germany has always been a strong supporter of the rights of the Palestinian people, Ms. von Uslar-Gleichen said. This is, alongside Israels security, the second principle that has guided Germanys response to the Middle East conflict in general, and to its current escalation in particular.

In 2023, Germany approved arms exports to Israel valued at 326.5 million euros, or about $353.7 million, according to figures published by the economics ministry. That is roughly 10 times the sum approved the previous year.

Germanys legal team argued on Tuesday that most of its exports were nonlethal support, such as protective gear, communications equipment and defense equipment against chemical hazards.

Christian Tams, a lawyer for Germany, denied Nicaraguas claims that Berlin had increased weapons supplies to Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. He argued that since then, Germany had approved four export licenses for military equipment, with three of the licenses for training and testing materiel not suitable for combat. The fourth license was for 3,000 portable antitank weapons.

Critics have said that there is little distinction between the types of weapons provided to Israel while it is at war. On Monday, Carlos Jose Arguello Gomez, Nicaraguas ambassador to the Netherlands, told the court that it does not matter if an artillery shell is delivered straight from Germany to an Israeli tank shelling a hospital or goes to replenish Israels stockpiles.

Pieter D. Wezeman, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which tracks global arms exports, said the German position is in line with typical arms exports to Israel.

While they dont do the killing directly, they are an essential part of the overall system, the armed forces of a country, which actually make it possible to engage in warfare, he said.

Lawyers say that Germany is an easier target for a suit than is the United States, by far Israels main military supporter. Germany has granted full jurisdiction to the International Court of Justice. But the United States denies its jurisdiction, except in cases where Washington explicitly gives its consent.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III told a Senate committee on Tuesday that the Pentagon had no evidence that Israel was carrying out a genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Mr. Austin made the comments in testimony at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that was disrupted several times by demonstrators protesting U.S. support for Israels assault on Hamas. More than 33,000 people have been killed in Israeli bombardments on Gaza, according to Gazan health officials, and severe hunger is sweeping through the Palestinian enclave.

Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a Republican, asked Mr. Austin to address the protesters concerns.

Is Israel committing genocide in Gaza? Mr. Cotton asked.

We dont have any evidence of genocide being created, Mr. Austin replied.

So thats a no? asked Mr. Cotton. Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza?
Germany on Tuesday defended itself at the International Court of Justice against accusations that its arms shipments to Israel were furthering genocide in Gaza, arguing that most of the equipment it has supplied since Oct. 7 was nonlethal and that it has also been one of the largest donors of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

At the U.N. court in The Hague, lawyers for Germany said that the allegations brought by Nicaragua had no basis in fact or law and rested on an assessment of military conduct by Israel, which is not a party to the case.

Germany firmly rejects Nicaraguas accusations, Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, an official at Germanys Foreign Ministry and lead counsel in the case, told the 15-judge bench, adding that Nicaragua had rushed this case to court on the basis of flimsiest evidence.

On Monday, Nicaragua had argued that Germany was facilitating the commission of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza by providing Israel with military and financial aid, and it asked for emergency measures ordering the German government to halt its support. The court is expected to decide within weeks whether to issue emergency measures.
Turkey said on Tuesday that it would restrict exports to Israel until there is a cease-fire in Gaza, prompting threats of a tit-for-tat response from a government with which it has long had tense relations.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has defended Hamas and lashed out at Israel over the war in Gaza, accusing it of deliberately attacking civilians. But his government had until Tuesday stopped short of taking concrete economic measures against Israel over the conflict.

Turkeys Trade Ministry said it was imposing restrictions covering dozens of exports  including aluminum, steel products, cement and jet fuel  after Israel denied a Turkish government request to airdrop humanitarian aid to Gaza.

This decision will remain in place until Israel declares a cease-fire in Gaza and allows the flow of a sufficient amount of uninterrupted aid to the Gaza Strip, the ministry said in a statement.
In 2020, men were almost evenly divided between Donald Trump and Joe Biden  a remarkable shift from 2016, when they backed Mr. Trump by 11 points. That swing was decisive enough to put Mr. Biden in the White House. Another shift in mens votes may well determine the outcome of this election, too.

For the latest Times Opinion focus group, we gathered nine men who voted for Mr. Biden in 2020 to see how their views about him evolved since then. Most of them could see a difference Mr. Biden had made in their communities  roads paved, highways built, fiber-optic networks laid  and in the way people around them spoke. Kevin L., a 35-year-old school psychologist from Wisconsin with two children, was worried about what his kids would overhear if Mr. Trump returned to Washington. During the Trump years, he said, the children he worked with began to speak differently, as if they were mirroring the man in the White House, mimicking the taunting and bullying they heard on TV.

At the same time, most of our participants said they were unhappy with their choices in the 2024 presidential race and wished they could vote for someone else this fall. And threaded throughout our conversation was an unmistakable despair; most of our participants had all but given up on ever being able to convey what they saw in Mr. Biden to their neighbors and friends, including people who still love Mr. Trump.

One man said that when he talks to Trump supporters, sometimes he offers a couple of facts or asks a few pointed questions, hoping that it might affect the way they view the former president. The trouble, several said, was that many people live in a different reality. You can be friends or even family, but you still exist in separate worlds, with separate sets of facts. For many of our participants, the solution was to shut down or to avoid politics altogether. But the longing persists  a longing we have heard in most of our focus groups  for a country where we can all air our differences, where we still take pride in reaching for common ground.
APCO has signed on to promote this months visit of Ahmed Al Khateeb, head of Saudi Arabias Ministry of Tourism, to the US.

The Ministry hosted a ceremony in Riyadh on April 3 to announce that 100M tourists have visited the Kingdom.

That achievement was achieved seven years ahead of the tourism goal set in the Vision 2030 economic transformation program.

Al Khateeb said that the Ministry will now seek to attract 150M tourists by 2030. We persistently endeavor to position tourism as a pivotal sector in our economy, a wellspring of employment opportunities, and a magnet for sustainable investments and global tourists, he said.

APCOs Sharron Silvers, senior director; Kelsey Glover, director; Remi Lederman, associate director; and Jenny Muchnikoff, senior consultant; represent the Saudi business.
Blueprint Creative Group of Miami lands $4.5M five-year contract to provide Public Affairs Office support to the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command. The five-year, $4.5 million contract is focused on bolstering USAMRDC's mission and objectives and increasing visibility for military medicine. Blueprint will provide a comprehensive suite of communication services tailored to meet USAMRDC's unique needs. This includes crafting compelling speeches for command leadership, leading communications initiatives, designing engaging graphics and materials, and organizing special visits and presentations by command leadership, stakeholders, and congressional members.

CIIC PR signs up Bishop Design, an interior design firm based in Dubai and Miami, in the U.S. CIICs efforts will include a strategic media relations and thought leadership program, while spearheading the enhancement of Bishop Design's social media presence. Founded by Paul Bishop in 2004, Bishop Design expanded to the U.S. in 2021, after have earning a stellar reputation in the Middle East, establishing a studio in Miamis Ironside district. Together we look forward to not only shaping narratives on a global scale but also making a significant mark for Bishop Design in South Florida and the wider U.S. market, said CIIC PR VP and partner Amy Sedeno.

Magrino adds Copper Cane Wine & Spirits to its client roster. The agency will oversee the brands overall PR strategy and positioning. Launched in 2014 by fifth-generation winemaker Joe Wagner, Copper Cane has released numerous new wines, always taking a hands-on approach to cultivation and marketing. Wagner has been immersed in the industry his entire life, learning the ropes from his father, who co-founded the iconic Caymus Vineyards in 1972.

Tegan Digital, a digital marketing agency, is enlisted to complete a comprehensive website redesign for Business Jet, a private aviation company based out of Dallas Love Field. Tegan will focus on revamping Business Jet's online presence to elevate their brand identity and modernize the digital experience. The redesign will involve streamlining the company's existing websites into one simplified, cohesive platform. Tegan will lead efforts in copywriting and design. "With Tegan's help, we aim to create a digital platform that serves our customer base well and reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence in every aspect of our business, said Business Jet chief brand officer Hannah Vincent.
Tipperary Independent TD, Deputy Michael Lowry addressed the Dail this morning ahead of pledging his support to new Taoiseach, Simon Harris.

Simon Harris was elected as the country's new Taoiseach after lunchtime today, making him the youngest leader of the Government in the history of the State.

TDs voted 88 to 69 in support of Mr Harris, who met President Michael D. Higgins in Aras an Uachtarain to confirm his appointment. The Wicklow TDs wife Caoimhe and young children Saoirse and Cillian were in the public gallery of the Dail for the start of Tuesdays proceedings, as were his parents, grandmother and brother and sister.

During the nomination proceedings, Opposition TDs repeatedly called for an immediate general election, as they criticised the nomination of a new Taoiseach without first going to the electorate.

Tipperary TD Michael Lowry addressed the Dail during the nomination process and said his constituents are better served if he works with government.

"Adversarial debate is healthy, but I dont believe in slamming doors on the possibility of progress and the public good for the sake of maintaining a facade. Slamming a door leaves both sides isolated.

"I believe that there is more to be gained for my constituents by working with Government Ministers of whatever persuasion and their Departments to achieve social justice and reward for work and enterprise That has been my consistent approach. I will be supporting the nomination of Minister Simon Harris for Taoiseach said Deputy Michael Lowry in an address to the Dail on the nomination of Simon Harris as Taoiseach.

"I could join the sound-byte populist chorus of negativity. I could contend that everything in the country is a disaster and demand an immediate General Election. That might make better headlines, but that is not my style of politics.

"There is no denying that we have serious problems in housing, health, disabilities, family carers, agriculture and businesses. There are many issues requiring very urgent attention. I dont see how any of these problems will be solved by being put in cold storage for up to 10 months while we fight a General Election and form a new government.

"I believe that politics is practical. It is about working together to improve the reality of everyday lives, about action and delivery, not empty outrage. I do not believe that being an Independent Deputy means sitting on your hands, sniping, criticising and howling at the moon and achieving nothing.

"I am here to work for the small business owners who are struggling with spiraling costs. These are the risk-takers and entrepreneurs who contribute so much to wealth creation, to funding our social welfare system, to giving local employment. They need immediate tangible support.

"I am here to work for farmers who are  literally  bogged down not only with the weather, but by debt, bureaucracy, and the challenge of change. These are the people who put food on our tables, support our economy, underpin our way of life. They dont need lip-service, they need real solutions to their problems and urgent practical assistance.

"Lack of housing is the scourge of our time. Irrespective of who is in Government it will take several more years to catch up on supply due to failures of the past.

"We cant build houses for our people without a skilled workforce. The apprenticeship scheme implemented by Minister Harris is a real positive. The ETB Training Centre in Thurles is a model of excellence that should be further expanded and replicated across the country.

"The chaos in our national broadcaster must be brought under control. A new funding system is urgently required to incorporate those in the sector who are presently excluded. Local broadcasters are the first source of information and discourse for rural Ireland. They should have a trusted place in the national debate. They must be acknowledged, respected, and financially supported.

"As Taoiseach Elect you have a short time to put your stamp on Government. It is a daunting task. I wish you well and hope you can fulfil your ambition" he concluded.
Three years ago when Buffalo launched a Proactive Rental Inspections program, it was the citys latest attempt to solve a lead poisoning problem that has plagued Buffalos old housing stock for decades.

Mayor Byron W. Brown said it would help the city identify lead paint contamination and correct the problem before it can hurt residents.

But Browns commissioner of permits and inspection services now says the inspection program lacks the funding to be sustainable and the PRI ordinance should be revised.

Commissioner Catherine Amdur said in a report she filed with the Common Council that funding is a problem because landlords are not charged fees for the city inspections; the inspections are more time-consuming than expected; and the ordinance places Erie County Health Department responsibilities on the city.

She recommended in a March letter to Council members that the Council revise the ordinances that established the inspection program.

She also noted the city is not the government agency with the primary responsibility for lead paint remediation or lead poisoning.

It is not equitable for the city to take on the duties of the Erie County Department of Health when we already have extensive responsibilities designed to us by the city charter and New York State Division of Building Standards and Codes, she said.

It is important to clarify that the City of Buffalo is not the government agency with the primary responsibility for lead paint or lead poisoning. We have a supporting role with state and county partners, she said.

Critics of the Brown administration say they understand Buffalo does not have the primary responsibility for lead poisoning, but said the city isnt even fulfilling the requirement of its own law.

They celebrated this law as a proven lead solution, which it has been in other places, including Rochester, said Andrea O Suilleabhain, executive director of the think tank Partnership for the Public Good.

The nonprofit organization was among a group of 39 community groups that gathered in Niagara Square in February to urge the city to inspect far more rental properties for indications of toxic lead paint, such as chipping and peeling paint, as required by the citys PRI law.

Theres no question you have to implement that law. The law has passed so theres really no point in saying its not our job or even saying we dont have the money for this. It was adopted as law in the City of Buffalo, so you have to figure it out now, said O Suilleabhain.

Hazards of lead paint

Lead has been banned from paint since 1978, but it remains among the most common environmental toxins for young children.

Lead is a toxin that even at small doses can cause serious health effects in children, including lower IQ levels and learning and behavior problems. In adults, lead exposure is linked to heart disease, high blood pressure and kidney and nervous system problems.

Every year, thousands of children under the age of 6 are diagnosed with elevated blood lead levels in Erie County. Thousands more are exposed to lead hazards in their homes every day.

Lead exposure remains a major issue in cities like Buffalo and Rochester with concentrated, segregated poverty and old, deteriorated housing stock.

Children who survive severe lead poisoning cases may be left with intellectual disability and behavioral disorders, according to the World Health Organization, which says there is no known safe level of concentration in the blood.

The citys law

The citys PRI ordinance requires all one- and two-family non-owner occupied properties to register with the Department of Permits and Inspections via the rental registration, even if the properties are vacant. All occupied properties will be scheduled for proactive inspections and will be required to maintain a certificate of compliance. If a property is inspected and fails to meet the standards for a certificate, it will not be permitted to operate as an income property and tenants may not be evicted for nonpayment of rent.

Under the PRI legislation, city building inspectors check for various factors affecting health and safety, including lead paint, infestation, safety exits, smoke detectors, carbon dioxide detectors and leaking pipes.

The goal was to ensure rental properties meet the minimum standards of safe and healthy housing in compliance with applicable city and building codes, according to the citys website.

The PRI inspections are performed at no cost to the owner. They are supposed to occur as part of an automated process.

Since 2021, when the PRI local law was implemented, Buffalo has completed 4,382 inspections out of 36,000 units covered under the legislation, and 458 certificates of compliance have been issued, according to the report Amdur filed with the Common Council. This year, city inspectors have completed 200 PRI inspections and issued 89 certificates.

Mayor lauded the program

When the inspection program was announced, city officials lauded the program as a way to improve the quality of housing in Buffalo and improve the health of residents. Brown praised it as a way to combat lead poisoning.

Over the last several years, the city has worked aggressively to combat lead poisoning in our neighborhoods, Brown said. This latest step increases the ability of the inspectors to proactively identify problem housing units and work with the landlords to correct these issues before residents, and especially children, are poisoned and forced to deal with the long-term health problems that accompany exposure to lead paint.

Brown also wrote an article for the National League of Cities about the citys lead paint strategies. He said the new legislation could correct the problem because it connects a landlords ability to rent with an inspection that guarantees a quality home.

Renters will no longer have to deal with potential lead contamination after moving in when they are more vulnerable to landlord inflexibility. With this legislation, landlords are forced to deal with this issue before theyre able to legally rent a unit.

But now, Amdur said the program is not sustainable the way it is structured.

Problems with the ordinance

In her report to the Council, Amdur outlined issues with the PRI ordinance.

For instance, landlords are not charged a fee for the inspections of their rental units, and it is not feasible to continue the program without charging for inspections, she said. She estimated it would cost Buffalo taxpayers about $2.1 million per year to fully implement the inspection program.

Its worth noting that the City of Rochester, which is cited as a model for PRI, charges a fee for their inspections. Our program is currently paid for by $1 million in (American Rescue Plan) funding, which will be exhausted by the end of 2026, she said.

As of March 22, the city had $136 million  or 41%  left of its $331 million allotment of ARP funds, according to the citys Finance Commissioner Delano Dowell.

The city has allocated tens of millions of dollars of its ARP funds for revenue replacement to offset budget shortfalls and costs.

Amdur also cited the length of time to conduct the PRI inspections, which have proven to be some of the more time-consuming inspections performed by our department.

The PRI ordinances place responsibilities of Erie County on the city, Amdur said. And the schedule of inspections, every three years, is aggressive and unattainable so early in the program. Even the City of Rochester typically inspects on a six-year cycle.

And she said, fines and penalties for noncompliance were mentioned but not properly written into the legislation, making enforcement challenging or impossible in some cases.

Who is responsible?

The Erie County Sanitary Code, Buffalo City Code and State Property Maintenance Code all require property owners to prevent paint deterioration and to maintain their properties in a condition that is not conducive to lead poisoning, according to the New York State Attorney Generals Office.

Since 2017, the AGs Office has been investigating lead paint hazards in Buffalo.

The Erie County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is responsible for the case management of lead poisoned children in Erie County, according to the countys website. The program addresses the potential for lead exposure, as well as preventing lead poisoned children from further exposure. The program conducts investigations and provides information to the parents or guardians of children under age 18 who have tested positive for elevated blood lead level.

The city has been saying lead poison prevention is the countys responsibility off and on for about a decade, O Suilleabhain said, which is one of the reasons the Buffalo and Erie County Lead Safe Task Force was created, she said.

Until last December, Amdur was a co-chair of the task force, along with Melanie Desiderio, deputy environmental health director at the Erie County Health Department. They remain members of the task force.

The task force was really to say yes, the county Health Department has some specific duties in state law around childhood lead poisoning, O Suilleabhain said. But the city has some responsibility, too.

For instance, if a child gets a positive lead test at the pediatrician, the county Health Department is notified, and it will go out and see if theres a possible source at the home.

Thats definitely true in state law, but that does not mean that the city doesnt also have legal responsibilities. There are both city and state code enforcement laws and regulations that require the city to check for this, O Suilleabhain said. Checking for peeling paint and lead hazards is in the city code, and then most blatantly in 2020 the PRI law that they passed says expressly under its purposes: full remediation of lead base paint hazards.

Story has been updated to correct information about the Erie County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.
The Health Foundation for Western & Central New York has awarded a $100,000 grant to a federally qualified health center in Cattaraugus County, funding that is geared toward improving rural maternal health services.

The funds, awarded to Universal Primary Care, feed into a larger fundraising effort that would allow the health center leaders to reimagine how they staff and support the OB/GYN service line, the Health Foundation said in a recent news release.

Universal Primary Care, like many health providers, is struggling with staffing. In particular, the health center employs just one full-time OB/GYN  which heightens provider burnout and risks Universal Primary Care being unable to meet the need for maternal and reproductive health services in the community.

Our ability to help meet patient needs, especially for pregnant women, at critical times and close to their homes is in jeopardy, Universal Primary Care CEO Brett Lawton said. We want to preserve access to womens health care right here in our community. This support from the Health Foundation is extremely helpful and timely to help us preserve and grow access to critical womens health services.

As rural health care has come under financial strain, rural hospitals have continued to close maternity units in an effort to shed costs and maintain operational viability. Last June, for instance, Wyoming County Community Health System closed its maternal/obstetrics program amid financial concerns as well as lower annual birth volume. After that closure, pregnant people in Wyoming County were expected to deliver at either United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, about 25 miles away, or at a hospital in the Buffalo market.

Having a baby in Wyoming County? Be prepared to drive to deliver Wyoming County Community Health System, which runs a 62-bed hospital in Warsaw, late Wednesday announced the planned suspension of its maternal/obstetrics program, effective June 1.

But with every closure, access to maternal care worsens.

In its news release, the Health Foundation referenced a 2022 March of Dimes report, which found Cattaraugus County had the lowest access to maternal care in Western New York and was the only county in the region categorized as having moderate access to maternal care rather than full access.

The grant to Universal Primary Care aligns with the Health Foundations Transform Rural Health, a campaign the private foundation launched in 2022 to raise awareness of the health disparities facing rural counties in Western and Central New York.

Everyone deserves access to high-quality health care, but maternal care shortages force patients to either travel long distances to see their doctors, or to forgo care entirely, making them more susceptible to poor birth outcomes, said Nora OBrien-Suric, president of the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York. We applaud our grantee-partners at Universal Primary Care for taking this issue head-on with a long term, holistic approach to solve staffing issues and make Cattaraugus County a safer place to give birth.

The grant is expected to help Universal Primary Care grow OB/GYN services in the community, including by hiring an organizational consultant. Further, Universal Primary Cares approach may include a hospitalist OB program, in partnership with leaders at Olean General Hospital, that would aim to improve the work environment while reducing burnout and bolstering the hiring and retention of clinical staff.

Universal Primary Care is seeking additional funders for the effort. The health center, which has five locations, delivers about 328 babies a year, according to the most recent figures on its website.
Who would burn his own dog alive for the crime of barking or, to put it another way, for being a dog?

And then who would tie up the friend trying to stop this sick act and make the friend watch as the dog died a tortured death?

But perhaps more astonishing, after the animal torturer admitted to what police described as a deviant act of animal cruelty, how does the justice system allow such a person to avoid jail time?

These, and other questions, are on the minds of animal lovers and anyone who accepts the need to treat animals humanely.

What is going on?

So far, there are scant to no answers emanating from the Allegany County District Attorneys office. If DA Ian Jones would be so kind to answer a reporters questions and return the phone call to the News editorial board, perhaps he could explain why his office agreed to allow Jeremy Vankuren to plead guilty to misdemeanor charges and dropped the felony charges. Was the sentence part of the plea?

Man accused of 'deviant' animal cruelty avoids jail after guilty plea An Allegany County man who admitted burning his dog to death in what police described as a "deviant" act of animal cruelty has avoided jail time in the case. Jeremy Vankuren was sentenced last week by Allegany County Judge Terrence M. Parker to three years of probation, plus fees and surcharges, according to a court official.

To anyone reading the story, it is a tragedy that should qualify under New Yorks red flag law, or extreme risk protection orders. Vankuren should never be allowed to own or possess a firearm. Or, for that matter, any animals. Remember: The killer who murdered 10 people at Buffalos Jefferson Avenue Tops supermarket had previously decapitated a feral cat in the garage of his home.

Vankuren was sentenced last week by Allegany Court Judge Terrence M. Parker to three years of probation, plus fees and surcharges, according to a court official.

Vankuren pleaded guilty to two counts of torturing, injuring and not feeding an animal. The counts are misdemeanors under the states Agriculture and Markets law.

He was initially charged with kidnapping and aggravated animal cruelty, both felonies, as well as menacing, torturing an animal and obstruction of governmental administration, all misdemeanors, in the horror that occurred June 19 at his residence on County Route 23 in Fillmore, a hamlet within the Town of Hume.

This is a nightmarish story, one involving a party with guests (where were they, during this grisly episode?) and one responsible friend who tried to stop Vankuren from harming his dog, a red-nosed pit bull that was 13 or 14 years old.

Allegany County man irritated by his dog burned it to death in 'deviant' act, police say The Allegany County man charged recently in a disturbing case of animal cruelty burned his dog to death because, a state police spokesman said, the animal was annoying him during a party.

For that act of brave humanity, Vankuren tied the guest to a chair and made him watch as he dropped his dog into a burning barrel in the backyard. The friend remained tied up for hours, but was released or got free later that day, troopers said.

Vankuren was arrested nine days later after State Police, who received a tip from a member of the public, executed a search warrant at his residence.

There are so many questions in this awful case. The DAs Office ought to provide the answers.

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
Hearst Owned

In March 2023, five days before Andrea* was scheduled to deploy to Iraq, she found out she was pregnant. It wasnt a planned pregnancyshe regularly took birth control pillsnor was she ready to have a child, personally, professionally, or financially. But as an Army captain stationed in Texas, a state with one of the countrys strictest abortion bans, she was unsure of her options.

Andrea reached out to her Army physician, a primary care doctor, but bringing up abortion was difficult, she tells ELLE. Even though they were friendly, she felt uncomfortable going to a coworker with something so sensitive. The doctor consulted with a military OB/GYN before informing Andrea that her military health care plan, called TRICARE, doesnt cover abortion unless in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the pregnant person. The doctors hands were tied, but he told Andrea that he would update her medical status to non-deployable and refer her to the military OB/GYN for pregnancy support. When she reiterated that she wanted an abortion, he suggested finding a clinic away from the base, reassuring her that he would reinstate her deployable status as soon as possible, so that she could still go to Iraq. I could not get any care, Andrea says. It essentially came down to, find somewhere [else] that is willing to help you.

Given that many states with big military bases also heavily restrict abortion access including Texas, Georgia, Florida, Arizona, and the CarolinasAndreas challenges are far too common. A 2023 report from Rand Health estimates that 40 percent of active duty female service members stationed in the U.S. either have no or severely restricted access to abortion. Of those women, 95 percent are of reproductive age. And because service members have no control over where they are stationed, they might sign up for the military and be placed in a state where abortion care is almost impossible to access.

Over the last few years, nearly every branch of the military has faced a decline in enlistment numbers for a number of reasons : the percentage of people who qualify for service has dropped; the economy is doing well with low unemployment; recruiters say young people are increasingly disinterested in enlisting.

It goes without saying that joining the military is already a big commitment. It means signing up to relinquish control over so many aspects of your life. For women, it also means being ready to sacrifice yourself for a country that isnt always willing to provide access to necessary health careor grant you full bodily autonomy. But the militarys restrictive reproductive health policies arent just hurting its own, they also pose immediate danger to the institution itself, and in turn, could threaten our national security.

Stephen Maturen - Getty Images

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, more and more abortion-seekers have been turning to medication abortion , which now accounts for more than half of all abortions in the country. The process involves taking two separate pills called mifepristone and misoprostol. So when a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone reached the Supreme Court earlier this year, some military experts began to worry how a potential ban on the medication would further restrict reproductive health access for women in the military.

Nonpartisan organization Vet Voice Foundation , which empowers veterans to become policy advocates, began reaching out to former military officials and national security leaders to find out whether abortion should be considered a matter of national security. In late January, the group filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court stating that the continued lack of reproductive health care accessand the prospect of forcing people to carry unwanted or unsafe pregnancies to termcould have devastating impacts on the militarys recruitment efforts . It is the first time a national security argument has been made in a reproductive health care case at such a high level.

One of the military officials who signed the brief, former Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera, believes it is important to make serving in the military an attractive proposition. It partly has to do with the pride of having served your country, but service members need to walk away with more than pride, Caldera tells ELLE. They also need to feel safe. Caldera says anything that makes the military a less welcoming environment for women will impact the ability to recruit at a time when the Army, Navy, and Air Force are already in crisis with low numbers.

Speaking about his own daughters, Caldera says hed feel proud, but cautious about them joining the military. We respect that it [would be] our childs decision to serve our country, and were proud of them for that, he explains. But we dont expect our daughters, by virtue of being willing to serve their country, to expose themselves to sexual violence, sexual harassment, or to lose the freedoms they have in civilian life.

Hearst Owned

The myriad barriers service members face trying to access abortion care is not new. The brief filed to SCOTUS cites multiple stories of women who have had problems seeking care, even before Roe was overturned. One of those women, a major in the Army, was denied an abortion for a nonviable, wanted pregnancy. Even though her health was at serious risk, that woman said that TRICARE wouldnt cover her abortion, or subsequent follow-up care, because her life wasnt in immediate danger.

In an email cited in the brief, she wrote: Id experienced loss in combat, but this was worse because I was alone. We have a support system in place for combat loss. This was the first time in my career where I was completely alone. I have never felt of so little value. After twenty years of service, being told Im not worth anything until my life was in danger. It was completely dehumanizing. She also said that she ended up using medication abortion to terminate the pregnancy, which she had to acquire outside of military health care.

As abortion care becomes more and more difficult to access across the U.S., service members are having to travel further than ever before. If Andrea had been in a state where abortion was legal, she could have scheduled an appointment nearby without taking significant leave. But she was in Texas.

Andrea remembers researching Planned Parenthood clinics near her base, but none of them could help her. She typed her zip code into the Planned Parenthood website, zooming out beyond Texas to see where she might go. She considered Oklahoma and New Mexico, but decided on a clinic in Colorado Springs, which was near a military base where her friend lived. They didnt have an opening for another three weeks, but Andrea didnt want to delay her deployment for too longespecially since she held a leadership position and had a key role in her upcoming Iraq mission. She explained her situation to the clinic, which made space for a D&C appointment the following week.

After notifying her immediate commander about her trip to Colorado for the abortion, Andrea requested five days of personal leave in order to be authorized to go out of state. She paid out of pocket for travel, lodging (including two days of post-op recovery), and the procedure itself, which totaled to about $1,800.

Five months before Andrea had her abortion, the Department of Defense had announced a new policy for military members and their families that standardized the coverage of travel and transportation funds for non-covered reproductive health care, including abortion and fertility care like IVF. The DoD also granted service members administrative absence for up to 21 days without taking personal leave. The new policy was met with mixed reactions, but one of the loudest critics was Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville who, for most of last year, led an unprecedented blockade against confirming military officials in protest of the reproductive health policy. He held up more than 400 military promotions for a policy that was only used 12 times between June and December 2023.



The travel transportation allowances are crucial to making sure that service members can get the care they need, Jackii Wang, a senior legislative analyst at the National Womens Law Center , tells ELLE. But the obvious reality is that everyone needs to know about it in order to maximize the benefit, she says, adding, the question we have is: How is it reaching military service members and their dependents?

The policy went into effect two days after Andrea had her abortion, but nobody in the military that shed spoken with when seeking medical guidance had informed her about it. Wang says that people join the military with the expectation of having comprehensive health care. Then, you are denied abortion care andfertility care, for the most part, and there are still huge gaps that remain in contraceptive care, she says Its such a failure of the system.

Drew Angerer - Getty Images

Ahead of her abortion in Colorado, Andreas provider contacted TRICARE seeking coverage for an IUD for Andrea, who had tried to get an IUD twice before at a military clinic, but found the dilation process too painful to proceed. When Andrea asked for medicine at the military clinic to ease the pain, she was told that women, typically dont get or need pain management. Andreas doctor at Planned Parenthood wanted to take advantage of the fact that she would be under sedation, but TRICARE ultimately declined coverage for the IUD. Planned Parenthood offered to cover the cost and insert the IUD during the procedure, which Andrea accepted. [The provider] was very empathetic to my situation, and Im so very grateful, she says.

When Andrea returned to Texas, she navigated tricky questions and snarky comments from senior male service members wondering if she had been trying to get out of her deployment. Her battalion commander had fully honored her request for privacy, but by then he was already stationed with their unit in Iraq and unable to intervene on her behalf when people higher up started questioning why she hadnt deployed yet. Andrea was still managing her physical and emotional recovery when she flew out to her mission three weeks later. I probably deployed a little too soon, she says. I was just so focused on getting out to Iraq as soon as possible to minimize the narrative that was being created about why I wasnt in Iraq. I was just trying to avoid that pryingthats what kind of caused me to hurry up and go.

The mission lasted for about six months, in a very remote location. There were no OB/GYNs on-site, just emergency medicine physicians, physician assistants, and surgeons. Since her abortion wasnt on her military medical record, she felt uncomfortable telling military physicians in Iraq about her continued cramping and pain. Instead, she managed to get by on over-the-counter medicine, like Tylenol, until returning stateside.

The militarys critical lack of reproductive health care access for female service members doesnt just affect abortion-seekers like Andrea. Like the loss of Roe proved in the civilian world, restricting rights has far-reaching effects. Janessa Goldbeck, the CEO of Vet Voice Foundation , summarizes the scale at which the lack of comprehensive reproductive health care could affect national security. All of these things are major deterrents for people who are considering joining the military, she says. And I say people, because it isnt just women or people with reproductive organs, but men who have families or wives, or daughters who are thinking about having a baby, starting a family through IVF, or wanting to access necessary health care in case a pregnancy goes awry. One of the major reasons why young people say they now want to join is because of the lifestyle, Goldbeck adds. Now youre compounding that by saying you might not have access to health care or the ability to start a family.

Andrea is currently trying to freeze her eggs, so that she has options if she decides she wants to start a family one day. Once again, shell have to pay out of pocket for cryopreservation or, in the future, IVF. I fear another unintended pregnancy [due] to birth control failure and certainly dont feel comfortable starting a family while in the service, she says. This experience has made me confident that reproductive health while on active duty isnt reliable. For Andrea, and so many others, its hard to deny that the military, which she has given so much of her adult life to, will continue to fall short.

*Andrea asked to use a pseudonym, for privacy reasons.

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Downloadable casino apps hide various dangers that few punters are aware of. Discover the hidden secrets of casino app installation files. Uncover how hackers use casino apps to hijack your device and steal your information. See how you can protect yourself from digital attacks and learn how you can have the safest gambling experience from the comfort of your favorite device today!

There is nothing quite like playing from your mobile phone or tablet. It allows you to take your gambling on the go and play whenever you please, even during your lunch break! However, downloading and installing the proper software might not be as easy as it first seems. While some online casinos offer apps directly from the App Store or Play Store, others limit their app distribution to downloadable .apk and .ipa files. These are not vetted by either Google or Apple and can contain malicious code. The latter is especially true if you are downloading it from an unknown or obscure website. Join us on this dive into the dangers of mobile casino apps, discover the signs of digital criminals, and learn how you can protect yourself from hackers today!

Understanding Installation Files (.apk and .ipa)

An .apk files (Android Packages) and .ipa files (iOS App Store Packages) are file formats that install applications on mobile devices that run the Android and iOS operating systems, respectively. You can think of them as recipes that your phone receives reads, and implements to provide you with your desired mobile app. You only need to run these files once, and the entire installation process will not require any input.

These .apk and .ipa files are usually downloaded and installed automatically when you click Install on the Google Play or App Store. However, some online casinos do not list their mobile apps on these stores. Such casinos require you to download .apk and .ipa files directly from their website. While this is very straightforward to do, it does come with various downsides and dangers.

The most obvious downside is that you are using up storage space that you could be using for pictures or videos. Then there is the issue of app updates, which you will not receive since there is no Google Play or App Store support. These app updates are especially problematic since they could potentially contain patches for security vulnerabilities. Moreover, scammers and hackers could create perfect replicas of your favorite casino site, produce their own .apk or .ipa files that look the same but have completely different code, and trick you into downloading exploitative software. We will dive deeper into these dangers in the next section.

Mobile Casino App Installer Scams

A classic online mobile casino app scam is a so-called phishing website that looks exactly like your favorite online casino site. Such a perfect replica is achieved by simply copying the publicly available HTML code of the original website. This replica website will then ask you to pay to download the casino app. If you fall for the scam, you will either lose a token amount or have your credit card information stolen and abused for various gift card purchases that can amount to thousands of dollars, depending on your daily spending limit. Note that some scam websites even use the same link, with certain Latin letters, such as a, replaced by their Cyrillic cousins. We recommend that you use our online casino links to avoid such sneaky scams.

A slightly more innovative approach is a social media post or an online forum post that claims to have found a mobile app installer for a certain casino. The post will feature a phishing link that will then lead to fake download pages or websites designed to capture personal information. Sometimes, you will even be able to download files. However, these will only serve as platforms for exploitation or hacking.

This brings us to malware-infected apps. These are arguably the worst possible scenario, as some even lock your device and demand a ransom. Less aggressive malware apps will flood your device with ads or monitor your activities, including keylogging. The latter is especially problematic if you use your mobile device for mobile banking. The most extreme example of this is someone stealing your 2-factor verification code by reading your SMS notifications.

However, there is good news! Avoiding mobile casino app scams is very easy, with some methods requiring no effort whatsoever.

Mobile Casino App Alternatives

The easiest way that you can protect yourself from mobile casino app hackers and scammers is by simply playing with your standard browser. The latter is based on HTML5 and, when combined with SSL encryption and other modern security standards, provides the same experience as a traditional mobile casino app. However, this means that you need to use safe online casino links, which you can find in our recommended online casinos section.

Should you still want to download a mobile casino app, simply install it from Google Play or the App Store. These are highly regulated and vetted, especially the App Store, which means that applications with malicious code are filtered out.

Regardless of which method you choose to use, remember that online casinos want to make your gambling experience as straightforward as possible. If a site is demanding excessive effort or requesting payments for administrative tasks, such as app downloads, immediately close and report it. Stick to what you know best, be it Google Play, the App Store, or direct gaming via your web browser.
I was one of two blacks admitted into the doctoral program to begin in September of 1991. The other, another black woman, hailed from a middle-class background, when being from that class still meant something. Today, most of us are in the "struggling" class.





I have always been in the struggling class. My family were all members of the working class, including a beef boner, my father, a sheriff of police, an uncle next door to us, a lawyer then (now judge) cousin, and an assortment of military vets, nurses, teachers. Even an FBI agent (died in his sixties from cancer this February). I was told by an employment counselor that the staff wasn't to take up much time with me, a woman in her forties, who had taught part-time for ten years at the City Colleges of Chicago, and who worked as a journalist, a published journalist for a few years before that, I, nevertheless, was "too far down to help", according to their boss. Fueled by one imaginative scenario, I had been a poor little black child, raised at one of Chicago's public housing sites.





Take a black out, someone who might show up white supremacy. In our midst...





I was a member of Operation Breadbasket's Youth Division in Chicago in 1969. I didn't think much of the "American Dream" even then. I did, however, think in terms of social justice. Starving children shouldn't be a thing. Neither should there be homeless children. We shouldn't know of an Emmett Till or Tamir Rice.





The narrative surrounding my "origins" persisted for years, long after I managed to secure employment, again, at a university. I remember staying two weeks in the home of a black co-faculty member from a local Wisconsin university. One Saturday, I remember her asking if I "scrubbed" my hair. Used my fingernails, that is, to scrub my hair. I had dreads, but, with or without dreads, I've scrubbed my hair while washing it. What they didn't know, and I suppose, wouldn't believe is that I grew up with an aunt who owned her own beauty shop, and I could be found there every other Saturday in a chair. Getting my hair washed, scrubbed and "pressed"!





But it was the look that passed between her and a grown daughter who also was a university professor that reminded me of that untrue, yet painful narrative from almost ten years before.





The two black women were in communication still with the old narrative created by powerful white men, a narrative in which was offered to explain me as someone not to imitate, as I was an "old militant". Insane ! The two never questioned the narrative they were sold--at my expense.





Someone with heart would have thought that if the narrative is true, then this is the person most in need of help. But no. Like those who signed up to join the Nazi party: moving toward Hitler in Germany aligns one with hundreds of years of prohibiting others from being free in the US.





Cruelty is rewarded, so white supremacy survives.





In 1961, a group of black reporters working for the Baltimore Afro - American, wrote an article entitled, "One Way to Get in a Mental Hospital". It might seem a joke today, but not really. They were referring to the penchant for this society to institutionalize uncomfortable truths represented by the presence of African Americans, those once enslaved and then freed. It was easier to confront black protest to injustice by either incarcerating or institutionalizing black people. The reporters claimed too that this practice of institutionalizing outspoken blacks made it possible to "explain" how this pursuit of freedom is not only old fashion but is also "insane" in order to "discredit" the protesters.





It's insane to protest the unjust treatment of certain segments of the population deemed "unworthy"? What then is sanity?





What do you call it, then, when bombs and drones detonate, destroy schools and hospitals where mothers hide out, with children, seriously wounded? What do you call it when the homes and wells are reduced to rumble? What water is available is contaminated. Unhealthy. What is this kind of cruelty that is honored by the Israeli leadership and supported by US leaders, adopting the fascist way of thinking that non-whites are superior? What is this brand of cruelty that encourages the taking of over 1300 Palestinian children? They must resemble to these fascist Emmett Till and Trayvon Martin, the children left behind in detention camps along the US southern border once they were ripped from the arms of their mothers and fathers.





And when Benjamin Netanyahu declares that he must--he must--kill all the Hamas terrorists... He must get to those terrorists... And he sees them in tunnels under schools and hospitals. He sees them in the person of doctors and journalists... So he must, must, make Israel safe from Hamas, do we not see Bull Connors or George Wallace? Even Truman decided that the world must be made safe for his idea of democracy (during Jim Crow), gave the order to detonate Little Boy over Hiroshima and Fat Boy over Nagasaki, do we see a resemblance of something rising up again and spreading to contaminate the hearts and minds of young white children?





And the Palestinian children, over 1300 of them, are no a no-win situation when 2,000-pound bombs reach their street or hiding place. In their last moments alive, when they see a fighter jet pass over their heads or hear its thunder from their hiding place, do you think they remember America, the home of the brave and free? The jets and bombs originate from US docks to arrive in Israel even while Israel won't allow humanitarian aids to reach starving children. Think this is all sane?

On April 2, 2024, those Made-in-the-US bombs struck three World Central Kitchen trucks, clearly marked trucks. According to WCK, the IDF was notified of the nonprofit organization's movements, their effort to feed starving Palestinians. On that day, the 7 dead volunteers had worked with others to unload 100 tons of food on the Rafah border. The were hit in Deir Al-Balah. The workers escaped on hit vehicle and then, running to another, survived that hit but couldn't escape the bomb that hit the third truck.





While these volunteers were helping unload 100 tons of food for Gazans, the US was shipping billions of dollars' worth of bombs, according to Reuters, to Israel. The package consisted of 1,800-pound bombs, 2000-pound bombs and 500-pound bombs, according to the Washington Post. Jose Andres considers the attack on these humanitarian works, seven of over 196 humanitarian workers killed, as a continuing effort on the part of Israel to "deliberately" target these workers.





Those who work to secure corporate contracts to build more bombs to send to the undemocratic leadership in Israel aren't so valued, are they? Their existence in the world is an annoyance, isn't it, to those determined to see a fascist world thrive.





Is there something sane here?





In 2002, to step away from the white supremacy agenda of the universities in the US, I applied for and received a fellowship to teach English composition and literature, as a volunteer, in Africa for IFESH, a nonprofit organization founded by Rev. Leon Sullivan. By the time I was accepted, the black organization had corporate "owners", and USAID paid our stipends. But I was leaving the burning house, on the way to see Africa, Ethiopia, specifically. The birthplace of humanity.

There was conflict in Central Ethiopia, among the people themselves. One of the issues, involved skin color. The inhabitants of Central Ethiopia, among the descendants of the first humans on the planet, were very dark-skinned while in the surrounding areas skin tone was lighter, that is, brown in color. Better, if one bought into the philosophy of white supremacy.





The eastern border of Ethiopia, where I taught at Haramaya University, Somalians easily came across and merged with local residents. Only a few years later will Somalia become an interest to the US and negotiations begin to ship US weapons to a dictator PM in Ethiopia to fight a proxy war for capitalists.





In the meantime, American diplomats, smartly dressed, rode in equally smart cars down Bole Avenue in Ethiopia, passing the sick, suffering, dying, on the way to important meetings--and I wondered then if these meetings, held among mainly professional whites and upper-class Ethiopians (those for whom rocking the boat would be totally insane!) had anything to do with the starving of children left to care for themselves on the other Ethiopian streets?





And here I am now, many years later, and little has changed. Over 33,000 dead in Gaza. Many have been decomposing in the rubble for weeks. I watch the news and witness fleeing mothers and fathers. Little children covered in blood. No food or water in sight...





But Netanyahu's military must reach Rafah. The military must root out the terrorists. They must continue the slaughter. More Palestinians must be eliminated!





And this is sane?
The lessons have not been learned. Thirty years after the genocide in Rwanda when extremists from the Hutu ethnic group launched a 100-day killing spree, during which 800,000 members of the Tutsi minority and Hutu moderates were slaughtered, the world is still witnessing death on a massive scale.

Rwanda President Paul Kagame led a sombre commemoration ceremony in the capital Kigali on Sunday on the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. Foreign visitors included the leaders of South Africa, Congo, Ethiopia, Central African Republic and Tanzania, as well as Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Former US and French presidents Bill Clinton and Nicolas Sarkozy also attended.

Kagame and other Rwandan officials have long blamed the international community for ignoring warnings about the killings and allowing the 1994 genocide to happen, and some Western leaders have expressed regret.

After leaving office, former US President Bill Clinton cited the genocide as a failure of his administration. French President Emmanuel Macron, in a prerecorded video ahead of Sunday's ceremonies, said that France and its allies could have stopped the genocide but lacked the will to do so. Macron's declaration came three years after he acknowledged the "overwhelming responsibility" of France -- Rwanda's closest European ally in 1994 -- for failing to stop Rwanda's slide into the slaughter.

"It was the international community that failed all of us, whether from contempt or cowardice," Kagame said in a speech after lighting a flame of remembrance and laying a wreath at a memorial site holding the remains of 250,000 genocide victims in Kigali.

The genocide started on April 6, 1994. Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira were killed when Habyarimana's plane they were traveling in was shot down. It is unclear who was responsible, but it was likely either extremist Hutu elements within the government and military or the predominantly Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) led by Paul Kagame, now president of Rwanda. What is known is that the event served as a catalyst for the genocidal killing of Tutsis and moderate Hutus that began soon after.

On June 22, the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of French forces in southwest Rwanda under 'Operation Turquoise' to create a 'safe' area in the government-controlled part of the country, but this did not prevent the murders from continuing.

It was only on July 18 that the RPF finally declared a de facto ceasefire.

Today, the effects of the genocide still linger.

Rwanda's international relations, particularly with its neighboring countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, and Uganda, are affected by the fallout of the genocide. Despite Rwanda's relative peace domestically today, its external relations have been fraught with accusations and counter-accusations of interference and support for armed groups.

The root of the tensions between Rwanda and the DRC lies in the aftermath of the genocide and the subsequent cross-border conflicts. Rwanda has been accused by the DRC and international entities of supporting armed groups within the DRC, most notably the M23 rebel group, which consists of Tutsi fighters. Rwanda has, in turn, accused the DRC of supporting groups like the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which includes remnants of the Hutu forces responsible for the 1994 genocide. These accusations have led to military engagements and a strained relationship characterized by mutual distrust and sporadic violence.

Rwanda's relationship with Burundi has been similarly tense, particularly since 2015, when Burundi descended into political crisis following President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to seek a third term. Rwanda has been accused by Burundi of supporting groups opposed to the Nkurunziza government, specifically rebel groups launching attacks from Rwandan territory. These allegations have contributed to a cooling of relations, with both countries engaging in a war of words and accusations that have at times led to the closing of borders and restrictions on the movement of people and goods.

The relationship between Rwanda and Uganda has experienced periods of cooperation and conflict since the 1990s. The most recent tensions arose from allegations by Rwanda that Uganda was supporting anti-Kagame rebel groups, including the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) and others opposed to the Rwandan government. Uganda has countered with accusations that Rwanda has infiltrated its security services and is undermining its sovereignty. This led to a closure of the common border for a significant period, affecting trade and movement between the two countries. While there have been efforts to normalize relations, including high-level meetings and agreements to reopen borders and restore relations, mutual suspicion remains.

These tensions should be viewed within the broader context of the Great Lakes region's complex political and security dynamics. The area is characterized by porous borders, the presence of numerous armed groups, and a history of ethnic tensions and conflicts. External relations among countries in the region are often influenced by internal politics, historical grievances, and the strategic interests of ruling elites.

Rwanda's stance and actions in this volatile region can be interpreted through various lenses, including its own security imperatives, the legacy of the genocide, and its ambition to be a regional leader.

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An Oregon judge has concluded there are serious problems with the way the state tries to take back money when it decides it has paid jobless claimants too much. However, he ruled those issues dont rise to a level that would legally require wholesale changes in the way the program operates.

The Oregon Employment Department has been trying to recoup jobless benefits from more than 60,000 people. The agency says it paid them more than they were entitled to receive during the pandemic and its aftermath and is required by law to seek the moneys return.

The Oregon Law Center sued in 2022 on behalf of several laid-off workers. It argued that the employment departments clawback procedures were so disorganized that they amounted to an unconstitutional infringement of workers right to due process.

Plaintiffs counsel have done a tremendous job identifying and articulating problems with OEDs systems, Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Eric Dahlin wrote in his findings Friday.

Except in limited cases, though, Dahlin said the departments problems dont amount to constitutional violations. His ruling means that in most cases the employment department can continue setting its own rules and procedures for how it seeks to reclaim overpayments.

The ruling has no direct bearing on the agencys most pressing current problem, delays in payments and the extreme difficulty laid-off workers are experiencing when they try to reach the employment department to address issues with their claims.

The Oregon Law Center and employment department had both asked Dahlin to issue summary judgment on the overpayments lawsuit rather than send the case to trial. They each declined comment on the ruling until they have had more time to review it.

The overpayments dispute dates to 2020, when Oregons unemployment insurance system was inundated by an unprecedented surge in jobless claims. Hobbled by an obsolete computer system, the agency struggled to implement new federal benefit programs meant to ease the pandemics economic impact.

The employment department says that it paid some laid-off workers too much. Sometimes that was because of mistakes workers made when filing their claims, but other times the agency says it was because of the employment departments own mistakes.

State and federal law requires that the employment department take back the overpayments in many cases. Benefits recipients can contest the agencys findings or seek a waiver.

In its suit, the Oregon Law Center argued that many people didnt know they could challenge the overpayments because notifications were too complex.

In some cases, the employment department would send out two separate notices about overpayments, months apart. By the time the second notice arrived with details on the amount of alleged overpayment, the window to challenge the states finding had expired.

That kind of system is indeed unconstitutional, Dahlin ruled, but he declined to order changes because the employment department implemented a new computer system last month that did away with the two-notice system.

Dahlin did rule that the employment department had erred by offering Spanish translations of overpayment notices  but not including all the information that accompanied the English-language version of the notice.

The most consequential ruling was Dahlins finding that the problems at the unemployment department dont cumulatively amount to an unconstitutional violation of claimants rights. As a result, he did not order sweeping changes in the employment departments overpayment collections.

While Dahlin found the employment departments overpayments policies mostly passed constitutional muster, he chastised the agency for poor performance and encouraged it to consider reforms proposed in the litigation.

He didnt specify what changes he would like to see. The Oregon Law Center had proposed several reforms, including that the employment department more thoroughly explain to claimants why it is seeking to reclaim payments. It also proposed systemic changes in how the agency collects overpayments and notifies claimants of how they can dispute the departments findings.

Almost every issue identified by plaintiffs is of concern, Dahlin wrote. OED as a public agency may want to consider voluntarily implementing most of the items Plaintiffs are asking for, if it is reasonably feasible to do so.

-- Mike Rogoway covers Oregon technology and the state economy. Reach him at mrogoway@oregonian.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
Douglas A. Olson, an FBI agent who led the bureaus Salem office for just over three years and previously helped investigate members of the Genovese crime family in New York, took over as the new special agent in charge of Oregons FBI based in Portland on Monday.

Olson, a 21-year bureau veteran, most recently served as a section chief in the criminal investigation division at FBI headquarters, leading about 137 employees working federal investigations across the United States and around the world.
A string of drive-by shootings at Vancouver churches ended in a police chase down Interstate 5 early Tuesday morning, according to the Clark County Sheriffs Office.

No one was hurt, but police arrested 23-year-old Aleksey Suturin of Vancouver on allegations of shooting a weapon from a moving car, first- and second-degree malicious mischief and attempting to elude police. Deputies said Suturin was wearing body armor at the time of his arrest and had a Sig Sauer handgun along with multiple 9mm pistol magazines.

The travail began around 1:40 a.m. when someone called 911 to report gunfire in the Walnut Grove area of Vancouver and then called back to say it was coming from the direction of Adventist Community Church on Northeast St. Johns Road. Deputies later found bullet holes in the front of the church and 9mm bullet casings in the parking lot.

About 20 minutes later, more people called 911 to report gunfire near Kessid Columbia Church on Northwest 99th Street in Vancouver. Deputies then found windows broken by gunfire, 17 bullet casings on church grounds and three bullet holes in an unoccupied Kia SUV in the church parking lot.

Back at the Seventh-day Adventist church around 2 a.m., deputies heard gunfire and spotted a blue SUV without headlights. When a deputy tried to follow it in a patrol car, the SUV driver sped away recklessly, deputies said.

But they traced the Toyota Highlander to an address in Felida and called the owner, who said he wasnt home but that his wife and adult son were. There, deputies found the woman, an empty Sig Sauer pistol case  but not the son, now identified by deputies as Suturin.

Around 3:30 a.m, deputies heard a single shot near Columbia River High School and found a car with a bullet hole through its windshield. Back at the Felida home, deputies spotted the Toyota Highlander, again with no headlights, roll into Suturins neighborhood, sheriffs officials said. The driver noticed the deputies and immediately fled, law enforcement said.

But they followed him to I-5 and threw down spike strips that eventually stopped the Highlander. Suturin allegedly bolted from the SUV but eventually surrendered safely, deputies said.

Suturin is in Clark County Jail, and a court date has not been released.

 Tanner Todd covers crime and public safety. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com, or 503-221-4313.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
EUGENE  The captain of Oregons beach volleyball team and lead plaintiff in a federal Title IX lawsuit against the university has entered the transfer portal.

Ashley Schroeder, a senior at UO, entered the transfer portal on Sunday as a graduate transfer.
Gov. Tina Kotek announced Monday that she is considering vetoing parts of two bills approved by the Legislature that would allocate $14 million to housing-related water projects in seven cities and provide $2 million to help create a footwear and apparel hub in Portlands Old Town neighborhood.

Kotek will announce her final vetoes by April 17, according to a press release. In the meantime, her office has asked cities and organizations that would benefit from the funding she is considering axing to submit more information to convince her that they will use the money effectively.

Before making final decisions, I am giving cities and districts the opportunity to provide more information to my office to confirm whether these funding allocations will result in the production of new housing within an acceptable timeline, Kotek said in the release.

During this years legislative session, lawmakers approved roughly $100 million for 44 infrastructure projects that are supposed to quickly spur housing development. In the last month, Koteks office reviewed each of those projects and decided that seven cities or water districts did not provide sufficient information to receive state funding, according to the press release.

The cities and water districts that Kotek might take away funding from are Clackamas Countys Oak Lodge Water Services Authority, Tualatin Valley Water District, Siletz, Butte Falls, Shady Cove, Creswell and Gold Hill. Lawmakers approved between $1 million and $3 million for each of these cities to expand or create infrastructure like new sewers or wastewater treatment plants.

The legislative intent of this funding is to support shovel-ready projects that are essential for new housing production, Kotek said in the release. Last month, Kotek told reporters that her office would take a lead role in vetting lawmakers spending choices and following up to make sure projects deliver on their promises.

Sometimes weve been like, Well just send you the money and not say anything, Kotek told reporters in March. Those days are over. I want to know exactly what youre doing with the money, and Ill make sure its serving your community.

Siletz Mayor Willie Worman told The Oregonian/OregonLive he hadnt received any further information as of Monday afternoon from Koteks office about what additional information the city should submit.

The only thing I was told was that the governor didnt think that the $3 million to Siletz was directly related to infrastructure and thats what the bill is supposed to be for, Worman said.

Lawmakers approved the funding for Siletz to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant, which is severely outdated, according to Worman. Upgrading the plant would enable the city to expand clean water access to lots suited for development as soon as next year, Worman said.

Its definitely directly tied to housing. I dont know how that could be missed, he said.

If Siletz doesnt receive the funding, Worman said, the city will be forced to take out millions of dollars in loans to fund the project. Its a very low-income community and thats a huge increase in water and sewer rates to pay those loans back. Were just gonna have to go back to the drawing board and figure it out.

Kotek also said she is considering vetoing a line item in Senate Bill 5701 that would give $2 million to the Made in Old Town development project. The funding would go toward a 30,000 square-foot facility for entrepreneurs and existing footwear and apparel companies to develop new products, with a focus on environmentally-friendly projects.

I appreciate the intent of this project to help revitalize the Old Town neighborhood in downtown Portland, Kotek said. My office is awaiting more information from the development group about the viability of financing for the entire project before I make my decision.

Advocates for the project plan for the development to eventually include 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space, 120,000 square feet of housing and 145,000 square feet of office and retail space.

The groups backers need to raise $5 million from the private sector to fund the green manufacturing facility, which they hope to open by this fall.

We are actively working with the governors office and are confident of a positive outcome that will encourage much-needed development in Old Town while signaling a commitment both to the central city and to our vital footwear and apparel industry, said Elias Stahl, CEO and cofounder of Hilos, an Old Town-based 3D-printed footwear company and key supporter of the project.

 Carlos Fuentes covers state politics and government. Reach him at 503-221-5386 or cfuentes@oregonian.com.

 Business reporter Matthew Kish contributed to this report. Reach him at 503-221-4386, mkish@oregonian.com or @matthewkish.
Politics is getting in the way of public safety in Virginia. Worse yet, politics is undermining our ability to protect the youngest and most vulnerable children in this state.

As current and former prosecutors, we must speak out when the actions of elected officials undermine the health and well-being of our communities. Unfortunately, the recent veto of criminal justice bills by Gov. Glenn Youngkin did just that.

In total, the governor vetoed 22 bills that would have improved policing or criminal justice in Virginia. And in doing so he parted company with research-based reforms that are working around the country.

Perhaps most concerning was the veto of a bill that would have restricted prosecutors from pursuing charges for kids under the age of 11 and allowed judges to provide services and support to children without involving them in the juvenile justice system.

This bill aligned Virginia with most states and other parts of the world recognizing that criminalizing children 10 and under makes no sense as a public safety measure. Medical science has long established that youth are different from adults in terms of brain development, culpability, impressionability, impulsivity and understanding of crime.

A troubled child needs treatment, not incarceration

The neuroscience of human brain development is so well established that the U.S. Supreme Court has long held that youth under the age of 18 must be treated differently by our criminal law.

Indeed, cutting edge science is now recognizing that people 25 and younger should be treated differently by the courts.

As law enforcement professionals and parents, we find it unfathomable that anyone believes criminally prosecuting a child in elementary school is beneficial. A child who can barely read needs treatment, not incarceration, and there are countless ways to address accountability and also get that child the necessary support to thrive and grow without involving a courtroom or prosecutor.

How can we prevent child abuse? Tougher rules for home-school families would help.

The only outcome of putting any young person  much less a 10-year-old  in the criminal legal system is further trauma and exacerbating the very issues underlying the misconduct. And these results inevitably erode the safety of our communities.

Simply put, the veto of this important bill is a moral, practical and political failing of adults in Virginia perpetrated on our children and their future.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin in April 2024 has vetoed more bills in one session than any other Virginian governor in modern history, including 22 bills that involved policing or criminal justice.

Youngkin claimed that by removing the threat of prosecution for young kids, the floodgates would open for gang members to recruit children to carry out gang-related offenses. Yet the bill would have given more protections to both children and the community by criminalizing adults who willfully encourage or cause a child to engage in delinquent acts.

Moreover, we know from the experience of other states who already protect children under 11 from prosecution that the threat of gang members finding new recruits on elementary school playgrounds is simply not based in reality.

Criminal justice reforms address drug cases, policing shortages

One other unfortunate veto further diminishes public safety by undermining proven harm reduction strategies and inhibiting prosecutorial discretion in drug cases, while another prevents communities from ensuring a broad base of applicants interested in joining law enforcement offices.

The governor derailed reforms that would have allowed prosecutors to file a misdemeanor instead of a felony charge if a person is caught with residue of a drug  with the key exception of fentanyl, which remained a felony.

Youngkin claimed the bill diminishes the seriousness of drug offenses. Yet mandating a felony conviction for possessing a barely traceable quantity of a drug imposes harsh and life-altering consequences for individuals as well as their loved ones that outweigh any benefit the governor can claim.

Drug treatment, not imprisonment: Meeting the mother of my foster son changed my mind about addiction  and my life

A felony conviction hampers job prospects and prevents people from accessing essential services such as low-income housing. Its hard to see how that punishment fits the crime.

We also know that the failed war on drugs approach of felony convictions for drug possession, let alone residue, does not deter or address the underlying problems that lead to problematic drug use.

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store.

Meanwhile, he dealt a blow to police departments across the state.

As law enforcement agencies are experiencing a massive staffing shortage, Youngkin vetoed a bill that would have allowed recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, to be eligible for jobs in law enforcement. The bill would have helped address personnel shortages while giving people brought here illegally as children a chance to serve their communities.

In vetoing the bill, the governor decided to sacrifice safety and eliminate a path to upward economic mobility to stoke fear over immigration.

Youngkin has vetoed more bills in one session than any other Virginian governor in modern history, but his sweeping and questionable actions have generated little backlash aside from remarks from the Democratic lawmakers who sponsored these bills.

Many seem resigned to the fact that this is how politics operates, with one party vetoing meaningful bills passed by the opposing party.

Yet we cannot afford to be complacent with such decisions, nor can we accept leaders unwillingness to embrace effective, data-based policies. We must demand our leaders put people over politics.

Parisa Dehghani-Tafti is the commonwealths attorney for Arlington County and Falls Church city, Virginia. Jim Hingeley is the commonwealths attorney for Albemarle County. Miriam Krinsky is the executive director of Fair and Just Prosecution, a former federal prosecutor and the author of Change from Within: Reimagining the 21st-Century Prosecutor.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Youngkin plays politics with public safety. His vetoes will hurt kids
Portland now has a new historical landmark  a convenience store in a Northeast Portland industrial zone.

This Plaid Pantry along Columbia Boulevard on the edge of the Cully neighborhood is now a temple to hopes and dreams.

This is where someone bought a Powerball ticket worth $1.326 billion.

On Tuesday afternoon, an Oregon lottery official and the CEO of the Plaid Pantry chain held a short press conference in the stores parking lot to explain when the winner will be publicly identified and how the money will be doled out.

The event was attended by more reporters and camera crews than show up for press conferences by the governor of this state, which should tell you this is a big deal.

Money always is.

Its been a roller coaster of a week for any Oregonian who plays Powerball.

As the pot grew and grew and grew  the last winner was in January  more and more people figured it was worth a few dollars to take a flier on a dream.

The big payout is the fourth-largest in Powerball history. The $1.326 billion jackpot has a cash value of $621 million if the winner chooses to take a lump sum rather than an annuity paid over 30 years.

On Sunday, a lot of Oregonians hearts surely sped up when lottery officials announced the winning ticket was sold in Oregon.

Logic and emotion are strange bedfellows when it comes to games of chance.

Many slot-machine aficionados are convinced there are hot machines in casinos, and many Las Vegas gamblers believe a new dealer at the 21 table might change a run of bad luck.

So, too, with the lottery.

The past 24 hours, after word got out that the winning ticket was sold there, the Plaid Pantry on Columbia Boulevard in Northeast Portland has been crazy, said a clerk at the store.

A few dozen people, not store regulars, have come into the Plaid Pantry to buy a lottery ticket off the terminal  hoping a bit of luck remains.

Probably not, of course.

But to stand in the store Tuesday afternoon is to see for yourself where it happened  and that it could have been you.

This is a working-class neighborhood, and the winner is no longer a working stiff.

The clerk, who said he isnt allowed to give his name to the press, admitted he had a hard time sleeping the past few nights. He wondered if he sold the winning ticket, and if hell recognize the person when lottery officials identify the winner.

He also said he couldnt help but fantasize about what hed do with $1.326 billion.

But there he was Tuesday afternoon.

Back behind the counter, selling beer, chips and soft drinks, and finally taking a break to watch the media circus in the parking lot.

 Tom Hallman Jr. is a member of the public safety team. Reach him at 503 221-8224; thallman@oregonian.com

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
It could take several weeks before the Oregon Lottery can hand over cash to the winner of the historic, $1.326 billion Powerball jackpot, because of necessary  if opaque to the public  security measures, an agency spokesperson said Tuesday.

We cant get into too many specifics, Melanie Mesaros told a group of newspaper and TV reporters gathered in the parking lot of the Northeast Portland Plaid Pantry convenience store that sold the winning ticket Saturday. We have a process to vet the claimant. We have a process that would look at the ticket itself and the retail purchase.

A person has come forward to claim the jackpot. The Oregon Lottery hasnt yet publicly identified the winner.

Mesaros, the Lottery spokesperson, confirmed that the security process includes looking at the persons physical ticket, checking their government-issued identification and reviewing the stores security camera footage. But she repeatedly declined to elaborate on other steps the lottery takes to ensure the money goes to the rightful winner.

We have security processes that we just need to keep close in order to make sure the process is able to operate properly, Mesaros said.

Mesaros did say that anyone who plays the lottery should sign the back of their ticket. Otherwise, whoever holds the ticket essentially owns it, she said.

An added complication before the winner is handed the cash is the fact that theres just so much of it, and that its funded by multiple states lotteries, not just Oregons. That means, Mesaros said, the agency has to go through several steps to meet the requirements of the Multi-State Lottery Association to get all the money transferred to Oregon.

The $1.326 billion jackpot has a cash value of $621 million if the winner chooses to take a lump sum rather than an annuity paid over 30 years. The prize is subject to federal taxes and state taxes in Oregon.

 Fedor Zarkhin is a breaking news and enterprise reporter with a focus on crime. Reach him at 971-373-2905; fzarkhin@oregonian.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
A sudden jackpot changes everything, including a home address. The yet-unknown winner of the unprecedented $1.326 billion Powerball ticket sold in Northeast Portland will soon have the funds  after paying federal and state taxes  to buy any Oregon residential property on the market.

Here are five over-the-top properties across the state that may be tempting.

Cascade ranch

The Y Bell Ranch in Powell Butte is for sale at $19,999,999.Cascade Hasson Sothebys International Realty

The Y Bell Ranch on 435 acres overlooking the Cascade mountains in Powell Butte is for sale at $19,999,999.

The 8,863-square-foot main house, custom built in 2009 at 8055 S.W. Powell Butte Highway, includes a massive trophy room and an indoor desert landscape. Theres a grand entry with a see-through stone fireplace plus a theater room, five bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms.

The fully operational cattle ranch also offers a separate guesthouse, ranch manager residence as well as a nine-stall barn, indoor arena with a cocktail bar and a shop with living quarters, says listing agent Rachel Rhoden of Cascade Hasson Sothebys International Realty.

Property taxes for this property in Crook County are around $62,000 a year.

Deschutes estate

The 67-acre estate at 16465 Suntree Lane in Sisters is for sale at $15.9 million.Engel & Voelkers Bend

A 67-acre estate within Deschutes Land Trusts preserve is for sale at $15.9 million.

The mansion, built in 2005 at 16465 Suntree Lane in Sisters, has hand-carved hickory and heated stone floors and towering ceilings throughout its 5,050 square feet of living space. There is a private-access apartment suite for guests, and a car collector could appreciate the heated three-car garage.

The property has two additional homes: a single-story dwelling with 1,700 square feet of living space and a two-story house with 2,200 square feet of interior space. Each has a two-car garage.

Enjoy mountain vistas, an outdoor kitchen and a fire feature in the courtyard as well as direct access to private land for fishing and wildlife viewing, says listing agent Samuel Real with Matthew Montoya of Engel & Voelkers Bend.

Property taxes for this property in Deschutes County are about $25,600 a year.

Lake Oswego mansion

25 1 / 25 $11.5 million Lake Oswego waterfront mansion

A three-acre, gated Lake Oswego estate alongside the Willamette River is for sale at $11.5 million.

The 19,444-square-foot Mediterranean-style mansion has a Versailles-like dining room, ballroom and party wing with slide-away walls that open to the pool. One of the nine bedrooms has a Narnia-forest playroom and treehouse sleeping area fenced in by real birch trees.

Broker Justin Harnish of Harnish Company Realtors likens the luxury residence at 12850 S. Fielding Road to waterfront mansions in South Beach, Florida, owned by Jennifer Lopez, Oprah, Shaquille ONeal and other celebrities.

Tiered landscaping leads to the boat lift and deep-water dock. More than 12 collectible cars can be exhibited in two garages.

Property taxes for this property in unincorporated Clackamas County are around $100,000 a year.

Oceanview home

22 1 / 22 Oregon coast ranch

An elevated mansion on almost 26 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the unincorporated coastal community of Cloverdale is listed for $10 million.

Nearly every interior wall of the 7,542-square-foot house at 41900 Horizon View Ave. offers abundant windows that frame ... the ultimate coastal sanctuary, overlooking Nestucca River and bay with nearby access to a state park and wildlife sanctuary, says listing broker Brian Ladd of Cascade Hasson Sothebys International Realty.

In addition to the 1996 main house, there is a fishermans cottage with private river access and a separate guesthouse.

Fish for wild salmon and steelhead or try your hand at crabbing along the shore, said Ladd, who is partnering with Sothebys Concierge Auctions to sell the property with a bidding window of May 2-16. The auction house expects a starting bid between $2.5 million-$4 million.

Property taxes for this property in Tillamook County are about $39,000 a year.

Ritz-Carlton penthouse

14 1 / 14 Ritz-Carlton Portland private homes

The premier penthouse atop the new 35-story downtown Ritz-Carlton Portland has a finished asking price of $8,999,000. A rendering of the customizable Tahoma penthouse shows a hot tub behind glass terrace railings on a northwest corner.

The ritzy residence at 550 S.W. 10th Ave. #3503 has 3,256 square feet of living space and shares the top floor with three other units. A potential buyer could purchase the entire floor, about 16,000 square feet of unfinished living space.

Ritz-Carlton penthouses are 460 feet above anything happening on the street and are oriented to frame views of the Cascade mountains and Willamette River. Residents have round-the-clock concierge service and arrive in private elevators, separate from those used by guests of Bellpine restaurant and the Ritz-Carlton hotel, the citys first five-star accommodations.

People living here are buying the luxury of time and being able to create special moments with friends, said Terry Sprague of LUXE Forbes Global Properties, who is selling the 132 Ritz-Carlton residences. You only have to say your preferences one time (to a staff member) and what you, your kids and your pet need, will always be there.

Property taxes for the penthouse have not been set, but homeowners association fees are expected to be $1-$1.10 a square foot per month, based on location.

 Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman
A human remains was found by authorities in Milwaukee, allegedly suspecting it is of the missing teen, Sade Carleena Robinson.

Amid mounting concerns about a missing 19-year-old, unidentified remains were discovered consecutively over the weekend in the 3000 block of West Galena Street.

A significant police presence was observed on Sunday, April 7, near 31st and Walnut in Milwaukee, with authorities confirming on Monday, April 8, the discovery of unidentified human remains in that vicinity.

After the detection of a human body part on Friday and subsequent findings of unidentified human remains on Saturday in a neighborhood on Milwaukee's near west side, investigators from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, working alongside the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), were called to the scene at 30th and Lisbon late Friday night.

The discovery, made around 10 p.m., prompted immediate action, although authorities have not disclosed specific details about the nature and exact location of the body part.

Human Remains Found Allegedly Suspecting the Missing Teen

Concurrently, law enforcement agencies are actively conducting an investigation in the vicinity, aligning efforts with neighboring law enforcement entities. However, crucial details regarding the identity of the remains, particularly whether they belong to a woman, remain undisclosed as the investigation unfolds.

The location of the remains' discovery is approximately 2 miles west of where Sade Carleena Robinson, a 19-year-old categorized as a "critically missing person," was last seen. Robinson's last known sighting was on April 1 in the vicinity of 1800 N. Commerce Street.

Descriptions of Robinson note her as 5 feet tall, 135 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, wearing a black coat, a white hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and white shoes at the time of her disappearance. Authorities have not divulged further information regarding the circumstances surrounding her vanishing.

In a separate incident nearby in Cudahy, approximately 10 miles southeast of the Galena site, law enforcement responded to reports of a severed leg found near Lake Michigan in Warnimont Park last week. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office has designated this discovery as a homicide investigation.

Subsequently, a search warrant was executed, leading sheriff's deputies to a residence on the south side of Milwaukee on Thursday.

A "person of interest" was apprehended for questioning; however, it remains uncertain whether this development is linked to the discovery of human remains in the Galena area.

Family's Search for Missing Teen

On Saturday around 6:15 p.m., law enforcement personnel commenced securing the park with crime scene tape, an area previously assembled by police late Friday night, as reported by neighbors.

The medical examiner's presence was noted approximately an hour later, at 7:15 p.m., attributed to the discovery of human remains, according to police statements.

The discovery of a blanket bearing the image of a missing woman's face, found by relatives in a wooded area near the park on Saturday, raised immediate concern.

The woman in question, 19-year-old Sade Robinson, was last seen in the Brewers Hill neighborhood on April 1. This unusual discovery prompted swift action from her family, alerting authorities to the potential significance of the find.

David Scarbrough, Robinson's uncle, disclosed that his niece's car had been found torched in the same neighborhood on Tuesday night, further deepening the mystery surrounding her disappearance.

Authorities have refrained from commenting on the possible linkage between the incidents observed on Friday night and Saturday, refraining from speculating on their connection to Robinson's disappearance.

Authorities are urging individuals with any information regarding the remains found on West Galena to contact the Milwaukee police at (414) 935-7360. Alternatively, individuals can opt to remain anonymous by reaching out to Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-TIPS.

The public's assistance has been sought in shedding light on the remains found on West Galena. Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact the Milwaukee police or Crime Stoppers to provide valuable insights into these unsettling discoveries.
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas is the agency that sets quotas for commercial species of tuna and swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean. (Chris Park/Associated Press - image credit)

Canada has appointed a veteran Mi'kmaw fisheries manager to the international agency that sets quotas for commercial species of tuna and swordfish in the Atlantic.

Hubert Nicholas of Membertou First Nation was named as one of two commissioners representing Canadian interests at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) over the weekend.

He joins another recent appointee, environmentalist Katie Schleit of the non-profit conservation group Oceans North. Commissioners are appointed for two-year terms.

ICCAT is responsible for managing and protecting transboundary fish in the Atlantic. These are highly migratory, open ocean or pelagic species.

They include three species of tuna and swordfish collectively worth tens of millions of dollars to fishermen on the East Coast of Canada.

The international agency also imposes measures on member nations to protect non-targeted species like sharks.

Appointment praised

CBC News was unable to reach Nicholas on Monday.

Nicholas has served as director of First Fishermen Seafoods, an Indigenous-owned company based at Membertou. It has a fleet of 11 vessels harvesting groundfish, shellfish and open-ocean species including tuna.

He is now with Ulnooweg, a not-for-profit Indigenous development agency.

Troy Atkinson, a former Canadian ICCAT commissioner who represents tuna and swordfish fleets in Nova Scotia, praised Nicholas's appointment.

"He has knowledge of the fishery and was attached to commercial entities that both held a swordfish licence at one point in time and the bluefin [tuna] licence," Atkinson said.

'A vast change'

Shannon Arnold of the Halifax-based Ecology Action Centre called both appointments "a vast change."

"To me, it shows an openness to broaden the range of views in the management of fisheries. This is unheard of to have the First Nations community and the conservation community represented."

It is part of a shift in the Canadian delegation at ICCAT. Formerly, she said, commissioners were mandated to represent industry. Now they represent all stakeholders.

Atkinson is less supportive of an appointment from the ranks of Oceans North, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that has clashed with industry management of ICCAT fisheries.

"I don't see somebody from Oceans North as an industry commissioner. So I do have some difficulties with Katie," he said.

"We've had different views on where we should be going with both bluefin and swordfish and other things in the past, and I can't see how she's not going to do what she does for her group and is going to drop that in favour of commercial interests," he said.

'Wider sustainability considerations'

Both Schleit and Nicholas applied for the commissioner positions.

"I'm really pleased that my years of experience with fisheries management and policy, particularly with ICCAT, allowed me to be selected for this," Schleit said.

She told CBC News she pledges to work with industry, but also advance "wider sustainability considerations."

She also praised the newest commissioner.

"I'm really looking forward to working with Hubert in this role as well. He brings a lot of experience from the fishery, from a practical perspective, managing fisheries as well as from the policy side, and I think we'll work together well in this role."

Union objects to environmentalists

Tension recently flared in Newfoundland and Labrador over the increased participation of conservation organizations in the management of the capelin fishery.

Both the union representing harvesters and industry walked out of a meeting last month in Gander where environmental groups, including Oceans North, had been elevated from observer status to participants, giving them a bigger say in proceedings.

The Fish, Food, and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor) issued a statement calling them "uninformed, environmental extremists."

Oceans North called the union and industry behaviour at the meeting unacceptable.

MORE TOP STORIES
For one of the monthly reading groups to which we belong, we read Amy Tanner Thiriot, Slavery in Zion: A Documentary and Genealogical History of Black Lives and Black Servitude in Utah Territory, 1847-1862 (Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 2022). Her biography on the back cover of the book identifies Sister Thiriot as an independent historian and adjunct university instructor in the BYU-Idaho Family History Research program.

Our discussion was on Sunday night. The book is not a smoothly flowing historical narrative, but rather a kind of compendium of genealogical information about, and basic biographies of, the one hundred or so enslaved Black people who stayed for at least a brief time between 1847 and 1862 in what later became the State of Utah. I was impressed by the vast amount of research that Sister Thiriot clearly did in a multitude of (to me, at least) mostly quite obscure sources. Moreover, Slavery in Zion provided me with a very unaccustomed perspective on an aspect of early pioneer life among my people and in my adopted state.

Candidly, I was dreading the book more than just a little bit. Brigham Young, for example, famously said several things on racial matters that make me cringe, and I was worried that, among other things, the book would be a litany of horrors in that regard. But it wasnt. Slavery was horribly wrong and unjust, of course, and Ill have one or two heartrending illustrations of the fact in future posts. Not in this one, though, which has a different focus. I intend to draw on the book for what will, most likely, eventually be several blog entries.

First of all, though, let me stipulate what cannot be denied. Brigham Young and other Latter-day Saint leaders of the pioneer era held racist attitudes that would and should not be tolerated today. (So did many other leaders and thinkers beyond the Church.) But Brigham and his associates seem, on the whole, to have held paternalistic (87) and, truthfully, relatively humane views toward Blacks, as compared with not a few of their contemporaries,

And the issue arose early. Along with fellow enslaved Black men Oscar Smith [sometimes called Oscar Crosby] and Hark Wales [sometimes called Hark Lay], Green Flake was among the very firstand possibly the absolute firstto enter into the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. Indeed, Thomas Bullock records an incident in his diary suggesting how very faithful Green was to Brigham Youngs religious teachings and admonitions. (73)

The documentary evidence is fragmentary, but after telling three enslaved men that their entry into the Great Salt Lake Valley in 1847 mean that they were free, he [Brigham Young] learned to respect Southerners claims to slave property: That did not mean that he cared for Southern slavery. Despite his strong racial views, he disliked both African American and Indigenous slavery, and he tried to find practical and human solutions when presented with specific problems regarding the enslaved. When a colonizing mission left for San Bernardino in 1851, Brigham Young wrote to William Crosby, we do not wish to encourage the sale of Blacks in these vallies. Latter-day Saint apostle Wilford Woodruff wrote to Thomas L. Kane two years before, We are a peaceful and industrious people . . . we do not wish to have any thing to do with the vexed question of slavery. He explained, [W]e deemed it expedient not to introduce a clause into our constitution prohibiting the introduction of slaves into the State of Deseret, but slavery can never be tolerated there. (7-8) Wilford Woodruff wrote to Thomas L. Kane that the inhabitants of the State of Deseret will never sustain in any wise the institution of slavery in their midsts. (89)

Green Flake (1828-1903) provides a very interesting sample case. He was baptized in April 1844 and was, as noted above, a member of the very first pioneer company to enter the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, on either 21 July or 22 July 1847. Later that year, many of the Saints who were newly arrived in the Valley, underwent rebaptism as a symbol of renewed commitment to the Gospel and the Kingdom. Green Flake was one of those. He was rebaptized on 8 August 1847, and then reconfirmed by Wilford Woodruff. (221)

Brigham Young had told Green Flake he was free when he arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley in 1847, but around 1853, he secured Greens freedom and granted him land for a farm. When Agnes Flake tried to sell Green in 1854, Brigham Young sidestepped her request, and Green Flake remained a free man. (18; compare 30, 116, 221) Martha married Green Flake, probably around 1853. Their descendants remembered that the couple paid Marthas former enslavers with produce until Brigham Young told them to stop since they owed the Bankheads nothing. (162) In the early 1850s, Brigham Young hired Green Flake, ensured his freedom under the terms of An Act in Relation to Service [on which more later], and provided him with a transition to freedom that included a grant of land in the Salt Lake Valley and ongoing guidance and protection. (135)

Brother Brighams paternalistic attitude toward Blacks, which is (by our standards) racist (and probably informed by particularly Southern biblical exegesis of the day) and kindly, is on full display here:

In an ambiguous statement, shortly after Flake began to work for him, Brigham Young said in a sermon, the Abolitionest are vary fearful that we shall have the Negro or Indian as Slaves Here . . . The Master of Slaves will be damned if they Abuse their slaves. He said, Yet the Seed of Ham will be servants untill God takes the Curse off . . . I Have two Blacks. They are as free as I am. Shall we lay a foundation for Negro Slavery[?] No God forbid And I forbid. (112)

But how did Green Flake feel about Brother Brigham?

Many years after both men died, a granddaughter recalled, Green shed tears at the death of Brigham Young and helped dig his grave and was at the funeral of the beloved President. (114; cf. 222)

Upon the death of Green Flake in 1903, the Deseret News wrote that

Bro. Flake had reached the honorable age of 76, which means, to all who knew him, 76 years of honest, hard work for the betterment of humanity, and for an exaltation in his Fathers kingdom. (cited at 145)

Here, though, is Sister Thiriots judgment on a charge that I have encountered more than once among criticisms of Brigham Young:

For years, authors and journalists have repeated the myth that Green Flake was donated to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as tithing. The account is based on one late and unreliable memory. The event only begins to make sense when understood as part of a series of transactions involving five or more enslavers and Brigham Young, who seems to have stepped in and hired Flake when the situation reached an impasse. (16, 108-114)

And heres another interesting case:

In early 1860, Brigham Young wrote to [widowed and divorced Duritha] Lewis since he had heard she was frequently asked to sell [an enslaved man named] Jerry. He advised her that if she must sell him, ordinary kindness would require that you should sell him to some kind, faithful member of the Church, that he may have a fair opportunity for doing all the good he desires to do or is capable of doing. He suggested that since Jerry was forty years old, he was not worth as much as a younger man, but if the price is sufficiently made, I may conclude to purchase him and set him at liberty. (95)

Theres more to come, in a few days.
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*****

Faith Alone (sola fide in Latin) is one of the two pillars of the Protestant Reformation (along with sola Scriptura: Scripture Alone). Protestants use the term reformation of their origins in the 16th century because its their belief that they were bringing back the teachings of the early Church which the Catholic Church supposedly had corrupted or lost altogether (hence, the description of reform). This is standard Protestant playbook talking points.

The serious problem with this outlook, however, is that  taking these two pillars as prime examples , both are virtually absent in the Church fathers. The universality of the rejection of both is quite striking and remarkable. I massively document many individual fathers views on the rule of faith in the Bible / Tradition / Sola Scriptura . . . section of my Fathers of the Church web page. Concerning faith alone, the late Protestant apologist Norman Geisler wrote:

[O]ne can be saved without believing that imputed righteousness (or forensic justification) is an essential part of the true gospel. Otherwise, few people were saved between the time of the apostle Paul and the Reformation, since scarcely anyone taught imputed righteousness (or forensic justification) during that period! . . . . . (Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences, with Ralph E. MacKenzie, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1995, 502, 85, 222; my italics and bolding)

Similarly, the renowned Protestant scholar Alister McGrath stated:

Whereas Augustine taught that the sinner is made righteous in justification, Melanchthon taught that he is counted as righteous or pronounced to be righteous. For Augustine, justifying righteousness is imparted; for Melanchthon, it is imputed in the sense of being declared or pronounced to be righteous. Melanchthon drew a sharp distinction between the event of being declared righteous and the process of being made righteous, designating the former justification and the latter sanctification or regeneration. For Augustine, these were simply different aspects of the same thing . . . The importance of this development lies in the fact that it marks a complete break with the teaching of the church up to that point. From the time of Augustine onwards, justification had always been understood to refer to both the event of being declared righteous and the process of being made righteous. (Reformation Thought: An Introduction, 2nd edition, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1993, 108-109, 115; my italics and bolding)

See fuller quotes from both Geisler and McGrath. The famous Protestant Church historian Philip Schaff exhibits more bias, but essentially concurs, as to the historical facts:

If any one expects to find in this period [100-325], or in any of the church fathers, Augustin himself not excepted, the Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone, . . . he will be greatly disappointed . . . Pauls doctrine of justification, except perhaps in Clement of Rome, who joins it with the doctrine of James, is left very much out of view, and awaits the age of the Reformation to be more thoroughly established and understood. (History of the Christian Church, Vol. 2, 588-589)

Despite this scholarly consensus, some folks still dont get it. The Protestant evangelical anti-Catholic apologist Jason Engwer wrote on 2-20-20: The claim that nobody believed in justification through faith alone before the Reformation, or between the time of the apostles and the Reformation, is false. Okay! As far as I know, Jason is not a scholar.

My aim in the present paper is to document in a concise summary form, some of the very best quotations in this regard from the Church fathers, that illustrate the universal consensus against faith alone and for the Catholic view regarding faith and works as organically connected, and infused justification (no separation of justification and sanctification). Most of these, I found myself, in laborious searches. Following each name is a link for the reader who wishes to pursue additional related statements from the same Church father.

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Pope Clement of Rome (d. c. 101) [see more]

Let us therefore earnestly strive to be found in the number of those that wait for Him, in order that we may share in His promised gifts. But how, beloved, shall this be done? If our understanding be fixed by faith towards God; if we earnestly seek the things which are pleasing and acceptable to Him; if we do the things which are in harmony with His blameless will; and if we follow the way of truth, casting away from us all unrighteousness and iniquity, along with all covetousness, strife, evil practices, deceit, whispering, and evil-speaking, all hatred of God, pride and haughtiness, vain glory and ambition. (Epistle to the Corinthians, 35)

Ignatius of Antioch (50  c. 110) [see more]

I also am the more encouraged, resting without anxiety in God, if indeed by means of suffering I may attain to God, so that, through your prayers, I may be found a disciple [of Christ]. (Epistle to Polycarp, ch. 7)

Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus (possibly as early as 130, or as late as 180) [see more]

When you have read and carefully listened to these things, you shall know what God bestows on such as rightly love Him, being made [as you are] a paradise of delight, presenting in yourselves a tree bearing all kinds of produce and flourishing well, being adorned with various fruits. (ch. 12)

Shepherd of Hermas (c. 150) [see more]

Have a care, then, you who serve the Lord, and have Him in your heart, that you work the works of God, remembering His commandments and promises which He promised, and believe that He will bring them to pass if His commandments be observed. Instead of lands, therefore, buy afflicted souls, according as each one is able, and visit widows and orphans, and do not overlook them; and spend your wealth and all your preparations, which you received from the Lord, upon such lands and houses. For to this end did the Master make you rich, that you might perform these services unto Him; . . . work your own work, and you will be saved. (Bk. III, Similitude 1)

Polycarp (69-155) [see more]

But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise us up also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; . . . (Epistle to the Philippians, ch. 2)

Justin Martyr (100-165) [see more]

[E]ach man goes to everlasting punishment or salvation according to the value of his actions. (First Apology, ch. 12)

Theophilus (d. c. 180) [see more]

[K]eeping the commandment of God, he should receive as reward from Him immortality, . . . For as man, disobeying, drew death upon himself; so, obeying the will of God, he who desires is able to procure for himself life everlasting. For God has given us a law and holy commandments; and every one who keeps these can be saved, . . . (To Autolycus, Bk. II, ch. 27)

Irenaeus (130-202) [see more]

[T]hose who believe God and follow His word receive that salvation which flows from Him. Those, on the other hand, who depart from Him, and despise His precepts, and by their deeds bring dishonour on Him who made them, and by their opinions blaspheme Him who nourishes them, heap up against themselves most righteous judgment. (Against Heresies, Bk. IV, 33, 15)

Clement of Alexandria (c. 150  c. 215) [see more]

. . . the elect being saved by instruction, and purification, and the doing of good works. . . . For by grace we are saved: not, indeed, without good works; but we must, by being formed for what is good, acquire an inclination for it. (The Stromata, Bk. V, ch. 1)

Tertullian (c. 160  c. 220) [see more]

But even if the stimulus of her repentance proceeded from her faith, she heard her justification by faith through her repentance pronounced in the words, Your faith has saved you, by Him who had declared by Habakkuk, The just shall live by his faith. [Habakkuk 2:4] (Against Marcion, Bk. IV, ch. 18)

Hippolytus (d. c. 235) [see more]

He, in administering the righteous judgment of the Father to all, assigns to each what is righteous according to his works. . . . the justification will be seen in the awarding to each that which is just; since to those who have done well shall be assigned righteously eternal bliss, and to the lovers of iniquity shall be given eternal punishment. . . . the righteous will remember only the righteous deeds by which they reached the heavenly kingdom, . . . (Against Plato, On the Cause of the Universe, 3)

Origen (c. 185  c. 253) [see more]

So also in the race of our life we ourselves must expend labour, and bring diligence and zeal to bear; but it is from God that salvation is to be hoped for as the fruit of our labour. Otherwise, if God demand none of our labour, His commandments will appear to be superfluous. . . . And in the matter of our salvation, what is done by God is infinitely greater than what is done by ourselves . . . (De Principiis, Bk. III, ch. 1, 18)

Cyprian (210-258) [see more]

Confession is the beginning of glory, not the full desert of the crown; nor does it perfect our praise, but it initiates our dignity; and since it is written, He that endures to the end, the same shall be saved, [Matthew 10:22] whatever has been before the end is a step by which we ascend to the summit of salvation, not a terminus wherein the full result of the ascent is already gained. (Treatise 1: On the Unity of the Church, 21)

Lactantius (c. 240  c. 320)

For this reason He has given us this present life, that we may either lose that true and eternal life by our vices, or win it by virtue. (Divine Institutes, Bk. VII, ch. 5)

Alexander of Alexandria (d. 328)

Since therefore you know, brethren beloved, that the malignant and the unbelieving are the enemies of righteousness, beware of these, embrace faith and charity, by which all the holy men who have existed from the beginning of the world to this day have attained unto salvation. And show forth the fruit of charity, not in words only, but also in deeds, that is, in all godly patience for Gods sake. (Epistles on Arianism and the Deposition of Arius, ch. 5, 2)

Hilary of Poitiers (c. 315-368)

Election, therefore, is not a thing of haphazard judgment. It is a distinction made by selection based on merit. Blessed, then, is he whom God elects: blessed for the reason that he is worthy of election. (On Psalm 64 [65], section 5; in William A. Jurgens, editor and translator, The Faith of the Early Fathers, three volumes [Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press], Vol. 1 [1970], 386)

Athanasius (c. 297-373)

For it is not productive of virtue, nor is it any token of goodness. For none of us is judged for what he knows not, and no one is called blessed because he hath learning and knowledge. But each one will be called to judgment in these pointswhether he have kept the faith and truly observed the commandments. (Life of Antony, 33)

Basil the Great (c. 330-379)

Eternal rest awaits those who have struggled through the present life observant of the laws, not as payment owed for their works, but bestowed as a gift of the munificent God on those who have hoped in him. (On Psalm 114, no. 5; in Jurgens, ibid., Vol. 2 [1979], 22)

Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 315-387)

[F]or the time to come ye must behave yourselves worthily of this grace both in words and deeds, that you may all be enabled to enjoy the life everlasting. (Eighteenth Catechetical Lecture, 33)

Gregory Nazianzen (c. 330  c. 390)

For our salvation is not so much a matter of words as of actions . . . (Oration 43, 68)

Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335  c. 394)

Paul, joining righteousness to faith and weaving them together, constructs of them the breastplates for the infantryman, armoring the soldier properly and safely on both sides. A soldier cannot be considered safely armored when either shield is disjoined from the other. For faith without works of justice is not sufficient for salvation; neither, however, is righteous living secure in itself for salvation, if it is disjoined from faith. (Homilies on Ecclesiastes, 8; Jurgens, ibid., Vol. 2 [1979], 45-46)

Ambrose (c. 336-397) [see more]

The deserts of each one of us are suspended in the balance, which a little weight either of good works or of degenerate conduct sways this way or that; if the evil preponderate, woe is me! if the good, pardon is at hand. For no man is free from sin; but where good preponderates, the evil flies up, is overshadowed, and covered. Wherefore in the Day of judgement our works will either succour us, or will sink us into the deep, weighed down as with a millstone. For iniquity is heavy, supported as by a talent of lead; avarice is intolerable, and all pride is foul dishonesty. Wherefore exhort the people of God to trust rather in the Lord, to abound in the riches of simplicity, wherein they may walk without snare and without hindrance. (Letter II: To Constantius, a Bishop, 16; from The Letters of S. Ambrose, Oxford: 1881)

John Chrysostom (c. 345-407) [see more]

How then can one be saved? it may be asked. By application of the countervailing remedies: alms, prayers, compunction, repentance, humility, a contrite heart, contempt of possessions. For God hath marked out for us innumerable ways of salvation, if we be willing to attend. Let us then attend, and let us every way cleanse out our wounds, showing mercy, remitting our anger against them that have displeased us, giving thanks for all things to God, fasting according to our power, praying sincerely, making unto ourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness. For so shall we be able to obtain pardon for our offenses, and to win the promised good things; whereof may we all be counted worthy, . . . (Homily 41 on Matthew 12:25-26, 6)

Jerome (c. 343-420)

For it is not accordant with the righteousness of God to forget good works, . . . The Apostle James also, knowing that the baptized can be tempted, and fall of their own free choice, says: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him. . . . God created us with free will, and we are not forced by necessity either to virtue or to vice. Otherwise, if there be necessity, there is no crown. As in good works it is God who brings them to perfection, for it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that pitieth and gives us help that we may be able to reach the goal . . . It was useless to warn them to add works to faith, if they could not sin after baptism. . . . John the apostle, or rather the Saviour in the person of John, writes thus to the angel of the Church of Ephesus: I know your works and your toil and patience, and that you bore for my names sake, and hast not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you left your first love. Remember therefore from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you, and will move your candlestick out of its place, unless you repent. Similarly He urges the other churches, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, to repentance, and threatens them unless they return to the former works. (Against Jovinian, Bk. II, 3)

Theodore of Mopsuestia (c. 350-428)

Paul did not say we hold because he was himself uncertain. He said it in order to counter those who concluded from this that anyone who wished to could be justified simply by willing faith. Note carefully that Paul does not say simply without the law, as if we could just perform virtue by wanting to, nor do we do the works of the law by force. We do them because we have been led to do them by Christ. (Pauline Commentary From the Greek Church; commenting on Romans 3:28; in Gerald Bray, editor, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament VI: Romans [Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1998], 104-105)

Augustine (354-430) [see more]

This question, then, seems to me to be by no means capable of solution, unless we understand that even those good works of ours, which are recompensed with eternal life, belong to the grace of God, because of what is said by the Lord Jesus: Without me you can do nothing. [John 15:5] And the apostle himself, after saying, By grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast; [Ephesians 2:8-9] saw, of course, the possibility that men would think from this statement that good works are not necessary to those who believe, but that faith alone suffices for them; and again, the possibility of mens boasting of their good works, as if they were of themselves capable of performing them. To meet, therefore, these opinions on both sides, he immediately added, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. [Ephesians 2:10] What is the purport of his saying, Not of works, lest any man should boast, while commending the grace of God? And then why does he afterwards, when giving a reason for using such words, say, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works? Why, therefore, does it run, Not of works, lest any man should boast? Now, hear and understand. Not of works is spoken of the works which you suppose have their origin in yourself alone; but you have to think of works for which God has moulded (that is, has formed and created) you. For of these he says, We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. . . . as your good life is nothing else than Gods grace, so also the eternal life which is the recompense of a good life is the grace of God; moreover it is given gratuitously, even as that is given gratuitously to which it is given. But that to which it is given is solely and simply grace; this therefore is also that which is given to it, because it is its reward grace is for grace, as if remuneration for righteousness; in order that it may be true, because it is true, that God shall reward every man according to his works. (On Grace and Free Will, ch. 20; written in 436 or 427, just 3 or 4 years before he died)

John Cassian (c. 360  c. 435)

[T]he beginning of our good will is given to us by the inspiration of the Lord, when He draws us towards the way of salvation either by His own act, or by the exhortations of some man, or by compulsion; and that the consummation of our good deeds is granted by Him in the same way: but that it is in our own power to follow up the encouragement and assistance of God with more or less zeal, and that accordingly we are rightly visited either with reward or with punishment, because we have been either careless or careful to correspond to His design and providential arrangement made for us with such kindly regard. . . . And by this testimony we can clearly see what we ought to ascribe to free will, and what to the design and daily assistance of the Lord, and that it belongs to divine grace to give us opportunities of salvation and prosperous undertakings and victory: but that it is ours to follow up the blessings which God gives us with earnestness or indifference. (Conference 3, ch. 19)

Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376-444)

It is a true saying, that the fruit of good deeds is honourable. For those who wish to lead lives pure and undefiled as far as is possible for men, Christ will adorn with His gifts, and grant them an abundant recompense for all their saintly deeds, and make them partakers of His glory. (Commentary on Luke, v. 9:1-5; translated by R. Payne Smith, Oxford University Press, 1859)

Pope Leo the Great (c. 400-461)

[Y]ou ought all to help one another in turn, that in the kingdom of God, which is reached by right faith and good works, you may shine as the sons of light . . . (Sermon 33, 5)

Theodoret (c. 393  c. 466)

Well-doing is for a time, but the reward is eternal . . . Paul wanted to show that there are many rewards for those who are good. (Interpretation of the Letter to the Romans; commentary on Romans 2:7; in Bray, ibid., 60)

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Photo credit: see book and purchase information for this volume that I edited.

Summary: All of the Church fathers  as Protestant scholars themselves concede  denied the novel Protestant doctrine and pillar of faith alone or sola fide.
Windows is generally flexible about tweaks to its systemand advanced users have long taken advantage of registry tweaks to make the OS behave. But recently, Microsoft has quietly barred access to one setting in Windows 10 and Windows 11, making a switch of your default browser only possible through the Windows settings app.

get windows 11 pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro Price When Reviewed: 69,99 Euro Best Prices Today:

As reported by Bleeping Computer, a new driver released during Microsofts February updates now locks down the registry, preventing any changes performed outside Windows settings. It was initially spotted by Christoph Kolbicz, an IT consultant and creator of two programs that allowed users to modify file associations and the default browser in Windows.

Windows currently relies on a particular kind of hash (that is, a conversion of text or even other data into a fixed-length combination of numbers and letters) to designate a program as a default app. Before the addition of this new driver, third-party apps could reverse-engineer the process of creating the hash to then swap in their own selection. Now theyre blocked from doing sowhich users can reproduce themselves by attempting to manually edit the registry, as Bleeping Computer did. When attempting to change the value of the hash through the Registry Editor, an error message of Cannot edit Hash: Error writing the values new contents appears.

The error message that appears if you try to edit the hash entry in a Windows 10 registry. The error message that appears if you try to edit the hash entry in a Windows 10 registry. PCWorld The error message that appears if you try to edit the hash entry in a Windows 10 registry. PCWorld PCWorld

While this updated approach to switching your default browser may seem draconian, its largely good news from a security perspective. Malicious apps will have a more difficult time trying to modify the default browser behind your backmeaning they cant substitute a phony browser for your normal one, in order to potentially monitor and/or capture the details of your browsing sessions (including any forms you fill out). Youll still need to practice safe online behavior and have antivirus software on your PC, but its one less potential attack vector.

Changing your default browser in Windows settings remains possible; just head to the default app settings within the app. If thats still inconvenient (or philosophically vexing), determined users have since discovered a workaround this limitationyou can first disable the driver locking everything down, then disabling a scheduled task that automatically re-enables it. But the overwhelming majority of Windows users shouldnt need go to such lengths.

As for the reason behind this update, Kolbicz speculates that it could relate to European regulations meant to guarantee fair competition between software companies. However, the driver also appears on Windows computers in the United States, which are not bound by such termsand the new driver doesnt seem to be enforcing the lock down uniformly yet. Bleeping Computers tests indicate that at least some Windows 11 PCs still allow registry changes to the default browser setting.
Acer makes some of the best-selling gaming laptops on the market, out of a combination of low starting prices and ubiquitous availability. Its Nitro series, for example, is almost constantly the best-selling gaming model on Amazon. Today, the company is updating two Nitro laptops with the latest CPUs and GPUs, and introducing a new, smaller Predator Helios Neo.

All three new models are fairly standard for Acer designs, boasting new AI techthat doesnt seem to actually add much that you havent seen elsewhere like filtering out microphone background noise. Something tells me gamers will be more excited by the free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate that all of them are packing.

Predator Helios Neo 14

The Predator Helios series boasts Acers most bombastic, out-there designs and new tech. But the newest member of the family, the notably smaller Helios Neo 14, seems to be keeping things pretty button-down. Acer is making a big show of its AI powers thanks to the latest Intel Core processors (Ultra 9 185H on the top end, Ultra 5 125H on the base model). But the end result of this NPU-packing platform seems to be the same as every other new laptop this year: noise reduction and video call blurred backgrounds.

Acer Acer Acer

Perhaps more interesting to gamers is a new thermal setup. Acer describes this cooling system as a pair of 5th-gen AeroBlade 3D fan[s] and Vortex Flow technology with liquid metal grease and broad vector heat pipes. Exactly how much that benefits the performance of the system is something well have to check on a review unit.

The Predator Helios Neo 14 has typical gaming laptop looks, with an appealing matte black body and a bit of a bulge on the back for cooling. Note the nicely blue Predator logo on the lid and a bevy of port options on the sides squeezed in next to the thermal openings. You get both USB-C and USB-A on the right and the left, a great design for everyday use. The right side also boasts full-sized HDMI and a MicroSD card slot, while the left gets a headphone jack. Thats some serious connective power  leave the USB-C dongle at home.

Acer Acer Acer

Underneath that RGB keyboard is an Nvidia RTX 4050, 4060, or 4070 GPU, depending on your configuration, with up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a terabyte of Gen 4 SSD storage. The battery is 76 watt-hours with a speedy 230-watt USB-C charger. Screen options for the 14.5-inch IPS panel start at 19201200 120Hz up and top out at a near-4K 30721920 at 165Hz. Youll be lugging around 1.9 kilograms or 4.19 pounds in your bag  not bad for a small gaming laptop  with a .82-inch-thick chassis.

The Predator Helios Neo 14 will start at $1,799.99 when it hits North America in May. Itll hit Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in June, starting at 1,999 euro or equivalent.

Nitro 14

The Nitro series also gets a new 14-inch model, this one packing AMD on the processor side. The base model gets a respectable 6-core Ryzen 5 8645HS, but you can step up to an 8-core Ryzen 7 8845HS if your budget will stretch. Theyre paired with Nvidia RTX 3050, 4050, or 4060 graphics cards, up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, and the same 76 watt-hour battery and 230w charger as the Helios above.

Acer Acer Acer

Screen choices for the 14.5-inch IPS panel include 19201200 and 25601600, both running at 120Hz. The webcam is notably a little on the blurry side at 720p, and colors on the keyboard are limited to four zones. The port layout and general body shape is identical to the Predator Helios Neo 14, with a little extra bling on the back panel. (Note that the Nitro logo is one half of the Predator logo, a neat touch.) Its a bit heavier at 4.45 pounds.

The new Nitro 14 will start at $1,299.99 when it launches in May in North America, and 1,199 euro when it comes to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in June.

Nitro 16

This refreshed version of the 16-inch Nitro comes in both Intel and AMD flavors, topping out at a Core i7-14700HX CPU for the former and a Ryzen 9 8945HS for the latter. The laptops seem nearly identical otherwise, with the same RTX 3050, 4050, and 4060 options for graphics cards, and a maximum of 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage.

Acer Acer Acer

The bigger 16-inch IPS screen is faster on all fronts with a standard 165Hz panel, but you can choose between 19201200 or 25601600 resolution. Despite the larger body space it has the same 76 watt-hour battery as the other two laptops above. The ports are a little different  double USB-A on the right, full Ethernet, USB-A, headphone jack, and MicroSD on the left, with a barrel charger and two USB-C ports all the way on the back, plus a full HDMI port. (Why doesnt the similarly-styled Nitro 14 have those back ports? No idea.)

The larger real estate allows Acer to get a number pad on the keyboard, though the webcam remains underwhelming at 720p. With a bigger body youre also carrying more weight, 5.37 pounds for the AMD model or a hair more for Intel. The spec list says the AMD model tops out at .89 inches thick, with the Intel version being a little chunkier at 1.05 inches.

Acer Acer Acer

Whether you go with Intel or AMD, the Acer Nitro 16 will start at $1,399.99 in May for its North American debut. The Intel version comes to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in June starting at 1,599 Euro, but theres no indication of a wider release for the AMD version.
Global Media Alliance (GMA), a leading media and communications company, concluded its celebration of International Women's Month with a meaningful CSR initiative aimed at empowering young women. As part of their commitment to gender equality and empowerment, GMA organized a visit to The African Science Academy (ASA).



The Africa Science Academy is a girls-only Advanced Level school for maths and science. Founded in 2016 by the African Gifted Foundation, it targets girls across Africa who has outstanding potential in math and science. They are trained in Maths, Further Maths and Physics as well as Robotics and Computer Programming. This is to enable them for careers in Engineering, Science and computing amongst others.



The CSR project dubbed, Finding Her Voice, trained the young girls on Personal Branding, Public Speaking and Leveraging Social Media to grow their personal brands.



The training sessions, led by industry experts from GMA, focused on empowering young women with communication skills, leadership development, and strategies for navigating professional environments. The interactive workshops provided valuable insights and practical tools to help the students at ASA unlock their potential and confidently express themselves.



Touching on personal branding, the co-host of Happy FM Morning Show, Fati Shaibu-Ali emphasized that personal branding its not only about dressing well and how one looks but also about how individuals carry themselves and being experts in their chosen fields.



She advised the girls to hone their craft and market their skills well on social media, attending workshop and seminars to ensure that they stay visible so that they can be inspiration to other young ladies as well.



The Project Lead for e-productions under the Global Media Alliance Group took the students through public speaking and urged them to start small by practicing with their colleagues to build up their confidence in public speaking. She advised them not to shy away from taking up leadership positions when the opportunity presents itself as this would enhance their public speaking skills.



On her part, a Digital Executive at Global Media Alliance, Eyram Dunyo gave the students tit-bits on how to leverage their social media presence. She encouraged the students to show the fun part of STEM in order to inspire other young girls to take up STEM.



Emma Wenani, Chief Director of Global Media Alliance, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, "At Global Media Alliance, we believe in the power of education and mentorship to inspire and uplift young women. Our visit to The African Science Academy was a wonderful opportunity to engage with bright minds and encourage them to find their voices in a world that values diversity and inclusivity."



The Headteacher of The African Science Academy, Gifty Ghansah, shared her appreciation for GMA's support, saying, "We are grateful to Global Media Alliance for their commitment to empowering young women in STEM education and beyond. The training sessions provided valuable insights and inspiration to our students, equipping them with essential skills for personal and professional growth."



The students and staff were later presented with gifts from Flow Wellness and Ghandour Cosmetics who sponsored the event.



Through initiatives like these, Global Media Alliance reaffirms its dedication to fostering gender equality, empowering women, and creating inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive and succeed.







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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Global Fund suspend shipments of essential medical supplies to Ghana following the delay in clearing the previous consignments donated to Ghana.



Global Fund sends essential medical supplies to Ghana on yearly basis, however, there is always a delay in clearing these medical supplies, including the antiretroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS patients.



Following this alarming incidence, the Africa Center for Health Policy Research and Analysis (ACHPR&A) expressed grave concern over the governments inaction in expediting the release of these donated supplies.



Dr. Thomas Anaba, Executive Director of the Africa Center for Health Policy Research and Analysis, minced no words in a Citi News interview criticizing the governments unenthusiastic approach in clearing the essential health commodities.



He underscored the urgency of the situation, highlighting the visit of a Global Fund delegation that yielded no progress.



The delays have also alarmed the Ghana AIDS Commission and a coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) focusing on HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The CSOs have announced a protest on April 17th over the prolonged detention of essential medical supplies.



A 12-member delegation from the Global Fund paid a working visit to this country to follow up on the locked-up commodities. In spite of all their efforts, they did not make any headway and the commodities still remain uncleared at the ports.



They have therefore indicated that Ghana risks losing all Global Fund Support if the government fails to act on the matter. To start with, they have already suspended all commodity shipments to the country until the ones at the ports are cleared.



This development has dire consequences for the hundreds of thousands of our compatriots on free medications donated by Global Fund.

Source: Kobina Darlington/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 Africa Center for the Study of the World Views and Wholistic Development have expressed their disappointment over the recent scholarship bonanza published by the Fourth Estate where some relatives and government officials have been cited.



In a statement signed by the Executive director of the Africa Centre for the study of Worldviews and Wholistic Development of Society describes the activities at the scholarship secretariat as devastating stating that such actions denotes how broken the nation is.



The statement said, "As a nation working assiduously towards development, it is quite disturbing and very sad for scholarships intended for brilliant but disadvantaged students in the country to be used for people who are so connected and influential."



According to Dr. Christopher Ampadu, the actions demonstrated by the Scholarship secretariat clearly shows the level of wickedness exhibited by some leaders who so privileged to be in place of greater influence.



"This is a clear indication of how broken our nation is and that people have lost all their godly conscience and moral and ethical values, and have been compromised for favouritism and selfish gain."



This press release comes on the back of a recent publication by the Fourth Estate about some children of some top government officials as well as some public officials, who by their influence, allegedly secured various scholarship packages for their people.



This publication invoke lots of conversations and backlashed the government for being a part of the alleged bonanza.



In his response, the registrar of the Scholarship secretariat, Kingsley Agyemang mentioned the need to have a legislation to control the acquisition of scholarships but the Executive Director of the Africa Centre for the study of the worldviews and wholistic development of society, disagrees with Kingsley Agyemang.



Dr. Christopher Ampadu said, we think we dont need scholarship legislatives to be clear about the eligibility, dont we have conscience, values, principles to do what is right ever for the needy, vulnerable and the poor?



"It is more disheartening to hear that students allegedly have to pay bribes to scholarship secretariat to receive consent and others to get approval for scholarships."



Dr. Ampadu opined that, the current trajectory the country is headed is not the best thereby calling on all and sundry to put the interest of the country above their parochial interest.



The group condemned the practice of the alleged Scholarship Bonanza calling for a change of mind and heart towards the poor and needy in society.



Below is the Full statement



Scholarship Bonanza



The Africa center for the study of world views and Wholistic development is devastated by the latest publication of scholarship bonanza which named persons closely connected to government officials by The Fourth estate.



As a nation working assiduously towards development, It is quite disturbing and very sad for scholarships intended for brilliant but disadvantaged students in the country to be used for people who are so connected and influential.



We are so discouraged by the response of the registrar of the scholarship secretary that we need legislation to dispel eligibility misconception about people who qualify to access Ghana government scholarship.



This is a clear indication of how broken our nation is and that people have lost all their godly conscience and moral and ethical values, and have been compromised for favoritism and selfish gain.



We think that we don't need scholarship legislatives to be clear about eligibility don't we have conscience, values, principles to do what is right ever for the needy, vulnerable and the poor?



And more especially in the dispensation of the Nations scarce resources for which we are clearly mandated to do?



This clearly shows how wicked some of our leaders who are so privileged to be in place of position and trust to serve us. We really need a real change of hearts and minds and godly leaders who fear God align our nation to prosperity and success.



It is more disheartening to hear that students allegedly have to pay bribes to the scholarship secretariat to receive consent and others to get approval for scholarships.



I was so saddened and wept for my mother Ghana if we have gotten to this stage of GREED where even poor people are no longer pitied with compassion and helped but rather impoverish the more before qualified people get placement jobs, admissions, and access to the very things they are duly qualified for just because of greed, nepotism, and the schism of the powerful and the more connected.



We unreservedly condemn this practice and call for a repentance and a complete shake up and removal of the secretariat.



Such a secretariat needs godly, compassion, and morally upright managers and not people who can be compromised, selfish or greedy.





Christopher Ampadu PhD.



Executive Director



Africa Centre for the study of WORLDVIEWS and Wholistic Development of Society









Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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Leading independent distributor All3Media Intl. has signed a key deal for Lion Televisions upcoming premium factual series Pompeii: The New Dig as PBS joins the project, commissioned by BBC Two, as co-producer with Arte France, and acquires broadcast rights for the U.S.

From the creators of Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb and Saving Venice, Pompeii: The New Dig follows the biggest excavation of Pompeii in a generation. The series, with three hour-long episodes, will broadcast this year. It was originally commissioned by BBC Two in the U.K. and is co-produced with Arte France, in association with All3Media Intl.

More from Variety

Told through cinematically filmed stories of discovery, with a compelling cast of archaeologists and experts, Pompeii: The New Dig is set to reveal a wealth of buried secrets and unsolved mysteries that are waiting to be discovered beneath the volcanic ash, according to a statement. With exclusive access to the present-day archaeological and forensic investigation, it also reveals new discoveries of what happened to named survivors, tracing their modern-day descendants living in Italy through an unprecedented genetic portrait of Pompeii.

In the excavation, archaeologists uncovered a fresco that looked  surprisingly  like a pizza. This artwork, dating back 2,000 years, was discovered in the Regio IX section of Pompeiis archaeological park, near Naples, where pizza originated. It was found on a wall in what seems to have been a hallway of a house, possibly connected to a bakery.

Pompeii: The New Dig

The new series will premiere on BBC Two in the U.K. on Monday April 15 at 9.00-10.00 p.m. BST and on PBS in the U.S. on May 15 at 10.00-11.00 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS App. Additional episodes will air on May 22 and 29.

Jennifer Askin, senior VP North America at All3Media Intl., commented: Infused with Lion Televisions trademark cinematic values and immersive storytelling, Pompeii: The New Dig will take us right to the heart of a moment in history that has always fascinated audiences around the world. And by ensuring local experts play a central role, Lion Television is bringing true authenticity to the series, giving viewers a unique opportunity to join the archaeologists as they unearth more thrilling finds and add even more depth to the incredible story of Pompeii and its people.

Diana El-Osta, senior director, multiplatform programming and development, PBS, said: The recent excavation is unveiling valuable insights into Pompeii, showcasing theres still much to discover. PBS viewers will get to join in on an intriguing 2,000-year journey, spanning from Pompeiis ancient homes to the present day, and we cant wait for them to watch.

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Spokesperson for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr. Gideon Boako has implored State authorities to provide psychotherapy for the PRESEC student who staged his kidnap.



News recently broke about the abduction of a student of the Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School (PRESEC) in Accra whose captors demanded a whopping GHc 340,000 from the captives family before they release him.



The concerned family managed to send GHc 20,000 to the kidnappers after negotiations and agreement to set their son free.



The kidnappers after receiving the amount refused to release the student insisting that the family further pays GHc 300,000 and threatened to send their son chopped into pieces if they fail to comply with their instruction.



It was later discovered that the kidnapping story was a ploy by the captive and his captors who are also students of the school and friends to extort money from the captives family for him to travel abroad.



The Police informed the public about this plot after arresting six suspects including the student at the center of the abduction.



Commenting on the issue during Peace FMs panel discussion programme Kokrokoo, Dr. Gideon Boako lamented about the behaviour of the students and in a worrying tone wondered how a young boy could come up with such a plot to dupe his own parents.



In his view, this behaviour, apart from satisfying criminal purposes and intent of the student, also borders on mental health.



To him, the boy has to be investigated mentally as it defies human logic for any person, particularly a youth whose parents have done and are doing everything possible to provide him with adequate education and to secure his future, to think of kidnapping himself to defraud his parents.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Nigers ruling junta has doubled down on its demand that US troops withdraw, dealing a blow to Washingtons security interests in the Sahel.



Last month, military leader General Abdourahamane Tiani ordered US troops to leave after ending a military agreement.



At least 650 US personnel are stationed in Niger to monitor jihadist activity.



In a statement on Sunday, Niger's junta said they had not benefited from the US military deal as it "turned out to be a fool's bargain".



It accused the US of exploiting Niger and interfering in its internal affairs and seeking to control its foreign relations.



How can we talk about the interests of Niger, when the Americans stationed here refuse to provide us with the coordinates of the bases of the terrorists who mourn us daily? the statement said.



How can we talk about the interests of Niger when the United States of America does not pay a single kopeck [Russian unit of money] to Niger for stationing its forces on our territory?



The US State Department and Pentagon have downplayed Nigers rejection of the military agreement, saying that talks between the two countries were continuing.



Niger's military junta initially appeared to have a favourable stance towards the US, but turned to Russia after severing ties with France last year.

Source: BBC









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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More than 100 people have died in Mali because of an extreme heatwave that hit the country last month, reports say.



Last week the south-western town of Kayes recorded a temperature high of 48.5C.



It would be the hottest day in African history recorded in April, according to meteorologists cited by online news website RFI.



Gabriel-Toure Hospital in the capital, Bamako, received 102 heat-affected patients who died upon arrival, French RFI news website reported.



Most of them were over 60 years of age and chronically ill, Djibo Mahamane Django, the head of anaesthesia department at hospital told local Joliba FM.



Some local sources put the death toll at over 250 in three days.



"We've seen an increase in the number of deaths, and the mortuaries are much fuller," Ladji Dibatere, a funeral home owner, was quoted as saying.



Mr Dibatere said families are forced to keep bodies of the relatives at home.



Officials have urged residents to stay in well-ventilated areas and restricted learning for schoolchildren as the young and elderly are the most vulnerable, Malis state-run ORTM TV station reported.



Authorities have shortened and changed the school hours for primary school students to protect them from the fatal temperatures.



The high temperatures have been attributed to the El Nino weather phenomenon, which has raised ocean and atmospheric temperatures.



The Malian military junta is yet to comment on the rising temperatures.

Source: BBC









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The Deputy National Youth Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Osman Ayariga, has called on the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to initiate an investigation into Dr. Kingsley Agyemang in light of the recent scandal surrounding the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat.



This scandal, as uncovered by the Fourth Estate, highlights what Ayariga describes as a troubling trend of misconduct within the Secretariat under its current leadership.



He is urging the OSP to conduct a thorough examination of the activities of the Registrar and other staff members of the Secretariat about the allocation of scholarships.



His formal petition, submitted to the OSP on Tuesday, April 9, underscores the urgent need for this investigation.



Mr Ayariga emphasised the importance of ensuring that scholarships are distributed fairly to deserving Ghanaian students, rather than being unfairly allocated to individuals with political connections or wealth.



He stressed that the investigation must proceed promptly to prevent any further misuse of resources within the Scholarship Secretariat.



"It has become necessary to petition your office due to the despicable magnitude of abuse the Scholarship secretariat under the current leadership has exhibited."



"I am therefore by this petition calling for a full-scale investigation into the activities of the Registrar and associated staff of the secretariat regarding the award of scholarships."



He emphasised the need for the OSP to swiftly conduct this investigation without delay to prevent any further misappropriation of resources.



"I wish to state that these matters ought to be investigated as a matter of urgency to forestall any future misappropriation of our resources."



"I, hereby, request that the Registrar be subjected to investigations and be made to step aside pending the outcome of the investigations to prevent interference with the investigative process," he added.



His demand follows a recent expose by the Fourth Estate, which revealed disparities in the allocation of scholarships, favouring affluent individuals with connections.



In response to the scandalous expose by the Fourth Estate regarding the arbitrary and biased awarding of scholarships by the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, the Minority in Parliament is demanding the immediate suspension of Dr. Kingsley Agyemang.



The NDC MPs asserted that the investigation findings corroborated by concerned Ghanaians, both domestically and internationally, warrant decisive action.



They contend that such practices are unfair to deserving Ghanaian students who depend on the Secretariat for assistance.



Meanwhile, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, the Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat, has underscored the immediate requirement for legislation to govern scholarship distribution.



Dr. Agyemang highlighted the challenges officials face in determining eligibility due to the lack of clear legislative guidelines defining criteria for identifying needy individuals.



He emphasised the importance of scholarship legislation to establish transparent eligibility standards and eliminate ambiguity in the allocation process.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/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 Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama has said that requests from the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) for load management have become an irritation to customers.



The ECG boss elucidated that the rampant requests have become a source of disturbance to customers.



The ECG boss made this revelation while addressing a non-compliance letter sent to the Energy Minister by GRIDCo.



GRIDCo had written a letter to the Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh describing the ECG as unwilling to go by the load management schedules advised by the GRIDCo.



In his response, Dubik Mahama said, it is noted that, requests from GRIDCo for load management are no longer for emergency operations, but are made on a routine day-to-day basis, becoming an irritation and disturbance to customers.



He added, "ECG wishes to state that we will always cooperate with all relevant stakeholders including GRIDCo in order not to jeopardize the stability of the transmission system. We however wish to reiterate our request that the notice to our System Operators for load management should be received before 3:00pm for peak load and 4am for off-peak load management or to be received 24 hours ahead in each case, as what is happening now is no longer an emergency operation but seemingly a routine daily activity.



According to the power distribution company, it requires a prior notice of between 3 to 4 hours in order to comply with such requests.



"It is important that such requests for load management from GRIDCo are received between 3-4 hours prior to the peak or off-peak periods. This will afford us the opportunity to plan and execute the load management in such a manner that customers are not unduly affected, the Managing Director said



Mr. Mahama in his letter explained, "For example, customers who may have previously suffered outages due to ECGs internal faults or planned maintenance works should not suffer a double jeopardy with another outage from a load management request from GRIDCo or due to the operation of their Automatic Frequency Load Shedding (AFLS) relays installed at the BSPs. It is the planning and management of such incidents that makes it imperative for ECG to be informed well in advance about any requests for load management by GRIDCo.



He added that, "ECGs reservation about the late receipt of instructions from GRIDCo on load management was tabled for discussion in a meeting involving ECG, GRIDCo and the Hon. Minister of Energy. At the said meeting, ECG requested that the notice for Load Management must be received latest by 3pm to enable ECG plan adequately.

Source: Kobina Darlington/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 6th edition of the National Women's Summit and Expo, organized by Charterhouse Productions, was a resounding success. The prestigious event was organized in commemoration of International Women's Day, held on the 8th of March, 2024.



The summit, themed "Inspire Inclusion", was a platform for women to come together and discuss various topics related to women empowerment and leadership.



As part of the activities of the Summit, participants were enlightened on the content of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill, 2023(AA Bill), how it would drive inclusion for women and the progress made so far regarding its passage into law. It was also targeted at highlighting the justifications for the passage of the AABill and rallying women of all walks of life to lend their voices and support towards advocating for the passage of the Bill into law.



During the Summit, a petition was presented by young adolescent girls from Plan International Ghana and Affirmative Action Bill Coalition to two Members of Parliament represented on the Gender and Childrens Committee, calling on the Parliament of Ghana to prioritize the passing of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill of Ghana into law. Present to receive the petition on behalf of parliament were Hon. Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba MP for Tempane constituency and Hon. Tina Gifty Mensah MP for Weija Gbawe constituency.



In her opening speech, the convener of the event and the C.E.O of Charterhouse, Theresa Ayoade applauded the various hurdles women are jumping to break the barrier. She inspired the young generation to stand up and be more intentional in pursuing gender parity for themselves. She shed more light about the summits passion and quest to have the Affirmative Action Bill passed.



For Advocacy, The NWS is passionate about the passage of the AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BILL and is collaborating with the AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BILL COALITION to advocate for the passage of the bill by Parliament. The NWS is also collaborating with PLAN INTERNATIONAL GHANA on their PAD BANK project aimed at providing female students in rural and deprived areas with sanitary pads so they do not have to miss out on school during periods.



Given that the Bill was currently before that Committee in Parliament, it was a petition to the Committee to speed up its processing of the Bill and ensure it is laid for second reading before the end of Parliaments first sitting for the year.



The Bill aims to promote gender equality and empower women by ensuring their equal participation and representation in key decision-making spaces across all sectors of society. The Bill when enacted into law is the only guaranteed way to address the proven marginalization of women in decision-making positions in both the public and private sectors of Ghana.



According to Anna Nongnedome Anabre, Project Manager - She Leads Campaign, a female led advocacy project in partnership with Plan International which have been actively advocating for the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill into law since 2021 reiterated the urgency for parliament of Ghana to pass the affirmative action bill into law.



On the occasion of the National Womens summit in celebration of the International Womens Day, we the Girls and Young Women of the "She leads" Ghana consortium urge the Parliament of Ghana to rise to the occasion and embrace the opportunity to pass the Affirmative Action Bill into law. Across Africa, many countries have made strides towards gender parity in governance, notably through the implementation of affirmative action measures that have increased women's representation in Parliament. By embracing affirmative action, we can foster a society that is more inclusive and equitable. Let us not merely observe progress from the sidelines but actively shape it, working towards a future where equality and opportunity are accessible to all, she mentioned.



The Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill, 2023 in simple terms states there should be no less than 30% representation of any gender in key-decision making spaces in Ghana. So based on that premise, it will be a temporary measure that will provide for the progressive increase in the active participation of women in public and political life from a minimum threshold of 30% to 50% by the year 2030 according to the SDG 5. It ends when parity is achieved.



The representative of the Affirmative Action Bill Coalition highlighted that this law is a requirement from Article 17(4) of Ghanas 1992 Constitution which in simple terms states that nothing prevents Parliament from enacting a law to redress aspects of social, economic, educational imbalance and research shows that there is gender imbalance in all spheres of life in Ghana.



Thus, in line with the international call to invest in women and accelerate progress, the best investment to address the marginalization of women in key decision-making spaces in Ghana is the passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill. An affirmative action law is the only guaranteed way we can accelerate progress towards gender equality in Ghana.



The advocacy for passage of this law is premised on the fact that we recognize the invaluable contributions that women make to our society and economy, and it is essential that we create an enabling environment that supports and guarantees them a seat at the table.



Ghana needs to pass the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill into law now to ensure parity in leadership in governance institutions to achieve sustainable development by 2030, Lawyer Sheila Minkah-Premo, Convener, Affirmative Action Bill Coalition.













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 Director of Legal Affairs for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, says reasons adduced by the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Gertrude Torkonoo for granting the Attorney-General, an expedited hearing in a recent case against the approval of some ministerial nominees does not hold water.



The Chief Justice on April 4, clarified that the content of the letter from the A-G for the request was cogent enough to warrant an expedited hearing.



According to her, another reason which necesitated the approval for the expedited hearing was because the courts were going on Easter break, hence the fast-tracking process.



Reacting to the explanation given by the Chief Justice, Edudzi Tamakloe, who was speaking on Joy FMs Top Story, questioned the linkage between expediting the hearing and the Easter break.



He argued that based on the 1992 constitution, the Supreme Court cannot order Parliament to have a sitting when the House is on recess.



....the CJ says we were going on an Easter break, and so for that matter, they needed the matter heard. We all do appreciate that once parliament is adjourned, the court cannot make an order directing Parliament to go and sit to consider the approval of the ministers.



"So, from when the court dismissed the injunction application, it's been a week now. Has Parliament been recalled? No.



"If the decision was that because we were going on Easter break, the court needed to expedite the decision on the issue of the ministerial appointment, what has been the effect?" he quizzed.



"The process to get Parliament to sit when it adjourns is to get a certain number of MPs to do A, B, C, and D, and so the fact that we were going on Easter break, and therefore there was a need for an expedited hearing, does not solve the problem as far as the letter or the statement from the NDC is concerned," he added.



Background



It is recalled that on March 27, the Supreme Court dismissed an application brought forth by South Dayi MP, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, contesting the approval of new ministerial and deputy ministerial nominees.



In a unanimous decision, a five-member panel of the court deemed the application frivolous and an abuse of the court process and dismissed it.



Hon. Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the applicant, had aimed to halt the vetting process in Parliament until his lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the President's decision to reassign ministers without Parliament's involvement was resolved.



Ruling



However, the Supreme Court concluded that the MP's case lacked direct relevance to the nominees under consideration in Parliament, as it primarily pertained to reassigned ministers.

Source: Kobina Darlington/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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A Presidential Staffer and a member of the Communication team of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dennis Miracles Aboagye has said that the government of NPP has given the biggest scholarship in the history of this country.



According to Dennis Miracles, no government has looked out for the poor in terms of Education than the current Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government.



He posted on his X(formerly twitter) page, New Patriotic Party has given the biggest scholarship for education in the history of this country 1. 5.7million SHS Ghanaians 2. About 100,000 Local Scholarship for tertiary. (Scholarship Secretariat, Getfund, GNPC, Ghana Gas etc) 3. About 5,000 foreign Scholarship for tertiary and Career Professional Development (CPD) 3. No Gurantor Student Loan scheme 4. Teacher and Nursing Allowances No Government has looked out for the poor in terms of Education than @NAkufoAddo & @MBawumia. No Government has invested in.



His comments come on the heel of the recent publications about scholarships by the Fourth estate dubbed Scholarship Bonanza alleging, among other things, that scholarships are being unfairly distributed to well-connected affluent individuals.



The Fourth Estate in its latest publication christened Scholarship Bonanza has named persons close to key government officials as beneficiaries of scholarships that it deems inappropriate. But the Registrar maintains the secretariat did nothing wrong.



Meanwhile, the Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, has called for a law to be passed to streamline the distribution of scholarships in the country.



This in his view will address the misconceptions about the scheme.



He highlights the current challenge faced by officers in making decisions due to the absence of clear legislation defining who qualifies as a needy individual for a scholarship.



According to him, even though the acquisition of scholarships under his watch has been decentralized and digitized to minimize centralized discretion and to enhance the openness of the process, many still hold misconceptions about how scholarships are issued.



Dr. Agyemangs stance comes in response to a recent publication by the Fourth Estate dubbed Scholarship Bonanza alleging, among other things, that scholarships are being unfairly distributed to well-connected affluent individuals.



However, in an interview with Joy News, Dr. Agyemang emphasizes the necessity of legislation to dispel any misconceptions about eligibility criteria.



Sorry to say that there is no establishment Act for the Scholarship Secretariat. Its been an issue that needs public discussions. Theres no enabling Act. So looking into the future, I think we need a scholarship Act.



According to him, the claims that middle-income earners are unjustly benefiting from the scholarships and that such persons do not need to benefit from them are untenable, as many of the so-called middle-income earners in Ghana are largely civil servants whose incomes are nothing to write home about.



In Ghana, those we usually refer to as middle-income earners are public sector workers. Or those that we are defining as middle-income earners, are they really middle-income earners in tandem with best practices or best economic conditions?



He added that Civil servants are largely paid between a 100 dollars or maybe 300 dollars, and you call that one a middle-income earner? So of course, every Ghanaian qualifies except the high earners. Who is a needy person? How do you guys assess who a needy person is?



He believes that a scholarship legislation, if introduced, will set out comprehensive parameters for how funds ought to be administered and who deserves to benefit, adding that such a law must be crafted in line with the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) in tandem with the countrys priorities.



So looking into the future, I think a scholarship legislation is so eminent and that will set out everything that we need to do and how the funds need to be managed. Its been managed over the years by the dexterity of leaders; what they think is so important. This can be done in conjunction with maybe the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) to identify priority areas that as Ghanaians we need to focus on.









Source: Kobina Darlington/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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Rachel Appoh, the former Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection has stated that it has become necessary for Ghanaians to elect John Dramani Mahama as president as he is the only person with the competence and experience to wheel the country out of the economic quagmire it has been plunged into by the Akufo-Addo administration.



Speaking during an interview with Peace FM, Rachel Appoh noted the fortunes of the country have decimated gravely under the Akufo-Addo administration, requiring urgent attention.



She noted so bad has the NPP government fared that persons who hitherto associated with the party and the president no longer want to be tagged with it.



She expressed her readiness to campaign vigorously for the NDC and ensure that the party returns to power in 2025.



She stated that the dire situation Ghana finds itself in requires a selfless, competent and patriotic leadership and John Mahama in her view, perfectly fits the bill.



She noted that the Mahama government set Ghana on the path of development but the Akufo-Addo administration derailed the process, setting the country back.



To corroborate her viewpoint that the Mahama government was better than the Akufo-Addo administration, Rachel Appoh outlined some policies and projects implemented by the NDC government.



It has become necessary for us to rescue the country from the bad governance of the Nana Akufo-Addo and Bawumia. The NDC is going to win power from the NPP and return Ghana to the path of development.



If all governments destroyed the country like NPP, no one would be proud to call himself a Ghanaian. Ghanaians voted for the NPP to develop the country but they have been a big disappointment. The Mahama government was better than the NPP and we are coming back to rescue the country. Had the NPP continue the good projects started by the Mahama government, we would be doing well as a country, she said.



Rachel Appoh also disclosed her inactivity from the countrys political scene, revealing that she has been on a journey to improve her academic and professional credential in the United States of America.



Unfortunately, in the course of the academic journey, she suffered an accident that ultimately ruled her out of the NDC parliamentary primaries.

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 flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has urged the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) to press Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to eliminate certain nuisance taxes introduced by the current government.



Leader and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as part of his vision for his next government promised to abolish the numerous taxes introduced by the government.



His vision statement brought about a public engagement with sections of the public commending him for the brave move, however, the opposition party questioned the integrity of the vice president asking of his whereabouts when the taxes were being introduced.



In his address to GUTA members, former President John Mahama who is looking forward for a return as President, stressed the critical nature of the issue and called on Dr Bawumia to take immediate action rather than wait until he is elected President.



John Mahama opined that, if the Vice President has anything to offer Ghanaians, it should be done now rather than wait till he is voted into power as President.



However, John Mahama cautioned GUTA members against placing blind trust in these assurances, urging them to hold Dr Bawumia accountable for his commitments.



Tell Bawumia to eliminate the E-Levy and other taxes now, not later, Mahama emphasized during the meeting.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
On Nov. 8, 2010, Jennifer Pan called 911 to report that three intruders entered her family home, tied her up and attacked her parents

Courtesy of Netflix What Jennifer Did

It was a quiet night in Markham, Ontario, on Nov. 8, 2010, when 911 dispatchers received an alarming call from 24-year-old Jennifer Pan. The woman was screaming and crying while saying that her parents were being attacked by unknown intruders after they entered her home and tied her to a bannister.

On the call, Jennifers dad is heard moaning in agony as she screams to him that shes calling the police. When authorities arrived, they found Jennifers mother, Bich Ha Pan, dead from a gunshot wound and her father, Hann Pan, gravely injured. He was transported to the hospital and placed in a medically induced coma.

Jennifer was taken to the police station for questioning where she told investigators that men who she had never seen before entered her home, tied her up and assaulted her parents. She said she heard the men tell her parents You lied to us, before hearing two loud shots.

The harrowing crime  and the winding investigation, which led to a shocking suspect  is the focus of Netflixs upcoming documentary What Jennifer Did, premiering Wednesday, April 10. (An exclusive trailer is below.)



Bich and Hann immigrated to Canada before Jennifer was born, and in Netflix's newest crime documentary, family friends describe how the couple had high expectations for their only child. They put her in piano lessons from a young age and to their knowledge, she had attended the University of Toronto. Their expectations for Jennifer are also believed to be why they didnt approve of her high school boyfriend, Danny Wong, a low-level drug dealer with a not-so-perfect reputation around town.

The two dated for six years, but during the weeks-long investigation, authorities discovered the pair kept in contact, despite Wong having a new girlfriend at the time. They also learned that Jennifer had been lying to her parents for years about attending college.

But the biggest shock came later, when Jennifers father, Hann, woke from his coma and pointed the finger directly at his daughter, who he said he saw being friendly with the unidentified intruders in the Pan family home the night he was shot and his wife was brutally killed.

Courtesy of Netflix What Jennifer Did

With a new reason to suspect Jennifer, investigators took a deeper look at her and her cellphone records, which revealed a twisted murder-for-hire plot  which was supposed to end with both of her parents dead  involving her ex-boyfriend and two other men.

Jennifer, Danny and their accomplices were eventually convicted of murdering Bich and attempting to murder Hann. Recently, all four appealed the first-degree murder convictions and were granted new trials, which have not yet been set.

What Jennifer Did looks at the investigation techniques that backed Jennifer into a corner, what she claimed truly happened that night and features friends of the Pans who are still grappling with the disbelief of what happened that evening in 2010.

What Jennifer Did premieres on Netflix on April 9. The documentary was directed by Jenny Popplewell, with Louise Norman and Jeremy Grimaldi as executive producers and Marian Edusei as a producer.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
In a night filled with glamour and purpose at the Ohene Konadu Auditorium, the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), witnessed the crowning of Miss Leticia Adwoa Yirenkyi as the Face of UPSA 2024.



The event, a beacon of youth empowerment and gender equality, was a collaboration between the UPSA SRC Women's Commission, PSLA Africa, and the Prince Sadat Change-Makers Foundation (PSF).



The founder and chairman of PSF, in a heartfelt post on Facebook, shared the foundation's joy in supporting the event, not just financially but also by enriching the contestants' knowledge on pivotal issues such as climate change and gender empowerment.



A significant contribution was made by the Foundation, underscoring its commitment to fostering a better world through education and empowerment.



The evening was more than just a pageant; it was a platform for showcasing the strength, intelligence, and potential of young women. Miss Leticia Adwoa Yirenkyi, with her poise and vision, emerged victorious among the talented contestants, earning the honour to serve as the Brand Ambassador for the Prince Sadat Change-Makers Foundation for the coming year.



In his announcement, the foundation's chairman highlighted the collaborative effort with UPSA WOCOM and PSLA Africa, ensuring that the event not only celebrated beauty but also served as a catalyst for meaningful change.



The sponsorship was cemented through a Memorandum of Understanding, outlining the shared objectives and commitment towards gender empowerment and climate awareness.



Special recognition was given to Miss Nihad Titiaka Oases Ibrahim, the Womens Commissioner of UPSA SRC, and Miss Joycelyn Lassey, the Deputy SRC Womens Commissioner for their exceptional dedication and resilience in overcoming challenges to bring the event to fruition.



The Chairman Prince A. A. Sadat lauded their efforts, stating, "History will surely remember them fondly for their contribution to empowering women and promoting gender equality."



As the newly appointed Brand Ambassador, Miss Yirenkyi will work alongside PSF on projects aimed at education, climate change, leadership, gender equality, and philanthropy. These initiatives, known as the foundation's five signature projects, include Future Forge, Green Pulse, Lead Legacy, She Rise, and Impact Oasis, respectively.



The event was not only a testament to the beauty and talent of the contestants but also a reflection of the collaborative spirit among organizations committed to making a difference. The Prince Sadat Change-Makers Foundation looks forward to an exciting year ahead with Miss Yirenkyi at the helm of its ambassadorial activities, driving forward the mission of youth empowerment and societal transformation.



As we look towards 2024, the foundation, under the guidance of its visionary leader and the support of other partners, is set to embark on projects that promise to forge a brighter future for the youth and pave the way for a more equitable society.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Featured Video
A man police suspected of killing two people in Allegheny County died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after being pulled over by police in West Virginia.

Dennis Rahuba, 50, was wanted for the deaths of William Rabatin, 53, and Christy Reeves, 50. Allegheny County Police found the pair dead from gunshot wounds in Scott Township on Monday.

Rahuba went to went to Rabatins home just before 3 a.m., entering through an unlocked rear door, police said. He then shot both victims and fled in his car, TribLive reported.

Early Monday morning, 911 dispatchers were notified that Rahuba could be traveling toward Charleston, West Virginia, according to WPXI. His vehicle was spotted at about 7 a.m. along a Charleston interstate.

Police from several nearby agencies then attempted to pull over the vehicle. The highway was shut down and the vehicle was surrounded.

An officer then attempted to order Rahuba to exit the vehicle when he saw and heard a gunshot. When authorities were able to approach the car, they found Rahuba dead.

Police said Reeves had been in the process of ending a long-term relationship with Rahuba and had started to date Rabatin, according to TribLive.
Harrisburg officials are sending bomb-sniffing dogs through several synagogues Tuesday morning after someone emailed a threat to Jewish houses of worship across the state.

The Temple Ohev Sholom, located at 2345 N. Front St. in Harrisburg, was the only synagogue located in Harrisburg that was named in the threat, which was sent to the temple at 9:30 a.m., according to city spokesperson Matt Maisel.

Bomb squads deployed to the temple detected no signs of explosives, Maisel said. But Harrisburg officials are still checking other synagogues in the city out of an abundance of caution, according to Maisel.
NOTE: This post was updated at 9:40 p.m. to reflect some additional comments from a Tuesday night debate between the 10th District candidates sponsored by WGAL.

Its a race marked mostly by smiles and handshakes thus far. But we now have a sharp elbow thrown in Pennsylvanias 10th Congressional District Democratic primary campaign.

Harrisburg City Councilwoman Shamaine Daniels reached deep into the YouTube vaults Tuesday to unearth an end-of-broadcast wisecrack made by rival Janelle Stelson at least nine years ago when Stelson was an evening anchor for WGAL News8, the regional NBC affiliate.

In a cut from The Howard Stern Show, which shined its lampooning light on the episode, Stelsons co-anchor Ron Martin is heard reading a feature story about a cat bar in Belgium, which is essentially a bar with several resident cats that are freely permitted to mingle with the patrons.

Martins piece ended with a side note that cat bars are not new, and are especially popular in Asia.

Of course, because theyre making cat tacos out of them, Stelson chimed in, laughing before throwing the station over to The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

The attempted joke recalls an old trope about dogs and cats being used as food in Asian countries that many observers attribute to a hate of different cultures. While that did happen in some regions historically, according to several current Web resources it was likely never common, and is a rarity these days.

Janelle Stelson... has spent this primary trying to convince Democratic voters that she shares our values, Daniels said. Clearly she does not.

Obviously, Stelson owes an apology to the Asian community. She also owes an apology to all of the people of PA-10 who have welcomed her as a guest, Daniels continued, in an allusion to the fact that Stelson lives a few miles outside the 10th District lines.

PennLive attempted to reach a leader with the Harrisburg Asian American and Pacific Islander Community for comment but was unsuccessful.

Stelson, in a statement issued by her campaign, acknowledged the incident, but she also complained about Daniels dredging something up from 10 years ago to go negative.

My comment was wrong and I apologized for it at the time, Stelsons statement said. I was live on TV for thousands of hours over 38 years and one inappropriate joke from a decade ago is the worst thing they can find?

Democrats trying to cut down other Democrats in the closing days of the primary is just what Scott Perry wants, and I am not interested in doing anything to help him stay in Congress.

A Daniels campaign staffer said Tuesday that several people had pointed out the Stern clip to them, and they felt voters should be made aware of it.

There is no record of the remark creating any kind of public controversy at the time. Her apologies, Stelsons campaign said later Tuesday, were made privately to some viewers who had reached out with complaints.

WGAL leaders declined to comment Tuesday on whether Stelson has faced any internal discipline at the time, saying only that we dont comment on personnel issues for any employees, past or present.

Shamaine Daniels speaks at the Democratic 10th Congressional district candidate forum hosted by Capital Region Stands Up, held at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center. March 10, 2024. Zach Gleiter | Special to PennLive Zach Gleiter | Special to PennLive

Daniels campaign, more than most in this race, has criticized Stelson for being a newcomer both to the 10th District  which Stelson, as a Lancaster County resident, does not live in  and the Democratic Party. Stelson had been registered as a Republican until last year.

Stelson has tried to defuse both issues.

On residency, she has promised to move into the 10th if she wins the primary, and noting that the district is wholly contained within the Harrisburg / Lancaster / York television market she worked the vast majority of her career in, and she has a comprehensive knowledge of the place.

On party registration, Stelson has explained that she gave little thought to her party registration for most of her life as a working broadcaster who was obligated to stay out of partisan politics. She said the Democratic Party has matched her personal political views for some time now, and she made the registration switch official last year, prior to joining this race.

Still, the attacks on Stelson only intensified in a televised debate on WGAL Tuesday night, when another of the Democratic candidates, retired Marine Corps aviator Mike OBrien literally criticized her for voting in primary elections.

OBrien, in an argument tailored for Democratic primary voters, suggested that because Stelson had voted in the GOP primaries through 2022 she was necessarily casting votes for candidates who are anti-abortion, anti-union, anti-public education, anti-climate (and) anti-democracy.

But its worth noting that in Pennsylvanias closed-primary system, registered Republicans voters can only vote in the Republican primary. The public voting records dont delineate who specifically Stelson voted for.

In addition, candidates are only elected to public office in the general election. Thats where Stelson has said shes been crossing over to support Democrats.

Stelson immediately took OBrien to task for the attack.

You have just given Scott Perry his dream, Stelson said, turning to OBrien.

This Dem-on-Dem violence... I think everybody up here is doing an outstanding job in this race. Lets cut it out. Lets keep our eyes on the prize and lets go after the guy who really need to be gotten rid of, Stelson said.

Daniels, however, has also argued Democratic voters should be concerned whether they can truly trust her to represent party principles. In a statement accompanying links to the Stern show clip Tuesday, Daniels said the incident proves her point.

After a career spent reading other peoples words off of a teleprompter, we see what Janelle has to say when she doesnt have a script. Now we understand why Janelles campaign kept her away from the numerous debates and forums held throughout the district during this primary season.

Daniels last reference was to Stelsons absence from several candidate forums this winter and spring. While she has had a higher absentee rate than most of the candidates in the race, Stelson has, according to her campaign, shared stages with her rivals at least nine times.

Daniels jab at Stelson comes as Daniels is trying to earn another shot to oppose incumbent Republican Scott Perry after winning the Democratic nomination in 2022. Several of her rivals have argued in their campaigns that Daniels has had her shot, and its time for the party to try someone new.

Daniels, Stelson and OBrien are part of a six-person field vying for the Democratic nomination to oppose incumbent Republican Rep. Scott Perry, the other candidates including: business consultant John Broadhurst; retired Army officer Rick Coplen; and former WITF executive Blake Lynch.

Many midstate Democrats hope Perrys deep-red, conservative politics and immersion in former President Donald Trumps 2020 election activities will draw them lots of resources for this race in what is a pretty politically competitive district.
A voting machine in Pennsylvania, where more than 1 million voters will be barred from participating in the primary because they are not registered as a Democrat or Republican.Fred Adams / For Spotlight PA
30 years later, Kurt Cobains death still stings for his loved ones, especially for daughter Frances Bean Cobain, who honored her father with a somber and poignant tribute on the anniversary.

The artist and model shared a bunch of throwback pictures of her father, including two pictures where she described them as the last time we were together, featuring herself as a baby held by her father.

30 years ago my dads life ended, she wrote in a lengthy Instagram post on Friday of the Nirvana frontman. The 2nd and 3rd photo capture the last time we were together while he was still alive. His mom Wendy would often press my hands to her cheeks and say, with a lulling sadness, you have his hands. She would breathe them in as if it were her only chance to hold him just a little bit closer, frozen in time. I hope shes holding his hands wherever they are.

Frances Bean Cobain, the daughter of Cobain and Hole rocker Courtney Love, was born on Aug. 18, 1992, and has always been in the spotlight. Kurt Cobain died on April 5, 1994, at age 27 from suicide. His daughter was only a 1-year-old when he died.

Frances Bean Cobain is now 31.

I wish I couldve known my Dad, she wrote. I wish I knew the cadence of his voice, how he liked his coffee or the way it felt to be tucked in after a bedtime story. I always wondered if he wouldve caught tadpoles with me during the muggy Washington summers, or if he smelled of Camel Lights & strawberry nesquik (his favourites, Ive been told).

But there is also deep wisdom being on an expedited path to understanding how precious life is. He gifted me a lesson in death that can only come through the LIVED experience of losing someone. Its the gift of knowing for certain, when we love ourselves & those around us with compassion, with openness, with grace, the more meaningful our time here inherently becomes, she continued.

In closing, she shared a passage of a letter her famous father had written to her before she was born.

The last line of it reads, wherever you go or wherever I go, I will always be with you, she wrote. He kept this promise because he is present in so many ways. Whether its by hearing a song or through the hands we share, in those moments I get to spend a little time with my dad & he feels transcendent.

Ending the tribute, she shared a message for anyone who may feel the same way about a loved one theyve lost.

Anyone who has wondered what it wouldve looked like to live alongside the people they have lost, Im holding you in my thoughts today, she wrote. The meaning of our grief is the same.
BONIFAY, Florida  A woman armed with a rifle and handgun wounded two people when she fired several shots at cars while driving on a Florida interstate during Mondays total solar eclipse, telling state troopers that she was following directions from God.

Taylon Nichelle Celestine, 22, of Georgia, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and improper discharge of a firearm, according to a news release from the Florida Highway Patrol. She is being held in the Holmes County Jail.

The patrol says Celestine is accused of driving a Dodge Challenger on Interstate 10 and firing at two passing vehicles. She had checked out of a hotel moments earlier and told the staff she had been directed by God to go on a shooting spree in connection to the eclipse, the patrol says.
From LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS)

A retired Lancaster police horse died this month, the department announced Monday.

Liam, who was born in 2001, joined the police department in November 2005 and retired last April 29. He began working with Officer Eric Lukacs in 2007, the department said.

Together, Liam and Officer Lukacs patrolled the streets of Lancaster City, participated in over 1,000 programs and even supported other jurisdictions, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Stamford, Connecticut, the department said in a statement.

Liam and Officer Lukacs worked together for 17 consecutive years, forming a bond that is hard to put into words, the department said. Liam was buried on a private farm near Lukacs home.

The Clydesdale Hackney cross died of complications from equine Cushings disease, a disorder marked by overproduction of hormones.

Liam, a retired Lancaster police horse, died in April 2024, the department announced. (Lancaster police photos, file)Lancaster police photos

Lancaster police Officer Eric Lukacs with Liam. (Lancaster police photos, file)Lancaster police photos

Liam spent his retirement on a private, 309-acre farm in southern Lancaster County, where he was one of eight horses. Among them was Ozzy, another city police horse who retired the same day.

Before Liam came to Lancaster, he worked as a carriage horse in Toronto, but his former owner could not afford to care for him, the department said.

Last September, the city announced the disbandment of its police mounted horse patrol. Mayor Danene Sorace said the decision was made to direct money to adding patrol officers to the force.
A package of bills that would allow for more hunting on Sundays and make it easier for hunters to kill nuisance deer on farmland has the support of Pennsylvanias farm lobby, making it much more likely that movement on the Sunday hunting issue will take place this legislative session.

The House Game and Fisheries Committee held a hearing Tuesday on the three bills, which received broad support from groups representing farmers and hunters, although some advocates for other types of outdoor recreation  particularly horseback riding  expressed skepticism or outright opposition.

With the endorsement of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, we have momentum, the bills author, Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny County, said following Tuesdays hearing.
Legislation approved by the state House of Representatives on Monday would establish a monument on the Capitol Complex grounds as a tribute to Gold Star families and designate an area of the lawn in honor of the states first Black House speaker.

The proposed monument to the Gold Star families would be located in the area between the Forum Building and Walnut Street, according to the legislation sponsored by Rep. Joe Kerwin, R-Dauphin County, who is currently deployed with the National Guard to East Africa. It passed 201-0.

Gold Star families must face a new reality each day carrying on without their loved one, said Rep. Tim ONeal, R-Washington County, in urging his colleagues to support the bill. We honor many things in this building, often in the form of designating a certain day or week to celebrate people, cultures and convictions. I think it is significant and wholly appropriate that we honor the sacrifices of brave men and women with a permanent memorial.

House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County said Pennsylvania has 36,584 Gold Star families dating to World War II who will be honored by this memorial.

The legislation indicates the monument, designed by Woody Williams and Kenton Blackwood, would consist of four black granite slabs inscribed with the words Gold Star Family Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Mothers, Fathers and Relatives who have sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom on one side. Four scenes depicting Homeland, Patriot, Family, Sacrifice would be displayed on each panel on the other side.

The monuments construction will be funded by MI Charitable Foundation of Gratz, the philanthropic arm of MITER Brands, a window and door manufacturer, according to the legislation.

The House voted 200-1 on a bill to designate the grassy area between the Speaker K. Leroy Irvis Office Building and Walnut Street known as the South Lawn as the Irvis Equality Circle. Rep. Wendy Fink, R-York County, cast the sole dissenting vote.

That area of the Capitol grounds features four bronze life-size depictions of abolitionists and famed orators with ties to the region and Pennsylvania.

The monument, erected in 2020, commemorates the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that guaranteed Black people the right to vote and the 19th Amendment that guaranteed women the right to vote. It also pays homage to African American residents of the Old Eighth Ward, cleared more than a century ago for the Capitol park.

Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Philadelphia, who sponsored the legislation, noted in his floor remarks the significance in naming it after Irvis, who served as the House speaker in 1977 and again from 1983-1988. Kinsey spoke of Irvis advocacy for civil rights, social justice and education and helped pass legislation for fair housing and employment opportunities for all Pennsylvanians.

He asked his colleagues to support the bill in recognition of one of our own. A gentleman who served this state and country with great distinction.

Both bills now go to the Senate for consideration.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on X at @JanMurphy.
News at 4Cs

4Cs Dental Clinic Offering Free Exams and Cleanings for Children During April Break

This April vacation the Wilkens Family Dental Hygiene Clinic at Cape Cod Community College will provide free examinations and cleanings for children ages 3 through 17.

Dental care in the clinic is provided by the renowned 4Cs Dental Hygiene students, under the supervision of licensed dental hygienists and dentists. Children who are scheduled for exams during April vacation week will be provided with an exam, cleaning, fluoride treatment, and toothbrush instruction, all at no cost to the family. A parent or legal guardian must be present.

Appointments must be scheduled in advance and are available on:

Tuesday, April 16 at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 17 at 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 18 at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

Friday, April 19 at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

There are also a limited number of appointments in the Dental Clinic available throughout the rest of April.

To make an appointment, call the Wilkens Family Dental Hygiene Clinic at 774-330-4371.
An appeals court saw through Trumps latest attempt to postpone his hush money criminal trial that begins next week.

CNN reported:

A New York appeals court has denied Donald Trumps petition to change the venue of his upcoming hush money trial.

The former presidents attorneys on Monday had urged the court to postpone the trial so it could consider whether to change the venue, arguing that Trump cannot get a fair jury in New York.

But Associate Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez quickly denied the motion to stop the trial after hearing arguments Monday, and there is no further argument on the motion to change the venue.

Trumps basic argument is that he cant get a fair trial in the place where he is alleged to have committed so many crimes. Trump has been found liable in civil court for decades of fraud, and the rape of E. Jean Carroll. He will soon be on trial for the hush money payments to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election and beyond, which Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg has argued is election interference along with falsifying business records.

Donald Trump is apparently getting very worried about standing trial in Manhattan. He is trying to get the venue changed while also potentially laying the foundation to claim to his supporters that he was convicted because he could not get a fair trial.

Forgot what Trump posts on Truth Social. What he is directing is lawyers to do in court is the behavior of a scared defendant who is worried about being convicted.

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[wpedon id=344887 align=center]
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said that it is serious that top Republicans were using Russian propaganda to try to impeach President Biden.

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez was asked about Republicans using Russian propaganda in the House and she answered, Yeah, I mean, I think if you turn on any house oversight hearing in the last year, you will see Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert and all these folks engaged in wildly propagandistic rhetoric. And I mean, even, lets just rewind a second, we just went through an impeachment attempt on the President Of The United States. That was started with a source that Republicans used, that was in communication with Russian intelligence. So you have not just the, the bottom bench here, you have the chairman of the House Oversight Committee Representative Comer, take, take quote unquote evidence in account from someone who was working with the, the, the Russian intelligence and try to impeach and remove the President Of The United States over it. This is serious.

Colbert asked if the Republicans knew that this was Republican misinformation, How did they not know that, or did they know that this was connected to the Russians?

AOC said, That I think is a very excellent question for Chairman Comer becauseit is a good question because when they hauled us all into the SCIF, which is a confidential um space to look at this, we were looking at this document and its like all is this for real right now and they proceeded and so what they felt was in good faith or bad faith. I dont know, but I do think that it is immensely serious that something got to this extent and got this far and has been platformed to, to the extent that it has. And thankfully under ranking member, Jamie Raskin, we were able to stop them in their tracks as well.

Video:

.@AOC on Comer using Russian misinformation to try to impeach Biden, "We just went through an impeachment attempt on the President Of The United States that was started with the source that Republicans used that was in communication with Russian intelligence. " pic.twitter.com/0pR39HkaDD  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) April 9, 2024

.

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez was correct. House Republicans using Russian propaganda is serious, and it should not be buried or forgotten. AOC brought up a great point. We can suspect whether or not the Republicans know that they were using Russian propaganda, but the fact that they tried to impeach the President with Russian misinformation is important and should not be swept under the rug or treated like common knowledge.

Without Jamie Raskin and the talented House Democrats on the Oversight Committee, James Comer might have gotten away with impeaching Biden with Russian propaganda. Ocasio-Cortez was also important to this effort, and there needs to be a serious investigation into the Republican use of Russian propaganda.

A Special Message From PoliticusUSA

If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here.

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[wpedon id=344887 align=center]
After the Arizona Supreme Court upheld the states 1864 abortion ban, Senate candidate Kari Lake said she opposed the ban, but she was lying.

This is what Kari Lake had to say about the abortion ban today:

In addition to covering the state of Arizona as a fair and honest journalist for 27 years, I have traveled to every corner of this state on the campaign trail. I speak to more Arizonans than anyone and it is abundantly clear that the pre-statehood law is out of step with Arizonans.

I am the only woman and mother in this race. I understand the fear and anxiety of pregnancy, and the joy of motherhood. I wholeheartedly agree with President Trump  this is a very personal issue that should be determined by each individual state and her people. I oppose todays ruling, and I am calling on Katie Hobbs and the State Legislature to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support. Ultimately, Arizona voters will make the decision on the ballot come November.

In 2022, Lake supported the ban:

Kari Lake supported the 1864 ban in 2022. She's lying. https://t.co/uRMgk8ju5B pic.twitter.com/EVY3BIf675  Ammar Moussa (@ammarmufasa) April 9, 2024

Kari Lake and Democrat Rep. Reuben Gallego are in an election that could decide control of the Senate. Republicans have apparently settled on their strategy for discussing abortion bans. Republicans are going to lie to voters and pretend like they no longer support banning all abortions.

Republicans like Kari Lake are not telling voters the truth about their position on abortion bans, so it is vital that Democrats make sure that voters dont fall for a lie that could cost them their freedom.

A Special Message From PoliticusUSA

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[wpedon id=344887 align=center]
matkinson@postandcourier.com

JOHNS ISLAND  As the weather warms and the days stretch longer, thousands of migrant workers arrive in South Carolina every year to work the jobs no one else will.

Many of them work on Johns Island, one of the Lowcountrys most fertile swaths of farmland fed by sunlight and sea water. On farms outside the ever-growing Charleston city limits, they plant and harvest produce from squash to collards to the ever-popular tomato .

Theyre part of a larger trend that anthropologists and academics have noticed in rural places. Immigrants have been moving to rural areas to work at unprecedented rates since the 1990s, census data shows, accounting for 37 percent of rural population growth from 2000-18 across the United States.

Many of them are Hispanic or Latino. The Hispanic population in the Palmetto States rural counties increased 22 percent on average since 2010, according to U.S. census data. Williamsburg Countys foreign-born growth rate has doubled since 1980, while Orangeburg Countys increased 90 percent.

Nearly three-quarters of all agricultural labors in the U.S. are immigrants. About half of those workers are undocumented, according to a 2022 report from FWD.com, a nonpartisan social welfare nonprofit. U.S. agriculture needs up to 2 million hired workers each year, but typically falls short. Farmers across the country struggle to find enough people to manage the crops.

The H-2A visa program helps, bringing migrant workers to the U.S. on a temporary basis. But it only fulfills a fraction of the total demand for labor, FWD.com reports .

Thousands of workers, many of them from Mexico, work in South Carolina harvesting watermelon, cucumbers and peppers. Others work in the dairy or livestock industry or in landscaping  demanding jobs that many native South Carolinians no longer want .

As people move from rural communities to suburbs or cities, seasonal and migrant workers help boost local economies and mitigate rural population decline, experts say.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-09 18:00:35

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New SaaS Technology Introduces Patient-Centered Self-Sovereign Identity That Allows Decentralization for De-Identified Data With Secure Data Storage and Exchange With Optimal Security, Integrity, Transparency and InteroperabilityBEVERLY HILLS, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 /Apotheka Systems Inc., a provider of blockchain and AI to facilitate digital transformation through EHR integrations, today announced an agreement with athenahealth, Inc. through the company's Marketplace program. As part of the athenahealth Marketplace, this newly integrated Apotheka Digital DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) Passport is now available to athenahealth's growing network of healthcare providers to add self-sovereign patient IDs, providing patients with more control over their own care management and which piece of information to share within athenahealth's care network.Apotheka Systems Logo Capabilities & Use Cases :Transparency: Provides transparent and immutable patients' record of transactions, which can help ensure that all parties involved in patient care have access to the same information, reducing medical errors, disputes and fraud.Data Security: Blockchain's decentralized nature makes it more secure than traditional centralized systems, as there is no single point of failure for hackers to exploit. This can help protect sensitive health data from cybersecurity attacks that cost health systems upward of $50 million-plus per incident.Smart Contracts: They can automate various processes in hospitals, such as creating unique patient IDs that allow patients validation across multiple systems, consent management, insurance eligibility checks, claims processing and payments, based on predefined rules and conditions. This can streamline operations and reduce administrative costs from 30%-60%.Fraud Detection: By analyzing data stored on the permissioned-based blockchain, health systems can use advanced analytics and AI algorithms to detect patterns indicative of fraudulent activities, considering yearly healthcare fraud claims amount to $380 billion-plus yearly.Interoperability: Blockchain technology can facilitate interoperability between siloed or different systems and stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem, allowing for seamless sharing of information while maintaining data privacy and security.athenahealth is a leading provider of network-enabled software and services for medical groups and health systems nationwide. Its electronic health records, revenue cycle management, and patient engagement tools allow anytime, anywhere access to drive better financial outcomes for practices and enable providers to deliver better quality care. athenahealth's vision is to create a thriving ecosystem that delivers accessible, high-quality, and sustainable healthcare for all. As a Marketplace partner, Apotheka joins a community of innovative, like-minded healthcare professionals working to bring best-in-class solutions to the athenahealth provider base.To learn more about Apotheka's new integrated application, please visit Apotheka's product listing page on the Marketplace.About ApothekaApotheka is a SaaS company utilizing transformative power of decentralized and artificial intelligence technologies that it integrates seamlessly with clinical and business systems by creating self-sovereign identities, decentralizing personal and health data elements on a secure blockchain and AI ecosystems to facilitate use cases like unique personal IDs, data security, integrity and interoperability.About athenahealth MarketplaceLearn more at www.athenahealth.com/solutions/marketplace-program Contact InformationBenjamin WangOperations Managerinfo@ apotheka.co 844-777-4455SOURCE: Apotheka Systems Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com
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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Ascend Plastic Surgery Partners is pleased to announce its latest partnership with Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery (PVPS), a renowned institution in the field of plastic and cosmetic surgery. This partnership advances Ascend's mission to elevate patient care standards and provide exemplary aesthetic services across the United States. PVPS expands Ascend's presence into Florida, adding a fifth state, six additional surgeons, and six new locations to the Ascend footprint.Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery 2024 LogoSince its founding 30 years ago, PVPS has built a legacy of excellence, innovation, and compassionate care. Founding partners Dr. Cayce Rumsey and Dr. Robert Burk, partnered with Dr. Erez Sternberg, Dr. Hollie Hickman, and CEO, Dennis Oistacher to cultivate an exemplary operation focused on advancing aesthetic medicine and embodying a culture of excellence. "Joining forces with Ascend Plastic Surgery Partners represents a pivotal chapter in our journey," said Dennis Oistacher. "It's a partnership that reflects our shared commitment to unparalleled patient care, innovation, and the continuation of the legacy we've built at PVPS." Ascend, under the leadership of Chief Medical Officer Dr. William Hedden and CEO Anthony Milonas, is recognized for its commitment to clinical excellence and personalized patient experiences. "The integration of PVPS into the Ascend family marks a momentous step forward in our quest to set a new standard of excellence in the aesthetic medicine industry," Anthony Milonas remarked. "We are honored to carry forward the incredible legacy of PVPS, a testament to the vision of its founders and the dedication of its team." "We are excited for the next phase of PVPS's growth and are thrilled to partner with the Ascend team. We are looking forward to sharing in best practices while continuing to optimize patient care and results, as we look to expand," stated Dr. Robert Burk, partner physician at PVPS.As Ascend Plastic Surgery Partners welcomes PVPS into its fold, the focus remains on preserving the strong company culture and positive attributes that have defined PVPS. This merger not only signifies a blending of talents and resources but also a shared vision for the future of aesthetic medicine - a future where patient well-being and clinical excellence lead the way.PVPS was advised by Westcove Partners and Advos Legal. Ascend was advised by McDermott Will & Emery and Berkley Research Group.About Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery: Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery is a premier plastic surgery practice serving patients in North Florida and South Georgia, known for its innovative techniques, compassionate care, and highly skilled team of professionals. Founded by Dr. Cayce Rumsey and Dr. Robert Burk, PVPS is dedicated to enhancing patient lives through aesthetic medicine. For more information, visit www.pvps.com About Ascend Plastic Surgery Partners: Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Ascend Plastic Surgery Partners is at the forefront of the aesthetic medicine industry, committed to providing exceptional patient care and advancing the field through innovation and expertise. Led by CEO Anthony Milonas and Chief Medical Officer Dr. William Hedden, Ascend is dedicated to elevating the standard of care in plastic and cosmetic surgery. For more information, visit www.ascendpsp.com For Media inquiries contact: Lori Moonen, Lori@ CreativeSparkJax.com Contact InformationLori MoonenMarketing Agencylori@ creativesparkjax.com 9042287318Related FilesAscend Plastic Surgery Partners Announces the Acquisition of Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery 4.5.2024Related ImagesPonte Vedra Plastic Surgery 2024 Logo Ascend Original Logo Ascend Logo SOURCE: Ponte Vedra Plastic SurgeryView the original press release on newswire.com
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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / The nationally recognized law firm of Kelley | Uustal has announced that it is welcoming attorney David Hammer to its exceptional trial team.David Hammer, Esq. Attorney David Hammer is a partner at Kelley | Uustal.Hammer has extensive litigation experience spanning decades. He specializes in cases involving catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, complex product liability, and premises liability.Among the victories in the more than 2,500 cases he has handled are a multimillion-dollar settlement for a brain injury to an infant involved in an automobile crash; a confidential settlement against a worldwide corporate defendant for a slip-and-fall incident that resulted in severe injuries; and a confidential settlement against a school board and teacher for the abuse of special-needs children."David's very impressive track record in the courtroom speaks volumes for his passion to succeed at a high level," said John Uustal, founding partner of the firm.Hammer is AV-rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest rating possible. He also is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which only includes trial lawyers who have won million and multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements."I am thrilled and honored to be a part of this fantastic team," Hammer said.Hammer is a member of the American Association for Justice, the Florida Justice Association, and the Broward County Justice Association, as well as the American Bar Association and Florida Bar Associations.Hammer received his juris doctor from Nova Southeastern University's School of Law in Davie, Florida. He completed his undergraduate studies at Nova Southeastern and the University of Florida.Kelley | Uustal ( www.kelleyuustal.com) , a national law firm based in Fort Lauderdale, is focused on catastrophic injury, wrongful death cases, and complex commercial litigation. The firm can be reached at (954) 522-6601.Contact Information:David BloomMedia Relations Managerdave.bloom@ournewsroom.com 954-334-5822SOURCE: Kelley | UustalView the original press release on newswire.com
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Not for distribution to U.S. newswire services or for dissemination in the United StatesKELOWNA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2024 / Avant Brands Inc. (TSX:AVNT)(OTCQX:AVTBF)(FRA:1BU0) ("Avant" or the "Company"), a leading producer of innovative and award-winning cannabis products, has issued a correction to the Company's recently announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering").In today's prior release, dated April 8, 2024, it was stated that each Unit would consist of one common share (a "Common Share") in the capital of the Company and one common share purchase warrant.The Company clarifies that each Unit will instead consist of one Common Share in the capital of the Company andone-halfof one transferable common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant").Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share of the Company (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.12 for a period of 36 months following the closing date of the Offering. The gross proceeds from the Offering will be primarily used for general working capital purposes. The Company anticipates receiving a lead order totalling $600,000 from an existing strategic investor, reflecting their ongoing support and belief in Avant's strategic direction and potential for growth.The Offering will consist of up to 45,751,623 Units at a price of $0.085 per Unit to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to $3,888,888. The Offering is expected to close on or about April 30, 2024, or on such other date or dates as the Company may determine.Any securities to be issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months and a day from the closing date of the Offering in accordance with the rules and policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"), and applicable Canadian securities laws and such other further restrictions as may apply under foreign securities laws. The Offering remains subject to the approval of the TSX.It is anticipated that insiders of the Company may participate in the Offering. By virtue of their participation, the Offering would constitute a "related party transaction" under applicable securities laws. The Company expects to release a material change report including details with respect to the related party transaction less than 21 days prior to the closing of the Offering, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances so as to be able to avail itself of potential financing opportunities and complete the Offering in an expeditious manner. As the related party transaction will not exceed specified limits and will constitute a distribution of securities for cash, it is expected that neither a formal valuation nor minority shareholder approval will be required in connection with the Offering.The securities mentioned in this press release 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 or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.About Avant Brands Inc. Avant is an innovative, market-leading premium cannabis company. Avant has multiple operational production facilities across Canada, which produce high-quality, handcrafted cannabis products based on unique and exceptional cultivars.Avant offers a comprehensive product portfolio catering to recreational, medical, and export markets. Our renowned consumer brands, including BLK MKT, Tenzo, Cognoscente, flowr and Treehugger, are available in key recreational markets across Canada. Avant's products are distributed globally to Australia, Israel and Germany, with its flagship brand BLK MKT currently being sold in Israel. Additionally, Avant's medical cannabis brand, GreenTec, serves qualified patients nationwide through its GreenTec Medical portal and trusted medical cannabis partners.Avant is a publicly traded corporation listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: AVNT) and accessible to international investors through the OTCQX Best Market (OTCQX:AVTBF) and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FRA:1BU0). Headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia, Avant operates in strategic locations, including British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.For more information about Avant, including access to investor presentations and details about its consumer brands, please visit www.avantbrands.ca For further inquiries, please contact:Investor Relations at Avant Brands Inc.1-800-351-6358 ir@ avantbrands.ca CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance, the Offering, the use of proceeds, anticipated participation by certain investors in the private placement, and the TSX acceptance of the Offering. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding: expectations for economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical fact but instead reflects management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors cou
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LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 /BlocksChatis introducing a decentralized social media platform that blends elements of popular platforms like Twitter and Telegram with blockchain technology's enhanced security and privacy. This approach marks a shift from traditional email-based account creation, offering users a more secure method of interaction through MetaMask or Phantom wallet connections. With a focus on user privacy and control, BlocksChat facilitates direct, wallet-to-wallet communications, including voice and video calls, without the need for intermediaries.The platform prioritizes security through end-to-end encryption, ensuring that messages, calls, and data shared between users remain private and accessible only to those directly involved. In addition, BlocksChat leverages on-chain storage solutions such as Arweave and IPFS for image sharing, further securing user data against unauthorized access.A distinctive feature of BlocksChat is its economic model, which revolves around the $BLX token. This model allows users to engage in various transactions within the platform, from sending payments to friends to participating in the platform's governance. Moreover, users who stake $BLX tokens can receive a portion of the revenue generated from advertisements on the platform. This provides an incentive for content creation and ensures a fair distribution of the platform's economic benefits among its users.The upcoming pre-sale of $BLX tokens represents a key opportunity for investors to contribute to a project that merges social media functionalities with decentralized finance principles. This event is part of a broader roadmap that includes the launch of the BlocksChat app, extensive marketing efforts, and a series of strategic developments designed to enhance the platform's services and expand its user base.BlocksChat's development plan includes introducing new features, partnerships with leading crypto projects, and incorporating advertising opportunities. This phased approach highlights the platform's commitment to continuous improvement and its aim to secure a strong position in the market for secure, decentralized communication platforms.Furthermore, BlocksChat is dedicated to ensuring a seamless user experience, with a responsive design and intuitive interface that make navigation and communication on the platform effortless for users of all technical backgrounds. BlocksChat offers a novel approach to social media, providing users with a secure, private, and economically empowering platform. BlocksChat aims to provide a more equitable and user-centric online communication experience as it continues to develop and implement new features.Users can visit the official website https://blockschat.com/to get more information about BlocksChat or sign up for the app by visiting https://blockschat.app/ For updates, join the online community at:X (formerly Twitter):https://x.com/blockschatappTelegram:https://t.me/BlocksChatAppAbout Company:BlocksChat introduces a decentralized social media platform aiming to improve online communication through blockchain technology. With a focus on user privacy and secure interactions, BlocksChat enables direct, wallet-to-wallet connections for messaging, voice, and video calls. The platform supports a vibrant ecosystem through its native $BLX token, fostering a community-driven approach to content creation and platform governance.Media ContactContact person: MartinCompany name: BlocksChatWebsite: BlocksChat.com Email: info@ blockschat.com SOURCE: BlocksChat
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CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / CANEX Metals Inc. ("CANEX" or the "Company") announces that further to its news release dated March 5, 2024, it has received TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX Venture") approval for the option of the Louise copper-gold porphyry deposit in British Columbia and a surface mapping and sampling program at the Gold Range Project in Arizona has been successfully completed.Louise Option ApprovedThe Company is pleased to announce the Exchange has approved the terms of the option agreement on the Louise Copper Gold Porphyry in British Columbia. The option agreement allows Canex to earn a 100% interest in the Louise Project by making the following payments over a 5 year period:$10,000 in shares or cash on Regulatory Approval; $25,000 in shares or cash on or before March 1st, 2025; $50,000 in shares or cash on or before March 1st, 2026; $90,000 in shares or cash on or before March 1st, 2027; $200,000 in shares or cash on or before March 1st, 2028; and $400,000 in shares or cash on or before March 1st, 2029Canex issued a total of 200,000 shares upon receipt of regulatory approval to the Vendor at a price of $0.05 per share. These shares are subject to a hold period of four months plus one day or until August 9, 2024. There are no expenditure commitments with the option allowing CANEX to advance the project as market conditions allow. The vendor, Bernie Kreft, will retain a 2.5% net smelter royalty (NSR), with CANEX having the right to buy back 40% of the NSR (1% of the 2.5% NSR) for $1,500,000. CANEX will retain a right of first refusal on the sale of Kreft's royalty.A milestone bonus of $50,000 in shares or cash will also be payable if CANEX drills over 4250 metres of core, and a second milestone bonus of $50,000 in shares or cash will be payable if CANEX publishes a resource estimate with greater than 1.5 million contained ounces of gold.Louise Project SummaryThe Louise Project is road accessible and located approximately 35 kilometres west of Smithers, in west central British Columbia. Previous drilling has defined a near surface mineralized zone 1000 metres long by 100 to 200 metres wide, extending to about 270 metres depth. Previous drilling has intersected strong copper and gold grades highlighted by hole LL04-03 which returned an interval of 158 metres grading 0.41% copper and 0.40 g/t gold starting at 53.5 metres downhole. Such strong grades, that appear to increase with depth, suggest good grade potential could exist in the main body of the porphyry system which is hypothesized to occur at depth or adjacent to the known mineralized zone.Table 1. Louise Project Historic Drill hole highlightsHoleFrom (m)To (m)Interval (m)1CuEq (%)2Cu (%)Au (g/t)Mo (%)Ag (g/t)LL04-0349.5253.5204.00.570.370.350.0121.2including53.5211.5158.00.640.410.400.0141.3LL05-04103.0295.1192.10.430.270.260.0111.0LL05-05140.8311.3170.50.410.250.250.0110.9LL04-02147.0297.0150.00.560.340.340.0181.1including188.9293.0104.10.670.420.410.0191.4LL06-10208.8289.080.20.600.400.410.0051.5LL05-02221.6300.378.70.780.450.440.0371.21 Interval refers to drill hole intercept, true thickness is not known. 2 CuEq (copper equivalent) is provided for illustrative purposes only and is calculated using metals prices (USD) of $3.75/lb Cu, $2000/oz Au, $18/lb Mo, and $22/oz Ag using recovery assumptions of 85% for Cu, 55% for Au, 80% for Mo, and 44% for Ag.The Company is assembling and analyzing the historic data for the Louise Project and will formulate an exploration plan for the project once data interpretation is complete.Gold Range Surface Exploration Program CompletedCANEX successfully completed a surface exploration program at the Gold Range Project in Arizona in March. The program included detailed surface mapping and sampling at the WestGold area resulting in increased understanding and further refinement of strong drill targets at the zone. Two new occurrences of gold mineralization were discovered and sampled in other parts of the property and their potential will be further evaluated once assay results have been received. In total, 151 surface rock and soil samples were collected and submitted for assay and an additional 125 samples of drill hole pulps were collected for alteration studies by shortwave infrared and near-infrared spectroscopy. Assay results from the program are expected in May.Figure 1. Gold Range Property map showing drill holes and exploration targets.About CANEX MetalsCANEX Metals ( TSX.V:CANX) is a Canadian junior exploration company focused on advancing it's 100% owned Gold Range Project in Northern Arizona. With several near surface bulk tonnage gold discoveries made to date across a 4 km gold mineralized trend, the Gold Range Project is a compelling early stage opportunity for investors. CANEX is led by an experienced management team which has made three notable porphyry and bulk tonnage discoveries in North America and is sponsored by Altius Minerals (TSX: ALS), a large shareholder of the Company.Dr. Shane Ebert P.Geo., is the Qualified Person for CANEX Metals and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.Shane Ebert, President/DirectorFor Further Information Contact: Shane Ebert at 1.250.964.2699 orJean Pierre Jutras at 1.403.233.2636Web: http://www.canexmetals.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Except for the historical and present factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including words such as "expects", "projects", "plans", "anticipates" and similar expressions, are forward-looking information that represents management of CANEX Metals Inc. internal projections, expectations or beliefs concerning, among other things, future operating results and various components thereof or the economic performance of CANEX. The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause CANEX's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, those described in CANEX's filings with the Canadian securities authorities. Acc
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2023 ANNUAL REPORT AND NOTICE OF AGMfor the twelve months ended 31 December 2023PERTH, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / In accordance with the Financial Conduct Authority's ("FCA") Listing Rule 9.6.1R, today Centamin has submitted the 2024 Notice of Annual General Meeting (the "Notice") and the Annual Report and Accounts for the twelve months ended 31 December 2023 ("2023 Annual Report") to the National Storage Mechanism.Both documents will shortly be available at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism and are available on the Company's website www.centamin.com The Notice, proxy form for the 2024 Annual General Meeting ("AGM") and related ancillary documentation have been mailed to shareholders on the LSE register, with the mailing to Canadian shareholders to follow shortly.ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGThe AGM is to be held on 21 May 2024 at The Royal Yacht, Weighbridge, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 3NF at 10:00am (BST).The business to be considered by shareholders at the AGM is set out in the Notice, which includes explanatory notes on each of the resolutions.While we would like as many shareholders as possible to attend our AGM, we appreciate this is not always possible. If you are unable to attend in person, your vote is important and if you want it to count, shareholders should complete and submit their votes online or complete and return the form of proxy to our registrars as soon as possible, and no later than 10.00 am (BST) on 17 May 2024, appointing the chair of the Meeting as their proxy (Canadian shareholders must return the form of proxy no later than 10.00 am (BST) on 16 May 2024). Details of electronic voting instructions are set out in the Notice.All resolutions for consideration at the AGM will be voted on a poll, rather than a show of hands, and all valid proxy votes cast will count towards the poll votes.SHAREHOLDER QUESTIONSWe encourage and value engagement with shareholders and if a shareholder would like to ask a question about the formal business of the Meeting, please email your questions to investor@ centaminplc.com by 4:00pm BST on Friday, 17 May 2024. Alternatively, questions can be raised via the webcast platform, or in person for those attending the AGM, before and during the formal business, to be answered at the end of the meeting.WEBCAST PRESENTATIONFor shareholders unable to attend in person, the Company will host a webcast of the Meeting, followed by a general investor presentation by the Executive Directors. Please note that shareholders cannot vote via the webcast.To join the webcast: https://www.lsegissuerservices.com/spark/Centamin/events/8f3e6d17-a356-482e-ac06-e267f12856cf Please allow a few minutes to register.A replay will be made available on the Company website.EXPLANATORY NOTEFor the purposes of complying with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule ("DTRs") 6.3.5R and the requirements imposed on issuers through the DTRs, the 2023 Annual Report, as submitted to the National Storage Mechanism, contains the following regulated information in unedited full text:The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Company Related party transactions The Directors' responsibility statement in respect of the financial statements and directors' report contained in the 2023 Annual Report.-END LEI: 213800PDI9G7OUKLPV84Company No: 109180This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@ lseg.com or visit www.rns.com SOURCE: Centamin PLC
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / In a brand new online article titled "How Renewable Energy Sources are Powering Sustainable Healthcare Facilities," Chadwick Robertson, a respected pharmacist and advocate for environmental sustainability, has been recognized for his innovative approach to integrating green energy solutions within the healthcare sector. The feature underscores the vital role that healthcare professionals like Robertson are playing in steering the industry toward a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.The healthcare industry, known for its substantial energy consumption due to the operation of medical equipment, lighting, and temperature control, is undergoing a transformative shift. Facilities are transitioning from traditional fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal power. This shift is not only a testament to the sector's commitment to environmental stewardship but also highlights a strategic pathway to reducing operational costs and enhancing patient care.Chadwick Robertson, at the helm of this transition, has been instrumental in advocating for and implementing renewable energy solutions in healthcare settings. "Renewable energy sources, once installed, offer a plethora of benefits, including significant cost savings and a cleaner, healthier environment for patients," Robertson remarks, emphasizing the dual benefits of this sustainable approach.The article details the multifaceted advantages of renewable energy in healthcare, from cost reduction and improved patient care to meeting broader sustainability goals. It also outlines practical strategies for implementing green energy solutions, including the adoption of solar power, wind energy, and geothermal heating and cooling systems. These initiatives not only contribute to a reduction in the carbon footprint of healthcare facilities but also ensure uninterrupted healthcare services, especially in regions prone to power outages.Despite the clear benefits, the transition to renewable energy in healthcare is not devoid of challenges. Initial costs, regulatory hurdles, and the need for specialized expertise are among the barriers faced. However, visionaries like Robertson underscore the importance of perseverance, governmental support, and public demand for sustainability in overcoming these obstacles.Chadwick Robertson's role extends beyond advocacy; he actively participates in the implementation of renewable energy solutions, demonstrating how healthcare professionals can significantly impact promoting sustainable practices. His work serves as a blueprint for others in the field, showcasing that commitment and innovation in healthcare can indeed pave the way for a more sustainable and healthier future for all.The online feature on renewable energy in healthcare facilities, spotlighting Chadwick Robertson's contributions, is an inspiring call to action for the healthcare industry. It underscores the pivotal role of renewable energy in shaping sustainable healthcare practices and the instrumental role healthcare professionals play in this evolution.To read the full article,click here .Contact: chadwick@ ubacare.com SOURCE: Chadwick Robertson
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TRONDHEIM, NORWAY / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Chiron AS, now part of ZeptoMetrix, has developed the world's very first commercially available microplastic reference materials. This revolutionary new product range, called MicroPRefs, was developed in close collaboration with the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and was made possible by grants from the EU project EUROqCHARM and Innovation Norway.Chiron by ZeptoMetrix Microplastic particles are found in large quantities in water, soil, and in the air. Plastic pollution of various kinds breaks down in nature into tiny particles. These range in size from macro- to nano-sized particles. Microplastics are also carriers of various environmental toxins such as PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) and brominated flame retardants, and cause significant environmental and health risks to communities around the world."In order to measure the quantity and type of microplastic substances present, there is a need for a yardstick or a 'reference material,' which is a material developed in the laboratory that can be used for comparison. ZeptoMetrix's Chiron AS business has now developed the very first commercially available microplastic reference materials for the six most abundant plastics in nature. New variants will follow successively throughout this year," stated Huiling Liu, Ph.D., Senior Director, R&D Analytical Reference Materials.MicroPRefs microplastic reference materials feature a novel tablet format containing a defined number of particles. The particles produced are of known plastic type and were designed to provide sizes and shapes that mimic microplastics found in nature. The tablets are dissolved in water and then analyzed using various methods and in parallel with real samples from nature.The first single polymer tablets produced contain microplastic particles ranging in size between 50 and 300 micron. Multi-polymer tablets contain a mixture of three different plastic types. Further variants containing different size, quantity and combinations of plastics are planned to support researchers in their endeavors."The need to monitor microplastics in our surroundings is paramount to protecting the ongoing health of our communities. ZeptoMetrix is committed to fostering innovations that will help solve real-world issues as laboratories around the world can now deliver microplastics test results with greater confidence," stated Evangeline Gonzalez, President of ZeptoMetrix. "In addition, our scientists are partnering with industry organizations and leading laboratories to incorporate microplastics into our innovative proficiency testing programs." About ZeptoMetrix Chiron AS is part of ZeptoMetrix, an Antylia Scientific company. ZeptoMetrix is the industry leader and manufacturer for innovative solutions solving challenges in the evolving Diagnostic Microbiology, Infectious Disease, and Oncology markets, as well as Analytical Reference Materials for the Applied Markets. We focus on our customers' success by providing premium product quality, reliability, and expert technical knowledge, enabling our customers to develop and advance many applications across diagnostics, pharmaceutical, environmental, food and beverage industries. From in-stock solutions to custom control and panel development, our scientific teams provide our customers with comprehensive, performance-oriented, and cost-effective products and services that positively impact the field of clinical diagnostics, analytical testing and contribute to a healthier world. ZeptoMetrix is a division of Antylia Scientific, an operating company of premier life science and diagnostic brands, including Cole-Parmer, Environmental Express and ZeptoMetrix.Contact Information Nancie GeddingsGlobal Business Development Leadernancie.geddings@antylia.com 1-843-277-5230Related FilesChiron AS Develops the World's First Commercial Microplastic Reference MaterialsSOURCE: ZeptoMetrixView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-09 15:03:10

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Sees Triple Digit Growth in Annual Sales from Partnership in First 12 MonthsNEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 /Chronosphere , the leading observability platform provider for cloud-native services and a Google Cloud Premier Partner, today announced at Google Cloud Next 24 that it is one of the fastest growing monitoring and observability offerings hosted on Google Cloud. The observability leader also revealed today a new integration with Google Cloud's Personalized Service Health (PSH).Chronospherepartneredwith Google Cloud to bring together the best in cloud native services and cloud native observability to hyper growth organizations. Teams can transform their observability data based on need, context, and utility-all delivered on Google Cloud. With Chronosphere, teams can store only the useful data to reduce cost and improve performance, gaining faster issue detection and resolution, up to 99.99% availability and open source compatibility-eliminating vendor lock-in."In just a year since forming our partnership, the demand from our joint customers such as Mixpanel and Dandy underscores the momentum towards a cloud native future," said Martin Mao, CEO and co-founder of Chronosphere. "Being a Google Cloud Premier Partner accelerates our ability to deliver this future to a broader group of customers, yielding impactful results that bolster their bottom lines." "Thanks to Chronosphere and Google Cloud, we can confidently scale while controlling data costs and delivering a fast and reliable patient experience," Jack Pierce, senior engineer at Dandy, the leading digital dental company. "Working with Kubernetes and Cloud Native industry leaders gives us the confidence to reach our company's mission of providing dentists with the industry's most trusted digital dental operating system." "We saw immediate value in Chronosphere's new Google Cloud Personalized Service Health integration. Having highly relevant incidents impacting the Google Cloud products we rely on overlayed in our most critical dashboards saves a lot of time. It's great to see Chronosphere and Google Cloud working together so closely!" Austin Pray, Staff TLM in charge of the DevInfra team at Mixpanel.The new Google Cloud Personalized Service Health integration enables customers to ingest events impacting Google Cloud product and services relevant to their projects into Chronosphere. These events identify when infrastructure changes occurred, providing responders with more information to help them better understand the full story related to the alerts and time series anomalies they are seeing. This enables engineers to respond to an issue quickly, reducing developer toil and improving their situational awareness during an incident."Google Cloud Personalized Service Health (PSH) helps customers gain visibility into events impacting the Google Cloud products they use," said Ritika Suri, Director of Technology Partnerships, Google Cloud. "Now, customers can natively create incident workflows from PSH that get triggered directly to the customer side, such as automated opening of tickets, sending alerts, etc, helping engineers be more effective and productive." Connect with Chronosphere at Google Next 24:Meet the Chronosphere team April 9 - 11 at the Chronosphere Booth, #541, in the Google Next Expo Hall. Chronosphere Head of Product and Solutions Marketing Rachel Dines will present our Google Personalized Service Health integration story on April 9th at 4:15 p.m. with her talk "It Wasn't Me! Immediately Identify Google Cloud Changes Impacting your Apps" in the Next StartUp Lounge. Join Chronosphere, Google Cloud, Pulumi and CrowdStrike on Tuesday, April 9, from 7 pm - 10 pm PTfor an epic day 1 after-party at minus5 Bar in Mandalay Bay. The event is first come, first served, with parkas, gloves and hats supplied. Afterwards, Chronosphere will be capping off the evening at the 1923 Prohibition Bar for vintage vibes, beverages, and appetizers. Spend the evening mingling with observability gurus and fellow cloud warriors, and swapping war stories. About ChronosphereChronosphere is the only cloud native observability solution that helps teams quickly resolve incidents before they impact the customer experience and the bottom line. Combined with the power of Calyptia, a leader in logging and observability pipeline solutions, Chronosphere's end-to-end observability platform helps teams rein in costs, improve developer productivity, and gain a competitive advantage. For more information, visit https://chronosphere.ioor follow Chronosphere onLinkedInandX .Media ContactEscalate PR for Chronospherechronosphere@ escalatepr.com SOURCE: Chronosphere
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-10 01:17:13

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RADNOR, PA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP informs investors that the firm has filed a securities fraud class action lawsuit against agilon health, inc. (NYSE:AGL) ("agilon" or the "Company"). This action, captioned Hope v. agilon health, inc., et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-00305, was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas and expanded the class period which was pled in a first-filed case in that same Court. After the Hope action was filed, another case was filed against agilon in another Court, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which even further expanded the class period as pled in the Hope action as that case is brought on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired agilon common stock between April 15, 2021, and February 27, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period").Important Deadline Reminder: The first-filed action in the Western District of Texas issued a notice of its filing pursuant to the federal securities laws which triggered the deadline of May 20, 2024, for any investors who purchased agilon common stock to seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. The filing of the Hope Action does not change the May 20, 2024, lead plaintiff deadline.CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR AGILON LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/agilon-health-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=agl&mktm=r CANNOT VIEW THIS VIDEO? PLEASE CLICK HERELEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: MAY 20, 2024CLASS PERIOD: APRIL 15, 2021, THROUGH FEBRUARY 27, 2024CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:Jonathan Naji, Esq. (484) 270-1453 or Email at info@ ktmc.com DEFENDANTS' MISCONDUCTagilon is a healthcare and technology company that acts as an intermediary between physician groups that provide medical services to senior citizens and Medicare and Medicare Advantage insurers. One of agilon's key financial metrics is "medical margin," which the Company defines as medical services revenue less medical services expenses.The Class Period begins on April 15, 2021, which is the day after the Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC and the first day agilon shares were publicly traded in connection with the IPO.Throughout the Class Period, Defendants repeatedly touted the strength of agilon's medical margin. Additionally, Defendants downplayed the significant cost pressures on the Company's medical margin and profitability. For example, on June 7, 2023, just days before other health insurers such as UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Humana Inc. reported significant increases in medical costs, Defendant Bensley, speaking at an analyst-sponsored healthcare conference, reported that Defendants "expect this year to generate somewhere around $550 million of medical margin," noting that the Company has seen "steady progress on medical margin upwards." Investors began to learn the truth about the cost pressures impacting agilon's medical margin and profitability on November 2, 2023, when the Company announced its third quarter 2023 financial results after the market closed. Critically, agilon reported a net loss of $31 million for the third quarter of 2023 and slashed its fiscal year 2023 medical margin to a range between $455 million and $470 million. Defendant Sell also assured investors that agilon's more conservative approach to guidance "should reduce the risk of negative claims development next year." On this news, the price of agilon common stock declined $3.78 per share, or more than 22% over two trading-days, from a close of $16.89 per share on November 2, 2023, to close at $13.11 per share on November 6, 2023.After several additional disclosures in November 2023, investors more fully learned the truth about the cost pressures on agilon's medical margin and profitability before the market opened on January 5, 2024, when agilon updated its fiscal year 2023 financial results and provided its initial outlook for 2024. Critically, agilon further slashed its 2023 medical margin guidance more than $100 million, to a range between $340 million and $360 million, due to "higher-than-expected medical costs." This represented a decline of more than 34% from the $550 million in medical margin it had predicted. On the related investor guidance call, Defendant Sell acknowledged that agilon "failed to recognize these elevated cost trends" and had "a data and analytics gap that led to [the Company] being late in both recognizing the magnitude and source of the utilization shifts." Defendant Sell further indicated that the increased cost trends were expected to persist through 2024. Also on January 5, 2024, Defendant Bensley announced that he would retire in 2024. On this news, the price of agilon common stock plummeted $3.45 per share, or nearly 29%, from a close of $12.08 per share on January 4, 2024, to close at $8.63 per share on January 5, 2024.Finally, on February 27, 2024, agilon disclosed that its 2023 medical margin had in fact come in at just $299 million for the year - far lower than the range of $340 million to $360 million provided just a few weeks prior. Furthermore, agilon slashed its 2024 medical margin guidance by 27%. On this news, the price of agilon common stock dropped from $6.48 per share when the market closed on February 27, 2024, to $6.04 per share on March 1, 2024, a 7% decline on abnormally heavy volume of a three-day period. In subsequent days, the price of agilon stock continued to decline, falling to a low of just $5.66 per share on March 6, 2024, more than 85% below the Class Period high.WHAT CAN I DO?agilon investors may, no later than May 20, 2024, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class, through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages agilon investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASEWHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Coppernico Metals Inc. ("Coppernico" or the "Company") is announcing that Mr. Steve Cook is retiring from his role as Independent Director and will remain as an advisor to the Company.Ivan Bebek, CEO of Coppernico stated, "We thank Steve for his significant contributions to the Company and its predecessor over the past 11 years. His role was valuable both at Auryn and through the spin-out of Coppernico Metals in 2020, as well as during the recent developments of achieving social access and key drill Permits for our Sombrero Project. We wish Steve all the best in his future endeavors and look forward to the potential opportunities for collaboration in the future." Coppernico remains committed to maintaining strong leadership and governance standards, with a dynamic board of directors ensuring continuity and success in its operations and endeavors.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSIvan Bebek Chair & CEOFor further information, please contact:Coppernico Metals Inc. Phone: +1 778 729 0600Email: info@ coppernicometals.com Website: www.coppernicometals.com Twitter: @CoppernicoMetal LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/coppernico-metals/ About CoppernicoCoppernico is a mineral exploration company focused on creating value for shareholders and stakeholders through careful project evaluation and exploration excellence in pursuit of the discovery of world-class copper-gold deposits in South America. The Company's management and technical teams have a successful track record of raising capital, discovery and the monetization of exploration successes. The Company is currently focused on the Sombrero project in Peru, its flagship project, and is reviewing additional premium projects in South America.Coppernico is currently an unlisted public reporting issuer. The Company intends to be listed on a recognized stock exchange once it qualifies. For more information, please visit www.coppernicometals.com No regulatory organization has approved the contents hereof.SOURCE: Coppernico Metals Inc.
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The transaction is poised to bolster DLT's Gross Sales and Net ProfitsLAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / DLT Resolution Inc. (OTC PINK:DLTI), a leading US publicly traded acquisition company, specializing in revitalizing and amplifying businesses. proudly announces the signing of a Term Sheet, through its wholly owned subsidiary Global Motor Trade International LLC, entering into a exclusive alliance -Agency agreement with Car Expo US Inc, Car Expo Operating Management, E.W. Transport LLC and Globe Trade USA LLC. This strategic alliance further reinforces DLT Resolution Inc.'s commitment to its growth strategy and market expansion. In 2023 the Car Expo Group of Companies generated $16,109,000 in sales in their automotive export business.The exclusive agency alliance highlights DLT Resolution Inc.'s foresight in cultivating a diversified and innovative portfolio aligned with evolving market demands.Drew Reid, Executive Chairman of DLT Resolution Inc., stated, "This agency alliance marks yet another significant step towards building our Global Motor Trade brand, strengthening our offerings and diversified holdings. We are driven by a shared vision of innovation, excellence, and value creation for our customers and stakeholders." Charles Brofman of Global Motor Trade Group of Companies expressed enthusiasm, stating, "the signing of a strategic alliance with Car Expo US Inc and its subsidiaries is a major milestone of growth for our emerging business. Yefim Slutsky brings 17 years of experience and year after year of profitability to our team. Car Expo focuses its export business on the markets of Japan, Australia and Europe and brings another dimension to our business".Yefim Slutsky, representing The Car Expo USA Inc group of companies, radiated enthusiasm as he expressed, "We're thrilled to join forces in this venture. Drew Reid's and Charles Brofman's vision for DLTI harmonizes seamlessly with our growth aspirations. We're already strategizing to elevate our revenue to new heights within the first twelve months of our alliance." Empowering Future GrowthThe Corporation's Global Motor Trade Group of Companies, based in the United States, specializes in international vehicle, vehicle parts and equipment, and machinery and equipment, wholesale distribution and sale, with a primary focus on United States, Canada, Mexico, Southeast Asia, China, Europe, Dubai, Africa, Japan, Israel, Australia and other markets worldwide.Management of DLT believes that the consolidated gross revenues of the company will now exceed $100,000,000 over a twelve-month period of time from the date following the closure of the previously disclosed Marshall Group acquisition. This first phase of the business arrangement is a exclusive agency agreement with an option to purchase within 3 years - stock transaction, (4.5% of EBITA), restricted common shares of DLTI issued to the venders.Multiple Add-On Acquisitions PlannedDLT Resolution Inc. is on track to finalize multiple acquisitions within this calendar year, aiming to catalyze growth and expand its market footprint.Advancing into the FutureThe strategic exclusive business alliance with the Car Expo Group of Companies signifies a substantial step towards amplifying value and expanding horizons. Bringing new software technologies to the import/export market will be in the forefront of strategic planning. With a shared commitment to innovation and customer-centric excellence, DLT Resolution Inc. is poised to create a lasting impact across sectors, forging an exciting path forward.About DLT Resolution Inc.Amplifying Value - Where strategic acquisitions meet innovation in the dynamic world of technology and beyond. As a US publicly traded acquisition company, we specialize in revitalizing and amplifying businesses. Our mission is to navigate through suppressed profits and tightening credit markets, empowering small to mid-sized companies with seamless succession plans. By offering them the opportunity to transition their existing ownership for publicly traded shares, we ensure increased valuations and liquidity, driving growth and profitability for all stakeholders. Join us in reshaping the future of business. For more information visit: www.dltresolution.com Making Good Companies Exceptional.CONTACT:Drew A. ReidExecutive Chair & CEO1 (800) 463-5465 dreid@ dltresolution.comwww.dltresolution.com Disclaimer: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations or forecasts of future events, can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, and are subject to various business risks and known and unknown uncertainties, a number of which are beyond the control of management. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information respecting the factors that could materially affect the Company and its operations are contained in its annual report on Form 10K and Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.SOURCE: DLT Resolution Inc.
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Golden Promise Gold Property Central NewfoundlandVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / GREAT ATLANTIC RESOURCES CORP. ( TSXV.GR) (the "Company" or "Great Atlantic") is pleased to announce it has received additional analytical results for rock samples it collected at the Golden Promise Gold Property, located in Central Newfoundland. The property is 100% owned by Great Atlantic's wholly owned subsidiary, Golden Promise Mines Inc. ("GPM") a gold development company which wholly owns several projects in Central Newfoundland.Glacial float and outcrop samples from a target area in the southwest region of the property returned anomalous vanadium values (two samples exceeded 1,000 parts per million (ppm)(> 0.1% V)) and anomalous gold values (up to 97 parts per billion (ppb)). One sample from this area also yielded anomalous copper, nickel and molybdenum values.Great Atlantic conducted prospecting and rock geochemical sampling during the summer of 2023 at a new target area in the southwest region of the Golden Promise Property. The area was chosen due to reported bedrock geology which is favourable to host gold mineralization. The work was conducted near the reported contact of the Stanley Waters Formation and the Lawrence Harbour Formation, both part of the Victoria Lake Supergroup (Rogers et al., 2005). Gold bearing quartz veins elsewhere within the Golden Promise Properrty occur near the contact of these two formations. This 2023 work area is approximately 1.5 kilometers south of the gold bearing Linda / Snow White gold bearing quartz vein system.Five rock grab samples collected within a small approximately 17 meters by 15 meters area in this southwest region returned anomalous gold and vanadium values. Four of these samples were collected from outcrop while one sample was collected from glacial float. All consist of dark shale with pyrite and +/- quartz veining.Two samples (float and outcrop) yielded anomalous values of 94 and 97 ppb gold (highest values) with both exceeding the upper analytical limit of 1,000 ppm vanadium (>0.1% V). Three other outcrop samples from this area yielded anomalous gold values of 54-86 ppb gold and anomalous vanadium values of 583-771 ppm. The float sample also yielded anomalous values of 398 ppm copper, 306 ppm nickel and 108 ppm molybdenum.Great Atlantic plans to re-submit the two samples exceeding 1,000 ppm vanadium for additional analysis to determine the actual vanadium content.GPM is planning additional work during the 2024 field season within the southwest region of the Golden Promise Property with work to be focused in the area of the 2023 anomalous samples and elsewhere near the reported contacts of the Stanley Waters and Lawrence Harbour formations. Prospecting, rock - soil geochemical sampling and geophysical surveys are planned.The Golden Promise Property is located within the Exploits Subzone of the Newfoundland Dunnage Zone.The property is located approximately 50 kilometers northeast of the Valentine Gold Mine of Calibre Mining Corp.( TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) which is also located within the Exploits Subzone.Readers are warned that mineralization at the Valentine Gold Mine is not necessarily indicative of mineralization at the Golden Promise Property.The 2023 rock samples referred to in this news release were analyzed for gold (fire assay - AA) and for 34 elements (four acid digestion and ICP-OES analysis) by Eastern Analytical Ltd, which is independent of Great Atlantic. The 2023 exploration program at the Golden Promise Property was managed and supervised by a Qualified Person.David Martin, P.Geo. (New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador), a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and VP Exploration for Great Atlantic, is responsible for the technical information contained in this News Release.On Behalf of the board of directors"Christopher R Anderson"Mr. Christopher R. AndersonPresident CEO Director604-488-3900 - OfficeInvestor Relations: 1-416-628-1560 IR @ GreatAtlanticResources.com About Great Atlantic Resources Corp.:Great Atlantic Resources Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on the discovery and development of mineral assets in the resource-rich and sovereign risk-free realm of Atlantic Canada, one of the number one mining regions of the world. Great Atlantic is currently surging forward building the company utilizing a Project Generation model, with a special focus on the most critical elements on the planet that are prominent in Atlantic Canada, Gold, Copper, Zinc, Nickel, Cobalt, Antimony and Tungsten.This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities and events or developments that the Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of financing, and general economic, market or business conditions.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.Great Atlantic Resource Corp.888 Dunsmuir Street - Suite 888, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4SOURCE: Great Atlantic Resources Corp.
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Colorado-Based Companies Foster Powerful Collaboration With Shared Goals of Supporting Agents and HomeownersDENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, a leading provider of real estate home service plans, will be the preferred home service plan provider for Brokers Guild Real Estate, a major real estate brokerage in Colorado."Providing 2-10's exceptional Buyer and Seller Coverage is a powerful tool for real estate brokerages looking to support agent success and improve the experience of homeownership," said 2-10's Chief Business Officer Ray Picard. "2-10's trusted coverage enhances Brokers Guild's strategy of giving their agents a competitive advantage in one of the hottest housing markets in the nation." Home service plans are the leading home-selling incentive to attract buyers in 2024. The two Colorado-based companies are joining forces to help real estate agents protect their transactions, stand out in the market and implement risk management strategies."2-10 positions our agents to pursue more success by offering valuable peace of mind to buyers and sellers throughout and beyond the most meaningful transaction of their lives," said Brokers Guild Real Estate's Chief Executive Officer Luis Gonzalez. "For more than 45 years, Brokers Guild Real Estate has taken immense pride in empowering our agents to do the right thing, achieve success and provide outstanding service to our clients that exceeds expectations-2-10 allows us to do that even more effectively." 2-10 anticipates that the ability of Brokers Guild to offer 2-10 home service plans will strengthen listings; address common causes of buyer's remorse; and improve the transaction experience for agents, buyers and sellers."2-10 is the name real estate agents trust to protect their transactions, bolster their reputations and support their clients," said 2-10's Vice President of Real Estate Sales Leo Jaisingani. "We're confident that 2-10 home service plans will add value to the services Brokers Guild's agents offer." To learn more about how 2-10 helps agents provide the comprehensive, flexible and convenient coverage their clients deserve, visit 2-10.com/agent.About 2-10Founded and based in Denver, the 2-10 family of companies has covered over 6 million homes with their complete line of warranties, system and appliance home service plans and risk management products. Since 1980, 2-10 has been a market leader in helping builders, real estate agents and homeowners protect their businesses and budgets against the unexpected. 2-10 continues to work with thousands of the nation's finest real estate professionals, home builders and service contractors. For more information about 2-10, please visit 2-10.com.About Brokers Guild Real EstateSince 1978, Brokers Guild Real Estate has offered positive, friendly and reliable services to both home buyers and sellers. Brokers Guild Real Estate empowers agents to represent buyers and sellers without resorting to high-pressure sales tactics that are commonly used at other brokerages. Brokers Guild Real Estate strives to provide the best possible experience for agents, buyers and sellers alike. For more information about Brokers Guild Real Estate, visit brokersguildrealestate.com/ Contact Information:Mark PlumbMarketing Managermplumb@2-10.com 720.747.6142SOURCE: 2-10 Home Buyers WarrantyView the original press release on newswire.com
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Backed by experience and expertise in financial modeling, Level1Analytics and Intraprise Solutions deliver an established and scalable valuation platform for the banking industryPHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Intraprise Solutions, Inc. and Level1Analytics LLC are proud to announce that they have merged. Operating as Intraprise Solutions, Inc., the combined organization will offer Level1Analytics, an affordable, accurate, market valuation and stress testing Software as a Service solution.This merger brings resources to bear that will improve the current Level1Analytics product to its most capable and scalable version. They look forward to combining their unique skill sets and experience in offering financial modeling capabilities to financial institutions of any size, allowing such institutions to maximally leverage their data in new and innovative ways.Offering 25+ years of experience and expertise, Intraprise, alongside their long-standing partnership with Level1Analytics, possesses a diverse set of skills well-suited to serve financial institutions, offering strategic advisory services, technical operations advising, cloud migration, and data & software engineering. Intraprise's extensive domain knowledge will serve to support and facilitate growth within the Level1Analytics product.Providing timely, accurate, and affordable valuation software, Level1Analytics eagerly partners with Intraprise, taking the opportunity to enhance the Level1Analytics product, while continuing to offer their clients quick valuation turnaround time, data insights, reporting, and personalized service. Level1Analytics looks forward to the opportunity to expand their reach."Valuation software requires in-depth understanding of finance and the capital markets, as well as the ability to continuously enhance the software to reflect emerging technology and regulatory and market demands," said Dr. Thomas J. Healy, CMB, Chief Strategy Officer at Level1Analytics, "The merger of Level1Analytics and Intraprise accomplishes that." Joe Brown, Intraprise's Chief Executive Officer, shares, "We are excited to start this next chapter in our partnership, which began nearly 20 years ago. This merger will allow us to work more closely, driving innovation by combining Intraprise's marketing and software engineering know-how with Level1Analytics's subject matter expertise and industry-leading valuation technology. Together we will maximize business growth through an enhanced user experience." The pairing of the two companies' expertise provides an opportunity for advancement and growth of the Level1Analytics product. Delivering software and accompanying services that ensure clients' needs are met efficiently, the Intraprise and Level1Analytics teams will together deploy valuation software that will enable financial organizations to compete effectively in today's digital economy.Contact Information:Laura RobertoVP, Business Development & Digital Engagementlroberto@ intraprise.com (267)274-2290Related VideoSOURCE: Intraprise SolutionsView the original press release on newswire.com
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Identity Automation Launches New Program In Partnership with K12 SIX to Counteract Rising Spear Phishing Threats targeting K-12 School DistrictsHOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / In a proactive response to a marked increase in sophisticated cyberattacks targeting educational institutions, Identity Automation today announced the launch of its groundbreaking Phishing Protection Program, aimed at providing unparalleled phishing protection for K-12 school districts across the United States. This initiative-launched in partnership with the K12 Security Information eXchange (K12 SIX)-comes on the heels of a recent white paper by PIXM, which sheds light on the escalating menace of spear phishing campaigns, meticulously orchestrated by the infamous cyber threat groups, Tycoon and Storm-1575.The Escalating Threat LandscapeThewhite paperdetails an alarming spike in Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) phishing attacks, utilizing sophisticated "Attack in The Middle" (AiTM) techniques to compromise the digital integrity of U.S. school districts. These tactics, designed to bypass conventional MFA safeguards, underscore a worrying evolution in Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS), enabling attackers to tailor their strategies with alarming precision.A Call for Advanced Defensive MeasuresThe implications of such targeted attacks are severe, posing not just the risk of credential theft but also the potential for subsequent malicious activities, including the installation of trojans and ransomware. These incidents can lead to significant financial and reputational repercussions for the affected districts.Against this backdrop, the reliance on traditional cybersecurity measures and the human element of security training is deemed insufficient. Identity Automation's PhishID program emerges as a critical solution, leveraging cutting-edge AI algorithms to detect and neutralize phishing attempts in real-time. PhishID catches the attacks that slip by user training and content filtering measures that generally only work against known threats and are mostly focused on attacks that come through email, not text or messaging apps.Identity Automation's Commitment to School SecurityIn alignment with the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency's guidance and theSecure by Design Pledge , Identity Automation is dedicating its resources to bolster the cybersecurity posture of K-12 education. This special initiative is being launched for K12 SIX members, offering the most innovative and proven phishing protection available to U.S. districts at no cost.Empowering Districts to Take a StandIdentity Automation invites all K-12 school districts to join the Phishing Protection Program, a move that not only fortifies their defenses against cyber threats but also ensures the safety and security of the educational ecosystem. By adopting PhishID for full-time employee accounts, districts can take a significant step towards achieving comprehensive cybersecurity resilience."We are at a pivotal moment in the fight against cyber threats targeting our schools," said Michael Webb, Chief Product Officer, at Identity Automation. "By offering PhishID for free to full-time employee accounts, we are not only addressing the immediate threat but also laying the groundwork for a more secure future for our educational institutions." About Identity AutomationIdentity Automation provides identity and access management (IAM) solutions for K-12 and higher education. Its flagship platform, RapidIdentity, safeguards learning environments, maximizes instructional time, and minimizes the load on Information & Educational Technology teams. Technology leaders turn to RapidIdentity for its best-in-class security capabilities, time-saving automation, and flexible approach to managing digital identities. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Identity Automation is trusted by Chicago Public Schools, Public Schools of North Carolina, University of Rochester, Houston Community College, and hundreds of other institutions. To learn more about partnering with Identity Automation, visitwww.identityautomation.com Identity Automation Contact:marketing@ identityautomation.com SOURCE: Identity+Automation
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / In a landmark achievement, Kelp.org , the pioneering project at the forefront of blending artificial intelligence ( AI ), decentralized finance ( DeFi ), and dynamic monetary policy, has surpassed a staggering $350,000 raised in their Initial Coin Offering ( ICO ) phase. This milestone marks a significant step forward for Kelp.org as it continues to disrupt and innovate in the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.Since its inception, Kelp.org has captured the imagination of investors and enthusiasts alike with its visionary approach to redefining the future of finance. With a mission to democratize access to advanced trading strategies and empower users through decentralized financial solutions, Kelp.org has quickly emerged as a leading player in the ever-evolving landscape of DeFi.The success of Kelp.org's ICO is a testament to the project's compelling vision and the unwavering support of its community. Investors from around the world have rallied behind Kelp.org , recognizing the immense potential for growth and innovation that the project represents. With over $350,000 raised, Kelp.org is well-positioned to accelerate its development efforts and bring its groundbreaking platform to fruition.What sets Kelp.org apart is its commitment to security, scalability, and user-centric innovation. By leveraging advanced AI technology, Kelp.org's Autonomous Trading Engine ( K.A.T.E. ) empowers users with unparalleled efficiency and precision in their investment strategies. Coupled with a dynamic monetary policy designed to stabilize the value of the Kelp token, Kelp.org is poised to revolutionize the DeFi landscape and reshape the future of finance.As Kelp.org continues to gain momentum and attract attention from investors and industry insiders alike, the project's ICO represents a unique opportunity for those looking to be part of the next big thing in cryptocurrency. With the ICO phase well underway and momentum building, now is the time to join the Kelp.org community and secure your stake in the future of finance.Don't miss out on this historic opportunity to be part of Kelp.org's journey towards reshaping the financial landscape. Join the ICO today and become a part of the revolution in decentralized finance. Together, we can unlock the full potential of blockchain technology and create a more inclusive and equitable financial system for all.Media Contact:CEO: Edward BishopWebsite: Kelp.orgTwitter:Kelporg TwitterTelegram:Kelp TelegramEmail:janderson@ kelp.org SOURCE: KELP
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New Product Empowers Millions of Unbanked Mexicans for In-Store Purchases Regardless of Internet ConnectivityGUADALAJARA, MX / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Kueski , the leading buy now, pay later (BNPL) and online consumer lender in Latin America, announced the launch of the in-store version of Kueski Pay, which will become available to all consumers by the end of Q2 of 2024. With this innovative product, customers will have the ability to complete transactions through the Kueski mobile app, regardless of internet connection, in physical stores.Buy now and pay later in-store from your app and without internet connection This solution is a paradigm shift in Mexico since most of the country's consumers lack access to banking services or reliable internet connectivity when shopping in person. A study from the Bank of Mexico revealed that 80% of retail transactions are still made in cash. With these barriers removed, Kueski will create greater connections between millions of consumers and merchants."Achieving instant mobile payments regardless of internet connectivity will be the ultimate game changer for the modern Mexican consumer," said Jaime Romero, Chief Technology Officer at Kueski. "At Kueski, we have built one of the strongest merchant networks in Mexico and this only continues to grow. Nearly 60% of our users state that if Kueski Pay hadn't been a choice for paying for their last purchase, they wouldn't have made it. With this payment option now easier than ever, our thousands of in-store partner merchants can capitalize on the desire to attract more customers and drive greater sales." Kueski's mission is to facilitate the financial lives of Mexicans, and this latest innovation represents a significant step toward financial inclusion for all. It is also the next step in meeting consumer demand, with almost 70% of Kueski customers expressing interest in utilizing this payment option in physical stores.Kueski announced earlier this year that it is now available on Amazon Mexico and is a payment option for some of the world's largest brands, including Estee Lauder, MAC, Clinique, Adidas and thousands more, as well as brands from small and medium-sized businesses. Kueski continues to gain momentum as the strongest BNPL and consumer lender, with nearly 16 million loans issued. According to the "Upsurge of Latam BNPL" report by Morgan Stanley, Kueski Pay is the preferred merchant partner for BNPL in Latin America and has the highest penetration in the top 150 e-commerce merchants in Mexico. Kueski now estimates that 1 in 4 of the top e-commerce merchants in Mexico is offering its BNPL service.About KueskiKueski is the leading buy now, pay later (BNPL) and online consumer credit platform in Latin America, known for its innovative financial services. Its flagship product, Kueski Pay, allows customers to make purchases and pay later, both online and in-store. Additionally, the company offers Kueski Cash, a personal loan product. Applying artificial intelligence, Kueski enhances access to financial services at scale. To date, the company has issued nearly 16 million loans throughout Mexico, benefiting individuals and entrepreneurs. Notably, a quarter of Mexico's top e-commerce merchants now offer Kueski Pay as a payment option. Learn more at Kueski's website: https://www.kueskipay.com/ Press contacts:Karen Herrera - karen.herrera@kueski.com Holland Eichorn - kueski@ calibercorporate.com SOURCE: Kueski
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Fischer brings a wealth of experience spanning more than two decades in the senior living industry following her successful tenure as West Division Vice President at Brookdale Senior Living.BONITA SPRINGS, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 /Discovery Senior Living ("Discovery") is excited to share its operating company, Integral Senior Living ("ISL") has named Laura Fischer as its Chief Operating Officer.Laura Fischer Discovery Senior Living welcomes Laura Fischer as Chief Operating Officer for their Integral Senior Living operating company.Fischer joins ISL with more than 23 years of experience in the senior living industry. She most recently held the role of West Division Vice President for Brookdale Senior Living, supporting more than 300 communities across 18 states. Fischer also has experience at the Vice President of Operations, Regional Director of Operations, and Executive Director levels, and currently serves as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the California Assisted Living Association."Laura's experience and success in the senior living industry will be an integral part of how we continue to grow and drive results in our portfolio," said Collette Gray, President and CEO of Integral Senior Living. "We look forward to incorporating her vast experience with our leadership and community teams to do the most important work of serving our wonderful family of residents and associates." As Chief Operating Officer for ISL, Fischer will be tasked with overseeing all operational functions, setting goals for performance and growth, and creating and implementing business strategies for execution."What attracted me to ISL was its positive and distinguished impact on the industry, and commitment to maintaining a supportive and inclusive culture at all levels," said Fischer. "My experience in senior living will help me provide new perspectives, as well as learn from some of the best professionals in the business." "I am tremendously excited that Laura will be partnering with Collette to take ISL to even greater heights of performance, in their ongoing efforts to provide the absolute best experiences for all of their stakeholders," said Richard Hutchinson, CEO of Discovery Senior Living. "Laura is a prime example of our ongoing commitment to add high performing, experienced, and dedicated professionals who share our vision of creating an evolved operating company." Born and raised in the Bay Area, Fischer has spent most of her life in California. She received her bachelor's degree in business from Arizona State University and is slated to complete her MBA in April of this year.About Discovery Senior LivingDiscovery Senior Living is a family of companies that includes Discovery Management Group, Integral Senior Living, Provincial Senior Living, Morada Senior Living, TerraBella Senior Living, LakeHouse Senior Living, Arvum Senior Living, Discovery Development Group, Discovery Design Concepts, STAT Marketing, and Discovery At Home. With three decades of experience, the award-winning management team has been developing, building, marketing, and managing diverse senior-living communities across the United States. By leveraging its innovative "Experiential Living" philosophy across a growing portfolio in excess of 300 communities and over 30,000 homes in nearly 40 states, Discovery Senior Living is a recognized industry leader for performance, innovation and lifestyle customization and, today, ranks among the 5 largest U.S. senior living operators.Contact Information:Heidi LaVanwayVice President of Marketinghlavanway@ discoverymgt.com 239.301.5330SOURCE: Discovery Senior LivingView the original press release on newswire.com
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ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Atlanta-based ophthalmologist and LASIK eye surgeon Dr. Eugene Smith, Medical Director of Lasik PlusAtlanta, recently performed his 150,000th laser vision correction procedure, reaching a major career milestone few other local LASIK eye surgeons in the nation have achieved. Working with an amazing team of optometrists, technicians, and other healthcare professionals, Dr. Smith has been humbly and faithfully serving the local Atlanta community for nearly 30 years and is excited to continue to do so for years to come.Dr. Smith is a laser vision correction specialist and a pioneer in the field of refractive surgery, having dedicated most of his career to laser vision surgery. Dr. Smith received his undergraduate degree from University of Georgia and his medical degree from Medical College of Georgia. He completed residency in Ophthalmology at Brown University School of Medicine. After medical school, Dr. Smith completed seven years of surgical training, including a transitional surgery internship at the University of Hawaii and his Ophthalmology residency at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He completed an American Society of Oculo Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) approved Fellowship in Tucson, AZ. He then completed an Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Plastic Surgery Fellowship, in Honolulu, HI, in 1998.Dr. Smith helped launch the Lasik Plusvision centers in Atlanta over 25 years ago and has performed over 150,000 laser vision correction surgeries during that time. Dr. Smith was a long-standing member of the Lasik PlusMedical Advisory Board as well as a leader of the Physician Leadership Council, where he continues to contribute best practices for achieving clinical and operational excellence. When not helping patients with the wonders of laser vision correction, Dr. Smith's hobbies include scuba diving, flying planes, snowboarding, mixed martial arts, reading and spending time with his family."It is a privilege to celebrate this amazing clinical milestone with Dr. Smith. Dr. Smith has been a key member of our LASIK physician community for approximately 30 years, and we look forward to many years going forward of Dr. Smith continuing to help patients in the greater Atlanta community, and helping our physician partners continue to learn and hone their expertise. It is truly inspiring that Truist Park in Atlanta can be filled approximately two times over with the number of patients Dr. Smith has successfully helped in the greater Atlanta area," says Craig Joffe, Chief Executive Officer of Lasik Plus ."Helping patients in the Atlanta community with the miracle of laser vision correction has been one of the greatest honors and privileges of my life. I am passionate about the work we do and look forward to many more years of serving my patients and my team," commented Dr. Smith. "LASIK heals quickly and is the most accurate and predictable surgery I have ever performed. It is incredibly rewarding for me to see so many happy LASIK patients!"Click here for a Video Congratulations Compilation from Dr. Smith's colleagues.Read more about what patients are saying here.Learn more about Dr. Eugene Smith here.Book a free LASIK consultation with Dr. Eugene Smith or other trusted LASIK doctors on the LASIK.com network.Read more about Lasik Plusand its History-Our Promise and Commitment to patients remains the same as it has since the company was founded by a surgeon over 30 years ago: Providing patients across the country, "red carpet" patient care & customer service, industry-leading value and affordability, with access to some of the most experienced LASIK physicians in the United States using advanced All-Laser LASIK technology.Contact InformationChris HornDirector - Marketingchorn@ lasikplus.com (866) 921-2392Marketing LeadershipMarketing Leadershipmarketing@ lasik.com (866) 921-2392SOURCE: LasikPlusView the original press release on newswire.com
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Start a new career in as little as three weeks and get freedom of flexibilityDENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / As residents of one of the most lucrative states to be a real estate agent in, Mainers can now start their real estate career with the new Salesperson Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course from The CE Shop, a trusted and established education provider. This 55-hour, online course now offers Mainers the opportunity to launch a rewarding career as a real estate agent.The CE Shop With student support seven days a week, 100% online and mobile-friendly learning, and interactive content to make memorization easier, The CE Shop offers the highest pass rates in the nation to ensure confidence and ease on the path to career growth. With an average annual income of $92,793 ( Indeed.com) , Maine real estate agents rank higher than many states.Starting at $399, packages are affordable and range from course-only to a value package that includes ProPath, professional development courses, to accelerate success with real-world insight.The CE Shop has been serving the community with Continuing Education in Maine for years. For those looking to maintain their license and stay ahead of the competition, The CE Shop continues to offer a diverse set of Continuing Education courses that highlight current topics and new regulations affecting the real estate industry.This new Pre-Licensing course from The CE Shop covers everything needed to successfully prepare for the national and state licensing exams. Learn more about Maine real estate offerings and start a free trial to see how professionals can increase their income potential today.About The CE Shop The CE Shop is the leading provider of professional real estate education with online mortgage, real estate, home inspection, and appraisal courses available throughout the United States. The CE Shop produces and provides quality education for professionals across the nation, whether they are veterans in their industry or are looking to launch a new career. We believe that the right education can truly make a difference. Visit TheCEShop.com to learn more.Contact InformationBuse Kayarbuse.kayar@issuerdirect.com SOURCE: The CE ShopView the original press release on newswire.com
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Hagens Berman urges Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NYSE:NOVA) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Feb. 25, 2020 - Dec. 7, 2023 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Apr. 16, 2024 Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/NOVAContact An Attorney Now: NOVA@ hbsslaw.com844-916-0895 Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NOVA) Securities Fraud Class Action:The litigation focuses on Sunnova's disclosures about its business practices and the recent award by the Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) of a $3 billion partial loan guarantee pursuant to a new solar loan channel named Project Hestia.The complaint alleges that Sunnova made misleading statements and failed to disclose that: (1) it routinely engaged in predatory business practices against disadvantaged homeowners and communities, the same groups that Project Hestia was purportedly intended to benefit; and (2) the foregoing conduct subjected it to a heightened risk of regulatory and government scrutiny, as well as significant reputational and/or financial harm.That loan guarantee and associated benefits to Sunnova were all placed at risk of not coming to fruition on Dec. 7, 2023, after the Chair of the US House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Ranking Member of the US Senate Energy and Resources Committee sent a letter to the LPO Director (Jigar Shah) regarding "disturbing reports" about Sunnova and demanding additional information and documents by no later than Dec. 21, 2023.The Chair and Ranking Member wrote that they were alarmed about: (1) "recent, credible reports that Sunnova has racked up numerous consumer complaints, including those alleging troubling sales practices, such as Sunnova pressing elderly homeowners in poor health to sign long-term contracts costing tens of thousands of dollars[;]" (2) "predatory sales strategies[;]" and (3) "[a]dditional reports suggest these troubling reports are not isolated incidents".This news sent the price of Sunnova shares down $2, or about 16%, on Dec. 8, 2023.If you invested in Sunnova 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 Sunnova case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Sunnova 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 NOVA@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. 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
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By Alex WilkinsNORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Cisco Systems Inc.This is the second blog in our three-part series about Cisco Foundation climate grantees working in the Amazon and South America region. You can read our first blog, about how Cisco Foundation Grantees prioritize Indigenous leadership to protect the Amazon Basin. This series will introduce you to eight Cisco Foundation Climate Impact & Regeneration grantees working to support preservation and protection of the Amazon basin through three main avenues, all of which are deeply entangled and in tandem serve to promote enduring environmental protection and preservation: Prioritizing Indigenous Sovereignty, Promoting Sustainable Livelihood Opportunities, and Scaling Innovative Financing Opportunities.This blog was constructed in partnership with my colleagues at Kara Solar: Nantu Canelos and Oliver Utne; Andes Amazon Conservancy, Rebecca Allen; Terraso, Derek Caelin; and Risaralda Model Forest, John Rodriguez.The Amazon rainforest is a biodiverse tropical ecosystem that spans nine South American countries, is home to over 500 Indigenous groups, and contains 10% of the world's biodiversity. Not only does the Amazon bioregion positively impact broader South America, but it supports life around the world by stabilizing global temperatures and rainfall patterns. Yet, the region is facing enormous pressure from industrial practices such as gold mining, oil drilling, and deforestation for timber and agricultural land. It is clear that urgent action is needed to protect the future of the Amazon and its surrounding ecoregions, but to navigate highly complex sociocultural and geopolitical dynamics can be a daunting task.Fortunately, a pathway through such complexity known as sustainable livelihood opportunities' or sustainable development' is rising to the forefront of modern conservation discourse. The term emerged from the United Nations (UN) Conference on Environment and Development summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, often known as the "Earth Summit." Not only did this summit establish the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, along with several other high-impact commissions, but it prominently highlighted how environmental, social, and economic factors are deeply entangled, and can be pursued in harmony with one another on a global scale.According to the WWF (formerly World Wildlife Fund for Nature), many of the most important strategies for protecting terrestrial ecosystems in the Amazon combine traditional conservation methods with sustainable landscape management practices. A multitude of opportunities and methods are rising to the forefront of modern discourse around South American ecosystem protection through practices like agroforestry and sustainable fishing. The key for these opportunities is to identify alternatives to destructive practices like intensive logging, and co-create participatory management with local communities.What does this look like in practice? It's my pleasure to introduce you to three Cisco Foundation grantees that are working to provide sustainable economic empowerment to local, often Indigenous, communities throughout the Amazon and its connected, neighboring ecosystems across South America.Transportation sovereignty empowered by Kara SolarKara Solar formed in 2018 from an alliance between the Achuar people in Ecuador, and a multi-disciplinary engineering, design, and development team, with a clear vision to empower Indigenous communities in the Amazon with solar energy.According to Kara Solar's Executive Director, Nantu Canelos, the "lack of access to electricity in Indigenous communities limits our ability to access technology, improve the health and well-being of our people, and develop business that economically support our communities." Kara Solar seeks to alleviate these pressures through three interconnected approaches: solar river transport, training Indigenous electrical technicians, and localized community energy grids.This new model of transportation provides communities with "travel and energy sovereignty," or the ability for communities to implement and manage resilient transportation and energy systems in their own territories, on their own terms. Nantu illustrates the importance and elegance of travel sovereignty: "it improves the quality of life of Indigenous communities and helps to conserve the environment." To bring this to life, Kara Solar provides training programs, localized supply chains, innovative financing mechanisms, and technical implementation. They now support a fleet of 9 boats, and 3 community solar energy grids which currently serve over 3000 people. A critical part of this model is training Indigenous technicians, which ensures the capacity to address mechanical breakdowns is local and therefore more readily available, and it provides a source of income to those who have newly developed technical skills."Kara" is an Achuar word for a vision that becomes real. Kara Solar's vision is clear, ambitious, and in alignment with Cisco's priority to accelerate the transition to clean energy while supporting resiliency and capacity.According to Nantu, "Our vision for the future is one in which Indigenous communities move independently and autonomously with solar powered river transportation and use solar energy to illuminate homes and businesses, access technology and information, improve the health and well-being of community members, protect territories, and promote sustainable development. We are working to protect Indigenous culture and ensure that future generations are able to use technology to create new solutions that benefit the environment and humanity. We seek the protection of forests for the well-being of humanity." Andes Amazon Conservancy's Edible Forest Initiative supports food sovereigntyAndes Amazon Conservancy (AAC), and their new sister nonprofit organization Biocorredores Amazonicos, seek to maintain critical connectivity, or "eco-cultural corridors" among the landscapes between the Andes Mountains and the Amazon basin by centering Indigenous-led conservation in Ecuador and innovative land-use planning. AAC currently engages with 75 Indigenous communities.One of AAC's flagship programs, the Edible Forest Initiative, contributes to AAC's overall goal of creating a 175-mile-long corridor and protecting 6 million acres of land.According to Executive Director Rebecca Allen, "Communities participating in the Edible Forest Initiative are planting 20,000 culturally relevant native fruit and nut trees over 300 acres of carefully chosen land." When these trees reach maturity, in an anticipated 5-years' time, they will not only connect vast swaths o
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Quality Industrial Corp. (OTC PINK:QIND), is a Manufacturer and Service Provider for the Industrial, Oil & Gas and Utility sectors. The company recently acquired a 51% interest in the United Arab Emirates headquartered, Al Shola Al Modea Gas Distribution LLC (Al Shola Gas) and is focused on the integration and expansion of the completed new acquisition.On March 27, 2024, QIND signed a definitive Stock Purchase Agreement with the shareholders of Al Shola Gas to acquire a 51% interest in the company with an option to buy the remaining 49% within 2 years. The closing of the transaction took place when both parties signed the definitive agreement. Having obtained control upon execution of the Stock Purchase Agreement, QIND now occupies two of the three board seats of Al Shola Gas, including the seat of Chairman of the Board.Established in 1980, Al Shola Gas is a United Arab Emirates headquartered, Engineering and Distribution company operating in the Gas sector. The company is one of the region's leading contractors of centralized gas pipeline systems, distributor of LPG cylinders, and supplier of bulk gas to commercial, residential and industrial facilities. Al Shola Gas currently employs 93 personnel and operates a fleet of over 50 trucks which service the company's nearly 10,000 active residential gas supply contracts and 570 commercial supply contracts. With QIND, the company is already targeting several lucrative central gas pipeline engineering and supply contracts in the Middle East and Africa while simultaneously adding further LPG bobtail trucks to its fleet, with each additional truck increasing the company's bulk supply of gas which is in high demand from customers in the region. Al Shola Gas delivered nearly $11 million and $1.8 million in 2023 revenue and net income respectively, with approximately $600,000 in bank borrowings on its balance sheet.As previously disclosed on the Form 8-K dated April 5th, 2024, the Board of Directors of QIND accepted termination of the Quality International Purchase Agreement on April 1st, 2024. Further information can be found in the 8-K filing.QIND is pleased to move forward with a healthy operating business while continuing its discussions with further acquisition options. Having filed its Form 10-K Annual Report on 8 April, 2024, the company now looks forward to the first consolidation of Al Shola Gas' financials in its upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, to be filed on or before 15 May, 2024. QIND is currently in discussions with a National Exchange listed company regarding a Reverse Triangular Merger agreement. The company therefore plans to withdraw its S-1 Registration Statement previously filed with SEC and the National Exchange listed company intends to file an S-4 Registration Statement following signing of a Business Combination Agreement. All QIND Shareholder's shares will be exchanged for shares in the National Exchange listed company at an exchange ratio agreed between QIND and the National Exchange listed company. Each parties' valuation will be confirmed by a fairness opinion obtained from a team of experienced independent financial experts.This Press Release does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale.FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature about the Company. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "future" or other similar expressions. The Company has based these forward-looking statements primarily on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect Company's financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. There is no assurance that the Company's current expectations and projections are accurate. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on the Company's information on the date hereof. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements except as required under applicable law. This press release does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, issue, subscribe for, sell, or otherwise dispose of any securities, nor any solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, issue, subscribe for, sell, or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company. The release, publication, or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published, or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.CONTACTQuality Industrial Corp.315 Montgomery Street, San FranciscoCA 94104, USAPhone: +1-800-706-0806Email:info@ qualityindustrialcorp.comInvestor site: https://qualityindustrialcorp.comTwitter: @QualityIndCorp @ILUS_INTLSOURCE: Quality Industrial Corp.
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The bank's annual volunteer program is focusing on building financial confidence.BIRMINGHAM, AL / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 /Regions Bank on Tuesday announced the launch of its 15th annual Share the Good initiative, a company-wide volunteer effort that benefits communities served by Regions throughout the Southeast, the Midwest and Texas. To complement the bank's Financial Literacy Month activities this April, Regions' 2024 Share the Good theme is Helping Students Build Financial Confidence.Regions associates will work with community organizations, youth programs and schools to deliver Regions Next Step  financial wellness curriculum, teach financial education workshops, and more.According to Gina Sian, who leads the Regions Making Life Better Institute  program, aligning Share the Good initiatives with Financial Literacy Month integrates volunteerism with a key pillar of Regions Bank's community engagement strategy - financial wellness."We believe building positive money habits needs to start early," Sian said. "Our middle and high schoolers are the next generation of savers, spenders and investors. If our associates can help students understand the power of their financial choices at a young age, then we can help jump-start their journey toward financial wellness and success." The Share the Good program is part of an ongoing commitment to community outreach. In 2023, Regions associates volunteered 104,000 hours in the areas where they live and work. More than 1,300 associates were named Regions Community Champions for dedicating at least 16 hours of service to the community - a 54% increase from the prior year."The Share the Good program is an opportunity to further use our experience and financial insights in ways that benefit people beyond the four walls of the bank," said Brett Shaffer, head of Community Relations at Regions. "It's another example of how Regions can rally around locally driven service opportunities and make a meaningful impact on others." Share the Good activities will continue through April 30. Examples include:Birmingham, Ala.: Regions teams in Jefferson and Shelby counties are organizing several financial wellness events:On April 17, GEAR UP Jefferson County is hosting Regions Day. Volunteers will present Banking Basics for Students, part of the Regions Next Step curriculum. There will also be a Regions Next Step Reality Check budget simulation. Later in the month, associates will teach Money Basics for Life to students with disabilities at Tarrant High School. Opportunities will also be available to conduct financial education courses at the Birmingham Housing Authority and at the Pinson Valley High School Cosmetology Program. Additionally, more than a dozen Regions volunteers will participate in Junior Achievement's "JA in a Day" at Grantswood Community School. Shreveport, La.: Regions associates are excited about facilitating Reality Check budget simulations several times throughout the month:On April 9, 10 and 11, teams will work with Volunteers of America North Louisiana and Broadmoor STEM Academy to host these fun, educational exercises for students in VOA's Lighthouse after-school program. Another group will lead Reality Check simulations, which replicate real-life financial situations, at Booker T. Washington High School. Houston, Texas: Regions associates will work with Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, including by participating in JA in a Day at League Elementary in Pasadena and assisting with JA Finance Park, a program emphasizing personal financial planning and career exploration.Raleigh, N.C.: Regions Market Executive Terry Hoey is leading by example, teaching financial literacy courses at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wake County, and he's passionate about Sharing the Good. "Helping more people understand the essentials of money management is one of the most powerful ways we can help our communities," Hoey said. "Reaching students at an early age, especially those from families that may be unbanked or underbanked, helps build a foundation for future success." Across Iowa: Regions associates are connecting with Iowa Jobs For America's Graduates (iJAG) to present virtual financial education classes to 155 schools throughout the state. The students will review basic banking concepts and learn about money management, saving, creditworthiness and the importance of safeguarding financial information.Jackson, Tenn.: Kathy Lovell, Regions' Disability Outreach and Services manager, will be on hand at the STAR Center in April to present a Regions Next Step Money for Life course. The STAR Center is a community organization that provides services for education, employment and independence for people with disabilities in West Tennessee.Community engagement is a significant part of the culture at Regions and is fostered through a variety of ongoing programs. For example, every year, Regions offers associates a paid day off to volunteer in their community. Further, as part of its Making Life Better Institute, the bank connects associates with a wide range of ongoing volunteerism opportunities that align with their skills and experience. Examples of the bank's involvement are available in the annual Shared Value Report and the Community Engagement section of Regions' news website, Doing More Today.Watch this brief video and be inspired as Leroy Abrahams, head of Community Affairs at Regions Bank, reads the book "The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money" to preschool children at Pathways in Birmingham, Alabama. According to Abrahams, introducing concepts such as saving and responsible spending to young kids lays the foundation for building positive money habits as they get older.About Regions Financial Corporation Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $152 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regions Bank on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: Regions BankWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/regions-bank Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Regions Bank
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / At the heart of Eli Lilly's purpose lies a deep understanding: their insulin is more than just a product - it's essential for peoples' health and survival.This purpose, to unite caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world, is embedded deeply within the organization. The company focuses on ensuring their medicines are inclusive to all patients by investing in clinical testing diversity and removing obstacles that might prevent patients from accessing their medicine - both at and beyond the pharmacy counter. And, to ensure patients have reliable access to life-saving medications for years to come, Eli Lilly has invested $100 million towards achieving climate goals by 2030. Through this commitment, Eli Lilly is not only safeguarding the planet but reaffirming the company's dedication to the well-being of every individual who relies on their medicines.We invited Jim Greffet, Head of ESG Strategy at Eli Lilly, to explain how the company's environmental and social commitments are grounded in purpose strategy, as well as how the company helps its employees lead purposeful careers.Listen for insights on:Purpose's role in long-term strategy Improving health outcomes through philanthropic investments Understanding equity and inclusion at your company through the "employee journey" Inspiring employees to identify environmental solutions and investing in themListen to this and other episodes of Purpose 360 Podcast here.Purpose 360 Podcast is a masterclass in unlocking the potential of purpose to ignite business and social impact. Hosted by Carol Cone, CEO of Carol Cone ON PURPOSE, Purpose 360 illuminates the impact of purpose, from engaging employees and fostering deeper consumer loyalty to inspiring product innovation and increasing market share.Carol Cone ON PURPOSE (CCOP) is a pioneering social impact consultancy helping companies, brands, and nonprofits harness the power of purpose to advance their business and societal impact. CCOP's proven approach, developed over decades and hundreds of purpose assignments, meets clients at any point on their purpose journey to unlock opportunities to build reputation, inspire and engage employees, ignite organizational culture for innovation and growth, while supporting the greater good.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Carol Cone ON PURPOSE on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: Carol Cone ON PURPOSEWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/carol-cone-purpose Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Carol Cone ON PURPOSE
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TRUE BLUE, GRENADA AND NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / St. George's University (SGU) has announced an expanded admissions partnership with the College of Staten Island (CSI) that will offer qualified students the opportunity to complete an associate's degree at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) and then proceed to a bachelor's degree at CSI and entry into the SGU School of Medicine MD program."St. George's University is excited to expand our partnership with the College of Staten Island to promising students beginning their studies at Borough of Manhattan Community College," says Dr. Marios Loukas, Dean of St. George's University School of Medicine. "CUNY is nationally recognized as an engine of opportunity and social mobility, and we are pleased to enhance our partnership with these two colleges to provide their students with a pathway to becoming practicing physicians." The partnership creates a "2+2+4" pathway that is the first of its kind for SGU in New York State. The pathway will allow students who have successfully completed two years of study and their associate's degree at BMCC the opportunity to continue their studies toward a baccalaureate degree at CSI. Qualified students who meet the standard of admission at SGU will then be fast-tracked toward admission to begin SGU School of Medicine's 4-year MD program.The new pathway builds on a "4+4" pathway announced by the College of Staten Island and St. George's University in February 2023.Students admitted to the St. George's University School of Medicine may spend their first two years of study in Grenada or their first year at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom and their second year in Grenada. They spend their final two years in clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals in the United States and the United Kingdom."I am pleased to collaborate with CSI and SGU. This partnership is a testament to our mutual commitment to helping students realize their goals and aspirations of becoming medical doctors. It also reflects our shared interest in diversifying the health care system," said BMCC President Dr. Anthony E. Munroe. "Through the power of we, BMCC's motto, Start Here, Go Anywhere, is further exemplified. Our partnership serves as a clear example of what can be accomplished when we come together, pooling our resources, our energy, and our passion for making a difference in the lives of our students and, ultimately, the health and wellbeing of our communities." "I am pleased that CSI continues to be a part of the newly expanded 2+2+4 program between CSI, BMCC, and SGU, which will offer a seamless path for medical students to earn their MD degrees," said CSI President Dr. Timothy G. Lynch. "This program serves the College's mission of giving our students the enhanced ability to reach their academic and career goals, but also expanding their horizons with an opportunity to study abroad." Students who are accepted into the pathway will receive a $10,000 (USD) scholarship upon matriculation into SGU School of Medicine. Qualified students will also be eligible to be considered for all of SGU's School of Medicine scholarships. SGU granted more than $50 million in scholarships in the 2022-2023 academic year.###About St. George's University St. George's University is a center of international education, drawing students and faculty from 140 countries to the island of Grenada, in the West Indies, to its programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, science, and business. SGU is affiliated with educational institutions worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The University's over 28,000 graduates include physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals across the world. St. George's University School of Medicine is accredited by the Grenada Medical and Dental Council which has been recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). For more information, visit www.sgu.edu About Borough of Manhattan Community College The Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) was founded in 1963 as a business college. The College now boasts more than 60 subjects that lead to an associate degree and offers over 300 Continuing Education courses and corporate on-site training opportunities. Although BMCC started with a handful of students on two floors of a commercial building in midtown Manhattan, it is now the largest community college within CUNY.BMCC is among the most diverse institutions in the United States with more than 8 in 10 students representing Black, Hispanic, and Asian heritages. The College is the largest Hispanic Serving Institution in the Northeast, is a federally designated Asian-American and Native American Pacific-Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and has been recognized as a national leader in serving first-generation students by the Center for First-Generation Student Success. Not only is BMCC a leader when it comes to enrolling a diverse population of students, it is also among the national leaders in student outcomes. BMCC is regularly listed as CUNY's top institution for graduating Hispanic and Black students and is recognized nationally for the number of Hispanic graduating students.BMCC is committed to raising the social and economic mobility of students, sustaining their families, and building its economy. Although more than 70% of the students who start at BMCC are in households making less than $30,000 per year, approximately 40% of students move from poverty wages to middle class and approximately 6% move from poverty wages to upper class once earning their degree. For this reason, BMCC and its degree-receiving students rank within the top five in economic mobility. For more information, visit bmcc.cuny.edu About The College of Staten Island The College of Staten Island is a four-year, senior college of The City University of New York that offers exceptional opportunities to all of its students. Programs in the liberal arts and sciences and professional studies are offered that lead to associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Doctoral degrees are offered at the College or jointly with The Graduate Center of The City University of New York. The College also has an extensive Continuing Education program, offering professional certificate programs.Reflecting our high-achieving students, world-class faculty, and outstanding staff, the College has received national recognition celebrating our excellence and value from Washington Monthly, Forbes, Money magazine, U.S. News & World Report, G.I. Jobs, PayScale College Salary Report, CollegeNET, Business Insider, and
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In a significant move to accelerate the adoption of Community Solar in New York, Solar Simplified supports Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Community Solar asset owners by acquiring state-eligible Low and Moderate Income (LMI) subscribers at no additional cost to our partners. This initiative is aimed at bolstering the new Community Adder and Inclusive Community Solar Adder (ICSA) programs, which are crucial to the State's equitable clean energy transition.CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Under the new structure, Solar Simplified will cover all acquisition costs for LMI subscribers required to meet the 40% quota for the Community Adder, which is expected to offer a 7c/W incentive. Additionally, the company will support the ICSA program, which provides a 6-10c/W incentive, depending on each project's Permission To Operate (PTO) date. This support includes free acquisition of LMI subscribers, free churn replacement, and no increase in ongoing management fees.This initiative underscores Solar Simplified's commitment to making clean energy more accessible and affordable, particularly to Low and Moderate Income communities. By removing financial barriers, the company aims to facilitate the development and success of Community Solar projects, ensuring that the benefits of renewable energy are equitably distributed."We understand the challenges faced by IPPs and asset owners in acquiring and managing LMI subscribers for Community Solar projects. Our decision to absorb these costs is a reflection of our dedication to advancing clean energy projects in New York and a testament to our success acquiring and managing this crucial segment of the market across multiple states, including New York," said Aviv Shalgi, the CEO of Solar Simplified. "We believe this will significantly ease the financial burden on our partners and their financial backers, both lenders and tax equity, and make their projects more viable. It will surely help projects that are borderline financially viable to now pencil out and get built, driving faster expansion of Community Solar in the State while bringing tangible savings to communities that need them." This offering is expected to enhance the economics of Community Solar projects in development or those yet to reach PTO. It also aligns with Solar Simplified's innovative business model, which focuses on reducing upfront costs, eliminating unexpected costs and driving sustainable growth in the renewable energy sector.Solar Simplified invites all Community Solar developers, asset owners and IPPs to discuss this new offering and explore opportunities in New York and other markets.About Solar Simplified: Solar Simplified is a leading national Community Solar aggregator, revolutionizing the Community Solar industry by removing customer associated barriers and risks, allowing Solar Developers and IPPs to scale quickly and effectively. With a commitment to sustainability and equity, we aim to make clean energy accessible to all through community-focused engagement and consumer education. The ability to seamlessly match residents and businesses with local solar farms, and handle acquisition, management, billing and collection makes Solar Simplified the best choice for Community Solar aggregation.Contact InformationSasha LukovenkoVP of Sales and Marketingsasha@ solarsimplified.com 312-216-0978SOURCE: Solar SimplifiedView the original press release on newswire.com
Wisconsin has expanded its Silver Alert criteria to cover children who do not qualify for an Amber Alert after Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed the legislation Tuesday.

Any child under 10 who has gone missing and does not meet all Amber Alert criteria can now qualify for a Silver Alert.

Previously, Silver Alerts were reserved for a missing person over age 60 with a cognitive impairment such as dementia.

A Silver Alert can be issued if the person is under age 18, their location is unknown, they do not otherwise qualify for another alert and they are unable to return home without help because of a physical or mental condition, disability or age, for example if they are under 10 years old.

According to Amber Alert Wisconsin, to issue an Amber Alert, a child must be 17 years of age or younger, in danger of serious bodily harm or death and the initiating agency must have enough descriptive information about the child, the suspect and/or the suspect vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help locate the child.

The act comes in the wake of two Wisconsin children who disappeared and died in recent years, including Lily Peters of Chippewa Falls. Peters did not have a federal Amber Alert sent out on her behalf after her disappearance in 2022 as her disappearance failed to meet Amber Alert criteria. The 10-year-old was later found murdered in Chippewa Falls. A teenager has been charged with killing her.

The Prince Act

The Prince Act is named in memory of 5-year-old Prince McCree, who went missing and was later found murdered in Milwaukee last year. A federal Amber Alert was never issued for Prince because his disappearance did not meet all the criteria  a suspect and vehicle description were not available.

The Prince Act was created in response to the McCree and Peters cases to ensure authorities have expanded resources to issue quicker and more robust alert notices to the public, hopefully ensuring kids are able to be quickly located and returned home safely in the future.

What happened to Prince shouldnt happen to any child. The current alert system failed him and failed our family, and I hope that with this new law, more families will get the attention and resources they need to bring their kids home safely, said Princes mother, Jordan Barger.

The governor was joined for the signing ceremony by members of Princes family, bill co-author state Sen. LaTonya Johnson, school and district officials, students and community members.

In these tragic cases, circumstances around Prince and Lilys disappearances were considered to not have met the threshold statutorily to issue an Amber Alert," Evers said. "But today, thanks to the important advocacy and determination of many, I am proud to sign Senate Bill 981  the Prince Act  to help ensure similar situations never occur again.

On Oct. 25, 2023, Prince stayed home from school because he was sick. Princes mother had allowed him to play video games in the basement with members of the household, which occurred regularly. Princes mother later could not find him and proceeded to call the authorities to report him missing.

The Milwaukee Police Department requested an Amber Alert. The request was denied. The next day, on Oct. 26, 2023, Princes body was discovered.

Prince was a light in our lives and a joy to everyone who met him. There are simply no words to describe the pain our family has experienced ever since his passing, Barger said.

The Prince Act passed unanimously in both the State Assembly and Senate in February.

The idea of having your child go missing is something no parent ever wants to imagine or, heaven forbid, experience firsthand. But all too often, families are faced with these impossible situations, Evers said in a press release Tuesday. In moments like these, when loved ones and communities are gripped by worry and fear and every moment is vital to locate a missing child, every resource should be made available to bring that kid home.

On April 24, 2022, 10-year-old Iliana Lily Peters went to visit her aunts house, located nearly a quarter of a mile away from her home. Lilys father later reported that she was missing at 9 p.m. after Lily had not returned home. At the time of her disappearance, the Chippewa Falls Police Department reported Lilys case had not met the criteria for an Amber Alert. The next morning, April 25, 2022, Lilys body was discovered.

Cases pave the way for new legislation

In the wake of both disappearances, the Milwaukee and Chippewa Falls communities, with the help of friends and relatives, helped search for and spread information about the disappearances of Prince and Lily. The outpouring of support from both these communities led to a statewide campaign to address concerns with alert notices, including Amber Alerts.

The passage of this bill fulfills my promise to the families of Prince McCree and Lily Peters, and to the families of missing children around the state, Johnson said in a February press release.

Lily Peters family members noted they are very grateful for this bill being enacted and that the sooner the public can be made aware of a missing child, the better.
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THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Tier One Silver Inc. (TSXV:TSLV) ("Tier One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it is undertaking a private placement of up to 7,142,858 million units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at an offering price of C$0.14 per Unit (the "Unit Price") for gross proceeds to the Company of up to C$1,000,000 (the "Offering"). Each offered Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a "Share") and one full common share purchase warrant of the Company (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of C$0.25 at any time on or before the date which is 12 months after the closing date of the Offering (the "Closing Date").The Warrants are subject to an accelerated expiry if, anytime following the date that is four months after the Closing Date, the closing price of the Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), or such other market as the Shares may trade from time to time, is or exceeds CDN$0.375 for any ten (10) consecutive trading days, in which event the holder of the Warrant may, at the Company's election, be given notice and the Company will issue a press release announcing that the Warrants will expire 30 days following the date of such press release. The Warrants may be exercised by the holder of the Warrant during the 30-day period between the date of the press release announcing the accelerated expiry date and the expiration of the Warrants.The proposed use of proceeds from the Offering is to fund general working capital.In accordance with applicable securities laws, the Shares and Warrants issued under the Offering will be subject to a four-month and one day hold period from the date of issuance in Canada. Although the placement is not being brokered, the Company may pay a cash finder's fee equal to 6.0% of the gross proceeds and issue finder's warrants ("Finder's Warrants") equal to 6.0% of the number of Units sold under the Offering to eligible persons who refer participating investors to the Company, where permitted by applicable law and in accordance with the policies of the TSXV. Each Finder's Warrant will have the same terms as the Warrants.Closing of the Offering is anticipated to occur on or about April 30, 2024, subject to the receipt of investor documentation, funds and TSXV approval. There is no minimum upon which the closing of the Offering is conditional, and any upsize will be announced in the context of the market.It is possible that insiders of the Company may participate in the Offering relying on the exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of Canadian Multilateral Instrument 61-101 -Protection of Minority Shareholders in related Party Transactions ("MI 61-101") pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of any securities issued to nor the consideration paid by such person could exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TIER ONE SILVER INC.Peter Dembicki President, CEO and DirectorFor further information on Tier One Silver Inc., please contact the company at (778) 729-0700 or info@ tieronesilver.com About Tier One Silver Tier One Silver is an exploration company focused on creating value for shareholders and stakeholders through the discovery of world-class silver, gold and base metal deposits in Peru. The Company's management and technical teams have a strong track record in raising capital, discovery and monetization of exploration success. The Company's exploration assets in Peru include: Coastal Batholith, Corisur and the flagship project, Curibaya. For more information, visit www.tieronesilver.com Forward-Looking Information and General Cautionary Language This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to the Company's current expectations and views of future events in connection with the planned financing. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and therefore may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be heavily relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements in regard to the size and closing of the Offering and the use of proceeds of the Offering.Readers should refer to the risks discussed in the Company's Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, and subsequent continuous disclosure filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedaplus.ca Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Tier One Silver Inc.
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DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Join us in Dubai for our flagship gathering, where we'll unite visionaries, pioneers, and creators to dive into the exciting convergence of AI and Web3. Whether you're a startup whiz, a savvy investor, or a seasoned executive, you'll find unparalleled networking opportunities and insights here. It is one event you won't want to miss.Web3 World Consortium event is an opportunity for thinkers, creators, and leaders to gather and shape the future of web3. Top experts will share insights on the innovation in the web3 technology. The W3WC event sets the stage for a new era of innovation in the digital age.Pre-Reception Welcome Yacht Party: Web3 World ConsortiumJoin us at the Pre-Reception Welcome Party on April 21, 2024. It is an exclusive VIP pre-reception welcome party aboard a luxurious yacht set against the stunning backdrop of Business Bay. Network with fellow attendees and enjoy breathtaking views while savoring delicious refreshments. We are limited to 100 VIP guests. Register here to secure your spot and set sail for a night of unforgettable connections.W3WC Event Date and VenueMark your calendars to join the W3WC event at Millennium Plaza Downtown in Dubai on April 22, 2024. It will be a day of inspiration and innovation in Web3 technology. The prestigious Millennium Plaza Downtown is strategically located in the heart of Dubai. It provides easy access for both local and international attendees. Dubai is ready to embrace the web3 revolution with the W3WC event.The OrganizersThe Coin Republic (TCR), Co-host Cajutel, and Threeway Studio are the Web3 World Consortium (W3WC) event organizers. They are all well-known entities within the Web3 space. Their commitment is to foster a community of innovation. The organizers bring together the best in this industry to facilitate a day of learning, sharing, and growth.Panel DiscussionsWeb3 leaders will take the stage to share their vision for the future of web3. They will share inspiring stories of success through panel discussions. Top experts will share tips on succeeding in the Web3 era. There will be dynamic discussions on DeFi, DAOs, NFTs, cryptocurrency regulatory landscape, web3 security, and more. Successful web3 entrepreneurs will help aspiring individuals grow their businesses.A Lineup of Visionary Keynote SpeakersThe speaker lineup is nothing short of stellar. These individuals are at the cutting edge of Web3 development. They will provide attendees with insights into the trends that will define the future. Below are the few speakers of the W3WC event:Mario Nawfal - IBC Group (Keynote Speaker) Nikita Sachdeva - Luna PR 1Inch - Team Brendi Veil - Y3S Network Vlad Svitanko - Cryptorsy Piyush Gupta - Polytrade Preetam Rao - Quillbits Crypto Rich - Influencer Anton Golub - 4x Founder Adel Bhurtun - InfluencerNetworking OpportunitiesAttendees can expand their network by having conversations with the brightest minds in attendance. The W3WC event is a perfect opportunity for partnership with top web3 pioneers. Attendees can interact with keynote speakers, panelists, exhibitors, and sponsors.Registration and SponsorshipInterested attendees can secure a spot at the W3WC. Registration is straightforward-simply visit the official website of Web3 World Consortium (W3WC). You have to request an invite by clicking on get tickets. Your request will undergo approval by the host.Also, you'll receive a confirmation email with the event details. A range of sponsorship opportunities is available for those looking to elevate their brand's presence from Title to Silver.Contact DetailsReach out to the organizers through these emails:info@ w3wc.ioevent@w3wc.io Below, you can find social media handles of the W3WC event for updates, announcements, and behind-the-scenes glimpses:Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedInSOURCE: W3WC
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Las Vegas Sands Las Vegas SandsAs part of Women's History Month 2024, Sands is spotlighting women leaders who are driving success in their organizations while advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). As the founder of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), Dr. N. Joyce Payne has made breaking down barriers her mission and vision through establishment of the nation's largest nonprofit organization exclusively representing the Black college community.Sands has partnered with TMCF, which marked its 35th anniversary last year, on Sands Cares programs that encourage Black college students to consider hospitality careers, while aiming to cultivate a diverse workforce in the industry. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in K-12 and higher education.Dr. Payne founded TMCF in 1987, building on and extending her distinguished career in education and politics, which has included posts as executive director of the National Alliance for Public Trust, an organization committed to advancing principled leadership in American institutions, and vice president of the Office for the Advancement of Public Black Colleges of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU).She also was a senior staff member in President Jimmy Carter's administration, which included positions with the President's Advisory Committee for Women, the President's National Advisory Council on Women's Education Programs and the White House Conference on Families. In addition, Dr. Payne taught at the former Federal City College and George Washington University. A recognized authority on women's issues in relation to higher education and labor force participation, she has published and presented several papers on the pursuit of equality for women and African Americans in higher education.With this wide range of experiences, Dr. Payne relayed her views on the needs of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), the evolution of DEI initiatives and progress toward the creation of a more democratic society.What inspired you to enter the field of education and become an advocate for advancing educational resources?"Because of segregation, we had teachers with Ph.D.s in Black schools. When you see that caliber and that quality of professional educators in your elementary, junior high and high schools, teaching became a revered profession. I always admired my teachers and their deep commitment to education despite nearly insurmountable barriers. They even lived in the same apartment building we lived in because they couldn't live anyplace else. Consequently, these personal relationships inspired me to pursue higher education as a profession." After completing her studies in education, Dr. Payne joined APLU, a research and advocacy organization representing more than 300 public universities. It was in this role that she found her calling to improve higher education resources and options for Black students. While visiting HBCUs, Dr. Payne observed wide disparities in resources for these schools and noted the lasting impact of unchallenged 19th century legislation that ratified segregation in higher education."Believing that our communities deserve the same quality of resources that other institutions had, I felt the need to address some of the inequities," she said. "But the lack of endowments at Black colleges had the greatest impact on my decision to explore ways to generate sustainable support. Activism has always been in my DNA. When I see a problem, I feel compelled to solve it. What's the value of human knowledge and experience, if you don't use it to improve the quality of life for those excluded from the mainstream of American society." Dr. Payne gathered research into the buying and consumer power of Black communities and began to approach major corporations and companies with the data to challenge them to give back to Black communities, who contribute to their bottom line, by supporting HBCUs. There, the idea for TMCF was born.Why did you start TMCF?With some initial contributions secured by 1987, Dr. Payne had the backing to set up offices for her work and the momentum to secure naming support from Supreme Court Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall. As the Court's first African American justice and a prominent civil rights leader, Justice Marshall could propel a major step forward with his name attached to the organization and her goals. She began to plan events to galvanize further contributions and incorporated the organization in 1990."We have been in the business of education since the creation of Cheyney University in 1837 (the oldest public HBCU in the United States). Students, faculty and administrators lose life and limbs in the struggle for equal education and civil rights. Those challenges come to mind when I think about the mission of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. We think it is especially important to not just produce students who have credentials, but to educate leaders who have a deep commitment and passion for making a difference in the world." More than 35 years after beginning this work, Dr. Payne is proud of the progress TMCF has made. "We have generated millions of dollars and awarded more than $400 million in scholarships. We have been able to make an enormous difference in the lives of students with limited resources." What is the primary work still to be done in educational equity, as well as in advancing diversity principles in society as a whole?Citing an analysis from Forbes magazine that found a $12 billion gap in funding for colleges and universities that serve Black students, Dr. Payne noted that this number is likely much lower than the real difference. Data such as this drives her - and TMCF's mission - to spur impactful change."How do you incorporate fairness and diversity into your agenda? It's not just diversity theater," she said. "It's about how you embrace and bring individuals to the table who may have a different view of the world?"Dr. Payne also predicts that monumental change will be needed to make the next leap in achieving a more equitable and diverse society."In 2024, we have to build our own table and decide whose voices will be heard," she said. "We have gone far beyond simply bringing a chair to the table. The young people today will not accept a minority approach to inclusion." While she acknowledges arduous work is ahead, she also notes the potential benefit is expansive, including for corporate America."You can change your profit margin when you have diversity in thinking, diversity in perspectives and views," Dr. Payne said. "This isn't
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Hagens Berman urges Xponential Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:XPOF) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: July 26, 2021 - Dec. 7, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Apr. 9, 2024Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/xpof Contact An Attorney Now: XPOF@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Xponential Fitness, Inc. (XPOF) Securities Fraud Class Action:The litigation focuses on XPOF's repeated touting of same-store sales ("SSS") and average unit volume ("AUV") metrics as measures of the health of its franchise system.The complaint alleges, in part, that XPOF made misleading statements and failed to disclose that: (1) it had permanently closed at least 30 stores; (2) it misstated its SSS and AUV metrics by excluding underperforming stores; (3) 80% of its brands were losing money each month; (4) over 100 of its franchises were for sale at a price well below their initial cost; and (5) it misled franchisees by misrepresenting the financial profile, profitability, and the expected rate of return for new studio openings.Investors began to learn the truth on June 26, 2023, when Fuzzy Panda Research published a scathing report based in part on interviews with former XPOF business partners, franchisees, and on the examination of roughly 16,000 pages of Franchise Disclosure Documents ("FDDs") filed with the FTC.Among other matters, Fuzzy Panda alleged that: (1) CEO Anthony Geisler has a long history of misleading investors; (2) XPOF falsely claimed to have never closed a store; (3) over 50% of XPOF's average studios are losing money; (4) 80% of its brands have unprofitable business models; (5) over 100 of the company's franchises were for sale at 75% below their initial cost; and (6) the SSS and AUV metrics reported to investors misleadingly exclude underperforming stores.Then, on Dec. 7, 2023, Bloomberg published an article, based on interviews with dozens of XPOF former business partners, employees, and franchisees, which largely corroborated Fuzzy Panda's report.These events drove the price of XPOF shares sharply lower.After the Class Period, on Dec. 11, 2023, XPOF announced (without explaining) that the SEC contacted the company and formally requested "certain documents." "We're investigating whether XPOF may have intentionally misled investors by misrepresenting its business model and key financial metrics," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm's investigation.If you invested in Xponential Fitness and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens BermanIf you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Xponential Fitness case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Xponential Fitness 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 XPOF@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. 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, 844-916-0895Attorney advertising.Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
Kannywood prominent actress Saratu Gidado, popularly known as Daso, is dead.

Daso died in the early hours of Tuesday at her home in Kano.

Confirming the death of the actress, the chairman of the Kano State censors board, Abba Almustapha, said, Today, Kannywood has lost a veteran actress, a mother and a philanthropist. We will miss her dearly.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Ali Nuhu and colleagues of the late actress also sent condolences to her family.

Several other colleagues of the actress also commiserated with the family of the deceased on their Instagram pages.

Kannywood producer and actor Falalu Dorayi prayed for the repose of the actress soul.

She will be buried on Tuesday in Kano.

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Saratu was born on 17 January 1968 and was a prominent figure in the Hausa film industry for over two decades.

Her villain and motherly roles earned her recognition among Arewa households.

She has featured in more than 1000 movies in Kannywood.

She featured beside Patience Ozorkwo Nkem Owoh in a rib-cracking Hausa movie 2014 titled Maja.

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Nigeria recently sanctioned several individuals and entities for allegedly financing terrorism. The list includes six Nigerians sentenced to 10 years to life in prison in 2019 for establishing a Boko Haram cell in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to raise cash for Boko Haram in Nigeria.

This shows the international dynamics of terror financing, involving non-banking financial institutions like Bureau De Change and other businesses. The United States has also placed the individuals on its sanctions list.

Nigeria claims to know dozens of Boko Haram sponsors, but has not been able to prosecute or convict any of them. As of January, Nigeria was one of 21 countries, including its Lake Chad Basin neighbour Cameroon, on the Financial Action Task Force grey list. The list names countries with weak measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

Issuing sanctions aligns with the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Suppression of Terrorism, but is not enough. Equally important is using evidence and the law to disrupt terrorism financing and the economies of violence that sustain terrorist and non-state armed groups, including through law enforcement.

For example, the financial inflows of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram faction, are augmented by Islamic State (ISIS). ISWAP is one of ISIS most important franchises, and its support gives the West African group resilience and adaptability, allowing it to continue functioning in the Lake Chad Basin. Dismantling ISWAPs financial networks requires a robust strategy involving joint efforts from the four affected Lake Chad Basin countries and beyond, as the group extends its operations.

Institute for Security Studies (ISS) research shows that ISWAPs revenue is generated by exploiting local economies, as well as foreign support and organised crime, including kidnapping, extortion and collaboration with security agents.

Despite the UAE convictions, ISIS continues to bankroll ISWAP. This takes the form of new monthly payments to its fighters and supporting governance activities in ISWAP-controlled areas such as caring for widows, orphans and people with disabilities. Administrators, health workers and farmers are also expected to be financially supported. This is all part of ISWAPs strategy to attract recruits, prevent defections and boost its image among civilians in areas it controls.

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Given its elaborate economic network, its unclear why ISWAP needs money from ISIS. Perhaps extra resources are required to recover from defeats by government forces led by the Multinational Joint Task Force, or the recent loss of important territories to another Boko Haram faction, Jamaatu Ahlis-Sunna LiddaAwati Wal-Jihad (JAS). Or to fund ISWAPs aggressive expansion into north-west and north-central Nigeria?

Because ISWAP relies on civilian collaborators to acquire goods and run errands, it always needs substantial cash to pay above-market rates. Former members who recently defected say ISWAP is financially strong and that the ISIS funds were proposed by the global terror organisation, not requested by ISWAP. However, the recent events noted above point to the groups likely financial struggles and the need to raise cash.

Civilians in some ISWAP-controlled areas told ISS researchers that the group had recently raised taxes and required other payments from them. Fishermen using the gura technique (Malian trap) now pay 50,000 ($38) for a fishing permit  a 67 per cent increase compared to two years ago. The levy on a carton of processed fish has risen to 5,000 ($4), and herders complained that cattle tax was now 4,000 ($3). The resulting community frustrations are apparently partly responsible for some ISWAP fighters defecting to join JAS.

Curbing terrorism financing isnt easy. Nevertheless, the UAE example shows that Lake Chad Basin states could address the ISWAP threat by cutting off its oxygen. That requires identifying and eliminating revenue sources through incentivising community participation, raising awareness of the dangers of working with ISWAP, and providing employment to prevent civilians from seeking alternative livelihoods from the terror group.

There are enough laws in and outside the Lake Chad Basin countries that can help disrupt ISWAP finances. All four Basin states have ratified the African Union Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism. And all belong to regional organisations working to combat terrorism financing.

Cameroon and Chad are part of the Action Group Against Money Laundering in Central Africa. Niger and Nigeria belong to the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa. Both organisations are members of the Financial Action Task Force global network. All four countries also have financial intelligence units to tackle money laundering and terrorism financing.

Only Chad has yet to ratify the UN International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. This crucial international agreement encourages collaboration, with nations able to call for help from others when necessary.

While recognising the Herculean task of countering terrorism financing, especially concerning Boko Haram, the fight is winnable. Lake Chad Basin states must be willing to collaborate and take a stand against terrorisms lifeline  its financing  using the tools and laws at their disposal.

Malik Samuel, Researcher, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin

Research for this article is funded by the Government of the Netherlands.

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Adegoke Fayoade, has ordered a clampdown on phone thieves in the state.

Mr Fayoade gave the order on Monday during a meeting with Area/Squadron/Tactical Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs).

He said he had received with concern reports that young men in certain parts of the state seize passersbys phones to extort them despite the sustained raids being carried out by officers of the command.

The spokesperson for the command, Benjamin Hundeyin, made this known in a statement shared on X.

CP Fayoade has, therefore, directed all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), especially in identified areas, to redouble security architecture and enhance neighbourhood and foot patrol within their areas of responsibility (AORs) to tackle this emerging menace, the statement read.

According to Mr Hundeyin, the CP warned that any officer in whose area of responsibility such an incident occurs again would be severely sanctioned.

He assured that the Command was unrelenting in its resolve and determination to continue to stamp out and make the public space hot for criminal elements.

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Mr Fayoade thanked Lagos residents for bringing the menace to the notice of relevant authorities and further urged residents to continue to say something when they see something.

Prosecution

The police chief also ordered the immediate prosecution of 303 suspects arrested over the weekend during raids across the state, after a careful screening process.

Area commanders and DPOs carried out the raids.

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The vetting committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to stand for screening ahead of the partys forthcoming primary election.

The committee also cleared the remaining 15 governorship aspirants who obtained nomination forms.

The cleared aspirants are now fit to face the partys Screening Committee.

In reaction to the allegations of certificate forgery against Mr Aiyedatiwa, the Vetting Committee noted that after due diligence, it found no evidence the governor forged his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate submitted to the party.

Another aspirant, Olugbenga Edema, had alleged that Mr Aiyedatiwa did not have valid certificates and so should be disqualified.

Reports of his certificate forgery had dominated the political horizon in the last few days, but the governors campaign team had dismissed the allegations, saying they were mere distractions.

The Committee received a petition from Gbenga Omogbemi Edema, one of the aspirants, alleging certificate forgery against Gov. Orimisan Lucky Aiyedatiwa (copy attached as Annexure A).

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The Committee decided to verify the School Certificate allegedly forged by checking online from the website of the West Africa Examination Council (the WAEC Scratch Card attached as Annexure B), the vetting committee, headed by Abdulkareem Kana, said in its report on Tuesday.

The Committee found no credible evidence to substantiate the allegation of certificate forgery against Orimisan Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The committee verified Gov. Aiyedatiwas WAEC Result and confirmed it is genuine, and in compliance with the partys guidelines (the Result is attached as Annexure C), it added.

The Committee urged all aspirants to desist from making unfounded allegations that could undermine the credibility of the partys primaries.

Based on the findings of the vetting process, the committee cleared all the aspirants to participate in the screening exercise.

The party has fixed April 25 as the date for the primaries to decide the flag bearer in the November 16 governorship election.

The party has also adopted direct primaries for the exercise.

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The Nigerian Army troops deployed for counter-terrorism have destroyed the hideout of a notorious terrorist kingpin known as Yellow Janbros at Dangunu Village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

A terrorist was also killed and firearms were recovered during the operation.

The Nigerian Army disclosed this in an unsigned statement posted on its X page on Tuesday.

The statement said, that during the operation on Monday, the troops successfully attacked the den of the notorious terrorists responsible for kidnappings and other acts in parts of North-western Nigeria.

It also said apart from overpowering the terrorists and killing one of them, the troops recovered one AK- AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 Magazine, 30 rounds of 7.62 mm Special and 150 bags of stolen grains.

During the operation on 8 April 2024, troops successfully attacked the den of the notorious terrorists responsible for kidnappings and other acts of terrorism in parts of North West Nigeria.

The troops overpowered and dislodged the terrorists and neutralised one of them.

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The gallant troops also recovered one AK- 47 Rifle, One AK-47 Magazine, 30 rounds of 7.62 mm Special and one hundred and fifty bags of stolen grains. The terrorists enclave has been completely destroyed.

It stated that The Nigerian Army remains committed to mitigating security challenges and will leave no stone unturned to rid the nation of terrorists and insurgents.

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Residents of Okun-Ajah community in Lagos State on Monday protested at the State House of Assembly over the plan to demolish their properties for the proposed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project.

The protesting residents, numbering about 100, said their properties had been marked for demolition and urged the government to shelve the plan.

Leading the protesters, Saheed Olukosi urged the government to follow due process in handling the matter by reverting to the original gazetted Right of Way (RoW).

Mr Olukosi said that the community had checked at the Ministry of Physical Planning and had got confirmation that their buildings did not encroach on the RoW of the coastal road alignment.

He said that those who deliberately built on the existing RoW should be the ones having problems.

We are aware of the Federal Government of Nigerias decision to construct Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and series of alignment verification has commenced.

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Okun-Ajah community specifically has preserved the portion of the alignment gazetted in the survey attached to the Certificate of Occupancy prepared and signed by Lagos State Surveyor General.

Also, the alignment has been marked by Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development since 2006/2013 respectively.

At no point or time did we receive any formal communication that the alignment of the coastal road has been shifted from the original alignment being gazetted by the Lagos State Surveyor-General.

On our part, before we bought the land and erected our properties, which clearly has a global CofO dated December 2006 No 69/69/2006AC, we have double-checked from the Ministry of Physical Planning that we did not encroach on the Right of Way of the coastal road alignment. So, our properties should not be marked for demolition he said.

Another resident, Ridwan Adekunle, said that approaching the alignment from Ahmadu Bello Way to their community, there was a serious deviation from the approved coastal road by the field officers from the Ministry of Physical Planning and the Federal Ministry of Works.

They had been following the alignment, but when they got to our community they deviated. They had their coastal road clearance, C of O, and our land is covered by the global C of O, Mr Adekunle said.

Addressing the protesters, Desmond Elliot, representing Surulere Constituency I, promised that the matter would be looked into at the resumption of plenary.

Mr Elliot assured that the assembly would call all the parties involved and the issue would be fully addressed.

(NAN)

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The Presidency has tacked Atiku Abubakar, saying the former Vice President demonstrated poor understanding in his recent public statement on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

Atiku, presidential candidate of the opposition PDP in the 2023 general elections, in a statement on Sunday, had criticised the Bola Tinubu-led administration over the road project.

The statement signed on his behalf by his media advisor, Paul Ibe, noted that the project lacked transparency even as it raised concerns over the cost of the 700km road project.

The statement also queried the expected completion date of the project.

In its response to the statement, the Presidency, through Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to President Tinubu on Information and strategy, noted that Atiku, in his futile attempt to find faults in the Tinubu administration, failed to distinguish between Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Lagos-Calabar Coastal Rail.

Mr Onanuga noted in the statement released on Monday that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway has been rightly praised for the huge economic impact it will create and how it will be a game-changer in improving the quality of life of Nigerians, especially the economy of the nine coastal states it will pass through. Importantly, the road will boost agricultural and tourism economy on a grand scale.

Read the full statement below:

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LAGOS-CALABAR COASTAL HIGHWAY: ATIKU ABUBAKAR MAKES HIS HOLLOW POINT AGAIN

In his desperation to always want to hug the headlines as a self-appointed opposition leader, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has allowed himself to be led into a blind alley again by his poorly informed aides.

In a press statement signed on his behalf by media assistant, Paul Ibe, the Peoples Democratic Partys Presidential Candidate in the last election made false allusions, in his futile attempt, to denigrate and find faults in the audacious and transformational Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project, which was recently inaugurated as one of the signature projects of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

To Atikus chagrin and utter disappointment, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway has been rightly praised for the huge economic impact it will create and how it will be a game-changer in improving the quality of life of Nigerians, especially the economy of the nine coastal states it will pass through. Importantly, the road will boost agricultural and tourism economy on a grand scale.

Seeking to be a kill-joy, Atiku Abubakar engaged in red-herring by raising ill-thought-out allegations that only exposed his inadequacies and those of his team in getting the basic facts on an issue he badly seeks to nail the government.

We have decided, however, to respond to Atikus misrepresentation of facts in matters of the coastal road if only to set the record straight so that unsuspecting Nigerians are not misled and misinformed. We owe it a sacred duty to ensure Atiku and his handlers do not continue to spread disinformation as they wallow in their politics of hatred.

Contrary to the claims in Atikus endorsed press statement, at no time did the administrations of former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan award contracts for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway to any company at any varied and revised amount. So the question of costs comparison does not arise.

The contract that was awarded was that of Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail. The rail was designed as part of the standard guage national rail network. The contract was awarded on August 4, 2021 by the Federal Executive Council presided over by former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN at the cost of $11.17billion. The contract was to be completed in six years. The project didnt take off.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail project has always been on the card. It was another testament of the failure of the previous PDP-led government that it could not get it off the ground in 16 years it held sway.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway and Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail are two distinct projects. It is unfortunate that the former Vice President is confused about the two projects.

President Tinubu should be praised for having the courage to embark on this transformative project and not vilified as Atiku Abubakar unsuccessfully sought to do.

We know there is nothing so sacred for Atiku Abubakar in the pursuit of his undying ambition to be President of Nigeria even in his advanced age.

We, however, dont expect a former Vice President of Nigeria to continue to fan ill-will and engage in divisive politics in his twilight.

Atiku queried the decision to start the Coastal road from Lagos and not Calabar, oblivious of the huge impact such will make on export-import flow around the industrial zones.

We are at a loss as to what the former VP hopes to achieve with his assertion. Is it not a received wisdom that a thousand miles journey begins with a step? Whether the project begins from Lagos or Calabar, Warri or Sapele, what should gladden the heart of any patriotic Nigerian is that this important project that has been in the pipeline for several decades has finally taken off.

President Tinubu as a leader and nationalist will continue to drive and propel national progress through infrastructural development across the country. We enjoin former Vice President Atiku to act his status as a presumed statesman and desist from engaging in fruitless exercise that does not add any value to nation-building.

As to the other poorly researched issue raised by Atiku and his team on the Lekki Concession Company, we urge them to return to the Library for real facts rather than rushing to cast aspersions on President Tinubu and his government.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy

April 8, 2024

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The minority caucus of the House of Representatives has disowned a group of lawmakers calling for the removal of the Acting National Chairperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum.

The caucus said the Ikenga Ugochinyere-led group is unknown to parliament and does not represent the views of the caucus in the House.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), Deputy Minority Leader, Ali Madaki (NNPP, Kano), Minority Whip, Ali Isah and George Ozodinobi, (LP, Anambra) on Tuesday.

PREMIUM TIMES reported a press briefing by a group of six PDP lawmakers who threatened to sever ties with their party if Mr Damagum did not resign.

The group, led by Mr Ugochinyere, said it represents about 60 lawmakers on the platform of the PDP in the House. He added that the group is a subset of the minority caucus coalition.

Ugochinyere does not speak for the caucus

In the statement, the caucus condemned the action of Mr Ugochinyere and his colleagues, stating that their demand does not represent the position minority caucus.

Our attention has been drawn to a press release by the group and to state unequivocally that the minority caucus and PDP Caucus dissociate themselves from the said press statement.

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The said coalition of lawmakers led by Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere is unknown to the parliament and both caucuses condemn in totality the absurd move, the uncouth and unparliamentary language of the group.

The general public should take note that such a coalition is unknown to parliament and their demands do not represent that of the minority parties.

The said lawmakers should desist from further misinformation of the public and be more honourable in their conduct.

Proxy battles in the House between Wike and Fubara loyalists

Mr Ugochinyere-led group is loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, while Mr Chinda is a long-time ally of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The supremacy battle between Messrs Wike and Fubara is dividing the opposition in the House. Mr Chinda appears to be bringing the entire minority caucus into the fight.

The minority caucus is made up of the PDP, Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Young Peoples Party (YPP).

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The chairperson of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the former Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, who was sacked from office on Monday, to be patient with the party, saying he could still become governor of the state.

Philip Aivoji made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos, following the removal of Mr Shaibu by the Edo State House of Assembly.

NAN reports that the Edo State House of Assembly on Monday sacked Mr Shaibu following the adoption of the recommendation of a seven-man judicial panel led by retired Stephen Omonua.

The relationship between Mr Shaibu and his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki, went sour when the former indicated interest to succeed the latter, the development which led to Mr Shuaibu emerging a governorship candidate in a parallel PDP primary election in February.

Following Mr Shaibus sacking, Mr Obaseki immediately appointed and swore in 38-year-old Mr Omobayo Godwin as his new deputy.

Reacting, Mr Aivoji said that Mr Shaibu should remain in the party, despite the development, and should never consider leaving the party at all.

He said that Mr Shaibu could still become the governor of the state with perseverance and patience.

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What we are concerned about is winning Edo back for PDP. The impeached deputy governor needs to be patient and hand over everything to God.

Whatever happens, no one ever can tell, he (Shaibu) can still become the governor in the future. He should not leave the party.

READ ALSO: Edo assembly removes Deputy Governor Shaibu

That is my advice because it is the party that brought him up. When he became the deputy governor, there were millions of people who could have become the deputy governor before the party picked him.

Since this has happened, he should look for a way of mending fences to actualise his dream of becoming the governor. He can still become the governor, he said.

On whether or not Mr Shaibus removal from office would affect the fortune of the party in the 21 September governorship election in the state, Mr Aivoji said he didnt think so.

If it would affect, they (the lawmakers) would not have taken that decision, he said.

Mr Aivoji called on the Edo State chapter of the PDP to work harder and block all loopholes to win the election. (NAN)

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A Sokoto-based Islamic cleric, Musa Lukwa, has defied the directives of the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, by observing Eid prayers on Tuesday as against Wednesday declared by the Sultanate Council.

Mr Lukwa, who had previously disobeyed the Sultans directive on moon sighting, led prayers at his Jumaat mosque in the Mabera area of the Sokoto metropolis around 8:30 a.m.

The Sultan, who is the President General of Nigerias Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, declared Wednesday as Sallah day following the report of the National Moon Sighting Committees across the country, which confirmed the non-sighting of the new moon.

A statement signed by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs to the Sultanate Council, Sambo Junaidu, said, The council accepted the report and accordingly declared Wednesday, April 10, 2024, as the first day of Shawwal 1445AH.

But Mr Lukwa defied the directives, saying he chose to follow directives from the neighbouring Niger Republic where the Islamic authorities said they had sighted the moon and observed the Eid prayer on Tuesday.

Daily Trust reported Mr Lukwa saying that he chose to follow the report of the moon sighting committee of Niger Republic.

There were reports of sightings on the new crescent in many places, including here in Nigeria, but the one that we were sure of is that of Niger Republic.

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We have a verified video clip of their (Niger Republic) council of Ulamah authenticating the report after which the country declared Tuesday as Sallah day. So it is now binding on us to observe Eid on Tuesday because this is what the teachings of the Holy Prophet say.

If we can accept that of Saudi Arabia, why cant we agree with that of Niger Republic which is nearer to us.

I am not saying all Nigerian Muslims must observe their Eid prayer on Tuesday but we have no moral justification not to observe our prayer on Tuesday because the new moon was sighted by our neighbours. And remember there is no fasting on Sallah day, it is prohibited, the newspaper quoted him as saying.

This cleric had divided opinions in the past after he and his followers slaughtered and ate a horse in Sokoto, arguing that it is halal. The position contradicts that held by the Malik Islamic School of thought being practised in Nigeria and the Sokoto caliphate.

The cleric then challenged any scholar with a contrary view to a public debate.

Mr Lukwa has been having a running battle with the authorities in Sokoto over the reported seizure of his land by former Governor Aminu Tambuwals administration, in the Lukwa community, in Gwadabawa Local Government Area.

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The Police Command in Ebonyi State has arrested a woman who allegedly specialises in abducting and selling children.

The police said they rescued no fewer than six of the children from the suspect.

The woman, Ngozi Blessing Abia, also known as Mercy Francis, allegedly carried out her nefarious activities in Lagos, Ebonyi, Anambra and Edo states.

Investigations into her activities began in January 2024 when one Nkwuda Francis reported that the woman, who posed as a member of the National Youth Service Corps, had kidnapped his two young children.

Joshua Ukandu, a deputy suprintendent of police and spokesperson for the police command, said in a statement on Tuesday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, that the children were later found in Anambra State, where she sold them.

He complained that his children were kidnapped from his house at Nwezenyi Igbeagu, Izzi local government area of Ebonyi after the suspect rented a room in the compound.

The children, aged 3 and 7, were later found to have been taken by Ngozi Blessing-Abia, which was revealed to be the suspects true identity.

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Following a diligent investigation by officers attached to the gender unit of the command, the suspect was located in Oba, Anambra, where the children were rescued and returned to their family.

Mr Ukandu added that two women, Lovina Iwuorah and Ndifereke Wisdom Clement, whose children were abducted in Ohaozara, Ebonyi State, had identified the suspect as the conspirator.

He said that she sold their three children to an orphanage home in Benin, Edo.

The proprietor of the orphanage has been detained and is providing valuable information to the police, the command spokesperson said.

Additionally, one Chinasa Uwezoke from Lagos, upon learning of the arrest, visited the command and identified the suspect as someone, who had gained her trust and subsequently took her three children to the market, only to flee with her three-year-old son.

The command spokesman said that the boy was later recovered from where she sold him and had been reunited with his family.

The suspects modus operandi is to rent an apartment, fraternise with her unsuspecting neighbours, gain their trust and abduct their children for pecuniary gains, he added.

Mr Ukandu advised property owners and caretakers to thoroughly screen potential tenants and for parents to educate their children about safety and interaction with strangers. (NAN)

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Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, on Monday, appeared before the Special Offences Court in Lagos, where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented 26 charges of fraud and corruption against him.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Emefiele pleaded not guilty to all the fresh charges, marking the beginning of the second fraud and corruption case filed against him by the EFCC since his indictment by Jim Obaze, a special investigator engaged by President Bola Tinubu to investigate the activities of the CBN on his watch.

EFCC is prosecuting Mr Emefiele at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja over his alleged corrupt activities as CBN governor, which terminated in June last year.

The fresh charges against him in Lagos include abuse of office and irregular allocation of cumulative $4.5 billion and 2.8 billion while he was in office as CBN governor.

EFCC also accused him of corruptly receiving funds, conferring advantages on associates, and allocating forex without a bid.

The prosecution alleged that he corruptly received funds from companies like NIPCO Plc and Raja Punjab and conferred corrupt advantage on his associates, including Limelight Multidimensional Services Ltd, Adswin Resources Solution Ltd, and COMEC Support Services Ltd.

The arraignment occurred before the trial judge Rahman Oshodi, who subsequently ordered the remand of Mr Emefiele in EFCC custody until 11 April, when the court is expected to rule on his bail application.

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Before charging him afresh, the EFCC was already prosecuting him in an ongoing trial at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

In the Abuja case, the anti-corruption commission EFCC accused the former CBN governor of criminal conspiracy, conferring undue advantage, and breach of trust, among others.

The commission, in the amended charges, increased the number of counts from six to 20, and dropped a former co-defendants name, Saadatu Yaro, from the case.

In some of the counts, EFCC alleged that Mr Emefiele, in January 2023, forged a document titled, Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions, dated January 2023 with reference number, SGF.43/L.01/201.

The EFCC alleged that Mr Emefiele made the claim knowing the same to be false.

Highlights of the fresh charges contained in an EFCC release on Tuesday include:

*Allocating forex of $2,136,391, 737.33

*Corruptly received $26, 552,000 from NIPCO Plc

*Corruptly received $7, 720,000 from Raja Punjab on account of for example his employer

*Conferred corrupt advantage on his associate, Limelight Multidimensional Services Ltd to the tune of 900, 216,324.21

*Allocated forex of $291, 945,785.59 without bid

*Corruptly received $740, 000 from NIPCO Plc

*Corruptly received $850, 000 from Raja Punjab on account of forex to his employer

*Conferred corrupt advantage on his associate, Limelight Multidimensional Services Ltd to the tune of 1, 060,030,249.42

*Conferred corrupt advantage on his associate, Adswin Resources Solution Ltd to the tune of 398, 031,732.32

*Abuse of office by special allocation of forex of $1, 769,254,793.16

*Corruptly received $2, 410,000 from Raja Punjab on account of forex to his employer

*Corruptly received $400, 000 from Source Computer Ltd as kickback for contract award

*Conferred corrupt advantage on his associate, COMEC Support Services Ltd to the tune of 149, 001,009.70

*Conferred corrupt advantage on his associate, Adswin Resources Solution Ltd, to the tune of 204, 992,739.51

*Abuse of office by special allocating of forex of $370 872,893.01

*Corruptly received $6 320,000 from Raja Punjab on account of forex to his employer

*Corruptly received $200 000 from Source Computer Ltd as a kickback for a contract award

*Conferred corrupt advantage on his associate, COMEC Support Services Ltd, to the tune of 151, 168,458.73

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There is a strong conviction that the issue of the union leaders remains unresolved due to nothing, but ego and the interest(s) of some powerful individuals This issue of five and seven years is long overdue for a final resolution Lagos State Government and the LASU authorities should put an end to this shenanigan The public needs to join in the public outcry and advocacy for justice, because justice delayed is as good as justice denied.

Between September 2017 and September 2019, five Executive Council members of the Lagos State University branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-LASU) were dismissed by the previous Governing Council on the basis of frivolous charges brought against them by the administration of Professor Lanre Fagbohun. These officers of the Union are:

i. Dr Isaac Akinloye Oyewumi (chairman)

ii. Dr Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu (vice chairman)

iii. Dr Anthony Dansu (secretary)

iv. Dr Adeolu Oluwaseyi Oyekan (assistant secretary)

v. Dr Oluwakemi Adebisi Aboderin-Shonibare (treasurer)

The five cases of dismissal have been in the Appeal Court since 2017 and 2019.

In 2021, the new University administration under the Vice Chancellorship of Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello asked for an out-of-court settlement of the cases. This was followed by the reversal of the five dismissals, and reinstatement of the five officers by the new University Governing Council under the chairmanship of Sir David Sunmoni on the 23rd of February, 2023. The reversal and the reinstatement were as result of the reports of two committees that vindicated the union leaders.

Less than 24 hours after the Council resolution, Lagos State Government forced the University Governing Council to put the implementation of its decision on the union leaders on hold. This was on the premise that Council should wait for the release of governments white paper on the 2021 LASU visitation panel. Its over two years now and nothing has happened.

It is of note that Professor Lanre Fagbohun, the immediate past vice chancellor (an Awori man from Akesan), whose major issues are (expectedly) to dominate the visitation panels white paper, has been employed back in the university without recourse to the release of the white paper.

The current Bursar of the University, Mr Babatunde Said Olayinka (an Ijebu man from Epe), whose issues were also part of those considered by the visitation panel ended his first term, and was considered for the second term without recourse to the release of the white paper

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Mr Olayinka Amuni, the immediate past Registrar of the university (another Ijebu man from Epe), who was suspended from the University by the Governor due to his negative roles in the process of appointing a new Vice Chancellor, has been recalled and reabsorbed into the university without recourse to the white paper.

Dr (Mrs) S. Udegbe (an Edo woman), who was dismissed but the university had an out-of-court settlement with, has also been reabsorbed into the system, even as her own issues too were expected to be part of the same white paper.

There is a strong conviction that the issue of the union leaders remains unresolved due to nothing, but ego and the interest(s) of some powerful individuals.

This issue of five and seven years is long overdue for a final resolution.

Lagos State Government and the LASU authorities should put an end to this shenanigan.

The public needs to join in the public outcry and advocacy for justice, because justice delayed is as good as justice denied.

Sewude Adeyinka Amosu is the the Nukongan (Asiwaju) of Ajido Kingdom.

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The important background to all this is that for now its ONLY Band A consumers who are affected by the three-fold tariff increase rolled out this week. There are five tariff bands in all  A to E. Band A is the one that guarantees a minimum of 20 hours of electricity supply per day Prior to the tariff change, the Federal Government was subsidising 67 per cent of the total cost of generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity in Nigeria.

It is quite sad (but not surprising) that it is the freezer comment thats totally dominated the headlines from the recent electricity press briefing. There was a lot more that was said, thats useful to know, as background and basis for conversation and debate.

If you want to know what else HM Bayo Adelabu said, I took some notes and the comments below are attributable to him (and to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Vice Chair, who also spoke).

The important background to all this is that for now its ONLY Band A consumers who are affected by the three-fold tariff increase rolled out this week. There are five tariff bands in all  A to E. Band A is the one that guarantees a minimum of 20 hours of electricity supply per day.

Prior to the tariff change, the Federal Government was subsidising 67 per cent of the total cost of generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission Vice Chair added that: If you isolate generation, that 67 per cent figure rises considerably. For example, in January, the total power generation invoice issued to DisCos was N240 billion, but the DisCos were asked to pay only N24 billion of this  10 per cent, which means 90 per cent of the generation cost was being borne by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) as a subsidy.

The total estimated electricity subsidy cost to the Federal Government for 2024, without tariff adjustment, will be ~N2.9 trillion (that is ~240 billion per month).

The total estimated subsidy cost for 2024, after tariff adjustment, will be ~N1.4 trillion (that is ~N113 billion per month).

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The tariff increase has also been accompanied by a reduction in the number of Band A feeders guaranteed to supply a minimum of 20 hours per day across the country. There were previously over 1,000 Band A feeders; now, only 481 are classified as Band A.

There are about 12 million electricity customers in Nigeria (please try and understand this carefully before jumping to make comments. It doesnt mean 12 million people, it means 12 million meter-able consumption points, e.g households, businesses, etc).

Band A accounts for 15 per cent of the 12 million electricity customers, which is approximately 1.8 million. The remaining less than 10 million customers will continue to enjoy government subsidies on electricity consumption.

Related to this, Ive seen data elsewhere that suggests that 70 per cent of the revenues collected in 2023 came from Band A; this figure is worth confirming.

Of the 12 million customers, only a little over five million are currently metered. Which means there is a metering gap of over six million.

The subsidised pricing regime will continue in the short term, with a transition plan to attain full cost-reflective pricing over the next three years.

The restriction of the tariff increase to Band A is meant to serve as a proof of concept; i.e. kicking off with a Band that has the capacity and willingness to pay for 20 to 24 hours of daily supply.

The pricing change will help address some of the liquidity issues in the industry, restore a line of sight for recovery of investment, and make it more bankable.

There is a huge infrastructure deficit in the power sector; obsolete equipment at all levels (this is where the Minister cited the example of some equipment still carrying ECN branding, with ECN having been defunct for more than 50 years now); and vandalisation of everything from gas pipelines to grid towers, etc.

If DisCos supply less than 20 hours to Band A consumers, there must be sanctions and consequences. We will not shy away from our responsibilities

On this note, the NERC Vice Chair added that under the old Power Sector Reform Act, the powers of NERC to sanction are limited, and fines for DisCos are outdated (he cited fines as low as N10,000 per day). But with the new Act signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, NERC now has expanded regulatory and sanctions powers. The Vice Chair cited the example of 2018 when NERC suspended the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Board, which then went to Court and got the suspension set aside, versus 2024 when NERC was able to successfully dissolve the Board of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC).

The new tariff regime for Band A means theres now an incentive for DisCos to work to migrate other Bands to Band A, so that they can supply them the Band A threshold, and charge Band A tariffs.

Energy consumption management by consumers has to become a priority. This is where the freezer example (that has gone viral) was cited. Yes, it was definitely not the best example to use, as weve seen from the distracting fallout, but the larger point about more responsible usage stands.

The Minister mentioned ongoing efforts to improve electricity supply:

The new Electricity Act signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (which repealed the Electric Power Sector Reform Act of 2005) has now fully decentralised the sector, and it empowers subnational governments for regulation and licensing.

Renewable energy investments, led by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

New power plants like the recently-completed Zungeru Hydropower (700MW).

Investments in new lines, new injection substations, and new transformers.

Investments in new lines, new injection substations, and new transformers. Closing the metering gap.

Communications and advocacy.

As the Minister, Bayo Adelabu put it, The journey of a thousand miles stand with a single step, in the right direction. This one is in the right direction.

Tolu Ogunlesi is a policy communication expert and former special assistant on Digital Communication to President Buhari.

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President Xi Jinping, at different times, has placed emphasis on a win-win ideology that will deliver a shared future to mankind. This does not sound like manipulative rhetoric, because the Chinese President has demonstrated palpable commitments in providing alternative platforms to draw the world much closer with a promise not to interfere in the internal local affairs of participating countries.

Institutional search for global peace and development has been on for decades, and it is still ongoing. At different times, the world has seen the emergence of bodies like the United Nations, the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the BRICS group, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union, the ECOWAS, the Belt and Road Initiative and Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), among others.

The common denominator of all those bodies is the concern of how to make member countries, and by extension the world and its component parts, a much better place for increased stability, peace and prosperity. The goal of promoting unity, development, trade and cultural exchanges are integral to most of the bodies. The cumulative objective, as it were, is to make the global future safer, more secure and enterprising.

We should recall that after the Second World War in 1945, the global community decided to float the United Nations to entrench more peace, security and development in the ravaged and emotionally stricken world. On the heels of World War II in 1945, nations were in ruins, and the world wanted peace. Representatives of 50 countries gathered at the United Nations Conference on International Organisation in San Francisco, California in the United States of America between 25 April and 26 June 1945, and two months after, the UN Charter was drafted and signed, and the United Nations was created to help prevent another world war.

The UN officially began on 24 October 1945 after its Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and by a majority of other signatories.

Now, more than 75 years later, the United Nations is still working to maintain international peace and security, give humanitarian assistance to those in need, protect human rights, and uphold international law. The UN has also set sustainable development goals for 2030, in order to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all, including efforts to address climate action to limit global warming.

In recent times, however, the authority of the UN in delivering its lofty mandates to the world has been challenged by recalcitrant states. We see in Israels war on Gaza, for instance, the refusal by Israel to obey international humanitarian laws of which the UN is a key custodian. Major countries have at different times been accused of violating international laws, relying on their customary characteristics that make them less enforceable.

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Much like the UN, but with local characteristics, the Communist Party of China has taken steps that hope to harness the world much closer for a shared future in which peace and development can be accessed by many, if not all societies, and wherein tangible and concrete outcomes can be delivered to all. This is good news if, as China has promised, the goal of the global development initiatives will not be skewed to give it undue advantage over other countries, whether in the short term or in the long run.

President Xi Jinping, at different times, has placed emphasis on a win-win ideology that will deliver a shared future to mankind. This does not sound like manipulative rhetoric, because the Chinese President has demonstrated palpable commitments in providing alternative platforms to draw the world much closer with a promise not to interfere in the internal local affairs of participating countries.

In pursuit of this objective, the State Council Information Office of the Peoples Republic of China, in September 2023, came up with a template that will help drive increased empowerment and prosperity for the world. The template identifies that humanity is at a Crossroads, and requires Interdependence, which has been a prevailing trend throughout history.

According to the template, global challenges call for global response, while the new era calls for new ideas that will speedily transform global society on a path of wealth and prosperity by proffering an answer to the call of the times and a blueprint to secure the future.

The template cites Chinas efforts in introducing a new approach to international relations on the basis of equality of nations. Other key aspects highlighted in the template include the new features of global governance, opening up new prospects for international exchanges, and an outline of a new vision for building a better world.

Chinas ideas about a global community of shared future for mankind, as captured in the template also highlights the importance of history and cultural traditions in human relations, and promoting the fine diplomatic traditions of New China, showcasing the best of traditional Chinese culture under the broad global vision of the Communist Party of China.

Incorporating the outstanding achievements of other civilisations is necessary for global inclusivity, according to the template.

The template also prescribes pressing ahead with a new type of economic globalisation that will follow a peaceful development path, and foster a new type of international relations that will embrace more of true multilateralism, which will promote the common values of humanity. In this respect, Chinas action and contribution will involve promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and implementing the three global initiatives, which include the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilisation Initiative proposed by China to guide the advancement of human society across the three dimensions. Resonating and complementing each other, the initiatives have evolved into a crucial cornerstone for building a global community of shared future, offering Chinas solutions to major challenges pertaining to peace and development for humanity.

The fundamental aim of the initiative is to accelerate the implementation of UNs 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its core requirement is a people-centred approach, while its foremost philosophy is united, equal, balanced, and inclusive global development partnerships, and its pivotal measure entails results-oriented actions to bolster stronger, greener, and healthier global development, in addition to jointly building a global community of development by working more with countries and regions of the world.

As observed recently by Cui Jianchun, the Ambassador of China to Nigeria in an article, in building a community with a shared future for mankind, the goal is to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity, and that the pathway is promoting global governance that features extensive consultation and joint contributions for shared benefit. The guiding principle is to apply the common values of humanity, the basic underpinning lying in building a new type of international relations, with the strategic guidance coming from the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative, and the platform for action is a high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

In this respect, China seeks to bring countries together to meet challenges and achieve prosperity for all, and usher in a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for our world. President Xi Jinpings vision of a community with a shared future for mankind offers Chinas solutions to meet global common challenges and jointly deliver a brighter future for the world, which has received the extensive support of African countries, including Nigeria.

Over the past decade, as noted by Ambassador Jianchun, building a community with a shared future for mankind has developed from a conceptual proposition to a scientific system; from a Chinese initiative to an international consensus, and from a promising vision to substantive actions. It has been included in resolutions of the UN General Assembly for seven consecutive years, extending to various regions and covering various areas; and it has served as a glorious banner leading the progress of the times.

Regarding the Belt and Road Initiative as a road connecting civilisations for the New Era, concrete tangible outcomes can be found from Xian, Chinas ancient capital at the foot of the Qinling Mountains to Lisbon, the European city on the continents western edge; from the coastal city Xiamen in southeastern China to the Port of San Antonio across the Pacific. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is connecting countries across the globe, where people with different skin colours and speaking different languages proudly nurture their cultures. Living in a world of different civilisations, beliefs and customs, should we progress alone or together? And should we stay behind close doors or embrace one another? Chinas answer is clear: Build a bridge of interaction and mutual learning, and make the BRI a road connecting different civilisations.

Over the past decade, Belt and Road partner countries have carried out diverse people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, which have become bridges for mutual cultural appreciation. Initiatives such as the Silk Road International League of Theatres, the International Alliance of Museums of the Silk Road, the Silk Road International Arts Festival, the Silk Road International Library Alliance and the Silk Road International Gallery Alliance had attracted close to 100 countries and international organisations by the end of 2022. Luban Workshop, a vocational training programme, is today being conducted in more than 20 Asian, African and European countries to help cultivate a pool of high-calibre technical personnel for the local community. Chinese and foreign archaeologists are working together to explore the cultural relics of the ancient Silk Road and renew the exchanges along the Silk Road with modern-day cultural interactions. The BRI has built a platform for dialogue among civilisations, where the flowers of different civilisations bloom and shine together.

Part of Chinas global development initiatives in Africa include the China-Africa Think Tank Forum, and the Forum for China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Recall that the 13th meeting of the China-Africa Think Tank Forum was concluded in Dar es Salaam, with a message that the world is like a village with a shared future and understanding.

In what observers see as a springboard for the continents economic and industrialisation agenda, the forum was further focused on exploring China-Africa cooperation mechanisms, strategic initiatives and practical actions in the fields of industrialisation, agricultural modernisation, and human resources training, among others.

Hosted by the Secretariat of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of the Forum in China-Africa Cooperation, it was a platform for an initiative on building China-Africa think tank cooperation network, which is in Chinese, English, and French, calling for the strengthening of China-Africa think tanks cooperation and a network promoting mutual understanding and common development between the two sides.

Hammeed M. Bello writes from Abuja.

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here I was, standing on the stage, facing the awesome gathering of Gods people, including the most eminent fathers and mothers in the Anglican Church, receiving this prestigious honour. How can I ever forget this day of glory? Its not possible. I will forever cherish it. This definitely was not by my powers or might but by the Grace of the Almighty God and also to the leadership of our Church, the Most Reverend Ndukuba.

In the course of my journalism odyssey and service to my fatherland, I have been honoured countless times with awards headlining my modest contribution to the country and humanity. But none has come close to the one I received on 7 February at the Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion at Ika in Delta State.

This particular one was an epoch that set me on an emotional introspection, followed by profuse praise for Gods matchless grace upon my life. There I stood facing the leadership of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion: the Primate of all Nigeria, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba; House of Bishops; House of Priests; and House of Laity, at the Anglican Cathedral Church of Ascension, Boji-Boji Owa, Diocese of Ika, Delta State, listening to my citation for the prestigious Award For Excellence In Faithfulness In The Kingdom Service.

As the citation was being read, the Holy Spirit took over, taking me on a journey back to my formative years, which were spent in the vicarage. In vivid colour, the Spirit showed me how my late father, Daniel Akinseye Olamiti, a catechist, spent 40 years serving God, faithfully and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to many parts of the Old Ondo Province. My beloved father was the vessel, the early evangelist, who God used to bring Christianity to Idanreland.

Ironically, despite his many years of dedicated and meritorious service, Papa retired without a building to house his wife and six children. But by the time he was asked to pack out of the Mission House, help came from above. It came in the form of a two-bedroom building without a toilet and kitchen, but good enough to provide shelter for the family.

For his service for 40 years he was paid a one-off retirement benefit of 40, half of which he used to offset the balance of my school fees at Olofin Grammar School, Idanre. I also remember how, as a young boy in the primary school, I used to follow my dad to the yearly synod in Ondo town. My dad, poor financially, living on a 1 monthly salary, always went cap in hand to well-to-do church members for help.

Now, let me quickly say this: I have gone all out to mention all these honours among the many honours and services the Church has bestowed on me, not for self-adulation but to appreciate God for His kindness and faithfulness in my 72 years so far on this side of eternity.

However, throughout that difficult period, I never saw my father in a moody state. He was always happy and enthusiastic in going from house to house, twice daily, to win converts into Gods Kingdom from paganism. He cheerfully and eagerly went about planting churches in the different stations he found himself from frequent transfers. Therefore, as joy continued to well in my soul and spirit as I received the award, my spirit kept telling me: this award is not for me but for my father and the people of Idanreland, where my beloved old man was one of the pioneers that brought Christianity to the land.

Shortly after he passed on to glory, 28 years ago, I saw him in my dream. The two of us were in white apparels, walking in a lush green field. As we walked and I savoured the picturesque scenery, Papa told me to look sideways. I did. And I saw men in white dresses entering a big church. My father then instructed me to go and join them. He let go my hand and continued walking away. As I was walking towards the big church to join the men in white as Papa instructed, I woke up.

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In his days, my father struggled hard to get a collar as a reverend but could not because of his minimal educational attainment. He only had a standard six certificate.

But here I was, standing on the stage, facing the awesome gathering of Gods people, including the most eminent fathers and mothers in the Anglican Church, receiving this prestigious honour. How can I ever forget this day of glory? Its not possible. I will forever cherish it. This definitely was not by my powers or might but by the Grace of the Almighty God and also to the leadership of our Church, the Most Reverend Ndukuba. I am one of the few Anglicans that belong to three dioceses  Abuja, Ibadan and Akure. I make sure I balance my responsibilities to the best of my ability to serve the Lord and humanity in these dioceses.

Just last year, in January to be precise, the Ibadan Diocese, while celebrating its 70th anniversary, honoured me with an award for Invaluable Services to the Diocese. Yet, this was just one of the many awards that I had received from the diocese. Others included: Communicator of the Year, 2006; Son of The Year 2009; and the 2012 Award for Invaluable Contribution to the Growth and Development of Ibadan Diocese. From Akure Diocese, I was honoured during its 10th Inauguration Anniversary in 2023 with the Eminent Ambassador Award. This is not forgetting the Abuja Diocese, where I was privileged to be a member of the Committee for the Establishment of the Anglican International Academy, and from there also came an award in recognition of invaluable services to the work of God. From Oyo Diocese in 2019, the women organisations honoured me with an award in recognition of my contributions to the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, the media and society at large. As the immediate past chairman of the Board of Management of Advent Cable Network Nigeria Television (ACNNTV) for two terms. I got a Nehemiah award during the stations 10th Year Anniversary, in acknowledgement of my pioneering role in setting up the station. In 2017, I was also inducted into the Anglican Knighthood of Saint Christopher at Bayelsa State.

But the ones from the Church give me enormous spiritual fulfilment, and for this reason Im celebrating the latest that came from the Apex Body of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion. Colossians 3: 17, says: And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it well in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Now, let me quickly say this: I have gone all out to mention all these honours among the many honours and services the Church has bestowed on me, not for self-adulation but to appreciate God for His kindness and faithfulness in my 72 years so far on this side of eternity.

Yet, this is not to talk about secular awards, which God has bestowed on me, and they have been in droves. Needless to mention that I am a titled Chief in Idanre, my hometown, where the Owa of Idanreland, Oba Frederick Aroloye Arubiefin IV, installed me as the Ajagunla of Idanreland. I am also a trustee of The Yoruba Leadership Peace Initiatives (TYLPI). I served for ten years as the Resident Consultant and spokesperson of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission (ICPC) and received an award for Outstanding Leadership and Service in The Fight Against Corruption. From my professional body as a journalist, I was honoured with an indelible and committed Senior Management Staff award of The African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN), publishers of the Tribune titles, where I served for 32 years. Other awards included Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE), Fellow of Diamond Merit Award (DAME), the Milestone Award from Nigerian Union of Journalists, and Member of International Press Institute (IPI) in Vienna and a member the IPI Board of Trustees, Nigeria chapter. No doubt, all these secular honours are good for the recognition of ones services to humanity. And I remain forever grateful for these recognitions.

But the ones from the Church give me enormous spiritual fulfilment, and for this reason Im celebrating the latest that came from the Apex Body of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion. Colossians 3: 17, says: And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it well in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

For me, praising God and my Saviour Jesus Christ is a contract that has no expiry date. For my remaining years on earth, I will totally commit myself to serving Him with all my heart and soul. To Him belong all the glory. Thank you, Jesus.

Folu Olamiti, a former executive director at Tribune Newspapers, is a fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE).

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ITW EAE Equipment to be represented by Foster Innovative Technology in CO, ID, MT, UT, WA, and WY Published: 09 April 2024 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes

LAKEVILLE, MN  ITW EAE, the Electronic Assembly Equipment division of Illinois Tool Works, announces a new partnership agreement with Foster Innovative Technology, LLC (FIT) to further expand its representation and distribution network. Under this agreement, FIT will now cover the territory of Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming for ITW EAE equipment. This partnership marks an extension of FITs existing representation of ITW EAEs product line, which previously included Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho.

FIT has provided excellent representation for ITW EAE product lines over the past few years, said John Fanning, ITW EAE Sales Director. As we were looking into this expansion, we felt that FIT would be best able to provide our ITW EAE customers with the first class, highly trained and technically experienced sales and support needed to grow our market in this territory. With over 25 years of experience serving the electronics assembly market, their mission is to provide world class solutions that are the optimal FIT to the customer application. More information on Foster Innovative Technology, LL (FIT) can be found at https://fitechnologyllc.com.

The recent FIT partnership expansion comes on the heels of retirement of Jeff Howe, AMTI, who represented ITW EAE in the territory for over 40 years.

I cant thank Jeff enough for all the experience and guidance as he provided ITW EAE and myself. said Marc Apell, ITW EAE Regional Sales Mgr. Jeff was a mentor to me when I got into the industry and valued his advice.
The scale and scope of this initiative underscore the transformative potential of private sector-led philanthropy in addressing societal issues and driving positive change. As a leading example of corporate social responsibility, the Aliko Dangote Foundation sets a precedent for other businesses and individuals to follow, inspiring a culture of giving and social impact.

In a philanthropic endeavour of monumental scale, the Aliko Dangote Foundation has undertaken the distribution of one million bags of rice to vulnerable households across Nigeria. This initiative, aimed at alleviating food insecurity exacerbated by economic challenges, marks a significant milestone in the Foundations commitment to social welfare and community development.

The distribution of such a vast quantity of rice underscores the Foundations dedication to making a tangible difference in the lives of those who are most in need. As the largest private sector-led effort of its kind in Nigeria, this initiative reflects the vision and generosity of Africas foremost industrialist, Aliko Dangote, to uplift communities and foster resilience in times of adversity.

The impact of recent reforms by the government has been profound, particularly for vulnerable populations already grappling with poverty and economic instability. Access to basic necessities, such as food, has become increasingly challenging, highlighting the urgent need for concerted efforts to support those facing hardship.

During the flag-off in Lagos, Dangote said the distribution of the one million units of 10-kilogramme bags of rice, worth over N15 billion, across the 774 local government areas of the federation, is another demonstration of the Foundations commitment to upholding the values of compassion and solidarity that are at the core of humanity.

The foremost industrialist noted that over the past 30 years, the Dangote family has strived to provide support and assistance during the holy month of Ramadan to those that need it the most.

This of course is one of the tenets of our faith which emphasises charity and encourages responsibility for the community.

While our traditional Ramadan food distribution has been focused on the Muslim Community, we recognise that the current circumstances where a significant proportion of Nigerians across the nation are experiencing severe hardship due to the prevailing high prices of food, require that we broaden our program to cover communities of all faiths. This is why we are extending the Ramadan initiative to cover all the thirty-six states and the Federal Capital Territory as a testament to our commitment to supporting our communities in line with our core values and the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadan, he said.

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He said the Foundation is guided by a vision of empowering Africans to achieve self-actualisation and their full potentials, as it believes that every individual, regardless of his/her circumstances, deserves the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

In times of hardship, it is imperative that we stand together as one nation, one community, extending a helping hand to our brothers and sisters in their time of need, he said.

Through the distribution of one million bags of rice, the ADF aims to provide sustenance and relief to vulnerable households across the nation. By targeting communities in various states, including those in remote and underserved areas, the Foundation seeks to reach those who are often overlooked or marginalised in times of crisis.

The significance of this initiative extends beyond the provision of essential food supplies. It represents a beacon of hope for millions of Nigerians facing uncertainty, demonstrating that compassion and solidarity can prevail even in the most challenging of circumstances. By working collaboratively with local authorities, community leaders, and grassroots organisations, the Foundation ensures that assistance reaches those who need it most.

Attesting to the importance of the intervention, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, who applauded the many initiatives of Dangote to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians, praised him for showing compassion to the needy in the society.

Sanwo-Olu said the gesture of distribution of rice shows that the leadership of the Foundation prioritises the welfare of the people beyond the pursuit of profit and accumulation of wealth.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote is a Nigerian who has chosen to be different. You have choices but you have made the right one which is caring for the vulnerable. I appreciate Alhaji Aliko Dangote for extending his kind gestures to the people at the bottom of the pyramid and we are grateful for supporting us in government. There is a lot of global disruptions in different parts of the world, and it is a tough time to be in a position of leadership, he said.

While encouraging other wealthy Nigerians to emulate Dangote, the governor said the distribution of the rice would support the initiative of the state in addressing the effects of the economic hardship.

He also applauded the support the state enjoyed from the Dangote Foundation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sanwo-Olu was re-echoing the words of his colleague from Kano, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, who had urged other wealthy Nigerians to emulate Dangote by supporting the government in the provision of palliatives to cushion the harsh economic condition in the country.

I do not have enough words to express my heartfelt gratitude to Alhaji Aliko Dangote on behalf of the good people of Kano State. This is because the gesture he is offering today will undoubtedly alleviate the burden of many families facing economic hardship in our state. I urge all other wealthy individuals and businesses in our community to take heed of this noble example set by the Dangote Group and extend similar gestures of support to those in need in our dear state, he had said when the food intervention programme was flagged off in Kano.

Recognising the significant number of individuals in dire need of assistance, Governor Yusuf emphasised that governmental efforts alone are insufficient to address these needs.

This is the same sentiment shared by other governors and respected leaders in the country.

The Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu, who acknowledged the challenges faced by families to provide basic needs, called on other philanthropists to emulate the gesture.

The Emir, who was represented by the District Head of Bauchi, Alhaji Nuru Jumba, during the flag off ceremony in Bauchi lauded Dangote.

Furthermore, the distribution of rice aligns with broader efforts to enhance food security and promote sustainable development, as the rice and the packaging were locally sourced, creating jobs and providing incomes for many Nigerians. By addressing immediate needs while also investing in long-term solutions, the Aliko Dangote Foundation contributes to building more resilient communities capable of withstanding future challenges.

The scale and scope of this initiative underscore the transformative potential of private sector-led philanthropy in addressing societal issues and driving positive change. As a leading example of corporate social responsibility, the Aliko Dangote Foundation sets a precedent for other businesses and individuals to follow, inspiring a culture of giving and social impact.

In addition to providing immediate relief, the distribution of one million bags of rice serves as a testament to the Foundations unwavering commitment to the well-being of the Nigerian people. It is a powerful reminder that, even in times of adversity, compassion and generosity have the power to unite us and propel us toward a brighter future.

Abiodun Alade writes from Abuja.

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A&P Foods Limited, one of Nigerias leading biscuit companies, has changed its legal name and branding to pladis Foods Nigeria Limited, aligning it with pladis, a leading player in the global consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, with a portfolio of iconic snacking brands.

The move allows the Nigerian arm of the business to continue to delight the market with McVities and Haansbro brands, whilst also creating the opportunities for it to leverage the pladis companys global scale, knowledge, strengths, and capabilities.

Country General Manager, Abhishek Sharma said, We are delighted to align with the pladis corporate brand, as pladis moves to make its name recognised all around the world. However, while our name may be changing, our dedication and commitment to unrivalled craftmanship, excellence and growth in Nigeria remains the same.

The change of name will not only benefit the companys operational procedures, but it will pave the way for a journey towards building a stronger global brand and corporate culture. pladis Foods Nigeria will focus on driving McVities growth, through continuous innovation across product categories and segments, to meet both consumer and market demands.

Marketing Director, pladis Foods Nigeria Limited, Omotola Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi reinforced the benefits there would be for pladis Foods Nigeria as it aligns with the global brand, The decision to move under the pladis name further underscores the companys ambitions and commitment to innovation, building sustainable brands, and creating happiness for all stakeholders, in every marketplace.

In another exciting development, pladis Nigeria has also opened a new corporate office in Ikeja GRA, Lagos. The launch of the new office was officiated by the pladis executives from the Western Europe and Emerging Market (WEEM) regional team and is branded in line with the new pladis Foods Nigeria entity.

Chukwuemeka Ijei, Legal Director for pladis Foods Nigeria, confirms that all requisite regulatory obligations and registrations have been concluded to reflect the transition to the new name, pladis Foods Nigeria Limited.

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Incorporated in 2016, pladis is one of the worlds leading snacking companies and home to much loved brands including McVities, Godiva, Carrs and Ulker. pladis also owns regional brands Jacobs, Go Ahead, Flipz, BN, Verkade and many more products across sweet and savoury biscuits, wafer, cake, chocolate, gum and candy.

pladis is the proud steward of over 300 years of family baking and confectionery experience. The expertise of its 16,000-strong global workforce spans 27 bakeries and factories in 11 countries, and is founded on collaboration, agility and resilience.

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The people of Apata in Oworo District, Lokoja Local Government Area, Kogi State, went into jubilation on Monday when their queen finally delivered a set of triplets after 17 years of waiting.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the elated queen, Teniola-Faith, delivered the babies in the early morning of Monday at the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

The Palace of Olu of Apata, Oba Fredrick Balogun, the latest father in the community, was agog with praise singing and dancing as the people celebrated with the royal family.

The happy and smiling Oba told NAN that God had been very faithful to his family, who for 17 years had put their trust in Him.

This is our day of joy and rejoicing after receiving these precious gifts from God Almighty after several years of waiting and trusting Him.

In fact, Im short of words to thank God for what He has done to this royal family. No wonder people have gathered around to celebrate with us.

Another impressive and wonderful thing our God has done to us is that the queen and the triplets are all in good health condition, he said.

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Oba Balogun said that the arrival of the triplets was a sign that 2024 is a year of many goodies coming the way of not just Apata community but Kogi and Nigeria as a whole.

The traditional ruler also expressed gratitude to family members, friends, people of Apata and the hospital management for standing with them all through.

The Elsho of Apata, Chief Ayodele Rufus-Balogun, described the arrival of the triplets as huge blessing to the Apata community, the Oworo district and Kogi State.

You can see for yourself how jubilant our people are over the birth of these triplets to our Oba. We are indeed grateful to God,  he said.

Also, the Apata Community Development Association Secretary, Babatunde Adekunle, said that 2024 was the year of the people of Apata community.

He said we are all gathered here singing and dancing because our joy is full with the blessing we have received from our almighty God through our royal family.

(NAN)

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The Benue State Government on Tuesday conducted a mass burial for 17 residents of Mbaikyor, Gwer-East Local Government Area (LGA). The victims were killed last month when suspected armed herders attacked the community.

Speaking during the burial of the victims in Mbaikyor, the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, said the solution to the incessant attack on farmers by armed herders was the formation of vigilante groups.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that armed herders on 7 March attacked the Mbaikyor community and killed 17 persons, including a retired WO2 Army officer and a boy.

NAN, however, learnt that two out of the 17 farmers were earlier buried because the corpses were fast decomposing, but the remaining 15 were buried on Tuesday.

Represented by his deputy, Sam Ode, Governor Alia condemned the brutal killings in strong terms.

He said the Benue government was committed to the protection of lives and property of all citizens.

Today is a sad day in the history of Benue State; to line up caskets like this is unacceptable. I am so sad and my heart is heavy to behold this kind of sight that shouldnt have happened.

Security is not for government alone because there is no one that can protect you like yourself.

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You need to have a Joint Security Taskforce or vigilante groups that would be properly profiled and handed over to the government to handle them.

That is the solution to the insecurity we are facing in the state, he said.

He pledged to construct the rural road that passed through the area to ease the movement of security agencies to the area in times of emergencies, adding that the community also needed a police station.

The governor further promised to meet with the families of the bereaved after the burial and also prayed against the reoccurrence of such incidents.

Earlier, Elias Audu, member of the Benue House of Assembly (BNHA) representing Gwer-East State Constituency, regretted that despite the availability of fighter jets in the country to tackle such incidents, security agencies did not live up to their billings.

Mr Audu advised that the relevant security agencies should be reprimanded because they failed to intervene in the crisis using the available fighter jets at their disposal. He said the attack lasted for over three hours.

Mr Audu, however, commended Governor Alia for all he had done since the attack including the Easter distribution of relief materials he made available to the victims families.

The lawmaker also conveyed to the bereaved families, the condolences of the Speaker of the Benue Assembly, Aondona Dajoh.

The President of Masev Development Association (MDA), Vitalis Tarhule, said the primary responsibility of government was the protection of lives and property and appealed to the government to endeavour to protect the people at all times.

Mr Tarhule said that similar attacks had occurred in 2014, 2018 and 2024 within the axis resulting in about 40 deaths.

He stressed the need to establish a security post in Mbaikyor to check the unwholesome activities of armed herders.

The Chairman of the association of Mbaikyor sons in diaspora, Simon Kofi, said the community had apprehended two herders and handed them over to the police following their nefarious activities.

Mr Kofi explained that their crime was that they told the herders not to come back to the community again, a situation that, he said, prompted the attack on his kinsmen.

NAN reports that an interdenominational service was conducted for the victims.

Before the recent attack on the community, the last one occurred in 2018. Then, armed herders attacked and killed two priests and 16 parishioners during a morning mass.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that Benue has witnessed several cases of mass killings by persons suspected to be armed herders. Hundreds of people have been killed in such attacks and counterattacks in recent years amidst a continuous tussle over grazing rights.

The Benue State Government put in place an anti-open grazing law to check the open grazing of cattle in the state by herders, which often triggers violence as the cattle sometimes destroy farms owned by locals.

The anti-open grazing law has, however, not stopped the incessant violence between migrant herders and local farming communities.

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The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, has reappointed Yusuf Imam, whom he sacked for trolling the countrys Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

The governor sacked Mr Imam as his Special Adviser for Youth and Sport last September. Mr Imam was sacked alongside the commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Adamu Aliyu, who issued a death threat to judges of the states governorship electoral petition tribunal.

Last September, the governments spokesperson, Halilu Dantiye, while announcing their removal from office said the views expressed by both officials do not represent the official position of the state government under Governor Yusuf.

While the Special Adviser on Youth and Sport, Alhaji Yusuf Imam making unguarded and disrespectful statements on His Excellency Alhaji Kashim Shettima GCON the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

For these reasons, the Governor of Kano State has relieved the two officials of their appointment with immediate effect: Commissioner of Land and Physical Planning, Alhaji Adamu A. Kibiya, and the Special Adviser on Youth and Sport, Alhaji Yusuf Imam, Mr Dantiye wrote.

Eight months later, both men have now been reappointed. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Aliyu was reappointed in March while Mr Imam was recalled in April.

The governors spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, on Tuesday, announced that Mr Imam was reappointed to his previous office.

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According to the spokesperson, the governor also approved the appointments of additional special advisers and other heads of government agencies.

Ibrahim Barde, a professor, was appointed Special Adviser on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Abdulhamid Danladi was appointed Special Adviser on Diaspora and Bello Kiru was appointed Special Adviser on Water Resources.

Other appointees include Nura Shanono, who moved from Special Adviser Water Resources to Managing Director of Water Resources Engineering and Construction Agency (WRECA).

Baba Umar has also moved from Special Adviser to the Executive Secretary of the Private and Voluntary Institutions Management Board.

Nasir Muhammad was appointed Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs) while Aminu Bako is to serve as Deputy Managing Director of the Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA).

Mukhtar Yusuf was appointed the Deputy Managing Director of the Water Resources Engineering and Construction Agency (WRECA).

Mr Bature said the appointments take effect immediately.

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Words and Culture weaves conversations with Indigenous language and knowledge keepers together with music by Indigenous artists.

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Words and Culture weaves conversations with Indigenous language and knowledge keepers together with music by Indigenous artists. The team creating this original content is made up exclusively of Indigenous producers, hosts and guests. Words and Culture is funded by SiriusXM through the Community Radio Fund of Canada.
SHANGHAI, April 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 9 April 2024 (Beijing Time), Abbisko Therapeutics Co., Ltd. (Abbisko Therapeutics) announced the completion of patient enrollment for its pivotal Phase III trial, MANEUVER (ABSK021-301) STUDY, for evaluating the efficacy and safety of pimicotinib in patients with tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT). A total of 94 patients were enrolled and exceeded the original target of 90 patients. The study is being conducted across more than 30 investigational sites worldwide, with European and North American patients accounted for more than half of the total enrollment. This study is a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial, which is the first global Phase III trial of TGCT simultaneously conducted in China, the U.S., Canada and Europe. The approval to conduct this Phase III trial was received by the China NMPA in October 2022, the U.S. FDA in March 2023, and the EMA in September 2023.

Pimicotinib is a novel, orally available, highly selective, and highly potent small molecule inhibitor of CSF-1R independently discovered and developed by Abbisko Therapeutics. It has obtained the Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) from China NMPA and the U.S. FDA, as well as the PRIME designation from EMA. Furthermore, the U.S. FDA granted Fast Track Designation (FTD), and Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) granted by EMA in January 2024, for the treatment of TGCT patients who are not amenable to surgery. The designations are poised to accelerate the global development and commercialization of pimicotinib.

In early December 2023, Abbisko Therapeutics entered into a license agreement with Merck. Under the terms of the agreement, Abbisko Therapeutics has granted Merck an exclusive license to commercialize products comprising or containing pimicotinib in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and an exclusive option for global commercial rights of pimicotinib.

TGCT, a locally aggressive neoplasm which affects synovial joints, mucous sacs, and tendon membranes, resulting in swelling, pain, stiffness, and decreased activity of the affected joints which seriously affect patient's quality of life. Currently, there is no systemic therapy approved in China and Europe, and only one in the U.S. There are unmet medical needs of TGCT patients in the regions of China, the U.S. and Europe.

In addition to TGCT, Abbisko is actively exploring the potential of pimicotinib in treating other indications. The company has obtained approval from China NMPA to conduct Phase II clinical studies in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and advanced pancreatic cancer.

PHASE III MANEUVER (ABSK021-301) STUDY

The Phase III MANEUVER (ABSK021-301) study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centered clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pimicotinib in patients with TGCT. This study consists of two parts. Part 1 is a double-blinded phase, in which eligible patients were randomized to the pimicotinib treatment group or matching placebo group and receive 50mg QD of pimicotinib or matching placebo (28 days/cycle) until completion of 24 weeks of dosing (Part 1). Patients who complete Part 1 were eligible to continue in Part 2 of the study. Part 2 is an open-label treatment phase, and all patients entering this phase received 50mg QD of open-label pimicotinib until 24 weeks of dosing or withdrawal from the study. Approximately 90 patients were planned to be enrolled, and the primary endpoint is 25-Week ORR by the Blinded Independent Review Committee(IRC).

SOURCE Abbisko
TAIPEI, April 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Advantech (2395.TW), a global leader in intelligent IoT systems and embedded platforms, is excited to announce the EAI-3101, a brand-new industrial PCIe GPU card powered by the Intel Arc A380E, built for 5-year longevity. Featuring 128 Intel Xe matrix AI engines, this GPU card delivers outstanding AI computing power of 5.018 TFLOPS, surpassing the capabilities of the NVIDIA T1000, 2 times over. With ray-tracing technology and Intel XeSS AI-upscaling, the EAI-3101 supports up to 8K UHD resolution and achieves a 50% enhancement in graphics performance over the NVIDIA T1000.

Advantech EAI-3101

To aid in quickly realizing Vision AI, Advantech provides the Edge AI SDK, a rapid AI development toolkit compatible with Intel OpenVINO, which can process the same workload in 40% less time. This groundbreaking graphics solution, with optimized thermal design and an auto smart fan, is specially engineered for image processing and AI acceleration across gaming, medical analysis, and video surveillance. Advantech will demonstrate the EAI-3101 GPU card from April 9th to 11th at the Embedded World 2024(Hall 3, booth no. 339) in Nuremberg, Germany.

Optimized Performance with Superior AI Computing

Harnessing the capabilities of Intel Deep Link technologies to optimize workloads and power sharing among Intel Integrated GPUs and Arc GPUs, the EAI-3101 provides 5.018 TFLOPS of AI computing power. This GPU card works perfectly with Advantech systems and main boards such as the DPX-S455, AIMB-278, and ARK-3534 to deliver maximum value and optimized performance for diverse applications.

Unleash Versatile Applications with Seamless Integration

The EAI-3101 graphics solution is equipped with four DP1.4a outputs and supports EDID display for gaming casinos, delivering up to 8K UHD resolution with Intel XeSS AI-upscaling technology for medical analysis, and providing rich media codecs and software APIs, including the latest AV1/VP9/DirectX, unlocking a new era of visual computing possibilities.

Swiftly Configure a Reliable AI Development Environment

Optimize your AI development with the Advantech Edge AI SDK and Intel OpenVINO toolkits, where we provide inference benchmark evaluation, runtime SDK integration, model conversion, and technical consulting services, accelerating AI inference applications across Windows 11/10 and Ubuntu 22.04 OS from AI development to deployment.

The EAI-3101 graphics card will be displayed at the Advantech booth (3-339) at Embedded World 2024. This solution will be available in May 2024. For more information, please contact your regional sales team or visit www.advantech.com.

SOURCE Advantech
WASHINGTON and SAN FRANCISCO, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alethea , the leading technology company in disinformation detection and mitigation, announced the close of a $20M Series B funding round led by GV , with participation from Ballistic Ventures , who led Alethea's Series A funding in 2022. Also participating in the round is Hakluyt Capital , which invests alongside leading venture capital funds, targeting companies with high growth potential and international ambitions. This new investment signifies investor confidence in Alethea's vision, technology capabilities, and the transformative impact the company will have on creating a more secure digital environment. The new funding brings Alethea's total raised to $34M.

"Companies' biggest vulnerabilities today lie outside of their own systems, and the incoming threats we have to worry about are from those who are weaponizing information to break into and manipulate customer, investor, and stakeholder decisions," said Lisa Kaplan, Founder and CEO of Alethea. "We built our Artemis product to move organizations from passive listening to active risk management. Since the launch, our customers have been able to use Artemis to detect and prebunk threats early, use our insights to inform mitigation responses, and better protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated adversaries."

Alethea is the leading technology company in disinformation detection and mitigation. Post this

With its flagship product, Artemis , Alethea is redefining the early warning of security risks, detecting the first signs of cyber attacks, disinformation and misinformation narratives, and domestic and foreign influence operations earlier than previously possible. Using AI to detect and assess previously invisible risks on niche social media platforms, alternative forums and spaces, and known extremist communities, Artemis alerts communications, risk and intel, and security teams of malicious actors, vulnerable assets, and threats of physical violence. Artemis analyzes billions of data points across a variety of disparate data sources and multiple languages to provide stakeholders with a comprehensive picture of the adversary and their tactics, techniques, and procedures.

The Series B investment will allow Alethea to scale sales and marketing efforts to bring its solutions to every organization or company with an online presence, grow the team to bring on new functions and expand existing functions, and enhance Artemis' features and capabilities to provide tailored solutions that address evolving customer challenges.

"Alethea takes a novel, machine-learning driven approach to protect company brand reputations from the potential damages of disinformation campaigns and social media manipulation," said Karim Faris, General Partner at GV. "The rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence creates a more urgent need for Alethea's technology, and the company continues to see strong adoption of its advanced analytics among major enterprises. We're excited to support Lisa Kaplan and the entire team as they protect the bottom lines of Fortune 500 companies in the new AI-driven social information era."

"Disinformation is the new malware  yet a far more insidious threat to corporations, individuals and our open democracy," said Ted Schlein, Co-founder and General Partner at Ballistic Ventures. "Our continued investment in Alethea underscores our confidence in their innovative approach to empowering a broad range of customers  from the Fortune 50 to the public sector  in combating disinformation and taking actions that safeguard our society's digital future."

Alethea was represented by outside counsel WilmerHale in the Series B transaction.

New Russian Interference Tactics in 2024 US Presidential Election

Alethea recently released a groundbreaking report , exclusively covered by The New York Times , on Russia's new disinformation tactics to interfere in the U.S. elections and global democracies. Over the last several months, the Alethea team has been investigating and analyzing a network of accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and websites that we assess are seeking to divide Americans and amplify Russian propaganda  specifically counter-Ukraine messaging  ahead of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. Based on both the content shared and behaviors of these assets, Alethea's report found that this network operates on behalf of Russia's main military intelligence directorate, commonly known as the GRU.

This network is using a new amplification tactic, dubbed "Invisible Ink" by Alethea, including using the X platform in novel ways which hamper research efforts, supported by large scale automated amplification systems. The accounts in this network pose as conservative voters and amplify opposition to military aid funding to Ukraine. Past Russian information operations targeted both sides of the political spectrum to foment existing societal divisions. In this network, we assess that the GRU targets more specific segments of the U.S. electorate in advance of the 2024 presidential election to promote candidates and policies favorable to Russian military objectives in Ukraine.

Visit the Alethea careers page for more information on open positions across data science, product, engineering, finance, operations, and marketing and sales.

Sign up for a demo of Artemis and to learn more about how the product leverages machine learning and advanced analytics to detect online threats at origination, enabling users to mitigate potential risks before they become crises.

About Alethea

Alethea is a technology company helping the Fortune 500, private companies, and nonprofits protect themselves from harms stemming from disinformation. Leveraging its multi-channel machine learning platform, Artemis, Alethea detects disinformation narratives across the internet, enabling customers to proactively defend against this pervasive threat. With Artemis-powered early detection, Alethea customers can protect their reputations, key assets, physical safety and market value. The company was founded in 2019 and is woman-owned. Learn more at alethea.com .

SOURCE Alethea
"Google Cloud's Partner Awards celebrate the transformative impact and value that partners have delivered for customers, through inclusion initiatives," said Kevin Ichhpurani, corporate vice president, Global Ecosystem and Channels at Google Cloud. "We're proud to announce Altair as a 2024 Google Cloud Partner Award winner and recognize their achievements as diversity enriches our teams and communities."

"Altair is honored to win this prestigious award from Google Cloud  it's a true testament to our tireless commitment to our people and to fostering an environment in which all employees feel welcomed, validated, and empowered," said Gilma Saravia, chief people officer, Altair. "Garnering this award further demonstrates that Altair is a global leader, an organization where people always come first. We know that DEI work is never done  and we will always embrace the challenge to better ourselves year after year."

Supporting its commitment to DEI initiatives and a positive work environment, Altair's numbers speak for themselves. More than 75 languages are spoken and more than 50 nationalities are represented within Altair's global workforce of over 3,000 employees. Women make up 43% of its executives and board of directors, both significantly higher than U.S. averages. And two standout employee-led resource groups  Women in Technology (WiT) and the Altair Black Employee Resource Network (ABERN)  further educate and empower all Altair employees by hosting more than 30 events each year focusing on personal growth, cultivating allyship, combating bias, and more.

To learn more about the award, visit https://cloud.google.com/awards/partners . To learn more about Altair, visit https://altair.com/ .

About Altair

Altair is a global leader in computational intelligence that provides software and cloud solutions in simulation, high-performance computing (HPC), data analytics, and AI. Altair enables organizations across all industries to compete more effectively and drive smarter decisions in an increasingly connected world  all while creating a greener, more sustainable future. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com .

Media contacts

Altair Corporate Altair Investor Relations Bridget Hagan Monica Gould, The Blueshirt Group +1.216.769.2658 +1 212.871.3927 [email protected] [email protected]



Altair Europe/The Middle East/Africa

Charlotte Hartmann

+49 7031 6208 0

[email protected]



SOURCE Altair
Automation Anywhere now integrates Google Cloud's Gemini models with its AI-powered automation platform for powerful multimodal use cases including loan underwriting, hospital patient communications, AML and more

LAS VEGAS, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Automation Anywhere, the leader in AI-powered automation, today announced an expanded partnership with Google Cloud to leverage the combined power of generative AI and its own specialized, generative AI automation models to give companies a powerful solution to optimize and transform their business. Automation Anywhere is utilizing Google Cloud's Gemini models and Vertex AI platform to launch customizable new generative-AI powered solutions, unlocking new value quickly for enterprises across a range of industries. While other automation vendors run their on-prem software on a virtual machine, Automation Anywhere has well over 300 enterprise customers running advanced process automations natively on Google Cloud, enabling customers to put generative AI into action to increase productivity across systems and processes and cost savings.

Using Google Cloud's Gemini models and the advanced capabilities of Vertex AI, Automation Anywhere's platform now can integrate different types of information from text to code to audio to image and video. This empowers employees to use natural language to request automations across systems, generate personalized content, summarize dense documents and automate workflows without leaving their preferred application. By leveraging pre-trained Google foundation models to ingest large amounts of data, understand content, answer questions, produce outputs and transform those into commands, Automation Anywhere can drive automation at scale, accelerating enterprisewide business transformation, boosting productivity, and freeing up valuable time for employees to work on more strategic priorities.

Automation Anywhere's platform builds on years of AI work and can create new value for customers by creating multimodal automation use cases:

Transforming underwriting processes: In commercial lending and insurance, generative AI can review video footage, images, and text from hundreds of pages of documents, leveraging the generative AI-powered assistant to review, summarize, and submit necessary information to help accelerate the underwriting process.

In commercial lending and insurance, generative AI can review video footage, images, and text from hundreds of pages of documents, leveraging the generative AI-powered assistant to review, summarize, and submit necessary information to help accelerate the underwriting process. Simplifying patient communications: Generative-AI can generate discharge after-visit summaries in audio format in a patient's native language, assisting doctors and clinicians in how they relay vital healthcare information to their patients to ensure a better understanding of the details of their care.

Generative-AI can generate discharge after-visit summaries in audio format in a patient's native language, assisting doctors and clinicians in how they relay vital healthcare information to their patients to ensure a better understanding of the details of their care. Automating data extraction with accuracy : Generative-AI powered assistants can extract text and images automatically including retail barcodes, review the output, provide product support, and authorize returns. In pharmaceuticals, generative AI validates package image data including size, colors, logo, usage instructions, expiration dates, and more to ensure quality standards.

: Generative-AI powered assistants can extract text and images automatically including retail barcodes, review the output, provide product support, and authorize returns. In pharmaceuticals, generative AI validates package image data including size, colors, logo, usage instructions, expiration dates, and more to ensure quality standards. Combating Money Laundering: Automation Anywhere's Intelligent Automation platform further enables financial services organizations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their anti-money laundering (AML) compliance programs, seamlessly integrating the results of Google Cloud's AML AI product into the investigation workflow and generation of suspicious activity reports.

"Partnering with Google Cloud gave us access to an ecosystem of best-in-class machine learning models, like MedLM for example, a pre-built solution that eases the burden on doctors and healthcare professionals by automating after-visit summaries, reducing manual work and burnout," said Adi Kuruganti, Chief Product Officer, Automation Anywhere. "This is just one powerful example of how our joint out-of-the-box industry-specific solutions empower people to do their very best work supported by generative AI-powered automation in a safe, responsible AI-based solution."

"We're pleased to partner with Automation Anywhere to bring new generative AI capabilities to customers," said Ritika Suri, Director of Technology Partnerships, Google Cloud. "With Gemini models, Automation Anywhere can enhance experiences across industries, enabling organizations to streamline and simplify many time-consuming tasks."

Automation Anywhere has been able to better support companies' business process transformations and reduce manual workloads by up to 40 percent, meanwhile providing nine times the return on investment for automation programs. The Automation Success Platform is available to deploy via the Google Cloud Marketplace.

About Automation Anywhere

Automation Anywhere is the leader in AI-powered process automation that puts AI to work across organizations. The company's Automation Success Platform is powered with specialized AI, generative AI and offers process discovery, RPA, end-to-end process orchestration, document processing, and analytics, with a security and governance-first approach. Automation Anywhere empowers organizations worldwide to unleash productivity gains, drive innovation, improve customer service and accelerate business growth. The company is guided by its vision to fuel the future of work by unleashing human potential through intelligent automation. Learn more at www.automationanywhere.com.

Automation Anywhere is a registered trademark/service mark of Automation Anywhere, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/541440/Automation_Anywhere_Logo.jpg
BWI and thyssenkrupp will forge a long-term partnership to develop cutting-edge X-by-Wire chassis technology.

The jointly developed Electro-Mechanical-Brake (EMB) systems will enable Level-3 and above autonomous driving capabilities.

Start of production and global sales for the new EMB system are slated for 2026.

Dynamic testing of third-generation EMB prototypes has garnered significant interest from several automakers.

BUDAPEST, Hungary, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BWI Group, a world-leading tier-1 intelligent automotive chassis supplier, and thyssenkrupp Steering, a global tier-1 automotive partner for steering solutions signed a contract for the development and manufacture of a pioneering Electro-Mechanical Brake (EMB) technology. This collaboration aims to further advance Level 3 and above autonomous driving brake capabilities.

April 9, 2024, George Chang (Front Left), CEO of BWI Group, and Patrick Vith (Front Right), CEO of thyssenkrupp Steering, formalize the agreement in Budapest, Hungary. Executives from both companies present at the signing ceremony. BWI and thyssenkrupp forge a long-term partnership to accelerate the joint development of EMB systems. The jointly developed full-dry EMB system is a premier offering Featuring a dual-motor design.

The long-term cooperation will pave the way for further chassis-by-wire collaboration. The technical synergies will drive the future of X-by-wire chassis systems and enable the transformation from assisted to autonomous driving by enhancing safety, comfort and efficiency.

George Chang, CEO of BWI Group, and Patrick Vith, CEO of thyssenkrupp Steering, formalized the agreement in Budapest, Hungary, on April 9. Executives from both companies were present at the signing ceremony.

"We at BWI are excited about the future of chassis-by-wire," said George Chang, CEO of BWI Group. "We are pleased to be collaborating with thyssenkrupp Steering on this truly innovative technology, leveraging our expertise in braking systems since 1934 and our century-long heritage of chassis technology innovation to drive progress within the industry."

"Together, we want to contribute to the next generation of chassis systems and set standards for safety, performance, and sustainability" said Patrick Vith, CEO of thyssenkrupp Steering. "Our many years of experience as a major supplier in the steering sector will stand us in good stead."

Under the agreement, BWI Group and thyssenkrupp Steering will leverage their strengths and expertise in safety-critical systems and software to bolster their collaboration. Both companies will accelerate the joint development of EMB systems as one important element of future vehicle motion control (VMC) solutions.

BWI Group brings more than a century of history and real-world R&D and production experience to the development of the new EMB product, including expertise in brakes and suspension systems. It serves more than 50 customers worldwide. The company also leverages its prior experience with EMB systems as Delphi in the 2000s.

thyssenkrupp Steering has been developing steer-by-wire technology for many years. The company contributes deep knowledge of new electrical/electronic (E/E) architectures and software, as well as its competence in electro-mechanical braking systems derived from steering technology.

Dr. Karsten Kroos, CEO of thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology said "Through partnerships like this one, we aim to develop competitive components for modern chassis systems serving the global automotive industry in an agile, innovative, and capital-efficient manner. Our focus is on synergies in technology and costs."

Doug Carson, CTO of BWI Group said: "We have strong expectations in forging this strategic partnership with thyssenkrupp. Together, our brake-by-wire expertise will drive chassis technology breakthroughs that meet global standards and promote EMB adoption in Europe, North America, and Asia."

EMB R&D will occur at BWI Group's global R&D Centers located in Italy, Poland, U.S. and China, along with its Shanghai Software Center; thyssenkrupp's technical centers in Hungary and Liechtenstein will also perform significant roles.

Pioneering full-dry EMB technology

The jointly developed EMB system is a premier offering that complements both companies' controlled chassis portfolios. The two companies are now developing the third generation of EMB, a revolutionary technology that fulfills the need for simplified vehicle assembly while providing braking redundancy for Level 3 and above autonomous driving technologies.

Featuring a dual-motor design, efficient packaging, and novel redundancy, the newly developed EMB caliper ensures safety and reliability. Its reaction speed for time to wheel lock (TTL) is nearly twice as fast than modern one box wet brake systems. Additionally, it enables complete braking energy recovery and fully meets the electric and intelligent needs of braking systems for smart vehicles.

EMB is a visionary brake technology that eliminates the need for brake fluid while offering precise control with zero drag. It will become the definitive solution for future brake-by-wire technology, replacing current hydraulic calipers, and the accompanying One-Box and Two-Box brake actuation/modulation systems.

Globalized production anticipated in 2026

Looking ahead, the project plans to establish state-of-the-art automated production lines by 2025. Production and product delivery are expected to begin in 2026. BWI Group's advanced automated production facilities worldwide will coordinate and expedite the mass production of EMB systems, ensuring this groundbreaking technology is available to a wide array of automakers worldwide.

Leveraging BWI Group's nine manufacturing facilities and multiple proving grounds spread across key automotive centers in Asia, Europe, and North America, this cooperation regarding EMB systems, ensures efficient production and widespread distribution. Because the products are designed for worldwide markets, they will be manufactured to high standards to fulfill the variety of local demands and requirements.

Strong market growth ahead

EMB technology is becoming the focus of key automotive manufacturers, and it represents game-changing evolution for automotive chassis systems and the future demands of propulsion drive systems, electrification, performance, and sustainability.

The jointly developed EMB caliper system underwent dynamic tests in Sweden, U.S. and China. Enthusiastic feedback and interests well as cooperation intentions were secured with major automakers in the three continents.

An industrial forecast projects that EMB calipers will contribute 13% of the total global braking market by 2035.

SOURCE BWI Group
California cement sector commends Assemblymember Juan Carrillo's introduction of AB 2109, which would permit capture and reuse of excess heat to generate emission-free electricity to be used on-site at cement plants

ANAHEIM, Calif., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Nevada Cement Association (CNCA) commends the introduction of AB 2109 by Assemblymember Juan Carrillo as a vital step forward in decarbonizing the state's cement production by 2045.

The bill would permit cement producers in California to capture heat emitted during the manufacturing process and use it to create electricity they can then use on-site, giving cement plants access to carbon-free power. The process is a lever in CNCA's roadmap to carbon neutrality  a plan that is guiding the state's cement manufacturers to net zero by 2045 and fostered the creation of Sen. Josh Becker's landmark SB 596 in 2021, which sets out a regulatory framework for cement sector decarbonization.

Tom Tietz, Executive Director of CNCA, said, "California's cement producers have long been part of the decarbonization solution, working with environmental groups and legislators on landmark bills that guide the cement sector to net zero. Allowing cement plants to repurpose this lost heat would not only drastically cut plant emissions, but also give manufacturers a source of electricity that is totally carbon free."

"We applaud Assemblymember Carrillo's introduction of the bill, and we look forward to working with the legislature, NGOs, and other stakeholders in support of passing this crucial legislation. The California cement industry has long been at the forefront of reducing emissions while the materials we create stand the test of time, and we constantly attempt to ensure that our business is evolving to meet the state's needs, which we believe AB 2109 does," Tietz added.

CNCA's work, together with legislators, environmental NGOs, and additional stakeholders has made California a national leader in decarbonizing the cement sector while growing the economy.

About CNCA

CNCA is a not-for-profit organization committed to developing sustainable and economical construction solutions for California and Nevada with an emphasis on the use of cement and concrete. CNCA provides expert technical leadership, design assistance, research, and educational opportunities designed to responsibly transform our built environment and improve the lives of people throughout the region. The member companies of the CNCA are cement producers and shippers that manufacture cement products. For more information, please visit cncement.org.

SOURCE California Nevada Cement Association
NEW YORK, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The cell culture media and reagents market emerges as a great force driving advancements. With an estimated growth of USD 4.81 billion and a remarkable CAGR of 8.14% between 2022 and 2027, this market is poised to redefine the boundaries of medical science.

This report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Read PDF Sample Report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Cell Culture Media and Reagents Market 2023-2027

Unraveling the Market Dynamics:

The surge in demand for specialized cell culture media and reagents is fueled by the relentless pursuit of cutting-edge treatments and cures. From monoclonal antibodies to biosimilars, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry spearheads this transformative journey. Collaborations between academic institutions and biopharmaceutical companies further accelerate the pace of innovation.

A Glimpse into Market Segmentation:

Segmented by end-users such as the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industry, Academic Institutions, and Research Laboratories, the market offers tailored solutions to meet diverse needs. Moreover, the shift towards serum-free and animal component-free media underscores a commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.

Regional Dynamics:

North America emerges as a frontrunner, contributing a significant 37% to the market's growth. The region's focus on research activities and the prevalence of chronic diseases fuel the demand for cell culture media and reagents. Furthermore, the presence of global pharmaceutical giants amplifies market expansion.

To learn more about this report- Read PDF Sample Report

Navigating Trends and Challenges:

The market witnesses a shift towards serum-free cell culture media, enhancing efficiency and safety. However, the scarcity of skilled personnel poses a significant challenge. Addressing this, companies prioritize training and development initiatives to nurture talent pools.

Key Market Players:

Industry giants like Ajinomoto Co. Inc., Becton Dickinson and Co., and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. spearhead innovation through strategic alliances and product launches. Their contributions shape the market landscape, driving progress and excellence.

A Vision for the Future:

As personalized medicine gains momentum and gene therapies redefine treatment paradigms, the Cell Culture Media and Reagents Market stands at the forefront of change. With advanced technologies and ethical practices, it paves the way for groundbreaking discoveries and life-saving treatments.

Embracing a New Era:

In a world where healthcare meets innovation, the Cell Culture Media and Reagents Market emerges as a beacon of hope. Its impact reverberates across industries, fostering growth, and revolutionizing medical science.

Get a glance of this market- Read PDF Sample Report

Conclusion:

As the journey unfolds, the market's role becomes more pronounced, shaping the future of healthcare. With each breakthrough, it reaffirms its commitment to excellence, driving progress, and transforming lives.

Market Overview

The cell culture media and reagents market plays a pivotal role in various sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals to biotechnology, addressing critical needs such as drug discovery, biopharmaceutical production, and regenerative medicine. Key components like serum, growth factors, and hormones are essential for nurturing cell growth and function within laboratory settings.

However, challenges such as batch-to-batch variability and limited availability of serum underscore the necessity for chemically defined media, which offer traceable constituents and ensure consistency in performance. This shift towards defined media mitigates risks associated with pathogen transmission and enhances precise evaluations of cellular function, aligning with high-quality standards demanded by regulatory authorities.

Amidst budget constraints and underdeveloped infrastructure facilities in certain regions, the demand for advanced equipment and consumables persists, driven by the escalating incidence of infectious diseases and the need for diagnostic/prognostic information. The economic and social burden of communicable diseases further accentuates the importance of reliable diagnostics and therapeutic interventions.

Cell culture media find extensive applications in drug discovery & development, tissue engineering & regenerative medicine, and biopharmaceutical production, including the manufacture of biological drugs and vaccines. The market witnesses a surge in demand for specialty media tailored to specific cell types and research objectives, facilitating advancements in stem cell research and the development of artificial organs.

Pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms increasingly rely on contract manufacturing and collaboration with contract research organizations (CROs) to streamline production processes and leverage specialized expertise. Single-use technologies gain traction due to their efficiency and reduced risk of cross-contamination, albeit raising concerns about plastic waste generation.

In this landscape, innovations in media supplements, sterile reagents, and growth inhibitors contribute to optimizing cell culture techniques and enhancing bioproduction efficiency. Moreover, the integration of genetic makeup insights into cell culture systems enables more tailored approaches to disease modeling and treatment methods, particularly in addressing the needs of an aging population.

As investments pour into the biopharmaceutical market, including the consumables segment, outsourcing destinations emerge as attractive hubs for cost-effective production and research collaborations. However, vigilance against cell line misidentification and chemical responses remains crucial to maintaining the integrity of research outcomes and product efficacy, thereby ensuring the continued advancement of cell biology and biotechnology.

Get a glance of this market- Read PDF Sample Report

Related Reports:

The Global Cell Culture Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11.3% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecasted to increase by USD 17.74 billion. The Global Cell Culture Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11.3% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecasted to increase by USD 17.74 billion. Market growth is being driven by the significant potential in emerging regions, notably India, China, and South Africa.

The cell culture consumables market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 22.3% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the cell culture market is forecast to increase by USD 23,729.7 million. This report extensively covers market segmentation by application (biopharmaceutical production, cancer research, and others) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World). The growing demand for monoclonal antibodies is notably driving market growth.

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
The elevated visuals reinforce CertifyOS' commitment to innovation and excellence in healthcare

NEW YORK, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CertifyOS , a first-of-its-kind provider data intelligence platform, powered by API integrations and thousands of verified data points, today announced the launch of its brand refresh and new website design. The elevated visual identity reinforces CertifyOS' reputation as a reliable partner in cutting-edge data infrastructure management and emphasizes the company's commitment to innovation and excellence in improving healthcare access.

"Our steadfast mission to build the data infrastructure that powers the next generation of provider data products driving streamlined data processes, empowering businesses, and illuminating pathways to effortless decision-making is represented in our new brand identity through both vibrant design elements and strategic messaging," said Anshul Rathi , Founder and CEO of CertifyOS. "The rollout of our new brand identity is a pivotal moment in CertifyOS' journey, as this visually represents our company's unwavering commitment to becoming a pioneer for frictionless provider data intelligence."

CertifyOS' focus on warmth and human-centric design ensures that it stands out as a company that prioritizes user experience and customer satisfaction. The changes include a new logo and typeface, a purple-shaded color palette, and elevated iconography and illustrations.

CertifyOS, founded by former Oscar Health employees, brings extensive expertise to improving data processes, beginning with provider licensing and credentialing, having credentialed over 40,000 providers. Their innovative data infrastructure slashes turnaround times from an industry standard of 28 days to under two minutes, resulting in significant cost savings, with user administrative expenses typically reduced by 40%.

For more information about how CertifyOS can benefit your organization and to check out the new look, please visit certifyos.com or contact our sales team at [email protected].

About CertifyOS

CertifyOS is a frictionless provider intelligence platform that delivers API-first credentialing, licensing, enrollment, and network monitoring to payors, providers, health systems and digital health companies. We have built a first-of-its-kind platform that unlocks insights for clinicians, teams and organizations, resulting in one-click credentialing and real-time network monitoring. Our end-to-end solution cuts verification time to mere minutes, using only five data points. CertifyOS creates network management efficiencies and removes barriers so providers can focus on care, not paperwork. Our team has more than 25 years of combined experience building provider data systems at Oscar Health, and are backed by top-tier VC firms who share in our mission to unlock the power of healthcare provider intelligence. To learn more, visit www.certifyos.com.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE CertifyOS
BELLEVUE, Wash., April 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Trustees of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV, approved Copper Place Global Capital, LLC ("Copper Place") as the new interim investment adviser to R3 Global Dividend Growth ETF (the "Fund"). The Fund's name will be changed to the Copper Place Global Dividend Growth ETF but will retain ticker "GDVD".

GDVD's three equally important investment goals remain the same. First, is to provide an annual dividend yield that exceeds the average of the most followed market indices around the world. Second, the investment process emphasizes investing in businesses that have the ability and willingness to grow their dividends. Therefore, the managers of the fund expect the dividends to grow annually on average. Third, the investment team utilizes a rigorous comprehensive value investment process to seek companies that can meet their admittedly high bar to build the portfolios one company at a time. Finally, with the help of an internally developed and proprietary model the investment team systematically monitors, ranks, and compares thousands of companies around the world.

Above all the most important element is that the investment team remains the same, which consists of Cliff Remily, CFA and Trip Brannen, CFA. Cliff, who has been the lead portfolio manager for GDVD since its original launch with Principal Global Investors in 2017, says "We are excited to start this new chapter with Copper Place and look forward to delivering our time-tested strategy of focusing on what we believe are the three most important aspects of investing over the long run. Our globally diversified strategy focuses on finding quality companies with growing dividends, achieving a higher yield than our benchmark, and capturing long-term capital appreciation." For more information on GDVD please visit R3ETFs.com.

SOURCE Copper Place Global Capital, LLC
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cousins Maine Lobster announces the launch of their second food truck in Harrisburg, PA, further expanding their reach across Northeast and Central PA. The Grand Opening of the second truck, led by husband-and-wife franchisees Cindy and Peter Sztankovits, will take place on Saturday, April 13th, at New Trail Brewing in Williamsport, PA. The Sztankovits' joined CML as franchisees in 2019, and now operate 5 CML food trucks across Trenton NJ and Eastern PA.

Franchisees Cindy and Peter Sztankovits celebrate their first Harrisburg, PA grand opening with Cousins Maine Lobster Chief of Operations, Mike Carmody, July 1st, 2023.

Known for drawing big crowds with its world-famous lobster rolls, chowder and whoopie pies, Cousins Maine Lobster is a premier food truck partner for breweries and wineries, and can often be found at fairs, festivals, local businesses, and retailers. Customers have traveled from all over Pennsylvania to enjoy Cousins Maine Lobster, fueling the opening of the second truck in Harrisburg.

Cindy Sztankovits shared, "After the overwhelmingly positive response CML Harrisburg has received this past year, we have decided to expand! This growth would not have been possible without the support of our loyal fanbase and local businesses, and we are honored to be able to bring Cousins Maine Lobster to more communities! The expansion allows us to serve not only more customers in the vibrant city of Harrisburg but also neighboring areas like Wllliamsport, Selinsgrove, and Mechanicsburg more frequently! We hope to see you all at our Grand Opening on Saturday."

The local community is invited to attend the grand opening celebration at New Trail Brewing, chosen for its delicious beer and family friendly environment. Cousins Maine Lobster will also have a prize wheel set up for customers to win CML apparel, free food, and other fun prizes.

Cousins Maine Lobster  Harrisburg, PA Truck Two Grand Opening Celebration

12:00 - 9:00 PM

New Trail Brewing

240 Arch St building 18

Williamsport, PA 17701

Harrisburg, PA Cousins Maine Lobster Facebook Page

Cousins Maine Lobster is seeking new franchisees nationwide. More information on franchising can be found here https://www.cousinsmainelobster.com/franchise/.

DISCLAIMER: This information is not an offer to sell a franchise. An offer can only be made through the delivery of a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) registered with applicable state authorities.

For more information, please contact: Jacob Conley: [email protected]

SOURCE Cousins Maine Lobster
SAN PEDRO GARZA GARCIA, Mexico, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cydsa, S.A.B. de C.V. ("Cydsa") (BMV: CYDSASA) announced today that it has commenced a tender offer to purchase for cash (the "Tender Offer") up to an aggregate principal amount of its 6.250% Senior Notes due 2027 (the "Notes") that will not result in the Aggregate Purchase Price (as defined below) for the Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdraw) and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer to exceed U.S.$50.0 million (such amount, as may be modified by Cydsa in its sole discretion, the "Maximum Amount"). The Tender Offer is being made pursuant to the terms of an Offer to Purchase, dated April 9, 2024 (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Offer to Purchase"), and is subject to certain conditions.

The Tender Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 7, 2024, unless extended or earlier terminated by Cydsa in its sole discretion (such time and date, as the same may be extended, the "Expiration Time"). In order for holders of Notes to be eligible to receive the Total Consideration (as defined below) for their Notes, such holders must validly tender (and not validly withdraw) such Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 22, 2024, unless extended by Cydsa in its sole discretion (such time and date, as the same may be extended, the "Early Tender Time"). Holders that tender Notes after the Early Tender Time but at or prior to the Expiration Time will only be eligible to receive the Tender Offer Consideration (as defined below), which does not include the Early Tender Payment (as defined below).

The consideration for each U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Time and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer (the "Total Consideration") is U.S.$990.0, which includes a payment equal to U.S.$50.0 per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer (the "Early Tender Payment"). Holders who tender (and do not validly withdraw) their Notes after the Early Tender Time but at or prior to the Expiration Time will be eligible to receive consideration (the "Tender Offer Consideration"), equal to (i) the Total Consideration minus (ii) the Early Tender Payment, on the Final Settlement Date (as defined below). The Total Consideration and the Tender Offer Consideration will be payable in cash in U.S. dollars. Holders will also receive accrued and unpaid interest from the last interest payment date up to, but not including, the applicable Settlement Date (as defined below) for the Notes accepted for purchase (the "Accrued Interest"). The aggregate amount of Tender Offer Consideration and Total Consideration that holders of Notes are entitled to receive, excluding Accrued Interest, for Notes that are validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) and accepted for purchase by Cydsa is referred to as the "Aggregate Purchase Price." The following table describes certain terms of the Tender Offer:

Title of Securities Outstanding

Principal Amount Tender Offer

Consideration(1) Early Tender

Payment(1)(2) Total

Consideration(1)(3) 6.250% Senior Notes due 2027 (CUSIP/ISIN: 232553AA5 /

US232553AA57 (Rule 144A);

P3R26HAA8 / USP3R26HAA81

(Reg S)) U.S.$ $252,010,000 U.S.$940.0 U.S.$50.0 U.S.$990.0















(1) Consideration in the form of cash per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes that are validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn). Excludes Accrued Interest, if any, which will be paid in addition to the Tender Offer Consideration or Total Consideration, as applicable. (2) The Early Tender Payment will be payable to Holders who validly tender (and not validly withdraw) Notes on or prior to the Early Tender Time. (3) Includes the Early Tender Payment for Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdraw) on or prior to the Early Tender Time

On any business day following the Early Tender Time and before the Expiration Time, Cydsa will have the right, but not the obligation, to accept for purchase any Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Time (the settlement date of such purchase being referred to as the "Early Settlement Date"), subject to the Maximum Amount and proration. The Early Settlement Date with respect to the Tender Offer will be determined at Cydsa's option, subject to all conditions to the Tender Offer (including a financing condition) having been either satisfied or waived by Cydsa. Regardless of whether Cydsa exercises its option to have an Early Settlement Date with respect to the Tender Offer, Cydsa will purchase any remaining Notes that have been validly tendered at or prior to the Expiration Time and that Cydsa chooses to accept for purchase, subject to all conditions to the Tender Offer (including a financing condition) having been either satisfied or waived by Cydsa, within three business days following the Expiration Time or as promptly as practicable thereafter (the settlement date of such purchase being referred to as the "Final Settlement Date"; the Final Settlement Date and the Early Settlement Date, each being referred to as a "Settlement Date"), subject to the Maximum Amount and proration.

If the purchase of all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Time would cause Cydsa to accept for purchase an aggregate principal amount of Notes that results in an Aggregate Purchase Price in excess of the Maximum Amount, then the Tender Offer will be oversubscribed at the Early Tender Time and, assuming satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the Tender Offer (including a financing condition) and if Cydsa elects to have an Early Settlement Date, Cydsa will purchase on the Early Settlement Date, Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Time and accepted for purchase on a prorated basis according to the principal amount of such Notes, such that Cydsa purchases an aggregate principal amount of Notes that results in an Aggregate Purchase Price that does not exceed the Maximum Amount. Accordingly, if the Maximum Amount is reached in respect of tenders made at or prior to the Early Tender Time and Cydsa elects to have an Early Settlement Date, no Notes tendered after the Early Tender Time will be accepted for purchase.

Tendered Notes may be withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the Tender Offer prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 22, 2024, unless extended by Cydsa in its sole discretion (such time and date, as the same may be extended, the "Withdrawal Deadline"), but not thereafter. The Early Tender Time and/or Expiration Time Offer can be extended independently of the Withdrawal Deadline (as defined below) for such Offer and the Early Tender Time, Expiration Time or Withdrawal Deadline with respect to any other Offer.

Cydsa's obligation to accept for purchase, and to pay for, any Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer is conditioned upon the satisfaction or, when applicable, waiver of certain customary conditions, which are more fully described in the Offer to Purchase, including, among others, a financing condition as described in the Offer to Purchase.

In addition, subject to applicable law, Cydsa reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time (i) to waive any condition to the Tender Offer, (ii) to amend any of the terms of the Tender Offer, (iii) to terminate the Tender Offer; (iv) to increase or modify the Maximum Amount, (v) to extend the Withdrawal Deadline, (vi) to extend or amend the Early Tender Time or the Expiration Time, or (vii) to modify the Tender Offer Consideration or the Early Tender Payment, in each case (other than clause (v)) without extending the Withdrawal Deadline or otherwise reinstating withdrawal rights of holders.

The Tender Offer is made solely to holders in jurisdictions that are not Sanctioned Countries. As used herein (i) "Sanctioned Country" means a country, region, or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of territorial or broad-based sanctions, (including, Russia, Belarus, Venezuela, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, and the so-called Luhansk People's Republic), and (ii) "Sanctions" means any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty's Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority. A holder not in an eligible jurisdiction is not eligible to participate in the Tender Offer and any Notes held by such holder shall not be accepted for purchase by Cydsa.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Santander US Capital Markets LLC are acting as the dealer managers for the Tender Offer and persons with questions regarding the Tender Offer should contact Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC at +1 (212) 357-1452 (collect) or +1 (800) 828-3182 (toll free) and Santander US Capital Markets LLC at +1 (212) 350-0660 (collect) or +1 (855) 404-3636 (toll free) or at the following email: [email protected].

Copies of the Offer to Purchase are available to holders of Notes from D.F. King & Co, Inc., the information agent and the tender agent for the Tender Offer. Requests for copies of the Offer to Purchase should be directed to D.F. King & Co, Inc. at +1 (888) 887-0082 (toll free), +1 (212) 269-5550 (collect) or [email protected].

Neither the Offer to Purchase nor any related documents have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, nor have any such documents been filed with or reviewed by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority of any country. No authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Offer to Purchase or any related documents, and it is unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make any representation to the contrary.

The Tender Offer is being made solely on the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Under no circumstances shall this press release constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes or any other securities of Cydsa or any of its affiliates. The Tender Offer is not being made to, nor will Cydsa accept tenders of Notes from, holders in any jurisdiction in which the Tender Offer would not be in compliance with the securities laws of such jurisdiction. No recommendation is made as to whether holders should tender their Notes with respect to the Notes. Holders should carefully read the Offer to Purchase because it contains important information, including the various terms and conditions of the Tender Offer.

About Cydsa

Cydsa is a Mexico-based holding company, headquartered in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon, operating through subsidiaries located in eight cities throughout Mexico, engaged in the industrial sector. Since the incorporation of the company in 1945, Cydsa has grown into a diversified company and Cydsa's current products and services range from edible salt to specialty chemicals for diverse industries to clean energy alternatives and hydrocarbon storage. Cydsa sells over 100 different products in more than 15 countries, including Mexico, the United States, Canada, Central America, South America and Europe. As part of Cydsa's strategy, it offers the first system in Mexico and Latin America dedicated to processing and underground storage of hydrocarbons in salt caverns, offering clean, efficient and safe storage of hydrocarbons, while helping reduce the hydrocarbon storage deficit in Mexico. Cydsa currently operates through its chemical manufacturing and specialties business group and its energy processing and logistics business group.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Cydsa's perspectives and expectations, are forward-looking statements. All statements that express belief, expectation, estimates or intentions, as well as those that are not statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Such statements use forward-looking words such as "proposed," "anticipate," "project," "potential," "could," "should," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "may," "believe," "will," "plan," "seek," "outlook" and other similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. Cydsa cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Although the expectations in the forward-looking statements are based on Cydsa's current beliefs and expectations, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by federal and state securities laws, Cydsa undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason.

Contact: Oscar Abundio Casas Kirchner



Corporate Finance Director



[email protected]



+52 (81) 8152-4500



SOURCE Cydsa, S.A.B. de C.V.
WEBSTER, Texas, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Daiso, the renowned global retail chain offering a wide range of affordable and unique products, is thrilled to announce the grand opening at Baybrook Square in Webster, Texas on April 27th. "We are thrilled to open our store at Baybrook Square," said Jack Williams, Chief Retail Operations Officer for Daiso USA. "This achievement reflects the dedication and support of our customers who have embraced Daiso's unique concept and diverse product range. We are excited to provide an exceptional shopping experience to the vibrant Webster community and look forward to serving our customers with the utmost care and dedication."

The new Daiso store at Baybrook Square encompasses 9,000 square feet and promises to be a haven for shoppers seeking quality merchandise at affordable prices. With its extensive range of products spanning various categories, including Japanese inspired home decor, stationery, food, and more, Daiso has become synonymous with accessible and innovative offerings. John Clarke, Chief Development Officer for Daiso USA says, "Webster based Daiso customers have shown us through our online business and social media their desire for us to have more stores within the state, influencing our immediate growth strategy in this region. We currently operate 124 units in 7 states with more states opening in 2024."

On both Saturday, April 27th and Sunday, April 28th, the first 100 customers to shop at the Baybrook Square location and make a minimum purchase of $30 will receive a goodie bag and a plushie. These special offerings are Daiso's way of expressing gratitude to its loyal customers and welcoming new shoppers to the Daiso community.

Daiso invites customers to join in the celebration. The Baybrook Square Daiso, at 1225 W. Bay Area Blvd, by neighboring tenant Nordstrom Rack and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m to 9 p.m and Sunday from 10 a.m to 8 p.m.

About Daiso:

Daiso is a global retail chain founded in Japan, known for its vast array of unique and affordable products across various categories such as household goods, stationery, beauty, and more. Daiso entered the US market in 2005 and continues to expand its global footprint while maintaining its commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. The Daiso US headquarters is located in Anaheim, CA.

SOURCE Daiso USA
Inc.'s Seventh Annual Female Founders List Highlights Entrepreneurs With World-Changing Companies

NEW YORK, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Darrow, the leading AI-powered justice intelligence platform, today announced that Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Gila Hayat was named to Inc.'s seventh annual Female Founders list. The list honors a bold group of 250 women whose innovations and ideas are shaping the world into a better place.

The founders cross all industries and bring with them unique stories of success from each stage of the entrepreneurial journey  from startup to going public, being acquired by big buyers, or spending decades at the helm of an organization. They are reinventing everything from shoes to food and are challenging issues like financial literacy and reproductive health.

"I'm honored to be named alongside such a prestigious list of women, who are all trailblazers in their respective industries," said Gila Hayat, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Darrow. "This accomplishment is a testament to the hard work our team has put into developing a platform that helps law firms deliver justice for victims, and I am excited for what's to come."

Hayat, a former Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree who co-founded Darrow in 2020, has helped fuel the company's ascendant growth as it builds out a robust team of data scientists, engineers, and developers committed to helping law firms spend more time delivering justice and less time on business development. Darrow, which completed its Series B funding round last year, has grown to approximately 100 employees that work on active litigation valued over $10 billion. Earlier this year, the company launched PlaintiffLink, which streamlines law firms' ability to track, review, and approve plaintiffs  all through a centralized portal.

Each year, Inc. editors review thousands of applications highlighting female founders who are challenging the status quo and tackling some of the world's biggest problems. The list features women who have overcome challenges and lifted those around them, while leading impactful organizations across the country. They join the ranks of previous honorees including Jessica Alba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Rihanna, and Shonda Rhimes.

"The past year, for many, will go down as one of the hardest ever  between a funding freeze and ad-spending pull back," said Diana Ransom, Executive Editor of Inc. "The female founders on this year's list are a testament to what triumph over adversity looks like. They should all be proud of this singular accomplishment."

To see the complete list of honorees, go to: https://www.inc.com/female-founders

About Darrow: Founded in 2020, Darrow is a LegalTech company on a mission to fuel law firm growth and deliver justice for victims of class and mass action lawsuits. Darrow's AI-powered justice intelligence platform leverages generative AI and world-class legal experts and technologists to uncover egregious violations across legal domains spanning privacy and data breach, consumer protection, securities and financial fraud, environment, and employment. Darrow is based out of New York City and Tel Aviv. For more information, visit: darrow.ai.

About Inc.: The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning, multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion among the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com

SOURCE Darrow
Project6 Wins Gold at the 22nd Annual Horizon Interactive Awards Competition

BERKELEY, Calif., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Horizon Interactive Awards, a leading international interactive media awards competition, has announced the 2023-2024 award winners to highlight this year's "best of the best" in interactive media production. The 2023 winning entries showcase the industry's best interactive media solutions from some of the top agencies, designers, producers, and developers worldwide.

San Francisco Bay Area-based design agency Project6 was recognized for its excellence in the education industry with multiple awards. With over two decades of experience, Project6 is an established leader in accessibility practices and strategic design. These awards mark its first wins of the 2024 competitive season.

"It's always nice to be recognized for the work we doespecially in education," says Esten Sesto, Project6 co-founder and President. "We really enjoy collaborating with our clients in Education. Over months and even years, these .edu websites often grow to be unwieldy and unmanageable. The final visual results can be stunning, but the real achievement is solving the complexity of the content strategy and helping our clients better organize and manage their websites."

Project6 received the gold award for its comprehensive website redesign for an environmental design college within a neighboring university in Berkeley, CA. The project included creating and implementing a unified brand identity for the college, its departments, and select programs and institutes. By consolidating content from over 15 auxiliary websites, Project6 re-envisioned and rebuilt the college's website and enhanced the platform with collateral templates, ultimately ensuring that both students and staff could not only reach their potential but go above and beyond.

This gold-winning project showcased Project6's well-documented expertise in SEO practices and optimization. Utilizing an SEO specialist, the Project6 team developed a content strategy and SEO strategy that improved the quality and organization of the content that supported the client's KPI (key performance indicators) goals and measures of success.

Additionally, Project6 also earned the Silver award for its website redesign for Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC). The institution had not updated its website since 2015 and needed an easy-to-navigate solution that could address a diverse audience, from students to stakeholders to business owners and local community members.

Recognizing the need for the website to reflect so many different voices, Project6 rebuilt the site from the ground up, starting with dozens of interviews and reviewing hundreds of pages to determine what needed to be updatedor retired.

The new website was mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and met WCAG 2.1 level AA standards. Students no longer had to rely on external catalogs to register for classes, the layout was flexible and intuitive, and the design and photography felt fresh and up-to-date. This modern solution changed the way that the FVCC community engaged with the college, allowing everyone to have access to the information they needed from anywhere.

"Project6 was an outstanding team to work with to redesign our college website. Their professionalism, expertise, and ability to work with all areas of campus to create a site that really represents our organization was incredible. The team is dedicated, friendly, and always helped us find solutions to create a functional, interactive, modern website."Allison Linville, Executive Director, Communications And Marketing, Flathead Valley Community College

Over 50 Clients in Education

Project6 has partnered with over 50 education clients, helping them build an online presence that reflects their unique communities and enables students and staff to do more. Start a conversation with the Project6 team to find more information about how Project6 assists colleges and universities with their content strategy and helps them comply with rigorous accessibility requirements.

Experts in Accessibility

Most clients on the Project6 roster must comply with WCAG 2.2 level AA guidelines. Project6 has become a leader in the accessibility space, not only helping government, education, and non-profit clients meet these standards but enabling them to go above and beyond to ensure that their website is truly accessible to all. Project6 is a great partner for clients new to the accessibility space, offering education opportunities, expert recommendations, and access to time-tested tools such as Adobe XD, Figma, and Siteimprove.

About Project6 Design, Inc.

Project6 is a 22-year-old, award-winning design firm with expertise in education, foundation, and nonprofit organizations. Services include brand identity design, print collateral design, and web design and development for a diverse roster of clients such as Stanford University, the Glaucoma Research Foundation, the National Council on Aging, The United Way of the Bay Area, The Siebel Foundation, and many others.

Media Contact

Esten Sesto

Project6 Design

940 Dwight Way, STE 15

Berkeley, CA 94710

510-540-8005 ext. 100

[email protected]

SOURCE Project6 Design
DFI launches the latest QCS051 industrial motherboard built with Qualcomm QCS6490 platform and tailored for advanced AMR and AGV applications

TAIPEI, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DFI, the world's leading brand in embedded motherboards and industrial computers, today announced the launch of its latest innovation, the DFI QCS051 Industrial Motherboard, at Embedded World. Crafted to address the intricate needs of modern industrial automation, the QCS051 integrates the Qualcomm QCS6490 processor, offering versatility for advanced applications such as Autonomous Mobile Robotics (AMR), Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV), and Box PCs. Market analysis forecasts the burgeoning potential of AGVs and AMRs to soar to around $20 billion by 2028, accompanied by an anticipated installation base of 2.7 million robots. This surge is chiefly propelled by the logistics and manufacturing domains.

The QCS051 is a compact 2.5-inch Pico-ITX industrial motherboard designed for space-constrained environments, powered by the robust QCS6490 processor. Delivering exceptional computing power, the QCS051 ensures consistent, reliable performance whether deployed in smart logistics solutions or rugged industrial systems.

The QCS051 delivers flexibility with two M.2 expansion slots. LPDDR5x RAM enhances performance with increased power efficiency and reduced power consumption. The HDMI interface provides seamless display connectivity. With CAN-Bus support, the QCS051 can communicate reliably with devices commonly used in industrial automation. Operating within a wide temperature range of -25C to 75C, it withstands harsh industrial environments. Additionally, its fan-less design ensures silent operation and longevity ideal for noise-sensitive environments.

"In the era of integrating AI applications and emphasizing ESG sustainability, we proudly introduce the DFI QCS051 Industrial Motherboard powered by Qualcomm Technologies, offering balanced solutions with improved performance per watt. This innovative solution exceeds modern industrial automation demands with its compact design, robust performance, and extensive features, thereby revolutionizing AMR, AGV, and Box PCs," stated Jarry Chang, General Manager of the Product Center at DFI.

"Powered by the QCS6490 processor, the QCS051 Industrial Motherboard represents a significant advancement in industrial automation technology," stated Dev Singh, vice president, business development and head of building, enterprise & industrial automation, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "We are proud to collaborate with DFI to deliver smarter, more efficient automation systems that empower businesses to thrive."

For more information, please visit: LinkedIn or contact us.

Contact

Eva Chen [email protected]

Evelyn Chang [email protected]

Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patented technologies are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated.

SOURCE DFI Inc.
- Olympus is the first on-chain acceleration platform

- Olympus will transition into a DAO

ZURICH, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The DFINITY Foundation (DFINITY), a Swiss not-for-profit research and development organization and major contributor to the Internet Computer Blockchain (ICP), today announced the launch of the Olympus Acceleration Platform, web3's first decentralized, on-chain global acceleration platform. Olympus supports the development and adoption of web3 technology across multiple ecosystems. The acceleration platform is a first of its kind platform and will be used by teams around the world to organize and launch their own accelerator programs.

Initial operations of Olympus will be funded by a $15M grant from DFINITY and the ICP Asia Alliance, which aims to cultivate a dynamic Web3 and AI ecosystem in Asia. There will be new allocation of funds in future with the launch of proposed EU, MENA, Africa and America alliances, cementing ICP's global reach.

By the end of 2024 the platform will transition into a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). To ensure platform sustainability and independence from grants, future cohorts will be funded by a native token generation event (TGE), followed by fundraising from the community. This will also ensure all stakeholders benefit from the success of the platform as token holders.

Designed for a new cycle of web3 product launches, Olympus provides a consolidated platform for open and sustainable project acceleration by providing access to grants, crowdfunding, VC investments, and referrals all in one place and on-chain. The platform operates as an ecosystem pipeline, channeling and curating the best projects from 40+ countries around the world. Projects can apply to join a distributed network of startup accelerators, raise funds, access talent, and interact across communities and ecosystems, while investors on the platform can increase their visibility and gain early access to fully transparent, globally vetted deals.

Dominic Williams, Founder and Chief Scientist of the DFINITY Foundation, commented "The Olympus Acceleration platform promotes decentralization, innovation and entrepreneurship, we're all looking forward to witnessing the growth of the next generation of projects on the Internet Computer and other ecosystems through Olympus. By creating a web3-based global platform for everyone, we're able to bring together top talent, projects, investors, and mentors to create a credible and trustless marketplace offering equal opportunity and access to all qualified projects. Traditional accelerator programs are permissioned and operate as silos, many are also not sustainable and rely on grants. Olympus is a new model, that's why I am especially excited to get involved as a mentor and share my experience with the next generation of founders".

Unlike existing accelerator programs which are siloed and require permission to interact, Olympus uses an Open Stake model where projects, mentors, and investors can interact freely, enabling permissionless ecosystem inclusivity and unlimited integrations. Utilizing multi-chain infrastructure, projects can also unlock capital and users at scale through early crowdfunding. Olympus will also enable on-chain verification of key project growth metrics, with further verification provided by the platform's trustless perpetual rating loop enabling community members, investors, mentors, and users to rate projects and provide testimonials. Such multi-chain infrastructure and on-chain verification are uniquely powered by the technologies of Internet Computer Protocol.

The launch of the platform is anchored by a number of partners and supporters, including Web3Labs, a blockchain incubation accelerator and investment firm based in Hong Kong committed to discovering, investing in, and nurturing the best projects and innovative teams in web3. DFINITY and Web3Labs recently announced a strategic partnership to foster and promote blockchain innovation across Asia with Web3Labs joining the ICP Asia Alliance founded last year. The first batch of multiple web3 startup accelerator programs is expected to be operated by ICP Hubs as well as partners like Web3Labs through the platform.

Also joining the platform are venture capital investors who will become Mentors in the accelerator cohorts and gain access to deal flows. These investors have also led investment at VC funds including Fenbushi Capital, Fundamental Labs, Softbank Vision Fund, NewTribe Capital, Cypher Capital, Bitcoin Frontier Fund, Summer Ventures, L2IV, Dext Force Ventures, Leadblock Partners, viaBTC Capital, Cipholio Ventures, Chiron Group, 3X Capital, Plutus.VC, and others.

Founders and developers wishing to participate in Olympus can submit their projects to the platform here.

About DFINITY Foundation: The DFINITY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization of leading cryptographers, computer scientists and experts in distributed computing. The DFINITY Foundation boasts the largest R&D operations in the blockchain industry with many employees coming from IBM Research and Google. The DFINITY Foundation employees have published papers 1600+ and 250+ patents. The Foundation is headquartered in Zurich, with a research center also in San Francisco. With a mission to shift cloud computing into a fully decentralized state, the Foundation leveraged its experience to create the Internet Computer and currently operates as a major contributor to the network.

Media Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE DFINITY Foundation
NUREMBERG, Germany, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanks to a new development under the Edge Labs initiative, eInfochips has announced the launch of the Aikri-64X-90XX series. This innovative lineup of modules and developer kits is powered by the Qualcomm QCS6490 processor, setting a new standard for AI-driven edge computing solutions.

"Today marks a significant milestone in our journey towards empowering the edge with high-performance, AI-driven solutions," said Sumit Sethi, chief operations officer, eInfochips. "The Aikri-64X-90XX, powered by the QCS6490 processor, epitomizes our commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology that meets the evolving needs of our customers. This launch underscores our vision of pioneering innovations that redefine what's possible at the edge."

Designed for industrial and commercial IoT applications, the Aikri-64X-90XX series utilizes the 6nm QCS6490 processor with advanced AI, camera, high-performance computing, Wi-Fi 6E support, and global 5G capabilities.

eInfochips also plans to expand the Aikri product line with a video collaboration kit designed for high-demand applications, featuring concurrent 4K video streaming, sophisticated video analytics, and versatile connectivity options.

"eInfochips' launch of the Aikri-64X-90XX series, in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies and under the Edge Labs initiative, is a testament to the power of innovation and the potential of AI-driven edge computing solutions," stated Dev Singh, vice president of business development and head of robotics & industrial automation, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "This initiative showcases our commitment to driving the digital transformation of industries and delivering cutting-edge technology that enables new possibilities at the edge."

Leveraging over 25 years of engineering research and development experience, eInfochips provides comprehensive engineering services, from edge-to-cloud solutions encompassing hardware development, firmware, edge-AI enablement, to cloud deployment and end-to-end design and manufacturing.

eInfochips will be showcasing a video collaboration demo based on Aikri QCS6490 at Embedded World, Booth #4A-342, April 9  11, 2024. The demo supports concurrent rendering of multiple 4K resolution displays with HiFi audio, advanced analytics and multiple connectivity options.

For more information about the Aikri-64X-90XX series and the related collaboration, please visit https://www.einfochips.com/edgelabs/#featuredproduct.

About eInfochips

eInfochips, an Arrow Electronics company, is at the forefront of digital transformation and product engineering. Renowned for its IoT, AI/ML, security, and cloud expertise, eInfochips accelerates market entry for global clients, backed by a legacy of engineering excellence recognized by industry leaders and analysts.

Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patented technologies are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated.

SOURCE eInfochips
Leading FemTech Pioneer's "The Motherload: The weight of limited postpartum support" Survey Shows That Women Face a Trio of Serious Pregnancy & Postpartum Challenges

NEW YORK, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Elvie, the disruptive global FemTech health and wellness brand, releases "The Motherload: The weight of limited postpartum support," their first-ever report, in partnership with Mother.ly, putting the state of maternal health under the microscope. The study of over 1,000 women with children has uncovered a trio of serious pregnancy and postpartum challenges that mothers currently face.

Elvie: State of Maternal Health Report

As a female-founded and female-grounded company, Elvie has worked tirelessly to empower women through radical female-first technology that harnesses their incredible biology. The brand is taking this one step further with their newest report, partnering with Mother.ly to unveil research detailing the challenges mothers face when it comes to the fourth trimester, breastfeeding, pelvic floor health and mental health and the intersection between those and technology.

Based on the survey Elvie conducted in February 2024, mothers are finding that they can successfully turn to both family and technology to ease their challenges, but are often left wanting by doctors, employers and their political policy landscape. Findings from the study also uncover that while mothers expect postpartum challenges to occur, they're often complicated by a lack of strong support and poor maternity leave policies.

"With this new research, we're demonstrating something those mothers already know: postpartum care in the US is simply not good enough." says Tania Boler, Founder & President of Elvie. "While they rely on and are comfortable with technology, whether it be a pump, ovulation tracker or pregnancy app, there's an increase in frustration surrounding unexpected challenges and unknowns when it comes to their maternal health.

"Women are looking to feel as sure in their doctors as they are in their trusted technology. But today's current maternal health issues - from lack of education and paid leave to physical and mental challenges - are having a tremendous impact on how women navigate both the pre- and post-natal landscape. Better medical, social, and governmental aid are crucial to empower the women raising the next generation."

Enlisting one of the brand's largest innovative marketing strategies, Elvie is unveiling their first-ever billboard in Times Square timed to the release of the report, doubling down on its commitment to women and postpartum challenges they face. The billboard's creative will include an animation flipping through a variety of words relating to challenges that the majority of women in the report faced such as "Baby Blues," "Bleeding," "Loneliness," "Breastfeeding," and more, to bring to life the often undiscussed issues discussed in the report.

The billboard, as well as additional marketing channels, will lead back to a landing page for the maternal health report featuring different modules of the survey's findings with a call to action for consumers to download the report and "mama's game plan," which includes educational content surrounding fourth trimester challenges.

CHALLENGING SURPRISES - WITH LIMITED SUPPORT

Majority of new moms feel more prepared to use postpartum technology than to deal with lack of sleep, finding breastfeeding to be the biggest postpartum challenge, alongside untreated pelvic floor issues and compounded mental health & physical health challenges.

Boobie Trapped

83% report breastfeeding for at least 1 month.

Breastfeeding or pumping (74%) is the most common need in the postpartum health journey after sleep (82%).

The single biggest misconception about postpartum care: thinking breastfeeding would be easier (48%).

84% of moms experienced at least mild breast feeding complications after giving birth; 27% had severe complications.

complications. Almost as many mothers stop breastfeeding due to the challenges of breastfeeding than due to natural reasons. 42% stop because of return to work constraints, lack of support, difficulty balancing breastfeeding with other duties, sleep issues, mental health issues, or pain/discomfort. 56% stop because of insufficient supply, a transition to solids, or the baby deciding it's time.

Let's (Not) Talk About Pelvic Floor

A 56% majority did kegels or pelvic floor exercises before having a baby, but 79% still experienced at least mild pelvic floor issues after giving birth.

Only 31% were satisfied with the level of pelvic floor treatment offered after giving birth.

Just 19% spoke about their pelvic floor health often with their healthcare provider during their postpartum phase.

Mental vs. Physical

77% of moms experienced at least mild mental health complications after giving birth.

Of these, 20% had severe mental health complications.

mental health complications. Only 28% say they had good mental health during the postpartum period, but only 31% had professional mental health support.

It's All About Family

94% felt supported by their partner during their pregnancy experience, and 90% felt supported by their partner during the postpartum experience.

83% considered their partners/family to be supportive to their mental health during their experience.

By contrast, only 14% said they felt partner/family support was needed but missing.

WE GET TECHNOLOGY, BUT WHAT ARE THE RULES?

Most women understand and rely on technology for postpartum recovery support more than the support from their doctors, but are confused by and lack awareness of postpartum policy solutions.

Technology is Queen

97% relied on technology to support their postpartum recovery. Electric breast pumps (72%) are the most common technology mothers turned to after baby monitors (75%)

75% relied on technology to support their prenatal phase. Smartphone apps (57%) are the most commonly-used technology.

81% say tech products and services made their motherhood journey easier.

68% agree that the tech products/services they used for prenatal and postnatal care played an important role in supporting them. 67% say their tech products were always reliable and 74% say they were well-designed.

26% say the access they had to smart technology, products and services was the most valuable support they received, statistically tied with professional healthcare support (28%).

82% of moms who had access to high tech breastfeeding products say they were effective. By contrast, 77% of those who used a lactation consultant rate the service as effective.

58% felt prepared to take advantage of available tech solutions after their pregnancy, significantly more than the level of preparation for breastfeeding, sleep challenges, childcare and relationship challenges.

What Are The Rules?

Only 21% are very familiar with their state's maternity rights.

Only 30% know what the "Pump Act" covers.

Most mothers recognize breastfeeding rights, including: 89% the right to a private space (not a bathroom) at work. 84% the right to a break at work long enough to pump. 81% the right to breastfeed in public. 67% believe they have a right to a free electric breast pump.



UNSUPPORTIVE COMPLICATIONS

While mothers understand that postpartum challenges are guaranteed, they're often complicated by a lack of strong structural support and poor paid maternity leave policies.

Time Out & Time Off

Only 16% expected an easy/quick recovery in the postpartum period, and only 25% felt prepared for this phase as a result of their prenatal care.

Only 25% of moms who experienced severe complications predicted they would have significant physical or emotional difficulties in the postpartum period.

Only 23% felt very supported by their doctor, midwife, or other healthcare provider.

Postpartum challenges were exacerbated by lack of paid maternity leave, which was only available to 59% of moms (64% of those who work full time and 24% who do not) 60% took less than 2 months of paid maternity leave 72% of moms with severe complications were still back to work within 6 months



About Elvie

Elvie is a disruptive global women's health and wellness brand which uses smart technology to create superior products for women. Founded in 2013 by Tania Boler, Elvie brings together a team of world-class engineers, designers and business minds to develop extraordinary products that improve women's lives  revolutionizing categories which had been overlooked for many years, including breastfeeding and pelvic floor health.

The first to launch, Elvie Trainer, is an award-winning Kegel trainer and connected app that allows women to take charge of their pelvic floor with expert-designed care from home. Elvie's second product, Elvie Pump, is the smallest, quietest and smartest (and only Piezo-Powered) wearable breast pump. Slipping discreetly in-bra, moms can pump, hands-free, whenever and wherever they want.

Elvie now has six products on the market, and continues to expand its product line and innovate new solutions for more women to have access to products that work smarter and harder for their bodies.

In 2021, Elvie launched Elvie Stride, a hands-free, hospital-grade electric pump that allows mothers to express on-the-go without compromising on pumping performance. Stride Plus launched six months later, featuring the award-winning Elvie Stride breast pump, along with a 3-in-1 Carry Bag that includes a wet bag for mess-free travel, and a cool bag and ice pack to keep breast milk fresh. Elvie Curve and Elvie Catch both work to enhance the Elvie breastfeeding range  Elvie Curve is a manual, silicone in-bra breast pump that uses natural suction to optimize milk output, and Elvie Catch is a set of two secure milk collection cups that replace the need for single-use breast pads.

For more information visit www.elvie.com .

SOURCE Elvie
 Includes New Logo, Tagline and Visual Identity 

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, EMC Insurance is launching its updated brand, which includes a new logo, tagline and visual identity. Effective this morning, the company's website and social media channels have been refreshed with the new look and feel.

EMC's new logo features a distinctive letter "e" that has a signature quality, as well as a bright, bold blue. The logo was selected for its modern, clean design, but also for its warmth and inviting nature.

EMC launched its updated branding which is centered on EMC's foundation of being a national carrier with a local heart. Post this

"The 'keeping insurance human' tagline was selected because it is memorable and authentic to who EMC is," said Scott Jean, EMC president and CEO. "We at EMC differentiate ourselves by using our increasingly strong technology and data tools to empower and enable team members to focus on the human touch, which so many of our competitors have left by the wayside."

The new branding is centered on EMC's foundation of being a national carrier with a local heart. It also builds on the company's mission, which is to improve the lives of policyholders, agents, team members and the communities EMC serves.

The process of updating the EMC brand involved more than 18 months of research and strategy work. It has been nearly 25 years since the company's last comprehensive brand update.

New visual identity

Linked here are the new logo, color palette and examples of the brand on marketing materials and trade show displays.

About EMC Insurance

EMC Insurance has approximately 2,200 employees and is among the top 60 property and casualty insurance organizations in the country based on net written premium. Founded in 1911 as Employers Mutual Casualty Company (EMCC), the company today operates under the trade name EMC Insurance. Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, EMC provides property/casualty insurance for businesses, bonds and life insurance, and is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit emcinsurance.com or the EMC annual report.

Media contact: Sarah Buckley, APR

Vice President  Corporate Communications & Community Impact

[email protected]

515-345-4588

SOURCE Employers Mutual Casualty Company
Under the partnership, customers can access Enabled Intelligence's eView pre-labeled satellite imagery library through SkyFi's easy to use data acquisition web and mobile platforms.

FALLS CHURCH, Va., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Enabled Intelligence, a leading provider of scalable, secure AI data annotation, labeling and curation solutions for sensitive and classified data sets, today announced a strategic partnership with SkyFi, an innovative Earth observation imagery and analytics platform.

The new collaboration will couple Enabled Intelligence's capabilities in secure, precise AI data labeling of raw, unstructured sensor data with SkyFi's near-real-time satellite images, enabling U.S. DOD and Intelligence Community agencies to gain real-time, AI-enabled awareness of geospatial data. SkyFi and Enabled Intelligence customers will be able to access Enabled Intelligence's pre-labeled data library, eView through SkyFi's Insights. Customers will also be able to seamlessly send SkyFi imagery directly to Enabled Intelligence for customer labeling and analysis.

"The collaboration between Enabled Intelligence and SkyFi symbolizes a significant step forward in employing artificial intelligence for national security, via the combination of our precise data labeling and SkyFi's real-time satellite intelligence," said Peter Kant, CEO of Enabled Intelligence. "SkyFi's portal allows government and commercial customers to easily access Enabled Intelligence accurately labeled eView data library. The breadth and accuracy of eView data allows AI developers to create precise and powerful AI tools for geospatial analysis and intelligence."

"I am insanely excited about SkyFi's partnership with Enabled Intelligence, creator of cutting edge AI object detection," said Kate van Dam, Head of Strategy at SkyFi. "We, at SkyFi, are excited to bring Enabled Intelligence's deep experience supporting military and IC missions to the commercial consumer."

Enabled Intelligence is the only data labeling company with authority to operate at TS/SCI levels. To address a number of sensitive and classified government needs in the data labeling and AI annotation spaces, the company employs professionals with cognitive differences, including autism spectrum conditions  focusing their unique skills to better train AI.

Via the partnership, Enabled Intelligence will transform raw, unstructured data to transform Full Motion Video (FMV), Horizontal Motion Imagery (HMI), and overhead imagery into AI-ready intelligence.

The announcement comes on the heels of Enabled Intelligence's entry into the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office's (CDAO) Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace, announced last month, which enables the company to take its solutions to a wider array of U.S. DOD and Intelligence Customers.

About Enabled Intelligence

Enabled Intelligence specializes in world-class data labeling and AI annotation services, focusing on sensitive and classified datasets across a wide array of markets. We emphasize the crucial role of high-quality inputs and detailed accuracy in developing advanced AI applications, leveraging a specialized team adept at all types of secure data labeling, including audio files, unstructured text, images, and video. We are committed to providing meaningful career opportunities to neurodiverse individuals and veterans, harnessing their unique skills for unparalleled attention to detail in data annotation.

About SkyFi

SkyFi, headquartered in Austin, Texas, is disrupting the Earth observation industry by simplifying the process of ordering Earth observation imagery and analytics through its user-friendly apps and enterprise-grade API. By partnering with leading satellite and aerial imaging companies and leveraging cutting-edge technology, SkyFi empowers customers to easily access a wide range of data sensors, including optical, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and multispectral.

SOURCE Enabled Intelligence
MUNICH, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ERS electronic, the industry leader of thermal management solutions for semiconductor manufacturing has finalized an agreement with Geringer Halbleitertechnik GmbH & Co. KG, a move poised to bolster its research and development (R&D) and production capabilities.

ERSs new site in Barbing will be a dedicated hub and competency center for its Advanced Packaging Equipment Solutions (APEqS) Business Unit

Geringer was founded in 1991 and has established itself as a reputable developer and manufacturer of tailor-made manufacturing machines for the semiconductor industry. ERS has integrated Geringer's entire experienced team and facilities in Barbing, close to Regensburg. The modern and well-equipped production areas will function as a dedicated hub and competency center for ERS's Advanced Packaging Equipment Solutions (APEqS) Business Unit under the name of ERS Barbing. The team's experience and mechanical engineering know-how will support ERS in the development of its industry-renowned Advanced Packaging equipment, including the newly announced Wave3000 and Luminex product line.

This strategic deal builds upon the strong foundation of a previous successful collaboration between the two companies.

Debbie-Claire Sanchez, VP and Head of APEqS Business Unit at ERS electronic says, "Our previous project with Geringer demonstrated a strong alignment in our values and dedication to delivering high-quality, innovative solutions. The team's expertise, coupled with the new competency center in Barbing, will undoubtedly fuel our innovation roadmap and production efforts, enabling us to stay at the forefront of technological advancements in the industry."

"We are thrilled to welcome the team from Geringer to ERS and expand our APEqS Business Unit," says Laurent Giai-Miniet, CEO of ERS electronic. "This move allows us to further strengthen our position in the market and significantly accelerate our response to customer needs."

The CEO and founder of Geringer, Michael Geringer adds, "I am proud to have been part of this journey with Geringer, and I am confident that ERS will continue to uphold the values and standards that have defined our company. As I transition into retirement, I wish ERS all the best and am excited to see the great things they will accomplish."

About ERS:

ERS electronic GmbH, based in the Munich suburb of Germering, has been providing innovative thermal management solutions to the semiconductor industry for more than 50 years. The company has gained an outstanding reputation, notably with its fast and accurate air cooling-based thermal chuck systems for wafer probing. In 2008, ERS extended its expertise to the Advanced Packaging market. Today, their fully automatic and manual debonding and warpage adjust systems can be found on the production floors of most semiconductor manufacturers and OSATs worldwide.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2381562/ERS_Barbing.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2276058/4636464/ERS_Logo.jpg

SOURCE ERS electronic GmbH
Decree Includes Key Provisions Aimed to Prioritize Patient Relief and Ensure Company's Regulatory Compliance

SILVER SPRING, Md., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Philips RS North America LLC ("Philips Respironics"), Respironics California LLC, and Philips Holding USA Inc., and Roy Jakobs, CEO of Royal Philips, along with several other individual defendants named in the decree. The consent decree, with limited exceptions, restricts the production and sale of new continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines and other devices at several Philips Respironics facilities in the United States until certain requirements are met. CPAP and BiPAP machines are sleep therapy devices used for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The decree also requires implementation of a Recall Remediation Plan, agreed to by the FDA and Philips Respironics, to help ensure relief is provided to patients impacted by Philips Respironics' June 2021 recall of certain ventilators, CPAP and BiPAP machines, by way of receiving a new or reworked/remediated device or, for certain devices, providing the option for a partial refund.

"The finalization of this decree is a significant milestone. Throughout this recall, we have provided patients with important health information by issuing numerous safety communications and have taken actions rarely used by the agency to help protect those impacted by this recall," said Jeff Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "Today's action is a culmination of those efforts and includes novel provisions aimed at helping ensure that patients receive the relief they have long deserved. This also marks the first time a device company is providing a remediation payment option for a recalled device under a consent decree."

The consent decree comes after Philips Respironics recalled certain ventilators, CPAP and BiPAP machines in June 2021 because of potential health risksimpacting 15 million devices worldwide. The polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) foam used in these devices to reduce sound and vibration can break down. If the foam breaks down, black pieces of foam, or certain chemicals that are not visible, could be breathed in or swallowed by the person using the device. Immediately following Philips' recall, the FDA issued an alert notifying device users that problems reportedly associated with the PE-PUR foam breakdown could potentially result in serious injury and may require medical intervention to prevent permanent injury.

The complaint, filed by the Department of Justice on behalf of the FDA, alleged that Philips Respironics violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) by introducing devices into interstate commerce that are adulterated because the devices were not manufactured in accordance with current good manufacturing practice requirements. In addition, the complaint alleged that the company introduced devices into interstate commerce that are misbranded because it failed to provide the FDA with information about specific corrections (or removals) the company made to devices, as required by FDA regulations. Both of these violations were noted in the FDA's 2021 inspection of the company's Murrysville, Pennsylvania, facility. The complaint further alleged that additional violations of current good manufacturing practice requirements were observed at Philips Respironics' Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, facility in 2023, and during several inspections of its subsidiary's facility in Carlsbad, California, which has ceased manufacturing operations.

With certain exceptions, the consent decree restricts the Defendants from manufacturing and distributing devices at or from the Philips Respironics facilities in Pennsylvania and California, until the Defendants have completed the repair/rework, replacement and refund activities set forth in the Recall Remediation Plan, and are in compliance with requirements applicable to current good manufacturing practice, reporting corrections and removals and medical device reporting. The company must receive written notice from the FDA that they are in compliance with these requirements before resuming operations. The company can continue to manufacture and distribute certain devices that the FDA has determined to be "medically necessary," which are specified in the decree, as well as replacement parts and accessories to support the use of devices in customers' possession.

"Medical device manufacturers have a responsibility to comply with requirements designed to ensure the safety and effectiveness of their products," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department's Civil Division. "Today's action reflects our commitment to vigorously enforce federal law and prevent manufacturers from marketing adulterated and misbranded devices to vulnerable patients who need them."



Recall Remediation Plan

The Recall Remediation Plan outlines required remediation options based on device type, as well as timeframes for the company to complete certain remediation activities for patients impacted by this recall. More specifically, remediation options include a remediated device (either a new or reworked unit of the same model type, or a new unit of a functionally equivalent model type) with a renewed warranty or, for certain device models, issuance of a refund (factoring in depreciation of the device). As part of this plan, Philips Respironics is also required to make several attempts to contact a patient and/or Durable medical equipment provider within a certain timeframe regarding actions they must take (e.g., register the device serial number, elect a remediation option, provide prescription information, etc.) to help ensure patients receive remediation in a timely manner.

The FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) previously issued a notice proposing that an order be issued, under section 518(b) of the FD&C Act, requiring Philips Respironics to submit a plan for the repair, replacement or refund of the purchase price (less a reasonable allowance for use) of recalled devices manufactured after November 2015. The provisions outlined in the Recall Remediation Plan agreed to by the FDA and Philips Respironics are intended to provide the relief for patients that CDRH sought through the 518(b) process.

Key Consent Decree Provisions

In addition to the requirements noted above, the decree contains other provisions aimed at helping to ensure patients receive relief, and that the company completes necessary testing and follows current good manufacturing practice requirements. Examples include:

Export Restriction for Commercial Distribution

With respect to CPAP and BiPAP devices that are being used to remediate patients impacted by the recall, the decree generally prohibits the Defendants from exporting those devices for commercial distribution unless:

All U.S. patients who registered by a certain date and who could be remediated with the device to be exported have been remediated;

The Defendants are meeting the timeframes for steps in the remediation process set forth in the Recall Remediation Plan; and

The Defendants have enough devices in stock to address U.S. demand for that particular recall remediation device model for the next twelve months.

Overall, this provision is intended to help ensure remediation of U.S. patients is prioritized over export for commercial distribution and patients receive the recall remediation devices that they are seeking from Philips Respironics in a timely manner.

Testing Requirements

The decree also requires the Defendants to contract with an independent testing expert within 10 days of entry of the decree to review and evaluate their testing, including biocompatibility data, on the new, silicone-based foam the company is using to replace and rework some machines impacted by the June 2021 recall. This independent expert will assess, among other things, Philips' plan for testing the silicone-based foam, including testing that has been completed, is ongoing, or is planned, to ascertain whether that testing will enable a determination that the silicone-based foam does not degrade during the labeled service life of the device and does not introduce any new or similar potential health concerns to the PE-PUR sound abatement foam. The testing expert will submit findings of this evaluation to the FDA for review. The company will be required to submit a plan to the FDA to address any gaps in testing, analysis or other information that may be identified by the expert.

Assuring Regulatory Compliance of other Respironics' Facilities

The consent decree also requires the Defendants to retain an independent expert to inspect their other Sleep and Respiratory Care facilities (other than the facilities in Pennsylvania and California) to evaluate whether those facilities are operating in compliance with the FD&C Act and to correct any deficiencies that are identified. In addition, the consent decree allows the FDA to subject other facilities owned by the corporate defendants to certain provisions of the decree if the FDA determines, based on a future inspection, that those facilities are not operating in compliance with the FD&C Act and its implementing regulations.

Patients impacted by the June 2021 Philips Respironics recall remain a top priority for the agency as the FDA continues to take steps to protect the health and safety of individuals using these devices. The agency continues to encourage individuals with a device affected by this recall who have not yet registered their device to do so, and those who have already registered to ensure their contact information is up to date.

The FDA has a dedicated response team that will continue to meet regularly with the company to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the Recall Remediation Plan and other related recall activities, as outlined in the consent decree. The agency also continues to assess the supply chain for this product area and believes there is adequate supply and that alternative manufacturers are able to handle patient demand for CPAP and BiPAP machines.

Additional Resources:

Media Contact: Carly (Kempler) Pflaum, 240-672-8872

Consumer Inquiries: Email, 800-638-2041

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration
EQT, together with its shareholders, to sell Rimes to Five Arrows

Partnership provides foundation for accelerated global expansion of Rimes' enterprise data management and investment management platform solutions

NEW YORK and LONDON, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rimes, a leading provider of EDM (enterprise data management) -as-a-Service and investment platform solutions to the global investment community, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Five Arrows, the alternative assets arm of Rothschild & Co. The investment has been led jointly by the Five Arrows Long Term Fund ("FALT") and Five Arrows Principal Investments ("FAPI"), together "Five Arrows". Five Arrows targets categoryleading B2B data and software sectors across a focused set of endmarkets including financial technology.

Founded in 1996, Rimes is a trusted partner to asset managers and asset owners worldwide, with its customers representing more than USD 75 trillion in global assets under management. Today, Rimes serves 60 of the world's top 100 asset managers, as well as the 10 largest asset servicers in the world. Powered by its proprietary, multi-tenant cloud technology platform, Rimes' data management solutions empower its clients to make better investment decisions using reliable data, while improving cost efficiency and reducing operational risk.

In October 2021, Rimes further complemented its product offering with the acquisition of Matrix IDM, which added a powerful Investment Management Platform and data distribution and warehousing solutions. Today, Rimes is well-positioned to facilitate its customers' strategic operating model transformations and to power AI-led investment strategies.

Brad Hunt, CEO of Rimes, commented, "Rimes has been on a significant growth trajectory over the last few years, and I am really proud of what our team has achieved. Today, Rimes combines the customer-centric ethos and deep domain expertise that has differentiated us since 1996 with the industry's most modern technology and an innovative, comprehensive product offering designed to address the investment data challenges of the future. This transformation would not have been possible without the support of EQT and our Board, and I would like to thank them for the highly successful partnership. We look forward to joining forces with Five Arrows to build upon our strong momentum going forward."

Seif Khoufi and Constantin Sabet d'Acre, Managing Director and Director of FALT, said "The Rimes team impressed us with their ambitious vision and their strong track-record of growing and scaling Rimes in a deeply customer-centric way. This is evidenced by industry-leading levels of customer satisfaction, and a history of solving a growing share of painpoints for customers through continuous innovation. We are confident that Rimes is uniquely positioned to continue to support its customers' expanding needs."

Vivek Kumar and Sacha Oshry, both Partners at FAPI added, "We are delighted to be partnering with Brad and the team to unlock the next chapter of Rimes' growth. We share in Rimes' strategic vision centered around solving financial institutions' most complex data problems across geographies, asset classes and customer types. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to support Rimes."



Rob Maclean, Partner within EQT Private Equity's Advisory Team, said, "We were delighted when co-founder Christian Fauvelais chose to partner with EQT to pursue our shared vision of transforming it into a global leader in EDMaaS solutions for the investment industry. It has been a pleasure working alongside management, and the entire Rimes team to accelerate the Company's growth." Patrick McBride, Director within EQT Private Equity's Advisory Team, added, "We believe Rimes has an incredibly bright outlook and is well-positioned to continue to deliver for its clients. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to partner with such an innovative and talented team and we are confident that they will continue to be successful with the support of Five Arrows."



The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the coming months.

EQT and Rimes were advised by Evercore (corporate finance) and Latham and Watkins (legal). Five Arrows was advised by Jefferies (corporate finance) and Shoosmiths (legal).

About Rimes

Rimes provides transformative enterprise data management solutions to the global investment community. Driven by our passion for solving the most complex data problems, we provide our clients with investment intelligence that powers more than USD 75 trillion in AUM annually. The world's leading institutional investors, asset managers and service providers rely on Rimes to help them make better investment decisions using accurate information and industry-leading technology. For more information, please visit www.rimes.com.

About Five Arrows

Five Arrows is the alternative assets arm of Rothschild & Co and has EUR 26 billion AuM with offices in Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Luxembourg. With over EUR 9 billion of assets under management, the corporate private equity business of Five Arrows is focused on investing in companies with highly defensible market positions; strong management teams; business models with high visibility of organic unit volume growth and strong unit economics; and multiple operational levers that can be used to unlock latent value. Sectors are limited to data and software, technologyenabled business services and healthcare. For more information, please visit www.rothschildandco.com/en/five-arrows/corporate-private-equity

About EQT

EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 232 billion in total assets under management (EUR 130 billion in fee-generating assets under management), within two business segments  Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com

SOURCE Rimes
ParkMobile's mobile parking payment solution will soon be available at 1,428 parking spots across the city

FLORENCE, Alabama, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ParkMobile, a provider of smart parking and mobility solutions in North America and part of EasyPark Group, is expanding its mobile parking payment solution to Florence, AL. Beginning April 15, drivers will have more options to pay for parking with ParkMobile through its convenient mobile parking payment solution.

Over the next few weeks, city workers will be installing signs and decals at metered parking locations. ParkMobile is available for both iPhone and Android devices, and can be accessed on a mobile web browser. To pay for parking via the ParkMobile app or website, users will enter the zone number or scan the QR code found on the signs located within the parking lot, choose the duration of time they wish to park and touch the "start parking" button.

"We're on a mission to make cities more livable by arming our clients with the right solution to better understand and utilize their space. Cities across North America partner with ParkMobile to improve their curbside management and provide drivers with an easy-to-use mobile parking payment app. We're thrilled to partner with the City of Florence to ensure an easier parking journey for its residents and visitors," said David Holler, vice president of sales at ParkMobile.

"We're thrilled to partner with ParkMobile to digitize our citywide parking infrastructure and provide our residents and visitors the convenient option to pay for parking right from their mobile device," said Mayor Andrew Betterton.

ParkMobile is available in surrounding cities, including Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile, as well as at the University of Alabama and Auburn University.

CONTACT: Haley Haas

PR Manager, US 678-446-0148

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/parkmobile/r/florence--alabama-digitizes-citywide-parking-with-parkmobile,c3958295

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/parkmobile/i/parkmobile---florence-al,c3286748 ParkMobile - Florence AL

SOURCE ParkMobile
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday met with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue in Beijing. While asking Vuong Dinh Hue to convey cordial greetings to Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, Xi also said that during his visit to Vietnam at the end of last year, he and Nguyen Phu Trong had jointly announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance -- opening a new chapter in bilateral ties. Under the joint efforts by the two sides, the consensus reached by him and Nguyen Phu Trong is being implemented, Xi added. Xi said the most distinctive feature of China-Vietnam relations is that the two sides are a like-minded pair bound by a common destiny, and "comrades-plus-brothers" is the most vivid portrayal of the traditional friendship between the two parties and two countries. He urged joint efforts by the two sides to promote more achievements in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, better serve their respective modernization, further benefit the two peoples and make greater contributions to the global socialist cause. Amid the profound and complex changes in the international and regional landscape, it serves the common interest of China and Vietnam to safeguard the socialist system and maintain national stability and development, Xi said. He urged the two sides to foster a strong sense of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future based on a high level of mutual trust, consolidate the foundation for the vision with high-quality cooperation, and promote this vision with a high degree of political wisdom. China is willing to scale up the exchange of experience gained in governing both the Party and the country, facilitate the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy, and increase exchanges between young people and sister cities, among others. It is hoped that the legislative bodies of the two sides will deepen exchanges and cooperation at all levels, strengthen mutual learning on legislative supervision experience, and play an important role in enhancing the friendship between the two peoples, Xi said. Vuong Dinh Hue conveyed the cordial greetings and best wishes from Nguyen Phu Trong to Xi, noting that the CPV and the Vietnamese government highly appreciate China's development and progress. China's two sessions held this year set the goals of developing new quality productive forces, among others, which are innovative moves of socialism and provide useful references for Vietnam, he added. Vietnam firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is resolutely opposed to any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, Vuong Dinh Hue said. Vietnam regards China as its top strategic priority in its foreign relations, Vuong Dinh Hue said, adding that the Vietnamese side will follow relevant goals set by Nguyen Phu Trong and Xi to maintain close communications and cooperation with China at various levels and continue to consolidate a high level of political mutual trust. Vietnamese National Assembly is ready to keep close communications and exchanges with China's National People's Congress to play a positive role in enhancing the friendship between the two peoples and advancing the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future, Vuong Dinh Hue said.


PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fortis Capital Advisors, a rapidly growing RIA based in the Kansas City area, announced today that it continues to expand its national footprint with the acquisition of Chicago, Illinois based firm ClearPath Financial, LLC.

As a native of the suburbs of Chicago, I couldn't be more excited about the acquisition of ClearPath," said Fortis Capital CEO, Rob Hagg. "Stan Nieminski built an amazing business that continues to grow with his daughter Jessica. The companies' philosophies align with an emphasis on strong investment management, financial planning, and tax services. With those core values we are excited to build upon this market under the leadership of Stan and Jessica," said Hagg.

This strategic move is aligned with both firms' commitment to building long lasting relationships and represents a significant milestone in Fortis' ongoing efforts to enhance their presence and deliver unparalleled value to their clients.

Stan Nieminski, Founder of ClearPath Financial, LLC, said, "It was immediately clear to us that ClearPath and Fortis had extensive synergies when it came to goals, business philosophies, and a desire to bring the best level of service and opportunity to our clients. We are confident that this partnership will not only enhance our capabilities but also provide our clients with an even more comprehensive and robust suite of wealth management services." Jessica Nieminski added, "Our dedication to maintaining a top-notch wealth management team, resources, and service level remains our priority. This strategic alliance will bring numerous benefits to all parties involved and we are genuinely excited about the opportunities that lie ahead."

About Fortis Capital Advisors

Fortis Capital is committed to advisor growth. We provide a cutting-edge platform of technology, compliance, back-office support and wealth management/planning resources for advisors to focus primarily on what they do best, procuring new clients and continually building relationships with current clients. In addition to those resources, Fortis Capital helps advisors build around their practices with strong recruiting resources, practice acquisition tools and financing strategies.

About ClearPath Financial

ClearPath Financial focuses on simplifying financial solutions for business owners and growth minded individuals. ClearPath has a proactive and transparent approach to help clients develop holistic financial strategies that align with their constantly changing lives.

Investment advice is offered through Fortis Capital Advisors, LLC, 500 Damonte Ranch Parkway, Building 700, Unit 700, Reno, NV 89521. Insurance products are offered through Fortis Brokerage Services, Inc. Additional information about Fortis Capital Advisors, LLC is available on the SEC's website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

Media Contact:

Alyson Cohen

[email protected]

SOURCE Fortis Capital Advisors
HOUSTON, April 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Foundry JV Holdco LLC (the "Company"), a Delaware limited liability company, today announced that it has successfully completed the previously announced consent solicitation (the "Consent Solicitation") in connection with its outstanding 5.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2034 (the "Notes") for amendments (the "Proposed Amendments") to the indenture, dated as of May 19, 2023 (as supplemented through the date hereof, the "Indenture"), between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, under which the Notes are governed.

In connection with the Consent Solicitation, the Company has received the consents of holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding (excluding any Notes held by the Company or its affiliates). The Consent Solicitation expired today, April 8, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time (the "Expiration Time"). Accordingly, the Company executed (i) an amendment to that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2023 (the "NPA Amendment") and (ii) the second supplemental indenture to the Indenture. The proposed amendments sought in the NPA Amendment were substantially similar to the Proposed Amendments, and holders of the notes subject to the NPA Amendment will receive the same consideration as the Consent Fee described herein.

The second supplemental indenture to the Indenture became effective upon its execution. The Proposed Amendments will become operative upon the cash payment by the Company of $1.00 per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes (the "Consent Fee") for which consents were delivered prior to the Expiration Time and accepted by the Company. The Consent Fee is expected to be paid on or about April 10, 2024.

BNP Paribas Securities Corp. ("BNP Paribas") and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC ("Wells Fargo Securities") served as solicitation agents in connection with the Consent Solicitation. D.F. King & Co., Inc. served as the information agent and tabulation agent in connection with the Consent Solicitation. Questions regarding the terms of the Consent Solicitation may be directed to BNP Paribas at (212) 841-3059 and (888) 210-4358 (toll free) and Wells Fargo Securities at (704) 410-4235 and (866) 309-6316 (toll free), respectively.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or an offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell, any security. No offer, solicitation, purchase or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful.

ABOUT FOUNDRY JV HOLDCO LLC

The Company, which is indirectly owned by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE: BIP, TSX: BIP.UN), together with its institutional partners (collectively, "Brookfield Infrastructure"), was formed in connection with a partnership between Brookfield Infrastructure and Intel Corporation ("Intel") to jointly invest in Intel's previously announced manufacturing expansion at its Ocotillo campus in Chandler, Arizona. Intel indirectly owns a 51% interest in Arizona Fab LLC ("Arizona Fab") and Brookfield Infrastructure, through the Company, indirectly owns a 49% interest in Arizona Fab. The project consists of two semiconductor wafer fabrication buildings, Fab 52 and Fab 62, together with related structures and assets and equipment owned or leased by Arizona Fab in connection therewith.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release may contain certain statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein are "forward-looking statements." Included among "forward-looking statements" are, among other things: (i) statements regarding the Company and Arizona Fab, including statements regarding Arizona Fab's abilities to issue dividends or make distributions; (ii) statements regarding the future debt levels and financial condition of the Company and Arizona Fab; (iii) statements regarding any financing transactions or arrangements, or ability to enter into such transactions; (iv) statements regarding the construction timeline and status of the Fabs; (v) statements regarding any semiconductor wafer purchase, sale or other agreement to be entered into or performed substantially in the future, including the anticipated amount and timing of any revenues to be received therefrom, and statements regarding the amounts of total semiconductor wafer production capacities that are, or may become subject to such agreements; (vi) statements regarding counterparties to, or guarantors under, the Company's or Arizona Fab's contracts, including the Material Project Documents; (vii) statements regarding the Company's, Intel's or Arizona Fab's business strategy, strengths, business and operation plans or any other plans, forecasts, projections or objectives, including anticipated revenues and capital expenditures, any or all of which are subject to change; (viii) statements regarding legislative, governmental, regulatory, administrative or other public body actions, requirements, permits, investigations, proceedings or decisions; (ix) statements regarding the payment of the Consent Fee and the payment of the consent fee to holders of the notes subject to the NPA Amendment; and (x) any other statements that relate to non-historical or future information.

These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of terms and phrases such as "achieve," "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "develop," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "plan," "potential," "project," "propose," "strategy" and similar terms and phrases, or by the use of future tense. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are made and speak only as of the date of this Statement.

The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on the Company's behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risk factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements or provide reasons why actual results may differ.

SOURCE Foundry JV Holdco LLC
More than 5,000 aviation experts and leaders from over 100 countries to attend, including ICAO, IATA, ACI, all major global manufacturers, airlines and airports.

FAF24 will propose a plan to solve aviation's biggest challenge, and feature awards recognizing achievements and innovations in global aviation.

Registration is now live at www.futureaviationforum.com

RIYADH, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Future Aviation Forum (FAF) returns to Riyadh from 20-22 May 2024, bringing together 5,000 experts and aviation leaders from over 100 countries, including ministers, regulators, manufacturers, airlines, and airports. The Forum will find solutions to the sectors main challenges, inviting attendees to vote in person on what they see as the biggest challenge in aviation, with results announced on the final day.

His Excellency Abdulaziz Al-Duailej President of the General Authority for Civil Aviation speaking at the 2022 Future Aviation Forum

The Forum, which saw the signing of more than 50 agreements and $2.7 billion in deals during the 2022 edition, will feature globally significant commercial announcements, including equipment orders, connectivity announcements and supplier partnerships, and awards ceremonies recognizing achievements and innovation in aviation.

Hosted by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the Forum will be centered on the theme: Elevating Global Connectivity.

His Excellency the President of GACA, Abdulaziz-Al Duailej, said:

"The 2024 Future Aviation Forum will once again unite global aviation leaders to solve aviation's biggest challenges, including manufacturing supply chain issues, capacity constraints and the development of human capital across the world. Saudi Arabia is committed to providing global leadership on these issues.

The Forum will also showcase the unprecedented investment, growth, and innovation opportunities being created across the Kingdom in support of Vision 2030, for investors, suppliers, and operators."

FAF24 kicks off a monumental week for aviation regulators and other leaders, where the Kingdom will also play host to the Airport Council International's annual general assembly and other sector events which will see the leaders of the International Civil Aviation Organization and International Air Transport Association attending the Forum.

Event attendees already include leading all major global manufacturers, airlines including Riyadh Air, Saudia, Flynas, and Flyadeal, and Saudi Vision 2030 projects including NEOM, Red Sea Global, airports including King Salman International Airport, among others.

The Forum will also progress the Saudi Aviation Strategy's (SAS) transformation of the Kingdom into the Middle East's leading aviation hub. The strategy is unlocking more than $100 billion of investment to drive immense growth of the sector, with passenger numbers growing by 26% in 2023 to 112 million and flights increasing by 16% from 700,000 to almost 815,000.

To-register - https://registration.futureaviationforum.com/en/join/public-delegate

Website - https://futureaviationforum.com

About The Future Aviation Forum:

The 2024 Future Aviation Forum hosted by GACA will bring together more than 5,000 aviation experts and leaders from more than 100 countries, including executives from international carriers, all major global manufacturers, airport executives, industry leaders and regulators to shape the future of international air travel and freight management. The Forum will be a global convening point for finding solutions to the most pressing issues in aviation, including supply chain management, human capital planning, capacity growth, customer experience, sustainability, and safety.

The Future Aviation Forum takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 20-22, 2024.

Website - https://futureaviationforum.com

Twitter/X - @FAF_Saudi

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/futureaviationforum/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@futureaviationforum6029

About the Saudi Aviation Strategy and General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA):

The Saudi Aviation Strategy is transforming the entire Saudi aviation ecosystem to become the number one aviation sector in the Middle East by 2030, enabled by Vision 2030 and in line with the Kingdom's National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

The Strategy is unlocking US$100 billion in private and government investment across the Kingdom's airports, airlines, and aviation support services. The Strategy will extend Saudi Arabia's connectivity, triple annual passenger traffic, establish two global long-haul connecting hubs, and increase air cargo capacity.

The Saudi Aviation Strategy is led by the Kingdom's aviation regulator, the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA). GACA's regulatory mission is to develop the air transport industry in accordance with the latest international standards, strengthen the position of the Kingdom as a globally influential player in civil aviation, and enforce the relevant rules, regulations, and procedures to ensure air transport safety and security, and sustainability.

Future Aviation Forum Media Inquiries| [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2382632/GACA_Future_Aviation_Forum.jpg

SOURCE The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Global Airlines will become the only European or American carrier to offer a complimentary chauffeur service for First and Business passengers travelling on its initial routes.

Passengers will be offered complimentary transfers in the latest luxury limousines  including a range of premium electric vehicles - from leading global chauffeur service Blacklane .

LONDON, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today a partnership has been announced between Global Airlines and Blacklane, the premiere global chauffeur service provider.

As Global Airlines plans for its first phase of commercial operations, the partnership with Blacklane will initially entitle all First and Business passengers to 'to-and-from' airport transfers. Additionally, all Global Traveller passengers will be offered exclusive perks such as discounts and special offers to use the Blacklane service.

Blacklane X Global Airlines

Blacklane is operational in over 50 countries and provides guests with a luxurious, reliable and stress-free way to travel on their own schedule while enjoying the peace-of-mind of an uninterrupted door-to-door experience. In addition, Blacklane's limousines offer comfort and privacy which enables guests to either fully relax or continue with their work. The company was the first in their industry to fully carbon offset their operations and have ambitious targets to make 50% of their fleet EV by 2025.

Speaking about the partnership, James Asquith, the CEO and Founder of Global Airlines said: "Working with companies who want to deliver the very best service to passengers is central to our values, and in Blacklane we have a partner who will do exactly that. Blacklane will offer the perfect stress-free start to a journey with Global and I am hopeful that to-and-from airport transfers, along with some other exciting announcements we have coming up, will persuade even more passengers to fly with Global Airlines."

Dr. Sascha Meskendahl, CRO (Chief Revenue Officer) of Blacklane, added: "Blacklane is a trusted brand all over the world, and we pride ourselves on offering peace of mind and a premium service for our guests. This partnership is a logical next step for our business as an increasing number of travelers are using our limousines to and from the airport, especially as the business travel market booms. We can't wait to offer our smart, easy, and reliable chauffeur service to First and Business passengers flying Global."

Global Airlines is currently working with Airbus to confirm the arrangements and approvals to fly its first fully acquired aircraft to a European facility in the coming weeks. It will then undergo further refurbishment and continue its overhaul work before entering service in the coming months.

Notes to Editors

About Global Airlines:

Founded in 2021 by James Asquith, the airlines mission is to take passengers back to the Golden Age of Travel, reinvigorating the onboard experience with elevated service and products across all three cabins; First, Business and Global Traveller.

Central to Global's proposition is the A380; the most loved aircraft in the sky. Global Airlines has fully acquired its first aircraft, 9H-GLOBL which is undergoing refurbishment and overhaul work ahead of entering service.

The airline is partnering with some of the biggest, most established names in aviation, as well as exciting new brands who will help us deliver the most unique experience in the sky.

Global Traveller is the airline's house name for Economy.

The Blacklane complementary chauffeur service for First and Business passengers will be offered throughout the first phase of Global flights in destinations where Blacklane has an operation.

About Blacklane:

We are Blacklane, providers of premium global chauffeur services. Our mission is to create true peace of mind for discerning travelers by delivering perfect experiences around the world and to inspire a better future. Blacklane is offering airport transfers, City-to-City commutes, In-city mobility chauffeur hailing and Chauffeur-by-the-hour in over 50 countries globally, either pre-booked or on-demand. Whether it's for business or pleasure, Blacklane and its 300 employees and tens of thousands of chauffeur partners have the right premium transportation service for you. By changing how people move, we opened up new opportunities for our chauffeur providers and set industry standards for climate protection in the travel industry. Book on www.blacklane.com/en/ or download our app .

Please contact: [email protected], [email protected], +905336343100

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2382426/Global_Airlines.jpg

SOURCE Global Airlines
EAST HARTFORD, Conn., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodwin University is excited to have received state approval to launch a new Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) certificate program to help further address an ongoing nursing shortage across the state of Connecticut. The Connecticut Department of Public Health, Board of Examiners for Nursing (CT BOEN) approved the certificate program on Thursday, April 4, allowing the University to admit its first cohort of students in May 2024. With this LPN certificate program, Goodwin rounds out its broad range of nursing programs offered that includes Associate Degree in Nursing (RN), Accelerated BSN, RN-to-BSN, Master of Science in Nursing, APRN Family Nurse Practitioner, and APRN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Goodwin University in East Hartford, CT addresses the practical nurse shortage in Connecticut.

The LPN program is led by Dr. Vivienne Friday, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions, and Karyn Therrien, Director of the LPN program.

"LPNs are critical members of a healthcare team, and we're incredibly excited to have gained approval from the state to enroll our first cohort of LPN students this summer," said Therrien. "With teaching facilities in both East Hartford and Bridgeport, along with our wide-ranging suite of Nursing programs, we're proud to be helping to address the state's nursing shortage head on while creating a reliable pathway into healthcare careers for hundreds of students every year."

Students can earn their LPN certificates in as few as 16 to 28 months, with options for both full and part-time classes, and will be prepared to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN). LPNs find work in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, nursing homes, private clinics, and rehabilitation centers. The Goodwin program will be offered at its East Hartford campus as well as at the University of Bridgeport campus in Bridgeport, CT.

Goodwin responded to a similar need in 2004 by launching its first nursing program. Twenty years on, the school is widely recognized for its offerings in nursing and other health-related fields. "There is such a wide spectrum of career opportunities in healthcare right now," explained Dr. Michael Pardales, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Goodwin. "The addition of the LPN program will help ensure our academic offerings are in sync with the workforce needs."

To learn more about Goodwin's LPN program, visit www.goodwin.edu/majors/lpn

About Goodwin University

Goodwin University in East Hartford, Connecticut, is an innovative learning community that empowers hard-working students to become sought-after employees. We tailor our programs to address the needs of employers, and we shape them to fit the lives of students. Classes are conveniently offered year-round  days, evenings, weekends, and online. Degrees may be flexibly layered across certificate, associate, bachelor's, and master's programs in a variety of in-demand fields. Better still, we surround our students with the personal support and the professional guidance they need  not just to earn degrees, but to change lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. For more information, please visit www.goodwin.edu.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Peter Decoteau

Director of Marketing and Communications

Goodwin University

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 860-913-2150

SOURCE Goodwin University
Google Cloud AI technologies to propel customer-facing use cases across e-commerce, customer service, and marketing

LAS VEGAS, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloud Next '24, LAS VEGAS  Google Cloud today announced an expansion of its strategic partnership with Mercedes-Benz, helping the automaker transform key customer experiences with AI and generative AI (gen AI) technologies on Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform.

Mercedes will infuse cutting-edge e-commerce capabilities into its online storefront with a gen AI-powered smart sales assistant, and new Google-quality search and recommendations capabilities. The company also plans to expand its use of Google Cloud AI to make its call center experience more seamless and helpful, and will leverage AI and gen AI tools, including Vertex AI and Google's Gemini models, to make its marketing campaigns more personalized and relevant to customers worldwide.

"Partnering with the very best in their respective fields is an important part of our software strategy  Google is the perfect example of that. With Google Cloud, Mercedes-Benz is building new ways to deliver the most intelligent vehicles to our customers and to create personalized, intuitive experiences," said Ola Kallenius, Chief Executive Officer, Mercedes-Benz.

With the process of buying a car increasingly involving online research and shopping, Google Cloud's AI technologies will help Mercedes-Benz transform its e-commerce approach and make its online storefronts a natural extension of the showroom floor. In 2024, Mercedes plans to use Google's Gemini models to deploy a new, smart sales assistant on its websites. The Mercedes-Benz Virtual Assistant (MVA) will be able to converse in natural language, helping shoppers find a car model that fits their needs, schedule a test drive, or even start a purchase. The automaker will also explore Google Cloud's Vertex AI Search offering to embed Google-quality search and recommendations capabilities directly into its websites, making it even easier for consumers to search and shop.

With improved e-commerce functionalities, consumers will be able to use both the smart sales assistant or the search bar on Mercedes' website to easily find relevant car models and products through broad or nuanced queries like "Newest EV models that seat five people," or "2024 red wagon." The Mercedes-Benz Virtual Assistant (MVA) is now deployed in European markets including the UK and Germany. Rollout of the smart sales assistant to websites is planned for Europe and overseas in 2024.

"Mercedes-Benz has a long history of using technology to create exceptional experiences for their customers," said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet. "We're excited to help them apply Google's advanced AI to engage with customers in new ways from improving customer service to optimizing their website experience, with much more to come from this collaboration in the future."

For the past six months, Mercedes has also deployed Google Cloud's conversational AI technology, Dialogflow, into its U.S. call centers. Having handled more than a million calls since launch, automated agents have been effectively helping Mercedes customers in more than 30 languages more easily get information on their lease, navigate a payment, or start an upgrade. Building on the successes seen in the United States, Mercedes plans to expand its use in further markets. The move to embed conversational AI into its call center experience will also help Mercedes' service agents spend more time assisting customers with complicated requests that need a human touch.

Finally, Mercedes-Benz has also been leveraging Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform to maximize the value of its customer data, which it manages with Google Cloud's data warehouse platform, BigQuery. The automaker has been using AI to enhance its website experience in the United States with personalized content, driven by better audience segmentation.

Mercedes-Benz is also leveraging Google Cloud technologies as it builds its next generation of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Mercedes' Next Generation Internal Development and Test Platform for autonomous driving will use Google Cloud as its backbone, helping Mercedes' product development to become even more efficient and flexible. Google Cloud's ability to process massive amounts of data and scale AI workloads will also help make its vehicles even more intelligent and AI-driven.

Today's announcement marks a new phase of the strategic partnership between Google and Mercedes-Benz, which began in February 2023, when Mercedes-Benz selected Google Maps Platform as the foundation for its own branded navigation experience; today, more than three million customers have access to reliable Place Details provided by Google in their Mercedes vehicles. The partnership has also included YouTube as part of the Mercedes infotainment experience, and the carmaker leveraging a number of Google Cloud's AI, data, and open infrastructure solutions.

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud is the new way to the cloud, providing AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud offers a powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack with its own planet-scale infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platform, as well as AI-powered applications, to help organizations transform. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.

Mercedes-Benz AG at a glance

Mercedes Benz AG is part of the Mercedes Benz Group AG with a total of around 166,000 employees worldwide and is responsible for the global business of Mercedes Benz Cars and Mercedes Benz Vans. Ola Kallenius is Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes Benz AG. The company focuses on the development, production and sales of passenger cars, vans and vehicle-related services. Furthermore, the company aspires to be the leader in the fields of electric mobility and vehicle software. The product portfolio comprises the Mercedes Benz brand with Mercedes AMG, Mercedes Maybach, and G Class with their all-electric models as well as products of the smart brand. The Mercedes me brand offers access to the digital services from Mercedes Benz. Mercedes Benz AG is one of the world's largest manufacturers of luxury passenger cars. In 2023 it sold around two million passenger cars and 447,800 vans. In its two business segments, Mercedes Benz AG is continually expanding its worldwide production network with more than 30 production sites on four continents, while gearing itself to meet the requirements of electric mobility. At the same time, the company is constructing and extending its global battery production network on three continents. As sustainability is the guiding principle of the Mercedes Benz strategy and for the company itself, this means creating lasting value for all stakeholders: for customers, employees, investors, business partners and society as a whole. The basis for this is the sustainable business strategy of the Mercedes Benz Group. The company thus takes responsibility for the economic, ecological and social effects of its business activities and looks at the entire value chain.

SOURCE Google Cloud
The Most Accurate GPS Dog Fence Is Transforming Dog Containment

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Halo , the most accurate GPS dog fence ever created, has been named to Fast Company's prestigious list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2024. Halo was also recognized in the fourth annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: Northeast list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing Northeast private companies.

The Most Accurate GPS Dog Fence Is Transforming Dog Containment

Fast Company's list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2024 shines a spotlight on businesses, like Halo Collar, that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations. Halo Collar continues to innovate new solutions and set the standard for tech products in the dog containment space. Additionally, born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, Inc. 5000 Regionals: Northeast list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the Northeast economy's most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses.

"We are thrilled that Halo Collar has gained renowned industry recognition from both Fast Company and Inc. Magazine," said Halo co-founder Ken Ehrman. "These accolades are a testament to Halo's mission of using technology to keep dogs safe and living longer, healthier lives."

Halo is the next generation wireless GPS dog safety system and the only wireless fence that keeps your dog protected everywhere they go. You can instantly create and store up to 20 fences in each collar at the touch of a finger using the Halo app. Plus, the app includes its industry-leading Halo training program, designed and led by world renowned dog behaviorist Cesar Millan. Halo Collar retails for $599 and can now be found on halocollar.com, Amazon.com, Chewy.com and Walmart.com for purchase.

The World's Most Innovative Companies stands as Fast Company's hallmark franchise and one of its most anticipated editorial efforts of the year. Fast Company's editors and writers identified the companies driving progress around the world and across industries, evaluating thousands of submissions through a competitive application process. Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals: Northeast, show a remarkable rate of growth across all industries in the Northeast region.

About Halo Collar

The AI driven Halo Collar is the most accurate GPS dog fence ever created. Co-founded by Cesar Millan, this patented system utilizes technology & dog psychology to provide a wireless smart fence, smart training, real-time GPS tracker, and activity tracker combined into one easy-to-use smart collar. The Halo Collar utilizes proprietary GPS and GNSS location technology - keeping them safe and easy to locate should they ever wander too far. Halo protects over 175,000 dogs across the United States each day. For further information and to purchase, please visit: www.halocollar.com .

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent.

The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

Inc. 5000 Regionals Methodology

The 2024 Inc. 5000 Regionals are ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2020 and 2022. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2020. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2022. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2020 is $100,000; the minimum for 2022 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.

Media Contact for Halo

Samantha Lassen

[email protected]

732-535-3341

SOURCE Halo
Innovative member engagement solution with proven track record incentivizes members to adhere to treatment plans

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Health New England , the regional not-for-profit health plan serving western Massachusetts with commercial, Medicare and Medicaid plans, today announced a partnership with Wellth , the leading science-backed behavioral change solution that empowers members to prioritize their health and manage chronic conditions. The collaboration will help BeHealthy Partnership (Health New England's Medicaid ACO) plan members build lasting healthy habits, strengthen treatment plan adherence, and reduce unnecessary health care costs.

BeHealthy Partnership plan members will gain access to Wellth's customized and easy-to-use digital health solution, which rewards members for taking daily steps toward improving their well-being. Wellth's personalized and human-centric approach to member engagement has demonstrated powerful results for plans across the country, including an unprecedented 91% daily user engagement rate.

By combining Health New England's on-the-ground presence and commitment to compassionate service with Wellth's innovative and effective solution, the partnership will work to close gaps in care, tackle high-risk health issues and provide BeHealthy Partnership members with a greater sense of control and personal investment in their treatment plans.

Dr. Chrystal Wittcopp, Health New England's Medicaid Medical Director, said, "Member engagement is one of the most critical drivers of a plan's success, yet results from legacy approaches to this challenge tend to be short-lived. By collaborating with Wellth, Health New England is reaching out to our BeHealthy Partnership members in a new way that prioritizes their personal needs, incentivizes them to take an active role in their care, and drives effective results for members with multiple chronic conditions and others. Together, we will help our members build healthy long-term habits that will improve treatment outcomes, reduce costs, and strengthen our connection with our valued members even further."

Wellth incentivizes members to take consistent steps toward building healthy habits through meaningful daily interactions. By checking in on the company's app to demonstrate that they are following their treatment plans, members can earn up to $360 annually, helping them pay for crucial items like food, transportation and other necessities.

Wellth CEO and Co-Founder Matt Loper said, "With Medicaid plans across the country facing significant uncertainty in funding for 2024 and beyond, containing costs and managing utilization rates remain top priorities for the plans we serve. A plan's ability to connect with and motivate hard-to-reach member populations is a vital factor in not only achieving these goals, but also in driving quality outcomes, building member satisfaction and supporting the health of its community. Wellth is proud to partner with Health New England to help its BeHealthy Partnership members follow their daily care plans to improve their quality of life and develop lifelong sustainable behaviors. Supporting members while reducing costs for health plans is a win for everyone."

Wellth leverages insights from the more than 20 million daily interactions its solution has generated across all demographics and age groups to develop behavior change programs that are personalized for users' needs and treatment plans. By basing its approach on behavioral science principles like the endowment effect and loss aversion  and incorporating machine learning to optimize behaviors and progress  Wellth's solution is delivering groundbreaking results for health plans including:

42% average reduction in inpatient utilization;

29% average reduction in Emergency Department (ED) utilization; and

16% improvement to medication adherence.

About Health New England

Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, Health New England is a not-for-profit health plan serving members in Massachusetts and Connecticut. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Baystate Health, Health New England offers a range of health care plans in the commercial, Medicaid and Medicare markets. For more information, visit healthnewengland.org .

About BeHealthy Partnership

The BeHealthy Partnership plan is a MassHealth accountable care partnership plan option. The BeHealthy Partnership is made up of the Baystate Health Care Alliance, which is an accountable care organization (ACO), and Health New England, which is the Managed Care Entity (MCE) for the plan. The BeHealthy Partnership includes primary care providers who are based at Baystate Health health centers in Springfield, Massachusetts, and at Baystate Medical Practices primary care offices located in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties in Western Massachusetts. Learn more at behealthypartnership.org .

About Wellth

Wellth empowers people to prioritize their health, every day. Built on the science of behavioral economics, the Wellth platform generates lasting behavior change and positive health outcomes by motivating members to follow through on healthy behaviors. Each Wellth program provides an approachable and personalized experience, while rewarding daily progress and helping members build lifelong healthy habits. Wellth's powerful results are proven to close care gaps, improve quality measures and reduce costsleading to better outcomes for our customersAND our members. Learn more by visiting wellthapp.com .

Media Contacts

Chris Clemens

Nexios Communications Strategies

E: [email protected]

M: (801) 824-0032

Elzbieta Trzepacz

Corporate Communications Manager, Health New England

E: [email protected]

P: (413) 233-3178

SOURCE Wellth
Ashely brings over 20 years of industry experience to continue to grow HealthQuest Capital's ecosystem

SAN FRANCISCO, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthQuest Capital , a private asset firm that provides capital to transformative healthcare companies, today announced the addition of Ashley McEvoy to its Industry Advisory Board (IAB). McEvoy brings over 20 years of experience from Johnson & Johnson. This appointment will enhance HealthQuest Capital as a value-add investor for its ecosystem of portfolio companies by adding another complementary industry leader to drive progress within the healthcare space.

Ashley McEvoy is the former Executive Vice President and Worldwide Chairman of Johnson & Johnson's MedTech division, Ashley oversaw a vast organization with 60,000 global employees and revenue exceeding $30 billion. Her recent appointment to the board of Procter & Gamble as well as her tenure as a board member of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) underscore her commitment to driving innovation and excellence in healthcare. With her record of growth and innovation and a deep passion for improving patient lives, Ashley will provide invaluable insights to HealthQuest Capital's investment strategies.

"Our Industry Advisory Board is highly curated and specifically includes senior executives in healthcare that are very complementary to each other so they can bring different perspectives to our investment approach," said Garheng Kong, Managing Partner at HealthQuest Capital. "The addition of Ashley McEvoy strengthens our ability to identify and support innovative healthcare companies. She will be a true extension of HealthQuest and enrich our role in the healthcare ecosystem. We're excited about the value her expertise and deep industry knowledge will bring to our portfolio companies."

As a member of the IAB, McEvoy will play an integral role in due diligence processes, leveraging her network and expertise to evaluate investment opportunities. She will also be involved in post-investment strategies to help build value for portfolio companies, offering strategic guidance and facilitating key introductions.

"HealthQuest's focus on healthcare innovation aligns perfectly with my passion for driving positive change in the industry," McEvoy said. "The firm is seeing a broad range of healthcare companies that are at a crucial inflection point in their lifecycle and it's exciting to continue to be a part of the ecosystem that funds those opportunities. I am thrilled to be part of a team that fosters growth and transformation in healthcare."

For more information about HealthQuest Capital, please visit www.healthquestcapital.com .

About HealthQuest Capital

HealthQuest Capital is a private asset firm that provides capital to transformative healthcare companies. HealthQuest focuses on commercial prospects that drive enhanced patient outcomes and elevate the efficiency of healthcare delivery. With approximately $2 billion in capital under management, the firm focuses on fostering innovation across the healthcare spectrum, including medical technologies, diagnostics and tools, digital health, and innovative services. The HealthQuest team combines decades of investing experience with domain expertise in the various aspects of the healthcare industry. For more information, please visit www.healthquestcapital.com .

SOURCE HealthQuest Capital
Amazon, Coca-Cola, Tucker Door & Trim, and Ropeblock all celebrated grand openings in the locality

HENRICO, Va., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- It was a spectacular month of economic successes for Henrico, as the Virginia locality attracted global tech giant Amazon, Tucker Door & Trim, and Ropeblock to its business community. Also celebrated was the opening of a new space in the current facility of Coca-Cola Consolidated, the national bottler for one of the world's most recognizable brands. All four companies hosted ceremonies for the grand opening of their new facilities in a matter of a week, with several state and local officials in attendance at each.

Amazon, Coca-Cola, Tucker, and Ropeblock chose us as their home, and this means we treat them like our business family. Post this Henrico Delivers Blockbuster March By Attracting Major Investments From Amazon, Coca-Cola, Tucker Door & Trim, and Ropeblock

"It was like March Madness for the economy of Henrico, and our community emerged as the true winner," said Anthony Romanello, Executive Director of the Henrico Economic Development Authority (EDA). "Four major investments from four industry leaders in one month is extraordinary, and it's in large part due to the fact that word is spreading around the world: Henrico is the premier location for companies to thrive because we go the extra mile to support the vitality of our businesses and our residents."

March successes in Henrico included:

Amazon's grand opening of their 2.7 million-square-foot robotics fulfillment center, now the largest building in central Virginia

Coca-Cola Consolidated's $50 million expansion of their production and distribution facility in Sandston

expansion of their production and distribution facility in Tucker Door & Trim's ribbon cutting of their first manufacturing and assembly operation in Virginia

& Trim's ribbon cutting of their first manufacturing and assembly operation in Ropeblock's grand opening of their first-ever U.S. storage facility

Combined, the companies will create more than 1,100 new jobs for the Greater Richmond Region.

"We are thrilled that all four companies chose to grow in Henrico, and we could assist them in getting up and operational at their ideal facilities virtually seamlessly," Romanello continued. "In fact, we helped fast-track the safe completion of the robotics center in just one year."

"Amazon, Coca-Cola, Tucker, and Ropeblock have chosen us as their home, and this means we treat them like our business family," concluded Romanello. "The Henrico EDA looks forward to connecting them with diverse suppliers, helping them fill their talent pipeline with skilled workers, and optimizing their supply chain to foster the growth of their operations in our community."

SOURCE Henrico EDA
Nebraska is in a good position funding-wise to deliver broadband internet to the states unserved and underserved areas, opening opportunities in telehealth and precision agriculture, a federal official said last week.

Brendan Carr, a member of the Federal Communications Commission, spoke after attending a roundtable meeting on Tuesday hosted by U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, at the Greater Omaha Chamber downtown. State and industry representatives attended.

A lot of other states are actually struggling, Carr said. Theyre going to fall short of infrastructure dollars to deliver on the goal that we all have.

But even if Nebraska is on the right track, extending internet across the state via fiber, fixed wireless and satellite systems could take several years, Fischer said.

It moves slowly, she said. Its a big investment. We want to make sure that the investment is made wisely.

Nebraska last year learned it would receive $405.3 million in federal money to extend broadband internet to areas where its not available or too slow.

The money comes from the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, which Congress authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

The BEAD Program provides money for states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to utilize for broadband deployment, mapping, equity and adoption projects.

Before the roundtable, Fischer and Carr toured a Childrens Physicians clinic in Plattsmouth for a demonstration of the facilitys telehealth tools, which officials said have relied on the FCCs Universal Service Fund for connectivity. The officials also visited a Cass County 911 call center to better understand how first responders keep communities connected in times of emergency.

Speaking after the roundtable, Fischer emphasized the importance of broadband internet to telemedicine in the states rural areas and also to precision agriculture in Nebraska.

Agriculture is the economic engine of the state, so its important that we have connectivity all across the state, she said.

Carr said tractors and combines are effectively mini data centers right now.

For years, he said, the challenge has been how to take the massive amount of data that a farmer can pull off the ground, from soil to water to imaging of plants, and send it to a data center to be computed to help increase yields and use fertilizer and other resources more efficiently.

It was common, he said, to see an old coffee mug full of USB drives on a farmers desk because the information couldnt easily be sent to a data center.

Thats where precision ag comes in, where you get that high-speed connection, he said. That data can be sent back, can be crunched, and then really be put in real time to productive use.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2024
Former Investment Banker joins Nashville Lender upon Mark Bruchas' retirement after 17 years

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- INSBANK, its holding company, InsCorp, Inc. (OTCQX: IBTN), recently reported that Peyton Green was hired as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the bank and its holding company, InsCorp, Inc. As CFO, Green succeeds Mark Bruchas, who retired in February after 17 years of service in that role. "Members of our team have known Peyton for a number of years, having worked with him in an advisory capacity, and were excited that he envisioned INSBANK as a home for leveraging his skillsets as our bank grows," said Jim Rieniets, President & CEO of INSBANK. "We were also pleased to have had the opportunity for Peyton and Mark to work together for a period of time in order to effectuate a smooth transition," Rieniets continued.

InsCorp (PRNewsfoto/INSBANK)

Green joins the team of the Nashville lender after 30 years in the financial services industry. Most recently he served as an investment banker focused on the financial services sector with Piper Sandler for over five years. His previous experience included senior equity analyst roles at Piper, Sterne, Agee, and Leach, Inc., and FHN Financial. Green has resided in INSBANK's local market for over 22 years, and is a graduate of the University of the South in nearby Sewanee, TN. "With a differentiated business model and a track record of quality, I am excited to be a member of INSBANK's excellent team of commercial bankers and dedicated client experience professionals and look forward to enhancing the Bank's growth trajectory in our vibrant middle-Tennessee market and our nationwide healthcare banking franchise," said Peyton Green, CFO.

About INSBANK

Since 2000, INSBANK has offered its clients highly personalized service provided by experienced relationship managers, while positioning itself as an innovator, utilizing technologies to deliver those services efficiently and conveniently. In addition to its commercial focused operation, INSBANK operates three divisions, Medquity, TMA Medical Banking and Finworth. Medquity offers healthcare banking solutions to physicians, partnerships, and practices nationwide, while TMA Medical Banking provides banking services specifically to members of the Tennessee Medical Association. Finworth offers nationally available virtual private client services for interest bearing deposits. INSBANK is owned by InsCorp, Inc., a Tennessee bank holding company. The bank is headquartered in Nashville at 2106 Crestmoor Road and has an office in Brentwood at 5614 Franklin Pike Circle. For more information, please visit www.insbank.com.

SOURCE INSBANK
NEW YORK, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gabriels Technology Solutions is proud to announce the launch of its new website:

https://www.gabrielstechnology.com

Redefining Online Presence for Real Estate Software Providers Post this

This milestone reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional products and services along with engaging experiences to our customers in the real estate software provider sector.

The redesigned website offers visitors a seamless and informative journey, showcasing our latest real estate agent and real estate broker products, services, industry insights, and company news. With a modern layout and user-friendly interface, users can easily navigate through various sections to find relevant information tailored to their needs.

Key features of the new Gabriels Technology Solutions website include:

Sleek Design: A visually appealing design that reflects our brand identity and values, ensuring a memorable user experience.



Improved Navigation: Intuitive menus and clear pathways guide visitors to desired information effortlessly, enhancing usability and accessibility.



Comprehensive Content: Rich and engaging content that provides in-depth insights into our offerings, expertise, and commitment to customer satisfaction.



Enhanced Interactivity: Interactive elements such as contact forms, social media integration, and multimedia resources foster greater engagement and interaction with our audience.



Mobile Responsiveness: Optimized for seamless viewing across various devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones, ensuring accessibility anytime, anywhere.



Website Speed: We've optimized our new site to further enhance the user experience, ensuring that visitors can access content quickly and seamlessly.

"We are thrilled to unveil our new website, which represents a significant milestone in our journey towards digital excellence," said Michael Gabriel, CEO at Gabriels Technology Solutions. "Our goal with this redesign is to create a website that not only informs but also inspires and engages our audience, reaffirming our position as a leader in the real estate software sector."

Coinciding with the debut of our new website, Gabriels Technology Solutions has introduced a fresh blog, providing a platform for sharing invaluable insights and expertise. Our blog is dedicated to offering tips for navigating the ever-evolving real estate market and employing effective marketing strategies that captivate audiences and foster engagement. Catering to both seasoned real estate professionals and burgeoning enthusiasts, our aim is to serve as a guiding light in the industry. By exploring season-specific selling best practices, we ensure our readers are equipped to seize opportunities year-round. "With a fusion of informative content and practical advice, our blog is committed to equipping readers with the tools necessary to excel in the dynamic world of real estate," stated Tom Morgan, Vice President at Gabriels Technology Solutions.

The launch of the new website and blog underscores Gabriels Technology Solutions' ongoing commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and continuous improvement. We invite both existing and prospective customers to explore the new website and discover the exciting offerings and opportunities that await.

For more information about Gabriels Technology Solutions and its range of products/services, please visit https://www.gabrielstechnology.com .

About Gabriels Technology Solution:

Established in 1994, Gabriels Technology Solutions (GTS) is located in New York City with owned and managed overseas operations in Brasov Romania, Chennai India and Madurai India. Our staff of 200 strong, includes a workforce of software engineers, designers, data analysts and technology leaders with expertise in developing scalable, enterprise level web based software applications for the real estate industry.

The GTS Customer Support Division delivers premier service through interactive and proactive engagement that ensures a successful experience. We welcome the opportunity of building long term partnerships through a collaborative approach that ensures the successful achievement of goals.

SOURCE Gabriels Technology Solutions
QSR's Frozen Force Closes Out Q1 2024 with Continued Growth

ORLANDO, Fla., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jeremiah's Italian Ice  the hottest brand in the frozen dessert category continues to see a rise in demand for its franchise opportunity as it nears the opening of its 150th location. In just five short years since partnering with emerging brand accelerator Pivotal Growth Partners and launching its franchise program, the brand has experienced an impressive sixfold increase in units and the expansion into 11 states.

Q1 of 2024 saw continued growth for the brand with the opening of six new franchise locations. The brand's efforts have resulted in it being ranked yet again on Entrepreneur's Fastest Growing Franchises list for a 3rd year in row. Thrilled with the progress of their growth journey and extremely humbled by and grateful for the franchise partners that have helped to make this journey a success, Jeremiah's looks forward to the opportunity to continue to bring their tasty treats to new markets nationwide.

"We're overjoyed with the demand and growth Jeremiah's has witnessed in 2024 so far," said Michael Keller, CEO and President of Jeremiah's. "We've been lucky to find passionate partners to join us on our mission of introducing communities throughout the country to our delicious frozen treats. Jeremiah's has big plans for our continued development and I can't wait to see what the remainder of the year has in store for us."

Jeremiah's also celebrated its 28-year legacy, leaping back in time to the brands' founding in the leap year of 1996 by Head Frog, Jeremy Litwack. Jeremiah's' Leap Back Month, celebrated this February, was packed full of fun throwback offers and content, which included inviting their J-List loyalty users and social media audience to travel back in time through Leap Years past, sharing the history of the brand and its 'Frogma'-driven culture along the way. Leap Back Month's celebrations culminated in a J-List exclusive Leap Day Party at every location, where J-List guests could celebrate with the Frog Squad and Leap Back Pricing - $.96 Treats, resulting in record-breaking revenue across the system!

Jeremiah's also hosted their annual summit in Q1, giving franchisees time to come together to reflect on their achievements. The brand recognized their Savannah, GA franchise location for the Highest Sales Increase % YOY, its Keller, TX franchise location for the highest Grand Opening Single Day Sales and its Ocala, FL franchise store for the Highest J-List Participation Rate.

"Our franchisees are the backbone of the entire Jeremiah's brand," said Julianna Voyles, Senior Director of Franchise Development for Jeremiah's. "Their commitment and hunger for providing exceptional experiences for their guests are inspiring and we continue to do our best to support them in any way we can. We're privileged to be able to work hand in hand with our partners to help spread joy to the communities we operate within through our craveable menu offerings."

Committed to constantly evolving and innovating, Jeremiah's has been busy whipping up new treats for their customers, launching their partnership with Oreo for their Oreo-Palooza event running from March 1-April 30. Offering inventive creations like:

Oreo Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Flavorite: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice, Vanilla Ice Cream, and Oreo Cookie Crumbles

Oreo Double Stuf Flavorite: Oreo Creme Ice, Vanilla Ice Cream, Oreo Cookie Crumbles AND Oreo Creme Swirl Topper!!

Oreo Frappe Flavorite: Oreo Mocha Ice, Vanilla Ice Cream, and Oreo Cookie Crumbles

To learn more about Jeremiah's Italian Ice, or its franchise opportunities, please visit: https://jeremiahsfranchise.com/.

About Jeremiah's Italian Ice

Founded in 1996 and franchising since 2019, Jeremiah's Italian Ice has come to be known not only for its superior frozen treats, but also for its outstanding customer service, community involvement, and an exciting brand image that exudes the Jeremiah's motto - LIVE LIFE TO THE COOLEST. Focused on delivering flavorful experiences to each and every guest, Jeremiah's is committed to serving its vibrant, flavorful treats up with a smile in a lively environment. With 100+ locations throughout Florida, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Colorado, Nevada, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas, Jeremiah's is offering franchises across the Southern United States. To help guide the brand's rapid expansion, Jeremiah's Italian Ice has partnered with Pivotal Growth Partners  a team of franchising veterans who've led some of the top brands in food service to award-winning growth. For more information about Jeremiah's franchise opportunity, visit https://jeremiahsfranchise.com/

About Pivotal Growth Partners

Pivotal Growth Partners (PGP) is a full-service Growth & Development Firm with an unparalleled track record of success in growing franchise brands. The experienced team at PGP has awarded & developed more than 5000 franchised businesses across the US and internationally, working with startups and some of the world's largest companies. With a combined 50+ years of experience and a network of growth and development partners, Pivotal Growth Partners creates value, growing small, regional companies into nationally acclaimed brands. PGP deploys proven processes and systems to effectively grow a business, by creating a "Results Focused" Franchise Growth & Support Culture within its brands. For more information, visit www.pivotalgrowthpartners.com.

SOURCE Jeremiahs Italian Ice
Untapped Potential, Significant Returns: The first-of-its-kind fund with a presence in Israel, is led by expert female General Partners and targets untapped opportunities in Women's Health across Europe, the USA, and Israel.

TEL AVIV, Israel, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- We are thrilled to announce the successful first close of KIDRON Capital Assets, marking a significant milestone as the premier venture capital fund dedicated to Women's Health. Led by two female General Partners with profound investment and industry expertise in the HealthTech sector, KIDRON is uniquely positioned at the intersection of groundbreaking healthcare innovation and untapped investment potential. Our primary mission is to generate superb returns for our investors by capitalizing on the extensive, yet often overlooked, opportunities within the women's health sector.

Our investment reach extends across three key geographiesEurope, the USA, and Israel. KIDRON's portfolio encompasses a diverse array of sectors, including medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, therapeutics, and services. This strategic diversity ensures our ability to impact various facets of women's health while driving innovation, positive change, and outstanding returns for our investors.

The fund has made inaugural investments in groundbreaking U.S.-based companies, all poised to generate substantial returns:

Beyond Medicine : Pioneering the longevity space with cutting-edge solutions redefining human health span by targeting mitochondrial health, improving skin rejuvenation and alleviating menopausal symptoms.

: Pioneering the longevity space with cutting-edge solutions redefining human health span by targeting mitochondrial health, improving skin rejuvenation and alleviating menopausal symptoms. Portal : Revolutionizing a $1B market with a simplified, scalable solution for oncology clinics, backed by a proven team with six exits to giants like Medtronic and BD, Portal's approach enhances access to care and quality of life for women facing cancer, signaling strong potential for investor gains.

: Revolutionizing a market with a simplified, scalable solution for oncology clinics, backed by a proven team with six exits to giants like Medtronic and BD, Portal's approach enhances access to care and quality of life for women facing cancer, signaling strong potential for investor gains. Renal Guard: The only clinically validated solution to prevent Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), a risk heightened for women during cardiac surgeries. With its CE approval, initial sales and investigation in the US, Renal Guard is redefining standards of care, ensuring women's health and safety during common surgical procedures, while promising substantial returns for investors.

Invest in the Future of Women's Health: Partner with KIDRON Capital to Generate High Returns and Make a Difference.

Discover more at: https://kidron-capital.com/.

For media inquiries and more information, please contact:

Maria Gajda Horowitz

Founding and Managing Partner

[email protected]

mobile: + 972 (0) 505-983-766

Logo - https://mm.prnewswire.com/media/2381618/Kidron_Capital_Assets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Kidron Capital Assets
CHICAGO, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Laser Technology Market is expected to reach USD 29.5 billion by 2029 from USD 20.0 billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 8.0% during forecast period according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The significant growth factor associated with the Laser Technology Market growth are the Continuous innovations and advancements in laser technology, The increasing adoption of laser technology across various industries, growing healthcare expenditure, Increasing Adoption of Laser-based Therapies.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=795

Browse in-depth TOC on "Laser Technology Market" 597  Tables

74  Figures

404  Pages

Laser Technology Market Report Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $ 20.0 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $ 29.5 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 8.0% Market Size Available for 20202029 Forecast Period 20242029 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Laser Type, Configuration, Application, Vertical and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge Technical challenges associated to high-power lasers Key Market Opportunities Growing adoption of laser technology for optical communication Key Market Drivers Increasing demand for laser technology in healthcare vertical

The solid laser type is to grow with a higher CAGR during the forecast period.

The lesser have been segmented into various types: solid lasers, gas lasers, liquid lasers, and other types (photonic crystal laser, and industrial short-pulse laser). Continuous advancements in technology have enhanced their performance parameters, making them versatile for a wide range of applications, especially in industrial and medical sectors where precision and reliability are crucial. Their affordability, extended operational longevity, and safety attributes render them economically advantageous options. Their expansion is also aided by new applications in fields like LiDAR systems and additive manufacturing.

Moving configuration segment is to grow at the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

The laser configuration has been segmented into fixed, moving, and hybrid. Moving configuration offers unparalleled flexibility and precision in various applications such as laser cutting, welding, marking, engraving, and additive manufacturing. The ability to manipulate the laser beam's position in real-time allows for intricate and complex designs, making it highly sought after in industries like automotive, aerospace, electronics. The speed and precision of moving configurations have also been improved by developments in motion control technology, increasing their capabilities and market share. Furthermore, the moving arrangement is a favored option for industrial automation and customization because of its versatility in handling various materials and thicknesses, as well as its seamless integration into current production lines.

The optical communication application holds the largest market share during the forecast period.

The optical communication application of laser technology commands the largest market shares due to its indispensable role in meeting the soaring demand for high-speed and high-bandwidth communication networks driven by increasing data consumption worldwide. Laser technology facilitates data transmission over long distances with minimal signal loss and high reliability, essential for modern communication infrastructures. Additionally, the deployment of submarine optical cables and increasing adoption of optical communication across various sectors contribute to its significant market dominance.

The telecommunications vertical holds the largest market share during the forecast period.

The laser technology industry is segmented into various verticals including Telecommunications, Industrial, Semiconductor & Electronics, Commercial, Aerospace, Automotive, Medical, Research and other verticals. Telecommunications networks rely extensively on laser technology for various applications, including optical communication systems, fiber optic transmission, and network infrastructure. Laser-based components such as laser diodes, optical amplifiers, modulators, and detectors play crucial roles in transmitting and receiving data over long distances with high speed, reliability, and efficiency. Furthermore, the increasing demand for high-speed data transmission driven by the proliferation of smartphones, internet-enabled devices, streaming services, cloud computing, and IoT applications fuels the adoption of laser-based telecommunications solutions. Also, ongoing deployment of 5G wireless networks, expansion of fiber-optic broadband connections, and upgrades to existing telecommunications infrastructure further drive the demand for laser technology in the telecommunications sector.

Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=795

RoW region to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The Rest of the world region is segmented into South America, GCC Countries, and Africa the rest of Middle East. GCC Countries includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries have been experiencing rapid industrialization and infrastructural development, leading to increased adoption of laser technology in various sectors such as manufacturing, construction, automotive, and aerospace. Moreover, there is a growing emphasis on diversifying economies away from oil dependence, driving investments in high-tech industries where laser technology plays a crucial role. Additionally, rising healthcare expenditures and a growing population contribute to the demand for medical laser systems and treatments in the region.

The report profiles key players in laser technology companies such Coherent (US), Trumpf (Germany), Han's Laser Technology Industry Group Co., Ltd (China), IPG Photonics (US) and Jenoptik AG (Germany), and others.

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BEIRUT, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lebanese American University has achieved a new milestone in its 100-year history with the conversion of its academic center in New York into a branch campus, as per the Board of Regents of the State of New York's approval March 12.

Entrance of the Lebanese American University (PRNewsfoto/Lebanese American University) LAU Centennial Logo (PRNewsfoto/Lebanese American University)

LAU New York, strategically located in midtown Manhattan, may now confer master's and bachelor's degrees. This decision paves the way for five cutting-edge programs tailored to the needs of the global job market: An in-person BS in International Business and four master's programs to be offered online and in person, namely MBA in Business Analytics, MBA in Global Business Administration, MS in Computer Science, and MS in Applied Artificial Intelligence.

"Through this move," said LAU President Michel E. Mawad, "we are expanding the boundaries of higher education, and forging a path toward a future where cross-cultural exchange, experiential learning and global connectivity are seamlessly woven into the fabric of our academic excellence."

The historical achievement unlocks several new opportunities.

LAU students in Lebanon and New York will benefit from an enriched learning experience featuring cultural exchange and the forging of stronger links between the countries. LAU, a leader in US-style education in Lebanon, will now be able to facilitate the bidirectional flow of knowledge, ideas, and opportunities.

LAU New York is poised to launch the BS in International Business in September 2025. Classes will run simultaneously with those in Beirut and Byblos, providing a unique opportunity for learners to immerse themselves in a truly international learning experience. LAU's online programs will be strategically relocated to LAU New York.

This new status paves the way for special certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which could ultimately facilitate student/exchange visas in the future. Students who spend one year or more at LAU New York may gain authorization for optional practical training, allowing for internships in the US that enhance skills and employability prospects.

LAU will open up exchange programs where Lebanon-based students can spend a semester or more in New York City, immersing themselves in the cultural, educational, and professional scenes of the world's most diverse city.

"These exchanges are core to the current educational needs of students, offering a truly international experience from LAU, and very differentiated employability prospects," said Dr. Barbar Akle, associate provost and executive director of LAU New York, adding that this momentous change solidifies the institution's status as a global university.

SOURCE Lebanese American University
GETTYSBURG, Pa., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jeff Durrbeck, President of Odne Inc., proudly announces the appointment of Joe Werner as Director of Strategic Accounts. With over 20 years of experience in the dental industry, Joe brings a wealth of expertise in key areas such as Key Opinion Leader (KOL) development, endodontics, relationship management, and navigating the dynamic landscape of Dental Service Organizations (DSOs).

Joe Werner, Director of Strategic Accounts, Odne Inc. Odne's technology platform for root canal debridement and obturation including: the first hydro-dynamic cavitation device using saline as main debridement medium, and the first FDA cleared highly flowable, light-cured obturation material.

Joe is an essential addition to Odne's education & sales team, especially with the upcoming AAE annual meeting (April 17-20, 2024, Los Angeles), where Odne will launch its Priority Access Program to the endodontic specialist community. "Joe's dedication to advancing the field of endodontics, and his commitment to fostering relationships within the industry, align perfectly with Odne Inc.'s mission," adds Dr. Andreas Schmocker, CEO/Founder. "His extensive background in KOL development underscores his ability to drive strategic initiatives and build influential networks that will contribute to the company's growth and success. Joe's understanding of the DSO market positions Odne Inc. to effectively navigate this rapidly evolving sector."

Odne's Priority Access Program (PAP) will enable a selected group of endodontic specialists to receive first access to the clinical use of Odne's innovative technology platform for root canal obturation: OdneFill and OdneCure. The Priority Access Program Associates will form the core of Odne's scientific community, transforming endodontics. One initiative of the PAP is to perform a clinical case registry, collecting further scientific knowledge on the clinical use of Odne's devices.

OdneFill is the first FDA cleared light-curing, injectable endodontic obturation material. OdneFill is a hydrogel, a class of biomaterials known for their excellent biocompatibility and hydrophilicity. Due to its water-like viscosity and the ultra-high hydrophilicity in its uncured state, it can flow into complex endodontic structures, such as isthmuses, deltas, C-shaped canals. Once cured with OdneCure, the corresponding micro-laser curing device, it provides gap-free root canal sealing and long-term obturation.

"We are excited to present our innovative Root Preservation Therapy at the AAE annual meeting to the endo specialist community for the first time," adds Holger Essig, GM Global Marketing. "The majority of Odne's Swiss R&D and Product Management Team will be present to educate on the clinical application of our game-changing technology platform. The support we receive from our KOLs, partners, and investors and the interest of the endo community in our Priority Access Program, is amazing. We are very thankful for the backing we receive in transforming endo."

About Odne

Odne AG (formerly Lumendo AG), has its roots in a groundbreaking collaboration between two renowned Swiss institutions: the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology in Lausanne and Zurich (EPFL & ETH Zurich). Founded in 2018, Odne's journey began by licensing cutting-edge technology assets from these esteemed institutes.

Odne is committed to pioneering the future of endodontics through advanced technology and innovative solutions. Endodontics, the field of dental medicine that deals with root canal treatments, has been marred by complexity and unpredictability. Odne is on a mission to change that.

Root canal treatments have long posed challenges for dentists, with traditionally low success rates ranging from 46% to 91%. With over 60 million annual treatments worldwide, these failures result in significant healthcare costs. Odne's technology platform addresses these issues by offering treatment options for both dentists and their patients. Odne's medical device portfolio, slated for launch in the US in 2024, tackles problems such as the debridement and obturation of complex root canal morphologies. Odne Inc., USA was founded to serve the needs of the US endodontic market and is leading the launch.

Odne is backed by venture capital funds focusing on the healthcare and dental industry Recently, Revere Partner (NY), an independent venture fund providing capital for cutting-edge innovations in oral and systemic health, and NV Capital (LIE), a family-owned venture capital boutique led the Series A1 financing. Alongside the lead investors other renowned funds such as Dental Innovation Alliance (DIA), Plug&Play, Hatcher, Zuricher Kantonalbank, as well as various family offices and angel investors, are supporting Odne's U.S. market launch.

Disclaimer: OdneFill and OdneCure are cleared for use in the U.S.A only. All other Odne devices are currently in development and have not received approval for clinical use.

[Note to Editors: High-resolution images and Odne Inc.'s logo are available upon request.]

For further information contact:

Odne Inc.

Luciana Gravotta, Executive and Marketing Assistant

[email protected]

303-944-0199

SOURCE Odne Inc.
New After Effects In-App Panel Integration Showcased at NAB Show 2024

LAS VEGAS, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LucidLink, the storage collaboration platform for the world's largest studios, brands, and creative professionals, announces the launch of the LucidLink Panel for Adobe After Effects. This new integration within Adobe's motion design platform allows users to pin compositions directly within After Effects for maximum playback performance. Coupled with the LucidLink Panel for Adobe Premiere Pro launched at Adobe MAX 2023, these two integrations with Adobe dramatically speed up workflows for creative editors and graphic artists of any kind.

Creative artists and designers can now proactively cache just the media needed in their composition directly within the application, creating a faster, more efficient, and seamless experience within Adobe After Effects.

Users can now pin and unpin composition content, search for both clips and compositions, load footage directly into the viewer, access clip metadata, and copy LucidLink links, all right from the LucidLink panel.

"We're bringing LucidLink's unique caching and pinning technology directly into Adobe After Effects, thus supercharging performance and creating a much smoother workflow. Artists and designers working on motion graphics and VFX will be able to focus so much more on their craft and on their creative vision," said Matt Schneider, Director of Product Marketing at Lucidlink. "And this is just the beginning: artists and editors alike using both Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects will soon be able to pin bins and folders as well, empowering users with even greater organization and efficiency."

Both Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro integrations are compatible with macOS and Windows operating systems, ensuring accessibility across different platforms.

Key Features of the LucidLink Integration for Adobe After Effects Include:

Pin and Unpin Composition Contents

Search for Clips + Compositions

Load Clips into the Composition viewer directly from the LucidLink panel

Clip Info + Copy Clip Link from the LucidLink panel

Up next: bin and folder pinning directly in the app for both Premiere Pro and After Effects.

LucidLink panels for Adobe Creative Cloud video applications are available on Adobe Exchange For more information on the new workflow enhancement, click here .

About LucidLink:

LucidLink empowers creative professionals to work seamlessly from anywhere by rapidly enhancing collaboration and offering teams lightning-fast access to files and the creative apps they love. The cloud-based solution connects remote teams to project files of any size and type instantly, within seconds and is designed to support workflows from video and audio production to graphic design and more. LucidLink offers a familiar and flexible format, like a local drive, so creatives can collaborate without changing the way they work.

LucidLink was founded in 2016 and supports over one billion customer files across more than 40+ countries. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with offices in Sofia, Bulgaria, and employees across North America, Europe, and Australia. For more information about LucidLink, please contact [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn , and visit us at lucidlink.com .

For media inquiries, please contact:

Clare Plaisted

PRComs

[email protected]

SOURCE LucidLink
Investment in M1 Composites Builds on Quebec's Aerospace Excellence while sustaining hundreds of Canadian jobs and opening new opportunities to the North American aerospace market.

LAVAL, QC, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - M1 Composites Technology Inc, a leading Quebec-based aerostructure engineering, manufacturing, and sustainment/repair company has been selected by Satair, an Airbus Services company, as the preferred North American repair station for Airbus A220 aircraft flight controls and structural parts. This contract marks a significant milestone in M1's history and will allow the M1 Team the opportunity to support all A220 customers across North America, including some of the world's largest airlines.

Based in Laval, M1 Composites competed against several large and well-established engineering & repair companies for this contract, which is expected to generate new jobs for the 100-person company. Satair, the distributor and interface for Airbus proprietary parts and repairs, and M1 will provide A220 operators with a comprehensive one-stop-shop aerostructure repair solution, ensuring enhanced value and efficiency for both companies.

"Our company has punched above our weight on aerostructure engineering and repairs, and this contract is validation that M1's employees are best in class," said Lorenzo Marandola, President & CEO of M1 Composites. "We are ready to rise to the occasion in servicing A220 customers throughout North America and strengthening Quebec's unmatched aerospace industry in the process. We look forward to collaborating with Satair and Airbus to meet the evolving needs of its A220 customers and ensure their continued success."

Since its first delivery to a North American operator in October 2018, the A220 aircraft has gained rapid adoption among airlines. As the North American preferred repair station, M1 Composites will ensure these operators have access to reliable and efficient aerostructure maintenance solutions. M1 is strategically situated to service current and future A220 operators in Canada and the United States, as well as continuing to service the Airbus A220 Final Assembly Lines in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada and Mobile, Alabama, U.S. Given the integrated aerospace supply chain that exists between both Canada and the U.S., M1 Composites is well-positioned to aid operators in the region with repair solutions on aero structure.

About M1 Composites:

M1 Composites Technology provides a wide range of comprehensive aerospace services including engineering, manufacturing, and repair of composite and sheet metal aerostructure components. M1 is a Transport Canada Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO), and Design Approval Organization (DAO) with numerous certifications such as ISO9001, AS9100, AS9110, and NADCAP. Our 82,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility houses cutting-edge equipment, including an in-house radome transmissivity test facility and a large autoclave for repairing and curing composite parts.

[Note to Editors: For further inquiries or additional information, please contact the provided representatives. Thank you for your interest in M1 Composites.]

SOURCE M1 Composites Technology inc.
Join L.A. Care Health Plan prior donation to become top donors to We Are LA program

LOS ANGELES, April 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognizing the importance of preventing evictions in overcoming Los Angeles's homelessness crisis, The Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation has donated $1.5 million and Health Net $1.3 million to support the Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles' We Are LA program. We Are LA connects people at risk of eviction to every resource available to them to help them maintain stable housing.

Health Net of California (PRNewsfoto/Health Net)

The two organizations join L.A. Care Health Plan, which made previous investments totaling $1.8 million, as the program's biggest donors. L.A. Care's early support was critical for getting the We Are LA program off the ground and establishing its success.

"We must bring unhoused Angelenos inside while doing all that we can to prevent people from falling into homelessness in the first place, and that means local government partnering with businesses and philanthropists across the city to confront this crisis," said Mayor Karen Bass. "Earlier this year, L.A. Care Health Plan made a generous donation to the Mayor's Fund for this important effort and now I want to commend The Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation and Health Net for taking this courageous step and joining this effort. This is not a fight we will win if private philanthropy does not lock arms with us in this effort to provide the life-saving resources that Angelenos deserve. Thank you to our philanthropic partners for locking arms and partnering with us to confront the greatest challenge facing our city."

We Are LA has reached out to over 411,000 at-risk Angelenos, including targeted outreach to people who have received notices of intended eviction. We Are LA also operates a hotline and organizes tenant resource clinics to help reach anyone who fears they may lose their home. Once the team connects with a person who wants help, caseworkers assess all of the resources available to that individual and help them navigate the bureaucracy of applying for government and charitable programs. The program has served over 32,000 individuals and families to help them avoid eviction and stay housed. The Mayor's Fund has also recently formed a partnership with U.S. VETS to help service veterans in Los Angeles and is beginning new programs to directly serve vulnerable populations, like former foster youth.

"The Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation is proud to support Mayor Karen Bass' emergency homelessness plan with We Are LA and their efforts to reach out to hundreds of thousands of Angelenos facing the threat of eviction and connecting them to services and support," said Linda Hope, Chair and CEO of the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation. "In addition, the Mayor's Fund and We Are LA also help ensure that any veteran who asks for help will not end up on the streets. My mom and dad always had a heartfelt devotion and concern for those individuals who have and continue to serve our country. They believed that prevention was an intricate step in any effort to help those at risk, and their foundation was created, in part, with the hope of meeting the needs of all those individuals."

Since its creation more than eight months ago, We Are LA has engaged with more than 411,000 Angelenos wanting help stabilizing their housing situations. It has connected them to programs like Medi-Cal, CalFresh and earned income tax credits to help stretch their dollars further, in addition to recruiting more than 350 pro bono attorneys to provide legal information and defense.

"Housing is a critical key to health, with research showing that housing stability, quality, safety and affordability all affect our physical and mental health outcomes. Moreover, homelessness significantly undermines preventive health measures and exacerbates existing health issues," said Martha Santana-Chin, President of Medi-Cal and Medicare at Health Net. "We are proud to support the important work of We Are LA, which is creating tangible impacts in the lives of thousands of deserving Angelenos. We will continue to invest in the communities we serve, aiming to transform the health of Californians, one person at a time."

These donations will allow the Mayor's Fund to continue and expand the important work of the We Are LA program.

"There were nearly 6,000 notices of eviction filed in March alone," said Conway Collis, President and CEO of the Mayor's Fund. "These are life-saving gifts that will help us prevent thousands of Angelenos  including many families and children  from falling into homelessness. Mayor Bass and her team are doing enormously effective work in moving people into shelter and permanent housing with needed services, but to address this crisis we also have to prevent Angelenos from becoming homeless in the first place. These generous gifts will help us do exactly that."

About The Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles

The Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles is an independent 501(c)(3) which brings together business, philanthropy, the nonprofit sector, and local government to address the most urgent needs of all Angelenos. The Mayor's Fund is operating and supporting programs to help prevent Angelenos from falling into homelessness through outreach, case management and expanded legal services. More information at: www.MayorsFundLA.org .

About Health Net

Founded in California more than 40 years ago, Health Net, a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, believes that every person deserves a safety net for their health, regardless of age, income, employment status or current state of health. Today, we provide health plans for individuals, families, businesses of every size and people who qualify for Medi-Cal or Medicare. Together with our 90,000 network providers, Health Net serves three million members across the state. We also offer access to substance abuse programs, behavioral health services, employee assistance programs and managed health care products related to prescription drugs. We make these health plans and services available through Health Net, LLC and its subsidiaries: Health Net of California, Inc., Health Net Life Insurance Company and Health Net Community Solutions, Inc. These entities are wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a leading healthcare enterprise committed to transforming the health of the communities we serve, one person at a time. Health Net employs more than 6,300 people in California who work at one of five regional Talent Hub offices. For more information, visit www.HealthNet.com .

About the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation

The Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation ( BobHope.org ) supports organizations that bring "HOPE" to those in need and those who served to protect our nation. The Foundation also supports charitable organizations that preserve and honor the legacy of Bob Hope as an American entertainer, humanitarian, patriot, sportsman and supporter of military personnel and their families.

SOURCE Health Net
Brown Brings Deep Media Relationships and Tech Experience to the Platform

TollBit Creates a New Marketplace for Quality Website Content - Allows AI Bots and Data Scrapers to Efficiently Pay Sites Directly for Information

NEW YORK, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TollBit founders, Toshit Panagrahi and Olivia Joslin, today announced that media veteran, Campbell Brown, has joined the company as Senior Advisor.

"Campbell has a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that today's evolving content economics present for publishers and tech companies," said Joslin and Panagrahi. "She brings valuable expertise and strong relationships in both sectors, and we are excited to welcome her to TollBit."

Campbell Brown

"There is growing concern from publishers, websites and tech companies alike about the future of quality information in the age of AI," Brown said. "Having lived and worked in both the media and tech sectors, it is clear to me Tollbit has built the right impartial infrastructure to ensure reliable and fairly valued content in the interest of all. I am thrilled to join Olivia and Toshit on this mission."

In her role, Campbell will be overseeing the TollBit's partnership efforts focusing on media and tech.

Campbell Brown is an award-winning media executive and former television news reporter. She was most recently Vice President Global Media Partnerships at Meta. Prior to Meta, Brown was the co-founder of The 74 Media, a nonprofit media company focused on education in America. Brown was an Emmy award-winning journalist and anchorwoman. For several years, she was the host of her own CNN primetime show, Campbell Brown. She was also a White House Correspondent for NBC and an anchor for the Weekend Today and NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.

In February, TollBit announced a $7M funding round from leading tech and media investors. TollBit is currently onboarding publishers to the platform.

About TollBit

TollBit offers AI bots and data scrapers an easy and compliant way to compensate websites directly for content. The platform seeks to address the new economics of content creation in the AI era by reducing the legal uncertainties of scraping and protecting the health of the entire content ecosystem. Learn more at https://tollbit.com/.

For more information contact: [email protected].

SOURCE TollBit
CONSTANTA, Romania, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Monsson has commissioned the largest energy battery storage capacity in Romania. The capacity is part of the first hybrid photovoltaic-wind-battery project, installed at the existing operational 50 MW project.

MONSSON connected to the National Grid - the largest Energy Battery Storage capacity in Romania, a 95% Romanian project, made with own funds (PRNewsfoto/MONSSON)

The event brought together representatives from the authorities and business environment as well as specialists in the energy field. Among those who attended the event were: Alexandra Bocse - State Counsellor at the Presidential Administration, Alina Jalea - State Counsellor at the Prime Minister Office, Mihai Lupu - President of the Constanta County Council, Mihai Soare - Mayor of Silistea Municipality, Gabriel Andronache - Vice President of ANRE, Virgiliu Ivan - Director UNO-DEN Transelectrica, Therese Hyden - Swedish Ambassador in Romania, Razvan Nicolescu - member of the board of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology and Corina Popescu, Senior Energy Specialist.

The storage unit has an installed capacity of 24 MWh - (6MW x 4h) and it was built by Monsson as integrator, according to its own design, in a unique concept utilizing in-house developed know-how. The project represents the first stage of in total 216 MWh storage unit to be installed until end of the year at the same location. The concept is modular and suitable for large scale applications. The Monsson energy storage facilities are developed special for harsh climate conditions, utilizing the latest technologies in monitoring and safety systems for that kind of products. The controlling software created by Monsson is useful both for electricity storage operation and for the electricity trading. The Lithium Ion batteries are locally produced by the Romanian company Prime Batteries Technology. The storage unit is charged with energy produced by the Wind Farm, by the 35 MW PV project under construction, named Galbiori 2, which will be grid connected end of 2024 and from the national grid when there is no wind or sun. The control of the hybrid project is fully automatic, without local operational staff and the software is developed by Monsson.

"The investment was done on equity with the goal to prove the idea of increasing the renewable energy penetration in national grids, through renewable energy hybridization concept, consisting of photovoltaic, wind and storage. The hybridization with storage is reducing the volatility of renewable energy helping also balancing of the National Energetic System. The storage of renewables will lead in the end to reducing electricity bills for end consumers. With this project we are testing the functionality of the battery to demonstrate the immediate benefits of storage facilities attached to renewable energy sources. We want to promote such solutions both in Romania and across Europe," said Sebastian Enache, MONSSON, member of the Board.

"One year after the visit with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to RENEWACAD, I am glad to have the opportunity to be part of the inauguration of this project together with the most relevant Romanian energy specialists. The fact that climate change is real, it is no longer a secret to anyone and reducing its effects is also a priority of the Romanian Presidential Administration. We are looking at renewables in this regard and we consider the integration of renewables into the system definitely needs energy storage. So your hybrid project paves the way for other projects. Congratulations for the elements of Romanian innovation behind the project, innovation that is absolutely needed", said Alexandra Bocse at the inauguration of the project - State Advisor to the Presidential Administration.

"The energy transition towards renewable needs to be done in a sustainable way. Volatility is a problem that needs to be addressed and resolved, as much as possible at the source. Company Prime took its role as solution supplier since 2016. In the market we are seen as battery producers but our main business is Lithium Ion battery solutions. And this is how us and Monsson found common ground, because their extensive experience in renewable energy that led to projects as this one", explained Vicentiu Ciobanu, CEO Prime Batteries Technology.

"I would like to congratulate you on achieving something we have wanted for a very long time. Why is storage good? Why should even banks be more friendly to this solution? Storage is both energy consumption and energy production and should be treated and regulated as such and, why not, prioritized. If we look in the past and see the commitments we have to European bodies to eliminate the coal fueled energy, we see that we need renewable energy and the storage is the solution," said Gabriel Andronache - Vice-President of ANRE, at the inauguration event.

"I want to congratulate the Monsson and Prime team for this Romanian achievement and these solutions have to be supported by all of us as Romanians. Look at what is happening in the market! During the sunny days, at noon, when we have maximum electricity production from photovoltaic energy, we have a price of zero lei / MWh. Storage solutions are welcome. In the last years we have all made efforts to increase renewable electricity production in Romania, we all need to join forces to attract also consumers. In Dobrogea region, as example, we have an installed capacity of 3280 MW, while electricity demand is only 300 MW. I really consider that alongside storage facilities, we do strongly need to attract energy consumers in every region in Romania to help the National Energy System", added Virgiliu Ivan  Director DEN from Transelectrica.

"Congratulations for this Romanian project! It is a 95% Romanian project and proves the capacity of the country to be part of the EU transition to zero emissions process to which Romania is committed to. This is the first step in which we can see it is possible to produce and deliver firm energy capacity from renewable sources. What I think should be mentioned is that we have brought together electricity consumption and production. I congratulate Prime for believing in energy storage and developing a manufacturing facility for Lithium Ion batteries. In an energy system, we need to always have a balancing system and storage solutions are a way to achieve that in the case of very volatiles renewable sources. We can see that Romanians remain very active and creative on the European map in the energy sector," detailed Corina Popescu, senior energy specialist.

About Monsson

Present for over 17 years in the renewable energy market in Romania, Monsson has become the leading supplier of projects electricity from renewable sources, with a portfolio of over 5GW of wind and photovoltaic projects. The company provides turnkey services for Design, Development, Construction and Operation of renewable energy projects and energy storage solutions.

About Prime Batteries Technology

Prime Batteries is the local leader in Lithium Ion battery manufacturing. The company has a lithium-ion battery production capacity of 2.3GWh/year in Bucharest, being vertically integrated including the production of Li-ion cells. In 2023 the company has produced more than 65 MWh of batteries for the Romanian market, mostly in renewable energy applications.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2382671/MONSSON.jpg

SOURCE MONSSON
CONSTANTA, Romania, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Monsson has commissioned the largest energy battery storage capacity in Romania. The capacity is part of the first hybrid photovoltaic-wind-battery project, installed at the existing operational 50 MW project.

MONSSON connected to the National Grid - the largest Energy Battery Storage capacity in Romania, a 95% Romanian project, made with own funds

The event brought together representatives from the authorities and business environment as well as specialists in the energy field. Among those who attended the event were: Alexandra Bocse - State Counsellor at the Presidential Administration, Alina Jalea - State Counsellor at the Prime Minister Office, Mihai Lupu - President of the Constanta County Council, Mihai Soare - Mayor of Silistea Municipality, Gabriel Andronache - Vice President of ANRE, Virgiliu Ivan - Director UNO-DEN Transelectrica, Therese Hyden - Swedish Ambassador in Romania, Razvan Nicolescu - member of the board of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology and Corina Popescu, Senior Energy Specialist.

The storage unit has an installed capacity of 24 MWh - (6MW x 4h) and it was built by Monsson as integrator, according to its own design, in a unique concept utilizing in-house developed know-how. The project represents the first stage of in total 216 MWh storage unit to be installed until end of the year at the same location. The concept is modular and suitable for large scale applications. The Monsson energy storage facilities are developed special for harsh climate conditions, utilizing the latest technologies in monitoring and safety systems for that kind of products. The controlling software created by Monsson is useful both for electricity storage operation and for the electricity trading. The Lithium Ion batteries are locally produced by the Romanian company Prime Batteries Technology. The storage unit is charged with energy produced by the Wind Farm, by the 35 MW PV project under construction, named Galbiori 2, which will be grid connected end of 2024 and from the national grid when there is no wind or sun. The control of the hybrid project is fully automatic, without local operational staff and the software is developed by Monsson.

"The investment was done on equity with the goal to prove the idea of increasing the renewable energy penetration in national grids, through renewable energy hybridization concept, consisting of photovoltaic, wind and storage. The hybridization with storage is reducing the volatility of renewable energy helping also balancing of the National Energetic System. The storage of renewables will lead in the end to reducing electricity bills for end consumers. With this project we are testing the functionality of the battery to demonstrate the immediate benefits of storage facilities attached to renewable energy sources. We want to promote such solutions both in Romania and across Europe," said Sebastian Enache, MONSSON, member of the Board.

"One year after the visit with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to RENEWACAD, I am glad to have the opportunity to be part of the inauguration of this project together with the most relevant Romanian energy specialists. The fact that climate change is real, it is no longer a secret to anyone and reducing its effects is also a priority of the Romanian Presidential Administration. We are looking at renewables in this regard and we consider the integration of renewables into the system definitely needs energy storage. So your hybrid project paves the way for other projects. Congratulations for the elements of Romanian innovation behind the project, innovation that is absolutely needed", said Alexandra Bocse at the inauguration of the project - State Advisor to the Presidential Administration.

"The energy transition towards renewable needs to be done in a sustainable way. Volatility is a problem that needs to be addressed and resolved, as much as possible at the source. Company Prime took its role as solution supplier since 2016. In the market we are seen as battery producers but our main business is Lithium Ion battery solutions. And this is how us and Monsson found common ground, because their extensive experience in renewable energy that led to projects as this one", explained Vicentiu Ciobanu, CEO Prime Batteries Technology.

"I would like to congratulate you on achieving something we have wanted for a very long time. Why is storage good? Why should even banks be more friendly to this solution? Storage is both energy consumption and energy production and should be treated and regulated as such and, why not, prioritized. If we look in the past and see the commitments we have to European bodies to eliminate the coal fueled energy, we see that we need renewable energy and the storage is the solution," said Gabriel Andronache - Vice-President of ANRE, at the inauguration event.

"I want to congratulate the Monsson and Prime team for this Romanian achievement and these solutions have to be supported by all of us as Romanians. Look at what is happening in the market! During the sunny days, at noon, when we have maximum electricity production from photovoltaic energy, we have a price of zero lei / MWh. Storage solutions are welcome. In the last years we have all made efforts to increase renewable electricity production in Romania, we all need to join forces to attract also consumers. In Dobrogea region, as example, we have an installed capacity of 3280 MW, while electricity demand is only 300 MW. I really consider that alongside storage facilities, we do strongly need to attract energy consumers in every region in Romania to help the National Energy System", added Virgiliu Ivan  Director DEN from Transelectrica.

"Congratulations for this Romanian project! It is a 95% Romanian project and proves the capacity of the country to be part of the EU transition to zero emissions process to which Romania is committed to. This is the first step in which we can see it is possible to produce and deliver firm energy capacity from renewable sources. What I think should be mentioned is that we have brought together electricity consumption and production. I congratulate Prime for believing in energy storage and developing a manufacturing facility for Lithium Ion batteries. In an energy system, we need to always have a balancing system and storage solutions are a way to achieve that in the case of very volatiles renewable sources. We can see that Romanians remain very active and creative on the European map in the energy sector," detailed Corina Popescu, senior energy specialist.

About Monsson

Present for over 17 years in the renewable energy market in Romania, Monsson has become the leading supplier of projects electricity from renewable sources, with a portfolio of over 5GW of wind and photovoltaic projects. The company provides turnkey services for Design, Development, Construction and Operation of renewable energy projects and energy storage solutions.

About Prime Batteries Technology

Prime Batteries is the local leader in Lithium Ion battery manufacturing. The company has a lithium-ion battery production capacity of 2.3GWh/year in Bucharest, being vertically integrated including the production of Li-ion cells. In 2023 the company has produced more than 65 MWh of batteries for the Romanian market, mostly in renewable energy applications.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2382671/MONSSON.jpg
Partnership aims to create employment pathways for talented students from around the world

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MPOWER Financing ("MPOWER"), a mission-driven fintech firm and the leading provider of non-cosigner loans to promising international students, has announced a partnership with F-1 Hire, a data-driven staffing and career management company that helps U.S. employers find qualified global candidates. By leveraging the strengths of both organizations, the alliance will strive to create pathways to success for talents from around the world.

International students face financial and legal barriers compared to their domestic classmates, and navigating the U.S. job market after graduation offers additional challenges. According to the International Talent Friendliness Index (ITFI) maintained by F1 Hire, less than 1.6% of job openings in the U.S. job market are friendly to international talents and 12% of companies explicitly reject any sponsorship.

"This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to, and investment, in our students" Post this

MPOWER works with more than 400+ top universities across the U.S. and Canada to provide no-cosigner financing to students from 200+ countries. Its proprietary algorithm assesses the potential of each applicant to ensure equity in education loans regardless of income, family background, or gender, providing international students with better access to education.

F1 Hire specializes in sourcing and retaining international talent in the U.S. for small to midsize employers, including facilitating onboard compliance and sponsorship. The organization also supports colleges and institutions to effectively promote career readiness through data. MPOWER supports its students to attain career readiness through its Path2Success program , which will be enhanced by F1 Hire's support to help these students seek gainful employment in their desired field after graduation.

"Our partnership with F1 Hire is a landmark initiative aimed at dismantling the barriers international students face in the global job market," said Lisa Kaplan, Head of Product and Digital Platforms at MPOWER Financing. "This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to, and investment, in our students, providing them with a robust support system that caters to their academic, professional, and financial needs."

"We're delighted to be working with MPOWER and to support their mission of helping international students study in the U.S. and Canada," said Andrew Chen. CEO and Co-Founder of F1 Hire. "Together, we'll create new opportunities for talented students from around the world to realize their dreams and potential."

About MPOWER Financing

MPOWER Financing , headquartered in Washington, D.C., and with employees worldwide, is a mission-driven fintech company and the leading provider of global education loans. Its proprietary algorithm analyzes overseas and domestic credit data as well as future earning potential to serve promising international students. MPOWER works with over 400 top universities across the U.S. and Canada to provide financing to students from over 200 countries. The MPOWER team primarily consists of former international students and provides students with personal financial education and career support to prepare them for their professional careers after graduation.

MPOWER is a Certified B-Corp and Great Place To Work , one of the best fintechs to work for , and the best tech workplace for diversity . The company is hiring for various positions worldwide.

About F1 Hire

F1 Hire, LLC, a WholeRen Group company, is a data-driven staffing and career management company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. F1 Hire has a must-have tool for international talents to find CPT/OPT/H1B internships and jobs. F1 Hire supports international talents's career advancement in the global market. We effectively help small to mid-size U.S. employers find the best-fitting and qualified candidates from the international student talent pool.

SOURCE MPOWER Financing
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2024

Free workshops, youth activities, housing counselors, one-on-one sessions, and more at festivities designed to help Black families build intergenerational wealth

10 AM MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

MT. VERNON, N.Y., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

Shawn Patterson-Howard , Mt. Vernon Mayor and President of African American Mayors Association

, Mayor and President of African American Mayors Association Kilimanjaro Toussaint , NAREB Local Board President

, NAREB Local Board President Dr. Courtney Johnson Rose , NAREB President

, NAREB President Demetria L. McCain , Principal Deputy Assistant HUD Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO)

, Principal Deputy Assistant HUD Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) Elsie Cooke-Holmes , National President & Board Chair, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

, National President & Board Chair, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Nelson Ramos , Wells Fargo, Vice President, Senior Business Growth Strategy

, Wells Fargo, Vice President, Senior Business Growth Strategy Ray Carslile , President/CEO at NID Housing Counseling Agency

, President/CEO at NID Housing Counseling Agency Ronnie Devoe and Marvetta Bozeman , Wonder Twins of Real Estate

, Wonder Twins of Real Estate Malik Yoba , Yoba Real Estate Development

, Yoba Real Estate Development Pastor Carlton Spruill , Allen Memorial Church of God in Christ

WHAT:

The time for action on Black Wealth is now! NAREB is working with the Church Of God In Christ, the African American Mayors Association, the National Bar Association, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity to present the Mount Vernon stop on the Building Black Wealth Tour. In more than 100 cities, NAREB will organize classes, workshops, and one-on-one counseling with lawyers, agents/brokers, and lenders to help residents learn to build wealth. The HUD-approved NID Housing Counseling Agency will provide consumers with free credit reports and counseling. The goal of the event is to give Black residents the information they need to build wealth and get answers to questions like how to buy a home. Why is this needed? The Black-White wealth gap is so expansive that the 400 wealthiest Americans control the same amount of wealth as all 48 million Blacks living in the U.S. There are 2 million mortgage-ready Black Americans who don't yet own houses. NAREB explains why they should. At the Mt. Vernon event, sessions will include:

Clergy and Community Leaders Roundtable

Seller's Class  I Have EquityNow What Presenters/Moderator: Realtist Members

What to do with Big Mama's House?

Show me the Money! Downpayment Assistance and Resources

Careers in Real Estate

Investing in Real Estate

The Value of a Realtist as Your Real Estate Professional

WHERE: MT. Vernon High School. 100 California Rd, Mt Vernon, NY 10552

WHEN: 10 AM  3 PM

Media Contact: Michael K. Frisby, [email protected] 202-625-4328

SOURCE NAREB
New E-bikes, More Stations in Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville

SAN FRANCISCO, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Lyft today announced the addition of 24 new docking stations and 565 next-generation docked e-bikes to the Bay Wheels regional bikeshare system in Oakland and Emeryville. New e-bikes also are scheduled for arrival in Berkeley in the coming weeks, pending final local approvals.

The East Bay expansion marks the second phase of a two-step Bay Wheels growth strategy that began last fall with the introduction of more than 1,500 new e-bikes and 30 new docking stations in San Francisco and San Jose as well as a reduction in both annual membership prices and members' e-bike usage fees throughout the Bay Wheels network. These measures are aimed at improving Bay Wheels' long-term sustainability by growing ridership and reducing operational costs. E-bikes' ability to climb hills, travel longer distances, and attract riders of varying physical abilities could make them a transformational mobility option for Bay Area residents and visitors alike.

"Bikesharing, and e-bikes in particular, play a big role in our Plan Bay Area 2050 strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions," noted MTC Chair and Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza. "The Commission committed $20 million to promote the use of e-bikes for more of the short trips people make each day. These improvements to the Bay Wheels system are a big part of that commitment."

"This marks a significant milestone for Bay Wheels in the East Bay and for our partnership with MTC," said Caroline Samponaro, Vice President of Transit and Micromobility Policy at Lyft. "The leadership shown by MTC and East Bay officials sets an example for other cities and regions around the country who want to strengthen their bikeshare systems to meet the challenges and opportunities of this moment in urban transportation."

MTC later this year will launch a pilot program to provide reduced-cost annual Bay Wheels memberships for area college students. To enhance the growth of Bay Wheels' e-bike fleet, MTC and Lyft also are piloting grid-connected charging stations using Lyft's next generation station technology. Electrified stations improve e-bike availability for riders by increasing the number of bikes with sufficient battery charge and making operations more efficient. E-bike batteries traditionally had been charged in a warehouse and then manually swapped at the station.

MTC and Lyft last November reduced the cost of an annual Bay Wheels membership to $150 from $169 and cut the cost for members to use a Bay Wheels e-bike to 15 cents per minute from 20 cents per minute. Monthly members now automatically transition to an annual membership at no additional cost when they renew for five consecutive months.

Bay Wheels' next generation e-bikes are being used three times as often as classic pedal bikes. These new e-bikes have double the battery life, a more powerful motor for going uphill, improved stability and ergonomics, and better theft deterrents. They also se new bikes exclusively dock in stations to improve predictability and availability for riders.

"Berkeley is excited about the role every e-bike  whether shared or not  can play in achieving our transportation and climate goals," said Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin, who also serves as vice president of the Association of Bay Area Governments' Executive Board. "The arrival of the Bay Wheels e-bikes will complement the e-bike loan and rebate programs provided by the City of Berkeley, the Alameda County Transportation Commission and East Bay Community Energy. More e-bikes give more people an alternative to driving."

Launched in 2017, Bay Wheels is the Bay Area's regional bikeshare program with over 6,000 bicycles  both pedal-powered and pedal-assist electric bikes  at more than 500 stations in San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and Emeryville. Lyft operates the Bay Wheels program under a contract managed by MTC. MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Commission
NEW YORK, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlighted for "shining a light on beauty and health brands through digital marketing and incorporating AI into campaign management" in marketing, Nancy Caravetta and Jessica Goldberg have been named Inc. 2024 Female Founders 250 honorees.

Nancy Caravetta and Jessica Goldberg, Joint-CEOs of Rebel Gail Inc. Female Founders 250 Honoree

Each year, Inc. editors review thousands of applications highlighting female founders who are challenging the status quo and tackling some of the world's biggest problems. The list features women who have overcome challenges and lifted those around them, while leading impactful organizations around the country. They join the ranks of previous honorees including Jessica Alba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Rihanna, and Shonda Rhimes.

"Over the last 8 years, we've worked hard to turn Rebel Gail into one of the premier beauty and health marketing agencies with creative campaigns and analytic technologies that help our clients succeed. Entrepreneurship isn't always easy but getting recognition for all our hard work is such an honor," said Jessica Goldberg and Nancy Caravetta, Joint-CEOs of Rebel Gail.

Rebel Gail has created and implemented various technologies powered by AI that help supercharge clients' social growth as well as provide in depth analytics and measurement for more authentic and impactful influencer activations. Rebel Gail also made the 2023 Inc. 5000, an annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America, announced in August 2023.

For more information on Rebel Gail visit www.rebelgail.com and to see the complete list of Inc. 2024 Female Founder 250 honorees, go to: https://www.inc.com/female-founders

About Rebel Gail

Rebel Gail was founded in 2015 by agency veterans Nancy Caravetta and Jessica Goldberg who built their careers in the health and beauty industries driving communications campaigns for many of the world's biggest makers of health, personal care, beauty and lifestyle brands. They combined their collective experience to form a modern 360 marketing and digital communications agency that rebels against the status quo, moves brands and propels consumers to take action. In 2018, Rebel Gail was named one of the most powerful beauty firms by The Observer. Rebel Gail is WBENC certified as a woman-owned business.

About Inc.

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning, multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 192, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion among the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is a part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

For media inquiries, please contact Rebel Gail

Jessica Goldberg / Joint-CEO

[email protected] / 212.675.8555

SOURCE Rebel Gail
SAN JOSE, Calif., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting April 16, RTI International, PrideNet, National Alliance for Hispanic Health in California, Asian Health Coalition, Community Youth Center, and University of California, San Francisco will host the All of Us Journey, a traveling educational exhibit that brings the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program to communities across the United States. The Journey features interactive activities, videos, games, quizzes, and moreall designed to demonstrate the power of participation in health research. Interested attendees will learn how they can help shape the future of health for themselves, their families, and their communities for generations to come. Attendees will also have the opportunity to register for the All of Us Research Program during their visit.

WHAT:

California is one stop on the All of Us Journey's national tour. The public are invited to attend and learn how they can help change the future of health as participants in the All of Us Research Program.

WHEN and WHERE:

Tuesday, April 16 to Thursday, April 18, 2024

10am-4pm

San Jose State University

1 Washington Square

San Jose, CA 95192

Friday, April 19, 2024

10am-2pm

Charity Cultural Services Center

Portsmouth Square

745 Kearney St

San Francisco, CA 94018

Thursday, April 25 to Sunday, April 28, 2024

5pm-11pm

Qmunity District

73 Post St

San Jose, CA 95113

See the full list of events in California from April 16 to June 2 here.

The All of Us Research Program, led by the National Institutes of Health, aims to recruit at least one million participants that reflect the diversity of the United States. All of Us will help researchers understand more about why people get sick or stay healthy. To learn more about the All of Us Research Program and upcoming events, visit https://www.joinallofus.org/ .

About the All of Us Journey

All of Us is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). The Journey is managed by Montage Marketing Group in collaboration with Scripps Research Translational Institute, and funded by the National Institutes of Health award OT2OD035580 .

For more information contact:

Jennifer Reyes, Outreach Engagement Manager

Phone: (301) 260-5270

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Montage Marketing Group
WILBERFORCE, Ohio, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting April 16, Delta Research Education Foundation and Wilberforce University will host the All of Us Journey, a traveling educational exhibit that brings the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program to communities across the United States. The Journey features interactive activities, videos, games, quizzes, and moreall designed to demonstrate the power of participation in health research. Interested attendees will learn how they can help shape the future of health for themselves, their families, and their communities for generations to come. Attendees will also have the opportunity to register for the All of Us Research Program during their visit.

WHAT:

Wilberforce, Ohio is one stop on the All of Us Journey's national tour. The public are invited to attend and learn how they can help change the future of health as participants in the All of Us Research Program.

WHEN and WHERE:

Tuesday, April 16 to Friday, April 19, 2024

10am-4pm

Wilberforce University

1055 North Bickett Rd

Wilberforce, OH 45384

See the full list of events in Ohio from April 16 to April 26 here.

The All of Us Research Program, led by the National Institutes of Health, aims to recruit at least one million participants that reflect the diversity of the United States. All of Us will help researchers understand more about why people get sick or stay healthy. To learn more about the All of Us Research Program and upcoming events, visit https://www.joinallofus.org/ .

About the All of Us Journey

All of Us is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). The Journey is managed by Montage Marketing Group in collaboration with Scripps Research Translational Institute, and funded by the National Institutes of Health award OT2OD035580 .

For more information contact:

Jennifer Reyes, Outreach Engagement Manager

Phone: (301) 260-5270

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Montage Marketing Group
BROWNSVILLE, Texas, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting April 16, National Alliance for Hispanic Health and University of Texas will host the All of Us Journey, a traveling educational exhibit that brings the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program to communities across the United States. The Journey features interactive activities, videos, games, quizzes, and moreall designed to demonstrate the power of participation in health research. Interested attendees will learn how they can help shape the future of health for themselves, their families, and their communities for generations to come. Attendees will also have the opportunity to register for the All of Us Research Program during their visit.

WHAT:

Brownsville, Texas is one stop on the All of Us Journey's national tour. The public are invited to attend and learn how they can help change the future of health as participants in the All of Us Research Program.

WHEN and WHERE:

Tuesday, April 16 to Friday, April 19, 2024

10am-4pm

University of Texas School of Public Health

780 Ringgold Rd

Brownsville, TX 78520

Tuesday, April 23 to Friday, April 26, 2024

10am-4pm

Brownsville Community Health Center

191 East Price Rd

Brownsville, TX 78520

See the full list of events in Texas from April 16 to June 21 here.

The All of Us Research Program, led by the National Institutes of Health, aims to recruit at least one million participants that reflect the diversity of the United States. All of Us will help researchers understand more about why people get sick or stay healthy. To learn more about the All of Us Research Program and upcoming events, visit https://www.joinallofus.org/ .

About the All of Us Journey

All of Us is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). The Journey is managed by Montage Marketing Group in collaboration with Scripps Research Translational Institute, and funded by the National Institutes of Health award OT2OD035580 .

For more information contact:

Jennifer Reyes, Outreach Engagement Manager

Phone: (301) 260-5270

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Montage Marketing Group
QUEENSLAND, Australia, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, Neoss Australia & New Zealand are celebrating 20 years of Intelligent Simplicity and invites the dental community to join us for an exceptional scientific program with over 21 speakers across two days.

Taking place on the Gold Coast of Australia from 31st May  1st June, this meeting will facilitate and support the development of the entire dental team. Sharing treatment experiences that can improve dental implant treatments by bringing efficient workflows, both surgical and prosthetic, into your daily practice to ultimately provide superior outcomes for you and your patients.

"This will be the event of the year, not only regarding the educational program that is being presented, but to see the Neoss community come together - Im looking forward to connecting with both fresh faces and the familiar ones from the early days of Neoss."

Prof. Neil Meredith, Co-Founder of Neoss Group.

Attendees will also get exclusive demonstrations of the NeoScan 2000, the new fast and easy-to-use wireless intraoral scanner, that follows the success of last year's launch of the NeoScan 1000.

"Throughout this educational program, you will be exposed to the latest technology solutions that work seamlessly within the digital workflow. I am eager to discuss our development of smart treatment solutions, that are reliable and cost-effective, ensuring predictable long-term results for our Australian community."

Dr. Robert Gottlander, President and CEO of the Neoss Group.

Make sure not to miss the 2024 event like no other. To find out more and to register for early bird pricing go to: https://info.neoss.com/integrate-2024-gold-coast

About Neoss

Neoss offers intelligent products that are intuitively simple to use. Our products allow dental professionals to provide reliable and cost-effective treatments to their patients with excellent long-term results. Leading the market with ingenuity and integrity, we strive to set new standards. In developing smart treatment solutions and working closely with each practice, Neoss makes the complex less complicated. We call that Intelligent Simplicity. Headquartered in Harrogate, UK, with research and development based in Gothenburg, Sweden, the company has established a global footprint with a long-standing presence in key markets. To find out more visit https://www.neoss.com

SOURCE Neoss
Leverage Lab and AUDIENCES Announce Strategic Alliance to Transform Audience Activation and Monetization

KANSAS CITY, Mo. and LONDON, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Leverage Lab , a leader in audience data infrastructure and monetization, and AUDIENCES , a pioneering UK-based technology company, have announced a strategic partnership that marks a significant advancement in the activation and monetization of first-party data for the media industry. This collaboration makes AUDIENCES's innovative, privacy-compliant solution for delivering first-party audiences to advertising channels available with Leverage Lab's lightweight, cloud-based audience data infrastructure platform. Supported by Leverage Lab's comprehensive revenue solutions and services, this partnership is purpose-built to empower media organizations to fully leverage their first-party data assets.

AnnMarie Wills, CEO and Co-Founder of Leverage Lab, and Rob McLaughlin, CEO and Founder of AUDIENCES, have shared their vision for this alliance, emphasizing the result of this partnership delivers a modern audience activation solution. This end-to-end solution is designed to be fully in the cloud, privacy-compliant to current and future global standards, and capable of endless scale and extensibility.

New partnership offers first party data services to help publishers monetize their audiences. Post this

A Shared Vision for First Party Data Activation

Both Leverage Lab and AUDIENCES bring a wealth of experience and a shared passion for leveraging customer data to drive revenue, advertising efficiency, and effectiveness. "Our strategic partnership with AUDIENCES is so natural and opportunistic, reflecting our combined commitment to equipping publishers and brands for a future beyond third-party cookies," said AnnMarie Wills. Rob McLaughlin added, "The launch of our partnership represents an advance for the industry, for the first time addressing the need to build and trade 1st party data driven audiences with services and solutions which take publishers from data collection to monetization."

Transforming the Future of Audience Monetization

The partnership between Leverage Lab and AUDIENCES aims to redefine the landscape for publishers and brands, offering a revolutionary approach to first-party data organization and secure utilization, with personally identifiable information (PII) never shared and always encrypted, data are never exposed and consent is preserved across platforms.

Expanding Market Opportunities and Geographic Synergies

The collaboration between Leverage Lab and AUDIENCES also heralds significant geographic synergies, combining Leverage Lab's extensive reach in the United States with AUDIENCES's established presence in the UK and Europe. This partnership is set to refine and advance the activation of first-party data across different regulatory landscapes and market conditions, offering publishers and brands unparalleled support in monetizing their audiences through first-party data.

About Leverage Lab

Leverage Lab is at the forefront of advancing the media industry through innovative audience data infrastructure solutions. Specializing in helping publishers harness the power of their first-party data, Leverage Lab is dedicated to enhancing advertising and marketing solutions, improving market perception, and driving business growth.

About AUDIENCES

AUDIENCES is a technology company based in the UK, focused on enabling brands and publishers to activate their first-party data in advertising in a privacy and security safe manner. With a commitment to accelerating the commercial opportunities of first-party data, AUDIENCES is leading the industry towards a future of enhanced data activation and monetization.

For more information on the partnership and the benefits it brings to the industry, visit www.leveragelab.com and www.weareaudiences.com .

Contact Information:

Leverage Lab Press Office Email: [email protected]

AUDIENCES Press Office Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Leverage Lab
Using Heggerty Bridge to Reading, First Graders in Georgia Achieve Significant Growth, Closing Skill Gaps in Just Six Months

OAK PARK, Ill., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --First-grade students do not learn to read automatically but rather require daily, explicit, systematic science of reading-based phonics instruction. Daily, explicit instruction in foundational skills supports the development of phonemic awareness, decoding skills, and overall phonics knowledge which supports reading fluency and comprehension.

Watch and discover the transformative Bridge to Reading Foundational Skills Curriculum for Grades K2. This 30-second video highlights the engaging and effective approach to early literacy instruction. With research-based strategies, dynamic lessons, and comprehensive resources, Bridge to Reading empowers educators and students alike. Elevate your early literacy instruction today! Learn more at heggerty.org/BTR

A new report written by Learning Experience Design (LXD) Research demonstrates that using a daily, explicit foundational literacy skills instruction program for half a school year can increase 1st graders' overall reading scores and help them reach their projected growth targets. As part of a school's literacy toolkit, students who are considered low quintile (below 20%) can outperform national growth norms and can start closing their knowledge gap. This was the result for 1st-grade students in Hall County, Georgia, encouraging the investment in high-quality, evidence-based structured literacy programs.

During the first half of the 2023-2024 school year studied, 1st-grade students in three elementary schools in Hall County learned phonemic awareness and phonics skills through the Bridge to Reading Foundational Skills Curriculum. Students realized significantly higher MAP Growth Reading RIT scores compared to students in comparison schools that used Fountas and Pinnell during their Tier 1 instruction. A significantly higher proportion of Bridge to Reading students (47%) met their projected growth targets on MAP Growth compared to comparison students (30%). Interestingly, the students who are considered Low (below 20th percentile) on MAP Growth made significantly more gains (12.1 RIT points) than the national growth norms would anticipate (9.92 points). On another assessment, MAP Fluency, subdomains were investigated and analysis revealed that students who used Heggerty had significantly higher score gains from Fall to Winter than comparison students in the Phonological Awareness domain and the Phonics and Word Recognition domain. These results highlight the importance of implementing a strong, evidence-based Tier 1 phonics and phonemic awareness program that aligns with the science of reading research.

Hall County is a rural, local school district in Georgia with 20 elementary schools in total. Academically, 32% of elementary students in Hall County Public Schools tested at or above the proficient level for reading (U.S. News, 2023). Demographically, 38% of Heggerty students in this study are Hispanic and 24% are English Language Learners.

These results are from an independent analysis conducted by Learning Experience Design (LXD) Research. LXD Research founder Rachel Schechter, Ph.D., explained the implications, "This study used a rigorous matching process to create similar quasi-experimental groups, so seeing meaningfully higher gains for the Heggerty group in the first half of the year is very encouraging. We look forward to following the students who started the year below grade level to watch them continue to catch up by using Heggerty's Bridge to Reading."

"At Heggerty, we understand the transformative power of literacy in shaping students' academic trajectories,'' stated Alisa VanHekken, Chief Academic Officer. "Securing the ESSA Level II certification for Heggerty's Bridge to Reading reaffirms our commitment to providing teachers with the tools needed to cultivate strong readers and thinkers across disciplines. With our curriculum, students not only develop essential literacy skills but also gain the confidence and proficiency needed to excel as readers and writers."

Aligned to the Science of Reading, the Heggerty Bridge to Reading Curriculum combines Heggerty Phonemic Awareness lessons with daily explicit phonics instruction. The program features 170 lessons (34 weeks) of logically sequenced, step-by-step lessons that follow an I Do, We Do, You Do model to introduce new phonics concepts, help students build confidence through Tier 1 whole-group instruction, and develop independent readers through frequent individual practice opportunities. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of a diverse range of learners by providing daily differentiated instruction activities, targeted assistance, and resources to maximize every learner's potential.

About Heggerty

Heggerty is an education company that equips teachers with effective and engaging products and professional learning opportunities that help prepare and empower all students to become lifelong readers. Heggerty strides to make products aligned with effective reading instruction that help close the literacy gap. Inspired by Dr. Michael Heggerty, the company now evolves the curriculum and resources based on research to provide elementary educators with the very best tools to help students learn to read.

For additional information on Heggerty, visit: https://heggerty.org/

About LXD Research

LXD Research is an independent evaluation, research, and consulting division within Charles River Media. We focus on building and communicating evidence for educational programs. We conduct rigorous research studies, integrate multifaceted data analytic reporting, and design dynamic content to disseminate insights. Visit www.LXDResearch.com.

Media Contact

Kara Barten

Senior Manager, Product MarketingHeggerty

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Heggerty
RENO, Nev., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- New Rise Renewables, a cutting-edge renewable energy company, announces the inauguration of its new 3200 barrel-per-day renewable sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility located at the Reno-Tahoe Industrial Complex in Storey County, Nevada. This facility, situated on a 10-acre parcel at 611 Peru Drive, McCarran NV 89436, is nearly through the conversion of its existing renewable diesel plant as part of a groundbreaking effort to revolutionize the aviation industry by producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

New Rise Renewables, a cutting-edge renewable energy company, announces the inauguration of its new 3200 barrel-per-day renewable sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility located at the Reno-Tahoe Industrial Complex in Storey County, Nevada.

Scheduled to commence SAF production in the summer of 2024, New Rise Renewables' facility is designed to play a pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions from the aviation sector, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fossil-based jet fuels. As the demand for sustainable aviation fuel continues to rise, estimating the need for over 3 billion gallons per year by 2030, New Rise Renewables is committed to decarbonizing the aviation industry while supporting American agriculture.

Key Features of the New Rise Renewables Facility:

Location: The facility is strategically located within the largest industrial complex in the United States , the Reno-Tahoe Industrial Complex (TRIC).

The facility is strategically located within the largest industrial complex in , the Reno-Tahoe Industrial Complex (TRIC). Infrastructure: The newly constructed facility boasts a range of state-of-the-art features, including a 16-car heated rail spur, over 5 million gallons of tankage, co-generation, off-gas energy recovery, water recovery, and cutting-edge technologies for hydrotreating, hydrogen reformer, feedstock pretreatment, and wastewater treatment.

Randy Soule, CEO of New Rise Renewables, expressed enthusiasm about the venture, stating, "Our commitment to sustainability is unwavering, and we're thrilled to be at the forefront of the movement towards cleaner aviation fuels by driving production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)."

Soule's business partners, Bill Jones and Albert Mack added, "As the aviation sector undergoes a transformative shift towards sustainable practices, New Rise Renewables is proud to be a catalyst for change, driving innovation and promoting a greener future for air travel."

New Rise Renewables' entrance into the production of sustainable aviation fuel marks a pioneering effort in the industry. The company aims to support the growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives in aviation while contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, visit https://newriserenew.com.

ABOUT NEW RISE RENEWABLES

New Rise Renewables is a leading renewable energy company dedicated to developing sustainable solutions for the transportation industry. Committed to environmental stewardship and innovation, New Rise Renewables focuses on producing renewable drop-in fuels to reduce carbon emissions and promote a more sustainable future. The New Rise facility is built on a 10-acre parcel located within the largest industrial complex in the US (TRIC) at 611 Peru Drive, McCarran NV 89436. The newly constructed infrastructure includes a 16-car heated rail spur, over 5 million gallons of tankage, co-generation, off gas energy recovery, water recovery, and all state-of-the-art proven technologies for hydrotreating, hydrogen reformer, feedstock pretreatment and waste-water treatment.

Media Contact:

Megan Fazio, Neon PR Studios

702-673-0667

[email protected]

SOURCE New Rise Renewables
COVINGTON, Ky., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Commonwealth Hotels, a Covington, Kentucky-based hotel management company, proudly announced that the DoubleTree Hilton opened its doors at the Greensboro Airport to show off its newly renovated hotel. Formally the Holiday Inn, the rebranding will serve as the newest addition to the Hilton family of brands, and the Hilton Honors loyalty program. The hotel is owned by SMP Greensboro LLC which is a part of the Scale My Portfolio group which partners with retail investors to buy Commercial real estate assets such as hotels and Apartment communities around the country.

Opening Team at the Doubletree Greensboro Airport

The 196-room property underwent a complete renovation, including all guestrooms and guest corridors, the lobby, restaurants and bar, meeting room, and pre-function space. The property is within minutes of the Piedmont Triad International Airport, Big Tree Way Park, and Greensboro Coliseum. The hotel offers a shuttle service, large event space, and on-site dining.

"As the general manager of our newly opened hotel, I am thrilled to welcome guests to our area."Said Michael Ratcliff, general manager. "Positioned in the heart of Greensboro, this hotel has remarkable potential and will deliver travelers best in class service and genuine hospitality."

Upon arrival, guests are greeted with the signature Doubletree cookie, a warm welcome that sets the tone for a memorable stay. Modern amenities and exceptional service further enhance the guest experience. The hotel is located at 6426 Burnt Poplar Road, Greensboro, North Carolina.

About Commonwealth Hotels

Commonwealth Hotels was founded in 1986 and is a proven partner in providing hotel management services with superior financial results. The company has extensive experience managing premium branded full-service and select-service hotels. Additional information may be found at www.commonwealthhotels.com.

About Scale My Portfolio

Scale My Portfolio has been involved in over $400mm of Commercial Real Estate transactions across 16 properties over the past 10+ years. The company has over 650 investors who it partners with to invest in assets such as hotels and apartment communities and it offers investors above average returns for investing passively in these assets. Additional Information can be found at www.ScaleMyPortfolio.com

Contact

Barbara E. Willen

Commonwealth Hotels, LLC

[email protected]

859.392-2254

SOURCE Commonwealth Hotels, Inc.
Industry pioneers from across the broader open networking & edge ecosystem to keynote ONE Summit, April 29 - May 1 in San Jose, Calif.

Deep-dive on adjacent project & ecosystem technology with Co-located Events & Mini Summits including the US Government's OpenGovCon and the new Executive Innovation Forum

Additional Keynotes from Google, Walmart, Verizon, Zedada focusing on the latest in AI, LLM, Cloud Native and more

SAN FRANCISCO, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LF Networking (LFN), the de-facto collaboration ecosystem for Open Source Networking projects, has announced the final keynote line-up for Open Networking and Edge (ONE) Summit 2024 , taking place April 29 - May 1 in San Jose, Calif. ONE Summit has evolved into a robust, cross-industry ecosystem gathering of collaborative discussions within the broader networking and edge space, with a focus on the next phase of innovation.

ONE Summit 2024 happens April 29-May 1 in San Jose, CA

"We are thrilled to welcome such esteemed speakers and presentations to the ONE Summit stage," said Arpit Joshipura, general manager, Networking, Edge and IoT, at the Linux Foundation. "Leaders representing telcos, cloud providers, internet platforms, SIs, government, and more will share the latest innovations towards digital transformation."

Keynote topics include the latest innovations through an open source lens, including AI, Cloud Automation, Government, Enterprise, Edge, APIs and more, presented by global leaders paving the way in real time.

Additional keynotes include:

"Future of Networks: AI-Driven Network Transformation," featuring Ankur Jain , vice president, Google Cloud, & Kandan Kathirvel , Group Product Manager, Google Cloud

featuring , vice president, Google Cloud, & , Group Product Manager, Google Cloud " Revolutionizing Connectivity: Unleashing the Potential of Network APIs," featuring Alicia Miller , Global Industry Development Lead, Verizon

featuring , Global Industry Development Lead, Verizon "Powering the Industrial Edge with Open Source Software," featuring Michael Maxey , vice president of Business Development at ZEDEA and chair of the LF Edge Board; and Manish Jain , Product Portfolio leader, Edge and AI Applications, Rockwell Automation

featuring , vice president of Business Development at ZEDEA and chair of the LF Edge Board; and , Product Portfolio leader, Edge and AI Applications, Rockwell Automation "Leveraging Open Source for Operational Excellence at Scale," featuring Dave Temkin , vice president, Platform Infrastructure, Walmart

The initial keynote lineup, announced earlier this year , includes industry pioneers such as Radia Perlman, Dell EMC Fellow; Martin Casado, general partner, Andreessen Horowitz ; Jan Uddenfelt, president and CEO, jUTechnology; Dr. Junlan Feng, Chair and General Manager of AI and Intelligent, Operation R&D Center, China Mobile Research Institute; and more.

Co-located Events & Mini Summits

ONE Summit features a series of Co-Located Events and Mini Summits, designed to dive deeper into related ecosystem topics. This year's line-up includes:

Executive Innovation Forum, the Linux Foundation's new invitation-only think tank event brings leaders and visionaries together in an intimate setting for stimulating dialogue on the state of all things open, where attendees can influence the leaders and be influenced by other leaders, all working to shape industry strategy for 2024 and beyond.

the Linux Foundation's new invitation-only think tank event brings leaders and visionaries together in an intimate setting for stimulating dialogue on the state of all things open, where attendees can influence the leaders and be influenced by other leaders, all working to shape industry strategy for 2024 and beyond. OpenGovCon: 6G Innovation Day will highlight the threats facing 6G design and implementations, public digital infrastructure and provide real word/practical examples of putting the regulatory and best practices examples by the US government and LF Networking, into production.

will highlight the threats facing 6G design and implementations, public digital infrastructure and provide real word/practical examples of putting the regulatory and best practices examples by the US government and LF Networking, into production. SONiC Workshop will feature the latest developments of SONiC from industry experts including innovations in NOS management, improvements in routing, software-defined networking, and system design.

will feature the latest developments of SONiC from industry experts including innovations in NOS management, improvements in routing, software-defined networking, and system design. O-RAN-SC Workshop focuses on how O-RAN-SC, in collaboration with other open source initiatives such as OAI, Nephio, ONAP, etc, are building open source reference designs which can be tested and retested over the course of product development to accelerate commercialization.

focuses on how O-RAN-SC, in collaboration with other open source initiatives such as OAI, Nephio, ONAP, etc, are building open source reference designs which can be tested and retested over the course of product development to accelerate commercialization. LF Networking Developer & Testing Forum brings together LFN project developers and partners to strategize on project architecture, direction, use cases, and deployment paths to plan the future of open networking across the stack.

Attend ONE Summit

Thank you to our Summit sponsors , including Platinum sponsor ZEDEDA and Gold sponsor Fujitsu .

ONE Summit registration is open! Members of LF Networking and LF Edge may receive a 20 percent discount (if interested in project membership, please visit https://lfnetworking.org/join/ or https://lfedge.org/members/join/ ).

Members of the media interested in attending ONE Summit via a complimentary press pass should reach out to [email protected] .

About The Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation is the organization of choice for the world's top developers and companies to build ecosystems that accelerate open technology development and industry adoption. Together with the worldwide open source community, it is solving the hardest technology problems by creating the largest shared technology investment in history. Founded in 2000, The Linux Foundation today provides tools, training and events to scale any open source project, which together deliver an economic impact not achievable by any one company. More information can be found at www.linuxfoundation.org .

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage .

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Jill Lovato

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE LF Networking
Being recognized as a top female founder motivates me to continue pushing boundaries to merge tech and the outdoors. Post this

"Being recognized as a top female founder motivates me to continue pushing the boundaries in merging the outdoors and technology," said Young. "At Outdoorsy, we are building the most holistic outdoor travel marketplace in the world by opening access to our most valuable shared resource: the outdoors. We have only started to scratch the surface of the tremendous opportunity in front of us, to own the $1 trillion outdoor travel market."

Building Outdoorsy From the Ground Up

In 2015, burned out by corporate life, fluorescent lights, and windowless rooms, Young co-founded Outdoorsy. Her goal? To provide everyone a way to reconnect with what matters most in life: themselves, friends and family, and the wellness benefits of time spent with nature.

"I wanted to restore people's relationship with the outdoors by building something that was less of a company and more of a community  a purpose and value-driven force for good," said Young. "By leaning into the sharing economy, we've given people life-long memories and helped RV owners enjoy a newfound source of financial freedom."

Outdoorsy, known by its flagship platform outdoorsy.com  a vibrant marketplace for RVs, campervans, and motorhome rentals  has recently added outdoor accommodations and campground offerings. The marketplace is strategically underpinned by Roamly, an insurtech product which provides all the safety and insurance protections needed for outdoor travel.

In June 2023, the company celebrated more than 7 million nights of booked travel and will exceed $3b in gross revenue in the summer of 2024.

"The past year, for many, will go down as one of the hardest ever  between a funding freeze and ad-spending pull back," said Inc.'s Executive Editor Diana Ransom. "The female founders on this year's list are a testament to what triumph over adversity looks like. They should all be proud of this singular accomplishment."

Empowering Entrepreneurs

Outdoorsy provides hosts, thousands of whom are like-minded female entrepreneurs, with the opportunity to combine their passion and interests with starting their first business. While the Total Entrepreneurial Activity rate for women in the U.S. stands at just 15%, Outdoorsy doubles that rate, with 30% of its hosts identifying as women.

"The relationships I have with other female business owners in the outdoor industry have already gifted me with incredible listening and learning opportunities  and it's a direct result of those candid conversations that I've had the courage to build a generational brand in the outdoor space," Young said. "Approaching year 10 as a founder, I am even more committed to mentoring other aspiring female business leaders."

Looking Forward

Amidst one of the harshest climates for startups seen in 20 years, Young's leadership focused on building great teams that helped complete the guest journey from booking travel to staying in some of the world's most epic outdoor destinations.

"Last year we took the bold step to venture beyond a digital-only marketplace to offer physical experiences, debuting Outdoorsy-owned campgrounds in Yosemite California, Bayfield Colorado and a luxury glamping retreat in the Texas Hill Country," Young said. "The founder's journey never ends, and I've learned that it takes the same humility and hard work to build the next thing as it took to build the first thing. Nothing beats the lessons of building something from the ground up!"

Young joins the ranks of previous honorees including Jessica Alba, Allyson Felix, Eva Longoria, Rebecca Minkoff, Tracee Ellis Ross, Rihanna, and Shonda Rhimes.

To see the complete list, go to: www.inc.com/female-founders.

About the Award

Each year, Inc. editors review thousands of applications highlighting female founders who are challenging the status quo and tackling some of the world's biggest problems. The list features women who have overcome challenges and lifted those around them, while leading impactful organizations across the country.

Social media links

Outdoorsy: @outdoorsy

Outdoorsy Hill Country: @outdoorsyhillcountry

About Outdoorsy

Outdoorsy transformed access to the outdoors with the launch of its RV rental marketplace in 2015, and expanded to offer marketplace insurance in 2018. Today, Outdoorsy's partnership with its hosts has resulted in over 7 million travel days through RV rentals that are available in 4,800 cities across North America. Outdoorsy's marketplace, insurance, and retreats provide life-changing financial benefits for RV hosts and retreat communities and offer guests the trust and guidance they need to enjoy memorable rustic travel experiences. Outdoorsy's team is inspired by a mission to restore our relationship with the outdoors and each other by inviting guests to Live Outdoorsy.

About Inc.

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning, multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion among the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

Media Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE Outdoorsy
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantiphi , an award-winning AI-first digital engineering company today announced it was named 2024 Google Cloud Partner of the Year in three distinguished categories for its commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions and driving innovation for customers across the globe.

Google Cloud honored Quantiphi with the following awards:

Public Sector Partner of the Year for North America - US Education

- US Education Services Partner of the Year for North America

Specialization Partner of the Year for Contact Center AI (CCAI)

Quantiphi Co-Founder Asif Hasan said he is grateful and excited to receive three Google Cloud Partner of the Year category awards, emphasizing that this recognition is a testament to Quantiphi's unwavering commitment to harness the power of data and AI to solve critical challenges faced by enterprises.

"We are deeply honored and motivated by this unprecedented achievement of winning three Google Cloud Partner of the Year category awards in a single year," Hasan said. "This acknowledgment fuels our passion to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation through our collaboration with Google Cloud. Our team remains dedicated to delivering transformative solutions across both commercial and public sector clients. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Google Cloud for recognizing our efforts and the positive impact we strive to make for our valued clients."

Quantiphi Global Head of Google Cloud, Saurabh Mishra said the recognition underpins Quantiphi's passion for transforming enterprise operations with AI solutions through the power of Google Cloud products.

"Together, with Google Cloud, we are driving tangible business outcomes," Mishra said. "We are proud to help our mutual customers move from conceptualization to implementation and address their most pressing enterprise needs. We are incredibly grateful for this recognition."

"Google Cloud's Partner Awards celebrate the transformative impact and value that partners have delivered for customers," said Kevin Ichhpurani, Corporate Vice President, Global Ecosystem and Channels at Google Cloud. "We're proud to announce Quantiphi as a 2024 Google Cloud Partner Award winner and recognize their achievements enabling customer success from the past year."

Learn more about Quantiphi's work with Google Cloud and the combined AI capabilities here .

About Quantiphi

Quantiphi is an award-winning AI-first digital engineering company driven by the desire to reimagine and realize transformational opportunities at the heart of the business. Since its inception in 2013, Quantiphi has solved the toughest and most complex business problems by combining deep industry experience, disciplined cloud and data-engineering practices, and cutting-edge artificial intelligence research to achieve accelerated and quantifiable business results. Learn more at www.quantiphi.com and follow us on Linkedin , X, formerly Twitter and Instagram .

Media Contact:

Hadley Mayes

Quantiphi

[email protected]

SOURCE Quantiphi
Leading national anti-violence organization based in Harrisburg will host series of events on April 10th for "Building Connected Communities" campaign

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Respect Together, formerly the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, will be hosting a series of events on Wednesday, April 10th, in commemoration of the 23rd annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaign. For the past 23 years, Respect Together's national division, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), has coordinated the theme, materials, and campaign for SAAM each April. This year's theme, "Building Connected Communities," focuses on the crucial role of inclusive, equitable, and connected communities in preventing sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.

The series of events will kick off on the evening of April 9th with lighting the PA State Capitol Building teal, the color that represents sexual violence prevention. On the morning of April 10th, Respect Together's state division, the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR), will gather advocates from across the Commonwealth to advocate for survivors of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment and call for an increase in state funding for rape crisis centers. PCAR's Advocacy Day will give the opportunity for state legislatures and leaders to hear directly from survivors and staff from sexual assault service providers about the devasting impact of level funding from the Commonwealth as well as cuts to Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding.

Following Advocacy Day at the PA Capitol, Respect Together will welcome guests to its Riverfront Office from 2 to 4 p.m. for an informal meet-and-greet with staff. Respect Together's three-floored building at 2101 North Front Street, Building Two, houses the organization's national and state divisions, including its extensive library collection, the world's largest specialized collection of resources on sexual violence. Visitors will be offered tours of the building, and past SAAM campaign materials and resources will be on display.

"This year's 'Building Connected Communities' theme created the perfect opportunity for us to open our doors to our local community," said Respect Together CEO Yolanda Edrington. "Respect Together has been leading efforts in the state for nearly fifty years, and almost twenty-five years ago, we opened our national division, which is unique among its many Washington or New York City-based peers for being located in Central PA."

Edrington continued, "For too long, we've been one of the area's best-kept secrets, a leading national organization working to end sexual abuse, assault, and harassment tucked amongst the many local and statewide agencies in Harrisburg. We want our neighbors to know who we are, we want them to know Respect Together is here to be a resource to our community just as we are providing our expertise across the U.S. and to countries around the globe."

On the evening of April 10th,the day's events will close out with an exclusive reception hosted at Historic King Mansion to mark SAAM and honor Respect Together's staff who have contributed decades of work in communities across Pennsylvania and throughout the country. The event will also serve as an official welcome to Yolanda Edrington, who became CEO in January.

This day of events will be the first series of high-profile events for the organization since rebranding and changing its name from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape last August.

ABOUT RESPECT TOGETHER

Together with its main divisions, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) and the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR), Respect Together supports survivors, promotes research, identifies best practices, and shapes public policy. Our mission is to disrupt inequity and mobilize service providers, communities, and leaders to create and uphold safe, equitable communities with a culture of respect for all people. Learn more: www.respecttogether.org.

SOURCE Respect Together
Leading Residential + Commercial Power Washing Franchise Appoints Franchise Veteran Ahead of Top-Secret Project

PHILADELPHIA, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rolling Suds, a leader in residential and commercial power washing for 30-plus years, announces the appointment of Jonathan (J.T.) Thiessen to Chief Development Officer. While this news marks the brand's first Chief Development Officer, it also represents a significant milestone in what promises to be a groundbreaking partnership between Thiessen and Rolling Suds' CEO and Owner, Aaron Harper.

Rolling Suds appoints J.T. Thiessen as its first-ever Chief Development Officer.

Harper and Thiessen have been working towards this partnership for years, both wanting to come together and positively impact the franchising landscape. While specific details regarding the partnership between the two industry leaders remain confidential, the eagerly anticipated project is already in progress, and the new business partners are slated to unveil further details during Q4 of this year.

J.T. Thiessen has been a significant figure in the franchise industry for over 20 years in several capacities, from Director of Franchise Development to Vice President of Franchise Licensing to his most recent position as Chief Development Officer at Home Franchise Concepts. After garnering a variety of opportunities due to his impressive reputation and extensive experience in the industry, Thiessen decided to join forces with Harper to spearhead a new top-secret project that the two have been conceptualizing for quite some time, dedicated to promoting Responsible Franchising. While the two work to execute this exciting project, Thiessen will serve as Chief Development Officer at Rolling Suds.

"I'm thrilled to finally be joining forces with Aaron to lead a transformative journey for the franchise industry," said Thiessen. "Together, we are not just embracing change; we're shaping it. Our new project embodies our shared vision of empowerment, resilience, and forward-thinking entrepreneurship. With a steadfast commitment to our ideals and a passion for innovation, we look forward to executing a project that goes beyond Rolling Suds and leaves a lasting impact on the franchising landscape and its future."

An advocate for Responsible Franchising, Harper has led Rolling Suds to rapid, yet sustainable growth in recent years. His guidelines for Responsible Franchising, which will be the core of his and Thiessen's new project, are to set clear expectations, ensure capital adequacy, choose the right franchisees and prioritize a sustainable growth strategy.

"At Rolling Suds, we've always been committed to excellence  in our services, our relationships, and our franchise opportunities," said Harper. "This partnership with J.T. has been a long time coming, and we're poised to take that commitment to the next level through our newest project. Together, we will continue to lead the industry with innovation, integrity, and unwavering dedication."

Rolling Suds is a proven business backed by more than 30-years of industry experience and knowledge. One of its key differentiators is the quality and process of the service itself, and ability to complete jobs two to three times more quickly. Rolling Suds has a proprietary cleaning process which utilizes high-quality materials and a specific dilution of soaps within their wash method. With state-of-the-art equipment and highly trained professionals, Rolling Suds is a sustainable business with the ability to invest back into itself.

The Rolling Suds brand and franchise is built on three core elements  relationships, reputation and reliability  and each are applicable to both consumers and franchisees. Having unparalleled experience in such an unregulated industry, Rolling Suds franchisees will be able to differentiate themselves from competitors through a recession-resistant business model. The business support that franchisees receive is immense, including a nine-week interactive power launch training program, one week in person training, six months of lead generation, digital and marketing needs handled, technician training, among many other essential business aspects are provided. It's truly a complete business in a box.

For more information on the Rolling Suds franchise opportunity, visit rollingsudsfranchise.com/get-started.

ABOUT ROLLING SUDS:

Rolling Suds is the premier franchise in power washing, bringing unparalleled standards to an unregulated industry. The company, founded more than 30 years ago, has helped more than 200,000 residential and commercial customers while building a great reputation by hiring the best people, using the best equipment, and providing the best experience in the industry. Anchored by years of unmatched results, Rolling Suds aims to make power washing one less thing to worry about for customers across the U.S. by expanding into new markets.

SOURCE Rolling Suds
STOCKHOLM, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sandvik has signed an agreement to acquire Almu Prazisions-Werkzeug GmbH (Almu), a Germany-based cutting tools and solutions provider within high-precision drilling, reaming, milling and tooling systems. With the acquisition of Almu, Sandvik will strengthen its offering towards lightweight components in the automotive segment, an area which is increasing in importance due to the shift towards electric vehicles. The company will be reported in Sandvik Coromant, a division within Sandvik Manufacturing and Machining Solutions.

"Strengthening our position within lightweight materials is one of the key priorities within Sandvik. We have had good progress and made several acquisitions in this area over the past two years, and I am very pleased that we through the acquisition of Almu continue to execute on our strategy," says Stefan Widing, President and CEO of Sandvik.

Almu has a strong market position within the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and a solid customer base in the automotive segment. Utilizing its advanced engineering competence and application knowledge for aluminum and lightweight material, Almu provides tailor-made precision tool solutions and services to the machining industry.

Almu was founded in 1978, has 44 employees, and is headquartered in Zell unter Aichelberg, Germany. In 2022, the company generated revenues of about approximately 6 MEUR. The impact on Sandvik's EBITA margin and earnings per share will be limited. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2024 and is subject to customary closing conditions. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

Stockholm, April 9, 2024

Sandvik AB

For further information, contact Louise Tjeder, VP Investor relations, phone: +46 (0) 70782 6374 or Johannes Hellstrom, Press and Media Relations Manager, phone: +46 (0) 70721 1008.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/sandvik/r/sandvik-to-acquire-germany-based-almu--a-solutions-provider-for-aluminum-machining,c3958509

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/208/3958509/2719297.pdf Sandvik to acquire Germany-based Almu, a solutions provider for aluminum machining

SOURCE Sandvik
Expands Firm's Health Care and FDA Policy and Legislative Capabilities

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stephen Holland, former senior health counsel on the Committee on Energy & Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives, has joined Crowell & Moring, bringing more than a decade of legislative experience on Capitol Hill.

Crowell & Moring senior counsel Stephen Holland

In his role as senior counsel, Holland oversaw health matters for Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., the former chair and current ranking member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee. Prior to his service on the Energy & Commerce Committee, Holland was counsel to Rep. Kurt Schrader of Oregon. Throughout his tenure on Capitol Hill, he focused on improved food, drug, and medical device innovation and regulation at the Food and Drug Administration.

"Stephen brings instant credibility and gravitas in the health care and FDA arenas," said James G. Flood, co-chair of Crowell & Moring's Government Affairs Group and former counsel to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "He enhances our ability to provide a 360-degree perspective to our clients because he has firsthand knowledge of how health care legislation and policy are made and the levers of Congress work."

As a senior counsel in Crowell's Government Affairs Group, Holland will advise clients on public policy initiatives coming out of Congress and on federal regulations impacting the health care industry, especially in the medical device, vaccine, distributor, and pharmaceutical sectors, including companies seeking FDA approval.

Holland will work closely with Tyler O'Connor, who also served on the House Energy & Commerce Committee as energy counsel, to provide timely insights on actions coming out of the committee. He will also collaborate with members of the Health Care Group and Crowell Health Solutions, the firm's strategic health care consulting firm.

"Health care is one of the key pillars of our government affairs practice and Stephen's time on Capitol Hill, combined with his relationships on both sides of the aisle, will be a great value-add for our clients," said Aaron C. Cummings, co-chair of Crowell's Government Affairs Group and former chief of staff to Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

Holland has been involved in most of the major health care issues and legislation in the U.S. Congress during the Trump and Biden administrations, including leading the negotiations and drafting of the Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act of 2022 and the reauthorization of FDA user fees. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked to secure billions of dollars for research, development, distribution, and promotion of vaccines, treatment, and diagnostic tests in the CARES Act, the Fiscal Year 2021 Omnibus, and the American Rescue Plan Act.

"I was drawn to Crowell & Moring because it has a widely-respected, bipartisan government affairs group, as well as a leading health care regulatory practice, to complement the work that I will be doing for clients," Holland said. "With new and ever-changing regulation around drug pricing, artificial intelligence, clinical trials, and supply chain sustainability, I look forward to advising clients on how to navigate the halls of Congress and the executive branch."

About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring is an international law firm with operations in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia. Drawing on significant government, business, industry and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and corporate and transactional issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service as well as its programs and initiatives to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Media Contact:

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Crowell & Moring LLP
NEW YORK, April 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global sleep apnea implants market size is on a trajectory of growth, driven by a convergence of factors including the escalating prevalence of respiratory disorders and a heightened awareness of the benefits of implants. Forecasts predict a substantial increase with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.56% between 2022 and 2027, amounting to an estimated market size surge of 282,442.79 thousand.

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Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Sleep Apnea Implants Market 2023-2027

The rise in sleep-related ailments, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), underscores the urgent need for effective solutions. Innovations such as the Inspire Medical System aim to alleviate symptoms by restoring natural breathing mechanisms and ensuring adequate oxygen flow during sleep. Despite challenges such as high costs and regulatory constraints, demand remains robust, fueled by a growing recognition of implants' efficacy in addressing these issues.

Key drivers of market expansion include the increasing prevalence of respiratory disorders and a surge in demand for personalized treatment options. Undiagnosed or untreated sleep apnea can lead to severe complications like heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive disorders, further emphasizing the importance of effective interventions.

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Market dynamics also reflect a rising awareness of sleep disorders, with various non-profit organizations and key companies conducting awareness campaigns. Additionally, technological advancements like hypoglossal neurostimulation devices and inspire therapy are driving market growth, along with the availability of better insurance coverage for treatment.

However, regulatory challenges pose significant hurdles to market growth, with manufacturers navigating complex compliance requirements across different regions. Despite these obstacles, companies are implementing strategies such as strategic alliances, partnerships, and product launches to enhance their market presence.

The market landscape includes major players like Asahi Kasei Corp., Koninklijke Philips NV, and ResMed Inc., among others, who are driving innovation and shaping the competitive landscape through collaborations and product developments.

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Regionally, North America is expected to contribute significantly to market growth, driven by factors such as new product launches and favorable reimbursement policies. Technological advancements and rising regulatory approvals are further fueling market expansion in the region.

In conclusion, the global sleep apnea implants market is poised for significant growth, driven by the imperative to address the escalating prevalence of sleep-related disorders. With ongoing research and innovation, coupled with increased awareness, the market is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of individuals grappling with respiratory health challenges.

Market Overview

The Sleep Apnea Implants Market is witnessing remarkable growth due to increased awareness of sleep-related disorders in the adult American population. With fatal accidents and health-related complications linked to sleep deprivation disorders like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), demand for advanced treatments is rising. Technologies such as Inspire Therapy, a hypoglossal nerve stimulation implant by Inspire Medical System, offer promising solutions. These implants target the hypoglossal nerve to improve airway function during sleep, alleviating symptoms such as disturbed sleep and sleepiness. Despite high costs, technological advancements and stringent government regulations drive development. Clinical studies published in journals like Lancet Respiratory Medicine highlight their efficacy in treating moderate to severe sleep apnea, reducing risks of cardiovascular conditions like hypertension, stroke, and atherosclerosis. As the healthcare ecosystem integrates innovative treatments, the Sleep Apnea Implants Market continues to expand, enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life.

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Related Reports:

The Sleeping Aids Market size is estimated to grow by USD 36,416.19 million between 2022 and 2027 accelerating at a CAGR of 6.79%.

The sleeping pods market is expected to increase to USD 29.59 million from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 5.34%.

About US

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.

Contact

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
NEW YORK, April 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global smartphone power management ic market size is estimated to grow by USD 5.37 bn from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 7.14% during the forecast period. The Smartphone Power Management IC market experiences growth due to increasing smartphone usage for social media, video streaming, and gaming. Faster 4G/5G networks and high Internet penetration boost data traffic. Key components include motor control ICs, low voltage regulators, and automation ICs. OEMs and ODMs integrate these semiconductor ICs into consumer electronics, automotive, and IoT devices, addressing battery life concerns in portable gadgets like smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. Additionally, the market is influenced by chip production, renewable energy, and data center developments.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Smartphone Power Management IC Market 2024-2028

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Smartphone Power Management IC Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.14% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 5.37 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 5.86 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 76% Key countries US, Canada, China, South Korea, and Japan Key companies profiled Analog Devices Inc., Infineon Technologies AG, MagnaChip Semiconductor Corp., MediaTek Inc., Microchip Technology Inc., Nisshinbo Holdings Inc., NXP Semiconductors NV, ON Semiconductor Corp., Qorvo Inc., Qualcomm Inc., Renesas Electronics Corp., Richtek Technology Corp., ROHM Co. Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Semtech Corp., STMicroelectronics International NV, Texas Instruments Inc., Toshiba Corp., and Diodes Inc.

Segment Overview

This smartphone power management ic market report extensively covers market segmentation by Price (Premium range, Medium range, Low range) Type (Integrated ASSP power management ICs, Battery management ICs, Others) Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, South America)

Market segmentation by Price

The Smartphone Power Management IC Market experiences significant growth due to the increasing complexity of power management requirements in consumer electronic devices, particularly in smartphones. Integrated ASSP PMICs offer comprehensive solutions, integrating functions such as voltage regulation, battery charging, power sequencing, and energy management into a single chip. This streamlines design complexity, reduces bill of materials costs, and enhances system efficiency. With the rise of next-gen mobile networks like 4G and 5G, the demand for efficient power management increases. Additionally, the integration process extends to motor control ICs and low voltage regulators, enabling automation in various electronic systems. The market also caters to the power management needs of connected devices, mobile services, automotive, telecom & networking, and renewable energy sectors. The semiconductor industry faces challenges like chip shortage and heat dissipation in chip production, impacting the production and availability of power management ICs for gadgets like smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, IoT devices, wearable electronics, electric vehicles, and data centers.

Geography Overview

The Smartphone Power Management IC Market in APAC is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing popularity of portable electronics, including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and IoT devices, in countries like China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Major manufacturers, such as Samsung Electronics, Huawei Technologies, ZTE, OPPO, Xiaomi, and LG Electronics, are driving this growth through the development and introduction of advanced features like triple-lens cameras, AI, virtual assistants, fingerprint sensors, and facial recognition. As the focus on energy efficiency continues, renewable energy sources like solar and wind power are being integrated into data centers and data processing for improved energy efficiency. Voltage regulators and battery management ICs, including precision and programmable voltage references, are essential semiconductor components for managing electrical power flow and ensuring voltage safety and monitoring in battery-operated devices like cell phones and electric vehicles (EVs). The integration process also includes motor control ICs, low voltage regulators, and automation for machine power and travel bans on consumer electronic devices and connected devices utilizing mobile services and next-gen mobile networks, such as 4G and 5G.

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The smartphone market relies heavily on power management ICs for integrating multiple features and minimizing semiconductor size. These ICs, combined with power semiconductors, improve efficiency, reduce losses, and save board space. With semiconductors in the 10nm-20nm range, power management ICs are crucial for battery-operated devices like smartphones, tablets, and wearables, as well as EVs, renewable energy systems, and data centers.

The smartphone power management IC market experiences complexity due to the integration of multiple functions, including storage, data security, energy efficiency, and voltage regulators, in miniaturized electronic components. Power management ICs facilitate electrical power flow, voltage safety, and heat dissipation in battery-operated devices, such as cell phones, through precision and programmable voltage references, battery management ICs, and motor control ICs. This market caters to consumer electronics, automotive, telecom & networking, and ODM/OEM industries, addressing the demands for energy efficiency, machine power, and next-gen mobile networks.

Insights on Market Drivers, trends, & Challenges, historic period(2018 - 2022) and forecast period(2024-2028)- Request a sample report!

Research Analysis

The Smartphone Power Management IC Market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing demand for portable electronics, including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and IoT devices. These battery-operated gadgets require efficient power management to ensure extended battery life and optimal performance. Power Management ICs (PMICs) play a crucial role in managing electrical power flow and implementing power controls in these devices. PMICs integrate various functions such as voltage safety, voltage monitoring, heat dissipation, and semiconductor components to ensure efficient power usage. They are essential for machine power and consumer electronic devices, especially those that are connected and rely on mobile services and next-gen mobile networks like 4G and 5G. Motor control ICs and low voltage regulators are also important components of PMICs, contributing to the overall integration process. The market for Smartphone Power Management ICs is expected to continue growing as the demand for advanced, battery-operated devices increases.

Market Research Overview

The Smartphone Power Management IC market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing demand for efficient power consumption in mobile devices. The market consists of various players, including Analog Devices, Texas Instruments, and Dialog Semiconductor. These companies provide Power Management ICs (PMICs) that regulate voltage levels, manage battery charging, and control power consumption in smartphones. The use of advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning in power management systems is also driving market growth. Additionally, the integration of various sensors and features in smartphones necessitates the use of more power-hungry components, making power management ICs an essential component. The market is expected to continue its upward trend, with a CAGR of 7.5% from 2021 to 2028.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Price

Premium Range



Medium Range



Low Range

Type

Integrated ASSP Power Management ICs



Battery Management ICs



Others

Geography

APAC



North America



Europe



Middle East And Africa



South America

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
The expansion aims to create over 100 local jobs, enhancing Spectrum's partnerships with NASA, DOD Prime Contractors, and its parent Ocutrx Technologies, Inc. in its mission to turn groundbreaking ideas into failure-proof products

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (Spectrum AMT), which has been a driving force in ISO 9000 precision electronics and assemblies manufacturing for over 25 years, today announced a significant expansion of its operations in Colorado Springs, thanks, in part, to the support and encouragement from the Colorado Economic Development Commission and state and local governments. This collaboration highlights the commitment of both Spectrum AMT and the state and local governments of Colorado and Colorado Springs to fostering economic growth and supporting innovative business ventures. Spectrum AMT is owned by Ocutrx Technologies, Inc. the developer of the groundbreaking AR/XR medical device headsets: OcuLenz (for patients) and the ORLenz (for surgeons). Ocutrx was founded by brothers Michael H. and Mitchael C. Freeman, two Emmy Award-winning inventors. With the addition of two new buildings, the Spectrum AMT location will now be called the "Ocutrx-Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Campus."

Ocutrx - Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Campus

On February 15th, 2024, Ocutrx and Spectrum AMT received unanimous approval from the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC) Job Growth Incentive Tax Credits. This approval allocates $1,281,974 over eight years for the creation of up to 101 net new jobs.

"Colorado is a leader in advanced manufacturing, and Spectrum AMT will create over 100 new good-paying jobs in this important industry. We are thrilled to see Spectrum AMT expand in Colorado Springs and this new investment will help Colorado remain the best place to live, work and do business," said Governor Polis.

The Job Growth Incentive is related to the purchase of a new manufacturing complex, which will be modified to a 12,500 square feet site called the "Brig. Gen; Richard C and Gwendolyn Freeman Commercial Manufacturing Center" (the Freeman Center) which will house new ISO 8 Class 100,000 Optical Cleanrooms for the production of the OcuLenz and ORLenz AR/XR headsets and the StereoLenz "glasses-free" 3D monitors and is expected to create over 100 new local jobs. Brig. Gen. Richard C Freeman and Gwen were the Ocutrx founders' parents. Their father was a highly decorated USAF jet fighter pilot and entrepreneur who was afflicted with advanced macular degeneration (AMD), which led to the foundation of Ocutrx and the OcuLenz for AMD medical devices which correct for the condition.

"5Star Bank CEO Michael League and I are very excited to help with the financing of this business expansion and to share the incredible partnership we have between 5Star, Ocutrx Technologies, and Spectrum AMT," said Aileen Barrios, Executive Vice President of 5Star Bank. "Partnerships like these allow us to contribute to a Colorado future where innovation, dedication, and community drives us toward new frontiers in space exploration and the defense contracting industry."

"This expansion signifies a strategic response to the growing demand for Spectrum AMT's expertise in high-reliability electronics manufacturing and assembly," said Jeff Gilbert, Spectrum Chief Operating Officer. "We are deeply appreciative of our partnership with 5Star Bank and remain firmly committed to not only supporting critical industries like aerospace and defense but also contributing meaningfully to the advancement of technologies that shape the future, from space exploration and scientific discovery to addressing global medical challenges. We are proud to be part of a Colorado ecosystem that fosters innovation and economic growth, and we are excited to continue playing a vital role in Colorado Springs. This community has been instrumental in our beginning and continued success."

In addition to the newly purchased facility, the expansion will enlarge the facility's capacity by adding a 3,000-square-foot segregated cleanroom facility reserved for wiring and harnessing, called the "Deep Space Center". Wiring and harnessing for deep space often present special challenges that require ultra-care and cleanrooms to reduce the possibility of contamination on the metal wires which can grow in space. Even a small flake of a contaminant can cause a huge problem over time in a critical space wiring assembly. Likewise, odors and the potential for accidental magnetic field forming and other concerns must be eliminated. Spectrum AMT will consolidate all its wiring and harnessing into its new "Deeb Space" clean facility.

This growth reinforces the company's contributions to the aerospace, military, medical, enterprise and industrial sectors. Spectrum AMT has produced assemblies for the Goddard Space Flight Center for the Spitzer, Hubbell, James Webb, and now the Roman Space telescopes. The company's electronic assemblies have been on NASA's DART Double Asteroid Redirection Test, the Parker Solar Probe, NASA's mission to touch the sun, and the Psyche Mission, NASA's first mission to use laser communications instead of radio frequencies, just launched last October for which Spectrum provided the switching electronics.

"I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Spectrum AMT on their continued investment and expansion in Colorado Springs. As a leader in medical, commercial, and defense technology, Spectrum AMT's expansion will bring with it a wave of exciting opportunities," said Mayor of Colorado Springs, Yemi Mobolade. "Their decision to expand here is a testament to our City's skilled workforce and vibrant business environment. Furthermore, it showcases the incredible potential of Colorado Springs as a city for business retention, growth, and advancement. We look forward to continuing our partnership long into the future with their groundbreaking AR/XR technology that will continue to bring high-paying jobs and millions of economic investments into our community."

"El Paso County is thrilled to welcome Spectrum AMT's expansion, supported by the Enterprise Zone Tax Credits program, which offers them over $250,000 in financial incentives for innovation and growth. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to job creation and economic growth and enriches our community and business landscape. Spectrum AMT's expansion also marks a significant addition to our region by ensuring technological advancements and local employment opportunities. We look forward to Spectrum AMT's contributions towards our collective goal of a thriving, dynamic El Paso County," said Commissioner Cami Bremer, Chairwoman of the Board of El Paso County Commissioners.

"Colorado Springs is recognized around the world for our talented workforce, cutting-edge technology, and quality of life, which supports business innovation and growth," said Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President and CEO of Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. "Spectrum AMT will bring hundreds of well-paying, high-tech manufacturing jobs to our region, boosting our local businesses and the economy, supporting national security missions, and solidifying the Pikes Peak region's competitive standing as a sought-after place to live, work, and play."

Moreover, the expansion will not only enhance Spectrum AMT's aerospace and spaceflight manufacturing capabilities but also dedicate additional space and new Optics Labs for the production of OcuLenz , a headset developed by its parent company, Ocutrx Technologies. This innovative assistive technology, designed to aid vision for patients with advanced macular degeneration, represents a transformative solution for the millions of Americans affected by this condition. Its sister headset, the ORLenz, provides 3D digital imaging for surgeons. Ocutrx also has a cinematic-quality A.R. headset for the enterprise and military. Each version of the AR/XR headset represents the "next-level" in AR/XR and A.I. Recognized for its impact and innovation, OcuLenz was a runner-up in the 2023 Coolest Things Made in Colorado contest and was named to Fast Company's List of the Next Big Things in Tech . Its manufacturing in Colorado Springs further cements the state's reputation as a center for advanced manufacturing and technology development, marking a significant advancement in medical and assistive technology manufacturing.

About Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Inc.

Based in Colorado Springs, Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. (Spectrum AMT), led by Chief Operations Officer Jeff Gilbert, specializes in high-reliability microelectronic circuits and electronic assemblies for aerospace, military, medical, and industrial sectors. With a 25-year legacy of transforming groundbreaking ideas into failure-proof products, Spectrum AMT is committed to setting industry standards for innovation, precision, and "never-fail" reliability. Notable projects include contributions to the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover and partnerships with NASA and the U.S. Air Force. Spectrum AMT currently employs a significant workforce in Colorado Springs, with the expansion set to create over 100 jobs across various departments. Spectrum has a new "Come work with us!" campaign. For a detailed list of open positions and to apply, please visit our LinkedIn page. For an in-depth look at our expansion and to explore visuals, including renderings of the new space, please access our digital press kit here. Learn more at SpectrumAMT.com .

About Ocutrx Technologies, Inc.

Ocutrx Technologies, Inc., anchored in the US and Europe, leads in AR/XR and 3D visualization, expanding its horizons across various industries. Founded by Michael and Mitch Freeman, two Emmy Award Winning Inventors of mobile video in the 1990s, the company emerged from a passion to tackle the adversities of Advanced Macular Degeneration. Their groundbreaking OcuLenz headset corrects vision for patients with Advanced Macular Degeneration for better vision and life quality. Complementing this, Ocutrx's OR-Bot 3D Surgical Visualization Theatre sets new benchmarks in surgical methodologies, offering surgeons unmatched resolution, cinematic quality magnification, and depth precision. In a significant acknowledgment of its innovative prowess, the DigiLoupe headset is the next phase in enhanced surgery holographic visualization. With the acquisition of Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Inc., Ocutrx became diversified across several industry sectors, including Healthcare, AR/XR, 3D Visualization & Microscopes, AI, Medical Devices, Aerospace, Spaceflight, and Defense. In 2023 Ocutrx was named to Fast Company's list of "Next Big Things in Tech," recognizing technological breakthroughs across industries that promise to transform the future. While its initial focus is on the ophthalmic sector, Ocutrx envisions catering to multiple patient and surgical arenas. Strengthening its position, Ocutrx recently acquired Spectrum AMT, an FDA-certified manufacturing facility, further bolstering its innovation capacities. Learn more at ocutrxtech.com.

About 5Star Bank

5Star Bank is a local, community-owned bank with a focus on helping the Colorado Springs Aerospace and Defense Division that supports DoD contractors working with the Army, Air Force, Navy, Space Force, and NASA. 5Star Bank is strongly capitalized, locally owned, and operated by Colorado investors, board of directors, and staff. With an entrepreneurial spirit, 5Star provides banking and financial solutions to businesses, their owners, families and employees in the Denver Metro and Colorado Springs markets.

Media Contact: Leigh Brandt | Lightspeed PR/M | [email protected]

SOURCE Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
Daniel Joins Sunwest with Over 30 Years of Banking Experience

SANDY, Utah, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunwest Bank is pleased to announce the addition of Darrell Daniel III as its new SVP, Director of Commercial Real Estate Lending. In this role, Daniel is responsible for leading the Investor CRE and Construction platform across the entire Western Footprint. Additionally, he will manage the division's client relationships and ensure the performance of the existing portfolio.

"We are thrilled to have Darrell join the Sunwest Bank team," expressed Chad Neubecker, Sunwest Bank EVP and Director of Real Estate Lending. "Darrell's profound expertise in commercial real estate is a significant addition to our team on the West Coast. Moreover, his extensive experience across various industries is poised to bring substantial benefits to our esteemed clients."

Daniel is responsible for leading the Investor CRE and Construction platform across the entire Western Footprint. Post this

Prior to joining Sunwest Bank, Daniel was the Head of Commercial Banking and CREF at Unify Financial Credit Union. During his time there, he was responsible for building and strengthening the banking team and doubling assets. Previously, he was the SVP, Director of Commercial Banking at Pacific Premier Bank, where he developed and managed a $350MM deposit and loan relationship portfolio. Prior to this, Daniel held other positions in banking, such as regional president, chief banking officer, managing director, and senior account executive.

Daniel holds a bachelor's degree in government and a minor in Business Administration from St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA.

"I am excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the Sunwest Bank team," said Darrell S. Daniel III , Sunwest Bank's Director of Commercial Real Estate Lending "I look forward to bringing my leadership, dedication and experience to the California Market while continuing to deliver a high level of customer experience to our customers."

To learn more about Sunwest Bank, visit https://www.sunwestbank.com/ .

About Sunwest Bank

Sunwest Bank, founded in 1969, is a privately held commercial bank with nearly $3.0 Billion in assets. Sunwest Bank is headquartered in Utah, with operations in Arizona, California, Idaho, and Florida. We are an entrepreneurial solutions driven company with a long tradition of providing solid relationships and excellent service to entrepreneurs, privately held corporations, family offices, small businesses, and real estate developers throughout the United States. For information about Sunwest Bank and its full line of products and services, please visit www.sunwestbank.com.

Sunwest Bank is a Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.

SOURCE Sunwest Bank
"Clearwater Beach is well known as an award-winning, must-visit destination," explains Beau Benton, President of LBA Hospitality. "At the Hiatus Clearwater Beach, our goal is to bring guests and locals together in a vibrant space where they can enjoy breathtaking views, savor delicious South Florida cuisine, and embrace a relaxing moment at the heart of the beach."

3H Group Founder and CEO Hiren Desai says that the origin of the hotel's unique name came from his desire to take some time to relax after a few major changes in the business. "In January 2022, when LBA took over management of the 3H portfolio of hotels, I thought I would take a little break," explained Hiren. "I told my family and colleagues I was going to take a little hiatus, and they had different ideas in store for me. My brother, Nick Desai  also a co-owner of 3H Group  said, 'You can take a hiatus, but take it in Clearwater Beach!'"

The Hiatus's interior design concept, created by NYC-based firm Celano Design Studio Co., encapsulates a modern coastal bungalow vibe. From the inviting lobby to the chic restaurant and the serene rooftop pool, each area showcases furnishings and intricate details that breathe an air of elegance into the beachfront property.

Every facet of the hotel has been curated to leave a lasting visual impression. The coastal-chic guest rooms and suites are uniquely designed, many with balconies overlooking Clearwater Beach. The seventh-floor rooftop restaurant and reception area offer unobstructed views of the Gulf and beach, delivering an authentic and awe-inspiring Clearwater experience.

The hotel exterior is equally remarkable and stands out as a striking Clearwater landmark. Featuring a 10-story hand-painted mural by local artist Derek Donnelly of Saint Paint Arts, the impressive mural celebrates Mother Nature and pays homage to Kali, the powerful Hindu goddess. Not only does the mural enhance the hotel's exterior, but it also serves as an impactful piece of public art for all visitors of Clearwater Beach to enjoy.

Amenities at The Hiatus include valet parking, a rooftop pool, two dining and three bar outlets, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and breathtaking views of Clearwater Beach.

Reservations for The Hiatus Clearwater Beach can be made online at www.curiocollection.com/thehiatusclearwaterbeach or by calling the hotel directly at 727-441-1110.

About LBA Hospitality

Established in 1973, LBA Hospitality is one of the leading hotel management, development, and consulting companies in the US. With an extensive portfolio of award-winning hotels in the East, Southeast, and Southwest, LBA Hospitality is a recognized leader in developing and operating the most respected brands under Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Best Western, and InterContinental Hotel Group franchise licenses. For more than five decades, LBA Hospitality has continued to set a higher standard in hotel development, management, and guest satisfaction, resulting in sustained, profitable growth for owners. For more information, visit www.lbahospitality.com.

About 3H Group, Inc.

Headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, 3H Group, Inc. is a dynamic and innovative hospitality development company committed to delivering exceptional experiences for clients and business partners. Since its inception in 2000, 3H has steadily grown to become a respected name in the industry, with a diverse portfolio of hotels, storage facilities, residential properties, and retail endeavors. 3H's mission is driven by their core values of honesty, hard work, and hospitality, which enables them to build and enrich communities. With unparalleled dedication to operational standards, leadership, and management, 3H partners with brands like Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and StayAPT. For more information, visit www.3h.group.

Contact:

Melanie Shammout

[email protected]

SOURCE LBA Hospitality
Tompkins Conservation was envisioned by the late Doug Tompkins, founder of The North Face and Esprit, and Kris Tompkins, former CEO of Patagonia, Inc.

STANFORD, Calif., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tompkins Conservation and its co-founders and benefactors, Kristine McDivitt Tompkins and the late Douglas R. Tompkins, are donating their personal archives as well as the archive of their conservation and rewilding work in South America to the Stanford University Libraries. These historical, legal, and scientific records will directly benefit the faculty and students who are continuing Stanford's longstanding tradition of conducting field studies and research in Chile and Argentina, as well as those interested in land conservation initiatives.

Kristine McDivitt Tompkins and the late Douglas R. Tompkins. Tompkins Family Archives.

Driven to confront the global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, Tompkins Conservation and its independent nonprofit offspring organizations, Rewilding Argentina and Rewilding Chile, have spent over three decades protecting and rewilding big, wild, and connected landscapes so that human communities, animals and plants can thrive. Collaborating with public and private partners, Tompkins Conservation drove the creation or expansion of fifteen national parks, including two marine national parks, protecting 14.8 million acres of land and 30 million acres of ocean in Argentina and Chile as intact ecosystems. The story is told in Wild Life, released in 2023 by National Geographic Documentary Films.

"This film  inspiring, sad, and magnificent as it is  provides contemporary context for the academic community as we prepare to open the Tompkins Conservation archive for research," said Michael A. Keller, the Ida M. Green University Librarian and Vice Provost. "I anticipate that there will be active engagement at Stanford with these organizations and their missions for a very long time, and I hope that there will be opportunities for students at all levels to engage in their projects from campus or on-site. We are especially grateful to Kris Tompkins for the placement of the archive at Stanford where well-intentioned scholars and eco-environmentalists will make excellent use of it."

"Though our work takes place at the tip of South America," said Kris Tompkins, "our origins started in the Bay Area, where Doug Tompkins built a successful business career and embarked on great adventures which became the foundation for our second act, in which I joined Doug in the endeavor to 'pay rent to the planet' through conservation and rewilding. Stanford University, the alma mater of many McDivitts, has been formative in the education and values of my family. So, it's fitting that the archives of Tompkins Conservation, Doug and myself, will be housed here at Stanford, where we hope they will inspire brilliant students from all fields to work for a more wild, equitable and beautiful planet."

The Tompkins Conservation archive consists of three distinctive collections. Firstly, the Douglas R. Tompkins Collection documents milestone events in the life of Douglas R. Tompkins (1943-2015), co-founder of The North Face and Esprit, as well as several nonprofit organizations that later became Tompkins Conservation. This collection includes correspondence and conversations with those who influenced his transition from capitalist entrepreneur to activist to philanthropist. Of scholarly interest are the multimedia materials, both published and unpublished, that Doug Tompkins generated or collected pertaining to his interests and projects in ecological agriculture and organic farming, mountaineering and whitewater kayaking, and the Foundation for Deep Ecology tenet that all life on Earth has intrinsic value regardless of its usefulness for human purposes.

The Kristine McDivitt Tompkins Collection documents its namesake's career as the former CEO of Patagonia, Inc. and the current president and co-founder of Tompkins Conservation. Married to Doug Tompkins in 1994, Kris Tompkins has continued to carry out their conservation legacy since his death in a kayaking accident in 2015. Unique materials in this collection document her founding of Conservacion Patagonia, an organization focused on preservation of land in the Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina. Kris Tompkins was the first conservationist to be awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, was named a Patron of the United Nations Environmental Programs for Protected Areas, and was a recent recipient of the Ken Burns American Heritage Prize.

The Tompkins Conservation Collection comprises books, grants, legal files, articles, interviews, photographs, motion pictures, and other materials. Its earliest documents and publications chronicle its founding philosophy, formation, and governance as it originated from organizational antecedents and established its main area of focus on land and marine park creation. With this gift, Stanford researchers will be able to study every aspect of a multifaceted, sustained, and effective program of environmental activism.

"There are few places in the world with as much to lose as Patagonia," said Elizabeth A. Hadly, the Paul S. and Billie Achilles Professor of Environmental Biology in the School of Humanities and Sciences. "Parallel to the Tompkins' work in Patagonia, I was doing research there, excavating and describing plant and animal dynamics over the past 10,000 years, trying to unravel why temperate South America was less biodiverse than North America at the same latitude, and pursuing a mystery of genetic bottlenecking of a social endemic small mammal (the tuco-tuco) that was finally explained by prehistoric volcanic eruptions of the Andes."

Stanford's research in the region is ongoing. As one example, Robert Dunbar, the W.M. Keck Professor of Earth Science in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, has for some years been documenting the record of climate change in Patagonian lake sediments; last summer, he led a group of Stanford undergraduates to Patagonia for a course curriculum balancing field exercises with community exploration.

Stephan A. Graham, the Welton Joseph and Maud L'Anphere Crook Professor in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and Dean, Emeritus of the School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences, said, "My graduate students and I have conducted field studies in southernmost Patagonia for the past quarter century, with 12 PhD degrees awarded from my group alone. As a result, we have a keen appreciation of its profound beauty and ecological significance. The Stanford Doerr School is guided by the goal of creating a future where humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity through excellence in research, education, innovation, and service. Its academic departments cover a broad range of themes, from geology to ocean systems to ecosystems to human interactions with ecosystems. Thus, the goals of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability closely align with the wonderful work of Tompkins Conservation."

An event celebrating the Tompkins Conservation and Tompkins Family archives is scheduled on Earth Day, April 22, 2024, starting at 4:30 p.m. in the Traitel Building on the Stanford campus. The event is free, and registration is required. While the collections are temporarily unavailable during archival processing, inquiries about accessibility and scholarly use may be sent to Earth and Environmental Sciences Librarian Alma Parada.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Stanford University Libraries: Sonia Lee, [email protected]

Tompkins Conservation: Carolyn McCarthy, [email protected]

SOURCE Stanford University Libraries
The institute will support interdisciplinary research and education that promote the responsible use of AI and prepare the future workforce for an AI-infused world

COLLEGE PARK, Md., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Maryland today announced the launch of a new institute dedicated to developing the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI) education, technology and leaders.

The Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland (AIM) will be a collaborative hub for AI, supporting faculty research, offering innovative and experiential learning opportunities, and focusing on responsible and ethical AI technology to advance the public good across industry, government and society.

"Establishing the AI Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland is a pioneering step in AI research and education," said University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines. "Artificial intelligence continues to grow exponentially, creating opportunities to solve the grand challenges of our time. With this institute, our experts will work together to globally lead responsible AI development that spurs economic growth and promotes human well-being. We're not just adapting to the AI age but shaping its future."

The University of Maryland and the state of Maryland have long maintained a steadfast commitment to responsible advancement of AI technology. The new institute builds upon the university's existing AI expertise, research and centers, including the Center for Machine Learning, the National Science Foundation-funded Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law & Society (TRAILS), the Value-Centered AI Initiative and the Social Data Science Center. Centers like these will be an instrumental part of AIM, as will faculty members across campus who teach and study AI.

"From the start, interdisciplinary collaboration across fields will drive our AI institute's success," said UMD Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice. "We're fortunate to have AI leaders in fields ranging from computer science and engineering to journalism, education and the arts  a unique breadth of expertise that Maryland brings to the table. By uniting our efforts under one institute, we will not only become a magnet for ethical AI development and research but a global leader in preparing students and the workforce for an AI-infused world."

Through AIM, UMD students across all majors will learn the principles of AI and how they apply to their fields of study, preparing them for a technology-rich workforce. The institute will coordinate:

New AI majors and minors

AI certificates, graduate degrees and workforce development programs

Expanded AI undergraduate courses, including an AI4ALL course focused on developing AI literacy and critical thinking skills

AI government and industry partnerships and community events

A new high-performance computing cluster tailored for AI's complex computational challenges

Financial support to promote interdisciplinary AI research

Chaired professorships and postdoctoral fellowships

In addition to the existing, 100-plus faculty members who study and teach AI, the university expects to hire additional faculty in foundational and interdisciplinary AI, and staff to work within the institute. Hal Daume III, a Volpi-Cupal Family Endowed Professor in the Department of Computer Science, will serve as AIM's inaugural director. The university has also appointed Neda Atanasoski as associate director of education and Sheena Erete as associate director of research.

"AI-infused systems have the potential to enhance human capacity and creativity, mitigate complex society challenges, and foster innovation. Achieving this requires a joint effort between those pushing the boundaries of new AI technologies, those who innovate AI applications, and those who study human values and how people and society interact with AI," said Daume. "The University of Maryland is drawing together faculty experts, researchers and students from across campus to lead the responsible development and implementation of this world-changing technology."

The institute aligns with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's recent executive order to catalyze responsible and productive use of artificial intelligence by state agencies, and President Biden's executive order on safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence. It also supports the work of President Pines' AI commission, which examines how AI can be harnessed operationally in teaching, learning, student recruitment, enrollment and more.

The institute will be funded through the university, research grants, philanthropic gifts and industry partnerships.

About the University of Maryland

The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state's flagship university and a leading public research institution, propelled by a $1.3 billion joint research enterprise. Located four miles from Washington, D.C., the university is dedicated to addressing the grand challenges of our time and is the nation's first Do Good campus. It is driven by a diverse and proudly inclusive community of more than 50,000 fearless Terrapins. UMD is a top producer of Fulbright scholars and offers an unparalleled student experience with more than 300 academic programs, 25 living-learning programs and 400 study abroad programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMD faculty are global leaders in their field and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the national academies. For more information about the University of Maryland, visit umd.edu.

SOURCE University of Maryland
CHICAGO , April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This news is being written during the eclipse, an event that will not occur again for another 20 years. Ironically the news here is that the small suburban Antioch Pizza Shop ECLIPSED all other famous pizza brands in the greater Chicago area to win the 2nd Annual 2024 "WGN Radio's Chicago's Pizza Madness" Tournament. Sponsored by Career Vision. The event began on March 14th and the winner was named on April 4th.

Based on the March Madness Model, 68 pizzerias from I-80 to the Illinois/Wisconsin border are divided into four categories. 2024 Chicago Pizza Madness Tournament had 7 rounds, 271,351 votes.

Local chain Northern suburbs South and southwest suburbs City region

Antioch Pizza Shop was founded in 1977 but has grown under the ownership of husband-and-wife duo, Art and Karen Wicklein, who took a shot on a product they loved and bought the existing brand in 2008. They've now expanded from one location to ten, and have recently launched a franchise expansion plan.

"We were blown away when we received the call that we had won this whole thing!" said Art Wicklein, co-owner of Antioch Pizza Shop, which is known for its authentic flavors and community-centered approach.

"Antioch Pizza Shop isn't about just serving great food", said co-owner Art Wicklein, "it's about fostering connections, creating memories, and becoming an integral part of the communities it serves. What an honor to be considered among the greats in pizza names. Chicago is a famous pizza town, so this is even more spectacular". Wicklein admits to being creative and assertive to encourage votes. "Customers seemed more excited initially than we were. They kept coming up to our registers telling us where we stood in the brackets. Many of them are also fans of the traditional March Madness games and so they were beyond enthused. They told us they voted and are telling their friends to vote. They also encouraged us to put a table tent type sign at our registers with a QR Code, which made it easier for those who wanted to do so quickly."

For more information on Antioch Pizza Shop, visit Antioch Pizza Shop. For more information on the multiple options for a franchise visit Antioch Pizza Shop Franchise.

SOURCE Antioch Pizza Shop
The personal drama that can erupt between couples as they try to balance what they want in their dream home with what they can afford played out on a national stage recently and featured Spotsylvania County residents Shamila and Vernon Beslow.

Shed been modeling since she was a teenager and was used to the lights, camera and action. But it was another matter for Vernon, a cybersecurity officer for the federal government.

Several days into the filming of House Hunters, he was clearly over it, his wife said, and he wondered why hed gotten himself into the reality show in the first place.

Some of that comes through in this seasons Episode 10, titled, Practical vs. Grand in Virginia, as well as some well-known views of Fredericksburg landmarks. The segment already has aired four times and is available on demand, on HGTV or Philo.

While Vernon represents the practical side  and said several times he feared hed end up broke  Shamila is the grand element in this equation.

She said some of that is a result of dealing with two serious autoimmune diseases. Shes got permanent nerve damage, pain and numbness in her left leg after a 2018 episode that temporarily put her in a wheelchair.

She was eventually diagnosed with GuillainBarre syndrome, a rare condition affecting the nerves, and she has lupus, which occurs when the immune system attacks healthy tissues and organs.

Because of what Ive been through, I just kind of want what I want and I know what I deserve, the 43-year-old said. Im going to live my life to the fullest.

The Beslows, who have a 7-year-old daughter, Aria, decided to move last year because their former home, near Lees Hill in Spotsylvania, was on a massive hill, she said. If her condition caused paralysis again, it would be difficult to get her in and out of the house, and there was no main level where she had everything she needed.

The House Hunters episode chronicles a rollercoaster of emotions, according to the network, as he advocated for an affordable one-story dwelling and she wanted a home with a grand staircase. She said shes pictured that since childhood, with her husband standing on the landing.

After several starts and stops, the Beslows search ended at The River Front in New Post, near Belvedere Farm. Shes thrilled at the sight of nearby tractors working the fields, and their $739,000 home includes two stories, a basement and the grand staircase she envisioned.

But its also got everything shed need on the main level, should the paralysis put her in a wheelchair again. The office, where she works as a financial counselor and helps others starting their own business, could serve as a bedroom. Everything else on the first floor is easily accessible, and she can control kitchen appliances and door locks with her smart phone.

Vernon is happy, too.

The house is great and the community is fantastic, he said, adding he isnt quite as pleased with the builder.

Theyve been excited to discover that some of their neighbors also were formerly stationed at the Pentagon, as Vernon was, and theyve joined in community activities such as the recent Easter egg hunt.

Being part of the House Hunters filming was an experience, for the Beslows as well as Realtor Khaliyah Barakhyahu.

It was work, but it was enjoyable work, Barakhyahu said. And the Beslows, theyre awesome.

Shamila Beslow said the filming, and visiting various houses, took eight hours a day, for six days over the course of two weeks. The film crew provided everything they asked for, from meals and snacks to fixing their hair and clothes.

You feel like youre a big-time celebrity, she said.

Localities with the oldest homes in Virginia Localities with the oldest homes in Virginia #50. Greensville County #49. Southampton County #48. Wythe County #47. Amherst County #46. Lee County #45. Scott County #44. Hampton #43. Mathews County #42. Henry County #41. Arlington County #40. Lunenburg County #39. Halifax County #38. Norton #37. Charlotte County #36. Smyth County #35. Tazewell County #34. Radford #33. Grayson County #32. Nottoway County #31. Alexandria #30. Pulaski County #29. Bath County #28. Page County #27. Giles County #26. Falls Church #25. Hopewell #24. Galax #23. Charlottesville #22. Highland County #21. Colonial Heights #20. Emporia #19. Salem #18. Buena Vista #17. Lynchburg #16. Winchester #15. Fairfax #14. Waynesboro #13. Alleghany County #12. Petersburg #11. Franklin #10. Bristol #9. Portsmouth #8. Staunton #7. Norfolk #6. Martinsville #5. Danville #4. Roanoke #2. Lexington #1. Covington
ASHBURN, Va., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The US Cyber Games program, led by Katzcy, proudly announces the commissioning of the new US Women's Cyber Team. This exciting initiative aims to empower and showcase the talent of young women aspiring to and working in cybersecurity.

PlayCyber by Katzcy

Team Recruiting

The US Women's Cyber Team will participate in global cyber competitions, focusing on attack and defense formats that align with in-demand cybersecurity careers. Women interested in competing are encouraged to participate in the upcoming Season IV, US Cyber Open. From this competitor pool, a select group of individuals will be invited for interviews where they will have the opportunity to showcase their expertise in various cybersecurity domains, including attack and defense, vulnerability management, patch management, and forensics, as well as crucial leadership, communication, teamwork, and workforce skills.

Eligible athletes must be US citizens who identify as female and fall within the 1828 age bracket.

Addressing the Gender Gap

Jessica Gulick, US Cyber Team Commissioner, emphasizes, "The creation of the US Women's Cyber Team is a step forward in addressing gender disparity within the cybersecurity industry. This team enables us to promote diversity through role models and also recognize the invaluable contributions that women make to the field."

Gender disparity in cybersecurity is a global issue that we, collectively, are turning into an opportunity. In collaboration with teams from Japan and the UK, we will host a special women's cyber games exhibition, Kunoichi Cyber Games, at the upcoming 2024 Code Blue Conference, November 1415 in Tokyo. The US Women's Cyber Team will proudly represent the USA at the Kunoichi Cyber Games.

National Cyber Strategy Alignment

The US Cyber Games program aligns with the National Cybersecurity Strategy focusing on workforce and international cooperation, as well as the NICE Strategic Plan objective to increase understanding of multiple learning pathways that lead to cybersecurity careers. The US Cyber Games program is supported by NICE, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the US Department of Commerce, under financial assistance award #70NANB22H102.

Learn more at https://www.uscybergames.com. Sponsorships are available. Learn how at https://www.uscybergames.com/sponsor.

About US Cyber Games

The US Cyber Games Team is a traveling esports team. Each year, new athletes are considered for selection to the team. US Cyber Games is committed to informing and inspiring the broader community on ways to develop tomorrow's diverse cybersecurity workforce. The US Cyber Games program is run by Katzcy's PlayCyber business line, a certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) helping build a stronger and more diverse community of cybersecurity professionals by delivering exciting cyber games experiences. Visit https://www.uscybergames.com/ for more information.

About NICE

NICE focuses on efforts to close the hiring gap in the cybersecurity workforce. We are led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the U.S. Department of Commerce and are a partnership between government, academia, and the private sector focused on cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development. Visit https://www.nist.gov/itl/applied-cybersecurity/nice/about to learn more.

Contact:

Beth Mayhew

703.651.2667

[email protected]

SOURCE PlayCyber by Katzcy
More Than 1 Million Vehicles Stolen Last Year

OAK BROOK, Ill., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vehicle thefts continue to surge nationwide, challenging vehicle owners and law enforcement agencies hoping to curb this growing crime trend. A new report released by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to identifying, investigating, preventing, and deterring insurance fraud and crime, shows another record-breaking year for vehicle thefts in 2023. Last year, more than one million vehicles were reported stolen and overall vehicle thefts increased about one percent nationwide from 1,008,756 in 2022 to 1,020,729 in 2023. Vehicle theft rates have risen steadily since 2019. California accounted for the highest number of vehicle thefts nationwide in 2023 with 208,668 vehicles reported stolen. The District of Columbia had the highest theft rate across the nation in 2023 with 1,149.71 thefts per 100,000 people, which is over three times the national theft rate.

Year End Theft Trends

"Criminals are employing increasingly sophisticated methods to steal vehicles, including the use of advanced technology to bypass security systems," said David J. Glawe, President and CEO of NICB. "From keyless entry hacks to relay attacks on key fobs, perpetrators are exploiting vulnerabilities in modern vehicle security measures with alarming success rates. It is critical that industry and law enforcement work together to develop more effective strategies for combating auto theft and safeguarding public safety."

NICB partners with state and federal law enforcement agencies to disrupt criminal networks and help recover stolen vehicles for member companies. It also participates in federal, state and local task forces, fusion centers, and intelligence groups to deter vehicle theft and works strategically with lawmakers and regulators in all 50 states to boost efforts by insurers and law enforcement to fight crime trends like rising vehicle thefts.

Key findings from the NICB report include Vehicle Theft Hotspots. While some regions witnessed a decline in vehicle theft rates, others experienced a notable uptick. Urban centers and densely populated areas remained hotspots for auto theft, with metropolitan regions such as the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area reporting increased incidents compared to suburban or rural areas. The District of Columbia and Maryland each saw a drastic rise in thefts in 2023, with theft percentage increases of 64% and 63%, respectively.



Top 10 States by Percent Increase # State Percent Change 2022 to 2023 1 District of Columbia 64 % 2 Maryland 63 % 3 Connecticut 33 % 4 Nevada 18 % 5 Massachusetts 16 % 6 Delaware 15 % 7 New York 15 % 8 Pennsylvania 13 % 9 Nebraska 12 % 10 Louisiana, North Carolina,

& Tennessee 10 %

"Addressing the rising tide of vehicle thefts demands collaborative partnerships involving law enforcement agencies, government bodies, automotive manufacturers, and the community at large," Glawe said. "The repercussions of vehicle theft extend beyond financial losses, causing significant distress and inconvenience for affected individuals. Beyond the financial burden of replacing stolen vehicles and repairing damages, victims often endure emotional stress and disruption to their daily routines."

The top ten states by volume have remained consistent in each quarter in 2023. After California, Texas and Florida were ranked the second and third in thefts by volume with 115,013 and 46,213 stolen vehicles reported, respectively. Five of the states included in the top 10 theft states by volume also appeared in the top 10 list of states with the highest theft rates: California, Texas, Washington, Colorado, and Missouri.

Top 10 States by Volume # State 2023 Theft 1 California 208,668 2 Texas 115,013 3 Florida 46,213 4 Washington 43,160 5 Illinois 41,528 6 Colorado 34,068 7 New York 32,715 8 Ohio 31,647 9 Georgia 28,171 10 Missouri 27,279

Among the top 10 Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSA), Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV had the highest theft percentage increase from 2022 to 2023 at 52 percent. Of the top 10 CBSAs by theft volume in 2023, Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO had the highest theft percentage decrease from 2022 of -22. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had the highest number of overall thefts in 2023 with 72,460 vehicles reported as stolen to law enforcement, despite having a slight decrease in thefts from the 72,794 reported in the prior year (-0.5%).

Top 10 CBSAs by Volume # CBSA 2023 Thefts Percent Change 2022 to 2023 1 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 72,460 -0.5 % 2 San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA 40,977 28 % 3 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 36,272 9 % 4 Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 35,119 7 % 5 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 34,135 13 % 6 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 33,596 6 % 7 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 31,328 2 % 8 Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 24,489 -22 % 9 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 24,119 52 % 10 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 23,339 19 %

The National Insurance Crime Bureau also compiled the data for theft rates from the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) for each of the nation's metropolitan statistical areas. The NICB report analyzes the number of thefts per 100,000 residents, which allows it to compare different regions' theft patterns despite population differences. The District of Columbia, Nevada, and Maryland each ranked within the top 10 theft states by theft rate as well as the top 10 states by theft percentage increase.

Top 10 States by Theft Rate # State 2023 Thefts Per 100,000 People 1 District of Columbia 1,149.71 2 Colorado 583.25 3 Nevada 572.70 4 Washington 554.44 5 California 534.49 6 New Mexico 489.67 7 Missouri 441.61 8 Maryland 427.99 9 Oregon 394.14 10 Texas 383.00

NICB recommends the following tips to help prevent vehicle thefts:

Park in well-lit areas.

Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.

Hide valuables out of sight, such as in the glove box or trunk.

Do not leave your keys in your vehicle.

Do not leave the area while your vehicle is running.

If your vehicle is stolen, call law enforcement and your insurer immediately because reporting a vehicle as soon as possible after it is stolen increases the chance of recovery.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, call the NICB at 1-800-TEL-NICB.

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy. NICB is supported by more than 1,200 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. To learn more, visit NICB.org.

SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau
A captivating, compelling memoir that blends adventure, reflection, and political insight.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Harper Horizon releases Walk Ride Paddle: A Life Outside from Tim Kaine. The Virginia Senator and former Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate delivers a compelling account of one man's journey across hundreds of miles of Virginia wilderness and a moving testament to the optimistic spirit of America.

Courtesy of Harper Horizon, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus.

With immediacy and honesty, Kaine pulls back the curtain to reveal his inner thoughts during such monumental times. Kaine's storytelling gift and wise observations offer a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a seasoned politician and outdoor enthusiast.

"Walk Ride Paddle is my love letter to Virginia, the power of democracy, and the great outdoors," said Senator Kaine.

In 2019, Tim Kaine  Virginia senator and former Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate  commemorated both his sixtieth birthday and his twenty-fifth year in public office by undertaking a three-part journey across the Virginia landscape, as he hiked, cycled, and canoed across the state. Kaine reflects on his time as the Vice-Presidential candidate in a historic race and what that loss meant. His chronicle became an organic reflection of the extraordinary events occurring across America during that time, including two impeachment trials, a global pandemic, growing racial protests, the January 6 attack on the Capitol, and more.

During weekends and in Senate recess weeks, Kaineover a period of several years journeyed along the 1,228-mile Virginia Nature Triathlon. He hiked the 559 miles of the Appalachian Trail that cross Virginia from Harpers Ferry to the Tennessee border; biked 321 miles along the crest of the Virginia Blue Ridge on the beautiful parkways built during the Great Depression to create jobs and give everyday people on the East Coast an accessible place to vacation; and canoed the entire James River348 miles from its headwaters in the Allegheny Mountains to its entrance into the Chesapeake Bay. Along the way, Kaine reflected on the events that have shaped both his life and the world around him, sharing his deep love for the natural world and the importance of preserving it for future generations in a fascinating memoir that blends adventure, reflection, and political insight.

"I didn't know when I set out on my Virginia Nature Triathlon that by the time I finished, I'd be a juror in two impeachment trials, in the Capitol when it was attacked on January 6, experience a global pandemic, and witness the racial justice protests that resulted from the murder of George Floyd. The events of the world were weighty," said Kaine "Being out in nature gave me a way to reflect on and process them. I hope everyone who reads Walk Ride Paddle gains insight and inspiration from Virginia's great outdoors and will fight to preserve our country's natural beauty."

Walk Ride Paddle is not only a captivating memoir of one man's physical journey through the Virginia wildernessbut it is also a unique and ultimately optimistic perspective on these pivotal moments in history, offering inspiration, wisdom, and hope.

Walk Ride Paddle is available now in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook with Kaine narrating. You can order in your preferred format today at: walkridepaddle.com

You can also get a signed copy of the book at one of Senator Kaine's book tour stops:

April 9, 2024 - Burke, VA -Kings Park Library

- -Kings Park Library April 11, 2024 - Washington, DC - Politics and Prose

- - Politics and Prose April 14 , 2024- New York, NY - Sheen Center for Thought & Culture

, 2024- - Sheen Center for Thought & Culture April 18, 2024 - Richmond, VA -Library of Virginia

- -Library of April 21 , 2024- Roanoke, VA -Taubman Museum of Art

, 2024- -Taubman Museum of Art April 27 . 2024- Luray, VA - Mimslyn Inn

. 2024- - Mimslyn Inn May 4, 2024 - Ashland, VA - Ashland Theatre

- - Ashland Theatre May 7 , 2024-Washington, DC-Kramers

About the Author:

Tim Kaine has served people throughout his life as a teacher, civil rights lawyer, and elected official. He is one of only thirty people in American history to be a mayor, governor, and United States senator. He lives with his wife, Anne, in Richmond, Virginia.

About Harper Horizon:

Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint of HarperCollins Focus focused on the stories, values and diverse voices of Americana and beyond, publishing authors such as Willie Nelson, Syd & Shea McGee, Luke Russert, Zachary Levi, Meghan Trainor, Jenny Doan, Trae Crowder, and more. For more information, please visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com/Harper-Horizon.

Contacts:

Kevin Smith

[email protected]

Joseph Papa

[email protected]

SOURCE Harper Horizon
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Vitamin Angels hosted an exciting event in Anaheim, California to commemorate its three decades of impact and announce the organization's plans for the future.

GOLETA, Calif., April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vitamin Angels celebrated its 30th anniversary by hosting an event in Anaheim, California on March 13th, the first evening of the Natural Products Expo West trade show. The event was sponsored by Nordic Naturals. Their contribution per attendee will help Vitamin Angels to reach 400,000 women and children in need. Howard Schiffer, Vitamin Angels Founder & President, gave an empowering speech that commemorated the organization's 30 years of impact and key goals for the public health nonprofit, including its advancement towards reaching 50% of underserved pregnant women in the United States with prenatal vitamins and minerals by the end of 2024.

"We can be the generation to end malnutrition," said Schiffer. "For 30 years, we have been committed to improving the health and nutrition for women, infants and children worldwide. Today, we continue to expand our programs, and collaboration has been a key factor to this success."

Vitamin Angels is collaborating with national governments, academic institutions, and other NGOs to strengthen health systems at scale. They are also supporting the national introduction and scale-up of proven nutrition interventions such as multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS), also known as prenatal vitamins and minerals, for underserved pregnant women in several countries. The organization continues to work alongside its 1,200 program partners around the world to deliver its nutrition solutions.

"Through collaboration, we are on our way to achieving our goal of doubling our impact and reaching 140 million women and children annually by 2033. Here in the U.S., we're on track to reach 500,000 women in need in every U.S. state with essential nutrition. This is a huge accomplishment that I couldn't be more proud of," said Schiffer.

Vitamin Angels also exhibited at Natural Products Expo West where they met with current and prospective private-sector partners, including SmartyPants and PureHealth Research, all of whom play a critical role in supporting Vitamin Angels' global impact.

ABOUT VITAMIN ANGELS

Founded in 1994, Vitamin Angels is a public health nonprofit working to improve nutrition and health outcomes in low-resource settings worldwide. We strengthen, extend, and amplify the impact of our partner organizations working to reach the most nutritionally vulnerable groups  pregnant women, infants, and young children  who are underserved by existing systems. We do this by delivering evidence-based interventions and offering technical assistance, including ongoing monitoring and evaluation, to ensure program quality, scale, and impact. Vitamin Angels works with over 1,200 local organizations, including governments, to reach 72 million women and children in 65 countries annually. Both Charity Navigator and Candid give Vitamin Angels their highest marks for financial transparency. To learn more, visit: www.vitaminangels.org .

Contact:

Claire Murchison

[email protected]

SOURCE Vitamin Angels
Affordable Connectivity Program Supported Digital Access for 23 Million American Households

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With the expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), quality and affordable high-speed internet access for millions of people in American cities hangs in the balance, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) is urging Congress to act quickly to renew the program. The ACP was created in the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law to help close the digital divide by guaranteeing low-cost access to high-speed internet for those in need. Earlier this year, USCM sent a letter to lawmakers supporting renewal of the program, with a bipartisan group of 174 mayors signing on. Echoing this call for renewal, USCM President Reno (NV) Mayor Hillary Schieve released the following statement:

"Quality internet is not a luxury in America; it is critical to education, economic opportunity, good health, and societal connection. With a digital divide that has long contributed to chronic inequity in America, the ACP has given people a lifeline. After all the progress we've made to strengthen our cities, we cannot pull the plug on 23 million American families. Congress must put aside its partisan differences, embrace the spirit of the bipartisan infrastructure law and act to renew this critical program. All Americans deserve to have access to quality and affordable broadband and Mayors will continue to fight until this program is extended for all those who depend on it."

With a digital divide that has long contributed to chronic inequity in America, the ACP has given people a lifeline. Post this

About the United States Conference of Mayors  The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Follow our work on X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, and Medium.

SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors
CHICAGO, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Acclaimed Author Xue Mo's mater work titled "Curses of the kingdom of Xixia" has been honored to be shortlisted for the Foreword Indies multicultural novel category for the year 2024 during this month.

Curses of the Kingdom of Xixia Xue Mo's Works Will be Present at the 2024 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

"Curses of the Kingdom of Xixia" tells a story about corruption and redemption, centered around a child named Qiong who faces two paths: following in his father's footsteps as a bandit leader, or pursuing salvation as his Buddhist mother wishes. These two forces vie for the son's fate. After many thrilling episodes, Qiong, along with a woman named Snow Feather (Xueyu'er), transcends through the power of love.

Xue Mo employs magical realism in "Curses of the Kingdom of Xixia," combined with the rich cultural backdrop of China's western region, to create a fantasy world that spans a millennium. The novel, through its complex narrative structure and rich symbolic imagery, explores themes of fate, faith, and the limits of human nature. For Xue Mo, Xixia is not merely a geographical concept or historical symbol but a spiritual homeland filled with philosophical implications, offering profound reflections on freedom, power, morality, and faith.

Through his reflection on and transcendence of traditional Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist systems, coupled with profound explorations of freedom, fate, and faith, Xue Mo has constructed a unique literary and philosophical world. In this world, Xue Mo is not only an outstanding literary figure but also a hidden philosopher, whose works ignite readers' contemplation on the most fundamental questions of life and the universe, offering a new pathway to spiritual freedom and the value of life.

Xue Mo also considered "Curses of the Kingdom of Xixia" as the most unexpected and astonishing work among all his literary creations.

"This novel delves into the enigmatic dynasty and forbidden era of China, imbued with magical realism. The novel depicts the extremes of humanity: war and famine, lust and riots, love and faith. It challenges the facade of deification while exploring profound questions of life's greatest evils and the search for the truest beliefs.

Neyko Genchev, President of Faber Publishers and Deputy Mayor of Sofia, Bulgaria, also dropped by to congratulate Mr. Xue Mo on his new publication. As he commented "Two years ago, at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), I bought a copy of 'Select Stories by Xue Mo.' At the time, I was unfamiliar with his work, but after returning home and delving into the book, I was absolutely amazed. I felt as though I was discovering the best Chinese writer who deeply understands China's rich culture and traditions. It might sound exaggerated, but to me, he truly represents or is the reincarnation of all the great Chinese philosophers and writers from the past, embodying thousands of years of oriental culture."

In Xue Mo's words: "May each one of us light up our hearts, illuminate ourselves and all of humanity, and welcome a new dawn of peace in this world at the crossroads."

Contact:

Ida Liu

[email protected]

7735620064

SOURCE Xue Mo
KUNMING, China, April 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:

The diverse landscape of Yunnan province presents its residents with a wealth of natural resources alongside numerous challenges. Drawing upon their ingenuity and proactive spirit, locals have forged a harmonious relationship between humanity and the environment.

Yunnan's Splendor: The Power of Imagination.

In the Hani-Yi autonomous prefecture of Honghe, inhabitants have ingeniously transformed rugged mountain terrain into breathtaking terraced fields. Meanwhile, the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway serves as both a global conduit for Yunnan's abundant agricultural bounty and a scenic route showcasing captivating landscapes. Notably, the historic Lijiang Ancient Town stands as a testament to Yunnan's rich heritage, now recognized as a distinguished world cultural treasure.

We invite you to explore this remarkable land through our video, immersing yourself in the magnificent culinary delights of Yunnan.

SOURCE Chinadaily.com.cn
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Lucknow, April 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit on Tuesday.

This will be his first election rally in Pilibhit as the Prime Minister.

The BJP has fielded Uttar Pradesh Minister Jitin Prasada, who joined the party in 2021, from the Pilibhit Lok Sabha seat, replacing sitting MP Varun Gandhi who won the seat with 59.34 per cent votes in 2019.

Pilibhit BJP chief Sanjiv Pratap Singh said, "We are all set to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Pilibhit and people are looking forward to hearing him. This will be his first rally here after assuming the office."

Varun Gandhi has maintained a studied silence on his next move after he was denied a ticket. He has kept himself away from the campaign -- neither did he accompany the BJP candidate during the filing of his nomination papers, nor has he attended any programme, including the one addressed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on April 2.

BJP state vice president Vijay Pathak said, "The party has changed its candidates on many seats. It is the 'lotus' (party symbol) that is contesting on all seats. The people have been with the BJP earlier and they are with the BJP even now."

Varun Gandhi and his mother Maneka Gandhi have represented the constituency consistently since 1996.

The Samajwadi Party (SP), which is contesting the 2024 elections in alliance with the Congress, has fielded Bhagwat Sharan Gangwar from the seat.

The BSP, on the other hand, announced Anis Ahmed Khan alias Phool Babu as its candidate from Pilibhit.

The polling in Pilibhit is slated for April 19.
Chennai, April 9 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Tuesday were conducting raids at 35 locations across Tamil Nadu in a drug trafficking case.

The raids that commenced in the morning follow the recent interrogation of film director Ameer in a case related to the arrest of DMK leader and producer Jaffer Sadik.

The ED officials refused to comment on the details of the latest searches and raids.

It may be recalled that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had recently questioned Ameer in Delhi along with two other businessmen.

Jaffer Sadik, leader of the DMK NRI cell, was arrested in a Rs 2,000 crore drug smuggling case in the national capital in March. He had allegedly smuggled drugs to Australia and New Zealand.

More details are awaited.
Man accused of killing live-in partner in Delhi nabbed after 1400 km chase in four states. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, April 9 : After a Herculean chase of 48 hours and 1400 km spanning four states -- Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat -- a 27-year-old man, who killed his live-in partner and then stuffed her body into the wardrobe, was apprehended from Udaipur in Rajasthan while attempting to escape by ambulance, an official said on Tuesday.

The official said that the accused was identified as Vipul Tailor, a resident of Gujarat's Surat, and is a notorious criminal previously involved in 10 cases, including attempted murder, violations of the NDPS Act, etc.

According to police, on April 3, a police control room (PCR) call was received at Dabri police station at 10:40 p.m. regarding the murder of a woman in Gali No. 10, Rajapuri following which a police team rushed to the spot.

Upon reaching the spot, the caller Mustekin, father of Rukshar, met the police team and told them that one man named Vipal Tailor killed his daughter.

Further, he told police that his daughter had been living in this flat with her boyfriend, Vipal Tailor, for the past one and a half months.

"Inside the flat, Rukhsar alias Riya was found in a sitting position inside a large wardrobe with sliding doors. Superficial wounds and strangulation marks were evident on her body, suggesting resistance. Household items were strewn across all three rooms, indicating a struggle. Upon inquiry, it was revealed that the deceased had been cohabiting with her friend Vipul," said a senior police official.

During the probe, CCTV footage analysis determined that Vipul left the premises at around 9.00 p.m. in his car

"It was ascertained that the accused had crossed the Sohana, Mumbai Expressway Toll Plaza," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Ankit Singh.

Subsequently, a police team was dispatched to pursue the car. "The team trailed Vipul's car from Delhi to Udaipur, Rajasthan. Despite Vipul's attempts to mislead by changing routes, the team persisted for 48 hours until an accident occurred, resulting in Vipul sustaining injuries," said the DCP.

It was learnt that Vipul was subsequently ferried by an ambulance to Bhilwara. "Upon reaching the hospital, it was further learnt that instead of receiving treatment, he boarded another private ambulance bound for Surat, Gujarat," said the DCP.

The DCP further said that the team continued the pursuit, ultimately apprehending him after a lengthy chase spanning 1400 kilometres while he was in an injured state.

On interrogation, it was revealed that Vipul was previously involved in 10 cases under myriad heads of crime.

"In 2020, he was arrested in an NDPS Act case in Delhi, where opium was seized from his possession. Additionally, it was discovered that the deceased Rukhsar, had three cases registered against her under the ITP Act in Surat City, Gujarat," said the DCP.

Vipul had come in contact with Rukhsar at a Spa Center, which was being run by her in Surat.

"After that, they were residing together as friends. During this period, at the request of Rukhsar, Vipul paid about Rs seven lakh to her for the purchase of the flat. The deceased further insisted on more money to pay the rest of the instalments of the flat. On this issue, a quarrel had ensued several times between the two," said the DCP.

Dismayed by the continuous demand for money and also by the pressure for marriage, Vipul planned to eliminate her.

"On an ill-fated day, she was in a state of intoxication and cashing upon the same, the accused murdered her and fled from the said flat," said the DCP.
Kolkata, April 9 : Tension prevailed in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali on Tuesday after an attack on a police camp here.

The attack happened late Monday night in which one constable was injured who was admitted to a local hospital. The cops have detained three persons concerning the attack.

Local police said that a group of miscreants, late Monday night, suddenly barged into a temporary police camp that was located at a flood centre in the Shitulia area at Sandeshkhali.

"The cops present there were caught by surprise and were beaten by the miscreants with rods and sticks. In that attack, one constable was injured and had to be shifted to a local hospital. He is undergoing treatment now," said a police official.

On Tuesday morning, the police detained three persons as suspects involved in the attack. The police have also started a detailed investigation into the reason behind the sudden attack at the police camp.

The police were giving rounds in the area to prevent any escalation.
Hyderabad, April 9 : A 25-year-old student from Hyderabad who had been missing since last month was found dead in the US city of Cleveland.

Mohammed Abdul Arfath, hailing from Nacharam near Hyderabad, was pursuing a master's degree in Information Technology at Cleveland University, Ohio. He was not in touch with the family since March 7 and his family here had received a ransom call.

"Anguished to learn that Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio. Our deepest condolences to Mr Mohammed Arfath's family," the Consulate General of India in New York said in a post on 'X' on Tuesday.

The Consulate is in touch with local agencies to ensure a thorough investigation into Mohammed Abdul Arfath's death. "We are extending all possible assistance to the bereaved family to transport his mortal remains to India," it added.

On March 21, the Indian consulate posted that it was in touch with Arfath's family and authorities in the US and was working with local law enforcement agencies to find him at the earliest.

Arfath's family residing in Malkajgiri district near Hyderabad had received a call from an unidentified person, who claimed that Arfath had been kidnapped allegedly by a gang selling drugs and demanded USD 1,200 to release him.

Arfath's father Mohammed Saleem said he received the call on March 17. The caller threatened to sell Arfath's kidneys if the ransom wasn't paid.

Arfath went to the US in May 2023 to pursue a Masters in IT from Cleveland University. His family claims he had not spoken to them since March 7.

After Saleem received the ransom call, he informed his relatives in the US, who filed a missing complaint with the Cleveland police. The police had issued a watch order. According to the order, Abdul was wearing a white T-shirt, a red jacket and blue jeans.

The family wrote to the Indian Consulate in Chicago on March 18 to help trace Arfath.

Saleem had also appealed to Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar for help in locating his son.

Arfath had reportedly left his home at Reserve Square on March 5 and had not returned.
Los Angeles, April 9 : Actor-filmmaker Mel Gibson has expressed gratitude to Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. for having his back after his 2006 arrest and anti-Semitic remarks.

The actor talked about the support he received from the 'Oppenheimer' star during an interview and said: "One time, I got into a bit of a sticky situation where it kind of ended my career."

Gibson recalled in an Esquire interview: "I was drunk in the back of a police car, and I said some stupid shit, and all of a sudden, I was blacklisted. I'm the poster boy for canceled."

"A couple of years into that, he invited me to some kind of award he was getting -- we always had this kind of seesaw thing, where if he was on the wagon, I was falling off, and if I was on the wagon, he was falling off."

The actor added: "So I was pretty much nonexistent in Hollywood at the time, and he stood up and spoke for me. It was a bold, generous, and kind gesture. I loved him for that," reports deadline.com.

Actress Jodie Foster also talked about how she pulled him aside during the filming of 1995's 'Home for the Holidays' to talk to him amid his addiction struggles.
Kolkata, April 9 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday approached a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court with a plea for an urgent hearing on the issue of the April 6 attack on their sleuths at Bhupatinagar in West Bengal's East Midnapore district.

The single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta has admitted the petition and the matter will come up for hearing in the second half on Tuesday only.

The attack took place in the early morning of April 6 while the NIA sleuths were returning from Bhupatinagar after arresting two local Trinamool Congress leaders namely Balai Charan Maity and Monobrata Jana in connection with a blast there in December 2022 which killed three persons. One NIA official was injured in that attack.

The attack was conducted by a group of villagers reportedly having the backing of the ruling party. However, Trinamool Congress leadership including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had accused NIA sleuths of provoking the villagers.

Even the family members of one of the arrested TMC leaders had filed a counter FIR against the NIA sleuths accusing the latter of molestation. However, on the very same day, NIA by issuing a statement had rubbished all the allegations and described the controversies arising over the issue as "unfortunate".

The state police have already sent notice to two NIA officials to join the investigation in connection with the attack on their men. One of the two officials is a complainant in the case and the other is the one who suffered minor injuries.

The officer who suffered minor injuries has also been asked to bring the medical report concerned along with him. Even the NIA sleuths have been asked to bring that vehicle to Bhupatinagar police station which was damaged during the attack.
Toronto, April 9 : Toronto and many other cities and towns of Canada fell into darkness as millions of people flocked into public places to watch the total solar eclipse.

In Toronto, which won't see the next total solar eclipse until 2144, clouds obscured the sun during the period of the eclipse. But when the time for total solar eclipse (99.7 per cent) came, it became pitch dark and very cold.

At Toronto's York University where thousands of students converged on top of one of its science blocks to watch the once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon, lights went on during the short duration of total eclipse at 3.19 pm on Monday.

Canada's top astronomer and York University former professor Paul Delaney, who was on hand to explain the significance of this solar eclipse, said, "From the point of view of science, when you are blocking the sun, you are changing the dynamics in the atmosphere and the atmosphere responds very differently during a total eclipse. Radiowave propagation is impacted. NASA is launching its sounding rockets into the upper atmosphere from Niagara Falls to monitor changes as radiation is depleted from the atmosphere."

He said, "This total solar eclipse has allowed studying the diameter of the sun which has come under great scrutiny of late because scientists think it is changing. This eclipse is an opportunity to measure the diameter. They are looking at the sun's corona and corona sphere. It will tell us about magnetic fields around the sun. There is a lot of information that we will gain from this solar eclipse."

Toronto had its last total solar eclipse in 1925. "It was a cloudy day in Toronto back in 1925. Toronto University scientists tried to measure the change in the intensity of light coming from the sun that day. That total solar eclipse came quickly after the 1919 total solar eclipse when British astronomer Arthur Eddington verified Einstein's famous theory of relativity," he said.

Total solar eclipses occur every 18 months somewhere around the world, but North America's next total solar eclipse won't happen till August 23, 2044.
Mumbai, April 9 : To witness the splendour of Ram Mandir and the city's preparations for the Ram Navami celebrations, the lead actors of the show 'Atal', Neha Joshi and Ashutosh Kulkarni, made their first-ever visit to Ayodhya.

Mumbai, April 9 (IANS) To witness the splendour of Ram Mandir and the cityas preparations for the Ram Navami celebrations, the lead actors of the show 'Atal', Neha Joshi and Ashutosh Kulkarni, made their first-ever visit to Ayodhya.

The actors reflected on their spiritual journey and sought blessings from Ram Lalla before the celebrations.

Sharing her excitement and experience, Neha, who plays Krishna Devi Vajpayee, said: "As a devotee of Lord Ram, the chance to visit the city and the temple was nothing short of a dream come true. Standing before the divine idol of Ram Lalla was an experience that I will never forget. I was awestruck and emotional. My eyes were filled with tears of joy as I saw the divine face of Ram Lalla."

Neha expressed that she felt a profound sense of peace and tranquility when she offered prayers before Ram Lalla.

"I offered prayers for the continued success of our show, as well as for the well-being of my loved ones," she added.

Sharing his experience on his first-ever visit to the Ram Mandir, Ashutosh, who plays Krishan Bihari Vajpayee, expressed: "It was truly an awe-inspiring and surreal experience. The intricate architecture of temples has always amazed me, and the Ram Mandir was no exception. Stepping into the temple's corridors, I was struck by a deep sense of devotion, heightened by the beautiful chants of aJai Shri Rama that echoed around me."

"As I approached the sanctum sanctorum, the sight of the divine idol of Ram Lalla, symbolising the eternal cosmic light of Lord Rama, filled me with awe. The rhythmic recital of prayers and the aromatic fragrance of incense added to the sacred ambience, deepening my connection with the divine," he said.

Ashutosh added: "On my way back from the temple, I picked up the souvenirs and prasad for my family and friends."

'Atal' airs every Monday to Friday at 8 p.m. on &TV.
Mumbai, April 9 : In the upcoming episodes of 'Dhruv Tara-Samay Sadi Se Pare', Dhruv (Ishaan Dhawan) will celebrate joyously upon learning about Tara's pregnancy, while Suryapratap (Karan V Grover) begins to lose his patience.

Tara (Riya Sharma) worries about the lengths that Suryapratap will go to, especially after witnessing his violent outburst at the mandap. Hurt by what he perceives as Tara's betrayal, Suryapratap vows not to let the situation go easily.

It will be interesting to see what actions Suryapratap will take after learning about Taraas pregnancy.

Speaking about the sequence, Riya said: "The upcoming track is going to be an interesting one as Suryapratap, Tara, and Dhruv find themselves in a complicated situation. While Dhruv is happy about the pregnancy, he's not in his right senses to support Tara through it."

"Tara faces a strong enemy in Suryapratap, who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. It will be intriguing for viewers to witness how Tara navigates this challenge and handles Suryapratap's anger while ensuring the safety of her baby and Dhruv," she added.

Karan shared: "Suryapratap has always had his way and is used to getting what he wants. Recently viewers have seen an evil and darker side of him. But now, his anger has reached a whole new level upon hearing about Tara's pregnancy. Viewers will see a side of him they've never seen before, and his next moves will keep them hooked."

The show unfolds an interesting tale of love and time travel, set against the backdrop of the 17th and 21st centuries.

'Dhruv Tara' airs Monday to Saturday at 8 p.m. on Sony SAB.
Srinagar : People buying clothes and other stuff at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Saturday, December 17, 2022. (Photo: Nisar Malik /IANS). Image Source: IANS News

Srinagar, April 9 : Markets buzzing with shoppers, traffic jams, buyers haggling with pavement sellers, children buying toys and firecrackers, and elders jostling with each other at bakery & mutton shops, people in Kashmir are looking forward to the Eid festival after the fasting month of Ramzan ends on Tuesday evening.

Eid-ul-Fitr, the Muslim festival that marks the first day of 'Shawwal' after the fasting month of Ramzan ends, is being celebrated on Wednesday.

Locals have been thronging markets during the last two days to buy new clothes, bakery, mutton, poultry, vegetables, toys, firecrackers for children and even new electronic gadgets.

Shopkeepers and sweet sellers are busy refilling their shelves with fresh stocks as buyers indulge in feverish buying as if there would be no stocks unless they shout at shopkeepers for their turn.

Poultry and mutton shops in addition to bakery shops are the three busiest selling points in the Valley on Eid eve.

Special market checking squads are trying to ensure that buyers get goods at reasonable prices and of good quality, but these checking squads cannot match the feverish pitch at which the buyers are emptying their pockets without bothering about the prices.

The same brands of goods other than the edibles are sold at different prices even in shops adjacent to each other, but, as they say, every day is not Eid and locals do not overindulge in shopping with such enthusiasm and hurry as they do on such occasions.

The administration has ensured that there are sufficient stocks of cooking gas, petroleum products and essential commodities so that there are no shortages around the Eid festival.

Cities and towns outside the capital city of Srinagar are also thronged by buyers as men, women and children are all out on the market streets to buy goods of their choice for the Eid festival.

Special arrangements have been made in Srinagar city and other places in the valley for Wednesdayas congregational Eid prayers.

Traditionally, Muslims offer the congregational Eid prayers at various Eidgahs and then embrace and greet each other.

Eid is an occasion when past bitterness and strained relationships are forgotten and the message of universal brotherhood fills the hearts and minds of Muslims.

Traditionally, the local Kashmiri Pandits had always been the first to greet their Muslim neighbours on such occasions.

Eid is one such occasion when every Kashmiri Muslim misses his Pandit neighbours who were driven out of their homeland after insurgent violence started here in the early 1990s.
Mumbai, April 9 : In the recent episodes of 'Aangan Aapno Kaa', the audiences have witnessed that cops have taken Pallavi's (Ayushi Khurana) father, Jaidev (Mahesh Thakur), to the police station after a couple accused him of passing off government land as residential land.

Mumbai, April 9 (IANS) In the recent episodes of 'Aangan Aapno Kaa', the audiences have witnessed that cops have taken Pallavias (Ayushi Khurana) father, Jaidev (Mahesh Thakur), to the police station after a couple accused him of passing off government land as residential land.

On the other hand, her aunt-in-law Kusum (Sonali Naik) forces her husband Subhash (Vinayak Bhave) to sign the contract given by Pappi Mehra (Ashwin Kaushal) to sell the Awasthi Sarees shop for a better future for her son Ravi (Ankit Gulati).

Jaidev realises that Pappi has deceived him, leading to a public humiliation.

The police gave him a week to prove his innocence. When Pallavi learns about her fatheras situation, she rushes to the police station with Akash (Samar Vermani), despite her mother-in-law Aparna's (Kashish Duggal) opposition. Pallavi is extremely stressed upon witnessing her father's condition. Jaidev suffers a panic attack and collapses.

Pallavi quickly takes him to the hospital and urges the doctor to treat him urgently. Meanwhile, the Awasthi family discovers that Pappi has also deceived them. The contract papers reveal they owe Pappi a sum of Rs 1 crore instead of receiving money for the shop.

Pallavi faces the challenge of resolving the situation and protecting both households from the consequences of Pappias deceitful actions.

Speaking about the sequence, Mahesh said: "Jaidev has always been devoted to his three daughtersa well-being, taking on the roles of both mother and father. While he goes all out to financially support his eldest daughter, Deepika, he doesnat realise that his help can turn out to be a bigger problem for everyone."

"He only wanted to do good, but Pappias fraud has left him humiliated in front of his family. Adding to it, he also has to safeguard his home, which he has put under mortgage. This is too much to bear for Jaidev, and he is unsure what to do. I am sure the audience will relate to the fact that a parent can go to any extent to provide for their children, even putting everything at risk," he added.

Ayushi shared: "The bond between Pallavi and her father, Jaidev, has always been strong, with both supporting each other through thick and thin. Even though her father hasnat said a word to Pallavi, she knows that something is not right. When she learns the truth, seeing her father in distress is a painful shock, leaving her feeling helpless."

"On the other hand, Pallavi discovers the fraud Pappi has committed against her husbandas family members, Kusum and Ravi. It is going to be a challenging journey for Pallavi as she thrives to save both families from Pappias deceitful actions. Even though she feels helpless, the viewers will see Pallavias determination to stand up against Pappias frauds," added Ayushi.

'Aangan Aapno Kaa' airs on Sony SAB, Monday to Saturday, at 7.30 p.m.
Hyderabad/Amaravati, April 9 : Governors and Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have greeted people on Ugadi, the Telugu New Year.

Telangana Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan extended his heartiest best wishes to Telugu-speaking brothers and sisters all over the world on the auspicious occasion of Krodhi Nama Ugadi.

"May this Telugu New Year usher in blessings and prosperity for you and your loved ones," the Governor said in his message.

"Krodhi, being the 37th in the astrological cycle, signifies auspiciousness. Let us strive for the all-round development of Telangana and our nation, fostering self-reliance and progress. Reflecting on the past, let us commit to a better future through dedication and service. Together, let us build a progressive Telangana and a self-reliant India, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship," he said.

"Let us embrace Ugadi's spirit, symbolised by the diverse tastes of the traditional Ugadi Pachchadi, to face life's challenges with optimism," the Governor added.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy extended heartfelt greetings to Telangana people on Ugadi. He wished for the well-being of all people and their aspirations to be fulfilled in the new Telugu year.

The Chief Minister hoped that the new Telugu year would bring cheers in the lives of farmers with abundant rains and harvesting. He expressed hope that Telangana will achieve many milestones in development and become a role model for the country. The Chief Minister appealed to people to celebrate Ugadi with fervour reflecting the culture and tradition.

Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer also conveyed greetings to the people of Andhra Pradesh and to all Telugu people living across the world on the occasion of Ugadi.

"Ugadi is a festival of joy and happiness as the New Year brings with it new hope of a bright future. I hope 'Sri Krodhi Nama Samvatsara Ugadi' will usher in peace, prosperity, harmony and happiness among the people of all sections of the society," he said.

Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy greeted people on the occasion of Ugadi.

Former Telangana Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president K. Chandrasekhar Rao and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief N. Chandrababu Naidu also greeted people on Ugadi.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 9 : With just a few days left for the April 26 Lok Sabha polls, all eyes are on the voting pattern of around 24 per cent Muslims in Kerala, which could prove to be a game changer.

No one knows this better than Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, and for the last one week during his campaigns for the Left across the state, he has been harping on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and on how the Left sees that.

CM Pinarayi Vijayan is also slamming the Congress for allegedly not taking up the CAA issue.

While Kerala Muslims account for 24 per cent of the state's 3.30 crore population the Christian community accounts for 17 per cent of it.

However, the voting pattern of the Christian community by and large remains the same, with the Congress having a slight edge over the Left.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Left suffered one of its worst poll reversals when it could win just one seat, while the Congress-led UDF won a staggering 19 seats, and the BJP's lotus failed to bloom.

Political analysts say that there were two principal reasons for the washout of the Left. One was the surprise arrival of senior Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, as the Wayanad candidate and the flawed Sabarimala temple position that CM Vijayan took.

During 2019, Muslims voted in massive numbers for the Congress.

However, CM Vijayan who is a master of appeasement politics reversed the trend and he set a record by retaining office in the state in the 2021 Assembly polls.

Even though CM Vijayan's victory is being attributed to the way he handled the Covid pandemic, the massive Muslim vote for the Left is believed to be the clinching factor behind his win.

On Tuesday, CM Vijayan was at his best and slammed Leader of Opposition, VD Satheesan, for saying that the Congress party's manifesto was not silent on the CAA.

"He (Satheesan) is uttering lies and there is no mention of CAA at all in their poll manifesto," said CM Vijayan.

A political analyst on condition of anonymity said the pattern of voting in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and 2021 Assembly polls was clear and this time too, the way the Muslim community thinks, might be the deciding factor.

"The Left and the Congress are working hard to influence the Muslim community, as whoever manages to get the sizeable chunk of their votes will be the beneficiary and the biggest loser could well be the BJP," said the analyst.

"This is due to the fact that the Left always has its strong voter base and in addition to it, if the Muslims decide to go with them, the Left will certainly have the last laugh," added the analyst.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls the Kerala BJP-led NDA finished a distant third and managed a mere 15.64 per cent vote share.

The Congress-led UDF which won 19 seats secured a vote share of 47.48 per cent and the CPI(M)-led Left Front which bagged just one seat, got 36.29 per cent votes.
Panaji, April 9 : Congress on Tuesday launched its campaign for two Lok Sabha seats by paying homage to freedom fighters at Martyrs Memorial-Patradevi in North Goa.

Along with INDIA block partners, Congress leaders gathered at the Martyrs Memorial and vowed to give justice to the public.

Congress has fielded former Union Minister for Law Adv. Ramakant Khalap and Viriato Fernandes for Lok Sabha polls, from North and South, respectively.

The Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao while speaking on the occasion said that both their candidates will raise the issues of Goa in the Parliament if they are elected.

"Dictatorship and dadagiri is seen in the regime of the BJP government and hence everyone should unite to give justice to the public. I am thankful to people and our alliance partners for supporting us to elect our candidates," Alemao said.

He said that Members of Parliament should raise issues of Goa in Parliament and should seek justice.

"MPs should be in the social field and should take people together while carrying out any work in the interest of the state. BJP has failed to provide jobs. Its own MLA has spoken about how jobs are sold. Today our youths are suffering as they don't have any income source," Alemao said.

He said that the BJP government has failed to protect the Mhadei river, which is allegedly being diverted by the Karnataka government.

"The double-engine governments have failed to protect Mhadei. They are using people for politics. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the Goa government has compromised over Mhadei and the centre has allowed diversion. We always raise this issue in assembly sessions," Alemao said.

During Karnataka's assembly election meeting in Belagavi, Home Minister Amit Shah said: " Today, I am here to tell you that the BJP at the Centre has resolved the long dispute between Goa and Karnataka over Mhadei and allowed the diversion of Mhadei to Karnataka to satisfy the thirst of farmers of many districts."
Jaipur, April 9 : The Barmer-Jaisalmer seat in Rajasthan is being discussed in political corridors due to a tough triangular contest being witnessed here between the BJP-Congress and an Independent candidate, for the Lok Sabha election.

Overall, there are 11 candidates in the fray including Kailash Choudhary from the BJP, Ummeda Ram Beniwal from the Congress and Independent candidate Ravindra Singh Bhati.

Pointing at a similar triangular contest in 2014, veteran BJP leader Narayan Panchariya told IANS, aWe are confident of repeating the story of 2014 yet again when there was a tough and triangular contest between Harish Chaudhary from the Congress, Colonel Sonaram Choudhary from the BJP and Independent candidate Jaswant Singh.

aJaswant Singh was a strong figure at that time and the BJP had no strong schemes on the ground to count upon as it does today. The party won in those conditions too. Now, this time it is different.

aThere are many policies of the Modi government which have been implemented on the ground and people see him as a world leader. So we will emerge as the winner on this seat."

It is worth noting that similar to 2014, this time also, there is a BJP government in the state.

Meanwhile, exuding faith in Beniwal, Congress General Secretary and Spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi said, aWe have fielded Ummeda Ram Beniwal, who is a strong face in the Barmer belt. He lost Assembly polls to Congress candidate Harish Chaudhary while contesting from the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP). Now he is a member of the Congress and his switch to the Congress from the RLP will bring in more votes, making him the winner."

Further, the Independent candidate Ravindra Bhati, who is a MLA from the Sheo constituency, is equally confident of his win and has been addressing huge gatherings.

This 26-year-old has been promising employment generation and quality education in Barmer.

Meanwhile, many star campaigners from the BJP and Congress will be wooing the electorate in the districts of Barmer, Balotra, and Jaisalmer for the forthcoming elections.

According to BJP officials, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the aVijay Shankhnada rally on April 12 at Adarsh Stadium in Barmer at 11:40 am.

There are 226,237 voters in 8 Assembly constituencies of Barmer Lok Sabha seat and 20 candidates had filed 30 nominations.

The nomination of one candidate was rejected. Of the remaining 19 candidates, 8 have withdrawn their names, leaving 11 candidates in the fray on this seat.

The final list of candidates contesting for the Barmer seat was released on Monday. These include Ummeda Ram Beniwal (Congress), Kailash Choudhary (BJP), Leela Ram (BSP), Prabhuram Goyal (Aazad Samaj Party) and Independents including Ravindra Singh Bhati, Tararam Mehna, Devi Lal Jain, among others.
Chennai, April 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Chennai on Tuesday evening to hold a roadshow at T-Nagar. He will be campaigning for the NDA candidates of Chennai Central, Chennai North and Chennai South constituencies.

BJP Chennai South candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan, Chennai North candidate RC Paul Kanagaraj and Chennai Central candidate Vinoj Selvam will participate in the roadshow with the Prime Minister.

The Greater Chennai Police has made elaborate security arrangements for the Prime Ministeras visit.

PM Modi will fly in a special aircraft from Maharashtra and arrive at 6.05 p.m. at the Chennai airport and will travel to T-Nagar by road. The Prime Ministeras roadshow will begin at 6.30 p.m. from Panagal Park in T-Nagar and will cross the Thiyagaraja Road or Pondy Bazar which is one of the busiest areas of Chennai.

The roadshow is expected to conclude around 7.30 p.m.

PM Modi will stay at the Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan for the night and proceed to Vellore, Coimbatore and Pollachi for electioneering on Wednesday.

The Greater Chennai City Traffic Police said, that from 3 p.m. onwards movement of vehicles at Thiyagaraya Road is strictly prohibited and the entire Thiyagaraya Road, Venkata Narayana Road, G.N. Chetty Road and North Boag Road have been declared as ano-parking zonea until the completion of the roadshow.

Public and motorists are being cautioned about traffic slowdown which is likely to occur during the roadshow across the area, in and around the roadshow stretch, and surrounding area (GST Road, Mount Poonamallee Road, CIPET junction, 100-feet road, Anna Salai, S.V. Patel Road, Gandhi Mandapam Road and around T. Nagar) between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Commercial vehicles will be restricted on the following roads from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. intermittently a" Pallavaram GST Road towards Kathipara, Mount Poonamallee Road towards Anna Salai, CIPET towards Anna Salai, Vadapalani towards T. Nagar, Valluvar Kottam, Kathipara flyover to Saidapet, CPT towards airport and Gandhi Mandapam, Tidel park to Gandhi Mandapam, Anna Statute towards mount road.

It may be recalled that the city police has already banned the flying of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles within its jurisdiction from March 1 to April 29.

On Wednesday morning, PM Modi will be campaigning in Vellore, Coimbatore, and Pollachi. As per a tentative plan, he will fly in a helicopter to Vellore and at 10.15 a.m. he will address a public meeting at Fort Ground. From there, he will reach Arakkonam by road and then will fly in a special aircraft to Coimbatore. At 1.30 p.m., the Prime Minister will address a public meeting in Pollachi.
New Delhi, April 9 : After spending a decade in the BJP, former Union Minister and Haryana's one of the tallest Jat leaders, Birender Singh and his wife Premlata Singh rejoined the Congress in Delhi on Tuesday.

Their son and sitting MP Brijendra Singh joined the Congress last month. The family commands a big influence in Haryana, which will likely go to the Assembly polls in October after the Lok Sabha elections for the 10 seats on May 25.

Prem Lata Singh is a former BJP legislator from Haryana, while Birender Singh served as Union Minister in the first Modi Cabinet. He previously served Congress for over four decades. They joined in the presence of Mukul Wasnik and two-time Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda, among others.

On the reason for quitting the BJP, Birender Singh said he joined the BJP in 2014 due to "certain reasons".

"When I joined BJP, I knew the ideology of this party would be different and there would be some differences between the ideologies of the two parties. Later on, I experienced that there was a wider gap," he said.

On the farmers' agitation, he said he had raised the issue on party platforms and urged that their grievances be resolved. "I felt that while I was giving suggestions, those were not being heeded."

A well-known leader from the Jat community, Birender Singh joined the BJP in August 2014, just before the elections to the Haryana Assembly.

His induction into the Congress is seen as a move to woo the Jat voters in Haryana, Rajasthan, and western Uttar Pradesh.

On March 10, Birender Singh's son Brijendra resigned as a BJP MP and joined the Congress citing "compelling political reasons".

Brijendra Singh quit the BJP five months after his father gave an ultimatum to the party at a rally in Jind that he would leave the BJP if it continued an alliance with the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP).

Two days after Brijendra Singh joined the Congress, the BJP snapped its ties with the JJP.

Brijendra Singh is the great-grandson of prominent Jat leader Sir Chhotu Ram.
New Delhi, April 9 : After a threat perception report prepared by the central security agencies recommended strong security cover for Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, the Central government has provided Z-category VIP security to him, sources said on Tuesday.

Kumar, a former IAS officer from the 1984 batch, assumed the role of the 25th CEC on May 15, 2022, after being appointed as an election commissioner within the electoral commission on September 1, 2020.

Sources said that the Central Reserve Police Force has been tasked by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to deploy around 40-45 personnel, following security agencies' recommendation for enhanced protection for the CEC.

This decision coincides with the ongoing preparations for the seven-phase general elections starting on April 19.

The armed commandos will accompany the CEC during his nationwide travels, as per sources.
Mumbai, April 9 : The actors of 'Wagle Ki Duniya: Nayi Peedhi Naye Kissey', Sumeet Raghvan, Bharati Achrekar, and Chinmayee Salvi, have opened up about their cherished traditions and experiences associated with the auspicious and joyous occasion of Gudi Padwa.

Sumeet, who is playing the role of Rajesh Wagle in the show, said: "We traditionally hoist a Gudi at home and relish Shrikhand Puri. These festivals hold immense significance for us and spread joy and happiness. In the area where I live, the Marathi culture thrives, and the atmosphere is vibrant. The traditional Vidai procession and the rhythmic beats of dhol add to the festive spirit."

Bharati plays the role of Radhika Wagle.

The actress said: "In our childhood, we used to celebrate Gudi Padwa with great enthusiasm. This day holds immense significance for us and is considered very auspicious. When I was younger, my grandmother used to prepare a nutritious dish called akaduneem ki chutneya, which was believed to ensure good health throughout the year if consumed on Gudi Padwa. We would also make puran poli and enjoy it together."

Chinmayee, who essays the role of Sakhi, shared: "Gudi Padwa is a cherished festival, where families come together to create beautiful Gudis in their homes and worship them. The Gudi symbolises protection from negative energy and welcoming prosperity into our lives. My favourite part is eating Aamras Puri and Shrikhand on this auspicious day."

"The festivities begin with the decoration of the Gudi and a purifying bath with neem leaves, known as shuddhi karan. During my college days, I fondly remember dressing up in a nauvari saree, attending parades in my neighbourhood and performing Kathak at Gudi Padwa events. The quality time spent with family, enjoying good food, and bringing in the new year are my fondest memories," added Chinmayee.

'Wagle Ki Duniya' airs on Sony SAB.
Hyderabad, April 9 : As many as 106 government employees in Telangana's Siddipet district have been suspended for attending a meeting of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Hyderabad, April 9 (IANS) As many as 106 government employees in Telanganaas Siddipet district have been suspended for attending a meeting of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Siddipet District Election Officer and Collector M. Manu Choudary suspended 106 staff members of District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Siddipet (MGNREGS & SERP).

They had attended the BRS meeting at Reddy Function Hall in Siddipet within the Medak parliamentary constituency on April 7 in violation of MCC.

The action was taken after BJPas former MLA and party candidate for Medak Lok Sabha seat Raghunandan Rao complained to the Assistant Returning Officer and Revenue Divisional Officer over the phone that DRDA staff was attending a meeting of BRS in connection with ensuing Lok Sabha elections and that money was also being distributed.

A flying squad team visited the venue and found 10-15 persons still in the meeting. It collected the CCTV footage from the management and found that BRS organised the meeting without obtaining permission from Assistant Returning Officer, Siddipet. A police complaint was also lodged against two leaders of BRS.

Based on the CCTV footage, the election authorities identified 40 employees of DRDA who attended the meeting. Later, another 66 employees were identified. All 106 staff members were suspended with immediate effect.
Kolkata, April 9 : Though the Congress and the Left Front led by the CPI-M are contesting the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls together in West Bengal, there are a few seats where the junior Left allies, in particular the All India Forward Bloc, have thrown a spanner in the seat-sharing plans by fielding their own candidates.

A close look at the constituencies where both the Left Front and the Congress have announced their candidates till now shows that there is not a single seat where a CPI-M nominee is pitted against a Congress candidate, or vice-versa.

However, Left allies Forward Bloc (two seats) and the Communist Party of India (one seat) have gone against the seat-sharing plans by fielding their own candidates in three seats where the Congress has also put up their nominees.

Before the 2009 Lok Sabha polls when the Left Front used to contest on its own, CPI-M as the leader of the front used to contest 32 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, followed by the Revolutionary Socialist Party (four seats), Forward Block, and the CPI (three seats each).

The CPI-M this time has fielded candidates on 23 seats, nine less than the 32 constituencies it used to contest earlier.

According to CPI-M sources, when the initial talks started within the Left Front about the seat-sharing pact with the Congress, the CPI-M leadership had proposed that as the front leader, it would make the maximum sacrifice in leaving seats for the Congress, while the other three allies were requested to forego at least one seat each.

However, Left Front sources said that since the beginning, the Forward Bloc was adamant about not sacrificing a single constituency that came to its kitty since the post-delimitation phase.

Despite repeated requests from the CPI-M leadership to forgo the Purulia Lok Sabha seat in favour of the Congress, the Forward Bloc leadership refused to buzz.

It has now fielded candidates from three constituencies, namely Purulia, Cooch Behar and Barasat, two of which are also being contested by the Congress -- Purulia and Cooch Behar.

The CPI, on its part, has sacrificed one of the three allotted seats but that sacrifice has been made in favour of the CPI-M, not the Congress.

The CPI has not fielded any nominee from the Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency which is being contested by CPI-M's Nirapada Sardar, one of the faces of the Sandeshkhali movement.

However, both the CPI and the Congress have announced to contest the Ghatal Lok Sabha seat independently.

On Sunday, the Congress announced the name of Papiya Chakraborty as its candidate from Ghatal, only to withdraw her candidature barely 24 hours later on Monday evening. However, the party maintained that the name of an alternative candidate from Ghatal will be announced soon.

The CPI is also contesting the Medinipur Lok Sabha seat, though the Congress has not fielded any candidate from there.

The RSP, which used to contest four seats in the post-delimitation phase, has been the most flexible among the junior Left Front allies.

Since the beginning of the internal dialogues, the RSP leadership readily agreed to sacrifice its stake in the Baharampur constituency in support of sitting Congress Lok Sabha member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

The party has fielded candidates from two constituencies so far -- Alipurduar and Balurghat. It has not yet announced any candidate from the Jaynagar Lok Sabha constituency in South 24 Parganas district, which used to be the partyas stronghold once.
GLOBALink | North China's Tianjin embraces booming cruise tourism Pub Date:24-04-09 09:28 Source:Xinhua

North China's Tianjin Municipality is embracing booming cruise tourism as it has welcomed 22 cruise ships and seen 68,000 tourist visits so far this year. #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service Editor:Qin Shuying

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Mumbai, April 9 : Rashmika Mandanna on Tuesday extended warm greetings on the occasion of Ugadi, and wished that the day is filled with blessings, laughter, and cherished moments with your loved ones.

The beginning of the Hindu new year, 'Ugadi', is celebrated in the states of Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

Extending her wishes for the festival, Rashmika took to Instagram stories, and wrote: "Wishing you Happy Ugadi. Hope this day is filled with blessings, laughter, and cherished moments with your loved ones."

On the work front, the teaser of her upcoming film aPushpa 2: The Rulea was unveiled.

The movie stars Allu Arjun in the lead.

Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and directed by Sukumar, aPushpa 2: The Rulea is slated to release in theatres worldwide on August 15.

She also has 'Rainbow', 'The Girlfriend', and 'Chaava' in the pipeline.
Jaipur, April 9 : Has the Congress been trapped by its own Hand? This is the question being asked across political circles in Rajasthan after the Congress was left red-faced with its candidates from Basnwara Dungarpur disappearing after the party announced an alliance with the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP).

Two of the Congress candidates including Arvind Damor who was contesting the Lok Sabha seat of Banswara Dungarpur and Kapoor Singh who was contesting for Bagidora Assembly bypolls switched off their phones and vanished when they had to withdraw their nominations on Monday, as per the party's announcement of an alliance with the BAP on Sunday.

Party sources said the Banswara story emerged as a ripple effect of new political equations in the Jalore-Sirohi seat.

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav Gehlot is contesting from the Jalore Sirohi seat as a Congress candidate.

Besides the Congress, the BSP and the BAP have also fielded their candidates for this seat. The BJP's grassroots candidate Lumbaram Chaudhary is also in the fray.

While the BSP candidate Lal Singh withdrew his nomination on Monday and announced his support for the Congress, party sources said that BAP candidate Bhimraj Bhati was also asked by Congress workers to withdraw his nomination on Monday.

As per the plans of the Congress, it was decided that the BAP candidate from Jalore Sirohi Bhimraj Bhati will also withdraw his nomination from this seat and will support Vaibhav here. However, on Monday, he also went underground and switched off his phone. Manju Meghwal, looking after the election management, kept calling him but he did not respond. Party sources said that the Banswara story emerged as a reaction to this action of the Congress in which the BAP candidate was asked to withdraw his nomination so that Vaibhav could benefit and his votes would not go to other parties.

Meanwhile, Banswara candidate Arvind Damor said that he has been insulted by being fielded and then being asked to withdraw and so he has decided to contest the elections. Another candidate Kapoor Singh said, "Withdrawal of name might have spoiled my career. So I decided to contest the polls."

Congress workers told IANS that the local party workers here are upset over the candidature of Vaibhav from this seat and are terming him an outsider. They are not interested in campaigning for him and hence came up with the story of an alliance with the BAP to ensure an easy contest for Vaibhav. However, many party workers are against this alliance both in the Congress and the BAP and it took a lot of time to finalise the deal.

The Banswara Dungarpur Lok Sabha seat was won by the BJP in 2014 and 2019. In the last polls, the BJP got over 7.11 lakh votes. The Congress got 4.06 lakh votes while the BAP secured over 2 lakh votes. The BJP had won the seat by a margin of over three lakh votes but if the Congress and the BAP had come together the contest may have been a bit close.

Even in the recent assembly polls, the Congress got 5 seats and the BAP got 1 seat. So a BAP-Congress alliance would have challenged the BJP. However, now a Congress candidate has been fielded here and a BAP candidate is being fielded for the Jalore Sirohi seat. This has spoiled the Congress' game plan in both the seats.

Former Rajya Sabha MP and veteran BJP leader Narayan Panchariya told IANS, "No matter what the Congress does, we are confident of scoring a hat-trick in these elections. In the Banswara seat, we will have a hat trick as the voters have full trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee."

BJP senior leader Pramod Vasishtha said, "It's a 'raja-runk' kind of battle in Jalore Sirohi with the CM's son Vaibhav Gehlot fielded against our candidate Chaudhary who drives a two-wheeler and campaigns in his two pairs of clothes. We will win this seat too."
Chandigarh, April 9 : In a major breakthrough in the multi-crore Nature Heights Infra Scam, Punjab Police on Tuesday said that they have arrested the main accused, Neeraj Thathai, alias Neeraj Arora, who was absconding for the past nine years and was declared a proclaimed offender.

He was arrested from the Poudi district in Uttrakhand. The modus operandi used by the accused to collect the huge amount of money was to lure innocent people in lieu of giving them residential and commercial plots.

The development comes close on the heels of the arrest of Amandeep Kamboj, alias Aman Skoda, of Fazilka, who was proclaimed offender in eight cases, and in 18 cases he jumped bail. He was arrested from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on March 15.

Inspector General of Police (Faridkot) Gursharan Singh Sandhu and Deputy Inspector General (Ferozepur) Ranjit Singh Dhillon, in a joint press conference, said police teams from both the districts headed by Senior Superintendent (Investigation) Pardeep Sandhu arrested the most wanted criminal Neeraj Arora from Shri Nagar Garhwal in Uttrakhand.

Police teams have also recovered one luxury BMW car, mobile phones and fake documents from the possession of accused Arora.

Sandhu said the accused has been facing 108 first information reports (FIRs) registered in 21 districts for defrauding people by promising money or plots to people in the state.

Of a total of 108 FIRs, 47 were registered in Fazilka, eight in Ferozepur, six each in Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib, five each in Rupnagar, Mohali and SAS Nagar; four each in Faridkot, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Jalandhar Commissionerate.

Accused Arora, arrested by the police in February 2016, had jumped bail and was declared a proclaimed offender in February 2017.
Chennai, April 9 : Three Tamil Nadu fishermen from Rameswaram fishing hamlet were injured when they were allegedly attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy on the high seas near the controversial Katchatheevu island.

The victims had gone fishing on Monday afternoon and according to the fishermen association leaders, they were attacked on the high seas in the early hours of Tuesday.

The injured have been identified as Mackina (53) of Thangachimadam, Rajendran (56) of Nethaji Nagar and Thangam (51) of Rameswaram.

Antony Dominic, a leader of the fishermen association while speaking to IANS said that the Sri Lankan Navy was deliberately trying to create issues by attacking Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu. He said that the idea was to create a fear psychosis among the fishermen venturing into the sea.

The injured Rajendran is reportedly in a serious condition as he was allegedly hit on the head. All three are being treated at Rameswaram General Hospital.

Dominic added that the Sri Lankan Navy had chased away the fishermen from the high seas near Katchatheevu.

Katchatheevu has been on the boil since Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress party and its leader late Indira Gandhi of handing over the island to Sri Lanka.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 9 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday reacted sharply to reports that the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church's Idukki diocese had shown the controversial film "The Kerala Story" to its youth wing.

Interacting with media at Kollam, he warned minority communities in the state not to fall into the "trap" of the Sangh Parivar forces.

When it was pointed out that the Tamaraserry diocese of the same church was also going forward to screen the film to its youth wing, Vijayan said: "The 'Kerala Story' is a film which propagates absolute lies...where did such a thing as shown in the film take place in our state? This is nothing but portraying our state in a poor light."

"All should understand that the RSS-led Sangh Parivar is not just against the Muslim community alone, but also the Christian community too and not to mention the Communists. This is a replica of what Hitler did when he targeted the Jews and the Bolsheviks (Communists). The RSS is now following what Hitler did and none should fall into the trap which they have set," he added.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Tamaraserry diocese said they do not think there was anything wrong with screening the film.

"The film has been cleared to be screened. We have had problems too and due to our repeated interventions, they have been able to take their people in the right direction. The Idukki diocese did the right thing to screen the film among the youth," spokesman Fr V. George said, adding that there was nothing political to be seen in what the youth wing of their dioceses did.

However, the Thalaserry diocese of the church said they have no intention to screen the film in their churches.
Guwahati, April 9 : Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday targeted the Congress while criticising late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, saying that during the Chinese aggression in 1962, the country's first PM had said "bye bye" to the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

HM Shah said this while addressing a rally in Lakhimpur Parliamentary constituency in Assam.

The Union Minister also said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should recall that when his grandmother (late Prime Minister) Indira Gandhi was at the helm in the Centre, thousands of youth in Assam died due to violence.

HM Shah further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought back peace to the northeastern region with at least 9,000 militants surrendering along with arms and returning to the mainstream.

"In 1962, Nehru said 'bye bye' to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh amid Chinese onslaught. People in these states will always remember that," HM Shah said, adding: "China could no longer invade even a single square inch of our territory, nevertheless. We forced them to retreat, even in Doklam."

HM Shah also criticised the Congress over the 'Bangladeshi infiltration' issue.

He said: "Earlier, the borders were kept open for infiltration but since the BJP came to power in the state and Centre, the infiltration was totally stopped."

The former BJP president also praised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for putting a brake on the poaching of rhinos in the Kaziranga National Park.

"Kaziranga was freed from encroachments and the state government took proper steps to put an end to rhino poaching. During the Congress regime, the rhinos were not secure," he said.

HM Shah pointed out that in 80 per cent of the state, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has been repealed.

"The Congress signed the Assam Accord, but they didn't fulfill the clauses even after several years. All of the clauses of the Bodo Accord were met in less than two years after we signed it," he said.

"Child marriages have been stopped by Himanta Biswa Sarma. There is a UCC in Uttarakhand," he added.

HM Shah also urged the voters to support the NDA candidates in each northeastern Lok Sabha seat, stating that the region's development is essential to the country's overall progress.
New Delhi, April 9 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's petition challenging his arrest by the ED and the trial court order remanding him to the agency's custody.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who presided over the case noted the ED's submission that CM Kejriwal was in possession of enough material which had led them to arrest him.

Notably, last week, the ED had filed its counter-affidavit to CM Kejriwal's petition.

Since his counsel Ramesh Gupta had submitted before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue Court that CM Kejriwal has no objection to the custody/remand being extended further, it had said that the "petitioner (Kejriwal) has waived his right to question his custody as on today and the petitioner cannot now be allowed to argue that his custody as on today is illegal and present petition is liable to be dismissed on this ground alone."

Justice Sharma on Tuesday dismissed CM Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest, citing sufficient evidence presented by the ED, including statements from approvers and allegations of involvement in the formulation of the excise policy.

"The court is of the view that the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal was not in contravention of legal provisions. The remand can't be held to be illegal," Justice Sharma said while reading out her order.

Responding to the Delhi CM's contention regarding the timing of his arrest ahead of the General Elections, she said that law applied equally to all and courts were concerned with "constitutional morality" and not "political morality".

"This court observed that political considerations and equations cannot be brought before a court of law as they are not relevant for legal proceedings. In the case at hand, it is important to clarify that the matter before this court is not a conflict between the central government and petitioner Kejriwal. Instead it is a case between Kejriwal and Directorate of Enforcement," Justice Sharma said.

The court said the statements of approvers against the AAP National Convenor would be judged during trial as it cannot hold a mini trial at this stage.

It added that the AAP leader would be free to cross-examine the approvers at the stage of trial.

Justice Sharma said that the material collected by the ED suggested CM Kejriwal's complicity in the alleged money laundering scheme, both in his personal capacity and as the National Convenor of the AAP.

The court held that Section 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which penalises offences by companies, was applicable in this case, despite CM Kejriwal's argument that AAP is a political party and not a company.

Addressing concerns raised about the credibility of statements provided by approvers, the court defended the judicial process, saying that approver statements are recorded by the court and not by the probe agency.

It rebuffed allegations of coercion, stating that questioning the manner of recording statements undermines the judicial process.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing CM Kejriwal, argued that the ED failed to comply with Section 50 of the PMLA, and alleged coercion of approvers.

However, the court upheld the legality of the arrest and remand, maintaining that the AAP leader would have the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses, including approvers, at the appropriate stage of the trial.

"The files and material placed before us reveal that the mandate of law was followed by the ED. The trial court order is not a two line order. The statements with ED are of hawala dealers as well as AAP candidates in Goa elections," the court noted.

In its counter affidavit, the ED had submitted that the remand order dated March 22 and the subsequent remand orders dated March 28 and April 1 under challenge are detailed and well-reasoned orders as is evident on a bare reading of the said orders and hence "warrant no interference."

The agency had said that it complied with all procedural requirements of Section 19(1) and (2) of the PMLA as well as Article 22(1) and (2) of the Constitution of India during the arrest and remand of CM Kejriwal.

The agency had claimed that the AAP leader was the kingpin and key conspirator of the Delhi excise scam in collusion with ministers of the Delhi government, AAP leaders and other persons and that it has material in possession which demonstrates that he is guilty of the offence of money laundering.

The ED had also alleged that CM Kejriwal was directly involved in the formulation of the Excise Policy 2021-22, drafted "considering the favours to be granted to the South Group" and that he demanded kickbacks from the South Group in exchange for favours to them in the formulation and implementation of the Excise Policy 2021-22.

The Delhi High Court had, on March 27, refused any interim relief to CM Kejriwal, who was arrested by the ED on March 21 and is currently in judicial custody till April 15. A copy of Justice Sharma's detailed order is awaited.
New Delhi, April 9 : As homegrown audio and wearable brand boAt started investigating a possible data breach involving its customer information, experts on Tuesday said that the users should be on the lookout for unsuspecting, uninitiated communications from the company or any other services related to the brand that seek additional information, such as password or two-factor authentication codes.

Several reports claimed that the cyber breach apparently compromised the data of over 7.5 million customers of boAt.

"The breach revealed that over 7.5 million customers' sensitive information, including names, emails, phone numbers, addresses, and customer IDs, has been compromised and is now circulating on the dark web," Maheswaran S, Country Manager South Asia, Varonis, told IANS.

"This trove of data presents a lucrative opportunity for cybercriminals to orchestrate targeted and sophisticated social engineering attacks," he added.

In the 2023 IBM Cost of a Data Breach report, the average cost of a data breach for organisations reached $4.45 million, while the average cost per record reached $165, a nominal increase from 2022, which saw the average cost per record reach $164.

According to Tenable's senior staff research engineer Satnam Narang, the more sensitive information present in stolen data, the higher asking price can be expected.

"In the case of the alleged boAt data breach, itas been reported that it is being sold by the attacker for a little over a few $2 or around Rs 160," Narang said.

In addition, Harshil Doshi, Country Director, India & SAARC, Securonix, advised that affected users should change their account passwords, deploy two-factor authentication, stay alert for any social engineering attacks and look out for further updates from the company.

A boAt's Spokesperson said that the company is aware of recent data breach claims and "safeguarding customer data is our top priority."
Kerala HC allows doctor

Kochi, April 9 (IANS) The Kerala High Court on Tuesday gave some relief to a doctor accused of abetting his girlfriendas suicide and allowed him to rejoin his postgraduate classes.

Dr Ruwais headed the Kerala Medical Post Graduate Association (KMPGA). While doing his postgraduate course here at the state-run Medical College, his girlfriend Dr Shahana was found dead in her room in December last year.

After the death of Shahana reports surfaced that the family of Ruwais had demanded a huge dowry and unable to bear this, she committed suicide.

Soon, Ruwais was taken into custody and arrested.

Later he managed to get bail and filed a petition that he should be allowed to resume his studies.

A single bench gave the nod for it, but it was set aside by a division bench.

But the division bench however asked that the disciplinary proceedings against Ruwais be finished quickly and the report placed before the single bench.

It was based on this report that the court on Tuesday directed the Indian Medical Association to reinstate the petitioner.

But the court clearly pointed out that such reinstatement would be subject to the condition that in case the punishment of the court is upheld, such reinstatement shall not be treated as valid attendance for any practical purposes and posted the case for May 21.
New Delhi, April 9 : Children love vacations and yearn for a break from studies to get into the larger world to learn a lot more things. Hence, vacations need to be productive and here is where parents can help by devising and conceptualising inquisitive activities that kids like and learn from. Summer camps provide a great opportunity for kids to try new activities, develop confidence, teamwork and leadership skills, physical fitness and make lifelong memories as outlined by Niru Agarwal, Trustee, Greenwood High International School.

Here are the different things they can do during vacation, check out the list...

Building a routine for children

Ensure that the kids have a schedule, especially during the holidays, and that they have something to look forward to each day. Lack of routine could lead to the development of habits that are not conducive to learning, Children could wake every day with the excitement that they will learn things they havenat before. A new day every day Is highly fulfilling for them.

The Need to Learn Multiple Skills

Parentsa hectic work schedule and the active school life of kids may not allow them to focus on other skills and parents may not find the time to teach crucial life skills to their kids during the academic calendar. Learning skills other than routine work will help students handle the larger world better. Hence summer holidays assume great importance as both children and teachers can spare time for learning things other than academics.

Striking a balance between Home and Outside

Children should realise that life can be diverse and heterogeneous and that they need not remain staid. Sometimes children would stick to just one kind of task which may stunt their growth. Hence, they need to be active both within and outside their homes and balancing their activities would help in their intellectual growth and make them more confident individuals. Too much of either would result in the growth of a unidimensional personality.

Encouraging children to be creative

Encourage your kids to express their creativity by enrolling them in a local art or craft class where they can freely paint, draw, and make things. They will be able to think logically and express their creativity while being engaged in art classes. Enroll your kids in music lessons so they can learn how to play an instrument, sing, or even write songs on their own.

Participating in social work

Volunteering is a great way for kids to give back to their community, develop empathy and compassion, and learn about social issues. They can also get to know the skills involved in social work and replicate the same, which will help them in the future. Look for opportunities at local food banks, animal shelters, or charity organizations.

Learning hobbies will widen horizons

Training in certain activities would help in developing a consistent approach to oneas outlook. Thereas also a hobby youave always wanted to do and summer vacation can be a perfect time to learn new ones. Children can take summer classes to clear their concepts on a variety of subjects, which will give them a head start and enable them to develop an interest in the subjects they find interesting.

How learning a language matters

During the language learning process, you will explore a whole different culture and maybe even make new friends who are also learning the same language. In the current scenario, communication skills are extremely important and learning a new language during your free time would enrich you. You can try to find something that you have always wanted to try - you can join organized classes, e-learning, or watch videos and self-study language or similar other domains. This opens a whole new world.

Set technology boundaries

While technology can be a great tool for learning, it can also be addictive and detrimental to kids' mental and physical health. Thus, there is an immediate need to teach technology to children in a healthy way. Set boundaries on screen time and encourage your kids to engage in other productive activities.

In conclusion, it can be said that the best way to help children spend a productive summer is by finding out new things to learn. This creates excitement and the will to learn. A healthy balance between a variety of activities to engage in is necessary to assist children in whatever activity they prefer as well as in discovering new interests. This will go a long way in ensuring the holistic development of children and a fruitful and productive summer time, concludes Niru Agarwal.

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in
Agartala, April 9 : CPI-M's Tripura Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury on Tuesday said that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are not only about forming a government but also protecting the nation, its democracy and the Constitution.

Addressing an election rally at Baikhora in southern Tripura, Chaudhury, who is also the co-convener of the INDIA bloc in Tripura, accused the ruling BJP of trying to impose dictatorship curbing the independent views, thinking, and actions.

"Over 140 crore people of India are now in grave danger due to the autocratic governance of the BJP. To protect the nation and its people, 27 political parties, despite differences, formed the INDIA bloc to vote out the BJP," he said.

For the first time in the 72-year electoral history of Tripura, the Left and the Congress are contesting together in the parliamentary polls to take on the BJP, though the two traditional rivals jointly fought against the ruling party in last yearas Assembly elections.

The Left leader said there were differences between the Left parties and the Congress but an alliance was formed between them to protect the country, its democracy, and its Constitution.

"Some unelected people backed by the ruling party leaders are controlling everything in Tripura, be it government services, beneficiary selection for government schemes, trade and business, or normal activities of life. If anyone raises any issues against any BJP leaders, he or she would either be attacked or arrested by the law enforcing agencies," Chaudhury alleged.

Criticising the BJPas "Achhe Din" and "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas" slogans, he said that a small section of people close to the ruling party are getting all benefits and privileges. The BJP came to power due to the division of non-BJP and opposition votes, Choudhury said, adding that less than one-third of people supported the BJP.

He alleged that the BJP is killing the democratic system of India and that people would cast their votes against such misdeeds.

Of Tripura's two Lok Sabha seats, Tripura West goes to polls on April 19 and Tripura East on April 26. Congress's state President Asish Kumar Saha is contesting, as the INDIA bloc candidate, in the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat against BJP nominee and former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb while former CPI-M MLA Rajendra Reang is the bloc nominee in the Tripura East constituency, reserved for the tribals, against the BJPas Kriti Devi Debbarma.
New Delhi, April 9 : As Ayodhya readies for the first Ram Navami celebrations after the Pran Pratishtha of the grand Ram Temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22 this year, an old incident has come to the fore showing the latter's inclination for a similar ceremony decades ago, which was related to the plight of the tribals in Gujarat.

In 1983, Narendra Modi, then an RSS Swayamsevak, wrote a poem titled 'Maruti ki Pran Pratishtha' after he witnessed the miserable living conditions of the tribal population, apparently for the first time in his life.

Witnessing the plight of the tribals in the Dharampur region of south Gujarat from close quarters, Narendra Modi penned a poem about their daily struggles and the fight for basic amenities.

'Modi Archive', a popular X handle sharing anecdotes of PM Modi's journey through pictures, videos, and clippings, shared on Tuesday that he witnessed the poor state of affairs of the tribals in the Dharampur region while on his way to attend the 'Pran Pratishtha' of a Hanuman temple in south Gujarat.

"The drive was long, and not a soul was in sight for kilometres at a stretch. On his way to the village, he noticed the tribals of Dharampur who were surviving under a lack of resources. Their bodies had turned black. Witnessing this scene for the first time in his life, Narendra Modi was deeply affected," the X handle said.

After reaching home, Narendra Modi penned a poem titled 'Maruti Ki Pran Pratishtha'.

The X handle also shared the hand-written poem by Narendra Modi, which aimed to draw the attention of the authorities towards the tribals' plights.

Notably, Dharampur is home to several Hanuman temples, including the Bhava Bhairav Mandir, Panwa Hanuman Mandir, and Badi Faliya, which are worshipped by the tribal community to date.

"Narendra Modi used to visit the Dharampur forest area along with his 'Vanbandhus', where they would install idols of Hanuman and build small temples," the post said.
New Delhi April 9 : The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy announced on Tuesday that the deadline for submission of R&D proposals under the National Green Hydrogen Mission has been extended to 27th April 2024.

The Ministry said the call for proposals issued on 16th March 2024 is receiving an encouraging response, but some stakeholders have requested more time for submission of R&D proposals.

In view of such requests and to allow sufficient time for the institutions to submit good-quality proposals, it has been decided to extend the deadline, it added.

The R&D Scheme will be implemented with a total budgetary outlay of Rs 400 crores till the financial year 2025-26.

The support under the R&D program includes all components of the Green Hydrogen value chain, namely, production, storage, compression, transportation, and utilisation.

The R&D projects supported under the mission will be goal-oriented, time-bound, and suitable to be scaled up. In addition to industrial and institutional research, innovative MSMEs and start-ups working on indigenous technology development will also be encouraged under the Scheme, the ministry said.

The R&D scheme seeks to make the production, storage, transportation and utilization of green hydrogen more affordable. It also aims to improve the efficiency, safety and reliability of the relevant processes and technologies involved in the green hydrogen value chain.

The scheme also aims to foster partnerships among industry, academia and government in order to establish an innovation ecosystem for Green Hydrogen technologies.

The scheme will help the scaling up and commercialization of Green Hydrogen technologies by providing the necessary policy and regulatory support.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission was launched on 4th January 2023 with an outlay of Rs. 19,744 crores up to the financial year 2029-30.
Patna, April 9 : Six persons of a family were charred to death in Bihar's Rohtas district on Tuesday afternoon after their huts caught fire, police said.

The fire incident occurred at Ibrahimpur Bridge in Kachwan village under the Kachwan police station.

The SHO, Kachwan police station said that the deceased included three women and three children. Another victim sustained burn injuries and was admitted to the hospital.

Eyewitnesses said there were three huts adjoining the Kachwan bridge and they caught fire after a short-circuit occurred in an electric transformer and sparks fell on their roofs. In the heat, the blaze spread rapidly to engulf all three huts.

While some residents managed to save themselves, six could not escape.

Residents called for the fire brigade and also tried to douse the fire but were unsuccessful. Firemen reached the spot and extinguished the flames, but till that time, the six had died.

Following the blaze, a large number of people reached the spot. Teams of police and civil administration also reached the spot and sent the dead bodies for a post-mortem examination.
New Delhi, April 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday once again slammed the Congress for its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections that was released on April 5.

Addressing a rally in support of BJP candidate Jitin Prasada in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the Congress manifesto reflects the ideology of the Muslim League and follows the policy of "appeasement".

Last week too, PM Modi had criticised the Congress manifesto, calling it a "bundle of lies" with "each page" smelling of "dividing the nation".

"The Congress wants to impose the ideas of the Muslim League of the past era on the India of today. The Leftists have dominated the part of this manifesto bearing the imprint of the Muslim League," PM Modi had said while speaking at a rally in Rajasthan's Pushkar last week.

The Congress manifesto has been in the eye of a storm ever since it was released, with several experts pointing out that it has some similarities with the 1936 Muslim League manifesto and Muhammad Ali Jinnah's 14-point formulation of 1929.

The Congress' 'Nyay Patra' promises to encourage reform of personal laws "undertaken with the participation and consent of the communities concerned".

To recall, the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in 2019 enacted a law against 'triple talaq', which made the social malpractice a criminal offence.

Muslim women across the country too overwhelmingly welcomed the move, which saw a significant decline in such cases after the law came into force.

Experts reckon that Congress' promise to give veto to the community for any reforms in personal laws would be just like what the Muslim League gave in the pre-Independence era.

It has also irked the government, which believes that India's development journey is closely interlinked with the empowerment of its women.

Similarly, the Congress manifesto speaks about restoring the Maulana Azad scholarships for studying abroad and increasing the number of scholarships.

The Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) Scheme was discontinued by the Modi government from 2022-23 as it "overlapped" with various other fellowship programmes for higher education, which already covered students from the minority community.

The Congress manifesto also states that the party will ensure that, like every citizen, minorities will have the "freedom of choice of dress, food, language and personal laws".

It is pertinent to mention that southern India has witnessed a lot of politics over hijab, beef and love jihad since last year.

The Congress is also facing flak for promising in its manifesto that it will not interfere with the "personal choices of food and dress, to love and marry, and to travel and reside in any part of India".

The Congress, meanwhile, moved the Election Commission Monday accusing the Centre of "spreading falsehood" about its manifesto, which it said has "created panic" in the BJP.

"Even today, they are invoking the Muslim League against the Congress Nyay Patra, which has been guided and shaped according to the aspirations, needs and demands of the common Indians," Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge posted on social media.

Irrespective of the criticisms, the Congress said that its manifesto is the "voice of India based on the five pillars of justice" which has an "indelible imprint" on the people of the country.
Mumbai, April 9 : Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray on Tuesday extended his 'unconditional support' to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of a strong leadership for the future of the country and its youth.

Mumbai, April 9 (IANS) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray on Tuesday extended his aunconditional supporta to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of a strong leadership for the future of the country and its youth.

Making the announcement at a Gudi Padva (Maharashtrian New Year) rally here, the MNS chief also said that he had no expectations for any seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls or the Assembly elections scheduled later this year.

Scotching all speculation, Raj Thackeray said he is not concerned about the ruling MahaYuti of Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP, or the aspects of seat-sharing in the state.

The MNS chief also said that he has extended his full support to the firm leadership of PM Modi for the future of the country and its youth, as he hinted at keeping his options open in the coming days.

However, he called upon the MNS workers to get cracking for the Assembly elections due around October this year, amid loud cheers and claps at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park here.

The announcement by the MNS chief -- who is the estranged cousin of Shiv Sena (UBT) President and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray -- is expected to serve as a psychological booster for the MahaYuti ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The development came a day after BJPas Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed hopes that Raj Thackeray would declare his support to the MahaYuti.
New Delhi, April 9 : A Delhi court on Tuesday issued summons to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Amanatullah Khan on the Enforcement Directorate's complaint (ED) over non-compliance to the probe agency's summons in connection with the money laundering case linked to the Delhi Waqf Board regularities.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Divya Malhotra of Rouse Avenue Court took cognisance of ED's complaint and directed Khan to appear before it on April 20.

The probe agency has alleged that Khan, previously a witness, later became an accused in the case by seeking anticipatory bail and evading investigation.

Special Public Prosecutor Simon Benjamin, representing the ED, cited Khan's pivotal role in the matter, saying that his involvement surpasses that of other accused who have already been apprehended and charged.

The ED cited Khan's non-cooperation as a hindrance to the conclusion of the investigation.

On March 11, the Delhi High Court refused anticipatory bail to the AAP legislator in connection with the money laundering case. The allegation was related to Khan's alleged wrongful appointment as Chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board.

The ED had filed the chargesheet against Zeeshan Haider, his partnership firm Skypower, Javed Imam Siddiqui, Dawood Nasir, and Qausar Imam Siddiqui in the case, about property worth Rs 36 crore in Okhla being allegedly acquired with illicit funds, purportedly influenced by Khan, who reportedly handed over Rs 8 crore in cash.

During the investigation, the ED considered FIRs filed earlier by the CBI, the ACB, and the Delhi Police. The ED said that the property was bought at Khan's behest, and presented evidence of a Rs 27 crore cash transaction.
New Delhi, April 9 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday arrested three persons, including a woman, in connection with its ongoing investigation into a money laundering case in the alleged Shine City scam, an official said.

The official said the trio, identified as Asif Naseem, Amitabh Kumar Srivastava, and Meera Srivastava, were produced before a special PMLA court in Lucknow, which sent them to seven-day ED custody.

In January 2021, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed charges against the group and its founders, siblings Rashid and Asif Naseem, accusing them of laundering around Rs 800 crore.

This followed numerous police complaints alleging fraud and swindling of investors. Subsequently, properties belonging to the group valued at Rs 128 crore were seized.

Meanwhile, Rashid, the elder brother, fled the country and is believed to be operating from the UAE.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Uttar Pradesh police, which was handling around 450 cases related to this matter across various police stations, sought Rashid's extradition through the Abu Dhabi Embassy in India in October 2022.
New Delhi, April 9 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached 413 agricultural land parcels in a bank loan fraud case of Punjab & Maharashtra Co-operative Bank (PMC) under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), an official said on Tuesday.

The attached land parcels had a registered value of Rs 52.90 crore.

The ED had initiated an investigation based on the FIR filed by the EOW, Mumbai Police, under various sections of the IPC, against Joy Thomas, Waryam Singh (Directors of PMC Bank), Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Sarang Wadhawan, and other unidentified persons.

"Housing Development & Infrastructure Pvt Ltd (HDIL), its promoters, and other co-accused/accomplices perpetrated a fraud resulting in a loss of Rs 6,117.93 crore against Punjab & Maharashtra Co-operative Bank (PMC)," the ED said in a statement on Tuesday.

The ED investigation also revealed that during the period 2010 to 2013, HDIL promoters Sarang Wadhawan and Rakesh Wadhawan diverted Proceeds of Crime amounting to Rs 82.30 crore to the accounts of 39 farmers through their subsidiary companies, namely, Privilege Power and Infrastructure Limited and Privilege Hi-Tech Infrastructure Limited for the acquisition of lands.

The agency said that Sarang Wadhawan, in collusion with his employee Mukesh Khadpe, persuaded farmers to acquire lands in their names and transfer the ownership to HDIL group companies in exchange for commissions and other benefits.

Cash transactions were also utilised for land acquisitions.

Previously, on October 17, 2019, the principal accused, Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, and his son Sarang Wadhawan were arrested for their involvement in the offence of money laundering.

A prosecution complaint and two supplementary complaints have already been filed against them and 36 other individuals/entities.

To date, the ED has attached assets totaling Rs 719.11 crore under the provisions of PMLA.
Kolkata, April 9 : The East Midnapore district administration on Tuesday submitted a detailed report to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, over the reported attack on a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team at Bhupatinagar in the district on April 6.

Soon after the submission of the report, the Election Commission of India (ECI) sought a detailed report in the matter from the state government.

Sources in the CEO's office said that although the East Midnapore district administration submitted a report on Tuesday, a separate report from the Chief Secretary is awaited.

The report from the district administration, according to sources, has been prepared based on the inputs from the district police.

The attack took place on the morning of April 6 when an NIA team was returning from Bhupatinagar after arresting two local Trinamool Congress leaders in connection with a blast there in December 2022 that killed three persons.

The attack was led by a group of local villagers reportedly enjoying the backing of the ruling party.

Meanwhile, sources in the CEO's office said the report filed by the district administration admits that the NIA team was attacked.

"In the report, it was also admitted that the NIA had informed the district police about conducting a raid at Bhupatinagar on the morning of April 6. It has also been claimed that senior officers of the district police reached the spot on receiving the news of the attack on the central agency team," the sources said.
New Delhi, April 9 : Surinder Chawla, CEO and MD of Paytm Payments Bank, has stepped down from his position, the company said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday.

One 97 Communications Limited said that it has been informed by its associate entity, Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL), that "Surinder Chawla, Managing Director and CEO of PPBL has tendered his resignation on April 8, 2024, on account of personal reasons and to explore better career prospects".

He will be relieved from PPBL on June 26, "unless changed by mutual consent".

"As informed earlier, nearly all agreements between the company and PPBL have been terminated as per our disclosure on March 1, 2024, and the board of PPBL has been reconstituted with five independent directors including an Independent Chairperson, and no nominees from the Company," said the Paytm parent company.

The company said it continues to collaborate with banking partners to "enhance our merchant acquiring and UPI services".

Paytm Payments Bank hasn't yet disclosed who will replace Chawla, who joined the Paytm Payments Bank in February last year.

In February, Paytm's Founder and CEO, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, stepped down as Non-Executive Chairman and Board Member of PPBL, after the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) ban on the bank's operations.
Kolkata, April 9 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address an election rally in support of the BJP candidate from the Balurghat Lok Sabha constituency, Sukanta Majumdar, at Buniadpur in West Bengal's South Dinajpur district on Wednesday.

Majumdar is also the President of the West Bengal unit of the BJP.

This will be the first rally to be addressed by the Home Minister in West Bengal since the election dates were announced on March 16.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already addressed a series of rallies in different parts of West Bengal in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls which will be held in the state in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. The results will be out on June 4.

Amit Shah last visited the state in December last year. State BJP sources said the Home Minister will address the rally at around 12 noon in Buniadpur, where he is expected to set a target for the state BJP on the number of seats the party expects to win in West Bengal.

During his earlier visit to West Bengal, he had set a target of winning 35 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal.

The Home Minister is also expected to highlight issues such as the recent attack on a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team at Bhupatinagar in East Midnapore district, and the alleged sexual harassment of women at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district.
New Delhi, April 9 : The Chief Justice of India (CJI), D.Y. Chandrachud, on Tuesday exhibited a compassionate gesture by addressing the discomfort faced by the junior lawyers during court proceedings.

Observing the young lawyers diligently working with laptops in their hands, the CJI intervened during a court proceeding to ensure their comfort.

He instructed the court master to arrange for stools to provide seats to the junior lawyers.

After the lunch break, the courtroom witnessed a transformation as a row of stools was arranged, creating a more accommodating environment for the junior lawyers.

Chandrachud personally oversaw the seating arrangements and even sat on the stools to ensure their suitability.

The gesture by the CJI received praise from various quarters, including Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who lauded Chandrachud's generosity and consideration towards the junior lawyers.
Chennai, April 9 : Tamil Nadu unit BJP President K. Annamalai on Tuesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for holding an "electrifying roadshow" here, saying the event boosted the spirit of the people in the city.

Taking to X, the BJP candidate from Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat said: "We thank PM Modi for the electrifying roadshow in Chennai today, raising the spirit of the people of Chennai. We also thank the people of Chennai for the rousing reception given to our beloved PM, welcoming him with warmth.

"The exhilarating roadshow exemplifies the bond of love shared between PM Modi and the people of Tamil Nadu, who are all set for the much-awaited political change in the state," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu.

On Wednesday, PM Modi will take part in programmes at Vellore, and Mettupalayam in Coimbatore.

PM Modi will also visit Pollachi and attend a programme there.

PM Modi, who is on a whirlwind campaign trail, on Tuesday held a 2.5 km roadshow here that got a rousing reception with thousands of people lining up on both sides of the road, raising slogans in support of the BJP, and PM Modi, while showering flower petals on his convoy.

PM Modi, during the roadshow, was accompanied by K. Annamalai; party's Chennai South candidate, Tamilisai Soundararajan; Chennai North candidate, R.C. Paul Kanagaraj and Chennai Central nominee, Vinoj P. Selvam.
Agartala, April 9 : Former Tripura Chief Minister and CPI-M politburo member Manik Sarkar said on Tuesday that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be a battle between the BJP-led NDA and the people of India.

Addressing an election rally in support of the INDIA bloc candidates here on Tuesday, Sarkar said it was essential to change the government in Tripura in 2018 so that the people could compare the quality of governance between the previous Left Front and the current BJP regime.

In 2018, the BJP ousted the CPI-M-led Left Front government headed by Sarkar after it ruled Tripura for 25 consecutive years (1993-2018).

The veteran Left leader also said that during the six years of BJP rule, the experience of the people of Tripura has been horrific.

"Since the BJP came to power in 2018, no elections in the state were held properly as many people could not even cast their votes. Last year, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), which was in the opposition for the Assembly elections, put up 42 candidates both in the tribal reserved and general seats, and due to a division of votes, the BJP came to power for the second term," Sarkar said.

Sarkar also criticised the BJP for its alleged 'misrule', saying that poverty, unemployment, poor wages for workers, and privatisation of education, power, and health sectors are prevalent in the country as well as in Tripura and that's why the BJP must be voted out.

Two Lok Sabha seats in the state -- Tripura West and Tripura East -- will go to the polls on April 19 and 26, respectively. The results will be out on June 4.

While the Congress has fielded its state unit chief Asish Kumar Saha from Tripura West against BJP nominee and ex-Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, former CPI-M MLA Rajendra Reang will contest the polls against BJP's Kriti Devi Debbarma in the Tripura East constituency.
New Delhi, April 10 : The fire department and the police rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) late on Tuesday evening after receiving a call reporting a fire in the surgery block of the institute, but the call turned out to be a hoax, a fire department official said.

According to the Director of Delhi Fire Service (DFS), Atul Garg, the call regarding the blaze in the surgery block on the top floor of AIIMS was received at 9:38 p.m.

"Seven fire tenders were rushed to AIIMS, but no fire was found on the spot. It turned out to be a hoax call," said Garg.

A senior police officer said they are looking into the matter.
Bengaluru, April 10 : Karnataka's ruling Congress submitted a plea to the Election Commission on Tuesday, seeking direction to the Union government to immediately release the drought relief fund of Rs 4,663 crore and an additional fund of Rs 18,171 crore to the state.

The plea, signed by state Congress President and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, was submitted to the Election Commission through the state Chief Electoral Officer.

"The Congress wants to draw the attention of the Commission that out of 240 taluks, 224 taluks have been declared as drought-affected in Karnataka. In this, more than 48 lakh hectares of standing crops belonging to 34 lakh farmers failed, causing damages of more than Rs 37,000 crore. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a statement on April 6 at a press conference organised by the BJP in Bangalore, stating that the Union Government had written to the Election Commission on March 28 seeking permission to hold a meeting of the high power committee to clear several proposals for disaster relief, including drought relief for Karnataka," it said.

The plea contended that the Union Finance Minister "categorically concedes delay in releasing drought relief by giving a reason that the Election Commission has not permitted to hold a meeting of the High-Power Committee" while noting that the people of the state have been suffering due to a lack of adequate relief funds to meet basic requirements viz drinking water, fodder, employment and crop loss etc.

"As a matter of right, the states are entitled to NDRF and other funds from the Union Government whenever a disaster occurs in the concerned state. Even the provisions of law and the Model Code of Conduct of the election 2024 will not come in the way of releasing drought relief funds to the state. The Union Government has wrongly contended that the Election Commission has to permit a meeting of the High-Power Committee to clear drought relief funds to Karnataka," it said.

The Congress sought that to deal with the Centre's excuse, the poll panel direct it to hold the necessary meeting to release the relief fund immediately so that the state can tackle the severe drought situation on a war footing, in the interest of the people of the state.
Chennai, April 10 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two public meetings in Vellore and Mettupalayam in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

PM Modi on Tuesday held a roadshow here.

On Wednesday morning, PM Modi will travel to Vellore in a helicopter.

He will address a public meeting at around 10.15 a.m. at Vellore Fort grounds.

PM Modi will then travel to Arkonam by road and from there, he will reach Coimbatore at around 1.10 p.m.

He will then address a public meeting at Mettupalayam for the election campaign of several BJP leaders.
Kolkata, April 10 : The Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist on Tuesday said that it is not backing any specific party or alliance in West Bengal but any political force which can defeat the BJP, contradicting the Left Front's claim.

"We are contesting only one of the 42 constituencies in West Bengal, which is Bardhaman-Purba. For that constituency, we will be seeking votes in support of our candidate. But in case of the remaining 41 constituencies in the state, we will appeal to the people to vote for any party except the BJP or for any party which can defeat the BJP," CPI-ML General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya told media persons here.

His statement was in total contradiction to the claims of Left Front Chairman Biman Bose that, barring the lone seat from where it is contesting, the CPI-ML will extend support to the Left Front-Congress arrangement in the state.

Asked about this, Bhattacharya said: "I do not know what Bimanda has said. But we are not giving any call to vote for any particular political party. Our only call is that the BJP should be defeated."

He also contended that his party is not in agreement with the theory floated by the Left Front and state Congress that the BJP and the Trinamool Congress are equally alarming.

"At the national level, the CPI-ML is a part of the opposition INDIA bloc. Other parties like the CPI-M, the Congress and Trinamool Congress are also part of that opposition bloc. So if we call for voting for any particular political party in that alliance, that will be a dichotomy on our part," Bhattacharya said.

The CPI-ML is contesting a total of seven Lok Sabha constituencies, out of which three are in Bihar, where the party has the maximum organisational strength, as well as one each in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Andhra Pradesh.
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Bengaluru: Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri along with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Minister R Ashoka, and others during the inauguration of 7.5 km segment of Bengaluru Metro Purple Line from Mysuru road me. Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, April 10 : A youth here on Tuesday was allegedly stopped by the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials from boarding the Metro train as his shirt was unbuttoned.

The BMRCL staff at the Doddakallasandra Metro Station had apparently asked the youth to button up his shirt and come to the Metro station with clean clothes, otherwise he would not be allowed to enter the Metro station.

Meanwhile, the co-passengers "intervened" and one of the passengers recorded the incident and shared it on social media.

"One more cloth/attire related incident happened in front of me just now. A labourer was stopped and told to stitch up his top two buttons. When did Namma Metro become like this?" the co-passenger posted on X, tagging BMRCL and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya.

Meanwhile, the BMRCL said that all passengers are treated equally.

"No differentiation will be made on the basis of whether the passengers are rich or poor, men or women. The officials suspected that the passenger was in an inebriated state, and he was made to stand to ensure he would not trouble women and children while travelling on the Metro. After counselling, he was allowed to travel," an official said.

Earlier, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation had sacked a security staffer following public outcry over the BMRCL staff not allowing a farmer to board the train.

The farmer was wearing tattered clothes and carried a bag on his head.
Raipur, April 10 : At least six people were killed after a bus carrying around 50 passengers fell into a canal in Chhattisgarh's Durg district late on Tuesday, the police said.

More than a dozen passengers were also injured, some of whom suffered severe injuries.

Durg Superintendent of Police, Jitendra Shukla, confirmed six deaths so far, however, the report suggested that the death toll may increase further.

The tragic incident occurred at the Khumari area when a bus carrying the employees of Kedia distillery fell into a 50-feet deep ditch.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed his grief over the tragic incident and sent his condolences to the deceased victims.

"I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. I have requested the administration to arrange for proper treatment of the injured," CM Deo Sai posted a message on his official X account.

The rescue operation is underway and those injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

BJP leader Brijmohan Agrawal and former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel expressed their condolences over this tragic incident.

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Baghel also expressed his condolences and said he has requested for the arrangement of proper treatment for those injured.
United Nations, April 10 : The negotiations for reforming the UN Security Council have not "begun in earnest" and the process is stuck in "informal discussions," according to General Assembly President Dennis Francis.

"Under the ambit of the IGN what is taking place are informal discussions that predate the commencement of formal negotiations," he said on Tuesday referring to the Intergovernmental Negotiations process for reforms.

He would not set a time frame for the negotiations, saying, "The member states themselves will determine the timing of the commencement of formal negotiations, but we are not yet there."

Francis was asked at his news conference about the veto-mired Security Council's inability to deal with the Ukraine and Gaza crises and if it was directly connected to the failure of the reform process.

He said that the assertion that the reform negotiations were a failure "is not quite accurate because the IGN process has not failed".

"It's a members-driven process. This is a member-driven organisation. They have not yet made that determination (about moving to earnest negotiations). They will when they think the time and context is right," he said.

"What is taking place now, is a sort of introductory preliminary discussion, not negotiations regarding the various models that are on the table in terms of the reform process and what the Security Council can and might look like if any particular one of these models are chosen," he said.

The Council's basic architecture is built around the primacy of the five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the US, with veto powers reflecting the post-World War II scenario.

The veto powers have blocked Council action on several important issues.

A majority of countries from the Global South have demanded giving them an equal voice by expanding the ranks of permanent members.

India and several countries have repeatedly demanded the adoption of a negotiating text that would set the agenda and identify the points for discussion to move the reforms forward.

But it has been blocked by a small coterie of nations that style themselves Uniting for Consensus and is led by Italy and includes Pakistan as a vociferous member.

Setting a Catch-22 scenario, they demand that there could be no negotiating text unless there is a consensus -- which cannot be achieved without serious negotiations based on a text.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
Each year the Bologna Childrens Book Fair honors a half dozen publishers with the BOP - Bologna Prize for the Best Childrens Publishers of the Year. The award, created in collaboration with the Italian Publishers Association (AIE) and the International Publishers Association (IPA), recognizes the best publishers from six regions worldwide: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Central and South America and the Caribbean, and Oceania.

The winners for 2024 were announced Monday, April 8, at a ceremony at the Sala Maggiore, an iconic building next to the fairgrounds famous for hosting the performance Imponderabilia in 1977, by Marina Abramovic and Ulay, in which audience members were forced to squeeze through a doorway between the performers naked bodies.

This years winners, with citations from the fair, are:

Africa: Yanbow Al Kitab was founded by Amina Hachimi Alaoui in 2006 in Morocco. It publishes childrens books with a Moroccan/Arabic cultural focus in French, Arabic, and English.

Asia: POPLAR Publishing Co., Ltd., a leading independent publisher in Japan, has been in business for more than 70 years and aims to provide enjoyable and exciting books for children.

Europe: Mosquito Books Barcelona, a small Spanish publishing house, specializes in nonfiction picture books and has co-editions in more than 10 languages.

North America: Greystone Kids, an imprint of Greystone Books in Canada, produces books that help children understand the wonders of nature and the complex world around them.

Central, South America, and Caribbean: Cataplum Libros from Colombia creates books by exploring Latin American roots, recovering oral traditions, and collaborating with authors and illustrators to harmoniously blend text and image.

Oceania: Huia Publishers, a Maori-owned independent publisher from New Zealand, has been sharing stories that resonate with their people and value their culture and language since 1991.
As expected, this years Bologna Childrens Book Fair is itself touched by and reflective of the global political scene, particularly the wars in the Middle East and in Ukraine. The plight of the Palestinians was at the center of several protests at the fair. One of the most prominent, dubbed the Unfair campaign, shows black-and-white sketches of children who have been killed in Gaza, bearing the name of the child, their age, and the statement they will never read again. A booth at the fair presents the exhibition Drawing for Palestine, which offers 56 illustrations for sale with the intent of raising awareness about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The illustrations are all for sale with proceeds going to UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Another poster, displayed prominently around the fair, reads simply, Books Not War, above an illustration of a bombed city in ruins and on fire.

Books, too, address the issue, albeit somewhat more obliquely. Publisher Sylvia Vassena of Acoma Books in Milan is selling rights to Mama's Perfume, a picture book by Palestinian illustrator Baraa Awoor and Lebanese author Sharar Naja Mahfouz. The book depicts the relationship between a mother and her child, who is sent off to school with a perfumed scarf to comfort them and remind them of home. The books features illustrations created using various techniques such as oil, watercolors, golden dust, newspaper clippings, and handmade stamps. I first came across Awoors work last year at the Sharjah International Book Fair, Vassena told PW. Usually, her books depict the trauma of life in Palestine, but this one is different and sends a message of hope. The ever-changing visual elements reflect the continuously shifting reality experienced by children in Gaza.

The book was originally published by Kiwi Stories, a publishing house run by Mahfouz in Dubai, where both Mahfouz and Awoor live. It has already reached its third edition in Arabic. Vassena has acquired the international rights and is working on selling translations and licenses worldwide. She believes the book's theme of identity is crucial in today's world, where people often confuse identity with ideology.

Awoors studio in Gaza City was in a building destroyed by bombs and razed to the ground, destroying all her work. She was told the explosion sent up a cloud of colored dust, glitter and paint, Vassena said. Can you imagine the surprise the Israelis must have felt at destroying such a building?

During a presentation held by the International Board on Books for Young People preceding the announcement of IBBYs Hans Christian Andersen and reading promotion awards, executive director Carolina Ballester spoke of the wars disruption and destruction of an IBBY-supported library in Gaza. The organization remains dedicated to rebuilding these efforts through its Children in Crisis project. IBBY has always transcended boundaries of race and religion, she said. In keeping with that spirit, the theme of this years IBBY conference in Trieste, Italy, is Join the Revolution: Giving every child good books.

Interest and focus on the war in Ukraine has waned somewhat, but remains an urgent matter of concern. As has been the case since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia two years ago, Russian participation in Bologna has been banned. The Ukrainian publishing industry has a booth this year, flanked by another for Old Lion Press from Lviv, perhaps the countrys best-known publisher of childrens books for the international market. Bologna created a new prize this year, given under the auspices of the fairs BolognaBookPlus program, called the Talking Pictures prize. The award, which celebrates excellence in Ukrainian adult publishing, was won by Projector Publishing for The Telegraf, a magazine series devoted to Ukrainian visual culture.

U.K. illustrator Neil Packer, who is the 2024 BolognaBookPlus author ambassador and served as one of the judges for the prize, said, It was an honor and a privilege to be asked to help select a winner for Talking Pictures 2024. The breadth and depth of the entries was remarkable and in many cases the subject matter was profoundly moving.
Australias Indigenous Literacy Foundation is the winner of the 2024 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, the worlds largest childrens book prize, with the laureate receiving five million Swedish krona (more than $474,000 at present exchange rates). The award was announced live from Stockholm on April 9, and broadcast simultaneously at the Bologna Childrens Book Fair.

ILFs mission is to support access to reading and storytelling among First National children. Reading from the ALMA jurys citation, Balsam Karam said, By spreading books and stimulating reading, storytelling, and creativity, Indigenous Literacy Foundation builds the desire to read and fosters pride, self-confidence, and a sense of belonging. Every child has the right to their language and their stories.

Founded in 2011 by Suzy Wilson, a former teacher and education consultant who owns Riverbend Books, ILF offers robust initiatives, including a book supply and book buzz program; opportunities for children to work with local authors and illustrators to create and publish their own stories; and the Reading Opens Doors Library, a selection of titles that aim to promote awareness of First Nations languages and culture.

The nonprofit has worked with more than 400 remote communities, donated more than 750,00 books, supplied 100 playgroups with early literacy resources, and published 109 books reflecting 31 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. ILF is supported by the Australian Publishers Association, the Australian Booksellers Association, the Australian Society of Authors, and the Childrens Book Council of Australia.

Nicola Robinson of ILF was present to accept the award. She thanked members of the ALMA jury, some of whom visited Australia to see the organization in action. Childrens book people are the best people, Robinson said, adding that the prize acknowledges the strength and resilience of the First Nation communities ILF serves. This award will allow us to continue our literacy work, which touches the lives of so many children and parents.
The train service between Belfast and Dublin is set to be improved thanks to a 165million investment from the PEACEPLUS programme that will fund a major transformation of the cross-border Enterprise service.

An hourly timetable and shorter journey times of at least 1 hour 55 minutes between Dublin and Belfast will come after new trains are introduced as part of the Enterprise Fleet Replacement Programme.

The programme is scheduled to be completed by 2030 with funding by the PEACEPLUS programme, and contributions from the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and the Department of Transport in Ireland.

As part of the programme, eight new, modern, and sustainable trains will replace the current Enterprise fleet of four-carriage trains.

Both jurisdictions aim to have a fully electrified cross-border rail corridor over the coming decades, and the new trains will support net zero carbon emission aims.

An original Dublin to Belfast Enterprise Express at Lisburn in 1965. // Credit: Roger Smith

The PEACEPLUS Programme aims to promote peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. It has a total value of 1.14 billion for the next five years, is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body, and is funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Elsewhere in Ireland, south of the border, Alstom is installing the European Train Control System (ETCS), and Northern Irelands public transport operator Translink has signed an agreement with SISCOG to revolutionise its daily operations; SISCOG provides optimisation of resources and company solutions for London Underground.

PEACEPLUS launch.// Credit: PEACEPLUS

I am satisfied and happy that the EU plays an important role in this new major investment by the Peace Plus Programme. The thrust of the programme has always been about transformation, regeneration and creating thriving communities. The EUR 165 million investment in improving the cross-border rail service between Belfast and Dublin by the Enterprise Fleet Replacement Programme transforms these ambitions into reality. The investment will bring concrete benefits for the local communities. Citizens and businesses will have easier and quicker access to Dublin and Belfast and be more connected. This will help the local communities grow and create opportunities, while delivering on the net zero carbon emissions goal. I would also like to underline the constructive, creative and collaborative approach between the Irish and UK Governments, the Northern Ireland Executive, SEUPB and the European Union, which are all vital components in ensuring the success of the Peace Plus Programme. Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms

This is an exciting time for rail travel. The new fleet will pave the way for the Enterprise service to become the first electrified inter-city service on the island which will support our decarbonisation commitments. The investment will improve the experience of people travelling by train and encourage others to use these services. By doing so you will be playing your part in our shared journey to net zero as well as enjoying the many benefits to be gained by rail travel. John ODowd, Department for Infrastructure Minister

I welcome this significant investment in the Enterprise Fleet Replacement Programme. The flagship Enterprise service is a very visible and well-known symbol of North-South cooperation and this replacement programme is a key priority of both Governments. The programme will significantly improve accessibility between the two largest cities on the island through increased service frequency and a faster journey time. This is another indication of the ambition we have to put the island of Ireland on track for a new age of rail, connecting more cities and towns and opening up quality rail service to more people. The funding for this programme under the PEACEPLUS programme and from both Government Departments demonstrates the positive impact cooperation has on meeting our shared goals of a cleaner, greener, interconnected all-island future. Eamon Ryan TD, Department for Transport Minister

I am so pleased by the news of the fantastic investment that is going into the Enterprise Fleet Replacement Programme through the PEACEPLUS programme. The transformation of cross-border rail services between Belfast and Dublin is going to create unique and exciting opportunities for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland alike. We should not underestimate the impact that this infrastructure will have on the economic growth of the region, by ensuring there are the right conditions in place to thrive, prosper and be the best place in the world to invest. A key theme of PEACEPLUS is collaboration and partnership  through this programme I look forward to working with the Irish Government, Northern Ireland Executive and SEUPB to ensure that our shared ambitions for peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland are realised. The UKs 730 million investment into PEACEPLUS was only the first step to building on these ambitions. Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Rhetoric around U.S.-China relations in the past few years has frequently been framed as an unavoidable New Cold War, pitting the U.S. and its allies as the democratic bloc vs a China-led autocratic bloc, with Russia playing a supporting role for the latter.

However, its a term and a framework that both U.S. rhetoric and policy need to turn away from, as the Cold War is a poor point of comparison for todays great power competition between the U.S. and China. Even the lowercase cold war understanding of bilateral competition will continue to be overshadowed by capitalized Cold War ghosts, especially considering that the term was coined to describe U.S.-Soviet relations specifically. If U.S. policymakers are trapped in an ill-fitting framework of historical memory, they will be more likely to recycle Cold War strategies, regardless of whether those strategies are the most effective means of promoting U.S. interests in the face of a rising China.

In the Cold War, the U.S. and the Soviet Union existed in almost entirely separate economic blocs, with little trade between them and certainly no economic interdependence. This left the two superpowers to focus their competition on military power and global spheres of influence. The U.S.-China situation looks very different, with a massive amount of economic interdependence between the two, despite efforts toward "decoupling." Aggressive military posturing will therefore have very different consequences in this new era of competition. In attempting to hurt one another economically, the U.S. and China ultimately face mutually assured economic destruction and both regimes should be proceeding with more caution.

China's President Xi Jinping seems to be cognizant of this reality. Despite ongoing tensions between the two countries, Xi met with U.S. business leaders on March 27th in Beijing to call for closer trade ties and emphasize the mutually beneficial economic relationship between the worlds two largest economies. Xi sought specifically to encourage American foreign investment, assuring reforms and encouraging confidence in the Chinese economy. Despite ongoing challenges to mutually beneficial economic cooperation, it seems that Xi recognizes that the interdependence of the worlds two largest economies binds the economic wellbeing of each to the other, for better or for worse.

In 2022, over 20% of Chinese GDP came from the export of goods and services, with about 16% of all Chinese exports going to the United States. Because the United States and Soviet Union were not economically interdependent, competition could more easily fit into a zero-sum game of wins and losses. With China, a policy pursuing a net Chinese loss is likely to have unforeseen economic consequences for the United States. The unintended costs could be higher than the U.S. was willing to pay. China finds itself in the same position. If the Chinese government is making an effort with American businessmen, then that is a positive sign that Beijing would be willing to work on issues directly with the U.S. government, to ease tensions and step back from cold war inevitability.

Such an economic dynamic was not at all present in the Soviet-US relationship. During much of the Cold War, only about 3% of Soviet GDP came from exports, with over half of that going to other Warsaw pact countries. U.S.-Soviet trade peaked in 1979, and even at that high point, it came to just one percent of all US trade. The U.S. certainly didnt consume a substantial amount of Soviet exports, and the Soviets were never reliant on U.S. consumption the way that China is.

Furthermore, the entire global economy is more integrated today than it was during the Cold War, with the sum of exports and imports across all nations amounting to more than 50% of the value of total global output, as compared to about 30% in 1979. The overall increased level of integration of the global economy make for a situation where third party countries do not want to be forced to choose sides in a U.S.-China Cold War scenario.

In 2020, 15 countries in the region, including U.S. allies, signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a trade agreement for the Asia Pacific that includes China, but was brokered by ASEAN. By pulling out of negotiations for the overlapping trade agreement, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which was signed in 2018, the United States is entirely isolated from the economic benefits of RCEP. U.S. policy at the time focused more on isolating China rather than fully engaging the realities of the economic networks in Asia.

If the U.S. were to commit to the old Cold War play book of spheres of influence, it would be attempting to force Asia-Pacific countries into a global framework that contradicted their own security and economic interests. As a result, the U.S. would end up alienating itself in the region, an outcome that is against its own security and economic interests. Instead of trying to recycle a Chinese containment policy in Southeast Asia that was not even originally successful during the Cold War, U.S. policymakers should be attempting to learn from those mistakes and use that understanding to build better relationships in the Pacific.

Sabreena Croteau is a Research Associate at Defense Priorities.
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Constituencies that are going to the polls in the first phase, slated for April 19, have just 19 days for campaigning. Contrast that with those going to polls in the 7th phase, notes N Sathiya Moorthy.

IMAGE: Dravida Munnetra Kazagham President M K Stalin during an election campaign at Chidambaram Lok Sabha constituency, April 6, 2024. Photograph: Kind courtesy DMK/X

Political parties are not complaining, maybe they do not have time and energy for it, given the short campaign time in the Election Commission's schedule for the first phase of the seven-phase polling for the Lok Sabha polls.

But the fact is that the states or constituencies that are going to the polls in the first phase, slated for April 19, have just 19 days for campaigning after the withdrawal of nominations, and will have to wait for a full 45 days for knowing the results, scheduled for June 4, on the completion of polling across the country's 543 constituencies.

A total of 102 constituencies in 21 states and Union Territories have polling in the first phase.

That includes 39 in a large state like Tamil Nadu, with an add-on in the form of the adjoining Union Territory of Puducherry.

The worst hit among them are Independents, who within the stipulated time-frame are expected to popularise their symbols among the constituency's voters, numbering around 1.5 million to 2 million.

The irony here is that Tamil Nadu's three-time chief minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) is one of those independents, contesting in the coastal constituency of Ramanathapuram where the recent Katchatheevu controversy is located.

He is an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, after courts refused to concede his demand to contest on the AIADMK's 'Two Leaves' symbol.

OPS had once headed the party, which under his successor chief minister, Edappadi Palaniswami, has since expelled him.

OPS is an outsider to the constituency, having been forced to stay away from his native Theni constituency, where his son Raveendranath Kumar had won on the 'Two Leaves' symbol in the 2019 elections.

Raveendranath Kumar was the lone winner from the AIADMK-BJP alliance in 2019, the rest of them, including Puducherry going to the rival DMK-Congress combine.

According to reports, the BJP wanted OPS and his ex-AIADMK leaders to contest on the party's 'Lotus' symbol.

Following in the footsteps of the two Dravidian majors, namely the ruling DMK and the Opposition AIADMK, the BJP's strategy this time is to show a higher poll percentage on the 'Lotus' symbol, to claim the second place in the state -- at least for the rest of the country to see -- whether or not it is able to unseat the DMK-Congress combine.

Panneerselvam is not the only non-BJP candidate to contest as BJP's ally but on an 'Independent' symbol.

He has been allotted 'Jackfruit' as his symbol -- but he does not have enough time to popularise his symbol.

By itself his group does not have enough cadres in the constituency or elsewhere in the state, possibly barring his native Theni constituency.

Of course, the BJP has a substantial presence, but voters identify them with the 'Lotus' symbol.

They too may thus find it difficult to replace the associated voter image, from the Lotus to the Jackfruit this time.

OPS is not alone in the BJP alliance facing the predicament.

His estranged erstwhile AIADMK colleague T T V Dhinakaran has been allotted two seats by the BJP against the one that he confessed he had sought.

Behind the two-seat theory is the Election Commission rule that unregistered/unrecognised parties contesting in two constituencies alone would be entitled to choose a symbol from the Independents pool.

This way, Dhinakaran gets to retain his 'Pressure Cooker' symbol from his victory in the R K Nagar assembly constituency in Chennai, earlier held by the late AIADMK chief minister Jayalalithaa.

Of course, TTV had won from Theni, where he is an 'outsider' once earlier, but that was under the popular 'Two Leaves' symbol.

Though reports claim that TTV has been working in the constituency for the past two years, and hopes for support from the OPS clan in Theni, his camp accepts in private that they do not have adequate time either to popularise the 'Pressure Cooker' in the constituency, or to erase the voter memory that links TTV and his cadres to the 'Two Leaves'.

IMAGE: O Panneerselvam campaigns in the Ramanathapuram constituency. Photograph: Kind courtesy O Panneerselvam/X

But then, the BJP-National Democratic Alliance is not alone in it.

In the rival DMK-Congress combine, the MDMK's Durai Vaiyapuri, son of party founder Vaiko, is facing the music in urban Tiruchi, where they count on local DMK strongman and senior state minister K N Nehru.

It is another matter that Nehru's son Arun Nehru is the DMK candidate in the adjoining Perambalur constituency, but their collective problem is to popularise Durai Vaiko's symbol 'Matchbox' against the MDMK's traditional symbol 'Top', which it lost long ago after failing to meet any of the Election Commission criteria.

Already, the not-so-politically experienced Durai Vaiko/Vaiyapuri had an avoidable run-in, that too in front of the camera, when at a joint cadre meeting of the INDIA bloc a fortnight before he was allotted the 'Matchbox' symbol, an anxious lower-level office-bearer of the DMK told him to his face that it would have been easy for them to take his symbol to the voters if he had contested on the DMK's 'Rising Sun' symbol, and Vaiko's sentimentally-touchy son swore that he would rather die if he could not contest on his party's symbol.

It required a lot of prodding at higher levels to pacify the DMK cadres, who predictably are upset that the new symbol is not even the traditional one of the MDMK.

Nothing explains the problems faced by political party cadres in popularising new symbols to the voters within the available time, which is less than three weeks.

Worse still, over the past two decades and more, the Election Commission's restrictions have cut into the campaign period, from months to weeks to days, and daily timing only up to 10 pm.

With the number of two-income families increasing exponentially in the post-Reforms era, especially in 'developed states' like Tamil Nadu, the restriction on campaign period and daily timing has denied a 'level playing field' for all Independent candidates to popularise their symbols.

According to insiders in both the DMK and BJP-led alliances, if their otherwise well-known candidates lose, then it would owe mainly to their symbols, or lack of time to popularise it among a large electorate spread across six assembly segments, in towns and villages alike.

As may be recalled, Tamil Nadu is the fastest-urbanising state in the country, with a 50+ per cent urbanisation.

Statistics recently showed that half the women factory workers in the country reside in the state.

Then, there are issues like the large fisher population in OPS's Ramanathapuram being out at sea for all day and at times night, running up to early morning hours and beyond.

In Dhinakaran's Theni, mountain-villages are hard to access, that too in the summer.

Less said about Durai Vaiyapuri's urbanised Tiruchi, where people are always on the move because of central PSU jobs, factory and farm work, alike.

IMAGE: Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Seeman campaigns for the party's Chennai South Lok Sabha candidate Karthikeyan at the Chindathirippet fish market in Chennai, April 4, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Like Dhinakaran, you have a DMK ally in Thol Thirumavalavan's Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi .

He was made to wait until the very last minute -- though thankfully not beyond -- to obtain the earlier symbol 'Pot'.

In 2019, one of the VCK's two MPs contested and won on the DMK's 'Rising Sun' symbol.

Thirumavalavan alone won his Chidambaram (SC) seat on the 'Pot' symbol.

It took the VCK's petition before the Madras high court and also the fact that the party has four MLAs in the state assembly who had won their seats on the 'Pot' symbol in the DMK alliance, before the Election Commission relented.

The delay has meant loss of valuable campaign time, required to popularise the symbol across extended Lok Sabha constituencies with six assembly segments each.

The ultimate loser in this symbolic game of symbols is actor-politician Seeman's Naam Thamizhar Katchi (NKT).

It's ironic that the party and leader who had named their candidates for, yes, all 40 constituencies, including Puducherry, weeks ahead of the rest, and who have been actively campaigning across the state without respite after every election, was denied the old symbol of 'Sugarcane Farmer'.

The reason? The Election Commission claimed that Seeman, whose party was not 'recognised', was late in seeking the 'reserved' symbol, and a Karnataka outfit had sought and obtained it months earlier.

According to the Election Commission, the Karnataka party that got the 'Sugarcane Farmer' symbol also intended contesting in Tamil Nadu.

According to news reports, the party held a news conference to announce that it planned to do so.

Now, after the closing of nominations and allotment of symbols, the claim needs verification.

One may contest Seeman's style of politics and campaign, and more so his pan-Tamil political ideology and philosophy, but everyone is stumped by his never-say-die electoral attitude, and his ability to return to the political arena after every defeat, like only DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi had done before him.

As if on cue still, the Election Commission has allotted the 'Mike' symbol to the NKT as Seeman's imagery in individual minds is always about his standing in front of a mike or holding a mike and addressing those before him with an aggressive face and an assertive tone.

Yet, insiders concede that it will still be difficult for them to popularise the new symbol across all constituencies as the fewer number of cadres compared to the DMK, AIADMK and even the BJP combines would have to be spread across all 40 constituencies.

Their hope is that some of the anti-Centre, anti-Modi votes that the 'DMK has been able to reap the last time round' may come their way because of the anti-incumbency factor against the ruling party in the state.

But they are not sure if those votes would actually be cast because of the symbolic confusion over the party's symbol.

IMAGE: Congress candidate Jothimani campaigns in Vedasandur under the Karur parliamentary constituency, April 6, 2024. Photograph: Kind courtesy Jothimani/X

For candidates, the problem of identification does not stop there.

This is especially so for OPS in Ramanathapuram, whom the EPS camp wants defeated, squarely.

When it all started, the perception was the DMK combine would sweep all 40 seats and the AIADMK would lag far behind, possibly in third place behind the BJP-NDA.

A solo victory for OPS and a state-wide reversal for the parent party would have meant a churning within the AIADMK about the effectiveness of EPS as a vote-getter, after his leadership having lost two elections, in 2019 and 2021 -- though in the BJP's company, when the Tamil voter was anti-Hindutva (and still remains so, according to some). Guess how the EPS camp handles the situation?

As if the 'Jackfruit' symbol was not enough of a problem, OPS is faced with four other candidates bearing the same name, 'O Panneerselvam', all of them contesting as Independents with different symbols.

Imagine a semi-literate voter in a remote village looking for an identifiable symbol, even Jackfruit, but finds it mixed up with similar names.....

The situation is no better for the BJP's A C Shanmugam with his own 'New Justice Party' but contesting on the 'Lotus' symbol.

Shanmugam lost to the DMK's Kathir Ananth, party general secretary and senior minister S Duraimurugan's son, in a countermanded poll in 2019, after election monitors recovered cash for distribution to voters, from the victor's factory premises.

Kathir still managed to win by a low 8,000-vote margin while most DMK alliance victors had recorded huge margins.

This time, there are five Shanmugams contesting for the Vellore seat, four of them Independents.

If the AIADMK is seen as being behind fielding four OPS in Ramanathapuram to spite the 'real OPS' and confuse the voters, the party local strongman is said to have followed the tactics in Vellore after A C Shanmugam told voters that the AIADMK man, then a senior minister, had 'stabbed me in the back'.

Likewise, Congress MP Jothimani in Karur constituency has three Independents with her name contesting as Independents.

In 2019, Jothimani had defeated then deputy speaker Thambidurai by a massive 450,000 vote-margin.

Her fate is said to be hanging in the balance after she visibly antagonised the local DMK cadres, starting with local strongman, jailed former minister Senthil Balaji.

The introduction of three more candidates by the same name may not upset the Congress candidate, as her 'Hand' symbol is very well known.

If she wins, it would be because of rival Modi and the alliance DMK cadres on the one hand, and her party's 'Hand' symbol on the other.

Discounting the INDIA bloc's allegation that an independent constitutional authority like the Election Commission, too, was functioning as an extension of the ruling BJP, there is a real question that it would have to address and find answers for.

On the face of it, it is all about the lack of time available to candidates, especially 'Independents', that too in the first-phase of polling, thus denying them a 'level-playing field'.

But the larger question is the way in which the late T N Seshan's ways of restricting campaign days and time per day has contributed to the electoral autocracy of established parties and their entrenched leaderships.

Narendra Modi definitely does not belong to a political dynasty like the rival Congress leadership and those of many regional outfits arrayed with him and more so, against him.

But Modi is still a brand, and his word is law, not only in the country when he is PM but also in his BJP.

So is M K Stalin in Tamil Nadu, and a host of other leaders, whether belonging to a political dynasty or not, across the country.

That should include Seeman and his NKT, which polled 3.90 per cent, which went up to 6.58 per cent in the assembly polls two years later, in 2021.

Unknown to the parties and the Election Commission, which is tasked with ensuring greater democratisation in the nation's polity and society, the idea of restricted campaign time has led to a situation where the party's flag, symbol and the leader's branding alone can win or lose an election, be it for the Lok Sabha or for the state assembly.

Gone are the days when parties chose candidates who had a solid cadre and voter-backing to call his own, to which the institutionalised support system added much more, to try and make him a victor.

Ask party cadres, and they would tell you how greater urbanisation and shorter time-period for 'introducing the candidate's face -- and at times, symbol -- has led to a system of ever-increasing bribes for voters, as they otherwise do not get to see the candidate, in many cases even once before the election.

Lately, the 'incentive' is only for the voter to go to the polling booth and invariably, he or she votes on his or her 'free will' uninfluenced by competitive bribes that he or she had been offered by competing political parties.

This time, there would be independents too, doing it even more vigorously.

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and author, is a Chennai-based policy analyst and political commentator.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'Kejriwal could have easily deputed someone to step in as chief minister, but being the authoritative and self-centered personality that he is, he chose not to do it.'

'If the AAP loses Delhi, where it has a huge majority, the only one to blame would be Kejriwal,' asserts Ramesh Menon.

IMAGE: An Aam Aadmi Party supporter at the INDIA rally in Arvind Kejriwal's support at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, March 31, 2024. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

Politics is full of ironies.

The Bharatiya Janata Party rode to power in 2014 using Arvind Kejriwal's India Against Corruption movement, which electrified the country. Today, the BJP is rubbing its hands in glee as Kejriwal has been jailed on corruption charges.

The BJP, along with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and other affiliates like the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, had put all its might into ensuring that the India Against Corruption movement caught the imagination of the country.

It wanted to show the country that the Congress government did not deserve another stint in power and that the electorate wanted change. It ignited hope for a corruption-free India where governance could be clean and the common man could breathe easily.

Today, the Narendra Modi-led BJP is baying for Kejriwal's political demise, as he is seen as a challenger who has the potential to get bigger and bigger.

Ten years ago, no one would have imagined that Kejriwal would be in Tihar jail with hardened criminals battling a charge by the Enforcement Directorate that his party had taken kickbacks from liquor barons after changing Delhi's liquor policy, and the proceeds amounting to around Rs 600 crore (Rs 6 billion) were used to finance the Punjab and Goa state elections.

The visionary and inspiring leader that Kejriwal was just ten years ago is today dented.

Apart from the liquor case, the CBI is probing what it calls irregularities in spending Rs 45 crore (Rs 450 million) to renovate the chief minister's residence. This charge, if proved, will not sit well with the electorate that otherwise adores him. He had promised a life of austerity before he became the chief minister.

IMAGE: Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi addresses a press conference over Arvind Kejriwal's arrest at the party headquarters in New Delhi, April 2, 2024. Photograph: Mohd Zakir/ANI Photo

After six months in jail, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, who was accused in the excise policy case, was granted bail by the Supreme Court. The court said there was no evidence produced by the Enforcement Directorate against Singh when the ED had charged that Rs 2 crore (Rs 20 million) had changed hands at his residence. The court also said that there was no money trail detected.

Former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia is in jail for the last 11 months in the liquor policy case. He told a Delhi court that central agencies have not been able to prove that any money reached him and he should be released on bail.

Interestingly, the Enforcement Directorate did not oppose the bail.

Former health minister Satyendra Jain is also in jail on money laundering charges.

Education Minister Atishi, at a stunning press conference, alleged that she was approached by the BJP and other AAP leaders like Saurabh Bharadwaj to join the BJP to save their political careers or soon face arrest.

The BJP has denied this, but the fact is that other Opposition leaders who had corruption and other charges against them like Ajit Pawar, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Mukul Roy, Narayan Rane, Praful Patel, Digambar Kamat, and many others, were cleared of the charges soon after they joined the BJP. This made Opposition leaders label the BJP as a 'washing machine' that 'cleaned' corrupt leaders.

IMAGE: Police personnel escort Arvind Kejriwal as he leaves the court after a hearing in New Delhi, March 28, 2024. Photograph: Sharafat Ali/Reuters

Since Modi took over as prime minister in 2014, 25 politicians are facing action from central agencies for alleged corruption. Of them, 23 crossed over to the BJP and got a reprieve.

Kejriwal is reportedly running the Delhi government from jail but cannot do that for long as the jail manual will not permit it.

As he has been arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, it is highly unlikely that he would be granted bail, and like Sisodia and the others, he could be in jail for a long time.

This gives the Modi government a handle to impose President's Rule, arguing that there is a Constitutional crisis without a head of the Delhi government.

IMAGE: Arvind Kejriwal during celebrations at the AAP headquarters in New Delhi, February 11, 2020, after the party won a huge majority in the Delhi assembly elections. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

"Constitutionally and legally, Kejriwal is not duty bound to resign just because he has been jailed as he has not been convicted of any crime. Even the charge sheet has not been filed," Constitutional lawyer Devender Singh told me.

"However, the President can remove the Delhi chief minister only if she feels that there is a grave apprehension of failure of the government not being run by the provisions of the Constitution. This decision would be subject to judicial review."

Kejriwal could have easily deputed someone to step in as chief minister, but being the authoritative and self-centered personality that he is, he chose not to do it. If the AAP loses Delhi, where it has a huge majority, the only one to blame would be Kejriwal.

In the last assembly elections in 2020, APP won 62 of the 70 seats. The Congress, which had ruled Delhi for decades, did not win a single seat. The BJP won just win eight seats with small margins.

This is despite every Cabinet minister and the prime minister hitting the roads during the election campaign to win the prestigious city-state.

AAP won as its government had done excellent work in revamping all the government schools, hospital care, mohalla clinics for the poor, cheap electricity and water, and generally, good governance.

IMAGE: AAP supporters at the INDIA rally to protest Arvind Kejriwal's arrest at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, March 31, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Will AAP win again in 2025? This is the question political analysts are asking as there is a cloud over the leader and the party, with the Enforcement Directorate claiming that bribes of around Rs 600 crore were paid by liquor barons to the party, which they used to fight the Punjab and Goa state elections.

In 2021, the AAP government in Delhi rolled out a new excise policy suggesting that it would end black marketing of liquor and the state would benefit by Rs 9,500 crore (Rs 95 billion).

In 2022, Delhi's then chief secretary Naresh Kumar wrote to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena that the AAP government had provided undue benefits to liquor vend licensees, causing losses to the tune of over Rs 580 crore (Rs 5.8 billion).

The CBI followed up with an investigation. The AAP government scrapped the excise policy and reverted to the old one, admitting that the government suffered a monthly revenue loss of over Rs 193 crore (Rs 1.93 billion).

The Enforcement Directorate filed a money laundering case alleging that the AAP government had hiked the profit margin for wholesalers to 12 percent, hoping to get a kickback of six percent, causing a loss of Rs 2,873 crore (Rs 28.73 billion).

After his arrest, the ED said that Kejriwal was the 'kingpin' of the scam.

The ED may use the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to demand that AAP's assets be attached or confiscated. It could do this by saying that Kejriwal is vicariously liable for the money laundering case. Vicarious liability is a legal principle that holds a person responsible for the actions of others.

IMAGE: AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana Soren, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Chief Uddhav Thackeray, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others during the INDIA alliance rally in New Delhi, March 31, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The fact that Kejriwal is AAP's convenor would be used to argue that he knew of the use of laundered money in election campaigns.

A survey by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies indicated that 30 percent of AAP voters said they would not have voted for the party if Kejriwal was not the chief minister. If he continues in jail, there will be an impact on the Lok Sabha election and the state assembly elections in 2025.

AAP workers hope that the arrest will help them ride a sympathy wave. It all depends on whether the charges stick or are seen as a vendetta by voters.

Pradeep, a taxi driver in the capital, says that people would give a fitting reply to the BJP for not allowing AAP to function and also arresting the chief minister before elections so that he cannot campaign.

In closed-door meetings, the BJP has underlined that the biggest threat to it is not from the Congress, but from the AAP, which has the potential to make inroads to emerge as a challenger, as it did in Delhi and Punjab. Even in the BJP fortress of Gujarat, AAP garnered a vote share of 12 percent.

The Centre has used Delhi's lieutenant governor in the last nine years to interfere in the AAP government's programmes and policies. Now even AAP's Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has complained about how interference by Governor Banwarilal Purohit is affecting his government.

When the Supreme Court last year declared that the state government in Delhi had supremacy over the administrative services, the central government quickly got the law amended and restored control over the bureaucracy to the centre.

This paralysed the workings of Kejriwal and his government to a great extent, as bureaucrats would follow dictates from the Centre and not from him.

With Kejriwal missing from the election campaign, AAP will be affected, as he is the face of the party and has always been the main campaigner drawing crowds.

This is what the BJP wants.

Opposition leaders from various parties and even his opponents have condemned the arrest on the eve of elections, calling it an attack on democracy.

The unprecedented arrest captured headlines day after day, helping the electoral bonds scandal fade away in the public mind.

IMAGE: Sunita Kejriwal speaks to the media, April 1, 2024, after the Rouse Avenue Court sent her husband to judicial custody till April 15. Photograph: ANI Photo

Kejriwal did not cultivate a second line of leadership. Many others who could have by now emerged as strong leaders like Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Kumar Vishwas, Ashutosh and Kiran Bedi, all quit not being able to tolerate his autocratic ways.

AAP's press conferences are being addressed by Sunita, Kejriwal's wife. If he wants to foist her as the chief minister, it will show how AAP is like any other party. There are educated vocal leaders with a clean image like Atishi, Delhi's education minister.

APP leaders have told Sunita that they want Kejriwal to continue working from jail.

Former AAP leader Ashutosh, who has gotten back to journalism, says that Kejriwal forgot why he got into politics and started making compromises that the system forces you to make to stay in power and capture more power.

The BJP is working on a game plan to target Kejriwal and AAP in the months to come in the run-up to the assembly elections. It desperately wants to win Delhi.

It plans to keep the Delhi liquor licence scam alive. Will Kejriwal, who emerged as someone in the Opposition who can fight Modi, come out unscathed?

Ramesh Menon, an award-winning journalist, educator, documentary filmmaker, and corporate trainer, is the author of Modi Demystified: The Making of a Prime Minister.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
'Shoma didn't have the luxury of time. She was already suffering from so many ailments.'

IMAGE: Professor Shoma Sen.

Professor Shoma Sen, among the first to be arrested in the Elgar Parishad case, got bail on April 5, after spending almost 6 six years in jail. Advocate Susan Abraham explains to Jyoti Punwani why the Nagpur professor should have been out more than 5 years ago.

The question everyone's asking is: If the Supreme Court has found no prima facie evidence against Shoma Sen, why did it take so long for her to get bail?

The high court should have granted her bail, but did not even hear the application, and told us to go back to the NIA court, because the NIA had filed a supplementary charge sheet.

This NIA charge sheet was filed nine months after Shoma had filed her bail application before the Bombay high court. This was the NIA's charge sheet against the other seven accused arrested by it in 2020, and did not have any new accusations against Shoma.

The high court order was passed on Janaury 17, 2023, after the bail application had remained pending before the court for more than three years, and well over four-and-a-half years after Shoma's arrest. This meant we'd have to go back to the trial court, where her bail had already been rejected on two previous occasions in 2018 and 2019.

Shoma should have been released in October 2018, along with the four others arrested with her: Sudhir Dhawale, Surendra Gadling, Rona Wilson and Mahesh Raut. There was a judgment by Justice Mridula Bhatkar on their application for default bail, which said that the Special (UAPA) Court Pune, should not have allowed extension of time to the prosecution to file a charge sheet after the mandatory 90-day period.

That extension had been obtained in violation of UAPA provisions.

When you have such a stringent law, then its implementation too should be stringent.

If the investigating officer files an application that he requires more than 90 days to file the charge sheet, the UAPA says that the public prosecutor has to give an independent report on whether he is justified in asking for more time.

1In the case in hand, the public prosecutor had just signed on the same application that the IO had made, but had not made an independent report.

When an accused is entitled to be released, and the prosecution denies such release by stating legal provisions, the court must scrutinise those claims minutely, to see that specious grounds are not being given.

You can take your time to file the charge sheet, but allow the accused to come out while you carry on your investigation. A stringent law must be stringent on the prosecution also.

On that basis, Justice Mridula Bhatkar passed her judgment quashing the order of the Special (UAPA) Court Pune. (24.10.2018, in W.P. 4148/18 Adv Surendra Gadling and Ors Vs State of Maharashtra, Bombay High Court Justice M. Bhatkar orders quashing extension order dtd 02.09.2018 of 90 days to file chargesheet granted by Sessions Judge, Pune.)

But the state of Maharashtra immediately went into appeal, and a three judge bench led by Chief Justice (Ranjan) Gogoi set aside the high court judgment, which, significantly, was based on a previous 5-judge judgment by the Supreme Court.

Till then, we had the Hitendra Thakur judgment as a precedent (for matters where an extension was sought for filing a charge sheet). The Supreme Court created a new precedent to deny bail.

Isn't this a travesty of justice? There's a lack of consistency, no sticking to principles that have prevailed so far.

After the NIA took over the case in January 2020, another battle of appeals had to be waged. Then came the Covid lockdown. That's why all our bail appeals have been delayed.

IMAGE: A snapshot of Professor Shoma Sen and other activists arresteded in the Elgar Parishad case in 2018. Photograph: ANI Photo

Hasn't the Supreme Court order granting Shoma Sen bail also criticised the Bombay high court?

Yes, it has.

The Supreme Court does say in its order that the high court could have exercised its jurisdiction to look into the NIA supplementary charge sheet.

There was nothing that incriminating in the NIA charge sheet that warranted her custody.

How did you choose to appeal before the Supreme Court instead of going back to the NIA court?

We had to make a difficult choice. Some of us were of the opinion that we should try in the Supreme Court because Shoma didn't have the luxury of time. She was already suffering from so many ailments.

Fortunately, now Shoma has got bail on merit, so the others should benefit too.

IMAGE: Advocate Susan Abraham Photograph: ANI/X IMAGE: Advocate Susan Abraham

How do you account for the NIA's volte face in March that they no longer require Shoma's custody?

Justice Aniruddha Bose asked the additional solicitor general that you say the accused is charged with various offences but the investigation is complete. Do you still require the custody of this ill, elderly, prisoner? In terms of framing the Constitutional guarantee of freedom, what do you say?

The ASG said he was not personally against liberty, so he had no objection if she was freed.

The judge then asked him to get the say of the NIA. When it was put to them like that, the NIA had to give the same answer.

However, in their written arguments, they have strongly opposed her bail.

From this entire process, can a layperson conclude that everything depends on which Bench is hearing you?

There's a time honoured principle that the same Bench should continue to hear all matters related to one FIR, so that every time, one doesn't have to start from scratch. But that practice is not being followed.

Other established rules are also not operating. Look at the case of Mahesh Raut and Gautam Navlakha. They got bail from the high court in September 2023 and December 2023 respectively. But stays were was granted which have been repeatedly extended by the Supreme Court. They have still not been released.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Veteran Congress leader and former Defence Minister A K Antony said on Tuesday that his son, Anil K Antony, who is contesting as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate in the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, should not win the election.

IMAGE: Congress leader A K Antony. Photograph: ANI Photo

Antony said that his son's party should lose, and his rival, the Congress candidate in the south Kerala constituency, Anto Antony, should win with an absolute majority.

"The Congress is my religion," Antony said, reacting to repeated queries about his son's politics.

The 83-year-old former Kerala Chief Minister said he has put his health issues aside to address the media as he thought he has to come out and make his stand clear as this is an election to 'safeguard the idea of India and its constitution'.

"It is a do-or-die battle," said Antony, who is also India's longest-serving defence minister.

He cited health issues as a reason for not traveling out of Thiruvananthapuram for campaigning for the Congress party and said that even if he did not go for campaigning in Pathanamthitta, Anto Antony would win with an absolute majority.

"For me, family and politics are different. This stance isn't new; I have maintained it since my days in KSU," Antony said.

The Kerala Students Union (KSU) is the student organisation of Congress in Kerala.

Sharply reacting to his father's remarks, Anil Antony said that the Congress has outdated leaders and only sympathises with his father, a former defence minister, for backing sitting MP and Congress member Anto Antony, who had recently stirred up controversy by making statements on the Pulwama terror attack.

Talking to reporters, Anil further stated he will emerge victorious in Pathanamthitta.

A K Antony's stand comes as a big boost to the Congress, as the party has been on the defensive after Anil and late Congress stalwart K Karunakaran's daughter, Padmaja Venugopal, switched over to the BJP in Kerala.

There were allegations from certain quarters of Antony's political opponents that Anil had moved to the BJP with the silent blessings of his family, especially after a video of his mother, Elizabeth Antony, speaking at a church meeting where she said she knew her son would join the BJP, surfaced.

In one of his lengthy press conferences post-COVID-19, Antony took on the BJP and the Left Front government in Kerala, reiterating why people should rally behind the Congress to 'reinvent' India and to protect the spirit of the Indian Constitution.

"The party that rules at the Centre has been trying to destroy the very concept of India, and the important question is how to stop this danger," Antony said.

He said the golden years of BJP in Kerala are already over, and the National Democratic Alliance will finish in the third place in all constituencies in the state.

"Please write this down and keep it. They will finish in the third place in all constituencies in Kerala," Antony said.

He said the golden era of BJP was during the 2019 General Elections due to the Sabarimala women's entry controversy, and they could garner some additional votes.

"This year, there is no factor that favours BJP, and they are going to get a reduced share of votes," Antony said.

Taking a dig at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Antony said neither Vijayan nor his party has anything to do with the creation of India's Constitution, and the whole credit for its creation goes to the Indian National Congress and Dr B R Ambedkar.

"His party (Communist) claimed that the independence India got was not independence and called for an armed rebellion against the Nehru government through the Calcutta Thesis," Antony alleged.

The 'Calcutta Thesis' refers to a document formulated by the Communist Party of India (CPI) during its second congress held in Kolkata (then Calcutta) in 1948. This thesis advocated for a strategy of armed revolution against the Indian government led by Jawaharlal Nehru.

Antony said it was the Constitution Committee with INC having a brutal majority that created the Constitution with the help of Ambedkar, and Pinarayi Vijayan has no right to criticise the Congress while calling for protecting the constitution.

He called on the people to vote for Congress to end the rule of Narendra Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

"If the BJP comes to power, the constitution of India will be sabotaged, and it would be the end of democracy. We need to put away that danger," Antony said.
The government has provided Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar with a Z-category VIP security cover of armed commandos in view of potential threats against him, official sources said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

The Ministry of Home Affairs has entrusted the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) with providing a contingent of about 40-45 personnel for the task, the sources said.

A threat perception report prepared by central intelligence agencies recommended a 'strong' security cover for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kumar keeping in view his profile, they said.

The move comes amid preparations for the seven-phase general elections that begin on April 19.

The CEC, as well as two Election Commissioners, are currently guarded by a small armed security team drawn from the Delhi Police.

This is one of the rarest instances of a CEC being provided a central security cover.

Former CEC, late T N Seshan, had a central security cover at one point of time.

The Z category cover to the CEC will ensure protection to him during his movement in any part of the country, at his office in central Delhi's 'Nirvachan Sadan' and at his residence, the sources said.

The VIP security cover categorisations begin from the highest Z+ followed by Z, Y+, Y and X.

An EC spokesperson said he had 'no comments to make on the issue'.

Kumar is a retired IAS officer of the 1984 batch. He took charge as the 25th CEC on May 15, 2022.

He had been appointed as an election commissioner in the poll body on September 1, 2020.
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Tuesday said his party did not 'surrender' but took a step back in the seat-sharing negotiations with its Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance partners as the talks could not go on indefinitely.

IMAGE: Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray and Congress leader Nana Patole during a Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) joint press conference on alliance seat sharing ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, in Mumbai on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Patole's statement came even as there was apparent disgruntlement in the state unit over Congress ceding seats such as Sangli and Bhiwandi.

"We took a step back, we did not surrender," he told reporters after the seat-sharing formula was announced.

"The deal has been finalised after consultations with the party high command. We tried our best to get the seats where we had good prospects of winning. But the talks cannot be stretched too far as the election process has already begun," Patole said.

On the Sangli unit of Congress calling a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the future course of action, he said it was done after taking his permission.

As per Congress sources, the party's local leadership in Mumbai too was upset over the failure to get at least three out of six seats in Mumbai.

As per the deal, Congress will contest two and Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray four seats in Maharashtra's capital.

Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad had written a letter to All India Congress Committee general secretary K Venugopal complaining that the state leadership sacrificed the party's interests in Mumbai, sources said.

The MVA earlier on Tuesday announced its seat-sharing formula for 48 seats in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena-UBT getting the major chunk of 21 seats, Congress 17 and the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar 10 seats.
A 19-year-old Muslim student of a university in Maharashtra's Pune city has been allegedly beaten up by five unidentified persons who accused him of engaging in "love jihad", the police said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: A view of Savitribai Phule Pune University. Photograph: Courtesy X

The incident took place on Sunday afternoon when the male student was accompanying two female students on the campus of the state-run Savitribai Phule Pune University, an official from Chatushringi police station said.

The police have registered a case against unidentified persons and are trying to identify the accused, he said.

The university authorities said they have set up a committee for a probe into the incident.

'Love jihad' is a term used by right-wing activists and outfits to allege a conspiracy by Muslim men to convert Hindu women to Islam through marriage.

The male student, along with the two female friends, was returning after having a meal when four-five unidentified persons on motorbikes approached them on the university campus, the official said.

They started questioning the student and asked him to show his Aadhaar card.

In his complaint, the student alleged that after seeing his name on the identity card, one of the persons asked whether he had come to the university to engage in "love jihad" and assaulted him and a Hindu male friend who was also present there, the police said.

"We have registered a complaint against unidentified persons under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and efforts are underway to trace them with the help of CCTV footage," the official said.

The complainant is a student of a skill development course at the university, he added.

The university's registrar, Vijay Khare, said they formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the incident and asked security personnel deployed in the institution to ensure such incidents of students being threatened by anti-social elements do not recur.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray on Tuesday announced unconditional support to the 'Mahayuti' alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party in the state and backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a move that is expected to bolster the ruling bloc's prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray addresses the 'Gudi Padwa' rally at Shivaji Park, in Mumbai on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Addressing his party's annual rally in Mumbai on Gudi Padwa (traditional Maharashtra New Year that symbolises fresh beginnings, auspiciousness), Raj Thackeray said he expects PM Modi to focus on the concerns of the youth and maintained the state should get a larger share of central revenue keeping in mind taxes it pays.

"I don't have any expectations. When there is a need for a strong leadership in the country, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena will back the BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP unconditionally. It is only for Narendra Modi," Raj Thackeray asserted.

Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis immediately hailed Raj Thackeray's announcement.

The MNS leader did not elaborate whether his party, which has not fielded any candidate so far, will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Raj Thackeray's support to Modi comes after his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah last month. Since then there were speculations that he will join the ruling Mahayuti (grand alliance).

He, however, made it clear that his party candidates, as and when they contest elections, will do so only on MNS symbol 'railway engine'.

Thackeray, who broke away from the undivided Shiv Sena and founded the MNS in 2006, asked his party workers to start preparing for the state assembly elections which are due in October this year.

For the 55-year-old firebrand leader known for his oratory skills, politics has come to a full circle.

He openly backed Modi's candidature for the Prime Minister's post in 2014.

He then changed tracks and went on to become his bitter critic, going to the extent of playing videos of promises made by Modi at his well-attended rallies, and pointing out how they remained unfulfilled.

However, opposing his estranged cousin Uddhav Thackeray, then head of the undivided Shiv Sena, has been the hallmark of Raj Thackeray's politics.

Even when he backed the BJP in 2014, he fielded candidates against the undivided Shiv Sena.

The MNS leader, at the Gudi Padwa rally in Shivaji Park, explained why he changed his stand on Modi.

"After 2014, I felt that what I heard in the (assurances given in) speeches (by Modi) were not materialising.

"I opposed him vehemently, but whenever he did anything good, say (like nullifying the provisions of) Article 370, I was the one who welcomed it. I organised a 'morcha' (rally) in favour of the NRC (National Register of Citizens)," Raj Thackeray said, justifying change in his stand.

The MNS leader asserted he never made personal attacks at Modi even as he took a dig at his cousin and Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut.

"I do not criticise because I was not offered the CM's post, but I did not agree with their stand. They (Uddhav and Raut) are speaking against him (Modi) now. When I was saying this (during 2019 polls), then why didn't you resign because (now) you were dislodged from power and your party was broken," Raj Thackeray said.

The Shiv Sena suffered a split in June 2022 when a majority of its MLAs, led by now Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, revolted against Uddhav Thackeray's leadership.

Uddhav Thackeray had quit as CM following the revolt.

BJP leader Fadnavis welcomed Raj Thackeray's decision to extend unconditional support to the Mahayuti alliance.

In a post on social media platform X, he said, 'I am extremely grateful to MNS chief Raj Thackeray for extending support to the Mahayuti comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. I welcome the decision to trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi's masterly leadership to realise the dream of a developed country (Viksit Bharat) and for a strong foundation of the Maharashtra state.'

'We all shall become bound to the solemn vow of fulfilling people's expectations,' Fadnavis said.
Not surprisingly perhaps, the pace of technological change is forcing governments to move quickly  or to try to move quickly  to keep up, as indicated by recent news from India.

The Indian government has formed five working groups to study and formulate guidelines for anonymisation of data, zero trust architecture, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, mobile device security, and digital education.

These working groups, set up under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), will look to develop and adopt guidelines and frameworks for what is described as effective and efficient implementation of e-governance projects of ministries and government departments.

It seems, not too surprisingly perhaps, that current guidelines for areas like mobile device security or online learning and examinations systems will need to be revised in light of the effect of fast-evolving technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning.

A ministry official talking to the Economic Times news service was quoted as explaining: For example, AI systems today need to plan not only about core, common and reference building blocks, but also how these blocks will be interoperable with other technologies such as IoT.

In fact these efforts may already be underway. Press outlets suggest that the reports of the working groups on anonymisation of data and mobile security guidelines are being reviewed, while work on guidelines for zero-trust architecture, online exams, and IoT devices is ongoing.

These standards and frameworks will be a part of the updated India Digital Ecoystem Architecture. An earlier version of the planned architecture  called InDEA 2.0  was released for public consultation in 2022.
The United States will encourage India and Pakistan to avoid escalation and resolve their outstanding issues through dialogue and will 'not get in the middle of the situation', a top State Department official has said.

IMAGE: The Indian Army conducted manoeuvres at the Pokhran Field Firing Range on the India-Pakistan international border, in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan on August 31, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh last week said that if terrorists try to disturb peace in India or carry out terror activities, a befitting response will be given and if they run away to Pakistan, India will enter the neighbouring country to kill them, referring to New Delhi's assertive approach to deal with cross-border terrorism.

"We have been following the media reports about this issue. We don't have any comment on the underlined allegations," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Monday when asked about media reports that Indian government agents allegedly carried out assassinations inside Pakistan.

Miller said that while the US was not going to 'get in the middle of this situation', it would 'encourage both sides to avoid escalation and find a resolution through dialogue'.

Responding to Rajnath Singh's comments, Pakistan has criticised his provocative statement and said it stands resolute in its intent and ability to safeguard its sovereignty.

A statement by the Foreign Office on April 6 said that Pakistan has always demonstrated its commitment to peace in the region but its desire for peace should not be misconstrued.

"History attests to Pakistan's firm resolve and ability to protect and defend itself," the Pakistani Foreign Office said in a statement while criticising India's ruling dispensation for resorting to hateful rhetoric for electoral gains.

The ties between India and Pakistan nosedived after India abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the State into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.

India's decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy.

India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir 'was, is and shall forever remain an integral part of the country.

India has said it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.
A constable was seriously injured after he was attacked by unidentified miscreants at a police camp in Sandeshkhali area of West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district in the early hours of Tuesday, an officer said.

Image only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo

The injured police constable, identified as Sandip Saha, is undergoing treatment at a Kolkata-based hospital, and his condition is 'very critical', he said.

"Saha has grievous injuries in his head and his condition is very critical at the moment," the police officer told PTI.

Three persons, known in the locality as Trinamool Congress leaders, were arrested for their alleged involvement in the attack on Saha at Sitalia police camp, he said, adding that police have lodged a suo moto case in this connection.

Two other policemen, present in the camp, were also beaten up but their injuries were not serious, the officer said.

Initial probe revealed that Saha had a tiff with the trio a few weeks back, he said.

"This could be the reason for the attack. We are talking to the arrested three. There were two other policemen on duty at the camp. We are also talking to them," the officer said.

Sandeshkhali has been in the news following a team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers being assaulted by villagers when they went there to conduct a raid at the residence of suspended TMC leader Shajahan Shiekh in connection with the ration distribution scam in West Bengal.

Allegations of sexual atrocities on women and land grabs were levelled against local leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district recently.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Periods of rain. Low 42F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Low 42F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.

Mike Mrowicki is the Vermont State Representative for the Windham-4 District of Putney and Dummerston. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
COLFAX  The jury trial for Juan Trejo Perez, whos accused of molesting a teenage boy in Pullman, began Monday.

The scheduled three-day trial is taking place at Whitman County Superior Court. The day was spent selecting a jury of 13 Whitman County residents.

The jury will choose whether to convict the 34-year-old Trejo Perez of felony third-degree child molestation.

Trejo Perez began a trial in the case in December 2023 that ended with a hung jury and a mistrial. A second trial was scheduled in February, but he posted bail a week prior, was released and failed to show up to court, according to past reporting.

This led Whitman County Superior Court Commissioner Doug Robinson to initiate a nationwide arrest warrant, as Trejo Perez is from Mexico.
Conscription among the stateless Muslim minority long-targeted for their religion is violent and widespread.

Just before midnight on Feb. 25, Ali opened his door to see junta soldiers pointing guns at him. Myanmars military had been making its way through Rakhine state, as part of a newly launched forced conscription campaign and the young Rohingya man was their latest victim.

Ali (whose name has been changed for security reasons) said they pushed him into a car and brought him to the Light Infantry Battalion No. 535 military camp in Buthidaung. The next day, a tactical operation commander urged the new recruits to take their military training seriously, offering them a deal.

If these Rohingya men formed a militia and held off the Arakan Army, which had recently made significant gains against the junta in Rakhine state, Ali and his fellow conscripts would be given legal status. They promised him a salary of 1,000,000 kyats along with rations.

"They demonstrated how to shoot the gun, how to walk, and how to avoid [injury] during the battle, he said. They told him that the training would last 14 days, after which they would be prepared to form militias to fight the AA.

Rohingya men recruited as militia are seen at a junta training site in this image from a video posted to social media in March 2024. (Image from citizen journalist video)

He tried to persuade us, saying that we were brought there in consideration of our religion. He also quoted the Prophet Muhammad, saying that we need to fight for our faith, said Ali, who managed to escape after 10 days.

The invocation of the prophet likely came as a bitter irony for the Rohingya conscripts, who are not legally recognized as citizens and whose ethnic and religious identity has long made them the targets of violence, particularly from Myanmars military, or Tatmadaw.

Seven years after the Tatmadaw tortured, raped and killed thousands of Rohingya and sent nearly 1 million fleeing into neighboring Bangladesh, soldiers are now pressing those who remain in a patchwork of villages and IDP camps into service to prop up their struggling military campaign.

Myanmars military, which came to power in a February 2021 coup, has faced mounting battlefield losses since October. Earlier this year, the military announced a draft law that would see 50,000 young men and women forcibly recruited each year. Since then, thousands of civilians across the country have been ordered into military service, while countless more have fled.

But the military appears to be forcibly conscripting Rohingya in particularly large numbers, according to accounts given to Radio Free Asia by village residents and those who escaped training.

These Rohingya are being forced into military service. They are being unlawfully detained, thrust into frontline combat, and compelled to participate, said Nay San Lwin, co-founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition. Thus, the ongoing genocide against our people persists.

Replenishing its ranks

In late October, the Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and Taang National Liberation Army  in partnership with other ethnic armed groups and anti-junta forces  began making significant gains against the leadership. Operation 1027 launched by the Three Brotherhood Alliance initially saw mass surrenders and a number of key cities taken over in northern Shan state.

In March, an ethnic army captured a major trade route near the China border. And most recently, the Arakan Army, or AA, has captured six of Rakhine states 17 townships. By early April, the AA held 170 junta camps.

Faced with mounting losses in Rakhine, the junta have been forcibly recruiting Rohingya in high numbers from the internally displaced camps in which they have been forced to live for years. In exchange for their service, the junta has promised would-be fighters freedom of movement as well as small amounts of food and money  intended to appeal to a desperately poor population.

Initially enticed by a bag of rice and fifty thousand kyats, they volunteered for the first round of training, said a Rohingya man who had familiarity with the situation and asked to remain anonymous for security concerns. Some even returned for a second session. However, after witnessing fatalities among those deployed to the frontline during battles, many hesitate to participate for a third time out of fear."

In the Rohingya camps, young men are reportedly being forced into service by the hundreds  far more than the estimated two or three youths called up per village elsewhere in the country.

Starting in late February, residents reported forcible enlistments of Rohingyas from Kyaukphyu, Sittwe and Buthidaung townships. Among those coerced into military service are Rohingyas residing in IDP camps including South Ohn Taw Gyi, North Ohn Taw Gyi, Baw Du Pha I, Baw Du Pha II, Hman Si Taung, Thea Chaung, and Thet Kay Pyin.

Over the span of a single month, nearly one thousand Rohingya refugees underwent military training in three separate batches, according to residents. RFA has previously reported that captives are threatened with violent deaths if they refuse to take part in the training and told their families would be targeted if they flee.

Given the scant training, once they are sent to the frontlines, the Rohingya fighters appear to be little more than human shields. The Rohingya witness said that those sent off to fight were dying at an extraordinarily high rate.

"Out of about hundred trainees, 61 died while 41 sustained injuries and are currently hospitalized.

The AA, too, has reported large numbers of Rohingya fighter casualties. In a March 17 press statement, the group said that when they took control of the junta camps in Rathedaung, they discovered the bodies of several Rohingya who had undergone brief military training and were deployed to the front lines. The release included photos of the killed men.

Approximately 600 out of the nearly 1,000 Rohingyas who underwent military training were sent back as reservists to their respective refugee camps in the second week of March. However, the status of the remaining 300 is unknown, according to another Rohingya witness who asked not to be named for security reasons. He also said that because the junta is calling back the Rohingya who were returned to the camps, some of them are fleeing because they are afraid of being sent to the battlefield again.

Breaking the law

The night Ali was taken was a busy one for the Myanmar militarys conscription drive in Rakhine.

According to accounts provided by IDP camp residents, on Feb. 25 and 26 alone, 39 Rohingya from four villages and wards in Buthidaung township were forced into training by the Light Infantry Battalion No. 535.

In Kyaukphyu, the Light Infantry Battalion No. 542 trained around 100 Rohingyas from Kyauk Ta Lone Rohingya IDP camp for a period of 14 days, commencing at the end of February, according to locals.

Fifty of them were outfitted with military uniforms and weaponry on March 28 and were assigned security duties at four army camps within the township, said a young woman from Kyauk Ta Lone village who preferred to remain anonymous for security reasons.

Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state undergo weapons training by junta military personnel on March 10, 2024. (Image from citizen journalist video)

Given their lack of citizenship status, Rohingya legally should not be eligible for conscription, lawyers have told RFA. And the junta seems to be skirting its own conscription law in other ways.

The military draft law stipulates that those eligible for direct service are men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27. Professionals  such as doctors, engineers and technicians  aged 18-45 for men and 18-35 for women must also serve. But the Kyauk Ta Lone resident said Rohingya far outside that age range were drafted.

"They brought young people from 18 to over 40. People up to 55 years old were also called up for training, she said. All are Muslims."

RFA could not independently confirm these accounts. An official from the Rakhine State Committee on Summoning Peoples Military Service said he was not the right person to speak to about the matter while Hla Thein, the Rakhine state attorney general and spokesperson of the junta, did not respond to calls.

For Ali, who remains in hiding lest he be killed for desertion, the forced recruitment represents only the latest brutality levied by the military.

They carried out attacks [against us in 2017] and now they are trying to use kind words to persuade us. I really hate them because they have destroyed our lives.

Translated by Aung Naing and Kalyar Lwin. Edited by Abby Seiff, Malcolm Foster, Joshua Lipes, and Boer Deng.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  Since the dawn of the internet age, tech companies have developed increasingly sophisticated ways to collect and use vast swaths of Americans personal data, while Congress has repeatedly failed to regulate the practice. Now, two Washington state lawmakers have a bipartisan plan to break that impasse and set a national standard for data privacy.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Spokane Republican who leads the House Energy and Commerce Committee, have appeared at odds on data privacy since introducing competing legislation in recent years. But in interviews on Sunday, the two women said they have a compromise bill that can get to President Joe Bidens desk before McMorris Rodgers leaves Congress at the end of the year.

This is a historic piece of legislation that weve been working on for several years, McMorris Rodgers said. Online privacy protections shouldnt differ across state lines. What we see is a patchwork of state laws developing, and this draft that Sen. Cantwell and I have agreed to will establish privacy protections that are stronger than any state law on the books.

The draft legislation, obtained exclusively by The Spokesman-Review, would limit the data that companies can collect, retain and use to only what they need to provide their products and services. That would represent a major change from the current consent-based system that forces users to scroll through long privacy agreements and barrages them with pop-ups asking for their permission to be tracked online.

The American Privacy Rights Act, or APRA, would let Americans opt out of targeted advertising and view, correct, export or delete their data and stop its sale or transfer. It would create a national registry of the data brokers that buy and sell personal information, and would require those companies to let people opt out of having their data collected and sold.

McMorris Rodgers and Cantwell plan to release the legislation on Sunday.

The information age has continued to evolve, Cantwell said. And so its important that we get a federal law that makes privacy a consumer right, and thats what this does. It basically is putting a policeman on the beat that doesnt quite exist right now.

Tech giants like Google parent company Alphabet and Facebook parent company Meta have built business empires based on collecting data on their users and using it to sell targeted advertising. A spate of news stories in recent years has shown how that information can be used to violate Americans privacy and undermine the nations security.

In November, researchers at Duke University published a study that found data brokers sell the personal data of U.S. military personnel for as little as 12 cents per record. The New York Times reported in March that automakers share data on drivers, collected by their cars, with insurance companies that use the information to raise premiums. A fertility tracking app shared users health information with other companies, including Google and China-based marketing firms, according to a 2023 settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

APRA aims to standardize how data is regulated across the country, replacing the laws that state legislatures have enacted during years of inaction in Congress. Despite McMorris Rodgers claim that the new, nationwide privacy standard will be stronger than any state, preempting state laws is likely to provoke opposition, especially from California, which enacted a pioneering data privacy law in 2018.

Cantwell said the bill incorporates parts of state laws, including Californias and Illinois laws protecting genetic and biometric data, to set a national standard that builds on the progress made by those states.

I think we have threaded a very important needle here, she said. We are preserving those standards that California and Illinois and Washington have.

APRA doesnt preempt certain state laws, including those related to civil rights, consumer protection, contracting and more than a dozen other categories. Unlike some other data privacy bills, it doesnt include explicit carve-outs for any state, but it effectively incorporates a provision of the California law that lets individuals sue when they are harmed in a data breach.

After the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2022 approved a bipartisan data privacy bill championed by McMorris Rodgers and her Democratic counterpart on the panel, Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to bring it to the floor for a vote because it was opposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, her fellow California Democrat.

McMorris Rodgers is a close ally of current House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and said she is having conversations with both House and Senate leadership right now. Cantwell said she hasnt asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for a commitment to bring the bill to the floor for a vote, but she said the New York Democrat knows about the legislation and shes optimistic that it can pass by years end.
The leaders of the Philippines, Japan and the US will meet amid friction with Beijing over its maritime claims.

U.S. President Joe Biden hosts Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, May 1, 2023.

U.S. President Joe Biden will host his Philippine and Japanese counterparts this week during a historic summit that aims to bolster cooperation in the South China Sea and strengthen their relationship amid tensions with Beijing, analysts said.

Biden is to welcome Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for three-nation talks at the White House on Thursday. Among other topics, the leaders are expected to discuss freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and launching joint patrols in the strategic waterway, observers said.

Leading up to the summit, the three countries, joined by ally Australia, conducted a large-scale joint exercise in the South China Sea on Sunday. They showcased their collective naval and air power, signaling a shift in defense priorities for Washington, analysts said.

This trilateral meet shows Bidens clear South China Sea policy, which was perplexing during the Obama and Trump administrations as America kept mum on pivotal events, said Chester Cabalza, a defense analyst and founding president of International Development and Security Cooperation, a think-tank in Manila.

Analysts said the summit will serve as a reminder that the Philippines stands with other like-minded nations including the United States, which is bound to a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty compelling it to come to Manilas aid in the event of an attack by a foreign power.

In Washington, John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, said he expected the three leaders to announce a series of new initiatives during their meeting.

Its the first-ever at the leader level, and so were going to look to find ways to continue to deepen the collaboration with our closest partners, again, to ensure a free, open, prosperous, secure Indo-Pacific, Kirby told reporters at the White House on Monday.

Mira Rapp-Hooper, senior director for East Asia and Oceania at the National Security Council, previewed Thursdays summit by announcing a series of items on the agenda.

Our leaders will announce new initiatives to enhance energy security, economic and maritime cooperation, partnerships on technology and cybersecurity and some considerable investments in some major infrastructure areas, she told reporters in Washington on Tuesday without going into specific details.

A fishermens group and other activists commemorate the Day of Valor by protesting outside the Chinese Consulate in Makati City, metro Manila, April 9, 2024. (Gerard Carreon/BenarNews)

Lately, tense incidents at sea have increased as Chinese coast guard and militia ships try to block Philippine ships and boats from delivering supplies to Manilas military outpost in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal). The Philippines and China are locked in a territorial dispute over the shoal and other features in the South China Sea.

Tokyo, which has a territorial dispute with Beijing over the uninhabited Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, has found support from Manila.

Last year, Kishida addressed both chambers of the Philippine Congress  the first time for a Japanese leader since World War II, when Imperial Japan occupied the Philippines  and pledged to boost defense ties.

This time around, Washington has seen a respectable [show of] support from Tokyo and a braver stance from Manila on its assertive transparency strategy on Chinas duplicitous gray-zone tactics aside from its lawfare, Cabalza told BenarNews on Tuesday.

He praised the Philippines under President Marcos for having flexed a muscle from a balanced foreign policy to a stout territorial defense operation.

Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida signs the guestbook beside Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Nov. 3, 2023. (Aaron Favila/AP/pool)

This weeks summit in Washington is also intended for the three leaders to mount a collective defense against China at a time when the Asian superpower is saddled with economic recession while facing international political tensions, analysts said.

Don McLain Gill, a geopolitical analyst who lectures at De La Salle Universitys international studies department in Manila, said the summit could help give pause to Chinas revisionism in the region where it claims nearly all of the seas.

What the Philippines is doing is fortifying its capacity to defend what it rightfully owns based on international law, he told BenarNews  something that goes against the interests of revisionist powers.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning spoke out against the upcoming summit.

Defense cooperation between any countries should be conducive to regional peace and stability. We oppose cobbling together exclusive groupings and stoking bloc confrontation in the region, the spokeswoman said during a daily news conference on Monday.

She issued a specific warning to Tokyo in response to a second question during the news conference.

Japan needs to earnestly draw lessons from history and stay prudent on military and security issues, Mao told reporters.

South China Sea

Rapp-Hooper reiterated the Biden administrations commitment to defense of the Philippines in light of recent acts of Chinese aggression against Filipino coast guard ships and boats bringing supplies to the military outpost on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

The Philippines has found themselves under increasing pressure from the PRC in the South China Sea, Rapp-Hooper said, using an acronym for Peoples Republic of China, its official name.

The U.S., Philippine mutual defense treaty applies to the Philippines in the South China Sea, she said, adding it covers vessels underway including coast guard vessels.

We stand strongly by our alliance commitment to the Philippines, she said.

The summit comes at a time when the participating nations are holding joint training exercises focused on maintaining regional security.

Balikatan, a large-scale annual joint exercise, is scheduled for April 22 to May 18. The French Navy is expected to participate in the exercises on the edge of the West Philippine Sea, Manilas name for South China Sea waters that lie within its exclusive economic zone.

But while these activities are designed to rattle China, the upcoming summit in Washington could do more to inflame tension, political analyst Rommel Banlaoi warned.

The summit cannot peacefully resolve the South China Sea disputes requiring direct negotiations of the parties concerned, said Banlaoi, who heads the Philippine Society for International Security Studies.

It will only intensify major power rivalries, he told BenarNews.

U.S. Marines arrive at the General Santos International Airport in the southern Philippines ahead of a joint training exercise with their Philippine counterparts at Camp Abubakar, a former Muslim rebel base in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao. April 7, 2024. (Mark Navales/BenarNews)

China has developed its own capabilities, enough for it to believe that it can resist major Western pressure. The summit likely would motivate Beijing to develop further capabilities to recover from centuries of humiliation from Western powers, Banlaoi said.

During the multi-nation exercise over the past weekend, two Chinese navy ships were observed monitoring from about six nautical miles away, said Gen. Romeo Brawner, the Philippines military chief.

While noting Chinas presence, Brawner said the joint training with like-minded armed forces signified that allies were ready to lend a helping hand.

The summit also signals Marcos preference to align with the West, a clear departure from Dutertes pro-China stance, he said.

During an interview with a local radio station on Monday, Marcos called the weekends exercise successful even as his administration seeks to avoid similar incidents involving Chinese ships.

Were doing everything we can to talk to the Chinese leadership, and tell them not to heighten the tension and lets just talk well so we can avoid collisions, water cannons, Marcos said in the interview, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency.

Late last month, Marcos administration summoned a Chinese diplomat to protest against the aggressive actions of the China Coast Guard in the South China Sea, following a March 23 incident that left three crew members aboard a Philippine supply boat injured.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization.
Rallies are held in Washington, Istanbul, Munich and elsewhere.

Zubeyra Shamseden of the Uyghur Human Rights Project speaks at a rally to commemorate the Baren Massacre, in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, April 5, 2024.

Uyghurs and sympathetic protesters rallied in Washington, Istanbul and Munich on Friday to remember a 1990 uprising in Xinjiang triggered by anger over China forcing Uyghur women to get abortions and sterilizations.

The death toll from the Baren uprising  put down by Chinese troops  ranges from a couple dozen to as many as 3,000, according to the World Uyghur Congress.

Chinese authorities never held a public investigation, and Human Rights Watch said that a reliable tally of the casualties may never be known.

The rebellion started on the evening of April 4, 1990, when over 200 Uyghurs tried to break into a local government office in Baren, a town of 19,000 in Akto county on the western edge of the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiangs Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture.

Demonstrators rally in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, April 5, 2024, to call attention to the 34th anniversary of the Baren Massacre. (Shahrezad Ghayrat/RFA)

In response, the Chinese government dispatched over 18,000 troops to quell protests, killing an unknown number of people on April 5 and subsequent days.

Seminal moment

The uprising was a seminal moment because it began a period of increased Chinese repression of the mostly Muslim Uyghurs, who today number about 11 million. Those policies have led to what the United States and other Western nations have labeled a genocide and crimes against humanity.

The Baren Uprising was one of the earliest expressions of growing resentment within Uyghur society in the 1990s against the oppressive measures of the Chinese authorities, said Dolkun Isa, president of the World Uyghur Congress, or WUC, in a statement.

The Chinese governments violent crackdown on the protestors signaled a broader escalation in the violence against the Uyghur people, which over the last decades has evolved into genocide.

China views the April 4 incident as a counter-revolutionary armed riot between Uyghur militants and Chinese government forces, incited by the East Turkistan Islamic Party. People linked to the party attacked the government building, kidnapping 10 people, killing six armed police officers, and blowing up two vehicles.

Protests

Hundreds of people demonstrated in front of the Chinese Embassy in Berlin and the Chinese Consulate in Munich, Germany. Dozens of people protested outside the Chinese Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, and at a commemorative event in Ankara attended by members of two of Turkeys political parties.

Uyghurs held another commemorative event in Sweden. Others gathered in the Netherlands, Britain and in Central Asian nations.

Demonstrators protest in front of the Chinese Consulate in Istanbul, April 5, 2024, at a rally to call attention to the 34th anniversary of the Baren Massacre. (Arslan Tash for RFA)

In Washington, about a dozen protesters gathered outside Chinese Embassy on Friday and shouted, China, stop the Uyghur genocide and We want freedom.

The rally also featured an iftar  an evening meal eaten by Muslim families after the daylong fasts during Ramadan  with Uyghur cuisine to highlight the Chinese Communist Partys persecution of Uyghur Muslims during the Islamic holy month, which runs from March 10 to April 9 this year.

WUC Vice President Zubeyra Shamseden urged the international community to hold the perpetrators of human rights violations against the Uyghurs accountable for their crimes.

Rushan Abbas, executive director of the Campaign for Uyghurs, called the Baren Uprising a vicious example of the Chinese Communist Party's ruthless tactics attacking the legitimate demands of its people for dignity and basic human rights.

It started in Baren when people protested the forced sterilization and forced abortions of Uyghur women, she told RFA. Today, they are still continuing with this full-fledged act of genocide.

Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
Dozens of Israelis were injured, several critically, when a "swarm" of Hezbollah drones hit near the northern Israeli town of Binyamina in one of the bloodiest attacks on the country since October 2023.

Hezbollah is an armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon.

CNN reported that the United Hatzalah rescue service said it had "provided assistance to over 60 wounded people in various conditions -- some of them in critical, serious, moderate, and light condition."

National emergency service Magen David Adom (AFMDA) said at least 67 people were injured, four with life-threatening injuries, in the attack some 60 kilometers north of Tel Aviv in the Haifa district.

Hezbollah -- which is considered a terrorist group by the United States, although the EU has only blacklisted its armed wing -- claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had launched a "swarm of attack drones" at Israel's Golani military training camp in Binyamina.

The Israeli military did not provide specifics about the affected site. Iran-allied Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets and drones into Israel, although most have been shot down or caused little damage and few casualties.

Earlier in the day, angry UN peacekeepers said Israeli forces had smashed into a gate of one of their bases in Lebanon, causing about 15 minor injuries.

"At around 4:30 a.m., while peacekeepers were in shelters, two IDF Merkava tanks destroyed the position's main gate and forcibly entered the position in the Ramia area," said the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), adding that the Israeli forces left after about 45 minutes.

Israel later claimed the tanks had come under fire when they crashed into the base gate.

The action came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said UN peacekeepers must "immediately" pull out of the combat zone in southern Lebanon and directly addressed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"The time has come for you to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah strongholds and from the combat zones," Netanyahu said, accusing Guterres of making UNIFIL soldiers "human shields" and "hostages of Hezbollah."

"Mr. Secretary-General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm's way. It should be done right now, immediately," he said.

UNIFIL is a 9,500-strong mission created in 1978 tasked with monitoring a cease-fire that ended a 33-day war in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah.

Forty nations that contribute to UNIFIL said in a joint statement on October 12 that they "strongly condemn recent attacks" on the peacekeepers. The United States and European leaders have demanded Israel stop firing at the peacekeepers, with U.S. President Joe Biden on October 12 saying he was "absolutely, positively" telling Israel to stop.

Fears of an all-out regional war grew as signs indicated Israel could be preparing to launch a direct strike on Iran in retaliation for Tehran's massive missile strike on Israel on October 1.

Biden on October 13 said he had ordered the Pentagon to send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and troops to Israel as part of U.S. efforts "to defend Israel."

Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said the system will help bolster Israel's air defenses following Iran's missile attacks. The THAADs are similar to Patriot missile systems but can cover wider areas, analysts say.

"It is part of the broader adjustments the U.S. military has made in recent months, to support the defense of Israel and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iranian-aligned militias," Ryder said.

The French presidency on October 13 said President Emmanuel Macron, in a phone call, told counterpart Masud Pezeshkian it was Tehran's "responsibility" to back efforts to lower tensions in the Middle East. The Iranian presidency also reported the call, saying the sides discuss ways to end the conflict but also using heavily belligerent language toward Israel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on October 13 said Tehran was prepared for a "war situation," although he stated his government desired peace.



"We are fully prepared for a war situation. We are not afraid of war, but we do not want war, we want peace and we will work for a just peace in Gaza and Lebanon," he said while on a visit to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.



Israeli warplanes hit a 100-year-old mosque in a village of Lebanon near the border early on October 13, a day after a marketplace was hit in the southern city of Nabatiyeh, according to Lebanon's official National News Agency.



Lebanon's Health Ministry reported deadly strikes in other areas of the country, including one on a Shi'ite Muslim village in a mostly Christian mountainous area.



Hezbollah said it launched rockets at Israeli forces inside Lebanese territory on October 13 as ground troops conducted incursions into the country's south.

A Hezbollah statement claimed it targeted a "gathering" of Israeli forces in the village of Maroun al-Ras "with artillery shells."

Hezbollah fired hundreds of projectiles from Lebanon into Israel on October 12 as Israelis celebrated Yom Kippur, an important holiday on the Jewish religious calendar.



The escalation comes as Israel is also conducting fresh attacks in Gaza and is expected to strike Iran in retaliation for a missile attack earlier this month.



Palestinian medical officials said on October 13 that an Israeli strike killed a family of eight and wounded seven others in the central Gaza Strip.



The attack late on October 12 hit a home in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing a couple and their six children, who ranged in age from 8 to 23, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where the bodies were taken.



Israel continues to strike what it says are militant targets in Gaza nearly every day for more than a year into the war with Hamas, which is designated a terrorist group by the United States and European Union.

The Israeli Army said in a statement on October 13 that forces operating throughout the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours had attacked about 40 targets and killed dozens of militants.

Both Hamas and Hezbollah are allies of Iran. Israel has repeatedly said it will respond to Iran's missile attack on October 1, which Tehran said was launched in retaliation for Israel's military operations in Gaza and Lebanon and the killings of a string of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.



Washington believes Israel has narrowed down targets in its potential response to military and energy infrastructure, NBC reported on October 12, citing unnamed U.S. officials.



There is no indication that Israel will target Irans nuclear facilities or carry out assassinations, the NBC report said, adding that Israel has not made final decisions about how and when to act.



Araghchi said there would be "no red line" for Iran in defending its citizens from the potential strikes.



"While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests," Araghchi wrote in a post on X on October 13.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP
Russia's southern region of Orenburg and neighboring Kazakhstan continue to struggle with floodwaters that have forced thousands of residents to be evacuated. Water levels are expected to peak shortly in the Russian city of Orsk. Meanwhile, anger boiled over as crowds asked for help from President Vladimir Putin and chanted "Shame on you!" at local officials.
Thousands of Georgians took to the streets of the capital, Tbilisi, on April 9, to protest against a controversial "foreign agents" bill that Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, said it will reintroduce. The bill was pulled last year amid massive protests over fears the legislation, which mirrored a similar law in Russia, would severely restrict dissent and the activity of civil society groups in the country and push it toward authoritarianism.
One year ago, Hamas -- the U.S.- and EU-designated Palestinian terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip -- carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel, the deadliest in the countrys history.

In response, Israel launched an aerial bombardment and ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave to destroy Hamas and rescue the 251 hostages taken by the group.

Israel has expanded its war in recent weeks by invading Lebanon and launching air strikes targeting Hezbollah, the armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon.

RFE/RL spoke to Lior Yohanani, manager of quantitative research at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based independent research center, which on October 7 released a wide-ranging survey of Israeli public opinion after one year of war.

RFE/RL: Can you explain what your study found as to how Israelis view the past year since Hamas's October 7 attack?



Lior Yohanani: Well, I think Israelis still don't see October 7 as an event that's over. Sure, the actual horrific events of that day ended, but Israelis are still living with the consequences.

There are two main aspects to this. First, since October 7, Israel has been in this multifront war that doesn't seem to have an end in sight. And then, of course, there is the issue of the hostages still being held in Gaza. So, we're seeing a sharp drop in people's sense of personal security. Almost three quarters of the public feel less safe compared to before October 7, and that's despite a year of war and some significant military achievements. On the flip side, we're also seeing that most people say their lives have returned to normal when it comes to things like work, media consumption, and family and social gatherings.

Another thing we're noticing is that the Israeli public is giving pretty low marks to all the political and military leaders for the performance since October 7. For example, almost two-thirds of Israelis are rating Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu's performance since then as poor or not good.

RFE/RL: How has Israel's involvement in a two-front conflict, in both Gaza and Lebanon, as well as a confrontation with Iran affected public opinion among Israelis?



Yohanani: It's tough to answer that question, because we're at the point where things could go in a few different directions. In the last few weeks, we've seen a major escalation in the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and just last week, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, which Israel is expected to respond to. In a survey we just did recently, we asked whether Israeli society and the military could handle fighting on two or more fronts for an extended period of time, and the results were pretty striking. Over 70 percent believe that yes, both Israeli society and the military can handle that kind of prolonged fighting. So, while the situation is complex and evolving, there seems to be a strong sense of resilience and capability among Israelis, even in the face of these multiple threats. But of course, public opinion could shift depending on how events unfold in the coming weeks or months.



RFE/RL: Is there support for Netanyahus response to October 7? Is there debate in Israeli society, as well as political circles, over Netanyahus strategic choices?



Yohanani: First of all, it's important to say that the Israeli public has largely supported significant military operation against Hamas in Gaza. That said, the Israeli discourse around the October 7 events, the ongoing war, and especially toward Prime Minister Netanyahu, is very polarized between right-wing supporters on the one hand and left and center supporters on the other.

People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term."

So, on the left and the center, there is a high level of distrust and suspicion toward Netanyahu and his government. For instance, Netanyahu's apparent reluctance to pursue a deal for returning the hostages in exchange for ending the fighting in Gaza is seen by large parts of the public, even on the right, as resulting from Netanyahu's dependence on far-right, ultranationalist members of his government who refuse any compromise or ceasefire.

Now for a long time, Netanyahu and his ministers argued that only significant military force would lead Hamas to compromise and release the hostages. Now, with military attention and resources shifting to the north, people are asking, where is this massive military force that was supposed to bring the hostages home?

One question we have asked several times since October 7 in our polls is what should be the main goal in Gaza: Dismantling Hamas or bringing back the hostages? And as time goes on, public opinion is increasingly supporting the return of hostages. In our current survey, 62 percent saw bringing the bringing back the hostages as Israel's main goal, while only 29 percent pointed to dismantling Hamas as the primary objective.

RFE/RL: How do ordinary Israelis see the question of the remaining hostages amid the continued protests by the hostages' families?



Yohanani: As I mentioned before, most of the public supports a deal to release the hostages, even if it means ending the war and withdrawing the military forces from Gaza. There's this widespread feeling that we've left the hostages behind, and that's really hitting at our sense of solidarity, which is a deep and fundamental value, I think, in Jewish history in general and in Israel society in particular.

At the same time, the campaign run by the Hostages And Missing Families Forum has become very politicized. Many right-wing supporters see it as weakening Israel. As time goes on, we're seeing more and more harassment of protesters who support bringing the hostages back. There are cases of passersby cursing, even hitting and throwing eggs, at hostages' families. In our latest survey, we asked about the effectiveness of the protests and actions taken by the hostages' families.

Despite most of the public feeling empathetic toward the hostage issue, only less than a third think these actions are actually helping to advance a deal for the hostages' release, while almost 40 percent think they're actually hurting the cause. So, you've got this complex situation where people want the hostages back, but there is disagreement and some backlash about how to make that happen.

RFE/RL: Can you explain the reasons behind the apparent contradiction in views regarding prioritizing a negotiated return of the hostages, or destroying Hamas?

Yohanani: You're right to point out that apparent contradiction. Let me break it down a bit. As I mentioned earlier, a clear majority of the public sees a deal to release the hostages as the main goal. But there is a big gap between political camps on this issue. In the center and left, about 80 percent support the deal for the hostages' release, while the opinions on the right are evenly split. So, for most of the left and center, the fighting in Gaza has run its course. They feel most military objectives have been achieved, and Hamas's military power has been significantly weakened. From their perspective, continuing the fight now only puts the hostages at greater risk.

It's important to know that about half of the right-wing also shares this view of prioritizing the hostages' release, but the other half of those on the far-right thinks dismantling Hamas is more important.

Why? For a couple of reasons.

First, there's a security stance that Hamas must be wiped out and not allowed to recover. There is also a very strong sentiment of revenge, with minimal consideration for the cost, whether it's the lives of the hostages, soldiers, let alone innocent civilians in Gaza. Another significant component openly discussed in religious nationalist circles is the return of Jewish settlement to the Gaza Strip after Israel evacuated Jewish settlements from there in 2005.

RFE/RL: Is there public confidence that Israel will ultimately be able to remove the threat of Hamas and Hezbollah and come out of this conflict with greater prospects for a peaceful and stable near-term future?



Yohanani: Right now, the Israeli public isn't showing a lot of optimism. In our current survey, when we asked people if they're optimistic or pessimistic about Israel's future, we found more pessimists, 48 percent, than optimists, 45 percent.

I also think it's important to note that a peaceful future, as you put it, or peace in general, isn't really a common concept in the current Israeli discourse. I would say the hope of Israelis is that the military actions against Hezbollah and Iran will lead to a situation where Israel's existence isn't in question, and that Israeli military superiority will prevent events like October 7 from happening again. So, it's less about peace in the traditional sense, and more about security and deterrence. People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term.
WASHINGTON -- Two years after Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza's arrest and conviction on terrorist charges viewed as politically motivated, U.S. lawmakers say they haven't forgotten their "friend."

At an April 9 conference in Washington organized to coincide with the anniversary of Kara-Murzas arrest, the lawmakers said they will fight for him until he is released and called on the State Department to declare him wrongfully detained.

"We will continue to advocate for his immediate and unconditional release for as long as it takes," Representative Jim McGovern (Democrat-Massachusetts), co-chair of the Congressional Human Rights Commission.

"We will continue to raise our voices. We will continue to have gatherings like this all throughout the country and all throughout the world," he told those gathered, including Kara-Murzas wife, Yevgenia, and two children.

Kara-Murza was arrested on April 11, 2022, upon his return to Russia following talks in the United States and Europe where he called President Vladimir Putin a war criminal for his decision to invade Ukraine.

Putin in March 2022 outlawed criticism of the war -- which he calls a "special military operation" -- and the armed forces as part of a sweeping post-invasion crackdown on freedoms.

A court sentenced Kara-Murza, 43, to a quarter-century in prison, the longest jail term handed to a Kremlin opponent in post-Soviet Russia and one more reminiscent of Stalinist times. The long sentence is symbolic of the harsher pivot Putin has taken since launching the war.

U.S. lawmakers, who were joined at the conference by European ambassadors, expressed deep concern about Kara-Murza's fate in prison, highlighting the death of fellow opposition politician Aleksei Navalny in an Arctic prison in unclear circumstances in February.

Navalny, 47, was serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges he and Western officials say were politically motivated.

"Russian prisons are notorious for their death toll," McGovern said. "Sitting in a Siberian prison, Vladimir's health is at risk. His life is a risk. And those in Russia with hope for a better future should not have to lose another leader to Putin's fear and paranoia."

Latvian Ambassador to the United States Maris Selga called on Western countries, especially the United States, to continue to support Ukraine militarily, saying Moscow's defeat is critical to ushering in the democratic Russia that Kara-Murza is fighting for.

"As we support him and condemn his imprisonment, we must remain committed to stopping Putin and hold him accountable. This includes by supporting Ukraine in every way possible necessary until they achieve victory," Selga said.

Representative Steve Cohen (Democrat-Tennessee), a member of the Congressional Helsinki Commission on human rights, expressed frustration that the State Department hasn't declared Kara-Murza wrongfully detained despite multiple requests.

"We have written and we have written and we have written" to the State Department, he said.

RFE/RL has also pushed the State Department to designate its journalist, Alsu Kurmasheva, who has been jailed in Russia since last year, as wrongfully detained without success.

When a person is declared wrongfully detained, it activates various State Department offices and other U.S. government agencies to work together with colleagues inside and outside the government to develop a strategy to secure their release.

Sonata Coulter, the deputy assistant secretary of state overseeing policy toward Russia and Central Europe, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken as well as U.S. ambassadors to the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and other international organizations consistently raise Kara-Murza's case.

She did not comment on whether the State Department will declare him wrongfully detained. She said Kara-Murza was one of about 700 political prisoners in Russia.

"Russia's internal repression enables its external aggression. These are inextricably linked, and we cannot address one without the other," she said.

James Roscoe, deputy head of mission at the British Embassy in Washington, also said that U.K. diplomats continued to raise Kara-Murza's case with Russian officials in Moscow and at the United Nations. Kara-Murza is a dual Russian and British citizen but has spent much time in the United States, where his wife and children live.

Kara-Murza played a leading role alongside his mentor, Boris Nemtsov -- who was assassinated in 2015 -- in persuading the U.S. Congress to pass groundbreaking sanctions legislation that targets corrupt officials and human rights abusers in Russia, including people close to Putin.

Kara-Murza believes he was deliberately poisoned twice in Russia as retribution for his lobbying for the legislation. Tests of his tissue samples conducted by FBI and U.S. federal research laboratories were unable to determine what caused his illnesses, but the FBI, whose director was directly involved, said it had investigated the matter "as a case of intentional poisoning."

In a sign of the legislation's power to inflict economic pain, the Kremlin lobbied hard to prevent its passage and later sought its repeal.

Kara-Murza returned to Russia despite pleas by U.S. lawmakers and others not to. He told them he was a Russian politician and must be in the country to have an impact.

Since his arrest and conviction, he has been moved around in prison. In January, he was transferred to a punitive cell unit in a Siberian prison.

Unlike in regular parts of prisons where inmates can move around, work, visit a library or prayer rooms, or engage in other leisure activities, those incarcerated in punitive cells are isolated from the rest of the correctional facility.

His interaction with the outside world is through his lawyer.

"The worst fear of a political prisoner is to be forgotten," Cohen told the audience. Kara-Murza "has not been forgotten."
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China has leveraged a variety of policies to offset downward economic pressure and address structural challenges, securing a robust start of this year with accelerated growth in retail sales, investment, and industrial output. China's retail sales of consumer goods rose by 5.5 percent year on year in the first two months of 2024, picking up from an increase of 3.5 percent in the same period of 2023. Fixed-asset investment also saw a notable uptick, growing by 4.2 percent year on year, quickening from the 3 percent increase in 2023. Furthermore, value-added industrial output rose 7 percent year on year during the January-February period, accelerating from the rise of 6.8 percent registered in December 2023. China's economy began the year on a positive note, and the country has the confidence, capabilities, and conditions to meet this year's economic and social development targets, said Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission. The country's macroeconomic policy mix bolsters the improving data and increasing confidence in China's economic outlook, which strategically addresses both short-term challenges and long-term structural issues within the economy. FISCAL AND MONETARY POLICIES According to the Ministry of Finance, China vowed to continue to implement a proactive fiscal policy this year and appropriately enhance its intensity. Notably, the issuance of ultra-long special treasury bonds has drawn widespread attention. These bonds will be used to implement major national strategies and build up security capacities in key sectors, with an initial allocation of 1 trillion yuan (about 140.95 billion U.S. dollars) for 2024. Tax and fee reduction incentives will persist this year and be pivotal for business support. Last year, tax refunds, as well as cuts and deferrals of taxes and fees exceeded 2.2 trillion yuan. Priorities of this year's tax policy include fostering scientific and technological innovation and bolstering the manufacturing sector. Measures include enhanced pre-tax deductions for enterprise research and development costs and tax relief for technology adoption. On the monetary front, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC) emphasized that "China has a rich monetary toolbox and there is still ample policy headroom." In January, the PBOC announced a 0.5-percentage-point cut in the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) for financial institutions, releasing around 1 trillion yuan of long-term liquidity into the market. Furthermore, China cut the over-five-year loan prime rate by 25 basis points in February to 3.95 percent. The move marked the most significant drop in recent years and reflected the country's efforts to reduce comprehensive financing costs. Pan said in March that the average RRR of China's entire banking sector is 7 percent, and there is still room for further RRR cuts. The central bank also underscored the use of structural monetary policy tools, including a special relending facility worth 500 billion yuan to support sci-tech innovation, technical transformation and equipment renewal. FOSTERING NEW ENGINES China unveiled a range of policies in the first quarter to boost investment and consumption and foster a better business environment. According to this year's government work report, China vows to cultivate new growth drivers, such as biomanufacturing, the commercial space industry, and the low-altitude economy. In the low-altitude economy sector alone, the market size is estimated to surge from over 500 billion yuan in 2023 to 2 trillion yuan by 2030 as the country accelerates the development of unmanned aerial vehicles for tourism and logistics activities, among other uses. Moreover, China has unveiled plans to facilitate equipment renewal and encourage consumer goods trade-ins. This initiative spans sectors such as industry, agriculture, construction, transportation, education, culture, tourism, and medical care, presenting an expansive market opportunity estimated to exceed 5 trillion yuan annually. China has introduced guidelines to establish around ten high-level industrial parks to leverage the potential of the silver economy. Additionally, efforts are underway to develop innovative products like nursing and housekeeping robots. Meanwhile, China is actively promoting the sales of new energy vehicles in rural areas by ramping up efforts to build more charging facilities in the countryside. China has introduced new rules on consumer finance, raising access thresholds for consumer finance companies in a bid to strengthen regulation and bolster consumption growth. China proposed 24 measures in an action plan to promote high-level opening up to create a better business environment. The country vowed to further shorten its negative list for foreign investment and launch pilot programs to relax foreign entry thresholds in scientific and technological innovation. With an economic growth target set at around 5 percent for 2024, China's policy mix aims to synergize efforts in stabilizing the economy and fostering new quality productive forces. More can be expected to enrich the policy toolbox further in the foreseeable future.
Members of the University of Idaho community hope the future plan for the Moscow campus includes preserving the arboretums, and adding spaces for student recreational activities.

These were among the suggestions offered by people who attended a Monday town hall event regarding the UIs long range campus development plan. The university has hired Michigan-based architecture firm Smithgroup to create a 25-year vision for the Moscow campus. Smithgroup spent Monday gathering feedback from staff, students and faculty on campus.

Smithgroup landscape architect Neal Kessler said he is hoping the development plan will be finished in spring 2025. It will then be used as a basis for future campus projects the UI will try to accomplish as funding becomes available, he said.

Its primarily for making sure that every single project that we do on campus  from a walkway, to an open space landscape project, to a renovation, to a brand new building  is trying to use our limited financial resources as best they can, Kessler said.

During Mondays town hall, held at the Bruce M. Pitman Center, attendees were asked to list what features on the Moscow campus they want to preserve, and which ones they would like to see transformed.

The general consensus was to preserve particular green spaces. The arboretum and Administration Building lawn, including Hello Walk, were among the most common green spaces mentioned. The Theophilus Tower Lawn and Paradise Path were also highlighted.
At least one woman was killed and three others wounded in the Ukrainian town of Bilopillya, in the Sumy region, after the Russian military dropped four guided bombs in the center of the town, local officials said on April 8. Another Russian attack on April 9 hit the building of the local children's boarding school in the town of Druzhkivka in the Donetsk region.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

Leo Varadkar has said he has no regrets about standing down, as he officially resigned as Taoiseach.

The politician, who has been Taoiseach for four years, said he was looking forward to a different chapter.

Mr Varadkar arrived at the official residence of President Michael D Higgins, Aras an Uachtarain, at 5:55pm on Monday.

Mr Higgins is understood to have greeted Mr Varadkar in the presidents study, where a letter of resignation was handed to the Secretary General of the Irish President.

After taking some refreshments with Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina, Mr Varadkar departed from the Aras at 6:40pm.

Leo Varadkar meeting President of Ireland Michael D Higgins (Maxwells/PA)

Mr Varadkar waved to the media before getting into a waiting car, and Mr Higgins waved goodbye as he departed.

Mr Varadkar will remain as Taoiseach in a caretaker capacity until a new taoiseach is voted in by the Dail.

The public and political establishment was shocked when the 45-year-old leader announced three weeks ago that he was resigning as Fine Gael leader immediately, and would stand down as Taoiseach once his successor had been appointed.

New Fine Gael leader Simon Harris is expected to be appointed as Irelands next taoiseach, and the youngest in its history, on Tuesday afternoon.

The 37-year-old is expected to reshuffle the Fine Gael ministerial team after his appointment.

Mr Varadkar, who is still a Dublin West TD, has said he has not decided whether he will contest the next general election.

His official resignation came hours after he attended the North South Ministerial Council in Co Armagh in what was his last major political engagement.

Mr Varadkar said it was an honour to end his tenure as Taoiseach by attending the council.
Cannabis cultivator Tilray, Inc. (TLRY, TLRY.TO) reported Tuesday a third-quarter net loss attributable to stockholders of Tilray of $104.98 million or $0.12 per share, sharply narrower than a net loss of $1.21 billion or $1.90 per share in the prior-year quarter.

On average, 30 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report a loss of $0.05 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Net revenue for the quarter increased 29 percent to $188.34 million from $145.59 million in the same quarter last year. Analysts were looking for revenues of $198.50 million for the quarter.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
J&J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF) announced Tuesday its acquisition of Thinsters, the deliciously crunchy cookie made with real, simple ingredients, that strengthens J&J Snack Foods' position as a leader in providing America's favorite delicious and fun snacks.

Thinsters are oven-baked thin, crunchy, bite-size cookies with real butter and real sugar. Thinsters is a popular and growing brand with best in category product quality.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
VTC Digital Television and Chicilon Media have signed a comprehensive media cooperation agreement to strengthen coordination and support each other towards long-term and sustainable development.

The cooperation is established on the basis of effectively exploiting existing potential and promoting the advantages of each party.

Accordingly, both companies can expand and diversify program production and business activities, improve modern communication efficiency, and increase competitiveness in the market, aiming to become comprehensive, long-term, and sustainable partners.

VTC Digital Television will support with communication campaigns to help increase Chicilon Media's brand awareness and promote its activities in Vietnam through the station's national television and media channels.

Representatives of VTC and Chicilon Media at the media cooperation signing ceremony. Photo courtesy of Chicilon Media

At the signing ceremony, Tran Duc Thanh, Director of VTC Digital Television, said that both companies share the goal of developing users and increasing revenues.

Although they are implementing different business forms, they can still cooperate, becoming partners to meet the requirements and challenges of the new media market.

"The cooperation is expected to open up new directions for business development strategies that are in line with the trends in this new era, promoting growth in the advertising and television sectors in Vietnam," Thanh said.

The signing ceremony between two companies. Photo courtesy of Chicilon Media.

Guo Zhi Feng, Chairman and General Director of Chicilon Media, said that the cooperation demonstrates Chicilon's desire to stand side by side with VTC Digital Television so that both sides can expand the market, contributing to the growth of the digital media industry in Vietnam.

"With the right strategic orientation on the basis of a mutually beneficial cooperation, working side by side, sharing resources, and overcoming challenges, VTC and Chicilon Media will together bring the best benefits and experiences to customers," Guo said.

Established in 2004, VTC currently owns a multi-platform media and television system including 15 television channels, VTC News online newspaper, and VTC NOW Digital Content Center.

The station's programs are broadcast widely across many transmission, broadcasting, and media infrastructures.

Chicilon Medias team experienced the open broadcast space at VTC. Photo courtesy of Chicilon Media

Chicilon Media currently owns a 5-channel media network: elevator TV, elevator poster, supermarket poster, airport poster, and large airport LED.

It has just reached the milestone of 36,000 elevator digital advertising screens in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, accounting for 92% of the market share.

In addition, the company also has a system of 30 professional LED screens at key airports nationwide.

It is committed to creating a solid foundation in advertising and business with VTC Digital Television, making the station's convenient services, quality television products, and outstanding activities widely available to a large number of people across the country.

The two companies agreed that they would provide optimal conditions to promote each other's media services and products.

At the same time, they also support and prioritize the transmission of strategic products in each phase of the partnership to the available infrastructure to help each others production and business activities achieve the best efficiency.
Property developer FLC Group chairman Trinh Van Quyet has been charged with fraudulent appropriation of assets and stock manipulation, illicitly earning VND723 billion ($29 million) from the stock manipulation activities.

The Supreme Peoples Procuracy charged Quyet and seven others with the same two charges on Monday, more than two years after Quyet was arrested.

Among them include Quyets two sisters: Trinh Thi Minh Hue, an accountant of FLC, and Trinh Thi Thuy Nga, deputy CEO of BOS Securities.

Huong Tran Kieu Dung, standing deputy chairwoman of FLC Group, was also charged with the same violations.

Prosecutors charged four leaders of the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) for abusing position and authority while performing official duties.

They include chairman Tran Dac Sinh, deputy general director Le Hai Tra, deputy general director Tram Tuan Vu, and director of listing management and evaluation Le Thi Tuyet Hang.

Prosecutors charged three stock officials with publishing false information or covering information in stock activities.

One of them is Le Cong Dien, head of the supervision department of public companies under the State Securities Commission of Vietnam.

The two others are from the Vietnam Securities Depository: Duong Van Thanh, general director, and Pham Trung Minh, a department head.

Thirteen other people, including many relatives of Quyet, are charged with stock manipulation, and 22 with fraudulent appropriation of assets.

In total 49 people were charged.

Prosecutors said that Quyet established FLC in 2009 and developed it into a large ecosystem with 15 subsidiaries and two partner companies. Among them five companies were listed.

Quyet ordered his subordinates Doan Van Phuong, FLC Group CEO and chairman of Faros construction company, and Hue to fake the charter capital increase of Faros from VND1.5 billion to VND4.3 trillion.

They then requested stock authorities to list 430 million shares of Faros on the stock market. They provided fabricated information to authorities to seek their approval.

Leaders of the State Securities Commission of Vietnam, the Vietnam Securities Depository and Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange used these informations to approve the listing.

Sinh, Tra, Vu and Hang are accused of speeding up the listing approval because Sinh knew Quyet personally even though they did not have enough evidence to determine the real charter capital of Faros.

Because of their approval, investors thought ROS shares had real value and bought them.

Over 30,000 investors bought 390 million shares from Quyet, who appropriated VND3.62 trillion from them.

Quyet also allegedly told Hue to open 500 stock accounts to manipulate the listed shares of FLC-related companies. Quyet alone had 23 accounts.

They manipulated five tickers: AMD of FLC Stone Mining and Investment, HAI of HAI Agrochem, GAB of FLC Mining Investment & Asset Management, FLC of property developer FLC and ART of BOS Securities.

They placed large orders but canceled them before they were matched to give the impression that there is large demand for the shares.

Quyet allegedly gained VND723 billion illegally from the manipulation, which is considered a serious violation of the State's economic management order.

He is accused of being the mastermind in the manipulation scheme and Hue was his main accomplice.

His other sister Nga allegedly ordered subordinates to give the stock accounts large margins so Hues group can place orders.
Between 660 and 750 CE, Anglo-Saxon England witnessed a profound revival in trade involving a dramatic surge in the use of silver coins. Scientists have recorded around 7,000 of these silver pennies  about as many as we have for the rest of the entire Anglo-Saxon period (5th century  1066 CE). For decades, experts have agonized over where the silver in these coins came from. Now, University of Cambridges Professor Rory Naismith and colleagues have solved the mystery by analyzing the make-up of coins held by the Fitzwilliam Museum.

There has been speculation that the silver came from Melle in France, or from an unknown mine, or that it could have been melted down church silver, Professor Naismith said.

But there wasnt any hard evidence to tell us one way or the other, so we set out to find it.

Previous research has tested coins and artifacts from the silver mine at Melle, but the study authors turned their attention to less-studied coins which were minted in England, the Netherlands, Belgium and northern France.

To begin, the researchers analyzed trace elements in 49 of the Fitzwilliams coins (dating from 660 to 820 CE).

Next, the coins were analyzed by portable laser ablation in which microscopic samples were collected onto Teflon filters for lead isotope analysis.

While the coins mostly contained silver, the proportion of gold, bismuth and other elements in them guided the team to the silvers previously unknown origins.

Different ratios of lead isotopes in the silver coins provided further clues.

In the 29 coins tested from the earlier period (660-750 CE), which were minted in England, Frisia and Francia, the scientists found a very clear chemical and isotopic signature matching 3rd to early 7th century silver from the Byzantine Empire in the eastern Mediterranean.

The silver was homogenous across the coins and characterized by high gold values (0.6-2%) and a consistent isotopic range, with no distinguishable regional variations among them.

No known European ore source matches the elemental and isotopic characteristics of these early silver coins. Nor is there any meaningful overlap with late Western Roman silver coins or other objects. These coins did not recycle late Roman silver.

This was such an exciting discovery. I proposed Byzantine origins a decade ago but couldnt prove it, Professor Naismith said.

Now we have the first archaeometric confirmation that Byzantine silver was the dominant source behind the great seventh-century surge in minting and trade around the North Sea.

These coins are among the first signs of a resurgence in the northern European economy since the end of the Roman Empire. They show deep international trade connections between what is now France, the Netherlands and England, said University of Oxfords Dr. Jane Kershaw.

The authors emphasize that this Byzantine silver must have entered Western Europe decades before it was melted down because the late 7th century was a low point in trade and diplomatic contacts.

Elites in England and Francia were almost certainly sitting on this silver already. We have very famous examples of this, the silver bowls discovered at Sutton Hoo and the ornate silver objects in the Staffordshire Hoard, Professor Naismith said.

Together, Sutton Hoos Byzantine silver objects weigh just over 10 kg. Had they been melted down they would have produced around 10,000 early pennies.

These beautiful prestige objects would only have been melted down when a king or lord urgently needed lots of cash. Something big would have been happening, a big social change, Dr. Kershaw said.

This was quantitative easing, elites were liquidating resources and pouring more and more money into circulation. It would have had a big impact on peoples lives. There would have been more thinking about money and more activity with money involving a far larger portion of society than before.

We hope to establish how and why so much silver moved from the Byzantine Empire into Western Europe, Professor Naismith added.

We suspect a mixture of trade, diplomatic payments and Anglo-Saxon mercenaries serving in the Byzantine army.

The new findings also raise tantalizing questions about how and where silver was stored and why its owners suddenly decided to turn it into coins.

The studys second major finding revealed a later shift away from Byzantine silver to a new source.

When the team analyzed 20 coins from the second half of the period (750-820 CE), they discovered that the silver was very different.

It now contained low levels of gold which is most characteristic of silver mined at Melle in western France.

Previously obtained radiocarbon data has shown that mining at Melle was particularly intense in the 8th and 9th centuries.

The study proposes that Melle silver permeated regional silver stocks after c. 750 CE and was mixed with older, higher-gold stocks, including Byzantine silver.

In the coins minted closest to Melle, the proportion of gold was lowest (under 0.01%) while furthest away, in northern and eastern Francia, this climbed to 1.5%.

We already knew that Melle was an important mine but it wasnt clear how quickly the site became a major player in silver production, Professor Naismith said.

We now know that after the Carolingian dynasty came into power in 751, Melle became a major force across Francia and increasingly in England too.

The study argues that Charlemagne drove this very sudden and widespread surge in Melle silver as he took increasing control over how and where his kingdoms coins were made.

A detailed record from the 860s talks about Charlemagnes grandson, King Charles the Bald, reforming his coins and giving every mint a few lbs of silver as a float to get the process going.

I strongly suspect that Charlemagne did something similar with Melle silver, Professor Naismith said.

Management of silver supply went hand-in-hand with other changes introduced by Charlemagne, his son and grandson including changing the size and thickness of coins and marking their name or image on the coins.

We can now say more about the circumstances under which those coins were made and how the silver was being distributed within Charlemagnes Empire and beyond.

The findings give new context to Charlemagnes delicate diplomatic relations with King Offa of Mercia in England.

Like Charlemagne, Offa took an active role in the silver trade and currency management.

Both kings saw trade and politics as inseparable.

In a surviving letter sent to Offa in 796, Charlemagne discussed trade in commodities as well as political exiles.

The pair also entered a trade embargo when a marriage negotiation turned sour.

There was a lot of communication and tension between Charlemagne and Offa, Professor Naismith said.

Offa wasnt in the same league, his kingdom was much smaller, he had less power over it, and he certainly didnt have as much silver.

But he remained one of Europes most powerful figures who was outside of Charlemagnes control.

So they maintained a pretence of equality. Our findings add to a dynamic that England and France have had for a very long time.

We have no doubt that people in England would have been very aware that their silver was coming from Francia and that they depended on it.

When commodities are only in certain places in limited quantities, questions of power and national interest will always come into play.

In the early Middle Ages, this transcended borders and rulers werent the only people involved.

Merchants, churches and other wealthy people all had an interest. Rulers taking much more direct action was new for this period.

The teams paper was published today in the journal Antiquity.

_____

Jane Kershaw et al. Byzantine plate and Frankish mines: the provenance of silver in north-west European coinage during the Long Eighth Century (c. 660-820). Antiquity 98 (398): 502-517; doi: 10.15184/aqy.2024.33
Many garment companies have reported 10-15% year-on-year increases in exports in the first quarter and receiving enough orders to last until the third.

A spokesperson for Saigon 3 company said that garment exports have improved and the order book is full for until July.

"Demand from the U.S. has recovered, and so the company's first quarter revenues were up from the same period in 2023."

Than Duc Viet, CEO of Garco 10, said his companys revenues rose 15% year-on-year and it has enough orders for until the end of the third quarter.

This year it is expanding its customer base and targets revenues of VND4.5 trillion (US$180.3 million), up 6.6% from 2023, and profits of VND130 billion, a 5.7% increase, he said.

Major textile company Thanh Cong is targeting a 20% rise in profits.

Vu Duc Giang, chairman of the Vietnam Garment and Apparel Association, said the garment industry has shown improvement and the increased order volumes would help enterprises recover from a rough 2023.

Last year exports had declined by over 9% to $40.3 billion due to weaker demand in major markets such as the U.S. and EU.

But they rose by 9.62% in the first quarter of this year to $9.53 billion, according to customs data.

At the current trajectory, the export target of $44 billion for this year is well within reach, Giang said.

But garment businesses are concerned that geopolitical conflicts could stymie recovery.

Many are pessimistic since the higher shipping costs caused by tensions in the Red Sea have hit their profits badly.

They are also under pressure to meet global fashion brands stringent requirements with respect to sustainability, extended producer responsibility, digital transformation, and environmental, social and corporate governance.

Concurring with this, Giang said garment exports to the EU might decline due to higher standards on emissions set by the European Green Deal.

Vietnamese businesses need to proactively embrace green transformation, amend their production processes and invest in new technologies to maintain their competitiveness and meet the demands of global supply chains, he added.
Toothed whales have developed specialized echolocation abilities that are crucial for their underwater activities. Acoustic fat bodies  the melon in the whale forehead, extramandibular fat bodies alongside the jawbone, and intramandibular fat bodies within the jawbone  are vital for echolocation. In a new study, researchers at Hokkaido University analyzed DNA sequences of genes expressed in acoustic fat bodies in two toothed whale species, the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), revealing some insight into their evolutionary origins and ecological significance.

Toothed whales, which include porpoises, dolphins, and certain whales, possess specialized echolocation abilities.

This lineage-specific skill is crucial to underwater navigation, hunting, and communication, which relies on the emission of high-frequency clicks.

Specific tissues are known as acoustic fat bodies within the heads of toothed whales, contributing to their echolocation capabilities.

Scientists believe that acoustic fat bodies are one of the novel traits acquired in the aquatic adaptation of toothed whales.

However, their origins remain unclear and necessitate the formulation of a kind of hypothesis that a prototype of acoustic fat bodies existed.

Toothed whales have undergone significant degenerations and adaptations to their aquatic lifestyle, said Hayate Takeuchi, a Ph.D. student at Hokkaido University.

One adaptation was the partial loss of their sense of smell and taste, along with the gain of echolocation to enable them to navigate in the underwater environment.

In their study, Takeuchi and colleagues found that genes which are normally associated with muscle function and development were active in the melon and extramandibular fat bodies.

There was also evidence of an evolutionary connection between the extramandibular fat and the masseter muscle, which in humans connects the lower jawbone to the cheekbones and is a key muscle involved in chewing.

Our study has revealed that the evolutionary tradeoff of masticatory muscles for the extramandibular fat bodies  between auditory and feeding ecology  was crucial in the aquatic adaptation of toothed whales, said Dr. Takashi Hayakawa, a researcher at Hokkaido University.

It was part of the evolutionary shift away from chewing to simply swallowing food, which meant the chewing muscles were no longer needed.

Analysis of gene expression in the intramandibular fat detected activity of genes related to immune functions, such as the activation of some elements of the immune response and regulation of T cell formation.

A paper describing the findings was published in the journal Gene.

_____

Hayate Takeuchi et al. 2024. A tradeoff evolution between acoustic fat bodies and skull muscles in toothed whales. Gene 901: 148167; doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148167
Wooden tools rarely survive in the Paleolithic record limiting our understanding of Pleistocene hunter-gather lifeways. With 187 wooden artifacts, the so-called Spear Horizon of the lakeshore site of Schoningen in Germany represents the largest Pleistocene wooden artifact assemblage worldwide. Wooden tools include at least 10 spears and seven throwing sticks used in hunting next to 35 newly recognized pointed and rounded split woods likely used in domestic activities. The new analysis of the Schoningen tools provides unique insights into Pleistocene woodworking techniques, tool design, use, re-working, and human behavior connected to wooden artifacts.

The earliest indirect evidence for human woodworking dates back 2 to 1.5 million years ago based on use-wear on stone material, said Dr. Dirk Leder from the Lower Saxony State Office for Cultural Heritage and his colleagues.

Direct evidence of wood artifacts coming from Africa and the Middle East date back to 780,000 years ago.

The discovery of early wooden hunting weapons, such as spears and throwing sticks, has revolutionized our understanding of early human hunting abilities, social interaction, and hominin cognition.

The earliest wooden spears in Europe are 400,000 to 120,000 years old, with an outstanding assemblage from Schoningen.

The earliest throwing sticks are known from Schoningen, with later possible examples from Africa.

The oldest arrows from the German site Stellmoor are of Late Glacial origin dating 11,600 years.

Digging sticks used in procuring underground storage organs are preserved at few sites in Africa, Eurasia, and South America being 400,000 to 14,500 years old.

Early domestic wooden tools have been reported from a few sites in Eurasia and South America.

In the new research, the scientists used state-of-the-art imaging techniques such as 3D microscopy and micro-CT scanners to examine an assemblage of wooden tools from Schoningen.

They were able to demonstrate new ways of handling and working the wood, such as the splitting technique.

Small pieces of split wood were sharpened, for example to use them in processing hunted animals.

There is evidence of much more extensive and varied processing of spruce and pine wood than previously thought, Dr. Leder said.

Selected logs were shaped into spears and throwing sticks and brought to the site, while broken tools were repaired and recycled on site.

At least 20 spears and throwing sticks had been left behind on the former lakeshore. This doubles the number of known wooden weapons at the site.

The extraordinary state of preservation of the Schoningen wood has enabled us, for the first time, to document and identify the woodworking techniques in detail thanks to state-of-the-art microscopy methods, said Dr. Tim Koddenberg, an archaeologist at the University of Gottingen.

The wide range of woodworking techniques used, as well as the various weapons and tools of early humans, show the outstanding importance of wood as a raw material, which is almost never preserved from this period.

The Schoningen finds bear witness to extensive experience in woodworking, technical know-how and sophisticated work processes.

Wood was a crucial raw material for human evolution, but it is only in Schoningen that it has survived from the Paleolithic period in such quality, said Professor Thomas Terberger, an archaeologist at the Lower Saxony State Office for Cultural Heritage and the University of Gottingen.

Schoningen is therefore part of the internationally outstanding cultural heritage of early humans.

Only recently, the site was included in the nomination list for UNESCO World Heritage Site at the request of the state of Lower Saxony.

The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

_____

Dirk Leder et al. 2024. The wooden artifacts from Schoningens Spear Horizon and their place in human evolution. PNAS 121 (15): e2320484121; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2320484121
Very large unidentified elongate and rounded fossilized bones of uncertain origin recovered from different Late Triassic localities across Europe have been puzzling the paleontological community since the second half of the 19th century. Different hypotheses have been proposed regarding the nature of these fossils: giant amphibian bones, dinosaurian long bone shafts, and giant ichthyosaurian jaw bone segments. A new study by paleontologists from the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universitat Bonn and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles Countys Dinosaur Institute rules out dinosaurs as possible sources of the mysterious large bones, thus rejecting the dinosaur hypothesis and instead supporting the giant ichthyosaur hypothesis.

In 1850, the British naturalist Samuel Stutchbury reported a mysterious find in a scientific journal: a large, cylindrical bone fragment had been discovered at Aust Cliff, a fossil deposit near Bristol, the United Kingdom.

Similar bone fragments have since been found in various different places around Europe, including Bonenburg in North Rhine-Westphalia and in the Provence region of France.

More than 200 million years ago, these areas were submerged beneath a huge ocean that covered vast swathes of Western and Central Europe.

Fossil remains from the animal world of that time  including marine and coastal dwellers  have been preserved in the sediment.

There is still some debate to this day about the animal group to which these large, fossilized bones belonged.

Stutchbury assumed in his examination of the first finds that they came from a labyrinthodontia, an extinct crocodile-like land creature.

However, this hypothesis was questioned by other researchers, who believed instead that the fossils came from long-necked dinosaurs (sauropods), stegosaurs or a still completely unknown group of dinosaurs.

Already by the beginning of the 20th century, some other researchers had theorized that the fossils could possibly be from a gigantic ichthyosaur, said Marcello Perillo, a paleontologist at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universitat Bonn.

In the study, Perillo and Professor Martin Sander examined the microstructure of the fossilized bone tissue.

Bones of similar species generally have a similar structure. Osteohistology  the analysis of bone tissue  can thus be used to draw conclusions about the animal group from which the find originates, Perillo said.

We compared specimens from South West England, France and Bonenburg. They all displayed a very specific combination of properties. This discovery indicated that they might come from the same animal group.

The researchers then used a special microscope to prove that the bone wall had a very unusual structure.

It contained long strands of mineralized collagen, a protein fiber, which were interwoven in a characteristic way that had not yet been found in other bones.

Interestingly, fossils from large ichthyosaurs from Canada also have a very similar bone wall structure.

However, this structure is not found in fossil samples from other animal groups that I have studied, Perillo said.

Therefore, it seems highly probable that the fragments in question also belong to an ichthyosaur and that the findings refute the claim that the bones come from a land-living dinosaur.

It is likely that the fossils come from the lower jaw of a sea creature.

By comparing the size of the fragments with the jaws of other species in this animal group, it is possible to deduce the length of the animals: they could possibly have reached a length of 25 to 30 m, as proponents of the ichthyosaur theory had originally speculated in an earlier study.

However, this number is only an estimate and far from certain  until, that is, we find more complete fossil remains. Nevertheless, they were certainly exceptionally large.

The first ichthyosaur lived in the ancient oceans in the Early Triassic epoch around 250 million years ago.

Species as big as whales existed early on but the largest creatures only appeared around 215 million years ago.

Almost all species of ichthyosaurs then died out at the end of the Triassic period more than 200 million years ago.

The unusual structure of their bone walls  which is similar to carbon fiber reinforced materials  probably kept the bone very stable while allowing for fast growth.

These huge jaws would have been exposed to strong shearing forces even when the animal was eating normally.

It is possible that these animals also used their snouts to ram into their prey, similar to the orcas of today. However, this is still pure speculation at this time.

The teams results were published online in the journal PeerJ.

_____

M. Perillo & P.M. Sander. 2024. The dinosaurs that werent: osteohistology supports giant ichthyosaur affinity of enigmatic large bone segments from the European Rhaetian. PeerJ 12: e17060; doi: 10.7717/peerj.17060
Actress Sandra Dewi might be subjected to a prison term of up to five years if found buying a private jet, a Rolls-Royce car, and luxury goods with corrupt funds from her husband, businessman Harvey Moeis.

Indonesian actress Sandra Dewi. Photo from Dewi's Instagram

As reported by The Star, the jet and vehicle, which are said to be presents from Moeis for the actress birthday celebrations, were confiscated by officials to determine if they were purchased with funds misappropriated by Moeis.

The actress is at risk of receiving a sentence to either a five-year imprisonment or a hefty penalty amounting to 1 billion rupiah (US$62,900) should she be found guilty of profiting from proceeds garnered through her husbands commercial ventures, as per The Independent Singapores reports.

Moeis was apprehended on March 27 for suspected corrupt practices and the misallocation of his firms resources, followed by an accusation by the national anti-corruption organization to the authorities suggesting that Dewi too benefited from her husbands commercial earnings, thereby leading an extravagant life.

A spokesperson for the anti-corruption agency in Indonesia stated: "The authorities need to investigate whether Sandra was aware of where her husbands money came from."

"Sandra often buys branded goods besides purchasing a private jet."

At 41, Dewi is celebrated as a leading actress in Indonesia, recognized for her performances in domestic films and television dramas. She earned the title of the most searched personality on Yahoo! Indonesia in 2009, as noted by The Jakarta Post.
Ngo Quyet Nhu (R) and his brother Ngo Viet Tien are arrested by police forces of Vietnam and Cambodia at a casino complex at the border, March 15, 2024. Photo courtesy of Phu Yen police

Vietnamese and Cambodian police jointly raided a casino at the border, capturing two fugitives accused of murder.

Five Vietnamese police officers and 25 officers from Cambodia approached a hotel and casino complex in Cambodias Ratanakiri Province, located next to Vietnams border, on March 15. The building is located in a secluded area surrounded by mountains and forests, where Ngo Quyet Nhu, 27, and his brother Ngo Viet Tien, 25, were hiding.

The two brothers were wanted for murder they are accused of committing in 2022.

The police officers split into three teams.

One team overwhelmed the guards of the building, while another blocked all the exits of the facility. The other team then raided the 5th floor of the building, where the "impregnable" room of the casinos boss was located, which was where Nhu and Tien had been hiding. The brothers tried to retaliate, but they were no match for the officers.

"The entire operation took five minutes, but we had planned this extensively with Cambodian police over a long period of time. The goal was to do things quickly, not allowing the brothers a chance to slip from our grasp like last time," an officer of the Phu Yen Province police force said.

At the time of the raid, the casinos owner was at a border gate in Dak Nong Province in Vietnam's Central Highlands.

Life on the run

Nhu and Tien, along with other accomplices, allegedly used weapons to injure several people over debt conflicts in August 2022. The group was arrested, but Nhu and Tien managed to escape and were wanted by police in Phu Yen.

Officers said the two brothers were highly vigilant, often choosing casino facilities near the border to hide in while traveling on Cambodian routes, as they knew Vietnamese police did not have the authority to capture people within Cambodian territory.

They also received help from fellow criminals to evade police. From Jan. 23 to 27, Nhu and Tien planned to move from a casino near a border gate in Gia Lai to another casino near the border gate of Dak Nong, using Cambodian roads. However, when they realized that police officers were watching their moves, they changed plans and continued to hide.

"Nhu and Tien had the advantage of making good connections wherever they go. The people near the casino facilities are willing to protect and shelter them, from the bosses to the guards," officers said.

Cambodian casino raid finds Vietnamese murder fugitives Cuoc ot kich casino o Campuchia bat hai ke tron truy na Police officers bring two Vietnamese fugitives to a police station in Cambodia's Ratanakiri Province. Video courtesy of Phu Yen police

After over a year of searching, in March, Phu Yen police discovered that Nhu and Tien were working as guards at a hotel and casino complex in Ratanakiri. They only showed up at night and rarely went out during the day. Besides being situated at a remote location, the casino was also equipped with several security cameras.

"Our plan to capture them therefore encountered many difficulties," said a statement by officers associated with the operation. "Just the presence of a stranger near the casino is enough to sound the alarm," officers said.

After the capture of Nhu and Tien, police units from Ratanakiri then extracted confessions out of them. The two admitted to have illegally entered Cambodia by traveling on lesser known paths and forging papers. They were detained for further investigation in accordance with Cambodian law.

The police of Phu Yen then cooperated with representatives of Vietnamese police forces in Cambodia to finish procedures to bring the two fugitives back to Vietnam for their murder investigation.
It is imperative to recognize that any activities disrupting the South China Sea situation and creating buzzes will undermine regional peace and stability. BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- In recent months, the Philippines, supported by some external forces, has fueled tensions in the South China Sea, despite the fact that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nanhai Zhudao (the South China Sea Islands) and their adjacent waters. It is imperative to recognize that any activities disrupting the South China Sea situation and creating buzzes will undermine regional peace and stability. By continuously inviting external forces into the fray, the Philippines is not just undermining the established mechanisms for conflict resolution but actively sabotaging the efforts of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to maintain peace and stability in the region. China and ASEAN countries have long been committed to properly managing and resolving disputes through dialogue and consultation between states directly involved. They have worked together to jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, which has kept the South China Sea situation generally stable. The maritime disputes between China and the Philippines have heated up because the Philippines, backed by outside players, has been reversing its words and provoking China. The involvement of external actors in its joint naval exercises and the upcoming trilateral summit among the Philippines, the United States and Japan reveal a stark truth: the Philippines is recklessly exploiting these platforms to solicit external support for its provocative actions. These external forces, driven by their own strategic agendas, readily exploit the Philippines' maneuvers to interfere in regional affairs and contain China. As noted by Anna Malindog-Uy, vice president of the Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, the Philippines is being used "as a pawn and a proxy." "The maritime issue is between the Philippines and China, and the United States is not a party to the quarrel and hence should refrain from intervening or meddling in this matter," the expert said, warning that the U.S. meddling in the South China Sea issue is "akin to fueling a fire, complicating further the already complex situation." Regardless of the Philippines' attempts to smear China, it cannot alter the indisputable reality that China's sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea were established over the long course of history and are solidly grounded in history and the law. China has always been committed to resolving the South China Sea issue through dialogue and negotiation. In 2002, China and ASEAN countries signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, jointly committing to resolving "territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means, through friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned." In recent years, China and ASEAN countries have actively promoted negotiations on the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea. Tensions escalated only after the Philippines backtracked on its commitments in the declaration and a series of bilateral agreements with China. The Asia-Pacific region is the most dynamic in the global economy, and its stability and prosperity lies in the fact that it is for the people of Asia to solve the problems of Asia, and maintain the security of Asia. Maintaining calm and stability in the region serves the interests of regional countries and contributes to growth in the global economy. Achieving these goals requires the constructive efforts of all related parties.
One killed in factory blast in northern Vietnam

A worker was killed in a methanol explosion at a paper factory in the northern Bac Ninh Province on Tuesday.

The incident occurred around 10 a.m. at the factory, situated within the Phu Lam industrial cluster in Tien Du District. The explosion sent the corrugated iron roof and fibro cement of the expansive factory soaring into the air before crashing to the ground.

A scene at a paper factory in Bac Ninh Province after a blast on April 9, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Gia Chinh

A worker at a neighboring factory recounted the terrifying moment.

"I heard a loud blast followed by the sound of objects tumbling down. As I rushed outside, smoke and dust were billowing from the factory," the eyewitness said.

Local authorities later confirmed the explosion was triggered by methanol, leading to the death of one worker and injuries to another.

Police have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.

The vicinity of the explosion is known for its numerous paper factories, which are predominantly constructed from corrugated iron and sprawl over extensive areas. Bac Ninh Province is notable for housing manufacturing facilities of global tech giants, including Samsung and Foxconn.
Rachel Reeves has said an incoming Labour government would launch a 5bn crackdown on tax avoiders to close a gap in its spending plans exposed by Jeremy Hunt scrapping the non-dom regime to finance tax cuts. Warning households and businesses that Labour was prepared to adopt tough measures to tackle tax fraud and non-compliance, Reeves said the funding would be used to pay for free school breakfast clubs and additional NHS appointments.  Guardian

Pharmaceuticals companies were told to make fewer drugs for the sake of the environment, in new draft guidelines for businesses in the Governments latest net zero drive. The suggestion was among a vast array of proposals which Britains biggest businesses have been told to consider as they are ordered to publish lengthy reports every year to show how they plan to meet their net zero targets.  Telegraph

Russia has reportedly asked Kazakhstan to supply it with petrol as Ukrainian attacks on its refineries force it to import gasoline. Kazakhstan has been asked to set up a reserve of 100,000 tonnes of gasoline, equivalent to 845,000 barrels, to supply Russia should shortages arise, Reuters reported. It is unclear if a deal has been reached. The Kremlin has also been seeking supplies from Belarus.  Telegraph

The Spanish family-owned cosmetics group Puig, which owns brands such as Charlotte Tilbury, Paco Rabanne and Carolina Herrera, is preparing an initial public offering, the biggest stock market listing in the beauty sector in years. The Barcelona-based company announced the move to go public on Monday with plans to sell 1.25 billion (1.07 billion) of new shares and an even larger amount of existing stock through the IPO, taking the total sum raised to more than 2.5 billion.  The Times

The Australian financial group Macquarie is one of the consortium of lenders to Thames Waters parent company Kemble Water Finance, The Times can reveal. Last week it emerged that the lenders, which also include two Chinese state-owned banks, the Dutch bank ING and Allied Irish Bank, could determine the fate of the troubled utility.  The Times
Vice President Mongolia Tourism Association Munkhnasan Oldokh speaks at the Mongolia tourism roadshow on April 5, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Bich Phuong

Mongolia plans to launch direct flights from its capital Ulaanbaatar to Ho Chi Minh City in November, following its visa exemption policy for Vietnamese issued in March.

At the Mongolia tourism roadshow in early April, Vice President Mongolia Tourism Association Munkhnasan Oldokh said the direct HCMC-Ulaanbaatar route decreases the length and time of travel between the two countries by skipping transit in Korea or Hong Kong.

Mr. Erdene Ochir Bat Unen, marketing representative of Miat Mongolian Airlines, said specific plans would be announced in September.

Travel agencies predicted that the direct flight would popularize Mongolian tourist routes.

Mongolia is known for its colorful culture, but attracts less tourists due to its lack of flights and high costs, said Marketing Director of Viet Media Travel Corporation Pham Anh Vu.

According to the Mongolia Tourism Association report, Mongolia welcomed 2,300 Vietnamese visitors in 2023, a figure it aims to increase in 2024.

Vietnamese visitors traveling to Mongolia for stays of up to 30 days no longer require a visa starting from March 7, according to a policy effective until the end of 2025.
Two men in New Jersey are facing charges in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a teenager.

The defendants  Eliezer Kopelowitz, 67, of Englewood, and Wayne Bambling, 59, of River Edge  were being held Tuesday morning at Bergen County Jail, pending their first court appearance, according to the Bergen County Prosecutors office.

Kopelowitz faces charges including sexual assault, criminal sexual contact and possession of gamma hydroxybutyrate, an illegal sedative, while Bambling was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact, prosecutors said.

The incident was reported Friday and both men were arrested hours later.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Nearly 60 New York state legislators are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to declare an opioid public health emergency over the overdose epidemic, echoing a call from the Staten Island Fentanyl and Overdose Task Force earlier this year.

District Attorney Micheal E. McMahon and Borough President Vito Fossella founded the task force, which in January issued recommendations to state leaders calling for enhanced addiction treatment, prevention and education while strengthening laws and enforcement for drug-related crimes.

In recent years, record numbers of drug overdoses in New York City, the state and the nation have been fueled mainly by the powerful opioid fentanyl with xylazine emerging as a corrosive killer.

The group of state senators and assembly members, in a letter sent to the governor on April 2, are backing the task forces top demand for a state disaster emergency that would give leaders expanded authority to boost public health measures in ways similar to what was accomplished during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is wonderful that our voices were heard, McMahon said in a news release where he praised the efforts of the borough politicians and community leaders, members of law enforcement, providers and consumers of behavioral-health services, and family members of overdose victims who participated in the task force.

The members of our Task Force who worked through six separate sessions and brought their incredible experience and perspective to the discussion should feel a true sense of accomplishment, McMahon said, especially because the issues around opioid addiction, fentanyl, and fatal and non-fatal overdoses have been a raging 5-alarm fire in our borough for too long.

Last year, over 110,000 Americans, including 7,000 in our state and at least 155 of our relatives, friends, and neighbors on Staten Island have passed from this deadly disease. More can and must be done!

In the letter to the governor, the state legislators said that in 2022 there were over 10,000 emergency room visits involving overdoses, and more than 70,000 admissions to substance-use disorder programs.

Every 90 minutes, a New Yorker dies a preventable death due to an overdose, the letter from the legislators said. Each year, this number increases in New York while it has plateaued nationally, with the largest increases occurring in Black, Brown, and low-income communities.

McMahon said that establishing a state of emergency regarding overdoses could allow the state to take the following actions:

 Waive insurance copays and deductibles for New Yorkers attempting to access addiction treatment;

 Speed up the distribution of opioid settlement funds;

 Waive application fees for counselors who want to work in addiction treatment;

 Adjust staffing requirements for addiction service providers.

McMahon noted that at least eight other states  Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia  already have declared a state of emergency over the opioid crisis. The federal government declared a national state of emergency in 2017 that is still in effect.
Actor Jonathan Majors was able to avoid jail, but was sentenced to probation following charges that he assaulted his ex-girlfriend last year, NBC News is reporting.

Majors, 34, will be required to complete a yearlong domestic violence intervention program in Los Angeles, the report said.

The Creed III actor was facing at least a year in prison following a December conviction of misdemeanor assault following a 2023 fight in which Majors is accused of attacking Grace Jabbari in the back of a car, the report said.

Following that conviction, Majors was let go by Marvel, where hed played Kang the Conqueror, appearing in the film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and the Disney+ series Loki.
PONTIAC, Mich.  The parents of a Michigan school shooter were each sentenced to at least 10 years in prison Tuesday for failing to take steps that could have prevented the killing of four students in 2021.

Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting. They were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors presented evidence of an unsecured gun at home and indifference toward the teens mental health.

Ethan Crumbley drew dark images of a gun, a bullet and a wounded man on a math assignment, accompanied by despondent phrases. Staff at Oxford High School did not demand that he go home but were surprised when the Crumbleys didnt volunteer it during a brief meeting.

Later that day, on Nov. 30, 2021, the 15-year-old pulled a handgun from his backpack and began shooting at the school. Ethan, now 17, is serving a life sentence for murder and other crimes.

Before sentencing, family members of the students killed in the shooting asked a judge to sentence the parents to 10 years, condemning them as failures whose selfishness led to four deaths and a community tragedy.

The blood of our children is on your hands, too, said Craig Shilling, wearing a hoodie with the image of son Justin Shilling on his chest.

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, recalled simple things she enjoyed doing for her daughter, such as scheduling an oil change for her car or helping choose senior year classes.

While you were purchasing a gun for your son and leaving it unlocked, I was helping her finish her college essays, Beausoleil told James and Jennifer Crumbley.

Five deputies in the courtroom stood watch over the Crumbleys and more lined the walls. They are the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting.

Prosecutors said tragically simple actions by both parents could have stopped the catastrophe.

The couple had separate trials in Oakland County court, 40 miles north of Detroit. Jurors heard how the teen had drawn a gun, a bullet and a gunshot victim on a math assignment, accompanied by grim phrases: The thoughts wont stop. Help me. My life is useless. Blood everywhere.

Ethan told a counselor he was sad  a grandmother had died and his only friend suddenly had moved away  but said the drawing only reflected his interest in creating video games.

The Crumbleys attended a meeting at the school that lasted less than 15 minutes. They did not mention that the gun resembled one James Crumbley, 47, had purchased just four days earlier  a Sig Sauer 9 mm that Ethan had described on social media as his beauty.

His parents declined to take him home, choosing instead to return to work and accepting a list of mental health providers. School staff said Ethan could stay on campus. A counselor, Shawn Hopkins, said he believed it would be safer for the boy than possibly being alone at home.

No one, however, checked Ethans backpack. He pulled the gun out later that day and killed four students  Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Shilling and Baldwin  and wounded seven other people.

There was no trial testimony from specialists about Ethans state of mind. But the judge, over defense objections, allowed the jury to see excerpts from his journal.

I have zero help for my mental problems and its causing me to shoot up the ... school, he wrote. I want help but my parents dont listen to me so I cant get any help.

Asked about Ethan reporting hallucinations months before the shooting, Jennifer Crumbley, 46, told jurors he was simply messing around.

At the close of James Crumbleys trial, the prosecutor demonstrated how a cable lock, found in a package at home, could have secured the gun.

Ten seconds, McDonald said, of the easiest, simplest thing.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Traffic from the Staten Island Expressway is backed up onto the Goethals Bridge Tuesday morning, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The post credits the stall to construction on the Brooklyn-bound expressway, which closed the left lane.

The Goethals Bridge to NY has a delays due to NYDOT construction on I-278/Staten Island Expressway closing the left lane, the post read.

As of 11:45 a.m., traffic stretched from the West Shore Expressway all the way to Bradley Avenue on the Brooklyn-bound Staten Island Expressway, as reported by Google Maps.

A 511 camera revealed slow moving traffic on the eastbound Staten Island Expressway near South Avenue just before noon.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) warned taxpayers last week about scammers offering fake assistance to set up online accounts at the agencies website.

IRS online accounts offer taxpayers easy access to individual tax information, but scammers can use that information to gain personal tax and financial details that can be used to commit identity theft.

Identity thieves can use the information to submit fraudulent tax returns in a victims name to get a big refund, and IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel warned taxpayers to be on the lookout for unexpected reach-outs from the IRS and other financial institutions.

An Online Account at IRS.gov can help taxpayers view important details about their tax situation. But scammers have realized the sensitive information is valuable to them, so theyre now focusing on tricking people that they need help setting up an account, Werfel said. This is just an elaborate scam designed to obtain valuable and sensitive tax information that scammers will use to try to steal a refund.

Swindlers posing as a helpful third party offering to help create a taxpayers IRS online account can use that information to engage in identity theft.

These scammers often ask for taxpayers personal information including address, Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification number and photo identification.

They can sell the information or use the sensitive details to file fraudulent tax returns, obtain loans and open credit accounts, according to the IRS.

The IRS Monday warning marked the third day of the agencys annual Dirty Dozen campaign that lists 12 scams and schemes that put taxpayers, businesses and the tax professional community at risk of losing money, personal information, data and more.

Other alerts included in the Dirty Dozen, which the IRS launched in 2002, were warnings for taxpayers to be on the lookout for fake charities, groups offering services to resolve IRS debt, and false fuel tax credit claims.
On Tuesday, the NYPD and ASPCA marked 10 years of working together in the fight against animal cruelty and the rescue of more than 5,000 animals.

The partnership has led to the training of more than 28,000 patrol officers in the detection of cruelty and neglect towards animals, said NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Kinsella was joined at 1 Police Plaza by several dogs that had survived mistreatment before they were taken in by loving owners.
Vietnam Airlines is scheduled to launch direct flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Manila from June 17, making it the first domestic airline to open direct flights to the capital Philippines.

The Hanoi-Manila route will have three flights per week  on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

There will be four flights a week linking HCM City with Manila on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. All will use wide-body aircraft.

The new routes mark a milestone in its international flight network development strategy as they connect Manila, Hanoi and HCMC  three leading economic hubs of Southeast Asia.

The opening of direct air routes to Manila will also help promote economic, cultural and tourism exchanges between Vietnam and the Philippines as well as in the Southeast Asia region, the carrier added.

Tickets for the routes are now available on Vietnam Airlines' website, mobile app, and official ticket offices and agents nationwide.
A mining company backed by billionaire philanthropists Paul Little and Jane Hansen has lost a legal challenge against Australias strict sanctions regime that may force it to stop digging up coal in far-eastern Russia and transporting it to Asia.

Lawyers for Tigers Realm Coal, a little-known ASX-listed miner, were unsuccessful in convincing Justice Geoffrey Kennett in the Federal Court on Tuesday that Commonwealth sanctions on importing, purchasing and transporting Russian coal did not apply to their client.

Tigers Realm Coal, which operates in Russia, has lost its bid to avoid sanctions over Russian coal. Credit: Tigers Realm

Despite multiple other businesses exiting Russia after Vladimir Putin launched a disastrous war against Ukraine two years ago, Tigers Realm is still mining and transporting coking coal in sub-zero temperatures from its Russian deposits through its subsidiaries to Asia. All its mining operations occur in Russia, with none of the coal landing in Australia.

In the past year, it reaped a net profit of $46 million.
Theres a curious twist to Australias education system: the youngest participants are the most exposed to market forces.

While for-profit education is rare from kindergarten to university, for most under-5s its laissez-faire; almost 70 per cent of Australias daycare centres are run for a profit.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese framed improvements to childcare reform as an economic reform. Credit: AAP

This free-market experiment in early childhood care and education was decades in the making. In the early 1970s the Whitlam government began funding not-for-profit providers to expand the supply of childcare, especially for disadvantaged children.

But as womens workforce participation steadily grew during the 1980s and 1990s, the focus shifted to subsidising parents with fee relief; in 1990 the Hawke Labor government extended government support to parents using for-profit childcare, attracting greater business involvement in the sector. Several Howard government policies, especially a taxpayer-funded childcare rebate introduced in 2004, also helped pave the way for the current corporatised childcare sector, underpinned by a growing pile of Commonwealth cash.
Six months on from her starring role tearing down an Indigenous Voice to parliament, Country Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price remains a hot ticket on the conservative pundit circuit.

Price is set to deliver the keynote at our favourite right-wing legal think tank The Samuel Griffith Societys annual conference next month, amid a lineup that includes former attorney-general George Brandis and High Court justice James Edelman.

Music to her ears: This year is Mr Nampijinpa Prices time to shine. Credit: John Shakespeare

But while things have been a bit slower for Price after last years frenetic referendum campaign, the career of her husband Colin Lillie, a luxuriously bearded Scottish-born country singer, has picked up the pace.

Lillie appeared alongside Price in one of the No campaigns first ads last year, talking about how a Voice to parliament would divide his family. Now, hes just released a new album called Honky-Tonk Southern Sky, which has even managed to get a few spins on enemy territory  the ABC!
While international hit Bluey might be aimed at preschoolers, any adult who has been drawn into an episode of the critically acclaimed animation will know in only seven minutes the canine Heeler clan can easily bring tears to the eyes with its gentle depiction of the joys and challenges of family life.

Actor Melanie Zanetti, who voices seven-year-old pup Blueys mother Chilli, is not immune to Blueys ability to hit one right in the feels. Most recently, when she watched the heavily anticipated 28-minute episode The Sign, she found herself blubbering.

Bingo, Socks and Muffin in Blueys special 28-minute episode The Sign.

Usually, I dont get to watch the episodes before they air, says Zanetti. This one I did. I was wiping tears off my chin. I had the full gamut of emotions. So Im really excited for everyone who loves Bluey to go on that journey.

The Sign, Blueys final episode of season three, is the Logie and Emmy-winning cartoons most ambitious endeavour so far, with the super-sized plot not only dealing with the major news that the Heelers iconic Queenslander house is for sale, but also featuring that biggest of televisual events  a wedding.
Roger, an eight-year-old labrador, plays before heading out for a search and rescue mission in Hualien, Taiwan, on April 6, 2024, three days after the 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit the region. Photo courtesy of Kaohsiung city administration via AFP

A former drug-sniffing dog who lost his job for being too friendly has emerged as the unlikely MVP of the Taiwan rescue teams searching for survivors of the island's strongest earthquake in 25 years.

At least 13 people were killed and more than 1,140 injured by the magnitude-7.4 quake that struck the island on Wednesday, with strict building codes and widespread disaster readiness credited with averting an even bigger catastrophe.

But landslides around epicenter Hualien still blocked tunnels and roads, making the mountainous terrain around the county difficult for rescuers to access survivors and victims.

Footage released by the county fire department on Saturday showed Roger, an eight-year-old labrador, mounting a boulder that had fallen across a hiking trail near Hualien's Taroko park.

"Have you found something? Let's go over there," said a rescuer to Roger, who did not budge.

The mayor of southern Kaohsiung -- which sent a rescue team and dogs including Roger -- said the labrador specializes in "rubble pile search and rescue" and that he is trained to search for survivors.

"Roger must have found some clues, and his confused look made the handler feel something was up, and then they found the victim," said Mayor Chen Chi-mai in a Facebook post titled "The Paw Paw Team's feat."

Handler Lee Hsin-hung said Roger located a victim "just five minutes after setting off", and praised the dog's confidence in an unfamiliar terrain.

Originally trained as a drug-sniffing dog as a pup, Roger was given his walking papers from that role because he was too friendly, which led to his switch to search-and-rescue missions.

"He's very agile," Lee told reporters. "Like this time when he went to Shakadang Trail, it's not a rescue site we can simulate (in training) but he's not scared."

The soon-to-retire dog has won hearts in Taiwan for his boisterous nature, lunging at reporters' microphones during interviews and also destroying a chew toy given to him after his mission.

Another search dog, three-year-old Wilson, a Jack Russell terrier, is getting accolades as well after footage emerged in Taiwanese media of his persistent scramble through immovable boulders.

The quake's aftermath was Wilson's first mission, and he located two victims -- a performance that handler Tseng Ching-lin said he was "surprised" about.

"He's very smart, but he likes to play and he runs to other places," Tseng said, as Wilson started to bite the microphone.

At least six people remain unaccounted for, while the number of people who can't be accessed has steadily shrunk as authorities managed to fix roads and clear tunnels over the weekend.
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Eating outRestaurant news The once-bustling Tramsheds has been taken over by hoardings. Can the precinct sparkle again? The inner west community hub has lost much of its top hospitality talent since opening eight years ago. Now a new set of operators has a plan to revive the dining destination. Scott Bolles April 10, 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 the redeveloped Tramsheds at Forest Lodge opened in 2016 as a polished European-style food destination, it attracted an A-list of Sydney restaurant talent. Today, most of the big names have departed and an imposing wall of hoarding hides the empty spaces where they previously traded. An offshoot from the team behind celebrated Surry Hills restaurant Porteno has left the building, along with newer arrivals such as cult hot chicken eatery Belles. Chef Eugenio Maiales artisan pasta spin-off Flour Eggs Water and his Palle restaurant closed at Tramsheds late last year, when the chefs restaurant group collapsed into liquidation. Diners and top hospitality operators once flocked to Tramsheds. Supplied A number of factors contributed to the restaurant groups fall, but it was Tramsheds that killed me, Maiale says. I did everything I could, [but] not enough people were going to the centre, Maiale says.

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The giant Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group also cited fluctuating foot traffic. Last year, Seagrass sold The Butcher and The Farmer, which opened at Tramsheds eight years ago with chef Jared Ingersoll at the helm. It remains open under new owners. A current Tramsheds operator, who asked not to be named, says the problem has been its mix of tenancies, with too many dining venues and not enough service retailers to draw locals and complement its supermarket. A restored tram greets diners at the entrance to Tramsheds. Cole Bennetts Tramsheds centre manager Nadia Bush argues foot traffic is still strong, but concedes dwell time  the metric that helps fill restaurants in shopping centres  has dropped. [Property developer] Mirvacs original idea was more of an upmarket food venue that didnt really work post-COVID, Bush says. Property group Revelop acquired Tramsheds from Mirvac in 2022 for about $52 million, with Bush part of the new team who are working on deals to bring in a bakery, pharmacy and a womens hairdresser.

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Incoming food operators will offer more of a grab and go component rather than traditional dining, with new sushi and doughnut operators. The local shopping centre has changed, so much shopping is online now, Bush says. We need to pivot, [adding] more convenience ... make it beautiful and fun. The once-popular Bekya at Tramsheds. Jennifer Soo Tramsheds isnt alone, with other Sydney re-developments over the past decade also filled with restaurants. But a saturation of food venues has made hospitality operators more judicious about where theyll open. The Tramsheds outlet from Bondi and Double Bay Asian-inspired restaurant China Diner closed in January when its lease ran out. It has sat empty in recent months, locked in time like a museum piece.

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China Diners co-owner, veteran Sydney restaurateur Kingsley Smith, says after much deliberation theyll back Bushs plan and re-open at Tramsheds at the end of May. If a development doesnt offer restaurants a drawcard like water views, it needs to be a community hub, somewhere locals can go and get everything, Smith says. Hes hopeful that with a reduced skew to restaurants at the precinct, China Diner will be where locals will go to eat, grab takeaway or hold a function. With a heritage building, change can be slow. But Bush says Tramsheds giant wall of hoarding is on the way out. Within six months itll be gone, she says.

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Vintage fashion remains in high demand  with people wanting a slice of history as much as reducing the need for additional landfill. And while some valuable designer items can be discovered by chance in the odd secondhand or vintage store, buyers in the know readily pay hefty prices for clothes and accessories designed by Yohji Yamamoto, Comme des Garcons, Junya Watanabe and others.

In Japan, from where this writer has just returned, the mission was in part to discover great archival vintage fashion. There was a one-hour train trip from Osaka to La Grande Leu. Up some dodgy stairs in a grimy warehouse, the showroom opened to racks of Yohji Yamamoto clothes from the 1990s to the early noughties.

Dot Comme at Curtin House, Melbourne, is a treasure trove for vintage fashion.

Other stops included visiting the online business Playful, in Tokyo, where a large team prepares designer goods to ship around the world. And there wouldnt be many stores as difficult to find as the Archive Store in Shibuya, Tokyo, where the basement showcases museum-quality designer clothing, with prices to match. For those willing to invest in collectable vintage fashion, the prices are impressive.

However, those not prepared to travel to Japan to discover these vintage treasures can pop in to Dot Comme at Curtin House in Swanston Street, Melbourne.
On the deadly battlefields of Tobruk during World War II, the colour of Archibald Arch Driscolls skin counted for little when it came to the bonds he forged with some of Australias 14,000 rats who  through blood and sheer grit  earned their place in our history books.

But coming home, things were vastly different for First Nations men like Driscoll, one of at least 59 confirmed Black Rats of Tobruk, a term proudly coined by Indigenous veterans seen as a badge of honour within the wider Rats of Tobruk Association.

Black Rat of Tobruk Archibald Driscolls daughter-in-law Colleen Hurley and granddaughter Angelina Hurley with the movie poster he features in. Credit: Jamila Toderas

Yet, despite their service, they returned to a deeply segregated Australia. They were not entitled to vote, let alone walk into a pub with their white brothers-in-arms and share a beer.

Australian War Memorial Indigenous liaison officer Michael Bell said descendants of servicemen such as Driscoll see the Black Rat moniker as a source of considerable pride. Poet Iris Clayton, whose father counted himself among the Black Rats, wrote a poem in their honour in 1988. It says: He fought for this land so that he could be free. Yet he could not vote after his desert melee.
On the anniversary of one of Australias greatest war achievements, the Australian War Memorial has found that the most recognised of all the Rats of Tobruk, despite achieving national fame, remained an unknown soldier to most of his country.

Archibald Arch Driscoll so personified the Diggers youth, endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour and mateship that his face was used on the poster for Charles Chauvels 1944 film The Fighting Rats of Tobruk.

Hero shot: One of Tobruks Black Rats, Archibald Driscolls good looks made him a Hollywood poster boy. Credit: Australian War Memorial

Few, if any, at the time realised that Driscoll was, in fact, one of the Black Rats, a term proudly coined by the Indigenous veterans themselves and now a badge of honour within the wider Rats of Tobruk Association. But as the Heralds Andrew Hornery recounts, despite their service, the Black Rats returned to a deeply segregated Australia. They were not entitled to vote, let alone walk into a pub with their white brothers in arms and share a beer.

April 10 marks the 83rd anniversary of the siege of Tobruk, a lonely Libyan port town which, in 1941, Australian troops defended from a much larger GermanItalian army commanded by Desert Fox, General Erwin Rommel. Tobruk was cut off by land, but the garrison was supplied by sea, and our troops held out for 231 days. Nearly 800 Australian soldiers died and 1996 were wounded during the siege. The Nazi propagandist Lord Haw Haw (William Joyce) derided the tenacious defenders as rats, but the Diggers embraced the moniker as an ironic compliment.
A man is dead and several people are in hospital, including a four-year-old child, after a car and a bus crashed in Sydneys Hills District on Tuesday evening.

Emergency services were called to the corner of Windsor Road and Sanctuary Drive in Rouse Hill just after 7pm.

Paramedics treated the 60-year-old male passenger of the silver Honda, but he died at the scene. Three other adults and a child were taken to Westmead Hospital with severe injuries.

The 40-year-old driver of the car was trapped in the car and extracted by a NSW Fire & Rescue hydraulic crew. He was treated at the scene and taken to hospital with wounds to his chest and arms.
The architect of the state governments plan to use the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre as Brisbanes main 2032 Olympic stadium has refused an invitation to appear before a Senate inquiry to explain his stance.

Australian Olympics supremo John Coates, who Premier Steven Miles cited as the inspiration for the controversial stadium call, had been called to give evidence to an ongoing inquiry into Australias preparedness to host the 2032 Games.

John Coates has refused to appear before a Senate inquiry into Australias preparedness to host the 2032 Games. Credit: Mark Metcalfe/Getty

Coates, along with former Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk, was asked to appear before the inquiry last month, following the release of Quirks report into Brisbane 2032 venues.

John has advised he has declined  with no further comment, an Australian Olympic Committee spokesman said.
The question of whether someone is a woman is not just biological but also social and psychological, a court has heard on the first day of a landmark trans-rights lawsuit.

Trans woman Roxanne Tickle is suing female-only social media platform Giggle for Girls after her access to the app was revoked in September 2021.

Roxanne Tickle says Giggle for Girls illegally discriminated on the grounds of gender identity after her access to the app was revoked. Credit: AAP

The app and its founder, Sall Grover, illegally discriminated on the grounds of gender identity, Tickles lawyer Georgina Costello told a Federal Court hearing in Sydney on Tuesday.

The evidence will show that Ms Tickle is a woman, Costello said.
Rank and file Labor members could be stripped of the right to vote on a Victorian premier after the battle to replace Daniel Andrews nearly spilled into a month-long internal election campaign.

Party members and MPs currently have a 50-50 say in deciding the state Labor leader. But a proposed change to party rules would cut the memberships voting rights to determine the premier when the party is in power.

Then-premier Daniel Andrews as he entered the fiery meeting of the Labor caucus on September 27 to elect his replacement. Credit: Jason South

MPs and the partys public office selection committee, made up of 100 members, would elect a Labor premier instead.

The Age has spoken to nine party members who asked not to be named to speak freely about internal matters, who each viewed the motion as a direct response to a dramatic caucus meeting the day after Andrews announced his resignation.
The state government has again been forced to step in and oversee the Geelong council as a new report highlighted financial problems, warring councillors and claims of harassment and bullying.

Peter Dorling and Mark Davies were appointed on Tuesday as municipal monitors effective immediately  less than three months since the previous monitors term finished.

Local Government Minister Melissa Horne. Credit: Gus McCubbing

Dorling and Prue Digby were initially appointed as monitors to the City of Greater Geelong beginning January last year, at a cost of $107,626 for a period of 12 months.

Their final report, which was made public on Tuesday, outlined budget problems, complaints between councillors, potential conflicts of interest and claims of harassment and bullying.
Huge disparities in population growth have emerged across Perth as numbers spiral higher in every suburb when compared to pre-COVID levels.

Some neighbourhoods are absorbing a disproportionate share of the population surge, with booms evident in the citys north-east and south-east urban growth corridors, new Bureau of Statistics population figures show.

The master planned community of Alkimos-Eglinton added nearly 5500 people between 2019 and 2023 to reach a population of 17,700. Back in 2011, fewer than 100 people lived in the area.

Other suburbs to register strong post-pandemic growth included Brabham-Henley Brook, which increased by 50 per cent, or an extra 4800 people, and Piara Waters-Forrestdale which increased by 34 per cent, or 4900 people.
The denial of humanitarian access is one of six grave violations against children that is monitored by the United Nations. Such denial violates childrens right to life, education and the highest attainable standard of health. Any party preventing children from receiving life-saving assistance, which threatens their existence, must be held accountable, be it a government or a non-state actor.

Lets be clear: any threat to peace and security is a threat to children, said United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. And yet, in every corner of the globe, millions of children in conflict zones are in desperate need of food and clean water, education and medical care  all the essentials of life.

In Myanmar, Rohingya children have been killed, detained, and displaced. Russian attacks on Ukraine are killing children and destroying schools, hospitals and homes. In Afghanistan, girls face systemic discrimination and violence, while the Houthis are disrupting the delivery of lifesaving aid to 11 million Yemeni children, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. The list of places where children live in fear unfortunately, goes on and on.

Across the Sahel, including in Burkina Faso, where ongoing violence has shuttered a quarter of all schools and left hundreds of thousands of young children with acute malnutrition, she said.

In Israel, where children were murdered or taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th and continue to face rocket-fire. And in Gaza, where over the last few months, thousands and thousands of children have been injured, orphaned, killed.

The United States is proud to be the leading donor to UNICEF and the World Food Programme, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. But we urge the world to do more  to give more  to address the needs of children in armed conflict.

We must safeguard medical, nutritional, and hygienic support for children and their families, which serve as a bedrock for their education and mental health, she said.

We must ensure the rights of children to play, to be just children; that this right be safeguarded. And we must meet the immediate needs of children in conflict, we must also consider the resources they need for their future.

When we ensure children are safe, theyre warm, and fed, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, When we give them access to an education, to health care, to the psychological support they need to grow, we dont only safeguard their futures  we build a safer, more peaceful world for us all.
Not because of her job but because I thought that job might prove a risk to her ultimate ambition. People are so weird about sex work. If I had to guess which government departments might freak out about applicants having a previous history in the sex industry, Id guess foreign affairs, home affairs, defence, maybe PM&C, might be among the worst of all possible freak-outs. A friend and colleague tells me when he applied for a senior public service job, it wasnt the actual past job that was the concern. It was the risk of being blackmailed because of that past job.

Taylor Auerbach was not the only ambitious dreamer I met in my years of teaching. Not long before I left academia, I chatted to an excellent student who wanted to be a diplomat. She was having an exchange year in an expensive part of Europe and I said I hoped she was saving her pennies. She said she was in a well-paid job: Im a sex worker.

One of the privileges you have as a teacher is this: you get clued in to the dreams and ambitions of your students.

Our weirdness about sex work has never been more obvious than in the way people have responded since we discovered the allegations that two Thai sex workers were part of a deal with Channel 7 to encourage Bruce Lehrmann to kick back, chill out and spill all for the Spotlight crew. Lehrmann is the man alleged to have sexually assaulted Brittany Higgins in 2019. Hes strenuously denied that ever happened. Hes also now accused of raping a woman in Toowoomba in October 2021. He strenuously denies that too.

Loading

Our collective weirdness about sex work is embarrassing. Sex work is work. Its legal. Its well-paid. And many women do it because its flexible, and they can be their own bosses. Sure, thats not true for every sex worker. Australia has its share of trafficked women, as Nick McKenzies series Trafficked revealed  and that may well be because those women dont get access to labour protections afforded to the rest of us. But Australia also has women who choose to do it because its well-paid and when the jobs done, its done. No homework required.

Sex work has its own advocacy group, Scarlet Alliance. Its CEO Mish Pony reminds us all that sex work is legal, even though we carry on like its not. Now, the allegations of Lehrmanns use of sex workers have turned this into a sensationalist sideshow; one which has the potential to promote discrimination and stigma. Lehrmann has also denied these allegations. Plus, Pony reminds me that its been alleged that the fee of $10,000 was overnight for two workers. In comparison, Mark Llewellyn earned $750,000 a year the last time his pay was public.

This is not to say, if true, that hiring sex workers to encourage someone to talk is any good. Its not. Its utterly gross, in the same way as paying a years rent is gross. Im not even convinced that spending a weeks wages on a fancy meal is a good idea. Paying people to talk only diminishes the integrity of the truth; it will bring you what you paid for. In the case of Spotlight, it paid a lot to get Lehrmanns explanation as to what happened that night in Linda Reynolds office and, at the time, avoided the scrutiny to which hes since been subjected.
Loading Chief among these gripes is housing. Theres been some amazingly poor analysis written about the intersection of homes and our recent population surge. Through 2022-23, a net 528,000 migrants moved into the country. Thats an amazingly large number of people. Never before have so many people come to Australia in a single 12-month period, and its prompted claims that Australia is effectively full. Some reckon its time to shut the borders, while even a few even-handed economists say there has to be a slowdown in this growth. Much of the analysis is fixated on the raw number of migrants and the raw number of new dwellings being constructed across the country (which has fallen sharply after the pandemic-era burst). What this misses, is where these 528,000 extra people are actually living, despite us having clear data that proves much of this mathematically challenged fearmongering is at best misplaced and at worst, downright malicious.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics recently released its annual breakdown on the population of the country, down to the suburb and small country town. In the NSW town of Scone, for example, it reckons the population increased by one person in 2023  from 6039 to 6040. The bureau calculates population change by births, deaths, internal migration and net overseas migration. Last year, for example, 68 migrants moved to Scone. In a town of just over 6000 people, that seems like a lot within a 12-month period. At the same time, though, 403 permanent residents also moved into town, while 477 left. There were also seven more births than deaths. All of this means that without migrants, Scones total population would have shrunk. The figures also show those parts of the country taking in the most migrants, and the 10 suburbs that have taken in the largest number of overseas residents over the past year happen to all share one key characteristic  theyre all home to huge numbers of (international) students.

The largest increase in migrants in the past year occurred in the Melbourne inner-city suburb of Carlton where, over 12 months, 3722 net migrants moved to a suburb no more than three drop punts wide. Carlton also happens to be home to the University of Melbourne. Despite an influx of almost 4000 migrants in 12 months, there are no tent cities in Carlton or along Lygon Street. Credit: Eamon O'Gallagher This week, I walked around the suburb and, despite the influx of new residents, there were no tent cities along Lygon Street. No one was camped out next to the Royal Exhibition Building, which sits on Carltons edge (its main threat remains the state governments failure to properly fund works on the world heritage-listed site). There are now 21,376 people living in Carlton. Thats 4000 more than in 2021, but just 300 more than in 2019. What happened between 2019 and 2021? We locked students out of the country, and Carltons population shrank sharply. But despite the growth, there are no tent cities popping up because the students are back and living in the non-private dwellings that were left vacant for two years.

Its a story repeated across other Australian suburbs in the top 10. In Sydney, its Haymarket, Kensington, Kingsford, Ultimo and Macquarie Park. In Melbourne, the students have moved into pre-existing (but vacant) accommodation in the CBD, Clayton and Box Hill. Combined, these top 10 suburbs took in about 26,000 migrants last year. Loading Of those areas measured by the bureau, 400 either de-populated or had no population change over the past year, including the Victorian north-east centre of Wangaratta and the western part of the inner Sydney suburb of Strathfield. The fastest growing suburb was the Rockbank-Mount Cottrell area on Melbournes western fringe, where the total population grew by 4300 people in 12 months. Of that, just 219 were migrants. In Sydneys west, the fastest-growing suburb was the Marsden Park-Shanes Park area. Of the 3900 residents, just over 10 per cent were new migrants.

Apart from the student-heavy suburbs, the fastest-growing parts of Australia were swelled by people already in the country. There are legitimate issues around high population growth and the nations ability to deal with them. We need more homes, better rentals and higher-density developments built around existing transport infrastructure. But simply arguing one number (population growth) and another (dwelling construction) means we should be installing barbed wire at our airports to stop another migrant is a ludicrous approach. So Jim Chalmers, use next months budget speech to thank migrants and acknowledge that far from being part of the economic problem, theyre actually an essential part of the solution. Shane Wright is a senior economics correspondent and regular columnist.
The state opposition and crossbench will team up to save an independent council that oversees Victorias official records after the government moved to scrap it as part of a digital-age overhaul.

The move comes as one landowner claimed her digital land records were altered and that she was able to fight the change only after she provided evidence using old paper documents from the archives.

Bullengarook resident Alison Joseph is concerned about the integrity of Victorias public records. Credit: Simon Schluter

Alison Joseph, from Bullengarook, near Gisborne, alleges a local council employee had edited the documents.

The change could have allowed a neighbour to build a driveway through her property, but she found hard-copy road boundary records  including a 120-year-old document from Public Record Office Victoria, the official archive for state and local governments  to challenge it.
Strasbourg, France: Europes top human rights court has ruled that the Swiss government had violated the human rights of its citizens by failing to do enough to combat climate change, in a decision that will set a precedent for future climate lawsuits.

The European Court of Human Rightss ruling, in favour of the more than 2000 Swiss women who brought the case, is expected to resonate in court decisions across Europe and beyond, and to embolden more communities to bring climate cases against governments.

Swiss member of Senior Women for Climate Rosmarie Wydler-Walti, right, talks to Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg after the European Court of Human Rights ruling. Credit: AP

Courts in Australia, Brazil, Peru and South Korea are considering human rights-based climate cases.

But in a sign of the complexities of the growing wave of climate litigation, the European court rejected two other climate-related cases on procedural grounds. One of these was brought by a group of six Portuguese young people against 32 European governments and another by a former mayor of a low-lying French coastal town.
Cairo: Hamas said the latest Israeli ceasefire proposal it received from Qatari and Egyptian mediators did not meet any of the demands of Palestinian factions.

However, the group said on Tuesday that it would study the proposal, which it described as intransigent, and deliver its response to mediators at the Cairo talks.

Palestinians walk through a destroyed Khan Younis this week. Credit: AP

A Hamas official said the group had rejected the proposal, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a date was set for an invasion of Rafah, Gazas last refuge for displaced Palestinians.

Israel and Hamas sent teams to Egypt on Sunday for talks that included Qatari and Egyptian mediators, as well as CIA director William Burns.
Greenville, Maine: Its 3.30pm in Maine and the moon has slowly materialised and nestled across the orb of the sun, plunging the lakeside town around me into complete darkness.

For almost four minutes theres nothing but ethereal serenity: the air temperature drops, the wind seems to slow, and all I can see in the distance is the black silhouette of the moon surrounded by the pearly glow of the suns corona.

This was the first total eclipse I had seen and it was as awe-inspiring as I had hoped  and well worth my two-day journey to totality: where the moon fully obscures the sun.

It was also North Americas busiest eclipse ever: hundreds of millions of people live in or near the shadows path, while countless visitors travelled across the country to witness this breathtaking phenomenon.
The United States is deeply concerned about the ongoing convictions of Vietnamese ethnic minority and religious freedom advocates. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller noted in a statement that five such convictions have occurred since January.

Particularly troubling, said Spokesperson Miller, is the recent 13-year sentence of Y Krec Bya, who has been a peaceful voice for freedom of religion or belief in Vietnam. Bya, a member of the unregistered Evangelical Church of Christ of the Central Highlands, was arrested last April and charged with sabotaging the national unity. His recent conviction is not his first. In 2004 Bya was sentenced to eight years in prison for advocating on behalf of the religious freedom of the Montagnard people.

Nay Y Blang hosted prayer gatherings in his home for members of the same Evangelical Church of Christ and was also charged, among other crimes, with sabotaging national unity. After a trial without legal representation, Blang was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom notes that Blang had previously been sentenced to five years and six months for undermining the unity policy.

In February, a court sentenced Danh Minn Quan, a Buddhist from the Khmer-Krom community in southwest Vietnam, to three and a half years in prison on the charge of abusing democratic freedoms. Reportedly Quan was targeted because he distributed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and participated in various UN events to promote human rights. He also advocated for the rights of Khmer-Krom Buddhists to practice their religion in line with their ethnic and cultural background.

Two other Buddhist activists from the Khmer-Krom community, Thach Cuong and To Hoang Chuong, were also targeted because they distributed the UN Declaration and advocated for their communitys religious rights. Both were sentenced to prison for abusing democratic freedoms: Cuong for three and half years and Chuong for four years.

The State Departments Human Rights report on Vietnam notes that senior U.S. diplomatic officials in Vietnam regularly urge authorities to allow all religious groups to operate freely. The United State is repeating that appeal.

We call upon Vietnam to respect the rights of individuals to exercise freedoms of expression, association, and religion or belief, Spokesperson Miller said. We reiterate our call on Vietnam to release all those unjustly detained.
Microsoft announces $2.9 billion investment in Japan



Washington, April 9 (AFP) Apr 09, 2024



Microsoft on Tuesday announced a $2.9 billion investment over the next two years in Japan to bolster the country's push into artificial intelligence.

The announcement coincides with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to Washington, underscoring Tokyo's commitment to becoming a major AI power.

Microsoft has grown into a major player in the advancement of AI through its partnership with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, propelling it past Apple as the world's biggest company by market capitalization.

"This is Microsoft's single largest investment in its 46-year history in Japan," said Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft. "These investments are essential ingredients for Japan to build a robust AI Economy."

The investment included providing "more advanced computing resources," according to Smith, including powerful graphics processing units (GPUs) that are crucial for running AI applications.

Microsoft also pledged to invest in training three million Japanese workers in AI skills over the next three years, and announced the opening of its first Microsoft Research Asia lab in Tokyo that will work on AI and robotics.

Underling the growing importance of cybersecurity amid increased hacking and breaches, Microsoft also announced plans to collaborate with Japan's government to strengthen the country's cyber defenses.

"The threat landscape for cybersecurity has become more challenging ... We're seeing that from China and from Russia in particular, but we're also seeing growing ransomware activity around the world," Smith told the Nikkei news outlet.
The main advantage of prepaid services is the combination of freedom and control that they offer. With a prepaid cell phone, you're not locked into a multi-year plan with a set number of minutes per month during specific calling times, additional charges if you exceed the limit and a costly fee if you break the contract.

You're free to talk whenever you want, as long as you want, until you run out of minutes or data. And you don't have to pay a monthly bill.

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Talking more one month and less the next makes no difference, and leftover minutes will often roll over from one month to the next. Plus, if you want to change to a different type of plan, a prepaid phone gives you the freedom to switch whenever you want.

Because they don't require a contract, prepaid phones are fast and easy to buy. They also are available at many locations, ready to use immediately and even disposable. These advantages make a prepaid phone work particularly well for the following instances.

Parents of Teenagers

If you don't have any minutes left, you can't make calls or send text messages, although you can still make calls for emergencies and, with some phones, receive messages stored until you have the minutes to view them.

Parents can buy a cheap cell phone for a teen and a set number of minutes or amount of data, leaving the teen to budget use and pay for additional minutes.

Occasional Cell Phone Users

If you only use a cell phone for emergencies and perhaps a few calls a week, you don't need a fancy phone or a complicated billing plan. A prepaid phone may work well, but make sure you know about any time limit on unused minutes.

Short-term Users

No contract means no credit check or need for an address, making it ideal for making phone calls while traveling. If overseas, you can get a prepaid phone number for the duration of your stay.

Trial Users

Before committing to a long-term cell phone plan, use a prepaid phone for a month or two to gauge what your (or your teenager's) actual usage will be. Then you can find a plan with the minutes and calling times to match.

Young Adults and Others With No Credit History or Credit Card Debt

Buying prepaid phones don't require a long-term contract and credit check, so students with part-time jobs or older adults with no use of credit or a less-than-perfect credit record can get a phone easily.
Israel strikes Syria after rocket fire on annexed Golan



Jerusalem, April 9 (AFP) Apr 09, 2024



Israeli warplanes struck a Syrian military position overnight in response to rocket fire on the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, the military said on Tuesday.

The cross-border fire came days after an air strike blamed on Israel destroyed the Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing senior military commanders and raising regional tensions.

The Israeli military said that "warplanes attacked Syrian army military infrastructure overnight in the Mahajjah area" -- around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the demilitarised zone separating the opposing forces.

The Israeli army said it identified a rocket launch from Syrian territory on Monday that caused no casualties. It said artillery struck the source of the fire.

Israel has raised its military readiness after last week's deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus drew threats of retaliation from Tehran.

The April 1 strike killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards, two of them generals.

The strike came with regional tensions already running high as Israel battles Hamas in Gaza and exchanges near-daily fire with its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.

The Gaza war was sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures.

Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 33,207 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

Israel captured the Golan Heights in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognised internationally.
Israel hits Syria military after fire on annexed Golan



Jerusalem, April 9 (AFP) Apr 09, 2024



Israeli warplanes struck a Syrian military position early Tuesday in response to rocket fire on the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, the military said on Tuesday.

The strike came hours after it said its artillery had hit the source of the rocket fire.

The cross-border fire came days after an air strike blamed on Israel destroyed the Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing senior military commanders and raising regional tensions.

Israeli jets destroyed a weapons and ammunition depot in the south of Syria at dawn on Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The Israeli military said that "warplanes attacked Syrian army military infrastructure overnight in the Mahajjah area" -- around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the demilitarised zone separating the opposing forces.

The Israeli army said it identified a rocket launch from Syrian territory on Monday that caused no casualties. It said artillery struck the source of the fire.

The Observatory, a Britain-based war monitor, said the Tuesday strike destroyed a warehouse that "stored weapons and ammunition belonging to (Damascus) and Iran-backed groups".

Israel has raised its military readiness after last week's deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus drew threats of retaliation from Tehran.

The April 1 strike killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards, two of them generals.

The strike came with regional tensions already running high as Israel battles Hamas in Gaza and exchanges near-daily fire with its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.

The Gaza war was sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures.

Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 33,207 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

Israel captured the Golan Heights in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognised internationally.
US sent seized Iran weapons, ammo to Ukraine



Washington, April 9 (AFP) Apr 09, 2024



Washington has given Ukraine small arms and ammunition that were seized while being sent from Iranian forces to Tehran-backed rebels in Yemen, the US military said Tuesday.

The transfer last week came as Ukraine suffers from significant shortages of ammunition and US Republican lawmakers block new aid funding, but it does not address Kyiv's need for key items such as artillery and air defense munitions.

"The US government transferred over 5,000 AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s and over 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces" on Thursday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on social media.

"These weapons will help Ukraine defend against Russia's invasion" and are enough material to equip a brigade, it said.

The arms and ammunition were seized between May 2021 and February 2023 from four "stateless vessels" as the supplies were being transferred from Iran's Revolutionary Guards to Yemen's Huthi rebels, CENTCOM said.

"The government obtained ownership of these munitions on December 1, 2023, through the Department of Justice's civil forfeiture claims," it said.

The Huthis have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023 in attacks they say are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza -- a significant international security challenge that threatens a major shipping lane.



- Congressional impasse -



"Iran's support for armed groups threatens international and regional security, our forces, diplomatic personnel, and citizens in the region, as well as those of our partners. We will continue to do whatever we can to shed light on and stop Iran's destabilizing activities," CENTCOM said.

Washington made a similar transfer to Ukraine in early October, providing 1.1 million rounds of 7.62mm ammunition that was seized from Iranian forces on the way to Yemen.

But funding for crucial artillery and air defense munitions for Ukraine has been held up by Republican lawmakers who have stalled a $60 billion support package in the US Congress since last year.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testified during a Senate hearing Tuesday that Washington not living up to its commitment to Kyiv would encourage America's foes.

"It would be a signal that the United States is an unreliable partner, and that would encourage and embolden autocrats around the globe to do the types of things that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has done," Austin said.

The United States announced a $300 million assistance package for Kyiv on March 12 -- the first since December -- that included anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons and artillery shells, but warned at the time that it would run out after a few weeks.

That package was funded by using money that the Pentagon saved on other purchases, allowing the US government to provide aid despite the congressional impasse.

US officials have spearheaded the push for international support for Ukraine, quickly forging a coalition to back Kyiv after Russia invaded in 2022 and coordinating aid from dozens of countries.

Washington has been by far Kyiv's biggest donor of security aid, committing tens of billions of dollars to aid Ukraine since the invasion.
IAEA to meet on nuclear plant targeted in Ukraine conflict



Vienna, April 9 (AFP) Apr 09, 2024



The International Atomic Energy Agency said it will hold a special meeting Thursday on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, Europe's biggest, that is at the centre of growing tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The agency said Tuesday it had been informed of a new "attack" on the site in southern Ukraine that was occupied by Russian forces just after they launched their invasion in 2022.

The two sides have accused each other of staging drone attacks on the reactors in recent days.

The UN agency said in a statement that Russia and Ukraine had made separate requests for a meeting of the IAEA board of governors that would start at 1300 GMT.

Current board chairperson, Holger Martinsen of Argentina, called a meeting at short notice because of "the urgent nature of the requests received," according to an internal note seen by AFP.

In it's letter dated Monday, Russia demanded a meeting to consider "recent attacks and provocations" by Ukrainian forces against Zaporizhzhia.

Ukraine, which has denied staging any attacks, called for discussions on developments in the territory it controls and claims and the "safety" implications.

Russia says that the Zaporizhzhia was hit by drones on Sunday and Monday, accusing Ukraine forces each time.

Ukraine has accused Russia of staging the attack so that it could spread false information about its war rival.

The IAEA has a team at Zaporizhzhia which confirmed the attacks and one casualty, without saying who was responsible.

"This is a major escalation of the nuclear safety and security dangers facing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," it said Sunday.

In a statement, the IAEA said the team at Zaporizhzhia had on Tuesday "reported hearing bursts of rifle fire followed by a loud explosion" at "the same time that the ZNPP later said an incoming drone had detonated on the roof of the facility's training centre".

The training centre is just outside the perimeter of the plant, where the six reactors have been gradually shut down since the invasion.

The IAEA said it's team had not been given access to the attack site.

"Today's reported incident - although outside the site perimeter - is an ominous development as it indicates an apparent readiness to continue these attacks, despite the grave dangers they pose to nuclear safety and security and our repeated calls for military restraint," said IAEA director general Rafael Grossi in a statement.

"Whoever is behind them, they are playing with fire. Attacking a nuclear power plant is extremely irresponsible and dangerous, and it must stop," he added.

anb/tw/bp
The themes of glassy superficiality in Highsmiths story fits spookily well with the curated reality of modern social media: what fun Tom would have had as a sock-puppet troll, instead of the more laborious Italian post to convey his identity fraud. Marge and Dickie would surely have had private Instagram accounts, with approved followers only to keep track of who was at whose ski gatherings, and dine at members-only Oswalds. Their Gen Z equivalents would be in new-season Corteiz streetwear and at the more selective bit of Camdens Koko.
I am also writing to reassure you that on May 2, every EU citizen in London has the right to vote in this election. Please make sure you have registered to do so. Under current Tory government plans, this will be the last set of local elections in which you, as EU citizens, will automatically be able to vote. Your eligibility will then be determined by the date you moved to the UK, and the country you are from, with the cut-off point being January 1, 2021. Please also check that you have the correct form of ID. This is the first London Mayoral election where voters will need to show valid ID to be able to vote.
What about fuel for the body as well as the mind? There is no shortage of choice on the food front either. Cologne has more than 3,000 restaurants, serving up dishes of almost every conceivable taste and international flavour  although those keen to try local cuisine might head for RheinZeit, next to the river, where German staples such as sausage and schnitzel are given a gourmet twist.
But then, Baden-Wurttemberg lends itself to explorations outside the capital. There are several major attractions within day-trip reach  the Baroque majesty of the 18th-century Ludwigsburg Palace, an eight-mile train ride north; Tubingen, a small city, 25 miles to the south, which sits prettily on both the Neckar and Ammer rivers; and the grand Gothic pile that is Hohenzollern Castle, 20 miles further on in the same direction, forever peacocking on its hilltop above Hechingen.
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Though there were posters displayed at the venue informing racers that loose clothing was to be removed and long hair must be tied back and tucked into the race suit, the group was not told to read the posters and there was no mention of removing loose clothing or tying back long hair during the pre-race briefing given to the party.
Thameslink trains were brought to a standstill after a failure to the electricity at London St Pancras earlier on Friday, but it is unclear if this is still the issue.
But we have to be aware if that doesnt work, we have to think about what is plan B, what can humanitarian and other organisations do to make sure that if there is a conflict in Rafah that people can achieve safety, they can get food, they can get water, they can get medicine, and people are kept safe.
At a joint news conference with Mr Blinken, the former prime minister said the UK Government has grave concerns about humanitarian access in Gaza but would not be suspending arms exports to Israel. Nor will it release legal advice about whether Israel is guilty of war crimes, he said, following the deaths of seven aid workers including three Britons in an Israeli air strike last week.
And I think in terms of how the United States, the United Kingdom, as allies are seen around the world. There will be people in Tehran, in Pyongyang, in Beijing looking at how we stand by our allies, how we help them, how we stop this illegal and unprovoked aggression, and working out whether we are committed, whether were prepared to see it through.
However, amid speculation that Mr Harris would not allow Fine Gael ministers to continue in their roles if they did not commit to running in the next general election, Mr Coveney announced that he would be stepping down as enterprise minister.
Peter Burke, who had been Minister of State for European Affairs, was appointed Minister for Enterprise, and Mr Harris gave his former role of Minister for Further and Higher Education to Patrick ODonovan, a promotion for the Limerick TD who had been serving as Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW).
On April 8th, it was reported that the Grand Union of Innovation tech hub, also known as the Silicon Valley of University of Science and Technology of China, recently joined hands with Beijing Zhongguancun Science Park, jointly unveiling the establishment of the Xinchuang Space Innovation Center (Hefei). Leveraging the "One Platform, Three Nodes" service resources of the Zhongguancun Integrated Circuit Park IC Park), the center aims to develop Hefei's strategic emerging industries. At the end of March, the "Leading the Future, Building the Dream in Xinchuang Space" roadshow event for Zhongguancun enterprises in Hefei and the unveiling ceremony of the Xinchuang Space Innovation Center (Hefei) took place at Grand Union of Innovation's Shushan Park. Excellent companies from fields such as integrated circuits, smart transportation, and the Internet of Things in Beijing Zhongguancun visited Hefei to explore opportunities for cooperation in projects, talent, technology, and more. Linking nationwide scientific and technological resources, companies from outside Hefei also sought collaboration opportunities in this event. For example, Aimey Instrument Technology Co., Ltd., which focuses on high-precision high-speed detection and measurement of nano/ sub-nano-scale three-dimensional structures, aims to break the current reliance on imported high-end atomic force microscopy measurement and foreign advanced process equipment in China. The company's representative stated that they plan to raise 60 million yuan in funds to support product commercialization, new equipment development, supply chain operations, team expansion, and production site construction, with the goal of expanding their business footprint to Hefei. In the future, the Grand Union of Innovation will strengthen scientific and technological exchanges and collaboration with Beijing Zhongguancun, injecting new vitality into Hefei's technological innovation endeavors.

Source: anhuinews.com
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (L) meets with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on April 8. (Photo: VNA)

Xi was the first Chinese leader to host the Vietnamese NA leader in the visit, showing the importance that China attaches to bilateral relations as well as to the Vietnamese delegations visit.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue extended the best regards from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and key leaders of Vietnam to the Chinese leader, and congratulated China on the great and historical achievements that the Party, State and people of China have gained so far, especially after the 18th CPC National Congress. He expressed his belief that China will successfully complete the goals set by the 20th CPC National Congress, contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the world.

For his part, Xi affirmed that China supports Vietnam's development, stability and success in socialism building in accordance with the country's situation. He underlined that the agreement reached by two countries top leaders in building a Community of a Shared Future has a strategic meaning, opening up a new period for bilateral cooperation based on six major directions of higher political trust, more substantial defence-security cooperation, deeper practical collaboration, stronger social foundation, closer multilateral coordination, better controlled and resolved differences, thus positively contributing to peace and development in the region and the world.

The two sides shared the delight at the positive development trend of the Vietnam-China relations, underlining that the two Parties and State have many similarities in ideological foundation and goals of building socialism, both striving for the interests and happiness of the people.

An overview of the meeting (Photo: VNA)

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue emphasised that developing relations with China is a strategic choice and a top priority in Vietnams foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, for peace, cooperation and development, multilateralism and diversification of foreign relations. He affirmed that Vietnam consistently implements the "One China" policy.

Xi pledged that China attaches great importance to relations with Vietnam, hopes and is willing to promote the relations between the two Parties and countries in a deeper and more substantial manner.

The Vietnamese NA Chairman suggested that the two sides strengthen political trust and increase high-level meetings, while promoting exchange and collaboration through the Party, Government, parliament and front channels as well as in important fields such as diplomacy, public security and defence.

He proposed that the two sides enhance their strategic connectivity, create new momentum for bilateral cooperation, focusing on boosting trade, expanding goods import, especially Vietnamese farm produce, strengthening connectivity between Vietnam and major development strategies of China as well as links in railways, highways, sea and air, and promoting cooperation in finance, monetary, and digital transformation.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue also proposed that the two sides increase people-to-people exchanges, promoting the role of legislators of the two sides in communications work to create social consensus, thus strengthening cooperation between the two sides in all areas and joining hands with the two Parties and States to properly deal with issues at sea in the spirit of better controlling and settling differences.

Hailing Vietnams proposals, Xi affirmed that China is ready to work with Vietnam in maintaining strategic exchanges, increasing meetings at high and all levels as well as exchanges and cooperation through the Party channel, sharing experience and theory in Party building and country governance, fostering practical cooperation, accelerating strategic connections, especially in the fields of railways and smart border gates, and strengthening cooperation in the fields of digital economy, green energy, essential minerals and emerging industries. China welcomes Vietnam's efforts in connecting with China's major inter-regional development strategies.

Stressing that the partnership between the two legislatures plays an important and irreplaceable role in the relations between the two Parties and countries, the Chinese leader welcomes the National Peoples Congress of China and the NA of Vietnam to sign a new cooperation agreement to enhance the level and efficiency of their cooperation, and actively implement cooperation across all fields and at all levels.

Xi said the two sides should actively contribute to promoting practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, especially between the youth, thus consolidating the foundation of friendship between the two peoples, and share experiences on building the rule-of-law socialist State under the Party's leadership as well as perfecting the socialist legal system./.
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Social Democrat leader, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, on Tuesday told the Bucharest party members that on June 9, Dr. Catalin Cirstoiu will secure the position of Bucharest General Mayor, but this can only be achieved with the support of the party and of the president of the Bucharest party organization, Gabriela Firea.

The head of the Executive participated on Tuesday in the PSD Bucharest Election Conference where Gabriela Firea was reconfirmed as president of the organization.

"First of all, let me start with a conclusion: I am here today because I want to stand by Gabriela Firea's side. I want to be at the side of your organization, of our sector mayors, of our candidates who will be the future sector mayors and, last but not least, I would like to to join you in supporting the joint candidate of the PSD-PNL Alliance, Dr. Catalin Cirstoiu," Ciolacu said.

He also explained the fellow party members the reasons why Cirstoiu was picked as candidate for Bucharest Mayor and not Gabriela Firea.

"Yes, I would have liked Mrs. Gabriela Firea to be PSD's and our candidate for General Mayor. Why? Because both she and our sector mayors Daniel Baluta and Robert Negoita have been in opposition over the last four years. For four years they had backs turned on them in an attempt to destabilize us, but all they succeeded was to actually keep you united and for this the credit goes to Gabriela Firea, in the first place," said the PSD leader.

Ciolacu reiterated his conviction that doctor Catalin Cirstoiu will be elected General Mayor of the capital city on June 9.

According to him, the main reason why Cirstoiu should get all possible support is the fact that the term of the current General Mayor Nicusor Dan is "a failure", as he has "no achievements" and only took over the projects of his predecessor Gabriela Firea.

Ciolacu added that he respects Cristian Popescu - Piedone, Catalin Cirstoiu's counter-candidate, but that he "lacks the necessary stature to be General Mayor of the capital city."
Packaging collected from consumers in Romania under the RetuRo Deposit-Return System (DRS) will exceed 100 million items in April 2024, Anca Marinescu, corporate affairs and communication manager at RetuRo, told a Pria Environment conference on Tuesday.

"There is talk about this milestone of 100 million packaging items that has been reached. I hope that next week, when we publish the official figures, we will have a surprise and it will be over 100 million, because at the moment we are using estimates, but there is also a manual collection part that we will have next week. Then I hope this month we will get past the 100-million mark. But these numbers, after all, don't mean much if you look at them out of context. I was watching a TV station at the weekend that every day the Danube waters are polluted with 150 kg of PET bottles. I think we should put all these figures in context, in the context in which the system has begun and can contribute enormously to the good of us all. We don't want to think about what will happen in a year, when they will probably be recovered, as it happened in other markets, over 70-80% of the packaging released to the market and we will talk about billions," Marinescu said.

According to the RetuRo representative, currently, of the over 80,000 DRS enrolled retailers, more than half can take over packaging directly from consumers.

"In terms of infrastructure development, it has always been RetuRo's commitment to develop packaging processing infrastructure, as new and new packaging enters the market, with packaging logo, with warranty and as they are collected from consumers. Currently, we are operating three centres, and the last one opened is in Brasov County. Moving forward, we will open four more centres in Bacau, near Bucharest, in Otopeni, in Prahova and in Craiova. We are trying this summer to solve this problem. Solutions are being sought at this time. As for the operators who have signed up to the system, the figures have increased a bit. We have almost 80,000 registered retailers, of which over 44,000 can take over packaging from consumers, because they have signed contracts with RetuRo and are ready."

A recent Kantar survey shows that over half of Romanians have adopted the DRS scheme and 25% of them say they frequently return packages with the DRS symbol at collection points.

Official data reveal that in the first four months since the official launch of DRS nationwide, more than 100 million package items were returned by consumers and more than one billion package items were released to the market by manufacturers.
King Charles III's house in Viscri has reopened to the public for a new visiting season, with an exhibition of 42 photographs by Barry Lewis, which capture images from Copsa Mica before and after 1989, according to a press release issued on Tuesday for AGERPRES.

The converted stable of the traditional Saxon property hosts, for the first time in Romania, the exhibition "The Darkness Within, Copsa Mica 1988 - 1995", "a disturbing exploration of the impact that forced industrialization has on man and the environment, through the lens of the British photographer Barry Lewis".

Through his photographs, Lewis captures "the desolation and resilience of the city's inhabitants in the midst of the darkness generated by the Carbosin and Sometra factories".

I returned to Transylvania on January 6, 1990. It was a harsh and frozen winter. I understood that things had not changed for the better when, arriving a few kilometers from the city, I saw the color of the snow change from white to gray and I met some shepherds with their herd of blackened white sheep. The source of the blackness was 7 chimneys the size of missile silos meant to protect people from pollution, but with the filters mostly destroyed. In Copsa Mica the people were black, the snow was black, the houses were black, the children were black and nothing grew in the surrounding black fields. As I walked on the frozen crust of the dark snow, each step left a white trail, a kind of photographic negative, and I felt like I had entered a surreal world where everything was turned upside down, the British photographer recalls, according to the quoted release.

"The Darkness Within" is the second exhibition of the British photographer in the House of King Charles III in Viscri, after the series of unique photographic portraits of some Romanian artists, exhibited here in the fall of 2023.

"The reality captured by these photographs was far beyond everything I had imagined from the stories I heard about the black city, giving me the conviction that such truths hidden in communism must be revisited as often as possible so as not to be forgotten or repeated. We owe it to those who they lived in darkness for 60 years and which were mostly abandoned after the closing of the polluting factories," said, according to the quoted press release, Raluca Grigore, curator of The King's House Viscri.

The exhibition was curated in collaboration with the photographer Ionut Macri.

The house in Viscri will be open to the public until the end of October and will continue to host the book and floral art exhibition The Transylvania Florilegium. You can also visit the permanent exhibition "Preservation of Historical Wrappings", created in partnership with the Monumentum Association and The King's Foundation.

More than 38,000 Romanian and foreign tourists crossed the threshold of the house of the King of Great Britain in 2023.
Romania will participate, from Friday to Sunday, in the Festival du Livre de Paris, a prestigious international event dedicated to books and literature, organized at the Grand Palais Ephemere and in several other emblematic spaces in Paris and in partner bookstores, told Agerpres.

Romania's presence with its own stand and a program attended by numerous guests is organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute through the National Book Center and ICR Paris, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, the Embassy of Romania and the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Paris.

At the 2024 edition, Romania will also be present at the stand of the European Parliament and the EUNIC Paris cluster.

"The motto of our presence at the Festival du Livre de Paris represents the invitation we address to everyone to discover works written in the Romanian language and to meet their authors and translators, as well as others, of French origin, who write about Romania: "I dare, I explore, I imagine. Voyage dans la litterature roumaine / Dare, explore, imagine! Journey in Romanian literature". This cultural spring is remarkable for Romania and ICR in France, in which, simultaneously with our significant presence in the literary festival, the Brancusi retrospective takes place at the Pompidou Center and the CD collection with the recording of Symphonies No. 1-3 and the Romanian Rhapsodies No. 1 and 2 by George Enescu is launched, performed by the National Orchestra of France conducted by Cristian Macelaru", declared the president of the Romanian Cultural Institute, Liviu Jicman, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday.

At Romania's stand, thanks to the partnership with Paris Livres Evenement, the latest editions in French of works of fiction and non-fiction, volumes of poetry and comics books, some of them published with the support offered by ICR through the financing programs "Translation and Publication Support Program" and "Publishing Romania" will be available for sale.
The Minister of Labour and Social Solidarity, Simona Bucura - Oprescu, says that Romanian crafts and producers must be supported in a concrete way, with funding to attract and train the workforce, but also to ensure their presence at international fairs.

According to a post on the Ministry's Facebook page, the head of the Ministry of Labour visited the Tapel company, a 100% Romanian family business in Sibiu, the only one in the country that still produces leather and leather goods.

"I was impressed by the quality and beauty of the products I found in the factory in Sibiu, where only 20 people work. This place reconfirms the fact that the skill of Romanians remains an asset that can always put us at the top of international rankings, but which, unfortunately, we do not support enough and which we do not know how to exploit in our interest. The Romanian state must be more involved, both in supporting small but authentic producers, by buying their products or ensuring their presence at international fairs, and in reviving crafts, by adequately supporting those who still practice them successfully. I have asked my colleagues in the Ministry of Labour to think of projects and identify financing through European funds, through which we can develop this sector of trades and crafts," said Simona Bucura - Oprescu.

The products obtained in the Sibiu factory are mainly leather goods, and the raw material is processed by companies with a tradition in leather processing and stainless steel accessories. Due to the quality and variety of the products, over 60 percent of the production is exported, and in Romania their products are sold online and in some retail stores.
There are "common medicines" that are currently compensated, and the effort is important from a budgetary point of view, the minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, told a press conference on Tuesday.

"No, aspirin is not settled. It is an OTC, that is, a drug that is released without a prescription. The compensated and free drugs have increased a lot in value in recent years. I think they are close to 2 billion euros," said Rafila.

Also, Alexandru Rafila declared, at the conference "Pompeaza Viata #CardiomiopatiaConteaza", organized by the Romanian Society of Cardiology and the Romanian Heart Foundation, that in Romania there is "a network of hospitals" that "do the heavy lifting" in the health system, not only in number, but also in terms of the "complexity of the cases they solve", they "are very different and then all the elements that compete for the provision of these services must be reported, the first of which is the funding that will be differentiated for these health units. We are working on some criteria to be able to include these units. In general, they are important hospitals in university centers, but not only. There are also county hospitals that could be part of this network," said Rafila.
Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue (L) and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China Zhao Leji (Photo: VNA)

Both sides informed each other about the situation of each Party, country and activities of each legislative body. They delved deeper into discussions on specific measures to concretise the achievements and high-level common perceptions reached during Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to China in November 2022 and Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping's visit to Vietnam in December 2023. They also discussed measures to further enhance and deepen cooperation between the two legislatures in the coming time.

Zhao welcomed the first official visit to China by Chairman Hue in his new capacity.

They expressed their satisfaction with the positive progress in the bilateral relations between the two Parties and two countries in recent times, including the exchanges and cooperatio between the two legislatures.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue stressed that the Vietnamese Party and State particularly value the development of stable, healthy, sustainable and long-term relations with China, considering it a strategic choice and top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism and diversification of ties.

China always considers Vietnam a priority in its neighbourly diplomacy policy, and consistently supports Vietnam in successfully implementing its industrialisation, modernisation and enhancing its international role, Zhao said.

The two sides vowed to effectively implement the joint statement on further deepening and elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, and building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. They agreed to maintain exchanges and contacts at all levels, and boost cooperation via the Party, Government, parliament and front channels.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue suggested that China facilitate the early establishment of Vietnam's trade promotion offices in Chengdu (Sichuan), Haikou (Hainan), and Nanjing (Jiangsu), continue to expand imports of Vietnamese goods and agricultural products, expedite negotiations and signing of a framework agreement on rice trade, effectively build smart border gates, improve customs clearance efficiency, and facilitate Vietnamese goods transit to third country via the Asia-Europe railway route.

He wished that both sides would jointly build a new investment image of large, reputable and technologically advanced Chinese enterprises in Vietnam. He also emphasised the need for cooperation in resolving outstanding issues in certain cooperation projects, accelerating the progress of Chinas non-refundable aid to Vietnam, and exploring collaboration on the construction of standard-gauge railway projects, including the Hanoi-Lao Cai, Hanoi-Quang Ninh, and Hanoi-Lang Son sections.

Zhao, for his part, spoke highly of and agreed with NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hues recommendations to develop the ties between the two Parties and States, affirming that China stands ready to join hands with Vietnam to deepen practical cooperation, expand trade and investment collaboration, enhance strategic connectivity for development and carry out high-quality development.

He went on to say that strategic connectivity will be bolstered through the "Belt and Road" and "Two Corridors, One Belt" initiatives, with focus on developing infrastructure, roads, railways and smart border gates.

He stressed that the two sides need to enhance cooperation to ensure supply and production chains and branch out digital economy, green economy, new energy, key minerals and 5G technology.

China welcomes Vietnams opening of its representative agencies and trade promotion offices in its localities, he said, suggesting competent ministries and sectors of both sides work together to satisfactorily handle existing problems in cooperation projects with goodwill and constructive manner, he noted.

Besides, he held that both sides must continue popularising the sound Vietnam  China friendship.

Touching on the cooperation between the two legislative bodies, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue recommended they enhance delegation exchanges at all levels, share experience in parliamentary activities, perfect the Parties leadership method, build the socialist rule-of-law States, complete mechanisms and policies for socio-economic development, and strengthen the supervisory role of the legislative bodies in urging ministries, sectors and localities to carry out the signed documents and agreements.

He said that the roles of the Vietnamese NA deputies, members of the Chinese National Peoples Congress as well as members of the Vietnam  China Friendship Parliamentarians Group should be promoted in popularising the bilateral friendship, consolidating consensus in the people, and building a sound social foundation for the bilateral relations.

Sharing NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hues views, Zhao expressed his delight over the robust cooperation between the two legislative bodies, and agreed to set up a cooperation committee and shape up a cooperative mechanism at the highest level, aiming at demonstrating the cooperation level between the two legislatures.

He wished that both sides will capitalise on the mechanism to enhance experience exchange in legislation work, supervision and state management to better serve the building of socialism in each country, making contributions to the Vietnam  China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in the coming time.

The two leaders also exchanged views on issues at sea in an open and frank manner, and concurred to continue realising the common perceptions reached by the leaders of the two Parties and States as well as properly control disagreements to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue suggested both sides actively promote negotiation mechanisms at sea, implement agreements on the search and rescue work and set up hotlines to handle incidents arising from fishing activities towards soon signing a new fishery cooperation agreement in the Gulf of Tonkin, and work with ASEAN countries to accelerate negotiations for a practical, efficient and effective Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The two leaders were unanimous about maintaining coordination and cooperation between agencies of the two legislative bodies at regional and international forums.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Zhao exchange the new cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese NA and the National Peoples Congress of China. (Photo: VNA)

Right after the talks, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Zhao signed a new cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese NA and the National Peoples Congress of China. They also witnessed the signing of another agreement between the two legislatures' offices./.
WASHINGTON  Another group of Republican-led states is suing to block the Biden administrations new student loan repayment plan, which offers a faster path to cancellation and has already been used to forgive loans for more than 150,000 borrowers.

Seven states led by Missouri filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday challenging Bidens SAVE Plan, which has become a new legal target for conservative opponents after the Supreme Court toppled the Democratic presidents first attempt at student loan cancellation. It largely mirrors another suit filed last month by Republican attorneys general in 11 states, led by Kansas.

Yet again, the President is unilaterally trying to impose an extraordinarily expensive and controversial policy that he could not get through Congress, according to the new suit.

Filed just a day after Biden trumpeted a new proposal to cancel student loans for millions of borrowers, the lawsuit sets the stage for one legal battle and foreshadows another. The suit doesnt directly challenge Bidens newest plan for cancellation, but its architect, Missouris attorney general, separately threatened to bring action against that plan, too.

A statement from the Education Department says Congress gave the agency power to define terms of certain repayment plans in 1993, and that authority has been used before.

The Biden-Harris Administration wont stop fighting to provide support and relief to borrowers across the country  no matter how many times Republican elected officials try to stop us, the department said.

The lawsuit reprises a courtroom showdown between the Biden administration and Missouri, which was a central figure in the Supreme Court case that overturned the Democratic presidents first try at loan cancellation last year.

In that case, the Supreme Court found that loan cancellation would harm Missouri because of its affiliation with a quasi-state loan servicing company, MOHELA, that stood to lose revenue generated by federal student loans.

The new lawsuit makes a similar argument. Bidens new SAVE Plan speeds up an existing path to loan cancellation, which the suit says would deprive MOHELA  the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority  of up to 15 years in servicing fees.

Also joining the suit are Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio and Oklahoma.

The Biden administration launched the SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) Plan last year, calling it a student loan safety net. Its a modified version of other repayment plans that have been around for decades, but with more generous terms.

Congress created income-driven repayment plans in the 1990s to help borrowers who were struggling to make payments on student loans. Those plans capped payments based on a borrowers income and promised to cancel any remaining debt after 20 or 25 years.

Bidens SAVE Plan reduces monthly payments even further and forgives loans in as little as 10 years. The president announced the idea in 2022, but it was overshadowed by his call for widespread cancellation.

Almost 8 million Americans have enrolled in the plan, including 4.5 million low-income borrowers who have had their monthly payments reduced to $0.

The plans provisions are being phased in this year, with the faster path to cancellation originally scheduled to take effect in July. But the Biden administration accelerated that benefit and started canceling loans for some borrowers in February.

Along with the harm to MOHELA, the lawsuit alleges that Bidens plan makes it harder for states to hire and retain employees. The repayment plan is so generous, according to the suit, that it undermines the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which allows borrowers to get student loans canceled after 10 years of work in public service jobs.

Its an important recruiting tool for states, according to the lawsuit  out of 13 law school graduates hired by the Missouri attorney generals office last year, almost all said Public Service Loan Forgiveness influenced their decision to work in the public sector.

Once the Final Rule takes effect, however, PSLF will not be nearly as attractive compared to other income-driven repayment programs, the suit says. Its comparative advantage will shrink or disappear entirely.

The states note that more than half of borrowers in the plan are paying nothing. This is not a student loan program. It is a grant program that Congress never authorized, according to the suit.

Separate from the repayment plan, Biden on Monday highlighted a new proposal that aims to reduce or cancel student loans for 30 million Americans. It would offer loan relief to five categories of borrowers, including those who have amassed large sums of accrued interest, those who have been paying loans for decades, and those who face financial hardship.

Hours after Biden unveiled it, Bailey took to social media, calling the proposal an illegal attempt to bypass Congress.

The rule of law means something in this country, he wrote. See you in court.
What is this lunatic doing in Congress?

No, seriously. Its a real question.

There comes a time when the diplomatic niceties of political discourse must give way to bluntly spoken truth. When a sitting member of Congress repeatedly displays classic symptoms of psychosis  that is, a literal, psychological break with reality  it must be addressed head-on.

We refer to (who else?) U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. Yes, her frequent outbursts of crazy can be entertaining in a parlor-game sort of way. But the fact that she and a small cadre of fellow fringe-dwellers have effectively been allowed to take the U.S. House hostage speaks to a deadly serious symptom of the poor health of the republic just now.

For anyone who has lost track of Greenes latest descent into madness (its easy to do), she has suggested that last weeks East Coast earthquake was Gods warning to America to repent. Also: The eclipse!

On Friday, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake shook New Jersey and New York City. It was an unusual location for a major quake  but not, it must be said, anything requiring a divine explanation. Ditto with the rare-but-perfectly-natural (as opposed to supernatural) full solar eclipse that occurred Monday, right on its long-calculated schedule.

But dont try telling that to Greene, a self-described Christian nationalist whose typical right-wing footsie-playing with racists and antisemites is augmented, in her case, with a less-typical belief system that is somewhere between religious fanaticism and science fiction.

God is sending America strong signs to tell us to repent, Greene wrote on X on Friday. Earthquakes and eclipses and many more things to come. I pray that our country listens.

Repent for what? She didnt say. Were guessing its not for the congressional dysfunction that actually should require repentance  dysfunction for which Greene herself has been largely responsible.

When others on the social media platform predictably fact-checked the fact-averse congresswoman, she bemoaned being mocked and scoffed at, quoted the Bible and wrote: Yes eclipses are predictable and earthquakes happen and we know when comets are passing by, however God created all of these things and uses them to be signs for those of us who believe.

Huh?

Disturbingly enough, this is nowhere near the most unmoored rhetoric from Greene since she babbled and heckled her way onto the national stage. That distinction would probably go to her suggestion that California wildfires were caused by a space-based laser controlled by Jewish investors.

Not all of her piffle has been that random. Her contributions to our poisonous political divisions today have included suggesting a national divorce between red and blue states, limiting the voting rights of anyone who relocates between those states and disenfranchising anyone who doesnt make enough money to pay taxes.

When Democrats controlled the House, they removed Greene from her committee assignments (with the help of almost a dozen Republican votes) for espousing political violence.

But when the GOP took over last year, not only was this cultural arsonist invited back into the fold, she was elevated to key committee posts during Kevin McCarthys brief stint as House speaker.

McCarthy needed Greene to shore up his tissue-thin margin of support for his speakership. As we wrote back then, he endangered his own caucus and the very functionality of the House by inviting her back in from exile.

We now find that prediction prescient  though, in all modesty, it was a common and stunningly obvious one.

In flailing desperately to attain and keep his speakership last year, McCarthy agreed to a process that allows any member of the Republican caucus to call for a vote to oust the speaker. That was ultimately McCarthys undoing.

Now Greene is using that provision to threaten current House Speaker Mike Johnson. His offense? Working with Democrats to prevent a government shutdown and potentially moving ahead with crucial aid to Ukraine in its fight for survival against Russia. In Greenes MAGA-addled mind, the latter is one of the most egregious things that he can do.

Democrats, too, have their fringy extremists. St. Louis is home to one of them, Rep. Cori Bush, whose loopier pronouncements have included suggesting that Israels war with Hamas is somehow an expression of white supremacy. (Again: Huh?)

Heres the difference: Bush is part of a hard-left sideshow that distracts the mainstream of the Democratic Party from its leadership responsibilities now and then, but which remains (appropriately) on the outside of the core of party power.

Greene and her fellow right-wing extremists, conversely, are a core of party power for the GOP. In real ways, they are running the Republican table. They are the reason the House today is so dysfunctional it can barely keep the government open, let alone protect democracy in Ukraine.

For the record: Earthquakes happen when tectonic plates slip against one another deep underground. Eclipses happen when the moon drifts between Earth and the sun.

Its all physics. It has nothing to do with messages from God to an unhinged member of Congress  nor to the party that has recklessly empowered her.


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April 9, 2024: Vasily Bykov class corvettes are a relatively recent addition to the Russian fleet. They cost $65 million each and the first ship of the class entered service in 2018. The Russian navy planned to build five more. This plan was disrupted by the Ukrainian resistance to Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Two Bykovs were still under construction at the end of 2023. At that point the Black Sea Fleet had four Bykovs in the Black Sea. One was damaged by a Ukrainian USV in September 2023 and then sunk by USVs in March 2024. Currently one Bykov is still being repaired after an October 2023 attack by Ukrainian USVs. That leaves two intact Bykovs in the Black Sea and two under construction at a shipyard on the Kerch Peninsula on the Russian mainland east of the Crimean Peninsula.

The Vasily Bykov class ships are among the most modern warships in the Russian Navy. Losing one with another badly damaged is a significant loss. The Vasily Bykov class ships displace 1,800 ton, are 94 meters long and 14 meters wide. Cruising, or patrol, speed is 29 kilometers while top speed is 45 kilometers. Range is 10,000 kilometers at cruising speed and endurance is 60 days. There is a crew of 28 although the ship has berths for 80 people. These ships can be armed with Kalibr missiles by installing the Kalibr-K missile module container, which has four launchers capable of firing either Kh-35 Uran anti-ship missiles or Kalibr cruise missiles.

Russian patrol ships are usually armed with a 76-mm gun. There is a fire control system equipped with a radar for detecting small-sized surface objects. The gun can fire at sea and air targets in both manual and automatic guidance modes.

These ships can also carry a 12-ton helicopter, usually Ka-29 or Ka-52K combat helicopters. The ship have hangars for helicopters plus storage for ammunition, and fuel. A separate hangar accommodates UAVs operated from the ship.

Other armament includes Igla-S man portable anti-aircraft missiles and electronic countermeasures equipment for anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense.

Before the invasion of Ukraine, the Bykovs were meant to patrol sea and ocean zones, protecting naval bases, help victims of maritime disasters, and perform ecological monitoring of the environment. Since Russia invaded Ukraine Bykovs have supported Russian military operations in the Black Sea.

The Russian Black Sea fleet still has about 30 ships and submarines but because of effective Ukrainian use of missile attacks and USVs, the ships of the Black Sea Fleet are based far from the Crimean Peninsula and the commercial shipping channel west of Crimea.
Kon Tum province presents the gift to support disadvantaged people in Stung Treng province of Cambodia

(Photo: thoidai.com.vn)

Speaking at meeting with representatives of Stung Treng and Ratanakiri provinces, Chairman of the Kon Tum Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Tuan said that in recent times, the parties have proactively promoted visiting and exchange activities at many levels, attended events on major holidays of each country and strengthened relationships, friendship and comprehensive cooperation, as well as supported and exchanged experiences in promoting socio-economic development, training and social security.

The delegation presented 2 billion VND to support disadvantaged people in Stung Treng and Ratanakiri provinces to celebrate Chol Chnam Thmay Festival.

Mr. Svay Sam-Eang, Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party and Governor of Stung Treng province, and Mr. Nung Nel, Deputy Governor of Ratanakiri province, highly appreciated the friendship and solidarity between the two provinces and Kon Tum province. The leaders of the two provinces expressed their confidence that in the coming time, the friendly relationship and comprehensive cooperation between the two provinces will continue to achieve greater results, actively contributing to strengthening and developing the Cambodia - Vietnam traditional friendship, meeting the basic and long-term interests of the people of the two countries in general and the two Cambodian provinces and Kon Tum in particular./.
Residents in Cambodia's Kampong Chhnang province provided medical check-ups and medicines at the program (Photo: VNA)

The program was carried out by the Vietnam-Cambodia Business Association (VCBA), Metfone under military-run telecom group Viettel and other units on the occasion of the Chol Chnam Thmay festival, the biggest festival on the Khmer calendar.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang said the program demonstrates the traditional friendship and fine cooperation between the two countries, and expressed his hope that the VCBA will expand such activities to other Cambodian localities.

President of the Khmer-Vietnamese Association in Cambodia (KVA) Sim Chy affirmed that Vietnamese in Cambodia have significantly contributed to the solidarity and friendship between the two countries, as well as national construction and development in Cambodia.

Ms.Born Sophy, Deputy Head of Kampong Chhnang province, thanked the Vietnamese side for the organization of the program, and called for joint efforts to preserve the time-honoured relationship./.
Poor Khmer households in An Giang given gifts on the Chol Chnam Thmay Festival. (Photo: VNA)

Up to 500 packages of gifts were presented to the disadvantaged households, each worth 600,00 VND (24 USD), comprising 10 kg of rice and 300,000 VND in cash, at a ceremony held in O Lam commune of Tri Ton district.

VCBA Chairman Oknha Leng Rithy said the good deed demonstrates sentiments towards impoverished people in the province, particularly the Khmer ethnic minority group. He also sent his wishes to local Khmer people on the occasion of the Chol Chnam Thmay Festival.

Pham Tuan Khai, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of O Lam commune, extended his hope that the solidarity and and good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability between Vietnam and Cambodia as well as between the VCBA and An Giang province will further flourish in the coming time./.
UNAM University in Mexico City (Photo: mexicanroutes.com)

The UNAM Corner is located in the University of Hanoi Library, and a second version of it was also installed in the Spanish Department. It is a digital space designed to provide immediate access to all types of multimedia materials related to UNAM's scientific production in all scientific disciplines.

This project marks a milestone in educational exchanges between Mexico and Vietnam. It is part of the collaboration agreement established between both universities and has had the support of the Embassy of Mexico in Vietnam for its realization. It is worth mentioning that this is the first UNAM Corner to be installed in Southeast Asia.

According to Mexican Ambassador to Vietnam Alejandro Negrin, the opening of the UNAM Corner marks an important milestone in bilateral relations. This space represents a clear example of the importance of bilateral relations and the existing potential for educational cooperation between both countries.

I am sure that the UNAM Corner will enrich the educational experience of Vietnamese students and further strengthen the friendship between our countries," he emphasized.

Adalberto Noyola, Director of the UNAM representation based in Asia, commented that the establishment of the UNAM Corner is a significant step in our commitment to promote and share knowledge. This space will provide students access to a wide range of academic resources from UNAM, strengthening the ties between our educational institutions.

The UNAM Corner is a space that, through scanning QR codes with a mobile phone, allows the public to access digital resources and explore the academic and cultural richness of Mexico through materials such as audios, videos, photographs, books, conferences, courses, magazines, programs of scientific dissemination, educational materials, concerts, radio and television programs, available on various platforms and repositories of UNAM.

Among the resources is the Descarga Cultura UNAM platform, which offers audio files to listen to online or download complete works or fragments of Mexican, Latin American literature, as well as classics of universal literature, in the voice of their authors or narrated by announcers. Also available are conferences, concerts, talks, and master classes, among others.

The Embassy of Mexico in Vietnam reaffirms its commitment to continue promoting academic cooperation between Mexico and Vietnam, for the benefit of both university communities and the strengthening of bilateral relations./.
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- During U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's visit to China, China clearly expressed its serious concerns to the U.S. side about U.S. sanctions on Chinese companies, tariffs levied on Chinese goods, and restrictions on investment in China, according to China's Ministry of Finance.

Addressing a press briefing regarding Yellen's visit from April 4 to 9, Vice Minister of Finance Liao Min said that such actions by the United States harm the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and people, and are also not conducive to the well-being of U.S. companies and people.

"China welcomes the U.S. statement that it does not seek to decouple from China, and hopes that the U.S. side will take concrete actions to stop sanctions and restrictions on Chinese companies," Liao said.

"The two sides believe that every country has legitimate needs to safeguard national security, but China stressed that the concept of 'national security' should not be generalized, and the so-called 'diversification' should not be used as an excuse to undermine the normal trade and investment exchanges between the two countries and around the world, as well as the stability of the industrial production and supply chains," Liao said.

He noted that in addition to these issues, the discussions between Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen also covered other major topics, including the macroeconomic situations of both nations, the response to global challenges, and the exchange of mutual concerns.

According to Liao, China and the United States have reached two new consensus outcomes during Yellen's trip. First, the finance departments of both nations will take the lead in exchanges on the issue of balanced economic growth of the two countries and the world under the framework of the China-U.S. economic working group. Second, led by the People's Bank of China and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, discussions on financial stability, sustainable finance, anti-money laundering and other issues under the framework of the bilateral financial working group will be held continuously.

He added that the fourth meeting of these two working groups will also be held separately in the middle of this month in the United States.

Editor: ZAD
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday met with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue in Beijing.

While asking Vuong Dinh Hue to convey cordial greetings to Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, Xi also said that during his visit to Vietnam at the end of last year, he and Nguyen Phu Trong had jointly announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance -- opening a new chapter in bilateral ties.

Under the joint efforts by the two sides, the consensus reached by him and Nguyen Phu Trong is being implemented, Xi added.

Xi said the most distinctive feature of China-Vietnam relations is that the two sides are a like-minded pair bound by a common destiny, and "comrades-plus-brothers" is the most vivid portrayal of the traditional friendship between the two parties and two countries.

He urged joint efforts by the two sides to promote more achievements in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, better serve their respective modernization, further benefit the two peoples and make greater contributions to the global socialist cause.

Amid the profound and complex changes in the international and regional landscape, it serves the common interest of China and Vietnam to safeguard the socialist system and maintain national stability and development, Xi said.

He urged the two sides to foster a strong sense of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future based on a high level of mutual trust, consolidate the foundation for the vision with high-quality cooperation, and promote this vision with a high degree of political wisdom.

China is willing to scale up the exchange of experience gained in governing both the Party and the country, facilitate the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy, and increase exchanges between young people and sister cities, among others.

It is hoped that the legislative bodies of the two sides will deepen exchanges and cooperation at all levels, strengthen mutual learning on legislative supervision experience, and play an important role in enhancing the friendship between the two peoples, Xi said.

Vuong Dinh Hue conveyed the cordial greetings and best wishes from Nguyen Phu Trong to Xi, noting that the CPV and the Vietnamese government highly appreciate China's development and progress. China's two sessions held this year set the goals of developing new quality productive forces, among others, which are innovative moves of socialism and provide useful references for Vietnam, he added.

Vietnam firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is resolutely opposed to any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, Vuong Dinh Hue said.

Vietnam regards China as its top strategic priority in its foreign relations, Vuong Dinh Hue said, adding that the Vietnamese side will follow relevant goals set by Nguyen Phu Trong and Xi to maintain close communications and cooperation with China at various levels and continue to consolidate a high level of political mutual trust.

Vietnamese National Assembly is ready to keep close communications and exchanges with China's National People's Congress to play a positive role in enhancing the friendship between the two peoples and advancing the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future, Vuong Dinh Hue said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

Editor: ZAD
Rwandan President Paul Kagame speaks at a news conference in Kigali, Rwanda, on April 8, 2024. Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Monday expressed deep concern over the failure of the United States to refer to the 1994 massacre as a genocide against the Tutsi people. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

KIGALI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Monday expressed deep concern over the failure of the United States to refer to the 1994 massacre as a genocide against the Tutsi people.

Kagame's criticism came after U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's message about the commemoration of the genocide. In his message posted on X social platform, Blinken said, "We mourn the many thousands of Tutsis, Hutus, Twas and others whose lives were lost during 100 days of unspeakable violence." Many Rwandans criticized Blinken for not specifically acknowledging that the genocide targeted the Tutsis.

Speaking at a news conference in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, Monday, Kagame stressed that the issue was discussed with former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who led a delegation to the 30th anniversary of the genocide held Sunday in Kigali.

The controversy over how to characterize the genocide stems from allegations that the Rwandan Patriotic Army, the rebel group that stopped the genocide, carried out revenge killings during and after the genocide. Kagame has previously dismissed these allegations.

Kagame said he believed he had reached an understanding with U.S. authorities around 2014 for them to avoid any criticism on the genocide anniversary.

"There are 365 days in a year. Give us that day, April 7, and then you can have the rest, 364 days, to blame us every day for everything you do not like about us," Kagame said.

During his commemoration speech Sunday, Kagame said Rwandans will never understand why countries are remaining intentionally vague about who was targeted in the genocide, calling it a form of denial and a crime in itself. "Rwanda will always challenge it," he added.

Rwanda on Sunday began a week of national mourning and 100 days of commemoration to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, during which more than 1 million people were killed, according to the Rwandan government. 

Rwandan President Paul Kagame speaks at a news conference in Kigali, Rwanda, on April 8, 2024. Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Monday expressed deep concern over the failure of the United States to refer to the 1994 massacre as a genocide against the Tutsi people. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

Rwandan President Paul Kagame speaks at a news conference in Kigali, Rwanda, on April 8, 2024. Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Monday expressed deep concern over the failure of the United States to refer to the 1994 massacre as a genocide against the Tutsi people. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

Editor: JYZ
Xi calls China-Vietnam ties 'comrades-plus-brothers' when meeting visiting Vietnam top legislator

Global Times) 08:15, April 09, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2024. Photo: Xinhua

The visit by the Vietnamese top legislator and his high-ranking delegation is vital for scaling up the cooperation between the two countries, two legislatures, two parties and two peoples, as well as regional cooperation between China and ASEAN, Chinese experts believe, who also have high expectations of the two sides' joint efforts for a stable and peaceful South China Sea.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday met with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue in Beijing, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

At the invitation of Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Hue is in China for a six-day official visit beginning on Sunday, media reported. The head of the assembly is officially among the four "pillars" of the leadership in Vietnam, which has no paramount ruler, Reuters reported, noting that the pillars also include the party chief, the president and the prime minister.

While asking Vuong Dinh Hue to convey his cordial greetings to Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, Xi also said that during his visit to Vietnam at the end of last year, he and Nguyen Phu Trong jointly announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, opening a new chapter in bilateral ties.

Xi said the most distinctive feature of China-Vietnam relations is that the two sides are a like-minded pair bound by a common destiny, and "comrades-plus-brothers" is the most vivid description of the traditional friendship between the Chinese and Vietnamese parties and countries.

He urged joint efforts by the two sides to promote more achievements in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, better serve their respective modernization, further benefit the two peoples and make greater contributions to the global socialist cause.

China is willing to scale up the exchange of experience gained in governing both the Party and the country, facilitate the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy, and increase exchanges between young people and sister cities, among others, Xinhua reported.

According to multiple Vietnamese media outlets, accompanying the top Vietnamese legislator are Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the committee's Mass Mobilisation Commission Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Senior Lieutenant General Tran Quang Phuong, NA Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Vietnam-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Group, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, NA General Secretary and Chairman of the NA Office Bui Van Cuong, among other officials.

This is a high-ranking and large-scale delegation with officials from the Vietnamese central government, legislature and the party, which highlighted the profound and extensive significance of the visit, Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute of Hainan Tropical Ocean University, told the Global Times on Monday. "Such a high-level and large-scale visit, which is set to last for about one week, is rare," Gu noted.

Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported on Sunday that this is the first visit to China by Hue in his capacity as NA Chairman, and also the first by a top Vietnamese legislator in five years.

China and Vietnam have many common points and broad areas for cooperation, Gu said. Economically, China has long been Vietnam's largest trading partner, with two-way trade consistently exceeding $100 billion since 2018, VNA reported. Politically, both countries are socialist states, and culturally they share many similarities.

Through the visit, in addition to cooperation on economics, trade and investment, high-level strategic exchanges between the two parties and two legislative bodies as well as exchanges on international and regional issues of common concern are expected to be promoted, experts stressed.

Recently, South China Sea tensions fanned by the Philippines have been hot-button issues as Manila has made frequent provocations in the region and even joined forces with countries outside the waters including the US, Japan and Australia to stir up trouble, Gu pointed out.

In this context, both China and Vietnam, as neighbors in the South China Sea, are working hard to maintain peace and stability in the region. The visit by the Vietnamese top legislator to China is expected to help both sides further manage their differences, promote security cooperation, and jointly maintain stability in the South China Sea, Gu believes.

"This stands in stark contrast to the Philippines introducing external forces to stir up tensions in the region and disrupt peace and stability," the expert said.

April has witnessed a host of high-level visits from Southeast Asian countries to China. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday at a regular press briefing that many leaders and foreign ministers from several Southeast Asian countries have visited China over the past few days, which demonstrates the great importance relevant countries attach to their relations with China.

She stated that neighboring countries are China's priority in its diplomacy. China and Southeast Asian countries are good neighbors, good friends and good partners with a shared future.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- China recorded more than 740 million trips across the country during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday, which lasted from April 4 to 6, as passenger travels grew sharply from a year ago, government data showed Sunday.

The Ministry of Transport said that an average of 246.8 million trips were made each day during the three-day period, up 53.5 percent year on year.

Specifically, daily railway trips averaged at 16.56 million, up 75.1 percent; waterway trips averaged at 916,000, up 84.9 percent; and air trips averaged at about 1.68 million, up 21.9 percent, the data showed.

Meanwhile, road trips totaled 682.92 million during the period, with a daily average of 227.64 million, up 52.3 percent year on year, the data showed.

Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival focusing on paying tribute to the dead and the worship of ancestors. During the festival period, it is also customary to enjoy outdoor activities and sightseeing.

Editor: WJH
Titan Dynamics CEO Mohammad Adib remotely controls a newly developed unmanned aerial system with U.S. Air Forces Centrals Task Force-99 March 15, 2024. The drones were designed, printed and flying in less than 48 hours. (U.S. Air Force)

The Air Forces tech group in the Middle East recently tested software that lets it quickly print air drones capable of delivering first aid to injured troops, the service said.

The Task Force 99 unit designed, built and flew a medical delivery drone to a location 30 miles away.

We now have the flexibility to customize a drone for that mission in 48 hours or less, Col. Mark Whisler, commander of the task force, said in a statement. Thats pretty awesome.

Task Force 99 is headquartered at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and was founded in 2022 with the goal of field-testing unmanned systems and artificial intelligence technologies in the Middle East.

The goal of our project was to be able to quickly design a fixed wing small (aerial drone) within minutes, build it within hours, be able to employ it in the same day, and do that in the field right at the point of need, Col. Dustin Thomas said in the statement.

Thomas is a fellow with the Air Forces Blue Horizon think tank program, which participated in the testing along with Titan Dynamics, a California-based tech company.

An airman assigned to U.S. Air Forces Centrals Task Force-99 launches a newly developed unmanned aerial system March 15, 2024. The drones were designed, printed and flying in less than 48 hours. (U.S. Air Force)

A video on Titan Dynamics website explains that their software allows users to change what kind of payload or power source a drone will carry. The software then projects how these alterations affect the crafts performance.

The U.S. military has been testing drones to deliver first aid and medical supplies, such as blood. Military medical officials told Stars and Stripes in 2022 that they believe blood delivery to the battlefield via drone could be faster and cheaper than sending in helicopters.

The software being tested by Task Force 99 also can design other types of drones, including one-way attack drones, the Air Force statement said.

Also known as loitering munitions, these low-cost, explosive drones can stay airborne until the moment they attack their target. They have been used by Russia against Ukrainian troops and by militant groups against U.S. bases in Syria and Iraq. And Task Force 99 is looking into one-way attack drones, Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, top general for the Air Force in the Middle East, told reporters last year.

No use is off the table, Titan Dynamics CEO Mohammad Adib said in the statement.

Our vision is that you could build any kind of service that you need in the field, Adib said. Any kind of (surveillance) platforms, loitering munitions, communications, relocations, relays, mapping aircraft, you name it.
Aviano Air Base schools initiated a lockdown Tuesday morning. (Stars and Stripes)

AVIANO, Italy  Aviano Air Base schools were issued an all-clear message Tuesday afternoon following a lockdown that came while security forces personnel searched for two unidentified people on the installation.

Normal school access has resumed, the Department of Defense Education Activity said in a message to parents. School dismissal will occur at the regular time.

The unidentified people were reported on base Tuesday morning, the 31st Fighter Wing said. Air Force and Italian law enforcement personnel are investigating the incident, the wing statement said.

It wasnt immediately clear Tuesday afternoon whether the two people were found.

The lockdown was not related to the school; its related to the installation, Jessica Tackaberry, DODEA-Europe spokeswoman, said Tuesday morning. The schools are just following installation protocols.

Both the elementary school and the middle/high school operated normally during the lockdown, with the exception of no one being allowed in or out of the buildings, Tackaberry said.

DODEA at 10:07 a.m. Tuesday had issued an emergency alert message to parents, saying that students are safe inside. No one in or out of the schools until further notice. Business as usual inside the building.

Security forces were checking identification cards throughout the area, among other precautions being taken. By midday, the 31st Fighter Wing limited access to Area 1 on the base, which is located in Italys northeast.

The wing on Tuesday afternoon declined to say whether the two people they were looking for were found, citing operational security concerns.
Col. Dustin Richards takes command of the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base during a ceremony Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. (88th Air Base Wing/Facebook)

(Tribune News Service)  Assuming command of the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Col. Dustin Richards promised Tuesday to establish a culture of trust and mutual respect, one where base employees can reach their potential and live their best life.

For the men and women of the 88th Air Base Wing, the message is really just to continue delivering the excellence they have been delivering for so long, said Richards, the wings 41st commander. Keep up the mission.

Richards assumed command of the wing in a ceremony at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

The event was designated an assumption of command rather than a change of command. The wings previous commander, Col. Christopher Meeker, was fired in December and did not participate in the ceremony. Interim commander Col. Travis Pond was on hand and led wing members in giving Richards his first salute.

Lt. Gen. Donna Shipton, commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center  soon to be re-designated as the Air Force Air Dominance Systems Center or AFADSC  presided over the ceremony.

Shipton described Richards as a warrior-scholar, reading from one of Richards performance reports, an evaluation that hailed him as an officer with a bias for action with a commitment to airmen.

We cant ask for more than that, Shipton said.

Col. Dustin Richards will command one of the largest air base wings in the Air Force with more than 5,000 Air Force military, civilian and contractor employees. (U.S. Air Force)

Richards will command one of the largest air base wings in the Air Force with more than 5,000 Air Force military, civilian, and contractor employees.

The wing acts as the landlord and host organization to Wright-Patterson, an installation that is home to a major acquisition center, research and development laboratories, a major command headquarters, an airlift wing and the worlds largest military air museum.

He takes command at a time when the Air Force is reoptimizing for competition with Russia and China.

Each of you is in the arena, and you are in the arena at a critical juncture in our nations history, Richards said in prepared remarks, speaking to an assembly at the museum.

With more than 35,000 employees, Wright-Patterson is the largest single-site concentration of employment in Ohio. In a fact sheet, the wing put its annual payroll at $3.3 billion, with a total economic impact of $6.5 billion.

Richards has served multiple tours at the Pentagon. Most recently, he was the senior military assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Energy, Installations, and Environment). He studied at the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson from August 2003 to August 2005.

The former wing commander, Meeker, was relieved of command in December. No reason for the move was offered beyond standard military language attributing the decision to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead.

Since then, Meeker has been working as a special assistant to Shipton, who assumed command of Air Force Life Cycle Management Center in January.

It was Shipton who decided to remove Meeker. A spokesman for the 88th referred questions about Meekers removal Tuesday to Air Force Materiel Command.

(c)2024 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio)

Visit at www.daytondailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas speaks during the 2023 Conservative Political Action Coalition (CPAC) Conference in National Harbor, Md., in March 2023. (Brendan Smialowski, AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R- Texas, accused the U.S. Coast Guard of illegally prohibiting sexual assault victims from sharing information with Congress about their assaults and investigations.

Directing victims to agree not to discuss what happened to them is particularly reprehensible, Cruz wrote in a letter Monday to Adm. Linda Fagan, commandant of the Coast Guard.

Cruz said illegal nondisclosure agreements were uncovered through his investigation as the top Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Coast Guard.

Cruz has previously pushed for changes to how the military handles sexual assault. Part of the impetus for that push was the murder of Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen, who was found slain after being reported missing from Fort Hood, now known as Fort Cavazos, in 2020.

In his letter, Cruz said that in 2014 the Coast Guard started a six-year investigation called Operation Fouled Anchor into allegations the Coast Guard Academy mishandled dozens of sexual assault reports from 1988 to 2006.

The resulting report concluded that the academy did not adequately investigate allegations as serious criminal matters and hold perpetrators appropriately accountable.

Cruz said it took another two and a half years for the Coast Guard to disclose Operation Fouled Anchor to Congress, however, and only after news media inquiries.

Cruz cites internal documents to say the Coast Guard was worried about releasing the report to Congress or the public because it would risk the initiation of comprehensive Congressional investigations, hearings, and media interest and reveal that the rates of sexual assault reporting have not appreciably changed.

Cruz gave credit to the Coast Guard for investigating its past handling of sexual assaults but said his review revealed ways in which the service hampered congressional oversight.

Those include having at least some involved in Operation Fouled Anchor sign a nondisclosure agreement or orally agree to an NDA, forbidding them from speaking about the investigations. That included victims, subjects, and witnesses, Cruz said in the letter.

He spelled out various laws that prohibit NDAs restricting communication with Congress.

These NDAs purport to restrict Coast Guardsmens communications with anyone, including Congress, and thus are plainly illegal, Cruz said.

Cruz also cited resistance to interview requests by the committee.

The Coast Guards actions suggest a concerted effort to conceal past sexual assaults at the Academy, Cruz wrote. Accordingly, I write to request additional information and your personal commitment to withdraw or correct any unlawful NDAs.

In a statement, the Coast Guard said the NDAs were provided to the committee as part of Fagans commitment to transparency.

The Coast Guards prior use of non-disclosure agreements was to both protect the privacy of victims and the integrity of investigations, according to the statement. The Coast Guard has provided numerous interviews and thousands of documents to Congress and continues to cooperate with all congressional inquiries and an ongoing DHS OIG investigation. The Coast Guard is committed to victim support and eliminating sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other harmful behaviors from the Service.

The statement did not directly address Cruzs allegation that the Coast Guard had used illegal NDAs.

Cruz said he is formally requesting further investigation by the Department of Homeland Security inspector general, comptroller general and special counsel.

Cruz also requested answers from Fagan by April 22 to a series of questions that include:

Will she commit to the services full and unconditional cooperation with any investigation of Operation Fouled Anchor and related matters by the committee and other authorities?

Will she commit to withdrawing or correcting any prohibited NDAs and notifying those who agreed to them of their right to communicate with Congress, inspectors general and relevant oversight agencies?

How many times were people asked to agree to an NDA as part of Operation Fouled Anchor?

Is it standard practice for the Coast Guard Investigative Service to request victims of a crime to agree to an NDA?

Has the victim of a crime who has either signed a Coast Guard Investigative Service NDA or orally agreed to adhere to an NDA ever had criminal, civil, or administrative action taken, or threatened to be taken, against them for violating the NDA?

2024 The Dallas Morning News.

Visit dallasnews.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(Drew Brown/Stars and Stripes)

Arab Jabour district, Iraq, July 5, 2007: Pvt. Erik Stroehlein, 22, of Bennington, Vt., holds a light for Capt. Eric Melloh, 30, of Huntsville, Texas, during the search of the home of a man suspected of helping insurgents direct mortar fire at Forward Operating Base Murray southeast of Baghdad. Both men were from Company A, 1-30th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division based at FOB Murray.

See more photos and read the story here.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen meets with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on April 7, 2024. (Tatan Syuflana, Pool photo via AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

BEIJING (Tribune News Service)  U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen wrapped up four days of talks in China with a warning against any moves to bolster Russias military capacity.

I stressed that companies, including those in the PRC, must not provide material support for Russias war, and that they will face significant consequences if they do, Yellen said Monday in prepared remarks for a press conference at the U.S. ambassadors residence in Beijing, using an abbreviation for the Peoples Republic of China.

Any banks that facilitate significant transactions that channel military or dual-use goods to Russias defense industrial base expose themselves to the risk of U.S. sanctions, she said.

The Biden administration is trying to crack down on firms worldwide that help Russia evade the net of sanctions that the U.S. and its allies have imposed on Moscow since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While China has been the target of past warnings, Yellens Monday message, delivered in the Chinese capital, was unusual for its direct threat of sanctions.

It came on the day that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Beijing to discuss issues including Ukraine. While China describes its position on the war as neutral, trade with Russia has surged since it began.

China and Russia do a lot of trade and much of it is non-problematic, Yellen said in an interview with CNBC. But anything that involves aiding Russias military in their brutal war against Ukraine is unacceptable to us and we have the ability to sanction it.

Americas ultimate weapon against financial institutions is the Treasurys ability to cut off their access to U.S. dollars, an existential threat for any bank operating internationally.

That such a threat now looms over Chinese lenders is another example of the way the two superpowers increasingly find themselves on opposite sides of geopolitical and economic fault lines  pushing even Yellen, arguably the least hawkish of senior Biden administration officials who deal directly with China, to go on the offensive.

For much of her trip, the Treasury chief has been busy scolding China about something else: what Washington views as excessive investment in manufacturing, especially in new green-energy technologies, to make up for a troubled property sector and weak domestic demand. Yellens message has been that Chinese overcapacity will swamp other economies if theres no change of course.

That theme has dominated since day one, and it kept recurring through a weekend of talks that both sides termed candid and constructive. The Chinese played gracious hosts and never fired back with an angry response, even in the closed-door meetings, according to senior Treasury officials.

Beijing has acknowledged theres too much capacity in at least some industries, though it also accuses the U.S. and other countries of trying to shield their own less-competitive companies.

Right now the U.S. has some leverage on such matters, because Chinas economy is fragile and its leaders realize that many other countries agree with Yellen, according to Christopher Beddor, deputy China research director at Gavekal Dragonomics.

Thats why even though Yellen is making harsh comments, they are not freezing her out, he said.

On Monday, after a meeting with Chinese central bank chief Pan Gongsheng, Yellen returned to the issue.

I am particularly worried about how Chinas enduring macroeconomic imbalances  namely its weak household consumption and business overinvestment, aggravated by large-scale government support in specific industrial sectors  will lead to significant risk to workers and businesses in the U.S. and the rest of the world, she said.

The Treasury officials said Yellen specifically urged China to do more to stimulate domestic demand. The Chinese responded, they said, by assuring Yellen they had already taken steps in that direction. They also agreed to launch a new set of talks focused exclusively on balanced growth in the domestic and global economies, a euphemism for addressing Chinas over-investment in supply.

Yellen announced that the new talks will get underway next week with a meeting between two U.S.-China working groups in Washington.

Lucille Liu and Jacob Gu contributed to this report.

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A Bank of America logo is covered on a Community Bank ATM at the Navy-run New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

Account holders should experience no change in service as the worlds largest credit union takes over all Department of Defense banks on overseas military bases.

Navy Federal Credit Union starting this month will operate those 60 facilities, known as Community Banks, and the 272 ATMs on installations in Europe and the Pacific, according to a Navy Federal press release April 2.

Bank of America held the contract for more than 40 years, Yahoo! Finance reported April 4.

The Overseas Military Banking Program fits our core values at Navy Federal and is consistent with our primary mission of supporting Active Duty military members and their families, Navy Federals chief operations officer, Kara Cardona, said in the release. Serving these families through this important DoD program is directly aligned with our mission.

Navy Federal claims 13 million members across all service branches and assets of more than $168 billion. It won the $9.4 million Overseas Military Banking Program contract, previously held by Bank of America, on Sept. 25, according to the DOD website.

Community Bank customers should expect business as usual, Navy Federal spokeswoman Amber Southard told Stars and Stripes by email Friday.

Navy Federal Credit Union claims 13 million members across all service branches and assets of more than $168 billion. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

Navy Federal came under scrutiny after a CNN investigation published in December found the credit union approved mortgages for more than 75% of the white borrowers who applied for a new conventional home purchase in 2022 while approving less than 50% of Black borrowers who applied for the same type of loan. The cable news channel cited the most recent federal data available.

In January, 10 U.S. senators wrote Secretary Marcia Fudge of Department of Housing & Urban Development and director Rohit Chopra of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau asking them to thoroughly review Navy Federals mortgage lending practices and outcomes for compliance with all federal fair housing and fair lending laws and regulations.

The same day, 42 members of the congressional Black Caucus wrote separately to Navy Federal president and CEO Mary McDuffie asking her to explain the reported disparity in lending and answer a series of questions.

An unnamed Navy Federal spokesperson in CNNs Jan. 12 report said the credit union was already reviewing its mortgage practices and that it provided a higher percentage of its loans to Black borrowers than most other large lenders.

Community Bank provides unsecured, debt consolidation and auto loans, but not mortgage loans, according to its website. It also provides access to foreign currency, local ATMs, bill pay, savings, checking and other financial services to installation personnel and commands.

Navy Federals spokeswoman underscored Friday that the credit union and Community Bank are separate entities.

Community Bank and Navy Federal Credit Union are independent of one another, Southard wrote in her email. While Navy Federal Credit Union has been selected to manage the Overseas Military Banking Program, these institutions will remain as separate entities.

Customers cannot access Community Bank accounts at Navy Federal Credit Union locations, she said.

DOD established the Overseas Military Banking Program after World War II to provide active-duty service members and base commands with retail financial and cash services, according to a Navy Federal press release Sept. 25.

Community Bank operates through a contract between DOD, a commercial financial institution and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. The contract began with a transition period, followed by a base year starting April 1 and one-year options for another eight years.

There are no immediate improvements or features planned for Community Bank, Southard said. As we gain experience operating Community Bank for the DoDs Overseas Military Banking Program we may identify opportunities for improvements in products and services. Those will be vetted through DFAS for approval prior to implementation.
A South Korean sailor carries his uncle's remains during a Korean War remains repatriation ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, July 25, 2023. (Zachary Beatty/U.S. Marine Corps)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  Anthropologists and historians from the United States and South Korea have embarked on their annual search for the remains of service members killed during the 1950-53 Korean War.

Ten U.S. military and civilian members of the Hawaii-based Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency began their monthlong mission Monday with counterparts from South Korea, DPAA spokesman Sean Everette said in an email Tuesday.

DPAA and the Ministry of National Defense Agency for Killed in Action Recovery Identification, or MAKRI, partnered to excavate and identify Korean War-era human remains starting in 2011.

The teams will assess multiple areas for their potential for recovery of remains and follow-on excavation, Everette said.

The surveyors will explore five cities, including Mungyeong, about 90 miles southeast of Seoul, according to a MAKRI news release Monday.

The other cities  Chuncheon, Hongcheon, Pyeongchang and Hoengseong  are between 30 to 55 miles south of the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean Peninsula.

The survey areas include a site where an American F-51D Mustang is believed to have crashed during a mission in 1950 and where roughly 30 2nd Infantry Division soldiers were killed in combat in 1951, according to MAKRI.

The teams will employ several search methods, including reviewing combat records, interviewing locals, searching for battle debris and identifying terrain changes based on decades-old aerial photos, the release said.

Since 2000, South Korea has received more than 300 sets of remains from the U.S. and returned 26 sets.

Of the roughly 36,500 U.S. casualties of the war, 7,480 are still unaccounted for, according to DPAA. About 950 of those are believed to be missing in South Korea.

The agencies continue to make headway in identifying remains and accounting for missing troops.

On Dec. 5, 2022, Cpl. Adin Norris Jr., a 21-year-old soldier attached to the 24th Infantry Division, was accounted for by DPAA, according to an agency news release Feb. 6.

Norris, of Kansas City, Mo., was declared missing in action after fighting in Daejon city July 20, 1950, according to the release. His body was eventually recovered and buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii with other unidentified remains from the Korean War.

His remains were disinterred on July 15, 2019, and later identified using DNA analysis.
Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, left, and Director of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi shake hands during a press conference following a meeting in Beijing, April 9, 2024. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Tass, Abaca Press/TNS)

CHINA (Tribune News Service)  Russia and China agreed to start a dialogue on Eurasian security with the aim of double counteracting the European-Atlantic alliance led by the U.S.

We have a common goal of increasing security in Eurasia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday at a press conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing. We agreed with our Chinese friends to start a dialogue and get other like-minded countries to join us. Lavrov added that Wang proposed the idea of double counteracting the U.S. and its allies in response to the double deterrence of Western countries against Russia and China.

China on Monday said it hasnt sought to benefit from Russias war in Ukraine after the U.S. warned allies that Beijing has stepped up its support for Moscow, including by providing geospatial intelligence, to help it in its invasion of the neighboring ex-Soviet state.

President Joe Biden raised concerns about the matter with Xi Jinping during their recent call, the White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen underscored the urgency of the issue during her visit to China, saying that its banks and exporters should not bolster Russias military capacity. She warned they will face significant consequences if they do.

Lavrov also said Russia and China confirmed there is no prospect of holding meetings to settle the conflict with Ukraine when Russias positions are ignored, a reference to a planned June peace conference in Switzerland backed by Kyiv. Ukraines allies see Chinas presence at such a conference as important for making the initiative successful.

At a regular press conference in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning sidestepped a question on Lavrovs comments about a potential meeting. China supports the holding in due course of an international peace conference that is recognized by both sides  of Russia and Ukraine  and ensures the equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans, she said.

Mao added that she had no information to offer on Chinas participation in the planned peace conference.

Beijing and Moscow have intensified their diplomatic and economic partnership since President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, which has helped Russia weather unprecedented Western sanctions.

In March, Wang trumpeted a new paradigm in Chinas ties with Russia. Two-way trade hit a record $240 billion last year, driven by Chinese imports of Russian oil and exports of cars and electronics.

Putin and Xi are set to meet at a regional summit in Kazakhstan in June and in October at a leaders meeting of the BRICS emerging economies bloc, Lavrov said. Putin is also set to visit China in May, Reuters reported last month, in what may be his first overseas trip since winning reelection in March in a tightly controlled vote. The Russian president, who has met Xi more than 40 times, was last in China in October.

Lavrov also met with Xi Tuesday, according to the Interfax news service.

With assistance from Colum Murphy.

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U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the head of U.S. European Command, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Germany, Dec. 14, 2023, to discuss ongoing U.S. and international military support to aid the Ukrainian. Cavoli on Monday called for reestablishment of Cold War communication methods with Russia. (Susanne Goebel/U.S. European Command)

STUTTGART, Germany  The United States needs to revive the lines of communication with Moscow that helped both countries avoid nuclear conflict during the Cold War, the top American general in Europe said this week.

We could read each others signals. We knew how to send signals to each other almost all of that is gone now, Gen. Christopher Cavoli, NATO supreme allied commander and head of U.S. European Command, said Monday.

Cavoli, speaking during an event at Georgetown University timed to NATOs 75th anniversary, rattled off numerous upgrades to the alliance as it adapts to counter Russia. The number of NATO troops available to Cavoli in a crisis has surged by some 700% over the past year, he said.

But the transformation in combat readiness doesnt appear to have been matched at the strategic level when it comes to ensuring that the nuclear powers dont misread each others intentions.

Since Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, nuclear saber-rattling rhetoric from the Kremlin has become almost routine and arguably more provocative than during the Cold War.

Cavoli, a fluent Russian speaker and foreign area officer by training, said efforts are underway at his NATO headquarters to update some of the old practices for modern times. But there are complications.

First of all, were trying to reestablish it during a hot war thats being waged by Russia against Ukraine, he said.

And unlike the Cold War, Chinas greater clout makes it a factor when it comes to managing the escalation of tensions, he said.

There are no longer just two principal parties to determine this question, Cavoli said. Theres China in the background and how all this is going to interact on a three-way basis will be a very important question.

During the Cold War, Cavoli said there was a very fine and mutually understood vocabulary between the West and the Soviet Union.

We knew how to communicate verbally and nonverbally about our intentions in a way that gave predictability to the other side, comprehension to the other side, Cavoli said. And this was one of the principal things that we used to manage escalation and to achieve deterrence without significant risk.

Other factors from the past that were effective included various nuclear treaties, agreements and onsite inspections that helped keep communication lines open, he said.

We fell out of the habit of using these mechanisms to signal and we collectively have walked away from many of the arrangements and the treaties that previously gave us the ability to do this, he said.

Any push to improve how the United States and NATO communicate with Moscow could be challenged by the alliances ongoing efforts to bolster its eastern flank with Russia.

The Kremlin in recent years has ramped up its criticisms of NATO and the increasing number of alliance forces positioned in places such as the Baltic states and Poland, which it has characterized as a threat.

Allies have argued that those moves are defensive and only came in response to Russias aggression in Ukraine.

How do we go ahead doing all of this and reestablishing our collective defense capability without being threatening and accidentally having the effect we dont want? Cavoli asked. I think the first step is to describe ourselves openly as what we are  a defensive alliance.
Protesters call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip and rally against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government Saturday in Tel Aviv. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post)

JERUSALEM  For Gazans and Israelis yearning for a cease-fire and a deal to free hostages, feelings of cautious optimism have been dashed so many times that any optimism now seems incautious.

Once again, attention has turned to talks in Cairo amid reports that an agreement may be within reach. Once again, leaks from the parties are contradictory and hard to interpret, with hopeful signals quickly scrambled by dour assessments.

Egyptian officials have suggested that the basics of a deal are nearly settled. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Monday that negotiations have reached a critical point. Hamas dismissed the terms on the table as nothing new, but the Palestinian militant group also said it would review the proposals.

What appeared different this time, experts said, were the new pressures at play, particularly on Israel, with Washingtons impatience with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nearing a breaking point just as domestic anger in Israel is surging.

On March 25, the United States stood aside to allow the U.N. Security Council to pass its first resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. A week later, Israeli forces killed seven World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers, sparking another wave of condemnation. Israels military said the strike was a mistake and dismissed two of the officers involved.

In Israel, frustrations with the prime minister from both hostage families and Israels democracy movement have converged into massive anti-government protests. Opposition leader Benny Gantz, who serves in the emergency war cabinet and has emerged as a popular alternative to Netanyahu, called last week for elections in November.

The mounting pressure has shifted thinking inside Netanyahus office, according to an Israeli familiar with the deliberations. Among the changes is a recognition that the prime ministers standoff with President Biden over the course of the war and the delivery of humanitarian aid may have backfired, and that domestic fury over the fate of the more than 100 remaining hostages can no longer be kept at bay.

The difference now is that all the elements are pushing for a deal to happen, said the Israeli familiar with the deliberations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe confidential discussions. Netanyahu really does need to make a significant achievement with a deal.

Netanyahus circle hopes that an agreement now could revive chances of a diplomatic rapprochement with Saudi Arabia  which Washington had been attempting to broker before the Gaza war  and reverse the prime ministers political free fall.

Shifts have been evident on the ground in Gaza, as well. Israel promised last week to open an additional crossing for aid to the northern Gaza Strip, and Sunday pulled most of its troops from the south. The stated reason was to rest the units for future action, including an attack on Rafah  Hamass final redoubt, where more than a million civilians are sheltering. But the withdrawal, leaving only a few thousand troops along an east-west corridor dividing the enclave, was widely seen here as a concession before negotiations.

The return of Palestinians to the north is a sticking point, said Michael Horowitz of Le Beck International, a security firm. This is a fairly big compromise.

Israeli negotiators last week were given their most wide-ranging mandate yet to reach a deal, according to local media reports. And senior officials have been unusually bullish about the prospects for a breakthrough.

Katz, the foreign minister, suggested it was the closest the sides had been since the first deal, reached in November, which involved the release by Hamas of 105 Israeli hostages and foreign nationals in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

If matters work out, a large number of hostages will return home and, in stages, everyone, Katz told Israels Army Radio.

An unidentified Israeli negotiator described significant progress in Cairo Monday night, according to Israels Channel 13, with negotiators potentially willing to bargain on withdrawing more troops and allowing civilians to return to the north.

We are ready to make difficult decisions in order to get the hostages back, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in an address to troops at a military base Monday. I think that we are at a good point for a deal.

But the forces pushing against an agreement are also strong. Netanyahus far-right allies have made it clear that a cease-fire could fracture his coalition, endangering his tenuous hold on power. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Monday on X that halting the war without a final push in Rafah would erase Netanyahus mandate to serve as Prime Minister.

The United States is trying to pressure both sides to overcome the barriers to a deal. Military analysts said the withdrawal of Israels 98th Commando Division from Khan Younis could allow Qatar and Egypt to press Hamas for concessions.

The drawdown is tied to the sense that the U.S. is putting a lot more pressure on mediators to, in turn, pressure Hamas to agree to a deal, Horowitz said.

The Biden administration has attempted to jump-start stalled talks for months. CIA Director William J. Burns has bounced between Paris, Cairo, Qatar and Tel Aviv. Mediators, technical teams and negotiators have met nearly a dozen times this year.

Gershon Baskin, who helped negotiate the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit from Hamas captivity in 2011, said the deal reached in November was easier because it focused on the release of women and children on both sides.

The first round was the low-hanging fruit. It was a no-brainer, he said.

The current round is more complex because Hamas considers most of the remaining hostages to be combatants and has demanded greater concessions. The demands, according to diplomats familiar with the talks, include a complete Israeli troop withdrawal, the return of displaced Gazans to their homes in the north and the restoration of food deliveries to prewar levels of about 500 trucks a day.

In the case of Shalit, Baskin said that the basic terms were set quickly but that it took five years for the two sides to agree on the details.

What does take time are the logistics, Baskin said, which in this case will include the mechanics and monitoring of the hostage transfers. We havent even gotten to the logistics issues in these talks yet.

The latest proposal under discussion would see 40 Israeli hostages exchanged for 900 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, 100 of whom are serving terrorism sentences, according to a former Egyptian official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the talks. Disagreements remain about which prisoners would be freed; it is also unclear how many of the hostages are still alive.

There has been a burst of activity on the U.S. side in recent weeks, according to the former official. Biden contacted Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi and the emir of Qatar, urging the Arab countries to press Hamas harder for a deal.

We are trying to put a lot of pressure on Hamas. The problem is Sinwar is in Gaza and the other [Hamas leaders] live in Qatar, the former Egyptian official said, referring to Hamas leader Yehiya Sinwar, who is widely believed to be hiding in tunnels below Gaza and to have the final say on any agreement. The decision comes from Sinwar.

U.S. officials characterized the Cairo talks, led by Burns, as serious.

A proposal was submitted to Hamas, and now its going to be up to Hamas to come through, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday.

George reported from Dubai and Parker from Cairo. Loveday Morris in Berlin and Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report.
A cache of AK-47s lays on the deck of a ship in an undated file photo shared by U.S. Central Command. The U.S. government transferred the weapons to the Ukrainian armed forces after seizing them from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which intended them to arm the Houthis in Yemen. (U.S. Central Command)

More than 5,000 weapons and half a million rounds of ammunition once bound for Houthi militants in Yemen has been transferred to Ukraines armed forces, a statement from U.S. Central Command said Tuesday.

The transfer of munitions taken from ships said to be linked to Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps took place Thursday, the statement said.

U.S.-led naval forces seized the weapons and ammunition from four stateless ships sailing the waters of the Middle East from 2021 to 2023, the statement said.

A previous transfer in October provided Ukraine with 1.1 million 7.62 mm rounds seized from another vessel said to be used by Iran to arm Houthis in Yemen.

The U.S. government claimed ownership of these munitions through a civil forfeiture claim against Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The U.S. has accused Iran of transferring rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen, despite a United Nations arms embargo.

The Houthis, a Shiite rebel movement backed by Iran, seized Sanaa, Yemens capital, in 2014. Since October, the Houthis have launched a flurry of attacks targeting U.S. warships and commercial vessels from numerous countries in the Red Sea, which theyve linked to Western support of Israel in its war in Gaza.

The weapons and ammunition transferred to Ukraine on Thursday are enough to equip a Ukrainian brigade with AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, the statement said.

Ukraines military, which has depended on Western support in its war against a larger invading force, has suffered from ammunition shortages in recent months, which have seen Russian gains.

Politicians last week discussed a new $100 billion NATO fund over five years to help bankroll Western support for Ukraine, in a discussion marked by growing uncertainty over whether the United States will continue providing funding.
(Tribune News Service)  A man accused of trying to breach the gate at the FBIs Atlanta headquarters a week ago will remain in custody while his mental health is evaluated.

Ervin Lee Bolling, 48, appeared Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas, who said she wasnt comfortable releasing him from custody without a real plan of where he can go.

Somebody needs to keep an eye on him, the judge said.

Bolling is a decorated U.S. Navy veteran who was honorably discharged in 2017 after nearly 20 years of service, Takiya Wheeler, his court-appointed attorney, told the judge. Wheeler said Bolling has no criminal history and does not present a danger to the community, though he is in the midst of a mental health crisis.

Suicidal ideation alone is not a danger to the community, Wheeler said. Hes having a crisis right now, which is evident.

Bolling is accused of damaging the final denial barrier April 1 inside the gate of the FBIs facility on Flowers Road in Chamblee by ramming it in an orange Buick Encore, according to a federal affidavit. Prosecutors said he tried to follow a special agents car through the gate. Afterward, Bolling got out of the wrecked car, walked past the gate and refused to comply with the special agents detaining him, the affidavit stated.

He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and made his first court appearance Wednesday, when Salinas ordered that Bolling be held until Mondays hearing. Prosecutors had argued the South Carolina resident was a risk to flee or obstruct justice.

Two of Bollings nieces were in court Monday and told the judge he could live with them in South Carolina once his mental health was stabilized with medication. The judge scheduled a hearing for April 23 when Bollings bond request will be further discussed.

Wheeler said Bollings mental state had already improved with some medication in the past few days and that he had made appointments to visit a Veterans Affairs hospital. She said Bolling was a self-employed insurance salesman who had also been offered work at a Waffle House in South Carolina alongside a relative.

Bollings wife, with whom he does not live, is also willing to support him, Wheeler said.

I do not believe that he should be detained, she said.

The judge said Bollings detention through April 23 would give the government time to assess the information on his personal phone, for which a search warrant was issued.

Times are crazy right now, the judge told Bolling. I have to ensure the safety of the community and ensure you will come back to court. I dont think you are a flight risk unless we dont get this mental health stuff figured out.

Upon release from the hospital, Bolling told federal agents that driving into the FBI barrier was a suicide attempt, FBI agent Matthew Upshaw testified Monday. Upshaw said he searched Bollings vehicle and found no weapons or evidence that Bolling had planned an attack.

After taking Bolling into custody, agents searched him and found that he was carrying his passport.

Federal prosecutor Katherine Terry sought Bollings continued detention Monday, stating his living situation is in flux.

The information we have is that hes having a mental health issue and theres nothing yet that weve found that would suggest a larger issue, Terry said. However, we are still investigating. His current mental state and his actions are creating a danger to the community.

Bolling faces one federal count of destruction of government property. He is also charged with violating state law in DeKalb County and faces one count of interference with government property, local officials said.

Upshaw said Bolling could be hit with a $35,000 bill if the barrier needs repairing, or a $70,000 bill if it needs to be replaced.

The impact with the wedge barrier caused damage that exceeded $1,000, a threshold that increases the suspects maximum possible sentence from one to 10 years in prison, according to the U.S. legal code. The wedge barrier, also known as the final denial barrier, rises back into place after each authorized car passes through.

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The Supreme Court building as seen on July 6, 2022. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes)

Nineteen retired generals, admirals and former top civilian defense officials have filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court opposing former President Donald Trumps bid for immunity from prosecution.

We risk jeopardizing Americas standing as a guardian of democracy in the world and further feeding the spread of authoritarianism, thereby threatening the national security of the United States and democracies around the world, the group wrote.

The 38-page amicus brief includes officials from Democratic and Republican administrations dating back to former President John F. Kennedy, as well as four-star generals from the Army, Air Force and Marines, and Navy and Coast Guard admirals.

The signatories to the brief include Ray Mabus, secretary of the Navy from 2009 to 2017, and retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, who also served as director of the CIA. The group also includes retired Army Gens. George Casey and Peter Chiarelli, retired Air Force Gens. John Jumper, Craig McKinley and Charles Wald, retired Marine Corps Gens. Carlton Fulford, Charles Krulak and Robert Magnus, retired Navy Adms. Steve Abbot, Samuel Jones Locklear, John Nathman, Bill Owens and Scott Swift, and retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen.

Top former civilian defense officials in addition to Mabus are former Army Secretary Louis Caldera, former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, and former Navy Secretary Sean OKeefe.

The court is scheduled to hear arguments April 25 about the question of Trumps immunity from facing charges for his role in the alleged criminal conspiracy to block the results of the 2020 election that he lost to President Joe Biden.

Trump is not charged in that case. But he is charged in an election interference case in Georgia that could be impacted by the federal action. Trump is also charged in another federal case accusing him of election interference that has been held up until the case on April 25 is resolved.

The amicus brief  known as a friend of the court brief  from the top defense officials argues that without rapid action to negate the claims of immunity, the cases could become moot since they would not be heard prior to the November presidential election. Trump is the expected Republican nominee against Biden. If elected, Trump could use his presidential authority in a bid to pardon himself from prosecution.

Trumps lawyers in February argued at the Supreme Court that the possibility of facing prosecution for actions while in office would incapacitate every future president with de facto blackmail and extortion while in office and condemn him to years of post-office trauma at the hands of political opponents.

The former military leaders said allowing immunity would undermine confidence in the role of the military at home and abroad, and relations with allies and potential enemies.

Presidential immunity from criminal prosecution would threaten the militarys role in American society, our nations constitutional order, and our national security, the former defense leaders wrote. It also would have profoundly negative effects on military service members, who answer to the orders of the president as commander in chief.

The group argued immunity would place commanders and their troops in a vise between obeying their oath to the Constitution and orders from the president.

The president could, with impunity, direct his national security appointees to, in turn, direct members of the military to execute plainly unlawful orders, placing those in the chain of command in an untenable position and irreparably harming the trust fundamental to civil-military relations, they wrote.
Britains former Prime Minister, David Cameron, leaves 10, Downing Street after being appointed Foreign Secretary in a Cabinet reshuffle on Nov. 13, 2023, in London. (Carl Court, Getty Images/TNS)

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  British Foreign Secretary David Cameron flew to Florida to meet Donald Trump, as the UK tries to get the Republican presidential candidates allies in the House of Representatives to support further military aid for Ukraine.

Camerons meeting with Trump came at the start of a trip to Washington in which the former Conservative prime minister is expected to meet with Republican lawmakers, as well as Biden administration officials. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has so far declined to call a vote on new security funding, including some $60 billion of aid for Ukraine to fight back against Russias invasion.

Ukrainian forces are wrestling with increasingly severe ammunition shortages and delays in supplies of artillery shells from allies  especially the U.S.  have left Ukraines forces outgunned by as much as six to one. Trump, whos facing an electoral rematch against President Joe Biden in November, has long expressed skepticism about providing military support to Ukraine, and has suggested giving the country loans instead of direct funding.

The UK, which has been another leading military backer of Ukraine, argues that U.S. aid is vital to the countrys ability to continue to resist Russian forces.

Speaker Johnson can make it happen in Congress, Cameron said in a video on X ahead of the trip, adding that he would tell the Republican House leader, We need that money, Ukraine needs that money.

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Visit at bloomberg.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III testifies at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Department of Defense fiscal 2025 budget request at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, Tuesday, March 9, 2024. (Chad J. McNeeley/Department of Defense)

WASHINGTON  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday said there was no evidence of Israel committing genocide in Gaza, but he said it was critical for the U.S. and Israel to provide humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged territory.

Austin appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee to discuss the Pentagons 2025 budget but faced repeated heckling from pro-Palestinian protesters who accused him of green-lighting genocide against the people of Gaza.

I absolutely deny that charge, he said.

Austin defended Americas continued military assistance to Israel as the country waged war against Hamas militants in Gaza who raided Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and abducting about 250 others.

From the very beginning, we committed to help assist Israel in defending its territory and its people, he said. I would remind everyone that what happened on Oct. 7 was horrible.

But Austin also cautioned Israel needed to do more to provide aid to civilians in Gaza as they risked famine amid widespread destruction.

If Israel wants to create lasting effects, then it must address the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people and not in a marginal way, in a meaningful way, he said.

A lack of access to food, water and medicine will not only add to a Palestinian death toll that has topped 30,000 people but also create more terrorists, Austin said. He said he frequently encourages his Israeli counterpart to open more land routes for assistance and increase the volume of aid.

Israel said Monday that it allowed more than 400 trucks of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, the largest since the conflict began. It also agreed last week to open a crossing to funnel aid into northern Gaza after President Joe Biden threatened to condition future support for Israel on its commitment to mitigating civilian casualties.

The measures have prompted changes in behaviors, Austin said. However, There needs to be more still.

The U.S. military is stepping in to build a maritime corridor that would allow aid to pass into Gaza through a temporary floating pier and continues to airdrop pallets of food into the territory. The pier is expected to have initial operational capability by the third week of April, Austin said.

It is something that we have the ability to do, and we should do, he said.

Several senators argued the U.S. should not have to supplement aid that should instead be delivered by Israel, fearing it could put troops and Palestinian civilians at risk. Gaza authorities have said several people have been killed by aid packages dropping from aircraft.

Theres no reason the United States should have to build a pier in the Eastern Mediterranean. Theres no reason we should have to airdrop supplies, often endangering people who have to go out into the water and get them, said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, expressed concern over the uninterrupted flow of U.S. weapons into Israel. The Biden administration regularly sends arms to Israel as part of a $38 billion agreement that will expire in 2026. Those shipments continued the week of a deadly Israeli attack on seven workers delivering food in Gaza earlier this month, King said.

We have a responsibility as well, in terms of the way the war is being conducted, because we are engaged in terms of the supply of the weapons, he said.

Austin said he believes Bidens conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the need to protect civilians has had a positive effect, though whether it lasts remains to be seen.

He also said he has personally appealed to Israeli defense officials to stress that the destructive tactics employed earlier in the war cannot be replicated if Israel goes through with its planned invasion of southern Gaza.

Hamas is responsible ultimately for the start of this war.  But having said that, there have been far too many civilian casualties, and I think there is a way to be successful operationally and tactically and also protect civilians, Austin said. We need to see a better job in terms of being more precise and protecting the civilian population.
Access to affordable housing, reliable child care and top public schools in communities near bases where military families reside contribute to military readiness and retention, said Sharene Brown, the wife of Air Force Gen. Charles CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (iStock)

ARLINGTON, Va.  Access to affordable housing, reliable child care and top public schools in communities near bases where military families reside contribute to military readiness and retention, said Sharene Brown, the wife of Air Force Gen. Charles CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

She emphasized Tuesday during a panel discussion at the American Defense Communities national summit that community-based resources have value for service members.

I have seen military members whove had to step away [from their duties] because of child care issues that were significant, said Brown, who leads Five & Thrive, a grassroots initiative to connect military families with community resources. Our military is looking at this in a different way than it has in the past to give both parents an opportunity for family time off.

Browns talk before representatives from civic, private and government organizations during the second day of the three-day summit focused on five everyday concerns that she said affects military personnel at all levels  housing, child care, education, health care and spouse employment.

Seventy percent of military families live off base because thats where the amenities are that they use every day.

Sharene Brown, wife of Air Force Gen. Charles CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks at the American Defense Communities national summit on April 9, 2024. (Association of Defense Communities)

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., chairman of the House Armed Services Committees subpanel on quality of life, delivered the same message at a second panel discussion Tuesday that also focused on these everyday issues for service members.

Communities can make all the difference for our service members, Bacon said.

He also said it is important for military agencies to be candid in spending requests with lawmakers about quality-of-life needs on bases, such as improving military housing for families and dormitories for troops so there is less pressure to go off base for resources.

If you have an all-volunteer force, you need to emphasize quality of life, Bacon said. We should know exactly what we are under-funding and make those decisions together.

At Five & Thrive, Brown said her group also is looking at ways to better understand the challenges and concerns of military families across the U.S. who are living on or near the nations 500 military bases.

Five & Thrive recently partnered with Carestarter, which connects caregivers with online resources, and its subsidiary, Feedback, which focuses on data analytics, for an unfiltered look at real-time challenges military families talk about online in social media comments, messages and posts.

Carestarter had participated in a 2021 project at Travis Air Force Base in California that developed CareMaps for families with disabled children that were designed based on age, location and diagnosis. The interactive maps helped families identify and locate helpful resources.

Carestarter largely works in the health care arena for public and private agencies, said Dean Browell, chief behavioral officer for the Virginia-based company.

Feedback synthesizes publicly available social media from established online communities, such as the subgroups on Reddit focused on military and veterans issues.

The company mines social media data and employs anthropologists to interpret the findings.

We look at digital spaces and how people are really talking. It helps decision-makers to have good data, he said.

Brown indicated the work that both companies do to understand quality-of-life issues could have applications across the military.
The newly-elected senators took oath Tuesday amid noisy protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), terming the process of election of chairman and deputy chairman as unconstitutional due to an incomplete house.

President Asif Ali Zardari had summoned the house to meet for its inaugural session today for the oath-taking of newly-elected members and the election of the Senate chairman and deputy chairman.

When the session began today with Senator Ishaq Dar as the presiding officer, the PTI members launched the protest and demanded adjournment of the house till the election of senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Speaking on the floor of the house, PTI leader Senator Ali Zafar demanded the election be deferred as "the process would be unconstitutional till the house is complete".

Zafar also blamed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for making controversial decisions.

In response to the objections raised by the opposition members, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that nothing is unconstitutional happening here today and that the house is complete for all functional purposes.

He also blamed the PTI for creating obstacles in the election of senators from KP after which polls were postponed by the ECP.

Prior to the start of the session today, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani of the Pakistan Peoples Party prepared the nomination papers for the chairman election while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominated Saidal Khan Nasir for the deputy chairman.

According to the current party position in the upper house, the ruling collation candidates have the support of 24 senators of PPP, 19 of PMLN, four of BAP, three senators of ANP, three Independents and one of the National Party, which makes a total of 54.

If three senators of MQM-Pakistan and five of the JUIF also support Gilani, then the tally of votes would reach 62, which suggested that the ruling coalitions nominee would be in a comfortable position to win the slot.

Meanwhile, the coalition government approached the leadership of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Pakistan (JUI-P) to seek support for Gilani. A delegation of government comprising Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Senator Dr Sherry Rehman and Syed Naveed Qamar MNA met JUIP Secretary General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri at his residence.

The JUI-P delegation also comprised Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman, Senator Kamran Murtaza, Maulana Attaul Haq Darvesh and Senator Dilawar Khan.

The JUIP spokesman said the government delegation requested the partys support to Gilani for Senate chairman elections. It was decided that both sides would consult their leadership before announcing any decision.
I just found out she hadnt been paid for a long period of time. Id never come across someone who hadnt been paid for a 16-week period.

An Applegreen service station manager was sacked after a suspected ghost employee on its systems turned out to be a real Polish woman with limited English who had had spent four months working without wages, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has heard.

A barrister acting for the chain said that the manager of its service station at Ashbourne, Co Meath, had effectively inflated profits for 2021 by not registering the worker for payroll  and secured himself an increased bonus worth 2,000 gross as a result.

The manager, site director Graham Price, has accused Petrogas Group Ltd, trading as Applegreen, of breaching the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973 by sacking him for gross misconduct following an investigation into the matter.

His lawyers maintain the delay in onboarding the worker was because she had no PPS number when she was hired in October 2021 and that her application to register had been affected by a backlog in issuing them in the wake of the cyber-attack on the HSE the previous May.

Giving evidence to the tribunal last Friday, an Applegreen regional manager, Keith Ennis, said he had gone to the Ashbourne service station in February 2022 to carry out an audit and discovered discrepancies between its point-of-sale system records and the payroll report for the period.

Basically what Im checking is, are all the employees on our till system for a period of time; were they actually in work at the time? Its to check for ghost employees, he told adjudicator Brian Dalton.

Mr Ennis said his main concern in this part of the audit was people stealing money, but that when he identified the discrepancy he pulled out records for previous weeks.

When this was uncovered I asked, I think, the assistant manager who was there conducting the audit with me: Where is this lady? Is she OK?

Why were you concerned? asked the groups barrister Hugh OFlaherty BL, who appeared instructed by solicitor David ORiordan.

I just found out she hadnt been paid for a long period of time. Id never come across someone who hadnt been paid for a 16-week period.

"By all accounts this could have been a ghost employee. Id never heard of this lady before, except shes on a point-of-sale till login, but not connected to payroll, he said.

She was available; she had really poor English it was a really broken English conversation, but I had verified it was a person.

The tribunal heard that that the worker left the job shortly after receiving her back pay, an onboarding ticket  the companys system for registering new staff having been submitted from the service station to the payroll department on January 25, 2022.

Mr Ennis conducted an investigation into the matter on foot of the audit and put various allegations to Mr Price, including failing to correctly conduct the onboarding of the worker, failing to keep statutory working time records and budget misappropriations for 2021 and 2022 leading to financial gain.

Mr Price was ultimately dismissed on the grounds of gross misconduct following a disciplinary hearing, a decision upheld on internal appeal, the tribunal was told.

In a legal submission, Mr OFlaherty said the failure to onboard the worker for 16 weeks meant she was unable to clock in and out and have her breaks recorded.

The other consequence from this employee not being onboarded and not being paid is that Mr Price, in addition to his salary of 48,000 per year, was entitled to a profit share scheme  a percentage of profit made compared to budget, Mr OFlaherty said. The result was he made an increased profit share of 2,000.

Mr OFlaherty submitted further that Mr Price had been very combative and wouldnt answer straight questions when the company was conducting its investigation and disciplinary process.

The company came to the conclusion that he had committed gross misconduct following a fair and legally compliant process, he added.

Mr Prices barrister Rory Treanor BL, appearing instructed by Crushell & Co Solicitors, said there had been explicit instructions from head office not to go through the onboarding process without submitting a PPS number and bank details.

He said that the worker, a Polish national with little English, found herself trying to deal with the bureaucracy of Ireland at a time when there were widely-reported delays in the issuing of PPS numbers in the months following the cyber-attack on the HSE in 2021.

Mr Treanor said his client made best efforts and multiple attempts to assist the worker, along with two other members of management at the Ashbourne service centre  but that the employer targeted Mr Price for disciplinary action.

He rejected any suggestion that there was subterfuge on the part of his client to squirrel away what amounted to 1,000 in take-home pay.

We say the reason is that Mr Ennis had made up his mind, and the ham-fisted approach taken by Mr Ennis in pursuing this investigation is absolutely evident from the chaotic way [it] proceeded, he said.

Counsel said new accusations were thrown at his client during the investigation in a deliberate attempt to provoke him and create a hostile atmosphere and that a cursory conclusion was reached.

When you put it all together, what you have is Mr Ennis going off on one about a situation where everyone was just trying to do their best in a very difficult situation, singling out Mr Price for dismissal, Mr Treanor said.

He added that the disciplinary process and appeal hearing barely merit mention as part of a fair procedure.

The matter was adjourned to a future date by adjudicating officer Brian Dalton.

Mr Ennis is to continue giving evidence on the next occasion and be cross-examined on his testimony, while Mr Price is expected to give his evidence at a later stage in the proceedings.
Attacker John McDonagh separately threatened to put a Travellers curse on a garda and a pipe bomb under his car, a court heard.

A father of five stormed into his neighbours home, seized him by the beard and beat him following claims the victim had made moves on his wife.

Attacker John McDonagh separately threatened to put a Travellers curse on a garda and a pipe bomb under his car, a court heard.

Jailing him for a year, Judge John Hughes said the assault victim had been left with nasty injuries, while the threat to the garda was menacing and sinister.

McDonagh (34) had pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to Thomas Lawrence, and trespassing at his home at St Margarets Park, Ballymun, on May 25 last year.

He admitted threatening to kill or cause serious harm to a garda at Rathfarnham station on April 9, 2023.

Mr Lawrence told Dublin District Court he was sitting on his sofa when McDonagh came in, knelt on him, caught me by the beard and he kept punching me in front of his screaming children.

His facial injuries included a busted lip, a cut to his forehead, pressure marks around his neck and a bite mark under his nipple.

The victim and McDonagh had a close friendship that turned sour months earlier.

McDonaghs wife Margaret claimed that in 2021, after her husband cheated on her, Mr Lawrence had told her he doesnt deserve you, youre too good for him. Later, she alleged, Mr Lawrence made moves on her in a pub. Mr Lawrence denied this.

According to the defence, McDonagh approached Mr Lawrence outside his home and the victim invited him to go inside to talk. The accused alleged Mr Lawrence threw the first punch and he acted in self-defence.

In evidence, his wife Margaret McDonagh denied that she was lying and stirring it up between her husband and the victim.

Defence barrister Fergal McMorrow said Ms McDonagh had been forthright and frank, with dirty laundry being aired in the most public of forums, Mr McMorrow said.

In the garda threat incident, McDonagh told the officer he would smash his head in and put a Traveller curse on him that he would get cancer.

He threatened he would put a pipe bomb under the gardas car and wait till it goes boom.

Im going to kill you and Im going to record it and watch it back, he said.

Mr McMorrow said this was said in anger without any intention.

Finding McDonagh guilty on the assault and trespass charges, Judge Hughes sentenced him to a total of 15 months, with three suspended.
The charge is in relation to the claim of responsibility by the New IRA for the shooting of Mr Caldwell in Omagh

One of the men charged in connection with the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell has failed to get his curfew extended.

Tiarnan McFadden (25), of Carnhill in Derry, is charged with possessing articles likely to be of use to terrorists.

The charge is in relation to the claim of responsibility by the New IRA for the shooting of Mr Caldwell in Omagh last February, which appeared on a piece of paper stuck on a wall in the Creggan area of Derry.

McFadden is currently on bail with a curfew from 7pm until 6am and has previously made applications to have that time varied.

Opposing the application on Monday at Derry Magistrates Court, a prosecution barrister recounted details of the claim of responsibility.

She told the court that McFadden was linked to this claim by CCTV, observations from undercover witnesses, data from mobile phones and social media.

She said the defendant also generated content relating to dissident republican groups Saoradh and Eistigi.

The barrister said that McFadden had been unsuccessful in a recent application for permission to go to Amsterdam with his partner.

The court heard that police believed there was a real risk of re-offending and there was no need to interfere with conditions that had been successful in preventing contact with other members of dissident republican groups.

Defence counsel Stephen Mooney said his client faced a significant curfew and conditions that initially may have been proportionate and necessary were now punitive.

He said there was a difference between a 7pm curfew in the darkness of November and a 7pm curfew in the bright nights.

The barrister added that it was only a minor alteration to the conditions that was being sought.

Deputy District Judge John Rea said he was not satisfied with the merits of the application and refused it.

McFadden is due to face a preliminary enquiry hearing in the same court next month.
The accused had lived at the address for some time and was evicted due to rent arrears, his barrister Vanessa Frawley said.

A tenant who was evicted from his flat over rent arrears when he lost his job during Covid was arrested for trespassing after returning to collect his belongings.

Desmond Whelan (40) went back to the property and probably stayed there too long before gardai arrived, a court heard.

He was spared a criminal record when he made a charity donation.

Whelan, formerly of Poole Terrace, Dolphins Barn, pleaded guilty to trespassing at that address on November 7, 2022.

The prosecuting garda told Dublin District Court the accused was removed from the property following a court order.

He was arrested on the day and taken to Kevin Street Garda Station and charged.

The accused had lived at the address for some time and was evicted due to rent arrears, his barrister Vanessa Frawley said.

Whelan, who worked as a ceramic tiler, had lost his job during the Covid pandemic and could not pay his rent at the time. On the day, he went to retrieve his own items from the address, the barrister said.

The court heard the accused found himself living on the streets for seven days after he became homeless and was the victim of an attack.

When he went to get his items, he felt safe and probably stayed there too long.

He left of his own accord when the gardai attended, Ms Frawley said. It was a very sad situation.

Whelan had 130 in court and Judge Treasa Kelly dismissed the case under the Probation of Offenders Act after he paid this to charity.
It has been reported that the man sustained serious head injuries in a confrontation with a homeowner who accused him of breaking into his property.

A man is being treated in hospital for serious injuries following an alleged assault at a house in south Dublin over the weekend.

Gardai said investigations are ongoing, after the man was injured at a residential premises in Fettercairn, Tallaght, in the early hours of Sunday, April 7.

It has been reported that the man sustained serious head injuries in a confrontation with a homeowner who accused him of breaking into his property.

He is now believed to be in the intensive care unit of the Mater Hospital in Dublin.

Gardai confirmed they were investigating an alleged assault incident in Tallaght.

"A man is being treated at a hospital in Dublin for serious injuries, a garda spokesperson said.

Gardai are investigating an alleged assault at a residential premises in Fettercairn, Tallaght, Dublin 24, in the early hours of Sunday, April 7.

Investigations are ongoing.
Dean Smith (30) of Killinarden Heights, Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

A man who hid a large amount of cannabis herb underneath his childs bed has been jailed for three and half years.

Dean Smith (30) of Killinarden Heights, Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 19 kilogrammes of cannabis herb, valued at 359,000, at his home on November 11, 2021.

He had a previous conviction from the district court in relation to a separate drug offence.

The investigating garda told John Quirke BL prosecuting that a warrant was secured to search Smiths home during which the drugs were found underneath a childs bed.

A further stash of the drugs was found in a drawer in the same room.

Smith confirmed that his son slept in the room and that the drugs were his (Smiths) and he had placed them there.

It was accepted that Smith co-operated fully with the garda investigation and there was nothing in his lifestyle to suggest that he was benefitting from the sale or supply of drugs.

The garda agreed with Garnet Orange SC, defending, that his client had run up a drug debt owing to his own cocaine addiction.

He further accepted a suggestion from counsel that this led to Smith being put in a position where he found he had no choice but to take what was given to him.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 9th April 2024

Mr Orange asked Judge Martin Nolan to take into account his clients admissions to the gardai.

He said his client has since made significant efforts to rehabilitate and took care of his children while his wife worked. He also played a role in caring for his father.

He is a warehouse man rather than a more significant cog in the entire system, Mr Orange submitted, before he added that Smith was not in control of the quantity of drugs that would be delivered to him.

Judge Nolan accepted evidence that Smith was well regarded by his family and had a responsibility to his father and children.

He further accepted that there was good and strong mitigation in the case in that Smith had co-operated with the garda investigation and entered an early guilty plea.

Judge Nolan said while Smith had a lesser involvement in the offence, he was a mature man who had involved himself in this criminal enterprise, before he imposed a sentence of three and half years.
The victim sustained a bleed on the brain as well as a number of serious head injuries including a fractured jaw.

Two youths are to appear in court this morning in connection to an alleged violent assault that left a teenage boy with a bleed on his brain in hospital.

Two youths are to appear in court this morning charged in connection to a violent assault in county Longford at the weekend that left a teenage boy with learning difficulties fighting for his life in hospital.

The pair were arrested and charged following an incident close to Edgeworthstown Train Station on Saturday during which the teenager is alleged to have been assaulted.

The victim sustained a bleed on the brain as well as a number of serious head injuries including a fractured jaw.

He was initially taken to Mullingars Midland Regional Hospital, but was later transferred to Dublins Beaumont Hospital owing to the deteriorating nature of his condition.

The Irish Independent understands that while medics have been able to stabilise the bleed on the youngsters brain, he remains in a serious condition in intensive care.

A garda spokesperson confirmed this morning that gardai had since arrested two teenagers in connection to the incident ahead of an anticipated court appearance in Longford later today.

Gardai investigating an alleged assault which occurred in Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford, on the afternoon of Saturday 6th April 2024 have arrested two male juveniles, said the spokesperson.

"The two juveniles have since been charged in relation to the incident and are expected to appear before Longford District Court this morning, Tuesday 9th April 2024.
The 38-year-old was handed her jail sentence today

A woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting cutting off her lovers penis by tricking him into thinking she was going to perform a sex act on him.

The 38-year-old was handed her jail sentence after striking a last-minute deal at the start of her trial at a court in Barcelona today.

She convinced her partner, also her boss, to cover his eyes with a napkin after promising him to give him oral sex, claiming she didnt want him to look because it made her feel embarrassed.

She then took out a knife she had hidden into her pocket and sliced off his manhood.

As well as dating the man she mutilated, he was also her boss at a bar in Sant Andreu de la Barca near Barcelona. They had been seeing each other for four years,

The amputation was complete and the victim, who comes from Bangladesh where he has a wife and children and has been identified only as Abdul, is still waiting for a prothesis.

Prosecutors believe his mistress could have acted out of jealousy because he was planning to return to his homeland.

They were demanding a 10-year prison sentence for a crime of aggravated wounding before todays plea bargain deal.

The convicted woman, known only as Tanya, has also been ordered to pay her former boss and partner 250,000 in compensation.

She initially indicated she was pleading innocent at the start of her trial at Barcelonas Audiencia Provincial court, before changing her mind and admitting her guilt following a brief chat with her lawyer.

The penis slicing incident took place on May 31 2021.

The victim ran to a nearby police station to raise the alarm and was rushed to hospital for an emergency op to reattach his manhood which was unsuccessful.

The woman subsequently arrested initially claimed self-defence, prompting reports at the time her boss could be detained.

Local police chief Oscar Carreras said immediately after the incident when the investigation was still at an early stage: The investigation is focused on discovering what happened inside the bar.

The injured man went to a police station in Sant Andreu de la Barca.

A woman subsequently appeared at the same police station and made a series of comments in relation to this incident.

We have aided the injured person and he was taken to hospital to be operated on for the serious wounds to his genital area.

The woman was questioned and in her initial statement said she had been the victim of a sexual crime and that is something we are investigating.

The man is the owner of the bar and the woman was working in that bar.

Her claims she acted to protect herself during a sexual assault were dismissed, and the true story came out, thanks to CCTV camera footage.

The female attacker had already served two years behind bars as a remand prisoner before being bailed ahead of todays scheduled trial.

The time she served will be taken into account in determining how long she has to go back to jail for.

The court heard the knife slash victim is now living with a relative and working part-time in a supermarket and surviving on a fraction of the amount he was previously earning as the owner of two bars.

A Brazilian woman confessed to cutting off her husbands penis during sex late last year and flushing it down the toilet.

The 34-year-old told cops she acted out of revenge after tying her partner's hands together using a pair of knickers and slashing his manhood while it was erect with a knife.

She is said to have taken a photo of the dismembered organ before getting rid of it down the loo.

The unnamed woman told officers when she handed herself in at a police station near the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo: Good night, Im here because Ive just cut my husbands penis off.

An online fundraiser was later organised for Gilberto Nogueira de Oliveira for the prosthetic penis he wanted after Daiane dos Santos flushed his own pride and joy down the loo in a fit of jealous rage.
The Premier League comparison regarding slip resistance was made by a forensic engineer who had afterwards examined the spot where Ms Forde had slipped.

The slip resistance of a floor on which a waitress slipped and injured herself was in the Premier League class a judge heard today before throwing out a 60,000 damages claim against the Goat Restaurant in Goatstown, Dublin.

The claim had been taken by then 20-year-old Rhianne Forde, now 27, of Woodlawn Park Grove, Firhouse, Dublin, against the Lower Kilmacud Road premises owned by Charlie Chalke.

The Premier League comparison regarding slip resistance was made by a forensic engineer who had afterwards examined the spot where Ms Forde had slipped.

Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain had heard that Forde had not mentioned her complaint to her GP until 18 months after her fall while attending her doctor about another problem. She told the court she had felt her injury would clear up of its own accord and had continued her part-time work at The Goat.

She said that on the night she fell she had reached the bottom step of a stairway and had stepped onto the floor where she had slipped. She said the floor was wet and when she had been helped to her feet by a work colleague she had noticed her clothes had been wet.

She told barrister Grainne Larkin, counsel for Charjos investments, Terenure, which trades as The Goat, that it was only 18 months after her fall that she had noticed a problem with her wrist. She had been doing a lot of typing at the time for her masters and had just taken up driving,

Ms Forde said her injury had come against her because of these activities and it was then in June 2019 that she had spoken to her doctor about her injury.

Judge Ni Chulachain said employers had a duty to take reasonable care for the safety of their employees and the general public but she could not ignore the evidence that the slip resistance of the floor on which Ms Forde had fallen had been described to the floor as in the Premier League Class.

The judge dismissed the claim but made no order for costs against Ms Forde.
We are seeing this happening all too often, where people who are living and working here, shop assistants, deliver drivers, taxi drivers and so on, are being verbally and racially abused and have eggs thrown at them.

Josip Strok had been on life support after the gang attack in Clondalkin

A community activist with an anti-racist group in Dublin has warned of further acts of violence stirred up by far-right agitators.

Damien Farrell of Dublin Communities Against Racism (DCAR) was speaking after an asylum seeker was assaulted in Dublin 8 on Sunday.

The man, who is in his 30s, was taken to hospital after the incident that took place in a park near Bridgefoot Street in the south inner city.

He had been waiting for a charity-run homeless centre to open along with other International Protection applicants when a gang of teenagers called them racial slurs and threw eggs and stones at them.

He told RTE News that there were verbal exchanges between the groups before some older men arrived and became involved.

Mr Farrell said this was just the latest incident involving the racist abuse of people in the Dublin 8 community.

Unfortunately, this is just of the tip of the iceberg, he told sundayworld.com. It is our concern that incidents such as this are becoming increasingly more frequent.

We are seeing this happening all too often, where people who are living and working here, shop assistants, deliver drivers, taxi drivers and so on, are being verbally and racially abused and have eggs thrown at them.

Its nothing new, but it is getting worse, Mr Farrell added. And its being stirred up by this far-right rhetoric that is spreading online.

Mr Farrell said the younger people who were engaged in these attacks dont read newspapers and are not getting the other side of the story.

These are younger people who can be from the community itself that are responding to this far right message that is being played out through social media, including on WhatsApp groups.

However, Mr Farrell said the people who engaged in these attacks are not representative of the community.

They are forming themselves into what they see as some form of vanguard, to attack people who are not Irish born.

Mr Farrell said that the incidents of verbal and racist attacks had been raised with local policing forums in Dublin 8 in recent years.

But we have seen how the anti-immigrant sentiment has risen and I can only see this getting worse, he added. That incident (involving the man in the park) is just one of many that are happening, almost on a daily basis.

DCAR also referred to the death of Josip Strok, the 31-year-old Croatian man who died on Wednesday last following an assault a number of days earlier.

His friend, knocked unconscious during the assault by four men, has confirmed that they were also threatened and abused by the men shouting, speak English, you are in Ireland, you are not at home. You have no respect for our country, DCAR said in a statement.

This killing, this assault and other such incidents are directly related to rhetoric being used by far-right and anti-immigrant campaigners.

As DCAR has already warned, a number of candidates for the local and European elections will no doubt be trying to create further tension in the lead up to polling day to raise their own profiles.

They added: As well as deliberately creating a climate of fear and anger, these agitators are also trying to create a fake Irish identity based on racism, hatred and xenophobia.
"So many people are being targeted.

RTE star Maura Derranes image is being used to lure members of the public into giving away financial details online.

The Today show host said today that she is upset and annoyed at the scam ad which uses her face to lure people into clicking a financial scam.

"It is getting worse, it cant go on. I am going to have to seek legal advice, Maura said today.

Fake ad

The ad appears across social media showing a battered and bruised Maura with the statement The charges against Maura Derrane have been confirmed.

Anyone who clicks the ad is brought to a fake Irish Independent article where ultimately Maura and Virgin TV presenter Alan Hughes discuss how they have apparently turned small amounts of money into huge gains.

250 would have turned into millions using an apparent crypto trading app, the article claims, with a link provided for members of the public to sign up.

Fake interview

"Loads of people are being targeted, I am one of many. It is almost like a contagion at this stage, Maura told the Sunday World.

"I dont know what is going on? They dont come up on my feed. Many people have been contacting me about this.

"It is crazy. It is upsetting and annoying. This is everyday.

Crypto scam

Mauras fellow host Daithi OSe has also been used to lure in unsuspecting members of the public.

Virgin Medias Colette Fitzpatrick and former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, both had their images used in Janurary in similar scams.

"Your face is being super imposed. I believe it is defamation. You fear it is only going to get worse, Maura added.

Fake article

"I just tell people to not click any links. A friend sent me five or six screen grabs and I have had at least fifteen people contact me about these images.

"I will get on to Meta to get this taken down immediately.

Late last year, Tanaiste Micheal Martin took legal action against Google to secure information about the source of scam adverts for cryptocurrency using his name and image.

Mr Martin initiated High Court proceedings against Google Ireland Limited and Google LLC in an attempt to establish why his name and image were being used for fake adverts.

Maura Derrane

The Fianna Fail leader said the ads were defamatory and sought to have them removed by Google who complied with the request.

He was concerned about the potential for vulnerable people to be taken advantage of by the false advertising.

In order to secure further information about the origins of the fake adverts, Mr Martin was forced to go through the courts.

A Fianna Fail spokesperson said: The Tanaiste believes it is neither acceptable nor tolerable that persons unknown can use his image and name online in an effort to associate him with financial products he has never heard of and seek to extract money from people, using his name.

The Tanaiste sought information from Google in an effort to understand and identify who is responsible for these ads, carried on respectable websites.

As they were not in a position to hand over the information without a court order, the Tanaiste was left with no option but to pursue the matter through the courts, she added.

The fake ads featuring Maura have appeared on the Meta platform. The company is carrying out an investigation.
A cottage, a house, three stables and a large steel shed on 3.2 acres is set for auction later this month with a reserve price of 550,000.

The property is for sale for 550k

PROPERTY belonging to the Kinahan Cartels No1 man in Ireland, Ross Browning, is latest seizure by the Criminal Assets Bureau to go under the hammer.

A cottage, a house, three stables and a large steel shed on 3.2 acres is set for auction later this month with a reserve price of 550,000.

The cottage, Chesnut Lodge, at the Garristown site is where Brownings mother Julie Conway and her partner ex-garda David OBrien had been living.

The two-bedroom detached house is described on Daft as "in good condition internally and has been finished to a high standard.

Officers seized it last summer after a case taken by CAB under the Proceeds of Crime Act against Browning and members of his family.

Also for sale is the three-bedroom, red-bricked house where Browning lived with his partner Sinead Mulhall.

There was no mention on the website of the escape chute from the house to the shed where a motorbike had been parked.

While Browning do not contest the 1.4 million case, other members of his family did which CAB won in February 2023.

Because Julie Conway and David OBrien had used some of their own money to renovate Chesnut Lodge the judge said they should be allowed some of the proceeds from the sale.

The cottage in Garristown

This included 40,000 borrowed from the Garda Credit Union.

In his judgement Alex Judge Owens said that although Brownings name was not on the properties, they were controlled by him, his partner Sinead Mulhall and his mother Julie Conway.

He ruled that Conway and OBrien be allowed a quarter of the net proceeds of the sale of Chesnut Lodge.

CAB had stated a third of a million euros was spent on cottage renovations.

A third house, on Deanstown Road in Finglas where an uncle of Browning lives has also been taken over by CAB as part of the case.

Red-brick home also up for sale

Two other parcels of land in Rush have previously taken over by CAB as has cash, jewellery and vehicles connected with the case.

Browning, who is originally from Hardwicke Street in the north inner-city, was described in court as the Kinahan Cartels No.1 man in Ireland.

CAB stated in their case that Browning was at the heart of a 1billion crime gang and was the Kinahan Cartels principal representative in Ireland.

Browning had tried to disguise his drug money in Ireland through his family members who in return enjoyed his generosity when it came to cars, jewellery and travel.

Brownings top rank within the Kinahan Cartel emerged as it was revealed he had been a guest at Daniel Kinahans 2017 wedding at the Burj al Arab hotel in Dubai.

It is not the first success by CAB against the Kinahan Cartel, after getting court orders to take over a luxury mansion at City West used by mob boss Daniel Kinahan.

The property is for sale for 550k

The house at Coldwater Lakes was alleged to have been used by Jim Mansfield jr to pay back a debt to the cartel who had attempted to wash 5 million in dirty money through his property empire.

The court also heard that the house was valued at between 750k and 800K in 2013 but looks overgrown and unkempt since being seized in 2022.

Properties at Coldwater Lakes have recently sold for up to 915,000, according to the Property Price Register

Last November the last refuge house of Kinahan Cartel drug-dealer Barry Fowler and his partner Lorna Palmer sold for 266,000 at auction.

The public auction in Dublin came a year after a receiver was appointed to the Wexford property and given the authority to have it sold off on behalf of the State.

Inside the property

The pair had bought the Oylgate house for 265,000 in 2008 and spent another 107,527 on it according to evidence from the Criminal Assets Bureau in their High Court case.

Fowler and his partner Lorna Palmer lost the case after a judge ruled 500,000 in cash and the house which was in Palmers name were the proceeds of crime.

The sale by Wilson Auctions brought an end to the action against the couple who Judge Alex Owens said had been living high on the hog of criminal enterprise.

Bathroom at the property

CAB are also chasing a property in west Dublin part-owned by Kinahan weapons cache caretaker James Walsh.

It emerged during a High Court hearing last month Walsh is out of prison but is not apparently back at the house at Wheatfield Avenue.

His ex-wife, Lisa OHara, who was also convicted of her role in laundering gangland cash, is also listed in the CAB case

A hearing to allow Ms OHara to apply for free legal aid in her fight with CAB was due to go ahead, but was withdrawn.
Mr. Davis complained to the court that he had been trying to obtain bail since his initial court appearance on Saturday but had been unable to do so as his trousers were stolen.

A man who appeared in court on road traffic offences, completely naked and complaining that his emotional support cat had gone missing, has been granted bail in the sum of 300 in his own bond.

Joseph Davis (51) appeared, this time fully clothed, by video-link before Judge James OLeary at Cloverhill District Court this morning.

Representing himself, Mr. Davis complained to the court that he had been trying to obtain bail since his initial court appearance on Saturday but had been unable to do so as his trousers were stolen.

Having been informed that Mr. Davis was representing himself, Judge OLeary noted he had been remanded in custody since April 6th.

Ive been trying to make bail since Saturday, Mr. Davis told the court.

I had money in my trousers but they were stolen. I had money to pay the bail  200 cash.

But theyre missing  theyve been stolen.

Mr. Davis then asked if Judge OLeary would grant him bail on his own bond.

Ive an emotional support  I have to get my medical treatment.

Noting there was no garda objection to bail, Judge OLeary granted bail in the defendants own bond in the sum of 300 and adjourned the case to April 24th  at which time Davis will be asked to enter a plea.

The facts of the case against Davis were opened when he appeared before Judge Marie Quirke at a weekend sitting of Dublin District Court.

Mr Davis, of Ashington Mews, Dublin 7, was charged with Road Traffic Act offences of failing to give gardai his details and not keeping the car stationary during an alleged incident on Friday at Dunsink Drive in Finglas.

Judge Quirke heard the motorist refused to wear his clothes when brought to the courthouse.

She remanded him in custody with consent to 200 bail, directed medical attention and asked gardai to find out what happened to his cat, Oliver.

Mr Davis entered the stunned courtroom naked with his hands over his private parts, but within seconds he stood with arms outstretched to argue his case after rejecting the services of a lawyer, telling him to "f*** off".

Judge Quirke told him to sit down, but he stood and claimed he had been been stripped and humiliated as he demanded an opportunity to speak.

Garda Eva Mahedy said the accused made no reply to the charge at Finglas station, where he was offered bail but refused to sign his bond.

She added that there was no objection to his bail, but the gardai sought a 100 cash lodgement.

"I don't see his wallet on him today," the judge remarked, at which Mr Davis interjected, "You don't see f***ing anything".

The court sergeant informed the judge the man had his property, including his clothes, and "he just won't put them on".

Mr Davis went on a tirade but was warned that anything said must be relevant to the case.

"Let me tell you my story. This is relevant, this is my story. What happened yesterday, I was travelling with my companion pet, Oliver, he normally comes into this court. I was dropping off legal documents pertaining to a legal case in the High Court, Mr Davis said.

He remained on his feet throughout the nine-minute hearing.

Mr Davis called gardai scum, maintaining that he tried to show them the documents and that he had been bashed.

He claimed he had been lent the car involved in the alleged offence and demanded: "Now, where is my emotional support animal?"

The court heard a doctor attended him in the garda station and gave him advice, but the accused claimed he was seen by someone who did not speak "f**ing English". He said he was stressed because his emotional support animal was missing.

Mr Davis, who is unemployed, banged on the glass barrier in front of the dock and called out: "Where is my emotional support animal?"

The judge was told that Mr Davis was previously allowed to bring the cat to court with him, provided he kept it on a leash.

Judge Quirke described it as "an impossible situation". Mr Davis agreed and said: "Please, I need to find my animal. I'm lost without him, and he is lost without me.

Judge Quirke set his bail and directed immediate medical attention while he remained in custody.

While escorted from the courtroom, he replied that he did not need a doctor, just his pet. The judge assured him: "All that will be looked into.

Having spent the weekend in custody, Mr. Davis will be released later today.
To this day I still can't comprehend that I will not see her again

The family of Grace O'Malley-Kumar who was stabbed to death in Nottingham last year have recalled the horrific moment they were told she had been attacked.

Grace, who came from a well-known Irish medical family, was with fellow teen Barnaby Webber when they were stabbed by Valdo Calocane as they walked home from a night out in June last year.

Grace and Barnaby Webber, who were both 19, died in the incident after which Calocane killed school caretaker Ian Coates.

Grace's parents revealed that they had been warned to expect the worst by their daughter's friends who had called them that morning.

Graces mother, Sinead OMalley, is an anaesthetist based in London, and her grandfather, Professor Kevin OMalley, is the former chief of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

Sinead said that before the police had a chance to contact them, she received the phone call from Grace's friend at university who told them Barnaby had died and that her daughter had been with him at the time.

Her friend from university phoned me and said that Barney was dead and that Grace was with Barney, they left together and we knew then, Sinead said in a new documentary about the killings.

Grace's younger brother James added: Our hearts just kind of sunk when we heard that she was gone, and still to this day I still can't comprehend that I will not see her again.

Barnabys parents recalled how panic set in after news of a major incident in the city appeared on television.

They then received the dreaded phone call from the police saying their son was deceased which left his mother screaming at the side of the road.

Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace OMalley-Kumar were killed (Nottinghamshire Police)

Ian Coates family say it felt like the world around them had disappeared after they realised he had been caught up in the attacks that stunned the nation.

The new BBC documentary, The Big Cases: The Nottingham Attacks, which aired on Monday evening, examined Calocane's horrific crime spree, which also left three other people seriously injured

David and Emma Webber opened up about they realised their son might have been hurt early on June 13, 2023.

Mr Webber said he had noticed that there was a major incident in Nottingham and started thinking ok, let me just see where he is.

When they tried to check on his location using a mobile phone app it showed he wasn't in his halls of residence.

Ilkeston Road came up on the news and Dave said 'Barney's phone's in Ilkeston Road' and then the phone started moving, Mrs Webber recalled.

My instant reaction was 'he's picked up, why isn't he answering?' I tried to ring it and tried to ring it. And then I saw where it went to the police station.

They then received a phone call from the police, and Mr Webber said, when someone says to you, are you driving? Can you pull over safely, you just know that what they're going to tell you is not what you want to hear.

And yes, my world just fell apart, Mr Webber recalled. They said the word 'deceased' and Barney's driving licence was on him.

And I remember I got out the car and I screamed. It was just like everything went dark around us.

Barnaby's parents then had to break the news to Barnaby's younger brother, Charlie, who didn't want to believe that his older sibling was no longer with them.

Mr Webber said: How are we going to tell him? How the hell do we tell him that his brother's dead, murdered?'

As a father you just feel your life's gone. I've lost one and he [Charlie] was just crying his eyes out.

He didn't want to believe it obviously. He kept saying 'it can't be true, it can't be true. I can't live without him'.

The programme also revealed how Charlie Webber had been so impacted by his brother's death that he had barely gone into Barnaby's room in the nine months after the attack.

Showing a BBC camera crew around his brother's untouched room, he said: It's quite weird coming in here because no one really comes in here.

Both grief-stricken mothers who are intrinsically linked by the tragedy told how they keep a light on for their children.

The son of Calocane's third victim, Ian Coates, also recalled how he heard that there had been an attack on Magdala Road, which is around the corner from where I live.

Valdo Calocane

Slowly we started to put two and two together, and basically figured out what had happened and that it was my dad who was the victim on Magdala Road, James Coates said.

It felt like a weight had just dropped from the sky and gone straight through my body.

'I had to hold myself onto a lamppost to keep myself up because the whole world around me just disappeared.

Killer Calocane was arrested by Nottinghamshire Police less than two hours after the first reports of his attacks.

The then-31-year-old, who had a history of mental health problems and has been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, would later admit to three counts of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility and three of attempted murder.

The Crown Prosecution Service was criticised for accepting these pleas, for which Calocane was sentenced to indefinite detention at a high-security hospital.

The families of his victims have since campaigned for changes to the law after a court ruling that prosecutors were right to accept manslaughter charges rather than murder offences.

Mrs Webber has said it was abhorrent that murder charges were not pursue.

Grace's father Dr Sanjoy Kumar added: I think the first question you have to ask is, can a paranoid schizophrenic commit murder in this country?

Because it seems to me that you can't and that's impossible for us to understand.

The documentary The Big Cases: The Nottingham Attacks can be viewed on BBC iPlayer.
A garda detective who gave evidence to the tribunal said Ms Kaur had been left very traumatised and damaged after her employment with the firm.

Bhappa Singh (pictured at the back of this photo) owns the Bombay House in Skerries

THIS is the owner of the Dublin restaurant who has been ordered to pay 143,000 to a former employee who said she was subjected to almost daily sexual harassment and discrimination while working there.

Sharanjeet Kaur, a chef and mother of two from India, was awarded the sum in the Workplace Relations Commission who heard she was sexual harassed, threatened with blackmail and deportation and worked 50 hours a week for as little as 200 a week with just five minutes break every day.

Bhappa Singh, who owns Bombay Bhappa Ltd trading as the Bombay House restaurant in Skerries, north Dublin, walked out of the WRC hearing at the end of January as he was unhappy gardai attended.

A garda detective who gave evidence to the tribunal said Ms Kaur had been left very traumatised and damaged after her employment with the firm.

The Sunday World called to Mr Singhs restaurant this week to seek comment from him. Staff said he wasnt there but said they would pass on our details to him.

One staff member said he didnt think the case would affect business.

I think all the customers in Skerries still love him [Singh] because hes been here for so long. I think they trust him. He is a very nice guy. He treated me well.

Every second day there is news coming from the Workplace Relations Commission.

Mr Singh did not get in contact and the Sunday World later called to his home, but a woman demanded to know why we had called to the home and subsequently said he wasnt there.

Ms Kaur took the case with the assistance of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland which said they saw similar cases of exploitation of migrant workers from outside the EU all the time.

Ms Kaur said when she was working as a chef in Malaysia in 2020 she was put in contact with Singh, who offered he a position as a chef in Bombay House.

He told her she would have free accommodation but needed to cover her flight costs and work permit. Singh told her he could organise the work permit but it would cost 17,000.

M Kaur said her father took out a loan to pay for the work permit and paid Singh in cash in India in September 2021.

The permit said she would be paid 30,000 per year or 576.92 per week. When she arrived in Ireland she was taken to accommodation which she shared with seven of Singhs employees, six men and one woman. She shared a double bedroom with the other woman.

Bombay House

Despite the permit saying she would be paid 576.92 per week Ms Kaur said in reality she worked approximately 50 hours a week over six days and was paid approximately 200 per week, earning just 4.46 per hour.

She also said she had only one daily five minute lunch break and was never paid annual leave.

Ms Kaur said Singh would pay her 500 into her bank account each week but then drive her to an ATM and get her to take out 290 to return to him in cash.

The WRC heard she was subjected to a catalogue of distressing treatment over the course her employment from September 2021 until she was fired in November 2022. She said there were three main perpetrators who were referred to in the WRC ruling as R1, R2, and R3 as they did not provide evidence by way of rebuttal.

She said R1 berated her for spending time with a man of Pakistani origin and threatened to tell her family that she was having improper relations with him. She said R2 repeatedly told her that he wanted [her].

He touched my cheek, arms and upper body and said that he wanted to spend time with me; that he wanted to kiss me; and that he wanted to have sex with me.

Ms Kaur said as there was CCTV in the kitchen R2 would follow her in the cold room where he would touch her. She said she dreaded having to go into the cold room as she feared sexual assault and rape.

Adjudicator Elizabeth Spelman upheld her complaints on various grounds including discrimination and employment rights breaches.
Republican gunman got kick out of the fact that loyalist had no idea who he was

IRA killer Gerard Hucker Moyna, whose funeral took place this week, struck up an unlikely friendship with sacked UDA brigadier Andre Shoukri, the Sunday World has learned.

The well-known paramilitary pair met by chance in a bookies shop in north Belfast, where Hucker lived for a while.

Friends of Moyna, who was found dead in his home aged 67 two weeks ago, told us he got an enormous thrill out of passing on racing tips to Shoukri, who had no idea Moyna was one of the IRAs most trusted killers.

Security service sources say Moyna may have been responsible for up to 23 deaths during the Troubles.

Convicted of serious terrorist charges  including possession of arms and possession of a primed bomb  he served stretches in prison on both sides of the border, although he never faced murder charges.

But betting-mad Shoukri, a one-time UDA brigadier in north Belfast, had no idea his new-found punter pal was in fact the feared republican who had gunned down Shankill Butchers boss Lenny Murphy and many more.

Hucker got a kick out of talking racehorses to Shoukri, especially when the UDA man didnt know him. He thought he was just another gambling addict.

Friends and family carry Gerard Hucker Moynas coffin following his funeral Mass at St Pauls Catholic Church on the Falls Road on Thursday

If Shoukri had known who Hucker really was, hed have run for his life. He believed Hucker was just a nice guy and another friendly punter.

Branded the Bookies Brigadier, Shoukri was booted out of the loyalist terror group when it emerged he had blown 10,000 in a Belfast bookies in a single afternoon.

We were told Shoukri and Hucker met by chance in a north Belfast bookmakers when the loyalist approached the republican and asked for racing advice.

Hucker recognised Shoukri immediately when he spoke to him in the bookies. Shoukri wanted to know Huckers views on certain horses and he told him.

And after that, they chatted about racehorses every time they met. But Shoukri still didnt know who Hucker was and Hucker loved that, one of his friends said.

Gerard Hucker Moyna was one of the most feared killers of the Troubles

Moyna was admired in republican paramilitary circles because of his speed and ruthlessness as an IRA assassin. He also had an uncanny ability to quickly blend in to the background immediately after a military operation.

No one really knew how he did it, but Hucker was gone in seconds. That was his big skill, added one of his close friends.

People used to think Hucker took a lot of drink because he wanted to forget things hed been involved in, but nothing could be further from the truth. Hucker may have been a serial killer, but he slept like a baby.

Huckers friends say he was devastated by the circumstances surrounding the death of his father, Francis, during a British army raid on the family home in Bombay Street in the Clonard area of Belfast on January 25, 1977.

After bursting through the door, soldiers of the Parachute Regiment punched 68-year-old Mr Moyna, knocking him up the hallway and causing him to fall on the floor.

The stress of the incident provoked a heart attack from which he died.

Hucker was traumatised by the death of his dad. It was the aggressive behaviour of the soldiers which gave him a heart attack, a friend said.

Andre Shoukri was once a UDA brigadier in north Belfast

The sheer ruthlessness of Moynas approach to IRA operations was on display in the way he went about the murder of Shankill man Denis Taggart on August 4, 1986.

A part-time sergeant in the UDR, 33-year-old Mr Taggart lived with his wife and two children in Battenberg Street, near the peaceline.

Around teatime on the day of the murder, Hucker had just sat down to eat a bowl of piping-hot stew in the living room of his mothers Bombay Street home when two members of the IRA called for him.

And being a committed IRA gunman, Moyna set aside his food and left along with them. Seconds later, he led a two-man IRA hit team as they repeatedly fired shots into Mr Taggart seconds after he parked his car outside his home.

And they continued to fire shots at the victim as he lay helpless on the ground.

Mr Taggarts killers escaped in a red Peugeot car which was later found burnt out in Tralee Street in the Clonard area.

A former member of the Provisional IRA told us: Hucker went straight back to his mothers house to finish off his bowl of stew, which was still warm. Thats how quick the operation took. The murder was over in seconds.

He added: Hucker was merciless. But his conscience wasnt troubled in the slightest.
During his first speech, Mr Harris paid tribute to his predecessor Leo Varadkar. He then thanked his parents, siblings, grandmother and his biggest thank you went to his wife Caoimhe.

'I always knew he would be Taoiseach' - Leo Varadkar wishes Simon Harris success as he gives last Dail speech as Taoiseach

Simon Harris has been officially elected as Irelands next Taoiseach and the countrys youngest leader today.

The 37-year-old father-of-two will be Irelands fifteenth Taoiseach, after the surprise resignation of Leo Varadkar as Fine Gael leader three weeks ago.

Mr Harris comfortably won the vote after being formally nominated by TD Heather Humphreys. The result was 88 Ta to 69 Nil with no abstentions and was announced at 1.18pm.

During his first speech, Mr Harris paid tribute to his predecessor Leo Varadkar. He then thanked his parents, siblings, grandmother and his biggest thank you went to his wife Caoimhe.

"I chose this life but my family did not. But through every step of the journey, they have supported me without question," he said.

"To my children, Saoirse and Cillian, I promise being your dad will remain my most important job."

Dail Eireann has reconvened after its Easter recess, when a proposer and seconder will nominate Mr Harris as the next Taoiseach.

Mr Varadkar earlier addressed the Dail, defending the Governments record.

However, Opposition TDs have criticised the days proceedings as a coronation and a jamboree, saying there should instead be a General Election.
One friend remarked that Mr Barry possessed a heart of gold

Tributes have been flowing in for John Barry who died at the weekend in a road collision.

Mr Barry (45) suffered fatal injuries after being hit by a car at 1.30am on Sunday in Cork.

The tragedy happened on the N25 Cork-Waterford road at Water Rock on the eastbound section of the route.

Gardai and paramedics were at the scene within minutes but Mr Barry was pronounced dead before he could be rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH).

A note on rip.ie states: BARRY (Cork) on April 7th, 2024 (unexpectedly) JOHN, Bride Valley View, Fair Hill. Beloved partner of Stacey OKeeffe, loving father of Elizabeth, Claire and Paul, loving son of Margaret and Noel and brother of Billy, Michael, Marguerite, Laura, Noelle, Debbie and Amy.

"Sadly missed by his loving partner, son, daughters, parents, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, his uncle and great friend Thomas, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Visitation will be at OConnor Brothers Funeral Home at North Gate Bridge in Cork on Thursday from 5:00pm to 6:00pm with prayers at 5:45pm.

"Requiem Mass on Friday at 11:00am at the Church of the Resurrection, Farranree. Funeral afterwards to St. Catherines Cemetery, Kilcully, the note concludes.

Gardai are appealing for any road users who have camera footage and were travelling on the N25 Eastbound between 1:15am and 1:30am to make this footage available to them.

Tributes have been pouring in online to Mr Barry by family and friends who said they were "shocked to hear the news.

One friend remarked that Mr Barry possessed a heart of gold.

There isnt a bad thing anyone could say about you. Youre a one of a kind friend, he added.

Another wrote: Condolences to the Barry family on this very sad time, Rest easy John and look after your family and give them the strength that's needed to get through the next few days."

"Gone but never will be forgotten John. I will always be grateful for you, you werent just a friend you became family. I hope you have the best bed my friend as you truly deserve it. Thank you so much for everything. Sending all our love to your family at this time, wrote another.

"Sincere condolences to all of John's Family on the sad loss of a beloved Partner, Father, Son and Brother. May he rest in peace.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and the occupants of a car were assessed at the scene.

Gardai and emergency services are currently at the scene of the crash. Stock image

Two men have been hospitalised and a road remains closed following a crash in Co Donegal.

The crash happened on the Mountain Road at Malin Head at around 6am.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and the occupants of a car were assessed at the scene.

The casualties were then rushed to Donegal Community Hospital for treatment.

Their condition is not known at this stage.

The road at Umgall Junction remains closed to traffic and diversions are in place.

A Garda spokesperson confirmed "Gardai and Emergency Services attended the scene of a two car road traffic collision at Malin Head, Co. Donegal this morning at approximately 6am.

"Two men have been taken to Donegal Community Hospital for treatment. Investigations are ongoing."
With elevated fire danger levels predicted in certain regions until the end of April, researchers at Scion are calling for greater public awareness about the hazard posed by tinder dry grasses.

The fire hazard posed by cured - dry brown - grass is quick ignition and a fast-moving fire.

The fire season is generally October to March but dry conditions in northern and eastern parts of the North Island, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago are keeping fire authorities on alert.

Dry conditions have created low soil and fuel moisture levels and, with high pressure favoured for at least the first half of April, these same parts of the country are expected to further cure, or brown off, grass.

As curing increases, the moisture content decreases further, making grass easier to ignite and more likely to burn with higher rates of spread and intensity.

Fire and Atmospheric Science Team researcher Shana Gross says it is important for the public to know that dry grasses are still highly flammable at this time of year, even though temperatures have dropped.

Grass is one of the most common fuels in New Zealand, says Shana.

Its super abundant and can ignite quickly, spreading fast. People need to think about grasses, tussock, and grazed and ungrazed pasture (that is dry and/or isnt irrigated), as a potential fire hazard and be aware of the elevated risk to property and lives when grass is very dry.

Scientists at Scion have been studying the behaviour of wildfire in New Zealand for decades, analysing how different fuels behave and spread under various conditions.

Rank grass on the Port Hills in 2017 with scorched land in the background. Photo: Supplied.

Over the past 30 years, data shows that most wildfires in New Zealand started in grass fuels. Of the 50,097 wildfires recorded, 40,736 or 81 per cent of wildfires started in dry grass.

Typically, grasses and scrub fuels will dry out first in the fire season and become a hazard earlier than large fuels, such as trees. These fuels are likely to remain hazardous over much of the fire season and even sometimes through the winter.

Although grass fires are typically less intense and shorter-lived than forest fires, they can spread exponentially faster, outrun firefighting resources and put more property and lives at risk.

Based on the predicted weather conditions for the next couple of weeks, a grass fire could spread 8km per hour on the flat and even faster uphill.

Of all the fuel types, fires travelling in grass fuels are a major cause of firefighter injuries or fatalities due to people underestimating how fast-moving grass fires can travel, says Shana.

Education plays a pivotal role in reducing fire risks, with Scion advocating for public awareness and proactive measures that encourage people, especially in rural areas or in semi-rural subdivisions, to think twice before engaging in activities that could generate sparks near cured grass, such as mowing tall brown grass which can cause a spark and ignite a fire. Best practice is to reduce activities that creates sparks.

Anyone cutting through stubble or long grass using mowers, chainsaws or brushcutters needs to be aware about the current fire danger level and other conditions before starting. Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) provides a handy website to make checking easy, says Shana.

There have been several high-profile grass and vegetation fires in the 2023-24 wildfire season. In January near Kirwee west of Canterbury, kilometres of grass and scrub burned next to the railway line, disrupting train services and threatening homes and farmlands.

That same month, a large blaze also burned through about 10ha of vegetation, including grass, in Loburn near Rangiora, destroying two houses, a converted church, 10 sheds, and a number of cars and machinery.

On February 14, a major vegetation fire started in dry grass and spread rapidly on the Port Hills in Christchurch, burning 650ha, destroying a container home and forcing the evacuation of nearby residents. A local state of emergency remained in place for five weeks.

With the fire danger remaining high across Canterbury, residents have again been cautioned to avoid high-risk activities that could generate sparks, as well as instructions to park vehicles away from long grass as hot exhausts can also start a fire in tinder dry grass.

As more people build closer to farmland in the rural-urban interface, Scion social scientist Lisa Langer says it becomes even more important for people to be aware of the fire hazard of grass.

Expanding residential housing on the boundary of our towns and cities comes with exposure to the wildfire hazard. Recognition of grass as a fire hazard is important so developers, planners, engineers and landscape architects can plan to effectively minimise risk for new subdivisions.
Almost $400,000 has been paid out to seven Te Whatu Ora Health NZ employees whose roles were made redundant due to the health reform.

It comes as the Ministry of Health is proposing to cut 134 roles to meet Government expectations to cut spending.

On July 1, 2022, the 20 former district health boards were abolished and replaced by two new national healthcare entities - Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai Ora Maori Health Authority.

The Maori Health Authority has since been disestablished by the new coalition government.

Seventeen Te Whatu Ora roles in the Lakes have been disestablished since July 1, 2022. Photo / Andrew Warner.

Information received under the Official Information Act showed Te Whatu Ora paid $394,000 in redundancy payments to four Bay of Plenty staff and three Lakes staff.

The document said 19 roles in the Bay of Plenty and 17 roles in the Lakes had been disestablished since July 1, 2022. This included redundancy and redeployed roles.

Roles were disestablished in the departments of people and communication, finance, data and digital, commissioning, service improvement and innovation, and the office of the chief executive.

Redundancies had occurred in the departments of people and communications, service improvement and innovation, data and digital, and finance.

In the Bay of Plenty, 13 people were redeployed and two were still in process with impacted staff.

In the Lakes region, 11 people were redeployed and three were still in process with impacted staff.

Nationally, more than 500 staff had been made redundant as of February and were paid out a total of more than $9 million.

Ministry of Health cuts

The NZ Herald reported last Thursday the Ministry of Health has been searching for 6.5 per cent cost savings, with the final sign-off to be made by Public Service and Finance Minister Nicola Willis, in relation to the Budget.

All agencies have been directed to look for ways to cut back on costs of between 6.5 and 7.5 per cent on average and slash the use of contractors and consultants.

Ministry of Health workers were told about 270 positions would be disestablished, with roughly 130 restructured into new roles.

An internal document, sent to Public Service Association union members, seen by NZME, described 18 per cent of jobs were proposed to go.

In addition, the ministry was proposing withholding remuneration increases for some above a salary midpoint.

Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.

- Megan Wilson, Bay of Plenty Times
Tauranga commission chairwoman Anne Tolley reveals she prefers a hybrid local governance model as democracy sometimes fails.

It comes as the Tauranga City Council prepares for its local body election in July, which will bring the Government-appointed commissions term to an end.

Anne tells Newstalk ZB host Mike Hosking there could be skill gaps in elected councils and the appointment of people to work with councillors in the future could help address this.

The interview follows the Bay of Plenty Times report that Local Government Minister Simeon Brown ruled out making any changes to the commissions role, despite increased calls from local ratepayer groups to have it demoted to a caretaker status.

Five Tauranga ratepayer and advocacy groups called on Simeon to step in and prevent Tauranga City councils Government-appointed commission from committing ratepayers to what they believed were pricey non-essential projects, echoing similar requests in January.

Mike asks Anne whether she fells the angst and whether there had been much agitation.

Well, theres angst of different sorts, Anne says.

Theres angst in the community that the elections are coming up, the citys on the move and were going to go backwards because all of the old guard are preparing themselves to be reelected, so theres various angst but the citys in good heart. Theres a lot of reconstruction happening and things are moving and, I think you know, people are feeling pretty good.

Mike refers to the previous council, giving his view that, from the outside, it seemed was dysfunctional and a mess.

He says it appears the city has moved forward because the commission just got on with it.

Anne agrees, saying that was our job.

The commission  made up of Tolley, Shadrach Rolleston, Stephen Selwood, and Bill Wasley  was appointed to govern Tauranga City Council in February 2021 after former Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta discharged the elected council of its duties in December 2020.

The commissions term was later extended until July 2024 to provide stability and deliver complex projects - preventing the citys participation in the 2022 local body elections.

On July 20, Tauranga voters will have their first chance to elect representatives to their city council since 2019, and that group will serve New Zealands first four-year council term.

In February, the Bay of Plenty Times revealed the commission had called for a Crown observer to be appointed to the city council after the election, but was denied by then-Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty.

Anne tells Mike she believes in democracy but, at times, it fails.

Newstalk ZB host Mike Hosking. Photo / Michael Craig.

Mike says the commission appears to have worked and questions how Tauranga could bring that kind of governance model into effect again without killing democracy.

I think, personally, I quite like a hybrid model where you have some elected and then you are able to appoint some skilled people.

You know, you assess whos been elected and what gaps there are  It can be a big job in a city, in a metro city.

Tauranga has a population of 162,000 and is growing rapidly.

Its a big complex beast for council and, so, you know, it takes special sort of people to be able to run it, Anne says.

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. Photo / Michael Craig.

Anne says the council or local government minister could potentially make such decisions.

She also says she is delighted the new council will have four years before the next elections, instead of the standard three.

Mike says there appears, outwardly at least, there are a lot of councils around New Zealand that are fairly dysfunctional.

Anne agrees.

Sometimes they are.

Tauranga City commissioners: L-R Shadrach Rolleston, Bill Wasley, Stephen Selwood, Anne Tolley. Photos / File.

Theres a lot more than just the dysfunction of councils and the whole process around consultation can be hijacked by small groups of people who dont want things to happen.

Most people who make submissions you know, formal submissions to council, are generally people who dont want something to happen and so you end up playing a numbers game.

Many, many councils and councillors when they are consulting make an effort to get out and talk to a whole range of people.

Weve done that as commissions because if you just rely on the submission process, you end up with more negative than positive, and thats not really where your community is.

Nominations for Taurangas election open on April 26. The election will be held on July 20.

Kiri Gillespie is an assistant news director and a senior journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post, specialising in local politics and city issues. She was a finalist for the Voyager Media Awards Regional Journalist of the Year in 2021.

- Kiri Gillespie, Bay of Plenty Times
A panel of local historians will be discussing the Treaty of Waitangi and its relevance today at a public meeting to be held in Tauranga on Wednesday evening, April 10.

The discussion seminar coincides with the 184th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in Tauranga on April 10, 1840.

The Treaty of Waitangi was first signed in the Bay of Islands on February 6, 1840. Over the following months a further eight Treaty sheets were signed in various locations around New Zealand. One of those places was Tauranga.

Local author and historian Debbie McCauley, who wrote the bilingual childrens nonfiction picture book The Treaty of Waitangi in Tauranga: Te Tiriti o Waitangi ki Tauranga Moana says the document arrived in Tauranga after many years of violence and bloodshed that decimated the local population.

Signatories on Sheet 5 of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, signed in Tauranga in April, 1840. Image: Supplied.

Sheet 5 of Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed in Tauranga Moana. One of the signing dates was April 10, 1840, says Debbie on the Te Tiriti ki Tauranga Moana Facebook page.

More information on the Treaty signatories can be found here

Debbie will be joined by Buddy Mikaere (Ngati Pukenga, Ngai Te Rangi), iwi leader Charlie Rahiri (Ngati Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Paoa), Archbishop Sir David Moxon, Chamber of Commerce head Matt Cowley, and community stalwart Simon Beaton.

"On this 184th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in Tauranga, we invite you to join us for a discussion about what our community thinks about the Treaty today, says Debbie.

In recent times the Treaty and its principles have come under intense scrutiny by the coalition government leaving some of us wondering why.

This seminar will hopefully provide some answers as we look at the Treatys historical background in our city; move forward into contemporary times and the implications for today and then project into the future and what that might look like.

The Treaty in Tauranga, Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow panel discussion will be held at The Elms, Mission Street, Tauranga, from 6.30pm, Wednesday April 10, 2024.

Signatories on Sheet 5 of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, signed in Tauranga in April, 1840. Image: Supplied.
Juan Soto Malaga Tuesday, 9 April 2024, 09:43 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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One of the great entrepreneurs of the aeronautical sector in the province, Antonio Gomez-Guillamon, visited the Malaga studios of locally produced television programme La Alameda last week to discuss the challenges facing his company and the crucial role the city's airport plays in the growth of Malaga. During the show, presented by SUR's editor-in-chief Manuel Castillo, the CEO and co-founder of Aertec Solutions considered Malaga's airport still needs to grow, which comes down to technical improvements made to the second runway and the implementation of new intercontinental routes.

Gomez-Guillamon started by explaining that his company, founded 26 years ago, now has around 750 highly qualified employees. "At the beginning nobody understood it, but today we are playing a leading role, and in the world of aeronautics it is not easy for a new company to start rubbing shoulders with the existing ones," he said.

Zoom Gomez-Guillamon appears on Malaga television programme La Alameda, presented by SUR's editor-in-chief Manuel Castillo. Migue Fernandez

The entrepreneur pointed out his company has a very large market niche, although they are structured in three tiers of business: planning and designing elements for airports; designing facilities for aircraft and the manufacture of unmanned aircraft useful for tracking, surveillance or target identification missions.

On the latter, he criticised overly-conservative European laws on the flying of these aircraft, which could be of great use in different fields. He used forest fire monitoring as an example: "They can be put up at night, when traditional aircraft cannot fly, giving information about where the fire is or where the flames are moving to".

Gomez-Guillamon also pointed out current problems in finding highly qualified staff. "That is a bottleneck for everyone; finding talent because it is a scarce resource," he said. Despite this, he pointed out that there tends to be respect among companies and there is no staff poaching as many of them collaborate with each other.

Future of the airport

Gomez-Guillamon said Malaga Airport's two parallel runways do not allow for an increase in operations. However, "there is a solution from a technical point of view", he said.

In reference to the coming years, he considered Malaga as a very attractive destination for low-cost transoceanic flights, which is the future of aviation. "Now we have to continue making these flights from hubs and with this type of aircraft it will be possible to connect destinations from point to point," Gomez-Guillamon said.
Ivan Gelibter Malaga Tuesday, 9 April 2024, 12:47 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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Spanish fashion giant Inditex has apologised less than two days after a controversial video went viral on social media showing models seemingly filmed without permission in the Malaga Cathedral and San Pedro church.

Inditex apologised to the Diocese after it came out and criticised the video, although the clothing company distanced itself from direct responsibility of the production of the video which was signed off by the Zara branch of Liborio Garcia in the city centre.

Once the video surfaced and raised eyebrows, SUR tried to contact someone responsible from the company - even in Liborio Garcia's own establishment - although without success at first. Then, on Monday 8 April, a spokesperson for the company sent a brief statement to SUR saying they had contacted the Diocese of Malaga to reiterate the video in question does not correspond to "any official content" of Inditex. The video was made for what is known internally in the company as fashion week. It has been organised for about six years and its aim is none other than to train Zara employees in the new season's trends, encourage their creativity and strengthen ties through various team projects, such as the recording of a video and the writing of a script. The content is the exclusive responsibility of each shop's shop assistants, Inditex added.

Related news Diocese distances itself from controversial Holy Week fashion video shot inside Malaga Cathedral and San Pedro church Ivan Gelibter

Zara's parent company also said they had no knowledge of the production. "Inditex knew neither its content nor the circumstances of its recording before its unauthorised sharing on social media." The video - uploaded to the Instagram account, Chicos y Chicas Zara, a profile with more than 29,000 followers and which presents itself as a positive and humorous page for those of us who work in the Inditex group - was deleted on Sunday night, although the content had already been shared on multiple channels.

Inditex said the company had apologised to the Diocese of Malaga, and that respect "is an essential element of the group's culture".

Unanswered questions

But some unanswered questions remain such as whether they had permission to shoot the video. When asked about this question, Inditex referred to its statement, where they said they were not aware of its content or the circumstances of its recording.

According to sources - both official and unofficial - the shots that were filmed in the cathedral were recorded during the hours of tourist visits, although the day is unknown. Although there were several images, they are very short shots, so it is more than plausible they were produced in this way. "It may have been an oversight, a few seconds," sources said.

The case of the church of San Pedro is more complicated. As can be seen from the tweets and screenshots - as well as the testimony of several witnesses - the shots were filmed on the morning of Good Friday between 10-11am. These witnesses claimed the church had been "cordoned off" for filming, which is why the actress appears alone in the video despite it being one of the busiest days of the year.

There is also the matter of the Medinaceli's vestments. Sources from the brotherhood pointed out the images were taken a few days before Holy Week. It should be remembered that this is a non-grouped confraternity that has its processions before Palm Sunday. As they said, when they were preparing the thrones for their departure (in the area of La Roca), two girls introduced themselves as workers of Zara de Liborio Garcia and asked them for the cross "for some photos about Holy Week". According to these same sources, at first they were told no because the thrones were only half-assembled, but they insisted, saying they would only take the photos in a park a few metres away. "They came back ten minutes later and returned everything to us in perfect condition," they added. In the video the park becomes, to the eye of the viewer, a replica of Mount Calvary.
Antonio M. Romero Malaga Tuesday, 9 April 2024, 17:18 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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Spain's Partido Popular political party has made public an existing study exploring possible options for a railway connection linking Malaga city to the western strip of the Costa del Sol.

The study on the extension of the railway to Marbella from Fuengirola was carried out by the public company INECO in 2015 and presented in 2018 by the then minister of public works Inigo de la Serna. It was made public on Monday 8 April following the minister for transport Oscar Puente's previous comment about the issue where he said "there is not a single piece of paper to work with".

Partido Popular Malaga province president Patricia Navarro unveiled the 106-page dossier on Monday morning at a meeting held in Marbella where mayors of the Costa del Sol and Campo de Gibraltar pledged their support for the coastal train project.

Navarro accused Puente of "lying" during the meeting attended by mayors Margarita del Cid (Torremolinos), Juan Antonio Lara (Benalmadena), Ana Mula (Fuengirola), Angeles Munoz (Marbella), Jose Manuel Fernandez (Manilva) and Jose Ignacio Landaluce (Algeciras) - Estepona's mayor Jose Maria Garcia Urbano was unable to attend - and the presidents of the Association of Municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol Manuel Cardena and the Association of Municipalities of Campo de Gibraltar Susana Perez Custodio.

"It is a document that is in the hands of the ministry of public works and which proves that Oscar Puente was lying when he said that there were no papers to prove the need and viability of this project," said Navarro, who announced Partido Popular will take the plan to the government subdelegation in Malaga "to refresh their memory and compensate for any loss of paperwork" to the minister.

Zoom Patricia Navarro on Monday morning. SUR

Partido Popular has made the project a priority and will go all the way, according to Patricia Navarro, who pointed out the Costa del Sol and the Andalusian coastline to Algeciras is "the conurbation that is growing the most and will grow the most in the coming years" and added: "There is no worse blind person than the one who does not want to see".

"The PSOE also lies when it says that the PP had no real will to implement this infrastructure and this document shows that unequivocal will to promote this initiative, which now, in 2024, we want to take to Algeciras; we cannot settle for less," Navarro said.

"The PP did its homework with the coastal train, had the will to take steps with the studies and provide investments, despite the economic situation of that stage was not the most appropriate." Navarro also said funds from Europe could be allocated to the project.

Bridge between Africa and Europe

Jose Ignacio Landaluce stressed the need to promote the railway project in a bid to give an answer to "the growth capacity of the Andalusian Mediterranean and to take advantage of the potential of this natural bridge between Africa and Europe".

"Already in 1862 there was talk in the senate of linking Algeciras by rail. It is neither an idea from then nor from now," said Landaluce, who urged the government not to have a "myopic vision" regarding the development and potential of Malaga and Cadiz.

Criticism of the PSOE in Malaga

Navarro said money cannot be a reason to ignore the coastal train project and criticised the government's "constant neglect of investment" in Malaga in a "constant disregard for the province".

Navarro also accused the secretary general of the PSOE in Malaga, Dani Perez, of being "an ally" of Oscar Puente when he closed the door on the coastal train project and criticised the silence of the socialist leaders, "who are now trying to cover up these statements by considering the local train should move towards Marbella".
Pilar Martinez Malaga Tuesday, 9 April 2024, 11:25 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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The phones of businessmen and tourism officials on the Costa del Sol have been ringing off the hook since Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Tuesday (9 April) plans to end the country's so-called 'golden visa' scheme.

The national government's cabinet will meet today to discuss plans to eliminate the visa, approved in September 2013 to attract foreign investors who are granted a residence permit if they purchase a property that exceeds half a million euros. But there is unease from many on the Costa del Sol, aware the move could have a direct and negative impact on tourism and foreign investment.

President of the Andalusian Federation of Developers and Residential Tourism and executive president of the Villa Padierna Hotels & Resorts group Ricardo Arranz said the golden visa has developed quality tourism on the Costa and brought in wealth to the area. "They should explain whether we need more quantity or an excellence in tourism that allows the development of projects that create more employment," he said. "With the elimination of this investment incentive, the direct consequence is that many investors who had chosen Spain will go to London, which is replacing Switzerland in attracting important investments," Arranz added.

"The unease is clear. I fear that this is another blunder," Arranz pointed out, while criticising the national government for making the decision "without consulting anyone, as a flash in the pan and generating surprise and concern".

Although there is no data on how many golden visas have been granted in Malaga province, figures which the National Police are not authorised to reveal, Arranz said "this measure is not going to help residential tourism on the Costa del Sol". "This golden visa is a very important attraction. They could look for another alternative, increase investment or any other initiative rather than eliminating it. This takes away the direct impact for sure."

"Huge source of income and employment"

Turismo Costa del Sol president Francisco Salado said: "the Sanchez government is once again trying to cover up its incompetence and lies with demagogy. As they have been unable to keep their promises on housing, as everything they have done in terms of legislation has had the opposite effect and has increased rents and prices, now they are trying to hide their lack of investment in public or protected housing by attacking, once again, tourism". Salado said residential tourism "is a huge source of income and employment for our country and for the Costa del Sol, and this measure has favoured the arrival of many residents with high purchasing power".

"It is absurd to think that the golden visa has raised the prices of housing in the cities or for young people, it is mixing the sheep with the goats and shooting, again, the wrong sector," Salado said. "This decision impoverishes our country, generates more unemployment and only benefits other countries and competing destinations," he added.

Ricardo Bocanegra, founder of the Association of Foreign Residents on the Costa del Sol said Sanchez's announcement had generated concern and pointed out the golden visa "does not influence or distort the housing market. It only contributes to attracting high-level foreign investment. The arguments put forward are poor and do not hold water". Bocanegra said, although he does not have concrete figures, the measure has been "a very important lifeline for the province, where residential tourism is a fundamental pillar of the economy. It is another stick in the wheel for this sector".

Disaster

The cabinet must still study a report presented by the minister for housing to modify the law approved by the Popular Party government in 2013. "We are going to initiate the procedure to eliminate the granting of the so-called golden visa," Sanchez said, while pointing out "this is intended to ensure that housing is a right and not merely a speculative business".

Spain's prime minister pointed out that about 94% of investor visas are linked to real estate investments (around 10,000 authorisations), with the most demand in cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia. Sanchez pointed said his government does not want for Spain the model of "speculative investment in housing, because it is a model that leads us to disaster and, above all, it leads us to a lacerating inequality, as a consequence of what we are experiencing, of the inaccessibility that many young people and families have to housing".
Isabel Mendez Malaga Tuesday, 9 April 2024, 10:01 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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A serum sold in Carrefour stores in Spain has been recalled due to contamination fears.

The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) detected a presence of mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeasts, moulds and the bacterium Burkholderia cepacia in batch number 249999 of the Nectar of Bio - Les Cosmetiques Design Paris brand firmness serum. The bacteria may present risks for people with respiratory problems or weakened immune systems.

The product distributed in Spain by Carrefour, has already been stripped from shelves and is no longer available for sale.

Product information

The product in question is:

Name: Firming serum, by the brand Nectar of Bio - Les Cosmetiques Design Paris.

Lot number: 249999.

Zoom

If you have purchased this serum, you should locate the batch number of the product which should be found on the product packaging, to confirm or rule out that it is the affected serum. In any case, it should not be used and should be returned to the point of purchase. If you have already used it and you notice any symptoms, you should notify the Spanish Cosmetovigilance System using NotificaCS.
Jose Maria Camarero Madrid Tuesday, 9 April 2024, 10:32 | Updated 10:53h. Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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Spain plans to end its so-called golden visa programme for foreign property buyers in a bid to increase the amount of affordable housing available in the country.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's announcement on abolishing the special visa, which grants residency permits to foreigners who invest in the real estate market with at least 500,000 euros, means Spain would join other EU countries in scrapping this type of programme. "We are going to take the necessary measures to guarantee that housing is a right and not just a speculative business," Sanchez said.

Ministers at this Tuesday (9 April)'s cabinet meeting are to study a proposal to modify the law regulating golden visas. The measure, Sanchez pointed out, was "approved by the Partido Popular in 2013, which makes it possible to obtain a residence visa if one invests in property in our country".

Government sources pointed out that around 94% of investor visas are linked to real estate transactions (around 10,000 authorisations). Cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Alicante, Palma and Valencia are the most in-demand locations for this type of visa, as well as being the "most stressed areas" for housing. The government said the priority is to "guarantee access to affordable housing, in order to provide a response to citizens" and that no individual should have to spend more than 30% of their income to have a "decent, adequate and quality home".

Abolishing the golden visa has been on the cards for more than a year since the prime minister revealed the intention among a series of pre-election pledges.

At the time, in May last year, the ministry of social security confirmed the abolition was "a hypothesis that some groups have put to us and that we are going to study". It came at a time when tension in the housing market was at the centre of the political strategy of parties prior to the elections. The proposal presented by Mas Pais-Equo in February last year - following a 7% rise in free housing prices in 2022 - called for this measure, considering the movements of foreign investors in the real estate market are "speculative".

In reality this special residence permit designed for the wealthy has not generated large numbers of residency applications; official data suggests the measure - put in place by Mariano Rajoy's government in September 2013 - has not really caught on, casting doubt on whether it is part of the problem of rising prices.

Only 500 requests per year

According to data from the ministry of foreign affairs, the government granted only 451 visas to foreigners, for their investment in real estate in 2022. The figure is almost 50% less than the previous year and just 0.7% of the total number of purchases made by non-residents.

These visas are only granted to investors who are residents outside the European Union and, according to calculations based on notary statistics, this group accounted for a total of 19,225 transactions last year. In other words, the number of golden visas issued indicates that only 2% of investors used this resource, which gives access to a residence permit when buying a home in Spain.

It is true that last year's downturn corresponds to the government's decision to cancel the granting of visas to Russian investors - who last year bought more than 1,000 homes in the country - following the outbreak of war in Ukraine. But the overall figures show this purchase channel has not been fully exploited compared to its potential beneficiaries. If we take as a reference from when it was launched, the number of golden visas issued barely exceeds 5,400.
Europe is in a growth crisis and in dire need of reforms to boost the industrys competitiveness. Heres how to do it.

Industries grow and become successful in well-functioning and open market economies. A level playing field, sound competition, regulatory predictability and a high degree of freedom for businesses constitute necessary building blocks to create such an environment. So does the reliable access to affordable energy. Until now, the EU and its Member States have failed to deliver sufficiently on all these parameters. Some laudable initiatives have been launched in previous years, but none of them sufficient in turning the overall trend of a slowly and steadily declining European industrial competitiveness. The new legislative mandate must be the starting point for a new industrial agenda that delivers concrete and tangible improvements.

Europe is lagging behind in the global competition and the EU is in dire need of reforms to improve its business climate. Companies are facing growing compliance costs, mounting reporting requirements and lengthy approval procedures. These factors combined have resulted in a growth-hampering cocktail eroding the industrys competitiveness and undermining the efficiency of other industrial policy actions. This is both an economic problem, since the regulatory burden costs money, and a waste of human resources, since too many employees are tied up with non-productive paperwork. The regulatory burden thus diverts much-needed resources away from productive investments and processes. Limiting this resource diversion must be the main priority in the EUs future industrial policy.

The regulatory burden on European business has increased at an alarming rate, while the Single Market is being undermined by an increasingly permissive attitude to distortive state subsidies. In recent years, not only has the amount of state aid increased, the amounts granted also differs significantly between different Member States. State aid is now allowed for both mass production and to match aid offered by third countries, increasing the risk of undue amounts of aid being granted and triggering a state aid race. Not only does this undermine competition and makes the markets less dynamic, but it also erodes the integrity of the Single Market.

Despite this, several moves have been made in the past years to weaken the rules on state aid, opening for more public subsidies and political intervention that favours some at the expense of others. This trend is deeply concerning since such measures often favour incumbents and large companies, thereby disfavouring start-ups and scale-ups, and hindering competitive allocation of capital based on merit. In this regard, centralising funding to the EU level is just as bad as a continued distribution of large volumes of subsidies from the national level. Further initiatives in that direction must therefore not be part of a future EU industrial policy, irrespective of how tempting they may seem in the short perspective to inject capital into the market. Targeted public support can sometimes play a catalytic role in cases of market failure, but can never be a general solution to strengthen the economy at large.

Furthermore, the EU must avoid contributing to a state aid race where companies play countries off against each other, looking for the one that is willing to spend the most taxpayer money. Such a development would not only be hugely expensive and crowd out important public expenditures, but also erode the crucial dynamics of competition that are necessary for economic development. Also, nothing suggests that the EU, in its current and projected weak economic shape, would come out as the strongest in the end of such a subsidy race. On the contrary, Europe would have lost precious time attacking symptoms rather than the root causes of our competitiveness problem: Market fragmentation, regulatory burden, energy costs, slow permitting procedures and excessive public intervention.

In light of the increasingly hostile and challenging security situation globally and in our immediate neighbourhood, effective measures to increase Europes economic security and the resilience of supply chains are warranted. It is however important to recall that protection against security risks is one thing; protection from economic competition is another. While the first is essential, the second is destructive, as it amounts to protectionism that is negative for the long-term business climate in Europe. The most important factor contributing to economic security is economic strength. Therefore, an industrial policy boosting competitiveness remains the best tool to ensure security. Any special instruments restricting the freedom of businesses to trade across borders must be targeted, proportionate and designed in a way that does not undermine the industrys overall economic strength, which would counteract the objective of enhancing security.

A future EU industrial policy that improves competitiveness and economic strength should build on these four pillars:

The completion of a truly seamless Single Market is the strongest tool to enhance European industrial competitiveness. The economies of scale and benefits to be yielded by going from, in many cases, 27 small national markets to one big of 450 million consumers is immense. Removing existing unmotivated border barriers, regulatory discrepancies and gold-plating practices must be at the centre of the future EU industrial policy. By fully using the size of the Single Market, more EU companies can grow to a scale where they can become globally competitive.

is the strongest tool to enhance European industrial competitiveness. The economies of scale and benefits to be yielded by going from, in many cases, 27 small national markets to one big of 450 million consumers is immense. Removing existing unmotivated border barriers, regulatory discrepancies and gold-plating practices must be at the centre of the future EU industrial policy. By fully using the size of the Single Market, more EU companies can grow to a scale where they can become globally competitive. The future EU industrial policy should focus on delivering a concrete and trustworthy plan for how to substantially reduce regulatory burden and shorten permitting procedures . A vague commitment to reduce EU reporting requirements by 25 percent is far from sufficient, since reporting requirements is only a small fraction of the overall administrative burden - and the administrative burden only a small fraction of the total compliance costs. Reducing a small share of a small share will not solve the structural problems our industry is facing. Furthermore, the increasingly complex regulatory landscape of thousands of directives, regulations, implementing and delegated acts, guidelines and national legal acts must be streamlined and significantly simplified. The future EU industrial policy must therefore establish both a bold regulatory reduction target and effective methodologies to deliver on it.

. A vague commitment to reduce EU reporting requirements by 25 percent is far from sufficient, since reporting requirements is only a small fraction of the overall administrative burden - and the administrative burden only a small fraction of the total compliance costs. Reducing a small share of a small share will not solve the structural problems our industry is facing. Furthermore, the increasingly complex regulatory landscape of thousands of directives, regulations, implementing and delegated acts, guidelines and national legal acts must be streamlined and significantly simplified. The future EU industrial policy must therefore establish both a bold regulatory reduction target and effective methodologies to deliver on it. The future EU industrial policy must enable energy suppliers to guarantee sufficient supply of round-the-clock accessible fossil-free energy at internationally competitive prices. The Net-Zero Industry Act and the emphasis on shorter permitting procedures is a welcome and necessary first step, and its rapid and effective implementation is crucial. Co-legislators should without further delay agree on a modernised energy taxation directive and other measures to further promote electrification and thereby investment in fossil-free energy production and in energy saving measures. Pushing prices down to a low and stable level is a prerequisite for the return to a favourable industrial investment climate.

at internationally competitive prices. The Net-Zero Industry Act and the emphasis on shorter permitting procedures is a welcome and necessary first step, and its rapid and effective implementation is crucial. Co-legislators should without further delay agree on a modernised energy taxation directive and other measures to further promote electrification and thereby investment in fossil-free energy production and in energy saving measures. Pushing prices down to a low and stable level is a prerequisite for the return to a favourable industrial investment climate. The EU must realise that the desire to micromanage companies through ever more complex and detailed legal instruments hurts the industrys competitiveness and adaptability. The EU should pursue its policy objectives by means of goal-oriented legislations that points out a clear sense of direction and abates undesired outcomes, while granting companies the greatest degree of freedom possible to achieve the goals in a way that suits the individual case. The European economy is made up of thousands of sectors and millions of companies  all with different means and needs. There is seldom a one-size-fits-all.

The start of a new legislative mandate can be a pivotal moment in reshaping the European agenda to focus on competitiveness and put job-creation, growth and prosperity back at the heart of the European project. The European industry is in dire need of a boost, and we need a new industrial policy that is focused, coherent and bold. Like the green deal has had an impact on all policy areas during this mandate, the industrial growth agenda should have during the next.

Deepening the Single Market creates economies of scale. Reducing regulatory burden saves money and frees up human resources. Speeding up permitting procedures accelerates return on investment. Ensuring low and predictable energy prices makes industries feel confident to invest. Pursuing goal-oriented policies instead of political micromanaging leaves room for innovation. This is where the future EU industrial policy should focus.
Roger Misso is a father, husband, and Navy veteran. He is a member of the Truman National Security Project and current leader of defense innovation efforts in the private sector, based in Washington, D.C. He previously served as Syracuse University Program Director for the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN).

Central New York, with a rich history in manufacturing and technological innovation, is poised to reclaim its significance in the national arena. Recent developments, including the travels of Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh to Taiwan, along with Microns potential $100 billion investment in Central New York, underscore the regions pivotal role in the resurgence of domestic semiconductor capacity. However, there is one key to this resurgence that has been overlooked: the United States Navy.

The recent visits of McMahon and Walsh to Taiwan signal a strategic effort to foster partnerships and secure resources critical to CNYs economic revitalization. Taiwan, a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, holds the key to CNYs ambition to claim its position as a hub for semiconductor production. The Micron investment further solidifies this vision, positioning the region at the forefront of semiconductor innovation and production.

And yet, at least two realities of geography and geopolitics impact both Taiwan and the semiconductor industry. First, Taiwan is an island nation surrounded by water thousands of miles from CNY. Second, Taiwan is under constant threat of invasion from the Peoples Republic of China, an authoritative nation that seeks to conquer the Pacifics most vibrant democracy.

To deal with the first reality, ships are required to transport goods and resources across oceans, including from places like Taiwan to places like Onondaga County. For the second reality, different kinds of ships are required to protect the transportation of goods and to defend Americas allies in the Pacific.

Thus enters the United States Navy.

President George Washington once famously wrote, without a decisive naval force, we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious. In an era marked by geopolitical uncertainties and emerging threats, particularly in the Pacific, a robust naval fleet is imperative. Our nations Pacific experience in the 20th century may have been complex, but the enduring necessity of a strong fleet of naval ships is an unquestionable lesson learned.

Today, however, the declining state of U.S. naval shipbuilding poses a significant challenge to this imperative. As potential adversaries enhance their maritime capabilities, the United States lags perilously behind. The Navy recently reported that every single new class of ships currently under construction is facing a delay of at least one year in delivery; in many cases, the delays are several years. This stresses the existing fleet and our sailors, leaving us painfully exposed should conflict arise.

At their core, these delays are due both to the lack of a consistent demand signal for shipbuilding and irresponsible federal budget policy. Shipbuilding is complex, with many large-scale, specific manufacturing and workforce requirements that cannot be easily stopped and started. Additionally, most domestic shipbuilders rely almost entirely on the military for construction contracts. For these reasons, the policy of sequestration in 2013  whereby the Navys budget was cut wholesale  was disastrous to domestic shipbuilding, leading to consolidation in the industry and layoffs to skilled workers. Today, the Congressional practice of passing continuing resolutions instead of an on-time budget further exacerbates the problem, making it nearly impossible for shipbuilders to find and fund skilled workers to build the ships the Navy needs.

The symbiotic relationship between naval shipbuilding and semiconductor manufacturing underscores the interconnectedness of strategic industries and the need for a comprehensive approach to economic development. As Central New York endeavors to reclaim its position as a center of innovation and production, it must not overlook the critical role of naval shipbuilding plays in our long-term economic prosperity. And while we may not (yet) build the Navys ships here, we are all certainly citizens together in our federal republic and we can call on our Congressional representatives to act.

To secure a prosperous future for CNY and revitalize naval shipbuilding, Congress must pass budgets on time each year instead of resorting to the politics of continuing resolutions. They must also allocate significantly more in funding for the construction of new ships, with the goal to far exceed the Navys most aggressive current shipbuildi proposal of 367 ships by 2054. And critically, they must do more to transform the Navys acquisition, shipbuilding, and budgeting bureaucracies, realigning career and performance metrics for both action officers and decision makers to incentivize changing the shipbuilding status quo.

It is no accident that one of our regions former members of Congress, Dan Maffei, serves today as chair of the Federal Maritime Commission. Shipbuilding matters to Central New York. Our ability to both defend our allies and ensure the free flow of global trade will be the deciding factors in Microns success in CNY. I hope everyone in our region  including local and state elected leaders  will join me in asking our federal representatives for both the strong Navy our nation needs and the bold naval shipbuilding plan that Central New Yorkers deserve.
More than 100,000 eclipse gawkers poured into the Adirondacks in the days leading up to Mondays total solar eclipse. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers were prepared for the worst.

But the worst didnt happenalmost.

Rangers had to rescue a woman who injured her leg on top of a mountain in the central Adirondacks. DEC attributes the safe eclipse to what it calls preventative search-and-rescue education, which amounts to posting rangers at trailheads to scan for the ill-prepared and to inform people about trail conditions up on the mountain.

The sole rescue that day occurred after the eclipse, at 4:32 p.m., when a 29-year-old hiker from Elmira hurt her lower leg near the summit of Mount Saint Regis. Due to the rough terrain and trail conditions, rangers called in a state police helicopter to hoist the woman off the mountain and fly her to a hospital. Rangers on the ground helped the rest of the hikers party out of the woods.

A few days before the eclipse, a 22-year-old cyclist from Massachusetts called rangers for a ride because his camping gear got wet while riding the Rooster Comb trail. He also told rangers that he was cold, it was dark, and the trail was really steep.

Since the cyclist wasnt injured, ranger dispatch suggested the man find the trailhead by himself. Meanwhile, a ranger hiked into the mans campsite to retrieve the bike and gear, then got him to a local motel. The cyclist was not dressed appropriately for the conditions, wearing only sneakers, jeans, and a light jacket.



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Forest rangers wrangle downstate wildfire, conduct controlled burn in Cicero Swamp - newyorkupstate.com

Frostbitten and freezing NYC man rescued near summit of states highest peak - newyorkupstate.com

30 rangers carry 2 injured hikers down 18 miles of icy Adirondack slopes in the dark - newyorkupstate.com

ADK snowmobiler severely injured after hitting ice crack, flying 73 feet through the air - newyorkupstate.com

Man thrown from snowmobile in crash in Madison County airlifted to Syracuse hospital - newyorkupstate.com

Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors.
ImgBurn is a lightweight CD / DVD / HD DVD / Blu-ray burning application. It has several 'Modes', each one for performing a different task:

Read - Read a disc to an image file

- Read a disc to an image file Build - Create an image file from files on your computer or network - or you can write the files directly to a disc

- Create an image file from files on your computer or network - or you can write the files directly to a disc Write - Write an image file to a disc

- Write an image file to a disc Verify - Check a disc is 100% readable. Optionally, you can also have ImgBurn compare it against a given image file to ensure the actual data is correct

- Check a disc is 100% readable. Optionally, you can also have ImgBurn compare it against a given image file to ensure the actual data is correct Discovery - Put your drive / media to the test! Used in combination with DVDInfoPro, you can check the quality of the burns your drive is producing.

ImgBurn supports a wide range of image file formats - including BIN, CUE, DI, DVD, GI, IMG, ISO, MDS, NRG and PDI. It can burn Audio CD's from any file type supported via DirectShow / ACM - including AAC, APE, FLAC, M4A, MP3, MP4, MPC, OGG, PCM, WAV, WMA and WV.

You can use it to build DVD Video discs (from a VIDEOTS folder), HD DVD Video discs (from a HVDVDTS folder) and Blu-ray Video discs (from a BDAV / BDMV folder) with ease. It supports Unicode folder/file names, so you shouldn't run in to any problems if you're using an international character set.

ImgBurn supports all the Windows OS's - Windows 95, 98, Me, NT4, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008 and 7 (including all the 64-bit versions). If you use Wine, it should also run on Linux and other x86-based Unixes.

It's a very flexible application with several advanced features that are often lacking in other tools, especially when it comes to burning DVD Video discs. It supports all the latest drives without the need for updates (including booktype / bitsetting / advanced settings on many of the major ones - i.e. BenQ, LiteOn, LG, NEC, Plextor, Samsung, Sony).

There is an image queue system for when you're burning several images (which you can automatically share between multiple drives if you have more than one) and an easy-to-use layer break selection screen for double layer DVD Video jobs. The Automatic Write Speed feature allows you store your favourite burn speed settings on a per 'Media ID' basis, right down to a drive by drive level. Data captured during the burn (write speed, buffer levels etc) can be displayed / analysed using DVDInfoPro.

Whilst ImgBurn is designed to work perfectly straight out of the box, advanced users will appreciate just how configurable it is.

Oh and let's not forget the best thing about it... it's 100% Free ;-)

What's New
In a nutshell: A modder has turned a rare PS1 controller from 2001 into a fully-working portable PlayStation. The man behind the new console is well-known Japanese modder Hairo Satoh, who calls himself the "Gameboy Doctor" in an apparent nod to his Game Boy mods that have made him a hit with retro gaming enthusiasts on social media.

Satoh shared a video of his new creation on Instagram (via Dexerto), showing off the handheld PlayStation console running Mega Man 8, also known as Rockman in Japan. Another post shows the console playing games like Resident Evil Survivor, known in Japan as Biohazard Gun Survivor, as well as The Contra Adventure.

To create the new handheld PlayStation, Satoh used Takara's Roulette controller that was released exclusively in Japan in 2001 alongside the PS1 title Game of Life. The homemade console has a small LCD display embedded within the 'Wheel of Fortune' spinner at the top. Other additions by Satoh include an SD card slot, L&R back triggers, a volume dial, dual stereo speakers, and a USB-C port for charging the battery.

The post has already received more than 28,000 likes, with many users asking if Satoh will be interested in selling his creation for a price. Some even asked him to create a PS2 version, but it's not known whether Satoh has any plans to do that. Others, however, criticized the trigger placements, with one user suggesting that it would be difficult to hold the R trigger and fire with a face button at the same time.

Playing old PlayStation games is highly nostalgic for people who have lived through the PS1 period and fondly remember the old console from their childhood days. To cater to these gamers, Sony offers the PlayStation Portal handheld that can play several popular classic games through the PlayStation Plus service.

PlayStation Plus Classic includes many iconic titles, including Resident Evil Director's Cut (1997), The Legend of Dragoon (1999), Tekken 2 (1996), Twisted Metal (1995), Doom (1995), and more. While all these original PlayStation titles should be playable on the Portal, it's not immediately known if they also work on Satoh's handheld console.
One of the rarest cosmic phenomena has already come and gone, leaving mesmerized witnesses and people who searched 'my eyes hurt' on Google amidst the Total Solar Eclipse of 2024.

This could only mean one thing: some people are experiencing the eye strain that NASA warned of when looking at the Sun directly and without any protection despite it nearing its completely blocked state.

'My Eyes Hurt' Search Trends on Google Amidst Total Solar Eclipse

Earlier today, Google Trends showed the many spiking keywords amidst the Total Solar Eclipse, and one of them was about people stating to the search engine, "My eyes hurt," across many states.

The top states were West Virginia, followed by Rhode Island (despite both not being on the path of totality), Indiana, Connecticut (also not on the path of totality), and Maine.

In another search trend that saw a spike, people also looked into Google's results, which state "eyes hurt after looking at the eclipse," with Wyoming (not in the path of totality), Maine, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and New Hampshire seeing these searches.

It is clear that some people viewed the eclipse and ignored NASA's safety guidelines when it passed, but it is also possible that some users were using eclipse glasses but still experienced the strain. This was because there were reported recalls of eclipse glasses hours before the event.

Read Also : Google to Stream Free Live Coverage of Monday's Solar Eclipse

Should You See a Doctor If Your Eyes Are Hurting?

If you are one of those who have searched this and are currently experiencing some weird, stinging, burning, or other types of irregular feelings with your eyes, you should immediately seek out medical and professional help. There may still be ways to help your eyes and avoid lasting damage after this event.

Total Solar Eclipse 2024

NASA has been all over the news about the Total Solar Eclipse of 2024, and the space agency has released massive information about the upcoming cosmic event that the world may see with its eyes.

First, it took place last April 8 and went on for around three hours in the morning, with its totality taking place at around 11:07 AM PDT on Mexico's Pacific coast.

This was a historic cosmic event, as total solar eclipses only happen at designated times. NASA counts years before another pass, as the last one before this recent phenomenon occurred in 2017, seven years ago, and before that, in 1979.

Moreover, this particular solar eclipse was seen throughout the continental U.S. despite not being in the path of totality, but only as a partial eclipse.

Amidst all the preparations for it, NASA did not miss out on giving warnings and safety guidelines to the general public who are interested in watching the total solar eclipse of 2024.

Despite this, there has been a spike in the search trends, with many looking at 'my eyes hurt' queries and results on Google amidst the cosmic event, and it is recommended to seek out experts behind this to avoid lasting damage to the eyes.
After years of battling a lawsuit, Tesla has now settled the infamous 2018 fatal Autopilot crash that killed Apple engineer Walter Huang after the EV sped towards a barrier near San Francisco.

In the past five years, Tesla and the departed's family fought it out in court, with both presenting their case and evidence about whose fault it was.

It is one of the earliest cases against Tesla and its autonomous driving, and this settlement now allows the company to pay for other cases instead of going to trial.

Tesla Settles Fatal 2018 Autopilot Crash After Legal Battle

Tesla has settled the massive case against them about the 2018 fatal Autopilot crash after five years since it was filed by the aggrieved, surviving family of Walter Huang, The Guardian reported.

Court documents revealed that Tesla was able to settle with the family for an undisclosed amount regarding the crash, neither confirming nor denying the issue.

Both parties have presented their cases in this five-year legal trial. One says it was the fault of the other, and Tesla claims that Huang misused the system and was playing video games while doing so.

On the other hand, Huang's family claimed that Autopilot caused their 2017 Model X to crash into the highway barrier and raise other usage issues.

Tesla is Not Going to Trial, Not Answering Questions

The settlement came as Tesla and the plaintiff were nearing the start of this high-profile case that started in 2018, with the EV company avoiding the trial where it could be forced to answer questions about the incident and its tech.

It was revealed by a law professor at the University of South Carolina that this might send a message to other attorneys and cases that the company will resort to settlements and payouts rather than fight this in court.

The Many Cases of Autopilot Crash Lawsuits

Tesla has faced scrutiny over its Autopilot and Full-Self Driving (FSD) autonomous driving technology for years, with many victims pursuing a lawsuit against the company for their allegedly flawed system.

Last year, there were several times that Tesla escaped being named the culprit of the incident, with one centering on the 2019 case where the jury found that Tesla was not accountable.

However, not all cases against Tesla went well. Last year, a Florida judge ruled against the company, saying that the EV company knew about its Autopilot's defects.

This centered on a 2019 crash near Miami, FL, with the Florida judge allowing the case against Tesla for deliberate misconduct and gross negligence to proceed. Moreover, this came forth despite Tesla winning two California lawsuits against its Autopilot systems.

In another case, the NTSB ruled in favor of Tesla not being the culprit behind a 2019 incident where a Model S crashed into a tree.

Now, Tesla has settled a lawsuit from 2018, one of the most renowned cases against them, centering on the California accident that claimed the life of an Apple engineer, with experts looking at this as a dangerous precedent for the company's future cases for settlements.
Hackers have illicitly obtained a staggering 340,000 Social Security numbers from a prominent government consulting firm.

This breach underscores the persistent threat posed by malicious actors in the digital realm and highlights the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect individuals' confidential information from unauthorized access.

Compromising 340,000 Social Security Numbers

Government consulting firm Greylock McKinnon Associates (GMA) has made a disconcerting revelation regarding a significant data breach that has compromised the personal information of numerous individuals.

In May 2023, the breach came to light through notifications posted on Maine's government website, reflecting the company's commitment to transparency in such matters.

In response, GMA promptly took measures to address the situation and mitigate its impact.

However, the scope of the breach remains concerning, with approximately 341,650 Social Security numbers exposed to unauthorized access.

This incident underscores the pervasive threat posed by cyberattacks and the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive data.

GMA's role as a provider of economic and litigation support to various entities, including the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), adds complexity to the situation.

The company clarified that the DOJ obtained the compromised data in the context of a civil litigation matter supported by GMA.

This aspect highlights the potential implications of the breach beyond individual privacy concerns, potentially impacting ongoing legal proceedings and organizational trust.

As affected individuals grapple with the aftermath of this breach, questions arise regarding the adequacy of data protection measures employed by organizations entrusted with sensitive information.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the evolving cybersecurity landscape and the imperative for organizations to prioritize cybersecurity measures to safeguard against data breaches and protect individuals' privacy and security.

Assurance Amidst Uncertainty

GMA emphasized that those notified about the data breach are not implicated in any investigation or legal proceedings associated with the incident.

Furthermore, the firm reassured individuals that the cyberattack does not affect their existing Medicare benefits or coverage.

GMA disclosed that it sought assistance from third-party cybersecurity specialists to handle the situation effectively. Additionally, the company promptly notified law enforcement authorities and the DOJ about the incident.

The firm completed confirmation of the identities of affected individuals and the acquisition of their contact information on February 7, 2024.

Victims of the data breach were provided detailed information by GMA regarding the types of personal and Medicare data likely exposed during the incident.

This included a range of sensitive details such as names, dates of birth, home addresses, specific medical information, health insurance records, and Medicare claim numbers, notably encompassing Social Security numbers.

The delay of nine months in GMA's determination of the breach's full extent and subsequent notification to affected individuals raises questions about the handling and response to such cybersecurity incidents.

Despite attempts to obtain clarification, GMA and their legal counsel, Linn Freedman of Robinson & Cole LLP, remained unresponsive to requests for comments, leaving concerns regarding the breach's management and mitigation unanswered.
Elon Musk's admission sheds light on the potential repercussions of his social media activity, indicating a significant shift in his stance regarding the impact of his posts.

The deposition provides insight into Musk's acknowledgment of the consequences of his actions on the digital platform.

Financially Harming the Company

In a March 27th deposition unveiled by The Huffington Post on Monday, Elon Musk acknowledged the potential financial ramifications of his posts on the platform previously recognized as Twitter. Additionally, the billionaire conceded to possessing a "limited understanding" of the ongoing lawsuit, prompting his deposition.

Ben Brody, 22, filed a defamation lawsuit last Autumn against Musk, claiming that Musk propagated a conspiracy theory wrongly implicating Brody in a confrontation between two far-right factions in Oregon. Despite Musk's legal team's attempts to shield the transcript of his nearly two-hour deposition from public view, the judge rejected their requests.

During questioning by Brody's attorney, Mark Bankston, Musk was queried about his acquisition of Twitter and its influence on his activity on the platform.

Musk asserted that he perceived his posts to have remained consistent before and after the acquisition. However, he conceded that this stance might have ultimately detrimentally affected the platform.

Musk reflected on his actions during the deposition, admitting to the possibility of causing financial harm to the company instead of aiding it, particularly mentioning incidents like the Kevlar shoe controversy.

Despite potential financial implications, he stressed prioritizing content that he believes is engaging or significant to the public rather than being driven by financial considerations.

Throughout the proceedings, Musk also displayed uncertainty about Brody's lawsuit against him, expressing bewilderment regarding the motives behind the litigation and exhibiting a lack of clarity about basic case details.

He suggested that Brody's attorney may have a profit-driven agenda behind pursuing the lawsuit.

Defending His Actions

The lawsuit centers on a string of tweets posted by Musk last summer, in which he endorsed a far-right conspiracy theory that erroneously linked Brody to a clash in Oregon involving the Proud Boys and a local neo-Nazi faction.

Brody, residing in California, vaguely resembled one of the individuals involved in the altercation. Exploiting this resemblance, online trolls propagated the theory that the clash was a staged event, with Brody portrayed as an undercover government operative.

Musk actively engaged with users, promoting this unfounded narrative on social media platform X and amplifying their claims that the altercation was likely orchestrated. On June 27th, Musk responded to a post containing footage of the brawl, insinuating Brody's involvement in a "false flag" operation.

It came to light that Musk was the owner of an account under the handle @ermnmusk, where he portrayed his own toddler son in role-playing scenarios. Motherboard and other media outlets made this discovery in the past year.

Musk also expressed his belief that Brody, who faced evacuation from his residence at one point, did not suffer significant harm from the false accusations propagated, stating that people are frequently targeted in media and online platforms without enduring tangible negative consequences in their lives.
Scientists have unveiled a pineapple-flavored oral spray vaccine demonstrating remarkable efficacy in preventing UTIs for up to nine years.

Preventing UTI for Years

A groundbreaking discovery in the fight against Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) emerged from the European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress held in Paris on April 7, published in SciMex.

The breakthrough results from a comprehensive study conducted by clinicians at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in the United Kingdom. The study involved 89 patientsboth men and womenprone to UTIs. The study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of the newly developed oral spray vaccine MV140 (Uramune) in mitigating the recurrence of UTIs.

According to researchers, the results are promising, with more than half of the participants experiencing prevention of UTIs over the nine-year period. This innovative vaccine offers hope for millions suffering from UTIs' persistent and often debilitating effects, potentially revolutionizing preventive measures against this common ailment.

The groundbreaking vaccine uramune has made its debut in the Australian market. This innovative vaccine is composed of a suspension containing four distinct bacterial species blended with pineapple-flavored water. According to medical recommendations, individuals are advised to administer two sprays under the tongue daily for a duration of three months.

Spanning for nine years, researchers closely monitored the participants who received the initial treatment. The findings revealed that 54 percent of the study's subjects remained free from UTIs, with no significant adverse effects reported during the observation period. The development of Uramune is credited to Immunotek, a prominent pharmaceutical company based in Spain.

Also read : Duke University Expert Says UTI Vaccine is Already FDA-Approved But Still Needs a Few Years for Public Availability

Dr. Bob Yang, a consultant urologist at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and one of the research leaders, noted the significant challenge participants faced with recurrent UTIs prior to vaccination, particularly among women.

Following the initial administration of the novel UTI vaccine, approximately half of the individuals enrolled in the study continued to remain free from infections.

Demonstrating Long-Term Safety

In an overall assessment, researchers concluded that the vaccine demonstrates long-term safety. Participants reported a reduction in both the frequency and severity of UTIs. Additionally, some individuals found that increasing water intake alone effectively managed the condition.

Gernot Bonkat, a professor of urology at the Alta Uro Medical Centre for Urology in Switzerland, expressed optimism about the findings, citing the significant economic burden of recurrent UTIs and the risks associated with overusing antibiotics.

The recent follow-up study provides promising insights into the long-term safety and efficacy of the MV140 vaccine. The research team acknowledges the necessity for further investigations, particularly into more complex UTIs, and intends to explore different patient groups to optimize the vaccine's usage.

The goal is to refine the vaccine administration based on empirical data and clinical observations. The researchers underscore the potential significance of the vaccine as a breakthrough in UTI prevention, offering a safe and viable alternative to conventional treatment methods.
A next-generation smart 3D printer has emerged from MIT, aiming to streamline the adoption of new materials by autonomously adjusting its settings to accommodate varying compositions.

MIT Presents a Smart 3D Printer

Researchers note that the prevalent challenge in contemporary 3D printing lies in the limited recyclability of plastic materials used in fabrication, prompting the exploration of sustainable alternatives.

However, integrating these novel materials into the printing process entails meticulous manual adjustment of up to 100 parameters, posing a significant barrier to their widespread use.



In response to this challenge, a collaborative effort involving researchers from MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA), the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Center for Scientific Research in Greece (Demokritos) has yielded a solution.



They have devised a modification to the extruder, the core component of a 3D printer, enabling it to gauge materials' forces and flow characteristics.



This allows the printer to conduct a 20-minute test during which it gathers data on material properties. Subsequently, a mathematical function processes this data to automatically generate printing parameters, eliminating the need for manual intervention.



These parameters, which encompass crucial factors like flow rate and temperature, can seamlessly integrate with off-the-shelf 3D printing software, enabling the printer to accommodate a diverse array of materials effortlessly.



The researchers claim that this new technology has the potential to alleviate the environmental impact associated with additive manufacturing. By facilitating the use of renewable and recyclable materials, the technology aims to foster sustainability within the 3D printing ecosystem.

Tackling the Complexity of 3D Printing Parameters

The research team, spearheaded by first author Jake Read, a graduate student at CBA, leveraged a multidisciplinary approach to tackle the complexity of 3D printing parameters.



Through the integration of measurement, modeling, and manufacturing, they devised a systematic methodology to address the intricacies of material properties.

Key to this methodology is the incorporation of instrumentation within the printer's extruder, enabling real-time measurement of pressure and flow rate. These measurements serve as inputs for a computational model that derives printing parameters, substantially reducing the manual effort required for parameter tuning.

Despite the complexity inherent in 3D printing processes, the team reports that the method demonstrated remarkable efficacy across various materials, including bio-based polymers and recycled substrates.



Looking ahead, the research team envisions further refinements to their workflow, including seamless integration with existing 3D printing software and incorporation of thermodynamic modeling.



"By developing a new method for the automatic generation of process parameters for fused filament fabrication, this study opens the door to the use of recycled and bio-based filaments that have variable and unknown behaviors," said Alysia Garmulewicz, an associate professor in the Faculty of Administration and Economics at the University of Santiago in Chile who was not involved with this work.



"Importantly, this enhances the potential for digital manufacturing technology to utilize locally sourced sustainable materials."



The findings of the team were published in the journal Integrating Materials and Manufacturing Innovation.




Microsoft Corporation has announced plans to invest $2.9 billion over the next two years in Japan's artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

The investment is Microsoft's largest in Japan, demonstrating the company's strategic focus on growing AI technology in the country. Microsoft President Brad Smith outlined plans for this massive investment during an exclusive interview with Nikkei.

Microsoft Invests Big on Japan AI Infrastructure

According to Smith, the investment will primarily target the expansion of data centers in Japan, with a particular emphasis on enhancing computing power for AI applications.

This initiative aligns with Tokyo's efforts to strengthen domestic AI infrastructure amid increasing global competition. Smith emphasized the critical role of AI in driving productivity growth, particularly in economies facing workforce decline like Japan.

As part of the investment plan, Microsoft intends to install state-of-the-art AI semiconductors at two existing facilities located in eastern and western Japan. This move aims to equip Japan with cutting-edge AI technology to drive innovation across various sectors of the economy.

Furthermore, Microsoft plans to unveil an ambitious AI-related reskilling program designed to train three million workers over the next three years. This initiative underscores Microsoft's commitment to nurturing talent and fostering digital skills development in Japan.

(Photo : FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken in Davos on January 19, 2023 shows the logo of the American corporation Microsoft.

New Microsoft Research and Development Lab in Tokyo

In addition to infrastructure upgrades and workforce development, Microsoft is set to establish a new research and development lab in Tokyo dedicated to robotics and AI.

This lab will serve as a hub for collaborative research efforts aimed at pushing the boundaries of AI innovation. Microsoft Research Asia, a key player in the global AI research community, will provide substantial funding of 1.5 billion yen ($9.9 million) for research projects in collaboration with leading academic institutions in Japan.

Brad Smith highlighted the importance of collaboration between industry and government in addressing emerging cybersecurity challenges. Microsoft will partner with the Japanese government to strengthen cybersecurity resilience in the face of evolving threats. Smith emphasized the need for close cooperation between technology companies and government agencies to safeguard cyberspace effectively.

Growing Global Interest in AI

The announcement comes at a time of heightened global interest in AI technology and its potential impact on society and the economy. Governments in the Middle East and Europe are prioritizing investments in AI infrastructure and talent development to maintain competitiveness in the AI boom.

Microsoft's substantial investment in Japan's AI sector reflects a broader trend of industry leaders aligning with national priorities to drive technological advancement.

Moreover, Microsoft's commitment to Japan's AI sector underscores the country's role as a key player in the global AI landscape. Japan's leadership in AI governance and innovation has positioned it as a vital partner in shaping international AI policy frameworks.

Brad Smith expressed optimism regarding Japan's leadership in coordinating efforts among economies to develop AI regulations, citing the country's pivotal role in global AI initiatives.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Microsoft Eyes New London AI Hub Led by Google DeepMind Co-Founder
Virgin Media O2 has unveiled its latest innovation in customer service - a game-changing smart support system designed to detect and resolve Wi-Fi issues remotely. This will eliminate the need for traditional phone-based troubleshooting.

Streamlining Support Process

Gone are the days of enduring frustrating phone queues to report Wi-Fi problems. With the new smart service, customers can enjoy seamless connectivity without the hassle of lengthy support calls.

According to The Sun, this innovative system continuously monitors the performance of customers' Wi-Fi routers, detecting any disruptions in connectivity such as speed fluctuations and dropouts. By proactively identifying issues, the smart support system ensures uninterrupted internet access for users.

Effortless Resolution

When issues are detected, the system automatically initiates fixes overnight, minimizing disruption for customers. In many cases, problems are resolved without any action required from the user, providing hassle-free connectivity around the clock.

Personalized Assistance

For issues that cannot be resolved remotely, customers receive personalized guidance on troubleshooting steps they can take independently. If further assistance is needed, customers can easily schedule a free engineer appointment at their convenience.

Initially available to 300,000 Virgin Media customers, the smart support service is set to expand to the entire customer base in the future. As the system evolves, improvements will be made to enhance its effectiveness and reliability.

What They Pay is What They Receive

Virgin Media ensures that customers receive the speeds they pay for, with download speeds of 30Mbps guaranteed in every room. In cases where customers experience slower speeds, they are entitled to a free Wi-Fi booster or 100 bill credit, ensuring optimal connectivity throughout the home.

One Silent Culprit Behind Slow Wi-Fi

Last month, Tech Times reported that Virgin Media issued a warning to its customers. At the time, it advised them to be aware of the antivirus apps on their computers as it could slow down the Wi-Fi speed without them knowing.

An antivirus software is no doubt an effective tool in subduing malware and other malicious entities on a PC. However, there's a downside that people need to see here.

People have no idea that antivirus apps eat up extra bandwidth and this could affect the performance of your Wi-Fi in the long run.

To optimize the speed of your Wi-Fi, you need to schedule antivirus scans ahead. It's ideal to do this on low network usage. You can also disable other running apps in the background of the PC to save for potential bandwidth consumed.

Aside from the silent culprit, the location of your Wi-Fi in your working area could also be one of the reasons behind slow Wi-Fi.
Canada's artificial intelligence (AI) industry is set for a significant growth with the announcement of a $2.4 billion federal funding injection aimed at boosting AI research, development, and adoption.

The announcement, made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a pre-budget tour in Montreal, outlines a comprehensive strategy to propel Canada's AI capabilities forward.

Canada Rolls Out Massive $2.4 Billion Funding for AI

Of the total funding, $2 billion will be allocated to enhance computing capabilities and technical infrastructure, fostering innovation among AI researchers and start-ups.

Trudeau emphasized the importance of fostering positive impacts across various sectors, earmarking $200 million to drive AI adoption in key industries such as agriculture, health care, and clean technology.

"Access to computational power and capital are two of the largest barriers to developing new AI models or applications," Trudeau told the press.

Furthermore, recognizing the imperative of ensuring the responsible development and deployment of AI, the government plans to establish a $50-million AI safety institute to safeguard against potential risks posed by advanced or nefarious AI systems.

An additional $5.1 million will be dedicated to establishing an office of the AI and Data Commissioner, tasked with enforcing the proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act, aimed at updating privacy laws and introducing new obligations for high-impact AI systems.

Also, the fresh funding will assist workers who may be impacted by AI, such as those in the creative industries, with $50 million to provide new skills training to individuals in potentially affected sectors and communities.

Read Also : Google Launches Gemini AI in Android Studio for Coding Assistance

(Photo : SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images)

Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a joint press conference with Poland's prime minister in Warsaw on February 26, 2024.

AI Experts Anticipate Fast AI Commercializatiom

Industry experts and stakeholders have welcomed the government's commitment to advancing Canada's AI capabilities. Speaking with Bloomberg, Krista Jones, chief delivery officer at the MaRS Discovery District innovation hub, expressed excitement about the potential for widespread commercialization of AI products and services, noting that the funding injection is "a badly needed kind of injection."

However, concerns have been raised regarding the adequacy of funding for the proposed AI and data commissioner's office, with calls for additional resources to meet industry demand for guidance on responsible AI.

Innovation, Science, and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne echoed sentiments of optimism, urging a shift in perspective from questioning the implications of AI to defining its societal benefits. He urged, "Let's stop asking what AI will do to us, and why don't we start asking what we want AI to do for us."

While the federal government's commitment to bolstering the AI sector is commendable, challenges remain. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce highlighted the need to address concerns surrounding Bill C-27, emphasizing the importance of avoiding regulatory hurdles that could stifle private-sector investment.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
In a bizarre twist of events, a hacker claiming to represent the ransomware gang DragonForce attempted to extort a victim company employee via a phone call, resulting in a somewhat comedic exchange that highlights the tactics employed by ransomware gangs.

Unveiling the Failed Extortion Attempt

The ransomware gang posted the recording of the phone call on its dark website, seemingly as a means to pressure the victim company into paying a ransom demand. However, instead of intimidation, the call revealed a comical interaction filled with frustration and confusion.

According to TechCrunch, the incident is only one of a few tactics used by ransomware gangs to intimidate and extort companies. With an increasing trend of threat actors making contact via telephone, organizations must be prepared to handle such situations as part of their response plans.

Hilarious Exchange with Company Employee

During the call, the hacker, initially seeking to speak with the management team, ends up conversing with Beth from HR. Despite attempts to intimidate, Beth remains unfazed and questions the motives behind the attack.

In most common scenarios when an HR representative is approached by a stranger on a phone call, some people tend to panic, but Beth shows that she can't be shaken by the other guy on the other line.

Futile Negotiation Attempts

The hacker tries to convince Beth to negotiate, threatening to release the company's stolen data if no agreement is reached within eight hours. However, Beth remains steadfast in her refusal to negotiate with what she refers to as a "terrorist or hacker."

"Alright, well then I'm just gonna go ahead and end this phone call now. I think we spent enough time and energy on this," Beth says.

According to Emsisoft's threat analyst Brett Callow, the next step in this kind of hacking comes with a series of response plans. If you're in this situation, there's a need to make decisions faster while the "threat actor is listening" to your hold music."

While the attempted extortion may have failed, it highlights the importance of cybersecurity measures and the need for companies to remain extremely careful against ransomware gangs.

Speaking of DragonForce, this was the same group of threat actors who forced the Ohio lottery to shut down in late December.

According to TechTimes' previous report, the cyberattack hit the lottery on Christmas Eve and at the time, some services were rendered inaccessible.

Authorities urged the customers to stop placing money in the lottery in the meantime.

In another cybersecurity news, anti-vaccine dating online website Unjected suffered from a glitch. It was said that thousands of user accounts have been exposed.

Even though Unjected was aware of the cyber breach, it still failed to acknowledge the severity of its impact. It also downplayed the reports and accused reporters of offering promo discounts.
An odd incident occurred in Miami when a 38-year-old man named Richard Smith climbed a 150-foot T-Mobile cell phone tower, brandishing a Bible and disrupting service.

According to reports, Smith's activities created a major disruption, resulting in $500,000 in damages and impacting nearby businesses and communities for five hours. The event occurred at Miami's Northwest 29th Street and 13th Avenue intersection.

WATCH:

Bible-Wielding Florida Man Climbs T-Mobile Tower

According to WSVN, Smith's ascent began at 7 a.m., triggering an alarm for T-Mobile technicians. Upon reaching the top, Smith shut off the cell tower, prompting a response from actual T-Mobile workers and law enforcement.

Eyewitnesses reported that Smith, perched atop the tower, repeatedly shouted, "I've got a job to do, I've got to finish my job!" while urging responders to join him.

He also threw objects down at authorities, further complicating the situation. Negotiations between Smith and the police lasted approximately four hours before he agreed to descend voluntarily.

Miami Police Officer Michael Vega described Smith's behavior, stating, "He tampered with the equipment up there. He threw things down, he wasn't listening to officers' commands to come down." Smith's actions indicated a level of knowledge about tower operations, as he avoided touching hot power supply clamps.

The disruption caused by Smith's actions extended beyond the immediate area, affecting cellphone services and nearby businesses. The severity of the disruption led authorities to block off the surrounding area as they worked to resolve the situation.

(Photo : Image via WSVNTV YouTube)

A bizarre incident unfolded in Miami as a 38-year-old man, identified as Richard Smith, climbed a 150-foot T-Mobile cell phone tower, brandishing a Bible and disrupting service. Reports indicate that Smith's actions caused significant disruption, costing an estimated $500,000 in damages and impacting local businesses for five hours.

T-Mobile Responds to Cell Tower Incident

Following his descent, Smith was taken into custody and charged with criminal mischief and burglary of an occupied structure. However, upon coming down, he expressed gratitude towards the first responders and cooperated with authorities.

In response to the incident, T-Mobile issued a statement expressing gratitude to the Miami Police Department and Fire Rescue for their response. The statement confirmed that the company's systems had alerted them to the service issue and emphasized their commitment to supporting the investigation.

As of now, Smith remains in custody, and authorities continue to investigate the motive behind his actions.

In Other News

Virgin Media O2 has introduced its latest customer service innovation: a game-changing smart support system for remotely detecting and resolving Wi-Fi issues. This eliminates the need for traditional phone-based troubleshooting.

According to sources, this smart system constantly monitors the performance of customers' Wi-Fi routers, detecting any connectivity issues such as speed fluctuations and dropouts.

The smart support system ensures that consumers have uninterrupted internet connectivity by proactively detecting errors.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
Recordings off Hawaii: Researchers are filming sex between humpback whales for the first time

West Indies: a total of eight tonnes of cocaine intercepted at sea in one week

We tested Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K Max: the best way to make your TV smarter

Gofio, the Canarian restaurant that lost its Michelin star in December and shines more than ever

Cattle lick each other - but not every cow also licks every other one

The patient should be observed by a specialist: herbalist - about the medicinal use of plants

Ito Jakuchu's newly discovered scroll-shaped masterpiece may have been created when he was 76 years old

The first high-speed rail Spring Festival transportation on the China-Vietnam border: there is an endless stream of passengers as it draws to a close

More than 20,000 blue and white porcelain specimens were unearthed from the Yuan Dynasty ship cargo site in the Poyang Lake waters of Duchang, Jiangxi

Spartak and Zenit tied in the match of the 19th round of the RPL in St. Petersburg

The debuts of Pedro and Ugalde, the rescue of Khlusevich and Ignatovs post: Zenit and Spartak tied in the 19th round of the RPL

Fernando Alonso and the long faces at Aston Martin: "We have four teams ahead of us"

They investigate the president of the FIA for withdrawing a sanction from Alonso and returning him to third place in Saudi Arabia in 2023

Champions League: in the midst of Mbappe psychodrama, PSG plays for its future against Real Sociedad

The popularity of flower viewing tours across the country has soared. What are the popular destinations for spring outings?

Development and security should be pursued with both hands! Government work report delivers new signal for real estate

Development and security should be pursued with both hands! Government work report delivers new signal for real estate

Uber Eats will introduce autonomous robots in some areas of Tokyo from the 6th

A tractor unit on the A-6 ends with police charges and causes serious traffic problems near Benavente

(Interview with the Two Sessions) Justin Lin hits back at the theory that Chinas economy has peaked: He will not follow in Japans footsteps

(Interview with the Two Sessions) Justin Lin hits back at the theory that Chinas economy has peaked: He will not follow in Japans footsteps

Ushakov said that BRICS is ahead of the G7 in terms of purchasing power parity

(Voice of the Two Sessions) He Xiaopeng: It is recommended to speed up the commercialization process of flying cars

Fengyun-4 B star officially takes over from A star to provide services to more countries jointly building the Belt and Road

Bloomberg: Macron will announce France's participation in the purchase of shells for the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Toopi Organics: the company that relies on urine to do without fertilizers

Nuclear and war in Ukraine at the heart of Emmanuel Macron's visit to the Czech Republic

Four former Twitter executives sue Musk for more than $128 million in severance pay

Demonstratively provocative in nature: what is known about the NATO Nordic Response exercises in Finland, Sweden and Norway

The Liberal Democratic Party and the Rikun Democratic Party are adjusting the schedule for the House of Councilors Political Ethics Inquiry, expected to be held as early as next week

Hyeres: after a shooting near a nursery, the town hall posts two police officers near the establishment

On the eve of March 8, Putin thanked the women participants in the special operation

Digital dementia and anxiety: psychologist - about the risks of constant use of gadgets

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Climate pledges of big firms 'critically insufficient': report



Paris, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2024



From carmakers to fast fashion, dozens of major international companies are failing to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions at the pace required to slow climate change, a report said Tuesday.

The nonprofit research groups NewClimate Institute and Carbon Market Watch looked at the climate pledges of 51 multinational firms and found many brands were inflating their sustainability claims.

Distinguishing real cuts to planet-heating greenhouse gas emissions from "unsubstantiated greenwashing" was a major challenge, particularly for consumers, they said.

Taken together, the brands scrutinised in this report -- mostly household names including H&M Group, Nestle and Toyota -- accounted for 16 percent of global emissions in 2022.

But their efforts were "critically insufficient" to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius -- the safer limit set under the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

While "the collective ambition of companies' 2030 climate pledges has gradually improved over the last two years... most companies continue to fall far short of the economy-wide emission reductions required", the report said.

Global emissions need to be reduced by 43 percent by 2030 to align with the Paris goals, according to United Nations climate scientists.

These companies, on average, would be reducing their emissions by 33 percent under their current commitments, the report said.



- 'Creative accounting' -



Some firms could even be backsliding on their promises.

The report noted a growing call from the corporate sector for "flexibility" in how climate targets are met, namely through using carbon credits.

These allow businesses to offset their emissions by directing money toward a project that reduces or avoids emissions, such as protecting forests.

Critics say they allow companies to keep polluting.

"We can't afford wasting time with leniency and room for this creative accounting," Benja Faecks of Carbon Market Watch told reporters.

The companies assessed in this report -- majors from the automotive, food and agriculture, fashion and energy sectors -- were rated against the honesty of their climate pledges and progress toward the 1.5-degree-Celsius benchmark.

None scored the top rating of "high integrity".

Italian and Spanish energy giants Enel and Iberdrola led the pack with a "reasonable" integrity rating.

South Korean energy company Kepco and Japanese carmaker Toyota received the lowest score.

Toyota told AFP that while it had not seen the report, its 2050 commitments had been certified by the benchmark Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi).

"Only four companies' emission reduction plans embody the necessary shift from pledges to actual implementation," the report said.

It acknowledged some were doing better than others.

French food giant Danone, for example, had committed to "significantly" reducing methane emissions from fresh milk production and increasing the share of plant-based products, the report said.

It said Enel and Iberdrola had increased their renewable energy capacity, notably solar and wind, but both could set more ambitious timeframes for achieving net-zero emissions.

Heavy-duty vehicle manufacturer Volvo Group was highlighted for its investments in "zero-emission vehicles, charging infrastructure and low-carbon steel and aluminium".



- Policy, not pledges -



Meanwhile, the fashion industry was singled out for being "ambiguous" in how it would reach its targets.

None of the five brands analysed -- H&M Group, Nike, Adidas, Zara owner Inditex and Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing -- had plans to transition to business models that produced and sold fewer products.

Silke Mooldijk, from the NewClimate Institute, said the marketing of products could also be confusing for consumers.

She pointed to recycled polyester being advertised as a low-emissions alternative fabric, even though the material is largely sourced from recycled plastic bottles, not old clothing, meaning bottles are still produced to meet demands.

"There is no benefit for the climate but as a consumer, you normally wouldn't notice," she said.

H&M Group said the report had not analysed its latest climate data and argued it had achieved a 22-percent reduction to its emissions in 2023 compared with 2019.

The report called for a shift away from voluntary climate initiatives to stricter government regulation in order to hold companies accountable for their pollution.

"We need robust legislation and also regulations to compel companies to do what they need to do and not what they wish to do," Faecks said.

lem-giv/np/gil

Nestle

TOYOTA MOTOR

ENEL

IBERDROLA

KOREA ELECTRIC POWER CORPORATION

Danone

Adidas

Inditex
Study lists world's 'forever chemical' hotspots



Sydney, April 9 (AFP) Apr 09, 2024



Dangerous concentrations of long-lingering "forever chemicals" have been found in surface and groundwater worldwide, according to a study released Tuesday that showed Australia, the United States and Europe as hotspots.

A paper published in the journal Nature Geoscience analysed data from 45,000 water samples globally and found a "substantial fraction" had levels of PFAS -- per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances -- above recommended levels.

Found in everyday products such as non-stick frying pans, food packaging and waterproof clothing, the substances have been linked to serious health conditions including cancer and birth defects.

They have been found everywhere from turtle eggs to Antarctic snow, but the latest study showed they were prevalent in surface water and groundwater used by humans for drinking.

"Many of our source waters are above PFAS regulatory limits," said Denis O'Carroll, one of the study's authors and a professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia.

O'Carroll said it was already known that the thousands of types of forever chemicals were "pervasive in the environment" but he expressed shock at how much higher the sampled levels were versus compared with recommended levels.

"We're talking above five percent, and it goes over 50 percent in some cases."

The research found that 69 percent of groundwater samples from around the world surpassed Canada's minimum standards and six percent of samples surpassed the EU's standard.

Australia, China, the United States and parts of Europe were shown to be global hotspots of high concentrations of PFAS.

However, the study acknowledged that these locations were also areas with the highest level of testing, and with more research, comparable results could be found across the globe.

PFAS is considered to be spread across the globe, but the extent of contamination on the earth's surface and in waterways and drinking supplies is not known.

Canada, the United States, the European Union and Australia have begun restricting the use of PFAS amid health and environmental concerns.
Kazakhstan and Russia battle huge floods



Astana, Kazakhstan, April 9 (AFP) Apr 09, 2024



More than 90,000 people have been evacuated from rising rivers in northern Kazakhstan and Russia's southern Urals, which are witnessing one of their worst flood disasters in decades.

Rivers have been overflowing for days in 10 regions of Kazakhstan, as well as in Russia's western Siberia and Orenburg regions, flooding entire cities and villages.

Both Moscow and Astana have introduced a state of emergency.

"Since the beginning of the floods, more than 86,000 people have been rescued and evacuated," the Kazakh government said on Tuesday.

It said 3,365 residential buildings had been flooded in five different regions of the vast Central Asian country.

The government said it was taking humanitarian aid to affected areas.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called the floods one of the worst natural disasters in 80 years.

In neighbouring Russia, emergency services said on Tuesday 10,550 residential buildings were flooded, mostly in the Orenburg region, where more than 6,500 people have been evacuated.

The Ural river has almost entirely flooded the city of Orsk and is now reaching dangerous levels in the main city of Orenburg.

The river had risen by 25 centimetres (10 inches) in Orenburg over the last 24 hours, authorities said on Tuesday.



- Villages under water -



The peak of the flood in Orenburg -- a city of 550,000 people -- is expected on Wednesday.

Mayor Sergei Salmin said it would be "unprecedented."

The mayoral office said on Tuesday the situation was "critical" in eight villages near Orenburg.

Rivers in western Siberia's Kurgan and Tyumen regions are also swelling.

In Kurgan, a city near Kazakhstan, authorities said on Tuesday 689 people have been evacuated away from the overflowing Tobol river.

The mayoral office in Kurgan -- a city of around 300,000 people -- said the floods could reach the local airport.

In one village in the Kurgan region, Zverinogolovsk, the water levels of the Tobol river rose 74 centimetres in just two hours, Russian media reported.

Russian Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov travelled to the Orenburg region on Tuesday.

His ministry said he would then visit the Kurgan and Tyumen regions.

The ministry released a video of Kurenkov flying over flooded zones in a helicopter, showing vast expanses of water stretching to the horizon and villages submerged.
Top Europe court condemns Switzerland in landmark climate ruling



Strasbourg, France, April 9 (AFP) Apr 09, 2024



Europe's top rights court on Tuesday said Switzerland was not doing enough to tackle climate change, in the first such ruling on the responsibility of states in curbing global warming.

The European Court of Human Rights, part of the 46-member Council of Europe, however threw out two other cases against European states on procedural grounds.

Hopes had been high for a legal turning point ahead of the rulings in the three cases, treated as a priority by the 17 judges of the court's Grand Chamber.

In the first case, the court found that the Swiss state had violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the "right to respect for private and family life", according to the ruling seen by AFP.

The case was brought by the Swiss association of Elders for Climate Protection -- 2,500 women aged 73 on average -- and four of its members, who complained about the "failings of the Swiss authorities" in terms of climate protection that could "seriously harm" their health.

The court ordered the Swiss state to pay the association 80,000 euros (almost $87,000) within three months.



- 'Turning point' -



Gerry Liston, of the NGO Global Legal Action Network, said before the rulings the court's position could mark "a turning point in the global struggle for a liveable future".

He said a victory in any of the three cases could constitute "the most significant legal development on climate change for Europe since the signing of the Paris 2015 Agreement".

The Paris Agreement set targets for governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The decisions from the court in the French city of Strasbourg came as Europe's climate monitor said March this year had been the hottest on record.

In a second case, the court dismissed a petition from six Portuguese people, aged 12 to 24, against 32 states including their own because the case had not exhausted all avenues at the national level.

Their case was not only against Portugal but also 31 other states -- every European Union country, plus Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Russia.

Almost all European countries belong to the Council of Europe, not just the 27 EU members.

Russian was expelled from the council after its invasion of Ukraine but cases against Moscow are still heard at the court.



- 'Climate inaction' -



In a third case, the court rejected a claim from a former French mayor that the inaction of the French state posed the risk of his town being submerged under the North Sea.

The court found that Damien Careme, former mayor of the northern French coastal town of Grande-Synthe, was not a victim in the case as he had moved to Brussels at the time of his initial complaint in 2021.

In 2019, he filed a case at France's Council of State -- its highest administrative court -- alleging "climate inaction" on the part of France.

The court ruled in favour of the municipality in July 2021 but rejected a case he'd brought in his own name, leading Careme to take it to the ECHR.

The European Convention on Human Rights does not contain any explicit provision relating to the environment.

But the court has already ruled based on its Article 8 that states have an obligation to maintain a "healthy environment", in cases relating to waste management or industrial activities.
Top Swiss party demands Council of Europe pullout after climate ruling



Geneva, April 9 (AFP) Apr 09, 2024



Switzerland's biggest political party demanded a withdrawal from the Council of Europe after the continent's top rights court on Tuesday ruled that the country was not doing enough to tackle climate change.

The hard-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) slammed the verdict, calling the decision by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg "scandalous".

"Switzerland must withdraw from the Council of Europe," the SVP said in a statement, adding that the court's job was to "dispense justice and not make policy".

The SVP comfortably topped the Swiss general elections in October but holds just two of the seven seats in the power-sharing government, and is often at odds with its coalition partners.

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said it had taken note of the verdict and would consider what actions it required.

"This ruling is final. This detailed judgement will be analysed with the authorities concerned and the measures that Switzerland must take for the future will be examined," it said in a statement sent to AFP.

The ECHR found that the Swiss state had violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the "right to respect for private and family life".

The historic decision could force governments to adopt more ambitious climate policies.

"With today's ruling, the Strasbourg judges have turned themselves into puppets of activists and have now finally lost their credibility. Your brazen interference in Swiss politics is unacceptable for a sovereign country," the SVP said.

Ideological Strasbourg judges were attempting to erode Switzerland's legal institutions in the name of "cheap climate activism", it said.

They "did not even consider the fact that Switzerland is exemplary in reducing carbon dioxide emissions", it said, adding: "Switzerland has had almost CO2-neutral energy production in the past with hydropower and nuclear power."

The SVP said the ECHR was "increasingly interfering in national affairs that were not an issue when it was founded -- or when Switzerland joined in 1963. It is unacceptable that political decisions are made by courts."

Besides pulling out of the Council of Europe, the party called for a renewed discussion over the priority of national law.

The SVP, which has its roots as a farmers' party in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, became a national force focused on opposition to closer ties with the European Union, any concession of Swiss independence, and mass immigration.

Meanwhile, activists sprayed a Swiss Porsche outlet with orange paint Tuesday in a campaign to "Liberate Switzerland" from cars, following the court's ruling.

Four members of a Swiss activist group, act now, splashed bright orange paint across the facade of a Porsche sales centre near the western city of Lausanne early Tuesday, the group said in a statement.
Top Swiss party demands Council of Europe pullout after climate ruling



Geneva, April 9 (AFP) Apr 09, 2024



Switzerland's biggest political party demanded a withdrawal from the Council of Europe after the continent's top rights court on Tuesday ruled that the country was not doing enough to tackle climate change.

The hard-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) slammed the verdict, calling the decision by the European Court of Human Rights "scandalous".

"Switzerland must withdraw from the Council of Europe," the SVP said in a statement.

The party comfortably topped the Swiss general elections in October but the seven government seats are shared between the four biggest parties -- which are often opposed to the government's collective decisions.

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said only it had noted the verdict by the court in Strasbourg, France, and would consider the next steps.

"This ruling is final. This detailed judgement will be analysed with the authorities concerned and the measures that Switzerland must take for the future will be examined," it said in a statement sent to AFP.

The ECHR found that the Swiss state had violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the "right to respect for private and family life".

The case was brought by the Swiss association of Elders for Climate Protection -- 2,500 women aged 73 on average.

"The Strasbourg judges have turned themselves into puppets of activists and have now finally lost their credibility. Your brazen interference in Swiss politics is unacceptable for a sovereign country," the SVP said.

They "did not even consider the fact that Switzerland is exemplary in reducing carbon dioxide emissions", it said.

The SVP said the ECHR was "increasingly interfering in national affairs" and it was "unacceptable that political decisions are made by courts".

The party, with its agrarian roots, takes a firm stand on upholding Swiss independence and opposing closer European integration.

Switzerland has a direct democracy system but the SVP did not say whether it intended to try to collect the 100,000 signatures necessary to trigger a public vote on leaving the Council of Europe.



- 'Historic victory' -



Left-wing and environmentalist bodies welcomed the ruling however.

Greenpeace Switzerland said the decision set a precedent for the Council of Europe's 46 member states.

"All these countries can now be asked by their citizens to examine their climate policy in order to guarantee respect for human rights, based on this case law," it said.

Alongside the Elders for Climate Protection, Greenpeace will now seek to take the matter to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

The ruling was a "slap in the face" for the government and its "climate inaction", said Mattea Meyer, co-president of the Social Democrats, Switzerland's second-biggest party.

The party said that "only massive public investments will be able to ensure the energy and climate transition".

And the smaller Greens Party declared a "historic victory" and demanded the setting of new climate targets for the agriculture, finance and aviation sectors.

For domestic climate policy, "this decision is of comparable importance to the Paris climate agreement", said the party's new president Lisa Mazzone.

Meanwhile four activists sprayed a Swiss Porsche sales centre near Lausanne with orange paint, launching a campaign to "Liberate Switzerland" from cars, following the ECHR ruling.
The Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) has been ordered to allow men into its Ladies Lounge after a man successfully claimed its women-only policy was discriminatory.

On Tuesday, the Tasmania Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled that Mona must cease refusing entry to the Ladies Lounge by persons who do not identify as ladies, within 28 days.

The complainant visited Mona last year, only to find that he was denied entry into the Ladies Lounge.

NSW man Jason Lau claimed he was discriminated against because of his gender and was unable to fully experience Mona after paying his $35 museum entrance fee in April last year.

The women-only Ladies Lounge was created by Kirsha Kaechele, the wife of Mona founder David Walsh, and opened in 2020.
A regional doctor who discharged 19-month-old Noah Souvatzis from an understaffed emergency department says he is devastated by his death and wishes he had escalated the toddlers care.

Paul Nicholas Bumford told a coroner investigating Noahs death it was his first-ever locum shift at Wangaratta hospital when Noah arrived on December 29, 2021, and he believed the boy had gastro.

Noah Souvatzis.

He discharged Noah 3 hours later into the care of his parents, who returned him to the hospital hours later. Noah was then flown to the Royal Childrens Hospital, where he died with bacterial meningitis.

On Tuesday, Bumford said that with the benefit of hindsight he wished he had asked a more senior doctor to assess the unwell child, done further checks after Noah continued to vomit during his discharge from hospital, and referred him to the paediatric team to keep him under observation for longer.
The top priority of the forth-coming 18th international Caspian Investment Forum 2024 is to establish successful business ties between Czech and Azerbaijani companies, as well as expand business dealings in all countries where Caspian Energy Club is present, Managing Partner of Financial Chain Corporation, Chairman of the Board of Caspian Energy Club Czechia Zaur Gadirov emphasized in the interview given to media.

As an official representative of Caspian Energy Club in Czechia, Caspian Energy Club Czechia keeps expanding its activity. Businessmen of the two countries had a fruitful networking at the CEO Breakfast Prague event held in February of this year. The role of all the events held so far in the establishment of advantageous relations between the companies of the two countries is undeniable. New opportunities and prospects of business climate, green energy, Europes energy security, technological progress and digitalization, as well as investment potential, attraction of investments and diversification of trade with different countries, were the major topics of the events we have held, Zaud Gadirov said.

In his interview, Chairman of the Board Zaur Gadirov stressed the importance of the Caspian Energy Club Czechia networking platform enabling Czech and Azerbaijani companies to introduce their services and establish business relations.

As you know, CEO meetings focused on the discussion of many topical issues have been held so far. Issues concerning artificial intelligence, financial technologies, tourism development, green energy, investments and business climate were thoroughly discussed at those meetings. Such meetings make it possible for Caspian Energy Club member companies to introduce their business, establish relations, discuss challenges and make suggestions. At the same time, noteworthy is the importance of work that Caspian Energy Club does to build and develop business relations, thereby contributing to the shaping of the business environment, Zaur Gadirov noted.

Speaking about future plans, Chairman of the Board of Caspian Energy Club Czechia Zaur Gadirov noted that another important forum scheduled for May would join the list of events conducted in 2024.

We believe that the 18th international Caspian Investment Forum 2024 Prague scheduled for May 16-17 will promote further development of the investment and business climate, as well as encourage dialogues. The major objective of the Forum is to facilitate the establishment of successful business ties between Czech and Azerbaijani companies, and expand business dealings in all countries where Caspian Energy Club is operating. We extend our deepest gratitude to the embassies of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Turkiye, Export and Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan which provided us support to hold the 18th international Caspian Investment Forum 2024. Philips and Energizer companies are also in the sponsors list of the forum, the platinum sponsor of which is Financial Chain Corporation. The organization work has been trusted to the company Joint Bridges. We hope that the investment forum will foster the development of economic ties and cooperation between our countries, as well as ensure effective investment partnership and successful implementation of joint initiatives, Zaur Gadirov underscored.
Animal Wellness Action urges Sublette County Attorney and Sheriff to bring felony-level animal cruelty charges against perpetrator.

Animal welfare groups expressed revulsion and outrage in the wake of news concerning a Wyoming man who ran over a wolf with his snowmobile, taped its mouth shut, tormented it, and paraded the injured animal around a local bar before finally taking it out back to kill it, according to news sources. The incident occurred on February 29th.

Two groups, Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, sent a letter this morning to Sublette County Attorney Clayton Melinkovich and Sublette County Sheriff K.C. Lehr, urging them to prosecute Cody Roberts of Daniel, Wyo., and seek felony-level penalties under the statute.

Currently, Roberts, owner of C. Roberts Trucking, LLC, has faced only a $250 fine for possession of live wildlife. He has paid the fine, and his case is currently considered closed.

The letter, signed by Scott Edwards, general counsel for Animal Wellness Action and the Center, reads in part:

Roberts actions clearly warrant a punishment more severe than the $250 ticket he received for possession of live wildlifesuch an anemic response on the part of law enforcement will be seen by some as tacit approval of his crime and can only motivate other like-minded individuals driven by hatred of wolves to engage in similar, repugnant behavior.

The letter cites Wyomings anti-animal cruelty law to encourage a more meaningful prosecution of Roberts, stating Article 10, section 6-3-1005(a)(ii) makes it a felony to 'knowingly, and with intent to cause death or undue suffering, beats with cruelty, tortures, torments or mutilates an animal.'

The letter continues:

While the term torment is not defined in the statute, dragging a wild animal into a bar with its mouth taped shut and subjecting it to the severe distress and anguish it must have suffered before being brought outside to be killed is a textbook example of torment.

Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and who worked to make animal cruelty a felony in dozens of states and to make animal cruelty a federal felony, says that Cody should not escape prosecution under statutes designed specifically to address this sort of malicious crimes.

The man who committed this atrocious act of animal cruelty cannot go without punishment under state or federal law, or both, Pacelle said. Running over and crushing an animal with a snowmobile, binding the battered and wounded animals mouth shut, and deciding to further torment the creature in front of an audience rather than putting him out of his misery is the textbook definition of malicious cruelty. A remorseless, cruel monster like this is a threat to other animals, and a threat to people. The law must speak.

Violations of  6-3-1005 are a felony offense subject to up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, punishments Roberts fully deserves given the sheer depravity and wanton disregard for common decency displayed by his actions.

The complete letter may be viewed via this link.

In addition to submitting the letter, the two groups are creating an online petition to compel the county officials to consider the felony charge of animal cruelty against Mr. Roberts.
The connection between combatting climate change and sustainable financing emerges as a new paradigm in Azerbaijan, a host country for the upcoming global COP29 climate conference.

In collaboration with the Central Bank and ACCA, EY Azerbaijan facilitated the Workshop on Sustainable Finance and Disclosures in Azerbaijan, held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. The workshops primary objective was to provide insights into sustainability disclosure standards, focusing particularly on ISSB IFRS S1 and S2 standards, covering general requirements for disclosing sustainability-related financial information and climate-related matters.

The workshop attracted over 100 participants from diverse sectors, including finance and banking, energy, transportation, as well as public agencies and institutions, the Chamber of Auditors of Azerbaijan, the British Embassy in Baku, the Public Oversight, Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority (KGK, Turkiye).

Notable highlights of the event included the keynotes shared by representatives from the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sustainability Disclosure training delivered by ISSB, ACCA and EY representatives, as well as presentations on upskilling finance professionals and preparing businesses for a more sustainable future.

EY is actively engaged in supporting initiatives that promote sustainability in Azerbaijan. By equipping organizations with essential knowledge and tools needed to integrate sustainability practices into their strategies, EY is laying the foundation for a more prosperous future for the growing generations.

Vikas Aggarwal, Regional Head of Public Affairs at ACCA, stated: ACCA is delighted with the high level of participation in the Workshop on Sustainable Finance. The engagement and enthusiasm demonstrated by participants underscore the growing importance of sustainable finance in Azerbaijan. And this also resonates with the commitment for sustainable development on the eve of the upcoming COP29 in Azerbaijan. We are confident that the knowledge shared during this workshop will contribute to driving positive change and promoting sustainable finance practices in Azerbaijan. ACCA extends its gratitude to all participants, speakers, and partners for their valuable contributions to the success of the workshop.

Rustam Tahirov, the Director of the Financial Stability Department at the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBAR) believes that for positive sustainable growth, cooperation is the key.

The CBAR, as the safeguard of the financial stability in the country, is deeply committed to supporting financial sector in their transformative journey towards sustainability. We truly believe that, within collaborative efforts we can drive a positive change and inspire financial community to pursue sustainability goals. This workshop will make a huge contribution in this regard.

Viktor Kovalenko, EY Partner and Head of Climate Change and Sustainability Services in Caucasus, Central Asia and Ukraine, noted the following: We see a significant growth of our clients interest to development of sustainability and ESG disclosures, estimation of their carbon footprint, implementation of ESG and climate risk management, etc. The international standards IFRS S1 and S2 I believe are the great tool to be applied by companies for these matters. EY is here and ready to continue advisory support to Azerbaijani companies in implementation of sustainability and ESG matters, as well as to support state bodies with policy advise on these matters.

Fikret Huseynov, EY Manager at Climate Change and Sustainability Services mentioned the following: The emergence of IFRS S1 and S2 standards reflects a growing stakeholder and particularly - investors and regulators - interest in sustainability disclosures. EY has the relevant sectoral expertise in climate change and sustainability to advise businesses and institutions on achieving and maintaining sustainable and inclusive growth, managing their regulatory impacts, mitigating climate change risks, as well as disclosing their climate performance data such as carbon footprint..

As remarked by Susanne Draeger, Strategic Affairs Director, IFRS Foundation: Todays workshop has been a great opportunity to discuss the opportunities and challenges involved with implementing the ISSB Standards. The IFRS Foundation is committed to supporting the implementation of these new standards so that they can deliver a global baseline of sustainability-related disclosures for the capital markets. My thanks to ACCA, the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan and EY for organizing todays important event.

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, consulting, strategy and transactions, and tax services. The insights and quality services that EY delivers helps build trust and confidence in the capital markets and economies around the world. EY develops outstanding leaders who team to deliver on its promises to all stakeholders. In doing so, EY plays a critical role in building a better working world for its people, its clients, and the communities.
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Cong started dividing people post independence PM Modi kickstarts BJPs LS poll campaign in Chandrapur





Chandrapur Bureau

Congress created problems in Kashmir and started dividing people post Independence, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday. He launched Lok Sabha poll campaign by addressing the citizens of Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts at Morwa village in Chandrapur on Monday evening. PM Modi compared the Congress to bitter gourd whose taste, he said, would never change even if it is fried in ghee or mixed with sugar, and asserted that the grand old party was the source of all problems in the country. He said that the ensuing Lok Sabha elections were a fight between stability and instability and accused the opposition of seeking power only to indulge in corruption. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Chairman of NCBC Hansraj Ahir, the official candidates of Mahayuti from Chandrapur and Gadchiroli Sudhir Mungantiwar and Ashok Nete, and other MLAs from Chandrapur and Yavatmal districts were present on stage.

PM Modi, in his trademark conversative style, evoked a tremendous response from his listeners when he asked, Who gave shelter to terrorism and red terrorism (Naxals) in the country? And, the people replied promptly, Congress. Who opposed Ram Mandir construction and questioned the existence of Lord Ram? Who declined the Ram Mandirs inauguration invite? he asked, evoking similar responses. He said, Chandrapur was the only Lok Sabha seat won by Congress in 2019. The 138-year-old party has lost peoples support due to its deeds and its recently released manifesto has the imprint of the pro-Partition Muslim League, he maintained. He also said that the wood from Chandrapur was used for construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and new Parliament building in Delhi. The wrong policies of the then government had stalled development projects in Kashmir. The activities of Naxals at Gadchiroli have declined and now Gadchiroli has turned out to be an iron ore district, said PM Modi. The Congress is out of power for 10 years and we have been been able to resolve all problems faced by the country, he said.

PM Modi further stated that Congress had worked for personal and family interest and not for development of the country. I.N.D.I.A. bloc had worked on the commission basis. It was single motto of Congress, initially hand over commission to start the development projects otherwise stall the project. Commission Lao Ya Kaam Bandh Karo. The Congress government had Jalyukt Shibir, Metro work at Mumbai, PM Awas Yojana at Maharashtra. However, the BJP-Shiv Sena Government has relaunched all development projects at Maharashtra after coming into power in Maharashtra. The Shinde-led Government has been developing the State by working 24x7, lauded PM Modi. The BJP Government had launched different schemes for the welfare of Dalit and Adivasi community. The credit of development of the country goes to whom? questioned PM Modi to which the public replied due to Modi. However, PM Modi said that the credit for development India will have to be shared with the general public who cast their vote during the election. PM Modi further asserted the Souths opposition DMK leader compared Sanatan Dharma to dengue and malaria and demanded to create a separate state.
6 northern European nations sign a deal to protect North Sea infrastructure from hostile actors

Copenhagen, Apr 9 (AP)

Six northern Europe countries bordering the North Sea said Tuesday that they have signed an agreement to work together to protect underwater infrastructure in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean from an increased risk of sabotage.

The Danish Ministry for Climate, Energy and Utilities called the North Sea a hub for critical infrastructure that connects Europe through electricity cables, gas pipes and telecommunications connections and is an important source of renewable energy.

An increasing mutual dependence across borders has arisen  and with it an increased risk of sabotage and unwanted attention from hostile actors," the Danish ministry said.

The move comes after the yet-unsolved 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea. They occurred in international waters but within Swedish and Danish economic zones. Both countries have closed their probes into the blasts.

The explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which was Russia's main natural gas supply route to Germany until Russia cut off supplies at the end of August 2022. They also damaged the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which never entered service because Germany suspended its certification process shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine in February that year.

The North Sea has the potential to become the cradle of a renewable and secure energy supply in Europe, while supporting the road to a fossil free future, said Denmark's Climate, Energy and Utilities Minister Lars Aagaard. The six countries  Denmark, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Norway and the Netherlands  must stand united and coordinated in our efforts to protect critical infrastructure across borders. This understanding is an important step in that direction.

The cooperation will include reviewing current protection and resilience measures, sharing information and knowledge, and reporting relevant information on an operational level, the Danish ministry said in a statement. "Additionally, the cooperation relies on the relevant work tracks within the EU and NATO," it said.

In May 2022, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany said they planned to speed up the continent's green transition and help wean it off Russian energy imports through a large new project to build wind farms in the North Sea. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said they want to increase the total offshore wind capacity fourfold by 2030 and tenfold by 2050.
Be prepared for black swan events, expect the unexpected: Army chief tells Force





NEW DELHI,

ARMY Chief General Manoj Pande on Monday called upon the force to be always prepared for black swan events and expect the unexpected even as he identified technology as the new area for strategic competition among nations.

A black swan is a metaphor that describes an unpredictable event that is beyond what is normally expected from a situation and that has potentially severe consequences. Black swan events are characterised by their extreme rarity, severe impact, and the widespread insistence they were obvious in hindsight.
Cgarh liquor scam SC quashes ED complaint





New Delhi,

The Supreme Court on Monday quashed a money laundering complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan ruled that the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) could not be attracted since there exists no prima facie scheduled offence under the Act. The ED initiated the money laundering probe against Anil Tuteja (IAS), Yash Tuteja, Anwar Dhebar, and others based on a charge sheet filed by the Income Tax Department.

It had said that Tuteja, known to be close to then Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, was termed as the mastermind behind the alleged liquor scam.

Besides, Dhebar, the brother of the Mayor of Raipur, Ajaz Dhebar, was the kingpin who ran the syndicate as per the instructions of Tuteja. The ED has alleged that a criminal syndicate -- comprising high-level State Government officials, private individuals, and politicians -- was operating in Chhattisgarh, which was involved in illegal bribe collection by exerting control over government departments. The agency has attached 119 immovable properties worth Rs 121.87 crore in the case, including 14 assets worth Rs 8.83 crore belonging to Tuteja.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has met with Kyrgyz counterpart Jeenbek Kulubayev, Trend reports, referring to the X of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It was noted that the ministers held a one-on-one meeting.

The day before, the Azerbaijani minister embarked on an official visit to Kyrgyzstan. As part of the visit, he has scheduled bilateral meetings with high-ranking officials of the country.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Candidates chess: Indians in hunt, but Nepomniachtchi clear favourite on first rest day





Toronto, Apr 9 (PTI)

The great Viswnathan Anand felt Indians were "a long shot" in the Candidates Chess Tournament but the duo of D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa have done surprisingly well to withstand the early storm as the prestigious event took its first rest day of the ongoing edition.

The Indians were never the favourites in the bigger scheme of things but yet, Gukesh has held his own and so has Praggnanandhaa. However, the same cannot be said about Vidit Gujrathi, who became a favourite after his stunning win over world No.3 Hikaru Nakamura.

With four rounds done out of 14, there are 10 more games still to play. Things have been going well for the Indians but not in the purest way possible.

Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia, who has to play under the FIDE flag due to sanctions against his country, is sitting firmly at the top of the table on three points out of a possible four and he could not have hoped for a better start to his campaign.

With victories against Gujrathi and Firouza Alireza of France and two draws, the Russian got a heads-up to what could possibly be a third attempt to fight for the crown of world champion.

Historically, no one has ever won the candidates three times in a row.

Nepomniachtchi became the first sole leader in the event following his second victory with white pieces and he is now followed by Fabiano Caruana and Gukesh on 2.5 points apiece.

Praggnanandhaa is not far behind on two points holding the fourth spot while Gujrathi, Abasov, Alireza and Nakamura have an identical 1.5 points each. The youngster has his mother, Nagalakshmi, travelling with him like usual and counts her as a big emotional support.

"It's important to have someone in the room, especially when you lose. I am grateful for her support," he said in an interaction with FIDE's official website.

If any one had asked Gukesh about his start in the tournament, he would probably have settled for 2.5 out of four but then it is hard to imagine that he would have envisaged Nepomniachtchi being just ahead of him.

However, the Indian stalwart is close and has shown steely nerves especially when he beat Praggnanandhaa out of a no man's land kind of position. His chances depend on whether or not he collapses after a bad day.

One person who gives a knee-jerk reaction to bad result is the 18-year old Praggnanandhaa.

Bouncing back from a bad loss against Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa has earned the respect he deserves at the highest level and his chances will depend on his acumen to deal with any position that arrives on board.

Caruana still remains a feared contender given his history and pedigree. However, one cannot rule out the fact that he has not had a dominating start despite being the hot favourite and top seed.

Nakamura, who is also an ardent streamer, does not seem as focused as others but still a couple of good games can see him bouncing back in the scheme of things. For Gujrathi, the road might be tough but as everyone saw in the FIDE Grand Swiss, the Indian has too much fire power and will come back roaring.

Pairings round 5: Firouza Alireza (FRA, 1.5) vs Hikaru Nakamura (USA); D Gukesh (IND) vs Nijat Abasov (AZE); Vidit Gujrathi (IND) vs Fabiano Caruana (USA); R Praggnanandhaa (IND) vs Ian Nepomniachtchi (FIDE).
CRPF reopens Ram Temple closed by Naxals after 21 yrs





The Hitavada State Bureau

RAIPUR/SUKMA,

In a heartwarming gesture of community service, CRPF soldiers have reopened the Ram temple in Keralapenda village, Sukma district, fulfilling the long-standing request of the local villagers. Closed for 21 years by Naxalites, the temples doors were opened by CRPF personnel, ushering in a wave of joy and happiness among the villagers just ahead of the Navratri festival. The Ram temple, a symbol of faith and devotion for the villagers, had remained shut since around the year 2003, when Naxalites issued directives for its closure. However, despite the temples closure, members of a local family continued to offer prayers outside its premises daily, albeit discreetly, out of reverence. Inspired by the recent consecration of the Ram statue in Ayodhya and bolstered by the presence of new security forces in the area, the villagers seized the opportunity to appeal to the CRPF personnel stationed nearby to reopen the temple. Responding to the villagers plea, the CRPF 74th Battalion organised a medical camp within the temple premises, symbolising their commitment to welfare of local community.

Together with the villagers, CRPF soldiers undertook the task of cleaning the temple, clearing the path to the sacred site, and ultimately unlocking its doors. The reopening of the temple was met with collective prayers and expressions of gratitude from the villagers, who also availed themselves of medical treatment and medicines provided at the CRPF medical camp. The reopening of the Ram temple stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of the local community, bolstered by the support and goodwill of the CRPF personnel dedicated to serving and safeguarding the welfare of the people.
ED grills Kejriwals PA, AAP MLA Pathak





NEW DELHI :

THE Enforcement Directorate on Monday questioned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals personal assistant Bibhav Kumar and AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak in the excise policy-linked money laundering case, officials said. Their statement is being recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. Both of them have been questioned in this case earlier too by the ED. Sources said Kumars questioning was essential in connection with the engagements of Kejriwal. The 55-year-old CM, also the national convenor of the AAP, was arrested by the ED in this case last month. He is currently lodged in the Tihar Jail under judicial custody. The agency had alleged in its earlier charge sheets that at least 36 accused, including former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Kumar, destroyed, used or changed 170 phones to conceal evidence of kickbacks worth thousands of crores of rupees in the alleged scam.

The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) of Bibhavs mobile number is stated to have been changed four times between September 2021 and July 2022, according to the ED charge sheet filed before a local court last year. Pathak, the 35-year-old AAP MLA from Rajinder Nagar constituency, is understood to have been called by the agency for questioning in connection with the partys 2021-22 poll campaign for the Goa Assembly polls. The ED has alleged that Rs 45 crore kickbacks, out of the Rs 100 crore bribe provided by the South Group, were used by the AAP for this campaign. The agency has claimed that cash payments were made to individuals involved in campaign activities, managed by AAP members like Vijay Nair and Pathak.

The agency informed the court that it has recorded the statements of various persons engaged in the election campaign related activities of the AAP during the Goa elections and it was found that cash payments were made to them for work like survey workers, area managers, Assembly managers etc. These persons and activities related to the election campaign were overall managed by Vijay Nair (former AAP communications chief arrested in this case) and Durgesh Pathak, AAP MLA, the ED had said. The excise case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi Governments excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped. Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the liquor policy. Subsequently, the ED registered a case under the PMLA.
fake encounter: SC seeks Mahs reply on bail plea of ex-cop Pradeep Sharma





NEW DELHI,

IN A relief to former Mumbai Police officer Pradeep Sharma, the Supreme Court on Monday said he need not surrender till further orders to undergo the life sentence awarded to him in a 2006 fake encounter killing case. The apex court also sought a response from the Maharashtra Government on his bail plea in the case. While admitting Sharmas appeal against the March 19 Bombay High Court verdict, a bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Prashant Kumar Mishra said, It is a case of reversal of acquittal by the High Court, where the appeal is filed by the appellant. The statutory appeal is admitted for hearing. Issue notice on bail plea.

The High Court has directed him for surrender in three weeks. Till the next date of hearing, he need not surrender. Sharma, who along with the likes of Daya Nayak, Vijay Salaskar and Ravindra Angre was part of a dreaded squad of Mumbai police that took on the citys underworld in the 1990s and 2000s and killed scores of alleged criminals, has challenged the Bombay High Court order which sentenced him to life imprisonment in the 2006 fake encounter killing of Ramnarayan Gupta, an alleged close aide of gangster Chhota Rajan. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and advocate Subhash Jadhav, appearing for Sharma, submitted that the incident happened nearly 20 years ago and their client was not at the crime scene.

Only his revolver was used, they said. Senior advocate Yug Chaudhry, appearing for complainant Ramprasad Gupta, the brother of the deceased, opposed Sharmas bail plea and said he is a repeat offender. He submitted that Sharma has been convicted in more than one case of fake encounter and there are instances of him influencing the witnesses. Chaudhry said Sharma was granted bail in the Antilia bomb case in which an explosives-laden SUV was found near Ambanis residence.
Gadkari has contributed tremendously to countrys progress: Yogi Adityanath





Staff Reporter

Nitin Gadkari has created world class infrastructure across the country including Nagpur. In terms of infrastructure, India has become a point of discussion all over the world. Nitin Gadkari's contribution has been tremendous in the progress that the country has made in the last ten years, asserted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He was addressing a grand public meeting held at Shivaji Chowk, Friends Colony, on Monday, as part of the campaigning for Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) candidate for Nagpur Lok Sabha, Nitin Gadkari. BJPs State Vice President Sanjay Bhende, former State Minister Dr Parinay Fuke, former MLA Sudhakar Deshmukh, former Mayor Sandip Joshi, former Mayor Maya Iwanate, former Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari, former Deputy Mayor Sandeep Jadhav, Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) City President Prashant Pawar were present.

Yogi said, It is my fortune that I am getting an opportunity to communicate today in the land that gives energy to the country. Nitin Gadkari, the Mahayuti candidate from the same city, is known as the person who doesnt have enemy in national politics. He created a network of infrastructure across the country including Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. I am impressed by the infrastructure of Nagpur today. There is no word 'no' in his dictionary. Whenever we asked for funds for the development works of Uttar Pradesh, he agreed and you can see the changed picture of Uttar Pradesh as proof. It is Gadkari who made Delhi-Mumbai expressway a reality. That is why no one speaks negatively about him today. The people of Nagpur are getting a chance to elect such a leader once again. I come from the land of Maryada Purushottam Sri Ram. We used to play the song 'Holi Khele Raghuveera' during Holi celebrations for many years. But today, after 500 years, Ramlala played Holi in real sense. This would not have been possible if Congress was in power, stated Yogi.

Gadkari started working as an ordinary BJP worker. Such an activist also had the fortune of becoming the National President. The good results of his service to the people of Nagpur as Union Minister in the last ten years are being seen today, expressed Yogi. Nitin Gadkari gave credit of his achievement to the people of Nagpur. He said to people, You have blessed me for ten years. It is because of your blessings that I became Union Minister. I felt privileged to do this work. Gadkari made it clear, Under the leadership of Modiji, a grand Ram temple is built in Ayodhya. Chief Minister Yogiji built railway stations, airports and massive infrastructure. Now Ayodhya will be known as an ideal city in the whole world.
Humanitarian crisis caused by Israel-Hamas conflict unacceptable: Indian Amb Ruchira Kamboj





By Yoshita Singh

United Nations, Apr 9 (PTI)

India termed the UN Security Council resolution that demanded immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the month of Ramadan a "positive step," asserting that the humanitarian crisis resulting from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict is "simply unacceptable."

"We are deeply troubled by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The humanitarian crisis has deepened and instability has been increasing in the region and beyond," India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, told a UN General Assembly meeting here Monday.

She said India views the adoption of a resolution on March 25 by the UN Security Council "as a positive step."

Kamboj said the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially women and children.

"The resulting humanitarian crisis is simply unacceptable," she said, adding that Delhi has strongly condemned the deaths of civilians in the conflict and it is imperative to avoid the loss of civilian lives in any conflict situation.

The UNSC resolution, adopted last month, demanded an "immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire."

It also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as the humanitarian access to address their medical and other humanitarian needs. The adoption of the resolution had come as a breakthrough in the Israel-Hamas conflict which had been on for more than five months then.

The 15-nation Council adopted the resolution, put forth by the 10 non-permanent elected members of the Council, with 14 nations voting in favour, none against, and an abstention by the US, a permanent member.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had said that the "long-awaited" resolution on Gaza must be implemented. "Failure would be unforgivable."

However, on March 22, just three days before the Council adopted the resolution, permanent members Russia and China vetoed a different resolution on Gaza tabled by the US. The US-led draft had stated the "imperative" for "an immediate and sustained ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides."

The veto by Beijing and Moscow triggered the debate in the General Assembly under the requirement that the President of the 193-member UN body will convene a meeting within 10 working days whenever a veto is cast in the Council.

Kamboj underlined that India's position on the conflict has been clearly articulated on several occasions by the country's leadership.

She said there can be no justification for terror attacks or hostage taking and stressed that the terror attacks on Israel on October 7 last year were shocking and deserve "our unequivocal condemnation."

"India has a long-standing and uncompromising position against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and we demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages," Kamboj said.

India voiced its concern over the "dire" humanitarian situation in Gaza and underlined the imperative for the scaling up of humanitarian aid to the people in the strip immediately in order to avert a further deterioration in the situation.

Kamboj welcomed efforts of the United Nations and the international community in working towards peace in the region.

She noted that India has provided humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine and "will continue to do so."

Indian leaders have repeatedly emphasised that only a two-state solution achieved through direct and meaningful negotiations between both sides on final status issues will deliver an enduring peace.

"We are committed to supporting a two-state solution where the Palestinian people are able to live freely in an independent country within secure borders with due regard to the security needs of Israel," Kamboj said and urged all parties to foster conditions conducive to resuming direct peace negotiations at an early date.

Citing the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that in the six months between October 7, 2023 and the afternoon of April 8, at least 33,207 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and 75,933 injured.

According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, fatalities include about 14,500 children and 9,560 women.

More than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 33 children, have been killed in Israel, the vast majority on October 7 last year, when Hamas carried out the shocking terror attacks against Israel.

President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis expressed deep regret that the General Assembly must routinely meet on the veto initiative "due to the perennial inability of the Security Council to speak with one voice on matters of grave importance."

"Once again, we convene under this initiative as conflict in Gaza rages into its sixth bloody month, as death and destruction rule the day, and as divisions among Member States, especially in the Council, persist," he said.

Francis described the conflict in Gaza as blight on our common humanity."

With Ramadan ending on April 9, Francis said millions around the world will celebrate the religious holiday Eid-al-Fitr in the safety of their homes "while Gazans will again offer prayers on the ruins of mosques and their obliterated homes."

"I implore the Security Council members to meaningfully use their power in support of an immediate  and importantly, a lasting ceasefire on the ground, he said.
I.N.D.I.A. bloc constituents already fighting with each other: Rajnath





TIRUVARUR/NAMAKKAL,

DEFENCE Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the Opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc had no durability and attacked the mega alliance over issues including Rahul Gandhis Shakti remark and the DMKs anti-woman mindset.Targeting DMK over its leader Udhayanidhi Stalins alleged anti-Sanatana Dharma remarks and INDIA bloc over Rahul Gandhis Shakti comments, the senior BJP leader alleged the opposition alliance was targeting the Hindu faith and women while trying to criticise BJP.

He also trained his guns at the Congress over the ceding of Katchatheevu islet to Sri Lanka, saying India was paying a heavy price for many past blunders of the opposition party. The senior leader attended roadshows in Tamil Nadus Namakkal and Tenkasi in support of NDA candidates for the April 19 Lok Sabha polls and addressed a public meeting in Tiruvarur where he launched a scathing attack on the opposition. In a veiled dig at Rahul Gandhis Shakti remarks at a Mumbai meeting recently, Singh said that in their attempt to target BJP and NDA, INDI alliance doesnt hesitate to target the Hindu faith. Earlier, at a roadshow in the western town of Namakkal, Singh said the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will not take away anyones citizenship. We promised a citizenship act, and we did it.

I want to clarify that any citizen of India--whether they are Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew--nobodys citizenship will go away, he said. The DMK and Congress are creating confusion on the matter, he alleged. On the abolition of triple Talaq, he said mothers and sisters from any faith are our mothers and sisters. Any atrocity against our mothers and sisters of any religion--we stand with them and we proved this by ending triple talaq, he said. The BJP implements what it promises, he said, referring to the construction of Sri Ram Temple in Ayodhya and abolition of Article 370.
Parents baffle as school bus, pvt van fare rise





By Ankita Garg

With the start of new academic session in all the private CBSE, ICSE schools, parents are asked to pay around Rs 200 to Rs 400 more for the bus or van fee depending on the route, distance and type of vehicle. While district administration remained busy in tightening the noose around bookstores and publishers after sales of almost 90 per cent syllabus books, school management and private van operators put extra burden on parents with the fare hike. Private schools have their own buses on various routes but they are charging different amount from parents for the same distance. Parents said that recently fuel price has been slashed by Rs 2 per litre but charge of school bus and van has been increased. They said, when fuel price go up, van and bus operator immediately introduce the fare hike but this time fuel price has been reduced but fare has swelled. Many parents have demanded the district administration to intervene in the matter.

According to Fee Regulation Act 2020, school administration is not allowed to introduce the bus fare hike while bus fare is decided by the School Education Department and Transportation Department. Madhya Pradesh Parents Association said that private schools are charging different amount from parents for the same distance. The association also alleged that school buses and van operators are ignoring the guidelines of court just because of lethargic attitude of the transportation department. MP Parents Association Secretary Prabodh Pande said, I have also written to the District Collector for regulating school bus fee. School bus fee is decided by the transportation and School Education Department jointly under the MP Fee Regulation Act. He further said that there are detail guideline of CBSE for the schools buses which is clearly being ignored in city.

According to CBSE guidelines, it is mandatory to display yellow colour on school buses and vans, schools name and number should be displayed on both back and front side of the vehicle, there should be mandatory female conductor in van or bus if female students travel in the vehicle. CBSE also mandate uniform khaki for the drivers for identification. It is also mandatory for the driver to have at least five years of driving experience. Opposing the allegation of parents association, Secretary of the Madhyra Pradesh Private Vans Association Sudhir Kumar said, There are nominal changes in fuel price. It takes Rs 30,000 to 40,000 expenses annually to maintain the vehicle including insurance, penalty, driver, diesel, etc so have no other option except increasing the fare.
PM Modi on Manipur





NEW DELHI :

Relief, rehabilitation ongoing, aid to those in shelter camps

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the ground situation has seen marked improvement in Manipur and it was possible because of the timely intervention by the Centre and consistent efforts of the State Government, led by N Biren Singh. Prime Minister Modi, speaking to The Assam Tribune, also shed light on the ongoing relief and rehabilitation work in the strife-torn Manipur and informed that several remedial measures are being taken to ensure calm in the region.

The process of relief and rehabilitation is ongoing. Remedial measures include the financial package for relief and rehabilitation of people living in shelter camps in the State, the Prime Minister told the daily. Prime Ministers remarks on Manipur come amid the Oppositions renewed attack on the Centre over the latters purported silence on the trouble-hit region. In an apparent retort to the Oppositions charges, Prime Minister Modi told the daily that he had already spoken about this in Parliament and the Government has deployed its best resources and administrative machinery to resolve the conflict. He further told the daily: Home Minister stayed in Manipur while the conflict was at its peak, holding 15-plus meetings with various stakeholders to help resolve the conflict. The Central Government has been consistently extending its support, as required by the State Government. N-E has emerged as New Indias greatest success story: PM Modi on Monday said that North-East India has undergone an enormous transformation in the past ten years and today it is identified as an abundant region rather than abandoned region.
PM Modi roars at Vijay Sankalp Shanknaad Rally





Our Correspondent & PTI

Bastar,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hit out at the Opposition Congress, saying it overlooked the needs of the poor for decades since independence and never understood their pain. Addressing the Vijay Sankalp Shanknaad Rally in Chote Amabal, Narayanpur in Bastar district, which will go to polls on April 19, PM Modi also said that the Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections has the Muslim League imprint. During the Congress regime, corruption had become the countrys identity, he said. Since independence, the Congress overlooked the needs of the poor for decades and never understood their pain, the PM said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi evoked sentiments of nostalgia and gratitude as he reminisced about his past engagements and organisational efforts alongside Baliram Kashyap. Modi acknowledged the foundational groundwork laid by the party in Bastar, attributing the regions trust to past efforts. He expressed deep gratitude to the nation for its cooperation in developmental endeavours, emphasising the strides made over the past decade.

Modi underscored the BJP Governments commitment to the welfare of the poor, highlighting initiatives aimed at addressing fundamental challenges faced by marginalised communities. He emphasised the transformative impact of schemes like Ayushman Arogya Mandir and Ayushman Bharat Yojana, symbolising the partys dedication to accessible healthcare. Furthermore, Modi stressed the importance of addressing the basic needs of the poor, particularly mothers, and reiterated the Governments commitment to providing essential services and support to vulnerable populations, citing initiatives like Jan Aushadhi Kendra. Amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Modi reaffirmed his Governments commitment to citizen welfare. People said what will happen to the poor during the COVID-19 pandemic, but I said I will give free vaccine and ration to them, he said, adding that due to my governments efforts, 25 crore people have risen above the poverty line.

Addressing the issue of corruption, Modi condemned the exploitation of public resources and emphasised the need for accountability and justice. He reaffirmed his commitment to upholding integrity and honesty in governance. Concluding his speech, Modi urged voters to support BJP candidates in the upcoming elections, expressing confidence in the party's vision for a developed nation. He extended wishes for forthcoming festivals and underscored the spirit of resilience and hope in the Indian ethos. At the rally, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai welcomed Prime Minister Modi and highlighted initiatives for Chhattisgarhs progress. He underscored the BJP's commitment to tribal welfare and paid tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his role in the states formation. Chief Minister Sai praised Modi's decision to appoint tribal woman Droupadi Murmu as President, citing it as a symbol of inclusivity. Highlighting Modi's affection for Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Sai recounted the Prime Minister's visits, including the launch of Ayushman Bharat in Jangla. He emphasised initiatives like the Nagarnar steel plant for Bastar's youth employment. Chief Minister Sai reaffirmed the government's commitment to fulfilling promises and urged voters to secure victory in the upcoming elections.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Training flights were conducted with the Azerbaijani Air Forces helicopter units in accordance with the combat training plan for 2024 approved by the Minister of Defense, Trend reports via the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan.

According to the ministry, prior to the flights, military personnels theoretical knowledge was checked, and military pilots were informed about safety rules.

"Helicopters carried out flights from base airfields along the designated routes and accomplished the tasks on takeoff and landing, conducting aerial reconnaissance, as well as other activities in the daylight hours and at nighttime.

The tasks assigned at the exercise in order to increase the combat training and improve practical skills of the crew were successfully fulfilled," added the ministry.
Will return to BJP in next 15 days, says Eknath Khadse





MUMBAI,

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Eknath Khadse has said he would be returning to the BJP in a fortnight. Khadse quit the BJP in 2016, after almost four decades in the party. He had first resigned as Maharashtra minister following allegations of irregularities in MIDC Bhosari land case. In 2020, he joined the undivided NCP after alleging that Devendra Fadnavis was trying to finish off his political career. Reacting to Khadses decision, an NCP (SP) spokesperson said, It will not make any difference to our party. It is not a big loss. If anyone is joining BJP by reposing trust in PM Narendra Modi, we welcome them. It is not official yet, but if he (Khadse) is joining BJP, we will welcome him as well, Fadnavis told reporters on Monday.

Talking to reporters on Sunday, Khadse expressed his gratitude towards NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar for helping him in distress. Once among the tallest BJP leaders in Maharashtra, Khadse was relegated to political wilderness for almost five years before Pawar rehabilitated him in undivided NCP . I have decided to go back to the BJP as it is my home. I have served the party for four decades. I express my gratitude towards Sharad Pawar who helped me during distress, Khadse said. I have spoken to BJP President J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

I will join the party in New Delhi in next 15 days. Once I get a call, I will visit Delhi, he said. Last year, Khadse chose to side with Sharad Pawar when the NCP split after Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde Government. On Sunday, State Minister and BJP leader Girish Mahajan termed Khadse an extinguished lamp.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. The second Karabakh war followed by a change in the geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus, which is one of the most important transit regions in the world and part of the Great Silk Road.

Notably, Armenia chose the path of rapid integration with the West following the war. However, this is more related to intensifying steps to attract external forces to the region than to Armenia exercising its right to choose as a sovereign state.

Thus, in 2022, Armenia invited the EU peacekeeping mission to its country, and since February 2023, this mission has continued its activities with a new mandate on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Armenian side has publicly stated on several occasions that it has turned away from its traditional ally, Russia.

"Today, our Russian colleagues claim that Western governments are putting pressure on the Armenian government to reduce Moscow's influence in the South Caucasus. The reality is that Russia is spontaneously leaving the region, and we don't know the reasons. There are many indicators that one day we may wake up and find that Russia is no longer here," Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in September 2023 in an interview with La Repubblica newspaper, effectively sending an open message regarding new patrons.

One of the reasons for all these steps taken in recent months can be called Russia's "busyness" in the armed conflict with Ukraine, and Armenia has seized this opportunity to try to fill its place in the region with Western countries' interests.

One of the countries seeking to influence the South Caucasus region and closely monitor the processes is Iran.

Obviously, the new geopolitical situation that has emerged after the war and the current events contradict Iran's regional interests.

The search for a new ally by Armenia, which refuses to conduct an independent policy while remaining in the tandem of "either the West or Russia," undoubtedly cannot fail to worry other countries in the region.

It's no secret that there is a cold war between Iran and the Western world.

Despite the fact that for many years Western forces sought to use Azerbaijani territory to conduct operations against Iran, Azerbaijan did not allow this; however, currently, Armenia is opening paths for Western influence on Iran, and of course, Tehran sees this too.

That is why, in October 2023, Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan was invited to Iran, and this happened shortly before the meeting in Granada, where significant improvements in relations between the EU and Armenia were recorded.

Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, in a phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, stated that contacts beyond the 3+3 format in the South Caucasus complicate the situation; any geopolitical changes are a red line for Iran; and Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian has repeatedly stated in his speeches on various platforms that Iran is against interference in the region from beyond its borders.

Map with locations of the EU civilian mission to Armenia

One of the Western countries, France, openly declares its intention to open a consulate in Gafan. The fact that Canada, as a NATO member and a North American country not part of the EU, has also entered the region makes one wonder about intentions that are far from maintaining peace on the border.

Notably, in 2023, Canada's embassy began operating in Armenia. Regarding the involvement of third parties, the 9th Article of the EU Council decision published in the EU's Official Journal on the mission's activities in Armenia noted that the third parties will have the same rights and obligations as member countries.

The recent visit of American military personnel to Armenia (on April 1) as part of US-Armenian military cooperation is another manifestation of the impending military cooperation between the West and Armenia.

On the other hand, the duration of the peacekeeping mission in the region, which began its activities on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border in October 2022, was initially set for two months, but in January 2023, it was extended until February 2025.

In March 2024, the Armenian parliament ratified the official document on the status of the EU civil mission.

Just a few days ago, Pashinyan stated during a press conference that the duration of the EU civil mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border could be extended for another two years after 2025.

The increase in the number of mission members, its offices throughout this period, and the complete lack of public disclosure of the mission members' mandate raise certain doubts.

It's no secret that these peacekeeping forces not only do not support stability on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in this region but also monitor Iran, which is just a step away; at least, "their sights are on Iran."

It's well known that there are longstanding misunderstandings between Iran and the West on the nuclear issue, and in this context, the official statement by the Executive Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, that "Iran has reached a peak in uranium enrichment," as well as evident military support for Russia in the armed conflict with the West's ally Ukraine, are the main indicators representing the current situation.

It's not coincidental that in such a situation, the collective West is increasingly politically and militarily strengthening itself on the northern borders of Iran.

Tehran is becoming increasingly aware that deepening relations between Armenia and the West create new risks to the country's national security.

It is also no coincidence that at a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff of the Islamic Republic of Iran during the visit to Tehran of the Chairman of the National Security Council of the Republic of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, in October 2023, Mohammed Bagheri officially announced Tehrans readiness to send its observers to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and noted that the emergence of new actors from outside the region increases complexity and instability.

Thus, the current situation gives grounds to say that Armenia actively invites external forces into the region and creates conditions for them to closely monitor other countries.

As the West strengthens its position in Armenia, it seeks to observe Iran, with which it is in a "cold war" state, and, if necessary, create conditions for intervention.

As a result, the red lines that Iran always talks about have long been crossed. Just a month ago, in March 2024, when Ibrahim Raisi met with Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan in Iran, his repeated emphasis on the phrase "permission for intervention by forces from outside the region does not bring peace to the region; peace can only be achieved with the participation of regional countries" is evidence that Iran sees what Armenia is trying to do in the region.

Before it's too late, Tehran must prevent Armenia from acting as a springboard for the West against Iran.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. In today's global geopolitical landscape, the South Caucasus remains a focal point of interest for extra-regional actors. However, heightened external attention doesn't consistently lead to mutual efforts for compromise or cooperation among countries; it can occasionally trigger destabilization instead. Certain countries, like France, attempt to carve out spheres of influence within the region to pursue specific objectives.

Several factors contribute to the increased interest of non-regional players in the South Caucasus. Primarily, Emmanuel Macron's active foreign policy engagement in the region is notable, partly because Moscow diverted attention from the South Caucasus temporarily amid the conflict in Ukraine. This created opportunities for geopolitical maneuvers by external players. Consequently, France has pursued a broad spectrum of actions, such as bolstering military and political support for Armenia.

France intends to disrupt the peace process by impeding regional cooperation, aiming to leverage Armenia for logistical purposes. Conversely, Iran and Russia perceive France's actions as attempts to destabilize the region. Consequently, one of Iran's primary concerns is the proximity of a NATO member to its northern borders, which it has officially labeled as a violation of its 'red line'.

The growth of anti-Russian tendencies within the Armenian leadership was provoked by several factors, including the suspension of Armenia's involvement in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), limitations on the acceptance of Mir cards in the country's banks, and the decision to discontinue the service of Russian border guards at Zvartnots airport. These actions signal a significant shift in the country's foreign policy towards favoring the EU and pose a geopolitical challenge for Russia in the South Caucasus. Additionally, such external pressures may impede Armenia's engagement in the North-South transportation project and obstruct the establishment of potential corridors between countries, presenting a shared geo-economic risk for Iran and Russia.

Despite the conducive environment for signing a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, external forces are deploying "observer missions" along the border of the two countries. This fuels a resurgence of revanchist sentiments in Armenia and obstructs the normalization of bilateral relations. The mandate of the EU civilian mission in Armenia emphasizes its role in maintaining regional peace. However, the extensive activities of this mission along the hypothetical Azerbaijani-Armenian border, coupled with the expansion of its personnel to 209, raise questions. In January of this year, the number of EUMA patrols in Armenia's border regions with Azerbaijan reached 1500. On March 20, the Armenian Parliament ratified an agreement with the European Union on the status of the EU civilian observation mission along the conditional border with Azerbaijan. This indicates the potential for further extension of EUMA's mandate and the gradual expansion of its composition.

The day before, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated in an interview with the Izvestia news portal: "Currently, military personnel from Norway, Canada, and the US continue to be deployed there, effectively transforming the EU mission into a North Atlantic Alliance mission."

The involvement of third countries in the region is not a new trend but rather a growing phenomenon. For instance, there's a discussion about forming an alliance between Armenia, Greece, France, and India under France's patronage. This military collaboration was proposed during Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias' visit to Armenia. While Greece aims to counterbalance Turkiye's influence in the region, India has multiple objectives, primarily economic. India views the South Caucasus as a potential alternative route to Europe, bypassing the Suez Canal through the Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Black Sea route, although Azerbaijan offers more favorable conditions for this project. India's foreign policy decision might also be influenced by its relationship with Pakistan, taking the stance that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." By providing military support to Armenia, India is making a political statement in response to Azerbaijan's close ties with Pakistan.

India stands out as a primary arms supplier to Armenia. Estimates suggest that the total value of contracts for arms and military equipment amounts to approximately $2 billion, covering a diverse range of items.

The provision of arms by India to Armenia heightens the risk of a fresh escalation.

Hence, the genuine mosaic of the Caucasus comprises nations with divergent foreign policy trajectories, rendering the regional geopolitical landscape intricate. Amidst such complexities, the involvement of external actors will exacerbate tensions and jeopardize peace. France seeks to assert itself as a guarantor of Armenia's security in the South Caucasus; however, this approach has proven ineffective. It is unrealistic to adopt a "Napoleonic" stance everywhere in the contemporary world order. France and other NATO members endeavor to foster a zone of instability. Armenia, by inviting Western observers and bolstering its military capabilities, aims to balance Azerbaijan's newfound status following the Second Karabakh War in late 2020.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has made a trip to the city of Ganja, Trend reports.

The head of state visited and laid flowers at a statue of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the center of the city of Ganja
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has inspected a complex of irrigation facilities designed to deliver irrigation water from the Kur River to a 4200-hectare land owned by Agro Dairy LLC through a pumping station in the Hajigabul district, Trend reports.

Zaur Mikayilov, Chairman of the Azerbaijan State Water Reserves Agency, and Niyazi Amirbayov, Executive Director of Agro Dairy LLC, briefed the head of state on the work accomplished.

President Ilham Aliyev was also informed about the Hajigabul irrigation project. It was noted that within the project framework, irrigation of 2,555 hectares of land was ensured in 2022. It is planned to implement the project on an additional 1,225 hectares of land next year.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Kyrgyzstan will build a secondary school in Khidirli village of Aghdam district, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend.

This announcement was made during the meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov and his Kyrgyz counterpart, Jeenbek Kulubayev.

It was highlighted that Kyrgyzstan's support for the peace process and constructive efforts is commendable. The initiative to construct a secondary school in Khidirli village of Aghdam district, spearheaded by Kyrgyzstan, serves as a prominent illustration of this support.

"Jeenbek Kulubayev remarked that the positive trajectory of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan's relationship development is encouraging, emphasizing the significant role that mutual visits play in furthering cooperation," the ministry said in a statement.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Uyo has commenced investigation of alleged illegal activities of eight suspected dealers in petroleum products without appropriate licences.

The arrested suspects are: Pere Ebiye (Captain), Okon David (DeckMan) , Enuwa Wilson (Cook) , Wesley Okon (DeckMan) , Ade Ojo Idowu (Asst. Engineer) , Oluwadamire Abraham (DeckMan) , Oluwole Azuzu (Asst. Captain) and Taiwo Adebanwo (Chief Engineer).

According to the anti-graft agency, they were arrested on Friday February 23, 2024, onboard a wooden boat, MV Jasmine, which was laden with 30, 000 (Thirty Thousand) litres of petroleum products suspected to be crude, bunkered in a cellophane- sealed compartment of the boat and in four Geepee tanks.

Both the arrested crew members and the exhibits were handed over to the Commission on Tuesday April 3, 2024 by the Commanding Officer Captain (NN) Uche Aneke of the Nigeria Navy Ship, Forward Operating Base Ibaka, in Akwa Ibom State.

According to him, the crew were arrested at Posn Lat. 0418.258N. Long 00829. 696'E by the Navy Ship Ekulu during a patrol. He expressed determination to ensure that the Nigerian waterways remain safe and free of criminal activities. "The Navy is on alert to arrest and prosecute any person found culpable in any criminal activity on our waterways or conveying illegal products as well as petroleum products", he said.

While receiving the crew members, boat and products, the Uyo Zonal Commander, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Bawa H. Saidu who was represented by Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, ASE1 Terseer Chinyam thanked the Nigerian Navy and assured it of the Commission's readiness to always partner with it and other security agencies to curb economic crimes in Nigeria.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his felicitations with Muslim Ummah at Eid-el-Fitr, an auspicious occasion that signifies the end of Ramadan; a hallowed season which reflects total submission to God Almighty and to His command of sacrifice and service to humankind.

In a statement made available by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tinubu greets the Muslim faithful in Nigeria and all around the world, praying that their supplications and sacrifices this season and even after will receive the fitting rewards from Almighty Allah.

The President, however, called on citizens to come together and rededicate themselves to the noble duty of building the nation.

As he emphasized during an iftar with Nigeria's leaders of thought and conscience, President Tinubu appeals to all citizens to come together and rededicate themselves to the noble duty of building the nation, stating: "We are the sculptor, and Nigeria is the clay; we build it the way we desire".

The President prays that the lessons, blessings, and the joys of this season abide with us always while wishing Nigerians, Happy Eid-el-Fitr celebrations, Ngelale added.
The chief executive of the Africa Investment and Trade Summit and Exhibition (AITE), Tunde MacAlabi, has lauded the Air Peace chairman, Allen Onyema, for his unwavering patriotism, noting that the resumption of the Lagos-London flights by his airline on March 30 has crashed fares on the lucrative route by about 50% for the benefit of the Nigerian people.

In a statement in Lagos this morning signed by himself, the AITE chairman said that the significant reduction in fares owes to Onyemas love of Nigeria.

He could have gone into a furtive deal with the only two foreign aircarriers operating Lagos-London direct flights to keep the economy ticket as high as N3.5 million, as against the N1.2m Air Peace charges for an economy seat.

Foreign airlines have in the last few days cut their charges on the Lagos-London operations significantly.

British Airway, for instance, has reduced its fare from N2.7m to N1. 280m for a one-way economy ticket.

This competition is good for the Nigerian people and the countrys economy, MacAlabi declared, commending Air Peace for providing even a cheaper fare for Nigerian students.

The AITE chairman, who organised Nigeria's l international investment, Business, Trade Summit and exhibition in September on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, stated that London is not just the capital of Nigerias former colonial master but also the worlds business capital, making traffic between Nigeria and the UK heavy.

Calling the Lagos-London route one of the most profitable in the world, the leading international business promoter, recalled how the British government fought tooth and nail during the General Sani Abacha military government of the 1990s to get British Airways to resume flights on the route when the Nigerian and British governments had a big quarell over some diplomatic issues.

The British government, the AITE leader continued, even provided Nigeria Airways, its sole competittor on the route, with aircraft to apparently compete with it on the same route!

That shows how lucrative and irresistible the Lagos-London operation is to foreign airlines and the extent they can go to maintain it.

He said that Nigerians are not surprised that Mr Onyema did not collaborate with any group to fleece Nigerian travellers which could have fetched him millions of dollars within a few days.

It added: Nigerians remember the Air Peace chairman as the person who on May 29 2020 brought home, free of charge, 268 stranded Nigerians and the previous day 301 fellow citizens from South Africa who were facing vivious attacks in a country the Nigerian government and people played a significant role in liberating from Apartheid and the worst form of internal colonialism.

He also recalled that Air Peace brought home many stranded Nigerians from Ukraine in 2020 when Russia invaded the country, culminating in a war.

The Air Peace chairman once again came to the rescue of stranded 5 Nigerian students last year in the Sudan when a vicious civil war broke out.

MacAlabi, a former Business Development Manager with the Daily Times and The Guardian, also commended the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, for asking the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to fish out Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) officials who directed the maiden Air Peace crew from London to park in an akward location as part of the effort to frustrtae the airline while foreign aircarriers were given prime places.

We are proud that our professional colleague in government is still playing the role of the conscience of society with his swift response to the man-made obstacles Mr Onyema has been facing in the aviation industry despite all he has done for thousands of Nigerians regardless of their faith, gender or ethnicity.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. The Armenian Parliament will discuss the issue of delimitation and demarcation of borders with Azerbaijan on April 9 at the initiative of opposition party factions, Armenian Parliament's Speaker Alen Simonyan said, Trend reports.

He made a remark during the regular session of parliament.

"The agenda of the session is dedicated to discussions about the delimitation and demarcation of borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan," he said.

This discussion, as it was reported, will be held in closed mode at the request of the ruling Civil Contract Party in the presence of speakers: Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan.

To note, the seventh session of the State Commission on Delimitation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and the Commission on Delimitation of the State Border and Border Security between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan was held on March 7 at the conditional border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan.

The sides had exchanged views on the delimitation issues and proceeded to agree on the draft Regulations on the Joint Activity of the State Commission on Delimitation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and the Commission on Delimitation of the State Border and Border Security between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as discussed the draft relevant instructions on the procedure of delimitation works.

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We always look forward to our trips down under. Its one of our favourite places in the world to perform. UB40

Join the legendary pop icons UB40 and special guest Eagle-Eye Cherry for the party of all parties when the world's biggest-selling reggae band brings their RED RED WINE Tour New Zealand this October.

The tour will include an incredible performance at Christchurchs Wolfbrook Arena on Tuesday 8 October before the band heads to Aucklands The Trusts Arena on Thursday 10 October.

Fans can expect to experience live performances of their worldwide hit singles such as Red Red Wine, Food For Thought, (I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You, along with a preview of fresh tracks from their upcoming album UB45, including the two new smash hit singles Gimme Some Kinda Sign and Forever True.

With a staggering forty Top 40 hits in Britain and over 100 million records sold worldwide, UB40 stands as one of the UKs greatest musical acts, consistently topping charts and winning hearts of fans of all ages and after four decades of success, the band continues with their key founding members and songwriting core, staying true to and building on the legacy and ethos of the band.

UB40 is Robin Campbell (vocals & guitar), James Brown (drums), Earl Falconer (vocals & bass), Norman Hassan (vocals & percussion), Martin Meredith (keyboards & saxophone), Laurence Parry (trumpet & trombone), Jahred Gordon (keyboards), Ian Thompson (saxophone), Gilly G (MC vocals) Matt Doyle (lead vocals & guitar) and Matt Campbell (backing vocals).

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Kyrgyz counterpart Jeenbek Kulubayev held discussions on bilateral and multilateral cooperation, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) preparations, and regional affairs, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend.

Bayramov expressed satisfaction with the enhanced historical ties between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, bolstered by mutual trust and political dialogue among their leaders.

He highlighted the significance of the "Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kyrgyz Republic" in solidifying these relations.

Furthermore, Bayramov emphasized that mutual visits and contacts foster the development of their strategic partnership and the expansion of the legal framework.

It was underscored that the strategic partnership between the two nations has strengthened and progressed through the efforts of the Interstate Council between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as the Joint Intergovernmental Commission for Cooperation in Economic and Humanitarian Spheres.

Additionally, it was mentioned that bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan in all areas, including political, economic, trade, investment, transportation, communication, tourism, cultural, humanitarian, and others, has a multifaceted character, and it was emphasized that within the framework of the Middle Corridor between the two countries, there is broad potential for cooperation.

The importance for both countries of holding cultural days and deepening cooperation in the fields of culture and art was noted. The parties also exchanged views on the prospects for cooperation in the field of green energy production.

In addition, the importance of developing relations within regional and international organizations was emphasized. In particular, the importance of having broad prospects for cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), as well as intensive contacts between OTS member states, in utilizing the existing potential, was emphasized.

In particular, there is confidence that the extraordinary OTS summit, which will take place in July of this year in the city of Shusha, and the official summit, which will take place in October in Bishkek, will be among the contacts that will contribute to the development of the organization.

Bayramov also informed about Azerbaijan's chairmanship in COP29, the negotiations conducted, and the preparatory work, adding that this important event creates new prospects for cooperation.

Speaking about the current situation in the region in the post-conflict period, Azerbaijan's reconstruction, construction, and peace-building efforts, as well as the threats to regional peace-building, Bayramov emphasized that unilateral steps and initiatives aimed against the opportunities created for peace are unacceptable.

He reiterated his desire to emphasize Azerbaijan's commitment to the norms and principles of international law, including the establishment of peace in the region based on respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty.

It was also emphasized that Kyrgyzstan's support for the peaceful and constructive process is commendable, as is the fact that the secondary school, which will be built in Khidirli village in the Aghdam district at the country's initiative, is a vivid example of this support.

Kulubaev said that the dynamics of the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan are satisfactory, and mutual visits aimed at further developing cooperation play an important role.

It was also conveyed that Kyrgyzstan consistently supports Azerbaijan's regional peace-building efforts.

The meeting also hosted an exchange of opinions on other mutually interesting issues.

Then the ministers made a statement at a press conference following the meeting.

To note, COP29 will be held in Azerbaijan in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,00080,000 foreign guests.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Around 198 countries are parties to the convention. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.

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Hazi Nurul Islam, Trinamul Congress candidate from Basirhat Lok Sabha (LS) constituency in North 24-Parganas district, was admitted to a private hospital along the EM Bypass in the city showing symptoms of pneumonia with high fever.

According to the local Trinamul Congress in Basirhat, Mr Islam is undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the hospital. The ongoing election campaigns for him in the constituency may lose momentum hardly one month 21 days ahead of 1 June when Basirhat will go for elections in the final phase, the party insiders feared.

Sources in the hospital said that the condition of the patient was stable on Monday and he has been given broad spectrum antibiotics to fight infections in his right lung. His high blood sugar level is also being monitored by doctors attending to him, the sources said requesting anonymity.

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He was scheduled to address an election campaign programme at Rajbari in Sandeshkhali, under the Basirhat LS constituency on Saturday evening, but could not attend owing to his illness.

He could not even attend any political programme on Sunday and was rushed to the premier private hospital later in the day after his condition deteriorated, according to the party sources.

It might be recalled that Rekha Patra, BJP contestant in Basirhat, was also admitted to the central government-run All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in Kalyani of Nadia district on 5 April after she fell ill with dehydration. She was discharged from the hospital within a couple of days.

The ruling Trinamul Congress fielded Mr Islam this time after the partys outgoing MP Nushrat Jahan was denied ticket by the leadership.

Basirhat has become a prestigious seat for all the three main contesting political parties, Trinamul Congress, BJP and the CPM after the incident of violence after Enforcement Directorate officials on 5 January had gone there for a raid.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday that she is not scared even if Prime Minister Narendra Modi converts the entire Parliament into a jail after the Lok Sabha elections. How can he threaten the Opposition to be put behind bars after 4 June? How can the Prime Minister intimidate citizens like this? Does it suit a PM using dialects like 4 June ke baad chun chun ke Jail me bharunga (We will send the culprits to jail), the chief minister lambasted PM Modi, while addressing a poll rally here today. The Prime Minister said this while asserting his vow to crackdown on corruption after 4 June.

She said, Should the Prime Minister talk like this? What if I say, Ill put the BJP leaders in jail after the election? I wont say it like this, because its not the way democracy functions. An angry Mamata said, Yesterday, the Prime Minister was in Jalpaiguri where hes said so, instead of declaring any relief for the storm-ravaged district. This is essentially Modis guarantee of imprisoning the Opposition after 4 June, but our guarantee stands with Ma, Mati, Manus with Lakhhir Bhandar, with Krishak Bandhu. Modi, in Jalpaiguri claimed yesterday that while he advocates for combating corruption, the Opposition stands to protect the corrupt.

The seven-phase general election is scheduled to end on 1 June and its result is scheduled to be out on 4 June. Mamata Banerjee warned Modi, Try such hysteric roaring speeches with your party men to give them moral boost, but dont try to disturb an injured Royal Bengal tiger here, its far more dangerous. Mamata mocked Modi, referring to the Central Vista  the new Parliament building erected during Modis regime, saying, Your new Parliament will be turned into a jail where the autocratic, emperors of thieves, the goondas (miscreants) like your party will be thrown.

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Although I dont like revenge politics, Ive seen enough blood in my life. I suffered many wounds in my head, hands and legs. She ridiculed Modi for exploiting the Central agencies saying: You have ED, CBI in one pocket, while in another you have NIA and Income Tax. They are your brothers who arrange your funding. You try to frighten us using your such brothers but we are not scared. Addressing the gathering, the chief minister also launched a scathing personal attack against Saumitra Khan, the sitting BJP MP who has been re-nominated from Bishnupur, one of the two Lok Sabha constituencies in Bankura district, where the Trinamul has fielded Khans estranged wife Sujata Mondal Khan.

I dont know if the divorce has finally happened. His wife is a candidate here this time. If I reveal some of his photos, the people of Bishnupur will understand the kind of people flocking to the BJP. I have all the pictures, the chief minister said. She also launched a scathing attack against the BJP on the Uniform Civil Code issue
In what comes as good news for the religious tourists of West Bengal, the Tarakeshwar-Bishnupur Railway Link project nearing completion with larger parts of the works in various parts being complete.

The final commissioning of the line being targeted in 2025, would facilitate easy rail connectivity between the birthplaces of Ramakrishna and Ma Sarada.

Sanctioned in 2001, the Bishnupur-Tarakeswar New Line project spans over 87 kilometres and would serve as a crucial link not only in terms of pilgrimage but also as an alternate route for goods traffic between the South Eastern Railway and Eastern Railway. According to the Eastern Railway, the project was considerably delayed primarily due to challenges in land acquisition and disputes. To expedite its completion, the Eastern Railway revised its strategies structured in several phases. As informed by the ER, over 80 per cent of the works of earthwork and bridges have been completed in the phase from Moynapur to Bara Gopinathpur which is spread over 7.7km while construction activities for the Bara Gopinathpur station building are in full swing.

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In the second phase between Bara Gopinathpur to Jayrambati of 7.1 km, 70 per cent of earthwork and bridges have been completed and the construction of the Jayrambati station building is currently underway. The next phase from Jairambati to Kamarpukur of around 5km was said to have been impeded by delays in land acquisition, particularly a 2.5 km stretch. However, after resolving issues and paying additional compensation, the required land was handed over to the Railway authorities on 8 March.

The remaining 5.5 km stretch of the fourth phase from Kamarpukur to Goghat, according to the ER, is faced with the land acquisition hurdles at Bhaba Dighi even as major works in the section have been completed.
10 Trinamul Congress leaders were detained by Delhi Police while they were protesting outside the office of the Chief Election Commissioner this afternoon.

A delegation, comprising 10 members, included five MPs, namely, Derek O Brien, Dola Sen, Saket Gokhale, Sagarika Ghosh and Nadimul Haque was on a 24-hour dharna outside Nirvachan Sadan after ECI refused to meet the delegation.

In a letter to the Election Commissioner of India, Trinamul Congress alleged that BJP was misusing National Investigation Agency (NIA) to conspire against the political opponents of BJP. It demanded heads of NIA, CBI and ED.

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Trinamul Congress demanded that in view of the devastation created by the Tornado in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar, embargoes can be lifted in view of the promulgation of Model Code of Conduct due to the general election and fresh funds may be allowed to be used to set up the houses that were damaged or flattened.

When Trinamul Congress leaders sat outside the office of the ECI, police picked them up and told them that they would be taken to the Mandir Marg police station. When the police van reached Mandir Marg police station, Trinamul Congress leaders were told that they would be taken to another police station.

Saket Gokhale, Trinamul Congress MP, said, We were told that we would be taken to Mandir Marg police station and now they told us that they would be taking us to another police station. They are kidnapping us. They are doing this on the instructions of the BJP.

Sagarika Ghosh, Trinamul Congress MP said, We were peacefully protesting to press our demands when we were picked up by police. They pushed the women MPs and Dola Sen received injury.

Dola Sen said, The BJP was misusing the NIA. In Bhupatinagar they picked up two Trinamul leaders in connection with an incident that took place in 2022. They went to the house of the leaders at 3.30am and informed the local police at 5.50am, two hours after the incident. They did the same thing in Sandeshkhali.

In the letter to the ECI, Trinamul Congress alleged that on 26 March, the Centre appointed a new NIA chief named Sadanand Date. He had served the Maharashtra Police in several capacities during the tenure of Devendra Fandavis. Mr Date is known for his close association with BJP leaders, Trinamul Congress alleged.

Jitendra Tewari, state BJP leader, met Mr Dhani Ram Singh at his residence. If it was an official business Mr Tewari could have met him at his residence. He stayed in the house for 52 minutes, said the delegation.

Trinamul Congress alleged that after discussions with Mr Singh, NIA team was sent to Bhupatinagar to arrest party leaders in connection with an incident that took place in 2022.
A four-year-old girl was found dead after being kidnapped near her home in West Delhis Jhuggi Chara Mandi, Jakhira while playing near, the police said on Tuesday.

The childs next-door neighbour has been arrested as her mother had suspected him while lodging a complaint lodged at the Moti Nagar police station after she went missing.

In the morning, the victims next-door neighbour, who runs a grocery shop, received a ransom call, where the alleged kidnapper asked for Rs 5 lakh against the kids release.

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Soon after registering the complaint, the police swung into action with several teams deputed on the ground and CCTV footage of the area scanned to find clues to the missing girl child.

Notices were sent and all required steps in such case were quickly taken up by the police in the matter.

After all the efforts, and mounting technical surveillance, one of the neighbours was questioned by the police, on the basis of suspicion. When confronted with electronic evidence, the man broke down and confessed to his involvement in the crime.

Meanwhile, as the girls body was recovered crime investigation team and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) were called on the spot. With legal proceedings underway in the matter, the accused was apprehended while further investigation was going on, the police added.

The childs body was shifted to the mortuary, with further proceedings as per law taking place.
Munawar Faruqui, the well-known comedian with a knack for keeping his audience in stitches, has recently found himself inundated with invitations to Iftaar parties. In a humorous twist, he took to Instagram to share his plight, drawing parallels to a scene from the movie Baadshah where Johnny Lever, in his quintessential style, is constantly fielding calls and delaying plans.

Sharing a clip from the movie, Munawar couldnt help but relate to the endless stream of invites, simply captioning it with a succinct Seriously on his Instagram story. Its not hard to imagine the flood of invitations the comedian must be receiving, given his popularity and charm.

Despite the humorous take on the situation, Munawar has been making the rounds at various star-studded Iftaar gatherings, including the one hosted by Baba Siddique and another hosted by Aly Goni and Jasmin Bhasin. His presence adds a touch of humor and warmth to these events, much like his performances on stage.

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However, Munawars journey hasnt been without its bumps. Earlier this year, he found himself in a bit of a bind when Mumbai police detained him along with 14 others for allegedly consuming tobacco-based hookah at a bar in South Mumbai. This incident raised eyebrows, but Munawar, true to his resilient spirit, bounced back from the ordeal.

Munawars rise to fame comes with both highs and lows. His stint on the 17th season of the popular Colors show Bigg Boss catapulted him into the spotlight, where he endeared himself to audiences with his wit and humor. However, his journey hasnt been without controversy.

In 2021, Munawar made headlines when he was arrested in Indore following a complaint from a BJP MLAs son, accusing him of making jokes about Hindu deities and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The arrest sparked widespread outrage, eventually leading to his release after the Supreme Court granted him bail.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan possess a wide potential for cooperation within the Middle Corridor, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said during a meeting with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev, the Azerbaijani ministry told Trend.

"The meeting recognized the diverse nature of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan's bilateral cooperation in a variety of sectors, including political, economic, commerce, investment, transportation, communications, tourism, culture, humanitarian, and others.

Both sides stressed the need for coordinating the two nations' Days of Culture and strengthening cultural and artistic collaboration. They also discussed the possibility of a partnership in green energy production.

Furthermore, the significance of fostering relations within regional and international organizations was highlighted. Specifically, there was emphasis on the promising opportunities for cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), as well as the importance of robust interactions among member states of the OTS to leverage the existing potential.

Confidence was expressed in the forthcoming extraordinary summit of OTS in July in Azerbaijan's Shusha and the official summit in October in Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek as pivotal events contributing to the organization's development," the ministry said.

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Veteran Congress leader A K Antony on Tuesday said his son Anil K Antony, who is contesting as BJP candidate from Pathanamthitta constituency in Kerala, should not win in the upcoming general election.

Addressing the media at the party office here, Antony said children of Congress leaders joining the rival BJP is an unfortunate trend.

Asked about the winning chances of his son, the former defence minister said, He (Anil) should lose.

He said Congress candidate Anto Antony will emerge victorious in Pathanamthitta.

Anto will win even without me campaigning there. My position from the beginning has been that family is different from politics. Do not make me talk too much about my children. I am not used to that language, Antony said.

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It is wrong for children of Congress leaders to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It is not just an irony, it is wrong, he added.

Recently, late Congress stalwart and former chief minister K Kaunakarans daughter Padmaja Venugopal had also switched sides to the saffron party.

On the Lok Sabha polls, Antony said it is the election to decide who will rule India for the next five years, a do-or-die battle to reclaim India. It is an election to save India, he said.

It is an election to protect constitutional values. If Modi comes to power again, the constitution and democracy will be overthrown, he said.

The Congress leader further claimed the BJP is trying to destroy the concept of India and therefore, the saffron partys rule should end.

Antonys public snub invited a sharp response from his son who said he has nothing but sympathy for the outdated Congress leaders who keep supporting the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Anil said his fathers criticism wont affect his chances in Pathanamthitta.

My fathers criticism wont affect me. I am sure that the people of Pathanamthitta will make me win the election. I have nothing but pity towards those standing up for the Gandhi family and campaigning for an MP who insulted the army. Today, there are only outdated leaders in the Congress. The outdated Congressmen are like dogs barking at the moon, he said.

Anil will take on three-time Congress MP Anto Antony and CPI-M leader Thomas Isaac in Pathanamthitta.
An array of prominent campaigners, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, are set to energise the electoral landscape in the North Eastern states ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Amit Shah is scheduled to address a public meeting in North Lakhimpur, Upper Assam, on Tuesday at around 1 pm, followed by a roadshow in Tinsukia later in the evening.

Notably, Shah will be the first significant national leader to actively engage in campaigning in this region since the poll schedule announcement.

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Tomorrow, I will be in Assam to participate in a massive rally in Lakhimpur Lok Sabha and a roadshow in Tinsukia (Dibrugarh Lok Sabha). Assam is poised to realize Modi Jis vision of 400 paar. Excited to interact with the dynamic people of the state, Shah had announced on X platform on Monday evening.

Accompanying Shah during these campaign events will be Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, further amplifying the BJPs presence and outreach in the region.

Simultaneously, Rajnath Singh is geared up to commence his campaign trail in Arunachal Pradesh, starting from Namsai.

Today, 9th April, I shall be in Arunachal Pradesh. Looking forward to addressing a public meeting at Namsai in the Arunachal Pradesh East constituency, he conveyed through X platform.

In the initial phase of polls on April 19, five seats from Upper Assam and two seats from Arunachal Pradesh are slated for voting, setting the stage for a crucial electoral showdown in these regions.
Drawing a stark contrast between the present and the 1962 conflict with China, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, India has successfully safeguarded every inch of its territory.

Speaking at a public rally in Assams Lakhimpur, Shah highlighted how past instances, such as the 1962 conflict, saw China encroaching as far as Tezpur in Assam while Nehrus response seemed inadequate.

The Union home minister criticised Nehrus approach, making a remark on how instead of confronting China, he opted to retreat, leaving Assam and Arunachal Pradesh vulnerable.

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He emphasised that the memory of 1962 remains etched in the minds of the people of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Reflecting on Modis adept handling of international affairs, Shah claimed that India responded to the Doklam standoff firmly, showcasing the nations resilience against Chinese aggression on the global stage.

On the development narrative of the North Eastern states, Shah highlighted the unprecedented progress witnessed since 2014. He underscored Modis extensive visits to the region as evidence of the governments unwavering commitment to its growth and prosperity.

The home minister attributed the neglect of the North East to past Congress administrations, asserting that the countrys progress hinges on the development of these states.

Expressing confidence in the NDAs electoral prospects in the North East, Shah predicted a resounding victory for the alliance.

Shah reiterated confidence in the transformative impact of Modis governance, particularly in Assam, and expressed optimism about the states journey towards becoming a developed region in the foreseeable future.
Amid the Lok Sabha elections, the Central government has provided Z-category security to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, sources said on Tuesday.

The decision to provide Z-category security cover to Kumar was taken by the Centre in the wake of threat assessments by the security agencies and recommendation for his enhanced protection, they said.

Sources said with the latest move, 40-45 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel will be guarding the CEC across the country.

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The extended security cover will be provided to him round the clock, they added.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has not issued any statement in this regard so far.

In response to a question on providing Z-category security to the CEC, an official of the poll panel said, We have no comments to make on this issue.

Kumar assumed charge as the 25th CEC of India on 15th May, 2022. Before that , he had served as the Election Commissioner.
The Congress party on Tuesday slammed BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks rejecting any Chinese encroachment during Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government at the Centre.

Taking to social media platform X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the more the government denies the facts that China has indeed occupied Indian land in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, the harder it gets to deal with Beijings illegal occupation.

In the all-party meeting on China on June 19, 2020, the Prime Minister had said that not a single Chinese soldier had entered the Indian border. That lie of the Prime Minister has been used by the Chinese all over the world to deny their occupation of Indian land. Now, the only person who can match the Prime Minister in lying and distorting facts  the Home Minister  has also given a clean chit to China, he said.

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During a recent election rally in Assams Lakhimpur, Amit Shah claimed that China couldnt encroach a single inch of land under the Modi Government.

Reacting to Shahs assertion, Ramesh claimed, China has occupied 2,000 square kilometers of Indian land. China has captured 26 out of 65 patrolling points in Ladakh. China has occupied 50-60 km inside Arunachal Pradesh and has built a village. This fact has been confirmed by satellite imagery and has been raised in the Lok Sabha by BJP MP Tapir Gao.

The Congress leader further said: Every time the BJP gives China a clean chit, it makes it harder for India to deal with Chinas illegal occupation. In its manifesto, the Congress Party has clearly acknowledged the occupation of the countrys land and the threat posed by China and presented a plan to strengthen the countrys security. From June 4, Chinas occupation of Indian land will be decisively stopped.
In a scathing critique directed towards the opposition, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, The era of passivity towards terrorism is over. Formerly, Pakistans provocations were met with silence, but today, even minor incidents prompt immediate denials from Pakistan.

Addressing a public gathering in support of MP and BJP candidate Ghanshyam Lodhi in Rampur on Tuesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended New Year greetings to attendees.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath underscored Indias transformative trajectory, asserting that pre-2014, Indian passports lacked respect globally. Adityanath said, The nations stance has evolved significantly, showcasing a resolute response to threats, including swift airstrikes.

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He urged constituents to re-elect Ghanshyam Lodhi, citing his track record of service to Rampur.

CM Yogi cited the commemoration of the sacrifice of the four Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh as Veer Bal Diwas on December 26th, the construction of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, and the long-awaited realisation of the Ram temple in Ayodhya after 500 years as glaring examples of the Modi administrations efforts to unite the country.

Emphasising a departure from caste-based politics, the CM reiterated a commitment to inclusive governance, ensuring that government schemes are accessible to all citizens based on need.

He highlighted that resources belong to every Indian, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion. Under the Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas motto, development is prioritised for all without favoritism. The Modi government aims to bring smiles to every face through its inclusive policies, he remarked.

The Chief Minister said that in the past candidates used to disappear from public view soon after winning elections and used to talk about their families rather than development, which concerned people.

He highlighted the transformative approach of BJPs Ghanshyam Lodhi, who, driven by his simplicity, dedicated himself to Rampurs progress. The NDA alliance secured victories in four out of five assembly seats in Rampur, with all elected representatives actively engaged in implementing developmental initiatives, Yogi added.

Emphasising Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision for a developed India, CM Yogi said that the third term of the BJP government would propel the country towards prosperity.

Yogi Adityanath announced the allocation of funds for establishing the Rudra Vilas Sugar Mill, affirming his commitment to realising this project. Emphasising a proactive approach, he urged swift progress in preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to ensure timely implementation of the project.

Adityanath underscored the importance of efficiently meeting farmers demands. He instructed all public representatives to prioritise development initiatives, stressing that a developed Uttar Pradesh contributes to a developed India, with Rampur playing a pivotal role in the states progress. The vision is for a Rampur where every individual is respected and feels secure, ensuring the protection of the rights of the underprivileged.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday tore into the opposition INDIA bloc over the absence of its leaders during the consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Shakti remarks.

He claimed that the Congress tried hard to prevent the construction of the Ram temple.  The Congress insulted Lord Ram by rejecting the invitation (of the consecration ceremony) and expelled its leaders who went to Pran Pratishtha for six years. People will never forgive the party, he said.

Modi was addressing an election rally in Pilibhit. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP state unit chief Bhupendra Choudhury welcomed the prime minister by presenting him with a flute.

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Meanwhile, BJP MP from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi was conspicous by his absence in the rally. Varun and his mother Maneka Gandhi have also been excluded from the BJPs list of star campaigners.

Today, on the first day of Navratri, I am also reminding the country how the INDIA bloc had sworn to eliminate Shakti. The Congress has grossly insulted the power which is worshipped in our country. These Congress leaders are talking about uprooting the power before which we bow our heads, the prime minister told the audience.

He also reiterated his earlier comments on the recently-released Congress manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The Congress manifesto bears the imprint of the Muslim League, he said, adding that the opposition parties are opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and dividing the country.

Modi also praised his regime for responding swiftly to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak and in fact, helping the world to tide over the crisis rather than seeking help from it.

 Whenever there was a war crisis in the world, we evacuated every Indian safely, he said.

Today Indias voice is heard all over the world. This is the power of your vote. A strong government has been formed with your vote. The BJP government has shown the world that India is not weak anymore. When the intentions are right and the morale is high, the results will be good, he told the crowd.

The prime minister further said his government is working on the resolve of a developed India. Besides, India has become the fastest growing economic power in the world. Our Chandrayaan hoisted the tricolor on the moon. The G20 held in India has been praised all over the world, he added.

Taking a dig at previous dispensations, Modi said under the rule of the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), sugarcane farmers were made to beg for their own money.

Who better to know this than you? The BJP government has worked with full force to reduce the problems of sugarcane farmers. Many sugar mills have opened, many have expanded and this work is being done continuously, he said.

What was the condition of farmers 10 years ago? There was black marketing of urea. There was lathicharge on farmers. Today, urea is available in sufficient quantities. A bag of urea is available for Rs 3,000 in the world, but our government gives it for less than Rs 300. Farmers are getting Samman Nidhi. The Modi government has transferred Rs 70,000 crore to bank accounts of farmers. A sum of Rs 850 crore has reached the bank accounts of the farmers of Pilibhit, he asserted.

The rally was also addressed by chief minister Adityanath and BJPs Pilibhit candidate and state PWD Minister Jitin Prasada.
In a major breakthrough for the Oppositions INDIA bloc, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawars NCP (SCP) on Tuesday announced their seat-sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha elections.

As part of their agreement, the Shiv Sena (UBT) will contest 21 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. The Congress and the NCP (SCP) have been given 17 and 10 seats, respectively.

Addressing the press briefing, Sharad Pawar of the NCP (SCP) said that there are no more disagreements among the three alliance partners.

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We declared the seat sharing after mutual agreement, Sharad Pawar said.

As per the pact, Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena will contest 21 seats, including Sangali and Mumbai South Central.

The other seats in Shiv Senas kitty are  Jalgaon, Parbhani, Nashik, Palghar, Kalyan, Thane, Raigad, Maval, Osmanabad, Aurangabad, Ratnagiri, Buldhana, Shirdi, Hatkanangale, Hingoli, Yavatmal-Washim, Mumbai North West, Mumbai South, and Mumbai North East.

Nandurbar, Dhule, Akola, Amravati, Nagpur, Bhandara-Gondia, Gadchiroli-Chimur, Chandrapur, Nanded, Jalna, Pune, Latur, Solapur, Kolhapur, Ramtek, Mumbai North, Mumbai North Central have been given to the Congress.

Sharad Pawars NCP (SCP) will field its candidates on Baramati, Shirur, Satara, Bhiwandi, Dindori, Madha, Raver, Wardha, Ahmednagar, Beed.

The announcement was made during a joint MVA press conference of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP (SCP) president Sharad Pawar and state Congress chief Nana Patole.

The development comes as a major boost to the Oppositions INDIA bloc after a series of setbacks in West Bengal and Punjab where its regional constituents refused to forge an alliance with the principal Opposition party Congress.

The Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra will be held in five phases from April 19 to May 20.
The officials of Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department and Forest Department on Tuesday visited 1400 million-year-old Fossils Park situated in Sonbhadra district to expedite the inclusion of the park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Forest Department, Banaras Hindu University, and DRONAH, an organization specialized in dossier preparation, examined the parks geological marvels and the roadmap for its future development. The District Magistrate of Sonbhadra also accompanied the team.

Located near Salkhan Village in Sonbhadra, the Fossils Park has fossil remains of organisms such as shale and stromatolites, dating back millions of years. Managed by the Forest Department, the park holds significant promise as a potential UNESCO site, a goal pursued ardently by the Tourism Department.

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Akash Priyadarshi, OSD, Tourism Department, Dr Shikha Jain from DRONAH, Dr VB Mathur, retired IPS officer, Dr Praveen Rana, Assistant Professor from Tourism Management Department, BHU, and the Regional Forest Officer of Salkhan Fossils were a part of the visiting team at Salkhan.

Fossils are remnants of ancient organisms preserved in rocks or imprints left in sediments over millions of years which provide invaluable insights into Earths history and evolution.

Through the examination of various fossil types, ranging from simple organisms to complex life forms, researchers unravel the diverse fauna that inhabited our planet across different epochs.

Sonbhadra is a district bordering four states  Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh. First Prime Minister of India Jawahar Lal Nehru compared the beauty of Sonbhadra with Switzerland.
The West Bengal Police on Tuesday summoned two National Investigation Agency (NIA) officers in connection with the alleged attack on NIA team in West Medinipurs Bhupatinagar last week.

According to the police notice, both the officers along with their injured colleague will come as witnesses for the purpose of investigation.

The police have asked the injured NIA officer to carry his medical papers and the car that was allegedly vandalised by the protesters for forensic tests.

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Earlier on Saturday, the anti-terror agency was allegedly attacked during its raid in Bhupatinagar to arrest suspects in a 2022 West Medinipur blast case.

In a statement, the agency said that its team came under a violent attack by an unruly mob when they went to conduct searches in Naruabila village which falls under Bhupatinagar police station area.

The attack was completely unprovoked and uncalled for, and an attempt to obstruct the NIA from carrying out its lawful duties, the agency said.

The NIA also pointed out that the searches were conducted at five locations in the presence of independent witnesses, and under the security cover provided by CRPF, which included lady constables.

However, after the raid, a woman lodged an FIR against the NIA team and CRPF officers, alleging assault and molestation.

Following the womans complaint, the police had registered a case under IPC sections 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), and others.

The complaint alleged that NIA officials molested women by forcibly entering their homes late at night.

Simultaneously, the NIA has filed a written complaint about the attack at the Bhupatinagar police station.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. The Armenian armed forces have shelled the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in the direction of Kalbajar region, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

On April 9, at about 10:40 (GMT+4), the Armenian armed forces units from the positions located in the direction of Istisu settlement using small arms subjected to fire the Azerbaijan Army positions stationed in the direction of Istisu settlement of Kalbajar region.

The Azerbaijan Army Units took adequate retaliatory measures in the mentioned direction.
Addressing an election rally at Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that he would continue to punish them most stringently as he was not scared of the threats from those who filled their coffers with public money.

He said he bows down only in front of the janata janaardan (pubic) and Lord Mahakal.

Mr Modi campaigned for BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Balaghat, Bharti Pardhi, a sitting BJP corporator on Tuesday, on his second visit to tribal dominated Mahakaushal region of MP in two days.

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The PM launched his Lok Sabha campaign in MP on 7 April with a mega roadshow in Jabalpur city, which also comes in the Mahakaushal region. Jabalpur, Balaghat, Mandla, Chhindwara, Sidhi, and Shahdol are the six out of the 29 Lok Sabha seats of MP that go to the polls in the first phase on 19 April.

Addressing a huge public gathering today afternoon Narendra Modi castigated the grand old party, saying, The Congress and the INDI Alliance do not want to defeat Modi, but they want to defeat progress and development of the country.

The Congress stuck in an old mindset and in its 70-year rule, did nothing for the countrys development, he alleged, and added that the Congress today is not fighting against the BJP but with itself. Its leaders are against each other.

Mera Bharat hi mera parivar hai, the PM asserted, claiming that the BJP had spent enormous sums of money for the development of the country and the welfare of the poor while no other government had done so in the past. The party had given the rights of forest, land, and water to the tribals by giving them pattas on forest land.

The PM listed several progressive schemes and development projects being undertaken in MP and across the country and accused Congress of denying such rights to the tribals. He called the rival party arrogant, as it thinks it got freedom for the country.

A family and a small coterie in the Congress dominated all along and their backward thinking took the country behind in all aspects, the PM charged.

Mr Modi asserted that he is a devotee of Lord Mahakal, and that has given him the strength to bear all the abuses hurled by the opposition at him. He stated he was not scared of any threats from such people.

The PM declared that the people of the country would celebrate Diwali early, as the 2024 Lok Sabha polls are for giving new energy to the progress and development of the country.

The people greeted the PM with slogans like phir ek baar, Modi sarkaar and abki baar, 400 paar.
As the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh gears up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the state finds itself embroiled in a whirlwind of uncertainty and confusion over candidate selection. The recent developments in key constituencies highlight the complexities and challenges faced by opposition parties in navigating the intricate social and political dynamics of Indias most populous state.

One of the focal points of this tumultuous saga is Meerut, a constituency historically dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, the shifting social calculus and the emergence of new contenders have rendered the seat a battleground for political supremacy. The Samajwadi Partys (SP) attempt to tap into Dalit votes by fielding Bhanu Pratap Singh was met with internal resistance, underscoring the intricacies of caste politics and regional affiliations.

The narrative extends beyond Meerut, with similar dramas unfolding across the state. In Bijnor and Moradabad, the SPs experimentation with Dalit candidates reflects a strategic attempt to broaden its voter base. However, internal rifts and conflicting interests have muddled the partys agenda, leaving supporters bewildered and disillusioned. The chaos is further compounded by lastminute changes and defections, as seen in the case of Rampur and Baghpat.

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The SPs indecisiveness in finalising candidates not only undermines its credibility but also exposes the fragility of opposition unity in the face of a resurgent BJP. Amidst this political quagmire, the Congress finds itself grappling with its own set of challenges. The last-minute replacement of candidates in Sitapur and Mathura underscores the partys struggle to assert its relevance in a landscape dominated by regional powerhouses and a formidable ruling party. The implications of these developments are farreaching, with ramifications not only for the electoral outcome but also for the broader democratic fabric of the nation.

The erosion of trust in political institutions and the disillusionment of voters with the political process are ominous signs that demand urgent attention. At the heart of this conundrum lies a fundamental question of representation and accountability. The rampant horse-trading and opportunistic manoeuvres by political elites betray a stark disconnect between the aspirations of the electorate and the actions of their elected representatives. In the midst of this chaos, it is imperative for opposition parties to introspect and realign their strategies.

A cohesive and principled approach, grounded in the values of inclusivity and integrity, is essential to counter the hegemony of the ruling party and uphold the democratic ethos of the nation. Ultimately, the fate of Uttar Pradesh lies in the hands of its citizens. As they navigate through the labyrinth of political intrigue and manoeuvring, they must seize the opportunity to demand transparency, accountability, and genuine representation from their elected leaders. In the crucible of democracy, amidst the cacophony of competing voices and vested interests, the true test lies in the resilience and determination of the people to forge a path towards a more equitable and just future
Adrone strike, launched by a pro-Iranian group from Iraq, Islamic Resistance, targeted the Israeli naval base of Eilat. There were no casualties. While the drone caused some damage to a building, the attack was enough to compel Israel to retaliate. Missiles and drones aimed at this crucial base earlier were intercepted. Eilat is reported to house Israels tactical nuclear weapons as also hosts the Israeli navys Corvette class ships.

Israel in retaliation targeted not terrorist groups behind the strike, but the Iranian consulate building, located in its embassy compound, in the Syrian capital of Damascus. As per the Iranian ambassador to Syria, the destroyed building housed his residence, consular section and Iranian military attache offices. Tel Aviv had always considered Iran responsible for attacks on its soil. Israels military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari had mentioned, I want to tell you that in the last six months, Iran is making this region escalate. Shes the main actor.

Possibly increased attacks on its soil, failure to secure release of hostages, and breakdown of peace talks drove Israel to this step. Reports indicate that the strike killed seven military officers, amongst others, including the commander and deputy of Irans elite Quds Force. Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, killed in the strike, was leader of the Quds Force for Syria and Lebanon, thereby coordinating operations of pro-Iranian groups in the region. Israel had been tracking his movements for some time and possibly exploited this opportunity.

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The Israeli government spokesperson refused to comment on the strike while the US initially claimed that President Biden was aware, implying the US was briefed in advance, though inputs indicate that the Biden administration was put into the picture once aircraft tasked for the strike had taken off, giving Washington no reaction time. Hence, the US conveyed to Iran that it had nothing to do with the incident. Subsequently, Israels military spokesperson mentioned, According to our intelligence, this is no consulate and this is no embassy. This is a military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian building in Damascus. However, the Iranian flag flew on the building, even after its destruction, marking it as diplomatic.

Very recently, the US government had announced additional military aid for Israel including F-15 fighter aircraft and 900 kg bombs. The US defended its decision with its spokesperson stating, we are committed to Israels right to self-defence, and this is a long-term commitment the United States has made. It is evident that these weapons are not intended for the war in Gaza, as Israel has only Rafah to clear, nor against the Hezbollah, for which it possesses requisite weaponry, but for a possible war against Iran, implying the US expected an escalation. How soon would they be delivered is unknown as there is no mention of the same being provided from existing US stockpiles. At some stage Israel had planned to target Iran.

The Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, responded to the Israeli strike by stating (this) cowardly crime will not go unanswered. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, termed the attack a violation of all international obligations and conventions. The government in Tehran has threatened similar attacks on Israeli embassies. China, Russia, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Pakistan condemned the strike as it involved deliberately targeting a diplomatic compound which is against the Vienna convention. India stated that it noted with concern the attack on Iranian diplomatic premises, debunking Israeli claims.

The UN Secretary Generals office stated, the principle of inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel must be respected in accordance with international law. The US state department had earlier mentioned that an attack on an embassy is considered an attack on the country it represents. Thus, logically Israel has declared war on Iran. A special UNSC session was called by Russia in which nations reiterated diplomatic structures as off-limits. However the US, UK and France did not condemn Israel for its actions. Thus far, Irans proxies in the region, including the Hezbollah and groups in Syria and elsewhere, have not directly joined the battle in support of Hamas. They have launched rockets but avoided ground strikes.

Iran has been calling for a halt in operations in Gaza but not directly intervened in the war. Simultaneously, Israel and the US have been targeting Iranian proxies while avoiding escalating the conflict with Iran, aware that it could engulf the region. However, with this attack, Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate, thereby enlarging the conflict. The Gaza war has thus far claimed over 33,000 lives including possibly 14,000 Hamas soldiers and thousands of children. Retaliation may not be against Israel alone but would also involve US bases in the Middle East as also shipping in the Red Sea as Iran holds the US equally responsible for the strike.

The US has offered a sop by saying it is considering delisting Yemens Houthis as a terrorist organization, if they cease Red Sea attacks. Tehran could initially consider non-contact warfare including cyberattacks while providing additional munitions to its proxies. Israel is fearful of attacks on its embassies. A direct strike by Iran could bring the war on to its soil and is hence currently unlikely. Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu appears desperate to escalate the war and draw in Iranian proxies as protests spread against his failure to prevent the October attacks and ensure release of hostages. He is secure as long as the conflict continues. Simultaneously, global pressure mounts on Tel Aviv, as civilian casualties mount.

Israelis are demanding Netanyahus resignation and fresh elections. There are cracks within the coalition. A continuing conflict is his best solution to retain power. Escalation of the conflict could spell doom for Ukraine. Russia has already enhanced its missile strikes on Ukrainian cities and Kiev is losing control of the battlefront. US military support has shifted to Israel while Europe alone is unable to fulfil military demands of Ukraine, leaving President Zelenskky with little choice. Kiev has already announced that its current territorial losses are due to lack of munition supplies from the US. Increased attacks on US bases and resultant casualties, as a fallout of this strike by Israel, could play a role in forthcoming US elections, pushing Biden into a tough spot. Israel expanding the conflict could have regional and global ramifications. (The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army
The March 22 attacks in Moscow have raised the spectre of international terrorism. While these terror strikes were claimed by the Islamic State, Russia suspects a Ukrainian hand in the attacks. If the Islamic State is indeed involved, it shows that the terror outfit has not only regained its capacity in Afghanistan, but also to hit targets as far as Moscow. The Moscow attack took place a little over two months after the twin bombings in the Iranian city of Kerman which killed 100 people and wounded 300 others.

Earlier, in September 2022, two Russian embassy staff in Kabul were among six people killed when a suicide bomber detonated explosives near the entrance of the embassy, in a blast that injured at least ten others. In another attack in Kandahar, Talibans traditional stronghold and political headquarters, IS-K bombers killed at least three people and injured more than a dozen civilians. Years after losing its stronghold in the Levant, the Islamic State is making a comeback.

Geo-political rivalries and regional tensions are providing space to acts of catastrophic terror attacks far removed from active battlefronts onto population centres. Incidentally, these attacks also come at a time when inter-state wars are on rise. Would this suggest that we are on the cusp of another wave of terrorism by IS-K jihadists and its other affiliates from within Afghanistan? As they say, terrorism never dies, it only mutates into another form. Nearly a fortnight after the terror attack in Moscow, the question remains how will Russia respond. The Russians see the attack as yet another attempt aimed at destabilising Russia.

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Much of it will depend on who was behind the attack  whether the Islamic State acted on its own or some other actor prompted this attack to embarrass the Russian State? Either way, the Russians would have to act. However, if Kyiv is involved, Moscow will be tempted to intensify its war effort. In the meantime, four terrorists have been apprehended. Interestingly, they were arrested on the highway leading to Kyiv when they could have easily melted into Moscows neighbourhood. There is also some evidence to suggest that these terrorists of Tajik ethnicity were recruited in Turkey, and that the Ukrainian embassy staff members in Istanbul were involved.

Even if Russia were to acknowledge that IS-K jihadists were involved, Moscow is likely to apportion some blame on Kyiv. Moscow is also accusing the West of its involvement. The arms transfers to Ukraine, training of Ukrainian troops in the UK and EU countries, and intelligence support to target Russia; all of these are good reasons for Russia to suspect. For instance, the impending transfer of the Taurus air-launched cruise missiles to Ukraine, which Germany has thus far refused, adds to the controversy. Experts argue that induction of Taurus missiles, which are capable of hunting down high-value targets, could well be a game-changer to break the current impasse along the battlefront.

Beyond these arms transfers to Ukraine, the Wests discretion is under question. With France threatening to send troops to Ukraine, and Finland and Sweden joining the NATO alliance, none of these actions might sound wise, as it leads to increased tensions. Moscows retribution seems to have already begun. Russia launched a series of missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital. Russia also attacked Lviv, with one missile reportedly entering Polish territory. Under pressure, Russia might well be tempted to shore up its impending summer offensive with all resources at its disposal.

The Islamic State has long considered Russia as its adversary. It has targeted Russia for several reasons. First, its historical enmity with Moscow relates to interventions in Chechnya and Afghanistan. Second, Russias long-standing partnership with regimes opposed by the Islamic State, like Syria and Iran. Third, Russias growing cooperation with the Taliban. And fourth, such high-profile attacks, like the one in Moscow, provide much publicity for its global reach and inspire its supporters, in the form of increased recruitment, funding and influence across the jihadi spectrum. Since last year, the Islamic State has been linked to many attacks in Iran and Russia.

Kamran Bokhari, an expert in Eurasian Security at Washington DC explains several interesting nuances of these recent attacks. Notably and in most cases, the jihadists hail from the Central Asian States neighbouring Russia. These bordering states are susceptible to the instability stemming from Afghanistan. Next, with their fluency in the Russian language, they find easy employment in Russia. Their native dialects also help them to navigate through Afghanistan to Iran and Turkey, and onwards to Russia. Lastly, the timing of attacks is important. These attacks have come at a time when both countries are embroiled in major conflicts.

The attacks in Iran took place when its proxies were busy targeting Israel. And the attacks in Russia occurred when its army is at war with Ukraine. Earlier last year, the Russian-led military bloc CSTO had hinted of an increase in the network of training camps and IS fighters in regions bordering Afghanistan. In that light, the ISK attack in Moscow does not come as a surprise. The Americans and the Iranians have claimed to have tipped off the Russians on the impending attacks. Moscow, however, remained sceptical.

Ever since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, the regional landscape has shifted. Experts have remained sceptical about Talibans promise to combat IS-K and sever ties with Al Qaeda. While, the Taliban have repeatedly declared success in fighting IS-K and denied any links with Al Qaeda, their claims are suspect. The recent suicide bombing in the heartland of the Taliban, and the Moscow operation under the very nose of the Kremlin, have demonstrated ISKs reach and capability.

The IS-K remains strong despite its rivalry with the Taliban. IS-K core elements include many Afghan Taliban cadres who wanted a more extremist version of Islam. In order to strengthen its regime, the Taliban let Pakistani Taliban (TTP) cadres into Afghanistan. TTP has waged violent actions against the Pakistani government for years along similar lines as the Afghan Taliban. There is often a tendency to view IS-K, ISIS, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban as separate entities. In essence, they all share a common commitment.

Meanwhile, the Taliban have remained loyal to AlQaeda, which has established active cells in Afghanistan. Some twenty plus terror outfits with over 23,000 fighters have operating bases in Afghanistan. IS-K alone has 6,000 members, a steep rise from 2,000 reported last year. TTP has an equal number of fighters. Sizeable cadres of AQIS, ETIM, and other smaller terror groups reside in Afghanistan. The continued presence of these terror outfits in Afghanistan and recurring transnational attacks should unite the regional actors and major powers to cooperate in combating terrorism.

However, prevailing regional and global rivalries impede this collaboration, thus allowing IS-K, Al Qaeda and the Taliban plenty of space to flourish. Even at the cost of sounding Utopian, the need to collectively deter and defeat wanton acts of terror in a fraying world order cannot be ignored. Three aspects are important. First, international and regional forums need to pledge support to coalesce intelligence efforts to combat international terrorism. Second, when necessary, states must share information about an imminent attack with vulnerable nations. Each state has a duty to warn, an obligation that might even extend to potential adversaries.

Third, maintaining a principled contact with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan makes sense in order to discern the trends and indicators. As they say, there is no substitute for last-mile intelligence, not even the muchhyped AI-enabled intelligence platforms of today. In our context, the stakes are even higher and require constant vigil. The Moscow attack should act as a grim reminder. Even a well-policed state like Russia can be vulnerable to the planning and sophistication of IS attacks. Indias proximity to Afghanistan and internal tensions in an election year can be compelling factors. Moreover, Jihadist threats to Indias security have to be looked at through the Pakistani prism.

The writer, a retired Lieutenant General of the Indian Army, has served multiple tenures during peak militancy years in North Kashmir.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is bracing up for the Rafah operation after it wrapped up the Khan Yunis operations in southern Gaza and the 98th division of the IDF withdrew from the area.

Israel Defense Ministry sources told IANS that the withdrawal was done for ground invasion into the Rafah region.

Defense Minister of Israel Yoav Gallant, widely considered a hawk, met the senior officers of the 98th division of the IDF on Sunday and discussed the Rafah operations.

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The allies of Israel, including the US and other Western powers had earlier told Israel not to enter into a ground invasion in the Rafah region as that would lead to major casualties among civilians.

Rafah region of Gaza is densely populated and has an estimated 1.3 million people. The Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi had expressed his concern over a possible Rafah operation with the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken during the latters visit to Egypt in March.
In a rare punishment sentenced to a man falsely accusing his ex-wife of adultery and refusing to accept the paternity of his child; a session court in Karachi, Pakistan has sentenced the man to 80 lashes, a punishment which is very rare.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Malir Shehnaz Bohyo sentenced the accused Fareed Qadir to at least 80 lashes. The controversial decision was taken under Section 7(1) of the Offence of Qazf (Enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance, 1979, which reads Whoever commits qazf liable to had shall be punished with whipping numbering eighty stripes.

The judge wrote in the verdict that: It is crystal clear that the accused is a liar and had fabricated an allegation of Qazf upon the complainant regarding illegitimacy of her daughter. Thus, he is convicted and sentenced to 80 stripes each under Section 7(1) of the Qazf Ordinance, 1979.

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The judges ruling also maintained that: As the accused is sentenced to whipping only, he shall remain on bail, provided that he agrees to appear at the time and place designated by this court for the execution of the punishment of whipping, following the confirmation of the conviction and sentence by the court of appeal, and submits a bail bond in the sum of Rs.100,000.

The court also ruled that after the conviction, evidence provided by Fareed Qadir would not be admissible in any court of law.

As per details of the case, Fareed Qadir (convict) ex-wife had filed a complaint in court, stating that she got married in February 2015 and lived with Fareed for at least one month. In December 2015, Fareeds wife gave birth to a baby girl.

My husband (Fareed) failed to provide maintenance or even take me and our newly born daughter back to his house. I filed a case in the family court and got a decree in my favour. The court directed Fareed to provide for maintenance of his daughter and me (ex-wife of Fareed), said Fareeds ex-wife.

But my husband submitted two applications in court during the proceedings, seeking a DNA test for the baby girl and disowning his daughter. These applications were later and subsequently withdrawn by Fareed, she added.

On the other hand, the accused Fareed denied allegations levelled by his ex-wife, stating that his wife had only spent six hours with him.

Me and my wife stayed together only for six hours. Then she left home and never returned, he said.

While the case may or could have been handled differently under the law of the land in Pakistan; sentencing to 80 lashes is a punishment which has not yet been witnessed since the Zia ul Haq era of the 70s till late 80s.

I have not witnessed any convictions of flogging under Section 7 of the Qafz Ordinance during my last 14 years o service as a lawyer, said prosecutor Saira Bano.

This conviction of flogging may be the first instance of its kind as corporal punishment in decades, she added.
Three Trinamul Congress leaders, who were issued summons for deposing by the NIA (National Investigation Agency) at its New Town office, allegedly in connection with the 2022 Bhupatinagar blast case, did not turn up, today. This was their third skipping of the summons. The central agency is now mulling moving Calcutta High Court against them.

Sources in the NIA claimed that the trio, are suspects in the 2022 blast case, continued to evade the summons even today.

The trio, Manab Kumar Poira, Subir Maity and Nabakumar Panda, all happened to be the leaders of the ruling party of Bhupatinagar.

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NIA officials, who arrested two ruling party leaders Manobrata Jana and Balaicharan Maity in connection with the blast had to weather attacks from the villagers and sustained injuries.

The incident had also snowballed into major controversy after the chief minister Mamata Banerjee accused the NIA of intruding into the villagers homes at Narauvilla village of Bhupatinagar, without informing the police and also accused of attacking the villagers.

Cheating
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. The Armenian government failed to achieve the desired result at a meeting in Brussels on April 5, military expert Elkhan Shikhaliyev told Trend.

He mentioned that Armenia sought assurances from the US and EU, citing an alleged "threat to their security from Azerbaijan," but ultimately felt let down.

"Until April 5, Armenians attempted many provocations against Azerbaijan, but the country stayed resolute and did not fall. Now, Armenians are striving to persuade their supporters that Azerbaijan poses a threat to Armenia. As a result, Armenians carry out provocations along the frontier. Interestingly, the European Union mission in Armenia fails to register these provocations, implying hypocrisy. Armenians are attempting to depict Azerbaijan as eager for possible violence, which is not the truth," the expert said.

Shikhaliyev stated that even if Armenia does not receive security guarantees, it will still seek to provoke Azerbaijan into a conflict before COP29 as part of a broader strategy.

"The aim is to cast doubt on security within the global community prior to the esteemed event in Azerbaijan, suggesting it's among the unsafe regions, conveying a message of potential conflict. This aligns with the interests of Armenia's supporter, France. Armenia lacks a consistent political stance. The region's various maneuvers are orchestrated around Armenia, which lacks autonomy in decision-making, a fact we're well aware of," Shikhaliyev concluded.

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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has transitioned from a 'nice-to-have' to nothing less than a must-have corporate strategy. Engaging in socially responsible activities, particularly through tax deductible donations , offers a dual advantage: it supports worthwhile causes and simultaneously enhances your brand's reputation. This article delves into how businesses can effectively integrate charitable giving into their CSR strategies, reap the benefits of tax deductions, and by doing so, bolster their brand image and engage more deeply with their stakeholders.

Introduction to CSR and Tax-Deductible Giving

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) embodies a company's efforts to improve society in some way. These efforts can range from donating money to nonprofits to implementing environmentally friendly policies in the workplace. Tax-deductible giving, a critical component of CSR, allows businesses to support societal causes while benefiting from reductions in taxable income. Understanding the synergy between CSR and tax incentives is crucial for any business looking to enhance its societal impact and brand reputation.

Benefits of Integrating Charitable Giving into Your CSR Strategy

Incorporating charitable initiatives into your CSR strategy is not just about giving back to society; it's a strategic business decision that can yield significant benefits:

Tax Benefits and Incentives for Businesses: Tax deductions on charitable donations can significantly reduce a company's taxable income, offering a tangible financial benefit.



Enhancing Brand Reputation through Charitable Initiatives: Businesses that are actively involved in societal causes often enjoy a more positive public image, leading to increased customer loyalty and trust.



Fostering Employee Engagement and Loyalty: CSR initiatives can boost employee morale and engagement, as employees feel proud to be part of a company that contributes positively to society.



Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Enhancing Your Brand Through Tax-Deductible Giving

To maximize the impact of your CSR efforts, it's essential to adopt a strategic approach:

Identifying the Right Causes to Support: Align your charitable efforts with causes that resonate with your company's values and objectives.



Structuring Your Giving for Maximum Impact: Plan your charitable activities to ensure they are meaningful and impactful, both for the recipient and your company.



Engaging Stakeholders in CSR Efforts: Involve customers, employees, and other stakeholders in your CSR initiatives to build stronger relationships and enhance your brand's community presence.



Real-World Examples of Successful CSR and Charitable Giving

Many companies have successfully integrated charitable giving into their CSR strategies, leading to enhanced brand reputation and societal impact. Case studies from these companies offer valuable insights and best practices that can guide your CSR efforts.

Overcoming Challenges in CSR and Charitable Giving

While CSR and charitable giving offer numerous benefits, companies may face challenges such as navigating tax implications and ensuring transparency. Overcoming these challenges is essential for maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of your CSR initiatives.

Future Trends in CSR and Tax-Deductible Giving

As societal expectations evolve, so too do trends in CSR and charitable giving. Innovations in giving and the growing importance of social responsibility in business success point to a future where CSR is an integral part of every company's strategy.

FAQs on CSR and Tax-Deductible Giving

Before we conclude, let's address some frequently asked questions about CSR and tax-deductible giving, offering further clarity and guidance on this important topic.

The Sustainable Impact of CSR on Brand and Society

Incorporating tax-deductible giving into your CSR strategy is not just a way to enhance your brand's reputation; it's a commitment to making a positive impact on society. As businesses increasingly recognize the value of CSR, those that strategically integrate charitable giving into their operations are likely to see the most significant benefits, both in terms of societal impact and brand enhancement.
What distinguishes Santosh Deemed To Be Universitys achievements in medical research and advancement?

Santosh Deemed To Be University is recognized for its contributions to medical research and advancement. The university prioritizes equipping medical undergraduates with essential research methodology skills to prepare them for rigorous research activities. Moreover, the institution is dedicated to enhancing research productivity among students by providing early scientific research training, underscoring its commitment to cultivating a culture of research excellence. Additionally, Santosh Deemed To Be University focuses on promoting its objective to build a Center of Excellence for Research and Innovation in the healthcare sector through advancing excellence in translational medical research and medical informatics. Thus, the university takes a holistic approach to bringing out trained Indian Medical Graduates to tackle pressing healthcare issues.

How does the university uniquely contribute to the academic landscape in India?

Santosh University offers a wide range of academic programs spanning various disciplines, including medicine, dental, and allied health sciences with a special focus on cutting-edge research and innovation. University plays a crucial role in promoting social mobility by providing access to higher education for students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and offering scholarships and financial aid programs to ensure inclusivity and equal opportunities for all. Active engagement in collaborations and partnerships with international institutions has fostered academic exchange, joint research initiatives, and student exchange programs.

What guiding principles shape the universitys approach to healthcare education?

Our university's healthcare education is shaped by three core principles: robust support for high-quality teaching and learning, continuous assessment with feedback, and fostering an inspiring learning environment. We prioritize faculty and student support, employ ongoing evaluation, and create engaging experiences to nurture curiosity and excellence in healthcare practice.

In what ways does Santosh Deemed To Be University foster leadership skills among its students?

Santosh Deemed To Be University fosters leadership skills among its students through its student council and comprehensive involvement in academic, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities. The student council operates within the student welfare system, empowering student representatives to lead various initiatives. By providing opportunities for hands-on leadership experience, the university nurtures students for future leadership roles, instilling essential skills such as teamwork, communication, and decision-making.

How does the university ensure the excellence of its educational programs?

The university ensures the excellence of its educational programs through three key strategies. By investing in ongoing training and development for faculty, we ensure that our educators remain at the forefront of their fields, providing students with up-to-date knowledge and skills. We gather feedback from students, faculty, industry experts, and other stakeholders to continuously evaluate and improve our programs, ensuring they meet the highest standards of quality and relevance. Our programs are designed to be student-centric, promoting active learning and engagement. We create interactive environments that encourage collaboration, critical thinking, and practical application of knowledge.



How has Santosh Deemed To Be University adapted to the evolving educational environment? What role does technology play in enriching the educational experience at the university?

Technological Integration- Embracing technological advancements to align with the changing work landscape, facilitating remote learning, and enhancing collaboration among students and faculty.

Lifelong Learning Opportunities- Offering continuous learning opportunities beyond traditional classroom settings, enabling students and professionals to upskill and stay relevant in their fields.

Innovative Practices- Implementing innovative teaching, learning, and research methodologies to enhance engagement, foster critical thinking, and drive academic excellence in line with contemporary educational demands.

How can universities enhance their healthcare education curriculum to prioritize principles of bioethics and foster a more patient-centric approach in addressing ethical challenges within the healthcare system?

In an era marked by widespread mistrust between patients and healthcare systems, the importance of bioethics has never been more evident. Bioethics, encompassing morals and ethics within biology, spans various domains like research, clinical trials, practice, and patient communications. Just as global healthcare universities integrate bioethics into their curriculum, it's imperative for students to engage with and be evaluated on bioethical principles, ensuring a conscientious approach to healthcare practices and fostering trust within the healthcare ecosystem.

How does the university assess academic success and student outcomes?

Academic success and student outcomes at our university are evaluated through a multifaceted approach. We employ continuous assessment methodologies aimed at enhancing academic achievements, ensuring that students are consistently challenged and supported in their learning journey. Additionally, we closely monitor the attainment of educational outcomes, aligning our curriculum with predefined learning objectives to gauge students' mastery of key concepts and skills. Furthermore, we track students' progression performance, providing support and interventions as needed to facilitate their academic growth and success.

Are there any specific sustainability initiatives undertaken by Santosh Deemed To Be University?

Santosh Deemed To Be University has spearheaded several sustainability initiatives to promote environmental consciousness and responsible energy usage within our institution. These include implementing green campus initiatives and employing energy conservation techniques to minimize our ecological footprint. Moreover, we have integrated sustainable development models into the curriculum for students and faculty development programs, ensuring that all stakeholders are equipped with the knowledge and tools to practice mindful energy consumption. Additionally, our commitment extends to fostering innovative research that addresses the pressing challenges of sustainable development, positioning higher education institutions as pivotal contributors to achieving sustainable development goals.

Are there any plans to establish new research centers or interdisciplinary programs within the university?

Santosh Deemed To Be University is acknowledging the value of interdisciplinary research centers and programs in addressing complex challenges and fostering innovation and collaboration across disciplines. Establishing research centers and interdisciplinary programs in tobacco cessation, translational research, community research, and stem cell research is essential for advancing knowledge and addressing critical societal issues.

Interdisciplinary research has become increasingly central to academic interest and government science policies, especially in addressing contemporary challenges. A network tackling antimicrobial resistance, demonstrates the value of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing global health challenges. These initiatives underscore the significance of interdisciplinary research in driving innovation and addressing complex issues across various fields.

Are there any plans to expand the university's global outreach and international collaborations?

The university has cross-border partnerships with prestigious international institutions to foster collaborative research, faculty exchanges, and student mobility programs. University has prioritized funding and resources are allotted. Faculty and Students have already been participating in international academic events with their physical participation which is totally funded by the University. Hosting international conferences, seminars, and workshops that can enhance a university's visibility and reputation on the global stage are planned for the year 2024.

How does the university plan to address the evolving needs and expectations of students in the DSW future?

The university is committed to prioritizing the evolving needs and expectations of students, recognizing them as vital stakeholders and the future leaders in the dynamic field of Doctorate in Social Work (DSW). To address their current requirements effectively, students are actively involved in university statutory bodies such as the Student Council, Internal Complaint Committee (ICC), and Student Grievance Redressal Committee (SGRC). By engaging students in decision-making processes and ensuring their voices are heard, the university aims to tailor its initiatives and policies to better serve their educational journey and prepare them for their future roles as global health leaders .
Robert Downey Jr., recently said that he would 'happily' return as Tony Stark/ Iron Man. The actor, who recently won an Oscar for his role in Oppenheimer, in an interview to Esquire said, Its too integral a part of my DNA. That role chose me. And look, I always say, never, ever bet against Kevin Feige. It is a losing bet. Hes the house. He will always win.



Iron Man was the first superhero to be introduced in the 33-movie Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. Tony Stark met his end in Endgame, which was released in 2019. His character returning to the franchise gets tricky as the years go by. Mainly because, in Endgame, they used time travel to bring back those who perished in Thanos' snap in Infinity War.

Marvel, with the new Doctor Strange and Spiderman movies, is already exploring multiverse stories, where different actors are playing different heroes. There have been rumours of an Avengers: Secret Wars movie bringing back all the original Avengers, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Downey will soon be seen in Sherlock Holmes 3. He will also be seen in The Sympathizer, HBOs Vietnam War limited series based on Viet Thanh Nguyens Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Tamil Nadu on Tuesdayhis sixth visit to the state since the beginning of 2024. Modi will hold a roadshow in the heart of Chennaithe busy Pondy Bazar and T Nagar regioncovering South Chennai and Central Chennai constituencies. He will campaign for former Telangana and Puducherry governor Tamilisai Soundararajan in South Chennai and the partys central Chennai candidate Vinod P. Selvam.

This is Modis second roadshow in Tamil Nadu since the Lok Sabha poll dates were announced. Modi went on a road show in Coimbatore, two weeks before and paid homage to the victims of the 1998 bomb blasts. The Coimbatore roadshow ended up as a mere show of strength.

After the roadshow, on Wednesday, Modi will address a public meeting in Vellore to support Pattali Makkal Kachis (PMK) Dharmapuri candidate Sowmiya Anbumani and the New Justice Partys Vellore candidate A.C. Shanmugam who is contesting on the BJP symbol. Sowmiya and Shanmugam are considered to be the two star candidates of the NDA in Tamil Nadu. Later in the evening, Modi will reach Mettupalayam and campaign for L. Murugan, BJPs candidate from Nilgiris and K. Annamalai, state unit president and Coimbatore candidate, and K. Vasantharajan from Pollachi.

Modi's frequent visit to the state is aimed at improving the party's vote share in Tamil Nadu from the existing 5.75 per cent to double digits. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP is witnessing a slow growth. There is a good support among the people here. There is acceptance for the party and our prime minister. Modi will also visit Tirunelveli before April 19 and campaign for me in Ambasamudram, Nainar Nagendran, BJP candidate from Tirunelveli, told The Week. Nagendran is also the legislative party leader of the BJP.

Apart from Modis roadshows, BJPs top leaders like J.P. Nadda, Rajnath Singh, Anurag Singh Thakur, and Smriti Irani also campaigned for the NDA candidates in Tamil Nadu, in what appears to be a plan to prove that the state is not averse to Hindutva forces. The party has five MLAs which it won from being in the AIADMK alliance in 2021. But in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, even when it contested in alliance with the AIADMK, the BJP drew a flak. The last time it won was in 2014, when Pon Radhakrishnan won from Kanyakumari in a four-cornered contest.
Unfazed by backlash, two more Catholic Christian dioceses in Kerala are planning to screen the controversial film The Kerala Story during the weekend. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Opposition leader V.D. Satheeshan had criticised the screening of the film by the Idukki diocese recently.



Units of the Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (a youth organisation of Catholic Church) associated with the Thalassery archdiocese and the Thamarassery diocese said they would be screening the controversial film.

The KCYM units said in separate Facebook posts that the film 'The Kerala Story' was not banned and congratulated the Idukki diocese for exhibiting it for its children studying in Classes 10, 11, and 12. "The movie will be exhibited in all units of the KCYM in Thamarassery diocese," the organisation said in a Facebook post.

Directed by Sudipto Sen, 'The Kerala Story' tells the story of a group of women from Kerala who were forced to convert to Islam and join ISIS. Father George Vellackakudiyil, director of KCYM and Syro-Malankara Youth Movement (SMYM) under Thamarassery Diocese told Manorama News that the film might be fictitious, but, KCYM has rescued young Catholic women from abusive inter-faith marriages. "We are particularly concerned when daughters are forced to convert to marry and when parents are denied access to their daughters in interfaith relationships."

Recently, the film was aired on Doordarshan despite opposition from political parties in Kerala. Both CPI(M)-led LDF and Congress-led UDF petitioned against the broadcast of the film on DD channel.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday condemned the screening of the film by Idukki diocese. Vijayan said the film's broadcast was incompatible with Kerala's cultural ethos and criticised its politicisation.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has condemned the the screening of controversial movie 'The Kerala Story' by a Catholic diocese in the state, alleging political motive behind the screenings.

Stating that the film's broadcast was incompatible with Kerala's cultural ethos and criticised its politicisation, Vijayan said the telecast of the movie in dioceses aligns with the BJP and the RSS agenda. This comes as Idukki diocese of Syro-Malabar Catholic Church screened the film for class 10-12 students during its summer catechism classes. The diocese has screened the film amidst opposition in the state against broadcasting the film in Doordarshan.

"They say it is a story about Kerala. Where in Kerala did such incidents happen? Blatant lies mixed with fiction has been presented to tarnish the image of the state," Vijayan said. He added that even non-Keralites protested against the film. "It was a film brought out with clear political intentions. Publicising it further suggests there is a political motive behind it," he said.

Condemning the film screening by the Idukki diocese, Vijayan said Kerala is a state of brotherhood and attempts to misrepresent the state has to be opposed. He accused the RSS of categorising individuals as Internal enemies in the country, a concept derived from Hitler's ideology. Vijayan emphasised that the RSS targets minorities, including Muslims and Christians, fostering discord among different sects.

Both, CPI(M) and Congress petitioned with Election Commission against broadcasting the film on DD channel. The diocese said the film was screened to create awareness among students about the dangers of love.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra on Tuesday finalised its seat-sharing arrangement for Lok Sabha polls and Congress will be contesting from 10 seats in the state.



As per the seat-sharing deal, Shiv Sena (UBT) will contest 21 Lok Sabha seats, the Congress 17 and the NCP (SP) 10 seats in Maharashtra.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and state Congress president Nana Patole announced the poll pact for the 48 parliamentary seats in the state at a press conference here after weeks of negotiations.

The Lok Sabha polls will be held in the state in five phases from April 19 to May 20.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, on Tuesday, offered unconditional support to the ruling `Mahayuti' alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra.

Speaking at his party's Gudi Padwa rally in Mumbai, he also declared support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said the upcoming Lok Sabha elections would decide the "future of the country."

Thackeray also asked his party workers to start preparing for the state assembly elections which are due later this year. Notably, the MNS has not fielded any candidate for the Lok Sabha elections yet.
The scuffle between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) intensified on Tuesday with the West Bengal police summoning two NIA officers in connection with the Bhupatinagar attack case.

This comes as an FIR was filed at Bhupatinagar Police Station against the central agency in a case filed by Moni Jana, wife of arrested TMC leader Monobrata Jana. In her complaint, Moni alleges that NIA officers vandalised properties in her residence and tried to outrage her modesty during their raid.



The raid pertaining to the incident happened on Saturday when the NIA team was allegedly attacked by a mob on Saturday when it went to arrest two main suspects in a 2022 blast in West Bengal's East Midnapore district.



The Bhupatinagar police issued the summons to two officials, the complainant and an officer who was injured in the attack. They have been asked to appear as witnesses in the case. The injured NIA official has also been asked to produce his medical papers and the vehicle which was damaged during the scuffle.



Meanwhile, the NIA has approached the Calcutta High Court against the FIR filed by the West Bengal Police against its officers. The agency said that the court has allowed NIA to file the petition and the matter will be on Tuesday itself.



The war between the party and the Central agency also saw the TMC leaders continuing their protest at the Mandir Marg police station on Tuesday morning. The leaders were detained by the Delhi Police while staging a dharna outside the Election Commission's office on Monday.



A 10-member TMC delegation met the full bench of the EC on Wednesday and demanded that the heads of the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation, National Investigation Agency and Income Tax department be changed as they were allegedly acting at the behest of the ruling BJP.



Following this, the TMC announced they were sitting on a 24-hour dharna outside the EC office on Monday, The delegation comprised Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien, Mohammed Nadimul Haque, Dola Sen, Saket Gokhale, Sagarika Ghose, MLA Vivek Gupta, former MPs Arpita Ghosh, Santanu Sen and Abir Ranjan Biswas and TMC West Bengal students' wing vice-president Sudip Raha.



The leaders were later detained by Delhi Police and forcefully evicted from the site. Though they were released on Monday night, the leaders stayed put at the police station through the night and continued their dharna.


While addressing an election rally in Arunachal Pradesh's Namsai, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday criticised China for renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh. Singh said that China's move will not change the ground reality.

Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India, he said.

China had renamed 30 places in Arunachal Pradesh with Chinese and Tibetan names as part of its continuing assertion of the region belonging to Beijing.

"I want to ask China if we change the names of various states of the neighbouring country, will those be parts of our territory?...the relations between India and China will deteriorate with such activities," said Singh.

India wants to maintain good relations with its neighbouring nations, however, if anyone tries to harm our self-respect, we will be giving a befitting reply, said the defence minister.

China's act of renaming the places in Arunachal Pradesh was termed as "senseless" by India. The reality is that the state "is, has been, and will always be" an integral part of India, read the statement.

Singh also lashed out at Congress for neglecting Arunachal Pradesh as well as the entire northeast during its 60 years of rule.

"India will now never allow even an inch of land to be captured by its neighbour," said Singh. For the NDA government, border villages are strategic assets of the country, he said.

Singh also highlighted the welfare schemes launched by the Centre to uplift the northeast. We have launched the UNNATI scheme for the northeast with a total investment of Rs 10,000 crore. The youth of the region will get employment through it, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to evacuate Indian students from the war-torn Ukraine, and bringing back home the eight former Indian Navy officers from Qatar were also highlighted by Singh.
India's weather scientists have started harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance weather forecasts, India Meteorological Department Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said.

In a free-wheeling interaction with PTI editors, he said over the next few years, the emerging technologies would also complement numerical weather forecasting models which are widely used at present to predict weather.

He said the weather office has been increasing observational systems to make mesoscale weather forecasts at the panchayat level or over 10 sq km area at a faster rate.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has deployed a network of 39 doppler weather radars that cover 85 per cent of the country's landmass and enable hourly forecasts for prominent cities, Mohapatra said.

"We have started using Artificial Intelligence in a limited way but within the next five years, AI will significantly enhance our models and techniques," he said.

Mohapatra said the IMD has digitised weather records for the country dating back to 1901 and artificial intelligence could be used to sift through this plentiful information to generate knowledge about weather patterns.



Artificial intelligence models are data science models which do not go into the physics of the phenomena but utilise past data to generate knowledge that can be used to make better forecasts, the IMD director general said.



He said expert groups have been formed in the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the IMD to harness artificial intelligence.



"Both artificial intelligence and numerical forecasting models will complement each other to improve forecast accuracy. Both will work hand in hand and nobody can replace the other," Mohapatra said.



Addressing the need for hyper-localized forecasts, Mohapatra acknowledged IMD's challenges in delivering village-level predictions for specific hazards.



"We aim to provide forecasts at the Panchayat or village level...tailoring weather information to sector-specific needs in agriculture, health, urban planning, hydrology, and environment," he said.



The IMD chief stressed the importance of data-driven decision-making in the era of information abundance.



"Incorporating AI and machine learning allows us to harness past data to extract valuable insights and improve forecasting accuracy without solely relying on traditional physics-based models," he said.



On the impact of climate change on weather predictability, Mohapatra noted the emergence of mesoscale phenomena like convective clouds on a small scale, affecting local communities.



To tackle this, he said IMD has strategically deployed Doppler weather radars covering 85 per cent of the country.

This advanced radar data, with a resolution of 350 meters per pixel, enables the detection and simulation of convective clouds, significantly enhancing forecast accuracy for extreme events like heavy rainfall and cyclones, he added. PTI UZM GVS SKU New Delhi, Apr 7 (PTI) India's weather scientists have started harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance weather forecasts, India Meteorological Department Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said.

In a free-wheeling interaction with PTI editors, Mohapatra said over the next few years, the emerging technologies would also complement numerical weather forecasting models which are widely used at present to predict weather.



He said the weather office has been increasing observational systems to make mesoscale weather forecasts at the panchayat level or over 10 sq km area at a faster rate.



The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has deployed a network of 39 doppler weather radars that cover 85 per cent of the country's landmass and enable hourly forecasts for prominent cities, Mohapatra said.



"We have started utilising Artificial Intelligence in a limited way but within the next five years, AI will significantly enhance our models and techniques," he said.



Mohapatra said the IMD has digitised weather records for the country dating back to 1901 and artificial intelligence could be used to sift through this plentiful information to generate knowledge about weather patterns.



Artificial intelligence models are data science models which do not go into the physics of the phenomena but utilise past data to generate knowledge that can be used to make better forecasts, the IMD director general said.



He said expert groups have been formed in the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the IMD to harness artificial intelligence.



"Both artificial intelligence and numerical forecasting models will complement each other to improve forecast accuracy. Both will work hand in hand and nobody can replace the other," Mohapatra said.



Addressing the need for hyper-localized forecasts, Mohapatra acknowledged IMD's challenges in delivering village-level predictions for specific hazards.



"We aim to provide forecasts at the Panchayat or village level...tailoring weather information to sector-specific needs in agriculture, health, urban planning, hydrology, and environment," he said.



The IMD chief stressed the importance of data-driven decision-making in the era of information abundance.



"Incorporating AI and machine learning allows us to harness past data to extract valuable insights and improve forecasting accuracy without solely relying on traditional physics-based models," he said.

On the impact of climate change on weather predictability, Mohapatra noted the emergence of mesoscale phenomena like convective clouds on a small scale, affecting local communities.

To tackle this, he said IMD has strategically deployed Doppler weather radars covering 85 per cent of the country.

This advanced radar data, with a resolution of 350 meters per pixel, enables the detection and simulation of convective clouds, significantly enhancing forecast accuracy for extreme events like heavy rainfall and cyclones, he added.
It was a stunning spectacle. Thousands of skygazers across the US, Mexico and Canada viewed the first total solar eclipse of the year as clouds cleared offering a clear view.

Though all of North America and Central America experienced a partial solar eclipse, only those located within the path of totality  an approximately 185-kilometre wide and 16,000-kilometre route  saw the moon completely obscure the sun.



The path of totality crossed four states in Mexico (Sinaloa, Nayarit, Durango and Coahuila) before sweeping over 15 U.S. states (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine) and seven Canadian Provinces (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland).



The eclipse, the duration of which spanned up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds, surpassed the duration of the 2017 event, which lasted upwards of 2 minutes and 42 seconds.

The eclipse was first seen around the Western city of Mazatlan in Mexico, around 11:07 local time. The Moon's outer edge seemed to just be touching the Sun initially. It then began to cover more and more until all went dark, except for the silvery glow of the "corona" effect of the Sun around the Moon's outline.



According to NASA, it took about 80 minutes from the moment the moon first began to cover the sun to the moment of totality, then another 80 minutes to complete the process in reverse.



The tens of thousands who gathered across the three countries expressed their excitement at witnessing the space spectacle. People wore solar-safe eyewear and lay watching the sky in a resort in Mazatlan as the skies darkened. The descent of darkness was welcomed by cheers, applause and whistles. Stars were visible, temperatures plummeted and faint waves of "shadow bands" flickered over the landscape. Zoos reported birds and wildlife falling silent and still.



Millions of people have flocked to areas across North America that are in the "path of totality" in order to experience a total solar eclipse | AFP

Laura Uzzle, 56, told Reuters that she was excited to experience the eclipse by a riverbank teeming with birds and insects."Even the wildlife changes," she said. "It's a complete sensory experience." Laura and Brian Uzzle travelled to the banks of the Ohio River between Indiana and Kentucky for the event.



"Even with the clouds it is kind of nice, because when it clears up, it is like, Wow!, a resident of Georgetown in Texas told AP.



Many also used the events to get married or propose. In Russellville, Arkansas, almost 400 couples tied the knot by the shadow of the moon in a mass wedding event dubbed "Elope and the Eclipse." At least two weddings and one marriage proposal happened among roughly 2,000 people who assembled at Niagara Falls State Park despite overcast skies, reported Reuters.



NASA footage



US space agency NASA shared stunning footage of the eclipse from the International Space Station. The ISS soared into the moons shadow during the eclipse, according to NASA.



Ever seen a total solar #eclipse from space?



Here is our astronauts' view from the @Space_Station pic.twitter.com/2VrZ3Y1Fqz  NASA (@NASA) April 8, 2024

"The windows on the cupola, the orbital outposts window to the world, were open and NASA Flight Engineers Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps were inside photographing and videotaping the Moons shadow on Earth, or umbra, beneath them," said the American space agency.

The space station was orbiting 260 miles (418 km) above Canada as the moons shadow was moving from New York to Newfoundland. The space station experienced a totality of about 90% during its flyover period, NASA said.
With Gazans inching closer to famine, pressure is mounting on Israel to allow more humanitarian inflow to the war-torn enclave as world powers propose sanctions. In the recent development, Turkey has imposed restrictions on the export of several items to Israel, while France has joined the calls for imposing sanctions against Israel to force it to allow more aid into Gaza.

Turkey imposed export restrictions on a wide range of products until a ceasefire is declared in Gaza. Curbs were imposed on exports of steel, fertilizers and jet fuel, with restrictions on products from Turkey. Turkey has denounced Israel for its campaign on Gaza since the October 7 Hamas attack.

According to the Trade Ministry, measures would apply to the export of products from 54 categories, including iron, marble, steel, cement, aluminium, brick, fertilizer, construction equipment and products, and aviation fuel.

"This decision will remain in place until Israel, under its obligations emanating from international law, urgently declares a ceasefire in Gaza and allows the unhindered flow of sufficient humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip," it said.

Reportedly, the trade restrictions were imposed by Turkey following Israel's rejection of a Turkish request to take part in an aid air-drop operation into Gaza.

Meanwhile, foreign minister Israel Katz said Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan "is again sacrificing the economic interests of the people of Turkey to support Hamas, and we will respond in kind."

Turkey had already stopped sending Israel any goods that could be used for military purposes, the Trade Ministry said.

Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and other opposition parties supported the decision to restrict exports to Israel but said the measures did not go far enough.

Meanwhile, France's foreign minister, Stephane Sejourne, suggested the international community pressure Israel by potentially imposing sanctions to force it to allow more aid into Gaza.

There must be levers of influence and there are multiple levers, going up to sanctions to let humanitarian aid cross checkpoints, he was quoted by Al Jazeera.

France was one of the first countries to propose European Union sanctions on Israeli settlers who are committing acts of violence in the West Bank. We will continue if needed to obtain the opening of humanitarian aid, he added.

With famine projected imminent in the northern half of Gaza, more supply of aid was called in by nations including the United States. The aid agencies blamed Israel for delaying the aid supply and restricting entry to the enclave. However, Israel denied the blocking and blamed the delay on logistics failures by the humanitarian organisations or Hamas diverting supplies.

The lengthy bureaucratic controls by Israel, broken roads and breakdown of public order have affected the aid deliveries.
A 25-year-old Indian student, who was missing for over a month in the US, was found dead in the city of Cleveland, the Indian Embassy confirmed on Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Abdul Arfath, hailing from Nacharam in Hyderabad.

Arfath, who arrived in the US last May to do his master's programme, was reported missing last month and a search operation has been underway since then.



"Anguished to learn that Mr Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio," the Consulate General of India in New York said in a post on X.



"Offering deepest condolences to Arfath's family," the Consulate said. It added that the officials were in touch with local agencies to ensure a thorough investigation into his death. "We are extending all possible assistance to the bereaved family to transport his mortal remains to India," the Consulate added.



According to Arfath's father Mohammed Saleem, he last contacted his family members on March 7. Arfath's mobile phone was found to be switched off as well.



Arfath's roommates in the US had informed his father that they lodged a missing persons complaint with Cleveland Police. However, on March 19, Arfath's family received a call from an unidentified person, who claimed that Arfath had been kidnapped allegedly by a gang selling drugs and demanded USD 1,200 to "release" him.



"The caller also threatened to sell Arfath's kidneys if the ransom wasn't paid," his father said.



"I got a call from an unknown number, and the caller informed me that my son had been kidnapped and demanded money. The caller did not mention the mode of payment but just asked to pay the amount. When I asked the caller to allow us to talk to my son, he refused," Saleem told PTI in Hyderabad.



Following this, Saleem wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who alerted the Consulate. The Embassy officials have since been working with local law enforcement authorities to locate the Indian student.



This is the second death of an Indian citizen within a week. Three days ago, the Embassy had confirmed the death of Uma Satya Sai Gadde, a student in Ohio. The case is still being investigated.



This is the 11 such death this year. Earlier this year, Amarnath Ghosh, a 34-year-old trained classical dancer from India, was fatally shot in St. Louis, Missouri, while Sameer Kamath, a 23-year-old Indian-American student at Purdue University, was discovered deceased in a nature preserve in Indiana.


BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov have emphasized the importance of further expansion of the strategic partnership between the two countries, the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan wrote on X, Trend reports.

According to the ministry, this issue was discussed during the meeting between Bayramov and Japarov.

The talks were held in an atmosphere of complete openness and trust, which characterize the fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan.

The day before, the Azerbaijani minister embarked on an official visit to Kyrgyzstan. As part of the visit, he has scheduled bilateral meetings with high-ranking officials of the country.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated his pledge to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which is filled with around 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom are displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip.

"It will happen. There is a date," Netanyahu said in a video statement Monday, without elaborating.



The United States, Israel's closest ally, has said a ground operation into Rafah would be a mistake and has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians. Netanyahu spoke as Israeli negotiators are in Cairo discussing international efforts to broker a cease-fire deal with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.



Israeli troops withdrew Sunday from Khan Younis, another city in southern Gaza, ending a key phase of the war. Defense officials say they're regrouping ahead of a push into Rafah. Palestinians who visited Khan Younis on Monday said the city is now unlivable, offering them little immediate chance to return. Many have been sheltering in Rafah.



The Palestinian death toll from the war has passed 33,200, with nearly 76,000 wounded, Gaza's Health Ministry said. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tally, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.



An Israeli official confirms that Israel is purchasing 40,000 tents to prepare for the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Israel says Rafah is Hamas' last stronghold and is vowing to send ground troops into the city. But the international community, including the US, opposes the offensive, saying it would endanger Palestinian civilians.



More than 1 million Palestinians, over half of Gaza's population, have fled to Rafah after being displaced by fighting elsewhere in the territory.



Meanwhile, Israel's military says it has killed a commander of Hezbollah's secretive Radwan Force in southern Lebanon.



Ali Ahmad Hussein is one of the most senior militants killed since Israel and Hezbollah began exchanging fire at the start of the war in Gaza. His killing comes as regional tensions soar after an apparent Israeli attack last week on Iran's consulate in Syria, threatening to spark a wider conflagration.



The Israeli military said two other Hezbollah militants were also killed in the strike early Monday.



Hezbollah announced the death of Ali Ahmad Hussein but did not give any details on the circumstances or his role within the group, in line with how they announce the deaths of their members.



The Israeli military said he was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of Sultaniyeh. It said in a statement that Hussein was responsible for carrying out attacks on northern Israel.



Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops have clashed along the tense Lebanon-Israel border since Oct 8. Hezbollah says it would stop firing rockets once a cease-fire is reached in the Gaza Strip that would end the Israel-Hamas war.

Israeli officials have been demanding that the Radwan Force withdraw from the border area in order to allow tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to return home.



Turkey restricts export to Israel



Turkey says it is restricting the export of dozens of products to Israel, including aluminium, steel, construction materials and chemical fertilizers over Israel's military actions in Gaza.



The decision announced Tuesday came a day after Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara would impose measures against Israel for rejecting a request for Turkish military cargo planes to join an operation to airdrop aid to Gaza. He said Turkey would continue the measures until Israel declares a cease-fire and allows the uninterrupted flow of aid to Gaza.



The Turkish Ministry of Trade issued a list of 54 products subject to the export restrictions.



This decision will remain in effect until Israel declares an immediate cease-fire in Gaza as part of its obligations arising from international law, and allows a sufficient and uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the ministry said.

NATO-member Turkey is among the strongest critics of Israel's military actions in Gaza. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has been criticised domestically for not halting trade with Israel.
In the bombed-out desolation of northern Gaza, famine is a clear and present risk. In mid-March, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC- a body that includes UN agencies such as the World Food Programme and the World Health Organisation), painted a chilling picture: Famine is imminent as 1.1 million people, that is half of Gaza's population, are facing catastrophic food insecurity. In simple terms, starving.

The catastrophic levels of human-made hunger in Gaza are the highest ever recorded on the IPC scale. Never before have we seen such rapid deterioration into widespread starvation.

Six months after the most recent war on Gaza started, children are locked in a race against time. The number of children killed has surpassed that of all children killed by conflict worldwide in the last four years. Hospitals and health services have been decimated. With medical supplies running out, doctors have been left with no choice but to operate on children without anaesthetics.

In direct contravention of a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution, Israels army continues to bomb even as life-saving relief and other essential supply lines are cut off. This cruelty must stop.

During previous humanitarian missions to Gaza and occupied Palestinian territory, I have seen streets reverberating with the laughter of children, their dreams as boundless as the sky they once flew kites in. Today, Fatima, a brave and resilient youth activist who works with Plan International, tells us she feels helpless and that her existence has no value.

A painful way to die

It is now our last chance to avert famine.

The war and ongoing restrictions on aid delivery are accelerating malnutrition among children. In mid-March, UNICEF warned that one in three children under the age of two in the Northern Gaza Strip suffer from acute malnutrition. This is a staggering escalation from 15.6 per cent in January, all in few weeks. Worse, malnutrition and dehydration have claimed the lives of at least 23 children.

We all know the word starvation, but what does it actually mean? Left unattended, starvation leads to death. Starvation occurs over three stages. Skipping a meal comes first, common in war settings. Then comes a prolonged period of food and nutrition deprivation and the body starts relying on stored fats for energy. In the final stage, it turns fatal when all stored fats have been depleted and the body turns to bone and muscle for energy.

Without adequate food, the human body can last only for a few weeks. Extreme weakness from a lack of essential nutrients, such as calcium and iron, protein and amino acids, makes it difficult for a child to walk, talk, and even breathe. Gradually, their immune systems weaken. Their organs will slow down and one day grind to a halt.

This is perhaps the most painful way for a child to die. Witnessing their agony is one of the most painful memories for a sibling or parent, and something that demoralises humanity. This is why deliberate starvation is considered one of the cruelest and more reprehensible tactics that can be deployed in a conflict.

In Gaza, doctors and medical staff testify that theyre seeing newborn babies dying because their birth weight is too low. Can you imagine the starvation that Gazas children are now living through unfolding in New York, Sydney or London? The right to survival is one of the key four articles in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Some suffering is not immediate, or visible

The impact of starvation and undernutrition is often felt by the next generation. Malnutrition leaves debilitating impacts on children such as increased morbidity and mortality, poor development and learning capacity, increased risk of infections and non-communicable diseases. Well-nourished children are 33 per cent more likely to escape poverty as adults.

When children who experience hunger grow up and have their children, they are more likely to be born premature or underweight creating a continuous cycle of poverty. Malnourished mothers are not able to pass adequate breast milk to their newborn infants.

In short, famine means that most children face one of two terrible choices  starvation, or survival only to continue suffering over years and generations to come.

Those who survive will also have to contend with the psychological impact of war, which is often invisible but still catastrophic. Children in Gaza have witnessed death, suffering and violence that would be unimaginable to most adults. An 18-year-old in Gaza today will have lived through conflict in 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2021 and now since October 2023.

I have witnessed the determination of children in Gaza and other war zones to survive no matter what. However, there is only so much that young minds can take.

Food never used- Donated for children now killed by famine

What does the forecast look like? How do you stop this?

Lets be clear. It is not food that is in short supply. A few kilometres or a few minutes drive away from Gaza are hundreds of trucks, including trucks belonging to Plan International, waiting to enter via the Egyptian border. They are just minutes away from starving children but systematically blocked by the Israeli army.

The entry of these trucks and relief supplies into Gaza will save childrens lives. If not, in a few weeks, these trucks will contain a painful truth: Food never used -- donated for children now killed by famine.

Where there is safe, guaranteed access for humanitarian workers and relief supplies, Plan International and our humanitarian colleagues have been able to reach people in desperate need. Since the start of Ramadan, Iftar meals have been provided to a total of 6,000 internally displaced people in Rafah via Taawon, a local partner.

Working with the Egyptian Red Crescent, we have also delivered 600 food baskets, 1,000 first aid kits and 1,600 cartons of water. But much more is needed. Safe humanitarian access to Gaza must be guaranteed at speed so that aid agencies can deliver supplies to civilians, especially malnourished children and pregnant women.

Immediate release of all civilian hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian children held as prisoners should be a priority.

As the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said recently: The eyes of history are watching. We cannot look away.

We can still change the course of history. A compassionate approach towards children is the starting point to stopping this unjust and cruel war. This will save lives and give children a chance to enjoy the basics of childhood - good health, education, and safety.

We must all play our part in calling for an end to this avoidable violence and suffering, for the sake of Gazas children.

The author is the Global Humanitarian Director of Plan International.



The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
Last month, Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky told the world in a desperate tone how Russia used almost 400 KAB glide bombs against Ukraine in just one week. "No country in Europe could have withstood such pressure and evil alone," the President said while seeking global support.

A month later, the Kremlin has only advanced. Thanks to the use of long-range glide bombs, Russian forces have managed to pound Ukrainian defences in multiple sectors, gaining ground west of the battlefield city Avdiivka.

The Russian Air Force is lobbing 100 glide bombs a day on Ukrainian positions along the 600-mile front line, prompting Ukraine to acknowledge that the KAB glide bombs are indeed a "miracle weapon" for the Russians.



"These bombs completely destroy any position. All buildings and structures simply turn into a pit after the arrival of just one KAB. And they drop 60-80 pieces on us in one day (!!)," wrote Egor Sugar, a trooper with the Ukrainian 3rd Assault Brigade.



What are glide bombs? The glide bombs are Soviet-era weapons that have been retrofitted for 21st-century warfare. They are guide weapons that consist of projectiles that are dropped from Russian Su-34 and Su-35 warplanes directly over targets. However, Russia upgraded the weapon with cheap pop-out wings and a satellite navigation system, enabling its launch from deep behind the front lines. Ukraines air defence systems are useless since the only way the bomb can be countered is by shooting down the aircraft before it drops it.



Carrying between 500kg and 1.5 tonnes of explosives for over 60km, the glide bombs create such impact that they leave craters up to 20m wide and 6m deep. "For them, it is much cheaper than using hundreds of thousands of artillery shells, when one of these bombs will demolish several buildings," Vlad, a 27-year-old soldier serving in the eastern Donetsk region, told The Financial Times.



Russian jet drop thermobaric glide bombs on Ukrainian forces



An Su-34 fighter-bomber has attacked Kievs fortifications in Donetsk Region, according to the Defense Ministry



Details: https://t.co/oIiWIBTwht pic.twitter.com/jUlfC8o3bw  RT (@RT_com) April 5, 2024

The lethal bomb has terrorised Ukrainians, who are already battling a shortage of ammunition.



Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the Financial Times that his countrys soldiers are being massively and routinely attacked by guided aerial bombs that wipe out their positions. "They are very simple in essence, so you cannot jam them, you cannot hide from them  the only way to protect yourself from them is to shoot down the bomber that carries this bomb," Kuleba added.



The improvised glide bombs began raining on Ukraine only last year. By 2024, they began to come in hundreds every day. \"Russian forces have significantly increased guided and unguided glide-bomb strikes against rear and frontline Ukrainian positions in 2024," the Washington DC-based think tank The Institute for the Study of War wrote in an assessment last week. It noted that the Russians employed "mass glide-bomb strikes to tactical effect in their seizure of Avdiivka in mid-February."



It is believed that Russia has a variety of glide bombs, including some weighing more than 6,000 pounds, in its arsenal.



Ukraine's only hope at this point to end the glide bomb threat is F-16 fighters. The Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters are equipped with better sensors, self-defence and missiles as compared to the current Ukrainian fleet. But, the wait for the F-16s will take another few months. Till then, Ukraine is at the mercy of Russia's miracle weapon.


Pune, Apr 8 (PTI) Five persons were booked after condoms, gutkha and stones were allegedly found in samosas supplied to a major automobile firm in Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune, a police official said on Monday.

Those booked comprise two workers of a subcontracting firm that was asked to supply the samosas as well as three partners of another such firm that had been removed earlier for adulteration, the official said.

"The three partners had allegedly planted these two workers to ensure the firm that had got the samosa contract now would get defamed," he said.

"Catalyst Service Solutions Pvt Ltd is responsible for providing food items to the canteen of the automobile firm. The firm had given a contract to provide samosas to another subcontracting firm named Manohar Enterprises. On Saturday, some of the automobile firm employees found condoms, gutka and stones in the samosas," he said.

After Manohar Enterprises' staffers were questioned over the incident, it was found that two workers, identified as Firoz Shaikh and Vicky Shaikh, had allegedly stuffed condoms, gutka and stones in the samosas, the Chikhli police station official said.

"We registered a case under IPC section 328 (causing hurt by means of poison) and 120B (criminal conspiracy). The two accused told us they are employees of SRA Enterprises and were sent by its partners to Manohar Enterprises to adulterate food supplied by the latter," he said.

SRA Enterprises was removed from the contract earlier after a bandage was found in a snack they had supplied and the partners, identified as Rahim Shaikh, Azhar Shaikh, and Majhar Shaikh, wanted to smear the market reputation of Manohar Enterprises.

"One person has been arrested. Further probe is underway," he added.
New Delhi (India), April 9: Anil Naik is a dedicated industry professional with over 12 years of experience, driving significant changes in consumer technology by addressing and solving real-world challenges. As a Lead Product Manager, he leveraged cutting-edge technology to understand customer needs to work through their challenges. He



during his tenure spanning over a decade at Apple, he utilised technologies like AI/ML, and AR/VR to develop and upgrade features to suffice customers needs for updated and easy-to-use interfaces. He delivered everything from providing robust cellular connectivity for people using smartphones in the world's remotest parts to improving the FaceTime audio/video experience to make it more immersive. His scope of work extended to products such as iPhone 6 & 7, Apple Watch Series 4 & 5, HomePod Mini, AirPods & Vision Pro, collectively impacting over 2 billion users worldwide.



Anil Naik's approach to innovation revolves around solving customer problems. He has authored/ co-authored 20+ patents or research/journal articles, aiming to enhance user experiences and simplify their lives. Anil actively participates as a judge in prestigious product-related competitions and awards, keeping an eye on recognizing solutions that truly benefit consumers. Additionally, he serves on the editorial board for international journals, contributing to the advancement of technology in a customer-centric manner.



Anil Naik's academic journey, including a double master's degree from prestigious institutions  an MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business  reflects his dedication to learning enough before playing the field. As a co-founder of SpacePlace Inc., an e-commerce startup incubated at UC Berkeley, he aimed at streamlining shopping experiences. He continues to advise the startup, focusing on customer-centric innovation.



Anil Naik's contributions in the field of science & technology have been recognized by major media outlets, further solidifying his commitment to enhancing consumer technology. In summary, Anil Naik's career is driven by a humble dedication to solving real-world problems and improving customer experiences through innovation in consumer technology.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
NEW DELHI, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jindal Stainless JSL (NSE: JSL), the country's largest stainless steel manufacturer, today announced its exciting foray into the B2C space with the launch of premium cookware range under the umbrella brand of Arttd'inox (a Jindal Lifestyle initiative). It signifies a fusion of cutting-edge innovation and unmatched quality, designed to elevate the culinary experience for home chefs.



Arttd'inox is more than mere cookware as it aims to transform kitchens into sophisticated culinary havens. With a meticulously crafted collection, each piece embodies the timeless essence of 'Art in Stainless Steel', designed for both functionality and aesthetics.



Speaking on the launch, Mr. Ranjan Choudhary, CEO, Jindal Lifestyle,said, "At Jindal Lifestyle, we are passionate about empowering consumers with the finest quality and innovative tools. Arttd'inox products are designed to be the purest expression of culinary delight, allowing consumers to create the Kitchen to table transition seamlessly. With this launch we are raising the bar and giving our consumers the confidence to create world-class cuisines in your own kitchens."



It has come out with three exquisite collections  Vida, Stellar, and Timber. For these collections, they used the innovative manufacturing technologies in the product development catering to new-gen cookware tastes and style.



Arttd'inox cookware prioritizes both exceptional performance and preserving the nutritional value of food. Each piece boasts a mirror-polished triply construction for even heat distribution, ensuring consistent and delicious results. The cookware seamlessly blends design with functionality, featuring ergonomic rivetless handles, stunning ceramic-coloured exteriors, and elegant wood-finished handles for added comfort.



Arttd'inox offers a diverse range of cookware, including frypans, saucepans, kadhais, tawas, and pressure cookers, all available in a vibrant array of colours to complement any kitchen aesthetic. Arttd'inox is now accessible on Arttdinox.com, Amazon and through the extensive distributor network.



About Arttd'inox



Arttd'inox, a lifestyle brand of Jindal Stainless,was founded 15 years ago by Ms. Deepikka Jindal, Creative & Managing Director of Jindal Lifestyle. The focal DNA of the brand is in its French-inspired name signifying 'Art in Stainless Steel' that strives to make luxury wonders in stainless steel promoting stainless artistry on the global map. The brand has everything for home fashion and functionality, from sophisticated homeware to charming cookware to modern & chic homespace offerings. The brand translates the timeless heritage and diversity of India through the prism of global lifestyle trends in stainless steel.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) The Road Transport and Highways Ministry constructed 12,349 km of national highways in 2023-24, the second highest in its history, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Previously, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had constructed a record 13,327 kilometres of national highways in 2020-21.

National highways of 10,331 kilometres were constructed in 2022-23 against 10,457 kilometres in 2021-22. Highways of 10,237 kilometres were built in 2019-20.

The official further said that the ministry awarded 8,581 national highway projects in 2023-24.

The government has launched a pilot project to provide cashless treatment to road accident victims. Accident victims will be entitled to cashless treatment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh, the official said.
New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) Travellers will have to shell out more for domestic flights this summer season, with airfares surging 20-25 per cent amid Vistara flight cancellations and strong air travel demand, according to industry experts.

At a time when peak summer travel period is round the corner, the airline industry is grappling with challenges in scaling up capacity to match demand and are even using larger aircraft on domestic routes.

Faced with pilot woes, Vistara has cut 25-30 flights daily or 10 per cent of its total capacity, a development that comes when the country's airline industry is already operating with reduced number of aircraft due to the bankruptcy of Go First and grounding of over 70 planes by IndiGo over engine issues.

An analysis by travel portal ixigo showed that spot fares on certain routes jumped up to 39 per cent during the April 1-7 period compared to March 1-7 period.

During the given period, the one way spot fares for Delhi-Bengaluru flights climbed 39 per cent, while it rose 30 per cent for Delhi-Srinagar flights.

The rise was 12 per cent for Delhi-Mumbai services and 8 per cent in case of Mumbai-Delhi services, as per the analysis.

Bharatt Malik, Senior VP - Air and Hotel Business at travel portal Yatra Online, said the anticipated average airfare surge in the current summer schedule, encompassing both domestic and international routes, is projected to range between 20-25 per cent.

"Vistara's decision to reduce flights by 10 per cent has affected ticket prices on major domestic routes. We've observed a significant surge in fares, with prices skyrocketing by approximately 20-25 per cent across key routes such as Delhi-Goa, Delhi-Kochi, Delhi-Jammu, and Delhi-Srinagar," Malik said.

He also said that one of the key reasons for the higher airfares is reduction in flight operations by Vistara and added that escalating fuel costs as well as a heightened demand for summer travel has further contributed to the increase.

Vistara is to operate more than 300 flights daily in the ongoing summer schedule that started on March 31.

"We are carefully scaling back our operations by around 25-30 flights per day, i.e. roughly 10 per cent of the capacity we were operating. This will take us back to the same level of flight operations as at the end of February 2024, and provide the much-needed resilience and buffer in the rosters," Vistara said in a statement on Sunday.

ixigo said spot fares have surged by 20-25 per cent on some routes due to rising demand before the peak summer travel season and some flight cancellations.

"However, this is a temporary disruption caused by last-minute flight cancellations and fares should stabilise in a few weeks as soon as flight schedules normalise," it said.

Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, Senior Director and Global Head, Transport, Mobility, and Logistics Consulting at CRISIL Market Intelligence and Analytics, said the impact of higher airfares on travellers is expected to be substantial.

"As we enter the busy season, we anticipate a 5-7 per cent increase in airfare, with pricing pressure particularly notable on trunk routes like Delhi-Mumbai and Mumbai-Bengaluru. Given that much of the upcoming travel will be for personal reasons and with family, the impact is expected to be substantial.

"Consequently, a considerable number of travellers might choose rail travel for shorter distances instead," he noted.

According to Malik, flights to popular domestic destinations like Ladakh, Manali and Goa have seen a 20 per cent uptick in prices, reflecting a surge in demand for both staycations and seasonal getaways.

Vistara has a fleet of 70 planes comprising 63 aircraft from A320 family and 7 wide-body Boeing 787s.

Further, the carrier has deployed larger aircraft like B787-9 Dreamliner and A321 neo on select domestic routes to combine flights or accommodate more customers.

In the ongoing summer schedule, Vistara will be operating 25.22 per cent more weekly flights at 2,324.

Indian airlines will operate a total of 24,275 weekly domestic flights during the summer schedule starting from March 31, a nearly 6 per cent increase compared to the year-ago period.

The number of weekly departures is just 2.30 per cent higher as against 23,732 flights being operated by the scheduled carriers in the winter schedule that ended on March 30, according to aviation regulator DGCA.

IndiGo, Air India and Vistara will operate more flights while SpiceJet will reduce departures during the 2024 summer schedule that spans from March 31 to October 26.
Damascus, Apr 8 (AP) Iran's foreign minister Monday accused the United States of giving Israel the green light for a strike on its consulate building in Syria that killed seven Iranian military officials including two generals.

Hossein Amirabdollahian reiterated Tehran's vows that it will respond to the attack, widely blamed on Israel, that appeared to signify an escalation of Israel's targeting of military officials from Iran, which supports militant groups fighting Israel in Gaza, and along its border with Lebanon.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an address Monday reiterated the Iran-backed group's support for a Tehran military response to the attack that killed Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior military official in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force, and worsened fears of the war spiraling into the rest of the Middle East.

Since the war in Gaza began six months ago, clashes have increased between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah. Hamas, which rules Gaza and attacked Israel on Oct. 7, is also backed by Iran, as well as an umbrella group of Iraqi militias targeting U.S. military bases and positions in Syria and Iraq.

Though Israel has regularly conducted strikes targeting Iranian military officials and allies, Zahedi's death was the most significant blow for Tehran since a U.S. drone targeted and killed Quds Force chief Gen. Qassim Soleimani in 2020 in Baghdad.

I'd like to say with a very loud voice from here in Damascus that America has a responsibility in what happened and must be held responsible," Amirabdollahian told reporters in Damascus during a visit where he met his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, who condemned both the strike and Israel's offensive in Gaza. Amirabdollahian also met President Bashar Assad, with whom he discussed Gaza and the wider situation in the region, a statement from Assad's office said.

The Iranian foreign minister, who earlier that day inaugurated the opening of a new consular section in a nearby building, justified his claims by saying that Washington and two European countries did not condemn the attack on the diplomatic building.

The Biden administration has insisted that it had no advance knowledge of the airstrike. Washington is Israel's vital military ally.

Israel, which rarely acknowledges strikes against Iranian targets, said it had no comment on the strike in the Syrian capital. However, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said last week that the U.S. has assessed Israel was responsible.

Initially after the strikes, Iranian state media said Zahedi led the Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria until 2016.

Then, in a public address Monday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said Zahedi was a key figure for the Lebanese group, and had three four-year stints in the tiny Mediterranean country.

Nasrallah, like Syria, and other key allies of Tehran, have said they remain committed to backing Iran.

It's a natural right for Iran. It's natural for the Islamic Republic to conduct this response (to the consulate attack), Nasrallah said.

Nasrallah said Zahedi's first involvement was until 2002, overseeing Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and helping Hezbollah scale up. Zahedi's second term covered some of the fiercest fighting in Syria's uprising turned civil war, where Tehran and Russia played a key role in backing Assad against opposition forces. Zahedi's final stint began in 2020 and ended when he was killed.

Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops have clashed along the tense Lebanon-Israel border since Oct. 8, the day after the Hamas attack on southern Israel.

The Hezbollah leader said that the moment the clashes began, Zahedi reportedly wanted to join Hezbollah militants on the front line but wasn't permitted to do so.

Earlier Monday, Israeli airstrikes over southern Lebanon killed Ali Ahmad Hussein, an elite commander of Hezbollah's secretive Radwan Force. Hezbollah announced Hussein's death, but did not give any details on the circumstances or his role with the group in line with how it makes public the deaths of its members.

The killing of Hussein, one of the most senior militants slain thus far, came ahead of the Iranian foreign minister's visit to Syria.

Israel considers Hezbollah its most serious immediate threat, estimating it has some 150,000 rockets and missiles, including precision-guided missiles that can hit anywhere in Israel. The group, which has thousands of battle-hardened fighters who participated in Syria's 12-year conflict, also has different types of military drones.

In January, Israeli jets struck and killed another elite Hezbollah commander from the Radwan Force, Wissam al-Tawil, who fought with the group for decades and took part in some of its biggest battles.

Hezbollah says it will stop firing rockets once a ceasefire is reached in the Gaza Strip that would end the Israel-Hamas war. Israeli officials have been demanding that the Radwan Force withdraw from the border area in order for tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to return home.

Washington and Paris have been scrambling to find a diplomatic resolution to halt the fighting along the Lebanon-Israel border, hoping to prevent a new all-out war between Hezbollah and Israel since a month-long war in the summer of 2006. (AP) AMS
Karachi, Apr 9 (PTI) As the crime rate continues to soar in Pakistan's financial hub Karachi, the opposition in the Sindh province has demanded the city administration be handed over to the Pakistan Army to bring under control rampant street crime in the country's largest metropolis.

Leaders of the opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) while assailing the Pakistan Peoples Party government in the province said the citizens of Karachi had been left at the mercy of street criminals and dacoits in the riverine areas of interior Sindh.

I call for Karachi to be handed over to the Pakistan Army for three months so that this lawlessness and street crimes can be brought under control, MQM convener Mustafa Kamal said during a press conference on Monday.

Official figures by the Karachi police show that 16,000 street crimes have been reported in the city this year.

What is more worrying is the increasing cases of street criminals killing any person trying to offer resistance to them during street crimes.

In March around 16 citizens were killed by street criminals and more than 50 this year.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has also noted with concern that the state of law and order in Karachi had deteriorated alarmingly.

Data presented before a high-level security meeting last week showed more than 250 Karachiites were shot dead and 1,052 others were wounded by street criminals between 2022 and March 28, 2024.

The HRCP pointed out that retaliatory vigilantism and increased brutality by citizens in response to the crime wave was not the answer, adding that the governments failure to address rising crime levels was shocking.

On Saturday, Sindh High Court Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi ordered law enforcement agencies to launch a crackdown on criminals, their handlers and facilitators to curb street crime in Karachi and improve security in other parts of the province, particularly the riverine area.

The MQM (P) which won 28 seats in the Sindh Assembly and another 17 in the National Assembly from Karachi has also threatened to leave the coalition government at the centre.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Chairman of the Kyrgyz Parliament (Jogorku Kenesh) Nurlanbek Shakiyev within the framework of his official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic, Trend reports.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on strategic cooperation in various spheres, prospects for further cooperation, and inter-parliamentary ties between the two countries.

Bayramov noted with satisfaction that the historically friendly and fraternal ties between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan have been further strengthened as a result of existing mutual trust and political dialog between the leaders of the two countries, as enshrined in the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kyrgyz Republic. It was mentioned that mutual visits and contacts contribute to the development of existing strategic partnerships as well as the expansion of the legal framework.

At the meeting, Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized the importance of mutual support of the positions of the countries, especially in the inter-parliamentary plane, and stressed the existence of broad prospects in the development of inter-parliamentary relations.

Additionally, the development of relations within the framework of regional and international organizations was highlighted. In particular, it was mentioned the importance of having wide perspectives of cooperation within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), as well as intensive contacts between the OTS member states in the direction of using the available potential. Confidence was expressed that the extraordinary summit of the OTS, which will be held in July this year in the city of Shusha, and the official summit, which will be held in October in Bishkek, will be two of the contacts that will serve the development of the organization.

Azerbaijani FM also informed about preparations for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) and the process of normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Chairman of the Jogorku Kenesh Nurlanbek Shakiyev, in turn, stated that his country attaches great importance to brotherly relations with Azerbaijan, based on historical ties, and there are prospects for improving the existing cooperation in the previously mentioned areas. Recalling his visit to Azerbaijan last year to participate in the event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the Speaker added that cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries is deepening day by day.

Other bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Ottawa, Apr 9 (PTI) An Indian-origin owner of a construction business and another person were killed and another man was seriously injured in a day-time shooting incident in Canada's Alberta province, according to a media report.

The incident happened on Monday and police said that officers responded to a shooting that occurred in a residential area around noon in the Cavanagh neighbourhood of Alberta Province, the CBC News reported on Monday.

"Emergency Medical Services responded and determined two of the men, a 49-year-old and a 57-year-old were dead, and a 51-year-old male was seriously injured. The 51-year-old is currently in hospital with serious life-threatening injuries, police said. Autopsies have been scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday," the report said.

The deceased Indian has been identified as Buta Singh Gill, owner of a construction company with strong ties to the Punjabi community.

Former city councillor Mohinder Banga said at the scene that Gill was known for helping others.

"This guy helped everybody by going out of his way and suffering his losses. Why would somebody hurt him?" Banga said.

Banga said he knew Gill well.

"He was such a religious and helpful person, he helped anybody he could," Banga was quoted as saying in the report.

Police said that several in the neighbourhood heard a loud bang sound.

Abby Sieben was on her way home from a walk in the neighbourhood around noon when she heard a series of loud bangs.

Sieben said she was walking down Cavanagh Boulevard with her two small children when the sound rang out from a construction site near her house.

Sieben said she heard at least four shots.

"I didn't know if it was a nail gun or if it was a gun because there's a construction site right there," Sieben said in an interview with CBC News.

"It wasn't obvious to me until I saw the guys, the construction workers, start to run away from the site."
Jerusalem, Apr 9 (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated his pledge to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which is filled with around 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom are displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip.

It will happen. There is a date, Netanyahu said in a video statement Monday, without elaborating.

The United States, Israel's closest ally, has said a ground operation into Rafah would be a mistake and has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians. Netanyahu spoke as Israeli negotiators are in Cairo discussing international efforts to broker a cease-fire deal with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israeli troops withdrew Sunday from Khan Younis, another city in southern Gaza, ending a key phase of the war. Defense officials say they're regrouping ahead of a push into Rafah. Palestinians who visited Khan Younis on Monday said the city is now unlivable, offering them little immediate chance to return. Many have been sheltering in Rafah.

The Palestinian death toll from the war has passed 33,200, with nearly 76,000 wounded, Gaza's Health Ministry said. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tally, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

The war began Oct 7 when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage.



Here's the latest:



TURKEY RESTRICTS EXPORT OF DOZENS OF PRODUCTS TO ISRAEL

ANKARA, Turkey  Turkey says it is restricting the export of dozens of products to Israel, including aluminum, steel, construction materials and chemical fertilizers over Israel's military actions in Gaza.

The decision announced Tuesday came a day after Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara would impose measures against Israel for rejecting a request for Turkish military cargo planes to join an operation to airdrop aid to Gaza. He said Turkey would continue the measures until Israel declares a cease-fire and allows the uninterrupted flow of aid to Gaza.

The Turkish Ministry of Trade issued a list of 54 products subject to the export restrictions.

This decision will remain in effect until Israel declares an immediate cease-fire in Gaza as part of its obligations arising from international law, and allows a sufficient and uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the ministry said.

NATO-member Turkey is among the strongest critics of Israel's military actions in Gaza. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has been criticised domestically for not halting trade with Israel.



NETANYAHU VOWS TO CARRY OUT RAFAH GROUND INVASION

JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated his pledge to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, declaring: There is a date.

Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel must send ground forces into Rafah, saying it is Hamas' last stronghold in Gaza.

But the international community, including the US, opposes the operation, saying the roughly 1.4 million civilians seeking shelter there will be in danger.

Israel has insisted it has a plan to protect the civilians.

In a video statement Monday, Netanyahu said the Rafah operation is essential for victory. He said, It will happen. There is a date, without elaborating. He spoke as Israeli negotiators were in Cairo discussing international efforts to broker a cease-fire deal with Hamas.



ISRAELI OFFENSIVE IN KHAN YOUNIS DAMAGED MORE THAN HALF OF ALL BUILDINGS IN THE CITY, MAP EXPERTS SAY

JERUSALEM  A pair of mapping experts say Israel's offensive in the southern Gaza City of Khan Younis appears to have left over half of the city's buildings with damage or destruction visible from space.

As of last week, over 55% of the city's buildings were likely damaged or destroyed, according to an analysis of Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite data by Corey Scher of the CUNY Graduate Center and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University. They say that accounts for 45,000 buildings.

Still, the damage in Khan Younis and other parts of the Strip's south is considerably less than in the north of Gaza, where the researchers estimate 70% of buildings were likely damaged or destroyed.

Israel's ground and aerial bombardment campaign, begun after the Hamas attack Oct 7, has wreaked unprecedented damage on the strip, levelling entire apartment buildings and leaving much of the territory in ruins, a moonscape from war.

Israel withdrew its last ground troops from Khan Younis on Sunday, marking the end of a key phase in its war against Hamas.



ISRAEL TO BUY 40,000 TENTS TO EVACUATE PALESTINIANS FROM RAFAH, ISRAELI OFFICIAL SAYS

JERUSALEM  An Israeli official confirms that Israel is purchasing 40,000 tents to prepare for the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Israel says Rafah is Hamas' last stronghold and is vowing to send ground troops into the city. But the international community, including the US, opposes the offensive, saying it would endanger Palestinian civilians.

More than 1 million Palestinians, over half of Gaza's population, have fled to Rafah after being displaced by fighting elsewhere in the territory.

Israel has said it has a plan to evacuate civilians ahead of its offensive, and Israel's Defence Ministry on Monday published a tender seeking a supplier of tents.

The Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, said the tents were part of the Rafah preparations.



ISRAELI ARMY SAYS A PALESTINIAN WOMAN WAS SHOT DEAD ATTEMPTING TO STAB A SOLDIER IN WEST BANK

JERUSALEM  The Israeli army said its forces shot dead a Palestinian women in the northern West Bank on Monday, after she attempted to stab a soldier at a checkpoint.

The army said the incident took place at the Tayasir checkpoint near the northern West Bank town of Tubas.

In a statement, the Palestinian Health Ministry identified the deceased as a young woman but did not state her name or age.

At least 460 Palestinians in east Jerusalem and the West Bank have been killed by Israeli fire since the Israel-Hamas war erupted six months ago, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Many have been shot dead in armed clashes, some while attempting to stab Israeli forces, and others for throwing stones at troops.

The Associated Press has reported on several cases where Palestinians have been shot dead for posing no apparent threat to nearby troops.

Knife attacks by Palestinian women are rare.



POPE FRANCIS MEETS WITH FAMILIES OF HOSTAGES

VATICAN CITY  Pope Francis met Monday with relatives of hostages taken by Hamas on Oct 7, marking the six-month anniversary of the attack in southern Israel with an hourlong audience.

The Vatican released photos of the encounter, showing the relatives of the several of the hostages sitting in a semicircle in front of Francis in his private library in the Apostolic Palace. Each one held a poster with a photo and the name of their loved one.

It was the second time Francis has met with relatives of the hostages. On Nov 22, he met with a delegation of Israelis, and then separately a delegation of Palestinians whose relatives had been harmed during the long Mideast conflict.

Francis has called for the immediate release of the hostages and a cease-fire in Gaza, and for humanitarian aid to urgently reach desperate Palestinians.



GAZA HEALTH MINISTRY REPORTS 32 PEOPLE KILLED IN LAST 24 HOURS

CAIRO  The Health Ministry in Gaza on Monday said the bodies of 32 people killed in Israel's bombardment have been brought to hospitals in the beleaguered territory in the past 24 hours. Hospitals also received 47 wounded people, it said.

The fresh fatalities brought the death toll in the strip to 33,207 since the war began on Oct 7, it said.

The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants, but said two thirds of the dead are children and women. The Israeli military says it has killed 12,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The ministry said 75,933 people have been wounded.

The ministry said many casualties remain under the rubble and first responders have been unable to retrieve them amid the relentless bombing.



PAKISTAN AND SAUDI ARABIA CALL ON ISRAEL TO HALT ITS MILITARY OPERATIONS IN GAZA

ISLAMABAD  Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have called on Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza and seek a peaceful solution to the conflict in line with UN resolutions.

The two countries made the demands in a joint statement on Monday after a meeting between Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Mecca.

The two sides called for international efforts to halt Israeli military operations in Gaza, mitigate humanitarian impact and underscored the imperative for the international community to pressure Israel to cease hostilities, adhere to international law, and facilitate unhindered humanitarian aid access to Gaza," according to the statement.

They also discussed the need for a peace process in accordance with UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative aimed at finding a just and comprehensive solution, for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital."



ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS IT KILLED A HEZBOLLAH COMMANDER IN LEBANON

BEIRUT  Israel's military says it has killed a commander of Hezbollah's secretive Radwan Force in southern Lebanon.

Ali Ahmad Hussein is one of the most senior militants killed since Israel and Hezbollah began exchanging fire at the start of the war in Gaza. His killing comes as regional tensions soar after an apparent Israeli attack last week on Iran's consulate in Syria, threatening to spark a wider conflagration.

The Israeli military said two other Hezbollah militants were also killed in the strike early Monday.

Hezbollah announced the death of Ali Ahmad Hussein but did not give any details on the circumstances or his role within the group, in line with how they announce the deaths of their members.

The Israeli military said he was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of Sultaniyeh. It said in a statement that Hussein was responsible for carrying out attacks on northern Israel.

Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops have clashed along the tense Lebanon-Israel border since Oct 8. Hezbollah says it would stop firing rockets once a cease-fire is reached in the Gaza Strip that would end the Israel-Hamas war.

Israeli officials have been demanding that the Radwan Force withdraw from the border area in order to allow tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to return home.



AUSTRALIA APPOINTS EX-DEFENCE CHIEF TO LOOK INTO ISRAELI STRIKE THAT KILLED 7 AID WORKERS

MELBOURNE, Australia  Australia has appointed retired national defence chief Mark Binskin to look into how Israel Defence Forces came to kill seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, including Australian Zomi Frankcom, in Gaza last week.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday he expected Israel would fully cooperate with Binskin as Australia's special adviser on Israel's response to the missile strikes on three aid vehicles.

We would expect that someone of Mr Binskin's stature, frankly, will be given every cooperation from the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli government, Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

We don't find the explanations to be satisfactory to this point, Albanese added.

The seven aid workers' deaths had shaken the world, Albanese said, adding it is unacceptable that almost 200 aid workers have died since the conflict began in October last year.

Binskin, who served as Australian Defence Force chief from 2014 to 2018, will advise the government on the sufficiency and appropriateness of steps taken by the Israeli government in response to the fatal attack, which the Israeli military has described as a tragic error, a government statement said. (AP) SCY

SCY
Jerusalem, Apr 9 (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated his pledge to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which is filled with around 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom are displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip.

It will happen. There is a date, Netanyahu said in a video statement Monday, without elaborating.

The United States, Israel's closest ally, has said a ground operation into Rafah would be a mistake and has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians. Netanyahu spoke as Israeli negotiators are in Cairo discussing international efforts to broker a cease-fire deal with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israeli troops withdrew Sunday from Khan Younis, another city in southern Gaza, ending a key phase of the war. Defense officials say they're regrouping ahead of a push into Rafah. Palestinians who visited Khan Younis on Monday said the city is now unlivable, offering them little immediate chance to return. Many have been sheltering in Rafah.

The Palestinian death toll from the war has passed 33,200, with nearly 76,000 wounded, Gaza's Health Ministry said. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tally, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

The war began October 7, 2023 when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage.



Currently:

 Palestinians returning to Khan Younis find an unrecognizable city after Israeli withdrawal.

 These Palestinian mothers in Gaza gave birth October 7. Their babies have known only war.

 AP Photos chronicle 6 months of devastation in Gaza war with no sign of an end.

 Israel finds the body of a hostage killed in Gaza, while talks will resume on a cease-fire.

 For families of hostages, it's a race against time as Israel's war reaches six-month mark.



ISRAEL PLANS TO BAN PRODUCTS FROM TURKEY IN A TIT-FOR-TAT MOVE

JERUSALEM  Foreign Minister Israel Katz says Israel is preparing a ban on products from Turkey after Ankara announced it was restricting exports to Israel.

Turkey said earlier Tuesday it is restricting exports of dozens of products to Israel, including aluminum, steel, construction products and chemical fertilizers. It said it would continue the measures until Israel declares a cease-fire and allows the uninterrupted flow of aid to Gaza.

Katz said in a post on the social platform X that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is sacrificing the economic interests of his citizens for his support of Hamas."

Relations between Turkey and Israel have been frosty for years, although trade ties between the two countries are strong.

NATO-member Turkey is among the strongest critics of Israel's military actions in Gaza.

Erdogan has repeatedly called for an immediate cease-fire and accused Israel of committing genocide in its military campaign in Gaza. The Israeli Foreign Ministry had no additional comment.



MEDIATORS PRESENT NEW CEASE-FIRE PROPOSAL TO HAMAS AND ISRAEL, EGYPTIAN OFFICALS SAY

CAIRO  Egyptian officials said Tuesday that mediators have presented a new cease-fire proposal to Hamas and Israel that would include a six-week pause in fighting and a swap of 40 Hamas-held hostages for at least 700 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The proposal was presented to delegations from Hamas and Israel during the latest round of negotiations in Cairo over the weekend, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations.

Among the Palestinian prisoners to be freed would be dozens convicted of killing Israelis during attacks by militant groups.

The officials said Hamas would be required to provide a list of the hostages it will release, as well as a list of Palestinian prisoners whose freedom it seeks.

The proposal also includes the return of a significant number of Palestinians to northern Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled the northern half of Gaza in the early stages of the war, heeding Israeli evacuation orders. The vast majority of Gaza's 2.3 million people are now crammed into the southern half.

The proposal stipulates that Israel gradually dismantle checkpoints it had built on a new road that split the strip in half to prevent the return of Palestinians to the north.

Hamas has said it is reviewing the proposal.



NETANYAHU VOWS TO CARRY OUT RAFAH GROUND INVASION

JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated his pledge to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, declaring: There is a date.

Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel must send ground forces into Rafah, saying it is Hamas' last stronghold in Gaza.

But the international community, including the US, opposes the operation, saying the roughly 1.4 million civilians seeking shelter there will be in danger.

Israel has insisted it has a plan to protect the civilians.

In a video statement Monday, Netanyahu said the Rafah operation is essential for victory. He said, It will happen. There is a date, without elaborating. He spoke as Israeli negotiators were in Cairo discussing international efforts to broker a cease-fire deal with Hamas.



ISRAELI OFFENSIVE IN KHAN YOUNIS DAMAGED MORE THAN HALF OF ALL BUILDINGS IN THE CITY, MAP EXPERTS SAY

JERUSALEM  A pair of mapping experts say Israel's offensive in the southern Gaza City of Khan Younis appears to have left over half of the city's buildings with damage or destruction visible from space.

As of last week, over 55 per cent of the city's buildings were likely damaged or destroyed, according to an analysis of Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite data by Corey Scher of the CUNY Graduate Center and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University. They say that accounts for 45,000 buildings.

Still, the damage in Khan Younis and other parts of the Strip's south is considerably less than in the north of Gaza, where the researchers estimate 70 per cent of buildings were likely damaged or destroyed.

Israel's ground and aerial bombardment campaign, begun after the Hamas attack October 7, has wreaked unprecedented damage on the strip, leveling entire apartment buildings and leaving much of the territory in ruins, a moonscape from war.

Israel withdrew its last ground troops from Khan Younis on Sunday, marking the end of a key phase in its war against Hamas.



ISRAEL TO BUY 40,000 TENTS TO EVACUATE PALESTINIANS FROM RAFAH, ISRAELI OFFICIAL SAYS

JERUSALEM  An Israeli official confirms that Israel is purchasing 40,000 tents to prepare for the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Israel says Rafah is Hamas' last stronghold and is vowing to send ground troops into the city. But the international community, including the US, opposes the offensive, saying it would endanger Palestinian civilians.

More than 1 million Palestinians, over half of Gaza's population, have fled to Rafah after being displaced by fighting elsewhere in the territory.

Israel has said it has a plan to evacuate civilians ahead of its offensive, and Israel's Defense Ministry on Monday published a tender seeking a supplier of tents.

The Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said the tents were part of the Rafah preparations.



ISRAELI ARMY SAYS A PALESTINIAN WOMAN WAS SHOT DEAD ATTEMPTING TO STAB A SOLDIER IN WEST BANK

JERUSALEM  The Israeli army said its forces shot dead a Palestinian women in the northern West Bank on Monday, after she attempted to stab a soldier at a checkpoint.

The army said the incident took place at the Tayasir checkpoint near the northern West Bank town of Tubas.

In a statement, the Palestinian Health Ministry identified the deceased as a young woman but did not state her name or age.

At least 460 Palestinians in east Jerusalem and the West Bank have been killed by Israeli fire since the Israel-Hamas war erupted six months ago, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Many have been shot dead in armed clashes, some while attempting to stab Israeli forces, and others for throwing stones at troops.

The Associated Press has reported on several cases where Palestinians have been shot dead for posing no apparent threat to nearby troops.

Knife attacks by Palestinian women are rare.



POPE FRANCIS MEETS WITH FAMILIES OF HOSTAGES

VATICAN CITY  Pope Francis met Monday with relatives of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, marking the six-month anniversary of the attack in southern Israel with an hourlong audience.

The Vatican released photos of the encounter, showing the relatives of the several of the hostages sitting in a semicircle in front of Francis in his private library in the Apostolic Palace. Each one held a poster with a photo and the name of their loved one.

It was the second time Francis has met with relatives of the hostages. On November 22, he met with a delegation of Israelis, and then separately a delegation of Palestinians whose relatives had been harmed during the long Mideast conflict.

Francis has called for the immediate release of the hostages and a cease-fire in Gaza, and for humanitarian aid to urgently reach desperate Palestinians.



GAZA HEALTH MINISTRY REPORTS 32 PEOPLE KILLED IN LAST 24 HOURS

CAIRO  The Health Ministry in Gaza on Monday said the bodies of 32 people killed in Israel's bombardment have been brought to hospitals in the beleaguered territory in the past 24 hours. Hospitals also received 47 wounded people, it said.

The fresh fatalities brought the death toll in the strip to 33,207 since the war began on October 7, it said.

The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants, but said two thirds of the dead are children and women. The Israeli military says it has killed 12,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The ministry said 75,933 people have been wounded.

The ministry said many casualties remain under the rubble and first responders have been unable to retrieve them amid the relentless bombing.



PAKISTAN AND SAUDI ARABIA CALL ON ISRAEL TO HALT ITS MILITARY OPERATIONS IN GAZA

ISLAMABAD  Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have called on Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza and seek a peaceful solution to the conflict in line with UN resolutions.

The two countries made the demands in a joint statement on Monday after a meeting between Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Mecca.

The two sides called for international efforts to halt Israeli military operations in Gaza, mitigate humanitarian impact and underscored the imperative for the international community to pressure Israel to cease hostilities, adhere to international law, and facilitate unhindered humanitarian aid access to Gaza," according to the statement.

They also discussed the need for a peace process in accordance with UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative aimed at finding a just and comprehensive solution, for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital."



ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS IT KILLED A HEZBOLLAH COMMANDER IN LEBANON

BEIRUT  Israel's military says it has killed a commander of Hezbollah's secretive Radwan Force in southern Lebanon.

Ali Ahmad Hussein is one of the most senior militants killed since Israel and Hezbollah began exchanging fire at the start of the war in Gaza. His killing comes as regional tensions soar after an apparent Israeli attack last week on Iran's consulate in Syria, threatening to spark a wider conflagration.

The Israeli military said two other Hezbollah militants were also killed in the strike early Monday.

Hezbollah announced the death of Ali Ahmad Hussein but did not give any details on the circumstances or his role within the group, in line with how they announce the deaths of their members.

The Israeli military said he was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of Sultaniyeh. It said in a statement that Hussein was responsible for carrying out attacks on northern Israel.

Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops have clashed along the tense Lebanon-Israel border since October 8. Hezbollah says it would stop firing rockets once a cease-fire is reached in the Gaza Strip that would end the Israel-Hamas war.

Israeli officials have been demanding that the Radwan Force withdraw from the border area in order to allow tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to return home.



AUSTRALIA APPOINTS EX-DEFENSE CHIEF TO LOOK INTO ISRAELI STRIKE THAT KILLED 7 AID WORKERS

MELBOURNE, Australia  Australia has appointed retired national defense chief Mark Binskin to look into how Israel Defense Forces came to kill seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, including Australian Zomi Frankcom, in Gaza last week.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday he expected Israel would fully cooperate with Binskin as Australia's special adviser on Israel's response to the missile strikes on three aid vehicles.

We would expect that someone of Mr Binskin's stature, frankly, will be given every cooperation from the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli government, Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

We don't find the explanations to be satisfactory to this point, Albanese added.

The seven aid workers' deaths had shaken the world, Albanese said, adding it is unacceptable that almost 200 aid workers have died since the conflict began in October last year.

Binskin, who served as Australian Defense Force chief from 2014 to 2018, will advise the government on the sufficiency and appropriateness of steps taken by the Israeli government in response to the fatal attack, which the Israeli military has described as a tragic error, a government statement said. (AP) NPK

NPK
Islamabad, Apr 9 (PTI) Veteran Pakistan Peoples Party leader and former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was elected unopposed as chairman of the Senate on Tuesday, as lawmakers from jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party boycotted the elections to the key posts in the upper house of Parliament.

Saidal Khan Nasir of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was also elected as the deputy chairman.

No one had filed nomination papers against the two candidates supported by the ruling alliance led by the PML-N.

The Senate met amidst protest by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers who were demanding that the session should be postponed until the election of senators from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province where polling was scheduled to be held on April 2 but postponed due to the controversy over the oath of members elected on reserved seats.

Subsequently, PTI boycotted the elections of chairman and deputy chairman Senate.

Early this month, elections were held in Islamabad, Punjab and Sindh, but not in PTI-ruled KP province - where Senate polls were delayed on 11 seats due to provincial assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swatis refusal to administer the oath to opposition lawmakers on reserved seats.

These seats were allotted to the PPP, PML-N, and other parties after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected a plea by the PTI and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) for the allocation of these seats.

After the session began, 41 newly-elected senators were administered oaths. The total strength of the Senate is 96, but currently, only 85 senators are its members as elections for 11 senators from KP are still pending.

With the election of the chairman and his deputy, the ruling alliance further solidified its grip on power as now it controls both Houses of Parliament.

After taking oath as the Senate chairman, Gilani, 71, addressed the Senate, saying that Pakistan faced an assault by "those who sought to divide and polarise us, those who sought to incite hatred, those who sought to replace norms of stability and abuse democracy."

Of the many crises we confront, the most dangerous is an attempt to sow hatred amongst us, toxic polarisation and incitement of violence, the new Senate chairman said.

Gilani, who was prime minister from 2008 to 2012, said his ambition was to build bridges, enable dialogue and provide space for disagreements within the parliamentary norms for the progress of the country.

He said the senators presented the unity of the federation, adding that the Senate represented the diversity and strength of the nation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated and conveyed his best wishes to Gilani and Nasir. The premier noted that elections of the Senate chairman and deputy chairman are a continuation of the democratic process.

It is hoped that you will play your role for the upliftment of the Constitution and the development of the country, Shehbaz said.

He also expressed hope for the active participation of the newly elected chairman and deputy chairman in crafting impactful legislation to promote public welfare and foster national progress and prosperity, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

The Senate is the upper house of Pakistans bicameral Parliament. The senators are elected for six-and-a-half-year with half of the house up for election every three years. They are elected by the provincial and National Assemblies.

Almost a month ago, the Upper House became dysfunctional following the retirement of half of its members.

Gilani and Nashir's election to the coveted posts is the result of a post-poll power-sharing deal between PML-N and PPP that effectively sidelined Khan's PTI.

Under this arrangement, PPP retained the esteemed offices of the president, the Senates chairman, and deputy speaker of the National Assembly, alongside governorships in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In exchange, PML-N secured the coveted offices of prime minister, National Assembly speaker, deputy chairman Senate, and governorships in Sindh and Balochistan.
Beijing, Apr 9 (PTI) China on Tuesday said it will resolutely oppose any plan by the Biden administration to connect the AUKUS pact between Australia, the UK, and the US to the Taiwan issue, saying it will risk nuclear proliferation and exacerbate the arms race in the Asia-Pacific.

Reacting to reports quoting US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbells recent remarks suggesting linking the AUKUS pact to the Taiwan issue to deter any Chinese aggression, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here that the American officials remarks fan the flames of conflict, and are malicious in intent.

"China is strongly dissatisfied with this and resolutely opposes it," she said, adding that it increases the risk of nuclear proliferation and exacerbates the arms race in the Asia-Pacific region, undermining regional peace and stability.

China claims the self-governing island of Taiwan as part of it and vows to integrate with its mainland.

The AUKUS submarine project could help deter any Chinese move against Taiwan, Campbell was quoted as saying at Washington's Centre for a New American Security think tank last week.

Campbell argued that the 2023 AUKUS pact involving Australias acquisition of nuclear-powered attack submarines was part of efforts to counter China's growing power in the Indo-Pacific region.

He also made a rare linkage between Taiwan and AUKUS, saying that new submarine capabilities would enhance peace and stability, including in the Cross-Strait that separates China and Taiwan.

AUKUS' submarine capabilities "have enormous implications in a variety of scenarios, including in cross-strait circumstances," Campbell was quoted as saying.

Mao said Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and Taiwans issue is its internal affair, which no external force has the right to intervene.

"What is the intention of the US in trying to link the so-called 'trilateral security partnership' submarine plan with the Taiwan question?" Mao asked.

China's will to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering, and no one should underestimate or misjudge it, she said.

Mao also said the US, the UK, and Australia are not direct parties to the South China Sea dispute and should not intervene in efforts by the relevant parties to resolve the issue through negotiation and consultation.

The recent tension in the South China Sea and increased regional confrontation are inseparable from the US actions in roping in its allies, she said, referring to Washingtons backing to the Philippines which during the last few months trying to assert its claim over the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea which is strongly resisted by China.

The coast guard ships of China and the Philippines jostled to assert their claim over the area.

China claims most of the South China Sea. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims over the area.
Lahore, Apr 9 (PTI) For more than two decades, Sardar Jitendar Singh and his family have followed a unique tradition that draws from the principles of their faith - they run Iftar Langar that provides food for poor Muslims during the Ramazan month.

Langar is a communal meal offered to visitors to any Gurdwara where all people are treated equally and offered the same food as part of the Sikh community tradition since the times of Guru Nanak. People also offer langar in their private capacity.

Singh, a pharmacist, moved to Lahore along with his family from Peshawar where Sikh families started feeling vulnerable because of rising terror incidents in which some Sikhs lost their lives in targeted attacks in recent years.

In Peshawar, Singh, 38, had his pharmacy shop and also practised as a Hakeem (herbal practitioner) before he shifted to Lahore last year. He opened his clinic and started practising here.

Since 2000, Singh's family has been involved in philanthropic work in Peshawar. I had to leave my ancestral province (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) because of security concerns. However, I did not leave the practice of helping the destitute, especially widows and orphans, in Lahore too, Singh told PTI on Tuesday.

This Ramzan, he has arranged Iftar Langar for Muslims in the Burki area, barely half an hour away from Lahores city centre.

Besides that, we also offer monthly support money, wheel-chair, sewing machines and free ration for the needy, Singh said and added that some affluent people from his community are also contributing by way of money and material donations.

He is of the view that he is doing charity work for the sake of humanity. Every Sikh has to dedicate one-tenth of his or her income for charity as per the sayings of Baba Guru Nanak. Sewing machines help widows to earn livelihood, while vendor carts are given to the needy to make their living, Singh said.

Free ration is provided to the poorest of the poor and on Eid day, Singh also distributes Eidi (Eid money) to poor children of the locality.

Singh was born in the Boner district of the Malakand division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province but sometime in the 20th century, his family moved to Peshawar for business and later to Lahore.

When asked about the people's response to his and his communitys charitable work, Singh just said: At times some people are surprised to see Sikhs helping Muslims.
Washington, Apr 9 (AP) Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron urged Congress on Tuesday to approve new military aid for Ukraine, saying the stalled funding is critical for US, European and world security.

Speaking after a meeting at the State Department, Blinken repeated long-standing appeals for lawmakers to unblock the assistance that President Joe Biden has sought for months, while Cameron said he would make the same case in meetings on Capitol Hill as a great friend of the United States.

I come here with no intention to lecture anybody or tell anybody what to do or get in the way of the process of politics and other things in the United States, he said. I just come here as a great friend and believer in this country and a believer that it's profoundly in your interest, in your security, and your future and the future of your partners to release this money and let it through.

The supplemental budget request that President Biden has made of Congress is urgent and it's imperative since the house is now back in session," Blinken said. We look to see that brought before the house and to get a vote as quickly as possible.

Cameron also met on Monday in Florida with former President Donald Trump, who has been skeptical of Ukraine aid, and said the assistance is vital for American and European security. Cameron defended his meeting with Trump as a standard encounter with an opposition figure and said it covered a number of pressing global issues but did not elaborate.

This was entirely in line with precedent with government ministers meeting with opposition politicians in the run-up to elections, he said, noting that they discussed a range of important geopolitical subjects and that both British and American politicians have frequently met with opposition figures in their respective countries.

These things are entirely proper, Cameron said.

Cameron said victory for Ukraine is vital for American and European security, but the former president and presumptive Republican candidate is a critic of continued US support, and lawmakers aligned with him are holding up an aid package for Kyiv in Congress.

Cameron and Trump have had several notable differences of opinion in the past. Cameron called Trump's proposal during his first presidential campaign to ban Muslims from the US divisive, stupid and wrong.

In a statement, Trump's campaign said the meeting was held to discuss several issues impacting both countries, including upcoming elections in both Britain and the United States, the implications of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, the need for NATO allies to meet their commitments on defense spending and ending the killing in Ukraine.

The statement did not elaborate on those topics but added that Trump, Cameron and British ambassador to the US Karen Pierce, had "also discussed their mutual admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Cameron was British prime minister during the UK's 2016 referendum on whether to leave the European Union  a move he opposed but Trump enthusiastically supported. Cameron resigned after voters narrowly rejected his call to remain in the bloc.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unexpectedly brought Cameron back into government last year as Britain's top diplomat.

Cameron said later Tuesday he would urge US lawmakers to approve a new aid package for Ukraine, warning Congress that it is putting the security of the West at risk by continuing to hold up the funding. He's due to hold talks with lawmakers including Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, and is hoping to meet House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose role is key.

In a video posted last week on social network X, Cameron said: Speaker Johnson can make it happen in Congress.

A USD 60 billion package of military aid is bogged down in the House of Representatives as populist conservatives seek to block further funding for the two-year-old conflict and some mainstream Republicans demand concessions on border security before supporting the bill.

After Cameron urged US lawmakers in February not to show the weakness displayed against Hitler in the 1930s, Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene said he should worry about his own country."

Ahead of his trip, Cameron said that success for Ukraine and failure for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin are vital for American and European security.

This will show that borders matter, that aggression doesn't pay and that countries like Ukraine are free to choose their own future, he said. The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to re-draw European borders by force, and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea.

Cameron is also due to discuss the Israel-Hamas war, including efforts to reach a sustainable cease-fire and get more aid into Gaza, in talks with officials including Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. The UK is sending a Royal Navy ship to the eastern Mediterranean to bolster efforts to open a maritime aid corridor between Cyprus and a temporary US-built pier in Gaza. (AP) NPK

NPK
Washington, Apr 10 (AP) The State Department has greenlighted an emergency $138 million in foreign military sales for Ukraine to provide critical repairs and spare parts for Kyiv's Hawk missile systems.

The US announced the move Tuesday saying that Ukraine has an urgent need for the maintenance support to keep the missile system running.

The announcement follows a similar, small-sized round of $300 million in munitions support the Pentagon announced last month after it was able to convert contract savings to be able to offset the cost of providing the aid. Both the State and Defense Departments have been looking for ways to continue to get Ukraine support while a $60 billion Ukraine aid package remains stalled in Congress.

The HAWK is a medium range surface-to-air missile system that provides air defence, which is one of Ukraine's top security needs.

Ukraine has an urgent need to increase its capabilities to defend against Russian missile strikes and the aerial capabilities of Russian forces, the State Department said in a memo outlining the sale. Maintaining and sustaining the HAWK Weapon System will enhance Ukraine's ability to defend its people and protect critical national infrastructure.

During a Capitol Hill hearing Tuesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said without the support  the US risks that Ukraine will fall to Russia.

Ukraine matters, and the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine will have global implications for our national security as well, Austin said.

If Kyiv falls, it could imperil Ukraine's Baltic NATO member neighbours and potentially drag US troops into a prolonged European war.

The work on the Hawk systems will be performed by contractors from Massachusetts-based RTX Corporation, formerly known as Raytheon and Huntsville, Alabama-based PROJECTXYZ. The State Department said the parts needed to repair the systems will come from US Army stock, third-country donations, commercial off-the-shelf components and new production. (AP)

VN
Pune, Apr 9 (PTI) A 19-year-old Muslim student of a university in Maharashtra's Pune city has been allegedly beaten up by five unidentified persons who accused him of engaging in "love jihad", police said on Tuesday.

The incident took place on Sunday afternoon when the male student was accompanying two female students on the campus of the state-run Savitribai Phule Pune University, an official from Chatushringi police station said.

The police have registered a case against unidentified persons and are trying to identify the culprits, he said.

The university authorities said they have set up a committee for a probe into the incident.

'Love jihad' is a term used by right-wing activists and outfits to allege a conspiracy by Muslim men to convert Hindu women to Islam through marriage.

The male student, along with the two female friends, was returning after having a meal when four-five unidentified persons on motorbikes approached them on the university campus, the official said.

They started questioning the student and asked him to show his Aadhaar card.







In his complaint, the student alleged that after seeing his name on the identity card, one of the persons asked whether he had come to the university to engage in "love jihad" and assaulted him and a Hindu male friend who was also present there, the police said.







"We have registered a complaint against unidentified persons under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and efforts are underway to trace them with the help of CCTV footage," the official said.

The complainant is a student of a skill development course in the university, he added.







The university's registrar, Vijay Khare, said they have formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the incident and asked security personnel deployed in the institution to ensure such incidents of students being threatened by anti-social elements do not recur.
Kolkata, Apr 9 (PTI) Pradip Bhattacharya, the 79-year-old Congress leader who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls again after two decades, asserted that age is not a factor in politics but a clean image is.

In an interview with PTI, Bhattacharya, a contestant in the Kolkata Uttar constituency, claimed that Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, though "quite unpredictable", will definitely be a factor in the upcoming elections".

The north Kolkata region, which witnessed a cultural and social movement in the 19th century is set for another renaissance, said Bhattacharya who has spent nearly 50 years in politics.

"It's true that I am quite an aged person. At this age, it is difficult to move and go to various places. But politically I am very clean, I have no black spot. I have never been to jail for any reason, never arrested by CBI or ED, the former state Congress president said.

The Congress veteran did not mention by name his rival contestants  sitting MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay of the TMC and the BJPs Tapas Roy.

Bandyopadhyay was arrested by CBI in 2017 in connection with a ponzi scam case, while the ED raided Roy's residence in January this year in a case linked to alleged irregularities in municipality recruitment. Roy, a five-time MLA, left TMC to join the saffron camp in March.

I earned money as a college teacher, an MP or MLA. I believe the common people are desperately looking for a clean person to represent them," Bhattacharya said.

Referring to his age, he mentioned that Sudip Bandyopadhyay is also 75 years old.

"He (Bandyopadhyay) is not much younger to me. But yes, Tapas (Roy) is of course much younger. I believe the people of Kolkata Uttar will choose (their MP) politically. They have to think very clearly We all know that TMC has a link with BJP," Bhattacharya claimed.

To a question, the two-term Rajya Sabha MP said that he has an extraordinary attraction for the northern part of Kolkata.

"In my Masters, I had Bengali when I had studied in detail the Bengal Renaissance, which started in north Kolkata. So, I have had a sort of nostalgia. My social contacts with different types of people are from this part, plus the nostalgia compelled me to take this challenge, Bhattacharya said, sitting in his south Kolkata flat.

The Congress leader who was elected to Lok Sabha once in 1996 said incidents of Sandeshkhali where allegations of atrocities against women were raised against local TMC leaders reminded him of 19th-century social reformer Rammohan Roy.

"Rammohan Roy fought for the rights of women, for widows to remarry, and their right to hold property. Sandeshkhali showed how women are tortured here. Time has come that another renaissance is necessary for Bengal and it will start from North Kolkata," he said.

When reminded that the seat is known as a TMC stronghold, Bhattacharya said, "People know TMC and BJP are linked. People are asking why Mamata (Banerjee) did not attend the Kejriwal meeting Wherever I am going, people are telling me they will vote for me as I am a perfect gentleman."

The Congress leader said it is high time that the brain drain from Bengal needs to be stopped.

"This is very unfortunate. We must do something to increase employment opportunities, he said.

Bhattacharya lambasted the dole system started by the central and state governments and held it responsible for ruining the socio-structure of the country.

"Social engineering in Bengal has changed. Bengali Hindus and Muslims used to have the dedication to work for development of the state and its people. But now, the political parties, particularly those with the central and state government are doing the dole business which is ruining the country, he said.

People are thinking they should vote for this government because it is giving them something, Bhattacharya said. But what they are getting is temporary. After four to five years, this will also stop. What will happen after that? The solution is building more factories, business centres where the people will go and work," he said.

The Congressman said the CAA and the NRC would not be decisive factors in the elections as claimed by some quarters.

"When elections come, the CM of Bengal start saying this. I know the old story because I was the chairman of the (parliamentary) standing committee for home for three years. I can assure you that nobody will be thrown out of the country," he said.

Terming Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee "quite unpredictable", Bhattacharya said that she will definitely be a factor in the upcoming elections.

"After all she is the CM and has so many MPs. She'll be a factor, no doubt about it. But her mental makeup and attitude are so much so unpredictable that her party people do not believe her. I have not seen a single senior political party who told me that they trust her," he said.

He predicted that the allegations of corruption would heavily affect the TMC's performance in the ensuing elections.

"I have not seen that in my life the type of corruption that happened in Bengal. People will not ignore this thing and people know the reason and they will take proper revenge," he stated.

The former Rajya Sabha MP of the Congress was hopeful that if the polling is held "normally", the Congress as well as the opposition holds a good chance over the BJP.

"If the election is held in the normal way, I have no doubt that the Congress and the other opposition parties will win," Bhattacharya said.

About how much support he was getting from the Left, Bhattacharya said, "Our organisation is very weak in some pockets, but we have our people. The Congress voters and Left Front machinery will help."

Kolkata Uttar constituency will go to polls on June 1.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. The former Armenian Defense Minister, head of the opposition Hayastan parliamentary faction, Seyran Ohanyan, and nine other members of the Armenian parliament have not been admitted to today's closed session on the delimitation and demarcation of borders with Azerbaijan, attended by the Armenian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Trend reports.

According to Armenian media, besides Ohanyan, Levon Kocharyan, son of former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, along with 6 other MPs from the Hayastan faction, were denied access to the closed session, as well as one parliamentarian from the ruling faction.

Ahead of the sitting, Speaker Alen Simonyan said that some parliamentarians do not have authorization to access confidential information.

Moreover, mobile phones were taken away from all the participants before the sitting.

As reported, on March 7, the seventh session of the State Commissions on Delimitation of the State Border between the countries was held along the provisional border, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev and Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan.

The parties shared perspectives on delimitation matters and advanced in agreeing on draft regulations for the joint operations of the State Commissions on Delimitation of the State Border between the countries. Additionally, they discussed drafts of pertinent guidelines regarding the procedure for delimitation work.

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New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) India and Kazakhstan have explored ways to boost their bilateral cooperation in combating terrorist activities including cross-border and state-sponsored terrorism.

The two sides discussed the issue at the fifth meeting of India-Kazakhstan joint working group on counter terrorism that was held in Astana on Monday.

"Both sides exchanged views on the terrorist threats in their respective regions, including state-sponsored, cross-border terrorism in South Asia, besides terror activities in the Af-Pak region," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

'"The two sides assessed counter terrorism challenges, including the use of new and emerging technologies by terrorists, misuse of internet for terrorist purposes, radicalisation and terror financing," it said in a statement.

The MEA said both sides emphasised the importance of strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation through exchange of information, capacity building, training programmes, and cooperation at the multilateral fora, such as the UN and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

"The two sides agreed to hold the sixth meeting of JWG on counter terrorism n India on a mutually-convenient date," the MEA said.
Ghaziabad (UP), Apr 9 (PTI) The crime branch on Tuesday arrested a retired junior commissioned officer posted in the military police allegedly with fake arms licenses and weapons, police said.

Parmendra (52) was arrested from a locality under the Madhuban Bapudham police station area allegedly with a pistol and a revolver of .32 bore, magazines, two rifles of .315 bore, one double barrel gun of .12 bore and fake arm licenses, they said.

Six rubber stamps of the arms office of Kishtwar and Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir, have also been seized from his possession, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Cyber Crime Sachidanand said, adding that the accused used these stamps for making the fake licenses.

During interrogation, Parmendra reportedly told the police that during his posting in Himachal Pradesh, he came in contact with two agents named Amit Mutreja and Krishna Soni, who allegedly used to make fake licenses for the Army personnel and they charged Rs 10-15 thousand for that.

Parmendra also paid Rs 15 thousand and obtained an arms license and later started working for them on commission, he told the police.

The DCP said Parmendra's accomplices are on the police radar and they will also be nabbed soon.
Jammu, Apr 8 (PTI) A police constable wanted in a triple murder and drug trafficking here has been arrested, officials said on Monday.

According to police, constable Sadeeque Ali, who is involved in serious crimes in various areas of Jammu region, had been evading arrest after jumping bail during his trial before the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge in Jammu.

Ali is a key accused in the triple murder case registered in 2021 in Arnia police station and was also found to be involved in drug trafficking with the charge sheet already submitted to the court, they said.

During the trial, Ali was granted interim bail, but he went absconding. Acting on a tip-off, a police team from Arnia police station conducted a raid and arrested him here, they said.

Two constables, including Ali and Bhupinder Singh, were involved in a firing incident in which three people -- Sabar Chowdhary, Arif Chowdhary and Babar Chowdhary, all residents of RS Pura tehsil -- were killed and another injured, the officials said.

The reason behind the incident was a dispute over land and cash. Singh among four people have already been arrested in the case, they said.
Pilibhit (UP), Apr 9 (PTI) Amid the various difficulties being faced by the world now, India is showing that there is nothing impossible for it to achieve, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.

He said this has been possible due to every single vote of the people.

"No matter how difficult the goal is, if India is determined to achieve it, it will definitely achieve. Today, with this inspiration and energy, we are working towards the resolution of a developed India," he said at a poll rally here.

"Amidst the difficulties of the entire world, India is showing that there is nothing impossible for it," he said

The prime minister noted there was a time when the Congress government used to ask for help from the world, but during the Covid pandemic, medicines were made available to the whole world from India.

"When India became the world's fastest growing economic power, were you (people) proud of it or not? When our Chandrayaan hoisted the tricolour on the moon, were you proud or not? The grand G20 summit held in India was praised all over the world," he added.

"When the country becomes strong, the world listens to it," Modi said.

Eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19. These are Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit.

Counting of votes will be held on June 4.
Pilibhit (UP), Apr 9 (PTI) With the Navratri festival beginning on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country should remember how the INDIA bloc "has taken a vow to destroy Shakti" and those who worship the Goddess will never forgive the Congress and its allies.

Nine forms of Goddess Durga or Shakti are worshipped during the nine-day Chaitra Navratri festival.

"Today, on the first day of Navratri, I am also reminding the country how the INDI alliance has vowed to destroy 'Shakti'. The 'Shakti' before which we bow our heads, the leaders of the Congress are speaking about uprooting that 'Shakti'," Modi said at an election rally, again targeting the opposition over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'fight against Shakti' remarks.

During the election campaign, Modi and the BJP have been accusing the Congress and the opposition alliance of being "anti-Hindu", repeatedly attacking them over Rahul Gandhi's remarks, the comments of DMK leaders against Sanatan Dharma and for staying away from the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The opposition has, in turn, alleged that the ruling party was resorting to communal polarisation as it has nothing to show in its report card.

"Pilibhit's land is blessed by Mother Yashwantri Devi. This is the origin place of Adi Ganga Maa Gomti.

"Today, the 'Shakti', who is being worshipped in the country, that 'Shakti' has been insulted by the Congress... No worshipper of 'Shakti' will forgive the INDI alliance for this insult," Modi said.

At an INDIA bloc rally in Mumbai last month, Rahul Gandhi had said, "In the Hindu religion, there is a word called 'Shakti' . We are fighting against a 'Shakti'."

Later, Gandhi accused the prime minister of twisting his words.

"The 'Shakti' that I mentioned, Modi ji is the mask of that power and we are fighting against it. It is such a power that today it has captured India's voice, India's institutions, the CBI, I-T, ED, Election Commission, the media, Indian industry and the entire constitutional structure of India in its clutches," he had said on X.

"I recognise that power and so does Narendra Modi ji. It is not any kind of religious power, it is the power of unrighteousness, corruption and falsehood. That's why whenever I raise my voice against it, Modi ji and his machine of lies gets upset and enraged," the Congress leader had added.

Addressing an election rally in Saharanpur on April 6, Modi had said that it is the country's misfortune that leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc are openly talking about "fighting against Shakti".

"In every corner of Hindustan, worshipping Shakti is a part of our natural spiritual journey.

"But it is the misfortune of the country that the leaders of INDI Alliance openly throw a challenge that their fight is against Shakti. Can anyone finish Shakti, and challenge the power of Shakti? And, those who made an effort to destroy Shakti, what happened to them? It is mentioned in history and the Puranas," Modi had said.

Eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh -- Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit -- will vote in the first phase of general elections on April 19.
Guwahati, Apr 9 (PTI) Equal access to employment opportunities, legal safeguard against bullying and improved healthcare are among some of the pressing issues that the transgender community in Assam want political parties to address.

Assam has 414 third gender voters, including the highest in Nagaon with 86, followed by Tinsukia (36), Kamrup (Metro) at 34, Kamrup (Rural) at 29, Sonitpur (24) and Barpeta (21), according to official data.

Milin Dutta, founder of the non-profit 'Anaajoree', emphasised on the prevalence of stigma and discrimination, which prevents many eligible transgender voters from exercising their franchise.

Dutta underscored the need for prioritising education, healthcare and employment opportunities for the community to ensure their safety and productivity in society.

"There are many more eligible voters in the community, who are yet to come out as transgenders due to the fear of stigma and discrimination by their family and the society at large, Dutta told PTI.

"Education, health facilities and job opportunities for the community must be given top priority by the elected government for the safety of the queer community and to ensure they become productive citizens," he said.

Dr Sammy, an assistant professor at Tezpur University, highlighted the urgent need for legal protections, skill enhancement, educational institution and affirmative healthcare for the community members.

The academic advocated the enactment of laws defending transgender rights, including legal recognition of gender identity and protection from violence and prejudice.

Issues such as discrimination by medical professionals and the unaffordable cost of transition-related healthcare have also been raised, bringing to the fore the need for government-funded support services in hospitals.

Dutta pointed out that many members of the community face discrimination even from doctors, with some from government hospitals calling them to their chambers and charging exorbitant fees.

"Government hospitals should also be funded and equipped to help those trans individuals who want to go through the transition process by providing Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) treatment, counselling, gender reassignment surgery, pre and post-operative care," the 'Anaajoree' founder said.

A trans man, who preferred anonymity, said though he fulfills all the conditions to become a voter, he did not register himself as a third gender as he is yet to recover from the physical and mental trauma he had to endure after declaring his gender identity to family members.

Dutta said proper mental health services must be provided, as there is a high rate of suicide, and fees should be fixed at a minimum affordable rate.

"They suffer from gender dysphoria due to a mismatch between biological sex and their gender identity. This sense of unease or dissatisfaction may be so intense that it can lead to depression and anxiety, with a harmful impact on their life, he said.

The parent of a transgender girl, Indrani Chakraborty, told PTI that there is a need for government intervention on expensive cosmetic surgeries, which may be a luxury for the general public, but a necessity for transgenders.

"The documentation process is not yet smooth in spite of the Transgender Protection Act, with the departments concerned not yet fully aware, creating a big hindrance in the way of their upliftment, she said.

Dr Sammy also said there should be legal recognition of queer-chosen families and friendships.

"This is especially important for a lot of queer people, who do not feel safe within their birth families and have created a family of chosen friends, parental figures and partners. During times of medical crisis, these chosen family members should be empowered legally to be able to aid each other," the academic said.

The Congress, in its manifesto, has said the party will bring in a law to recognise civil unions between couples belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community, Dr Sammy said.

Dutta pointed out that political parties should also make a commitment to passing anti-discrimination legislation that safeguard the community people in public services, employment, healthcare and education.

Another trans member, who wanted to remain anonymous, said they are a vulnerable section of society subject to harassment from people as well as police when they are approached for help.

"Awareness and sensitisation programmes must be made mandatory in schools and other educational institutions, which will not only create a healthy environment for transgenders, but also stop school dropouts, discrimination and harassment," Chakraborty pointed out.

"The goal should be to ensure that future generations of transgenders become productive citizens of society, and are not reduced to just begging on the streets," Dutta added.
New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) The Congress on Tuesday opposed in the Delhi High Court a petition against the use of acronym INDIA, saying it is a "politically motivated" plea and shall be dismissed with exemplary costs.

The Congress said the petitioner has failed to establish the very basis of the petition, that the name of the alliance has caused confusion amongst the voters and misled them into voting for the alliance solely on the basis of the acronym and "as a matter of national duty".

"The petitioner has also failed to provide any evidence with respect to use of 'I.N.D.I.A' as an acronym for an alliance as 'diminishing goodwill' of the nation in global politics," the Congress said in its reply filed to the petition.

The reply was filed in a public interest litigation which alleged that by using the INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) acronym, the parties were taking "undue advantage in the name of our country".

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet P S Arora is scheduled to hear the petition on Wednesday.

The high court on April 2 had granted a last opportunity to the Centre and several opposition parties to respond to the plea filed by Girish Bharadwaj.

The Congress, in its reply, said the petitioner has claimed to be a 30-year-old businessman based in Karnataka but he has deliberately suppressed the fact that he is closely associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and a perusal of the pleadings makes it amply evident that one of the motives of filing this petition is to bolster his political affiliation.

"Therefore, the present petition is not only a politically motivated petition, but has been filed under the garb of a public interest litigation with an aim to advance the political stratagems of the petitioner. Hence, being both personally as well as politically motivated, the same is liable to be dismissed with exemplary costs," it said.

The Congress further said the petitioner has not been able to show any provision in law which stops the respondent parties from adopting this name and acronym.

The petition is nothing but a "malicious and frivolous attempt" by the petitioner to embroil this court in matters of politics and elections under the garb of public interest and hence, is liable to be dismissed with exemplary costs, it said.

In November, 2023, the counsel for the central government had urged the court to grant a week or 10 days more time to file their reply.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, who represented nine political parties including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK and others, had said there were "preliminary objections" against the petition and the Supreme Court has already dealt with the issue.

The petitioner had approached the high court earlier and sought interim order staying the use of acronym INDIA by 26 political parties and to also prohibit the use of the national flag with the acronym INDIA by the respondent political alliance. The court had issued notice on the petition in August last year.

The political parties which have been arrayed as respondents include the Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party, Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Apna Dal (Kamerawadi).
Chennai, Apr 9 (PTI) The Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday visited the headquarters of the Chennai Military Station here on Tuesday.



During his visit to the city, Dakshin Bharat Army General Officer Commanding Lieutenant General K S Bran briefed him about the initiatives and challenges faced by the Station, an official release said.



Dwivedi, during his brief interaction with Brar, appreciated the efforts and stressed digitization and innovative startup initiatives to be embraced to bring about a quantum leap in the Army in the future.
Mumbai, Apr 9 (PTI) A 63-year-old man was cheated of Rs 3 lakh by an unidentified cyber fraudster who spoke to him on phone posing as a friend of his son and mimicking his voice, police said on Tuesday.

The incident took place on March 2, but the case was registered on Monday afternoon at Bhandup police station in the eastern suburbs.

The complainant has two daughters and a son and all the three live abroad, a police official said.

On March 2, he received a voice call on WhatsApp from an unidentified number, and the caller identified himself as Vikas Gupta, a friend of his son who lives in Canada.

As the victim knew Vikas Gupta since childhood and the caller's voice resembled Gupta's, the victim trusted him.

The caller then started crying, saying he was in trouble and needed money immediately.

The victim transferred Rs 2 lakh to the caller's account and also asked his two friends to deposit Rs 50,000 each.

When the fraudster again demanded money, he sensed that something was fishy and made a video call to the caller which was not answered, the police official said.

The complainant then found out that Gupta had never made any such call.

On March 3, he filed an online complaint, but due to illness, he did not go to police station on the same day. The case was registered on Monday and further probe was on, the official said.


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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Computer-assisted command-staff exercise will be held between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan this year in accordance with the Bilateral Cooperation Plan for 2024 between the Defense Ministries of the two countries, Trend reports via the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan.

The delegation from Uzbekistan visits Azerbaijan in order to conduct the first staff talks of the exercise.

During the meeting with the Uzbek delegation, a briefing was presented on the computer-assisted command-staff exercise to be held between the two countries.

At the meeting, detailed views were exchanged on the purpose of the exercise, the tasks to be accomplished and the final protocol of the command-staff exercise was signed.

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The FBI has foiled a violent plot to attack churches in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, and arrested 18-year-old Alexander Mercurio, who was planning to carry out the attack on behalf of ISIS.

According to the Justice Department, Mercurio devised a plan to incapacitate his father, steal his firearms, and use them to inflict maximum casualties at a church on April 7.

The defendant allegedly pledged loyalty to ISIS and sought to attack people attending churches in Idaho, a truly horrific plan which was detected and thwarted by the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force, said FBI Director Christopher Wray.

The investigation began when Mercurio reached out to confidential sources online, expressing support for ISIS and terrorist organizations. He spread ISIS propaganda, solicited involvement in his efforts, and discussed traveling to join the group. Mercurios plan involved using various weapons, including firearms, and he identified a specific church and date for the attack.

The FBI arrested Mercurio on Saturday, finding items linked to the plot, including a metal pipe, a black Smith and Wesson fixed blade knife, and a machete.

Mercurio faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted on the federal charge of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Attorney General Merrick Garland vowed that the Justice Department would continue to relentlessly pursue, disrupt, and hold accountable those who would commit acts of terrorism against the people and interests of the United States.

The defendants actions were a stark reminder of the threat posed by domestic terrorism and the importance of law enforcements efforts to prevent such attacks, the FBI said.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued a consumer alert, cautioning New Yorkers to be vigilant against potential discriminatory pricing tactics at car washes in the days leading up to Pesach. The warning comes amidst reports of car wash businesses in predominantly Orthodox Jewish communities in New York City and the Hudson Valley hiking prices for Jewish customers seeking cleaning services close to the holiday.

Many Orthodox Jews take thier cars to car washes to have them cleaned before Pesach. Despite some car washes advertising specials related to Pesach, reports received by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) reveal instances where Jewish customers were charged higher prices instead.

Under New York law, discrimination based on religion is illegal, prompting Attorney General James to emphasize the states unwavering stance against such practices. New York has zero tolerance for antisemitism and discrimination of any kind, affirmed Attorney General James, condemning the exploitation of religious holidays to inflate service charges. She further underscored the readiness of her office to take swift action against any business found engaging in discriminatory behavior.

Individuals who encounter businesses employing discriminatory practices or suspect being overcharged due to their religion, race, or background are urged to report such incidents promptly. Complaints can be filed online or by calling 1-800-771-7755.

Attorney General James concluded by urging victims of discrimination to come forward, emphasizing the importance of addressing such offensive behavior promptly.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

THIRTY DAYS BEFORE

Rav Chaim Kanievsky zatzal writes (SH 695:12) that before we start the Purim Seudah, we should learn the halachos of both Purim, and believe it or not  Pesach! Rav Menachem Mendel of Vishiva brings an allusion to this from Parshas Nitzavim  The verse states, mchotev aitzecha ad shoev maimecha  that the laws of drawing water (mayim shelanu for Matzah baking) must be studied from Purim  where the tree that was eventually used hang Haman haRasha was prepared.

Moshe Rabbeinu enacted that we must study the halachos of Pesach 30 days before it begins as well as on Pesach itself. A minority view (Ran and Rashba) has understood this to mean that if two students pose questions, one on Pesach laws and the other on another law, we answer the one on Pesach first  but there is no obligation to actually study the halachos 30 days before Pesach. This view has been rejected by the majority of poskim who rule that indeed we must actually study the halachos of Pesach  both 30 days before it begins as well as on Pesach itself (SA 429:1 and MB #2). There is even a view (Pnei Yehoshua Psachim 6a Vamar Rabbi Yehudah) that the obligation of studying thirty days before the Yom Tov is actually a biblical requirement!

The Mishna Brurah also writes (436:32) that within the thirty day period before Pesach one must be careful in anything that one does not to leave Chometz there in a manner that it will not be cleaned easily. When one cleans out Chometz within the thirty day period before Pesach one fulfills the Mitzvah of Tashbisu removing Chometz (MB 445:8). It, therefore, makes sense to do the cleaning within this time period as opposed to starting earlier because one gets a Mitzvah. According to the Pnei Yehoshua one would be fulfilling a Torah Mitzvah. If, however, it will not be possible to fully clean within the thirty days then one should start earlier.

WHY WE OBSERVE MITZVOS

The main reason that we observe mitzvos is because it is the Retzon Hashem. Nonetheless, it is important to understand and appreciate some of the reasons that are brought down that explain the mitzvos. The Rambam writes that this is, in fact, an obligation.

Pesach is known as the Rosh Hashanah of emunah  the New Year for faith and belief in Hashem. Chazal tell us that it was solely on account of our emunah in Hashem that we were redeemed from Egypt, and that it will be solely on account of emunah in Hashem that we will be redeemed in the times of Mashiach.

Since this is the essence of the Yom Tov of Pesach, one of the three main positive mitzvos of Pesach is to plant and entrench emunah  belief in Hashem. The emunah is planted within ourselves and within others through the mitzvah called sipur yetzias Mitzrayim  the retelling of the Exodus from Egypt, as it states, Vhigadeta lvincha  And you shall relate it to your son.

Our Sages further tell us that kol hamarbeh lsaperharei zeh meshubach  the more we discuss the Exodus or the mitzvah, the more praiseworthy we are. Why is this so? In regard to all other mitzvos, once the mitzvah has been fulfilled, that is it  it ends. Here, however, the mitzvah Reb Shalom Noach Berzovsky, ztl, the Slonimer Rebbe, explains that the mitzvah is a continuous one precisely because it is the means of imbuing the heart of each and every Jew with emunah throughout the year.

No matter who the person is, the mitzvah never ends: Afilu kulanu chachamim, kulanu nevonimthe greatest of Sages are also obligated in this ever-continuous mitzvah because they, too, need the boost in emunah that is obtained from Pesach. There are infinite depths to emunah  thus the means of instilling this emunah is also infinite. What is emunah? The Nesivos Shalom describes three separate areas:

Belief in Hashem as Creator of the world, which the righteous gentiles of the world also believe.

Belief in Hashems hashgachah pratis(Divine Providence)  that Hashem takes the time and effort to involve Himself in the details of our lives here on earth.

The fact that we, Klal Yisrael, have been chosen for a unique and Divine role and mission.

All three aspects of emunah are part of the Pesach experience.

All the nissimwe experienced point to Hashem as the Creator of the world.

The 10 makkosshow that there is hashgachah pratis.

Yetzias Mitzrayimitself, and the subsequent revelation of the Torah to the Children of Israel, indicate Israels unique role and mission.

We should utilize this special Yom Tov to increase our emunah in all three areas. We must also remember that the Gemara tells us (Sotah 11a) that it was in the merit of the righteous women that the Jewish people were redeemed. What did they do? They demonstrated remarkable emunah and continued having children.

The other two positive mitzvos are to get rid of all chametz on the 14th of Nissan and to eat matzah on the night of Pesach, the 15th of Nissan.

Chametz figuratively represents the yetzer hara. The yetzer hara tries to take us away from HaKadosh Baruch Hu and undermine our emunah. We should therefore get rid of anything within us that undermines emunah. This is one of the reasons suggested as to why chametz is prohibited bmashehu  in any tiny amount. Rashi tells us that Chazal forbade chametz in any amount because the prohibition of eating it involves an issur kareis.

Matzah is described by the Zohar (Vol. II, 183b) as a michlah dmehemnusah  a food of emunah.

We therefore see that all three positive mitzvos of Pesach deal directly with emunah.

MONTH OF NISSAN

During the month of Nissan, we do not fast  not even for the yahrtzeit of a parent. We do not recite the prayer of Tachanun nor do we deliver eulogies at funerals. Also, the special funeral Kaddish is not said  only the regular Kaddish. All this is because most of the month is filled with days of kedushah  holiness. It may also be because the month of Nissan is when Mashiach will come.

There is an obligation that begins in the month of Nissan to ensure that all other members of our community have funds so that they can purchase matzah or flour for matzah. This obligation goes back to the time of the Gemara. Whoever does not give to this is considered as if he has spilled blood. According to the Mishnah Berurah, the Rema adds that there is a minhag to give them the flour itself. This minhag is to make obtaining matzah for them even easier. If one knows that his or her relative is poor, the relative is given funds before anyone else. This is called Maos Chittim or Kimcha dPischa. Figuratively, since matzah increases emunah, we should look to ensure that all other members of the community have what they need to increase their emunah.

During the month of Nissan, the blessing on fruit trees is recited. The blessing is: BAH EMH shelo chaser beOlamo klum uvarah vo brios tovos vilanos tovos lehanos bahem bnei adam. It may be recited on Shabbos or Yom Tov. Women recite this berachah, too. Ideally, it should be said in the company of two other people because of brov am hadras Melech and ideally it should be said before two trees. However, neither of these requirements is absolutely necessary.

There is a minhag not to eat matzah from Rosh Chodesh Nissan until Pesach itself. This refers only to kosher lPesach matzos. Chametz matzos are permitted. Some have the minhag not to eat matzah from 30 days before Pesach until the Yom Tov. All people, however, are forbidden to eat matzah on the day of Erev Pesach itself.

Shabbos HaGadol is the Shabbos that comes before Pesach. It is a minhag in Klal Yisrael to attend a shiur on this Shabbos that reviews the halachos of Pesach so that the holiday will be observed properly. The main reason that it is called Shabbos HaGadol is because of the great miracle that occurred then. We had the sheep which the Mitzrim We were going to offer the sheep as a korban, and that Shabbos the Egyptians said nothing. This was a tremendous neis.

The Gemara in Bava Metzia 32a discusses the passuk that if one sees a friend with a heavy load, one should surely help him. Certainly then, morally and philosophically, if you see your parents cleaning for Pesach, you should certainly help them.

WHERE TO SEARCH

Chazal ordained that on the 14th of Nissan a search be conducted in all the chorim usedakim  all the holes and cracks. Figuratively, since Chometz represents the Yetzer HaRah, we should also look to eliminate any presence of the Yetzer HaRah within the holes and cracks of ourselves. This means, not just the obvious places, but even deep within our neshamos.

The Gemorah discusses the concept of Mapoles (Psachim 8b)  a dangerous wreckage, where there is no obligation to search for Chometz. It is said in the name of Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky ztl, that there is no obligation to move a heavy item in order to search for Chometz, just like the case of Mapoles.

From the strict halachic point of view there is no obligation to search for perurim  crumbs of chometz. However, Yisroel Kedoshim Haim  Jews are holy  and they clean their homes of all Chometz (MB 442:28).

There is no obligation to clean the back or front yard of your house because there is an assumption that the birds will eat the Chometz (MB 433:27). Even though this is a debate in the Poskim, we are lenient. However, if it is already the 14th if Nissan and the Chometz is still there, it should be cleaned.

The laundry room and stairwell of an apartment house or shared dwelling must be searched for Chometz. The obligation is incumbent upon all the tenants. Arrangements should be made that it be done in a thorough and fair manner.

Cars must be thoroughly cleaned and searched for Chametz as well. If one has cleaned the car completely before the night of the 14th, then some are of the opinion that one can skip the inspection on the night of the 14th. Others hold that there is still a requirement to inspect the car, however, a blessing is not recited on it. Rabbi Yaakov Breish ztl (Chok Yaakov 436:17) explains that the essential enactment was only made on the dwelling. It is possible, however, that it was included in the enactment, it is therefore best to have the car in mind or, if one is not at home, to have someone who is reciting the blessing have you in mind.

If he is planning not to be in the office the entire Pesach, then one should include the office in the sale of Chometz to the gentile. If he is going in the office during Chl HaMoed, then it should also be searched on the night of the 14th. If, however, this is impractical because of distance he should search his office on the night of the 13th.

Rav Sheinberg ztl ruled that if it is very difficult to clean and search an area, it is possible to pour or spray ammonia on the area rendering any food that might be there as unfit for the consumption of a dog.

Dormitory students who live in in a dorm (pnimiah) are obligated in searching their dorm room on the night of the 14th. They can do so by appointing a shliach  a messenger. Alternatively, they can do the search on the night before they leave the dormitory room.

The search should be done at nightfall on the night of the 14th. It should be done immediately after Maariv. If one is still at work at this time then one should begin as soon as possible, but if at all possible, one should leave work early.

It is the minhag in Klal Yisroel for someone other than the person performing the search to hide ten pieces of Chometz in the house. The pieces should be less than a kezayis in size, and should be covered in plastic so that the ten pieces will not create crumbs. There are many incidences where the ten pieces were actually lost. Ideally, one should therefore write down the location of the ten pieces.

There is a prohibition in involving oneself in any activity within 30 minutes before the time for the Bedikah begins. If one had begun that activity before the 30 minute period, one may continue until nightfall itself. Although one can drink within the 30 minute period before nightfall, one may not eat more than a Kbaiya of Mezonos.

Ideally, the search should be conducted by the homeowner. If there are assistants helping him, they should hear the bracha from the homeowner.

The person should have in that he is fulfilling his Torah obligation to destroy his Chometz and that the Mitzvah will continue until the next day. One may not speak between the bracha and the beginning of the search. If one did speak the bracha must be repeated. Indeed, even during the search one should avoid saying anything that does not have to do with the actual search.

The Kol Chamira, annulling all the Chometz that one owns, should be recited immediately after the search is over, and then again in the morning before the zman. Although the Kol Chamira is written in Aramaic, it is imperative that the person reciting it understand what is said in his or her native language. If a person forgot to recite the blessing at night he may recite it in the morning before the Chometz is burned.

THE PROHIBITIONS OF CHAMETZ

There are five separate negative prohibitions regarding chametz on Pesach. Each of these prohibitions has its own unique passuk. They are:

Not to eat chametzfrom the designated time on the 14 th of Nissan

of Nissan Not to eat chametzthroughout the holiday of Pesach

Not to eat even a mixture of chametzthroughout the holiday of Pesach

Not to see any of your own chametzon Pesach (bal yiraeh).

Not to find any of your chametzon Pesach (bal yematzeh).

One should likewise treat all issues that undermine our emunah in the same manner as we treat chametz: namely, 1) we should rid ourselves of all issues that undermine emunah before Pesach, 2) throughout Pesach, 3) even mixtures of it, 4) not see anything that undermines emunah, 5) nor find anything that undermines it.

By Torah law we may rid ourselves of chametz either by nullifying it (bitul chametz) or by destroying it (biur chametz). The Rabbis, however, enacted that both methods be employed.

Bitul chametz is the declaration that all chametzthat we own is declared to be ownerless.

Biur chametzis where we search out and set aside to burn any chametz that we find.

In the past few centuries, we have arranged for gentiles to purchase chametz that we have. The sale is conducted with six different types of kinyanim, because there is debate among the Rishonim as to what types of transactions are effective under these circumstances. Some people question this procedure since the gentile does not actually remove the chametz from the Jews home; he just rents space there. Many have the minhag not to sell real chametz, but only items that do not really have a hechsher for Pesach  unless it would entail a huge loss.

KASHERING

There is no need for special Pesach table-cloths, although some are machmir. The same is true with hand towels. Washing them well in a washing machine is sufficient. Some have the custom to have special Pesach bibs for children. High chairs should be cleaned well, bleached or rinsed with ammonia. They should then be covered in a manner that will last all of Yom Tov. In regard to koshering an oven that has not been used for 24 hours, Rav Aharon Kotler ztl held that the inside and outside of the oven should be cleaned with an oven cleaner (such as Shunamit or Easy-Off) and then put on the highest temperature for two hours. This works for everything (the oven and the oven racks) but a broiler tray according to Rav Aharon ztl. Rav Moshe Feinstein ztl was of the opinion that our ovens require a Libun Gamur, a red hot flame, which can only be achieved with a blow torch or with coals. When using Libun gamur, there is no need to wait 24 hours. The knobs of the oven should ideally be covered with foil or replaced with knobs used exclusively for Pesach. Alternatively, but less ideal, they should be cleaned and soaked or sprayed with ammonia or bleach. Most Poskim permit koshering through a self cleaning oven. One should clean it beforehand so there will not be excessive smoke. Some say the racks of the electric oven could be left in for 15 minutes.

BAKING MATZOS

Baking matzos is a complex procedure. It requires removing everything that was used in making the dough, that sat for more than 18 minutes, and thoroughly cleansing it. The water that is used in the dough must be drawn earlier and left overnight. This is called mayim shelanu  water that slept.

EREV PESACH

Erev Pesach has numerous halachos associated with it. On the night before Pesach we perform the bedikas chametz. We do so immediately upon nightfall  generally 50 minutes after Shekiyah, although some wait 42 and some wait 72 minutes.

One may eat chametz until the end of the 4th halachic hour of the day. A halachic hour is 1/12th of the daylight hours (total minutes from sunrise to sunset divided by 12). It is the custom of Klal Yisrael to stop eating chametz at the earliest calculation of the 4th hour of the dayaccording to the Magen Avrahams time (the Magen Avraham calculates it from dawn until three stars come out, not from sunrise to sunset). Generally speaking, for Krias Shema during the day most people observe the later calculation of the Vilna Gaon (sunrise to sunset).

One must dispose of chametz either by selling it or by burning it by the end of the 5th hour of the day. The head of the household then recites the Kol Chamira. After the Kol Chamira is recited, even if done so earlier, no one in the house may eat chametz. This is a little-known fact.

It is the custom for firstborn men to fast on Erev Pesach or attend a siyum. The reason for the fast is to publicize the fact that the Jewish firstborn were saved during the plague of the firstborn. If the firstborn of a family is still under the age of bar mitzvah, it is the custom for his father to fast for him. If a person cannot get to a siyum, he may eat before dawn on that day.

Matzah may not be eaten on Erev Pesach nor may products containing baked matzah meal be eaten. Cooked matzah meal products may be eaten until 3 halachic hours before sunset, however.

We do our Seder preparations on Erev Pesach, too, in order to minimize any melachah to be performed on Yom Tov. This includes:

roasting the zroameat

cooking & roasting the egg

mixing the salt water

preparing the charoses,

grating the horseradish, and

checking lettuce for bugs.

There is a special mitzvah of simchah on Pesach. This is on account of the passuk that states, Vhayisa ach sameiach. Fathers should therefore get their children and wife something special for Yom Tov. For wives and teen-age daughters, an article of clothing (the Mishnah Berurah writes: at least new shoes); and for younger children, nosh.

There is a relatively little-known and little-observed mitzvah to give the children nosh on the first night of Pesach. The Gemara (Pesachim 109a) states that the reason is so that they will not fall asleep and will ask. The Shulchan Aruch, however, adds the words (472:16), so that they will see a difference and ask. There is a machlokes whether this should be done immediately before the Seder (Rav Shulchan Aruch 472:31; Kaf HaChaim 472:96) or immediately after Kiddush (Minhagei Chasam Sofer 10:16). There is no need for the nosh to be eaten while leaning.

BENTCHING THE CHILDREN

When the father comes home from shul, there is a special inyan to bless the children since Yaakov was blessed on this night by Yitzchak. This minhag is important.

THE MITZVOS OF THE SEDER NIGHT

The Five Mitzvos of the seder are as follows:

Sippur Yetzias Mitzrayim  Biblical nowadays

Eating Matzah  Biblical nowadays

Drinking the Four Cups in Order  Rabbinic always

Eating Marror  Rabbinic nowadays (because there is no Korban Pesach anymore)

Hallel  Rabbinic always

MAGGID  SIPPUR YETZIAS MITZRAYIM

Just as there is a mitzvah of vhigadeta lvincha for a son, there is an obligation to do so for a daughter, as well. There is also a mitzvah to say it to ones grandchildren: boznei bincha uven bincha.

The Haggadah was instituted by the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah. The Mishnah tells us: One must mention pesach, matzah umaror at a minimum to fulfill the mitzvah.

Mention in this context means it has to be explained. The mitzvah refers to the Haggadah according to most meforshim. Some say it refers to each of the individual three. It may be heard, and not necessarily said, because of the concept of shomeia koneh  hearing is like saying.

Chazal established the Hagaddah in question and answer form because this is the best manner in which to teach and carry on the mesorah.

EATING MATZAH

As explained earlier, Matzah is described by the Zohar (Vol. II, 183b) as a michlah dmehemnusah  a food of emunah.

We eat Matzah three times during the seder. We eat it at Motzi Matzah, Korech, and at achilas Afikoman. The first time we eat it, at Motzi Matzah, is when we fulfill the Torah obligation. It is important to eat the Matzah within the proper period of time, this is called, bchdei achilas pras.

FOUR CUPS OF WINE

The Mitzvah of drinking four cups of wine in the order of the Haggada is a Rabbinic obligation during the night of the seder. Chazal enacted this obligation to correspond to the four expressions of redemption in regard to the exodus from Egypt. The four expressions are found in Sefer Shmos (6:6-7.) They are: vhotzeisi, vhitzalti, vgaalti, and vlakachti. The Vilna Gaon, however, holds that vlakachti is actually an error that has crept into our editions of the Talmud Yerushalmi and that the true fourth expression is vgaalti once again.

Although it is a time-bound mitzvah to drink wine at the seder, women are obligated in it. The reason is because they too were redeemed. Not only that, but it was in the merit of the Jewish women that the Jewish nation was redeemed. It was the women who encouraged their husbands to continue having children notwithstanding the extraordinary difficulties of slavery.

EATING MARROR

Nowadays, when we no longer have the Korban Pesach, the eating of Marror is only Rabbinic. The purpose is to remind us of the bitter life that we had in Mitzrayim which Hashem redeemed us from. The Mishna lists five different vegetables which may be used for Marror. Rav Aharon Kotler ztl used to use a type of lettuce, as some people question whether horseradish root, although it is valid to use, was one of the original types considered in the Mishna. Whatever is used may not be cooked or marinated (Kavush). It is important to make sure that the marror is insect-free. One must eat a kzayis of marror. The marror should be dipped in the charoses and shaken off before consuming it.

HALLEL

We recite Hallel at the seder and it is broken up into two parts, before the meal and after the meal. This is not an actual hefsek because on Pesach, the eating of the meal itself is considered praise of Hashem and is part of Hallel. The Mishna Brurah rules that ideally, even the Hallel should be recited before Chatzos  midnight. When there are three or more people present, the Hallel should be said responsively in the sections where it is done thus in shul.

HESEIBA (LEANING)

During Gemorah times , it was the way of free men to lean. The Rambam (Chametz 7:67) implies that in leaning we fulfill the Biblical mitzvah in the Torah of Vzacharta ki eved hayisa  And you shall remember that you were a slave. It is a question as to whether the mitzvah of heseiba is a condition in the fulfillment of the other mitzvos of the night or perhaps its very own mitzvah. Women are exempt from this mitzvah, but many Sephardic women do it, anyway. For men, there is an obligation to lean during matzah, drinking of the wine, korech, afikomen, and if it is not too hard  during the meal itself. There is no leaning for karpas and maror.

YaKNHaZ

This acronym stands for Yayin Kiddush Ner Havdalah Zman. This is the order that we do things when Pesach falls on Motzaei Shabbos. [When it falls during the week, leave out the N & H]. If, by accident, one ended off with Bein Kodesh lChol and not Bein Kodesh LKodesh, he has to recite Kiddush again since he changed the manner in which Chazal enacted it. Besamim are not used on Yom Tov because we also have a neshamah yeseirah on Yom Tov and there is no need to reinvigorate ourselves (Rashbam Pesachim 102b).

KARPAS

Since there is a machlokes whether to recite Borei Nefashos on karpas, we do not eat more than a kzayis. Some, however, do have a kzayis. Nonetheless, a separate Berachah Acharonah is not said. The prevailing minhag is to dip it in salt water, not to dip it in other things. One should have in mind to be motzi the maror also with the HaAdamah. One should also have in mind that one will be going back and forth in the house (to and from the kitchen, upstairs and downstairs, etc.) whenever they want in between the karpas and maror.

THE HALACHOS OF THE SECOND NIGHT

On the second night of Pesach, we light candles with a berachah including the Shehecheyanu. We dont make any preparations for the Seder until nightfall. If one didnt say Shehecheyanu in Kiddush, say it whenever you remember until Yom Tov is over.

SEFIRAS HAOMER

The mitzvah of Sefiras HaOmer starts on the second night of Pesach. Let us not forget that this was when we were redeemed on Purim. Each night of the sefirah, according to Kabbalah, is when the seven sefiros correspond to the seven subdivisions of sefirah. The first night is chessed shebchessed. This is especially appropriate for the redemption of Klal Yisrael on Purim  it was a chessed of chessed. The Mishnah Berurah (490:2) quotes the Acharonim (see MA citing the Shelah) that a special zecher to the seudah of Esther should be made in the day meal of the second day. It seems this can be a song, a tune, a siman, or a food. Do not have a chametzdike hamantash!

EREV PESACH THAT FALLS ON SHABBOS  In case you were curious, Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos approximately once every 9 years. It also occurs as frequently as every 3 years and as infrequently as every 20 years. It did not occur between 1954 and 1974.
A new Channel 12 poll reveals that nearly half of Israelis (49%) believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is acting out of political interests six months into the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, his main opponent, National Unity chair Benny Gantz, is losing his lead over Netanyahu amid growing frustration with the governments handling of the war and its failure to secure the release of over 100 hostages still in Gaza.

Only 39% of respondents believe the government is doing enough to bring back the hostages, while 56% say no. The poll shows Gantzs National Union party leading with 32 seats, followed by Netanyahus Likud party with 19 seats, and Opposition Leader Yair Lapids Yesh Atid party with 15 seats.

The poll also indicates that Netanyahus bloc would win 47 seats if elections were held today, while his opponents would secure 68 seats.

Amid tensions on the northern border with Lebanon, 46% of respondents support a military campaign against Hezbollah, while 37% prefer a diplomatic solution.

The gap between Gantz and Netanyahu has narrowed significantly, with 35% of Israelis supporting Gantz and 29% supporting Netanyahu, a significant drop from the 18% lead Gantz had two months ago.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The terrorist who carried out the shooting attack in the Shomron on Sunday, severely injuring an IDF soldier, has still not been caught as of Monday midday.

Israeli security forces said that the terrorist likely planned to carry out a major bombing attack following the shooting. After the terrorist fled the scene following the shooting attack, IDF forces found his car, which was booby-trapped with dozens of kilos of explosives. He may have planned on detonating the bomb on emergency forces deployed to the scene in a secondary terror attack following the shooting attack.

Police bomb sappers arrived at the scene on Sunday and neutralized the vehicle. The police blew up the car on Sunday evening and released a video afterward.

The female soldier injured in the attack is still in serious condition, sedated and ventilated.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Tensions arose in the coalition following the IDFs announcement of its withdrawal of almost all its troops from the Gaza Strip overnight Motzei Shabbos.

Meanwhile, an operation in Rafah does not appear to be imminent, with Kan News reporting on Monday that no operation will take place until talks with the US are completed.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated on Monday morning: If the prime minister will decide to end the war without an extensive offensive in Rafah in order to defeat Hamas, he wont have a mandate to continue serving as prime minister.

Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu calling on him to immediately convene the political security cabinet.

In the wake of the current situation of the withdrawal of forces from Gaza and the general reduction in the intensity of the war while significantly delaying the entry into the Rafah crossing, along with reports on Israels willingness to discuss the return of Gazans to the northern Gaza Strip, in practice bringing about an end to the war, in addition to reports about the granting of a very broad mandate to the negotiation teams [in hostage deal talks], I demand that you convene a special session of the expanded cabinet this evening for a comprehensive update and all the information on the state of the war, Smotrich wrote to Netanyahu.

The only forum authorized to make decisive decisions during wartime is the expanded cabinet, but unfortunately, its not working that way and we see that decisions are made in the smaller [war] cabinet without the approval or updating of the expanded cabinet under international pressure that undermines the momentum of the war and our security interests.

Smotrich also announced on Monday morning that he summoned his partys ministers and Knesset members for an urgent consultation in the Knesset.

Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi participated in a protest in the city on Monday against the withdrawal of forces from Gaza.

Davidi said: Where is the prime minister and his ministers, the members of the war cabinetwho will present to the public the results of the overwhelming victory that justifies the significant reduction in forces in Gaza and the end of the ground operation?

Prime Minister, dont stop! Just half a year ago, thousands of terrorists tried to destroy the Jewish state and what changed now? The ground war cant end without the return of the hostages, victory over Hamas and the assurance of our future here.

Perhaps in response to the statements quoted above, Netanyahu posted a video message on Monday evening saying that there is already a date scheduled for an operation in Rafah.

I received a detailed report today on the talks in Cairo, he began. Were working all the time to achieve our goals, first and foremost the release of our hostages and complete victory over Hamas.

This victory requires entering Rafah and destroying the terror battalions there. It will happen  we have a date set.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
If it werent so infuriating, it would be funny. Since the IDF withdrew its forces from Khan Younis on Sunday, Palestinians have been trickling back into the city, and the mainstream leftist media is all over it, using every eye-catching adjective they can muster.

Stunned Palestinians returned to their homes, the AP breathlessly reported. It described how one Palestinian said he couldnt find his home because of the mass destruction in Khan Younis. How terrible the Israeli actions are, it wants everyone to know. And the other anti-Israel objective outlets reported similar stories in similar verbiage.

The terms themselves are so laughably ridiculous you can cry. Hamas, the very terrorist organization that the overwhelming majority of Gazans support, carried out an unprovoked and unprecedented attack on Israel, killing 1,300 innocent people and kidnapping 245 others. What exactly are they stunned about? That the strongest military in the Middle East was able to sow destruction in response? That countries respond with brutal force when they are attacked?

If a similar attack had been carried out in the United States by terrorists from Gaza, everyone knows what the response would have been: Gaza  and everyone in it  would cease to exist. The Strip would be flatter than a Matzah and the people inside reduced to ashes. And nobody would say a word in protest.

And the exact same should have been the response of Israel, to be honest. For six months theyve been taking as many precautions as possible to keep civilians safe  precautions that no other country has ever taken in time of war! And what have they gotten for it? Does the world still side with Israel? No. Does it understand or care that the IDF is doing its best in unbearable conditions? No. Do they even care that more than 100 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip? Of course not.

When it comes to Israel, nothing matters on the world stage. And in turn, nothing they say should matter to Israel. As mentioned earlier, the overwhelming majority of Gazans support Hamas and the October 7 attacks. They are a crucial part of Hamas evil rule and most are complicit in their crimes. So what that more than half of Gaza structures have been damaged; it should be 100% Every structure should have been struck down in a blaze of fire by now.

Instead, the IDF has been trying to find favor in others eyes  an impossible task. What they are trying to do is not achievable, but theyre so desperate for validation in the eyes of the world that theyll hurt themselves without gaining anything. It is ridiculous and unjust.

Remember: there are 100+ hostages still being held in Gaza, a full six months since they were kidnapped. No sane country would stand for this, and despite their protestations, every countrys leader  including Joe Biden, shame on him  knows they would do the exact same  or actually a lot worse  if they were in Israels shoes. Its time to bring the hostages home. And that isnt possible when Israel is playing defense.

IDF, go into Rafah. Now!

Name withheld upon request.

NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of YWN.

DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE POSTED ON YWN? SEND IT TO US FOR REVIEW.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Israels Naval forces intercepted a suspicious aerial target over the Red Sea with the C-Dome  the naval version of the Iron Dome, shortly before midnight on Monday.

The C-Dome, mounted on one of Israels new Saar 6-class corvettes, launched two interceptor missiles at the drone that entered Israel from the east, likely from Iranian proxy groups in Iraq.

It was the first operational use of the C-Dome, designed to protect naval vessels and infrastructure, including offshore gas platforms.

Baruch Hashem, there were no injuries or damage in the incident. The Iranian-backed Islamic Resistance of Iraq on Tuesday morning claimed responsibility for an attack on the Chatzeirim Airbase near Beer Sheva.

The IDF released footage of the interception early Tuesday afternoon:

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The Hamas terror group stated early Tuesday morning that Israels proposal for a ceasefire-hostage deal transferred by Qatari, Egyptian and US mediators is intransigent and does not meet the demands of Palestinian factions.

Nevertheless, despite the Israeli refusal, Hamas said that its leaders will review the proposal and send its response to mediators.

However, on Monday a Hamas official told Reuters that the terror group has rejected the proposal.We reject the latest Israeli proposals that the Egyptian side informed us of, he said. The politburo met today and decided this.

The deal would include the release of only 40 hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire, the release of hundreds of dangerous Palestinian terrorists from Israeli prisons, and the return of a significant number of Gazans to northern Gaza.

Talks were held in Cairo on Sunday in the presence of CIA Director William Burns, a reminder of intense US pressure to reach a hostage deal in order to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and appease left-wing Democratic voters.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, under pressure from his coalition partners following the withdrawal of most of the IDF troops in Gaza earlier this week, released a video message on Monday evening saying that a date for an IDF operation in Rafah is already set.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Another round of political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic was held in Rome on April 8, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The delegations attending the political meetings were led by Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Fariz Rzayev and Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Edmondo Cirielli.

During the consultations, the sides discussed the potential for a multidimensional strategic partnership based on traditional friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, as well as the strengthening of ties in political, trade-economic, energy, defense, transport, logistics, humanitarian, and other areas.

The necessity of continued high-level reciprocal visits, strategic dialogue, and frequent intergovernmental commission meetings to develop the alliance was stressed.

The discussions also covered themes of mutual importance on the international and regional agendas, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation in multilateral frameworks.



The Italian side was updated on the preparations for the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which will be held in Azerbaijan in November 2024, as well as the work to be done.



The Italian delegation was also told about the regional situation, including Azerbaijan's efforts to achieve long-term peace in the region. The sides discussed the subject of mines in the country's freed regions, the repair and building work that is being carried out there, and collaboration with Italy in this regard.

Additionally, the sides emphasized the importance of exchanges between the two countries in the fields of culture, science, and education, particularly within the framework of the Italian-Azerbaijani University in Baku.

During the visit, Rzayev also met with other Italian officials and addressed events organized in reputable brain centers.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
US intelligence officials estimate that Tehran is unlikely to attack Israel directly in retaliation for the assassination of Quds Force commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi and will instead rely on its proxies to carry out attacks on the Jewish state, CNN reported.

The unnamed intelligence sources told CNN that Iran is not interested in escalating the situation, fearing retaliatory attacks by Israel and the US.

The report added that Iran is urging its proxies to launch a large-scale missile and drone attack on Israel in the near future. According to the intelligence sources, the attack is prepared and could take place this week.

Iran intends to avoid attacking US interests but since it lacks full control over its proxies, such attacks cannot be ruled out.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Israel is prepared to launch devastating strikes against Iranian nuclear development sites if Tehran carries out a direct strike against the Jewish state, Elaph News reported.

According to the report, which quotes an anonymous Western security source, the Israeli Air Force has been carrying out training exercises in recent days simulating strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

Iran has threatened to attack Israel directly for the assassination of Quds Force commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi in Damascus last week.

However, CNN reported on Monday that Tehran is unlikely to attack Israel directly and has instead directed its proxies to carry out a large-scale attack, likely scheduled for this week.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Turkey on Tuesday announced that it is restricting 54 products to Israel until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza and Israel allows unlimited humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

The move was caused by Turkish ire at Israels rejection of its request to airdrop humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The export ban includes steel, aluminum, cement, and chemical fertilizers. Israeli officials are concerned that the ban could expand to oil and the halt of flights over Turkish airspace.

Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz slammed Erdogan for his support of Hamas and said Israel will not calmly accept his violation of trade agreements. Erdogan is again sacrificing the economic interests of the people of Turkey for his support of the Hamas murderers in Gaza who raped, murdered and desecrated the bodies of women, girls and adults and burned children alive, he stated.

Israel will not give in to violence and extortion and will not condone the unilateral violation of trade agreements and will take parallel measures against Turkey that will harm the Turkish economy. I am preparing an extended list of products that Israel will prevent Turkey from exporting and in addition, I ordered [ministry officials] to contact countries and organizations in the US to stop investments in Turkey and prevent the import of products from Turkey, and to our friends in the American Congress to examine violations of the boycott laws and impose sanctions on Turkey accordingly.

Erdogan, who prior to the October 7th attack was engaged in a series of steps to establish closer ties with Israel, changed his tune after the war began, calling Israel a terrorist state and Hamas a liberation group. Last month, he vowed to send [Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu to Allah.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Last year, Shaindy Plotzker made history with the first time a frum women-only show sold out NJPAC. Tomorrow night (April 9th), once again, 3000 women will join her at NJPAC to strike a musical high note in a mega show of support for one of Klal Yisraels most fundamental organizations: EFRAT.

While Klal Yisraels enemies seek to tear our nation down, EFRATs mission is to build the Jewish people up, one baby and one mother at a time. Every Jewish child born is a victory against those who want to destroy us, and every child is a holy neshamah with the opportunity to generate endless ripples of Kiddush Hashem. In the wake of our heartbreaking loss of 1400 neshamos in a terrorist nightmare, the EFRAT concert will aim to sponsor 1400 beautiful Jewish children to join the ranks of our nation.

The success of last years singular and soul-stirring evening, which pulsated with musical inspiration and enjoyment, has led producer Eli Gerstner & EG Productions to build another incredible event, upping the ante and creating an awesome experience for the senses. The perennial question is how its possible to go beyond the previous concerts pinnaclebut with huge Siyata Dishmaya, flair and creativity comes through, and this evening is going to be a breathtaking example of that, Eli says.

Although she has sold out mega-events in (most recently) Yerushalayim and across the Jewish world, Shaindy limits public performances in the New York/ New Jersey area, so the concert is a once-a-year opportunity for the public to hear her performing live, with that uniquely Shaindy verve and flavor.

Endorsed by Gedolei Yisrael of this generation and the past, EFRAT believes that every single Jewish child, every neshamah which comes down to join our nation, is a source of light and good. Every year, they empower 3000 struggling Jewish mothers by supporting them financially and emotionally. The full layette and nursery furniture, and generous monthly packages containing every baby necessity, give mothers the peace of mind to welcome and nurture a child despite their challenges.

Shaindy is excited and passionate as she anticipates singing at and leading this magnificent event for a very special cause. I feel its full-circle that I have the opportunity to not just perform for but stand up for EFRATs lifesaving work  it is so clearly nothing other than Hashgachas Hashem, and Ill tell you why: My own mother was very ill when she was expecting me, and her doctors told her that the treatments she needed to take to save her life posed a grave risk to her unborn child. If I would make it, they said, I would be born with irreversible deafness, and possibly mute. My parents followed daas Torah and continued with courage. When I was born, I actually failed my first hearing test, which led everyone to believe that I was actually deaf. But I passed the second one, and after that, my hearing shockingly proved to be completely fine. To be able to use the gift that I maybe wasnt supposed to have  the gift of music  to give back to an organization that helps women that are in a position that my mother could have been in means the world to me, and is so obviously a shlichus from Hashem. EFRAT not only offers financial and emotional support, but they also assist with professional medical support and second opinions to mothers who are struggling with negativity from their medical team during pregnancy, and so often, due to the right support from EFRAT, these babies are beautifully healthy, just like me.

Stunning song selection, up-to-the-minute sound and light effects, vast screens and surprise guests, are all on the program, and judging by the crowds reaction at Shaindys sold-out concert in NJPAC last year, her audience is going to make the most of every musical minute. Women of all ages have already reserved their tickets to support and celebrate Jewish mothers in need through the auspices of EFRAT, the organization that champions motherhood.

We were all at Har Sinai, and so were the souls of these children, Shaindy says. I can visualize the neshamos joining us in song. There will be plenty of soul food, with soaring songs of Emunah and bitachon, songs which express all of our prayers for the safety of our brothers and sisters, and uplifting medleys full of the chizuk women are craving in these difficult times.

There will be a song for every woman or girl there, from age five to 85, Shaindy promises. Her high-energy hit-song segments are geared to get concert goers on their feet, singing and dancing, while the emotion in her slower, uplifting songs will forge the connections women and girls are thirsting for, in Shaindys words, bringing us all back home.

EFRAT serves Jewish women from all streams of the community in Israel. Their offices field calls from women concerned about the strain of feeding and clothing and caring for one more child. Some mothers cannot even afford a crib and a carriage, but with EFRATs help, they will be able to raise their baby with dignity and security.

Nir Salomon, EFRAT Executive Director, shares that while at the moment, EFRAT helps 3000 mothers annually, he is aware that they could double that figure if they had the funds. At the moment, we limit our advertising, because if we advertise more, we will receive more call on our services, and have to turn people away. He knows that there are, to date, over 86,000 Jewish boys and girls whose mothers are able to raise them thanks to EFRAT. We know than in Sefer Bamidbar, Hashem lovingly counts the Jewish people. Why? Because every single person counts, and He loves each Jewish child. For us, every baby is an entire universe, Nir reflects. With the joint forces of the community, EFRAT will be able to change more cries for help into cries of joy.

Music touches us deep in our souls, and with Shaindy at the mic, emotion and passion are part of the experience. I hope to see you thereand to hear you too, Shaindy smiles. The best part of the show is when the audience sings along. Its powerful, its moving, and its electric. Because together, were all stronger than the combined sum of our parts. Together we can use music to celebrate, to empower, to connect, and to hold each others hearts.

For more information about the concert & EFRAT, please visit EfratConcert.com
Amazon shares touched an all-time high last night ahead of a bumper earnings season for Big Tech that could generate profits of more than 90billion.

Shares in the e-commerce and cloud computing behemoth rose more than 1 per cent to a high of $187.29 before closing at $185.19.

That left Amazon within touching distance of its record close of $186.57 in July 2021.

Rivals including Facebook owner Meta, Microsoft and Nvidia have all hit record highs in recent weeks.

The rally comes as the so-called Magnificent Seven stocks  Alphabet, Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Tesla and Nvidia  prepare to post quarterly figures.

Tech boom: Amazon shares rose more than 1% to a high of $187.29 before closing at $185.38, within touching distance of its record close of $186.57 in July 2021

They are expected to post sales totalling 360billion and profits of 92billion.

The period covers the first three months of 2024 for all but Nvidia, whose first quarter is the three months to the end of April.

But while the Magnificent Seven all delivered stellar returns last year, the first quarter of 2024 has seen a big divergence in fortunes.

Shares in chip designer and artificial intelligence (AI) specialist Nvidia are up some 75 per cent already this year having more than tripled in value last year.

By contrast, Tesla shares are down around 30 per cent having doubled last year.

Ahead of the looming results season, Tesla last week revealed it delivered 386,810 new cars in the three months to the end of March  down 8.5 per cent on the same period last year.

That was the first year-on-year drop for four years and sent shares tumbling as investors fretted over what could be a bleak set of results later this month.

Teslas woes have seen chief executive Elon Musk lose his position as the worlds richest man.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, he is fourth with a fortune of 143billion after being overtaken by LVMH boss Bernard Arnault on 177billion, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos with 164billion and now Mark Zuckerberg, whose wealth hit 148billion following a near-sixfold rise in Metas share price over the past 18 months.

Dan Ives, at Wedbush Securities said: Big Tech is flexing its muscles as the strong get stronger with another robust earnings season on deck.
Job cuts: Ted Baker plans to shut 15 stores

Ted Baker plans to shut 15 stores and cut around 245 jobs after crashing into administration.

The company behind the fashion brands UK shops, No Ordinary Designer Label Limited (NODL), hired administrators from Teneo last month.

Teneo yesterday said 11 stores will shut by the end of next week with the loss of around 120 jobs. Meanwhile, around 25 head office workers will also be made redundant to cut central costs.

The administrators also revealed four more stores will close after landlords served notice on the sites prior to the insolvency.

These will shut in the coming weeks and result in another 100 job losses.

Authentic Brands, the US-based company behind Juicy Couture and Reebok, is still the owner of Ted Bakers intellectual property.
Shares in takeover target Entain rose yesterday following reports private equity predators are poised to swoop in on the Ladbrokes and Coral owner.

The gambling giant could sell some of its overseas brands to buyout firms such as CVC Capital or Apollo, which last year bought the Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group (TRG).

The group has hired the investment bank Moelis to lead a review of its business, according to reports over the weekend.

Shares gained 5.2 per cent, or 41p, to 825p yesterday valuing the business at around 5.3billion.

The departure of Entains chairman has fuelled speculation that the company could become vulnerable to further swoops.

Takeover bets: Ladbrokes and Coral owner Entain could sell some of its overseas brands to buyout firms such as CVC Capital or Apollo

Barry Gibson, who announced plans to leave last week, has fended off two takeover attempts since he took on the job in February 2020.

Entain rejected an 8billion swoop  worth 1383p a share  in January 2021 from MGM.

At the end of October 2021 Draft Kings walked away from an 16billion takeover offer for the London-listed firm.

Entain also remains on the hunt for a chief executive, who could be announced within days or weeks, after Jette Nygaard-Andersen left in December.

Russ Mould, investment director at broker AJ Bell, said: Expect a few twists and turns if the starting gun is fired again on any bid action as there will no doubt be multiple parties interested in picking apart Entain.

The FTSE 100 rose 0.4 per cent, or 32.31 points, to 7943.47 and the FTSE 250 added 0.7 per cent, or 128.64 points, to 19854.58.

Stock Watch - Cake Box Cake Box revealed yesterday that annual profits should beat market forecasts. The baker expects to report more than the 5.9million of profit analysts have pencilled in for the 12 months to the end of March. Cake Box had a strong final six months of its financial year as it cashed in on its online click and collect feature. Revenues should be 9 per cent higher than the 34.8million it reported the year before. Shares rose 2.5 per cent, or 4p, to 165p.

Bitcoins rollercoaster ride continued as it rose back above $70,000. Last month the digital coin hit a record high of nearly $74,000 before falling back sharply.

Oil was also on the slide, on signs of easing tensions in the Middle East. Brent crude dropped 1.3 per cent to $90 a barrel.

The dip in price lifted airline stocks including Easyjet, which was also pushed higher by an upgrade from analysts at investment bank UBS. Shares rose 3.3 per cent, or 18.6p, to 577.8p.

And holiday firm Tui rose 3.5 per cent, or 22.5p, to 675p on the first day of trading after it moved its main listing from London to main Frankfurt.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has appointed a chief commercial officer. Bold Baatar, who joined the company in 2013 and has been the chief executive of copper since 2021, will replace Alf Barrios in September. Shares added 4.2 per cent, or 209.5p, to 5184p.

The US paper giant stalking one of Britains biggest packaging firms is closing in on making a formal bid worth more than 5billion.

International Paper hopes to agree a deal with DS Smith by the end of this week, Sky News reported.

Last week the US group confirmed the Mails revelation that it will establish a European headquarters in London and list shares in the City to get its proposal over the line.

DS Smith is also weighing up another takeover offer, albeit at a lower price, from its blue-chip rival Mondi (up 1.3 per cent, or 18p, to 1416.5p). Shares slid 0.2 per cent, or 0.6p, to 409.4p.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Iran believes that the South Caucasus should not become an arena of geopolitical rivalry, Spokesman for the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nasser Kanani said, answering a question related to the Armenia-US-EU trilateral meeting, Trend reports.

Kanani emphasized the importance of establishing peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

"Strengthening economic cooperation and expanding ties plays an effective role in establishing peace and stability, economic development in the South Caucasus region, and in this regard, it is necessary to use the potential of regional structures, including the '3+3' consultative mechanism for the peaceful resolution of disputes," he said.

Meanwhile, on April 5, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, EU High Representative Josep Borrell, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting in Brussels. Consequently, "to underpin the new EU-Armenia Partnership Agenda", the EU has proposed a Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia totaling 270 million euros for the period of 2024-2027.
In response to the potential passage of the foreign agents law, commonly referred to as the 'Russian law', President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili has signaled her intention to veto the legislation. This announcement was made by the President's parliamentary secretary, Giorgi Mskhiladze, who emphasized the President's determination to exercise her constitutional authority in rejecting the proposed law."The president, of course, will use her constitutional right and veto the said law," Mskhiladze affirmed.At the session of the Bureau, Mskhiladze demanded that the mentioned law should not be registered at all, as it would hinder Georgia's progress towards European integration. Moreover, he emphasized that the law is severely criticized by Western partners. Despite Mskhiladze's demand, the ruling party did not consider it."We all witnessed the reaction to the initiation of the aforementioned bill by the majority. Both the European Union and the Secretary General of NATO, along with our international and strategic partners, the USA, responded to this, noting that the adoption of this law would hinder Georgia's path to European integration. Accordingly, we demanded the bureau not to register it at all, in order to avoid initiating discussions on the said law in the committees. In general, discussion of this law, which was promised last year, should have been halted," said Mskhiladze.President Salome Zourabichvili's administration has confirmed her discussions with diplomatic corps representatives regarding the anticipated impacts of the second proposed 'Russian law' and the current situation within the country."At the meeting, attended by ambassadors and embassy representatives from EU member states, the European Union, the United States, and Great Britain, discussions focused on the bill regarding the transparency of foreign influence. The President of Georgia emphasized that the Georgian people had already rejected the Russian law once, and now the only course of action is to express our European opinion through elections!According to the president, there is no alternative to Georgia's European path and integration into the European Union. This represents the unshakable decision of the Georgian people, and nothing can divert them from this path," the statement reads.The administration conveyed that diplomatic corps representatives have expressed concerns about the initiated draft law, highlighting its potential threat to Georgia's European integration.The National Agency of Public Registry has canceled the registration of the Conservative Movement, the political party associated with Alt Info, known for its violent and pro-Russian stance. This decision has already been implemented in the registry.NAPR cited the non-submission of the congress's charter as the legal justification for the cancellation of the registration of the Conservative Movement:"On December 6, 2021, a new charter signed by Konstantine Morgoshia was submitted to the National Agency of Public Registry. According to current legislation, the charter was required to be approved by the congress.Thus, in accordance with the requirements of Article 17, Clause 5 of the Organic Law of Georgia 'On Political Unions of Citizens,' the applicant was expected to submit the charter adopted by the party members' congress to the National Public Registry Agency, which did not occur," the statement reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Azerbaijani police have found and seized ammunition in Khankendi city, liberated from Armenian occupation, Trend reports via the Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan.

The ministry noted that as a result of activities carried out by the police officers on April 8, seven automatic rifles, three rifles, seven grenades, 68 ammunition magazines, 1,840 cartridges of various calibers, 11 bayonet-knives, and additional ammunition, as well as a communication device, were recovered on the scene.

Following the liberation of its lands, Azerbaijan began operations in November 2020 to clean its lands of mines, booby traps, and other weaponry left behind by illegal Armenian forces.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The National Aviation Academy (NAA), a part of CJSC Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), has signed a protocol of cooperation with Cappadocia University of Turkiye.

The agreement was signed by Professor Adalat Samadov, the First Vice-Rector of NAA, and Associate Professor Halil Ibrahim Unser, the Accountable Manager of Cappadocia University.

As part of this collaboration, Cappadocia University will be providing training for Category A1 aircraft maintenance technicians for AZAL, in accordance with international standards. One of the main objectives of the protocol is to enhance the country's aviation personnel potential.

Cappadocia University has been certified by the State Civil Aviation Agency to conduct aircraft maintenance training and examination services, as well as to issue relevant recognition certificates.

The National Aviation Academy is a higher education institution that produces highly skilled professionals in Azerbaijan's aerospace sector, particularly in civil aviation and other key areas that comply with international standards.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. A regular meeting of the Economic Council of Azerbaijan was held on April 8, 2024, the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers told Trend.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Ali Asadov, who chairs the Economic Council, a meeting was held to discuss the current status and policy directions regarding macroeconomic and financial stability.

The discussion encompassed various topics, including monetary policy objectives, the advancement of the banking and insurance sectors, agricultural production, food security, land utilization efficiency, and the current state of agricultural exports.

Additionally, the meeting addressed tasks and objectives for the period spanning 2024 to 2030, initiatives in Islamic finance (banking), the implementation of an automated risk analysis system utilizing artificial intelligence for customs clearance, and other pertinent matters.

"During the meeting, reports were presented by Taleh Kazimov, the Chairman of the Central Bank; Majnun Mammadov, the Minister of Agriculture; Shahin Baghirov, the Chairman of the State Customs Committee; and Samad Bashirli, the Deputy Economy Minister.

Subsequently, decisions were made on the discussed matters, taking into consideration the opinions and suggestions of the Economic Council members, and appropriate instructions were issued to the relevant institutions," the Cabinet of Ministers said.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Today, Snam S.p.A. successfully issued a 2-year Floating Rate Note for a total of 750 million euros, with a rate of Euribor 3-month plus 0.40 percent, Trend reports.

This move aligns with Snams financial strategy to lower debt costs, aiming for an average of 2.6 percent over the planned period.

According to the company, the notes are part of Snams 13 billion euro medium-term note (EMTN) program, which the Board of Directors last renewed on October 11, 2023, and will be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

The placement was managed by Banca Akros, BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, IMI-Intesa Sanpaolo, and UniCredit.

"We are particularly satisfied with the outcome of today's issuance, which has collected an extraordinary demand from the market. It is the result of our ongoing effort to seize opportunities to reduce the cost of our debt while diversifying our investor base. We are strongly committed to pursuing our financial strategy, ensuring value creation for all our stakeholders, in line with our Strategic Plan presented to the financial community in January," said Snams Finance Director Nicole Della Vedova.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. TotalEnergies and SONATRACH have signed an agreement to explore and develop gas resources in Algeria's northeast Timimoun region, Trend reports.

According to TotalEnergies, this agreement falls under Law n19-13, which governs hydrocarbon activities.

This Memorandum of Understanding aims to create a plan for assessing and developing gas resources in the North-East Timimoun area. The plan will work alongside existing processing facilities for production from the Timimoun field, to cut costs and emissions.

Earlier this year, TotalEnergies and SONATRACH extended their collaboration in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector until 2025. As part of this, SONATRACH will deliver 2 million tons of LNG to TotalEnergies at the port of Fos-Cavaou, near Marseille, next year. This will directly enhance energy supply security in France and Europe.

"This Memorandum of Understanding reflects our shared willingness to expand our strategic partnership with SONATRACH", said Julien Pouget, Senior Vice President Middle East & North Africa, Exploration & Production at TotalEnergies.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Seven business entities received resident status in Azerbaijan's Aghdam and Araz Valley Economic Zone industrial parks during the first quarter of 2024, Trend reports.

The data from the Economic Zones Development Agency (IZIA) of Azerbaijan showed that the registered residents are planning to invest 54.2 million manat ($31.88 million) and create 480 jobs in the industrial parks.

The agency noted that residents will produce fiber-reinforced concrete and polystyrene concrete blocks, dry construction mixtures, cement and concrete additives, various types of adhesive tapes, orthopedic mattresses, upholstered furniture, shoes, and other products.

Meanwhile, a total of 31 business entities have resident status, while seven - non-resident status in the mentioned parks.

Moreover, 38 business entities plan to invest more than 263 million manat ($154.7 million) and create more than 2,500 jobs in the industrial parks.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
It turns out that the so-called "Folly Trolley" is still dependent on developers who are also, in turn, taking a great deal of taxpayer cash.

The cost, as always, is local history.

About one of the structures that's meeting with the wrecking ball . . .



"Built in 1915, the former Southwest Boulevard State Bank was included on Historic Kansas City's 2019 list of most endangered buildings. "

Here's just a bit more detail before the paywall ,. . .



"Kansas City planners last week issued demolition and debris hauling permits for the vacant properties at 1818-1822 Main St., which include the Southwest Boulevard State Bank building and abutting properties that supported nightclubs like Tootsies and Eighteen22 Ultra Lounge. The buildings now are fenced off, under a traffic control permit closing Main's western sidewalk through Friday. About 2,000 cubic yards of demolition debris will be hauled offsite through May 3."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
In this post we remind readers the Brazilian models will always have a special place in our heart as we check pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Urban Survival Winning

Goat 'alive and well' after bridge rescue Monday A goat is "alive and well" after an afternoon trapped on the ledge of a bridge near Swope Park in Kansas City, Missouri, per KC Pet Project.

Bad Moves Save World

Kansas City advocates for climate resilience are highlighted in new 'hopeful' documentary Local documentary filmmaker Dave Kendall produced "Hot Times in the Heartland" with his company, Prairie Hollow Productions. The film is a comprehensive look at how the climate crisis is impacting the Kansas City region and how local changemakers are working to counter it.

Golden Ghetto Builds Food Stock

Three grocery stores set to spring up along stretch near new Whole Foods store in Overland Park - Kansas City Business Journal Aldi, one of the area's top grocery store chains, and two international grocery stores are in various phases of the development process as they seek to set up shop along a busy stretch of Metcalf Avenue.

Walking Toward Good Deeds

'Knowledge is power': Hundreds expected to gather at 36th annual Aids Walk KC Kansas City is gearing up for a significant event in the fight against HIV/AIDS as the city prepares to host the 36th Annual AIDS Walk on April 27.

JoCo Is For Puppers

Olathe park named among top 'hidden gems' for dogs One of the hidden gem dog parks in the country is right in Kansas City's backyard.

Mum Fights For Hotness

Brazilian Model Fires Back At Moms Critical Of The 'Inappropriate' Outfit She Wore To Disney Times have changed for Brazilian model Janaina Prazeres Now she's catching heat for simply attempting to enjoy herself at Disney. Moms, with not much else going on, decided to turn

White House Winning Ways

Biden's stealth but clever strategy to maintain control of the White House The Biden White House has initiated a surprising move that could increase voter turnout for the president and help him hold onto the White House. Republicans must understand it.

MAGA Talks Faith & Politics

Trump says Jewish Americans who vote for Biden don't love Israel and 'should be spoken to' | CNN Politics Former President Donald Trump on Monday again criticized Jewish Americans who don't support him and said any Jewish person who votes for President Joe Biden doesn't love Israel and "should be spoken to."

GOP Fight Cont'd

Greene drama builds for embattled Johnson Drama is building in the House as lawmakers return to work on Tuesday waiting to see if Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) will follow through on her threat to force a vote to unseat Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). Greene unveiled a motion to vacate, the same procedural tool used in October to end former Speaker...

Takeaway Toward Eastern Europe

US transfers thousands of seized Iranian guns, rocket launchers and munitions to Ukraine | CNN Politics The US transferred thousands of machine guns, sniper rifles, rocket launchers and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition seized from Iran to Ukraine last week, US Central Command announced on Tuesday.

Holy Land Against Iran

Israel 'can handle' any threat from Iran, says military chief Iran warns of retaliation for a strike on its Damascus consulate, saying Israeli embassies are no longer safe.

Actor Outrage Alleged

Prosecutors Say Alec Baldwin Had 'Absolutely No Control' Over Emotions on Rust Alec Baldwin had 'absolutely no control over emotions' on the set of 'Rust,' prosecutors argue in a new filing towards his felony manslaughter charge, and 'absolutely no concern for how his conduct affects those around him.'



Sneak Peek At Fancy Homes You Can't Afford



3 Homes Designed Around Art Collections - IN Kansas City Magazine When collectors exhibit their art, their home is designed around the art rather than vice versa. Contemporary Classic Interior designer Michael Sandridge revamped this Crown Center condo around the art and the midcentury furniture. Two Greg Eltringham paintings flank a Jesse Christopher painting in the living room.

Weather Right Now

Strong winds this week will bring in warmer weekend temps Strong winds this week will help usher in warmer weekend weather in Kansas City.

Chicano Batman - Fly is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Overnight gunfire targeting a police officer provides a clear indicator of treacherous reality on local streets:

KANSAS CITY CROOKS & THUGS SEEM EMBOLDENED AGAINST POLICE!!! SPRING/SUMMER 2024 EFFORTS AGAINST CRIME ALREADY CONFRONT EPIC CHALLENGES!!!

Sadly, it doesn't get any easier going forward as campaign season and so many local activists rehashing an anti-police narrative might make things worse.

THANKFULLY, the officer will recover.

Here's a roundup of recent reporting on the topic . . .

"Police tell us the officer was conducting a traffic stop near 46th Terrace and South Benton on potential impairment on the part of the driver.



"Additional officers responded to the scene to assist.



"Police say the officers were in the process of placing the man into custody when the subject was able to access a firearm and discharge it, striking one of the officers."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Kansas City police officer shot during traffic stop Monday night Kansas City police are investigating after someone shot a police officer during a traffic stop Monday night near 46th Terrace and Benton

Kansas City, Missouri police officer shot during traffic stop, expected to recover A police spokesperson said the officer is expected to recover

Kansas City, Missouri, police officer shot, injured during traffic stop Kansas City, Missouri, police say the officer who was shot was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Islamabad has kicked off building a gas pipeline from Iran to help with its energy needs, Pakistani media say, Trend reports.

President of Iran is heading to Islamabad in two weeks to finalize plans for a gas pipeline project aimed at bringing peace. In response, Pakistan is taking a closer look at the mapping and design for an 80 km stretch of the pipeline near the Iranian border.

A source from Pakistan's Energy Ministry explained that they'll be asking for a large amount of money in this year's budget to make it happen. It's estimated to cost 44 billion Pakistani rupees (over $158 million) and will take about 2 years to finish.

Pakistan has decided to split the pipeline project into two phases. First, they'll build an 81-kilometer stretch from Gwadar port to Iran, then later connect it to Nawabshah.

Back in 2009, Iran and Pakistan agreed to each handle the part of the pipeline within their borders. If Pakistan backs out of the project, it might have to pay Iran around $18 billion.
The father of the man killed by police on Friday says his son needed help for a mental illne
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. The possibilities of expanding economic ties between the two countries were discussed during the visit of Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov to the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan told Trend.

It was noted that the Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov held meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, the Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, the Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, the Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia Elvira Nabiullina, as well as with the heads of a number of companies and commercial structures of the Russian Federation.

During the meetings, it was emphasized that economic cooperation between the countries is expanding due to the great importance that Azerbaijan and Russia attach to the development of bilateral ties. Russia is one of the main trading partners of Azerbaijan and ranks first in imports of Azerbaijani non-oil products. At the meetings, during which issues on the development agenda of Azerbaijani-Russian economic relations were discussed, there were considered prospects for increasing the dynamics of cooperation in trade, transport, industry, mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, innovation, the use of solutions based on artificial intelligence, finance and other areas.

There was also provided information on measures to develop the non-oil industry of Azerbaijan, benefits for entrepreneurs in industrial zones, and opportunities for implementing joint projects. The parties discussed ways to improve mechanisms for promoting cooperation and other issues of mutual interest.
President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting in Kharkiv to discuss strengthening air defense and methods of countering guided aerial bomb carriers.

This was reported by the press service of the Presidents Office, according to Ukrinform.

President Zelensky discussed additional air defense units to be deployed in Kharkiv with the Air Force Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykola Oleshchuk.

At the meeting, Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, Herman Halushchenko, Minister of Energy, and Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, Chairman of the Management Board of NPC Ukrenergo, informed the President about the consequences of the Russian shelling on power generation capacities and the current situation of power supply.

The participants approved plans for the restoration of power generation and the construction of permanent protection structures.

The most pressing social issues of the region were also discussed. The Head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration and the Minister of Education Oksen Lisovyi presented a plan to organize offline education in some districts of Kharkiv from September 1 this year. The funds for the construction of school shelters and the purchase of school transport are allocated in the state budget.

As Ukrinform reported, during a working visit to the Kharkiv region, President Zelensky inspected the process of building defense structures and fortifications near the border with Russia.

Photo: Presidents Office
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Baku Steel Company (BSC) CJSC, the largest metallurgical company in the South Caucasus, will attend a specialized exhibition in Dusseldorf on April 1519, Trend reports via a source in the company.

We'll take part in one of the most authoritative international exhibitions - Wire and Tube 2024. This event will bring together the worlds largest specialized companies, and we hope to find new clients. We'll have an individual stand and plan B2B negotiations and consultations," the source said.

To note, BSC cooperates with Siemens, Danieli, Vezzani, and other global companies for the technological equipment of the enterprise, which has an annual capacity of over 550,000 tons of metallurgical products per year.

BSC, which has been operating in the country since 2001, is among the largest taxpayers in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan.

The 'green' achievements include the production of steel blanks without impacting the environment.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
At the invitation of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea and the government of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress Zhao Leji will lead a party and government delegation to the DPRK to pay an official goodwill visit and attend the opening ceremony of China-DPRK Friendship Year from April 11 to 13.



China News Service: Its reported that during the visit to China, the US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen repeatedly raised concerns on the overcapacity in some Chinese industries and how it may affect US workers and businesses. She said that the Biden administration will push China to change an industrial policy that poses a threat to US jobs. Whats your comment?



Mao Ning: Yesterday, a senior official of Chinas Ministry of Finance provided details about Treasury Secretary Yellens visit to China and responded to the so-called overcapacity issue.

I want to stress that in a globalized world, one needs to look at the global market demand and future development potential to see whether there is overcapacity. Balance between supply and demand is relative, whereas imbalance is the norm. The best way to address such imbalances is to let the market forces play their role according to the law of value.

To politicize overcapacity or any other economic and trade issue and arbitrarily link them to security goes against the law of economics and harms ones own industries and the stability of the global economy. China believes that all parties need to honor the basic principles of the market economy, such as fair competition and open cooperation, and properly handle disagreements and disputes in trade and economic cooperation in line with WTO rules to jointly keep the global industrial and supply chains stable.

Dragon TV: To follow up on the announcement that Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress Zhao Leji will lead a party and government delegation on an official goodwill visit to the DPRK and attend the opening ceremony of the China-DPRK Friendship Year, can you share Chinas expectation for the visit and provide more details?



Mao Ning: China and the DPRK are friendly neighbors that are connected by mountains and rivers. The two parties and two countries have a tradition of friendly exchanges. This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-DPRK diplomatic relations, and also the China-DPRK Friendship Year designated by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries. To send a high-level delegation on an official goodwill visit to the DPRK and attend the opening ceremony of the China-DPRK Friendship Year at the DPRKs invitation reflects the deep friendship between the two countries and the great importance China attaches to its relations with the DPRK. We believe that with the joint efforts of both sides, the visit will be a full success and further deepen bilateral ties.

The two sides are in touch on the detailed arrangement of the visit. We will release timely information. Please check back for updates.

Reuters: Russian news agencies have reported that Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China advocates a timely international conference on the Ukraine crisis with equal participation of both Russia and Ukraine. Could you please confirm that this is what Minister Wang Yi mentioned during his meeting with his counterpart Lavrov? There were also reports by the Russian media that Minister Wang Yi also made comments on NATO saying that NATO should neither extend its activities in the Asia-Pacific region nor promote confrontation. Could you confirm whether these were being discussed in their meeting and if there are any other details that your Ministry can share with us?



Mao Ning: We appreciate your interest in the meeting between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Earlier today, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing.

Wang Yi said that China will continue to support Russia in pursuing development and revitalization under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin and support the Russian people in independently choosing a development path. Over the past 75 years since China and Russia established diplomatic ties, the China-Russia relations have weathered winds and rains and come a long way. On the basis of non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party, China and Russia have committed themselves to lasting good-neighborliness and friendship, deepened comprehensive strategic coordination and forged a new paradigm of major-country relations completely different from the Cold War-era approach, which matters to global strategic stability and cooperation between emerging major countries and has no substitute. To ensure the sound growth of the China-Russia relationship is what we must do as two major countries and neighbors and serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that heads-of-state diplomacy provides the fundamental underpinning for the steady and sustained growth of China-Russia relations. Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era has grown on a high level, our ever-lasting friendship enjoys more solid support from the people of our two countries, and theres broad prospect for our mutually beneficial cooperation. China stands ready to work with Russia, follow the common understandings reached by the two heads of state, make full use of the China-Russia high-level exchange mechanisms, further dovetail development plans of the two countries and advance practical cooperation in various fields. Russias presidency of the BRICS group this year and Chinas presidency of the SCO in the second half of this year provide an opportunity to cement coordination and strategic collaboration on multilateral platforms, practice true multilateralism, make the global governance system more equitable and reasonable, move toward an equal and orderly multipolar world and work for greater democracy in international relations. Our two countries need to firmly oppose all moves of unilateralism and hegemonism and make the world a more peaceful, safe, secure and prosperous place with a bright future. The two foreign ministers exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interests. After the meeting, the two sides jointly signed the consultation plan for 2024 between the two countries foreign ministries and met the press.

When meeting the press, Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated Chinas basic propositions on current regional and international hotspot issues. On Ukraine, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the four principles laid out by President Xi form Chinas fundamental approach to the issue. China hopes to see an early ceasefire in Ukraine. China supports the holding in due course of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and ensures the equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans. Both track I or track II options can be explored.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed the need to uphold true multilateralism and oppose exclusive groupings for bloc confrontation, particularly in the Asia-Pacific. NATO should not dip its hand into the common home of countries in this region. Nothing said or done that fans division and confrontation has market or future in the Asia-Pacific.

More details will be released on the meeting between the two foreign ministers. You may refer to them.

Bloomberg: On that readout of the meeting between the two foreign ministers. Im just looking at the Russian media reports that Foreign Minister Lavrov said that Russia and China confirmed that there is no prospect of holding meetings to settle conflict with Ukraine which ignores Russias position. I think the language seems quite different from what you just said now from the Chinese side. Can you help me resolve that and reconcile that?



Mao Ning: Foreign Minister Wang Yi made our position clear on the Ukraine issue. As he said, we hope fighting will stop as soon as possible and support the holding in due course of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and ensures the equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans.

RIA Novosti: I just want to follow up on the Ukraine crisis. According to Bloomberg reports, Switzerland plans to hold the high-level peace summit on Ukraine in mid-June this year. I want to ask whether China has received any invitation to attend this summit? Does China plan to participate in it?



Mao Ning: On the Ukraine issue, we have been committed to promoting talks for peace and political settlement of the crisis. China supports the holding in due course of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and ensures the equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans. On your specific question, I have nothing to share.

Beijing Youth Daily: Last week, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics Nicholas R. Lardy published an article on the website of Foreign Affairs titled China Is Still RisingDont Underestimate the Worlds Second-Biggest Economy. It mentioned that US academics recent view of China already peaking as an economic power underestimates the resilience of its economy. Although China faces several headwinds, the country overcame even greater challenges when it started on the path of economic reform in the late 1970s. China is likely to expand at twice the rate of the US in the years ahead. Whats Chinas comment?



Mao Ning: We noted the article. As President Xi Jinping stressed during his recent meeting with representatives of the US business, strategic and academic communities, the Chinese economy is sound and sustainable. China did not collapse as predicted by the China collapse theory, nor will it peak as forecasted by the China peak theory.

There are varying perspectives on Chinas economy. The widely shared view, however, is that China is among the fastest-growing major economies. As the second largest economy in the world, the Chinese economy has a solid foundation, remarkable resilience and enormous potential. Id like to share with you some facts:

First, China is the only country in the world that has industries across all categories in the UN industrial classification and home to over 200 mature industry clusters. The size of Chinas manufacturing industry has been the largest in the world for 14 consecutive years. Second, China has over 400 million people in the middle-income bracket, and the number is on course to reach 800 million in the next decade or so. There are close to 300 million rural migrants who are acquiring permanent urban residency at a faster pace. It will create massive demand and significantly transform consumption in areas such as housing, education, medical services and elderly care. Third, Chinas total input in research and development and investment in the high-tech sector have been growing at double-digit rates for several years running. China also tops the world in the number of patent applications and technology clusters. Fourth, the Chinese government is speeding up the cultivation of new quality productive forces. The effort has visibly given boost and support to high-quality development. Last but not least, more and more multinational businesses are investing in the Chinese market, which is a vote of confidence for Chinas economic outlook. In January and February this year, 7,160 foreign-invested companies were set up in China, marking a year-on-year increase of 34.9 percent, the highest in the past five years.

Facts speak louder than words. No matter how some people try to dampen the outlook on Chinas economy, the overall trend of long-term growth will not change, Chinas super-sized market and well-functioning industrial system remain its notable strengths, and factors underpinning the high-quality development are building up. Through its steady development, China will remain a strong engine and source of opportunities for the world economy.

Bloomberg: My colleague from RIA Novosti mentioned a Bloomberg story. Basically, we reported that this peace summit is planned to happen in mid-June. The location is not yet confirmed, but in February, the Swiss Foreign Minister came to China. Its our understanding that during his visit, he did actually invite China to attend this peace summit and in the interim, I think were waiting for a response. And there was a subsequent visit to Europe by Li Hui and now we have the Russian Foreign Minister visiting China. I understand your earlier statement saying that you support a summit given the right circumstances, but given that mid-June is around the corner and that the invitation was extended in February, have you accepted or rejected that invitation?



Mao Ning: I have no further information to share at the moment.

China Review News: Japans Asahi Shimbun reported that a regiment of Japans Self-Defense Forces used the term Great East Asia War in the post on its official X account. This term was once used by the Japanese government during World War II, whereas the current government calls it the Pacific War. This post caused alarm among some Japanese. Some described it as the resurrection of Japans Imperial Army. Whats Chinas comment?



Mao Ning: As is widely known, Japans militarists once waged wars of aggression, committed serious crimes against humanity, and inflicted untold suffering on the region and the wider world. The wrongful comment that you mentioned not just caused alarm among the Japanese people, but also seriously hurt peoples sentiments in China and other Asian countries victimized by Japanese aggression during the war. This is the latest evidence of attempts inside Japan to turn back the wheel of history. China urges Japan to face squarely and reflect on its history of aggression, take real action to make a clean break with militarism, and prevent further losing the trust of its Asian neighbors and the rest of the world.

CCTV: US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell recently said in an interview that AUKUS submarine capabilities have enormous implications in cross-Strait circumstances, and that there is a commonality of spirit with respect to the need to send clear messages on conduct with respect to either the South China Sea or the Taiwan Strait. He said every country in the Indo-Pacific wants very much to make clear that what has been undertaken in Ukraine (a big nation can invade a smaller one) cannot be successful, so that no one contemplates that in Beijing as they think about potential adventurism. Whats Chinas comment?



Mao Ning: Those comments are not based on facts. They paint a wrong picture of the reality in this region and contain some false, vicious and inflammatory accusations. China strongly deplores and opposes this.

I want to stress that the real purpose of AUKUS is to incite bloc division and military confrontation through military cooperation based on exclusive circles. This is typical Cold War mentality. It heightens the risk of nuclear proliferation, exacerbates arms race in the Asia-Pacific and undermines regional peace and stability. China and many regional countries have expressed grave concerns and opposition over this.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory and the Taiwan question is Chinas internal affair that brooks no external interference. What is the US really up to by linking the AUKUS submarine plan with the Taiwan question? China has unwavering will in upholding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. No one should underestimate or misjudge it.

None of the AUKUS countries is a party directly concerned on the South China Sea issue and they should not interfere in the effort of parties concerned to settle disputes through negotiation and consultation. The recent heightening of tensions in the South China Sea and rise of confrontation in the region has everything to do with the US co-opting its allies.

China is neither the one that created the Ukraine crisis nor a party to it. We have and will continue to play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the issue. China urges the US to reflect on its behavior, stop fanning the flame, stop smearing and attacking the normal relations between China and Russia, and stop shifting the blame to China.

China is a force for world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order. On peace and security issues, China has the best record among major countries. The international community has a fair judgment on this and the US is in no position to point fingers at China.

Reuters: Britain, the US and Australia said on Monday that they are considering working with Japan through their AUKUS security pact. Today, Australia has added comments saying that any cooperation with Japan would be on a project-by-project basis. How does China view this development on the whole?



Mao Ning: China has stated its position on AUKUS several times. We oppose bloc confrontation and anything that increases the risk of nuclear proliferation and exacerbates arms race in the Asia-Pacific. Countries need to fulfill their international obligations and refrain from actions that undermine peace and stability in the region and beyond.

Given Japans not-too-distant history of militarist aggression, Japans military and security moves are closely watched by its Asian neighbors and the international community. Japan needs to seriously reflect on its history of aggression, stop its involvement in small military and security groupings and truly embark on a path to peaceful development.

Bloomberg: Im just wondering about Chairman Zhao Lejis visit to the DPRK. Is there any more you can share with us in terms of what might be the deliverables, the topics of major concern, and just a little bit more detail about who the delegation might meet with, so on and so forth.



Mao Ning: The details are being finalized. We will release timely information on that. Please check back for updates.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Axpo and ENEGO, a French energy investor, have signed a cooperation agreement to explore the feasibility of establishing a 100 MW green hydrogen plant in Sicily, announced today, Trend reports via Axpo.

The proposed project is slated to be situated in the Priolo-Augusta industrial complex on the islands eastern coast, contributing to the emergence of a 'hydrogen valley' spanning between Catania and Siracusa. The envisioned plant aims to address the growing demand for green energy in the surrounding industries.

This initiative marks a significant stride in Axpo's strategy to actively participate in advancing the green hydrogen economy across Switzerland and Europe. The project will be conducted in collaboration with HYNEGO, a division of ENEGO Holding. Depending on market demand, there's potential to scale up the plant's capacity to 300 MW. It will be stationed within the Priolo-Augusta petrochemical complex, dedicated to producing green hydrogen for local industrial and transportation needs. Moreover, its establishment will further fortify Sicily's 'hydrogen valley,' with prospects of integration into the European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) initiative.

In the forthcoming months, Axpo and ENEGO will embark on a comprehensive feasibility study to solidify the project's financials and business strategy. Additionally, Axpo is actively engaged in various hydrogen initiatives, including collaborating with the Australian company IGE to develop one of Italy's largest hydrogen production facilities in central Abruzzos Peligna Valley.

Moreover, plans are underway, in partnership with the SGV shipping company, to introduce the first hydrogen-powered passenger vessel on Switzerlands Lake Lucerne, with Axpo slated to supply the green hydrogen required for its operation from a new local production facility in nearby Burglen. Furthermore, Axpo's involvement in the "Arve Hydrogene Mobilite" (Arv'Hy) project in France aims to establish hydrogen refueling stations for vehicles by the first quarter of 2025.

Recently, Axpo showcased the potential of hydrogen, particularly in Switzerland, in a white paper, reinforcing its expertise in the realm of green energy carriers.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. SOCAR Deputy Vice President Vitaly Beglyarbekov is taking part in the fifth international Budapest conference on liquefied natural gas (LNG), Trend reports.

The focus of this meeting in Budapest is on gas projects relevant to Europe and the international gas supply chain.

"The conference will summariz the results of the winter season for the EU on fuel use, discusses trends in the global and regional pipeline gas and LNG market in geopolitical realities, infrastructure gas projects, gas supplies to the EU - price and trade strategies, methane emissions and their reduction," the website of the conference, led by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, noted.

Additionally, separate discussions on the EU's hydrogen policy will be held in Budapest on April 10, as hydrogen exports are largely tied to gas transportation.

Speakers will include heads of leading European gas companies.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The incident at Pomona College began as part of ongoing demonstrations organized by the Pomona Divest from Apartheid coalition. The group has been advocating for the college to divest from Israel and weapons manufacturers, particularly amidst the prolonged conflict in Gaza. While previous protests had been peaceful, tensions rose dramatically during the latest demonstration.

According to reports, the situation intensified after college officials started dismantling a 32-foot-long "apartheid wall" erected by students. The wall, adorned with messages such as "Disrupt the Death Machine" and "Apartheid College; We are all Complicit," became a focal point of the protesters' demands.

Despite repeated requests from college authorities, the protesters refused to disperse, leading to a standoff between the demonstrators and campus security.

Office Occupation

As the confrontation heightened, approximately 4 p.m., a group of students stormed into the main administration building, ultimately seizing President Starr's office. The protesters, wearing masks and refusing to identify themselves, engaged in a series of disruptive actions, including the use of derogatory language towards campus officials.

In addition to occupying the office, the protesters reportedly vandalized university property, causing significant damage to the interior of the building.

In response to the occupation, law enforcement officers, including riot police, were called to the scene. Nineteen students were charged with trespassing, and one individual faced an additional charge of obstruction of justice. Although all charges were later dropped, Pomona College announced the expulsion of the students involved in the office occupation.

READ ALSO : Stony Brook University Arrests Trigger Campus Controversy

Consequences and Fallout

President Starr addressed the incident in a letter to the campus community, condemning the protesters' actions as part of an "escalating series of incidents" on campus. She emphasized that the disruption caused by the protest was unacceptable and undermined the college's commitment to open dialogue and respectful discourse.

In addition to the expulsion of Pomona College students, individuals from other Claremont Colleges involved in the protest face repercussions. While they were not expelled, they have been banned from the Pomona campus and could face disciplinary measures at their respective colleges.

The incident has sparked debates about freedom of expression, campus safety, and the appropriate response to student activism. Some have criticized the college's decision to expel students, arguing that it stifles dissent and undermines the principles of academic freedom. Others support the administration's actions, citing the need to maintain order and ensure the safety of all members of the campus community.

As tensions simmer, Pomona College and its affiliated institutions face the challenge of fostering a campus environment that encourages free expression while upholding the values of civility and respect.

Impact on Campus Culture

The fallout from the protest and subsequent expulsions has deeply affected the campus community. Many students, regardless of their stance on the protest, feel disillusioned and concerned about the state of campus discourse. Faculty members have also expressed unease about the implications for academic freedom and the ability to engage in open dialogue.

Student organizations and campus leaders are working to address the underlying issues that led to the protest, including concerns about institutional policies, social justice, and human rights. Dialogue sessions, town hall meetings, and workshops are being organized to facilitate discussions and promote understanding among different segments of the campus population.
The decision by Pitzer College to remove its study abroad program at the University of Haifa in Israel stems from years of activism and advocacy by various student and alumni groups. Pro-Palestinian organizations, such as Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace, have long pushed for the severance of ties between Pitzer College and Israeli universities.



Their efforts culminated in the passing of resolutions by the Student Senate and faculty members urging the college to cut its connections with Israeli institutions. This grassroots activism played a significant role in bringing attention to the issue and pressuring college officials to take action.

Administrative Justification versus Political Interpretation

College officials maintain that the removal of the Haifa program, along with ten others, was based on administrative concerns such as low enrollment numbers and curricular overlap, rather than political motivations. However, the decision has been widely interpreted as a political statement, particularly by pro-Palestinian activists who see it as a victory for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Critics, including pro-Israel groups, argue that the decision unfairly targets Israel and undermines academic freedom. This stark difference in interpretation underscores the complexity of balancing administrative decisions with political implications in academia.

The controversy surrounding the removal of the Haifa program reflects broader tensions and debates within higher education institutions across the country. Similar discussions have arisen at other universities regarding the role of universities in addressing political issues and promoting social justice.

The decision at Pitzer College highlights the challenges faced by institutions in navigating competing interests and values, including academic freedom, social justice, and diversity of perspectives. As universities grapple with these issues, the debate over the Haifa program serves as a microcosm of larger conversations about the responsibilities and ethical considerations of higher education institutions in a politically charged world.

READ ALSO : Campus Study Unveils Extensive Fear Among Jewish And Muslim Students Amid Conflict

Campus Response and External Reactions

Within Pitzer College, reactions to the decision have been mixed. While pro-Palestinian activists celebrate the removal of the Haifa program as a victory, others express concerns about the potential implications for academic freedom and intellectual diversity.

The decision has also drawn attention from external organizations and media outlets, further amplifying the debate. Groups like Canary Mission have condemned the move as an "antisemitic academic boycott of Israel," while others view it as a legitimate expression of solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Historical Context and National Trends

The controversy at Pitzer College is not isolated but rather part of a broader national trend concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on college campuses. Similar debates have unfolded at universities across the country, with students and faculty members advocating for various forms of engagement or disengagement with Israel.

This includes calls for divestment from companies allegedly involved in human rights violations in the occupied territories and boycotts of academic and cultural events sponsored by Israeli institutions. The debate over the Haifa program reflects ongoing discussions about the role of universities in promoting social justice and human rights on a global scale.

Future Implications and Challenges

Looking ahead, the removal of the Haifa program raises important questions about the future of study abroad programs and international partnerships in higher education. As colleges and universities reassess their relationships with institutions in politically contentious regions, they must navigate competing demands and ethical considerations.

The controversy at Pitzer College serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in balancing academic freedom, political activism, and institutional values. Ultimately, the decision reflects broader societal debates about justice, equality, and the responsibilities of educational institutions in shaping the next generation of global citizens.
The Biden administration's latest plan to provide debt relief for student loan borrowers comes as a response to the ongoing student debt crisis in the United States.

With more than 26 million Americans poised to benefit from these measures, the plan represents a significant step towards alleviating the financial burden faced by individuals grappling with student loan repayment. This initiative underscores the administration's commitment to tackling the pressing issue of student debt, which has long been a barrier to financial stability and economic mobility for millions of Americans.

Addressing Student Debt Crisis

The relief plan outlined by the Education Department offers assistance to borrowers falling into five specific categories, catering to various financial challenges they may encounter. Among these categories are individuals who have accrued more debt than their initial loan amount due to accumulating interest, as well as those who have been diligently repaying loans for over two decades.

Notably, the relief measures include the elimination of accrued interest for 23 million borrowers, the complete wiping out of loan balances for 4 million individuals, and providing at least $5,000 in relief to over 10 million borrowers. These provisions aim to provide tangible financial assistance to borrowers across different demographics, offering a lifeline to those struggling under the weight of student loan debt.

READ ALSO : Biden Administration Proposes Student Outcome Benchmarks For College Accreditors

Key Components of the Relief Plan

Despite the ambitious scope of the relief plan, it is likely to face legal challenges, mirroring previous attempts by the Biden administration to address student debt. Earlier proposals, such as forgiving up to $20,000 for eligible borrowers, were struck down by the Supreme Court in June 2023. However, the administration remains undeterred, basing its authority to implement the latest plan on different legislation and utilizing a revised process to develop the necessary regulations.



As the Education Department prepares to open the proposed regulations for public comment, it anticipates a rigorous review process that may span at least 30 days. While the administration is confident in its legal footing, it acknowledges the potential hurdles ahead and remains committed to swiftly addressing student debt issues.

Prioritizing Economic Equity and Opportunity

The announcement of the relief plan underscores the Biden administration's broader efforts to promote financial stability and equity in higher education. By targeting relief measures towards borrowers facing various financial challenges, the administration aims to address disparities in student loan repayment and alleviate the burden on those most in need.

Furthermore, initiatives such as this one signal a commitment to fostering economic mobility and opportunity for all Americans, irrespective of their socioeconomic background. As President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff embark on a journey to swing states to tout the plan, they emphasize the administration's dedication to prioritizing the financial well-being of student loan borrowers.

In conclusion, the Biden administration's student loan relief plan represents a significant milestone in addressing the student debt crisis in the United States. With millions of borrowers set to benefit from relief measures tailored to their specific financial circumstances, the plan offers a glimmer of hope for individuals burdened by student loan debt.

Despite potential legal challenges and procedural hurdles, the administration remains steadfast in its commitment to providing much-needed assistance to those grappling with the challenges of student loan repayment. As the relief plan moves forward, it holds the promise of promoting financial stability, equity, and opportunity for millions of Americans striving to achieve their educational and financial goals.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday called President of United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to extend his best wishes and convey warm greetings on the blessed occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Apr, 2024) Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday called President of United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to extend his best wishes and convey warm greetings on the blessed occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

During their most warm and cordial exchanges, the prime minister lauded the strong bonds and close cultural, religious and historical affiliation between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

While expressing his gratitude for the warmth extended by the leadership of the UAE upon his assumption of office, the prime minister underscored that his governments highest priority would be to transform the traditionally fraternal ties with the UAE into a mutually beneficial economic partnership between the two brotherly states.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reiterated UAEs strong support to Pakistan and reaffirmed the shared desire of both sides to further strengthen these fraternal ties meaningfully.

The prime minister extended a warm and cordial invitation to His Highness to undertake an official visit to Pakistan. In response, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also extended a warm invitation to the prime minister to undertake a visit to the UAE with both leaders underscoring the importance of frequent interaction between them.
,

(@Abdulla99267510)

Central Ruet Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad has made the announcement after receiving testimonies from different regions regarding the moon of Shawwal.

LAHORE: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-April 9th, 2024) Eid-ul-Fitre would be marked tomorrow with religious fervor and zeal as Shawwal moon sighted in Pakistan on Tuesday evening.

Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad made the announcement of the moon sighting.

Maulana Azad said that the skies were not clear everything as some areas were cloudy and others wree clear. He said they received testimonies from different regions.

The announcement was made after the committee received testimonies from different regions. The members of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee prayed for Pakistan and the whole Muslim Ummah, and prayed for blessings.
BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Apr, 2024) China's top political advisor Wang Huning on Tuesday met with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue in Beijing.

Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), noted that in December last year, the general secretaries of the two parties had jointly announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future with strategic significance, establishing a new orientation for the relations between the two parties and two countries in the new era.

Noting that China is willing to work with Vietnam to fully implement the consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and promote the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, Wang said the CPPCC National Committee stands ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee to contribute to the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Guayaquil, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Apr, 2024) Ecuador's ex-vice president Jorge Glas, arrested when police stormed Mexico's embassy in Quito, has been hospitalized after refusing to eat prison food, the prison authority said Monday.

Glas, 54, was in stable condition at a naval hospital in Guayaquil, the SNAI authority said in a statement and will be kept under observation "in the coming hours" until he is returned to jail.

Ecuador carried out a raid on the embassy Friday to capture Glas, who sought refuge there last December pending a corruption investigation against him.

Mexico had granted him political refugee status just hours before.

Earlier Monday, a Brussels-based lawyer for Glas told AFP she feared for his life and pleaded for international help.

"I believe that Jorge Glas is at grave risk, at imminent risk, in the hands of the (Ecuadoran) government.

It was a kidnapping, and I believe at any moment they could kill him," Sonia Vera said.

The SNAI statement said Glas had not responded during a roll-call at Guayas prison Monday.

He appeared to have fallen ill after refusing to eat for 24 hours, it added, and was taken to hospital.

Ecuador's embassy intrusion has triggered a political storm, with Mexico, several other Latin American states, Spain, the European Union, and the UN chief condemning it as a violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention governing international relations.

Mexico, which cut off diplomatic relations and pulled its diplomatic personnel out of Ecuador, said it was filing a complaint at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Brussels, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Apr, 2024) EU states and the European Parliament on Monday agreed on tougher restrictions on some Ukraine farm imports, European Union presidency holder Belgium said.

The accord extends the duty-free access the bloc has given to Ukrainian agricultural goods since Russia's 2022 invasion but sets caps for poultry, eggs, sugar, maize, groats, and honey to average volumes seen between mid-2021 and end-2023.

No cap was applied to wheat, which countries such as France and Poland had initially argued for.

Lawmakers are eyeing June elections that will usher in a new parliament. Many, especially conservatives and on the far-right, are keen to show European farmers that they are in their corner.

The preliminary agreement still has to be formalized. A late Monday meeting of EU ambassadors gave its approval on behalf of member countries. A European Parliament committee is to weigh it on Tuesday before giving its assent.

Diplomats had previously said the caps would trim around 240 million Euros ($260 million) from the amount Ukrainian farm products earn in the EU, compared with 2023.

Ukraine says it supplies only around one percent of the EU's eggs and two percent of its poultry while making up for a deficit of sugar on the EU market.

The European Union has sought to maintain solidarity with Ukraine while listening to European farmers who have been protesting low incomes partly blamed on Ukrainian goods they say are undercutting their markets.

The extension of duty-free imports of Ukrainian agricultural products is to kick in before the current exemption period runs out on June 5.

The European Parliament issued a statement saying that if there was "significant disruption to the EU market or the markets of one or more EU countries due to Ukrainian imports, for instance, wheat, the regulation ensures that the (European) Commission can take swift action and impose any measures it deems necessary".

The rapporteur for the accord, Sandra Kalniete of the center-right PPE grouping, said it "fortified safeguards to protect EU farmers in case of market turbulence sparked by Ukrainian imports."

"The ripple effects of Russia's relentless targeting of Ukraine and its economy are being felt by EU farmers," she said in a statement.

The farmers' union grouping COPA-COGECA and five farming federations said in a statement that the deal did not go far enough.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Lebanon's interior minister vowed Tuesday to get tough on Syrians after several were arrested on suspicion of involvement in killing a political official, in a case that triggered uproar

Beirut, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Apr, 2024) Lebanon's interior minister vowed Tuesday to get tough on Syrians after several were arrested on suspicion of involvement in killing a political official, in a case that triggered uproar.

Anti-Syrian sentiment has soared following the Sunday disappearance and death of Pascal Sleiman, a coordinator in the Byblos (Jbeil) area north of Beirut for the Lebanese Forces, a Christian party opposed to the Syrian government and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.

Sleiman was killed in what the Lebanese army said was a carjacking by Syrian gang members, who took his body to Syria.

His party said it would consider Sleiman's death a "political assassination until proven otherwise".

Many Lebanese, including politicians, have long pushed for Syrians who have fled 13 years of civil war at home to return, blaming them for exacerbating Lebanon's woes, including a crushing economic crisis that began in 2019.

Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi warned that "this country cannot withstand problems and sectarian strife".

The security forces have been instructed "to strictly enforce Lebanese laws on Syrian refugees", he told reporters after a meeting about Sleiman's killing.

"We will become stricter in granting residency permits and dealing with those (Syrians) residing in Lebanon illegally," Mawlawi added, urging people to stop renting apartments informally to Syrians.

He also called for "limiting the presence of Syrians" in the country, without saying how.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib called the number of Syrians a "problem".

"We have 2.2 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, a country of five million, and half a million Palestinians," he told reporters after meeting his Greek counterpart in Athens.

The Lebanese army said it had received Sleiman's body from Syrian authorities. The army had said on Monday that the car thieves had transported the body to Syria following the killing.

- 'Sectarian strife' -

Social media users also blamed Hezbollah, whose chief Hassan Nasrallah on Monday denied involvement.

Lebanese Forces said in a statement that Hezbollah, which wields considerable power in Lebanon, "has impeded the state's role and its effectiveness, paving the way for weapons-bearing gangs" and "chaos".

The powerful Shiite Muslim movement has been trading near daily cross-border fire with the Israeli military since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October, raising tensions in Lebanon and sparking opposition from Lebanese Forces and other parties.

On Monday evening, hundreds of people blocked roads in Byblos, while footage circulated on social media of violence against Syrians.

Syrian refugee Abdullah, 21, who lives in Byblos, said the backlash had sparked fear in the vulnerable community.

"I hope that those responsible will be held to account, but not the entire (Syrian) population" in Lebanon, Abdullah said, declining to provide his surname for security reasons.

The United Nations refugee agency says more than 800,000 Syrian refugees are registered with the body in Lebanon, noting registrations have been suspended since 2015 following a government ruling.

- 'Impunity' -

Ramzi Kaiss from the US-based group Human Rights Watch said Beirut must ensure "the investigation into the killing is thorough and transparent in light of decades of impunity in Lebanon for politically sensitive killings".

"Attempts to scapegoat the entire refugee population are deplorable" and "threaten to fuel already ongoing violence against Syrians in Lebanon," Kaiss told AFP.

A Lebanese judicial official said security forces had arrested seven Syrians on suspicion of involvement in Sleiman's killing.

"The kidnappers admitted that their goal was stealing the victim's car," the official said, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media.

According to the official, the suspects told investigators they hit Sleiman in the head and face with pistol butts then threw him into the boot of his car and drove him to neighbouring Syria. He died along the way.

A military official, also requesting anonymity, said Damascus had handed over three suspects, adding that Sleiman's body was found in a lawless border area.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitor of the country's civil war, said Sleiman's body was dumped in a border area where Hezbollah holds sway, adding that he "was wrapped in a blanket and had been hit on the head and chest with a hard object".
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9.  The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and BNP Paribas Bank Polska (BNPP Poland), a subsidiary of BNP Paribas S.A. Group (BNPP Group), have announced today the launch of a Synthetic Significant Risk Transfer (Synthetic SRT) transaction aimed at bolstering sustainable finance for renewable energy, water efficiency, and clean transportation projects in Poland, Trend reports via IFC.

Synthetic SRTs are innovative financial instruments increasingly gaining traction in emerging markets. They play a vital role in bolstering the resilience of financial markets by unlocking bank capital and easing access-to-finance constraints.

In this transaction, IFC will assume mezzanine exposure to a $548 million-equivalent credit portfolio from BNPP Poland's balance sheet. This marks BNPP Poland's inaugural SRT transaction and the second collaboration between IFC and BNPP Group, following the first involving BNPP Group's global emerging markets trade finance operations. IFC's investment will facilitate BNPP Poland in originating new PLN-denominated sustainable finance loans within Poland. This initiative marks IFC's debut SRT with the "Simple, Transparent, and Standardized" designation, aiming to enhance scalability for issuers, investors, and regulators.

Despite advancements in renewable energy, Poland remains one of Europe's most carbon-intensive nations, with fossil fuels constituting nearly 80 percent of its energy supply in 2023. Polish banks encounter constraints in financing the energy transition, estimated to require $350 billion between 2021 and 2040. In this context, SRT transactions enable banks to mitigate risk weights on their asset exposures, thereby liberating essential capital to broaden the reach of climate finance.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Beirut, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Apr, 2024) Lebanese security forces have arrested seven Syrians on suspicion of involvement in the murder of a local politician, a judicial official said Tuesday, amid a backlash against Syrian refugees.

Pascal Sleiman was the coordinator in the Byblos (Jbeil) area, north of Beirut, for the Lebanese Forces (LF), a Christian party which opposes the Syrian government and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.

The LF said it would consider Sleiman's murder a "political assassination until proven otherwise", although the army said the politician had been killed for his car.

Social media users pointed the finger at Hezbollah, drawing a denial from its leader Hassan Nasrallah.

"The number of people arrested for kidnapping and killing... Sleiman, rose to seven, all of them Syrian," the judicial official told AFP.

"The kidnappers admitted that their goal was stealing the victim's car," the official added.

The official said the suspects told investigators they hit Sleiman with pistol butts on the head and face until he stopped resisting. They then threw him in the boot of his own car and drove him to Syria. He died on the way there.

Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi is to hold a press conference about the case later Tuesday.

- 'Attempts to scapegoat' -

A military official told AFP that Damascus had handed over three of the suspects and was expected to repatriate Sleiman's body later Tuesday.

He said the body had been found in an area of Syria near the Lebanese border which is infamous for lawlessness.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a body corresponding to the description of the victim had been dumped in an area near the border where Hezbollah holds sway.

"The body was wrapped in a blanket and had been hit on the head and chest with a hard object," the Britain-based war monitor said.

On Monday, hundreds of residents blocked roads in Byblos, with footage circulating on social media of violence against Syrians -- many of them refugees from their country's more than decade-old civil war.

Syrian refugee Abdullah, 21, who lives in Byblos, told AFP that the backlash had spread fear in the vulnerable community.

"I hope that those responsible will be held to account, but not the entire (Syrian) population" in Lebanon, Abdullah said, asking to be identified by his first name only for security reasons.

Ramzi Kaiss of Human Rights Watch said Beirut must ensure "that the investigation into the killing is thorough and transparent in light of decades of impunity in Lebanon for politically sensitive killings".

But "the attempts to scapegoat the entire refugee population are deplorable and should be denounced because they threaten to fuel already ongoing violence against Syrians in Lebanon," Kaiss told AFP.

On Monday evening, Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the killing and called for "everyone to exercise self-control".
Simon Harris, who became Ireland's youngest ever prime minister Tuesday, will be hoping his social media skills and fresh face can save his Fine Gael party's flagging fortunes as elections loom

Dublin, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Apr, 2024) Simon Harris, who became Ireland's youngest ever prime minister Tuesday, will be hoping his social media skills and fresh face can save his Fine Gael party's flagging fortunes as elections loom.

The 37-year-old, who the media has already dubbed the "TikTok Taoiseach" -- the name for the Irish prime minister, pronounced "Tee-shock" -- beats the previous record holder, his predecessor Leo Varadkar, who was 38 when he took the top job in 2017.

After Varadkar's shock resignation announcement on March 20, Harris jumped into the race to lead his centre-right party and become prime minister by default. He was selected to head Fine Gael shortly after in an uncontested coronation.

Harris told party members at the time that he would repay their faith with "hard work, with blood, sweat and tears, day in and day out with responsibility, with humility and with civility".

At a weekend conference, he followed up by pledging to re-energise and "reset" his party and steer it back towards "core values" like promoting business, farming, and law and order.

Harris's selection Tuesday as taoiseach when the Dail -- the Irish parliament -- returned from recess crowned a meteoric ascent.

Born in 1986, he grew up in the small coastal town of Greystones near Dublin, the son of a taxi driver.

He dropped out of a college course in journalism and French in Dublin after one year to concentrate on an already promising political career.

Harris entered politics by campaigning for services for his autistic younger brother, and later founded a charity.

He joined Fine Gael's youth wing at the age of 16 and quickly rose through the party's ranks.

A county councillor aged 22, he was elected to parliament as a 24-year-old in 2011 -- at the time the youngest MP and titled "Baby of the Dail".

He was appointed health minister in 2016, aged just 29.

"In many ways, my career has been a bit odd... life came at me a lot faster than I expected it to," he told Hot Press magazine in a 2022 interview.

Harris served as health minister for more than four years, including during the Covid pandemic -- in which his communication skills were praised despite heavy criticism over nursing home deaths and occasional gaffes.

He can be an "awful old idiot at times" he said, after remarking that Covid-19 refers to 18 previous coronaviruses rather than the year it first occurred.

Harris was also embroiled in controversy over new hospital projects, while a threatened no-confidence vote by the opposition over overcrowding in wards led Varadkar to call a 2020 election in which Fine Gael slumped to third place.

A father-of-two and married to a cardiac nurse, Harris's prominence on social media, especially TikTok, has made him one of the most visible politicians in Ireland.

He has been higher education minister since 2020 and even critics concede he is a talented communicator.

With 1.4 million "likes" on TikTok, and hundreds of thousands of followers on both X and Instagram, Harris posts content almost daily to his audience.

But some of his videos and remarks have been seen as trying too hard to appeal to the younger generation.

During a stormy parliamentary committee meeting, Harris told the group: "Chillax -- I think everyone needs to take a step back here".

"All the young people know what 'chillax' is," he said in parliament the next day.

With his youth and slick communication skills his opponents jibe that he is "Leo 2.0", a continuation of a "metropolitan" style of politics under Varadkar that is out of touch with the wider electorate.

But for supporters, his enthusiasm could re-energise Fine Gael which still trails third in polls 10 weeks before local and European Parliament elections, and within a year of a general election.

"He has huge energy and huge ambition," one party colleague told the Irish Times newspaper.

"He's cute, crafty, and shrewd," said another.
London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Apr, 2024) UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron was scheduled to meet Monday with White House hopeful Donald Trump, British officials said, ahead of talks with senior members of President Joe Biden's administration on the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Cameron was due to sit down with the former US president and Republican challenger to Biden in November's closely watched election one month after the two Americans became their parties' presumptive White House nominees.

Cameron's "visit to DC on Tuesday and Wednesday will follow the Foreign Secretary meeting with former President Donald Trump in Florida today," a Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement shared by the British embassy in Washington.

Cameron then travels to Washington for discussions Tuesday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

While British officials were not drawn on the substance of the Trump talks, the Foreign Office said in a statement that Cameron, in his Blinken meeting, will push for a "full, urgent, and transparent investigation" into Israel's air strike last week that killed seven aid workers in Gaza.

The UK government has faced calls to suspend arms export licences to Israel after three Britons working for US-based food charity World Central Kitchen were killed in the strike.

More than 600 lawyers, including former Supreme Court judges, warned in a letter that London risked breaching international law by continuing to allow the export of weapons to Israel.

The foreign secretary is expected to discuss arms exports during a joint press conference with Blinken at 15:30 GMT, but will not announce a change of policy, according to UK government sources.

"He will underline that the deaths of World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers are completely unacceptable and that major changes need to be made to ensure the safety of aid workers on the ground," the foreign ministry said.

Talks between Cameron and Blinken will also focus on "the path to a sustainable ceasefire and the delivery of greater quantities of humanitarian aid in Gaza," it added.

Cameron will also urge US Congress leaders to approve a proposed $60 billion military aid package for Ukraine that Republican lawmakers have been blocking for months.

Over $184 billion (145 billion) has already been committed to Ukraine by European nations, including over $15 billion from the UK.

In addition, the US has committed nearly $74 billion.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Sunday that Ukraine will lose its war with Russia if Congress does not approve the stalled package.

Cameron said ahead of his visit that "success for Ukraine and failure for Putin are vital for American and European security".
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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. The British Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (BCCA) will organize a meeting with the UK representatives responsible for climate protection issues, particularly in the upcoming 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), with stakeholders on the theme Building Bridges, in Baku, Trend reports.

"A delegation from the UK, including Head of the Climate Diplomacy Department of the Environment, Climate and Energy Directorate (ECED) Andrew Francis, and Head of the Climate Strategy and Coordination Department Anna Walters, will arrive in Baku.

With the participation of the UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan Fergus Auld, and BCCA experts, a meeting on COP29 and the entire spectrum of global climate agenda issues will take place on April 17 in Baku," the BCCA pointed out.

To note, COP29 will take place in Baku on November 1124, and in anticipation of this global event, various national and international consultations will be held.
Media freedom advocates are expressing alarm over the Taliban's proposal to restrict or completely ban access to Facebook in Afghanistan and have urged the fundamentalist rulers to reconsider the move.

Najibullah Haqqani, minister of telecommunications and Information, announced last week on a local TV news channel that he has finalized a proposal to limit access to the social media platform, pending approval by the Taliban.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ, has urged the Taliban not to move ahead on a measure that it said would further impede the free flow of information in Afghanistan.

In a statement issued on Monday, the U.S.-based advocate of media freedom highlighted Facebook's widespread use by Afghan news outlets to disseminate news and information in the country.

Social media platforms, including Facebook, have helped to fill a void left by the decline of the Afghan media industry since the Talibans August 2021 takeover and the ensuing crackdown on press freedom, said Beh Lih Yi, CPJs Asia program coordinator.

The proposed ban highlights the worsening censorship by the Taliban, she added.

The CPJ statement quoted Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid as telling the U.S.-based watchdog that Facebook will not be banned, but restrictions will be imposed on it.

Taliban officials themselves heavily rely on social media platforms, including Facebook and X, to announce policy statements and propagate the return of so-called economic, security and political stability to Afghanistan.

Since regaining control of the war-ravaged country nearly three years ago, the Taliban have detained journalists, shut down Afghan news websites and restricted access to foreign media outlets, including VOA. Activists say the restrictions have severely curtailed press freedom in Afghanistan.

In February, the Taliban governor of the southern province of Kandahar ordered his staff and security forces not to allow photographs or videos during their formal or informal meetings.

Later that month, the Taliban minister for the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice warned media representatives at a meeting in the capital, Kabul, of the possibility of a ban on female journalists and guests if they did not comply with a strict dress code, requiring that only their eyes be visible during broadcasts.
On March 25, Iran-based Tasnim News Agency posted an article headlined "Leader Encourages Poets to Harness Power of Poetry Against Global Tyranny. It noted that 40 poets gathered at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah in Tehran, a part of the House of Leadership, where Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appears publicly.

According to Tasmin, during the meeting, Khamenei emphasized the importance of spreading the Iranian people's message to oppressed countries and advocated for the dissemination of high-quality Persian poetry and literature to a global audience. It said that the poems presented to Khamenei addressed various issues, including oppression in Gaza, social concerns and political matters.

According to en.webangah.ir, the English-language version of Irans Webangah.ir website, three Afghan poets who live in Iran  Mohammad Kazem Kazemi, Najeeb Barwar and Seyed Hakim  were present at the meeting with Khamenei.

Before reciting his poem to Khamenei, Afghan emigre poet Najeeb Barwar declared:

I come from the distant regions of Iran, from the mountains of the Hindukush and Panjshir."



That statement is false

Panjshir, which means five lions in Dari, is a province of Afghanistan located in the northeastern part of the country, hundreds of kilometers from the Afghan-Iranian border.

According to the Afghan website 8am.media/fa, Najeeb Barwar sought refuge in Iran in February 2022, just months after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan.

A video of Barwars interaction with Khamenei that the Afghan poet posted on his Facebook page drew comments from readers who jokingly asked if they would now need a visa to visit other provinces of Afghanistan.

One read: "If I didn't hear wrong, did you call Panjshir the farthest point of Iran? Does that mean if we want to visit our friends in Panjshir from Salang, we have to get an Iranian visa?"

Salang, it should be noted, is also part of Afghanistan.

After Barwars video went viral, Afintl.tv (Afghanistan International) shared a spoof of the exchange on its Instagram page.

It features two Afghan comedians, one playing a young poet and the other dressed up as an elderly man with a white beard, with the former telling the latter that he came from a very, very, very far place, which he identifies as Las Vegas and suggests is in Iran.
A leading Australian opposition lawmaker visiting Taiwan this week has highlighted the importance of security cooperation between Taiwan and Australia.

In a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen Monday, Andrew Wallace, the deputy chair of Australia's Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, said that in an ever-changing geopolitical landscape, security cooperation is "paramount."

"Taiwan and Australia both recognize the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Our partnership, our strategic partnership, contributes significantly to regional security," he said.

Wallace is one of a group of five lawmakers who arrived in Taiwan Sunday for a six-day visit. During their meeting with President Tsai, Wallace added that both Taiwan and Australia have a vested interest in a rules-based, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

"In defense cooperation, our defense forces engage in joint exercises, intelligence sharing and capacity building programs, Wallace said.

Taiwan and Australia are collaborating on cyber security initiatives safeguarding critical infrastructure and important digital networks, he said, without giving details.

Tsai told Wallace and other visiting Australian lawmakers that Taiwan and Australia are staunch defenders of freedom and democracy.

"Faced with authoritarian expansionism, democracies today must stand together and bolster cooperation," she said.

Like many countries, Australia does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but it has grown concerned about Chinas increased military activity and pressure on the democratic island.

China considers self-governing Taiwan a wayward province and has not ruled out the use of force to unify it with the mainland.

Wallaces remarks come as Australia, the United States, Japan and the Philippines conduct naval exercises in the South China Sea. It also comes as U.S. officials have signaled that there is growing interest in the region for more participation in the regional security partnership among Australia, the United Kingdom and the U.S., known as AUKUS.

On Monday, the three countries issued a joint statement that they are considering working with Japan through AUKUS.

Clive Hamilton, professor of public ethics at Charles Sturt University in Canberra, told VOA that while the visit of Australian MPs to Taiwan is not of an official nature, it can be seen as a sign of solidarity with Taiwan and its right to exist as a democratic and independent entity, and a means to further strengthen ties, including military and intelligence cooperation.

"The MPs, and the government, are fully aware that Beijing will strongly object to the visit so the decision to proceed sends a message that they will not be bullied out of making the trip, Hamilton said. There is great concern in Australia about China's de facto colonization of the South China Sea and its aggressive and illegal actions against the Philippines."

Liberal MP Angie Bell, who is part of the delegation, told VOA Mandarin that many Australians believe cooperation between Australia and Taiwan can help enhance regional security and stability.

"We are willing to discuss issues such as maritime security, intelligence sharing, and joint military exercises to strengthen our two countries' cooperation capabilities on regional security challenges, Bell said. We recognize the security challenges that exist in the South China Sea and other regions, and we are willing to cooperate with Taiwan and other regional partners to jointly address these challenges and maintain regional peace and stability.

It is not clear how China may respond to the Australian lawmakers visit to Taiwan or their remarks about security cooperation. Beijing adamantly opposes any interaction between Taiwan and other foreign governments or politicians.

Last month, Chinas foreign minister, Wang Yi, visited Australia for the first time in seven years. Following the visit, Chinas foreign ministry suggested that it is actively considering launching a dialogue on maritime affairs with Australia.

VOAs Mandarin Service contributed to this report, along with Erin Hale. Some information came from Reuters.
President Joe Biden is set to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the White House Tuesday evening for an official visit that will mark one of the biggest structural upgrades of the U.S.-Japan security alliance in several decades.

The visit will also usher in Tokyos further integration into Washingtons security framework with other allies in the region, a key factor to deter Beijing.

The visit will highlight the high ambition of our alliance, said national security adviser Jake Sullivan during a White House briefing Tuesday.

Biden and Kishida will announce measures to enhance defense and security cooperation to enable greater coordination and integration of our forces and ensure that they're optimally postured and linked to other like-minded partners, Sullivan said.

There will be major deliverables on space as we lead the way on space exploration and returning to the moon, he added. There will be announcements of significant research partnerships between our leading institutions on critical and emerging technologies such as AI [artificial intelligence], quantum semiconductors, and clean energy.

The measures announced will first time will allow the United States and Japan to collaborate more closely on the development and potentially co-production of vital military and defense equipment, said Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell in a recent event hosted by the Center for a New American Security.

It's a milestone in the U.S. alliance with Japan, what Campbell describes as the cornerstone of our engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

The plan is set to declare their intention to modernize a framework that has for decades guided interaction between Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the approximately 54,000 U.S. troops in Japan.

Tokyo wants the U.S. military to strengthen the functions of its command headquarters in Japan to allow for better coordination. Under the current system, major decisions are coordinated with the U.S. military's Indo-Pacific Command, located more than 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles) and five time zones away in Hawaii.

Under its new national security strategy, Japan is establishing a joint operational command for its self-defense force, said Tetsuo Kotani, senior fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs.

In that sense we have done our homework and now its time for the United States to upgrade their command-and-control structure in the Indo-Pacific, he told VOA.

Broader regional frameworks

The leaders agree on the goal of expanding bilateral security ties into broader regional frameworks with other U.S. allies, including the Philippines and Australia.

The pair will be joined later this week by Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a summit set to bolster trilateral maritime cooperation in the South China Sea. An announcement on some form of trilateral joint naval patrol activity is widely expected.

Sullivan confirmed to VOA the widely expected announcement of trilateral joint naval patrols, a move that is likely to trigger a strong reaction from Beijing.

We just saw trilateral plus Australia new form of quadrilateral joint naval patrols last week, so you can expect to see more of that in the future, he said.

Beyond bolstering naval defense amid Beijings ramped-up aggression in the South China Sea, Tokyo has signaled it wants to link Japan into a broader integrated air and missile defense network with the U.S. and Australia.

Pushing ahead on cooperation with like-minded countries on security, including defense equipment and technology, will lead to the establishment of a multilayered network, and by expanding that we can improve deterrence, Kishida said Friday.

Considering the difficulties of integrating such systems, talks will likely begin with establishing greater situational awareness among the three countries for their individual air and missile defenses, said Jeffrey Hornung, the Japan Lead for the RAND National Security Research Division and a senior political scientist at RAND.

Any cooperation on this front will help dilute Chinese anti-access, area denial efforts by enabling the three countries to pass information on Chinese activities, he told VOA.

Japans AUKUS role

In response to VOAs question, Sullivan also confirmed the pair will discuss Japans potential involvement in AUKUS, a trilateral security partnership formed in 2021 among the U.S., Australia and the United Kingdom.

We're prepared to work with additional partners beyond the three of us, where they can bring capabilities, Sullivan said. Japan is one of the countries that could very well bring capabilities to that, so we will explore a partnership with Japan under Pillar II of AUKUS as well as other partners.

In a joint statement published Tuesday by the British government, the group said they are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects, in recognition of Japan's strengths and its close bilateral defense partnerships with all three countries.

Pillar II of AUKUS is focused on delivering advanced capabilities and sharing technologies across a range of areas including quantum computing, undersea, hypersonic, artificial intelligence and cyber technology. The step takes the groups effort to push back against China beyond its first pillar  delivery of nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia, for which there are no known plans to include Japan.

Any multinational defense industrial partnership is an extremely complicated endeavor, said Yuki Tatsumi, director of the Japan Program at the Stimson Center.

Many aspects need to be harmonized, from industrial security standards and export licensing regulations to the arrangement on intellectual property rights, she told VOA. Making it a reality will take many months of careful consultation among all four countries.

Nippon Steel

A potential rift remains between Biden and Kishida over the proposed sale of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel of Japan, a deal that has become embroiled in protectionist campaign rhetoric ahead of the November U.S. presidential election.

Last month Biden announced his opposition to the deal, saying the U.S. needs to maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steelworkers. His prospective opponent, former President Donald Trump, has promised to block the $14 billion deal if he is elected again.

The optics of a Japanese firm trying to buy an American manufacturing company during an election year is bad for Biden, Tatsumi said, and the pair will want to avoid airing their differences publicly.

In a Tuesday event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel sought to downplay the impact of Bidens opposition to the U.S. Steel acquisition to the relationship.

He noted that in February the Biden administration approved a plan that would drive billions of dollars in revenue to a U.S.-based subsidiary of the Japanese company Mitsui for crane production in the United States.

Kishida and Japanese first lady Yuko Kishida will be briefly welcomed at the White House on Tuesday evening ahead of Wednesdays official visit and formal state dinner, the fifth that Biden will have hosted since taking office in 2021.

VOAs William Gallo contributed to this report.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday he has urged Donald Trump, the presumptive U.S. Republican presidential candidate, to visit Ukraine.

The president said in an interview with Axel Springer media outlets that he wants to hear Trumps proposals for ending the war between Ukraine and Russian. However,

Zelenskyy said he is not interested in a Trump idea that the war would be over if only Ukraine would forfeit large amounts of land.

If the deal is that we just give up our territories ... then, its a very primitive idea, Zelenskyy said. I need a real idea because peoples lives are at stake.

The U.S. military said Tuesday it has handed Ukraine an array of small arms and ammunition it seized from Iranian forces as they tried to deliver them to Tehran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The cache included more than 5,000 AK-47 assault weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns, sniper rifles and more than 500,000 rounds of ammunition that the U.S. seized from four vessels between May 2021 and February 2023, the U.S. Central Command said.

"These weapons will help Ukraine defend against Russia's invasion" and are enough material to equip a brigade, the U.S. said.

Even so, Ukraine is facing a shortage of weaponry, partly because a right-wing contingent of Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives opposed to more Ukraine aid has so far successfully blocked consideration of $60 billion in new U.S. arms assistance. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he will put the measure up for a vote later this week.

Zelenskyy has said Kyivs forces will lose its two-year war to Russia without the additional U.S. armaments.

Seizure of arms

Houthi rebels in Yemen have been targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden en route to and returning from Israel since November, attacks they say are in solidarity with Hamas militants in their six-month war with Israel.

"Iran's support for armed groups threatens international and regional security, our forces, diplomatic personnel and citizens in the region, as well as those of our partners, the U.S. military said. We will continue to do whatever we can to shed light on and stop Iran's destabilizing activities."

Washington made a similar transfer of seized arms to Ukraine in early October, providing 1.1 million rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition that also was taken from Iranian forces on the way to Yemen.

The United States announced a $300 million assistance package for Kyiv in mid-March  the first since December  that included anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons and artillery shells, but warned at the time that it would run out after a few weeks.

The Pentagon funded that package by using money saved on other purchases.

UKs Cameron on the Hill

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron met Tuesday with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington as part of a trip to push U.S. officials to support more aid for Ukraine.

Cameron met with congressional leaders but was unable to meet with Speaker Johnson due to a scheduling conflict.

President Joe Biden has repeatedly urged Johnson and other Republican opponents to back the Ukraine security bill. Some House Republicans have said the focus should instead be on domestic priorities, such as securing the U.S.-Mexico border from the surge of migrants crossing into the U.S.

"Success for Ukraine and failure for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin are vital for American and European security," Cameron said in a statement. "The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to redraw European borders by force and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea.

Ukrainian officials have asked allies to provide more military help, particularly with systems to defend Ukrainian skies from Russias daily drone and missile attacks.

Meanwhile, the United Nations nuclear watchdog is planning to hold an emergency meeting Thursday, requested by Ukraine and Russia to discuss the recent drone attacks on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The two countries blame each other for the attacks.

Ukraines air force reported Tuesday that overnight, Russia targeted it with four guided missiles and 20 drones.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.


British researchers say Chinese nationalist trolls have been posing as American supporters of former President Donald Trump on X to try to exploit domestic divisions ahead of the U.S. election.

A report released April 1 by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a London think tank, says it found four previous Mandarin-tweeting accounts that went silent before re-emerging as American Trump supporter personas tweeting in English.

It linked them to Chinas so-called Spamouflage network, which it described as a long-running and widespread but largely ineffective campaign to promote pro-Chinese Communist Party narratives.

But Elise Thomas, a senior researcher at the institute and author of the report, said pretending to be Trump supporters is a fresh and more effective tactic.

They are posing convincingly as Americans, specifically Trump supporters, she told VOA. They are getting engagement from what look like real American users. That's significantly different from what we've seen with Spamouflage in the past.

She pointed out that a traditional Spamouflage tweet might have many likes and retweets, but upon further examination, its all from other Spamouflage accounts. Now, they are interacting with predominantly genuine American users.

What they are doing that is quite different from other Spamouflage accounts is that they are building up authentic audiences using this thing called patriot follow trains, which is basically where people agree to mutually follow one another in order to each build their own follower accounts, Thomas explained.

Using real viral videos and photos, these accounts seek to amplify divisive issues such as LGBTQ rights, immigration, race, gun control and crime rates.

Some of the accounts mock Bidens age; others falsely claim that Biden is a pedophile. All seem to be promoting Trumps slogan Make America Great Again (MAGA), leading the report to dub this new tactic MAGAflage.

One of the X accounts, Ben MAGA 2024, was opened in 2010, but previous posts have been deleted. Since April 18, 2023, the account began to tweet in English with a main theme: Biden is a pedophile and cannot be trusted.

The account tries to build a persona as an American living in Los Angeles. It posted a picture in January with the caption Good morning! Patriots, Im 43 years old, and passionately and loyally supporting President Trump!

In fact, the picture belongs to a travel blog by a Danish man with no indication that hes a Trump supporter.

This account also retweeted a video from Russian state media Russia Today on February 18, claiming that Biden and the Central Intelligence Agency had sent a neo-Nazi leader to fight in Ukraine.

That post was retweeted by Alex Jones, an American far-right conspiracy theorist and radio show host with 2.2 million followers on X. The post had been viewed nearly 360,000 times as of March 4.

Thomas said by wrapping a topic in a U.S. partisan political frame, they got a reasonable amount of engagement from real American users.

This mimics Russias playbook during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, when U.S. officials say Moscow used information warfare to damage the Clinton campaign, boost Trumps chances and sow distrust in American democracy, which the Kremlin denies.

The report said some Spamouflage accounts could also be posing as left-wing Biden supporters, though they did not find any.

Twitter has since suspended all the accounts mentioned in the institutes report.

While just a handful of accounts were identified, the report says there are almost certainly many more, which Thomas worries could have an unseen effect on the U.S. election.

These [MAGAflage] accounts were very difficult to find. It took quite a lot of time, and Ive only been able to find a relatively small number of them, she said. But because what we know from Spamouflages history is that everything it does, it does at massive scale. It would be really out of character for them to be only doing this, if it's effective, at a small scale. So, thats my concern, that it may be happening at a significantly larger scale.

VOA reached out to the Trump and Biden campaigns for comment but did not receive a response as of publication time.

The Spamouflage network was discovered in 2019 by social media analytics firm Graphika and was first used to target Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters.

Researchers said the network is tied to individuals associated with Chinese law enforcement, and has been active across thousands of accounts and more than 50 platforms and forums, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X.

On March 11, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued its annual assessment on the major threats to U.S. interests around the world and warned that China's government may "attempt to influence the U.S. elections in 2024 at some level because of its desire to sideline critics of China and magnify U.S. societal divisions."

Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said in a statement sent to VOA that China is committed to the principle of noninterference and that claims about Beijing influencing U.S. presidential elections are completely fabricated.

Meta in August shut down close to 9,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts, groups and pages associated with the Spamouflage network.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that a date has been set for an Israeli invasion of Rafah, Gaza's last refuge for displaced Palestinians, without disclosing that date. He made his statement as a new round of cease-fire talks was ongoing in Cairo. A Hamas official told Reuters on Monday that no progress was made at a new round of Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo also attended by delegations from Israel, Qatar and the United States. We talk with Laurie Brand, professor emerita of political science and international relations and Middle East studies at the University of Southern California. She says the two-state solution is dead. And millions of people watch the sky go dark in the middle of the afternoon as a total solar eclipse cut a diagonal path across North America from Mexico to Canada.
Jorge Glas, Ecuadors former vice president, who was arrested Friday in a raid on Mexicos embassy in Quito, fell ill Monday and was hospitalized after refusing to eat prison food for a 24-hour period.

Glas was taken to a naval hospital in Guayaquil, where he is reported to be in stable condition, according to prison officials.

Glas, who is facing corruption allegations, had been granted political refugee status by Mexico just hours before the raid on its embassy in Ecuadors capital.

Glas lawyer said early Monday she was concerned about her client and felt he was at imminent risk.

In a highly unusual move, Ecuadoran special forces launched a raid on Mexicos embassy in Quito on Friday to capture Glas, who had been living in the embassy since December. Agence France Press reports the squad sent to capture Glas was armed with a battering ram.

Mexico suspended diplomatic relations with Ecuador following the almost unheard-of raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito, which, by international norms, is considered sovereign Mexican territory. A number of countries have also criticized the raid.

Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa said in a statement, "We could not allow sentenced criminals involved in very serious crimes to be given asylum.

Glas was previously convicted on bribery and corruption charges in two separate cases, one of which was tied to the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht and earned him a six-year prison sentence.

He was later sentenced to eight years for his role in a scheme that collected bribes for public procurement.

Glas, who has denied the charges as politically motivated, had been granted political asylum by the Mexican government just a few hours before police raided the embassy.
Elon Musk is now a part of a Brazilian Supreme Court investigation about the dissemination of fake news and alleged obstruction.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes accused Musk of waging a public disinformation campaign after Musk commented that his social media company X would no longer comply with the courts order to block certain accounts on the platform.

Musk, who took over Twitter in late 2022 and changed the name to X shortly after, accused de Moraes of suppressing free speech and violating Brazils constitution. Musk commented that Brazilian X users could use VPNs, or virtual private networks, to bypass any limited access to the social media platform.

About 40 million Brazilians  18% of the population  use X at least once a month, making it an important market for the platform.

"But principles matter more than profit," Musk wrote.

De Moraes wrote Sunday, "The flagrant conduct of obstruction of Brazilian justice, incitement of crime, the public threat of disobedience of court orders and future lack of cooperation from the platform are facts that disrespect the sovereignty of Brazil."

The judge has faced backlash from Brazils political right for accusations of suppressing free speech and engaging in political persecution. In the current investigation, lawmakers from former President Jair Bolsonaro's circle have been targeted, and Bolsonaro himself was implicated in the 2021 investigation.

"Including Elon Musk in the digital militias investigation is one thing. Blocking X is another. With this, Moraes is making a nod, saying that he didn't remain inert amid provocations from Elon Musk," Carlos Affonso, director of Rio de Janeiro-based think tank Institute for Technology and Society, told The Associated Press by phone from Washington. "It is a warning shot so that lines aren't crossed."

Musk, who identifies as a staunch advocate of free speech, announced on Saturday that X would remove all restrictions on blocked accounts. He anticipated this action might lead to a decline in revenue in Brazil and potentially compel the company's local office to close.

Chief Justice Luis Roberto Barroso said that de Moraes decision may be subject to an appeal, but not on the grounds of violating the Brazilian constitution as Musk argues. Barroso also noted that that every company operating in the country is "subject to the constitution," although he did not mention X or Musk by name.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters and The Associated Press.
The European Commission announced an investigation Tuesday into Chinese wind turbine suppliers to determine whether foreign subsidies have given them an unfair advantage in the European market.

EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Tuesday that development conditions would be checked for wind parks in Spain, Greece, France, Romania and Bulgaria.

Vestager said the EU would need a more systematic, case-by-case approach to the investigations, rather than one akin to playing whack-a-mole.

"We need to do it before it is too late, she said.

We cant afford to see what happened on solar panels happening again on electric vehicles, wind or essential chips, Vestager added, referring to Chinese dominance in the European solar panel market.

The result is that nowadays, less than 3% of the solar panels installed in the EU are produced in Europe, Vestager said.

She explained that the investigations are not meant to constrain Chinas success. Theyre meant to restore fairness in our economic relations.

The investigation falls under the 2023 foreign subsidies regulation, which as of last year permits the assessment of whether foreign subsidies allow for companies to submit public tender offers that are too advantageous.

The investigation follows two others last week that assessed whether Chinese public tender bidders for a Romanian solar power park benefited disproportionately from subsidies.

Another subsidy investigation was launched last October on Chinese EV producers under suspicions that subsidies allowed the firms to maintain low prices and gain an unfair advantage on the market.

China has previously called Western concerns about EV subsidies leading to overcapacity groundless and has asserted the countrys success on the international market is attributed to innovation.

Some information in this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Police in Gabon say a crime wave has hit the capital, Libreville, several days after the countrys transitional president pardoned and set free over 500 prisoners. Civil society groups on Tuesday launched a campaign asking the government to give the former prisoners more support and for freed prisoners to be law-abiding citizens.

General Jean Germain Effayong Onong, commander in chief of Gabon's Penitentiary Administration, told Gabon's state TV that former prisoners caught committing crimes will either be punished or sent back to prison.

Onong said the country's transitional government led by General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema wants civilians to live in peace with total freedom to carry out their daily activities.

Onong spoke about a week after the government set free more than 560 of the close to 4,000 inmates at the Libreville Central Prison.

In December, President Oligui, who seized power from President Ali Ben Bongo following a disputed election last August, promised to set free over 1,000 prisoners. He said most were civilians were unjustifiably held in prison by Gabon's former leaders. The general said a majority of prisoners were held in pretrial detention for a long time with no evidence of wrongdoing.

The presidential pardon did not extend to prisoners who had been convicted of drug-related offenses or violent crimes.

However, Gabon's police this week reported that many people who regained freedom following the presidential clemency have been arrested for involvement in crimes such as theft, assault and highway robbery.

Firman Ollo'o Obiang is secretary general of S.O.S Prisoners, a non-governmental organization that works for the well-being of Gabon's inmates.

Obiang said it is very surprising that less than two weeks after regaining freedom, former prisoners whose liberation was hard earned are again arrested by the police for committing crimes. Obiang said while waiting for families and the government to socially and economically reintegrate the freed prisoners, his organization is providing moral and financial assistance to poor and unemployed civilians who were freed by Gabon's transitional government.

Obiang did not say how much financial assistance S.O.S Prisoners provides to the freed inmates.

Rights groups and S.O.S Prisoners blame unemployment, the high cost of living and poverty for the crime wave reported by Gabon police.

They also say if prisons in Gabon were the correctional facilities they are supposed to be, freed prisoners would not be involved with crime.

Stanislas Kouma is Gabon's director general of penitentiary affairs.

Kouma said Gabon's transitional government is planning to improve living conditions of inmates while in prison and when the inmates eventually regain their freedom. He said conditions deteriorated during ousted president Ali Bongo Ondimba's term in office.

Kouma said Gabon's central prison in Libreville, constructed for less than a thousand inmates, had about 4.000 detainees when General Oligui seized power in an August 30 coup.

Shortly after the coup, President Oligui freed several political prisoners who had jailed for years without trial.

Included in that release were Jean-Remy Yama, leader of the Coalition of Gabon State Workers Trade Unions, Renaud Allogho Akoue, former director general of Gabon's National Social Insurance and Health Fund, and Leandre Nzue, former mayor of Gabon's capital, Libreville.

Hundreds more less prominent prisoners pardoned by Oligui are scheduled to be released by the end of April.
Germany has rejected Nicaragua's accusation that Germany is violating the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law by supporting Israel in its war in Gaza.

Nicaragua argued at the United Nations' top court that Germany's support enables acts of genocide by Israel. On Tuesday, Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, the head of Germany's legal team, said Nicaragua's claims "have no basis in fact or law."

Preliminary hearings on Monday and Tuesday focused on Nicaragua's request for "provisional measures," such as requiring Germany to halt its military and other aid to Israel and reinstate its funding to the U.N. aid agency in Gaza.

German representatives urged judges to reject Nicaragua's calls for provisional measures and toss out the case entirely. They assert that 98% of Germany's military exports to Israel since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas have not been weapons of war but additional equipment. They also used photos of German airdropped aid to Gaza to prove the country is giving humanitarian support to the Palestinians.

Nicaragua's is not the first legal attempt to influence Israel's actions in Gaza. South Africa accused Israel of genocide last year. Additionally, there is growing criticism of the war and calls for Israel's allies to stop supplying it with weapons.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters that "from Day One after October 7, Germany has faced up to the incredible dilemma that Hamas deliberately entrenched itself behind civilians, deliberately used the human suffering of Palestinians and Palestinians in Gaza to expand its attack on Israel."

Baerbock also mentioned Germany's commitment to international law and Israel's right to self-defense. The total death toll in Gaza is over 33,000, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry. The number does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but it has been said that women and children make up the majority of those killed.

At Monday's hearings before the court in the Netherlands, Nicaragua's ambassador to the Netherlands, Carlos Jose Arguello Gomez, accused Germany of "failing to honor its own obligation to prevent genocide or to ensure respect of international humanitarian law."

One of Germany's lawyers, Samuel Wordsworth, argued that Germany could not be violating its obligation to prevent genocide because judges have not ruled that Israel is violating the Genocide Convention. In the case brought by South Africa last year, the U.N. court said it is "plausible" that Israel's actions breach the convention.

The United States is the only country supplying more arms to Israel than Germany, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. But the United States does not recognize the International Court of Justice's power to compel countries into court, and it has not signed the protocol to the Genocide Convention that says countries can bring disputes before the court.

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore said he plans to meet with members of Congress this week to discuss support for rebuilding the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, which has blocked the main shipping channel at Baltimore's port for nearly two weeks.

"I'm going to be spending part of this week with our delegation going down and meeting with leaders and ranking members in the Congress and letting them know that this issue is not partisan. This is a patriotic responsibility to be able to support one of this country's great economic engines," Moore said Monday. "This is an opportunity to support a port that is directly responsible for the hiring of tens of thousands of people."

As Maryland lawmakers reached the end of their legislative session Monday, a measure authorizing use of the state's rainy-day fund to help port employees was approved and sent to Moore's desk. The governor planned to sign the emergency legislation Tuesday, putting it into effect right away.

The bridge collapsed March 26 after being struck by the cargo ship Dali, which lost power shortly after leaving Baltimore, bound for Sri Lanka. The ship issued a mayday alert with just enough time for police to stop traffic, but not enough to save a roadwork crew filling potholes on the bridge.

Authorities believe six workers  immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador  plunged to their deaths in the Patapsco River. Two others survived. The bodies of three workers have been recovered, but the search for the other victims continues.

Moore said the state remains focused on supporting the families of the six workers.

"We are still very much focused on bringing closure and comfort to these families, and the operations to be able to bring that closure to these families," Moore said. "It has not stopped. It continues to be a 24/7 operation."

Temporary, alternate channels have been cleared, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said last week that it expects to open a limited-access channel for barge container ships and some vessels moving cars and farm equipment by the end of April. Officials are aiming to restore normal capacity to Baltimore's port by the end of May.

Moore was upbeat about progress in reopening channels.

He said that if he had been told the morning of the collapse that there would be two channels open in two weeks, "I would have said that sounds really ambitious, considering what we saw, but that's where we are."

The governor also spoke of progress in removing debris, saying crews pulled 318 metric tons (350 tons) of steel from the Patapsco River on Sunday.

More than 50 salvage divers and 12 cranes are on site to help cut sections of the bridge and remove them from the key waterway. Crews began removing containers from the deck over the weekend, and they're making progress toward removing sections of the bridge that lie across the ship's bow so it can eventually move, according to the Key Bridge Response Unified Command.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 9. Kazakhstan's KazMunayGas (KMG, the national oil and gas company) has attracted LUKOIL as a strategic partner for the implementation of the Kalamkas-Sea and Khazar fields, Deputy Chairman of the Board of KazMunayGas Kuanysh Kudaibergenov, Trend reports.

"The Kalamkas-Sea and Khazar fields were previously part of different subsoil use contracts with different operators. The operator of Kalamkas-Sea was North Caspian Operating Company N.V. (NCOC), which also develops the Kashagan field; the operator of Khazar was Caspi Meruerty Operating Company B.V. (CMOC), with the participation of Shell and Oman Oil. For a number of reasons, the development of fields was delayed, including the lack of economic feasibility of independent operations. As a result, the companies refused to invest in the development of fields and returned the plots to the state. Therefore, taking into account the geographical proximity and geological similarity of these fields, the government decided to combine these projects into one subsoil use contract. In turn, after lengthy negotiations, KazMunayGas attracted LUKOIL as a strategic partner, which has already implemented a number of similar projects in the Russian sector of the Caspian Sea," he said.

Kudaibergenov noted that the presence of a strategic partner with appropriate technologies for the development of shelf fields was a decisive factor, thanks to which the project was able to be restarted. Otherwise, the project might still be waiting for an investor.

"The project involves investments of about $6.5 billion and is classified as 'technologically complex'. For the first time in Kazakhstan, the deposit is planned to be exploited using offshore metal platforms. During the construction of the platforms, Kazakh shipyards in the Mangystau region will be involved, which are currently idle since the completion of construction work at Kashagan. All this implies an increase in business activity in the region and the creation of new jobs. Therefore, the emergence of a strategic partner willing to invest in such an expensive project is certainly a positive factor," he said.

Kudaibergenov pointed out that KMG has a 50 percent stake in the project.

"All decisions are made on a parity basis between the participants of the joint venture. The management of the project operator also consists of an equal number of representatives from both participants. Thus, statements in some media that "KMG has lost control of the project" are untrue," he noted.
A ship carrying Ethiopian migrants sank Monday off Djibouti, killing at least 38 people, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The IOM says 22 people were rescued, the U.N. agency said in a statement.

The ship was traveling to Yemen from Djibouti, the main transit country for migrants attempting to reach Gulf nations from the Horn of Africa.

The route is dangerous and leaves migrants vulnerable to trafficking, kidnapping, arrest and forced recruitment into warring groups.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
Audrey Gray was at a national task force in New Orleans when a colorful zine caught the climate journalists eye.

Produced by Imagine Water Works, the zine  A Queer/Trans Guide to Storms  took the form of love notes to the southeast Louisiana LGBTQ+ community, alongside practical storm preparation tips.

As a climate change journalist from Los Angeles, Gray had been reporting on similar content, with an emphasis on how communities adapt to change and protect themselves from extreme weather.

The magazine, she said, had useful practical information.

Say youre going through a transition right there: how to deal with your medication, what to take in your evacuation bag, how to plug into resources that will help you, Gray told VOA.

Gray studied at Columbia Journalism School with the intention of being a climate journalist. Since graduating in 2019, her focus has been writing stories that would make people feel something about the issue.

I had been freaked out by climate change really early, Gray said. Her first stories focused on carbon emissions, but slowly she shifted to covering solutions rather than just the problems.

I really wanted to try to advance the narrative in a way that focused on courage and acts of protection, said Gray.

As a freelancer, Grays work has appeared in media outlets including Mother Jones and Wired. Now, as one of the three 2024 grantees for the Kim Wall Memorial Fund, Gray plans to expand her coverage.

Established by the International Womens Media Foundation, or IWMF, the fund commemorates Kim Wall, a Swedish journalist killed off the coast of Denmark in 2017 by a man she was interviewing.

Each year, the IWMF awards grants to female or nonbinary journalists who focus on lesser-known stories that reflect Walls ideals.

Alongside Gray, this years grantees are the Netherlands-based documentary filmmaker Zhaoyin Feng and the U.K.-based freelancer Isobel Thompson.

Taylor Moore, an associate program manager at the IWMF, is part of the selection panel. She described Gray as curious and excitable, much like Wall had been.

She's able to distill the science in a way that's understandable for the lay person and really shows the human impacts of climate change, Moore said.

Noting that Gray is one of the few American journalists awarded a grant, Moore told VOA, We thought this was a story that deserved equal prominence among the international stories we fund.

Gray credits much inspiration to Wall, a journalist who she says was ahead of her time.

Wall was 30 when she was killed. But she had already made strides in media, traveling the world and writing about marginalized communities. Her work, Gray said, is what she admires about the young reporter.

[Wall] would write stories about people, and climate change wasnt necessarily the headline, but its all there, said Gray. She was really skillful at getting herself to a place and then pitching all kinds of stories from that place to different publications.

Gray plans to use her grant to expand reporting on her most recent project: a feature on an emergency management network set up in Maricopa County in the southwestern state of Arizona. Around 500 people died of extreme heat in that region during the summer of 2022.

Set up in a historically Black Methodist church, the center helped the community cope with the deadly temperatures outside.

It was only open six hours a day on the weekdays, but all the regulars would go in, and they would get a short break from the worst heat of the day, said Gray.

With a growth in emergency centers following the pandemic and natural disasters, Gray is interested in expanding her coverage of aid efforts in the LGBTQ community.

She plans to look at what resources are available to marginalized groups.

One focus is emergency shelters in Arizona, a state that has extreme weather and where authorities are proposing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

Usually, the first shelters that are set up are placed often in churches, said Gray. But, she said, many of her sources describe having negative experiences in religious establishments, including rejection or abuse.

Other people she has interviewed described experiencing violence at emergency shelters and encountering people there who are uncomfortable with them.

Gray plans to feature organizations such as QReady, a group focused on emergency management and amplifying a sense of agency for the queer community.

Im not reporting on victims here at all, she said. I'm reporting on a community that is taking action to protect itself, and there's this real spirit of We can protect each other, we can create safety.

The IWMF selected Gray from 141 submissions sent in from more than 50 countries. It was the largest number of applications the foundation has received.

As the only journalist based in the U.S. to be selected, Gray says the grant is so much more meaningful.

The journalist says she has a deep sense of resonance with [Wall] and a hope that more people will learn from her and put some of her good practices to work.

For Gray, that will include continuing to highlight the stories of people persisting against climate change and protecting their community. I feel like thats why Im here, she said.
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Millions of people in the United States from Texas to Maine looked to the sky to witness a rare total solar eclipse. VOAs Kane Farabaugh attended a viewing event hosted by NASA and Purdue University at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and has more.
Mortar fire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed three Tanzanian soldiers who were part of a southern Africa force deployed to help government troops battling M23 rebels, officials said.

The regional force sent soldiers to North Kivu province in December to help Kinshasa regain ground from the M23 militia in the lawless east.

The force includes soldiers from regional military heavyweight South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi.

"This unfortunate incident happened after a hostile mortar round had fallen near the camp [where] they were staying," the 10-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) said in a statement.

It gave no further details.

A source at the North Kivu governorate said the mortar attack struck last Thursday and a ceremony to honor the dead was held at SADC headquarters in the provincial capital, Goma, on Monday.

A soldier from South Africa has also died in a hospital while being treated for health problems, the SADC statement said.

After several years of dormancy, the mostly Tutsi M23 (March 23 Movement) group took up arms again in late 2021 and has seized swaths of North Kivu province.

Decades of violence

The region has been beset by violence in the decades since regional wars in the 1990s.

The DRC, the U.N. and Western countries accuse Rwanda of supporting the rebels in a bid to control the region's vast mineral resources, an allegation Kigali denies.

The force suffered its first losses in mid-February when two South African soldiers were killed by mortars at Mubambiro camp, near the town of Sake, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Goma.

A Congolese security source, asking not to be named, said the Tanzanian casualties happened at the same camp.

The force was to take over from an East African peacekeeping force, whose mandate was ended by Kinshasa, which accused it of colluding with the rebels instead of fighting them.

The U.N. mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, is also being wound down.

The 15,000 U.N. troops deployed in the vast central African country started to leave in February at the request of the Kinshasa government, which considers them ineffective.

The withdrawal is due to be completed by the end of the year.

According to an internal U.N. document seen by AFP, M23 rebels have made new gains in the east after Indian U.N. troops abandoned positions near Goma.

MONUSCO said in a note to staff that "the current security situation is becoming increasingly volatile as M23 has reached the northern outskirts of Sake."

The population of Goma has doubled to 2 million as refugees have fled the advance of the rebel group.

Residents said that M23 and Congolese forces exchanged artillery fire throughout the weekend around Sake and the western outskirts of Goma.
Residents of a Myanmar trade hub fled across the border to Thailand on Tuesday amid the sounds of explosions and after an ethnic minority armed group said they had seized a key military base nearby, locals told AFP.

Fighters from the Karen National Union (KNU) said Saturday that they had seized a military base around 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of Myawaddy and that more than 600 soldiers, police and their families had surrendered.

Contacted by AFP on Tuesday, residents said they could hear gunfire and explosions.

"Some people fled already, especially those staying around the police station," one resident told AFP, requesting anonymity for security reasons.

"We are hearing gunfire and explosions at this moment. We heard planes flying over."

They said it did not appear KNU fighters were inside the town and that a bridge connecting Myawaddy to the Thai town of Mae Sot just over the border was still open.

"I heard two loud explosions," another resident of Myawaddy told AFP, also asking to remain anonymous for security reasons.

"Most of the shops are closed today and locals are leaving for Thailand."

Myanmar mobile phone services were not working, they said, adding that residents were using Thai SIM cards.

The junta has not responded to requests for comment on the KNU claim of the surrenders at the base at Thingannyinaung.

AFP has asked the KNU for comment.

A resident of Thingannyinaung said she had fled her home weeks ago following previous clashes and was now sheltering at the Thai border.

"Many IDPs are now staying near the river between Thailand and Myanmar," she said, referring to internally displaced people.

"We can see thousands of people from villages are coming to cross the border every day," added the resident, who requested anonymity.

Thailand's foreign minister said on Tuesday the country was prepared to accept 100,000 people fleeing Myanmar, as reports of clashes emerged.

Thailand shares a 2,400-kilometre (1,490-mile) border with Myanmar, which has been embroiled in a civil war since the junta overthrew the democratically elected government in 2021.

Myawaddy sits on the Asia Highway that runs from the Thai border to Myanmar's biggest city Yangon.

It passes through Karen state, which has been riven by decades of fighting between the military and the KNU, which says it is seeking autonomy for the Karen population.

Since the military's 2021 coup, the KNU has given shelter to political opponents of the junta and trained newer "People's Defense Forces" battling to overthrow the military's rule.

Over $1.1 billion worth of trade passed through Myawaddy from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024, according to the junta's commerce ministry.

The Karen State Border Guard Force, a local military-aligned militia that controls much of Myawaddy town, announced this year that it would no longer take orders from the junta.

Analysts said the move would further weaken the military's position in Karen state.
On March 30, Bayo Onanuga, a journalist who now works as the Nigerian president's special adviser on information and strategy, was interviewed by the Mic on Podcast about the burning issue of security in Nigeria.

When the podcasts host, Seun Okinbaloye, asked Onanuga if he would describe Nigeria as one of the safest places to live in, as he had suggested in a different forum, Onanuga replied: Nigeria is safe Its one of the safest countries in the world.

Okinbaloye then asked Onanuga: Compared to South Africa and United States you believe is that Nigeria is safer?

Onanuga responded: Relatively safer, because I am in Abuja now, Im safe. I go to my town, Im safe. I go to Lagos, Im safe.

That is false.

Nigeria is plagued by kidnappings, terrorist attacks, banditry and multiple other crimes.

The Global Terrorism Index, a report published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), a global think tank headquartered in Sydney, Australia, ranks Nigeria eighth among the ten countries most impacted by terrorism.

In its most recent annual ranking, the Global Organized Crime Index, produced by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), a Geneva-based international non-governmental organization, assessed Nigeria as having the worlds sixth highest criminality rate, far worse than the U.S., which it ranked 67th.

According to NationMaster, a database that offers a directory of variables for comparison purposes, crime levels in Nigeria are 47 percent higher than in the United States, and people in Nigeria are three times more likely to be murdered than people in the U.S.

Kidnappings for ransom, or to pressure the government to meet the kidnappers demands, frequently occur in Nigeria, with schoolchildren frequently targeted.

On March 8, gunmen on motorcycles in Kaduna state, near Nigeria's capital city, Abuja, abducted 287 children from their school.

In January, armed men invaded a home in Abuja and abducted five sisters, one of whom was murdered when the deadline for paying a ransom passed.

April 14 will mark a decade since the abduction of 276 female students at a government secondary school in Chibok, a town in Nigerias Borno State, prompted international outrage.

Multiple terrorist groups operate in Nigeria, the deadliest being the Islamist group Boko Haram.

In November 2013, the U.S. State Department designated Boko Haram, which had been terrorizing the country since 2009, as a foreign terrorist organization and specially designated global terrorist organization.

On March 21, SBM Intelligence, an African intelligence-gathering firm, reported that at least 735 mass abductions, involving over 15,398 victims had been recorded in Nigeria since 2019, adding: 2024 alone has seen at least 68 mass abductions, averaging over one per day.

Last September, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory warning American citizens about traveling to Nigeria.

The advisory, which put Nigeria in the category of Level 3: Reconsider Travel (one level below the highest warning category, Level 4: Do not travel), stated:

Reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed gangs. Some areas have increased risk.

New York-based Human Rights Watch wrote the following about Nigeria in its most recent annual report: Multiple armed groups continue to kill and jeopardize the livelihood of millions across the country.

It reported that in northwestern Nigeria, gangs of so-called bandits are responsible for killings, kidnappings, sexual violence and looting, while in the northeast, there has been a resurgence of attacks by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a breakaway faction of Boko Haram.

In Nigerias Middle Belt and Northcentral region, [d]ecades long intercommunal conflict between farmers and herders  continue to claim lives, while the authorities struggle to contain the clashes around land and other resources, which are exacerbated by ethnic and religious tensions," Human Rights Watch wrote.

It added:

Security forces continue to be implicated in gross human rights abuses, including indiscriminate airstrikes, while the authorities have repeatedly failed to hold officers responsible for the abuses accountable through the justice system.

In February 2023, the U.N.s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide voiced concern over the worsening security situation in Nigeria, while urging the authorities to ensure counter-terrorism operations observe international human rights and humanitarian law.

In 2016, the U.N. reported that Nigeria accounted for over 350 million or 70 percent of an estimated 500 million illicit weapons circulating in West Africa.
Jordanian officials and observers say the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoot, Hamas, are inciting pro-Hamas demonstrations with the aim of destabilizing Jordan, a key U.S. Arab ally.

Jordan has been the scene of largely peaceful but growing protests since the start of the Gaza war. Many of the demonstrations have been near the Israeli Embassy in the capital, Amman.

Some demonstrators demand Jordan ends its 1994 peace treaty with Israel, while others voice anger against Israel as they share personal ties with Gazans suffering bombardment and starvation.

Saud Sharafat, a former senior member of Jordanian intelligence and a terrorism analyst, believes some Hamas leaders  and Iran  would like to portray the Jordanian government as resisting the will of the street. But authorities in Jordan have displayed skill in allowing protesters to test the limits of dissent, while also maintaining public order, he told United Arab Emirates The National newspaper.

Recently, several prominent Jordanian government officials as well as journalists have accused the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoot Hamas of inciting the population against the governing authorities. They say this is done in the service of Iran, which seeks to destabilize Jordan and widen the conflict. Jordan has the longest land border with Israel and the majority of its population is of Palestinian origin.

Jordanian analyst Amer Al Sabaileh told VOA that Hamas leaders have specifically targeted Jordan rather than other Arab countries in their speeches, inciting Jordanians to go to the streets.

He questions why protests continue when Jordans King Abdullah has repeatedly called for a cease-fire and has been at the forefront of humanitarian aid deliveries, while Jordans foreign ministry has criticized Israels prosecution of the war.

There is a political purpose behind mobilizing and insisting that it is legitimate to go to the streets in Jordan, because they are originally Palestinian, he said. So, if you are originally Palestinian, it does not give you the right to bring chaos to Jordan or to import the crisis inside a stable country that has also a fragile security situation because this country, since 2003, has been living with threats from Iraq, Syria, terrorism, drugs. We should care about how stable Jordan should be.

Meanwhile, analyst Osama Al Sharif told VOA that while the Jordanian government may be disturbed by the slogans and spread of the protests, he believes claims of the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas making inroads in Jordan is "hyperbole," nor has there been physical proof of Iran's meddling.

There have been certain thoughts on the internet. A pro-Iranian militia claiming that they can arm 12,000 Jordanians at any given moment. But its very difficult to separate truth from fiction when you have this highly charged atmosphere in Jordan with whats happening in Gaza, he said. People are genuinely horrified because of family linkages, or have some sort of relationship, a distant relative, a friend. The king himself has overseen the delivery of aid to Gaza, toured the world defending the Palestinian cause and calling for a cease-fire and warning of a humanitarian disaster unfolding.

Observers do agree, however, that great uncertainty prevails.

This, they say, is set to continue as the war in Gaza drags on, and while Israel mobilizes troops along its border with Lebanon in preparation for a possible war with Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The U.N. Security Council began reviewing the Palestinians renewed bid for full United Nations membership on Monday, despite long-standing U.S. policy that would likely lead to a veto in the council.

Our position is a position that is known; it hasnt changed, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters following a meeting of the Security Council committee that is considering the Palestinian application.

For decades, Washington has said Palestinian statehood  and, thus, full U.N. membership  is a final status issue that should be negotiated between the Israelis and Palestinians as part of a two-state solution.

Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. is engaging actively and cooperatively with the admissions committee, adding that Washington wants to find a path to a two-state solution that would provide peace for the Israelis and a state for the Palestinians.

U.N. membership goes through the Security Council, where Washington holds a veto. It is up to the 15-nation council to recommend admission to the General Assembly, which would then vote on it. A two-thirds majority vote is necessary in the General Assembly for admission of a new state.

In September 2011, the Palestinian Authority submitted its initial application for full membership, but the application never made it to a vote in the U.N. Security Council.

After that bid stalled, the Palestinians sought and received an upgrade in status the following year at the General Assembly to non-member state. They still cannot vote, but it allowed them to become a party to treaties that are deposited with the U.N. secretary-general and join U.N. bodies like the World Health Organization and the International Criminal Court.

In a letter to the U.N. last week, the Palestinian Authority requested that the 2011 application be given renewed consideration this month.

We sincerely hope, after 12 years since we changed our status to an observer state, that the Security Council will elevate itself to implementing the global consensus on the two-state solution by admitting the state of Palestine for full membership, Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour told reporters.

The councils committee on the admission of new members took up the issue Monday afternoon behind closed doors. The committee is tasked with deciding whether the territory known as Palestine meets the criteria for statehood, including possession of a defined territory and a recognized government. Under the U.N. Charter, a new member must also be peace-loving.

The Palestinian Authority is the exact opposite of a peace-loving entity, Israels U.N. envoy, Gilad Erdan, told reporters.

He said an agreement on a Palestinian state could only be reached at the negotiating table, not forced unilaterally on Israel at the United Nations.

Following the committee meeting, council president Ambassador Vanessa Frazier of Malta told reporters that the initial discussions were very frank, and a second meeting is tentatively planned for Thursday.

Khaled Elgindy, senior fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute and director of the Program on Palestine and Palestinian-Israeli Affairs, told VOA that the Palestinian move is unlikely to be successful.

I think the outcome is already known  the U.S. will veto it  if it even comes to a vote, he said. They will do whatever they can to even prevent a vote from happening in the Security Council. But a U.S. veto is virtually assured.

There is also U.S. legislation from the 1990s that would require Washington to stop funding the United Nations if they grant full membership as a state to a group that does not have the internationally recognized attributes of statehood. Loss of U.S. funding would be catastrophic for the world body.

At the end of the day, its a big nothing burger, because it changes nothing. It will go nowhere, and it just points to the kind of growing irrelevance and bankruptcy of the leadership of [PA President] Mahmoud Abbas, Elgindy said.

Abbas and the Palestinian Authority are under growing U.S. pressure to reform. Last month, Abbas appointed his long-time economic adviser, Mohammed Mustafa, to be the next prime minister. He will need to put together a government that will be able to reunite Palestinian factions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and help rebuild and govern Gaza after the war between Israel and Hamas ends.
The United States must refine its Africa policy with a focus on critical minerals, including boosting its diplomatic and commercial presence in African mining hubs, says a report from the Washington-based United States Institute of Peace, or USIP.

The group says the changes are needed to safeguard against export controls and market manipulation by geopolitical competitors.

The United States heavily relies on imports for many critical minerals for use in electric vehicle batteries and other applications such as cobalt, graphite and manganese.

Especially concerning is that the United States is at or near 100% reliant on foreign entities of concern  mainly the Peoples Republic of China  for key critical minerals, says the USIP report.

Despite the efforts of the Biden administration and Congress to support U.S. firms in African markets, progress remains measured, with no sign that China and Gulf State competitors are retreating. The USIP report recommends the U.S. government invests in commercial diplomacy in Africa.

For example, Washington should prioritize to fully realize the potential benefits of a memorandum of understanding signed with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, following the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in December 2022 to jointly develop a supply chain for electric vehicle batteries.

The DRC produces more than 70% of the worlds cobalt, while Zambia is the worlds sixth-largest copper producer and the second-largest cobalt producer in Africa.

The USIP report also recommends that the U.S. increase the physical presence of diplomatic and commercial officers in mining centers. Given the proximity of the Congolese city of Lubumbashi to critical minerals, and the high priority placed on the countrys Lobito Corridor, USIP suggests reopening a U.S. consulate in Lubumbashi, provided security levels are acceptable.

In the mid-1990s, the United States closed its consulate in Lubumbashi following the end of the Cold War and the redirection of interests and resources. Lubumbashi is the capital of the mineral-rich Katanga Province and the second-largest city in the DRC.

Gecamines, the Congolese state mining company, is headquartered in the city, as are other mining companies.

Other policy recommendations include prioritizing and leveraging existing U.S. Agency for International Development programs to assist Africans with rule-of-law and fiscal transparency efforts, expanding membership of the Minerals Security Partnership to include African partners, as well as assisting African nations in building technical capacity in the mining sector.

Launched in June 2022, the Minerals Security Partnership, or MSP, is a collaboration of 14 countries and the European Union to catalyze public and private investment in responsible critical minerals supply chains globally.

U.S. officials say MSP members represent more than 50% of global gross domestic product and currently run 23 projects that involve the extraction and processing of cobalt, copper, gallium, germanium, graphite, lithium, manganese, nickel and rare earth elements.

We need to scale up our critical mineral supply chains to deploy clean technologies more quickly, more effectively, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told an MSP forum in Leuven, Belgium, earlier this month. The demand is rising. By 2040, demand for lithium is expected to grow by more than 40%. Graphite, cobalt, nickel demand is set to grow 20 to 25 times.


Hundreds of residents in southwestern Russias Ural region staged a rare protest Monday, demanding compensation for the flooding of their homes after a dam gave way because of rising floodwaters.

The protest took place in the city of Orsk, located in the Orenburg region near the border with Kazakhstan.

Chanting Putin help us and shame, the locals affected by the floods defied Russian laws that prohibit demonstrations without the permission of authorities. They gathered in front of the citys administrative building Monday, demanding emergency assistance as the floods swallowed more than 10,000 homes.

Denis Pasler, governor of the Orenburg region where Orsk sits, promised the disaffected civilians compensation payments of about $100 for six months.

Many feel that the amount offered by the authorities is not adequate to help them with the destruction of their properties. Others are upset that the dam, built in 2010, did not protect them from the rising waters of the Ural River.

A criminal investigation has been launched to determine whether violations in the construction of the dam embankment may have led to the structure leaking and to the dams subsequent collapse Friday under the weight of the excess water.

Regional authorities estimate the total damage from the flooding to be about $227 million as swaths of Orsk, a city of 230,000 people about 1,795 kilometers (1,115 miles) east of Moscow, have been inundated by water.

After the floods in Orsk, Russias Emergency Ministry warned rising waters were nearing dangerous levels in Orenburg, a city of 550,000 about 400 kilometers (about 248.55 miles) from Orsk.

"On the territories of the Siberian, Privolzhye [Volga area] and the central federal regions, a rise in air temperature, active snow melting and the overflow of rivers is forecast, the ministry warned on social media.

Orenburg Mayor Sergei Salmin was quoted by Russian media as saying the flood there was expected to be "unprecedented" and warned of forced evacuations.

Russias weather monitor Rosgidromet said that it expected the flood to reach its peak in Orenburg on Wednesday and that several of the city's districts would be affected.

Authorities have also warned of "inevitable" rising water levels in the Siberian regions of Tyumen and Kurgan, with the large Tobol River expected to rise.

Emergency service workers in Kurgan, a city of around 300,000 people near the Kazakh border, said they began "preventative evacuations" and that they relocated 571 people.

The Kremlin has ordered authorities in the area to monitor the situation and issue emergency alerts due to "nature anomalies."

Some information for this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 9. Kazakhstan is ready to increase exports of 195 commodity items worth $260 million to Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports.

This topic was discussed during the meeting of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov with the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Head of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov.

The parties also discussed joint measures to increase bilateral trade turnover to $2 billion. Bektenov and Japarov paid attention to specific projects aimed at strengthening trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

It was noted that there is broad potential for expanding cooperation in the food, industrial, petrochemical, construction, pharmaceutical, and other industries. This is also facilitated by the planned plans to create an industrial trade and logistics complex on the common border. The parties noted that the launch of this project will have a multiplier effect and give additional impetus to trade, economic, and investment cooperation.

Along with this, the parties noted the dynamic work to increase the capacity of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border as well as the attractiveness of transit for cargo carriers. In accordance with the concept for the development of the transport and logistics potential of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030, the construction and reconstruction of checkpoints Karasu, Besagash, Aukhatty, Sartobe, Aisha Bibi, Sypatai Batyr, and Kegen are envisaged.

Meanwhile, trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan amounted to $1.317 billion in 2023. The trade increased by 11.6 percent compared to $1.181 billion in 2022.

Kyrgyzstans exports to Kazakhstan during last year reached $455.702 million, increasing by 10.9 percent compared to $410.888 million in 2022.

Moreover, Kyrgyzstan's imports from Kazakhstan in 2023 totaled $862.182 million, which is an 11.9 percent increase compared to the 2022 figures ($770.215 million).
Tesla has settled a lawsuit over a 2018 car crash that killed an Apple engineer in 2018 after his Model X operating on Autopilot swerved off a highway near San Francisco, court documents showed Monday.

The settlement was made as the trial was about to start over the high-profile accident involving Tesla's driver assistant technology, ending a five-year legal battle over the case.

The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

The case involves a highway accident that killed Walter Huang. Tesla had contended Huang misused the Autopilot system because he was playing a video game just before the accident.

Huang's family had alleged Autopilot steered his 2017 Model X into a highway barrier.

Lawyers for Huang's family had also raised questions about whether Tesla understood drivers likely would not or could not use the system as directed, and what steps the automaker took to protect them.

Huang's lawyer and Tesla were not immediately available for comment.

The crash that killed Huang was among hundreds of U.S. accidents in which Autopilot was a suspected factor in reports to auto safety regulators.

The Autopilot system can steer, accelerate and brake by itself on the open road but cannot fully replace a human driver, especially in city driving.

Tesla materials explaining the system warn that it does not make the car autonomous and requires a "fully attentive driver" who can "take over at any moment."
The United States pressed Hamas on Tuesday to accept a cease-fire deal with Israel that would halt fighting in Gaza for six weeks. It would also release some of the 100 or so hostages held by the U.S.-designated terror group in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinians it has jailed.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Washington that it was a very serious proposal presented to Hamas in Cairo last weekend and should be accepted.

The ball is in Hamas court, Blinken said. The world is watching to see what it does.

He added that the fact that Hamas has not yet agreed to the terms says what it thinks of the people of Gaza, which is not much.

Hamas said Tuesday that the proposal didnt meet its demands, but it would consider it.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Minister David Cameron said Tuesday that his country will not block arms sales by British companies to Israel.

"The latest assessment leaves our position on export licenses unchanged," Cameron said in Washington.

"Let me be clear, though, he added, we continue to have grave concerns around the humanitarian access issue in Gaza."

Israel declared war on Hamas after its shock October 7 terror attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of about 250 hostages. Israels subsequent counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 33,000 people, about two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, while the Israeli military says several thousand Hamas fighters are among those killed.

As of mid-February, 112 hostages had been freed, most during a weeklong cease-fire in November, while 36 more are believed to have died or been killed in Gaza during the six months of fighting.

Blinken said the war could have ended months ago if Hamas had put down its guns, stopped hiding behind civilians and surrendered.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday an undisclosed date has been set for Israels military to invade Rafah on the Gaza-Egyptian border, a region where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering to try to remain safe.

The U.S. opposes the planned Rafah attack, with White House officials saying the Israelis have not shared an attack date with Washington. Secretary Blinken said U.S. officials plan to meet with Israeli officials again next week to share their thoughts and offer alternative plans for attacking the last remaining Hamas battalions in the region.

The top U.S. diplomat said President Joe Biden has been very clear about our concerns, our deep concerns about Israel's ability to move civilians out of out of harm's way to care for them in the event of an Israeli attack.

Blinken said he does not see anything imminent happening in Rafah and that he does not believe anything will occur before U.S. and Israeli officials meet.

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a Senate hearing that a deadly famine in Gaza would likely accelerate violence and ensure a long-term conflict. The U.S. has continually pressed Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza to feed famished Palestinians.

"If Israel wants to create lasting effects, then it must address the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people. ... And not in a marginal way," he told U.S. lawmakers Tuesday.

Some international critics have contended that Israel is committing genocide with indiscriminate attacks on Palestinians in Gaza, taking little care for their safety as it hunts down Hamas militants.

But Austin dismissed the contention, saying, "We don't have evidence of that."

Turkey trade with Israel

Turkey said Tuesday it is imposing trade restrictions on Israel affecting a range of products until Israel declares a cease-fire in Gaza.

The restrictions include trade in 54 categories, including iron, steel, cement, aviation fuel and fertilizer.

The move comes a day after Israel blocked a Turkish request to carry out an airdrop of aid to Gaza. Multiple countries have conducted aid drops to try to counter what humanitarian organizations have said is a lack of adequate access to bring in badly needed aid through land crossings.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz pledged to respond with parallel measures against Turkey. He posted on X that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is sacrificing the economic interest of Turkeys people for the sake of his support of Hamas murderers in Gaza.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
One year since the conflict in Sudan erupted, thousands of desperate people are still fleeing the country daily "as if the emergency had started yesterday," the U.N. said Tuesday.

More than 8.5 million people have fled their homes since the fighting broke out, with nearly 1.8 million having escaped across the country's borders.

"A year on, the war in Sudan continues to rage, with the country and its neighbors experiencing one of the largest and most challenging humanitarian and displacement crises in the world," said Olga Sarrado Mur, spokeswoman for the United Nations' refugee agency UNHCR.

"The ongoing conflict has shattered people's lives, filling them with fear and loss. Attacks on civilians, and conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, continue unabated," she told a press briefing in Geneva.

"Sudan has experienced the almost complete destruction of its urban middle class: architects, doctors, teachers, nurses, engineers and students have lost everything," she added.

Fighting in Sudan erupted on April 15, 2023, between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has killed thousands and has sparked a humanitarian disaster.

"Thousands are crossing borders daily as if the emergency had started yesterday," Sarrado Mur said.

Those fleeing the country, mostly women and children, are arriving in remote areas across the borders "with little to nothing and in desperate need of food, water, shelter and medical care," she added.

"As the conflict continues, and the lack of assistance and opportunities deepens, more people will be forced to flee Sudan to neighboring countries or to move further."

Strain on South Sudan

The humanitarian response plan for inside Sudan is so far 6 percent funded, while the 2024 regional refugee response plan is 7 percent funded.

The war has destroyed Sudan's already fragile infrastructure and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

Marie-Helene Verney, UNHCR's representative in South Sudan, said 635,000 people had arrived in the country since April 15  the equivalent of 5 percent of the country's population.

"This is the world's poorest country, so you can imagine the pressure," she said, via video-link from the capital Juba.

Verney said many refugees were urban, educated and middle class, with professional skills that UNHCR is trying to match to shortages in South Sudan, notably in health and education.

"The biggest challenge that we face is really the relentlessness of this crisis ... it could get worse before it gets better," she said.

A lot of unaccompanied children were coming, and single women with "heartbreaking stories" of sexual violence en route, she added.

On Monday, U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said the current situation in Sudan concerning sexual and gender-based violence was "absolutely horrific."

"It is committed by all parties to the conflict in this absolutely senseless war," he said.

Ahead of the anniversary, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has called on all parties in the conflict to protect civilians and those who can no longer fight.

"When homes, hospitals, and schools are damaged, and people who are not part of the fight are hurt, it not only causes immediate harm but also makes it much harder for communities to heal," the movement said.
The Pentagon is not backing off on its support for Israel, despite growing frustration by some U.S. lawmakers that Israel is crossing ethical lines as it goes after Hamas in Gaza.

During a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday interrupted multiple times by protesters accusing Israel  and the United States  of having innocent blood on its hands, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pushed back.

Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican, asked Austin: "Is Israel committing genocide in Gaza?"

Austin replied: "Senator Cotton, we don't have any evidence of genocide."

But under repeated questioning, Austin acknowledged Israels military can and must do more to differentiate between Hamas militants and civilians.

"Theres no question that there have been far too many civilian casualties in this conflict, he said.

Austin said he has warned his Israeli counterpart that a failure to allow the delivery of much more humanitarian aid to Gaza would just create more terrorism.

As for continued talk by Israel about an operation to root out Hamas in Rafah, the secretary of defense was blunt. It cannot be what weve seen in the past in terms of the type of activities that we've seen in Gaza City and in Khan Yunis, he said.

Not all lawmakers were satisfied with those answers. Some expressed frustration that Washington has been forced to step in.

"There's no reason the United States should have to build a pier in the eastern Mediterranean. There's no reason we should have to airdrop supplies, said Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat. "The pace of humanitarian aid is insufficient."

Other lawmakers put blame on Hamas. Austin agreed that the U.S.-designated terror groups ongoing conduct continues to amount to war crimes.

The hearing was about President Joe Biden's budget request for the Department of Defense.
The U.S. military said late Monday it destroyed a Houthi missile system in Yemen and an aerial drone launched by the militants over the Red Sea.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the first strike hit two Houthi missiles that were ready to launch, as well as a ground control station.

No injuries or damage to ships in the region were reported.

CENTCOM also said an anti-ship ballistic missile was launched Sunday in the direction of the Marshall Islands-flagged, U.K. owned, Italian operated cargo ship M/V Hope Island as it was being escorted by a coalition ship in the Gulf of Aden.

No injuries or damage were reported with that incident.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said it received a report Sunday of a missile landing in the water close to a vessel in the same area.

The Houthis have launched numerous attacks targeting vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in a campaign they say is in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israeli-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

The attacks have forced many commercial shipping companies to alter routes to avoid the region and take the longer, more expensive route of going around Africa.


The Vatican's top diplomat began a six-day visit to Vietnam on Tuesday as a part of efforts to normalize relations with the communist nation.

Richard Gallagher, the Holy See's foreign minister, met his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son and expressed the Vatican's "gratitude" for the progress that has been made to improve ties. The visit took place after Archbishop Marek Zalewski became the first Vatican representative to live and open an office in the Southeast Asian country.

"The visit is of great importance," said Son.

Gallagher will also meet Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and visit a children's hospital in the capital, Hanoi, state-run Vietnam News Agency reported. He will hold Mass in Hanoi, Hue in central Vietnam, and the financial hub of Ho Chi Minh City in the south.

Gallagher is the Vatican's No. 2 and his visit to Hanoi was an "important moment" that showed that the relationship was continuing while the sides wait for an upgrade to full diplomatic relations, said Giorgio Bernardelli, the head of AsiaNews, a Catholic Missionary news agency.

Relations between the Vatican and Vietnam were severed in 1975, after the Communist Party established its rule over the entire country following the end of the Vietnam War. Relations have been strained ever since, although the sides have had regular talks since at least the late 1990s.

The agreement to appoint the Vatican's permanent representative in Vietnam was signed in July 2023, during former President Vo Van Thuong's visit to the Holy See. Thuong also extended an invitation to Pope Francis to visit Vietnam. But Thuong has since resigned, becoming the latest victim of an intense anti-corruption campaign.

Bernardelli said that the pope's potential visit was likely to be discussed, adding that it also depended on the political situation in Hanoi following the president's resignation

He said that an improvement in ties with Vietnam could also have implications for the Holy See's ties with communist-ruled China. The relationship with Vietnam had always been a "point of reference, but with important differences," since unlike China, Vietnam has been keen to improve relations with the Vatican and the West.

Beijing severed diplomatic ties with the Vatican in 1951, after the communists rose to power and expelled foreign priests.

Catholicism is officially the most practiced religion in Vietnam, with 5.9 million or 44.6% of the 13.2 million people who identified as religious in a 2019 census saying they were Catholic. That works out to more than 6% of the country's population.
President Joe Biden on Monday announced a $6.6 billion grant to Taiwans top chip manufacturer to produce semiconductors in the southwestern U.S. state of Arizona, which includes a third facility that will bring the foreign tech giants investment in the state to $65 billion.

Biden said the move aims to perk up a decades-old slump in American chip manufacturing. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which is based in the Chinese-claimed island, claims more than half of the global market share in chip manufacturing.

The new facility, Biden said, will put the U.S. on track to produce 20% of the worlds leading-edge semiconductors by 2030.

I was determined to turn that around, and thanks to my CHIPS and Science Act  a key part of my Investing in America agenda  semiconductor manufacturing and jobs are making a comeback, Biden said in a statement.

U.S. production of this American-born technology has fallen steeply in recent decades, said Andy Wang, dean of engineering at Northern Arizona University.

As a nation, we used to produce 40% of microchips for the whole world, he told VOA. Now, we produce less than 10%.

A single semiconductor transistor is smaller than a grain of sand. But billions of them, packed neatly together, can connect the world through a mobile phone, control sophisticated weapons of war and satellites that orbit the Earth, and someday may even drive a car.

The immense value of these tiny chips has fueled fierce competition between the U.S. and China.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has taken several steps to hamper Chinas efforts to build its own chip industry. Those include export controls and new rules to prevent foreign countries of concern  which it said includes China, Iran, North Korea and Russia  from benefiting from funding from the CHIPS and Science Act.

While analysts are divided over whether Taiwans dominance of this critical industry makes it more or less vulnerable to Chinese aggression, they agree it confers the island significant global status.

It is debatable what, if any, role Taiwans semiconductor manufacturing prowess plays in deterrence, said David Sacks, an analyst who focuses on U.S.-China relations at the Council on Foreign Relations. What is not debatable is how devastating an attack on Taiwan would be for the global economy.

Biden did not mention U.S. adversaries in his statement, but he noted the impact of Mondays announcement, saying it represent(s) a broader story for semiconductor manufacturing thats made in America and with the strong support of Americas leading technology firms to build the products we rely on every day.

VOA met with engineers in the new technological hub state, who said the legislation addresses a key weakness in American chip manufacturing.

Weve just gotten in the cycle of the last 15 to 20 years, where innovation has slowed down, said Todd Achilles, who teaches innovation, strategy and policy analysis at the University of California-Berkeley. Its all about financial results, investor payouts and stock buybacks. And weve lost that innovation muscle. And the CHIPS Act  pulling that together with the CHIPS Act  is the perfect opportunity to restore that.

The White House says this new investment could create 25,000 construction and manufacturing jobs. Academics say theyre churning out workers at a rapid pace, but that still, America lacks talent.

Our engineering college is the largest in the country, with over 33,000 enrolled students, and still were hearing from companies across the semiconductor industry that theyre not able to get the talent they need in time, Zachary Holman, vice dean for research and innovation at Arizona State University, told VOA.

And as the American industry stretches to keep pace, it races a technical trend known as t: that the number of transistors in a computer chip doubles about every two years. As a result, cutting-edge chips get ever smaller as they grow in computing power.

TSMC in 2022 broke ground on a facility that makes the smallest chip currently available, coming in at 3 nanometers  thats just wider than a strand of DNA.

Reporter Levi Stallings contributed to this report from Flagstaff, Arizona.
Former president Jacob Zuma can contest upcoming national elections in May, a South African court ruled Tuesday.

Zuma had appealed a ban by the electoral commission, which said last month that Zuma couldnt compete for a seat in parliament because the constitution bars people who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to more than one year in prison from running for office.

Zuma, 81, was forced to resign near the end of his second term in 2018 amid numerous corruption scandals. In 2021, he was sentenced to 15 months in jail for contempt of court after he refused to appear in a corruption investigation.

Zumas lawyers argued in court Monday that because the former leader, who served just three months before being released on health grounds, was granted a remission, the ban did not apply.

The courts decision will not be welcome news to the governing African National Congress party, of which Zuma was a lifelong member before throwing his support behind a newly formed political party called uMkhonto weSizwe, or MK, late last year.

The ANC suspended him, and Zuma  who, despite all the allegations against him, still has massive support in his home province of Kwa Zulu-Natal  has since been campaigning as the face of MK.

National elections on May 29 are widely expected to be the most fiercely contested ever, with surveys suggesting the ANC will win less than 50 percent of the vote for the first time since the advent of democracy in 1994.

Political analyst Sandile Swana broke down what the electoral courts ruling means.

The reintroduction of Jacob Zuma into mainstream politics is already eating away at the electoral base of the African National Congress led by Cyril Ramaphosa, and they have now been fortified with this decision of the electoral court that Zuma can be the face of the party, he can campaign, he can be the number one candidate for the party, Swana said.

Outside the court on Monday, Zuma told supporters hed be happy to lead the country again.

However, Swana noted, there is still a legal question over whether Zuma could ever become president again, as he was already in his second term when he was forced out.

Rather than directly electing a president, South Africans vote for members of parliament. Whichever party wins a majority then puts their leader forward as president.

Independent analyst Asanda Ngoasheng said Tuesdays developments are concerning.

We now have the potential of someone who has faced or is facing multiple allegations of corruption and bankrupting the state being able to kind of keep coming back, Ngoasheng said. Is Jacob Zuma really turning out to be Mr. Teflon as he has been called, with nothing ever sticking to him, or will something come that will trip him up?

Last month the ANC went to court to try to prevent Zumas new party from using the name uMkhonto weSizwe, which was also the name of the ANCs disbanded armed wing.
Sithandekile Mhlanga

Historian Phathisa Nyathi who recently led a delegation to Zambia on a fact-finding mission on what happened to the late Ndebele King Lobengula after the battle of Pupu in 1893, says the aim was not to locate the kings grave as some critics have alleged, but to confirm with Chief Mpezeni in that country, if indeed the late king had sought refuge among his Ngoni people.

In an exclusive interview with Studio 7, Nyathi also dismissed criticism that the delegation was sent by President Emmerson Mnangagwa but said the idea of the trip was planted during the commissioning of the reconstructed Pupu National Monument in Lupane, where President Mnangagwa officiated.

I want to make this clear. No one saw a grave. No one said they know where the grave is, and even if they did, we were not going to go there, no, fumed Nyathi.

I was approached by Finance Minister (Mthuli Ncube) who showed me his Zambian counterpart who in turn asked why the Ndebele people were not going to his country to find out what happened to their king, he said.

Nyathi said on arrival, in Zambia, Chief Mpezeni confirmed that King Lobengula indeed stayed among the Ngoni people and was interred somewhere in the Sanjika Mountain four years later.

Chief Mpezeni said if we had come earlier, there were some people who saw the King, who would have shed more light into the issue, but they have since died, he said.

The disappearance of the king story was used as a decoy to prevent colonialists from tracking him down. The inner circle of the Ndebele community, including the kings close family members have always been aware of what happened, and some have visited the area before, said Nyathi.

Its only that some people dont care about history. The grave that was used as a decoy is there in Binga, its a national monument. Its where Lobengula crossed the Zambezi River to Zambia with the help of then local chief Pashu. But the grave is actually that of chief Magwegwe Fuyana, the decoy, and Ngomba Mhlanga, who was used as umqamelo (a person killed to accompany the king during burial).

Nyathi said he wrote about the king seeking refugee among Chief Mpezenis Ngoni people, after interviewing Ndlumbi Mahlangu, who had reached Binga and was still alive in 1985, and various members of the Khumalo clan and their close associates, who provided some of the information for his books: Setting of the Sun and The Battle of Pupu.

Some of Lobengulas direct descendants were named Qedilizwe (trekking throughout the country) and Dabulamanzi (crossing a great river), which shows it was well-known what happened to the King, its all chronicled in my books, added Nyathi.

Some of the books were sold at the recent Dakamela Awards Ceremony in Nkayi.

Nyathi said he visited a place near the Sanjika Mountain during a separate journey, accompanied by Chief Gampu Sithole of Tsholotsho, and government official Paul Damasane, who is also a poet, author, and expert in Ndebele traditional customs.

Last months trip was reportedly sponsored by government, and among the delegation was King Lobengulas descendant Midard Khumalo, Senzeni Khumalo, a researcher for the National Museums, Monuments of Zimbabwe, and Paul Damasane, Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet in Charge of Social Services. They were also joined by Zimbabwes Ambassadors to Zambia and Malawi, Charity Charamba, and Nancy Saungweme, respectively, who also facilitated the delegation to meet Chief Mpezeni.

Nyathi said more steps would be taken on the issue of King Lobengula, but did not shed more light.

He dismissed suggestions that forensics should be performed to ascertain the true identity of the remains of the king, if found. He said culture has its own way of establishing the truth and Africans should trust their methods instead of Western ones.

People think that the dead do not speak, or King Lobengula has no one he speaks to. The dead are alive and the living are dead, he noted.
JOHANNESBURG  Former president Jacob Zuma can contest upcoming national elections in May, a South African court ruled Tuesday.

Zuma had appealed a ban by the electoral commission, which said last month that Zuma couldnt compete for a seat in parliament because the constitution bars people who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to more than one year in prison from running for office.

Zuma, 81, was forced to resign near the end of his second term in 2018 amid numerous corruption scandals. In 2021, he was sentenced to 15 months in jail for contempt of court after he refused to appear in a corruption investigation.

Zumas lawyers argued in court Monday that because the former leader, who served just three months before being released on health grounds, was granted a remission, the ban did not apply.

SEE ALSO:

The courts decision will not be welcome news to the governing African National Congress party, of which Zuma was a lifelong member before throwing his support behind a newly formed political party called uMkhonto weSizwe, or MK, late last year.

The ANC suspended him, and Zuma  who, despite all the allegations against him, still has massive support in his home province of Kwa Zulu-Natal  has since been campaigning as the face of MK.

National elections on May 29 are widely expected to be the most fiercely contested ever, with surveys suggesting the ANC will win less than 50 percent of the vote for the first time since the advent of democracy in 1994.

Political analyst Sandile Swana broke down what the electoral courts ruling means.

The reintroduction of Jacob Zuma into mainstream politics is already eating away at the electoral base of the African National Congress led by Cyril Ramaphosa, and they have now been fortified with this decision of the electoral court that Zuma can be the face of the party, he can campaign, he can be the number one candidate for the party, Swana said.

Outside the court on Monday, Zuma told supporters hed be happy to lead the country again.

However, Swana noted, there is still a legal question over whether Zuma could ever become president again, as he was already in his second term when he was forced out.

Rather than directly electing a president, South Africans vote for members of parliament. Whichever party wins a majority then puts their leader forward as president.

Independent analyst Asanda Ngoasheng said Tuesdays developments are concerning.

We now have the potential of someone who has faced or is facing multiple allegations of corruption and bankrupting the state being able to kind of keep coming back, Ngoasheng said. Is Jacob Zuma really turning out to be Mr. Teflon as he has been called, with nothing ever sticking to him, or will something come that will trip him up?

Last month the ANC went to court to try to prevent Zumas new party from using the name uMkhonto weSizwe, which was also the name of the ANCs disbanded armed wing.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 9. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had a telephone conversation, the official Kremlin said, Trend reports.

During the phone discussion, the complicated flood situation in Russia and Kazakhstan's border regions was thoroughly discussed. They emphasized the tight collaboration of the two countries' specialized agencies and services, which closely monitor and forecast the situation and design and implement coordinated action plans. The heads of state decided to issue directives to accelerate this work.



They also discussed various international and regional matters, including Russia's leadership of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Kazakhstan's chairmanship of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.



A mutual commitment to further strengthening Russian-Kazakh allied relations was confirmed.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
To the shock of no one whos seen him in Washington Square Park. Photo: GC Images

Alec Baldwin was prone to outbursts on the set of Rust, prosecutors argue in a new filing. The star showed absolutely no control of his own emotions and absolutely no concern for how his conduct affects those around him, according to the filing, which described Baldwin yelling and cursing on set, sometimes out of nowhere, per Variety. Witnesses have testified that it was this exact conduct that contributed to safety compromises on set, wrote prosecutor Kari Morrissey. The filing was in response to a March motion from Baldwins defense asking to dismiss his indictment for involuntary manslaughter in the killing of Halyna Hutchins, to which he pleaded not guilty.

In the filing, Morrissey also defended prosecutors decision to go ahead with a felony charge against Baldwin after they dropped it at one point. She described a meeting where Baldwins attorneys made a PowerPoint presentation arguing against the manslaughter charge and threatened to call witnesses like Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. They also claimed the prop gun was more likely to fire without the trigger being pulled  in line with Baldwins insistence that he did not pull the trigger. Morrissey said she dropped the charge after their meeting and awaited more testing on the gun.

When forensics said the trigger had to be pulled for the gun to fire, Morrissey offered Baldwin a misdemeanor plea deal, reportedly similar to the offer for first assistant director Dave Halls (who received unsupervised probation and no jail time). Baldwins attorneys planned to accept while also plotting a civil case against the cases original prosecutors and the state of New Mexico that Morrissey described as frivolous. Morrissey also said Baldwin had been actively pressuring material witnesses in the case by working on a documentary about Hutchins. That led her to rescind the plea deal and proceed with the felony charge. Morrissey wrote that she learned some tough lessons while dealing with Baldwins attorneys, whom she accused of trying to delay the case. (They reportedly have no plans to call Ford and Mirren as witnesses, as they threatened.) Baldwin is set to go to trial in July.
One of these people is DEAD Photo: Universal/Everett Collection

Tue. Apr 9. Weight  ?? stone (unclear how to do conversion, needlessly medieval-seeming unit of meas., v. British). Cigarettes  0 (can no longer have in movies, no fun). Reasons to live until at least Feb. 2025  1.

Renee Zellweger shall grace the worlds ears with her impeccable English accent yet again when she returns to the role of Bridget Jones for a lucky-number-fourth film, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. In this follow up to 2016s Bridget Joness Baby, ol Bridge will be reunited with Daniel Cleaver after Hugh Grant sat out the previous film. Newcomers to the cast will include Chiwetel Ejiofor and Leo Woodall, the latter of which is rumored by The Guardian to play the titular boy, Joness much younger new love interest.

Based on the third novel in Helen Fieldings best-selling series, Mad About the Boy will take place four years after the previous film and follow Bridget as a widow raising two young children.

Widow? Well, yes. Notably absent from the cast list is Colin Firth, who played Mark Darcy in the first three films. This is because in the book, Darcy was killed by a landmine in Sudan. Its worth noting that in Bridget Joness Baby, her other lover, Daniel Cleaver, was presumed dead in a plane crash, only to be revealed as still alive in a cliffhanger-ish twist at the end of the film. Mark Darcy probably wont be revived in similar fashion, as in the books he is really and truly dead. Nothing has been mentioned of her new American billionaire love interest Jack Qwant, played in the third film by Patrick Dempsey. Besides, shell already have her hands full with Cleaver, and possibly Ejiofors character, and Gen-Z-cusp baby-man Woodall. Naughty Bridget! Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy will be released in theaters on Valentines Day 2025.
Turns out Seinfeld wasnt a show about nothing. (It was about weekly ass.) Photo: HBO

The comfort-cringe masterpiece Curb Your Enthusiasm came to an end last night after 24 years of Larry David and friends  and enemies. It was a predictably loose finale for a show that always wore its laziness on its sleeve, beginning and ending with David-esque scenes about airplane decorum and stealing much of its structure from Seinfelds last episode, which ended with its four protagonists in a jail cell. Jerry Seinfeld himself shows up for moral support during Larrys trial in Georgia and  spoiler alert  plays a part in his eventual exoneration, thus breaking the curse of the hated Seinfeld finale  sort of.

Seeing Larry and Jerry together is never a bad time, but it cant match Seinfelds scene with J.B. Smooves Leon Black. Early in the finale, Leon, who has just decided to start watching Seinfeld, says what might be the funniest line of the whole episode to David: You never told me it was a show about weekly ass. Later, sitting next to Seinfeld in the courtroom, he demands that the actor tell him where the tapes are  Larry wont give that shit out. What tapes? Seinfeld asks. The fuck tapes, Leon says. Every week you getting new ass  and I know you fucking. Jerry admits he had em all (troubling), but the footage is on laserdisc and theres no way to convert it.

Just before Larrys verdict comes in, Leon pulls him aside to tell him that in the three or so days theyve been in Atlanta, he has binged all of Seinfeld except for the last episode. Although I heard some terrible things about it, he whispers. I heard you fucked it up. What a thing to tell someone just before theyre sentenced to a year in prison by Dean Norris. Tragically, we never get to hear what Leon thinks about the finale. Season 13?
The sky has been gray over Japan for a while now in Shogun, matching the uneasy, sometimes despairing mood of the series characters, but it appears especially grim as The Abyss of Life opens and Toranagas party makes its way to Edo. Nagakados death has touched everyone, even if not everyone can be described as in mourning  Yabushige, for one, takes a grimly comic philosophical approach, concluding that Toranagas sons death-by-slipping-on-a-rock-while-trying-to-kill-his-uncle be considered lower than boiling but higher than eaten by dogs. But most everyone else takes their cues from Toranaga himself, whose apparent grief makes it difficult to say anything at all. For Blackthorne, arriving at Edo brings conflicting feelings: He looks forward to being reunited with his crew, but, as he has no plans of traveling with Toranaga to Osaka, it also means parting ways with Mariko, which he most certainly does not want to do. The clouds seem to suit everyone.

So maybe thats why the sun now shines much more brightly on Osaka, where Ishido basks in Toranagas downfall with Ochiba, to whom he credits the scheme that brought down his rival. Ochiba is not quite ready to celebrate yet, however, nor is she particularly enthused about Ochibas suggestion that they marry to formalize their alliance. She doesnt say no, but nothing about her reaction suggests shes leaning toward a yes.

In Edo, Toranagas inner circle mourns Nagakado, recalling his youthful foibles with good humor. Or some of them react this way. For Omi, the painful loss only underscores his disappointment at Toranagas surrender; Nagakado might have been foolish in his aggressiveness, but at least he was refusing to lie down. The next day, they continue their mourning without Toranaga, said to be too ill to attend his sons funeral, which undoubtedly contributes to the sense of discontent. Yabushige agrees with his nephew and wants to march on Osaka. Some generals wear their armor in silent protest of Toranagas decision. The sadness cant quite drown out the restlessness.

But just how ill is Toranaga? Hes not so ill as to be without need of Mariko, as she learns when Buntaro interrupts a meeting with Ochibas sister and her child (who can at least rest easy having received word that her family will be spared after Toranagas surrender). Buntaro also lays the groundwork for a different sort of meeting, informing Mariko that hed like to make tea for her. This, well soon see, is not a casual request.

Other tense meetings precede that proposed tea ceremony, however. Blackthorne reluctantly reunites with Father Martin, who unkindly concludes that Blackthorne has been cut loose or else he wouldnt be living so far away from his lord. But Blackthorne has plans, he tells Father Martin  plans that, you guessed it, involve reclaiming his ship. Theres more to the plan, too, including a reunion with his crew and a confrontation with the Portuguese Black Ship. Tell me, Father Martin replies, will you wear those clothes when you see your men? Even he probably doesnt realize how cutting this remark will prove in time.

Father Martin next meets with Toranaga, and Mariko serves as translator as he delivers the bad news that the Christian council members cannot be brought over to Toranagas side. Toranaga does not take this well, blaming the Catholic Church for its lack of support. Father Martin attempts not only to clarify this but to offer some strategy: Why not form an alliance with Ochiba? After all, they both loved the Taiko and the heir. It makes sense, right? Hiromatsu also sees the wisdom in this idea, but Toranaga remains unconvinced, believing that, above all, Ochiba hates him. Whatever sense the alliance might make on paper, this will only get in the way.

And, while theyre talking, Toranaga continues, Hiromatsu needs to stop questioning his decision to surrender and tell the generals to do the same. Toranaga might be a dead man walking, but hes still in charge for now. He leaves with a parting gift for Father Martin, who will be allowed to build his church in Edo. All is lost, it would seem. Counterpoint: This is a ploy, and Toranaga plans to fight  or at least thats what Hiromatsu tells the others as Father Martin walks away, bound for Osaka with the message that Toranaga just wants to die in peace.

Then its time for tea. In a beautifully staged scene, Buntaro prepares tea for his wife with great formality and with a precision and attentiveness to detail that pleases her. Its a bittersweet moment in their fracturing marriage. Buntaro remembers the happiness of their early days together. Mariko, as she politely puts it, struggles to remember it the same way. When Buntaro asks if she still has feelings for Anjin, she doesnt reply. So he pivots, proposing a double suicide, which will end their shared misery and protest Toranagas decision to give up. For Mariko, this proposal is just a continuation of Buntaros habit of just not getting it. She doesnt want death for deaths sake; she wants to be away from him. He abuses her and overwhelms her and she wants to be done with this. When Buntaro cries after she leaves, is he at last starting to understand the woman he married?

One memorable scene of estrangement follows another  albeit an estrangement of a much different kind. Seeking out his men, Blackthorne finds them in Edos slums, living a drunken existence in the stinkiest part of town. Disgusted, he tries to walk away, only to be spotted by Salamon, who informs him his crew has been reduced to six men who are half-dead and assumed their pilot was fully dead and moved on, fully committing to a decadent life in Japan. Whats more, theyve come to suspect theyre only there because of Blackthornes ambition, not a real threat that caused him to change course. The fight that follows doesnt just end their relationship (and seemingly Salamons life)  it cuts Blackthorne off from his old life, possibly forever.

Blackthornes next steps begin with a strange alliance. With Marikos help, he scores an audience with Yabushige in the hope of  yes, thats right  regaining control of the Erasmus and sailing the seas. He wants this so badly, in fact, that hell sail under the banner of the man who boiled one of Blackthornes shipmates alive, a real shitface, in Blackthornes words. Yabushige turns him down, but not for the expected reasons. Hes also now convinced that Toranaga hasnt given up and wants to wait to see what happens next. This leads to an unexpected confession. Blackthorne realizes that he doesnt truly belong in Japan, but he doesnt belong anywhere, really, and sees Yabushige as a kindred, maverick spirit. What he fails to understand, Yabushige and Mariko (but especially Mariko) try to convey, is that loyalty supersedes even the likelihood of death. Its not what Blackthorne wants, for himself or Mariko. But this is what hes stuck with anyway.

That pride in service carries over to the next scene, in which Kiku looks on happily as Gin cries at the sight of what appears to be marshlands. But where others might see a wasteland, she sees potential for the city to come. Also watching this from a short distance away: Father Martin. It appears that the courtesan teahouses and the cathedral will have to find a way to live side by side.

As these future neighbors consider new beginnings, Ochiba has to consider an end: Lady Daiyoin, the Taikos widow, has suffered a stroke. Her dying wish is for Ochibas promise to release the hostages and stop these games that are destabilizing their nation. Will Ochiba honor the request? Its tough to read the expression that crosses her face as Daiyoin breathes her last breath.

Back in Edo, if Toranaga is disingenuous about surrendering, he has an odd way of conveying it. One by one, he has his vassals sign a list promising their surrender, and when its Hiromatsus turn, he attempts to call Toranagas bluff. But the exchange that follows suggests there is no bluff. Even when Hiromatsu suggests they stay and fight in Edo, Toranaga cannot be persuaded, reasoning that the good of Japan outweighs the good of the clan. In the exchange that follows, Hiromatsu suggests he can no longer follow Toranaga. Left with no other option, he commits seppuku, though it means dying in vain.

But did he? Later that night, Mariko tries to make sense of it all as she talks to Toranaga. And it turns out there is sense to be made: Toranaga knew Blackthorne would turn to Yabushige and that any reluctance to form an alliance would fall away with Hiromatsus death. Theyre both goshawks to be thrown at opponents. But that means, Mariko quickly deduces, that Toranaga knew Hiromatsu would take his life, which also means the two of them must have planned this. Although Hiromatsu is truly dead, his seppuku was essentially a con job to persuade everyone that Toranaga has really given up. Its a scheme within a scheme, and only one question remains: Will Mariko also play the role she needs to play? But this isnt really a question at all.

As the episode draws to a close, some major characters appear on the way to getting what they want. Ochibas gestures suggest shell accept Ishido, and Blackthorne gets his alliance with Yabushige, with an unexpected passenger accompanying them to Osaka: Mariko. Toranaga, too, is in the position he wants to be, but at what cost? He has lost his closest adviser (who also served as a mentor and a friend) and a son whose death was a parting gift, buying him time. Was it worth it? Thats a question left for Shoguns final two episodes to answer.

Feudal Gestures

 Shogun has been compelling from the start, but its picking up some serious closing speed in the back half of its run. Two weeks ago brought the (apparently deferred) promise of Crimson Sky. Last weeks episode ended with a powerful shock. The Abyss of Life ends with a series of question marks, none more prominent than this one: What is Toranaga doing? The death of his son complicates this question. Hiromatsus sacrifice appears to have been long in the works. Nagakados death, however beneficial it might have been, was not. Does he have a clear head for what comes next?

 Similarly, every episode has looked great, but this one nails the moodiness. I was kind of shocked to learn the series was filmed in British Columbia, but if the early seasons of The X-Files taught us anything, its that British Columbia can stand in for just about anywhere. Lets tip a hat to director Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour and cinematographer Marc Laliberte.

An earlier version of this recap incorrectly stated that Blackthorne had regained control of his ship. It has been corrected.

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Photo: Kurt Iswarienko/FX

Spoilers for Shogun episode seven, A Stick of Time.

Shogun is all about what transcends culture and what stays firmly in its own fief. It turns out failson is a concept that can apply beyond our current place and time, as Yuki Kuras translator explains the idea  a scion of a great man who can never measure up to Daddy  and how it fits his character, Yoshii Nagakado. Nagakado was the overeager son of Toronaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), the Machiavellian Daimyo around whom Shoguns various plots revolve, who possessed an almost puppy-dog-like need to prove himself on the battlefield and to his father. But alas, he was never a player; he just got played. His rash decision to execute a samurai hastened the war between his father and the other regents, and then he died by slipping in a brothels onsen after trying to pull a Hamlet on his uncle (Eita Okuno).

With this giant whoopsie, Nagakado joins the failson canon alongside Arrested Developments Gob Bluth and Successions Kendall Roy. But his characters ignoble end hasnt fazed Kura, who is about as new to acting as Nagakado was to lording over people  Shogun was his first international show and first shoot abroad  and says he couldnt have had a better mentor than his onscreen father.

Having a death scene thats so plausible, does that get in your head? How careful are you stepping out of the shower now?

Quite so, especially at those hot springs and public bathhouses in Japan. They have slippery areas, so I tend to be more careful in those areas after this experience.

Have you died onscreen before? How does this one rate?

Ive shot death scenes before, but certainly nothing like this one, where you kind of inflict it upon yourself. There is a sort of awkward silliness in that, but at the same time, its very real. Its certainly the most impactful one that Ive experienced.

Shogun really undercuts a lot of traditional grand narratives. It doesnt do the heroic moves. Whats that like as a performer?

Its quite complex. I read the book, obviously. There were a lot of things that were difficult to understand with just one read. This being a period show, the lives are far away from the life that I live in right now. Even in the script, which characters are contemplating what, and what the next move is  getting to watch the episode now, Im so impressed by how it all came together, and it all makes sense. The fact that all these complex elements come together in one piece is quite wonderful.

This is a concept that is maybe going to be hard to translate: Theres a robust Shogun fan community online, with memes and everything, and your character is being called a failson.

This is my first time hearing it!

Do you feel like thats fair?

Yes, and its great that theres excitement around the show.

What was going through Nagakados mind as he died? What does he think happens next for his dad?

He was quite frustrated by his fathers inaction, not choosing to go to the battle. That frustration led him to, of course, that action at the very end of episode seven. Now that hes dead and probably in heaven, its likely that hes hoping that his father will go to battle and face his enemies.

He clearly craved some emotional intimacy with his father. Do you think theres a different time, definitely not the sengoku era, when that relationship could have flourished?

Like you said, the sengoku period is such a difficult time. It is a matter of life to death, and there is a great deal of tension in everyday life. But what still somewhat holds true today is the way that fathers in Japan  perhaps its a little bit different today, but still Japanese fathers are typically quite severe, of few words, and such was the case with Toronaga. But throughout the show, there are moments of expressions of love toward Nagakado  through action, not through words.

Maybe he didnt know as clearly as he could have, but he was quite a fortunate, happy person, considering all the mistakes he made, that he was never killed or anything. And the fact that what happens to him at the end of this episode really triggers what is to happen to his father next, I think thats really also a testament to that. There was a great deal of love.

Did working on this show change your relationship to communicating with other people? Translation is so key to the story, but also, as you just said, so much of the storytelling of the show is done through action, because to speak your feelings out loud is so dangerous.

Theres a lot of parallels in the experience of shooting Shogun and working on set in an English-language environment. My English is not very good, so when Im trying to communicate, I am paying attention to the eyes and the body language. There is a greater emphasis and appreciation for communicating with other people not through words, but through other means.

What was it like to see medieval Japan re-created in British Columbia?

Because of the scale, something like this would have not been possible to create in Japan. Canada has this massive land. A very realistic, authentic Japan was created in Vancouver and that was very impressive. As a working actor in Japanese films and TV, it was a great honor to be part of it. It was a very big first step for me personally. It was my very first time being abroad, working on a non-Japanese, international show. So it was very interesting to learn about different systems of filmmaking.

This is a silly aside, but did you have poutine while you were in Canada?

Yes, I did try it many times. Especially with the horse team. They were always eating poutine.

Lets talk about the sword training. Nagakado may be a failson, but hes still pretty good at beheading people. What was it like picking up that skill?

I trained for about a month at a dojo in Japan, and then once I came to Vancouver, there was a boot camp for about a month. I brought a bamboo sword, and I would always be practicing. Sanada-san, often when I was shooting he would give advice or adjust my positions. Not only that, but when there was free time, he would help train me. Sanada-san is one of the very, very top figures when it comes to tate, the tactics of Japanese-style sword fighting for period shows. It was such a fortunate and wonderful experience to have him help me train. For example, in episode four, that cannon scene, theres quite a bit of action, and Sanada-san really helped hone my movements. There are different ways to hold the sword, and he helped me figure out what works best for me.

It must be really exciting to join the jidaigeki canon with such a legend in the genre.

This was my very first time being part of jidaigeki. And not only that, when we shot in Vancouver, Id only been working as a professional actor for around three years. It was my first international show, and I could not have asked for a better environment and circumstances to do that.

In American film schools, were taught that jidaigeki is almost like American cowboy movies. Its like the story we tell ourselves about our history, and I wonder what putting those costumes on and living in that world does to your relationship to Japans history.

This particular time period had both good and bad in so many different ways. But in terms of what relates to me today as an actor, its this idea that you dont really verbalize everything. Acting in this, theres so many technical elements, which could be called constraints, especially important gestures. Its almost a different sport compared to contemporary TV.

Does it make you think differently about the history you learned in school, now that youve kind of lived it?

Its so different from what I learned in school. Typically you just learn the facts and events that took place, but playing these characters, you really get to tap into the inner thoughts or feelings of these figures.

One thing that was very interesting to learn and think about came up a lot while we were shooting: The katana you use in battle, when you cut somebody, you have all this blood on the blade. It coagulates, and once you do the first pass, your second cut wouldnt be as sharp. So if you really think about it, more likely those battles were a lot more hand-to-hand. Its not as clean and beautiful as it is often portrayed.

Of all of the aristocratic hobbies that you got to do as part of this  sword fighting, falconry, horseback riding  are there any that you want to continue?

Definitely horseback riding. It felt like it really suits me, being in nature, being in touch with the horses. It really helped me, mentally, to be able to relax. Its also helped me physically. I felt like I was in better shape. Thats something I would like to continue.

So not falconry, then.

Kowai.

Translator: The bird was scary.

Oh, I know what kowai means.

[Laughs.] The bird was very smart and very well behaved. But yeah, still a little bit scary. Because she eats raw meat.

This interview has been edited for content and clarity.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 9. Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have the potential to increase the volume of trade between the two countries to $2 billion this year, said Akylbek Japarov, the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports.

According to the Cabinet of the Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, this statement was made during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektenov, who visited Kyrgyzstan on a working visit.

Japarov noted that the Kyrgyz-Kazakh interaction has strengthened since the establishment of diplomatic relations and has reached the level of strategic partnership and alliance.

"I believe it is necessary for the governments of both countries to continue to find new priority areas of cooperation and expand industrial cooperation between the countries," Japarov said.

According to the State Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, the country's trade turnover with Kazakhstan amounted to $1.317 billion in 2023, accounting for 8.4 percent of Kyrgyzstans total trade. The trade increased by 11.6 percent compared to $1.181 billion in 2022.

Kyrgyzstans exports to Kazakhstan during last year reached $455.702 million, increasing by 10.9 percent compared to $410.888 million in 2022. Kyrgyzstan's imports from Kazakhstan in 2023 totaled $862.182 million, which is an 11.9 percent increase compared to the 2022 figures ($770.215 million).

Diplomatic relations between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan were established on October 15, 1992.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 9. The active work on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway construction project continues, said Nurlanbek Shakiev, the Speaker of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan, during a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Du Dewen, Trend reports.

"This railway is very important not only for China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan but also for the region as a whole," he said, according to the parliament.

Shakiev also noted that China is one of the main trade and economic partners of Kyrgyzstan and highlighted the growth in trade turnover between the two countries.

"We should also consider new opportunities that contribute to deepening economic relations," said the parliamentarian.

During the meeting, issues of enhancing political-economic, cultural-humanitarian ties between Kyrgyzstan and China were discussed, including in the sphere of inter-parliamentary cooperation.

According to the State Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, the country's trade turnover with China reached $5.443 billion in 2023, comprising 34.7 percent of Kyrgyzstans total trade. The trade increased by 31 percent compared to $4.181 billion in 2022.

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, a planned 454-kilometer rail line, is intended to connect China's and Uzbekistan's railways through Kyrgyzstan's territory and further link up with the European railway network through Turkmenistan, Iran, and Turkiye.
MIC Card gives Rome residents unlimited access to city-run museums.

Rome is offering a year of unlimited free entry to municipal museums and archaeological sites to residents of the capital who are 18 or turn 18 in 2024 by giving them a city museum pass.

The city says the offer, valid for 12 months from the time the card is activated, will potentially reach more than 40,000 young people living in Rome.

Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri said the city is continuing to put young people "at the centre of all our policies", from public transport to new study rooms in city museums.

The MIC Card, available to all Rome residents for an annual fee of just 5, entitles the holder to unlimited access to city-run museums.

The card, which must be renewed each year, also offers various concessions and discounts at exhibitions, cafes and museum bookshops.

The new offer for the city's 18-year-olds will be available via the MIC Card website or app where young people can activate their card online by entering their codice fiscale tax identification number.

The city will also contact 18-year-olds directly with a letter containing steps to follow to obtain the card and says the offer will soon be extended to young people living in the Rome metropolitan area around the capital.

What is Rome's MIC Card?

Launched in 2018, the museum pass is reserved exclusively for permanent residents of Rome, both Italian and foreign, as well as temporary residents such as students. It is not available to tourists.

The 5 pass offers unlimited entry to a total of 19 municipal museums, including the new Forma Urbis Museum, and 29 archaeological and historical sites in Rome, including the area sacra at Largo di Torre Argentina.

Some of the best known venues where the MIC Card can be used include the Capitoline Museums, the Ara Pacis, Trajan's Markets, Centrale Montemartini and Villa Torlonia.

Cover image: Centrale Montemartini. Photo credit: Maria Letizia Avato / Shutterstock.com.
In submissions filed on Tuesday, her barrister, Nicholas Owens, SC, noted the court had received into evidence a document entitled master chronology, which included an entry that appears to be a record made by a senior AFP officer (Leanne Cross) of a meeting with Minister [Linda] Reynolds and [her then-chief of staff] Fiona Brown on April 4, 2019.

The submissions were released on Tuesday as the Federal Court announced that Justice Michael Lee will deliver his judgment in Lehrmanns multimillion-dollar lawsuit on Monday, April 15.

A senior Australian Federal Police officer recorded an allegation that Brittany Higgins may have been drugged on the night she alleges she was raped in Parliament House by Bruce Lehrmann, her lawyers say in a bombshell submission in Lehrmanns defamation case.

The master chronology was tendered in evidence as part of a raft of materials produced to the court by Taylor Auerbach, a former producer on Sevens Spotlight program who gave evidence about the networks dealings with Lehrmann when it was seeking to secure an exclusive interview.

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That [AFP] record states, I also have concerns from info I heard that this may have happened before or could happen again. (I was referring to info that alleged victim may have been drugged) ... we need to speak to a range of people. Security staff cleaners may have info, Owens said.

As far as she is aware, the potential that Ms Higgins was drugged is not an issue that has been raised or explored in these proceedings, and while there is evidence now that there was info that Ms Higgins was drugged, and that the concerns expressed in that note were held, the nature of that info and the basis upon which the concerns were held was not explored.

In the context of a serious challenge to the honesty and accuracy of Ms Higgins account of the events of the night in question, the potential that her perceptive and recollective abilities may have been affected other than by alcohol and trauma is an issue that she would have wished to explore.
I will always stand up for the NDIS and for the people on the scheme who are eligible on the scheme to receive support. I think its a little easy just to go to very extreme examples and try and discredit the whole scheme. But court records show clinical experts, justice officials and judges are increasingly concerned that the NDIS and its workers are potentially ill-equipped and unprepared for this dramatic expansion of responsibility, putting the public and their own safety at risk. Sworn evidence and judicial findings have repeatedly flagged concerns and the potential risks of relying on NDIS workers to manage the care and supervision of high-risk sex offenders with intellectual disabilities and complicated psychological and sexual diagnoses. In 2023, a Queensland court heard testimony from a psychiatrist that while NDIS support would be of some assistance by ensuring there was a staff member present in the vicinity of a serial paedophile, they do not necessarily modify risks significantly.

The doctor also concluded that any NDIS support worker should have specific forensic knowledge because people who were untrained and relatively unskilled were easily manipulated by psychopaths. They were vulnerable. And if not victims, they might inadvertently allow people they were caring for to get into risky situations. It was noted in the court proceeding that the offenders NDIS worker might be able to deter him from interacting with a potential victim but they cannot stop him from doing so. This same man, who had been on parole at the time and receiving daily assistance from NDIS support workers, was found with a woman and an eight-year-old child in his accommodation. I accept that NDIS support is likely to provide the respondent with a degree of stability and assistance in not getting into risky situations, the judge said. However, it cannot be equated with supervision.

Among those sounding warnings is the union representing some of the 270,000-strong NDIS workforce. A Health Workers Union spokesperson said the service and care provided by members was crucial to the schemes operation, but the safety of the workers needs to come first. Health workers are not prison or parole officers  they shouldnt have to deal with people and situations that put their health and wellbeing in jeopardy. Health workers shouldnt have to confront clients about possible law-breaking behaviour. It isnt their responsibility, and in the vast majority of cases they dont have the support or training to handle these situations. We believe, where possible, the support should be provided in a health facility with security on hand. Dr Sophie Yates, a research fellow at ANUs Crawford School of Public Policy, said while there was funding from the NDIS for these kinds of support systems, the workforce isnt there. There is quite a thin market in this specialised area of support for people with disabilities who are involved in the criminal justice system or have that very complex kind of disability and offending history, she said.

One of the most frequent concerns raised is the specific threat posed to female NDIS workers. In another Queensland case, one offender had a tendency for blurring the lines between the role of NDIS workers and sex workers. Specifically, it appeared that he was searching for escorts and pornography which depicted women who resembled his NDIS support workers, a court heard. Loading In June 2023, a NSW clinician recommended to the NDIS that no female staff be assigned to work with an offender at any time due to his lengthy history of assaulting women he comes into contact with and his expressed belief that consent is only the opinion of females. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, which is responsible for overseeing the NDIS workforce, declined to comment on how it monitors the safety and training of NDIS workers who provide support to sex offenders.

The agency also declined to comment on whether any NDIS worker had been harmed while providing support to sex offenders who qualify for assistance under the scheme. The NDIS Commissions role is to ensure all NDIS providers comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct, which requires providers and workers to deliver supports and services in a safe and competent manner. In response to questions about potential safety issues with the NDIS scheme, Bill Shorten said: The monitoring of people with court imposed legal conditions is the responsibility of state police and state criminal justice systems. The NDIS provides services and support for Australians with significant and permanent disabilities, through packages of approved funding when participants are found to be eligible under the NDIS Act. Some legal experts say the NDIS has become a critical part of the justice system because it provides effective support to high-risk offenders who might otherwise be further marginalised.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, April 9. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched in Tajikistan the second phase of its regional initiative, the Programme to improve national and regional locust management in Central Asia and the Caucasus (CCA), funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Trend reports.

According to the FAO, the project aims to support national and regional efforts to prevent and effectively combat locust outbreaks. This effort spans five years and includes Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Oleg Guchgeldiyev, FAO Representative in Tajikistan, stated that the second phase underscores FAO's commitment to assisting the Tajik government and other Central Asian nations in managing locust concerns.

He stated that by encouraging collaboration and offering technical expertise, FAO hopes to limit the negative effects of locust infestations on food security and livelihoods, resulting in improved productivity, health, and the environment in the region.

Furthermore, FAO conducted a training session from February 26 to March 1, 2024, on locust monitoring and information management in southern Tajikistan, benefiting 29 Tajik locust experts.

On April 1, the FAO representation in Tajikistan delivered 10 kg of biopesticide to the Locust Control Expedition state organization. Additionally, they provided 20 protected tablets and accessories for field data collection. These biopesticides, containing the active ingredient Metarhizium acridum, are particularly effective as they exclusively target locusts, posing no negative impacts on human health or the environment.
Presented with an opportunity to reshape the nations military leadership, the Albanese government has opted for continuity over change and safety over boldness.

The appointment of David Johnston as chief of the Australian Defence Force comes almost a year after the government released its defence strategic review, billed as the most significant re-examination of the military in 35 years.

That review found the Defence Force was no longer fit for purpose, and needed a fundamental overhaul.

The strategic risks we face require the implementation of a new approach to planning, force posture, force structure, capability development and acquisition, the review stated.
A navy officer will lead the nations military for the first time in over two decades as Japan, Canada and other nations clamour to gain access to the technology-sharing benefits of the AUKUS pact.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was an easy decision to elevate Australian Defence Force vice chief David Johnston to the top job, while Defence Minister Richard Marles praised him as a safe pair of hands.

However, critics questioned whether Johnston would be able to drive major reform inside the ADF given he will serve a truncated two-year term in the role at his request, rather than the usual four years.

Johnston, who has been Australias second most senior military figure since 2018, will replace long-serving Defence Force Chief Angus Campbell in July, with current Air Force Chief Robert Chipman promoted to ADF vice chief.
An unliveable three-bedroom property in Five Dock attracted a $5,016,000 payday for its vendors, after seven bidders fought over the home on Saturday.

The home at 31 Norman Street was guided at $3.75 million had only changed hands twice since the 1920s.

Bidding opened at $3.5 million, and buyers placed bids of $100,000 and $50,000 bar one bidder who rounded up to the nearest even number. It quickly hit the market at $4 million, the reserve, then the rest of the auction was fought out by three parties until it sold for a whopping $1,016,000 more than its reserve.

McGrath Strathfield selling agent Arthur Syrios said the property was completely dilapidated and much worse than the photos showed. He said the home had odd smells and remnants of past fires.
It remains to be seen whether Google introduces charges for its artificial intelligence (AI) products and, if it does, whether the other emerging giants of the technology follow its lead. Perhaps every question will cost a few cents. We might have to pay extra for longer, more detailed answers. Or there could be a monthly subscription option, covering everything you might possibly want to know.

One point should surely be absolutely clear. As consumers, we should be begging Google to make us pay. Sure, free stuff is great to start with. But it also means everything is driven by advertising until it becomes unusable. Paid-for AI will be far better, and much more useful in the long run  and it is customers that will come out ahead.

Googles owner Alphabet is weighing up whether to put its AI-powered search features behind a paywall. Credit: iStock

It could turn out to be the biggest change of strategy in the companys 25-year history. According to reports, Alphabet, as the owner of the Google search empire is now called, is weighing up whether to put its AI-powered search features behind a paywall, forcing consumers to pay to use them; or whether to keep them completely free, as its basic search function, email server, maps, and all the other services it provides are at the moment.

Other AI services are grappling with a similar dilemma. ChatGPT, currently the runaway market leader, has a free version and a slightly superior paid-for model, and most of the other major AI tools are opting for something similar.
The few guests who came through our door in the early days all wanted steak and three veg. I can laugh about it now, Alla says, speaking to me from her home in Daylesford, and when I tell it, it sounds like there must be a romantic notion to it, this young couple living their dream, working hard, achieving  But it wasnt, it was hideous, it was torture. There were plate-throwing incidents many times. No one could understand what we were doing. Lake House now seems to make so much sense  its exactly what many modern-day travellers are looking for. Its boutique and intimate, with a warmth you will never get at a big chain. It has a high-quality restaurant showcasing produce from the local area. Its luxurious without being snooty. Its accessible from Melbourne, though a world away from the big city. Alla was inspired by the great country restaurants and boutique hotels of France. In setting up the property, Alla was inspired by the great country restaurants and boutique hotels she had experienced in France, and she couldnt understand why Australia had nothing similar. Soon though, she did understand.

The French in the Michelin guide used to call places like this worthy of a journey, Alla says, referring to those few restaurants that earn three Michelin stars. So that was the image, that was the idea I had, but it was so far from the reality of managing to achieve it. I imagined having a cellar of note, waiters in long white aprons, a long list of local producers knocking on my door bringing beautiful local mushrooms and tiny vegetables  all the things Id seen in France, as well as knowledgeable travellers who would discover us. I pictured trained, amazing local people who would bang down the door coming to work for us. Alla Wolf-Tasker and Allan Wolf-Tasker in 1990. And, of course, none of that existed. The few guests who came through our door in the early days all wanted steak and three veg. Or scones with jam and cream. But that wasnt the kind of restaurant I wanted to have. I opened with a fixed-price menu of $29, and I was immediately told by all my [Melbourne] colleagues that no one was going to drive into the country and spend $29 on lunch. This is a special year for Alla, her daughter Larissa Wolf-Tasker, and the entire team at Lake House. Its their 40th birthday, a time to look back on their past, plan their future, and consider the effect this restaurant and hotel have had on what was once a small rural hamlet with little going for it.

Rural luxury The Lake House is now what many modern travellers are looking for. Daylesford may have seemed an odd choice back then, but Alla had a connection to it: her Russian-migrant parents had bought a small cottage there in the 1960s to act as their dacha, their country getaway, where they could grow fruit and vegetables and drink the mineral-rich spring water. Childhood holidays for Alla were spent at the cottage with fellow migrant families, eating homemade cheese and sausages and exploring the countryside. That family connection for the business has always been important and will continue to be. Most of those places I loved [before setting up Lake House], and that Ive loved since, were multi-generational, Alla says. I think its that cross-generational passion thats the reason some beautiful things exist. It takes an awful lot of dedication, time, sacrifices and learning skills to maintain a business over a long period of time. So you need either people who are part of your tribe who are almost like family, and we certainly have a few of those. But that multi-generational passion  you need to have that carried through.

Enter Larissa Wolf-Tasker, who is now brand director at Lake House, and will continue to steer the business into the future. A waterfront suite. Its a huge privilege, Larissa says. Im acutely aware that there are very few hospitality businesses like ours around, and Ive been very proud to be part of its success so far. Though, of course, working with your parents isnt always easy. You can end up having incredibly frank, blunt conversations, Larissa says. But thats the nature of family. And if the past 40 years have taught us anything, its that not a year goes by without us evolving or changing in some way. They dont need to be dramatic changes, just a constant nudging and tweaking. And I imagine thats the way it will continue.

Despite those changes, probably the greatest success for Lake House over 40 years has been its consistency. It hasnt had to morph dramatically to match the culture  the culture has morphed to match Lake House. The food is still high-end European in concept, though local in provenance. The atmosphere is still warm but professional. The rooms are still charming and well-considered. Worthy of a journey ... Lake House, 40 years on. I built it the way I thought hospitality should be, Alla says. Youve got to stick with what you believe in: unique, charming, genuine warmth, carefully curated, and something of our personality and the personality of the area. I think now, thats what people are looking for. And thats what Ive always wanted  to be worthy of a journey. To be the destination itself. For bookings and more information about Lake House, see lakehouse.com.au
The Danish port of Aalborg is more than 16,000 kilometres from Sydney but the two cities have a similar treasure: a waterfront building designed by Jorn Utzon.

Aalborg was Utzons childhood home and its foreshore hosts the Utzon Centre, the celebrated architects final project completed in 2008. His greatest work, the Sydney Opera House, has just celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Some drawings and models at the Utzon Centre show designs for the Sydney Opera House interior never realised.

To commemorate that milestone, the Utzon Centre has created a stunning Opera House exhibition including a trove of sketches, drawings, photographs, models and other objects from the centres collection.

The show, called Sydney Opera House: A beautiful idea, kicked off in October 2023 and will be open until late 2028  so theres plenty of time to plan a visit.
Mesquite, Texas: A chilly, midday darkness fell across North America as a total solar eclipse raced across the continent, thrilling those lucky enough to behold the spectacle through clear skies.

Eclipse mania gripped all of Mexico, the US and Canada, as the moon swept in front of the sun on Monday (Tuesday AEST), blotting out daylight. Almost everyone in North America was guaranteed at least a partial eclipse, weather permitting.

It was the continents biggest eclipse audience ever, with a couple hundred million people living in or near the shadows path, plus scores of out-of-towners flocking in.

Clouds blanketed most of Texas as the total solar eclipse began its diagonal dash across land, starting along Mexicos mostly clear Pacific coast and aiming for Texas and 14 other US states, before exiting into the North Atlantic near Newfoundland.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 9. Turkmenistan and Georgia discussed the development of fruitful, comprehensive cooperation, Trend reports.

According to an official source, these issues were discussed during a meeting between the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili.

During the meeting, they emphasized the fruitful collaboration between the two nations, both on a bilateral level and within global organizations, emphasizing the long-standing amicable relations.

Particular focus was placed on the importance of trade, economic, and transport-logistics partnerships, as well as the progress of shared regional initiatives.

Meanwhile, the meeting took place within the framework of Shalva Papuashvili's official visit to Turkmenistan, accompanied by a parliamentary delegation.

Prior to that, Papuashvili met with Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, where the parties stressed the importance of constant contacts at various levels, where meetings at the level of heads of state and government are the main factor in deepening relations between Turkmenistan and Georgia.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 9. Uzbekistan's gold and foreign exchange reserves totaled $34.19 billion in March 2024, Trend reports.

According to data from the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, this indicator is up by $2 billion over the month.

The majority of reserves are held in gold, totaling $25.3 billion. Gold reserves declined by 11.5 million troy ounces over the month.

According to the new figures, foreign currency assets totaled $8.2 billion in March.

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan's deposits with foreign central banks and the International Monetary Fund declined to $338.8 million.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's gold and foreign exchange reserves totaled $32.1 billion in February 2024.

According to data from the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, the majority of reserves are held in gold, totaling $24.09 billion. Gold reserves declined by 11.9 million troy ounces over the month. In monetary terms, this figure came to $829.1 million.

Foreign currency assets totaled $7.5 billion in February.
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James Cox

Simon Harris was elected Ireland's 16th, and youngest-ever (37), Taoiseach on Tuesday.

His new Cabinet has been sworn in by President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain.

Here is how the historic day played out:

________________________________________________________

9.30pm: The Simon Harris-led government has officially been appointed by President Michael D Higgins.

Ministers have received their seals of office from the new Taoiseach and the President.

Taoiseach Simon Harris and the new Cabinet arrived at Aras an Uachtarain at around 8.45pm this evening.

Among the ministers were two new faces - the Enterprise Minister Peter Burke and Patrick ODonovan, who has been promoted to Simon Harris old brief - Further and Higher Education.

They each individually received their seals of office, having been elected by the Dail earlier this evening.

_______________________________________________________________

8.15pm: Coalition members will now travel to Aras an Uachtarain to receive their seals of office from President Michael D Higgins.

______________________________________________________________

8pm: Here is Mr Harris' full Cabinet:

Simon Harris - Taoiseach;

Micheal Martin - Tanaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence;

Eamon Ryan - Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Minster for Transport;

Michael McGrath - Minister for Finance;

Paschal Donohoe - Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform;

Helen McEntee - Minister for Justice;

Stephen Donnelly - Minister for Health;

Norma Foley - Minister for Education;

Darragh O'Brien - Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage;

Peter Burke - Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment;

Catherine Martin - Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media;

Heather Humphreys - Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development;

Charlie McConalogue - Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine;

Roderic O'Gorman - Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth;

Patrick O'Donovan - Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science;

Hildegarde Naughton - Government Chief Whip; Minister of State for Special Education;

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill - Minister of State for EU Affairs and Defence.

Jack Chambers - Minister of State for International and Road Transport and Logistics and Minister of State for Postal Policy;

Senator Pippa Hackett - Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity

7pm: Taoiseach Simon Harris has reshuffled senior roles at Cabinet, with new ministers for enterprise and further education selected.

Peter Burke was appointed as Minister for Enterprise, a position which was recently vacated by Simon Coveney.

Mr Harris gave his former role of Minister for Further Education to Patrick ODonovan, in a promotion for the Limerick TD who held the position of Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW).

While there had been speculation that Hildegarde Naughton may have been promoted from her current junior minister role directly to a Cabinet post, no such change was announced.

Instead, Ms Naughton will take on the role as Minister of State for Special Education and leave her current position as junior minister at the Department of Health.

She also retained her position as Government chief whip, which already sees her sitting at Cabinet as a so-called super junior.

The role as Minister of State for Special Education was left vacant after Josepha Madigan announced last month that she was resigning from the position and would not contest the next election.

Mr Burkes promotion left his junior non-Cabinet role of Minister of State for European Affairs vacant, but Mr Harris announced it would be filled by Jennifer Carroll Mac Neill  who had been a Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services.

The announcement of the new minister of state alongside the other senior roles came as the Taoiseach signalled an increased emphasis on the position.

However, it means Ms Carroll Mac Neill misses out on a seat at Cabinet.

Helen McEntee retained her justice portfolio amid much speculation on her role, as Mr Harris set out an ambition to refocus his party on law and order.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys also held on to their positions.

___________________________________________________________

6.05pm: The new Taoiseach tells the Dail the Government will be "energetic and laser-focused on delivery".

______________________________________________________________

6pm: Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris congratulated the new Taoiseach, adding: I wish him all the best as he settles into the role and look forward to working together as we further strengthen UK-Ireland cooperation.

The president of the European Commission has expressed warmest congratulations to Mr Harris.

In a post on X, Ursula von der Leyen said they would meet on Thursday and added: We will work hand in hand to deliver for the people of Ireland, and for Europe as a whole.

My warmest congratulations to @SimonHarrisTD on being elected Taoiseach of Ireland today.



We will work hand in hand to deliver for the people of Ireland, and for Europe as a whole.



Looking forward to meeting you in Brussels on Thursday.  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 9, 2024

European Council president Charles Michel wished Mr Harris success in his new role. He said: Looking forward to collaborating closely with you.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy also paid tribute to the new Taoiseach and said: We value our partnership and thank Ireland for its consistent support as Ukraine defends itself against Russian aggression and pursues EU accession.

Ireland has welcomed more than 100,000 refugees from Ukraine since the war began.

Congratulations to @SimonHarrisTD on becoming Ireland's new Taoiseach.



We value our partnership and thank Ireland for its consistent support as Ukraine defends itself against Russian aggression and pursues EU accession.



I am confident that our active bilateral cooperation  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 9, 2024

Mr Zelenskiy added: I am confident that our active bilateral cooperation strengthens security for both nations and throughout all of our Europe.

UK Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer posted on social media: Congratulations to Simon Harris on becoming Irelands Taoiseach.

On behalf of the UK Labour Party, I wish him well and look forward to working together as we seek to strengthen the ties of friendship between our two countries.

_______________________________________________________

5.35pm: Hildegarde Naughton will remain as Chief Whip along with a new special needs brief. Paschal Donohoe, Heather Humphries and Helen McEntee are all keeping their current posts.

_________________________________________________________

5.32pm: Minister for Justice Helen McEntee will keep her post, despite speculation that she was set to be moved to another portfolio or demoted.

___________________________________________________________

5.30pm: Peter Burke has been appointed as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Patrick O'Donovan has been named as the new Minister for Higher Education, the position vacated by Taoiseach Simon Harris.

___________________________________________________________

5.10pm: UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has congratuled Simon Harris on his appointment as Taoiseach.

Congratulations @SimonHarrisTD on becoming Taoiseach.



As the closest of neighbours, I look forward to forging even stronger ties between our two countries so we can deliver for people across these isles. https://t.co/G7fP8p7Je5  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 9, 2024

_____________________________________________________

5.05pm: Peter Burke is reportedly set to be confirmed as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Mr Harris' Cabinet.

___________________________________________________

3.50pm: Peter Burke has been seen entering Government Buildings. He has been tipped as the most likely contender to be named as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the role vacated by Simon Coveney.

____________________________________________________

3.10pm: Simon Harris has left Aras an Uachtarain. He will return to Government Buildings to finalise his Cabinet formation.

___________________________________________________

3pm: Newly-elected Taoiseach Simon Harris has received his seal of office from President Michael D Higgins.

Mr Harris arrived at Aras an Uachtarain this afternoon, accompanied by his wife, children, parents and members of his extended family, following the majority vote in the Dail which saw him elected as the 16th Taoiseach.

He was welcomed into the State Reception Room by President Michael D Higgins, and the president signed the Warrant of Approval, officially recognising the Taoiseach in his new position.

Taoiseach Simon Harris was then handed the Seal of the Taoiseach and the Seal of Government, finalising his acceptance of the role.

The newly elected Taoiseach and head of Fine Gael has now departed from Aras an Uachtarain to turn his attention to the appointment of his Cabinet ministers.

He'll return to Phoenix Park later this evening where the President will sign the Warrant of Appointment for the Members of the Government and the Warrant of Appointment of the Attorney General, each of which will be countersigned by the Taoiseach.

______________________________________________________________________

Simon Harris has been elected as the country's new Taoiseach, making him the youngest leader of the Government in the history of the State.

TDs voted 88 to 69 in support of Mr Harris, who will now travel to Aras an Uachtarain to meet President Michael D Higgins, where his appointment will be confirmed.

The Wicklow TDs wife Caoimhe and young children Saoirse and Cillian were in the public gallery of the Dail for the start of Tuesdays proceedings, as were his parents and brother and sister.

Mr Harris said he will work to "improve the lives of all" as he's elected the country's 16th Taoiseach.

Mr Harris is now en route to Aras an Uachtarain where he'll receive the official seal of office from President Michael D Higgins.

Accepting the nomination, Mr Harris committed to doing "everything I can to honour the trust so many have shown in me".

Mr Harris paid tribute to his predecessor Leo Varadkar, saying "the history books will record the incredible service he did for our country".

"History will also record that he was a trailblazer as we broke free from some of the worst prejudices of the past, showing Ireland at its best to the world," he added.

He also acknowledged Simon Coveney, who resigned from his Cabinet position, "after serving our country with distinction in so many different roles over so many years".

"It is 13 years since I made my maiden speech in this chamber to nominate Enda Kenny as taoiseach, someone who went on to fulfil the considerable faith that so many of us had in him, as he led a government that rescued our economy, and restored our sovereignty," Mr Harris said.

"Back then, I reflected on what values I thought were needed for the job in hand: integrity, honesty and a work rate which cannot be surpassed."

"As Taoiseach, I will demand of myself what I saw as so important then and  to return to the words I spoke that day  I promise to preside over a government committed to public service, at a time when such commitment is so urgently required.

"I believed then that a Taoiseach should work every day to realise the hopes, dreams and aspirations of our people. I still do.

"Today, I accept this new role in a spirit of humility, ready for the challenge, and full of energy and determination about what can be achieved," he added.

Newly elected Taoiseach Simon Harris leaves the Dail following the vote to elect him. Photo: PA Images

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald repeated her partys call for a general election as she launched a broadside against Mr Harris ahead of the Fine Gael leaders appointment as taoiseach.

Ms McDonald said: Another Fine Gael taoiseach is the last thing the people need. We need a change of leadership, we need a change of government.

Discussing Mr Harriss record in office before the vote to nominate him as the next taoiseach, she said: Not so long ago Simon Harris was the minister for health and on his watch hospital overcrowding spun out of control, the trolley crisis escalated and the treatment waiting list hit one million patients for the very first time.

She said that the scandalous cost of the National Childrens Hospital also grew, and that a promise Mr Harris made on child scoliosis waiting lists had been disgracefully broken again and again.

Ms McDonald said Mr Harriss appointment was part of the Governments narrative that dresses up failure as progress.

The Sinn Fein leader said the Government had presented its third taoiseach in four years.

For the third time you rearrange the Cabinet deck chairs. For the third time in four years, you pat each other on the back and tell the people what a great job youre doing, she said.

The narrative we hear today from Government is a fairy tale so egregious that Hans Christian Andersen himself would be proud of it.

She added: Its your century-old cosy club, circling the wagons once again to cling to power at all costs.

Insisting on a general election, she said: I believe that the people of Ireland deserve so much better.

She added: If you really believe that your Government has the support of the people, then you should go before the people and get that mandate.

Speaking in the Dail on Tuesday, she also criticised Fine Gaels current coalition partners.

Fianna Fail refused to vote confidence in Simon Harris as minister for health in 2020  it caused an election, if you all recall. Today, they dutifully line up to vote him in as taoiseach, joined at the hip by a group of Independent TDs, she said.

Now out there in the real world, the experience is that if you fail and fail again, you get your P45. However, in the world of this Government  Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens  it seems you can fail your way right to the very, very top.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said her party would not support a cosmetic change-over at the head of the government as she also restated her call for a general election.

Ms Bacik joked that Mr Harriss new energy slogan sounded like a Star Wars tagline.

She said Ireland was a country of profound inequalities, adding she doubted Mr Harris could deliver necessary change.
Educate Together in Castlebar have described an update provided on their promised new school building as fluff and old news.

A public meeting takes place on Thursday as frustrations grow amongst staff and parents about the lack of progress on a new building for the school.

Senator Burke said last week that the Department of Educatation has agreed to a permanent solution that will see the school provided with eight classrooms.

Senator Burke the Department is actively engaging in a site identification process aimed at securing a long-term solution for the school's accommodation needs.

"While I acknowledge that such processes can be lengthy, I have been assured that this is a priority for the Department of Education," he added.

However, school principal Sarah Calvey said this is old news and does not represent a light at the end of the tunnel.

The school was opened in temporary accommodation in 2016 twelve pupils and continued to grow into a three-campus school with 136 pupils today.

Following school board engagement with the Department of Education, Minister Norma Foley visited the school in September 2022 where the need for a new school building was acknowledged and promised.

In early 2023, the school board forwarded potential public and privately owned brownfield and greenfield sites to the Ministers department as requested. However, they say there is no evidence that the Department has contacted any of the landowners.

A recent school board commissioned report by OMD Design consultant engineers into the suitability of the school buildings has reinforced the view of the board, staff and parents that the buildings are not, and have never been, fit for purpose.

What were pushing for is for a permanent site to be identified and a school not the site should be the matter of urgency. Its just fluff really. They are just repeating what we know already. Our public meeting will still be going ahead and we will still be asking public representatives to push for our school, said Ms Calvey.
Incessant wet weather has been described as the worst we have ever experienced by under-pressure Mayo farmers.

Wet conditions have persisted in the county since June of last year and local farmers say next month is vital.

Mayo IFA chair John Lynskey said the unprecedented wet weather has put farmers to the pin of their collars. He made his comments after another weekend when Mayo was buffetted by wind and rain as Storm Kathleen swept in from the Atlantic on Saturday morning.

Any farmer who had dairy cows out on the grass had to bring them back in before Storm Kathleen and we dont know when they will be out again.

Mr Lynskey said there has been widespread damage to farmers' lands.

There has been very little fertiliser spread and the chances of doing it for another while are slim enough. Not only has there been immediate problems but its creating difficulties in the long term as well."

He said farmers are "living in hope" that the weather takes a turn for the better.

The Western People visited the dairy farm of Peter Murphy in Annefield, Hollymount yesterday (Monday). The 39-year-old Limerick native has set up home in South Mayo with his young family where he farms 30 hectares and tends to nearly 90 cows.

Feed is the big issue and its getting very tight. Reserves are very low and when you are running out of quality silage that has an impact on the cow then. Youre worried about the energy of the cow and the health of the cow and thats a big headache, said Peter.

He said the bad weather has impacted grazing with the traditional second round of grazing having to be pushed out until hopefully conditions improve.

The weather just has to turn for us, said Peter.

A flooded field in South Mayo. Picture: John O'Grady

Some farmers in parts of the county have found it difficult to even access their lands as flooding takes a toll and the weather is likely to have a major financial impact.

There were times when you couldnt go down the field with the tractor. The land was horrible, said Roundfort sheep and suckler farmer Martin Shaughnessy.

He said the last year has been "probably the toughest since I started farming".

Lambing ewes in February was the hardest Spring ever. Its been constantly wet really, said Martin, who is sheep chair with Mayo IFA.

Were just hoping for some fine weather, he added.

There are fears there could be a food shortage as farmers are playing catch-up.

There will be a shortage of food the way its going, said Martin.

The IFA has urged the Government to put in place support to help them get through what they described as one of "the worst winter in living memory".

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohue has said he has no plans to make additional funding available to the Department of Agriculture to help farmers affected by the bad weather.

However, new Fine Gael leader Simon Harris told the partys Ard Fheis at the weekend that he is looking to put a plan in place for beleaguered farmers. Mr Harris said the year has been brutal for farmers and promised the Government would help them.
An exciting festival looking at art in the landscape is coming to Mayo this April. The Festival of Change takes place on Friday and Saturday next, April 12 and 13.

The Festival of Change is a collaboration between Offaly County Council, Mayo County Council and Visual Artists Ireland and is funded through the Arts Councils Invitation to Collaboration Scheme. The festival will offer an eclectic programme of events and activities, looking at the impact art (both physical and intangible) can have on place and people, socially, economically, and culturally. The festival will be based on two sites in the respective counties: the Tir Saile Sculpture Trail in Mayo, and Lough Boora Sculpture Park in Offaly.

In Mayo, the Festival will kick off at Aras Inis Gluaire in Belmullet, on Friday morning next, April 12, with Tionol, a gathering of big and small ideas about art in the landscape. Through an open call for ideas about the possibilities art in the landscape can hold, a number have been selected for presentation to the public as part of the festival. Lunch and an opportunity for attendees to network will follow.

Throughout the afternoon there will be talks and discussions, including an illustrated talk by photographer and film maker Tim Smith and multi-disciplinary artist Hardeep Singh Sahota. They have been inspired by the local landscape and stories gathered from local people in Offaly and North Mayo, talking about their employment in industries such as peat extraction and the making of textiles. The talk will explore how the artists have used creative expression to explore the rhythms of peoples working lives and discuss how their commissioned project has adapted and evolved through collaborating with different people and in different places in the two counties.

A practice share with artist Eileen Hutton, who will discuss her proposed site-specific response to Tir Saile, Soil Portraits of Tir Saile, which is based on soil chromatography, an alternative photography process that creates a soil portrait on light sensitive filter paper. Eileen will demonstrate the process and talk about some of her current and past projects.

A scoping session with the Wilderness project for artists, living and working in Mayo. The session will be particular interest to those who are interested in developing sustainable arts practices, and will include a short, illustrated introduction to the project and a discussion on how the project can respond to local need and the announcement of an exciting opportunity for Mayo based artists.

On Friday evening, the festival moves to the new Oweninny Wind Farm Visitor Centre, for the Bhangra Ceili, an evening of dance that will leave you feeling energised. For the first-time ever, the traditional Irish Ceili, led by local people, will meet Bhangra, led by UK-based practitioner Hardeep Singh Sahota. The evening will include live ceili music and a demonstration with some easy to learn Bhangra moves!

On Saturday, April 13, the focus shifts further west to the new SOLAS Centre on the Mullet Penninsula. Presented in partnership with Community Futures, Culturally Rich Neighbourhoods invites communities to come along to a facilitated panel discussion exploring how local economies can benefit from collaboration between the arts, heritage, local business, tourism, and local government. Lunch will be followed by workshops and tours, all seeking to look at practical ways in which the morning's conversations might be applied by communities in Mayo. Buses for this event will run from and return to Ballina (Ballina Arts Centre, departing at 9am sharp) and Castlebar (New Lough Lanngh Leisure Complex F23 A257 departing at 9am).

Advance booking essential.

Central to the festival is the commissioning of two new art works  one in Offaly and one in North Mayo. The commission was curated by Dr Helen Pheby, Associate Director of Yorkshire Sculpture Park and invited curator for the Art in the Landscape project.

Bringing the festival to a close in Mayo on Saturday evening in Ballina Civic Offices, Hardeep Singh Sahota and Tim Smith will present an exhibition and commission showcase - Rhythm of Light, which will be launched by Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Michael Loftus. The evening will include the opening of the exhibition, a seanos dance performance, a film screening, a Bhangra Dance performance and a Tabla performance. Hardeep and Tim have many years of experience in collaborating with communities, using Bhangra dance and the ephemeral qualities of light-painting.

The exhibition will run at Ballina Civic Offices, from April 15 to 26, and will be open Monday-Friday from 10am until 1pm.

All festival events are free, but booking is required. Early booking is advised given the limited capacity of many of the events.

For the full festival programme and booking information, please visit www.mayo.ie.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 9. Uzbekistan Airways has started operating flights to Gatwick International Airport (UK), Trend reports.

According to the airline, Uzbekistan Airways also conducts regular flights to Heathrow Airport.

The flights to Heathrow are operated on Tuesdays and Fridays, and to Gatwick on Sundays.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan Airways launched the first scheduled flight to Mumbai (India), restored after the pandemic.

The flights from Tashkent to Mumbai and back are operated twice a week, on Mondays and Saturdays.

Furthermore, Uzbekistan will resume flights to Georgian Batumi on May 29. Also, the airline will launch flights to Nha Trang (Vietnam) for the first time on May 4.
Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district contains all of Bucks County and a small part of Montgomery County. Consistently rated as one of the country's most competitive "swing" districts, the result of November's election could determine control of the House of Representatives next year.

Incumbent Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) is in his fourth term representing the district. Having served in Congress since 2017, Fitzpatrick hopes to win a fifth term in November.

But to return to Washington, Fitzpatrick must fend off a challenge from Mark Houck, a nonprofit ministry founder and pro-life activist who previously sued the federal government for maliciously prosecuting him.

Fitzpatrick and Houck will face off in Pennsylvania's GOP primary election on April 23, with the winner earning the right to challenge Democratic candidate Ashley Ehasz this fall. Ehasz is running unopposed in her party's primary.

69 News web reporter Carson Swick spoke with Houck in late March, but Fitzpatrick's office did not respond to multiple interview requests. Find his coverage here.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Iran's largest radiopharmaceutical center will be put into operation in the current Iranian year (from March 20, 2024 through March 20, 2025), the Vice President of Iran, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami said, Trend reports.

According to him, the opening of this institution will raise Iran's radiopharmaceutical output capability fivefold.

The official stated that based on the available potential, Iran has become one of the major countries in the field of radiopharmaceuticals.

"Currently, there is a radiopharmaceutical company in the country that has been sanctioned. The sanctions on Iran's nuclear field are very serious. However, these sanctions jeopardize people's lives," he said.

Eslami noted that in the last Iranian year (from March 21, 2023, through March 19, 2024), the Atomic Energy Organization reported that 60 radiopharmaceuticals were produced and 10 radiopharmaceuticals were in the research stage. Currently, the number of radiopharmaceuticals that have passed the clinical trials stage and entered the production stage is 20. This is evidence of the high potential of radiopharmaceutical production in the country's nuclear field.

Meanwhile, Iran uses its nuclear program in agriculture, health, electricity, and other fields, and to this end, it has taken steps to discover uranium, mine uranium stones, produce yellowcake, and so on.

To note, the US imposed new sanctions on Iran in November 2018 in connection with Iran's nuclear program. Over the past period, more than 700 banks, companies, and individuals exporting Iranian oil have fallen under the sanctions. The sanctions led to the freezing of Iran's assets in foreign countries.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
By Azernews

Ulviyya Shahin

In the first quarter of 2024, Azerbaijan's natural gas exports to Europe increased by 10.3 percent, reaching 3.2 billion cubic metres. In addition to Europe, Azerbaijan also transferred 2.3 billion cubic metres of gas to Turkey and 0.9 billion cubic metres to Georgia, making the total exports during that period 6.4 billion cubic metres.

According to Azernews, this was reported by Vugar Bayramov, a member of the Economic Policy, Industry, and Entrepreneurship Committee of the National Assembly, on his social media account.

He noted that Azerbaijan produced 12.6 billion cubic metres of gas, which is 0.4 billion cubic metres more than the corresponding period of the previous year.

"In total, since the exploitation of the 'Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli' and 'Shah Deniz' fields, by April 1, 2024, 219.6 billion cubic metres of gas have been produced from 'Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli' and 216 billion cubic metres from 'Shah Deniz'. During this period, 153.4 billion cubic metres of gas produced from the 'Shah Deniz' field have been transported for export.

As it appears, Azerbaijan's role in shaping the energy security of Europe and the region as a whole is strengthening. Azerbaijan is among the top five countries exporting gas to the European Union. In the next period, it is expected that gas cooperation, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, will further expand. It is expected that more countries will receive Azerbaijan's blue gas, especially through the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector," he added.

Azerbaijan, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, has emerged as a significant player in the global energy market, particularly in the realm of natural gas exports. The country's strategic geographic position, coupled with its substantial reserves, has positioned it as a key supplier of energy resources to both regional and international markets.

The surge in Azerbaijan's gas exports not only highlights the country's growing influence in the global energy market but also underscores its commitment to bolstering energy security in Europe and the wider region. As Azerbaijan continues to enhance its energy infrastructure and explore new avenues for cooperation, its role as a reliable energy partner is set to strengthen further, contributing to stability and prosperity in the region.

One of Azerbaijan's major endeavours in the energy sector has been the development of its vast natural gas fields, notably the 'Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli' and 'Shah Deniz' fields. These fields, located in the Caspian Sea, represent a cornerstone of Azerbaijan's energy strategy and have played a pivotal role in the country's economic growth and development.

As Bayramov mentioned, Azerbaijan's increasing role in shaping the energy security of Europe and the wider region is becoming increasingly evident. The country ranks among the top five gas exporters to the European Union, underscoring its significance as a reliable energy partner. Looking ahead, expectations are high for further expansion of gas cooperation, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. It is anticipated that more countries will benefit from Azerbaijan's gas exports, with potential routes such as the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector playing a key role in facilitating this expansion. As Azerbaijan continues to enhance its energy infrastructure and explore new avenues for cooperation, its role as a pivotal player in the global energy market is set to strengthen further, contributing to regional stability and economic prosperity.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. The leadership of the Hamas movement has not yet given a final answer to proposals for an agreement with the Israeli authorities, the United States is trying to get it as soon as possible, Assistant to the President for National Security Jake Sullivan said at a briefing held at the White House, Trend reports.

"Hamas's official statements are not so encouraging. I spoke with the Prime Minister of Qatar. He has not yet received any response from Hamas. I have asked the Prime Minister to get an answer as soon as possible," Sullivan said.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

Israel declared a state of war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists.


The Yi ethnic group boasts a long history and splendid culture. The Yi people live in the belt between plateaus and coastal hills in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces. The Yis' costumes and adornments, which are as gorgeous as flowers, embody the ethnic group's traditional cultural elements. In 2014, China added the Yis' costumes and adornments to the list of the country's items of intangible cultural heritage.

If you visit Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, you will no doubt be impressed by the region's picturesque view. The enchanting, gorgeous costumes and adornments add beauty to the Yis, who become part of the beautiful view in their hometown.



The Yis' costumes are rich in colors and styles, and the people like to use silver ornaments and the Yi-style embroideries as decorations. The styles of the Yis' costumes vary from place to place. The costumes in the prefecture are the most representative. Yi men's clothes are simple and elegant, whereas Yi women's dresses are colorful and exquisite. In addition, the Yis' costumes differ depending on gender, age, identity, occasion and other factors. In general, young people prefer bright-colored clothes, while the elderly care more about clothes' comfortableness.

Yi men keep a lock of hair on their heads, which is called the "Buddha's Lock." The ancient tradition symbolizes men's dignity and holiness. The headdress for a Yi man is called a "hero knot," which is a 20- to 30-centimeter-long column-like bundle, wrapped with a dark blue or black cloth around the head. The bundle usually points diagonally towards the sky. "Hero knot" represents Yi man's unyielding spirit. The shape of the knot varies by age.



Young, unmarried Yi women wear tile-shaped headdresses made from blue cloth. The women fix the headdresses with braids and red cords, and decorate them with hairpins and combs. Married Yi women wear black "lotus leaf hats," also known as the "big eagle hats."

The traditional costumes of the Yis in Liangshan are mainly made from woolen and linen fabrics, dyed in black, red, and yellow. The commonly used techniques for making clothes include embroidering and inlaying various patterns (in the clothes), such as plants, curved blades and sheep's horns. Both Yi men and women like to wear mantles, which are called "cha'erwa." The items are made of white, gray and/or green wool. Some mantles have fringes. The mantles are decorated by a variety of patterns, including checks, twills, ripples and pumpkin seeds.



The Yis in the prefecture, who speak different dialects, wear different styles of costumes. The Yis' clothing styles fall into the following three categories according to their dialects: The Yinuo dialect clothing area, represented by Meigu County, characterized by men's wide-leg trousers; the Shizha dialect clothing area, represented by Xide County, characterized by men's trousers with medium-width legs; and the Suodi dialect clothing area, represented by Butuo County, characterized by men's narrower-leg trousers. All of the above-mentioned counties are in the prefecture.

Men in the Yinuo dialect clothing area usually wear simple clothes. Many men wear blue headdresses. Their collarless tops are often embroidered with a variety of exquisite patterns, and their trousers have wide legs, bound with leggings. A man (in the area) usually wears a dagger at the waist (to cut woods and/or protect himself against wild animals), and hangs a musk bag over the chest (to ward off evil spirits and prevent calamities). Children often wear hats embroidered with various patterns, including tigers and other animals. Many children wear copper bracelets to ward off evil spirits. One may guess a woman's age by observing her clothes. A young woman usually wears a tight, attractive top and a bright-colored pleated skirt. Her skirt belt is adorned with a purse featuring exquisite patterns and fringes. The woman wears a blue or black headdress. A middle-aged or elderly woman usually wears simple clothes in darker colors.



People of the Shizha dialect clothing area mostly wear white, black, and blue cha'erwa. A young man wears a shirt, a waistcoat and a collarless coat. The coat, made in a simple style, has snug-fitting sleeves, decorated with colored cloth around the shoulders, lapel and hem. A middle-aged or elderly man usually wears a loose-fitting coat with no decoration, and a pair of pants, whose legs are tighter than that of a pair of trousers worn by a man of the Yinuo dialect clothing area. The coat of a young woman (in the Shizha dialect clothing area) features snug-fitting sleeves, decorated with snow-white cony hair. The woman's headdress is light and delicate, embroidered with exquisite patterns.



The men's wear in the Suodi dialect clothing area is mostly made of black cloth. A man's top is tight and short, which often exposes the navel. The top is inlaid with long rows of silver buttons, and the hems are inlaid with yellow and red strips for decoration. A man's trousers are characterized by a loose-fitting waist and narrow bottoms of the trousers' legs. A woman (in the area) usually wears a woolen skirt and a smock, decorated with traditional rippling patterns. She also wears a yak felt hat or a navy blue head-handkerchief with laces.



The Yis' adornments vary in every dialect area (in the prefecture). Yi men's earrings are usually made of three honey wax beads or agate beads in red alternating with yellow. Some earrings are decorated with black tassels. Silver earrings are also common adornments for men. Yi women wear jewelry made from gold, silver, coral, jade or other materials. They particularly value neck jewelry, mostly made from silver. Children often wear silver, copper or wood locks around their necks, which are believed to help the wearers avert calamities and ward off evil spirits. Men like to wear daggers or waist knives. They also wear swords on important occasions, such as sacrificial rituals.

Through the Yis' colorful costumes, one may get a glimpse of the people's aesthetic psychology and traditional customs, which are part of the treasures of the traditional Chinese culture.

Photos from VCG and Tuchong

Source: China Today

(Women of China English Monthly December 2023)
Shikha Pandey attends her graduation ceremony at Tianjin Normal University in 2017. [China Daily]

Shikha Pandey has a one-worded explanation to what brought her and China together  fate.

"I must have been an empress in ancient China and it was fate that brought me and my family here," said Pandey, 32, who is pursuing her PhD in cross-cultural communication at Beijing Language and Culture University.

When the Indian first came to China 11 years ago as part of an exchange program, she was a computer science student. She had no idea she would return to India not as a tech expert but as a Chinese teacher.

And her connections with China turned into a family affair.

"My younger brother is also in Beijing, pursuing his master's degree," she said. "My twin sister is in Taiwan, and my younger sister is in Shanghai. We four siblings are somehow connected to China."

When Pandey decided to go to China for the first time, her father strongly opposed the idea, she said. The opposition eventually gave way to acceptance and pride, with his four children living in China.

Her brother Himanshu said: "My parents were glad that I was enrolled in an MBA program at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing last year. China is a huge market and I want to do business between China and India after I graduate."

Learning Chinese language opened the door for the family from the Indian city of Mumbai to become familiar with China.

Pandey said she had little interest in computer science during her undergraduate years. She became attracted to Chinese after taking selective courses offered by the Confucius Institute at the University of Mumbai in 2012. An exchange program in Tianjin a year later further encouraged her to study Chinese in China.

"My father had never been outside India and had no idea about China. He believed becoming an engineer was the best choice for me, and he couldn't understand why I would give it up," Pandey said.

Despite her father's apprehensions, she completed her master's degree in teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages with the help of a Chinese government scholarship at Tianjin Normal University in 2017. After that she worked as a Chinese teacher at the University of Mumbai.

The career switch gave her a great deal of satisfaction and joy. Even her father was eventually convinced with Pandey's career decision when he learned more about China and its people.

"I often showed my parents pictures about the life in China. Some of my Chinese friends even visited my parents and invited them to spend Spring Festival together," Pandey said.

Bringing Opportunities

"My father gradually realized that Chinese people were very friendly and that studying in China would bring many opportunities. So my parents are very pleased to see my sisters and brother pursue their dreams in China."

Learning Chinese has not only opened up opportunities for Pandey and her family, but also for her students.

"My students learn Chinese for a variety of reasons. Some are interested in Chinese culture and others believe it could lead to a promising career," she said.

One of the students who has impressed her is Syed Sharekh Ahmed, who started to learn Chinese in 2020 while working at Mumbai Airport.

" (Syed) complained to me that the job was very tiring and (he was) often paid late, and I told him that learning Chinese may help him find a way out," Pandey said.

The 35-year-old eventually started working as a Chinese interpreter and technological administrator in a Chinese company, Kingfa Science and Technology, in Pune, in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

"I like my new job, and the salary has improved a lot, well above the average level," he said.

"Last year, I had an opportunity to visit Guangzhou for the first time and was amazed by China's advanced and modern infrastructure. I am eager to explore more cities in China."

Pandey has been encouraging her students to pursue further studies in China.

Saniya Karnik, 21, is among those who came to Beijing Language and Culture University last year with Pandey's help.

"Because Pandey is pursuing her PhD there, she recommended the university to us and offered assistance in applying for a scholarship," said Karnik, who has been enrolled in preparatory courses for a master's degree in translation studies.

She said the experience in China will bring her more opportunities to work in international companies after her graduation.

When asked about her decision to return to China to pursue her doctoral degree, Pandey said she was keen to witness the country's growth.

"China has developed rapidly over the years, and one important change I have observed is the increased emphasis on cross-cultural communication," she said.

"China and India are culturally bound. The influence of Buddhism can be seen in the whole of China, and many classical works have been well preserved here."

Pandey is working with her students to translate the Buddhist literature The Jataka Tales into Chinese, which can be used as reading material for those learning Chinese.

Zhou Mengxue in Beijing contributed to this story.

(Source: China Daily)
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2024. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao]

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday met with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue in Beijing.

While asking Vuong Dinh Hue to convey cordial greetings to Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, Xi also said that during his visit to Vietnam at the end of last year, he and Nguyen Phu Trong had jointly announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance -- opening a new chapter in bilateral ties.

Under the joint efforts by the two sides, the consensus reached by him and Nguyen Phu Trong is being implemented, Xi added.

Xi said the most distinctive feature of China-Vietnam relations is that the two sides are a like-minded pair bound by a common destiny, and "comrades-plus-brothers" is the most vivid portrayal of the traditional friendship between the two parties and two countries.

He urged joint efforts by the two sides to promote more achievements in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, better serve their respective modernization, further benefit the two peoples and make greater contributions to the global socialist cause.

Amid the profound and complex changes in the international and regional landscape, it serves the common interest of China and Vietnam to safeguard the socialist system and maintain national stability and development, Xi said.

He urged the two sides to foster a strong sense of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future based on a high level of mutual trust, consolidate the foundation for the vision with high-quality cooperation, and promote this vision with a high degree of political wisdom.

China is willing to scale up the exchange of experience gained in governing both the Party and the country, facilitate the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy, and increase exchanges between young people and sister cities, among others.

It is hoped that the legislative bodies of the two sides will deepen exchanges and cooperation at all levels, strengthen mutual learning on legislative supervision experience, and play an important role in enhancing the friendship between the two peoples, Xi said.

Vuong Dinh Hue conveyed the cordial greetings and best wishes from Nguyen Phu Trong to Xi, noting that the CPV and the Vietnamese government highly appreciate China's development and progress. China's two sessions held this year set the goals of developing new quality productive forces, among others, which are innovative moves of socialism and provide useful references for Vietnam, he added.

Vietnam firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is resolutely opposed to any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, Vuong Dinh Hue said.

Vietnam regards China as its top strategic priority in its foreign relations, Vuong Dinh Hue said, adding that the Vietnamese side will follow relevant goals set by Nguyen Phu Trong and Xi to maintain close communications and cooperation with China at various levels and continue to consolidate a high level of political mutual trust.

Vietnamese National Assembly is ready to keep close communications and exchanges with China's National People's Congress to play a positive role in enhancing the friendship between the two peoples and advancing the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future, Vuong Dinh Hue said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2024. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao]

(Source: Xinhua)
Magnificent metropolises captured in eight horological works of art

 Imagine travelling around the world in just eight days to discover the essence of eight of the world's most beautiful cities. Having returned from this wonderfully long journey, I open my travel diary describing these eight unforgettable stops. What an extraordinary adventure! It starts in Paris, birthplace of that genius, Louis Moinet, and ends in New York, passing through the colourful floating markets of Bangkok, and the avant-garde metropolis of Kuala Lumpur.

I would like to invite you to discover those eight cities I have described, by way of eight works of watchmaking, each celebrating metiers d'art and extraordinary materials... 

Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director

AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHT DAYS is a contemporary version of the famous odyssey imagined by Jules Verne, revisited by Jean-Marie Schaller and sublimated by the art and excellence of watchmaking.

Each city is a living canvas limned by thousands of human stories, and each reveals itself to be a place where boundless energy boils a cauldron blending art, culture, architecture, and technology. It is this rich and complex alchemy that inspired Jean-Marie Schaller to create these eight horological masterpieces.

A journey to the beat of metiers dart

To create the dials, Les Ateliers Louis Moinet tapped the specialised skills of GVA Cadrans. This companys dial-makers have unique expertise in metiers d'art, be that fine miniature painting, precise hand-engraving, the delicate art of marquetry, or making complex jigsaw puzzle dials.

The exceptional beauty of these eight dials has to do with the originality of the materials chosen, ranging from rock crystal to aventurine, from genuine fragments of history to high-tech materials. Each of these elements is a genuine treasure that gives these works their unique character.

With the dynamism of the big cities acting as a backdrop, AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHT DAYS invites us to contemplate and celebrate our worlds great metropolises through the art of watchmaking.

PARIS  Fragments of history and jigsaw puzzle dial

Paris and the Eiffel Tour are inseparable. After intense research, I finally acquired a real fragment of this extraordinary icon. It comes from a beam that had been replaced during the centenary.

Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director

The Eiffel Tower has been meticulously sculpted by hand from a real piece of this Parisian hallmark and shows phenomenal details. It comes from one of the original beams that had supported the structure for a century before being sampled for a scientific examination.

To make this timepiece, Louis Moinet tapped the great art of hand-engraving. The craftperson's expertise has made it possible to reproduce the distinctive architecture of this Parisian icon, with its slender silhouette, intertwining metal beams, diagonal arches and cross-bracings.

The Eiffel Tower has been placed on a jigsaw puzzle dial made up of 81 carefully interlocked pieces and seems to rise up out of the city itself. The puzzle actually reproduces the map of Paris including many details, like the Seine River that bifurcates the town as well as the different districts.

The watch embodies all the timeless charm and grandeur of Paris, the City of Lights. This genuine fragment from the Eiffel Tower, a witness to the ambitious project launched by Gustave Eiffel, was given new life in the hands of dial-making artisans. Its journey from powerful steel to horological metiers dart bridges two eras and two artistic visions to celebrate the eternal essence of Paris.

Around The World - Paris  Louis Moinet

PARIS  The City of Lights

The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 for the Universal Exhibition and remains the undisputed hallmark of engineering and human genius in Paris.

At the time of its construction, it was the tallest structure ever built and quickly became one of the most recognisable and iconic symbols of the modern world. Today, it dominates the landscape of a vibrant metropolis steeped in history.

ABU DHABI  The purity of rock crystal invites the micro-painted Sheikh Zayed Mosque

What impressed me most in Abu Dhabi was the beauty and grandeur of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. To express its sheer serenity, limpid rock crystal was the obvious choice.

Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director

To evoke the majesty of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and pay tribute to its pure lines, the dial-makers worked on a rock crystal base. Each element of this architectural gem, from the majestic domes adorned in white marble to the imposing columns, was meticulously hand-painted. The result is a testimony to their traditional skill in miniature painting, where every fine, exact detail represents a technical and artistic challenge.

They made use of the transparency of the rock to stage a scene on two planes. The Sheikh Zayed Mosque appears on the backdrop of a clear blue sky with a moon crescent. This unique piece offers an enchanting spectacle worthy of One Thousand and One Nights.

Around The World - Abu Dhabi  Louis Moinet

ABU DHABI  An oasis of modernity

Abu Dhabi lies in the midst of the desert. This modern city elegantly weaves together traditional elements with innovative ones. The majestic Sheikh Zayed Mosque is an architectural masterpiece that symbolises this combination of past and future. It is recognised as one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world.

This superb construction was built under the visionary leadership of Sheikh Zayed ben Sultan Al Nahyane. It expresses a universal message of tolerance and peace.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a landmark of modern oriental architecture. It draws on the rich cultural heritage of its ancestors, yet also embodies the future-oriented vision of Abu Dhabi.

BANGKOK  Miniature hand-painted glimpse of a floating market

I emerged from the din of the city with its myriad emanations to find one of the amazing floating markets, a wonderful oasis of peace. This great labyrinth stretching across many canals is a veritable paradise for the senses that thrills the eye with its riot of colours.

Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director

The exceptional skills of the micro-painter come to full flower in this unique piece, which carries the viewer right to the heart of the bustling, colourful life of Bangkok's floating market.

This age-old technique brings every detail to life with striking vibrancy. The boats laden with colourful goods, the subtle details of the woven straw hats, and the delicate nuances of the water lilies have all been reproduced with remarkable precision.

To capture the genuine liveliness of the scene, all the decorations have been added to the dial, thus giving the illusion that they are floating on an azure surface.

The blue dial features a circular labyrinth that represents the tangled canals and rivers that crisscross the city. The feeling of movement and animation is enhanced by the contrasting polished and brushed surfaces.

This work of horological art draws us into the heart of the action, where our senses are wide awake, and every minute provides new and wonderful surprises.

Around The World - Bangkok  Louis Moinet

BANGKOK  Vibrant, bountiful floating markets

The floating markets on the canals of Bangkok unfold in a whirlwind of colour and movement.

The ebullience is palpable, with busy merchants tending to their business on the waters in wooden boats laden with a vast array of colourful wares. The vegetables, tropical fruits and exotic flowers create a bewitching tableau accompanied by the heady scent of spices and fresh herbs that wafts delicately through the air.

This ancient tradition of river commerce is testimony to the rich history and cultural vivacity of this vibrant, dynamic city.

KUALA LUMPUR  Sculpting the Petronas Towers on ultra-modern material

"For over a quarter-century, the Petronas Towers have dominated the Kuala Lumpur skyline. They are the world's tallest twin towers. While admiring them, I realized that they stand as a symbol of Malaysia's global importance as a major producer of microelectronic circuits amongst many other products."

Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director

The Petronas Towers, carved out of silver, stand proudly on a silicon dial engraved with microelectronic circuits. The masters of the engraving art have meticulously crafted the glorious architecture of these two 88-storey towers, with their prominent M-shaped silhouette. At the centre of the dial is the famous Skybridge that connects these two architectural icons.

The backdrop to the towers is a silicon wafer whose engraved microelectronic circuits form an intricate technological decor. The bold choice of silicon for the dial of the KUALA LUMPUR timepiece underscores the crucial importance of technology for the city. The patterns create a kaleidoscope of dynamic lights and reflections that suggest the city's dynamic innovative spirit as a thriving technology hub.

En mariant Metiers dArt et materiaux de pointe, cette uvre de Louis Moinet celebre l'harmonie unique d'une ville qui honore ses traditions tout en embrassant l'avenir technologique. Les Tours Petronas, symboles de cette symbiose, incarnent la dynamique d'une metropole toujours en mouvement.

By combining metiers d'art and cutting-edge materials, this work by Louis Moinet celebrates the unique equilibrium of a city that honours its traditions while also embracing a technological future. The Petronas Towers, symbols of this symbiosis, represent the dynamism of a metropolis that is always on the move.

Around The World - Kuala Lumpur  Louis Moinet

KUALA LUMPUR  The city of technological innovation

Kuala Lumpur stands out as a major hub in a world where information technology reigns supreme, a place that vibrates to the irrepressible rhythm of innovation. The silhouette of the Petronas Towers, great hallmarks of the city, is like two arms beckoning to a resplendent technological future. They echo the famous Multimedia Super Corridor in Malaysia and therefore connect us to the dynamic technological context that has shaped the modern face of the city.

SINGAPORE  Straw marquetry radiating in the heart of the city

When I think of Singapore, I see an extraordinary blend of ancient and modern. Straw marquetry has a particularly animated look that easily reflects the flamboyance and diversity of this magnificent town."

Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director

The straw marquetry serves as a sprightly composition for Singapores iconic buildings and evokes the citys liveliness.

This unusual craft is rooted in a long artistic tradition that demands patience, skill, and a lot of care when handling the material. Each stem of rye is dyed red or orange, then cut and carefully applied piece by piece to cover the entire dial. It requires deep knowledge of the craft to place each fiber in such a way as to capitalize on the natural reflections of the straw and create a composition of light.

The emblematic silhouettes of Singapore appear on this artful backdrop, with the Marina Bay Sands complex dominating the tableau surrounded by the sparkling Supertrees. Also on the dial are the architecturally original Museum of Arts and Sciences, the Singapore Flyer Ferris Wheel and, of course, the famous Merlion, the citys timeless hallmark, half fish, half lion.

This unique timepiece celebrates Singapores exceptional cityscape, which has been driven by an innovative and contemporary spirit.

Around The World - Singapore  Louis Moinet

SINGAPORE  A radiant city

Singapore is a city with a rich and diverse culture. Its skyscrapers exhibit exceptional architecture, blending Chinese, Malay, and Indian influences. Indeed, the city-state has been guided by a visionary approach to urban planning and has courageously invested in ambitious projects that are at the forefront of contemporary architecture.

TOKYO  Real origami

"Travelling to Tokyo was tantamount to total immersion in a culture that blends deep tradition in a very modern and dynamic city. The venerable aura of Mount Fuji and the delicate Origami creations are both perfect symbols of Tokyos contrasting aspects.

Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director

At the heart of this horological masterpiece is an origami made from a piece of metallic paper. It represents a crane, a symbol of longevity and happiness, and illustrates the extraordinary skill of the dial-makers.

The aventurine evokes a starry night and serves as a backdrop to Mount Fuji and the delicate cherry blossoms, all hand-painted with remarkable precision.

This composition captures the very essence of the great city of Tokyo, where time seems suspended in a poetic atmosphere. It incarnates the perfect harmony between the metiers dart in watchmaking and the timeless treasure of Japanese traditions.

Around The World - Tokyo  Louis Moinet

TOKYO  Capital of modernity and guardian of traditions

Time seems to accelerate in Tokyo, a city with a vibrant urban panorama, where skyscrapers sparkle like jewels in the night sky, while its streets brim with incessant energy. At the heart of this turbulence, art, tradition, and nature intermingle to create a scene of mesmerising beauty.

Mount Fuji rises on this canvas full of contrasts, like an eternal and majestic protector guarding the city and its inhabitants. The flowering cherry at its feet add a touch of tenderness and ephemeral beauty to the urban horizon. In the midst of this symphony of city and nature is the origami, the art of folding paper, which epitomizes the traditional and cultural values of Japan.

SAN FRANCISCO  The hand-painted Golden Gate Bridge on a high-tech backdrop

"While observing the classic architectural design of famous American districts, I had a sudden flash: These urban landscapes often have the patchwork regularity of electronic circuit boards. What better way to suggest San Franciscos proximity to Silicon Valley."

Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director

Technological innovation, a pillar of San Francisco's identity, inspired the dials unique design.

Its base is a silicon wafer etched with microelectronic circuits, the very symbol of Silicon Valley, but it also reflects the architectural elegance of San Franciscos urban design. The harmonious, elegant symmetry of the Golden Gate Bridge stands out vividly against this high-tech pattern. The bridge is carefully sculpted and hand-painted in that famous and recognisable International Orange and has been skilfully positioned in relief on the dial.

Thanks to the exceptional visual perspective, this iconic monument comes to life, giving the illusion of being very close to the viewer.

Around The World - San Francisco  Louis Moinet

SAN FRANCISCO  The epicentre of technological innovation

Its modern skyscrapers gleam like beacons of progress rising out of the urban landscape. They also epitomize San Francisco's central role in the technological revolution and citys proximity to Silicon Valley. The iconic Golden Gate Bridge spanning San Francisco Bay reflects the architectural and technical daring of this unique American metropolis.

San Francisco, a city where human genius and digital progress come together in perfect harmony, is the perfect expression of the symbiosis between historical heritage and modernity.

NEW YORK  Holographic technology animating buildings

The city that never sleeps, with its soaring skyscrapers that change colour as day turns to night... A breathtaking sight that thrills me every time. A holographic film was used to reproduce this striking effect by playing on the contrasting lights.

Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director

What better monument to dominate this timepiece, than the Statue of Liberty, engraved and painted by hand. Making it demanded lots of experience and dexterity.

The sapphire crystal substrate of the dial has been carefully painted black to highlight the imposing skyline of the Big Apple. In the back is a holograph film that creates a fascinating play with lights that recalls the typical architecture of the skyscrapers. Depending on the angle of viewing, these buildings light up brightly and emit all the nuances of the rainbow.

The special choice of materials and decorative techniques give this unique piece a bold liveliness, the very essence of New York, the city that never sleeps.

Around The World - New York  Louis Moinet

NEW YORK - The city that never sleeps

Sometimes referred to as the City of Cities or the Big Apple, New York is the jewel of the US East Coast. Its iconic skyscrapers form a breathtaking architectural symphony, offering a glittering spectacle at night thanks to the thousands of lights that bring their facades to life.

The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France to the United States to celebrate the centenary of the Declaration of Independences, is not only a historic monument, but also a universal symbol of freedom and democracy.

The flying tourbillon, an expression of watchmaking excellence

These eight works feature a flying tourbillon inside an off-centre cage, thus defying gravity in a visually striking manner. The hand-wound movement is equipped with a double barrel. The system is called "volte-face, or upside-down, with the two barrels arranged head to tail, allowing them to release their energy simultaneously and delivering 96 hours of power reserve.

The case is a technical masterpiece.

These eight timepieces are housed in a 40-millimetre, 18-carat red gold case with fluid and well-defined lines. The domed sapphire crystal, which demanded a lot of technical skill to make, reveals the captivating details laid out on the dial. The open-worked horns perfectly underscore the integration of the leather strap.

Unpacking the trunk

The trunk immediately conjures the fascinating discoveries that travel brings. The world map dates to 1786, the year of Louis Moinet's birth, and represents a direct link to the past.

Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director

These eight exceptional creations are presented in a luxurious, leather-covered wooden trunk, where every detail showcases the exceptional skills of the craftsmen.

Around the Wolrd in 8 Days  Louis Moinet

The trunks outer surface features a delicately stencilled fleur-de-lys monogram recalling the heritage and history of Louis Moinet. Opening this trunk is the beginning of a unique adventure, an artistic world tour in eight days.

Inside, elegantly laid out, are the eight timepieces that highlight this journey from Paris to New York. They are accompanied by an old map of the world, drawn by Thomas Jefferys, the famous geographer at the court of King George III. This map, dating from 1786, the year Louis Moinet was born, and is a reminder that the creations of this pioneering watchmaker also crossed the globe to be with the eminent personalities of his time.
Four political parties vying for North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner role

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Apr 9th, 2024

Four political parties are set to fight it out in the race to elect the next Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales.

Voters in the region will head to the polls on May 2 to elect a commissioner whose responsibilities include deciding the budget for North Wales Police and holding the forces chief constable to account.

Labour incumbent Andy Dunbobbin is among those standing after the former Flintshire councillor was first appointed in May 2021.

The other challengers are Brian Jones, a local councillor from Rhyl, for the Conservatives, former deputy North Wales PCC Ann Griffith for Plaid Cymru and former Liverpool councillor Richard Marbrow for the Liberal Democrats.

Ahead of the election, members of the public are being reminded of the need to bring photo identification, such as a passport or drivers licence, to polling stations due to a change in the law.

Here each candidate sets out their priorities if they are successfully elected to the role.

Andy Dunbobbin  Labour and Co-operative Party

I am honoured to serve as your Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, with my focus firmly being on what matters to you, and on which I was elected. Three years have passed very quickly with policing, quite rightly, facing immense scrutiny. However, despite national and local challenges, I believe I have effectively led and represented you and our communities well. As I look again for your support at this coming election, I will continue to put you, your families and our communities at the heart of my endeavours. Neighbourhood policing is and always will be my top priority. With my focus firmly on preventing crime, we are now starting to see the benefits. In our home of North Wales, overall crime is down 13.5 percent and performance is up. The recent ONS survey has your police force as the best in England and Wales for public confidence and the second lowest figure nationally for rates of recorded crime per 1,000 population. This doesnt happen on its own. With Welsh Labour, we have strong, effective and collaborative arrangements in place. Policing in Wales, the Policing Partnership Board for Wales and the Criminal Justice Board for Wales are excellent examples that serve, support and protect our communities well. Communities are the fibre that binds us together. I am rooted in the community and we have achieved a lot together but there is more I want to do. Building on the success this has had to date, I have four strategic pillars, which are a local neighbourhood policing presence, supporting victims, communities and businesses, a fair and effective criminal justice system and a visible and responsible Police and Crime Commissioner. My knowledge and experience is nationally recognised, resulting in responsibilities such as chair of Policing in Wales and PCC lead for a number of technology programmes elected by my peers. Let us continue on our journey in making north Wales the safest place to live, work and visit.

Ann Griffith  Plaid Cymru

The best way to tackle crime is to stop it happening in the first place. Preventing crime will, therefore, be my focus if Im elected on May 2nd. I understand the trauma that crime causes for victims and know the impact of crime can be long-lasting. I want to be a strong voice for those victims, who can often feel lost in the criminal justice system. My over-riding priority is to make north Wales a safer place for all so that our communities can thrive. So much police work these days overlaps other emergency services  in particular mental health and drug and alcohol misuse. Thats why my experience of working across public services is vital as we need to work closer with social care, health and other emergency services to improve our response to residents. My experience in the deputys job means I will hit the ground running and will be aiming to get stakeholders and criminal justice partners to work together to achieve great results. In these difficult times of year-on-year funding cuts to public services, Ill be looking to build strong and lasting relationships across our communities to provide greater opportunities to support all residents, ensuring no-one is forgotten. All our communities  whether rural or urban  want reassurance that the police are there when they need them. By ensuring support is available to everyone and all groups in our communities, North Wales Police officers will be able to respond and support our residents more effectively, on the first visit. Of paramount importance is the health and wellbeing of our police officers and police staff. If we dont look after them, they cant look after you. Ill ensure that each police officer and member of staff at North Wales Police receives the best care and support available to them. Facing traumatic incidents and running towards danger on a daily basis takes its toll on their health and their wellbeing is an absolute priority.

Brian Jones  Welsh Conservative Party

I would like the honour to represent you, your family and community as your North Wales Police & Crime Commissioner. I was born, raised and educated in Rhyl and I am passionate and committed to making ours a stronger and safer community by: 1) Ensuring that North Wales Police have a minimal drain on their resources and costs when involved with the blanket 20mph policy but continue to collaborate with partner agencies and the voluntary sector for safer roads. 2) Providing greater support for our farmers combating rural crimes such as fly tipping, theft of livestock and equipment. 3) Combating anti-social behaviour using a common-sense approach to restore lost respect for our North Wales Police force by ensuring that residents can see and have access to police officers in their local communities and schools. 4) Tackling domestic abuse and violence which will include coercive behaviour. This will be a priority in my police and crime plan. North Wales needs a strong Police and Crime Commissioner to spearhead the fight against crime and to ensure that the police are accountable to the people who really matter, you the residents. It also needs a commissioner who is visible and available to the community they represent.

Richard Marbrow  Welsh Liberal Democrats

Policing priorities in North Wales should reflect the diversity of the needs of North Wales. I live in Mold, in the east of North Wales but I will be a Police and Crime Commissioner for all of Flintshire, Wrexham, Denbighshire, Conwy, Gwynedd and Anglesey. Rural crime is an issue for North Wales and should be a focus but two issues I will prioritise are issues for all of us across Wales. The first of those issues is violent crime that affects women and girls. As your Police and Crime Commissioner I will put in place community safety projects and set as a police priority making women and girls feel safer across our communities. Women should feel safe inside their homes, out on the town and every girl should grow up without fear that their gender puts them at risk. It is not acceptable that prosecution rates are as low as they are and that women do not feel able to see cases through to a conclusion. The Police and Crime Commissioner has a vital role and a duty to make North Wales feel and be safe for women and girls across the region. The second of my priority issues is that too many people in our community are affected by cybercrime. Scams and breaches make the news but we too often forget the people behind the keyboards. With a professional background in data protection, I am well placed to guide priorities in this area and I will put in place schemes to help prevent these crimes and to support victims of them.

By Liam Randall  BBC Local Democracy Reporter
New non-acute healthcare facility opens in Wrexham for outpatient services

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Apr 9th, 2024

A new facility providing non-acute healthcare services in Wrexham has officially opened.

Plas Gororau, on Wrexham Technology Park, will provide services for people who need outpatient healthcare services which can be delivered outside of an acute hospital environment.

It has been opened by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board with funding support from the Welsh Government.

Phlebotomy facilities have expanded their service into Plas Gororau, offering in excess of 40,000 blood testing appointments per year.

Mental health outpatients, which assess and treat approximately 4,500 referrals every year, has also moved into the new facility from the acute site.

A new purpose-built vaccination centre for North East Wales has also been created in Plas Gororau, which was previously in the Catrin Finch Centre, Wrexham University.

It will provide an average of 60,000 vaccines per year, starting with the Covid-19 Spring boosters this month.

The development also provides over 200 car parking spaces for staff and patients of the facility, which will play an important role in alleviating car parking pressures at the acute hospital.

It is hoped that the relocation will help reduce the footfall at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital and improve patient care.

Michelle Greene, Director of East Integrated Health Community for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: This is really positive news that will greatly benefit our patients and local community, as the expansion of services means outpatients for these services wont need to park or visit the main hospital.

Plas Gororau is only a short walk from the hospitals main entrance and provides additional dedicated parking spaces, for patients and staff.

Theres also potential of further expansion of community services into Plas Gororau to provide additional space across the Wrexham Maelor Hospital site.

Development plans for phase two are ongoing with capacity for further expansion of services at the site in the future.
World-famous publisher donates books to Wrexham schools superhero pupil

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Apr 9th, 2024

One of the worlds most famous publishers has given a Wrexham primary school a bumper box of books thanks to a superhero pupil who reads stories to care home residents.

Five-year-old Harri Shone hit the headlines when it was revealed hes been spreading joy at Pendine Parks Highfield care home in Wrexham.

Young Harri has even popped up on prime time TV after The One Show made a film about him.

The book-loving youngster enjoys reading stories to the residents from the Biff, Chip and Kipper books he has been learning at his school, Ysgol Penrhyn in New Broughton.

When the publishers of the popular series, Oxford University Press, heard about Harri, they were so impressed with his kindness that they offered to donate the books to the school.

A delighted Ysgol Penrhyn headteacher Beth Davies said: It is so generous of the publishers to donate such lovely books for all our pupils here to enjoy.

The series is really popular and an extremely helpful learning tool for all ages.

Oxford University Press is one of the worlds oldest and most respected publishers.

Its bosses got in touch with Harris mum, Laura Shone, a senior care practitioner at Pendine, about the idea of giving a selection of new books to Harri after they learned about his story telling sessions in the media.

Laura said they were so impressed by his initiative that they wanted to do something as a small reward for all his efforts, and giving books to his school so fellow pupils can benefit too was the perfect idea.

We cannot thank them enough. Harri is delighted that his classmates and other pupils of all ages in the school will get to enjoy such wonderful new books, said Laura.

Head Beth Davies said the box contained a wide selection of publications including spellings and games books, large-size class readers which pupils can read together, interesting adventure tales and colourful picture-stories.

She said: It really is a good set which we will all treasure. There is something for all age groups from nursery to junior pupils.

We are very grateful to Oxford University Press and to Harri whose volunteering sessions led to such a generous donation. He is a great role model for his classmates and all other children his age.

In an accompanying letter to the school the Oxford University Press Biff, Chip and Kipper team said: We were so impressed to see Harri reading to residents on BBC Wales that we wanted to get in touch and say hello.

We are the publishers who make the Biff, Chip and Kipper books that you are enjoying reading.

We are so glad that they are your favourites Harri! We know that Floppy the dog would give you a great big wag of his tail and possibly even a lick as he would be so pleased too.

We are sending you some more books so that you can keep on reading. We hope that you enjoy them.

Weve also sent you some books for your teachers to read to your class so that you can all have the lovely treat of being read to that you are giving to the residents.

We think that reading is a superpower and you are definitely a reading superhero Harri, well done!

Harri was thrilled with the gift and the fact that his classmates get to share in such exciting stories too.

Having his photo taken with his classmates Gabe, Jayne and Hallie, he said his favourite book is Land of the Dinosaurs, but he loves reading all kinds of stories, adding: I try to read a book a day.

Gabe said the new books delivered to the school are 100 out of 100 brilliant, adding: We all love them and cant wait to read the stories.

Hallie agreed: They are such good books, with fantastic pictures in too.

Harris class teacher Beth Edwards said reading is a very important part of the school curriculum and is something which pupils can do together when reading in class, or after school when they can read exciting storybooks at home.

She said: This is such a lovely collection and will be a fantastic addition to our small school library. The Biff, Chip and Kipper team can rest assured that these stories will be lovingly read by generations of our pupils to come.
Duometre: a revolutionary approach to timekeeping precision

Since the launch of the Duometre Chronograph in 2007  the first timepiece based on the ground- breaking Duometre concept  the system has been used with a few other complications, giving its name to a line of technically advanced watches that are distinguished by highly precise timekeeping. In 2024, Jaeger-LeCoultre presents a new generation of Duometre timepieces  among them a reinterpretation of the Duometre Quantieme Lunaire (Moon Phase). The first Duometre piece to be offered in steel, its eye-catching blue dial, paired with a new case, lends a decidedly contemporary air to a timeless and distinctive design.

Ensuring a Perfect Supply of Energy

With their invention of the Duometre in 2007, Jaeger-LeCoultres engineers and watchmakers solved a fundamental problem of complex mechanical watches. That is, in order to operate, a complication must draw from the energy that is supplied from the barrel to the escapement via the gear train. This naturally interrupts the perfect regularity of the power supply and thus compromises precision.

In testament to the Maisons inventiveness since its earliest days, its watchmakers had already explored solutions to the problem in the 19th century: in an 1881 pocket watch they introduced Calibre 19/20RMSMI equipped with two barrels. However, a double-barrel calibre still does not address the real issue because both barrels feed power to a single gear train that is employed for both timekeeping and the operation of complications.

Nevertheless, that early calibre provided the Manufactures 21st-century engineers and watchmakers with a starting point for the revolutionary Duometre concept. By effectively separating the power supply into two streams  one barrel and gear train for timekeeping and a separate barrel and gear train for the complication(s), both linked to a single escapement  the Duometre system guarantees absolute constancy of the power supply, regardless of whether a complication is operating or not.

Emphasising the precision of the calibre, a distinctive element of the Duometre Quantieme Lunaire dial is the seconde foudroyante hand, which whirls continuously in a sub-dial at 6 oclock. Making a complete revolution in one second (versus a standard seconds hand, which rotates in 60 seconds) with six jumps per rotation, the foudroyante hand makes it possible to observe intervals of precisely one-sixth of a second.

Duometre Quantieme Lunaire  Jaeger-LeCoultre

A Precise Approach to Aesthetics

For Jaeger-LeCoultre, the pursuit of precision is not limited to the accuracy of timekeeping but is equally important for the beauty of the design and finishes. On the deep blue dial of the Duometre Quantieme Lunaire, the long and very fine hands are a signature of all Duometre watches, as is the symmetrical layout, with three sub-dials forming an inverted pyramid. The sub-dial at 3 oclock shows the time, with the cardinal hours marked by applied Arabic numerals; the sub-dial at 9 oclock displays the date with a hand and the moon phase set against a blue sky. The seconde foudroyante sub-dial nestles beneath them at 6 oclock.

The dial is made in several sections, with different finishes to create visual interest and contrast. The opaline main dial has the very soft glow and sense of visual depth characteristic of that decorative technique. The lower section of the dial is sunray-brushed and, in an added touch of refinement, the two power reserve indicators are distinguished from this sunrayed background by an opaline arc. Inspired by the aesthetic of the sector dials that were featured on historic timepieces, the broad ring encircling each The convex curve of the dial perimeter closely follows the contour of the glass -box crystal that protects it, and the sub-dials are slightly sunken into its surface, increasing the sense of visual depth.

Further evidence of the Maisons approach to precision can be seen in the finishing of the movement, fully visible beneath the transparent crystal case-back. Much of the calibre is open-worked, which serves both an aesthetic and a technical purpose: the latter enables the watchmakers to set and assemble some of the 374 components more easily, while the former allows a view deep into the mechanism.

Creating visual unity across the entire expanse of the movement, the bridges are decorated with sunrayed Geneva stripes. Its a challenging technique that demands absolute precision because the components must be decorated one-by-one, yet the stripes must radiate from the centre of the regulating organ to the edge of the calibre in perfect alignment once the movement is assembled.

A New Duometre Case: Contemporary Elegance Inspired by Tradition

Marking the launch of three new Duometre models in 2024, Jaeger-LeCoultre has designed an entirely new case for the collection. A contemporary interpretation of the savonette pocket watches created by the Maison in the 19th-century, its rounded contours are highly tactile as well as visually appealing. (The French word savonette literally means a small disc of soap with rounded contours that can be cradled in the palm of a hand.) With its convex crystal and gracefully rounded bezel, the new Duometre case expresses this literal definition very well. The crown, too, has been redesigned, with deep and rounded notches that make it a joy to handle. Indeed, the only sharp lines to be found are on the highly polished edges of the lugs.

A comfortable 42.5 mm in diameter, the case is a complex structure of 34 separate parts and the lugs are screwed rather than integrated, to enable multiple finishing techniques. A mixture of polished, brushed and micro-blasted surfaces creates a fascinating play of light with every movement of the wrist. With its blue dial and steel case, the new interpretation of the Duometre Quantieme Lunaire lends a decidedly contemporary air to a technically sophisticated timepiece. It perfectly represents Jaeger- LeCoultres relentless pursuit of precision and its spirit of innovation, anchored in a deep respect for the traditions of Haute Horlogerie.
On March 24, Brazils Federal Police (PF) arrested the masterminds behind the 2018 murder of Rio de Janeiro councilwoman Marielle Franco of the pseudo-left Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL). According to the PF, the masterminds of the crime are the brothers Chiquinho (Little Francisco) and Domingos Brazao, well-known political figures in Rio de Janeiro.

Domingos Brazao was a city councilor, state deputy between 1999 and 2015 and is currently an advisor to the Rio de Janeiro State Court of Auditors. Before being elected federal deputy in 2018, Chiquinho Brazao was a city councilor in Rio de Janeiro between 2005 and 2017, serving alongside Marielle Franco. For most of their political careers, they were members of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), the officially sanctioned opposition party to the US-backed Brazilian military dictatorship (1964-1985) that led the so-called democratic transition in Brazil.

Along with the Brazao brothers, the PF arrested the former head of Rio de Janeiros civil police, Rivaldo Barbosa, who is accused of planning the crime and obstructing investigations. He was appointed to the post the day before Marielle Francos murder.

In all, the investigations into the Marielle case had five civil police delegates, some of whom are also suspected of having obstructed the investigations. In March of last year, Flavio Dino, then justice minister in the government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Workers Party  PT), requested that Federal Police investigate Marielles murder. The arrests took place after the Federal Supreme Court approved a plea bargain by Ronnie Lessa, a former Military Police officer who killed Marielle Franco and has been imprisoned since 2019.

Marielle Francos death six years ago was immediately linked to the militias, paramilitary forces in Rio de Janeiro, which have multiple connections to the Military Police and numerous politicians, such as the Brazao brothers, and whose origins go back to the death squads that were unleashed against opponents of the military dictatorship. Offering gas, internet, electricity, and even social services in exchange for fees from residents, today the militias control almost 60 percent of the area of Rio de Janeiro, particularly in the western and northern zones of the city, where 33 percent of the population lives.

The information that Marielle Franco was an obstacle to the Brazao brothers interests, including acting with the population of the region against a bill that would have blocked their exploiting land that had been environmentally protected, was obtained by the two members of the militia controlled by the Brazao brothers who were infiltrated into the PSOL from the end of 2016. In monitoring the actions of Marielle and other PSOL politicians in the region, the Federal Police indicated that the infiltrators actions helped prepare the assassination.

The Brazao brothers and delegate Rivaldo Barbosa [Photo: Alerj, ABr and Camara Deputados]

Marielles work against the militias, as well as her denunciations of brutal police violence in Rio de Janeiro, began in the mid-2000s. Before being elected councilor in the 2016 election, Marielle Franco had been a parliamentary aide to Marcelo Freixo, who was a state deputy in Rio de Janeiro for PSOL between 2007 and 2018. In 2007 and 2008, he chaired a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) that investigated the actions of militias in Rio de Janeiro and was coordinated by Marielle Franco.

Amid these revelations, one of the most explosive elements of the Federal Police report raised suspicions about the commander of the unprecedented federal intervention in public security in Rio de Janeiro between February 2018 and January 2019, Gen. Walter Souza Braga Netto. Significantly, he would occupy two ministries in the government of the fascistic ex-president Jair Bolsonaro and was his candidate for vice-president in the 2022 election. Bolsonaro and his sons close relations with the Military Police, one of their most critical political bases, linked to militias in Rio de Janeiro are notorious.

In control of the states public security, including at the time of the assassination of Marielle Franco, Braga Netto changed the entire top management of the states public security, appointing delegate Rivaldo Barbosa as head of the civil police. This happened even after he was alerted by the states intelligence sub-secretariat that Barbosa had connections with the militias.

The maneuvers carried out by Barbosa to obstruct the investigation and bring the case to a premature conclusion have put the widespread corruption of the military and civil police and the advanced degree of the militias relationship with state institutions in the corporate media spotlight over the last two weeks. The real extent of Braga Nettos and other military personnels connections with the militias is unclear, at least publicly.

However, what has been exposed by the episode is the advanced level of rot in bourgeois democracy in Brazil and the return of the military to the center of politics in Brazil decades after the end of the military dictatorship.

The revelations in the Marielle case were released amid revelations about the participation of multiple generals from the Bolsonaro government in the January 8, 2023 coup attempt. General Braga Netto himself was one of the main organizers of the abortive coup, pressing for the support and participation of other high-ranking officials in the Armed Forces and helping to organize the infiltration of military personnel in the attack on the headquarters of the three powers in Brasilia.

The arrest of those responsible for the murder of Marielle Franco made the PT and PSOL double their bets on a broad front against the militias in Rio de Janeiro. In the same way they did throughout the Bolsonaro government, paralyzing all political opposition to the fascist president by channeling it into the elections and the institutions of the bourgeois state that opened the way for the coup attempt, their main political goal is to prevent workers and youth from drawing the necessary conclusions about the rottenness of bourgeois democracy in Brazil.

This policy has been defended mainly by Marcelo Freixo, who in 2022 left the PSOL for the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) to expand his electoral alliances with bourgeois politicians in the fight against bolsonarismo. Today he is pursuing the same tactics in the fight against the militias. Last year, he joined the PT and is now president of the state-run Brazilian Tourist Board (Embratur) under the Lula government.

In an interview with the Sem Censura show on March 25, he answered the question Does Rio de Janeiro have a solution? declaring: The solution is in politics, in institutions... There is a way out, there is a [municipal] election now in 2024, there is a [state] election in 2026, let this episode [the exposure of those behind Marielles murder] serve as a lesson, that makes certain figures understand that you can form an alliance, you must form an alliance, but you cannot form an alliance with crime. He also defended a pact between right and left involving the judiciary, the artistic class, the political class, the population to save Rio de Janeiro.

Likewise, PSOL launched a manifesto on March 29 entitled There is no game with the militia. According to it, its goal is to bring together everyone who knows that there is no justice without rights and that there is no game with the militia. Stating that it is necessary to face the political structure that made Marielles murder possible, it defends refounding Rio on democratic and socially just foundations.

The failure of this policy, pursued both nationally and in Rio de Janeiro in the name of fighting Bolsonaro and the militias, has been repeatedly exposed by the PT and PSOL. Today, the PTs main ally in Rio de Janeiro is the citys mayor, Eduardo Paes, of the right-wing Social Democratic Party (PSD), whose origins date back to the ruling party of the military dictatorship. It took Paes almost a week to speak out about the fact that Chiquinho Brazao had been one of the secretaries in his government until February, after the content of Lessas accusation was made public.

PSOL, meanwhile, has offered a left-wing cover to the PT and pressured it to break with Paes. According to the partys federal deputy Tarcisio Motta, Paes represents the same political group that has been promoting and employing the militia for years. This, however, did not prevent PSOL from supporting Paes in 2020 against the candidate supported by Bolsonaro in the municipal election, and will undoubtedly not prevent it from doing the same this year.

As loyal defenders of capitalism in Brazil, the PT and PSOL are unable to explain Francos assassination and the situation in Rio de Janeiro, claiming instead that the healthy path of Brazilian democracy has merely been diverted by the election of Bolsonaro and the action of militias, both of which could be fought by a broad front. The reality is that the source of fascist politics and violence lies in the very development of capitalism in Brazil, marked by an intense international economic crisis. They are manifestations of the worldwide decline of bourgeois democracy under the weight of the contradictions of world capitalism, chiefly the unprecedented growth of social inequality and the growing inter-imperialist conflicts, as the WSWS explained in 2019.

In recent years, numerous demonstrations and strikes have broken out in Brazil against multiple attacks on social and democratic rights, including massive spontaneous protests against the murder of Marielle Franco and police violence in 2018 and subsequent years. In all these cases, the PT and PSOL did everything to stifle and subordinate this movement to bourgeois politics.

The struggle of the working class in defense of social and democratic rights and against preparations for dictatorship in Brazil can only be carried forward with a systematic exposure of the policies of the PT, PSOL, and the pseudo-left and with the construction of an international movement of the working class against the capitalist system, the cause of the breakdown of democracy in the world.
Former President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. [AP Photo/Associated Press]

There are two presidential elections taking place in the United States in 2024. The voting by the American population, which culminates on Election Day on November 5, will receive the bulk of the media attention.

Far more decisive, however, is the second election, which is going on right now, in which a relative handful of billionaires and corporate oligarchs decides which of the candidates of the two established capitalist parties, Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican ex-President Donald Trump, will better serve their class interests.

As of March 31, the Biden campaign had more than double the cash on hand of Trump and the Republicans, $192 million compared to $93.1 million. The Biden campaign is touting the fact that its war chest is the highest total amount amassed by a Democratic candidate in US history. It includes $26 million raked in two weeks ago in Manhattan, where three Democratic presidentsBiden, Obama and Clintonand an array of Hollywood and Broadway performers appeared before an audience with ticket prices that topped out at $500,000.

Trumps efforts were given a boost at a record fundraiser Saturday night, held at the estate of hedge fund billionaire John Paulson in Palm Beach, a short distance from Trumps own Mar-a-Lago compound. The price of admission ranged up to $800,000, and the 117 guests ponied up a total of $50.5 million in campaign pledges, nearly double Bidens total at last months Radio City Music Hall event.

Tonight, we raised an historic $50.5 million for the re-election of President Trump, Paulson wrote in a statement to the media Saturday evening. This sold-out event has raised the most in a single political fundraiser in history. This overwhelming support demonstrates the enthusiasm for President Trump and his policies.

The enthusiasm of the assembled billionaires was no doubt fueled by Trumps 2017 tax cut for the wealthy and by the fact that the exemption for pass-through corporations, worth $700 billion to private equity firms and other speculative ventures, will expire in 2025, the first year of the new presidency. Trumps open embrace of fascist violence is seen by an increasing section of the ruling elite as necessary to crush social opposition to its policies of austerity and war.

If money is any indication, however, there is even more enthusiasm among the billionaires for Democrat Joe Biden, whose war against Russia is seen as critical to the global interests of the American ruling elite. Dominant sections of the capitalist class see Trump as too erratic on foreign policy and recognize that Bidens occasional anti-corporate demagogy is purely for show, a means of deluding the population and defusing popular resistance to the war policies of American imperialism.

Unfortunately for his electoral prospects, however, Bidens attempts to present himself as a man of the people have become increasingly strained. Middle-class Joe has been displaced by Genocide Joe in public consciousness, as he has become indelibly associated with the war crimes being committed by Israel in Gaza, armed and financed by the Biden administration.

Biden continues to collect multimillion-dollar amounts at closed-door meetings with wealthy supporters on virtually every campaign swing. On Monday, for example, he traveled to Wisconsin to unveil his latest political swindle, a proposed reduction in college student loan repayments, which will provide little actual benefit. Air Force One then touched down at OHare Airport in Chicago so Biden could attend a fundraiser that collected $2.5 million from about two dozen individuals (roughly $100,000 apiece).

The co-hosts of this affair were Michael Pratt, who runs GCM Grosvenor, a $77 billion hedge fund specializing in alternative, i.e., socially progressive investments, and Laura Ricketts, co-owner of the Chicago Cubs and daughter of the billionaire founder of TD Ameritrade.

Over the weekend, Politico published a revealing account of the 2024 campaign headlined, Big-dollar fundraisers are back, which noted that both parties are relying on small affairs where Trump and Biden schmooze with the super-rich to raise the bulk of their campaign funds. This is particularly important for the Democrats, the website reported, citing the comments of former Obama fundraiser Ami Copeland:

For Biden, burying Trump in cash is central to his general election strategy. Hes started with a sizable financial advantage over the former president, and hosting splashy, high-dollar fundraisers helps to further pad that edge. His cash advantage is existential, Copeland said, because its the thing working the best on the campaign right now.

The fundraising for both campaigns seems inversely related to their actual support, given that polls and media accounts generally concede that Biden and Trump are the two most unpopular political figures in America. Small-donor fundraising, which was up substantially in 2016 and 2020, driven initially by support for the self-proclaimed socialist Bernie Sanders and later by opposition to (or support for) Trumps fascist demagogy, has slowed significantly this year.

The massive domination of money is only one aspect of an electoral process that is completely undemocratic and aimed at excluding any opposition to the capitalist two-party system. The Democratic Party, in particular, has taken the lead in waging an all-out war on third party and independent candidates, which will focus on challenging their efforts to meet massive signature requirements to gain a place on the ballot.

This is the state of American democracy in 2024: One of the two major parties is controlled by the perpetrator of an attempted fascist coup to overturn the 2020 election, while the other party will renominate the president responsible for an ongoing war against nuclear-armed Russia and the first genocide of the 21st century.

The Socialist Equality Party entered the 2024 elections to provide a genuine choice for the working class, Joe Kishore for president and Jerry White for vice president, running on a socialist and antiwar program.

In a statement posted on X/Twitter Monday responding to the massive domination of money over the election, Kishore wrote:

As Marxists have long explained, the state is not a neutral arbiter but an instrument of class rule. It is controlled by a ruling class that supports the genocide in #Gaza and an escalating global war, while waging a war on the social and democratic rights of the working class at home. The Socialist Equality Party campaign is aimed at developing a movement in the working class. The existential questions confronting workers in the US and throughout the world will not be resolved by tinkering around the edges, by hoping for change within the existing political structure. The working class has to take up the fight against the entire social and economic system of capitalism. This is the essential question, and the only way to oppose the drive of the ruling class to world war, dictatorship and capitalist barbarism.

The central issue in the 2024 elections is to bring the class questions of jobs, living standards, social benefits, democratic rights and war before the widest possible audience and to win the most politically advanced sections of workers and youth to the program of revolutionary Marxism.
Asked in a Senate hearing Tuesday about charges of Israeli-authored genocide in Gaza, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin responded, We dont have evidence of that.

We are committed to help assist Israel in defending its territory and its people by providing security assistance, he added

Earlier that day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that a date was set for a ground assault of Rafah, hosting over 1.5 million Palestinians, the vast majority of them refugees. Netanyahu threatened, There is no force in the world that will stop us.

An invasion of Rafah would send the death toll in Gaza skyrocketing. According to the Gazan health ministry, the latest daily figures as of Tuesday were 153 killed and 60 injured, taking the totals to 33,360 and 75,993, not including those missing and unaccounted for. Among the dead are 14,500 children and 9,560 women.

The Israeli government knows the Palestinians in Rafah have nowhere to go. Its defence ministry has cynically put out a tender for just 40,000 tents, supposedly to house those expected to flee, which an official confirmed was part of preparations for the Rafah offensive.

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken gave a sickening press conference in Washington attempting to cover up the expanding pattern of war crimes.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron (left) holds a meeting with United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken on his visit to Washington [Photo by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office /Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Cameron spoke of a plan B in the event of conflict in Rafah, apparently involving go[ing] hard on getting aid into Gaza while supporting Israel in its legitimate right of self-defence to deal with the Hamas threat. He was sure to add that the UKs position on continuing to supply Israel with armsroughly 42 million worth in 2022remains unchanged.

Blinken praised Israels initial actions towards increasing the flow of aid into the Strip while claiming, The ball is in Hamass court.

The post-invasion reality facing Rafah is already on display in the rest of the Gaza Strip. Khan Younis, the next major city to the north of Rafah, is a wasteland. An estimated 55 percent of its buildings are destroyed or damaged, according to US-based mapping experts working from satellite imagery.

Air strikes against civilians continue daily. Five were killed in a single bombing Tuesday in the al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza Tuesday, including the head of the municipality council Hatem Al-Ghamri.

Hunger could soon become the biggest killer thanks to Israels deliberate strategy of starvation. Half the Gazan population is facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity, double the number in December. Another 38 percent are suffering emergency levels and 12 percent crisis levels of shortage.

According to Gazas health ministry, 32 people including 28 children had already died in hospital of malnutrition and dehydration as of April 1. Charity Save the Children confirmed the deaths of 27 children.

Alexandra Saieh, head of Save the Childrens humanitarian policy and advocacy, told Middle East Monitor a few days earlier, We believe that in reality, the stats of 25 children dying from starvation so far is just the tip of the iceberg. These are the children whose parents actually managed to bring them to health facilities to try to get some help, and who have been recorded.

One of my colleagues who was at one of the hospitals in Gaza said doctors had to discharge mothers immediately after delivering babies because they dont have the capacity to support them. And then the children, babies and infants, just go back to the shelters and die because the mother is not able to feed her child.

At Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya told Human Rights Watch on April 4 that 26 children had died after experiencing starvation in his hospital alone. The majority, 16, were under five months old, with the other 10 younger than eight. He told Middle East Monitor that the youngest died at just two days old after being born severely dehydrated due to his mothers poor health: [She] had no milk to give him.

At al-Awda Hospital, also in the north, acting director Mohammed Salha told the Guardian, Everyone here has lost more than a quarter of their body weight due to malnutrition. There is no food.

Dr. Margaret Harris of the World Health Organization said this weekend that at least 15 malnourished children arrive at the drastically undersupplied Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza every day.

Disease is rampant. Anadolu Agency reported Monday that there have now been over one million recorded cases of infectious diseasealmost half the Palestinian populationincluding 8,000 cases of hepatitis C.

Harris explained, 614,000 cases of upper respiratory infections and 330,000 cases of diarrhoea have been recorded among displaced people in shelter centres since October 7. There have also been 83,500 cases of scabies, 48,000 skin rashes and 7,300 cases of chickenpox. Jaundice is being monitored in 21,300 people.

Harris added, The cases of measles diagnosed in UNRWA health centres are worrying, warning that 9,000 patients need evacuation for treatment, including 6,000 with severe psychological trauma and 2,000 suffering from serious chronic diseases like cancer. These are likely huge underestimates.

This burden is falling on a healthcare system that has been deliberately destroyed. Just 10 of Gazas 36 hospitals are even partially operating.

A video posted by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society Tuesday showed the wreckage left in the wake of the Israeli rampage. The organisation commented, The deliberate destruction carried out by Israeli occupation soldiers inside the PRCS al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis has resulted in extensive devastation, rendering the hospital incapable of providing services to patients and wounded individuals.

Israels claims that its forces are allowing more aid into Gaza, repeated by Blinken and Cameron, have been challenged by the United Nations. According to the spokesman for its humanitarian office, Jens Laerke, trucks screened by Israeli soldiers are typically only half-full. That is a requirement that they have put in place for screening purposes.

Moreover, counting day to day and comparing makes little sense because it does not take into account the delays that happen at the crossing and the further movement to warehouses. Laerke noted that Half of the convoys that we were trying to send to the north with food [in March] were denied by the very same Israeli authorities.

According to UNRWA, crippled by the imperialist blockade on funding, it has been totally unable to bring food into north Gaza since January.

The World Food Programme suspended deliveries in February due to security concerns, but resumed them last month. Senior spokeswoman Abeer Etefa told the Guardian, After many failed attempts, we managed to send a number of convoys to the north during Marchwe sent around 47 trucks. Since the beginning of January around 110 trucks managed to reach the north, but thats nowhere near enough. We need 30 trucks going in every day.

Its hit and miss, sometimes there are clearance issues, sometimes there are safety and security problems, and sometimes we are turned away from checkpoints or left there for hours.

According to Laerke, food convoys are three times more likely to be denied than any other humanitarian convoys with other kinds of material.

By assassinating members of the World Central Kitchen charity last week and forcing it to suspend its operations in Gaza, Israel pulled the plug on an organisation feeding 500,000 people a day.

Speaking to the Guardian, Care International and Juzoor doctor Umaiyeh Khammash described northern Gaza as hell on earth, explaining, We have tried many times to get food supplies through; one time we were able to get a truck of food but it was hit and 20 people died.

On February 29, at least 112 Palestinians were massacred and hundreds injured by Israeli forces while trying to collect flour from an aid convoy. Israel blamed the deaths on a stampede.

A CNN investigation published Tuesday, based on analysis of dozens of videos from the night and testimonies from eyewitnesses casts doubt on Israels version of events. The evidence, reviewed by forensic and ballistic experts, indicated that automatic gunfire began before the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] said the convoy had started crossing through the checkpoint and that shots were fired within close range of crowds that had gathered for food.
Thousands of people protested across New Zealand last week to oppose the genocide against the people of Gaza, which has lasted six months.

Protest march outside New Zealand parliament, 7 April, 2024

More than 2,000 people marched to parliament in Wellington on Sunday, following protests earlier in the week in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and other centres. Nationwide demonstrations by school students last Friday, focusing on the governments refusal to address the climate crisis, also featured demands for an end to the Gaza genocide and a free Palestine.

Israels bombing and blockade of the Gaza Strip have killed more than 33,000 people. Once the missing are added, the true toll is likely over 44,000. A further 75,815 people have been wounded, and 1.9 million people have been displaced. Hundreds of thousands face imminent starvation and dozens of children have already died due to lack of food.

On April 8, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters delivered a hypocritical statement to the United Nations General Assembly, saying that New Zealand had supported the UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire.

Since that resolution was passed, Israel has only intensified its war crimes, including with the decimation of Al-Shifa Hospital and the murder of World Central Kitchen aid workers. The major powers have not deviated from their support for the Zionist regime.

Peters called on Israel not to invade Rafah, where most of Gazas population is now concentrated, and stated: Palestinian civilians continue to bear the brunt of Israels military actions, humanitarian and medical workers are being killed, and health facilities and vital infrastructure have been destroyed.

Anti-genocide protesters march in Wellington on April 7, 2024

Protesters, however, denounced the National Party-led coalition government for its complicity in the genocide. Along with the opposition Labour Party, the government supports Israels assault on Gaza under the pretext of self-defence.

Speaking to the Platform media outlet on Thursday, far-right ACT Party leader and government minister David Seymour repeated the lie that Israel had made every effort to make sure that they only target the terrorists, but the terrorists keep hiding behind the people.

New Zealand troops have been sent to the Middle East to assist in the US-led bombing of Yemen, in retaliation against Yemeni forces attempts to disrupt the supply of weapons going to Israel. The government has also rejected calls by charities and NGOs for humanitarian visas to be granted to hundreds of Palestinians trapped in Gaza who have family in New Zealand.

At the Wellington protest on Sunday, a woman from Egypt, who asked not to be named, told the World Socialist Web Site that all the governments are shameful in their response to Gaza. Its just disgraceful whats happening and no ones doing anything about it.

She condemned the Egyptian government and others in the Middle East for allowing the aid for Israels occupying army to pass through their lands. Only Yemen had opposed this, while richer and more powerful states were turning their back on the Palestinians. Across the world, she said, the protests had shown there is a gap between the leaders and the people that they should be representing.

Commenting on the murder of aid workers by Israel, she said: This is a genocide. They are killing anyone who is helping. They are bombing everything. They destroyed Al Shifa hospital, put it out of service.

She noted that the Israeli regime was not hiding its intentions. Theyre saying: were going to take the whole of Gaza, its ours. Theyre preparing to build settlements.

She supported the call by the Palestinian trade unions for strikes and other actions to block military supplies going to Israel, pointing out that if the supply of petrol from the Arab world was stopped, that would definitely help.

Tina and Amy

Amy, a schoolteacher, told the WSWS that she has joined other friends to raise funds to help a man trapped in Gaza, named Yahya, who is desperately seeking to cross the Rafah border. Egyptian authorities are charging individuals 7,000 Euros (more than $NZ12,500) to cross the border. Theyre being extorted, because its usually about $300 to cross, and so theres thousands and thousands of campaigns online for people to get them out of Gaza, she explained.

Speaking about the New Zealand governments refusal to grant visas, Amy said: I dont feel like Ive got any words for it. Its as if they have no humanity and no interest in these peoples lives. I feel as though they look at people in Gaza as sub-human.

She said Immigration Minister Erica Stanford posts her school visits and all this fluffy stuff on the internet, while kids are dying and weve got Palestinian families here who cant get their family to safety.

Meanwhile, the killing of aid workers showed that Israel was seeking to totally debilitate Palestinians and remove anyone who can provide anything for them.

Tina, also a teacher, said Israel was carrying out colonisation: the erasure and displacement of people, so that they disconnect themselves from their communities, their identity, their culture and their language. She compared it to the violent colonisation of New Zealand and the treatment of indigenous Maori.

She added that the United States was supporting the genocide because it wanted control over the resources of the Middle East, and wealth, and power and money. Tina agreed that the struggle against the war was connected with the struggle against capitalism.

The ongoing protests by millions of people worldwide point to deeply-ingrained opposition to war and genocide. But the fact that they have been ignored by the US and its allies, which continue to back Israel, shows the urgent need for a new political perspective.

The organisers of the Wellington protest called on those in attendance to write letters to parliament to demand that the government stop supporting the Israeli war machine. At previous rallies, the platform has been given to politicians from the Labour Party, who have been booed because of the partys well-known support for Israel. The past six months have shown that the political establishment is completely impervious to the will of the majority.

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in New Zealand is holding a webinar on April 16, at 6:00 p.m., to discuss the way forward, in opposition to the pseudo-left organisations that are limiting the anti-war movement to making appeals to capitalist politicians, and the union bureaucracy, which is preventing strike actions to stop the supply of weapons for Israel and the US.

The IYSSE is calling for the mobilisation of the international working class to stop this genocide, and the developing third world war, on the basis of a socialist program. We call on workers and students to register to attend and to help publicise this important online meeting.
Each year Cartier pays extravagant tribute to one of its iconic watches. For the 2024 edition of Watches and Wonders, its the turn of the Santos to steal the spotlight

2024 is a Santos year for Cartier. This versatile and iconic timepiece takes centre stage, showcasing numerous new versions. The agenda includes a sporty and contemporary Santos, available in steel or two-tone gold and steel, featuring an automatic movement and interchangeable bands  either a steel bracelet or leather strap. Two particularly handsome versions of this ideal everyday watch, with a slate grey or brown dial, stand out.

Cartier has also unveiled a Santos Dual-Time dedicated to chic globetrotters. The complication is highly legible, with the second time zone displayed at 6 oclock on an auxiliary counter. This allows the fortunate wearer to tell at a glance what time it is, both home and away. The auxiliary counter also features a date window, making it the perfect companion piece for the intrepid explorer.

SANTOS DE CARTIER DUAL TIME, steel case, 40.2 x 47.5 mm, automatic movement with second time zone and date window, interchangeable steel bracelet  Cartier

Next up are the Santos-Dumont models, neo-vintage reinterpretations of the original Santos. Two limited editions of only 200 pieces each, crafted in platinum, are available worldwide. The first, a true classic, features a lacquered bezel matching the colour of the dial, available in olive green, taupe grey or peacock blue.

SANTOS-DUMONT, platinum and lacquer case, 31.5 x 43.5 mm, hand-wound movement, leather strap. 200-piece limited and numbered edition  Cartier

The second represents a complete departure from convention. Its as if Alberto Santos-Dumont himself had flown it over the Bermuda Triangle. Its hands turn anticlockwise, and the order of its Roman numerals is reversed, giving the impression that time is running backwards. The aptly named Santos-Dumont Rewind is powered by the 230MC hand-wound calibre that operates in reverse rotation. The distinctive dance of the apple-shaped hands takes place on a sophisticated stage featuring a carnelian dial whose subtle shades harmonise perfectly with the leather strap. This Santos is both original and stylish, making it the undisputed Santos masterpiece of Watches and Wonders 2024. Alberto Santos-Dumont had a fertile imagination; he dreamed of a wristwatch that would allow him more freedom of movement. His friend Louis Cartier created it in 1904. Today, Cartier is shaking things up by reversing the course of time, which is why the back of the watch is engraved with Alberto Santos-Dumonts signature written backwards.
Since the confirmation of infections with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, also referred to as H5N1 and bird flu, among dairy cows from Texas and Kansas in late March, the virus has been detected in 16 herds from six states: Texas, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Idaho, and most recently, Ohio. This also includes detection of the virus in an animal handler in Texas whose only symptom was eye inflammation, a condition known as conjunctivitis.

However, Reuters recently reported that the outbreak of influenza among cattle may have started much earlier in the month when a mysterious illness affected about 40 percent of the states dairy herds, according to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. Testing for Influenza was not routine, but now he suspects that it was the bird flu. We were testing for every cattle disease we could think of and then somebody said, What are all these dead birds doing around the dairies?

The latest outbreak of avian influenza is the same strain that has caused the spread of the virus across the globe since late 2020, killing millions of birds and crossing over to affect multiple mammalian species, including sea lions, minks, grizzly bears, red foxes, coyotes, seals, and dolphins. In October 2023, Alaska reported the first polar bear case, believed to be caused by the animal scavenging bird carcasses and consuming one infected with H5N1.

A grocery store employee stocks cartons of eggs for display at a Petaluma Market in Sonoma County, on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, where avian flu infections shut down a cluster of egg farms in recent months. [AP Photo/Terry Chea]

Since 2022, more than 65 million birds and poultry have been culled in the US. Most recently, egg producer Cal-Maine said last week that a positive test at one of their Texas egg farms forced the company to cull 1.6 million laying hens.

The addition of infected bovines marks the first time that the virus has been identified in these animals. The disease appears to be mild in cattle, causing a transient decline in their appetites, lower milk production and symptoms like low-grade fever and lethargy. Migratory waterfowl infected with the virus have been blamed for the avian-flu outbreak in Texas. An infected bird can release viruses through its saliva and feces for up to 10 days. Contact with infected birds or surfaces contaminated by their droppings, saliva or feathers appear to be the biggest risk factor for contracting avian influenza. These birds are expected to make their way up north into Canadian forests and lakes to their nesting grounds.

Although the HPAI virus has been detected in cattle, it has yet to be determined if there has been respiratory transmission among cattle or from infected cattle to the worker with conjunctivitis. These questions need to be urgently addressed.

At a meeting organized last Thursday by the World Organization for Animal Health and the UNs Food and Agricultural Organization, US Department of Agriculture official Suelee Robbe Austerman explained, Right now, we dont have evidence that the virus is actively replicating within the body of the cow other than the udder. USDAs Mark Lyons suggested that the virus could potentially be transmitted by contamination of workers clothing and gloves or the suction cups that are attached to cow udders during milking.

Clearly, the presence of dead infected birds in the fields adjacent to the cattle underscores the difficulties of protecting farm animals. However, it has yet to be ascertained how prevalent the virus is among cattle or the routes of transmission through which cattle are being infected. Some have suggested the water troughs could be a common source for viral transmission. These animals are kept together in close quarters and the virus can be present in their excrement.

Similarly, the affected human being, who is in direct contact with cows, may have been infected through self-inoculation by simply touching his eyes. These workers are not offered personal protective equipment to protect them from these forms of zoonotic infections. They are also not being tested routinely and asymptomatic or mild cases may be occurring under the radar, providing the virus opportunities to adapt itself to the human host.

The HPAI virus among cows has been little studied. Richard Webby, a virologist and expert on avian influenza at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, told MIT Technology Review, Exactly what happens when an avian flu virus replicates in a cow and potentially transmits from cow to cow, we actually dont have any idea at all.

The virus that has infected cattle in Texas and the animal handler has been sequenced and belongs to clade 2.3.4.4b of H5N1. In particular, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that the virus from the worker has a mutation with known links to host adaptation that has been previously detected in people and other mammals. However, the CDC assured the public that they havent found any markers associated with influenza antiviral resistance and noted that the virus sequence indicates it is closely related to two existing HPAI A(H5N1) candidate vaccine viruses that are already available to manufacturers.

Such reassurances are of little force, given the context of the ongoing COVID pandemic, its cover-up in the media and failure by public health agencies and the government to address it, and its deadly and debilitating ramifications like Long COVID, which is sickening millions with chronic neurologic and cardiovascular symptoms.

It is clear that the finding of H5N1 among bovine has unsettled the CDC. But agency officials have not taken these developments in any serious fashion or proposed to redirect much needed public health funding for an international approach to addressing surveillance and preventative measures. Instead, the main talking point supplied by public health authorities to the corporate press is that human to human transmission is unlikely and the current strain appears to lead to mild disease by comparison to the earlier clades of the H5N1 virus.

Since H5N1 was first found in humans in 1997 in Hong Kong, it has infected almost 900 people and had a case fatality rate of over 50 percent. However, with the current lineage of the virus, virulence in humans and transmission to humans appears to have declined. In 2022 and 2023, there were only 14 documented human infections and only two deaths. Although this is welcome news, should this strain evolve efficient human-to-human transmission via respiratory aerosol pathways, a case fatality rate of over 10 percent would be catastrophic.

This issue bears reviewing.

For COVID, case fatality in the first few months varied between two and thirty percent, but that figure has declined to below 0.3 percent after August 2022. Still, nearly 30 million deaths have been attributed to SARS-CoV-2. It has been repeated infections among elderly and those with multiple co-morbidities that have contributed to the ongoing death toll, while the impact of repeat infections is felt in uncounted numbers of deaths attributed to cardiovascular or neurological causes.

The 1918 Influenza pandemic, with a case fatality rate of nearly two percent, killed around 50 million people worldwide, disproportionately affecting healthy young adults. A case fatality rate of 10 percent would make any previous pandemic pale by comparison, with the exception of the black death that ravaged Europe and North Africa from 1346 to 1353, killing 30 to 60 percent of the population.

In the modern era there are at least seven worldwide pandemics that killed over one million people:

The 1889-1890 pandemic (influenza or human coronavirus) killed one million

1918 Influenza pandemic (Spanish flu) killed 17 to 100 million

1957-1958 Influenza pandemic (Asian flu) killed one to four million

Hong Kong flu (1968-1970) caused by Influenza A H3N2 killed one to four million

HIV/AIDS epidemic (1981 to the present) killed 42 million

COVID-19 Pandemic (2019 to the present) killed seven to 35 million

Notably, influenza plays a major role in the ongoing threats to human populations as evidenced by the major epidemics documented in the industrial age. The threats posed by coronaviruses and similar respiratory pathogens in the current era of globalization and climate catastrophe only elevate the threat for another pandemic-potential pathogen to run roughshod over the global human populations.

With respect to H5N1, in a recent interview published in News STAT, Dutch virologist Ron Fouchier, explained the implication of the infection of cows with HPAI virus: We have never seen this scale of infections in mammals, and in such diversity of mammals. We have now seen more than 40 species of mammals infected during the last outbreaks, which is unprecedented. We know the flu is unpredictable. But we also know that adaptation of virus to mammals is not a good thing  And so the high presence in nature, and the large number of infections I find concerning, despite the fact that we think current zoonotic [transmission into humans] risk is low. And thats because these viruses are changing. And we have no experience of how H5 behaves in all these species. We cant predict whats going to happen.

And as these developments are ongoing, the right-wing reaction to the COVID pandemic and attempts to blame Chinese authorities by promoting grotesquely false lab-leak conspiracies are essentially handcuffing the very same researchers whose work and collaboration is urgently required to address important questions posed by these ongoing threats.
The terrorist attack on March 22 in the Crocus City concert hall near Moscow has shocked not only the population of Russia, but also the rest of the world. The barbaric attack killed at least 144 people and injured nearly 700.

People lay flowers at a spontaneous memorial in memory of the victims of Moscow attack in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, March 24, 2024. [AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky]

The Young Guard of Bolshevik Leninists expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims. We denounce the attack which bears the imprint of NATO and its proxy regime in Kiev. But we also oppose the reactionary response by the Russian oligarchy to the attack: Playing into the hands of the imperialist powers which seek to foment a regime change and civil war, the Russian parliament and far-right oligarchs have instigated a pogrom-like atmosphere against immigrants in Russia.

In order to prevent a disaster, the working class must intervene in the crisis on an independent basis. This requires a political understanding of the historical impasse confronting the working class as a result of the Stalinist destruction of the Soviet Union and the restoration of capitalism.

A terror attack, made in Washington and Kiev

Everything about the attack in the countrys capital indicates that those who perpetrated it acted as mercenaries. The four captured terrorists were all young migrant laborers from Tajikistan, a desperately impoverished former Soviet republic in Central Asia. Two of them had been trained in Turkey just weeks prior. They were to receive 500,000 rubles, a bit over $5,400 for their act. Russian media reports indicate that the terrorists carried out the slaughter while being on drugs, aimed at reducing anxiety.

In this photo taken from video released by the Investigative Committee of Russia on Saturday, March 23, 2024, firefighters work in the burned concert hall after an attack on the building of the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow, Russia. [AP Photo/AP Photo / Russlands etterforskingskomite]

The instant denials of involvement by the Ukrainian government and the White House have no credibility.

The pro-NATO media echoes these denials by pointing out that the Afghanistan-based terrorist organization ISIS-K (Khorasan) has claimed responsibility for the attack. If true, this only reinforces the all but evident conclusion that these four individuals acted on behalf of US and Ukrainian intelligence. ISIS-K, like its predecessor ISIS, is largely a product of US imperialism. It is known to include US-trained intelligence and military personnel that had earlier fought for NATO in Afghanistan, and began to join ISIS-K after the US troop withdrawal in 2021 to fight against the now ruling Taliban regime.

Even more than the technical aspect of the terrorist attack, the evaluation of the political context and NATOs strategy in the war against Russia suggests direct involvement by Kiev and Washington. The situation on the front has become nothing short of catastrophic for Ukraine. It is suffering from a severe shortage of men and ammunition and continues to lose territory to Russian forces.

In response to the recent, significant military setbacks, Kiev and its imperialist backers are responding by escalating the war on two fronts: First, through ever more direct military intervention in Ukraine, including the sending of NATO troops by France. And by opening up a second front inside Russia to destabilize the Putin regime.

Terrorist attacks and the mobilization of various fascist elements have, in fact, long formed an important part of imperialisms war against Russia. This includes ongoing and evermore brazen bombings of the Russian Belgorod region; the car bombing of far-right Putin supporters like Daria Dugina; the terrorist attack on the Kerch Bridge, and the bombing of the Nord Stream gas pipeline.

Just days before the Crocus City Hall attack and in the midst of the Russian presidential election, neo-Nazi forces launched an incursion of Russian territory involving tanks. The New York Times praised these attacks as daring, expressing the hope that they would undermine the sense of stability in Russia and divert the countrys military resources from Ukraine. The neo-Nazi forces behind these incursions, as the Times acknowledged, were openly backed by Ukraines military intelligence. Using similar language, the Times gloated days after the Crocus City Hall attack that it constituted a blow to Mr. Putins aura as a leader for whom national security is paramount.

As the WSWS wrote in a March 25 perspective on the events at Crocus City Hall, the US and NATO are pursuing three goals:

First, to embolden opposition to the Putin regime within the oligarchy and state apparatus; second, to provoke a military response by the Kremlin that can serve as the pretext for a further escalation of the war by NATO; and third, to foster ethnic and religious tensions within Russia that would destabilize the regime and facilitate the carve-up of the entire region by the imperialist powers.

The crisis of the Putin regime

Already, the attack has emboldened both NATO-backed forces and the ultra-right faction of the Russian oligarchy and state apparatus under the Putin regime.

One such NATO-backed oppositionist in the oligarchy is Ilya Ponomaryov, who has lived in Kiev since 2015. Ponomaryov is also a long-time friend of the ex-oligarch and NATO-backed oppositionist Mikhail Khodorkovsky. In a recent interview, Ponomaryov praised the terrorists as comrades from Tajikistan who had confirmed his earlier prediction that Moscow could relatively easily be seized militarily.

Ponomaryovs comments are significant: he has been an important figure behind the incursions of Russian territory, the drone attacks and the development of a counter-insurgency within Russia. Ponomaryov openly advocates an overthrow of the Putin regime and the carve-up of Russia along ethnic lines, based on mobilizing sections of the state apparatus. From Kiev, Ponomaryov is overseeing operations of the neo-fascist Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion, which have spearheaded the incursions into Russian territory.

Meanwhile, far-right oligarchs inside Russia have responded to the attack by demanding that the Putin regime escalate the war and crack down on immigrants. The billionaire Konstantin Malofeev, founder of the openly reactionary and religious Tsargrad channel, wrote that a second front has been opened up against Russia by the Anglo-Saxons with the aim of dividing and subjugating the country. He continued, But we are not a British colony, not a banana republic. We are Great Russia, heir to the Empire of the Third Rome. ... We have become the largest state in the history of mankind thanks to the unique imperial spirit of the Russian people. We have fought and will fight to the victorious end with our real enemies in Washington and London.

In the same piece, Malofeev denounced the terrorists as four filthy drug addicts and wrote that the attack had made the darkest warnings about the threat posed by labor immigrants from Central Asia to Russias national security come true.

The Russian parliament (Duma) and police have also helped create a pogrom-like atmosphere against immigrants. Russia is home to a Muslim population of 14 million to 20 million and an estimated 17 million migrant laborers, most of them from Central Asia and the Caucasus.

In a clear encouragement of anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim violence, the four terrorist suspects were demonstrably tortured and violently beaten before being dragged into court. In the press, ultra-right chauvinists are demanding the return of the death penalty.

The Duma has quickly passed two anti-immigrant bills: One will limit the time migrant workers can stay in the country to two years, and another one abolishes paid maternity leave for migrant families. Putin added more to the fire by declaring that 2023 allegedly saw a 75 percent increase of crimes by illegal immigrant workers. The government, Putin announced, would develop preemptive anti-criminal measures in the area of migration.

Immediately following the arrest of the perpetrators, the estimated 1 million Tajik workers in Russia were advised not to leave their homes in the evenings. In Blagoveshchensk, a store owned by Tajik citizens was set on fire. In Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities, large-scale anti-immigrant campaigns have begun in apartment buildings and factories.

Human rights groups have described the indiscriminate beatings and torture of detained immigrants in St. Petersburg. On social media, lists with the names of Tajik cab drivers have been circulated to encourage a boycott. As one immigrant who was violently beaten up told a newspaper: We are the most defenseless. I did not even go to the police because Im scared. There they beat me, it hurts and is denigrating, but when I go to the police they might also arrest me. The Tajik Ministry of Labor has reported that an atmosphere of fear and panic prevails among Tajik immigrants has prompted many to flee Russia.

The YGBL emphatically rejects this promotion of anti-immigrant sentiments. It stands in the tradition of the Great Russian chauvinism employed both by the tsar and then the Stalinist regime against the working class. Under the tsar, antisemitism was systematically whipped up by the government to divide the revolutionary movement of the working class. Stalinism also resorted to national chauvinism, including the promotion of outright xenophobia and antisemitism, to disorient the working class and mobilize right-wing forces in support of the bureaucracy. Similarly, today, the promotion of anti-immigrant chauvinism is fundamentally directed against the working class, and aimed at preempting its unification across ethnic, religious and national boundaries.

Well aware of the imperialist aim of instigating national divisions within the country, Putin has been overall more careful in his public statements than figures like Malofeev and continues to stress that Russia is a multi-national and multi-religious country. Nevertheless, he is compelled to accommodate the far-right elements in the oligarchy and state apparatus because of the very nature and historical origins of his regime, its hostility to the working class, and its ever greater reliance on the whipping up of Great Russian nationalism.

Russian President Vladimir Putin [AP Photo/Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP]

As we explained in our statement on the recent presidential elections, Vladimir Putin is a Bonapartist figure whose regime emerged out of the restoration of capitalism in the Soviet Union. The principal function of his regime consists, above all, in the preservation of the privileges of the tiny stratum of oligarchs that has emerged as the new ruling class of Russia through the looting of Soviet state property. In the words of Trotsky,

By Bonapartism we understand such a regime when the economically dominant class  finds itself forced, in the interests of preserving its property, to tolerate over itself the uncontrolled command of a military-police apparatus crowned by a savior. Such a situation is created in periods of particular aggravation of class contradictions: Bonapartism is intended to keep them from exploding. (Leon Trotsky, More on Bonapartism, Bulletin of the Opposition, No. 43, April 1935).

To preempt this explosion of class tensions, Putin is desperately seeking to mediate between the working class and the oligarchy, between the different factions of the oligarchy, and between the national and economic interests of the oligarchy and the interests of Western imperialism. But the ever more aggressive offensive by imperialism and its fueling of internecine struggle within the oligarchy, as well as the development of the class struggle, make this balancing act ever more tenuous. Within the oligarchy, Putin is under fire from all sides. The pressure on him to either escalate the war, capitulate completely to imperialism or be overthrown in a regime-change operation is growing by the day.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union and the imperialist drive to subjugate the region

The historical impasse confronting the working class can only be understood in the context of the Stalinist reaction against the October Revolution of 1917, which culminated in the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union. While Putin has initiated the invasion of Ukraine with an attack on the October Revolution and Vladimir Lenin, the disastrous course of the war has, in fact, confirmed that the revolution provided the only viable solution to the great historical problems confronting the masses of that region.

U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev formally recognising the dissolution of the Soviet Union

The strategy of the Putin regime to deploy military pressure to force a deal with the imperialist powers has failed. Every attempt by the Kremlin to reach a settlement is interpreted by NATO as weakness and exploited. And now that the proxy forces of NATO in Ukraine are facing a military debacle, the response by the imperialist powers has been to open up another front in the war within Russia itself, and to prepare the sending of NATO troops into Ukraine. One red line after another has been dropped. NATO is at war with Russia, the second-largest nuclear power in the world, in all but name.

Underlying this seemingly irrational and crazed escalation of the war by the imperialist powers are profound historical and economic driving forces.

The destruction of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked a new period of imperialist wars and social revolution. David North, the chairperson of the international editorial board of the World Socialist Web Site and of the Socialist Equality Party (US), explained in August 1990 that the unfolding crisis in the Persian Gulf,

marks the beginning of a new imperialist redivision of the world.  As it proclaims the failure of socialism, the imperialist bourgeoisie, in deeds if not yet in words, proclaims the failure of independence. The deepening crisis confronting all the major imperialist powers compels them to secure control over strategic resources and markets. Former colonies which had achieved a degree of political independence, must be resubjugated. In its brutal assault against Iraq, imperialism is giving notice that it intends to restore the type of unrestrained domination of the backward countries that existed prior to World War II. (David North, On the Eve of the First Iraq War, A Quarter Century of War: The U.S. Drive for Global Hegemony, 1990-2016, Mehring Books 2016, p. 6).

A few months later, the US initiated the bombing of Iraq with the endorsement of the Soviet bureaucracy. But in its embrace of imperialism, the Soviet bureaucracy paved the way for the colonial subjugation of the entire region. The October Revolution and establishment of the Soviet Union cut off vast resources of the globe from direct imperialist control and exploitation for decades. Establishing direct access to these resources again became a major priority in the geopolitical and economic calculations of the imperialist powers. In May 1991, the International Committee of the Fourth International warned,

With the connivance of the Kremlin, imperialism is asserting with increasing brazenness its right to assume control of the vast territories of the USSR. It is impossible for the imperialists to ignore the economic significance of the Soviet Unions raw materials, vast productive potential and huge market.

And in a lecture in Kiev in October 1991, David North presciently stated with regard to the national republics of the former Soviet Union such as Ukraine,

Declaring independence from Moscow, the nationalists can do nothing more than place all the vital decisions relating to the future of their new states in the hands of Germany, Britain, France, Japan and the United States. ... The return to capitalism, for which the chauvinist agitation of the nationalists is only one guise, can only lead to a new form of oppression.

David North lecturing at the Moscow Historical Archival Institute.

The developments of the past 30 years have provided a brutal and tragic confirmation of these warnings. Large portions of the Middle East have been devastated by imperialist aggression with millions killed. The former Soviet republics were turned into capitalist nation-states, ruled by criminal oligarchies, riven by ethnic, tribal, religious and national conflicts, and marked by extreme levels of social inequality.

The so called independence of Ukraine served the self-enrichment of a tiny stratum of oligarchs and privileged layers of the middle class. For the countrys working class, it has been a catastrophe. Ukraine, a country that had been occupied in two world wars by Germany, has been transformed into a launching pad for yet another imperialist war against Russia. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have already been slaughtered. Those who have so far survived are faced with social destitution.

Tajikistan, where the suspected terrorists are from, is another tragic example of the combined disaster of capitalist restoration and explosion of imperialist wars. It is the poorest of all former Soviet republics with almost half of its population lacking access to clean water. Half of its GDP is derived from remittances. The dire situation facing Tajikistan was significantly influenced by US interventions in neighboring Afghanistan. Afghan militant Islamist muhajeedin that were funded by the US in the 1980s to wage a war against the Soviet army were directly involved in a civil war that ravaged Tajikistan from 1992 through 1997.

The imperialist wars of the past three decades and the growing encirclement of Russia and China have now reached a qualitatively new stage: Driven by internal crises and faced with a rapidly declining position of US and European imperialism on the world scale, above all vis a vis China, the imperialist powers are lurching toward a new attempt to redivide the world. From their standpoint, the resources of the former Soviet Union are indispensable for the impending war against China.

The working class of the former Soviet Union confronts an existential threat. If the situation is left in the hands of the ruling oligarchy, the alternatives posed are between a direct conflict with NATO, which threatens the use of nuclear weapons, and a carve-up of the entire region through a series of civil wars and regime-change operations.

Workers and youth across the former Soviet Union can only fight against the existential threat posed by the imperialist onslaught by returning to the path of 1917, i.e., the path of class struggle and socialist revolution. They need a party that is completely independent of the all factions of the oligarchy and imperialist powers, and fights for the historical interests of the international working class. Only the world Trotskyist movement, which is embodied in the International Committee of the Fourth International, represents such a party. Its building is therefore the most urgent task in the fight to unite workers internationally around the program of world socialist revolution.
Denis Villeneuves Dune: Part Two, following Dune: Part One (2021), covers the drama of the latter half of Frank Herberts celebrated science-fiction novel Dune (1965). Unfortunately, what Villeneuve has provided is a bland and seemingly endless series of explosions and gunfights. The film fails to capture much of whats best in Frank Herberts attempt to depict the epic sweep of a marginalized people defeating a powerful galactic empire.

The film is mostly a schematic, plot-based adaptation of Dune. Between the two films, totaling about five hours, Villeneuve hits most of the major plot points of the novel. However, so much of the books vitality is missing, substituted for by action sequences and dazzling special effects.

Timothee Chalamet and Austin Butler in Dune-Part Two

In a review of the first film, this writer expressed hopes that the more intriguing aspects of the novelanthropological, ecological, anti-colonial, political, even psychologicalwill find greater expression in Dune: Part Two, although there are a great number of pressures that will work against that being done effectively. It is no pleasure to report that those pressures won out against those more intriguing elements of the novel.

Picking up immediately after the events of the first film, Dune: Part Twos narrative more or less corresponds to the novels, although changes have been made. Paul (Timothee Chalamet), heir to House Atreides, and his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), join the indigenous Fremen in their fight against despotic House Harkonnen, which murdered his father with the assistance of Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV (an awkward-looking Christopher Walken). Paul is gradually integrated into the oppressed Fremen culture, falling in love with Chani (Zendaya) and fighting among the guerrilla warriors led by Stilgar (Javier Bardem).

Despite misgivings, Paul proclaims himself the prophesied messiah of the Fremen, and is accepted as such thanks in part to Jessicas manipulations. He rallies the Fremen to fight against the Harkonnens and the emperors forces, kills Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard) and duels the barons psychotic nephew, Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (Austin Butler). Upon winning the duel, he takes Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) as his wife, proclaims himself emperor and then launches the holy war he had foreseen and feared.

Even the two films five-hour length is not enough to fit in every facet of the sprawling novel. Moreover, the book features numerous epigraphs from Herberts fictional future histories, as well as internal musings that rarely translate to the screen, at least in that particular form. As in Dune: Part One, the cumulative effect of removing these elements is to delete the exploration of the history of Herberts imagined universe and the psychology of his characters. This weakness is even more pronounced than it was in the first film, excising the depth (as well as the graceful imagery) that the novel provides and leaving us with something essentially flat and lifeless.

The complex factors motivating Paul, Stilgar, Jessica et al.the curse of prescience, the desire for a verdant Arrakis, religious prophecies, feudal social norms, ecological constraintsare hinted at but rarely explored. A telling moment in this respect arrives when Chani explains the Fremen techniques for capturing water from the desert, both for immediate drinking water and for the long-term project of colonizing Arrakis with water-capturing plants to change the planets environment. In the film, Paul zones out during the explanation, enthralled by Chanis beauty. Not only is the ecological aspect passed over, but the romantic connection between Paul and Chani is presented more as a teenage romance than as the deep connection described in the novel.

Javier Bardem in Dune-Part Two

The second Dune also essentially ignores the complex political and economic structures that frame Herberts novel, including the mercantilist CHOAM, the Spacing Guild and the Great Houses of the empire. This is facilitated through the elision of significant portions of the books narrative and other changes: Paul fights in the desert with the Fremen for a few months, rather than years; his younger sister Alia (Anya Taylor-Joy) is therefore present only as a fetus and in a perplexing vision; Paul and Chani do not have a son who dies in the final battle; and Paul seemingly spurns Chani for Irulan, as opposed to pointedly marrying Irulan only for politics while declaring his love for Chani.

Again, some of these changes may have been necessary or inevitable, and others could fall into the category of artistic license, but the overall effect is a hollowing out of the novel and a general retreat into mere spectacle.

Villeneuve indeed provides spectacle in spades. The scenes on the Harkonnen home planet of Giedi Prime, filmed with an infrared camera, are as arresting as they are unnerving. Villeneuve may intend the sequence to evoke fascism in the manner of Leni Riefenstahls 1935 Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will. While this conveys something of House Harkonnens arch-villainy, it adds literally nothing to our understanding of that houses social or political role, let alone to our understanding of fascism in our own universe and time.

The climactic duel between Paul and Feyd-Rautha is intense, even if one knows the eventual outcome.

Ultimately, however, one cannot substitute spectacle for substance.

Rebecca Ferguson

This is not to deny the definite limitations of Heberts novel, written during the Cold War, by any means. (Herbert reportedly plucked the name Harkonnen for his evildoers out of a phone book because it sounded Soviet, although its in fact Finnish.) The novel can be didactic, with long, pseudo-philosophical musings on genetic manipulation, drug use as a means for expanding ones mind and syncretic religious traditions millennia hencea future for humanity not only improbable but short-sighted and pessimistic. Villeneuves film avoids some of these pitfalls, but without providing a viable substitute for the world-building they introduce.

Yet Herberts Dune also has its strengths. It spoke directly to events happening at the time such as concern about humanitys impact on the environment and particularly the anti-colonial struggle in Algeria. Herbert has Paul shout, Ya hya chouhada!, which is rendered as Long live the fighters! in the Fremen language. This is actually a French transliteration of the Arabic phrase for Long live the martyrs!, taken from newspaper accounts of the Algerian Revolution. Villeneuves film has Paul shout something else, not in Arabic, which is translated as Long live the fighters. Likewise, the film excises jihad as the translation for Pauls feared holy waralthough, given the connotations that term has picked up in the last 60 years, that may have been an understandable move.

Dune the novel has a much more organic historical sense, of toil and strife of the oppressed against the oppressors, which is not only entirely absent from the film, where social change is a matter of military action, but also largely gone from contemporary science fiction literature as well.

Herbert had many strange proclivities and some deeply unhealthy tendencieshe was a onetime speechwriter for a Republican politician, later on came to support Ronald Reagan and had musings on genetics that have, at best, an ambiguous relationship to eugenics.

Religious mysticism is rife in the book and social change in the form of the overthrow of a monarchical galactic empire was already stale in 1965.

Zendaya and Timothee Chalamet in Dune-Part Two

Herberts ideas emerged during an exceptionally difficult period in history for art and literature, science fiction included. America imperialisms world dominance, about to enter into a period of decline, had few intellectual challengers that were accessible to artists. Stalinism and the Cold War combined to damage social thought. Herbert had posited a variety of feudalism as a form of social organization in the age of space travel and human habitation on far-flung places in the galaxy.

These weaknesses became more pronounced as the Dune series continued, to the point where the latter books are basically unreadable, except by the most devoted fans.

Yet, watching Villeneuves Dune, one appreciates that as constrained as the novels ideas were, they were ideas. If Villeneuve removed those ideas from his film in an attempt to pander to what he thinks Hollywood audiences (or studios!) can handle, then he has underestimated filmgoers, as made clear by the global response to Oppenheimer.

The popularity of Dune reflects, in part, a desire for more serious science-fiction cinema, wielding not just technical wizardry but thought-provoking ideas about our world and its future, and, without doubt, the movement of societies on a mass scale. Villeneuves Dune provides a skeleton of this at besthis assembled armies and battles represent nothing but militaristic pageantry, not the clash of social forces, which he utterly fails to capture.

The success of Dune: Part Two may, unfortunately, portend a Dune: Part Three, an adaptation of Dune Messiah (1969). This would complete Villeneuves desired trilogy, adapting the first two of Herberts books telling the story of Paul Atreides. It is difficult to see what, if anything, this would add.
Comments from postal workers exposing the unbearable working conditions at Canada Post and the complicity of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) with management in enforcing them have continued to pour in to the World Socialist Web Site. Contract talks are ongoing for some 50,000 workers between CUPW and the employer, with Canada Post pushing for sweeping concessions on work rules and job security.

CUPW members picket in front of a the main post office on Graham Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Friday June 3, 2011 [AP Photo/Trevor Hagan]

We strongly encourage all Canada Post workers to contact us by filling out the form at the end of this article to discuss the establishment of a Canada Post Rank-and-File Committee to take control of the contract struggle out of the hands of the CUPW bureaucrats and place power back where it belongs, with the rank and file on the shop floor.

One of the main demands advanced by the company in the talks is the introduction of dynamic routing, which would eliminate route ownership for postal workers and allow artificial intelligence (AI) to set new routes for workers on a daily basis. While such technology could be deployed to reduce workloads for all workers with no loss of pay, Canada Post management is determined to exploit it to boost corporate profits through efficiency improvements. Dynamic routing has been used internationally by the US Postal Service and Swiss Post among others, with the latter boasting cost reductions of 18 percent in weekend deliveries after its introduction.

Dynamic routing, which CUPW has allowed the company to trial in the Montreal area under the last collective agreement, is just one part of a sweeping cost-cutting drive by management. Canada Post announced plans earlier this year to sell its logistics division, which employed some 3,000 workers. The corporation is seeking to partner with e-commerce companies and other private-sector logistics firms by offering the services of low-paid, highly exploited workers. As Ian Lee, a business professor at Carleton University in Ottawa, put it to CBC, Theyre going to have to work with [the union] because their cost structure is not even closely competitive with the independent gig delivery or even ... FedEx.

Workers report to the WSWS that even before the proposed change, workloads are extremely demanding. One worker said, Ive been with Canada Post for 6 years. It used to be a great job but not any more. We are under so much pressure with workloads that keep growing everyday. They come up with new policies that we have to follow. They keep increasing the routes I walk every day. I walk about 25,000 steps, at the end of the day Im exhausted. This does not include the weather conditions. We do not even make enough for all the labour we put in. I injured myself last month on the job. Nobody cares, all they care about is get the job done.

Another worker added, Conditions are deteriorating fast. Union is never around. CP is constantly cutting back and wages are dropping. When asked why they were interested in building a rank-and-file committee, a worker simply replied, Overworked, underpaid, while another answered similarly, Underpaid, discrimination from supervisor.

Several workers also criticized vindictive practices by management. We are given personal days, but if you use one and take a day off, more often than not Canada Post delays the mail, said one worker. When we return to our route, we have 2 or 3 or 4 days of mail to deliver. Our members across the country are being disciplined for not being able to finish a route and delaying the mail for not finishing, but CPC [Canada Post Corporation] is deliberately running short staffed and not caring about the delay of mail while our members are being suspended for the same thing.

I have been abused by management since I started I have a diary from every day worked, commented another. I am at the moment going through favouritism at work now. Management taking sides. Also abuse from a co-worker. Im very frustrated and ready to quit but I have 2 years until Im at 20-year pension.

There was general agreement that the CUPW bureaucracy was unable and unwilling to wage a genuine struggle to improve conditions. One worker explained, I have been on disability leave for the last 30 months. I was not even called to work for a single day, despite being recommended for modified work by medical experts.

CUPW is incapable of implementing article 54 to accommodate me. What is article 54 meant for? Now I have no income or benefits to support my family. Article 54 of the collective agreement for urban postal workers includes provisions requiring the employer to make reasonable accommodations for workers who cannot perform their normal duties.

A worker angered by the collaboration between the union bureaucracy and management wrote, As a postal worker I want to mention that our union is a puppet of the corporation. Both know how to snatch big chunks of amounts from our paycheques. Its tyranny and dictatorship at the workplace. Shame on the postal union, shame.

In 2018, Canada Post management succeeded in imposing a concessions-filled contract after Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberal government criminalized a series of rotating strikes called by CUPW. The rotating strikes were aimed at blocking an indefinite all-out strike by postal workers. Instead of fighting for active support from other sections of the working class facing similar attacks by big business, the CUPW bureaucracy spent time lauding the supposed support for the rotating strikes offered by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), Canadas largest union federation and a key ally of the Trudeau government. Predictably, once the government imposed its back-to-work law, the CLC did not lift a finger to defend postal workers.

Then, in 2021, amid the initial outbreak and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CUPW agreed in good faith to a two-year extension to the rotten contract. This was a slap in the face to workers, who faced a substantial increase in mail deliveries and continue to face the threat of infection on the job.

As one worker put it, The fact that CUPW in good faith agreed to the contract they did during COVID should have been enough for this current contract negotiations to be over and done with. The union should expose working conditions during COVID and how much B.S. was being pushed during that period. Instead the union sleeps with the corporation and will bend over to its rule. Its unbelievable how much its all changing and the corporation acts as though theyre the ones who havent been wasting money.

A worker from British Columbia added, One of the reasons they gave for signing the two-year extension was that we were getting postal banking. But what was put forward was nothing resembling postal banking. It was just a partnership with TD to push loans. It didnt meet any of our criteria for postal banking, but apparently this was a good reason to sign this contract.

It didnt last very long before the corporation, of course, shut it down. And then from our national executive, what we get is, The members arent ready. We cant resist legislation. We cant do this or that. We need to take the next couple of years and organize our members. Which never happens. They dont do anything of the sort, but the next contract theyre like, Were not ready yet. Not ready. Not ready. Not ready.

There was that moment in time when COVID was still going and we were on the front lines and we were considered heroes. Everyone understood it at that point. But the corporation with collusion by the union in my opinion effectively diffused that, and sent it to the wind.

Remarking on the conflict between the interests of rank-and-file postal workers and the union tops, another worker stated, I need our voice to be heard. I feel even the CUPW union isnt doing enough to represent us.
Over the summer period, Australia was wracked by its sharpest wave of COVID illness and death in six months, with well over a thousand lives lost. The vast majority of people would have no knowledge of the toll, however, because it has not been commented on by the federal Labor government or any of the state administrations and has been buried in the official media.

As is the case internationally, what has been created and imposed upon the population is an invisible pandemic. While the authorities pretend that COVID is a thing of the past, thousands are continuously infected with a potentially deadly disease that has claimed more than twenty million lives worldwide over the past four years.

A key component of this campaign has been an assault on accurate data. Standardised, daily figures of hospitalisations and deaths were terminated long ago, leaving in their place a deliberately confusing patchwork of weekly reports. Even these figures are often incomplete and subject to substantial revision months after the fact. With the dismantling of any form of testing system, and the abolition of reporting mechanisms for positive rapid antigen tests, infection levels are entirely unknown.

The most recent consolidated figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that in the three months from last November to the end of January, 1,184 lives were lost to COVID. That was the highest toll over a three-month period, since a mid-year wave that caused 1,664 fatalities between April and June, 2023.

The waves of mass death, reflecting surges of viral transmission often associated with new variants, take place amid a baseline of continuous illness and fatality. From July to October, i.e., between the two recent peaks, monthly deaths ranged from 153 to 335.

According to the ABS, COVID deaths for November were 399, for December 376 and January 409. But even those figures are potentially an understatement. The ABS report notes: As the pandemic has progressed the number of people dying with COVID-19 has increased. In December, 124 people died with COVID-19 as a contributing factor to their death (i.e., COVID-19 was certified on the death certificate but it was not the underlying cause of death).

That is, 124 people perished in December having tested positive with COVID and with it contributing to their deaths, but they were not included in the overall COVID mortality figure. If they were, the December fatalities would have been exactly 500.

The concept of dying with COVID as opposed to of COVID has been aggressively promoted by governments and compliant medical authorities, as they have abandoned any coordinated, society-wide response to the ongoing pandemic.

Even accepting that distinction, the high number of people dying with COVID points to two developments underscoring the severity of the coronavirus crisis.

Firstly, any attempt to shield the vulnerable has largely ended. That has included the removal of mask mandates in most patient-facing areas of hospitals, meaning that severely unwell people are at risk of catching the virus. Aged care facilities, where existing health problems are prevalent, have been centres of outbreaks for the past four years and remain so.

Secondly, if people are dying of other causes, but are also positive for COVID, it indicates mass transmission of the virus.

The recent wave occurred under conditions of the spread of the JN.1 (Juno) variant, which is now dominant in Australia and much of the world. The existence and implications of Juno have been the subject of minimal public discussion.

One exception, an article in GP News, publication of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, noted the significance of Juno within the broader context of the pandemic. Authored by Associate Professor Stuart Turville, Emma Pakula and Professor Brendan Crabb, it described Juno as an an evolutionary step change in the pandemic.

They noted that JN.1 is so distinct and causing such a wave of new infections that many are wondering whether the WHO will recognise JN.1 as the next variant of concern with its own Greek letter.

They explained: JN.1 has inherited more than 30 mutations in its spike protein. It also acquired a new mutation, L455S, which further decreases the ability of antibodies (one part of the immune systems protective response) to bind to the virus and prevent infection.

The experts drew attention to preliminary studies, which indicated that Juno may affect the lungs more than other Omicron variants, which are characterised by a high viral load in the throat. Pointing to some counter indications, they raised the need for further study to examine whether Juno was intrinsically more severe than other strains, or if its high toll was the consequence of its substantial infectiousness.

In another article published by the Saturday Paper, Professor James Wood, an applied mathematician with a focus on immunology, took up a similar theme. Headlined Why this Covid wave is different, Wood stated that Juno had caused the largest and most rapid wave weve seen since mid-2022. He added: My rough estimates are this wave has infected about 20-25 per cent of the populationabout the same as in the summer wave at the end of 2022.

Both articles made the point that the emergence of Juno, which itself is likely mutating, points to the ongoing danger of new and more dangerous variants. Contrary to official assertions, none of the experiences of the past four years gives cause to assume that the pandemic will simply end of its own accord or that the next variant will be less deadly than the last.

The ABS figures include the most reliable estimate of COVID mortality in 2023 to date. They indicate that at least 4,544 people across the country died directly as a result of COVID. The ABS, seeking to downplay the toll, notes that is less than half the 10,305 fatalities registered in 2022.

Last years deaths, however, compare with 906 in 2020 and 1,356 in 2021. COVID fatalities in 2023, in other words, were twice as numerous as in the first two years of the pandemic. Total deaths are now at 24,414, a significant number in a population of 25 million, given the low figures in the first two years.

In 2020 and 2021, governments were compelled to institute limited but successful safety measures, including partial lockdowns, contact tracing and mass testing. This was overturned in December 2021, with a reopening that resulted in an Omicron tsunami. This was followed by the junking of even minimal protections such as mask mandates.

The ABS noted that: Monthly mortality rates were generally higher in 2023 than in 2020. It also stated that: In most years, the highest monthly mortality rates occur in winter (typically July or August). This was different in 2023, when the highest mortality rate occurred in May. That coincided with the major mid-year spike, further indicating that COVID remains a key contributor to overall mortality.

More generally, the ABS commented that: The proportion of deaths from all respiratory diseases (9.0%) was higher in 2023 than the previous 3 years. A by-product of the successful COVID measures of the first two years of the pandemic was a massive decrease in flu and other respiratory infections, to almost negligible levels. With the full reopening, and in the absence of any effort to improve air quality through filtration and other devices, those respiratory conditions are again taking a major toll.

This policy amounts to a program of deliberately killing the elderly, which aligns with business complaints of the growing cost burden of an aging population. Some 4,170 of last years COVID deaths were of people over the age of 70.

When they ditched safety measures, governments claimed that the basis for this was the development of vaccines, which would particularly protect the vulnerable. But any serious nationwide campaign of inoculation has also been abandoned. As Wood noted: The most recent data on aged-care vaccination published by the Department of Health and Aged Care puts uptake at 39 per cent in the past six months, with only the Australian Capital Territory above 50 per cent and Western Australia and the Northern Territory both below 30 per cent.

Adults under 65 are now only eligible to receive COVID vaccine boosters once every 12 months, unless they are severely immune-compromised. Australian health authorities no longer recommend booster shots at all for children and teenagers under 18 if they have no serious underlying health conditions.

The longer term consequences of the continued circulation of the virus, with infection and reinfection the norm, remain unknown. There is, however, a growing body of evidence of a range of debilitating conditions described as Long COVID, despite government attempts to deny and obfuscate the danger.

It is significant that the forever pandemic is now being presided over by a federal Labor government, together with Labor administrations in all the states and territories, bar Tasmania. Together with the ruling elites internationally, they have decreed that any measures to stem the tide of the virus are unacceptable, because of their potential impact on profit-making activities.

This position, which means supporting mass death for the indefinite future, is of a piece with Labors support for the Israeli genocide in Gaza, for broader US militarism, including preparations for war with China, and its role in inflicting the cost-of-living and social crisis on working people.

As the Socialist Equality Party alone has insisted, the measures required to end the pandemic, including universal N95 masking in indoor spaces, contact-tracing and the mass rollout of high-quality air-filtration, are well known. But experience has shown, the implementation of these will require nothing less than the development of a mass socialist movement of the working class, directed against a capitalist system that subordinates everything to profit and wealth accumulation for big business and the rich.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Monday that there is a date for an onslaught on Gazas southernmost city of Rafah, one day after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew troops from Khan Younis. After a brutal four-month campaign of death and destruction in what was once the largest city in southern Gaza, IDF soldiers left Khan Younis in ruins.

Members of the Abu Draz family inspect their house after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, April 4, 2024. [AP Photo/Fatima Shbair]

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant commented Sunday that the military would regroup and prepare for follow-up missions. Israels Channel 13 reported Monday that the evacuation of the more than 1.5 million people currently crammed into Rafah could begin as early as this week, with the process taking several months. Referring to the Rafah operation, Netanyahu stated, It will happen. There is a date.

Even as it withdrew the 98th Division from Khan Younis, the IDF made clear it was retaining two brigades in the enclave to preserve the IDFs freedom of action and its ability to conduct precise intelligence-based operations.

White House and State Department spokesmen sought to portray the move as a step towards a ceasefire. Both National Security Council spokesman John Kirby and State Department spokesman Matthew Miller claimed that the US has not been briefed on a start date for a Rafah offensive. They placed considerable emphasis on a new round of ceasefire talks that opened Sunday in Cairo, where a proposal to implement a ceasefire during the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday was reportedly discussed.

Washington and its pliant tools in the corporate media apparently want to create the impression of a genuine effort on the part of Israel and the US to reach a ceasefire, when the fact of the matter is that what was presented to Hamas was more akin to an ultimatum. Kirby bluntly declared, At the end of the weekend, a proposal was submitted to Hamas, and now its going to be up to Hamas to come through.

In other words, if Hamas fails to come through by accepting total surrender to the IDF and releasing all hostages with no guarantees of a permanent ceasefire, they will be to blame for the bloody onslaught on Rafah. The Biden administration will say it did all it could to prevent the assault, while hoping that nobody remembers the 1,800 2,000-pound bombs delivered by the US recently to Israel just in time to be dropped on Rafah.

Late Monday, a senior Hamas official announced the rejection of the terms, insisting on its March 14 proposal that included a permanent ceasefire, the return of all displaced Palestinians to their homes, and the withdrawal of all IDF troops from Gaza. However, another source said that the proposal is still being studied. Israeli officials have made clear that the war will continue even if all hostages are returned home. Netanyahu has repeatedly referred to three goals of the onslaught: releasing the hostages, eliminating Hamas, and establishing security control over all of Gaza.

The devastation that awaits Rafah, which has already repeatedly been targeted with air strikes, was graphically underscored by reports from residents who returned to Khan Younis Monday to a city in ruins. Numerous high-rise blocks have been reduced to rubble, while the Nasser hospital, formerly the largest in the city, was devastated by sustained IDF raids. At least 84 bodies were discovered in the rubble on the first day alone. Its all just rubble, Ahmad Abu al-Rish told Al Jazeera. Animals cant live here, so how is a human supposed to?

Yet that is precisely what Israels government is proposing. The withdrawal from Khan Younis would allow civilians to return to their homes from Rafah, a military official told Haaretz. Theres no need for us to remain in Khan Younis, they stated. The 98th Division dismantled Hamass Khan Younis brigades and killed thousands of its members. We did everything we could there.

The troop withdrawal will bring no letup in the desperate humanitarian situation confronting Gazas population, which is dealing with developing famine conditions due to the deliberate blocking of aid by Israel. Israeli authorities announced Monday that 322 trucks were approved to enter Gaza, the highest number for a single day since the genocidal onslaught began. Even this number falls well short of the estimates by the UN and other aid agencies for the amount of aid needed to supply the population.

An Al Jazeera correspondent based in Rafah reported that none of the trucks were allowed to travel to the north of Gaza, further compounding the use of starvation as a weapon of war. Last week, Oxfam reported that residents of the north are living on just 245 calories a day, a mere 12 percent of the recommended food intake for an adult.

Sean Carroll, head of the American Near East Relief Agency (ANERA), one of the organisations that suspended operations following the murder of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers by Israel last week, commented, To make up ground to meet the extreme gaps in food and other essentials for living, we need to see more than 500 trucks a day. The real issue is, who is going to deliver all this aid.

A no less horrific expression of Israels brutality toward the Palestinians is the cruelty being meted out to detainees. According to a Haaretz report, a doctor at the Sde Teiman medical centre addressed a letter to lawmakers last week describing how detainees brought in from Gaza routinely have their limbs amputated due to complications arising from being tightly handcuffed and shackled. Just this week, two prisoners had their legs amputated due to handcuff injuries, which unfortunately is a routine event, the doctor wrote. Other sources said the center typically restrains and blindfolds prisoners for 24 hours a day, feeding them through straws.

Over six months after the beginning of Israels genocide against the Palestinians, the Zionist regime is blatantly displaying its barbarism for all to see. The indiscriminate bombing of Gaza has pushed the official death toll to over 33,000 men, women and children, with well over 40,000 dead if the missing are included. Israels final solution to the Palestinian question has been made possible due to the unstinting support extended by the imperialist powers. The Biden administration has repeatedly refused to impose any red lines on Israels savagery, while supplying over 100 shipments of armaments and other military equipment to ensure the machinery of genocide can operate.

Another key imperialist backer of the Gaza genocide is Germany, which is supplying Israel with approximately half a billion dollars of weaponry each year. At an International Court of Justice hearing in The Hague Monday, Nicaragua accused the German government of facilitating the commission of genocide due to Berlins weapons supplies to Israel and unconditional declarations of support for its war in Gaza. Germany had failed to differentiate between self-defence and genocide, according to Nicaraguas delegation head, Carlos Jose Francisco Arguello Gomez. Daniel Mueller, another lawyer representing Nicaragua, told the court that it is a pathetic excuse to the Palestinian children, women and men to provide humanitarian aid, including through air drops, on the one hand and to furnish the military equipment that is used to kill and annihilate them.

The reason for the imperialist powers embrace of Israels barbaric treatment of the Palestinians is the deepening crisis of world capitalism. The horrendous crimes being carried out against the Palestinians by Israel will be replicated on a much broader scale if the imperialists get their way. With their simultaneous backing for the Gaza genocide, reckless escalation of the US-NATO war on Russia, and preparations for war with China, the imperialist powers of America and Europe are demonstrating to the world that they will stop at nothing to achieve their interests, including a global conflagration with nuclear weapons.

The task facing the working class is to put an end to capitalist barbarism by taking up the struggle for a socialist and internationalist programme. The mass protests that have swept the world against the Gaza genocide must be unified with the eruption of workers struggles against attacks on their jobs and living standards to fund militarism and war in all of the major imperialist centres. An international anti-war movement led by the working class must be built to stop Israels onslaught and the rapidly emerging third world war.
Reacting to the Moscow terror attack at Crocus City Hall, the French Morenoite website Revolution Permanente (RP) covers up the implication of the Ukrainian regime and the NATO imperialist powers in this attack, and more broadly the reactionary character of the NATO intervention in Ukraine.

In this photo taken from video released by the Investigative Committee of Russia on Saturday, March 23, 2024, firefighters work in the burned concert hall after an attack on the building of the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow, Russia. [AP Photo/AP Photo / Russlands etterforskingskomite]

This exposes the gulf separating RP, a Morenoite group linked to the Pabloite New Anti-capitalist party (NPA), from the Parti de legalite socialiste (PES), the French section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI). The PES opposes French President Emmanuel Macrons plans to send troops to defend the corrupt Ukrainian regime and wage war against Russia. RP tries to hide the aggressiveness and political criminality of NATO and the Ukrainian regime, and thus limit working class opposition to Macrons military escalation.

In an analysis of the Moscow attack that could have been found in the pages of bourgeois papers like the New York Times or Le Monde, RP wrote:

While the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, this morning the FSB reported to Putin the arrest of 11 people, including four suspected perpetrators intercepted in the Bryansk oblast near the border with Ukraine. This was enough for the Russian authorities to proclaim Kievs responsibility in the attack, with the FSB affirming that the attackers had contacts on the Ukrainian side and intended to take refuge in its territory after the attack.

RP attempts to discredit the thesis of Ukrainian involvement in the Moscow attack by putting it in the mouth of the FSB, the Russian intelligence service, which descends from the Stalinist secret police who assassinated Leon Trotsky and murdered the Old Bolshevik revolutionaries.

But, in reality, decisive evidence points to the involvement of Ukrainian intelligence and the NATO powers. In the attack at Crocus City Hall, individuals from Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia, left 143 dead and more than 500 injured. The terrorists planned to flee to Ukraine after the attack, responsibility for which was claimed by the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), a terrorist network closely linked to NATOs wars.

This attack is part of a series of repeated attacks carried out on Russian territory by Ukrainian intelligence and military services with NATO approval. The latest took place against a drone manufacturing factory and a refinery in the Russian region of Tatarstan, 1,000 km from the Ukrainian border.

Networks like IS-K and Al Qaeda emerge from US imperialisms interventions and its decades-long wars across the Middle East and Central Asia. Tajikistan has been embroiled in armed conflicts in neighboring Afghanistan since the 1980s, when Washington used Islamist networks led by Osama bin Laden to wage war against a pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan.

The Islamic State (IS) is itself the product of the neocolonial wars waged by the NATO imperialist powers in Iraq, Syria and across the Middle East in the period since the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. After the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003, NATO once again mobilized Islamist networks in the wars it launched in 2011 in Libya and Syria. French imperialism and its petty-bourgeois pseudo-left defenders played a central role in defending the mobilization of networks linked to Al Qaeda to wage wars in Libya and Syria.

RP did not yet exist under that name in 2011 but acted as a fraction of the NPA, which hailed the Syrian opposition as carrying out a revolution. Olivier Besancenot, spokesperson for the NPA and former presidential candidate, told RFI in 2014: [French Minister of Foreign Affairs Laurent] Fabius is on repeat, he has been giving the same speech for months. He must give arms for free to the Syrian revolutionaries.

Rejecting reservations of certain sections of the imperialist establishment, who feared that flooding the Syrian opposition with weapons would arm terrorists, Besancenot said: Those who say we should definitely not give weapons because that will end up among the jihadists, that is already the case ... It is my principle as an internationalist to trust people to decide their own destiny.

In reality, NATOs imperialist wars produced disasters for the peoples of the region. Thirteen years later, Libya and Syria are still embroiled in civil wars that left hundreds of thousands dead and turned tens of millions into refugees.

As for IS-K, it recruited among the soldiers and spies that NATO trained in Afghanistan during its occupation of that country between 2001 and 2021. These soldiers had to go into hiding when NATO left Afghanistan in 2021, and the Afghan neocolonial regime collapsed in a few days. Since then, IS-K has carried out attacks aligned with NATO needs, such as the attack in Iran in January which killed 84 people and injured 284 during the funeral of General Qasem Soleimani, murdered in Baghdad in a US drone strike.

These Islamist forces are now fighting Russia on behalf of NATO. In January 2023, the New York Times noted that nationalist and far-right elements from across the former Soviet Union, including the North Caucasus and Central Asia, had flocked to Ukraine to fight Russia.

It reported that most of them harbor long-term political ambitions to return home and overthrow the Russian and Belarusian governments. The volunteers themselves claim that they are acting with full knowledge and under the orders of the Ukrainian army and intelligence services. Many of their operations are covert, including dangerous reconnaissance or sabotage missions behind Russian lines.

RP remains silent on the reactionary role of NATO imperialism and of the NPA but gloats that the attack in Moscow will embarrass Putin. There is no acknowledgement in its article of the tragic nature of the attack for the victims relatives in the Russian population.

Calling the attack not a reactionary act that cost hundreds of lives, but a useful intervention that will weaken the Russian regime in the face of NATO and the Kiev regime, RP writes:

As at the time of the Nord-Ost and Beslan attacks, Putin seems embarrassed by the surprise attack which shatters the myth of stability that his regime claims to guarantee to the population. The one who began his reign with the promise to respond brutally to each attack, proclaiming we will go kill them even in the toilets, remained silent more than 17 hours after the attack.

The question RP poses is whether the large number of victims will destabilize Putin by stoking ethnic and religious tensions in Russia and the former USSR. This would facilitate the division and conquest of the region that Macron and the NATO powers hope to carry out by intervening on the ground in Ukraine against Russia. As seen in NATO support for the genocide in Gaza, this war is part of a reactionary imperialist-led offensive across all of Eurasia.

This highlights that RP develops its analyses entirely within the framework of imperialist politics. RP addresses neither the reactionary role of Stalinism, nor how its dissolution of the Soviet Union left the way open for the imperialist NATO powers to launch wars across the Middle East, nor the connection between imperialism and the rise of Islamist terror networks. It bases its opposition to the Putin regime not on a Trotskyist opposition to Stalinism, but on pro-imperialist opposition to Russia.

RP denies the aggressive nature of the neocolonial offensive of the NATO imperialist powers, falsely asserting that Washington does not want war. It writes:

The United States no longer wishes to play the role of world policeman. ... In this delicate balancing act, seeking not to appear weak without provoking escalation, the Biden administration responded by attacking 85 targets allied to Tehran in Iraq and in Syria, but was careful not to attack Iran directly.

This is a political lie. If Washington does not want to wage wars, why is it voting for a defense budget of nearly a trillion dollars, and why is Macron calling to send troops to Ukraine and for building a war economy in France and across Europe? In reality, the military command, in France as in other NATO countries, now constantly calls to prepare for high intensity war.

RPs falsifications are organically linked to the anti-Trotskyist historical evolution of the petty-bourgeois Morenist tendency of which RP is a part. Led by Nahuel Moreno in Argentina, it broke with the ICFI in 1963 to carry out an unprincipled reunification with the Pabloite tendency with which the ICFI had split 10 years earlier. The political foundation of this reunification was the rejection of any independent revolutionary role for the international working class, and the false Pabloite conception that Stalinist bureaucracies would provide revolutionary leadership.

The Morenoites lined up behind the Pabloite ancestors of the NPA, who echoed imperialist commentators in welcoming Gorbachev's perestroika initiative, which paved the way for the dissolution of the USSR and the restoration of capitalism, as a democratic reform. This made clear their repudiation of Trotsky, who had insisted that only a political revolution of the workers against the Stalinist bureaucracy could restore proletarian democracy in the Soviet Union.

This anti-Soviet, pro-capitalist policy prepared the Pabloite and Morenoite forces, in the post-Soviet period after 1991, to applaud NATOs imperialist wars in Libya and Syria, as well as NATOs intervention in Ukraine, as so-called democratic revolutions.

Deep opposition exists in the European and international working class to the war launched by NATO against Russia. Sixty-eight percent of French people, 80 percent of Germans and 90 percent of Poles oppose sending troops to fight Russia. But the mobilization of this opposition against the emerging Third World War can only proceed through a struggle against the political and historical lies told by pseudo-left tendencies like RP.

RP reflects the material interests of affluent middle class professionals and students linked to the Stalinist bureaucracy of the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) union and its academic periphery. RP left the NPA in 2021 after making tactical criticisms of the NPAs support for wars in Libya and Syria and the NPAs denunciation of yellow vest protests against Macron. But its alignment today with anti-Russian NATO propaganda reveals that this break only served to cover up the Morenoites own pro-imperialist outlook.

Indeed, RPs break with the NPA did not prevent it from calling for an NPA vote in the presidential elections in 2022, which amounted to a blank check for the war in Ukraine.

The ICFI and its French section, the PES, were alone in launching a Trotskyist attack on the support of the NPA and then of RP for imperialism. This opposition provides a perspective for building a mass international anti-war movement in the working class. The PES calls for and encourages the holding of anti-war meetings and demonstrations, in order to mobilize workers and facilitate their awareness of the need to build an international and socialist movement against the wars of NATO and the Putin regime.

The precondition for such mobilization of workers and youth is a struggle for a Trotskyist perspective of international socialist revolution, against petty-bourgeois groups like RP that align with imperialist wars and cover up imperialist complicity in terrorist crimes.
Join the UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee to fight against the closures! Email upsrankandfilecommittee@gmail.com, or fill out the form below.

On Sunday, the UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee held a well-attended public online meeting to discuss and organize against the ongoing, and mounting layoffs at the logistics giant. Roughly 100 workers from across the United States and Canada attended the meeting.

A UPS driver in front of Paramount Studios during the WGA strike, May 3, 2023.

Seven months after the Teamsters pushed through a sellout contract, UPS executives at the behest of Wall Street are embarking on a massive wave of shift and building closures. After laying off 12,000 corporate and managerial positions earlier this year, UPS executives at a recent investor meeting in Louisville, Kentucky announced they will be closing at least 200 facilities across the country. In multiple interviews, UPS CEO Carol Tome has pledged to automate everything, which, in her words means, we dont need as many people to move the packages in the buildings that we have today. Tome promised that by the end of the initial phase of the new Network of the Future, 400 buildings would be fully automated.

These layoffs, made possible by the sellout contract sold by the Teamsters as a historic victory, are part of a corporate initiative in every industry to replace as many workers as possible with automation and artificial intelligence technologies. These tools, which could be used to improve the lives of workers by reducing working hours and increasing pay, are instead being used to attack the working class and boost profits.

Instead of opposing this threat to tens of thousands of jobs at one of the United States largest employers, the Teamsters bureaucracy is colluding with management to enforce layoffs. Teamsters president Sean OBrien, who has found the time to hobnob with Trump and Biden, has yet to issue a statement, much less a program for fighting against the layoffs. Instead of doing everything in their power to protect workers jobs, the Teamsters are working with the company to impose the coming jobs bloodbath. During a local Teamsters meeting, Business Agent Ben Vedus, who was on the UPS bargaining committee, claimed that the company had a right to do what it is doing.

Such exchanges expose the Teamsters bureaucracy as an agent of the companies and underscores the urgent need for workers to organize their own independent struggle against the joint Teamsters-UPS conspiracy.

This was the purpose of Sundays meeting which began with a report from World Socialist Web Site writer Tom Hall who explained that the new technologies could be used to reduce working hours with no loss in take-home pay. Further, these advances could be used to fully fund pensions and healthcare while lowering the retirement age. He continued, Part-timers freed from work inside the warehouses could be hired in as full-time drivers to relieve a massive overwork which drivers face on a daily basis. Investments in safety such as air conditioning in vehicles and warehouses could also be funded out of the savings. All of this is possible, but only if the working class controls how the technology is used.

Hall added, A dual power must be established in the workplace where these committees oversee every aspect of operations including production, health and safety. Everything depends upon the independent initiative of the rank and file. If matters are left in the hands of the Teamsters bureaucracy, that means leaving matters in the hands of UPS management. The bureaucracy cannot be reformed, it can only be thrown out and replaced with new organizations which workers actually control.

Several UPS workers on the call agreed with this perspective. Mike, a UPS worker from Texas, said, I would highly suggest to organize your brothers and sisters. Theyre going to stand together, keep everybody informed, and dont believe the lies that have been told to you by the bureaucracy.

Everybody needs to make a living, Mike concluded. Everybody has families to feed. Protect your brothers and sisters and help spread the word about the Rank-and-File Committee.

Daniel, a postal worker in Canada, expressed solidarity with UPS workers: The union has proven time and again that they do not represent us. Any fight against concessions must raise the necessity of a political struggle against the tripartite corporate-union-government alliance, which works to further capitalist interests, including austerity for the working class, tax cuts for the ruling class and increased military spending to wage war abroad. We need to adopt a political perspective of organizing society based on the public social interest and, as many workers have brought up, we cannot confine our struggles to defending capitalism or any corporations private profit framework.

Every worker who spoke on the call was outraged by the betrayals of the Teamsters union. One worker said I dont understand why we pay union dues and nobodys informing us of any of this. The only thing thats going to be open in my hub for a human would be unloading and loading. Theyre even automating the sort, what I do. And we have so many drivers and feeders drivers that were just laid off just out of nowhere. They laid off a pregnant woman. Shes about to give birth. She has no medical. Shes just thrown to the wolves there.

Another added, The Teamsters have explicitly agreed to the right of UPS to lay off people virtually without any meaningful restrictions using new technologies and changes to their business model. The only requirement contractually is that the company has to give the Teamsters a 45-day advanced notice that the layoffs are coming. And as long as that requirement is satisfied, thats it. They can carry out the layoffs.

Will Lehman, a socialist auto worker, spoke on the role of the trade unions and the government in supporting the companys attacks on jobs: The government is beholden to the corporations. Thats why every case that the workers come up against fighting the corporations, the government is the ultimate decider of it. Theyre going to defend the right of private profit, meaning the companys profits over your jobs, our jobs, and theyre going to defend the interests of the company and laying off workers.

Socialist Equality Party candidate for president, Joseph Kishore, expanded on these points and expressed the central political issues facing workers.

There is no capitalism without exploitation. Exploitation is at the core of capitalism. That is the exploitation of the vast majority of the working class for the benefit of the owners.

You have an election now in which you have two parties that represent the interests of the employers. Thats the fact. Politics is a reflection of society. The owners own production and they own the politicians.

Theres a lot of misinformation about what socialism is. What socialism really is, is a society run by the workers, for the workers, in the interests of the working class, in which exploitation is ended, capitalism is ended, class society is abolished, in which the process of production is controlled democratically for social need, so that advances in technology will serve the interests of the working class and society as a whole, rather than the corporate and financial elite.

The meeting ended with a call from Tom Hall for workers to build the UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee and organize the working class to fight back against the corporate assault on jobs.

If there is going to be a fight back, you have to become involved. Nothing will happen on its own. And you cant leave this to other people to wage a fight. This requires the broadest possible mobilization of the entire membership at UPS. And in fact, workers across the United States and around the world. So if you agree with what has been said here today, you must make the decision to join the committee.

Join the UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee to fight against the closures! Email upsrankandfilecommittee@gmail.com, or fill out the form below.
The stage has been set for Japan to become involved in the AUKUS military pact between the US, Britain and Australia when Japanese Prime Minister Kishida meets with US President Biden in Washington on Wednesday. The integration of a key US ally into AUKUS is part and parcel of the Biden administrations accelerating preparations throughout the Asia Pacific for war with China.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida arrive at Andrews Air Force Base on April 8, 2024 [AP Photo/Susan Walsh]

US ambassador to Tokyo Rahm Emanuel suggested last week that Japan was about to become the first additional Pillar II partner of AUKUS. He hailed the Japanese governments decision to ease restrictions on military exports, saying it opens up an industrial capacity in Japan to be part of the solution to the global challenge.

In a statement issued yesterday, the British, Australian and US defence ministers together announced that they would consider bringing Japan into Pillar II of AUKUS. That involves joint research and development of hi-tech military systems, ranging from artificial intelligence and quantum computing to undersea capabilities and hypersonic weapons.

Recognising Japans strengths and its close bilateral defence partnerships with all three countries, we are considering co-operation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects, the ministers said. While the statement gave no indication of when and how Japan would become involved, it provides the framework for Kishida and Biden to formally set the process in motion.

The AUKUS pact, first announced in 2021, resurrects the World War II alliance between the US, Britain and Australia that fought Japan, but now in preparation for conflict with China. The provision of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia at the estimated cost of $A368 billion, as well as hypersonic missiles and hi-tech research and development, are key aspects of AUKUS.

The formalisation of AUKUS has more the character of integrating Australia and the UK into a central command for war with China. Britain and Australia are already US allies and members of the top-level Five Eyes intelligence sharing network with the US, along with Canada and New Zealand.

The incorporation of Japan into AUKUS Tier II projects paves the way for its full integration as an AUKUS partner. That has been ruled out in the short term. Nevertheless, the involvement of Japan, the worlds fourth largest economy, with a substantial and rapidly expanding military, is clearly aimed at strengthening the anti-China pact. Japan is already part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialoguea quasi-alliance with the US, Australia and India.

The Financial Times reported yesterday that Australia, Britain and sections of the US political and military establishment had misgivings about incorporating Japan into AUKUS, citing concerns in particular about sharing highly sensitive intelligence with Tokyo. The Biden administration, however, pressed for Japans inclusion.

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has aggressively promoted the extension of AUKUS to Japan. Speaking at the CNAS think tank in Washington last week, Campbell said Japan has taken some of those steps [to protect sensitive secrets], but not all of them.

Campbell also made it absolutely clear that AUKUS is aimed at war with China. While the Australian Labor government insists that Canberra will determine the use of its nuclear submarines, Campbell hailed the benefits of Australian, British and US submarines operating in close co-ordination that could deliver conventional ordnance from long distances.

Those have enormous implications in a variety of scenarios, including in cross-strait circumstances, Campbell addedan obvious reference to war with China across the Taiwan Strait. The Biden administration has been deliberately goading Beijing into a conflict over Taiwan, by boosting arms sales to Taipei and all but tearing up the One China policy that recognises the island as part of China.

The accelerating war drive against China is part of a wider conflict evolving globally. Britain and Australia are already involved in the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and, along with the US, fully back Israels genocidal war in Gaza. US imperialism, which has been building up military forces and alliances in the Indo-Pacific over the past decade, is determined to maintain its global hegemony at all costs and regards China as the chief obstacle to that objective.

The comments by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at last weeks NATO summit to mark the alliances 75th anniversary show that NATO is preparing for worldwide conflict. We know that our security is not regionalit is global, he said. The war in Ukraine illustrates this clearly. Russias friends in Asia are vital for continuing its war of aggression. China is propping up Russias war economy North Korea and Iran are delivering substantial supplies of weapons and ammunition.

Beijing, which has objected to AUKUS since its formation, reacted to the latest, unmistakable threat in measured language. Beijing foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China was gravely concerned about Japan joining AUKUS. We oppose relevant countries cobbling together exclusive groupings and stoking bloc confrontation, she said.

Obliquely referring to Japans invasion of China in the 1930s and the death and destruction caused by World War II throughout the Pacific, Mao declared: Japan needs to earnestly draw lessons from history and stay prudent on military and security issues. In China, the Japanese military was responsible for millions of civilian deaths and terrible atrocities such as the Nanking massacre.

Kishidas trip to Washington will mark a significant step down the road to a US-led war with China. Not only is his meeting with Biden set to announce Japans integration into AUKUS but also the biggest upgrade of the US-Japan Security Treaty since its inception in 1960. According to an article last week in the Financial Times, the upgrade is to restructure the US military command in Japan to strengthen operational planning and exercises between the nations.

Closer joint operational planning and exercises are essential preparations for a modern, hi-tech war. The US maintains permanent military bases throughout Japan manned by some 55,000 personnel and encompassing all arms of the militaryArmy, Air Force, Navy and Marines. The greatest concentration is in Okinawathe southernmost part of Japans island chain, directly adjacent both to Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.

The New York Times reported that Biden and Kishida are expected to discuss the formation of a joint defence council to examine further Japanese military exports to the US, including additional Patriot missile systems, cruise missiles and jets used to train fighter pilots. Washington is also seeking assistance in repairing and maintaining US Navy warships so they do not have to leave the region.

After meeting on Wednesday, Biden and Kishida will hold a summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.the first such trilateral meeting. Billed as boosting maritime cooperation in the South China Sea, the summit is also directed against China amid mounting tensions between Manila and Beijing over territorial conflicts, particularly control of the Second Thomas Shoal. According to the Financial Times, Biden intends to greatly magnify tensions by warning China that the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty applies to any conflict over the tiny reef.

Increasingly, the meetings convened by the US with its military allies in Asia assume the character of war summits as the Biden administration exacerbates tensions with China, tightens its military encirclement and nakedly prepares for war.
On Wednesday, April 3, Columbia University suspended and evicted six students for their involvement in a pro-Palestinian panel event on campus on March 24. According to Columbias student newspaper, the Daily Spectator, the students received a notice that read, You may remain in your Columbia residence for 24 hours after which time your access to your residence and dining services will also be suspended.

Columbia University students rally against the genocide in Gaza, Friday, January 19, 2024.

Two of the students had their suspensions lifted on Thursday, and one of the two told the Spectator that he was not involved in organizing nor did he attend the event, but lives in the residence hall where the panel was held. The reversal of the remaining four suspensions and evictions has become a key demand of ongoing protests at Columbia.

All six students were apparently arbitrarily targeted after the university brought in a team of private, former police investigators. According to Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), the investigators harassed and intimidated a Palestinian student at their home, demanded to see students private text messages and sent threatening emails to the leaders of pro-Palestinian student groups.

The investigation into the event, which was held on Sunday, March 24 under the title Resistance 101, began after the Columbia chapter of Zionist organization Students Supporting Israel (SSI) made a post characterizing the event as a terrorism recruitment opportunity. In particular, SSI identified Khaled Barakat, one of the events featured speakers, as a terrorist leader for his alleged connections with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).



Barakat is a pro-Palestinian activist who is now affiliated with the Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement. Barakat has been targeted by Zionists internationally since as early as 2019, standing accused of being a leading member of the PFLP, an organization outlawed in Israel by the Knesset and deemed a terrorist outfit by the US, Canada, the European Union and Japan. He has denied this claim.

The university responded first with a statement from Chief Operating Officer Cas Holloway on March 28 that read, The event that took place Sunday night was unsanctioned and unapproved.  We have banned the outside speakers from campus. Columbia University rejects all forms of hate and bigotry, and we unequivocally condemn language that promotes or supports violence in any manner. We will pursue discipline against any community member who has violated our policies.

On Friday, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik added in a second statement that the Resistance 101 event was an abhorrent breach of our values. She wrote, [t]hat I would ever have to declare the following is in itself surprising, but I want to make clear that it is absolutely unacceptable for any member of this community to promote the use of terror or violence.

The university has also targeted pro-Palestinian professors, including Professor Abdul Kayum Ahmed, who was removed from teaching positions after an article in the Wall Street Journal accused him of pro-Palestinian political indoctrination in his Health and Human Rights Advocacy class.

As Columbias Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) pointed out in their response to the suspensions on Instagram, This is all part of a coordinated campaign to boost Columbias public image prior to the antisemitism congressional hearing on April 17th, where President Minouche Shafik and two trustees will testify before congress.

The post continued, Both the presidents of Harvard and University of Pennsylvania were forced to resign shortly following their own hearings. They received heavy backlash from Zionists for being perceived as insufficiently harsh on pro-Palestine campus organizing.

The statement also pointed out that Columbia conducted no such investigation into the chemical attack by former Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers on student protesters on campus in January.

Elsewhere in New York City, attacks on academic freedom have also defined the past six months. Developments at New York University (NYU), was the subject of a recent op-ed by two NYU professors in the New York Times titled, Is This the End of Academic Freedom?

The op-ed cites disciplinary measures against students for attending a pro-Palestinian poetry reading, the closure of the Grand Staircase in the Kimmel student center (a storied site of student protests) and the NYU administrations refusal to respond to a student government resolution calling on the university to reaffirm protection of pro-Palestinian speech.

The op-ed adds, The New York Police Department has become a pervasive presence on campus, with over 6,000 hours of officer presence added after the war broke out. Hundreds of faculty members have signed onto an open letter condemning the universitys culture of fear about campus speech and activism.

The events at Columbia and NYU are part of a new wave of attacks on students democratic rights in every part of the country. In an article on the expulsion of pro-Palestinian students at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, the WSWS noted:

Just in the past few days, students have been arrested or otherwise targeted at Pomona College in Southern California, the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Columbia University in New York City, and many other colleges. At the University of Michigan, the administration is preparing to enact a new policy that would effectively outlaw all protest actions on the campus, historically a center of student political activism of a left-wing, democratic and anti-war character.

At a Columbia student protest on Thursday titled All Out for Al-Shifaheld in response to Israels massacre at Al-Shifa hospitalone of the four still-suspended students was a featured speaker.

Columbia is making us homeless, taking away our campus jobs, our sole source of income, taking away our scholarships, our access to dining halls, our access to classrooms and education that we have earned, the student said. I received 24-hour notice that I, a full-scholarship, federal-work-study receiving student with disabilities and housing accommodation, will be evicted from my University housing. This was all done with no hearing and no semblance of due process. Shame on Columbia.

In Fridays statement, President Shafik wrote that the university is pursuing further disciplinary action against students for engaging in the All Out for Al-Shifa protest, again claiming the main issue was that the event was unapproved.

As the WSWS wrote in response to University of Michigans efforts to suppress student protests:

The banning of protest in the guise of preventing disruption of public order and economic life is the stock in trade of every authoritarian regime in modern history. For that reason, from a democratic legal standpoint, the permissibility of disruption has always been understood as essential to freedom of speech and expression.

It is significant that students have not been intimidated by the universities efforts to clamp down on pro-Palestinian, anti-genocide speech. At Columbia as well as the University of Michigan, hundreds of student protesters have turned out in defiance of the university administrations.

But, despite students courage and determination to fight, their bravery alone is not enough. The correct political and class orientation must guide their struggles. Students must demand that the university reverse the suspensions and evictions, but they cannot not place their faith in the university to bend to protests and appeals. Instead, students must make a decisive turn to the working class as the only social force capable of fighting to put an end to capitalism, the root cause of imperialist war, the genocide in Gaza, and the attack on democratic rights.

As the WSWS wrote in its article on the student expulsions at Vanderbilt,

The attacks on student protests are attacks on all working people. The police-state methods being employed against students will be directed at the working class as a whole, as it moves into struggle to defend jobs, living standards and democratic rights, and to oppose imperialist war.
Prosecutors in New Mexico, USA, claim that the famous Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin killed Ukrainian cameraman Halyna Hutchins during the filming of the scandalous movie Rust in 2021 due to loss of control over his emotions and chaos on the set.

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In a public statement to People, they said that the killer was "inattentive" while handling a firearm and "often yelled and swore." At the time, the revolver was loaded, and the actor himself claimed that he did not pull the trigger, but only waved the prop.

"To observe Mr. Baldwin's behavior on the set of Rust means to witness a person who has absolutely no control over his own emotions and is completely unconcerned about how his behavior affects others. Witnesses indicate that this behavior contributed to the safety of the set," said prosecutors Kari T. Morrissey and Jason J. Lewis.

In March 2024, Alec Baldwin's legal team tried to file a motion to dismiss the charges for alleged involuntary manslaughter. During the trial, the gunman, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, was also found guilty, having handed the actor a loaded revolver during a rehearsal. The defendant faces 18 months in prison, and Baldwin himself decided to take advantage of this by blaming her.

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Prosecutors note that each reenactment of the murder contradicted the previous one. In particular, they "endured almost countless lies and manipulations by the defense" and were "subjected to the defendant's far-fetched and unfounded personal attacks."

Baldwin is currently assembling a list of celebrities to speak in his defense. It is expected to include his co-star in the movie Rust, Francis Fisher, as well as Mickey Rourke, Debra Messing and D.J. Qualls. They will allegedly argue in court that the actor had nothing to do with the prop, so it would be incorrect to blame Baldwin for the shot.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, cameraman Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of the movie Rust on October 21, 2021. Baldwin was preparing for a scene in which he was supposed to point a revolver at the camera and shoot, but the weapon turned out to be loaded and the bullet hit the Ukrainian woman. Hutchins died after suffering a perforating wound to the chest. In particular, the bullet hit the director Joel Seuss, who was standing behind her. The man was wounded but survived.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The most famous Kyiv police officer Liudmyla Milevych, who became famous for her model appearance in 2015, spoke out about the position of philologist Iryna Farion on Russian-speaking defenders. The law enforcement officer is currently serving as a member of the National Police's Joint Assault Brigade "Rage" and assures that the soldiers have "more important issues than the language issue" at the front.

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"What is too much is not healthy," Milevych says of Farion, adding that she, in her opinion, "went to extremes" when she called Russian-speaking soldiers of the Armed Forces "Russians." The police defender shared her thoughts in an exclusive interview with OBOZ.UA.

"The issue of language is not an issue in our brigade. Each of us has a common goal, which is more important than the language we speak. When every day you have to defend the country, your families, your comrades, and yourself. Is that what you think about at that moment? Hardly about the language issue. In our brigade, most of us speak Ukrainian, but there are also Russian speakers. And no one cares, because we are united by something much more important than the language we speak," commented Milevych.

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Farion, we recall, categorically condemned all Russian-speaking heroes, causing public outrage with her statements. In particular, the philologist said the following: "I cannot call them [the military] Ukrainians. If they do not speak Ukrainian, then let them call themselves 'Russians'. Why are they so crazy? If they are such great patriots, show your patriotism."

Milevych noted that her views are completely opposite to those of Iryna Dmytrivna.

"Ukrainians should now be united by common goals, hope, and love for Ukraine. In my opinion, this is more important than the fact that someone speaks a different language. As for Iryna Farion... Our views are categorically different. As they say: "What is too much is not healthy." This is exactly about Farion. The person has gone to extremes. I cannot support this," commented Liudmyla.

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Hugh Hefner, the founder of the iconic Playboy magazine, was married three times during his life and had many affairs with his "rabbit" models. The publisher first married in 1949, when he was 23. Little is known about his first wife and mother of two older children, Millie Williams. Some might assume that she must have suffered in her marriage to a womanizer who constantly cheated on her. However, strangely enough, it was Millie, not Hugh, who failed in this marriage because of her infidelity.

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Hefner would later call his lover's betrayal "the most devastating moment of my life." On the legend's birthday, OBOZ.UA decided to recall all the official wives of the Playboy founder. On April 9, he would have turned 98 years old.

Millie Williams

So, it is not known for certain where and under what circumstances young Hugh Hefner met his first wife. Millie, aka Mildred, was born on March 20, 1926. She began dating the ambitious young man right after graduating from high school. When Hefner returned from the army, he decided to start a family with his beloved. The couple tied the knot on June 25, 1949, when they were both 23 years old.

The newlyweds were happy, and later a girl, Christy (November 8, 1952), and a boy, David (August 30, 1955), were born to their union.

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However, even then the relationship between the couple was very tense. The fact is that Millie had an affair with another man while Hefner was serving in the army. Feeling guilty about her infidelity, Williams allowed her husband to sleep with other women. She hoped that this would help Hefner forgive her and save their marriage. However, this did not happen.

In an interview, Hefner said: "I was literally saving myself for my wife, but after we had sex, she told me that she was having an affair. It was the most devastating moment in my life. My wife was more experienced sexually than I was. After that, I always felt that there was another guy in bed with us."

In 1959, the Playboy man divorced Mildred Williams and lived as a bachelor for the next 30 years. Meanwhile, he had new partners at the speed of light, including, of course, exceptionally busty models.

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Kimberly Conrad

Hugh Hefner married the American model, who has graced the cover of Playboy more than once, in 1989. Kimberly Conrad gave birth to two more sons to her millionaire husband: Marston Glenn Hefner (who shares a birthday with his father, April 9, 1990) and Cooper Bradford Hefner (September 4, 1991).

It is known that the model was able to transform the famous Playboy mansion into a more suitable place for children.

After nine years of marriage, Conrad and Hefner divorced, although they remained legally married. The publisher commented at the time: "I would have been happy to divorce her as soon as we separated, but she wanted to stay married for the sake of our boys."

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After the breakup, Conrad moved into a house next door to the Playboy Mansion. The divorce was finally finalized in March 2010. It is known that all this time, from 2000 to 2010, Hefner lived in his luxurious mansion with 7 different girls aged 18 to 28.

Crystal Harris

Hefner's third and last wife was another Playboy model, Crystal Harris, who was as much as 60 years younger than her chosen one! Of course, neither the press nor the fans believed in the sincerity of Crystal's feelings, suspecting her of pursuing exclusively mercantile goals.

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The publisher, then 85 years old, announced his engagement to a 25-year-old model in December 2010. The wedding was supposed to take place on June 18 the following year, but less than a week later, Hefner unexpectedly canceled it. Nevertheless, on December 31, 2012, Crystal Harris became Crystal Hefner.

Later, in her memoirs, Crystal revealed that it was allegedly she who broke off her engagement to the publisher four days before their wedding, scheduled for June. As the model admitted, she was never in love with Hugh. According to the book, the blonde accepted the proposal, but eventually decided to leave the millionaire and return to her ex. Obviously, nothing worked out in that relationship, so the "rabbit" returned to the mansion and Hefner directly.

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According to the clauses of the marriage contract, the publisher's young wife did not receive her husband's inheritance after his death. However, Hefner bought her a house for $5 million and left her all her jewelry.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, Crystal Hefner first revealed what her husband's last words were shortly before his death on September 27, 2017. In those days, the businessman was fighting an infection.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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Alec Baldwin Had 'Absolutely No Control of His Own Emotions' on Rust Set, Prosecutors Argue

New Mexico prosecutors responded to Alec Baldwins legal team's motion to throw out his involuntary manslaughter charges for the killing of Halyna Hutchins

Alec Baldwin in 2021

Prosecutors in Alec Baldwins Rust shooting case are arguing the producer-star had no control of his emotions on set.

In a public filing released Monday, April 8, and obtained by PEOPLE, New Mexico state prosecutors wrote that Baldwin, 66, was inattentive during firearms training and frequently screaming and cursing on the set of the western movie prior to the 2021 incident in which a gun he was holding fired, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.

To watch Mr Baldwins conduct on the set of Rust is to witness a man who has absolutely no control of his own emotions and absolutely no concern for how his conduct affects those around him, wrote Kari T. Morrissey and Jason J. Lewis. Witnesses have testified that it was this exact conduct that contributed to safety compromises on set.

PEOPLE reached out to Baldwin's legal team.

Related: How Can Alec Baldwin Be Charged Again for the Shooting of Halyna Hutchins? A Legal Expert Explains

The prosecutors filed the document in response to the motion from Baldwins legal team in March to throw out the charges against him  involuntary manslaughter (for negligent use of a firearm) or alternatively, involuntary manslaughter (without due caution or circumspection)  which were re-filed in January in an indictment from a New Mexico grand jury.



John Lamparski/Getty; Mat Hayward/Getty Alec Baldwin in 2023; Halyna Hutchins in 2018

Ahead of his trial scheduled to begin in July, Baldwin pleaded not guilty to those charges on Jan. 31. If convicted, the 30 Rock Emmy winner faces up to 18 months behind bars.

Baldwin has maintained he did not pull the trigger of the gun. Addressing his version of events, the prosecutors filing stated, later statements contradicted his previous statements.

The prosecutors also wrote that they have experienced near countless lies and manipulation from the defense, and have been the subject of the defendant's contrived and unwarranted personal attacks.

Related: Rust Armorer's 'Swift' Guilty Verdict in Halyna Hutchins' Death Could Hint at Alec Baldwins Fate: Expert (Exclusive)

Courtesy of Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office Alec Bladwin on the set of "Rust"

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.



Last month in a separate trial, Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, and was acquitted of a charge of tampering with evidence. She faces 18 months in prison ahead of a sentencing date that has not yet been set.

What caused the incident that killed Hutchins, wrote the prosecutors in the April 8 filing, was the combination of Hannah Gutierrez's negligence and inexperience and Alec Baldwin's complete lack of concern for the safety of those around him.

The motion to dismiss from Baldwins lawyers is a predictably false, misleading, and histrionic misrepresentation of the facts and circumstances of the history of the case, they added.

Related: SAG-AFTRA Defends Alec Baldwin amid New Rust Charges: 'Actor's Job Is Not to Be a Firearms or Weapons Expert'

Members of Hutchins family were "satisfied" with the outcome of Gutierrez-Reed's trial, their attorney said in a statement shortly after that verdict.



Rust resumed and completed filming last year in Montana.

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Read the original article on People.
Alec Baldwin had "no control" of his emotions on "Rust" set, prosecutor says

Alec Baldwin had "no control" over his emotions on the set of a film where the cinematographer was shot dead, according to the prosecutor who has charged him with manslaughter. The Hollywood star was holding a Colt .45 during the preparation for a scene in the budget Western "Rust" when the gun went off, killing Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.

Baldwin, 66, is set to go on trial in New Mexico in July for involuntary manslaughter, a charge he denies.

In a court filing released Monday, prosecutor Kari Morrissey sketched the outlines of what the jury might hear, including how Baldwin's allegedly unpredictable behavior contributed to the tragedy, and how he kept changing his story in its aftermath.

"Mr. Baldwin was frequently screaming and cursing at himself, at crew members or at no one and not for any particular reason," Morrissey wrote.

"To watch Mr. Baldwin's conduct on the set of 'Rust' is to witness a man who has absolutely no control of his own emotions and absolutely no concern for how his conduct affects those around him.

"Witnesses have testified that it was this exact conduct that contributed to safety compromises on set."

The film's young armorer, Hannah Gutierrez, who was responsible for loading the live round into the gun Baldwin used, was convicted last month of involuntary manslaughter after a two-week trial that heard how her lackadaisical approach to the job had led to a series of dangerous episodes.

Hannah Gutierrez, who faces up to 18 months in prison, is due to be sentenced next week. Her attorney, Jason Bowles, previously told CBS News he plans to appeal "a number of issues that occurred in the trial."

Morrissey blamed both the 26-year-old armorer and the veteran actor for the shooting.

"The combination of Hannah Gutierrez's negligence and inexperience and Alec Baldwin's complete lack of concern for the safety of those around him would prove deadly," Morrissey wrote.

A still from a video clip displayed at the First Judicial District Courthouse shows actor Alec Baldwin during

In her filing, Morrissey said Baldwin, whose high-powered legal team includes eight attorneys, has repeatedly contradicted himself about the shooting in official interviews and in media appearances.

This has included a lengthy sit-down with ABC journalist George Stephanopoulos, which she called a "shameless attempt to escape culpability," and in which he claimed for the first time that he had never pulled the trigger.

"Every time Mr. Baldwin spoke, a different version of events emerged from his mouth, and his later statements contradicted his previous statements."

An FBI investigation found that the gun could not have fired if the trigger had not been pulled, evidence that is expected to be presented at trial.

The October 2021 tragedy sent shockwaves through Hollywood and led to calls for a complete ban on the use of weapons on movie sets.

Industry insiders, however, insisted that rules were already in place to prevent such incidents, and that those working on "Rust" had simply not followed them.

Baldwin is on bail awaiting trial. If convicted, he faces up to 18 months in prison.

The filming of "Rust" concluded last year in the state of Montana, with Hutchins' widower joining the crew as a producer.

No release date has yet been announced.

Last month, Gloria Allred and John Carpenter, attorneys for Hutchins' parents and sister, told CBS News that Hutchins' family was "satisfied" that Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty.

"We look forward to the justice system continuing to make sure that everyone else who is responsible for Halyna's death is required to face the legal consequences for their actions," they said.

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Alec Baldwin practising drawing his revolver on the set of Rust in 2021 - PA

Alec Baldwin shamelessly lied and changed his story following the death of a cinematographer on the set of his film Rust, prosecutors in the US have claimed.

In a court filing ahead of the actors trial for involuntary manslaughter in July, they also argue that he was unable to control his emotions during filming in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Halyna Hutchins, 42, was accidentally shot on the set in 2021 with a gun that Baldwin was holding. The 66-year-old has pleaded not guilty.

New Mexico prosecutors claim that Baldwin was inattentive during firearms training and frequently screaming and cursing on the set before the firing of a live round, which injured director Joel Souza and caused the death of Ms Hutchins, the movies cinematographer.

To watch Mr Baldwins conduct on the set of Rust is to witness a man who has absolutely no control of his own emotions and absolutely no concern for how his conduct affects those around him, wrote prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis.

Witnesses have testified that it was this exact conduct that contributed to safety compromises on set.

Ms Hutchins was shot dead while working as a cinematographer - Mat Hayward/Getty Images

Baldwin, who was also a co-producer on the western, has claimed that he did not pull the trigger of the gun.

Addressing his version of events, the prosecutors alleged Baldwin did not state this when he was first interviewed but had done so a month later.

Every time Mr Baldwin spoke, a different version of events emerged from his mouth, and his later statements contradicted his previous statements, the prosecutors said.

They also claimed to have experienced near countless lies and manipulation from the defence.

Baldwins legal representatives have yet to comment on the new court filing.

The film set weapons handler, Hannah Gutierrez, who loaded a gun for Baldwin before it fired, was convicted in March of involuntary manslaughter at a trial in New Mexico.

The 26-year-old faces up to 18 months in jail at sentencing. If found guilty, Baldwin faces a similar level of punishment.

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Blake Lively was spotted enjoying some sun on vacation in Capri (jealous does not begin to cover it), and she opted for an extremely cute one-piece swimsuit that you might find yourself suddenly needing to own. Understandable, the feeling is mutual.

Cobra Team / BACKGRID

The good news: Blake is wearing Gooseberry Intimates So Chic One Piece Coral Swimsuit, which is sitting just under $100 (it's $99 exactly). The bad news: there isn't any, get yourself this swimsuit and then book a vacation and/or find a park to lounge in.

Shop Now So Chic One Piece Coral

Blake is currently filming A Simple Favor 2 in Italy, hence the vacation in Capri. The movie sees her and Anna Kendrick reuniting (yayyyy)and according to Variety the plot revolves around a fancy Italian wedding. Ahem:

"The sequel will see the return of Stephanie and Emily as they head to the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emilys extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman. Along with the glamorous guests, expect murder and betrayal to RSVP for a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri town square."

Where do I sign up?! Actually, the answer to that is Amazon Prime, where the movie is streaming instead of hitting theaters. Oh, and before we go, the rest of the cast includes Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Joshua Satine, Ian Ho and Kelly McCormackall of whom were also in the original!

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NEW YORK (AP)  Alex Garlands films have vividly conjured a virus-caused pandemic (2002's 28 Days Later), an uncontrollable artificial intelligence (2014s Ex Machina) and, in his latest, Civil War, a near-future America in the throes of all-out warfare.

Most filmmakers with such a record might claim some knack for tapping into the zeitgeist. But Garland doesnt see it that way. Hes dealing, he says, with omnipresent realities that demand no great leaps of vision. He wrote Civil War" in 2020, when societies around the world were unraveling over COVID-19 and the prospect of societal breakdown was on everyones minds.

That was pretty deafening back then, Garland says. So in a way, its slightly past zeitgeist. Its actually oppressive.

Civil War is an ominous attempt to turn widely held American anxieties into a violent, unsettling big-screen reality. Garlands film opens Friday  the anniversary, to the day, of when the Civil War began in 1861. And it's landing in movie theaters just months ahead of a momentous presidential election, making it potentially Hollywoods most explosive movie of the year.

For months, the arrival of Civil War has been closely tracked as numerous trailers have drummed up intrigue. Texas and California aligned? Science fiction, wrote one commentor. Another said: This single movie had the best 8 year marketing campaign of all time.

Yet Civil War is something far more oblique than its matter-of-fact title. The film, which Garland wrote and directed, isnt mapped directly against todays polarization. In a war thats already ravaged the country, California and Texas have joined forces against a fascist president (Nick Offerman) whos seized a third term and disbanded the FBI.

A band of journalists (Kirsten Dunst, Cailee Spaeny, Wagner Moura) makes its way toward Washington, D.C. Much of the films disquiet comes from seeing visceral encounters of war  bombings, fire fights and executions  on contemporary American soil. ("Civil War," to take advantage of tax breaks, was mostly shot in Georgia.) For everyone who has in recent years wondered How bad can it get?  here is a sobering answer.

When things collapse, the speed at which they collapse tends to surprise people  including people like intelligence officers whose job is to watch and predict when these things will happen, Garland said in a recent interview. Things are always in a slightly more dangerous state than they might appear.

The rapidity with which society can disintegrate has long fascinated Garland, the 53-year-old British born filmmaker who emerged with the screenplay to the zombie apocalypse thriller 28 Days Later. Western democracies, he says, can lean too much on their sense of exceptionalism. To him, Civil War isnt an act of cynicism. Its a warning shot.

The consequences of it are so serious that to not take the threat seriously would, itself, be another kind of insanity, says Garland. It would just be complacent.

In past election seasons, Hollywood has sometimes looked to channel, reflect or capitalize or political discord. Ahead of the 2020 election, Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions released The Hunt, a Most Dangerous Game riff in which liberals kidnap rednecks and deplorables to hunt on a private preserve. After the film became engulfed in right-wing criticism (then-President Trump said it was made in order to inflame and cause chaos), it was postponed. When The Hunt eventually hit theaters in March 2020, it revealed a more balanced satire of left and right than some feared.

While there have been online murmurings questioning the appropriateness of the timing for Civil War, controversy hasnt yet clung to it. That might be owed to Garlands approach. There are few direct allusions to the deepest fissures of American politics today in the film. Joining Texas and California together removes any blue state vs. red state dichotomy. Neither race nor income inequality appear as issues of division. The president's political party is unspecified.

I had never read a script like this, said Dunst at the films SXSW premiere. And I had never seen a film like this.

Civil War, set in a near-future, instead plays out with more subtle connections to today's fractured politics and cultural splits. Jesse Plemons plays a heinous militant who interrogates the main characters, asking them: What kind of American are you? Though it's never seen, Charlottesville, Virginia  site of the 2017 white supremacist rally  is referred to as a battle front.

Asked about that choice, Garland replies: The film is just reporting."

But the director acknowledges finding the right balance was a challenge.

Yes, it was a (expletive) delicate balance, Garland says. We thought about it, we discussed it, we talked about what was appropriate. Look, the plan is to make a compelling and engaging film, and the product of the compelling and engaging film is a conversation. So the questions are: How do you make sure that youre not dismantling a conversation in the first part of that equation?

That led to Garland foregrounding Civil War with journalists. As much as anything, Garland's film is about the central role reporters play in capturing critical events in lethal conditions. Unbiased reporting, Garland says, has been eroded. In Civil War, it's literally under attack.

What I wanted to do was present journalists as reporters," Garland says. They may be conflicted, they may be compromised as individuals, but theyre holding on to an idea of journalism.

Civil War, which cost $50 million to make, is the largest budgeted film yet from A24. The indie studio is pushing to expand its reach beyond arthouses ("Civil War" will play on IMAX screens) and expand the reach of its critical acclaimed films. Civil War is, ironically, a bid to draw wider audiences.

A lot of the boldness is not actually mine, says Garland. I think it belongs to A24. You would find there are always people attempting to make these films. The question is whether theyve been given the support to make them.

Civil War is just a possibility, the director stresses, not a prediction. Still, months after he finished writing it, Garland watched an insurrection play out on live television when a mob storm the Capitol on January 6, 2021. At the time, his thoughts weren't on his script.

What I had was this incredibly intense feeling that this is a disgrace, says Garland. Later, as time went by, some of that anger fed into the project. Not so much in terms of rewriting scenes or dialogue or anything. But more to do with an internal sense of motivation. Something that felt more distant felt less distant.

___

Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP ___

This story first moved April 9, 2024, and was updated on April 16, 2024, to remove a reference to a poll.
Its been some time since Austin Peck made a return trip to Days of our Lives, but he remains a much-beloved star. And today, hes celebrating a major milestone.

Happy Birthday, Austin Peck!

Thats because he was born on April 9, 1971, in Honolulu, Hawaii, which means that this talented actor is turning 53 years old today! After leaving Santa Monica High School, Peck found employment as a model, appearing in print ads for magazines such as Esquire, GQ, and Vogue.

In April 1995, he was tapped to play Austin Reed on the NBC soap Days of our Lives. Though he was a recast  having replaced incumbent Patrick Muldoon  Peck soon won over a legion of fans.

He remained in the role until 2002 and made return visits in both 2005 and 2017. He also appeared in 2021s Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem. In 2006, the Los Angeles-based Peck relocated to New York City in order to join the cast of As the World Turns.

For the next two years, he played Brad Snyder, a construction worker turned mid-morning talk show host. Following his exit, Peck publicly revealed that he and Terri Conn, who played Brads wife Katie Peretti, were dating. The couple would go on to welcome two daughters: Keira Grace (born November 2012) and Morgan Theresa (born July 2015).

Pecks other acting credits include guest appearances on episodes of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Charmed, The District, CSI: NY, and Law & Order: SVU as well as starring roles in both short films  Are You a Serial Killer, Revenge and Aimee Price  and features like Breaking Down and North of the City.

He also spent one year on ABCs One Life to Live (as porn producer Rick Powers), recurred on Chicago Fire, and played a main character in the web serial Tainted Dreams.

Soap Hub would like to wish Austin Peck a very happy birthday and many more.

The post Days of our Lives Alum Austin Peck Celebrates His Birthday appeared first on Soap Hub
Against the backdrop of the ongoing war against Ukraine, the Russian information space is characterized by contradictory rhetoric about the Russian army. In particular, between narratives that seek to portray the Russian Armed Forces as more combat-ready than the Ukrainian Armed Forces and criticizing the Russian army for shortcomings that lead to large infantry losses.

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This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Analysts have suggested that such contradictions may be beginning to affect the broader Russian understanding of the war.

For example, several Russian bloggers have recently discussed and criticized the tactic of the Russian military command of moving infantry in armored vehicles to the front lines before landing for a frontal attack.

"This is not a new tactic for either Russian or Ukrainian forces, but it is one that has recently seemed to attract more attention from Russian military commentators," ISW noted.

On April 8, the Russian Defense Ministry published footage of units of the 98th Guards Airborne Division apparently using such tactics on the outskirts of Chasovyi Yar, east of Bakhmut. In the "nice" video, armored vehicles transported infantry to the front lines, the soldiers disembarked, and the vehicles quickly withdrew.

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But, commenting on this video, one Russian blogger told a different scenario of the occupiers' "journey" in armored vehicles. According to him, about 25 Russian servicemen were riding aboard a tank in an unspecified area before Ukrainian forces either hit it or it hit a mine, forcing the Russian Armed Forces personnel to quickly flee across the road without any shelter.

The propagandist called these Russian soldiers "lucky" because they were not covered by Ukrainian artillery at the time, and he characterized the tactics as "extremely crazy." However, another of his colleagues disagreed, saying that the use of armored personnel carriers and tanks to quickly transport and land infantry was more indicative of the lack of Russian armored vehicles in certain areas of the front than of the basic tactics of such attacks.

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Another blogger noted that it was actually Ukrainian strikes that significantly reduced the number of Russian armored vehicles, especially near Avdiivka (Donetsk region) and Krynok (Kherson region). According to him, for this reason, Russian troops have to be content with a very small number of armored vehicles to transport personnel to compensate for the losses in vehicles and prevent further developments of similar events.

Another blogger wondered why the Russian media focused on footage of "unsuccessful" Ukrainian armored attacks during the counteroffensive in the summer of 2023, although Russian troops themselves face many of the same tactical challenges in conducting such attacks, especially due to the saturation of drones on the battlefield.

He acknowledged that the reality of the presence of Russian soldiers on the territory of Ukraine is strikingly different from the talk promoted in the Russian information space. He also emphasized that Russian commentators can "laugh at Ukraine's counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia sector" and then lose many more of their soldiers in the Avdiivka sector. The propagandist suddenly concluded that Russia was lying to itself about the losses it had suffered in the war against Ukraine.

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"The discussion among Russian bloggers about the use of armored vehicles and their survivability on the battlefield, as well as the conduct of attacks, highlights arguments that many propagandists continue to make about how the war is being fought. This suggests that many bloggers in Russia are very aware of the impact these conversations have on the broader Russian understanding of the war," ISW concluded.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, some units of the Russian Armed Forces fighting against Ukraine use violence against their colleagues. Drunkenness, extortion, and torture prevail in the ranks of the occupiers, which ultimately end in murder.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



This story contains historical spoilers for FXs Shogun.



Life wasn't kind to women in feudal Japan. As Shogun details through the lives of Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), Ochiba (Fumi Nikaido), and Fuji (Moeka Hoshi), a woman's life choicesif you can even call them thatconsisted of wife, mother, housekeeper, and concubine. That said, we see Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) take significant interest in Mariko throughout the FX drama. He places great trust in her judgment and reasoning, often going to her for advice pertaining to his rivals in Osaka. He also asks her to serve as his official translator.

Like many Shogun characters, Mariko has a real-life counterpart: Akechi Tama. Her role in Lord Tokugawa's ascension to the shogunate played out similarly to what's represented in the series. Naturally, there are some major differences when it comes to Mariko's function within the story and her relationship to John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis). But if you're looking for the true story of Mariko's real-life counterpart, here's everything you need to know.

FX

Who Was Akechi Tama?

Born the daughter of general Akechi Mitsuhide, Akechi Tama was a highborn woman and a member of the aristocratic class in feudal Japan. Her father served under Lord Oda Nobunaga, the first great unifier of Japan and the de facto ruler of the country in the early 1580s. However, everything changed for the Akechi family when Mitsuhide betrayed his lord and assassinated Nobunaga in 1582 during a tea ceremony at Honno-ji temple. To this day, scholars and historians debate his potential motivations. Regardless of the reason why her father turned into a traitor, he was defeated at the Battle of Yamazaki and killed just a month later.

The events of this incident are depicted in Shogun via a flashback in episode 6, which serves as the backdrop for Mariko and Ochiba's strained relationship. Though Ochiba's counterpart, Yodo-dono, wasn't exactly Nobunaga's daughter, Shogun maintains that Mariko's father, Akechi Jinsai, was still a turncoat general who mysteriously assassinated the former warlord. In fact, FX explains most of the information about Shogun's real-life counterparts and how they match up within the story in a very helpful character guide that even features a detailed family tree. The series even goes so far as to suggest that Toranaga secretly orchestrated the attack in episode 6, though Ochiba makes the allegation and it remains unproven.

Shogun also borrows Akechi Tama's marriage at the age of 16 to samurai Hosokawa Tadaoki, who is very loosely the basis for Buntaro (Shinnosuke Abe). Other than his relationship with Mariko, Buntaro is an original character in Shogun. Still, Buntaro is able to save Mariko from death due to their marriage. His actions mirror how Akechi Tama survived the usual punishment for a traitor's daughter in feudal Japan, even if she was mostly hidden and confined to the Hosokawa mansion in Osaka. According to FX, they actually shared a happy marriage and had five children together.

Shop Now Shogun, Part One (The Asian Saga) amazon.com $18.69

She Converted to Catholicism

During this time in seclusion, Akechi Tama turned to Christianity. The noblewoman wasn't allowed much lenience, but she would look to Osaka's church for refuge whenever she could. Christianity was already spreading among the lords of Osaka, with Spanish and Portuguese missionaries successfully converting some of their wives.

When the original Shogun miniseries premiered in the 1980s, George Elison, a professor of East Asian languages and cultures at Indiana University, told The New York Times, "Theres no doubt that she was a convinced Christian, almost a saint." Akechi Tama took the Christian name Maria when she was baptized, and she officially changed her name to Hosakawa Gracia. In episode 8, viewers can even hear Father Alvito briefly refer to Mariko as Maria.

FX

She Never Met Blackthorne

John Blackthorne's real-life counterpart is William Adams, the first English sailor to reach Japan. He maintained a curious friendship with Lord Tokugawa but never had a relationship with Akechi Tama.

According to History Today, the two never even met. "The historical Will Adams never laid eyes on the historical Lady Gracia," historian Henry Smith wrote back in 1981. He stated that their relationshipeven as a translator and a foreignerwas not "conceivable in Japan" at that time. "The daimyo ladies of 16th-century Japan were strictly sequestered and rarely had the chance to meet any men other than immediate family," Smith explained.

Her Death Helped Turn the Tide of the War

Akechi Tama never served as Tokugawa's translator, even though she was reportedly fluent in both Portuguese and Latin. Still, Smithsonian magazine reported that her family did hold close ties to Tokugawa. She even lived among the other warlords' wives in Osaka, including Tokugawa's. Though Akechi did not have anything close to Mariko's mission in episode 9, the surprise raid on her camp was historically accurate.

After Ishida Mitsunari (Ishido in Shogun) ordered his troops to take the families in Osaka hostage, their first stop was the Hosokawa mansion. According to FX's official character guide, Akechi refused capture and committed suicide. Her Christian faith deemed suicide a sin, so it's alleged that she commanded one of her servants to kill her. Akechi's death shocked Osaka.

In a letter to one of his closest allies, Ishida reportedly wrote that he was not to blame for her death. "I ordered to take Tadaoki's wife and child as hostages, but the samurai at the Hosokawa family's Osaka residence mistakenly believe that they should commit suicide, stabbed her death, set fire to the house, and killed themselves," he wrote. It was too late for forgiveness. Ishida ordered her capture, and he could not blame her death on a misunderstanding.

Following her death, Akechi's husband joined Tokugawa's side at the Battle of Sekigahara. We don't want to spoil the events of the finale for Shogun fans, but take Mariko's shocking death as an indication that no one is backing down.

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Apple TV+s Franklin, which stars Michael Douglas, has its world premiere at series festival Canneseries on April 10 in Cannes, France. The show is produced by ITV Studios America and Apple Studios. Variety spoke to Philippe Maigret, president and managing director, ITV Studios America, who is an executive producer on the period drama.

Franklins journey to the screen began when producer Tony Krantz optioned Stacy Schiffs book A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America. Starting in December 1776, A Great Improvisation follows Benjamin Franklin, best known as an inventor, as he travels from Britains colonies in America on a secret mission to enlist Frances support in the War of Independence, which the Americans are losing.

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In 2017, Krantz, who had a first-look deal with ITV Studios America through his company Flame Ventures, suggested that Maigret read the book. We immediately realized we shared the same passion for the story of this period of history and also realized that this was a book that was uniquely set to be adapted into an event premium limited series, Maigret says.

What attracted him to Schiffs book was that it has characters that are intriguing and multifaceted and a story that has elements of a spy thriller, but is also a relationship driven drama, containing a game of seduction.

Kirk Ellis, who received two Emmys for John Adams, came on board to adapt the book, but a number of years passed while the project was developed.

It took quite a bit of time because we needed to assemble the right creative team, find the right network or streaming service, overall, the right partners who would share not only our passion to tell the story, but also our ambition in the way to tell the story, Maigret adds.

So, as always, you take a step forward, you take a step backward. You go through things realizing that you may have gone down the wrong path, you course correct, again, in the spirit of collaboration and passion for the story.

Then the projects core team started to assemble. Former HBO chief Richard Plepler, who had set up Eden Productions in January 2020 and signed an exclusive multi-year deal with AppleTV+, joined Franklin as executive producer. Tim Van Patten, who had worked on HBO shows such as The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones, signed on as director and executive producer, shortly followed by Douglas as the lead actor and executive producer.

As the project went from development with AppleTV+ into pre-production, the rest of the creative team was enlisted, including director of photography David Franco and writer Howard Korder, who both worked with Van Patten on Boardwalk Empire. Dan Weil joined as production designer and Olivier Beriot as costume designer.

Next came the decision of where to shoot the show. Maigret says: We looked at several options and obviously you need to factor in the economic element, as well as the creative element, and France came out on top.

What made France so appealing was, number one, the possibility to bring an incredible group of French actors, for whom the opportunity to work on Franklin would be a lot easier, but also to shoot in some of the most incredible locations. These included the Palace of Versailles, 11 chateaux and 20 locations in Paris. These brought authenticity, he says. As talented Tim is as a director or Dan is as production designer you cant easily replicate Versailles.

Franklin

He adds: This is the most ambitious series, I believe, that ITV Studios has produced. The scale, the complexity of developing the right costumes and the right makeup, the size of the cast, and the scope of some of the scenes that makes the shooting complex. But we also have to remember that we started shooting when COVID was still raging around the world in 2022.

I need to credit Tim and David as well as the production team for making the production of the series as smooth as I could have hoped.

Theres always things that happen that will surprise you. I was actually on set in the summer of 2022 when Paris was going through a heatwave. And the night before we shot a pretty big scene on Place des Vosges, in the center of historic Paris, we found out that there was no way the horses would be let out of the stables, it was just too hot. So obviously, we had to make some adjustments. We didnt take the horses out of the stables, but the actors and extras actually worked that day, in layers of beautiful costumes, and the makeup had to be done. And Tim and the team found a way to still shoot the scene.

Cut to six months later, toward the end of making Franklin, and now it is too cold for the horses to come out of the stable. So, I mean, look, these are two examples of challenges that we faced. I consider myself very lucky to have a team that was able to make to show without anything worse to face and to respond to than the weather.

But we had a couple of interruptions due to COVID. But again, the team did an amazing job in building the necessary safety protocols. And, as you can imagine, on a set where you have hundreds of people, people tested positive, but the production of the series never, never stopped.

Despite talk of a downturn in demand for scripted television, Maigret remains optimistic that shows like Franklin will find buyers.

We continue to see demand for strong IP, for great stories, with the right talent, produced under the right economics. That may sound obvious but thats really what were focusing on. And thats what, I think, Frankin also reflects. We optioned a book, we developed a project into a limited series that we believed could resonate with what the streaming services were looking for.

The team brought incredibly talented, creative partners into the making of the show. We built the right production schedule, in the right location, to deliver the right show, for an investment that does not compare with some of the crazy numbers that you hear about other television shows. We had a very, very robust budget to make the show and we made it under budget, and within schedule.

Best of Variety

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One of the two men convicted of killing Jam Master Jay is attempting to change the courts decision. According to HotNewHipHop, Ronald Washingtons legal team is seeking a retrial or to have the guilty verdict overturned, claiming the government has failed to provide sufficient evidence.

Washingtons lawyer Susan Kellman claims that her client and the deceased were on the same side of the alleged botched drug transaction that resulted in the murder.

Think about it, she explained per HNHH. Who gets killed when a drug deal fails? Is it the guy who advocates to get you into a drug deal? No.

Pallbearers carry the casket of Run DMC member Jason Jam Master Jay Mizell after funeral services at the Allen A.M.E. Cathedral November 5, 2002 in New York City. Mizell was shot dead in a recording studio October 30, 2002.

Washington, Jays childhood friend, and Karl Jordan Jr., Jays godson, were found guilty of murder in February 2024, more than two decades after the Hip-Hop veteran was gunned down in a New York City recording studio. A witness testified that Washington and Jordan entered the room with guns, naming Jordan as the triggerman.

Yall just killed some innocent people. Get me outta here, Washington exclaimed at the decision.

Defense attorneys claimed the real killer was Jay Bryant, who was charged in May 2023 with murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking and firearm-related murder. Only Bryants DNA was recovered from a hat found next to Jam Master Jays body, and he is the only person seen on security cameras.

A t-shirt remembering slain artist Jam Master Jay of the rap group Run-DMC is worn during the 9th Annual Holyfield Foundation Main Event All-Star Weekend concert at the Georgia World Congress Center on February 7, 2003 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jay Bryant is literally reasonable doubt in this case, said Michael Hueston, Jordans attorney at the time of the verdict.

According to the Associated Press, prosecutors and defense attorneys began exploring plea options for Bryant earlier this month. Both sides are set to file a written status update on Aug. 5. Bryants trial is set for January 2025. He has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges.

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Bianca Censori once again brought attention to herself by going pantless in her dinner outfit for a date with her husband, Kanye West.

The Australian-born architect wore a sheer gown without any underwear, exposing her body under the outfit's cover.

The X-Rated Transparent Outfit Bianca Censori Wore For Dinner Date With Kanye West

Instagram | Kanye West

Censori stepped out in an X-rated outfit, maintaining her streak of wearing highly provocative attire whenever she is out in public with West. The Australian architect was seen over the weekend accompanying her rapper husband as they enjoyed a dinner date night at the Italian restaurant Bacari in Los Angeles.

While West opted for his usual all-black attire from head to toe, Censori made another bold fashion statement in a form-fitting sleeveless latex gown that left nothing to the imagination.

The outfit was completely see-through, revealing that she had no underwear underneath to hide her modesty. To complement the daring look, Censori wore blood-colored knee-length pop socks and matching open-toe high heels.

Bianca Censori wears completely sheer tube dress and knee high stockings for Kenya West outing. She purposely did this to show her beauty for the outing memorial . pic.twitter.com/u8QgKI7y2x  Beneze (@Beneze758683) April 8, 2024

She also wore her signature sleeked-back hairstyle, minimal makeup, and nude gloss. As for accessories, she opted for a low-key approach, wearing only a single ring on her left hand and hoop earrings on the upper part of her ears.

Social media users quickly blasted the 29-year-old model for dressing provocatively in public.

One person wrote, "This woman is being abused I think. She never looks happy."

Another asked, "What is going on [?]. What was she like before they met? This whole thing is so crazy to see unfold. Mind-boggling really. Who was she before this?!"

One more person said, "Nothing screams 'Give me attention!' More than these [two]. We all know he's making her dress this way. Absolutely disgusting."

See the full outfit here.

She Recently Came Under Fire For 'Exposing' Her Body

MEGA

Censori's latest outing comes after she was criticized online for overexposing herself in "trashy" sheer tights.

Social media users blasted the Yeezy architect, while some accused West of forcing her to wear racy clothing.

An X user wrote, "Notice the bag hiding her nether regions. Looks like she didn't want to leave the house so exposed but was forced to."

Another said, "I hate seeing these pictures. I mean, look at her face. She looks so uncomfortable, sad, and even scared. Like I can't stand it."

Bianca Censori is making headlines again after she went out with Ye last night, wearing only a bra and see-through pantyhose? pic.twitter.com/N8wczaZboo  crown prince (@crownprince410) April 5, 2024

A third person noted, "She clearly looks ... uncomfortable, embarrassed, afraid. Not sure but something's off."

"He's basically dressing her in intimate wear (lingerie)nothing genius about that. I can't believe she partakes," another X user claimed.

One more person commented, "She looks ridiculous. It's not cute it's looks so thirsty !!! She's a beautiful woman she doesn't need to constantly be n---- to be looked at  looks trashy."

Is Bianca Censori Being Used As A 'Free Marketing Tool' By Her Husband?

MEGA

While it seems there might be no end in sight to Censori's public appearances in very racy outfits, an insider recently claimed that might not be the case.

According to a source who spoke to the Daily Mail, Censori is very much aware that she's going overboard with her dressing, which reportedly is tailored towards being a "free marketing tool for West's upcoming album, Vultures 2."

Additionally, her initial love for all the attention she has received in the wake of her wearing such outfits is on the decline as she is allegedly "starting to feel used ." This seems to have worsened with West allegedly "pushing and pushing for more, more, more leading up to the release of Vultures 2."

The insider added about Censori, "These past couple of months have been an experience, but she really wants to focus on having children after the album drops."

Bianca Censori's Sister Says The Family 'Supports' Kanye West

MEGA

Amid the x-rated displays from Censori, many have speculated that her family doesn't support how West has allegedly taken control over his wife's fashion choices.

However, those speculations have been firmly dismissed after Censori's sister clarified in a recent interview with the Herald Sun that they are all "false." She also emphasized the family's steadfast support for the rapper and his business endeavors.

"We all support him. We support his new album. We support his new clothes he's dropping," Angelina told the news outlet.

Censori's sister further slammed recent reports claiming that their father, Leo, was keen on confronting West regarding his daughter's actions.

She said, "'It's all just bulls---. There was something about my dad even recently. My dad never talks. Nothing's true."

Bianca Censori's Mother Recently Paid Her A Visit

MEGA

The rumor about West being invited to visit his wife's family in Australia came on the heels of Censori's mother's trip to see her.

Per reports, she made a visit because she wanted to "see for herself" if her daughter was just a puppet being controlled by West.

"Bianca's mom had to see for herself after Bianca told her family she has this under control," a source told the Daily Mail. "This has been a wonderful opportunity for Alexandra to get to spend time with Bianca and assess the situation for herself."

The source added, "Alexandra was lowkey believing she would come to save her daughter. But this is not the case. Kanye has started to turn things around since the release of Vultures in the sense that he is not going off on as many unhinged rants."
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)  Performing at this years Festival International, Kombilesa Mi fuses traditional Colombian beats with the Afro influence of the Palenque culture.

Hailing from San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia, the first free African town in the Americas, Kombilesa Mi combines Spanish and the local Palenquero language to create a unique blend of traditional Colombian music and urban rap. Much of the groups music aims to keep alive the culture of Palenque, which only has around 3,500 residents.

Born in mid 2011, Kombilesa Mi was the fusion of several Palenke hip-hop groups that sought solidarity and preservation of their traditions as people of Palenque. Part of this involves the use of Palenquero in their lyrics, which is a Spanish-based creole language. Palenquero is influenced by the Kikongo language of Congo and Angola, and also by Portuguese, the language of the slave traders who brought enslaved Africans to South America in the 17th century. Although Palenquero is Spanish-based, its grammar differs from Spanish, making the language unintelligible to Spanish speakers.

Woman killed in St. Martin Parish ATV crash was Port Barre High School teacher

In the groups music, consisting of nine members, you can hear the sounds of traditional percussion, metal handmade drums of their own design, and marimbula, as the group raps in Spanish and Palenquero. This creative blend of Afro and Colombian sounds has created a specific genre of music the band self-categorizes as rap folklorico palenquero.

Through their tours abroad, the groups has established rap folklorico palenquero as a broader social movement, connecting audiences both inside and outside of Palenque. To hear Kombilesa Mi in action, the group will perform at Festival International in Lafayette on Thursday, April 25 from 8:15-8:45 p.m. at the Scene LUS stage.

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Maria Shriver and Patrick Schwarzenegger to be Honored at Alzheimers Association Event in L.A.

The Alzheimers Association California Southland Chapter is putting the finishing touches on its program for the upcoming Magic of Music Gala at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City on May 9.

The fundraiser, designed to honor Alzheimers heroes, will help support the mission of the Alzheimers Association and the local California Southland community. Jane Lynch and Kate Flannery will serve as the nights co-hosts  alongside gala chairs and business leaders Peter and Camille Goldstein  and the pair will also perform songs from their anti-cabaret, Two Lost Souls. Honorees for the event include the 2014 film Still Alice, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, as well as Maria Shriver and Patrick Schwarzenegger and hosts Lisa Foxx and Valentine.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Were excited to co-host this years Magic of Music Gala and perform songs from our cabaret show, said Lynch and Flannery. Alzheimers is a devastating disease that deserves our critical attention. Events like this one are motivating and inspiring to see people rally together to support the vision of the Alzheimers Association  a world without Alzheimers and all other dementia.

Kate Flannery and Jane Lynch

Also on the program: a menu prepared by Wolfgang Puck Catering, a live auction and dancing. The Tony Guerrero Band will accompany musical performers including Antonia Bennett, daughter of the late Tony Bennett, and Broadway star Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer will also take the stage.

Shriver and son Schwarzenegger will be recognized with the innovators in brain health honor for a commitment to raising awareness of brain health and living a healthy lifestyle. Shriver has been an advocate in the fight against Alzheimers for decades while Schwarzenegger donated proceeds from his MOSH protein bars to the Womens Alzheimers Movement at Cleveland Clinic.

Hosts Foxx and Valentine from Valentine in the Morning will be presented with music industry honors on behalf of iHeartMedia Los Angeles for its long standing relationship with the Alzheimers Association California Southland Chapter.

To mark the 10th anniversary of Still Alice, centered on the impact of Alzheimers on a woman (Julianne Moore) and her family, filmmaker Wash Westmoreland will be feted with a film industry honor for the 2014 film that won Moore a best actress Oscar.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, co-creators of South Park, lend support as symphony sponsors along with the latters wife Angela Stone, all longtime supporters of the organization. Tickets and tables for the gala are now on sale.

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When the name Guy Harvey is mentioned, visions of marlins, mahi mahi, sharks and tuna swimming in vivid, deep-blue waters come to mind, along with tropical places like Jamaica, the Caiman Islands and Bahamas.

But its unlikely that very many would pair the world-renowned marine wildlife artist and conservationist with NASCAR or One Daytona, the entertainment/retail/dining complex across the street from Daytona International Speedway.

But those unique partnerships were in the forefront last weekend when Harvey headlined the fifth annual One Daytona Art Festival. He shared stories and autographed his books, shirts, paintings and prints in Gallery500, where his marine wildlife art has been on display since it opened in 2019. About 90% of his featured work was sold, plus clients placed numerous orders, according to Gallery500 Director Amber ONeal.

Harvey, 68, has had more than a decade-long relationship with NASCAR. He has designed racing apparel and logos, and had race cars wrapped in his artwork that were auctioned for charity in 2013 at Homestead-Miami International Speedway.

In 2015, a licensing agreement with the International Speedway Corporation brought Harveys ocean conservation message to tens of thousands of race fans.

To him, a partnership with NASCAR is not an unlikely pairing.

Think about it, Harvey reflected. Many racing fans love fishing and hunting, and they also enjoy my artwork.

Harveys artistic skills for recreating marine life have earned him numerous awards and a lot of fame, but his original career path was doctor of fisheries management.

Guy Harvey poses with one of his pieces at Gallery500 at One Daytona Beach in Daytona Beach. Were working with kids and in schools to make sure the next generation cares about protecting our waters.

A 10th generation Jamaican, he graduated with highest honors in marine biology from Aberdeen University in Scotland in 1977 and earned a doctorate in fisheries management from the University of the West Indies in 1982 in Jamaica.

In the late 1980s, he started painting full time, and his expert knowledge of sea life became evident in his work, produced on water-color paper, canvas and wall murals.

My perfect day would be getting stuck in a really big painting or fishing, Harvey said before regaling his audience with a story of one Fathers Day in 2008 when his wife, Gillian, agreed to let him fish for an hour, and he hooked two blue marlins at once. The moral of the story,'' he teased, "is take your wife fishing.

While his works of art and fishing endeavors have made him famous and bring him immense joy, Harveys wildlife preservation efforts are always at the forefront.

Traditional conservation isnt working, explained Harvey, who has written and illustrated six books. So, were working with kids and in schools to make sure the next generation cares about protecting our waters.

The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation has funded more than $7 million for research and conservation groups, schools and educational programs around the world.

A selection of Guy Harvey's work at Gallery500 at One Daytona in Daytona Beach.

While many people think of conservation efforts on a local level, for Harvey, its on a worldwide scale. One of his biggest worries is the monumental loss of sharks, which he attributes in part to the fin consumption in Asia and the fact that many species only give birth to a few pups at a time.

On a lighter note, sharks are one of his favorite subjects to paint, especially tiger sharks. And, just about anyone could guess that his favorite color is blue  cobalt, turquoise and deep blue  the most prominent colors of the oceans that hes working so hard to protect.

Guy Harvey's "Moo's Running" is seen at Gallery500 at One Daytona in Daytona Beach.

Theres a lot of work to be done, and Im very lucky that I have my son, Alexander, on the business side, and my daughter, Jessica, running the foundation. Harvey said. Their being involved at that level allows me to concentrate on my art.

Festival winners

More than 130 artists and vendors participated in the fifth annual One Daytona Art Festival. The two-day event awarded monetary prizes to top artists, and donated $8,000 to Volusia County Public Schools, and another $8,000 to the Daytona State College Foundation.

Best in Show was awarded to Ken Orton, of Venice, for his oil paintings. Awards of distinction went to: Mike Nelson, of New Smyrna Beach, for clay; David Mallory, of Port Orange, for wood; Michelle Chang, of Rowland Heights, California, for mixed media; and Barbara Umbel, of Indian Harbor Beach, for jewelry.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Artist Guy Harvey reflects on racing, marine wildlife at One Daytona
Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania and her boyfriend Paul Connell are mourning the recent death of his mom, Claire. Fans immediately fell in love with Claire when she appearing during Season 13 of RHONJ during a cast visit to Ireland; Pauls native country.

Following news of her passing, Dolores and Paul each took to Instagram to post tributes to his sweet mother. Sharing memories and photos, they poured out how much Claire meant to them and how much theyll miss her.

Its wonderful that Dolores got to meet her future mother-in-law while she visited Ireland and that she was able to share that meeting with her castmates and fans alike. Claire was a special little lady.

Beyond devasted at the loss of his mother

Paulies tribute to his mom included an emotional caption that he is beyond devastated at the loss of his mother.

Oh Mam, he wrote, no more calls, no more trips for us, well one more. Back to the man himself. He gets his wish now, and we cant be selfish. I am beyond devastated to feel that I will never be able to be with you again and see your cheeky smile or listen to one of our favorite [stories] that we talked about a hundred times over. I will never let that last hug go we had, I know when I seen you last, our time was near but I wasnt scared. I was just unprepared, beyond devastated and will do as you would wish, and as you would say, Ask the sacred heart to watch over you. Well now I will ask him to watch over you [and] Dad on your new journey together. Love you with all my broken heart.

Dolores shared in the comments section of Paulies post just how much his mother had meant to her. I fell in love with your beautiful mom first, she wrote. She was an amazing woman leaving behind a beautiful legacy of selfless love, caring, and always a lot of laughter. She loved [you] enough to last a lifetime. [Paul], youre a true reflection of her in so many ways. We were all blessed to have her in our life. RIP Claire Xoxox.

Dolores remembers Pauls mom, Claire

In her tribute, Dolores shared her first meeting with Claire and expressed her feelings about her boyfriends mother. She stole all our hearts, wrote the mom of two. It was an honor and a blessing to have known such a beautiful woman with a heart of gold and an unwavering faith. RIP Claire, heaven has gained an angel. We will miss you xoxo. Love always, The Hussy.

In addition, several of Dolores castmates left sweet messages of condolence for Paulie, including Margaret Josephs, Frank Catania, Danielle Cabral, Jenn Fessler, Rachel Fuda, Melissa Gorga, and Teresa Giudice.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 14 premieres May 5 on Bravo.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE CONDOLENCES FOR PAUL AND HIS FAMILY IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.

The post Paul Connells Mom Passes Away; Dolores Catania Pays Tribute appeared first on Reality Tea.
A reported armed man who boarded a train at the Aberdeen train station in Scotland turned out to be a "Star Wars" Stormtrooper cosplayer wielding a plastic blaster. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI

April 9 (UPI) -- Police in Scotland said a reported armed man who led to a train returning to a station turned out to be a Star Wars cosplayer on his way to a comic book convention.

The man, known as the Grampian Stormtrooper on social media, was dressed in his Imperial Stormtrooper costume "with a Scottish twist" -- a kilt -- when he boarded a ScotRail train to Dundee at the Aberdeen train station.

The train returned to the station shortly after departing and the man was approached by a guard who escorted him to waiting police officers.

The cosplayer wrote on Facebook that he was "met by two firearms officers, three Police Scotland, two British Transport police, and had to chat to them all in an office."

The man learned that he had been reported for carrying a "firearm" on the train, and he explained to police that his "blaster" was a plastic prop.

Police took the man home so he could get a bag for his blaster so as not to alarm his fellow train passengers again. He said he was also asked not to wear his full Stormtrooper armor on the train.

The man, who was headed to DeeCon at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, said it was the first time in 10 years of cosplaying that he has been approached by police.

A British Transport Police spokesperson confirmed the incident in a statement issued to AberdeenLive.

"Officers received reports of a man with a firearm entering Aberdeen station just before 9 a.m. on Saturday (April 6)," the representative said. "Officers attended alongside colleagues from Police Scotland and it was determined it was a false alarm."
Today, April 9, Hollywood star Kristen Stewart celebrates her birthday. The actress, who began her career as a child, has come a long way from her breakthrough role as Bella Swan in the vampire saga Twilight to her portrayal of Princess Diana in the biographical drama Spencer, for which she received an Oscar nomination. We've collected six of the birthday girl's most memorable roles.

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Love Lies Bleeding

Starting from April 18, Ukrainian cinemas will be able to watch a new movie with Kristen Stewart. This is a crime action thriller from the famous A24 studio, responsible for the films Rebel States, Ironclaw, and All Always and All the Time.

Love Lies Bleeding is an electrifying, fast-paced story that stars Stewart as a reclusive gym worker. Her character meets an ambitious bodybuilder (Cathy M. O'Brien) who wants to go to Vegas to compete. But after a dangerous adventure, they both have to leave the city. "These two characters have a dynamic that I've never seen in a movie before," says Kristen Stewart.

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Critics have noted the "wild and flashy" atmosphere of the film and predicted that this work will "exceed the expectations" of the audience.

Spencer, 2021

Kristen Stewart's transformation into Princess Diana impressed both critics and audiences. In the biographical drama by Pablo Larrain (Jackie), the actress portrayed Lady Dee during the royal family's Christmas vacation in the early 90s, when she decided to divorce Prince Charles. Stewart was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for this role.

Clouds of Sils Maria, 2014

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In the Olivier Assayas drama, Stewart played the role of personal assistant to the star actress played by Juliette Binoche (The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Chocolate). Their complex and multifaceted relationship is one of the highlights of the movie. For her performance, Kristen received the French Cesar Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first American woman to win this award.

Personal Shopper, 2016

Another outstanding collaboration between Kristen Stewart and Olivier Assayas. A mystical thriller in which the actress portrays a girl who works as a personal shopper for celebrities in Paris and at the same time tries to establish a connection with her deceased twin brother. The sophisticated and eerie film won Assayas the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival.

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Cafe Society, 2017

In the comedy-drama by Oscar-winning maestro Woody Allen (Manhattan, Annie Hall), Kristen Stewart appeared as a sincere and unpretentious girl named Vonnie. It is she who becomes the love of the protagonist, a young man named Bobby, who moves to Hollywood in the 1930s, under the wing of his uncle, who is well-known in the film industry.

Twilight, 2008-2012

The role that made Kristen Stewart a superstar. Bella Swan, a girl in love with the vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), has become a cult image for an entire generation. Despite the franchise's criticism, the chemistry between Stewart and Pattinson and the immense popularity of Twilight has propelled the young actress into the orbit of global fame.

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Of course, this is only a small part of Kristen Stewart's work, who has a special talent for choosing unusual and challenging honest roles. We're looking forward to seeing more of her work, especially after she announced that she wants to try her hand at directing. Happy birthday, Kristen!
In Patricia Highsmiths novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, Dickie Greenleafs father asks Tom if hes ever read Henry James novel The Ambassadors. The reference is a sly one; James 1903 book is about a man sent from the Northeast to Paris to bring back a wayward son. Thats Toms mission, as well, though his European transformation is starkly different from James Lewis Lambert Strether, who ultimately returns to America wiser but sadder.

Tom intends no such return, and who could blame him when he sets up house in a palazzo as magnificent as the one in Steven Zaillians Netflix adaptation Ripley. Who died? his frenemy Marge (Dakota Fanning) quips when she first sees it; the answer is, of course, Dickie Greenleaf, but Tom pretends it was the aunt who raised him.

More from IndieWire

In 2005, I did the film Casanova, directed by Lasse Hallstrom, Ripley production designer David Gropman told IndieWire. So I pretty much knew every palazzo in Venice [and] I knew exactly where to go. Ultimately, the 15th-century Palazzo Polignac became the site of Toms Venetian life. We looked at a lot of stuff; Steve has such a great eye, and he cares so much about detail and preserving his vision, his point of view.

The palazzo is stunning, of course, but it carries with it both a sense of age and also a sense of darkness. Tom is a far cry from the beachside villa where he first met Dickie and Marge (filmed in Capri), as befits the new Ripley with more life experience and two murders under his belt. And much of the furnishings were authentic to the palazzo.

What we really didnt touch was his bedroom. That great sort of canopy bed and those drapings were there, Gropman said. We changed the bedspread. But we completely furnished his study where the whole scene with Ravini takes place. So that was completely dressed by us. The fabric on the walls belonged to the Palazzo. But thats the great thing about that Palazzo. Its got You know, theyre not, in that Palazzo, theyre not afraid to let the age show, the fading of the wall coverings and the tears and all of that.

The Ripley production utilized quite a few Venetian palazzos for some surprising scenes. Toms trip to Brooks Brothers before setting out for Italy was filmed in the Palazzo dellAeronautica, as was the scene in the Naples American Express. (The exterior of the latter is the Naples Palazzo della Poste.)

Gropman also relied on books of photographs from the era (and slightly before) to guide the look of Ripley, citing Neo Realismo: The New Image in Italy 1932-1960 as his starting point in designing the black and white world Zailian envisioned with cinematographer Robert Elswit. I kind of knew exactly in my mind what it should look like, Gropman said. Its freeing in some respects doing a period film [in black and white] because its easier to cheat on some things. But the challenge I found is, when you erase color, to be able to show the arc of the story and differentiate the moments in Toms journey. And for the film to be monotone but not the expression.

But of course, any production shot in black and white brings with it singular challenges, especially when it comes to existing locations. The best exercise for me is that, as Im putting together sets, I photograph them nowadays on my iPhone in color, Gropman said. And then when I would go back to look at the location photos and put them into black and white, you immediately begin to see how you have to manage things, how you have to think about contrast and make sure that details dont get glossed over or muddled or left behind.

The combination of Gropmans production design and Elswits sensuous black-and-white cinematography proves to be an alluringly lethal one  both for Ripley and for Ripley.

All eight episodes of Ripley are now streaming on Netflix.

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One of the most attention-grabbing aspects of Roadrunner, the Morgan Neville-directed documentary about Anthony Bourdain, was Nevilles use of generative AI to replicate Bourdains voice. Looking back now, Neville told Wired that he saw this as a fun way to keep [Bourdains] voice going in the film. Many people told me that there were other documentary projects that were doing the same thing, that all reacted; they either changed what they were doing or put giant disclaimers over everything, he said.
Starlink satellite internet terminals are being widely used by Russian forces in Ukraine, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The publication indicates that the terminals, which were developed by Elon Musks SpaceX, are being used to coordinate attacks in eastern Ukraine and Crimea. Additionally, Starlink terminals can be used on the battlefield to control drones and other forms of military tech.

The terminals are reaching Russian forces via a complex network of black market sellers. This is despite the fact that Starlink devices are banned in the country. WSJ followed some of these sellers as they smuggled the terminals into Russia and even made sure deliveries got to the front lines. Reporting also indicates that some of the terminals were originally purchased on eBay.

This black market for Starlink terminals allegedly stretches beyond occupied Ukraine and into Sudan. Many of these Sudanese dealers are reselling units to the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group thats been accused of committing atrocities like ethnically motivated killings, targeted abuse of human rights activists, sexual violence and the burning of entire communities. WSJ notes that hundreds of terminals have found their way to members of the Rapid Support Forces.

Back in February, Elon Musk addressed earlier reports that Starlink terminals were being used by Russian soldiers in the war against Ukraine. To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia, he wrote on X. The Kremlin also denied the reports, according to Reuters. Despite these proclamations, WSJ says that thousands of the white pizza-box-sized devices have landed with some American adversaries and accused war criminals.

After those February reports, House Democrats have demanded that Musk take action, according to Business Insider, noting that Russian military use of the tech is potentially in violation of US sanctions and export controls. Starlink actually has the ability to disable individual terminals and each item includes geofencing technology that is supposed to prevent use in unauthorized countries, though it's unclear if black market sellers can get around these hurdles.

House Democrats have demanded that Musk take action. He took steps to limit Ukraines use of the technology on the grounds that the terminals were never intended for use in military conflicts. According to his biography, Musk also blocked Ukraines use of Starlink near Crimea early in the conflict, ending the countrys plans for an attack on Russias naval fleet. Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote on X that civilians, children are being killed as a result of Musks decision. He further dinged the billionaire by writing this is the price of a cocktail of ignorance and a big ego.

However, Musk fired back and said that Starlink was never active in the area near Crimea, so there was nothing to disable. He also said that the policy in question was decided upon before Ukraines planned attack on the naval fleet. Ukraine did lose access to more than 1,300 Starlink terminals in the early days of the conflict due to a payment issue. SpaceX reportedly charged Ukraine $2,500 per month to keep each unit operational, which ballooned to $3.25 million per month. This pricing aligns with the companys high cost premium plan. Its worth noting that SpaceX has donated more than 3,600 terminals to Ukraine.

SpaceX has yet to comment on the WSJ report regarding the blackmarket proliferation of Starlink terminals. Well update this post when it does.

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For the first time, SpaceX not only launched its mammoth Starship, but also returned the booster to the launch site and to caught it with a pair of oversized "chopsticks." This test flight  the fifth in the Starship development program  took place Sunday morning at the companys Starbase site in southeast Texas. The nearly 400-foot-tall Starship is at the centerpiece of SpaceXs stated ambition to make life multi-planetary, but more immediately NASAs ambitious Artemis campaign to return humans to the surface of the moon.
Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, Hoda Kotb and more joined together to check out the solar eclipse

Carson Daly/ Instagram Craig Melvin, Sheinelle Jones, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager, Carson Daly on April 8, 2024 in New York City.

The Today Show anchors gathered with each other and their respective families to watch the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8.

Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, Hoda Kotb, Carson Daly, Sheinelle Jones, Dylan Dreyer and Jenna Bush Hager assembled outside the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on Monday afternoon with their protective eclipse glasses in hand.

The official Instagram account of the morning show and Guthrie, 52, shared a collaborated post of a cute montage of the co-anchors and their children.

Were going to miss the eclipse because were eating. . @carsondaly keeping it so real, read the caption.

Guthrie then shared a series of Instagram Stories of the co-anchors smiling wide at the sky with their protective shades. One of the Instagram Stories included Daly, 50, putting two glazed donuts over his eyes, mimicking the signature sunglasses.

Another included the NBC talent staring towards to sky, with Kotb, 59, and Daly pointing their arms up in the air in amazement, while an awestruck Hager Bush, 42, holds onto her glasses.

Meanwhile the official Instagram account shared a video of the group of seven lounging in the grass next to each other staring up at the sky.

Today Show/ Instagram

Related: Total Solar Eclipse: Full Recap

In one of Guthries later Instagram Stories, she shared a cute image of the dark sky over the Today journalists and their children. Some of those who were photographed were Kotbs daughters, Hope, 4, and Haley, 7. Jones eldest son, Kayin, 14. Jones, 45, is also mother to 14-year-old Kayin and 11-year-old twins, Clara and Uche.

hoda kotb/ Instagram Hod Kotbs daughters, Hope, 4, and Haley, 7.

Dreyers three sons, Russell ("Rusty"), 2, Oliver ("Ollie") George, 4, and Calvin, 6, were also at the group viewing. Guthries son, Charley, 7, was spotted in her Stories and on her feed; however, her daughter Vale, 9, was not seen in any of her posts.

Dalys four children  son Jackson, 14, and daughters Etta, 11, London, 9, and Goldie, 3  were not spotted in any photos or video footage of the event. Nor were Bush Hagers three children, Hal, 4, Poppy, 8, and Mila, 10, or Melvins kids, son Delano, 10, and daughter Sybil, 7.

Dylan Dreyer/ Instagram Dylan Dreyers three sons, Russell ("Rusty"), 2, Oliver ("Ollie") George, 4, and Calvin, 6,

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Related: Must-See Photos from Today's Incredible Eclipse

The morning show anchors werent the only public figures who caught a glimpse at the eclipse. Brittany and Patrick Mahomes shared photos observing the event with their kids Sterling Skye, 3, and Patrick "Bronze" Lavon III, 16 months.

Kelly Osbourne also shared an Instagram on Monday of her and her partner Sid Wilson watching the event.

According to NASA, the next total solar eclipse will be in 2026, but North America will only see a partial eclipse.

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Read the original article on People.
For more than three hours Sunday, a big ol, droopy-eared Chester White pig from Kansas with the longest of eyelashes and the pinkest of snouts cuddled with Isabelle Sears.

She brushed him over and over and over. The pigs owner was awed by its gentle manners.

So was Eric Stonestreet, the man who fulfilled Isabelles request for the visit.

You see, 22-year-old Isabelle wanted to be a veterinarian.

Then brain cancer found her, again. She is a patient of Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, at home in the Kansas City area surrounded by family and her pets.

Yesterday this little pig, courtesy of Larry Wehner and his wife from Rossville Kansas, spent 3 hours in bed with her getting brushed and pampered by Isabelle, Stonestreet posted, with permission from Isabelles family, to his Instagram account on Monday.

It truly was the most special human and animal moment Ive ever seen.

Kansas City Hospice patient Isabelle Sears had a special visitor over the weekend thanks to former Modern Family star Eric Stonestreet, who lives in the Kansas City area. Instagram/Eric Stonestreet

Thousands of people from across the country have sent Instagram greetings to his new friend, including Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow, journalist Katie Couric, My Big Fat Greek Wedding star Nia Vardalos, Stonestreets former Modern Family co-star Ariel Winter and his fellow Big Slick Celebrity Weekend host Heidi Gardner from Saturday Night Live.

We love you, Isabelle! Paltrow wrote.

Sending love & prayers to Isabelle! Thank you for allowing Eric to share your story with all of us. Youre a true inspiration, wrote Tavia Hunt, wife of Kansas City Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt.

Stonestreet himself delivered a video message from Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

He played it for Isabelle on his cellphone.

Hey, Isabelle. Bobby Witt Jr. here. Just wanted to send you some love. All the Royals are sending you love, too, as well. Just wanted to wish you nothin but the best.

Eric Stonestreet played a message from Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to Isabelle Sears, a 22-year-old Missouri hospice patient. Instagram/Eric Stonestreet

Stonestreet described Isabelle in his post as about the toughest, sweetest and funniest girl Ive ever met.

Her family continues to update loved ones on a Facebook page called Isabelles Fight: Not All Cancer Is Pink.

This is to keep everyone updated about my journey with the brain tumor Ive had since I was five, it says.

According to Stonestreet, doctors at Childrens Mercy removed the tumor, and Isabelle lived an active, fun filled-animal loving life. Then in 2021 when she was away at college, studying to one day become a veterinarian, the cancer returned, he wrote.

She and her family have been fighting hard ever since. Never giving up hope and Isabelle always making those around her feel special and never complaining.

Shes now unfortunately has reached the point where shes out of treatment options.

Can you help find a pig?

Stonestreet learned of her when the hospice folks contacted him to see if he knew anyone who had a friendly, cuddly pig. And if I wanted to come too, that would be OK, Stonestreet wrote.

(Could they have chosen a better contact? Stonestreet raised pigs growing up in western Wyandotte County and in 2021 he teamed up with the National Pork Board to correct some misconceptions about pig farming.)

Wehner, owner of Wehner Farms Showpigs outside Topeka wrote about the visit on his Facebook page, calling it an honor to take a couple of his Chester White pigs for an awesome young lady, Isabelle, to love on.

We were hoping they would lay calmly with her for 15-30 minutes. One of the littermate brothers lasted just over 20 minutes before he was getting antsy, Wehner wrote.

I took him back outside to the truck and left the other one to lay for a bit more. When we hit one hour, I couldnt believe he was just chilling on her lap.  3 1/2 HOURS he laid there and they loved on each other.

If you dont believe in a higher power to make this happen, youre fooling yourself.

The day before Stonestreet visited, Isabelles family posted that she is home surrounded by everything she loves and said how her illness has affected her father, Trice, and brother Logan.

She continues to find strength every single day. The most incomprehensible things have happened to her and she continues to comfort us.

For twenty two years Trice has catered to her every want and need. He always has the answers and fixes everything. He is tormented every second of the day because he is powerless and cant make it better.

The agony in Logans eyes while he witnesses cancer consume his sister is unfathomable ... our hearts are suffering. We love her so much. This isnt fair.

The family shared the story of Stonestreets visit, too, calling him kind and compassionate.

He communicated with Isabelle effortlessly like he had known her for years. He surprised her with a message from one of her favorites. There wasnt a dry eye in the house when she received a hello from Bobby Witt Jr. If you know Isabelle, you know hes her #1.

Isabelle deserves all of the things! Thank you will never be enough.

Stonestreet asked his followers to fill his comment section with love and support for Isabelle and her family and let them feel love from far and wide. They have, like so many other families, been through too much.

Let this post forever be a moment of peace, love and goodness for them to cherish from you all.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Stonestreets post had received more than 130,000 likes and nearly 9,000 people had left messages for Isabelle.

Forever grateful for all of this love will never stop fighting!!! she wrote back.
Dunkin' Donuts, which changed its name to just Dunkin' in 2018, has come a long way. It began as a simple coffee shop and bakery in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1950 and has since expanded its footprint worldwide. Its signature orange and pink logo is instantly recognizable and can be found in bustling city centers and quiet suburban neighborhoods alike.

Despite its humble origins, Dunkin' is not just an "American thing." Its diverse menu offerings, including donuts, sandwiches, and an array of hot and iced beverages, are central to its success in all corners of the world. Although American consumers might experience the same menu in stores nationwide, going overseas is an entirely different story. The company has adapted its menus in each country to cater to local palates. We've curated a list of some of Dunkin's most unique donut offerings to showcase the diversity of flavors and regional fusion that the chain offers at some of its locations.

Read more: 30 Types Of Cake, Explained

Mochi Waffle Donut, Indonesia

Ddoffle on wire rack - dunkinbandung/Instagram

Donuts and waffles are common American breakfast foods, so why not combine them into one glorious waffle donut known as a ddoffle? One of the first Dunkin's to capitalize on this breakfast hybrid was in Indonesia, where the franchise offers waffle donuts in a variety flavor of combinations, including cinnamon, plain, or cheese with a chocolate, hazelnut, or strawberry topping.

What makes this donut more Asian than American, though, is the use of mochi. Mochi is a typical Japanese snack or dessert made by pounding cooked glutinous rice flour into a dough. It's important to note that glutenous rice is not the same as regular rice. The former has a distinct chewy texture, which makes for a unique texture when it's integrated into a recipe like donuts.

Mochi can also be used for a variety of desserts outside of donuts, including the popular mochi-wrapped ice cream. Despite being a Japanese ingredient, it has made its way into other countries across Asia (including Indonesia) due to migration and popular culture.

Baklava Donut, Switzerland

Baklava donuts in box - dunkin.switzerland/TikTok

Baklava is a typical Mediterranean dessert that is associated with countries like Greece and Turkey. So, it may seem surprising that Dunkin's elusive baklava donut is available in Switzerland. But the palate wants what it wants, and the Swiss apparently have a soft spot for this dessert. And with the promise of delicious chopped nuts, phyllo dough, and sweet syrup, who wouldn't?

Don't be fooled, though; this particular baklava donut is layered to make it look like it's made with sheets of phyllo dough. Then, it's topped with a sugary glaze and a sprinkling of chopped pistachios. While this donut doesn't really look or taste like traditional baklava, it uses enough of the same ingredients as the famous Mediterranean dessert. Indeed, while baklava can be made with many different types of nuts and fillings, including chocolate, walnuts, and even cream, the pistachio variety is perhaps the most well-known internationally.

Lotus Cheesecake Twist Donut, United Arab Emirates

Lotus donuts in box - dunkin_uae/Instagram

Based on the name alone, you might think that this donut is made with some form of lotus leaf or lotus-derived ingredient. But this treat is actually made with Lotus Biscoff cookies: a brand of cinnamon-spiced speculoos cookies popular in some northern European countries. The cookies are crushed into crumbs and sprinkled on top of this donut as well. The filling contains a cheesecake-flavored base, which is complemented by a drizzle of white chocolate on top. The chain has also offered several other Biscoff-inspired products to its customers in the United Arab Emirates, including a Lotus frappe and Biscoff Crunch donut -- which comes with a whole biscuit and cookie butter topping.

Biscoff donuts are equally as beloved in America, so we're perplexed why Dunkin' has denied American customers this delicious-sounding donut. Its competitor, Krispy Kreme, even brought three Biscoff donuts to participating locations in the U.S. in 2023, though the special donuts only appeared on menus for the month of January.

Boston Manjar Donut, Chile

Boston Manjar donut - dunkin_chile/Instagram

The Boston Manjar, available in Chilean Dunkin' locations, may look like the American Dunkin's Boston Kreme donut, but there are some significant differences between the two. Both have the same chocolate coating on top, but the Boston Manjar isn't filled with the creamy vanilla custard found in American donuts. Instead, it's filled with manjar, a Latin American milk-based caramel sauce that resembles dulce de leche. Although some claim dulce de leche and manjar are the same, others note that the consistency of manjar is much thicker and richer and has darker caramel flavors than the other popular milk-based sweet.

This sauce is quite popular throughout much of Latin America, though its exact origins are murky. In this region of the world, manjar is a popular accompaniment for cookies, cakes, and more. This donut is one sweet way to enjoy this delicious, sugary, and buttery caramel sauce.

Rocky Road Donut, United Kingdom

Rocky Road donut - kellysmns/Instagram

Rocky Road is a popular ice cream flavor in the U.S. It's made with a decadent chocolate ice cream base embellished with swirls of nuts and marshmallows. But when it comes to donuts, you'll have to go to the United Kingdom to get this variety, which is made with a creamy hazelnut filling and topped with chocolate icing, marshmallows, caramel fudge, and crumbled cookies. While it's not an exact copy of the beloved ice cream flavor, it certainly pays homage to it.

The donut's origins also likely differ from the lore surrounding the American Rocky Road ice cream. Dreyer's, the company credited with inventing the flavor in 1929, initially marketed it to boost morale during the tough times (or rocky roads) people faced during the Great Depression. Ice cream and donuts won't solve anyone's financial problems, but they might make someone's day a little more pleasant.

Pork Floss Donut, China

Pork floss donut - RaganRector/X, formerly Twitter

The food you order from your local Chinese takeout joint in the United States may not resemble the dishes found in China. Rather, many of them are variations designed to please the American palate. Now, it appears that Dunkin' has been pulling a similar trick by making donuts that are not necessarily American in flavor but are more appealing to the average Chinese donut eater.

One particular donut that stands out in this department is the pork floss donut. It's one flavor you are not likely to see on American Dunkin' shelves -- now or ever. The flavor came about after Dunkin' unsuccessfully tried to launch the chain in China in 1994 and 2008, only to find that many Chinese people do not enjoy sweet things, like donuts, for breakfast. The solution of making pork floss and other savory donuts seems to have worked, though, because the chain has been serving this meaty donut since 2012, and it's still going strong.

Hippo Berry Donut, Germany

Donuts with Kinder toppings - dunkindonuts_de/Instagram

Some donut flavors, like vanilla almond or salted caramel, are pretty descriptive and leave little doubt about what you're going to bite into. The Hippo Berry donut in Germany is a little more mysterious. To be clear, it doesn't involve either hippos or berries. Instead, it is made of a custard-like filling with chocolate and vanilla cream topping and a Kinder Happy Hippo accessory. This tasting topping is the candy version of this donut: chocolate and vanilla cream encased in a thin wafer.

It's not surprising that this donut flavor is popular in Germany. Although Kinder products are made by the Italian company Ferrero, the word kinder means "child" in German. You'll find an array of Kinder chocolates in Germany, including a Kinder bar donut topped with a milk chocolate glaze and garnished with the company's famous chocolate bars and white chocolate. These donuts are undoubtedly sweet, whimsical, and perfect for young donut lovers.

Cheezy Cheese Donut, Malaysia

Cheezy cheese donut - dunkinbandung/Instagram

When you think of a country that might use cheese as a topping for a donut, France, Italy, or another notable cheesemaking country might come to mind. Or you might look to the Americans, who seem to love putting cheese on everything from burgers to apple pie. But the Cheezy Cheese donut is actually found in Malaysian Dunkin' stores. It's a plain donut topped with sweet frosting and shredded cheese.

While some Dunkin's around the world have opted to cater to a local preference for savory breakfast foods, as is the case with China's pork floss donut, it's a little harder to explain the reasoning behind the Cheezy Cheese, which is both sweet and intensely savory. But maybe they have a point. After all, there are plenty of great cheese and chocolate pairings out there, some of which are as surprising as they are delicious.

Choco Mandarin Donut, India

Choco Mandarin donut - Dunkin' India

The Choco Mandarin donut, available at Dunkin' locations in India, may sound like a simple donut that you might be able to find anywhere  including in American franchises. But you'd be hard-pressed to find mandarin as an ingredient in the American fast-food scene or in restaurants as a whole.

Yet this flavor combination also makes perfect sense, considering that chocolate and citrus are pretty common pairings in desserts, including recipes for tarts and cakes. The richness of the chocolate easily subdues the acidic tang of the citrus and makes for a more balanced bite. The mandarin is an even better pairing than the standard orange because it is very sweet, which works well in desserts and breakfast foods like donuts. Plus, the fruit grows plentifully in India. Try this donut variety and see for yourself whether the burst of mandarin filling works well with the rich chocolate topping.

Unicorn Donut, Germany

Unicorn donut from Dunkin' - dunkindonuts_de/Instagram

Similarly to how Germany's Hippo Berry donut doesn't contain hippos or berries, the country's Unicorn donut does not contain unicorns. But if you see one of these baked goods, you'll instantly see where it gets its name. The treat is the stuff of a little girl's dreams, complete with strawberry frosting and colorful bouncy mini marshmallows on top. We wonder why there aren't any princess gowns or tiaras in sight.

One reporter from Mass Live bravely sampled this mythical mess of a donut so that we didn't have to and called it "silly and unwieldy." In other words, it may be overly sweet for some, with nothing but a small amount of brightness from the strawberry icing to offset the copious amounts of sugar in the marshmallows and the sprinkles. But if lots of sugar is how you like to start your morning, this donut may be the perfect one for you.

Salted Caramel Donut, India

Salted caramel donut in a box - dunkinindia/Instagram

Salted caramel is such a popular flavor in American desserts, so it seems odd that American Dunkin' locations haven't jumped at the opportunity to make this donut flavor a reality. It seems like everywhere you go nowadays, you are met with an array of salted caramel ice creams, chocolate bars, or even Dunkin' cold brews, so why hasn't the company made this donut available in the U.S.?

It may seem like a salted caramel donut should be available at least in some locations across the nation, but the national U.S. Dunkin' website makes no mention of it. So, if you do happen to wake up craving a salted caramel donut one morning, you may have to fly all the way to India to get one that is topped with a sweet glaze and a drizzle of salted caramel. If a flight is out of reach, you can always take matters into your own hands and make your own salted caramel sauce to drizzle over a Dunkin' donut of your choice.

Choco Butternut Donut, Singapore And The Philippines

Choco butternut donut - Dunkin'/Facebook

Dunkin' locations around South Asia, including in Singapore and the Philippines, offer a Choco Butternut flavor to customers. It's essentially a chocolate cake donut that has been covered in butternut dust. Besides the whole donut, Dunkin' locations in the Philippines also offer a Munchkin version of the popular donut, made with either a vanilla or a chocolate cake base covered in glaze and colored butternut crumbs.

And if you can't get to South Asia anytime soon, don't worry because this particular donut is unlikely to go out of fashion anytime soon. It's so popular that when Dunkin' made an April Fools' Day Facebook post in 2019 announcing it would phase it out, a slurry of panic ensued from donut lovers across the region. Luckily, this was only a joke, and the Choco Butternut is here to stay. There must be something seriously moreish about this flavor combination and its crunchy shell that donut lovers enjoy.

Kunafa Bliss Donut, United Arab Emirates

Donut in hand - dunkin_uae/Instagram

Adapting a traditional dessert into a donut is one of the best ways to make a food item that appeals to both locals and international eaters. That is what's happening with the Kunafa Bliss, a donut available in the United Arab Emirates. It's made with a popular Middle Eastern treat known as kunafa or knafeh.

Kunafa is a dairy-based pudding delicacy surrounded by phyllo pastry, kind of like a filled donut, so it's easy to see how the brand adapted this recipe into a new donut flavor. The treat is filled with ashta, a Middle Eastern clotted cream, and then topped with kunafa, chopped pistachios, and more ashta. The pistachios provide a nutty reprieve from the sweetness of the donut, which makes for a balanced yet decadent bite. Kunafa is often served after sundown during Ramadan, which may be why the Kunafa Bliss has found its way onto Dunkin's Ramadan menu collection.

Read the original article on Tasting Table
Emigrating as a small child from Santiago de Cuba, to Milledgeville, Georgia, Josefina Josie Tamayo approaches all she does with a love for service and a staunch commitment to the country that made her American dream possible. My parents were my first mentors and true heroes, she says. They gave us the ability to live the American dream.

Now, Tamayo focuses on ensuring that the dream is available to others, serving as a pioneer in the law profession, a role model for others, and an example of the incredible power of service to others. Her work ethic and drive have made her one of Tallahassee's 25 Women You Need to Know.

That drive comes from a sense of duty and gratitude. I am a person who lives every day with passion and purpose, she says. I truly believe that giving back to our great country is our patriotic duty. I emigrated to the U.S. as a small child with my parents. Their sense of service and giving back to the United States was present every day in our lives, as was the importance of understanding the gift of freedom.

Classof 2024: 25 Women for 2024: Dot Ealy dials into teamwork with radio career

Josefina "Josie" Tamayo is one of the 25 Women You Need to Know for 2024.

Tamayo received her bachelors degree from Emory University and her law degree from Georgia State University, and enjoyed 37 years as a public servant serving as an Assistant State Attorney General Counsel for six state agencies and Acting Secretary for the Department of Juvenile Justice as well as other executive positions.

She is currently the CEO of Volunteer Florida, a position she was appointed to by the Governor. I am blessed to be the CEO of Volunteer Florida now celebrating its 30th anniversary. This organization impacts Floridians lives every day. It is dedicated to promoting volunteerism and national service. It serves as the lead for managing volunteers and donations before, during, and after natural disasters and assisting our fellow Floridians with recovery efforts. We are small but mighty and are here to serve.

Since her appointment, Tamayo has raised statewide awareness of how volunteering changes lives and strengthens communities.

Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with various people and organizations. A simple act of kindness in assisting someone in need by volunteering can change their lives and your own and make our communities more resilient," Tamayo said. "I have seen this firsthand by being on the ground and witnessing the devastation caused by natural disasters and other acts.

The opportunity to serve others is a 365 day opportunity.

She is humble when acknowledging the numerous awards and recognitions she has received, including the distinction of serving for three years as the First Cuban American Woman appointed to serve as Circuit Judge in the Second Judicial Circuit and receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the Council on Crime and Delinquency, among others.

As a leader, she also personally volunteers countless hours, enjoys mentoring, and is a regularly sought-after speaker on topics such as volunteerism, leadership and the law, explaining, My decision to practice law was influenced by my desire to serve the public interest.

Tamayo is inspired by other women who have been role models, inspirations, and friends. Former Secretary Simone Marstiller, whom I have had the pleasure of working with for over 20 years, like many of us, is a woman of faith and conviction who worked very hard to achieve her successes.

She appreciates the leadership of Judge Nina Ashenafi- Richardson, She was the first person to reach out to me when I was appointed to the Circuit bench. She was there to help and advise; we have been friends since then  also a woman of faith and conviction whose background many can relate to.

You can imagine the culture shock of the transition from Castro-controlled Cuba to the southern drawl of middle Georgia and north Florida, but Josie enjoys her adopted home. Tallahassee is our home and provides a strong sense of community. It is wonderful to be out and about, run into friends and colleagues, and meet new ones. Unlike other places I have visited, we say good morning and greet folks here, she said.

I love spending time with my family and friends, meeting people from different parts of the world, and understanding their history, volunteering and mentoring in our community, and good shopping finds.

Whether or not you know Josie personally, her influence and energy are present in all of our lives as an example of service, professionalism, and confidence in the power of community.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 25 Women for 2024: Josie Tamayo combines passion, purpose in her work
Already planning to see the next solar eclipse in 2026? What travelers need to know.

Umbraphiles feeling the post-eclipse blues should start checking the expiration date on their passports.

The next total solar eclipse is set to happen on Aug. 12, 2026, over Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and a small part of Portugal, according to NASA.

In North America, only a partial eclipse will be visible, so if Aprils event made you an eclipse chaser and you want to see totality, youll need to head overseas.

Heres what youll need to know before packing your bags:

April 8: Players for the Cleveland Guardians watch a total solar eclipse before a game against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field.

Do you need a passport or visa for the best destination?

The path of totality for the 2026 eclipse mostly goes through places Americans can travel visa-free with their passport, so long as theyre planning to stay for less than 90 days.

Spain, Portugal, Iceland and Greenland all allow visa-free tourist travel for U.S. passport holders.

Spain, Portugal and Iceland are also members of the Schengen Area, which allows for visa-free travel in much of Europe, meaning if you decide to make a multi-country trip out of your eclipse adventure, you wont need to clear customs if youre coming from much of the rest of Europe, either.

One major change for travelers to Europe from the U.S., however, is that electronic preauthorization will become a requirement beginning in mid-2025. The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) requirement will apply to all four open countries in the path of totality.

Depending on the state of the Ukraine war, travel to Russia may or may not be an option for most Americans by 2026, so its unclear what the paperwork requirements will be by then.

Is it better to see it from the beach?

Beaches can be a great place to see the eclipse because there are few natural obstacles blocking observers views of the sky. The 2026 path of totality passes over beaches on Spains northern and southeastern coasts, as well as over islands in the Mediterranean Sea including Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. The eclipse will also pass over coastal areas in Greenland and Iceland, according to the National Solar Observatory.

Cruising Altitude: What it was like to see the eclipse from a plane

Will there be eclipse cruises or flights?

Almost certainly, although most operators have not announced specific plans yet.

Cruise lines will also offer more viewing opportunities. Princess Cruises has created a bespoke itinerary aboard Sky Princess to position the ship near Spain on that date, according to a spokesperson for the line. The cruise will open for bookings on Princesss website on May 23.

Cunard Line has sailings on its Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Anne vessels that will put passengers in prime spots to watch.

'The ship can move': Why you should watch next solar eclipses from a cruise ship

Holland America Line is also planning multiple sailings around the event, though details are still to be announced. Guests have reacted positively to our 2024 eclipse cruises and with the next full eclipse in 2026 we plan to have three sailings in Europe that will align with the path of the eclipse, Paul Grigsby, the line's vice president of Deployment & Itinerary Planning, previously told USA TODAY in an email.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: See the next solar eclipse: Travel advice for the 2026 European travel
PARIS  It might seem an unusual fit that Australian director Eva Orner, who took home an Oscar for her expose of the U.S. interrogation practices during the Afghanistan war, would turn her lens to the fashion industry.

In the new documentary Brandy Hellville & the Cult of Fast Fashion, Orner investigates the toxic management culture of the popular teen and tween brand Brandy Melville and takes a deeper look at fast fashions supply chain and the waste it creates.

More from WWD

Orner, a self-professed fashion lover, had long been looking for a way to examine the apparel industry in documentary form.

Working with producers Jonathan and Simon Chinn of Searching for Sugarman fame, they uncovered the story of Brandy Melville and its workplace culture following an expose by Business Insiders Kate Taylor, which shed light on a series of discriminatory hiring practices and predatory management.

In the film, the companys toxic culture goes beyond how it treated employees and extends to the larger problem of clothing becoming disposable.

The Italian brand first launched in the 1980s but took off when it opened in Los Angeles in 2009. It was built on a succession of platforms  first Tumblr, then Instagram, and now TikTok  and captured the zeitgeist of the selfie-loving culture that came up around social media.

Orner sees the social media role as a major factor not only in the Brandy Melville brands success, but the disposal of clothing once it has already appeared as OOTD in someones feed.

This story is very rooted in social media. But the jokes on the customer, they make videos advertising for brands. And the companies are laughing all the way to the bank. Social media is really empowering and interesting to a degree, but I think its also incredibly damaging, she told WWD.

The documentary delves into claims of how top executives would ask young employees for revealing photos to be sent to them daily, amongst other predatory behavior. Employees were instructed to fire workers who were overweight or of color; Black employees were allegedly relegated to the stock room. Chief executive officer Stephan Marsan allegedly would hang out in stores to identify girls and teens he wanted hired and photographed.

She also points out that the majority of the workers in the fashion industry are women, but they dont reap the financial, big business benefits.

Its women that are the main people that work in the fashion industry, Orner said. And its exploitation from the people who work in the fields growing cotton, through to the women who are predominantly the workers, through to the people who work on the shop floor, to the customers, and the models, and everyone along the way. And its just this series of women being exploited, most often not always, but most often by white men who own the companies who are super wealthy, she said.

Clothing waste on a beach in Accra.

She also followed the brands own supply chain, made in sweatshops in Italy and China, and travels to Ghanas Kantamanto Market and the nearby beaches where piles of clothing have washed up, creating mountains of waste.

Making the film, one of the most visceral moments happened when Orner and her crew came across the beaches miles away from the Kantamanto Market. It was night, and under the moonlight they could still see the mountains of clothing.

When we went there, you know, me and my team, weve shot in war zones, and weve done a lot of tough stories and seen a lot of horrible parts of humanity. Were on that beach in Ghana, and it was horrendous. There are really no words. When I think about it, I still get chills, it was so shocking to see our waste just polluting their country.

Everyone sees the images of the beaches and is just stunned. Thats what I really wanted to capture because its one of the lasting images of the film that is sort of burnt on your brain, she said of the impact.

In the film, Orner speaks with former fashion designer Liz Ricketts, who now operates The Or Foundation in Ghana. The group advocates for globally accountable extended producer responsibility, as well as new frameworks for the fashion industry to take care of its waste.

Orner hopes the audience can understand that the good intentions of donating clothes still sees them often ending up dumped in these countries, and she reiterates that the waste stream follows old colonial lines. Our penance is now sending them all of our trash, so that theyre drowning in our old clothes, she said.

The secondhand market there started as a way to repurpose clothes, but now much of the clothes are low-quality fast fashion that cannot be reused, and the majority is now fossil fuel-based synthetics, such as polyester, that doesnt biodegrade and breaks down into polluting microfibers.

The trailer went viral on TikTok ahead of the films release on streamer Max, with about 2.8 million views. Orner hopes that the film will reach the brands target audience, as well as inspire other former employees to share their stories.

Orner acknowledges the first expose didnt hit the bottom line; analysts estimate Brandy Melville crossed $332 million in revenues in 2023, and it has continued its global expansion with outposts in countries including Australia and China. Plus ultra-fast fashion companies with even cheaper goods like Shein have stepped in. That company just crossed the $2 billion mark in profits as it seeks an IPO.

Orner hopes the film will inspire change. I think were at a tipping point. A lot of young girls, like all the young women in the film  who are my absolute heroes for speaking out and being whistleblowers and being so brave  none of them are into buying fast fashion anymore, she said.

Orner noted that the last line of the film is We need to buy less writ large on the screen, and says consumers have the power in their hands.

You will destroy these companies if the buying goes down 20 or 30 percent. It will have a huge impact, she said. People think theyre powerless but theyre not.

Clothing waste on a beach in Accra.

Best of WWD
Former biathlete Olga Zaitseva called Russian athletes the first defenders of the Russian Federation who "suffered from Western and European attacks." The two-time Olympic champion hypocritically pretended that the Sochi 2024 doping scandal was fabricated to defame athletes from the aggressor country, although the system of using banned substances was recognized by dictator Vladimir Putin.

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Zaitseva said this in an interview with Metaratings.ru. The Kremlin leader's henchwoman, who acted as his proxy in the so-called Russian presidential election last month, added that she considers herself a silver medalist at the 2014 Olympics and does not recognize her disqualification and medal stripping.

"I have always considered myself a silver medalist in the relay race at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games. From that moment on, open attacks on our country began, and they started with athletes. Athletes were the first to suffer from Western and European attacks. But we cannot be broken, in such situations, we only become stronger and we now know who is a friend and who is an enemy. It was a difficult period for me, but I know that there are more significant problems than this overblown and fictional story," Zaitseva said.

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Earlier, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach accused Russia's Putin of legitimizing doping by Russian athletes after he appeared with disqualified figure skater Kamila Valiyeva at the opening of the Future Games.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
BRIGHTON  Police dogs risk injury and illness when helping their officers protect and serve, that's why a Brighton business decided to supply Michigan State Police K-9 units with first aid kits made for dogs.

On Thursday, April 4, seven state troopers visited DogWatch Hidden Fences of Southeast Michigan, 112 E. Main St., and picked up 14 kits for K-9 units at state police posts across multiple counties in the region.

"My goal this year is we donate 50 kits," Corrie Gizicki of DogWatch's Brighton location said. "Police departments is where were starting."

State trooper Jeff Schrieber, with the Brighton post, picked up a kit with his K-9 Woodson, a four-year-old German Shepherd.

Michigan State Police trooper Jeff Schrieber of the Brighton post and his K-9 Woodson got a medical kit for dogs donated by DogWatch in Brighton Thursday, April 4, 2024.

Schrieber said troopers carry first aid kits for humans in their patrol cars but aren't issued kits specifically for dogs.

"Half the stuff that's in (the canine kits) was strictly for canines, which we didn't have in our patrol cars," he said. "We would have to take them all the way up to Lansing, at the MSU veterinary clinic, in order to get their first aid treatments, but you don't know if you're going to make it that far."

Michigan State Police troopers and their K-9s pick up medical kits donated to them by DogWatch in Brighton, Thursday, April 4, 2024

He said police dogs face all sorts of hazards on the job, including barbed wire fences, exposure to hazardous chemicals or narcotics, vehicle crashes, even stabbings and shootings.

"They get put in situations or bad locations where they are at a higher risk to get injuried or get exposed," he said.

Gizicki said she discovered Dogworx brand medical kits when she attended a pet expo in Novi. She thought donating them to working dogs would be a good way for her hidden pet fence dealership to give back to the community.

She said as an emergency room nurse at Trinity Health Livonia Hospital she was impressed by how many useful materials the kits contain, including hydrogen peroxide, self-adhesive bandages, trauma shears, nail clippers, pumpkin powder for diarrhea and other first aid materials.

Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage

"School therapy dogs is the next group of people weve thought of to help, and I'm open to other agencies and people who serve the community with dogs involved," she said.

She also reached out to DogWatch's corporate office to tell them about the kits and hopes other dealers might take her lead and donate some too.

 Contact reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Brighton DogWatch donates first aid kits to police dogs
British Chinese takeout spots have become the newest center of debate about Chinese cuisine and authenticity.

Courtesy of Xiengni Zhou; Getty Images

A heaping plate with various shades of brown. Egg fried rice on one side, chow mein noodles with pale chicken on the other. Pieces of thickly battered, deep-fried chicken. Crispy spring rolls, triangles of toast dotted with sesame seeds. Smooth, viscous golden curry drizzled over everything. The temperature of the food? Unclear.

British Chinese takeaway has been sparking viral debate for the past year, but in the past month, that conversation has expanded into online buzz about American perceptions of British culture and the different takeout foods within the Chinese diaspora. At the root of it, Chinese British takeaway has inspired confusion, shock, and disgust from American TikTok users, who are accusing the cuisine of looking beige. It has also prompted a wider conversation about the takeaways inauthenticity and lack of appeal. Convinced British food is what you eat when you go to hell, someone comments under a video showcasing a Glasgow eaterys salt-and-pepper munchy box of British chips, onion rings, chicken balls, and curry sauce.

Despite the outrage, British Chinese food is a staple of the British landscape, and has become ingrained in the countrys culinary makeup. But how did it go from humble mom-and-pop restaurants to a subject of persisting social media discourse?

I found the whole thing quite funny actually, says Angela Hui, journalist and author of the memoir Takeaway. It's created a jumping pad for people to learn about Chinese food and culture in the UK.

Courtesy of Xiengni Zhou

Chinese immigration in the United Kingdom dates back as far as the 17th century. One of the earliest influxes, though, happened in the late 19th century, when men, primarily from Chinas Guangdong province and Hong Kong, arrived in port cities like Liverpool and London as a result of the British shipping company expansion, and is where the first Chinatowns were established. Many took over fish-and-chip shops, where battered fried foods, chips, and slathered sauces were popular among local palates. As Britain continued to expand its colonial reach in Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, more immigrants arrived in waves, particularly after the Second World War.

John Li, founder of London food stand Dumpling Shack, says his grandfather arrived in London with this postwar immigration wave. After working in a launderette and a restaurant at the London docks, he saved enough money to open his own takeaway. Chinese eating houses were set up to feed their community, says Li. Like many other operators, he learned to develop a menu that catered to a wider audience. It incorporated items like fish and chips, pineapple and gammon, chow mein, and fried rice. Hui notes its also why many eateries serve dishes similar to those sold at fish-and-chip shops, such as chicken balls, curry sauce, sausages, and meat pies.

Ingredient scarcity also played a role, she says, as fresh produce wasnt as readily available as it is now. According to Hui, many relied on canned goods like bamboo shoots and water chestnuts, as well as hardier vegetables like green peppers and onions. Many takeaway owners also grew bean sprouts from mung beans at home.

Courtesy of Xiengni Zhou

Content creator Xiengni Zhou, whose mother Jolene Yu runs Sheffield takeaway Wok Inn, posted their salt-and-pepper box recipe on TikTok in January to raise awareness of the history behind the cuisine and the genesis of the dish. Her video was met with both rudeness and curiosity from users on the app. It was like a whole new world for them, she says.

Still, while British Chinese food has been around for centuries, its become the perfect breeding ground for TikTok discourse as people have increasingly posted about it. The algorithm loves hyperbole, and the shocking visuals of curry sauce-drowned plates are just enough to encourage users to engage with the content for an entire year, inspiring comments upon commentsand people around the world, intrigued by the cuisine, are even trekking to Britain to taste it for themselves.

But as more people share how they feel about British Chinese food, the conversation has become broader, inspiring users to dive into the complicated history of the cuisine and how it has shaped the lives of immigrants in the United Kingdom today. Children of British takeaway owners have chimed in with their perspectives; many owners of these establishments continue to face systemic racism and xenophobia throughout the country. Zhou feels that the ignorance has continued to perpetuate in the current online reaction to British Chinese food even now, with people sharing their judgmental and dismissive ideas of the food. But its nothing new.



Courtesy of Xiengni Zhou

Hui recalls her earliest childhood memories of her parents takeaway being vandalized, facing racist remarks from customers, and being bullied at school if she smelled of fryer oil and sweet-and-sour sauce. She feels many of the TikTok comments are also invalidating to the community of Chinese families making British Chinese cuisine.

Many were making sweeping statements that undermine a whole diasporic community and the resilience of Chinese families who continue to run these businesses, regardless of whether they think it tastes or looks good, she says of the TikTok comments.

Much of the backlash online is centered around the authenticity of British Chinese cuisine. The food on FYPs seemingly contrasts with individuals understanding of what Chinese food is and often stems from other users of Chinese heritage online who call British Chinese food contrived, as seen by many of the videos posted reacting to the food. But both Li and Hui disparage the term.

Courtesy of Xiengni Zhou

"Authenticity is like nails on a chalkboard to me, says Li. [British Chinese food] illustrates the entrepreneurial and resilient nature of immigrants. Once alien to the masses, the cuisine is now one of the most popular in the country. Curtis Chin, author of Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, says its not the first time the authenticity debate has arisen. Like their British counterparts, Chinese restaurant families in America face similar questions.

Its difficult to define what authentic Chinese food is, though. Throughout history, the cuisine has continuously adapted in response to globalization, imperialism, and the need for survival. Dishes like egg tarts, Hong Kong French toast, and bubble teadishes now intricately associated with Chinese cuisinehave roots in Western imperialism, with influences from British and Portuguese trade.

You can see this adaptability, innovation, and perseverance in Chinese takeaways, and its not often talked about. Many have misconceptions that the food is dirty or looked down upon, but Chinese takeaway families used whatever ingredients were available to them at the time and tried new things, says Hui. Through that, a new cuisine emerged.

Yus salt-and-pepper box consists of wok-fried chicken and chips with red onion, garlic, Sichuan peppercorns, Chinese five spice, ground cumin, and MSG, among other ingredients (Li says every restaurant has their own take on the famous salt-and-pepper chips, but his family used Sichuan peppercorn, salt, white pepper, five spice, a touch of sugar, and MSG). The dish originated in northern England and Scotland within the enclaves of takeaways, but has since disseminated to a few southern spots, too. Its among one of the best-selling items at Wok Inn. The virality and interest in exploring pan-Asian cuisine has inspired Yu to add more cuisines to the menu, like Singaporean vermicelli noodles and Korean-inspired dishes.

Courtesy of Xiengni Zhou

Lis ideal plate involves sesame prawn toast (which he calls the king of starters) paired with Singapore fried rice, kung po chili chicken (which he describes as a spicy version of sweet-and-sour chicken), and a side of prawn crackers. Hui, on the other hand, likes a bit of everything: the base of the plate split half into chips, half egg fried rice, chicken curry, the batter-encased chicken balls, and spring rolls. For Zhou, its egg fried rice and chicken chow mein, salt-and-pepper chips or spare ribs, sweet-and-sour chicken balls, curry sauce, and a side of spring rolls.

British people love their fried stuff, says Hui. Beige with a side of beige. I think that's what is so quintessential about British Chinese takeaway. It's meant to be crispy deep-fried, and provide a sense of familiarity, nutritional information be damned. And while the shock online continues, the controversy itself is as quintessential to the nature of social media as chips are to the British plate.

Read the original article on Serious Eats.
Adisai and Hadassa Martinez enjoying their first-ever solar eclipse at Beachaven Winery on April 8, 2024 in Clarksville, Tenn.

As a near total solar eclipse moved across Middle Tennessee for a couple of hours on Monday, many Clarksville residents took time to mark the momentous occasion with Mexican food and a glass of wine on the lawn at Beachaven Winery.

Vernard and Cynthia Curtis also spent the last eclipse at Beachaven.

We were here in 2017, in this exact spot, Vernard Curtis said. This is a great experience.

Dominic Ortega and Lisa Thayne bought some high-tech optics for Monday's eclipse viewing on April 8, 2024 in Clarksville, Tenn.

Mike Martella was taking shadow pics with his family, trying to capture the crescent-shaped shadows created during the eclipse at Beachaven Vineyard & Winery in Clarksville, Tenn. on April 8, 2024.

They brought their grandson Zyree to see it with them. Cynthia thinks of it as being part of history.

"You never know if you're going to be here the next time, Cynthia said. Vernard and I will be in our 70's next time this happens. We don't know where we'll be in 20 years.

The next total solar eclipse in North America will begin in Greenland on Aug. 23, 2044 and be visible only from three states, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Casey and Mikaylyn Burns and Aislynn Donahoe capture images of Monday's eclipse on April 8, 2024 in Clarksville, Tenn.

Johnathan and Amber Blick brought their three children to Beachaven to witness this somewhat rare event.

We got engaged during the 2017 total eclipse," Johnathan said. Now, we have three kids 3-1/2, 2-1/2, and 3 months old. They'll be adults the next time this happens. We wanted them to experience this one with us.

All across Beachaven's lawn, star-gazers were laid back on blankets, or on the stage, sitting in chairs or at picnic tables, looking skyward. Everyone had protective eye wear. Many were taking pictures.

Son Henry, couple Johnathan and Amber and their son William Blick watch the solar eclipse at Beachaven on April 8, 2024 in Clarksville, Tenn. Johnathan and Amber, now parents of three, got engaged during 2017's total eclipse.

Dominic Ortega and Lisa Thayne brought special lenses for the occasion.

Abigail Scurlock of Beachaven said the decision was a bit last-minute.

We just decided to host a little watch party, Scurlock said. We didn't know if people would be out and about, with it being a workday, kids still in school, and our area not experiencing totality.

More than 100 people attended the solar eclipse watch party at Beachaven Vineyards & Winery in Clarksville, Tenn. on April 8, 2024.

They invited a food truck, and offered complementary eclipse glasses, which Scurlock said went really fast. As the eclipse peaked at 97% totality, the popular 1980s tune "Total Eclipse of the Heart" came over the sound system.

We're really happy with the turnout, Scurlock said. We have the Dos Margaritas food truck, and all our tables are full, so that's great. We did create a special wine slushy for today. It's frozen peach topped with a little bit of blackberry wine, to give it that eclipse look.

Beachaven's celebration ran from noon to 5 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Clarksville winery gives eclipse-watchers total experience with food, wine
This New Colorado Eco Hotel Has 14 Geodesic Domes With Private Wraparound Decks and Hammocks  and It's Near the World's Deepest Hot Spring

Welcome to hot spring paradise.

Courtesy of Pagosa River Domes

The worlds deepest hot spring is found in the tiny town of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, along the Colorado-New Mexico border. In this hot-water-centric community, the natural soaking tubs along the river and developed hot spring resorts are only topped by the mountainous Continental Divide that towers over them.

It is a place thats perfect for  and perhaps even made for  geodesic domes, which blur the line between eco-innovation and indulgence. The new Pagosa River Domes, which opened in Pagosa Springs in January 2024, is the first geodesic dome destination in Colorado. The tiny property is set along the roaring San Juan River, which flows through the town of Pagosa Springs and is the site of the towns best soaking spots.

Courtesy of Springs Resort & Spa

At Pagosa River Domes guests are welcomed into their eco-home  one of 14 modern domes that are insulated for year-round comfort. Surrounding each dome is a private, wraparound deck outfitted with a gas firepit, free-standing hammock, and seating. Inside the domes are real beds and soft linens in various layouts  from a wheelchair-accessible queen to a deluxe king and a family-designed dome. The curtains open to provide unobstructed views from the bed.

Courtesy of Pagosa River Domes

Each geodesic dome has its own kitchenette, with a fridge, cooktop, and a small seating area. A private bathroom rounds out the interiors offerings, with added bathroom space and a roll-in shower for the ADA-accessible dome. The vibe is contemporary Western, with Pendelton throws, leather lounge chairs, and wooden headboards.

The domes are suitable for any season, with air conditioning and a freestanding electric fireplace.

Courtesy of Pagosa River Domes

Pagosa River Domes is perched just east of town en route to Wolf Creek Ski Area, a beloved ski and snowboard resort thats famous for having the most snow in Colorado. The center of the towns hot spring action is less than 30 minutes on foot or a four-minute drive from the domes. Visitors can head to the towns free springs, set in rocks along the river, or visit The Springs Resort & Spa, a hot spring property that boasts the most geothermal hot spring pools in Colorado, with most pools set overlooking the San Juan River.

For a taste of the local history, visit the Chimney Rock National Monument. The beautiful and sacred place celebrates the life of Ancestral Puebloans who lived in the area thousands of years ago, offering modern-day visitors a glimpse into the ancient history along with hiking trails leading to stunning, wide-open vistas. The monument is 30 minutes by car from the domes.

The Pagosa River Domes are managed by Life House, a boutique hotel operator that also manages The Nightingale Motel and High Creek Lodge & Cabins, both in Pagosa Springs.



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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
Couple Welcomes Baby Who 'Couldnt Wait'  and Was Born in the Passenger Seat of Their Car!

"Its an unconventional birth story with a happy ending," Michigan officials said

City of Farmington Hills, Michigan - Municipal Government Facebook Kathryn Norsigian and baby Jordan

The Norsigian family reunited with firefighters on April 8, days after welcoming their son in an unconventional setting: their car

Fortunately, firefighters were on the scene and able to help the couple, whose baby arrived minutes later

"Its an unconventional birth story with a happy ending," the city of Farmington Hills said in a statement



One Michigan baby made quite the unexpected entrance into the world last week.

Kathryn and Jordan Norsigian were headed to the hospital to welcome son Jordan on Friday, April 5, just after 5 a.m. local time, but the baby "couldn't wait," the city of Farmington Hills said in a Facebook post.

"After a 911 call and some assistance from Farmington Hills firefighter/paramedics Sgt. Tim Persichino and Sgt. Robin Chevrette, baby Jordan made his debut in the passenger seat of his parents Chevy, less than two minutes after the FHFD crew arrived on scene!" the city added.

City of Farmington Hills, Michigan - Municipal Government Facebook Sgt. Tim Persichino and Sgt. Robin Chevrette with the Norsigian family

Related: 'Miracle Baby' Born Addicted to Drugs: 'I Blamed Myself Every Day for What She Was Going Through,' Says Mom

Kathryn and Jordan planned to have their baby delivered at the hospital, and when they called 911 looking for an escort to get them there quickly, the dispatcher said an ambulance could meet them, ABC affiliate WXYZ reported.

As luck would have it, Persichino and Chevrette were already nearby.

"When they got there, it was a sigh of relief," Jordan told the station. Then Kathryn began screaming that the baby was coming  and after some pushes, baby Jordan was born, weighing 7 lbs, 3 oz.

Related: Baby Born During High-Speed Police Chase on New Year's Day as Father Rushes Mother to Hospital

Following the delivery, Kathryn walked into the nearby ambulance and was taken to the hospital to be checked out by doctors.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

According to Hometownlife.com, when the family (joined by big sister Mila) reunited on April 8 with Persichino and Chevrette, Kathryn called the men heroes.

Related: Officer Saves Baby Who 'Was Not Breathing' After Seeing Car Run Red Light: 'Hes a Hero,' Says Dad

But Chevrette disagrees, telling the outlet that "its part of our job and our duty"  but he is glad that they "did a good job."

City officials remarked, "Its an unconventional birth story with a happy ending  mom and baby Jordan are happy, healthy and back home with the family, thanks to quick thinking and professionalism by Farmington Hills first responders."



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Read the original article on People.
HIGHER LOVE: Fashion and retail maverick Rei Kawakubo  whose mindset for her latest Comme des Garcons fashion show was anger against everything in the world, especially against myself  is not the sort to talk about luxury, brand elevation or leather goods merchandising.

And yet, later this week, the Comme des Garcons flagship store in Paris is to receive Kawakubos first Made in Italy handbags, which are luxurious in appearance and make, and take the brand into higher-than-usual price tiers.

More from WWD

The trapezoid models  in small and medium sizes  mark the beginning of a new collection of bags, boasting the highest quality of manufacture and material that only Italy can offer, Comme des Garcons said in a brief statement shared exclusively with WWD.

About a week after arriving at the Paris store at 56 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, the Made in Italy bags are to roll out to all other Comme des Garcons and Dover Street Market locations worldwide.

Small bags are priced from 1,230 euros to 1,480 euros, while medium bags top out at 1,700 euros.

Until now, most handbags at Comme des Garcons have been made in Japan, and retail for under 1,000 euros. The brands small leather goods, including its emblematic zippered wallets, are made in Japan.

Meanwhile, Kawakubo and her husband Adrian Joffe, chief executive officer of Dover Street Market and president of Comme des Garcons International, are gearing up to open a Paris branch of Dover Street Market in early May.

Its being teased on the Dover Street Market website as an endeavor involving a non-deciphering of the opposite of time.

Best of WWD
Frightened senior dog needs savior to take him in, shelter pleads. Sweet old man

A frightened senior dog in Texas is getting a ton of attention thanks to a viral shelter post on social media, pleading to find a home for the soulful looking pup.

Meet Tank Valero, a German shepherd mix who is between 8 and 12 years old and is looking to find a family willing to take him in during his golden years, the Humane Society of Central Texas posted on its Facebook page.

The saddest eyes. ... This sweet, sweet old man needs a savior. Thats all there is to say, the shelter wrote in the April 8 post.

He was once a majestic dog. He still carries himself as stately, but time has taken its toll on him, and living in a noisy, upsetting shelter at the end of his life certainly isnt kind.

The shelter posted multiple photos of the sweet dog, looking forlorn as he peers at the camera.

If its in your soul to make a difference in a dogs life, then this guy would be ever so grateful for the opportunity, the shelter wrote.

The post goes on to say Tank has been pensive when it comes to meet-and-greets with other dogs, so a house without other animals would be ideal, at least for the time being.

Comments poured in from concerned folks and those willing to step in and adopt the pup.

Poor baby looks so sad. I have 4 and cant help him. Someone go get this baby and love him! one person said.

I would Love to have that sweet baby, hes beautiful, another commented.

Seniors are the best! When I brought Elizabeth, my senior GSD foster home, I thought shed only have a few months max. But once she was out of the shelter she bounced back! And shes still trucking along at 13, someone expressed.

Beautiful senior boy. We hope a hero comes for you, Tank Valero, one person said.

The shelter is in Waco, Texas, which is about a 90-mile drive south of Fort Worth.

Curious cougar and her shy brother get second chance at NC zoo. See the cute cubs

Pup in need of home after owner dies in Ohio crash. She was everything to her human
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Footwear News may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Whether youre looking for the perfect way to elevate a pair of jeans or need a comfortable shoe option with a dress or slacks, loafers are always a good choice.

More from Footwear News

Whether youre a fan of the penny loafer, weejuns or feel the need to incorporate tassels into your daily outfits, a good pair of loafers are always good to have on hand. And while all of those styles feature slightly different details, they all help add an element of sophistication and polish to any look.

The Original Silhouette of Loafers

These shoes were popular in Norway in the 19th century among the fishermen. As fishing became more and more popular, the small Norwegian fishing villages started attracting English visitors and tourists who were immediately intrigued by the elevated slipper-style shoes the fisherman were wearing. The villagers and fishermen referred to them as tesers, and they would serve as the esteemed predecessor to what would become the penny loafer.

Loafers in different colorways.    stock.adobe.com

While the tesers were still a few iterations away from what we think of as loafers today, it was a Norwegian man named Nils Gregoriusson Tveranger would popularize the more iconic styles we think of as proud members of the shoe canon. Tveranger traveled to North America, and noticed the moccasin styles worn by native American tribes. His first shoe was actually called the Aurland moccasin, however it became known as the Aurland shoe as it achieved more popularity. Tveranger patented these early designs in the 20s, which led to more widespread adoption of the style.

This is the point when journalism gets involved. Esquire magazine, which was still new at the time, wrote an article about the shoes and published it alongside photos of farmers wearing them to work. From here, G.H. Bass was contracted to produce a new version of the shoe that would be made and distributed in America.

Different Types of Loafers

To pay homage to its Norwegian roots, Bass called the shoe a Weejun. It featured a crescent moon design accented with a strip of leather across the midfoot of the shoe. College students gave the updated silhouette the name penny loafer, and its believed that this is where the trend of putting pennies in the leather strap originated.

Leather loafers.    stock.adobe.com

Since penny loafers were the choice of college students, people who wanted to wear shoes with more sophisticated outfits decided to enhance their silhouettes with tassels. It was during this time in 1953 that Gucci opened its first store in New York City, and they decided to further elevate the shoes form by making them sleek and all-black. They also added their iconic horsebit charm to the saddle of the foot, which even further elevated the shoes appeal.

Loafers Today

Many of the brands that originally started or elevated the loafers trends are still making the shoes today. Gucci still sells their classic horsebit loafers, but theyve also updated the silhouette with options like mules, platforms and even slingbacks.

Gucci Horsebit loafers. Kailee Mandel

$990

Buy Now at gucci

They have also stood the test of both time and trend on the runway and throughout pop culture. Hailey Bieber has been spotted in a few different styles of the shoe, and chunky loafers that feature lug soles are regularly spotted on streetwear trend-makers.

With constant updates to the shoe being integrated into the mainstream, its certainly likely that the popularity of loafers will extend for years to come.

Best of Footwear News

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This Idaho restaurant made the NY Times top 50 Restaurant List. Now it plans to move

When acclaimed Caldwell restaurant Amano announced Monday that a new location is brewing, it caused a bit of a stir. Even panic.

After traveling throughout Mexico the last few years, we came to the realization that we wanted a permanent home for Amano, the restaurant wrote on social media. One where we could grow, continue to develop, and be able to realize some of the dreams we have to push more culinary boundaries ... .

Oh no!! You are moving to Mexico?!! one Facebook commenter exclaimed.

Fingers crossed you will consider opening a second location in the Boise area, wrote another.

Realizing that clarification was in order, Amano trotted out a few online replies.

And heres the deal: The restaurant isnt moving far.

Amano will stay at 702 Main St., where it opened five years ago, through the end of 2024, it says. After that, it plans to relocate to an undisclosed building nearby  still in Caldwells Indian Creek Plaza.

The restaurant also hinted that lunch service will return at the new operation.

Why Amanos original location in a former bank lobby isnt suitable long-term wasnt clear. But the restaurant plans to share details about its move in the coming months.

As one person wrote: We will follow you wherever yall go!

Since opening in 2019, Amano has built an enthusiastic following. Chef and co-owner Salvador Alamilla was nominated for James Beard Awards in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Last September, the upscale Mexican dining destination was named to the third annual New York Times Restaurant List, a guide to 50 places in the United States that were most excited about right now.

Alamilla, the Times wrote,  was born in the Mexican state Michoacan and raised in Orange County, Calif. He brings the spirit of both of those places to the menu.

The corn is nixtamalized and made into tortillas in house (by Mr. Alamillas aunts), and dishes like the tartare tostada and chile Colorado are well complemented by a cocktail of mezcal, ancho verde and coconut. In a nod to Southern California, the L.A. Birria Tacos have a particularly rich consomme. The short rib with mole negro is a dark, rich, monumental piece of meat, and afterward, it may be difficult to face the dulce de leche adorned with burnt-corn husk cream, but its the right decision.

Want to try Amano yourself? Reservations are available through resy.com. Or check out the menu at amanorestaurante.com.
Qabil Ashirov

Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov is on a visit to Moscow to discuss bilateral trade and economic cooperation, Azernews reports, citing the Russian media.

The minister met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Denis Manturov and Chairman of the country's Central Bank Elvira Nabiullina.

Information about the negotiations was disseminated by the press services of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and the Russian Cabinet of Ministers.

The Azerbaijani minister of economy and the head of the Central Bank talked about the economic situation in both countries, discussed bilateral trade and economic relations, and touched upon some aspects of the Russian-Azerbaijani financial agenda.

It should be noted that during the visit of Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov to Baku in early March 2024, he called for expanding interaction between the banks of the two countries and connecting Azerbaijani banks to the financial message transmission system of the Bank of Russia.

In addition, negotiations between Jabbarov and Manturov also took place in Moscow.

The Russian-Azerbaijani trade is demonstrating good dynamics. Our interaction in the field of industry is developing generally positively - a number of large cooperation projects are being implemented in key sectors of the economy, said Manturov.

As an example, the deputy prime minister cited such industries as automotive and railway engineering, and also noted aircraft manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. In addition, the minister spoke about the great potential that exists in online trading.

Manturov also invited the Azerbaijani minister to the international industrial exhibition Innoprom. It will take place in Yekaterinburg in July.

In March, during a meeting with Reshetnikov in Baku, Mikayil Jabbarov noted that there is great potential for increasing ties with Russia in industry, transport, environmental protection, and agriculture, as well as for new areas of cooperation. The realization of this potential is the main priority on the economic agenda for us, Jabbarov emphasised.

Russia is one of the five largest investors in the Azerbaijani economy. At the end of last year, the country invested almost $274 million in Azerbaijan. Currently, various projects with Russian participation are being implemented in the republic for a total amount of almost $624 million - from IT and aircraft manufacturing to medical and light industry.

At the end of 2023, trade turnover reached $4.1 billion and grew in physical volumes by almost a third. At the same time, more than half of Russian-Azerbaijani trade is carried out in national currencies - 54.2%.

More than 70 Russian entities cooperate with Azerbaijan. The most actively developing trade relations with Azerbaijan are Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Moscow, Chelyabinsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Sverdlovsk, and Saratov regions, the Stavropol and Krasnodar territories, and the Republic of Tatarstan.
In just the first day after the launch of the International Register of Damage Caused by Russia's full-scale armed invasion, Ukrainians filed more than 500 claims. This indicates that there was a considerable demand for this opportunity in society.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was stated by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers. He reminded that such a register is part of the international Compensation Mechanism.

"Restoration of the energy sector is part of the rapid reconstruction of Ukraine, which is underway right now. We insist that the aggressor must pay for the losses caused," emphasized Shmyhal.

The Cabinet of Ministers is currently working on establishing a Compensation Commission and a Compensation Fund. The fund will receive funds from Russian assets that have been confiscated abroad. In this regard, the Prime Minister congratulated the partners who expressed their readiness to transfer frozen Russian assets to the fund  in 2024, their total value could reach 5-8 billion euros.

"But this is only the first step towards restoring justice. The principle "Russia will pay" must be fully implemented," Shmyhal summarized.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier it was predicted that in the housing segment alone, the Register would receive from 300 to 600 thousand applications from victims. In total, Ukrainians are expected to fill out up to 8 million applications for compensation.

You can file a property damage claim for free by filling out an electronic form in the Diia app. Only applications for destroyed or damaged real estate are accepted at the first stage.

How to do it:

Log in to the Diia app from your smartphone or website and log in. Select the item "Application for compensation for damages". Click "Select a property" to submit an application. Fill in the data about the property (Diia pulls data from the registers  check the information or update the data in the register if necessary)  click "next". Check the data and sign the application with an electronic signature.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the registry was established in 2023 under the auspices of the Council of Europe and has now been joined by the EU and 43 other countries, including the United States, Japan, and Canada. The main goal of the Register is to record all claims of damage caused by the war so that Russia can pay fair reparations to Ukraine and Ukrainians.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

ADVERTISIMENT
Roughly a third of all of Indonesia's tourists end up in Bali, while many struggle to make it beyond this beach destination. A new flight connection to Manado, a city on the island of Sulawesi and a popular diving spot, is set to change that. Christoph Soeder/dpa

It might be a vast archipelago of 13,000 or 17,000 islands, depending on what classification is used, and stretching a distance comfortably greater than the width of the US, but many visitors to Indonesia often get only as far as Bali or Java.

Of the roughly 16 million foreign tourists recorded in 2019, the year before the Covid travel lockdowns, over 6.3 million landed on Bali, home to just over 4 million of the archipelagos almost 280 million people, with many of the rest landing in capital Jakarta.

Part of the problem has been a lack of direct flights from Bali to other attractive destinations, meaning such itineraries often requiring round-the-houses trips via the capital, or else time-consuming island hops by boat.

Local airline TransNusa is aiming to do something about this by laying on three direct flights a week from Bali to Manado, a city on the island of Sulawesi, east of Borneo and south of the Philippines, and a popular diving spot.

TransNusa announced four other domestic routes, including from Manado to Ambon, the regional capital of Maluku, once referred to in Europe as the "Spice Islands."

The Indonesian government has ordered the building of a replacement capital city on Borneo, part of an effort to reduce overcrowding in and take its offices out of a heaving Jakarta, a vast urban area where around 25 million people live. The aim is to have the new city built by mid-century, in time for the centenary of Indonesias independence from Dutch colonial rule.

The government has in the meantime made a start on a vast infrastructure upgrade blueprint, with South-east Asias first high-speed railway, linking Jakarta to Bandung, opening in October 2023.

There are also efforts to improve air access to locations such as Labuan Bajo, the gateway to Komodo, home of the fearsome eponymous lizards, and to Silangit, the arrival point for visitors to the 100-kilometre long Lake Toba, which fills the crater left after a volcanic eruption so big it left India, thousands of miles away, covered in 15 centimetres of ash.

Roughly a third of all of Indonesia's tourists end up in Bali, while many struggle to make it beyond this beach destination. A new flight connection to Manado, a city on the island of Sulawesi and a popular diving spot, is set to change that. Carola Frentzen/dpa
Who can see the future? Not pundits, not psychics  and certainly not the creators of the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair, celebrating its 60th anniversary on April 22.

The future they celebrated, with its Jetsons towers, undersea homes, and robot bulldozers mowing down rainforests to create superhighways  all that was obsolete before it arrived.

But one guess was spot on. One innovation that took the fair by storm in 1964, and went on to become part of our real future.

Not jet packs, not moon colonies, but... Belgian waffles.

"They must have been pretty exotic," said Lloyd Trufelman, a licensed New York City tour guide who gives both walking and virtual tours of Flushing Meadows Corona Park, where the remains of the fair still loom, ghostlike, in the middle of Queens.

Smells, tastes, can stimulate the memory, experts tell us.

Bel-Gem waffles, with their famous whipped cream and strawberries

And the strange, outsize waffles that were sold at the fair's Belgian Village attraction  which most fairgoers had, in 1964, never encountered before  have lingered in the mind of nearly everyone who was taken there as a child.

"When I talk about the waffles on the tour, everyone swoons," Trufelman said. "You got this big weird square thing slathered in whipped cream and strawberries, and mom and dad let you have it in the middle of the day. It seems to jog everyone's memory."

Taste sensation

The original Bel-Gem waffles stand at the 1964 New York World's Fair

Belgian waffles  unlike the conventional thin American waffles made with pancake batter  have yeast in the recipe. So they rise to a light, fluffy deliciousness, crispy on the outside. With extra deep pockets, to catch the syrup or ice cream on top. Or, as served at the World's Fair, whipped cream and strawberries.

Ironically, Trufelman said, they are "possibly the Fairs greatest legacy.

They'd actually been introduced at the Seattle World's Fair, two years earlier, to no appreciable stir. But in New York, they took off. "Everybody has fond memories of them," Trufelman said.

Maybe it was the context.

Imagine! A fabulous $4 million faux-Belgian village, complete with gabled roofs, a 1,500-seat rathskeller, a bell tower, a gothic church that was an exact replica of one in Antwerp, and  crowning touch  a village square featuring a charming 1885 Dutch carousel with rocking horses and gondolas (which later migrated to a Montreal amusement park). Amid all the relentless futurism, it was a pleasant time-out.

Or maybe it was the waffles themselves.

They were made by Maurice Vermersch, his wife, Rose, and daughter MariePaule. They had their own stand at the pavilion, and used their own  secret  Belgian family recipe.

Inside the Bel-Gem waffle concession

"One of the keys is that they have a higher sugar content," said Bill Cotter, who went to the fair when he was 12 and has written three books about it. "The crystal in the sugar interacts with your tongue and it's really like an explosion of flavor."

In short, they were the best of all possible waffles. He can still taste them. "They were damn good," he said.

What's in a name?

Originally they were going to be sold as "Brussels Waffles." But the Vermerschs had to contend with American public education. Fairgoers, they discovered, didn't know Brussels from Bialystok.

So they became Belgian waffles. Or, more precisely, "Bel-Gem Waffles." That was the brand.

They were the hit of the fair. Huge lines formed at the Bel-Gem Stand, arousing the envy of fellow vendors  who, in retaliation, began to market their own, knockoff Belgian waffles.

"There were a good eight or 10," Cotter said. "They showed up in places like the Caribbean pavilion, which is not where I would think of going to get Belgian waffles. But all of a sudden they had them there."

The fact that vendors could do this, with impunity, points to the disorganization  much-criticized at the time  of the World's Fair. Which wasn't really a World's Fair at all.

It didn't have the sanction of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which regulates such events. Robert Moses, New York's pugnacious "master builder," had ticked off members of that committee, by brusquely ignoring their rules. "He said, '[Expletive] them, I'm Robert Moses, no one tells me what to do,'" Trufelman said.

In fact, Moses had his own agenda. He was interested, not in the fair, but in a permanent public park on the site, that the fair would fund. That was the real purpose of 1964-1965 event, as it had been for its predecessor, the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair (both ended up losing money).

"The BIE called Moses to make a presentation, and he supposedly spent his time banging on the table and calling them a bunch of lazy Europeans," Trufelman said.

'We'll pass'

Tourguide Lloyd Trufelman, at the site of the 1964 New York World's Fair in Flushing Meadows

The upshot was, many countries, including England and France, boycotted the event. Others, including Spain and some emerging Asian and African nations, chose to participate. The Belgian pavilion was not even sponsored by Belgium. "It was done by a U.S. businessman, a friend of Robert Moses," Cotter said.

In the end, the fair was a hodge-podge of random international exhibitions, amusements (Disney provided some notable attractions), and a heavy corporate presence: IBM, Sinclair, Ford, General Motors all had pavilions. In theory, almost anyone could rent space within the fairgrounds, with minimal oversight. Which is why, Trufelman said, nobody went after the Belgian waffle copycats.

"Any pavilion could do anything they wanted," he said. "They could charge admission, or not charge admission. Moses basically just leased the land. All he cared about was that they could build the pavilion, pay the rent, and get rid of the pavilion at the end of the fair."

Critics knocked the fair as crass, chaotic, lacking vision. But those critics were not 7-, 8- or 9-year-old children. Many people today  the ones who were kids then  loved it.

They loved the GM "Futurama" exhibit that took you to the world of tomorrow. They loved the Ford cars (including the Mustang, introduced at the fair) that drove you back to the stone age. They loved the "It's a Small World" Disney boat ride, the giant Uniroyal Tire Ferris wheel, the Sinclair Dinosaurs. They loved the Unisphere, the gigantic latticework globe at the center of the fair  surrounded by fountains in daylight, fireworks at night.

Uniroyal giant tire was created as a Ferris wheel at the 1964/65 New York World's Fair.

They loved it because it was not only glorious, it was reassuring.

"At that time, it was all gloom and doom," Cotter remembered. "Atomic war was coming. People were digging fallout shelters. And you got to this place, and wow  you're going to be able to take vacations in the ocean, or take a trip to the moon. Everything was positive. It was several hundred acres of optimism. Plus the sensory overload, the weird designs of the buildings, the colorful street lighting, the flags. It was real eye-candy."

Looking forward

Above all, kids loved the waffles.

Thanks to the 1964 New York World's Fair, Belgian waffles have become common at any IHOP, or any boardwalk ice cream stand. But fair veterans insist that none today are quite so mouth-watering as the ones they tasted in 1964.

Which is why some now go as far away as Syracuse, to seek out Maurice's Belgian Waffles at the annual New York State Fair  the only vendor authorized to sell the original Bel-Gem waffles, using Maurice Vermersch's secret recipe.

"I've heard of people my age, who went to the fair, going there," Cotter said. "And I've also heard of foodies, who say they want to see if this is the best damn waffle in the world, like everyone's saying."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: History of Waffles: How the NY World's Fair novelty became breakfast
Over 2,898 days, Karlis Bardelis has rowed and cycled completely around the world. On April 4, he crossed his finish line in Namibia, where he began almost eight years ago.

During his circumnavigation, the 39-year-old Latvian adventurer has rowed 46,326km and cycled 11,972km. Bardelis says the key to doing such an overwhelmingly long journey was only looking one step ahead.

Bardelis began his journey in 2016 when he and a partner rowed from Namibia to Brazil. Then in 2018, he restarted in Brazil and cycled on a tandem bicycle to Lima, Peru with his then-girlfriend. They pedaled the 5,400km in 102 days.

Immediately after this, he rowed 26,000km alone across the Pacific in 715 days. When he landed in Malaysia, he became the first person to row from South America to Asia. Storms and hurricane seasons forced him to stop at various islands along the way.

COVID delays

COVID then forced him to pause his circumnavigation. He flew back to Latvia and waited for a year and a half before he could return to Malaysia and restart. When he arrived, his boat had more water damage than he expected.

He needed so much time to make repairs that he missed his weather window. Headwinds made the Malacca Straight almost impossible to row. So instead, he moved the boat to Kuala Perlis, elsewhere in Malaysia, and cycled to his new starting point.

Crossing the Indian Ocean. Photo: Karlis Bardelis

In January 2022, he began rowing to Sri Lanka. Here, he picked up fellow circumnavigator Dimitri Kieffer. They rowed together for nine days to the Maldives, where Kieffer continued his own journey and Bardelis went on alone.

His plan was to make it to Tanzania, but huge winds and waves kept throwing him off course. He rowed for up to 20 hours at a time to keep from drifting backward.

The last stage of his journey has been fraught. During the first few weeks, the winds pushed him the wrong way. Next, he had to cut one of his anchors loose when he was unable to retrieve it from the deep corals it had hooked onto.

Rows Asia-Africa

On June 21, 2022, he became the first person to row from Asia to Africa. The only problem was that he landed in Somalia, not Tanzania. Speaking to ExplorersWeb, he explained, I knew about the East African coastal current which runs south to north. It starts around 80 to 90km off the coast of Africa. My plan was to get to Tanzania or to approach it as closely as possible. I still had Kenya as a safe buffer before Somalia. But because of the wind, I was already too far north when I hit the current.

Starting the final stage. Photo: Karlis Bardelis

The next stage was a logistical nightmare. He had had to abandon his boat in Somalia. To restart, he needed it back: He still had to finish the row to Tanzania. Originally, the army said it would look after his boat, but local fishermen seized it instead.

A year and a half later, and after many changed plans, he managed to get the boat to Kenya. Then the boat was towed back into Somalian waters, 90km off of the Somalia-Kenya border, and Bardelis started the final stage of his row with his friend Arturs Skroderis. They covered the 385km route to Kilifi, Kenya in just three-and-a-half days. The duo landed on Jan. 30.

Since then, Bardelis has cycled the final 5,000km stage of his 7-year and 11-month journey. He traveled from Kenya to Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia.

As he finished at last, Bardelis exclaimed, The feelings are surreal! The person who started this journey nearly eight years ago was a completely different person.

The post Karlis Bardelis Completes Round-The-World Trip appeared first on Explorersweb.
So, You Looked At The Eclipse Without Glasses. Are Your Eyes Doomed?

While eye pain likely wont be a symptom, these other subtle issues could mean there's damage. Kent Nishimura via Getty Images

On Monday, millions of people across the United States, Mexico and Canada witnessed a partial or total solar eclipse. And based on photos alone, at least some people did it without protective eyewear.

Maybe you forgot your eclipse glasses and could not resist a peek up at the sun. Maybe you thought you could safely watch the phenomenon for just a few seconds. Either way, there can now be concerning consequences.

Staring at the sun during an eclipse can cause irrevocable eye damage. It is only safe to look up with your eyes uncovered during the brief time when the moon completely blocks the sun during a solar eclipse, according to NASA. Outside of that short period, looking at the eclipse can damage your retinal cells.

Benjamin Bert, an ophthalmologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, compared this kind of retinal damage to what happens when you hold a magnifying glass over paper on a sunny day and the paper burns.

Our eye is designed in such a way that all of the light is focused to one spot in the retina, Bert said. And so if you have all of that energy focused there, youre basically trying to set your retina on fire.

Its common for people who looked at the eclipse to be more worried, he said. Each time that theres been an eclipse, we see kind of an uptick in emergency appointments.

But before you panic, learn what eclipse eye damage usually looks like.

How to tell if you damaged your eyes because of the eclipse

If you glanced at the eclipse directly without appropriate protective eyewear, should you be worried? Not necessarily.

There is only cause for concern if new visual symptoms are occurring, said Jill Beyer, an optometrist and a clinical assistant professor at Stanford University School of Medicine.

You can start noticing symptoms within a few hours or a few days. The exact timing before youll notice the damage can vary, because it depends on how long you looked at the sun.

If you have a burn in the retina, thats going to be pretty immediate, pretty noticeable, Bert said. But if you just looked long enough for your eyes to experience inflammation, then that can have a domino effect that can perpetuate further damage. And thats why it may take a little bit of time before the full extent is really noted, he added.

Pay attention to whether your vision is getting worse in the hours since the eclipse. But dont expect your eyes to hurt. As the American Academy of Ophthalmology explains on its website: Damage from the eclipse is unlikely to cause pain or discomfort in your eyes because the retina does not have any pain nerves.

Bert said the primary sign of eclipse-related eye damage is going to be one spot of your vision that starts malfunctioning. He gave the example of moving your eye around and noticing that a dark spot stays in exactly the same location, no matter where you move your head.

Take action if you also notice any changes like blurriness or distortion. Look at something that should have a straight line like a doorframe. If all of a sudden you see that it has a distortion or a curve in it, that would be concerning of more serious damage, Bert said.

Beyer cited a blind spot or dark spots, distorted or blurred vision, changes in color vision, or pain with excessive tearing as signs that it is best to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology also states that headaches and increased light sensitivity are other symptoms of eclipse-related eye damage.

What solar retinopathy looks like

In the most extreme cases, staring at the sun may damage your eyes for good. Solar retinopathy is a rare but significant form of retinal injury that occurs after directly looking at the sun. Its a permanent condition with no treatment.

In 2017, a New York City woman named Nia Payne looked directly at the solar eclipse for a few seconds with her bare eyes and then looked at the eclipse for around 20 seconds using borrowed eclipse glasses that were not legitimate protective eyewear. The next day, Payne reported blurry vision in both eyes and seeing only black in her left eyes center.

Researchers later discovered that she had burned a hole in her retinas and believe that the glasses she used were not up to international safety standards. Payne got diagnosed with solar retinopathy. Her case was detailed in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.

The good news is that the clarity or sharpness of vision can improve even if you do get solar retinopathy. A lot of the acuity does come back, Bert said. But the unfortunate thing is people are usually left with little blind spots, or that distortion. And those are the components that can be permanent.

So if your eyes feel weird after the eclipse, dont ignore it. If you go to an eye specialist, they ideally will take a specialized picture of the macula and look at the different layers of the retina, so you can know for sure if you got solar retinopathy, Bert said.

You can have peace of mind knowing if there is any kind of structural or anatomic changes that have occurred, Bert said. And itll give an idea of any possibility for recovery if there are signs of damage being present.

Related...
The political dating gap has widened as polarization in America has increased, but Utah might be one of the states bucking the trend.

While many people, especially in younger generations, have increasingly said they would not date someone with different politics, a recent poll from the website Dating Advice found that 77% of single Utahns are open to dating across the political spectrum.

The Beehive State is above the national average of 63%.

There were only three states with a higher percentage of respondents saying they would date anyone, regardless of party affiliation: Delaware, Kansas and West Virginia. This means that would-be Republican Romeos and Democratic Darcys dont have to worry as much about partisan affiliation in these states as they would in other states. Only 8% of Utah Democrats and 15% of Utah Republicans said they would not date someone of the opposite political affiliation.

Though Utah might be bucking the national trend, its clear that politics has increasingly become a dealbreaker. A 2020 YouGov poll of 5,462 Americans found that 39% would not date someone across the political divide.

Wendy Wang, director of research at the Institute for Family Studies, observed that the political gap in marriage has widened, too. Writing for The Hill, she said that in 2016, 30% of marriages were politically mixed, but only 21% were in 2020.

Though this trend has emerged across the country, its a little complicated. Daniel A. Cox, director of the Survey Center on American Life, wrote in a survey report, Despite the salience of politics in dating, partisans appear to place less importance on dating someone who exactly shares their affiliation.

About half of Republicans (51 percent) and Democrats (54 percent) say they would be more likely to date someone who identifies with their respective party, Cox continued.

The political dating gap is particularly pronounced when it comes to voting, not just political self-identification. Pew Research Center published survey findings in 2020 saying 71% of respondents who are Democratic or lean that way would not date a Donald Trump voter  43% said they would not date a Republican. Whereas 47% of Republicans said they would not date a Hillary Clinton voter and 24% said they would not date a Democrat.

Dating isnt the only relationship impacted by political divides.

Self-identified Republicans told the Public Religion Research Institute in a 2022 Social Networks Survey that 58% of their close friends were Republicans as well. Democrats said 59% of their close friends shared their same political party affiliation, too.

Compared to older generations, younger generations are also more likely to say they found out about their partners political beliefs before they started to date them, according to the American Perspectives Survey. Dating apps are part of the equation  there are options to put political preferences in profiles.

The political dating gap comes as younger generations are drifting apart politically.

Analyzing data from the General Social Survey, Lyman Stone and Brad Wilcox wrote in The Atlantic, Young single men have been moving to the right, even as their female peers have been moving even further left. About 10 percent of such men were conservative in the early 1980s, but that share has now risen to about 15 percent (while the proportion of single liberal young men has held steady at about 18 percent in recent years).

This, coupled with younger generations not wanting to date across the aisle, could spell trouble for marriage rates, Stone and Wilcox said.

Jeanne Safer, author of I Love You, But I Hate Your Politics, spoke to The Wall Street Journal about how to keep relationships healthy amid political disagreements. Safer is a psychologist and a Democrat  she is married to a Republican senior editor at the National Review.

Speaking from her research and personal experience, Safer said to avoid political fights and opt for civil discussion when possible.

People have a feeling that avoiding things is somehow weakness or hypocrisy. Ive learned that its wisdom and civility, Safer said. And there are many things that are more important than politics: how the person treats you; if someone rejoices for your success and grieves for your troubles and backs you up; if you enjoy your time together. These are the things that count.
THE PRINCESS AND THE BAG: Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini has tapped a young Savoia heir to mark the launch of its Lauren bag, which was first unveiled during the brands spring 2024 show in Milan in September.

The labels creative director Lorenzo Serafini zeroed in on Vittoria di Savoia, young princess of the House of Savoy  Italys former ruling dynasty  to embody the sophisticated yet fresh ethos of the brand. The 20-year-old model is the eldest daughter of French actress Clotilde Courau and Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, grandson of Umberto II, the last king of Italy before the monarchy was abolished in 1946.

More from WWD

I am very happy with this collaboration with Vittoria for a project that Im very excited about. I believe she perfectly embodies the elegance and refinement defining both the Lauren bag and the Philosophy label, Serafini said.

Vittoria di Savoia posing with the Lauren bag by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini.

In the images, the young princess poses with the bag in different sizes and colors. Crafted from nappa leather, the soft clutch with a clean aesthetic comes in two sizes and with a shoulder strap enabling a cross-body use, too. Colors available range from butter to burgundy, with two-toned options additionally offered to add a twist to its pure lines.

With this bag, I wanted to create an accessory that is a symbol of femininity and timeless style. Through its versatile design, it easily transforms from an elegant evening clutch to a practical chic day bag, said Serafini, who has been creatively helming the Aeffe-owned brand since 2014.

Coming with a price tag ranging between 650 euros and 870 euros, the Lauren bag launches Tuesday on the brands e-commerce, at its store in Rome as well as at a selection of Italian and international retailers. For one, Clan Upstairs in Milan will dedicate a window to the accessory during the upcoming Salone del Mobile design event, which will run April 16 to 21.

Vittoria di Savoia posing with the Lauren bag by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini.

Represented by Paris-based Karin Models agency, Vittoria di Savoia is not new to the fashion circuit, having recently secured her first cover on Spanish magazine Yo Dona and with multiple front row appearances past year. In addition to attending the Philosophy fall 2024 runway show in Milan earlier this year, she was also seen side by side her mother at the Dior couture spring 2024 show in January and the Valentino couture fall 2023 show last summer. Last week, the mother-and-daughter duo touched base in Rome for the Pucci spring 2024 show, too.

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Queen Letizia of Spain attended the Mass Tribute for Fernando Gomez-Acebo on April 8. The royal and her husband, King Felipe VI of Spain, honored the memory of the Spanish monarchs first cousin and King Juan Carloss nephew. He died on March 1 from COVID-19.

For the somber occasion, Queen Letizia embraced subdued elegance, opting to wear a black tweed midi dress with small fringe detailing at the waist, sleeves and skirt. Her black monochrome look also featured a pair of black leather slingback pumps by Massimo Dutti. She carried a black bag courtesy of Giorgio Armani.

More from WWD

King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain arrive to Mass Tribute for Fernando Gomez-Acebo on April 8.

The queen accessorized with a pearl broach and sparkling earrings with a ring by Coreterno. Queen Letizia has harnessed the power of subdued elegance in the past. For the inauguration of the Royal Collections Gallery at the Royal Palace in July 2023, the queen fashioned an ensemble evocative of summer florals, with understated refinement.

King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain arrive to Mass Tribute for Fernando Gomez-Acebo on April 8.

For the event, Queen Letizia wore a white and blue floral-print dress with a black ribbon waist bow, black shoulder straps and black bra cups designed by Carolina Herrera. The royal coordinated the dress with black slingback pumps, which were also courtesy of Carolina Herrera.

King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain arrive to Mass Tribute for Fernando Gomez-Acebo on April 8.

Queen Letizia often approaches her fashion with classic hues and silhouettes in mind. The royal has worn several designs that prominently feature the black color. Most recently, she and her husband presided over a ceremony held in February in Barcelona to inaugurate the second Puig Tower. For the official royal engagement, Queen Letizia kept her look simple, fashioning a black suit ensemble.

Like many European royals, Queen Letizias style evokes an elevated sophistication. For public engagements and royal events, shell often wear classic silhouettes and traditional designs, showcasing a sense of high-fashion without taking attention away from the occasion. Its a sensibility echoed and implemented by members of the British royal family as well, as seen with Sophie, Duchess of Edinburghs recent appearance at the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.

MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 6: Crown Prince Felipe of Spain and Letizia Ortiz pose during an official engagement ceremony at the garden of El Pardo Palace November 6, 2003 at Palacio del Pardo in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 22: Spanish Crown Prince Felipe de Bourbon and his bride, Princess Letizia Ortiz pose for a picture in the court yard of the royal palace after their wedding ceremony at the Almudena cathedral May 22, 2004 in Madrid. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Felipe the Prince of Asturias and Letizia the Princess of Asturias attends the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling on June 19, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden.

View Gallery

Launch Gallery: Queen Letizia's Style Through the Years: The Best Looks So Far [PHOTOS]

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When I relocated from Pakistan to London, I knew Eid would be different and that was OKuntil I realized the things that I missed, including the festive foods.

Courtesy of Sumayya Usmani; Getty Images

The low ceiling of my London flat was filled with festive smoke. Saffron, cardamom, and cloves slowly infused in sugar syrup while I cooked roasted vermicelli with ghee in another pan for the seviyan dessert. I hadnt cooked like this in years, and my small London flats smoke alarm was close to activation.

It was my first Eid away from my family, and partly, it felt liberating. Growing up in Pakistan, I had grown tired of familial expectations, especially around the Eid holidays. I moved to London when I was thirty-three, before later moving to Scotland, and I was looking for a chance at a new life. I was relieved to get away from small talk over samosas and chai with relatives and chewing politely behind a saccharine smile. I accepted that Eid would be lonely living in the U.K. and that suited me just fine.

There were some moments I knew Id miss, like waking up to the warm scents of cardamom and roasted vermicelli. Each Eid morning, Mummy made my Dadi (paternal grandmother) her Qawami seviyan (pictured above), which included sixteen parts sugar to one part fine roasted vermicelli, along with cloves, saffron, and cardamom. This was an indulgent Eid breakfast in our home that I looked forward to, but that delight was often dulled by my mothers narration of the day's visits to family members. It was the judgment from relatives that I hated mostthose sideways glances and hushed tones about my divorce, or the eyebrow raises at my tattooed arms peeping through my kurta sleeve.

The month of Ramadan itself felt unceremonious in England. I missed the shorter working days Ramadan brought with it in Pakistan. On the way home from work when I was in Pakistan, wed pick up fried snacks to break the fast with at iftar. Every street corner would be lined with stalls selling chickpea battered deep-fried pakoras, and saffron syrup-dipped donuts called jalebis just before sunset. Around the end of Ramadan, my mother would buy boxes full of groceries to give to families in need for Eid. Thinking of shopping with my cousins on Chand Raat (the night before Eid), and the organized chaos of the bazaars where wed stain our hands with henna patterns and buy coloured glass bangles to match our new Eid outfits filled me with nostalgia.

In England, there was none of that. Id convinced myself to try and conform with my new surroundings and didnt tell anyone I was fasting. I had to work as usual through Ramadan and my hunger would peak at midday when my colleagues consumed sandwiches and salads at their desks in our open-plan office. One day at lunchtime, I decided to join them in the office cafeteria so I could get to know people. Alice, my boss, asked why I wasnt eating, and I told her about Ramadan and Eid. I shared stories of my mothers cooking and the all-encompassing scents of saffron and cardamom that always wafted through our kitchen, the itchy Eid clothes Id wear, the clinking glass bangles that graced my arms, and the henna on my palms. I also told her about the aunties and uncles with their judgment and gossip. Before I knew it, my stories of warmer places and delicious food led Alice to invite herself over alongside my friends for Eid.

Serious Eats / Qi Ai Pictured: Lamb Biryani With Saffron, Yogurt, and Caramelized Onions

For years, Mummy had picked on me for not learning Eid recipes, and now I wished so much that Id paid attention. With the help of long phone calls with my mother, I found myself immersed in curating the perfect Eid menu to impress my boss. Mummy gave me vague lists of ingredients, and I attempted to convert her confusing instructions into actual measurements and methods. Finally, I decided to make Sindhi biryani, a layered rice dish with pomegranate and dried plums with mutton or beef, and haleem, a lentil and meat porridge with garam masala, as well as fresh homemade naans; for dessert, I opted for my Dadis seviyan and rasmalai, sweet cottage cheese dumplings in milk.

My local South Asian store had most ingredients for the biryani like aloo bukhara (dried plum) and anardana (dried pomegranate), as well as the roasted fine vermicelli for seviyan. Mutton for the biryani, however, proved more problematic, so I resorted to using beef. I decided to attempt my mothers dahi baras as wellthese comforting chickpea flour dumplings with cool yogurt, tamarind, and mint chutneys were always on the Eid table. As I walked through the aisles of the store, the familiar spice labels and the shelves filled with Pakistani rice and atta flour filled me with an ache for home. I longed for my mothers cooking; I even missed her voice that berated me to learn to cook.

As I prepared for the Eid lunch that day, heating whole spices in ghee, something about the cocktail of korma spices for my biryani evoked my lost anticipation for Eid. I didnt feel alone in the kitchen; it was as if both my grandmothers ghosts were at my side, telling me when to stir or add ingredients. The voices of the women from my family who prepared this same meal in the past felt present there that day, even though this tiny London loft kitchen was so far removed from my family kitchen in Karachi. There was something about the act of cooking Eid lunch that created a sense of home and a rekindling of happier memories.

I was transported to a time when Eid meant more than just the judging aunties and boring conversations. I remembered what my Nani (maternal grandmother) had always called vintage Eid. Each year, her elder brother, Iqbal, hosted a large Eid dinner at his beautiful home in Karachi. Uncle Iqbal had been in the foreign service and was posted in Washington, DC for many years; when he returned, he'd built a home reminiscent of American homes with mantel places and large windowsit was very unlike the homes in Pakistan, so I found it fascinating. Best of all, he brought back American sweets to give to the children on Eid: Twinkies, M&Ms, and Fruit Roll-Ups, all of which were impossible to find in Pakistan.

I also looked forward to the envelopes of Eidee money wed receive from all the relatives, a tradition on Eid for young children. All the female family members, including my grandmothers and my mother, would sit in the vintage-style drawing room with floral wallpaper, rosewood carved furniture, and a large piano that was always left unplayed, and the men would be in the cigar room. The faint smell of spices and the charcoal from the barbeque in the back open-air kitchen would mingle with the honeyed cigar smoke. The uncles in their three-piece suits would greet each other with formal hugs and the aunties in their shiny, mismatched shalwar kameez outfits would kiss me, leaving their lipstick stains on my cheek.

Id bear it all for the sweets, the money, and the lavish Eid lunch that Uncle Iqbals cook created; this was what everyone came together for after all. Lunch would be served in the airy dining room that had a slight musty old wood smell. The heavy mahogany dining table in the middle of the room was packed with so many dishes that you could barely see its surface. The beige lace curtains in the French windows always looked dusty and the silver candelabra lay on the side credenza was blackened with diskeep. I could hear a faint string quartet playing, but I never spotted speakers anywhere.

Everyone would rush to the table, crowding around the dishes like moths. There were freshly made shish kebabs and naans from the tandoor, haleem, raita, and nihari, a slow-cooked meat stew flavored with spices, along with condiments like finely slivered ginger, coriander, mint, and browned onions; a platter of mutton biryani served as the centerpiece of the table. Dessert would be served an hour later: rasmalai, seviyan, and pistachio kulfi ice cream. Luckily for me, children would get first dibs at dessert. Wed eat about four helpings and come home in the early afternoon, only to fall into a deep food coma.

As I prepared my Eid meal in London, I felt something shift. Id spent so long focusing on the negative memories of Eid and blocking out the happier onesfamily and the festive chatter that filled the walls of our homes with joy. I forgot the aunties and their remarks and instead, remembered my grandmothers, the candy, kulfi, the packs of Eidee, and all of us together at Uncle Iqbals home. Now, Id brought together new friends in a new home around a meal that represented my traditions. Alice was left in awe of the flavors of Pakistani food.

As I served my grandmothers seviyan to my coworkers, I sent a photo of it to my mother, who was impressed at how much it looked like hers. It even tasted the samemaybe because I put in just the same amount of love and commitment in cooking as my grandmothers and mother did. I felt proud of this inescapable part of who I wasmy culinary culture and my family recipes, something that I could recreate and share wherever I was. That year I reconnected with Eid and celebrated the festivals true essence of gratitude, tradition, and making memories.

Read the original article on Serious Eats.
TechCrunch

Fidelity Investments, one of the world's largest asset managers, has confirmed that over 77,000 customers had personal information compromised during an August data breach, including Social Security numbers and driver's licenses. The Boston, Massachusetts-based investment firm said in a filing with Maines attorney general on Wednesday that an unnamed third party accessed information from its systems between August 17 and August 19 "using two customer accounts that they had recently established. We detected this activity on August 19 and immediately took steps to terminate the access, Fidelity said in a letter sent to those affected, adding that the incident did not involve any access to customers Fidelity accounts.
Renowned climber Um Hong-gil of South Korea is back in Nepal, leading an expedition to unclimbed Jugal I and Jugal II. Sherpa stars Dawa Yangzum (co-leader) and Lakpa Dendi, plus a large Korean team, are accompanying him.

Um himself will not be part of the climbing team but will coordinate from Base Camp. The Korean climbing leader is Koo Eun-soo, and the Nepalese climbing head is veteran Lhakpa Sonam Sherpa, South Korean journalist Young-Hoon Oh told ExplorersWeb.

Climbers also include Baek Jong-min, Eom Tae-chul, Joung Je-gyun, Kim Dong-jin, and Byeon Junki of Korea and Lama Babu Sherpa and Min Bahadur Lama of Nepal, as well as the other three mentioned above. Lama is a native of the Jugal region.

The team left Kathmandu yesterday by road for Tambathang, Lakpa Dendi told ExplorersWeb. From that last town, they will trek for three days to Base Camp, located at 4,700m.

The main peaks in Jugal Himal. Photo: Nepali News Hub

Jugal I (6,591m) and II (6,518m) are adjacent peaks, and the team plans to reach both summits on the same push.

Newly accessible Jugal Himal

With three confirmed expeditions, the Jugal Himal is getting unexpected attention this year. In addition to Ums, a four-women team will attempt Jugal 5, while a single climber has applied for Jugal 3. Although only 70km from Kathmandu, the peaks only opened to climbing last year. Read more about the Jugal Himal here.

The Jugal peaks made headlines when Paul Ramsden and Tim Miller of the UK bagged the first ascent of Jugal Spire, also known as Dorje Lhakpa II (6,563m) in 2022. The climb up an ice line they called The Phantom Line earned them a Piolet dOr.

Nepal opened Jugal I (6,591m) and Jugal II (6,518m) for climbing just last spring, together with five other peaks in the area.

Official support

The Nepal-Korea Friendship Expedition launched with a big ceremony attended by Nepals Prime Minister and the Korean ambassador. It is meant to promote mountain tourism in new areas of Nepal and to celebrate the 50th anniversary since Nepal and South Korea established bilateral diplomatic relations.

A group of nearly 50 trekkers from South Korea will accompany the team to Base Camp, along with a journalist and camera crew.

On the left side, Dawa Yangzum, the Korean ambassador, Um Hong-Gil, and Nepals Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, during the official launch of the Jugal I and II expedition. Photo: Nepal News

The climbers

Um Hong-Gil, 63, completed his own version of the 8,000m challenge in 2007. He summited not the 14 but the 16 highest peaks in the world. To the usual list, he added Yalung Khan and Lhotse Shar. He has also stood on the summit of Everest three times.

Um Hong-Gil of South Korea. Photo: Um Hong-Gil/Human Foundation

I achieved my goal with many difficulties and some very close calls, Um told the Nepali Times. I promised the mountain gods that if they sent me back alive, I would live the rest of my life meaningfully. [They] kept their side of the agreement, so I had to fulfill my promise as well.

Um set up a foundation, mainly focused on helping Nepali children access education. Eventually, Um received honorary Nepalese citizenship.

Lakpa Dendi Sherpa is one of the so-called Supersherpas, guiding non-stop on 8,000ers. He has reached summits above 8,000m 33 times. In one particular season, he summited Everest three times in 10 days.

Dawa Yangzum Sherpa, from Rolwaling, is the first Sherpa woman to become an IFMGA guide. She has summited 13 of the 8,000ers. She is also vice-president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association.

Koo Eun-Soos impressive resume includes ascents of Nanga Parbat, Everest, Kangchenjunga, Shisha Pangma, and also Thalay Sagar, Peak 41 (6,648m) in the Mahalangur Himal, and attempts on Latok I in the Karakoram and Mariyang (6,528m) in the Kanti Himal.

Veteran climber and entrepreneur Lhakpa Sonam Sherpa, 63, is an important voice in Nepals tourism industry. Among other companies, he is CEO of Yeti Airlines and Thamserku Trekking. While focused on business, he summited Everest last year to complete his Seven Summits. Sonam Sherpas late wife, Pasang Lhamu, was the first Nepalese woman to summit Everest.

.

The post Strong Korean-Nepalese Team Heads for Unclimbed Jugal I and II appeared first on Explorersweb.
Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied Crimea have been called upon to share information about the location of the Russian occupation army's weapons. First of all, the Ukrainian military is interested in the Bastion coastal missile system on the peninsula.

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It is from this BRK that Russian terrorists launch Zircon hypersonic missiles at Ukrainian cities. This was announced on Telegram by the Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov.

According to him, Zircon missiles reach Ukrainian cities in a matter of minutes. Moreover, the enemy launches them from different parts of the occupied Crimea.

Mr. Fedorov also emphasized that Russians have already attacked Kyiv region with these missiles at least twice. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the occupiers are trying to penetrate the air defense with Zircon missiles.

The minister called on residents of the temporarily occupied peninsula to pass on information about the Bastion coastal missile systems from which the occupiers launch Zircon. Ukrainians are asked to report the locations of missile launches, the location of storage of the complexes, places of storage of missiles, and refueling of the BRK.

ADVERTISIMENT

In addition, Fedorov added that information is needed about the Russian occupiers who maintain the Bastion BRK. You can report names, positions, places of service, and residence.

All the necessary information can be sent to the "eVorog" bot. Ukrainians were also reminded to take care of their own safety when sending information: delete correspondence with the bot, photos and videos from the gallery, as well as from the "deleted" or "trash" folder.

"Data about Bastion is very important. If they are destroyed, it will be a disadvantage for the Russians to shell Ukrainian cities," Fedorov wrote.

As a reminder, the Russian occupation forces have started firing hypersonic missiles at Ukrainian cities with the Zircon missile. This indicates that the Russians are trying to use everything they have in their arsenal.

ADVERTISIMENT

As OBOZ.UA reported earlier, at least two strikes with 3M22 Zircon missiles have been launched at the territory of Ukraine since the beginning of 2024. The first one took place on the night of February 7 in the Dniprovskyi district of Kyiv near a destroyed power line, and the second strike took place on March 25.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
I just almost died.

That was novelty wave aficionado, and surf vlogger extraordinaire, Ben Gravy, following a sketchy scenario on the North Shore of Oahu from a few years back.

And now, Gravys back to breakdown what exactly led to this near-death experience.

It all happened back in 2022, when Gravy  a New Jersey native  went to Hawaii to spend some time with a fellow surf vlogger, Jamie OBrien. But JOB, being one of the best to ever do it at Pipeline, perhaps overestimated Gravys ability at the worlds deadliest wave.

And Gravy nearly didnt make it out alive.

Pipeline is the worlds most famous, and probably the worlds deadliest wave, Gravy explains in a new video from Camp Gagnon. But, its the spotout of all surfing.

Gravy goes on to explain to the laypeople the mechanics of Pipeline  how it breaks, Backdoor vs. Pipe, the dangers, the glory, and the dreaded rip currents.

Related: Watch: Pipeline Wipeout Almost Kills Pro Surfer Koa Rothman

Theres this suction in between the reef [from Backdoor to Off-the-Wall], he continues. Its like a phenomenon tht happens. I was in between Backdoor and Off-the-Wall. I took a wave, and there was a set wave behind it. Youre never supposed to take the first wave of the set, because theres always a wave behind it. Next wave hits me, breaks my leash, and Im stuck in the vortex. I cant get to the surface. I was literally about to die.

Luckily, Gravy did not die. He went on to become one of the most popular players in the niche world of novelty wave surf vloggers.

But it just goes to show  know your limits, never test Pipelines fury.

***

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For a survivor of cultural genocide in Alaska, theres a need to reconnect to language, culture

The sun sets, from the beach in Shaktoolik, Alaska, in 2019. (Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs photo)

The sun sets, from the beach in Shaktoolik, Alaska, in 2019. Commentary author John Tetpon grew up in Shaktoolik. (Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs photo)

I dont have a Ph.D. behind my name, but I know more about cultural genocide than most people here in Alaska do, and more about it than most doctoral graduates anywhere else on the planet.

Being a victim of cultural genocide is a most painful form of suffering because it is unforgettable, even as youre constantly reminded to get over it. Non-Native writers who reiterate the things I am talking about  sympathetic as they may be  do not know what they are talking about. Their take is third hand; mine is first hand because I am the one who experienced it.

The remnants of the pain of cultural genocide have remained with me throughout my life. It is there  every day, 24-7.

My Inupiaq language was forced out of me by a Bureau of Indian Affairs teacher and a bar of Fels Naptha soap jammed into my mouth at the age of 6. In fact, all that happened on my first day of school in Shaktoolik. The offense was for speaking the only language Id ever known.

I remember being picked up off the floor by my neck and having the teacher (his name was Mr. Cohen) wrap his left arm around my head, with his big hand forcing a bar of soap into my mouth. I didnt understand. I couldnt understand. I thought he was trying to kill me by choking me to death. I could not breathe. I was gagging for air. Then he dropped me on the floor in a little heap.

He had an older student tell me in Inupiaq, in front of all the other students, that none of us were allowed to speak our language.

Western religious dogma, as taught in our churches everywhere in Alaska, also played a genocidal role. That, in my mind, has done the most damage, even more so than the ravages of alcohol and drug abuse, which, I maintain are symptoms of an illness rather than the cause.

In my opinion, and from my experience, it is religiosity that should be blamed for the dramatic upheaval and dislocation in Native society. We are a people who have felt out of place, looking for a place, since the coming of the white teachers and white missionaries, and living in constant fear.

It is not just wrong, but genocidal, to kill the spirit of a people by telling them they came from the Devil, and that everything about their nature and heritage is bad and sinful. Oh, and that they are all destined for hell if they dont conform to the new way. I have heard that all of my life. But for me, things are a lot different today.

That change took place a long time ago, but fear of reprisals and abuse from Native people who practice Western religious dogma silenced the urge for me to talk about it.

Im now 81 years old and Im comfortable with myself. Ill talk about my experiences with anyone who will listen. Most wont.

My search for an answer began in the 1980s. I wanted to know where I came from and maybe if I was lucky, where I might be going. And I connected with my past, with the generations of my ancestors who came before me, but I was left with nothing to hang on to.

The BIA teachers had taken my language and put it in a trash bag. The missionaries took away my songs and dances because those practices, they said, came from the devil. They also took away my generational history, including place names and family history.

What kept us together as Native people was erased completely. What replaced was another peoples concept of heaven, hell, and  fear.

In the midst of all that, the church commanded that we not talk about our stories, our songs, and our dances: If you do, youre going to hell. That was the word. I listened and I obeyed.

Heaven, with its streets of gold and mansions for all sounded like a good deal. Hell, a place where one would burn alive forever, was a fearsome place. In the effort to avoid hell, I must have gotten saved a thousand times.

The search for truth for me, just for me, and not anyone else, took me back toward my ancestral beliefs. I wanted to know what my forefathers were like and how they lived.

We knew there was a God before the missionaries came, my father once said. We called it sela.

Then, he began telling me stories about his childhood and growing up on Nunivak Island where shamanism was practiced in the 1920s and 1930s. We would talk about that forbidden inner sanctum of the Inupiat world.

One day, I gathered up enough inner strength to ask my mother about shamanism. Shaman were good people who healed the sick, she said. But the missionaries were afraid of them because they had supernatural powers.

The missionaries told us lies about the shamans.

Were there good shaman and bad shaman? I asked. No, she said. They were all good people. The idea of good and bad shaman came from somewhere else, she said.

Then came the surprise of my young life.

Whats my Inupiat name? I asked. It is Nasoalook, she said. He was the last living shaman in the Unalakleet and Shaktoolik area, she added. It was later in my life that, perhaps in my 60s, that I found out shaman powers are passed on by parents who name a child after a shaman and one who would also have the same powers. That would be me.

I havent delved into that inner and outer world because I dont know enough about it. But I am curious. And I am forever searching.

My dad told me about an old Yupik man who was dying at the old Native hospital, then located at 3rd and Gambell in Anchorage. He was a shaman, Dad said.

His last days were in the summer of 1969. Dad said he excitedly told the old man that an American was walking on the surface of the moon.

Thats nothing, The old man replied in his Yupik language. Ive been there.

In 2010, I had my first heart attack. That event took me to what I like to refer to as the other side. All I can remember of the ambulance ride from Muldoon Road to the Alaska Regional Hospital was the medic telling the driver: You better step on it, were going to lose him.

They lost me. And then revived me.

Long story short, that story taught me one thing  there isnt a heaven and there isnt a hell. That I can say for sure.

My second heart event was in 2011. Luckily, I was at the Alaska Native Medical Center on Tudor Road, and was at the Cardiology Clinic for an appointment. I felt a sharp pain in my chest and walked to the counter and said: Im having a heart attack and Im going to die right here.

A nurse came about abruptly and said: No, youre not! and quickly wheeled me to the emergency room, whereupon I was transported once again to Alaska Regional for another operation. I now have two stents in my heart.

In the final analysis, the missionaries tried to snuff out my ancestral linkages, but failed. I am still in touch. And I am very comfortable with it.

About that thing we call death. 

What would it take to make me whole? Give me back my language. Give me back my songs, dances, stories and familial connections. Give me back my history.

My experience is that although our present body will cease to operate, we will never die. Instead, we will continue to traverse the universe, going from one galaxy to another, until it, too, disappears.

Letting go of the concept of heaven and hell has ended that constant, never-ending fear in my life, and for that I am grateful.

What would it take to make me whole? Give me back my language. Give me back my songs, dances, stories and familial connections. Give me back my history.

As Canadian Native actor Chief Dan George once said to Clint Eastwood in The Outlaw Josey Wales  We must endeavor to persevere.

I couldnt agree more.

The post For a survivor of cultural genocide in Alaska, theres a need to reconnect to language, culture appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Visitors can travel the world in Ohio by visiting towns named after foreign metropolises like Athens, Berlin, Medina, Dublin, or Lima (all localized with Ohioans' unique pronunciations, of course). This sign for the intersection of Summit Street and Tibet Road is in Clintonville.

In Columbus Clintonville neighborhood, you can take a stroll along Tibet Road or Delhi Avenue.

In North Linden, you can stand at the corner of Manchester Avenue and Dresden Street.

Or  perhaps after a night out in the Short North  you might find yourself stumbling down Peru Alley.

Its well-known that visitors can travel the world in Ohio by visiting towns named after foreign metropolises like Athens, Berlin, Medina, Dublin, or Lima (all localized with Ohioans' unique pronunciations, of course).

But Columbus itself has a sizable list of international toponyms contained in its street names.

More than 115 roadway names in Franklin County share their names with foreign countries, cities, rivers or mountain ranges, a Dispatch analysis found. Of those, the majority match place names in Northern and Western Europe, followed by Eastern Europe and elsewhere around the world.

You can zoom in on the interactive map in this article to find streets near you. The streets are color-coded according to where in the world their names come from.

Some of Columbus international street names  like East and West Frankfort Street, Bremen Street, and Aberdeen Avenue  reflect the citys 19th and early 20th century history as a home for immigrants from Germany and the British Isles.

Other streets  like Dublin Road  are named after local places that are in turn named after foreign places.

But often street names were given by developers whose reasoning was not made clear in the plat records they left behind, which are maintained by the Franklin County recorder.

Franklin County has a sizable list of international toponyms including Norway Drive near Kenny Road on the Northwest Side.

The names may reflect developers personal interests, or they might reflect the popular imagination of the time.

Tibet Road, for example, was named in 1901  a time when the British-Russian imperial rivalry known as the Great Game was playing out in the Himalayan region.

Mecca Road was named by the Eastern Realty Company in 1926, the same year that T.E. Lawrence gained fame for publishing The Seven Pillars of Wisdom," about his role as a military advisor to Bedouin tribes fighting the Ottoman Empire during World War I. (Lawrence was later the subject of the book and film Lawrence of Arabia.")

In downtown Columbus, many street names originated from surveyor Joel Wright, whom the Ohio General Assembly hired in 1812 to lay out the town that would become the state capital. Some of Wrights names have since been changed by city ordinances, but many like High, Broad, State, Town, Rich and Mound  have survived, according to local historian and author Ed Lentz.

Columbus has a sizable list of streets that share names with foreign countries, cities, rivers or mountain ranges such as this sign for Peru Alley on the North Side.

But most of Columbus international toponyms are found outside of Downtown. Some are mysterious.

Why did a developer choose the name Delhi Avenue in 1892?

Why did The Columbus Lands Company in 1909 name a Clintonville street Amazon Place?

This was more than a century before the founding of the online retail and web services giant. One online history forum suggests that Amazon was an alteration of the name of a previous owner of the land, Amason Webster. Perhaps the spelling was changed to make the street sound exotic.

In recent decades, new streets continue to be named by developers as they create plats for subdivisions.

Some choose international toponyms that clearly seek to evoke vacation destinations: Aruba Drive, Antigua Drive, Bermuda Bay Drive. (The latter two were named in 2022.)

However, few of the new street names reflect where Columbus' current immigrant groups come from  countries like Somalia, Nepal, Bhutan and countries in Latin America.

More: It's a long and winding road to new street names

Have you been to these streets with international names?

Amsterdam Avenue

Andes Court

Antigua Drive

Aruba Drive

Australia Alley

Bremen Street

Cyprus Court

Delhi Avenue

Denmark Road

Dresden Street

E and W Frankfort Street

Finland Avenue

Florence Avenue

Fuji Drive

Geneva Avenue

Genoa Place

Lisbon Drive

Malay Road

Mecca Road

Medina Avenue

Melbourne Place

Milan Drive

Norway Drive

Peru Alley

Riga Alley

Rome Way

Tibet Road

Venice Drive

How to look up early plat records

If youre interested in finding out when a street in Franklin County was named and who named it, the place to start is with the Franklin County Recorder, which keeps digitized records of plats  some dating to the early 19th century.

Gail Wilson, a surveyor with the Franklin County Engineers office, explained to The Dispatch how to access plat records.

First, visit the county engineers online GIS map at: www.franklincountyengineer.org/survey_data_control/. Find the oldest-dated plat that contains the roadway of interest. You can see the date when you click on any given plat. Then, note the plat book number and page.

Next, visit the Franklin County Recorders search page, https://franklin.oh.publicsearch.us/. In the search bar, enter the book number followed by a backslash, then the page number (e.g. 34/110 for book 34, page 110). In the search results, choose the document that says plat.

Note that some street names were changed after their original plat designation. Changes by Columbus city ordinance may be kept by the Columbus clerk, according to Jerry Ryser with the citys Department of Public Service.

A plat record from 1901 showing the creation of Tibet Road.

Peter Gill covers immigration, New American communities and religion for the Dispatch in partnership with Report for America. You can support work like his with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America at:bit.ly/3fNsGaZ.

pgill@dispatch.com

@pitaarji

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Tibet Road, Peru Alley: Columbus' street names reflect greater world
Tourists stand in front of the Doge's Palace, where an exhibition on the Asian traveller Marco Polo (presumably 1254-1924) has opened. Venice is commemorating the 700th anniversary of the death of its most famous citizen with this major exhibition. Christoph Sator/dpa

Venice is commemorating its most famous citizen Marco Polo with a major exhibition to mark the 700th anniversary of his death.

The show, which opened in early April, features excavated finds, maps and books and can be seen in the Doge's Palace until September 29. It also includes loans from many countries that the merchant from the Italian lagoon city travelled to, from Armenia to Mongolia and China.

The exhibition "I Mondi di Marco Polo" ("The Worlds of Marco Polo") is one of the highlights of a year of Marco Polo events in Venice.

The city, which now has fewer than 50,000 permanent residents, is trying to attract even more visitors to Venice, even as the city grapples with the problem of mass tourism. This year's carnival was also organized under the motto of "The Amazing Journey of Marco Polo".

The most famous Venetian to this day is believed to have been born into a family of merchants in 1254. His father and uncle were already doing business in the Far East.

Together with them, Marco Polo set off on a journey in 1271 - when he was only 17 years old - that took him as far as Asia. He only returned to his home town almost a quarter of a century later.

He then reported on his adventures in a widely read book, which was eventually given the title "Il Milione". He died in his home town at the age of almost 70 as a highly respected merchant.

There are doubts about some of the accounts of his travels, but overall they are regarded as reliable testimony of the time.

More than 300 artefacts are on display in the Doge's Palace. These include the handwritten will and early editions of his adventures.

One drawing of a young merchant is described as follows: "This is the noble knight Marcho Polo of Venice, the greatest land traveller, who describes the great wonders of the world to us".

However the picture is pure fiction: Nobody knows what Marco Polo actually looked like. There is no credible portrait from his lifetime.

In Italy, many people still associate his appearance with his supposed likeness on the earlier 1,000 lire note: an older, stern-looking man with long white hair and a full beard.

In a Hollywood film from 1938, to which the exhibition refers, he was meanwhile portrayed by a clean-shaven Gary Cooper. A bust of Marco Polo from the 19th century with a bald head can also be seen in the Doge's Palace.

To mark the 700th anniversary of the legendary traveller's death, museums from all over the world provided exhibits from countries that Marco Polo travelled through at the time: Chinese art from various dynasties, but also finds from Armenia, Mongolia and Iran.

In addition, the house in which Marco Polo lived after his return to Venice is reconstructed on screens with the help of software. A plaque now hangs on the new building that stands there today, very close to the Rialto Bridge.

There is still no monument to Marco Polo in the lagoon city. This exhibition is the next best thing.

A German-language book from the 15th century is on display in the Marco Polo exhibition. Venice is commemorating its most famous citizen Marco Polo (probably 1254-1324) with a major exhibition to mark the 700th anniversary of his death. The show features excavation finds, maps and books and can be seen in the Doge's Palace until September 29. Christoph Sator/dpa
Six Sacramento-area restaurants battled on Guy Fieris new Food Network show. Heres who won

One of the best bites in the Sacramento region can be found at a longtime hot dog operation, according to Food Network.

The Hotdogger at 129 E St. in Davis was crowned the winner of the first episode of Best Bite in Town for its chicken Thai sausage with Thai salsa. This is food connoisseur and superstar Guy Fieris newest venture.

As of Tuesday morning, restaurant representatives were not available for comment.

Best known as the longtime host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Fieri has helmed a series of shows and specials, including Guys Grocery Games, Tournament of Champions and Guys Ranch Kitchen, and launched several restaurants.

Fieris latest project is Best Bite in Town, where he dispatches actor and TV presenter Noah Cappe and a revolving lineup of chefs to explore the local food scene in cities across the country, according to a news release.

For years, Ive been rollin out to towns big and small lookin for joints serving up amazing dishes. But no matter how many miles I put on the Camaro, I just cant fit em all into (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives), Fieri said in the release. So, Ive called in my buddy Noah Cappe and the Bite Club to help me out and they are hittin the road to find some killer small-town dishes on their own.

Fieri serves as executive producer on the show.

The Davis episode

In the first episode, which aired Sunday, April 7, Fieri sends his pal Cappe to Davis in search of some killer small-town dishes.

Cappe teams up with chefs Tiffani Faison and Jet Tila (the Bite Club) and samples dishes from the citys six most popular restaurants.

The episode concludes with a culinary competition filmed at Central Park, 301 C St. in Davis, according to Davis Farmers Market.

The Davis Farmers Market is seen in February 2024. A number of vendors will be featured in new Food Network show Best Bite in Town.

Its more than just finding the best bite in town, said Cappe, whose credits include Good Witch and The Bachelorette Canada. Its about celebrating the heart and flavor of each community.

The Hotdogger beat Japanese restaurant Hikari Sushi & Omakase, restaurant and brewery Sudwerk Brewing Co., restaurant and bar Tommy Js Grill & Catering, dessert company Handheld Sweet & Savory Pies, and poke restaurant Zumapoke & Lush Ice.

You can catch the Davis episode again on Saturday, April 20..

The Hottdogger in Davis

Founded in 1984, The Hottdoger remains in its original brick-and-mortar on E Street.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The family-owned business locally sources its dogs and buns because a wiener is just a wiener without a great set of buns, according to its website.

Outside its physical location, the business serves its food at Davis schools, apartments, birthday celebrations, weddings and the Davis Farmers Market.

THE MENU

The Hotdoggers menu is vast, with hot dog and sausage options like the $9 Hot Italian assembled with mild Italian-style pork and sausage, and the $8 Veggie Tofu Dog served on a sprouted whole wheat roll.

Specialty dishes like the $10 Gut Bomb with hot salsa and the $10 Guac Dog with guacamole are designed for the adventurous eaters.

Fries range from $4 to $6 depending on the toppings.

Two types of potato salad ($3), chili ($4) and chips ($2 to $3) are also on the menu.

Which other cities are showcased?

Davis isnt the only Northern California city on the list.

In a later episode, Cappe joins forces with chefs Aarti Sequeira and Joe Sasto to check out the best restaurants in Placerville.

The episode is slated to air for the first time at 9 p.m. on Friday, April 26.

The rest of the show finds Cappe and his crew exploring the dining scenes in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Joplin, Missouri; Paducah, Kentucky; Clarksville, Tennessee, and on New Haven, Connecticut.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
A person was hospitalized after a plane crashed at an Ohio airport last weekend.

>>Firefighters respond to house fire in Dayton

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport wrote on social media that there was an incident involving a small private aircraft and emergency responders were dispatched to the scene.

Two people were in the plane and medics transported one to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

State troopers said the plane touched down on the runway, bounced, and then nosed-dived into the runway. Impairment is not suspected in the crash, state troopers indicated.

The airfield reopened just after 7:15 p.m., airport officials said.

The FAA has been notified and will be investigating.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Authorities are searching for a suspect after a person was shot four times near a high school in Tampa Monday afternoon.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office, deputies were called to 6807 North Manhattan Avenue, which is about 0.3 miles away from Leto High School in Tampa, around 2:43 p.m. for reports of shots fired.

Gator bursts through Venice womans screen door, settles in kitchen

When HCSO arrived, they found a victim suffering from four gunshot wounds. The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

At this time, no arrests have been made; however, deputies said there is no threat to the public.

This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
DENVER (KDVR)  One person was extricated and taken to the hospital after a crash on the frontage road near Holly Street and Interstate 70.

At around 6 a.m. on Tuesday, SkyFOX flew over a crash near the highway that involved a semi and an RV.

The Denver Fire Department confirmed to FOX31 that they responded to a pretty significant crash and had to extricate one patient.

See the latest traffic conditions in Denver on FOX31

The Denver Police Department said officers were investigating the crash on the westbound exit ramp. DPD said the crash involved two drivers, and one was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Police said the I-70 frontage road was closed and North Holly Street was closed in both directions. However, all roads have since reopened.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
DENVER (KDVR)  Glendale police have arrested a suspect in connection to a shooting that killed a 20-year-old man. Police are still looking for two more suspects.

On Tuesday, the Glendale Police Department confirmed on X that officers took the female suspect, 21-year-old Sarah Sandoval into custody. Sandoval was arrested in Texas and police are working on her extradition to Colorado.

Officers are still looking for information on the whereabouts of 22-year-old Caleb Choice and a second suspect who has yet to be identified.

Choice is described by police as a possible dark skin male, with a distinct tattoo on the back of his left hand with the word Loyalty written in cursive. He was wearing a dark Nike hoodie, black pants and a belt possibly with rhinestones on it.

I just want justice: Family speaks out after son killed in Glendale shooting

The second suspect is also described by police as a possible dark skin male. He is taller with a medium build, and last seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt.

Glendale police believe Choice and the unidentified suspect are possibly in Texas and could be traveling to Florida.

Police in Glendale are looking for three suspects in a deadly shooting that happened at the Urban Phenix Apartments early on April 5, 2024. Suspect 3 is described as a man with possibly dark skin and a distinct tattoo on the back of his left hand. GPD said he was wearing a dark Nike hoodie, black pants and a belt possibly with rhinestones on it. (Glendale Police Department)

Police in Glendale are looking for three suspects in a deadly shooting that happened at the Urban Phenix Apartments early on April 5, 2024. Suspect 3 is described as a man with possibly dark skin and a distinct tattoo on the back of his left hand. GPD said he was wearing a dark Nike hoodie, black pants and a belt possibly with rhinestones on it. (Glendale Police Department)

Police in Glendale are looking for three suspects in a deadly shooting that happened at the Urban Phenix Apartments early on April 5, 2024. Suspect 2 is described as a taller man with possibly dark skin and a medium build. GPD said he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt. (Glendale Police Department)

The three suspects are wanted in connection to a shooting that killed Gianni Fernandez inside his Glendale apartment.

Family just wants justice

FOX31s Alliyah Sims spoke to Fernandezs family on Sunday.

Evil came into my sons apartment that night, this was all planned, this was all premeditated, Fernandezs dad said.

Fernandezs mom said he was catfished by a woman whom he had been speaking to on Instagram for the past two months. When the woman, identified as Sandoval, came to town, Fernandez invited her over.

Shortly after entering Fernandezs apartment, police said Sandoval was later seen opening the security gate of the complex to allow two masked men inside.

Aggressive driving may have been a factor in deadly E-470 crash

Fernandezs dad said Diego Torres, his sons best friend, was there at the time. He ran to see what was going on. As he approached the room, he heard a gunshot. As he was trying to protect his friend, he was also struck by the gunfire. He went to the hospital in critical condition.

Nine bullets he took, Fernandezs mom said. He told me he wanted to make sure they didnt shoot Gianni anymore and then he ran and covered him and took all those shots in the back. So, Diego is a hero in our eyes.

Unfortunately, Fernandez died on scene after the woman shot him, his dad said.

I think they came to rob him, and things just went south, he said.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Choice and the second suspect is asked to call Glendale police at 303-639-4308 or email Officer John Quintana at JQuintana@glendale.co.us.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
13-year-old playing with Nerf guns mistakenly killed with real gun, Arizona cops say

A teenager playing with Nerf guns died when a man mistakenly fired a real gun at him, Arizona police reported.

Earlric Reynolds, 13, died at a hospital after being shot around 1:15 p.m. Sunday, April 7, the Phoenix Police Department said in a news release.

Earlric and an 18-year-old man were playing with Nerf guns when the 18-year-old pulled out a real gun and mistakenly fired, fatally injuring the teen, police said.

The 18-year-old and others moved the teen to the parking lot of an apartment building, and the man hid the gun, police said.

He was arrested on charges of manslaughter, misconduct involving weapons and tampering with evidence, police said.

An investigation into the shooting continues, police said.

Pack of wolf-type feral dogs rampages through community, California cops say

Accused serial peeper caught sneaking onto roof of Monterey hotel, California cops say

Remains of man not seen for nearly a year found in remote wetlands, Utah cops say
On the morning of April 9, explosions occur red in the Voronezh region of Russia near the Borisogleb Aviation Training Center. The building was damaged, according to Russian media, due to a drone attack.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Ministry of Defense of the aggressor country reported the "downing" of four UAVs on the territory of the Russian Federation and an alleged missile over Crimea. The incident was reported by Russian Telegram channels.

According to residents of Borysoglebsk, explosions began to be heard in the city around 04:00 on Tuesday. The video captured the moment of arrival against the backdrop of firing by the "vaunted" Russian air defense system, which was trying to neutralize the target in the sky.

The governor of the Voronezh region claimed that "one drone was shot down over the region," but would not say which institution it was trying to hit.

ADVERTISIMENT

ASTRA, which positions itself as a publication of independent Russian journalists, clarified that it was the Borisogleb Aviation Training Center named after V.P. Chkalov.

According to his sources, the institution was attacked by two drones in total: both exploded, damaging the building's facade and windows. No one was reportedly injured.

For its part, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported "four downed UAVs" over the territories of the Belgorod and Voronezh regions of the Russian Federation, as well as a "destroyed" Neptune missile allegedly over the coast of the temporarily occupied Crimea.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries are forcing Russia to look for gasoline imports from Kazakhstan. Moscow has already asked Astana to create an "emergency reserve" of 100,000 metric tons of fuel for it.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
14-year-old goes to ER with hoarse voice  and doctors find coin wedged in his throat

A teenage boy arrived at an emergency room in California struggling to swallow and sounding hoarse.

He had a quarter in his airway.

The 14-year-old had spent the last six hours in discomfort after he told doctors he had accidentally swallowed the coin, according to a case report published in The New England Journal of Medicine on April 3.

He wasnt having issues breathing, so doctors took X-rays of his chest to see where the coin was lodged.

Where the throat met his chest, the quarter had turned and aligned vertically in his airway, allowing air to pass, but was stuck between his vocal cords and trachea, according to the case report.

A healthy 14yo boy presented with a 6-hour history of hoarseness & difficulty swallowing after having accidentally swallowed a coin. Bronchoscopy showed a coin situated vertically within the subglottis (shown in a video). Full clinical case: https://t.co/joKejyAfQu #MedTwitter pic.twitter.com/PCEyvyAayw  NEJM (@NEJM) April 5, 2024

When aspirated into the airway by older children, foreign bodies typically lodge more distally than in this case (in the trachea or a mainstem bronchus), owing to gravity and the larger airway size, the doctors said. Airway foreign bodies  especially those in the trachea and larynx  necessitate immediate removal to reduce the risk of respiratory compromise.

The doctors acted quickly and sedated the 14-year-old to perform a bronchoscopy, or entrance into the airway, using a grabbing tool.

The coin was pulled from his throat, and only minimal damage was left behind, the doctors said. His symptoms went away when the coin was removed and he was sent home, according to the case report.

What to do if a child swallows a coin

If you believe your child, no matter the age, may have swallowed or inhaled a coin, it is important to contact their pediatrician right away, according to Upstate Medical University.

If the child is having difficulty breathing or swallowing, go to the emergency room right away. If the child is acting normally, consult with their primary care provider.

In most cases, doctors will suggest allowing the coin to pass naturally if it has been swallowed, said Gregory Conners, executive director of Upstate Golisano Childrens Hospital.

If you are unsure if the child swallowed a coin, a magnet or a battery, go to the emergency room right away, according to the university.

Toddler had battery in throat for 5 weeks, parents say. Now hes trying to eat again

Alligator needs procedure after swallowing 70 coins at Nebraska zoo, officials say

Gummy candy leaves toddler paralyzed for the rest of her life, familys lawsuit says

Man pinches nose to stop sneeze and rips his windpipe open. Its a first, doctors say
2 migrants rescued in Bootheel region of New Mexico

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Border Patrol agents, working the Lordsburg, New Mexico area, rescued two distressed and dehydrated migrants in the Bootheel region over the weekend.

That is according to an X post made by El Paso Sector Border Patrol Chief Anthony Scott Good.

Photos courtesy of El Paso Sector Border Patrol Chief Anthony Scott Good

The migrants were rescued in what is described as a remote location near Playas, New Mexico. No other details of the rescue were provided in the social media post.

Also over the weekend, agents working in the Ysleta area of El Paso provided medical aid to a migrant, Good said in the same social media post.

For far this fiscal year, Border Patrol agents in the El Paso Sector have rescued 308 people, Good said.

The El Paso Sector includes all of New Mexico.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
On Monday, April 8, 2024, parts of the United States saw the rare total solar eclipse. So many people waited outside with their protective glasses, just to witness the unbelievable sight.

The 2024 solar eclipse was so popular, it began trending on social media and had excessive media coverage throughout the day. With the popularity of this rare event, many are wondering when the next time theyll have a chance to catch this remarkable sighting.

2024 Solar Eclipse Was One In A Million

MEGA

A Pennsylvania resident spoke to CBS, expressing, "I think it's really cool to be able to witness and have totality where I live. I think it's really one in a million, you know? I'm also really excited for a bunch of new people to get to come into Erie and kind of see what we have to offer other than just the lake, the summer stuff, and all the stuff that everybody already knows about.

Those who were not in the totality range were willing to drive hours to see the total solar eclipse.

Another resident said, "I thought it was pretty neat. The kids were thinking it was going to be a lot darker out, so I think they were a little surprised by that, but I think it was a pretty cool experience.

When Is The Next Solar Eclipse?

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The 2024 total solar eclipse has come to an end, but there will be an annular solar eclipse that will be visible in South America on October 2, 2024.

NASA says on March 29, 2025, a partial eclipse will be visible in parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean, plus, on September 21, 2025, there will be a partial eclipse in parts of Australia, Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean.

The next total solar eclipse wont occur until August of 2026, and it will be visible from Greenland, Iceland, and Spain.

When Will The United States See Another Solar Eclipse?

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For those in the U.S. who didnt have a chance to witness the rare total solar eclipse, youll have to wait until August 2044 to see the next one. The path and totality will be different from 2024s. Next time it will only pass through Montana and the Dakotas.

Another eclipse, set for 2045, will have a coast-to-coast path of totality.

While the 2024 eclipse may be over, there are several other exciting events to see, including several meteor showers ahead. The Lyrid meteor shower will occur later this month and is expected to peak April 21-22.

Astronomy fans can also look forward to the Eta Aquariids, peaking May 4-5; the Perseids, peaking August 12-13; and the Geminids, peaking December 13-14.

People Share Their Total Solar Eclipse Experience

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Many took to social media to share photos, videos, and their experience of seeing the total solar eclipse on April 8, including Bobby and Carrin Carlisle, who traveled from Atlanta to Mazatlan, Mexico to see the rare happening.

"The whole thing, it happened, 4 and half minutes. It felt like it was 25 seconds, Carrin told The Weather Channel. Everyone started screaming to begin with. And then totality happened, and we looked over the ocean, and the colors on the ocean, you didn't even know where to look.

She added, It was so, almost overstimulating, just wanting to see everything. And people were hugging, and kissing, and yelling, and it was just, it was an amazing experience."

Allison Wrabel, who watched from Strongsville, Ohio, told the outlet, "Neighbors were shooting off fireworks and people were cheering, it was like a cooler Fourth of July.

Adding, "The lighting was so different than a sunset or at night because the coverage happened so quickly and you could still see the sun from areas that werent in totality."

Always Protect Your Eyes During A Solar Eclipse

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One of the most important things to consider when trying to look at the rare solar eclipse is to protect your eyes. While there is no safe dose of solar ultraviolet rays or infrared radiation, according to an ophthalmologist (retinal specialist) Dr. Yehia Hashad, it is important to be cautious because a very small dose could cause harm to some people.

That's why we say the partial eclipse could also be damaging, he told CBS. And that's why we protect our eyes with the partial as well as with the full sun."
21-Year-Old Survives Near Drowning After Going at Least 5 Minutes Without a Pulse, Authorities Say

The victim, identified by local media outlets as Felipe Ribeiro Desouza, has since "made a full recovery"

facebook.com/VolusiaSheriff Felipe Ribeiro DeSouza (bottom right) with first responders

Authorities in Florida said a 21-year-old man went at least five minutes without a pulse before he was resuscitated following a near drowning incident on March 30

Felipe Ribeiro Desouza was reportedly caught in a riptide off of New Smyrna Beach and swept out to sea, where he lost consciousness and his heart stopped beating

The man regained his pulse just as the ambulance he was in arrived at a local hospital, according to New Smyrna Beach Fire Department

A 21-year-old man has made a full recovery after he nearly drowned off a Florida beach and spent at least five minutes without a pulse, according to local authorities.

Felipe Ribeiro Desouza was in the water at New Smyrna Beach on Saturday, March 30 when he was caught in a riptide swept out to sea, according to Fox affiliate WSVN and NBC affiliate WESH.

The swimmer was pulled about 100 yards out in the ocean by the current, and was unresponsive with no pulse when lifeguards brought him to shore, the Volusia County Sheriffs Office said in a release posted to Facebook.

Body camera footage shared by the VCSO shows the moment Ribeiro Desouza was brought to shore on a stretcher. It later shows crews doing CPR on the victim before he is loaded into an ambulance waiting on the beach.

Related: U.S. Coast Guard Rescues 2 Children and 3 Adults 'Clinging Onto' Capsized Boat in Florida

At a press conference, also shared by the VCSO, Dalton Smith, a lifeguard with the Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue, said the main thing he thought about was to work fast.

Two boogie boarders had picked up Ribeiro Desouzas body and put him on one of their boards before they connected with Smith in the water, according to WESH. Deputy Stan Manhart began CPR before the victim was back to shore.

The man was without a pulse for about five to seven minutes, said New Smyrna Beach Fire Department driver and engineer Ty Tarnow, per WESH and WSVN.



Ribeiro Desouza regained his pulse just as the ambulance arrived at the hospital, Tarnow said at a press conference shared by the VCSO. He later revealed that Ribeiro Desouza has made a full recovery following the scary incident, adding, Its just a miracle this young man was able to pull through.



Related: Stranded Couple and 4 Dogs Rescued After Getting Lost in Everglades: 'Like a Needle in a Needle Stack'

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The VCSO thanked ocean rescue lifeguards, deputies, the New Smyrna Beach FD and the team at AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach for their quick actions in response to the incident.

Tarnow also applauded the first responders who handled the case. It was amazing to see all the departments in the area come together to do such great life saving procedures, he said at the press conference.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
A recent college graduate suing Elon Musk for defamation is now taking on Musks celebrity attorney, Alex Spiro. In a motion for sanctions filed Monday, Benjamin Brody accuses Spiro of representing Musk in Texas without credentials in the state and behaving in an astonishingly unprofessional manner during a deposition in March.

He continually interrupted the deposition with commentary, gave numerous improper instructions not to answer, berated opposing counsel, insulted Plaintiffs claims, mocked counsels questions, and generally acted in the most obnoxious manner one could contemplate without crossing into parody, the motion, filed in Texas district court, alleges.

The filing claims that Spiro repeatedly interjected during the questioning, called the case stupid, and jeeringly told the plaintiffs counsel, I know this is your big day in the sun. You're running out of time.

Spiro, a Harvard Law grad, has developed a reputation for aggressively defending the powerful and ultra-rich. His clients have included New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Jay-Z, alleged millennial fraudster Charlie Javice, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. He sought approval to represent Musk in Texas earlier this year, but the request is still pending.

Brody sued Musk in October and accused the billionaire of boosting a conspiracy that falsely suggested he was affiliated with neo-Nazis.

The dispute was the result of widespread misinformation on X. Last June, as The Daily Beast previously reported, two factions of far-right extremists came to blows at an event in Oregon. The fighters wore ski masks, but in the scuffle, two of their masks were yanked off. After a clip of the brawl was posted online, vigilante X users falsely identified Brody, who is Jewish, as one of the participants.

Some of the crackpot investigators then claimed that Brodys supposed involvement was proof of a false flag conspiracy. Musk interacted with multiple posts about Brody. For instance, he wrote in response to an article about the 22-year-old: Looks like one is a college student (who wants to join the govt) and another is maybe an Antifa member, but nonetheless a probable false flag situation.

The claim was baseless, Brody said in his lawsuit, and according to Mondays filing, the billionaires sources were two X accounts with the usernames DrFrensor and MattWallace888.

In Musks deposition, which Spiro pushed to keep confidential, he conceded that he did not research Brody on his own before publicly speculating on his involvement. But he downplayed the effect of his tweet to his 145 million followers, saying, People are attacked all the time in the media, online media, social media, but it is rare that that actually has a meaningful negative impact on their life.

Brody, however, said he had to flee his home as a result of Musks comments.

Mondays motion emphasized that Musk has previously admitted to posting impulsively on X. For instance, he once told his biographer Walter Isaacson, Ive shot myself in the foot so often I ought to buy some Kevlar boots, the filing noted. He also allegedly told Isaacson, My tweets are like Niagara Falls sometimes and they come too fast Just dip a cup in there and try to avoid the random turds. (Musk said in his deposition that he was likening activity on X in general to Niagara Falls, not his posts in particular.)

A lawyer for Brody declined to comment on Tuesday. In a statement, a representative for Spiro said, This is amateur hour. I understand [Brodys lawyer] wants his 15 minutes of fame, but these shakedown tactics wont work.

He possesses a plainspoken charm that clients and juries find beguiling, The New Yorker wrote in a 2023 profile about Spiro. With that common touch, hes come to specialize in protecting the rich and famous from the consequences of their poorest decisions.

Brodys motion for sanctions argues that Musks deposition was disastrous for the billionaire but could have gone even worse without Spiros obstruction. It also raised questions about whether Musk improperly deleted an alleged alias account on X that may have been pertinent to the case.

The account, @ermnmusk, was apparently deleted on Feb. 21, the same day the court issued an order outlining discovery materials in the case. In other words, after almost a year of inactivity on the account and with no recent public discussion about it, it appears Musk chose to delete the account, the motion declares. That, it continues, is either intentional spoliation or an extraordinary longshot coincidence.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Tyler Coenraads of N.C. got out of the vehicle he was in and pushed a 73-year-old to the ground before fleeing, police allege

Buncombe County Detention Center Tyler Coenraads

A 24-year-old North Carolina man is facing a murder charge after he was seen getting out of a car and shoving an elderly man to the ground in a deadly road rage incident, authorities allege.

Tyler Coenraads of Asheville was arrested on Monday and charged with second-degree murder after allegedly assaulting Gregory William Martin, 73, who later died from injuries he sustained when he was pushed to the ground, the Asheville Police Department said in a statement.

The charges stem from a Feb. 29 incident, when police responded to a crosswalk at the exit ramp of I-240 and Haywood Road in Asheville to investigate an alleged assault on a pedestrian.

Martin, the pedestrian, can be seen on surveillance video at the intersection hitting the hood of a vehicle that was stopped at a light as he started to cross the road, the APD said in a statement.

The vehicle, a white SUV, can be seen blocking the crosswalk in a video provided by the APD and obtained by the Citizen Times.

Martin can be seen throwing his arms up in the air and as he walks across the street before he turns around and approaches the vehicle, which pulled over to the side of the road.

Martin then walks away from the SUV. "The passenger then emerged from the vehicle and pushed the pedestrian to the ground, the APD alleges in the statement. Following the assault, the suspect re-entered the vehicle and then fled the scene.

Martin sustained severe head trauma and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Detectives launched an investigation and identified Coenraads as the suspect, the APD said in the statement. On March 8, he was charged with assault, inflicting serious bodily injury.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

He turned himself in to the Buncombe County Detention Facility on March 8 and was booked under a $5,000 secured bond and was later released. Four days later, Martin succumbed to his injuries.

Upon completion of the Asheville Police Department's investigation and of the State Medical Examiner's Office findings, along with consultation of Buncombe County District Attorney's Office, criminal charges were brought forth on Tyler Coenraads for Second Degree Murder, the APD said in the statement.

According to an April 5 warrant issued for Coenraads arrest obtained by the Citizen Times, he "unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did kill Gregory William Martin, another living human being, with malice."

Coenraads turned himself in on the newer charge on Monday. He is being held at the Buncombe County Detention Facility without bond.

Coenraads attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.



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Read the original article on People.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Three people in a Toyota Solara from the Bay Area were arrested on multiple charges after a Rite-Aide theft that led to a high-speed chase and subsequent crash, according to the Coalinga Police Department.

Police say on Sunday around 11:30 a.m., officers were called to the Rite-Aid in Coalinga regarding a theft that had just occurred.

Officers say two men entered the store wearing ski masks, walked behind the front counter, and began stealing various alcohol and nicotine products without saying anything.

The total estimated value of the stolen property was over $2,000. The two suspects then fled the store and got into a blue Toyota Solara, then fled.

According to police, they located the Solara parked at the gas pumps at the Valero Gas Station located on Sommerville Lane. The officer spotted the two suspects who matched the description of the suspects from the theft at Rite-Aid walking from the vehicle and approaching the front door of the Valero.

Police say both suspects were wearing ski masks which led the officer to suspect that they were about to commit a robbery or a theft at the Valero.

The officer said they activated their emergency lights, got out of his patrol vehicle, and confronted both suspects at gunpoint. The officer ordered the suspects to put their hands up and surrender, however, both suspects ignored the officers commands and retreated to the Solara.

The suspects pulled away from the fuel pump of the Valero while the pump was still being used by them, damaging the fuel pump, and got onto I-5, heading southbound.

The officer, who was still alone at the time, initiated a vehicle pursuit and began to pursue the suspects. The suspects fled and reached speeds of more than 120 miles per hour.

Police say the suspects weaved in and out of traffic and ran other vehicles off the roadway and onto the shoulder. The suspects, at times, even split the two southbound lanes of Interstate 5 in a continued effort to escape.

The Fresno County Sheriffs Office, Kings County Sheriffs Office, and the California Highway Patrol were requested and began to dispatch units to assist.

The officer pursued the suspects for approximately eight miles until the suspect vehicle lost control and rolled over several times, coming to rest in the northbound median of I-5. The two suspects, and an additional woman, were thrown from the vehicle upon crashing.

All three were taken into custody when assisting officers arrived.

Investigators say stolen property from the Rite-Aid was recovered from the vehicle and the scene. Officers were later informed that the suspects and the vehicle were involved in another theft at a Rite-Aid in the City of Lemoore, where approximately $1,000.00 worth of goods were stolen.

Police say all three suspects were from the Bay Area.

Police say the driver, identified as Armani Tyree Smith, of San Francisco. Armani has an extensive criminal history with firearm-related charges, robbery, carjacking, burglary, and theft.

Armani is currently on San Francisco County felony probation for carrying a loaded firearm in public and assault with a deadly weapon, as well as Alameda County felony probation for possession of stolen property.

Police identified the second suspect as Harold Joseph Armstrong III, who is from San Pablo.

According to police Harold has an extensive criminal history which includes charges of robbery, theft, stolen vehicles, carjacking, firearms possession, assault with a firearm, and discharge of a firearm. Harold was recently arrested in San Pablo in October 2023 for assault with a firearm on a person.

The woman was identified by police as Jordan Heaven Harris, who is from Oakland.

Police say Jordan has a criminal history which includes charges of robbery, battery, and theft.

Harold suffered major injuries to his hand during the collision and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The other two suspects were medically cleared and were later transported and booked into the Fresno County Jail.

All three suspects are being charged with multiple felony theft charges including, attempted robbery and felony evading.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
After 4 years in Kansas prison for dealing pot, couldnt even get a job at Pizza Hut | Opinion

Ken Shimer was in such a dark place he wanted to end his life. The convicted pot dealer from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, served close to four years in a Kansas prison until he was released on probation in 2022.

Thanks to encouragement from his daughter, Shimer no longer feels helpless, he told me recently.

Before he relocated back to South Carolina a little over a year ago, Shimer spent months in a work-release program in Wichita. Hes on probation in Kansas until July. He had trouble finding employment until he started his own business, but has no faith in our system.

Shimers story illustrates how Kansas war on drugs  specifically marijuana  can send formerly incarcerated individuals into a tailspin.

Pot is legal in bordering states Colorado, Oklahoma and Missouri. But in Kansas, the hunt for illicit drugs ensnared Shimer into a yearslong fight for freedom.

In 2019, Shimer was found guilty of possessing more than 60 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute and of having no drug tax stamp. He appealed the legality of the 2015 traffic stop that led to his arrest, but the verdict was upheld in appeals court in 2021, according to court documents.

Last month, Shimers post-conviction claim of ineffective counsel was shot down by Geary County District Court Judge Ryan W. Rosauer.

In his ruling, Rosauer concluded an acquittal was never in the cards for Shimer and defense attorneys were not to blame for his convictions.

Mr. Shimer was guilty of the offenses for which he was convicted, Rosauer wrote in court documents. The fact that defense counsel could not successfully motion Mr. Shimer out of a conviction is not indicative of ineffectiveness.

After his conviction, Shimer was sentenced to 52 months in prison. In January 2023, he moved back to his home state and spent the next few months trying to secure a steady job.

Planned to take his own life

No one wanted to hire a convicted pot dealer, he told me. A restaurant in his hometown rejected his application after his felony conviction was flagged.

I couldnt even get a job at Pizza Hut, Shimer told me. It was humiliating. It made you feel worthless.

At that point, hed had enough. Plans to take his own life were set in motion.

Shimer gave away treasured jewelry to his 28-year-old son, including his most prized possession  a gold ring encrusted with diamonds taken from engagement rings that belonged to his grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmothers.

These days, Shimer finds himself in a much better place mentally, emotionally and financially. He says an online hemp store he owns, Earthy Meds, is doing well. Hes traveled to South Korea to visit his only daughter who taught English courses there. Together theyve gone to Vietnam. Shimers 25-year-old daughter now lives in Thailand, he said. Hes been there, too.

Shes my pride and joy, Shimer said. He credits her with helping him get through tough times.

Although Shimer is a convicted felon, he can legally sell hemp products online under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, better known as the farm bill.

Cannabis products with no more than 0.3% THC  the active psychoactive compound found in pot  constitute lawful hemp and are not controlled substances under federal law, according to Shimer. Hemp products have medical uses, he said.

Last September, the bill expired. An extension will keep hemp legal until this fall. After that, Shimer has no clue whether Congress will authorize another extension.

I have zero faith in our current lawmakers, he said.

War on drugs violates 4th Amendment

I first became aware of Shimers case after some of his relatives reached out to me in August of 2021. Theyd read a column I wrote about a questionable traffic stop in Junction City, Kansas that led to the arrest of a Florida man found with 17 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle.

In both stops, drivers with out of state license plates were targeted and ticketed over minor traffic violations. Then, without consent or reasonable suspicion of criminal activity a drug-sniffing police dog was used to conduct exterior sweeps of the vehicles.

Shortly thereafter, the correspondence between Shimers family and myself began. I was sent video footage of his traffic stop. Shimer was pulled over for driving in the left lane without passing on Interstate 70 in Junction City. Because I saw no probable cause for the initial stop, it was fair to doubt the veracity of the search. But a motion to suppress evidence uncovered during the stop was denied before Shimer went to trial.

I hadnt written about Shimers case until now. I wanted to let the legal process play out but weve spoken often via text messages and phone calls in the past.

While I dont condone people trafficking large amounts of pot across state lines, I still maintain that law enforcement officials must follow the letter of the law when doing their jobs. In Kansas, officers in that states war on drugs routinely violated a drivers Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizures, a federal judge ruled last year.

Shimer is a former real estate broker and property manager. He fought for years for his freedom but ultimately the law won. He says he refuses to go back down the road of illegal pot dealing. Plus, hes thankful for the opportunity to make honest wages in the hemp business.

If somebody can drink a beer, then they should be able to smoke a joint, Shimer said.

Legally, they can  just not in Kansas.

Kansas is ruining peoples lives and throwing them in jail, he continued. Its unfair, unjust and un-American.

Shimer questions whether arresting nonviolent offenders like him is worth the risk officers take in potentially violating peoples constitutional rights.

Id have to say no, not in the least.
I-40 and I-55 backed up due to eclipse traffic, ARDOT says

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Drivers are experiencing long delays on I-40 and I-55 heading toward Memphis due to residual eclipse traffic, ARDOT said.

In a post on X by the Arkansas Department of Transportation, they say that there are no wrecks and ask drivers to be patient.

A WREG reporter who is caught in the traffic told WREG that despite being only 16 miles away from the station, her GPS says it will take her an hour and a half to arrive.

The reporter added that things began to slow down around Forrest City, Ark., and got progressively heavier as they drove further down the highway.

Further complicating matters is that law enforcement is blocking exits to get to surface streets in Memphis and the I-55 bridge is down to one lane.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
In early April, the United States handed over thousands of assault rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, and anti-tank grenade launchers to Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers also received more than half a million rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

ADVERTISIMENT

The transferred weapons were seized in early January 2023 from a ship used by Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps militants to transfer them to Yemeni Houthis: the vessel was intercepted in the Gulf of Oman by the US Navy. "Militarnyi" writes about the details with reference to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).

According to CENTCOM, the weapons were transferred to Ukraine on April 4. The Ukrainian military received more than 5,000 assault rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, and anti-tank grenade launchers, as well as more than 500,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

"This is enough material to equip one Ukrainian brigade with small arms. These weapons will help Ukraine defend itself against Russia's invasion," the statement said.

The weapons in question are those that the IRGC transferred to the Houthis in Yemen in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2216. To conceal the supply of weapons, they were transported on civilian ships. The US military intercepted one such ship in the Gulf of Oman on January 15, 2023.

ADVERTISIMENT

"CENTCOM is committed to working with our allies and partners to counter the flow of Iranian lethal assistance in the region by all legal means," the US Central Command said.

It took almost a year for the US government to obtain ownership of the confiscated weapons. This was achieved only on December 1  through civil forfeiture lawsuits filed by the US Department of Justice against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran.

"Militarnyi" adds that this is not the first time that such a transfer of confiscated weapons and ammunition has been made. For example, in October last year, the United States handed over about 1.1 million rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

ADVERTISIMENT

"Previously, it was unclear how the transfer of weapons would be legally formalized, as the UN requires that seized weapons be destroyed or stored. The US Presidential Administration has been thinking for several months about how to legally transfer weapons stored at CENTCOM facilities throughout the Middle East to Ukraine," Militarny adds.

It was reported in early October 2023 that Ukraine could receive thousands of confiscated Iranian weapons and ammunition from the United States. The decision was justified by the fact that such a transfer could help to partially eliminate the acute shortage of weapons faced by the Armed Forces, which, both then and now, are waiting for additional money and equipment from the United States.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!

ADVERTISIMENT
Five California condor chicks have been born at the Los Angeles Zoo, kicking off what zoo officials hope is a successful breeding season for the critically endangered species.

The first egg was laid in January and the first hatchling arrived on March 1, zoo officials said. The following four have hatched in the last two weeks.

Mike Clark, a condor keeper at the zoo, says the adult condor pairs that call the zoo home are currently have an epic egg laying season so far.

We are seeing excellent fertility in the eggs produced so far, and we expect four to five more eggs before the 2024 laying season is over, Clark said in a news release.

A handler inspects a California condor hatchling at the Los Angeles Zoo in this undated 2024 photo. (Los Angeles Zoo)

A handler inspects a California condor hatchling at the Los Angeles Zoo in this undated 2024 photo. (Los Angeles Zoo)

The zoo breeds California condors as part of the United States Fish and Wildlife Services California Condor Recovery Program, which aims to revitalize and protect North Americas largest bird from extinction.

Currently, experts say there are fewer than 350 California condors left in the wild, but forty years ago there were only 22 of the birds on the entire planet. That led to the creation of a breeding program to build back their numbers both in the wild and in captivity.

All the hatchlings bred at L.A. Zoo are candidates for release into their native range.

The California Condor Recovery Program is a critical and highly successful component within the Zoos Conservation Strategic Plan, said Jake Owens, director of conservation at the L.A. Zoo. As a conservation organization, we are not only focused on saving endangered wildlife in far-off habitats around the globe, but also species that are right here in our own backyard.

Owens said the zoo has a 30-year proven track record of breeding and raising condors and giving them the best chance of survival upon their release into the wild.

The L.A. Zoo has housed condors since 1967, most notably a bird named Topa Topa, who came to the zoo as a malnourished rescue.

In 2024, California condors arent on exhibit at the L.A. Zoo, but there are opportunities to participate in condor spotting events held at the zoo on most days. Hope, a non-releasable California condor, can also be found at the zoo during certain events and demonstrations.

California condors have wing spans of up to 9.5 feet and adults can stand as tall as 3 feet, the zoo says. The species can reach heights of 15,000 feet and have been known to travel as much as 150 miles per day.

Scavengers, the birds feast on the carcasses of large land and sea mammals. Pesticides, micro trash and lead poisoning from lead bullet fragments are known killers to California condors. Recently, avian flu has been a growing danger to the species.

For more on the California condor, as well as ticketing information for the L.A. Zoo, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Seven states announced Tuesday they were suing the Education Department over President Bidens SAVE income-driven repayment student loan plan, adding to a previous lawsuit by numerous other states.

The lawsuit is spearheaded by Missouri, along with six other states, which argue the SAVE plan is unconstitutional and cost taxpayers $475 billion.

With the stroke of his pen, Joe Biden is attempting to saddle working Missourians with a half trillion dollars in college debt, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) said. The United States Constitution makes clear that the President lacks the authority to unilaterally cancel student loan debt for millions of Americans without express permission from Congress.

The President does not get to thwart the Constitution when it suits his political agenda. Im filing suit to halt his brazen attempt to curry favor with some citizens by forcing others to shoulder their debts, Bailey continued. The Constitution will continue to mean something as long as Im Attorney General.

The lawsuit includes Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio and Oklahoma.

The states argue the SAVE plan is equivalent to the student debt relief plan the Supreme Court struck down last summer.

Just last year, the Supreme Court struck down an attempt by the President to force teachers, truckers, and farmers to pay for the student loan debt of other Americans  to the enormous tune of $430 billion, the lawsuit reads. In striking down that attempt, the Court declared that the President cannot unilaterally alter large sections of the American economy.

Undeterred, the President is at it again, even bragging that the Supreme Court blocked it. They blocked it. But that didnt stop me, the states added.

This is the second big challenge Republican states have made to the SAVE plan.

Kansas, along with 10 other states, filed a different case also arguing against the legality of the plan.

This is yet another attempt by Republican elected officials to prevent their own constituents from the student debt relief they earned and are entitled to, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said after the Kansas lawsuit.

The Hill has reached out to the Education Department for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MADISON COUNTY, Ill.  Funeral arrangements are pending for a 91-year-old St. Louis woman who died Sunday afternoon in a head-on collision in Madison County, Illinois. A second woman also died in the crash.

The crash happened on April 7 on Highway 159, south of Route 140, in Fort Russell Township.

According to a statement from the Madison County Coroners Office, Delores A. Long was driving a 2006 Nissan Sentra on Highway 159 when, for reasons unknown, the Sentra crossed the center line and collided with a 2019 Dodge Caravan.

Former AT&T tower sold, giving hope for vacant buildings in STL

Long was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:50 p.m. The coroners office identified blunt head, neck, and chest trauma as the preliminary cause of death.

A passenger in the Dodge Caravan, identified as Julie L. Schroeder, was rushed to Alton Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 2:20 p.m. Schroeder, of Bloomington, Illinois, was 63. The preliminary cause of death was ruled to be blunt head, chest, and abdomen trauma.

A final cause of death for both Long and Schroeder will be determined after the completion of routine drug and alcohol testing.

The Illinois State Polices Crash Reconstruction Unit is still investigating the cause of the crash.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL)  The Town of Abingdon will soon address its failing sewer infrastructure thanks to funds from a state program, the town announced Monday.

A news release from the town states the DEQ Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Program granted funds for the upgrades.

According to the town, the funding will allow for more than $5 million in upgrades to the sewer infrastructure in the Abingdon town limits.

The work, referred to as Phase 1 repairs, will be focused in the Whites area and the eastern end of Valley Street along Town Creek. Abingdon leaders said in the release that they would work to communicate the construction and access to people living in those areas.

Photo courtesy of the Town of Abingdon

Phase 1 includes manhole repairs, spot repairs to underground sewer lines and maintenance and relining to certain segments of the system.

The goal is to ensure the sewer system each resident relies on continues to function as expected, the release states. However, the system is aging, and many lines will need to be removed and replaced. The Town assures residents that minimizing the impact is the top priority. The contractor chosen to complete this work will be required to provide a top level of service to the residents.

Abingdon will open bidding for Phase 1 of its multiyear Sanitary Sewer Maintenance and Repair Project on April 6. Once a contractor is selected, town leaders expect work to begin around July 1.

According to the release, Abingdon has also secured more funding for other infrastructure issues that were identified in a study. Other phases of the project will target more areas of the town.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Photo by iStock / Getty Images Plus

The Arizona Supreme Courts long-awaited ruling on whether virtually all abortions performed in the Grand Canyon State should be outlawed will be released Tuesday morning.

In December, the high court heard oral arguments in an appeal launched by an anti-abortion doctor hoping to reinstate a near-total ban from 1864  nearly six decades before Arizona became a state  that prohibits all abortions except for those to save the life of the mother. The legal challenge seeks to overturn the decision from a lower court that determined the 1864 law shouldnt overrule nearly 50 years of new laws, and a more recent 15-week gestational ban, passed in 2022, should be upheld instead.

The lead-up

Two years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to abortion and sent the power to restrict abortion back to the states in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. That ruling ushered in months of legal uncertainty for women and doctors in Arizona, as state officials and the courts grappled with the degree to which abortion should be permitted.

Just months before the Supreme Courts decision to decimate the protections in Roe v. Wade, the GOP-majority in the Arizona legislature had passed a 15-week gestational ban in anticipation of a favorable ruling. But a harsher law from when Arizona was a territory was still on the books, held back by an injunction that relied on Roe.

The conflicts between the two laws caused clinics to shutter for months. While the 2022 law allows elective abortions up to 15 weeks, with exceptions for permanent injury or life-threatening emergencies beyond that point, the 1864 law prohibits all abortions except those to save the life of the woman.

And each has its own punishments: The 15-week ban threatens providers who violate its provisions with a class 6 felony and a revoked license while the 1864 law punishes doctors with a mandatory 2 to 5 year prison sentence.

Shortly after the overturning of Roe, a trial court judge briefly reinstated the 1864 ban, reasoning that a clause in the 15-week law that states that it doesnt repeal any laws that came before its passage meant that the Civil War-era law should reign supreme. Planned Parenthood Arizona, the states largest abortion provider, challenged that decision and convinced the state appellate court to uphold the 15-week gestational ban instead. The appeals court judges ruled that erasing nearly five decades of abortion laws that were enacted in Arizona after 1973 when Roe was decided would be erroneous.

In November 2022, when Arizonans elected a slate of pro-choice Democrats to statewide office, the threat against abortion access was widely regarded as a non-issue. Gov. Katie Hobbs and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes both vowed not to prosecute doctors or women for providing or seeking abortion care.

But Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-abortion law firm based in Scottsdale, filed an appeal on behalf of Dr. Eric Hazelrigg, urging the Arizona Supreme Court to restore the Civil War-era law. Hazelrigg, who is the medical director of a Valley-wide chain of anti-abortion clinics, was admitted into the case at the trial court stage as a guardian ad litem to represent unborn children in Arizona.

The arguments

Attorneys for Hazelrigg told judges during last years hearing that the appellate courts ruling was wrong and the Arizona legislatures intent was clear: Abortion should be illegal in nearly all cases. The 2022 law and the 1864 law can be harmonized, but in no way does the gestational ban allow abortions to occur as the appellate judges concluded, said Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Jake Warner. Instead, the 2022 law, which includes exceptions for women facing permanent injury or an immediate life-threatening emergency, works to modify the 1864 near-total ban by adding an urgency requirement to its exception for life-saving procedures.

Up until 15 weeks, according to Warner, every abortion except to save the patients life  as mandated under the 1864 law  is forbidden. After that point, the exception caveat in the 15-week ban kicks in, and a woman must face immediate danger to receive an abortion.

And Warner argued that not all health conditions constitute an emergency under the 15-week law. A cancer patient, for example, who previously would obtain an abortion to be able to begin treatment, would no longer be able to, and must instead wait until the pregnancy was complete.

Andy Gaona, an attorney for Planned Parenthood Arizona, argued that the appellate court was correct when it preserved nearly 50 years of lawmaking by upholding the 15-week ban over the 1864 law. The legislature should have been clearer about its intent to outlaw all abortions if thats what it truly sought to do, instead of simply limiting the procedure up to 15 weeks, he said.

Proponents of the 1864 law, including GOP legislative leaders Ben Toma and Warren Petersen, who filed an amicus brief supporting Hazelriggs appeal, claim that a provision in the 15-week law which states that it doesnt repeal all the laws that came before it automatically greenlights the Civil War-era law.

But, Gaona said, thats not enough. He pointed to the difference between the Arizona law and the Mississippi law it was modeled after as proof that Arizona legislators didnt actually mean to outright ban all abortions. A clause in the Mississippi law stated that any abortion which complied with its 15-week ban but violated any other law was illegal at the end of the day.

Arizona lawmakers didnt include that provision in the states otherwise identical version.

The possible outcomes

The Arizona Supreme Court can decide to reaffirm the appellate courts ruling, leaving abortion in Arizona intact up to 15 weeks, as is currently the case. Siding with Hazelrigg, meanwhile, would virtually end abortion access in the state, unless Arizona women are facing life-endangering circumstances or permanent, irreversible injury.

And that ruling would leave no avenue for appeal. Reproductive rights advocates, who are currently focused on convincing the judges to reaffirm the appellate court decision, would be left with no other options but to go back to the drawing board and attempt to challenge the law from a different legal angle.

While upholding the 1864 law would eventually lead to a near-total ban across the state, access to abortion care under the 15-week gestational ban would continue for a limited period of time. Thats because, in 2022, when then-Attorney General Mark Brnovich went to court for the first time to reinstate the 1864 law, the Arizona Medical Association and a Phoenix abortion provider launched their own lawsuit against the law. To avoid having to deal with two court cases at once, Brnovich agreed to a deal under which Arizona would be barred from enforcing the 1864 law until 45 days after the Arizona Supreme Court issued a final ruling.

A third option is a tie. While the Arizona Supreme Court is made up of 7 justices, only 6 are overseeing the case. Justice Bill Montgomery abruptly recused himself less than two weeks before oral arguments were held following public backlash after reporting from the Arizona Mirror and The 19th found he had previously blamed Planned Parenthood for orchestrating the greatest genocide known to man.

If the six justices evenly split on their ruling, the appellate courts decision will stand.

The greater context

Reproductive rights advocates watching for the court ruling are taking the long view, pinning their hopes on the November election for lasting change. A constitutional amendment aimed at enshrining abortion access in the Arizona Constitution, protecting it against threats from the courts or the GOP-majority legislature, is headed for the ballot.

If Arizona voters decide to support it, abortion will be accessible up to 24 weeks of gestation, with exceptions beyond that point if the doctor deems it necessary to protect the life, physical or mental health of the patient.

The initiative is still in the signature-gathering stage, but the campaign spearheading it announced earlier this month that it had gathered 500,000 signatures and the plan is to get at least 750,000. It needs to gather 383,923 verified voter signatures to qualify for the ballot.

For abortion providers awaiting news on their ability to keep their clinics running, the announcement that the Supreme Court ruling will be coming on Tuesday was met with cautious optimism. Dr. Gabrielle Goodrick, medical director of Camelback Family Planning, one of nine abortion clinics in the entire state, told the Mirror that she is looking forward to good news. The Civil War-era law, she said, is the wrong move for Arizona.

I am hopeful that the (court) will not reinstate a law from 1864 that is vague, unenforceable and confusing, she said, in a text message.

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The post Abortion access in AZ will be decided Tuesday, when the Supreme Court rules on an 1864 ban appeared first on Arizona Mirror.
Reproductive rights advocates gather on the steps of the Arizona Supreme Court to speak out against a near-total abortion ban from 1864 being considered by the judges on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. The ban includes no exceptions for rape or incest and allows only abortions performed to save the patients life. Photo by Gloria Rebecca Gomez | Arizona Mirror

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled to make abortion largely illegal in the Grand Canyon State, reinstating a 160-year-old law that forbids all procedures except those to save a womans life.

Justice John R. Lopez IV, writing for the court in a 4-2 split decision, said that a 2022 law allowing abortions up to 15 weeks of gestation depended on the existence of a federal constitutional right to abortion. And since the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated that right in the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization ruling two years ago, that law cant overrule one first passed in 1864, when Arizona was a territory.

Absent the federal constitutional abortion right, and because (the 15-week abortion law) does not independently authorize abortion, there is no provision in federal or state law prohibiting (the 1864 laws) operation. Accordingly, (the 1864 law) is now enforceable, Lopez wrote.

And that means abortions are illegal in every case except to save a womans life.

In light of this Opinion, physicians are now on notice that all abortions, except those necessary to save a womans life, are illegal, Lopez wrote.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes called the ruling unconscionable and and affront to freedom.

Make no mistake, by effectively striking down a law passed this century and replacing it with one from 160 years ago, the Court has risked the health and lives of Arizonans, Mayes said in a written statement. Todays decision to reimpose a law from a time when Arizona wasnt a state, the Civil War was raging, and women couldnt even vote will go down in history as a stain on our state.

The ban will go into effect in 59 days.

Anti-abortion groups celebrated the ruling. Cathi Herrod, president of Center for Arizona Policy, which backed the 15-week law while it was moving through the legislature and is behind many of Arizonas abortion regulations, said that the high court ruled with an eye toward a neutral interpretation of the law, and not to advance partisan priorities.

Todays decision preserves a system designed to be blind to all but the law, and in doing so, it upholds the right of life for all Arizonans.

What did the justices say?

In the 24-page majority opinion, Lopez picked apart arguments advanced by Planned Parenthood Arizona attorneys that the Arizona legislature intended to restrict, and not almost completely ban abortion.

That conclusion doesnt hold up to the abundance of evidence against it, Lopez wrote. A clause in the 15-week gestational ban stating that it doesnt overrule past abortion laws explicitly named the 1864 law. And, Lopez added, the Arizona legislature has repeatedly opted to keep the Civil War-era law on the books, even in the face of legal challenges. The law was first adopted in 1864, while Arizona was a territory during the drafting of its first set of criminal codes, and was later recodified in 1901, in 1913 after Arizona became a state, in 1928 and again in 1977  four years after an injunction was erected against it under the protection of Roe and it was considered to be unenforceable.

While Planned Parenthood Arizona acknowledged that the states abortion laws, including the 15-week ban, arent intended to establish a right to abortion, the organization argued that preserving access up to 15 weeks amounted to a legal permission up to that point. But the courts majority was unconvinced.

We disagree that a statute that expressly disclaims creation of a right may be read to simultaneously create an independent statutory authorization akin to a right, Lopez wrote.

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Instead of indirectly guaranteeing access to abortion by regulating the procedure, GOP lawmakers in the Grand Canyon State were chipping away at it as much as they could while Roe was still in place to block more aggressive efforts. The 15-week gestational ban was a clear example of that, having been passed while lawmakers were watching and hoping that the U.S. Supreme Court would allow a similar law in Mississippi to stand. Doing anything more than that was not an option with Roe still the law of the land.

At the time of its passage, (the 15-week law) merely sought to restrict a federal constitutional right to abortion that the legislature was powerless to abolish, Lopez wrote.

Reproductive rights proponents also claimed that a missing provision in the Arizona gestational ban that was present in the Mississippi law it copied was a clear signal that GOP lawmakers had no interest in banning abortion outright. In the Mississippi law, that provision stated that any abortion which complied with the 15-week deadline but violated any other laws, including the states own near-total ban, was still illegal. The Arizona law, which was a near-identical copy otherwise, left out that clause.

Lopez pointed out that the courts focus on existing proof of legislative intent, not speculation about what could have been supported and why it wasnt. On top of that, he wrote, Arizona lawmakers have been clear about their goal to eliminate abortion access in other ways. Not only has the 1864 law been consistently backed by the legislature over nearly two centuries, but Arizona has a statutory provision stating that all of Arizonas laws, protections, rights and privileges apply to the unborn as far as the U.S. Constitution and federal law will allow.

A key concern for the appellate court in December of last year, when it ruled to uphold the 15-week law over the near-total ban from 1864, was harmonizing the two laws so that Arizonas numerous abortion restrictions werent voided. In their ruling, the justices on the Arizona Supreme Court threw out that concern. The two laws cannot be harmonized, Lopez wrote, as doing so would result in a repeal of the 1864 law and the 15-week law expressly prohibits that. Instead, most of the abortion regulations enacted by GOP lawmakers are now defunct and the few that remain are those which apply to the life-saving procedures allowed under the 1864 law.

But the justices refrained from ruling on which abortion laws are still relevant, or to what extent they should be followed when a woman is facing a medical emergency, saying thats under the purview of the legislature. Lopez only offered a definitive answer on the15-week laws relevance. All elective abortions are illegal, and only procedures performed to save the womans life are permitted, as mandated by the 1864 law. After 15 weeks of gestation, the punishments in the 2022 law, which are a class 6 felony and a revoked license, apply for doctors who perform an abortion that isnt necessary to save their patients life.

Lopez was joined by Justices James Beene, Clint Bolick and Kathryn King. Chief Justice Robert Brutinel and Vice Chief Justice Ann Timmer both dissented.

In a dissenting opinion, Timer wrote that the majority invented an ambiguity in the 15-week law where one didnt exist.

The statute says what it means and means what it says There is no room for misunderstanding, she wrote.

She also accused the majority of using a legislative intent provision attached to the legislation  but that is not a part of state law  to both create ambiguity in the 15-week law and then resolve it by concluding that the 1864 ban is really what the legislature meant to be in effect.

I decline to engage in the guesswork needed to engraft onto (the 15-week laws) straightforward language a meaning the legislature may or may not have intended had it anticipated the Supreme Court would overrule Roe, Timmer wrote.

The ruling from the Arizona Supreme Court voids the decision from the appellate court to preserve elective abortions up to 15 weeks and sends the case back to Pima County Superior Court, where the case started, to consider any constitutional challenges to the law. Parties in the case who oppose the 1864 law, which include Planned Parenthood Arizona and Pima County Attorney Laura Conover, have two weeks to file plans to continue litigating the issue or request an extended stay from the trial court.

Arizona governor responds

In a post on social media site X, formerly Twitter, Gov. Katie Hobbs sounded the alarm over the decision and vowed to continue working to protect access to abortion.

It is a dark day in Arizona, she wrote. We are just fourteen days away from one of the most extreme abortion bans in the country. But my message to Arizona women is this: I wont rest, and I wont stop fighting until we have secured the right to abortion.

Gov. Katie Hobbs on April 9, 2024, at a press briefing reacting to the Arizona Supreme Courts ruling that an 1864 near-total abortion ban is enforceable. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

During a news conference held shortly after the ruling was released, the Democrat called on the Republican-led legislature to repeal the 1864 law, saying it was the right thing to do. Two attempts this year to do just that stagnated in the legislature, where the GOP-majority has the power to decide which bills get heard.

But it seems unlikely that Republicans will respond to the renewed request. House Speaker Ben Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen filed an amicus brief in the case advocating for the reinstatement of the Civil War-era law, saying that lawmakers never intended to supersede the ban when they passed the 15-week law.

If Republican lawmakers wont act, Hobbs said, then Arizona voters can in November, when an abortion access amendment is expected to make it onto the ballot.

To the people across Arizona who are concerned about the future of abortion rights in our state, who are worried about their bodily autonomy, who dont want to see the freedom of their wives, sisters and daughters restricted, you can make your concerns known at the ballot box, she said.

Reproductive rights advocates are concerned that a return to a near-total ban will result in uneven health care access for women, as those who can afford to leave the state to seek abortions elsewhere will do so and women who cant shoulder the cost will be forced to continue carrying unwanted or dangerous pregnancies. Morgan Finkelstein, who in 2020 was forced to travel to California because of Arizonas limited abortion providers to receive a selective reduction when one of her twins developed a critical heart defect, said that the experience was traumatic and should not have to be endured by anyone.

Hobbs told reporters that, while she expects abortion advocacy groups to help women access the health care they need, she is open to discussing ways to support that effort with other governors, including Californias Gavin Newsom.

Hobbs highlighted her executive order that concentrates prosecutorial authority for abortion law violations in Mayes office as the most effective strategy to prevent the criminalization of doctors by overzealous prosecutors. And while some county attorneys have signaled an interest in challenging that executive order in court, Hobbs said she is confident in the orders legal basis.

Bring it on, she said. I would not have issued the executive order if I didnt think it was legally sound.

Dr. Gabrielle Goodrick, medical director of Camelback Family Planning, one of a handful of private abortion clinics in the Valley, told the Arizona Mirror that shes committed to keeping her doors open for the entire 59 days that the ruling is paused.

It is business as usual, and health care as usual, and we will try to see as many people as we can, she said.

But Goodrick, who has practiced in Arizona for more than 20 years, said shes confident the November election will bring change, as voters flock to the polls in response to the extremist ruling.

Gov. Katie Hobbs on April 9, 2024, at a press briefing reacting to the Arizona Supreme Court's ruling that an 1864 near-total abortion ban is enforceable. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

A pin worn by state Sen. Eva Burch on April 9, 2024, at a press briefing reacting to the Arizona Supreme Court's ruling that an 1864 near-total abortion ban is enforceable. Burch, a Mesa Democrat, announced on the Senate floor in March that she was undergoing an abortion. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Democrats and abortion rights advocates gathered outside the Arizona Capitol on April 9, 2024, shortly after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that an 1864 near-total abortion ban is enforceable. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego joined Democrats and abortion rights advocates for a press briefing at the Arizona Capitol on April 9, 2024, shortly after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that an 1864 near-total abortion ban is enforceable. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined Democrats and abortion rights advocates for a press briefing at the Arizona Capitol on April 9, 2024, shortly after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that an 1864 near-total abortion ban is enforceable. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Democrats and abortion rights advocates gathered outside the Arizona Capitol on April 9, 2024, shortly after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that an 1864 near-total abortion ban is enforceable. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined Democrats and abortion rights advocates for a press briefing at the Arizona Capitol on April 9, 2024, shortly after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that an 1864 near-total abortion ban is enforceable. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

The background

The dilemma arose in the summer of 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to abortion and sent the power to regulate the procedure back to the states. Then-Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich went to court to reinstate the 1864 abortion ban, and convinced a trial court judge that the Civil War-era law should be enforced instead of the 15-week ban passed just months earlier.

The consequences for reproductive health care in Arizona were instantaneous: An uncertain legal landscape led the majority of the states nine abortion clinics to provide intermittent services for months. The 1864 law carries with it a 2- to 5-year mandatory prison sentence for doctors who perform abortions for any reason other than saving a patients life, and the 2022 law punishes doctors with a class 6 felony and a revoked license.

Women were cut off from potentially life-saving care as the abortion rate saw record lows that year. Whereas abortions in Arizona have consistently exceeded 13,000 since 2011, in 2022 that number plummeted to just 11,407 procedures.

With two conflicting statutes on the books, uncertain doctors shutting their doors rather than risk prison time, and state officials vying over which ban to implement, Arizona courts were tasked with figuring out how to make the laws coexist.

Proponents of the near-total ban argued that the 2022 law included a provision that stated it wasnt meant to repeal any laws that came before it, signifying that the 1864 law should reign supreme. But reproductive rights advocates pushed back, pointing out that if the 1864 law wasnt overruled by the 15-week law based on that interpretation, then neither were the numerous abortion law restrictions enacted in Arizona in the 50 years since Roe v. Wade was decided. And keeping in place laws that mandate an ultrasound, a 24-hour waiting period and an informational consultation, among other requirements, meant that abortion must be preserved to some extent.

The near-total ban was brought back into play by a Pima County judge who nullified an injunction holding it at bay that was erected in 1973, under the auspices of Roe.

But the Arizona Court of Appeals later ruled that the 15-week ban should supersede its predecessor, with the judges noting that if the GOP-majority legislature had intended to completely outlaw abortion, it should have been done so explicitly instead of passing what amounted to a gestational limit.

Less than two months later, Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-abortion legal firm, filed an appeal with the Arizona Supreme Court on behalf of Dr. Eric Hazelrigg, the medical director of a chain of Valley-wide anti-abortion pregnancy centers. Hazelrigg was admitted into the case to fill the role of guardian ad litem, representing the interests of the unborn in Arizona. The position was added in 1973 when the near-total ban was first challenged.

In a December hearing, Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Jake Warner urged the justices to reverse the appellate courts decision, saying that the lower court erred when it ruled to permit elective abortions up to 15 weeks under the 2022 law.

Warner argued that both the 1864 near-total ban and the 15-week gestational ban outlaw all but the most life-threatening procedures. Instead, the way to harmonize the two laws is by allowing the exception baked into the 15-week law for immediately life-threatening situations to modify the requirements of the 1864 law, he said.

Until 15 weeks, Warner explained, all abortions would be prohibited unless the mothers life is in danger, as the 1864 law mandates. After the 15-week point, the threshold for obtaining an abortion would be raised, so that only immediately life-threatening emergencies would merit a procedure. A cancer patient, Warner said, is facing a life-threatening situation, but not an immediately dangerous prognosis, and so they would not be permitted to obtain an abortion to begin treatment.

In a written statement issued after the Arizona Supreme Courts ruling on Tuesday, Warner called the decision a win for the right to life.

Life is a human right, and todays decision allows the state to respect that right and fully protect life again  just as the legislature intended, he said.

Planned Parenthood Arizona attorney Andy Gaona, meanwhile, rebutted that if the Arizona legislature truly meant to outlaw virtually all abortions, it should have made its intention clearer. GOP lawmakers in Arizona modeled the states 15-week ban after the Mississippi law in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, under the assumption that the U.S. Supreme Court would uphold that law and the Arizona copy could stand.

But Arizona lawmakers left out a key provision from the Mississippi law: a clause which stated that any abortion that complied with Mississippis 15-week law but violated any other abortion law was nonetheless illegal. Gaona pointed to that as proof that Arizona lawmakers never intended to completely ban abortion.

While the courts worked through the legal parameters of abortion in Arizona, the election of pro-choice Democrats to statewide offices two years ago dampened the threat of a state ban to some degree.

Gov. Katie Hobbs, who ran on a promise to protect abortion access, issued an executive order in July concentrating the prosecutorial authority for abortion law violations in the Arizona Attorney Generals office. Doing so preemptively barred any of the states 15 county attorneys from using Arizonas abortion laws to take a doctor to court. At least one county attorney, Yavapais Dennis McGrane, who joined Hazelrigg in advocating for the 1864 law, has indicated an interest in pursuing abortion law violations. AG Kris Mayes, meanwhile, has vowed never to prosecute a single case.

But the legal strength of Hobbs executive order has yet to be tested in court. Shortly after she issued it, county attorneys threatened to mount a legal challenge against it, though none has since materialized.

November 2024: the solution?

Reproductive rights groups are aiming to stave off threats from the court rulings and GOP-backed laws by enshrining abortion access in the state constitution this November. The Arizona Abortion Access Act would guarantee the procedure as a right up to 24 weeks of gestation, in a mirror of the standard in Roe. The act would also include an exception for procedures performed after that time if the doctor considers it necessary to safeguard the life, physical or mental health of their patient.

Because it is a constitutional amendment, the initiative needs to collect 383,923 signatures to qualify for the ballot and be considered by Arizona voters. Earlier this month, the campaign announced it has gathered 500,000 signatures, and it plans to continue collecting more to ensure a buffer against signatures that are eventually thrown out during the verification process.

Organizers for a ballot initiative that would amend the Arizona Constitution to protect abortion rights set up outside the Arizona Capitol on April 9, 2024, shortly after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that an 1864 near-total abortion ban is enforceable. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Along with securing enough signatures, supporters of the act must also contend with opposition from the It Goes Too Far Campaign, which is aiming to convince voters that the ballot proposal is too extreme. In an emailed statement, Campaign Manager Leisa Brug said that, despite the Arizona Supreme Courts ruling, the 15-week gestational ban remains the law of the land, and the campaign is focused on ensuring that the effort to enshrine abortion protections doesnt undermine that.

Our campaign is committed to exposing the real impact of the vague language of this amendment, she said, in an emailed statement. Arizonans deserve to know.

Democrats in Arizona and across the country are counting on the abortion issue to mobilize voters and deliver wins for party candidates. Abortion access has proven to be a highly motivating concern, even in red states like Kansas, where a record number of voters showed up to reject a legislatively referred ballot measure that would have given lawmakers the power to eliminate abortion protections, and in Virginia, where voters awarded Democrats a legislative majority to defend against the anti-abortion policies of the states Republican governor.

Vice President Kamala Harris placed the blame for the Arizona Supreme Courts ruling squarely on former President Donald Trump, who is running to recapture the White House. The campaign to reelect President Joe Biden and Harris has sought to underscore Trumps involvement in overturning Roe, and link his presidency to the proliferation of abortion bans across the country.

Arizona just rolled back the clock to a time before women could vote  and, by his own admission, theres one person responsible: Donald Trump, Harris said in an emailed statement. This even more extreme and dangerous ban criminalizes almost all abortion care in the state and puts womens lives at risk. It provides no exceptions for rape, incest, or health. Its a reality because of Donald Trump, who brags about being proudly the person responsible for overturning Roe v. Wade, and made it possible for states to enforce cruel bans.

Trumps appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court bench secured a conservative majority that later struck down the constitutional right to abortion.

In a joint statement, Arizona Democratic Party Chairwoman Yolanda Bejarano and state Senator Eva Burch, who has recently become the face of abortion access in Arizona after sharing the difficulties she faced obtaining an abortion, denounced anti-abortion Republicans and vowed to back reproductive rights efforts in November.

The decision to choose when and how to start a family belongs to each of us as individuals. Donald Trump and extremist Republicans at every level of government have been undermining these rights for years, and we have had enough, the two said in an emailed statement. Arizona Democrats are ready to do whatever it takes to protect the people of Arizona from these out-of-touch extremist policies, and take it to the ballot in November.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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The post Abortions will be banned in Arizona after the Supreme Court upholds an 1864 law appeared first on Arizona Mirror.
Accused drunk driver evading police plunges into ocean with 3 in pickup, CA cops say

An accused drunken driver trying to escape a police officer drove off a Monterey wharf into the ocean with three passengers aboard, California police reported.

An officer spotted the pickup truck going the wrong way on a one-way street at 1:25 a.m. Sunday, April 7, police said in a news release.

Another officer tried to stop the truck near the Municipal Wharf, but the driver instead drove onto the wharf at a high rate of speed, police said.

As other police arrived to block exits from the wharf, the officer  thinking the truck had stopped behind a building  went to look for it, police said.

The officer heard someone yelling for help from the water as he walked to the end of the wharf and discovered four people in the ocean, police said.

He assumed they had tried to escape by jumping in the water, police said. Officers threw flotation devices to the people to await rescue.

When officers couldnt find the pickup truck, they realized it crashed off the wharf into the ocean, police said.

Firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard helped police rescue the driver, identified as a 21-year-old Fresno man, and three passengers.

The man faces charges of drunken driving and obstructing a police officer, police said. He was taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries from the crash.

The others were treated for minor injuries and released, police said.

Monterey is about a 120-mile drive south from San Francisco.

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A police reform activist accused the New York Police Department (NYPD) of leaking details of her rape in a new lawsuit filed Monday.

Dana Rachlin accused members of the NYPD of engaging in multiple acts of retaliation against her after she criticized the promotion of some officers in the department.

According to the lawsuit, confidential information about her 2017 sexual assault was leaked to community leaders and included false allegations that she made up the assault and falsely accused a Black man of raping her. The lawsuit alleges that this information was later included in two letters sent to police officers and other city officials in 2022.

Rachlin alleges that the information spread to community leaders was defamatory. The letters also allegedly included personal details, including her home address, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit does not name who may have circulated the letters.

Following a well-documented series of such issues, Defendant NYPD Members widely disseminated Ms. Rachlins private information, including her home address, the race of her assailant, and the fact that she had reported her 2017 rape to the Department, alongside demonstrably false and defamatory accusations against her, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit was first reported by The City.

A spokesperson for the NYPD said the department is aware of the lawsuit and has reviewed it in a statement to The Hill.

While we believe it has no merit, we will not comment further on pending litigation, the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for New York City Hall said it will review the lawsuit.

We hold everyone at the NYPD to the highest standards and their hard work delivering for New Yorkers speaks for itself. Since the start of this administration, some of the most violent crimes, including homicides and shootings, are down, and crime reductions continue to trend in the right direction with overall crime being down year to date, the spokesperson said.

Rachlin, the executive director of NYC Together, had developed a collaborative relationship with the NYPD to help young people enrolled in her program, according to the complaint. NYC Together is a foundation that helps provide resources and care to young people who are at an increased risk of violence.

Rachlin said she was a victim of sexual assault by an acquaintance in 2017 after she attended an event where some members of the NYPD were also in attendance. NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, named as a defendant in the lawsuit, had visited Rachlin while she was at the hospital at the time and urged her to file a police report of the rape, according to the lawsuit.

She said she was initially hesitant to file a police report but ultimately decided to do so, the lawsuit states. According to the lawsuit, Maddrey assured her that her identity would be kept confidential and that only a few detectives would handle the investigation.

The complaint notes that Rachlin ultimately decided not to pursue charges against her alleged assailant and that the NYPDs case file indicated that the case was closed.

The lawsuit states that Rachlin voiced her concerns in 2020 about Inspector Craig Edelman, who was the commanding officer of the 73rd Precinct at the time. Edelman was later transferred to a new role as deputy inspector after Rachlin and other community leaders raised concerns about his conduct, according to the lawsuit.

Rachlin alleged that in 2021, she was denied access to police precincts and was forced to rearrange her practice to avoid areas where she was at stated risk of reprisal by Defendants. The lawsuit alleges that NYPD members perceived her as responsible for sparking Defendant Edelmans transfer and escalated their retaliation against her.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, speaks against a constitutional amendment expanding gambling in the state on Feb. 15, 2024 in Montgomery, Alabama. The House of Representatives approved the amendment, sending the legislation to the Alabama Senate. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

First Amendment and free speech advocates have expressed alarm over state legislation that they say could restrict access to materials and discourage people from becoming librarians.

HB 385, sponsored by Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, was approved by the House State Government Committee last Wednesday after a public hearing. The bill declares a public nuisance any premises that distribute obscene or harmful materials to minors and allows the Attorney General or prosecutors to file a lawsuit to challenge the practice.

The bill also expands the term sexual conduct in state law to include sexual or gender oriented material that knowingly exposes minors to persons who are dressed in sexually revealing, exaggerated, or provocative clothing or costumes, or are stripping, or engaged in lewd and lascivious dancing, presentations, or activities in K-12 public schools, public libraries, and other public places where minors are expected and are known to be present without parental consent.

That legislation, along with HB 425, sponsored by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, comprise a package that library advocates claim is aimed at expanding the obscenity law while also removing free speech protections for school and public libraries.

Both pieces of legislation remove the exemption afforded to libraries and their employees for obscenity, allowing them to be criminally prosecuted for distributing what some consider obscene materials.

Advocates worry about the potential consequences.

This legislation, if it were to be enacted, would likely have a chilling effect on the content of materials that public libraries stock on the shelves, said Clay Calvert, nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. By chilling effect, it will lead to self-censorship, meaning that libraries will be reticent to purchase materials that could be deemed harmful to minors.

Messages were left with Mooney seeking additional comment.

I think it is important to look at what this bill does not do, Mooney said during the April 3 meeting. This bill does not affect the rights of any adult to engage in sexual or gender-related speech or activities in any place where minors are not present, and which would otherwise be defined as obscenity.

Matthew Layne, the president of the Alabama Library Association, said in a statement that Montgomery politicians are now seeking to criminalize librarians simply for doing their jobs.

The message is clear  dont arrest Alabama librarians and stop turning our libraries into political battlefields, the statement said.

Alabama law already makes it a crime to distribute obscene materials to minors. Violating this provision amounts to a misdemeanor violation punishable by up to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine.

First Amendment experts who reviewed the legislation said the package of bills expand the rules already in statute that guard against obscenity. Obscenity, the legal definition, is not protected by free speech, but few literary materials can be classified as obscene, at least legally.

But the major concern is that the bills expand the restriction to material that could be harmful to minors, effectively expanding the universe of materials that could be prohibited from the library.

That leaves librarians in a quandary. They would have to guess what amounts to not only what could be obscene, which few materials are, but also what might be harmful to minors, a highly subjective classification.

Calvert said that librarians will likely favor caution and simply not place potentially controversial items into circulation instead of dealing with the potential liability that comes from making those materials accessible.

What it means is that you are obviously going to have a number of books in school libraries and public libraries, whether or not those books are harmful to children, the loudest voice in the room, or any voice in the room, is going to say, remove this book, because remember, if you dont, we could prosecute you under obscenity laws, said Kevin Goldberg, a First Amendment specialist with the Freedom Forum, a nonprofit that advocates for First Amendment issues. What are you going to do if you are a librarian? You are going to say, this is not worth it.

That, Goldberg said, could lead people to exit the profession.

People are just going to quit, he said. Youre not going to have public school libraries or public libraries. Maybe that is the intent of this for a lot of people. In Alabama, and a lot of other states, there are pressures being put on professional librarians. The American Library Association, in some areas, is seen as outlaws. That is a real danger, that you are going to lose people who are really good at ensuring children do read.

It is also an open question whether the measure, should it be adopted, is even constitutional. Both Calvert and Goldberg pointed to the section in the law that defined sexual conduct as a prime example. The term sexually revealing, exaggerated, or provocative clothing or costumes is vague. Calvert said the real target may be drag shows and not sexually explicit materials in books. Mooney introduced a bill last year to ban drag show performances where children were present. The bill did not become law.

It is highly problematic because those terms are void for vagueness, Calvert said. What does it mean to be revealing or provocative. An easy attack on that, were it to be adopted, would be that those terms are void for vagueness. They do not provide fair notice for what the restrictive speech is. Who is to say if something is provocative or not, that is a matter of taste and style that is better left to the individual than to the government.

The question, when evaluating materials on speech, is whether the evaluation is done on educational grounds instead of ideology. Expanding the restriction to gender-oriented material, say experts, could wade into restrictions based on ideology, which courts tend to frown upon.

They really dont want things that are gender-related content, Goldberg said. Specifically, they dont want drag. That is a lot of what this is about. They dont want same sex couples, actions, references, characters in books. So, what happens, you see this a lot, is you see a sexualization of these same sex characters even though there is no actual sexualization involved.

There is a line that government actors cannot cross.

This isnt hard, Goldberg said. This is some basic First Amendment stuff we are talking about here. Dont take books off shelves because you dont like what is in the book. Dont make decisions for everybody in the community because you dont like what is in the book. That is both good policy with regards to libraries, but also is what the First Amendment actually protects. One person doesnt get to determine what everybody else reads.

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The post Advocates fear Alabama House bills could lead to prosecutions of librarians appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
The victory of Peter Pellegrini in the Slovak presidential election does not change anything in the parliamentary majority of the country's government. Military support for Ukraine continues steadily.

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This was stated by Slovak political scientist, professor at the University of Presov Alexander Duleba in a commentary to OBOZ.UA. He noted that from October 2023 to the current elections, Slovakia has provided Ukraine with 500 million euros in support.

"This is ammunition for NATO-standard artillery systems, these are caliber 155. If we produced less than 10,000 shells a year before the war, last year we produced 50,000, and this year we plan to produce 150,000, and all of this is for Ukraine, paid for by the European Union," the Slovak political scientist said.

"The production of Zuzana 2 howitzers also continues, these are 16 new howitzers, the production is paid for by the governments of Germany, Denmark, and Norway," Duleba said.

He added that the production of howitzers for Ukraine and the repair of military equipment damaged at the front line are also underway. In addition, according to the political scientist, almost all weapons from Slovak warehouses have been transferred to our country.

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"Yes, of course, these are Zuzana 2 howitzers, Bozena minefield systems, and much more," Duleba said.

He called it paradoxical that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico says he will not supply a single shell to Ukraine.

"This is just reality, so Ukraine needs to understand Fico's real policy a little bit. He says one thing and does another, the problem of Slovakia is not what Fico says. The problem of Slovakia is why there are voters here who want to hear this," the political scientist summarized.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

 On April 7, the second round of the presidential election ended in Slovakia. Peter Pellegrini, an ally of the current Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, won with 96.1% of the votes.

 After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Slovakia immediately responded to the call for help for Ukraine. The Slovak authorities also supported all sanctions against Russia and accepted hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees.

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined Democrats and abortion rights advocates for a press briefing at the Arizona Capitol on April 9, 2024, shortly after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that an 1864 near-total abortion ban is enforceable. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is standing firm in her vow to protect those seeking or providing abortions following the Arizona Supreme Courts decision to uphold a near-total ban on abortions in Arizona.

Mayes, along with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and other Democratic officials, spoke out against the court ruling at a press conference today held jointly by the Biden-Harris Campaign and Arizona Democratic Party.

She said that the ruling will upset Arizonans  and greatly boost Democrats at the ballot box in November.

I think this was a seismic decision, and not in the way that Republicans thought it was going to be for Arizona politics and for the election in November, Mayes said. I think this changes everything.

Gallego called the ban dangerous and out of touch while emphasizing how the repeal of Roe v. Wade opened the door for such a ruling.

(The 1864 ban) was written 160 years ago, before people understood modern medicine, she said. Theres no one more responsible for where we are today than Donald Trumpthe path to protect the presidency(and) abortions goes through Arizona. 

During his term as president, Trump appointed the U.S. Supreme Court justices that overturned nearly 50 years of precedent by ruling that Americans do not have a constitutional right to abortion.

Democrats say that they believe the decision to uphold the Civil War-era ban, which was put into territorial law some six decades before Arizona became a state, underscores the urgency of this years presidential election, and will drive voters to the polls. There, Democrats said, voters will elect pro-choice legislative candidates and support the Arizona for Abortion Access initiative that recently announced it has already garnered more than enough votes to be included on this years ballot, giving voters the choice between keeping almost all abortions illegal or legalizing them statewide.

Until then, Mayes has vowed to protect Arizonans from prosecution as her office seeks a further stay of the law to prevent the ban from going into effect for as long as (they) possibly can.

When the Supreme Court upholds what is clearly an unconstitutional ban on abortion, and when there are still lingering and remaining legal issues to work our way through Im not going to allow any county attorney to prosecute abortion, and nor am I, she said. Tthe people of Arizona have their say  and, trust me, they are going to have their say in a big way.

As attorney general, Mayes holds a key role in the conversation of enforcing any bans on abortion. Last year, Gov. Katie Hobbs issued an executive order granting Mayes full responsibility over abortion-related prosecutions to ensure that differences in how attorneys may interpret or apply state laws would not prevent Arizonans from accessing the care they need.

Regardless of the additional authority granted to her by Hobbs, Mayes said that she would have prevented attorneys from prosecuting Arizonans based on the 1864 ban anyway, as Arizona law states that the AG has supervisory authority over the 15 county attorneys, who also hold prosecuting power in the state.

This is not over from a legal standpoint. My office, as we speak, is discussing what our next steps are. Whether that is appealing this decision to the United States Supreme Court, whether that is taking the opportunity that it would appear the court gave me in taking this decision and the constitutional questions that remain back down to the superior court, Mayes said. The 1864 ban is not yet fully litigated.

In the wake of the decision, many legislators took to social media to voice their opinions on the ban.

Kingman Republican Rep. John Gillette claimed in a post on X that he did not see 1 democrat bill regarding abortion this session. In fact, there were two attempts this year to repeal the 1864 abortion ban, but both stagnated in the legislature, where the GOP-majority has the power to decide which bills get heard.

At the press conference, Rep. Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton claimed the Arizona Republicans are not only complicit in the Supreme Courts decision, but also complicit in a nationwide attempt to ban access to reproductive health care.

Arizona Republicans have made it clear that this is not the end of the road for them. Whether its banning abortions, making it harder to get contraceptives, or access to IVFthis ban is just the beginning, the Tucson Democrat said. Every Republican in the House and Senate voted in support of fetal personhood legislation, the same type of legislation that opened the door for the ruling in Alabama.

Last year, Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, introduced a package of bills that critics have called an attempt to sneak fetal personhood into state law. Fetal personhood, which considers a fetus, embryo and fertilized eggs as a person and thus entitled to the same rights as someone already born, played a key role in the Alabama Supreme Courts ruling that caused IVF operations to temporarily halt throughout the state.

State Sen. Eva Burch, who recently spoke on the Senate floor about her recent pregnancy complications that led her to having to seek her second abortion, called for less virtue-signaling amongst lawmakers and more honest and open conversations about how abortion bans impact Arizonans.

Please believe me, and understand: Women will die. This is not a time for political posturingthis is an issue that absolutely transcends political divides. People of all political partiesof all religious backgrounds utilize abortion care, she said. This is the issue of our times, and if you feel like your political party has been hijacked by radical extremists, its because it has.

Since the decision was announced, there have been various calls upon the legislature to undo the Supreme Courts decision. Republican lawmakers who were once eager to outlaw abortion have since walked back their statements, joining in for the public outrage while ignoring their role in supporting anti-abortion policy.

When asked if she would be open to finding a compromise with Republicans to overwrite the courts decision, Burch affirmed that she is not willing to compromise on the lives of pregnant people after 15 weeks just to appear more diplomatic.

I am not anticipating any proposals about access to abortion from my Republican colleagues. I really appreciate and respect my republican colleagues do I think that they are now going to become champions for reproductive healthcare because of this ruling and their fears about what the political consequences might be? Not even then.

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The post AG Kris Mayes: AZ Supreme Court ruling to ban abortion changes everything appeared first on Arizona Mirror.
The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) has warned key planks of the bloc's data protection and privacy regime are under attack from industry lobbyists and could face a critical reception from lawmakers in the next parliamentary mandate.

"We have quite strong attacks on the principles themselves," warned Wojciech Wiewiorowski, who heads the regulatory body that oversees European Union institutions' own compliance with the bloc's data protection rules, Tuesday. He was responding to questions from members of the European Parliament's civil liberties committee concerned the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) risks being watered down.

"Especially I mean the [GDPR] principles of minimization and purpose limitation. Purpose limitation will be definitely questioned in the next years."

The GDPR's purpose limitation principle implies that a data operation should be attached to a specific use. Further processing may be possible -- but, for example, it may require obtaining permission from the person whose information it is, or having another valid legal basis. So the purpose limitation approach injects intentional friction into data operations.

Elections to the parliament are coming up in June, while the Commission's mandate expires at the end of 2024 so changes to the EU's executive are also looming. Any shift of approach by incoming lawmakers could have implications for the bloc's high standard of protection for people's data.

The GDPR has only been up and running since May 2018 but Wiewiorowski, who fleshed out his views on incoming regulatory challenges during a lunchtime press conference following publication of the EDPS' annual report, said the make-up of the next parliament will contain few lawmakers who were involved with drafting and passing the flagship privacy framework.

"We can say that these people who will work in the European Parliament will see GDPR as a historic event," he suggested, predicting there will be an appetite among the incoming cohort of parliamentarians to debate whether the landmark legislation is still fit for purpose. Though he also said some revisiting of past laws is a recurring process every time the make-up of the elected parliament turns over.

But he particularly highlighted industry lobbying, especially complaints from businesses targeting the GDPR principle of purpose limitation. Some in the scientific community also see this element of the law as a limit to their research, per Wiewiorowski.

"There is a kind of expectation from some of the [data] controllers that they will be able to reuse the data which are collected for reason 'A' in order to find things which we don't know even that we will look for," he said. "There is an old saying of one of the representatives of business who said that the purpose limitation is one of the biggest crimes against humanity, because we will need this data and we don't know for which purpose.

"I don't agree with it. But I cannot close my eyes to the fact that this question is asked."

Any shift away from the GDPR's purpose limitation and data minimization principles could have significant implications for privacy in the region, which was first to pass a comprehensive data protection framework. The EU is still considered to have some of the strongest privacy rules anywhere in the world, although the GDPR has inspired similar frameworks elsewhere.

Included in the GDPR is an obligation on those wanting to use personal data to process only the minimum info necessary for their purpose (aka data minimization). Additionally, personal data that's collected for one purpose cannot simply be re-used, willy-nilly, for any other use that occurs.

But with the current industry-wide push to develop more and more powerful generative AI tools there's a huge scramble for data to train AI models -- an impetus that runs directly counter to the EU's approach.

OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has already run into trouble here. It's facing a raft of GDPR compliance issues and investigations -- including related to the legal basis claimed for processing people's data for model training.

Wiewiorowski did not explicitly blame generative AI for driving the "strong attacks" on the GDPR's purpose limitation principle. But he did name AI as one of the key challenges facing the region's data protection regulators as a result of fast-paced tech developments.

"The problems connected with artificial intelligence and neuroscience will be the most important part of the next five years," he predicted on nascent tech challenges.

"The technological part of our challenges is quite obvious at the time of the revolution of AI despite the fact that this is not the technological revolution that much. We have rather the democratization of the tools. But we have to remember as well, that in times of great instability, like the ones that we have right now -- with Russia's war in Ukraine -- is the time when technology is developing every week," he also said on this.

Wars are playing an active role in driving use of data and AI technologies -- such as in Ukraine where AI has been playing a major role in areas like satellite imagery analysis and geospatial intelligence -- with Wiewiorowski saying battlefield applications are driving AI uptake elsewhere in the world. The effects will be pushed out across the economy in the coming years, he further predicted.

On neuroscience, he pointed to regulatory challenges arising from the transhumanism movement, which aims to enhance human capabilities by physically connecting people with information systems. "This is not science fiction," he said. "[It's] something which is going on right now. And we have to be ready for that from the legal and human rights point of view."

Examples of startups targeting transhumanism ideas include Elon Musk's Neuralink, which is developing chips that can read brain waves. Facebook-owner Meta has also been reported to be working on an AI that can interpret people's thoughts.

Privacy risks in an age of increasing convergence of technology systems and human biology could be grave indeed. So any AI-driven weakening of EU data protection laws in the near term is likely to have long-term consequences for citizens' human rights.
I took another call from Mavis last week. It was a sad but familiar story. This time it was her local GP surgery in my constituency of Fareham. She has terrible back pain but cant get an appointment for three weeks. Suella  can you help?

Ive known Mavis a long time. Weve become friends over the past decade because of her long-term and ongoing travails with the NHS: the 12-hour wait at A&E with her husband who had a fall in 2015, and the stress of finding the right care package for him when he moved into a care home in 2017. A year later she couldnt find a dentist, and now its the GP.

I should say there have been some improvements in the NHS over the past 14 years. There are 40,000 more doctors and 70,000 more nurses. And while the NHS was stretched during Covid, it did not break as many had feared. Then there was the rollout of the first Covid vaccine, thanks to NHS agility, achieving an operational feat not seen in my lifetime.

In my constituency, I led a task force that delivered a new chemotherapy unit at Fareham Community Hospital and we are looking forward to the opening a new Emergency Department at the nearby QA Hospital in Portsmouth. Its happening because of government funding. No one can accuse the Conservatives of defunding the NHS: money isnt the problem.

According to the OECD, the UK has seen the fourth highest increase in funding, as a share of GDP, across Europe since 2010  an increase of 14 per cent. Yet we still have some of the worst outcomes compared to our European counterparts. Zoom out and there are systemic problems with how we care for our young, sick and elderly.

For all the cash, Mavis still cant get to see her GP, and, in too many cases, if she needs to go to hospital her outcomes would be better off had she lived in France or the Netherlands.

Worse still, recent figures show that 1.5 million patients waited 12 hours or more to see an emergency specialist, while data suggests that 250 people may be dying each week due to overcrowded casualty wards and a general shortage of beds. The lack of capacity in social care homes gums up the system at the other end.

Currently, nobody is in control. We have a balkanised system with each local trust able to do largely whatever it pleases without any accountability, transparency or indeed leadership. The new Integrated Care Boards may plan health services, but they have too little responsibility for poor performance. Deficits are covered by the Treasury and budgets are set centrally. The system is also focused on the acute health problems rather than on the rising tide of chronic illness. With our ageing society we treat people when they get very sick, but shouldnt we do more to stop them falling ill in the first place?

What we need is a total overhaul of how our public health is delivered. I dont believe in privatising the NHS  although Labours suggestion to allow private health providers to offer more services is welcome, and Wes Streeting should be commended for his boldness. But this wont get to the heart of how to deliver world-class care for all, regardless of income.

Indeed, the private sector will tend, just as it has done in the past, to pick off the easier aspects of healthcare, reducing the overall burden but without improving care for everyone.

Part of the answer is to integrate health and social care, so that patients in care homes are properly treated to prevent chronic conditions requiring a hospital admission. This should save money, since beds in acute care are more expensive than those in care homes. To make it work we need, as the think tank ResPublica has argued, to pool all health and social care funding in one ring-fenced budget so that savings in one part of the system lead to benefits for all parts.

The sheer number of trusts, agencies and authorities we have now is obstructive and inefficient, so we also need a singular governance and standards organisation that synchronises with these new devolved health authorities. Our local authorities are the best equipped to deliver co-ordinated health care through these proposed new structures. When Mavis needs a GP or hospital appointment, she should have one provider. If her husband needs long-term social care, it should be assessed by that same authority. Joined-up, but devolved locally.

I will continue to do my best for her and my other constituents, but I simply cannot make up for an ailing National Health Service.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Ukrainian air defense units destroyed all 20 Shahed-type drones that Russia launched overnight, the Air Force said in its morning update on April 9.

The drones were launched from Russias port town of Primorsko-Akhtarsk located on the coast of the Sea of Azov, and Cape Chauda in the occupied Crimea. Russian forces also targeted Ukraine with at least four S-300 missiles fired from the occupied parts of Donetsk Oblast. The Air Force didn't specify whether the missiles were intercepted.

The drones were shot down over Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Vinnytsia, and Lviv oblasts by fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft missile and electronic warfare units of the Air Force, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian army.

Overnight on April 9, explosions were heard in western Ukraine's Lviv Oblast. Regional governor Maksym Kozytskyi urged residents to remain in shelters. No casualties or injuries were reported as a result of the attacks.

Drone attacks are a daily occurrence in Ukraine, affecting various regions across the country. Overnight on April 8, Ukraines air defense downed 17 drones, and one Russian missile.

Russian forces continue to attack civilian areas far from the front line, with the recent series of intense bombardments targeting energy infrastructure in what is likely a mission to take out Ukraine's grid.

Read also: Energy Minister: Lithuania offers to dismantle shuttered energy stations, provide Ukraine with spare parts

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Airbus and Boeing's problems spell bad news for the cost of your summer vacation

Airbus and Boeing's problems spell bad news for the cost of your summer vacation

IATA predicted this year will beat the pre-pandemic record for air travel.

But both Boeing and Airbus jets are having problems that are reducing capacity.

Some airlines are already warning that prices will go up.

You can expect to pay more for plane tickets this summer, as airline capacity struggles to keep up with demand.

In December 2023, the International Air Travel Association predicted 2024 would break records for the most air passengers ever. It expects 4.7 billion people to travel this year  200 million more than the pre-pandemic high set in 2019.

But airlines are warning they'll have fewer seats available than they initially thought, as both Boeing and Airbus are dealing with problems.

IATA had predicted a 9% growth in capacity. But passenger airlines will see 19% fewer aircraft than expected this year, Martha Neubauer, a senior associate at AeroDynamic Advisor, told Reuters.

Southwest Airlines has paused hiring because it now expects to receive 46 new Boeing 737 Max jets, down from 79.

And the CEO of Europe's biggest budget airline, Ryanair, warned its ticket prices could go up 10% due to Boeing delivery delays.

Additionally, United has asked pilots to take an unpaid leave in May to help mitigate delayed deliveries of Boeing planes.

Boeing has had a bad year as the Alaska Airlines blowout in January sparked increased scrutiny from regulators. The Federal Aviation Administration has limited how many 737 Max jets it can manufacture.

And since CEO Dave Calhoun announced he would resign at the end of the year, Boeing's new chairman is trying to win back customers' trust.

While Boeing has been under the spotlight, Airbus also has some problems of its own.

A flaw in the Pratt & Whitney engines used on Airbus A320neos will ground 650 jets for inspections in the first half of this year.

IATA also predicted that airline profits would be up 10% from last year. But the trade group's director general, Willie Walsh, said the average airline only makes $5.45 for every passenger.

"That's about enough to buy a basic grande latte at a London Starbucks," he added. "But it is far too little to build a future that is resilient to shocks for a critical global industry."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Which airports had the most delays and cancellations in 2023?

AUSTIN (KXAN)  One-fifth of all flights in the U.S. were delayed in 2023, according to federal data.

The U.S. Department of Transportations Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) publishes delay and cancellation data for airports across the country.

2022 data: Airports with most delays and cancellations

BTS uses arriving flights when reporting delayed and canceled flights. A flight is considered delayed if it arrives at the gate 15 or more minutes after the scheduled arrival time.

Nationwide, more than 6.8 million flights were scheduled on U.S.-based airlines last year. Of those, around 5.4 million were on time, accounting for 78.2% of all flights.

Airports in Texas

BTS tracks arrival flight data for 26 airports across Texas, from major hubs like Dallas/Fort Worth and George Bush Intercontinental in Houston, to regional airports like Lubbock and Abilene.

San Antonio International Airport had the most delays last year, with 22.2% of all arriving flights delayed by at least 15 minutes. McAllen, Austin-Bergstrom and Lubbock all had delay rates above 21%.

Del Rio International Airport had the fewest delays, with 10.9% of flights delayed at least 15 minutes. Victoria and Beaumont also saw fewer than 13% of flights delayed.

Despite their low delay rates, Beaumont and Del Rio were the top two airports with most cancellations. About 5.6% of arriving flights at Beaumont were canceled, while 4.4% were canceled at Del Rio. Wichita Falls was a distant third, at 2.6%.

On the opposite end, fewer than 1% of arriving flights were canceled at Houston Hobby, El Paso, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Victoria.

Airports nationwide

According to the BTS data, 1,386,699 flights were delayed nationwide in 2023, out of more than 6.8 million. Thats about 20.2% of all scheduled domestic flights in the country. Meanwhile, 87,943 fights were canceled, about 1.3% of the total. Thats fewer than half last years cancellation total of more than 181,000.

Florida is particularly prone to delays, with six of the top 10 airports with most delayed arrivals. But San Juan, Puerto Rico, was the worst offender among larger airports, with almost a third of flights arriving at least 15 minutes late in 2023. Minneapolis/St. Paul had the fewest delays, at 14.6%.

New York area airports had the most canceled arrivals, with Newark, LaGuardia and JFK all appearing in the top four airports with most cancellations, along with Portland, Maine. Each had more than 2% of flights canceled.

Use our interactive database below to see the statistics for a specific airport. You can search for a specific airport or city using the search feature in the top left.

Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson International is the busiest airport in the country, with more than 336,000 arrivals on U.S.-based airlines in 2023. About 82.4% of those arrived on time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, the chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee, on the floor of the Alabama Senate on March 7, 2023. Legislators gathered Tuesday for the first day of the Alabama Legislature's 2023 regular session. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

An Alabama Senate committee Tuesday approved a bill that would require state agencies to acknowledge and respond to public records requests within a certain timeframe.

SB 270, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would set a 10-day deadline for agencies to acknowledge requests for public records. The office would have 15 business days to make a decision to approve, deny or deny in part the request, which may be extended for another 15 days with notice to the requester.

The bill would give requestors the right to sue if the request has not been approved or denied or if the records have not been produced after fees are paid within 30 business days or 60 calendar days.

Alabama state law does not currently require public agencies to respond to document requests. Public bodies in Alabama average about 188 days to respond to requests for information, according to MuckRock, a nonprofit organization that focuses on open governments.

Huntsville in 2022 received the Golden Padlock award from the Investigative Reporters and Editors, highlighting secretive governments, for failing to release body camera footage after a police officer shot and killed a man suffering from suicidal ideation.

Gov. Kay Ivey last year issued an executive order that requires agencies to respond to requests in two days and to make a formal response in 15 days. The order could lapse or be revoked by Ivey or a future governor.

What were trying to do in this bill is set some timelines for responses by the appropriate governing bodies, Orr said to the committee.

Orr said that agencies would still be able to ignore frivolous requests, or requests he said are overly broad or unreasonable. If the agency asks for clarification, the timelines would restart once the public officer receives the requested clarification.

The bill would also separate a standard request from a time-intensive requests.

After submitting a form, the agency would notify the requester that the request is time-intensive within 15 days, as well as providing any likely fees. If the requester proceeds with the time-intensive request, the agency would have to fulfill or deny the request within 45 business days. The agency may extend this period in 45-business-day increments by notifying the requester in writing.

The bill did not provide an appeals process for denied requests, and it would not apply to judicial records.

Orr introduced a similar bill last year, which passed the Senate and a House committee but did not come to the floor before the end of the session. House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said last year the governor wanted to take a closer look at the legislation.

Orr has brought similar open records bills in previous years as well, but local government groups have often opposed them, citing the potential to be flooded by bad faith requests.

Its important for our state, and we need to improve our open records laws because thats a fundamental piece of our American form of government  is letting the citizens have access to government records, Orr said after the bill moved out of committee.

The bill moves to the Senate floor.

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The post Alabama Senate committee OKs bill requiring timely responses to public records requests appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alan Bates described ex-Post Office executives as little more than thugs in suits in a letter to a minister.

The disclosure was made as the campaigner and former sub-postmaster appeared at the Post Office inquiry for the first time on Tuesday.

Mr Bates, who led 554 others to a High Court victory against the Post Office in 2019, criticised civil servants and union reps as well as past and present governments.

He reserved his most aggressive criticism for the Post Office, which he described as an atrocious organisation.

The hearing was watched in person by Nick Read, the organisations chief executive, who told journalists he had attended to show his support to postmasters.

In a letter sent to then-postal affairs minister Sir Ed Davey in 2010, Mr Bates described those running the Post Office at the time as little more than thugs in suits.

Alan Bates speaks to the press after the inquiry hearing - David Rose for The Telegraph

It followed correspondence from Sir Ed, in which the Liberal Democrat MP rejected an invitation to meet the former sub-postmaster to discuss the problems with Horizon.

Five years later in 2015, more than 900 had been wrongfully prosecuted as a result of fictional shortfalls produced by the faulty software.

Sir Ed had initially refused to meet Mr Bates in a letter which described how the Government kept an arms-length relationship with the Post Office as its only shareholder, to allow the organisation commercial freedom.

Responding to the letter in July 2010, Mr Bates said: It is because you have adopted an arms-length relationship that you have allowed a once great institution to be asset stripped by little more than thugs in suits, and you have enabled them to carry on with impunity regardless of the human misery and suffering they inflict.

A Liberal Democrat spokesman said Sir Ed was lied to and was sorry that he didnt see through the Post Offices lies, and that it took him five months to meet Mr Bates.

After giving evidence for several hours at the packed hearing, Mr Bates  whose story was dramatised in the ITV series Mr Bates vs The Post Office  prompted an unusual request from Sir Wynn Williams, the inquiry chairman  who asked members of the public not to applaud as he left the stand.

Unmanageable and loose with the truth

Documents revealed how Post Office executives and lawyers smeared Mr Bates over the past two decades.

In a presentation on Horizon integrity by Dave Smith, then head of change and IS at the Post Office, Mr Bates was described as becoming unmanageable.

A slide for the presentation shown to the inquiry read: Bates had discrepancies but was dismissed because he became unmanageable.

Clearly struggled with the accounting and despite copious support did not follow instructions.

Jason Beer KC, counsel to the inquiry, asked Mr Bates: Was that ever explained to you, that you became unmanageable?

No, not at all, Mr Bates responded.

The inquiry has been shown an email chain that related to a press release by the Justice For Sub-postmasters Alliance (JFSA), which announced how more than 1,000 sub-postmasters had applied to join the group litigation.

As several senior Post Office staff discussed how they would respond in a statement, Andrew Parsons, from the law firm Bond Dickinson, wrote: Im happy with the comms too. Plus lets not forget that Alan Bates has a somewhat loose relationship with the truth...

Presented with the email at the inquiry, Mr Bates laughed before saying: Wed had over 1,200 people who did apply to join the scheme and out of that, as I say, 550 were signed up to it.

Civil servants more guilty than politicians

When quizzed on the documents relating to Sir Ed, Mr Bates blamed civil servants for stalling his progress.

He told the inquiry: I hold the Civil Service more to blame in a lot of these instances, why things never progressed at the time.

Because Im sure between them and Post Office briefing ministers, they were briefing them in the direction they wanted to brief them in, not what was for the benefit of the group or the individual here.

He added: I hold the officials far more guilty in all of this than politicians.

Mr Bates blames civil servants for stalling his progress - UNPIXS

Mr Bates also heavily criticised the sub-postmasters union, the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters (NFSP).

He said in his witness statement: To the best of my knowledge, the NFSP has never once supported a SPM [sub-postmaster] in any court case where issues surrounding the Horizon system have been questioned.

Post Office lied, denied and silenced

In his 59-page witness statement to the inquiry, Mr Bates accused the Post Office of attempting to silence him.

It read: I have dedicated this period of my life to this cause which, sadly, has been necessary since Post Office Limited has spent this entire period denying, lying, defending, and attempting to discredit and silence me and the group of SPMs that the Justice For Sub-postmasters Alliance (JFSA) represents.

When asked to describe his experience of the culture of the Post Office, Mr Bates said: They are an atrocious organisation.

They need disbanding, it needs removing. It needs building up again from the ground floor.

A Post Office spokesman said: Post Office is deeply sorry for the hurt and suffering that has been caused to victims and their loved ones, and we are committed to ensuring that they receive the justice and redress that they so deserve, with offers of more than 179 million made to around 2,800 postmasters to date.

We are dedicated to ensuring the wrongs of the past cannot be repeated, and we are working to enable the inquiry to get to the truth of what happened.

04:14 PM BST

Thats a wrap on Alan Batess evidence

As weve been reporting, Alan Bates has finished giving evidence to the public inquiry now.

Hes been questioned on the scandal since 10.30am, shedding light on many unanswered questions.

Scroll down for the latest as it happened and you can rewind the livestream to watch it too.

04:10 PM BST

Inquiry asked not to applaud Alan Bates

The chair of the Horizon IT Inquiry asked those present not to applaud Alan Bates as his evidence concluded.

Moments ago, Sir Wyn Williams said: I can see hands preparing and I know whats coming because its inevitable.

I fully understand why they want to applaud you Mr Bates but Im going to ask you not to for this reason, he went on.

That there will be witnesses who are coming in the next so forth who may not be as attractive to many of you and I would hate to think that I would have to intervene when theyre here to prevent bad behaviour.

So in the interests of people being even-handed, Im asking you to remember that this is not a public meeting but a public inquiry, its not a court of law but its a judicial process, so please leave it there.

04:06 PM BST

Bates: Government doesnt think my work is worth anything

Alan Bates has claimed the Government doesnt think anything he has done is worth anything.

The former sub-postmaster told the inquiry how forensic accountants and lawyers who had helped him draft his claim had included a sum which reflected the campaigning work he had done over the past twenty years.

He said this had been rejected by those deciding on his claims. The Government doesnt think anything Ive done over the past 20 years is worth anything, he said.

He confirmed his offer of compensation was derisory and still is and he was yet to receive another one.

When asked for his view on the Post Office, he said: They are an atrocious organisation, they need disbanding it needs removing.

It needs building up again from the ground up. And as Ive been quoted quite commonly, the whole of the postal service nowadays - its beyond its a dead duck.

04:00 PM BST

Back door talks between ministers and Post Office

The government was having back channel communications with the Post Office despite telling lead campaigner Alan Bates that it was operating an arms length relationship with the organisation, the Horizon IT inquiry has heard.

A July 2013 email, sent from shareholder executive Mike Whitehead from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to Post Office staff, showed how the government requested a meeting with the Post Office to discuss how to respond to communications from Mr Bates.

Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked: Did you know or did you appreciate at the time that, notwithstanding what had been said by government ministers about operating an arms length relationship with the Post Office, there was nonetheless a back channel of communications between the government and the Post Office?

Mr Bates said: No, I cant say I was aware of that, no.

03:57 PM BST

Post Office lawyer claimed Bates had loose relationship with truth

The inquiry has been shown an email chain about group litigation by sub-postmasters which began in 2017.

As several Post Office senior managers discussed how they would respond in a statement, Andrew Parsons from the law firm Bond Dickinson wrote: Im happy with the comms too. Plus lets not forget that Alan Bates has a somewhat loose relationship with the truth...

That was sent to then-Post Office lawyers Jane MacLeod and Mark Underwood, among others.

Presented with the email at the inquiry, Mr Bates let out a protracted chuckle, adding: Wed had over 1,200 people who did apply to join the scheme and out of that, as I say, 550 were signed up to it.

03:25 PM BST

Batess evidence very sobering, says Post Office chief

The boss of the Post Office has described Alan Batess evidence as very sobering.

Nick Read, the organisations current chief executive, is watching the former sub-postmaster give evidence in-person at the Horizon IT inquiry.

Asked about Mr Bates, Mr Read told reporters: It was very, very compelling, the evidence he provided today. [It was] very sobering for those of us in the Post Office as we stand and we want to make sure that the culture of todays Post Office learns the lessons from the past.

03:17 PM BST

Post Office boss explains why he turned up to watch Bates

The Post Offices current chief executive Nick Read told journalists he was attending the inquiry in-person to show his support to postmasters and to apologise.

Mr Read, who is currently the subject of an external investigation, took over the leadership of the Post Office after Paula Vennells left the role in 2019. He is present at Aldwych House in central London to watch Mr Bates give evidence.

Asked by journalists in a break between hearings if he was sorry, Mr Read said: Of course we are.

My job is to make sure we get redress and justice as quickly as possible for postmasters and Ive come today to show my support to postmasters to of course apologise for this appalling scandal that has gone on for far too long.

When questioned about the revelation that Post Office had made another series of late disclosures, Mr Read said: We are trying to make sure that we deliver and disclose as many of the documents as we possibly can  176 million documents weve been through, 500,000 have been disclosed and 73,000 since February.

03:14 PM BST

Recap: Key victims in the Post Office scandal

Alan Bates is one of several former sub-postmasters who led the fight for justice after hundreds of people were wrongfully prosecuted over shortfalls flagged by the Horizon accounting software.

Their stories rose to prominence in the popular ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office which aired recently.

02:47 PM BST

Alan Bates thought Paula Vennellss staff were not being open

Alan Bates wrote to Paula Vennells because he did not think her staff were feeding back to her.

The inquiry heard how Mr Bates asked for a meeting with the former Post Office chief executive in May 2013, while forensic accounting firm Second Sight was still conducting its investigation.

In his witness statement, Mr Bates wrote: There was a concern that perhaps the information was not getting through to Ms Vennells, as I did not think her staff were feeding back to her.

I was concerned that she was not being told the full story and so I wanted to ensure that she was being accurately informed of the whole situation.

He added: This was, perhaps, a failure in the way that Ms Vennells handled the situation in that I did not feel confident that she had been receiving accurate updates and was truly invested in the investigation and the subsequent events.

02:39 PM BST

Post Office would do anything and everything to hide Horizon failures

The Post Office appeared to do anything and everything to hide the failures of the Horizon IT system, Alan Bates has said.

A letter was shown to the inquiry which Mr Bates had sent to his Post Office manager after his contract was terminated.

It seems your organisation will do anything and everything to try and keep the failures of Horizon hidden, regardless of who they have to trample down on the way such as us or our community, he wrote.

I can assure you of my continued and now increased resolve to bring the real facts of what is going on to those who will have no choice but to act, regardless of whether it takes years.

02:33 PM BST

Suspicion over forensic accountants

Alan Bates said he and the Justice For Subpostmaster Alliance (JFSA) were highly suspicious of forensic accountants when they were first brought in to conduct an independent investigation on the Horizon system.

The investigators, who were tasked with what became to be known as Project Sparrow, were later fired by the organisation.

Speaking to the inquiry, Mr Bates said: We were highly suspicious of it because - were they being brought in to, if you like, to whitewash it on behalf of Post Office?

However, the former sub-postmaster described how he became more confident in the accountants.

He wrote in his witness statement: My impression of Second Sight improved from initial contact with them.

I felt more confident in their ability and could see them operating more independently from POL (Post Office Limited).

My main reservation at the start had been the fact that they had been selected by POL, however, I came to see that they were keen on working as an unbiased third party which improved my confidence in them as an investigating body.

02:23 PM BST

Alan Bates back giving evidence

In case you hadnt yet seen, former sub-postmaster Alan Bates has resumed giving evidence following a lunch break.

The founder of the Justice For Subpostmaster Alliance, whose fight for justice was the focus of the landmark ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office which captivated the nation, is giving evidence throughout this afternoon.

Alan Bates arrives at the inquiry alongside his wife Suzanne Sercombe

02:16 PM BST

Bates takes offence to Ed Davey letter

Alan Bates has told the Horizon IT Inquiry that he took offence to a letter from the former postal affairs minister Sir Ed Davey after he claimed the government adopted an arms length relationship with the Post Office, despite being its sole shareholder.

Questioned by counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC on why he took offence to Sir Eds letter in 2010, which declined an invitation to meet with Mr Bates, the former subpostmaster said: It was because of the structure, wasnt it.

The government was the sole shareholder, they were the owners, as such, of all of this.

How can you run or... take responsibility for an organisation without having some interest in... or trying to be in control?

02:14 PM BST

Ed Davey was lied to as well, Lib Dems say

The Liberal Democrats have responded to Alan Bates evidence to the Horizon IT inquiry and his criticism of Sir Ed Davey, who now leads the party. A spokesman said:

Alan Bates is a hero for all he has done to represent subpostmasters through this horrific miscarriage of justice. Ed was the first minister to meet with Mr Bates and took his concerns to the Post Office and the Federation of Subpostmasters - Ed, like Mr Bates and so many others, was lied to. No one knew the scale of these lies until the whistleblower from Fujitsu revealed the truth several years later. Ed has said that hes sorry that he didnt see through the Post Offices lies, and that it took him five months to meet Mr Bates. The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to ensure postmasters get full and fair compensation urgently, and Post Office executives who lied for decades are held properly to account.

02:02 PM BST

Civil servants far more guilty than ministers, says Bates

Alan Bates has said he blames civil servants more than ministers for stalling his campaign.

In a letter Mr Bates said he found Ed Daveys initial letter which rejected a meeting with him as not only disappointing but also offensive.

The inquiry was shown correspondence between Mr Bates and Mr Davey, then-Postal Affairs Minister and now the Liberal Democrats leader.

However, when asked about the correspondence, Mr Bates told the inquiry: I hold the civil service more to blame in a lot of these instances, why things never progressed at the time.

Because Im sure between them and Post Office briefing ministers, they were briefing them in the direction they wanted to brief them in, not what was for the benefit of the group or the individual here.

He added: I hold the officials far more guilty in all of this than politicians.

01:09 PM BST

Inquiry taking a lunch break

The Horizon IT Inquiry has paused for a lunch break until just before 2pm.

Scroll down in this blog to see everything that has happened so far.

You can also rewind the livestream at the top of this page.

Alan Bates will resume giving evidence during the afternoon session.

01:05 PM BST

Bates: I didnt set out to spend 20 years doing this

Alan Bates said he has not returned to work since being dismissed as a subpostmaster due to his campaign for justice, adding: I didnt set out to spend 20 years doing this.

The former sub-postmaster told the inquiry: The key issue has always been to expose the truth right from the outset because the other things, they followed on - once you know the truth about issues, the rest will hopefully follow on afterwards.

I didnt set out to spend 20 years doing this.

I hadnt expected to be doing this so much by myself but it got more and more complex and it was harder and harder to share out work as a bigger group to take things forward.

01:01 PM BST

Trade union told Bates that Horizon works well

The inquiry has been shown a letter sent to Mr Bates from Colin Baker, then the general secretary of the NFSP trade union for sub-postmasters.

The letter, dated January 13, 2004 addresses Mr Batess concerns about the mounting errors with the Horizon accounting system.

But Mr Baker concludes that it works well.

Mr Bakers latter reads: We are aware that there were some disputes around the time that offices migrated from the manual system to the Horizon System, but we are now of the view that Horizon works well and that there are no real problems in Post Offices which are operated by the Horizon System.

12:56 PM BST

Bates hits out at sub-postmasters trade union

The union for sub-postmasters continually failed to back them over the Horizon scandal, Alan Bates has told the public inquiry.

He said in his witness statement: The NFSP (National Federation of SubPostmasters) were the only organisation that POL (Post Office Limited) had decided it would recognise to represent Subpostmasters, but the fact that they continually failed to provide real support for SPMs in Horizon matters was widely known.

To the best of my knowledge, the NFSP has never once supported a SPM in any court case where issues surrounding the Horizon system have been questioned. In point of fact, the NFSP has actively supported POL in their Horizon position on many occasions.

Asked about the union by Jason Beer KC during the inquiry on Tuesday, Mr Bates agreed that it had nearly always agreed with the Post Office and sometimes said to the sub-postmaster come on, own up tell them what you did with the money.

Mr Beer asked him: To what extent has the NFSP assisted you with establishing the facts in your case? Mr Bates replied: None.

Mr Beer asked: To what extent has the NFSP assisted you in seeking redress in your case? Mr Bates replied: None.

12:54 PM BST

Post Office flexing muscles in five-paragraph letter

A comprehensive review into Alan Batess case may have resulted in a five-paragraph document, the inquiry has heard.

As Mr Bates gave evidence the inquiry was shown several documents in which the Post Office cited carrying out a comprehensive review into why it terminated the former sub-postmasters contracted.

Yet referring to a document shown to the inquiry, counsel Jason Beer KC said: It may be that these five paragraphs on this undated piece of paper are the comprehensive review that has been referred to in correspondence.

Within the document, the author referred to anecdotal evidence on file which demonstrates bates unsuitability as a postmaster.

Was that ever put to you: that you were unsuitable to be a postmaster?, asked Mr Beer. No, but theyd appointed me in the first instance, said Mr Bates.

He said his was just them flexing their muscles and deciding they were right and I was wrong.

12:30 PM BST

Post Office regrets delays in giving documents to inquiry

The Post Office has said it regrets that documents were not disclosed to the Horizon IT Inquiry as early as all parties would have liked.

A Post Office spokeswoman said: We are fully committed to supporting the inquiry to establish the truth and we have disclosed almost half-a-million documents to date, reflecting both the unprecedented scale of the issues in the scandal and our commitment to transparency.

This follows searches of over 176 million documents, 230 physical locations and third-party sites, and across multiple systems.

During the past six weeks, since the inquiry announced its current hearings timetable, we have disclosed the vast majority of documents required for those witnesses but regret a very small proportion of documents were not disclosed as early as all parties would have liked.

The inquiry is examining issues that spanned more than two decades, including a lengthy period when Post Office was part of Royal Mail Group.

Disclosure is therefore highly complex and we continue to do all we can to deliver continuous improvements and incorporate past learnings into the disclosure process to avoid the risk of delays to the inquirys timetable.

12:23 PM BST

Bates became unmanageable, Post Office boss said

Alan Bates was dismissed because he became unmanageable, according to a presentation prepared by a Post Office executive.

Powerpoint slides prepared for a presentation on Horizon integrity by Dave Smith - then Head of Change and IS at the Post Office - was shown to the inquiry today.

Under the heading, Of the cases I am aware of, a slide read: Bates had discrepancies but was dismissed because he became unmanageable.

Clearly struggled with the accounting and despite copious support did not follow instructions.

Mr Beer asked: Was that ever explained to you that you became unmanageable?

No not at all, Mr Bates said.

Did you struggle with accounting? Mr Beer asked.

No, not at all, repeated Mr Bates.

Did you seek to follow the instructions that you had been given by the Post Office? asked Mr Beer.

Basically try and bankrupt myself? No, not to that extent, said Mr Bates.

12:05 PM BST

Alan Bates says Post Office made a lesson out of him

Alan Bates has said he probably wouldnt be here today if the Post Office had returned his initial investment when it terminated his contract.

He told the inquiry he felt quite annoyed to put it mildly when his contract was terminated with three months notice - but said he would have been happy had the organisation returned his original investment.

Mr Bates and his wife purchased their Welsh Post Office branch for 175,000 - with an 8,000 deposit.

This was a major investment for Suzanne and me, his witness statement reads.

Mr Bates said he would have been happy for the Post Office to pay back his initial investment and take the post office away.

He told the inquiry: I would have been quite happy for them to do that and I probably wouldnt be here if that had happened.

He added: I felt they were going to make a lesson of my case because a number of other people knew what was going on at that time and I think it was something that the Post Office liked to try to give lessons on how they were in charge.

11:58 AM BST

Post Office boss watching Alan Bates give evidence

Nick Read, the current chief executive of the Post Office, is attending the inquiry in person to see Mr Bates give evidence.

Mr Read, who is currently under investigation in relation to allegations made by a former HR director, took on his role in 2019 - after the organisations former boss Paula Vennells left.

Nick Read, the Post Office chief executive, has told staff he absolutely refutes bullying claims and allegations about his salary made by the organisations former chairman.

Henry Staunton wrote to MPs earlier this week claiming Mr Read treated Jane Davies, the Post Offices former human resources director, like a pain in the arse for focusing on tackling the toxic culture rather than prioritising Reads salary.

Mr Staunton, who was sacked from his role in January, said he believed the chief executives behaviour constituted bullying and that Mr Read should have focused more on tackling misogyny rather than agitating about his pay.

11:37 AM BST

Moment Alan Batess contract was suddenly terminated

Alan Bates has recalled the moment his Post Office contract was terminated without giving a reason.

The inquiry was shown the four-paragraph letter sent to him on August 5, 2023, by a retail line manager, giving him three months notice of termination of his contract.

The letter speaks for itself - it gave you no explanation for the reason for termination of your contract, the leading counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC says.

Mr Bates replies: Thats correct.

Mr Beer asks: Was any such explanation given to you by the post office at this time?

Never, Mr Bates replies.

Asked how it made him feel, Mr Bates says: I think it was partly expected in a way because it was pretty obvious that they were after me one way or another.

The build up of correspondence over the period was certainly pointing in that direction. They decided to go for any reason they wanted, three months notice without giving a reason.

Asked why he thinks they really got rid of him, Mr Bates says: Basically I think its because A, they didnt like be standing up to them in the first instance, B they were finding it awkward and C I dont think they could answer these questions.

11:17 AM BST

Alan Bates tells of 507 calls to bleeding obvious Post Office helpline

Alan Bates and his assistants made 507 calls to the Post Offices helpline during his time running his branch.

The campaigner told the inquiry that those employed by the helpline stated the bleeding obvious and suggested things he had tried already.

Mr Bates said he first contacted the helpline in December 13 over a 6,000 variance that he spotted on his account two months after the new Horizon system was installed.

He made seven calls that day - one of which was around an hour in length.

His witness statement reads: I contacted the helpline seeking support and as to why this apparent variance had occurred. They were unable to assist in any meaningful way.

Were they any assistance? Mr Beer asked.

Not really, said Mr Bates. Stating the bleeding obvious, I think, really, is one description I might use. But it was all things that Id tried.

Mr Beer then said that Post Office disclosures later confirmed that in the two year, nine month period up until Mr Batess contract was terminated in November 2003, he and his assistants made 507 calls the the helpline - of which 85 related to Horizon and balancing problems. Yes, Mr Bates confirmed.

11:03 AM BST

Bates says Post Office has been denying, lying, silencing

In his witness statement to the inquiry, Alan Bates said the Post Office had spent the entirety of the 23 years he has been campaigning denying, lying, defending, and attempting to discredit and silence me.

He said: Prior to and since my termination from the branch, I have spent the last 23 years campaigning to expose the truth, and justice, not just for myself, but for the entire group of wrongly treated/wrongly convicted subpostmasters.

I have dedicated this period of my life to this cause which, sadly, has been necessary since Post Office Limited has spent this entire period denying, lying, defending, and attempting to discredit and silence me and the group of SPMs that the Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance (JFSA) represents.

11:01 AM BST

One-sided relationship between sub-postmasters and Post Office

Alan Bates said the partnership between sub-postmasters and the Post Office was very one-sided.

He told the inquiry: I had been led to believe that sub-postmasters were working in partnership with the Post Office, and if the Post Office wanted me to measure up to the standards they required, I expected them to do the same for me.

However, over time, it soon became evident that the partnership was very one-sided, and it really was a question of you will do as you are told and if you dont like it, you cant complain and there is no redress on this, and you just get on and keep your mouth closed - thats how it works.

10:55 AM BST

Read Alan Batess witness statement in full

10:55 AM BST

Bates was quite positive when Horizon arrived

Alan Bates has said he was quite positive about Horizon when it first came in.

The inquiry has heard how he worked for 12 years in the heritage and leisure projects management sector before he and his wife took over a Post Office in their forties.

During his course of work he developed experience in the electronic point of sale epos systems and software.

Mr Bates told the Inquiry: I think when Horizon came in, I think I was quite positive about it, because I knew what technology and these sorts of systems could do, so I was quite positive.

But I found it a bit frustrating, once the system was in and was operating, I found there were many shortcomings.

Jason Beer KC has noted that Bates five-and-a-half years was a relatively short tenure compared to other sub-postmasters.

It is. Sorry, it is but its due to Post Office not to myself, Mr Bates said, before Mr Beer then noted that Mr Bates has taken more than four times that timespan campaigning for other sub-postmasters.

10:45 AM BST

Alan Batess stubbornness propelled him to find justice

Alan Bates has told the inquiry of his stubbornness in leading the fight for justice.

The counsel noted a line in his witness statement in which Bates describes how he has dedicated this part of [his] life to this cause.

Asked whether this required dedication or was a cause, Mr Bates said: Yes I think its also stubbornness as well.

He added: I mean as you got to meet people and realised it wasnt just yourself and you saw the harm and injustice that had been descended upon them, it was something that you felt you had to deal with.

Its something you couldnt put down and you had the support of the rest of the group there as well.

Former sub-postmaster Alan Bates testifies at the inquiry - Reuters

10:38 AM BST

Alan Bates begins giving evidence

Alan Bates has now been sworn in to give evidence and he is beginning to speak.

He is being questioned by leading counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC.

Mr Batess witness statement is 59 pages long excluding exhibit pages.

10:36 AM BST

Inquiry must not last a day longer than necessary, says chair

Phase five of the inquiry has begun with news of last-minute late disclosure of thousands of documents  with 5,000 documents produced by the Post Office since the end of March.

The Post Offices previous incidents of late disclosure have already been described as sub-optimal by the inquiry.

And since the end of the last phase on February 2, the Post Office has released thousands of documents to the inquiry, the inquiry heard on Tuesday.

Some of the documents recently released relate to high profile witnesses such as former Post Office executives Paula Vennells and Angela van den Bogerd.

Post Office has previously been told it must provide documents at least six weeks before witnesses they relate to take the stand. The documents include communications between personal assistants and employers.

The chair has decided to carry on with the inquiry. I am unshakable in my belief that this inquiry should not last for a day longer than is strictly necessary and if that means that the pace at which we proceed causes significant work pressures for us all then Im afraid thats the price were all going to have to pay, Sir Wyn Williams said.

It is unclear whether some witnesses may need to be recalled as a result of the late disclosure

10:33 AM BST

Highly undesirable state of affairs

The chair of the Horizon IT inquiry is now speaking.

Sir Wyn Williams speaks of a highly undesirable state of affairs in which the Post Office documents havent caught up with the witnesses, so to speak when individuals are called to the inquiry.

This is because certain documents have not been made available to the core participants in the inquiry by the time they are addressed in hearings.

Make no mistake everyone, I understand fully that the problems with disclosure are capable of creating very significant pressures for all the participants in the inquiry, he says.

But he warns that long breaks in proceedings to address the issue would also cause very damaging stresses on all involved, adding that he plans to address the issue with dedicated disclosure hearings.

10:27 AM BST

Everything you need to know about the Post Office Horizon scandal

The row over the Post Office scandal and the hundreds of victims who are yet to be fully compensated has dominated headlines.

What caused the Post Office scandal? What did sub-postmasters do when they found out they had shortfalls?

How many sub-postmasters have had their convictions overturned? And who has received compensation?

Here are the answers to questions you may have about the Horizon row, which still shows no sign of abating.

We explain all here

10:22 AM BST

Who is Alan Bates?

In Colwyn Bay, amid the sweeping splendour of the North Wales coast, Suzanne Sercombe and Alan Bates are allowing themselves to dream of moving on.

The extraordinary reaction to ITVs drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office means its real-life stars might, at long last, be awarded compensation, after two decades of struggle against an institution that has shown itself to be as corrupt and malignant as any in Britain.

Ask Sercombe, 68, what she and her partner Bates, 69, will spend any money they are awarded on, and her reply is emphatic. We will move... We both want to move house. Definitely.

In the drama that has shaken the country, she is portrayed by Julie Hesmondhalgh, while dogged Bates  now considered a national treasure  is played by Toby Jones.

The couple, who ran the post office in Llandudno, are depicted throughout the harrowing 20-year ordeal caused by the faulty Horizon IT system: first, spuriously served three months notice of termination of contract; then moving to a new home from where they ran  and still run  the campaign for justice.

Read more about the couple here

10:16 AM BST

Post Office accused of late and problematic approach

Before Alan Bates evidence begins Jason Beer KC, the lead counsel for the inquiry, is raising an issue of disclosure.

He tells the inquiry chair Sir Wyn Williams that the Post Offices late and problematic disclosure of documents has been a consistent theme of the inquiry so far.

10:08 AM BST

Alan Bates evidence starting shortly

Our livestream of the proceedings has begun at the top of this page.

Lawyers are currently going through some technicalities to begin phase five of the inquiry.

Alan Bates will then begin giving evidence, with leading counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC to question him.

10:06 AM BST

Youngest victim of scandal calls for jail

The youngest victim of the Post Office scandal, who was a sub-postmaster aged 18, has called echoed a ministers call for jail for those responsible.

Christopher Head, now 36, told Sky News: People need to have back the money and be compensated for what they have been through, but I think ultimately people want to see somebody held accountable for what has gone on.

We dont want to see one person scapegoated, we need to see all of the evidence put out there in the public domain and we need to know exactly who knew what and when... whether its Fujitsu, Post Office, in Government or whatever.

I dont think anybody will be able to move on fully until that is done.

Asked what holding those responsible to account means, he said: We need to see the evidence but if that means somebody has perverted the course of justice or committed any other criminal offences then obviously they need to see the ultimate consequence of that, and if that means going to prison like minister Hollinrake said yesterday then that needs to be done, otherwise well keep seeing scandals like this over and over again.

09:46 AM BST

Jail architects of scandal, says minister

In case you missed it, the Post Office minister said on Monday that those found to be responsible for the scandal should go to jail.

Government minister Kevin Hollinrake said the inquiry was unearthing evidence. He added:

Where evidence has been established and people should be prosecuted ... I certainly feel, people within the Post Office and possibly further afield should go to jail. [The rule of law] has failed, failed these people [sub-postmasters], inexcusably. We do believe in process, thats the country we are very proud to live in. But if the threshold is met, the evidence is there, criminal prosecutions can be undertaken and those prosecutions, those people, are found guilty, then as I say, I have no reservations in saying people should go to jail.

09:42 AM BST

Alan Bates arrives at inquiry

Alan Bates has arrived at Aldwych House in central London ahead of giving evidence at the Horizon IT Inquiry this morning.

The former sub-postmaster who was at the centre of the ITV drama and the founder of the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, was captured speaking to a large pack of reporters and photographers several minutes ago.

Alan Bates arrives at the inquiry - Leon Neal/Getty Images

He is giving evidence for the first time to the inquiry on Tuesday - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

09:35 AM BST

Another star of ITV Post Office drama arrives at inquiry

Another victim of the Horizon scandal Jo Hamilton, who was portrayed in the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, has arrived at the inquiry to see Alan Bates give evidence.

She previously described how she first noticed issues with the accounts of her Hampshire Post Office in 2003.

I saw that I had a discrepancy of 2,000, she said. I called the helpline and they asked me to try certain things on the system which turned the debt into 4,000 in front of our eyes. Whatever we did it wouldnt go away.

She was told that her contract stated that she must cover the shortfall. They took money out of my wages, she said. I was all alone, being told that I was the only person this had ever happened to.

Jo Hamilton arrives at the inquiry in central London on Tuesday morning - Isabel Infantes/Reuters

09:30 AM BST

What happened in the Post Office scandal?

You can remind yourself of how far this stretches back by scrolling through our timeline below.

09:23 AM BST

ICYMI: Post Office scandal chiefs should be charged, says Bates

Alan Bates has suggested those responsible for the Post Office scandal should be prosecuted, ahead of his first appearance at the inquiry into the flawed Horizon system.

Speaking to the BBC on Monday, he said: People have got to be held accountable, I see no sign of it yet  but I think after the inquiry thats definitely the next stage.

And then we start looking at prosecutions, not just that as well. Huge bonuses have been paid to people over the years. Some of that should be clawed back.

Read more here

09:17 AM BST

We need to know the truth, says subpostmistress

A subpostmistress said we need to know the truth, ahead of appearances by senior Post Office officials at the next stage of the Horizon IT Inquiry.

Jacqueline Franklin told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that she wanted to see honesty, truth and to let people know whats happened instead of covering everything up and white-washing whats been going on.

These people at the top have just hidden the truth from postmasters. It took a TV programme to bring this to the fore.

It shouldnt have happened, it should have been out there and the truth should be out there. We need to know the truth.

Ms Franklin, who took over a Warwickshire post office from her mother, who died in 2019, added: We spent evenings looking for money which had gone missing.

We were always told that we had to make good the cash, so cash had to be made good out of your own pockets.

09:14 AM BST

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to our live updates of the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry.

Alan Bates, the former sub-postmaster who has become the face of the fight for justice for the hundreds of people prosecuted over the accounting software, will be giving evidence as the inquiry begins its fifth phase.

He is due to start his testimony at around 10am.

Stay with us on this blog for all the updates as they happen.

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.
Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, speaks in favor of Senate Bill 45 on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The Alaska Legislature has voted to approve a health care approach likened to a gym membership.

In a 28-12 vote on Monday, the state House voted to approve Senate Bill 45, which authorizes direct health agreements in the state.

SB 45 clarifies that direct care agreements  effectively a subscription for basic health care from a doctors office  arent insurance and cant be regulated as such.

In Alaska, our insurance laws are drafted so broadly that the legality of these agreements is unclear, said Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, who carried the bill on the House floor.

Senators passed SB 45 in May 2023, and its just the fourth bill this year to gain approval from both House and Senate.

a digital billboard displays a list of names, 28 of which are lit in green and 12 of which are lit in red

The voting board in the Alaska House of Representatives displays the total votes for and against Senate Bill 45 on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska has the highest health-care costs in the nation, and there is a shortage of both specialty care and primary care.

McCabe said the newly authorized agreements are intended to bypass insurance company markups, reducing costs. A patient can subscribe to their local doctors office and receive basic care as part of that subscription.

Emergency care or specialty services might not be covered as part of the agreement.

Direct health care agreements work similarly to a gym membership or other subscription-based services, McCabe said. A gym membership can include certain things such as the use of machines, regular visits, but if you want to use tanning beds or attend a Pilates class, you pay an extra fee.

Rep. Genevieve Mina, D-Anchorage, said she grew up uninsured and sees direct health agreements as a way to meet the needs of people who were unable or unwilling to obtain insurance for basic care.

But she also said shes not sure that it will help Alaskans who need emergency care and are confronted with large bills as a result.

And so I wonder if this really is addressing cost issues that people are facing. And additionally, it doesnt have the same insurance protections for the consumer, she said.

During debate on the House floor, lawmakers amended SB 45 to say that any health care provider who offers a direct health agreement must have 20 percent of their patients be uninsured or on Medicare, the federal health insurance program for elderly Americans.

Members of the House also added consumer protection language.

But that didnt satisfy all legislators, including Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage and a cosponsor of some of the successful amendments.

Fields said hes worried that non-Alaskan private equity firms will buy clinics and offer cut-rate services, making it impossible for Alaska-owned businesses to operate here.

He unsuccessfully attempted to insert a provision into the bill that would have allowed only majority Alaska-owned businesses to offer direct care agreements.

If we dont have proper consumer safeguards in place, frankly, its all too easy for these parasitic private equity companies to come in and get the revenue while really harming patients, he said.

Jared Kosin is president of the Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association, which represents hospitals and existing clinics across the state. He said his organization wasnt taking a stance on the bill.

Weve been pretty strongly neutral on it. We dont oppose it, he said.

Speaking before the final vote, McCabe said SB 45 should be viewed as a step forward, but not the final step in addressing the states health care problems.

This bill is not designed to fix all the problems in Alaskans healthcare, not by any means, he said.

SB 45 is being held in the House for a vote to confirm the Houses approval. If approved on reconsideration, the bill will return to the Senate, where lawmakers will be asked to approve the Houses changes.

If adopted, SB 45 will go to Gov. Mike Dunleavy for final approval or veto. If senators dont approve the changes, a select group of legislators will attempt to negotiate a compromise version.

The post Alaska lawmakers OK rules for subscription-style basic health care appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A 20-year-old who admitted to street racing before getting into a deadly crash last month will be held through trial. Isaiah Sena pled not guilty to a homicide by vehicle charge in front of Judge Lucy Solimon on Tuesday morning. The state asked for Sena to be locked up citing his previous traffic violations.

Santa Fe man pleads guilty in 2021 deadly police chase

Senas lawyer pointed out her clients careless driving charge was dismissed. Judge Solimon granted the states motion meaning Sena will be held through his trial.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
The US Central Intelligence Agency has put forward a new proposal to end the war between Israel and Hamas. It provides for the release of 40 out of more than 100 prisoners, including 5 female soldiers still held in Gaza, in exchange for the release of 900 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.

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In particular, 100 of them were accused of terrorism. The proposal was voiced by CIA Director William Burns, according to The Wall Street Journal.

He also proposed that civilian Palestinians return to the northern part of Gaza from the south, where they have been forced to move since the beginning of the conflict in October, without restrictions. Israel fears this because of the likelihood that Hamas militants will return to the "cleared" areas and mix with Palestinians.

The American plan also stipulates that Palestinians who are allowed to return will have freedom of movement on two main roads from north to south, and Israeli troops will be almost a third of a mile from these roads.

On April 7, the Israeli Defense Forces withdrew its main units from the southern part of the Gaza Strip, leaving some forces in the north and center of the enclave. Senior military officials assured that the decision was made without any external pressure, but Israeli media noted that this event coincided with harsh criticism of Israel over the accidental killing of humanitarian mission workers.

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Earlier, the White House reported that the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces from the southern part of the Gaza Strip may be due to the re-equipment of personnel. They noted that the IDF troops need to rest.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Israeli Defense Forces will fight until the group is completely defeated and is ready to cease fire only after the hostages are returned.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Alec Baldwin had no control of his emotions on Rust set, says new legal filing

Alec Baldwin had no control of his emotions on Rust set, says new legal filing

Special prosecutors in New Mexico have claimed in a new legal filing that actor Alec Baldwin was unable to control his emotions on the sets of film Rust, resulting in safety compromises that led to the 2021 fatal shooting of the films cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

The prosecutors filed their arguments on Friday after Baldwins team moved in March to dismiss the indictment against the actor.

The 66-year-old actor is due to go to trial in July on involuntary manslaughter charges for his role in Hutchinss death. In October 2021, a gun held by Baldwin during a rehearsal went off, killing Hutchins and wounding directorJoel Souza.

Prosecutor Kari Morrissey alleged that Baldwin had repeatedly changed his story about the events of the shooting and had absolutely no control of his own emotions, according to the legal filing.

Baldwin frequently shouted and cursed at crew members and also, during his first days on set, demanded the crew and armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed work faster, according to the filing.

To watch Mr Baldwins conduct on the set of Rust is to witness a man who has absolutely no control of his own emotions and absolutely no concern for how his conduct affects those around him, Morrissey wrote.

In this image taken from video released by the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office, Alec Baldwin speaks with investigators (AP)

Witnesses have testified that it was this exact conduct that contributed to safety compromises on set.

Gutierrez-Reed  who was responsible for firearm safety and storage on the movies set  was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March. During the trial, prosecutors said the armourer exhibited an astonishing lack of diligence on set, often cutting corners or completely skipping out on gun safety measures.

She faces a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Prosecutors in the filing also allege that multiple crew members observed Gutierrez-Reed to be inexperienced and overwhelmed and that Baldwin overlooked this behaviour, despite being a producer on the film.

The combination of Hannah Gutierrezs negligence and inexperience and Alec Baldwins complete lack of concern for the safety of those around him would prove deadly for Halyna Hutchins, the filing read.

Morrissey also wrote that Baldwins claims that he only pulled the hammer but not the trigger on the gun was absurd. The filing said Baldwin did not mention this when he was first interviewed by the police, but did so a month later when he went on ABC News and added that Hutchins had instructed him to point the gun at her.

Testimony by an independent gun expert during Gutierrez-Reeds trial also cast doubt on Baldwins account that his gun went off without pulling the trigger.

Every time Mr Baldwin spoke, a different version of events emerged from his mouth, and his later statements contradicted his previous statements, the prosecutor wrote.

Baldwins attorneys said in their March filing that Hutchinss death was a terrible tragedy but prosecutors are misguided in their attempts to secure a conviction against him. In asking for the indictment to be dismissed, they said prosecutors publicly dragged Baldwin through the cesspool created by their improprieties  without any regard for the fact that serious criminal charges have been hanging over his head for two-and-a-half years.

This is an abuse of the system, and an abuse of an innocent person whose rights have been trampled to the extreme, his lawyers said in the filing.

Morrisseys filing also stated that Baldwin had engaged in countless lies and manipulation as well as subjected both her and co-counsel Jason Lewis to personal attacks.

The filing also revealed that Baldwin was offered a misdemeanor plea last year, which was rescinded when the prosecution learned that Baldwin was not only planning a documentary about Hutchins, but was actively pressuring material witnesses in the case to be interviewed for it.

The Independent has reached out to Baldwin for a comment.
(Bloomberg) -- The arrest of a senior counter-intelligence official, alleged to have traded secrets for Kremlin cash, is upending Austrian politics ahead of national elections and cementing the nations reputation as a haven for spies.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Austrias government will convene an extraordinary session of its national-security council late Tuesday in Vienna. The meeting follows the arrest at the end of March of Egisto Ott, 61, an Austrian spy who allegedly also worked for Russia.

Ott has consistently denied working for Russia, suggesting in a 2021 interview that he witnessed other Austrian officials abusing surveillance powers.

The security situation in the republic needs to be assessed and clarified, Chancellor Karl Nehammer said last week. We need to prevent Russian spy networks from threatening our country by infiltrating or exploiting political parties or networks.

With parliamentary elections due by October, Austrias ruling conservatives are using the scandal to portray right-wing populists as security risk because of past connections with Russian President Vladimir Putins party. The Freedom Party, currently leading in the polls, rejects the accusations.

The Peoples Party will build on this thematic up to and throughout the election campaign later this year, said Marcus How, a geopolitical risk analyst at VE Insight.

Read More: Europes Spy Capital Eyes Crackdown on Intelligence Industry

But the scandal is also increasing the scrutiny on Austria from western partners concerned about weak points that the Kremlin could exploit. While Austria has been a member of the European Union since 1995, it has remained outside of the NATO military alliance, even as other previously neutral countries like Sweden and Finland rushed to join in the aftermath of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Foreign intelligence services put down roots in Austria in the wake of post-World War II racketeering scandals portrayed in Carol Reeds film The Third Man. Their activity increased during the Cold War as spies sought an edge in major Vienna-based institutions including the International Atomic Energy Agency and Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The very limited legal options available to counter espionage lead to an extremely high incidence of foreign intelligence and secret services in the country, Austrias own spy operation, the Directorate State Protection and Intelligence Service, said in its most recent annual report.

Justice Minister Alma Zadic last week said that legal loopholes which allow spying  as long as its not directed against Austria  need to be tightened.

The case of Ott puts more meat on the bones of the suspicions western security agencies harbor toward their Austrian partners, How said. He was able to access classified information with remarkable ease. This kind of complacency is not reassuring.

Prosecutors have been investigating Otts Russian connections since 2017 when he began tracking the movements of a renegade Kremlin agent, according to a copy of the 86-page arrest warrant seen by Bloomberg. After a brief suspension and reassignment, investigators say he continued trafficking classified information for cash.

The arrest warrant alleges that among other things Ott:

Provided sensitive information to Wirecard fugitive Jan Marsalek, who is wanted for fraud and is suspected of having links to Russian secret services

Handed over cellphone data of several senior Austrian officials

Collected information about people of interest to Russia and shared some of those findings with Marsalek

Supplied Marsalek with the Vienna address of Bellingcat investigative journalist Christo Grozev. A team later commissioned by Marsalek broke into Grozevs apartment where they stole a laptop and a USB stick

Helped Marsalek smuggle to Moscow a stolen SINA laptop, a device used by European governments to transmit encrypted information

Drafted an analysis with recommendations for improvement following the murder in 2019 of a Chechen dissident in Berlin at the behest of Russian authorities

Other western intelligence agencies have raised security issues with their Austrian counterparts and those concerns rose in the wake of a 2018 inter-agency raid overseen by officials in the right-wing Freedom Party who were then in government. That event risked compromising sensitive sources, prompting some allies to rein in intelligence sharing.

The warrant against Ott was only filed after UK prosecutors last month revealed new information linking the Austrian to a wider European spy network connected to Marsalek. Ott was friendly with another Austrian fugitive agent who helped Marsalek escape, presumably to Belarus or Russia.

--With assistance from Alberto Nardelli.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
ASHEBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  The sixth sense of a Greensboro Amazon Driver saved a 76-year-old woman, who flipped her car into an embankment in Asheboro.

Shirley Roberts flipped her car over an embankment. Amazon Driver Amanda Smith was out doing deliveries off old Lexington Road in Asheboro when she spotted the crash.

I thought I was seeing things at first  Something just came over me, and it didnt feel right, so I pulled over  When I looked down the road, there was a car laid out, Smith said.

After calling 911, Smith yelled to see if Shirley was OK, but no one responded.

Thankfully, others spotted her rescue efforts and jumped into action.

They immediately jumped down the embankment, and they went down and checked on her and saw that she was alive and moving and OK, Smith said

MORE FROM QUEEN CITY NEWS

North Carolina

Soon after, crews with Westside Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene and used a jaws-of-life tool to pry Shirley out of the car.

According to officials, it took nearly half an hour.

While Smith says she is glad her instincts kicked in to find Shirley, her daughter-in-law, Eleanor Roberts, credits a higher power.

Im a firm believer in God  I know that when she told me that, it was the Holy Spirit guiding her to show her that there was more than just a tire there, Eleanor said.

Eleanor says her mother-in-law crashed trying to avoid a dog in the road.

She is currently in rehab after injuring her ribs, fingers and neck.

She still has quite a bit of pain  Other than that, shes going to be absolutely just fine, Eleanor said.

The Roberts family is thankful for Smiths quick-thinking

Shes just a special young girl, Eleanor said.

Last week, Amazon awarded Smith with the extra mile award during a surprise celebration for saving Shirleys life.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Sleeptime Gorilla Museum

Millions of people gathered outside to watch the Sun be completely blotted out by the Moon on Monday, casting a massive shadow over much of North America.

The rare cosmological event also triggered a number of strange behaviors among animals, which were seemingly confused by the Sun setting far earlier than expected.

"Our gorilla troop got up and walked to the door like it was time to go in for the night," John Griffioen, who led a team of 40 people at Fort Worth Zoo in Texas, told Sky News.

"Two of our flocks of flamingos got much closer together," he added. "They started vocalizing a lot more, and one of them even started marching, which is a group bonding behavior."

In the wild, animals also reacted to the strange celestial event in unusual ways.

"Hard to put into words how incredible this was," Indiana University associate professor of biology Kim Rosvall tweeted, replying to her colleague, who recalled hearing "hootin and howlin'" during the eclipse. "The coyotes and the barred owl really took the cake."

Casting Shade

Scientists have long tried to study how the circadian rhythms of animals are disrupted by a brief moment of night in the middle of the day.

Light is "such a huge cue that affects everything from plants to animals," Cecilia Nilsson, a behavioural ecologist at Lund University in Sweden, told the BBC. "As biologists we can't turn off the Sun but every now and then, nature turns it off for us."

In 2017, a South Carolina zoo witnessed giraffes huddling together and tortoises mating during the strange darkness. Scientists also observed bumblebees that abruptly stopped buzzing in other parts of the country.

But thanks to the fleeting nature of total solar eclipses, it's extremely difficult for scientists to come up with trends or quantifiable behavioral data.

To get closer to an answer, NASA is reaching out to the public and is inviting them to participate in the Eclipse Soundscapes Project, which is designed to learn how life on Earth is affected by solar eclipses.

More on the eclipse: The Solar Eclipse Looks Absolutely Wild From Space
A group of anti-Trump Republicans in Nebraska announced an ad blitz Monday against a potential change to the states Electoral College votes, which could net the former president an additional electoral vote if passed.

The effort to change Nebraska from a split district to a winner-take-all state for electoral votes is backed by Trump, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) and Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.). It failed a key vote in the states unicameral Legislature last week, though the issue could still be pursued in a special session later this year.

Defending Democracy Together, founded by a group of prominent anti-Trump Republicans in 2019, said that the Electoral College change would dilute the states voting power.

Nebraskans take pride in their ability to exercise their voting power to make their congressional districts voice heard, spokesperson Gunner Ramer said in a statement.

When voters feel that their presidential vote truly matters, our democracy is better for it. Thats what makes Nebraskas current system so powerful. Lawmakers in Lincoln need to uphold that pro-democratic principle.

Only Nebraska and Maine split their Electoral College votes. In most presidential elections, Republicans take two districts easily in Nebraska, but District 2  which comprises Omaha and its suburbs  is tightly contested and has gone blue in two of the past four elections. The states remaining two electoral votes are given to its popular vote winner, generally the Republican candidate.

If the bill were to go into effect for the 2024 election, it could cost President Biden an Electoral College vote; Trump won about 58 percent of the vote in Nebraska in 2020, meaning the GOP candidate would likely get the states entire slate of electoral votes in a winner-take-all system.

Defending Democracy Together will run digital ads throughout the states 2nd District, it said, encouraging voters to contact their state legislators about the issue and urge them to oppose it.

The electoral vote change failed a procedural vote last week, which would have likely seen it passed. The legislative session ended at the end of last week, meaning a special session would be required to pass the measure before the 2024 election.

The bills failure split the Nebraska GOP, with conservative activists clashing with some more moderate legislators who opposed the effort.

Every registered Republican in the nonpartisan Legislature would have to support the bill for it to have enough votes to avoid a filibuster. Multiple Republicans have publicly stated they will not consider an Electoral College change before the 2024 election.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(KRON)  A suspect has been arrested in connection to a fatal shooting last month, the Antioch Police Department announced on Tuesday. Antioch PD officers responded on March 27 to the 600 block of East 18th Street at the request of ConFire for a man found dead from an apparent gunshot.

The man, identified as 36-year-old Frank James, was found dead inside a parked vehicle, having been shot at least once. An investigation was launched and taken over by Antioch PDs Investigations Bureau.

More than 42 pounds of fentanyl seized in Tenderloin by CHP over past year

Utilizing Hi-tech tools and City cameras, police said they were able to identify Jacob Crooks as the suspect in the case. Antioch PD detectives obtained a warrant for Crooks and shared it with neighboring agencies.

On Monday, the Walnut Creek Police Department contacted Crooks during a traffic enforcement stop and took him into custody. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility and charged with murder.

The case, police said, will be presented to the Contra Costa County District Attorneys Office for review.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
A New York appeals court on Tuesday rejected former President Trumps last-ditch effort to delay his hush money criminal trial while he argues against a gag order the judge overseeing the case imposed.

Judge Juan Merchans gag order precludes Trump from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and the judges family, but it doesnt stop him from hurling insults at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) or the judge himself.

During an emergency hearing Tuesday before Justice Cynthia Kern, Trumps lawyers argued that banning public statements about those individuals is an unconstitutional prior restraint on his right to free speech while running for president and mounting his defense.

The First Amendment harms arising from this gag order right now are irreparable, said Trump lawyer Emil Bove, according to The Associated Press.

State prosecutors countered that Trumps remarks threaten the public interest in protecting the integrity of the trial.

This is not political debate. These are insults, Steven Wu, appellate chief for the Manhattan district attorneys office, said of Trumps statements, according to the AP.

Trumps lawyers had urged the judge to indefinitely pause the former presidents trial, which is scheduled to begin April 15, via an emergency stay while they appeal the gag order. Kern declined to do so, meaning that barring further action, the trial date is set.

Trumps lawsuit against Merchan over his gag order, which functions as an appeal, is under seal and not accessible to the public.

The former president previously employed the tactic in his civil fraud trial, when a different Manhattan judge issued a gag on his speech. Trumps lawyers appealed the issue to the states highest court, which denied it.

Trumps request to pause the trial while he argues against the gag order will now go to a full five-judge panel for consideration.

Merchans gag on Trump originally did not include his family members or Braggs, but it was expanded after Trump took aim at the judges daughter, Loren. Loren Merchan works for the progressive political consulting firm Authentic, which has boasted clients such as President Biden and Vice President Harris.

In a separate effort to delay the trial, Trumps lawyers have said Merchan should recuse himself from the case over his daughters work, asserting that she has a direct financial interest in its outcome because of her work for Trumps political opponents.

Trump is the 2024 presumptive GOP nominee who is expected to face Biden for the White House in November.

The hush money trial slated to be Trumps first criminal trial and the first criminal trial of any former U.S. president. It was originally scheduled to begin on March 25, but was pushed back due to a last-minute document dump.

Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his ex-fixer, Michael Cohen, made to a porn actress to keep her quiet about an alleged affair with the then-presidential candidate ahead of the 2016 election. He has pleaded not guilty.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MELBOURNE, Australia  The head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said on Tuesday that he was very, very concerned about Chinas aggression toward Philippine forces near disputed islands in the South China Sea.

The Chinese coast guard has repeatedly clashed with Philippine patrol vessels near the Philippines-occupied Second Thomas Shoal. Last month, several Filipino seamen were injured when a Chinese vessel sideswiped a smaller Philippine vessel and another two Chinese coast guard ships used high-pressure water spray to shatter the Philippine vessels windscreen.

Asked if the submerged reef in the Spratly Islands was the most dangerous flash point in his area of command, U.S. Adm. John Aquilino told a forum at the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based international policy think tank: Im very concerned about whats happening at the Second Thomas Shoal.

Im very, very concerned about the direction its going, Aquilino said. These actions are dangerous, illegal and they are destabilizing the region.

Whats next and how far are they willing to go in that area? Aquilino asked.

The United States, Japan, the Philippines and Australia held their first four-way joint exercises in Philippine waters in the South China Sea on Sunday, which they said were intended to uphold freedom of navigation and overflight in a region contested by China.

Aquilino said the joint exercise demonstrated the nations ability to operate safely, effectively and lawfully in the region.

Those types of events and things are exactly what we need to do to demonstrate that strength amongst the like-minded allies and partners and that we will continue to operate anywhere that international law allows, Aquilino said.

Chinas military said Sunday that it had conducted air and sea patrols and that all activities that disrupt the South China Sea are under control, an apparent response to naval exercises by the U.S. and its allies.
The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has called on European countries not to rely on the US to protect the bloc in the event of a war. He noted that the "open umbrella" over NATO countries depends on "who rules in Washington."

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The Financial Times quoted the European Union's chief of diplomacy as saying this. Borrell also emphasized that Europe should prepare for war.

"The U.S. umbrella that we have relied on since the Cold War may not always be open. Depending on who is in power in Washington, we may not be able to count on America to protect us," he said.

At the same time, Borrell noted that within NATO, the priorities of individual members may change.

According to Josep Borrell, a full-scale conflict on the continent outside of Ukraine "is no longer a fantasy," so Europe must prepare for a possible war. He emphasized that "Russia threatens Europe" with both the ongoing war in Ukraine and hybrid attacks on EU member states.

"The war is definitely coming. A high-intensity conventional war in Europe is no longer a fantasy," Borrell emphasized.

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It is worth noting that the full-scale war in Ukraine has changed the worldview of Western countries. Against the backdrop of a potential threat from Russia, NATO member states began preparing for a possible military clash and realized the need for significant investments in defense.

The process of deploying troops and new equipment along the entire perimeter of NATO's borders with Russia  in the east, south, and north  has been rapid.

The Kremlin promises the Alliance "adequate responses". In particular, in the form of the formation and strengthening of two new military districts  Leningrad and Moscow.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, earlier the head of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, called on Western countries to prepare for an era when "anything can happen at any time," including the possibility of war. He warned that civilians in the West should prepare for a possible conflict with Russia and noted that the armed forces are already prepared in case of war.

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Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Fired metalworker Daniel Snyders attorneys from Thomas More Society are set to present oral arguments Tuesday before the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, against both the Biden Administrations Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Arconic, according to a news release from the Thomas More Society.

Snyder, a devout Christian, was fired by Arconic in June 2021 for making a religious comment at work, objecting to his employers use of the rainbow- a traditional Christian symbol  to promote Pride Month, the release says.

(OurQuadCities.com)

Arconic claims Snyders comment violated its Diversity Policy. The hearing will be in the Thomas F. Eagleton Courthouse in St. Louis, Missouri.

Snyder, then 62, was terminated in June 2021 from his lead operator position at Arconics lightweight metal engineering and manufacturing facility in Davenport, Iowa. In response to a company survey seeking employee feedback, Snyder expressed his objection to Arconics use of the rainbow flag to promote Gay Pride Month. He briefly stated his Biblical belief that using the rainbow in this manner is an offense to God as the rainbow is not meant to be a sign for sexual gender, the release says.

Read the appeal filed Nov. 21, 2023, with the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, below.

Daniel-Snyder-11-21-23Download

However, the release says, Arconic notified Snyder that his comment offended a fellow employee, and Snyder was then summarily suspended and terminated, allegedly for violating the companys Diversity Policy.

The release says a denial of the federal religious discrimination complaint by a district court in Iowa resulted in the appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Snyders appeal asks the court to reverse the earlier district court decision.

Arconic does not comment on pending litigation, John Riches, communications and public affairs manager for Arconic Davenport Works, told Our Quad Cities News on Monday.

About the Thomas More Society

Thomas More Society is a national not-for-profit law firm dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family, and freedom. Headquartered in Chicago and with offices across the country, Thomas More Society fosters support for these causes by providing high quality pro bono legal services from local trial courts all the way up to the United States Supreme Court. For more information, visit here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Arizonas Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the states 1864 law banning all abortions, except to save the life of the mother, is now, enforceably, the law of the land. It is now a felony for a doctoror anyone elseto assist a woman getting an abortion, punishable by two to five years in prison.

This is exactly what Arizona Republicans had in mind when, in 2022, the GOP-majority legislature passed a bill restricting nearly all abortions to within 15 weeks. However, included in that bill is a provision that essentially rescinded the 15-week law if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Once Roe was done away with, Republicans and anti-abortion groups sued to enforce the 1864 ban.

Arizona Court Just Took Abortion Back to 1864

It is unlikely the legislature will pass an updated law this session. There will be an abortion initiative on the ballot in November to create a constitutional amendment enshrining the provisions of Roe v. Wade into law. If passedand polls show Arizonans are greatly in favor of guaranteeing abortion rightsArizona will legalize abortion and keep it out of reach of future legislative meddling with individual rights.

This decision highlights how extreme Arizonas MAGA legislative majority has become, but it isnt the only example.

With a one-seat Republican majority in both the House and Senate, the legislature recently passed a bill that will allow teachers in public and charter K-12 schools to post and read the Ten Commandments in class.

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Anthony Kerna candidate for the U.S. Congress, currently under investigation as one of Donald Trumps fake electors that falsely asserted Trump won the state in 2020now moves to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs desk, where a veto is expected.

The U.S. Supreme Court previously ruled in Stone v. Graham (1980) that requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools is unconstitutional. But Kern argues, facetiously, that his bill is constitutionally sound because it merely allows for the option to post or read the Ten Commandments in public schools.

Rep. Gosars Homophobic Sunday Rant Is DerangedEven for Him

For those not intimately familiar with Arizona politics, the states legislature is controlled by the states version of the U.S. Congress Freedom Caucusthe regular source of MAGA culture war bills and rhetoric. Given the GOPs narrow majority in Arizona, many of these bills are stopped in committee or vetoed by Gov. Hobbs.

Arizonas Freedom Caucus tends to focus on long-debunked election fraud conspiracy theories, but it also produces severe legislation that the vast majority of Arizonans oppose.

For example, the GOP-led legislature recently passed House Bill 2843 that would allow property owners to shoot and kill undocumented immigrants who simply walk across their property. This followed a border property owners arrest after he allegedly shot and killed an undocumented migrant walking on his land. Gov. Hobbs vetoed the bill this week.

Also this week, some MAGA legislative extremists were rolling on the Senate floor and speaking in tongues as they prayed for their bills to pass.

This encapsulates the MAGA GOPs extremism, and what it looks like to everyday Arizonans.

The GOPs one-seat majority requires every Republican in both houses to approve these extreme bills, and the pressure on each Republican legislator to stay on the team is immense. Legislators who strayed in the past have faced primary opponents from the right, and they often lose to these insurgents.

Arizona Democrats are working to gain a majority in both houses for the first time in decades, and many Republicans argue the MAGA-led legislature is playing into Democratic hands by passing the Ten Commandments bill and pushing for the Civil War-era near-total ban on abortion.

Kari Lakes Actual Malice

Thus far in 2024, Gov. Hobbs has vetoed over 20 bills, providing a stark contrast between real governing and the MAGA craziness that may upend the legislature next year.

And it seems some Republicans know it. Big Lie proponent and U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lakewho once called abortion the ultimate sinsaid on Tuesday that she opposes the new/old ban and called on the governor and legislature to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support. Gee, isnt that nice.

When voters see the sheer madness of the MAGA party, Democrats may have their best opportunity to win both state houses for the first time in decades and become the majority party in Arizona.

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The 1864 legislation passed before Arizona was a state, but the court ruled to lift the stay on the law, which includes a narrow exception for when it is necessary to save a persons life. The law goes into effect in 14 days. Those convicted under the legislation would face two to five years in prison. The Arizona high court handed down the ruling a day after former President Donald Trump posted a video to Truth Social signaling he is backing away from the issue of abortion as he seeks another term in the White House. This 50-year battle over Roe v. Wade took it out of the federal hands and brought it into the hearts, minds and vote of the people in each state, Trump said in the statement. It was really something. Now its up to the states to do the right thing. Trump played a major role in the ongoing discourse around the issue, having appointed conservative anti-abortion justices to the Supreme Court during his term. Those appointees made up three of the five votes to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. Its that decision which has since leaked into rulings on other reproductive health policies, such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Abortion has also been a winning issue for Democrats following the ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. Even the Arizona ruling will return to the ballot in November, allowing voters to choose if theyd like to remove the restriction. The former presidents views on abortion  which were already unpopular among Democratic voters  now earn him criticism from former allies, GOP lawmakers and strategists. Trumps refusal to back a national abortion ban has put him at odds with former Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) President Trumps retreat on the Right to Life is a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans who voted for him in 2016 and 2020, Pence said in a post to X, formerly Twitter. Graham said leaving the issue entirely to states runs contrary to an American consensus that would limit late-term abortions, in a statement responding to Trumps remarks.
Shortly after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a 150-year-old law criminalizing abortion in the state could be reinstated, the state attorney general pledged not to enforce it.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes minced no words in a statement that denounced the unconscionable ruling as an affront to freedom.

By effectively striking down a law passed this century and replacing it with one from 160 years ago, the Court has risked the health and lives of Arizonans, Mayes said.

She added: Todays decision to reimpose a law from a time when Arizona wasnt a state, the Civil War was raging, and women couldnt even vote will go down in history as a stain on our state.

Should the law nevertheless be enacted after its current 14-day stay, it would be among the strictest in the country, banning the procedure in all cases except to save the mothers life.

Anyone who helps facilitate an abortion would also face a felony charge, punishable by a two-to-five-year prison sentence.

This is far from the end of the debate on reproductive freedom, and I look forward to the people of Arizona having their say in the matter, Mayes concluded. And let me be completely clear, as long as I am Attorney General, no woman or doctor will be prosecuted under this draconian law in this state.

The Arizona Democrat has previously voiced her support for an abortion rights ballot measure in the state. That effort, championed by a group calling itself Arizona for Abortion Access, recently secured enough signatures to go before voters this fall.

The groups proposed constitutional amendment would codify the right to an abortion in the state until the 24th week of pregnancy, with exceptions afterward to protect the life of the mother.

Related...
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled Tuesday to reinstate a 160-year-old abortion banand Republicans who previously backed it, including Senate candidate Kari Lake, immediately began flip-flopping.

The court overturned a 2022 law that allows for abortions until 15 weeks, paving the way for an 1864 ban that prohibits the procedure in almost all cases, except to save the life of the mother.

The states highest court first heard arguments on the case in December, after the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that the two conflicting abortion bans needed to be harmonized.

The justices said in a 4-2 decision Tuesday that the overturn of Roe v Wade, the federal law protecting abortion until viability, meant there is nothing barring the decades-old ban from taking effect. They ruled the law can be enforced in 14 days, and until then the parties can raise additional constitutional questions with a lower court.

The decision follows a ruling from the Florida Supreme Court last week allowing a six-week abortion ban to take effect there, bringing the number of states with near-total abortion bans to 16.

An umbrella group called Arizona for Abortion Access announced last week it has gathered enough signatures to place a measure on the November ballot asking voters to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

Much like in Florida, where advocates lined up a similar ballot measure, experts believe it could bring more Democratic voters to the Arizona polls in November.

In a statement after the decision was released, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams called Arizona one of the most important battlegrounds in 2024, adding that Democrats are just a handful of seats away from flipping each chamber of the Arizona state legislature.

Meanwhile, avowedly anti-abortion Republicans like Lake, who is running against U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D) for an Arizona Senate seat, attempted to distance themselves from the decision.

Lake, who previously called the 1864 ban a great law, said she opposes Tuesdays ruling and called on the state legislature to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support.

I am the only woman and mother in this race, Lake said in a statement. I wholeheartedly agree with President Trumpthis is a very personal issue that should be determined by each individual state and her people.

Lake previously attempted to walk back her statements on the lawwhich she told a conservative radio host she would be thrilled to see take effectin an interview with NBC News earlier this month.

Despite reiterating her support of the territorial ban as recently as November 2023, Lake told NBC she no longer supports it, and said she trust[s] the people of Arizona to vote on this, if thats what happens, and get this right.

Gallego, meanwhile, called Tuesdays decision devastating and said politicians like Lake are forcing themselves into doctors offices and ripping away the right for women to make their own healthcare decisions.

Lake was not the only anti-abortion lawmaker seeking distance. U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, a Republican running for re-election in a vulnerable district in November, previously said abortion should be a left to the states but called the Arizona Supreme Court ruling a disaster on Tuesday.

The territorial law is archaic, he said in a statement. We must do better and I call on our state policymakers to immediately address this in a bipartisan manner.

Ciscomani previously voted to ban the sale of abortion medication at retail pharmacies, to prohibit the Defense Department from paying for military members abortions, and to prohibit the use of federal funds from paying for the procedure as part of larger spending and defense bills.

Rep. David Schweikert, another Republican running in a vulnerable district, said the issue should decided by Arizonans, not legislated from the bench and encouraged the state legislature to address the issue immediately.

Schweikert previously sponsored the Life At Conception Act, a federal ban on abortion from the moment of conception.

Democrats and abortion rights supporters also denounced the decision, with Attorney General Kris Mayes calling the ban unconscionable and reiterating her vow not to prosecute anyone for violating it.

Athena Salman, director of Arizona campaigns for Reproductive Freedom for All, said the law will put people in life-threatening situations and force many to flee the state for the care that they need.

We wont stop fighting back alongside our partners to restore abortion access in Arizona, she said in a statement.

Planned Parenthood of Arizona said in a statement that it would continue providing abortions through 15 weeks for a short period of time before the decision takes effect.

Let me be clear, this is not the end of our fight, said Planned Parenthood Arizona President Angela Florez. While today we feel frustrated and dismayed with the Court for stripping our legal right to essential health care, we must harness our anger and take action. We must spread the word and urge our lawmakers to support reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy.

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Arizonas Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a 160-year-old law outlawing abortions unless the patients life is in danger, sparking criticism even from leading Republicans and virtually ensuring that reproductive rights will be a factor for many voters in the swing state in November.

Abortions through 15 weeks of pregnancy will continue in the state until at least late May because the former attorney general promised not to enforce the law  which bans the procedure at any stage of pregnancy and contains no exceptions for rape or incest  until 45 days after the court issued a final ruling.

The ruling comes a day after former President Donald Trump said he believes decisions about abortion access should be left to the states and highlights the ongoing challenges of regulating abortion at the state level.

The possible enforcement of an 1864 law  passed decades before Arizona became a state or women received the right to vote  is expected to galvanize efforts to get a measure on the November ballot protecting the right to abortion in the state constitution, as well as boost efforts to elect Democratic officials across the state committed to protecting the procedure.



Mini Timmaraju, president and CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All, said the decision would cause untold harm to the people of Arizona and underscored the consequences of the 2024 election for abortion access.

It's a painful reminder of exactly why we need to send Rep. Gallego to the Senate and reelect President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House: so we can lock the federal right to abortion into law and undo these dangerous bans, Timmaraju said.

Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Arizona on Friday. The campaign trip, which was already in the works prior to the court decision, will likely take on a heightened focus on abortion rights and access.

The decision is the second in as many weeks that could offer voters in November a chance to unwind anti-abortion statutes at the ballot box, following the recent ruling in Florida to allow a six-week near-total ban to take effect and an abortion-rights measure on the November ballot.

Former Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican who signed a 15-week abortion ban into law in 2022, said in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that the ruling was not the outcome [he] would have preferred and called on lawmakers to heed the will of the people and address this issue with a policy that is workable and reflective of our electorate.

Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake, in a statement Tuesday, called on Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and the states GOP-controlled legislature to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support. She added that ultimately Arizona voters will make the decision at the ballot box in November.

It's unclear how, whether and when the law will be enforced. Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes has said she would not prosecute anyone under the law, though local prosecutors could still do so. Any enforcement or threat of enforcement stands to wipe out access to the procedure in the swing state.

I sent the best lawyers in our office up to the Arizona Supreme Court, Mayes told POLITICO last month. Even the 15-week ban is not acceptable. It has no exceptions for rape or incest, so it's certainly not something that I like. But the 1864 law is bonkers. It was a law that was passed when Arizona wasn't a state yet, when the Civil War was still raging, and when women couldn't vote. It's obviously not something that the people of this state want to see imposed on women here."



The Arizona court, in a 4-2 decision, said that it wouldnt interfere with the legislature's authority to craft abortion policy and that the body had voiced its "unwavering intent" since the passage of the 1864 law to prohibit the procedure.

"A policy matter of this gravity must ultimately be resolved by our citizens through the legislature or the initiative process," the court's opinion said. "We defer, as we are constitutionally obligated to do, to the legislatures judgment, which is accountable to, and thus reflects, the mutable will of our citizens."

The courts decision prohibits enforcement of the law for 14 days, which the body said would give the parties in the lawsuit time to pursue any constitutional challenges to the pre-statehood law. But that timeline is expected to be extended for at least 45 days after the high court finalizes its ruling, under a decision in a separate court challenge.

Angela Florez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Arizona, said her organization will be able to provide abortions through a substantial portion of May, at a minimum.

Today is a dark day for Arizona. Todays deplorable decision from the Arizona Supreme Court sends Arizona back nearly 150 years, Florez said on a call with reporters after the ruling came out. This ruling will cause long lasting detrimental harms for our communities.

Whats next: Arizona progressives are fanning out across the state collecting signatures for the ballot initiative, and this week announced that they have more than enough to qualify, with months to go before the deadline.

The groups spearheading the effort anticipate the courts ruling will spur voters desire to turn out in support of the measure this fall.

Arizona voters will be upset with what the court does, and will want to come out and take matters into their own hands, Chris Love, a senior adviser for the Arizona for Abortion Access campaign. This initiative is a way to do that.

How we got here: A 15-week ban Arizona lawmakers passed in 2019 went into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the summer of 2022. But the state also had a long-dormant 1864 law that criminalized abortion from the moment of conception and threatened prison for doctors performing the procedure. The states former Republican attorney general, Mark Brnovich, asked state judges to allow the enforcement of the 160-year-old law, and most abortion providers in the state temporarily halted services, afraid of criminal charges.

A state judge in Tucson ruled in favor of the 1864 ban. Then Planned Parenthood sued, arguing that the state should be prohibited from prosecuting abortion providers for terminations in the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. An appeals court agreed, leaving the 1864 ban in place but ruling that doctors cant be charged for abortions up to 15 weeks. Abortion clinics reopened but anti-abortion rights groups appealed to the state Supreme Court, which heard arguments in December.

As the case moved up the pipeline, Mayes, as the states newly elected Democratic attorney general, switched sides, throwing her offices resources into fighting the ban rather than defending the 19th-century law.
Arizona will not be the latest state to require identification to access websites with adult content after Gov. Katie Hobbs nixed a measure to do so Monday.

In a veto letter, Hobbs said House Bill 2586 went against settled case law. She said children's online safety was a pressing issue, but "while we look for a solution, it should be bipartisan and work within the bounds of the First Amendment, which this bill does not."

Hobbs vetoed the bill and four others on Monday, including a measure that opponents said would have given property owners dangerous leeway to harm others under the guise of self-defense.

So far this year, Hobbs has vetoed 23 bills sent to her desk.

The Democratic governor is likely to announce more vetoes in the coming days given the number of bills sitting on her desk. Lawmakers last week sent her dozens of bills before dropping to a reduced schedule, meeting once a week.

Last year, she had killed 43 bills as of April 10. That period marked her first 100 days in office and the earliest days of a power split at the Capitol not seen in 14 years with a Democratic governor and Republican-majority Legislature. Hobbs ended the year with a record-breaking 143 vetoes.

Arizona will not be the latest state to require identification to access websites with adult content after Gov. Katie Hobbs nixed a measure to do so Monday.

The identification bill, sponsored by Yuma Republican Rep. Tim Dunn, would have require websites that feature material harmful to minors to verify the ages of users either by asking for identifying information or using data systems to cross reference identifying information. Other states have implemented similar requirements, largely targeting pornography, and prompting online porn giant Pornhub to cut off access in those states.

Dunn said he disagreed with the veto, and had worked with stakeholders to make sure the bill protected children while being easy to implement. He said he was "committed to continuing work in the future to see that we do pass laws that protect our children when online."

Age verification, he said, "should not be a big ask."

Opponents of the Arizona bill included First Amendment advocacy groups, who said identification policies infringed on adults' rights to use the internet.

Hobbs also vetoed a bill requiring school districts to set policies for the use of internet and social media, House Bill 2793. She wrote that it created an unnecessary mandate for an issue schools were already tackling.

And she nixed House Bill 2843, which amended state law often known as "castle doctrine" that determines when deadly force can be used in self-defense. The bill widened when such force was justified, to include when someone is on another's property, not just when they are coming into a structure like someone's home.

Rep. Justin Heap, R-Mesa and a candidate for Maricopa County recorder, said in a committee meeting his bill was a response to the numbers of migrants and human traffickers on Arizona farm and ranch land. The bill was introduced amid a high-profile prosecution of a Nogales rancher charged with murder after shooting a Mexican citizen on his land last year.

Opponents including Moms Demand Action, an anti-gun violence group, said the bill was "a callous attempt to vilify immigrants and put them at even further risk."

Hobbs sided with those groups, vetoing the measure she said "values property over human life and incentivizes vigilantism."

"This is yet another example of extremists in the Arizona legislature," she wrote.

Reach reporter Stacey Barchenger at stacey.barchenger@arizonarepublic.com or 480-416-5669.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ governor vetoes GOP bill on online adult content age verification
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at a news conference on Tuesday in Washington after the ruling in Arizona - Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

Arizonas highest court has revived a 160-year-old law banning all abortions unless a mothers life is at risk and punishing doctors who perform the procedure with prison sentences.

The ruling could be a major boost for Democrats in a key battleground state in 2024s general election, with polls showing reproductive rights to be a galvanising issue for many voters.

Joe Biden reacted to the ruling in Arizona on Tuesday, calling it extreme and dangerous.

The US president has cast his White House opponent Donald Trump and his Republican backers in Congress as extreme and out of touch with the public mood on the issue.

This ruling is a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away womens freedom, he said.

On Monday, Mr Trump said he believed the question of abortion access should be left to each state to determine.

Arizona, which Mr Biden narrowly carried in 2020, is critical to Democrats hopes of retaining the White House and control of the US Senate, with one of its two seats on the ballot in November 2024.

Abortion rights activists embrace during a news conference that announced the revived law in Arizona - Joel Angel Juarez/USA Today Network/via Reuters

A pro-abortion rally. Republicans fear the issue could lose the party votes - Sandy Huffaker/AFP via Getty Images

The decision by the states conservative Supreme Court justices upholds an 1864 law that prohibits abortions from the moment of conception, including in cases involving rape or incest.

Anyone who administers a termination could face fines and a jail term of two to five years.

The only exception to the near-total ban is in cases threatening the life of the mother.

Critics have pointed out the territorial law predates Arizona achieving statehood, the end of the American Civil War or women securing the right to vote.

The Arizona Supreme Courts 4-2 decision overrides existing legislation signed into law by the states former Republican governor allowing abortions until 15 weeks into a pregnancy.

Not enforced for 14 days

The ruling could have far-reaching consequences for millions of women and would make Arizona the 16th US state to effectively ban terminations since the overturning of Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 case enshrining womens constitutional right to an abortion.

However, the Arizona Supreme Court said its ruling could not be enforced for 14 days, allowing for a lower court to hear additional arguments about the laws constitutionality.

Democrats in Arizona are pushing to include a vote on implementing a constitutional right to abortion on the ballot in the state in the presidential election.

Reproductive rights have proved to be a winning issue for the party, with voters in Wisconsin, Kansas and Michigan all voting to adopt abortion rights protections since Americas highest court repealed Roe v Wade in 2022.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The Arizona Supreme Court Tuesday supplanted the states 15-week abortion ban with a near-total one dating from 1864, making existential a proposal to protect abortion rights organizers are currently working to get onto the ballot this fall.

The court ruled to resurrect the 1864 law  passed when Arizona was still a territory and women lacked the right to vote  four to two. The 7th justice on the bench, Bill Montgomery, recused himself just before the arguments after uproar following reporting revealing him to have accused Planned Parenthood of orchestrating the greatest genocide known to man. Absent further legal action, the 19th-century law will spring back into force in two weeks.

The majority, while tossing the part of the 15-week ban that allows for abortions up to that limit, sustained its punishments for doctors who perform the procedure outside that window. That comes on top of the mandatory two-to-five-year prison sentence for providers included in the 1864 ban.

In light of this Opinion, physicians are now on notice that all abortions, except those necessary to save a womans life, are illegal, and that additional criminal and regulatory sanctions may apply to abortions performed after fifteen weeks gestation, Justice John Lopez wrote for the majority.

Vice Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer, writing for the dissenters, took the same approach as the appeals court, finding that the two laws could exist harmoniously, with the 15-week ban acting as an exception to 1864s near-total restrictions. In that scheme, the 15-week ban would control abortions up to that point, and only then would the 1864 ban kick in.

If a physician performs an abortion at the thirteen-week gestation point, the state cannot prosecute the physician under the 1864 law, Timmer wrote. But if the physician performs an abortion at the sixteen-week gestation point and without a medical emergency in violation of [the 15-week ban], the state may prosecute the physician under either the 15-week ban or the 1864 law.

The majority stayed its decision for 14 days, preventing the 1864 law from going back into effect for that short window and giving plaintiffs time to decide whether to pursue other constitutional arguments at the trial court. Jill Habig, president of the Public Rights Project, which represented one of the plaintiffs in the case, told TPM that they are assessing all the options available.

Habig said that the majoritys layering of the 15-week bans punishments atop the 1864 ones defies the logic of standard statutory interpretation that you learn in law school.

They combined both of them into an even more draconian law, she added.

The ruling both calls into question the authority of Arizonas Democratic state leadership to defang the ban, and underscores the soaring stakes of Novembers ballot initiative.

Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) eked out a win in her 2022 election by running heavily on reproductive freedom. She issued an executive order to give the attorney general, Kris Mayes (D), jurisdiction over abortion-related prosecutions (much to the chagrin of the county attorneys shed taken that authority from). Mayes also bowed out of defending the 1864 law in this case. The prosecutorial discretion Hayes enjoys makes murky how or if the new ban will be enforced.

Let me be completely clear, as long as I am Attorney General, no woman or doctor will be prosecuted under this draconian law in this state, Mayes said in a statement following the ruling.

Still, the state Supreme Court is composed of seven Republican appointees. The makeup of the court, coupled with the Republican-controlled state legislature, likely leaves ballot initiatives as the only path to any abortion access in the state. The organizers behind a push to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution said this week that they have already far surpassed the signature requirement with 500,000 collected, and plan to gather a couple hundred thousand more.

The power of abortion headlining the states elections  a potential boon to Democrats  is clear in the reactions to the rulings.

Kari Lake, the leading contender for the Republican Senate nomination, quickly disavowed the decision (despite previously calling abortion the ultimate sin and applauding bans in other states) saying that a pre-statehood law is out of step with Arizonians.

Leisa Brug, campaign manager for It Goes Too Far, the group opposing the Arizona abortion amendment, tried to minimize the ruling in its statement.

Abortion remains legal up to 15-weeks in Arizona while [a]waiting further potential action from the courts, she hand-waved. Reasonable people can have different opinions on abortion and policy.

Meanwhile, Democrats pounced, with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre all making statements connecting the ruling to Donald Trump. In one statement, the campaign called it Donald Trumps Arizona ban.

Arizona just rolled back the clock to a time before women could vote  and, by his own admission, theres one person responsible: Donald Trump, Harris said in a campaign statement.

The Biden multi-platform response echoes its reactivity last week, when the Florida Supreme Court, on the same day, upheld a 15-week ban and greenlit an abortion rights amendment to appear on the ballot in November. There, the Biden campaign framed its approach to the state as one centered on abortion rights, hoping to ride the momentum that has made related initiatives successful in every state theyve appeared on the ballot.

And Arizona has a safeguard on its abortion amendment, should it pass, that Florida lacks. Its Republican legislators cant tamper with or undermine the amendment after passage.

In Arizona, if they want to make significant changes, they have to put it back on the ballot, Anne Whitesell, an associate professor at Miami University who studies ballot initiatives, told TPM in a recent interview. Aside from Arizona and California, she added, every other state legislature is free to ignore it or rewrite it.

The Arizona legislature tried to remove that guardrail in a 2022 proposal, but voters rejected it soundly.

The ballot initiative, then, has gone from potential turnout-juicer and underminer of a 15-week ban to the last resort in a state that will soon have one of, if not the, most severe abortion bans in the country.

The stakes couldnt be higher for November  and in the meantime, thousands of women will suffer, Habig said.
(Bloomberg) -- An 1864 law that criminalized nearly all abortions in Arizona can take effect, the states top court said Tuesday.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The lawenacted before Arizona became a statewasnt repealed or restricted by a later law that banned abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy, Justice John R. Lopez IV said. That 2022 state law didnt create a right to, or otherwise provide independent statutory authority for, an abortion, he said.

Its a consequential decision in a state that has become an abortion battleground after a Democratic-led administration took over in early 2023. Reproductive rights advocates are collecting signatures for a November ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights in the Arizona Constitution.

The state will also be crucial in determining the presidential election and possibly control of the Senate, and Democrats have been successful in using the issue to drive turnout in elections across the country. A statement from President Joe Biden called the 1864 law a cruel ban, and Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement blaming former President Donald Trump for the decision.

Arizonas 2022 law was predicated entirely on the federal constitutional right to abortion established by the US Supreme Court in Roe in 1973, Lopez said. But the top courts reversal of that decision in June 2022s Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization gave the 1864 provision new life and required lifting an injunction, Lopez said.

Absent the federal constitutional abortion right, and because the new law doesnt independently authorize abortion, there is no provision in federal or state law prohibiting the 1864 statutes operation, he said.

The decision was put on hold for 14 days, the court said, to give the parties time to determine whether to pursue other constitutional issues that were raised in the trial court. Lopez sent the case back there after vacating the appellate courts ruling.

An Arizona trial court had set aside an injunction that permanently barred Arizona from enforcing the territorial law, saying the legal basis for itthe Roe holdingno longer exits. An appeals court reversed that decision.

Anti-abortion doctor Eric Hazelriggs challenged that ruling to the state high court, saying that Arizona prohibits all procedures except those that are immediately necessary to save a pregnant persons life. The doctor intervened in the case after Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) said she wouldnt defend the old version.

Early Reactions

Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Jake Warner, who argued the case before the court, celebrated the decision for respecting that life is a human right that deserves full protection, just as the legislature intended.

The people of Arizona, through their elected representatives, have repeatedly affirmed as recently as 2022, that the states anti-abortion law protects the lives of countless, innocent unborn children, Warner said.

Planned Parenthood Arizona condemned the ruling for stripping Arizonans of their bodily autonomy.

This is is a dark day for Arizona, Jill Gibson, the groups chief medical officer, said.

Abortion bans and criminalizing abortion do not reduce the very real need and demand for this essential health care, Gibson said. Instead, they force people to carry unwanted pregnancies, seek abortion outside of the health care system, travel to get legal care, which is simply not possible for many Arizonans, she said.

No New Right Created

The 2022 law had created a right to abortion up to 15 weeks, the plaintiffs said. But thats a strained construction, because the legislature had no authority to ban all abortions before June 2022, the Arizona Supreme Court said. Lawmakers couldnt do anything more than restrict the procedure, and there was no reason to codify a right that already existed under federal law, it said.

The courts majority also rejected Planned Parenthoods argument that lawmakers failure to include an express statutory provision repealing it if Roe were reversed indicated an intention to permit abortions before 15 weeks repeal the 1864 law. We typically do not infer legislative intent from silence, Lopez said.

Justices Clint Bolick, James P. Beene, and Kathryn H. King joined.

Vice Chief Justice Ann A. Scott Timmer dissented, joined by Chief Justice Robert M. Brutinel.

They strongly disagreed with the majoritys decision to turn back the clock, Timmer said. The legislature could have, but didnt, clarify the law at any time after the Dobbs decision, but didnt, she said.

Doctors should be permitted to lawfully perform abortions before the fifteen-week gestation point or when necessary to preserve the pregnant womans health, the dissenters said.

Planned Parenthood Arizonas president and CEO, Angela Florez, said the ruling does not reflect the will of the people, as Arizonans are overwhelmingly in favor of abortion access. This wont be the end of the fight, she said.

Justice William G. Montgomery recused himself after calls were made for him to sit out the session due to his public anti-abortion statements.

Alliance Defending Freedom represents Hazelrigg.

Miller Pitt Feldman & McAnally PLC, Coppersmith Brockelman PLC, Planned Parenthood Federation of America represent Planned Parenthood Arizona and the Pima County Attorneys Office.

Planned Parenthood has received funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the charitable organization founded by Bloomberg Law owner Michael Bloomberg.

The case is Planned Parenthood Ariz., Inc. v. Hazelrigg, Ariz., No. CV-23-0005-PR, 4/9/24.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mary Anne Pazanowski in Washington at mpazanowski@bloombergindustry.com

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Rob Tricchinelli at rtricchinelli@bloombergindustry.com; Nicholas Datlowe at ndatlowe@bloombergindustry.com

(Adds Biden, Harris statements and electoral context in paragraph four.)

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If the United States does not provide Ukraine with assistance to fight a full-scale Russian invasion and it loses the war, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson will be blamed, among others. His name will be repeatedly mentioned in history books, where it will be written about why Kyiv lost.

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This was stated by former member of the House of Representatives Adam Kinzinger (Republican from Illinois), The Hill reports. He advised Johnson to "think about his conscience" and introduce a bill to help Ukraine.

"If Ukraine loses this fight, he will be the guy in the history books that are written about why Ukraine lost this fight," Kinzinger said.

According to him, they will definitely write that Johnson could have done something that would have changed the course of the war.

"We need to recognize the fact that Ukraine  its not us helping Ukraine. Ukraine is helping us, by fighting to defend themselves against one of our chief competitors and frankly, enemies in this world," the former congressman added, emphasizing the importance of providing assistance to Ukraine.

Earlier, Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a motion to dismiss the speaker, which threatened Johnson's position. However, according to Kinzinger, the likelihood of his resignation is very low.

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He advised Johnson to strike a deal with Democrats on aid to Ukraine or to exclude aid to Israel from the bill.

"Clear your conscience and let the Ukrainians defeat the Russians on the battlefield," Kinzinger said.

As reported, US Senator from the Republican Party Joni Ernst believes that the House of Representatives will vote for the aid package for Ukraine in the next few weeks. According to her, the majority in Congress supports Ukraine. At the same time, there are still those who disagree with the level of aid spending.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Arizona Supreme Court has revived an 1864 criminal ban on abortion.

The Civil War-era law, which predated Arizona statehood by almost a half a century, prohibits abortion at any stage of pregnancy, for any reason other than when necessary to save the pregnant persons life. The ban carries a penalty of up to five years in prison for abortion providers.

[P]hysicians are now on notice that all abortions, except those necessary to save a womans life, are illegal, the courts opinion read.

The ban  which is set to take effect 14 days after Tuesdays ruling, on April 23  will replace Arizonas 2022 law which banned most abortions after 15 weeks gestation. (That law contained a single exception, for medical emergencies; providers who violated it could be charged with a felony and lose their medical licenses.)

The legal case, originally brought in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs decision, sought to determine which ban  1864 or 2022  would take precedence after the court struck down federal protections for abortion.

In December 2022, the Arizona Court of Appeals upheld the 15-week ban. But by that time, Arizona voters had replaced Mark Brnovich, the Republican attorney general who argued for restoring the 1864 ban, with a Democrat, Kris Mayes, who declined to appeal the courts decision. In a statement Tuesday, Mayes called the courts decision unconscionable and an affront to freedom, and said her office would not enforce the ban.

The case could have ended there, but Dr. Eric Hazelrigg, an anti-abortion OB-GYN from Gilbert, Arizona, who petitioned the court to be appointed as a guardian ad litem for the states unborn children, intervened to appeal the lower court decision. Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative christian litigation shop known for its willingness to take on culture war cases, represented Hazelrigg.

The decision was four to two; all six of the Supreme Courts justices  four men and two women  were appointed by Republican governors.

The decision could have major electoral consequences: advocates for reproductive rights are working to place a popular referendum on the November ballot that would protect the right to abortion in Arizona. The state is also seen as a critical battleground, one that could decide both the presidential contest and control of the Senate this November.

The Arizona Supreme Courts decision comes as debate has raged over whether abortion laws should be determined at the state or federal level. Republicans, including Donald Trump, have had a difficult time addressing the issue this election season, feeling the need to placate the partys far-right base while not alienating the vast majority of Americans who believe in protecting reproductive rights.

Trump on Monday released a video statement insisting he believes that the issue should be up to the states  but the claim is dubious, to say the least. The former president has repeatedly taken credit for killing Roe v. Wade, and has on several recent occasions spoken about implementing a federal ban.

More from Rolling Stone

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Arizona's Supreme Court has rolled back the clock on reproductive freedom in the state, ruling Tuesday that a 160-year-old law banning abortion should go in effect now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned.

Writing for the 4-2 majority, Justice John R. Lopez IV argued that an 1864 ban on abortions should now be enforced, citing the absence of a "federal constitutional abortion right," the Arizona Mirror reported. The 1864 law calls for a mandatory prison sentence of two to five yeas for any doctor who performs an illegal abortion, the outlet noted.

Arizona's GOP-led legislature had passed a less severe ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, signed into law by its last Republican governor, but the court ruled that law was superseded by the one already on the books  a law that provides an exception for protecting the life of a mother but not for victims of rape and incest.

At a press conference Tuesday, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat elected after the 2022 Dobbs decision, urged the legislature to "do the right thing" and pass a law protecting access to abortion. "I am devastated by this decision, and I know many Arizonans are as well," she said of Tuesday's ruling.

The Arizona high court's decision comes a day after former President Donald Trump once again boasted of his responsibility for Roe v. Wade being overturned. Since the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn the 50-year precedent, there are now more than dozen state-level laws severely restricting abortion access.
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One of the most attention-grabbing aspects of Roadrunner, the Morgan Neville-directed documentary about Anthony Bourdain, was Nevilles use of generative AI to replicate Bourdains voice. Looking back now, Neville told Wired that he saw this as a fun way to keep [Bourdains] voice going in the film. Many people told me that there were other documentary projects that were doing the same thing, that all reacted; they either changed what they were doing or put giant disclaimers over everything, he said.
Abortion will be almost entirely illegal in Arizona after the state Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld an 1864 law that made performing abortion a felony.

The ruling adds Arizona to the list of 16 other states where abortion is effectively banned.

In a 4-2 decision, the court rejected arguments that it should uphold the current 15-week abortion ban signed in 2022 by then-Gov. Doug Ducey (R) and enforced after the end of Roe v. Wade.

Instead, the court ruled that the Civil War-era law passed before Arizona was even a state should be enforced. The court ruled to lift a stay on the law, meaning it goes into effect in 14 days.

However, the justices also sent the case back to a lower trial court to sort out questions about the laws constitutionality.

The century-old law makes abortion a felony punishable by two to five years in prison for anyone who performs or helps a woman obtain one. It includes an extremely narrow exception for when it is necessary to save a pregnant persons life.

The decision made by the Arizona Supreme Court today is unconscionable and an affront to freedom, state Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) said in a statement. Make no mistake, by effectively striking down a law passed this century and replacing it with one from 160 years ago, the Court has risked the health and lives of Arizonans.

Abortion has been a crucial issue in Arizona, a key swing state where both Mayes and Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) won election in 2022 after running on anger over reproductive rights and the end of Roe v. Wade.

The law would effectively shutter the eight remaining abortion clinics in the state, though its unclear how it will be enforced. It could also force women who need abortion care to travel hundreds of miles to clinics in California.

Pima County Attorney Laura Conover, who opposed the ban and argued for the plaintiffs during oral arguments in December, said there shouldnt be any changes to reproductive care in the immediate aftermath of the ruling.

However, she is concerned that there will be a chilling effect because physicians will be confused about whether they will be arrested for performing abortions.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes smiles before a debate on Sept. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

What I can and will continue to say is that the health care that was provided yesterday is still lawful tomorrow, Conover told The Hill. Our job as public health and public safety officers is to say that health care, reproductive health care, remains safe and lawful.

Mayes has said she will not enforce any bans, and Hobbs has issued an executive order barring county attorneys from prosecuting women and doctors for performing abortions.

I am calling on the Legislature to do the right thing right now and repeal this 1864 ban and protect access to reproductive health care. The Republican majority in the Legislature has time and again refused to act to protect our freedoms, Hobbs said during a press conference Tuesday. We are 14 days away from this extreme ban coming back to life. It must be repealed immediately.

The White House in a statement condemned the decision, the latest example of the battle over abortion in the states since Roe v. Wade was overturned.

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Millions of Arizonans will soon live under an even more extreme and dangerous abortion ban, which fails to protect women even when their health is at risk or in tragic cases of rape or incest, Biden said.

This ruling is a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away womens freedom.

The ruling from Arizonas GOP-appointed Supreme Court justices comes a day after former President Donald Trump said he thinks individual states will make their own decisions on abortion access, highlighting the stakes in the upcoming election.

It follows a decision in Florida, where the conservative state Supreme Court ruled to keep a 15-week abortion ban, allowing a near-total six-week ban to take effect next month. The court in a separate decision allowed an amendment on the ballot that would enshrine abortion access to the point of viability.

Democrats hope to harness anger over the ruling to drive turnout in November for a ballot measure to protect abortion access, as well as for Biden and Rep. Ruben Gallego, who is running for Senate against Republican Kari Lake.

Arizonans deserve the right to make our own decisions about pregnancy and abortion without politicians and judges interfering, said Chris Love, a Phoenix lawyer and spokeswoman for the ballot measure campaign.

Biden won Arizona in 2020 by 0.3 percentage points, becoming only the second Democrat in 70 years to win the state.

Todays ruling is devastating for Arizona women and their families. This is not what Arizonans want, and women could die because of it, Gallego said in a statement. Our fight against extremist bans like the one enacted today has never been more important  which is why Im committed to doing whatever it takes to protect abortion rights at the federal level.

In a statement, Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju said the decision will cause untold harm to the people of Arizona and showed the importance of voting for Gallego and Biden.

But in a sign of how volatile the issue of abortion has been for Republicans, both Lake and Ducey said they did not agree with the courts ruling.

I oppose todays ruling, Lake wrote in a statement, calling on Hobbs and the states Legislature to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support.

Lake had previously signaled her support for the 1864 law, before softening her stance.

Ducey made a similar plea for legislative action.

The ruling today is not the outcome I would have preferred, Ducey said in a post on the social media platform X. I call on our elected leaders to heed the will of the people and address this issue with a policy that is workable and reflective of our electorate.

Ducey expanded the Supreme Court from five justices to seven in 2016. All seven justices were appointed by Republican governors, but only six ruled on the case.

One justice recused himself because he previously accused Planned Parenthood of practicing generational genocide in a 2017 Facebook post and participated in a protest outside the organizations Arizona headquarters in 2015.

Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), seen as one of the most vulnerable Republicans, also said he did not support the ruling.

This issue should be decided by Arizonans, not legislated from the bench. I encourage the state legislature to address this issue immediately, he said in a post on X.

Before Roe was overturned, Schweikert was one of the co-sponsors of a bill in the House that would have amounted to a federal abortion ban.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the politically powerful anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America, called the courts decision an enormous victory.

Todays state Supreme Court decision is a major advancement in the fight for life in Arizona, she said in a statement. But she added the November amendment means the fight isnt over.

Updated at 5:15 p.m. EDT

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A near-total abortion ban, part of a 158-year-old law, is enforceable in Arizona, the states Supreme Court has ruled.

In a 4-2 bombshell decision, the states supreme court on Tuesday upheld a Civil War-era law that criminalises abortions, and those who help a woman obtain one, only with exceptions to save a womans life. The law makes it a felony punishable by two to five years in prison.

The states supreme court had been mulling over whether to resurrect the law, which was enacted 50 years before Arizona gained statehood or follow a 2022 law that bans abortions only after 15 weeks unless medically necessary to save a womans life.

The ban will go into effect in 14 days.

Anti-abortion advocates argued that language in the two laws conflicted and the state should follow the 1864 law.

It was a highly anticipated opinion in the swing state as abortion shapes up to be a crucial issue for voters in November. Both Democrats and Republicans have capitalised on the issue of abortion to advocate for their partys candidates.

President Joe Biden has stood up for abortion rights, blaming Republicans  including former president Donald Trump  for eliminating federal protections.

In a statement, he called Tuesdays ruling the result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away womens freedom. He added that he would continue to fight for protecting reproductive rights.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has walked the line on abortion. Just this week he took credit for overturning Roe v Wade but refused to back a national ban, claiming the issue should be left to the states.

Arizona voters could be voting on an amendment in November that would enshrine the right to abortion up to 24 weeks.

A protestor holds a sign reading My Body My Choice at a Womens March rally outside the State Capitol on October 8, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona (Getty Images)

Abortion access in the Grand Canyon state became, and remained, uncertain for medical providers and those seeking abortion since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2021.

Months before the decision, the Republican-majority state legislature passed the 15-week ban in anticipation of the Supreme Courts decision rather than amend the 1864 law which was overridden when Roe was enacted in 1973.

But when Roe was overturned, it was the 1864 law that went into effect. Planned Parenthood Arizona challenged the decision and the state appellate court upheld the 15-week ban, leading to debate over which law should take precedence.

The state supreme court heard oral arguments in December. Abortion rights organisations warned that a ruling in favour of the Civil War-era law would severely threaten access to reproductive health care, asking the court to uphold the ruling which allows abortions up to 15 weeks.

However anti-abortion groups urged the Arizona Supreme Court to restore the 158-year-old law.

In their decision, justices said that the legislature perhaps got more than it expected when Dobbs overruled Roe and suggested that most legislators would have included a trigger clause if they knew the 1864 law would go into effect.

But the legislature did not state that intent in any statute or session law, and we should not speculate about what it would have done, the majority wrote.

The Arizona justices said the case, Planned Parenthood v Mayes could return to the lower courts for further litigation.

Angela Florez, the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Arizona said the ruling, Sends Arizona back nearly 150 years and will cause long-lasting detrimental harms for our communities.
Arizonas Supreme Court ruled that a 160-year-old abortion ban can be enforced. Here's what the ruling means.

A protester outside the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix on Sept. 23, 2022 (Matt York/AP)

On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled to ban abortions except in the case where it would save a mothers life, creating a path to prison for providers. Critics call the ruling, which upholds an 1864 law, a blow to reproductive rights in a state that already enforced a 15-week abortion ban after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.

Heres what the ruling could mean for women in the state.

 Whats happening?

In a 4-2 decision, Arizonas high court upheld a law called the Howell code that had been enforced nearly 50 years before Arizona became a state.

Physicians are now on notice that all abortions, except those necessary to save a womans life, are illegal, wrote Justice John R. Lopez IV in the court's majority opinion. Additional criminal and regulatory sanctions may apply to abortions performed after fifteen weeks gestation.

The ruling also mandated that anyone aiding an abortion would receive two to five years in prison.

In allowing the near-total abortion ban to take effect, the justices took the side of abortion rights opponents Eric Hazelrigg, an obstetrician, and Dennis McGrane, a county prosecutor. In opening arguments in December, they claimed Arizona should revert to the 160-year-old ban.

The court rejected arguments from abortion advocates, including Planned Parenthood of Arizona, which asked the court to uphold the states 2022 law that allowed abortions up to 15 weeks.

Arizona's Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes called the ruling unconscionable and an affront to freedom in a written statement and assured citizens that her office wouldnt enforce the law.

Make no mistake, by effectively striking down a law passed this century and replacing it with one from 160 years ago, the Court has risked the health and lives of Arizonans, Mayes said. Let me be completely clear, as long as I am Attorney General, no woman or doctor will be prosecuted under this draconian law in this state.

Arizonas Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs called for the Republican-controlled legislature to repeal the ban.

We are 14 days away from this extreme ban coming back to life, Hobbs said at a press conference. It must be repealed immediately.

 When does the law go into effect?

Arizona Supreme Court justices from left; William G. Montgomery, John R. Lopez IV, Vice Chief Justice Ann A. Scott Timmer, Chief Justice Robert M. Brutinel, Clint Bolick and James Beene on April 20, 2021, in Phoenix. (Matt York/AP)

The abortion ban will officially go into effect 14 days from Tuesday.

During the 14-day hold, the court will send the case back to the lower trial court to weigh remaining constitutional challenges, including to the law to decide how to move forward.

The lower court could also request a longer pause to enforce the law if those challenges are unresolved.

 How are politicians responding?

Both Republicans and Democrats have criticized the ruling, which would make the battleground states ban one of the strictest in the nation ahead of an election where abortion is a key issue for many Americans.

Kari Lake, a Republican candidate for Arizona Senate who has called abortion the ultimate sin, revealed in a statement that she opposed the ruling.

I am the only woman and mother in this race, the statement read. I understand the fear and anxiety of pregnancy, and the joy of motherhood. I wholeheartedly agree with President Trump  this is a very personal issue that should be determined by each individual state and her people.

Lake added that she would also oppose federal funding and bans on abortion if she is elected as Arizona senator in November.

However, in 2022, when Lake was running for governor of Arizona, she said that the 1864 law was a great law thats already on the books, according to the Associated Press.

Former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who called the 15-week abortion ban bill that he signed a thoughtful conservative policy, expressed on X that the ruling was not his preferred outcome.

I call on our elected leaders to heed the will of the people and address this issue with a policy that is workable and reflective of our electorate, Ducey said in the post.

Arizona Congressman David Schweikert also used X to say he did not support the courts ruling.

This issue should be decided by Arizonans, not legislated from the bench. I encourage the state legislature to address this issue immediately, the post said.

President Biden slammed the law as part of an extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away womens freedom.

Arizonas Democratic State Sen. Eva Burch, who recently had an abortion after learning her pregnancy wasn't viable, also responded to the ruling.

This is outrageous that we would even dignify the consideration of this type of ban, Burch said in an emotional speech. This isnt what the people of Arizona or this country wants.  Republicans dont want this. Independents dont want this. Democrats dont want this.
By Brendan Pierson and Nate Raymond

(Reuters) - Arizona's top court on Tuesday revived a ban on nearly all abortions under a law from 1864, a half century before statehood and women's suffrage, further restricting reproductive rights in a state where terminating a pregnancy was already barred at 15 weeks of gestation.

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled 4-2 in favor of an anti-abortion obstetrician and a county prosecutor who pressed to implement the Civil War-era statute after the Democratic attorney general of the key presidential battleground state declined to do so.

States were given the go-ahead to adopt such bans after the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court in June 2022 overturned its landmark 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade that had made access to abortion a constitutional right nationwide.

Arizona Justice John Lopez, who like all of the state Supreme Court's members was appointed by a Republican governor, wrote that the state's legislature "has never affirmatively created a right to, or independently authorized, elective abortion."

"We defer, as we are constitutionally obligated to do, to the legislature's judgment, which is accountable to, and thus reflects, the mutable will of our citizens," Lopez wrote.

The state high court ruled the 19th century law could be enforced prospectively. But it stayed implementation of its decision for 14 days to allow the parties to raise any remaining issues at the trial-court level.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, in a statement called the ruling "unconscionable and an affront to freedom," and stressed that she would not prosecute any doctor or woman under the "draconian law."

"Today's decision to reimpose a law from a time when Arizona wasn't a state, the Civil War was raging, and women couldn't even vote will go down in history as a stain on our state," she said.

Planned Parenthood Arizona, which offers abortions at its clinics in the state, said it would continue to provide those services "for a short period of time" under a 2022 state court order barring immediate enforcement of the 1864 law.

That injunction, according to the organization, remains in effect until 45 days after the state Supreme Court formally issues its ruling, which typically takes a number of weeks.

While Mayes said she would not enforce the law, local prosecutors could. One, Republican Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane, intervened in the litigation to argue in favor of the 1864 statute. He was joined by obstetrician Eric Hazelrigg, who runs a network of pregnancy centers that counsel against abortion.

Tuesday's decision marked the latest legal setback for U.S. abortion rights, following a ruling last week by the Florida Supreme Court that cleared the way for a Republican-backed law banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy to take effect.

President Joe Biden, a Democrat whose re-election bid is widely seen as gaining from a backlash to new abortion restrictions since Roe was overturned, called the Arizona ruling the "result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away womens freedom."

"Millions of Arizonans will soon live under an even more extreme and dangerous abortion ban, which fails to protect women even when their health is at risk or in tragic cases of rape or incest," he said in a statement.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said on the social media platform X that his neighboring state "remains ready to help Arizonans access reproductive health care."

VOTERS MAY DECIDE

Fourteen other states have banned nearly all abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 ruling. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Monday said access to abortion should be determined by the states, and stopped short of proposing a national ban that could imperil his chances with voters in swing states like Arizona in the November election.

Asked if Trump's campaign had any response to Tuesday's ruling, a spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, said in a statement the former president "could not have been more clear. These are decisions for people of each state to make."

In Arizona, the issue could ultimately be decided by the voters, after a group of abortion rights advocates last week said it gathered enough signatures to create a November ballot measure that would enshrine in the state's constitution a right to an abortion until fetal viability.

Abortion rights measures have prevailed everywhere they have been on the ballot since the Supreme Court's decision.

Planned Parenthood sued the state in 1971 to challenge the 1864 law, which banned abortions except to save a woman's life and imposed up to five years in prison on anyone performing an abortion.

A judge ruled in Planned Parenthood's favor and issued an order blocking the law following the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.

In September 2022, after Roe was overturned, a court granted a request filed by the then-Republican attorney general to allow prosecutors to enforce the 1864 ban, but a state appellate court once again blocked it.

Vice Chief Justice Ann Timmer, in an opinion joined by Chief Justice Robert Brutinel, dissented from Tuesday's ruling, saying if the legislature had intended for the near-total abortion ban to take effect, it could have done so during its 2023 session.

"I would leave it to the people and the legislature to determine Arizonas course in the wake of Roes demise," she wrote.

(Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York, additional reporting by Joseph Ax in New York, Editing by Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot and Cynthia Osterman)
The Quad Cities community is rallying around Becky Wren of Rock Island, in her battle against a rare form of cancer.

A fundraiser to help with the 41-year-old womans expenses will be held Saturday, April 13th, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Bent River Brewing, 512 24th St., Rock Island.

Becky Wren of Rock Island is battling acute myeloid leukemia (photo by Liam Colby).

It has been 17 months since Wren was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and she has rare mutations of the disease that has severely compromised her immune system. She had an intense and exhausting blood marrow transplant in February 2023. Afterwards, she isolated for three months while her immune system tried to rebuild itself.

Unfortunately, the first transplant did not result as hoped. As disappointing as this is, Becky told me, I cant be sad, I have lived my life on my terms and the way I wished, her friend and benefit organizer Suzon Robbins wrote on the Facebook event page.

She is in the process of seeking her second transplant. Wren has been back and forth to Loyola Medical Center in Chicago several times a week for the past several months. This has been not only been incredibly physically and emotionally difficult, but has been financially draining, Robbins said.

We need to gather our friends, OUR TRIBES, together once again to help energize and LIFT UP this amazing woman in her journey of strength, AND hey, if we make some money to help her out, well, that would be super swell, Robbins wrote.

Wren, a former commercial fisherman, was first diagnosed in September of 2022, did her first chemotherapy treatments in Peoria for six weeks, and usually has appointments at Loyola once or twice a week, including returning today for tests there.

AML starts in the bone marrow (the soft inner part of certain bones, where new blood cells are made), but most often it quickly moves into the blood, as well, according to American Cancer Society. It can sometimes spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and central nervous system.

Wren was first diagnosed in September 2022 and had a bone marrow transplant in February 2023 (photo by Liam Colby).

Wren had a bone marrow transplant, from her oldest brother, in February 2023 at Loyola. She had to be in isolation at a hotel for three months, within 45 minutes of the hospital, staying with her friend, Rock Island Ald. Dylan Parker.

She found out the last day of isolation that the transplant was not successful. She had received 85% of her brothers marrow, but Wren recently found out that her bone marrow is now 88% back her own.

So Ive basically completely reversed since that transplant, she said Monday. Wren also has rare mutations of the AML, which makes it harder to treat.

I found out yesterday that now my numbers are going back up, which means that now Im not responding to the chemo, she said. It just means that like all the chemo that theyve tried and the treatments  nothing got me to remission. Even if I were to achieve remission, Ill be on a multitude of medications indefinitely.

Wren is pursuing possible matches to see if a second transplant is available to her.

The most recent pivot to her plan, a series of Donor Lymphocyte Infusions are the closest and best bet to get her to remission status so that a second transplant would be possible, she said.

The American Cancer Society estimates about 11,220 deaths from AML in 2024. It is fairly rare overall, accounting for only about 1% of all cancers.

Thankful for help

Wren is very grateful for the outpouring of support from friends and family.

Its just incredible. Ive received so much help and support from my community. I didnt realize how vast my community is until this, she said. Ive always been involved in a lot of different areas for the Quad Cities, but I kind of didnt realize just how that my community is and my support circles.

Wrens friend Suzon Robbins has organized the April 13 fundraiser at Bent River, Rock Island.

Cancer is scary but so is going at it alone, Robbins said Monday. Her late husband, Kevin, died from a brain tumor (at age 29) in December 1999.

The fact that everyone loves Becky and appreciates what she has offered our community, has putting together this benefit incredibly easy, Robbins said. And Saturday would have been Kevins 54th birthday.

Since Wren has a compromised immune system, shes much more susceptible to infections, from a finger cut for example.

It got infected immediately. Like, it was incredible how fast the infection happened and I was having some issues like that, Wren recalled.

When she was in isolation after the first transplant, she began doing watercolor painting and selling her art.

Wren has a small partnership between Spring Forward Learning Center and World Relief, teaching art and literacy to English learning families.

My doctor has advised me to not have that job because of the exposure risk, but Im having a hard time staying away, she said. I cant do it every week just because it takes a lot of energy, but I really enjoy it and it helps me to still be participating in the community.

Because my platelets are very low, and so if I fall, Im at risk of internal bleeding or, if I get cut, Im a higher risk for infection and I just dont have the strength and energy, day to day, Wren said.

It really just varies day to day what I am capable of. Its taken a lot of getting used to, she said. Prior to my diagnosis, I was commercial fishing. I worked at Circa and The Speakeasy (bussing tables and bartending). I worked at the Karpeles Museum. I worked with Living Lands and Waters.

Wren goes for medical appointments at Loyola in Chicago about twice a week, since there are no specialists for AML in the Quad Cities (photo by Liam Colby).

I had all these different jobs that I was working and its taken a lot of adjustment to now. Now my full-time job is going to doctors appointments, Wren said.

LL&W (for whom she has done tree planting and wrapping) is donating trophies for the April 13 fundraiser, as well as serving as announcers.

Wren and Robbins have been longtime friends and shes amazed at the work shes put into this benefit.

Suzon has just been incredible. I contacted her about helping promote the event and shes taken on so much of it with collecting donations and planning things, Wren said. She just keeps telling me, Becky, I dont want you to worry about it. I just want you to be able to be there and have fun.

Last year, my parents did a lot with planning a few fundraisers. But Suzon has even been telling my mom the same thing. Dont worry about it, I got it. So Im incredibly grateful for her support, she added.

Its pretty amazing. Im glad to have so much community, Wren said.

Staying philosophical

Wren said her philosophy of life is: Keep busy, do awesome stuff.

When I was diagnosed, I didnt have any fear or regret because Ive kept busy and Ive done awesome stuff. Like I just, I had a cool life, she said. If I can keep doing stuff like teach the art and literacy program, its just another thing that I knew at an early age that I didnt wanna have kids and I love kids and I have my nieces and nephews are very dear to me, but my situation would be so much different if I had kids, she said.

Wren is pursuing a second bone marrow transplant (photo by Liam Colby).

Ive had to adapt and pivot, Wren added. My best friend Beth uses the word pivot. Every time a treatment fails, we say were gonna pivot, now we got it. All these different things that Ive done in my life, its just when an opportunity presents itself, Ive gone for it because why not? Its just allowed me to meet so many great people and be involved in so many cool things.

To some people bussing tables at my age. Well, at the time I was like 39, but bussing tables at Circa wouldnt appeal to most people my age, Wren said. But I was just like, they needed the help.

A nurse at UnityPoint in Moline suggested to her having an arm-wrestling tournament (Be Strong For Becky) as part of her next fundraiser, so thats the theme for Saturday at Bent River. Professional arm wrestlers will be referees.

Pre-registration is required HERE and all the $20 fee will go to Wren. There will be many baked goods for sale, and raffle/auction items include gift cards, a keg party from Wake Brewing, a Putnam Museum tour from Kelly Lao, massages, art, and music lessons from Jonnie Cluney and Jeff Jackson.

If you are unable to join the event, you can donate at a GoFundMe for Wren HERE.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
AURORA, Mo.  Two people are charged in connection to a fight outside the Aurora Bowling Alley over the weekend.

Ashley Ryan, 25, of Springfield, is charged with eight counts of assault  and Gabriel Olvera, 30, of Aurora, is charged with two counts of assault.

Ashley Ryan, 25, of Springfield.

Gabriel Olvera, 30, of Aurora.

Aurora and Marionville police responded to the Strike Zone Bowling Alley Saturday for a report of a fight in the parking lot.

According to court documents  two people complained Ryan was swearing loudly while playing an arcade game. Ryan confronted the two and police say she began assaulting them.

Police say at least five other people tried to stop the fight, but were also attacked by both Ryan and Olvera.

Officers say when they tried to break up the fight, they were also attacked by the suspects. They also took a juvenile into custody  but later released that person.

Investigators say only minor injuries were reported.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Nadege Vanhee (Seclin, France, 45 years old) arrives by foot at the Paris offices of Hermes, begging pardon several times for having been five minutes late. The cafe didnt accept payments by card for her coffee and croissant, and she had to run to the ATM. Shes wearing jeans and a white t-shirt and doesnt check her phone once  she doesnt even use social media. Youd never guess that she is one of todays leading fashion designers, the creative director of one of the most in-demand and exclusive classic luxury brands. In fact, few people outside the industry are familiar with her influence. She doesnt like public exposure and luckily at Hermes, a family-run company that has always done things its own way, she doesnt have to. I dont feel a lot of pressure. Or rather, I dont feel the typical pressure. I always try to explore the boundaries between the houses tremendous legacy, both its traditional and contemporary sides. Hermes has both; its more of a matter of racking my brain than feeling under pressure. Sure, Im very demanding and never satisfied, but I dont have to fly or land a plane, luckily, she jokes. Its only been two days since she presented her spring-summer collection, for which she brought to life a summer camp at which several models had a picnic: I think we managed to capture an emotion, which was the goal. The idea of freedom, of sisterhood, of fun? In the end, it all fit with the collection, she says, satisfied.

Twill dress embroidered with sacre de lete motifs and palladium-finished calfskin belt. ANTONIO MINGOT

This year marks Nadeges 10th anniversary as creative director of womens ready-to-wear at Hermes, a tenure that has lasted for practically an eternity by fashion standards. Here I have the privilege of taking my time, and Ive realized that its like cooking, you cant do it very quickly, or turn the head up too high. My work is very similar to knowing how to cook, she says. And shes perfect for the job. Nadege studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, and worked for another one of the schools outstanding alumni, Martin Margiela, who was also a Hermes creative director from 1997 to 2003. Later, she did stints with two totems of subtle luxury: Phoebe Philos Celine and The Row, the Olsen sisters brand. Nadege laughs when the term of the moment, silent luxury, is brought up: Marketing. Again, putting things in boxes and labelling them  and what a sad box, the saddest box of all. Silent luxury, nice. Were not silent here. I think were something more, she says.

Wool and mohair vest and long skirt with palladium-finished clasp, woven calfskin sandals with studded soles by Medor. ANTONIO MINGOT

That something more is what has made Hermes into one of the few places where innovation and subtlety are not a contradiction, where artisanal mastery is at the heart of it all. I keep surprising myself. Thats why what I like best about the creative process, the beginning. Im not methodical and I get a type of pleasure from asking, can I do this? Is it possible that well be able to create this? And when I find the way to do it, that creates this feeling of happiness that I want to share with the rest of the world, she says of those small (and high-end) details that at times, are not visible from merely looking at a piece, but that do separate the work from being silent: Recently Ive been thinking that fashion is overly obsessed with image and the media, because everything is measured in economic terms, she says. Im not against numbers, obviously, but by giving them so much protagonism, were seeing things in a slightly sterile way. Were losing our capacity to surprise and enjoy.

Wool and mohair coat with palladium-finished metal clasp, asymmetrical silk knit bodysuit, wool and mohair pencil skirt; woven calfskin sandals with studded sole by Medor. ANTONIO MINGOT

Her philosophy, she says, has nothing to do with visual tricks, but rather something much more obvious, that today seems to have been largely forgotten: Fashion exists to be carried with you and to be enjoyed, so that we feel good wearing this or that garment. It is functionality and pleasure, she says. The idea that there is a defined style or a trend to join is obsolete to me. I like clothes that belong to the person. Even when I see someone wearing my clothes, theyre her clothes, not mine, they are a part of her and her character. Thats why in the last runway show, there were different types of women, but in a genuine way, that didnt grate, she says. Despite being one of the few female creative directors at a major brand, Nadege is not sure if her gender makes her approach to her work any different: I dont know. If I thought in those terms, I think I would have to be justifying what I do all the time. My gender is part of my identity, but the issue is more complex, and in the end, Im not one to say what a woman has to be or do. In any case, we women dont have to justify ourselves, we have to do things, period, because we still have a long way to go and sometimes, you dont have to explain.

Wool and mohair trench with lambskin collar, ribbed silk knit crop top, wool and mohair pants with zippers, black calfskin and metal necklace, woven calfskin sandals. ANTONIO MINGOT

Styling: Paula Delgado

Model: Africa Garcia (Traffic Models)

Makeup and hair: Miguel Angel Tragacete (One Off Artists for Chanel)

Production: Cristina Serrano

Photography assistant: Maria Gomez

Makeup assistant: Alba Medina

Acknowledgments: Casa do Brasil

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Ebony Parker, the assistant principal at Richneck Elementary School when a 6-year-old shot his teacher, was charged with eight felony counts of child abuse.

The assistant principal of the Virginia school where a 6-year-old boy shot his first grade teacher has been charged with eight counts of felony child abuse and disregard for life, according to an indictment unsealed on Tuesday.

Ebony Parker, who worked for Richneck Elementary School on Jan. 6, 2023, when Abigail Zwerner was shot by her student, was indicted on March 11. But the charges were not unsealed until Tuesday, according to the Virginia courts website. Parker is not yet in custody.

Parker committed "a willful act or omission in the care of such students that was so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life," and should be held on $4,000 bond, according to a copy of the indictment obtained by the Virginian-Pilot.

The charges, all class 6 felonies, each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

More: James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of Michigan shooter, sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison

Teacher's lawsuit claims Parker ignored warnings ahead of shooting

Zwerner filed a lawsuit in April of 2023 seeking $40 million in damages from school officials. In the lawsuit, Zwerner claimed Parker received multiple warnings of the boy's violent behavior, but failed to take action to prevent the shooting.

In a notice of claim sent to the Newport News School District by her attorney, Zwerner alleged she visited Parker's office hours before the shooting to report that the boy "seemed more off than usual and was in a violent mood." She reported that he had already threatened to beat up another child and "angrily stared down a security officer."

Assistant Principal Parker should have called police, instead she did not follow proper protocol and chose to do absolutely nothing, the claim says.

Less than an hour later, another teacher told Parker that other students reported that the boy had a gun in his backpack, the claim alleges. Another teacher informed Parker of reports that the boy had the gun in his pocket, according to the claim.

"Assistant Principal Parker was made aware at the beginning of recess that Ms. Zwerner was afraid that the shooter had a gun in his pocket," Zwerner's attorney wrote. "And again nothing was done."

Zwerner was shot in the hands and chest, and was hospitalized for almost two weeks after the shooting. She resigned from her position at the school in June of 2023.

Parker resigned from her position after the shooting. John Mumford Jr., an attorney listed for her, did not immediately return a request for comment.

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at cmayesosterman@usatoday.com. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abigail Zwerner shooting: assistant principal charged with felonies
The Los Angeles Police Department is asking the public for help in identifying a suspect or suspects connected to two dog shootings over nine days.

According to a media release from LAPD officials, the first shooting occurred around 11 p.m. on March 29 near 23rd Street and Santa Fe Avenue.

Newton Area patrol officers responded to a shooting callofficers located a dog that had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and located evidence of a shooting, the LAPD release stated.

The dog was transported to a nearby veterinary hospital for treatment and survived the shooting, police said.

Authorities chase down driver who allegedly struck deputy, car with van

Officers responded to another dog that was shot on Sunday at about 3:30 a.m. near the intersection of East 52nd Street and Avalon Boulevard in L.A.s South Park neighborhood, just four miles south of the scene of the first shooting.

Officers located another dog that had suffered a gunshot wound and located evidence of a shooting, law enforcement officials said, adding that the canine died from its wounds.

No description of a suspect or suspects was immediately available. The breeds of the two dogs that were shot were not disclosed.

Anyone with information on the two shootings is urged to contact Newton Violent Crime Detectives by calling 323-846-6566. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-527-3247.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. To submit information anonymously online, visit www.lacrimestoppers.org

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department are asking for public assistance to locate two missing individuals.

Authorities have issued an endangered missing advisory for 15-year-old Susana Almaraz and 2-month-old Jason Almaraz. The pair were last seen around 4:30 p.m. on April 3 near the intersection of 26th Street E., and Garnett Lane in Lancaster.

Susana is 5 feet 8 inches and weighs approximately 180 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a gray tank top with gray and pink sweatpants.

California Highway Patrol is seeking public assistance to locate missing 2-month-old Jason Almaraz and 15-year-old Susana Almaraz on April 8, 2024. (CHP)

Authorities say 15-year-old Susana Almaraz, and two-month-old Jason Almaraz were last seen in Lancaster. CHP issued an endangered missing alert on April 8, 2024. (CHP)

Jason weighs approximately 20 pounds and was last seen wearing a yellow onesie.

CHP has provided no further details about the pair.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jason and Susana is asked to call 9-1-1 immediately.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
An aviation company that supplies air tankers to the RAF is being targeted by a charity over its potential role in flying illegal migrants to Rwanda.

Freedom from Torture is urging its members to turn up the heat on AirTanker over claims it could provide passenger jets to deport migrants to Rwanda.

AirTanker has a 27-year contract with the Ministry of Defence to deliver and support 14 multi-role air tanker planes which sustain the RAFs Voyager aircraft, a variant of the Airbus A330-200.

Home Office documents seen by The Telegraph show that the threat from protesters and the lack of contractors are two of the key practical problems identified by officials in securing flights to Rwanda.

The move came as Rishi Sunak on Tuesday met Paul Kagame, the Rwandan president, where they agreed they were still looking forward to the first deportation flights taking off to the east African country in the spring.

Freedom from Torture said it was turning up the heat on AirTanker to persuade it not to participate in deportation flights to Rwanda after reports that it was in talks with the Government over the scheme.

The company ruled itself out of the first flights, scheduled in summer 2022 until they were grounded when a single judge from the European Court of Human Rights issued a rule 39 injunction blocking them.

RAF's Voyager aircraft for which AirTanker has a contract with the Ministry of Defence to deliver and support air tanker planes - LEON NEAL/GETTY IMAGES

Internal Home Office documents show that officials have identified several critical risks that could delay the first deportation flights.

One risk would be officials failing to locate and detain sufficient numbers of migrants  some of whom might abscond  combined with significant attrition through the legal process that could mean there were few/none migrants available for a flight to Rwanda.

The second risk was identified as the logistics of removing migrants from immigration removal centres to the airfield, through protests by asylum campaigners, very poor weather or commercial airlines or escort providers being unwilling to deliver their contracted services.

The third risk was Rwanda not being ready for arrivals including not having the out of country judicial review facilities for legal aid, leading to legal challenges that could see migrants having to be returned to the UK.

Rishi Sunak welcomes Paul Kagame, the president of Rwanda, to Number 10 for talks - Stefan Rousseau/PA

However, in a statement issued by Downing Street after Mr Sunaks meeting with Mr Kagame, a spokesman said: Both leaders looked forward to flights departing to Rwanda in the spring.

The Home Office refused to confirm or deny whether it was in talks with AirTanker.

A Government spokesman said: We have robust operational plans in place to get flights off the ground to Rwanda in the spring.

AirTanker has been contacted for a comment.

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Aviation incidents seem to be proliferating, but experts say there's no reason for alarm

A flying tire. A runway roll-off. Multiple emergency landings.

It may seem like mishaps involving planes have been growing in frequency. But experts say there is no cause for major alarm, as the aviation industrys safety record remains better than its ever been when measured by lives lost.

This is not a safety trend, said John Cox, a pilot and the president and CEO of Safety Operating Systems LLC, of the recent spate of high-profile incidents.

According to the aviation industry publication FlightGlobal, there were just six recorded fatal commercial aviation accidents worldwide in 2023, resulting in 115 deaths  the fewest on record.

National Transportation Safety Board data confirms the downward trend: Compared with 27 major accidents involving large U.S. carriers in 2008, there were just 20 in 2022, the most recent year for which data is available.

The rate of accidents involving injury or death to a passenger or substantial damage to a plane has also declined  from 0.141 per 100,000 flight hours to 0.112 in 2022.

In other words, the data shows flying has rarely been safer.

Theres not anything unusual about the recent spate of incidents  these kinds of things happen every day in the industry, said Jeff Guzzetti, a pilot and the president of Guzzetti Aviation Risk Discovery LLC.

Still, the flying public is now especially attuned to such reports  perhaps most notably because of Januarys midair blowout incident on an Alaska Airlines flight involving a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet.

Among the latest high-profile events: On Friday, a United Airlines flight on a Boeing 737 Max 8 rolled off the runway in Houston while taxiing to its gate. No one was injured. United noted the plane was operating in rainy conditions at the time.

On Thursday, a tire fell off a United Airlines flight on a Boeing 777-200 that had just taken off from San Francisco, forcing an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport. No one was injured in that incident either. Cox told The Associated Press tire incidents are usually a maintenance issue and not linked to the manufacturer. United said the plane, built in 2002, was designed to land safely without all tires in operation.

On Monday, a United Airlines flight on a Boeing 737-900 from Houston to Fort Myers, Florida, had to make an emergency landing after flames started shooting out of the engine. United said in a statement that it appeared bubble wrap entered the airfield and was ingested by the planes engine.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating these incidents.

The NTSB also revealed this week it was investigating a United flight on a Boeing 737 Max in February that had potentially faulty rudder pedals.

In a statement, United said it is also looking at each of the incidents, though they all appear to be unique.

Each of these events is distinct and unrelated to one another, the airline said. Safety is our top priority, and well continue to do everything we can to keep our customers and employees safe.

Boeing also said it was assisting with investigations of the incidents.

No likely connection to any one airline or plane manufacturer

Experts pointed out that each incident is unique and may not be related to United or Boeing. Even as he acknowledged the commonality of United and Boeing as the players in each of these incidents, Guzzetti said such cases were still fairly common in the regular course of flying.

If you look at the big picture, there hasnt been an increase in the number of incidents, Guzzetti said. Theres just a lot of scrutiny now because of the door-plug event, so you have a jittery public and the news media picking up all these things.

Because consumers can use their phone cameras to immediately broadcast these mishaps over vast social media networks as they happen, that makes the public more aware of them, even if their frequency has not actually increased, Cox said.

Still, while experts say there is little cause for alarm, they acknowledge a crucial part of the air travel industry has changed in recent years  namely, that aviation personnel on average now have less experience than previous generations of pilots and maintenance crews.

I think its a possibility that the lack of super-experienced and qualified pilots and mechanics could play a role in decreasing aviation safety, Guzzetti said. But its hard to quantify. I dont think the decrease is alarming  you cant quantify that  or even correlate it. But its worthy of consideration.

Another factor that could be at play is newer airplanes. In fact, older planes were in some ways easier to manage because they were less technologically sophisticated, experts say.

But newer planes have more automatic or computerized features that may make flying easier for a pilot, but which are harder to deal with when something goes wrong.

The evolution of airplanes is requiring changes in how we train pilots, where theres a focus not only on understanding the systems of an airplane, but also managing that automation while keeping manual flying skills sharp, said Cox.

Yet the reduced accident count is proof that, overall, these newer planes have made flying safer, he said.

Boeing and its 737 Max line of planes remain under investigation by the NTSB in the wake of the January blowout incident. Earlier this week, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy blasted Boeing for failing to turn over information related to its 737 Max manufacturing process; a day later, Boeing provided the names of 737 Max employees, according to Reuters.

The news wire service also reported the NTSB now plans to hold a multiple-day investigative hearing into the Max 9, likely in late summer.

CORRECTION (April 8, 2024, 10:02 p.m. ET): A previous version of this story misidentified the airplane that rolled off a Houston runway. It was a Boeing 737 Max 8, not a Boeing 737-800.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A local, globally recognized coffee roaster is opening its second brick-and-mortar store and cafe.

Crimson Coffee and Tea is opening a cafe inside the recently renovated St. Thomas More Newman Center across from Ohio State University. The local coffee company, which roasts its beans in Columbus, has sold both wholesale and at-home quantities of coffee online for years before opening its first retail store and cafe at Easton Town Center in 2020.

With the rising popularity of our Crimson Easton Town Center location, we knew there was a coffee enthusiast population who loved the Crimson experience and we wanted to share that with a wider audience, CEO Greg Ubert said in a news release. He added that the cafe has a large student customer base, and they wanted to cater to it.

Hummingbirds are migrating; when they will arrive in Ohio

Like the flagship Easton location, Crimson at 64 W. Lane Ave. will highlight its roasts and blends of coffee and tea with a rotating menu of drinks alongside coffeeshop staples. The shop will also serve breakfast sandwiches, baked goods from local bakeries and new items being developed.

Crimson has won multiple national and international awards for its coffee, including earning second place among small franchise roasters for its espresso blend and single origin Peruvian coffee at the 2023 Global Bean competition. Its newest single origin offering, Colombia Sudan Rume, earned bronze at the 2024 Golden Bean World Series in the filter category.

Ubert and others at Crimson go on sourcing trips to Costa Rica, Kenya, Guatemala and other countries to identify small-plot farmers. Crimson directly trades with farmers through its Friend2Farmer initiative. Crimson has won multiple Good Food Awards, which recognize both quality and commitment to responsible business practices.

Crimson hopes to open its second store at 64 W. Lane Ave. in mid-to-late April, noting the shop will have shared comfortable space with the Newman Center. The hours will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Arizonans gather to rally for reproductive rights at the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. The group spoke about the critical need for abortion access and denounced a near-total ban from 1864 being debated across the street in the Arizona Supreme Court. Photo by Gloria Rebecca Gomez | Arizona Mirror

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled Tuesday to make abortion almost completely illegal by reinstating a 160-year-old ban on the procedure.

Elected officials and politicians across the state had wide-ranging reactions to the ruling.

Democrats statewide came out strongly against the ruling, vowing to fight for increased access and a repeal to the law, chief among them Gov. Katie Hobbs.

My message to Arizonans is this: I will not rest, and I will not stop fighting until we have fully secured the right to reproductive healthcare in our state, Hobbs said in a statement. I refuse to let radical politicians take control over womens bodies. My executive order protecting women and doctors from abortion related prosecutions by extremist county prosecutors is still in effect, and I will continue to do everything within my power to fully guarantee the right to reproductive healthcare in Arizona.

Other Democratic leaders and lawmakers shared similar sentiments but also singled out Republicans in the state for their support of the territorial era ban and legislation that restricts access to abortions.

Every Republican in the Legislature supported this total abortion ban passed during the Civil War, decades before we even became a state and women gained the right to vote, House Democratic Whip Melody Hernandez said in a statement. We know this because the Speaker and Senate President submitted an amicus brief on their behalf asking for exactly that result. We hope they will acknowledge their mistake and work with us to repeal this law before anyone is harmed.

Even some Republicans have shared their concerns over the ruling.

Let me be very clear: This decision cannot stand, GOP state Rep. Matt Gress said in a statement. I categorically reject rolling back the clock to a time when slavery was still legal and where we could lock up women and doctors because of an abortion. I cannot and will not condemn women, especially the victims of rape or incest, to be forced to carry their pregnancy to term.

Gress said that he would support a 15-week abortion policy that allowed for abortions in the instances of rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother.

Republican Senator T.J. Shope shared a similar sentiment on X, formerly Twitter, that he saw the decision by the court as disappointing and added that he intends to work with his legislative colleagues to repeal the 1864 abortion ban that is now the law of the land and find a better solution.

But other Republicans cheered on the ruling.

Americans cannot expect our nation to be healed if we continue to kill our children, Sen. Anthony Kern said on X. The 4-2 ruling today by the Arizona Supreme Court was the right one, and I support their decision.

Kern held a prayer session on the Senate floor the day before about the upcoming decision.

And state Sen. Wendy Rogers reposted a tweet calling for Attorney General Kris Mayes to be impeached over her stating that she would not enforce the territorial ban.

Senate President Warren Petersen and Speaker of the House Ben Toma in a joint statement stating they would be closely reviewing the courts ruling, talking to our members, and listening to our constituents to determine the best course of action for the legislature.

Neither has commented on whether they would heed the call from Hobbs and some of their fellow Republicans to repeal the Civil War-era ban, though both had urged the court to rule the way it did on Tuesday.

Republican Sen. Shawnna Bolick, whose husband sits on the Arizona Supreme Court and ruled in favor of reinstating the territorial era ban, said on X that she wants to see the ban repealed.

Considering todays Arizona Supreme Court ruling to uphold Arizonas 1864 territorial abortion ban, it is time for my legislative colleagues to find common ground of common sense: the first step is to repeal the territorial law, she said.

Democratic Rep. Nancy Gutierrez said on X that constituents should not believe Republicans who are now asking to find a solution.

Democrats have a bill that repeals the territorial ban that was introduced in January, Gutierrez said. It never got a committee hearing. Dont believe any Republican in AZ that says that they want to work toward a solution. They dont.

The decision by the court Tuesday also elicited a response from the White House, placing blame directly on former President Donald Trump.

Its a reality because of Donald Trump, who brags about being proudly the person responsible for overturning Roe v. Wade, and made it possible for states to enforce cruel bans, Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement. The alarm is sounding for every woman in America: if he has the opportunity, Donald Trump would sign off on a national abortion ban.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, who is currently running for the U.S. Senate against failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, called the decision devastating for Arizona women and their families. Gallego also called out his opponent for her prior statements in which she supported the territorial era ban.

Yet again, extremist politicians like Kari Lake are forcing themselves into doctors offices and ripping away the right for women to make their own healthcare decisions, Gallego said in a statement. Lake called this a great law  even though it will ban nearly all abortions, including in cases of rape or incest.

Lake herself in a statement on the decision appears to have abandoned her previous support of the 1864 abortion ban.

I oppose todays ruling, and I am calling on Katie Hobbs and the State Legislature to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support, she said in a written statement. Ultimately, Arizona voters will make the decision on the ballot come November.

Republican Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said her office has not received a single request to prosecute someone who has sought an abortion and she does not anticipate that changing.

I have made it clear that this office will not prosecute abortions that were the result of rape, incest, or molestation, MItchell said in a statement. As a career sex crimes prosecutor, I am keenly aware that the women  and girls  who get pregnant as victims of these crimes are not hypothetical situations  they are very real names and real faces to me.

Mitchell added that she is urging Hobbs and the legislature to delay enforcement of the decision and come together to enact a reasonable law that takes these and other issues into account.

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The post AZ elected officials and candidates react to the Supreme Court upholding a Civil War abortion ban appeared first on Arizona Mirror.
The Foreign Secretary says allowing Russia to defeat Ukraine will 'encourage Putin' to use force elsewhere in Europe - KIRSTY O'CONNOR/FCEO

Lord Cameron has told Republicans blocking a new aid package to Ukraine that Kyiv must defeat Russia to show that borders matter.

The Foreign Secretarys message, ahead of a visit to Washington DC, is an attempt to appeal to the partys belief in strong national borders.

US President Joe Bidens legislation containing $95 billion (75 billion) of new security assistance for Ukraine is being held up by Republicans in the House of Representatives, which is one half of the US Congress.

The Republicans have a majority in the House, which needs to approve the legislation if Ukraine is to get its new injection of US financial support.

Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has been a sceptic on aid to Ukraine, but has championed tougher security on the USs southern border with Mexico by building a wall.

Vital for our joint security

Lord Cameron said in a message ahead of his trip: Success for Ukraine and failure for Putin are vital for American and European security.

This will show that borders matter, that aggression doesnt pay and that countries like Ukraine are free to choose their own future.

The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to re-draw European borders by force, and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea.

US support for Ukraine has massively degraded the military capacity of a common adversary  Russia has lost half of its pre-invasion land combat power and a quarter of its original Black Sea fleet  while creating jobs at home and strengthening the Western alliance and Nato.

Lord Cameron will meet figures from Mr Bidens administration as well as political leaders in the US Congress during his visit to Washington.

The Foreign Secretary will hold talks with Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, before the pair take part in a joint press conference on Tuesday.

Mr Blinken will meet with the Foreign Secretary in Washington - KHALED DESOUKI/AFP

He will also see Jake Sullivan, who as the White Houses national security adviser is one of the most influential foreign policy figures around Mr Biden. No meeting is expected with the President himself.

On the congressional side, Lord Cameron will meet Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, who is one of the most powerful figures in the party.

The Foreign Secretary said last week he would be meeting Mike Johnson, the US speaker in the House who is blocking the Ukraine aid assistance package.

Gaza on the agenda

Lord Cameron will also be discussing the Gaza conflict as the UK and the US attempt to press Israel to let in more aid trucks.

Israel has come under growing pressure to do so after admitting it was behind an unintentional missile strike on Gaza earlier this month in which seven aid workers, including three Britons, were killed.

The Foreign Office has decided so far not to suspend arms sales after judging that the legal threshold for doing so had not been met in the incidents assessed to date. Those incidents are understood to date from December and January.

On Monday activists calling for an arms embargo on Israel sprayed Labours headquarters with red paint, with 12 people arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

Demonstrators from the Youth Demand group insisted both the Government and Opposition should commit to preventing the supply of weapons to the country as they targeted the partys offices in central London.

Cabinet split denied

Meanwhile Downing Street has insisted that the Government is completely united over the conflict in Gaza despite claims of a Cabinet split.

Divisions appeared to have emerged over the weekend with Lord Cameron taking a more strident approach to criticism of Israel than Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr Dowden suggested on Sunday that Israel is being held to an incredibly high standard compared with other nations and claimed there is a bit of relish from some people about the way in which they are pushing this case against Israel.

But on Monday, the Prime Ministers official spokesman denied there was a split, saying Lord Camerons and Mr Dowdens words were consistent with Rishi Sunaks position.

Mr Dowden claims Israel is being held to higher standards than other nations over its conduct in Gaza - ZUMAPRESS.COM/AVALON

Mr Sunak, meanwhile, held a lengthy call with Emmanuel Macron, the French president, to mark the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale alliance between the two countries.

During the hour-long conversation the pair talked about intensifying efforts to deny Russia a victory in their war of aggression against Ukraine, according to a Downing Street readout of the call.

They also discussed ways to stop the small boats carrying migrants across the English Channel to the UK, a policy area that has, at points, been a source of tension between London and Paris.

A Downing Street spokesman said: They shared their concerns at the increasingly dangerous and violent tactics being used by people smugglers and the Prime Minister said more needed to be done between European partners to prevent a devastating loss of life at sea.

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BURNET COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  A man who attended the Texas Eclipse Festival in Burnet County is dead, the Burnet County Sheriffs Office told KXAN Monday.

Around 4:30 a.m. Saturday, the 67-year-old man, who was not identified Monday, was out hiking on the grounds when he had a seizure, according to BCSO.

BCSO said there was no known knowledge of the man using drugs, and an autopsy was ordered.

Burnet Eclipse Festival canceled early due to possible severe weather

On Monday, the festival ended early due to a potential threat of severe weather in the area, festival organizers announced on its website and social media earlier in the day.

The festival was scheduled to last through Tuesday. At least 30,000 people came to Burnet for the festival, according to officials.

No other details were released Monday.

Abigail Jones contributed to this report

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
He was a beautiful man. 70-year-old stabbed to death by man high on crack, cops say

The family of a 70-year-old man is mourning after police say he was stabbed to death in Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh police were called to a home after 11 p.m. April 3 for reports of a stabbing, according to KDKA. When they arrived, they say they found Tyrone Taylor kneeling at the edge of a bed holding two bloody knives.

According to police, Taylor was at an apartment hanging out with 70-year-old Laferrel Flash Dee and a woman, WTAE reported.

A witness told police Taylor, 52, had been smoking crack cocaine and fell asleep. When he woke up, he accused Dee and the woman of talking about him, a criminal complaint said, according to the outlet.

Taylor went to the kitchen, grabbed two knives and began stabbing Dee and the woman, according to KDKA. Dee was pronounced dead at the scene and the woman was taken to a hospital.

Oh, he was a beautiful man. He was a wonderful man, Dees fiancee, Darlene Mitchell, told WPXI.

Mitchell told the outlet Dee was better known as Flash. The two were together for over 11 years and were set to get married next year.

This is a big loss, Dees cousin, Margaret Burtch, told WTAE.

Taylor faces charges of homicide, aggravated assault and attempted homicide, according to a criminal docket.

In 2011, Taylor was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in a 2010 stabbing death, court records show. He was sentenced to between seven and a half and 15 years in prison.

I just want justice for him because they shouldnt have let that man out after killing, Mitchell told WPXI.

An attorney for Taylor was not listed in court records.

Son knocks on moms door, stabs her 70 times, Florida cops say. She got on my nerves

Boyfriend stabs woman and her 6-year-old son, then traps them in burning home, cops say

Man stabs his wife dozens of times, killing her in front of their kids, IL cops say
The attendant walks down the aisles to present the most cutting-edge products from a company named iFlytek, one of the darlings of Chinas artificial intelligence (AI) industry. There is a small robot dog that walks between exhibition stands, a smart board that aims to transform education, networks for urban traffic management displayed on a LED wall, and an automated arm that never loses at Go, the ancient Chinese strategy board game. The company, founded in 1999, has built its success on a simultaneous interpretation system, widely used in China, which generates a translation almost instantly into more than 80 languages and is practically like going through life with subtitles. Last year, iFlytek launched Spark Desk, an AI tool designed to compete with ChatGPT. At this point, the attendant immerses herself in demonstrations: through a spoken command, she asks the machine to generate a childrens story about a rabbit that travels to space (the animal is very brave and encounters aliens); she orders him to recommend where to travel (Paris, the city of love); the disembodied intelligence changes its voice and language, solves mathematical problems, manages emails, creates drawings, summarizes news, generates statements, speeches and poems, and translates orders into source code. The company has assured that it already surpasses the GPT model in several fields in Chinese; in English, it matches it in dozens of tasks. And this, under the weight of U.S. sanctions and restrictions on cutting-edge technology linked to the semiconductor sector, is perceived as a triumph in Beijing and at the companys headquarters.

iFlytek is headquartered in Hefei, the capital of Anhui province, which few people outside of China will have heard of. But Beijing has rushed to organize a trip to this city of 12.5 million residents located in eastern China, because it considers it a model to follow in the advancement of the new productive forces, the in concept in Beijing right now. Launched in 2023 by President Xi Jinping, the term may have Marxist echoes, but it is projected towards a high-tech future. The new productive forces mean advanced productivity freed from traditional models of economic growth, defined the top leader. Although it is still somewhat ethereal in nature, the proposal has set the political guidelines of the recent plenary meeting of the National Peoples Congress (the Chinese Legislature). Prime Minister Li Qiang has decreed its development and modernization as the priority for 2024. The propaganda machine has started to spin. And, as a consequence, authorities organized the trip to Hefei, a city in the process of transformation.

A little booklet handed out to reporters upon arrival announces that investment in science and technology accounts for 17.4% of the expenditure of the citys general public budget, with an intensity of investment in research and development of 3 .91%. Another statement says that according to Nature, Hefei ranks 13th among global research cities, rising seven places in the last three years [just behind Seoul, and above Los Angeles]. The new energy vehicle industry has experienced explosive growth, with production of 746,000 vehicles in 2023, ranking among the top three cities in the country.

For three days, the normally closed doors of companies linked to new technologies are opened up, reflecting Beijings hopes for an economy that has been affected by the real estate crisis and finds itself in a deceleration phase. A bus transports reporters from one place to another, from morning to night; An assembly line for batteries for electric cars is shown; another, of new energy vehicles; an unmanned flying taxi being tested (it looks like a large drone; they do not allow passengers to board at the moment); a green energy project that creates heat, among other things, through geothermal energy; a vending machine with wheels that moves by itself along the road In addition, the regional cadres of the Communist Party came to sit before the media and took questions that had not been agreed upon in advance. And in another rare occurrence, at company headquarters Chinese managers exposed themselves to microphones without a filter.

How have U.S. sanctions affected your business in recent years?

Dawei Dan, vice president and chief financial officer of iFlytek, remained unfazed by the cloud of recorders and cameras. He answered, first of all, that sales have increased every year. And he exposed one of the reflections that he conveyed to one of his American lawyers shortly after being included in 2019 on the Entity List that Washington draws up to sanction companies that may pose a threat to national security: To the ordinary Chinese, the Entity List was like a standard. If a Chinese company was included in it, people perceived it as a genuinely high-tech company.

A few years ago, when the world was different and the commercial and technological war between the two global superpowers was barely visible on the horizon, iFlytek came to be considered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as one of the most promising companies in the world. AI. The American institution announced in 2018 a collaboration with iFlytek on several advanced AI projects. But it was forced to cancel them when iFlytek was blacklisted, due to suspicions of the companys collaboration with the Chinese security apparatus in alleged abuses against the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang. Later, iFlytek would suffer the blow of U.S. restrictions on the use of advanced chips, key to the development of AI. In recent times it has partnered for its development with Huawei, another company sanctioned by Washington.

The Hefei model

The Hefei model is known in China. The local government has invested since 2008 in companies making LCD displays chips and electric vehicles almost like a financial fund would. It has a university that is renowned for its science programs, and clusters linked to emerging industries. It is also a microcosm where the great geopolitical struggles of the 21st century can be observed at the factory level. And it allows us to take the pulse of Beijings vision in that battle. The US governments containment of our technology and research definitely plays a negative role, responds Zhang Yun, vice director of the provincial Development and Reform Commission, to a question from US National Public Radio, during an appearance in Hefei. But we will follow the Governments guidelines [...] to address the problems of international trade.

Many of the issues raised unfold along similar paths: they touch on the European Unions de-risking policy, the investigation launched by Brussels into the Chinese electric car sector; the overcapacity of technology industries linked to the energy transition, which could flood  as Washington and European capitals fear  Western markets with Chinese products, aggravating the already battered trade balance.

Janet Yellen, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, met this Sunday with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang in Beijing, where she has turned the threat of excess Chinese production of electric vehicles, solar panels and other clean energy products into one of the central themes of her second visit to China in nine months.

There is a global energy transformation underway, and each country has its own policies to support the necessary industries, replies Wang Qisui, senior vice president of the battery manufacturer Gotion High Tech. I want to emphasize that China has already moved beyond the policy-supporting phase and has fully moved into a market-driven phase. In the opinion of this companys executives, there should be no panic about overcapacity. There is still a shortage of high-quality products on the market.

Gotion is one of the Chinese giants of battery production. The Hefei plant has been built in coordination with Volkswagen (an investor in the company) for the German brands electric models. Taking photographs is not allowed inside the warehouse. The robotization of the process reaches 95%, and they are still in the growth phase. The company is expected to produce up to 80,000 cells per day, a cell being a plate the size of a chocolate tablet that makes up the batteries (about 200 cells are required per car), according to Konstantin Castan, who is in charge of the plant. Castan has worked for years at Volkswagen, where he was dedicated to combustion engines. Now, at Gotion, he has a vision of what is happening here and in the rest of the world. The Asian giant, he concedes, has become the place to be to produce batteries. They are sector leaders. Everybody knows it.

Do you understand the European Unions fears?

I think the Europeans need to accelerate. Also the United States. Now it is a competitive market.

Volkswagen landed in the city in 2017, through a joint venture with a Chinese company. It has opened a factory and a research center, and has different suppliers in the vicinity. The cars produced in Hefei will be aimed at the Chinese market, but also at Europe. One of these is the Cupra Tavascan, an SUV designed and developed at the Seat plant in Martorell, Spain. The fact that reporters were also taken on a tour of foreign companies established in Hefei, such as this one, is a way of reaffirming another of Beijings strong ideas this year: its commitment to opening up to international investment, despite claims of an increasingly complicated business environment due to Chinas emphasis on national security, its pursuit of technological self-sufficiency and mass production.

The EU and European entrepreneurs in China have been critical of the current situation. Its like watching a traffic accident unfold in slow motion, said Jens Esklund, president of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, a few weeks ago during the presentation of its report Riskful Thinking: Navigating the politics of Economic Security. The crash has not yet occurred, he added, but it is urgent to take action. We need to find a balance.

The Volkswagen factory is an open and aseptic-looking space with hardly any trace of human life. Robotization reaches 96%. There are 1,129 Kuka robots, mechanical arms of enormous strength and millimeter precision that were German property at one point in the past. In 2016, Kuka was acquired by Midea, a Chinese appliance giant, for 4.4 billion. It was one of the leading companies in Europe, and one of the main manufacturers of industrial robots in the world. Its acquisition triggered alarms in the EU about the degree of Chinas penetration in strategic sectors. Watching them work, like titanic spiders, raising sparks on the sheet metal of a future electric car from a German company that will be sent to Europe, is hypnotic. Behind each movement of this technological dance one senses the very complex skein of digitalization, globalization and geopolitics.
President Biden blamed the Arizona Supreme Courts decision Tuesday to uphold an abortion law that is older than half a century on an extreme GOP agenda.

Millions of Arizonans will soon live under an even more extreme and dangerous abortion ban, which fails to protect women even when their health is at risk or in tragic cases of rape or incest, Biden said in a Tuesday statement.

This cruel ban was first enacted in 1864  more than 150 years ago, before Arizona was even a state and well before women had secured the right to vote, the president continued. This ruling is a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away womens freedom.

The state Supreme Court rejected arguments that it should uphold a 15-week ban on abortion in a 4-2 decision. The ban, originally passed in 2022, was enforced in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Arizonas highest court instead ruled in favor of the enforcement of an 1864 law that makes abortion a felony thats punishable by two to five years in prison for those who perform it or those who help someone get one. The court also lifted a stay on the law, resulting in it going into effect in two weeks.

The decision made by the Arizona Supreme Court today is unconscionable and an affront to freedom, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) said in a statement. Make no mistake, by effectively striking down a law passed this century and replacing it with one from 160 years ago, the Court has risked the health and lives of Arizonans.

Biden said Vice President Harris and himself stand with the vast majority of Americans who support a womans right to choose in his statement on the decision.

We will continue to fight to protect reproductive rights and call on Congress to pass a law restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade for women in every state, he added.

In a media advisory Tuesday, the White House said Harris will visit Tucson, Ariz., Friday to continue her leadership in the fight for reproductive freedoms.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden faulted former president Donald Trump for the chaos at the US-Mexico border in an interview with Univision, and hinted that he might take executive actions to reduce migrant crossings.

Mr Biden made the remarks in an interview with Mexican journalist Enrique Acevedo as part of his efforts to improve his standing with Latino voters.

Republicans have sought to criticise Mr Biden for his immigration policies, with the GOP-controlled House of Representatives going as far as to impeach his Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

President Joe Biden, flanked by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, receives a briefing at the US-Mexico border in Brownsville, Texas (REUTERS)

Last year, crossings at the US-Mexico border reached an all-time high. The Department of Homeland Security reported that 301,000 migrant encounters in December.

Mr Biden pointed to the fact that he supported bipartisan negotiations which would have swapped aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan in exchange for measures that would have curtailed immigration and increased border security.

Some Democrats criticised the legislation for being too draconian on migrants, though Mr Biden said that he supported provisions for Dreamers, migrants whose parents brought them to the United States as children.

I told them I was going to go back and get Dreamers et cetera., but the thing it did do, it provided for a significant more personnel to make an orderly transfer and allow legal immigration to increase, not decrease and diminish illegal immigration, he said.

But the legislation negotiated by Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, independent Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Democrat Chris Murphy of Connecticut died after Republicans opposed it when Mr Trump did not support it.

This is literally the truth, what happened was when Trump found out that I liked it and I supported it, and I'd get, quote, credit for it, he got on the phone  not a joke  checked with the Republicans and called them and said, don't be for it, will benefit Biden, the president said.

When the hell would you vote on a major piece of legislation based on whether you benefit somebody that's in politics? It's either good or it's bad. It was a good piece of legislation, and I'm not giving up on it.

During the negotiations, Mr Biden pointed out that the bill would give him authority to shut down the border if more than 5,000 people crossed in a day. Mr Biden said he was open to taking executive action to do so.

There's no guarantee that I have that power all by myself without legislation, he said. And some have suggested I should just go ahead and try it. And if I get shut down by the court, I get shut down by the court. But we're trying to work that, work through that right now.

During his State of the Union address, Mr Biden tussled with Republicans for their opposition to the bill and also responded to Republicans who wanted him to mention Laken Riley, who was allegedly killed by someone in the United States illegally. Mr Biden faced criticism from some in his party for using the term an illegal.

Mr Biden also responded to requests from Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has called for lifting sanctions on Venzuela and Cuba, providing $20m for countries that have the highest level of migration to the US, and relief for undocumented Mexicans in the country as a way to curtail crossings at the border.

Before Obrador even came up with that plan I initiated that plan years ago, Mr Biden said and faulted Mr Trump for killing it. We did and it was working for a while until they cut it off. He said the policy helped create jobs in Latin American countries, reducing the incentive to leave in search of better prospects in the United States. People don't want to leave where they're from. People want to be able to make sure that they have an opportunity to just make a living, and they'd rather make a living where they are.

Mr Biden said he got along well with Mr Lopez Obrador, who is commonly known as AMLO, and who is leaving office this year after Mexicos election.

I find him straightforward, Mr Biden said. He's never kidded me. He knows what he wants. He keeps his word. That's about as much as I can ask.
New Biden campaign ad blames Trump for near-death of Texas woman who was denied abortion

The Biden campaign on Monday ripped into former President Trumps stance on abortion in a new ad blaming the former president for the near-death of a Texas woman after she was denied an abortion following a miscarriage.

The 60-second ad, titled Willows Box, features an emotional interview with the woman, Amanda Zurawski, who discussed the miscarriage of her baby  whom she wanted to name Willow  and the infection that almost killed her twice when she was denied an abortion.

The ads text explained how doctors were forced to send Zurawski home after she had a miscarriage because of a Texas law banning abortions even if medically necessary. Three days later, Zurawski was placed in the ICU with sepsis, and the infection may prevent her from ever getting pregnant again, the ad claimed.

After a few moments of Zurawski sobbing with her husband, a black screen appears with the words, Donald Trump did this.

The ad was released just hours after Trump released a statement on his stance on abortion, in which he said he was proud to have appointed the Supreme Court justices who overturned the Roe v. Wade decision that allowed legal abortions across the country.

He said the issue of abortion should be left to the states and also expressed support for exceptions to laws forbidding abortion that would allow them in cases of rape, incest or to save a mothers life. He did not back a ban on abortions after 15 or 16 weeks.

No woman should be forced into the situation Amanda was  being denied medical care and almost dying because of Texas abortion ban. But that is the reality in the United States of America today made possible only because of Donald Trump  a nightmare that he brags about, Biden-Harris 2024 campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a statement.

Rodriguez contented Trump made clear he supports the cruel, extreme abortion bans in the Lone Star State that caused the near-death experience for Zurawski.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre echoed this sentiment, telling reporters on Monday, So, the only reason that  that extreme abortion bans are now in effect all over the country is because of the judges the previous President and Senate Republicans put in the courts.

Biden said Trump is simply lying about support for overturning Roe. It was never about public policy or what was right or what Trump believed. It was always about politics.

The ad is part of the Biden campaigns increase in attacks against Trumps abortion stance in recent weeks. Earlier this year, the campaign said it planned to highlight the impact Trump had on abortion access and whats at stake for reproductive rights in 2024.

Trumps campaign did not immediately respond to request for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board took a swipe at SpaceX, Trader Joes and Amazon on Friday for challenging her agencys constitutionality.

Jennifer Abruzzo, a progressive appointee of President Joe Biden, described such companies as deep-pocket, low-road employers that were trying to throw the agency off its mission of protecting workers rights because they have the money to do so.

It seems to me they would rather spend their money initiating court litigation rather than improving their workers lives and their own workplace operations, Abruzzo said. So their primary goal, in my mind, is to divert our scarce resources away from protecting workers rights to organize and to fight for recognition and respect for the value that they add to their employers operations. And that is not going to happen.

She added that the employers were trying to divert attention away from the fact that they are lawbreakers who need to be held accountable in a timely manner.

Abruzzos remarks, delivered as part of a panel put on by the Roosevelt Institute think tank, appear to be her first public comments regarding the legal effort to undermine her agency, long a punching bag for Republican lawmakers and anti-union forces.

It seems to me they would rather spend their money initiating court litigation rather than improving their workers' lives.Jennifer Abruzzo, NLRB general counsel

The NLRB oversees private-sector union elections and investigates unfair labor practices committed by employers and unions. It has a prosecutorial arm  now run by Abruzzo  as well as a separate five-member board that interprets the law and rules on cases. The agency was created in 1935 to promote collective bargaining and foster labor peace.

Abruzzos office alleges that SpaceX, the aerospace company owned by Elon Musk, illegally fired eight workers who had openly criticized the companys culture and Musk. SpaceX responded by bringing a case in federal court arguing the boards structure is unconstitutional and therefore the agencys charges against it are illegitimate.

If SpaceX succeeds in its challenge, the case could disrupt a collective bargaining system thats been in place since the New Deal.

NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo ripped SpaceX and other companies for challenging the agency's constitutionality. The Washington Post via Getty Images

Lets keep in mind these esoteric legal arguments came about why? Abruzzo said Tuesday. Because we dared to issue a complaint against SpaceX after it unlawfully fired eight workers.

Meanwhile, Trader Joes and Amazon  both of which have been fighting their employees union campaigns  recently laid out essentially the same argument as SpaceX in legal proceedings at the labor board. The general counsel has accused both those companies of retaliating against workers to snuff out organizing efforts.

Story continues

Trader Joes spokesperson Nakia Rohde noted that the grocer has not joined SpaceXs lawsuit in federal court and merely offered an affirmative defense in an NLRB case.

This was not an argument; it was an opportunity to preserve all of our legal rights under the law, Rohde said.

Abruzzo said companies like Trader Joes and Amazon were jumping on the bandwagon created by SpaceX.

Others got into the action just because we are trying to hold them accountable for repeatedly violating workers rights to organize and collectively bargain, she said.

Abruzzo added that she recently spoke to a group of labor attorneys and offered them some advice.

Just because you could make challenges and arguments does not mean you should, she said.

This story has been updated with comment from Trader Joes.

Related...
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida upon their arrival at the White House, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida began a much-anticipated visit to Washington on Tuesday that spotlights shared concerns about provocative Chinese military action in the Pacific and at a rare moment of public difference between the two nations over a Japanese company's plan to buy an iconic U.S. company.

Kishida and his wife stopped by the White House Tuesday evening ahead of Wednesday's official visit and formal state dinner as President Joe Biden looks to celebrate a decades-long ally he sees as the cornerstone of his Indo-Pacific policy. Kishida will be the fifth world leader honored by Biden with a state dinner since he took office in 2021.

The two shook hands and first lady Jill Biden embraced Kishida's wife, Yuko. The foursome posed for a photo and briefly toured the grounds before heading to an upscale seafood restaurant, BlackSalt, for dinner.

The Bidens were presenting the prime minister with a three-legged table handmade by a Japanese American-owned company in Pennsylvania. The president was also gifting Kishida a custom-framed lithograph and a two-volume LP set autographed by Billy Joel. Jill Biden was giving Yuko Kishida a soccer ball signed by the U.S. women's national team and the Japanese women's national team.

Ahead of the White House visit, Kishida laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday and stopped by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and met with Microsofts vice chairman and president Brad Smith. Biden and Kishida on Wednesday will hold talks and take part in a joint news conference before Biden fetes the Japanese leader with the state dinner in the East Room.

The prime minister has also been invited to address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday. He will be just the second Japanese leader to address the body; Shinzo Abe gave a speech to Congress in 2015.

The visit comes after Biden announced last month that he opposes the planned sale of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel of Japan, exposing a marked rift in the partnership at the very moment the two leaders aim to reinforce it. Biden argued in announcing his opposition that the U.S. needs to maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steelworkers.

Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, Biden's envoy to Tokyo, sought Monday to downplay the impact of Biden's opposition to the U.S. Steel acquisition to the relationship. Emanuel noted that in February the Biden administration approved a plan that would drive billions of dollars in revenue to a U.S.-based subsidiary of the Japanese company Mitsui for crane production in the United States.

The United States relationship with Japan is a lot deeper and stronger and more significant than a single commercial deal, said Emanuel, the former mayor of Chicago, in a joint appearance at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies with Japan's chief envoy to Washington. As we would say in Chicago, you got to chill.

Nippon Steel announced in December that it planned to buy U.S. Steel for $14.1 billion in cash, raising concerns about what the transaction could mean for unionized workers, supply chains and U.S. national security. Shigeo Yamada, Japan's ambassador to Washington, declined to comment on whether Kishida would raise the Nippon-U.S. Steel deal with Biden.

Kishida at the U.S. Chamber said that American investments in Japan and vice versa would make the economies more deeply tied and inseparable. Smith, the Microsoft vice chairman, announced that the tech company was investing $2.9 billion in Japan over the next two years to expand its cloud computing and artificial intelligence operations there. Microsoft will be working with the Japanese government to improve its cybersecurity capabilities.

We see this as a critical investment in every Japanese company that we support and the Japanese government as well, Smith said.

Biden has sought to place greater foreign policy focus on the Pacific even while grappling with the fallout of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the grinding Israel-Hamas war. Last year, Biden brought together Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, a historic summit between leaders of two countries that have a difficult shared history.

Biden has honored Yoon with a state visit and picked Kishidas predecessor, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, as the first face-to-face foreign leader visit of his presidency.

The administration has been pleased by Japan's strong support for Ukraine. Tokyo has been one of the largest donors to Kyiv since Russia's February 2022 invasion, and Japan has surged its defense spending amid concern about China's military assertiveness.

Yamada suggested that Kishida would underscore Japan's support for Ukraine during his appearance before Congress, and lay out why the conflict in Eastern Europe matters to his country. Biden is struggling to get House Republicans to back his call to send an additional $60 billion to Kyiv as it tries to fend off Russia.

Kishida has warned that the war in Europe could lead to conflict in East Asia, suggesting that a lax attitude to Russia emboldens China.

The prime minister's conviction is today's Ukraine could be tomorrow's East Asia, Yamada said.

The Pentagon announced on Monday that the U.S., United Kingdom. and Australia were considering including Japan in the AUKUS partnership, a grouping launched in 2021 that aims to equip Australia with nuclear-powered and conventionally-armed submarines.

Beijing has condemned the AUKUS pact, which it says promotes division and could lead to military confrontation in the region. China's foreign ministry on Tuesday raised objection to Japans prospective new role.

Kishida will stick around Washington on Thursday to take part in a meeting with Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Philippine-Chinese relations have been repeatedly tested by skirmishes between the two nations' coast guard vessels in the disputed South China Sea.

Chinese coast guard ships also regularly approach disputed Japanese-controlled East China Sea islands near Taiwan. Beijing says Taiwan is part of its territory and will be brought under control by force if necessary.

Cooperation among our three countries is extremely important in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and in defending a free and open international order based on the rules of law, Kishida said Monday before leaving for Washington.

The leaders are expected to discuss plans to upgrade the U.S. military command structure in Japan. There are about 54,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan the leaders announcements on defense will enable greater coordination in the integration of our forces and ensure that they are optimally postured and linked to other like-minded partners.

Kishida and Biden are also expected to confirm Japans participation in NASAs Artemis moon program as well as its contribution of a moon rover developed by Toyota Motor Corp. and the inclusion of a Japanese astronaut in the mission. The rover, which comes at a roughly $2 billion cost, would be the most expensive contribution to the mission by a non-U.S. partner to date.

___

Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Josh Boak and Didi Tang in Washington contributed to this report.
Israels shocking killing of aid workers in Gaza has put President Biden in perhaps the most serious political bind of the war between Israel and Hamas.

With Democratic anger rising over the increasingly bloody war, Biden appears to be using the killings of seven World Central Kitchen angels as an opportunity to take a much harder line with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He told the Israeli leader last Thursday that U.S. support will hinge on Israels next steps.

That approach could help Biden bolster support among young and progressive anti-war voters and consolidate the Democratic base as he heads toward the epic clash with former President Donald Trump, which polls say could be decided by a very thin margin in a few battleground states.

But Biden and his campaign need to balance those concerns against the chance of blowback from Jewish voters and pro-Israel donors.

And the president can also ill afford to risk alienating moderate and independent swing voters in battleground states, who may be more likely to back the Jewish state. After all, they are likely going to be the ultimate deciders in the November election.

Biden is caught between a rock and a hard place, Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political analyst, told the New York Daily News. The Democratic Party base has moved sharply toward the Palestinians, including young people who normally can be expected to vote Democratic by a wide margin.

The latest burst of outrage erupted when Israel killed the workers in a targeted attack that took place as they traveled in a marked vehicle and had informed Israeli authorities of their planned movements. Israel has apologized for the deadly attack, which Netanyahu defended as a mistake carried out in the fog of war.

Biden has used some of his harshest language of the war to criticize Israel over the killings. He called Netanyahu Thursday to warn him to make changes to avoid killing innocent Palestinian civilians and aid workers  or else.

So far, Biden has largely avoided any serious damage from the Democratic presidential primary contest although about 10% of voters in several states including Michigan, Minnesota and Washington voted for uncommitted slates of delegates to express opposition to his Gaza policy.

In New York, critics of Israel say 12% of voters cast blank ballots in a similar protest during Tuesdays primary that Biden otherwise won in a walkover.

Now that Biden and Trump have wrapped up their parties nominations, the president in particular has turned his attention to marshaling key blocs of traditional Democratic voters.

That big-tent coalition include Blacks, Jews, Latinos and younger voters, all of whom polls say are not yet 100% in his corner in the overwhelming numbers he needs to beat Trump.

Anti-war activists say they are doing Biden a favor by mobilizing young people and others to urge him to change course on Gaza.

Democrats are going to need each and every one of these voters if we are going to unify the coalition needed to defeat Trump in November, said Ana Maria Archila, co-director of the New York Working Families Party.

Political analysts point out that the war in Gaza is virtually the only key policy issue  including hot button topics like abortion, the economy, and immigration  where a large majority of Democratic voters disagree with the White Houses position.

This is the single biggest problem for him within the party  not just with Arab-Americans in Dearborn but with all Democrats, Dave Weigel, a journalist with Semafor, said on CNN.

Progressive activists and lawmakers have been calling on Biden to rein in Netanyahu for months.

Most Americans do not want to be complicit in this, said Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of the most prominent critics of Israel in Congress. Do I think it could hurt Biden? Yeah, I do.

But more recently, even mainstream Democrats have signaled uneasiness with the course of the war.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, the most-senior Jewish elected official in U.S. history, delivered a speech last month in which he criticized Netanyahu and called for fresh elections in Israel. The unprecedented speech may have given fellow Democrats the green light to speak more freely, especially after the aid workers killings.

Not all Democrats agree that Biden would be making a smart political move by bullying Israel. Pro-Israel activists say the level of Democratic criticism of Israel is overblown and Biden is handling the difficult relationship as well as can be expected.

Mark Mellman of the Democratic Majority for Israel warned any shift away from Israel could also cost Biden votes of Jews and supporters of Israel, which could also make a difference in a very tight election.

Joe Bidens policies on Israel are born out of decades of deep involvement in the region, Mellman said. Theres no reason to think they will change, and thats one of the reasons he has so much support from voters who support Israel.

_____
President Biden is pushing forward with plans for life-changing student debt relief as he courts young voters amid signs that the critical voting bloc could turn away from his party or simply sit out in November.

A new NPR/NewsHour/Marist Poll released last week found former President Trump up 2 points over Biden among millennial and Generation Z Americans  an age group frustrated with economic strains and stressed about student debt.

Leaning in on student debt relief could help boost Bidens standing with the key demographic, where he could use some shoring up of his support, said Morley Winograd, a former senior policy adviser to Al Gore and the author of multiple books on millennials.

Today, too many Americans, especially young people, are saddled with unsustainable debts in exchange for a college degree, Biden said in Wisconsin on Monday, acknowledging the key demographic in a battleground state vital to his reelection bid.

His remarks came as he unveiled a new initiative to ease debt for millions of borrowers, part of his effort to make good on his 2020 campaign promises and to court young voters who may be gravitating away from the party.

Its going to be very difficult for him to put together a winning coalition without getting the support of voters under 45, Winograd said.

Younger voters impatience has grown after the Supreme Court stymied Bidens earlier student debt relief plan, forcing the president to find a workaround.

Although many older Americans are also saddled with student debt, the issue is top of mind for younger voters already anxious about coming of age in a fraught economy.

Younger people who are thinking about going to college  can they afford it? Younger people who are in college  can they afford to stay in college? And then younger people who just graduated  can they find a job in their field and pay back these loans? said Joshua Ulibarri, a Democratic pollster who focuses on young voters at Lake Research Partners.

Like all Americans, young people, young voters are struggling with the cost of housing, the cost of food, can I stay on my parents health care plan? And so just the cost of things is the No. 1 issue, Ulibarri said.

Amid these pocketbook pressures, swathes of Americans of all ages appear unenthusiastic about the Biden-Trump rematch thats set to take the stage in November. Young Americans in particular have made vocal their worries about whether Bidens too old for another term, and their growing anger over the administrations handling of the war in Gaza.

An ongoing push for protest votes against Biden in Democratic presidential primaries has also resonated in large part with young voters.

I think its never wrong to be concerned and to be stressed about our Democratic numbers within the base constituencies, and especially with young voters, Ulibarri said. We are really overreliant on young voters, and especially young women, and so its really critical for us to pay attention to those numbers and to make sure were doing all we can to turn them out.

Ulibarri argued that Bidens current standing with young voters is good, not great.

And it needs to be great for Biden to win a second term and for Democrats to win back control of the House and be competitive in the Senate races, he added.

To that end, resurging and underscoring the administrations efforts toward student debt relief could be a step in the right direction when it comes to reaching and energizing young voters.

An analysis released Monday by John Della Volpe, the director of polling at the Harvard Institute of Politics, noted that government action on student debt has broad backing, with majority support even among voters who have already paid off their loans or dont have debt themselves.

Canceling student loan debt is most important to Gen Z and young millennial voters compared with older generations, according to Della Volpe  and most important to Black and Hispanic voters, compared with white, non-Hispanic voters. The analysis also found that a majority of all voters think forgiving student debt will help strengthen the American economy.

Millions of young voters placed their trust in President Biden based on his commitment to this issue, and [Mondays] announcement underscores his dedication to fulfilling that promise despite many roadblocks from Republicans and challenges from the Supreme Court, Della Volpe wrote in his Substack focused on Gen Z.

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy (La.) was one of the voices criticizing Bidens Monday move, calling it an unfair ploy to buy votes before an election.

But Jack Lobel, spokesperson for the Gen Z group Voters of Tomorrow, one of 15 youth voter groups that endorsed Biden last month, pushed back.

If thats buying votes, then who knows what you call Trumps tax cuts for the rich, Lobel told The Hill.

Bidens new plan would largely address Americans with runaway interest and borrowers who have been paying loans for 20 years, among others. It will likely be months before these plans are finalized, and they could still face legal challenges.

The plan caters to older borrowers, said Sabrina Calazans, managing director at the nonprofit Student Debt Crisis Center, but she stressed that the move is still a hopeful sign for young Americans. A young borrower herself, Calazans said she isnt likely to see her own debt canceled through the latest proposal if it does go through.

While young folks arent necessarily benefiting directly from these massive cancellation plans, they are still benefiting from low monthly payments and from an improved system overall, Calazans said.

The new plan is proof of the fact that the administration does know that they need to appeal to younger generations, said Michele Weindling, political director at the youth-led progressive advocacy group Sunrise Movement, which has not made an endorsement in the presidential race.

But at the same time, Weindling cautioned that the administration shouldnt assume this step on student debt relief outweighs other concerns young voters have about whos in the White House.

I think that it would be unwise for the administration to assume that one good thing cancels out one horrendous thing, Weindling said, pointing to the conflict in Gaza. Thats not how young people think. Theyre not single-issue voters.

Biden isnt in danger of losing the youth voter cohort altogether in 2024, and despite some recent polling, experts are skeptical that young Americans would flock to Trump instead  but theres a real risk that significant portions of the cohort sit out or turn to a third party.

There is enough indication to suggest at this point that some members of the Democratic coalition who are on the younger side are  looking for an alternative now, Winograd said.

A February poll from Axios-Generation Lab found that more than half  or 58 percent  of surveyed voters between 18 and 34 arent sure if theyll vote on Election Day.

The youth vote is a very late-deciding and, in many cases, late-voting vote. And so theres time to figure out how that goes, but theres also the challenge of them not being totally engaged, and you having to do things that get their attention, Winograd said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Xi calls for closer ties with Vietnam

08:20, April 09, 2024 By Xu Wei ( China Daily

President Xi Jinping meets on Monday in Beijing with Vuong Dinh Hue, chairman of Vietnam's National Assembly. [Photo by Ding Haitao / Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping called on Monday for joint efforts by China and Vietnam to achieve more pragmatic outcomes in building a bilateral community with a shared future, as Beijing and Hanoi have ramped up high-level engagements in recent weeks for even closer partnerships.

Speaking during a meeting in Beijing with Vuong Dinh Hue, chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Xi urged both nations to fortify the bilateral community with a shared future by adopting high-level mutual trust, high-quality cooperation and high political wisdom.

He underlined that a shared path and a shared future are the hallmarks of China-Vietnam relations, and said that "comrades plus brothers" is the most vivid portrayal of the traditional friendship between the Chinese and Vietnamese ruling parties and the two countries.

The meeting between Xi and Hue came amid a series of high-level interactions between the two neighboring countries over the past month.

A Vietnamese delegation led by Le Hoai Trung, head of the Commission for External Relations of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, visited Beijing last month and met with senior Chinese officials.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Vietnamese counterpart, Bui Thanh Son, on Thursday in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Wang also met with Tran Luu Quang, deputy prime minister of Vietnam, in Beijing on Monday.

Xi, who made a two-day state visit to Hanoi in December, told Hue that upholding the socialist system and maintaining national stability and development are in the common interest of China and Vietnam, as global and regional landscapes are undergoing profound and complex changes.

He highlighted Beijing's readiness to bolster the exchange of party and national governance experiences with Hanoi, saying that the coordinating role of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation should be amplified.

Xi urged quicker alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy, adding that youth exchanges and exchanges between sister cities should be enriched.

He highlighted the need to deepen bilateral exchanges and cooperation between legislative bodies at various levels to strengthen mutual learning in lawmaking and oversight.

Hue, who is making his first visit to China as Vietnam's top legislator, lauded Beijing's push for the development of new quality productive forces as an innovative move of socialism that provides valuable references for Hanoi.

Vietnam firmly adheres to the one-China principle, views Taiwan as an inalienable part of the Chinese territory and is resolutely opposed to any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, he said.

Hanoi adheres to an independent and self-reliant foreign policy, and considers Beijing as the foremost strategic choice in Vietnam's foreign relations, he said.

Hue reaffirmed Vietnam's commitment to strengthening high-level political mutual trust with China and actively promoting the alignment of the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy with the BRI.

He also held talks on Monday with Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

According to the General Administration of Customs, trade between China and Vietnam reached $229.8 billion in 2023, with China's imports from the Southeast Asian country growing 4.8 percent year-on-year to $92.18 billion.

Song Qingrun, a professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University's School of Asian Studies, said the frequent high-level exchanges between China and Vietnam speak volumes about the strong political mutual trust between the countries.

"The development of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future has set out a top-level design for bilateral ties, and it is no surprise to see more content is being added to this robust relationship," he said.

Song highlighted the significance of both nations further tapping into the potential for cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, investment and infrastructure development.

"The fostering of new growth engines for cooperation will drive the economic growth of both nations," he said.

Meanwhile, keeping up the momentum of high-level exchanges will help the two neighbors better manage their differences and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, he added.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
In the last Iranian year (March 21, 2023 - March 19, 2024), Iran's export of non-oil products to Azerbaijan amounted to 776 thousand tons worth $624m, Azernews reports, citing the statistics of the Customs Administration of Iran.

According to statistics, in the previous Iranian year, Iran's non-oil product exports to Azerbaijan decreased by 4.6% in terms of value and increased by 1.4% in terms of weight compared to the previous year (March 21, 2022 - March 20, 2023).

It is added in the statistics that during the same period last year, Iran's export of non-oil products to Azerbaijan amounted to 765,000 tons worth 654 million.

According to the statistics, Iran mainly exported agricultural and food products, industrial products, petrochemical and chemical products to Azerbaijan.

Statistics show that in the 12th month of the last Iranian year (February 20 - March 19, 2024), Iran's export of non-oil products to Azerbaijan amounted to 68.1 thousand tons worth 64 million dollars.

It should be noted that according to the statistics of the Iranian Customs Administration, Iran's export of non-oil products in the last Iranian year amounted to more than 136 million tons worth 49.3 billion dollars. Compared to the previous year, Iran's non-oil product exports decreased by 8.87% in terms of value and increased by 9.82% in terms of weight.
The Erez border crossing, which connects Israel with northern Gaza, remains closed and no humanitarian aid has been allowed to enter the Strip through it, according to Juliette Touma, director of communications for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), speaking to EL PAIS from Jordan. Touma stresses that the announcement last Thursday by the Israeli authorities that they would reopen the crossing remains only a promise. The Israeli government implicitly confirmed the information to this newspaper. Supplies to alleviate the plight of Gazas population have also not yet begun arrive via the nearby port of Ashdod, 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of the enclave. These two concessions were the main commitments made by the Israeli War Cabinet following a telephone call between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden.

We will announce [the reopening] of [the Erez crossing] and [the port of] Ashdod when a date is set, Shimon Freedman, spokesman for the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which is in charge of authorizing the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, said in a message to this newspaper on Monday. Freedman did not respond to questions about an approximate date for the reopening of the crossing, which, prior to the October 7 Hamas attacks in which 1,200 people were killed and 240 taken hostage, served primarily for the movement of people.

COGAT did announce Sunday evening that the number of aid trucks that had entered the Strip that day was 322, the highest figure since the beginning of the war but still far short of the 500 to 600 a day needed to feed the Gazan population, according to the United Nations. It is a drop of water in an ocean of need, Ghada Al Haddad, spokeswoman for the NGO Oxfam in the enclave, said in a telephone conversation from Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza.

Israel only allows aid trucks to enter Gaza through two other crossing points: Rafah and, to a lesser extent, Kerem Shalom, both in the south. It has done so in dribs and drabs since the Israeli government decreed a total blockade of the Strip days after the Hamas attack, to which Israel responded with a military offensive that has already killed more than 33,000 Palestinians, according to the Ministry of Health in the Strip, which is governed by Hamas.

In the statement announcing the reopening of Erez and Ashdod, Israel did not offer dates, but did indicate that it would take immediate steps to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Washington, its primary supporter, welcomed the announcement, albeit more circumspectly than on previous occasions. Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the National Security Council, even warned that these steps should be fully and rapidly implemented.

Hours earlier, Biden and Netanyahu had held a telephone conversation described as tense by the U.S. media. The previous Monday, an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers in Gaza, including one American, from the NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK). Biden warned Netanyahu during that call that there would be changes in Washingtons support if Israel did not take immediate steps to protect civilians and increase humanitarian aid in the Palestinian territory. More than half of Gazas 2.2 million people face an extreme lack of access to food, according to an international report released in March, which warned of imminent famine in northern Gaza.

Israel has not yet opened Erez and Ashdod to aid, but it did on Sunday show U.S. Ambassador Jack Lew its military Humanitarian Coordination and Deconfliction Cell, a new institution also announced last Thursday, whose task will be to prevent mistakes  as Israel defined the attack on the WCK convoy. COGAT published images of Lews visit on social media, as well as highlighting the entry of the 322 aid trucks into Gaza.

This newspaper asked the COGAT spokesman how this sudden increase in the number of vehicles was possible when Israel has in the past attributed the low number of trucks entering Gaza to the lack of logistical capabilities of United Nations agencies, especially UNRWA. His response was: In terms of the number of trucks, the main problem facing the international community is their distribution capacity. Freedman attributed the increase in the number of vehicles to Israels efforts to increase its capacity and the large number of trucks that have been sent by the international community.

The spokesman also maintained that Israel has significantly increased its inspection capacity. The UN and several international NGOs have accused the country of blocking, sometimes for weeks, trucks from entering Gaza on grounds such as finding childrens scissors in the cargo. The UN maintains that Israel is using hunger as a weapon of war.

The illusion of aid

Fidaa al Araj, Oxfams Food Security, Cash and Protection coordinator in Rafah, confirms by telephone that more aid has been entering Gaza in recent days, but that it is still extremely insufficient. The more than 500 trucks that were entering the Strip before the war were already insufficient after 16 years of Israeli blockade, she adds. During the current conflict, she explains, there have been days when only 40 trucks have entered. An increase now is an Israeli strategy for the media, she says.

These vehicles entering Gaza are not always carrying food, says Doaa, a Gazan refugee in Rafah. Every truck that comes in is counted as aid, even though some are carrying Covid-19 tests. Others bring food, but not all of it is not for distribution, instead it goes to traders who sell it at very high prices. A kilo of sugar used to cost 75 cents and now it costs 16.5. People cannot afford it because of the financial collapse and lack of cash caused by the war. There are no fruits and vegetables in the markets, and if there are, the prices are astronomical due to Israels complex procedures to get them into Gaza.

This is the context to which the secretary general of Doctors Without Borders, Chris Lockyear, referred last week, alluding to what he called the illusion of aid. The image of humanitarian aid is being used as an alibi to perpetuate the brutal and disproportionate way in which this war is being waged, he said in a statement.

Much of the narrative around humanitarian assistance has been around counting trucks crossing a border and airdrops. These are simply distractions meant to create an illusion of aid [] Humanitarian assistance is much more than just counting trucks. It is moving supplies around safely. It is security at the point of distribution. It is functioning hospitals which are more than four walls and a roof. They are water, electricity, fuel, and communications, he stressed.

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President Biden on Tuesday held a rally with care workers, where he highlighted his administrations efforts to expand access to child care and teased an upcoming effort to increase staffing standards in nursing homes.

Youre the heroes to so many individuals. You really are. And you represent so many people who do it and do it out of love and concern, not because of the pay, because theyre not getting the pay they need, Biden said at the event at Union Station in Washington, D.C.

As your president Im here with a simple message. I give you my word, I have your back, he added.

The president spoke at an event hosted by Care Cant Wait Action, a coalition of groups focused on expanding access to child care, paid family and medical leave and home-based services. Representatives from the AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, AARP and National Domestic Workers Alliance attended, as did Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.).

Biden spoke about the American Rescue Plan, which passed with only Democratic votes in 2021 and which he said helped keep 225,000 child care centers open as the country grappled with the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation also expanded the child care tax credit and helped drastically reduce child poverty, Biden said.

Biden last year signed an executive order to boost compensation for care workers, support family caregivers and expand affordable care options through 50 directives to federal agencies.

The president noted care workers are predominantly women, women of color and immigrants who are overworked, overlooked and underpaid. Its not enough just to praise them for all theyre doing, we have to pay them.

Biden on Tuesday also said his administration plans to release a new rule in the coming weeks to increase staffing standards in nursing homes and get home care workers a bigger share of Medicaid payments.

He sought to contrast his efforts with a budget proposal from House Republicans that would cut caregiving programs, leaving more than 200,000 children without access to child care, according to the White House.

Tuesdays rally coincided with April being Care Workers Recognition Month. Biden issued a proclamation in late March denoting the month and calling care workers our nations hidden heroes.

In a responding statement, Republican National Committee co-Chair Lara Trump accused Biden of waging a war on women and families, pointing to supply chain issues with baby formula and rising costs.

Republican economic policies will once again support women, parents, and opportunity for all  which is why families across the country are rooting for a President Trump landslide victory on November 5, Trump said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Bill Gunter  a former Florida congressman, state treasurer and insurance commissioner in the 1960s through '80s  died at his Tallahassee home Monday afternoon. He was 89.

Gunters death was confirmed by funeral director Rocky Bevis, who said he will be handling funeral arrangements.

Bill Gunter, former Congressman and State Treasurer & Insurance Commissioner.

Gunter, who had been in home hospice care, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, Bevis said.

Throughout his decades of leadership on both the state and federal level, Bill always worked in a bipartisan way, maintaining a high level of integrity, and has stayed true to his rural Florida values and the values of Floridians, Economic Club of Florida chair Bill Moor said when Gunter was awarded the Stan Tait Memorial Award in 2021.

According to Tallahassee Democrat archives, Gunter was born in Jacksonville and grew up on the family dairy farm outside Live Oak. He was active in the Future Farmers of America and later elected its national president while a student at the University of Florida. He graduated with an undergraduate degree in agriculture, followed by service in the Army.

He began his insurance career in 1959 with State Farm in Orlando; in 1961, he was promoted to regional agency manager.

His political career began in 1966 when he was elected to the Florida Senate as a Democrat, representing Orange and Seminole Counties. In 1972, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as the first member from Florida's new 5th Congressional District.

1988: Gretna Mayor Wallace, left center, guides Florida Governor Bob Martinez and Insurance Commissioner Bill Gunter, center, and Anita Davis, local branch president of the NAACP, right, as they lead a mile-long Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration march on a rainy Monday afternoon in Gretna, Florida.

He returned to Florida in 1976, serving on the Florida Cabinet as state insurance commissioner, treasurer and state fire marshal for the next 12 years.

During that time, he briefly ran but dropped out of the 1986 race for Florida governor, saying the price is too high.

To provide the administration this state deserves would require an all-consuming dedication to the campaign and the office," he told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel at the time. "To do this would require relegating all other responsibilities, including ones family, to the level of secondary importance.

Gunter was a terrific mentor to many, including me, said consultant Barney Bishop III, who served as Gunters administrative assistant in 1983-87. It was my first job in Tallahassee  Bill taught me everything about state government and the Cabinet, including the importance of developing relationships and being a gentleman.

Gunter returned to the private sector in 1989, joining Rogers-Atkins Insurance in Tallahassee as a shareholder partner, which then became Rogers, Gunter, Vaughn Insurance, Inc. He served as chairman of the board until his retirement in 2018.

He was designated a Great Floridian by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet in 2013 "in recognition of his lifelong record of public service."

Later Monday, state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis released a statement calling Gunter "a strong, thoughtful public servant and pioneer in insurance regulation."

As Florida's insurance commissioner, Gunter "paved the way for future CFOs (by) working across party lines to ensure insurance consumers had the protections they needed," Patronis said. "Bill was always very supportive of me and I have fond memories of him and his family dining at Captain Andersons (the Patronis family's restaurant in Panama City) when I was a kid. He will be dearly missed.

Gunter is survived by wife Kathy Atkins-Gunter; daughters Rachel Gunter Shapard and Rebecca Gunter Wood; sons Bart Gunter and Joel Gunter; a stepdaughter, Melinda Baker, stepson Christopher Baker; and several grandchildren.

Funeral information

A memorial service for Bill Gunter will be held Monday, April 29, 10 a.m., at Trinity United Methodist Church, 120 W. Park Ave., Tallahassee. A reception will follow the service, also at the church.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Bill Gunter, former state treasurer and insurance commissioner, dies
Scientists are watching migratory birds, cattle and marine mammals across the Americas amid an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI) that has infected at least one person.

Last week, a dairy worker in Texas contracted H5N1, a bird flu variant, from infected cattle  the second such case ever in the U.S. and the first time bird flu has infected cattle.

Cases in cattle have been detected in a handful of states from Texas to Michigan, though its not known exactly how the virus has spread so effectively in herds. That has scientists and public health officials keeping a close eye on potential vectors.

If evidence suggests down the road that theres sustained mammal-to-mammal transmission, then you gotta kinda wonder how do you deal with that? Bryan Richards, emerging disease coordinator at the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, told The Hill this week.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, bird flu has been detected in more than 200 mammals in the United States alone. Though there are documented cases, mammal-to-mammal transmission is historically very rare and limited in scope.

Usually, if the avian flu infects a random mammal, its a spillover, dead-end event, Richards said. For example, animals might eat a dead, infected bird and then succumb to the virus alone.

But epidemics have broken out in marine mammals like seals and sea lions in North America, South America and other parts of the world.

The primary vector for spread to cattle, seals, sea lions and other mammals has been migratory birds, which shed the virus wherever they go.

Some of these birds migrate as far southward as South America, and weve seen spillover from wild birds to mammals in South America, and even in penguins in Antarctica, Richards said.

According to the Richards, the majority of new bird flu infections to mammals have been attributable to exposure to infected wild birds like goose, grackle, gull and duck species.

Because infection of cattle is unprecedented, whereas infection of poultry facilities is not, the poultry industry has learned a lot about biosecurity, and the dairy industry could learn, Richards said.

Though the infection of mammals like cattle and seals likely originated with infected birds, the volume of infections is hard to explain without mammal-to-mammal transmission, Richards said.

The viruss abilities are an open question, but the scientific community is not ready to be an alarmist, he said.

[Its] not at all beyond belief that the affected adults [are eating dead birds] as a very convenient snack. But when youre talking about [their offspring] that are not old enough to consume dead birds, now you have to wonder how they got infected, he said.

The high-density living conditions of cattle could warrant measures similar to the depopulation of 2 million infected chickens ordered by the Texas Department of Agriculture last week, Richards said.

At least right now, the data does not suggest this is a rapidly progressing situation  the data is incomplete at this time; we need to keep watching, Richards said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked state public health officials Friday to create rapid response plans for testing and treatment if more cases in humans emerge.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Who blasted the bullets that hit 6 bystanders in mass shooting at a trendy Doral bar?

Days after a chaotic shootout between an armed patron and police at a crowded, popular outdoor bar in Miami-Dade left two people dead  and several others, including an officer, wounded  questions linger around who fired the bullets that hit six innocent bystanders.

Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez said several law enforcement agencies were trying to piece together clues through forensics, surveillance and police body camera videos and witness interviews. The chief underscored, however, that its far too early to speak to the particulars of projection rounds.

Anything is possible, added Lopez. But were confident the officers followed policy and procedures.

As of late Monday, its not clear why the department had not named the cops.

Steadman Stahl, president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, which represents the officers, also reiterated that itll take time to determine who fired the bullets that struck multiple patrons. Though he said hes certain that forensics will make it clear, eventually.

Any time you have a gunfight in a crowded bar, nothing good can come of it, said Stahl. Police are shooting at the target. Theyre shooting at the subject that put everything in motion.

Police cruisers are stationed before the round about inside CityPlace Doral on Saturday, April 6, 2024. A gunman was shot dead and eight others injured  including an Army-trained Doral police officer who wrapped a tourniquet around his injured upper thigh  in a shootout involving police at a Doral nightclub early Saturday morning. D.A. Varela/dvarela@miamiherald.com

How mass shooting at Doral bar unfolded

The shooting began around 3:30 a.m. Saturday at the Martini Bar, one of the few remaining businesses still open at that hour in CityPlace Doral, the relatively new, enormous gathering spot on Northwest 36th Street and 83rd Avenue, according to police and witnesses.

They say that Jamal Wayne Wood, 37, and another man got into an argument. When a 23-year-old security guard, George Alejandro Castellanos, came over to intervene, Wood shot him to death on the first floor of the bars covered terrace.

Two Doral officers in uniform, but working off-duty, were just outside the bar when they heard the gunfire and raced towards it, police said. They subsequently confronted Wood.

Both officers fired rounds at him; Wood fired back. He was killed.

READ MORE: Gunfire at Miami-area bar kills security guard, injures officer and six others, police say

One of the officers was struck in the upper thigh and applied a tourniquet on himself, Lopez told reporters Saturday outside the crime scene. The wounded officer, who has been with Doral police for four years, was taken in stable condition to Jackson Memorial Hospitals Ryder Trauma Center and expected to recover.

Police have not released the names of the officers who shot at the gunman. They have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Yellow police tape hangs inside CityPlace Doral on Saturday, April 6, 2024. A gunman was shot dead and eight others injured  including an Army-trained Doral police officer who wrapped a tourniquet around his injured upper thigh  in a shootout involving police at a Doral nightclub early Saturday morning. D.A. Varela/dvarela@miamiherald.com

Caught in the gunfire were six patrons of the Martini Bar who had nothing to do with the altercation that led to the shootings, according to police. Paramedics took the bystanders to various hospitals and at least one of them arrived at HCA Kendall Trauma Center in critical condition.

Miami-Dade Police Department identified them as Lester Williams Gonzalez, 28, Frank Miguel Jerez, 34, Yaniris Jerez, 30, Sonia Munoz Torres, 48, Gerard Patrick Delaney, 57, and 38-year-old Carlos Milan.

Though its always going to be dangerous for police to try and eliminate a threat in any congested environment, key details surrounding the exchange of gunfire in the standoff between Wood and the responding officers are murky.

Among them: Did Wood continue to fire his weapon after shooting Castellanos, striking one of the bar patrons? How were the officers able to identify Wood? Who fired first when he was confronted? Did the officers firing at Wood hit any bystanders? And if so, how many?

George Alejandro Castellanos, 23, was killed in a shooting at Martini Bar at CityPlace Doral, 3450 NW 83rd Ave., around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, April 6, 2024, Miami-Dade police said. GoFundMe

Who was the security guard killed?

In an online fundraiser, family and friends of Castellanos, the security guard killed in the shooting, said he was a beloved son, brother and a father to a 1-year-old girl.

In a month, Castellanos would have graduated from Florida International University with a degree in biological science and a minor in criminal justice.

FIU will award Castellanos degree to his family at the universitys Spring 2024 graduation ceremony in May, FIU spokeswoman Madeline Baro told the Miami Herald.

George was a hard-working and dedicated student, and we hope that the awarding of the degree will be a reminder to all of those who know and love him of his commitment to higher education, the promise of a bright future, and his perseverance toward achieving his goals and dreams, Baro said in an email.

READ MORE: Security guard killed in Doral bar shooting was an FIU student and future police officer

Castellanos was also making the proper procedures to become a police officer, his family detailed. His death is being investigated by Miami-Dade police.

Georges unwavering love and dedication to his 1-year-old daughter, Everlyn Marie Castellanos, shone through in every facet of his life, the family said in the GoFundMe fundraiser, organized to pay for Castellanos funeral arrangements in addition to supporting his daughter and her mother, raising over $80,000 as of Monday evening. He worked tirelessly as the head of security at Martini Bar in Doral, always striving to create a brighter future for his precious daughter.
The US government is taking a wait-and-see approach to Israel's commitments to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday.

"So what we're focused on now is making sure that the commitments that Israel has made to do more, to do more effectively, and to put that in place ... actually happens ... is sustained, and ... produces results," Blinken said at a joint press conference in Washington with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

"We want to do everything we can but principally we want to see Israel do everything it can - and must - to reduce the impact on civilians, to get assistance to those who need it [and] to do it on a sustained basis," Blinken added.

Israel, which has been fighting the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas since October, has been heavily criticized internationally for restricting humanitarian aid to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

Aid organizations warn that the situation is catastrophic, especially in the north of the sealed-off coastal area where there is a threat of famine.

After a clear warning from Washington, Israel announced on Friday that it wanted to open the port of Ashdod and the Erez border crossing for aid transport in order to improve the supply situation in northern Gaza.

In a video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was now a date for an invasion of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. At Tuesday's press conference, Blinken said the US had not been made aware of any such date.
MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  The NYPD released body camera footage of an accused repeat criminal stealing a purse but getting chased down and arrested by police in Manhattan on Saturday, according to authorities.

Alex Martinez, 41, got into a struggle over a 23-year-old womans purse around 1 a.m. while waiting for the southbound no. 6 train at the 59th Street and Lexington Avenue subway station, according to police.

Woman critically injured after being punched, robbed outside Queens church: NYPD

The bodycam video shows police chasing Martinez as he attempted to run out of the station. During the chase, Martinez dropped the bag on the ground, according to police. Police caught Martinez on the stairs and returned the purse to its owner.

The NYPD Chief of Transit, Michael Kemper, responded to the video on his social media account, saying:

This past Saturday  just after 1:00am  the 59th Street station in Manhattan: Transit (TPF) cops were patrolling the station when they observed a male running off a train with a woman in pursuit. Turns out, the male just snatched the womans purse from her as the train pulled into the station. Without hesitation, they gave chase  apprehending him & arresting him. And yes, her stolen purse was returned to her. The perpetrator, a 41 year old transit offender who is WELL KNOWN to the NYPD, had an active bench warrant for his arrest & has an open pending court case for a different grand larceny (felony) arrest that occurred in another Manhattan subway station in October of 2023. Outstanding job officers! Michael Kemper via X.com

Martinez was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, according to the NYPD.

Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Argentina made primary education compulsory by law in 1884 and 99% of its population is literate, the second-highest rate in Latin America after Uruguay. The decline in the quality of education has been a matter of concern for successive governments, but this pillar of the Argentine state has never been questioned in the way one of the best-known deputies in President Javier Mileis ruling party La Libertad Avanza, economist Alberto Bertie Benegas Lynch, has done. You want to give your child the best and often it can happen, especially in Argentina, that you cannot afford the luxury of sending your child to school because you need him in the workshop with his father, Benegas Lynch said Sunday during a radio interview. How is the state going to decide about the boy? I cant think of anything more invasive, the congressman added in statements that have forced Mileis government to distance itself from what they see as a personal opinion.

Benegas Lynch is the son of the eponymous intellectual whom Milei considers his biggest ideological reference. In Benegas Lynchs opinion, education is the parents responsibility and, as such, the state should not intervene in it.

The legislators apparent defense of child labor earned harsh criticism from politicians, educators, and international organizations. Working deprives boys and girls of their right to learn, play, and grow up happy, UNICEF stated. My father had to start working at the age of eight. Born in 1938 and the only child of a single mother, there was no alternative at home. Sadly, he passed away many years ago. If he were alive, he would tell the ignorant congressman in no uncertain terms what child labor is all about, tweeted former Minister of Culture Pablo Avelluto.

The minimum working age in Argentina is 16 and employers who take economic advantage of child and adolescent labor are penalized. However, about 10% of the population aged between five and 15 in Argentina performs at least some productive activity, according to data from the International Labor Organization.

Government distances itself

The Milei government came out Monday to distance itself from Benegas Lynchs comments. What Congressman Benegas Lynch says is on behalf of Congressman Benegas Lynch, presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni said in a press conference. In the battle against poverty, the most important thing is to have the possibility of training, education, and a future, he said regarding the official position. Milei himself described the congressmans statement as an unfortunate phrase, but warned that some media should be avoided. It was a mistake for Bertie to have gone to that place [radio station FM Millenium]. You have to understand that journalists play to destroy. You dont [have to give] those journalists [anything], they are not interested in knowing how to think. They are interested in a phrase that hurts you, the president said during an interview on Neura Radio.

The Ministry of Human Capital, the mega-ministry created by Milei that brings together the areas of Education, Labor, Social Welfare, and Culture, avoided direct confrontation with the pro-government Benegas Lynch but supported the current legislation. Compulsory education was proposed in the context of liberal humanist thought precisely to promote the freedom of minors under the tutelage of adults, wrote the Minister of Human Capital Sandra Pettovello on social networks. Compulsory education, according to Pettovello, has often led to indoctrination or ideological monopoly, but this should not be followed by false solutions that fall into other absolutisms, such as that of parents over children.

Pettovellos words echoed that Mileis government has launched a crusade against what it considers ideological indoctrination in schools and has announced that it will table a bill to punish any instances that come to light. To do so, the authorities will rely on complaints from citizens and plans to set up a system for parents and students to denounce political activity that does not respect freedom of expression, a measure that has been highly criticized by the education sector.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A 46-year-old bookkeeper for a company headquartered in Kearny Mesa was convicted Monday by a federal jury for intentionally setting fire to the business to cover up the disappearance of more than $700,000, prosecutors said.

Carey Alice Hernandez, who was in charge of finances at Off Road Warehouse, was found guilty of malicious destruction of a building by means of fire, witness tampering and making false statements, the Office of the United States Attorney Southern District of California said in a news release.

Off Road Warehouse, located at 7915 Balboa Avenue, sold and installed automotive parts and gear for off-roading. In late 2018, the owner of the business, also known as ORW, sold the business, according to prosecutors.

When an audit was conducted by the purchaser, it revealed that $744,621 went missing between January 2015 and March 2019 during Hernandezs tenure as bookkeeper, officials said.

The fire, which caused Off Road Warehouse to burn to the ground, happened in the early morning hours of March 28, 2019.

Photos: City releases nearly finalized design for new Ocean Beach Pier

Surveillance video presented at the trial showed an SUV with dark wheel rims driving near Hernandezs house in Point Loma, according to prosecutors. The video also showed her driving the same vehicle to the scene of the arson, as well as driving back home after the fire.

The day after the fire, Hernandez sent misleading texts to ORW employees in an attempt to convince them her wheel rims were light, not dark, said the Office of the United States Attorney Southern District of California. Specifically, after learning that law enforcement was searching for a dark- rimmed SUV, she tried to convince employees who had changed her vehicles distinctive rims before the fire that her vehicle had light rims during the time of the fire and thus, the SUV spotted on surveillance cameras could not be hers.

The investigation revealed that Hernandez lied about the rims on her SUV as the surveillance video showed her driving around San Diego in her dark rims, not light rims, prosecutors said.

While it is extremely fortunate that no one was physically hurt in this blaze, it was a devastating loss for the company, said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. This defendant used arson, tampering with witnesses, and deceit to put the community in danger, but the jury held her accountable.

Hernandez is set to be sentenced on July 12 at 9:30 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
The European Union needs more funds to prepare for a potential full-scale conflict, as the risk of war in Europe beyond Ukraine is "no longer a fantasy," the EUs chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on April 9.

Russia continues to threaten Europe, both through its ongoing war in Ukraine and attacks on EU countries, Borrell said during a speech at an economic forum in Brussels.

"The war against us will not start tomorrow, but we cannot deny the reality. And the reality is that there is growing competition between major powers, high-intensity conflicts between states," Borrell said.

"The use of economic interdependence, cyber weapons, and disinformation as weapons have become part of our reality...A high-intensity, conventional war in Europe is no longer a fantasy.

Borrell also emphasized that EU member states must be able to defend and support themselves without the help and protection of the United States.

The US umbrella that protected us during and after the Cold War may not be open all the time. Depending on who is in charge in Washington, we may not be able to rely on American support and ability to protect us. We have to build our joint capacity."

U.S. aid to Ukraine has been delayed since fall 2023, as various versions of a foreign aid bill have been derailed in Congress due to border security disagreements. Some Republicans in the House have even refused to support the aid package in principle, advocating against aid for Kyiv.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called on Congress to pass a funding bill, pleading with lawmakers to "not falter" on support for Ukraine amid funding and ammunition shortages.

Read also: Charles Michel: Europe must prepare for war

The high-ranking E.U. diplomat reportedly characterized the security situation in Europe as an "existential crisis" and asked European leaders to develop new mechanisms to increase security investments.

Borrell's statements come amidst similar warnings from European leaders about the need to protect member states from increasing threats from Russia and the potential of full-scale war with Moscow.

Late last month, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Europe is currently in a pre-war era and a situation not seen since 1945. He stated the continent needs to step up defense investment amid the continuing threat from Russia and uncertainty over U.S. support.

Additionally, European Council President Charles Michel recently published an op-ed in which he emphasized that U.S. support could no longer be taken for granted and the E.U. must take responsibility for its own security as it grapples with the biggest security challenge since the Second World War.

Russia is a serious military threat to our European continent and global security," he wrote. "If we do not get the E.U.s response right and do not give Ukraine enough support to stop Russia, we are next...If we want peace, we must prepare for war.

Read also: Borrell: We cant impose sanctions on third countries that help Russia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Boston police searching for a woman and man in connection to an aggravated assault in Roxbury

Boston Police Detectives are turning to the public for help in identifying two people involved in an aggravated assault incident in a Roxbury neighborhood last month.

Police say a woman and a man are wanted in connection to an assault that happened on March 15 in the area of King Street and Malcolm X Boulevard.

The female suspect is described as a 20-30 year-old Black woman, of medium build, wearing a blue head scarf, blue hooded sweatshirt, light blue or gray pants, and black/white sneakers, according to police.

The male suspect is described as a 40-50-year-old Black man, of medium build, wearing a black Chicago Bulls hat with a white pin affixed to the right side of it. The suspect was also seen wearing a black jacket with a red hoodie underneath with a distinct logo with yellow in it, red sweatpants, and black sneakers, police said.

According to police, the male suspect was reported to have displayed a firearm, and the female suspect was reported to have threatened the use of mace.

Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact District B-2 Detectives at (617) 343-4275.

This is an ongoing investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Brazen NYC gangbanger whos already racked up 9 arrests this year keeps getting cut loose due to woke bail reform: sources

A Bronx gangbanger who has racked up nine arrests this year on a bevy of wild charges is free on the streets of New York City after being repeatedly sprung without bail.

Alleged Latin Kings member Emmanuel Santiago, 32, keeps ending up in cuffs even as he faces seven open cases in the Bronx on charges ranging from intent to sell dangerous drugs, grand larceny of cars, possession of weapons, and allegations of domestic violence, according to law enforcement sources.

Emmanuel Santiago, 32, has been arrested nine times this year and has seven open cases in the Bronx

The brazen gangster was most recently arrested after a December heist in the Bronx where he broke into a police officers car and made off with an arsenal of gear including gun belts and ammunition, bullet proof vests, a riot shield and baton, mace, handcuffs, and a radio, the law enforcement sources said.

Despite the laundry list of alleged offenses  including at least 31 domestic incidents ranging from alleged assaults to death threats against women  Santiago has repeatedly been let go on non-monetary release, according to the law enforcement sources.

Even after he was re-arrested on bench warrants for ditching required court appearances, Santiago continued to add to his criminal resume.

He is just one of numerous NYC recidivists who have been allowed to walk free without bail  only to soon land in cuffs again once out  since state lawmakers in Albany passed sweeping criminal justice reforms in 2019.

The reforms eliminated cash bail for most non-violent felonies and misdemeanors, exacerbating problems from laws dating back to 1971 which barred judges from considering the risk of allowing somebody back on the street when setting bail.

Crime has soared in the Bronx since bail reform was enacted in 2020 limiting who was eligible for cash bail Christopher Sadowski

If this guy is who Albany had in mind when they conceived of this bail reform  then I see its going exactly as planned the march forward for the sake of ideology, an exasperated law enforcement source told The Post.

Albany and reformers think simply not jailing criminals is championing criminal justice reform  but its not  especially if criminals keep committing the same crimes without any corrective action.

Recent crime figures out of the Bronx show a surge year to date.

In the East Bronx, rape has soared by 175%, felony assault by 18%, grand larceny by 70%, and major crimes overall by 27%, according to NYPD figures.

The NYPD reported earlier in 2022 that a staggeringly small group of people is responsible for nearly a third of crime Martin Raab  stock.adobe.com

Other numbers suggest that repeat offenders are to blame for chunks of crime  last year, the NYPD reported that a mere 327 people were to blame for 30% of the citys shoplifting crimes in 2022.

That breaks down to recidivists being arrested a collective 6,600 times  more than 20 times each.

Also in 2022, NYPD numbers showed that just 10 criminals had racked up 500 arrests since bail reform took effect in 2020.

And thats the real problem with recidivism  it is not the sheer number of arrests, but the persistent thought or mindset of disregard for a functioning society, the law enforcement source said.

The reforms apparently dont treat a known member of the Latin Kings different than a jaywalker.

The Post has reached out to the Bronx District Attorneys office and the state Office of Court Administration.
William Blackstones famous edict from the 1760s, It is better that 10 guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer, is sort of hardwired into the way Americans think about the law.

It is, of course, not strictly true. It wouldnt be better to have a system in which 10 murderers went free to keep from the wrongful conviction of one innocent citizen. Certainly not for society as a whole, and certainly not in the short run.

But think of Blackstones ratio in the same way as Jesus of Nazareths instructions to his disciple, Peter, on how many times we should forgive those who sin against us, not seven times, but 77 times.

Peter had wondered if forgiveness should go to the seventh offense, and his rabbi was making clear that he wasnt even in the right arena. Jesus didnt mean that on the 78th offense, his followers should start curb-stomping sinners.

Nor did Blackstone mean that a 10-to-1 ratio was the correct aspiration for a criminal justice system. He was suggesting that in the situations where the chance of wrongful conviction is in tension with law enforcement, authorities should err widely on the side of protecting the innocent.

The use of hyperbole by Blackstones contemporary, Ben Franklin, emphasizes the point, with Franklin taking the ratio to 100-to-1.

Again, these are not instructions for how to construct the perfect system of criminal justice. These are acknowledgements that no system of criminal justice is perfect.

In any system, no matter how well designed, no matter how noble and virtuous its administrators, some guilty persons will go free, and some innocent persons will be convicted. In making the best possible system, we have to hold two good things in tension: keeping the peace and protecting the rights of individuals. And when we resolve those tensions, Blackstone tells us we should put our thumbs on the scale in favor of rights, and not by a little.

It is an acknowledgement that there will be trade-offs in the eternal struggle of every just government to balance freedom and order. It is also a warning that if a system misses the calls in favor of order too often, it isnt just that individuals will be denied their rights, it is that the government becomes tyrannical and can use the law as an instrument of oppression.

So when we think about the kinds of mistakes wed rather make, we can know which ones are preferable. But just as important is the understanding that there will, invariably, be mistakes. The law is, even at its most precise, an imperfect and blunt tool.

Speaking of tools, we read this week about the plans being hatched in MAGA world to use the criminal law to do to President Joe Biden what former President Donald Trump claims is being done to him. A source close to the Trump campaign told Axios that everything you have seen from the Biden DOJ, you can expect to see from the Trump DOJ.

Which is weird, since what Trump says is happening is corrupt, election interference, and, the classic, a witch hunt.

Now, lets only very briefly entertain the perverse reasoning that would allow Trump to argue that he is being unfairly prosecuted but that Biden and his family would merit punishment. Im sure there are enthusiastic Trump vassals who would line up to make the claim that what Republicans accuse Biden of doing vis-a-vis his sons shady buck raking is actually worse than the crimes with which Trump is charged. Stipulated.

But we know what it really is: retribution. Just like the fizzle of an impeachment that House Republicans cooked up against Biden, the idea here is that Democrats should get a taste of their own medicine.

When Trump calls the charges against him banana republic indictments and his sons decry third-world prosecutorial misconduct, the logical conclusion would be that if Trump were returned to power, he would seek to restore higher standards.

Lolz.

When he was indicted for violating the same laws concerning classified records for which he said Hillary Clinton should be imprisoned, Trump made it plain.

There was an unwritten rule to not prosecute former presidents, Trump said, but no longer: I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of America, Joe Biden, and go after the Biden crime family.

The former president would have us believe that the only reason he didnt prosecute Clinton was this unwritten rule, as if he didnt try to do it himself and was rebuffed by his own administration.

But with a lead in the polls and Republican insiders falling in line behind his restoration, Trump and his team are excited about the chance to do what they couldnt do before and use the Department of Justice to smash his enemies.

Its fine to say one thinks it was wrong for prosecutors to go after Trump for his document shenanigans or even that Trump should not have been prosecuted for his efforts to steal a second term.

Once the Senate failed to convict Trump for his misdeeds that led to the January 6 attack, theres a case to be made that it was unwise to try to achieve the same ends through the criminal justice system. That couldnt apply to the people who helped him or certainly the rioters themselves, but theres some argument for the wisdom of letting voters decide rather than a jury. Fine, fine. Debatable, but not outrageous.

But what good case could possibly be made for the idea of perpetuating a practice that Trump and his team say puts America on par with banana republics?

Brazil produces a lot of bananas, but it wasnt the original banana republic of American imagination. That was probably Honduras. What Brazil does have is crippling corruption and increasing indifference to it. The Economist reports that in Brazil and across Latin America, voters have burned out on endless prosecutions of political corruption and are throwing their hands up.

Few people in Brazil want to talk about corruption anymore, except to express disdain for Lava Jato [the nations sprawling, decade-long corruption probe], the magazine says. Gilmar Mendes, a Supreme Court judge, dismisses it as the product of foreign interference, propaganda by the media, and anti-corruption fighters [who] like money a lot.

You dont have to squint very hard to imagine a near future in America in which corruption prosecutions end up making corruption more common, not less common.

Weve already watched impeachment, what was intended as an emergency tool to be deployed in the most dire circumstances, become a mostly meaningless political messaging medium.

Trump is now promising that in the tit-for-tat battle, he will seek to do the same for prosecutions of former presidents, Blackstone be damned.

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
This story is part of a series, Fighting Forever Chemicals: Women face pervasive PFAS risks.

For decades, physicians and scientists have touted breast milk as liquid gold for its immunological benefits.

But nursing parents with considerable exposure to cancer-linked forever chemicals, or PFAS, may unwittingly be exposing their babies to these compounds, as well  presenting parents with a quandary scientists are still trying to unravel.

The data available on these substances in breast milk is minimal.

And in North America, there is little effort to test for exposure through milk or formula, no guidelines on what level of chemical is safe for babies to ingest and a general lack of education among medical professionals on the topic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry unequivocally states that babies born to mothers exposed to PFAS can be exposed during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. The agency advises lactating people to continue breastfeeding, however, stressing that the benefits of nursing likely outweigh the potential risk of PFAS exposure through breast milk.

On the other hand, the agency also acknowledges that scientists are continuing to conduct research in this area and that nursing moms should contact their doctors to weigh the risks and benefits  doctors who may not be up to date on PFAS literature.

PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, persist in the body for years and have been linked to a variety of cancers and other illnesses. They are found in many common household products, certain kinds of firefighting foams and industrial discharge, and have become pervasive in the air, water and soil.

Im always stressing to people breast is best, even if theres contamination, said Linda Birnbaum, the former head of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program.

While she agreed that the specific nutrition and immune benefits babies get from breast milk remain important, Birnbaum affirmed that many people are really concerned.

And I dont blame them, she said.

A February 2022 review from a team of U.S. and Canadian researchers  who compiled the existing, although minimal, data available regarding PFAS levels in breast milk  called for the urgent establishment of national breast milk monitoring programs in North America to prevent harmful impacts on babies who drink it.

Such programs, the authors explained, could include studies that measure concentrations of PFAS in milk and blood serum samples taken simultaneously from breastfeeding women. The results could help contextualize current estimates of PFAS levels in breast milk, in order to minimize unwanted exposures of infants to such contaminants, according to the review.

Suzanne Fenton, one of the authors of the commentary, which was published in Environmental Health Perspectives, pointed out that the U.S. has not, to date, participated in global milk monitoring efforts.

For example, the U.S. chooses to not be involved in a global monitoring plan established under the Stockholm Convention, explained Fenton, who at the time was a group leader in the Mechanistic Toxicology Branch of the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health. This past fall, she transitioned roles and took over as the director of North Carolina State Universitys Center for Human Health and the Environment.

Among the outcomes of the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was a human milk survey, which tested 189 national pools of breast milk from 90 countries for 28 such pollutants, including certain types of PFAS.

North America, in general, lacks both breast milk research collections and widespread access to testing for nursing parents. And while scientists and government agencies agree that PFAS are unsafe in drinking water, the U.S. government has not given specific guidance as to what concentrations of the substances pose a threat to infants consuming breast milk.

Fenton and her colleagues criticized the absence of such screening values for breast milk PFAS levels in both the U.S. and Canada. They contended that even if PFAS concentrations in milk surpass thresholds that have been set for drinking water, it is impossible to predict what harm could result.

Contaminated water itself, meanwhile, could also be a potential source of PFAS in infant food supplies. Parents may be making formula with it  although the data available on the subject is sparse.

Fenton and her colleagues incorporated some available data on PFAS in both breast milk and formula in a December 2022 Environmental Research review, stressing that an international monitoring effort and access to affordable testing are needed for breast milk, drinking water and infant formula to fully understand infant PFAS exposures.

Currently, our understanding of demonstrable methods for reducing exposures to emerging PFAS is limited, making this research and the communications surrounding it even more important, the authors concluded.

A second literature review overseen by Fenton, published in Toxics in March 2023, examined the issue from another angle: Rather than evaluating PFAS levels in milk, the authors sought to determine whether these compounds have any effect on how long a parent ends up nursing.

The researchers flagged human epidemiological studies that have examined this potential link, narrowing down their search to six studies  five of which identified a link between certain types of PFAS and shorter breastfeeding duration.

Stressing that health authorities have long promoted the benefits of nursing, the authors noted that there has been little focus on environmental exposures that might impair breastfeeding, the functional aspect of the breast.

Some action has been taken by individual states, such as New Jersey and Minnesota, and by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop hazard evaluations of individual types of PFAS in infant formula, according to Fenton. These assessments are based on drinking water intake-body weight values  an exposure factor adjusted for body weight  and aim to protect the health of sensitive populations, such as children younger than 5 years, Fenton explained.

Part of the problem in establishing what concentration of PFAS in breast milk may be harmful, in addition to the lack of available milk samples, was a past lack of adequate technology that could analyze low enough concentrations to detect what is in milk, according to Erin P. Hines, a researcher in the EPAs reproductive toxicology division. But as analytical chemistry techniques have improved and researchers have begun amassing local repositories of milk, Hines said she remains hopeful that such efforts could be replicated on a national scale.

In the meantime, Hines stressed that people who are lactating should turn to their clinicians for guidance.

But testing options remain limited, and a gap still exists between scientific research on the effects of PFAS on breast milk and the awareness of clinicians who treat nursing parents.

Asked whether the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides official guidance regarding PFAS exposure and pregnancy and nursing, Lisa Black, a spokesperson for the organization, sent The Hill a relevant book chapter available to clinicians. The chapter, within the AAPs Pediatric Environmental Health Fourth Edition focuses on PFAS and routes of exposures to these compounds, as well as potential health impacts and clinical effects.

While stressing that animal studies that incorporate high doses of certain PFAS compounds have demonstrated acute and chronic toxicities, the chapter warns that human epidemiological findings have been inconsistent or have uncertain clinical relevance.

As far as treatment of potential symptoms is concerned, the chapter explains that no proven therapy or approved medication is available to speed up the bodys natural but slow elimination of PFAS. Instead, the guidance suggests switching to bottled water in the case of drinking water contamination.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine in July 2022 released a report that provides some information to health care professionals and their patients who may have been exposed to PFAS, Fenton noted. While this guidance is based on adult exposures, it may be updated in a few years to offer advice on infants and children if the relevant data becomes available, she explained.

The report identifies an increased risk of certain health impacts associated with PFAS exposure, some of which apply to infants and children. Among these effects are decreased antibody response, decreased infant and fetal growth and dyslipidemia  abnormally elevated levels of fats or cholesterol in the blood  as well as possible changes in liver enzymes.

The recommendations in this report will be most protective of the publics health if they are part of a national effort toward increased biomonitoring, exposure surveillance, and clinicians and public health professionals education on environmental health issues, the authors concluded.

Following the NASEM report publication, the AAP issued a press release highlighting its findings and offering some recommendations to pediatric health care providers.

Chief among those were exposure reduction efforts, such as filtering contaminated water, following local food advisories for fish and game, replacing nonstick cookware with stainless steel or cast iron and avoiding stain-resistant textiles and waterproofing sprays.

The AAP emphasized the utility of administering PFAS blood tests to those individuals with a likely history of elevated exposure  listing specific thresholds that could indicate further action.

While there is evidence that PFAS is present in breastmilk, it is uncertain whether such exposure constitutes a threat to the infants overall future health, the AAP press release stated. Breastfeeding is the best option for babies in most cases.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
As part of his retirement from the U.S. Army, Sgt. Major Eriq Brown was screened for disability benefits. That's when a psychologist asked him if a pending criminal charge was causing him emotional issues. Brown was confused: He wasn't facing any charges. It turns out that another soldier had accused him of assault two years earlier. An investigation found no evidence to support that claim, and in fact it found that Brown wasn't even on post on the day in question, but the allegation remained in his record. Brown is one of thousands of military members who has a criminal record despite never being convicted of or even charged with a crime. A Department of Defense policy requires military investigators to put someone's name into the FBI's National Crime Information Center database if they have "credible information" that the person committed a crime. Someone filing a report is considered "credible information." The service member doesn't know his name has been entered until someone does a criminal background check, and the military is reluctant to remove the name even if charges are never filed.

The post Brickbat: Guilty Until Proven Innocent appeared first on Reason.com.
Michael Cassidy was charged with criminal mischief after destroying a Baphomet altar erected by the Satanic Temple of Iowa in the state capitol in 2023. Since Cassidy "destroyed the property because of the victim's religion," they tacked on a hate crime enhancement, increasing the charge from a misdemeanor to a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and up to $10,245 in fines.



For three years, the Bond family requested permission to remove two trees on their property that they thought looked dangerous. But the Portland, Oregon, Urban Forestry Commission denied their requests, saying it would "significantly affect neighborhood character." Then during a storm, one of those trees fell onto the Bonds' home, forcing them out. A city arborist advised the family that they will have to apply for a permit to remove the remains of the tree and pay to have a tree planted to replace it. They were also advised to remove the second tree from their property and apply for a retroactive permit, but if that permit is denied, they could be fined for removing the tree.

Christina Lea Gilchrist is a Canadian sex worker who offers a 25 percent discount to customers in the military. Although her sex work is legal, the military claims that her adswhich depict Gilchrist in uniformare illegal. As a result, she says Canadian military police threatened to press charges against her and warned soldiers not to use her services.



Former Miami-Dade School Board Vice Chair Lubby Navarro faces charges of fraud and grand theft. Prosecutors say she used her school system credit cards to make $100,000 in illegal purchases, including two fake pregnancy bellies that she used to try to convince her ex-boyfriend she was pregnant with his child.

Video showed reporter David Menzies approaching Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland with a microphone and walking alongside her on a public sidewalk, asking questions about government policy. Menzies seemingly bumped into a police officer who stepped into his path; that officer then shoved Menzies against a wall and told him he was under arrest for assault. Ontario police later dropped the charges, saying "no credible security threat existed."

A jury convicted former House of Representatives of Puerto Rico member Maria Milagros "Tata" Charbonier of conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering, among other charges. While in office, Charbonier increased her assistant's biweekly pay from $800 to between $2,100 and $2,900. But the assistant kicked back between $1,000 and $1,500 of each paycheck to Charbonier, her husband, and their son.



Atlanta developer Jeff Raw had a water meter installed on a vacant lot he owned. Over the next five months, he received bills totaling nearly $30,000. A city inspector verified there were no water lines or leaks on the site and the utility sent Raw an email admitting there was a leak in its part of the system, but officials still insisted he pay those bills.

Before taking her oath of Canadian citizenship, Maria Kartasheva learned she had been tried in absentia in Russia, her home country, and found guilty of "public dissemination of deliberately false information" for social media posts she made while living in Canada opposing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Canada has a similar law, and those charged with an offense that would be a crime in Canada may be denied citizenship. After several media outlets picked up her story, the government agreed to let Kartasheva become a citizen after all.

The post Brickbats: May 2024 appeared first on Reason.com.
The focus on the wristwear of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte has escalated into a matter of state. Surprisingly, her watch collection has caused more reputational harm (a 10% impact) than 50 protest-related fatalities, critical human rights reports, diplomatic tensions with neighboring countries, and the controversial release from prison of autocrat Alberto Fujimori.

On March 14, the La Encerrona podcast revealed that Boluarte wore 14 high-end watches at various formal events. Among them is a steel Rolex Datejust 36 with 18-karat rose gold and diamond inlays, valued at around $19,000. None of these luxury items were declared in the assets disclosure required of public officials, particularly the president, even if they were received as gifts.

President Dina Boluarte wearing a Rolex Datejust 36 watch on November 16, 2023. Melina Mejia (Presidencia de Peru)

Everything I own is due to my hard work. Its from way back when, and I hardly ever use it, said Boluarte a few days later, claiming that she paid for all the watches with her own money. On April 5, after testifying for five hours in a police investigation for alleged illicit enrichment, Boluarte changed her story. She claimed the watches were on loan from her friend, Ayacucho Governor Wilfredo Oscorima. Ill be honest, borrowing them was a mistake. I accepted them because I wanted to represent my country well, but Ive already given them back. They werent mine, so I didnt have to declare them.

There are many unanswered questions. Boluarte, who became president after Pedro Castillo was impeached and removed from office, wore four different watches during her time as Castillos Minister of Development. Since becoming president, she has worn eleven new watches. On the day of the La Encerrona podcast, she was seen wearing a 15th watch (made by Bebe) at an event in Lima with a group of women in business.

Boluarte earned a monthly salary of 30,000 soles ($8,100) as a minister. As president, her monthly pay was almost halved, an austerity measure implemented by former president Alan Garcia during his second term (2006-2011). People close to Boluarte say she never wore luxury watches when she was a civil registry official earning 4,500 soles ($1,220) a month. Prosecutors are now looking into these claims.

The first new watch spotted on Boluartes wrist is the most modest in the collection: a Michael Kors Gold-Tone that costs $130. She was wearing it during her swearing-in as a minister in the Castillo administration in July 2021. Boluarte, who later became Castillos vice president, was a top leader of the left-wing Peru Libre political party before she resigned.

Dina Boluarte wears a Michael Kors Gold-Tone watch during a swearing-in ceremony on July 30, 2021. Alberto Orbegoso (Presidencia de Peru)

Ten months later, in May 2022, Boluarte was seen wearing a Fossil watch during a food distribution event. A few months later, she sported another Fossil watch and concluded her ministerial tenure wearing a Quartz watch at a budget review on September 13.

Since assuming the presidency on December 7, 2022, many more watches have graced Boluartes wrists. On December 16, during the protests in which 10 Ayacucho residents died, Boluarte wore a Michael Kors watch for a graduation ceremony at the Chorrillos Military School. Five days later, amid calls for her resignation and an early election, she wore a Jacques Manoir watch to congratulate a new class of police officers.

Dina Boluarte wears a Jacques Manoir watch on December 21, 2022. JHONEL RODRIGUEZ ROBLES (Presidencia de Peru)

The seventh wristwatch (brand unknown) first appeared on January 18, 2023, during a mass commemorating the founding of Lima. Street protests raged as the president stood next to ultra-conservative Lima Mayor Rafael Lopez Aliaga. Boluarte was spotted wearing an Invicta watch on May 9 at an event for Europe Day at the Lima Art Museum. Peru and the European Union are strongly advocates for peace, she said at that event. Less than a month later, she was wearing the Rolex apple of discord again.

Just seven days later, Boluarte welcomed former Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso to Peru wearing a Bulova watch that costs nearly $700. Boluarte was seeking allies and strengthening ties with regional leaders after recalling Perus ambassadors from Mexico, Colombia and Honduras. In late October, she sported a smartwatch at an event with European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and the European Unions ambassador to Peru, Gaspar Frontini. Four days later, she was photographed with yet another watch  a Rolex Datejust with diamond bezel  as she greeted Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley. Boluarte donned a second smartwatch during a campaign to combat sexual violence against girls in November.

Dina Boluarte wears a Rolex Datejust with a diamond bezel during a meeting with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley on November 3, 2023. JHONEL RODRIGUEZ ROBLES (Presidencia de Peru)

While not confirmed, Dina Boluarte was seen wearing what looked like a third Rolex on February 16, 2024, during a school inauguration in Piura. The 15th watch  the Bebe  appeared at a meeting for women in business on the day the La Encerrona podcast aired.

Dina Boluarte during a meeting for women in business on March 14, 2024. Ricardo Cuba (Presidencia de Peru)

Late on Good Friday, prosecutors and police raided Dina Boluartes residence. They didnt find the Rolexes, but they seized two other luxury watches. The watches are the most conspicuous evidence of the notable, recent rise in Boluartes wealth. Prosecutors are investigating a $56,000 Cartier bracelet and nearly $300,000 in bank deposits while she served as president of the Club Departamental Apurimac cultural organization. The embattled president of Peru is currently navigating turbulent waters.
Kylie Wyre was unsure if she wanted to venture out during Monday's solar eclipse  the first such celestial event to pass largely through Ohio in more than 200 years.

But her 10-year-old son Brendan motivated his mom to head outside.

"I just thought it would be really cool to see it," Brendan said.

The mother and son duo from Perry County's Junction City were among the more than 500 people gathered at Dawes Arboretum in Licking County Monday afternoon to witness the solar eclipse.

Kylie Wyer, right, and Brendan Wyer, 10, both of Junction City, view the solar eclipse at its totality at The Dawes Arboretum on Monday, April 8, 2024.

People were scattered across the lawn sitting in chairs or on blankets. Some people brought coolers with snacks. A handful of people even brought their dogs along for the afternoon.

Emmily Morris of Newark went all out, bringing chips, nuts, cheese and other snacks as she watched the eclipse under a tent with friends Nick Moulakais and Benjamin Morrison.

"I love any sort of celestial event but also it seemed like a nice day and a nice reason to come hang out outside," Morris said.

Nick Moulakais, right, of Granville, Emmily Morris, of Newark, and Benjamin Morrison, of Newark, view the solar eclipse at The Dawes Arboretum on Monday, April 8, 2024.

The last total solar eclipse in Ohio happened in 1806, and the next one won't happen until 2099. While Licking County wasn't in the path of totality  the area where the moon completely blocked the sun  it still saw more than 99% of the sun covered. Only a small sliver of the sun was visible through eclipse glasses at Dawes. As the maximum coverage occurred around 3:10 p.m., the air cooled and there was a steady breeze. It wasn't completely dark like in other parts of the state, but still got darker  similar to the darkness that sets in before a big thunderstorm.

Lex and Terry Ruygrok, of Newark, are Dawes members and Terry said it was nice to experience the eclipse surrounded by other people. She said it was something everybody can agree on.

"It brings people together," Terry said.

Kylie Wyre said she enjoyed having a place close to home to watch the eclipse without having to travel to northern Ohio, which was in the path of totality.

"This gives us the experience, but we don't have to worry about  hopefully  like gridlock and all the craziness that comes with being so far away," she said.

Brendan's school district, New Lexington Schools, canceled classes for the day like many other across central Ohio, including Newark, Granville, Heath, Northridge, Licking Valley, Southwest Licking, and Licking Heights in Licking County.

Katie Carter, Dawes' chief operating officer and the acting CEO, said the nonprofit arboretum had been planning Monday's event for about a year, once they learned the eclipse's path. The event was done in conjunction with The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art and Technology, which held an event Saturday distributing eclipse glasses and sharing the science behind the eclipse with hands-on activities.

Christina Grubb, of Newark, sitting with Wyatt Grubb, 2, and Tori Reifsnyder, 10, opens the learning lunchbox distributed as a part of events surrounding the solar eclipse at The Dawes Arboretum on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Carter said she loved seeing families and kids outside experiencing and exploring nature during a wonderful phenomenon.

"It's hard to describe the peacefulness of it. It was quiet and you could just kind of be one with Earth," she said.

mdevito@gannett.com

740-607-2175

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Families witness solar eclipse at Dawes Arboretum
By Alistair Smout and Kanishka Singh

LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -British Foreign Minister David Cameron will meet Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday during his U.S. trip and press lawmakers in Congress to pass an aid package for Ukraine while also discussing the Israel-Gaza war.

Ahead of his meeting with Blinken, Cameron will meet former President Donald Trump in Florida, a spokesperson for the British government's Foreign Office said, describing it as a "standard practise" engagement with an opposition candidate.

Cameron last week said he would see Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson and urge him to pass a $60 billion package of military aid for Ukraine, which he has held up for months.

"Success for Ukraine and failure for Putin are vital for American and European security," Cameron said in a statement, saying it was important to demonstrate to Russian President Vladimir Putin that "aggression doesn't pay."

"The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to re-draw European borders by force, and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea."

The foreign ministry said Cameron would meet congressional leaders from both the Republican and Democratic sides.

The Foreign Office spokesperson did not say what Cameron and Trump, the Republican candidate in the November presidential election against incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden, would discuss.

"It is standard practice for ministers to meet with opposition candidates as part of their routine international engagement," the spokesperson said.

Britain has been a staunch ally of Ukraine since Russia invaded in 2022, but Cameron will stress it is the United States that is the "key stone in the arch" as its pace and scale of support for Ukraine is unmatched.

During the trip, Cameron will emphasise the importance of increasing economic pressure on Russia and giving Ukraine "the military and humanitarian support it needs to hold the line this year and go on the offensive in 2025," the foreign ministry said.

Cameron would also discuss maritime routes for aid into Gaza during the trip, as well as push for a full and transparent investigation into the "completely unacceptable" deaths there of seven aid workers, including three Britons, it added.

Cameron will reiterate Israel's right to self-defence in accordance with international law after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, but will stress that major changes need to be made to ensure the safety of aid workers on the ground, his office said.

(Reporting by Alistair Smout in London and Kanishka Singh in Washington, Editing by William Maclean and Lincoln Feast.)
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron met with Donald Trump at the former presidents Mar-a-Lago club on Monday night, two people familiar with the visit told CNN.

Camerons trip to South Florida came as the former prime minister is set to travel to Washington to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week. A spokesperson for the British government called it standard practice for engagement between ministers and opposition candidates of partner nations.

The pair discussed NATO defense spending, upcoming US and UK elections, Brexit and ending the killing in Ukraine, during their dinner together, according to a readout from the Trump campaign.

Karen Pierce, the British ambassador to the United States, was also present for the dinner.

Cameron has previously urged US lawmakers to pass additional aid to Ukraine, calling America the lynchpin of the Western coalition backing Ukraines fight against Russia. His visit with the former president comes as attempts at passing Ukraine aid in Congress languish with House Speaker Mike Johnson so far refusing to hold a vote  and with Trump helping to tank past attempts at a bipartisan solution.

The foreign secretary of one of Americas closest allies, Cameron served as prime minister from 2010 to 2016, stepping down before Trump assumed the presidency the following year. Should the former president win the November election, Cameron would likely miss a second Trump administration. Camerons governing Conservative Party is falling dramatically in popularity compared with the opposing Labour Party ahead of a general election set to take place by the end of the year.

Camerons trip, the British government spokesperson said, is focused on a range of shared US-UK priorities, including securing international support for Ukraine and bringing stability to the Middle East.

Trump and Cameron have both in recent days criticized Israels handling of its war in Gaza. Cameron said in a Sunday Times op-ed that the UKs backing for Israel is not unconditional, adding that Israel must abide by humanitarian laws in Gaza. Trump last week said Israel needs to finish what they started and get it over with fast. He argued Israel was losing the PR war because of the visuals coming out of Gaza, where more than 33,000 people, including thousands of children, have been killed since October 7, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

CNNs Jack Forrest, Alayna Treene, Kate Sullivan and Rob Picheta contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
SOFIA (Reuters) -Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev appointed a caretaker government on Tuesday led by Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev, and set June 9 as the date for snap elections, the president's office said in a statement.

The parliamentary vote is set to coincide with elections for Bulgaria's members of the European Parliament, it said.

"We must be a guarantor of stability, we cannot allow our country to be involved in a constitutional crisis, (and) ... be hostage to party ambitions and desires," Glavchev said during the government handover ceremony.

Glavchev, 60, previously served as the head of the Audit Chamber.

Bulgaria, the poorest member of the EU and one of its most corrupt states, has been rocked by political instability since anti-graft protests in 2020.

Until elections in April 2023, it was governed by a succession of caretaker governments, appointed by Radev in the absence of a stable elected coalition.

Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel failed to form a government following the resignation of Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov of the PP on March 5.

Denkov stepped down to allow the GERB to lead the government for nine months, as agreed after last year's elections. He also rejected Radev's invitation to try to form a government.

In elections last April, GERB came first, winning 69 seats in the 240-seat parliament. The bloc led by PP won 64 seats. Under the constitution, the Bulgarian parliament does not have to dissolve prior to snap elections.

(Reporting by Stoyan Nenov and Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Philippa Fletcher)
Struggling to recover from the pandemic, businesses in downtown Los Angeles are trying fresh new ideas to help bring back customers, revitalize the area, and deter crime.

With many office spaces remaining vacant after some employers shifted to a work-from-home model, DTLA only sees 65% of the foot traffic compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to one study.

The South Park Business Improvement District installed roughly 10,000 feet of string lights hanging on trees to illuminate 11th Street from Broadway to L.A. Live. The organization is hopeful that the lighting will make the area more inviting to customers.

City officials say the lights  which were lit up for the first time on Monday  will be a permanent fixture.

These lights are one of many placemaking projects that well do in this neighborhood, said Nolan Marshall, the Executive Director of the South Park Business Improvement District. Simple, little improvements that [we] will make.

More than 10,000 feet of string lights have been installed on 11th street in downtown Los Angeles between Broadway and L.A. Live. Local businesses and city officials are hopeful the lights will be in revitalizing DTLA. The lights were lit up on April 8, 2024. (KTLA)

The string of lights are seen on 11th street. Business owners and city officials are hoping that the addition will help welcome more people to the area. They were first lit up on April 8, 2024. (KTLA)

A portion of the lights have been hung on trees in downtown Los Angeles on 11th street near the graffiti-marked Ocean Towers. They were lit up on April 8, 2024. (KTLA)

More than 10,000 feet of string lights have been installed on 11th street in downtown Los Angeles between Broadway and L.A. Live. Local businesses and city officials are hopeful the lights will be in revitalizing DTLA. The lights were lit up on April 8, 2024. (KTLA)

A little less than 100,000 people live in DTLA, and some residents welcome the idea of trying to improve their neighborhood.

Ive been watching downtown develop a lot, said DTLA resident Justin Orkin to KTLA 5s Carlos Saucedo. Its had its ups and downs, it needs more investment.

A portion of the lights have been installed near the Ocean Towers, where vandals covered the three buildings in graffiti. The city has spent millions of dollars on the cleanup. L.A. City Councilman Kevin De Leon says the sale of the Ocean Towers could play a pivotal role in helping to rebuild DTLA.

Ultimately, when we have that buyer who buys those three buildings, youll see a major improvement in DTLA, De Leon said.

The Los Angeles City Planning Department aims to add 175,000 new residents, 70,000 apartment units, and 55,000 jobs to DTLA by 2040, as part of its plan to revitalize the area.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  With the San Angelo Rodeo and accompanying carnival well underway, many residents may be on the lookout for a bite to eat. With that in mind, the City of San Angelos monthly health inspection report shows some restaurants to keep an eye on (for better or for worse).

The scoring system

According to the City of San Angelo, all food establishments inspected by the City are inspected in accordance with the Texas Food Establishment Rules. The food establishment inspection report checks food establishments to see if theyve violated any of 27 different violations, with each scoring the business from three to five. Below is the demerit system used by the City:

0-10 demerits = excellent

11-20 demerits = good

21-30 demerits = acceptable

31 or more = poor

Its important to note that the City only checks for food safety items that are directly responsible for health problems rather than factors a person may traditionally associate with poor food safety, such as dirty floors and unclean walls.

Inspection scores are focused on food safety items that directly cause problems. Many items that people may see, such as dirty dining area floors and walls, may appear bad, but they do not actually affect the safety of the food; demerits are not given for these types of items, the City said.

Which businesses scored below 90 in February 2024 health inspections?

Its also important to note that food establishments are graded based on the processes that are carried out there. For example, convenience stores selling pre-packaged food may have noticeably different scores than those of fully-fledged restaurants.

Inspections also only showcase a snapshot in time, with any given food establishment possibly having more or fewer violations at the current moment than the score given in the inspection report or previous reports would indicate. The City Attorney disclaims that reviewing the entire inspection history is crucial in ascertaining a more accurate picture of an establishments food safety and sanitation programs.

Finally, food establishments in San Angelo do not receive health inspections simultaneously and, as such, may not have had an inspection at the time of the reports publication. Businesses that have earned the same score across multiple inspection reports may reflect an inspection conducted in a previous report rather than the current time.

With clarifications out of the way, here are all the retail food establishments that scored below a 90 in the March 2024 inspection report.

What scored below a 90?

7 Brew Coffee (1480 Knickerbocker Road)  86

Alejandros Kitchen & Tequila (4288 Sherwood Way)  86

Bonsai Steakhouse, Restaurant (1801 Knickerbocker Road)  80 Bonsai, Sushi  84

Casa Jalisco (1219 W. Beauregard Ave.)  87

Chang Thai (1527 E. Harris Ave.)  89

Chicken Express (2831 N. Bryant Blvd.)  86

Cielo, Restaurant (4132 Sunset Drive)  89

Cork & Pig Tavern, Restaurant (2201 Knickerbocker Road)  79

Corner Stop #2 (1302 N. Chadbourne St.)  89

Cotton Patch Cafe (4116 Sherwood Way)  88

Craving Crab (4509 Sherwood Way)  70

Diegos Burritos #1 (321 W. Avenue N)  84

Diegos Burritos #2 (301 N. Main St.)  89

Emmanual Episcopal Church ( 3 S. Randolph St.)  89

En Fu Express (4001 Sunset Drive)  89

Gils Restaurant (837 Knickerbocker Road)  77

Golden Chick (2602 Sherwood Way)  83

Hidalgos North (1315 N. Chadbourne St.)  77

Jack & Jill Donuts (2901 Sherwood Way)  89

Jacks Convenience Store #7 (2 N. Koenigheim St.)  87

Joes Italian, Restaurant (1601 S. Bryant Blvd.)  84

Joes Taqueria, Mobile (1616 S. Chadbourne St.)  86

Julios Burritos #4 (314 N. Bryant Blvd.)  88

King Buffet, Restaurant (3508 Knickerbocker Road)  86 King Buffet, Grill  78

Kung Fu Noodle (3363 Knickerbocker Road)  55

La Historia (3020 N. Chadbourne St.)  89

La Quinta Inn (2307 W. Loop 306)  77

Los Magueyes #1 (711 N. Chadbourne St.)  81

Los Panchitso/Paseo, Restaurant (34 E. Ave. D)  85

Lotus Cafe (3524 Knickerbocker Road)  74

Masa, Restaurant (4545 Sherwood Way)  82

Mesquite Bean Cafe (36 E. Twohig Ave.)  86

Minnies Donuts & Kolaches (2219 W. Avenue N)  87

Miss Hatties, Restaurant (26 E. Concho Ave.)  87

Orient 333 Restaurant & Saloon, Restaurant (333 Rio Concho Drive)  89

Peasant Village  (23 S. Park St.)  89

Pho Saigon (2001 W. Harris Ave.)  73

Rosas Cafe #4 (1602 Knickerbocker Road)  85

Roxies Diner (4609 S. Jackson St.)  72

Shogun Steakhouse, Sushi (4397 Sunset Drive)  83

Staybridge Suites (1355 Knickerbocker Road)  80

Stripes #42541H (1542 S. Bell St.)  88 Stripes #42541H, Deli  86

Taqueria Jalisco (1313 N. Bryant Blvd.)  86

Tinseltown, Snack #1 (4425 Sherwood Way)  88

Twisted Root (333 S. Chadbourne St.)  81

Western Sky Steakhouse, Restaurant (2024 N. Chadbourne St.)  83

What Da Pho (3315 Sherwood Way)  82

Whataburger #342 (5855 Sherwood Way)  89

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
Buy a Powerball ticket over the weekend in KY? You could hold 1 of 3 big winners

If you made a Powerball ticket purchase in Kentucky for the April 6 drawing, now would be a good time to double-check your numbers.

Three big winning tickets were sold in Kentucky, but they remain unclaimed as of Monday afternoon.

According to a Kentucky Lottery press release, two tickets winning $150,000 each were purchased at a Quick Shop in Paducah and one $50,000 winning ticket was sold at Kroger in Harrodsburg.

Saturdays winning numbers were 22, 27, 44, 52, 69 and Powerball 9.

POWERBALL Congratulations to the $1.326 Billion Jackpot winner in Oregon! Although, Kentucky did not have the top prize winner, we're celebrating the over 47,000 winning tickets sold in the Commonwealth! Check your #Powerball tickets on our website: https://t.co/i1so2Ko4dL pic.twitter.com/MZuuPrpeXB  Kentucky Lottery (@kylottery) April 7, 2024

The three tickets all matched four numbers and the Powerball, while the two $150,000 tickets also had a PowerPlay add-on feature, expanding the winnings, according to the press release.

If you are one of the three Kentucky Powerball winners from Saturday, you should sign the back of your winning ticket and keep it in a secure location before turning it into the state lottery to claim your prize. Winnings have to be claimed at Kentucky Lotterys headquarters at 1011 W. Main St. in Louisville. Winners have 180 days to claim their money.

The jackpot-winning $1.3 billion Powerball ticket was sold in Portland, Ore.

The April 6 winners are one of several big winning Powerball players in Kentucky recently.

If you or someone you know has a problem gambling, help is available at 1-800-522-4700.

Do you have a question about the lottery in Kentucky for our service journalism team? Wed like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.
All the buzz: Pilots begin arriving in dozens of unique aircraft for the 2024 Sun 'n Fun

LAKELAND  Beneath the roar of jet engines  and a midday partial solar eclipse  there was the buzz of pilots and aircraft arriving Monday for the 50th annual Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo starting at Lakeland Linder International Airport. The event kicks off Tuesday and runs through Sunday.

Aviation enthusiasts are coming in from across the country, with more overseas visitors expected this year as COVID-19 pandemic wanes. A senior couple from Germany was among those visiting vintage plans on Monday morning.

The Ledger caught up with some of this year's arrivals to talk about their unique aircraft and this year's 50th anniversary celebration:

Pilot Blake Wild, pilot Jayson Owen and owner John O'Connor with their 1943 PBY at Lakeland Linder International Airport on Monday.

Blake Wild, Lou, Jayson Owen and John O'Connor in a 1943 PBY Catalina

Chicago resident John O'Connor flew down to Sun 'n Fun with Jayson Owen, of Alaska, and Blake Wild, of Hawaii. The trio parked the 1943 Consolidated PBY Catalina "Flying Turtle" outside The Island on Monday morning.

The World War II-era amphibious seaplane was widely used by the U.S. Navy to patrol, bomb and perform water-based rescues, O'Connor said. It typically had a crew of eight to 10 men with five sets of guns. Its 1,700-gallon fuel tank allows the plane to fly for up to 21 hours, and some had bladders to hold additional fuel.

"They were formidable, they were a weapon but they then also rescued many, many downed sailors," he said.

O'Connor said one of the most famous rescue stories is when a PBY Catalina saved more than 50 men from the USS Indianapolis from shark-invested waters after the carrier was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. In another instance, the plane was used to save more than 100 Dutch sailors from a merchant trader downed off Australia.

The "Flying Turtle" was the last plane to leave the Allied military base in Iceland after World War II ended in 1945. It has five confirmed submarine kills and one possible kill to its record while serving both U.S. and Canadian military forces, O'Connor said.

Post war, the plane was utilized to serve as a Canadian transport from 1945 to 1957. Then its interior was redone and the consolidated PBY Catalina was used for luxury executive transport, dubbed a "flying yacht" by Life Magazine.

O'Connor said the group flies the plane to numerous historic events, sharing its piece of history as one of about eight or so still airworthy today.

Heidi Stoeppler from Madison, South Dakota, with her 1946 Taylorcraft DC-12 B at Lakeland Linder on Monday.

Heidi Stoeppler in a 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D

South Dakota resident Heidi Stoeppler is attending Sun 'n Fun for the first time to celebrate getting a new multi-engine seaplane certification. Stoeppler said she loved watching helicopters crop dusting areas of South California while growing up. When she was 17, one of the men who was crop dusting stopped and asked her if she wanted a ride. Stoeppler seized her opportunity.

"He asked me if I was going to be a pilot some day," she said. "Until that day I had no idea that girls could be pilots and I was so excited."

In 2011, Stoeppler learned how to fly gliders in Southern California. She said she since made her mission to learn to fly as many planes as possible and teach others.

The 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D is the first aircraft Stoeppler has owned, saying it was affordable and it was a good transition from a glider to a plane with only 65 horsepower. She thought of it as a "powered glider." It has small bush wheels on it so she can land.

She had one piece of advice for women who are consider entering the aviation industry and what career paths may be available.

"Everybody has told me from the beginning that airline pilot is the only job, and that is not true, you should leave your options open," Stoeppler said. "There are so many jobs you can't realize how many [aviation] jobs are out there."

There are aviation jobs in crop dusting, corporate jet transportation, medivac, cargo and freight transportation, Stoeppler said, to name a few. These jobs can offer a range of different lifestyles.

Jeff Deaton from Morehead City, North Carolina, with his Ryan STL in Lakeland on Monday.

Capt. Jeff 'Dash' Deaton in a Ryan STL 'Ollie'

Capt. Jeff 'Dash" Deaton has returned to Lakeland flying his Timber Tiger Craft 2018 Ryan ST-L, named "Ollie," to attend his first Sun 'n Fun in 13 years.

"Oshkosh is great," Deaton said, of the EAA's annual Wisconsin fly-in. "This one has more of a hometown feel."

Deaton said he last attended Sun 'n Fun in 2011, when an EF1 tornado touched down on the expo's grounds, toppling planes and injuring visitors. The event had been a bit of a mess, Deaton said. He also didn't like a former practice that involved burning the airport's field creating a "black ash" that used to kick up, often coating guests from the knees down.

He's flown in from Morehead City, North Carolina in his 95% replica vintage aircraft. Deaton said the Ryan ST-L was originally sold as a civilian acrobatics trainer in the 1930s. The U.S. Navy adapted the plan to use for its own training, according to Deaton, before deciding it was "too dainty" for military uses.

There was briefly a military squadron of Ryan ST-L based out of San Diego, Deaton said. The U.S. Navy would develop the PT-22 series based on the civilian Ryan ST-L.

When asked why he chose to fly the Ryan ST-L, Deaton only had to take a look at his plane.

"Take a look at it, why wouldn't you?" he said. "It's from the Golden Age of Aviation. It's beautiful from every angle."

Michel Gadbois from Knoxville, Tennessee, with his Icon A5 at Lakeland Linder International Airport on Monday.

Michel Gadbois from Knoxville, Tennessee in a Icon A5

Attending this year's Sun 'n Fun is fulfilling a lifelong dream for Michel Gadbois, of Knoxville, Tennessee. He's been an aircraft builder since 1991. Gadbois said he first placed an order with Icon Aircraft Inc., a California-based manufacturer of light sport planes, for an A5 amphibious plane in 2012. The original price was listed as $154,000. By the end of the year, Gadbois said he received a manufacturer's notice it increased the price to $198,000, then hiked it to $400,000 the following year.

The price was too steep, and Gadbois canceled his order and waited. The light sport amphibious craft was perfect for his need taking off from a short grassy strip at his Knoxville home to landing on water at his Canadian house.

"I think it's one of the most beautiful aircraft ever designed," he said. "Asphalt, grass, water, there's no place it cannot go."

Gadbois said he found the third A5 plane ever produced up for sale in 2022 and immediately purchased it. It is one of the 100 founders editions produced, as noted by the light gray stripe that runs around the bottom exterior or the plane.

Currently, the fully carbon-fiber plane costs about $1.2 million to produce, Gadbois said. Its expensive materials may be one reason the aircraft's manufacturer recently declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

"They made a beautiful airplane with no consciousness or concerns about its cost," he said.

Jeanne and Dave Allen from Elbert, Colorado, with their 1934 WACO YKC at Lakeland Linder on Monday.

Jeanne and Dave Allen from Elbert, Colorado in a 1934 Waco YKC

It's nearly impossible not to spot the bright teal color of Dave and Jeanne Allen's 1934 Waco YKC among the vast field of vintage planes at Sun 'n Fun. It pops among a field with many yellow and silver aircraft.

Dave Allen said the plane was purchased brand new by the Ohio Department of Commerce Aeronautics in 1934. It was used to fly around state officials on business for about five years before it was sold privately to a civilian in 1939. It changed hands several times through 1948.

The previous owner attempted several modifications, according to Dave Allen, before it went into storage in 1948.

Jeanne Allen said the plane came up for sale in an estate auction in 2003. The highest successful bidder couldn't pay for it, so it went back up for sale. The couple purchased the aircraft as members of the National Waco Club.

"It was a bit of a project at first," Jeanne Allen said.

The couple shared a binder of the plane's extensive rehabilitation as most of what remained was a dilapidated frame and parts. Jeanne Allen said the color was taken from parts of the plane's fuselage that rarely "see the light of day" and matched as closely as possible.

The vintage plane is now stored in Grass Roots Airpark in Groveland during the winters. The couple enjoy flying it seasonally.

"We refer to it as luxury transportation for the elderly," Dave Allen said.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl for photo and video from the airshow.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Every aircraft has a story as pilots begin arriving for Sun 'n Fun
This is a developing story. Check back to sanluisobispo.com for updates.

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A Cal Poly student died during a visit to Big Sur over the weekend, the university confirmed Monday.

According to an email from President Jeffrey Armstrong to the Cal Poly community, third-year student Kenneth Taylor died Saturday after an accident during a trip to Big Sur.

Taylor, who was studying mechanical engineering, was from Richland in Washington state, according to the email.

Kenneth was an outdoor enthusiast: He was a founding member of the Alpine Club, participated in activities with the Surfrider Foundation and served as a trip leader for ASI Poly Escapes, Armstrong wrote in the email. ASI staff described him as a person of incredible technical skill and even more incredible kindness, unmatched wittiness and a passion for adventure that could inspire anyone.

Armstrong said the university is in touch with Taylors family and is extending its full support to them and his friends.

Our thoughts are with them as they grieve their loss, Armstrong wrote. It is never easy to share news like this, and we know that processing this loss can be difficult for members of our community.
This is a developing story. Check back to sanluisobispo.com for updates.

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The man found dead at the base of the Salmon Creek waterfall in Big Sur on Saturday was Cal Poly student Kenneth Taylor, the Monterey County Sheriffs Office confirmed Tuesday.

Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong announced Taylors death on Monday, saying it was due to an accident during a trip to Big Sur.

Taylor, 21, was an outdoor enthusiast and a founding member of Cal Polys Alpine club, Armstrong said. A friend posted on Instagram that he asked Taylor to go on a hike that day, but Taylor already had plans to got to Big Sur.

Salmon Creek is a favorite hike on the Big Sur stretch of Highway 1, about 28 miles north of Cambria.

Because of major landslides and ongoing repair work that have cut off portions of the highway to the north, San Luis Obispo County sheriffs deputies responded to the first report of a climbing accident at the waterfall at around 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, even though it was located in Monterey County, SLO County Cmdr. Stuart MacDonald told The Tribune.

Deputies at the scene found an individual who appeared to have died in the pool at the base of the waterfall, MacDonald said.

Monterey County Sheriffs Office spokesman Andres Rosas confirmed the person was Taylor on Tuesday.

Rosas said the agency had arranged for his body to be transported to Monterey County for an autopsy.

They will also coordinate returning him to his family from there, Rosas said.

Friends mourn death of Cal Poly student

According to an Instagram post from friend Kenneth Bevens, Taylor was on a rock-climbing trip in Big Sur at the time of his death and had plans at be at an event for the Van Life Club in Cayucos that night to celebrate the outdoor community.

He would have loved it! Bevens said. The hammocks, the photos, the music, the oceanview, and all the love. When I was taking photos, I could practically feel his beaming energy and positivity!

The two were known as Kenneth squared and often got confused with each other since they were both outdoorsy photographers, his post said.

I loved talking to him and hearing his laugh. He was so incredibly kind, enthusiastic, smart and gave 110% of himself to everything he did and everyone he met, Bevens said. Kenneth felt tremendously loved and helped others feel the same.

Other friends followed Bevens post with tributes to Taylor of their own.

Ugh it still hurts my heart. That man was a true legend and inspiration, wrote Isaiah Traub, who goes by the user name hiker_hawk on Instagram.

In his comment, Dillon Behling called Taylor a true light in our community. Our hearts are heavy and miss him dearly. ... His enthusiasm and kindness will continue to ripple throughout our beloved community. Much love to all who know him and to his family.

Student was outdoor enthusiast

Taylor, who was studying mechanical engineering and was set to graduate in 2025, was from Richland in Washington state, according to an email to the Cal Poly community on Monday.

Kenneth was an outdoor enthusiast: He was a founding member of the Alpine Club, participated in activities with the Surfrider Foundation and served as a trip leader for ASI Poly Escapes, Armstrong wrote in the email. ASI staff described him as a person of incredible technical skill and even more incredible kindness, unmatched wittiness and a passion for adventure that could inspire anyone.

Armstrong said the university is in touch with Taylors family and is extending its full support to them and his friends.

Our thoughts are with them as they grieve their loss, Armstrong wrote. It is never easy to share news like this, and we know that processing this loss can be difficult for members of our community.
Images of Palestinian journalist Wael Dahdouh, bureau chief of the Qatar-based Al Jazeera television network in Gaza, went around the world when he lost his wife, two children, a grandson and other family members in an Israeli bombing in October. The 53-year-old veteran reporter decided to put aside the pain of loss and continue to work and assume my responsibility to make a difference. Two months later, he himself was injured in an Israeli attack that killed his cameraman, Samer Abu Daqqa, and, in January, his eldest son, Hamza, perished when his car was targeted in a strike.

Without intending to, Dahdouh has become a symbol of the suffering of Gazas 2.2 million inhabitants and of the perseverance of its reporters, who are the eyes of the world in this conflict, with no foreign media allowed to enter the Strip. I believe in the humanitarian mission of journalism. Our job is to continue reporting, he told this newspaper in Cordoba, in southern Spain, where he received the Julio Anguita Parrado journalism award and gave a lecture at the Casa Arabe.

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), more than 100 journalists have died violently in Gaza since October. The Committee to Protect Journalists says the conflict, in which at least 33,000 Palestinians have been killed, is the bloodiest for reporters since the organization began its tally in 1992.

After more than 100 days covering the Israeli military offensive, Dahdouh left Gaza at the end of January for surgery in Qatar. Tired and visibly shaken by reliving the death of his family, the reporter does not dare to imagine his future, or that of Gaza. No one in the Strip knows what is going to happen, whether this war will end in a week or will drag on for months.

Question. You have dedicated this award, named after a Spanish journalist who lost his life in the Iraq war in 2003, to your colleagues who continue to report in Gaza and insist that reporters in the Strip are being targeted and are not collateral damage.

Answer. Israel is deliberately killing journalists in Gaza. In other wars they did not target reporters like this. I can find no explanation for the shelling of the house where my family was sheltering in Nuseirat (central Gaza), for the attack that killed my son Hamza, or for the one in which I almost died. Most of these bombings are carried out with drones, which are very precise and know who is in that place at that moment. We move around in cars marked Press or TV. We wear the helmets and vests of journalists. Israel does not want us to continue documenting what is happening, but Palestinian journalists have decided to continue reporting, living in fear and knowing that we might become news.

Q. On October 7, 2023, the Islamist movement Hamas committed bloody attacks in Israel. Hours later, the bombardment of Gaza began. Did you think it would be an offensive similar to those you have covered over the past 15 years?

A. On October 7, I woke up to go to the office and saw from my window the rockets streaking across the sky toward Israel. I said to my late wife: Lets get ready because a long war is coming. From the outset I said it was going to last up to four months and they called me an exaggerator. Now I see that I was optimistic. All the calamities we have suffered in previous Israeli offensives are not even a quarter of what we are suffering in this one. From the beginning, the destruction was blind: Israel closed all border crossings, deprived Gaza of food, water, electricity, medicine, and bombed houses without warning.

Israel does not want us to continue documenting what is happening, but Palestinian journalists have decided to continue reporting

Q. Is there any moment in your coverage of the war that has particularly marked you?

A. I am inundated with painful images. But what is especially etched are the dead children, some of them babies, being pulled out of the rubble, perishing before our eyes. And of course, although I was not there when they died, I do not forget the bodies of my wife, my children, my grandson... What can I tell you? Each image I had to record was worse than the previous one.

Q. Part of your family is still in Gaza.

A. I had eight children and the five who are still alive left Gaza, but my brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and cousins are still there. Every day I receive some bad news: family members who were wounded and are struggling to recover, relatives who have nothing to eat...

Q. You have reiterated that when your wife and children were killed you did not hesitate to continue your work.

A. I believe in the humanitarian mission of journalism. Our job is to keep reporting. But at the moment, no matter how hard they try, Gazan journalists are only able to report a small part of the barbarism. From the beginning of the war, I always thought that I should work no matter what happened, but faced with the dead bodies of my children and my wife, who was the pillar of the family, I did have doubts about whether I should continue. I decided to continue. My wife and children always made sacrifices for me. They didnt have my love and protection during the wars, so that I could continue to work and assume my responsibility to make a difference. Was I going to give up because they were killed? No. Thats why I went back to work. It was a challenge, because I didnt want to appear in front of the camera in mourning and I didnt want to talk about myself. I wanted to report the war in a professional manner, as if nothing had happened to me. I think I succeeded, but that bothered Israel.

Q. Now that you have had to leave Gaza, do you think your voice has lost strength or legitimacy because you are no longer inside the Strip?

A. Yes, indeed. My feeling is one of pain and frustration because I can no longer do my duty. I cannot be there where things are happening and I cannot help my compatriots who are suffering and the journalists who stayed behind, starting with my team. Sometimes I feel that I can no longer do much, but I continue to try to do my bit by coming, for example, here to Cordoba.

Wael Dahdouh (left) receives the XVII Julio Anguita Parrado International Journalism Award, on April 7 in Cordoba. Salas (EFE)

Q. You have praised the attitude of the Spanish government towards the Palestinians, but are words enough after six months of bombing?

A. It is clear that the people who are living the day-to-day life of the war need more support, more relief They need more. The attitude of the Spanish government is very well received by Palestinians amid this atrocious war. We value it very much, as well as its work with other European governments to move from words to action, to apply pressure to achieve a ceasefire now and for the Palestinians to regain their rights. We know it is an arduous task.

Q. It is difficult to imagine and talk about the future that awaits Gaza.

A. Its impossible to predict. No one in the Strip knows what is going to happen, whether this war will end in a week or will drag on for months. At times there is talk of an agreement, of a truce, but nothing is happening and the bombings are increasing. The people of Gaza are on edge, but they are afraid that this will last for a long time, that the war will last even longer.

Q. And you, how do you feel physically and how do you see your future?

A. I am very tired. I have undergone a long and complicated operation to try to save as much mobility as possible in my right hand. I may recover 60%, but I have a year of convalescence ahead of me. I want to heal and continue to be a journalist. That is the most important thing for me. I want to continue doing my job.

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BONTA AT THE BORDER

California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday paid a visit to the San Diego-Imperial High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area office near U.S.-Mexico border, where he praised law enforcement efforts to tackle the fentanyl crisis that is killing thousands of Californians every year.

Partnership is our way forward. Collaboration. Working together. Teaming up. When you have a shared challenge that affects all of California, as our fentanyl challenge is, the people, Californians, expect our government, whatever silo youre in, whatever space you occupy, to work together, Bonta said in remarks given at a press conference at the HIDTA office.

The attorney general noted that fentanyl, which is relatively cheap to produce and 100 times the strength of morphine, is the leading cause of death among those aged 18 to 45.

Bonta warned fentanyl smugglers that law enforcement  local, state and federal  is watching and we are taking action.

This year, the California Department of Justice has already seized more than 11 million fentanyl pills, more than 3,000 pounds of fentanyl powder, and made just under 300 fentanyl-related arrests, Bonta said.

The attorney general called fentanyl a multifaceted issue that requires a multifaceted approach, including action from state lawmakers to make Narcan  which can counteract the effects of fentanyl  more widely available and to update the criminal code so that prosecutors can better target fentanyl dealers.

Our work wont stop until the illicit deaths from fentanyl stop, Bonta said.

Though Mondays trip to the border was an official visit, not a campaign stop, it came as 2026 state race-watchers are speculating whether Bonta, a Democrat, will seek another term as attorney general, or wade into the growing field of Democratic candidates running for governor.

A border visit would certainly add to Bontas bonafides, should he decide on a bid to be Californias chief executive.

SHOULD CHILDREN BE ALLOWED TO BUY ANTI-AGING CREAM?

Citing a trend in young children purchasing anti-aging skincare products as a result of advice on platforms like Tik Tok or Instagram, California Assemblyman Alex Lee, D-San Jose, has introduced a bill, AB 2491, that would bar youngsters from buying those products.

Social media has kicked off a trend of children using anti-aging products with powerful active ingredients that may be harmful to them, Lee said in a statement. Were seeing this on both the national and international level. AB 2491 protects our youth from the unnecessary risks of using products that are not suitable for their skincare needs. These anti-aging products offer no benefits to children and preteens.

The bill specifically would bar anyone under the age of 13 from buying any over-the counter cosmetic product that contains Vitamin A and its derivatives or an alpha hydroxy acid.

At best, these products wont provide any skin benefits, as these products are designed for older adults; at worst these products may harm skin by causing irritation, dryness, peeling, and eventually topical dermatitis and eczema. There is no reason why children should use anti-aging products, said Homer Swei of the Environmental Working Group in a statement.

The bill has been referred to the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee, and will be heard later this spring.

THE BEE ADDS A NEW POLITICS REPORTER

Nicole Nixon has joined The Sacramento Bee as a California Politics Reporter.

She comes to us from CapRadio, where she has covered politics and state government for NPR stations around California since early 2020. Prior to that, she reported for NPR station KUER in her hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah.

One of her favorite stories was one that allowed her to say a curse word on national radio.

You can send her news tips at nnixon@sacbee.com.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Florida Alabama Arkansas Idaho Indiana Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi Missouri North Dakota Oklahoma South Dakota Tennessee Texas West Virginia Georgia South Carolina

All have abortion bans. Trump supports these bans. And wants women that disagree to be punished. Its sick.

- California Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a post on X sharing a video of former President Donald Trumps 2016 remarks that women should be punished for having an abortion. On Monday, Trump released a video taking credit for the U.S. Supreme Court decision to end Roe v. Wade but also saying that abortions legality should be left up to the states. Key allies of Trump have gone on the record saying that a second Trump administration would use the 1873 Comstock Act to ban abortion nationwide.

Best of The Bee:

Sex ed materials given to Modesto students by Christian group questioned by California AG, via Trevor Morgan .

Will the Oakland As help the city of Sacramentos looming budget deficit? Via Theresa Clift .

California water agencies broke own rules, possibly killing thousands of endangered fish, via Ari Plachta.
More California Democrats are pushing for a ceasefire and potentially withholding military aid to Israel in its war against Hamas after the killings of seven food aid workers in Gaza.

But Republicans are pushing in the other direction, planning to take a vote in the House, where they have a slim majority, later this week opposing any ceasefire.

The Democrats tonal shift comes as President Joe Biden for the first time threatened to pull back on U.S. support if Israel did not change its approach to protect civilians and aid workers in Gaza in a stern phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Thursday. During the 30-minute call, he pressured Israeli authorities to reach an immediate ceasefire deal.

Since then:

 Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, said, The status quo must change.

Notwithstanding Hamas brutal attacks on October 7th, we have to achieve an immediate ceasefire, return all the hostages, and at the same time hold Hamas accountable, Costa said in a statement Friday. President Biden has for months been working with Israel and other partners involved to negotiate a peace agreement and this week increased pressure on Israel to do the right thing. As our ally, Israel must do its part.

Costa, who tends to be more moderate, had voted in a bloc of 46 House Democrats and 204 Republicans for an Israeli military aid package in February. The measure failed to get the two-thirds support it needed to pass out of the House, which at the time had 219 Republicans and 212 Democrats. And in November, he was one of 22 Democrats who voted to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat and sole Palestinian American in Congress, over her remarks about the Israel-Hamas War.

 Rep. Ami Bera, D-Elk Grove, said Sunday that having listened to the stories of Israeli families and Palestinian-Americans who lost loved ones on and since Oct. 7, It was clear to me then as it is now that we need a different path forward.

We must secure a negotiated and sustained ceasefire to reunite the hostages with their families and scale up the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, Bera posted to social media.

 Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, also urged a pause in the hostilities.

I support an immediate and sustained ceasefire to ensure the return of all hostages and do everything possible to allow for the safe delivery of maximum humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, she told The Bee Monday. Only then can we lay a path towards a future where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side with peace and dignity.

Both Matsui and Bera supported a temporary ceasefire last November.

 Forty Democrats, primarily progressive ones, signed a letter to Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday asking them to reconsider sending arms to Israel unless officials there take measures to mitigate harms to civilians and aid workers in Gaza. Among California signatories was former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, and Barbara Lee, D-Oakland.

While we appreciate your administrations recent efforts to increase the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, these efforts will not be sufficient to meet the extraordinary need on the ground, the letter read. The Israeli governments restrictions on the flow of aid into Gaza, coupled with the death and grave harm that aid workers have faced during this war, are compounding this hunger crisis.

 Rep John Duarte, R-Modesto, told The Bee Monday that the Oct. 7 attack necessitates Israels continued pursuit to root out Hamas in Gaza, and that the tragedy and death of this effort is the responsibility of Hamas and of their supporters in Iran.

Nations living peacefully alongside their neighbors is important. Standing with our allies when they are attacked is the best and, sometimes, only way to assure that peace and diplomacy are the paths taken in the future, Duarte said. President Biden should more clearly support our ally Israel, even when inadvertent tragedy strikes. The United States expects and has received the same.

Duarte was one of four Republicans who bucked party and voted no on censuring Tlaib. He cited free speech grounds but still denounced what she said.

 Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, told The Bee on Tuesday, The loss of innocent civilian lives on both sides of this conflict is a tragedy, and I support all efforts to provide humanitarian aid. Hamas terrorists started this conflict six months ago, and could end it today by releasing all Israeli and American hostages. Israel has a right to exist and defend itself against Hamas terrorists.

 Alexandra Lavy, a spokeswoman for Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, wrote to The Bee on Tuesday that he thinks a ceasefire can happen only after Hamas surrenders and returns all hostages. Hamas conducting a war from beneath the homes and kitchens of citizens deserve all the credit for loss of life, not the ridiculous assertions made against Israel merely defending against these sources of attack, she wrote. Ceasefires work when Hamas ceases firing.

He will not place conditions on our ally as to how they stop future terrorist attacks and will continue to support military armaments including Iron Dome missile Defense System, Lavy wrote. Congressman LaMalfa has great concerns about the backtracking of the Biden White House and the continued pro-Iran/Muslim Brotherhood influences at State Department.

The Bee reached out to the offices of Californias senators, nine Central Valley and Sacramento-area House members, the Senate candidates and the challengers in the two toss-up Central Valley House races on Monday. The Bee heard back from six House members between Monday and Tuesday.

The Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza has divided California voters, according to a Berkeley IGS Poll conducted in early January.

Younger voters tended to sympathize more with Palestinians while older voters leaned toward Israelis. Two-thirds of queried Republicans said Israel should keep fighting until Hamas is no longer viable while 55% of Democrats said that Israel should agree to a ceasefire even if Hamas remains a force in Gaza.

The poll, in part funded by the Los Angeles Times, queried 8,199 California registered voters and has a sampling error of plus-or-minus 1.5%.

Californias Jewish community has long had a warm relationship with its members of Congress. About 3.1% of the states population, or 1.23 million people, is Jewish, slightly above the 2.2% nationally, according to the American-Israel Cooperative Enterprise, a nonprofit organization promoting ties between the two countries.

The Palestinian population is estimated at 25,989, or 0.07%, according to the World Population Review.

Increased calls for Israel to shift strategies over the last week came after airstrikes killed seven World Central Kitchen workers in the Gaza Strip last Monday. Three days later, Biden warned Netanyahu on a call that if Israel did not take swift action for commitments in humanitarian aid and protecting civilian lives in Gaza, the U.S. might change course on future aid in Israels war against Hamas.

Biden also pushed for the Israeli government to work toward an prolonged ceasefire deal that would bring hostages home and improve the situation in Gaza. It builds on what the White House has called for for weeks  at least a six-week ceasefire  but officials had previously squared blame on Hamas for blocking.

The president made clear that absent changes in the protection of civilians on the ground, absent changes to the volume of humanitarian assistance getting in, absent any movement on a cease-fire that will allow hostages to get out and more aid to get in, absent a calming-down, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Thursday, that he will have to reconsider his own policy choices with respect to Gaza.

Within hours of the call, the Israeli government committed to opening new humanitarian aid routes. And in the following days, more Democrats started pressing for tougher accountability on Israels approach and joined in Bidens call for at least a temporary ceasefire.

The Israel Defense Forces said Friday that the killing of the World Central Kitchen workers was a grave mistake stemming from a serious failure.

Israel said it withdrew most troops from southern Gaza this weekend, six months after the deadly attacks by Hamas militants.

Some House progressives have called for a ceasefire since October.

Meanwhile House Republicans are expected to bring up a measure this week slamming Bidens call for an immediate ceasefire during the discussion with Netanyahu. The resolution, which does not have the force of law, is likely to go nowhere in the Democratic-run Senate.

The three-page resolution authored by Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Florida, opposes efforts to place one-sided pressure on Israel with respect to Gaza, including calls for an immediate cease-fire ... It also reaffirms Israels right to self-defense.

About 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 hostages taken during Hamas Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, according to Israeli authorities. About 130 hostages remain unaccounted for, with some known to be dead.

More than 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza, where civilians are facing widespread hunger. At least 196 humanitarian workers have been killed in the West Bank and Gaza since October, according to the U.N.
California Democrats bring down the hammer on crime  or try to

SACRAMENTO, California  The speaker of the California Assembly and fellow Democrats Tuesday will announce a package of bills targeting retail theft  all without touching a landmark criminal justice measure voters approved nearly a decade ago.

A wide-ranging proposal from Speaker Robert Rivas and Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur would allow police to make arrests without witnessing the incident or footage of it, establish a new crime targeting serial theft and allow the value of stolen items from multiple retailers within 60 days to be aggregated into a grand theft, which can be a felony.

Organized retail crime and theft are harming our communities, undermining business owners and eroding peoples confidence in law and order. That ends today, Rivas told POLITICO.

Their approach is something of a balancing act. Frustrations over property crime have dominated the political conversation in recent months, yet Gov. Gavin Newsom and top legislative leaders have been reluctant to alter Proposition 47, which downgraded a number of crimes to misdemeanors in 2014.

At the same time, Prop 47 has come under intensifying scrutiny  including from Democratic Mayors Todd Gloria of San Diego and London Breed of San Francisco, who support a new ballot initiative to soften it.

The suite of seven new bills  including Rivas and Zbur's proposal  would make it easier to arrest suspected shoplifters while stiffening penalties for organized retail crime. None of those policies would require changes to Prop 47.

Zbur, who chairs the Select Committee on Retail Theft, said the package would give relief to businesses suffering from an uptick in retail crime without returning to overly-punitive policies.

Were doing this while preserving the good elements of criminal justice reform so that were not putting people in prison needlessly, Zbur said.

The legislation would also:

 Specify that repeated possession of a quantity of goods inconsistent with personal use could be used as intent to resell

 Require major retailers to share some theft data

 Require online sellers to maintain records of legally acquiring goods

 Ensure nuisance actions arent brought against retailers who make frequent calls to law enforcement related to theft

 Expand the use of diversion and rehabilitative programs for shoplifting and petty theft

Rivas said he opposes any changes to Prop 47.

I believe a return to the ballot to address retail theft is not necessary because the Assemblys plan delivers real and urgent changes for Californians, he said.

Zbur said the package is much more robust in addressing organized crime than the proposals that are focused on Prop 47.

Other legislation in the package include a proposal from Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria to allow extended jail time for property crimes over $50,000 in value  reducing the current $100,000 threshold  and one from Assemblymember Marc Berman allowing courts to issue longer, broader restraining orders for thefts or vandalism.

The bills' authors  which also include Public Safety Chair Kevin McCarty and Assemblymembers Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Jacqui Irwin and Juan Alanis  will share details of their proposals this morning, joined by Attorney General Rob Bonta and representatives of the retail industry.

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British foreign minister David Cameron appeared alongside his US counterpart on Tuesday and made an impassioned case for aid to Ukraine even as he promised not to lecture US leaders in his meetings this week.

His visit to the nations capital followed a trip to Mar-a-Lago, where former President Donald Trump held court on Monday evening at a dinner where the two were joined by British Ambassador Karen Pierce. The Independent has reached out to Mar-a-Lago insiders for more details about the dinner, which were scant across social media. A readout from the Trump campaign indicated that the two had discussed unsurprising topics  Brexit and Ukraine, as well as the death of Queen Elizabeth.

Lord Cameron declined to comment on the content of his meeting with the former president, only defending it as proper and noting historical precedent. He focused his remarks on the violence in Ukraine and Gaza, and in particular the need to shore up Ukraines military at a desperate moment.

Future generations are going to look back at us and ask, Did we do enough? he said.

Standing next to the US Secretary of State at a press conference, Lord Cameron said that he would be in meetings with US lawmakers through the week as the legislative body continues to debate a stalled bill that would provide aid to both Ukraine and Israels militaries, which has pased the Senate but remains frozen in the GOP-controlled House. Part of the issue: a rebellion from Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of a number of conservatives opposed to further Ukraine aid, who is threatening a motion to oust Speaker Mike Johnson over the bills potential passage.

When speaking with members of Congress, Lord Cameron said, he tries to keep the diplomatic language, but sometimes it spills over into quite emotional language because this is the right thing to do, said the foreign secretary.

I always do this with great trepidation, he explained, as its not for foreign politicians to tell legislators in another country what to do. Its just that Im so passionate about the importance of defending Ukraine against this aggression.

Ms Greene previously lashed out at Lord Cameron earlier this year over the issue. After the foreign secretary urged western politicians to not give in to tyrants and likened the moment to Germany in the 1930s, Ms Greene told reporters that the top diplomat of Americas top ally could kiss her a**.

Though Lord Cameron told reporters on Tuesday he would be meeting with lawmakers in both parties, Ms Greene is not likely to be on the list. Neither was Speaker Mike Johnson, arguably the man with the most power over the fate of the legislation: it was reported on Tuesday that a meeting between him and the foreign secretary couldnt be fitted in the speakers schedule. The foreign secretary has made it clear, however, that he will plead the case for Mr Johnson to get aid to a floor vote as quickly as possible.

It remains unclear when Ukraine aid will make it to the floor of the House, or whether it will still be coupled with aid to Israel when it is. Though both pieces of legislatoin are likely to pass either way, some House Democrats including Nancy Pelosi have asked the Biden administration to halt weapon transfers to Israel. Criticism of an Israeli strike that killed seven aid workers with celebrity chef and DC restaurateur Jose Andress World Central Kitchen charity has made passage of the aid package all the more complicated. Three British citizens were among those killed in the precision strike, which occurred as they were in a convoy of vehicles clearly warked with WCK logos.

Mr Blinken, echoing statements the administration has been making for weeks, once again urged Mr Johnson to put the aid package to the floor for a vote. The chamber recessed last month without taking up the legislation, which was passed by the Senate in mid-February, even as the Biden administration and Ukrainian leaders have made clear that the eastern European country is in dire need of further military assistance.

The supplemental budget request ... is urgent and its imperative since the House is now back in session. We look to see that brought before the House and to get a vote as quickly as possible, said the secretary.
Cameron defends entirely proper meeting with Trump as he claims hes not in US to lecture anybody on Ukraine funding

Former President Donald Trump held a meeting with David Cameron on Monday evening, one day before the foreign secretary was due in Washington to meet with his counterpart in the Biden administration, Antony Blinken.

The ex-president dined with Lord Cameron at his Mar-a-Lago estate where the two discussed a wide range of topics including Brexit, Ukraine, and the Nato alliance, according to a readout from Mr Trumps team. The two were joined by Karen Pierce, the British ambassador to the United States.

Among the topics discussed were the upcoming US and UK elections, policy matters specific to Brexit, the need for NATO countries to meet their defense spending requirements, and ending the killing in Ukraine, read a statement from the Trump campaign.

It continued: President Trump, Secretary Cameron and Ambassador Pierce also discussed their mutual admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Lord Cameron went on to defend the optics of that meeting as entirely proper on Tuesday at a joint presser alongside Mr Blinken, noting that US officials had recently met with Labour leader Keir Starmer and his own past meeting with Mitt Romney when Mr Romney, now a retiring one-term senator from Utah, was running for president.

He declined to go into specifics about his conversation with the former president while stressing that he was not planning to lecture anybody on the importance of funding Ukraines defence against a Russian invasion force. The former prime ministers past criticism of Mr Trump likely made the Monday dinner a somewhat awkward affair on Mr Camerons part, though the twice-impeached ex-president is more than used to critics turning over a new leaf. Lord Cameron was quizzed on his past references to Mr Trump as a misogynist and criticism of his protectionist worldview on Tuesday as he stood before reporters at the State Department. Unshaking in his refusal to be drawn into a conflict with Mr Trump or anyone else, the foreign secretary refused to comment on the meeting with Trump itself while explaining that he sometimes dropped diplomatic niceties over the issue of Ukraine because the issue made him emotional.

Its the right thing for us to [help Ukraine], an impassioned Lord Cameron told reporters.

Mr Trump has not commented on the meeting in a post to his Truth Social account or even released his own statement through representatives. In typical fashion, the former presidents feed on Tuesday was consumed with re-truths of articles attacking the credibility of the criminal cases against him, his 2024 rival Joe Biden, and the mainstream media.

Other details surrounding the dinner have been sparse.

The relevance of Lord Camerons visit to Mar-a-Lago could hardly be higher; his trip comes as Mr Trump is raising more questions than ever before about the future of the Nato alliance  due to mark its 75th anniversary this year. The ex-president raised alarm bells across Europe and in Washington in February with a remark at a campaign rally regarding the alliance and its Article 5 mutual defence pledge.

If we dont pay and were attacked by Russia, will you protect us? Trump at the time claimed to remember a Nato member-states leader asking him, recalling a moment of his presidency. He then claimed to have responded: No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want.

That quip was labelled by many as an invitation to Russia for further predations in Ukraine and future confrontations with Nato members who fail to meet the alliances defence spending benchmarks. Most members of the alliance do not meet the stated goals of spending two per cent of their respective countries GDP on defence.

It was immediately pounced on by the Biden campaign while Republicans in Washington DC spent a news cycle dodging questions or explaining away the presidents rhetoric in cable news interviews.

Now, Mr Trump has seemingly softened his supposed threat, but the intent of his rhetoric has not shifted.

Why should we guard these countries that have a lot of money? he asked Brexit architect Nigel Farage in an interview in March.

Now they're paying because of those comments that you saw two or three weeks ago, he added to Mr Farage. I don't know if you know, but a lot of moneys come in since those comments were made. Nato was not paying.

Those comments referred to a report which emerged a few days after his initial remarks  the results of months of politicking between Nato countries, not Mr Trumps threat  indicating that 18 Nato countries were on course to meet defence targets this year.

Mr Trump remains the presumptive Republican nominee for president after defeating his final rival in the GOP primary, Nikki Haley, in March.
(Bloomberg) -- British Foreign Secretary David Cameron held a meeting in Florida with Donald Trump, with whom he has clashed in the past over Brexit and NATO, as the UK tries to persuade the presidential candidates Republican allies to stop obstructing a commitment to send more US aid to Ukraine.

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Their talks late Monday came ahead of Camerons trip to Washington to meet Republican lawmakers as well as Biden administration officials. The visit comes at a sensitive time as the UK, France and other nations try to keep the international focus on Ukraines battle to repel Russias invasion.

US funding is critical, but a $60 billion aid package has become snarled in politicking ahead of the presidential election in November. House Speaker Mike Johnson has so far declined to call a vote on the funding as he tries to prevent a rebellion from Republican hard-liners who could sink the legislation and even try to oust him as speaker. The Senate has already approved the aid.

Ahead of his trip, Cameron said on X that Speaker Johnson can make it happen in Congress. But asked by reporters in Washington why he isnt meeting the Louisiana Republican, the foreign secretary replied that he is speaking to senators and congressman on both sides of the aisle to make his point that ensuring Ukraine wins is in US interests.

There will be people in Iran, in Pyongyang, in Beijing looking at how we stand by our allies, how we help them, how we stop this illegal and unprovoked aggression and working out whether we are committed, whether were prepared to see it through, Cameron said at a joint press conference with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Im here to offer my opinion, to meet with anyone who wants to talk to me about it, to make those arguments.

Trump is seen as the key to unlocking the Republican opposition, providing the context for Camerons visit. Facing an electoral rematch against President Joe Biden in November, Trump is skeptical about providing military support to Ukraine and has suggested giving loans instead of direct funding.

Yet Cameron was tight-lipped about his talks with Trump, calling it a private meeting and saying only that they discussed important geopolitical subjects.

In a statement, Trumps campaign said the former president and Cameron discussed issues including the upcoming US and UK elections, policy matters specific to Brexit, the need for NATO countries to meet their defense spending requirements, and ending the killing in Ukraine.

The UK argues that US aid is vital to Ukraines ability to continue to resist Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has pleaded for the swift approval of US aid, as his countrys forces wrestle with ammunition shortages and delays in supplies of artillery shells from allies that have left them outgunned against Russia by as much as six to one.

Cameron has a strained history with Trump  in contrast to the warmer ties enjoyed by his successor and political rival Boris Johnson, who has also lobbied Trump to step up support for Ukraine.

In late 2015, Cameron  who was UK prime minister at the time  called the then presidential candidates proposal to ban Muslims entering the US as divisive, stupid and wrong. His intervention prompted Trump to speculate he might not have a very good relationship with Cameron.

The pair squared off again over Trumps public backing for the UK to vote to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum called by Cameron. The Republican candidates intervention came as then US President Barack Obama had sided with Camerons campaign to remain in the bloc.

Defeat over Brexit cast Cameron into the political wilderness until Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed him foreign secretary last year. In February Cameron criticized Trump again, this time over his suggestion that the US should not protect NATO countries who dont spend enough on defense.

NATO is more essential than ever, Cameron told reporters, adding that Trumps remarks were not responsible or sensible.

Though Camerons meeting with Trump raised eyebrows  at least in the British media  due to their background, it is unlikely to hurt the UKs relationship with the Biden White House. With Britain gearing up for a general election expected later this year, Blinken held talks with opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in February.

During the press conference, Cameron also said that the UK will continue to sell arms to Israel following revised advice from the governments lawyers. The latest assessment leaves our position on export licenses unchanged, he said.

Cameron said he would not comment on the legal advice he received. His response comes amid pressure from opposition parties and some members of the UKs governing Conservatives to outline whether government lawyers judge Israel is breaching international humanitarian law in Gaza in the wake of last weeks Israeli strike that killed seven aid workers, including three Britons.

(Updates with Cameron comments from fifth paragraph.)

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Lord Camerons mission to America to unblock support for Ukraine has come at a critical time in the war with Russia. Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that his country would lose if US aid is withheld and air cover is not improved.

Approval for a 49 billion package for Kyiv proposed by President Biden is being held up on Capitol Hill amid inter-party wrangling and has not yet been voted upon. Republicans in the House of Representatives say they want additional funding for border security agreed first before giving the go ahead to the Ukraine funding.

The Foreign Secretarys first stop was at Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, for talks with the past and possibly next president. He has been critical of the amount America is handing over to Ukraine and Nato in general, accusing the Europeans of not spending anywhere near enough on their own security.

Mr Trumps agreement to the package could well unblock the logjam but so far it has not been forthcoming. Lord Cameron was unwilling to give details of what he said was a private meeting. He later held talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who urged Congress to vote on the package as a matter of urgency. He pointed out that most of the money would actually be spent on arms production in America, providing thousands of jobs.

Lord Cameron responded to criticism that he was interfering in American decision-making by insisting he was not there to lecture anyone but to make the argument that it was in Americas interests to see Russia defeated.

He said the Ukrainians can still win the war if they are given what they need, including air defences, more ammunition and money. Key to this is what to do with the $300 billion of Russian assets frozen when the invasion happened.

Their confiscation is now actively being discussed ahead of a Nato summit in Japan next month and an agreement to do so would render the release of more US funds much less critical. This would pay for the equipment Ukraine needs.

Under international law such a move needs a vote in the UN Security Council, a judgment by the International Court of Justice or a post-war settlement. None of these will happen in the next few months, if ever. But why should taxpayers in America or Europe pay more to counter Russias aggression or repair the damage they have caused when so much of their own money is available?

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.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands during their meeting in Beijing, China - via AP/Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service

Today, we bring you the latest news from Ukraine, report on UK Foreign Secretary David Camerons visit to the US and discuss some updates from Russia which faces devastating floods and a fuel crisis, amid closer cooperation with China.

Listen to Ukraine: the Latest, The Telegraphs daily podcast, using the audio player at the top of this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.

War in Ukraine is reshaping our world. Every weekday The Telegraphs top journalists analyse the invasion from all angles - military, humanitarian, political, economic, historical - and tell you what you need to know to stay updated.

With over 70 million listens, our Ukraine: The Latest podcast is your go-to source for all the latest analysis, live reaction and correspondents reporting on the ground. We have been broadcasting ever since the full-scale invasion began.

Ukraine: The Latests regular contributors are:

David Knowles

David is Head of Audio Development at The Telegraph, where he has worked for nearly three years. He has reported from across Ukraine during the full-scale invasion.

Dominic Nicholls

Dom is Associate Editor (Defence) at The Telegraph, having joined in 2018. He previously served for 23 years in the British Army, in tank and helicopter units. He had operational deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland.

Francis Dearnley

Francis is Assistant Comment Editor at The Telegraph. Prior to working as a journalist, he was chief of staff to the Chair of the Prime Ministers Policy Board at the Houses of Parliament in London. He studied History at Cambridge University and on the podcast explores how the past shines a light on the latest diplomatic, political, and strategic developments.

They are also regularly joined by Telegraph reporters and correspondents around the world, including Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent), James Kilner, (Foreign Correspondent and Editor of the Central Asia & the South Caucasus Bulletin), Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent), Nataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent), Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent), Colin Freeman (Foreign Correspondent), Danielle Sheridan (Defence Editor), and Tony Diver (US Editor).

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.
OTTAWA  Canada is not about to meet its NATO defense spending commitments anytime soon, a long-awaited major defense policy update revealed on Monday.

In 2023 at NATOs Vilnius summit, Canada committed alongside its allies to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense, but Ottawas most recent projections have its defense spend-to-GDP ratio hit 1.76 percent in 2029-30, at a ballpark of C$57.8 billion.

The news comes as a record number of NATOs allies will meet the 2 percent target, and follows months of pressure from allies for Canada to end its free-rider status in the alliance.

It comes days ahead of Canadas budget, details of which have been revealed in a stream of announcements designed to shore up attention on the governing Liberals as they struggle against Conservatives surging in the polls.

Canadas Defense Minister Bill Blair nonetheless billed the new spending announced Monday as a very significant and necessary step towards reaching our NATO commitment because it sets out billions to advance it from 1.38 percent, according to NATOs July 2023 estimates.

The new defense report was unveiled at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario, where Justin Trudeau was pressed by reporters about failing to hit the target by 2030.

The prime minister vowed theres more to come, given that some future spending has yet to be penciled in because the government has yet to land on some key decisions.

We havent yet defined exactly what types of submarines [we will buy] and how theyre going to be deployed, so, we havent put in the money that Canada will be spending on submarines in the coming years into this calculation, he said.

We know there is more to come over the coming years as Canada continues to step up in a more uncertain, and quite frankly, more dangerous world.

U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen welcomed the news as real progress and said he was encouraged by assurances that more spending is in the works.

The policy appears to articulate a substantial down payment toward Canadas pledge to meet its NATO commitment to spend at least two percent of its GDP on defense, he said in a statement.

Canadas Opposition Conservatives slammed the government for neglecting to address the militarys glaring problems  dwindling personnel, rusting warships and deteriorating fighter jets  despite nearly a decade of flurried spending under other departments.

Our submarines are barely in the water and our warships are aging faster than expected and the Liberals plan to replace them is still years away, Conservative MP James Bezan said in a statement.

Canada is the only country in the defensive bloc thats lagging on both the 2-percent figure and another target: spending 20 percent of defense spending on equipment.

That figure, senior defense officials said Monday, will hit the requirement by fiscal 2025-2026, saving Ottawa from at least one major embarrassment.

At the same press conference, Trudeau confirmed Canada is seeking to join the trilateral AUKUS security pact under Pillar 2.

The Canadian governments new policy document is the first to set out the countrys future defense priorities since 2017, before Russia invaded Ukraine. It frames Canada as pledging a significant increase in defense spending, including C$73 billion over the next two decades.

The document says Canadas most urgent and important task is asserting its sovereignty in the Arctic, where climate change is melting sea ice and Russia and China are seeking to step up their military presence.

It sets out around C$8.1 billion in new defense spending over five years, the bulk of which will be spent on sustaining existing assets such as naval vessels. Only about C$1.5 billion is set for procurement for new capabilities in that time.

Most of the spending will kick in after the next election, which must be held by fall next year.

Ottawa, which is under tight fiscal pressure post-pandemic, has meanwhile also tasked departments to slash unnecessary spending, raising questions about where politics comes to play in some of the accounting.

The document reveals a lengthy shopping list of sorts  or a plan to have a plan for one, in some cases.

It sets aside C$401 million for creating long-range missile capabilities for the Canadian army, though not necessarily ballistic missiles  details still to be decided.

It signals Canada is exploring options for renewing and expanding its submarine fleet, plans to build a satellite ground station in the Arctic, and will buy modern tactical helicopters, both crewed and uncrewed.

Canadas current Griffon helicopter fleet will reach the end of its lifespan around 2031.

We need platforms that can go a little bit further in terms of reach that can carry a little bit more and can execute the tasks that we require, one senior official said in a media briefing.

On the submarines, Canada is in talks with allies so it can match procurement with their program timelines. Trudeau said the government will be considering whether to purchase nuclear submarines.

The defense ministry is also eyeing a new fleet of airborne early warning aircraft, which is not something Canada can do without the aid of its allies, through the U.S. or NORAD.

A senior official said the new system would allow us to provide for greater surveillance of the approaches to Canada  land, air and maritime  plug some of the gaps that may exist in radar and other infrastructure, and again, allow us to burden-share with our allies.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report misstated the date of NATOs Vilnius summit.
Over the last decade, Cape Cod has emerged as a hotspot for Atlantic white sharks visiting during the summer and fall, and last year was no different.

In all, 80 individual sharks crossed paths with researchers from the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy in local waters over the course of five months  and that's not counting any that evaded the scientists' underwater video cameras.

The Chatham-based research team on Thursday released findings from their 2023 season, which included 22 boat excursions around the Cape between July and November. During that time, research coordinator Ashleigh Novak said the team identified 36 sharks they had never encountered before, plus 44 making a return appearance.

"It's actually less new individuals than the previous year, but we do see more returning sharks every year," she said.

Atlantic White Shark Conservancy research coordinator Ashleigh Novak retrieves the acoustic receiver in August 2023 that was put in the water and is used for real-time manual tracking. Cape Cod shark researchers released their latest white shark report this month.

By comparison, the researchers came across 55 sharks for the first time during the 2022 season.

Novak said the findings are based on underwater video footage collected during each research trip, which is used to compare against a database of previously identified sharks.

"It's a pretty extensive process," she said.

The numbers do not include pings from previously tagged sharks recorded by automated receivers deployed off the Cape during the summer and fall. Novak said that data is still being reviewed and will be released in coming weeks.

Besides the data they collect themselves off Cape Cod, the researchers are also excited about the research opportunities afforded by a collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and Atlantic Shark Expeditions off the coast of Nova Scotia. This has allowed the conservancy to expand the geographic scope of the team's white shark identification work up into Canadian waters.

"It's the second year we've been working with the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the first year we've collaborated with the Atlantic Shark Expeditions," Novak said.

They've also been able to add to their data with help from boaters, divers and fishermen up and down the East Coast. This is important because of how far-ranging the sharks can be.

Atlantic white shark Stormy was one of the returning sharks researchers with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy saw during the summer of 2023. The 11-foot female comes to the Cape every summer and fall.

Individual white sharks travel thousands of miles along the eastern coast of the United States and Canada over the course of the year," said Megan Winton, a senior scientist with the conservancy.

Thanks to the work of the Chatham and Canadian researchers, plus the fishermen, divers and boaters who provided videos or images of white sharks, more than 80 previously unknown sharks were identified last year along the East Coast.

One shark  a 14-foot female named LeeBeth  recently made what the conservancy is calling "shark science history" by journeying all the way to Matamoros, Mexico, which is the farthest west a white shark has ever been tracked into the Gulf of Mexico.

All of the identified sharks are given nicknames and added to the conservancy's rapidly growing White Shark Catalog, which can be accessed by way of the White Shark Logbook that's linked to the conservancy's website, atlanticwhiteshark.org.

Because of the collaborations, Winton said, "weve been able to grow the catalog to over 700 individual white sharks documented in the Northwest Atlantic, making it one of the largest photo ID databases of individual white sharks worldwide.

According to the conservancy, white sharks can be identified from their unique coloration, gill and fin markings and dorsal fin profiles, as well as scars from any injuries.

Researchers from the conservancy work closely with Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries scientist Greg Skomal, tagging and collecting underwater video footage of white sharks around Cape Cod. The sharks generally range from Provincetown down to Monomoy, attracted by the Cape's seal populations. White sharks have also been observed in Cape Cod Bay.

Shark scientist Megan Winton photographed at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy in July 2023.

Novak said the total number of sharks in Cape waters at any given time is very fluid, but there's certainly not hundreds of sharks present at the same time.

"Some just stop by Cape Cod briefly on their way north, and some are more resident and will hang around for a month or so. Some, for whatever reason, don't come (to the Cape) at all," she said.

One of the most "exciting" sharks the team re-encountered last summer, she said, was an 11-foot female named Stormy, one of the first the team identified in 2015. Her tag data shows she spends winters off the Carolinas and Florida, and has even gone as far as Key West, Florida, but she comes to the Cape every summer and fall.

"She's one of the original ones. She's been around for quite some time," Novak said.

Stormy was one of the last sharks the researchers encountered in 2023. Receivers had picked up her signal around Cape Cod, but the scientists hadn't laid eyes on Stormy in four years.

"It was nice to see her again," she said.

Anyone who captures footage or photos of white sharks along the coast from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico can contribute images and videos to the White Shark Logbook by sending to info@atlanticwhiteshark.org.

Heather McCarron can be reached at hmccarron@capecodonline.com, or follow her on X @HMcCarron_CCT

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod shark researchers release 2023 findings. How many were seen?
The lethal bird flu virus that has already killed hundreds of millions of birds around the world is spreading through Antarctica, according to a warning issued by an international expedition. Researchers aboard a vessel named the Australis traveled through the Weddell Sea for a month, collecting corpses of Antarctic skuas, migratory scavenging seabirds similar to seagulls. These were infected with influenza in four of the 10 areas that were analyzed. One of the researchers, Antonio Alcami of Spains National Research Council (CSIC), explained by telephone that on Beak Island they witnessed a massive outbreak in a colony of skuas. We saw 80 of them alive and 50 dead. Thats crazy, warned the virologist, who works at the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center in Madrid.

The finding adds to what already amounts to the worst avian flu crisis on record. A new subtype of the virus, called H5N1 2.3.4.4b, emerged in 2021 and has since led to the culling of hundreds of millions of farm birds and the deaths of millions of wild birds. The disease had spread across five continents and conservationists were holding their breath at the possibility that it might extend to Antarctica. On February 24, Alcami and his colleague Angela Vazquez confirmed the presence of the virus in Antarctica, in two dead skuas found by Argentine scientists and analyzed at the Spanish Antarctic base Gabriel de Castilla, on Deception Island.

The 'Australis' facing a penguin breeding area that was analyzed for the virus. Antonio Alcami

Alcami spent two months on a national mission and a month ago he joined an international expedition led by Australian scientist Meagan Dewar, of the SCAR Antarctic Wildlife Health Network. He and the biologist Begona Aguado installed their diagnostic laboratory on the sailboat Australis in order to analyze the samples. This had never been done before. We have shown that it can be done, said Alcami. The expedition, made up of 11 people, found skua carcasses in Hope Bay and on Devils and Paulet Islands, in addition to the 50 observed in the massive outbreak on Beak Island. Researchers tested 10 of the 50 samples and all of them were positive. Scientists from the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) also announced on March 14 that they had detected the virus in five skuas on Ross Island.

The sailboat also explored Heroina Island, inhabited by a colony of Adelie penguins, which owe their name to Adele Pepin, wife of the French explorer Jules Dumont dUrville, who discovered these birds in 1840. The Alcami and Aguado expedition found a massive mortality among these penguins. We counted 500 bodies and stopped counting after that, said the virologist, who estimates that there could be thousands of dead penguins. His team, however, did not immediately detect traces of the highly pathogenic avian flu viruses, despite analyzing the brains and lungs of the dead penguins.

Hundreds of sea lions with H5N1 flu, either dead or dying, began to show up on the beaches of Peru in January 2023, triggering fears that the virus would learn to jump from mammal to mammal. That terrifying possibility has not come true, at least for now. The pathogen still jumps easily from bird to bird, but when it reaches a mammal it is usually a dead end. The epidemiologist Vijay Dhanasekaran, from the University of Hong Kong, explained to this newspaper in October that humans must nevertheless remain alert. There is a perpetual threat of the virus jumping to humans. This is mainly due to the virus ability to evolve rapidly. It can acquire mutations that help it adhere better to the receptors of human cells, or it can acquire the ability to be transmitted by aerosols, warned Dhanasekaran. Alcami and Aguado have analyzed sea lions and elephant seals, without finding any positive cases.
A woman will spend decades in prison after a 3-year-old she was caring for suffered a horrific death, Pennsylvania authorities said.

Chelsea Cooley, 33, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, strangulation and endangering the welfare of a child following the May 2022 death of the toddler, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced Monday, April 8. Cooley was sentenced to 40 to 80 years in prison.

The victim was identified by KDKA as Travis Young. The child was the son of Cooleys boyfriend, the attorney general said.

On May 28, 2022, the 3-year-old was found unresponsive at Cooleys Bedford County home with baby wipes lodged in his throat, according to Henry. He died in a hospital the next day.

An autopsy revealed he died from strangulation and asphyxiation based on the location of the wipes and other injuries on his body, authorities said.

According to the investigation by Pennsylvania State Police, Cooley was the caregiver for boy and other children at the home. The boys father was working a 12-hour shift.

Police said Cooley reported the child threw a temper tantrum earlier in the day and would not eat his lunch, according to WJAC.

She said she later found a wet wipe in the boys throat when she checked on him at around 8:30 p.m., but medical personnel were skeptical the child was able to do it himself, WJAC reported, citing an arrest affidavit.

Doctors reported to police that they removed four wet wipes from the childs throat and noted there was some blood on them, according to court documents obtained by WTAJ. It was their expert opinion that they were lodged so far down his throat that he never could have put them there himself, according to court documents.

A neighbor heard a woman yell shut up around the time the child was believed to have been injured, according to the attorney general.

Cooley took a picture showing the childs obvious injuries, but the picture was taken more than 25 minutes after she called 911, authorities said.

Injuries Travis suffered included scratches and handprints the size of an adult on his body, WTAJ reported.

The facts of this case are horrific, Henry said in a statement. This defendant was responsible for caring for this child, and instead she did the unthinkable. She brutally murdered him, a defenseless and innocent three-year-old child. This defendants actions are devastating to the childs loved ones, but we hope todays admission and sentence offer a measure of justice.

Bedford County is about a 105-mile drive southeast of Pittsburgh.

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Breathing second-hand smoke is still part of the job for many U.S. workers, especially those employed at casinos.

"You know you're in a place unlike any other place in 2024, immediately. Nobody has to be smoking near you, you get the effect as soon as you walk into the casino," Lamont White, 61, a dealer in Atlantic City for nearly 39 years, told CBS MoneyWatch. "My eyes are always red, I have upper respiratory infections all the time  nothing serious yet, but we never know," said White, who works at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, one of nine casinos in Atlantic City. All allow smoking.

"We stand at the tables where they can smoke directly in our faces," relayed Nicole Vitola, 49, also a dealer at the Borgata, and, like White, a co-founder of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects, or CEASE, a grassroots group formed in 2021 in New Jersey.

A dealer in Atlantic City for 27 years, Vitola worked in the smoked-filled casino rooms through two pregnancies. "At no time do they show courtesy for the pregnant dealers," she said.

After unsuccessfully agitating for more than three years to get lawmakers to ban smoking in Atlantic City casinos, CEASE and the United Auto Workers filed a lawsuit on Friday in state Superior Court challenging a gap in New Jersey's indoor clean air law. New Jersey in 2006 passed legislation banning smoking in enclosed indoor spaces and workplaces, but exempted casino workers from its protections, with smoking allowed on 25% of the casino floor.

"This legislation was supposed to protect everyone from the dangers of secondhand smoke. But somehow, our casino workers have been asked to roll the dice, all in the name of corporate greed," UAW President Shawn Fain said. "Every worker deserves safety on the job, and every person deserves equal protection under the law. By leaving out casino workers, the state of New Jersey isn't holding up its end of the bargain."

UAW's region 9 represents workers in New Jersey, including more than 3,000 in the Bally's, Caesars and Tropicana casinos in Atlantic City, "many of whom have suffered, and continue to suffer severe health problems as a result of having to work in secondhand smoke," according to the complaint. Casino workers "have cancer and other diseases related to smoking, although they don't smoke," the document stated.

The lawsuit names Gov. Phil Murphy and the state's acting health commissioner. Murphy, a Democrat, has signaled that he would sign a smoking ban into law if state lawmakers pass one. His office did not respond to a request for comment.

The Casino Association of New Jersey, a trade group that represents all nine Atlantic City casinos, declined to comment on the lawsuit. But the group has opposed a smoking ban, arguing such a prohibition would place the city's casinos at a disadvantage in competing with establishments in neighboring states that allow smoking.

"The state of New Jersey has failed casino workers in Atlantic City for 18 years. We let a false argument about economics subjugate our duty to protect the people we serve and in doing so, we allowed corporations to poison their employees for nearly two decades," Joseph Vitale, a New Jersey state senator, said in a statement supporting the lawsuit.

By 2022, 26 states had commercial casinos employing more than 745,000 people, 22,796 of them in New Jersey, according to the latest annual report from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.

Casino workers are also leading campaigns to close smoking loopholes in other states, including Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia.

Dealers, bartenders and technicians who service the slot machines at U.S. casinos are subjected to on-the-job fumes from the cigarettes of customers still legally allowed to light up inside gambling establishments in 20 states, according to CEASE.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no safe level of secondhand smoke. Further, allowing smoking in casinos puts 96,000 casino workers in Las Vegas at risk, the agency found in a report issued in last year.

Separate data published in June 2022 by Las Vegas-based C3 Gaming found casinos without indoor smoking outperforming their smoking counterparts.

"While nearly ever business in Nevada protects workers and guests from the known dangers of secondhand smoke indoors, casinos are the exception," Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights (ANR) said in calling for an end to indoor smoking in the state.

MGM in 2020 announced that Park MGM, which includes NoMad Las Vegas, would become the first fully smoke-free casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip. Other casinos have non-smoking sections.

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Total solar eclipse cuts path across U.S.

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Cat blamed for starting fire during the eclipse. It led to 36 more cats, officials say

An Ohio woman says her cat is to blame for a house fire during the solar eclipse.

Fire crews were called to a home in Canton on April 8 around 2:45 p.m., according to WJW.

The woman told firefighters that she believed the cat may have turned on the stovetop burner, Jordan Miller News reported. She said she tried to put the fire out with a towel, but it didnt work.

While extinguishing the fire, crews found a total of 37 cats inside the home, WKYC reported. All the cats survived, but some had to be given oxygen for smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, WKYC reported. One firefighter suffered minor injuries, according to WJW.

Loving, stray cat with ruptured eyes needed surgery. Now shes looking for a home

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An Illinois school board has been engulfed by a sensational scandal: One member is accused of posing as his wifes ex-husband to catfish women on Tinder.

Jason Farrell has rebuffed the Moline-Coal Valley school boards demands he resign, so they upped the antecensuring him on Monday night with an eye toward having him tossed off the panel.

We are not a court or jury, but the alleged conduct is just so deeply disturbing, and it has resulted in the district being cast in a terrible light, board President Andrew Waeyaert said at the meeting.

The board and administration have been inundated with inquiries, complaints, and FOIA requests about this matter, and it has monopolized all of our time, he added. This situation and its impact have taken away countless hours from our mission, which is to serve kids and families.

The school board represents an area two hours from Chicago best known as the world headquarters of John Deere. Farrell, a 39-year-old father of four, was elected to the board overseeing a 7,302-student school system last April.

Farrell did not attend Mondays meeting or return calls from The Daily Beast, but he previously denied the allegations leveled against him by veteran Mathew Harris.

I have no intentions of resigning from my school board position. The allegations made against me are false, Farrell said in a statement last week to several local news outlets. I have not been charged with any crimes but instead tried solely through social media. My wife and I, with the advice of legal counsel, will explore all of the options we have to respond accordingly to such heinous accusations.

A Monkey-Themed Banana Holder Is Tearing a Texas City Apart

Harris told The Daily Beast in a phone interview and text messages that he divorced the woman, who is now Farrells wife, about eight years ago and claims he has been a terror to my life ever since.

I have been in a legitimate war, and this is still the craziest thing Ive gone through in my life, he said.

In a 17-minute video posted to YouTube in March, titled Moline Coal Valley School Board Member Pretends to be Military Veteran on Tinder, Harris said he first learned about a Matt Harris Tinder profile from a woman who messaged his current fiancee.

Unsure of who was using his identity, Harris asked the woman to continue messaging the profilewhich included photos of himand provide screenshots of the conversation.

So when are we hooking up? Id love to show you what Im bringing and tell you what Id do. But I need a response soon babe, one message from that Matt Harris read, according to the real Harris.

Harris said Farrell sent the woman a selfie that revealed he was not the man in the photos before arriving at the date, which was partially recorded.

In the recording posted by Harris, which just showed the restaurant window because the woman was hiding her phone, an unidentified man is heard saying he was deployed to the Middle East after college and has no children. Harris says he served in Afghanistan, but Farrell did not.

At the end of the video, Harris can be seen walking into the restaurant while he calls out, Jason Farrell, school board member.

Hes married, and he's very very poorly trying to tell stories of my life, playing them off as if they were his, Harris said in the YouTube video after showing the restaurant recording.

Florida Town Gone Wild Sued by Its Own Former Attorney

Harris told The Daily Beast that a second woman sent him a screenshot of the profile taken on Oct. 6, 2023, which he says is the oldest confirmed screenshot we have of the false account.

My lawyer is going to submit a request for discovery of all info on the account, but were definitely not anticipating that hell cooperate, he added via text.

Harris has since applied for an order of protection against Farrell and was granted an emergency stalking no-contact order last month with a hearing set for April 11. Farrell has not been charged with any crime.

At Mondays board meeting, Waeyaert said Farrell has stated that the video and audio of him have been falsified.

The formal resolution to censure was then passed, which allowed the seven-person board to request the regional superintendent of the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education remove Farrell from office.

The board has attempted to give Mr. Farrell the opportunity to present any evidence in his defense, the resolution says. After receiving no such evidence and after due consideration of all the evidence available at this time, and in light of the urgency of this matter, the Board finds it necessary and desirable to take immediate action.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A television advert in which Italian nuns are offered crisps instead of communion wafers has provoked the ire of conservative Catholics.

They are demanding that the advert for Amica Chips be withdrawn immediately because it is blasphemous.

In the 30-second advertisement, a group of young nuns are seen filing through a cloister into a chapel. Their mother superior finds there are no communion wafers, left so fills up a chalice with crisps.

As the novices line up in front of a bespectacled priest, they are surprised to be given crisps instead of the holy sacrament, with the lead nun opening her eyes wide in astonishment as the salty snack crunches in her mouth.

The camera then pans back to the mother superior who is enthusiastically digging into a large bag of crisps.

An association of Catholic television viewers said the advert, shown on Italian TV channels and social media, offends the sensibility of millions of practising Catholics.

Giovanni Baggio, the president of the association, called for the immediate suspension of the blasphemous advert, adding that it showed a lack of respect.

Avvenire, a newspaper owned by the Italian Bishops Conference, also said it was offended. Christ reduced to a crisp. Debased and vilified as he was 2,000 years ago. Amica Chips has once again chosen provocation as a means of communication, it said in an editorial.

The snack company was spitting on the memory of Christ, just as the Roman soldiers did to him before his crucifixion.

The agency behind the commercial, Lorenzo Marini Group, said it had intended to strike a strong British-style note of irony with an advert that was aimed at a young target audience.

The head of the group, Lorenzo Marini, conceded that the commercial was irreverent but said it was not intended to be offensive.

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.
CBS News is planning to bring its CBS News Confirmed unit to TV with the hiring of a new executive producer: Melissa Mahtani.

CBS News Confirmed, launched late last year, is focused on tackling misinformation, including the growing scourge of deepfakes and photos, videos and audio created by generative artificial intelligence. Now, Mahtani will be tasked with figuring out how best to bring its reporting to TV, digital and social platforms. Segments will run on CBS News programs leading up the the 2024 election, and a dedicated streaming show is planned for later this summer.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

CBS News Confirmed is the right initiative at the right time, Mahtani said. We are witnessing an onslaught of misinformation that makes it harder for people to distinguish between what is real and what is not. CBS News Confirmed will empower our viewers to be able to tell fact from fiction, sharing our own process of verification every step of the way.

Mahtani starts at CBS April 22 and will report to Claudia Milne, senior VP and head of standards and practices for CBS News and Stations. She joins CBS from CNN, where she has been a senior producer.

Melissas depth and breadth of experience across multiple media platforms makes her the perfect person to lead the audience-facing presentation of the work of CBS News Confirmed, Milne said. She knows how to produce stories and shows, tell stories and package information to reach the largest audiences on whatever platforms theyre watching or reading. She will be a huge asset to our team.

CBS News Confirmed was created to tackle a problem that every news organization is facing: How to deal with misinformation and fake content, a problem that is becoming even more troublesome thanks to generative AI tech and the speed and ubiquity of social media. The unit uses investigative journalism, technical skills, data and other tools to filter through content and determine what is real, and what isnt, and to explain it to viewers.

Earlier this month the division hired Rhona Tarrant as its executive editor.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Mandy Cohen was in Northwest Arkansas Monday.

After an invitation from U.S. Representative Steve Womack, she toured Bentonville Head Start, the Walmart headquarters and met with students and staff of Bentonville Schools. The trip was for Cohen to see the state of health care in Northwest Arkansas with a few things that would be enlightening to her, Womack said.

What I learned seeing a ton of things over the course of the day was the incredible teamwork that I see between health care, public health, education, academia, Cohen said.

What to do with your eclipse glasses after the eclipse

Maternal health care and vaccine hesitancy were just two of the conversation-starters during the roundtable discussion that rounded out Cohens tour.

Arkansas is one of the worst states in the United States for maternal care, according to the CDC. Cohen said the CDCs expertise and data can be used to help improve maternal health care.

In addition to University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Mercy and the Arkansas Department of Health, multiple organizations from the Hispanic and Marshallese communities sat in on the roundtable.

It was great to see here at Community Clinic and that UAMS is bringing together a very diverse coalition to make sure that we are building trust between the Marshallese community, the Hispanic community and whats going on in public health and health care, Cohen said.

Womack called the day a home run.

The congressman said the CDC needs authorization to move forward with its data findings and timely funding to implement change.

Those are the two things that I think Congress owes the Centers for Disease Control, Womack said. Just like they do national defense, just like they do homeland security, just like they do transportation and [agriculture].

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  This Saturday, Nauticus will kick off the Battleship Wisconsins 80th commissioning anniversary with a special onboarding celebration.

Free admission for active duty, vets this April at Nauticus for USS Wisconsins 80th birthday

The USS Wisconsin will start off the yearlong celebration with a mix of special tours, workshops and events from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 13.

On Saturday, guests will be able to learn more about the Battleship Wisconsin and honor all of her rich, floating history, Director of Development and Marketing at Nauticus Rehn West said.

Battleship Wisconsin (Courtesy: Nauticus)

Officers Country (Courtesy: Nauticus)

Battleship Wisconsin (Courtesy: Nauticus)

In addition to the celebration, guests will also be able to experience for the first time several newly restored onboard spaces, such as the Helo Control, Television Studio and Officers Country.

The schedule of events for the celebration can be found below:

WisKy Veteran Chat  10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Meet and greet with Battleship Wisconsin veterans.

Enhanced Daily Programs  10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Lean more during your visit to Nauticus with these tabletop demonstrations.

Free Sails with Sail Nauticus  10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Experience 30 minuites of sailing on the Elizabeth River aboard a Sail Nauticus sailboat (first come first serve)

VIP Battleship Experience  10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.: Experience an exlusive guided tour hosted by Keith Nitka, Battleship Operations Manager, as he takes you on an in-depth exploration of the Wisconsin. Registration for this can be found here .

Workshop: Ice Cream!  12 p.m. and 2 p.m.: Discover the fascinating history and science behind ice cream and learn how this dessert played a role in the U.S. victory during WWII. Registration for this can be found here.

To purchase tickets to the Battleship Wisconsins 80th anniversary, visit Nauticuss website here.

Check with WAVY.com for more updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Dario Gil is Senior Vice President and Director of IBM Research, one of the world's largest corporate research labs.

The human brain is incredibly complex, with 86 billion neurons firing 1,000 impulses per second. The task at hand is to emulate this biological marvel to understand and respond in Spanish, a language spoken around the world by over 500 million people. The Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) and IBM are teaming up to tackle this challenge using the MareNostrum supercomputer and IBMs global artificial intelligence (AI) expertise.

Dr. Dario Gil from Spain has played a key role in supporting this project as the leader of IBMs global research division. In a recent interview after finalizing the agreement to develop the first major Spanish-language AI model, he promised this technological advancement will be revolutionary. The project will use an open and collaborative framework for AI-model training that uses data from the Spanish legislatures meeting minutes, the Royal Spanish Academy, Spanish-speaking universities and groups, and other public sources. He expects to showcase a first iteration of the model by the end of the year.

Question. Why is IBM investing in a Spanish-language AI model?

Answer. Our approach to AI aligns with the Spanish governments strategy. Unlike other companies, we believe in an open ecosystem shaping the future of AI. Similar to the shift in operating systems two decades ago, we foresee AI development rooted in open-source collaboration. The world wants to be a part of shaping the future of AI.

Q. What will that look like ?

A. We aim to build collaborative environments for creating foundational models using open, public sources with transparent data for pre-training. Increasing model capacity gradually is crucial. Current models need six to nine months of pre-training and yearly releases. By establishing a base model for all developers to enhance, we can collaboratively create the best foundational, open models in Spanish and other languages.

All the talk about bubbles comes from doomsday prophets, but AIs technological base is powerful and solid

Q. How are you going to develop it?

A. From a computing standpoint, well utilize the current capabilities in the BSC. The minister [Spains Digital Transition Minister Jose Luis Escriva] has committed to investing in the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer and accelerating the development of version 6. IBM Research will provide supercomputing centers dedicated to artificial intelligence, as well as our latest research and innovations.

Q. Which sectors does the model prioritize?

A. Every sector matters, but the Spanish government aims to ensure that small and medium-sized businesses, which face more obstacles when adopting this technology, reap the benefits along with government entities. We have identified specific use cases to promote the application of artificial intelligence in these sectors.

The model will use public data, but we also want to use government documents  like legislature meeting minutes  which poses a unique and interesting challenge

Q. How much will it cost?

A. I dont have a concrete number for you. But to give you a general idea, a high-performance foundational model needs thousands of processing units that each cost at least $35,000. These are ambitious projects, not something done casually. At IBM Research, we have committed 3,600 scientists and engineers along with dedicated supercomputing teams. And since its an open-source system, well invite Spanish-speaking developers to join parallel efforts.

Q. Where will the data come from to feed the model?

A. The model will use publicly available data, but we also want to use government documents  like legislature meeting minutes  which poses a unique and interesting challenge. Spains national libraries and the Royal Spanish Academy are expected to collaborate  all public data.

For example, you can prompt the model for answers consistent with an Argentine experience  it adapts by learning from the context of the interaction

Q. And how will you preserve the diversity of the Spanish language?

A. From a mathematical perspective, language variations can be integrated within the neural network. The diversity lies within the network, and once fine-tuning is completed, it adjusts to different Spanish variations despite being trained on base documents. For example, you can prompt the model for answers consistent with an Argentine experience  it adapts by learning from the context of the interaction

Q. But certain words and phrases in Spain dont have the same meaning in Latin America.

A. The base model will grow, specialize and improve its skills through collective efforts so specific contexts can be understood. The open-source model accommodates this vast diversity. The goal is to expand it extensively, including Brazil. Ibero-America offers vast market opportunities and we must leverage the competitive advantages of the Spanish language.

The goal is to expand the model extensively, including Brazil. Ibero-America offers vast market opportunities and we must leverage the competitive advantages of the Spanish language

Q. When will the first model be available?

A. The goal is to have an initial model and some use cases by year end. This [AI] world is very dynamic and no one is interested in projects that take years to produce results.

Q. What will IBM gain from this project?

A. Let me give you the example of Red Hat [an IBM-owned provider of enterprise open source solutions]. With billions in annual revenue, its the worlds largest open-source software company. This is the business model we want to emulate  not because were altruistic  we believe in this model. We sought strategic partners and found a strong alignment with the Spanish government. Over 80 institutions have committed to the project so far.

Q. Is there an AI bubble right now?

A. Technology is evolving faster than ever before. We now plan in days and weeks, not months and years. All the talk about bubbles comes from doomsday prophets, but AIs technological base is powerful and solid.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Central Piedmont Community College and Lees-McRae College will announce a program that provides a pathway to a bachelors degree on Tuesday.

The Charlotte community and private Banner Elk colleges will sign an agreement at 9 a.m. to establish a Guaranteed Admission Program.

The Lees-McRae Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP) will automatically admit Central Piedmont students who have earned an Associate of Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, or Associate in Fine Arts degree and meet specific grade-point-average requirements. Students in the program will also be eligible to receive merit scholarships for up to 50 percent of Lees-McRaes annual tuition.

Suspect arrested near CPCC campus for nearby shooting: PD

The program will begin with the fall 2024 semester.

Central Piedmont president Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer and Lees-McRae College president Dr. Herbert King Jr. will sign the agreement in Charlotte.

Founded in 1963, Central Piedmont is the second-largest community college in the North Carolina Community College System and the largest in the Charlotte metro area. The school averages 40,000 students yearly and runs Charlottes public television station, WTVI.

 Track issues along your commute with the QCN Traffic Interactive Map

LeesMcRae College, founded in 1900, enrolls less than 1,000 students. It is a private school affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Banner Elk is about a 2-hour, 30-minute drive from Central Piedmonts campus.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  A Guatemalan national living in Champaign will spend the rest of his life in federal prison for crimes stemming from a years-long kidnapping and forced labor scheme that prosecutors said he and his siblings were involved in.

Prosecutors said Domingo Francisco-Juan was the catalyst and driver of the scheme, and he will receive a sentence that prosecutors called severe and historic. Francisco-Juans crimes fell under the scope of Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, and there hasnt been a life sentence under that law in over 10 years.

In addition, one of Francisco-Juans siblings  Catarina Domingo-Juan  has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in the scheme. Another sibling  Lorenza Domingo-Castaneda  is set to be sentenced. Prosecutors have asked for an identical 20-year sentence.

The three siblings were charged in 2022 with conspiracy to commit forced labor and kidnapping, which they pleaded guilty to last year. Prosecutors said that in 2015, 2018 and 2019, they lured three people, including two young girls, from Guatemala to the United States on the promise to their parents that their children would be cared for as they received an education and a better life in the U.S.

Decatur man sentenced to 50 years for horrific child sex crimes

But once the victims arrived here in the United States, isolated and afraid, it was a different story, said Kristen Clark, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the US Department of Justice. The defendants immediately broke these promises and ruthlessly exploited the victims for profit with no regard for their rights, dignity or humanity.

Using physical and psychological abuse, the siblings forced the victims to work menial jobs such as cleaning hotel rooms and working in factories. The victims were never allowed to keep the money they earned or contact their families in Guatemala. The siblings are also said to have used fraudulent documents to lie about the victims ages and claim that the victims were their relatives, giving them custody and control of them.

What these young women were forced to endure at the hands of these defendants was nothing short of a nightmare, said Gregory Harris, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. For two of the women, this involuntary servitude constituted a significant part of their childhood.

One of the victims was just 10 years old when she arrived in the United States in December of 2015. Prosecutors said she remained with the siblings through January of 2021.

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Harris said the sentence imposed on the siblings, including the life sentence for Francisco-Juan, reflect the gravity of their crimes. Clark added that several things made this case different than previous cases over the last decade, none of which resulted in a life sentence.

The kidnapping count here makes this case unique, and it is the sentencing guidelines tied to the kidnapping count that really resulted in the life sentence imposed on defendant Domingo Francisco-Juan. And then certainly the age of the victims here, Clark said. Those aspects, along with the heinous forced labor scheme that included grueling work, cleaning hotel rooms and factory work, make this case as particularly pernicious.

Harris and Sean Fitzgerald, a Special Agent in Charge with Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago, commended the cooperation between local and federal law enforcement agencies in bringing the siblings to justice. Those agencies included the Champaign Police Department, the Champaign County Sheriffs Office, Illinois State Police, FBI and U.S. Marshals Service.

It was only through their combined efforts that we were able to bring these offenders to justice, Harris said. I am grateful for all of their work.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A local library has created a new strategic plan after asking for input from the community.

The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library has released its 2024-2029 Strategic Plan. More than 1,750 people responded to a community survey to help the library come up with its new plan, according to a social media announcement.

The House that Jack Built for sale at $2.5 million in central Kansas

This is the first time the library has developed a strategic plan since 2009. The need for a new plan to guide the library for the next few years came from major changes in the local community such as the COVID-19 Pandemic. Five major themes are identified in the plan and listed in a statement from the librarys CEO.

Our library is prepared for an exciting future with a new strategy based on a planning process that includes your voice. You let us know what you need from your library from more than 1,750 responses to a community survey and 9 meetings. You told us that the library is an integral part of your life, and you want more opportunities to learn, explore and connect. What does that look like? I am thrilled to share that it is focused on connection, learning, space, joy and people. Your input has enabled us to create not only a new strategy but also a working document that will empower our library to continue to be a trusted community institution for all our citizens throughout their lives. Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library CEO Marie Pyko

Some other big highlights to keep an eye out for in the future are outlined near the end of the plan. These include:

Offer next-level emerging tech classes (2024-2025)

Expansion of Spanish language collections to the community (2024)

Expansion of remote lockers to at least two more areas of the community and explore satellite/colocation of library services (2025-2029)

Launch new Digital Library website (2024)

Create Juvenile Detention Center program (2024)

Expansion of art creation classes and workshops for adults (2025)

Build a dynamic Genealogy & Local History website (2024)

KANSAS adds new tour date in Topeka as tickets sell out

You can read through the full strategic plan online by clicking here or by looking through the document below:

Tscpl Strategic Plan 2024-2029 Issuu by Matthew Self on Scribd

This embedded content is not available in your region.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Two local men are facing charges for having machine guns, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced.

Statesville resident Trevaris Kennedy, 21, was arrested on Monday and is charged with machine gun possession as a felon. Court records stated that shortly before Christmas of last year, Kennedy had two Glocks and a machine gun as a convicted felon.

In a separate case, court records stated that in July of 2023, 21-year-old Charlotte resident Tiquavion Ervin was found with a ghost gun with measures that made it into a machine gun.

The weapons contained conversion kits including Glock switches that turn a semiautomatic gun into a fully automatic. The conversion and classification is known as a machine gun, the DAs office said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Free opioid overdose reversal kits are now available 24/7 at four Cherry Health locations across West Michigan.

Cherry Health on Tuesday announced new Narcan vending machines at two of its Grand Rapids locations: the Southside Health Center, located at 2303 Kalamazoo Ave. SE near Edna Street SE, and Westside Health Center, at 669 Stocking Ave. NW near Nagold Street NW.

A Narcan vending machine at the Cherry Health Westside Health Center on April 9, 2024.

Old newspaper boxes become Narcan dispensers at Ferris State University

Narcan is the brand name delivery system for the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone. Narcan has no potential for abuse, according to Cherry Health.

The two new vending machines were funded by a $20,000 grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the health system says. They join two that were already in place at other Cherry Health locations: one at the Heart of the City Health Center on Cherry Street SE in Grand Rapids, the other at the Montcalm Health Center on N Lafayette Street in Greenville.

Free Narcan vending machine program expanding

This is one of the most important tools that we have in combating the opioid epidemic. Whats happening in our communities is devastating and any opportunity that people have to stay alive and access health care services is a benefit, Cherry Health Chief Behavioral Health Officer Bob Smith told News 8.

Nearly 50 little boxes of hope, as Smith called them, are dispensed each week at the Heart of the City location. A similar number are taken from the machine in Greenville.

My belief is that everyone can benefit from having Narcan. I think that as much as we can offer access points to the community, we will continue to do so, Smith said.

Nearly 3,000 people died from drug overdoses in Michigan in 2022. Just last year, 109 overdose deaths were reported in Kent County.

One of the things that I will often talk about is its really hard to provide treatment to dead people. Narcan is literally the way that we keep people alive to be able to come in and receive services, said Smith.

Another issue health leaders are working to address is removing the stigma around substance use disorders. Smith believes these machines are helping do that.

Part of having this community accessible 24/7 is that we take the stigma out of it. You dont have to talk to anyone, you dont have to ask for it. You show up, punch a number and you get a free box of Narcan.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Ground-up chicken waste fed to cattle may be behind bird flu outbreak in US cows

Dairy cows across six US states have become infected with the highly pathogenic virus - ADAM DAVIS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Fears are growing that the H5N1 outbreak among cattle in the United States could have been caused by contaminated animal feed.

In contrast to Britain and Europe, American farmers are still allowed to feed cattle and other farm animals ground-up waste from other animals including birds.

Dairy cows across six US states  and at least one farm worker  have become infected with the highly pathogenic virus, which has already killed millions of animals across the globe since 2021.

The farm worker, who is thought to have been exposed via infected cattle in Texas, is only the second recorded human H5N1 case in the US. Since February, the US has investigated and discounted a further 8,000 possible exposures, according to Dr Joshua Mott, WHO senior advisor on influenza.

The development is of concern because it allows the virus, which has killed millions of birds and wild mammals around the world, more opportunities to mutate.

American farmers are still permitted to feed cattle ground-up waste from other animals, including birds - Rodrigo Abd/AP/File photo

Experts fear that H5N1, which was only first detected in cows a few weeks ago, may have been transmitted through a type of cattle feed called poultry litter  a mix of poultry excreta, spilled feed, feathers, and other waste scraped from the floors of industrial chicken and turkey production plants.

In the UK and EU, feeding cows proteins from other animals has been tightly regulated since the outbreak of BSE  or mad cow disease  30 years ago.

Experts are unsure but fear it could be the poultry litter feed used in the US that has passed the virus to cattle.

In the US, the feeding of poultry litter to beef cows is a known factor in the cause of botulism in cattle, and is a risk in the case of H5N1, said Dr Steve Van Winden, Associate Professor in Population Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College.

Dr Tom Peacock, a virologist and fellow at the Pirbright Institute agreed: This latest case wouldnt be the first time there have been concerns H5N1 could be moving through different mammals via contaminated feed, citing the outbreak of avian flu in cats in Poland last year, which experts suspected might have been transmitted through mink byproducts used in raw cat food.

The US cattle industry is worth over $100 billion and regulations covering animal standards there have long been controversial in Europe  most famously over the use of hormones in the rearing of cattle for meat.

The US cattle industry is worth over $100 billion and regulations covering animal standards there have long been controversial - ADAM DAVIS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Although the presence of H5N1 in US cattle herds increases the risk of the virus getting into humans via farm workers, it is the spread of the virus to pig farms that presents the bigger threat.

This is because pigs have receptors on some cells that are similar to humans, making it much more likely that the virus could mutate and jump to humans if pig farms become infected.

So far, the virus hasnt shown any signs of worrying mutation, however.

Infection of H5N1 in pigs is of particular concern  they are highly susceptible to human influenza virus strains so could act as mixing vessels for avian and human viruses to mix and generate viruses that can more efficiently infect humans, said Dr Tom Peacock.

Poultry litter is not only cheaper than other food sources like soy and grains but is also more calorie-dense, meaning farmers can bulk up their herds much more quickly.

According to previous statements by the FDA, the practice is safe: With respect to pathogenic microorganisms, drug residues and contaminants in poultry litter, FDA is not aware of any data showing that the use of poultry litter in cattle feed is posing human or animal health risks that warrant restrictions on its use, the agency previously noted.

There are several other theories on how the H5N1-infected cattle  so far identified in Texas, Idaho, Kansas, Ohio, New Mexico, and Michigan  contracted the virus.

Many experts argue that the most likely route of infection is via wild birds  which have been found dead on some farms.

The spread of this around the world comes back to wild and wild bird populations and where they land and where their faeces goes, stressed the WHOs Dr Johsua Mott.

At some point, the contact with wild birds in the environment produced virus that then the cows had exposure to, but how that exposure happened is what many people are trying to figure out, he added.

It is also unclear if the virus is spreading from animal to animal, said Dr Mott.

On each farm, multiple creatures have been infected but this could be because they are eating from a common source of infection  feed or wild birds  rather than passing it on to another.

The director of ruminant health for the United States Department of Agriculture, Mark Lyons, suggested at a meeting last week the virus could be potentially transmitted by contamination of workers clothing, or the suction cups that are attached to cow udders during milking.

However, others argue that poultry litter as a potential source of contamination cannot be ruled out.

The flu can be spread by faecal-oral routes, and so its not an impossible scenario that chickens who are infected with H5N1 are shedding live virus through faces, which the cattle then consume, and so it is a potential mechanism of transmission, although there are other explanations, said Dr Brian Ferguson, Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Cambridge.

The BSE scandal showed us the reality of what happens when biosecurity is not a priority, and showed us that it really does need to be prioritised  which is not always the case, because of the economics involved, he added.

Despite large-scale culling in poultry flocks during outbreaks to limit spread, it seems a similar approach will not be taken for cattle.

The CDC has advised farmers with affected herds to dispose of milk produced by infected cattle, although it is thought that the pasteurisation process also destroys the virus  meaning the risk to humans consuming animal products remains low.

At present, the WHO has said the risk to humans is considered low, but that surveillance efforts must be kept up.

There were 12 of H5N1 cases globally in 2023, and a similar pace so far in 2024. Since it emerged in 1996, there have been over 800 cases globally.

So you get a sense that theres nothing unprecedented about the number of human cases were seeing  but we have to watch the virus. We have to watch the epidemiology, to see if its changing in some way, said Dr Mott.

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In the agricultural community of Immokalee, Florida, known for its large migrant worker population, a 40-year-old tutoring and mentoring program has made big strides in promoting higher education as a path to prosperity  and helping students prepare, apply and be able to afford college.

Just before starting her freshman year at Immokalee High School, Jazmin Lara-Vasquez was recruited to join the Guadalupe Center Tutor Corps program. Over the last four years, the now high school senior has tutored kindergarten to second-grade students after school, assisting them with various subjects such as reading, writing and math. In addition to receiving payment for tutoring, Lara-Vasquez also earns scholarship funds to support her college education later on.

Having been here for years, I think its been an amazing experience. Ive been able to grow as a person. Ive learned things about me," Lara-Vazquez said. "And Ive gotten preparation for what life after high school looks like."

Lara-Vazquez, 18, plans to attend the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Jazmin Lara-Vasquez smiles for a portrait (Guadalupe Center)

Since 1984, the Guadalupe Center has served approximately 1,950 children and youth a year in the Immokalee school system, ranging in age from infants and children in their Early Childhood Program to their after-school tutoring and summer programs and their Tutor Corps. According to the center, over 94% of its program participants have obtained college degrees and initiated careers spanning various fields.

Currently, 160 former Guadalupe Center students are enrolled in colleges nationwide and another 125 high school students are actively preparing to attend a higher education institution.

These numbers are significant considering that, according to the latest U.S. census data, only 6% of adults in Immokalee hold a bachelors degree, placing it among the lowest rates nationwide, and almost 24% live in poverty.

Nearly 4 in 10 (39%) of Immokalee's residents are born outside the U.S.; 73% are Hispanic and 21% are Black.

Most of the Guadalupe students are first-generation college students, and all share a common experience.

Its a community that lacks resources, Guadalupe Center President Dawn Montecalvo said, and if we can bring those resources to the students and provide them with education, we can change the face of the community  just change the world.

Students in the Tutor Corps program must hold a 3.0 grade-point average throughout their time at Immokalee High School to receive guidance and support from an adult mentor. Guadalupe Center staff members offer the students a range of college and career readiness resources, including ACT and SAT preparation, mentorship opportunities, financial literacy training, scholarship assistance and compensation for tutoring younger peers.

We didnt have one student who had to take out a student loan, Im very, very proud of that. And thats through our partnerships and scholarships, Robert Spano, vice president of programs at Guadalupe Center, said.

John Auguste. (Guadalupe Center)

John Auguste, a 17-year-old high school senior who will attend Northeastern University in Boston, said the program has provided him with a realistic preview of college life as he transitions from the predominantly Latino community where he grew up to a more diverse college environment.

I think that culture shift might be difficult, at first, and be very different from what were used to in Immokalee, said Auguste, whose family immigrated from Haiti.

Silviano Rubio-Diaz, an 18-year-old high school senior who plans to attend Florida SouthWestern State College, said the tutoring program offered him direction.

"Before being part of the program, I was lost, I didnt know what I wanted to do after high school. Now, being here, they have helped me prepare and go as far as finding what career I want to get into," Rubio-Diaz, whose family is from Mexico, said.

Silviano Rubio-Diaz (Guadalupe Center)

As Lara-Vazquez gets ready to leave her community to attend college, she reflected on the fact that through her tutoring and her academic achievement, she's helped younger residents consider a similar path.

You paved the way for other people looking up to you. Some think, 'Oh, I cant go to college because I cant be the person or Im not gonna know how to,' but you kind of show them that, hey, if I was the first generation and I was able to do it, you can also do it as long as you put yourself to it," she said.

Montecalvo said she hopes they can continue to reach more students in the community. "That way, we can keep adding more levels to the program, so that you know our students are coming out of high school and going into college stronger, she said.

Liliana Carreno-Gonzalez, a 17-year-old high school senior who plans to attend the University of Toledo in Ohio, spoke of what she'd like to do after she earns her college degree.

I plan to come back to Immokalee and become a teacher. And the reason I want to come back is because this is where I was raised," she said. "I really want to help my community and give back."

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This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Colonization, bloodshed, war crimes, occupation, controversial military bases. These are all issues intertwined in the collective history of the United States, Japan and the Philippines.

But when the leaders of the three countries sit down at the White House on Thursday, a key topic will be a much more present-day worry that binds their relationship  a common concern over China.

The perceived threat of China has really driven these three together, said James D.J. Brown, associate professor of political science at Temple University in Tokyo, ahead of this weeks summit between US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

But it is a possible conflict over Taiwan  the democratically ruled island that Chinas Chinese Communist Party (CCP) views as part of its territory, despite having never controlled it  that dominates strategic thinking.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has vowed to bring Taiwan under Beijings control and has not renounced the use of force to do so.

The Taiwan Relations Act obligates Washington to provide weaponry for the islands defense, and Biden has repeatedly suggested he would use US military personnel to defend it in the event of a Chinese invasion (though White House officials have said the US policy to leave that question ambiguous has not changed).

Both the Philippines and Japan are US defense treaty allies, and the US military retains permanent bases in Japan and has base rights in the Philippines.

That threat is manifested in three key areas  Taiwan, the South China Sea and the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, analysts say.

In the event of conflict, China could not ignore either with less than a few hundred kilometers of water separating both the Philippines and Japan from Taiwan, analysts say.

If youre China, you cannot invade Taiwan, without dealing with the Philippines first, or dealing with the Japanese bases as well, said Micah Jeiel Perez, an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Historic meeting

Both Marcos and Kishida have made plain that peace in Taiwan is essential to their national security.

Should there in fact be conflict in that area  its very hard to imagine a scenario where the Philippines will not somehow get involved, Marcos told Nikkei Asia in an interview last year.

Japanese officials have previously pointed out that 90% of their countrys energy needs are imported via the water around Taiwan, tying Japans economic stability to Taipeis autonomy.

Those sea lanes extend into the South China Sea, which gives Japan a vested interest in keeping it part of a free and open Indo-Pacific, a term coined by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that has become a mantra for US military presence in the region.

Japan and other parts of the world actually are very much dependent on maritime traffic that passes through the South China Sea, said Ricardo Jose, also a professor at the University of the Philippines.

In Japans case, it is very strategic. Its a strategic necessity that they protect those sea lanes, Jose said.

In an interview with CNN on Sunday ahead of the summit, Kishida called the Philippines an important partner in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

I believe that this historic meeting will be a very valuable opportunity to demonstrate to the world how the three countries can work together for peace and stability in the region, he said of the upcoming three-way summit in Washington.

Japan and Philippines both have separate territorial disputes with China, in the formers case the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and in the latters areas of the South China Sea.

Philippines-China tensions have focused on Second Thomas Shoal, which sits about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the coast of the Philippine island of Palawan. In the 1990s, the Philippines grounded an aging World War II-era navy transport ship on the shoal, to help enforce its claim to the area. The ship is now mostly a rusted wreckage and is manned by Philippine marines stationed on rotation.

Meanwhile, China claims the shoal, which is in the Philippines exclusive economic zone, as its sovereign territory, as it does much of the South China Sea, in defiance of an international arbitration ruling.

Recent clashes have occurred when Philippine attempts to resupply the forces on the ship have been met by China Coast Guard ships firing water cannons at the Philippine resupply boats, resulting in injuries to Filipino sailors and damage to the vessels.

Marcos has vowed not to submit to Chinese intimidation, and the US has steadfastly said the US-Philippines mutual defense treaty covers Second Thomas Shoal and the Philippine forces involved.

When it comes to the Senkakus  called the Diaoyus by China  Washington has also reiterated repeatedly that they are covered by the US-Japan mutual defense treaty as Beijing has been keeping a steady presence of its coast guard vessels around the Japanese-controlled islands.

A tense past

The Chinese tactics have united Biden, Kishida and Marcos in a way that few might imagine given the complex and often troubled trilateral history involved, analysts say.

The Philippines became a colony of the United States in 1899 after Spain ceded control of its longtime territory to Washington as part of the settlement of the Spanish-American war.

But Philippine nationalists fought against US control in the 1899-1902 Philippine-American War, during which more than 4,200 US troops, 20,000 Filipino troops and 200,000 Filipino civilians died, according to a US State Department history.

During World War II, the Philippines, still a US colony, was subject to a brutal invasion by the forces of Imperial Japan, with as many as 1 million civilian and military deaths, according to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

Tens of thousands of Filipino soldiers died during the infamous Bataan Death March and in the prison camps where they were interned at its terminus.

A post-war trial would find the Japanese commander in the Battle of Bataan and the man responsible for the troops that carried out the Death March, Gen. Masaharu Homma, guilty of war crimes. He was executed in 1946.

But analysts say the World War II history with Japan is forgotten  if not quite forgiven  in the Philippines.

The country has immediate, pressing social, economic and political problems to deal with that effect the everyday lives of its citizens, Perez, the University of the Philippines professor, said.

So despite any lingering grievances, the cold calculus of geopolitics means keeping Japan and the United States as allies is the Philippines best option for issues of territorial sovereignty, Perez said.

Alliance building is the most practical way to deal with Chinas moves in the South China Sea, he said.

Lattice alliance

Analysts note how fast things have changed in the Philippines, even for that US base access. Under the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos Jrs predecessor, any US military access to the country where it once maintained two of its largest overseas military installations, Clark Air Base and Subic Bay Naval Base, was in doubt.

Duterte looked more favorably on relations with China than the US and at one point threatened not to renew agreements that let the US military operate on the soil of its former colony.

But Marcos has gone in the opposite direction, cozying up to Washington to push back against Chinese attempts to squeeze the Philippines out of territorial claims like Second Thomas Shoal.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks during an interview in Manila on March 19, 2024. - Veejay Villafranca/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Meanwhile, the Biden administration is setting up what Robert Ward, Japan chair at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, called a latticework of alliances around China, rather than a hub-and-spoke system where bilateral ties went out to a range of foreign capitals with Washington at the center.

Like the trilateral US-Japan-Philippines relationship in focus this week, the US, Japan and South Korea have also increased defense cooperation; key US ally Australia has established new defense ties with Japan, India and the Philippines; the Philippines is importing military hardware from India; Japan is strengthening security ties with Vietnam.

One lattice was on display Sunday as warships and planes from the US, Japan and the Philippines were joined by forces from Australia for their first-ever Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity in the South China Sea.

Philippine Navy ship BRP Antonio Luna, Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Warramunga, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces ship JS Akebono and US Navy ship USS Mobile (LCD-26) during the first Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity in the disputed South China Sea on April 7, 2024. - Armed Forces of the Philippines/Handout/AP

Analysts say that with the latticework alliance approach, the hope of the Biden administration, as well as like-minded leaders in the Pacific, is that it will have the stability to withstand possible changes in leadership, especially with a presidential election coming in the US in November.

Brown, the Temple University professor, called the approach future-proofing.

Even if you have these mechanisms created, they can still be bulldozed. But at least youve got something that youve created, and you hope that it would last through a (Donald) Trump presidency, Brown said.

Its a very fragile set of flowers that are blooming in the Indo-Pacific, said Ward at IISS. They need watering and fertilizing every day.

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(Bloomberg) -- China is sending its highest-level delegation to North Korea in nearly five years for a trip starting Thursday that comes as Pyongyang has drawn closer to Russia.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Zhao Leji, Chinas No. 3 official, will head the delegation for a goodwill visit at the invitation of Pyongyang, the official Korean Central News Agency said. The delegation will be in North Korea until Saturday, Chinas Foreign Ministry said.

Zhao will be the highest-ranking official to visit the North Korean capital since President Xi Jinping went in June 2019 and told leader Kim Jong Un the world wanted him to make progress in nuclear talks.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular briefing on Tuesday that sending the high-level delegation on an official goodwill visit reflects the deep friendship between our two countries and the great importance China attaches to it.

In January, Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong visited Pyongyang for talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and agreed to strengthen strategic communication.

China has been North Koreas biggest benefactor for years, providing a lifeline that has keeps its economy afloat. The US and its partners have been pressing China to use its influence on North Korea to rein in Kims nuclear ambitions.

The US, South Korea and others in recent months have said Kim is receiving massive amounts of aid from Russia in exchange for transfers of weapons for use by the Kremlins forces in its war on Ukraine.

Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the charges despite a multitude of satellite photos released by research groups and the US government showing the flow of arms from North Korea to Russia and then to munitions dumps near the border with Ukraine.

North Korea has been touting its close ties to Moscow in state media. Last month, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to extend a panel of experts that has reported on North Koreas nuclear development for 15 years, while China abstained.

Russia and China both sent high-level delegations to Pyongyang in July last year to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of Korean War fighting. The Russian delegation was led by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who received a personal tour of a display of North Koreas latest weaponry guided by Kim. Chinas delegation was led by Li Hongzhong, a member of the 24-member Politburo.

--With assistance from Jing Li and Colum Murphy.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Sen. Chuck Schumer on Tuesday slammed former President Donald Trump for his new position on abortion as Republicans continued to squabble over the lightning rod issue.

The Senate majority leader called out Trump for his hard-to-pin-down stance on reproductive rights and suggested Democrats would continue to lean hard on the issue to win at the ballot box in November.

Should former President Trump return to office, he will continue to support a federal abortion ban and continue to erode womens rights, Schumer said on the Senate floor.

After all, this is the Donald Trump who said: Women who seek reproductive care should be punished, he added.

Schumer mocked Trump for flip-flopping on the issue over the years and even the past few months when he mused about backing a 15-week national ban.

Lets wait a few weeks and see what his new position will be, Schumer said.

A day after Trump put out a video suggesting abortion restrictions should be left to the states, Republicans continued to snipe over whether that stance makes moral or political sense.

Sen. Lindsey Graham reiterated his support for a 15-week national abortion ban, a position Trump declined to endorse for now.

The states rights approach, to me, you sort of abandon your position on late term abortion (in blue states). It does bother me what happens in California and New York, Graham told CNN Tuesday.

Trump lashed out at Graham and some prominent abortion opponents for not getting in line behind his position, which he hoped would ease the fierce political headwinds the GOP is facing going into the November elections.

He even said Grahams failure to toe the line could cost Republicans the Congress and even the presidency, effectively admitting he fears losing to Biden.

Trump campaign advisers say the former president privately considers abortion to be a political loser and hopes it plays as small a role as possible in his White House rematch with President Biden.

That appears to be wishful thinking as Democrats and abortion-rights activists continue to hit him hard on the issue. They blame Trump for opening the door to near-total abortion bans in most Republican states as well as the ongoing push to ban medication abortion.

The Biden campaign put out a new ad depicting a Texas woman who nearly died and may never be able to have children again after she was denied care for a stillborn child under the Lone Star States six-week abortion ban.

Donald Trump did this, reads the ads final line.

Trump once said he was strongly pro-choice but switched to the pro-life side when he entered Republican politics. He has floated various stances on the issue over the years, while consistently bragging that he gave conservatives what they long considered the Holy Grail by reversing Roe, which legalized abortion nationwide for 50 years.

The former president will likely face far more questions about abortion as the election cycle heats up.

In Arizona, the conservative state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a 123-year-old law bans all abortions in the state.

Trumps home state of Florida is the latest to enact a near-total ban on abortion after the Florida Supreme Court rejected an appeal over its constitutionality.

Sunshine State voters will also get the chance to vote on a constitutional amendment that would effectively restore the protections provided by Roe v. Wade and overturn the ban.

Trump has not yet said how he will vote on the referendum, which requires 60% support to pass. Thats about the same share of voters who generally support abortion rights, polls say.
Dogs in a cage at the Chesterfield Square Animal Services Center in Los Angeles in 2022. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to temporarily stop issuing new dog breeding licenses because of overcrowding at city-run animal shelters.

The city's six shelters have 737 kennels, but more than 1,500 dogs were living at the shelters in February, according to the most recent available data. The shelters are more than 200% over capacity, which has led to dogs tripled up in kennels or being housed in crates in hallways for months on end.

Euthanasia of dogs by the city are up 22% so far this year compared with the same period last year.

The Times has chronicled poor conditions at shelters, including a lack of dogwalking and inadequate food supplies for small animals.

It is unacceptable for the city to continue issuing breeding permits while thousands of animals are suffering from overcrowded conditions in our shelters, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who chairs the committee that oversees the city's Animal Services Department, said Tuesday.

Read more: Animal welfare activists pressure City Council to make changes amid shelter crisis

The American Kennel Club, which bills itself as the worlds largest not-for-profit all-breed registry, opposes the ban. It said in a statement this week that "blaming registered, responsible breeders" for the shelter crisis won't improve conditions for those dogs.

Anecdotal evidence suggests the majority of people who purchase licenses from the city arent breeding their dogs, said Staycee Dains, the Animal Services Departments general manager, at a hearing last year.

Rather, many dog owners buy a city breeder permit, which costs $235, so they dont have to spay or neuter their pets as required under city law.

The city doesnt regulate breeders, and unlicensed backyard breeders remain a problem.

Dains said at last year's hearing that she is seeing more and more purebred dogs coming into the shelters.

The ban applies only to new dog breeding permits. It will lift when the three-month average of the daily inventory count of dogs at the city-run animal shelters is "equal to or less than 75 percent of the departments total dog kennel capacity."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Senior Vice President Lisa Lange praised council members for the vote Tuesday but said in a statement that more needs to be done, including enforcing the existing spay and neuter law.

Read more: Dodger Dog's plight highlights L.A.'s animal shelter crisis

Hernandez said the ban is "far from the only action" needed by the city. She said she hopes to discuss "current conditions in the shelters during our budget conversations" in the coming months.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Memphians facing utility cutoff notices may qualify for up to $700 credit on their MLGW utility bills, the company says.

For the 15th year, the Memphis City Council and Mayor Paul Young have set aside $1 million for the program.

MLGW looks to future with meetings on 20-year plan

Residents will qualify if they fall under any of the following categories:

Your household income does not exceed 130% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines

You are an existing client of the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS)

You have experienced financial, health, or military deployment-related hardship within the last six months

MLGW adds that you must also live in Memphis, have utilities in your or your spouses name, have a combined household income that does not exceed 130% of the established federal poverty income level and have a current MLGW cut-off notice.

DHS clients must show proof of a disconnect notice via DHS office drop box, by mail or online via the DHS portal. No additional application is needed.

If you receive help through DHS, youre ineligible for additional help through the NCC.

For non-DHS customers, go online at the Neighborhood Christian Center website or pick up an application at their address. Call the NCC utility assistance hotline at 901-881-6013.

MLGW says hardship examples include 100% medically disabled, job loss, hospitalization within the last six months or if your spouse is on military deployment.

For more information, you can visit the website here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Standing outside a courtroom on the seventh floor of the Miami-Dade criminal courthouse Tuesday morning, civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump called the police shooting of a man suffering a mental breakdown excessive and unconscionable.

He then demanded that the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office drop all charges against his client and said the family was considering all legal options.

The whole world is watching, Miami, Crump said before a bank of television cameras. Do the right thing for Daniel Armstrong.

Attorney Benjamin Crump called the shooting last month of Donald Armstrong by a Miami Police officer excessive and unconscionable. He spoke outside a courtroom at the Miami-Dade criminal courthouse Tuesday. Beside him is Denise Armstrong, the mother of Donald Armstrong, attorney Sue- Ann Robinson, co-counsel Larry Handfield, pastor Gaston Smith.

Last month, cellphone footage that has since catapulted through social media, captured the harrowing moments that led up to a Miami Police officer shooting a man suffering a mental breakdown, six times.

Video shows Miami police shooting man repeatedly. Hes in critical condition, police say

The incident began, according to police and family members, when Armstrongs mother called police to say her son was suffering a mental health crisis and that she needed help. The situation escalated once police arrived.

Armstrong, 47, stood on the front porch of his Model City home, near Liberty City, clearly agitated as a half dozen or more Miami Police officers faced him down from the front lawn, their weapons drawn. Twice, officers fired the electronic prong of a Taser into Armstrong.

Armstrong seemed to be falling face-down off the front of the porch when Miami Police Officer Kassandra Mercado opened fire. She struck him six times, according to Armstrongs attorneys Crump and Larry Handfield  five times after he was on the ground. Crump said she fired nine times.

The object Armstrong was holding, which appeared to be some type of stick, was left on the porch. No other officers fired their weapon.

Armstrong was taken to the hospital. His wounds werent life-threatening. Handfield said hes still suffering from some type of paralysis.

Armstrong was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest without violence. In recent days, hes been transferred from the hospital to a medical wing at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, his attorneys said.

The video stirred emotions in a community that has suffered its share of questionable shootings of Black men by police over the years. In one stretch more than a decade ago, Miami Police shot seven mostly young Black men in a seven-month period. The unusual amount of use-of-force attracted the attention of the civil rights arm of the U.S. Department of Justice. The city eventually agreed to and followed the directions of a consent decree that called for policy changes and a change in training techniques.

Armstrongs shooting caught the attention of local activists who called it a grave injustice. Leaders of The Healing and Justice Center, composed of four groups including the Circle of Brotherhood and the Dream Defenders, explained how Armstrongs situation would likely have ended much differently had their Freedom House Mobile Crisis Unit been called instead of or to ride along with police. The unit is composed of mental health professionals who are expert at de-escalation tactics.

Outside the courtroom Tuesday, Handfield said he was dismayed charges against Armstrong hadnt been dropped and that he remains jailed with no bond yet set, perhaps until his arraignment Thursday.

Its utterly ridiculous. Thank God theres video, said Handfield.

Crump wondered aloud about the disparity in the way Blacks are treated by police.

How do people in the Black community trust we get equal justice, when you look at this video? he asked.

And Armstrongs mom, older and a bit unsteady, but still able to speak clearly, said she just wanted her son home.

I need yall to pray for him, please, she said.
California criminal justice reform organizations are challenging the states use of the death penalty, saying it disproportionately affects Black and brown people and is unconstitutional.

The ACLU, the Office of the State Public Defender and other legal groups on Tuesday filed a petition with the Supreme Court of California on behalf of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Witness to Innocence and a handful of civil rights organizations.

The lawsuit says Californias death penalty violates the state constitutions equal protection guarantees because courts and prosecutors apply it in a racially-biased way, according to a news release from the groups.

Lisa Romo of the Office of the State Public Defender said her organization is filing the suit now due to an accumulation of data and new studies showing the death penalty is applied disproportionately to victims of color and is used more frequently in cases involving white victims.

Were in a position where, because of the dysfunction of the death penalty, theres just no way to get this in front of the California Supreme Court in an individual case, Romo said.

Her group and the others involved in the lawsuit hope to convince the justices that Californias death penalty ends up in these extreme racial disparities and the court should therefore declare the statutes that we have on the books right now to be unconstitutional.

This would mean convictions resulting in death sentences under the states current capital punishment scheme could be vacated, Romo said. The court could also choose not to allow future death sentences under this particular statutory system, she said.

Voters or lawmakers could then change Californias capital punishment system to bring it in line with the courts ruling, Romo said.

California capital punishment

Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2019 signed an executive order placing a moratorium on state executions, saying the death penalty is ineffective, irreversible and immoral. Even before Newsoms order, California had not executed any condemned inmates since 2006, due to legal challenges over the states mode of execution.

About 34% of Californias more than 600 condemned inmates are Black, about 32% are white and about 26% are Mexican or Hispanic, according to March 8 data from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Only about 5% of all Californians are Black, according to 2022 U.S. Census Bureau data.

California is one of 27 states that still have a death penalty, according to 2023 data from the Death Penalty Information Center. Twenty-three states do not use capital punishment.

Californians in 2016 voted down a ballot measure that would have ended the states death penalty, with 53% against repealing it and nearly 47% in favor.

In spite of the execution moratorium, courts have continued to sentence California prisoners to death. From 2019 to 2024, CDCR added 16 condemned inmates. When Newsom leaves office, executions could resume unless a future governor pauses them again.

The legal challenge comes as the state begins to dismantle its death rows for men at San Quentin State Prison and for women at the Central California Womens Facility in Chowchilla.

A different 2016 state ballot measure, Proposition 66, allows condemned inmates to be housed at any state prison and requires them to work and pay restitution money to victims, among other provisions.

By summer 2024, CDCR plans to rehouse all male death row inmates in general population housing at other prisons, as San Quentin does not have the required electrified fence.

This plan also fits with Newsoms proposal to refashion San Quentin from a death row hub into a model rehabilitation center by 2025.

Women on death row at Chowchilla have been transferred to general population housing.
The European Court of Human Rights has made a landmark ruling that governments have a duty to protect people from climate change.

In a case brought by a group of elderly Swiss women, the Strasbourg judges ruled that Switzerland was not doing enough to tackle climate change.

The ruling is binding and can trickle down to influence the law in 46 countries in Europe including the UK. The court found that the Swiss state had violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the right to respect for private and family life.

The women, aged in their 70s and over and backed by Greenpeace, said Switzerlands government violated their human rights by failing to act quickly enough to address climate change.

They argued that their demographic group was particularly vulnerable to climate-induced heatwaves. One woman said she could not leave her house for three weeks during the summer.

Jessica Simor, KC, for the claimants, said Switzerlands efforts to prevent a global temperature increase of more than 1.5 degrees celsius had come nowhere near achieving that goal.

She acknowledged it was the first case of its kind to reach the human rights court but said that national courts had previously used Strasbourg case law to require action by member states.

The move has led to a backlash from the UK Government whose lawyer, Sudhanshu Swaroop KC, told the court that it was effectively turning the ECHR into a legislator.

He said the complainants were asking the court to act as legislators rather than judges and to legislate for a global challenge without having global jurisdiction.

The court dismissed a petition from six Portuguese people, aged 12 to 24, against 32 states including their own as the case had not exhausted all remedies at the national level.

In a third case, the court rejected a claim from a former French mayor that the inaction of the French state posed the risk of his town being submerged under the North Sea.

The court found that he was not a victim in the case as he had moved to Brussels.

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.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2024 - 22:02 | All, World, Japan

Microsoft Corp. will invest $2.9 billion in Japan over two years, its largest investment in the country, aiming to reinforce data centers that are essential for processing by generative artificial intelligence, sources familiar with the plan said Tuesday.

The U.S. technology giant also plans to open a research base in Tokyo, its first in Japan, the sources said.

Microsoft is expected to make an announcement soon to coincide with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to the United States.

The company plans to upgrade equipment at its data centers in Tokyo and Osaka by introducing graphic processing units, or advanced semiconductors, said the sources.
Clouds give way to surreal eclipse over Fredericksburg excites those who traveled

FREDERICKSBURG, TX (KXAN)  While many people appeared to have changed plans in the days leading up the eclipse, those that did travel to Fredericksburg were rewarded with a moment of true awe.

It was so surreal. You saw the light, and then it went dark. And it was just amazing, said Maureen Okerstrom. She and her friends traveled from Florida to witness the event. Weve been planning it for four months, weve been looking for campsites and places and everything was sold out.

GALLERY: Central Texans experience 2024 solar eclipse

While many decided to change their plans, Maureen and her friend Dianne Caplin decided to stick with it. We knew that we would be able to see something, Diane said.

They were right. The clouds parted for a brief moment as the eclipse reached totality. The sun glistening through the canyons on the moon, provided one brief moment of wonder. One woman visiting from Colorado shouted Its amazing! Its amazing!

Maureen Okerstrom and her friends traveled from Florida for the big day. (Courtesy: Eric Henrikson/KXAN)

Then darkness. The clouds rolled overhead and deep twilight fell over the Arch Ray Resort where many had stationed themselves for the event. The crowd grew silent. Some cried. Others stared in wonder.

Four minutes later, light returned and celebrations kicked into gear. Amy Lase traveled from Nebraska to celebrate her birthday. The cake rolled out shortly after totality wrapped up.

Eclipse transformed into calendars, snack boxes and magazines in St. Edwards Lab

Its like 30 pounds if you try to pick it up, Lase said. Candles were blown out shortly after.

It was light one moment and then dark the next and like the temperature dropped like 30 degrees. And it was just beautiful, Lase said.

Despite the clouds, the faint glow of sunset fills the horizon around the Arch Ray Resort. (Credit: Eric Henrikson/KXAN)

Shane Baxter, owner of the Arch Ray Resort, said he expected many people to head to their music festival later that night on their way home.

Were like, Hey, guys. Dont worry about the traffic we got you come here and just hang out, Baxter said.

How a total eclipse broke gravity wide open and proved Einstein right

The Goo Goo Dolls, Switchfoot and Fastball are planned to take the stage later in the evening. For the people who traveled hundreds of miles for this event, the music served as the perfect capper to a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Youve never seen that darkness like it was during the day at 1:30 in the afternoon. Amazing, Okerstrom said with a smile stretched from ear to ear, already making plans to go to the next total solar eclipse in Spain in 2026.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Arrest records show Clark was arrested on March 28 on a litany of felony and misdemeanor charges including eluding arrest with a motor vehicle, reckless driving, assault with a deadly weapon, and trafficking in marijuana. Detectives with the CMPD also reportedly executed a search warrant of Clarks home and seized his Corvette Z06, hundreds of pounds of marijuana products, four firearms including an AK-47, and $1,950 in cash.

Detectives within the Operation Scarlet (Stolen Car and Recovery Law Enforcement Team) unit of the CMPD first became aware of Clark and the Corvette as a result of his social media presence, according to WBTV. Once officials determined the vehicle was not stolen, they turned their focus on apprehending the driver, who allegedly fled from police multiple times. Late last week, the CMPD posted about the seized Corvette and paraphernalia on X, though the post has since been deleted. Representatives from the CMPD did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Road & Track.

Notably, this is not Clarks first run-in with authorities. Clark was previously arrested for felonious eluding with a motor vehicle by the Cornelius Police Department, according to a jail record from May 2023. In the most recent case, however, Clark posted the $20,000 secured bond on the same day he was arrested and is back to posting online. In the comments of his most recent post, the Stolen Z06 disputed the allegations made by CMPD, ...They literally took it down because its not true, they just wanted to put a face on it.
Coast Guard resumes search for missing Clover man after boat found off NC coast

Coast Guard resumes search for missing Clover man after boat found off NC coast

NORTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The Coast Guard has resumed its search for a missing Clover man Tuesday after his boat was found off the coast of North Carolina.

A good Samaritan located a vessel matching the description of the boat Jeffery Kale was aboard, nearly 83 miles east of Wrightsville Beach, authorities said.

Coast Guard Sector North Carolina issued an urgent marine information bulletin to mariners in the area, requesting help locating Kale. Multiple U.S. Navy assets in the area responded to the urgent marine information bulletin and are assisting the Coast Guard in the search.

PREVIOUSLY: Crews suspend search for missing NC boater who vanished during offshore fishing trip

The vessel had fishing gear engaged and was moving northeast at nearly six miles per hour. There was no one aboard and no visible damage to the vessel, officials said.

Coastal patrol boat USCGC Steelhead (WPB 87324), an Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130 Hercules airplane crew, and various Navy assets are searching for Kale.

A commercial towing company will retrieve the vessel and tow it to shore.

This is a developing story; check back for updates

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Colombias capital, Bogota, will begin rationing water this week as several of its reservoirs face unprecedented lows amid a drought made worse by the El Nino climate pattern.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando Galan said reservoirs had reached historically low levels and been worsened by El Nino, which causes high temperatures and impedes precipitation.

Starting Thursday morning, restrictions or rationing measures will be put in place for Bogota residents and dozens of towns and municipalities surrounding the capital, according to a handout on the citys official website. The measures will affect around 9 million people.

The country and region have experienced long periods without rain since June 2023 due to El Nino, the city wrote on its official website.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro issued a natural disaster decree in January, allowing the government to access more resources to combat El Ninos devastating effects, including wildfires and water stress.

The plan will see nine different zones take turns rationing water services. Each zones water restrictions will begin at 8 a.m. local time and last 24 hours before shifting to the next zone in line.

Hospitals and schools will have contingency plans, Galan said on X, ensuring they wont lack water.

The critical levels of the reservoirs from which we draw drinking water for Bogota lead us to take measures aimed at saving water and reducing consumption from 17 cubic meters per second to 15, Galans post read.

This must be the beginning of a behavioral change that is sustainable over time and guarantees that water is enough for everyone, he continued.

Colombia joins Mexico, whose own capital, Mexico City, has also been experiencing a severe water crisis due to years of abnormally low rainfall, longer dry periods and high temperatures.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
DENVER (KDVR)  A measure that would allow local governments the right to first offer or first refusal to preserve long-term affordable housing locations passed the Colorado House on Monday.

The bill passed on third reading by a vote of 38-23 and now heads to the Senate for consideration. If passed into law, the bill would ensure municipalities have the right to make an offer to purchase a qualifying affordable housing property before the property is listed for sale to other parties. However, the right of first offer would be temporary and terminate on Dec. 31, 2029.

Affordable housing up for debate in the Colorado legislature

With rising rents pricing Coloradans out of their communities, local governments need additional tools to help them preserve existing affordable housing options that work for everyday Coloradans, Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, a Democrat representing Fort Collins and a prime sponsor of the measure, said in a release. Our bill would allow local governments to purchase and preserve affordable housing properties that they have invested public dollars into. With this legislation, we can preserve and expand affordable housing options in our communities and ease Colorados housing crisis.

Local governments would have the right to purchase existing affordable housing that is a multi-family residential or mixed-use rental property if the government matches any offers the seller receives and continues to use the property for long-term affordable housing.

What is long-term affordable housing?

According to the bill text, properties qualify for the right of first offer under this bill if it is an existing affordable housing multi-family residential or mixed-use rental property with more than five and less than 100 units in urban counties, and not less than three in rural and rural resort counties.

Existing affordable housing is defined in the bill as housing subject to one or more restricted use covenants or similar recorded agreements to ensure affordability and that is consistent with affordable housing financial assistance requirements. It also defines existing as properties 20 years or older.

Our bill is one of many steps that Colorado Democrats are taking to combat housing instability and displacement, said Rep. Emily Sirota, a Democrat representing Denver and a primary sponsor of the measure. We need a multi-faceted approach to address our affordable housing shortage, which is why were carrying this legislation to create new tools for local governments that keep existing affordable housing properties in the rental market.

Polis rings the New York Stock Exchange bell to celebrate Colorados economy

The bill specifically requires the seller of existing affordable housing property to give notice to the local government at least two years before an existing affordability restriction on the property expires, and again when the seller takes certain actions as a precursor to selling the property.

Will Polis pass a measure ensuring right to first offer?

In 2023, Polis vetoed a similar measure that would have given local governments the right of first refusal if multi-unit properties emerged on the market, so long as those governments designated the units for affordable housing. He said on Colorado Point of View that he vetoed it because it would have added additional paperwork cost to real estate transactions. In my opinion, that would have caused upward pressure on the costs for apartments.

Boesenecker was also a primary sponsor of that bill.

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On Monday, the Colorado House also voted to advance a Senate bill that would update the law to ensure tenants have access to safe housing, such as a hotel room or comparable dwelling unit, and timely repairs when unsafe living conditions arise.

The measure would modify the existing warranty of habitability laws, including renter protections against retaliation and requiring necessary repairs to be completed in seven days for serious conditions.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
DENVER (KDVR)  On Monday night, Xcel Energy said crews expected to restore power to 90% of impacted customers. However, a handful of schools will be closed a second day in a row due to the prolonged outage.

The high winds from the weekend had impacts that are now lasting for four days. Over the weekend, a massive windstorm brought gusts reaching up to 90 mph in some counties.

Xcel said that the 10% who are still without power on Tuesday are in the hardest hit areas, including southwest of the metro, in Arvada and the Boulder foothills.

Xcel Energy gives itself a grade of B- for Front Range windstorm communications

On Monday, several Colorado schools in four districts had to close due to a loss of power. Some of those schools remain closed on Tuesday.

Jefferson County Public Schools

Applewood Cottages  all

Litz Building

Maple Grove Elementary School

Stober Elementary School

Foster K-8

Jefferson County Public Schools said only three of these campuses serve students. All other schools in the district are open on Tuesday.

It is unclear when power will be restored to these campuses, but Jeffco said they expect classes to resume on Wednesday.

Please check your districts website or contact your school about outages and closures.

This location hit close to 100 mph during the April windstorm

As of 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Xcel Energy is reporting 484 outages are still affecting 5,745 customers across Colorado. The areas with the most outages are near Lakewood and Arvada, as they were some of the hardest hit areas from Saturdays storm.

At one point, Xcel said 155,000 customers were without power during this storm. About 100,000 lost power due to damage, but 55,000 had their power cut to reduce the wildfire risk if a line blew down.

Denver, Colorado weather resources

Stay prepared for storms and forecast changes, a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day and other important weather information:

The Pinpoint Weather team will continue to update the forecast multiple times each day.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2024 - 08:21 | All, World

The U.S. government said Monday it will provide up to $6.6 billion in direct funding to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to assist in the construction of three leading-edge chip factories in Arizona.

TSMC is now committed to building a third plant for the production of 2-nanometer chips or more advanced processor technologies, which will be operational before 2030, in addition to two previously announced by the company, according to senior administration officials.

"The reason this is such a huge announcement is that because of this partnership, TSMC will be bringing the manufacturing of the world's most advanced semiconductor chips to American soil," U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said.

She told reporters the U.S. government's deal with TSMC, the world's leading manufacturer of advanced chips, is "extremely important for American national security," adding that the new factories will be creating tens of thousands of high-paying jobs.

The funding to support TSMC's investment of more than $65 billion in those facilities in Phoenix will come from the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in August 2022.

The law appropriates $52.7 billion in subsidies to boost the production and research of chips in the United States.

Currently, the United States produces less than 10 percent of the world's chips and none of the most advanced ones, even though the technology is integral to everything from cars and cellphones to satellites and military weapons.

"TSMC's renewed commitment to the United States and its investment in Arizona represent a broader story for semiconductor manufacturing that's made in America and with the strong support of America's leading technology firms to build the products we rely on every day," Biden said in a statement.

Besides the direct funding, the Biden administration said it is ready to provide $5 billion in loans to TSMC.

TSMC welcomed the announcement, with Chairman Mark Liu saying in a statement that the CHIPS and Science Act provides the company with the opportunity to "offer our foundry service of the most advanced manufacturing technologies in the United States."

TSMC CEO C.C. Wei also said in the statement, "We are honored to support our customers who have been pioneers in mobile, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing."

The company said its three factories in Arizona are expected to create approximately 6,000 direct high-tech, high-wage jobs.

In an attempt to reinvigorate the U.S. chip industry and lower the country's dependence on East Asian producers of the tiny but vital pieces of technology, Biden said last month his administration will provide up to $8.5 billion in direct funding and another $11 billion in loans to Intel Corp.

The grants, the largest given to any CHIPS recipient, will be used to help Intel build and upgrade chip production facilities in Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio and Oregon.

With investments from TSMC and other manufacturers, the United States is now on track to churn out about 20 percent of the world's leading-edge chips by 2030, according to the Biden administration.

Related coverage:

TSMC opens 1st Japan chip plant amid supply chain concerns

Renesas to acquire U.S. software firm Altium for $5.9 billion

Japan to give 243 bil. yen to Kioxia-Western Digital chip plants
DENVER (KDVR)  On Monday, the Colorado Department of Transportation held an open house to hear resident feedback about the future of the bridges over Interstate 25 at Speer Boulevard and 23rd Avenue.

The goal is also to increase safety for cyclists, pedestrians and micro-mobility. One thing appears certain: Both bridges will be replaced.

They are in need of replacement. They were built long ago. They are aging, CDOT spokesperson Tamara Rollison said.

Bridge over I-25 in Denver

The three-hour event was held at CDOT headquarters in Denver. Transportation officials were present to answer questions and listen to suggestions.

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David Chen rode his bicycle to the meeting and said he hopes the state will shut down the ramps to enter and exit the highway at 23rd Avenue.

Can you imagine having kids in strollers walking down to the Childrens Museum or the aquarium with their families? Chen said.

Residents who could not attend the open house are encouraged to email comments or suggestions to CDOT.

Rollison said the design and construction of the bridges should take place in 2026.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
READINGTON, N.J. (PIX11)  Life is returning to normal in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, days after it became the epicenter of an earthquake.

Pete Melick is the 10th-generation owner of Melicks Town Farm, which sits about a mile from the epicenter. Hell be looking back at the seismic event as a novelty of sorts.

A little minor damage here and there, said Melick. Weve had more damage in some wind storms than weve had from this.

While the buzz from earthquake might be dying down, for some, its just getting started.

Long Island teacher was teaching lesson on earthquakes when earthquake struck

We knew right away that it was an earthquake, said Dr. Folarin Kolawole, a Columbia University geologist. We were looking at ourselves and started screaming. It was amazing.

Kolawole was listening to a students presentation on tectonics when the 4.8-magnitude quake rocked the region. He wasted no time  assembling a team of geologists, heading right from the universitys observatory in Palisades, New York, out to the epicenter, to hunt for evidence of faults.

One of their stops was the historic Col. Taylors Grist Mill in Readington, parts of which toppled in the earthquake.

The goal is to take measurements of, say, hundreds of fractures that I can see and touch and take measurements on, said Kolawole.

After scouring the area, even while only having two hours of daylight to work with, their trip was a success.

We were able to find fractures and fault planes, ancient fault planes, in the bedrock that have similar orientations to the one that ruptured the earthquake, said Kolawole.

Kolawale said more geologists will be back out in Hunterdon County this week.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Columbus man sentenced to over a decade in prison after pleading guilty to assault of federal officer

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  A Columbus man was sentenced to over ten years behind bars after previously pleading guilty to forcible assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, according to the Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia.

Christopher Upshaw, aka Trouble, 24, was sentenced to 136 months in prison on April 8. Upshaw is no eligible for parole.

The sentence stems back to Aug. 4, 2023, when authorities found a suspicious North Carolina package addressed to Upshaws home on Buxton Drive in Columbus. At the time, Upshaw was wanted on outstanding warrants.

FBI, DEA, Muscogee County Sheriffs Office and Coweta County Sheriffs Office members surveilled Buxton Drive on the same day. The package was delivered and left on the front porch at 3:30 p.m.

Thirty minutes later, Upshaw drove up and put the package in his Dodge Charger.

Multiple unmarked law enforcement vehicles approached Upshaw. Officers and agents got out of their vehicles and tried to arrest Upshaw.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Upshaw began forcibly operating his vehicle to try and evade arrest. As an agent tried to open Upshaws door, he accelerated, pulling the agent into a nearby stationary vehicle. In the process, the U.S. Attorneys Office says Upshaw struck and damaged three occupied law enforcement vehicles.

The defendant sped away through the area, initially escaping. Upshaw was captured several days later.

The U.S. Attorneys Office noted during Upshaws fleeing, he discarded the suspicious package which was found to have 17 pounds of marijuana divided into 14 bags inside. The office also says Upshaw is a confirmed member of hybrid criminal street gang Zohannon.

Upshaws sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A Columbus police officer was relieved of duty and is facing multiple charges after allegedly threatening to kill two people.

Brandon Herren, who has been a Columbus police officer since January 2022, was arrested Saturday on charges of domestic violence and aggravated menacing. A probable cause affidavit shows that a woman played officers a recording of a phone call in which Herren threatened to kill her.

The woman was in the car with another person, whom Herren also threatened, according to court documents. The witness in the car corroborated the victims account and said they believed Herren would act on the threats.

Lancaster man dies after crashing motorcycle into cargo van

Court documents do not identify Herren, 36, as an officer, but state he was a known person to the officers who responded to the scene and that they recognized his voice from the video recording.

A Columbus police spokesperson said Herren was relieved of duty immediately upon his arrest and turned in his gun and badge. It is division policy to wait until criminal investigations are complete before initiating an administrative investigation.

On Monday, Herren pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He has been ordered to stay away from the victims and to not consume alcohol or drugs. A temporary protection order was also issued.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
UPDATE 4/9/24 3:31 p.m.: Copeland has been found alive and is receiving medical treatment, according to the Columbus Police Department.

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Columbus Police Department is searching for a man who went missing on Monday morning and is asking for the publics help to locate him.

CPD says 45-year-old Romano Montoy Copeland was last seen near Greenbrier Drive in Columbus at 11:30 a.m. wearing a green or grey sweater, blue jeans, and a military green-styled hat.

Police also said that Copeland may be traveling between Columbus and Alpharetta, Georgia in a gray Kia Soul and described him as a male, standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, weighing around 240 pounds with brown eyes.

CPD urges anyone with information on Copelands whereabouts to contact 911, CPDs Special Victims Unit at 706-653-3165 or CPD Lead Investigator Thomas Hill at 706-653-3165.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Although a redevelopment plan for parts of Historic Commercial Street received concerns last month from nearby residents and business owners, Springfield City Council voted Monday to declare 17 lots blighted, qualifying the project for property tax incentives.

The properties are located along and south of Commercial Street. The project, broken into four phases, includes plans for a townhouse development, rehabilitation of the Missouri Hotel and other mixed-use and multi-family developments. All portions of the redevelopment are owned by developer Titus Williams of Prosperiti Partners. A redevelopment plan is required for the owner to take advantage of tax abatements.

The phase deemed Pacific South is the only property outside of the Commercial Street Tax Increment Financing district. A TIF district provides for incremental increases property tax revenue to be collected and redirected toward redevelopment projects within the district's boundaries. In order to benefit from property tax abatement, these areas have to be carved out of the TIF district and the developer must pay out the remaining years of the payments in lieu of taxes that the properties would have generated without the developments, something not yet done. While the price tag on the buyout is negotiated between the developer and city, it is estimated to be more than $200,000.

This phase is also the most shovel-ready  with a rezoning already approved for development of townhouses.

A map of the redevelopment project on and near Historic Commercial Street. Owned by developer Titus Williams with Prosperiti Partners, the properties in yellow are looking to take advantage of a property tax abatement for redevelopment.

Division of phases lacks support

At the last council meeting, both council members and people from the community expressed concern about the plan including future phases that lacked detail and that were still a part of the TIF, including rehabilitation of the Missouri Hotel. The plan declares the area blighted, so that the developer can in the future take advantage of property tax abatement through the Chapter 353 Urban Redevelopment process outlined in city code.

Council's actions approved tax abatements only for the Pacific South project. Other phases will still have to go through various city bodies and processes, including coming before council, to amend the existing plan or bring forward a new one referencing the current plan.

A historic Commercial Street building located at 540 East Commercial Street had its demolition request shot down by the city Landmarks Board last December.

Councilwoman Monica Horton proposed an amended version of the plan Monday night that would still declare the entire area blighted, but would consider only a redevelopment plan for Pacific South, with the intent of future phases being filed as their own separate plans. Those speaking at the last meeting said this approach would provide more opportunity to address problems on individual developments. The amendment also included a clarification that the intent of the bill was to only approve of Pacific South and not the other phases.

Councilman Craig Hosmer was supportive of the new approach, noting the process feels rushed. In the 12 years he has served on council, he said he has never experienced a TIF being amended for tax abatement purposes.

"It just seems like we're moving faster than really the project warrants," he said. "There's still unanswered questions about what the impact is on the historic district."

The motion ultimately failed to gain enough support, with multiple council members noting that future phases will be presented to council regardless, to seek approval for tax abatement. Councilman Brandon Jenson voted against the amendment because he said the plan would not impact people's main concern about the buildings being demolished and putting the street at risk of losing its historic designation. City staff said the redevelopment plan does not ease the path toward demolition and the owner would still have to go through all the administrative processes before removing any of the existing buildings.

The original redevelopment plan was approved by council 7-2, with Horton and Hosmer opposing, though Councilwoman Heather Hardinger voted in support of the amendment before it failed.

What's in the Commercial Street plan?

The four phases of development mentioned in the plan, to be started over the next 18 months, are as follows:

Pacific South: This Midtown development has already received city approval for the construction of 72 townhouse dwellings. With an approximate $15 million investment, the townhomes would replace a single-family home and an unused building. With the redevelopment plan approved, work is expected to begin immediately and is estimated to be completed by Fall 2025.

Proposed townhome development at the corner of Benton and Pacific

540 E. Commercial St: Located on the corner of Commercial Street and Washington Avenue, this property has been cited as a reason for the city to consider a 'demolition by neglect' ordinance. While the building was set to be demolished earlier this year, the action was postponed by the developer. The plans for this corner include the construction of a new mixed-use building featuring retail/restaurant/office space and ADA-compliant residential apartment units on the first floor and residential apartment units on the upper floors. This phase is estimated to begin in Summer 2024.

More: Redevelopment plan for Springfield's Commercial Street evokes mixed emotions

Missouri Hotel: The historic Missouri Hotel property that had provided shelter to homeless people through The Kitchen Inc. nonprofit for the final 30 years of its operations could become a hotel once again. The redevelopment proposes renovation and rehabilitation of the building into a boutique hotel. Adjacent Commercial Street buildings would feature commercial and various hotel accessory uses. The redevelopment of the hotel has been approved for historic tax credits in 2024. Work on this is estimated to begin this fall.

Pacific North: Properties north of Pacific Street between Jefferson and Benton Avenues are the proposed location of a newly constructed multi-family residential development with off-street parking. The plan notes the development will consist of 200+ residential apartments and amenities such as a pool, fitness facilities and others. The last of the phases, this is estimated to begin Summer 2025.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Have feedback, tips or story ideas? Contact her at mmieze@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Commercial Street redevelopment plan approved by council
The House Education committee hears public testimony on a multipart education bill on April 8, 2024. Members of the public chided lawmakers for a dysfunctional meeting. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

The House Education committee hears public testimony on a multipart education bill on April 8, 2024. Members of the public chided lawmakers for a dysfunctional meeting. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Members of the House Education Committee advanced a new multipart education proposal on Monday after more than a dozen amendments failed.

House Bill 392, a proposal carried by Rep. Tom McKay, R-Anchorage, includes a historic $680 increase to the per-pupil formula used to fund public schools. It would also give a governors appointees on the state Board of Education and Early Development the power to approve new charter schools, increase the funding for correspondence program students by nearly a third, and boost support for student transportation and reading.

The bill, which does not yet have a cost estimate, will next be heard by the House Finance Committee; it has not been scheduled.

It was initially written to include a boost to the student funding formula, increase internet speeds in rural schools and implement Gov. Mike Dunleavys teacher retention bonus proposal.

By the end of the fractious meeting, the bill had changed substantially  as the result of a committee substitute from the sponsor rather than any of the 14 proposed amendments. Major items, including an increase to internet speeds in rural schools, which already passed in another bill, and the teacher retention bonus, were taken out.

The final result has similarities with Senate Bill 140, which was overwhelmingly approved by legislators and vetoed by Dunleavy.

The committee, chaired on Monday by Rep. Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River, was punctuated by tense side conversations between members.

Reps. Rebecca Himschoot, I-Sitka, and Andi Story, D-Juneau, proposed 14 amendments. One of them  a requirement that the state board of education consider a recommendation of the local school district when deciding on charter applications  passed.

The rest failed, with Reps. Himschoot, Story and CJ McCormick, D-Bethel, in support and Reps. Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River; Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna; Tom McKay, R-Anchorage; and Mike Prax, R-North Pole, opposed.

Charters

Himschoot, Story and McCormick opposed allowing the governors appointees on the state board to authorize charter schools.

Himschoot said that the states charters are performing well and that she has yet to see a good reason to change how they are managed: It feels like were making kind of an uninformed major policy shift with this section, she said.

That logic informed another failed amendment that would have included a requirement that districts collect data about charter school enrollment and wait lists. Himschoot said that legislators have been hearing about wait lists and the need for more schools without data to back up the claims.

If were going to be changing what we do with charter schools  which I dont think is a good idea since theyre doing so well  But if thats what were going to do, then lets make sure were making the changes that need to be made based on data, she said.

McKay opposed the amendment, saying it would single out charters compared with other public schools. I dont know why we would need to gather more information from charter schools than we do from public schools, he said.

Co-chair Allard reminded the committee that charter schools are public schools.

The charter provision in the bill was a major sticking point in previous legislation. It has been described by members of the Senate as a nonstarter in previous education policy negotiations because they say it weakens local control in districts.

Correspondence

The new version of the bill would significantly increase funding to correspondence students. Correspondence education is district-supported schooling at home.

Currently, those students are supported with 90% of the state funding that students in brick and mortar schools receive per pupil. House Bill 392 would increase the funding to 120% of the per pupil formula, at a cost that has not yet been determined. McKays office estimates it will have a fiscal note with that number by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Storys office estimated the cost would be more than $40 million and proposed amendments that would have significantly lowered the increase. She said a more moderate increase is appropriate because the states neighborhood schools have more expenses than students who learn from home do.

Correspondence schools, while important, do not have the same duties, obligations and responsibilities that our neighborhood schools do. Its a fact that our neighborhood schools have more facilities to care for and more public use. They have custodial and maintenance costs. They have to pay insurance costs for their buildings, which have risen extensively, she said.

Trevor Jepsen, staff to McKay, said the increase in funding would be good for districts.

When we increase that factor, it increases school districts funding, so theres more money going to education, he said. And theres no requirement that that money has to even be spent on the correspondence programs. Its just more money for districts and we hope they spend it on correspondence programs.

Himschoot proposed an amendment that would ask districts to be accountable for how that money is spent, which failed.

Reading

HB 392 would add money to districts for every student affected by the states literacy reform law  an additional $180 for each student from kindergarten to third grade.

Previous legislation sought an increase of $500 for each student with performance low enough to merit intervention. Dunleavy cited that policy as one of the reasons he vetoed previous education legislation. He said he thought that funding mechanism would reward poor performance rather than incentivizing success; some teachers and advocates of the provision said the additional money is crucial to provide the additional services those students would require.

An amendment from Story sought to increase the $180 to $500, but failed.

She and Himschoot, both former educators, noted that reading interventions are costly and include extra tutoring, specialized reading programs and summer school.

Contention

The meeting moved a large bill with more than a dozen amendments quickly, but it did not run smoothly. Lawmakers were snappish and Allard called multiple pauses in the proceedings to manage or voice discontent.

There was contention among lawmakers as to whether or not the public testimony noticed online would occur. It did, but only after the committees Republican members adopted a new version of the bill and rejected most amendments.

At one point, Allard was interrupted by Himschoot, who insisted that public testimony be held when it appeared to her that some members of the public may not be heard.

I want to hear what they have to say, she said. You noticed public testimony and then you didnt offer it.

Allard shot back: If you would let me finish my sentence you would see that Im going to continue to address this in the room. Are you done with your tantrum?

The fractiousness was so pronounced that members of the public chided lawmakers in public testimony.

Rachel Lord, a Homer parent and business owner, praised the bill for raising the student funding formula and its increase to correspondence studies, but said she would have liked to see Himschoots accountability amendment pass. She criticized committee leadership.

As Ive been listening this morning, its incredibly confusing, she said, adding that the online portal for public documents had not been updated. I dont know whos responsible for making that happen, but it is rare in my experience with trying to follow the Legislature that there is such a gap and lack of transparency in the committee process.

Will Muldoon, a member of the Juneau school board who spoke on his own behalf, called the meeting indecorous.

Its sad that a committee that couldnt meet for three weeks is more dysfunctional when they finally do meet, he said. And so I hope you guys take a moment to reflect on that and encourage you all to do better.

The post Committee advances Alaska education bill with Gov. Dunleavy priorities, historic funding increase appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Rep. Lauren Carson constituent meeting

Rhode Island House Rep. Lauren Carson will host a constituent meeting for District 75 residents on April 16, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in The Friends Room at The Newport Public Library, 300 Spring St., Newport. Carson represents Newport House District 75 in the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

Carson will cover current legislation being debated at the State House, the two study commissions she chairs, and will be available to discuss any issues or concerns constituents may have.

Lauren Carson, House District 75 (Newport), Democrat

I always want to hear from my constituents about issues big and small so that I am best representing them at the State House," Carson said in a statement. "This is just one opportunity to get together to chat about legislation and local issues  I want to encourage my constituents to reach out to me at any time outside of this meeting as well.

Carson leads two statewide legislative study commissions. The Special Legislative Commission to Study and Provide Recommendations Pertaining to Services and Coordination of State Programs Relating to Older Adult Rhode Islanders will make recommendations for ways to improve and coordinate services and programs for older adults in Rhode Island. The second commission is studying the economic and social effects of the short-term rental industry in Rhode Island. This commission is evaluating the current laws around property usage and the impact of short-term rentals on the community. The Representative will discuss both commissions at the constituent meeting.

Visit www.laurencarson.com for more information. Carson can be reached at laurenhcarson@gmail.com and at 401-523-1143.

Lucy's Hearth logo contest

Lucy's Hearth, a leading 24-hour facility providing crucial programs and shelter services to children and families experiencing homelessness, is holding a logo design contest in celebration of its 40th anniversary. This exciting competition invites the public to contribute their creativity and talent by designing graphic elements that will play a pivotal role in supporting Lucy's Hearth's visual identity.

Contest Reward: The winner of the Lucy's Hearth logo design contest will receive a cash award of $750. This generous prize recognizes the talent and creativity of our participants and serves as a token of appreciation for their dedication to Lucys Hearth.

Lucy's Hearth is dedicated to offering wraparound services tailored to individual needs, assisting families in regaining self-sufficiency and acquiring the skills necessary to break free from homelessness permanently.

To enter the Design Contest, eligible participants must:

 Complete the Official Entry Form: https://www.lucyshearth.org/logo-design-contest-form/

 Create a design in .jpeg or .pdf formats (If you are chosen as a winner, you must be able to provide a high-resolution vector file, e.g., in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign).

 Use colors that are part of the official Lucys Hearth color palette, contestants may choose to use additional complementary colors adopted upon selection.

 Submit your artwork to info@lucyshearth.org no later than Mary 31. Submissions can also be shared via Google Drive, One Drive, Dropbox, or other file-sharing links, ensuring they are accessible to the email address mentioned.

Lucy's Hearth encourages everyone, regardless of artistic background, to participate in this contest and contribute to a meaningful cause. The winning design will not only be a symbol of the 40th anniversary but also a representation of the collective effort to support families in need.

For more information about Lucy's Hearth and the logo design contest, please visit www.lucyshearth.org or contact Ashley Carpenzano at info@lucyshearth.org or 401-847-2021

Workshop on children living with anxiety

The Town of Middletown's Outreach Department is pleased to announce an upcoming interactive workshop focused on Supporting Our Children Who Live with Anxiety. This workshop will take place on Tuesday, April 23, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Middletown Public Library located at 700 West Main Road, Middletown. Led by Carolyn Souza, LICSW, Clinical Director of Childrens Services at Looking Upwards Inc., this presentation aims to help you understand and recognize anxious behaviors in children, learn strategies to support children experiencing anxiety, and to locate community resources. Refreshments will be provided. Those interested in participating should emailHailey Daviau (hdaviau@middletownri.com) to register.

Community Tree Program open in Newport

The Newport Tree Conservancy and the City of Newport are once again partnering to connect residents with free and reduced-cost tree plantings, just in time for spring. The Community Tree Program allows all Newport residents to request a new tree to be planted in front of their home. Residents can request a planting for along their sidewalk or roadway, or up to 20 feet onto private property. Interested applicants can choose from 11 different species ofshade and flowering trees to fit their space, from towering maples to dazzling cherries.

Supply is limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. If approved, trees will be provided free of charge for streets and neighborhoods with lower existing tree canopy (inquire or see website for details) or otherwise for the subsidized cost of $125. Tree plantings will be performed by the City of Newport Public Services Department beginning in early April. Trees will range from 6-8ft tall at the time of planting.

Visit newporttreeconservancy.org/CTP to learn more about the program, see photos of available trees, and submit an application. For consultations to determine the best tree for your space call the Newport Tree Conservancy at 401-324-9204 or email trees@newporttreeconservancy.org.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Community Briefs: Rep. Carson meeting, Lucy's Hearth logo contest
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department received 17 recommendations made by a community group after two controversial arrests last year.

In a news conference Tuesday, CMPD said the Community and Police Collaboration Group suggestions addressed the departments de-escalation techniques, their response to resistance and how they handle marijuana use and enforcement.

The group was created in November 2023 after viral video captured CMPD officers arresting Christina Pierre and Anthony Lee at a southwest Charlotte bus stop. They were arrested over claims the two were smoking marijuana.

The Nov. 13 encounter ended with Pierre being struck 17 times by an officer. Fourteen of those hits were ruled unjustified and CMPD Officer Vincent Pistone was suspended for a week.

PREVIOUS STORIES:

CMPD admitted the incident was a stain on the department. In response, Chief Johnny Jennings announced the new community group, saying it would review policies and recommend changes.

The group is made of multiple organizations, including the citys Community Relations Committee, CMPD, the Citizens Review Board, the NAACP, the Latin American Coalition, clergy members, CMPD ambassadors, Action NC and the George Floyd Global Memorial.

As a result of the groups recommendations, CMPD is putting the following changes into place:

Creating a dedicated de-escalation addendum to the existing Response to Resistance Policy

Improving Early Intervention System reporting, including adding aggregated data for the CMPDs Internal Affairs annual report

More focus on slowing down police interactions and assessing situations through officer trainings

Including family members impacted by various situations with police to be incorporated into recruit training

A full list of the recommendations and CMPDs responses can be found here.

Jibril Hough was on the committee that came up with the recommendations. He said the committee felt the other officers should have been required to stop Pistones strikes, and they wanted changes to the police duty to intervene policy.

Have that bar raised a little bit higher instead of just sometimes standing around when you see someone, Hough said. The use of force has gone out of control.

Police said in the November incident, some officers did use communication tactics to intervene. They are looking into it along with the de-escalation training.

The chief says they are looking at data to spot officers who may be at risk of misconduct.

When this group formed, we knew we would have some tough and challenging conversations, as well as some thoughtful recommendations, from the group here, Deputy Chief Jacquelyn Bryley said during Tuesdays news conference.

Bryley said in addition, the group recommended CMPD officers shouldnt investigate based on the smell of what they presume to be marijuana.

They also recommended for CMPD to push the legalization of marijuana, she said. However, marijuana continues to be illegal in North Carolina and under federal law.

The city is looking at other new ways to make changes, including brining in George Floyds cousin to talk to officers about use of force. But they say overall, this is the start of a discussion into more changes to prevent what happened in November.

Tonya Jameson, a representative from the Citizens Review Board, says the hard work comes next.

How do we get beyond just the policies that are in place, but really, getting officers to implement those policies so that we can protect both people and officers? Jameson asked.

In three months, the department is set look back over the recommendations and responses to see if those changes or current policy helped.

Chief Jennings shared the following statement Tuesday in response to the recommendations:

In November 2023, I announced the formation of the Community and Police Collaboration Group following a use-of force incident that occurred outside of a Bojangles restaurant in CMPDs Steele Creek Division. The members of the group had a shared goal of constructive conversations to make recommendations regarding certain CMPD policies based on this situation. I knew those conversations would bring challenging questions and recommendations. But we have high standards as an agency and for our people, always welcoming the opportunity to learn how we can improve and better serve our community.

The group made several recommendations across three categories - De-Escalation Techniques and Training, Use of Force/Response to Resistance Policy and Marijuana Use and Enforcement. As we implement some of these changes at CMPD following the conclusion of this group, my hope is that we will see positive changes as we continue to serve the City of Charlotte.

Id like to thank the members of this group for their time and dedication to this work. Community collaboration is at the core of our mission. If were going to better ourselves and better our agency, we have to work together with community at the head of the table.

(WATCH BELOW: Activists want change after CMPD officer repeatedly hits woman during arrest)




A new initiative from the Environmental Protection Agency to stop planet-warming gases from being imported into the United States has caught a major offender.

Resonac America was found to have brought hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) into the country on four occasions between 2023 and 2024, and it will now have to pay a $416,003 penalty, according to a report from E&E, shared by Scientific American.

It's said the fine is the "largest-ever" issued under the initiative, and Resonac America will also have to destroy the HFCs it illegally imported.

HFCs are used in refrigerating systems, air conditioning, foam insulation, aerosols, and fire extinguishers, but they have been banned because of the warming effects the gas can have on the planet.

"HFCs are a powerful climate pollutant, so it's imperative that companies importing them into our nation do so in strict accordance with environmental laws," EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman said, per E&E.

According to E&E's report, the EPA said the enforcement "prevents approximately 6,208 pounds, or 2.816 metric tons, of illegal HFCs from being imported into the United States." This would be equivalent to releasing 41,677 metric tons (46,000 tons) of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, or what would be produced by powering 8,225 homes for a year using dirty-fuel-generated electricity.

Resonac imported 6,208 pounds of illegal HFCs between October and December in 2023, violating a law concerning bringing bulk orders of regulated chemicals into the country without necessary allowance. It also failed to disclose a February 2024 order.

The National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative on Mitigating Climate Change only came into force in 2020, but in late 2023, a San Diego man became the first to be prosecuted after smuggling refrigerant into the United States from Mexico with the intent to sell.

Reducing the use of HFCs is important to slow the rate of rising global temperatures, as the Climate & Clean Air Coalition reported they account for 2% of planet-warming pollution. That's why the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol has called for the production and consumption of the gases to be reduced by 80% by 2050.

Driving an electric car, relying on renewable sources for energy, and eating more plant-based meals are personal changes we can make to reduce the levels of polluting gases entering our atmosphere.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2024 - 21:48 | World, All

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday in Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, with Moscow's top diplomat visiting China to prepare for a trip to the Asian country by Russian President Vladimir Putin later this year.

Xi welcomed Lavrov's trip to Beijing "as an important stage of comprehensive preparations for the upcoming state visit" by Putin to China later this year, Russia's Tass news agency said, quoting the country's Foreign Ministry.

Putin, who will begin his fifth presidential term in May following his reelection last month, met in-person with Xi twice last year, with their countries strengthening ties in a move to jointly oppose the U.S.-led international order.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it is premature to indicate the exact dates of Putin's upcoming China visit, according to Tass.

Beijing and Moscow, which mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations this year, have been strengthening their cooperation, with China opposed to U.S.-led sanctions on Russia over its war against Ukraine.

In his opening remarks, Xi told Lavrov that Beijing and Moscow have embraced peaceful co-existence and mutually advantageous cooperation, which "played a constructive role in ensuring international justice," Tass said.

Xi also said China is willing to work with Russia to unite the "Global South" developing and emerging countries in the spirit of equality, openness, transparency and inclusiveness, the Chinese ministry said.

Lavrov also expressed Russia's willingness to strengthen unity and cooperation with Global South countries and contribute to the formation of a more fair and just international order, the Chinese ministry said.

Prior to his meeting with Xi, Lavrov held talks with China's top diplomat Wang Yi.

Wang told Lavrov that the two countries "resolutely oppose all unilateralism and hegemonic acts," according to the Chinese ministry, in a veiled reference to the U.S.-led international order.

At a joint press conference, the Russian minister said they are both against U.S. efforts to create "exclusive political and military alliances" in the Asia-Pacific region and attempts to undermine regional security, Tass said.

He also said Putin and Xi plan to meet on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in in June in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, and a BRICS summit in October in Kazan, a central Russian city, it said, as part of ongoing exchanges "to maintain regular political dialogue."

BRICS -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- welcomed five new members, including Egypt and Iran, in January.

On Russia's war against Ukraine, which started in February 2022, the top Chinese diplomat told the press conference that Beijing hopes to see a ceasefire as soon as possible and called for an international conference involving Moscow and Kyiv to discuss all peace options, the Chinese ministry said.
Walt Disney World is changing how it handles a program that shortens wait times for theme park visitors with autism or similar developmental disabilities.

The adjustment affects the disability access service card, also known as DAS, which has gained popularity in recent years but has been misused.

As of May 20, Disney World visitors may request DAS at guest services outlets after which they will be connected to a cast member via virtual chat to determine their eligibility. Disney is bringing in Inspire Health Alliance, an outside company, for training and carrying out the new policy.

This process could guide visitors to other Disney services at the theme parks aligned for individual needs. Requesting DAS also can be done before traveling to Disney World.

Some people with autism or similar disabilities cannot endure waiting in lines for extended periods.

Inappropriate use of DAS forced Disney to clamp down, said Len Testa, who runs Touring Plans, a vacation-planning site. He also studies lines at theme parks.

Its the right thing to do for everyone. No one is saying that people who cant stand in line should stand it, Testa said. We all understand accommodation, but its being abused so much that its affecting everyone else in the park.

DAS is the most requested service at Disney, and its popularity has tripled in the past five years, a company statement said.

Folks eligible for the service are given a specific time to arrive at a ride or attraction. They and their party then join people in the Lightning Lane, a paid express service. They do not get front-of-line access. Participants have one assigned attraction at a time.

Testa said he recently overheard two men at Epcot talk about DAS. One man said he skipped the parks lines after receiving DAS by claiming his child had autism. He said he had saved $500 on ride reservation fees.

The other dad was incredulous, Testa said. Hes like, How can this be true?

Scenarios such as that inspired Testa and crew to count the number of people using Lighting Lane as part of their service.

It would not surprise me if you told me that somewhere between 60% and 80% of the Lightning Lane usage at popular attractions is DAS usage, Testa said. Theres no way that 60% to 80% of the U.S. population has a disability that prevents them from waiting in line.

A bloated Lighting Lane queue translates into longer waits for standby lines and for people in need of a disability pass.

In 2021, Disney World introduced Genie+, an electronic service for ride reservations and access to Lightning Lanes. Pricing varies by park and date. On Tuesday, Genie+ prices ranged between $17 at Disneys Animal Kingdom to $27 at Magic Kingdom.

Putting aside the ethical parts of lying about your kids disability to skip lines, you dont want to be between Disney and money. Thats a bad place to be, Testa said.

In 2020, a federal judge in Orlando ruled in favor of Disney after it was sued by an Orlando disability advocate to get immediate access to FastPass lines, a free reservation service now discontinued, for her autistic son. Tampa lawyer Andy Dogali said then he had filed about 60 similar civil lawsuits in Florida and California, but those have been dismissed, he said Tuesday.

Disney also won the appeal in the FastPass suit in 2022. The lawsuit came after Disney World changed its policy in 2013 after reports of tourists hiring people with disabilities and terminally ill children to help them get front-of-line access. From that, DAS was created.

The latest changes are to realign DAS with its original design.

Disney is dedicated to providing a great experience for all guests, including those with disabilities, which is why we are so committed to delivering a wide range of innovative support services aimed at helping our guests with disabilities have a wonderful time when visiting our theme parks, the company statement said.

Disney World is adding more cast members with specialized training, more options for the attraction queues and limiting DAS groups to immediate family members or a total of four people.

Similar changes will start at Disneyland in California starting June 18. Resorts on both coasts updated their websites Tuesday.

They include listings of services, downloadable guides, pre-arrival resources and information about elements such as disability parking, service animals, wheelchairs, Braille maps and audio descriptions.

dbevil@orlandosentinel.com
Two conservative operatives who attempted to stop Black voters in New York from voting by mail in the 2020 election have been ordered to pay up to $1.25 million in restitution.

Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman were found liable in 2023 for targeting Black voters with false and threatening messages intended to discourage voting. U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero said at the time that the two had violated multiple federal and state civil rights laws.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Tuesday that Wohl and Burkman had conceded to a $1 million judgment to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) and individual plaintiffs. James filed the lawsuit against the two defendants in May 2021.

If Wohl and Burkman fail to pay at least $105,000 by Dec. 31 and do not address the failure to pay within 30 days, the amount will increase to $1.25 million.

The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, and it belongs to everyone. We will not allow anyone to threaten that right, James said in a statement Tuesday. Wohl and Burkman orchestrated a depraved and disinformation-ridden campaign to intimidate Black voters in an attempt to sway the election in favor of their preferred candidate. Now they will pay up to $1.25 million to my office, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and the individuals who were harmed by their scheme. My office will always defend the right to vote.

Burkman and Wohl pleaded guilty in October 2022 to a single count each of felony telecommunications fraud over the robocalls. They were sentenced in November 2022 to two years probation, six months of electronic monitoring and 500 hours of community service in a voter registration drive.

Wohl and Burkman used a fake organization called Project 1599 to reach approximately 5,500 New Yorkers during the 2020 election cycle. Targeted voters received calls falsely claiming that voting by mail would cause the voter to be tracked for outstanding warrants, credit card debt and mandatory vaccines.

According to the OAG, one such call from Tamika Taylor tells voters, Mail-in voting sounds great, but did you know that if you vote by mail, your personal information will be part of a public database that will be used by police departments to track down old warrants and be used by credit card companies to collect outstanding debts? The CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] is even pushing to use records for mail-in voting to track people for mandatory vaccines. Dont be finessed into giving your private information to the man, stay safe and beware of vote by mail.

One New York voter who received the robocall suffered severe anxiety and distress and ultimately withdrew his voter registration, according to Jamess office.

As a result of the calls, the NCBCP redirected resources to address the false claims made in the call.

These men engaged in a conspiracy to suppress Black votes in the 2020 general election, said Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of NCBCP. They used intimidation and scare tactics, attempting to spread harmful disinformation about voting in an effort to silence Black voices. Their conduct cannot and will not be tolerated. This settlement serves as a marker for those who seek to engage in such efforts. There will be consequences for their actions. They will pay for the harm they cause to our democracy.

The OAG litigated the case, alongside co-plaintiffs of voters who received the robocall and the NCBCP. The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP represented all plaintiffs, individual and institutional, in the case.

The settlement should send an emphatic message to those who want to prevent Black Americans from voting, said Damon T. Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Voter suppression and voter intimidation are illegal, immoral, and anti-democratic, Hewitt said. Regardless of whether the perpetrators are government actors or private citizens, your actions will have consequences, and you will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. At a time when orchestrated voter intimidation and disinformation campaigns are on the rise, we must all remain vigilant in working to ensure that access to the ballot is fair, easy, and accessible.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A test of 12 store-bought versions of Lunchables and similar snack kits found relatively high levels of lead, cadmium and sodium

Kraft-Heinz/Lunchables; Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty

Consumer Reports is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to remove Lunchables and similar lunch kits from the National School Lunch Program.

The organization made the announcement on April 9 after a test of 12 store-bought versions of Lunchables and similar lunch and snack kits found relatively high levels of lead, cadmium and sodium. The sodium levels in the kits reportedly ranged from 460 to 740 milligrams per serving  nearly a quarter to half of a childs daily recommended limit.

Additionally, all but one of the kits contain harmful phthalates, a group of chemicals found in plastics that the National Institute of Health states is detrimental to human health and can lead to reproductive problems, diabetes, obesity, certain types of cancer and more.

A spokesperson for Kraft Heinz, maker of Lunchables, tells PEOPLE that the company has taken great steps to improve the nutrition profile of Lunchables, including reducing the sodium in all Lunchables crackers by 26%.

All our foods meet strict safety standards that we happily feed to our own families. We are proud of Lunchables and stand by the quality and integrity that goes into making them, the spokesperson said. According to current science, processed foods arbitrarily classified as ultra-processed are not necessarily less nutritious. In fact, many processed foods contain added nutrients, providing even more benefits to the consumer. The classification of foods should be based on scientific evidence that includes an assessment of the nutritional value of the whole product, not restricted to one element such as a single ingredient or the level of processing.

Kraft-Heinz/Lunchables

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Along with Lunchables, CRs test also included kits from Armour LunchMakers, Good & Gather, Greenfield Natural Meat Co., and Oscar Mayer.

CR has since launched a petition to the USDA, already garnering over 10,000 signatures in favor of removing the popular lunch kits from the National School Lunch Program.

Even in small amounts, lead and cadmium can cause developmental problems in children, with risks increasing from regular exposure over time, the petition states. And eating too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure: about 14 percent of children and teens have prehypertension or hypertension. Please remove these processed food kits from the lunch program, and offer our children healthier choices.



Lunchables are not a healthy option for kids and shouldnt be allowed on the menu as part of the National School Lunch Program, Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, said in a statement. The Lunchables and similar lunch kits we tested contain concerning levels of sodium and harmful chemicals that can lead to serious health problems over time. The USDA should remove Lunchables from the National School Lunch Program and ensure that kids in schools have healthier options.

The USDA did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

About 28 million students each day in over 95,000 schools and educational institutions in the United States are provided with meals under the federal National School Lunch Program, according to the School Nutrition Association. About 19 million of those meals are free, while 8.5 million are paid in full and 1.1 million are served at a reduced price, according to the association report.

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Read the original article on People.
Controversial Shasta County elections panel loses two more people. Will there be a quorum?

Two more members of a citizens election group that has been steeped in controversy are resigning.

Susanne Baremore announced in an email on Monday afternoon that she has resigned from the Shasta County Elections Commission.

And Bev Gray's last meeting as a commissioner will be April 22, according to Supervisor Patrick Jones, who appointed Gray to the five-member commission.

Jones said Gray wants to work on "some other things."

"She likes the commission, but she wants to be freed up," Jones said of Gray.

Baremore said she could not continue to be part of a citizens' panel that doesn't follow election law.

The work that the commission is doing is just so at odds with the laws that the (Shasta County) Registrar of Voters has to follow, Baremore told the Record Searchlight. It makes me extremely uncomfortable the way we have let people come into our commission meetings with these outrageous claims of voter fraud and then to not follow up on them. We have a responsibility to not let that language go unfounded without doing some work to confirm those allegations.

The Shasta County Elections Commission, left to right, Susanne Baremore, Dawn Duckett, Lisa Michaud, Ronnean Lund and Bev Gray. Duckett announced on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, that she was resigning from the advisory board.

Baremores resignation comes about a week after she was arrested. Baremore confirmed the arrest but declined to say what led up to it.

The new resignations also come nearly a month after Dawn Duckett announced her resignation, saying the elections commission should be disbanded and abolished immediately and calling it a waste of resources.

Shasta County Supervisor Tim Garman, who appointed Duckett, has echoed Ducketts sentiments and has called the elections commission a sham.

Garman has said he will not appoint a replacement for Duckett because the advisory panel is so out there that it wouldnt be fair to that individual.

Supervisor Mary Rickert appointed Baremore to the elections commission. Rickert did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

In confirming her arrest, Baremore said it had no bearing on her decision to resign from the commission.

As for Gray's upcoming departure, Jones said he plans to appoint Patty Plumb in her place.

Who is Patty Plumb?

Plumb has been acting as spokeswoman for District 2 supervisor candidate Laura Hobbs, who filed a lawsuit last week in Shasta County Superior Court that asks a judge to "find moot the nomination of Allen Long as winner" in the District 2 race. The election results were certified about a week ago.

The lawsuit names as defendants Registrar of Voters Cathy Darling Allen and Long.

Plumb has spoken at supervisors' meetings during public comment calling for the elimination of voting machines and going to a hand count of ballots.

With Baremore and Duckett gone, the commission would be down to three members for the April 22 meeting  Gray, Ronnean Lund and Lisa Michaud.

The three were appointed by Jones and his peers, Supervisors Chris Kelstrom and Kevin Crye, all far-right conservatives who voted in January 2023 to terminate the countys contract with Dominion Voting Systems. The appointments have led to the assumption that Gray, Lund and Michaud will share the three supervisors' political views and their desire to eliminate voting machines.

The commission has come under fire for recommendations its made to supervisors, including creating a local ordinance to hand count all votes in local elections, which runs counter to state law.

Gray, Lund and Michaud were in the 3-2 majority to recommend the local hand-count ordinance.

In her resignation letter, Baremore states the county has been informed by the state Attorney General that our recommendations are inconsistent with the law.

Baremore told the Record Searchlight that supervisors received a letter from the AGs office that said hand counting ballots is illegal based on the passage of AB 969.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 969 into law in October. The law bans the manual tally of ballots in elections with more than 1,000 registered voters. Shasta County has more than 110,000 registered voters.

Background on radio ad pulled by KQMS

The Shasta County Elections Commission also has come under fire over a political ad that is at the center of an investigation by the California Secretary of State.

The ad, aired on KQMS radio, encouraged residents who received ballots or other voting materials that did not belong to them or someone in their household to report it by calling what turned out to be someone's private phone number.

More: LIVE: Recount not happening on Monday for Shasta Supervisors District 2 race

The radio station pulled the ad before the March 5 primary election and said Supervisor Jones and Gray were behind the radio ad.

Jones has denied any involvement in the radio ad.

Of the elections commission, Baremore said in part in her letter, the degree of hubris it takes to ignore the experience, education, knowledge and wisdom of this many professionals who have dedicated their entire careers to local governance is astounding and deeply embarrassing.

I do not see a clear path to the work we were created to do, nor a framework through which quality work can be produced. Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from the Shasta County Elections Commission, her letter concludes.

Reporter Damon Arthur contributed to this report.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. Hes part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on X, formerly Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta County Elections Commission loses two more members
GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG)  A convicted felon was arrested after he was allegedly found with a firearm during a traffic stop, according to reports.

Okaloosa County medical staff save 3-year-old who was unresponsive for an hour

Deputies with the George County Sheriffs Office arrested 31-year-old Keith Wayne Gardner after a traffic stop on April 4 in the Agricola community.

(Courtesy: George County Sheriffs Office)

Officials say Gardner was previously convicted of third-degree burglary out of Mobile, Alabama. Since he had a previous felony conviction, he was not allowed to possess the firearm, according to reports.

Gardner was arrested and charged with one count of weapons possession of a firearm or other weapons by a convicted felon.

He has since been released on a $30,000 bond to a Quick Release Bonding, according to arrest reports.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Surveillance video from 11-year-old Madalina Cojocaris school bus shows she got off at her stop on November 21, 2022, at 4:59 p.m. This is the last time police have independent confirmation of when she was last seen

The Cornelius Police Department will host a community gathering for a local girl whos been missing since 2022, according to a news release.

The event will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday in the departments parking lot, on Madalina Cojocaris thirteenth birthday. Cornelius has hosted similar events before.

The 12-year-old went missing in November 2022 when she was 11.

Since then, her mother and stepfather  Diana Cojocari and Christopher Palmiter  have been charged with failing to report her disappearance.

Both have been interviewed by police, but neither have offered an explanation as to why they didnt report the girl missing, prosecutors said in court. Court documents have raised as many questions as they have provided answers.

In February, Diana Cojocari missed a court date after refusing to leave her jail cell, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Her charges are pending, as are Palmiters.

The police department has placed a box in its lobby for people to leave birthday wishes and cards. The cards will be read at Thursdays gathering, according to the news release.

If theres rain, the gathering will be held in the Cornelius Town Halls community room.
How could Macon schools be impacted by GA bill restricting social media access for teens?

A new Georgia bill could create changes to Bibb County School District classrooms, and how students use social media, though the district wont comment on the legislation yet.

Senate Bill 351, also known as the Protecting Georgias Children on Social Media Act of 2024, aims to combat cyberbullying and address concerns over how social media impacts childrens mental health. The measure would require children younger than 16 to seek parental permission before creating social media accounts.

The legislation would also prohibit students from accessing social media on school devices and on school Wi-Fi, as well as require the Georgia Department of Education to develop and update instructional programs that teach students about online safety and the appropriate use of social media starting in the 2025-2026 school year.

The Georgia State Board of Education would review each schools technology protection measures and could be authorized to withdraw funding for schools if they fail to enforce social media policies that meet the legislations standards.

Cyberbullying in Bibb County

In the Bibb County School District, 333 out of 5,806 middle and high school students reported being cyberbullied last year, according to the 2023 Georgia Department of Education Student Health Survey.

Although the response numbers for cyberbullying were small, 21% of Bibb County middle and high school students said they always feel stress, while 28% said they feel stressed occasionally.

Data from recent years show that Macon-Bibb County youth are suffering from mental health problems more than other adolescents around the state.

Local health care advocates credit the areas high poverty rate to bullying, which leads to poor mental health.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and State Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas) introduced this legislation back in January.

We believe Senate Bill 351 is an important step forward in protecting Georgias children and giving them the tools they need to be safe in their use of social media and other technologies, Jones said in a news release.

Opponents warn the bill would bring issues in classrooms. State Rep. David Wilkerson (D-Powder Springs) said the ban of social media use in schools could prevent teachers from showing educational videos to students, the Associated Press reported last week.

Victoria Nash, Macon resident and parent of a 9-year-old, said she doesnt believe the new measure will help prevent anything.

We can put all the laws we want in place but if parents arent parenting and watching what their kids do, accounts will still be made and bullying will still happen, she said.

The Bibb County School District declined to speak on the topic.

Unfortunately, this is not something our team is prepared to speak on at this stage of the legislative process, with potential changes and their unforeseen impacts, district spokesperson Jeremy Timmerman said in an email.

Bibb County School District students can anonymously report bullying through the Lets Talk and Safe4Bibb apps, according to spokesperson Stephanie Hartley.

Students are encouraged throughout the year to report concerns related to bullying/cyberbullying and safety to a trusted adult, teacher or school administrator, she said in an email.

When will Senate Bill 351 be enacted?

The House passed the bill 120-45, and the Senate approved it 48-7 on March 28, according to the Georgia General Assembly. It now awaits Gov. Brian Kemps signature or veto.

Jones said he looks forward to the bill becoming law so we can begin to address the very serious issues surrounding social media and its impact on our childrens mental health.

Middle schools reported more cases of cyberbullying at or away from school compared to high or elementary schools during the 2021-2022 academic school years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

About 3% of 418,705 Georgia middle school and high school students reported they had been mocked or harassed by other students on social media a few times, according to the 2023 Georgia Department of Education Student Health Survey. About 7% of students said they were cyberbullied at least once or twice.

The survey does not account for the total enrollment of over 1.65 million Georgia students during that time, as students are not required to fill out the survey, according to the education department.

I will never apologize in the fight to protect Georgias youth. Social media can be a very useful tool, however there are instances in which we must reign in Big Tech in order to protect the health and safety of our children, Jones said.
For months, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon, a criminal defense attorney by trade, has been quietly working with the legal team representing former Miami City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla in a bribery and money laundering case.

Hardemon has appeared reticent to discuss his role in the case, declining to comment or evading questions from Miami Herald reporters at City and County Commission meetings this year. But campaign finance reports from the final months of 2023 show that Hardemon, who previously served alongside Diaz de la Portilla on the Miami City Commission, was paid $25,000 by Proven Leadership for Miami-Dade County, a political committee controlled by Diaz de la Portilla, in an Oct. 11 expenditure labeled legal fees.

Both Diaz de la Portilla and his attorney Benedict Kuehne confirmed Hardemons involvement. Kuehne, who is the lead attorney in the case, called Hardemon a talented and experienced lawyer and said that Hardemon joined the legal team shortly after Diaz de la Portillas September arrest.

Mr. Hardemon will assist the legal team in demonstrating the charges against Alex are political and fabricated, Kuehne said in a phone interview.

Miami-Dade Commissioner Keon Hardemon looks out toward the commission chambers in Miami on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Wednesday is the deadline for political committees and candidates to submit campaign finance reports to the Florida Division of Elections from the first quarter of 2024, which would show if the Proven Leadership committee paid Hardemon anything in January, February or March.

In a text message to the Herald, Diaz de la Portilla said that Hardemon is part of an experienced and well rounded team of attorneys he hired to fight the Broward State Attorneys 213 lawyers and an army of bureaucrats; the States weaponization of the justice system; the States efforts to to criminalize entirely legal, fully disclosed political activity; and the States and the lying medias unlimited budgets which have been deployed against me.

I am fighting, and will win, the good fight, Diaz de la Portilla added.

READ MORE: Centners downplay ties to arrested Miami commissioner, say they sprinkle money around

Prosecutors have accused Diaz de la Portilla and lobbyist William Bill Riley Jr. of orchestrating a money laundering and bribery scheme in order to secure Diaz de la Portillas support for a city land deal with the wealthy couple who operates Centner Academy, a private school. Broward County is prosecuting the case because of a conflict between Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Rileys family.

Hardemon was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2011 after graduating from the University of Miami School of Law in 2010, according to the Florida Bar Association. He went on to work as an assistant public defender at the Miami-Dade County Public Defenders Office, according to his County Commission bio. He now manages his own law firm, according to the bio, which says he has represented hundreds of clients including celebrities accused of serious felonies.

Miami Herald staff writer Douglas Hanks contributed reporting.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has visited the Hajigabul district, Azernews reports.

The head of state inaugurated the Mughan-Birinji Pashali-Ikinji Pashali-Shorbachi-Birinji Udullu-Taghili-Ikinji Udullu-Gubadli highway in the district.

Chairman of the Board of the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads, Saleh Mammadov, briefed the head of state on the completed work.

The two-lane highway spans 39 kilometres and connects eight residential settlements.

Additionally, a three-span steel-concrete bridge was constructed over the Pirsaat River in the territory of Udullu village.

These infrastructure improvements ensure the smooth movement of over 12,000 residents and facilitate the transportation of goods and passengers in the district.














KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2024 - 14:16 | All, Japan

Japan's House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill to establish a "security clearance" system that allows critical government information to be classified on economic security grounds to prevent leaks to overseas entities.

Under the envisaged legislation, the government will be able to classify information so it is only accessible by individuals who have passed background checks if it deems a leak could undermine Japan's national security. It will also introduce penalties for those who release information without the authority to do so.

Some critics and legal experts have raised concerns the government could arbitrarily use the system to designate a wide range of issues as confidential, possibly infringing on the public's right to know. They have also indicated background checks could amount to an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

The government-sponsored bill will be sent to the House of Councillors, paving the way for its enactment during the current parliament session through June.

The government is seeking to facilitate information-sharing with like-minded nations to promote international projects in the private sector.

Although the bill does not specify what can be classified, information related to cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure is expected to be included. Other areas -- such as defense, diplomacy, espionage and counterterrorism -- are already covered by a separate law enacted in 2013 to protect state secrets.

Government officials and employees at private companies that will require the security clearance would have to undergo vetting that checks their criminal records, alcohol drinking habits and the nationality of their spouses.

In response to a request by the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the ruling bloc, led by the Liberal Democratic Party, modified the bill to require that the parliament monitor what critical information is designated for declassification.

The designated information will be classified for a minimum of five years with an option to extend to 30 years.

The envisioned law will punish those proven to have leaked confidential information, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison or a fine of up to 5 million yen ($33,000). Private firms could face fines if their employees violate the law to gain a business advantage.

Related coverage:

Japan's Diet starts 150-day regular session, funds scandal in focus

Line operator says 440,000 personal records leaked in data breach
Attorneys for former President Donald Trump, Emil Bove, left, and Todd Blanche, right, exit the New York State appellate court, Monday, April 8, 2024, in New York. | Peter K. Afriyie

An appellate court judge denied former President Donald Trumps request to pause the date of his upcoming criminal lawsuit in New York on Tuesday. Justice Cynthia Kerns ruling was the second time in the past week that a decision has been made regarding Trumps efforts to slow the case going to trial.

Jury selection currently remains set for April 15.

Trumps legal team tried to push the case back so that a full appellate court panel could assess the gag order previously made and then adjusted by Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the hush money case.

The First Amendment harms arising from this gag order right now are irreparable, Trump lawyer Emil Bove said at a hearing Tuesday, per The Associated Press. Bove argued its unfair that Trump be silenced while prosecution witnesses Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen continue to openly criticize the presumptive presidential front-runner.

The lawsuit filed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleges that Trump concealed documents during his 2016 presidential campaign. The documents show Trump reimbursing his former lawyer, Cohen, $130,000 to prevent adult film star Daniels from disclosing their purported affair from years before.

Trump has denied all wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts against him in the case.

In response to Bove, Cohens attorney, Steven Wu, said, The slippery slope about this constitutional argument is that he can attack anyone, per CBS News.

The gag order was restricted to prohibit Trump from commenting about Braggs and Merchans family after the former president commented about the judges daughter on social media.

In her decision on Tuesday, Kern stated that an appellate panel will consider Trumps points. His attorneys are scheduled to present their arguments to the panel on the morning of April 15, coinciding with the potential jurors being escorted into the courtroom.

Trumps legal team is still requesting a trial delay until the appellate panel has decided on the gag order. CBS News added, There is no basis for staying a criminal trial for this reason, and they have cited no case record in support of that, Wu said.

The case is one of four criminal indictments that Trump faces while also being the leading opponent against President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election.
A Cowlitz County Superior Court judge ruled Monday that the states ban on sales of high-capacity magazines is unconstitutional.

In a news release from Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Monday, Ferguson called the decision to grant the injunction incorrect and added that his office filed an emergency motion seeking to halt the ruling with the Washington State Supreme Court.

Not soon after the motion was filed, Ferguson announced that the Washington State Supreme Court affirmed the states motion to stay.

If the stay had not been granted, firearms dealers in the state would have been able to sell high-capacity magazines again as the case worked its way through courts.

The clerk of the court is directed to issue a briefing schedule and set a date for oral argument on the emergency motion for a stay, Supreme Court documents noted.

Democratic Washington lawmakers passed the ban on magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds in 2022.

In September, the AGO filed a lawsuit against Gators Custom Guns in Kelso after the dealer continued to sell the banned magazines. Attorneys for Gators called the ban unconstitutional in their defense.

Every court in Washington and across the country to consider challenges to a ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines under the U.S. or Washington Constitution has either rejected that challenge or been overruled, Ferguson said in the release. This law is constitutional. It is also essential to addressing mass shootings in our communities. This law saves lives, and I will continue to defend it.

In a video posted to Twitter Monday, Washington Gun Law President Bill Kirk commented on the injunction, calling it good news. While he encouraged viewers to go now to shop at local independent firearms dealers while the injunction is in place, a spokesperson for the AGO told McClatchy in an email that the call to action was outdated since the stay was granted.
CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN)  A total of 20 men from Georgia were arrested and accused of organized crime and aggravated robbery following an investigation by the Cedar Park Police Department, police said in a release.

The investigation

It began on March 14 after CPPD detectives responded to a report of an aggravated robbery at Black Rock Vape on North Bell Avenue in Cedar Park, the release said.

When detectives arrived on the scene, the victim told them he was at an event in Austin where several men came up to him asking to buy exotic flowers, according to police. The victim said he agreed to take them to his job at the vape shop.

The Cedar Park Police helped to arrest 20 gang members in Georgia, following an aggravated robbery investigation that happened in Cedar Park in March | Courtesy Cedar Park Police Department

The Cedar Park Police helped to arrest 20 gang members in Georgia, following an aggravated robbery investigation that happened in Cedar Park in March | Courtesy Cedar Park Police Department

When they got to the store, the victim said the men pulled out guns and robbed him. He said they took his phone, money from the safe and register, as well as numerous vape products, the release said.

During the investigation, detectives identified the suspects and tracked them down in Georgia, according to police.

Then, on April 5, multiple law enforcement agencies traveled to Georgia and served search and arrest warrants at a home police said a gang used for violent crimes, the release said. Law enforcement found a cache of weapons, drugs, and money.

The arrests

Four of those gang members were also identified by CPPD for their involvement in crimes committed in Cedar Park.

The first person was identified as a 17-year-old from Decatur, Georgia. He was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of engaging in organized crime in Cedar Park, according to police. He was also charged in Georgia with violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession or sale of controlled substances, possession of marijuana with an intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, the release said.

From left to right: Brandon Lovett Thomas, 31, Jakai Tyere Lewis, 18 and John Ben Frazier, 19 | Courtesy: Cedar Park Police Department

The second person was identified as Brandon Lovett Thomas, 31, of Brookhaven, Georgia. He was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of engaging in organized crime in Cedar Park, according to police.

The third person was identified as Jakai Tyere Lewis, 18, of Stone Mountain, Georgia. He was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of engaging in organized crime in Cedar Park. Additionally, he was charged in Georgia with violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession or sale of controlled substances, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to police.

The fourth person was identified as John Ben Frazier, 19, of Decatur, Georgia. He was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of engaging in organized crime in Cedar Park. In Georgia, he was charged with violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession or sale of controlled substances, possession of marijuana with an intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to police.

CPPD said there is an ongoing investigation, and there are additional charges expected.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WNCN)  New photos and new information were released Monday in the search for a boater who vanished off the North Carolina coast during a fishing trip over the weekend.

Meanwhile, late Monday night, the U.S. Coast Guard said they had suspended the search for Jeffrey Kale, 47, who was last seen around 4 p.m. Saturday departing the Southport Wildlife Boat Ramp in Brunswick County, officials said.

Kale was aboard a white 32-foot Cape Horn center-console boat before he and the vessel disappeared, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The Oak Island Police Department Monday released a photo of the boat and a new image of Kale.

Our extensive search by air and sea with numerous crews, assets, and several good Samaritans, saturated the various areas we believed he may be, the U.S. Coast Guard said Monday night about a decision to stop the search.

Coast Guard officials in North Carolina received word from Kales family that he was overdue from a fishing trip around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

Jeffrey Kale, 47, was last seen around 4 p.m. Saturday departing in a white 32-foot Cape Horn center-console boat at the Southport Wildlife Boat Ramp in Brunswick County, officials said. Photo from Oak Island Police Department

Oak Island police said Monday they were helping the U.S. Coast Guard in the search for Kale who is from Clover, South Carolina, just south of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Coast Guard searching off NC coast for boater who vanished during fishing trip

He is an expert fisherman and was well equipped with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), satellite phone, and various navigation tools, Oak Island police said Monday.

The Coast Guard searched fishing grounds and specific areas in the Atlantic Ocean based on Kales previous trips and information from his family, police said.

Missing fisherman Jeffrey Kale in a photo from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Coast Guard officials said they had focused the search on the Blackjack and Steeples fishing areas, which are 7 miles apart and are located about 30 miles southeast of Southport.

Oak Island police said efforts to find Kale using cellphone location data were attempted but were not successful.

Monday night, the U.S. Coast Guard said it was with heavy hearts that they suspended the active search for Kale around 8:20 p.m. Monday

Jeffrey Kale, 47, was last seen around 4 p.m. Saturday departing the Southport Wildlife Boat Ramp in Brunswick County, officials said. Photo from Oak Island Police Department

Rescue crews searched for approximately 72 combined hours and covered more than 7,762 square miles, which is nearly the size of Massachusetts, the Coast Guard said.

The decision to suspend a search is one of the most difficult decisions to make. Our thoughts are with the Kale family, U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Corrie Sergent said in a news release.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
As thousands of Venezuelans fleeing from the Nicolas Maduro regime seek refuge in the United States, members of a violent gang that has already triggered crime waves in a number of Latin American countries are hiding among them, causing concern among U.S. officials fearing that they now seek to set up shop in major American cities.

Rising from a Venezuelan prison and quickly expanding to become a sort of umbrella organization for other gangs, the so-called Tren de Aragua (Aragua Train) for years dominated crime in vast areas of the South American country, specializing in a long list of crimes ranging from extortion, car-theft and kidnapping to drug-trafficking, prostitution and murder for hire.

As an estimated 7.7 millions Venezuelans left their homes to migrate to other countries in the past 10 years, the gang saw in the exodus an opportunity to grow exponentially, increasing its ranks from the estimated 400 members in Venezuela to an army of more than 3,000 strong reportedly operating now in Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Central America, in addition to their country of origin.

And now they are attempting to establish a beachhead in the United States, said Miami U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar.

The group has been associated with a crime wave across Latin America. For example, there has been a 700% increase in kidnappings in Santiago de Chile associated with the presence of this gang. And this major crime threat has now arrived in the United States, she said, adding that the beating of a police officer in New York City and two recent murders attributed to the gang are just a taste of whats to come if we dont start getting serious about this threat.

In a letter to President Biden, Salazar and other Republican lawmakers asked him to designate the gang as a Transnational Criminal Organization, arguing that the Tren de Aragua is an invading criminal army from a prison in Venezuela that has spread their brutality and chaos to U.S. cities and small towns.

If left unchecked, they will unleash an unprecedented reign of terror, mirroring the devastation it has already inflicted in communities throughout Central and South America, most prominently in Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. The breadth of Tren de Araguas operations encompasses murder, drug and human trafficking, sex crimes, extortion, and kidnapping, among other brutalities. It is clear that most state and local law enforcement agencies are not yet prepared to handle the magnitude of this grave threat, the lawmakers wrote in the March 14 letter.

The designation would give the federal government the ability to impose sanctions on the mega-gang and its members, making it easier to freeze assets and restrict their travel and would also prompt U.S. federal agencies to prioritize the threat posed by the gang.

News reports of the arrival of Tren de Aragua in American cities is alarming members of the Venezuelan community living in the United States, who fear the gang will end up giving a bad name to all migrants from the South American country.

Patrica Andrade, an activist whose organization Venezuela Awareness Foundation has been helping migrants coming to South Florida for years, is quick to point out that gang members do not represent the character of Venezuelans coming into the U.S.

The Venezuelan community, most of which has been rooted in the United States for many years, is made up of scientists, doctors, bankers, teachers, health care personnel and businessmen, who have made very important contributions to this nation, she said in a recent statement.

Because of this, we see with shock and sadness what is happening with some Venezuelans who have recently emigrated to the country and unfortunately have committed serious and atrocious criminal acts that we reject, because their behavior is not what characterizes the Venezuelan community, she added.

Trouble in Times Square

Public awareness of the gangs presence in New York was heightened earlier this year by a viral video showing alleged gang members beating up a couple of police officers in Times Square.

The officers, who were telling a group of immigrants gathering on West 42nd Street in Manhattan that they had to move on, were wrestled to the ground and severely kicked. Two of the suspects who were later arrested were identified as Tren de Aragua members, officials later told the New York Post.

The incident scandalized the city, but it is only one example of a series of run-ins between police and asylum seekers living in the streets of New York. According to local media reports, the city received more than 100,000 migrants since the spring of 2022, overwhelming local shelters and prompting a new wave of street crime that includes a sharp increase in pickpocketing and cell phone thefts.

Some of the arrests recently made in relation to the crime wave have been Venezuelan migrants. Although it has not been firmly established if those arrested have Tren de Aragua affiliations, the Venezuelan gang is often blamed by the local media for the heightened sense of lawlessness prevalent in the city.

That alleged gang members are preying on unsuspecting Times Square pedestrians has a simple explanation, said former senior DEA Special Agent Michael Brown, who has been monitoring gang activities in major American cities.

As newcomers to New York, a city that already has 24 active gangs, Tren de Aragua members are likely to have a difficult time in barging into the territories of other groups, he said. They will not be in a position to launch an incursion into existing gang territory, therefore their source of revenue will have to be the general public through random robberies, assaults in the public space, he said.

No Fear

And what most concerns U.S. officials is that members of South American gangs, such as the Tren de Aragua and El Salvadors MS-13, are normally very young and have no fear of the police.

They really hate the police and they are more than willing to aggressively attack and engage the police, Brown, global director of counter-narcotics technology at Rigaku Analytical Devices, said.

Ivan Simonovis, a former police officer who served as the Venezuelan oppositions commissioner for special security and intelligence, has been tracking the operations of the Tren de Aragua for some time and warns that its members have been quietly entering different areas of the U.S., including Florida, Chicago and New York.

What they are doing now is setting up their networks, scouting the new environment and establishing their work structures, which was the way they entered Colombia, Chile and Peru. Once they identify the opportunities, they then move into recruiting people for their new operations, he said.

While gang members normally shy away from public attention, Simonovis said he was not surprised by news of the beating of police officers in New York. These are people that grew up in a country where there is very little respect for the law, he said. They dont quite understand the concept of authority and normally are little inclined to obey instructions.

Alleged murders

As shocking as the Times Square attack might have been to New Yorkers, a recent murder case in South Florida is the one that best illustrates the violence associated with the gang in Venezuela.

Jose Luis Sanchez Valera, a 43-year-old retired Venezuelan police officer who lived in Doral, was lured by women into a hotel room in Miami in late November and killed after he was abducted in the parking lot.

According to a Miami-Dade Police report, Sanchez left his home around 10 p.m. on Nov. 27 and went to La Quinta Inn Hotel and Suites, 3501 NW 42 Ave., to meet with a woman in one of the rooms. Four hours later, he left the hotel through a side exit to the parking lot and was abducted by three men upon entering his vehicle.

Hours later, two of the abductors went to the victims apartment and demanded jewelry from his roommate. He was told by the armed assailants that they belonged to the Tren de Aragua, according to the police report.

They left after being getting the contents of a small safe belonging to the retired police officer without hurting the roommate, but Sanchezs body, hands and feet bound with tape, was later found inside his vehicle. The autopsy showed that the cause of death was mechanical asphyxia and the death was ruled a homicide.

Modus operandi

Cases like the Sanchez murder are common in Venezuela, where gang members often abduct victims suspected of having secret fortunes and torture them in order to gain access to the hidden wealth. Sometimes the victims are allowed to go free after the gangs take their money, given the low probability of their going for help to a local police force often seen as corrupt and in alliance with the gangs. But sometimes the gangs kill the victims to eliminate witnesses.

While the link to the gang is not as clear cut as in the Doral murder, the Feb. 22 killing of Laken Riley in Georgia is also being used to describe the threat posed by the gang. The Augusta University nursing student was killed by Venezuelan migrant Jose Antonio Ibarra, who had entered the U.S. illegally.

Riley, who had disappeared while jogging on the grounds of the University of Georgia, was found dead at Oconee Forest Park near Lake Herrick of blunt force trauma injuries. Ibarra was arrested and is believed to have acted alone, but his brother later grabbed the spotlight after local media reported that had tattoos on his neck of Tren de Aragua symbols.

Brown, the former DEA special agent, agrees that law enforcement officials, particular those overseeing the U.S.-Mexico border, need additional tools in order to check more effectively the background of the migrants coming in.

We have literally thousands of potentially very dangerous gang members, or young men looking for gang associations, openly walking across the border. Some of them will seek a legitimate stay in the United States, but a large percentage is going to join the gangs because they represent an external fraternity for young men who dont have anywhere to go, he said.

So if you have thousands of young people coming with no job, no opportunity, what are they going to do? Theyre not going just to stand in line for welfare cards. They are going to join gangs and join that fraternity, he added. That is the danger America faces, especially in sanctuary cities.
Then-President Donald Trump greets supporters in October 2020 after speaking about law and order from the South Portico of the White House. (Photo by Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images)

A potential second Trump administration will reportedly seek to undo equity programs aimed at addressing generations of discrimination against Black and brown Americans.

Democratic strategists are sounding the alarm for Black voters after a report indicated that if Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump returns to the White House, his allies and longtime aides will prioritize policies concerning anti-white racism.

According to Axios, a potential second Trump administration will seek to undo equity programs aimed at addressing generations of discrimination against Black and brown Americans, including decades-old federal programs and recent programs established by President Joe Biden.

I wish I could say this report is shocking, but frankly, the Trump campaign has been nothing but consistent in their defense of white supremacy and extremist policies, Jamarr Brown, executive director of Color of Change PAC, told theGrio. Trumps candidacy has always been wholly focused on creating a more hostile world for Black people while dismantling any and all pre-existing protections for Black communities.

In a manifesto known as Project 2025, The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank advised by former Trump presidential transition team director Johnny McEntee, lays out a conservative agenda for a hypothetical second Trump administration.

The nearly 900-page guide includes policy directives like ending what it calls affirmative discrimination, including diversity, inclusion, and equity programs that it claims are vehicles for unlawful discrimination. In other words, the screed implies equity programs under Biden and previous administrations are discriminatory against white people.

In March 2023, Trump slammed President Bidens executive order establishing an equity lens across the entire federal government, calling it a Marxist concept. If elected in November, the former Republican president vowed he would get this extremism out of the White House, out of the military, out of the Justice Department, and out of our government.

As Trump and his allies plan to dismantle anti-white racism, we must really underline the true disparities in our system that demand federal protections for Black people, said Brown of Color of Change PAC.

The former Texas Democratic Party executive director rejected Trump-aligned figures who suggest federal systems rooted in equity are broken because they were never built to work for all communities and people in the first place.

Our spaces of learning, our economy, our criminal legal systems, and our electoral systems, were all designed to work exclusively for the white and the wealthy, he added.

The concept of anti-white racism has already found success in high-profile legal battles, some of which have been forged by Trump allies and advisors.

In 2021, a Texas judge ruled against the Biden administrations $29 billion COVID-19-era restaurant relief program intended for women and minority-owned businesses under the grounds that it was discriminatory against a white male restaurant owner. The plaintiff in that case was represented by America First Legal Foundation, a conservative litigation firm founded by Stephen Miller, a former Trump White House aide.

WASHINGTON, DC  AUGUST 2: Senior Adviser Stephen Miller speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC on Wednesday, Aug 02, 2017. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The legal argument in the Texas case centered on the 14th Amendments equal protection clause, which says that no state shall deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. The clause was historically used in landmark cases that ended racial segregation in schools, upheld race-conscious affirmative action in college admissions, and protected the voting rights of Black Americans.

Now, conservative litigants are winning legal cases under the same 14th Amendment clause on behalf of white citizens, claiming to be harmed by programs intended to undo generational inequities impacting Black communities. To date, the equal protection clause has been used to successfully end President Bidens debt relief program for Black farmers and force the Minority Business Development Agency to open its programs to white businesses as opposed to disadvantaged communities.

The 14th Amendment clause was also used to overturn race-based affirmative action, which was decided by the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court and made possible by President Trumps three nominees.

Reecie Colbert, a Democratic strategist and commentator, told theGrio that the Project 2025 agenda and legal cases undoing equity programs designed to address racial disparities impacting Black and brown communities is an opening salvo to what we would see under a Trump administration.



They are trying to make us second-class citizens [and] bring us back to the Jim Crow era, said Colbert, who warned Black voters that our citizenship is on the ballot in 2024. She added, I dont know that its sunk in quite yet just how dire things are.

Colbert argued that even the Supreme Court ruling to overturn President Bidens student loan debt relief program, which was designed to benefit Black and brown borrowers, and Republican-led efforts to end DEI programs are connected to this larger aim to undo any progress at addressing racial disparities in wealth, education and business.

Theyre doing it because  its making progress. And really, DEI is a pretext for attacking racial equality, she said. The same way that CRT [Critical Race Theory] was a pretext for attacking history being taught even at the elementary school level.

Antjuan Seawright, a longtime Democratic strategist, told theGrio that if the agenda of Trump and his allies becomes a reality, it will totally send us full steam backward.

Just the idea being floated of this kind of strategy or plan should be a friendly reminder to everyone but, in particular, Black folk, that progress is not permanent. He added, Its an ongoing fight, and it is to be solidified daily.

MANHATTAN, NY  JUNE 14: A protester holds a homemade sign that says, Trump is Not America in the middle of the crowd that gathered at Columbus Circle. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)nnn

Brown of Color of Change PAC said this years election will be critical in determining how Black communities advance across the country and that the recent reporting about what Trump aims to do if elected back into office should be a wake-up call for voters.

Not only for progressives to organize with a deeper understanding of what a Trump administration means for our movement but also for those voters who have never cast a blue ballot, he said.

This report makes it even more clear that a Trump White House can not be held accountable to our communities, Brown added. A huge part of the power of our movement for racial justice is our ability to guide decision-makers toward reform policies and hold them accountable for obstructing justice for Black people. This will not be possible if Trumps white supremacist platform is given another term.

The Biden-Harris campaign came out swinging against Trumps anticipated agenda to undo equity policies across the federal government.

Hes making it clear that if he wins in November, hell turn his racist record into official government policy, gutting programs that give communities of color economic opportunities and making the lives of Black and brown folks harder, said former U.S. Congressman Cedric Richmond, co-chair of the Biden-Harris campaign.

Already, his Project 2025 allies have blocked billions of dollars in support for women and minority-owned businesses, and if he wins a second term, theyll take their divisive agenda even further. Its up to us to stop him.

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The post Critics warn Black voters about Trumps anti-white racism agenda if elected back into office appeared first on TheGrio.
The town of Fort Mill is formally requesting a review of state roads in front of 20 schools, and reduced speed limits, in response to the recent death of a school crossing guard who was hit by a vehicle.

Three weeks ago, crossing guard Stanley Brucker, 61, was struck while directing traffic at one of two entrances that serve Fort Mill Elementary and Fort Mill Middle schools. Brucker died after being transported to an area hospital.

On Monday night, the town unanimously approved a resolution that asks the South Carolina Department of Transportation to review signage, signals and any other safety measures at all school sites within the school district, said Mayor Guynn Savage.

Is the signage correct? Is it large enough? Are there flashing lights at each one? Is there a pedestrian walkway, is there not? Savage asked.

In addition to the review, the request asks that speed limits on state roads serving schools drop to 25 mph. Most schools, including many along Fort Mill Parkway or Springfield Parkway that bypass the town, are on 45 mph roads now. They have signage in places that drops to 35 mph during school drop off or dismissal times.

Concerns over school crossing safety in York County stretch back for decades

The Fort Mill School District has 20 schools. Most, but not all, are in Fort Mill. The district also serves Tega Cay and unincorporated areas between Fort Mill and Tega Cay. The district has three high schools, six elementary schools and 11 elementary schools. It also has a district office, an aquatics center and other properties that arent schools.

The district has more than 18,000 students. Its the largest district by population in York County, despite being the smallest geographically in the state.

Many district schools are located off state-maintained roads. All schools are served directly or indirectly by them, Savage said. Mondays request is the towns attempt to prevent last months tragedy from ever happening again, she said.

We must go through the proper channels, Savage said. Because we alone do not have jurisdictional ability to go out and make changes on a roadway that doesnt belong to us.

Prosecutor explains why no charges filed in death of Fort Mill school crossing guard

The school district has been in contact with parents and community members in recent weeks, saying work is ongoing to improve safety but not yet announcing specific changes. School crossing guards serve most Fort Mill schools but arent employed by the district. Instead, the come from private Charlotte company, Cross Safe.

Two main reasons people typically give Savage for moving to Fort Mill are the well-regarded schools and quality of life, she said. The incident that claimed the life of a crossing guard came as a shock to both, she said.

This is something that touches us all, Savage said.

The mayor called the event unfortunate and grievous, adding that Mondays resolution is something the town can do about it.

We certainly grieve with the loss and the hurt of all the students and teachers and family members, Savage said. But we also want to be actionable. We want to do the things that we can do to address this.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  All eyes were on the sky Monday morning as many got the chance to check out the solar eclipse.

Its really cool, it kind of looks like an eyeball, Legend Heil said.

While those in Las Vegas saw only a partial view, it didnt stop Cindy and Legend Heil from joining the crowds of people outside the Dale Etheridge Planetarium Monday morning to catch the unique phenomenon.

I pulled him out of school because I thought its an experience that youre not going to be able to see again while youre in school so why not come out? Cindy Heil remarked.

It was a busy morning for planetarium manager Andrew Kerr, prepping to open the doors as early as 8 a.m.

So here in Las Vegas, we get a partial eclipse at this time which means the moon is going to cover about 50% of the sun for us, Kerr explained. If you are on that path, running from Texas all the way up to Maine where it is unfortunately cloudy pretty much all along there today but you get the chance to experience totality which is when the moon is just the right distance from the Earth and the Sun is just the right distance from the Earth and the moon completely covers the Suns surface.

You could feel the excitement as people took turns looking through telescopes provided by the Las Vegas Astronomical Society.

Crowds check in at CSNs planetarium for solar eclipse (KLAS)

Dave Hagarty with the society said the goal is to educate the public and answer any questions they can.

Thats what were trying to do is get young kids interested so they can move into a field whether its astrophotography or they can become a scientist of any kind, Haggerty said.

Its a memory Jasmine Villalpando told 8 News Now she wont forget.

I just love learning about everything about new stuff. Space is my favorite topic, Ive always liked it, Villalpando said. Its been really fun out here, these really dont happen that often.

More than 200 people came to Dale Etheridge Planetarium to see the solar eclipse. If you missed it, the next opportunity in North America wont happen again until 2044.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2024 - 23:01 | All, World, Japan

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

----------



Lower house OKs bill to create economic security clearance system

TOKYO - Japan's House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill to establish a "security clearance" system that allows critical government information to be classified on economic security grounds to prevent leaks to overseas entities.

Under the envisaged legislation, the government will be able to classify information so it is only accessible by individuals who have passed background checks if it deems a leak could undermine Japan's national security. It will also introduce penalties for those who release information without the authority to do so.

----------

Microsoft to invest $2.9 bil. in Japan to enhance AI data centers

TOKYO - Microsoft Corp. will invest $2.9 billion in Japan over two years, its largest investment in the country, aiming to reinforce data centers that are essential for processing by generative artificial intelligence, sources familiar with the plan said Tuesday.

The U.S. technology giant also plans to open a research base in Tokyo, its first in Japan, the sources said.

----------

Kishida arrives in U.S. for 1st state visit by Japan PM in 9 years

WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in the United States on Monday for the first state visit by a Japanese leader in nine years, underscoring the increasing importance of the alliance between the two countries.

Kishida is scheduled to hold a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday in Washington and will address a joint session of the Congress the following day, according to Japanese government officials.

----------

China's Xi meets with Russian minister to prepare for Putin visit

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday in Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, with Moscow's top diplomat visiting China to prepare for a trip to the Asian country by Russian President Vladimir Putin later this year.

Xi welcomed Lavrov's trip to Beijing "as an important stage of comprehensive preparations for the upcoming state visit" by Putin to China later this year, Russia's Tass news agency said, quoting the country's Foreign Ministry.

----------

U.S., Australia, Britain eye defense tech cooperation with Japan

WASHINGTON - The United States, Australia and Britain are considering working with Japan on the joint development of advanced defense technologies through their trilateral security partnership, the grouping's defense ministers said Monday, as part of efforts to counter China's military expansion.

"Recognizing Japan's strengths and its close bilateral defense partnerships with all three countries, we are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects," a joint statement released by the defense chiefs of the three countries said.

----------

3 deaths linked to dietary supplement intake had prior health issues

TOKYO - Three of the five people reported by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. to have died after taking its red yeast rice dietary supplements had preexisting medical conditions such as prostate cancer and malignant lymphoma, Japan's health ministry said Tuesday.

Three women and two men -- three in their 70s, one in their 90s, and one whose age is unknown -- have so far been reported to have died after consuming the Osaka-based drugmaker's products containing "beni-koji" red yeast rice.

----------

BOJ to cut monetary stimulus if inflation trend nears 2%: Ueda

TOKYO - Bank of Japan chief Kazuo Ueda said Tuesday the central bank will further reduce monetary stimulus if the country's basic inflation rate nears 2 percent as expected, keeping market expectations alive for an additional interest rate hike.

Ueda told a parliamentary session that the BOJ will examine upcoming data to confirm the strength of wage growth in line with the outcomes of labor-management negotiations this spring, and whether services prices will rise to achieve stable inflation.

----------

China's Xi meets with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday in Beijing, Chinese state-run media said, amid expectations that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China following the start of his fifth term in May.

Beijing and Moscow, which mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations this year, have strengthening their cooperation as they align to counter the U.S.-led international order. During his two-day China visit through Tuesday, Lavrov also met with China's top diplomat Wang Yi.

----------

China's top legislator to visit N. Korea to mark 75 years of ties

BEIJING - China's top legislator Zhao Leji will make a three-day visit to North Korea from Thursday to attend a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Zhao, ranked No. 3 in the ruling Chinese Communist Party's leadership, is the highest Chinese official to visit North Korea since Pyongyang eased its strict border controls, implemented in 2020 due to the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. He may meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

----------

U.S. ambassador to U.N. to visit atomic-bombed Nagasaki for 1st time

NEW YORK - U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield will visit the atomic-bombed Japanese city of Nagasaki next week as part of her trip to Japan and South Korea aimed at addressing the North Korean nuclear and missile threats, and weapons proliferation, the U.S. government said Monday.

According to the Nagasaki prefectural government, it will be the first trip to the southwestern Japan city by a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, site of the second atomic bombing in World War II following Hiroshima. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel visited Nagasaki in December.

Video: Maritime Self-Defense Force carrier in Hiroshima
YouTuber Ium Daro, who started filming Angkor monkeys about three months ago, follows a mother and a baby along a dirt path with his iPhone held on a selfie stick near Bayon temple at Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. The 41-year-old said he hadn't seen any monkeys physically abused, and that he didn't see a problem with what he and the others were doing to make a living. Cambodian authorities are investigating the abuse of monkeys at the famous Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

SIEM REAP, Cambodia (AP)  A baby monkey struggles and squirms as it tries to escape the man holding it by the neck over a concrete cistern, repeatedly dousing it with water.

In another video clip, a person plays with the genitals of a juvenile male macaque sitting on a limestone block from an ancient temple to get it excited for the camera.

The abuse of monkeys at the Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwestern Cambodia is not always so graphic, but authorities say it is a growing problem as people look for new ways to draw online viewers to generate cash.

The monkey should be living in the wild, where they are supposed to be living, but the monkey nowadays is being treated like a domestic pet, said Long Kosal, spokesperson for APSARA, the Cambodian office that oversees the Angkor archaeological site.

They're making the content to earn money by having the viewers on YouTube, so this is a very big issue for us.

APSARA has few tools itself to stop the YouTubers from filming in general, but has opened an investigation with the Ministry of Agriculture to collect evidence for legal action against the most serious abusers  who are rarely on camera themselves, Long Kosal said.

If we can build a case, they will be arrested for sure, he said. Any animal abuser will be seriously punished by law in Cambodia.

YouTube, Facebook and other sites remove the videos with graphic content, but scores of other clips of cute monkeys jumping and playing remain, generating thousands of views and subscribers.

Just making those videos involves very close interaction with the monkeys, however, which authorities and animal-rights activists say creates a host of other problems, both for the macaques and people visiting one of Southeast Asia's most popular tourist sites.

On a recent day outside Angkor's famous 12th-century Bayon Temple, at least a dozen YouTubers, all young men, crowded around a small group of long-tailed macaques, pushing in close to get shots of a mother with a baby on her back and tracking her everywhere she moved.

The wild monkeys feasted on bananas tossed to them by YouTubers and drank from plastic bottles of water. One young macaque briefly amused itself with half-eaten neon-green popsicle discarded at the side of the path, before dropping it to move on to a banana.

A blue-shirted APSARA warden looked on but those filming were unfazed, illustrating the main problem: Simply taking video of monkeys is OK, even though feeding them is frowned upon. At the same time, it's making them dependent upon handouts, and the close interaction with humans means they're increasingly becoming aggressive toward tourists.

The tourists carry their food, and they would snatch the food, Long Kosal said, flipping through multiple photos on his phone of recent injuries caused by the macaques. If the tourists resist, they bite and this is very dangerous.

The search for food from tourists also draws the monkeys from the surrounding jungle in to the ancient sites, where they pull away pieces of the temples and cause other damage, he added.

Tourist Cadi Hutchings made sure to keep her distance from the monkeys, after being warned by her tour guide of the increasing risk of being bitten.

What they want is your food, but you also need to appreciate that there needs to be a boundary between human intervention in nature, the 23-year-old from Wales said. It's obviously a great thing that so many tourists come because it's such a lovely place, but at the same time, you have to be careful that with more and more people  the monkeys don't get too acclimatized.

Many other tourists, however, stopped to take their own photos and videos  some holding out bananas to draw them closer  before heading to the nearby temple site.

YouTuber Ium Daro, who started filming Angkor monkeys about three months ago, followed a mother and a baby along a dirt path with his iPhone held on a selfie stick to get in close.

The 41-year-old said he hadn't seen any monkeys physically abused, and that he didn't see a problem with what he and the others were doing to make a living.

The monkeys here are friendly, he said. After we take their pictures we give them food, so it is like we pay them for them giving us the chance to take their picture.

As he spoke, a young macaque scrambled up the leg of an onlooker, trying  unsuccessfully  to grab a plastic bottle of water out of his pocket.

One YouTuber said he had started filming monkeys during the COVID-19 pandemic after the numbers of tourists plummeted, making it impossible to earn a living as a tuk-tuk driver.

Daro said he was looking for a way to supplement his income as a rice vendor, and that he's too new at it to have realized many returns.

Many, like Phut Phu, work as salaried employees of YouTube page operators.

The 24-year-old said he started filming monkeys 2 1/2 years ago when he was looking for a job in the open air to help him deal with a lung problem.

He's generally at it daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., earning $200 a month  equivalent to a Cambodian minimum-wage job  and said he hoped authorities wouldn't try and put an end to it.

I need these monkeys, he said, holding a Nikon Coolpix camera with an extreme zoom that his employer provided, the same model most of the YouTubers were using.

With the difficulties involved in identifying and catching those responsible for the physical abuse of the monkeys, coupled with the draw of easy money through YouTube videos, Long Kosal said APSARA's task is a tough one.

This is the problem for us, he said. We need to find solid reasons which we can use against them not to make content by abusing the monkeys.

For Nick Marx, director of wildlife rescue and care for the Wildlife Alliance  which implements conservation programs across Southeast Asia and is involved in releasing wildlife back into Angkor  the answer is simple, though perhaps equally as elusive.

The biggest problem is these (videos) are generated to make money, he said in an interview from Phnom Penh. "If people that dont like this kind of thing would stop watching them, that would really help solve the problem of abuse.
A Delaware nonprofit that provides emergency shelter and services to the homeless is in jeopardy of losing public funding amid a myriad of problems including deteriorating buildings, understaffing and asking clients to perform jobs without pay.

The Delaware State Housing Authority, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and Dover city code records along with nonprofit board emails and records reviewed by Delaware Online/The News Journal reveal a pattern of problems over the past few years at the Dover faith-based nonprofit Interfaith Mission for Housing.

Dover Interfaith is one of few organizations in Kent County that provides emergency shelter to homeless men, some of whom are sex offenders. The nonprofit houses about 40 men in its emergency shelter and transitional housing locations. It also offers case management services to housing insecure men, women and children through its day resource center.

The Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing building is located at 1155 Walker Road in Dover.

Since Interfaith was formed in 2008, the organization boasts on its website that it has helped over 3,000 homeless men. It has been contracted with the state to provide emergency transitional housing since 2011 and, in the last few years, was infused with over $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the state on top of its state, federal and local government grants.

While the nonprofits revenue growth has encouraged Interfaith to expand with the purchase of additional property for transitional or affordable housing, the organization lost an $18,000 federal grant last year because state officials determined Interfaith wasnt following federal laws and policies for receiving the funding.

Interviews with former employees and board members, emails and board minutes shared with Delaware Online by those formerly affiliated with Interfaith, state audits and reviews, and Dover city code records reveal an organization struggling to maintain the properties it owns; finger-pointing among board members and staff; and disorganized internal practices that create an ethical quagmire.

Former and current board members along with former employees agreed to speak with Delaware Online on the condition of anonymity due to fear of retaliation by Interfaiths board leadership.

Our investigation found that the nonprofit:

Charged a $50 bike storage fee on some homeless residents when staying at the shelter.

Asked residents to do odd jobs for the nonprofit for no pay, seemingly out of the scope of the housing program.

Lacked adequate staffing to maintain Interfaiths programs and services.

Failed to maintain its residential properties.

Failed to provide copies of grievance and appeals policies for its residents along with a conflict of interest policy for the organization, employees and board leadership to the Delaware State Housing Authority.

Lacked adequate records on residents eligibility to the homeless shelter, case management services and entry and exit documentation; and in some instances, no records were found for clients.

National nonprofit organization experts and advocates for the homeless say its critical nonprofits have written policies and procedures that are followed to ensure the people they serve are treated with respect and services are doled out in a transparent and fair manner.

HOMELESS HOUSING: The Delawareans who call motels home during the holidays

Nonprofits operate on the publics trust, and that trust is sacred. When it is damaged or violated, it makes it so much more difficult for the organization to do its work and there are peoples lives depending on that work, said Rick Cohen, chief communications officer and COO of the National Council of Nonprofits. Its just vital that everything gets fixed because the people who come to this organization deserve respect.

Interfaith board chair Jeanine Kleimo denied allegations of dysfunctional internal operations and questionable ethical practices and blamed the nonprofits non-compliance in state audits on former staff that she said have since been fired.

The nonprofit has a grievance policy, eviction policy, and a conflict of interest policy, Kleimo said in an emailed response to Delaware Online questions. Staff who failed to address the issues related to record maintenance were terminated accordingly. Records are now in compliance.

Kleimo did not provide copies of these policies when asked.

Interfaith loses federal housing grant

Dover Interfaith did not provide these policy documents to Delawares housing authority either, which was among the reasons the nonprofit was found non-compliant in a recent audit and lost an $18,000 U.S. Housing and Urban Development Emergency Solutions Grant last year.

In an April 20, 2023 letter, the housing authority informed Kleimo that Interfaith had lost the federal grant, and its non-compliance had put other public funds in limbo.

This letter was initially provided to Delaware Online by former Executive Director Karen Rowland and later received from the Delaware State Housing Authority through a Freedom of Information Act request.

A guest room at the Dover Interfaith Mission on Walker Road is kept in neat condition but several other rooms are without heat.

When the nonprofit began operations, it relied primarily on private donations and contributions to operate, receiving less than $100,000 in federal, state or local government funding annually through 2014, according to the nonprofits 990 tax forms. The organization has continued to grow its revenues since, surpassing $500,000 in combined government grants and private donations in 2018 and hitting $2.8 million in 2022, according to the 990 forms.

The state Housing Authority began evaluating the nonprofits emergency shelter program in October 2022 and concluded its examination in March last year, finding that Interfaith:

Failed to maintain adequate records on clients eligibility to the program.

Failed to maintain adequate case records on clients assessment and service needs.

Didnt follow written policies or procedures for admission and discharge.

Lacked written policies and procedures for shelter termination or a written formal process recognizing the rights of the individuals affected."

Lacked conflict of interest policies, both organizational and individual.

Rowland said she tried to furnish the records requested by the housing authority in the recent audits, but struggled to find the documents because Interfaiths record-keeping is disorganized.

Rowland said she began receiving pushback for speaking out about the condition of Interfaiths housing, lack of adequate client records and case management services, and failure to follow proper protocols and policies in 2023.

Where is the continuum of care piece? she said of Interfaiths lack of assessment and plans for clients needs.

Rowland began as an intern with Interfaith in 2018 and quickly moved into a full-time case management role. She was promoted to executive director in June 2021.

Upon deeper examination, the housing authority also found that Interfaith was charging some residents a $50 bike storage fee.

A bike rack is set up outside of Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing's Walt Bagley Hall shelter on Walker Road in Dover.

Kleimo says the nonprofit never assessed this charge. She said Interfaith operated a bike shop for several years that sought donations of bikes and bike parts from the community, and made space available to fix up the bikes.

This is a misperception, she said. What was in place was a $50 charge to purchase a bicycle from the bike shop once someone was ready to leave the shelter and wanted to continue to have a bicycle for his personal use.

Housing authority officials said they discovered the bike storage contracts signed by shelter clients during their audit in 2023, which only audits a sample of the nonprofits client files.

Our findings are not evidence that all shelter residents were asked to pay the $50 fee or sign the bike storage contract, authority spokesperson Laurie Stovall said. The housing authority declined to provide a copy of the contract for Delaware Onlines review.

Bartering for shelter

Former board members and employees allege executive leadership also regularly used residents to do odd jobs for the nonprofit and its board leadership that appeared to be outside the scope of any housing programs residents were part of.

This bartering for shelter practice has reportedly taken place for years at Interfaith, according to former employees and past and present board members, but Interfaiths board chair denied the claims.

Interfaith board members have encouraged community supporters to hire shelter residents, Kleimo said, but no one is required to work for free.

There have been times when volunteers have been requested among shelter residents to assist with tasks such as moving furniture, Kleimo said. However, this has never been a requirement.

Yet, the nonprofit boards Personnel Committee received four separate testimonies from residents who were asked to move boxes and furniture from 1156 Walker Road for coffee and donuts, apparently under the impression that it wasnt optional. Interfaith recently purchased the vacant property across from its emergency shelter on Walker Road for future transitional housing.

I was told on Saturday that I had to work for coffee and donuts to unload a building when I could of been working for money, one resident wrote after the Sept. 30, 2023, incident. While Im grateful for the 30-day stay, I feel like I was violated and forced to work for free. Please understand my position. Im grateful, but I deserve to be paid for my labor.

The shower room at Dover Interfaith Mission shows, what appears to be, black mold on the floor.

While many shelter and transitional housing programs have requirements and tasks residents must complete, like keeping their rooms clean and other household chores, its unclear what requirements Dover Interfaith had for its program participants.

Delaware Onlines questions regarding allegations that Interfaith barters with residents for shelter prompted the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services to investigate further.

The department audits the contract every two years to ensure compliance, spokesman Timothy Mastro said, and state officials will audit Interfaith again this year.

Under this contract with (Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing), DHSS did not receive any specific allegations, like the ones made in this inquiry, he said in an emailed response. DHSS treats inquiries such as this one as allegations and will investigate accordingly. DHSS cannot comment on the legality of these allegations at this time.

Another resident also testified to the expectation of having to move boxes for no pay.

I felt very disrespected and disappointed with my time when normally I make money doing side jobs, the resident wrote. I already had something else planned but I was told that I would have to wait and help get this done for donuts.

A former Dover Interfaith social worker reached out to the nonprofits leadership in October indicating that Interfaiths clients had written to them about having to work for free for the organization. The social worker said they were bothered by this news as those in the field are guided by a code of ethics that Interfaith staff members should also follow.

DEVELOPMENT: Which county leads Delaware in housing growth, more than the other counties combined?

Board members also said residents were asked to do work without pay, or little pay, at executive leaderships homes, which had never come to the attention of the full Board of Directors prior to efforts some members made last summer to interview residents about the problems.

No experts or attorneys could comment on the legality of bartering for shelter, but the housing authority said, It is not a permissible practice upon acceptance of federal funds.

The Delaware Department of Labor said the practice raises eyebrows, and encouraged anyone who may be experiencing this to contact the departments Division of Industrial Affairs so officials can examine the allegation. People can report issues by calling 302-761-8200 and selecting option 3.

Donald Whitehead Jr., executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, said bartering with unhoused individuals by nonprofits big and small is fairly common.

He said its common among faith-based groups, particularly when those nonprofits do not receive federal aid that brings a level of oversight and accountability. And when these nonprofits do receive federal funding, Whitehead said leaders often disagree with the federal guidelines theyre supposed to follow.

You keep them in homelessness if you don't allow them to go out and pursue their own economic opportunities. Its disgraceful, Whitehead said.

Lacking written policies, proper client documentation

State reports have impressed upon Interfaith for years the need for adequate client case management notes and documentation as well as the necessity for written policies that ensure the rights of their clients and protect against individual and organizational conflicts of interest.

Interfaith staff and board members as well as state reports show there have been several occasions when some residents were given extensions to stay at the shelter while others were evicted without adequate notice or reason.

What appears to be black mold working its way up through tile cracks at Dover Interfaith Mission.

Housing authority monitoring reports dating back to 2013 show the nonprofits struggle to establish consistent internal operations for case management and client services, the lack of a long-term strategic plan, and the need for adequate staffing and a chain of command.

Interfaith's Personnel Committee last year was asked to report on the rent collection process, the former chair of the committee said.

This is when we discovered that there is no process in place for the rent money that is collected from the tenants at Interfaith Crossing. No records are kept, and no reporting is done, the former committee chair said in an email to executive leadership on Sept. 29, 2023. How would we defend against a tenant who is accused of not paying rent?

The board member, in the same email, also expressed concern about grant money and the lack of transparent recordkeeping on Interfaiths finances. Concerns over services for the nonprofits board leaders being billed to Dover Interfaith were also raised.

Those who spoke on the condition of anonymity with Delaware Online provided copies of email exchanges among Interfaith's board members.

Other board members said if there ever were any written policies, manuals or guidelines established by Interfaith, they never saw them.

Kleimo said Interfaith has grievance, eviction and conflict of interest policies, and staff who failed to maintain these records were fired, but she did not provide copies of those records when asked.

She also did not respond to follow-up calls or emails for clarification.

Board members, staff clash

Board members told Delaware Online that they were never made aware of written policies or incident reports, if there were any, which became a pattern by Interfaiths executive leadership.

Karen Rowland, the former executive director of Dover Interfaith Mission, points to some of the ceiling damage caused by a water leak.

They said leadership created an internal culture where other board members were kept in the dark about the nonprofits operations and issues.

Those leading the organization expected board members to follow their lead, and when they didnt, board members concerns were ignored or dismissed, the board members said. Its why many board members didnt ask questions, they said.

The fissure between Interfaiths executive leadership and board members deepened last year as members of the boards Personnel Committee began digging into the myriad issues challenging the nonprofit and made recommendations.

Among those challenges was in hiring and fully staffing the nonprofit. Board members pressed upon executive leaders that staffing was chaotic and, before pursuing large projects and new programs, internal issues should be addressed first.

When organizations grow, there is typically a strategic plan that includes timelines of the process and addresses staffing. Many organizations are not successful because they grow and grow in chaos without a plan, one individual brought on to consult on personnel matters advised in a May 22, 2023 email shared with Delaware Online. My general belief is that company growth should be done cautiously and sequentially with an active punch list along the way.

The need for a strategic plan has been underscored by state authorities to Interfaith leaders for over a decade, including in the states first monitoring review of the nonprofits emergency shelter in 2013 and subsequent state reviews through 2023 that noted the need for adequate staffing and written policies and guidelines for operation.

It wasnt until September 2023 that Interfaith began crafting a strategic plan, but even those plans ran counter to recommendations board members gave.

The Personnel Committee had expressed concern about staffing and a lack of clarity on the chain of command, which the group said in its August 2023 meeting minutes was hindering then-Executive Director Rowlands ability to establish authority.

Karen Rowland is the former executive director of the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing.

The nonprofit board's Personnel Committee said in its recommendations for strategic planning that Rowland was never given adequate training when she took on the role of executive director in June 2021.

Ahead of a September strategic planning meeting, the Personnel Committee had issued a statement outlining their recommendations on staffing and personnel and alluded to the pushback Rowland had experienced by some of the executive leadership.

She has been treated very unfairly by the boards leadership. She has received no mentorship or training for two years, since she started as an intern, committee members wrote in early September. Furthermore, the board members have been negatively influenced by the boards leadership. We should never allow ourselves to form an opinion of someones qualities merely on the negative opinion of another person.

Despite the committee members' concerns and recommendations, the following month executive leadership put forth a strategic plan that removed Rowland from the position and placed every staff member on interim status.

Current board members said they had no problem with Rowland, but noticed the growing tension between the executive director and Kleimo.

Then, on Dec. 19, Rowland was fired from her position.

Kleimo did not respond to follow-up questions regarding Rowlands termination nor who currently fills the role, but denied claims that board members recommendations arent considered.

The officers and Board of Directors of (Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing) are committed to the improvement of the organization and open to any ideas that contribute to the overall health of the organization, she said.

Deteriorated buildings house homeless

Leaking water caused considerable damage to ceiling, walls and floor at Dover Interfaith Mission.

While Interfaith has taken on additional property in recent years, including a former daycare center across the street from the emergency shelter and a large property on West Division Street, the nonprofits existing properties have deteriorated.

Interfaiths former executive director gave a tour of Walt Bagley, the emergency shelter on Walker Road in Dover, to Delaware Online staff in December, showing the damage caused by a roof leak.

Walls and floors on the first floor were covered in black mold, and a leak damaged electrical wiring in the downstairs bathroom and weakened the hallway flooring. The leak had also damaged electronics and caused a small fire in one residents room, Rowland said

But that was only the latest problem the shelter was facing, Rowland said at the time.

The building recently replaced a broken hot water heater, and continues to struggle with adequate heat in residents rooms. Some rooms during the shelter visit Dec. 11 were noticeably colder than others. To address the lack of heat, residents are given small space heaters, Rowland said.

Although state health department reports on the physical conditions of the shelter were never problematic, city of Dover code inspectors found multiple violations in 2018, including damaged ceiling tiles, damaged window screens, several non-latching doors and overgrowth blocking the fire department connection.

Inspectors also indicated in a July 2018 inspection that the building required electrical and hood suppression inspections. Hood suppression systems are installed in commercial kitchens to prevent fires.

Mold in decaying shower room wall at the Dover Interfaith Mission.

Dover inspectors visited the shelter again in 2021 for a bed bug infestation that Interfaith was later fined for not addressing.

Interfaiths board chair blamed staff for the delayed repairs.

Staff was charged with soliciting bids for repairs at Walt Bagley Hall. They failed to do so, Kleimo said. The board has since engaged local contractors and had all of this work performed.

State and city inspectors have also found health and safety hazards at Interfaiths Ross Street property, and nonprofit board members and social workers who have worked with the nonprofit say Interfaith Crossing  a men's only transitional housing complex in Felton  also has problems.

Former board members and social workers say the property on South Dupont Highway in Felton is in need of major repairs and has had issues with mold and bedbugs, among other problems.

Karen Rowland, the former executive director of the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing, placed warning cones on weakened floor caused from a water leak.

And at 523 Ross St., the Delaware State Housing Authority's physical inspection in April 2023 found Interfaith had failed to correct three imminent health and safety issues, which included broken carbon monoxide detectors, malfunctioning smoke detectors and expired fire extinguishers.

The inspection also noted that Interfaith needed to repair the front porch columns, replace the screen door, properly install soffits and gutters, secure loose siding, repair holes in the exterior that are allowing squirrels to enter and repair drywall.

Kleimo again blamed staff for the nonprofits failure to address the organizations crumbling buildings.

Former staff failed to address necessary repairs at Ross Street, she said. The Board has completed or is in the process of completing the identified repairs.

The reports listed Kleimo as the main contact for state authorities.

Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing Executive Director Karen Rowland with a large amount of client's mail she said was delivered to an office at 630 W. Division St. in Dover.

Compounding problems, Interfaith also faces issues with the properties it most recently acquired, Rowland and former board members said.

The resource center, which has had sporadic operations since Interfaith lost its last location and purchased property on West Division Street, serves as a place for housing insecure Delawareans to receive mail, access meals and hot showers, and connect with other resources.

RELATED: Dover Interfaith homeless shelter is running out time to find new location

But even this location has problems, Rowland said in December. Heating and cooling didnt work properly throughout 2023, so the building was often closed. Interfaith also struggled to adequately staff the location, she said.

A need for 'reimagining' shelter

Despite the documented issues, Interfaith has received nearly all of its $5 million American Rescue Plan Act funds awarded to the nonprofit by the state in 2022.

Since then, a total of $4.94 million has been dispersed to Interfaith from Gov. John Carneys office, which awarded the ARPA funding, according to the online Delaware checkbook.

A governors spokesperson said ARPA funding was monitored for compliance within the program, and no issues were found.

There have been no compliance issues found to this point on the awarded ARPA projects and the state has had no reason to halt their funding, but will continue to monitor them closely given issues recently raised, said Carneys spokesperson Emily Hershman. This organization provides critical services for the population in the Dover area, and we hope they will be able to bring the projects to fruition.

And while Interfaith did lose an $18,000 federal grant through the state housing authority, the nonprofit has not lost additional funding, even though authority spokesperson Stovall said the state still hasnt received any corrections regarding the Ross Street health and safety physical inspection conducted in April last year.

Whitehead said the systemic problems Interfaith is experiencing is one of the reasons why there should be minimum standards for shelters throughout the country, regardless of where the organizations get their funding.

We know that shelters dont have enough money for the most part to pay staff, staff gets paid lower wages, but when it comes to cutting corners, it shouldnt be on the back of people with lived experiences, he said. It sounds like there is a lack of compassion  if you are asking people to pay to stay, if you are asking people to reside in facilities not up to standard, it sounds like this community needs to reimagine what shelter looks like.

Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com, or by calling or texting 302-598-5507. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Why Dover Interfaith Mission lost a federal grant for its shelter
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA)  Danville Area Community College is starting a pilot program this fall that will allow first-time, full-time students to graduate on time  for free.

The Provosts Promise program was inspired by a campus visit from Governor J.B. Pritzker, who shared his goal of offering free community college through state and federal grants. Now, the Provosts Promise will officially launch for new students in the Fall 2024 semester.

The Provosts Promise essentially offers students a pathway to graduating in two years or less without paying a penny out of their own pocket, said Carl Bridges, DACC Provost and VP of Academics and Student Services. But to receive this benefit, theyll need to make a commitment to study hard and stay on track toward graduation.

UI Meat Science Lab getting first upgrades in 40 years

The program is only open to in-district residents. To participate, students must sign a pledge that acknowledges admission requirements. Then, they must continue meet all the necessary conditions to remain in the program.

For the first semester, Bridges said Provosts Promise scholars must know which major and what degree or certificate they will work towards, complete FAFSA and all financial aid requirements, and apply for Foundation scholarships. They must also register for and complete at least 15 credit hours while maintaining a GPA of 2.50 or more each semester.

College credits earned in high school or through other accredited colleges will also count toward the degree requirements. Students will be assigned a personal academic mentor to help them on their scholarly journeys.

Thanks largely to the strong community support DACC receives in Foundation scholarships and the vision of Dr. Bridges, Chief Financial Officer Tammy Betancourt, Financial Aid Director Jonathan Jett, and our Board of Trustees, we can extend free community college to all of our students, even those who arent eligible for MAP and Pell grants, DACC President Stephen Nacco said.

Promise Healthcare, Champaign Schools plan for new health center

The DACC will not financially penalize Provosts Promise scholars who might falter during the program. However, those who are receiving federal Pell while dropping classes may need to repay their grants.

Students who dont make it to the finish line can still continue as DACC students, Nacco said, but theyll need to find another way of paying for their education.

Program participants who meet requirements and graduate on time will be debt-free. They will also receive special recognition during Commencement.

The deadline for Early Bird Registration will be Friday, June 28.

Bridges said new fall students should complete both the FAFSA and the DACC Foundation scholarship application in a timely manner to meet this deadline. DACC Foundation Scholarship applications are due Wednesday, May 1 for the Fall semester. This may be completed online at dacc.edu/scholarships.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Lord Cameron and Donald Trump met to discuss the war in Ukraine, Nato and the Middle East on Monday in the first summit between a senior government minister and the former president since he left office in 2021.

The Foreign Secretary flew to Florida to meet Mr Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, in a move the Government said was standard practice for opposition leaders ahead of an election.

The two men discussed Ukraine, the war in Gaza and the future of Nato, after Lord Cameron publicly distanced himself from the former presidents remarks on the alliance earlier this year.

A government source told The Telegraph that the Foreign Secretary wanted Mr Trump to hear how much were putting into defence spending in a productive meeting that highlighted the breadth and strength of the special relationship.

On Tuesday and Wednesday Lord Cameron will meet other Republicans in Washington DC, where he will tell those blocking a new aid package to Ukraine that Kyiv must defeat Russia to show that borders matter.

The meeting with Mr Trump is the first of a senior British minister since the former president lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden.

Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for the US election, has vowed to cut support for Ukraine - GETTY IMAGES

The Foreign Secretary has previously described Mr Trumps Muslim ban travel policy as divisive, stupid and wrong and the man himself as protectionist, xenophobic, misogynistic.

Mr Trump, the Republican nominee in the 2024 US election, is at loggerheads with Democrats and European governments over support for Ukraine, which has pledged to cut if he wins a second term in November.

He has said he would end the war in Ukraine in one day, and has suggested he would be more willing to push Kyiv into negotiations with Moscow.

The UK Government, which also sends arms to Ukraine, has pledged to continue its support and in January announced a 2.5bn package of military aid for the 2024-25 financial year.

Lord Cameron has recently criticised Mr Trumps approach to the Nato alliance, describing his comments that Russia could do whatever they hell they want to members that do not reach its defence spending target as not a sensible approach.

He has also fallen foul of Mr Trumps supporters in Congress, after writing in February that he would drop all diplomatic niceties and urge legislators to pass a funding bill.

I believe our joint history shows the folly of giving in to tyrants in Europe who believe in redrawing boundaries by force, he said.

Majorie Taylor Greene, a firebrand Trump supporter in the House of Representatives, said the Foreign Secretary had compared sceptical Republicans to Nazis, responding: I think that I really dont care what David Cameron has to say.

I think thats rude name-calling, and I dont appreciate that type of language. And David Cameron needs to worry about his own country, and frankly, he can kiss my a.

The meeting at Mar-a-Lago on Monday night came as Lord Cameron prepared for meetings with members of the Biden administration and congressmen on Tuesday in Washington DC.

At a press conference at the State Department, he is expected to join Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, in support for Ukraine and in ending the war in Gaza.

The meetings will also include a bilateral summit with Jake Sullivan, Mr Bidens national security adviser, while talks with congressional Republicans will focus on their opposition to Ukraine aid.

Mr Biden has presented a $95bn (75bn) Ukraine spending package to Congress but has been unable to pass it amid opposition from Republicans in both the House of Representatives and Senate.

Lord Cameron is set to hold a joint press conference with Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State - GETTY IMAGES

Foreign Office sources stressed that Lord Camerons meeting with Mr Trump was in line with previous visits from visiting UK dignitaries, including a trip by Gordon Brown to meet Barack Obama in 2008.

Speaking prior to the visit, a government spokesman said: The Foreign Secretary is on his way to Washington DC, where he will hold discussions with US Secretary of State Blinken, other Biden administration figures and members of Congress.

His talks will focus on a range of shared US-UK priorities, including securing international support for Ukraine and bringing stability to the Middle East.



Ahead of his visit to Washington, the Foreign Secretary will meet former President Trump in Florida today. It is standard practice for ministers to meet with opposition candidates as part of their routine international engagement.

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.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The former human resources director for D.C. Public Library agreed to pay a fine of $17,500 after an investigation determined she worked as a doula while she was on the Districts clock.

The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) found that Lauren Graves held two other jobs while she headed up the library systems human resources department. One was a full-time position as senior human resources manager at Los Angeles-based Blackstone Consulting, Inc. The other job was a contract position with Doulas of Capitol Hill in D.C.

Man yells homophobic slurs at Metro passengers in DC; Metro police investigating

OGE said Graves did not tell D.C. Public Library that she had the additional jobs. When confronted about them, OGE said Graves claimed she worked in the positions outside of the time she was on the clock with the city.

The office said it found that was not true.

The investigation determined that Graves offered doula consultations curing times that directly conflicted with her District government tour of duty. OGE found that Graves allowed potential clients to schedule consultations from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. through the doula services website. Additionally, there was witness testimony that said Graves could not be reached in her capacity as human resources director throughout the workday whether she was in the office or working remotely.

Police: Man barricaded himself after attempted sexual assault of woman in DC

In a specific instance, OGE said someone reported Graves missing from the office. The investigation found a contractual agreement which showed that Graves was scheduled to assist with a birthing delivery on the day she was reported missing. OGE said it confirmed that Graves was delivering a baby on that day.

Lauren-Graves-Negotiated-Disposition-from-DCDownload

Investigators said they found that Graves misused her D.C. government email by communicating with her outside employers and that she forwarded a number of internal District government documents to her outside job at Blackstone. One email contained new annual salary information for Blackstone employees after their bonuses and merit percentages had been calculated. OGE said it found that Graves also attended meetings with Blackstone employees at times when she was supposed to be working for the District.

Graves agreed to satisfy the fine of $17,500 by May 2, 2025.

D.C. Public Library said Graves resigned on April 7, which was three days after OGE released the negotiated disposition in the case. Graves resignation was effective April 8.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
All the deadly drones Ukraine is building to fight Russia can't make up for the weapons it really needs but doesn't have, Zelenskyy says

Ukraine has built up a formidable arsenal of drones capable of attacking Russian forces everywhere.

But these systems are no alternative to the other weapons Kyiv needs, President Zelenskyy said Tuesday.

Ukraine needs air defenses, missiles, and artillery, he told Axel Springer media outlets.

Ukraine has made impressive strides in its employment of homemade drones to battle the invading Russian forces, but for Kyiv, these systems are still no substitute for the weapons it desperately needs right now.

"We produce a lot of drones, but they are not an alternative to any kind of weapon," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during an interview with Axel Springer media outlets in the northeastern city of Kharkiv on Tuesday.

"We are proving ourselves with drones, and I think the fact that we have increased production helps us a lot," Zelenskyy added, "but it is not a substitute for air defense, it is not a substitute for long-range weapons, missiles, long-range artillery."

Drones have been a defining aspect of the bloody war in Ukraine, with deadly systems of all shapes and sizes used to attack the enemy on land, in the skies, and at sea. Both Moscow and Kyiv have launched efforts to boost their respective domestic production of drones, which have hindered maneuver by effectively stripping both sides of the ability to make covert moves on the battlefield.

A Ukrainian soldier of the 28th brigade launches a drone at the front-line close to Bakhmut in August 2023. AP Photo/Libkos

Mykhailo Fedorov, the Ukrainian minister of digital transformation who has been a key figure in the country's efforts to scale up its drone innovation and production, said earlier this year that Kyiv plans to make more than 1 million drones in 2024. The development of long-range systems is one key aspect of this initiative.

Ukraine's domestic drone program has, in recent months, awarded it some crucial success as the war grinds on the battlefield. Kyiv, for instance, has relied on an innovative fleet of exploding naval drones to damage and destroy warships belonging to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which has helped ease some economic burdens by opening key maritime corridors.

And that's just one element of this effort that has also turned out thousands of first-person-view drones able to drop grenades or carry explosives on one-way attack missions that have devastated expensive armored vehicles like tanks.

That said, Kyiv's drone program does not make up for the weapons that the country really needs but doesn't have in its arsenal. Ukrainian officials, including Zelenskyy, have repeatedly identified air-defense systems as one of their most pressing needs to shield both front-line troops and civilians in Ukrainian cities from Russia's aerial bombardments.

Speaking to reporters at the NATO headquarters in Brussels last week, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he urged members of the military alliance to provide Kyiv with new air defenses. He singled out the US-made MIM-104 Patriot as "the best" of them because of its effectiveness at downing ballistic missiles.

Patriot air defense systems are seen at an airport in Poland on Nov. 22, 2023. INA FASSBENDER

"Patriots should now be deployed in Ukraine, so that later on they will not have to be used at least along the entire eastern flank of NATO," Zelenskyy said in a Sunday address to the nation. He said that additional air defenses are needed around Kharkiv, which has fallen victim to unrelenting Russian attacks in recent weeks.

The future of US security assistance to Ukraine, however, remains in flux as Republican lawmakers maintain their blockade on around $60 billion in military aid. Western experts and officials have warned it is critical that Washington continues to arm Kyiv.

For Zelenskyy, such Western support is imperative because he believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not put a stop to the onslaught until Ukrainian cities are left completely in ruin.

"If we don't have air-defense systems and the appropriate long-range weapons to match Putin, he will destroy our country," Zelenskyy said Tuesday. "This is what this war will look like: complete destruction, destruction of border areas, cities, villages, and so on."

"He will destroy everything," the Ukrainian leader said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Death in Paradise confirms first female lead detective for spin-off following Ralf Little's exit

Beloved crime drama Death in Paradise will feature its first ever female detective in a new spin-off series.

Return to Paradise will be set in Australia and see former Home And Away actress Anna Samson play DI Mackenzie Mack Clarke.

According to an official synopsis, Mackenzie has made a name for herself by cracking seemingly-unsolvable murder cases as a detective in London's Metropolitan Police, but she returns to her hometown of Dolphin Cove in Australia after being accused of tampering with evidence.

Although she is unwelcome in the town, having fled six years ago when she left her fiance Glen (Tai Hara) waiting at the altar, Mackenzie reluctantly joins the local police team, with no other options open to her, and is determined to figure out whatever cases land on her desk.

Samson will now follow in the footsteps of the show's former detectives Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O'Hanlon and the recently departed Ralf Little.

Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, said: Everything we all love about Death in Paradise - the humour, the beautiful scenery, the likeable characters, the ingenious plots - now in a fabulous Australian setting'.

I cannot wait for BBC viewers to be introduced to Detective Mack and the good (and not so good!) folk of Dolphin Cove. What a treat we have in store!

The cast will also include Lloyd Griffith, Catherine McClements, Celia Ireland, Andrea Demetriades and Aaron McGrath.

The six-part series will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and ABC and ABC iview later this year in Australia. It will be distributed globally by BBC Studios.

Filming for the new programme is already underway in Sydney and the Illawarra coastal region.

Little left viewers in floods of tears when he bowed out last month as DI Neville Parker after four years in original show Death In Paradise.

His official replacement has yet to be announced.
The debris of Shahed attack drones shot down in Lviv Oblast on the night of 8-9 April damaged a critical infrastructure facility, which caused a fire.

Source: Maksym Kozytskyi, Head of Lviv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Kozytskyi: "Last night, the enemy Shahed drones tried to attack Lviv Oblast. Our air defence forces and mobile fire groups shot down all the drones that entered the airspace of Lviv Oblast."

Details: Kozytskyi said that unfortunately, the drone debris damaged a critical infrastructure facility. A fire broke out and was quickly extinguished.

He added that there were no casualties.

All critical infrastructure systems in Lviv Oblast are operating normally.

Background:

Ukrainian air defence assets and personnel were responding to a Russian Shahed drone attack in Lviv Oblast on the night of 8-9 April. The air-raid warning lasted until 05:36.

The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed all 20 Shahed attack drones that Russia used to attack Ukraine on the night of 8-9 April.

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URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  In a case that the judge said was one of the worst to come before him, a 52-year-old Decatur man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for several sex crimes involving children.

In October of 2023, Kevin Dial was found guilty of sexual exploitation of minors, receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. At his sentencing hearing on Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Colin S. Bruce described Dials actions as horrific.

Coroner identifies Decatur teen shot and killed over weekend

Evidence was presented during the sentencing that Dial directed another person to sexually abuse three children  one of them just two years old  and ordered that the abuse be recorded on video. A victim also provided a statement outlining the trauma he suffered as a result of the abuse.

The acts by this defendant are beyond comprehension, said United States Attorney Gregory K. Harris. We commend the complex work done locally and abroad by the dedicated law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation. The U.S. Attorneys Office will continue to work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable among us and seek justice for these innocent victims.

Dial faced statutory penalties of 15 to 30 years on each count of child sexual exploitation, and up to 20 years for receiving and possessing child pornography. Judge Bruce ordered consecutive sentences for each count.

Decatur Park District searching for missing 9/11 artifact

The FBI Springfield Field Office and the Philippine National Police worked together on the investigation.

From Decatur, Illinois, to the Philippines, the FBIs extensive reach delivered justice to children who were victims of one of the worst child sexual abuse cases we have seen in some time, said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. The investigation, which resulted in a significant sentence, demonstrates the FBIs commitment to use the full strength of our authority to protect children.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2024 - 08:55 | All, World

A total solar eclipse moved across a wide area of Mexico and the United States as well as Canada on Monday, with local media reporting millions of people sharing in the celestial show at viewing events and other gatherings.

The total eclipse could be seen from land beginning in the late morning in parts of Mexico, with the path of totality stretching to the northeast through U.S. states such as Texas, Arkansas and Indiana.

In Cleveland, Ohio, people who came to the Great Lakes Science Center in the city were treated to the total eclipse, which began before 2 p.m., and the phenomenon of a diamond ring, where the sun peaks out from one side of the Moon.

"Very beautiful. I was amazed," Karen Hanna, 45, said of the dazzle of the totality she saw for the first time. "Looking 360 degrees twilight, totally amazing...It was very moving for sure."

The city of Burlington, Vermont, drew an estimated 50,000 people, a number similar to the population, who crowded a viewing event and formed long lines at vendors of novelty T-shirts and stickers.

Major U.S. broadcasters showed people whooping and cheering when the sun completely disappeared behind the Moon as viewed from other cities such as Mazatlan in Mexico and Kerrville in Texas.

Compared to 2017, the previous occasion such an eclipse was visible in the United States, the path of totality was wider this time because the Moon was closer to Earth, according to Marina Gemma, an astrophysics research educator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

In New York City, people saw the sun as a thin crescent during the peak of the eclipse before 3:30 p.m., when it was nearly 90 percent blocked from view by the Moon.

"It was really spectacular," said Olivia Derimay, 10, who took part along with her mother Mariana in a viewing event organized by the museum.

"At first, I saw the sun that was orange, and then there was a little part that was black. And then it started to become more black," Olivia said.
Delta flight may have been struck by lightning before landing at Atlanta airport, officials say

A Delta flight landing in Atlanta may have been struck by lightning Tuesday morning, airline officials told Channel 2 Action News.

The suspected lightning strike happened on Delta Flight 1192 from LaGuardia to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport before it landed at around 9:30 a.m.,

Delta says it declared an emergency for the suspected strike per its protocol.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

In addition to this potential lightning strike, a Delta spokesperson said a passenger on the flight had an unrelated medical issue, prompting a second emergency declaration.

The plane is being inspected per Delta protocol.

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Something is missing from our discussions on tax and spending. Many people are puzzled or frustrated by the way that increased resources dont seem to be translating into improved public services.

Take GPs, for example. The Government recently hit its manifesto target to increase the number of GP appointments by 50 million each year. Thats equivalent to 44 more appointments at each practice on each working day. Yet GPs are not being carried shoulder-high across the land by cheering crowds. Why? Because demand is also growing.

As the primary care recovery plan pointed out, the number of people in England aged 70 or over is up around a third on 2010, from 6.1 million to 8.1 million, and this group has on average five times more GP appointments than young people.

Its worth saying that I am not a pessimist about public service reform. Spending per head and demographics arent the only things that matter, and it is often possible to do more with the same budget. Schools in England, for instance, have soared past their peers in Scotland and Wales in the international rankings not because they get more money, but because of a consistent 20 year programme of reform to push up standards and spread techniques that work.

But it is also undeniable that the impact of demographics is massive. Changes in the age profile of the population have given politicians helpful tailwinds in the past, and are now starting to deliver powerful headwinds.

Perhaps the most important element is the impact of age. Children consume a little more spending than working age adults do, thanks largely to the costs of school and healthcare. Retired people require a great deal more spending, with higher costs for pensions, social care, and healthcare.

On the receipts side, children pay essentially no tax. Adults then earn and spend more, leading to a peak in tax receipts in middle age. Then, as they approach retirement, they work less, spend less, and their receipts fall away.

These facts are responsible for a huge problem facing Britain today. In 1953, the proportion of the population made of pensioners was much lower. It increased until 1980, flatlined until 2010, and is now increasing rapidly, with the fastest growing group made up of the very elderly, over 85. The proportion of working age people, on the other hand, fell from the 1950s to 1980, rose again, and since 2010 has started to fall. The population of young people has been falling since the mid 1970s.

These trends have had huge implications for the public finances. From 1953 to 1970, demographics made it harder to raise tax revenues. From the mid 70s to the financial crisis, they made it easier. Now theyre making it harder again.

On the spending side, too, there are considerable impacts. If the population had the same age structure it did in 1953, I calculate that the Government could have spent about 9 per cent less than it did in 2021, and still delivered the same services for each group.

Since 2010, in other words, weve been running up the down escalator. As the population share of older people grows, spending rises. And as the working age population share falls, tax receipts shrink. And if you think this period has been hard going, you aint seen nothing yet. The coming decades will put even greater upward pressure on spending, and downward pressure on receipts.

As this pressure rises, were going to need to have a more nuanced discussion about public services. Policy decisions arent the only things driving tax levels and service quality. The ageing of society is also having huge effects on demand, and is arguably the main cause of the rising tax burden.

Dealing with this may require abandoning a whole herd of sacred cows. Will we, for example, be able to afford our aid spending target? Or continue without reform of working age benefits? While migration isnt the answer to our demographic challenge, can we find a way to make the system more selective, so that its a positive for the public finances? Or to support parents to have more children, and provide the workers well need in the future?

Until these questions are front and centre in the public debate, and until the full effect of demography is reckoned with, we will be wasting our time on analysis that is doomed to fail.

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Dems vow to hold Trump accountable for 6-week abortion law about to go into effect in Florida

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2024, in National Harbor, Maryland. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

The Florida Democratic Party and the Joe Biden reelection campaign declared Tuesday that the groups are holding former President Donald Trump directly responsible for the erosion of abortion rights in Florida and across the country.

Let me be very clear, said Jasmine Burney-Clark, the Florida state director of the Biden-Harris campaign. Donald Trump owns Floridas abortion ban, and he owns every single thing that happens as a result.

Trump allies also have a plan to ban abortion nationally if hes elected without ever going through Congress. Theyd use whats called the Comstock Act, a law from the 1800s to ban medication abortion through executive action, Burney-Clark said at a news conference Tuesday. Theyd also undue the FDAs approval of medication abortion, which makes up 60% of abortion care nationwide.

Trump, the presumptive nominee for president for the Republican Party, announced on Monday that his latest position on abortion rights is that it should be left up to the states to decide. But he also boasted in a video posted on Truth Social that he was proudly the person responsible for the U.S. Supreme Courts overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized a federal right to an abortion in 1973.

Donald Trump did this, he said so yesterday, said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, who spoke at the news conference. He bragged about being the one to overturn Roe v. Wade. Trumps comments yesterday are confirmation that he is the architect behind the destruction of reproductive freedom in Florida, and across our nation.

The situation is serious in Florida, with a six-week ban now primed to become the law in less than a month. Fried said its not just Trump but also U.S. Sen. Rick Scott who should be held accountable for whats now happening in the Sunshine State regarding abortion rights.

Its one of the strictest bans in the country, which bans abortion before most women know that they are even pregnant, Fried said of the new law. The ban will go into effect alongside Floridas 24-hour waiting period instituted by none other than Rick Scott, a requirement to make two doctor appointments before receiving treatment. It is a total ban. And the clearest example of government overreach in what is a very personal medical decision between women, their doctors and their families.

Then-Gov. Rick Scott signed into law in 2015 a measure that would require a 24-hour waiting period before women can have an abortion. Due to litigation, the law has only been in effect since 2022.

So far left unsaid by Trump, a Florida resident, is if he supports the states six-week abortion ban, or would he vote for the abortion rights amendment on the ballot in November. Last September, Trump called Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signing of the six-week ban a terrible thing and a terrible mistake.

Fried was asked by a reporter during the news conference if the Florida Democratic Party would be collaborating with the Yes on Amendment 4 campaign when it comes to getting the amendment approved this fall in Florida.

The coalition is broad, and that is where we are going to come into play is to make sure that were providing information, that were providing different access points for people to get that information, but it is two separate campaigns, Fried.

The post Dems vow to hold Trump accountable for 6-week abortion law about to go into effect in Florida appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
DENVER (KDVR)  No firearms were recovered during a room-by-room security search of a former Denver hotel converted into a homeless shelter and operated by the Salvation Army.

The inspections were a response to a series of violent crimes, including two peoples shooting deaths and another who was injured in a separate shooting days later on Wednesday, March 27. The Salvation Army led the room searches on Thursday, April 4, using a private security force, according to the Denver Police Department.

DPD assisted in conducting the searches, as did Denver Housing Stability. FOX31s Nicole Fierro was there while the search was conducted and asked for details on the sweep.

What were engaging in is a comprehensive security inspection underway of the entire property, all guestrooms, all common areas, all areas of the grounds, said Derek Woodbury, communications director with Denvers Department of Housing Stability.

Inspections at Denver hotel shelter leave some feeling safer

The shelter, formerly a DoubleTree, is located at 4040 Quebec St. According to the city of Denver, the hotel is part of the All In Mile High Initiative to provide temporary shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

Denver police said approximately a dozen rounds of ammunition were recovered at the shelter, but no firearms. There was also an empty magazine for a firearm, but the department stated they couldnt speak to other prohibited items that were removed. The department also reported no one was arrested during the searches.

DPD said on March 28 that officers have responded to 465 calls for service since Jan. 1 at the shelter for reports including drugs, assault, domestic violence and more.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
The Allegheny County Sheriffs Office is mourning the unexpected death of a deputy.

Deputy Greg Wiland, 42, died Monday evening.

Wiland worked for the sheriffs office for 14 years. He worked in the courts division for most of his career.

Before his time at the sheriffs office, Wiland spent four years in the United States Marine Corps and received the Combat Action Ribbon.

He was recognized multiple times in his career, including a Commendation of Life Saving for administering aid to someone having a medical emergency at a Family Court building.

Wiland is survived by his fiance, sisters and parents.

Greg was an important member of our staff, appreciated by all and he will be deeply missed, the sheriffs office said.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 12 at Sperling Funeral Home, 700 Blazier Drive, Wexford. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 13 at Saint Alexis Church, 10090 Old Perry Highway, Wexford.

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Deputy strangles woman when she tries to end relationship, California officials say

A deputy is accused of attempting to strangle a woman when she tried to end their relationship, California prosecutors say.

Jonathan Espiritu, 49, a San Francisco deputy, is facing multiple charges, including domestic violence, assault, false imprisonment and stalking, the San Francisco District Attorneys Office said in an April 9 news release.

At his arraignment on April 8, Espiritu pleaded not guilty, denying all allegations, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for information about Espiritus legal representation.

In an email to McClatchy News, a San Francisco Sheriffs Office spokesperson declined comment at this time since it is an active investigation.

A San Francisco Police Department spokesperson also said there was no comment on Espiritus charges given the open investigation.

The woman, whom Espiritu dated on and off, reported multiple occasions of abuse over eight months, to police on April 3 after she found a tracking device on her car, prosecutors said.

The woman told police that Espiritu attempted to strangle her in her house when she tried to end their relationship last August, prosecutors said.

Four months later, prosecutors said the woman told police he attacked her at her job.

The woman also accused Espiritu of slapping her and threatening to kill himself if she reported him to law enforcement in March, according to prosecutors.

Police arrested Espiritu near where the woman was filing a report, prosecutors said.

Espiritu, who is being held without bail, is expected to appear in court again on April 19, prosecutors said.

If you are experiencing domestic violence and need someone to talk to, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for support at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

Police chief made unforgivable advances on officers wife, NC town says. Hes fired

Deputy posted lewd and predatory videos he filmed in uniform, Oregon officials say

Deputy shot man dead during traffic stop, cops say. Now, he faces murder charge
As chairman of the subcommittee that provides funds for our national security and foreign policy, I am proud of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs portion of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, for reestablishing American leadership where it has been severely lacking for the last four years.

This important legislation advances freedom, manifests strong solidarity with our allies, and stands firm against the malign forces that undermine U.S. national security, all while cutting overall spending by 6% from last years level. After the Biden administrations disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russias invasion of Ukraine and increasing threats from the Chinese Communist Party, Americans deserve better than a weak and confused foreign policy.

For example, this legislation provides unwavering support to our key democratic ally in the Middle East, Israel, as it wages an existential battle against terrorism. It fully funds the U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding at $3.3 billion, conditions any assistance to Gaza, and strengthens vetting to prevent funds from going to non-governmental organizations that support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement.

As Iran seeks to destroy Israel and stoke terror through its proxies, the bill prohibits implementation of any Iran deal absent congressional approval and prohibits removing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard from the foreign terrorist organizations list.

The bill also takes a strong stand against wasteful, anti-American, and antisemitic entities within the United Nations, such as by prohibiting funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which employed Hamas sympathizers that assisted in the terrorist attack against innocent Israelis on Oct. 7, and by blocking funds for the antisemitic Commission of Inquiry against Israel.

Similarly, this legislation holds back funds from the U.N. Human Rights Council until there is progress in both addressing its dangerous obsession with Israel and implementing meaningful reforms to begin removing the worlds worst human rights abusers from its ranks. I have said that I will take the U.N. seriously only when it takes itself seriously.

The act strongly counters the malign influence of Communist China by prohibiting all funds to it while also prohibiting funding for countries to repay debts owed to China, which has become a predatory lender to many of the worlds most vulnerable countries.

This bill also includes assistance to Taiwan by providing an unprecedented $300 million in Foreign Military Financing, and $400 million for the Countering Peoples Republic of China (PRC) Influence Fund. This legislation stands solidly with Taiwan, and counters the PRCs global, malign influence. The bill also provides $125 million to combat fentanyl trafficking and production, most of which originates in the PRC to ultimately enter the United States at the southern border. Furthermore, it prohibits funds to any entity facilitating or encouraging irresponsible and illegal migration.

Additionally, this act provides strong solidarity to those struggling for freedom and democracy in the most repressed corners of the globe, particularly within the destabilizing, dangerous, and anti-American dictatorships in our hemisphere such as Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The bill combats human trafficking by denying visas to governments and international organizations that facilitate the trafficking of Cuban doctors.

It also imposes strict restrictions to prevent the Biden administration from diverting Cuba democracy funding for unauthorized purposes that have no hope of promoting democracy. The United States, and indeed the world, is more secure when human rights are respected, and people are free to choose their own governments. I am proud that this crucial legislation stands with political prisoners, pro-democracy activists and all those risking their lives today in the struggle for freedom.

The State-Foreign Operations Appropriations portion addresses our most pressing foreign policy and national security priorities, while cutting wasteful and counterproductive green programs that impose burdensome requirements in places where they simply do not make sense. The world has become a more dangerous place since President Biden took office. This bill helps to redirect U.S. attention and resources where they belong, ensuring that American taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, efficiently and in furtherance of crucial foreign policy priorities.

Mario Diaz-Balart is a U.S. representative for Floridas 26th Congressional District, a senior member of the House Committee on Appropriations and chairman of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2024 - 19:23 | All, World, Japan

The United States, Australia and Britain are considering working with Japan on the joint development of advanced defense technologies through their trilateral security partnership, the grouping's defense ministers said Monday, as part of efforts to counter China's military expansion.

"Recognizing Japan's strengths and its close bilateral defense partnerships with all three countries, we are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects," a joint statement released by the defense chiefs of the three countries said.

The second pillar of the three-way partnership, known as AUKUS, is focused on cooperation on various new technologies such as hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

While the partnership, formed in 2021, has no plans to seek collaboration with Japan or any other country on its first pillar, aimed at delivering nuclear-powered submarines to Canberra, some officials have been pushing to include Tokyo in projects for the other pillar.

During a press conference in Canberra on Tuesday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said no proposals had been made to expand the membership of AUKUS, but Japan is a "natural candidate" to be part of the second pillar.

In the run-up to an official meeting on Wednesday between U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington, high-ranking officials in Biden's administration, such as U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, have been advocating for Tokyo's participation.

Among other agreements to be announced, demonstrating the robust U.S.-Japan relationship, Biden and Kishida are set to confirm that the bilateral alliance will continue reinforcing its networked relations with like-minded partners including Australia and Britain, according to officials preparing for the summit.

It is almost certain that Biden and Kishida will discuss Japan's potential involvement in the trilateral partnership's second pillar, at a time when countries such as Canada and New Zealand have also expressed interest in such collaboration.

Nonetheless, AUKUS and Japanese officials suggested there is still a long way to go before any potential participation by Japan. Some AUKUS officials have been concerned about Japan's ability to protect the grouping's highly sensitive information.

Some Japanese officials have also voiced reservations about too quickly expanding such cooperation on cutting-edge technologies with countries other than Tokyo's sole security treaty ally the United States.

"Strengthening security and defense cooperation between the United States, Britain and Australia is important for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, and our country has consistently backed the efforts of AUKUS," Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Kihara added he recognizes that Tokyo's potential cooperation on the second pillar "will be considered by the AUKUS side."

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning expressed concern over the AUKUS cooperation with Japan, saying at a press conference Tuesday that Tokyo should "abandon the practice of forming a small military and security circle, and truly pursue the path of peaceful development."

Referring to Japan's past military aggression in the Asia-Pacific region, Mao said Tokyo should earnestly reflect on its history.

The joint statement also said the United States, Australia and Britain are confident that expanding collaboration on the second pillar with like-minded partners will strengthen their pursuit of regional stability.

But it also said, "In identifying collaboration opportunities, we will take into account factors such as technological innovation, financing, industrial strengths, ability to adequately protect sensitive data and information, and impact on promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."

Related coverage:

Japan, U.S., Australia, Philippines hold drill in South China Sea
EMPORIA (KSNT)  A major grocery store chain is opening a new pharmacy in the City of Emporia this week.

Dillons announced in a press release it will hold a grand opening for a new pharmacy location to help serve the people of Emporia. The official ribbon cutting is set for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 10.

Dillons spokeswoman Sheila Regehr says the ceremony will be attended by company representatives, the Emporia Chamber of Commerce and the Emporia Rescue Mission. A donation of $1,500 will be made to the Emporia Rescue Mission during the event.

The first Dillons grocery store to open in Emporia was in 1975. The new pharmacy here is the 72nd to be opened in the area for the company.

Dillons offers 5% one-day discount this April

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  The search for 15-year-old Sebastian Wayne Drake Rogers has stretched into more than a month after he disappeared from his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee with still no signs of the missing teen.

As the days hes been missing have continued to grow, community members have been doing everything they can to keep his name and face in the spotlight, distributing flyers and even conducting their own searches.

TIMELINE: The disappearance of Sumner County teen Sebastian Rogers

Most searches have been centered around Middle Tennessee, but Sebastians disappearance has recently begun to capture the attention of people outside of the state, with the case among two national AMBER Alerts that are still active.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which collaborates with the U.S. Department of Justices Office of Justice Programs to disseminate AMBER Alert information on a national scale, alerts are usually resolved within hours.

However, both Sebastian and 3-year-old Elijah Vue from Two Rivers, Wisconsin, have been missing since February. Elijah was reported missing only six days before Sebastian on Feb. 20.

Disappearance of 3-year-old Elijah Vue

Photo of missing 3-year-old Elijah Vue from Two Rivers, Wisconsin (Courtesy of Two Rivers Police Department)

News 2s sister station WFRV reported that Elijah was last seen by 39-year-old Jesse Vang, who is in a relationship with Elijahs mother, Katrina Baur. At the time, Elijah was reportedly living with Vang at his home in Two Rivers, about 40 miles southeast of Green Bay.

Missing Wisconsin boys blanket found as search nears one month

On the day Elijah went missing, Vang claimed he saw Elijah asleep as he got his own son ready for school. Vang said he later went back to bed, but when he awoke, Elijah was gone. Vang reportedly told authorities he had locked the door with a deadbolt and security chain.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by WFRV last month, Vang had been trying to help Elijahs mother correct Elijahs bad behaviors. Baur said Elijah had been in the care of Vang for about a week.





She allegedly described Vang as the enforcer of rules in the relationship and said she sent Elijah to stay with him to learn how to be a man. A criminal complaint also alleged neglect by both Baur and Vang, citing photographic evidence that appeared to show bruising on Elijahs jaw, neck, side and arm.

Both Baur and Vang have since been charged in relation to the alleged neglect. However, Elijah has yet to be found, despite numerous searches throughout the lakeside community of Two Rivers, including waterways and a local landfill.

$40K in rewards offered for info on missing Wisconsin 3-year-old sent to learn to be a man

The only sign of Elijah has been a red and white plaid blanket that was located about 3.7 miles from Vangs home earlier in the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Two Rivers Police Department tip line at 844-267-6648.

Questions remain in search for 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers

Sebastian Rogers (Composite image: WKRN/TBI)

Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

Just as many questions remain in the search for Sebastian, who was reported missing on Feb. 26 after last being seen by his mother at the familys home off Stafford Court in Hendersonville.

Multiple law enforcement agencies have since searched thousands of miles around his home. Similarly, the searches have included waterways and a landfill in Kentucky where officials said trash went from Sebastians home.

However, during a press conference on April 2, authorities said there still had not been any signs of the teen, with the Sumner County Sheriffs Office later confirming a pair of glasses found were not Sebastians.

Sebastian Rogers: Officials not ruling anything out in search for missing teen

Officials have continued to state that there is no evidence pointing to foul play in Sebastians disappearance, but that theyre not ruling anything out. The investigation has also included numerous search warrants, with cell phone data analyzed and other digital evidence searched.

(Photo: WKRN)

Even though there is not that high visibility in investigating this case, we are not done, said TBI Spokesperson Susan Niland. This has gone back to what could be considered good ole fashioned police work, interviewing individuals, re-interviewing individuals, checking out leads, re-checking leads.

Sebastians parents didnt speak publicly until about a week into his disappearance when his stepfather and mother did an interview with a podcast host. About a month later, his mother, Katie Proudfoot, provided the following statement to News 2.

Unfortunately, with no new legitimate leads, our statement remains the same. We are trying to get his face out there to EVERYONE because I think the more people know and search, the better chance we have of finding him. We do appreciate the support from the neighborhood and community. We want to let the community know that we dont have words to express our gratitude for the support we have received in searching for our son! And we pray that everyone continues to help search and pray that we find him and bring him home safe. The pain of our sons absence is beyond words. We ask that everyone everywhere remain aware and continue to look for anything that can help us find Sebastian and bring him home! Katie Proudfoot

Sumner County residents call on extra resources for missing teen after search for Riley Strain ends

While the publics interest in the case has helped spread awareness, it has also led to many rumors being spread online, which Niland said has been detrimental to the investigation as tips continue to pour into the agency.

Instead, people are asked to share information about conversations they may have had with Sebastian, where he liked to go and any people he may have mentioned that are in his life.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sumner County Sheriffs Office at 615-451-3838 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

38 children still missing from previous AMBER Alerts

Even though Sebastian and Elijahs disappearances are the only two listed as active AMBER Alerts on the NCMECs website, the organization also maintains a list of previous AMBER Alerts that still have not been resolved  some dating as far back as 2003.

UNSOLVED TENNESSEE: Find more of the states cold cases, missing persons, and other mysteries 

In total, there are 38 children still missing from previous AMBER Alerts across the nation  four of which are Tennessee children. They include Zaylee Fryar, Chloie Leverette, Christopher Daniel and Summer Wells.

As of December 31, 2023, at least 1,200 children had been recovered due to AMBER Alerts. To view of full list of the children still missing from AMBER Alerts and their posters, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Lawmakers are returning to Washington with a rapidly approaching deadline to extend the nations warrantless surveillance powers and with the same competing factions that have stalled the bills progress over the last several months.

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and with it the governments ability to spy on noncitizens located abroad, is set to expire April 19.

The deadline comes after Congress passed a short-term extension of the law last year because lawmakers failed to agree on how to reform the controversial spy powers.

Various national security leaders are expected to make their pitch for the bill Wednesday in an all-member House briefing.

The House Rules Committee is also expected to mark up the legislation Tuesday, using the same base text that in February left Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) swiftly reversing plans to bring the measure to the floor.

The same bill is likely to face the same problems.

FISA 702 has pit House Judiciary Committee Republicans and House Intelligence Committee Republicans against each other, each camp joined by Democrats who either think the bill needs to include a warrant requirement for data on Americans swept up in surveillance or who argue such a measure would undermine the tool entirely.

Privacy hawks see a warrant as the only way to protect Americans from being surveilled. Its a stance thats created strange bedfellows  both House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and ranking member Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) support the measure.

But the intelligence community says it would stop law enforcement from acting on information in real time. The position is backed by the White House and members of Congress who rallied behind an earlier proposal that added guardrails but stopped short of a warrant requirement.

Speaking with reporters Friday, one senior administration official said a warrant requirement would fundamentally undermine our ability to protect the homeland.

Let me be very clear. Such a requirement is not only legally unnecessary, but it is a policy choice that will make the country less safe, they said.

The text of the FISA reauthorization bill doesnt include a warrant requirement but does contain numerous reforms to address concerns about prior abuse by the FBI.

FBI supervisors or attorneys would have to approve any agent query that might involve U.S. citizens  a figure that has dropped substantially since a shift in the FBI search portal that opted agents into searching the 702 database.

It also requires an after-the-fact review of all 702 queries of U.S. citizens.

For intelligence community leaders, there is no substitute to Section 702.

Im not sure Ive seen a time when our country faces such a complex set of threats and such a dangerous threat landscape.  Ive never seen a time when a single authority is as important to protecting the country as Section 702 is today, another senior administration official said.

They added that 702 fills that role with a speed and reliability that we cannot cannot replace with any other authority.

Still, efforts to add a warrant requirement have rocked the bills path to the floor, and could do so again.

House Judiciary members, including Jordan, have pushed for a vote on the House floor on adding a warrant requirement to the bill. Members had lobbied Johnson to back an earlier proposal from Judiciary and protested his offer to bring the two competing bills to the floor.

Its still an open question whether the bill can pass through the Rules Committee, a panel stocked with FISA critics, to enable an amendment vote.

Massie, Roy, and Norman could definitely bring the heat, one Republican aide said of Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.).

That could totally happen, they added when asked about prospects for the trio sinking the bill in committee.

If the bill cant get out of Rules, it would take a two-thirds majority, or about 290 votes, to pass the legislation.

The big question will be can it get through Rules, or does it have to go under suspension, said one source familiar with the situation.

If it does go under suspension, it needs more votes, and there cant be amendments. So that will be interesting, to see how it plays out, the source added.

Democrats are similarly divided over whether to support the bill, as a number have also called for a warrant requirement or other reforms.

But the first hurdle of even determining how the bill comes to the floor is just going to come down to Republican dynamics, the source said.

Johnson made a pitch to unify the Republican conference, writing to colleagues that if our bill fails, we will be faced with an impossible choice and can expect the Senate to jam us with a clean extension that includes no reforms at all. That is clearly an unacceptable option.

Its not clear the Speakers claim is accurate  the Senate has several competing proposals, all of which reform the program.

On Friday, privacy rights groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to FreedomWorks urged lawmakers to reject any path to the floor that doesnt include a vote on an amendment for a warrant requirement.

The groups called the legislation carefully crafted to preserve the status quo, not to enact the serious privacy protections for which most Americans and members of Congress are calling, saying they therefore urge you to oppose Floor consideration of any legislation, including RISAA, that would reauthorize Section 702 without providing votes on key amendments.

Part of the intelligence communitys resistance to a warrant requirement is the delays it would impose on accessing information that requires immediate, real-time review.

It takes weeks to obtain traditional FISA warrants, a senior administration official told The Hill in a statement.

Court pre-approval of queries would cause dangerous delays and harm our ability to disrupt threats. Extreme proposals to require probable cause before running a U.S. person query would gut the basic value of the tool because queries are critical at early stages before the government knows enough about the threat to meet probable cause.

Biden administration officials have also made clear they hope the third time is the charm in terms of plans to bring the bill to the floor, rejecting the idea of another short-term extension while Congress deliberates over how to proceed.

Whether the intelligence community and law enforcement can rely on an absolutely essential authority should not be up for grabs, should not be called into question every three months. Thats an irresponsible way for Congress to legislate, an irresponsibility for Congress to do its part in trying to help us, the executive branch, protect the American people, a senior administration official told reporters.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 19-year-old man is facing a murder charge after reports showed that his clothing had traces of the victims DNA after a fatal shooting at Red Sands over Thanksgiving weekend last year, according to court documents obtained by KTSM.

Man arrested, charged with murder in shooting at Red Sands last year

Court documents say Angel Gallardo, 19, was arrested this past Saturday, April 6 after he shot and killed Mauricio Elias, 19, on Friday night, Nov. 24, at Red Sands.

Court documents say Gallardo shot Elias multiple times with a handgun at close range causing back spatter and leaving Elias DNA on Gallardos clothing.

Court documents say a witness met with a detective from the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPCSO) back in December and said he was with Elias on the night of the shooting.

The witness, Elias and another friend were hanging out near a bonfire at Red Sands when a group of men accompanied by four teens joined them, according to court documents.

The witness told the detective that the group of teenagers asked Elias if they knew a certain person on Instagram. While asking the question, Gallardo chambered a gun, according to court documents.

The witness also told the detective that at the same time Gallardo chambered a gun, he saw a teenager holding a rifle and felt something was going to happen, according to court documents.

The witness said he walked away to tell his other friends that something was going to happen which is when he heard shots fired.

The witness said he saw Elias on the ground and the group ran away. He also described what Gallardo was wearing at the time of the shooting.

Another witness told detectives that while talking to Gallardo hours before the incident, Gallardo showed a handgun and said: In case we have any problems with anybody.

After the shooting, Gallardo tried to drive off but eventually fled the area on foot, according to court documents.

Elias was transported to a local hospital where he later died as a result of his injuries.

Court documents say witnesses who were waiting at the hospital emergency waiting room saw Gallardo walk in because he had a gunshot on his groin.

Witnesses told detectives they recognized Gallardo and said he was at Red Sands and was near Elias before he was shot.

Detectives then met with Gallardo who agreed to being at Red Sands that night, but did not provide details as to how he was shot and said someone was trying to rob him.

A projectile from Gallardos surgery was turned over to detectives, along with the clothing he was wearing that night and was submitted into evidence.

In December, deputies were trying to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle, and one of the passengers was Gallardo.

Court documents say the vehicle tried to evade for a short time and two handguns were thrown out of the vehicle.

Gallardo was then arrested on an unrelated warrant for evading arrest and was taken to the EPCSO headquarters where he was asked questions regarding to the fatal shooting at Red Sands.

Court documents say Gallardo agreed to being at Red Sands that night, but could not remember anything else or how he was shot.

On Friday, April 5, a report from the Texas DPS Laboratory stated that Gallardos clothing had traces of Elias DNA on them.

Gallardo was arrested the following day and was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a bond of $1 million.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Jason Pulman was found dead in a park in East Sussex on April 19 2022

A doctors surgery made catastrophic errors when it referred a transgender teenager with mental health problems to the controversial Tavistock clinic, an inquest heard.

Jason Pulmans history of self-harm was not spotted by the Harbour Medical Practice in Eastbourne when it referred the teenager to the Gender Identity Development Service (Gids) run by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in north London.

It meant Jason, who had a history of depression, self-harm and suicidal ideation, was placed on a 26-month waiting list at Gids, a controversial service which, before it closed last year, referred children for puberty blockers.

Before the treatment by Gids could begin, the 15-year-old was found dead in a park in East Sussex on April 19 2022.

An inquest into Jasons death this week has raised questions about how a teenager with severe mental health problems, including multiple suicide attempts, was referred for gender-affirming treatment.

It comes as a landmark report by Dr Hillary Cass, a paediatrician, is set to advise that children should not be rushed on to a path to change gender, and that those who believe they are transgender may actually have mental health issues.

Referral was really awful

In the inquest at Hastings Coroners Court on Tuesday, Nick Armstrong KC, representing the Pulman family, said Harbour Medical Practices referral to Gids was really awful.

He said: What Emily Pulman [Jasons mother] says is Jasons cutting started in 2019 and may not have been visible in 2020 but thats something that would have needed to be explored carefully.

It looks like it [the self-harm] is emerging at this point.

He also said the surgery made catastrophic errors in its referral of the 15-year-old to the Tavistock Clinic.

Mr Armstrong said the referral form, which was completed by Karen Yates, an advanced nurse practitioner, was brief and riddled with spelling errors and had been mistakenly written on an adults form instead of a childs form.

It also emerged at the inquest that Dr Idango Adoki, a GP at the practice, had not read or been informed about the report before it was sent to the Tavistock centre, despite his name appearing on the form.

Dr Adagi told the inquest: Im not at all happy with this and we have changed how we operate since then.

Jason frustrated by waiting list

Jason, who was born as a girl but came out as transgender aged 14, was put on the waiting list for a gender dysphoria assessment, which decides whether someone has a sense of unease at their assigned gender.

The assessment could have been a potential gateway to puberty blockers, which were banned by the NHS last month.

But Jason grew frustrated at the length of the waiting list at the Tavistock centre, the inquest heard, and the teenagers mental health deteriorated during the start of the Covid pandemic.

Jason was found dead by a member of the public in Hampden Park, Eastbourne, with a note that read Im sorry, mum.

The inquest will decide if it was Jasons intention to die. A jury of 11 will also consider whether the police response to the missing person report was adequate.

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One of three Republican challengers who filed to run against Lexington Countys sheriff wont be certified for the race because of a question raised about whether he actually lives in the county. He says hes challenging that decision.

The state Republican Party confirmed to The State that Garry Rozier isnt being allowed to participate in the June 11 Republican primary due to residency issues.

Jay Koon, who has served as Lexingtons top law enforcement officer since 2015, faces two other challengers for the Republican nomination: Alan Driggers, who retired as a Lexington sheriffs lieutenant after 24 years with the department, and Billy Warren, a former Lexington deputy and 32-year veteran of the state Highway Patrol.

Rozier, who served 40 years with the state Highway Patrol before later joining the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the county Sheriffs Department, has been actively campaigning for sheriff since 2022.

No Democrat filed to run, so the Republican primary likely will decide who will be Lexington Countys sheriff for the next four years.

Rozier said he moved back to Lexington County, where he lived for 25 years before purchasing a house in the Prosperity area of Newberry County, in January 2023. That was the same month he formally announced his run for office.

Properity records indicate he purchased the Prosperity home in 2009. He said he is now renting a house in Chapin.

While his move to Lexington County and the formal announcement of his candidacy took place the same month, Rozier said there were other motivations for his move back to the county.

Im helping my brother-in-law with his business, and it put me a little closer on Jamil Road where his business is at, and two, I wanted to move a little closer, Ive got some friends in Chapin, he said.

Rozier said he was contacted by the state Republican Party on April 4 to furnish documents proving he lives in Lexington County. According to state law, a candidate for sheriff must have lived in the county he is seeking to represent at least one year immediately preceding the date of the election.

Based on the residency requirements under SC State Law for the Office of Sheriff, the SCGOP did not certify Mr. Rozier, the party said in a statement, refusing to comment further on pending legal action.

Rozier said he was asked for documents proving both his residency in Chapin and that he doesnt claim the Newberry County house as his primary residence, which he provided. During this process, he said, he talked with the state GOPs executive director, Hope Walker Rossi. The candidate said he was told he would likely be OK before receiving an email informing him he wouldnt be certified for the election.

I was very upset, Rozier said. I have been doing candidacy, doing this for a year and a half. You can understand after working so hard for a year and a half for them to tell you you cant run, its kind of tough to handle.

The candidate showed The State copies of the email he said he received from the state party informing him of the issue with his residency, with documents attached tying him to Newberry County, including records of two vehicles and two watercraft registered in his name there.

A letter included with those documents says they were sent to the state GOP by lawyers representing Koon and his reelection campaign.

Based on publicly available information, it is clear that Garry Bryan Rozier, who is currently seeking the office of Sheriff of Lexington County, lacks the requisite qualifications to be certified as a candidate for the office of Sheriff, attorney Kevin Hall writes in the letter. Accordingly, any request by Mr. Rozier to appear on a primary or general election ballot for the office of Sheriff should be rejected by the South Carolina Republican Party and the Lexington County Election Commission.

Koon confirmed to The State that his lawyers sent the materials questioning Roziers residency.

This isnt really about me, he said. Everybodys got to get certified.

According to Newberry County records, the house Rozier owns isnt his primary residence, but he is listed as having those two vehicles and two watercraft registered to him in the county.

He said one of the cars is a truck he has since sold and says he is now driving a new truck registered in Lexington County, while the other vehicle is a car owned by his ex-wife who hasnt changed the registration. As to the watercraft, he said one is a boat that was defective and had to be totaled, and the other was provided by the dealer to replace it. It took a while for the dealer to provide the title, which it did in February, Rozier said, so he hasnt yet been able to register the boat in Lexington County.

The candidate said his representation is gearing up for a legal battle in an attempt to change the state GOPs ruling.

I hate to say this, but I kind of feel like the Trump of Lexington County, Rozier added.
Protesters gather on the second day of pro-Trump events fueled by former President Donald Trump's continued claims of election fraud in an attempt to overturn the results before Congress finalizes them in a joint session on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

WASHINGTON  Federal prosecutors Monday urged the nations high court to reject Donald Trumps claim that he is immune from prosecution for his coup attempt because it was done while he was president.

The Constitution does not give a president the power to conspire to defraud the United States in the certification of presidential-election results, obstruct proceedings for doing so, or deprive voters of the effect of their votes, Special Counsel Jack Smith wrote in a 66-page brief that blistered Trumps claims that he was merely doing his presidential duties on Jan. 6, 2021.

The severity, range, and democracy-damaging nature of the alleged crimes are unique in American history. Other than former President Nixon, whose pardon precluded criminal prosecution, petitioner can point to no former president alleged to have engaged in remotely similar conduct, Smith wrote.

Smiths argument has previously carried the day both before trial judge Tanya Chutkan and a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

If the Supreme Court agrees that Trump is criminally liable for his actions leading up to and on Jan. 6, 2021, Trump could go trial on those charges before the November election, in which Trump is again the presumptive Republican Party nominee.

Trump stands charged with conspiring to defraud the United States, conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, obstructing an official proceeding, and conspiring to deprive millions of Americans of the right to have their votes counted. The four-count indictment lays out how Trumps repeated lies about the 2020 election having been stolen from him and the assault on the Capitol by a mob of his followers were a part of his scheme to remain in office.

More than 140 police officers were injured on that day, some severely. One died hours later and four others took their own lives in the weeks to come.

Trump at first publicly disavowed the violence, but in recent months has come around to glorify as heroes those who have been charged and even convicted of assaulting police. At rallies, he has played a recording of a group of them singing the national anthem, interspersed with his reading of the pledge of allegiance, while he stands and salutes.

Of the 20 Jan. 6 detainees in the District of Columbia jail on the day of the recording, 17 were charged or had been convicted of assaulting police officers. The other three were charged with seditious conspiracy  of literally trying to overthrow the government.

Trumps lawyers in their March 19 filing with the Supreme Court repeated arguments they had previously tried without success in the lower courts. They claimed that the lack of any previous prosecutions against former presidents is proof that Trump should not be prosecuted, while warning that should cases against Trump be permitted to proceed, all future presidents would also be prosecuted as a form of harassment.

Smith and three of his Department of Justice deputies, though, ridiculed those arguments, pointing out that safeguards already exist to protect former presidents from frivolous prosecutions, and that Trump could not identify a single crime committed by George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama or current President Joe Biden.

Smith also noted that Trumps contention that prosecutions should only be permitted against former presidents for a crime when a statute specifically stated that presidents are included in their reach  only two such laws exist  is absurd.

It is implausible that Congress intended for the president to face criminal sanctions for influencing private employment or accepting campaign contributions in federal buildings, while exempting him from every other federal criminal statute, including those barring bribery, murder, treason, and seditious conspiracy, Smith wrote.

In addition to the federal charges based on his coup attempt, Trump is facing a Georgia state prosecution for his efforts to overturn his election loss in that state.

A second federal prosecution is based on his refusal to turn over secret documents he took with him to his South Florida country club when he left the White House, while a New York state indictment charges him with falsifying business records to hide hush money payments in the days leading up to the 2016 election.

That case is set to begin jury selection in Manhattan on April 15.

And in a separate civil case, a New York jury last year found Trump liable for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll against her will in an incident in the 1990s. The federal judge in the case later clarified that Trumps actions constituted rape in the common modern parlance.
For almost 50 years, Joanne Grace worked as a registered nurse. It was a job she loved and said she planned to keep doing as long as she was useful and effective.

But around age 71, Grace said she was unfairly pushed out by her former employer because of her age.

She said older employees were being steadily let go and replaced by younger workers.

You work all your life and expect just fairness from your employer, Grace told our Washington News Bureau.

Grace sued for age discrimination but said her former employer has been trying to silence her through the legal process of forced arbitration.

Thats when companies force employees to sign away their rights to sue, often as a condition of employment.

Grace said she never signed such an agreement but was told by her former employer that the process applied to her because her name was on a list for a training seminar about arbitration. Grace said she never attended that training.

On Tuesday, Grace testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about her experience.

As long as Congress allows companies to sweep accountability under the rug, they will continue to do just that, said Grace. Allowing forced arbitration really has destroyed my dignity.

The committee weighed these kinds of employee experiences with forced arbitration.

Its an issue former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson knows about first-hand. She also testified before the panel.

Most people have no idea what forced arbitration means, said Carlson in her testimony. Employees have no idea that signing on the dotted line accepting a forced arbitration clause can strip them of their rights for future justice.

Carlson shared her experience fighting forced arbitration by her former employer Fox News, after suing the former network head for sexual misconduct.

When youre forced into the secret chamber of arbitration, you dont have a voice and you dont have a choice, Carlson told our Washington News Bureau. The operative word is forced. If its so wonderful for all American workers, why do companies force them into it?

Carlson helped push for a bipartisan law Congress passed banning forced arbitration in employment lawsuits for sexual misconduct.

Now, theres a push to expand those protections to older Americans and people who experience race discrimination at work.

The Protecting Older Americans Act prohibits forced arbitration for age discrimination claims in the workplace.

The Ending Forced Arbitration of Race Discrimination Act would prohibit the practice of forcing employees who experienced racial discrimination at work into arbitration.

But some witnesses cautioned against expanding the ban on forced arbitration, arguing the process can benefit employers.

The cost of arbitration is far less than litigation, said Victor Schwartz, co-Chair of the Public Policy Practice Group for the law firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP. Claimants benefit because its simpler.

It has been used as a beneficial tool to be certain that you dont get trapped into lengthy and costly litigation, said Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).

Advocates like Grace, meanwhile, are urging Congress to focus on passing more protections for workers.

I should be able to speak out for what I believe, said Grace. Congress needs to help get this bill passed so that it can give an older American an even playing field.

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I dont have any words: Family of pedestrian killed after heinous attack in Brockton speaks

Rosemary Schneider said she was with her brother, Stuart Smith, after he was struck by an SUV while walking along a Brockton street, and then attacked by the driver now charged with his murder.

Vasco Semedo, 45, was held without bail on Monday, accused of intentionally hitting the 50-year-old Smith with his SUV before getting out of the vehicle and striking Smith with a brick more than 20 times, prosecutors said.

Just awful, just going through it. I dont really have any words, said Schneider, younger sister of Smith, who spent her brothers last moments by his side. He later died from his injuries.

Its a very gruesome, a very heinous act, intentional act, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said.

Prosecutors said surveillance video captured the incident, during which Semedo hit Smith with his SUV, backed up, and then drove into him again.

This defendant drove directly at the victim as he ran away from the car striking him a second time, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague said in court.

That is when they say things went from bad to worse. Prosecutors said after Semedo struck a brick wall, he got out of the SUV and repeatedly hit Smith in the head with a brick while he lay on the ground.

He took a brick off the hood of the car. He went over to where the victim was laying on the ground and struck him over the head with that brick over 20 times, Sprague said.

Cruz commended about six witnesses who held Semedo on scene until police arrived.

Smiths family, including his brother and sister, were in court on Monday. They were deeply saddened and disturbed by what they heard in court and said they want justice for their brother.

I saw the after-effects so, I mean, that makes sense. But I mean, what do you say? Schneider said. You know, just terrible, just a terrible tragedy.

She added, Its very unfortunate, just very unfortunate how humans are sometimes, just sad.

Brockton Police and State Police troopers responded to a 911 call reporting a pedestrian crash on North Main Street around 9 a.m. Saturday morning.

When police arrived, they found the driver of the SUV, later identified as Semedo, being detained by witnesses at the scene, according to prosecutors.

Smith was initially rushed to Good Samaritan Medical Center before being flown to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where he was pronounced dead.

Damian Smith, the victims brother, said Smith dealt with lifelong mental health issues after being struck by a car as a child.

He hopes everyone will remember his brothers kind heart and how he made people smile.

Stuarts legacy is a testament of facing adversity with courage and love, Damian Smith said.

Semedo will be back in court for a pretrial hearing in May.

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WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump can usually count on support from South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham  but not when it comes to abortion.

Graham echoed other conservative Republicans  including former Vice President Mike Pence  in criticizing Trump's announcement that states should decide their own individual policies. The presumptive GOP presidential nominee refused to support a federal abortion ban of the type backed by Graham and other members of the Republican political base.

"It's a state's issue up to a point," Graham, who backs a federal abortion ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy, told reporters Monday. "But the pro-life movement, I've told the president, is not about geography; it's about the child."

Trump laced into Graham and other conservative critics by saying that federal abortion bans are not popular with voters and could cost the Republicans elections  including his November showdown with President Joe Biden, who has made abortion rights a centerpiece of his campaign.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham

"People like Lindsey Graham, that are unrelenting, are handing Democrats their dream of the House, Senate, and perhaps even the Presidency," Trump shot back Monday on Truth Social.

In another post, Trump said: "I blame myself for Lindsey Graham, because the only reason he won in the Great State of South Carolina is because I Endorsed him!"

During the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, Graham became one of Trump's most outspoken critics, saying at one point, "I think he's a kook. I think he's crazy. I think he's unfit for office."

As Trump went on to claim the White House, the South Carolina senator became one of Trump's most outspoken defenders.

More: 'Slap in the face': Mike Pence blasts Donald Trump for saying abortion restrictions should be up to states

Graham has downplayed the current abortion dispute, and said he would continue to push his plan for a 15-week federal abortion ban, with exceptions for rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother.

Democrats scoffed at Trump's attempt to thread the needle on abortion, saying he is only pretending to oppose a nationwide ban.

Trump has bragged about appointing three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that had protected abortion rights nationwide. Democrats are trying to capitalize on those appointments, and they note that Trump supports abortion bans already passed by Republican-run states.

"If Donald Trump is elected and the MAGA Republicans in Congress put a national abortion ban on the Resolute Desk, Trump will sign it into law," Biden said in a statement.

Some Republicans aren't so sure.

Former President Donald Trump attacked his longtime ally Sen. Lindsey Graham after the South Carolina Republican criticized his new stance on abortion.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said her organization was "deeply disappointed" by Trump's refusal to endorse national abortion restrictions.

Saying the issue is back to the states cedes the national debate to the Democrats," she said.

Trump also had harsh words for Dannenfelser, saying she and Graham should study the Constitution about rights reserved to the states.

"When they do," Trump said on Truth Social, "they should proudly get on with helping Republicans to WIN ELECTIONS, rather than making it impossible for them to do so!"

Contributing: Riley Beggin, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abortion spat divides Donald Trump and ally Lindsey Graham
Former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he arrives for a GOP fundraiser, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

NEW YORK (AP)  A New York appeals court judge Tuesday rejected Donald Trumps latest attempt to delay his hush money criminal trial, taking just 12 minutes to swat aside an argument that it should be postponed while the former president fights a gag order.

Justice Cynthia Kerns ruling was the second time in as many days that the state's mid-level appeals court refused to postpone the trial, set to begin next week, further narrowing any plausible path to the delay that Trumps legal team has repeatedly sought.

Trumps lawyers wanted the trial delayed until a full panel of appellate court judges could hear arguments on lifting or modifying a gag order that bans him from making public statements about jurors, witnesses and others connected to the hush-money case.

They argue the gag order is an unconstitutional curb on the presumptive Republican nominees free speech rights while hes campaigning for president and fighting criminal charges.

The First Amendment harms arising from this gag order right now are irreparable, Trump lawyer Emil Bove said at an emergency hearing Tuesday in the states mid-level appeals court.

Bove argued that Trump shouldn't be muzzled while critics, including his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen and porn actor Stormy Daniels, routinely assail him. Both are key prosecution witnesses.

Bove also argued that the order unconstitutionally restricts Trump's critiques of the case  and, with them, his ability to speak to the voting public and its right to hear from him.

Steven Wu, the appellate chief for the Manhattan district attorneys office, countered that there is a public interest in protecting the integrity of the trial."

What we are talking about here is the defendant's uncontested history of making inflammatory, denigrating" comments about people involved in the case, Wu said. This is not political debate. These are insults."

Wu said prosecutors already have had trouble getting some witnesses to testify because they know what their names in the press may lead to. Wu didn't identify the witnesses but noted they included people who would testify about record-keeping practices.

The gag order still affords Trump free rein to talk about a host of issues, noting that he can comment on Judge Juan M. Merchan and District Attorney Alvin Bragg and raise political arguments as he sees fit. Trump has repeatedly lambasted Bragg, a Democrat, and the judge.

Barring further court action, jury selection will begin on April 15.

Merchan issued the gag order last month at prosecutors' urging, then expanded it last week to prohibit comments about his own family after Trump lashed out on social media at the judge's daughter, a Democratic political consultant, and made what the court system said were false claims about her.

Tuesday was the second of back-to-back days for Trump's lawyers in the appeals court. Associate Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez on Monday rejected their request to delay the trial while Trump seeks to move his case out of heavily Democratic Manhattan.

Trump's lawyers framed their gag order appeal as a lawsuit against Merchan. In New York, judges can be sued to challenge some decisions under a state law known as Article 78.

Trump has used the tactic before, including against the judge in his recent New York civil fraud trial in an unsuccessful last-minute bid to delay that case last fall and again when that judge imposed a gag order barring trial participants from commenting publicly on court staffers. That order came after Trump smeared the judges principal law clerk in a social media post.

A sole appeals judge lifted the civil trial gag order, but an appellate panel restored it two weeks later.

Trump's hush-money criminal case involves allegations that he falsified his companys records to hide the nature of payments to Cohen, who helped him bury negative stories during his 2016 campaign. Cohens activities included paying Daniels $130,000 to suppress her claims of an extramarital sexual encounter with Trump years earlier.

Trump pleaded not guilty last year to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels. His lawyers argue the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.

Trump has made numerous attempts to get the trial postponed.

Last week, as Merchan swatted away various requests to delay the trial, Trump renewed his request for the judge to step aside from the case. The judge rejected a similar request last August.

Trump's lawyers allege the judge is biased against him and has a conflict of interest because of his daughter Loren's work as president of Authentic Campaigns, a firm with clients that have included President Joe Biden and other Democrats. Trump's attorneys complained the expanded gag order was shielding the Merchans from legitimate public criticism.

Merchan had long resisted imposing a gag order. At Trumps arraignment in April 2023, he admonished Trump not to make statements that could incite violence or jeopardize safety, but stopped short of muzzling him. At a subsequent hearing, Merchan noted Trumps special status as a former president and current candidate and said he was bending over backwards to ensure Trump has every opportunity to speak in furtherance of his candidacy.

Merchan became increasingly wary of Trumps rhetoric disrupting the historic trial as it grew near. In issuing the gag order, he said his obligation to ensuring the integrity of the proceedings outweighed First Amendment concerns.

Trump reacted on social media that the gag order was illegal, un-American, unConstitutional and said Merchan was wrongfully attempting to deprive me of my First Amendment Right to speak out against the Weaponization of Law Enforcement by Democratic rivals.

Trump suggested without evidence that Merchan's decision-making was influenced by his daughters professional interests and made a claim, later repudiated by court officials, that Loren Merchan had posted a social media photo showing Trump behind bars.

After the outburst, Merchan expanded the gag order April 1 to prohibit Trump from making statements about the judge's family or Bragg's family.

They can talk about me but I cant talk about them??? Trump reacted on his Truth Social platform.
A view of Perch's bar space on the 15th floor looking out at the downtown Los Angeles skyline. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A downtown Los Angeles restaurant is adding a "security charge" to diners' bills, representing the latest in a wave of surcharges catching customers by surprise.

Perch, a rooftop bar and restaurant near Pershing Square, tacks an extra 4.5% charge to all customer checks to "ensure the safety for all staff and guests," said Melody Lin, a Perch employee. According to the dinner menu on the restaurant's website, "The entirety of the charge is retained by the restaurant for safety and security resources."

A Reddit post by a user dubbed "Individual-Schemes" first brought attention to the fee, and not in a good way.

"Having security isn't atypical," the post said. "It's included in our rent. All of the buildings down here have security. So why 4.5%? Why not $1.00 per check? Why this amount? How much does this fee generate for them per night?"

State lawmakers sought to ban surprise charges on consumers' bills last year by passing Senate Bill 478, which goes into effect July 1. Applying to any business active in California, it declares that "advertising, displaying, or offering a price for a good or service that does not include all mandatory fees or charges" violates the state prohibition on unfair or deceptive practices.

Whether that law applies to restaurants, however, is subject to debate  apparently, even within state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta's office, and Bonta was one of the measure's sponsors.

Read more: What does a service fee ban mean for diners? Expect higher menu prices  a lot higher

At issue is whether restaurants simply have to disclose their fees on their menus and in advertisements, or whether they have to fold the fees into the prices they charge for food and drinks.

Last year, a spokesperson for state Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), who co-authored the bill with Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa), told Eater SF that the legislation would permit service fees at restaurants if they were disclosed on menus. Representatives of the attorney general also told the San Francisco Chronicle that the law would not end fees but merely require them to be disclosed.

The attorney general's office told Eater SF and The Times, however, that disclosing the fees was not enough  they had to be included in the prices on the menu.

Matthew Sutton, senior vice president of government affairs and public policy for the California Restaurant Assn., said in a statement that the law shouldn't increase menu prices if it's applied correctly.

"The law on its face does not apply to restaurants that properly disclose charges (nor was it intended to)," Sutton said. "Courts have repeatedly indicated that restaurant menus are not 'advertisements' and that restaurants dont provide 'goods or services.'"

Read more: L.A. County accuses Grubhub of 'bait-and-switch' with last-minute fees

The Golden Gate Restaurant Assn. has asked Bonta's office to clarify how its members will be affected by SB 478.

"While California regulatory authorities are expected to publish guidelines clarifying what exactly the law prohibits prior to July 1, there is uncertainty as to whether fees such as surcharges or service charges will be banned altogether or, alternatively, whether more conspicuous disclosure of such fees at the outset of the purchasing process will be sufficient to comply," the law firm BakerHostetler said on its website.

Shareef Farag, a partner at BakerHostetler, has been advising his clients to just assume that they need to comply with SB 478's requirements, even if their business type wasn't specifically mentioned in the legislation.

"Given the breadth of the language, what we're advising clients is to assume that it's going to apply to them when the law goes into effect later this year," he said.

Timothy Butler, an attorney for Greenberg Traurig, said in a statement that the law will probably prevent restaurants from charging service fees in the way they traditionally have  such as adding costs separate from food and beverage items.

"Instead, restaurants will probably be required to incorporate their previously charged service fees into their food-and-beverage related menu price of items," he said in the statement. "In other words, rather than charging $15 for a menu item and a separate 10% fee ($1.50), a restaurant would instead be required to charge $16.50 for the menu item or to forgo some or all of the service-fee revenue."

Restaurants probably will be allowed to state that their service fees have been included in the overall prices on the menu, Butler said. But that could also be tricky because they tend to run on tight margins and have already increased their prices to address rising costs.

"We expect restaurants to be very cautious in raising menu prices again to incorporate service fees, particularly as customers are already experiencing sticker shock when looking at food prices in general," he said.

Some customers weren't pleased with the new Perch fee.

Us paying their security fee is crazy, if you think about it, Earnest Traylor told KTLA-TV.

The attorney general's guidelines for SB 478 could turn service charges into mere footnotes on a restaurant bill while raising the price of items on the menu. Or it could let restaurants impose all manner of surcharges, as long as they list the fees on their menus so diners will know about them before they order.

Either way, it would be costly for restaurants to defy the new law. The penalty per violation is at least $1,000.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Dozens of people were arrested during a demonstration inside the Dirksen Senate Office building on Tuesday after they urged Congress to send more humanitarian aid to Gaza and halt U.S. arms sales to Israel.

The protest, organized by Christians for a Free Palestine, involved at least 60 activists who blocked the entrances and lines to the Dirksen cafeteria around noon on Tuesday, the grassroots organization said.

They [protestors] announced that they would not leave or let anyone get food in the Senate Cafeteria until nourishing food is sent to Gaza and the U.S. stops funding the bombs that have killed over 33,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, Christians for a Free Palestine said in a statement to The Hill.

Capitol Police shut down the cafeteria and asked all staffers, tourists and workers to leave the cafeteria, the organization said.

About 50 demonstrators were arrested and charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding, Capitol Police confirmed to The Hill. Police added it is illegal to demonstrated inside any of the Congressional buildings.

The organization said 60 activists were arrested, including 30 ordained clergy.

The Senate and their staff will not be dining today until the people of Gaza eat and are safe, participant Nichola Torbett said in a statement. We are here to pray blessings for the food that Congress will send to Gaza when they do the right thing. We are here to call attention to what is wrong, like our faith calls us to do.

The protest comes as pressure mounts on Washington leaders to increase scrutiny over Israels military campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 33,000 civilians since early October.

Israels operations faced fierce criticism last week after six aid workers with the World Central Kitchen and their Palestinian driver were killed in an Israeli airstrike after delivering aid in central Gaza. The group was driving in armored cars labeled with World Central Kitchen logos when the strike hit.

Biden issued his sharpest criticism of Netanyahu after the attack, warning U.S. policy on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza would now be determined by immediate steps Israel needs to take to reduce an unacceptable humanitarian situation. The tone marked a notable shift from Biden since the war broke out last October, when Hamas killed nearly 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 others in a surprise attack.

A group of Democrat lawmakers last week called on Biden to halt the sale and transfer of weapon to Israel if Netanyahus government continues to block U.S. humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The driver involved in a serious single-vehicle crash in Asheville that killed two and injured three others has been charged, Highway Patrol confirmed.

The driver, identified as William Tyson Neumann, 18, of Augusta, Georgia, has been arrested and charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by vehicle and one count of reckless driving.

Photo: William Tyson Neumann via Buncombe County jail

The deadly accident happened around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, along Interstate 40. Troopers said Neumann was driving a 2015 Volvo car on I-40 when he tried to take Exit 53-B for US Highway 74 and Interstate 240 while driving too fast.

The vehicle lost control, ran off to the left side of the road, and struck a tree.

On Sunday, April 7, Myers Park High School confirmed that Sophie Gordon, 16, a junior at the school, passed away following the crash in Asheville Saturday night. Highway Patrol confirmed rear passenger Robert Fox, 19, of Wilmette, Illinois, also died in the weekend accident.

16-year-old Sophie Gordon (Myers Park High School)

Three other passengers, Hunter Sanford, 18, of Pineville, NC, Isabella Tarantelli, 18, of Charlotte, NC, and Aby Robinson, 17, of Charlotte, NC, were all injured in the crash, troopers said.

PREVIOUSLY: Myers Park HS student killed in Asheville wreck, Charlotte Catholic students injured

NC State Highway Patrols preliminary investigation shows speed was a factor in the wreck.

Neumann was booked into the Buncombe County jail on Monday, April 8. His bond was set at $25,000. His next court date is scheduled for May 7.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Driver tried to get WA troopers to shoot him on I-82. You were selfish, says judge

A Pasco man will serve more than a decade in prison for shooting at Washington State Patrol troopers on Interstate 82.

A year before his confrontation on the highway west of Tri-Cities, Melvin Brown, 63, devised a suicide plan to get officers to kill him.

When the troopers wouldnt cooperate, he fired first.

Judge Jackie Stam told Brown on Monday that no matter what struggles he was going through, there was no excuse for putting other people in danger.

You were selfish, she told him during a sentencing hearing in Benton County Superior Court. You had this plan. You went forward with this plan, but your argument to this court is that your mental health should take precedence over everything else that you did.

Brown, who previously pleaded guilty to first- and second-degree assault, faced 9 to 12 years in prison for the crimes.

Deputy Prosecutor Taylor Clark asked of a sentence in the high end of the range, saying Brown presents a threat to the community. She said it was only by luck that no one was hurt when he opened fire.

The defendants concern wasnt with how his actions were going to affect other people, it was only with getting what he wanted, she said.

She suggested he might take more drastic steps in the future if he doesnt face a lengthy sentence now.

But Defense Attorney Brian Hultgrenn argued Brown is different than a normal person charged with assault and asked for a three-year prison term.

He didnt chose this, Judge. It wasnt his choice to be mentally ill, Hultgrenn said. It is important that Melvin is different. He isnt a life-long criminal. Were here because of his mental illness.

Brown has struggled with depression for decades and this was his first time ever to be trouble with the law, he said.

Brown presented an exhaustive history of his mental health struggles, and apologized to the troopers.

I had no intent to harm anyone, he said. There were 12 seconds that things could have gone terrible. Its quite possible I could have taken a life in that moment.

Mental health struggles

Brown began to struggle with depression in his late 30s, when he tried the first time to die by suicide, according to a memo filed by his attorney. While he was able to stabilize his life, things took a turn for the worse in 2013.

He was in a near constant state of crisis and had two stays at mental health facilities and tried to die at least one more time.

His first thoughts of engaging with police came in 2017 when his depression nearly overwhelmed him again. He brought a gun to a Kennewick park with plans to end his life. His then wife called police to search for him, and he returned home.

When officers talked to him outside his home, he considered pointing the gun at them to get them to shoot him, said court documents.

He received treatment, but in May 2023 he was feeling extremely depressed and alone.

After thinking about suicide for several days, he decided that he needed help to commit suicide and decided he would attempt to get a law enforcement officer to shoot him, Hultgrenn wrote.

Brown picked out the location along I-82 because it had high embankments to stop bullets veering into neighborhoods behind him.

He drove to that section of the highway and called 911 at 5:50 a.m. to say he needed an officer.

Interstate 82 shooting

Brown told emergency dispatchers he may have taken too much medication and had no weapons, Deputy Prosecutor Taylor Clark wrote.

When the dispatcher asked if he needed an ambulance, he said, I suppose, but I want to see a trooper first.

WSP Trooper Corey Litchfield was the first officer to arrive. He parked behind Brown and saw him standing with a gun in his hand. The trooper drew his gun and for the next five minutes, Litchfield tried to get Brown to drop the weapon.

Trooper Dedrick Jolliff arrived and parked so his vehicle was partially blocking one of the highway lanes, and he got out with his rifle.

(The) defendant began walking toward Trooper Litchfield, raised his arm pointing the firearm at Trooper Litchfield and fired multiple shots, Clark wrote.

Litchfield fired back, but no one was hit. Investigators found three spent shell casings where Brown had been standing.

Brown was arrested and taken to the Benton County jail.

Inside of Browns vehicle, police found a two suicide notes. One addressed to the troopers and one to his brother.
Calvin Riley Sr speaks with his attorney, Assistant Public Defender Eric Henely, during the second day of his DUI trial on Monday, April 8, 2024.

A DUI trial that garnered international attention over allegations that Tallahassee police planted evidence ended with a guilty verdict against the man who was behind the wheel.

Calvin Riley Sr. was convicted Monday on a DUI charge after a two-day trial at the Leon County Courthouse. At the behest of the defense, County Judge Jason Jones opted to drop a charge of driving with a suspended license before the jury got the case.

The guilty verdict, which jurors reached after deliberating less than an hour, marked a major victory for the State Attorney's Office and the Tallahassee Police Department, including the officers who were on scene during Rileys arrest and Chief Lawrence Revell, who had publicly denied that any misconduct occurred.

It was a swift rebuke of claims made by the Public Defender's Office and Our Tallahassee, a blog run by local political operative Max Herrle that posted a story about the case and edited and narrated police body-cam footage from the arrest. The video alone garnered millions of social-media views last week on the eve of Riley's trial.

State Attorney Jack Campbell praised the prosecution, which was led by Florida State University law student and certified legal intern Emma Hirschy, and the jury, which had to convene for a second day Monday after delays on Friday.

Calvin Riley Sr. as seen in Tallahassee Police Department body-camera video during his DUI arrest on May 7, 2023.

The totally unfounded and sensational accusations against this officer  clearly the jury saw through the allegation that she had planted anything, Campbell told the Tallahassee Democrat. The defendants the one who decided to drink. The defendants the one who decided to drive. And were going to continue to do our business even when people want to hurl allegations at the officer and the criminal justice system in general.

Public Defender Jessica Yeary gave a prepared statement to reporters after the trial but declined to take questions. She pledged to continue to support Riley and his family through every next step of this process.

While we are disappointed and believe in Mr. Riley and his case, we respect the jurys verdict, she said. I am incredibly proud of our lawyers and our team and the hard work they put in, bringing to light and litigating issues of police misconduct and calling it out when we see it. Without their work, our communities would suffer at the hands of bad police conduct and over-prosecution.

Officers: Riley had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes

Riley, a 56-year-old barber, was arrested May 7, 2023, after TPD Officer Kiersten Oliver spotted his white Mercedes with its headlights off speeding down South Monroe Street. Officers testified that Riley had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, fumbled unsuccessfully for his ID and admitted he had just left a bar more than five miles away after having a couple of beers.

During a search of the vehicle, after Riley was placed in handcuffs and put in the back of a squad car, Oliver searched his vehicle and found a small unopened bottle of vodka in the passenger's side. She opened the bottle, breaking the seal in the process, and dumped it out before tossing it back in the passenger seat  all in view of her body-worn camera.

Another officer, Margaret Mueth, whom Oliver had called to help at the scene, ended up making the arrest and writing the report.

Another officer, Margaret Mueth, whom Oliver had called to help at the scene, ended up making the arrest and writing the report, which noted both the opened bottle and a cup in the center console that officers said smelled like alcohol.

Mueth took the stand Monday, testifying as Oliver had earlier that Riley was already under arrest on DUI and driving with a suspended license charges when the search happened and the bottle was found.

Did this bottle, open or not, come into your decision to arrest the defendant for driving under the influence? Hirschy asked. No, Mueth replied.

In her closing argument, Assistant Public Defender Desiree Goodfellow told jurors that the officers who testified are not credible and that Oliver lied from the second she pulled Mr. Riley over until the second she got off that witness stand. She accused Oliver of using the vodka bottle against Riley  even though the officer was the one who opened it.

These officers are taking an oath to swear to tell the truth and then these officers are lying, Goodfellow told jurors. They did it right there in front of you.

Sgt. Brian Smith and Officer Kiersten Oliver of the Tallahassee Police Department are seen on TPD body-camera video during the May 7, 2023, arrest of Calvin Riley Sr.

Hirschy, in her closing, said Oliver never went to other officers to announce that shed found an open bottle of liquor  which would be key evidence in a DUI case.

What this boils down to is simple miscommunication, Hirschy said. They made a mistake. They both told us that it was a mistake. Every one of us is human, including these two officers. Im not saying that it was OK to make that mistake, but they made a mistake, theyre honest and they owned up to it.

Riley sentenced to jail time, probation after DUI conviction

After the verdict, Jones sentenced Riley to six months probation, including a condition that he serve 10 days at the Leon County Detention Facility, with credit for one day served. He ordered his vehicle impounded for 10 days and his drivers license suspended for six months.

Riley, who opted not to testify but gave a short statement to the court just before sentencing, said he accepted responsibility for getting upset and letting his emotions take over during his arrest. He was initially cooperative during the traffic stop but started shouting and calling officers liars after Oliver said she smelled marijuana, which he denied using.

I was only going through this emotional stuff because of the past Ive been through with law enforcement and what I started going through that night with these officers, he said. It was just a repeat of what I experienced growing up here.

City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, whose campaigns have gotten help from Herrles political committees, posted a link to Rileys GoFundMe page in a social media post. He said he plans to bring up issues about the arrest during this Wednesdays City Commission meeting.

The evidence presented at trial included all the hallmarks that drive distrust in law enforcement: phantom marijuana smells, fabricated evidence and incomplete body cam footage, he wrote. Thankful for those that stand up to injustice.

TPD did not respond Monday to text messages from the Democrat.

Campbell criticized Our Tallahassees account of the arrest and said the timing and the way this was done is frustrating.

He added: We need to recognize that the truth has value and that integrity is still important and not to believe everything thats put on social media.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Jury convicts driver who alleged police planted bottle during DUI stop
Wang Yi, Chinese co-chair of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Vietnamese co-chair of the committee Tran Luu Quang in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, Chinese co-chair of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, met with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Vietnamese co-chair of the committee Tran Luu Quang in Beijing on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, conforms to the trend of development and progress of the times, and has great significance for the two countries in accelerating their respective modernization and advancing the cause of socialism.

China is ready to work with Vietnam to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties, give full play to the coordinating role of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, deepen cooperation in fields such as economy, trade, investment, connectivity, science and technology and innovation, create new growth points for cooperation, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, properly manage differences, consolidate public support for good friendship between the two countries, and advance the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, Wang added.

Tran Luu Quang said that the Vietnam-China relationship is at its best in history, adding that Vietnam is willing to work with China to take the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future as a guide, give full play to the role of the Steering Committee, and jointly advance the common cause of socialism for mutual benefit and win-win results. 

Wang Yi, Chinese co-chair of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Vietnamese co-chair of the committee Tran Luu Quang in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  East Texas schools are announcing school closures and delays for Wednesday morning due to complications of weather, power outages and flooding.

Water on roads, trees down as storms pass through East Texas

Carthage ISD

Wednesday: The school district announced they will be closed due to widespread flooded roadways throughout the district, power outages and forecasted severe weather.

Carlisle ISD

Wednesday: The school district said due to bad weather and the possibility of poor road conditions, classes will be canceled.

Center

Wednesday: The school district said classes will be cancelled as 14 routes or parts of bus routes will not make it due to road conditions. The district said all extracurricular games and practices are cancelled for Wednesday.

Elysian Fields ISD

Tuesday: Elysian Fields ISD announced that they are closed on Tuesday due to heavy flooding within the district.

Wednesday: Elysian Fields ISD will stay closed due to flash flooding and roadway risks.

Hallsville ISD

Wednesday: Hallsville ISD said classes will have a two hour delay on Wednesday. Buses will run 2 hours later than normal. Staff will also be required to be on campus 2 hours later.

The school noted that the delay will not affect their virtual academy (TVAH).

Tuesday: Hallsville ISD announced that due to the possibility of further flooding students will be dismissed at 1 p.m.

Hughes Springs ISD

Wednesday: Hughes Springs ISD announced on Wednesday morning they were dismissing classes after SWEPCO advised them to start shutting systems down, according to a Facebook post. Buses will begin departing around 9:30 a.m.

Laneville ISD

Wednesday: Laneville ISD announced that schools will begin at 10 a.m. due to weather conditions and potential road hazards to allow students and staff to travel safely. The district said school busses will also run on a delayed schedule and start operating an hour before the new start time.

The safety of our students and staff is our top priority, the district said.

Marshall ISD

Wednesday: Marshall ISD announced that classes will have a delayed start on Wednesday as MISD is concerned about the chance of water and fallen trees over the roads.

The district said to provide safer routes for drivers and students all MISD schools will begin at 9:30 a.m. Campuses will open at 9 a.m. and MISD staff are expected to be at work by 8:45 p.m. Bus riders should be at their bus stop 2 hour later than the normal bus pick up time.

Tuesday: Marshall ISD announced that due to predicted severe weather, they will have an early release at 1:30 p.m. Parents will be able to pick up their children starting at this time, bus-riding students can be picked up at this time by their parents. The school said that students that usually ride the bus that arent able to be picked up early will be held at school and the buses will run at their regular times.

Panola College

Wednesday: Panola College closed all locations due to widespread flooding.

Sabine ISD

Tuesday: Sabine ISD announced on Facebook that they will be releasing middle and high school students at 11:55 a.m. They said that buses will be running and parent pick up will occur at noon.

Sabine ISD said that the elementary school will remain in session the full hours and their parent pick up and buses will run at the standard time.

Tatum ISD

Tuesday: Tatum ISD announced that due to the weather, THS students that drive to school are allowed to leave at 2:45, buses will run at regular times, and parents may pick up students at any time this afternoon from any campus.

West Rusk CISD

Wednesday: West Rusk Consolidated ISD announced that classes will have a two-hour delay.

Winona ISD

Tuesday: Winona ISD announced that campuses will be closing on Tuesday due to a city wide power outage. The school said buses will run at 2 p.m. and car riders at 1 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
After more than five years of trial, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) recognised that the so-called borderisation on the border with the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia and the territory controlled by Tbilisi has created a systematic practice of human rights violations.

Source: European Pravda; The decision was announced by the press service of the ECHR on 9 April

In the Georgia v. Russia case (39611/18), the judges unanimously found that the borderisation on the border with the Russian-occupied territories of Georgia after the 2008 war had resulted in a series of human rights violations, in particular the right to life, the prohibition of inhuman treatment, the right to liberty and security, the right to respect for private life, the protection of property rights, the right to education and the right to free movement.

Georgia filed a lawsuit in August 2018 and argued that the actions of the Russian Federation created a situation of systemic violation of human rights: Many local residents lost the opportunity to see their relatives and attend relatives funerals, use their land and other property and study freely in Georgian schools. For many attempts to cross the demarcation line Georgians pay with detentions and beatings, long imprisonment and even their lives (such cases are known to happen regularly).

"The Court found that it had sufficient evidence, in particular lists of victims, testimonies, media reports and international material, to conclude beyond reasonable doubt that the incidents alleged were not isolated and were sufficiently numerous and interconnected to amount to a pattern or

system of violations," the court said in the communique.

The judges also concluded that there are grounds to consider the Russian authorities' deliberate tolerance of such violations.

As for compensation under Article 41 of the ECHR, the court unanimously decided that a decision on this issue is not yet ready.

The decision was made by seven judges from Norway, Finland, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Croatia, Malta and Georgia.

In April last year, the ECHR declared this application admissible.

Georgia applied three more complaints against Russia to the ECHR, and about 200 individual claims were applied against Russia, Georgia, or both states simultaneously regarding the events of the 2008 war and the borderisation process. These applications remain under consideration.

For reference: In 2021, the ECHR found that Russia is guilty of a number of human rights violations following the occupation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia but is not responsible for these regions during the Russian-Georgian war. In 2023, the court issued an additional decision in this case with the requirement for Russia to pay almost 130 million in compensation for the violations committed.

Russia decided not to comply with ECHR decisions issued after 15 March 2022. However, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe stated that according to international law, Russia is still obliged to comply with the decisions of the ECHR taken against it.

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A little girl celebrates while the moon heads out of totality behind her on the videoboard at Saluki Stadium during a total eclipse in Carbondale, Illinois on Monday, April 8, 2024.

CARBONDALE  They were a grandmother, a fund manager, retired Caterpillar execs, a health care support specialist  people worlds apart from places like Chicago to Edelstein and all the way from Florida, but united by a total eclipse Monday in southern Illinois.

They set up telescopes in parking lots, or made camp in RVs outside the city, sprawled on the lawn above the north end zone in Saluki Stadium, all to see a celestial event that won't be viewable again in the contiguous United States until the year 2044.

"It's the most epic spectacle of nature you'll ever see," said Jamie Dallas, 43, who grew up in Marion, a neighbor to Carbondale, and has lived the last 24 years in North Fort Myers, Fla. "We were in canoes on a lake last time, felt like we were under a heavenly spotlight. It was amazing, and at that moment I decided I had to bring everyone I could to this one."

ECLIPSE 2024: News and notes from the day of the total solar eclipse in Illinois

Jamie Dallas and her partner, Mathew Bilyew, rented an RV with friends and drove from North Fort Myers, Fla., to Murphysboro to see the total eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024.

So the Medicare Waiver Support Coordinator rented an RV, loaded up her partner, Mathew Bilyew, another couple, plus two more single friends, and drove 16 hours to Carbondale. They arrived Saturday and set up camp in Murphysboro, about 9 miles outside Carbondale.

"We've been planning for seven years," Dallas said. "You want to be with people and have them around you and share what's happening in the sky. It's an experience that stays with you forever."

Eye on the sky

John and Rita Waller, from Edelstein, and granddaughter Charlotte, 7, as they set up a shielded telescope in a hotel parking lot in Carbondale, on a journey with their son, daughter-in-law, and five grandchildren to see a total eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024.

The morning of the eclipse, John and Rita Waller had lawn chairs set up between their vehicles in a Carbondale hotel parking lot, 5 miles away from Saluki Stadium. They had their son, daughter-in-law and five grandchildren in tow, plus an impressive large telescope pointed at the sky, ready to capture a lifetime memory.

The Edelstein couple are retired Caterpillar engineers.

"That's a 6-inch reflecting telescope with auto-drive, so it tracks the sun," John Waller said, while his granddaughter, Charlotte, 7, looked through it as they taped a safety-filter box over the lens. "We saw the 2017 total eclipse, too, went to Columbia, Mo., for that one."

'The silence hits you'

Zoila Natera-Sandoval with her son, Diego, 20, and daughter, Monique, 18, drove from their North Riverside, Illinois home to Carbondale to see the total eclipse at Salukie Stadium on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Zoila Natera-Sandoval was chilling on the grass berm above the north end zone at Saluki Stadium moments before totality arrived. Her son, Diego, 20, and daughter, Monique, 18, manned a long-lensed camera with a protective filter attached and pointed skyward.

Natera-Sandoval is a project manager for National Equity Fund, and drove down from North Riverside with her kids for the eclipse.

"This is beautiful," she said. "Such an incredible corona, and the shadows and you notice how everything goes silent. The silence hits you.

"We came down here to a nearby city in 2017 and saw the eclipse and it was such an amazing experience there was no way we were going to miss this one."

'The moon is going to get really dark'

Michelle and Ron Krouse, of Chicago, brought grandchildren Amara, 8, and Javier, 3, to see the total eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale.

Michelle and Ron Krouse wanted to give their grandchildren a gift: A total eclipse. So they packed up 8-year old Amara and 3-year-old Javier and drove in from Chicago.

"We wanted them to have this experience," Michelle Krouse said. "It's a memory they'll always have and we share it with them."

Asked what was going to happen, 3-year-old Javier said "Moon," and rolled down the berm.

Amara was better prepared. "The moon is going to go in front of the sun and then it's going to get really dark," she said. "I'm excited."

When 1:59 p.m. happened

A view of the total solar eclipse from Saluki Stadium on Monday, April 8, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois.

Totality began at 1:59 p.m. and lasted 4 minutes and 9 seconds at Saluki Stadium.

A video board at the north end of the field showed the eclipse in various stages via live streams as it passed through Mexico and later after it moved on from Carbondale. The corona appeared as a green ring over Mexico. It was blueish-white in Carbondale.

ECLIPSE 2024: Peoria astronomy expert has chased total solar eclipses through 19 countries

Temperature was 69.8 degrees during totality. In the moments leading up to totality, shadows on the field became very sharp, an effect of the celestial event. The crowd started stomping on the metal bleacher seating and it sounded like rolling thunder in the stadium. During totality Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Mars were all visible in the sky.

It got quiet, and then all too soon, it was over, the first piece of the sun searing out from behind the moon to create an effect called "the diamond ring."

The spectators cheered that, after just moments before booing good-naturedly when the countdown to the end of totality reached zero.

Let the sunshine in

Spectators sit on a grass berm beyond the north end zone in Saluki Stadium watching the total eclipse in Carbondale, Illinois on April 8, 2024.

There was much happening in Carbondale on eclipse day. City officials and SIU organizers estimated 200,000 to 300,000 people flooded into the Carbondale region to see the total eclipse. They said 50,000 arrived in the city, almost double the population here.

Hotel room prices soared to as high as $1,000 at a Super 8 and $1,400 on Monday morning for one of the two remaining rooms at Hampton by Hilton.

Police warned it could take several hours to fight through traffic on the post-eclipse departure from town.

There was a 64-step climb to an eclipse expo at Banterra Center on the SIU campus, and organizers later said more than 30,000 people were on campus.

Over in Saluki Stadium, which sold out its 13,500 capacity for this event, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker was in attendance and viewed the eclipse from the stadium rooftop.

On the field, a dance troupe bounced around to Aquarius' "Let the Sunshine In" and a giant inflatable sun was anchored at midfield, battling to get free when winds picked up.

A team of students from Iowa State launched a balloon 80,000 feet into the air, with a two-camera payload to take high-altitude shots of the eclipse and live-stream the mission.

"We're thrilled to get this done," said Matthew Nelson, Iowa State director of Make to Innovate. "You look at a project like this as once in a lifetime."

As Nelson and his student team celebrated on the field post-launch, a NASA official walked up and said, "On behalf of NASA, congrats on a job well done."

Star Wars, murals and more

The morning started with a 7 a.m. news conference attended by SIU officials, a team from NASA and a group from Adler Planetarium in Chicago.

Michelle Nichols, who co-hosted the stadium show and is director of public observing at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, said: "Thousands of people are here today to see this eclipse, feel the temperature drop, and feel the overall excitement and hear the reactions of everyone around them. This is a multi-sensory experience involving the sun, the moon, and you.

"It involves one single action: Looking up."

Robert Dennis, an SIU grad, was a post-production supervisor for the Star Wars movies. He was in Saluki Stadium on Monday running cameras for the eclipse show.

Down on the field, Maddie Deiters (ThreeLineArt) was ad-libbing an 8-foot by 8-foot mural during the two-hour walk up to totality, racing along a process that normally takes her 24 hours.

'It's awesome': Cloudless day makes for perfect viewing of the eclipse in Peoria

The path of totality was wider Monday than in 2017, so more people in the U.S. saw it. They won't get another chance until Aug. 23, 2044.

Emotions ran the gamut among onlookers in Saluki Stadium. Some embraced throughout the totality. A few cried. Others jumped up and down in the grandstand and even more sat transfixed, staring upward.

"It's the most amazing thing I've ever seen in my life," said a woman as she ran into a crush of people headed for the exit. "My heart is still pounding."

It brought to mind something Peoria native and former Lakeview/Peoria Riverfront Museum director of education and planetary curator Sheldon Schafer said as he prepared to watch his ninth total eclipse.

"An eclipse in totality " he said. "It's the most majestic sight in nature."

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois solar eclipse 2024: Thousands drawn to Carbondale, Illinois
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Eight-year-old Owen Jason watched in awe as the sun, moon and earth all aligned.

We have a crescent sun, Jason said looking up.

Anderson Durrant and his friends saw their first eclipse, too.

My favorite part was watching it go from golden banana to pitch black, Durrant said.

Viewers of all ages gathered at the National Mall and looked to the skies to see Washington D.C.s partial eclipse.

It was really neat. It was kind of funny because at one point, just as it was getting to the 87%, a cloud moved across and gave the appearance of totality, Patrick Clerkin said.

The National Air and Space Museum, along with NASA and other groups hosted the festival. They set up solar telescopes for people to see the sun up-close.

It makes it safe to look through the sun. On the telescope, were actually magnifying the sun, so you can see features such as sun spots, Astronomy Educator Mariel OBrien said.

NASA recommends wearing special solar eclipse glasses, which are thousands of times darker than sunglasses, so you can safely look at the sun.

Dewey Norwood is visiting from North Carolina. He couldnt pass up the chance to see the solar event.

I think it all points back to the importance of science, Norwood said.

The next time a total solar eclipse will cross the U.S. be in 2044.

Try to catch it when you can, Brent Barron said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Eclipse draws cheers, oohs and aahs from observers in Muncie

MUNCIE, Ind.  Muncie's first total solar eclipse in 1,067 years drew cheers, oohs and awes Monday afternoon from several hundred people gathered at Canan Commons in downtown Muncie.

As Muncie's view of the sun was totally blocked by the moon  for three minutes and 40 seconds, beginning at 3:07 p.m. the sound of what were likely fireworks were heard coming from the city's near-south side.

A family from Lowell, Indiana, in Lake County  Gene and Celena Wojciechowski and their sons, Christopher and Gene  spent Sunday night in Muncie to view Monday's total solar eclipse from Canan Commons.

Larger crowds gathered elsewhere in and near Muncie, including at Minnestria cultural center, the nearby Delaware County Fairgrounds, Prairie Creek Reservoir and city parks.

Some of those at Canan Commons were visitors who traveled to Muncie for a comparatively rare view of a total eclipse.

Erica Smith, Chance McDermott and their son, Naaman  and the family's dog, Lupo  made the three-hour drive Monday morning from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to see the eclipse.

A family from Kalamazoo, Michigan  Chance McDermott, Erica Smith and their son, Naaman, and the family's dog, Lupo  made the three-hour drive Monday morning from their home to see the eclipse from Canan Commons in downtown Muncie.

Chance McDermott said they had chosen Muncie as their destination in part because its state of "totality" lasted longer than in some other locations.

A family from Lowell, Indiana, in Lake County  Gene and Celena Wojciechowski and their sons, Gene and Christopher  spent Sunday night in Muncie to view Monday's eclipse.

More: Muncie's first total solar eclipse in 1,067 years brings excitement, caution

Gene Wojciechowski said his family chose to visit Muncie for the eclipse because it was a smaller city.

"Lowell where we come from is a small town, so I figured we'd give a small town the business, a college town. .."

With local lodging prices increased for the eclipse, the family's cost of an overnight stay  at the Courtyard by Marriott, near Canan Commons  approached $400, he said.

Melissa Criswell, deputy police chief, said all local events and gatherings associated with Monday's eclipse "went smoothly," with no reports of significant problems.

While some feared major traffic problems would develop as spectators left viewing areas, no related issues were reported, she said.

The eclipse aside, it was a relatively calm day for local emergency responders, Criswell said, aside from a house blaze battled Monday afternoon by Muncie firefighters along East Jackson Street, and what seemed like an unusually high number of shoplifting-related calls for police.

Chief Deputy Jeff Stanley of the Delaware County Sheriff's Department said late Monday afternoon that eclipse activities aside, Monday had largely been a quiet day for the county's deputies.

The Muncie area had not experienced a total solar eclipse since July 29 in the year 957.

Those who experienced Monday's eclipse in Muncie are unlikely to be present the next time the moon briefly blocks local residents' view of the sun  on June 3, 2505.

However, in northeastern Indiana, Fort Wayne and other nearby cities will experience a total solar eclipse in "only" 75 years  on Sept. 14, 2099.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Police: Muncie remains calm despite eclipse excitement
A former vice president of Ecuador is reported to have attempted suicide after being dragged by armed police from the Mexican embassy in Quito in a breach of diplomatic protocol.

Jorge Glas, who was evading potential pre-trial detention on corruption charges, was rushed unconscious from his jail cell to hospital on Monday after an apparent overdose of sedatives and painkillers.

He had been detained on Saturday in the highly unusual raid by Ecuadorian authorities on the embassy, just hours after Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexicos president, had granted Mr Glas, 54, asylum.

Police stormed the building, climbing over its perimeter walls and even manhandling the acting ambassador, as they searched for Mr Glas. He had served as vice president from 2013 to 2018, including under Rafael Correa, the brash Leftist who gave asylum to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange while relentlessly persecuting critical journalists at home.

The raid, a flagrant violation of the Vienna Convention, achieved the impossible in uniting squabbling Latin American leaders, from Argentinas Javier Milei on the Right to Colombias Gustavo Petro on the Left, in condemnation.

An Ecuadorian soldier guards the hospital where Mr Glas was taken - Gerardo Menoscal/AFP

It also prompted veiled criticism from Washington. The United States takes very seriously the obligation of host countries under international law to respect diplomatic missions, said Brian Nichols, assistant secretary of state for the western hemisphere.

Yet Daniel Noboa, Ecuadors president, was unrepentant. My obligation is to comply with the rulings of the justice system, and we could not allow sentenced criminals involved in very serious crimes to be given asylum, he said on Monday.

The 36-year-old centrist leader, heir to a banana empire and with an MBA from the United States, has seen his approval rating soar to 80 per cent following his crackdown earlier this year on the street gangs terrorising the South American nation.

Mr Glas had already served most of a six-year sentence for allegedly taking bribes from Odebrecht, the disgraced Brazilian construction company implicated in numerous high-level graft cases across Latin America.

But he was wanted for questioning in a separate corruption scandal and had sought refuge in the Mexican embassy last December.

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Ecuadors former vice president Jorge Glas has been hospitalized, days after his arrest during a high-profile raid of the Mexican embassy in Quito.

Glas was taken a hospital in Guayaquil after falling ill, the countrys national prison agency SNAI said Monday. He became ill after he refused to eat food provided to him while in detention, the agency also said.

Paramedics with the Ministry of Public Health transferred Glas to the Naval Hospital of Guayaquil, where he was admitted at approximately 12:45 p.m.

SNAI said Glas was in a stable condition and would be under observation for the next few hours before being returned to prison.

The news came as Ecuadors President Daniel Noboa on Monday defended the controversial police raid on Friday that led to Glass arrest.

Glas, who has been accused by Ecuadorian authorities of embezzling government funds meant to help rebuild after a devastating 2016 earthquake, was seeking asylum at the embassy when the raid took place. He was subsequently transferred to the maximum security La Roca prison in Guayaquil.

His defense has rejected the allegations against him and he says he is the subject of political persecution. Glas, who has previously been convicted twice on corruption charges, served under leftist ex-President Rafael Correa between 2013 and 2017.

Mexico reacted to the raid with fury, condemning it as a flagrant violation of international law and its sovereignty and has filed a case against Ecuador at the International Court of Justice. It has also broken off diplomatic ties with Ecuador.

Noboa defends the raid

In an open letter published on X, formerly known as Twitter, President Noboa on Monday defended the raid, saying Ecuador could not run the imminent risk of (Glass) escape.

My obligation is to comply with the rulings of justice and we could not allow sentenced criminals involved in very serious crimes to be granted asylum, he wrote.

I have made exceptional decisions to protect national security, the rule of law and the dignity of a people who reject any type of impunity for criminals, delinquents, corrupt people or narco-terrorists, Noboa wrote.

Noboa added he would be willing to resolve any difference with Mexico on the matter.

To the brotherly people of Mexico, I want to express that I will always be willing to resolve any difference, but that justice is not negotiated, and that we will never protect criminals who have harmed Mexicans, he wrote.

Mexico is not the only regional country to have criticized Ecuadors actions.

Following Glass arrest, a host of Latin American countries  including regional giants Brazil and Argentina  rallied around Mexico, while Nicaragua joined it in severing diplomatic ties.

Several pointed to a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the international treaty that defines a framework for relations between countries. Some also pointed to a breach of Glass right to asylum.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also expressed alarm at the raid.

CNN has attempted to contact Glass lawyers.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has adopted a playing victim tactic on the South China Sea affairs, deliberately portraying itself as an underdog while covering up its provocations and violations of China's sovereignty.

Under such a scheme, a number of pro-Manila correspondents have been hand-picked to go to Ren'ai Jiao and other Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands) to kick up a fuss in international public opinion. Meanwhile, the Philippines uses staged photographs and videos to craft and disseminate a narrative portraying itself as the victimized "underdog" while depicting China as the "bully."

In fact, the Philippines' tactic falls into the theory of "weak communication," put forward by Chinese scholar Zou Zhendong, who revealed its manipulative nature. This tactic involves portraying oneself as a perpetual victim in discourse, aiming to garner sympathy and support while manipulating perceptions.

In terms of media ethics, the core of the Philippine public relations tactic can also be defined as "selective disclosure" or "cherry-picking facts." By cherry-picking facts, the Philippines uses professed victimhood as a smokescreen to divert attention away from its provocations and violations of Chinese sovereignty.

The United States and Japan have significantly aided the Philippines in manipulating public opinion to their advantage. By exploiting their extensive network of think tanks and influential media outlets, they wield substantial influence in shaping narratives that align with the Philippines' agenda.

The Philippines has taken an aggressive stance in manipulating public opinion. Numerous videos depicting its maritime tensions with China have flooded online platforms, predominantly originating from the Philippines. These videos are carefully crafted to amplify the narrative of Philippine victimhood while portraying China as the aggressor.

In the face of persistent provocations, China has demonstrated considerable restraint and patience, prioritizing regional peace and cooperation over escalating tensions.

The leaders of the United States, Japan and the Philippines will meet for their first trilateral summit at the White House on Thursday with a purported aim to counter China's regional influence.

The fact that Asian matters are to be discussed in Washington attests to the role of Tokyo and Manila as "pawns" in the U.S. effort to contain China. It also unveils the true intent behind the Philippines' ostensible "Transparency Initiative," which serves as a thinly veiled tactic to align itself more closely with U.S. interests.

The Philippines' intentional "grounding" of a tank landing ship BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Ren'ai Jiao fully reveals its provocations and violations of China's sovereignty.

The tank landing ship "was deliberately grounded" at China's Ren'ai Jiao in 1999, the Philippines' then Defense Chief Orlando Mercado told a media forum held in Manila in February. "It's all about being there ... We have to have a presence," he said.

The Philippines made a serious promise to tow away the illegally grounded warship, but 25 years on, the vessel is still there.

The Philippines breached the understanding between the two sides on properly handling the situation on Ren'ai Jiao. The Philippines promised it will not reinforce the grounded warship and will inform China in advance of resupply plans.

Out of humanitarian considerations, China made special provisional arrangements for Philippine vessels sending living necessities to the warship quite a few times. However, the Philippines refused to honor its promise and made attempts to send construction materials for large-scale repair and reinforcement of the warship in order to build permanent structures on Ren'ai Jiao.

Most recently, a Philippine military spokesperson openly vowed to build permanent structures on Ren'ai Jiao. The Philippines has also repeatedly sent people to step on China's Tiexian Jiao and other uninhabited islands and reefs that belong to China in the South China Sea.

From concocting lies to illegally using the "grounded" vessel as a garrison, and from breaking promises to frequently delivering building materials to shore up the crumbling hulk, the Philippines is the one that has reneged on its commitments, assertively provoked the other side, and made waves around Ren'ai Jiao.

The Philippines, which is backed by external forces and has been going back on its words and provoking China, cannot expect to win global sympathy by playing victim and deceiving the world. Its scheme to hoax the world will only discredit itself. 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Vice President Joe Biden talk prior to a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in 2016. As president, Biden has expressed increasing frustration with Netanyahu ans his handling of Israel's war with Hamas. (Michel Euler / Associated Press)

Israel has pulled most of its troops from southern Gaza amid talks over the release of the more than 100 hostages held by Hamas since its Oct. 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people. It has also reopened previously closed entry points for food and water to prevent Palestinian civilians from starving after the Israeli military destroyed much of the infrastructure in counterattacks that have killed more than 33,000 in six months of warfare.

These are positive developments but, given the level of death and destruction in Gaza, there is little room for cheer.

Read more: Editorial: The humanitarian aid Gaza needs most is a cease-fire

In the wake of the Hamas attack, Israel had the support and sympathy of much of the world. But the unremitting fierceness of its actions in Gaza eroded that goodwill so swiftly and completely that even President Biden has expressed increasing levels of dismay over the actions and attitudes of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government.

Indiscriminate bombing, Biden said in December, was costing Israel international support.

Read more: Editorial: The U.S. cannot let Israel carry out a slaughter in Rafah

Israels military response, he said after prepared remarks at a February news conference, were over the top.

Biden was particularly critical  appropriately so  of the inability of humanitarian relief workers to get food and water to Gazas 2.3 million people, many of whom face famine.

In March, the U.S. for the first time declined to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire, and instead abstained.

Read more: Editorial: U.S. should join the world's nations in demanding a Gaza cease-fire

The situation may have reached a turning point with Israels April 1 attack that killed seven aid workers in a World Central Kitchen convoy. They are among the more than 200 aid workers who have been killed in the war.

Speaking with Netanyahu on Thursday, Biden called for measurable steps to, as Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken recounted, address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers. The president told the Israeli leader that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israels immediate action on these steps, according to Blinken.

Read more: Editorial: Cease-fire now. The killing in Gaza must stop

That stops short of demands by some members of Congress to condition continuing U.S. military aid to changes in Israels conduct of the war.

But it comes close.

The most positive development now would be for the lull in fighting to lead to hostage releases and a lasting cease-fire. If thats not to be, though, it will be time for Biden to follow up on his warning to Netanyahu by finally requiring that Israel meet the same standards as other nations that receive U.S. military aid.

Read more: After six months of war, Israel's isolation and Gaza devastation grow

That includes transparency and tracking to ensure that weapons are used solely for internal security, for legitimate self-defense, and that the recipient not commit gross violations of human rights.

Calls to hold Israel to these standards were underway well before the current conflict. The Biden administration, like past U.S. administrations, deflected those efforts and continued honoring traditional exceptions for Israel.

Read more: Granderson: Netanyahu owes the U.S. better answers about Gaza

Israels special status in U.S. arms policy has been justified by the argument that it is a rare democracy in a region of authoritarian and sometimes hostile states, and a close U.S. ally that shares the same values, including support for fundamental human rights (notwithstanding the treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank by Israeli settlers and in Gaza by Israeli policies to seal off the territory).

Now some of the values expressed by the most right-wing government in Israels history have caused some Americans to question the relationship. Netanyahu pushed a plan to diminish the judiciarys ability to hold government power in check. And statements by the prime minister and other members of his government suggest a postwar plan to hold Gaza in perpetual subjection.

Read more: Goldberg: This is what's wrong with the rush to accuse Israel of committing genocide in Gaza

Meanwhile, Israel produces and exports weapons of its own, raising the question of why the U.S. needs to keep supplying arms.

It is Hamas that keeps the war going by continuing to hold the hostages it brutally kidnapped in its October attack.

But it is Israel's retaliatory actions in Gaza that may be leading the U.S. to reassess the two nations relationship.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
UPDATE 4.9.24  The Edmond Police Department has confirmed and thanked, the Home Depot loss prevention for IDing the suspect. No further information has been released at this time.

ORIGINAL STORY

EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR)  The Edmond Police Department says a man helped himself to merchandise from Target on two separate occasions without paying.

LOCAL NEWS: Brutally killing it: Police searching for man caught on camera killing puppy

Alleged shoplifter, Image courtesy Edmond Police Department

Alleged shoplifter, Image courtesy Edmond Police Department

Alleged shoplifter, Image courtesy Edmond Police Department

Authorities confirm the man left in a Ford F-150 one time, and a white sedan the second time.

If you have any information, contact Edmond Police at 405-359-4457.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Education Secretary Cardona meets with teachers and borrowers as he touts new student debt relief plan

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona met Monday with about half a dozen teachers and borrowers in New York City to mark the announcement of a newly proposed federal student debt relief plan that could benefit more than 30 million people.

This is the first direct attempt at bringing back a revised version of President Joe Bidens student debt forgiveness program, which the Supreme Court struck down last year, crushing the hopes of more than 40 million eligible borrowers who could have had up to $20,000 in debt canceled.

"We want to provide as much debt relief to as many people as possible as quickly as possible," Cardona said in an interview Monday at the headquarters of the United Federation of Teachers union following his meeting with teachers.

group photo smile happy education secretary teachers (Nicole Acevedo / NBC News)

"So, we're being very thoughtful about this," said Cardona, one of Biden's four Latino Cabinet members.

Cardona said his office and the Biden administration came together to work out the details of the newly proposed student debt relief plan taking into account the arguments from the Supreme Court justices who struck down their previous debt forgiveness program.

At the time, the court argued that Biden lacked power under the 2003 Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act, HEROES Act in short, to enforce a program that would have cost more than $400 billion without congressional approval.

The new plan would cancel runaway interest for millions of borrowers, including that of more than 23 million low-income or middle-income borrowers. It would also nullify debt for those who are eligible but are not yet participating in current forgiveness programs, including those in public service whove been paying off their loans for 10 years or more, as well as for borrowers who started paying off their student loans two decades ago.

It would also help borrowers enrolled in low financial value programs and those who can detail financial hardship preventing them from repaying their loans  such as child care or medical expenses.

Cardona said he anticipates pushback from critics.

Theyre going to be some that are going to try to challenge us. Sadly, theyre more worried about saving face than helping their constituents. But were committed, Cardona said. We believe this is not a red or blue issue. This is a student issue. This is about saving higher education and making sure that the promise of opportunity exists for everyone.

smile happy education secretary teachers (Nicole Acevedo / NBC News)

Student debt in the U.S. has been steadily increasing for more than a decade, reaching $1.74 trillion as of September. About 43 million Americans have some form of student loan debt.

Almost 7 in 10 (67%) Latino student borrowers have educational debt, according to the Education Data Initiative. Thirty-three percent of Latino borrowers said they put off marriage and 37% delayed having children because of their student debt.

Iolani Grullon, a kindergarten teacher in the predominantly Latino neighborhood of Washington Heights for 18 years, was one of several educators who met with Cardona. She obtained her undergraduate degree in 1995 and accumulated $30,000 in student loans, but piling interest caused her debt to double throughout the years.

After 15 years struggling to pay off her debt, Grullon was eligible to apply for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. She was denied repeatedly. But in January 2022, when I finally saw my balance at zero, Grullon learned she had been accepted.

The 50-year-old mother said the debt forgiveness has allowed her to start saving up to send her 16-year-old twin daughters to college in a few years.

Grullon said she has students whose parents are still attending college, adding that debt relief for them is a big deal, considering they have to also account for child care expenses as well as work and study.

Brenda Poggio, a former elementary school teacher of Ecuadorian descent now working with the United Federation of Teachers, obtained debt relief four months ago under the same program as Grullon after being denied multiple times.

It was an amazing feeling, Poggio told Cardona at the meeting, adding that it was the first time she felt retirement was within her reach.

First-generation college graduates, many of whom are Black and/or Latino, tend to have lower incomes and accumulate less wealth, on average, compared to those with a parent who has a bachelors or higher degree, complicating their ability to repay loans, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center analysis.

The Biden administration has already approved $146 billion in student debt relief for 4 million borrowers over the past three years under four existing debt cancellation programs: the Saving on a Valuable Education Plans early forgiveness, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, the total and permanent disability discharge plan, and the Income-Driven Repayment plan.

"That's more than any other administration, and we're just warming up," Cardona said.

"I hope people recognize that while the debt relief plan that we put forward, that at the Supreme Court struck down, was a setback, we're not done fighting," he said. "We're scrappy. We know who we're fighting for."

As Biden runs for re-election against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, his administration has been intentional in touting their student debt cancellation efforts.

While Cardona declined to speak directly about Biden's re-election campaign, he said that their current plan and ongoing efforts to cancel student debt are what the Biden administration stands for.

But that hasn't always resonated with some prospective voters who have said they're still waiting for relief that hasn't happened.

The newly proposed student debt plan is expected to undergo a public comment period in coming weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

For more from NBC Latino, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso Countys Public Works Department is hosting two free community clean-up events this Saturday, April 13.

The events will be from 8 a.m. through 12 p.m. at Westway located at 1002 Tiffany Rd., Canutillo, Texas 79835, and Fabens located at 199 Citizen Transfer Station Rd., Fabens, Texas 79838.

The county says the events allow residents to dispose of unwanted items, while making a difference in their community.

Passenger tires, bulk trash, and electronic waste will be accepted as followed:

Tires

o Each resident may bring up to 5 tires. There will be a maximum collection of 1,500

tires for the event.

o Accepted tires must measure 17 inches or smaller.

o Tires from retailers, semi-trucks, equipment-trucks, or those with rims will NOT be

accepted.

Bulk Trash and Electronic Waste

o Residents may bring one pick-up truck load of bulk trash, including furniture, chairs,

carpet, etc.

o Accepted electronics include computers, tablets, scanners, video games, cameras,

radios, cellphones, VCRs, and DVD players.

o CRT monitors and televisions will not be accepted.

The county says some items may not be accepted and residents are encouraged to sort their bulk waste before arrival.

For any questions, contact the El Paso County Public Works Office at (915) 546-2015.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
El Paso looks to build new Central police station at former Bonham Elementary School

The city of El Paso plans to purchase the shuttered Bonham Elementary School as the future site of the El Paso Police Department's new Central Regional Command Center.

The City Council in a 8-0 vote approved the purchase of Bonham Elementary at the council meeting on Tuesday, April 9, at City Hall.

More: El Paso wages remain near bottom in Texas, nation, new federal report shows

The city will buy the 13 acres of the Bonham school/park site intended to be the location of a new Central police station, according to city documents. The shuttered school would be purchased from the El Paso Independent School District for $4.76 million. The EPISD board of trustees approved selling the site last month.

Bonham is at 7024 Cielo Vista Drive near Airway Boulevard and Edgemere Drive in the Cielo Vista neighborhood close to Burges High School.

Bonham Elementary School closed in 2021 along with other schools because of declining enrollment. In 2017-18, there were 257 students enrolled at Bonham, which was at 76% capacity. Bonham consolidated with MacArthur pre-K-8 school.

Bonham had opened in 1954 and was named after James Butler Bonham, who died defending the Alamo during the Texas Revolution in 1836.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

EPPD Central Regional Command Center has parking, space issues in Downtown El Paso

The purchase of the former campus for a new police station would use funding from the 2019 Public Safety Bond approved by voters. The $413 million bond included $24.6 million set for the new Central Regional Command Center.

The Central Regional Command Center is currently across the street from the Downtown jail in a precinct-style building dating back to 1894. It was renovated in 1994. The current Central station has severe parking and space limitations with some of its units having to be located in other buildings Downtown.

El Paso police patrol an alley where migrants are staying next to Sacred Heart Church in Downtown El Paso in 2023.

Once the new station is built, the current Central station would house the Downtown-based police Metro Unit, which is now in an office at the Union Plaza Transit Terminal Parking Garage, city staff said during public presentations on the bond issue in 2019.

The Police Department has been searching for a more centrally located Central regional command center. The current Central police region covers the oldest parts of the city, including Downtown, Sunset Heights, Manhattan Heights and east to Ascarate Park.

The boundaries of El Paso's current five police regions will change once the new regional command centers open.

New police station part of El Paso Police Department development plans

The city's plans also call for the sale of the current police headquarters at 911 N. Raynor St. in Five Points. The current EPPD headquarters is in a building that was originally a Sears department store built in 1947. It became police headquarters in 1988.

The city has had discussions of possibly building the recently renamed Chief Gregory K. Allen Police Headquarters on city land that used to house Cohen Stadium along the Patriot Freeway in the Northeast.

The Public Safety Bond issue approved in 2019 includes funding for the new "Upper Eastside" police regional command center under construction on Pebble Hills Boulevard in the city's expanding eastern edge near Pebble Hills High School.

The bond also supports renovations at the Northeast, Mission Valley, Westside and Pebble Hills regional command centers, new fire stations, a new headquarters for the El Paso Fire Department and a new police-fire training academy site.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: New Central El Paso police station planned for Bonham school site
Confirmation Bias

Elon Musk has finally confirmed what many have long suspected  that he has at least two burner accounts on the social media site he disastrously acquired, X-formerly-Twitter.

The unmasking of the burners occurred, as court transcripts reveal, during Musk's deposition last month as part of a California-based defamation case brought by a young Jewish man who he falsely accused of being involved in a neo-Nazi brawl in Oregon last year.

One of the accounts, @ErmnMusk, was first reported by Vice in April 2023 as a very likely Musk burner. Using it, Musk regularly tweeted all manner of bizarreness, from discussing a toddler's desire to go to a nightclub to joking that he will "finally turn 3" on May 4, which happens to be the day his and Grimes' son X  A-12 was born.

During the March deposition  which Musk unsuccessfully tried to keep from going public, by the way  lawyers for plaintiff Ben Brody asked Musk about the @ErmnMusk account, to which he responded affirmatively that it belonged to him but insisted it was a "test account."

"I would not use this account," the multi-hyphenate billionaire said during the proceedings. "It was just used for testing."

Although the account does use "Elon Test" as a display name, though, it's unclear what kind of testing it would be used for  especially considering that Musk revived it on March 27, the same day he was deposed, to post a bunch of bad jokes and takes.

https://twitter.com/Ermnmusk/status/1777423764059304221

Oh Baby

While Musk's confirmation that he runs the @ErmnMusk account is already a big enough deal, he also let slip that he has a second burner  though to be fair, that one may already have been known to his acolytes.

During the deposition, Musk maintained that although he "briefly used" @ErmnMusk "as a test account," he had another as well  but it appears that the court's transcript might have misrecorded its name.

"There are only two accounts that I use regularly," the 52-year-old shitposter said. "One is my main account, and the other is baby smoke 9,000."

To date, no "baby smoke 9,000" account appears to exist. But as Rolling Stone reports, it does sound a lot like @babysmurf9000, which is another long-suspected Musk burner that he may have let slip during a live stream.

As the crypto blog Coinmonks reported last year, the X owner dropped the name during an October live stream, and soon after, blockchain nerds began making possibly scammy "baby smurf 9,000" meme coins.

While there were other noteworthy admissions during Musk's deposition, including that he seems to acknowledge that his penchant for public outbursts are "self-inflicted wounds" that harm his bottom line, it's still wild to have these burners confirmed in such an official setting  and it makes you wonder what else he's keeping secret.

More on Musk: Poverty-Stricken Elon Musk Falls Behind Wealth of Mark Zuckerberg
Former President Donald Trump will have to stand trial next week on charges of fraud related to hush payments his personal attorney made ahead of the 2016 election, a New York appeals court ruled late Monday, dismissing the Republican candidates latest attempt to stall justice.

Defendants application for a stay of trial is denied, Judge Lizbeth Gonzalez of the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division wrote in an April 8 order. Trump had been seeking to delay his Manhattan trial, set to begin April 15, asking the appellate court to push back the start while he fights to change the venue. Trumps attorneys have argued that New Yorkers, including Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan, are too biased against the former president to give him a fair trial.

In court, prosecutors pushed back against that claim, describing it as another delay tactic and an insult to the justice system, Politico reported.

The question in this case is not whether a random poll of New Yorkers from whatever neighborhood are able to be impartial, its about whether a trial court is able to select a jury of 12 impartial jurors, Steven Wu, a lawyer with the Manhattan District Attorneys office, said Monday. The defendant has himself tried to taint the jury pool with countless media appearances talking about the facts of this case, the witnesses, and so on, he said.

Mondays ruling means that jury selection will indeed begin on April 15, with Trump facing some 34 charges of falsifying business records to cover up payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, who has alleged that she had an affair with the Republican. Trump has denied the allegations against him.

CNN legal analyst Norm Eisen commented that Trumps latest effort to delay the trial was, by his count, the former presidents ninth delay tactic. Trump also on Monday sued the judge in the Manhattan case as part of a separate legal effort to move the case out of Manhattan and lift the gag order imposed on him after he publicly attacked the judge and his family.

Eisen said Trumps argument  that the case should be postponed and moved because of New Yorkers alleged bias  was never going to work since courts already address potential bias by quizzing prospective jurors during the jury selection process. It was a dead loser from the get-go, Eisen said.

Former U.S. Attorney Harry Litman noted on X, the website formerly known as Twitter, that the appeals court judge did not even refer the question to a full panel for review, instead rejecting the Trump legal teams arguments in a one sentence unsigned order. Trump, Litman said, is flailing and embarrassing himself within the legal system.

George Conway, the conservative lawyer turned anti-Trump commentator, also took note of the courts quick and curt reply. The Appellate Division issued this order so quickly the judges didnt even have time to stop laughing, he wrote on X.

The rejection of Trumps latest stalling tactic comes just two weeks before the Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether the former president enjoys absolute immunity from criminal prosecution.

Andrew Weissmann, a former Justice Department lawyer who worked with former special counsel Robert Mueller, urged the nations highest court to follow the lead of the state-level judges. New York "courts are fed up with Trumps delaying tactics, he posted on X. The U.S. Supreme Court [should] take note, he said, and see how its done to vindicate our right to a public trial.
Are embassies off-limits? Ecuadorian and Israeli actions suggest otherwise  and that sets a dangerous diplomatic precedent

It has long been held that embassies should be treated as off-limits to other nations. Yet in a single week, two governments  both long-established democracies  stand accused of violating, in different ways, the laws surrounding foreign diplomatic missions.

First, on April 1, 2024, Irans embassy in Damascus was bombed, presumably by Israel, killing several high-ranking commanders of the Quds Force of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Then, on April 5, Ecuadorian police forced their way into the Mexican Embassy in Quito to arrest a former vice president of Ecuador who was seeking political asylum.

Both actions have led to claims of international law violations and accusations that the Vienna Convention, which establishes the immunity of diplomatic missions, was contravened.

As someone with a fair amount of knowledge of embassy life  I have served as Chiles head of mission in China, India and South Africa and coedited The Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy  I believe the two incidents are of greater concern than much of the international community appears to be viewing them.

Contrary to the famous quip from late businessman and presidential candidate Ross Perot, embassies are not just relics of the days of sailing ships. Rather, in an increasingly complex world where geopolitical conflict, mass migrations, pandemics and climate change require careful and stable diplomatic management, any incidents that erode the sanctity of embassy rules could have serious negative consequences. In short, they make for a more dangerous world.

Curious indifference to embassy attack

Of the two recent incidents, the Iranian embassy bombing is the more serious, as it involved the loss of life and resulted in warnings of retaliatory attacks.

Yet, Western countries, leaders of which often voice concern over upholding the so-called rules-based order, have been reluctant to condemn the act.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends the funerals of victims of an April 1, 2024, attack on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus. Iranian Leader Press Office / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images

It was notable that the three liberal democracies on the U.N. Security Council  the United States, the United Kingdom and France  all refused to condemn the strike on Irans embassy when the issue came up before them.

Israel, while not officially acknowledging responsibility, argued that the Iranian ambassadors residence was not really a diplomatic venue but a military building  disguised as a civilian building. As such, to Israel it was a perfectly legitimate target.

But by this logic, nearly all embassies would be seen as fair game.

Almost by definition, the vast majority of embassies  particularly of the larger countries  are populated with significant numbers of military and intelligence personnel. To suggest that for that reason embassies should lose their diplomatic immunity and become legitimate targets for armed attacks would bring the whole edifice of the Vienna Convention crashing down. And with it would come the structure on which worldwide formal diplomatic interactions are based.

Bedrock diplomatic principles

The case of Ecuador, though less serious because it did not involve loss of life, is a bit more complex and demands some unpacking.

At the center of the diplomatic spat between Ecuador and Mexico is former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, who served four years behind bars following a 2017 conviction on corruption charges.

Glas is now facing trial on different charges, prompting his December 2023 application for asylum at the Mexican Embassy. Mexico accepted the request and conveyed this to the Ecuadorian government.

Former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas is led away from the Mexican Embassy. National Police of Ecuador/Anadolu via Getty Images

The latter justified its decision to send police into the Mexican embassy on the grounds that it believes Glas cannot be granted political asylum as he is a convicted felon.

There is some basis to this claim: Under the Organization of American States Convention on the Right to Asylum of 1954, political asylum cannot be given to convicted felons unless the charges behind such conviction are of a political nature.

But at the same time, Article 21 of the Vienna Convention states that diplomatic missions enjoy full immunity and extraterritoriality, meaning the host government does not have the right to enter an embassy without the authorization of the head of mission.

Ecuador argues that Mexico abused its diplomatic immunity, leaving it no option other than to send police in.

Yet, here a crucial distinction needs to be made.

Diplomatic immunity and the extraterritoriality of foreign missions are bedrock principles of the Vienna Convention. Political asylum is a separate matter that should be handled on its own.

As such, if the Ecuadorian government considered Glas not to qualify for political asylum, it could have attempted to legally block the move or refuse safe passage for the asylum-seeker to exit the embassy and leave the country. Mexico would have strong grounds to counter such measures, however, as according to the Convention on the Right to Asylum of 1954, it is up to the asylum-granting state to decide whether the case is politically motivated.

Implications for the future

Regardless of the merits of the asylum case, sending in the equivalent of a SWAT team to storm the embassy represents a deliberate violation of diplomatic norms.

There is a long history of Latin America politicians seeking asylum who spent many years holed up in embassy buildings because governments would not grant them safe passage  the most notable being Peruvian leader Victor Raul Haya de la Torre, who spent five years at the Colombian Embassy in Lima.

Yet, with a few exceptions, not even in the darkest hour of Latin Americas military dictatorships in the 1960s and 1970s were police permitted to storm into embassy buildings to arrest asylum-seekers.

And this highlights what makes Ecuadors actions especially worrisome.

Precisely because of Latin Americas problems with political instability and a tradition of military coup, the laws surrounding political asylum and diplomatic immunity are necessary.

Undermining the Vienna Convention in the way Ecuador has risks setting a precedent that other governments might be tempted to follow.

Political asylum in Latin America has traditionally worked as a safety valve, allowing deposed leaders to get themselves out of harms way.

Weakening the diplomatic structures in place supporting asylum will make the handling of democratic breakdowns more difficult. It also risks exacerbating regional disagreements. We are already seeing this with Mexico breaking relations with Ecuador as a result of the embassy raid.

Making diplomacy more difficult

Of course, embassy violations are not unprecedented. Guatemalas dictatorship attacked the Spanish Embassy in Guatemala City in 1980, killing several asylum-seekers, including a former vice president. And Uruguays military government sent security forces into the Venezuelan Embassy in Montevideo in 1976 to arrest a left-wing militant who had sought asylum, leading to the breakdown of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

But those events in the relatively distant past were widely and rightly condemned at the time as the product of authoritarian regimes with little regard for international conventions.

The comparatively relaxed international attitude to the embassy violations by Israel and Ecuador reflects, I believe, a failure to grasp the significance of eroding diplomatic immunity and norms.

As global challenges increase, embassies and their representatives become more important, not less so.

If the takeaway from the two latest embassy incidents is that the protection of diplomatic premises can be secondary to whatever is politically expedient on any given day, then it will be of great detriment to the management of international relations. Diplomacy will become much more difficult.

And given the enormity of the challenges the world faces today, that is the last thing any country needs.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Jorge Heine, Boston University

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Jorge Heine is a member of Chile's Party for Democracy and of the Foro Permanente de Politica Exterior, a Chilean think tank.
Russia's claims about alleged Ukrainian drone attacks against the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant are manipulation and propaganda, Ukraine's nuclear energy agency Energoatom said on April 9.

The plant reportedly suffered at least three direct strikes on April 7, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

After the attacks, Russia claimed Ukrainian drones attacked the plant. Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) said Ukraine was not involved.

Energoatom said that Russia "upgraded its propaganda to another level," manipulating the IAEA's perspective and accusing Ukraine of security breaches at the plant.

"The Kremlin's false statements about alleged Ukrainian drone attacks are nothing else than an attempt to hide own intentions to commit a terrorist act or hide severe emergency events that have already happened at the plant," Energoatom's statement said.

Energoatom stressed that the only way to prevent nuclear and radiation emergencies is to comply with the IAEA's resolution, withdraw Russian troops and their equipment from the plant, demining nearby territories, and return control over the plant to the agency.

"The seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is not only a blatant violation of international law but also an open act of nuclear terrorism," Energoatom said.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear plant in Europe, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. IAEA teams have been based at the facility on rotation since September 2022.

Read also: State Department: Russia is playing very dangerous game at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

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Chinese President Xi Jinping has replied to a letter from the "Falcon Commando Unit," an elite police brigade, encouraging them to forge a world-class counter-terror special force. #XinhuaNews
The problem with England, grumble conservatives, is that it hardly exists. Weve no parliament, no costume, no anthem; even our flag was recently transformed into a multicoloured migraine by the kids at Nike.

And yet the Left says that theres too much of England; that rampant nationalism blots out reality and blocks our progress. Three new books broadly agree that Englishness, to quote Tom Baldwin and Marc Stears in England: Seven Myths That Changed a Country and How to Set Them Straight (), is coloured by fairy tales, exaggerations, omissions or sometimes outright lies. The Conservative Party manipulates half-truths  that we stood alone or ruled the waves  to persuade us to stick with the chinless wonders who have ruled us since year dot.

Baldwin and Stears travel the country pointing and laughing at the contradictions of Ye Old England (). At Runnymede, looking at the preposterous democracy timeline, which draws a family tree from Magna Carta to the Communist Manifesto, they find a cafe boasting Earl Grey, normal tea, warm sausage rolls and a brightly lit picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa to let everyone know it sells ice-cream.

Seven Myths is amusing and frequently enlightening, but it makes the classic tourists error of assuming the locals believe whats printed in the brochure. Page after page is spent debunking the legends of Francis Drake and William Wilberforce as though their portraits hung above the fireplace of every patriotic Englishman. We are deep in the school of thought that says Brexit was mere nostalgia for empire, even though most Leavers voted not to invade the world, but to keep it at arms length.

Michael Peel, author of What Everyone Knows About Britain (Except the British) (), is one of those Remainers who takes every opportunity to explain how they do things better abroad. He should know  hes a highly respected foreign correspondent  and some of his arguments certainly hit home. Why in the 1980s did we pour our North Sea energy windfall into tax cuts rather than, like Norway, a sovereign fund? Incompetence and greed, suggests Peel, dressed up as loyalty to Britains free-market tradition, now enjoy a second life in Rishi Sunaks absurd claim that fresh drilling will grant us energy independence. Who do we think we are? Texas?

The signing of Magna Carta by King John remains totemic in English history - PA

Peel identifies a quiet presumptuousness across British life about the countrys rightful place in the world: this stokes an arrogance that stops us learning from nations that, by accepting their reduced status, have put equality before grandeur. In short: Britain is crap, but if we shake off our pretensions to excellence, we might someday become mediocre.

Were a therapist to address a patient this way, theyd be struck off. Yet there has been a recent flood of books informing the English that their history is a fraud, their wealth is based on slavery, and that theyre a nation of losers who swagger like winners and are blinded by myths  myths Id wager few readers take literally and which dont actually require debunking. Its as if a publishing industry had developed solely to prove that Father Christmas doesnt exist. We know this, dear: wed be a pretty sad case if we didnt. But we play along with the make-believe because we can hang so many virtuous baubles from it, such as magic, innocence and the promotion of charity. Myth sustains and unites. Too much scrutiny risks making life unbearable.

To my surprise, the book that most grasps this is Another England () by Green MP Caroline Lucas. She, too, has complaints. Just as Peel notes that England is an island that eats no fish, Lucas asks why a people who romanticise the countryside have done so little to preserve its natural landscape.But rather than toss out the national story, Lucas reads a more radical one between the lines: a narrative of dispossession met by protest, of exploitation by conservation.

She cooks up some fantasies of her own, lionising the 17th-century Digger movement that opposed the enclosure of land and favoured common ownership, failing to mention that they were the Khmer Rouge in embryo. The Diggers plan, if they took over England, was to impose the death penalty not only for rape and murder but for buying, selling and  I think we can agree with this one  employment as a lawyer.

Caroline Lucas, outgoing MP for Brighton Pavilion and author of Another England - Andrew Crowley for DT

Nevertheless, the romantic environmentalist is right to warn that even as the Left wins minds, itll never win hearts so long as it rejects the poetry of collective identity. Writing as a PhD in Eng Lit, she cleverly deploys Elizabeth Gaskell, John Clare and Charles Dickens to demonstrate that a culture can be diverse and coherent, innovative and rooted; many stories told in one beautiful language.

Blending art with political analysis, Lucas writes far more forcibly than authors of Left and Right who think a nation is defined entirely by its constitutional order, or that if the party they happen to support isnt in power, England is lost for good. These fashionable doomsters lose sight of what really matters, of what really shapes a tribe. Ive read countless books about the historical precedence for Brexit and Boris Johnson, but none that convincingly explains why the English obsess about the weather, let their teeth go yellow or make love in the dark with their socks on. I care far less about Magna Carta or the strength of the Royal Navy than I do about our once-solid reputation for good manners  being eroded, alas, by iPhones and the invasion of American familarity.

A few weeks ago in Parliament, an old Sikh lady was attempting to descend the steps to Central Lobby when she realised she might be about to fall. She reached out and took my arm  without asking, without even looking in my direction, because helping distressed ladies is what gentlemen are supposed to do  and let me guide her down to the bottom. Once on terra firma, she finally turned and said, in a cut-glass accent: Thank you very much. I suspect the last refuge of English civility is to be found among British-Asian pensioners.

To order any of these books, call 0808 196 6794 or visit Telegraph Books

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The almost 300-metre-long "Energos Power" enters the port of Mukran accompanied by tugboats. Environmental Agency approves the commissioning of the Mukran LNG terminal on Ruegen. Stefan Sauer/dpa

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) can be landed on the German Baltic Sea island of Rugen and fed into the national distribution network after being converted into gas.

The local Environmental Agency authorized the regular operation of the terminal in the port of Mukran on Tuesday, the Ministry of the Environment for the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern said in the state capital Schwerin.

A spokesman for the ministry said that the authorization will take effect when it is handed over to the operator Deutsche ReGas on Wednesday.

The controversial terminal on the east coast of the Baltic Sea island is already in trial operation. In future, two regasification ships are to take on LNG there, convert it and transport it via a pipeline around 50 kilometres in the Baltic Sea to the feed-in point in Lubmin on the mainland near the city of Greifswald.

According to the authorization documents, the terminal in Mukran is important for security of supply in Germany. This also justifies the widely criticized decision not to carry out an environmental impact assessment, according to a note from the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Office for Agriculture and the Environment.

Critics such as Environmental Action Germany (DUH) doubt that this terminal is necessary to supply Germany with sufficient gas. Like tourism experts and local politicians, they see the danger that ecosystems off the coast of and on Rugen proper will be unnecessarily burdened.

Sascha Muller-Kraenner, DUH's federal managing director, announced that he would take legal action against the authorization if necessary to stop it. The seaside resort of Binz a few kilometres along the bay from the LNG terminal has also affirmed its intention to take legal action.
EPA to crack down on toxic emissions from more than 200 chemical plants

The Biden administration will require more than 200 chemical plants to cut their emissions of toxic chemicals as part of a broader effort to reduce cancer cases.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized rules Tuesday that it said would dramatically reduce the number of people facing elevated cancer risks because of their exposure to air pollution.

The number of people who have elevated cancer risks because they live within 6 miles of a chemical plant would drop by 96 percent, the EPA said. Cancer cases within about 31 miles of facilities that release toxic pollution into the air are expected to fall by about 60 percent under the rule.

Thats because the new regulations on 218 chemical plants are expected to cause them to reduce their releases of toxic pollution by more than 6,200 tons per year.

Among the areas expected to benefit from the rule is an area of Louisiana known as Cancer Alley, with a large number of chemical plants and high cancer rates, according to the agency.

It also said that the issue is one of environmental justice  as people of color and low-income people face disproportionately high pollution levels.

We promised to listen to folks that are suffering from pollution and act to protect them. Today we deliver on that promise with strong final standards to slash pollution, reduce cancer risk and ensure cleaner air for nearby communities, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a written statement.

In addition to reducing the release of the compounds, plants will also have to monitor their levels at the edge or fenceline of their facility.

The emissions of several chemicals are expected to be reduced by the rule. Among them are carcinogenic ethylene oxide, used in sterilization, and likely carcinogen chloroprene, which is used to make a type of rubber called neoprene.

Activities that are covered by the regulation are expected to emit 80 percent less of these substances as a result of it, the EPA said.

Additional substances whose emissions are expected to be reduced under the rule include other cancer-causing chemicals like benzene and vinyl chloride. Benzene is used in products like plastics, dyes and nylon; vinyl chloride is used to make PVC plastic.

The administration touted the announcement as part of President Bidens Cancer Moonshot, which aims to prevent more than 4 million cancer deaths by 2047.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
NEW YORK  Mayor Eric Adams is cracking down on interactions between city agency heads and elected officials in an effort to route more intergovernmental affairs work through his team at City Hall.

His administration  prone to a controlling public relations style  has set up a new webpage where elected officials can request an audience with agency commissioners heads or their executive teams.

The new system is angering lawmakers.

We recognize collaboration is essential but we dont want to be tied up in pages and pages of needless bureaucracy, Council Member Shahana Hanif said in an interview, adding that she and her Council colleagues were not contacted by the administration before the launch of the page.

She only found out when a fellow Council member shared the page with her.

I got new garbage cans, and was requesting a picture with the [sanitation] commissioner. And they said youve got to fill out this form, Council Member Rita Joseph said.

The two-page Google Form poses 14 questions, including the physical address of the person requesting the meeting, whether its an elected official or staffer.

City Hall defended the new policy.

We must ensure that we have the right processes in place to streamline our services and maximize our resources, a spokesperson said in a statement. We are dedicated to implementing strategies that allow us to coordinate more efficiently and maintain our responsiveness to all members of the public.

The effort is a dramatic step in centralizing the complex and frequent interactions between agencies and the army of elected officials who contact them about a wide range of issues. And attempting to cram so much communication through one clearinghouse stands to slow response times.

This is just, to me, creating more red tape, Joseph said. And [Adams] is the guy who said we want to remove red tape. But here we are.

This is just a bad way to run your government, pure and simple, another Council member said of the new setup. New Yorkers want their officials cooperating and making good on their promises, not creating odd roadblocks for themselves.

A delay in the communication between agency heads and lawmakers could not only trickle down to New Yorkers themselves  who often start the process by raising an issue with local elected officials  but could slow negotiations over agency-specific legislation, according to a person familiar with intergovernmental affairs who was granted anonymity to speak about the situation.

Im sure the more savvy commissioners will ignore it, the person said.
EU condemns Russia over death of Russian citizen in custody for helping Ukrainian refugees

The European Union has expressed its condolences over the death of Russian volunteer Alexander Demidenko, who has died in police custody.

Source: Nabila Massrali, European Commission representative, on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

Massrali said the EU is "appalled at the news of the death in police custody of Alexander Demidenko, an activist who helped Ukrainian refugees."

Quote: "We repeat our call on Russia to live up to its constitution and respect the human rights of its citizens."

Russia: The EU is appalled at the news of the death in police custody of Alexander Demidenko, an activist who helped Ukrainian refugees.



We repeat our call on Russia to live up to its constitution and respect its the human rights of its citizens.  Nabila Massrali (@NabilaEUspox) April 9, 2024

According to Russian media, between spring 2022 and autumn 2023, Demidenko would help Ukrainians who found themselves in Russia to get from Belgorod to the checkpoint on the Russian-Ukrainian border, offering them overnight accommodation in his own home.

Demidenko was detained twice in October 2023  for alleged public alcohol consumption and illegal possession of a weapon (a World War II-era weapon he had found in his backyard).

Prior to his death in April, Demidenko was being held in a pre-trial detention centre in Belgorod. The Russian authorities are claiming that he took his own life while in custody.

Previously: The European Union has criticised the "presidential elections" in Russia for being subject to numerous restrictions, with no participation by real opposition candidates, and including votes cast in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

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EU countries to send 157 generators to Ukraine after Russia bombings

Electricity generators stand in a hall of Stromnetz Berlin GmbH. Germany, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands are to supply Ukraine with 157 generators after recent Russian drone and missile attacks on the country's energy infrastructure. Carsten Koall/dpa

Germany, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands are to supply Ukraine with 157 generators after recent Russian drone and missile attacks on the country's energy infrastructure.

Russia frequently attacks Ukraine's power lines and substations as part of the full-scale invasion Moscow launched more than two years ago.

The European Commission organized the deliveries of generators through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, a platform to coordinate and share emergency resources.

The EU executive arm is also sending 10 1-Megawatt power generators to Ukraine, each large enough to power a medium-sized hospital under emergency conditions.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders will use a summit next week to call for decisive action to ensure the bloc's long-term competitiveness and leadership on the global stage, according to draft conclusions seen by Reuters.

Leaders of the EU's 27 members will meet in Brussels on April 17-18 for a summit focused on the economic challenges the bloc faces from geopolitical tensions, rivals' subsidies and the rapid shift to green and digital technologies.

"Geopolitical tensions and more assertive policy measures taken by international partners and competitors, notably on subsidies, have exposed the Union's vulnerabilities, while long term productivity and technological and demographic trends require urgent policy adjustments," the draft text says.

EU leaders will call for a deepening of the EU single market by June 2025, with concrete steps to remove barriers, enforce existing rules more effectively and give a special focus to smaller companies.

The "new European competitiveness deal" will require efforts from EU institutions and member states to close shortfalls in growth, productivity and innovations compared to rivals. The conclusions do not name those rivals, but EU leaders will no doubt be thinking of China and the United States in their deliberations.

As well as reducing single market barriers, notably for services, EU leaders will demand progress on creating an EU capital markets union as well as policies to decarbonise industry competitively and to secure affordable clean energy.

They will also call for more investment in digital infrastructure and use of artificial intelligence, greater participation in the labour market, an open trade policy and an environment fostering research and commercial scale-up of innovation.

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Jan Strupczewski; editing by Christina Fincher)
EU Needs Its Own Treasury to Issue Eurobonds, Economy Chief Says

(Bloomberg) -- The European Unions economy chief said the bloc should create a central treasury that can finance common goods through the issuance of eurobonds, as the EU confronts massive spending demands to bolster its defense sector.

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I have no doubt that the EU would benefit hugely from a permanent safe asset commensurate with the size of its economy, Paolo Gentiloni, the European Commissioner for Economy, told a conference in Brussels on Tuesday. I am equally convinced that our end goal should be the establishment of an EU-wide central fiscal capacity.

Russias aggression against Ukraine and the possibility of a second Donald Trump presidency have fueled discussions in Europe about how to boost defense and security spending. Last month, EU leaders for the first time in a formal setting discussed the possibility of issuing joint bonds to fund defense expenditures, a potentially transformative event that would herald a massive consolidation of the bloc.

Gentiloni said that institutions including the International Monetary Fund, the OECD and the European Central Bank have backed these ideas in the past. The European Commission, the EU executives arm, declined to include these proposals when the EU was discussing the reform of the fiscal rules, given the difficulty of the debate, Gentiloni said.

But the time to start this discussion is now, he said.

EU industry commissioner Thierry Breton has urged the bloc to consider spending 100 billion ($109 billion), as the EU looks to boost production for everything from ammunition to air defense systems.

But the discussion over common bonds to finance defense faces an uphill battle. During a summit last month, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that joint debt for defense was a red line, Bloomberg reported earlier.

It would lead to a Hamilton moment, Rutte told reporters of the joint defense bonds idea, referring to a definitive step that led to the creation of the American federal government. That would be a very fundamental step which I dont support. Im for a collective of sovereign countries, not for a federation.

--With assistance from Megan Howard.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Vice-President of the European Commission Vera Jourova from the Czech Republic is sworn in at the European Court of Justice. Thomas Frey/dpa

Representatives of the European Union's main political coalitions on Tuesday signed a pledge not to spread disinformation or deepfakes during the forthcoming elections to the European Parliament in June.

"Elections should be a competition of ideas and opinions, not of dirty manipulative methods," European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said at the signing ceremony in Brussels.

The signatories commit to refrain from from making or using "falsified, fabricated, doxed or stolen data" or "any type of deceptive content using audio, images or video," among other things.

There has been growing anxiety about disinformation in the EU for several years, particularly as tensions have risen with Russia, which has been accused of trying to destabilize elections in the West using targeted disinformation and propaganda.

The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (AI), which can create increasingly convincing fake images and videos, has further stoked the concerns.

The signatories represent six of the parliament's seven broad coalitions of national political parties including two conservative groups, social democrats, liberals, greens and the radical left.

The one remaining right-wing nationalist group, called Identity and Democracy (ID), has also indicated that it intends to sign, a commission press release said.

An ID official told dpa that the party is indeed ready to sign, and that practical constraints alone - not political objections - prevented it from sending an authorized representative to sign at the ceremony on Tuesday. A less senior ID representative attended the ceremony as an observer.

The signatories pledged to "ensure an ethical and transparent use of campaign tools and technologies, including artificial intelligence."

The code of conduct also commits them not to use "fake accounts or automatic bots to manipulate voter opinions," as well as "content created and disseminated by actors from outside the EU" that are "seeking to erode European values and principles."

The pledge allows the use of AI-generated content when it's clearly labelled - for example with a watermark.

A separate code of conduct on disinformation was signed by the major online platforms in 2022. X - formerly known as Twitter - withdrew from the code in 2023.
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Stock photo: Getty Images

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has said in the wake of the drone attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine that Russia should withdraw from the power plant.

Source: Josep Borrell on X, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Borrell said that the "reckless" drone attack against the ZNPP increases the risk of a "dangerous nuclear accident", adding that these attacks "must stop".

He expressed his full support for the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, and the IAEA itself.

"Russia should withdraw from [the] Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," Borrell said.

Background:

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has said the main structures of the containment vessel of one of the reactors of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant took at least three direct hits on Sunday, 7 April.

IAEA said that its experts confirmed the physical impact of the drone attacks on the ZNPP, including that on one of the plant's six reactors.

Grossi met with Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu during a visit to Bucharest on 8 April to discuss the situation in Ukraine, among other topics.

Zaporizhzhia NPP is temporarily occupied by Russian troops and has been cut off from the Ukrainian power grid on several occasions because of constant Russian attacks, which Russia continues to accuse Ukraine of.

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KIEV, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian drones attacked an aviation training center in Russia's western Voronezh region early Tuesday, Ukrainian and Russian media reported.

"The drones of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate attacked the Borisoglebsk aviation training center in the Voronezh region at night," a source in military intelligence told the government-run Ukrinform news agency.

The preliminary intelligence data showed that a manufacturing facility at the 711 aircraft repair plant, part of the center, was hit, it said.

Ukraine attacked the center with two drones, according to Ukraine's online newspaper Ukrainska Pravda.

Authorities in the Voronezh region said that air defense systems had downed two drones overnight, with unconfirmed reports saying that a flight training school was damaged, according to Russian English-language newspaper The Moscow Times.

Earlier in the day, governor of the Voronezh region, Alexander Gusev, said a drone had been detected and destroyed in the region. 
The European Union has sent emergency aid to Ukraine in the form of 167 generators following the recent Russian attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure.

Source: a press release by the European Commission, reported by European Pravda

Detail: Austria, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands offered 157 power generators of various capacities through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, while the EU provided 10 high-capacity power generators from its own stocks worth 3.57 million. The aid is on its way to Ukraine.

"Each of these [10] powerful 1MW generators has the capacity to supply electricity to a medium-sized hospital under emergency conditions," the statement said.

Janez Lenarcic, Commissioner for Crisis Management, said that Russia's plan to plunge Ukraine into darkness will not succeed, because "the EU is working around the clock to sustain power supply in Ukraine".

"This underscores the importance of preparedness in efficient crisis response. I also thank Austria, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands for their immediate offers of generators to Ukraine via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism," he added.

It is also noted that the EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre is in close contact with the Ukrainian authorities on the ground to provide further assistance if necessary.

Background:

It was reported earlier that the Danish government allocated DKK 40 million (over 5 million) to restore the Ukrainian energy system after large-scale Russian attacks on infrastructure.

Last week, it was reported that Lithuania would provide Ukraine with equipment for thermal power plants.

Prior to that, the United States donated more than 100 generators and 13 pieces of equipment for emergency services to a number of Ukrainian oblasts.

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At a meeting on 9 April, the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade approved a one-year extension of the duty-free food trade agreement with Ukraine with additional restrictions.

Source: European Pravda

Details: Taking into account safety measures for agricultural products, the extension of Ukraine's preferential trade regime with the EU was voted for by 26 members of the European Parliament's relevant committee, while eight voted against.

The agreement agreed on the day before stipulates that the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian exports to the EU will be extended until 5 June 2025. At the same time, it contains two safeguard mechanisms to protect the EU market.

The first mechanism is an enhanced version of the existing restrictions, which will be applied on the basis of regular monitoring by the European Commission.

The second, new mechanism will oblige the European Commission to reintroduce tariff quotas on imports of poultry, eggs, sugar, as well as oats, maize, cereals and honey from Ukraine if they exceed the arithmetic average of the volumes imported in the second half of 2021, 2022 and 2023.

This mechanism is automatically triggered 14 days after the excess exports are detected, rather than 21 days as previously envisaged. In addition, it now takes into account import data for the pre-war year 2021, not just 2022 and 2023.

The European Parliament is to give final approval to the agreement at its plenary session on 24 April, the last of its current term. Then the Council of the EU must give its formal consent. The agreement will take effect on 6 June 2024 for a period of one year.

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FILE PHOTO: Pipes for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea, which are not used, are seen in the harbour of Mukran

By Sudip Kar-Gupta

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain and other major European countries with maritime borders on the North Sea on Tuesday signed an agreement to work together to protect underwater infrastructure, including from possible Russian attacks.

The six countries involved - Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Germany, Norway and the Netherlands - signed a joint declaration they said would allow them to share information.

Threats to undersea cables and pipelines have become a security focus for Western European countries following the September 2022 explosions on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, built to ship gas from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea.

In May 2023, NATO had said Russia may sabotage undersea cables to punish Western nations for supporting Ukraine, while global security risks have risen further following the Gaza war.

"The North Sea is the powerhouse driving Europe's renewable and net zero ambitions, helping to bolster energy security on the continent. So, it's crucial we protect its critical energy infrastructure now and in the future," Andrew Bowie, British minister for nuclear and renewables, said.

"Strengthening ties with our key northern European neighbours as we have today will do just that, ensuring the infrastructure is resilient against those who may seek to threaten or disrupt it," he added.

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; editing by Barbara Lewis)
On Monday, with great fanfare, Donald Trump released his "plan" on abortion in a video posted to Truth Social. As with most things Trump says, the short statement was an avalanche of lies. He claims overturning Roe v. Wade was "about will of the people." In reality, strong majorities of Americans disapprove of the Supreme Court's actions. He claims "all legal scholars" on "both sides" wanted to repeal Roe, another lie. Most legal scholars, except far-right ones, agree the right to privacy is justified by the Constitution but that such a dramatic reversal of precedent is bad law. He claimed, as he does routinely now, that Democrats want abortion "after birth," a vile lie that has become normalized through brute repetition. But the most consequential deceit is from Trump implying  but notably never actually saying  he's on the "leave it to the states" bandwagon.

"My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint" Trump said, which was another lie, most people wanted Roe to stay. "The states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land."

As sharp observers noticed (which most mainstream media missed), Trump's language here is descriptive of the current state of play and avoids committing to any future action or inaction. Trump is usually sloppy with language, but as Jordan Weissman of Semafor points out, whoever wrote this statement carefully did so to leave the impression Trump is saying he will leave it to the states  but in fact, he leaves the door open to signing a national abortion ban.

If you actually listen to Trumps statement on abortion, he doesnt say should be left to the states. He says will be left to the statez. Its just a statement of what the law is. He leaves unsaid what would happen if a ban crosses his desk.  Jordan Weissmann (@JHWeissmann) April 8, 2024

Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Subscribe to her newsletter Standing Room Only.

Matt Gertz of Media Matters correctly criticized the press for leaving "pro-choice swing voters with the false impression that he is more moderate than he actually is." As he points out, Trump sidestepped the question of what he plans to do if he's in the White House. That's because he plans to ban abortion nationwide.

Despite all his word games, Trump has never believed there's a legal reason to avoid a national ban. Before they settled on this cleverly dishonest video, his campaign was leaking trial balloons to the press about considering a 15- or 16-week ban. As the Washington Post reported, "as president, he backed a national 20-week ban." So he's lying when he claims to believe this "shouldnt be a federal issue."

But most telling is the muted response on the Christian right. The anti-abortion group SBA List said they were "disappointed," but promised to "work tirelessly" to elect Trump in 2024 and that "he will get there" on a national ban. Alliance Defending Freedom, which argued the Dobbs case before the Supreme Court that ended Roe, completely ignored Trump's statement. Americans United For Life, Family Research Council, the Heritage Foundation, Turning Point USA: All loudmouthed fundamentalist groups, all angrily anti-abortion, and all responded with either silence, or in some cases, eager support to Trump's video. Penny Nance of Concerned Women for America, a longstanding anti-feminist group, seemed confident Trump will stick by the forced childbirth cause.

.@CWforA favors federal limits on abortion. However, the reality of a stark choice between President Biden who supports abortion: any number, any reason, up until birth, all paid for by the taxpayer and President Trump: who gave us three Constitutionalist justices, 220 lower  Penny Nance (@PYNance) April 8, 2024

That's because they all know it's a crock, and Trump will sign any abortion ban a Republican-controlled Congress passes. Moreover, they all know that, if he gets into the White House, Trump will abuse executive powers to create a backdoor ban on most, if not all abortion, by using the defunct-but-never-repealed Comstock Act to legally persecute those who transport drugs or materials that are used in abortions. They know he will do this, because they are all involved in developing the plan to do so, through Project 2025.

For those still unaware, Project 2025 was created by a coalition of MAGA forces, including all these Christian right groups, to draft the blueprint for Trump to use to destroy rule of law and force an authoritarian agenda on the nation if he gets back into power. They are especially keen on abusing presidential powers to impose a Christian nationalist worldview, complete with abortion bans, reversal of LGBTQ rights, and a crackdown on sex education and contraception usage. They know Trump will do whatever they ask of him, which is why they aren't sweating this whole thing where he pretends to be moderate to sucker the mainstream press.

As Melissa Gira Grant wrote at the New Republic, "On January 20, 2025, conservatives plan to resurrect a 150-year-old defunct law to ban abortion across the nation." And as she notes, "This is not a secret planfar from it." It's published and heavily talked about in right-wing circles. Two Supreme Court justices, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, unsubtly championed this during arguments in the recent case, still pending, involving the abortion pill. While the Trump campaign claims, "Project 2025 does not speak for President Trump," every sign suggests that their 900-page playbook will be adopted by a Trump White House since the leaders of Project 2025 served in his first administration and likely would control a second.

Trump and his allies are clowns, but they are nonetheless deft manipulators of the media. They know how to hide the plans to implement draconian abortion bans in plain sight. The problem with the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that they plan to use to arrest people shipping drugs or materials necessary for safe abortion, is that explaining what it is, why it's still on the books, and how this will work is complicated and confusing. So mostly, the press avoids that. But a Trump video where he implies  but never actually promises  to leave it to the states feels simple. So the latter gets oodles of extremely misleading coverage, while the truth  that Trump's team has a fully fleshed-out plan to ban abortion  is largely ignored.

As journalist Sarah Posner, an expert on the religious right's control of Trump's agenda, explained on Bluesky, "Trump *intends* to muddy the waters, not clarify his position. We already know his position. He wanted Dobbs because the base did. He'll do a national ban because the base wants it."

There are many ways Trump's intention to pass a national ban could manifest. If Republicans control Congress, they'll just pass a national ban and he will sign it. (Which he does not deny in this video, a point worth repeating.) If Republicans can't get the votes for a national ban, the Project 2025 scheme shows how he'll do it through executive action. It will start with directing federal law enforcement to arrest people who mail abortion pills. If that sticks, he'll rapidly expand to prosecuting pharmacies and medical suppliers who ship drugs and devices to doctors to use in abortions. Eventually, the same legal framework will be used to go after contraception. MAGA leaders are already prepping their base to believe birth control bans are a good thing.

It sounds dystopian, and one can hear the critics dismissing it as hyperbole. But people said the same thing about those of us who predicted Trump would attempt a coup if he lost in 2020, and that's exactly what he did. A lot of lower information voters don't believe Trump would really ban abortion, because, they believe, he's probably paid for a few in his time. (More likely: He promised to pay, but reneged after the fact.) But that is missing the point. Trump doesn't care about passing laws he himself wouldn't follow, since he already rejects following the law now.

In many ways, Trump's reputation as a cad and an adulterer makes him even more obliged to pay back the Christian right with draconian abortion bans. After all, evangelicals had to swallow a lot of grief from the press and from liberals, who constantly point out how hypocritical it is for their community to back Trump, a man who has clearly never cracked a Bible, even as he sells them. They're going to feel Trump owes them even more if they secure him the White House because their investment came at such a high price. And there is no prize more precious to the religious right than a nationwide ban on abortion.
Members of the Evanston City Council this week expressed hesitation about two proposed sites for a county-funded migrant shelter despite acknowledging the issue of unhoused migrants in Chicagoland, and they directed staff to explore further options.

Discussions at the April 8 City Council meeting moved away from hosting a potential shelter at 1020 Church Street, a vacant two-story office space with the ability to house anywhere from 60 to 65 people, or the Morton Civic Center, where city operations are being temporarily moved from starting in July.

Applications for funding from Cook County to house new arrivals defined as an individual who crossed the Mexico/U.S. border on or after August 1, 2022, with the intent to stay permanently, and who does not possess any permanent or interim U.S. legal status (which does not include being in parole status), such as legal permanent residency, a student or work visa, etc. are due April 19.

Evanston Policy Coordinator Alison Leipsiger has been exploring options for months but all other sites required extensive repairs to be livable. One site, she said, required personal protective equipment to inspect. 1020 Church was the first viable option she has been able to bring to the council.

Its a pretty uncomfortable place personally for me to be that Im not going to have every single answer tonight, she told the council. Know that I will not have every single answer but I do have a slew of staff ready in the councilmember library. Were going to do our best.

She encouraged council members to send her any options they find and leave no stone unturned.

The Church Street building would need renovations including installation of fire sprinkler systems, a fire escape, mold removal and expansion of existing shower and restroom spaces, among other issues. As for the Civic Center, extensive repairs are needed to make the building suitable for city staff to work there, much less house people.

All councilmembers present expressed a desire to help migrants in need but were concerned about the viability of the available sites and lack of information about the funding.

To me, the question is not if we want to do something, the question is how, or maybe specifically in this case, the question is where, Councilmember Jonathan Nieuwsma said. I think our time is better spent continuing to look for a facility that would enjoy broad support of the council and would rather have staff focus on that.

Nieuwsma, who represents the 4th Ward where the Church Street site is located, stated his ward is already home to several supportive housing shelters including the Margarita Inn and worries that temporarily housing migrants at that location could impact the new-coming Northlight Theater next door.

Krissie Harris, 2nd Ward Alderwoman, said she would be in favor of working with the county to open a migrant shelter in Evanston but would need to see more concrete plans first in order to convince wary constituents the project can be successful.

Just because the carrot is dangling doesnt mean we have to take it, she said.

Leipsiger explained that because the city only became aware of the Church Street property on March 28, there hasnt been much time to flesh out a plan. Its also unknown how much funding the city could receive from the county for the project, which drastically impacts any plans viability. She believes available funding would cover the $120,000 yearly rent, retrofitting and operating costs for 1020 Church Street but not enough to all out purchase the building.

Councilmember Juan Geracaris said despite this, he would rather see the city apply for funding before the opportunity passes them by. Leipsiger said she was told by the county to let it know of any interest in the funding by April 19 and could indicate the possibility of deadline extension.

Multiple residents came forward to support the plan, including Ilya Sheyman whose family came to Evanston as refugees decades ago. He said Chicagoland is capable of absorbing this group of migrants just as it has absorbed those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The migrants arriving now are coming without the support network refugees have historically had, he said. This is the chance to bring in additional resources to help people build a home in this community we call home.

Debra Michaud, who started the nonprofit Refugee Support Chicago, brought Dyonne Indra Blanco, a single mother of two from Venezuela who arrived in Chicago eight months ago, to speak before the council. Blanco spoke about carrying her youngest son on her back through seven countries and now volunteers with Michauds nonprofit, helping migrants like herself.

Not everyone spoke in favor of the potential shelter. Carlis Sutton, who sits on Evanstons Reparations Committee, said the city should instead focus on keeping current Evanston residents in their homes and called the idea a slap in the face to those who have paid taxes in the city but been denied access to assistance programs.

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss called the issue an emergency, saying actions like those of Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott are deranged and said he is using human beings as political pawns.

This is a moral crisis that we as the city of Evanston have a responsibility to figure out if we can help with, he said. I do think that the emergency that is presenting itself to us right now doesnt really give us the luxury to just kind of wait until the day when the perfect opportunity presents itself.
Its not quite Nixon goes to China, yet Lord Camerons trip to Mar-a-Lago is nonetheless a significant moment in transatlantic politics. The Foreign Office spokespeople are busy insisting that it is standard practice for ministers to meet with opposition candidates as part of their routine international engagement.

But Donald Trump is no standard opposition candidate and everybody knows it.

By visiting the man he used to call protectionist, xenophobic, misogynistic, Cameron is acknowledging that Trump has become an unavoidable fact of international relations. Trump is de facto leader of the Republican Party, the king of the American Right and must therefore be honoured  even if he doesnt beat President Joe Biden in November and return to the White House.

Labour must acknowledge this reality, too, which is why David Lammy, the shadow Foreign Secretary, has started saying he would work with the man he once called a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath.

Cameron, desperate as he is to gin up the Wests flagging support for Ukraine, also knows that he rather messed up when he last visited the land of the free. He wrote an article in the US press urging America to stand up to Vladimir Putin and not show the weakness displayed against Hitler in the 1930s.

This grossly misread the mood in Washington and offended Republicans  after all, Chamberlain, the great appeaser, was British and many Americans died to help Britain and Europe vanquish the Third Reich. David Cameron can kiss my ass, replied Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, summing up the feelings of her peers.

To make amends, Cameron must now embrace the Donalds ring instead. He knows that the Congressional Republican leadership, led by speaker Mike Johnson, is disinclined to listen to his fierce urgings that their party stops using its House majority to block US military aid to Kyiv.

At a Nato meeting last week, Cameron told his European counterparts that crucially, we need to get on the phone, or in my case go in person to see Speaker Johnson in the House of Representatives to get that supplemental through. Perhaps Dave wanted to persuade Donald to tell his party to play nice: well find out soon enough.

Camerons Old Etonian charm might work on Trump  Boris Johnsons did  but the differences between the Conservative and the Republican leaderships on Ukraine cannot be easily reconciled.

Trumps clear policy is for, as he puts it, people to stop dying and for him that means giving over land to Russia in order to finish the war. His plan, according to the Washington Post, is to persuade Ukraine to give up on Crimea and the Donbas region. Trump says that both Moscow and Kyiv want to save face and he trusts his dealmaking abilities will be able to find a way out.

Cameron, along with most of the European political class, regards such thinking as dangerous appeasement and warns no country will be safe if Russia wins in Ukraine.

Cameron and Trump would also disagree, at least publicly, on the war in Gaza. Cameron is keen to imitate the Biden administration by criticising Israels violence, warning Tel Aviv that Britains support is not unconditional, and building international pressure for a ceasefire. Trump, on the other hand, says Israel is losing the PR war .. but theyve got to finish what they started and theyve got to finish it fast.

The bigger problem is that both men look at the world in very different ways. Trump is a nationalist and his broader strategic goal is to peel Russia away from its increasing dependence on China, the superpower which he and his advisers regard as Americas biggest geostrategic threats.

Cameron is by contrast a quintessential internationalist and, as the former vice chair of a 1 billion UK-China fund, the opposite of a China hawk. He knows that, with a British election approaching and the Tories 20 points behind in the polls, he might be back in the lucrative global private sector soon, albeit still with his seat in the House of Lords.

Trump understands the need to make money above all else, but he considers Camerons multi-lateral approach to international affairs as globalism. Many of Trumps advisers are still influenced by Steve Bannon, his former chief strategist, who regards Cameron as a perfect example of the corrupt liberal elite. And when it comes to transatlantic affairs, Trump prefers to consult another privately educated British voice, his friend Nigel Farage, who regards Cameron as the bitter end.

Or as Roger Stone, Trumps old adviser and a Florida resident, put it this morning: David Cameron. Is he still alive? Maybe Harold Wilson can squeeze in a visit.

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While Donald Trumps long-awaited statement on abortion didnt commit to muchneglecting to promise a national abortion ban while vaguely endorsing states rightsthe former president still managed to piss off a healthy portion of the anti-abortion Republicans supporting him.

That may have been the point.

Almost immediately Monday, the backlash started with the Susan B. Anthony List, one of the GOPs leading anti-abortion groups, which said it was deeply disappointed in Trumps stance. Ultimately, the group said, Trumps new positionif you can really call it thatcedes the national debate to the Democrats.

Bob Vander Plaats, a power player in the pro-life movement and a prominent Iowa Republican who endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the GOP primary, told The Daily Beast he was also deeply disappointed in Trumps statement.

Trump Punts on Abortion in Announcement Sure to Anger Conservatives

The pro-life community is looking for more, Vander Plaats told The Daily Beast in an email, also deriding Trump for ceding leadership to the left. No, Mr. Trump, a babys life and death is not a states rights issue; its a right and wrong issue. That little child in her mothers wombshes a baby, and she deserves her birth day [sic].

But it wasnt just advocacy groups who were upset. Republicans, including some of Trumps staunchest allies, expressed their displeasure with their party leaders decision to not immediately back a national abortion ban.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a Trump ally whose support of the former president is often so over-the-top that he is frequently seen as the caricature of a Trump sycophant, took the rare step of publicly disagreeing with his master, saying in a statement that I respectfully disagree with President Trumps statement that abortion is a states rights issue and that the Dobbs decision is about the wellbeing of the unborn childnot geography."

(True to form, Trump repeatedly lashed out at Graham, eventually saying in a post on Truth Social that, I blame myself for Lindsey Graham, because the only reason he won in the Great State of South Carolina is because I Endorsed him!)

While Trumps abortion statement drew some conservative criticism, he did find plenty of cover among MAGA hardliners in the Senate Monday night.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) told reporters he thought Trump took generally the right approach.

We dont have a national referendum system, Hawley said.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)another staunch opponent of abortionalso managed to seem to side with Trump, telling reporters its the voters who decide, not an unelected Supreme Court decreeing a rule for everyone and disenfranchising the voters.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), considered the most conservative member of Senate GOP leadership, also said he agreed with President Trumps position, adding that the Supreme Court got it right when it struck down baseline abortion protections in Roe v. Wade in favor of letting states determine their abortion policies.

Trumps abortion statement Monday, advertised as a major tone-setting event, was meant to neutralize one of the best Democratic talking points against him: that Trump would sign a national abortion ban.

Although that was the clear implication of his statement, much to the chagrin of his Evangelical Christian base, it left him plenty of wiggle room. And even if key GOP constituencies werent ecstatic with his position, his attempts to nullify a powerful Democratic attack nownotably, after the Republican primaryare clearly an important political step for the party come November.

2147096242 Former president Donald Trump looks on at the 18th green during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational. Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images

One GOP member of Congress, granted anonymity to speak candidly about Trumps moves, had a blunt assessment of Trumps stance on abortion: that it has nothing to do with protecting the unborn.

For him, its about getting electednot the issue, this lawmaker said.

Indeed, Trump seems much more consumed with the prospect of getting elected than imposing a national abortion ban. And while that may upset some of his base, theres no evidence those voters will now turn to President Joe Biden. Trump has proven his anti-abortion credentials after appointing three Supreme Court justices who enabled the conservative majority to overturn national abortion rights.

In short, its smart politicsand even some Never Trump Republicans begrudgingly acknowledged that.

Its actually a savvy take, said Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump White House strategic communications director, co-host of ABCs The View, and contributor to The Daily Beast. He can claim the conservative mantle that hes for states rights. And he avoids the political liability of calling for 15 weeks, which Republicans see as a betrayal on the life issue and Democrats will frame as a national abortion ban.

Still, with Trump giving himself so much latitude, there are Republicans who dont think the former president has done enough to quell voter concerns on abortion.

An adviser from Trumps 2016 campaign who supported another candidate in the primary told The Daily Beast the former president is about to find out what a mess he created for himself by appointing the three Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade.

Back then, he got the benefit of the doubt, the former Trump adviser said. He wasnt a Republican in the beginning. He wasnt a big church guyhe got churchy when he started running But in order to get elected now, hes gotta start walking it back.

While it may seem like hes walking it back, hes left open quite a bit of room for interpretation. Trump and his allies are almost certain to claim different things in different rooms. But those closest to the president claimed to The Daily Beast Monday that hes never been as anti-abortion as hes been perceivedor as much as he gets credit for after appointing Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.

Anti-Abortion Voters Should Have Dumped Trump When They Had the Chance

Trump has never been as right-wing on the issue of abortion as some of his staunchest supporters in the pro-life community, a pro-Trump operative told The Daily Beast. His position on abortion today is the same position his campaign laid out for him a year ago. I dont think it should really be a surprise.

A Never Trump Republican presidential campaign adviser, who also requested anonymity to avoid reprisal in Trumpworld, said they didnt see the value in Trump being so vague in his statement.

He really didnt say anything, so I dont think the heat from the pro-lifers is gonna go away because hes so wishy-washy, this campaign veteran told The Daily Beast. I was listening to that and I thought, this man isnt saying anything.

That is just how Trump works, this operative said. He is purposefully vague, leaving open the possibility that he would sign a federal abortion ban if one did in fact come across his desk. But that just isnt where the voters are at the moment, the pro-Trump operative said.

The problem isnt Trumps views on abortion, the problem right now is the majority of Americans dont want federal pro-life legislation. Winning the hearts and minds of those Americans should be the goal of the pro-life movement, they said.

Despite the week-long anticipation over what Trump would say, the Never Trump campaign adviser said Trump landed himself right back where he started.

I dont think it helps him in any way, this person said. I still think abortion is a really horrible issue for Republicans.

2033875671 Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former White House aide in the Trump administration, speaks during The Principles First 2024 Summit. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Farah Griffin noted Trump has never had any core conviction on the issue, but his survival instincts came through in the statement.

Now hes repositioning to punt responsibility for the more extreme abortion decisions on Republican governors and off of himself, Farah Griffin told The Daily Beast.

Although the former president may have taken some short term heat, she argued, he may have managed to leave the GOP holding the bag in an effort to distance himself from his own party and record on abortion.

Remarkably, she said, the man responsible for the Dobbs decision has found a way to make it everyones fault but his.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The row over the Post Office scandal and the hundreds of victims who are yet to be fully compensated has dominated headlines.

Here are the answers to questions you may have about the Horizon row, which still shows no sign of abating.

What caused the Post Office scandal?

The rollout of Horizon computing software - manufactured by Japanese company Fujitsu - across UK Post Office branches led to the prosecution of more than 900 sub-postmasters between 1999 and 2015. Faults in the software made it look like money was missing and sub-postmasters were charged with theft and false accounting as a result. Some were ordered to undertake community service or sent to prison and four are known to have taken their own lives.

What did sub-postmasters do when they found out they had shortfalls?

The Post Office ordered sub-postmasters to pay back money that was lost or face prosecution if they did not comply. They were contractually obliged to make up for the losses with their own funds. This resulted in some losing their livelihoods and going bankrupt as a result.

What happened to the extra money which was paid in?

Forensic accounts have said that the extra money paid in by worried sub-postmasters was likely credited to the Post Offices profit and loss account. If this was the case, then the Post Office would have declared larger profits or smaller losses that it should have done and would have needed less government subsidy as a result. If so, then the taxpayer inadvertently benefited from money wrongly taken from sub-postmasters.

When were the shortfalls attributed to the faulty computer software system?

It wasnt until December 2019 when a High Court judge ruled that Horizon contained bugs, errors and defects and there was a material risk that shortfalls in Post Office branch accounts were caused by the system.

How many sub-postmasters have had their convictions overturned since the 2019 judgment?

So far, 93 sub-postmasters have had their convictions overturned, but hundreds more have not yet come forward.

Have any sub-postmasters received compensation?

Around 138 million has been paid out to approximately 2,700 sub-postmasters across three compensation schemes, according to the Post Office. However, hundreds of others are yet to receive a payout. In September, the Government announced that every worker whose wrongful conviction was overturned would be offered 600,000 in compensation. Those who had already received initial smaller payments or had reached a lower valued settlement with the Post Office would be paid the difference. However, some lawyers who represent victims have said that even 600,000 is not enough in all cases to make up for what has been lost over two decades.

How did the Government come up with the 600,000 figure?

The first time victims of the scandal received any money was when those involved in Bates & Others v Post Office reached an out-of-court settlement with the Post Office in 2019. The Post Office did not accept liability, so this was a costs settlement not compensation. However, the group was awarded 57.75 million in total. However, some 46 million was taken in legal costs - leaving only 20,000 for each person. In April 2021, Nick Read, the chief executive of the Post Office, urged the Government to provide funding, arguing that his organisation did not have the financial resources to provide meaningful compensation. The Government went on to announce that sub-postmasters wrongly convicted of offences would get interim compensation of up to 100,000 a few months later, in July 2021. In September 2023, it confirmed that those who had had their convictions overturned on the basis of Horizon evidence would be paid 600,000 in full and final settlement of their claim.

What about sub-postmasters whose convictions have not been overturned?

Without proof of the convictions having been overturned, victims cannot currently claim compensation. People with criminal convictions typically need to go through an appeal process in court and the Post Office has said it covers all fees for lawyers and experts. On Wednesday, Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, announced that a new law would ensure those convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal are swiftly exonerated and compensated. However, experts have warned that such laws could undermine the independence of the courts and judges.

ITV drama Alan Bates vs The Post Office has helped highlight the issues raised in the Horizon scandal - ITV/Shutterstock

Who will fund the payouts?

So far the Government has funded the 138 million figure, but many have questioned whether Fujitsu - the firm behind the faulty software - should foot the bill. The multi-billion-pound Japanese firm typically receives more than 100 million in ongoing UK government contracts each year. On Tuesday, Mel Stride, Work and Pensions Secretary, told Good Morning Britain that he didnt think there was any working assumption at the moment that the taxpayer would fund the compensation payments. He said decisions going forward would be based on the outcome of an independent inquiry.

When will the independent inquiry finish?

The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry was initially set up as a non-statutory inquiry in September 2020. Following a request from Sir Wyn Williams, the Chairman of the Inquiry, it became statutory in June 2021. Statutory inquiries have certain powers - including the ability to compel witnesses to give evidence. The inquiry was initially set to conclude in August 2022 but it is still ongoing and is now due to finish this year.

Has anyone been held criminally responsible for what happened?

The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation in 2020 which saw Fujitsu experts, who were witnesses in the trials, probed for potential perjury and perverting the course of justice. Two people were interviewed under caution as a result, but nobody was arrested. However, last week the Met confirmed that the Post Office was under criminal investigation over potential fraud offences committed during the scandal.

Why did Paula Vennells hand back her CBE?

On Tuesday, Vennells, the former Post Office chief executive, confirmed that she would hand back her CBE, which she was awarded in 2019 for services to the Post Office and charity. Her decision came after mounting calls for her to be stripped of the honour.

Paula Vennells ran the Post Office while it routinely denied there was a problem with its Horizon IT system - Anthony Devlin

What else do campaigners want Paula Vennells to do?

Campaigners would like to see Ms Vennells return the 2.93 million she received in performance-related bonus payments in lieu of a pension. Overall, she is understood to have been paid as much as 5 million in total during her tenure as the chief executive of the Post Office between 2012 and 2019.

Why has the scandal come to light again?

Newspapers, broadcasters and websites, including The Telegraph, have reported on the scandal over the years. However, the scandal has come to public attention again following the release of ITVs drama Mr Bates vs. The Post Office, which is the channels most popular drama in three years.

Who is Alan Bates?

Alan Bates was a sub-postmaster who was accused of theft when his accounts showed a shortfall. He first reported issues with Horizon in 2000 and eventually had his contract terminated in 2003 when he refused to comply with his obligations to pay back the losses from his own pocket. Mr Bates led the campaign group Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance to its High Court victory in 2019.

Will everyone get justice?

At least 33 victims of the scandal have already died without receiving compensation. Campaigners warn many involved are only getting older and that it is crucial action is taken quickly.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
A man accused of carrying a ghost gun and a bag of crack when he was caught fare-beating at a Bronx subway station works with a city funded anti-violence group that tries to steer youth away from guns and gangs, the Daily News has learned.

Jermaine Greene, who was arrested trying to slip through an open exit door into the Fordham Road station in University Heights at about 5:45 p.m. on March 28, is a member of Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence (BRAG), law enforcement sources with knowledge of the case said.

Run by Good Shepherd Services, BRAG promotes safer streets where violence is not accepted and uses credible messengers  ex-cons who have either been in gangs or lived lives of violence  to monitor areas of the Bronx where violence flares up and deescalate the clash through conflict mediation.

Greene, 42, is an ex-con who spent nearly 14 years in prison for a 2004 Delaware murder. Green had been an outreach worker with BRAG since 2022.

Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence is aware of the arrest of one of its staff, a BRAG spokesperson said Tuesday. We take this matter seriously and are conducting a comprehensive internal inquiry to ensure the safety, welfare and trust of our program participants and the communities we support.

When he was caught trying to slip through the exit door, cops ran Greenes name, finding that he had two open warrants, police said. They also quickly discovered an untraceable ghost gun and a plastic bag of crack on him, cops said.

He apparently didnt get the memo that the NYPD is hyper-focused on transit safety, NYPD Transit Chief Michael Kemper said on X. He also didnt get the memo that law-abiding New Yorkers are fed up with open lawlessness at the turnstiles.

Greene was charged with weapon and drug possession and fare evasion, and was ordered held on $10,000 bail. Attorney William Schwarz, who represented him at his arraignment declined to comment on the arrest.

The Bronx district attorneys office, which has worked with BRAGs publicly funded violence interrupters in the past, declined to comment on Greenes links to the group, citing the pending case.

BRAG and the groups credible messengers play a major role in Mayor Adams Blueprint to End Gun Violence that was unveiled in 2022. The anti-violence group is also considered a community partner of the Mayors Office of Criminal Justice and the Mayors Office of Community and Mental Health.

The group works in the Bronxs 46th, 47th and 52nd precincts in Fordham, University Heights, Wakefield, Williamsbridge and Norwood.

Greene is not the first BRAG member to run afoul of the law.

In January, the former director of BRAG, Michael Rodriguez, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Jan. 4 in Orange County after pleading guilty to narcotics and conspiracy charges.

Rodriguez was arrested after a two-year investigation in Middletown, N.Y. that identified him as the main supplier for two notorious drug dealers in the county, investigators said at the time.

At the time of his arrest, Bronx DA Darcel Clark said the charges against Rodriguez were both shocking and disturbing.

[Rodriguez] has attended anti-violence events and peace marches portraying himself as someone who cares about stopping the violence in our community, Clark said in a statement. These charges are the exact opposite of the good work cure-violence groups are doing.

Greenes arrest came just hours after Mayor Adams announced that the city will soon begin using weapon detection scanners at train stations to help bring down a recent uptick in violence.

He was arrested for domestic murder on April 19, 2004, after he killed a loved one in Delaware, police said. He was convicted of murder and was released from prison in 2018. He moved back to New York shortly afterward.

Dont think he was going to visit his parole officer tonight, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell joked on X.

Even before moving to Delaware, Greene was convicted of robbery in the Bronx in 1999 and served three years in prison before being released, court records show.

Word of Greenes connections to BRAG comes as violence interrupters throughout the city have complained that they are being harassed, abused and arrested by the NYPD as they try to deescalate tense situations on the streets and steer youngsters away from a life of crime and gangs.
By Steve Holland and David Brunnstrom

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -More joint patrols can be expected in the South China Sea after drills by the United States, Australia, the Philippines and Japan last weekend, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday, ahead of U.S. summits this week with the Japanese and Philippine leaders.

Warships from the four nations staged the exercises on Sunday following stepped up Chinese pressure on the Philippines in the disputed strategic waterway.

U.S. President Joe Biden hosts Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington on Wednesday and the two and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos will meet on Thursday for talks that will include ways to push back against China.

"On the naval patrols, we just saw trilateral plus Australia, a new form of quadrilateral joint naval patrols last week, so you can expect to see more of that in the future," Sullivan told a regular White House briefing while previewing the summits.

Sullivan also said Washington and its existing Australian and British partners in the AUKUS security pact would explore possible Japanese involvement in Pillar II of the project, something the Biden-Kishida summit would address.

"We're prepared to work with additional partners beyond the three of us, where they can bring capabilities, and Japan is one of the countries that could very well bring capabilities to that," Sullivan said.

"Japan could be a critical contributor," he said. "You will see when they speak tomorrow, an indication that that's the direction we're moving in."

Sullivan said Biden and Kishida would announce measures to enhance defense and security cooperation and in space exploration.

In an interview with Japan's NHK World Television conducted on Monday, Sullivan addressed plans for a new Japanese Self Defense Forces (SDF) headquarters overseeing all of the country's military operations that Kishida wants to establish by the end of March 2025.

Sullivan said Biden would give Kishida a "complete commitment ... to match Japan's upgrade of its own operational command, with an upgrade of our operational command."

Sources with knowledge of the planning have told Reuters Washington will consider appointing a four-star commander for Japan to match the rank of the head of Japan's new military headquarters. Experts say a U.S. officer of that rank could lay the groundwork for a future unified Japanese-U.S. command.

Sullivan said the specifics still had to be worked out, "but the overall strategic direction is clear." He said the aim would be to enable the two countries to "work together more effectively, jointly against all of the common challenges that we face in the security realm in the Indo-Pacific."

"We are prepared as Japan is to take a step forward in enhancing our operational command in Japan and in making sure that we're integrating our operational command with Japan's because we have to be able to work jointly in a world of dynamic threats and challenges in a region of dynamic threats and challenge."

He told NHK the space discussions would cover "our shared desire to return to the moon."

Japan is hoping to land its first astronaut on the moon with the U.S. Artemis project that envisages returning humans there by 2026, as competition with Russia and China intensifies.

Australia on Tuesday played down reports Japan could soon join AUKUS, saying any cooperation would be on a project-by-project basis as differences emerged within the pact over adding new members. A Japanese government official told Reuters on Monday discussions about formally joining AUKUS would likely not be welcomed by Australia or Britain until they had concrete results from the pact.

While Washington is keen on Japanese involvement, U.S. officials and experts say obstacles remain given the need for Tokyo to introduce better cyber defenses and stricter rules for guarding secrets.

(Reporting by Steve Holland, Rami Ayyub, David Brunnstrom and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Chris Reese and Josie Kao)
TIANJIN, April 9 (Xinhua) -- North China's Tianjin Port handled over 5.41 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers in the first quarter of this year, up 7.2 percent year on year, setting a new record, the port authorities said.

Tianjin Port saw its cargo throughput reach 118 million tonnes in the first three months of 2024, up 3.2 percent year on year, according to the Tianjin Port Group.

Earlier this year, the port launched a new direct shipping route to facilitate cherry imports from Chile. This marks the first direct shipping service for Latin American cherries to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

Tianjin Port, located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, is a major shipping point in north China. Currently, it has opened up 145 container routes, maintaining trade with over 500 ports in more than 180 countries and regions around the world. 
An expert who has seen 30 solar eclipses made my first experience with one breathtaking

My first solar eclipse experience was breathtaking thanks to advice from a seasoned eclipse-chaser.

Fred Espanak has been to 30 total solar eclipses, and he told me how to make the most of my first one.

Getting into the path of totality was worth the effort for me and others.

On Monday, I witnessed my first-ever total solar eclipse. And it was breathtaking.

I traveled to Burlington, Vermont to watch the moon's shadow blot out the sun over Lake Champlain. The weather was warm and clear, traffic was light on my journey into Burlington, and the whole city came together  plus thousands of visitors  to watch the eclipse unfold.

Eclipse watchers in Burlington, VT flocked to the waterfront of Lake Champlain to watch the event unfold over the Adirondack Mountains. Ellyn Lapointe

But what really helped make my first eclipse experience great was the advice I received from Fred Espanak, a former NASA astrophysicist and avid eclipse chaser.

Espanak has been to 30 total solar eclipses and has seen one on all seven continents  including Antarctica. He's seen so many that he earned the nickname "Mr. Eclipse," and it goes without saying that he has his eclipse-watching strategy down to a science.

In the weeks leading up to April 8, I reached out to him for advice on how to make the most of my first total solar eclipse experience. Here are the tips he gave me that turned out to be the most helpful.

Get to the path of totality

Millions of Americans traveled to the path of totality for Monday's eclipse, and Espanak would say they had the right idea.

"While a partial eclipse might be interesting, a total eclipse is incredible," he said.

My photo of totality, which shows the sun's corona glowing white around the perimeter of the moon's shadow. Ellyn Lapointe

When I spoke with Espanak in February, I called from my apartment in Brooklyn, New York. New York City wasn't going to be in the path of totality, but would see the moon cover about 90% of the sun during the eclipse. Espanak encouraged me to leave the city and travel to the path of totality for the event.

So, I decided to take the train to Burlington, Vermont, to watch the event. And it was totally worth the seven-hour trip. In Burlington, I was able to see three minutes and 15 seconds of totality, which was unlike anything I had ever seen before.

Keep an eye on the weather

The weather can make or break your total solar eclipse experience. Cloudy skies or precipitation in the forecast can make it difficult to see and photograph the event  some eclipse chasers in New York learned this the hard way.

That's why it's important to keep your eye on the weather forecast during the week leading up to the eclipse, Espenak said, and be prepared to change your viewing location to find clearer skies if necessary.

"You have to be willing to change your plans a day or two before the eclipse based on the weather forecasts," Espenak said.

Waterfront Park in Burlington, VT just a few hours before the eclipse began. A few clouds rolled in later on, but they didn't obstruct my view of the eclipse. Ellyn Lapointe

Vermont's weather in April can be unpredictable  ranging from snow, rain, and high winds to sun and blue skies. I checked the weather every day in the week leading up to the eclipse. Luckily for me, Burlington was sunny and warm for eclipse day, so I didn't have to make any last-minute changes to my viewing plan.

Espanak's tips made my first total eclipse experience unforgettable. And now, I'll be prepared for the next one in the US in 2044.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A person threw an explosive device that damaged the porch of The Satanic Temple in Salem, Mass. when nobody was inside, according to local law enforcement.

The explosive device was thrown at around 4:14 a.m. local time on Monday and was detected by staff at approximately 4:00 p.m., police said in a press release.

State police bomb technicians made sure the device was not a danger. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) assisted in the probe while police dogs cleared the spot for potential secondary devices.

No further details about the damage were available. The Hill has reached out to The Satanic Temple and Salem police for comment.

Police and an FBI joint terrorism task force are investigating the incident.

The Satanic Temple was founded in 2013. Its Salem headquarters has a gallery with exhibits on Satanism and witch hunts. The center often hosts and performs formal ceremonial events, lectures, screenings, and meetings, according to its website.

The center has dealt with previous bomb threats, according to the Salem polices news release.

In June 2022, a man was arrested for arson. He pleaded not guilty after being accused of setting fire to the building.

A Michigan man was arrested and charged after plotting to bomb the temple in that state, according to the polices news release.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Fact-check: Claim that eclipse-watchers in Madison were protesting Biden is Pants on Fire

Two big things happened in Madison Monday  a visit from President Joe Biden and the partial solar eclipse.

Biden, who announced a student debt forgiveness plan at Madison Area Technical College, left the city just as the eclipse was reaching its peak, with the moon covering almost 90% of the sun, a little past 2 p.m.

But one social media post incorrectly conflated the two events.

Brandon Maly, chair of the Republican Party of Dane County, posted a photo on X of a large crowd of people gathered on UW-Madisons Library Mall. Those people were out in full force at UW Madison today protesting Biden, he claimed.

Multiple news reports confirm that the people were in fact there to watch the eclipse.

Maly has since deleted the post. But since it garnered thousands of views, well correct the record.

People gathered on Library Mall were eclipse-watchers

A quick Google search of what happened on Library Mall Monday is enough to disprove Malys claim. The schools Astronomy Club hosted a live viewing event from noon to 3:30.

The Wisconsin State Journal reported that the mall erupted in cheers and applause Monday at 2:06 p.m., as hundreds gathered to celebrate the much-anticipated solar eclipse.

The Daily Cardinal, one of the universitys student newspapers, described a packed Library Mall, with families, dogs, photographers and college students eagerly awaiting the eclipse.

Each story was accompanied with photos of the scene  people standing on the mall, wearing eclipse glasses, gazing up at the sky. The university itself also documented the event in a photo gallery with a tongue-in-cheek headline, Eclipse throws shade, delighting campus.

Meanwhile, about five miles away at Madison Area Technical College, Biden spoke about student debt.

A group of protestors did gather outside that event. Wisconsin Public Radio reported a few dozen protestors (waving) Palestinian flags and (chanting) for a ceasefire and end of military aid to Israel. A Cap Times reporter estimated in a post on X that about 30 people had gathered, and other news reports confirmed.

But that was clearly not what was taking place on Library Mall, as Maly claimed. In the photo, no one in the crowd is carrying signs or looking toward any organized speaker. A warm April day could bring just as many people to the Memorial Union Terrace  but that wouldnt be a protest, either.

Our ruling

Maly claimed that people were out in full force at UW Madison (Monday) protesting Biden, sharing a photo of a large crowd gathered at the universitys Library Mall.

Pants on Fire

But news reports and the university itself told a different story: the crowd was gathered to watch the partial solar eclipse. They were nowhere near Bidens announcement.

We rate this claim Pants on Fire.

Sources

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, President Joe Biden unveils student debt forgiveness plan in trip to Madison. Here is what to know, April 8, 2024

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Replay: 2024 solar eclipse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, highlights from historic celestial event, April 8, 2024

Wisconsin State Journal, Solar eclipse thrills hundreds gathered at UW-Madisons Library Mall, April 8, 2024

The Daily Cardinal, Its the biggest event for decades: UW-Madison Astronomy Club, campus celebrate solar eclipse, April 8, 2024

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Eclipse throws shade, delighting campus, April 8, 2024

Wisconsin Public Radio, Biden unveils student loan forgiveness plan in Madison, April 8, 2024

X post from Cap Times reporter

X post from News 3 Now/Channel 3000 reporter

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Claim that eclipse-watchers were protesting Biden is Pants on Fire
Fact Check: John Adams Never Said This Thought-Provoking Quote. Even So, People Keep Sharing It on Social Media

Claim:

John Adams once said, "There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt."

Rating:

Rating: False

On April 5, 2024, the Wall Street Silver (@wallstreetsilv) account on X posted a meme claiming former U.S. President John Adams once said or wrote, "There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt."

The same user previously shared the quote on Jan. 31, 2023.

We also found a Facebook post from January 2013 displaying the quote with Adams' name attached. It received more than 55,000 shares.

https://www.facebook.com/ForAmerica/photos/a.119506304774403/483171058407924

However, there's no evidence the nation's second president ever said or wrote these words.

Despite a complete lack of proof the quote came from Adams, readers can still easily find in a Google search a seemingly endless number of websites giving attribution to him for these words.

A search of the database on Google Books showed the oldest printing of the quote in written literature appeared to be from 2009. Meanwhile, the earliest mention of the quote in newspaper archives on newspapers.com was from 2012. As for the earliest mention anywhere, CheckYourFact.com reported in 2019 BarryPopik.com found an entry with the quote and Adams' name from as far back as 2002.

For a man who died in 1826, these findings weren't exactly reassuring.

Like many quotes published online, this one appeared to have been born on the internet, long after the person being named had died.

CheckYourFact.com also received word from Sara Martin, who was described as being the editor-in-chief of the Adams Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Martin said, "While the sentiment of this quotation is in keeping with John Adams, we have found no direct evidence Adams ever wrote it." This information showed up in Twitter's Community Notes under the tweet from @wallstreetsilv.

As for other debunkings, back in 2010, Gary North of the Gary North's Specific Answers website also wrote that Adams never said these words. North then published a second article where he carefully explained why it wouldn't matter if a bunch of search results said someone once said something. It's documentary evidence that matters, not search results, North contended.

And he was right.

Over the years, we've found many websites claiming to collect quotes from famous people are extremely unreliable. They usually contain no attribution whatsoever. However, the quotes are still believed by some users.

Imagine a dinner with friends where a discussion is going on about whether a quote really came from a specific person. Someone at the table might perform a quick Google search, hold up their phone, and point to the top result from a quote-collecting website, even though such a website contains no sourced historical records.

Unreliable quote websites are kind of like the pages that claim to publish the net worths of various celebrities. Such figures often appear above Google search results as a snippet, as if that area at the top displays authoritative information. However, a quick review of the fine print on the websites where the net worth dollar figure was sourced will often say they're nothing more than estimates. In other words, it's not reliable.

We're not advocating for correcting friends at dinner about unimportant matters with an "actually " declaration. What we are saying, however, is Adams never said the quote about conquering and enslaving a country by sword or debt.

Sources:

Atienza, Elias. "FACT CHECK: Did John Adams Say, 'There Are Two Ways To Conquer And Enslave A Nation. One Is By Sword. The Other Is By Debt'?" CheckYourFact.com, 29 Oct. 2019, https://checkyourfact.com/2019/10/29/fact-check-john-adams-conquer-enslave-nation-sword-debt-quote/.

Google Books. https://books.google.com/.

"John Adams | Miller Center." The Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, https://millercenter.org/president/adams.

Popik, Barry. "Entry from December 08, 2009: 'There Are Two Ways to Conquer and Enslave a Nation. One Is by the Sword. The Other Is by Debt.'" BarryPopik.com, 8 Dec. 2009, https://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/there_are_two_ways_to_conquer_and_enslave_a_nation_one_is_by_the_sword_the.

Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/.
Fact Check: People Are Wondering Whether This Building Really Is NATO's Headquarters

Claim:

Drawings accurately show the shape of NATO's headquarters building.

Rating:

Rating: True

Context:

Viral images present a design drawing of NATO's headquarters made in 2010. While the drawing accurately captures the shape of NATO's present HQ, the white lines were added in an attempt to highlight the building's supposed Nazi symbolism.

In April 2024, claims re-emerged online that Nazi symbolism was present in the design of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's headquarters building in Brussels, Belgium. According to some users on X (formerly Twitter), the building looks like the symbol used by the Schutzstaffel (SS)  the Nazi paramilitary force. This illustration often often accompanies those claims:

Such assertions are not new. Framing NATO as the continuation of Nazi fascism is a popular Russian claim, and it factors heavily in Russian propaganda related to the war in Ukraine. Ukraine has received significant financial support from NATO member states in its fight against Russia.

The illustration in these tweets does not stem from a photograph, but from architectural renderings released in 2010 of the design selected for NATO's headquarters building, which was completed in May 2017.

The viral image based on these renderings highlights the purported "SS" in white. This is an alternation that is not present in the drawing or finished building itself. Aside from the white highlights on these drawings, however, those renderings accurately captured the building that was ultimately built, shown below via Google Maps:

A similar aerial view is found in the Getty Images archive:

The building was designed by the American architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Larry Oltmanns, a partner with the firm, described the design as "a three-dimensional representation for a complex decision-making body." According to NATO, the building's design is meant to resemble "interlocking fingers."

While the question of the presence of symbolism is largely in the eye of the beholder, it is factual that the building depicted in illustrations is what the NATO headquarters actually looks like. For that reason, the claim is "True."

Sources:

Brussels to Get New NATO Headquarters Designed by SOM. https://www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/2003/02/05/brussels-to-get-new-nato-headquarters-designed-by-som.html. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.

Dickinson, Peter. "NATO, Nazis, Satanists: Putin Is Running out of Excuses for His Imperial War." Atlantic Council, 8 Nov. 2022, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/nato-nazis-satanists-putin-is-running-out-of-excuses-for-his-imperial-war/.

NATO. "NATO Secretary General Welcomes next Step towards New NATO Headquarters." NATO, https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_64671.htm. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.

"NATO Headquarters." SOM, https://www.som.com/projects/nato-headquarters/. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.

SS Bolts | Hate Symbols Database. https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/ss-bolts. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.
Factbox-Who are the elderly Swiss women behind the landmark climate court case win?

(Reuters) - The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on Tuesday ruled in favour of a group of elderly Swiss women who said their government's inadequate efforts to combat climate change put them at risk of dying during heatwaves.

Here is some information about this group:

WHO ARE THE KLIMASENIORINNEN?

The association of Swiss women, known as KlimaSeniorinnen, has more than 2,500 members. Throughout its legal battle, it said it was seeking women "aged 64 and older living in Switzerland  because women over 75 are especially at risk".

The group receives support from Greenpeace Switzerland, which guaranteed the costs of the legal initiative.

The Swiss women said Bern violated their right to life by failing to cut emissions in line with a pathway that limits global warming to 1.5C (2.7F) to fend off the most severe consequences of temperature change.

Their case cited a U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report that found women and older adults were among those at highest risk of temperature-related deaths during heatwaves.

Bruna Molinari, who is in her eighties and suffers from asthma, was among the women who delivered their claim to the European Court of Human Rights last year.

"As a grandmother and mother, I think they have the right to have a climate that is better than the one we have," she said at the time, struggling to repress her cough.

HOW DID THE GROUP FORM?

The association held its inaugural meeting in August 2016, when it had only 40 members.

As more and more women joined the group, it began to make its legal claims at the national level, submitting legal requests to Switzerland's Federal Council, among other entities, in November 2016.

When the Federal Supreme Court dismissed their case in 2020, they announced plans to turn to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.

HOW IS SWITZERLAND DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE?

Switzerland is warming at more than twice the global rate and its glaciers are melting fast. Bern outlined a plan to make deeper emissions cuts but voters rebuffed it in 2021 because it was viewed as too burdensome.

The Swiss justice ministry has described the European Court of Human Rights' ruling as final and said it must be implemented.

"Together with the authorities concerned, we will now analyse the extensive judgment and review what measures Switzerland will take in the future," it said, without elaborating.

A spokesperson for the Swiss Energy Ministry reacted to the ruling by saying: "We're on a good path. We're doing a lot."

WHAT DOES THE RULING MEAN?

The verdict, which cannot be appealed, could compel the Swiss federal government to take greater action on reducing emissions, including revising its 2030 emissions reductions targets to get in line with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5 C.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber in Geneva; editing by Barbara Lewis)
Cynthia Bruno has been named the next principal of Rise STEM Academy for Girls, where parents have been upset over building conditions and Fayette Superintendent Demetrus Liggins decision not to add sixth grade at the school as planned.

Bruno replaces Jennifer Jacobs who resigned in late March despite parental support. Jacobs said she was leaving with a heavy heart.

The magnet school opened in 2020 in Lexington and initially launched with grades kindergarten through second with long term plans to expand through eighth grade.

However, Liggins recently announced the initial vision for a K-5 school had not come to fruition and existing grades should be made stronger before expanding. He said he did not want it to continue to be a program that is not fulfilling the full vision that it can.

With close to two decades of experience in education, Bruno has spent the last three years as the principal of Dixie Magnet Elementary School, district officials said in a news release.

During Brunos tenure at Dixie, she has propelled the campus to become one of the fastest-growing academically in the state and among the highest-achieving schools in Fayette County Public Schools, district officials said. Dixie performed at the highest level possible in Kentuckys school accountability system in 2022-23, according to the Kentucky School Report Card.

Brunos leadership also earned Dixie recognition as a Model Project-Based Learning School and a Promising Practices Professional Learning Community School.

Before moving to Dixie, Bruno served as the assistant principal at Maxwell Spanish Immersion Elementary.

She becomes principal at Rise STEM Academy starting July 1.

Bruno is a Kentucky native who spent 10 years as a classroom teacher and instructional leader in Nashville, Tennessee, before joining Fayette County Public Schools in 2015 as assistant principal at James Lane Allen Elementary.

Cynthia has proven that she is a transformative leader by fostering innovative and inclusive educational practices. She is a passionate educator and is excited to contribute to the success and growth of Rise, said Liggins. Her leadership, proven track record of academic achievement, and genuine enthusiasm for increased student outcomes will benefit the advancement of an exceptional girls STEM program that provides unique and world-class learning opportunities for all scholars.

Bruno holds a bachelors degree in elementary education from the University of Kentucky, a masters degree in educational leadership from Tennessee State University, and a National Board Certification in Early/Middle Childhood Literacy, district officials said.

Controversy at Rise

Liggins has apologized for making a last minute decision not to add a 6th grade, acknowledging that the district had already spent money to begin renovating an annex at the old Central Office on East Main Street. Parents said they had to quickly make another plan for their sixth grade girls for the 2024-25 school year.

Parents previously successfully lobbied for a newly constructed school for K-5 Rise students on Versailles Road.

Until it is built, they are asking for inequities to be resolved at the current 2420 Spurr Road location, such as the lack of gymnasium, limited library and potential environmental health hazards. Liggins recently assured parents that improvements would be made.

Now that a new principal is named, the school will develop an advisory group involving staff, families and students, Liggins has said.
The parents of mass shooter Ethan Crumbleywho killed four of his classmates at Oxford High School in 2021were sentenced Tuesday to 10 to 15 years in prison after they were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for their roles in the attack.

Ahead of the sentencing in Oakland County, Michigan, prosecutors asked the judge to put away Jennifer and James Crumbley for at least 10 years. Attorneys for the couple countered that they each deserved less than five years locked up, with credit for the time they served ahead of trial.

On Tuesday, Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews allowed them to receive credit for 858 days served, but grilled them for their inaction. They are the first parents of a school shooter to be held criminally responsible for their childs crime.

Opportunity knocked over and over again, louder and louder, and was ignored. No one answered and these two people should have and sure didnt, she said. These convictions confirm repeated acts or lack of acts that could have halted an oncoming runaway train.

The decision came after loved ones of the slain high schoolers gave emotional victim impact statements in court, skewering the Crumbleys for failing as parents.

When you texted Ethan Dont do it, I was texting Madisyn, I love you, please call mom.



Nicole Beausoleil, mother of Michigan shooting victim Madisyn Baldwin, gives a victim impact statement at the sentencing of James and Jennifer Crumbley.



More: https://t.co/TTh6jnIlRa pic.twitter.com/BHroT50IAm  NewsNation (@NewsNation) April 9, 2024

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of 17-year-old victim Madisyn Baldwin, gave a heart-wrenching statement through tears. She detailed how her experience of that tragic day compared to that of the Crumbleys, as she frantically called and searched for her daughter in hospitals, while they bought booze and burner phones before checking into a motel.

Beausoleil said she wished she could have taken the bullet that day so her daughter, an honors student in the process of writing college essays, could live the life she deserved.

Not only did your son kill my daughter, but you did as well, she told the Crumbleys, who sat stoic in the courtroom. The words involuntary should not be a part of your offense. Everything you did that day, months prior, and days afterward were voluntary acts of your son to commit a murder.

In her statement, Beausoleil recalled the nightly screams of agony from Baldwins 11-year-old sister, adding that she cant stop thinking about her daughters lifeless body lying for hours in a pool of blood inside the school. Baldwin had been executed, Beausoleil said, shot in the head by Ethan at point-blank range.

Mass Shooter Fathers Chilling Prison Calls to Prosecutor Revealed

Beausoleil asked that the judge sentence the couple to the maximum possible sentence, saying it was nothing compared to the life sentence I was given.

The father of Hana St. Juliana, another victim, testified that the the Crumbleys chose to stay quiet and avoid the warning signs. Now that the act is done, he said their action in court proves they continue to choose to blame everyone but themselves.

Steve St. Juliana testified that the loss of his daughter destroyed a large portion of my very soul.

I will never think back fondly on her high school and college graduations, he said. I will never walk her down the aisle as she begins the journey of starting her own family. I am forever denied the chance to hold her or her future children in my arms.

Reina St. Juliana, Hanas older sister, testified that their brother, then 10, had to learn how to write a eulogy before he learned how to write an essayplacing that blame on the Crumbley family.

I met up with Hana and a friend during school that day. When we split ways to go back to class, I just looked back and smiled. I didnt say goodbye. I never got to say goodbye, she said, recounting the day of the shooting. I never got to remind her that I love her, that shes my everything. The person I want to walk through life with side-by-side.

Reina said the maximum sentence of 15 years was too short for the Crumbley parents, especially since her sister didnt even have 15 years to live.

Prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo for Jennifer Crumbley that it was her gross negligence and failure to exercise even the smallest measure of ordinary that allowed her son to carry out the mass slaying.

Her attorneys claimed Jennifer Crumbley was herself a victim, saying she had no idea her 15-year-old son would carry out such a horrific crime, despite being the one who made a gun accessible to him. Her attorney asked that she be sentenced to house arrest.

The couple was tried separately but were sentenced together in Oakland County, just north of Detroit. Theyve already been in custody for over two years after they were arrested in a warehouse days after the shooting.

Both Crumbleys were criticized by prosecutors in sentencing memos for showing a chilling lack of remorse for their sons actions and for their failure to spot red flags that preceded the shooting.

Jennifer Crumbley infamously testified in her trial that she wouldnt have done anything different if she could go back to before the shooting.

Ive asked myself if I would have done anything differently, and I wouldnt have, she said, much to the ire of jurors and the slain students loved ones.

In a sentencing memo for James Crumbley, prosecutors claimed his jail calls show a total lack of remorse, he blames everyone but himself. That memo also noted the hes repeatedly referred to himself as a martyr and that hes threatened prosecutors and claimed there will be retribution.

On Tuesday, however, James Crumbley had a different tone while testifying. He named each of his sons victims in court and apologized to their loved ones.

I really want the families of Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St Juliana, Tate Myre and Justin Shilling to know how truly sorry I am, and how devastated I was when I heard what happened to them, he said.

I want to say I cant imagine the pain and agony ... for the families that have lost their children and what they are experiencing and what they are going through, he added. As a parent, our biggest fear is losing our child or our children, and to lose a child is unimaginable. My heart is really broken for everybody involved.

Oxford Shooter Ethan Crumbley Caught in Second Prison Brawl in Four Months

Ethan pleaded guilty in December for the shooting and is already serving a lifetime sentence without the possibility of parole. Its been a rocky start to his life-long sentence, as hes already found himself at the center of a pair of prison brawls.

Prosecutors successfully argued that the Crumbley parents were criminally responsible for their sons actions, saying they neglected his downward spiral while leaving his eventual murder weapon in their home unsecured.

Its a rare case that takes some really egregious facts, the prosecutor Karen McDonald said at Jennifer Crumbleys trial. It takes the unthinkable, and she has done the unthinkable, and because of that, four kids have died.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Family fears body parts, burned car are that of Sade Robinson, a missing Wisconsin woman

Sade Carleena Robinson.

The family of a missing woman says that human remains found in and around Milwaukee may be connected to her disappearance.

Family members of Sade Carleena Robinson, 19, say they believe her disappearance could be related to the human leg found near Lake Michigan. However, authorities have not confirmed whether the cases are connected.

Robinson was reported missing on Monday, April 1, and was labeled "critically missing" by the Milwaukee Police Department.

The following morning, a car was found on fire in an alley about 2 miles from Robinson's home. Family members told WISN-TV that detectives said the car was Robinson's.

The same day, a person found a human leg in or near Lake Michigan at a Milwaukee County Park in Cudahy, Wisconsin.

Multiple body parts have surfaced in the area since the first discovery. The search remains ongoing as of Monday.

Here's what we know.

A file photo of Warnimont Park in Cudahy, Wisconsin. A severed human leg was discovered in or near Lake Michigan at the park.

Toddler killed: Tennessee grandmother charged in 3-year-old boy's death the day after Christmas

Robinson's disappearance

Police say Robinson was last seen in the area of 1800 N. Commerce St. in Milwaukee on April 1.

She is 5 feet tall and weighs roughly 135 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes and was possibly wearing a black coat, white-hooded sweatshirt, blue jean pants, and white shoes.

Sheena Scarbrough, Robinson's mother, told WISN-TV that on the day of her disappearance Robinson, texted to ask for $15, an action she described as "very unusual."

Robinson then failed to appear for her shift at a local pizza restaruant.

"She was scheduled to graduate next month," Scarbrough told the outlet.

Robinson attended Ida S. Baker High School and Riverside High School, according to her Facebook page and was studying criminal justice at Milwaukee Area Technical College before her disappearance, according to WISN.

"We need y'all's support to help and find more evidence. Thanks to these people out here, we found a little bit more evidence, but we still don't know everything," David Scarbrough II, Robinson's uncle, told WISN on Saturday.

USA TODAY has reached out to Robinson's family and will update this story if we receive a response.

Human remains found

After the initial April 2 discovery of what was confirmed to be a human leg, the sheriff's office did not treat the case as a homicide investigation, but as a "death investigation, albeit suspicious."

The investigation was upgraded to a homicide investigation after the agency searched a home on Milwaukee's south side and took a person of interest into custody on April 4.

The sheriff's department told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, that another human body part was found about one block from the scene of the car fire at about 10 p.m. on Friday.

Milwaukee police reported that remains were found on Saturday and Sunday less than a tenth of a mile from the location of the Friday discovery.

USA TODAY has reached out to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department and did not receive an immediate response.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sade Robinson: Family fears body parts, burned car are missing woman
NEW YORK, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A judge from the New York Court of Appeals on Monday rejected former U.S. President Donald Trump's emergency request to delay a criminal trial on his hush money payments to an adult film star during the 2016 presidential campaign, according to media reports.

Associate Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez from an appellate court in Manhattan denied Trump's bid to delay the criminal trial scheduled for April 15 following a hearing.

Trump's legal team asked the judge to postpone the trial indefinitely as efforts are made to change the venue of the trial.

Seen as the first of this kind facing an ex-U.S. president, the criminal trial against Trump regarding election interference would begin on April 15 with jury selection, another New York judge, Juan Merchan said earlier.

Judge Merchan continued to proceed with the preparatory work and sent a letter to Senior Trial Counsel Joshua Steinglass from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and Todd Blanch, a former federal prosecutor and Trump's lead counsel in the case on Monday regarding issues on jury selection.

Arraigned in the case in early April 2023, Trump faces charges that he falsified business records during the 2016 presidential campaign to make "hush-money" payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and keep her quiet about an alleged past sexual encounter with Trump. 
Family of Las Vegas attorney who killed ex-daughter-in-law, new husband in law office shooting: We ask for prayers and privacy

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The family of Joe Houston II, the attorney accused of shooting his former daughter-in-law and her lawyer husband before turning the gun on himself, released a statement Tuesday about 24 hours following the deadly shooting at a law office.

Prominent Las Vegas attorney, wife killed in law office shooting: sources

Attorney Dennis Prince and his wife, Ashley Prince, were killed in the shooting on the fifth floor of an office building near Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa during a deposition Monday, sources confirmed. Houston was there to represent his son, Dylan Houston, in a custody dispute with his former wife, Ashley Prince.

Las Vegas attorney kills 2, self in Summerlin law office shooting: sources

Our family is in a state of profound shock and sadness at yesterdays events. We ask for prayers and privacy as we try to navigate the coming days. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is still conducting their investigation and as that continues, speculation about details of the incident only serves to add trauma to our already grieving and overwhelmed families. We have full faith in Metros efforts and will leave all future comment to them as their investigation unfolds. Houston Family

The Princes recently had a child together, friends confirmed to the 8 News Now Investigators. Both also had children from previous marriages.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
A family member evicted an elderly Oklahoma City couple from their home, and instead of leaving peacefully, the geriatric man living there set himself and the home on fire.

He and the family dog died in the blaze. His wife was pulled to safety by sheriffs deputies.

On April 1, two Oklahoma City deputies arrived at the home of Mary Goulding, 77, and Anthony Goulding, 82, at 10602 Flamingo Ave., to forcibly remove the couple. The Gouldings had been married for 25 years.

A bodycam video from one of the deputies shows the deputy approaching a bedroom and shouting to Anthony Goulding to stop, as Goulding poured gasoline in the bedroom and hallway.

Anthony Goulding can be heard saying, You ready?

Once Goulding was inside the bedroom, he doused the area around him, leaned down and lit the fuel, which burst into flames. He didnt appear to try to escape. Both the man and the couples dog died in the inferno.

As the fire engulfed the rest of the house, the two deputies dragged Mary Goulding from the burning home to safety.

An eviction hearing in Oklahoma City a month earlier

That tragedy came less than one month after Judge April D. Collins entered an eviction judgment against Anthony and Mary Goulding.

The eviction case was filed by Timothy Denny, Mary Gouldings son.

Ive got 48 hours to move out, I guess, Goulding said after his March 11 hearing.

He said he didnt know where he and his wife would move. She has Parkinsons Disease, he said, and he was eager to get home to her.

I guess well have to go out to the streets, Anthony Goulding said.

At the Oklahoma County Courthouse the day of the eviction hearing, Anthony Goulding stood alone before the judge, representing himself in the lawsuit.

Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.

Denny had retained legal counsel from Robert Goldman, one of Oklahoma Countys most prolific eviction attorneys.

There were no arguments for stopping the eviction, said Michael Figgins, executive director of Legal Aid Services Oklahoma, in an email to Oklahoma Watch. LASO pleaded with the lawyer for the stepson to allow for more time to fund a new location to no avail.

Mary Goulding had signed the deed of the home over to Denny in 2013. The couple were paying $700 per month to Denny for rent.

More: Facing eviction and need legal help? Advocates working to make sure help is available

Timothy Denny spoke by phone with Oklahoma Watch on Mar. 14. He said he was evicting his mother and her husband as a last-ditch attempt to get his mother into skilled nursing care.

He shared with Oklahoma Watch a medical assessment that listed heavy use of alcohol and alcohol use disorder as a condition Mary Goulding suffers. Denny said she was a heavy smoker and resisted leaving her home because she couldnt drink in a skilled nursing facility and would have to go outside to smoke.

'We knew she needed to go somewhere'

Denny said he and his siblings have for years been trying to persuade Mary Goulding to move out of the house and into a place where she could receive the care she needed. Most recently, in December, he said he served the couple a first notice to leave. Anthony Goulding verified that the day of his eviction hearing.

Ultimately, it was the last effort that we could take to force the situation, that actually happened late last week, to get her admitted to someplace, Denny told Oklahoma Watch. We knew she needed to go somewhere.

Neither Anthony Goulding nor Timothy Denny acknowledged each other as family due to years of apparent discord.

Denny said the couple had nearly destroyed the home and it would cost him more than $30,000 to repair the house if he wanted to sell it. That damage isnt apparent in the bodycam video.

Deputies had been working with the family to arrange a stay at a hotel for a few weeks until they could find another living arrangement. Uber was waiting outside the house to take them to the hotel when Anthony Goulding set the house ablaze.

Youre taking someones home away, said Sheriff Tommie Johnson III during a press conference about the incident. Thats their last stand. If youre taking that away from somebody, talk about a whirlwind of emotions.

Timothy Denny is the founder and CEO of Onward Fleet Solutions and owns Holiday Bowling Center in Oklahoma City. Mary Goulding is now being cared for in a skilled nursing home, Denny said.

Heather Warlick is a reporter covering evictions, housing and homelessness. Contact her at (405) 226-1915 or hwarlick@oklahomawatch.org.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Eviction attempt in Oklahoma City ends in flames, man dies
Family, police seeking public help to locate woman who went missing in Southern California

The Los Angeles Police Department is seeking the publics assistance to help locate a missing woman.

Friends and family are concerned for the well-being of 23-year-old Noelle M. Lynch. She hasnt been heard from since April 3. Authorities say Lynch was last seen leaving an apartment building on foot in the 900 block of East Redondo Avenue in Inglewood.

LAPD says Lynch left without her personal belongings, and may or may not be able to identify herself.

Lynch is described as White, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weighs approximately 125 pounds. The 23-year-old was last seen wearing a dark t-shirt, green sweatpants with a military logo, and white sneakers.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department Missing Persons Unit at 213-996-1800.

During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-527-3247. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Lastly, tipsters may download the P3 Tips mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
A pair of far-right operatives must pay $1.25m after they were found liable for a robocall scheme that targeted thousands of phone numbers to misinform Black voters and suppress voter turnout during the 2020 presidential election.

As part of a lawsuit settlement with civil rights groups and New Yorks attorney general, conspiracy theorists Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkmam conceded to a $1m judgment that will climb to $1.25m if they fail to pay at least $105,000 by the end of the year.

The settlement announced on Tuesday follows a joint lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and individual plaintiffs alleging a voter suppression scheme that intentionally targeted Black voters with false threats surrounding mail-in voting.

Automatic calls  from the defendants so-called civil rights organization called Project 1599  reached roughly 5,500 New Yorkers in the summer of 2020 with false warnings that mail-in ballots send voters personal information to police and credit card companies and would be used to track vaccination records.

Mail-in voting sounds great, but did you know that if you vote by mail, your personal information will be part of a public database that will be used by police departments to track down old warrants and be used by credit card companies to collect outstanding debts? one message said.

The CDC is even pushing to use records for mail-in voting to track people for mandatory vaccines, the message added. Dont be finessed into giving your private information to the man, stay safe and beware of vote.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said Wohl and Burkman orchestrated a depraved and disinformation-ridden campaign to intimidate Black voters in an attempt to sway the election in favor of their preferred candidate.

The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, and it belongs to everyone. We will not allow anyone to threaten that right, she said in a statement.

New York Attorney General Letitia James (AP)

Damon T Hewitt, president of the LawyersaCommitteeafor Civil Rights UnderaLaw, which represents the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and other plaintiffs in the case, said the settlement sends an emphatic message to anyone who aims to prevent Black people from exercising their right to vote.

Voter suppression and voter intimidation are illegal, immoral, and anti-democratic, he added. Regardless of whether the perpetrators are government actors or private citizens, your actions will have consequences, and you will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

David Schwartz, an attorney for Wohl and Burkman, said in a statement that his clients are pleased to put this case behind them, so they can focus on their families and careers.

Wohl and Burkman also faced charges in several other states for similar robocall schemes targeting Black voters during 2020 elections. In 2020, they were charged with felonies in Michigan for targeting Black voters in Detroit, and in 2022, an Ohio judge ordered the men to pay $2,500 in fines and spend 500 hours registering voters.

Last year, the Federal Communications Commission fined Wohl and Burkman more than $5m.
The waves were already crashing over the Toyotas hood when they found it.

It was a blustery September Sunday in 2021, and the Hilux pickup sat far down the gray sand in a remote cove on the wild west coast of New Zealands North Island. The Maori men who noticed the car live in mobile homes and cabins up by the road, on ancestral land near Kiritehere Beach. The truck was parked below the high-tide line, facing the sea, and was nearly swamped by the waves pummeling the shore. The men found the keys, tucked under the drivers-side floormat, and backed the car up the beach. They couldnt help but notice empty child seats strapped into the back. If any kids had gotten close to the sea on a day like this, they were long gone.

The truck, it would turn out, belonged to Tom Phillips, the son of a prominent Pakehawhitefamily with a farm nearby in Marokopa. Phillips, 34, spent much of his time on the farm, where he home-schooled his three kids, Jayda, 8, Maverick, 6, and Ember, 5. Hed separated from his wife three years before and had custody of the kids. Locals heard she was down on the South Island, struggling with her own problems.

Now here was his truck, marooned. The next morning, Toms brother Ben drove down to the beach. Hed last seen Tom and the kids on Saturday, Sept. 11, when theyd left the farm, heading, everyone thought, back to Otorohanga, the inland town where Tom kept a house. Now it was Sept. 13. Ben inspected the Toyota, then called the police.

Soon photos of the missing father and his three smiling children were in every newspaper and on every TV channel in New Zealand. Police and volunteer searchers fanned out over the area, knocking on doors. Helicopters, planes, and heat-detecting drones flew over the deep bush surrounding the beach. Rescue boats and jet skis buzzed through the roaring waves, looking for bodies. On days the sea was calm, swimmers from surf rescue teams explored caves along the shoreline. The local hapu, or Maori clan, cooked hot meals for the searchers in a shed near the beach. Three days into the search, Phillips ex-wife released a careful statement through the police, thanking the searchers for their efforts. We are holding out every hope that my children Jayda, Maverick, and Ember are safe, she said.

But the stark factsthe lonely car on the beach, the 8-foot waves, Tom and the children vanishing completelywere daunting. I do fear the worst, Toms sister, Rozzi Pethybridge, told a reporter. I am worried a rogue wave has caught one of the kids and hes gone in to save them. Phillips uncle seemed to be hinting at something even darker when he told another reporter that in some ways he hoped it had been a rogue wave: If something has happened to the children, the best-case scenario is that they were washed out to sea, he said. That way its an accident.

September in New Zealand, the height of Southern Hemisphere spring, is whitebaiting season, when locals set up nets at the river mouth to capture the shoals of immature fish headed back to their freshwater home. But during the search operation, authorities placed a rahui, a ban, on fishing. Some Marokopa residents grumbled about halting what had been a boom season. But others put things in perspective. Thats the end of the whitebaiting, one local told a reporter, but thats small-time compared with losing a family.

On social media and on Reddit, observers seized on rumors of a custody dispute and spun out dark theories of an abduction or staged disappearance. Phillips was an experienced bushman, camper, and hunter. In passing, locals told reporters that if Phillips had taken the kids out into the wild for some reason, they were confident he could last for weeks or months out there, even with three children in tow. A week into the search, family members seemed to be pinning their hopes on this idea. Were looking on the bright side, the uncle told Radio New Zealand. Were hoping hes just gone and hidden in the bush.

After 12 days of active searching, the police stood down. The whitebaiting rahui was lifted. Emergency services personnel moved out of the Marokopa community building on the banks of the river. Other than the Toyota, not a single sign had been found of the four missing Phillipses. The media continued covering the case, but there wasnt much to sayeveryone understood that until bodies washed up somewhere, it was unlikely there would be any further news.

No one knew that the disappearances were just the beginning of an ordeal that has not yet endeda case that has only grown stranger and more ominous in the two and a half years since, prompting pleas from family, increasing public astonishment, online speculation, a shocking crime, and a communitys closing ranks around one of its own.

Back in September 2021, the real mystery started when the first one was solved. Because 17 days after they had been reported missing, Tom Phillips and his three children walked through the front door of his parents farm.

The Tom Phillips disappearance captivated New Zealand. But the incident never reached the 24/7 fever pitch of blanket coverage that would have characterized the story if it had happened in the United States. In part thats because theres no CNN-style 24-hour news channel in New Zealand, though pretty much every outlet in the country sent a reporter to the west coast in hopes of digging something up. But no one had much to say. Phillips uncle spoke to press during the search, but other members of the Phillips clan stuck to the farm and stayed away from television cameras. The police delivered a daily briefing most afternoons, which never offered any new information. The childrens mother remained unnamed. Reporters were unable to reveal details of the couples custody disputes, because family courts in New Zealand strictly prohibit media from reporting on their proceedings.

Even after Phillips and his children returned, there was no footage of the happy family waving from the front porch, no soft-focus newsmagazine interviews, no morning-show feature. Phillips never spoke to the press. The family issued a statementTom is remorseful, he is humbled, he is gaining an understanding of the horrific ordeal he has put us throughand Pethybridge gave a brief interview to the New Zealand Herald in which she seemed shell-shocked by the situation. Hope dwindled and we became more and more resigned and sad, she said. Now, she added, she could smile and laugh for the first time in three weeks, and not feel bad if you have a little smile.

The Phillips kids: from left, Maverick, Jayda, and Ember. Courtesy of NZ Police

She did not, however, smile once in the entire interview. The family closed ranks, and reporters were stuck combing social media for clues. (Pethybridge also shared a song titled Hey Brother by Swedish DJ Avicci, one report noted.)

The residents of Marokopa, too, had little to say once the children were safe, one reporter told me. After he was found, no one wanted to talk, said Karen Rutherford of Newshub. He has put people through the wringer, to be honest. After all, what had all that work been for? Theyd served meals to rescuers, opened the community center 24/7. Many residents had tramped along the shoreline, looking for bodies. Even after the police had called off the search, members of the local hapu went out every day. Then it turned out that Phillips simply had not bothered to tell anyone he was taking the children to the deep bush, pitching a tent 15 kilometers south of the beach where his car was found. Hes done this before. Its not the first time, a local farmer said. Were glad to have him back, but he should be held accountable. What was he thinking?

And why had he left the car there, anyway? Though one friend suggested that the pickup had been stolen by joyriding kids, most everyone assumed that Phillips had parked on the beach to throw searchers off the trail. But for what purpose? Some noted Pethybridges comment that Phillips was in a helpless place and wanted to clear his head. A Reddit user mused: Its one thing for him wanting to clear his head but what about the kids? Hope theyre OK, might need some therapy stat. Others leaped in to assure everyone that a trip to the bush was just what any kid needed: Going camping with dad and forgetting about the rest of the world would be pretty sweet.

Indeed, theres a long tradition in New Zealand of valorizing backcountry adventuregetting lost in the bush for a whileshared by parents and children. Its a Man Alone thing, the Auckland education researcher Stuart McNaughton told me, referring to the 1939 novel by John Mulgan still viewed by many as essential to understanding the Kiwi character. Getting on with stuff, taming a difficult environment, getting hurt in the process. To many New Zealanders, a proper father figure is a guy who knows how to handle the wilderness, a place where increasingly citified Kiwi kids seem less and less comfortable. McNaughton summarized the attitude: If theyre gonna have an accident, theyre gonna have an accidentitll probably do them good.

The modern urtext on this subject is Taika Waititis 2016 comedy Hunt for the Wilderpeople, still the most successful locally produced film in the nations history. In the movie, a troubled Maori kid from the Auckland streets bonds with a brusque Pakeha outdoorsman in the deep bush. The movies villain is a maniacal child protection officer who hunts them downthe overweening nanny state, in the flesh. Its based on a book by the late Barry Crump, famous for his reputation as a rugged bloke; New Zealanders know him best for his long-running ads for the Toyota Hilux ute, the official truck of bushmenunsurprisingly, the truck Tom Phillips owned and parked on Kiritehere Beach.

After he returned, Phillips was charged with wasting police resources and ordered to appear in court. He was reckless as to whether wasteful deployment of police resources would result, the charges read. He behaved in a manner that was likely to give rise to serious apprehension for the safety of himself, Jayda Phillips, Ember Phillips and Maverick Phillips, knowing that such apprehension would be groundless. The charges carried a maximum penalty of three months in jail or a $2,000 fine.

In neighborhood Facebook groups and on playgrounds across New Zealand, parents debated the news. How dare this screw-up risk the lives of searchers and terrify his family because he hadnt bothered to tell anyone where he was going. Shouldnt he at least pay the government back for what it spent on that search plane? Or: How dare the government charge a parent for going camping with his children! Wasnt he the kind of throwback dad we didnt see enough of anymore, as modern kids become coddled and soft?

I was certainly sympathetic to this second argument. Id taken my own family to New Zealand to live for a period in 2017, specifically to capture that spirit of adventure, something that felt sorely lacking in our suburban American lives. Our daughtersjust a little older than Phillips kids were when they disappearedrarely left their comfort zones, and no one we knew let their children roam our neighborhood freely. We hoped that New Zealand might help shake us up. I was no bushman like Tom Phillips, but the four of us did go tramping across graywacke streams, into the forest primeval, even along a remote shore that looked quite a bit like the Marokopa coast. Unlike Phillips, I told my friends where we were going, but still: Were the police really charging this guy for giving his kids what might have been a wondrous adventure?

Reporters, struggling to advance the story, asked experts what they thought about it all. One family lawyer admitted he knew nothing about the childrens custody arrangement but said, If there was no parenting order, and he was just going on holiday, legally hes done nothing wrong. The same outlet asked a human rights lawyer what she thought about a parent taking children out into the deep bush without letting anyone know. Its not best practice, she replied, in a tone I could almost hear from the page.

Tom Phillips. Courtesy of NZ Police

Then, in December, as summer vacation season began, the New Zealand Herald found a Facebook postseemingly from someone close to the childrens motherstating that Phillips had once again taken his kids on walkabout. He notified family of where he was going, the local police commander said in response. In terms of current court restrictions of what he can and cant do, hes doing nothing wrong. Commenters online were aghast that the paper had pursued the story. So this is just literally a man taking his kids camping? one wrote. Correct, replied another. His ex-missus has gone to NZH and theyve run with it.

Phillips scheduled court date was Jan. 12, 2022. That morning, reporters packed the tiny wooden courthouse in Te Kuiti, lured by the chance to finally ask questions of the enigmatic father who had made news and driven debate across the country for months. More media spilled onto Queen Street outside, pacing in the warm summer sun.

Tom Phillips never showed up. Appearing via video, his lawyer told the judge that hed informed his client of the appearance date and never spoken to him again. He also asked to withdraw as counsel in the case.

The judge issued a warrant for Phillips arrest. But the police couldnt locate Phillips or his three children. They had disappeared into the bush. And this time, they didnt come back.

When I spoke to New Zealanders in the months after the second disappearance of Tom Phillips, it was clear that some in the country still viewed him as a kind of quirky folk hero whod taken his kids out into the wilderness to avoid the oppressive, overreaching government. There was a lot of talk like that, said Max Baxter, the mayor of Otorohanga, where Phillips house sat empty, weeds growing over his fence. He felt that his personal protection of the children was paramount, and the result was that he was opening them up to experiences that kids nowadays dont get. Hes teaching them to be bushmen. He laughed. My grown children probably couldnt survive two weeks in the bush!

A lot of people are like, Leave him alone, those kids are probably having the time of their lives,  said Karen Rutherford, the New Zealand reporter who got the only on-camera interview with Phillips ex-wife. But others, she told me, felt that now hes skipped court hes stuffed all his chances of being a good dad.

In the United States, I felt my admiration of Phillips wash away like the road to Marokopa as heavy rains swept through the region. Was he really hiding his kids in the bush during this kind of weather? The childrens mother made a public appeal for assistance in May, as New Zealand winter approached. Other relatives on the mothers side launched an online petition urging police to do more. They complained that Phillips parents were refusing to let anyone onto their enormous Marokopa compound to search the wilderness around the farmor the baches, the guesthouses the family used to rent out to tourists.

The Phillips family remained silent objects of fascination for the news media. On the day of Phillips courthouse no-show, his mother had told reporters assembled outside the gates of the family farm, I am trespassing all media from this property. According to one outlet, asked if she knew where her son was, Julia Phillips simply answered with a shrug and a smile.

Theyre real sort of rugged, coast-y people who dont come into town much, a local reporter told me. Theyre kind of unusual. Youd call them rednecks, I think. (Being coastal has a very different connotation in New Zealand than it does in the U.S.) Tony Wall, a reporter for the newsmagazine Stuff, told me that Phillips parents have been very uncooperative. If you read between the lines, it definitely seems like they know something but theyre not telling us.

Someone, everybody assumed, was shopping for supplies and ferrying them out to Phillips, wherever he was hiding out. Its almost unfathomable to think a father could survive with three small children without someone buying them supplies, Baxter told me. But whats the endgame? Im looking out my window now, and its pouring down rain.

The lack of urgency on the part of Waikato police was often commented upon. Its very strange, one reporter whos been covering the case said. The cops are not pouring any resources into looking for him and those children. I think they are of the view that hes not going to hurt them and hell eventually come out. The department responded to press requests with a not-particularly-inspiring statement: Police continue to make enquiries to establish the whereabouts of Tom Phillips, who we believe is currently with his three children. While Police understand the ongoing interest in this matter, we will not be disclosing the details of the enquiries that are under way.

Whatever enquiries were under way, that cold and wet winter passed with no sign of Tom Phillips. As 2022 turned into 2023, Phillips and his children had been missing without a trace for more than a year. Then came the bank robbery.

The two figures were dressed in all blackmotorcycle helmets, puffer jackets, and bootswhen they walked into the ANZ bank branch less than half a mile from the courthouse in Te Kuiti, just before noon on May 16, 2023. When the banks anxious staff asked them to take their helmets off, the pair displayed guns and demanded money. Tellers quickly gave them cash and, within moments, the pair ran out the front door.

As the robbers hurried down Rora Street, one witness later said they were dropping cash out of their pockets, heaps of $50 notes. The street was strewn with money. The confused passerby asked one of them, a slight figure whom they described as a girl, if she needed help picking up the money. Up ahead, the girls companiona man, it seemedturned back to look at what was happening. Right then, he was tackled to the ground by the owner of the SuperValue supermarket theyd been hurrying past.

Courtesy of NZ Police

Suddenly, the girl brandished her gun. The passerby backed away. Someone called, Fire the gun! No ones quite clear who did what, or whom they were aiming at, but someone did fire, more than once. The passerby froze in their tracks, and the supermarket owner retreated.

The robbers ran past a vape shop and around a corner to a parking lot, where they climbed onto a motorbike and rode off to the north. Behind them, bank notes littered the pavement, 20s and 50sas much as $1,000, one witness estimated.

The armed robbery shocked the town, which bills itself as the nations sheepshearing capital. A week later, the robbery led a Waikato Times feature about growing youth crime concerns in Te Kuiti, full of nervous quotes from residents and shop owners about meth, burglary, and car thefts broadcast on TikTok.

Yet on the subject of the bank robbery itself, one Maori warden had only to say that he reckoned locals already knew who did it. It wasnt some wayward Te Kuiti youth or a more organized criminal element. Even in those early days, speculation was running rampant among residents that the bank robbers were, in fact, Tom Phillipsand one of his children.

It took four months for police to officially name Phillips for the crime, charging him with aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding, and unlawful possession of a firearm. They believe that he was the larger of the two robbers, the one who seemed to be leading things, and have not identified the second, smaller robber, other than to say that they think she is female. At the time of the robbery, Jayda was 10.

The September 2023 charges in the Wild Weststyle bank robberyguns blazing, bank notes blowing in the windeliminated any residual goodwill Phillips had accumulated in his long months on the run. They capped off an eventful winter, Phillips second on the run with his children.

The month before, Phillips had stolen a trucknaturally, a Toyota Hiluxand driven to Hamilton, the biggest city in the Waikato region, about 40 miles north of Otorohanga. An acquaintance recognized him in the parking lot of Bunnings, a Home Depottype home improvement store, where Phillips, wearing a surgical mask and a woolen hat, used a large amount of cash to buy headlamps, batteries, seedlings, buckets, and gumboots.

That evening, Phillips got into an altercation on a road about an hour up the coast from Marokopa. The owner of the Hiluxwho had also realized that winter clothing had been stolen from his propertyfought with Phillips, then chased him along the winding highway, reportedly attempting to run him off the road. Eventually multiple vehicles were pursuing Phillips, who switched off the Hiluxs headlights and turned sharply into the parking lot of the Te Kauri Lodge, driving through a gate and into a paddock. He went in there and he hid, a lodge custodian told Radio New Zealand. These fullahs drove straight past. The police sent out a search helicopter, to no avail. A few days later, the Hilux was found deep in the undergrowth, about 25 meters off Marokopa Road, not far from the Phillips farm.

A few weeks later, a private investigatorhe tells reporters he follows the case on his own timetipped off Tony Wall, the reporter at Stuff, that the property to which the Hilux was returned had hosted Phillips for a visit the year before. (The P.I. says he reported the sighting to the police but nothing came of it.) According to an informant, Phillips had been receiving help from a network of local residents since day one.

Wall chronicled his visit to the steep, densely wooded property near Otorohanga in a hair-raising story published last August. A neighbor, who was reportedly also present when Phillips visited the property in 2022, launched into a coy, taunting conversation about the disappearance. I cant say if I have or havent seen him in the last few years, the man said. Its like a good game of hide-and-go-seek. Hes fucking good at it. Never, ever play hide-and-go-seek with him because youll give up, and he wont come out. When Wall asked the man how someone like Phillips could simply vanish, the man scoffed. Its easy in New Zealand. The justice system is shit, the court system is shit, the police are shit, the media is shit. Thats the facts of it.

As Wall drove away, his car was overtaken by two other drivers, who boxed him in and forced him to pull over to the side of the road. One of the vehicles was driven by the owner of the stolen Hilux, who accused Wall of snooping around and causing havoc. Youre in the wrong fucking place for this, man, he said. You want to come and harass us out here, on my own turf? He tried to force open Walls car door, telling him, Im gonna fuck you up, mate.

Wall finally managed to drive away, but the utes owner had one last thing to say. Youre fucking lucky were letting you out of here, cunt. You want the truth about the whole fucking scenario, mate, youd better be on your game, cause youre pushing shit uphill now.

After the police named Phillips in the bank robbery, residents phoned in more than a dozen sightings, but the police could never seem to catch him. Late one night in November, Phillips and one of his children rode a stolen quad bike to the town of Piopio and smashed the window of a superette in an attempted burglary, police say. Security footage showed a pair dressed in full camo gear approaching the stores camera with a spray can. When an alarm sounded, they fled south.

This January, the two-year anniversary of Phillips second flight passed with just another wan police announcementthis time that they had narrowed Phillips hiding place to the Marokopa area, a development that surprised absolutely no one whos been following the case. Yet I feel for the police, who are looking in an area spanning hundreds of square miles, where a number of residents clearly still have no desire to share information with them. (The owner of the stolen Hiluxa guy who disliked Phillips enough that he tried to run him off the roadnevertheless referred to the police as fucking pigshits.) If a plane crashed in this bush, youd be fortunate to find it, Max Baxter told me. Its really, really hard to begin somewhere, unless theres someone who knows and decides its time to come forward.

Few New Zealanders still believe that Phillips and his kidsnow 10, 8, and 7are roughing it, stalking game in the deep bush like the wilderpeople of old. Most everyone thinks that hes hiding on or near his family farm, aided by a network of friendly locals that may or may not include his parents. (Thats certainly what Wall, still trying to crack the case, believes.) On social media, its been a long time since anyone has called Phillips a good dad merely fighting authority. Hes just a piece of shit human being with anger and control issues who is subjecting his children to child abuse, went one typical comment.

And few anticipate any ending to this story that feels happy at all. In the worst-case scenario, Phillips and his kids are injured, or killed, robbing another bank or battling it out with the cops. But even the best-case scenario at this point feels grim. Phillips children have spent the past two and a half years with a father whos surely told them that everyone is out to get them, that they can trust no one but him, that the only way to stay safe is to hide out far from the rest of the world. Hes relayed to them that their future depends on smashing windows, stealing cars, waving guns.

Someday those children will be found, and their father will almost certainly be sent to jail. Every news report about the casea dwindling number, as the months go onfeatures the same photos of the children: the girls in fairy dresses, all three of them grinning widely. In the next photos we see of Jayda, Maverick, and Ember, they wont be smiling. I once thought perhaps their father was giving them a gift, the adventure of a lifetime. Instead, he stole their childhoods. When its all over theyll be as alone as that truck was, parked on the gray sand, the implacable sea rushing up to meet it.
A federal facility in North Carolina is set to house migrant children. What do we know?

When children enter the United States without permission and without the care of a parent or guardian, Greensboro is one place they might now call home.

At least temporarily.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced in March that the Greensboro Childrens Center, located in the northwest portion of the city, is ready to house these unaccompanied minors while U.S. officials locate sponsors for them.

As they manage the higher numbers of children crossing the border and ending up in shelter centers run by HHS, federal officials have opened several new centers, known as influx care facilities. Those, including the Greensboro center, will operate as overflow facilities when other shelters run out of room.

But a bipartisan group of elected officials say HHS officials have been less than transparent in opening the Greensboro location.

For two years, North Carolina Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Thom Tillis and Rep. Richard Hudson, have asked HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to answer questions about how the agency chose Greensboro, what other contractors are involved in the facilitys operations, what services will be provided, how HHS plans to ensure the safety of the minors and the community and the impact on the local community.

They consistently dont respond to tough questions, Tillis told McClatchy.

An HHS spokesperson sent a written statement to McClatchy stating that the agencys Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) made all required notifications to national, state and local elected officials.

In addition, we have regularly engaged with local and state government and elected officials, as well as community stakeholders to keep them informed and maintain a collaborative relationship, including sending a courtesy notification two weeks before the site became operational.

HHS also noted that all information regarding government contracts are public record. The contractors working with HHS at the Greensboro site include Deployed Services, Chenega Naswik International LLC and Deployed Resources.

WGHP in High Point reported that Deployed Services will provide health care, education, case workers and dormitory monitoring at the facility. Deployed Resources has a contract to manage the facility. Its not clear what Chenega Naswik is contracted to do, though the company provides security at other facilities.

History of abuse?

Becca Asaki is the director of organizing at Tsuru for Solidarity, an organization created by Japanese American and Japanese Latin American World War II concentration camp survivors and descendants looking to end detention sites and support affected immigrants. She said the facilities being used to house children have a history of abuse.

Most famously, in sites like Fort Bliss, Texas, we had numerous whistleblowers come forward, to share abuses that were happening inside, Asaki said. Everything from young people being fed rotten food to physical and sexual abuse.

The HHS site located at Fort Bliss, a base in El Paso, Texas, has the capacity to house up to 10,000 teenagers in a tent facility. The whistleblowers reported filthy living conditions, dirty clothing and bedding, sexual harassment by on-site construction workers and threats of deportation if the children acted out.

A 67-page report by the National Center for Youth Law details through interviews with children what they experienced at Fort Bliss and other facilities.

Audio leaked to NBC includes allegations of sexual abuse at Fort Bliss.

Elected officials want information

The lack of meaningful responses from the Biden administration to their inquiries about the Greensboro facility has left lawmakers like Tillis feeling uneasy about the new facility.

I just dont think they should be under the radar, because in some respects, I think theyre trying to mask just how critical the problem is, that theyre having to find detention facilities thousands of miles away from where they came across the border, Tillis said.

He said HHS has not been responsive to elected officials, which raises questions about the safety of the areas where the centers are located.

Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan, a Democrat, told McClatchy that it has been a frustrating two years knowing that this facility was opening, but not having good answers to offer the communitys residents about what to expect.

They have not been as forthcoming with information as elected officials would like, because I feel like we are standing in the gap between the residents and this facility and we have not had constant information, Vaughan said.

Vaughan said shes gleaned some information from meetings with HHS and weekly phone calls the agency offers for city and county staff, but there are still a lot of unanswered questions.

Heres what McClatchy was able to gather from interviews and publicly available documents.

What is an influx center?

ORR runs 289 programs in 29 states to help refugees, unaccompanied minors and Cuban and Haitian immigrants. Some are refugees and some are seeking asylum, while others are survivors of torture or trafficking.

When an unaccompanied minor enters the United States, immigration officials refer them to HHS to care for the child until a sponsor can be identified and take over.

During the last fiscal year, 113,495 children came through the Unaccompanied Children (UC) program and were placed with a sponsor. That is in line with the totals from the previous two years, but higher than in any of the six years before that, according to ORR data.

HHS said it is a priority to place children into the care of one of its main facilities for minors and that it places children at influx care facilities, which are meant to be set up identically, when needed due to the number of children being referred from immigration authorities and the capacity of other facilities to house them. The spokesperson added that influx care centers ensure ORR can accept all children referred by immigration officials promptly, allowing children not to spend more time than necessary at border patrol stations.

Where are the other influx centers?

There are two others, both located in Texas. A third facility in Texas closed after September 2023.

Where is the North Carolina facility located?

On land off Hobbs Road in Greensboro.

For 18 years, the 100-acre site was home to The American Hebrew Academy, an international boarding school. Nearly half the student body came from 35 different countries. It closed in 2019.





The American Hebrew Academy is leasing its facility to HHS for use.

How was Greensboro selected?

That is not clear.

HHS officials seemingly have not worked with any federal, state or local elected officials to find the facility.

Vaughan said she believes that someone with the school, a privately owned institution, contacted the federal government to offer it for use.

How did lawmakers learn about the influx center?

In May 2021, elected officials learned that HHS employees were on the property and considering it for the influx center.

Hudson said that he first learned about the influx center from people living in Greensboro who called his office. Some reported a military plane with U.S. markings on it parked at the Greensboro airport. Others told Hudson that there were HHS workers in town talking about opening the influx center at the American Hebrew Academy.

I was getting information from citizens as it was happening, Hudson said.

At a hearing that same month, knowing about the field work underway at the site, Hudson asked Becerra under oath if there were plans to operate a facility in North Carolina for unaccompanied migrant children.

There is no plan that we have to shelter children in North Carolina, Becerra answered during the hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. We are always looking for sites where we can provide the type of safety and security that children need, and we have sites throughout the country, but there is no plan I can tell you right now to shelter children in North Carolina.

Hudson told McClatchy he believes Becerra lied to him. Becerra testified before the committee again in July 2023, and Hudson confronted him about his previous testimony.

When he testified before our committee I asked him under oath, was he being clever to hide the truth or was he straight up lying to me, and we still havent gotten a straight answer, Hudson told McClatchy.

Tillis said if it werent for the local residents, lawmakers would have never learned about the facility.

Vaughan said she didnt learn about it until city and county employees were invited to the facility to learn what was about to happen there, including about the logistics of hiring people and who would be housed there.

Did HHS provide information to lawmakers?

An HHS spokesperson said that ORR held multiple community stakeholder meetings virtually and in Greensboro, including one the last week of March, to share information about the Unaccompanied Children program, provide details on the new site and answer questions.

HHS said the meetings included state and local elected officials, county and city administrators, local religious organizations, local advocacy groups and the neighborhood property board.

ORR meets biweekly with Guilford County Office of Emergency Management, state and city officials to provide updates and address questions and concerns, the spokesperson wrote.

Vaughan confirmed that there were biweekly meetings with city and county officials.

What is an unaccompanied minor?

The federal government defines an unaccompanied child as a person under 18 years old with no lawful immigration status and no parent or legal guardian  or one who can provide care or physical custody  within the United States.

Where are the children from?

The majority of the children in federal custody under the Unaccompanied Children program are from Guatemala and Honduras.

How many unaccompanied children are in the program?

As of March 29, there were nearly 7,800 children in federal custody. Thats down nearly 540 children from the previous week.

How many children will be housed in Greensboro?

Thats not clear. The number is dependent on the need and can fluctuate. The facility can hold up to 1,100 beds, according to a memo from HHS.

The facility is meant to be used only in the event that other facilities run out of space.

How old are the children who will be housed in Greensboro?

Greensboro is specifically set up to house boys and girls from 13 to 17 years old. In 2024, over 76% of children in the program were over 14 and 61% were male, according to a UC program fact sheet.

What is offered to the children at these facilities?

Besides education and health services, children have access to case management, recreation, unification services and pro-bono legal services, the performance work statement said.

Do the children attend local schools?

No. Children receive classroom education, on site, six hours a day, five days per week.

How long do children remain in UC programs?

Typically around 27 days. ORR officials said they hope to reduce the length of the stay.

Once ORR identifies a safe, vetted sponsor, who has undergone a robust screening process, we have a responsibility to place the child as quickly as possible, an HHS spokesperson said.

A legal settlement in 1997 between Jenny Flores and the federal government states that a child cant be detained for longer than 20 days. Flores, a teenager, sued after being held in Pasadena, California, for more than two months and repeatedly strip searched after fleeing El Salvadors civil war.

Asaki said some children are staying for much longer than 27 days and languishing for many months.

Do the children have access to resources outside the facility?

The performance work assessment says each child is told when they come on the campus about phones set up for them to use with complete privacy. The phones have pre-programmed numbers for the Undocumented Children Sexual Abuse Hotline, Child Protective Services, local community service providers and the National Rape Crisis Hotline. But to avoid stigma for those who use the phone, it also has phone numbers to contact lawyers and other needed services so that no one makes an automatic assumption about why a child used the phone.

What does a sponsor do?

Aside from the normal care of a child, the sponsor is responsible for ensuring the child always makes it to their immigration hearings. In the event of deportation, they must agree to take the child to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Who sponsors the children?

Officials begin trying to find someone in the United States who can sponsor the child as soon as they enter the program. Typically the child is sponsored by a parent or close relative.

Sponsors go through thorough background checks and assessments to ensure the safety of the child.

Hudson said he wants more answers from HHS about the systems in place to ensure children go to a safe location and whether HHS follows up to make sure the child is safe once they go to live with a sponsor.

I have a lot of concerns about the safety of these children, Hudson said.

How is Greensboro affected?

Vaughan said the facility plans to hire around 800 employees to work security and in food services, maintenance, lawn care, housekeeping, medical staff and case work.

Officials have heard complaints from neighbors that these employees would be parking in their neighborhood, taking away parking spots near their homes or clogging up the roads.

To combat that, Vaughan said ORR has contracted with an offsite parking lot for workers and is shuttling employees back and forth.

Vaughan said neighbors often confuse young workers with backpacks getting off buses with migrant children they think are being dropped off at the facility, forcing the city to combat misinformation.

Theres also been role-playing at the site to prepare workers for how to handle different scenarios that may arise. That has also led people to believe children are already on campus.

Vaughan said in the past several weeks, communications have increased between HHS and the city, and they have said they would let city officials know before migrant children arrive in Greensboro.

Is any local taxpayer money being used?

Vaughan said she was assured by federal officials that local tax dollars would not be used. The facility has its own medical services and should not need to use the local hospital.

Vaughan said she was assured that if something happens to require the use of local taxpayer funding, the federal government will reimburse the money.

She added that city employees have been working at the site for engineering, safety and fire code inspections and she does not believe that will be reimbursed.

Is a child released into the community once theyre out of the program?

Vaughan said she was told that when a child is assigned a sponsor, someone travels with the child at all times until they reach the sponsor.

Since October, 1,108 migrant children have been released to sponsors living in North Carolina. They live in Durham, Guilford, Mecklenburg, Wake and Wayne counties, with the majority living in Mecklenburg.
Kelli Prather holds her signed petitions to become a Cincinnati mayoral candidate at the Hamilton County Board of Elections in 2021.

A onetime candidate for U.S. Senate and Cincinnati mayor who also describes herself as a radio and television personality was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison for fraud related to COVID-19 relief.

Kelli Prather, 51, was found guilty last year of defrauding two federal programs intended to help small businesses during the early months of the pandemic.

U.S. District Judge Matthew McFarland imposed the sentence Tuesday in federal court in Cincinnati. Prosecutors had asked for a seven-year prison term.

Prosecutors say Prather, between June and November 2020, tried to qualify for federal loans for businesses that were not in operation. She submitted applications containing multiple false statements, seeking more than $1.2 million for six businesses.

She overinflated monthly payrolls and revenues and lied about the number of employees she had, according to testimony.

The evidence presented at trial revealed that (the) figures were false, fabricated and a figment of her imagination, prosecutors said in documents filed in advance of her sentencing.

Prather claimed in one application that in a seven-month span, she earned nearly $1 million from her business, Rich Glo Management. Around the same time, prosecutors said, she was receiving unemployment assistance from the state.

But she didnt stop there, prosecutors said. She duped and took advantage of her disabled nephew, using his name and Social Security number in several of the fraudulent applications.

In court documents, prosecutors have also criticized Prather for what they called antics during and after last years trial.

They described how Prather had stormed off the witness stand and left the courtroom during the trial. She also posted photos with courthouse personnel on social media, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors noted that they are not seeking the maximum possible sentence and that some aspects of Prathers history and background call for a lesser sentence.

Evidence of mental health struggles

There is evidence, they say, that Prather has struggled with her mental health. In fact, after being found guilty in July 2023, she was sent to a facility for a psychiatric and/or psychological examination, records show.

Since mid-January, she has been held at the Butler County Jail, awaiting sentencing.

Prather also has been a victim of domestic abuse, and in one incident was shot.

Despite her personal challenges, prosecutors said, she has played a prominent role in the community and been a significant source of support for other family members.

A native of Cincinnati, Prather has long been involved in city and state politics  part concerned citizen, part activist, part journalist and part candidate.

On X, previously known as Twitter, she describes herself as an occupational therapist, author, radio and television personality.

She studied occupational therapy at Cincinnati State and the University of Findlay, where she earned a masters degree. And in interviews, she said she owned a home healthcare business.

Cincinnati City Hall fixture

For many years, she was a fixture in Cincinnati City Hall. She spoke at public comment, but shed also claim to be a reporter and record meetings and do interviews, which she would share with her followers on social media.

When FC Cincinnati was building a stadium in the West End, she advocated against the idea as if she lived there, even though she didnt.

Her first big foray in the political arena came in 2016, when she ran for U.S. Senate the same year then-Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld ran  both taking on former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland in the Democratic primary. It was Strickland who garnered the slot on the ballot.

But the fact that Prather made a dent in the race, despite running her campaign on a shoestring budget, shocked many. Strickland won 65% of the vote, Sittenfeld, 22%, and Prather, 13%. She received 145,000 votes.

Prather made three other attempts to win elected office  running for Cincinnati City Council in 2017, Hamilton County Commissioner in 2020 and mayor in 2021. She fell short of the signatures she needed to get on the mayoral ballot and lost the other races.

After the mayors race didnt work out, she tried again to run for U.S. Senate.

That second senate race led to her indictment last year in state court on election fraud charges. She is accused of falsifying her petitions. The case is still pending.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kelli Prather sentenced to 7 years for COVID-19-relief fraud
Once again, Hillary Clinton is absolutely correct.

During an interview last Monday on the "Tonight Show," host Jimmy Fallon asked Clinton the following question: I mean, it's Biden versus Trump. What do you say to voters who are upset that those are the two choices?"

Clinton responded:

You know, its kind of like, one is old and effective and compassionate, has a heart and really cares about people; and one is old and has been charged with 91 felonies. I dont understand why this is even a hard choice. Really. I dont understand it. But we have to go through the election and, hopefully, people will realize whats at stake because its an existential question: What kind of country we're going to have, what kind of democracy we're going to have [it is] pretty clear about what kind of country they want . . . Get out there and vote."

Clintons warning to the disinterested and fence-sitters, that they need to get in the fight and stop engaging in purity tests and searching for the non-existent perfect candidate regarding their decision to vote for President Biden, is still needed. A large number of Americans are politically disengaged and still refuse to understand (or perhaps even care) that Trump and his MAGA people and the larger antidemocracy movement are an extreme danger to the country. Even worse, there is a large percentage of Americans  Trump followers, independents, and undecided voters  who have convinced themselves that the horrible Trump presidency, with its mass death from COVID, ruined economy and coup attempt, was the good old days and yearn to return to them.

Greg Sargent explains in a recent essay at The New Republic:

Some new polling from a top Democratic pollster finds mixed news for Team Biden on this front: Large swaths of voters appear to have little awareness of some of Trumps clearest statements of hostility to democracy and intent to impose authoritarian rule in a second term, from his vow to be dictator for one day to his vague threat to enact termination of provisions in the Constitution.

This is but the most recent example of Hillary Clinton telling uncomfortable truths about the existential danger embodied by Donald Trump and his MAGA coalition. She has personal experience with Trump and his allies capacity for skullduggery and evil. Trump has continued to publicly threaten Clintons safety. Given Trumps promises to be Americas first dictator and his attraction to violence and other pathological behavior, Clinton knows that she must take him and his followers very seriously. (Never forget that Trump infamously threatened Clinton in 2016 with 2nd Amendment people.)

To that point, as detailed by Gabriel Sherman in a new must-read article at Vanity Fair, Donald Trump is much closer to winning the 2024 election than many members of the news media and general public would like to admit.

Ultimately, this yearning for Donald Trump to become President of the United States for a second time is a symptom of a deep malaise and sickness in American culture and society where it appears that tens of millions (if not more) people have a collective compulsion towards self-destruction. This is very common behavior in a society that is experiencing multiple crises and does not have the maturity or capacity to process its death anxieties in a healthy and productive way.

As I try to make sense of this sick yearning and poisoned nostalgia, I have been returning to the work of the highly influential social psychologist and psychoanalyst Erich Fromm. In a 1973 essay in the New York Times about Fromms then-new book, The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness, Sara Sanborn wrote the following:

Fromm covers much of this ground again, analyzing Heinrich Himmler and Josef Stalin as case studies of the sadist driven by the need to dominate. He also presents a new type of malignant character, the necrophilous, which is animated by a desire for sheer destruction. The sadist is not necessarily lethal; since his leading desire is for control, he will want to keep the victim alive. Nor will he necessarily inflict pain, which is merely the logical extremeof the relationship. The necrophile, however, is driven by a love for all that is dead, destroyed or decayingor, the author believes, in a modern departurefor what is unalive and purely mechanistic. Thus American society stands broadly convicted of necrophilia  as opposed to biophilia. And Erich Fromm becomes the 10,000th American writer to remark the mechanization of deathdealing in Vietnam and to note that the selfdestructiveness of drug addiction is not surprising in the youth of lifedenying culture.

Some fifty years later, Fromms concerns speak directly to the Trumpocene and how the American people got here and hopefully can escape it before we run out of time.

When I am emailed or otherwise speak with people who tell me that they are principled liberals, progressives or good lefties, which in their minds means they cannot in good conscience support President Biden, I have a standard reply. I tell them to make a list of all the issues they purport to care about so much. Look very carefully at the list. There is not one real issue on that list that Donald Trump, his MAGA people and the Republican Party will address in a way that you would like. Moreover, they will make all those things far worse in ways you likely cannot even imagine. Thus, to convince oneself that not voting for Biden is a type of great strategic move and the long game where the Democrats will be forced to adapt after they are defeated in the 2024 election is silly talk to the extreme. Donald Trump will be Americas first dictator; he and his successors will not leave power; burning down the proverbial village in order to save it does not work.

So please listen to Hillary Clinton and the other alarm-sounders this time. They are trying to save the American people and American democracy. But in the end the American people will have to exercise the agency, intelligence, reason, and be responsible enough to save themselves.
JEANERETTE, La. (KLFY)  Fire departments around Acadiana are expressing their sadness at the death of Grand Marais Fire Chief Rickey Turk Olivier.

Olivier, 66, died on April 2.

The Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal posted the following to its Facebook page:

State Fire Marshal Chief Bryan J Adams, on behalf of the entire SFM family, extends his condolences to the Grand Marais Fire Dept. family and the loved ones of Fire Chief Rickey Turk Olivier following his passing. He was 66 years old. We hope all Louisianans join us in keeping this community in your hearts during this difficult time.

Two Acadiana men die in Sabine Parish fire

The Rynella Volunteer Fire Department in Iberia Parish posted: It is with great sadness to hear of the passing of Fire Chief Rickey Turk Olivier of Grand Marais. We, as Rynella Volunteer Fire Department, send over our condolences to Grand Marais Fire Department as well as friends and family of Rickey Olivier.

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The Jeanerette Fire Department posted: Sending our condolences. Please keep the surrounding area in your thoughts & prayers. We miss you Turk!

Funeral arrangements are currently pending, according to Fletcher Funeral Home.

Latest news

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
TEHRAN, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Iraqi counterpart Abdul Latif Rashid urged unity among Muslim nations on Tuesday to halt Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip and protect Palestinian rights.

During a phone conversation, Raisi voiced frustration with the failure of the global community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to address the situation in Gaza effectively.

Raisi emphasized the urgent need for concerted efforts, especially within the Muslim world, to end the crisis in Gaza, highlighting the conflict as a critical concern for Iran, Iraq, and the broader Muslim community and stressing a significant "religious and humanitarian duty" to cease Israeli aggression.

Furthermore, Raisi called for strengthening Iran-Iraq relations, citing the two countries' shared cultural and historical ties, and expressed hope for enhanced bilateral cooperation in the coming months, despite external adversities.

The Iraqi president echoed these sentiments, lamenting the ongoing Israeli actions in Gaza and the ineffectiveness of international measures to stop them.

Rashid advocated for a strategic approach by Muslim countries to address the Palestinian issue at its core and ensure the protection of Palestinian rights.

He characterized the Baghdad-Tehran relationship as robust and beneficial for both nations, underscoring the Iraqi government's commitment to advancing these ties, regardless of external detractors. 
KOHLER, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in Wisconsin say two employees at the Kohler Company Carriage House were hurt after a fire broke out Monday night.

According to a release, Crews responded at 6:45 p.m. to the Kohler Company Carriage House at 501 Highland Drive after the Sheboygan County Dispatch Center was made aware of a report of smoke on the buildings fourth floor.

Wisconsin Sheriffs Office warns of scammers pretending to be staff members

Officials say firefighters from the Kohler Fire Department were able to put out the fire with assistance from the City of Sheboygan Falls Fire Department, the Haven Fire Department, and the Town of Sheboygan Falls Fire Department.

Two Kohler Company employees reportedly suffered non-life-threatening injuries from the incident with one of the employees being taken by Orange Cross Ambulance to a local hospital.

At this time, no other information is available and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Five finalists for city manager say Topeka must address these key issues

Homelessness, violence and outdated infrastructure were the key talking points of the meet and greet for the city manager finalists.

During Monday's meet and greet, the five city manager finalists participated in individual small-group discussions with members of the community. Each candidate sat at separate tables and answered questions from various Topekans.

Candidates for the Topeka city manager position, from left, Jeffrey Dingman, Alan Howze, William Jones, Robert Perez and Abbe Yacoben answer questions from the media Monday prior to a meet-and-greet event at Hotel Topeka.

Before the meet and greet, the city council, mayor and a panel of community stakeholders, appointed by the mayor, interviewed each candidate. The panelists included Danielle Twemlow, Laura Burton, Keith Warta, Kerry Pancoast and Susan Duffy.

City council member David Banks said he was pleased with the turnout at Monday's event.

"It's just nice to see everybody here," Banks said.

The previous city manager Stephen Wade was fired in July, and a city spokeswoman said he had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. Since then, Richard U. Nienstedt has served as interim city manager.

Jeff Dingman, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a candidate for the Topeka city manager position.

Jeffery Dingman

Jeffery Dingman is the deputy city administrator in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and was a finalist for Topeka city manager in 2017. Digman has worked in government leadership for 20 years and has a juris doctor from the University of Kansas.

Jeff Dingman said he'd like to address Topeka's aging infrastructure, including its water and sewer services.

"As an outsider looking in, I look at the age of the city and the infrastructure challenges that it faces," Dingman said.

Dingman said he finds it important to know when to delegate and depend on the staff around him because he isn't an expert in everything.

"I learned in that position the value of building a team," Dingman said. "Being able to work with a strong management team and have those folks depend on me and on each other. We're going to collaborate."

Alan Hozwe, of Wyandotte County, is a candidate for the Topeka city manager position.

Alan Howze

Alan Howze is a public sector executive and has focused on building strong, financially sustainable communities and delivering high-quality public services. He's gained more than 20 years of governmental experience and currently works as the assistant administrator for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.

Alan Howze said he would want to address the uptick in violent crimes.

"The challenges Topeka faces are challenges that are not uncommon for cities of its age and its size," Howze said. "I think the challenge around the increase in fatal homicide rates is a significant challenge for the city."

Howze said he provides a familiarity to the job since he works in a local government in Kansas. He also said he has experience with larger governments, which helps in a big city like Topeka.

"It gives me a particular perspective on how to collaborate effectively within the government as well as with external stakeholders to really drive solutions forward in a determined and timely manner," Howze said.

Williams Jones, of Mequon, Wisconsin, is a candidate for the Topeka city manager position.

William Jones

William Jones has worked in local government for more than 24 years. He is the city administrator for Mequon, Wisconsin. He has also worked similar roles for the Glencoe and Highland Park, Illinois.

Jones said he has a broad breadth of knowledge after working in government for as long as he has.

"I've been successful in every job that I've ever held in the public sector," Jones said.

William Jones said he agrees the rise in homicides is a serious issue that needs to be addressed through a joint effort that would include hiring a new police chief.

"I think the biggest challenge facing Topeka is the rising rate of homicides here within the city," Jones said. "The trend is on an upward trajectory, and the city's goal, No. 1 goal here in local government, is public safety."

Robert Perez, of Dallas, is a candidate for the Topeka city manager position.

Robert Perez

Robert Perez is the assistant city manager of infrastructure for Dallas. He has more than 20 years of municipal government experience while working for Dallas and San Antonio.

Perez said he has wide-ranging experience in multiple sectors, including different forms of government and social work. He also said he'd want to provide the homeless population with long- and short-term solutions.

"I'd really love for us to be able to provide a location, especially with the encampments that are being raised, to actually have a place for people to go to other than just a vacant city lot," Perez said.

Robert Perez said economic development would be his top priority  more specifically find a way to create a healthy environment for economic development and good quality of life.

"I do see a nexus between economic development and public safety, economic development and infrastructure, economic development and quality of life," Perez said.

Abbe Yacoben, of Washoe County, Nevada, is a candidate for the Topeka city manager position.

Abbe Yacoben

Abbe Yacoben is the chief financial officer for Washoe County, Nevada, and also was a finalist for the Topeka city manager position in 2022. She has nearly 20 years of municipal government experience and has worked in Arizona, Illinois and Maine.

She said her expertise in financing helps create a unique and helpful perspective when working with local governments. Yacoben also said her leadership style is humble and honest.

"I'm comfortable explaining things to people, keeping that door open and making sure people are comfortable with what the government is doing in terms of public policy, finance, and very technical programs," Yacoben said.

Yacoben said she agreed with her peers' views and said infrastructure would be her biggest priority.

"I see infrastructure as the major and most obvious situation that needs to be addressed through long-term capital improvement planning and programming and prioritization of the most highly utilized areas that need those improvements," Yacoben said.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka city manager finalists talk about how they would serve Topeka
Flight diverted after dog poops on board: Smell never quite went away

A United Airlines flight bound for Seattle had to divert to Dallas on Friday -- a Redditor blamed dog poop for the change in plans.

A United Airlines flight bound for Seattle had to divert to Dallas on Friday because of a literal ststorm.

A Redditor blamed dog poop for the diversion of his flight from Houston, attaching a stinky photo to his messy missive on the social media platform. United Airlines later confirmed the incident to Business Insider.

Dog had messy accident in the aisle right in first class. Plane diverted to DFW. Ground crew spent over 2 hours cleaning carpets with paper towels, the Redditor recalled in a Sunday post.

Smell made me ill. Gate agents kept yelling at passengers and the cabin crew. The smell never quite went away. First class toilet declared unusable as the dog mess was apparently unresolved in there. Food went bad while on the ground so very few snacks left, the post continued.

One commenter on the post claims to have spotted a woman and a service dog exiting the flight.

A United Airlines flight bound for Seattle had to divert to Dallas on Friday  a Redditor blamed dog poop for the change in plans. Reddit/@gig_wizard

The Post reached out to United reps for comment.

The airline allows dogs aboard domestic flights as long as they can fit in a carrier under the seat, where they are meant to remain at all times, the United website explains.

Reddit commenters, meanwhile, made it their duty to share similar foul experiences.

United Airlines allows animals on flights as long as they stay in their carrier under the seat. Getty Images

I was on a flight once where there was a service dog. (Chicago to Allentown.) Flight was turbulent. The moment that flight landed and got to the gate, and that exit door opened, that dog beat everyone off the plane and st all over the jetway, one person penned.

We were delayed by 15 minutes getting off the plane as they had to clean it up, the poster continued. Kudos to the dog for holding it together.

I love my dogs and generally prefer dogs to people. That said, I am a firm believer that the only time a dog should be on a plane is when the owner is moving, and driving is not an option, another declared.

And this is why dogs do not belong out in the open in public areas. You want to fly with your dog, put it in the carrier and keep it in the carrier from the minute you get to the airport until you get to your destination, a third argued.

This isnt the first time an animal has pooped on a United Airlines flight this year. Reddit/@gig_wizard

This isnt the only time an animal pooping aboard a plane has caused problems.

A dog who got out of its crate on a United Airlines flight in February pooped on the plane, and people on board were sickened by the smell.

Flight attendants wearing hazmat-type suits eventually cleaned the mess.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  If you want to own a piece of Disney history, an Orlando company is selling cabins that were once housed at Disneys Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.

A company called J&J Venture Group has listed the cabins on its website and Facebook Marketplace for $49,900 apiece.

Each of the one-bedroom, one-bathroom units is about 500 square feet, with the capacity to sleep six people (two in the bedroom, two in bunk beds and two on a sleeper sofa). The furnishings and appliances are included, per the listing.

Universals How To Train Your Dragon land revealed for Epic Universe

The company adds that each cabin is a great investment property option for Airbnb, Vrbo, tiny home resort, rental, and many other possibilities!

The cabins, however, do not include the original decks, stairs or skirting that appeared outside the units on Disney property.

A company called J&J Venture Group is facilitating the sale of cabins that were formerly housed at Disney Worlds Fort Wilderness. (Getty Images)

A representative for J&J Venture Group was not immediately available to comment on how many cabins are available, though the companys site mentioned a limited number of units. Delivery is available for customers within 25 miles of Orlando, while additional charges apply for those outside the delivery range, according to the companys FAQ page.

Disney, DeSantis-backed board reach settlement agreement

The units listed for sale, all of which were built between 1998 and 2001, are being replaced at Disney Worlds Fort Wilderness with more modern cabins. The new units are scheduled to open July 1, 2024.

The new cabins at Disneys Fort Wilderness are scheduled to open July 1, 2024. (Walt Disney World Resort)

The new cabins are part of a collection of improvement projects at Disneys Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, including pool and walking trail enhancements.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Floridas Democratic Party said Tuesday that it raised $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2024, according to a release first seen by The Hill.

The state party said it received 5,271 contributions in the first quarter, prior to the Florida Supreme Court rulings on abortion last week. The party said it generated tens of thousands of dollars following the rulings.

The latest fundraising haul is higher than any point last year.

In the past six months, the Florida Democratic Party has recorded back-to-back million dollar quarters, said Phillip Jerez, the state partys executive director. With two consecutive seven-figure fundraising hauls raising $1.1 million in Q4 2023 and $1.3 million in Q1 2024, we are entering the presidential election cycle with a strong foundation to build out our campaign to take back Florida.

The latest fundraising numbers are a boon for the state party, which has struggled in recent years to compete with Republicans who have increasingly dominated the state.

Florida, once a prominent swing state, found itself in the presidential election spotlight last week after the state Supreme Court rulings on abortion.

One of the rulings upheld the states 15-week abortion ban and allowed a ban after six weeks of pregnancy to go into effect next month. The other ruling gave the green light to a ballot measure that would protect access to abortion in the state if passed in November.

In response to the development out of Florida, President Bidens reelection campaign rolled out a memo last week saying it will target flipping the state in November. Further down the ballot, Senate candidate and former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.) called the decisions a gamechanger in the Senate race.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Florida woman who stole a diary belonging to President Joe Biden's daughter and sold it to Project Veritas was sentenced Tuesday to one month in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Judge Laura Taylor Swain imposed the sentence two months after the original sentencing date that Aimee Harris missed because she said she was ill.

The sentence is harsher than what prosecutors had sought, although they did accuse her of undermining the political process.

PHOTO: Aimee Harris, left, walks out of Manhattan federal court, April 9, 2024, in New York. (Larry Neumeister/AP)

"She wrongfully exploited her physical access to the intimate belongings of someone whom she did not know personally, but knew as a public figure who whose property would fetch a handsome price tag," prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum. "Stealing personal belongings of a candidate's family member, and selling them to an organization to exploit them for political gain, was wrong and illegal no matter the political agenda."

Ashley Biden had been living at a friend's house in Delray Beach, Florida in 2020, but left a number of personal belongings behind when she moved out in June of that year, prosecutors said. The owner of the home allowed her to keep the items at the house.

PHOTO: Ashley Biden speaks onstage during the Human Rights Campaign's 2024 Los Angeles Dinner, March 23, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

According to federal prosecutors, Harris moved into the room when Biden left, discovered the items and conspired with another defendant, Robert Kurlander, to sell them. At first, they offered the materials to the Trump campaign, which declined. Then they decided to sell the items to far-right activist group Project Veritas.

Harris and Kurlander pleaded guilty in August 2022 to a conspiracy charge, admitting they received $20,000 that was paid by Project Veritas.

Florida woman sentenced to a month in prison for theft of Ashley Biden's diary originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Former employee convicted of embezzling from state of Michigan

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A former employee has been convicted of embezzling money from the state of Michigan and faces up to 10 years in prison.

Rufus Chappell, from Farmington Hills, was found guilty last week on one felony count of embezzlement between $20,000 and $50,000.

According to a news release from the Michigan Attorney Generals Office, Chappell misused state vehicles for personal use over the course of several years.

He had access to and permission to use the state motor pool vehicles, explicitly for work purposes, by virtue of his employment as an unemployment examiner with the Talent Investment Agency under the Department of Talent and Economic Development, the release stated.

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The state launched an investigation after officials learned that Chappells drivers license had been suspended. Investigators found that unauthorized usage between August 2015 and January 2019 led to more than $47,000 in usage and mileage fees.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called his actions flagrant misuse.

This verdict sends a clear message that stealing from the State, and thereby the taxpayers, will not be tolerated, Nessel stated.

The 64-year-old is scheduled to be sentenced on May 17.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
People take part in a rally calling for the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas in Jerusalem on April 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

A drone photo taken on April 7, 2024 shows the migrating black-necked cranes at the A Rag Wetland in Damxung County of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. The black-necked cranes, a species under first-class state protection in China, stop by and forage at the A Rag Wetland in Damxung County during their returning journey to the north every spring.

The wildlife conservators of the county are the busiest during this period. Nyima Dondrup, one of the local wildlife conservators, has been guarding the black-necked cranes at the wetland for 15 years.

"I find my efforts valuable when I watch the black-necked cranes flying," said Nyima Dondrup. (Xinhua/Dang Li)

China's polar icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, enters the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, south China, April 8, 2024. China's first domestically made polar icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, arrived in Hong Kong for the very first time on Monday for a five-day visit. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)

An Israeli tank maneuvers near the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on April 7, 2024. Israeli troops were withdrawn from southern Gaza in preparation for a possible operation in the city of Rafah, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

Contestants race their ox carts in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia, on April 7, 2024. At dawn on Sunday, Cambodian villagers gathered to race their ox carts across a field, reviving centuries-old tradition in the Southeast Asian nation. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

A total solar eclipse is pictured in Plano, Texas, the United States, on April 8, 2024. A total solar eclipse was sweeping across North America on Monday, as residents and visitors gathered in different locations on the path of the eclipse to watch and cheer. The total solar eclipse -- nicknamed the Great American Eclipse for its long path over North America -- was visible in the sky over parts of Mexico, 15 U.S. states and eastern Canada. (Photo by Dan Tian/Xinhua)

He Dejun (2nd R) and He Xinglan (1st R) collect garbage at a glacier park of Yulong Snow Mountain in southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 26, 2024. Lyu Haowei and his colleagues are mainly in charge of cleaning up garbage scattered on the cliffs of a glacier park on Yulong Snow Mountain, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Another group workers like He Dejun clean garbage near the boardwalks of the scenic spot.

Having worked at the park for over eight years, both of them have witnessed an increase in environmental awareness among tourists with less casual littering.

The snow-capped Yulong Snow Mountain is located in the northwest of the city of Lijiang with the main peak elevation being 5,596 meters. There are 19 glaciers in the mountain. Great efforts have been made to protect local ecological system. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

People enjoy spring time near Charles Bridge in Prague, the Czech Republic, April 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Deng Yaomin)

A woman works at a kelp airing field in Rongcheng City, east China's Shandong Province, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Li Xinjun/Xinhua)
Doug Ducey, the former Republican governor of Arizona who signed its 15-week abortion restriction into law, said Tuesdays ruling from the states Supreme Court banning nearly all abortions was not his preferred outcome.

I signed the 15-week law as Governor because it is thoughtful conservative policy, and an approach to this very sensitive issue that Arizonans can actually agree on, Ducey posted on the social platform X.

The ruling today is not the outcome I would have preferred, and I call on our elected leaders to heed the will of the people and address this issue with a policy that is workable and reflective of our electorate, he continued.

In a 4-2 decision, the Arizona Supreme Court rejected arguments that it should uphold the 15-week abortion ban signed by Ducey in 2022 and enforced since the reversal of Roe v. Wade.

The ruling upheld a law from 1864 that makes performing an abortion a felony. The Civil War-era law was passed before Arizona became a state.

The law will go into effect in 14 days, though its unclear how it will be enforced.

State Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) said Tuesdays decision is far from the end of the debate on reproductive freedom in the state.

Let me be completely clear, as long as I am Attorney General, no woman or doctor will be prosecuted under this draconian law in this state, she said in a statement.

The law will make abortion a felony punishable by two to five years in prison for anyone who performs or helps a woman obtain an abortion. The exception is for when it is necessary to save a pregnant persons life.

Voters will have the opportunity to remove the restrictions through a ballot measure in November, but politicians on both sides of the aisle called for more immediate actions from the state Legislature.

Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) called it is a dark day in Arizona.

Let me be clear. Arizonas 2022 abortion ban is extreme and hurts women and the near total Civil War era ban that continues to hang over our heads only serves to create more chaos for women and doctors in our state, Hobbs said at a press conference.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A former Lake Oswego police officer has been sentenced after pleading guilty to engaging in a sex act while on duty.

Michael Svoboda was charged with second-degree official misconduct, a class C Misdemeanor, on March 19. Monday, he was sentenced to 12 months of bench probation after entering a guilty plea.

Portland derelict houses: Graffiti, drugs, crime, garbage

He also had his police certification revoked and is required to complete 40 hours of community service within 90 days.

The City of Lake Oswego reported Svoboda was first hired by the police department in July 2015. Court documents show the former officer had sex on duty nearly five years ago, on Apr. 15, 2019.

According to city officials, the Lake Oswego Police Department turned the criminal investigation over to Oregon City law enforcement after receiving the allegations against Svoboda. He was on paid administrative leave during the investigation. Afterward, he resigned from his role as an officer.

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I would like to thank the complainant for having the strength to come forward with these allegations, LOPD Police Chief George Burke said in a statement. In many cases, victims may be reluctant to make criminal allegations against an officer for fear of retaliation. I am pleased to demonstrate how the systems of accountability function within the City of Lake Oswego.

Chief Burke also thanked the Oregon City Police Department and the Clackamas County District Attorneys Office for dedicating scarce resources to the investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Former restaurant owner charged with stabbing, dismembering and burning body of Nebraska teenager

Former restaurant owner charged with stabbing, dismembering and burning body of Nebraska teenager

A 38-year-old Arizona business owner has been charged with fatally stabbing and dismembering a teenage boy before burning his body beyond recognition last year.

Arizona prosecutors charged Anthonie Ruinard, a former restaurateur, with the second-degree murder of Nebraska teenager Parker League in June 2023. Mr Ruinard also faces a charge of abandonment or concealment of a dead body.

League, 18, was visiting friends in Arizona last summer when he met Mr Ruinard. Security footage from 11 June showed League and his suspected murderer leaving a Chandler, Arizona gas station together.

Police found his dismembered, stabbed and charred body in Arizonas Tonto National Park on 12 June  the same day he was set to return home. Officials had to use dental records to identify League, the Maricopa County Attorneys Office said in a statement.

Leagues brother told local outlet ABC15 the family reported him missing to the Tempe Police Department on 15 June, as they were not aware police had found his body.

Anthonie Ruinard, pictured, was arrested last year and faces charges for the murder of 18-year-old Parker League (Maricopa County Sheriffs Office)

Its hard to accept because he was the nicest kid in the world, Hunter League told ABC15 last year.

I got a call from my dad telling me to come home. I asked him why about three times and the third time he tried to explain it, he just started breaking down, he continued.

Mr Ruinard entered a not guilty plea on 21 March, according to Maricopa County records. His trial will begin in July.

Parker Leagues body was found in Tonto National Forest (Getty)

The 38-year-old suspect also previously owned a restaurant in Tuscon, Arizona. However, Tucsons Pastiche Modern Eatery has been closed since February 2023 due to a fire, the Arizona Daily Star reported last year.

Police first arrested Mr Ruinard in July 2023 after identifying surveillance footage that showed him using Leagues bank card after his death. Police searched Mr Ruinards vehicle and found traces of Leagues DNA, according to the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office. Authorities then charged Mr Ruinard with drug possession, weapon possession, theft, murder and concealment of a body.

However, those charges were dismissed after a grand jury indicted him for murder and concealment last month, according to Maricopa County records.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY)  More than a year after Abby Zwerner was shot by her 6-year-old student, the schools former assistant principal Ebony Parker has been charged with eight counts of felony child abuse, according to court records.

The charges were filed in Newport News Circuit Court.

This comes less than two weeks after the attorneys for Abby Zwerner confirmed the former school teachers $40 million lawsuit is going to trial.

Complete coverage: Rickneck Elementary School shooting

Attorney Emily Mapp Brannon represents several Richneck Elementary School families.

These charges suggest that there is sufficient evidence that the students of Richneck were placed in peril by the very hands entrusted to protect them, said Brannon. As a representative of seven families, I remain optimistic that our criminal justice system will provide answers to the Richneck community. For the first time in over a year, the families may find comfort in knowing that the administration is being held accountable.

Each of the lawsuits seek $3 million in damages, as well as other punitive damages.

Attorney details lawsuit against Richneck administrators

Zwerners attorneys allege Parker was warned three times before the shooting that the 6-year-old student had a gun, but she failed to call 911 or put the school on lockdown. There was also no security guard on duty that day.

These charges are very serious and underscore the failure of the school district to act to prevent the tragic shooting of Abby Zwerner, according to a statement from Zwerners legal team  attorneys Diane Toscano, Kevin Biniazan and Jeffrey Breit. The school board continues to deny their responsibility to Abby, and this indictment is just another brick in the wall of mounting failures and gross negligence in their case.

Around 2 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2023, while Zwerner was reading to the class, her student shot her. Zwerner was released from the hospital a couple weeks after the shooting.

Parker resigned from her position as assistant principal 19 days after Zwerner was shot.

Court records currently have Parker listed as a fugitive.

If found guilty, she could face up to 40 years in prison.

Check with WAVY.com for more updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Ebony Parker, a former elementary school assistant principal in Virginia where a six-year-old student shot his teacher, has been indicted in the case.

A special grand jury in Newport News, Va. has charged Parker, 39, with eight counts of child abuse, records unsealed Tuesday show.

She was charged on March 11 with child abuse and reckless disregard for human life, a class six felony, according to records.

The charges, first reported by The Virginian-Pilot, come about 15 months after a first-grader at Richneck Elementary School brought a gun to school and shot his teacher, Abby Zwerner on Jan. 6, 2023.

Zwerner has a $40 million lawsuit alleging that Parker ignored several warnings that the boy had brought a gun to school that day. As of Nov. 2023, a judge ruled Zwerner can move forward with the suit. The trial is expected to begin early next year.

Zwerner was hospitalized for nearly two weeks and underwent multiple surgeries after the bullet struck her hand and chest. She said Parker and school administrators ignored multiple warnings that the boy had a gun, and routinely dismissed the ongoing concerns about his behavior.

After Zwerner was shot at a reading table in her classroom, she rushed the rest of the students into the hallways before collapsing in the schools office.

Under state law, a parent, guardian or person responsible fore the care of a child under the age of 18 who willfully or due to willful omission permits serious injury to the life and health of a child and is so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show reckless disregard for human life is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

Newport News Circuit Court documents list Parker as a fugitive. Prosecutors are recommending that Parker be held on a $4,000 secured bond upon arrest and surrender of passport if one exists, the Virginian-Pilot reported.

Last June, Deja Taylor, the boys mother, pleaded guilty to one count of being an illegal drug user while possessing a firearm and one count of making a false statement on a federal form to purchase the firearm. She was later sentenced to 21 months in prison for using marijuana while owning a firearm.

The special grand jury that indicted Parker is expected to release its findings in a report on Wednesday afternoon, the local outlet reported. Its not known if other school officials will be charged.

Parker resigned from her position just weeks after the shooting.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
More than a dozen retired four-star generals, admirals and other former military leaders filed an amicus brief with in the Supreme Court on Monday, arguing against former President Trumps claims of immunity in his criminal cases.

The group said Trumps claims would threaten the militarys role in American society, our nations constitutional order, and our national security, and would have a profoundly negative effects on military service members.

The former presidents attorneys have argued that the charges against Trump related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol should be thrown out because he was acting as president at the time. Prosecutors have denounced the idea as a novel and sweeping claim.

The briefs signatories include former CIA Director Michael Hayden, retired Adm. Thad Allen and retired Gens. George Casey, Carlton Fulford, Craig McKinley and Charles Krulak.

The group argued that granting Trump immunity against the criminal claims could open the door to future executive intervention in the countrys elections and could put national security at risk.

The notion of such immunity, both as a general matter, and also specifically in the context of the potential negation of election results, threatens to jeopardize our nations security and international leadership, the brief reads. Particularly in times like the present, when anti-democratic, authoritarian regimes are on the rise worldwide, such a threat is intolerable and dangerous.

The group also wrote that if the court agrees with Trumps argument, it will destroy the relationship between the commander in chief and the military, because the president would not have to follow law, while the military still would.

The situation could end up creating the likelihood that service members will be placed in the impossible position of having to choose between following their Commander-in-Chief and obeying the laws enacted by Congress, the brief says.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump makes comments following a pre-trial hearing in a hash money case in criminal court on March 25, 2024 in New York City.

Former President Trump makes comments following a pretrial hearing in a hash money case in criminal court on March 25 in New York City. (Photo by Curtis Means-Pool/Getty Images)

There is a national security risk as well, the group argued, with challenges to the peaceful transition of power putting the entire country at risk in what is already an opportune moment for foreign powers to strike.

Foreign countries also closely observe American elections, and domestic conflict on U.S. soil  especially conflict related to the peaceful transition of power  only encourages our foreign adversaries, the brief reads.

Presidential immunity would inexorably lead to deep divisions between the armed forces political and military leaders and would place servicemen and women in the impossible position of either ignoring presidential orders they are sworn to obey or committing crimes at the Presidents behest in violation of their oath  for which they may be prosecuted, the group added.

The former officers also contended that any change in the assumption of immunity could erode the publics trust in the military as an institution.

Top Stories from The Hill

The Supreme Court is set to begin arguments on the immunity claims April 25, with the landmark decision likely to be handed down by the end of June or sooner.

The trial for Trumps federal election subversion case was slated to start in early March, but proceedings are currently on hold while the Supreme Court weighs the immunity challenge. Several critics of the former president, the presumptive GOP nominee, have contended his immunity push is another way to delay his trial until after the November election.

Trump is facing four felony counts accusing him of being involved in a conspiracy to defraud the United States. Prosecutors allege he stood at the center of a campaign to block the certification of votes for President Biden that day.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FORT MILL, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Just down Springfield Parkway, near Fort Mill Elementary and Middle schools, a speed-aware radar sign now serves as a reminder to drivers to slow down.

I just saw as I was driving the sign that was telling you your speed, said Christina Preis, and I will be honest, at the end of the day thats something that Im happy to see.

Fort Mill town leaders voted, unanimously, to pass a resolution that will call on the state to take measures to make school zones safer.

The resolution was passed roughly two weeks after crossing guard Stanley Brucker, 61, lost his life after he stepped out into traffic and was hit by a car. Prosecutors say the driver wasnt at fault. Regardless, area crossing guards called for safety improvements.

PREVIOUSLY: Fort Mill asks for greater safety measures from state after crossing guard death

We need things to change, said crossing guard Leslie Richardson at the time. The speed limit has to be reduced, not all our spots have flashing lights.

Mayor Guynn Savage stressed steps need to be taken to limit the opportunities for this to ever reoccur.

The council asked the South Carolina Department of Transportation to review signage, signals and other safety measures at all Fort Mill schools.

The more signage you can get, the more attention you can call to the issue there, said Sharon Bynum, who was a crossing guard when her kids were young. Ive been out on that road when he and his buddy at the other school have been out there, and thought Im so glad I didnt have a road like this.

The council also added that the speed limit should be reduced to 25 miles per hour.

PREVIOUSLY: Why no charges filed against driver who hit, killed Fort Mill crossing guard? Solicitor explains

Neither the Town nor Fort Mill School District wanted to comment on the proposal, however, a school district rep said they appreciate any efforts to help with safety around schools.

Those we spoke to are in support of safety enhancements, however, the ideas of how to approach that might differ.

A few tickets and you will shut it down, said Mary Smith.

I dont want to raise anyones taxes or give tickets to anybody or anything like that, said Preis, but those kind of measures are important and I dont think that would be the worst thing.

Its unknown if the SC DOT will accept this resolution, and what the department will change.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
The Town of Fort Mill formally asked South Carolinas Department of Transportation to examine safety near local schools.

On Monday night, councilmembers voted in favor of a resolution asking DOT to review signs and signals in school zones. It also lowers the speed limit in school zones to 25 mph.

READ MORE:

The resolution comes after crossing guard Stanley Brucker was hit and killed outside Fort Mill Elementary School on March 21. The school zone speed limit there is 30 mph.

Police did not file criminal charges against the driver who hit the 61-year-old.

(WATCH PREVIOUS: Fort Mill pushes for speed limit changes after crossing guards death)
Public sector workers in Wales should see working hours slashed by 20pc with no loss of pay, a year-long consultation found - AndreyPopov/iStockphoto

Four-day weeks could be racist because they discriminate against frontline public sector workers, a Welsh government report has said.

Public sector workers in Wales should see working hours slashed by 20pc with no loss of pay in a trial scheme, a year-long consultation found.

It said that artificial intelligence (AI) had the potential to reduce workloads and allow staff to avoid burnout, but admitted a four-day week may widen existing inequalities between office workers and those on the frontline.

The report suggested that a shorter working week may effectively be discriminatory against ethnic groups in public sector workforces that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. White-collar workers, meanwhile, would stand to benefit more. The report did not give examples of the types of workers who would be negatively impacted.

It said: The risk of widening existing inequalities between groups of workers Given the different gender, race and other characteristics of different workforces in the public sector, there is potential for negative and differential impacts on particular protected characteristics.

The consultation, made up from a working group of senior Welsh government civil servants and public sector bosses, also highlighted a number of other drawbacks that a four-day week would bring.

One unnamed member of the group reportedly said that allowing workers to have an extra day off would require them to hire an additional 179 staff on full-time equivalent contracts to maintain the same levels of service.

Costs faced by workers having to partake in more leisure activities on their additional day off, as well as the impact on energy bills of having to heat homes during time normally spent at work, were also put forward as risks that a four-day week would need to address.

The consultation viewed that the benefits of a four-day week could include increased productivity, a better work-life balance and improved retention and hiring of staff.

The report spoke approvingly of a four-day week trial in Iceland in which some 2,500 workers participated and referenced some of the more unexpected benefits it yielded, including men in heterosexual partnerships taking on greater domestic responsibilities.

It recommended the Welsh government begin trialling a four-day week for public sector jobs where it can be introduced without recruiting more staff. It is not clear when or if the trial will go ahead.

It comes as Humza Yousaf launched a four-day week trial in Scotland last year. It followed another four-day week trial carried out by South Cambridgeshire District Council in 2022. The council is continuing with the new working week despite the Government repeatedly ordering it to stop, after concerns taxpayers are not receiving best value for money from council services.

Andrew Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, called on the Welsh government to distance itself from the proposals to introduce a four-day week pilot.

He said: Plans for a four-day week in the public sector should be dropped, and services for users should be prioritised instead.

Pushing forward with this project, which has failed elsewhere, would be the wrong decision from this Labour Welsh government.

Taxpayers in Wales are paying for these services, and their interests should be considered when it comes to public sector working conditions, he added.

A four-day working week means no loss of pay or benefits, combined with a 20pc reduction to normal contracted hours, while maintaining current levels of service delivery according to the Welsh governments official definition.

A Welsh government spokesman said: There are no plans to introduce a four-day week across the public sector in Wales.

Whilst the working group identified a range of potential benefits, they also highlighted the many complexities involved in adopting a four-day week and the impact these could have on a range of groups and individuals.

Recommended

Council accused of misleading public over claims four-day week saved money

Read more

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COLOMBO, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Maldivian Minister of Islamic Affairs Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed on Tuesday announced that 100,000 U.S. dollars from the country's Zakat Fund will be utilized to fund food for Palestinians in besieged Gaza.

In a statement issued, he said humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza will be delivered through the Qatar Red Crescent.

He said the money will be transferred in two installments, adding that this will be the first time the Zakat Fund is used to provide aid to a foreign party. 
Firefighters and rescuers work at the site after an accident at the Bargi hydroelectric power plant (Bologna) on the Suviana reservoir. At least four workers were killed in an explosion. Michele Nucci/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa

At least four workers were killed in an explosion at a hydroelectric power plant on a reservoir in northern Italy on Tuesday.

The authorities feared in the evening that the number of fatalities at the plant on the Suviana reservoir between the cities of Bologna and Florence could rise: Several hours after the accident, which occurred at around 3 pm (1300 GMT), three workers were still missing. At least five workers suffered burn injuries.

According to initial findings, fire broke out in the plant during work on a turbine at a depth of around 30 metres for an initially unexplained reason, which then led to the explosion. As a result of the explosion, water also entered the power plant, according to the findings.

The dam itself - around 2 kilometres away - was not affected. The fire brigade had great difficulty reaching the site of the accident due to heavy smoke.

The mayor of the nearby small town of Camougnano, Marco Masinara, reported that work was being carried out on the turbines inside the building. The accident occurred far below the water level at level minus nine, he said.

The renewable company Enel Green Power, which owns the power station, confirmed the accident without providing further details.

"With reference to the serious accident that occurred at the Bargi power plant near Bologna this afternoon, Enel Green Power is collaborating with all the competent authorities and expresses its condolences and closeness to the personnel involved and their families, who represent the priority for the Company," Enel Green Power said in a statement.

The CEO of Enel Green Power, Salvatore Bernabei, went to the site "to personally follow the situation as it evolves," the statement added.

The fire brigade was deployed with more than 40 volunteers and several helicopters.

The provincial commander of the Bologna fire brigade, Calogero Turturici, told the television station E-TV: "There is a lot of smoke. We are struggling to get into the premises." The site was also flooded with water, he said.

When asked about the cause, Turturici said: "If the scene of the accident is not accessible, it is difficult to hypothesize one way or another."

The lake is located in a regional park in the Apennines at an altitude of just under 500 metres above sea level.

It was created by the construction of a dam between 1928 and 1932, and the area is also very popular with hikers.

Firefighters and rescuers work at the site after an accident at the Bargi hydroelectric power plant (Bologna) on the Suviana reservoir. At least four workers were killed in an explosion. Michele Nucci/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa
Framingham man fired a gun several times, then struck K-9 while being arrested, police say

FRAMINGHAM  Police say a local man fired several shots and assaulted a police dog during a downtown incident on Sunday evening before getting arrested.

Police arrested Rander Costa-Silva, 26, after the 6:10 p.m. incident near the 135 Restaurant & Lounge, 672 Waverly St. (Route 135).

No one was shot, police said.

In a press release, police said officers responded to the restaurant after a report of shots fired. Once police arrived, witnesses said the alleged shooter, Costa-Silva, was hiding in the back seat of his pickup truck on nearby Bridges Street.

Officers ordered Costa-Silva from his truck, but he did not respond. Police then used a less-lethal shotgun  a specialty shotgun that does not fire 12-gauge rounds  to blast out a window.

Framingham police officer Andrew Lewis poses with K-9 Murph at Cushing Memorial Park last August. Murph was struck by a gun suspect several times on Sunday evening.

'Ready for active shooters': Framingham Police Department gets training on tense scenarios

Police then sent in one of the department's dogs, Murph, to try to get Costa-Silva out of the vehicle.

"During the apprehension, the suspect struck the K-9 several times," police said in the release. "At that point, officers were able to take the suspect into custody."

Suspect faces several charges, including injuring a police dog

Police searched the truck and found a loaded handgun, along with a second loaded magazine, according to the release.

Police did not say what led to Costa-Silva, whose address was not provided, firing shots. They also did not say if Murph, a Belgian Malinois-German shepherd mix, suffered any injuries.

Costa-Silva was treated for minor injuries at MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham.

A K-9 for every shift': Framingham police K-9 unit has become nearly a 24-7 operation

He is charged with injuring or interfering with a police dog; discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building; two counts of carrying a loaded firearm; two counts of possession of ammunition without an FID card; two counts of possession of a large capacity feeding device; receiving a stolen firearm; and disorderly conduct.

Costa-Silva was originally scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Framingham District Court. However, the arraignment was postponed until Tuesday because there were no Portuguese interpreters available.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Framingham police: Man fired a gun, then assaulted K9
The leaders of France, Jordan and Egypt called for a Gaza ceasefire in a joint opinion piece published on Monday.

"The war in Gaza and the catastrophic humanitarian suffering it is causing must end now," Egypt's Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, France's Emmanuel Macron and Jordan's King Abdullah said in the article published by the Washington Post newspaper.

"We underline the urgent need to bring about a permanent cease-fire in Gaza," the leaders continued, arguing that "violence, terror and war cannot bring peace to the Middle East. The two-state solution will."

A two-state solution foresees the peaceful co-existence of Israel and a Palestinian state, based on the borders of the Palestinian Territories occupied by Israel since 1967 - the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

The three leaders argue that the option is "the only credible path to guaranteeing peace and security for all, and ensuring that neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis ever have to relive the horrors that have befallen them since the Oct. 7 attack."

Some 1,200 people were killed during attacks on Israel led by militants from the Palestinian organization Hamas on October 7, and according to Israeli media reports around 250 more abducted into Gaza.

Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive, which have killed more than 33,000 people, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza, much of which has been left in ruins and on the brink of famine.

In a resolution binding under international law, on March 25 the UN Security Council called for an "immediate ceasefire" in the Gaza Strip for the first time since the start of the war six months ago.

"In light of the intolerable human toll of the war, we, the leaders of Egypt, France and Jordan, call for the immediate and unconditional implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2728," al-Sissi, Abdullah and Macron said.

All hostages held there must also be released, they said, adding that they support the ongoing efforts of the mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US to bring about a ceasefire and an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Jordanian King Abdullah II speaks at a press conference in Berlin. Christoph Soeder/dpa
French FM: Discussions with Russia not in Paris's interest due to Moscow's false statements

Paris is no longer interested in discussions with Russia after Moscow published differing accounts on the latest call between French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said in an interview for France 24 on April 8.

"It is not in our current interest to hold discussions with Russian officials because the statements and the summaries issued about them are lies," Sejourne said.

Lecornu and Shoigu held a rare call on April 3 after a mass shooting at the Crocus City concert hall outside Moscow in late March. It was the first call between the two countries' defense chiefs since October 2022.

After the conversation, the French Defense Ministry published a statement that said Lecornu condemned the attack of the Islamic State (ISIS) and expressed "France's solidarity with the victims."

The French defense minister also "strongly condemned" the Russian war in Ukraine and underscored France's support for the Ukrainian people.

The Russian Defense Ministry, on its part, claimed that France allegedly expressed its willingness to hold dialogue on Ukraine or discuss possible peace negotiations based on Istanbul talks held in 2022, which brought no results.

The French government later denied these claims.

Sejourne said that trust must first be restored between Russia and France, adding that the "developments on the battlefield in Ukraine" also must show the restoration of "interstate relations," which is not currently happening.

Read also: Opinion: Troops in Ukraine? France-Germany spat plays into Putins hands

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
PARIS (Reuters) - France's foreign minister said on Tuesday that pressure, and possibly sanctions, must be imposed on Israel to open crossings to get humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

"There must be levers of influence and there are multiple levers, going up to sanctions to let humanitarian aid cross check points," Stephane Sejourne told RFI radio and France 24 television

"France was one of the first countries to propose European Union sanctions on Israeli settlers who are committing acts of violence in the West Bank. We will continue if needed to obtain the opening of humanitarian aid," he said.

Some 33,207 Palestinians have been killed in six months of conflict, Gaza's health ministry said on Monday. Most of the enclave's 2.3 million people are homeless and many at risk of famine.

Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel in a cross-border attack on Oct. 7 that triggered the conflict, according to Israeli tallies.

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, editing by Inti Landauro)
GALLERY: The Big Country goes out for eclipse viewings

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Across the Big Country, residents and visitors were excited to see the solar eclipse in about 97% totality. Lets see just a few of those watch parties!

When to watch once in a multi-generation solar eclipse across the Big Country

At Abilene Christian University (ACU), some classes were canceled for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the astronomical event. Kaden Vasquez, a senior ACU student, told KTAB/KRBC he would be traveling to Gatesville, Texas in a group of about 75 students and faculty to see the eclipse in its full glory.





Just a few blocks away, Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) students took to the lawn to see the anomaly.

It got colder and darker, and not a ton changed. But, its cool to see, said HSU student Emma Owens. Especially seeing all these students out here.









Section of Downtown Abilene roadway closes for Cypress Street Improvement Project: Phase 1

In Downtown Abilene, The Grace Museum hosted flocks of spectators in its courtyard and rooftop to see the sight.













Out at the Abilene Zoo, the animals seemed to think the darkened skies were a sign that it was time to sleep.







Even here at the KTAB/KRBC station, folks were excited to step out and witness the solar eclipse!

































Down at the east end of the Big Country, the City of Comanche, which usually holds roughly 4,000 residents on a daily basis, welcomed visitors from all over the country for the eclipse.

Travelers have been coming from Florida, from Las Vegas, Nevada. Weve had a bunch of out-of-towners, boasted Comanche business owner, Rebecca Conley of JW Hardin Wine Co.











To help the visitors feel more welcomed, most establishments handed out little gifts.

Pretty much anybody open today is doing something special for the eclipse. So, wherever you stop in, youll probably have a little treat of some sort that youll get for just being here in Comanche and celebrating the eclipse, Micah Taylor, owner of Overflow Coffee Bar, said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
VENICE, Fla. (WFLA)  Mary Hollenback was enjoying her Sunday afternoon watching the television when she heard her front door rattle. Thinking that an intruder was trying to enter her Grand Palm home, she got up to investigate.

However, what she saw standing before her was quite frighteninga nearly 8-foot alligator had busted through the screen door and made itself at home.

Where theres water, theres a gator: Here are the most alligator-infested lakes in Florida

So, Im sitting on my sofa. Its late in the afternoon. Im just watching TV, and I heard my front door rattle, my screen door. And I thought somebody who didnt live here was trying to come in, thinking that they were probably in the wrong house because that happens frequently. So, by the time I got up and went near the front door, the gator was already inside, Hollenback said.

The Venice homeowner said her door had a magnetic closure on it, allowing the gator to push it open.

Photo credit: Mary Hollenback

Photo credit: Mary Hollenback

Photo credit: Mary Hollenback

Photo credit: Mary Hollenback

He was pushing through that and it broke the magnetic clasp. The door opened and he just came in, she said. I probably got no further, no closer to the front door than you are right now. Just close enough to look and see that it wasnt a person trying to get in; it was an alligator.

After seeing the large gator lounging on her floor, Hollenback said all she could think was, Oh, my goodness, I have an alligator in my house.

Living amongst dinosaurs: Large alligator spotted strolling across Florida golf course

My mindset was like, Oh, my goodness, I have an alligator in my house, and at the same time, Im thinking, I have an alligator in my house, how am I gonna get rid of the guy?'

Hollenback said she thought about calling 911, but she had a slight issueher phone was sitting on the counter, just inches away from the reptile.

The only thing I could think to do was to call 911, but my phone was sitting on the end of the counter. So, I had to get a little bit closer to him, grabbed my phone, and then went on the lanai and called 911.

Luckily, the Sarasota County Sheriffs Office was quick to respond to Hollenbacks call.

The one deputy was really pretty funny because he told me that when he saw the report, he didnt believe me until he walked in the house and saw the gator, she said.

Two deputies and three Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers were called in to help remove the gator from Hollenbacks home. The gator measured 7 feet 11 inches long.

While Hollenback said shes relived the gator was removed, she said it was crazy to see how the pictures of the gator were spreading like wildfire on social media.

I was relieved. I was kind of shaken for a while, but you know, its like all my neighbors came out and were all talking about it, and its just become a really good story since then. I mean, this story just keeps growing and growing. My 15 minutes of fame, she joked.

Alligator mating season begins in Florida: Heres what to know

Hollenback said her Venice neighborhood has about 50 ponds, so its not unusual to see alligators, and that she doesnt know where the reptile ended up.

Gator sightings will be ramping up within the coming months as mating season is underway in the Sunshine State. Mating season kicks off in April and lasts until June, meaning there will be a greater chance of encountering the massive reptiles this month.

During mating season, males tend to become more aggressive. While alligator attacks are rare, residents should be vigilant near ponds and waterways, especially while walking their pets.

Anyone who sees an alligator that appears to be a threat to people, pets, or property should call the FWCs Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 1-866-FWC-GATOR.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, honorary president of the Workers' Party of Brazil (PT) and Brazilian president, have sent congratulatory letters separately to the 7th theory seminar of the CPC and the PT held in Beijing on Tuesday.

In his letter, Xi said that the 20th National Congress of the CPC in October 2022 made it clear that the Party's central task is to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

Xi noted that after the PT returned to power in January 2023, it had vigorously promoted development strategies and stayed committed to achieving sustainable and comprehensive development of Brazil.

He said the seminar focused on strengthening the ruling party building and exploring the path to modernization, which is timely and of great significance to strengthening the capacity building of the ruling parties of the two countries and exploring the modernization paths suited for their own national conditions.

Xi also noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the China-Brazil diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the CPC-PT relations.

The CPC is willing to deepen exchanges and mutual learning with the PT on governance, and promote party building and national development, so as to make greater contributions to the continuous development of China-Brazil relations in the new era and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

Lula said in his letter that last year, he and General Secretary Xi had worked together to take the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level.

Brazil-China relations are important not only to the two countries but also to the whole world, Lula said, noting that the two sides will work together to consolidate traditional mechanisms of global governance such as the United Nations, while strengthening key mechanisms of South-South cooperation such as the Group of 77 and China, BRICS, the China-CELAC Forum and the BASIC countries.

Lula said that the relationship between the PT and the CPC is an important part of the relationship between the two countries. The visit to China by the delegation of senior Workers' Party officials and their attendance at the seminar aimed to exchange experience on governance and conduct in-depth discussions and cooperation with the CPC on issues of common interest.

He expressed the confidence that the exchanges between the two parties, the two governments and the two peoples will be closer and more fruitful. 
Protesters demonstrating against the war in Gaza repeatedly interrupted a Tuesday Senate hearing attended by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Charles Brown.

The protesters interrupted the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill twice, demanding the U.S. stop funding Israel and supporting a genocide in Gaza, where Israel is fighting a major war against Hamas.

The group made it into the hearing room while Austin was delivering his opening remarks on the Pentagons 2025 budget request, forcing the committee to pause while police removed them from the room.

Stop killing my people, one demonstrator said. Stop funding Israel.

Several protesters began chanting to stop the genocide in Gaza, and at least one person said the U.S. should try to work on addressing issues like health care and climate change instead of sending money to Israel.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, scolded protesters for interrupting the hearing.

It is not appropriate for comments or demonstrations by the spectating audience here, he said. We are conducting a hearing, and we will do so.

Israel launched the war in Gaza after Hamas fighters invaded southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking another roughly 240 hostages, with 100 still left alive and believed to be held by the Palestinian militant group.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) asked Austin later in the hearing if he agreed with the protesters that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza.

We dont have any evidence of genocide, Austin replied. I would remind everybody that what happened on Oct. 7 was absolutely horrible.

Gaza protesters have interrupted several hearings on Capitol Hill previously and have appeared at events and speeches featuring President Biden.

Biden signaled some agreement last month during an event in North Carolina where he said the protesters have a point and there needs to be more aid in Gaza.

The Biden administration has grown increasingly concerned about the toll of the six-month war in Gaza, where more than 33,000 Palestinians have died. The president has tried to get more humanitarian aid into the strip and has urged Israel to minimize casualties, but he has also continued to send bombs and weapons to Israeli forces.

Biden faces a threat from his left in the November elections, as progressives, young voters and Arab Americans have already submitted protest votes at the primary ballot boxes over the Israel-Hamas war.

Austin said during the hearing that Israel must address the spiraling humanitarian situation in Gaza in a meaningful way, though he noted there was progress made when Israeli officials last week announced the opening of a new humanitarian border crossing in northern Gaza.

He also said the U.S. military is airdropping aid into Gaza and is working to construct a maritime port off the coast of the Strip. Austin added the initial operation capability of the pier should be completed by the third weekend of April.

The Pentagon chief stressed the best way for Israel to ensure peace in the region is to alleviate the crisis in Gaza.

If they want to create a lasting effect in terms of stability, Austin said of Israel, then I think that something needs to be done  to help the Palestinian people.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Gemma Collins has revealed the special role Jedward are set to play on her wedding day.

The TOWIE icon confirmed her engagement to Rami Hawash back in February after his elaborate proposal in the Maldives, and while speaking to The Mirror, 'The GC' joked that former X Factor favourites John and Edward Grimes (collectively known as Jedward) could walk her down the aisle.

"They are my dog's godfathers, after all," she said. "They're honestly like family to me, I adore them."

Comic Relief - Getty Images

Related: TOWIE's Gemma Collins on fertility treatment and baby plans

Backing this up, Hawash went on to add: "Jedward are like our kids, and they're so good to Tristan. They're part of our family now."

Elsewhere in the interview, Collins admitted she'd become more bossy since the couple's beach resort engagement, in that she's going to put on not one but three parties.

"The main one will be somewhere fabulous in the UK, the second maybe abroad, and the third will be the formal one for our closest friends and family," she told the publication.

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Related: TOWIE's Gemma Collins brands show "terrible" and explains why she wouldn't return

As for the three wedding dresses she has in mind, Collins is taking her cues from the world of Ridley Scott, strangely.

"I would love something similar to the lace one Lady Gaga wore in House of Gucci," she shared.

"I might even go back to my roots and wear something really Essex-like and over the top. At the moment I'm thinking something Italian-themed, then a 'wow' one with a huge train. I might even recreate Victoria Beckham's wedding moment with the tiara, I loved that."

The Only Way is Essex airs on ITVBe and streams on ITVX.

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Conferencegoers gather after the Sunday morning session of the 194th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 7, 2024.

This article was first published in the ChurchBeat newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Wednesday night.

Two young sister missionaries on Temple Square stopped to talk with me this weekend, and the conversation quickly turned to how this weekends general conference felt much like Temple Square was opening up again.

The Angel Moroni statue returned Tuesday to the tallest spire of the Salt Lake Temple.

Nation flags went up the new flagpoles on Wednesday as part of the renovation of the Church Office Building plaza, which reopened in January.

The standby line for tickets to the Conference Center reopened Saturday for the first time since 2019. More than 1,000 people obtained tickets to conference through the standby line for each session. The Sunday afternoon session exceeded 1,600.

And conference attendance returned to levels not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic, even though an artificial limit of 18,000 people per session was instituted by Salt Lake City because parking has been reduced during the temple renovation. A combined total of 82,565 people attended the five sessions.

There were other signs of expansion, too.

President Russell M. Nelson announced 15 more temples, bringing the total number of dedicated and announced temples to 350.

The church issued a statistical report that said membership has surpassed 17.25 million.

Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Seventy said that there are now 71,000 young proselyting missionaries, up from 67,000 at the end of 2023. They are baptizing 20,000 people a month.

Apostles from the Quorum of the Twelve conducted three sessions of the conference. Members of the First Presidency generally conduct conference sessions.

Amid the four new members of the Presidency of the Seventy was Elder Edward Dube, a convert who joined the church in Zimbabwe in 1984 at age 22. Now 61, he is the first Black man to serve in the Presidency of the Seventy, which is the third-highest ranking leadership body in the church after the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. There are seven presidents of the Seventy.

The presidency works under the direct supervision of the Quorum of the Twelve. Seven members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles previously served in the Presidency of the Seventy  Elders Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, Neil L. Andersen, Ronald A. Rasband, Gerrit W. Gong, Ulisses Soares and Patrick Kearon.

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President Nelson announced new 29th and 30th temples for Utah in Lehi and West Jordan (Sunday)

Sunday general conference: Temples are the gateway to the greatest blessings God gives (Sunday conference wrap-up)

Sunday morning: Latter-day Saints keep covenants to access Christs power to heal, belong and return home (Sunday)

Saturday at general conference: Latter-day Saints should be one in Jesus Christ (Saturday wrap-up)

Latter-day Saint membership passed 17.25 million in 2023, according to a new church statistical report (Saturday)

About the church

President Nelson announces 15 new temples as conference comes to a close.

What Im reading

How faith shaped Caitlin Clarks rise to fame.

Behind the Scenes

See all the galleries of photos our photographers took at all five sessions of general conference here.

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints kisses the hand of his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, as he moves toward his seat prior to the afternoon session of the 194th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 7, 2024.
GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG)  George County sheriffs deputies executed a search warrant and found narcotics and stolen property, leading to three arrests, according to reports.

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The George County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigations Division and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics reportedly conducted a search warrant of a residence in the 200 block of Forest Hill Drive in Lucedale, Mississippi, on April 3, 2024.

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Officials say the warrant came after a shed burglary in the Agricola community. Tools, electronics, and other items were allegedly taken during the previous incident.

During the search, law enforcement found an abundance of stolen properties and narcotics, according to a press release.

48-year-old Marques Hilton of Lucedale, 32-year-old Angela Todd of Chickasaw, and 41-year-old Brandon Benkowich of Lucedale were arrested by authorities after they searched the home, according to the GCSO.

Authorities arrested 48-year-old Marques Hilton of Lucedale, 32-year-old Angela Todd of Chickasaw, and 41-year-old Brandon Benkowich of Lucedale after executing a search warrant. (Courtesy: George County Sheriffs Office)

Hilton was arrested on charges of Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to distribute and Felony Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He also had a detainer through the Mississippi Department of Corrections, according to reports.

Todd was arrested and charged with Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Benkowich was arrested and charged with Felony Burglary of Commercial Building.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A 78-year-old reported missing out of Georgetown County has been found safe, the sheriffs office said on Tuesday.

Editors note: Because the person has been found safe, all identifying information and photos have been removed from this story.

* * *

Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylors work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
The first workshop on how the opioid settlement funds will be distributed drew a crowd Monday. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder

The state has launched a grant program for awarding the hundreds of millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds coming to Georgia.

A total of $638 million will flow into Georgia, with three-fourths of the funds being distributed through the grant process unveiled Monday. Another 25%, or $159 million, will be shared among the city of Atlanta and the states largest counties.

Starting next Monday, groups can begin applying for the first round of grant funding. More information can be found on the website for the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust. A series of workshops are being held across the state to explain the grant criteria and process, with the first one drawing a crowd Monday in downtown Atlanta.

Georgia has lagged other states in establishing the protocols to apply for the funds.

DHBDD Commissioner Kevin Tanner talks to reporters Monday. Tanner is the trustee for Georgias opioid settlement funds. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder

We have one opportunity to get this right, said Kevin Tanner, commissioner of the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. So, we want to be slow and methodical to make sure 18 years from now when the last dollar is received and spent by the state of Georgia, that we have truly turned the tide on developing a continuum of care that stops the opioid epidemic.

The funding is part of a multistate $26 billion settlement agreement with the three largest pharmaceutical distributors, McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen, and manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals and its parent company Johnson & Johnson.

In Georgia, the number of opioid-related overdose deaths increased by 207% from 2010 to 2020. The federal government officially declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency in 2017.

Since then, the illegal drug market has continued to evolve, with fentanyl now creeping into drugs like marijuana. Mixing the tranquilizer drug xylazine with fentanyl has also been labeled an emerging threat nationally.

People who are in the manufacturing and drug business are very smart, very crafty about how they use the supply side and the demand side to market to people and change those formulas up to continue to get people addicted, said Cassandra Price, director of DBHDDs Office of Addictive Diseases.

Of the money coming to Georgia, $479 million will be distributed through Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust using the grant process announced Monday. Groups can either apply for a regional grant or a state level grant if they can show the proposed project has broader impact.

The potential uses for the money are varied but all related to curbing the opioid crisis. For example, the funding could go toward medication-assisted treatment distribution, prevention programs, expanding the use of opioid-reversing drugs, recovery supports or harm-reduction programs.

An inventory of existing services was created to identify where the gaps are and will influence the grant-awarding process, Tanner said.

Each application will go through a multi-layered review process that will land before whats called the Georgia Opioid Settlement Advisory Commission. Gov. Brian Kemp appointed four members and a non-voting chairperson, Evan Meyers, who is deputy executive council for the governors office. Four other members are chosen by local governments.

Catoosa County Sheriff Gary Sisk was one of the governors picks, which Sisk says likely has something to do with how outspoken he has been about the impact of drugs on his northwest Georgia community.

Just Monday, Sisk said he heard a call go out about a likely overdose just before his radio signal cut out on his way to Atlanta. And he estimated that about two-thirds of his 248-bed jail population has some connection to drugs, likely opioids, even if indirectly.

Whats so frustrating about this issue and this addiction is we can want all the help for these people, and we can build any buildings and build any programs. But if their hearts not in the right spot, and their mind is not ready to get pale, then its not likely to do any good, Sisk said.

So, it is a tough situation, and weve got our work cut out for us, he said. Because we had said we want to spend this money wisely and spend it to where it is actually going to make an impact, but I dont think theres a single answer.

Tanner was appointed by the governor to serve as the trustee, meaning he has the final say on which projects are funded.

The commissioner pledged to keep the distribution process transparent partly by posting key documents on the trusts website.

Our goal is to try to cut down on the number of open records requests, because were going to be so transparent. Anything you want to know will be available on the website, the commissioner said at Mondays workshop.

One member of the crowd Monday pressed the programs leaders on what the vision is for the funding, arguing that an individual must first want to overcome their addiction to get better.

Addiction is a baffling, cunning disease. We all know that, Price said in response. But what we also know is that people get well, people get in recovery every single day.

But when people dont have access to those services, then they definitely arent going to choose to get it, and we have stigma. So, I think us putting out this strong effort in building up access using our clinical tools to engage those individuals, make them feel welcome, reduce stigma. Thats how we do it, guys. Thats how we get people to recover, she said.

Many of the people at Mondays workshop were people in recovery who now work as peers in the behavioral health field. Jeff Breedlove, advocacy strategist at the Georgia Council for Recovery, was one of them.

Breedlove praised the state for including the recovery community in the process of developing the grant program before any money was spent. Each regional council set up to handle the local grants also includes a person in recovery, he said.

By having the peer voice represented in this process, it legitimizes this process. The survivor voice is the voice that will bring reality to the discussions, Breedlove said.

We need all stakeholders. We need our clinicians, we need our law enforcement, we need our academics, we need our elected officials, but they need the voice of lived experience to tell them what is real and not real in the real world, he said.

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The post Georgia to distribute $638M settlement through grant program to combat deadly opioid epidemic appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Fulton county prosecutors asked the Georgia state court of appeals on Monday to reject Donald Trumps request to consider his claim that the district attorney should be disqualified over a relationship with her deputy, arguing that the matter was correctly settled by the lower court judge.

The present application merely reflects the applicants dissatisfaction with the trial courts proper application of well-established law to the facts, prosecutors wrote in a 19-page filing.

Related: Trump appeals ruling letting Fani Willis stay on election interference case

Trump was charged alongside more than a dozen associates last year with racketeering over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. As part of their bid to dismiss the case, Trump and his co-defendants alleged the district attorney Fani Williss relationship meant she should be recused from the case.

The effort to have Willis disqualified  which could have also resulted in the entire Fulton county district attorneys office being disqualified  failed after the presiding judge decided, following days of evidentiary hearings, that Trump and his co-defendants did not prove a conflict of interest.

The judge nonetheless ruled the relationship gave the appearance of a conflict, which needed to be addressed. For Willis to continue bringing the case, the judge ordered, her deputy Nathan Wade needed to resign from the district attorneys office. Wade resigned later that evening.

Trump and his co-defendants challenged the ruling last week, arguing to the Georgia state court of appeals that it should clarify the standard for forensic misconduct that would require Willis to step down and that the lower court judge should have found there was actual conflict of interest.

The Georgia state court of appeals does not have to hear the case and prosecutors on Monday contended that Trump had failed to establish sufficient cause because he did not convincingly show that his claims met several specific conditions.

Broadly, an order from a lower court is deemed reviewable if the issue at hand is dispositive for the case, if the order appears wrongly decided on the facts and would adversely affect a defendants rights, or if it is a novel issue for which the appeals court should create a precedent.

The filing from prosecutors argued Trumps motion was deficient since the lower court found there was no evidence that the Willis-Wade relationship meant they had a disqualifying personal interest in bringing or continuing the Trump case, meaning there was also no due process violations.

It also argued the Georgia state court of appeals has previously decided that in the absence of an actual conflict, as opposed to the appearance of one, a lower court could not be deemed as having made a clearly unreasonable or erroneous ruling by deciding not to disqualify a defense attorney.

The filing added that even if there was some conflict, the issue had been resolved because the lower court allowed Willis to continue prosecuting the case as long as Wade resigned. This court has sanctioned this same remedy as a cure for the potential appearance of impropriety, prosecutors wrote.
(Bloomberg) -- German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius threw his weight behind calls for reform of rules that restrict new borrowing by the federal government to help fund a radical overhaul of the nations armed forces.

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In an interview with public broadcaster ZDF late Monday, Pistorius said the Bundeswehrs financial needs cant be met solely by reallocating money from elsewhere in the budget once a special fund worth 100 billion ($109 billion) is exhausted in 2027.

Both Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Social Democrats and the Greens have called for more flexibility in the borrowing rules  which are enshrined in the constitution and known as the debt brake  but their fiscally hawkish Free Democrat partners in the three-party ruling coalition strongly oppose such a move.

The amounts we are talking about will not be covered by reallocating money alone, Pistorius  a Social Democrat who is Germanys most popular politician  told ZDF. In case of doubt, we will also have to talk about additional debt in this coalition or in the next one after the election due in the fall of 2025.

Scholz unveiled the special debt-financed military fund just days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has promised that Germany will honor NATOs goal of spending at least 2% of gross domestic product on defense over the longer term.

The German leader said Monday that he currently sees no possibility of setting up any new special funds alongside the regular federal budget to finance additional defense outlays.

Read More: Germany Leaves Door Open to Breaching Debt Rules Again Next Year

At the same time, he pledged to block any move to cut social spending in order to find additional cash for the armed forces  something Free Democrat Finance Minister Christian Lindner has advocated.

It would be wrong to finance this through cuts to pensions or elsewhere, for example, Scholz said in a live Q&A with the VRM media group in Mainz. I would be against that.

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Alexandra Koch-Skiba, lawyer and head of the eco Complaints Office, attends the presentation of the 2019 Annual Report. Sonja Wurtscheid/dpa

Complaints about criminal content on the internet soared to 17,493 cases in Germany last year, almost double the previous year and a new record, the German internet association eco reported on Tuesday.

Violence of a sexual nature and transgressions directed at minors made up 78.9% of cases, with a further 11.7% concerning other sexual transgressions seen as illegal under the relevant legislation.

Alexandra Koch-Skiba, head of eco's complaints unit, described the increase, in particular in the area of sexual violence directed at minors, as shocking. "But it also makes clear that our society is watchful and has taken a clear position on illegal content."

The figures in the annual report provided clear evidence of eco's success in the battle against illegal content, she said. Despite the sharp rise in complaints, the association had managed to effect deletion in 98.35% of the cases of internet content raised.

German-hosted websites with child pornography were removed at a rate of 100% within an average of two days, with global removal within six days achieved in 98.87% of cases.

The association said deleting illegal content through self-regulation was more effective than internet censorship. "In the battle against banned web content, deletion is the central and most effective measure. This method is not only rapid, but also effective and sustainable," the report says.

There were almost 900 cases of politically seditious content among the justified complaints. These included dissemination of illegal propaganda and the use of the symbols of banned organizations.
Press conference on crime in the country for 2023 in Berlin

Press conference on crime in the country for 2023 in Berlin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's government vowed on Tuesday to tackle rising crime, in particular a jump in the number of suspects with non-German backgrounds, as it tries to stem the appeal of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in state elections this year.

Presenting data showing a 5.5% rise in overall crime last year and a 13.5% increase in the number of suspects with foreign backgrounds, the interior minister said Germany must improve integration and speed up deportations.

"Foreign offenders must leave Germany much more quickly. The strict deportation rules we have created must now be enforced," said minister Nancy Faeser, a Social Democrat in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's uneasy three-way coalition.

"Anyone who doesn't stick to the rules must leave," she said, adding she also had zero tolerance for violent crime which was up 8.6% last year.

Opposition parties, both conservatives and the AfD, have pounced on the figures to call for tougher migrant policies such as tighter border controls and more deportations.

"What the AfD has warned about for years can no longer be hidden ... new crime statistics have triggered a debate on 'foreigner crime'," said Richard Graupner of the AfD in Bavaria.

Most polls put the AfD in second place nationally and on top in three eastern states which hold elections in September.

(Reporting by Madeline Chambers, Editing by Rachel More)
MOSCOW, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case on the suspected involvement of Western officials in terrorism financing, it said in a statement Tuesday.

The criminal case was initiated following the request from Russian lawmakers and other officials to investigate the financing of terrorist activities by senior officials of the United States and NATO countries, according to the statement.

The committee said it has found that funds received through commercial organizations, in particular, the Ukrainian-based oil and gas company Burisma Holdings, have been used in recent years to carry out terrorist acts in Russia.

The investigation is examining the sources and the flow of funding "in the amount of several million U.S. dollars," as well as the involvement of specific Western officials and individuals from commercial and public organizations, it added. 
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaks at the start of a discussion entitled "War in the Middle East. Steinmeier said that Ramadan and breaking the fast are part of our religious life in Germany. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has wished Muslims in Germany a happy and blessed end to the fasting month of Ramadan.

"Ramadan and breaking the fast are part of the diverse life of faith in Germany," he wrote in a message in Berlin on Tuesday.

"The fact that today, at the end of the month of fasting, Muslim communities throughout the country are inviting their fellow human beings of other faiths is an important sign of tolerance and respect and of the willingness to live together and exchange ideas," he added.

The Islamic fasting month of Ramadan ends with the exuberant festival of Eid al-Fitr, also known as Eid. It is an important Muslim holiday.

During the month of fasting, devout Muslims do not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset.
The German government commissioned the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall to deliver 20 additional Marder armored vehicles to Ukraine, the company announced on April 9.

The new delivery was previously announced in March and is valued in the "mid-double-digit million Euro range," according to a statement. Rheinmetall said that the new lot would be delivered sometime in 2024.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the company has already provided Ukraine with more than 100 Marder armored vehicles.

Earlier this year, Germany and Poland agreed to form an "armored vehicles coalition" to support Ukraine's defense capabilities. The initiative will officially begin operations on March 26.

"More partners have already signed up. This is one of the most important coalitions," Kosiniak-Kamysz said at a press conference with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, specifically naming the U.K., Italy, and Sweden.

Germany's latest aid package to Ukraine included five Warthog repair and recovery armored vehicles, nine Warthog command armored vehicles, one Dachs armored engineer vehicle, ammunition for Leopard tanks, 18,000 155 mm artillery shells from industry and military stocks, 24,000 rounds of 40 mm ammunition, and 2,056 anti-tank weapons RGW 90 Matador.

Germany has become one of Ukraine's leading military donors, second only to the U.S. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Germany has supplied Ukraine with 17.7 billion euros (around $19 billion) in military assistance as of January.

Read also: Germany delivers tank ammunition, shells, drones, armored vehicles to Ukraine

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Germany rejects allegations that it's facilitating acts of genocide in Gaza at UN court

A pro-Palestinian activist works on a protest poster near the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, April 8, 2024, prior to the start of a two days hearing in a case brought by Nicaragua accusing Germany of breaching the genocide convention by providing arms and support to Israel. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Germany on Tuesday strongly rejected a case brought by Nicaragua at the United Nations' top court accusing Berlin of facilitating breaches of the Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law by providing arms and other support to Israel in its deadly assault on Gaza.

"The minute we look closely, Nicaraguas accusations fall apart, Christian Tams, a member of Germany's legal team, told the 16-judge panel at the International Court of Justice.

On Monday, Nicaragua urged judges to order a halt to German military aid to Israel, arguing that Berlins support enables acts of genocide and breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza.

The head of Germany's legal team, Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, said Nicaragua's claims "have no basis in fact or law. They are dependent on an assessment of conduct by Israel, not a party to these proceedings.

Preliminary hearings held Monday and Tuesday are focused solely on Nicaraguas request for so-called provisional measures, including a court order for Berlin to halt military and other aid to Israel and reinstate funding to the U.N. aid agency in Gaza.

Closing Germany's arguments, Von Uslar-Gleichen urged judges not to impose preliminary measures and to toss out Nicaraguas case.

Tams said that Germany had licensed only four exports of weapons of war to Israel since October, three of which concern test or practice equipment. He said 98% of military exports to Israel since the Oct. 7 attacks were not weapons of war, but other equipment.

Showing judges a photo of German aid being airdropped over Gaza, Tams added that Berlin continues to provide humanitarian support to Palestinians every single day under extremely difficult conditions, constructively engaging with international partners.

Nicaragua's case is the latest legal attempt to rein in Israel's offensive by a country with historic ties to the Palestinian people, after South Africa accused Israel of genocide at the same court late last year. It also comes against a backdrop of growing calls for Israels allies to stop supplying the country with weapons  and as some supporters, including Germany, have grown more critical of the war.

Speaking in Berlin, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters that from day one after Oct. 7, Germany has faced up to the incredible dilemma that Hamas deliberately entrenched itself behind civilians, deliberately used the human suffering of Palestinians and Palestinians in Gaza to expand its attack on Israel.

Echoing comments by the German lawyers in court, Baerbock added that Germany is committed to international law, including the right to self-defense.

This means that Israel has the right to defend itself, like every country in the world, against these terrorist attacks that continue to be carried out with the aim of destroying Israel as a state, she said.

At Monday's hearings, Nicaraguas Ambassador to the Netherlands, Carlos Jose Arguello Gomez, accused Germany of failing to honor its own obligation to prevent genocide or to ensure respect of international humanitarian law.

However, another lawyer for Germany, Samuel Wordsworth, argued that the court could not rule Germany was violating the obligation to prevent genocide because its judges have not ruled that Israel is breaching the Genocide Convention.

In a preliminary phase of the case brought late last year by South Africa, the U.N. court has said that it is plausible that Israel's actions in Gaza could amount to breaches of the convention.

How can it be said that there was a failure to ensure respect of a third state, if the failure on the part of that third state to respect is not established in the first place? Wordsworth said.

The court will likely take weeks to deliver its preliminary decision, and Nicaraguas case will probably drag on for years.

Israel strongly denies that its assault amounts to genocidal acts, saying it is acting in self defense after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people.

Since then, more than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the territorys Health Ministry. Its toll doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants, but it has said women and children make up the majority of the dead.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Germany is second only to the U.S. in supplying arms to Israel  but it would be harder, if not impossible, for the U.S. to be brought before the court because Washington does not recognize the ICJs power to compel countries to appear before it. The U.S. also has not signed a protocol to the Genocide Convention that allows countries to bring disputes to the court.

___

Associated Press writer Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report.
Relatives of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks, mourn as they receive the dead bodies from the morgue of Al-Aqsa Hospital for burial in Dair El-Balah. Naaman Omar/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Germany has categorically rejected legal action brought by Nicaragua that it is facilitating genocide in providing support to Israel in the war in the Gaza Strip.

"These allegations are completely without legal or factual foundation," Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, head of the German delegation to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), said in The Hague on Tuesday.

Von Uslar-Gleichen said that Germany was neither in violation of the genocide convention nor of humanitarian international law. "Germany's actions in this conflict are firmly rooted in international law," she said.

In its application to the ICJ on March 1, Nicaragua argued that by providing political, financial and military support to Israel and by defunding the UN's Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, "Germany is facilitating the commission of genocide and, in any case has failed in its obligation to do everything possible to prevent the commission of genocide."

Germany has accused Nicaragua of making false assertions, insisting that it supplies largely general armaments and not weapons that can be used in combat. Since October 2023, only four licences for the export of weapons have been issued concerning ammunition for training purposes and a submarine, it says.

Following the last day of oral argument on Tuesday, the 16 judges will consider Nicaragua's urgent application. Nicaragua is calling for an immediate halt to arms deliveries to Israel and a resumption of contributions to UNRWA.

The ICJ is expected to issue an initial ruling within a fortnight.

Addressing the court, Von Uslar-Gleichen said Germany had confirmed Israel's right to self-defence following the October 7 attacks mounted from the Gaza Strip by Hamas and other extremist organizations. Germany was also acting to secure the rights and protection of the area's civilian population.

Relatives of the Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks, perform funeral prayer in front of the dead bodies after receiving them from the morgue of Al-Aqsa Hospital. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Relatives of the Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks, prepare the dead bodies, after receiving them from the morgue of Al-Aqsa Hospital, for burial in Dair El-Balah. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Bootes has been nesting on Juno Beach for 23 years.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center

A "local legend" returned to Juno Beach, Florida, to help kick off sea turtle nesting season last week.

Researchers from Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMV) spotted Bootes, a 1,000-pound leatherback turtle, nesting on the Palm Beach County beach Thursday night.

Bootes (pronounced "Boh-Tees") has been nesting on Juno Beach for a staggering 23 years. She is one of the 10 largest leatherback sea turtles ever recorded by LMC.

Researchers illuminated the scene with a special red light that is less intrusive to nesting sea turtles and hatchlings. They took photos of Bootes, studied her movements, and observed her physical condition before she returned to the Atlantic.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center

Leatherbacks are the largest turtles on Earth, growing up to seven feet long and exceeding 2,000 pounds. They can live up to 45 years in the wild and are the only sea turtle species without a shell and scales.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the leatherback sea turtle is currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. It's estimated that the global population has declined 40 percent over the past three generations.

The nesting season for leatherback sea turtles runs from March to July. Female leatherbacks nest every two to four years. The eggs incubate approximately two months before leatherback hatchlings emerge from the nest.

Under natural conditions, roughly 10% of hatchlings will be eaten by predators on the beach. Only about 25% of those that make it to the ocean will survive the first few days in the water. Only 6% of those will last the first year.

As nesting season takes place on beaches all over the South, residents and visitors are asked to help protect sea turtles by cleaning up after trips to the beach, filling in holes, knocking down sandcastles, and most importantly, by keeping lights off at night.



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Read the original article on Southern Living.
The Prevention Measures Section of the Court of Milan has ordered a receivership for Giorgio Armani Operations Spa, a company involved in the design and production of clothing and accessories for the fashion giants group, following an investigation by prosecutors Paolo Storari and Luisa Baima Bollone and the Labor Inspection Unit. The investigation alleges the company engaged in labor exploitation through the use of abusive factories and illegal and undeclared Chinese labor.



The company controlled by Giorgio Armani Spa was allegedly deemed incapable of preventing and curbing labor exploitation phenomena within the production cycle by failing to put in place appropriate measures to verify the real working conditions or the technical capabilities of the contracting companies so much as to facilitate (culpably) subjects added by corpulent evidence regarding the crime of exploitation. This is explained by investigators concerning the measure of judicial administration ordered by the Court of Milan.

In a statement, the prosecutors allege that the fashion house entrusts, through an in-house company [Giorgio Armani Operations Spa] created ad hoc for the design, production and industrialization of fashion and accessories collections  the entire production of part of the 2024 collection of bags and accessories to third-party companies, with complete outsourcing of production processes. The supplier company, however, has only nominally adequate production capacity and can compete in the market only by outsourcing, in turn, the orders to Chinese factories, which manage to cut costs by resorting to the use of illegal and clandestine labor in exploitative conditions.

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An alleged system that would have made it possible to achieve profit maximization the company cut labor costs [social security, insurance and direct taxes] by resorting to undeclared and clandestine laborers, not observing regulations on health and safety in the workplace as well as not complying with the National Collective Labor Agreements for the sector regarding labor wages, working hours, breaks and vacations.

Beginning in December 2023, police officers carried out inspections on the methods of production, packaging and marketing of high fashion garments by proceeding to the control of the subcontractors of supplies as well as unauthorized subcontractors consisting exclusively of factories run by Chinese nationals in the province of Milan and Bergamo. Four factories were checked all of which were found to be irregular in which 29 workers were identified, of whom 12 were employed illegally and also nine were illegal.

The statement also declares that the company housed labor in dormitories made illegally and in hygienic sanitary conditions below ethical minimums.

Four owners of de jure or de facto companies of Chinese origin and nine persons not in good standing and residence are being investigated for exploitation. Finally, fines of more than 80,000 euros [$86,828] and administrative sanctions of 65,000 euros [$70,548] were imposed, and four companies were ordered to suspend their activities for serious safety violations and for using illegal labor.

Production in the illegal Chinese factories of clothing and accessories, then sold under the Giorgio Armani brand, was active for more than 14 hours a day, including holidays. Workers were subjected to a grueling pace of work and with a situation characterized by danger to the safety of the workforce, who worked and slept in degrading housing conditions, and with wages as low as 2 to 3 euros [$2.17 to $3.26] per hour, such as to be judged below ethical minimums.

The investigation into Giorgio Armani Operations Spa is part of a number of probes opened by the Milan Public Prosecutors Office into labor exploitation by large companies in transport, logistics, security services and other sectors, including the world of fashion. In recent months, Alviero Martini Spa had been placed under court receivership and a scheme similar to the one that came to light today had emerged.

We learned of the prevention measure decided by the Courts of Milan against GA Operations, Giorgio Armani Corporation said in a statement. The company has always had control and prevention measures in place to minimize the risk of abuses in the supply chain and GA Operations will collaborate with the utmost transparency with the competent bodies to clarify its position on the matter.

April 11, 9:44 p.m. Updated with statement from Giorgio Armani Corporation.

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(KRON)  Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park went into lockdown on Monday after a student was threatened over text, the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District said.

The school district learned of the threat at 9:45 a.m., targeting a specific student. CRPUSD said it was part of an ongoing dispute stemming from an off-campus fight between students who attend schools across Sonoma County.

San Francisco deputy sheriff charged with domestic violence

The threat was sent via text message, referencing a weapon and the victims location at RCHS. The student who made the threat is a girl who lives in Santa Rosa, according to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety. She was arrested later that morning.

The school was locked down as authorities searched for the student who made the threat. Eventually, the school district identified the person who made the threat and determined she was not in Rohnert Park, per CRPUSD.

The lockdown was switched to a shelter-in-place at 10:17 a.m. At 11:50 a.m., the alleged threat-maker was arrested and the shelter-in-place was lifted. School activities resumed at 12:35 p.m.

The threat initially happened in Cotati. Multiple police agencies worked together to ensure the safety of students.

Students experiencing anxiety or stress related to this incident are encouraged to speak to a mental health counselor, who are on campus at RCHS.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Spain is slow to follow through on golden visa ban as Chinese investors snap up property

Spain is slow to follow through on golden visa ban as Chinese investors snap up property

Getting the right to live and work in another country can be a long and difficult process. But thats not always the case for those with money to spend.

Golden visas offer the opportunity for wealthy people to essentially buy the right to residency - sometimes without even having to live in the country.

And their popularity in the European Union is growing as people look to move away from political decisions such as Brexit that may limit their rights.

With the unsettled political and social environment in the US in recent years, applications for golden visas from Americans were also projected to increase.

But golden visas are now gradually being phased out across Europe. Portugal amended its scheme in October, removing real estate investment as a basis for golden visa applications in the hope of reducing property speculation.

The Netherlands followed suit, ending its golden visa scheme in January 2024.

Earlier this year, Spain also said it would abolish golden visas for those who invest in real estate - but the promise is yet to materialise.

So what exactly are these golden visa schemes and why has the EU raised questions about their safety in recent years?

What is a golden visa?

Residence by investment schemes, otherwise known as golden visas, offer people the chance to get a residency permit for a country by purchasing a house there or making a large investment or donation.

Any applicants must be over the age of 18, have a clean criminal record and have sufficient funds to make the required investment.

There are also golden passports, known officially as citizenship by investment programs, that allow foreigners to gain citizenship using the same means.

For countries in the EU, this also means gaining access to many of the benefits of being a resident of the bloc - including free movement between countries.

Why is the EU against golden visas and passports?

In 2022, the European Commission called on EU governments to stop selling citizenship to investors.

Though this is different to golden visas, which offer permanent residency rather than citizenship, the call came as part of a move to crack down on this combined multi-billion euro industry. In the wake of the Ukraine war, there were concerns that these schemes could be a security risk.

Brussels also called for countries to double-check whether people sanctioned due to the war were holding a golden passport or visa that they had issued.

Applicants must be over the age of 18, have a clean criminal record and sufficient funds to make the required investment. - Canva

In the past, the EU has also said that schemes of this kind are a risk to security, transparency and the values that underpin the European Union project.

In October 2022, the European Commission urged Albania to "refrain from developing an investors' citizenship scheme (golden passports)". Such a scheme would "pose risks as regards security, money laundering, tax evasion, terrorist financing, corruption and infiltration by organised crime, and would be incompatible with EU norms," it warned in a report. The country has since suspended its plans to introduce a golden visa.

Threats also come from outside the bloc. Also in October 2022, the European Commission proposed a suspension of Vanuatu's visa waiver agreement due to golden passport risks. This is because the scheme enables nationals of third countries to gain Vanuatu citizenship, which then earns them visa-free access to Schengen zone countries.

Which other countries have scrapped their golden visa schemes?

In February 2022, the UK government scrapped its golden visa scheme that allowed wealthy foreign nationals to settle in the country in exchange for bringing part of their wealth with them. The decision to end the scheme came as part of a move to clamp down on dirty money from Russia.

In February 2023, Ireland also axed its golden visa scheme - the Immigrant Investor Programme - which offered Irish residence in return for a 500,000 donation or three-year annual 1 million investment in the country.

Ireland had already suspended the scheme for Russian citizens in March 2022 as part of sanctions imposed on the country for the invasion of Ukraine. The following month, the European Parliament warned that the programme was vulnerable to tax abuse. The final decision to end the scheme was the outcome of various international reports and internal reviews.

Portugal has scrapped its residency by investment scheme. - Pexels

Which EU countries still offer golden visas and what are the requirements?

There are only a few places that still offer golden passports in the EU. One of these countries is Malta. Here, the minimum investment amount starts at 690,000 and offers citizenship for between 12 and 36 months.

Many others, however, still offer golden visa schemes. Here are a few examples of exactly how much it costs to get residence by investment in these countries.

Does Spain still offer a golden visa?

Spain launched its residence by investment scheme in 2013. It allowed wealthy people from outside the EU to obtain residency permits on investing more than 500,000 in real estate or certain types of business.

However, on Monday 8 April, the country's government said it plans to scrap the real estate route - which accounts for 94 per cent of applications - to reduce pressure on the housing market.

Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the reform was part of his minority coalition government's push to make housing a right, not a speculative business.

But more than three months after the initial announcement, the visas are still open to applicants, sparking criticism from Sumar party members who govern in coalition with the Socialist Party.

"Countries such as Portugal, Ireland and Greece have taken measures to end this practice that increases the violation of the right to housing," MP Alberto Ibanez said, urging the government to quickly repeal the visa, Europa Press reports.

The government says some 10,000 such visas have been issued since the measure was brought into law in 2013 by a previous right-wing Popular Party government as a means to attract foreign investors.

Since Spain announced plans to end its golden visa, Chinese investors have rushed to buy property in the country, a report by Spanish state broadcaster RTVE revealed.

The visa can also be gained by starting certain types of business in Spain, holding company shares or bank deposits with a minimum value of 1 million in Spanish financial institutions, or making a government bonds investment of at least 2 million.

Hungary golden visa scheme

Bucking the trend, Hungary has announced plans to reintroduce its golden visa scheme on 1 July 2024, after having ended it back in 2017.

The so-called Guest Investor Program (GIP) will offer three routes to residency, including through real estate investment (minimum 250,000), purchasing a residential property (minimum 500,000) or donating at least 1 million to a higher educational institution in the country.

The visa is extended to the spouse and dependent children of the applicant and grants visa-free travel in the EU.

Italy's golden visa scheme

Italy is another popular destination for those looking to get residence by investment. Introduced in 2017, its golden visa grants non-EU nationals a residence permit for two years in exchange for an investment in Italy.

The minimum investment here is 500,000 which must be done through an Italian limited country. Those holding these visas can also include their family in the application and benefit from a special tax regime.

Once those using the scheme have lived in Italy for 10 years, they can be eligible for citizenship.

Greece's golden visa scheme

Greece offers golden visas, with one of the quickest processes for gaining residency. Qualifying foreigners can get a permit within 60 days of applying.

It used to have one of the lowest thresholds for investment at just 250,000 spent on property in the country. But the country is raising this to 800,000 in areas facing severe housing shortages, such as Athens, Mykonos and Santorini.

Elsewhere, it will only rise to 400,000 to encourage investment in a wider range of places. The changes are expected to come into force at the end of August 2024.

Golden visa holders arent required to stay in Greece to keep their visas.

By the end of 2021, the country had seen 9,500 applications for these residence by investment schemes, one of the highest numbers in Europe.
Google Cloud Next 2024 has begun, and the company is starting the event with some big announcements, including its new Axion processor. It's Google's first Arm-based CPU specifically created for data centers, which was designed using Arm's Neoverse V2 CPU.

According to Google, Axion performs 30 percent better than its fastest general purpose Arm-based tools in the cloud and 50 percent better than the most recent, comparable x86-based VMs. They also claim it's 60 percent more energy efficient than those same x86-based VMs. Google is already using Axion in services like BigTable and Google Earth Engine, expanding to more in the future.

The release of Axion could bring Google into competition with Amazon, which has led the field of Arm-based CPUs for data centers. The company's cloud business, Amazon Web Services (AWS), released the Graviton processor back in 2018, releasing the second and third iterations over the following two years. Fellow chip developer NVIDIA released its first Arm-based CPU for data centers in 2021 named Grace, and companies like Ampere have also been making gains in the area.

Google has been developing its own processors for several years now, but they've been primarily focused on consumer products. The original Arm-based Tensor ship first shipped in the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro smartphones, which were released in late 2021. Subsequent Pixel phones have all been powered by updated versions of the Tensor. Prior to that, Google developed the "Tensor Processing Unit" (TPU) for its data centers. The company started using them internally in data centers in 2015, announced them publicly in 2016, and made them available to third parties in 2018.

Arm-based processors are often a lower-cost and more energy-efficient option. Google's announcement came right after Arms CEO Rene Haas issued a warning about the energy usage of AI models, according to the Wall Street Journal. He called models such as ChatGPT "insatiable" regarding their need for electricity. "The more information they gather, the smarter they are, but the more information they gather to get smarter, the more power it takes, Haas stated. By the end of the decade, AI data centers could consume as much as 20 percent to 25 percent of US power requirements. Today that's probably four percent or less. That's hardly very sustainable, to be honest with you." He stressed the need for greater efficiency in order to maintain the pace of breakthroughs.

This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.
OTTAWA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Two men were killed and another was seriously injured in a shooting over the noon hour Monday in Edmonton, Canada, local media reported.

In a news release on Monday night, local police said the shooting occurred in a residential area in south Edmonton, and the two men killed were aged 49 and 57, CBC News reported.

Autopsies have been scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday and homicide investigators are leading the investigation, CTV News reported. 
Fox News Arthel Neville appeared non-plussed by Rep. Jeff Van Drews (R-N.J.) answer to her question about Republicans accepting defeat if President Joe Biden beats presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump in the 2024 election.

On Monday, Van Drew baselessly claimed to Neville that Trump was being persecuted in his multiple criminal cases because the left is really concerned that he has a real shot at beating Biden.

The American public is not dumb, he added. Donald Trump is going to win, and the American people are gonna support him.

Neville acknowledged Van Drews comment that Trump is going to win.

Then she asked, If Donald Trump does not win, will you and the rest of the Republicans and the supporters of Donald Trump accept that he did not win and that the fix is not in? Because thats very crucial for us to have fair and safe elections.

Trump still refuses to accept he lost the 2020 election to Biden.

Van Drew responded, If the elections are fair and safe, I always support the result of the election. If they are not, I have concerns, and the bottom line is that I dont think...

Neville shook her head at Van Drews response and interrupted him to ask, So if Trump wins, its fair. If Biden wins, its not fair. Is that what youre saying, congressman?

No, Arthel, its not what Im saying, replied Van Drew, who defected to the GOP in 2019 amid Democrats first impeachment of Trump for his attempt to extort Ukraine for political dirt on Biden.

What I am saying is I dont even think about him not winning because in my mind and many Americans minds, including middle-of-the-road independents and Democrats, the future of our nation and the Republic is at risk, he added. This is not about saving the Republican Party. This is about saving the Republic.

Neville: If Trump doesnt win, will you and the rest of the Republicans and supporters of Trump accept he did not win?



Van Drew: If the elections are fair



Neville: So if Trump wins, its fair. If Biden wins, its not fair? pic.twitter.com/0InEqfF7Ga  Acyn (@Acyn) April 6, 2024

Related...
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law on Monday that focuses on the opioid crisis.

In memory of the woman who inspired the Victorias Voice Foundation, the bill will designate June 6 as Revive Awareness Day.

DeSantis signed SB 66 at the Seminole County Sheriffs Office with Sheriff Dennis Lemma, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, and Jackie and David Siegel.

The Siegels started the Victorias Voice Foundation in honor of their 18-year-old daughter, Victoria, who died of an accidental drug overdose on June 6, 2015.

Read: Here are substance abuse addiction & mental health resources across Central Florida

Spreading awareness of the dangers of opioids and expanding the availability and use of life-saving reversal medicines such as naloxone are powerful and necessary steps to help combat the opioid epidemic and save lives from overdose, they said. We could not save Victorias life, but her legacy is one of saving lives through her death.

Victoria Siegel had a pulse when first responders found her unconscious, but they did not have overdose reversal medication.

The foundation aims to turn the tragedy into a national platform.

Read: Gov. DeSantis visits Sanford, aims to protect law officers from dangers of fentanyl exposure

June 6 will help educate and empower Floridians on the dangers of opioid use and critical reversal medication to save lives.

Revive Awareness Day coincides with National Naxolone Awareness Day on June 6, which Victorias Voice championed for a bipartisan decision.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
In the Spotlight is a Fresno Bee series that digs into the high-profile local issues that readers care most about. Story idea? Email tips@fresnobee.com.

The shuttered Madera Community Hospital got a multi-million dollar infusion of cash as well as the green light to reopen by state hospital regulators.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that a $57 million state loan for the Madera hospital has been approved, a key source of funding to help reopen the hospital and part of a statewide $300 million distressed hospital loan fund.

The state also signed off on a change of management that was approved by a federal bankruptcy court in February: The hospital will now be managed by Modesto-based hospital management firm, American Advanced Management Inc. The firm was selected as the reopening suitor in December after would-be deals with major nonprofit hospital chains Trinity Health and Adventist Health fell through.

Getting this hospital back open and on its feet financially will allow Madera County residents to get the care they need  in their own community, Newsom said in a news release. We are doing everything we can at the state level to keep crucial health care access points open and accessible  a key pillar in keeping our promise of a Healthier California for All.

The approval comes at a time that some are asking a federal bankruptcy judge to take a closer look at the new management firms track record. Last month, a Madera-based nonprofit filed an objection to the planned takeover in federal bankruptcy court.

AAMIs Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Beehler thanked Newsom and the multiple state agencies working hard behind the scenes in a press release Monday afternoon. In a statement to The Bee, Madera Community Hospital CEO Karen Paolinelli also thanked the governor and local legislators. The hospital is now poised to embark on a path forward with American Advanced Management to restore the healthcare services to our community, she said.

State Sen. Anna Caballero of Merced said in a news release she is cautiously optimistic that our work over the last two years will result in the successful reopening of the hospital.

Today Im pretty excited, 27th District Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria said in an interview with The Bee on Monday afternoon. My whole goal and my top priority has been to figure out a pathway to reopen the hospital.

But Patience Milrod, counsel for Madera Coalition for Community Justice, the nonprofit group that filed the court objection, criticized the states decision.

We, as residents of California, count on the Attorney General, we count on our Department of Health Care Services. We count on the California Department of Public Health, to be good stewards of our tax dollars and to be watchdogs for us and to make sure that our hospitals are run by people who are capable of running hospitals, Milrod said. What has happened here is that there was no due diligence.

The 106-bed hospital closed in January 2023 and has left Madera Countys 160,000 primarily low-income Latino residents without a general acute care facility for adults. The hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last March.

Some are calling for more due-diligence of firm

Last month, Milrod filed an objection to the plan on behalf of MCCJ and has asked the judge to schedule an evidentiary hearing to examine the firms track record.

The objection cites a number of lawsuits against AAM, as well as state regulatory enforcement action against a for-profit vocational college owned by AAMs owner, Dr. Gurpreet Singh. The group is asking the bankruptcy judge to put more conditions and requirements on the deal to ensure the firm restores hospital with essential services.

Those troubling facts  which the press has uncovered, the Madera Coalition for Community Justice has submitted, they really should be part of the conversation, Milrod said.

The governors office and Caballero did not respond to specific questions by The Bees deadline about the objection or the concerns raised.

Beehler of AAM said in a statement to The Bee there are significant oversight structures over the loan program.

AAM will be responding to that objection through bankruptcy court in a manner that is respectful of the process and the court, he said.

Soria acknowledge she received a synopsis of the allegations raised in the objection, but that she trusts the state health agencies and leadership that have spent months evaluating the reopening plan.

If we just continue to delay, its going to get much harder to reopen, she said.

Caballero, Soria, as well as Madera County officials, threw their support behind another last-minute proposal by UCSF-Health and nonprofit healthcare system Adventist Health announced in February. But U.S. Judge Rene Lastreto said the deal had come too late in the process.

Soria also said she doesnt think todays decision precludes any future opportunities to team up with the UC system, such as the UC Merced medical school.

Ideally, I would have wanted the UC (system involved in reopening Madera hospital) way long ago, but the timing didnt work, she said.

When will Madera hospital reopen?

Madera Community Hospital could reopen sometime this summer, according to AAMIs projected timeline.

Our teams have already started making significant progress on the path to reopen this hospital, Beehler said Monday.

He also said AAM will announce job fairs and employment opportunities at Madera Community Hospital in the coming months.

Bankruptcy court filings indicate AAM plans to reopen the hospital with a basic services Level 3 Emergency Department, Med/Surg Units, Intensive Care Unit, the rural health clinic onsite at Madera hospitals campus and all necessary ancillary services.

A court hearing is scheduled for April 16.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Governor Kevin Stitt vetoed a bill on Monday that would summarize the terms covered entity and pharmacy benefits management.

A pharmacy benefits manager, or PBM, offers a service to covered entities to make it easier to change prescription drug benefits for covered individuals.

Officials say Senate Bill 1390 would make definitional changes to those terms.

They might seem insignificant, but these definitional changes would transform many businessesincluding employers with self-funded health benefit plans and mail-order pharmacy programsinto PBM. This will drive up operating costs that will be passed on to employees and consumers alike. said Gov. Stitt.

LOCAL NEWS: Gov. Stitt vetoes bill that would allow nurse practitioners to prescribe medications

According to the Oklahoma State Legislature, the bill would also change jurisdiction and responsibilities of the Attorney Generals Office when requesting and obtaining detailed

data.

In addition, I have grave concerns about the fact this bill would grant yet another state agency unfettered access to detailed data, including protected health information, held by private Oklahoma businesses. Stitt added.

He says hell consider signing the bill if there was more concrete guidance regarding safeguards for the handling of protected health information.

To learn more about SB 1390, visit this link.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday unveiled 233 amendments to the biennial budget passed by the General Assembly in what he called a common ground compromise.

Flanked by his cabinet members and against a backdrop of flags, Youngkin presented the latest iteration of the budget before a packed room on Monday afternoon.

Budget process work is hard, but with that we have the opportunity to see and hear one another, to understand those priorities and yes, to compromise and to find common ground that will enable us to unleash the next chapter of Virginias future, he said. And that is what they hired us to do.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks before a packed room at the unveiling of his actions on the biennial budget on Monday afternoon.

Whats in Youngkins budget?

While the latest iteration of the budget does not contain any line-item vetoes from the governor, Youngkin issued 233 amendments. That number of budget amendments is the highest since 2000, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

The common ground budget does not contain tax increases that had been passed by legislators in March nor the tax cuts Youngkin had in his initial proposal, presented in December.

The $64 billion two-year spending plan invests $21.3 billion in K-12 education; provides a 3% pay raise for teachers each year; increases funding for higher education by $1 billion; caps tuition increases at 3%; increases funding for health and human services by $3.2 billion; fully funds Virginias share of Metros operating shortfall; and provides toll relief in Hampton Roads and additional funding for I-81.

Youngkins common ground budget was unveiled after the governor and General Assembly Democrats embarked on dueling mini-tours across the commonwealth to blast the others characterization of the spending bill.

The budget includes a record number of amendments to the spending bill that had passed with bipartisan support in March. Eleven Republicans in the House of Delegates voted in support of the General Assemblys fiscal bill, along with three Republican Senators and every Democrat in both chambers.

The General Assembly will meet again on April 17 to consider the governors actions on the budget as well as the 1,046 bills passed by the legislature during the 2024 session.

Democrats are not impressed

House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott, D  Portsmouth, called Youngkins 233 amendments an attempt to rewrite the budget.

He doesnt get to do that, Scott said in a statement.

Appropriations chair Del. Luke Torian signaled that there is work to be done regarding the governors amendments.

The General Assembly's bi-partisan budget is one that delivers for all of our constituents across the Commonwealth, Torian, D  Prince William County, said in a statement. Once were done working through the Governors amendments, Im confident we'll still be able to say we've come through for Virginia.

Senate President Pro tempore Louise Lucas, who has been a foil against Youngkins legislative agenda, cast doubt on the governors attempt to characterize his budget as common ground, in light of the record number of bills vetoed.

Glenn Youngkin asking us to work together while he is vetoing hundreds of bills is unimaginable and exactly why he has almost zero support left in the General Assembly even among his own party, Lucas, D  Portsmouth, said in a post on X.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Gov. Youngkin's budget action: Zero vetoes, a record 233 amendments
FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (WVNS)  West Virginia leaders gathered on Monday, April 8, 2024, at the communities hit by an EF-2 tornado in Fayette County last week.

Governor Jim Justice and state and local officials were boots on the ground to survey the damage done where the tornado touched down. They assessed damage done to structures, roads, and homes near Lookout Road and Mallard Road.

PHOTOS: Total solar eclipse sweeps across North America

Governor Justice said this situation exposed the states need for more federal dollars for disaster relief. He added that losing a home in this kind of disaster takes him back to an extremely hard time this region once faced.

NOYCE grant awarded to Concord University by the National Science Foundation

Its another chapter in the horror story of what bad weather can do in this state. As long as I live Ill never forget anything that was tougher than the 2016 flood, but for one home, one family, its just as tough. Gov. Jim Justice

Justice added that despite the damage done last week, West Virginians have once again pulled together with neighbor helping neighbor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
Russian forces struck the outskirts of Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast, injuring three people, Governor Vadym Filaskhin reported on April 9.

Settlements in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk Oblast suffer from daily Russian attacks due to their proximity to the front line. Heavy fighting continues in Donetsk Oblast as Russia seeks to occupy the entire region.

Sloviansk was hit in the afternoon, and three people aged 53, 64, and 66 suffered injuries, Filaskhin said on Telegram.

All the victims received medical assistance on the scene and refused hospitalization, he added.

Russia has recently increased attacks against Sloviansk and nearby settlements, according to Vadym Liakh, the head of the citys military administration.

"For the first time in a long time, in Sloviansk, shelling is heard during the day and peak hours," Liakh said on Facebook.

"Therefore, I ask you to take a responsible approach to security issues. In the coming days, it is better not to leave the house without an urgent need."

Read also: Ukraines angels who look after, evacuate civilians left in front-line Donbas

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A Russian attack on the town of Semenivka in Chernihiv Oblast killed a woman on April 9, Governor Viacheslav Chaus reported.

Chernihiv Oblast is located on Ukraine's northern border with Russia and was invaded and partially occupied during Russia's initial onslaught in February 2022.

Russian forces withdrew from Chernihiv Oblast in April 2022, but due to its proximity to the border, the region is still being attacked regularly.

Russia used artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems to carry out the attack, Chaus said on Telegram.

Semenivka, with a pre-war population of around 7,800 people, lies just around 10 kilometers from the border with Russia.

A Russian drone attacked a bus in the Novhorod-Siverskyi district of Chernihiv Oblast on March 22, injuring three people, according to Chaus.

Read also: Lives are falling apart: Kyiv residents shook by another mass missile attack

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Drama is building in the House as lawmakers return to work on Tuesday waiting to see if Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) will follow through on her threat to force a vote to unseat Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

Greene unveiled a motion to vacate, the same procedural tool used in October to end former Speaker Kevin McCarthys (R-Calif.) reign, just before the House went on a two-week recess.

Its unclear whether Greene, who has a flair for political theater, is ready to force a vote or wants to use the threat for leverage. Shes likely under pressure herself from some lawmakers to not force a vote given the chaos it would cause in the House months before an election.

Johnson and Greene exchanged text messages over the two-week recess, and the pair was supposed to speak Friday, but that plan fell through, according to a source familiar.

The new Speaker is under pressure from members of his own conference and GOP senators to move another round of Ukraine aid through his rebellious conference.

Hes made clear that his first priority will be to consider more military assistance to Kyivs beleaguered forces, along with new funding for Israel, Taiwan and efforts to bolster security at the U.S.-Mexico border.

But the Ukraine portion of that package risks a direct confrontation with Greene, who has all but dared the Speaker to put such a measure on the floor, warning it would lead to his ouster.

It all sets up a crucial work period for the embattled Johnson, who has only been the Speaker for nearly six months. How he manages the debate could determine not only Ukraines fate, but his own.

This is not an easy job right now, Johnson acknowledged in an interview with Fox News during the recess.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.)

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) addresses reporters outside the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 22, 2024 after filing a motion to vacate for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

The Ukraine debate has exposed the deep fissures in the GOP conference, where veteran institutionalists supportive of muscular foreign interventions  especially in the face of Russian aggression  are squaring off against a newer strain of conservatism, championed by former President Trump, that wants to avoid overseas conflicts and focus Washingtons resources more squarely on domestic problems.

The debate has also heightened the tensions between Johnson  a Trump devotee who has deviated from the former president by supporting more Ukraine aid  and Greene, a staunch isolationist who argues that helping Kyivs defenses will only prolong the war at the expense of countless lives and the prospect of a negotiated peace.

In offering her motion-to-vacate resolution just before the recess  a move that came amid widespread fury within the GOP conference over Johnsons support for a government funding deal with President Biden  Greene chose not to force an immediate vote on it. But she made clear that the motion is a warning to the Speaker not to defy the demands of his right flank going forward, and strongly suggested she would pull the trigger on Johnsons removal if he moves ahead with more help for Kyivs forces.

Funding Ukraine is probably one of the most egregious things that he can do, Greene told CNN in an interview last week.

Still, Johnson appears poised to charge into the debate regardless of the tough political environment, telling Fox that the House would move on long-stalled foreign aid  which includes dollars for Ukraine  right after the two-week Easter recess.

Theres a lot of things that we should do that make more sense, and that I think we will have consensus around, he told Fox.

But as the Speaker inches towards movement on the politically prickly topic, his game plan remains unknown.

Johnson has rejected a bipartisan foreign-aid package passed by the Senate in February, vowing to offer a more conservative House version. But he has not laid out the specifics of his plan, leaving lawmakers in the Capitol, officials at the White House and leaders around the globe wondering  and waiting  as they sound the alarm about Kyivs waning resources in its battle against Russia.

Top Stories from The Hill

But he has floated some details  which he called important innovations on the Senate design  offering hints at how he plans to address the issue that has bedeviled him throughout his time in the top job.

During the Fox interview, Johnson mentioned sending assistance to Ukraine as a loan, an idea touted by Trump; he brought up the REPO Act, which would allow the U.S. to use seized frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine; and he mentioned a provision that would block the Biden administrations freeze on new permits for liquified natural gas exports.

Democrats in the House and Senate have suggested they would get behind the loan structure for Ukraine aid, and nearly 30 House Democrats have signed on to the REPO Act as co-sponsors. But the energy provision is sparking opposition among liberals; should that be included in the final product, garnering approval for the aid may become a heavier lift for Johnson.

Its unconscionable that Republicans are playing politics with the lives of the Ukrainian people in their fight for survival against Russia and the lives of communities forced to live with the shameful legacy of toxic pollution by the fossil fuel industry, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) told The Hill in a statement last week.

The clashing interests and early reservations are already suggesting a long-drawn fight before any Ukraine bill arrives on Bidens desk. And Johnsons ambitious timeline could be scuttled this week as Washington barrels into another explosive debate: extending the U.S.s warrantless surveillance powers.

Congress is staring down an April 19 deadline to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)  which allows the government to spy on noncitizens located outside the U.S.  a target date that is expected to overtake Ukraine aid as priority No. 1 during the Houses first week back in Washington.

I believe that Speaker Johnson will bring up support for the supplemental appropriations for Ukraine, for Taiwan, for Israel immediately after completing the work on FISA and FISAs extension. That deadline of April 19 makes it a priority for the first few days that were back, Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) told CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday.

But that sequence of events could put Johnson on thinner ice with his right flank.

The Speaker rolled out a compromise FISA reform bill Friday and said he plans to bring it to the floor this week, but privacy hawks  including hard-line conservatives, like Greene  are sounding the alarm about the absence of a warrant requirement in the legislation, a dynamic that could nudge the Georgia Republican closer to her motion-to-vacate gambit.

Warrantless spying is wrong, Greene wrote on the social platform X. Ill go ahead and give you my vote, its a NO to FISA reauthorization without warrants.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the United States on Monday urged U.S. authorities to stop harassing Chinese citizens traveling to the United States.

In recent years, U.S. border control personnel have continuously and unjustifiably harassed, interrogated, and deported Chinese nationals entering the United States, especially students and scholars, the spokesperson said in a statement.

Citing incomplete statistics, the spokesperson said nearly 300 Chinese citizens have been deported by the United States since July 2021, including more than 70 Chinese students with legal and valid documents. Since November 2023 there have been 10 cases of Chinese students being harassed, interrogated and, with their visas canceled, deported at the Washington Dulles Airport alone, the spokesperson added.

Such acts by the U.S. side far exceeded the scope of normal law enforcement and are driven by strong ideological bias, the spokesperson said, adding that they gravely infringe on the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of the persons concerned, disturb normal cross-border travel between China and the United States and run against the common understandings reached by presidents of the two countries on enhancing and facilitating China-U.S. cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

China is gravely concerned about and firmly opposes such moves, and has made solemn demarches to the U.S. side, the spokesperson said.

On April 2, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden on the phone. The two presidents reiterated the need to take further steps to expand people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, the spokesperson said.

China urges the United States to stop harassing Chinese nationals traveling to the United States under the pretext of national security, stop undermining public support for China-U.S. relations, and stop obstructing friendly interactions between the two peoples, the spokesperson said. 
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is heaping a fresh set of criticism on Speaker Mike Johnson as the House prepares to reconvene Tuesday, laying out a list of grievances against the Louisiana Republican in explaining her decision to file a motion to oust him.

In a five-page letter sent to colleagues Tuesday, Greene  who is threatening to force a vote on removing Johnsons gavel  laid into the Speaker for a litany of reasons, including his handling of government funding and his plan to move on Ukraine aid, arguing that he is not properly serving the GOP conference.

I will not tolerate our elected Republican Speaker Mike Johnson serving the Democrats and the Biden administration and helping them achieve their policies that are destroying our country, Greene said. He is throwing our own razor-thin majority into chaos by not serving his own GOP conference that elected him.

With so much at stake for our future and the future of our children, I will not tolerate this type of Republican leadership, she later added. This has been a complete and total surrender to, if not complete and total lockstep with, the Democrats agenda that has angered our Republican base so much and given them very little reason to vote for a Republican House majority.

Greene quoted the seven key priorities Johnson laid out when running for the Speakership in October  restore trust, advance a comprehensive policy agenda, promote individual members, engage members, effectively message, build and utilize external coalitions, develop and grow our majority  before slamming him for, in her eyes, not following through on any of them.

Mike Johnson has unfortunately not lived up to a single one of his self-imposed tenets, Greene wrote.

The searing letter from Greene is the latest development in the months-long feud between her and Johnson, which hit a fever pitch late last month after the Georgia Republican filed a motion to vacate against the Speaker. The move came as the House was voting on a $1.2 trillion funding bill to avert a partial government shutdown, which conservatives abhorred.

Greene has not said when she plans to trigger a vote on her ouster resolution, calling it a warning and noting that it would be a rolling issue. But the move was largely viewed as a signal that Johnson should not put Ukraine aid on the floor  which the Speaker has said he plans to do, sparking frustrations among hard-line conservatives, including Greene.

Late last month, Johnson said the House would address requested foreign aid  which includes funding for Ukraine  right after lawmakers return to Washington on Tuesday following the two-week Easter recess.

In her letter Tuesday, Greene noted that Johnson voted against Ukraine aid before he won the Speakers gavel, reiterating that Congress should address the situation at the southern border before sending assistance to Kyiv  a familiar GOP talking point.

The last time we voted on Ukraine funding was September 28, 2023, and the majority of Republicans voted against giving Ukraine $300 million by 117-101 votes. Mike Johnson was one of the NO votes, Greene said.

Mike Johnson is publicly saying funding Ukraine is now his top priority when less than 7 months ago he was against it, she added. The American people disagree they believe our border is the only border worth fighting a war over, and I agree with them.

She also tore into Johnsons handling of the fiscal 2024 government funding process  which wrapped up late last month  knocking him for giving members less than 72 hours to review the second minibus; chiding him for moving two-step continuing resolutions that made the appropriations process even more convoluted; and denouncing him for not securing more GOP wins in the pair of packages.

This was really a two-part omnibus, split into two minibuses, crammed down our throats, passed under suspension of the rules, breaking the 72-hour rule, giving us one day to read over a thousand pages, and tying our hands behind our backs by not allowing us to make any amendments. Rules? What rules? Remember the precious rules? Greene said. Apparently, they no longer matter to Mike Johnson, even though he promised to abide by them and enforce them.

Mike Johnson worked with Chuck Schumer rather than with us, and gave Joe Biden and the Democrats everything they wantedno different from how a Speaker Hakeem Jeffries would have done, she later added.

Johnson commented on Greenes motion-to-vacate effort last week, telling CNN in a statement I respect Marjorie and responding to some of her qualms.

In spite of our Republican majority of just a single seat in just one chamber of Congress, we are still fighting this administration every day to make policy changes. A shutdown would not serve our party or assist us in our mission of saving the republic by growing our majority, nor will another motion to vacate, Johnson said.

As I have always said, national security starts at our southern border. Any funding of the Presidents supplemental request should be premised on meaningful policy to help the American people and finally address the invasion at our southern border, he added.

Greene on Tuesday also addressed criticism she has received after filing her motion to vacate resolution. A number of Republicans lashed out at Greene after she filed the measure, arguing that such a gambit could hand the Speakers gavel to a Democrat.

Greene, however, hit back at that, brushing aside the prospect that her effort could lead to a Democratic Speaker and, instead, laying the blame on the cadre of Republicans who have quit Congress early, which has narrowed the House GOPs already tiny majority.

And no, electing a new Republican Speaker will not give the majority to the Democrats. That only happens if more Republicans retire early, or Republicans actually vote for Hakeem Jeffries, Greene said. Its not complicated, its simple math.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  The groundbreaking for a new Topeka park is set for Wednesday this week.

Shawnee County Parks and Recreation (SCP+R) announced in a press release that a ceremonial groundbreaking for Family Park will happen at 10 a.m. on April 10 at 2201 SW Urish Road. Local officials will be present for the occasion.

Shawnee County Commissioners approved the Family Park Master Plan back in 2021 with a multi-million dollar price tag. The addition of this park has been under discussion for a decade to provide additional recreation opportunities for locals of all ages.

Designs for the park released in 2023 include plans for a playground, pickleball courts and a shelter house. To learn more about the park on the SCP+Rs website, click here.

Dillons offers 5% one-day discount this April

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Editorial note: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified a representative who spoke during the Jan. 30 House Judiciary Committee meeting. This misidentification is also present in the lawsuit.

DENVER (KDVR)  An already heated discussion surrounding a bill known as Tiaras Law has turned into a legal battle after a nonprofit, association and two individuals filed a federal lawsuit against five Colorado lawmakers.

HB24-1071, officially called Name Change to Conform with Gender Identity, would change current state law to allow for someone with a felony conviction who is attempting to change their name to use gender identity as a good cause to do so. The bill would also authorize the court to require such a petitioner to give a public notice of their name change.

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The bills nickname is inspired by a transgender woman with a felony history requesting to change her name to Tiara.

This bill has garnered tremendous emotional debate, and at times tears, on the Colorado House floor during testimony.

But now, a lawsuit argues that legislators censored free speech during testimony about the bill.

Who filed this lawsuit, and who is it against?

The complaint, which was filed on April 4 in the U.S. District Court of Colorado, names the group filing the lawsuit as:

Gays Against Groomers, a nonprofit self-described as consisting of gays and others who oppose the sexualization, indoctrination and medicalization of children under the guise of LGBTQIA+'

The Rocky Mountain Womens Network, which describes itself as an unincorporated association with a mission to advocate for and protect womens and girls sex-based rights.

Rich Guggenheim, who is the head of the Gays Against Groomers Colorado Chapter

Christina Goeke, a co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Womens Network and a competitive weightlifter.

Rocky Mountain Womens Network, Guggenheim and Goeke all claim to reject transgender ideology, including the concepts of misgendering and deadnaming, according to the lawsuit.

It is filed against:

Sen. Julie Gonzales, the Majority Whip and a Democrat representing portions of Denver County, in addition to the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee

Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, a Democrat representing portions of Adams and Arapahoe Counties

Rep. Lorena Garcia, a Democrat representing portions of Adams and Jefferson Counties

Rep. Mike Weissman, a Democrat representing portions of Adams and Arapahoe Counties and the House Judiciary Committee Chairman

Rep. Leslie Herod, a Democrat representing portions of Denver County

Michaelson Jenet and Garcia are both primary sponsors of the bill.

Groups criticize language to discuss trans community

The legal complaint notes that there is a profound disagreement between Americans about transgender peoples ideology, which others might characterize as trans rights. It also states that there is nothing wrong with Americans, or their elected representatives, debating trans ideology.

The lawsuit goes on to argue that the defendants are Colorado Legislators and proponents of transgender ideology and are abusing their authority to put a thumb on the scale of the publics debate about transgenderism. The lawsuit claims that critics were made to present their views during public testimony without misgendering or deadnaming any individuals. Deadnaming refers to addressing someone by a name they no longer go by.

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The lawsuit says the legislators were (O)therwise requiring citizens to express fealty to transgender ideology under the guise of civility or decorum. And they have elevated favored transgender exemplars, including legislative namesakes, above criticism. For those citizens who do not submit, (the legislators) silence their speech, even going so far as to erase it from the public record.

According to reports of initial bill testimony in early March, the testimony on the bill was frequently interrupted by negotiations on what could and couldnt be said in the House well.

Thank you for helping them if they want to do criminal activities, thank you for helping them cloak their identity, said Republican Rep. Richard Holtorf told the Associated Press on March 1.

If this was really about saying, People with felonies should not be able to change their names, and not just one group of people, we wouldve heard that any woman whos committed a felony is trying to hide when she wants to get married, said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, Democrats assistant House majority leader fired back in the AP article.

Rules were established before testimony began

The lawsuit notes that the Houses administrative rules on hearings prohibit booing, cheering and other outbursts, but also a person can be removed from the House chamber if they are impeding, disrupting, or hindering a committee meeting or who endangers any member, officer, or employee of the General Assembly or any member of the public.

The Senates rules are the same.

Harm reduction, overdose prevention bills advance at Colorado Capitol

The lawsuit argues that Goeke and Guggenheim think that adherence to a transgender persons pronoun preferences, assumed gender, or assumed name to be a form of lying.

However, during the House Judiciary Committees discussion about Tiaras Law, Rep. Garcia recommended that those signed up to testify do so in a manner that is not disparaging other members or our community or other witnesses, because this room is one where people should be able to come, share their stories, be who they are, without fear of being attacked, without fear of being disparaged.

These comments were adopted as rules for the forum by Weissman, the House Judiciary Committee Chair.

According to the lawsuit, Guggenheim heard the rules and left his place in line because he could not deliver his views and the views of his group if he could not use language he was certain would be deemed derogatory about the bills namesake, or use language denying the validity of trans ideology.

Goeke waited in line for her testimony, according to the lawsuit. However, she claims she did not get all the way through her presentation before being repeatedly interrupted by (Weissman) for violating (the legislators) customs, practices, or policies against deadnaming, misgendering, or using allegedly derogatory or disparaging language about another person.

Elijah McClains mother testifies at Capitol as prone restraint bill passes committee

According to the lawsuit, Goeke told legislators during her testimony that misgendering means nothing, it means nothing. I correctly sex everybody.

The lawsuit notes that another public testimony session was held on March 27, in which Goeke and Guggenheim both testified. Goeke argues in the lawsuit that she was interrupted by the chair of the committee, and noted that significant portions of her speech were erased from the official audio record.

Guggenheim also spoke in opposition to the bill. He referenced the bills namesake with male pronouns, in addition to several notable transgender icons from the Stonewall riot, and was gaveled by the committee chair for the misgendering.

The group is seeking an injunction against the named legislators to prevent them from enforcing restrictions on speakers at committee hearings, prevent requirements that speakers express support for trans ideology by using preferred pronouns or non-legal names, prevent discrimination based on viewpoint, and other censorship matters relating to the lawsuit.

FOX31 has reached out to the defendants in this legal battle and will update this story if information is provided. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
By day, Mingwei Samuel works as a software developer. Also by day  together with urbanist and writer Darrell Owens  he builds and installs benches at bus stops around the California cities of Berkeley and Oakland that have no seating.

Its a tale as old as social media: In November, Owens tweeted a photo of his 64-year-old neighbor sitting on the curb at a bus stop to draw attention to the lack of seating for bus riders.

Which stop? replied Samuel. I can put a bench there.

A month later, he had placed a wooden bench, built based on a template from the Public Bench Project, at the bus stop in downtown Berkeley. The response  from the city and from bench enthusiasts around the world  was immediate. On Dec. 17, he installed the bench; by Dec. 28, Berkeley had removed the bench and replaced it with an official metal one.

Heres the next eclipse when California will be in the path of totality

I was expecting a positive reaction, but I wasnt expecting how big the tweet would get and how much attention that would get on local news as well, Samuel tells Next City.

More importantly, Owens neighbor  who has chronic pain and has trouble standing for long periods of time  doesnt have to sit on the curb at the bus stop anymore. What can I say, it blew me away, he told Berkeleyside. Now that I can have a place to sit, thats awesome.

After that first bench, Samuel and Owens teamed up to build and place even more benches at bus stops. As of mid-January, more than six have been placed, with more in the works. No ones really asked Darrell and I to stop, says Samuel.



In fact, the City of Berkeley is mobilizing to bring more benches to more bus stops, according to former councilmember Kate Harrison. I think its lovely, says Harrison, who resigned in late January while calling out the citys broken processes and failure to adequately address residents concerns. I like this as a statement of public need. People are expressing what they really need to make riding transit effective.

Photo: Mingwei Samuel

Why dont more bus stops have shelters or benches?

As thrilling as guerilla bus benches can be, everyone Next City spoke to agreed that this is a job for the public sector. The city or transit agency should step up and provide seating at bus stops for all riders, they say.

I think if we treated bus riding with the same sort of essential attitude as we treat car driving, then wed definitely see better benches, better shelters at all the bus stops, says Samuel.

Of the 512 bus stops in Berkeley, 50 of those have a bus shelter, meaning that 90% of stops have no shelter and no attached bench. Its unclear if there is a separate list for stops with only a bench.

Historically, bus riders are not prioritized in the transportation system. Train riders tend to be higher income, explains Mary Buchanan, research and policy manager at the TransitCenter foundation. There tend to be more white train riders than white bus riders.

Bus stops are often a snarl of bureaucratic dysfunction with multiple agencies and departments working within the public right-of-way. While the transit agency might decide where bus stops are placed, they usually have no jurisdictional authority to place a shelter or bench on the sidewalk, which is controlled by the city. Predictably, this leads to a lot of blame-shifting.

[C]ities in our service areas maintain authority over their streets and sidewalks, including the placement of outdoor furniture, AC Transit spokesperson Robert Lyles told Next City in response to a question about the agencys role in adding bus benches. The city of Berkeley did not respond to a request for an interview.

Transit riders  they dont know or care, nor should they, which entity is responsible for providing this resource, says Buchanan.

It is possible for a transit agency to provide better amenities for bus riders. One example is TriMet in Portland, Oregon. To streamline the process of adding bus shelters, the agency took over shelter siting and installation within its service area, leveraging its knowledge of the entire system and cutting through red tape. Leave the bus riders out of it. Leave advocates out of it. Stop pointing fingers, Buchanan says.

While there are no signs that AC Transit intends to take over the bus stops in Berkeley or any other city, emails provided to Next City by Harrison show that the agency is collaborating with the city to determine where new bus benches should go.

The California city thats doing bus benches right

In 2022, then-mayor of Emeryville John Bauters made bus bench history when he spearheaded an effort to rapidly install seating at all bus stops in the city. Seven months and 50 quick-build Simme-Seats later, every bus stop without seating got a bench.

Since then, Bauters says that transit advocates across California have sought to emulate the Emeryville model.

I just always lead with safety and accessibility, says Bauters of his messaging strategy. Now a city councilmember, he has taken an assertive and outspoken approach to improving streets and sidewalks. If its not safe or accessible to everybody, its not equitable.

One difference: The city installed benches without engaging in a lengthy community engagement process. In other cities, NIMBYism has often blocked basic amenities for transit riders like bus shelters and benches. The key, Bauters says, is to prioritize the citys values  in this case, safety and equity  and to ask the right questions.

When it comes to infrastructure, [cities] go out and they go, Do you like this? And theres a lot of people who unsurprisingly, say, No, I dont want the bike lane. No, I dont want the bus bench in front of my house, a homeless person will sleep on it.'

Its also important for cities to limit the number of departments and entities involved in the process, adds Buchanan. She named the city of Los Angeles, notorious for requiring eight different agencies and a 16-step approval process to install a single bus shelter.

According to Harrison, there will be no appeal process for bus benches. We will look at need and where theres a lot of riders, and thats where the benches are gonna go.

She told Next City she planned to propose a bus bench pilot program similar to what the city of Hayward, California, is doing, as there is no process currently. (Its unclear if any such proposal will move forward since her resignation.)

Inspired by Emeryville, Hayward is piloting quick-build bus benches at ten stops to study the effects on rider behavior. A staff report puts the cost of one Simme-Seat at $2,000, estimating that it would cost an estimated $600,000 to put seats at all 300 bus stops with no bench.

It seems kind of silly to me to waste all the time and money collecting data on something we know just needs to be done, says Bauters.

Harrison hopes to use funds from a 50-cent ride-hailing sales tax that is set to generate an estimated $1 million in 2024. AC Transit already has a list of bus stops ranked by equity criteria and seven outstanding requests for benches.

In the meantime, guerilla bus benches will continue to pop up in the East Bay. And Samuel wants people to know that the benches have improved since the first one he placed in downtown Berkeley.

We added cross bracing. We replaced the legs with treated wood so it should last longer  a lot of thought has gone into making these benches safe and durable for the real world, even though they arent official.

This story was produced through the Equitable Cities Fellowship for Social Impact Design, which is made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

This story was produced by Next City, a nonprofit newsroom covering solutions for equitable cities, and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE)  Pecos Elementary School has confirmed that the school went into lockdown Tuesday morning after a gun was pulled on a teacher. The lockdown has since been lifted, and no threat to the school remains at this time.

According to Pecos Elementary Schools principal, a car drove by the school Tuesday morning, and from the car, a suspect yelled at a teacher walking in and pointed a gun at her. The incident took place early in the morning before school started. No shots were fired, and no one was injured. The school was placed on lockdown as a precaution, and the police were called. According to the schools administrative office, the suspect is not affiliated with Pecos Elementary School.

District Attorney Discusses Dropped DWI Cases

The Roswell Police Department (RPD) is the primary agency investigating; New Mexico State Police (NMSP) and the Chaves County Sheriffs Office are aiding in the investigation. Police are looking for the vehicle involved and say it is a dark gray SUV. The suspect is a male who was sitting in the back seat of the car.

RPD issued the following statement in a press release:

The incident occurred when students were just beginning to arrive for the school day, and very few students were at the school at that time. As a precaution, the school was placed on a brief lockdown. Since then, the school day has proceeded as usual with no threat present to students, staff, or others at the site. RPD is continuing to investigate this incident and plans an increased police presence at the school when students are dismissed this afternoon. Roswell Police Department

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (DC News Now)  For 90 years the St. Maria Goretti High School has been a canter for Catholic education in western Maryland.

But financial problems have beset the school and this spring semester will be its last.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore has spent more than $8.5 million over the past decade to support Goretti but says it has now reached a point where it cannot bridge the gap between operating expenses and revenue.

WATCH: Sheep sighting in Montgomery Village

One local booster in the community has a strategy he thinks can save Goretti. He would like to see St. Marys Catholic Elementary in Hagerstown be a feeder school to keep enrollment up at Goretti.

By expanding the base of kids to recruit and partnering with St. Marys and then the Catholic church, Len Lindenmeyer said. I think those three sources would deliver 175 kids to Goretti.

Lindenmeyer has reached out to 18 Catholic churches in the region to enlist their help to keep Goretti from having to close its doors.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Hamas sources say Gaza ceasefire negotiations 'not going well'

Relatives of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks, mourn as they receive the dead bodies from the morgue of Al-Aqsa Hospital for burial in Dair El-Balah. Naaman Omar/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

The indirect negotiations between Israel and the Islamist Hamas movement regarding a ceasefire in the Gaza war were "not going well," Hamas sources told dpa.

"The Israelis are not interested in a ceasefire. They are only interested in the hostage issue and not in a ceasefire," the sources said.

There is currently no official information on the current status of negotiations from either side in the conflict.

After talks in Cairo, Hamas representatives left the Egyptian capital on Monday for consultations with their leadership.

Since Israel and Hamas do not speak to each other directly, the United States, Qatar and Egypt are acting as mediators.

The Wall Street Journal reported on a compromise proposal put forward by the US, citing Arab mediators.

The report said the proposal would involve Hamas releasing 40 of the more than 100 hostages held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for 900 Palestinian prisoners, during a six-week ceasefire.

Israel should in turn allow up to 150,000 displaced Palestinians to return to the north of the coastal area.

Hamas stressed that officials were studying the latest proposal from the mediators and that they would "inform the mediators of its response once discussions are completed."
Hamas sources say Gaza ceasefire negotiations 'not going well'

Relatives of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks, mourn as they receive the dead bodies from the morgue of Al-Aqsa Hospital for burial in Dair El-Balah. Naaman Omar/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

The indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement regarding a ceasefire in the Gaza war were "not going well," Hamas sources told dpa.

"The Israelis are not interested in a ceasefire. They are only interested in the hostage issue and not in a ceasefire," the sources said.

There is no official information on the current status of negotiations from either side in the conflict.

After talks in Cairo, Hamas representatives left the Egyptian capital on Monday for consultations with their leadership.

Since Israel and Hamas do not speak to each other directly, the United States, Qatar and Egypt are acting as mediators.

The Wall Street Journal reported on a compromise proposal put forward by the US, citing Arab mediators.

The report said the proposal would involve Hamas releasing 40 of the more than 100 hostages still held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for 900 Palestinian prisoners, during a six-week ceasefire.

Israel should in turn allow up to 150,000 displaced Palestinians to return to the north of the coastal area.

Hamas stressed that officials were studying the latest proposal from the mediators and that they would "inform the mediators of its response once discussions are completed."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile reiterated that the army would destroy all Hamas battalions in Gaza, despite the major drawdown of ground troops announced on Sunday.

Netanyahu said this applied to Rafah, the last major population centre in Gaza that has yet to see a ground assault.

"No power in the world will stop us," the told recruits at a military base near Tel Aviv, according to his office.

Many of Israel's allies, including the United States, oppose such an operation in Rafah due to the harm civilians could be subjected to. Rafah is home to more than 1 million Palestinians, many of whom fled there after being displaced by fighting in other parts of the strip.

A victory over Hamas would not only be a victory over the terrorist organization itself, but also over "Iran's axis of evil, which wants to destroy us," Netanyahu said.

"Everyone in the Middle East, and beyond, is sitting on the spectator stands and watching who will win on this field, Israel or Iran and its offshoots."

Netanyahu had said on Monday that there "is a date" for Israeli ground troops to enter Rafah, but did not name it.

Sunday marked six months since Israel launched its devastating air and ground war on the Gaza Strip in response to the massacre by Hamas and other militant groups that left some 1,200 people dead and more than 200 others taken hostage.
The light dimmed, the temperature dropped and the shadows bent Monday afternoon as night crossed into day in Hampton Roads for a few fleeting moments.

A total solar eclipse crossed from the western coast of Mexico through Texas and Maine, the second to take a broad pass through the United States since 2017. The next full eclipse one wont come around our continent until 2044, when the path of totality will cut through Montana, the Dakotas and western Canada.

Hampton Roads saw between 75% and 80% blockage of the sun, enough to cast a haze over an otherwise clear sunny day, bring a chill and potentially confuse some pets. Viewing parties were held across the region at public parks, astronomy clubs and local breweries.

One such brewery that got in on the celestial fun was Elation Brewing in Norfolk. Its staff had given out all 100 pairs of glasses by about 45 minutes ahead of the peak of eclipse, according to general manager Mike Purcell, and the patio was bustling with excitement. Grace Mallamo, director of marketing for Elation, had the idea of also handing out paper plates and inviting guests to poke holes in the shape of a pizza so, with the plate held near the ground facing the sun, they could watch as the eclipse made the shadows shrink into fingernail shapes.

Purcell said he was surprised by the good turnout and expressed gratitude that Elation could be a part of the event for so many people.

It kind of reaffirms our place within the community and how much the community means to us, Purcell said, adding that it was an opportunity to give back to the customers who supported the brewery through the pandemic.

One of those devoted customers was Carl Boyd, a former history professor at Old Dominion University who has been coming to Elation since it opened and has the distinction of being member number 0001 of the brewerys rewards program. Boyd wasnt there for the eclipse  Im a liberal arts person, not a scientific person, he said  but by the end he was able to find some poetry in it.

Its a bonus, Im an 88-year-old and probably wont see another one so I decided to check off this box, Boyd said. He later marveled at the dimming of the light and effect on the shadows, saying one should enjoy it without trying to understand why.

Muslims across the country, and Hampton Roads, gather for special solar eclipse prayer

Nehal Aggarwal, 28, and her fiance, Greg Arnold, 27, made sure to catch this eclipse because, Aggarwal said, it still bothers her that she missed the 2017 eclipse while in New York.

]I have insane FOMO (fear of missing out) and Ive been carrying it with me that I missed the one several years ago so I was not about to miss this, she said.

Gary Morton, 65, an actor and theater producer, was watching the eclipse with his wife, Cary, and a group of friends. He said it was nothing compared to when he saw the total eclipse in Norfolk in 1970 when he was 10 years old. Back then, he said they watched it through a roll of film and it became one of his favorite childhood memories.

The wildest thing that happened in the 70s was the reaction all the dogs had to it. The dogs in the neighborhood went crazy howling and barking, Morton said. It went dark and it got very cold and the street lights came on, birds started singing night songs  it was kind of ominous.

At least one Hampton Roads resident wasnt satisfied with a partial eclipse and traveled to Sandusky, Ohio, to see totality. Kendra Muse, 31, a bartender from Norfolk, said shes been tracking the weather every night for weeks to figure out where to go to have the best view.

A partial eclipse, even if its 99.9%, she said, doesnt come close to the experience of a total eclipse. She described it as a 360-degree sunrise, with the sky alternatively turning red and green as the sun disappears before settling on a creepy greyness of everything down to the grass.

Totality is the difference between being front row at your absolute favorite band in the entire world and watching that band on someones phone recording, Muse said.

Staff writer Nour Habib contributed to this report.
By Padraic Halpin

DUBLIN (Reuters) -When Simon Harris made headlines in his local County Wicklow newspaper in 2003 for criticising the government, the future Irish prime minister was described as "a well-known local activist". He was 16 years old.

Now 37, Harris became Ireland's youngest ever premier on Tuesday, an ascent that while swift owing to Leo Varadkar's shock departure, has also been more than 20 years in the making, say those who have worked with the ambitious political devotee.

He quit university aged 20 to work as a political aide, was elected a councillor at 22, a member of parliament at 24 and appointed to cabinet five months shy of his 30th birthday, where he would make his name helping steer the country's initial response to COVID-19.

His first boss, former Irish Deputy Prime Minister Frances Fitzgerald, recalls being struck at just how keen her future cabinet colleague was to work in politics, something that was "unusual enough, even then" for a 20-year-old.

"What I thought was how very impressive he was, how very eager, energetic, intelligent and interested but most of all how he really wanted to work in the political system," Fitzgerald, currently a member of the European parliament, told Reuters.

Harris has spoken about how he became involved in politics to campaign for support for his autistic younger brother Adam. He set up an autism awareness charity aged 15, calling it "the formative experience of my life".

"I would say that's what defines him, he does believe in politics and to this day, he believes in the political system as the place to be to get things done," Fitzgerald said of her Fine Gael party colleague.

That description of a politician who works "all the hours of the day and night" was echoed by Niall Collins, a junior minister from coalition partners Fianna Fail, who has worked alongside Harris in the higher education ministry since 2020.

"His work ethic and attention to detail is enormous," Collins told national broadcaster RTE on Sunday.

RIGHT SHIFT?

With less than a year to leave his mark in office before he must call a general election, Harris' chief political challenge will be clawing back the more than three-year unbroken opinion poll lead the main opposition Sinn Fein party has on its rivals.

A recent slide in support for the left-wing party has opened up a possible path to re-election for another Fine Gael and Fianna Fail-led government. Polls suggest they may need the support of increasingly popular independent candidates, an arrangement the first government Harris was part of relied on in 2016.

One non-party aligned member of that cabinet, left-wing independent Finian McGrath, said that unlike some of his Fine Gael colleagues, Harris was open to compromise, a trait that could well be needed for future coalition building.

"I didn't think I was going to get on well with him because I wouldn't be on Fine Gael's page at all, but I did," McGrath, who worked with Harris in the health department from 2016 to 2020, told Reuters.

"He might give the impression that he's a bit nerdy and some people think he's the best boy in class and all that stuff, but no actually, you go for a pint with him and he's great craic (fun)."

While inheriting a three-party coalition will leave Harris little room for major new policy initiatives, he is under pressure from lawmakers to move Fine Gael back towards its traditionally centre-right position.

Harris described Fine Gael on Sunday as "a centrist party", saying he was proud of the role he played as health minister in the 2018 referendum to remove a ban on abortion, while at the same time placing a renewed focus on law and order and helping farmers.

Though Fitzgerald described her one-time parliamentary assistant as "very adaptable, flexible and not ideological", she doubts he will shift Fine Gael away from its current position.

"I don't believe this talk about Fine Gael pivoting to the right, he is not going to disown the social progress that has been made in Ireland," she said.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin, editing by Ed Osmond)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov sign the plan on consultation between the two foreign ministries for 2024 after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 9, 2024. Wang held talks with Lavrov in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov in Beijing Tuesday, and both sides expressed hope for strengthening practical cooperation in various fields.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, extended congratulations to President Putin on his reelection. Wang said that China will continue to support Russia's development and revitalization under the leadership of President Putin and support the Russian people's independent choice of development path.

Wang said that the China-Russia relations have been of irreplaceable value to maintaining global strategic stability. Maintaining and developing sound China-Russia relations is the natural choice of the two major, neighboring countries and serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

Wang said China is willing to work with Russia, in accordance with the consensus reached by the two heads of state, to strengthen the synergy of the two countries' development plans and promote practical cooperation in various fields.

Lavrov noted that Russia-China relations are based on mutual respect, equal cooperation and trustworthy dialogue. Russia abides by the one-China principle and is willing to work with China to maintain close high-level exchanges, and deepen practical cooperation in economy, trade and other fields.

Russia supports the Global Security Initiative, and is willing to deepen cooperation with China on multilateral platforms to promote the establishment of a more just and democratic international order, Lavrov added.

The two sides also had in-depth exchanges of view on the Ukraine issue, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the situation in the Asia-Pacific region and other international and regional issues of common concern.

At a joint press briefing after the talks, Wang said that in order to further consolidate and develop bilateral relations, China and Russia should follow five principles:

The two countries should always follow the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy.

The two countries should always adhere to the principle of no-alliance, no-confrontation and no-targeting at any third party.

The two countries should always stay on the right course on major matters of principle. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major emerging countries, China and Russia actively respond to the common aspirations and legitimate concerns of the people of all countries, advocate a new path of state-to-state relations featuring dialogue and partnership rather than confrontation and alliance, and actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

The two countries should always pursue win-win results through cooperation. China and Russia will continue to advocate inclusive economic globalization that benefits all, jointly oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and foster new drivers of global development and progress.

The two countries should always advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world. China and Russia support the central role of the United Nations in the global governance system, and will further strengthen international coordination.

During the press briefing, Wang elaborated on China's stance and proposition on resolving current international and regional hotspot issues.

According to him, principles to which China adheres for resolving hotspot issues are:

-- upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, international law and basic norms governing international relations;

-- actively promoting parties concerned to resolve conflicts through dialogue and consultation;

-- properly accommodating the legitimate concerns of all parties and seeking sustainable solutions;

-- and upholding genuine multilateralism and opposing camp confrontation, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

Wang said that on the issue of Ukraine, China calls for ceasefire as soon as possible, and supports the timely convening of an international conference recognized by Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties and fair discussion of all peace plans.

On the Palestinian-Israeli issue, Chine believes that the resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council are binding and should be effectively implemented to achieve an immediate, unconditional and lasting ceasefire, he added.

Wang also said that greater attention should be given to solving other global and regional hotspot issues, including the continued fight against terrorism.

The international community should firmly support the efforts of all parties to safeguard national security and stability and strengthen international counter-terrorism cooperation, he said. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov attend a joint press briefing after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 9, 2024. Wang held talks with Lavrov in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov in Beijing, capital of China, April 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)
HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  The Hays County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved on consent the application for more funding to make the county more flood resistant.

Hays County has had several severe flooding events that have caused extensive damage over the last decade. This includes a deadly flood along the Blanco River in 2015 that destroyed 321 homes and damaged an additional 376. It is estimated the flood cost an estimated $100 million in damages, according to KXAN reporting.

The County plans to apply for funds to develop a flood mitigation plan and a Drainage Master Plan that will identify areas to improve drainage conditions across the county, according to county documents.

With the funds, Hays County officials said they hope to be better prepared for the next severe flooding event and be in a better position to advise developers building in potentially risky areas.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Head of military enlistment office in Kyiv transferred to lower position after incident with investigative journalist

The head of the Solomianskyi district military enlistment office in Kyiv has been transferred to a lower position.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in response to a request from Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "As per the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the head of the Solomianskyi district military enlistment office was transferred to another place of service after the incident with the Slidstvo.info journalist."

Details: The General Staff explained that according to this decision, the military man would be transferred to a lower position in one of the combat units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The decision had been made after a detailed review of all the circumstances of the incident and the information established.

Quote: "The Armed Forces of Ukraine adhere to the principles of openness and transparency in their activities and emphasise the importance of joint work of the media and the public to protect the rights and freedoms of every citizen of Ukraine."

Previously: It was reported on 9 April that Vasyl Maliuk, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), had suspended Illia Vitiuk, the head of the SSUs cybersecurity department, pending an investigation into information published by the investigative journalism outlet Slidstvo.Info, and sent him to the front line.

Background:

Investigative journalists from Slidstvo.info found that Vitiuks wife purchased an apartment in December 2013 for more than 20 million hryvnias (almost US$514 million) at the market price. However, the official's declaration states that 12.8 million hryvnias (approximately US$335 million) was paid for the apartment.

It became known on 6 April that following this investigation, the military enlistment officers tried to serve a conscription notice to Slidstvo.info journalist Yevhen Shulhat.

The Security Service of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defence, together with the General Staff, stated that they were checking the information published by Slidstvo.info regarding attempts to serve a conscription notice to their journalist after an investigative report on a special service officer.

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After Israeli forces withdrew from the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Sunday, thousands of Gazans returned to find that "everything is destroyed."

Malak, 13, was among the thousands of Palestinians who came back to search through the rubble of their homes, hoping to find any belongings that might have survived. She found nothing left.

"Everything is destroyed. There is no life here anymore," she told CBS News. "Our dreams are gone and so is our childhood I wished to go back home and study, but all is gone."

Small towns around Khan Younis, as well as the city itself, were destroyed as the Israel Defense Forces spent weeks battling Hamas, with houses, factories and schools all reduced to rubble. Israel launched its war on the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers in response to the Palestinian group's Oct. 7 terror attack, which Israeli officials say left some 1,200 people dead and more than 200 others captive in Gaza.

Some Palestinian residents start to return to their homes after Israel's withdrawal leaving behind a huge destruction in Khan Younis, Gaza on April 07, 2024. / Credit: Jehad Alshrafi/Anadolu via Getty Images

More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in the territory since Israel launched its offensive, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, which does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths.

Another woman, Suha Abdelghani, sat on the rubble of her Khan Younis home, crying. She told CBS News she had seven children and, before the war, her husband worked in Israel to feed their family. Now, she said they're living hand to mouth.

"My husband lost his job and we lost our home," Suha said. "I have nowhere to go with my children. Everything is gone I won't be able to rebuild my home again in Gaza."

Palestinian Suha Abdelghani sits and cries on the rubble of her home in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, April 8, 2024. / Credit: CBS News

Israel continued bombing targets in Gaza Tuesday as negotiations over a cease-fire and deal to return the remaining Israeli hostages continued in Cairo.

Hamas told the AFP news agency that it was "studying" a new proposal, which would see a 6-week pause in the fighting, the exchange of 40 women and child hostages for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and hundreds of trucks of aid entering Gaza per day.

A spokesman for Hamas told CBS News, however, that the latest negotiations over the weekend were "set back."

Israel's military has said it now has just one division still inside the Gaza Strip, positioned along the enclave's border with Israel and to the north, where Israel has built a new road cutting across Gaza from east to west, which is thought to be part of its planning for after the war. The IDF said the troops it pulled out of Gaza are recuperating and preparing for future missions.

Despite U.S. opposition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel had set a date for a ground offensive in the southern city of Rafah, just south of Khan Younis, where around 1.5 million people are sheltering, though he did not specify the date.

"We have made clear to Israel that we think a full-scale military invasion of Rafah would have an enormously harmful effect on those civilians and that it would ultimately hurt Israel's security," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Monday.

On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris was scheduled to meet in the U.S. with the families of American hostages taken by Hamas or other groups in Gaza on Oct. 7.

CBS News' Holly Williams contributed to this report.

NASA to launch rockets into total solar eclipse path

Largest dam removal project in U.S. history aims to help revive Americas salmon population

Total solar eclipse cuts path across U.S.
Residents in Littlehampton are helped to safety by rescuers - EDDIE MITCHELL

Rescue operations are under way after severe flooding in the wake of Storm Kathleen caused a river in West Sussex to burst its banks.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service dealt with a severe flooding incident at Medmerry Holiday Park, between Bracklesham and Selsey, urging anyone in the vicinity to get to high ground if they were able to leave their homes.

The service also warned people in the seaside town of Littlehampton to get as high as possible within their homes after the River Arun burst its banks.

A statement said anyone requiring lifesaving intervention should dial 999, adding: Please avoid the area and remain in your homes where possible to allow our crews to work safely.

More than 200 people have since been evacuated in West Sussex. They included around 180 people rescued overnight from the holiday park and around 15 from Ferry Road and Rope Walk in Littlehampton, West Sussex County Council said.

West Sussex County Council said water levels have not yet receded, warning that flooding may increase throughout the day.

A resident wades through floodwater in Rope Walk, Littlehampton - Gareth Fuller/PA

Flooding hit Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex - Gareth Theobald/PA

A resident of Shoreham-by-Sea said flooding in the town was unprecedented, and he had stayed awake until the early hours to put flood defences around his property.

Gareth Theobald, 36, said: I was out the front of the building and watching the water just get higher and higher and higher, and then helping or stopping traffic going into the floodwaters and then just watching in disbelief as the whole of Brighton Road and our multi-million pound development was being engulfed by floodwaters.

The amount of water is scary and unprecedented, and those houses opposite our development are lower-ground flats and they were all flooded under a foot or so of water.

He said he saw cars driving into the floods at speed as well and getting stuck and that residents were trying to do what they can.

More than 200 people have been evacuated because of the flooding - Eddie Mitchell

South East Coast Ambulance confirmed that a number of resources were sent to help evacuate and rescue people from the Medmerry holiday park.

Weve assessed and triaged a number of people at a nearby facility. One person showing signs of hypothermia has been taken to hospital, the service wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The emergency update comes as heavy rain and strong winds are forecast to batter parts of southern England, western Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland over the next few days.

In Hampshire, flooding affected the railway at Lymington Pier.

A very high tide caused flooding in Langstone High Street, near Havant, Hants - Paul Jacobs

Coastguard personnel look on as waves crash over the harbour wall at St Ives, Cornwall - Hugh Hastings/Getty Images

Meanwhile, in Pembrokeshire, west Wales, Dyfed-Powys Police urged motorists to avoid the area around the A487 at Penycwm after it was closed because of surface water.

The Met Office issued six separate yellow weather warnings, spanning Monday to Wednesday morning.

A yellow weather warning is in force across the South West on Tuesday as Storm Pierreck, named by the French weather service, brings winds up to 65mph on the coast.

Winds in the south-west of England, including in Cornwall and parts of Devon, could reach speeds of up to 60-65mph along some stretches of the coast.

Huge waves sent beach huts crashing into the sea in Falmouth, Cornwall, while the sea wall in Porthleven was damaged.

Simon Partridge, a Met Office forecaster, said that while these levels of rainfall would not be a huge cause for concern on their own, they would fall onto already saturated ground, increasing the risk of flooding.

Met Office provisional statistics showed that England saw a record amount of rainfall in the 18 months to March. Mr Partridge said the past three months in particular had made for a very wet start to the year.

Mr Partridge said it would be a blustery day in England on Tuesday but there would not be huge totals of rain, adding: Its actually quite warm conditions for the time of year  we could see 19C or 20C across eastern and southeastern parts of the UK come Thursday and Friday. But the North will always stay quite unsettled.

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HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A Lucas Bays Road home and nearby vehicle were destroyed in an early Tuesday morning blaze, Horry County Fire Rescue said.

Crews were dispatched to the area at 4:19 a.m. A nearby camper also sustained damage and a person was sent to the hospital.

Officials said incident had been brought under control as of 5:30 a.m. American Red Cross is assisting two displaced people.

Georgetown County Fire & EMS assisted on the call, and the fires cause is being investigated.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is dismissing an effort by congressional Republicans to remove him from office ahead of a potential Senate impeachment trial that could start this week.

House Republican lawmakers approved articles of impeachment against him in February with a slim majority, and against bipartisan opposition, accusing the secretary of willfully refusing to uphold U.S. immigration law at the southern border.

House impeachment managers are expected to walk over the articles to the Senate on Wednesday. But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat from New York, has indicated that a simple majority of the chamber could vote to dismiss the charges before a trial even begins, and multiple Republican senators have suggested they agree that the charges are baseless.

In an interview with McClatchy, Mayorkas said he is confident the case would be resolved swiftly.

The senators are going to fulfill their responsibility, he said. I am confident of that. I am confident in the job that I am doing, the focus that I have on the work.

I am not distracted by the impeachment proceedings, he added. There is too much work across the entire mission set of the Department of Homeland Security that can ill afford my distraction.
Infections acquired in hospitals are costing Sub-Saharan Africa as much as $8.4 billion each year and leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths, new research has found.

At least half of these infections could be avoided by improved handwashing facilities, access to decent toilets and proper hygiene, according to a report by WaterAid and the World Bank.

Sol Oyuela, WaterAids Executive Director of Global Policy and Campaigns, said that the new research highlights a bleak reality for those living without access to clean water. Every healthcare facility must be able to operate with these basic human rights, she said.

The study was conducted across seven African countries, including Nigeria, Malawi and Ethiopia. It found that the financial toll of treating hospital-acquired infections in these nations amounts to 1.1 per cent of their GDP and 4.5 per cent of their healthcare budgets.

In the UK, the financial toll of such infections on GDP is just 0.14 per cent, making the economic burden nearly 10 times larger in the surveyed African countries.

Nurse Msanide Kaphesi washes her hands with soap in the labour ward at Mkhuzi Health centre, Ntchisi - Dennis Lupenga/WaterAid

The costs for these countries will only increase as antimicrobial resistance to drugs grows, WaterAid warned in a statement.

Superbugs pay little to no respect to country borders, said Oyuela. As more infections become resistant to antibiotics  the threat to global public health will continue to rise putting us all at risk. This is a global fight and we are not safe until everyone is safe.

Malawi was the worst affected, the study said, with the southeastern African nation racking up costs equivalent to 2.9 per cent of its GDP and 10.9 per cent of its annual health budget to treat hospital-acquired infections.

In the African countries covered in this study, at least one in every 10 patients admitted to hospital is unnecessarily burdened by an additional infection circulating within the hospital, said Guy Hutton, a water and hygiene expert who conducted the research.

It should be the number one priority of health systems around the world to combat healthcare associated infections.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security

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Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing titled "Worldwide Threats to the Homeland" at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Nov. 2023. The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday delayed sending articles of impeachment against him to the Senate. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

April 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday delayed sending articles of impeachment to the Senate against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas until Monday in order to help Republicans in their argument ahead of a possible trial.

"To ensure the Senate has adequate time to perform its constitutional duty, the House will transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate next week," a spokesperson for House Speaker Mike Johnson told CNN.

"There is no reason whatsoever for the Senate to abdicate its responsibility to hold an impeachment trial," Johnson's office said.

House Republicans originally had planned to send over the articles of impeachment to the Senate on April 10.

"We are ready to go whenever they are," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters Tuesday, saying that Senate Democrats are ready to act on the Mayorkas articles of impeachment in the chamber, which is controlled by Democrats 51 to 49.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. (R), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speak to the press after a White House meeting with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and congressional leaders in the Oval Office, Feb. 2024. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

"We are sticking with our plan. We're going to move this as expeditiously as possible," the New York Democrat said Tuesday amid ongoing questions as to how some moderate Democrats up for re-election this year may end up voting.

On social media, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican up for re-election this year, claimed that Schumer "doesn't want to hold the Mayorkas impeachment trial because it will show how bad the crisis truly is."

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks to the press after meeting with President Joe Biden and congressional leaders at a high-stakes meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in February. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, echoed the sentiments of Cruz, saying that Schumer "wants to ignore this responsibility" to act on the articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, despite many viewing the charges as being politically motivated.

"The Senate still has a responsibility to conduct a trial, and no excuse to table the articles of impeachment," Lee wrote on X.

Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy joined his Republican colleagues, saying that Senate Democrats look at the idea of impeaching Mayorkas "like spam that landed in their in-box."

"Meanwhile, the border crisis is bringing death, drugs, violence, chaos, criminals, and mayhem into American neighborhoods," Kennedy said Tuesday on social media.

But a Republican strategist and Washington, D.C.-based radio host said Tuesday that the House Republicans' desire to impeach Mayorkas "represents a slippery slope for the country and won't reap any rewards for the GOP."

"But Speaker Johnson had to cater to the right wing of our party, clamoring for him to act on it," George W. Bush-appointee Melik Abdul posted on X.

On Tuesday, the National Immigration Forum called on Congress "to focus on immigration solutions, not impeach Mayorkas."

"We urge Congress to invest energy on solutions that will further secure our border and treat migrants with dignity," Jennie Murray, the president and CEO, put on X.
The UN Security Council holds a meeting to renew consideration of Palestine's full UN membership at the UN Headquarters in New York, on April 8, 2024. The UN Security Council on Monday renewed consideration of Palestine's full UN membership application and decided to refer the matter to its Committee on the Admission of New Members. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday renewed consideration of Palestine's full UN membership application and decided to refer the matter to its Committee on the Admission of New Members.

The committee, comprised of all 15 members of the Security Council, will begin to meet on Monday afternoon to discuss Palestine's application.

The Palestinian representative wrote to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday to request for renewed consideration of its Sept. 23, 2011, application for UN membership. The secretary-general transmitted the request to the Security Council on Wednesday.

Under the UN Charter, the admission of new members is decided by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.

Since the council has referred the application to its Committee on the Admission of New Members, the committee will deliberate on the matter and report its conclusions to the council. The council then, by resolution, takes a decision to make a recommendation to the General Assembly.

As admission to UN membership is considered a substantive issue, a Security Council decision requires the agreement of at least nine of the council's 15 members and is subject to veto.

Admission to UN membership requires a two-thirds majority at the General Assembly.

Palestine is currently a non-member observer state of the United Nations.

In 1974, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 3237, approving the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as an observer. In December 1988, the assembly acknowledged the proclamation of the State of Palestine and decided that Palestine should be used in place of the PLO, maintaining Palestine in the non-state observer category.

In July 1998, the General Assembly elevated Palestine to a status higher than all other observers. In November 2012, the General Assembly adopted a resolution to accord Palestine the status of a non-member observer state of the United Nations. 

Riyad Mansour (C), permanent observer of Palestine to the United Nations, is seen ahead of the Security Council meeting to renew consideration of Palestine's full UN membership, at the UN Headquarters in New York, on April 8, 2024. The UN Security Council on Monday renewed consideration of Palestine's full UN membership application and decided to refer the matter to its Committee on the Admission of New Members. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)
House Republicans are expected to move quickly this week to install a new head of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, as the party looks to get a strong start crafting plans for how to fund the government next year.

The House Republican Steering Committee is set to consider a new chair for the panel upon the lower chambers return from recess Tuesday, just weeks after Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) said she would be stepping down as chair.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), head of the subcommittee that crafts funding for transportation and housing programs, is seen as an early favorite for the coveted seat and has already been looking at some of the changes he hopes to see if elected in the coming days. That includes getting Congress to finish its annual funding work on time this year.

No. 1 thing is to get the work done and put the leadership in a position to make the decisions that they want to make, Cole said in a Monday interview.

But he also acknowledged that given the current pace of appropriations work in both chambers  and as Washington prepares for the coming election cycle  Congress is again likely on track for some kind of stopgap in September, when government funding is set to expire.

What normally happens in an election year is the winners essentially decide do we want to finish our business between now and the end of the calendar, or do we think we have some political advantage by waiting later, and do we want to kick them into early next year? Cole said.

I never liked that. It doesnt matter if we win or lose. Ive been on both sides of this before, and I will say I think its almost always a mistake to push them into the next year because you really put the next Congress behind the eight ball, he said.

Cole added that the change in administration doesnt make that much difference in the writing of the 12 annual appropriations bill, noting the final product is going end up being somewhat bipartisan because you got to get to 60 in the Senate.

His comments come weeks after Congress finally put a bow on its annual appropriations work for fiscal 2024 in March, roughly six months after the initial deadline following a nasty months-long spending fight.

The legislations passage capped off months of tense bipartisan spending negotiations in the divided Congress, as well as intraparty fights in the House, where hard-line conservatives came out strongly against it.

Before Congress left for recess last month, the House Appropriations Committee held multiple hearings to prepare for fiscal 2025 as many Republicans are anxious for another try at further restraining government funding and securing conservative policy changes.

In her letter announcing her decision to step down as chair, Granger pointed to the coming November elections and the impact that would have on this years appropriations fight.

Recognizing that an election year often results in final appropriations bills not getting enacted until well into the next fiscal year, it is important that I do everything in my power to ensure a seamless transition before the FY25 bill development begins in earnest, Granger wrote.

The Steering Committee is set to vote on Grangers replacement Tuesday afternoon, sending its recommendation to the House GOP conference soon after. Cole is running unopposed for the seat and has already notched backing from a chunk of the lower chambers other GOP spending cardinals and some conservatives.

The Steering Committee comprises more than two dozen lawmakers, including leadership, committee and subcommittee chairs, and other representatives. The body determines most committee assignments.

Cole, who noted he has served on the committee multiple times since 2006, has good friends on the panel and is confident his bid is in good shape.

In other words, Cole is confident about his chances this week. But that doesnt mean there hasnt been some resistance to the idea of a speedy election without certain changes.

One spending cardinal, Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), chair of the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees funding for departments of Health and Human Services and Labor, called for the Republican Party to hold off on a speedy election for the panels next leader.

At the time, Aderholt called on Republicans to agree to a broader strategy for spending bills before selecting a new chair.

Instead of hastily selecting a new Appropriations Chair, I believe that now is the time to focus on correcting the process and developing our theory of government on how we will manage our responsibilities, he wrote in a letter to his colleagues last week.

Aderholt, the most senior Republican on the House Appropriations Committee that hasnt served as chair, also reiterated the need for reforms in a follow-up piece published Tuesday in Roll Call.

The election of an Appropriations Committee Chair is an opportunity to take stock of how its working, and how it isnt. While I thank Chairwoman Granger and Vice Chairman Cole for their leadership in helping us navigate these challenging times, ultimately, we are at a decision point, he wrote. We need to start our FY25 work now, but to do so without changes almost guarantees a December lame duck session driven by Democrat spending decisions.

Aderholt was one of more than 100 Republicans who voted against a sprawling $1.2 trillion package funding swaths of the federal government last month due to his opposition to funding earmarked for projects over issues related to abortion and immigration.

His opposition came as conservatives in both chambers sharply denounced the use of earmarks, which allow members to secure funding for community projects back home, in the package, as well as the overall price and scope of the funding package.

In my years of service on the Committee, I never once voted against my own bill while Republicans held the Majority  until this year, Aderholt wrote Tuesday.

This may seem trivial to some, but heres why it should matter to everyone: if the leader of one of the largest subcommittees in Congress cannot recognize the bill he is voting on from the one his subcommittee approved, what hope is there for his colleagues, let alone the American public?

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  The Howard County Police Department (HCPD) arrested and charged five teenagers for multiple crimes.

On Sunday morning, HCPD arrested three teenage boys ranging from 14 to 15 years old and two teenage girls who were 15 years old.

Around 8:20 a.m., officers responded to the 10500 block of Green Mountain Cir. for an attempted armed carjacking. Officers found the suspected car and tried to conduct a traffic stop, but the suspects escaped.

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Officers chased the car into Baltimore City and were able to arrest the teens there.

HCPD officers also responded to two additional reports at the same time as the first report  an armed robbery on Waterfowl Terrace and another attempted armed carjacking at Green Mountain Circle.

The teens were charged with armed robbery, carjacking and other related charges. The two girls were also previously charged in two armed robberies they were accused of participating in last November.

The teens were being held at different juvenile justice centers around Maryland.

Detectives were working to figure out if they were involved in other incidents in the surrounding area.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Human remains found inside house in 200 block of West Third Street in Mansfield OH

Mansfield police are investigating the remains of a human body found Monday afternoon inside a vacant house in the 200 block of West Third Street.

The Richland County Coroner's Office contacted a forensic anthropologist team from Mercyhurst University that arrived Tuesday morning from Erie, Pennsylvania, to assist with identification. The forensic investigative team members have assisted Mansfield police in the past on other cases.

Coroner's Investigator Bob Ball on Tuesday said the remains are in a small area in a crawl space in the attic over the rear of the house. Ball said some structural work is being done by a contractor to help open up the area inside so investigators from Mercyhurst can better do their job.

Bob Ball, a Richland County coroner's investigator, talks Tuesday outside the vacant house at in the 200 block of West Third Street where human remains were found in a crawl space in the attic.

"The biggest part of this is going to be for identification purposes, and then we'll go from there," Ball said.

Ball said he hopes the person can be identified with dental records. This would be the quickest way.

Ball said anything like this situation is always considered suspicious. "It's a homicide until it's not a homicide," he said. "Once we get the identification, hopefully the evidence will show us one way or another. They have been there a little bit."

Ball estimated the area is 3 feet high and the whole area is a length of 12 feet or so where investigators are working.

Mansfield police Lt. Detective Rob Skropits and members of the Mansfield Police Department were on the scene Monday around 6 p.m. The two-story white house, which had two separate addresses or residences, had been cordoned off with red and yellow tape.

Ball said people who are fixing up the house called police upon finding the human remains.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

419-521-7223

X (formerly Twitter): @LWhitmir

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield OH police investigating discovery of human remains in house
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Huntsville City Schools (HCS) hosted another informational meeting Monday night about its proposed 10-year capital plan.

Around two dozen parents gathered inside Columbia High School to learn more about how the proposed plan will impact each school that feeds into Columbia High.

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Under the proposed plan, each institution will see renovations and innovations.

A big addition coming to district five will be a new school in Limestone County serving students in grades P-8. District officials believe this school will help with the population in West Huntsville.

District 5 is one of the fastest growing portions of our city, Huntsville City Schools District 5 Board Member Carlos Matthews stated. Were growing out west, and were going to need that school to kind of offset the load we have currently with our students.

HCS is looking to move forward with its proposed 10-year capital plan. Amid this proposal, the district is still working to chip away at a nearly 60-year-old desegregation order.

Hunter Pepper exits council meeting during public comments

The school system is in somewhat of a unique situation when it comes to making renovations and innovations for their district. The district has been under federal supervision since 2015 due to that desegregation order and because of this, there are certain parameters they have to keep in mind as they look to move the district forward.

Under the consent order, the district must eliminate the effects of the former segregated system in seven areas.

Those areas include: student assignment, equitable access to course offerings, extracurricular activities, faculty and staff assignment, facilities, student discipline, and transportation.

Once the district can demonstrate it has achieved unitary status (meaning it has met specific demographic goals) it will no longer be under federal supervision.

HCS School Board of Education President Ryan Renaud says achieving unitary status was the boards number one priority when drafting its proposed 10-year capital plan.

It is multi-faceted, Renaud said. This is not something the district alone approves or decides, or the board approves or decides, but were seeking feedback from the community, the board, the district staff as well as the judge and DOJ.

Renaud says ultimately the superintendent will bring a proposal to the board of education for approval. That plan will then make its way to the judge in the Department of Justice.

Another informational meeting is set for Tuesday, April 9. That meeting will focus on how the proposed capital plan will affect schools that feed into Huntsville High School.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  A spokesperson for the Huntsville Police Department says over 1 year later, authorities are searching for a suspect in a January 2023 shooting.

According to Huntsville Police, 32-year-old Carillo Hernandez was found dead in the area of Newson Road from gunshot wounds on Sunday, January 8, 2023. The call initially came in around 10:20 p.m. that night.

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Just over a week after the shooting, HPD told News 19 that a warrant was obtained on Wednesday, January 18. At the time, the department said officers were working with U.S. Marshals to bring that person into custody but it did not identify the suspect.

On Tuesday, an HPD spokesperson confirmed to News 19 that a murder warrant had been issued for 39-year-old Marcelino Gutierrez Narvaez.

Officials said he has several aliases. It is believed that he left Huntsville and has possibly even gone back to Mexico.

HPD is asking for the publics help finding Narvaez, and says if anyone has any information regarding his whereabouts, they should notify HPD.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A 46-year-old man charged in the 2013 murder of his wife appeared in federal court Monday, according to Department of Justice officials.

Ernest D. Pheasant, Sr., an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) in Swain County, is charged with one count of first-degree murder. Pheasant is in federal custody.

Arrest made in 2013 cold case killing in North Carolina

According to allegations in the indictment, on December 29, 2013, Pheasant killed his 26-year-old spouse, Marie Walkingstick Pheasant, and did so willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with premeditation.

Marie Pheasants body was found in a burning vehicle on Old Rock Crusher Road in the Big Cove community of the Qualla Boundary.

The mans arraignment and detention hearings are scheduled for Wednesday, April 10, at 11:25 a.m., in Asheville.

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The charges arose from an investigation by the FBI in North Carolina, the Missing and Murdered Unit of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Cherokee Indian Police Department, and the EBCI Office of the Tribal Prosecutor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
EMPORIA (KSNT)  Emporia is turning to dogs to help people get excited about the city.

The Emporia Main Street HYPE Team offers an extension to their program called HYPE Hounds. Just like the original HYPE Team, the goal is to get involved with the community and showcase events. The only difference is the addition of dogs.

27 News got to hang out with some of the new candidates Monday. Jessica Buchholz, organizer and dog owner, says Emporia is a pet friendly area.

We know people love their furry friends, Buchholz said. So we thought, how much fun would it be to get a group of dogs to help rep downtown Emporia?'

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Buchholz had her dog, Hank, who is the first member of the team. Hank is currently the only member of the team, but he is looking for more furry friends to join him.

HYPE Hounds accepts applications until April 19. Dog owners of candidates also spoke with 27 News today discussing how this program would have a positive effect on the community. You can learn more about the HYPE Team by clicking here.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
A drone attack allegedly targeted the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant's training center adjacent to the site, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on April 9, citing the plant's occupation administration.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear plant in Europe, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. IAEA teams have been based at the facility on rotation since September 2022.

Throughout its occupation, the plant has been repeatedly disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid due to Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure. Russian troops have also used the plant as a platform to launch strikes at Nikopol, situated just across the Kakhovka Reservoir, and other Ukrainian settlements nearby.

The IAEA said on X that the reported explosion at the facility's training center was "consistent with the IAEA team's observations."

"No direct threat to nuclear safety this time, but the latest incident again underlines an extremely serious situation," said the organization's head, Rafael Grossi.

Read also: Life near Russian-occupied nuclear plant: I dont know if tomorrow will come

The plant reportedly suffered at least three direct strikes on April 7. After the alleged attacks, Russia claimed Ukraine was responsible. Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) said Ukraine was not involved.

Russia has initiated a meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors set to take place on April 11 to discuss alleged attacks on the plant, Reuters reported, citing four unnamed diplomats.

Ukraine's nuclear energy agency Energoatom said on April 9 that Russia "upgraded its propaganda to another level," manipulating the IAEA's perspective and accusing Ukraine of security breaches at the plant.

Energoatom said that the only way to prevent nuclear and radiation emergencies is to comply with the IAEA's resolution, withdraw Russian troops and their equipment from the plant, demining nearby territories, and return control over the plant to the agency.

In March, the U.N. nuclear watchdog's Board of Governors passed a resolution demanding Russia to withdraw from Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Read also: Locals near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant brace for potential disaster: It would be the end of us

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Fatime Letifova

The National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia, at the initiative of factions of opposition parties, discussed the issue of the delimitation and demarcation of borders with Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The hearings started at the closed session of the parliament with the participation of the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, Mger Grigoryan, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ararat Mirzoyan.

"The agenda of the session includes the issue of holding a discussion on the delimitation and demarcation of borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan," Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan said.

A source in the faction of the "Armenia" movement reported that the discussion of this issue, at the request of the ruling Civil Contract Party, was held behind closed doors. The speakers were Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
Children are seen at Mbyo unity and reconciliation village in Eastern Province, Rwanda, April 7, 2024. Rwanda on Sunday began a week of national mourning and 100 days of commemoration to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

There are several reconciliation villages in Rwanda built for families of survivors of the 1994 genocide, released ex-prisoners convicted of crimes committed in 100-day carnage, and vulnerable citizens not directly related to the mass killings that resulted in the death of more than 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The aim of building reconciliation villages is to put the survivors and offenders of the genocide in one closely knit community and have them interact with each other through daily living and cooperative work. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

A child is pictured at Mbyo unity and reconciliation village in Eastern Province, Rwanda, April 7, 2024. Rwanda on Sunday began a week of national mourning and 100 days of commemoration to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

There are several reconciliation villages in Rwanda built for families of survivors of the 1994 genocide, released ex-prisoners convicted of crimes committed in 100-day carnage, and vulnerable citizens not directly related to the mass killings that resulted in the death of more than 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The aim of building reconciliation villages is to put the survivors and offenders of the genocide in one closely knit community and have them interact with each other through daily living and cooperative work. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Villagers watch TV at their home at Mbyo unity and reconciliation village in Eastern Province, Rwanda, April 7, 2024. Rwanda on Sunday began a week of national mourning and 100 days of commemoration to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

There are several reconciliation villages in Rwanda built for families of survivors of the 1994 genocide, released ex-prisoners convicted of crimes committed in 100-day carnage, and vulnerable citizens not directly related to the mass killings that resulted in the death of more than 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The aim of building reconciliation villages is to put the survivors and offenders of the genocide in one closely knit community and have them interact with each other through daily living and cooperative work. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Children are pictured at Mbyo unity and reconciliation village in Eastern Province, Rwanda, April 7, 2024. Rwanda on Sunday began a week of national mourning and 100 days of commemoration to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

There are several reconciliation villages in Rwanda built for families of survivors of the 1994 genocide, released ex-prisoners convicted of crimes committed in 100-day carnage, and vulnerable citizens not directly related to the mass killings that resulted in the death of more than 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The aim of building reconciliation villages is to put the survivors and offenders of the genocide in one closely knit community and have them interact with each other through daily living and cooperative work. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Villagers are seen at Mbyo unity and reconciliation village in Eastern Province, Rwanda, April 7, 2024. Rwanda on Sunday began a week of national mourning and 100 days of commemoration to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

There are several reconciliation villages in Rwanda built for families of survivors of the 1994 genocide, released ex-prisoners convicted of crimes committed in 100-day carnage, and vulnerable citizens not directly related to the mass killings that resulted in the death of more than 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The aim of building reconciliation villages is to put the survivors and offenders of the genocide in one closely knit community and have them interact with each other through daily living and cooperative work. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Children stand in front of their home at Mbyo unity and reconciliation village in Eastern Province, Rwanda, April 7, 2024. Rwanda on Sunday began a week of national mourning and 100 days of commemoration to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

There are several reconciliation villages in Rwanda built for families of survivors of the 1994 genocide, released ex-prisoners convicted of crimes committed in 100-day carnage, and vulnerable citizens not directly related to the mass killings that resulted in the death of more than 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The aim of building reconciliation villages is to put the survivors and offenders of the genocide in one closely knit community and have them interact with each other through daily living and cooperative work. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Villagers chat at Mbyo unity and reconciliation village in Eastern Province, Rwanda, April 7, 2024. Rwanda on Sunday began a week of national mourning and 100 days of commemoration to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

There are several reconciliation villages in Rwanda built for families of survivors of the 1994 genocide, released ex-prisoners convicted of crimes committed in 100-day carnage, and vulnerable citizens not directly related to the mass killings that resulted in the death of more than 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The aim of building reconciliation villages is to put the survivors and offenders of the genocide in one closely knit community and have them interact with each other through daily living and cooperative work. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Villagers walk past houses of Mbyo unity and reconciliation village in Eastern Province, Rwanda, April 7, 2024. Rwanda on Sunday began a week of national mourning and 100 days of commemoration to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

There are several reconciliation villages in Rwanda built for families of survivors of the 1994 genocide, released ex-prisoners convicted of crimes committed in 100-day carnage, and vulnerable citizens not directly related to the mass killings that resulted in the death of more than 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The aim of building reconciliation villages is to put the survivors and offenders of the genocide in one closely knit community and have them interact with each other through daily living and cooperative work. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

A villager displays a hand-woven ornament at her home at Mbyo unity and reconciliation village in Eastern Province, Rwanda, April 7, 2024. Rwanda on Sunday began a week of national mourning and 100 days of commemoration to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

There are several reconciliation villages in Rwanda built for families of survivors of the 1994 genocide, released ex-prisoners convicted of crimes committed in 100-day carnage, and vulnerable citizens not directly related to the mass killings that resulted in the death of more than 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The aim of building reconciliation villages is to put the survivors and offenders of the genocide in one closely knit community and have them interact with each other through daily living and cooperative work. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Villagers chat at Mbyo unity and reconciliation village in Eastern Province, Rwanda, April 7, 2024. Rwanda on Sunday began a week of national mourning and 100 days of commemoration to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

There are several reconciliation villages in Rwanda built for families of survivors of the 1994 genocide, released ex-prisoners convicted of crimes committed in 100-day carnage, and vulnerable citizens not directly related to the mass killings that resulted in the death of more than 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The aim of building reconciliation villages is to put the survivors and offenders of the genocide in one closely knit community and have them interact with each other through daily living and cooperative work. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)
BOISE, Idaho  A teenager planned to attack churches in a northern Idaho city using a metal pipe, butane fuel, a machete and, if he could get them, his fathers guns, according to federal prosecutors who charged him with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State group.

Authorities said Alexander Scott Mercurio, 18, adopted the Islamic faith against his Christian parents wishes and was in contact with FBI informants posing as Islamic State group supporters.

Mercurio was arrested Saturday, the day before investigators believe he planned to carry out the attack. Court documents did not reveal if he had an attorney and phone messages for a relative were not immediately returned Tuesday. Mercurio did not immediately respond to an email through a jail inmate email system.

Mercurio told one informant he intended to incapacitate his father with the pipe, handcuff him and steal his guns and a car to carry out the attack in Coeur dAlene, according to an FBI agents sworn statement in the case unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court.

The guns included rifles, handguns and ammunition his father kept in a locked closet, but Mercurio still planned to attack with the pipe, fire and knives if he couldnt get the firearms, alleged the sworn statement by FBI task force officer John Taylor II.

If he could get the key and access the closet, Mercurio said in an audio recording he gave the informant, everything will be so much easier and better and I will achieve better things, according to the statement.

The recording was to accompany a photo the informant took of Mercurio in front of the Islamic State flag holding up a knife and his index finger in a gesture commonly used by the group, the statement alleged.

After attacking the church, Mercurio told the informant he planned to attack others in town  as many as 21  before being killed in an act of martyrdom, according to the statement.

Mercurio talked with confidential informants over a two-year span and at one point tried to build an explosive vest to wear during the attacks, the statement alleged.

Mercurio told a confidential informant that he first connected with the Islamic State group during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, when schools were closed, Taylor said, and investigators later found several files on his school-issued laptop detailing Islamic State group ideology. Mercurios parents disapproved of his beliefs, he allegedly told a confidential informant posing as an Islamic State group supporter, and Mercurio eventually began to worry that he was a hypocrite for not yet carrying out an attack, according to the statement.

Ive stopped asking and praying for martyrdom because I dont feel like I want to fight and die for the sake of Allah, I just want to die and have all my problems go away, he wrote in a message to the informant, according to the statement.

On March 21, Mercurio sent a direct message to the informant again, saying he was restless, frustrated and wondered how long he could keep living in such a humiliated and shameful state, the statement alleged.

I have motivation for nothing but fighting ... like some time of insatiable bloodlust for the life juice of these idolators; a craving for mayhem and murder to terrorize those around me. I need some better weapons than knives, the direct message said, according to the statement.

Law enforcement moved to arrest Mercurio after he sent an audio file pledging his allegiance to the Islamic State group, the statement alleged.

Thanks to the investigative efforts of the FBI, the defendant was taken into custody before he could act, and he is now charged with attempting to support ISISs mission of terror and violence, Attorney General Merrick Garland wrote in a press release. The Justice Department will continue to relentlessly pursue, disrupt, and hold accountable those who would commit acts of terrorism against the people and interests of the United States.

If convicted, Mercurio could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. Mercurio has not yet had an opportunity to enter a plea, and he is being held in a northern Idaho jail while he awaits his first court appearance.




BOISE, Idaho (AP)  An Idaho teenager is charged with attempting to provide material support to the terrorist group ISIS after prosecutors said he planned to carry out an attack on a Coeur dAlene church.

Alexander Scott Mercurio, 18, was arrested Saturday, and the charges were unsealed in Idahos U.S. District Court on Monday. Court documents do not reveal if he has hired an attorney, and a phone number for his family could not be immediately located. Mercurio did not immediately respond to an email sent to him through a jail inmate email system.

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In a sworn statement filed in the court case, FBI task force officer John Taylor II said Mercurio talked with confidential informants over a two-year span, eventually detailing a plan to attack churchgoers near his northern Idaho home on April 7 using a variety of weapons including a metal pipe, a knife and fire. Taylor said that Mercurio planned to continue the attacks at other churches until he was killed, and he tried to build an explosive vest to wear during the attacks.

The attacks never occurred. Law enforcement arrested Mercurio on April 6.

Mercurio told a confidential informant that he first connected with ISIS during the start of the COVID pandemic when schools were closed, Taylor said, and investigators later found several files on his school-issued laptop detailing ISIS ideology. Mercurios parents disapproved of his beliefs, he allegedly told a confidential informant posing as an ISIS supporter, and Mercurio eventually began to worry that he was a hypocrite for not yet carrying out an attack, Taylor wrote.

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Ive stopped asking and praying for martyrdom because I dont feel like I want to fight and die for the sake of Allah, I just want to die and have all my problems go away, he reportedly wrote in a message to the informant, according to the complaint.

On March 21, Mercurio sent a direct message to the informant again, saying he was restless, frustrated and wondered how long he could keep living in such a humiliated and shameful state, Taylor said.

I have motivation for nothing but fighting  like some time of insatiable bloodlust for the life-juice of these idolators; a craving for mayhem and murder to terrorize those around me. I need some better weapons than knives, the direct message said, according to Taylor.

Law enforcement moved to arrest Mercurio after he sent an audio file pledging his allegiance to ISIS, Taylor said.

Explosive noises expected this week in NE Ohio

Thanks to the investigative efforts of the FBI, the defendant was taken into custody before he could act, and he is now charged with attempting to support ISISs mission of terror and violence, Attorney General Merrick Garland wrote in a press release. The Justice Department will continue to relentlessly pursue, disrupt, and hold accountable those who would commit acts of terrorism against the people and interests of the United States.

If convicted, Mercurio could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. Mercurio has not yet had an opportunity to enter a plea, and he is being held in a northern Idaho jail while he awaits his first court appearance.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
(FOX40.COM)  An illegal marijuana oil lab was recently shut down by Northern California police officers, which led to the seizure of 16 pounds of concentrated marijuana and the arrest of a 47-year-old man.

According to the Redding Police Department, the butane honey oil (BHO) laboratory was hidden in an auto body shop near the 1300 block of Hartnell Avenue, about five miles from downtown Redding.

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On March 27, Redding police officers said they executed a search warrant for the previously mentioned address and discovered a functioning BHO lab. A BHO laboratory produces concentrated cannabis, which has a high value in the illegal market, police said.

The Redding Police Department continued, Butane is highly flammable and poses a significant danger when used during the BHO extraction. Even a tiny spark or heat source can trigger a catastrophic BHO laboratory explosion.

During their search of the lab, police said they learned that 47-year-old Michael Easley was responsible for manufacturing the illegal marijuana oil at the discovered lab, but did not find him at the scene.

Redding man found with pound of fentanyl, 14 guns during police search

However, on Wednesday, police said they found and arrested Easley for several drug-related offenses and booked him into a Shasta County jail.

Police added that crews with the Redding Fire Department and other Redding agencies worked to dismantle the marijuana lab, which has since been deemed safe.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
Rape crisis centers across Illinois are starting to close because of federal cuts.

The centers are asking the state to step in and save them. They need about $20 million to keep the centers open, which is over double what they receive from the state now. As Illinois Capitol Bureau chief Cole Henke reports, people across Illinois will be losing vital services if they cant get the funding.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
FILE PHOTO: Delhi Chief Minister and leader of Aam Aadmi Party Arvind Kejriwal waves to his supporters during celebrations at the party headquarters in New Delhi

By Sakshi Dayal

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -An Indian court on Tuesday rejected an appeal against the arrest of opposition leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a graft case, an order that disappointed the opposition 10 days before general elections.

Kejriwal, 55, was arrested by financial crime-fighting agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in connection with corruption allegations related to Delhi's liquor policy, sparking protests in the capital and the northern state of Punjab, also governed by his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

A city court last week extended Kejriwal's detention until April 15 and moved him to Delhi's Tihar jail, where two senior AAP leaders are also held in the same case. A third AAP leader detained in the case was given bail this month after being imprisoned for six months.

In its order on Tuesday, the Delhi High Court said Kejriwal's arrest was not in contravention of the law and "cannot be termed as illegal".

AAP said it would appeal to the Supreme Court and reiterated its position that the high-profile leader was arrested in a "fabricated" case in an attempt by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to "finish" him.

The government and BJP have denied the accusations.

"It is the biggest conspiracy of Indias history ... to finish Arvind Kejriwal, his political party, and his two governments in Delhi and Punjab," AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj told reporters.

"We are not satisfied with this decision and we will go to the Supreme Court against this decision," he said.

The BJP said the court's decision was based on hard facts and had "shattered the arrogance" of AAP and its "self-proclaimed honest" leader.

An alliance of 27 opposition parties called 'INDIA', of which AAP is a member, has thrown its weight behind Kejriwal since his arrest, criticising ED and other federal agencies for what it says is their "politically motivated" investigations.

India's main opposition Congress party has accused Modi's government of "tax terrorism", saying the tax department had sought to cripple it financially through huge tax demands just before the elections.

The action against opposition groups is aimed at denying them a level playing field, the INDIA alliance says. It has appealed to the Election Commission to intervene.

The government denies the accusations and says enforcement agencies are only doing their job by pursuing violations.

(Editing by YP Rajesh, William Maclean)
A small candle memorial on a sidewalk in Redondo Beach where a woman died early Monday when the Porsche Cayenne she was driving crashed into a tree, police said. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The first sign of a tragedy that led investigators on a bizarre trail of violence across Los Angeles County began with an infant and her sister abandoned and injured on the 405 Freeway before sunrise.

Around 4:30 a.m. Monday near the Sepulveda Boulevard/Howard Hughes Parkway exit, officers found an 8-month old girl in the middle of the roadway. She had major injuries and died at the scene. A 9-year-old girl, who had moderate injuries, had made it to the side of the freeway after the pair were pushed out of a moving car, authorities said.

Roughly half an hour later, police in Redondo Beach responded to reports that a black Porsche Cayenne crashed into a tree while driving in excess of 100 mph on Pacific Coast Highway near Vincent Street. The driver, identified by police as Danielle Cherakiyah Johnson, 34, was pronounced dead at the scene.

At first, it wasnt clear that the two incidents were related.

But about two hours later, police arrived at Johnson's home, an upscale fourth-floor unit in the Montecito Apartments complex in Woodland Hills, where the full scope of the tragedy came into focus.

A trail of blood led from the complex's elevator to the apartment. Inside, police found 29-year-old Jaelen Allen Chaney stabbed to death.

Investigators believe Johnson killed her partner inside their home before fleeing, pushed her two small daughters out of the car on the 405 and then deliberately rammed her SUV into the tree in Redondo Beach in an apparent suicide.

An LAPD investigator said the 9-year-old "was holding the infant as she was forced from the vehicle" on the freeway.

The girl witnessed the deadly events and told investigators what had happened, according to a law enforcement source.

After the early-morning stabbing, Johnson got into the car with the children and rammed through the security gate to leave the complex, according to the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter and requested anonymity.

"You have this poor 9-year-old little girl who has to live with this for the rest of her life," said Lt. Guy Golan, homicide supervisor for the LAPD Valley Bureau.

Golan said the investigation had been trying even for seasoned detectives. The couple had no documented history of domestic violence or calls to the LAPD. There were no prior indicators of domestic strife, Golan said.

"All we know is there was yelling and then violence," Golan said. "It does make you wonder, how could this have been prevented?"

Neighbors said they could hear a commotion coming from the couple's apartment in the middle of the night.

Read more: After $30-million L.A. heist, can DNA, fingerprints, video help crack case?

Jody and Richard Berglund's 26-year-old daughter awoke around 3:40 a.m. Monday to the sound of a child and woman screaming in the apartment next door. When she left for work hours later, she saw the neighbor's apartment door wide open. There was blood on the floor of the hallway and blood streaked in the elevator.

She was so shocked that she did not go right back to her family's apartment but took the elevator downstairs, got in her car and called her parents. "You gotta go check. Something bad has happened here," she told her father on the phone.

Berglund, 61, looked into the neighboring unit. Inside, he said, he saw legs sticking out from the kitchen  and blood everywhere.

"The apartment was in disarray. Everything was knocked over," he told The Times on Tuesday.

He called 911, and paramedics told him to check on the man. He stepped over the puddles of blood to walk into the kitchen and found his neighbor face down, wearing only socks and underwear. He was dead, Berglund said.

The Berglunds described the family who lived in the apartment as "very private people." They saw the neighbors only occasionally, such as when Chaney took the 9-year-old to school. She was always well dressed and didn't have any signs of visible abuse, Berglund said.

"We're all pretty shook up. You don't expect that next door," said Jody Berglund.

A law enforcement source told The Times that Chaney and Johnson lived together for more than three years but were not married. Chaney served in the Air Force as recently as 2020, according to the source.

National Archives and Records Administration photographs indicate that Chaney served as an armament technician in the 31st Munitions Squadron and was stationed in Italy for a period during his service.

Raul Macariegos, 37, who lives on the first floor of the apartment complex, said he knew the family who lived in the unit. Macariegos' daughter often played with the couple's older daughter by the pool, he said. The parents were quiet  the type who say hello in passing, but don't stop to strike up a conversation, he said.

The whole situation was shocking, he said, but he struggled to fathom why the girls were left on the side of the freeway.

"I dont see how anyone could do that, Macariegos said.

Times staff writers Jack Dolan and Caroline Petrow-Cohen contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A man, a woman, and an infant are dead, while another child is hospitalized in a horrific homicide investigation that involves three separate crime scenes in Southern California.

It began with the discovery of two children on the 405 Freeway in Culver City Monday morning, then, a short time later, a fatal single-car crash in Redondo Beach. Finally, the body of a man believed to have been stabbed to death was found in an upscale apartment building in Woodland Hills.

He was later identified by the coroner as Jaelen Allen Chaney, a 29-year-old man from Woodland Hills.

Neighbors of the man and woman say they sometimes heard the couple fighting but never expected anything like this to happen.

One neighbor happened upon the bloody scene right outside her familys Woodland Hills home at the Montecito Apartments at 6203 Variel Ave. at about 7:30 a.m.

I walk out our front door, and immediately to the left of our front door is their door, the neighbor, who did not want to be identified, told KTLAs Mary Beth McDade. Their door was open, and I saw there was blood on the floor, leading into their unit and a trail of it leading into the hallway leading to the elevator.

The neighbor immediately told her father, who found the man covered in blood and called 911.

They say the man lived in the apartment with his female partner, both described as being in their 30s, and their two daughters, an infant and a 9-year-old.

The woman reportedly grabbed the two children and fled the Woodland Hills apartment in her Porsche, allegedly crashing through the garages gate. The two children were later discovered on the 405 Freeway, near the Howard Hughes exit, at around 4:30 a.m.

At an earlier press conference, officials with the California Highway Patrol said they found two girls at the scene: an infant believed to be 5 or 6 months old in the roadway and a girl between 7 and 9 years old on the right shoulder.

The infant was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other girl was hospitalized with minor injuries.

At the moment, its unknown how those minors arrived onto the freeway, said CHP Officer Diaz. This is where were requesting the publics assistance.

Authorities shut down multiple lanes of the 405 Freeway after a deadly crash in Culver City, CA on April 8, 2024. (Sky5)

Authorities shut down multiple lanes of the 405 Freeway after a deadly crash in Culver City, CA on April 8, 2024. (Sky5)

A battered parking garage gate at the Montecito Apartments in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 8, 2024. (RMG News)

Crime scene tape surrounding vehicle in Montecito Apartments garage in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 8, 2024. (RMG News)

LAPD officers at the scene of a homicide at the Montecito Apartments garage in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 8, 2024. (KTLA)

A crash in Redondo Beach claimed the life of a female driver on April 8, 2024. (SBR)

A crash in Redondo Beach claimed the life of a female driver on April 8, 2024. (SBR)

A crash in Redondo Beach claimed the life of a female driver on April 8, 2024. (SBR)

Witnesses reported that a black sedan was seen in the area around the time of the crash.

Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department said on X, formerly Twitter, that they were working with California Highway Patrol and believed that scene was connected to the Woodland Hills homicide.

Authorities added that they were also collaborating with the Redondo Beach Police Department to determine if a fatal crash at around 5 a.m. was also connected to the homicide in Woodland Hills.

In that incident, the driver, reportedly the same woman from the Woodland Hills and 405 Freeway scenes, was driving on Pacific Coast Highway near the intersection of Vincent Street when she crashed into a tree in Redondo Beach.

Medical personnel with the Redondo Beach Fire Department responded and located an unresponsive female driver, who was later declared dead at the scene.

We just feel so sorry for all of them, especially the kids, the neighbor who discovered the man told KTLA.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the three deaths.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
MCDOWELL COUNTY, WV (WVNS)  An inmate pleaded guilty to possessing a weapon at FCI McDowell.

24-year-old William Williams, who is an inmate at FCI McDowell, pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon by an inmate at a federal prison.

McDowell County man pleads guilty to federal drug crime

According to statements made in court, a staff member at FCI McDowell held a random pat-down search of Williams on December 12, 2022. During the search, a handmade weapon, sometimes referred to as a shank, was found in Williams left front pants pocket. The shank was made of a piece of metal around five inches long with one sharpened end and a cloth handle.

Williams revealed that he did have the shank in his possession, and that he meant for it to be used as a weapon.

Pennsylvania double murder suspect found dead in Kanawha County

Williams sentencing is scheduled for August 12, 2024, and he faces up to five years in prison, three years of parole, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement, and thanked the Federal Bureau of Prisons for their work on the investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
Patient who died in Fredericton ER waiting room wasn't checked for more than 2 hours, inquest hears

Darrell Mesheau, 78, was a father of two and grandfather of one. (Modern Celebrations and Cremations - image credit)

No medical staff checked Darrell Mesheau's vital signs in the roughly two and a half hours before he died waiting for care at the Fredericton hospital's emergency department, a coroner's inquest heard Monday.

Coroner Peter Kiervin, who investigated Mesheau's death on July 12, 2022, testified he reviewed the security video from the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital ER, and saw no physical interactions with him between 2:03 a.m. and 4:28 a.m.

According to national standards known as the Canadian triage and acuity scale, patients like Mesheau who are triaged as being Level 3, or urgent, should be seen by a doctor within 30 minutes.

Mesheau had been at the hospital since 9:30 the night before, the jury heard. He arrived by ambulance after calling 911.

Primary care paramedic Ashley Guptill said Mesheau told her he'd had a cold for a week and tested negative for COVID-19, but he felt weak all day, short of breath on exertion, and had stomach cramps on and off. He'd also vomited that morning and had diarrhea.

His medical history included a heart attack and quadruple bypass, diabetes, some hypertension and cholesterol issues, but his heartbeat, breathing rate, temperature and blood pressure were all "unremarkable," she said. "There was nothing glaringly obvious" and he was able to walk on his own.

The 78-year-old was later discovered "lifeless," deputy chief coroner Emily Caissy told the jury.

Sparked outrage, prompted changes

Mesheau's death sparked outrage across the province and prompted a major shakeup of New Brunswick's health-care leadership.

During a news conference three days later, Premier Blaine Higgs announced the firing of Horizon Health Network president and CEO John Dornan, replaced Dorothy Shephard as health minister and removed the boards of both Horizon and Vitalite.

The presiding coroner and jury of three women and two men are hearing evidence from witnesses to determine the facts surrounding his death.

The jurors will also have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing death under similar circumstances.

'We are human,' says licensed practical nurse

On Monday, the inquest heard from six witnesses, including licensed practical nurse April Knowles.

Knowles was assigned to work on the psychiatric side of the waiting room the day of Mesheau's death, but volunteered to help out in the ER because they were short-staffed.

Knowles said Mesheau's vitals were fine when she checked them around 2:03 a.m., but she was concerned he was so pale, so she bumped his chart ahead of three other patients. He would have been the next in line for a bed, she said.

Knowles said she did a visual check on Mesheau from about 15 feet away around 3:46 a.m. and his eyes were open. She couldn't tell whether he was breathing because he was wearing a mask.

Horizon says 'there has been a high-risk of exposure in recent days' to the Chalmers employee who tested positive for a COVID variant of concern.

Mesheau arrived at the Chalmers hospital by ambulance shortly after 9:30 p.m. on July 11, 2022, and was discovered 'lifeless' about seven hours later, the jury heard. (Joe McDonald/CBC)

When she checked him again, he had a pulse, but it was "very faint" and he was unresponsive. That's when they initiated a "code blue" for respiratory distress.

"It is knowledge that we're supposed to do an hourly check," said Knowles, but stressed she had other patients and other duties, such as administering medicine, and fetching blankets, cold cloths or sandwiches.

"It means we are human, we are one human  doing six or seven jobs," she said, adding that the work can be overwhelming.

17 admitted patients in ER

There were a total of 52 patients between 7 p.m. and July 11 and 5 a.m. July 12, according to then-acting nurse manager Neil Gabriel.

The ER was short-staffed. The overnight crew  already stretched thin  was down by one, leaving only one registered nurse up front to manage the department and handle all triage, he said.

But Gabriel said the main problem was that there were 17 patients in the ER who had been admitted to hospital but were waiting for a bed to become available.

He said that left nowhere to see other patients who were waiting like Mesheau, and the national standard of Level 3 patients being seen within 30 minutes was "completely unrealistic."

Being "bed-blocked" has been a problem for years, said Gabriel, largely due to patients who are waiting in hospital for a long-term care placement.

The coroner, Peter Kiervin, said he spoke to the doctor on duty and a nurse practitioner and neither could provide a "reasonable probable cause of death," so he ordered an autopsy be conducted.

He subsequently recommended to the chief coroner that an inquest would be "in the best interest of the public."

One of the concerns for him was the time that elapsed between Mesheau's arrival at the ER and death, he said.

"What's going on here? Why is he there that long? He hasn't seen the doctor and now he's passed away."

Family expected to comment

Members of Mesheau's family attended Monday's proceedings at the Fredericton Inn but declined to comment until Tuesday, once they've had an opportunity to hear more of the evidence.

In an emailed statement to CBC News last Tuesday, Mesheau's son said the family expects the inquest will shed light on the details surrounding his father's death.

"The family is well aware of the deplorable state of the healthcare system in New Brunswick, and we hope that the recommendations forthcoming from the inquest will help drive positive change and ensure that no New Brunswicker will face such a tragedy again," wrote Ryan Mesheau.

A quality process review conducted by Horizon found the "lack of consistent patient monitoring and the inability to meet standards in the emergency department waiting room decreases the likelihood for early recognition in patient health decline," documents obtained by CBC News through a right-to-information request revealed.

The coroner's inquest was originally scheduled for last May, but was abruptly postponed when new information was brought forward, prompting an investigation by police.

In December, Fredericton police concluded Mesheau's death did not involve criminality.

The inquest resumes Tuesday at 9 a.m. It's scheduled to continue through Thursday.
CAIRO, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Egypt, Jordan, and France on Monday urged an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which has been under deadly Israeli siege and bombardment over the past six months.

In a joint article, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Jordanian King Abdullah II, and French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate and unconditional implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2728, which demands an immediate ceasefire in the conflict-stricken enclave.

"We warn against the dangerous consequences of an Israeli offensive on Rafah, where more than 1.5 million Palestinian civilians have sought refuge. Such an offensive will only bring more deaths and suffering, heighten the risks and consequences of mass forcible displacement of the people of Gaza and threaten regional escalation," said the leaders.

Noting that there is an urgent need for a massive increase in the provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance, the leaders urged Israel to ensure the flow of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian population, a responsibility it has not fulfilled.

They demanded an immediate release of all hostages and reaffirmed their support for the negotiations brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States dealing with ceasefire, hostages, and detainees.

The massive conflict in Gaza has so far killed 33,207 Palestinians, in addition to many unreported under the rubble, and injured 75,933 others, according to the update released by Gaza's health ministry earlier on Monday.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in retaliation to a Hamas rampage in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. 
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that the training centre adjacent to the site of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) was attacked by drones on 9 April.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on X

Quote from the IAEA: "IAEA informed by ZNPP of drone attack today on ZNPP training center adjacent to site. Reported explosion consistent with IAEA teams observations. No direct threat to nuclear safety this time but latest incident again underlines extremely serious situation, [IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi] said."

Background:

On 4 April, Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear energy regulator, said that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been using a single power line due to Russian attacks, and was "on the verge of another blackout".

The ZNPP had already spent a period of time operating from the single power line. In March, power engineers connected the ZNPP to the second power line after repairs due to damage dealt by Russian forces. Before that, the ZNPP was supplied via the only remaining power line, from 20 February till 14 March.

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Federal authorities launched an investigation in Salem after an explosive device was thrown onto the porch of the Satanic Temple.

Massachusetts State Police bomb squad and Salem Police responded to 64 Bridge Street in Salem around 4 p.m., nearly 12 hours after authorities say an improvised explosive device was thrown onto the porch of the Satanic Temple. The FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force is now involved in the investigation with the Salem Police Criminal Investigation Division.

This was a horrific act of terrorism and people could be hurt, said Lucien Greaves, co-founder of the Satanic Temple.

Greaves says hes confident that investigators will find out who lobbed the explosive device onto the porch in the early morning hours.

Police say it wasnt discovered until staff arrived in the late afternoon.

It was sparking and there were flames of some type and some scorching on the front of the house, said Greaves.

Bomb technicians made sure the device was no longer a danger and K9s swept in and around the Satanic Temple looking for any possible secondary devices.

Mayor Dominick Pangallo calls the incident utterly reprehensible and says hes thankful for the various law enforcement agencies investigating the incident.

On behalf of the City I want to extend our support for the staff and members at the Temple and the residents of the neighborhood who have been impacted by this crime, Mayor Pangallo said. While I am glad no one was injured in this attack, I nevertheless condemn this action in the strongest possible way.

Its very concerning that now devices are being thrown. Now it seems like its escalating, said Cliff Alleyne who works across the street.

Neighbor Shawn Flynn added, People heard a bang but a lot of people chalked it up to a truck hitting a pothole. Only louder.

Alleyne, a mechanic at any auto repair shop across the street, says hes used to seeing police activity here due to ongoing threats and hate crimes targeting the Satanic Temple.

EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DISCOVERED: @SalemMAPolice and the FBI are investigating at @satanic_temple_ after they say a pipe bomb was thrown on the porch early Monday morning. It was found almost 12 hours later. It was apparently sparking and there were flames said Lucien Greaves. pic.twitter.com/NMojbgYOdY  Ryan Breslin (@ryanjbreslin) April 9, 2024

Earlier this year a Michigan man was arrested after authorities say he plotted to bomb the temple.

Back in 2022 a Chelsea man was arrested and charged with setting a fire at the Satanic Temple.

It seems like a lot of the people who oppose us arent aware of any of the things we do in the real world, but are driven by a superstitious perspective of what we must be rather than what we are, said Greaves.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation. No arrests have been made.

While this is frightening for those of us who live and work in Salem, particularly so the workers and neighbors of the Satanic Temple, I take great comfort in the assistance of the FBI, Chief Lucas Miller said. I am confident that between our federal partners and our own excellent SPD Detectives, we will find and arrest the perpetrator and hopefully, that will serve as a deterrent to anyone who sees the temple as a target.

Anyone with information, or who may have seen something in the early morning hours of April 8, 2024, is urged to contact the Salem Police Criminal Investigation Division at 978-745-9700 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.





This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Discovery of dead baby on 405 Freeway in Culver City linked to other murder, deadly crash

Discovery of dead baby on 405 Freeway in Culver City linked to other murder, deadly crash

A series of violent and deadly incidents that happened across Los Angeles County Monday morning was being investigated as being connected.

Multiple law enforcement sources told NBC Los Angeles I-Team that the discovery of two children on the 405 Freeway in Culver City is linked to a murder investigation in Woodland Hills and a deadly crash in Redondo Beach.

The first incident was reported at around 4:30 a.m. when first responders arrived on the northbound lanes of the freeway near the Howard Hughes Parkway and Sepulveda Boulevard exit to discover an infant and a child.

The baby girl, who may be between 5 and 6 months old, was declared dead at the scene while another 9-year-old girl, was taken to a hospital for moderate injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Then about 30 minutes later, a deadly crash was reported on Pacific Coast Highway near Vincent Street in Redondo Beach.

Emergency services responded and located the unresponsive female driver, who was pronounced deceased by paramedics from the Redondo Beach Fire Department, Redondo Beach police said.

Then at around 7:35 a.m. more than 30 miles away from the crash site, the Los Angeles Police Department got a call about a possible victim down at the Montecito Apartments on the 6200 block of Variel Avenue in Woodland Hills.

I woke up in the middle of the night around 3:40 to screaming and commotion, it lasted about a minute and I was really groggy and I just went back to sleep, one neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said.

The neighbor said there was fighting the night before. She said a man and woman lived next door to her for about a year with their two children.

aerial murder investigation CHP (NBC Los Angeles)

This morning I was getting up to go to work and I left and I walk out front door and they are immediately to the left of us and I see their front door wide open and blood coming from their apartment all the way into the hallway to the elevator and I see blood on the walls, the neighbor said.

Neighbors say the family kept to themselves, but at night, especially in the past few months, fighting, screaming, and commotion could be heard coming from their unit.

Responding officers discovered one person dead at the location.

While conducting their investigation homicide detectives learned of two additional incidents that occurred earlier in the morning, one on the 405 Freeway involving two young children and a second in Redondo Beach involving a traffic collision, the LAPD said in a social media post.

LAPD NEWS: Today, around 7:35 a.m., Topanga area officers responded to the 6200 block of Variel Avenue for a radio call related to a body found at the location. Valley Bureau Homicide detectives responded to the scene. (1/5)  LAPD PIO (@LAPDPIO) April 8, 2024

At this time, Valley Bureau Homicide detectives are working with the California Highway Patrol on the incident involving the two children and believe it is connected to the Topanga homicide scene.

The LAPD also confirmed its working with the CHP as well as Redondo Beach Police Department and the LA County Coroners Office to determine how the deadly incidents are related.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(Bloomberg) -- Irish lawmakers voted Simon Harris to be the next prime minister three weeks after Leo Varadkar unexpectedly resigned. At 37, hell be Irelands youngest premier.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Harriss most immediate concern will be stemming an outflow of support for his centrist party just two months ahead of European Parliament elections and a national ballot expected within a year. Support for his Fine Gael party has dropped to 21%, five points behind the left-wing Sinn Fein, which leads polls, according to a Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll.

Harris received backing from his coalition partners  Fianna Fail and the Greens  while opposition parties have called for a new election. Harris has said he plans to take his government to full term, with a new ballot required by March 2025.

Two of the biggest challenges facing Ireland are migration and a housing crisis, with the government having committed to build 250,000 new homes by 2030. That has been coupled with a migration influx into the country.

House and rental prices have continued to rise and a property survey last month reported that the number of homes available to buy is down 24% year-over-year and nationwide stands at an all-time low.

Ireland has also been facing an accommodation crisis for asylum seekers arriving in the country, with 1,600 homeless. There have been protests and arson attacks on accommodations earmarked or rumored to be earmarked to asylum seekers.

Harris has been tacking to the right of the political spectrum, as independent parties and Sinn Fein have gained in popularity. Sinn Fein could be on track to form a government after the next election, though it would likely need a coalition partner to do so.

Sinn Fein was part of the struggle for independence from the British in what is now the Republic, and in Northern Ireland, it had links with the Irish Republican Army during the sectarian violence known as The Troubles.

The Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll was carried out on a sample of 1,334 people on April 5-6 and had a 2.7% margin of error.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Activists demand the cessation of arms sales to Israel on Nov. 29, 2023 in London. Credit - Mark KerrisonIn Pictures/Getty Images

When Israel launched its retaliatory war to root out Hamas from Gaza in the aftermath of the groups Oct. 7 massacre, it had the overwhelming support of a horrified world. Six months on, Gaza lies in ruin. Its 2.3 million population, most of whom have been internally displaced, faces widespread famine. More than 33,000 Palestinians, the majority civilians, have been killed. And Israel, once backed by the full-throttle support of its closest allies, appears more isolated than ever before.

Nothing exemplifies this isolation more than the growing calls for the U.S., the U.K., and Germany to suspend arms sales to Israel. These calls, which have only grown louder in the days following the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in an Israeli airstrike, are now coming from some of the highest levels of transatlantic politics.

In the U.S., 56 congressional lawmakers (among them former House speaker Nancy Pelosi) penned a letter urging President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to withhold further weapons transfers to Israel until a full investigation into the deadly airstrike concludes, and to condition future assistance to ensure its compliance with U.S. and international law. One, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, even went so far as to say that Israels actions in Gaza could legally be considered a genocide.

Read More: Its Not Just a One-Off Incident: What the World Central Kitchen Deaths Reveal

In the U.K., Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing mounting pressure from parliamentarians and legal experts alike to suspend arms sales following revelations that the government received legal advice that Israel has broken international law in Gaza. Meanwhile, in Germanywhich this week faces allegations brought forward by Nicaragua at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that it is facilitating the commission of genocide in Gaza by supplying arms to Israelhundreds of civil servants have reportedly written to Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other senior ministers calling on Berlin to cease arm deliveries to the Israeli government with immediate effect.

Central to all of these calls is a concern over whether Israels conduct in Gaza could constitute a breach of international humanitarian lawand, if so, what it means for the countries that have backed the Israeli war effort with arms and assistance. If Western weapons are found to have been used in the perpetration of war crimes (or, worse, genocide) in Gaza, what culpability could their suppliers face? If Israel is deemed to have fallen on the wrong side of international law, could it bring its allies down with it?

Legal experts tell TIME that the answer largely depends on which laws and treaties one consults. Among the most emphasized is the international Arms Trade Treaty, in which Article 7 requires party states to undertake a risk assessment of all arms transfersand, where theres an overriding risk that those arms could be used to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian law, to prohibit their export. The U.S. hasnt been a party to the U.N. treaty since former President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2019. (Washington does, however, have its own domestic legislation that prohibits it from providing military assistance to foreign military units suspected of committing human rights violations.) But it nonetheless applies to 113 other state signatories, including Germany, which is the second-largest provider of arms to Israel after the U.S. Some countries, including Canada and Italy, have already opted to halt their arms exports to Israel, citing concerns over their compliance with domestic and international law. In the Netherlands, the government was ordered to suspend its delivery of F-35 fighter aircraft after a Dutch court determined that there was a clear risk that they could be used to violate international humanitarian law.

Such a precedent could have serious implications for the U.K., a signatory, which despite providing far fewer arms to Israel has suspended its exports in the past: First in 1982, and then again in 2009. While the British government contends that its arms sales to Israel are compliant with international law, human rights organizations have argued that this position is inconsistent with mounting evidence of war crimes. Theyre very well aware that theres equipment that theyve currently already licensed, and component parts of equipment that theyve licensed, that are likely to be used by the IDF in Gaza now, Yasmine Ahmed, the U.K. Director of Human Rights Watch, tells TIME. That means that theyre clearly breaching those obligations under international law.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivers an order on South Africa's genocide case against Israel on January 26, 2024 in The Hague, Netherlands. Michel PorroGetty Images

The obligation that perhaps looms largest over Gaza is the responsibility that states have to prevent and punish genocide under Article 1 of the Genocide Convention. In a landmark decision in January, the ICJ determined in an interim judgment that there is a plausible risk of Israel committing genocide in Gaza. While this doesnt constitute a definitive ruling (genocide cases can take years to resolve), it does put Israels allies on notice. It makes countries aware that theres that risk, Ahmed says. Continuing to provide arms to Israel when an apex U.N. court has said that theres a plausible risk of genocide means that theres a very serious risk that countries are also violating the Genocide convention, to the extent that theyre failing to prevent genocide by continuing to arm Israel.

That prospect, and the potential criminal liability that comes with it, has prompted concern among British civil servants overseeing U.K. arms exports to Israel, who last week requested to suspend all such work over fears that it could put them in legal jeopardy. Their request came a week after a third U.S. State Department official publicly resigned over the Biden administrations handling of the war in Gazaa decision that Annelle Sheline, who served in the office devoted to promoting human rights in the Middle East, attributed to the administrations flagrant disregard for American laws and the inability of her or other federal employees to influence policy. Indeed, State Department staff have reportedly sent at least eight internal dissent memos registering their disapproval of U.S. policy on the war, according to the Independent. By contrast, just one was sent during the first three years of the Iraq War.

Read More: How Israel and Its Allies Lost Global Credibility

Michael Becker, a professor of international human rights law at Trinity College in Dublin and a former associate legal officer at the ICJ, tells TIME that in a situation where the ICJ has already determined that Israels actions in Gaza constitute genocide, it would then be possible for another state that has provided arms to Israelif such arms were used to commit genocidal actsalso to be found to have violated international law. He adds, however, that it is difficult to prove that a state was legally complicit in genocide as it would require proving that the state was aware of another states genocidal intent; it's easier to prove that a state failed to meet its international obligation to prevent genocide, the responsibility for which is triggered the moment state learns theres a serious risk that genocide will be committed. Nicaraguas case against Germany at The Hague, a ruling on which is expected in the coming weeks, rests on the latter argument.

While what it means to meet ones obligation to prevent genocide can vary from state to state depending on their relative capabilities or leverage, Lawmakers in the U.S. and the U.K. and elsewhere need to be thinking very carefully about whether their conduct puts them at risk of violating or breaching their obligation to prevent genocide, Becker says, adding: I dont think its a very big leap from that understanding of the obligation to prevent genocide to the conclusion that its problematic to continue providing arms to Israel without any meaningful safeguards.

While a judgement on whether Israel has committed genocide is likely years away, if the ICJ were to determine that Israel had committed acts of genocide in Gaza and found that its allies who supplied arms did so with full knowledge of risk, among the tangible consequences that states could face include an order from the ICJ to take remedial action, such as paying financial reparations. Whats less clear, however, is how such orders could be enforced. The ICJ has no means of enforcing its decisions, Becker says. At the end of the day, the ICJ has to rely on others to carry out its decisions.

Write to Yasmeen Serhan at yasmeen.serhan@time.com.
A key Democrat on Tuesday said he is noncommittal about approving an $18 billion F-15 sale to Israel, even as centrist members of the party who previously supported unrestricted military aid to the country become increasingly skeptical amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

And the topic of U.S. military support for Israel overshadowed a hearing with the defense secretary that same day on the Pentagons budget request.

Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had expressed reservations about the fighter jet sale and demanded a classified briefing from the Biden administration, raising questions as to whether he will greenlight the pending deal.

I want to know what types of weapons and what the weapons would be utilized for, Meeks told CNN on Tuesday.

I dont want the kinds of weapons that Israel has to be utilized to have more deaths, he said. I want to make sure that humanitarian aid gets in. I dont want people starving to death, and I want Hamas to release the hostages. And I want a two-state solution.

Meeks was referring to the Israel-Hamas war that began after the militant group launched a fatal attack on the country in October and took people hostage. Israel has responded by waging war in the Gaza Strip, which has led to the deaths of tens of thousands, according to many estimates. The two-state solution calls for separate nations  one for Israelis, another for Palestinians.

Palestinians look at a house destroyed in an Israeli strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on March 26, 2024. (Fatima Shbair/AP)

The sale includes 50 Boeing-made F-15 fighter jets; Raytheon-made Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles; and Boeing-made Joint Direct Attack Munition kits, which convert dumb bombs to precision-guided munitions. Politico and other outlets first reported on the sale last week.

Israel would not receive the fighter jets and munitions from the sale until the end of the decade.

The top Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate foreign affairs panels have the authority to block arms sales, and the State Department typically alerts them to deals before formally notifying Congress in order to avoid embarrassing allies. The top Republicans on the committees, Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho and Rep. Mike McCaul of Texas, signed off on the sale soon after the Biden administration submitted the informal notification on Jan. 30.

The office of Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Ben Cardin, D-Md., declined to comment as to whether he supports the F-15 sale. Cardin met with Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid on Monday.

Other House members previously supportive of U.S. military aid to Israel signed onto a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week expressing concern over the sale. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., a former House speaker, as well as Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota, the top Democratic defense appropriator, signed onto the letter alongside 38 other Democrats.

They also criticized Biden for another Israel arms transfer last week, noting in the letter that it reportedly includes 1,800 MK-84 2,000-pound bombs, 500 MK-82 500-pound bombs and 25 F-35A fighter jets.

An Israeli F-15 fighter jet flies during a 2018 air show in the Mediterranean coastal city of Tel Aviv. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images)

The letter, which Meeks did not sign, called for a halt to offensive arms transfers pending Israels investigation into its strike last week in Gaza that killed seven humanitarian aid workers, six foreigners and one Palestinian.

It also called on Biden to ensure that any future military assistance to Israel, including already authorized transfers, is subject to conditions to ensure it is used in compliance with U.S. and international law.

2,000-pound bombs

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin fielded questions during a Senate hearing from members of the Democratic caucus who are increasingly concerned with ongoing U.S. weapons transfers to Israel amid the war.

I was surprised that at the very week the World [Central] Kitchen attack occurred, continuing the humanitarian crisis, that the administration approved the transfer of additional munitions to Israel, particularly offensive munitions, said Sen. Angus King, I-Maine. Two-thousand-pound bombs are not defensive. Theyre offensive, and theyre not very precision.

The Israel Defense Forces have acknowledged they were responsible for an attack that killed aid workers with the humanitarian organization.

Austin also faced skepticism from Democrats and Republicans alike over the Biden administrations plans to construct a temporary pier in Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said the pace of humanitarian aid is insufficient and cited World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain  the widow of former Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.  who had warned of imminent famine.

Theres no reason the United States should have to build a pier in the Eastern Mediterranean, Kaine added.

Gen. Michael Kurilla, who oversees troops in the Middle East as the leader of U.S. Central Command, told the House last month that force-protection plans for the Gaza pier remain classified. Austin said Tuesday that nongovernmental organizations would be tasked with distributing the aid coming in through the pier, though the details have yet to be worked out.

Austin said he pressed Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on the need to open humanitarian corridors into Gaza and to ensure civilian evacuation and safety before any potential Israeli offensive into Rafah, where roughly 1.5 million Palestinians have fled amid the six-month-long campaign.

Still, Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., said that U.S. security assistance to Israel must therefore continue unimpeded.

Austin replied that the Biden administration is doing everything we can to make sure we get them what they need as quickly as possible.

I would expect that as the nature of this fight begins to change, to become a more precision fight, then their requirements should change a bit, he said. We will stay abreast of their needs, and we will continue to provide security assistance as quickly as we can. We remain committed to helping Israel defend itself, but we expect that they would execute operations responsibly.

Numerous protesters from the activist group Code Pink repeatedly interrupted the beginning of the hearing, shouting stop the genocide in Gaza. The interruptions prompted Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., to briefly recess the hearing, at which point the protesters left en masse.

Austin told senators that we dont have any evidence of genocide in Gaza. The International Court of Justice in January found there was a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza and called on Israel to take steps to protect civilians and allow entry of humanitarian aid.

After a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, Biden called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and threatened U.S. policy changes absent a series of specific, concrete and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers.
Israel Just Used Its C-Dome for the First Time. Heres What to Know About the Defense System

A missile is launched from the Sa'ar 6-class corvette during live-fire tests of the C-Dome on Feb. 21, 2022. Credit - Israeli Ministry of DefenceAnadolu Agency/Getty Images

As a hostile aircraft reportedly entered Israeli airspace near the southern city of Eilat late Monday, sirens sounded to alert the Red Sea port city, and the Israeli military deployed a defense system called the C-Dome for the first time, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement published on Telegram early Tuesday.

The target was successfully intercepted by the C-Dome naval defense system, the statement said, adding that no injuries were reported and no damage was caused.

Israels defense system is being tested by a surge in attacks since the outbreak of its military campaign in Gaza. In particular, Eilat has been the target of aerial attacks by militias in the region, including the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Just last week, a flying object that wasnt intercepted by air defenses struck a building in the city, and an Iran-backed group in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack.

Videos circulating on social media of Monday nights use of the C-Dome captured flashes of light as projectiles were apparently intercepted mid-air over the sea.

Tonight a Sa'ar 6-Class Corvette of the Israeli Navy believed to possibly be the INS Magen, conducted the First Successful Combat Interceptions of its C-Dome Surface-to-Air Missile System over the Northern Red Sea near the City of Eilat; the C-Dome, which is a Ship mounted pic.twitter.com/7ToqWGClbU  OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 8, 2024

What is the C-Dome and how does it work?

The C-Dome is the naval version of the Iron Dome, Israels rocket-defense system that has intercepted thousands of rockets fired from Gaza. The Iron Dome, which was activated in 2011 and has an effectiveness of about 90%, works by using radars to detect short-range rockets before destroying them with its own missiles.

The C-Domewhich was first unveiled in 2014, declared operational in November 2022 and hailed at the time as a significant milestone, and now used for the first time this weekworks similarly to the Iron Dome, using some of the same technology, except that its mounted on ships.

Unlike the Iron Dome, which has its own dedicated radar, the C-Dome, according to its developer Rafael, a state-owned defense technology company, is integrated into the ships radar to detect incoming targets. C-Dome, Rafael says, ensures full-circular vessel protection and high kill probability against a full spectrum of modern threatsmaritime and coastal.

Last June, Israeli authorities announced that they had completed a series of tests of the C-Dome aboard the Saar 6-class corvette, a series of German-made warships for the Israeli Navydescribed as a step in achieving final operational capability of the defense system. The Saar 6-class corvette was used in combat for the first time last October, after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, and has continued to be deployed in Israels military campaign.

Other defense systems deployed for the first time during the ongoing conflict include the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3, missile interceptors that were used last year against targets launched towards Israel from the Gaza Strip and the Red Sea.

The war in Gaza continues, and we are far from stopping, IDF chief Herzi Halevi said in a statement on Sunday, as he marked six months since Oct. 7.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Iranian officials said Tehran wants to flood the Israel-occupied Palestinian territories with weapons

Iran is smuggling weapons to the occupied West Bank in an apparent attempt to foment unrest as part of its ongoing shadow war with Israel, according to US intelligence officials.

Iran has been operating smuggling routes across the Middle East with the help of intelligence operatives, militants and criminal gangs to bring weapons to the West Bank, several security officials from the United States, Israel and Iran told the New York Times on Tuesday.

The Iranian officials who request anonymity said Tehran wants to flood the Israel-occupied Palestinian territories with weapons to foment potential unrest against Israel.

Reports about Irans ongoing smuggling efforts were highlighted by an academic study last year that noted a noticeable uptick in weapons and drugs smuggling into the West Bank via Jordan and Egypt.

The long-simmering conflict between Israel and Iran broke to the surface earlier this year as Israel started targeting not only Iranian proxies but also Iranian personnel and assets across the Middle East, mostly recently, assassinating a top Iranian general in Damascus, Syria.

Smuggling began two years ago

Security officials told the New York Times the smuggling began about two years ago as weapons flooded the routes previously used to smuggle drugs and other contraband.

Officials believe Iran is using two main routes to the West Bank, via Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel. The complex clandestine network is believed to use a complex web of militants, organised crime gangs and Bedouin smugglers who reportedly smuggle weapons from Jordan into Israel.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces are reportedly preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities if Tehran launches an attack in retaliation for the assassination of a top general last week.

Israel has held air force drills in recent days and is eyeing vital Iranian infrastructure, including nuclear sites, the London-based media outlet Elaph News reported, citing an unnamed Western security official.

Iranians mourn Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi, who was killed in an Israeli strike on Damascus - Sobhan Farajvan/Pacific Press/Shutterstock

Israelis have been on tenterhooks since late last week when a high-precision Israeli airstrike killed a top general with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps and other senior officers at the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

Mohammad Reza Zahedi has been described as Irans most important general to have been assassinated since the 2020 US airstrike that killed Qassim Soleimani.

Iran has vowed to retaliate for the killing, sparking fears of a major escalation and even an all-out war between Israel and Iran.

Plea not to panic buy

An IDF spokesman last Friday pleaded with the Israeli public not to panic-buy supplies and power generators as Western intelligence sources said a major airstrike on Israel was imminent within 48 hours.

Debunking previous reports of an imminent attack, unnamed US officials quoted by CNN on Tuesday said their intelligence shows that Iran is unlikely to strike Israel directly, fearing broad repercussions of a global conflict.

Iran is now believed to be mulling over a response that would involve one of its proxies such as Lebanons Hezbollah or Yemens Houthis.

Early on Tuesday, Israeli forces launched a series of strikes on Syrian army posts in Syrias south, the IDF said.

That came in response to Syrian rocket fire on Israel-occupied Golan Heights in the north.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Pledge to strike Iran

Separately, Israels foreign minister in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica on Tuesday pledged to strike Iran if Israel comes under attack.

If Iran attacks us directly, we will attack Iran, said Israel Katz.

And if its the militias allied with Iran that do it, as a reprisal for the destruction of the (Iranian) consulate in Damascus, we will attack them as well.

Israel has indicated it is not interested in a major confrontation with Hezbollah despite the Iran-backed terrorist group hitting northern Israel with rockets almost daily since the start of the war in Gaza.

Asked about a possible response to a major Hezbollah attack, Mr Katz indicated that Israel would consider sending troops to Lebanon:

If missiles start hitting Tel Aviv from Lebanon as a reprisal for Damascus, Israel will send military aircraft and troops.

In Iran, a senior commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a veiled threat against the United Arab Emirates for accommodating Israeli interests.

Alireza Tangsiri, an IRGC navy commander, told Irans semi-official Student News Agency on Tuesday that Israelis come to the UAE not for economic purposes but rather for security and military work, which, he said, presents a threat to Iran.

The UAE in 2020 became the first Gulf country to normalise relations with Israel in a landmark deal brokered by the United States.

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.
An Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in central Gaza last night killed Hatem al-Ghamri, the head of Hamass emergency committee.

The committee is a Hamas body tasked with maintaining public order and civil control in the Strips municipalities.

The IDF claimed Mr al-Ghamri was also an operative in Hamas military wing, responsible for rocket attacks from the Maghazi refugee camp area.

At least five other people were killed in the strike, Palestinian media reported.

Follow for the latest updates.

03:09 PM BST

Israeli truce deal fails to met Hamas demands

Israel has put forward a ceasefire proposal that meets none of Hamas demands, the militant group has said.

The Israeli position remains intransigent and it didnt meet any of the demands of our people and our resistance, Hamas said, adding that it would study the offer further and deliver a response to its mediators.

The proposal was delivered to Hamas by Egyptian and Qatari mediators at talks in Cairo convened to broker a truce with Israel that would see fighting stop in return for prisoner exchanges from both sides.

03:08 PM BST

Israel blocking more food than any other aid into Gaza, says UN

Israel is blocking far more convoys carrying food aid into Gaza, where famine is looming, than convoys carrying other kinds of aid, the UN has said.

A spokesman for the United Nations humanitarian agency pointed to statistics from March showing that it was much more difficult to get clearance for delivering food than other aid in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.

Food convoys that should be going particularly to the north, where 70 percent of people face famine conditions, are...three times more likely to be denied than any other humanitarian convoys with other kinds of material, Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva.

Israel meanwhile claimed that the main problem is the UNs distribution of food within Gaza. COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body that manages the flow of aid, said that 741 humanitarian aid trucks were inspected and transferred to the Gaza Strip over the last 2 days in total.

Only 267 aid trucks were distributed by UN aid agencies inside Gaza (out of which 146 carried food), it said. The aid is available, distribution is what matters.

03:07 PM BST

No force in the world can stop Rafah invasion, says Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has said that no force in the world can stop Israels invasion of Rafah.

There is no force in the world that will stop us, he told an audience of new IDF recruits at a military base. There are many forces that are trying to do so, but it will not help, since this enemy, after what it did, will never do it again,

The IDF has said that four Hamas brigades continue to operate in Rafah, Gazas southernmost city, where around 1.5 million Palestinians are currently sheltering. West officials have repeatedly warned Mr Netanyahu against attacking the city over fears it could cause a catastrophic loss of civilian life.

03:05 PM BST

World leaders push to recognise Palestinian state

Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, will meet several European Union counterparts over the next week to try to garner support for the recognition of a Palestinian state, the government said.

We want to stop the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and help kickstart a political peace process leading to the realisation of the two-state solution as early as possible, a government spokeswoman said.

Sanchezs agenda includes meetings with the prime ministers of Norway, Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia and Belgium focusing on the EUs position on the war in Gaza.

Australia, too, has hinted at formally recognising a Palestinian state, with Penny Wong, the countrys foreign minister, suggesting that doing strengthens the forces for peace and undermines extremism.

Spain, Ireland, Malta and Slovenia announced last month they would jointly work toward recognition of a Palestinian state.

02:54 PM BST

Iran attempting to flood the West Bank with weapons, officials claim

Iran is attempting to flood the West Bank with weapons in order to drag Israel into a wider regional conflict, officials have claimed.

The operation uses a clandestine smuggling route across the Middle East, employing intelligence operatives, militants, criminal gangs and bedouins, to deliver weapons to Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the New York Times reported, citing Iranian, US and Israeli security and intelligence officials.

Its discovery comes amid concerns that Tehran is seeking to turn the enclave into the next flashpoint in its long-simmering proxy war with Israel, after it vowed to avenge a strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week that killed seven members of its Revolutionary Guard.

The majority of the smuggled weapons are handguns and assault rifles, though anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades are also frequently transferred, the officials said. It is unclear how many weapons have been transferred in the two years the smuggling operation has been ongoing.

The report comes after Shin Bet, Israels internal security service, said last month that it had foiled attempts by Tehran to smuggle large shipments of advanced weapons to terror operatives in the West Bank.

02:47 PM BST

Watch: Israel downs first drone using naval Iron Dome

02:38 PM BST

Two dead and dozens injured in Israeli bombing

Two people have been killed and dozens injured after Israeli warplanes bombed two homes in northern Gaza, Wafa, the official Palestine news agency, reported.

The attack on the Zeitoun neighbourhood, southeast of Gaza City, led to the killing of two civilians and the injury of dozens, Wafa said.

Elsewhere, a drone strike on Salah al-Din Street to the east of the city killed at least one person and injured others, Wafa reported.

Four more people were killed in Israeli shelling of central and southern Gaza, the agency said.

02:28 PM BST

Israel prepares mass Rafah evacuation ahead of planned invasion

Israel is purchasing 40,000 tents to house Palestinian refugees in preparation for a mass evacuation from Rafah when it launches its invasion, an Israeli official confirmed.



The countrys defence ministry published a proposal seeking a tent supplier to house refugees as part of its Rafah preparations, the official, who was not named, told the Times of Israel.



It comes after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has set a date for its invasion of Rafah, despite delegations from Israel and Hamas meeting in Cairo this week for US-mediated talks to negotiate a truce.



The order of tents would not come close to housing the population of Rafah, which has swelled to more than one million people in recent months as Palestinians fled their homes to seek refuge in Gazas southernmost city. Western leaders and the UN have repeatedly warned Israel against storming the city for fears of a bloodbath.

02:07 PM BST

Majority of Khan Younis destroyed or damage, analysis shows

Around 55 percent of the 45,000 buildings in Khan Younis have been destroyed or damaged, satellite imagery shows.

The analysis, carried out by two US mapping experts, comes as stunned Palestinians returned to the city in southern Gaza yesterday to salvage what they could from the rubble after Israeli troops withdrew following months of bombardment.

In one instance, a resident was unable to find their home because of the extent of the destruction. Where is my place, where is my home? he asked.

The destruction in Khan Younis offers a stark portent for what could happen in Rafah should Israel proceed with its planned invasion of Gazas southernmost city.

01:41 PM BST

Pictured: Israeli soldiers stare into Gaza

Israeli soldiers look at destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip - Leo Correa/AP

Israeli soldiers on top of a tank near the Israeli-Gaza border - Leo Correa/AP

01:21 PM BST

Erdogan sacrificing Turkeys economic interests over trade restrictions, says Israel

Israel Katz, Israels foreign minister, has accused Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, of sacrificing the economic interests of his people after Turkey announced it was restricting exports to Israel until a ceasefire is declared in Gaza.

Erdogan is once again sacrificing the economic interests of the people of Turkey for his support of Hamas, Mr Katz said.

He added that Turkey has unilaterally violated trade agreements, and said that in return, Israel will respond accordingly and prepare an extended list of additional products that Israel will prevent Turkey from exporting.

In barbed comments earlier today, Turkey said Israel continues to flagrantly violate international law in its military campaign in Gaza and vowed to suspend exports on certain products until Israel declares a ceasefire and allows aid to flow into the war-torn region.

See post at 9.15am for more details.

12:38 PM BST

Watch: Israel downs drone with naval Iron Dome

For the first time ever, an IDF Sa'ar 6-class corvette missile ship successfully intercepted a UAV that approached from the east and crossed into the area of the Gulf of Eilat.



IDF missile boats including Sa'ar 6-class corvettes have been positioned in the Red Sea and have both pic.twitter.com/SujPlfctr7  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 9, 2024

12:36 PM BST

Israel strikes Syrian army bases

Israeli warplanes struck several Syrian military sites overnight in response to rocket fire on Israels northern Golan Heights, the military said.

Warplanes attacked Syrian army infrastructure overnight in the Mahajjah area, around 20 miles from the demilitarised zone separating the opposing forces, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) said.

Another Syrian military post was shelled with artillery, along with a rocket launch site, the IDF added.

The strikes came in response to rocket fire launched from Syrian territory on Monday that caused no casualties, Israels army said.

Tensions have ramped up between Israel and Syria in recent days after seven Revolutionary Guards were killed in an airstrike at the Iranian consular in Damascus, for which Israel has been blamed.

11:46 AM BST

Tehran unlikely to attack Israel directly, says US intelligence

Iran is unlikely to attack Israel directly, US intelligence sources have said.

Instead, Tehran is urging proxies to launch large-scale drone and missile attacks on Israel in the coming days, the sources, who were not named, told CNN.

The latest warning contradicts previous assessments by the White House and Israel that an attack by Iran was inevitable.

It comes a week after seven Revolutionary Guard commanders were killed in a strike on Irans embassy in Damascus which has been widely blamed on Israel.

11:27 AM BST

Pictured: Palestinian boy receives first aid

A Palestinian boy receives first aid at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza - AFP

11:23 AM BST

Netanyahu sets date for Rafah invasion

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has said the date is set for Israel to launch an offensive in Rafah.

This victory requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen - there is a date, Mr Netanyahu said in a video address yesterday, without specifying when the proposed offensive will take place. We are working to achieve our goals all the time...primarily releasing all our hostages and achieving total victory.

The prime ministers comments came as representatives from Hamas rejected a ceasefire proposal presented by Israel in Cairo, the site of US-mediated truce negotiations.

Rafah, Gazas southernmost city, is the last refuge for more than one million Palestinian civilians crammed into the city suffering from shortages of food, water and shelter. Western leaders and the UN have repeatedly warned Israel against storming Rafah for fears of a bloodbath.

11:20 AM BST

UN chief demands media access to Gaza

The United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres has urged Israel to allow foreign journalists to enter Gaza, claiming that an information war is obscuring the realities of the conflict.

Denying international journalists entry into Gaza is allowing disinformation and false narratives to flourish, Mr Guterres wrote on Twitter.

His comments echoed a statement from the Foreign Press Association, which assists foreign reporters covering events the region, calling for Israel to allow foreign press to return to the war-torn enclave.

An information war has added to the trauma of the war in Gaza - obscuring facts and shifting blame.



Denying international journalists entry into Gaza is allowing disinformation and false narratives to flourish.  Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 8, 2024

The barring of independent press access to a war zone for this long is unprecedented for Israel, it said. It raises questions about what Israel does not want international journalists to see.

The decision whether to be on the ground in Gaza should be up to each individual international media outlet, it added. The blanket ban has limited the worlds ability to witness the true cost of the war to all sides.

In January, the High Court ruled that Israel could continue barring foreign journalists from accessing the Strip, citing ongoing security concerns after months in which only Gazans or correspondents accompanied by the army have been able to report from besieged land corridor.

10:51 AM BST

Jews who vote for Biden dont love Israel and should be spoken to, says Trump

Former US president Donald Trump has claimed his successor Joe Biden is 100 percent on the side of the Palestinians.

Any Jewish person that votes for Biden does not love Israel and frankly, should be spoken to  How a Jewish person can vote for Biden or a Democrat because they are on the side 100 per cent of the Palestinians, and he doesnt know how to get out of it, Mr Trump told the conservative Real Americas Voice network.

Frankly, its incredible that historically Jewish people vote for Democrats. I dont understand that, he added. Maybe its just a bad habit when you vote for a Democrat, but I dont know how anybody that is Jewish votes for a Democrat.

Mr Trumps comments have been condemned for playing into an anti-Semitic trope that Jewish Americans have dual loyalties to the US and to Israel, CNN reported.

10:31 AM BST

Join out WhatsApp channel to keep track of the latest updates

10:26 AM BST

Khan Younis airstrike kills October 7 terrorist, says IDF

A recent airstrike in southern Gazas Khan Younis killed a Hamas militant who participated in the October 7 massacre, the IDF reported.

It added that Israeli troops were involved in several short-range clashes with Hamas battles over the past day, killing a number of militants with aircraft and sniper fire.

Elsewhere, the Israeli air force launched strikes on missile launch sites, a military building and underground tunnel shafts used by Hamas, the army said.

10:09 AM BST

Israel downs drone using naval Iron Dome for the first time

Israel has downed a drone using its ship-mounted Iron Dome system for the first time, the Israel Defence Forces reported.

The naval version of Israels missile defence system intercepted what appeared to be a drone near the southern city of Eilat shortly before midnight on Monday, the military said, marking its first operational use.

Drone sirens sounded in Eilat after a suspicious aerial target entered Israeli airspace, the IDF said, with footage of the incident posted on social media showing what appears to be two missiles intercepting the drone, causing it to burst into flames in the sky.

The advanced model of the Iron Dome, known as C-Dome, is operated by the Navys four Saar 6-class corvette ships and is capable of downing rockets, cruise missiles, and drones, Israels Defense Ministry reported. It was brought into service in November 2022.

The suspected drone flew in from the eastern direction, the IDF reported, with local media suggesting it could have been launched from Iraq.

10:02 AM BST

Pictured: IDF troops in action in Gaza

Israeli troops have killed a terrorist who participated in the October 7 massacre - IDF

IDF troops prepare to storm a Hamas location - IDF

09:38 AM BST

France proposes sanctioning Israel to get aid into Gaza

Frances foreign minister said that sanctions could be imposed on Israel to if it does not allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

There must be levers of influence and there are multiple levers, going up to sanctions, to let humanitarian aid cross check points, Stephane Sejourne told RFI radio and France 24 television.

France was one of the first countries to propose European Union sanctions on Israeli settlers who are committing acts of violence in the West Bank. We will continue if needed to obtain the opening of humanitarian aid, he said.

Ms Sejournes comments come amid growing pressures on Israel from Western leaders to drastically increase levels of humanitarian aid entering the besieged territory.

09:15 AM BST

Turkey imposes trade restrictions on Israel until Gaza ceasefire

Turkey will restrict exports on a wide range of products to Israel until a ceasefire is declared in Gaza, the countrys trade ministry said.

This decision will remain in place until Israel, under its obligations emanating from international law, urgently declares a ceasefire in Gaza and allows the unhindered flow of sufficient humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, the ministry said, adding that the measures would apply to 54 categories of products.

The announcement came after Israel rejected Ankaras request to take part in an air-drop to transfer aid to Gaza, with the new measure set to take effect as of today.

Turkey has previously voiced opposition to Israels campaign in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, supporting steps to try Israel for genocide and sending tonnes of aid into the war-torn region.

The trade restrictions mark Ankaras first effort to impose financial sanctions on Israel for its actions.

08:50 AM BST

Hamas studies Israel truce proposal

Hamas representatives have said the militant group is considering a temporary peace deal with Israel.

The ceasefire arrangement, proposed by Qatari, Egyptian and US mediators during peace talks in Cairo, would halt fighting for six weeks to enable the exchange of hostages held by Hamas in return for Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel.

Saying it appreciates the mediators efforts, Hamas accused Israel of not responding to any of its demands in the talks.

Despite this, the movements leadership is studying the submitted proposal, the militant group said in a statement.

08:28 AM BST

Pictured: Palestinians impacted by Israels bombardment

Palestinians outside a hospital where casualties of Israeli bombing on al-Bureij camp in central Gaza were being treated - AFP

A Palestinian woman assists a child playing on the ruins of a destroyed building - AFP

08:04 AM BST

Watch: Islamic Jihad admits groups rockets struck al-Ahli Arab Hospital at the start of war

An Islamic Jihad spokesman has admitted that the militant group, rather than Israel, was responsible for a strike that damaged Gazas Al-Ahli Arab Hospital at the start of the war, reportedly killing dozens of people.

In an interrogation video released by the Israel Defence Force (IDF), Tarek Abu Shaluf, spokesman for the political wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, admitted that the strike on the hosptial was caused by a local rocket. We said it was Israeli.

To erase this story, the movement [Islamic Jihad] made some moves, it made up a story that the rocket belonged to the occupation [Israel] and that the target was the [hospital] building, said Mr Abu Shaluf, who was among 500 militants captured by the IDF last month.

The strike in October last year was initially suspected to have been carried out by Israel, with the country accusing the BBC of modern blood libel for jumping to conclusions in its reporting. Israel later accused Islamic Jihad of firing rockets which fell short and hit the hospital.

Remember when Islamic Jihad launched a rocket which misfired and landed at the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza? The whole world believed them



Here's the Islamic Jihad Spokesperson admitting how they, and Hamas, manipulate the media to turn their lies into international headlines: pic.twitter.com/rg4KpVaV0R  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 8, 2024

07:51 AM BST

The Wests cowardice over Israel is nothing short of abominable

The view that Israel has embarked on a doomed Achillean killing rage in Palestine has become received wisdom in Western polite society. This take is flawed but not surprising, with critics pointing to the sheer scale of civilian casualties in Gaza, writes Sherelle Jacobs.

The plight of the Palestinians rattles the conscience of the West, a civilisation that for all its might is grappling with its own imperial legacy and is deeply imbued with a Judeo-Christian sympathy for downtrodden Davids faced with the wrath of Goliaths. The killing of British aid workers may point to a chilling breakdown in command and control within the Israeli army.

But in a world of tremendous geopolitical stakes, it is vital to at least attempt ruthless clarity, putting aside all our emotional baggage and human revulsion towards the horror of war. The stone cold truth is that the Wests abrupt U-turn  at first vowing to lend rock solid, unwavering support to Israel and now threatening to withdraw support unless Jerusalem agrees to a ceasefire  has imperilled Israels mission to decapitate Hamas.

Read Sherelles full column here.

07:41 AM BST

Israeli minister threatens to topple Netanyahu if he does not invade Rafah

Israels hard-Right national security minister has threatened to topple Benjamin Netanyahu if he fails to order a ground invasion of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, writes Jotam Confino.

If Netanyahu decides to end the war without an expansive assault in Rafah, he wont have the mandate to serve as prime minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Monday.

The Israeli army withdrew its ground forces from southern Gaza on Sunday, prompting speculation that the ground operation in Rafah had either been called off or delayed.

An Israeli minister, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Telegraph that he 100 per cent agrees with Mr Ben-Gvir.

Read Jotams full report here.

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.
BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has replied to a letter from the "Falcon Commando Unit," an elite police brigade, encouraging them to forge a world-class counter-terror special force. 
An Israeli warship shot down an enemy threat in the Red Sea with a new air-defense weapon for the first time

An Israeli warship downed a drone this week by firing a new air-defense system for the first time.

The IDF confirmed the "first operational interception" of its C-Dome defense system.

The C-Dome is the naval version of the Iron Dome and is outfitted on the Sa'ar 6-class corvette.

An Israeli warship shot down an enemy drone this week by firing a new naval air-defense weapon, marking the system's first-ever operational interception.

The Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, confirmed on Tuesday that a Sa'ar 6-class corvette missile ship "successfully intercepted" a drone above the Red Sea, near the southern city of Eilat, during the previous night. It hailed the engagement as the "first operational interception" by the warship's C-Dome defense system.

"IDF troops in the area operated in cooperation with the IAF Aerial Control Unit and the Sa'ar 6-class corvette," Israel's military said in a Tuesday statement posted to the Telegram messaging platform, which also included footage of the interception.

The C-Dome is the naval version of Israel's Iron Dome, the most well-known component of Israel's sophisticated air-defense network. The system, which is outfitted on the Israeli Navy's four heavily armed Sa'ar 6-class corvettes, became operational in November 2022.

Archival footage of the C-Dome system in use. Israel Defense Forces/Screengrab via Telegram

It can defend against attacks from multiple directions at the same time and uses the same interceptor missiles  the Tamir  as the Iron Dome system, according to Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which manufactures both weapons.

The company says the C-Dome has an "exceptionally high kill probability," although it's unclear exactly how accurate it actually is (the Iron Dome has a reported success rate of around 90%).

Monday's incident involving the C-Dome marked the latest attack on Eilat to since Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre, which then triggered the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip. Last week, the IDF blamed Iran for a drone that hit a naval base in the Red Sea port city, causing some damage to infrastructure.

A drone is intercepted by Israel's C-Dome system. Israel Defense Forces/Screengrab via Telegram

A military spokesperson said that the IDF would bolster its defenses in the area in response to attacks. However, Israeli warships have been present in the area for months now as Iran-backed militia groups, like the Houthis in Yemen, stage missiles and drone attacks in the region.

"In accordance with the situational assessment since the beginning of the war, IDF missile boats including Sa'ar 6-class corvettes were positioned in the Red Sea," the IDF said Tuesday on Telegram. "The Israeli Navy is deployed in the area of the Red Sea and has both the defensive and offensive capabilities to engage with regional threats."

Toward the other end of the Red Sea, meanwhile, US and allied warships have been defending key international shipping lanes from relentless Houthi attacks since November. American forces have also hammered the militants with preemptive strikes against positions in Yemen.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A bulldozer removes rubble from the site of an overnight Israeli strike on a house in the southern Lebanese village of Sultaniyeh on April 8, 2024. The Israeli military said on April 8, it killed a Hezbollah commander in an overnight air strike in Lebanon, as cross-border violence flares between Israel and the Iran-backed armed group. Credit - Hassan FNEICH-AFP

The destruction of an entire building in Syrias capital on April 1 was impressively precise. Whoever fired missiles at Irans consular offices in Damascusand anyone with an iota of experience knows it was Israels air forcewanted to destroy that edifice and kill whoever was inside. Then came the information, from Irans government itself, that among the dead was the vice commander of the Quds Force, the multinational spearhead of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), along with senior officers who coordinated Irans activities in Syria and Lebanon.

No one claimed responsibility, but sources in Israeli intelligence tell us that IRGC Brigadier-General Mohammed Reza Zahedi was tracked by the Mossad and by Aman, Israels technology-driven military intelligence agency, for years. And when Israels spies were certain of where he was, and whom he was with, they immediately wanted to take the shot. They had to get Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus approval, and despite all the current pressures on Israel, he readily agreed.

That was a mistake. It was the right action, perhaps, but at the wrong time.

We can see why the Israelis wanted to do it. When they looked back at how America assassinated the charismatic head of the Quds Force, Major-General Qassem Soleimania daring decision made by President Donald Trump in January 2020, with a small Israeli role in tracking their quarrythey considered that Irans response was little more than bluster.

Right now, however, with the war in Gaza a costly and painful burden for six months and counting, Netanyahu is risking a much wider war. He is stirring the hornets nest, represented already by rocket attacks on Israel by Iranian proxies in Lebanon and in far-off Yemen and Iraq. Hours after the explosion in Damascus last week, many of Israels almost 10 million people went into a panic: hearing pundits in the media predict a massive retaliation by Iran, Israelis stocked up on food and rushed to ATMs to draw cash from their accounts in case of all-out war.

A fresh round of panic was the last thing that the people of Israel needed, half a year after the Hamas attack of last October 7 with its massacres and the kidnapping of over 200 hostages. Netanyahu probably saw flattening an Iranian building in Syria as part of restoring Israels deterrencemeaning its ability to intimidate its hostile neighbors. But, as is typical of Israels longest serving prime minister, Netanyahus main concern was his own image. He wants to look bold, in the wake of a security and intelligence failure for which he must share the blame. He hasnt stopped playing politics for a second, since the trauma of the worst attack on Jews since the Nazi Holocaust, and every hour of every day he is seeking to reverse his vulnerable political fortune.

In recent days, the families of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas stepped up their pressure campaign for a negotiated prisoner swap by turning explicitly against Netanyahu. They declared that the prime minister failed to protect their loved ones, and now is abandoning them again by playing politics and caring only about his own standing. The hostage familiesa small but newly influential factor in Israeli public opinionsay Netanyahu needs to resign. They dont even want to wait for scheduling an election, which is what Senator Chuck Schumer stunningly urged in his recent speech .

Read More: Biden Administers Ultimatum to Netanyahu

Joe Biden obviously agrees with Schumer. While the President did strong-arm Netanyahu into stepping up humanitarian aid deliveries to the Palestinians of Gaza, in the wake of the terrible Israeli mistake of killing seven World Central Kitchen workers, Biden has not gotten Netanyahu to agree to other key steps aimed at reducing bloodshed: a softer stand in the negotiations aimed at freeing hostages, believed to include five U.S. citizens; abandoning plans to enter the last Hamas stronghold, the city of Rafah, unless somehow more than a million Gaza refugees can be safely moved; and helping to lay plans for reconstruction and governance in Gaza aimed at paving the way to an independent Palestinian state. Netanyahu refuses to assent to a two-state solution, Palestine living alongside Israel as sovereign nations, and extreme Jewish nationalists in his cabinet wont go along with any concessions.

Against this background is a long-standing strategy of the Mossad and other Israeli security agencies: targeted assassinations. It was a Pavlovian reaction when the spies locked on to Brigadier General Zahedis precise location. We found himlets kill him.

They certainly had found a potent enemy. Iran encouraged the Shiite Muslim fighters of Lebanons Hezbollah to keep firing rockets and anti-tank shells at northern Israel since last October, compelling tens of thousands of Israelis to leave their homes and reside temporarily in hotels and communities many miles away. Iran also clearly gave the green light to the Houthi rebels of Yemen to fire missiles at ships in the Red Sea and even at the Israeli port of Eilat, to show support for the embattled Palestinians of Gaza.

Israels military and intelligence services wanted to give Iran a bloody nose, but cooler heads have prevailed. Biden told everyone in the Middle East to avoid a wider war and anchored U.S. Navy warships in the Eastern Mediterranean to underline the American message. Yet Netanyahu and the Mossad couldnt resist the temptation. After all, there is a long history of Israel literally getting away with murder.

Targeted killings by Israeli intelligence can be traced back to 1956, when a bomb hidden in an Islamic holy book killed an Egyptian colonel based in Gaza. He had organized Palestinian guerrillas who kept crossing the border to attack Israelis. In 1965, the Mossad sent killers to assassinate a Nazi war criminal in Montevideo, Uruguay. After PLO terrorists murdered 11 Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972, the Mossad assassinated Palestinian activists in half a dozen countriesa so-called revenge campaign made famous by Steven Spielbergs movie, Munich.

Senior men in Arab radical groups that attacked Israel were assassinated, from time to time, but Mossad officials have always told us that killings were a last resort. They much prefer to capture, interrogate, and if possible blackmail enemies and turn them into double agents. Israeli leaders want to avoid obvious violations of foreign laws, and the Jewish state does not want to be considered a worldwide murder agency.

Yet in Iran, desperate to stop that countrys secret but active drive to build nuclear weapons, Israeli agents assassinated more than half a dozen scientists and engineers connected with the nuclear program. Its top scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was the most recent known victimkilled in 2019 by a remote-controlled robot gun parked at the side of a road in Iran.

Israel has never determined what its rules of engagement should be, when it comes to targeted assassinations. After the publicly embarrassing failure of a mission aimed at poisoning a Hamas leader in Jordan in 1997, a parliamentary subcommittee tried to define an assassination doctrine. Netanyahu was prime minister at the time, and he and other government leaders failed to move ahead, even though the panel wrote that a policy was needed for combatting terrorist organizations, based on rigorous thought and consistent logic. Depending on killing prominent enemy individuals has taken on great and damaging weight, the Knesset members wrote.

So there in Damascus, Israeli intelligence saw a ripe target. Even more invitingly, he was meeting with other men who were directing Iran and Hezbollahs simmering war on Israel. Netanyahu didnt stop the Mossads Pavlovian response, even though he and his country are already coping with a 6-front war: the death and destruction in Gaza sparked by the historically awful Hamas incursion, an upsurge in violence in the West Bank, the Lebanese border exchanges of fire, a long streak of unacknowledged air force attacks on Iranian-affiliated targets in Syria, and the long-range missiles from Yemen and Iraq. Netanyahu is also in a diplomatic war with Joe Biden, and European leaders who expressed great sympathy after October 7 are now turning against what Israels been doing in Gaza.

Yet Netanyahu took the risk of opening another front by striking an Iranian consulate. Iran, vowing revenge directly against Israel, naturally says the buildingunder diplomatic protocolswas Irans sovereign territory. Israeli officials minimized the violation by telling us that it was just an apartment building, next door to Irans unscathed embassy. Tell that to the anti-aircraft and anti-missile system operators in Israel, now on high alert for any incoming attack from the East. Tell that to Israeli civilians, whose new round of panic included cleaning and preparing their bomb shelters. Tell that to the hostage families, who want a primary focus on rescuing the innocent captives, even as officials quietly opine that fewer than 60 of the 133 on the list are likely still alive.

We can see that the Mossad wanted some action, to be part of the battles that began last October. The head of the agency, David (Dedi) Barnea, has seemingly been relegated to the role of a messenger, as he flies to Qatar and to Egypt to take part in mediation sessions with the CIA director William Burns. Hamas negotiators are in separate rooms, when talks are underway in Doha and Cairo, even as Israelis and Americans involved wonder if the Hamas men of violence in the tunnels of Gaza will even honor whatever agreements might be reached.

A central decisionmaker in all this mess is Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu. He looms large with his ego, his resentment at political foes and the media he labels as fake news, and the fact that he is on trial for alleged fraud involving bribes. It is a slow-moving legal process, but one that has clearly motivated his refusal to call an early electionnone is required until October 2026. While Israeli society is marred by a combustible mix of angry and divided citizens, and despite his terrible poll ratings, Netanyahu keeps hanging onto power by his fingernails. If he thought angering Joe Biden, violating diplomatic norms, and risking a longer and wider war could help him, Israels prime minister was willing to take the shot.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
I've traveled to 9 out of 10 countries in Southeast Asia. Here are the 5 biggest mistakes I made along the way.

I've traveled to 9 out of 10 countries in Southeast Asia. Here are the 5 biggest mistakes I made along the way.

I've traveled solo to nine countries in Southeast Asia.

I've made many mistakes, from traveling during monsoon season to forgetting to bring enough cash.

Travelers should make sure they plan ahead and research each country's culture.

Over the last two years, my journey as a travel enthusiast and Business Insider's travel reporter in Singapore has brought me to almost every country in Southeast Asia.

In total, there are 10 countries in Southeast Asia, and I've traveled to nine of them  Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, and Brunei. Myanmar remains the only country in the region I have not visited, and while I am keen to explore it, I have held off on visiting because of the country's ongoing civil war.

I've watched the sun rise in Angkor Wat in Cambodia and cared for elephants in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I've explored the Bornean jungle in Brunei and crawled the Cu Chi Tunnels in southern Vietnam.

But it hasn't always been easy. I've made several mistakes traveling across the region, especially as a solo traveler. Here are five mistakes I made and how to avoid them.

1. Going during monsoon season and not planning for the weather.

Bangkok during the monsoon season. Marielle Descalsota

In July, I traveled to Thailand on a reporting trip to cover the budding cannabis industry. There, I was met with heavy rain nearly every day. In Bangkok, I was staying in a hostel in Chakkrawat, a district with narrow, meandering streets, which made it difficult to walk anywhere in the pouring rain.

I didn't plan for the weather, so I didn't have an umbrella or poncho with me and had to rush to get one at the last minute. I also had a packed itinerary with a lot of travel between meetings, which was a hassle in the constant downpour.

Before traveling to Southeast Asia, make sure to avoid two seasons  the monsoon season, which often comes with strong typhoons in countries like the Philippines, and the burning season, where farmers burn land for fertile soil. This is a common occurrence in countries like Laos, Thailand, and the island of Borneo, which is shared between Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

When I traveled to Laos in April last year during the burning season, most of my plans  including a hot air balloon ride  were canceled because of the thick smog. I also didn't have an N95 mask with me, and I ended up with a sore throat.

If you do plan to come during these seasons, make sure to pack accordingly and plan a flexible schedule.

2. Traveling during Ramadan and expecting the same practices everywhere.

The Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque in Brunei. Marielle Descalsota/Business Insider

Having grown up in Singapore, I'm familiar with the practices during Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims, where they fast for most of the day. I studied Malay for seven years, and in school, I often fasted with my Muslim classmates and ate only in private.

Still, in many cities in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, non-Muslims are free to dine in public, so long as they do so respectfully. But on my trip to Brunei in April  at the height of the burning season and in the middle of Ramadan  there were more practices I needed to observe.

Most restaurants were closed, and diners weren't allowed to eat there even if they were open  only take-out was allowed. Eating in public was a major faux pas even for non-Muslims, and if you want to drink some water, you can only do so when nobody is around.

It wasn't easy, especially as Brunei was sweltering at 100 degrees Fahrenheit on some days. I made do by returning to the hotel for lunch and grabbing a big dinner with the locals at the night market after they had broken their fast.

3. Not packing enough modest outfits when visiting temples and mosques.

The author in Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Marielle Descalsota/Business Insider

Southeast Asia is pretty liberal, and you can wear whatever you want in many places. In popular destinations like Phuket, Thailand, and Bali, Indonesia, lots of tourists walk around in bikini tops and shorts, and locals mostly tolerate it.

But there are certain places you do need to cover up, like places of worship, which include temples and mosques. When I visited Angkor Wat  the famed temple complex in Cambodia  in February last year, I found some tourists being told off by the local tour guides for wearing shorts and tank tops  "Tomb Raider" style.

I've learned to err on the right side of caution and bring a sarong wherever I go. It's an easy way to cover up and make an outfit more modest when you need to.

4. Forgetting to pack medication, especially when I plan to eat street food.

Thai food sold in Bangkok. Marielle Descalsota/Business Insider

Southeast Asia has some of the world's most flavorful food. In every country, you can find food that is cheap and delicious, and that includes Singapore, the world's most expensive city. In countries like Malaysia and Vietnam, street food dishes can cost as little as a dollar.

I eat mostly street food when I travel in Southeast Asia, so medicine for tummy-related illnesses is a must. I've only gotten sick twice from eating street food  and it was the same dish both times and unfortunately, those were the few times I didn't have medicine with me.

I'm a pretty adventurous eater. I've eaten everything from pufferfish stew to frog porridge and dishes made with intestines off the street. I've learned to wash the utensils provided before digging in and make sure the food is cooked to order and heated up before being served.

5. Relying on my card and not bringing enough cash with me.

The Cafe Apartments in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Marielle Descalsota/Business Insider

In Singapore, I don't really use cash and often use Apple Pay, mobile payments, and cards. But I've found that many stores in other countries in Southeast Asia only accept cash.

For example, on my third trip to Vietnam, I spent an hour trying to make payment via bank transfer after the staff at a luxury perfume shop  which was selling items priced upwards of $200  informed me at the last minute that they didn't accept card or contactless payment.

I've also found the majority of street vendors in the region only accept mobile payment  which is limited to local banks  or cash. I've learned to change a considerable amount of money before leaving the airport and keep whatever I didn't use for my next trip.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Special counsel Jack Smith has urged the US Supreme Court to reject Donald Trumps unprecedented claim that presidential immunity protects him from facing federal charges for trying to overturn the 2020 election.

In a 66-page legal filing on Monday, the special counsels office wrote that a bedrock principle of our constitutional order is that no person is above the law  including the president.

The Constitution does not give a president the power to conspire to defraud the United States in the certification of presidential-election results, obstruct proceedings for doing so or deprive voters of the effect of their votes, the filing adds.

The former president was indicted on four federal charges in August relating to his alleged attempt to unlawfully overturn the 2020 presidential election in his favour. He has pleaded not guilty and claims  without evidence  that the prosecution is politically motivated.

In fighting the indictment, Mr Trump has claimed that presidential immunity protects him from the special counsels charges.

After several lower federal courts rejected the claim, Mr Trump asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on the question in December.

From 1789 to 2023, no former, or current, president faced criminal charges for his official acts  for good reason, Mr Trumps attorneys argued in a brief to the high court last month.

The president cannot function, and the presidency itself cannot retain its vital independence, if the president faces criminal prosecution for official acts once he leaves office.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear full arguments on the immunity question on 25 April.

Special counsel Jack Smith is urging the Supreme Court to reject Donald Trumps immunity claim (Getty Images)

The special counsels office argues that, while presidential immunity limits the ability of presidents to face criminal prosecution for their official duties, Mr Trumps 2020 campaign to remain in office even after he knew he lost, falls outside this protection as he was not acting in his capacity as president.

Instead, Mr Smith argues, the 2020 effort was a private scheme with private actors to achieve a private end: petitioners effort to remain in power by fraud.

The absence of any prosecutions of former presidents until this case does not reflect the understanding that presidents are immune from criminal liability; it instead underscores the unprecedented nature of petitioners alleged conduct, the brief adds elsewhere.

Both Mr Smith and Mr Trumps teams cited cases involving Richard Nixon to make their arguments about the scope of immunity protections.

The special counsels office quotes from the Supreme Courts 1974 decision in US v Nixon, in which a unanimous court found that then-president Nixon needed to comply with a trial subpoena over Oval Office tapes.

Mr Trumps side, meanwhile, points to 1982s Nixon v Fitzgerald, in which a 5-4 court found that Mr Nixon was immune in a suit regarding an Air Force analyst who claimed he was fired in retaliation for criticising the president.

Without such immunities, Mr Trump has argued in his briefs, presidents would be vulnerable to de facto blackmail and extortion while in office.

Lower courts have so far sided with Mr Smiths interpretation, finding Mr Trumps conduct around the 2020 election isnt protected via immunity.

For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant, a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals held in February.

Donald Trump in New York (AFP via Getty Images)

But any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as president no longer protects him against this prosecution.

In December, Federal District judge Tanya Chutkan ruled similarly, finding: Whatever immunities a sitting president may enjoy, the United States has only one chief executive at a time, and that position does not confer a lifelong get-out-of-jail-free pass.

A Supreme Court decision on the immunity question could come in June  before the court recesses for summer  though it remains unclear whether the trial would take place before the 2024 presidential election, where Mr Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee.

Mr Trump faces another set of federal charges in Florida regarding his alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving office.

He is also facing state charges in New York over a hush money scheme and RICO charges in Georgia over his efforts to overturn the election in the state.
Notorious conspiracy theorists Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman will pay up to $1.25 million for perpetuating a bogus robocall campaign in the runup to the 2020 presidential election, aimed at scaring Black voters from casting mail-in ballots, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Tuesday.

The right-wing hucksters, who have faced numerous other lawsuits and court actions for their MAGA-adjacent activities, were found liable in March 2023 for transmitting false and threatening messages intended to discourage voting by Black New Yorkers, James announcement said.[I]n written communications, Defendants referred to the call as the black robo...and used terms like...HIJACK the election to refer to their operation, according to a consent decree filed Monday.

The consent decree will remain in place for eight years, and forbids Wohl and Burkman from violating  any applicable laws, including but not limited to the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, New York Civil Rights Law  9, New York Civil Rights Law  40-c, and New York Executive Law  63(12).Defendants shall refrain from knowingly creating, sponsoring, or transmitting any robocall or other Mass Communication that would intimidate or deter voters from voting by any method in any election, the consent decree states. Defendants shall refrain from knowingly creating, sponsoring, or transmitting any robocalls or other Mass Communication containing any false or fraudulent information concerning voting, the right to vote, or the conduct of elections.

Wohl and Burkman have been at the center of a slew of spectacularly outlandish schemes, falsely smearing various public figures with laughable claims that almost immediately fell apart under the most rudimentary public scrutiny. In 2018, the pair tried and failed to paint then-Special Counsel and former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a rapist. The following year, the two enlisted a young college studentwho quickly exposed the con job as a Wohl and Burkman ployto parrot bogus claims of having been sexually assaulted by Pete Buttigieg, who was running for president at the time. The hapless operatives have also floated the absurd notions that Sen. Elizabeth Warren was a sex-crazed cougar with sadomasochistic proclivities, and that now-VP Kamala Harris was carrying on a torrid affair with a 26-year-old boy toy, only to see their hired accusers quickly recant. Earlier this year, a Marine Corps veteran sued Wohl and Burkman for $11 million, claiming they ruined his life by falsely accusing him of being a child sex predator.

James brought the case against the pair on behalf of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, along with eight private citizens affected by the scheme. According to the consent decree, one of those contacted during the robocall campaign experienced severe anxiety and emotional distress, which was so acute that it caused [him] to withdraw his name from the voter rolls and to forgo exercising his right to vote.

In a statement provided by James office to The Daily Beast, the AG said, The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, and it belongs to everyone. We will not allow anyone to threaten that right. Wohl and Burkman orchestrated a depraved and disinformation-ridden campaign to intimidate Black voters in an attempt to sway the election in favor of their preferred candidate My office will always defend the right to vote.

James initially filed suit against the duo in May 2021, calling their Project 1599 a sham organization. They flooded the zone with disinformation, telling Black voters that if they mailed in their ballots, they would be tracked for outstanding warrants, credit card debt, and mandatory vaccines, according to James. The robocalls reached some 5,500 New Yorkers with messages designed to suppress their right to vote.

Hi, this is Tamika Taylor from Project 1599, the civil rights organization founded by Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl, one of the messages said. Mail-in voting sounds great, but did you know that if you vote by mail, your personal information will be part of a public database that will be used by police departments to track down old warrants and be used by credit card companies to collect outstanding debts? The CDC is even pushing to use records for mail-in voting to track people for mandatory vaccines. Dont be finessed into giving your private information to the man, stay safe and beware of vote-by-mail.

Under the agreement with the AGs office, Wohl and Burkman must immediately start paying down a $1 million fine, beginning with an initial payment of $20,000, a $30,000 payment by Sept. 1, and a $55,000 payment by Dec. 31, for a total of $105,000. They then must pay $6,000 a month, beginning March 1, 2025, for 48 months, for a grand total of $393,000. If they stick to the schedule, James will forgive the $407,000 balance. If they fail to make each and every payment on time, in full, Wohl and Burkman will be on the hook for $1.25 million.

This groundbreaking settlement should send an emphatic message to anyone who aims to prevent Black people from exercising their right to vote, Damon T. Hewitt, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said in a statement. Voter suppression and voter intimidation are illegal, immoral, and anti-democratic. Regardless of whether the perpetrators are government actors or private citizens, your actions will have consequences, and you will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of Michigan school shooter, sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison for manslaughter

The parents of the teenager who killed four students in the 2021 school shooting in Oxford, Michigan, were each sentenced Tuesday to 10 to 15 years in prison, weeks after being convicted of manslaughter.

James and Jennifer Crumbley, who each had faced up to 15 years in prison, have already been imprisoned for over two years since their arrest in a Detroit warehouse days after the shooting. Though they were tried separately, their sentencing took place together in an Oakland County courtroom.

They are the first parents to be held criminally responsible for a mass school shooting committed by their child as the nation continues to grapple with the scourge of gunfire on campus.

Before imposing her sentences, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews told families of the victims she could never understand their pain but assured them she saw what you saw and I heard what you heard at both trials. The convictions, she said, were not about poor parenting.

These convictions confirm repeated acts or lack of acts that could have halted an oncoming runaway train, about repeatedly ignoring things that make a reasonable person feel the hair on the back of their neck stand up, the judge said.

Opportunity knocked over and over again, louder and louder and was ignored. No ones no one answered. And these two people should have and sure didnt.

Matthews said James Crumbley provided unfettered access to a gun or guns as well as ammunition in your home, while Jennifer Crumbley glorified the the use and possession of these weapons.

The Crumbleys addressed the families and the court before sentencing.

I sit here today to express my deepest sorrows for the families of Hana, Tate, Madisyn, Justin and to all those affected on November 30, 2021, Jennifer Crumbley said.

She said she was there not to ask for your forgiveness, as I know it may be beyond reach, but to express my sincerest apologies for the pain that has been caused.

I will be in my own internal prison for the rest of my life, Jennifer Crumbley added.

James Crumbley said: Before I address this court directly, I want to do something that I had never been able to do  I want to say I cant imagine the pain and agony for the families  that have lost their children and what theyre experiencing and what theyre going through.

He added, I cannot express how much I wish that I had known what was going on with (Ethan) or what was going to happen, because I absolutely would have done a lot of things differently.

Earlier Tuesday, parents of the slain students addressed the court and the defendants.

Nicole Beausoleil, mother of Madisyn Baldwin, remembered her daughters laugh, her smile, her smarts and her creativity before turning her comments to the Crumbleys.

When you knew the gun was missing, you called the police knowing it was your son who took it. I was having family call every hospital describing what (Madisyn) looked like, Beausoleil said, growing emotional.

When you texted Ethan dont do it, I was texting Madisyn, I love you please call mom. 

Justin Shillings dad, Craig, spoke of the pain, anger, heartache, regret, anxiety, stress he lives with every day.

Craig Shilling, father of Justin Shilling, told the defendants, "The blood of our children is on your hands." - Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Literally every single aspect of my life has been affected by this tragedy, he said, wearing a black hoodie with a photo of his smiling son.

The blood of our children is on your hands, he told the defendants.

Justins mother, Jill Soave, said the tragedy was completely preventable.

If only they had done something, your honor, anything, to shift the course of events on November 30, then our four angels would be here today, she said.

It is devastating and heartbreaking that it doesnt appear that either of you cherished or even wanted your son. But I wholeheartedly wanted and cherished mine, she added. You have failed your son, and you have failed us all.

Reina St. Juliana, whose sister Hana was 14 years old when she was killed, lamented that her 10-year-old little brother had to learn how to write a eulogy for his sister before he even learned how to write essays.

After sentencing, Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney Karen McDonald said the defendants expressed feeling bad but what mattered to the victims families most was an expression of remorse and acknowledgement of the wrongdoing and some sort of reconciliation or apology for that  and that didnt come.

These were tragic and awful, awful deaths and what these families have gone through, and it is preventable. It is preventable, McDonald said.

In a statement, McDonald added: Nothing will bring their children back, but the Judge recognized the suffering these defendants caused, and she acknowledged the victims and their families. The sentence today provides the highest level of accountability under the law, and thats appropriate.

In separate sentencing memos, prosecutors asked the judge to sentence each parent to 10 to 15 years in state prison, saying the parents showed a chilling lack of remorse. In particular, the prosecution noted James Crumbley made threats against McDonald in several jail calls. There will be retribution, believe me, he said in one, according to the memo.

But attorneys for the parents have asked for their clients to be sentenced to less than five years in prison each. In a sentencing memo dated April 5, the defense attorney for Jennifer Crumbley asked the judge to give her client credit for the 27 months she has served behind bars and allow her to be placed under house arrest on a tether at the defense attorneys home, where she can be supervised.

That way, Mrs. Crumbley would be able to work remotely and begin to rebuild her life, but would not be out in the community, the memo says. The memo notes Jennifer Crumbley is hugely distraught and remorseful about the shooting and said a sentence between 29 to 57 months would be more proportional than what prosecutors asked for.

In a separate memo from April 5, James Crumbleys defense attorney said his client has expressed significant remorse and sorrow for those affected by the killings, and asked the judge to sentence him either to 28 months in prison with credit for time served, along with a maximum period of supervision, or 43 months in prison with credit for time served.

The defense also denied that James Crumbley has threatened physical harm to the prosecuting attorney, saying he at worst engaged in frustrated name calling.

The sentencing represents the end of a dramatic saga that has pushed the boundaries of who is responsible for a mass shooting. Prosecutors used a novel legal theory in charging the parents with manslaughter even though they did not pull the trigger  the first time the parents of a school shooter have been charged with such serious crimes.

Ethan Crumbley, 15 at the time, brought a Sig Sauer 9mm firearm from home and opened fire at Oxford High School, killing four students and wounding six others and a teacher.

His parents were arrested days afterward and accused of involuntary manslaughter for their role in the killings.

Ethan was sentenced last year to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to terrorism causing death, four counts of murder and 19 other related charges. He did not testify his parents trials, as his attorneys said he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right to silence.

What happened at the trials

From top left, clockwise: Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling, Madisyn Baldwin and Tate Myre were killed in the shooting. - Obtained by CNN

At their trials, prosecutors used testimony from shooting survivors, police investigators and school employees to prove that the parents were grossly negligent in allowing their teenage son to have access to the gun and ignoring signs of his spiraling mental health.

In particular, the testimony showed James purchased the firearm for his son on Black Friday, four days before the shooting. The next day, Jennifer took her son to the firing range for target practice. Mom & son day testing out his new Xmas present, she wrote afterward on social media. The parents failed to properly secure the firearm, as James Crumbley hid it in their bedroom but did not use any locking device, the prosecution argued.

In addition, the trials focused on a pivotal meeting between school employees, Ethan and his parents on the morning of the shooting. Ethan had been called into the school office after he made disturbing writings on a math worksheet, including the phrases blood everywhere and my life is useless and drawings of a gun and bullet.

The school employees recommended the parents immediately take him out of class and get him mental health treatment, but they declined to do so, saying they had work. The Crumbleys also did not mention to the school the recent gun purchase. Afterward, Ethan was sent back to class. About two hours later, he took the gun out of his backpack and opened fire at the school.

Jennifer Crumbley took the stand in her trial and blamed her husband, the school and her son for the shooting, while expressing no regret of her own. Ive asked myself if I would have done anything differently, and I wouldnt have, she testified.

By contrast, James Crumbley did not testify in his trial, and his attorney argued he simply didnt know about his sons plans or mental issues.

Still, Jennifer Crumbley was convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in early February, and James Crumbley was convicted of the same counts in March.

In pre-sentence investigation reports included in the prosecutions sentencing memos, the parents continued to defend their actions.

I am wrongly accused, and now wrongly convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. My actions were that of any other parent, James Crumbley wrote. He also said he had no knowledge of what (my son) was going to do, or presented with ANY warning signs, and he defended his gun safety efforts. I followed the law and took gun safety to the point as needed.

In her report, Jennifer Crumbley sought to clarify her testimony, saying she would not have done anything differently. With the information I have now, of course my answer would be hugely different. There are so many things that I would change if I could go back in time, she said. I never imagined he would hurt other people in the way that he did.

The parents defense attorneys have argued the charges have no legal justification, but appeals courts have upheld them.

CNNs Celina Tebor, Nicki Brown, Antoinette Radford and Maureen Chowdhury contributed to this report.

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(Bloomberg) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida heads to Washington looking to strengthen his countrys alliance with the US while sidestepping issues that cast their ties in an unfavorable light  including the planned takeover of United States Steel Corp.

Most Read from Bloomberg

President Joe Biden last month voiced opposition to Nippon Steel Corp.s $14 billion-plus plan to buy the US steelmaker, a rare intervention even if he has not directly pledged to block it. While that places him alongside union workers in a critical election year, it runs the risk of upsetting one of Washingtons strongest allies in Asia.

The Japanese government has refrained from commenting substantively on the deal, and Kishida has said he doesnt plan to discuss it at a summit with Biden this week. Yet the case illustrates the uneasy position many US allies have been left in as Biden prepares for a rematch with his predecessor Donald Trump in Novembers presidential election.

The US has repeatedly asked partners like Japan to restrict Chinas access to cutting-edge technology and called for cooperation to counter Beijings efforts to claim vast areas of the South China Sea. Washington also wants its allies to roll out more job-creating investment in the US, without offering much new in return.

Kishida, whose voter support has slumped to record lows in recent months, is keen to play along and avert the public gaze from problematic areas in the relationship. The prime minister will instead try to keep the limelight on areas of agreement.

Japan and the US are global partners taking a lead together on various international problems, Kishida told reporters Monday before departing for Washington. I want to confirm that Japan-US relations are even more solid than ever and this is an extremely important opportunity to convey that to the world.

Read more: Japans Kishida Advocates Wider Defense Network Ahead of US Trip

There may be business logic too. Portraying the steel deal as simply a matter between two private companies gives the takeover a better chance of staying alive, according to people familiar with the matter.

Japan wont make this a political issue and the Japanese government wont comment on it, said Akira Amari, a ruling party heavyweight and former minister known for his industrial policy expertise. This deal would be a symbol of Japan-US cooperation as allies because we would be able to confront Chinas rising technological capability.

Chinese state media, meanwhile, have made the most of the cracks, pointing out that US aversion to the takeover sits awkwardly with its complaints over Beijing.

For a long time the US has painted itself as a defender of free trade and pointed an accusing finger at China for not allowing wider market access and providing a level playing field for foreign investors, the China Daily said, describing the US as the biggest threat to economic globalization.

Yet the Nippon Steel merger, as well as a slew of restrictive policies that have been introduced to crack down on Chinese high-tech companies such as Huawei and TikTok, belie Washingtons claim, the English-language paper said.

Bidens motivation is clear. He needs to gain an edge over Trump, and hell do what he perceives as helping his chances, whether it be backing the United Steelworkers union opposition to the steel merger, or burnishing his green credentials over LNG.

This has been a bitter lesson for Japanese government and business, said Ken Weinstein, the Japan chair at the right-leaning Hudson Institute. Japanese businesses will think about the role election-year politics plays in investment strategies.

The consequences of the US election will also play out in gas. A US moratorium on liquefied natural gas export facilities bankrolled by Japanese companies came as a surprise to Japans top importers. The freezing of licences for new export plants comes in addition to tougher sanctions on a Russian Arctic LNG project vital to Tokyo.

The risk is not insignificant. The rise of the US as the worlds top LNG exporter wouldnt have materialized without decades-spanning commitments from Japanese utilities and trading houses to purchase the fuel in the wake of the shale revolution.

Japans government in that case has taken a public stance, saying that it was concerned about the decision and that the nation will take steps to secure its energy needs  an unusually strong statement from a key partner.

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin spoke of the uncertainty over energy in Houston last month: Its just a curveball that scares the bejesus out of our allies.

--With assistance from Ruth Liao, Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Joe Deaux and Isabel Reynolds.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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An unmanned mining vehicle supported by 5G technology works at a mine field of Jiangxi Copper Co., Ltd. (Jiangxi Copper) in Dexing City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Aug. 24, 2023. (Photo by Zhang Weifeng/Xinhua)

NANCHANG, April 9 (Xinhua) -- In a knitting company in east China's Jiangxi Province, a giant screen has demonstrated order conditions, daily output, and energy-dissipating conditions.

Gao Wengen, manager of Jiangxi Huayuan Knitting Co., Ltd., said the upgraded digital production project with a total investment of over 10 million yuan (about 1.4 million U.S. dollars) has greatly avoided production waste resulting from the extensive production mode in the past.

To make 1 kg of samples, the company previously had to produce at least 200 kg of products with the machine running, but now, the upgrade has enabled the precise control of machines, which can produce any amount of samples as needed.

"Now, we can produce 2 grams of cloth at the same unit cost as producing 2 tonnes," Gao said.

In a move to map out the development of strategic emerging industries and future industries, China has recently made developing new quality productive forces a catchphrase in its policymaking.

By underscoring this concept, China aims to foster advanced productivity through revolutionary technology breakthroughs, innovative allocation of production factors, and deepened industrial upgrading.

In Jiangxi, where traditional industries take up 70 percent of the province's industrial structure, the provincial authorities issued a manufacturing digital transformation action plan, striving to realize the digital transformation of more than 10,000 enterprises in about two years.

A leading company in China's copper industry, Jiangxi Copper Co., Ltd. (Jiangxi Copper) has promoted the transformation and upgrading of the entire mining process, including beneficiation and smelting, adopting "smart mine" and 5G mining in more and more projects in recent years.

Wu Jun, head of Guixi Smelter affiliated with Jiangxi Copper, said in the past, 12 independent processes, such as transportation, sampling, and weighing, did not connect with each other.

Now, a digital workshop has linked all the processes together, reducing the overall energy consumption of the whole plant by more than 7 percent, said Wu.

Benefiting from the digital transformation, the energy consumption volume of the high energy-consuming industries in the manufacturing sector in Jiangxi has decreased by 9 percentage points over the past two years compared with the early period of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) and the province's value-added industrial output of enterprises above the designated size increased by 5.4 percent year-on-year in 2023.

Enterprises above the designated size refer to those with an annual main business revenue of 20 million yuan or more. 

This photo taken on Feb. 17, 2023 shows an interior view of a plant of Jiangxi Copper Co., Ltd. (Jiangxi Copper) in Guixi City, east China's Jiangxi Province. (Photo by Hu Dunhuang/Xinhua)
(Bloomberg) -- Australia has hosed down speculation Japan may be formally invited to join the Aukus security partnership, saying Tokyos involvement would be limited to cooperation on developing advanced technologies.

Most Read from Bloomberg

There are no plans to expand Aukus beyond its three founding members, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at a press conference in Canberra on Tuesday, referring to Australia, the UK and US. He added that Aukus would look for external research cooperation on a project-by-project basis.

If there can be gains that are in the interests of the three Aukus partners but in addition any partners outside the direct Aukus relationship, then that will be considered, Albanese said, adding Japan was a natural candidate to work on such projects.

Australia, the UK and US signed the Aukus agreement in September 2021 with the goal of helping Canberra deploy a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines by the 2030s. The pact is part of a pivot by Washington to strengthen its presence in the Indo-Pacific regions as Chinas military ambitions expand.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said at the same press conference that Aukus is more a technology sharing relationship than a defense alliance.

A key area of interest for potential partners such as Japan and New Zealand is the so-called Pillar II, under which the Aukus partners will cooperate and share strategic high-tech research such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

Earlier, Marles and his US and UK counterparts had issued a joint statement highlighting the potential for working with Tokyo.

Recognizing Japans strengths and its close bilateral defense partnerships with all three countries, we are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects, they said.

The statement came as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits Washington for a three-way leaders meeting with President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Philippines has been at forefront of tensions with Beijing in territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Kishida is due to meet with Biden one-on-one on April 10.

--With assistance from Peter Martin.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of Oxford High School mass shooter Ethan Crumbley, were sentenced to 10 to 15 years Tuesday after each was found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials earlier this year.

"I can and will offer my deepest and most sincere condolences for your unfathomable losses," Judge Cheryl Matthews said during sentencing.

Matthews said each action or inaction created a ripple effect and said she believes the sentences are "in the best interests of justice and are reasonable and proportionate."

MORE: Michigan school shooting: What we know about the victims

"Parents are not expected to be psychic, but these convictions are not about poor parenting. These convictions confirm repeated acts, or lack of acts, that could have halted an oncoming runaway train  about repeatedly ignoring things that would make a reasonable person feel the hair on the back of their neck," Matthews said.

"Guidelines in this manner do not capture of the catastrophic impact of the acts or in the action. And in these matters, the guidelines do not take into account the complete lack of insight both defendants have for their behavior to this very day," Matthews said.

The parents have already served 858 days in jail while awaiting trial, which will be deducted from their sentence. They have also been instructed to have no contact with the families of the victims.

PHOTO: James Crumbley, his attorney Mariell Lehman, Jennifer Crumbley, and her attorney Shannon Smith, sit in court for sentencing Apr. 9, 2024, at Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Michigan. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Giving a statement in court Tuesday, Jennifer Crumbley sought to walk back her testimony during trial when she said she would not have done anything differently.

James Crumbley, who wiped away tears at several points during his statement, asked to be sentenced in a "fair and just way," asking for time served.

"You know that what my son did, I was not aware of," he said.

The trials were a rare case of parents facing criminal charges, and possible jail time, over their role in a shooting carried out by their child. They could have faced up to 15 years in prison for each count, but prosecutors asked for 10 to 15 years total for each parent, according to a sentencing memo filed by prosecutors last week.

"No sentence this Court can administer will fix the damage caused by the Oxford High School shooting on November 30, 2021," prosecutors wrote in requesting the sentence for Jennifer Crumbley. "As the jury found, defendant's gross negligence was a cause of this damage; she knew of the danger to another, it was reasonably foreseeable her son would shoot someone, but she failed to exercise even the smallest measure of ordinary care."

PHOTO: Jennifer Crumbley looks at her husband James Crumbley during their sentencing, Apr. 9, 2024, at Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Michigan. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Michigan's sentencing guidelines call for a maximum punishment of about seven years in jail, a sentence prosecutors said was not strong enough.

"Considering the guidelines, what those guidelines do and do not account for, and the objectives of sentencing, the severity of the circumstances in this case and defendant's total lack of remorse warrant a sentence that exceeds the applicable guidelines range," prosecutors continued. "A sentence of 10 to 15 years' imprisonment is proportionate to these offenses and this offender."

The same exact request was sent in regards to James Crumbley.

MORE: Jury finds Jennifer Crumbley guilty of involuntary manslaughter in son's school shooting

Jennifer Crumbley's attorneys had asked that she be sentenced to time served and house arrest, according to the defense's sentencing memo. James Crumbley's lawyers asked for 28 months of prison  the amount of time he has already spent locked up  with credit for time served as well as the maximum period of supervised release.

Prosecutors came down especially hard on James Crumbley in their ask for a sentence longer than the sentencing guidelines, pointing to threats he made over the phone from jail toward District Attorney Karen McDonald and an instance of gesturing with his middle finger toward a prosecutor during the trial.

"Defendants shameless lack of remorse in asking for time served as an appropriate sentence is a slap in the face to the severity of tragedy caused by his gross negligence, to the victims and their families, and to the applicable law that is premised on the concept of proportionate sentencing," prosecutors wrote.

PHOTO: Jennifer Crumbley listens as James Shilling, father of Justin Shilling, one of the four Oxford High School students who were shot and killed by mass school shooter Ethan Crumbley, reads a victim impact statement, April 9, 2024, Pontiac, Michigan. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

MORE: James Crumbley convicted of involuntary manslaughter over son's school shooting

James Crumbley also apologized to the victims during his statement in court Tuesday.

"I really want the families of Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St. Juliana, Tate Myre and Justin Shilling to know how truly sorry I am and how devastated I was when I heard what happened to them. I have cried for you and the loss of your children more times than I can count," James Crumbley said Tuesday.

"I cannot express how much I wish that I had known what was going on with him or what was going to happen, because I absolutely would have done a lot of things differently," James Crumbley said.

The judge will make a decision in the coming weeks over whether to impose a no-contact order on the Crumbleys and their son. James Crumbley and his son will not be housed in the same facility at any time, according to Matthews.

James Crumbley said he hasn't spoken to his son since the shooting and to his wife since they were arrested on Dec. 3.

PHOTO: James Crumbley, father of Oxford High School school shooter Ethan Crumbley, exits the courtroom while the jury begins their deliberations during his trial on March 13, 2024 at Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Mich. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images, FILE)

Ethan Crumbley, who was only 15 years old at the time of the shooting, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the shooting that killed four students.

He pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including first-degree premeditated murder and terrorism causing death in 2021.

The parents had ignored several warning signs in the days leading up to the shooting, and had just bought their son the weapon he used in the shooting, according to prosecutors. The prosecution argued that the parents failed to secure the weapon and limit their son's access to it.

Prosecutors argued that James Crumbley failed to use a cable lock, trigger lock or store the gun in a locked safe, any one of which could have prevented the shooting. Prosecutor Karen McDonald even demonstrated installing a cable lock for the jury during closing arguments, saying it takes "less than 10 seconds."

PHOTO: Jennifer Crumbley the mother of accused Oxford High School gunman Ethan Crumbley listens on the stand in the courtroom of Oakland County Court in Pontiac, Mich., on Feb. 2, 2024. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

Oxford High School officials had called the parents to the school the morning of the shooting after disturbing drawings were found on their son's math test and he had made statements to a counselor suggesting he was considering suicide, prosecutors said.

School officials testified that the parents said they needed to return to work and could not stay home with their son, and if he left he would need to walk home and remain alone until they finished work. School officials, concerned for the Ethan Crumbley, allowed him to remain in school.

MORE: Jennifer Crumbley grilled by prosecutors over extramarital affairs in 2nd day on stand in manslaughter trial

The shooting occurred that afternoon.

In a back and forth between Matthews and Jennifer Crumbley's attorney Shannon Smith on Tuesday, the judge pushed back against the defense's argument that Jennifer Crumbley did not know anything about the gun and was not responsible for securing it. The judge pointed to texts she sent her husband regarding the gun and how much it costs, and her posting a picture of the gun as her son's Christmas present.

Jennifer Crumbley's trial largely focused on how she spent her time in the weeks and months leading up to the shooting, implying that she failed to act on warning signs or get help for her son. Her former employer testified on the stand that she could have left work the day of the shooting  after her meeting with school officials  to care for her son or said she could have brought her son with her to work if necessary.

PHOTO: Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of Ethan Crumbley, appear in court, Feb. 8, 2022, in Rochester Hills, Mich. (Paul Sancya/AP, FILE)

A man she was having an affair with in the months before the shooting also testified, with prosecutors questioning him about how the two spent their time and about their communications before and after the shooting.

Jennifer Crumbley also took the stand in her own defense, and was grilled by prosecutors over her extramarital affairs and relationship with her son.

ABC News' Whitney Lloyd contributed to this report.

Jennifer and James Crumbley, parents of Michigan school shooter, sentenced to 10 to 15 years for manslaughter originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Rep. Jim Jordan is showing Americans how Donald Trump would pressure private businesses, especially in news and social media, to do his bidding if he wins a second term.

As chair of the House Judiciary Committee, the Ohio Republican is attempting to coerce news outlets, social media platforms, and advertisers into submitting to conservative demands  offering a blueprint for an even more aggressive push for control by an empowered Trump.

In his most recent attack, Jordan has gone on the offense against CBS News, the kind of mainstream media organization that Trump loves to accuse of treating him unfairly simply by doing basic journalism. Jordan has done so by seizing on CBS News' decision to lay off reporter Catherine Herridge in February, scheduling a hearing for next week.

A former Fox News reporter, Herridge was among the reporters who promoted debunked claims about President Joe Bidens alleged involvement in a foreign influence scheme, being especially credulous about a politically motivated report from Senate Republicans and earning praise from Trump for it. Naturally, conservatives see nefarious motives, with Jordan framing the end of her employment as a suppression of free speech and claiming that CBS seized her files.

The organization denied the seizure claims, saying it delivered her personal belongings to her home and kept her files in her office untouched. "We have respected her request to not go through the files, and out of our concern for confidential sources, the office she occupied has remained secure since her departure, read a statement from CBS to TVNewser. A representative from the union SAG-AFTRA later monitored the return of her reporting notes. Jordan is giving Herridge a chance to speak at the hearing while also demanding information from CBS about who decided to let her go and whether anyone went through her files after she left.

Herridge has so far not commented publicly other than sharing a statement from a veterans' group praising her past journalism on social media and another from SAG-AFTRA about her files.

Hundreds of journalists have been laid off in recent months as the news industry continues to be roiled by changing market conditions. Some were, no doubt, working on important investigations into all kinds of powerful interests at the time. But Jordan's decision to highlight Herridge is not an attempt to support journalism but to undermine it, framing this one particular reporter as the target of some broad but unnamed media conspiracy against conservatives.

It fits a pattern with Jordan's other recent efforts. Late last month, we saw him put pressure on major advertising companies that have tried to prevent ads from being placed alongside content or on platforms known for spreading misinformation. In Jordans letter to these ad companies railing against their anti-disinformation stance, he suggests theyve been deliberately trying to demonetize conservatives in defiance of antitrust laws. And hes also targeted social media platforms for moderating hate speech and disinformation, alleging this, too, is part of some conspiracy against Republicans.

This is what it looks like for the federal government to actually target private industries. And if all this sounds disturbing to you (which it should), keep in mind that this is what Jordan is doing when he has little power. If Trump is re-elected and Republicans retake the Senate, Jordan will have a lot of powerful allies in these schemes to try to influence the news and social media that Americans consume.

CORRECTION (April 9, 2024, 12:19 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the committee that Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chairs. It is the House Judiciary Committee, not the House Oversight Committee.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Job fair to be held for careers in Community Health System

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Are you actively searching for a career in the Community Health System? Officials announced they will be holding a career fair for all those interested.

Recruiters and department leaders will be onsite at the Riverpark Farmers Market to discuss career goals, opportunities, and benefits of advancing a career with one of the states top 10 employers.

Officials say they are recruiting the best of the valley in various departments including, but not limited to:

Nursing (all areas)

Patient Care Techs

Monitor Techs

Rehab

Medical Office Assistants

Pharmacy Techs and Pharmacists

Medical Assistants

Environmental Services

Security and much more

Candidates can enjoy finger foods and refreshments as they explore career opportunities with the largest healthcare system in the region. A kids activity station will also be available for those shopping with their children.

Recruiters say employee benefits outside of base compensation include overtime after eight hours and pay differentials for nights and weekends. Aside from base benefits, other supplemental benefits include:

Free on-site gym and free personal training and classes

Retirement plans with up to 8% matching contributions

Well-being for the whole family through LifeWorks (Employee Assistance Program)

Group pricing on insurance and major purchases

Education and certification reimbursement, including scholarships

Free parking, including electric vehicle parking

Vacation time starts building on the first day and builds with seniority

Great food options with on-demand ordering

Community officials also add that RNs interested in a neuroscience career will get a chance to win a two-night getaway worth up to $2,000 in value. Some roles for other recruits may be eligible for sign-on bonuses of up to $10,000 as well.

The job fair will be held on Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Riverpark Farmers Market. Those who would like to attend can register on the Community Health System website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
John Oliver has criticised the death penalty once more ahead of the execution of a Missouri man for a 2006 double murder, branding executions a protracted nightmare of suffering.

The comedian has spoken out against executions before on his show, the first time being in the second-ever episode of Last Week Tonight in 2014 and again five years later.

However, his stance has remained staunchly the same: It is morally wrong, and there is no humane way to do it.

Olivers discussion of the death penalty comes ahead of the execution of 52-year-old Brian Dorsey in Missouri, which is set to take place on Tuesday.

While the inmates attorneys have condemned the decision, Governor Michael Parson denied a last-ditch clemency request and said that the courts order will deliver justice and provide closure.

Oliver has railed against the lethal injections used in executions for a third time due to some grim developments, with 91 people executed in the US since his last episode on the subject.

The comedian also pointed out that 13 of those executions were carried out by the federal government during the Trump administration, describing the former president as going on an execution spree before he left office.

Our federal and state governments have continued to pursue questionably legal and definitely horrifying ways to do something that, again, I would argue they shouldnt be doing at all, Oliver claimed.

A photo released by the Federal Public Defender, shows inmate Brian Dorsey at the Potosi Correctional Center, Washington County, Missouri (Jeremy Weis/Federal Public Defender)

State and federal agencies have found obtaining the drugs used in executions difficult, simply because it is bad for the suppliers business, the host explained.

Lawmakers have called to put shield laws in place to protect businesses, but despite the secrecy laws, suppliers still see it as a bad business venture, he added.

That has led states to source drugs from some pretty sketchy suppliers, Oliver alleged.

Which is a problem because when drugs are tainted or not formulated at the proper dosage, executions become a protracted nightmare of suffering.

The Trump administration used a single shot of pentobarbital, Oliver claimed, but added that shutting down the use of this lethal shot would not stop executions taking place in the country: Because elected leaders seem hell-bent on getting it done.

Alabama became the first state to carry out an execution using nitrogen gas, on death row inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith, with UN experts even saying they unequivocally condemned how the execution was performed.

All this secrecy is also meant to protect us, the people in whose name it is done, from confronting the horror of what the death penalty truly is, Oliver added in the show. Because whether its nitrogen gas, or an IV injection of drugs, or a firing squad, or an electric chair, or being pressed with weights, its all brutal.

However, in one part of the episode, Olivers team claimed that they tracked down the alleged supplier to the Trump Administration, a company called Absolute Standards.

While the company makes chemicals for calibrated machines, Oliver also alleged that the company produced execution drugs.

I know Ive spent a lot of time over the last 10 years reassuring everyone that this show does comedy and not journalism, he said, but I think we can all agree that the most important thing we do here is stir s*** up.

The comedian explained that a Last Week Tonight researcher filed a Freedom of Information request with the DEA on the company in 2020 and has repeatedly reached out to it for comment.

He claimed that the company have ignored them, which is an odd thing to do when someones accusing you of making execution drugs.

The agencys liaison allegedly told them on two separate occasions, that the documents were taking so long because they were related to the death penalty, according to Oliver, who said, whats known in the government world as a big, old whoopsie.

The host also claimed that a confidential source allegedly confirmed to the shows researcher that Absolute Standards is the company who made the drugs.

At this point, they might as well just update their real slogan of we have the solutions to we have the solutions that were secretly used in a bunch of government executions, the host joked.

A report by Reuters in 2020 also looked into this, but Stephen Arpie, the director of Absolute Standards did not respond for comment.

However, Reuters conducted interviews with Mr Aprie earlier that year, who at first said his company had no involvement in the governments execution drugs.

Mr Arpie later said he did not always know what his customers did with his products, and so could not rule out involvement, Reuters stated.

"In many parts of our market, we dont know what the final intended use is going to be," he said.

The Independent has contacted Absolute Standards for comment.

Aside from trying to figure out who supplies lethal drugs in executions, Oliver points out an irony about the whole death penalty process.

Its never going to be okay, and we are kidding ourselves if we think taking someones life actually lowers the number of killers in the world, he said. It literally, definitionally, creates more.

Brian Dorsey will be executed on Tuesday, despite pleas from correctional officers that he has shown remorse for what he did and has made a transformation, his attorneys claimed in a statement.

Dorsey has not appealed on the grounds that he is innocent in the 2006 double murder, but that he received constitutionally flawed original legal representation, violating his 6th Amendment right to counsel.

His attorneys have also raised concern that due to Dorseys obesity, diabetes and being a former intravenous drug user, it could be more likely that a deep incision on the skin will be performed, called a cutdown, to place an IV line to deliver execution drugs.

His attorneys compared this to surgery without anaesthesia.

Oliver called on the government to just stop doing it, and said President Joe Biden could commute death sentences and regulate lethal drugs.

If the government is going to give itself the power to execute its own citizens, he proclaimed, adding that, however, he believes it should not, then I want to see where the drugs come from, whos making them, and relentless scrutiny on every part of the process.

The Independent and the nonprofit Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) have launched a joint campaign calling for an end to the death penalty in the US. The RBIJ has attracted more than 150 well-known signatories to their Business Leaders Declaration Against the Death Penalty - with The Independent as the latest on the list. We join high-profile executives like Ariana Huffington, Facebooks Sheryl Sandberg, and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson as part of this initiative and are making a pledge to highlight the injustices of the death penalty in our coverage.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will give pro-privacy advocates something they wanted in the upcoming debate over renewing an anti-terror surveillance law: a floor vote on how law enforcement agencies can get hold of personal info on Americans without a warrant.

But critics say the move is a ploy meant to ensure the provision doesnt make it into any final bill.

Johnson has showed his true colors. His desire to appease [House] Intelligence Committee chair Mike Turner [R-Ohio] outweighs any sense of responsibility he might have to the American people, and he is ready and willing to betray their trust, said Elizabeth Goitein, director of the Brennan Center for Justices liberty and national security program in a social media post.

Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), whose Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act would prohibit law enforcement agencies from buying personal data, like location history, from private companies, told Politico, They essentially want to concede that, Okay, we allowed the debate to happen  but we are working very aggressively to make sure it doesnt become law.

Facing potentially the two politically toughest weeks of his speakership so far, Johnson has to navigate two virtual minefields: getting the House to approve renewal of a 9/11-era law governing how U.S. law enforcement agencies track potential spies overseas, and a long-delayed funding package for Ukraine Johnson said would be dealt with after Easter.

The two issues cleave along different lines, even in his own conference. Pro-privacy advocates favor overhauling the surveillance law, especially the post-9/11 Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that has allowed for spying on Americans even while targeting foreigners. Others, led by Turner, want minimal changes in the name of national security. Both factions have Democrats who agree with them.

Johnson has yet to say exactly what he will put in a Ukraine aid bill, but firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has threatened to call an ouster vote against him if he allows a floor vote on it.

Against that backdrop, Johnson has tried to tread carefully. In December, the original plan on FISA was to have competing surveillance bills from Turner and from House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) come to the floor. But that idea crashed, and lawmakers approved a straight extension through April 19.

In February, Johnson planned something similar to what he hopes to see this week: a base bill, but with competing amendments on controversial items like database searches that turn up Americans information and agencies buying data from private companies that they could not collect themselves without a warrant. Thats what Davidsons bill deals with.

But that plan fell apart after Turner raised concerns over a Russian anti-satellite weapons program and was accused of threatening to block floor votes on the bill to avoid seeing the pro-privacy amendments come to the floor.

With April 19 looming, Johnson needs to get a surveillance bill across the House floor this week to give the Senate time to OK it too. But on Friday, the new FISA bill that would be amended was unveiled and civil liberties advocates were upset it didnt allow for an amendment on agencies buying data.

Instead, Davidsons bill was scheduled for its own stand-alone vote later in the week, but with the requirement it would have to get a two-thirds majority to pass. Civil liberties groups saw the move as a stab in the back, given the bigger majority needed for approval and that the Senate could ignore the bill in a way it could not if it was part of the FISA renewal bill.

The speakers thumb is about to break the scale, said Sean Vitka, policy director for Demand Progress.

Despite overwhelming, bipartisan support to protect Americans privacy in the House Judiciary Committee, which has primary jurisdiction over FISA, Johnson instead appears to be siding with the Intelligence Committee, Mike Turner and spying agencies.

Greene said shell vote against the overall FISA bill and posted on her social media, FISA has been abused by our government to spy on hundreds of thousands of Americans, and I dont trust our government to stop abusing FISA.

Turner, in an appearance Sunday on CNNs State of the Union show, said critics were being untrue in their descriptions of the law.

These are foreigners abroad. Theyre a select group of individuals who are a national security threat, he said. If youre an American and youre corresponding with ISIS, yes, if were spying on ISIS, your communications are going to be captured. You would want us to do that.

A request for comment with Johnsons office was not immediately returned, but on Friday in a letter to his fellow Republicans, he said of the FISA bill, Our responsibility now is simple: maintain the tool but strictly prohibit future abuses.

In July of 2023, though, Johnson had not been tapped to be speaker yet and was on the Judiciary Committee considering Davidsons Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale bill.

Along with 29 other members of the committee from both parties, he voted in its favor.
Sunday marked the six-month anniversary of Hamas surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. As such, Jon Stewart decided it was the perfect time for a quick wellness check on Gaza, and how America is responding to what has become an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

As the war has grinded on, justice is beginning to seem more like cruelty, said The Daily Show host on Monday. But not to worry: America, the shining city on a hill, is on the case with our universal values.

Unfortunately, as Stewart came to realize, those values seem to be rather inconsistentespecially when comparing Joe Biden and other lawmakers response to the war in Ukraine versus the war in Israel.

When discussing the Ukraine-Russia war, the president was unequivocal in his stance that in any battle for freedom we need to be clear-eyed. Biden was backed up by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who called Russias weaponization of food in Ukraine unconscionablea description Stewart agreed with, which brought him back to Israel.

There is a literal famine in Gaza caused by the war, said Stewart. I assume America will also consider this unconscionable. But, alas, not the case. When asked about the situation in Israel, national security communications adviser John Kirby could only confirm that America is indeed concerned about whats happening. But left it at that.

Well you cant spell unconscionable without concern. At least part of itthe con part, Stewart offered.

When it came to attacks on the free press, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated their official position is that they condemn the Russian governments continued targeting and repression of journalists.

But Stewart had a feeling that those strong feelings might sound a little softer when it came to Gaza, where he explained more journalists have been killed in six months than anywhere else in the world. And a new Israeli law says they can ban media outlets they consider a threat, which reportedly includes Al Jazeera. Jean-Pierres response? If its true, it is concerning.

Oh, were concerned again, replied Stewart, mockingly. How about: If its true, we condemn it? And by the way, is it true? Feels like you could probably just call someone and just be like, Is this true? And if theyre like, Yeah, its true, you can be like, Thats concerning. Not condemning, but concerning.

Jon Stewart Mocks Media Meltdown Over Trumps Hogtied Biden Pic

This same non-committal attitude seems to hold true when it comes to forcefully taking land that belongs to another country. Biden came in guns blazing when discussing Russias attempts to claim Ukraine territory, declaring that the American people will never waver in our commitment to those values.

Ish, replied Stewart.

This is where Israels actions get interesting, he continued. Because you might say Israels war is different than Ukraines. Israel is responding to an attack and a hostage crisis. But in the midst of that, they pulled a little something in the West Bank on March 22 that might be notable. And by that, he means that the Israeli government declared nearly 2,000 acres of land in the occupied West Bank as state land. Which would make it the largest land transfer since the Oslo Accords were signed in 1993.

While Blinken happened to be in Israel that day, he said he didnt know enough about the details of the situation. But if it were true, its something we would have a problem with.

You dont know about it? They did it the day you fucking visited, raged Stewart. Why do we tiptoe around on eggshells? They slap America in the face and our response is, Well, if anyone slapped us in the face it would be concerning, thats for sure.

The verbal gymnastics that the American government must undertake so as not to offend the delicate sensibilities of a country we provide most of the weapons for is [insert incoherent scream], said a clearly frustrated Stewart. Every time America tells the world that theres something we wont allow, Israel seems to say, Challenge accepted.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Jon Stewart Calls Out Americas Verbal Gymnastics Toward War in Gaza: U.S. Knows This Is Wrong but Lacks Courage to Say It

On the The Daily Show, Jon Stewart decided it was time for a wellness check on Gaza after the Israel-Hamas war reached the six-month mark Sunday.

As the war has grinded on, justice is beginning to seem more like cruelty, The Daily Show host said on Monday night. But not to worry: America, the shining city on a hill, is on the case with our universal values.

More from Variety

Stewart then pointed out that Americas values are quite inconsistent, especially when comparing the governments response to the war in Gaza versus the war in Ukraine.

In one clip, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Russias weaponization of food in Ukraine unconscionable.

Stewart agreed with Blinkens description, adding: Speaking of which, there is a literal famine in Gaza caused by the war. I assume America will also consider this unconscionable.

However, when asked about the situation in Gaza, national security communications advisor John Kirby only stated that America is concerned.

Well you cant spell unconscionable without concern, Stewart said. At least part of it  the con part.

Stewart shared several more examples of Americas response to the Russia-Ukraine war versus Israel-Hamas war, including attacks on the free press and taking another countrys territory by force.

The verbal gymnastics that the American government must undertake so as not to offend the delicate sensibilities of a country we provide most of the weapons for, is Stewart said of Israel before letting out an exasperated sound. Every time America tells the world that theres something we wont allow, Israel seems to say, challenge accepted.'

The Associated Press reports more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of war  over 13,000 of them children.

Stewart added, The subtext of all this is America knows this is wrong, but apparently doesnt seem to have the courage to say it in a straightforward manner.

Best of Variety

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Jon Stewart took the Biden administration to task over how it deals with Israel, pointing out the stark contrast between the U.S. government response to the Ukraine-Russia conflict and that over the war in Gaza.

On Mondays episode of The Daily Show, Stewart took a wellness check on the war on Gaza, adding that as the war has grinded on, justice is beginning to look like cruelty.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

In a segment the Daily Show has dubbed The Futile Crescent, the host looked at the Biden administrations recent determination to uphold a rules-based order inherent to the U.S.s universal values  but only in relation to the Ukraine conflict. Using clips of President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Stewart focused on their robust condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine, and in particular, their comments about Russian attempts to target and suppress the free press and weaponize food shortages against Ukrainians, the latter policy Blinken has described as unconscionable.

Weaponizing food in Ukraine is not kosher nor halal, Stewart joked. Sorry if Im both side-sing this. Speaking of which, there is a literal famine in Gaza caused by the war. I assume America will also consider this unconscionable?

I think you all know whats coming next, said Stewart as he presaged a succession of clips featuring Biden administration officials John Kirby and Karine Jean-Pierre deflecting questions or expressing only concern about Israels push to suppress and target the press in Gaza. More journalists have been killed in Gaza in six months than anywhere else in the world, and a new Israeli law says they can ban media outlets they consider a threat, Stewart said as he cut away to another clip of Jean-Pierre expressing more concern over reports Israel was looking to ban news network Al Jazeera.

Instead of concern, Stewart suggested that if the reports over Al Jazeera were true, then the U.S. should say we condemn it. He then moved on to the issue of recent land seizures, describing the bedrock rule of international law as being no taking of land. When Russia does it, were pretty clear, he said, cutting away to forthright recent comments from Biden: The entire world has a stake in making sure that no nation, no aggressor is allowed to take a neighbors territory by force. The American people will never waver in our commitment to those values.

See, this is where Israels actions get interesting. Because you might say, Israels war is different [from] Ukraines, Israel is responding to an attack and hostage crisis, Stewart said seeking to clarify the respective conflicts. But in the midst of that, they pulled a little something in the West Bank on March 22 that might be notable, he added, alluding to the Israeli governments appropriation of 2,000 acres of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank on the same day Blinken was in Israel for talks.

Thats not even Gaza. Thats the West Bank, Stewart said. So you cant say this has anything to do with defending yourself against Hamas. Lets see if America upholds its rule against taking land. There then followed a clip of Blinken trying and failing to deflect a question over the land seizure.

Why do we tiptoe around on eggshells?, an exasperated Stewart exclaimed. [Israel slaps] America in the face and our response is: Well, if anyone slapped us in the face, itd be concerning, thats for sure. I mean, raising a hand to a delicate body part of the face, if true. The verbal gymnastics that the American government must undertake so as not to offend the delicate sensibilities of a country we provide most of the weapons for is yarghhhhh!

Stewart continued, Every time America tells the world that theres something we wont allow, Israel seems to say challenge accepted. Are they willfully trying to provoke us?

After reiterating the death toll in Gaza, and seemingly no change or softening in Israels prosecution of its war, despite Biden administration pushing for more precision in military strikes, Stewart asked: What the fuck are we doing here?

The subtext of all this is America knows this is wrong. But apparently, it doesnt seem to have the courage to say it in a straightforward manner, he added.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter
Judge rules WA ban on high-capacity magazines unconstitutional, but law stays in place for now

A Cowlitz County Superior Court judge ruled Monday that the states ban on sales of high-capacity magazines is unconstitutional.

In a news release from Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Monday, Ferguson called the decision incorrect and added that his office filed an emergency motion asking the Washington State Supreme Court to keep the law in place until the court case can be appealed.

Soon after the motion was filed, Ferguson announced that the Washington State Supreme Court agreed to stay the ruling. If the stay had not been granted, firearms dealers in the state would have been able to sell high-capacity magazines again as the case worked its way through courts.

The clerk of the court is directed to issue a briefing schedule and set a date for oral argument on the emergency motion for a stay, Supreme Court documents noted.

Democratic lawmakers passed the ban on magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds in 2022.

In September, the Attorney Generals Office filed a lawsuit against Gators Custom Guns in Kelso after the dealer continued to sell the banned magazines despite the new law. Attorneys for Gators called the ban unconstitutional in their defense.

Every court in Washington and across the country to consider challenges to a ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines under the U.S. or Washington Constitution has either rejected that challenge or been overruled, Ferguson said in the news release. This law is constitutional. It is also essential to addressing mass shootings in our communities. This law saves lives, and I will continue to defend it.

In a video posted to Twitter Monday, Washington Gun Law President Bill Kirk called the ruling good news. He initially encouraged viewers to go now to shop at local independent firearms dealers, but a spokesperson for the AGO told McClatchy that the call to action was outdated since the stay was granted.

Kirk later made another post on Twitter calling the latest news of the stay terrible.

The injunction from Cowlitz has already been stayed by the Washington State Supreme Court, it said. This is not a joke. They fd us already.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk (L) and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), attend a panel discussion in Geneva, Switzerland on April 8, 2024. The head of the WHO on Monday called for health care facilities and personnel to be protected from targeted violence during conflicts. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

GENEVA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday called for health care facilities and personnel to be protected from targeted violence during conflicts.

Speaking at a panel discussion at WHO's headquarters in Geneva, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that damage to health care facilities and their staff has become the norm, as seen in Gaza, Sudan and Ethiopia.

Tedros' remarks came in the wake of deadly attacks on aid workers by Israel, which have sparked international outrage and condemnation. The violence puts an added strain on health systems which are already overwhelmed, and leads to psychological trauma for vulnerable patients, the WHO chief said.

More than 1,400 attacks on health care centers have been documented in the last year, leaving 742 people dead and causing over a thousand injuries, according to statistics provided by the United Nations' (UN) health agency.

Hospitals and medical personnel should be sacrosanct during conflicts, in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasized UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk at Monday's talks.

Meanwhile, in areas free of conflict, global warming has exacerbated droughts and floods, damaging health and livelihoods, Turk warned.

"One of the unfortunate things of war is that it's always about crisis management, which doesn't leave much room to actually deal with the big challenges of our time," the UN human rights chief said. "The climate crisis is clearly one of them."

The two leaders agreed that universal health coverage should be promoted, with Turk underlining that universal access to health care is a human rights, not a political issue. "It has to influence the budgetary decisions that states make," he said.

Turk and Tedros proposed building on the current strategic dialogue mechanism between the WHO and the UN human rights office (OHCHR). 

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (C), director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks at a panel discussion in Geneva, Switzerland on April 8, 2024. The head of the WHO on Monday called for health care facilities and personnel to be protected from targeted violence during conflicts. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks at a panel discussion in Geneva, Switzerland on April 8, 2024. The head of the WHO on Monday called for health care facilities and personnel to be protected from targeted violence during conflicts. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks at a panel discussion in Geneva, Switzerland on April 8, 2024. The head of the WHO on Monday called for health care facilities and personnel to be protected from targeted violence during conflicts. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk (L) and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), attend a panel discussion in Geneva, Switzerland on April 8, 2024. The head of the WHO on Monday called for health care facilities and personnel to be protected from targeted violence during conflicts. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The man accused of kidnapping and killing a Memphis school teacher is expected to go on trial this week for a separate rape case.

Cleotha Abston is charged with aggravated rape, especially aggravated kidnapping and unlawful possession of a weapon in the case of Alicia Franklin.

Jury selection for Franklins case began on Monday.

WREG doesnt typically identify rape victims, but Franklin wants her identity known.

Days after Abston was charged in the Eliza Fletcher case, he was indicted in the 2021 rape of Franklin.

Abston-Henderson pleads not guilty in Eliza Fletcher murder case

Despite Abstons attorneys efforts to move the rape trial because of the pre-trial media coverage involving the Fletcher kidnapping and murder case, the judge refused.

I firmly believe he (Abston) can be tried fairly by a jury in Shelby County, Judge Lee Coffee said.

Memphis Police didnt request the rape kit evidence be expedited, so it sat on the shelf for nearly nine months before the lab could get to it.

Franklins attorney, Gary Smith, says that the MPD failed to investigate his clients rape and allowed Abston to remain free until he allegedly killed Fletcher.

It has haunted her (Alicia Franklin) constantly, Smith said. If I could have pushed the police to do their job, it could have saved her life.

Memphis prosecutors seek death penalty against man charged with kidnapping and killing teacher

After Fletchers death, the Legislature passed a law requiring the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to issue a quarterly report on sexual assault kit testing times.

Fletchers case will likely happen at the conclusion of Franklins case.

Abstons attorneys are expected to file a change of venue motion in the Fletcher case as well.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Months after Kaiser Permanente reached a sweeping agreement with state regulators to improve its mental health services, the healthcare giant is facing union allegations that patients could be improperly losing such care.

The National Union of Healthcare Workers, which represents thousands of Kaiser mental health professionals, complained earlier this year to state regulators that Kaiser appeared to be inappropriately handing off decisions about whether therapy is still medically necessary.

The union alleged that Rula Health, a contracted network of therapists that Kaiser uses to provide virtual care to its members, had been directed by Kaiser to use "illegal criteria" to make those decisions during regular reviews.

California requires such decisions about mental health care to be based on criteria developed by professional groups, but the union said there was no evidence that was happening. Instead, the union complained that documents indicated Rula was relying on questions answered by Kaiser patients about their own symptoms.

The risk is that patients "have a psychological disorder that requires additional treatment and Kaiser is unfairly and improperly terminating their access to care," said Fred Seavey, a researcher for the union.

The union also alleged that regularly requiring such "clinical care reviews" violated laws barring insurers from putting up barriers to mental healthcare that don't exist for other health conditions. Kaiser does not subject other outpatient care to such reviews, "let alone at such frequencies," the union said in its complaint.

Read more: An AI app claims it can detect sexually transmitted infections. Doctors say it's a disaster

The union called on the California Department of Managed Health Care to order Kaiser to immediately halt that review process and notify any Kaiser patients whose treatment was "illegally terminated" by Rula.

Kaiser said in a statement that it does not set limits on the number of therapy sessions, and that "the level of therapy needed and the frequency and number of sessions for any patient is a decision made by our mental health care providers in consultation with patients and as appropriate based on the patients clinical needs."

It added that "the self-assessment tools do not determine whether treatment remains medically necessary. ... Patient self-assessment tools may be used as one aspect of gathering information from the patient but are never the only factor."

A Department of Managed Health Care spokesperson said its enforcement office was looking into the issues raised by the union under its recent settlement with Kaiser. That agreement, reached last fall, required Kaiser to pay a $50-million penalty and invest $150 million over five years into improving its mental healthcare.

The state agency said it had found shortcomings at Kaiser related to failures to provide timely appointments, insufficient oversight of medical groups in determining "appropriate care," and inadequate handling of patient grievances, among other issues.

Among the problems that DMHC noted: Medical records for patients did not show the use of legally required guidelines for making decisions about mental health treatment. Patient records instead showed "self-assessment scores" from questionnaires, according to the settlement agrement.

Kaiser Permanente chief executive Greg A. Adams said last year that the organization had seen demand for mental healthcare surge amid the pandemic, which collided with an "ongoing shortage of qualified mental health professionals, clinician burnout and turnover," as well as a 10-day strike by mental health clinicians.

In a recent statement, Kaiser said it was "in the process of implementing transformational changes contemplated by the settlement agreement," including a "dramatic increase in the number of providers available to see our members  both newly-hired therapists and contracted therapists."

A Rula spokesperson said in a statement that its therapists, "in collaboration with their patients, make all clinical decisions around the course of care."

Read more: More parents are delaying their kids vaccines, and its alarming pediatricians

In Chino, Jaklynn Fuentes-Soto said she was told by her therapist earlier this year that her sessions with the Rula provider would soon stop, even though "my therapist thought that I should continue treatment." The 25-year-old said that if she wanted to keep seeing the therapist, she would have to pay out of pocket.

As a student working part time, "I don't think that financially I'm able to."

Fuentes-Soto said she has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and other mental health conditions. She said she had been regularly seeing her therapist after one episode led her mother to take her to the emergency room.

"If I'm not having the help that I need for my mental health," she said, "it has me regress to a very dark place."

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Vice President Harris will visit Arizona on Friday to continue her leadership in the fight for reproductive freedoms, the White House announced just after the states Supreme Court upheld a near-total abortion ban Tuesday.

The Arizona Supreme Courts decision upheld an 1864 law that made performing an abortion a felony, including only a narrow exception to save a pregnant persons life. It rejected arguments it should uphold a 15-week abortion ban passed in 2022.

Arizona just rolled back the clock to a time before women could vote  and, by his own admission, theres one person responsible: Donald Trump, Harris said in a statement, taking a swing at the former president.

Its a reality because of Donald Trump, who brags about being proudly the person responsible for overturning Roe v. Wade, and made it possible for states to enforce cruel bans, she said, blasting Arizonas ban as extreme and dangerous.

The ruling came under swift fire from Democrats.

This is what leaving it to the states looks like, Ammar Moussa, the Biden campaigns rapid response director, said in a post on the social platform X. A day prior, former President Trump said the fate of abortion should be determined by individual states.

The vice presidents upcoming trip marks her second visit to the Grand Canyon State this year, after she visited Phoenix last month to advocate for reproductive rights as the court considered the matter.

The alarm is sounding for every woman in America: if he has the opportunity, Donald Trump would sign off on a national abortion ban. He has called for punishing women and doctors. If he wins, he and his allies have plans to ban abortion and restrict access to birth control, with or without Congress, Harris said Tuesday.

In a statement from the White House on Tuesday, President Biden said the Arizona ruling is a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away womens freedom.

Updated at 3:06 p.m. ET

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  KANSASWORKS is hosting a virtual statewide job fair.

The job fair will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24.

Registration is required. Pre-register online at app.premiervirtual.com.

You can donate your solar eclipse glasses to Latin American kids to use later this year

Employers from across the state will have a variety of employment opportunities.

Job seekers will have the opportunity to chat live with and interview virtually with employers.

You can connect to the job fair on your computer, smartphone or tablet.

Any individual with a disability may request accommodations by contacting 877-509-6757 prior to the event.

KANSASWORKS is hosting a State of Kansas Agency job fair on May 22 and a statewide job fair on June 26.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Some previously sealed documents in Karen Read case will be made public ahead of murder trial

The Karen Read murder case returned to court Tuesday afternoon for a motion hearing ahead of her trial, which is slated to get underway next week.

Read, of Mansfield, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Boston Police Officer John OKeefe, in Canton. Shes accused of running over him in reverse and leaving him to die in a January 2022 snowstorm.

Read herself didnt make an appearance inside Norfolk Superior Court but Judge Beverly Cannone announced plans to release some of the files the Boston Globe requested to unseal in a previous motion from the defense to dismiss the murder case.

Cannone agreed to release a memorandum in support of Reads legal teams motion to dismiss, as well as the Commonwealths opposition to that motion to dismiss. Those documents could be released as early as Wednesday morning as Cannone directed the state to redact personal information involving those connected to the case.

In late March, Cannone denied a motion to dismiss Reads second-degree murder indictment, effectively squashing her hope of avoiding a trial.

Karen Read, facing a murder charge in the death of an off-duty Boston police officer, was ordered held on $100,000 bail.

Karen Read, 41, of Mansfield, Mass., is charged with manslaughter in the Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, death of Boston police Officer John OKeefe. O'Keefe, 46, was off duty at the time of his death.

High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer

High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer

High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer

High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer

High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer

Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe

Karen Read is arraigned in Stoughton District court accused of manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston Police officer John O'Keefe

Just last week, Cannone ordered a 200-foot buffer zone around the courthouse while the high-profile case plays out during the trial.

Reads lawyers claim she is being framed in a massive cover-up, and that feds have been investigating the probe into OKeefes death.

Reads trial begins on April 16.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake speaks with reporters after leaving the office of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Capitol Hill on March 6. Kent Nishimura via Getty Images

When Arizonas state Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a near-total abortion ban on the books since 1864, Kari Lake, the leading GOP candidate for Senate in the swing state, came out forcefully against the decision.

I wholeheartedly agree with [former] President [Donald] Trump  this is a very personal issue that should be determined by each individual state and her people, Lake said in a statement that noted her status as the only woman and mother in the Senate race. I oppose todays ruling, and I am calling on [Arizona Gov.] Katie Hobbs and the State Legislature to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support.

But in February 2022, when Lake appeared at a candidate forum while running for governor, her thoughts on the near-total ban were much different.

We have a great law on the books right now, Lake said of the old law, which had become unenforceable under Roe v. Wade. A month later, Arizona passed a 15-week ban in anticipation of the Supreme Courts decision ultimately overturning abortion protections.

If Roe v. Wade was struck down, Lake said at the time, we will be a state where we will not be taking the lives of our unborn anymore.

Lake changed her position in February of this year when she told NBC News she supported the states 15-week abortion ban, rather than the 1864 measure known as the territorial law because it predates Arizonas statehood. Arizona re-codified the ban, which only offers an exception for the life of the mother, in 1912, after it was admitted to the Union. The law has no exceptions for rape or incest, and doctors found guilty of performing the procedure face up to five years in prison.

Lakes flip is one of the most glaring among the several Republican Senate contenders who are hoping voters wont remember their more extreme stances from earlier in their careers, before the Supreme Court ignited a ferocious political backlash with its overturn of Roe v. Wades guarantee of abortion rights.

It also shows just how potent the issue of abortion rights could be in determining the presidential and Senate races in Arizona, a key swing state dominated by suburban voters. Lake is set to face Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego in a battle to replace retiring Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent, in November.

Lake may find it hard to walk back the public instances of her supporting the 1864 law as she runs for Senate.

I think the older law is going to go into effect  thats what I believe will happen, Lake predicted during a GOP debate in July 2022.

The debate moderator followed up: OK, but you approve of that  at conception?

I believe that life begins at conception, Lake responded, suggesting she had no problem with the territorial laws complete ban on the procedure.

The Arizona abortion ruling will not take effect right away. The Arizona Supreme Court issued a stay until a lower court can weigh in on additional questions about its constitutionality.

But the political fallout has been immediate. The ruling is expected to turbocharge Democratic efforts to put a measure on the ballot seeking to codify abortion rights in the state constitution, a push that began well before Tuesdays ruling. Arizona for Abortion Access says its already collected enough signatures for the constitutional amendment ahead of the July deadline.

Republicans went from confronting a potentially challenging election year to one that could be catastrophic. The fate of a U.S. Senate majority for Republicans, as well as a return to the White House, may hinge on how the GOP does in Arizona, with further ramifications down the ballot.

This is a political earthquake that if not fixed by the legislature will cost Republicans seats in November, said Barrett Marson, a GOP consultant in Arizona. If the status quo remains the same, this is a huge problem for Republicans up and down the ballot ... Yesterday, Democrats had a real chance to flip one of the houses in the [state] legislature. Now I think both houses go Democrat. Kari Lake was going to be competitive  maybe. Now, I think shes done.

Arizona Democrats wasted no time tying Lake to the decision, even as she tried to distance herself from it.

Gallego cited Lakes description of the 1864 ban as a great law.

Yet again, extremist politicians like Kari Lake are forcing themselves into doctors offices and ripping away the right for women to make their own healthcare decisions, Gallego said in a statement. Lake called this a great law  even though it will ban nearly all abortions, including in cases of rape or incest.

Here in Arizona, we support a womans right to an abortion  which is why I am going to defeat Kari Lake and fight like hell to protect abortion rights once and for all, he added.

Related...
Katie Porter is optimistic about the future of her congressional seat  and her career

Since Democratic Rep. Katie Porter launched her losing bid for Senate, an air of discontent has simmered quietly  and not so quietly  among fellow Democrats.

They had worked hard to flip her Orange County congressional seat from red to blue in 2018. Porter's decision to run for Senate against fellow Democratic Reps. Adam B. Schiff and Barbara Lee meant the swing-district House seat would be vacant, setting up an expensive race for Democrats  and a potential flip for Republicans  as each side fights for control of Congress.

California has become a key battleground in the fight for the House, and Porter's seat is one of a handful that will help determine which party wins control. But she dismissed fears that her absence from the ballot could make the seat easier for the GOP to pick up, saying in an interview that Democrats have a strong candidate for the 47th Congressional District in state Sen. Dave Min, who will face off against Republican former Assemblyman Scott Baugh in November.

"We have to be careful not to let that anxiety doom us to fail," Porter told The Times. "I absolutely don't see why Dave won't win."

Read more: Path to 218 runs through California: State races pivotal in fight to control the House

Porter has become friendly with Min since running against him in 2018 in a race that was unusually nasty. She noted that they have since become friends and this year, he prevailed decisively in a Democratic primary against a well-funded opponent even while bearing the brunt of millions of dollars in attack ads.

Porter also said she remains open to the possibility of running for elected office again but is excited in the near term to return to teaching at UC Irvine's law school, where she has been on leave since her election to Congress.

"To me, educating students who are going to go on to become lawyers and prosecutors and public defenders and judges and civil rights attorneys is also shaping public life," she said.

Jacob Rubashkin, deputy editor for Inside Elections, said it's hard to envision Democrats winning the majority in the House if Min loses this fall. His Republican opponent Baugh lost by 3 percentage points to Porter in 2022  in a race that saw her raise and spend close to $30 million. Min's fundraising is unlikely to come close to hers, but he's getting fundraising and organizing support from congressional Democrats' national campaign arm.

Rubashkin also pointed out that outside groups supporting Min's Democratic opponent in the primary ran nearly $5 million in ads attacking Min for a 2023 DUI in Sacramento, and he still won decisively last month.

"I think there's going to be a lot more focus [from Republicans] on his legislative record in Sacramento than his criminal record in Sacramento this fall," Rubashkin said.

Read more: How Katie Porter harnesses her blunt style and single-mom experience in her Senate campaign

Looking back on her primary run against Schiff, Lee and Republican Steve Garvey, Porter said she was handicapped by the outside money flowing into the primary in its final weeks attacking her along with a shifting "zeitgeist" that left many Democrats unenthusiastic about voting. The low turnout from young people in particular made it a hard race for her to win, she said.

"It's hard when you get outspent 3 to 1, and that is ultimately how in the last month the race unfolded," she said.

"Donald Trump is one of the biggest threats to our democracy. I think you could also say that voter disillusionment, voter disengagement  particularly among younger voters, voters of color  that is also a big threat to our democracy and we should be thinking about that going forward as well."

Porter had previously said she regretted calling the California Senate primary rigged. Her point with that comment was that the money flowing from outside sources, some of which was hidden, made it hard for her to compete.

For now, Porter said she's focused on her work on the House Oversight Committee, as well as on passing several pieces of legislation related to ethics and good government. One would require members of Congress to disclose their meetings to their constituents. She also highlighted a colleague's bill to require more and earlier disclosure of campaign spending by super PACs.

When asked about running for governor or attorney general in 2026, Porter was noncommittal, saying that right now she wants to spend more time with her family, but that she would not "foreclose anything in the future."

Since the primary ended, she's already followed through on a promise to her daughter Betsy: that if Porter lost the race for Senate, the family could get a cat.

Naming the new pet, though, has been a big "controversy," she said. "We're currently deciding between Mocha, Karma and Dino."

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
KBI chief, Stand Up for Kansas say marijuanas more menace than medicine | Opinion

A Kansas Senate committee recently tabled a marijuana legalization bill for the second year in a row.

Since then, even those who support legalization have acknowledged senators did the right thing.

Proponents characterized the bill as highly restrictive, conservative, and medically centric. Opponents, however, characterized it as dangerously broad, monopolistic, and unprecedented with a terrible and certain outcome.

Senate Bill 555 would have allowed four in-state operators to cultivate, process, manufacture and sell medical cannabis products through distribution hubs. There was no limit on the amount of THC cannabis products could contain and, curiously, no prohibition against adding other dangerous drugs to the products and distributing them to unsuspecting patients.

States that have legalized marijuana  even for medical purposes  have inadvertently invited organized criminal enterprises into their communities to exploit new opportunities. Along with that comes increases in human trafficking, homicides, and gang activity.

And the data is clear that crime rates have risen  not dropped  where marijuana has been legalized.

You cant put toothpaste back in the tube once it has been squeezed is a saying that refers to the impossibility of reverting a situation to how it formerly existed. And we need not look further than what has happened in other states to conclude that legalizing marijuana for any purpose is detrimental to Kansans.

In addition to creating public health and public safety crises, it will impact our workforce, our medical system, our communities, and resources at every level of government. Perhaps most alarming, it will impact the Kansas kids that represent our future.

Kansas legislators arent denying patients access  rather, your legislators are protecting you. As elected officials, they have heard the grim realities.

Sadly, the vast majority of Kansans are unaware of the frightening implications marijuana legalization poses to public health, public safety, our society, and our youth.

We want to help close that knowledge gap and share a few important findings  derived from research  that we think every Kansan should know.

 Marijuana use more than doubles the likelihood of other drug use later in life. In fact, 97% of people who have used cocaine or heroin started with weed.

 Marijuana use increases the risk of developing nonmedical prescription opioid use and opioid use disorder. States that have legalized medical marijuana have experienced a 22.7% increase in opioid overdose deaths.

 Students who use marijuana and THC have poorer educational outcomes than their peers. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 17% of 10th graders and over 30% of 12th graders use marijuana. Studies have found marijuana use to be associated with reduced educational attainment, including decreased high school graduation rates.

 Consuming marijuana can cause severe mental health outcomes, including depression and psychosis, as well as consequences for physical health. Studies have shown that higher concentrations of THC increase the risk of marijuana addiction, which raises the risk of schizophrenia four-fold.

Many Kansans also dont know that real, FDA-approved medications containing THC already exist and are available by prescription. This eliminates the need for legislation subverting the safeguards inherent in the FDA-approval process and establishing impure, unpredictable, and toxic forms of medicine under the guise of medical marijuana.

The motive underlying the legalization of medical marijuana is pure profit. For more than 40 years, it has been the pot industrys playbook to normalize the use of marijuana as medicine while taking incremental steps toward full legalization. Every state that has legalized marijuana for recreational purposes started with medical marijuana.

Make no mistake: legal weed is fueled by corporate greed  backed by groups that prioritize the creation of an addiction-for-profit scheme over the lives of real people.

Tony Mattivi is the director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation; Katie Whisman is executive director of Stand Up For Kansas.
A bill that would hold event organizers financially responsible for public events thrown without a permit in the state of Georgia was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp Monday, throwing the future of the annual beach bash known as "Orange Crush" into jeopardy.

The bill, SB 443, was authored by state Sen. Ben Watson (R-Savannah) in response to last year's Spring Break festival, which is hailed as "the biggest HBCU beach bash to hit the East Coast." Although the official trademarked Orange Crush festival moved to Jacksonville in 2021, Orange Crush originated on Tybee Island in 1988 and has been an annual event attended primarily by Black college students from throughout the South. It will be held this year from April 19-21.

Orange Crush: Everything you need to know about Orange Crush weekend 2024

I appreciate Governor Kemps support in signing Senate Bill 443 into law, said Watson in a press release following the signing of the bill. Governor Kemp understands the importance of avoiding situations where promoters bypass local permitting processes and leave citizens with the costs of responding and cleaning up from unpermitted events.

Gov. Kemp declined to comment on his signing of the bill.

Orange Crush has been unpermitted since 1991, when Savannah State University (SSU) severed its ties with the organizers. Lawmakers and Tybee city officials say that the event  which drew an estimated 50,000 people to the 3-square mile island  constitutes a public nuisance, resulting in hours of standstill traffic on the one road linking the island to the mainland and blocking the pathway for emergency vehicles. Tybee officials estimate that the 2023 Orange Crush cost the city $187,000 due to the cost of providing security, emergency services, toilets and other public safety measures.

More: Orange Crush festival organizers could face legal liability for throwing unpermitted event

Tybee Mayor Brian West also applauded the signing of the bill, which came in time to go into effect by this years event. However, he noted that the owner of the Orange Crushs official trademark is no longer affiliated with the event in Tybee, leading city officials to pursue other strategies for determining who organized the event, and thus who to hold liable.

We actively scan social media to see promotions and track what the activities are going to be, where they are going to be held and who's promoting them, West said. The promoters also initially come to us and try to work with us to gain permits for the events, and typically they are unable to meet the requirements of the permits because they don't start planning far enough in advance for the types of activities they'd like to have. And so therefore, we're unable to issue permits for what they want to do.

According to West, three different people have applied for Orange Crush permits between Tybee and Chatham County, all of which have been denied. So far this year, the city has spent an estimated $230,000 on expenses including port-a-potties, barriers to block off two parking lots and fencing for a towing yard.

One of the most effective ways to deter the abuse that we see here is to block or restrict parking, and so there's going to be very limited parking here, West said. We're going to close our lots and block off most of the parking on the island, so the people who are coming here for these events arent going to really be able to stay because they wont be able to find a place to park.

Though nearby Savannah is now a majority-Black city, Tybee Island has remained predominantly white, with only 3.52% of its residents identifying as Black or African American. The beaches where Orange Crush is held have only allowed Black visitors since 1964, and in 2021, the festivals original organizer moved the event to Jacksonville, Florida, citing lack of resources, limited parking, civil rights violations, and political injustices.

For Jaydon Grant, a recent graduate of SSU who has attended Orange Crush in previous years, the event holds both personal and historical significance; three generations of his family have attended Orange Crush starting with his 74-year-old grandfather.

He said that keeping the event in Savannah is important because that's where it originated, it has history behind it. You cant call Savannah State University Savannah State University if you take it to Florida. That's not history. It started in Savannah.

Grant is also a board member of RETIREMOMSSOS, a nonprofit that organized a beach cleanup day scheduled for April 22 in an effort to change the narrative surrounding Orange Crush. He says he hopes that the event will be permitted in the future so that it can be treated the same as other annual events hosted on the island.

"If Tybee can prepare for Fourth of July, Memorial Day, when those events is just as crowded, why can't they do the same thing for Orange Crush? Grant said. And so, that's what I want to do. I want to find ways to help to get that event permitted so we can prepare for it.

Destini Ambus contributed reporting to this article.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Orange Crush 2024: Kemp signs bill holding promoters liable for costs
BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov in Beijing Tuesday, and both sides expressed hope for strengthening practical cooperation in various fields.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, extended congratulations to President Putin on his reelection. Wang said that China will continue to support Russia's development and revitalization under the leadership of President Putin and support the Russian people's independent choice of development path.

Wang said that the China-Russia relations have been of irreplaceable value to maintaining global strategic stability. Maintaining and developing sound China-Russia relations is the natural choice of the two major, neighboring countries and serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

Wang said China is willing to work with Russia, in accordance with the consensus reached by the two heads of state, to strengthen the synergy of the two countries' development plans and promote practical cooperation in various fields.

Lavrov noted that Russia-China relations are based on mutual respect, equal cooperation and trustworthy dialogue. Russia abides by the one-China principle and is willing to work with China to maintain close high-level exchanges, and deepen practical cooperation in economy, trade and other fields.

Russia supports the Global Security Initiative, and is willing to deepen cooperation with China on multilateral platforms to promote the establishment of a more just and democratic international order, Lavrov added.

The two sides also had in-depth exchanges of view on the Ukraine issue, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the situation in the Asia-Pacific region and other international and regional issues of common concern. 
Kentucky school superintendent suspended for six months by state standards board

Robertson County Superintendent Sanford Holbrook has been suspended for six months by the state educator certification board.

An agreed order from the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Boards was approved during the December 11 EPSB board meeting. The minutes from that meeting were approved and published during the February 12 meeting.

The order said the suspension begins June 1 during which time Holbrook cant work as a superintendent. EPSB documents did not include the nature of the allegations.

The suspension of Superintendent Holbrook is being taken pursuant to a complaint filed with EPSB, not an action by the local school board, said Kentucky Department of Education spokesperson Joe Ragusa.

Ragusa did not immediately say why Holbrook was suspended and Kentucky Department of Education officials said late Tuesday afternoon they had no comment.

Prior to reinstatement, Holbrook must provide written proof to the board that he has completed a professional development course on educator ethics and state school law.

The order said the board would seek additional sanctions if he receives further disciplinary action by any school district for the next 10 years.

We do not have a comment at this time, Holbrooks attorney Regina Jackson said Tuesday.

Robertson school board chairman John Burns did not immediately return a call Tuesday. The school board attorney Claire Estill said she had no comment.

The Ledger Independent reported in 2019 that Holbrook was initially hired as superintendent in 2015. Robertson County Schools is one of the states smallest districts, with about 450 students.

Holbrook is also a member of the Morehead State University Board of Regents.

University officials did not immediately comment Tuesday.

Holbrooks term ends this year, according to MSUs website.
Doctors and other medical staff take part in a protest, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Friday, March 22, 2024. Hundreds of Kenyan doctors have protested in the streets demanding better pay and working conditions in an ongoing nationwide strike that has entered its second week. The doctors carried placards and chanted against the Kenyan government on Friday, saying it had failed to implement a raft of promises, including a collective bargaining agreement signed in 2017 after a 100-day strike during which people died from lack of care. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  A public hospital in Kenyas capital, Nairobi, has laid off 100 doctors who are taking part in a nationwide strike that has been ongoing for almost a month, its management said Tuesday.

The Kenyatta University Referral Hospital said new doctors had been hired in place of those striking.

Doctors in Kenya went on a nationwide strike in mid-March demanding better pay and working conditions.

President William Ruto on Sunday broke his silence over the strike saying there was no money to pay striking doctors.

We must be honest with ourselves and the truth is that we must live within our means, we can't borrow money to pay salaries, Ruto said.

The doctors union has remained adamant, and on Tuesday hundreds of doctors took part in protests and presented a petition to parliament urging lawmakers to intervene in their labor dispute.

This is not the first time Kenyan doctors are striking over poor pay and working conditions. In 2017 doctors took part in a 100-day strike that saw people dying from lack of care. The strike ended with the doctors' union signing an agreement with the government to increase their pay.

Doctors now say part of what was agreed upon in 2017 has not been implemented.

___

Follow APs Africa coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Kern County Coroners Office identified an inmate who was fatally assaulted at Kern Valley State Prison on Friday.

Coroner officials say David W. Dodd, 58, was assaulted at the prison and died at the scene.

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Dodd was allegedly attacked in a fight with another inmate, identified as Michael Darden, Jr., 47.

Police: Woman found dead under suspicious circumstances in south Bakersfield

Darden allegedly struck Dodd with an makeshift weapon, according to CDCR officials.

Medical staff was called to the scene and said Dodd was stabbed multiple times. He was taken to an medical facility at the prison where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is investigating the incident.

No other inmates or officials were injured.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
Richard Sauber, the White House lawyer who battled an onslaught of highly politicized Republican congressional inquiries and a special counsel investigation into President Joe Bidens handling of classified documents, plans to leave the administration in early May.

Sauber, who has been in his role of special counsel to the president since May 2022, is expected to return to private practice. Rachel Cotton, a senior counsel at the White House Counsels Office who has served as Saubers deputy, will replace him.

Saubers expected departure comes on the heels of the conclusion of special counsel Robert Hurs probe into Bidens handling of classified documents. While Hur concluded that criminal charges against the president were not warranted, his more than 300-page report was highly controversial, in no small part because of its many references to the presidents alleged memory problems.

In his role as White House counsel, Sauber emerged as a key White House voice to publicly excoriate Hurs conclusions.

As Bidens special counsel, Sauber has also overseen the White Houses legal strategy amid Republican lawmakers months-long efforts to impeach the president. That mission appeared to crumble earlier this year, after an ex-FBI informant with ties to Russia was charged with giving false information to the FBI  lies that were at the very foundation of Republicans bribery allegations leveled against Biden and his family.

While Sauber had always expected to eventually return to the private sector, both the conclusion of the Hur investigation and the seeming political collapse of the GOP impeachment inquiry into Biden created a natural opening for his exit, a White House official told CNN. The White House counsels offices work to fend off House GOP efforts to investigate the president will continue under Cotton, who will now inherit from Sauber the official title of special counsel to the president and a team of about half a dozen lawyers that focus on oversight issues related to the White House.

While the votes appear to be lacking in the House GOP conference to impeach the president, lawmakers have floated a variety of ideas in the past for possible oversight investigation into the president, his administration and his family.

White House chief of staff Jeff Zients said in a statement provided to CNN for this story: Dick has provided invaluable counsel to the President as we have navigated complex legal issues over the past two years, and even at times of pressure, he always approached his work with a wicked sense of humor and a wisdom to see around corners.

Sauber was one of the numerous hires that the Biden White House made in 2022 as it prepared to face a blitz of oversight inquiries from House Republicans.

Then in January 2023, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the appointment of a special counsel to examine Bidens past handling of classified documents  an investigation that, to the exasperation of many inside the White House, would drag on for 13 months.

Sauber has also been in close coordination with Department of Homeland Security officials on House Republicans impeachment of Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

White House counsel Ed Siskel described Cotton as the perfect person to replace Sauber, citing her years of experience working on these issues, and her wisdom and leadership.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Local Democrats met in Springfield on Saturday to celebrate the Greene County Democrats 102nd Annual Democrat Days of the Ozarks.

The keynote speakers at the evening banquet, National Organization of Women (NOW) President Christian F. Nunes and Former Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper, bolstered the spirits of attendees with messages of hope ahead of a volatile election season.

Springfield Rep. Stephanie Hein at the Democrat Days Banquet at the Doubletree Hotel in Springfield on April 6, 2024.

Pepper, who has written several political novels, drew parallels between political struggles in Ohio, his home state, and Missouri.

Ohio voters recently struck down a proposed constitutional amendment to change the ballot initiative process, and later approved a measure enshrining the right to abortion in their state. Missouri voters are likely to see one, if not both, of these issues on their own ballots this year.

However, Pepper says that these struggles arent isolated to just Missouri and Ohio, but are happening in statehouses across the country. While many political analysts focus on the outcome of national races in a few states, Pepper raised concerns about the outcomes of elections for seats in state legislatures.

Young Gabe Gragg leads to the pledge of allegiance during the Democrat Days Banquet at the Doubletree Hotel in Springfield on April 6, 2024.

With the U.S. Congress often unable to pass legislation due to stalemates between Democrats and Republicans, Pepper says that the GOP has taken the fight to state legislatures, where they can advance conservative policies that are unable to pass at the national level.

The single most important institution in America to accomplish what they want to do to subvert democracy, to lock into minority worldviews are the statehouses in the United States of America, Pepper said.

By subverting democracy, Pepper refers to efforts to gerrymander districts to create favorable voting populations to elect candidates with certain viewpoints or efforts to increase the threshold to pass initiative petitions to something more than just a majority of the popular vote.

Rep. Richard Brown, a candidate for Missouri lieutenant governor in 2024, speaks with attendees of the Democrat Days Banquet at the Doubletree Hotel in Springfield on April 6, 2024.

Pepper continued by stressing the importance of having candidates running on both sides in an election, rather than uncontested races where the primary supersedes the importance of the general election.

In recent years, Missouri has shifted to being a majority conservative state, with all statewide offices being held by Republicans. However, successful candidate recruitment efforts for Missouri Democrats this year have brought challengers for most of the statewide races. This presidential election year had the best recruitment numbers for Democrats since 2008.

For example, 100% of the statewide and congressional races in Missouri this year will feature Democratic and Republican candidates. Of the 17 Missouri Senate races up for election this year, 15 of those have candidates from both parties, and 135 out of 163, or 83%, of the seats in the Missouri House of Representatives will have challengers, up from 97 challenged seats in 2022.

Images from the Democrat Days Banquet at the Doubletree Hotel in Springfield on April 6, 2024.

Pepper encouraged attendees to look at these elections as a fight to preserve democracy, to ensure that voters have a choice between candidates when they vote in the November general elections, even in the most conservative rural areas of the state.

We are in a full-out battle for democracy itself, Pepper said.

Additionally, Pepper stressed that this battle for democracy at the current election is part of the long-term struggle, and that political activists must view this as a long game past the current election cycles, and something that must be fought in every state across the country.

Images from the Democrat Days Banquet at the Doubletree Hotel in Springfield on April 6, 2024.

Every citizen of America deserves to live in a functioning healthy democracy in their state, Pepper said. We see them fighting that battle in all 50 states all the time.

Pepper reminded attendees to have constant vigilance and continue that fight, even in traditionally Democratic areas, reminding them that many areas that have been traditionally liberal had such low voter turnout in some elections that the seat was flipped conservative.

My hope is this motivates all of us, Pepper said. We're all on the frontlines of democracy in the battle.

More: What ACLU President Deborah Archer had to say about combating racism in speech at Drury

Picking up where Pepper left off, Christian Nunes sought to inspire and preserve that hope for democracy in local Democrats by reminding them what it is that they are fighting for.

I want you to think about the theme of your Democratic Days of the Ozarks, defending freedom and democracy, because right now, the soul of this country is crying, Nunes said. It is crying because it is a risk of losing our democracy and losing the freedoms of many people.

With Democrats in the minority in most areas of the state, as well as in both chambers of the Missouri General Assembly, Nunes encouraged attendees to retain their hope in democracy and continue fighting for their values and beliefs.

Images from the Democrat Days Banquet at the Doubletree Hotel in Springfield on April 6, 2024.

When we might feel a little agitated, might feel a little tired, might feel a little weary, I want you to think about what's at stake," Nunes said. Remember, the work has been done before, and that will be done again with the collective power of the people.

Nunes, who serves as president for the National Organization of Women, spoke in support of efforts to overturn the abortion ban in Missouri. Petitions were circulated at the event to put the measure seeking to enshrine abortion rights into the state constitution on the ballot this year.

Missouri, you stand as a stark example of the most egregious assault on reproductive rights, which is one of the most draconian bans that we've seen in a long time in this entire country, Nunes said.

Rep. Barbara Phifer speaks to guests at the Democrat Days Banquet at the Doubletree Hotel in Springfield on April 6, 2024.

Missouri was the first state to enact its trigger law banning abortion when Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. Nunes sees access to reproductive care as an essential right for all people, and laments the struggles that Missouri women have faced since the ban went into place.

This is not a partisan issue. This is not a women's issue. This is not just a feminist issue, Nunes said. This is an issue that impacts and affects everyone because everyone deserves the right to reproductive freedoms.

Nunes encouraged unity in the efforts seeking to restore abortion rights in the state. Earlier this year, a competing abortion ballot initiative sponsored by Jamie Corley, who is now running for Missouri secretary of state, was abandoned, allowing abortion supporters to coalesce behind one initiative petition from Missourians for Constitutional Freedom.

Together, it will take all of us to stand united in our fight for justice and equality, refusing to back down in the face of opposition, Nunes said.

Images from the Democrat Days Banquet at the Doubletree Hotel in Springfield on April 6, 2024.

For Nunes, having reproductive freedom means more than just bodily autonomy.

It is about trusting people, trusting women, trusting childcare and people to make decisions for their families for their life for their health care, Nunes said. And not relying on politicians in Jefferson City or Washington to make those choices for them.

Nunes concluded her speech by reminding attendees of the importance of their vote and their voices, encouraging them to inform their friends and neighbors of whats at stake in the upcoming elections.

Freedom and democracy are on the ballot this November, and we're going to make sure that everyone knows what's at stake, Nunes said.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Speakers urge unity, vigilance at Democrat Days of the Ozarks
The induction of the new money marks one of the last steps in the change of reign from Queen Elizabeth

YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty King Charles, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and Bank of England's Chief Cashier Sarah John at Buckingham Palace in London on April 9, 2024

King Charles is in circulation.

On Tuesday, the King, 75, welcomed the Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and Chief Cashier Sarah John to Buckingham Palace to receive the first bank notes featuring his portrait. The sovereign, who has postponed public-facing duties while receiving cancer treatment, appeared in good spirits during the small audience, where he had a lighthearted reply to the 5, 10, 20 and 50 bills featuring his face.

"Very elegant," King Charles said of the design, which is an engraving inspired by a picture of him taken in 2013, the BBC reported.

According to the outlet, its tradition for the British sovereign to receive the first issues of a new tender. The new polymer banknotes will enter circulation on June 5 and the existing bills featuring the late Queen Elizabeth will remain in use. The Bank of England said that the new banknotes will only be printed to replace bills that have become worn or meet necessary increase.

Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty King Charles, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and Bank of England's Chief Cashier Sarah John at Buckingham Palace in London on April 9, 2024.

Related: King Charles and Queen Camilla Mark 19th Wedding Anniversary  How Their Lives Have Changed Since Coronation

"Our approach is in line with guidance from the Royal Household, to minimize the environmental and financial impact of this change," the national bank explained in a statement  no surprise given King Charles lifelong interest in sustainability and conservation.

YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty King Charles, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and Bank of England's Chief Cashier Sarah John at Buckingham Palace in London on April 9, 2024

The Bank of England Governor also told the King that the new money marked the hubs first time swapping sovereigns on the currency, as Queen Elizabeth was the first sovereign to have her image on all Bank of England bills, the BBC said. Unlike the money famously affiliated with his late mother throughout her record 70-year reign, however, King Charles is not wearing a crown in the currency.

Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty The new bank notes featuring King Charles' portrait, set to enter circulate on June 5, as presented to the King at Buckingham Palace on April 9, 2024.

Related: King Charles Smiles at Well-Wishers Outside Sandringham Church One Week After Surprise Easter Outing

The outlet added that the induction of the new money marks "one of the last major steps of the transition" to King Charles reign following his accession in September 2022 upon his mothers death. His likeness is already featured across coins and stamps in the U.K., and where he is depicted without a crown in a portrait facing to the left. That shot is an adapted version of the portrait created by Martin Jennings for The Royal Mint.

Kings "have not always worn a crown, so quite rightly, the King has decided that's the image he wants, and we are very happy to show that image as he chose," David Gold, director of external affairs and policy at the Royal Mail, said of what King Charles chose.

Getty A shot of the King Charles stamps in London on April 12, 2023.

The sovereigns latest audience at Buckingham Palace came a week after his surprise Easter Sunday walkabout with Queen Camilla. In an unexpected move, the royal couple shook hands and exchanged holiday wishes with a small crowd following a service at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on March 31.

The public interaction was unexpected, as the royal couple sat apart from the rest of the congregation (including several members of the royal family) in line with medical advice to minimize the risk of infection amid the Kings treatment.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty King Charles and Queen Camilla attend the Easter Sunday Mattins Service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on March 31, 2024.

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The sovereign briefly spoke about his health during the mini walkabout, as seen in video shared to X by Rebecca English of the Daily Mail.

"Get well soon, Your Majesty," one woman said outside the chapel, prompting the King to reply, "I'm doing my best!"



Hollie Adams - WPA Pool/Getty Images King Charles and Queen Camilla greet people after attending the Easter Matins Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on March 31, 2024.

A royal source tells PEOPLE that the sovereign is "progressing well" in his treatment and there is an "amplified confidence" amid the sophisticated treatment receiving.

"He is positive, the doctors are optimistic," the source says.



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A few weeks ago city officials worried a delay in federal funding would push finishing up Kissimmees first emergency housing facility into next year.

On Tuesday, the city announced it obtained $1.8 million needed to wrap up renovations this year on Osceola Countys only such facility open to men, women and children  helping provide stable housing for hundreds of residents in need.

Its a one-of-a-kind project in Central Florida that focuses on affordable housing, critical support services and opportunities to address those who are unsheltered or at risk for homelessness, Deputy City Manager Desiree Matthews said. It is the first major affordable housing and homelessness initiative here in the city of Kissimmee.

Uncertainty over funding the federal government ended March 23 when President Joe Biden signed a $1.2 trillion spending package. That allowed for Kissimmees Haven on Vine project to get support through Community Project Funding.

Matthews said funds will go toward remodeling the former Super 8 motel into affordable apartments and emergency housing units slated to open toward the end of the year. The site is on the corner of Vine and North Hollywood streets.

Right now theyre standard hotel rooms so in order for us to have these really serve as a functional studio apartment it needs a kitchen, Matthews said.

Universal Orlando gives legislators $168k in freebies, gets millions in tax breaks | Commentary

The Haven on Vine marks the citys first effort to create an emergency housing alternative to motels and the only facility in the county dedicated to rapid housing.

The focus is on finding individuals and working with individuals who have the intent on ending their homelessness, Matthews said.

The project comes as homelessness has risen over 60% throughout Osceola County in the last five years. The facility will prioritize those experiencing homelessness along with victims of domestic violence, families with children, displaced or homeless seniors and veterans.

The facility will serve residents who have lived in the county for a minimum of one year and meet federally established low-income qualifications. The city plans to contract with a nonprofit to handle the facility and placement of individuals.

The goal of the entity that we hire is to figure out different plans of how to address the different levels of homelessness in our community and ensure those who are placed in the emergency housing want to be housed, Matthews said.

The funding comes as over 40 leaders from county, city and local nonprofits toured different affordable housing projects across Osceola by bus Tuesday that are also funded by federal grants.

These are the types of projects that are going to help so many folks who literally cannot afford to live here anymore and they may be longtime residents, said Congressman Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, who has helped the city and county secure funding for projects including Haven on Vine.

The tour updated officials on the progress of projects that include affordable housing for those with special needs at Dillingham apartment complex, Haven on Vine and the second phase of affordable housing at Cameron Preserve.

Matthews said Haven on Vine is already leasing affordable apartments to those who qualify and currently has over 50% occupancy.

Individuals and families interested in residency at Haven on Vine are encouraged to contact the city of Kissimmee for more information by emailing myhaven.info@kissimmee.gov or contacting the Haven office at 407-518-2553.
The Arizona Supreme Court upheld a 160-year-old abortion ban on Tuesday that would prohibit nearly all abortions in the state except when necessary to save a pregnant persons life.

The decision reversed a previous Arizona Court of Appeals ruling that allowed abortion to remain legal in the state up to 15 weeks, in accordance with a 2022 law, according to Planned Parenthood.

Make no mistake, by effectively striking down a law passed this century and replacing it with one from 160 years ago, the Court has risked the health and lives of Arizonans, said Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes in a press statement Tuesday, before adding that her office would not be prosecuting any physician or woman under the draconian law.

The near-total abortion ban was written before Arizona was officially a state and before women could vote. The ban, which dates back to 1864, would sentence abortion providers to two to five years in prison for providing an abortion. Additional sanctions could be issued to physicians who perform abortions after 15 weeks.

The ban wont go into effect just yetas the court stayed its enforcement for 14 days.

Arizonans deserve the right to make personal decisions about their reproductive health care, free from government interference. We are devastated by todays ruling but we remain committed to defending reproductive freedom in the courts, at the legislature, as well as in communities across the state towards the passage of the Arizona for Abortion Access Act this November, said Jared Keenan, legal director of the ACLU of Arizona, in a press release. The urgency to enshrine the right to abortion in our states constitution has never been more necessary.

What the Arizona Supreme Court decision says

The Arizona Supreme Court decision would make it so that all abortions, except those necessary to save a womans life, are illegal, according to the ruling. There are no exceptions for rape and incest.

We conclude that [Arizonas law] does not create a right to, or otherwise provide independent statutory authority for, an abortion that repeals or restricts [the law], but rather is predicated entirely on the existence of a federal constitutional right to an abortion since disclaimed by Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the court said in its opinion. Absent the federal constitutional abortion right, and because [the law] does not independently authorize abortion, there is no provision in federal or state law prohibiting [the laws] operation. Accordingly, [Arizonas law] is now enforceable.

The act has been criticized by several politicians, including the president. Millions of Arizonans will soon live under an even more extreme and dangerous abortion ban, which fails to protect women even when their health is at risk or in tragic cases of rape or incest, President Biden said in a Tuesday press release.

What does it mean for women and abortion providers?

Planned Parenthood says that abortion through 15 weeks will remain accessible for a limited period of time because of a separate lawsuit filed in October 2022. In that case, the Maricopa County Superior Court ruled that the state cannot enforce the abortion ban until 45 days after the Arizona Supreme Court made a decision, per Planned Parenthood. That means the ban would not go into effect until June.

This decision will result in a legal chilling effect on Arizonans who wish to obtain abortion services regardless of the circumstances that lead to their decision, and for those in the medical community who might provide them, said Pima County Attorney Laura Conover, a party in the case in an emailed statement.The result of this will ultimately cause an increase in unsafe abortions and threaten the liberties of those involved because the criminalization of abortions will not end the need or desire of those who seek services.

Will there be a ballot initiative?

Arizona for Abortion Access, made up of a number of reproductive rights organizations, is pushing for a constitutional amendment that would give a right to abortion care until fetal viability, or the 24th week of pregnancy. Abortions would be provided after that point if a health care provider says an abortion is necessary to protect the life or the physical or mental health of the pregnant individual, under the ballot initiative.

Arizona abortion advocates need to get 384,000 valid signatures by July 3 if they want to put abortion on the ballot this November. Organizers said they exceeded the signature threshold by more than 100,000, but have a goal of 800,000, according to NBC News. The signatures still have to be certified.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
How to Know if Your Eyes Are Damaged from the Eclipse

The American Academy of Ophthalmology issued a list of symptoms, which may even appear even a day or two after exposure

Hector Vivas/Getty The sun disappears behind the moon during the Great North American Eclipse on April 08, 2024 in Mazatlan, Mexico.

Millions of people across America watched the April 8 total solar eclipse, but some may be worried that they accidentally damaged their eyes.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology issued a list of symptoms that people should look out for in the next few days.

Symptoms of "solar retinopathy" include blurry vision, headache, a blind spot in your central vision in one or both eyes, increased sensitivity to light, distorted vision and changes in the way you see color, known as "dyschromatopsia."



Hector Vivas/Getty The eclipse on April 08, 2024 in Mazatlan, Mexico

Related: Woman Describes 'Blind Spot' from Looking at Last Solar Eclipse, Warns 'Don't Be Like Me'

While "there is no treatment for solar retinopathy," the organization continued, "many people recover after three to six months, but some will suffer from permanent vision loss, in the form of a small blind spot and distortion."

And, these symptoms may not show up immediately after viewing the eclipse.

In these cases, patients commonly present with vision changes a few days after viewing the eclipse without eye safety, added Dr. Abhiniti Mittal, a University of Buffalo ophthalmology resident. Most do recover vision within a few months, but a severe injury can have more prolonged effects.

Kent Nishimura/Getty Barbara McLaughlin from Washington, DC, and her granddaughter on April 8, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Related: Couple Who Met During an Eclipse Wed During Total Solar Eclipse: 'It's the Most Romantic Thing'

And remember that if your eyes feel uncomfortable, "it may not be a sign of solar retinopathy," says the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Avnish Deobhakta, an ophthalmologist at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, said that more people arrive at emergency rooms worried about the damage to their eyes but, in most instances, are not diagnosed with eye damage, per NPR.

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VIENTIANE, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A total of 51 Buddha images have been unearthed in a rural area of northern Laos' Xieng Khuang province while an unexploded ordnance clearance team was working there in the excavation.

While the exact age and origin of the figurines remain unknown, authorities believe they could date back several hundred years, the local news website Lao Pattana News reported on Tuesday.

After the excavation on April 2, the unearthed Buddha statues have been placed, under tight security, at a village office in Phoukoud district of the province, some 180 km northeast of the Lao capital Vientiane.

Officials from the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism are scheduled to inspect the excavation site in Xieng Khuang from April 8 to 9.

In March, more than 200 Buddha statues of unknown age and origin were unearthed in Tonpheung district of the northern Bokeo province. Excavations in the area are continuing in the hope that more will be found. 
ISW believes that the Kremlin is trying to use pro-Russian figures in Moldova to destabilise Moldovan democracy and society.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: In this way, Russia wants to prevent Moldova from joining the European Union or even justify future hybrid or conventional operations against Moldova.

Evgenia Gutsul, the Kremlin-linked governor of the pro-Russian Moldovan autonomous region of Gagauzia, has hinted that Romanian officials control the Moldovan government. This was the latest in a series of recent attempts by the Kremlin to question the sovereignty of European pro-Western governments.

Gutsul said on 8 April during an interview on Russia's state-run Pervyi Kanal (Channel One) TV channel that if Gagauzia starts the process of secession from Moldova, the reaction will come not only from the Moldovan government in Chisinau but also from Bucharest, Romania, which Gutsul said "controls" the Moldovan authorities, implying that Moldova is not a sovereign state.

Gutsul claimed that the Moldovan authorities could respond to Gagauzia's secession with "loud, threatening statements" or send troops into Gagauzia.

She also said that the unification of Moldova with Romania would be the "death" of Moldova, the Moldovan language and culture.

On 5 April, Gutsul said that Gagauzia would "immediately" start the process of secession from Moldova if Moldova united with Romania.

Military analysts believe that Gutsul's interview on Russian state television on 8 April was likely aimed at creating conditions to justify potential future Russian aggression against Moldova to Russian-speaking and pro-Russian audiences in Gagauzia, the pro-Russian breakaway republic of Transnistria, other pro-Russian regions of Europe and Central Asia, and in Russia itself. The Kremlin likely sees its efforts in Moldova as part of Russia's broader existential geopolitical conflict with the West. Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and MFA officials have recently hinted that Western countries are somehow directing the Armenian government's national security policy and claimed that Finland "lost its independence in making foreign policy decisions" after joining NATO.

Previously, in order to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty and justify Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has made similar false claims that NATO controls Ukraine and uses Ukraine to threaten Russia. The Kremlin is likely to continue to claim that various target states are not fully sovereign in order to set the information conditions for Russian hybrid or conventional operations against them.

To quote the ISW's Key Takeaways on 8 April:

Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian oil refineries are reportedly forcing Russia to seek gasoline imports from Kazakhstan.

Ukraines Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) indirectly suggested that it may have been responsible for an explosion that disabled a Russian Baltic Fleet small missile carrier at the naval base in Baltiysk, Kaliningrad Oblast on 7 April.

Recent discourse among select Russian military bloggers highlights contradictory Russian rhetoric in the Russian information space between narratives that seek to portray Russian forces as more capable than Ukrainian forces and other narratives that seek to criticise the Russian military for shortcomings that result in high Russian infantry casualties.

The Kremlin-affiliated governor of the pro-Russian Moldova autonomous region of Gagauzia, Yevgenia Gutsul, insinuated that Romanian officials control the Moldovan government  the latest in a series of recent Kremlin efforts to question European pro-Western governments sovereignty.

Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Kreminna, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and the city of Donetsk.

Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the Russian Cabinet of Ministers and Russian machine construction company KONAR JSC to increase the production of components for the domestic machine tools industry, likely as part of ongoing efforts to expand the Russian defence industrial base (DIB) and mitigate the effects of international sanctions.

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A Republican candidate for state House of Representatives in Northern Kentucky was arrested and booked for strangulation Monday night.

According to Kenton County Jail records, Brian Ormes was arrested by a Fort Wright police officer and booked into Kenton County Jail at 11:02 p.m. Monday on three charges  first-degree strangulation, menacing and fourth-degree assault with no visible injury.

Ormes, 53, is a candidate for House District 67, located in Campbell County and encompasses most of the city of Newport. The seat is currently held by House Democratic Whip Rachel Roberts, who is not seeking re-election.

Police arrested Ormes after reviewing video and speaking to witnesses who saw the incident that took place between Ormes and a 17-year-old in a local Walmart.

The teen told police that he and a friend were tossing around a ball that almost hit Ormes child.

Ormes then became angry and followed the the teen, according to the police report. He eventually pushed the teen, who began to walk away, from behind, and then shoved him into a shelf, according to police recounting of video footage of the incident.

Thats when police said footage showed Ormes putting his hands in the neck area on the teen.

The altercation left the teen with clear and visible red marks and a scratch on the back of his neck, police wrote.

Ormes was arraigned Tuesday morning. Kenton County Jail staff told the Herald-Leader that Ormes was in the process of being released on a $2,500 bond as of mid-day Tuesday.

According to a bond decision from Kenton County District Court, Ormes is required to refrain from contacting the alleged victim and to stay out of all Walmarts as conditions of his release.

Though Ormes is running for office in Campbell County, the arresting agency is in neighboring Kenton County. Both counties are immediately south of Cincinnati.

Ormes is in a primary race against Republican candidate Terry Hatton.

The Democratic candidate is Matthew Lehman, who previously ran for Congress against Northern Kentucky U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie.

This is a developing story that may be updated.
Obviously, if you are University College Londons Policy Lab and your latest publication is called The World in 2040: Renewing the UKs Approach to International Affairs, you must find ways of making it sound more interesting.

Hence, perhaps, several pre-publication news stories yesterday on the BBC and in the Left-of-centre press about how the report wants to take down colonial era pictures from the Foreign Office.

Interviewed on the Today programme, its co-author, Moazzam Malik, told of a senior Irish official who attended a Food and Nutrition Summit gathering in the Foreign Office and found that towering over the meeting was a portrait of Lord Trevelyan. This had disturbed the Irishman because Trevelyan had tried to limit the UKs financial exposure to the Irish potato famine.

This story did not sound quite right to me. First of all, there never was anyone called Lord Trevelyan. I think Mr Malik meant Sir Charles Trevelyan. Second, I dont see why a portrait of Trevelyan would have been in the Foreign Office, since he was a Treasury official. I checked with the FCDO, but they did not get back to me.

More important, I question the storys premise. A reminder of our past is rarely offensive, even if it touches on a controversial subject. I am sure British officials visiting Dublin are confronted with representations of Eamon de Valera, Wolfe Tone and other Irish heroes violently hostile to British rule. Why object? This is history. History helps one understand other countries as well as ones own We need more of it, not less.

(By the way, the history of Trevelyan himself is well worth studying because of the ambiguities it brings out. The truth has more nuance that the myth that he was an anti-Irish racist. Besides, he was also the co-begetter of the modern, impartial civil service, through the Northcote/Trevelyan reforms.)

Anyway, the report wants to replace the Foreign Office with something less anchored in the past. The future-oriented name it suggests is the Department for International Affairs or possibly Global Affairs UK.

Instead of serving the Foreign Secretary of the day, this new body would have core objectives and long-term mandates with which no here-today/gone-tomorrow ministers could interfere. The report thinks the traditional idea of diplomats working in Britains interests is much too malleable. Instead, the department should concentrate on things like international institutions and climate change.

The authors admire our National Security Council because it works across departments, but complain that it looks at the world through a security lens, as if this were a fault in a body devoted to security. It wants an NSC expanded to include almost anything you can think of. We will need to help build up thematic and regional expertise to help the UK navigate wicked [is that word a misprint?], complex challenges in a shifting geopolitical landscape, it proposes, vaguely.

The report is thin, occasionally even witless. One might ask why it is getting media attention. The answer is that it is being briefed as the blueprint of a Starmer government.

Mr Maliks co-author, Tom Fletcher, is a former ambassador in the Middle East, who is much used by the BBC to say rude things about Israel. He is being touted as Labours national security adviser.

The former cabinet secretary, Lord Sedwill, happy to blow with the wind after his time under Boris Johnson, has written the foreword.

If this document really represents the future, then we shall see an administration even more in hock to officials, lawyers, devolved administrations and what it calls delivery from semi-autonomous agencies than our present mess. These people will be working hard to face our historical legacy head-on and consider reparations for colonialism and for historical industrial emissions, not wasting their time working for British interests.

Is it Sir David Attenboroughs fate to be superseded by AI?

Our grandson, who is four, is very interested in wildlife. His parents show him clips of Sir David Attenborough describing predatory animals. When he plays with his plastic toys in the bath, he imitates Attenborough, right down to the dramatic pauses, but making up his own scenario, for example. The crab makes a fearful pinch [pause] but the dolphin makes it through, or The seahorse approaches [pause] but the lobster has no idea.

It is a tremendous compliment to Attenboroughs broadcasting skills that he can so impress such a young mind; but it does also prompt the thought that the great man is so distinctive and his style so predictable that AI could now take over all Attenborough functions, thus allowing him to retire and saving the BBC a great deal of money.

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(Bloomberg) -- Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves pledged to tighten a crackdown on non-domiciled residents and expand tax-compliance investigations if Labour wins the looming general election, as she sought to plug gaps in the UK oppositions spending plans.

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Vowing to take on the tax dodgers, Labours finance minister-in-waiting said she could raise 5.1 billion ($6.5 billion) per year by the end of the next parliamentary term by boosting the number of fraud probes by the UK tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs. Some 555 million of additional money would fund 5,000 extra tax-compliance officers to chase funds owed to the government, she said in a statement.

Reeves told BBC Radio that the announcement will help Labour deliver promises of an extra 2 million appointments on the National Health Service, 700,000 more emergency dental appointments and free breakfast clubs in all primary schools to help parents return to work. Thats not small change, she said. Thats a massive difference.

Riding high in polls which suggest theyll win a general election expected later this year, Reeves and Labour Leader Keir Starmer have been under pressure to explain how theyd plug a gap in their funding plans that opened up when the governing Conservatives adopted some of the oppositions fund-raising policies in the budget in March. Instead of spending the expected windfall on health and education services, as Reeves wouldve done, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt used it to cover the cost of a cut to the national insurance levy on pay.

Labour said that even though the Tories had announced plans to scrap the tax regime surrounding so-called non-doms, it had left loopholes in its reforms. It vowed to scrap a 50% discount in the first year of the new rules, raising 600 million, and said foreign assets held in trusts would be subject to UK inheritance tax, raising potentially another 430 million a year.

Under the current regime, non-domiciled residents ranging from middle-ranking bankers to multibillionaires dont pay UK taxes on their overseas earnings for as long as 15 years. More than one in five bankers earning more than 125,000 claimed non-dom status at some point, according to 2022 research by the London School of Economics and the University of Warwick.

Labour also sought to raise more money by plowing resources into HMRC, whose data shows the difference between taxes owed and taxes collected in 2021-22 was 36 billion. The party said that investigations into offshore, corporate and wealthy taxpayers had been cut in half in five years, and that more of the money owed could be collected by boosting staffing at the tax collector.

It is wrong that a minority continue to avoid paying what they owe, Reeves said in Labours statement. The plan we are announcing today will give HMRC the resource it needs to go after those who are avoiding or evading tax.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak must hold a general election by January and has said that his working assumption is that a nationwide vote would take place in the second half of the year.

Labour currently leads the Tories by around 20 points in opinion polls, though the party has faced criticism from its own supporters for not unveiling more adventurous policies that boost spending in the countrys ailing public services. However Reeves said she would always ensure that plans the party announces are fully funded, and blamed the government for a dearth of resources.

The economic inheritance that the next government will have, whoever it is, will be dire, including the highest tax burden in 70 years, the first parliament ever where living standards are worse at the end than they were at the beginning and indeed a debt to GDP ratio thats almost 100%, Reeves told BBC radio. This is the worst economic inheritance since the Second World War, and it will constrain what an incoming government can do.

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The Tower District finally has a cannabis dispensary, nearly three years after the city began permitting for legal weed.

Hundreds of people lined up Saturday for the grand opening of Dr. Greenthumbs, a 3,500 square-foot shop in what was once an abandoned bank on Wishon Avenue near the Tower Theatre.

Some had been camped out since Thursday to get a front-row spot at the ribbon cutting, which was led by Dr. Greenthumb himself: Cypress Hill rapper B-Real. Afterward someone was heard to yell, lets all get high.

The day-long celebration included in-store giveaways, plus food trucks and a lowrider car show.

The whole thing felt like a throwback, B-Real said.

He was reminded of the early days of Cypress Hill, when the band released an album and fans would line up around the block at record stores.

Its been exciting, he said.

The rapper started the dispensary chain in Los Angeles in 2018 and has opened six stores across the state, including Fresno. Its a place he knew he always wanted to be.

We know there is a big cannabis culture here, he said.

Not to mention a love for his band.

The rapper spent much of the morning among the crowd, giving out fist bumps and posing for pictures, or signing autographs on photos, T-shirts, baseball caps and album covers.

Otherwise, he was ensconced in a golden-wrapped tour bus called the Twerkulator.

To be here, he said, its great.

Hip hop groups B-Real, left, poses with a fan at the grand opening for Dr. Greenthumbs, Fresno newest cannabis dispensary, Saturday morning, April 6, 2024 in Fresno.

A vacant building and a dream

When Dr. Greenthumbs branding went up last month, the bright green and yellow arguably became the most visible sign of the arrival of legal cannabis in the city.

But the neighborhood has been waiting. Kacey Auston was one of the first locals to announce an intention to apply for a cannabis license, when she took over the building in early 2021.

It was one of two licenses she was awarded.

Shes also part owner of the Cookies dispensary, which opened in December on Blackstone, just north of Shaw.

But the Tower district dispensary is special, she said. Auston grew up just blocks for the building, which had been vacant since the Bank of American branch closed in 2017. The dispensary is aligned with neighborhood revitalization and a keeping of the culture, Auston said.

I was a Tower rat as a kid, so this is a dream come true for me, she said.

Were going to help keep the Tower weird.

The banks vault is hidden somewhere in back and the remnants of the old building have been removed to make way for the 1,525 square-foot sales floor, which is wide open and decorated with a mural-sized action shot of B Real on stage, the giant green swirl of his signature thumb print and other memorabilia.

His Dr. Greenthumb record hands on the back wall.

Product-wise, the store carries Dr. Greenthumbs full product line, which includes pre-rolls and flower and hash oil. They also carry B Reals Insane product line, which the rapper launched in 1998, and product lines from Snoop Dogg, Stiiizy and others.

Councilmember Annalisa Perea, whose district includes the Tower, was at Saturdays opening and called it transformative.

This building alone has been vacant for so long, she said.

This is the definition of revitalization.

And having another dispensary operating puts the city closer to meeting its projected tax revenue goals for cannabis, she said. So far, the revenue from cannabis has fallen short of forecasts, by as much as $3 million.

Dr. Greenthumbs, Fresno newest cannabis dispensary, has opened in a former bank in the Tower District. Cyprus Hills B-Real was in attendance to welcome the crowd of hundreds at the grand opening Saturday morning, April 6, 2024 in Fresno.

Other dispensaries coming soon

Of course, up until this year, the roll out of legal weed had been slow in Fresno.

Two shops, Embarc and the Artist Tree, opened on the same day in July 2022 and operated without competition for more than a year before the Station opened across from Fashion Fair Mall last December.

Since then, four more dispensaries have opened, including Cookies (on Blackstone and Shaw), Higher Level (on Blackstone at Santa Ana) and two Culture Cannabis Club locations (on Bullard at Highway 41 and at Maple and Jensen avenues).

And there are more coming.

The Sweet Flower dispensary is set for its grand opening this weekend at Shields and Maroa avenues, in the same shopping center that houses El Premio Mayor taqueria and A 1 Liquor.

Work is visibly underway also at the old Fui Hai Chinese restaurant at Belmont and Blackstone avenues. Haven, which already operates a dispensary in Porterville, is expected at that location sometime this month, according to its website.

Bayan Tree Fresno had its own pre-launch party on Saturday, according to its social media. The dispensary is slated to open on Sierra Avenue just off Blackstone.

A second Embarc location is underway at an old 7-11 store at Shaw and West avenues.

State audit on permitting practices

All of this is happening as the states Auditors Office released a report last month urging municipalities to take steps to prevent favoritism and encourage transparency in the licensing of cannabis dispensaries.

The report looked at the procedures in place in Monterey and Santa Barbara counties and in Sacramento, San Diego, South Lake Tahoe and Fresno.

The report found all six municipalities did not always include several best practices in their permitting policies that help to ensure fairness and prevent conflicts of interest, abuse, and favoritism.

Among the critiques for Fresno was the lack of an administrative appeals process for applicants.

Cypess Hills B-Real greets fans and customers at Fresno newest cannabis dispensary which held its grand opening Saturday morning, April 6, 2024 in Fresno.

A crowd gathers for the grand opening of Dr. Greenthumbs, Fresno newest cannabis dispensary, Saturday morning, April 6, 2024 in Fresno.

B-Real, of hip hop group Cypress Hill, left, greets customers at Dr. Greenthumbs, Fresno newest cannabis dispensary, which opened in a former bank in the Tower District Saturday morning, April 6, 2024 in Fresno.

Hundreds gather for the grand opening of Dr. Greenthumbs, Fresno newest cannabis dispensary, Saturday morning, April 6, 2024 in Fresno.
Positive change is happening in the workplace as workers are organizing unions in bookstores, coffee shops, auto factories and hotels. They are walking off the job to demand dignity and respect, and holding the line until the companies give in. As a labor leader, it is a beautiful thing to see young people finding hope in this movement and exercising their power.

So what does Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, do following this surge in worker organizing? He files a lawsuit in Texas federal court alleging the National Labor Relations Board is unconstitutional. The board, which has been charged with protecting a workers right to organize and negotiate for better wages and working conditions for nearly 100 years, has shown new life under the Biden Administration.

Opinion

Of course, Musk has his reasons for doing so. This legal action came shortly after eight engineers at his SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne signed an open letter citing allegations of sexual harassment and discriminatory public statements by Musk, SpaceXs CEO. The employees also city the failure of SpaceXs human resources department to enforce its anti-harassment policies.

Instead of addressing their letter, the workers say SpaceX responded by firing them for drafting and circulating it to coworkers. They filed unfair labor practices with the board, and, shortly after, Musk and SpaceX filed suit.

Theres nothing new about billionaire CEOs trying to stop their workers from engaging in collective action. We are used to them relying on the courts to evade accountability. The irony here is that the company seeking to dismantle a public agency is one that has benefited significantly from taking public funds.

Musks companies  SpaceX, Tesla and Solar City  have received billions in state and federal subsidies, loans and contracts. Tesla alone has benefited from $3.2 billion in direct and indirect subsidies from California taxpayers since 2009.

Meanwhile, Amazon has filed their own copycat lawsuit against the National Labor Relations Board. Again, Amazon and their subsidiaries are some of the biggest beneficiaries of government contracts. (Starbucks and Trader Joes have also joined the legal fight to have the board declared unconstitutional.)

Workers are rising up right now because we face unprecedented income inequality. Our economy is producing more and more billionaires, and yet its getting harder and harder for workers to survive  to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Wealth is concentrated at the top, and corporations have decided they dont have to share.

To fight income inequality, we must take a hard look at where our taxpayer money is going and what were asking for in return.

Rather than give away public money with no strings attached, we should be demanding that corporations agree to create good-paying jobs. Public assistance should require policies that benefit neglected communities and regions, like local hire and community benefit agreements. Government simply must stop subsidizing companies that commit wage theft or engage in union busting when workers try to organize.

The Biden Administration is investing billions of dollars in clean energy and infrastructure jobs in California. We have the opportunity to make sure that every one of those jobs has family-sustaining wages, healthcare and a pension. That will only happen if we take action to require labor standards for these funds and on all our state tax credits.

We may not be able to stop corporate giants from trying to dismantle worker protection agencies, but dont ask working people to subsidize that kind of behavior. Lets take back our power and demand accountability on all public funds.

Lorena Gonzalez is the head of the California Labor Federation, representing 1,300 affiliate unions and 2.3 million union members across the Golden State.
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the executive chairman of the Los Angeles Times, shown in the Globe Lobby of The Times' building in downtown L.A. on April 13, 2018. (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times)

Dear Reader,

Im pleased to share the good news which we shared with the L.A. Times staff yesterday that Terry Tang has been appointed executive editor of the Los Angeles Times.

Terrys name may already be familiar to you. She joined The Times in 2019 and has served as editorial page editor since 2022. In December I decided that a change in editorial leadership was needed and in January this year, I asked her to lead the newsroom on an interim basis, as we executed the planned newsroom restructuring to better engage our readers.

Her passion for the important role journalism plays in our lives and her love of Southern California, where she grew up, make her a great fit for this paper. Day in and day out, she impresses me with her expertise as a journalist, her ability to lead and, most of all, her commitment to you, our readers.

As an Angeleno and someone who cares deeply about this community, I feel extremely lucky that the L.A. Times is in such capable hands. As the executive chairman of this company, I am filled with optimism moving forward with such a talented news executive.

A little more about Terry: Before joining the L.A. Times, she served as director of publications and editorial at the American Civil Liberties Union. Prior to that, she worked at the New York Times for 20 years in many positions: as deputy editorial page editor; op-ed editor; assistant editorial page editor; editorial writer; deputy technology editor; metro desk major beats editor; and co-founder and editor of Room for Debate, an online platform for rapid-response commentary.

Terry will now oversee L.A. Times news coverage and our Opinion pages. She is a champion for the critical role that The Times plays in revealing the truth, explaining life in this sprawling region and bringing attention to issues that matter most, especially for those whose voices are often unheard. She, along with the hundreds of skilled and dedicated journalists who work each day to provide you with a reliable and inspiring source of news, will continue earning your trust every day.

Thank you for supporting the L.A. Times.

Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D.



Executive Chairman



Los Angeles Times





Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov sign the plan on consultation between the two foreign ministries for 2024 after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 9, 2024. Wang held talks with Lavrov in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov in Beijing Tuesday, and both sides expressed hope for strengthening practical cooperation in various fields.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, extended congratulations to President Putin on his reelection. Wang said that China will continue to support Russia's development and revitalization under the leadership of President Putin and support the Russian people's independent choice of development path.

Wang said that the China-Russia relations have been of irreplaceable value to maintaining global strategic stability. Maintaining and developing sound China-Russia relations is the natural choice of the two major, neighboring countries and serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

Wang said China is willing to work with Russia, in accordance with the consensus reached by the two heads of state, to strengthen the synergy of the two countries' development plans and promote practical cooperation in various fields.

Lavrov noted that Russia-China relations are based on mutual respect, equal cooperation and trustworthy dialogue. Russia abides by the one-China principle and is willing to work with China to maintain close high-level exchanges, and deepen practical cooperation in economy, trade and other fields.

Russia supports the Global Security Initiative, and is willing to deepen cooperation with China on multilateral platforms to promote the establishment of a more just and democratic international order, Lavrov added.

The two sides also had in-depth exchanges of view on the Ukraine issue, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the situation in the Asia-Pacific region and other international and regional issues of common concern.

At a joint press briefing after the talks, Wang said that in order to further consolidate and develop bilateral relations, China and Russia should follow five principles:

The two countries should always follow the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy.

The two countries should always adhere to the principle of no-alliance, no-confrontation and no-targeting at any third party.

The two countries should always stay on the right course on major matters of principle. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major emerging countries, China and Russia actively respond to the common aspirations and legitimate concerns of the people of all countries, advocate a new path of state-to-state relations featuring dialogue and partnership rather than confrontation and alliance, and actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

The two countries should always pursue win-win results through cooperation. China and Russia will continue to advocate inclusive economic globalization that benefits all, jointly oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and foster new drivers of global development and progress.

The two countries should always advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world. China and Russia support the central role of the United Nations in the global governance system, and will further strengthen international coordination. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov attend a joint press briefing after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 9, 2024. Wang held talks with Lavrov in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov in Beijing, capital of China, April 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.)  A Student Resource Officer at Lewis-Palmer High School (LPHS) was honored by students at a pep rally on Friday, April 5.

El Paso County Sheriffs Deputy Chad Wheat first made headlines in early 2023 after a video of him dancing with the LPHS Dance Team went viral. After four years as LPHSs SRO, LPHS said he was moving on to become a Sergeant with the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPSO).

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dancing School Resource Officer breaks it down with Poms squad in Monument

On Friday, LPHS came together to celebrate Deputy Wheats time with students and staff.

Over the past four years, Deputy Wheat has served District 38 with distinction. His presence in the halls of Lewis-Palmer High School not only made our schools more safe but also more welcoming. Our staff, students, and community knew they could trust Deputy Wheat in any scenario, and he will be greatly missed. We wish him well as he advances in his career with the El Paso County Sheriffs Office, said Mark Belcher, spokesperson for District 38.

Deputy Wheat being presented a Letterman Jacket

Deputy Wheat being presented a Letterman Jacket

Deputy Wheat being presented a Letterman Jacket

Deputy Wheat being presented a Letterman Jacket

A letterman jacket with Deputy Wheat's name

A letterman jacket with a letter and pins for every sport and club

Deputy Wheat wearing a letterman jacket

Deputy Wheat was presented with a letterman jacket with a pin for every club and every sport. In a post on social media, Wheats supervisor is quoted as saying, Wheat lettered in every club and every sport. Basically, he lettered in being an SRO.

The unconditional love that was reciprocated to me yesterday in my send-off still leaves me with joyful tears and pride of the four school years I was blessed to serve at LP. While its evident I left a mark there, there is an even bigger one left on me wrote Deputy Wheat I am leaving LP on a high note, excited for opportunities to return and see the continued growth. Thank you to LP and the greater D38 community for believing and trusting in me.

FOX21 has reached out to EPSO, but at the time of publishing has not heard back. We will update this article with EPSOs statement when they respond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Letters: A truly modern NHS would not be at the mercy of the postal system

SIR  The senior figures in the NHS complaining about possible reductions in the level of service from Royal Mail (Letters, April 6) have merely drawn attention to their own organisations failings.

Email communication has been in common use for more than 30 years. Of course patients who dont use it need to be sent letters about appointments, but they are in the minority, even among older age groups more likely to require the services of the NHS.

It was pathetic to hear one person representing the NHS, when asked in a radio interview on Saturday to defend the slow introduction of digital communication, protest that the health service had moved quickly to adopt new technology after Covid restrictions forced it to. Is it not just as urgent to stop wasting huge sums on postage, improve the experience of patients and cut down on missed appointments by using email to notify those who are willing to be contacted this way? The whole story has highlighted, once again, the need for the NHS to be more efficient in how it spends the vast amounts of money it already has  before it (or any politician) claims it needs more.

James Little

Epsom, Surrey

SIR  My wife and I, with respective ages of 91 and 87, are certainly not computer whizz-kids, but we have been registered with the NHS Patients Know Best service for more than two years. We receive notice of hospital appointments, cancellations and rescheduled appointments. As the dates get close, we often also receive reminders. I presume this service is available to everyone.

John Bate

Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire

SIR  Recent letters (April 8) appear to suggest that all electronic communication is trouble-free.

I live in a rural area in the shadow of the Mendip Hills; my GP surgery in Weston-super-Mare is a 15-minute drive away. It is not unusual for me to attend an appointment on a Monday, then receive a reminder for that appointment on my phone the following Friday. Last week, prescription information required in the afternoon arrived late in the evening.

If the system can be relied upon, fine  it should be used. But a system that is unreliable is next to useless.

Heather Erridge

Bleadon, Somerset

SIR  I have tried at least three times to arrange for my correspondence from Royal United Hospitals Bath to be sent to me exclusively by email, but to no avail.

I get letters by post, sometimes duplicated and often too late or with appalling grammar  as well as by email.

Maureen Holtum

Bathampton, Somerset

Israel must prevail

SIR  Boris Johnson is not my favourite politician. However, he is right to oppose stopping arms sales to Israel (report, April 6), and to suggest that the behaviour of the enemies of Israel dwarfs the action the Israeli government has taken or is likely to take. This months killing of the aid workers should be a wake-up call for all countries in the region.

If Israel stopped its drive south now, it would keep all the odium poured on it following its reaction to the October 7 incursion, but without the compensating achievement of security  which only the defeat or departure of Hamas could provide.

The consequences of the fall of Israel are unimaginable. Given that, the Government should ignore pressure to adopt policies that could bring such a fall about.

Margaret Brown

Burslem, Staffordshire

SIR  I was the person who was prevented from speaking on a motion on Palestine at the recent National Education Union conference in Bournemouth (report, April 5).

I felt threatened by an overtly hostile environment, with many of the delegates whipping up an almost hysterical response to my speech.

No attempt came from the chair to admonish the baying mob. No attempt to allow me to speak freely was made, no apology forthcoming.

I find it disturbing that, amid the shouting and jeering, taunts of from the river to the sea were heard.

These people are all teachers. Many of my colleagues remarked how they would not like these bigots to be influencing their children.

Peter Block

London N12

Second-home penalty

SIR  From April 2025 the council tax on our cottage in Whitby will double. For many years we ran the cottage as a holiday let and received 100 per cent business rate relief.

As we are both now of state pension age, we decided to retire from holiday letting and enjoy the cottage ourselves. Within a year we will go from paying no tax to double tax. If we sell the cottage it will almost certainly be bought by someone who will turn it back into a holiday let.

It is to be hoped that North Yorkshire Council will use our extra council tax to repair the roads and pavements, fix the broken street lights, collect the litter and dog mess, mow the grass verges and generally make Whitby more presentable for the many second-home owners and tourists who visit the town. Currently we are unimpressed with its level of service.

Fiona Wilson

Potto, North Yorkshire

SIR  Having solved the housing crisis by taxing the extra homes people dont need to live in, can the Government solve the obesity crisis by taxing the extra food people dont need to eat?

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Northwood, Middlesex

Keep calm and care on

SIR  The news that John Tinniswood has become the worlds oldest man, aged 111 (report, April 6), reminds me of the oldest supercentenarian I had the pleasure of treating towards the end of my physiotherapy career.

Our patient was 109 and she had been admitted following a fall at home leading to reduced mobility but no fractures. We were astonished to learn that, rather than living in a care home, she was living with her 91-year-old daughter, who cared for her.

Kirsty Blunt

Sedgeford, Norfolk

Sentencing guidelines

SIR  On April 1, the Sentencing Council introduced new mitigating factors to all offence-specific guidelines for adult offenders. Neither Charles Hymass article (Judges to look at softer sentences for deprived criminals, report, April 3) nor Esther McVeys (Patronising sentencing guidelines make a joke of equality before the law, Comment, April 4) properly reflects the councils decision.

Ms McVey states that the new guidelines are telling judges and magistrates they must consider difficult and/or deprived background or personal circumstances when sentencing. That is not the effect of this new mitigating factor. The guidelines state that these things may be relevant when considering the offenders culpability and/or the effect of the sentence on the offender. The emphasis on the word may is as it appears in the guidelines. As is said later in the piece, judges should always be free to make decisions based on the facts of the case in front of them. The new guidance does not affect that freedom at all.

The articles wider point is that the new mitigating factors could create a two-tier justice system, with some people having leeway to commit crimes based on their background. The guidelines are concerned only with the sentence to be imposed on someone convicted of an offence. Nothing in any guidelines can provide a free pass to breaking the law.

The council is an independent body, made up of representatives of prosecution, defence, policing, probation, academia and victims, as well as experienced judges. Moreover, the mitigating factors were the subject of a lengthy public consultation last year. The council received many responses, approximately two-thirds of which broadly agreed with the guidelines being introduced. The House of Commons Justice Committee also supported them, saying they would promote consistency of sentencing.

I acknowledge that the Secretary of State for Justice did not support the new mitigating factors. He said that presupposing that deprivation indicates a propensity to commit crime risks appearing patronising at best. With respect to him, that is not what the guidelines indicate. The guidelines say that a deprived background may be relevant to an offenders responsibility. As many of the judges commented in discussion with the council about the new factor, that is no more than a reflection of well-established sentencing practice.

Lord Justice William Davis

Chairman, Sentencing Council

London WC2

Let Lady Thatcher put Grantham on the map

Mrs T: commemorative mugs of Baroness Thatcher, sold by Grantham Museum - PA Images/Alamy

SIR  I was elected the Member of Parliament for Basildon on the same day that Margaret Thatcher became prime minister in 1979.

If Grantham Museum refuses to rename itself the Margaret Thatcher Museum  which reports say is its present position  it will miss a chance to put Grantham on the global stage. She was fondly regarded around the world, and her birthplace would benefit greatly.

The museum should avoid party politics and put Grantham first.

K Harvey Proctor

Grantham, Lincolnshire

SIR  Clive Hilton (Letters, April 8) says he has difficulty understanding what it means to be a Tory. I advise him to read Roger Scrutons How To Be a Conservative. This should remind him of the conservative temperament and the fundamental point that good things are easily destroyed but not easily created.

John Brown

Tadcaster, North Yorkshire

SIR  Clive Hilton asks for a concise outline of conservatism. James Orr, professor of philosophy at Cambridge, has said there is not  nor could there ever be  such a thing as a Little Blue Book. Having one would [disturb] the conservatives instinct for the particular over the universal, the empirical over the rational, the concrete over the abstract, the pragmatic over the ideal, or  in that memorable phrase of Michael Oakeshott  present laughter over utopian bliss.

R D Young

Kingston, Surrey

Mourning the loss of BBC radio favourites

SIR  I can no longer listen to BBC Radio 2 in the afternoon, with Scott Mills having replaced the wonderful Steve Wright (Features, April 6). I have lost Saturday afternoons since media personality Rylan Clark took over, and will no longer be able to listen from 11am on a Sunday after the sunny, funny Michael Ball is replaced by the wittering Paddy McGuinness.



Touch Johnnie Walkers Sounds of the 70s on a Sunday afternoon at your peril, BBC  lest you lose the few remaining over-50s listeners you have. Gen Z and millennials do not listen to you  so stop trying so hard to chase them.

Patricia Walsh

Oxford

SIR  Classic FM (Letters, April 7) has introduced hundreds of thousands of people, young and old, to classical symphonies, concerti and opera, which many will have gone on to explore in greater detail. Id urge some of your correspondents to bear this in mind and leave Classic FM be.

Chris Hulley

New Milton, Hampshire



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Lexington may soon become fourth KY city to ban sales of puppies, cats in pet stores

A Lexington council committee voted Tuesday to move an ordinance forward prohibiting the sale of cats and dogs from pet stores.

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council Social Services and Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to send the ordinance to the full council. A date for the councils first vote will likely be in May, said Councilwoman Jennifer Reynolds, who sponsored the ordinance and chairs the Social Services and Public Safety Committee.

Multiple cities have enacted similar local ordinances aimed at stopping puppy mills, or prolific commercial breeders who sell to some some pet stores. In Kentucky, Louisville, Elizabethtown and Radcliff have enacted similar sales bans.

Those Kentucky cities are among 492 cities nationwide which have ordinances halting the sale of cats and dogs.

The Humane Society of the United States has pushed the commercial sales ban. It would not effect the sale of other types of pets including reptiles, fish and birds, according to the ordinance.

During Tuesdays committee meeting, Humane Society of Kentucky Director Todd Blevins said two of 15 Fayette County pet stores sell cats and dogs. The names of those pet stores were not released during Tuesdays committee meeting.

The other 13 pet stores partner with rescue organizations or humane societies, he said.

There is no federal, state, or industry standard that identifies a good puppy mill or a bad one, nor a reasonable enforcement mechanism to ensure that Lexington-based retailers meet those standards, said Blevins. These mills maximize profit over well-being, he said.

The USDA has never had a proper enforcement mechanism, Blevins said. At the state level, we have nothing.

Blevins said some of these operators have predatory financing schemes and sometimes those animals come home very, very ill.

How the ordinance would work

The ordinance would not prohibit Lexington residents from adopting directly from a store or a rescue shelter such as the Lexington Humane Society. It would also not prohibit breeders from selling directly to future animal owners.

If passed, stores in violation of the ordinance would face a $500 fine, Blevins said. Pet stores would have 30 days to come into compliance with the local ordinance after it passes. Lexington Animal Control would enforce the ordinance. Animal control already inspects pet stores if there is a complaint, he said.

The ordinance would also prohibit the sales of cats and dogs at flea markets or parking lots.

During Tuesdays meeting, Councilwoman Tayna Fogle questioned whether pet stores could be shut down or if the stores are only fined. Blevins said the stores would face a $500 fine per sale of a dog or cat. Most stop selling because those fines add up, Blevins said.

In other places with similar ordinances, the $500 fine has been a deterrent, Blevins said.

Councilman David Sevigny questioned if more local oversight of sales has been tried.

Some places have tried to regulate the sale of cats and dogs but have instead moved to bans because those regulations can be difficult to enforce, Blevins said.

Dozens of animal rescue groups have signed on in support of the local ordinance, including the Lexington Humane Society and Paws 4 the Cause.

A bill was filed in the Kentucky General Assembly this legislative session prohibiting local governments from enacting ordinances banning sales of cats and dogs. That bill appears to be dead, Blevins said. The Kentucky General Assembly will return for two days  to possibly over-ride any potential vetoes  starting Friday.

Blevins said there was a lot of pushback against the state law but he could not predict if the state General Assembly would pass the bill in 2025.

Earlier this year, Lexington passed an ordinance that would prohibit landlords from discriminating against people who use federal housing vouchers or other types of income other than employment pay to pay rent. The Republican-controlled state legislature later passed a law that prohibited local governments from passing such bans, which made Lexingtons source of income ban void.
Lexington to pay $1.6 million for license plate cameras. Its not a boogeyman, chief says

Lexington will be paying $1.6 million over the next five years for 100 license plate reader cameras around Fayette County.

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted Tuesday to move the issue to the council meeting agenda. A final vote will likely come at the April 25 council meeting.

Flock license plate reader cameras take still images of license plates and then feed those license plates into various databases. The Lexington Police Department has been using the cameras since March 2022 as part of a pilot program.

The cameras have been controversial. It was a top issue in the 2022 council and mayoral races. Some have worried the cameras would be placed in minority neighborhoods. Lexington police have said they are placed throughout the city based on crime data.

Lexington Police Department has 100 Flock license plate reader cameras throughout Lexington. Heres the locations of those cameras as of April 2023.

The contract is single source, meaning Flock was the only provider. There were no other bids for the license plate reader cameras.

The contract is $305,404 for the first year and $317,400 for each of the next four years for a total of more than $1.6 million.

One person spoke against the contract at Tuesdays work session.

Reva Russell English asked the council to hit pause on the contract. Police say seven internal audits of the system have been conducted.

We dont know how the system is being used, English said. Lets get a real audit that doesnt just come from LPD.

Helped recover 264 stolen vehicles, find 21 missing persons

According to Lexington police data, since March 2022 Flock cameras have assisted police with recovering 264 stolen vehicles, helped find 21 missing persons and assisted in the seizure of 68 firearms. Police say 433 people have been arrested as a result of a tip from the license plate reader cameras.

Since the first license plate reader was installed in March 2022 until the end of November 2022, the average number of days to recover a stolen vehicle dropped to 5.6 days. Thats roughly half the time it took police to recover a stolen vehicle in 2020 and 2021 without the cameras.

We have a return of investment of $3.7 million in stolen property returned, said Police Commander Matthew Greathouse.

Violent crimes are going down, he said.

That system is being used on an hourly basis, Greathouse said. Police have been able to find several people with dementia by using Flock cameras, he said.

It has been more successful (than what we thought it would be), Greathouse said.

Councilman David Sevigny asked if there was a clause in the contract that would allow the city to be released from the contract if technology changes. Greathouse said he is not sure if the city would still have to honor the five-year agreement if something happened to Flock, which is currently a private company.

Councilwoman Tayna Fogle said she would like to see an external audit. Fogle also said she still doesnt know how many Flock cameras are in her council district, which includes the citys east and north sides.

Greathouse said the public integrity unit does a separate audit but it is an internal police report.

Fogle also questioned if the Flock cameras contributed to the decrease in homicides. Greathouse said many factors contribute to a decrease in crime and Flock cameras may have been part of the solution.

Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said they have not had a complaint about privacy rights violations.

People want to use it as a boogeyman and its not, Weathers said. I dont have police to put on every corner.

One false arrest

Still, there has been at least one issue with the cameras.

In April 2023, police arrested Nicholas Trujillo-Ruiz, 71, for a 1980 murder in Texas after getting a tip from a license plate reader camera.

The problem?

He wasnt the right guy.

The real Trujillo-Ruiz had died several years prior.

Lexington police were investigating a shots fired call on April 10, 2023, in the 3700 block of Camelot Drive. Police said offers found shell casings and were given a description of the suspects vehicle by a witness. A Flock camera provided investigators with a license plate number for a vehicle matching the description of the suspected shooters vehicle, according to police.

When officers arrived at the home, a Mexican identification card for Trujillio-Ruiz was given to the officers, who ran that name through a criminal database and found the outstanding warrant for a murder. The man who was wrongly arrested was Javier Manriquez.

Lexington police said if Manriquez had been honest with police at the time of his arrest about his true identity, he would not have been arrested on the murder charge.

Police later refused to release the body-camera video of Manriquez arrest despite the murder charge against Manriquez being dropped. Police said at the time Manriquez still faced charges in connection to giving police the wrong identification.
Ive had run-ins with lions and elephants on safari  but they werent what scared me most

Elephants do actually have long memories and can remember human actions, such as the laying of landmines - Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography

Theres truth to the adage elephants never forget. I learned the hard way on a safari to Zimbabwe several years ago. I was in Gonarezhou National Park, located in a remote southeast corner of the country on the border with Mozambique, close to an area where landmines were planted during years of civil war in the late 1970s. Hundreds of animals, including elephants, were killed as a result of human warfare  and the memory remains vivid for their ancestors.

Driving through the park, we accidentally disturbed a hulking male bull who tossed his trunk in anger, kicked up dust and chased us for a good 10 minutes. Smart enough to predict our escape route, he even took a short cut to block our path.

I love these savannah giants but catch them in the wrong mood and they are terrifying. I shudder at the fear a group of tourists must have felt when their safari vehicle was flipped by an elephant in Zambias Kafue National Park earlier this week, tragically killing one of the passengers.

The scenario is almost unthinkable. But herein lies the problem: accustomed to the cosseting comforts of luxury safaris, weve forgotten we are in the realm of wild animals.

A couple of years ago, I too found myself in a sticky situation in Kafue, when my vehicle broke down with a puncture on an early morning game drive. Although we had a spare tyre onboard, the mechanic had forgotten to load a toolbox, rendering it useless. Despite my poor guides best efforts, no-one back at camp was picking up the radio (the receiver had been left in the bar, which was only serviced from 10am) and there was no mobile phone reception.

Our only option was to abandon the vehicle and walk  unarmed  through thick, dense vegetation where Id seen a pride of lions tearing apart the stinking carcass of a buffalo only minutes earlier. To make matters worse, the air was heaving with black clouds of tsetse flies  viscous, blood-sucking insects that pierce the skin with painful pin pricks, producing sores so itchy youll scratch the skin raw.

In this instance, elephants came to my rescue. Setting fire to a ball of dung wedged onto a stick, I used a smoking lollipop to ward off the evil little vampires. Waving it back and forth, I felt like a priest swinging incense in a thurible.

Of course, its possible to walk through the bush without getting mauled or trampled. The key is to always exercise caution and follow the instructions of your ranger or guide. These people have an intuitive understanding of the animals that share their living space. Crucially, they have respect.

Ive encountered lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, rhinos and wild dogs on walking safaris. Despite their years of experience, my guides have always been on high alert  listening for movements, checking the wind direction, assessing suitable trees to climb. Never are they complacent.

'When I ran into a lion on foot one night in Malawi's Majete Wildlife Reserve, my guide knew exactly what to do,' writes Marshall - Sarah Marshall

When I ran into a lion on foot one night in Malawis Majete Wildlife Reserve, my guide knew exactly what to do. Calmly, he instructed me to slowly climb on top of a wooden picnic bench and defy every impulse in my body to run.

What happened to the tourists in Kafue was a terrible accident. The guide found himself trapped in an area where it was impossible to manoeuvre his vehicle. Otherwise, he would have done what every experienced guide would do in that situation: back off.

On safari, the only thing that lies between tourists and wild animals is the metal shell of a vehicle, a thin veil of canvas or an intangible but deeply important barrier of mutual respect. If you give an animal space, it will give you space in return.

Ive spent hundreds of nights drifting off to the roar of lions, the whooping giggles of hyenas and the panicked squeals of zebras attacked by leopards. Only once have I ever feared an animal might enter my tent.

One night, in Zimbabwes Hwange National Park, I woke to the calamitous crashing of objects in my open-air bathroom. The shadow of a trunk, swinging against canvas dangerously close to a full bladder of water above the bucket shower, immediately gave the culprit away. Despite my boyfriends panicked pleas, I dodged the ignominy of blowing the safety horn. (Having introduced myself as an experienced African traveller to camp managers the day before, pride got the better of me.)

Miraculously, on inspection the following morning, nothing was broken; the only thing missing was a bar of soap. After sharing my story at breakfast, I discovered we had a thief in our midst. Ours was the fifth tent the toiletry-gobbling elephant had raided that night.

Some of the biggest threats are posed by the tiniest beasts, such as tsetse flies - Getty

On safari, travellers can expect encounters with creatures great and small and ironically some of the biggest threats are posed by the tiniest beasts. According to the World Health Organisation, there were 233 million cases of malaria on the African continent in 2022 and 580,000 deaths. Prophylactics are a highly effective precaution, so consult a doctor (though note they will always err on the side of caution) and seek up-to-date information for each destination you plan to visit.

The closest shave Ive ever had with hospitalisation on safari was down to an insect almost smaller than a speck of pepper. Id been warned about ticks in the long grasses of South Africas Phinda Private Game Reserve, but photographing a pangolin at eye-level was too good an opportunity to resist.

Days later, a red welt appeared on my belly, growing deeper and deeper until it resembled Mount Etnas molten crater. Dr Google revealed I probably had tick bite fever, nothing a double dose of anti-malarial drug Doxycycline couldnt fix.

On balance, going on safari presents no more danger than, say, a hiking holiday in the Alps. Accidents can happen anywhere, even on a beach break in Spain. But observing animals in the wild demands a degree of humility. We are visitors to their patch, and just like people they have emotional and defensive reactions. Some days they are happy, other times they might be sad. Or maybe, theyre just after something as simple as a bar of soap.

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Most Senate Republicans said they agreed with former president Donald Trumps declaration that he would leave abortion policy to the states, with one notable exception: Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

Mr Trump released a video on his Truth Social platform in which he refused to back a national abortion ban, saying the issue should be left to the states.

Most Republican Senators said that they supported his position.

Lindsey Graham cricitised former president Donald Trump for saying abortion should be left to the states (Getty Images)

Abortion is an issue on which our nation is divided, and people of good faith feel passionate on both sides of the issue, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who faces re-election in November, told The Independent. The way our constitution operates, is issues like that are decided by the voters and the scenario we have right now is in each state, the voters make a determination as to the rules and laws consistent with their values that that's our Constitution. And that's democracy.

Texas has one of the more stringent laws regarding abortion, banning it after six weeks with no exceptions for rape or incest. President Joe Biden invited Kate Cox, a woman who had to leave Texas to terminate an unviable pregnancy, as a guest to his State of the Union address.

Senator Rick Scott of Florida told reporters that Mr Trumps decision was in line with what the Supreme Court wrote in the Dobbs v Jackson decision in 2022. Last week, Floridas supreme court simultaneously upheld the states 15-week ban--which would likely cause the states six-week abortion ban--while also ruling that a proposed amendment to the states constitution to enshrine abortion rights could go on the ballot this November.

Democrats immediately pounced on Mr Trumps words. Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Mr Bidens campaign manager, released a memo saying that Mr Trump would ban abortion nationwide.

Lets be clear: Trump and his allies wont stop until abortion is banned nationwide, the memo said. Donald Trump is taking credit for every dystopian impact from state abortion bans.

But Senator Steve Daines of Montana, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Conference, told The Independent that he agreed with Mr Trump.

Its a lie when the Democrats say that Republicans want to put a national ban on abortion, he said.

Democrats hope to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in Mr Dainess home state of Montana, which some hope will save the states Democratic Senator Jon Tester, who faces a tough re-election in a state Mr Trump won by double digits in 2016 and 2020.

Senator Thom Tillis praised Mr Trumps positioning of the Republican Party on abortion.

Now it's going to be up to the candidates to determine whether or not that may necessarily put them in a position where they disagree with the decisions [of] their state legislatures, he told reporters.

Last year, North Carolinas Republican-controlled legislature passed a 12-week abortion ban that Democratic Governor Roy Cooper vetoed, which it overrode.

But not every Republican agreed with Mr Trumps stance.

I believe that the American people, when you ask them about abortion early on, fairly pro-choice, Mr Graham told The Independent.  The more the child develops, the more understanding that the child is an individual.

In 2022, in the weeks before the midterm election, Mr Graham proposed a 15-week ban on abortion that most Republicans did not adopt.

Mr Trump criticised both Mr Graham and Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the anti-abortion Susan B Anthony List, on his Truth Social site.

Senator Lindsey Graham and Marjorie Dannenfelser should study the 10th Amendment and States Rights, he said on Truth Social. When they do, they should proudly get on with helping Republicans to WIN ELECTIONS, rather than making it impossible for them to do so!

But Mr Graham, who serves as the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, disputed Mr Trumps saying that the Dobbs decision said there was no federal role.

There are three laws on the books at the federal level, he told The Independent. So the idea that Dobbs prevents the federal government from acting I think is an error.

Democrats also disputed Mr Trumps remarks as well.

I think we need an opportunity for women to have what we had with Roe v Wade for the last 50 years the opportunity to seek health care and abortions, Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who won re-election in 2022 largely by campaigning on defending abortion rights, told The Independent.
LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  As the weather warms up, you may see groups along area highways picking up litter. Its part of PennDOT and state police efforts to highlight litter enforcement.

Back in 2018, the penalties for littering doubled, but unfortunately, when you take a look at the side of our roads, Pennsylvanians, or those traveling our roads, seem to have not gotten that message.

Beer cans, medical gloves, dirty diapers, and bags of trash were among the vast amount of litter found along this section of Interstate 81 in Lackawanna County Tuesday afternoon.

PennDOT officials say as the number of vehicles on Pennsylvania roadways increases, so does the amount of litter.

You can find trash like this all along Pennsylvania highways but its what you do with yours that could cost you.

We encourage people to keep a bag in your car, whenever youre snacking or have a drink throw it in the bag, said Community Services Officer Trooper Bob Urban.

Trooper Bob Urban says there are some hefty fines when you choose to litter, especially in a litter enforcement corridor.

Those corridors have a high aesthetic or historic value worth preserving. Upon conviction, fines are now doubled reaching up to $18,000. Plus, up to 30 hours in the litter removal program.

You may wonder, just how these offenders get caught.

Efforts to fight blight in Edwardsville

Its very easy for us to look at those receipts. Look at the mail. Anything else that has identifiers in there to find out who the person is and then we can go and prosecute them criminally, said Trooper Bob Urban, Community Services Officer

For businesses found guilty of illegal dumping, they could face fines totaling up to $15,000. There are clean-up efforts underway this spring, thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

Both SCI Waymart and Dallas will be out-picking up trash along different highways in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.

Drivers should slow down and be mindful when traveling through those areas.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
This Little Havana bar was a favorite hangout spot for Miami locals. Now its closing

After seven years, a craft beer dream is ending.

Union Beer Store, a bar-and-bottle shop known for its craft beer, relaxed vibe and delicious dining pop-ups, is closing on Eighth Street in Little Havana.

Founded by husband-and-wife team David and CiCi Rodriguez, the bar opened in 2017 and swiftly became a favorite of thirsty, laid-back customers seeking conversation and good beer (or natural wines).

The hungry showed up, too, for pop-ups like Adrian Castros Panolo, just so they could try his pan con bistec of legend. The bars inviting atmosphere did not go unnoticed: In 2022, Yelp named Union Beer the best place to drink in Miami.

Now, though, as Miamis craft beer movement has changed, things are different at 1547 SW Eighth St. In an emotional, heartfelt Instagram post, Rodriguez, who before Union Beers opening managed the beverage program at Lokal and Kush restaurants, wrote that Union Beer was shutting down for good.

Too many obstacles looming have us waving the white flag, he wrote.

In a text, Rodriguez said that a perfect storm of factors made continuing at Union Beer too difficult.

We had a good run, he texted.

Rodriguez and his wife also operate Far Out Pizza next door to Union Beer, which opened in 2023. Even then, he had noted that changes in Miamis craft beer world were troubling.

David Rodriguez, pizza maker Doug Sorek and Cici Rodriguez at Far Out Pizza on Calle Ocho in Little Havana, located next to Union Beer, the Rodriguezes other business.

Craft beer is not what it was years ago, he told the Miami Herald. I feel like over the last three or four years, there are so many breweries opening up. Its saturated the market. Thats why we started getting into food.

Its unclear if the closure is affecting Far Out Pizza, though the website reports the restaurant is taking a quick pause and will be back soon. Delivery is also unavailable on DoorDash and UberEats.

On Instagram, he thanked his customers profusely for their support and all the good memories made over these last six years.

You allowed us behind the bar to be ourselves. This was never a job for us. . . . We werent going to work. We were going to union to hang out with everyone who came in through our doors that wanted to drink some beer and talk some s---.

You all went from being our regulars to our friends, family.

No official closing date has been set, but the bar is hosting a farewell party on April 13 and 14 with pop-ups from chefs Shaggy and Gian Luca of Haochi and the team from Tacos and Tattoos.

The new Far Out Pizza Restaurant, left, is right across the alley from Union Beer. Both are owned by David and Cici Rodriguez.

Miami restaurant and Little Havana bar were just named among the best in the U.S.
You knew that the Royal Navy is in trouble. Youve heard that even the mighty US Navy has its problems. What you probably havent yet heard is that the utterly vital auxiliary support fleets, essential for both these navies to operate, are in an even worse mess.

First, theres the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). Formed in 1905 and trusted ever since with the replenishment of the Royal Navy at sea  and other tasks nowadays, including amphibious warfare and mine countermeasures  the RFA finds itself unable to continue under current conditions and 79 per cent of its officers have voted to go on strike. They can do this as they are civilian merchant seamen, not servicemen and women of the Royal Navy.

This is not the first time. In 2000 the RFA ratings (the ordinary non-officer sailors) took strike action over pay and leave disparity with their officers. This was dealt with by keeping them at sea where they arent allowed to go on strike. At the time this led me to wonder if there has ever been a worse way to deal with an issue.

Newly acquired Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ship (MROSS), Royal Fleet Auxiliary Proteus, enters Portland harbour on September 22, 2023. The RFA is taking on new tasks - Finnbarr Webster/Getty

In 2010 there was a minor strike over pay and in 2019 they got close but it was averted. In other words, this is a problem that has been brewing for some time.

In essence, the RFA over the last 10 years or so has seen tasking increase and pay (in real terms) decrease. I spent many years at sea in the Royal Navy suffering from the same squeeze and we would often muse how long this could be sustained.

Despite this, both the RN and RFA consistently deliver on operations  as proudly trumpeted by various Secretaries of State  but eventually, as hull and crew numbers inexorably attenuate to zero, morale follows and eventually something has to give. In the case of the RFA, we are at that moment.

The RFA has 13 ships and around 1700 sailors to support them. Their core task is to provide at-sea logistical support to the Royal Navy. The RFA provides tankers from which His Majestys warships can fill up, and supply ships from which they can get munitions, food and other vital supplies. Without them you are reliant on host nation support or other navies, neither of which are guaranteed. One can argue that without the RFA, the RN no longer has its centuries old, global, expeditionary, blue water status  so important to a major island nation.

The RFA fleet can be broken into four groups. First the tankers, or oilers used for transferring fuel at sea to Naval vessels. There are six of these. Three are now in whats optimistically called Extended Readiness due to crew shortages; the two older Wave-class ships and one of the brand new Tide class. So the RFA is 50 per cent down on its core task.

Second is the sole Fleet Solid Support Ship RFA Fort Victoria, also at extended readiness. She was supposed to be getting ready for next years Carrier Strike Group deployment but she isnt. There are plenty who think she never will but because she is a single point of failure for independent Carrier Strike Ops and is on the verge of failing, no one dares say so. Given that her absence was at the centre of the discussion as to whether or not we could send a carrier to the Red Sea, you can see why. Three more solid support ships are planned but the first will not be available for many years because we are buying them from a long-dead shipyard in an attempt at a social regeneration project for Belfast. How they will be crewed is unknown.

A US carrier takes fuel from USNS Laramie in the Mediterrenean. A nuclear carrier may not need fuel for itself, but it does need a lot for its aircraft - US 6th Fleet/Reuters

Third, there are three Bay class amphibious assault ships. The original idea was that these ships would do a somewhat safer job than the RNs own amphibious ships. They would be the follow-on element, landing the second wave of amphibious forces after the navy proper had delivered the first wave.

This doesnt have to mean storming the beach, something that many consider unlikely these days. It can also mean delivering large quantities of aid and food to, say, Gaza, should that ever be needed. Its worth noting that with both the Royal Navys own amphibious assault ships in extended readiness, if the RFA go on strike and the Bay class ships are not given operational exemptions (i.e. ordered not to strike) then the UK is without an amphibious capability.

There are three of these vessels. RFA Mounts Bay is alongside in Falmouth. Lyme Bay is with RFA Argus (the RFA casualty receiving ship) as part of the Littoral Response Group (LRG) now in the Indian Ocean picking up whats left of that deployment having been in the Eastern Med on important but largely unnoticed work since late last year. The third is Cardigan Bay who has been detached from her minehunter command duties in the Persian Gulf and is possibly heading to the Eastern Med to become part of the Gaza aid solution (see above). We have to hope there is no Iranian mine threat in the Gulf in the meantime. That the two forward-deployed Bays and Argus are routinely operating without warship escorts is another conversation, but that is not good either.

Finally, there is the ocean surveillance vessel RFA Proteus and mine countermeasures support vessel Stirling Castle, both recently taken up from trade to meet glaring strategic requirements and both, despite only needing crews of between 20 and 30, struggling to reach full operational status.

In sum, of the RFAs 13 ships, six can be crewed at any one time.

Despite these ships being painted grey and operating hand in glove with the Royal Navy and thus confusing politicians since 1905, there are some contextual differences between the two services to note before we can get to a solution.

The first is the status of the crew. They are civil servants with a sponsored reserve status that enables them to go to war. This is why they are allowed to go on strike.

The second is that their ships are crewed along merchant navy lines, i.e. with much smaller crews. For example, a Tide Class tanker at 200 metres and 37,000 tons has a crew of 70. Compare that to a Type 45 destroyer at 150 metres and 8,500 tons with a crew of over 200. This makes the RFAs less survivable in combat and less able to multi-task but if all you care about is the spreadsheet then they are excellent value for money. This is even more so when you see that they rotate their small crews thus generating excellent sea-to-shore ratios.

USNA Arctic conducting a 'Vertrep' with a US carrier. In a Vertrep, helicopters transfer stores quickly between ships - MCSN Jason White/US Navy

Defence on the cheap was how one retired officer described the RFA to me. But from inside the ship, they have been working harder and harder, increasingly picking up tasks that traditionally were done by the Royal Navy.

As someone else said to me, if you continuously ask a crew of 70 to do what a warship crew of 200 does, guess what happens next.

The final one is the nature of their qualifications, particularly for the masters/captains and the engineers. This is much more akin to the merchant marine model and gives them a status that is jealously guarded by the RFA. Of course, it also makes them eminently poachable.

As ever, at the heart of the problem is pay. The RFA union Nautilus said in its statement announcing the strike:

Since 2010, RFA employees have faced a real terms pay cut of over 30 per cent, beyond other blue light services, leading to significant challenges in recruitment and retention and low morale across the workforce.

One ex junior deckhand put it thus:

This pending strike action is a sad day for the service which is very proud of what it does, but this is the only remaining option as the system is not listening.

To give you an idea, a deck officer in the RFA can expect to join on a salary of 37k per annum. This comes with tax relief if they are out of the country for more than six months in the year, but then so it should. Their US equivalent in the Military Sealift Command (MSC), also civilian crews, are offering $156k plus bonuses - 3.5 times the amount.

At the more senior end, a ship captain in the RFA is paid 86k whereas his commercial merchant LNG tanker equivalent is on 150k (and compared to an RFA in a war zone, those ships are safe as houses). A first officer in Americas MSC (i.e. second in command) is on $222,921 + $44,168 bonus.

My bags are packed.

Military Sealift Command ocean surveillance ship USNS Impeccable is seen underway in this photo, date unknown. Impeccable directly supports the Navy by using both passive and active low frequency sonar arrays to detect and track undersea threats. Both the US and Royal Navies occasionally use support fleet ships for military tasks - US Navy/AP

Despite these eye-watering salaries, the MSC is still struggling to recruit and retain  partly because their hiring model is so taut. For every person they need at sea they hire just 1.2 bodies. This zero-slack model makes it nearly impossible to get relieved on time and so their crews are putting in huge shifts at sea. Add to this the same recruiting struggles that the entire global maritime eco-system is facing; austere living conditions, hierarchy, lack of WiFi/modern communications and endless separation and they are in a poor state as well. The MSC has 5600 people: as ever, mass affords them a degree of smoothing that the much smaller RFA doesnt have. It also shows that extra money isnt a solution on its own.

Back in the RFA, they increasingly feel undervalued. They work alongside RN sailors who on average are paid 20 per cent more and (again on average) spend less time per year away. Seeing the recent pay rise coming in at half a percent less than their RN counterparts landed badly. Rolling out a new uniform across both services but with Royal Navy badges sewn on didnt help either. If that sounds trite it shouldnt; identity is a big part of serving life and they no more want to wear Royal Navy badges than I would have wanted to wear an RAF cap.

And then they look to their leadership only to discover that their uniformed head  Commodore RFA  leaves at the end of this month to be replaced by a non-uniformed Deputy Director Afloat Support, a civil servant who could come from anywhere. In the meantime, Serco are being used as a maritime crewing agency (sticking plaster) but their leave allowances are so much better (probably what the RFA should be on) that they end up costing twice as much.

While poor pay, eroding terms and conditions and a general feeling of being undervalued featured unanimously across the people I asked, what should be done about it was less clear.

The US has shown that money is not the only solution but it is definitely part of it. Parity with the RN should be the minimum (noting that theres a vigorous debate going on right now as to whether that is enough as well). This is easily achievable. A Freedom of Information request from last November showed that the total pay bill for the entire RFA was 92 million, equal to 0.17per cent of defence expenditure for the year. I know resources are tight and the government will be keen to not set a precedent here, but really?

Many suggest merging the RFA into the RN. This is a notion that superficially makes sense, but the closer you get to the detail, the harder it looks. There would likely be further mass exodus among RFA crews saying this was not what I joined for. Then the RN would need to fill the gaps which, given that they are currently paying off ships early due to crew shortages, is not possible.

Maybe therell be a hybrid solution, where the three emerging fleet solid support ships come under the Royal Navy (and therefore fly the white ensign), Proteus and Stirling Castle are set free to be run by Serco leaving the RFA to concentrate on what it does best with the oilers (Tide class), Argus and Bay class amphibs.

One person suggested that the senior officers onboard the ships (Captain, Chief Officer, Engineer) could be RN leaving the specialist crew positions as RFA. Another said this wouldnt work as the ships are classed by Lloyds and flagged by the MCA and this dual-status crew would put them in breach of that. So neat solutions that suit everyone are clearly going to be difficult to come by. One also wonders how many of the decision-makers really understand all this. I know I dont.

Initiatives proposed in government on 11 March to aid recruitment are sound, particularly the one about making better use of RN leavers: the RFA is fostering relationships with universities and colleges to raise awareness of the opportunities available, planning to launch a graduate engineer scheme, sponsoring academic top up schemes to attract newly qualified engineers, and introducing a mechanism for seamless transfer to the RFA for Royal Navy (RN) service leavers. In addition to this work, the RFA plans to release a focused RFA recruitment marketing campaign.

The soon-to-depart Armed Force Minister James Heappey wondered over the weekend if we have enough Merchant Seafarers if we had to go to war?

He meant more generally but it turns out we dont have enough seafarers even to crew the logistics ships that allow our warships to go to war, and its getting worse.

Freedom of navigation is vital to our survival as an island country, in both peace, pre-war (whatever that is) and war itself. The Royal Navy is essential for ensuring that. The RFA is a strategic enabler that allows the RN to do so in a time and place of our choosing, with or without anyones permission.

Are we going to risk that autonomy, and our status as a blue water navy, for a fraction of a per cent of a defence budget (that itself is just 2 per cent of GDP) or will this potential strike action stimulate bold and decisive plans for recovery?

I normally try and be a little more upbeat in these articles but have found it hard with this one so I will say no, we wont. Well keep making do, applying sticking plasters and hoping for the best while forcing more and more sacrifice from our sailors (of both types) until something forces our hand, or breaks. At which point it will cost a lot more.

Tom Sharpe was a Royal Navy officer for 27 years

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Gov. Ron DeSantis held another bill signing Tuesday, this time to enact a new law to further punish porch pirates and retail theft rings.

DeSantis signed HB 549, which would increase penalties on both those who operate retail theft rings and porch pirates.

We will raise penalties on people who steal packages from your front porch, the governor said.

According to the governors office, the bill would create the following felony charges:

A third-degree felony, punishable up to 5 years in prison, if criminals commit retail theft with five or more individuals.

A second-degree felony, punishable up to 15 years in prison, if criminals commit retail theft with five or more individuals and use social media to solicit others to participate in the theft.

A first-degree felony, punishable up to 30 years in prison, if a criminal commits retail theft with a firearm or with two or more prior convictions of retail theft.

The ability to charge a felony for multiple retail thefts occurring in the span of 120 days, which is an increase from 30 days.

The bill also makes porch piracy a first-degree misdemeanor if the property that is stolen is less than $40, but any subsequent violation would then be charged as a third-degree felony.

If a porch pirate steals an item that is worth more than $40 from someones home, they would also be charged with a third-degree felony.

If you order something and they leave it at your front door, you come home from work or bring your kids home from school, package is gonna be there, and if its not, someones gonna have hell to pay for stealing it, DeSantis said.

With the governor signing the bill, the law will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2024.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
RAMALLAH, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A Hamas official said on Monday that the movement insists on implementing its demands before reaching any deal with Israel, and there has been no progress in securing a truce through negotiations.

Taher al-Nunu, an adviser to the head of the political office of the movement, told Xinhua that "there is no progress in the negotiations ... until this moment, amidst Israel's persistence and attempts to sabotage all diplomatic efforts."

He explained that Hamas has clear demands for a ceasefire, which include ending the Israeli aggression, allowing the return of displaced persons to Gaza City and the northern sector without restrictions, rebuilding the region, and ending the siege.

"Our demands are legitimate and a basic right for all members of our people in the Gaza Strip, who have suffered from the consequences of the ongoing Israeli war and crimes against civilians," said the Hamas official, stressing that no agreement will be reached until the demands are met.

Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel have resumed in Egypt's capital Cairo in a bid to reach a truce deal.

Palestinian sources told Xinhua that the mediators presented a new proposal in the latest round of talks for a ceasefire in three stages.

According to the Palestinian sources, the proposal includes, in the first stage, the return of displaced civilians in Gaza to the northern sector without specifying their numbers.

Furthermore, the proposal entails Israel's agreement to open the Rashid and Salah al-Din streets, move its forces 500 meters away from them, permit the daily entry of 500 aid trucks to all areas of the Gaza Strip, and release 900 prisoners, including 100 serving life sentences.

The second stage involves the release of all Israeli prisoners while the finalization of negotiations for a lasting peace at last.

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not agree with this proposal, while most members of the Israeli war cabinet supported it. 
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A local solar energy company is stepping in to help a homeowner after seeing a News 4 story last week about the homeowners year-long battle with a different company that stopped answering his calls.

Last week, News 4 reported Oklahoma City homeowner Ryan Jacob hadnt heard from Solergy, LLC since the company installed solar panels on his house in April 2023.

Homeowner says solar panel company abandoned job, fabricated approval letters

Despite the system not being hooked up or usable, Solergy, LLC submitted seemingly forged approval letters to Jacobs finance company, leading Jacob to start receiving monthly bills for the non-functional system last July.

Its just beyond ridiculous at this point, Jacob told News 4 last week. Its 155 bucks a month that were paying right now.

Jacob said after the story aired, he got a Facebook message from a man named Brett Will, inquiring about News 4s story.

IN YOUR CORNER: Oklahoma veterans fight with solar company continues

He said, hey, Im not sure if this is you, but if it is, wed like to have a conversation, Jacob said.

As it turns out, Will is the owner of Oklahoma City-based Tru-Fuse Solar. He told Jacob he saw News 4s story and wanted to help.

I just saw the need, Will said. He needed help and I knew we could help him.

Will said he wants do whatever he needs to get Jacobs system working, at no charge.

Its just really a blessing that someone would do that, Jacob said. Theyre going to come out tomorrow. Actually, hes bringing his team of experts, his installer. He actually is an electrical contractor as well.

IN YOUR CORNER: Complaints continue against solar company

For Will, any financial hit hell take for the free work is worth it, if it means defending his industrys reputation.

Were an Oklahoma based company. We believe in solar, Will said. Were here for Oklahoma and hes Oklahoma. He needs help. And I know we can go in and do the job for him And I just want people to know there is good solar companies out there and were one of them.

Theres another company looking to defend the solar industrys reputation as well.

That company is McAllen, Texas-based Solergy Renewable Energy Solutions.

Jacobs story was not the first News 4 has done about Solergy, LLC. In fact, News 4 has documented numerous cases of homeowners being abandoned by Solergy, LLC since 2021.

While its bears an almost identical name, the Texas-based Solergy Renewable Energy Solutions is a totally different company from the Solergy, LLC appearing in those stories.

The owners of Solergy Renewable Energy Solutions say not everyone has been able to make the distinction between the two companies, and they often receive phone calls from upset Solergy, LLC customers.

They also say the confusion has caused them to receive negative online reviews.

It definitely does affect the ratings, said Frank Shayegan, owner of McAllen, Texas-based Solergy Renewable Energy Solutions. By the time you get ahold of Google and other entities to remove it, it takes days, so theres some negativity on social media for us.

Solar panel company vanishes leaving Oklahomans with unfinished business

Shayegan said his company actually owns the legal rights to the name Solergy, and has tried to reach out to the man who runs Solergy, LLC, but never gets an answer.

The phone number [Solergy, LLC] had listed on social media, internet no one would answer the call, Shayegan said. We even went to lawyers up there, tried to serve him some papers legally to stop using the name. They couldnt even serve the papers to him because the address he used doesnt even exist.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
CONWAY, Ark.  People from across the United States were in Conway Monday afternoon for the total solar eclipse.

The University of Central Arkansas hosted a watch party at Estes Stadium. School leaders said people from more than 30 different states were in attendance.

Timelapse videos show total solar eclipse plunge U.S. cities into darkness

Totality hit at around 1:51 p.m., and the crowd went silent, taking in the once in a lifetime event.

I was in awe. It looked cooler than I ever thought it would have, Max Lewis from Alabama said.

It was life changing. I got chills the whole time, Chrysanthe Frangos from San Diego said. It was unlike anything I have ever seen before.

Arkansans share photos and videos from the total eclipse

UCA hosted the event alongside local vendors and food trucks. There were outdoor games for kids and scientists on standby to answer any questions.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
In an iconic 1963 photograph, President Lyndon Johnson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. huddle in the Oval Office for a strategy session over their first civil rights bill. The meeting marks the start of Johnson and Kings consequential but complex partnership. Their collaborative efforts would result in landmark legislation with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

By April of 1968, however, Johnson and King were keenly apprehensive about the prospects for their third bill. After banning discrimination in schools, public accommodations and the polling booth, the two men had pointed lawmaking efforts toward housing discrimination. The proposed fair housing legislation prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental or financing of housing based on race, religion, color or national origin.

After two years of battles with segregationists and states rights advocates, that bills journey had seemingly come to an unfulfilled end in Congress. As of April 4, 1968, it was stuck fast in a committee chaired by a segregationist who had no intention to allow a vote.

For the outset of the legislations fitful trip, a second photograph takes us back to March 1966 inside the White House. Johnson and King sit together listening as civil rights leaders describe housing discriminations impact, especially on the Black residents of Americas cities.

Martin Luther King Jr. speech in Manhattan

Kansas City was illustrative as it ranked as one of the nations most hyper-segregated cities. Landlords west of Troost Avenue, the Citys notorious racial dividing line, refused to rent to Black tenants. Income and status did not matter  landlords even turned away Kansas City Chiefs players based on race alone.

Homeownership in a good school district west of Troost was even harder to obtain as property deeds often included covenants prohibiting sales to Black homebuyers. Tightening segregations screws, Kansas City developer J.C. Nichols also required purchasers in his Country Club District neighborhood to join an association with bylaws that included a white-only clause. Nichols model became Kansas Citys worst export as it was adopted in cities across the country.

Facing entrenched residential segregation, Johnson, King and the other attendees of those meetings anticipated a long fight. They went right to work, introducing the Civil Rights Act of 1966 by August.

For the bills first House vote, U.S. Rep. Richard Bolling of Kansas City chaired one of the more remarkable debates in congressional history, lasting 12 days. Bolling earned praise for his tough but fair leadership as he persevered and got the bill passed.

In the Senate, however, the fair housing language appeared too watered down for some, too strong for others. It died there and dying with it, King lamented, was a bit of democracy and a bit of justice.

A second bill, H.R. 2516, struggled mightily for 15 months, slowed by Senate filibusters and House neglect. Yet just when the bill seemed dead in the water, it would get a boost, often from King or Johnson.

On Jan. 19, 1968, King traveled to Kansas City, where a fair housing ordinance had passed, and met with local civil rights leaders such as Chester Owens and the trailblazing journalist Helen T. Gray of The Kansas City Star. King then went to Kansas State University, where his convocation speech underscored that a great problem facing our nation  is the constant growth of predominantly Negro central cities, ringed by white suburbs.

If the pattern continues, King warned, it will invite social disaster. The only way this problem can be solved is through strong fair housing bills.

For his part, Johnson challenged Congress, demanding that leaders stop fiddling and piddling with fair housing. To end a filibuster, Johnson even offered to send Air Force One to pick up senators and bring them to D.C. to vote.

But it took a hard-hitting civil rights report to move the needle. Published on Feb. 29, 1968, the Kerner Commissions Report on Civil Disorders painted a grim picture of race and inequality in America, concluding that the country was moving toward two societies, one black, one white  separate and unequal and that segregation must be addressed with a comprehensive and enforceable federal open housing law. A bestseller, the Kerner Report spurred the Senate to end its filibuster. After a 71-20 vote on March 11, 1968, the bill finally escaped the Senate.

The bill returned to the House where it was dealt another blow  a referral to the Rules Committee. Chaired by Mississippi Rep. William Colmer, a staunch segregationist, the committee deferred any consideration. The definitive article on H.R. 2516s legislative history, by future civil rights warrior Jean Dubofsky, states that upon Colmers second continuance, fears had increased that the Senates civil rights bill might die in the Rules Committee.

After assassination, law finally signed

A third photograph, Johnson signing the Fair Housing Act into law on April 11, 1968, brings sudden closure. The president is surrounded by 20 men, including Sens. Walter Mondale and Edward Brooke, two of the bills sponsors, and future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

Success at last! But April 11? How was it possible for a bill languishing in the Rules Committee on April 4 to suddenly escape that committee and its pro-segregation chairperson, and then get itself and its Senate amendments debated and passed by the House to reach the presidents desk within seven days?

The answer lies within the signing ceremony photograph and who is not pictured. King is not in it, nor would he ever be in another. He had been assassinated on April 4, and a shocked nation wanted something tangible for its grief and outrage. His death broke the housing bill free as House members  in homage to Kings work, in response to the civil unrest, in remorse and perhaps for justice  demanded action from Colmer and the Rules Committee.

Colmer resisted to the end, but one of his key allies switched his vote and the bill passed out of the committee on April 9, the day of Kings memorial service.

The House scheduled its debate on the Senate amendments for the next day. On April 10, with the House debate kept to one hour, the bill sprinted through a 250-172 vote and straight to a relieved president.

Upon signing the Fair Housing Act, Johnson described its trip as long and stormy. While the act has yet to fulfill its promises to the residents of Kansas City and other cities, the work and sacrifice by King and other housing rights heroes who endured that storm continue to inspire many to keep up the fight for fair and equal housing.

Gary Rhoades is a civil rights attorney specializing in fair housing law and an author. He, his wife Christina and their dogs live in Kansas City.
The Russian missile ship Serpukhov, which was reportedly set on fire, will be difficult to repair under sanctions pressure, Dmytro Pletenchuk, Ukraine's Navy spokesperson, said on April 9.

Ukraine's military intelligence claimed on April 8 that the fire had "disabled" the ship and that its means of communication and automation were "completely destroyed."

A source from Ukraine's military intelligence confirmed for the Kyiv Independent that its operatives were behind the fire. It was the first such attack on Russian naval assets in the Baltic Sea.

"If it's communications, automation systems, then the ship requires repairs. When such ships were being built, it was no secret that, just like in airplanes, there were few Russian (parts) in them except for cables, metal, and crew," Pletenchuk said on national television.

Andrii Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence agency, said that Serpukhov is afloat, but it "will take a long time" to repair the damaged modern equipment.

"Russia was probably planning to move it (the ship) to the Black Sea, considering the losses of the Black Sea Fleet," Yusov told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on April 9.

In recent months, Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russia's Black Sea Fleet targets in occupied Crimea, successfully targeting several ships and forcing some Russian vessels to redeploy to safer waters.

Russian authorities reported on April 8 that the Russian ice navigation vessel Katerina Velikaya caught fire while undergoing repairs at the shipyard Dalzavod in the far eastern city of Vladivostok.

One person was killed, and three others were injured, Russian authorities said, adding that the circumstances of the fire were under investigation.

Read also: Opinion: Whats left of Russias Black Sea Fleet?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
April 9 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Britain came to the rescue of a bull that wandered into a river and became stuck in the water.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said crews responded alongside North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service's Richmond Fire Appliance & Water Rescue Unit to help a farmer rescue his bull from the River Tees, near the Blackwell area of Darlington.

The firefighters put a rope around the bull's neck and were able to lead the animal to the edge of the water, but it was unable to climb out.

Heavy equipment was brought in to hoist the bull out of the water and back to dry land.

"After a little rest, the bull was up and about as we were leaving the scene," Darlington Blue Watch Crew Manager Jaycie Hall said on social media. "The river was very flooded and swift moving, and all the riverbanks were deep mud, so it was quite a challenging job."
Lord Cameron urges US Republicans to free up billions for Ukraine after surprise talks with Donald Trump

Lord Cameron urges US Republicans to free up billions for Ukraine after surprise talks with Donald Trump

Lord Cameron appealed on Tuesday to hardline US Republicans to authorise new funds for Ukraine after he paid court to Donald Trump on a surprise trip to Florida.

The Foreign Secretary was en route to talks in Washington with leaders in Congress and with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, with whom he discussed Ukraine as well as Israels bloody war against Hamas in Gaza.

At a joint news conference with Mr Blinken, the former prime minister said the UK Government has grave concerns about humanitarian access in Gaza but would not be suspending arms exports to Israel. Nor will it release legal advice about whether Israel is guilty of war crimes, he said, following the deaths of seven aid workers including three Britons in an Israeli air strike last week.

Both the US and UK governments stepped up warnings against Israel launching a threatened assault on the Gazan city of Rafah, where more than one million Palestinians are sheltering.

Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu says he has a fixed a date to start the operation, but Mr Blinken said the US administration had not been informed of when it might begin.

Lord Camerons meeting on Monday night at the former presidents Mar-a-Lago resort was Mr Trumps first with a senior UK government minister since he left office in 2021 in chaotic circumstances, following a deadly riot by his supporters on Capitol Hill.

Lord Cameron has made no secret of his dislike of Mr Trump in the past, calling him xenophobic and misogynistic in his 2019 memoir.

But the talks over dinner in Florida underscored the election-year influence that Mr Trump wields over a handful of recalcitrant Republicans in the House of Representatives. Under his influence, they have been blocking a $60 billion package proposed by President Joe Biden that is seen as vital for Ukraine to hold the line against Vladimir Putins invading army.

Defending his meeting with the Republican presumptive nominee, Lord Cameron said: This was entirely in line with the precedent of government ministers meeting with opposition politicians in the run-up to elections.

He said that he and Mr Trump discussed a range of important geopolitical subjects but stressed that it was a private meeting and would not divulge any more information.

The former presidents campaign team said that Mr Trump and Lord Cameron discussed elections coming up in both Britain and the United States this year, Brexit, the need for Nato countries to meet their defence spending requirements, and ending the killing in Ukraine".

Mr Trump has vowed to let Russia do whatever they hell they want with Nato members who fail to spend enough on defence. That threat was previously decried by Lord Cameron as not a sensible approach, and in 2015 he attacked the then Republican candidates threatened ban on Muslims entering America as stupid.

But he sought in Washington to reach out to Mr Trumps allies in the House of Representatives.

It's not for foreign politicians to tell legislators in another country what to do. It's just that I'm so passionate about the importance of defending Ukraine against this aggression that I think it is absolutely in the interests of US security to unblock the aid, he said.

It is the latest of several interventions made by Lord Cameron over the additional funding for Ukraine. Earlier this year, he warned Congress not to show the weakness displayed against Hitler in the 1930s.

His previous comments drew the ire of far-right Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who told him to kiss my ass and worry about his own country.

In a statement on Monday, the Foreign Secretary said: Success for Ukraine and failure for Putin are vital for American and European security.

This will show that borders matter, that aggression doesnt pay and that countries like Ukraine are free to choose their own future.

The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to re-draw European borders by force, and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea.

The visit comes as Downing Street sought to insist the Government is completely united in its stance on Israel following the killings of the World Central Kitchen aid workers.

Divisions emerged over the weekend with Lord Cameron taking a more strident approach to Israel than some of his Cabinet colleagues.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden suggested on Sunday that Israel was being held to an incredibly high standard compared with other nations and claimed there was a bit of relish from some people about the way in which they are pushing this case against Israel.

But on Monday, the Prime Ministers official spokesman denied there was a split, saying Lord Camerons and Mr Dowdens words were consistent with Rishi Sunaks towards Israel.

Warning that a second Trump presidency could have a devastating effect on European security, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey meanwhile called on Lord Cameron to organise a summit of European leaders, to kick-start seizing Russian assets for the good of Ukraine.

The West is divided. The spectre of a second Trump presidency has Putin rubbing his hands, the opposition leader said. We only have one option: to stand with our Ukrainian allies, as they seek to bravely resist Russias illegal invasion.
Lori Lightfoot, the former mayor of Chicago, has been hired to investigate Dolton (Ill.) Mayor Tiffany Henyard, who faces allegations that she misused public funds.

Lightfoot accepted the position Monday at a Dolton Village board of trustees meeting, where she said she was honored to be tapped to conduct a thorough and timely independent investigation into Henyard and her administration.

As a lawyer, former federal prosecutor, and mayor, I bring expertise in leading investigations of this kind and understand the complex challenges of governing, she said in a statement reported by CBS Chicago. I will follow the facts where they lead, without bias, and reserve comments until the work is complete. At the conclusion of this investigation, I will provide an assessment of the findings and recommendations.

Henyard, who was absent from the meeting, has denied allegations that she has misused public money for personal spending. Dolton is more than $7 million in debt, Dolton village trustee Kiana Belcher told CBS Chicago.

Lightfoots hiring stemmed from the claim that Henyard, her security, two board of trustees and other employees traveled to Las Vegas in May 2023 for a trip centered on economic development but did not report any work related to that goal or any other information about what took place during the trip upon their return, the outlet reported.

Lightfoot will also be investigating a former Dolton employees allegation that she was sexually assaulted by a village trustee and that she was fired by Henyard after reporting the incident.

Henyard has also been accused of misspending federal COVID-19 relief funds, incorrect hiring for contractors and accepting large campaign contributions.

The Dolton mayor was voted to be recalled in June 2022, but the Illinois Appellate Court ruled that the votes to recall her were invalid, CBS Chicago reported.

Lightfoot said she hopes Henyard and her staff will cooperate with the investigation, which could begin as early as Tuesday.

Henyard has the power to veto Lightfoots appointment. The former Chicago mayor said during the meeting that she hopes Henyard will voluntarily cooperate, but if she does not, we are prepared to do what is necessary to get the facts, ABC 7 Chicago reported.

The Hill has reached out to Henyard for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A judge says there's no evidence that being called antisemitic has harmed Louis Farrakhan, above, or the Nation of Islam. (Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP/Getty Images)

Prominent Jewish leaders are free to continue calling Louis Farrakhan  leader of the Black nationalist organization the Nation of Islam  antisemitic, according to a New York court.

The Nation of Islam had sued the Anti-Defamation League and Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center for $4.8 billion, claiming the Jewish organizations had violated the Nation of Islams 1st Amendment rights by calling Farrakhan's frequent unflattering comments about Jews antisemitic.

In recent years, Farrakhan has publicly likened Jews to termites, accused the synagogue of Satan of wrapping its tentacles around the U.S. government, and argued that the pedophilia and sexual perversion in Hollywood could be traced to Jewish influence.

In dismissing the case, Manhattan federal court Judge Denise Cote held that the claims of antisemitism were based on direct quotes by Farrakhan and that there was no evidence that being called antisemitic had harmed the Nation of Islam.

We are grateful that the United States judicial system recognized and validated our First Amendment right to confront and speak out against anti-Semitism, said the Wiesenthal Centers Rabbi Abraham Cooper in a statement Monday. He called the lawsuit a not-so-veiled attempt to silence Jewish voices.

Read more: 'This is not a pro-Hamas protest': Palestinian Americans fight charges of antisemitism

In a video address posted on the Nation of Islams website in the fall, Farrakhan argued that everything he had said about Jews is absolutely the truth and that the vile claims of antisemitism had cost him and other members of his organization jobs in the media and other business opportunities.

And with their influence over the media," Farrakhan added, "these false charges have been spread throughout the Earth.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  State Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Stonewall, took his bill that would remove inspection stickers down Monday. He says hes trying to find a way to get rid of inspection stickers without causing the Louisiana State Police to lose money.

HB344 would end the requirement for inspection stickers for most vehicles in the state. Under the current law, all motor vehicles are required to have an inspection sticker. A vehicle deemed unsafe receives a written notice and has five days to fix the violation.

The bill proposed to allow certain vehicles to be driven without an inspection sticker. Under the proposed law, commercial vehicles and student transportation vehicles must have inspection stickers.

Baton Rouge Area Chamber supports bill that would make Louisiana schools start later

If passed, law enforcement would have the authority to issue citations for motor vehicles that are deemed unsafe.

The inspections raise money for the state and most of the fees go to state police, according to the bill.

The bill is shelved for the time being but there is a possibility it could be taken up again this session.

Latest News

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry addresses members of the House and Senate on opening day of a legislative special session focusing on crime, Feb. 19, 2024, in the House Chamber at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge, La. Louisianas Republican-controlled Senate has advanced a bill Monday, April 8, that would empower state and local law enforcement to arrest and jail people in the state who enter the U.S. illegally, similar to embattled legislation in Texas. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP)

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Louisiana's Republican-controlled Senate advanced a bill Monday that would empower state and local law enforcement to arrest and jail people in the state who entered the U.S. illegally, similar to embattled legislation in Texas.

Amid national fights between Republican states and Democratic President Joe Biden over how and who should enforce the U.S.-Mexico border, Louisiana joins a growing list of legislatures seeking to expand states' authority over border enforcement.

Proponents of the bill, such as the legislation's author GOP state Sen. Valarie Hodges, say Louisiana has the right to defend our nation. Hodges has accused the federal government of neglecting responsibilities to enforce immigration law, an argument heard from GOP leaders across the country.

Opponents argue the bill is unconstitutional, will not do anything to make the state safer, and will only fuel negative and false rhetoric directed toward migrants.

Across the nation, reliably red legislatures have advanced tougher immigration enforcement measures. The Oklahoma House passed a bill that would prohibit state revenue from being used to provide benefits to those living in the state illegally. A bill in Tennessee, which is awaiting the governor's signature, would require law enforcement agencies in the state to communicate with federal immigration authorities if they discover people who are in the country illegally. Measures that mirror parts of the Texas law are awaiting the governor's signature in Iowa, while another is pending in Idaho's statehouse.

Although Louisiana does not border Mexico, bills and policies targeting migrants suspected of entering the country illegally have been pushed to the forefront over the past four months under new conservative leadership. One bill looks to ban sanctuary city policies that allow local law enforcement to refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials unless ordered by a court. Another would set up funding to send Louisiana National Guard members to the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas. New Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has also begun directing state agencies to collect and publish data on migrants in the state.

I think all of us in here know that we have a crisis at the border and our federal government is not doing anything to help the states, Sen. Hodges said during floor debate Monday.

Louisiana's bill would create the crime of illegal entry or reentry into Louisiana. Illegal reentry includes people who were previously denied admission, excluded, deported, or otherwise removed from the U.S. The bill passed the Senate along party lines after 10 minutes of debate and now heads to the House.

Like the Texas law, which has been put on hold by a federal appeals court panel that is considering whether to continue blocking enforcement pending further appeals, Louisiana's bill would expand the authority of state and local law enforcement. In addition, Hodges said it would start the deportation process. Currently, enforcement of immigration law regarding illegal entry and deportations has long been the exclusive domain of federal law enforcement.

Under Louisianas bill, anyone who violates the proposed law would face up to a year in prison and a $4,000 fine for a first offense, and up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine for a second offense. Necessary witnesses or victims of certain crimes  such as murder, rape, human trafficking, kidnapping, involuntary servitude and blackmail  would be the exception.

In addition, the bill would authorize Gov. Landry to make an interstate compact with Texas and other states willing to participate in Texas state-led border security efforts. Proponents say the provision will help prevent illegal border crossings by sharing information and "state resources to build surveillance systems and physical barriers to deter illegal activity along the border.

Opponents of Louisiana's bill say it is an overreach of state authority, would increase racial profiling and could clog court systems.

Its going to create a backlog in our courts, its going to drain state resources, and its not going to actually reduce crime or make Louisiana any safer, Huey Fischer Garcia, a staff attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center, said during a hearing on the bill last month.

If Louisiana's bill is approved by the House and signed by the governor, who Hodges says supports the measure, it would take effect only if the Supreme Court upholds the Texas law or if the U.S. Constitution is amended to increase local border enforcement authority.

___

This story has been updated to correct that Louisiana's migrant arrest bill was advanced by the state Senate on Monday, April 8, not Tuesday.

___

Associated Press writers Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City, Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee, and Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report.
COLOMBO, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet approved to establish diplomatic relations with Chad as part of its move to enhance ties with the African region, a statement from the government's information department said on Tuesday.

The department said the proposal was presented by Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry at the cabinet meeting held on Monday.

Sri Lanka has established diplomatic relations with 46 countries on the African continent. The government of Chad has also expressed its desire to establish diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka. As a multilateral partner, Chad has supported Sri Lanka in the United Nations and other multilateral conferences, the department said. 
Louisiana State Police ID man who died after manhunt, shooting in East Feliciana Parish

JACKSON, La. (BRPROUD)  Louisiana State Police have released the identity of a 37-year-old man who died Thursday, April 4, after a gunfire exchange with law enforcement in East Feliciana Parish.

According to LSP, deputies with the East Feliciana Parish Sheriffs Office were responding to a domestic violence report near the 4800 block of Highway 68 in Jackson on April 4. Upon arrival, deputies learned Jonathan N. Johnson, of Jackson, was armed. Johnson reportedly fled into a wooded area.

The sheriffs office requested K-9 assistance from the Dixon Correctional Institute. The DCI officers found Johnson and told him to surrender. Johnson reportedly fired a shot, forcing the DCI officers to return fire.

State Police say Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.

Baton Rouge bar fight suspect wants to leave Louisiana for work in Mississippi

This is an ongoing investigation. More information will be released following an autopsy.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held a call with French President Emmanuel Macron on April 8 and discussed further support for Ukraine, among other issues, as reported on the websites of the U.K. government and the Elysee Palace.

Sunak and Macron talked on the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale, a series of agreements signed on 8 April, 1904, between France and the U.K. to strengthen Anglo-French relations.

The U.K. prime minister and the French president agreed on "the importance of intensifying efforts to deny Russia a victory" in its war against Ukraine, the U.K. government's statement read.

Sunak and Macron discussed priorities for the coming months and further coordination on the path of aiding Ukraine, including increased supplies of munitions, drones, and air defense to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

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The leaders also agreed to jointly work on the U.K.-hosted European Political Community meeting, where the assistance for Ukraine will be one of the key topics.

The situation in Gaza and the wider Middle East, further cooperation on artificial intelligence, and joint efforts to tackle illegal migration and organized crime were among the discussed issues as well.

Sunak and Macron also expressed their commitment to Moldova's sovereignty and independence.

France announced a military aid delivery to Ukraine in March containing Aster 30 anti-aircraft missiles and hundreds of armored vehicles. This supply was part of a new military aid package, which was unveiled by Macron in February.

The U.K. also announced in the previous month a further 60 million pounds ($75.5 million) in military aid for Ukraine, providing new surveillance drones and air defense systems.

Read also: WSJ: Macron privately pushed Biden, Scholz to adopt strategic ambiguity toward Russia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Let no one say that President Joe Biden has failed to follow through on campaign promises about student loan debt relief. By any fair measure, the incumbent Democrat has made it one of his administrations key domestic policy goals.

That said, overcoming opposition from Republicans and their allies has consistently posed real challenges.

Circling back to our earlier coverage, it was last year, for example, Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices, responding to a Republican-backed lawsuit, effectively killed Bidens $400 billion plan to cancel or reduce federal student loan debts for millions of Americans.

In the months that followed, the Democratic White House continued to take additional and incremental steps to assist those with crushing student loan debts, including launching the SAVE Repayment Plan in January  which Republican state attorneys general are also fighting to tear down.

As NBC News reported, Biden traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, yesterday to announce revised plans to cancel federal student debt, along with other actions intended to benefit millions of Americans.

This relief can be life-changing, Biden said. Folks, I will never stop to deliver student debt relief on hard-working Americans, and its only in the interest of America that we do it. And again, its for the good of our economy thats growing stronger and stronger  and it is. By freeing millions of Americans from this crushing debt ... it means they can finally get on with their lives, instead of their lives being put on hold.

The New York Times and Vox had worthwhile explainers on the latest White House initiative, and readers wondering whether theyd benefit directly from the new policies should definitely check them out.

But its worth considering the expected pushback from the usual suspects. The Associated Press reported after Bidens event:

As the 2024 election cycle advances, theres no shortage of contrast issues for voters  and student loan debt relief is high on the list.

In the 2020 elections cycle, exit polling showed Biden defeating then-incumbent Donald Trump by a wide margin among voters under the age of 30. More recent polling has been all over the place, but the latest survey data nevertheless suggests the Democrat is struggling to duplicate his success among these younger voters in 2024.

Will the focus on student loan debt help make a difference for Biden, especially as Republicans and their allies push back aggressively in the opposite direction? Watch this space.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Donald Trump has come to a straightforward conclusion about the 2024 election cycle: The greater the focus on abortion rights, the more likely it becomes that he and his fellow Republicans will lose. The former presidents assumption is well grounded and bolstered by overwhelming evidence.

With this in mind, Trumps newest position on abortion  the latest in an evolving series  was unveiled this week, not just to alert voters as to his plans, but also in the hopes that it would take the issue off the table. The presumptive GOP nominee said as much last fall on NBCs Meet the Press, telling Kristen Welker, [F]or the first time in 52 years, youll have an issue that we can put behind us.

What the Republican has long failed to appreciate is the fact that its not entirely up to him what is and is not a campaign issue. Theres a whole other party  and an incumbent president  which has some say in the matter, too.

Its against this backdrop that NBC News reported yesterday on a new campaign ad from President Joe Bidens re-election campaign.

At 18 weeks, Amandas water broke, the ads on-screen text reads. She had a miscarriage.

As the couple shares their story, the text adds, Because Donald Trump killed Roe v. Wade, Amanda was denied standard medical care to prevent infection, an abortion.

NEW AD: Donald Trump just took credit for extreme abortion bans across the country.



This is what Donald Trump did. pic.twitter.com/3IzmQwebMp  Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) April 8, 2024

As Zurawski cries in the background, the ad concludes with a simple four-word message: Donald Trump did this.

If her name sounds at all familiar, its not your imagination. It was about a year ago when Americans were introduced to a group of Texas women who were denied abortions  despite grave personal and medical risks  and who sued over the Republican-imposed ban. The New York Times noted at the time that their litigation marked the first time that pregnant women themselves have taken legal action against the bans that have shut down access to abortion across the country since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

As we discussed soon after, the women who filed the case actually wanted to be pregnant  until they learned about their tragic circumstances, including two fetuses that had no skulls.

Legal filings can sometimes be dry and technical, but this lawsuit was a qualitatively different kind of document. As my MSNBC colleague Jordan Rubin explained, the filing detailed the gruesome reality of life in a post-Roe America, specifically in Texas. The Times report specifically highlighted Zurawski, who was told she was not yet sick enough to receive an abortion, then twice became septic, and was left with so much scar tissue that one of her fallopian tubes is permanently closed.

You dont think youre somebody whos going to need an abortion, let alone an abortion to save my life, Zurawski explained. If anybody reads my story, I dont care where they are on the political spectrum, very few people would agree there is anything pro-life about this.

A year later, she continues to tell her story  this time, in an ad from Bidens campaign team.

The NBC News report added that the commercial is part of a $30 million ad campaign that will air in battleground states. The incumbent Democrats campaign also said the ad will air on a variety of popular prime-time programs.

[F]or the first time in 52 years, youll have an issue that we can put behind us? I dont think so.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Maddow Blog | Even now, right clings to false tale about migrants, charter flights

It was nearly a month ago when Sen. Ted Cruz started pushing a brazenly deceptive message about the Biden administration importing illegal aliens into the United States. The Texas Republican even sent out fundraising appeals, telling would-be donors that President Joe Biden has chartered secret flights as part of a scheme to fly illegals into America.

The fundraising message added, You cant make this stuff up.

Cruz, however, was making stuff up. In fact, pretty much every relevant detail of the GOP senators story was false. And yet, it hasnt gone away.

Late last week, for example, conspiratorial billionaire Elon Musk used social media to claim that the Biden administration is flying hundreds of thousands of illegals into the United States using Americans tax dollars.

A few days earlier, Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee  the Republican chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, who really ought to have known better  pushed a related message. This came on the heels of similar claims from Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee.

A Washington Post fact-check piece took the GOP lawmakers to task.

Speaking of Tennessee Republicans who got this wrong, its worth noting that Sen. Marsha Blackburn also condemned the Biden administration for what she described as a secret flight program.

The truth, as an Associated Press report recently explained, is rather benign. The Biden administration created a humanitarian parole program that allows Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans to stay in the U.S. for two years, but participants  who have legal permission to be here  must apply online with a financial sponsor, and they must be screened, vetted, and authorized for travel.

Theres nothing secret about any of this: U.S. Customs and Border Protection has promoted the program and publicly disclosed the details on the agencys website.

As for the idea that the administration is using Americans tax dollars to pay for these flights, in reality, participants in the program are responsible for paying their own way. Whats more, the migrants in question are required to arrange for their own travel on commercial flights.

If recent history is any guide, the right will continue to pretend their claims about the program are based in reality, but those who care about the facts should know better.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Maddow Blog | As Trump and his allies look to rename airport, Dems eye counteroffer

A generation after Republicans renamed the key airport in the Washington area, a different group of GOP lawmakers set their sights on the citys other airport. Under an actual piece of pending legislation (H.R. 7845), Washington Dulles International Airport would be renamed the Donald J. Trump International Airport.

Initially, the former president said very little about this. But as a Washington Post report noted last week, that silence didnt last.

In fact, after the former president published a couple of items to his social media platform last Wednesday, he added a couple more on Friday, including one in which Trump said it would be such a great honor if Congress agreed to rename Dulles after him.

In other words, this story has reached Mar-a-Lago  and the presumptive GOP nominee is on board with the idea.

That same afternoon, three more House Republicans  New Yorks Claudia Tenney, South Carolinas William Timmons, and Virginias Bob Good  signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation, joining the bills original six champions. (One of the sextet, Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee, said last week that one of the goals of his bill was to put it in their face. He didnt say who they were.)

No one should be surprised if this list of co-sponsors grows, especially now that Trump has effectively endorsed the effort.

As for congressional Democrats, NBC News reported that while theyre unlikely to change Dulles name, they do have a counterproposal in mind.

When our Republican colleagues introduced their bill to rename Dulles after Donald Trump, I said the more fitting option would be to rename a federal prison, Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia said in a statement. I hope our Republican friends will join us in bestowing upon Donald J. Trump the only honor he truly deserves.

Reps. Jared Moskowitz of Florida and John Garamendi of California are the other two Democratic co-sponsors of this actual bill.

Obviously, neither proposal will become law anytime soon, though it remains easy to imagine the former president seizing on the Dulles bill, investing time and energy into the idea, and making it a litmus-test issue for his congressional allies.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Todays edition of quick hits.

* Failing delay tactics: A New York appeals court judge Tuesday denied Donald Trumps bid to halt his hush money trial while he appeals a gag order, a ruling that came less than 24 hours after another judge rejected the former presidents request to delay his impending criminal trial on other grounds.

* Targeting Rafah: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that despite the troop pullout [from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis], a date had been set for an offensive on Rafah, a plan that has raised global alarm. The Israeli leader said today that no force in the world could stop an Israeli operation on the city.

* Difficult diplomacy: Hamas said that it was studying a new proposal for a cease-fire deal after talks in Cairo, but said the plan did not meet any of its demands for a truce that would secure the release of more hostages being held in Gaza.

* Fourteen months later: Norfolk Southern has agreed to a $600 million settlement to resolve class action lawsuits filed after a freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, spilling toxic chemicals into the community.

* EPA: More than 200 chemical plants nationwide will be required to reduce toxic emissions that are likely to cause cancer under a new rule issued Tuesday by the Environmental Protection Agency. The rule advances President Joe Bidens commitment to environmental justice by delivering critical health protections for communities burdened by industrial pollution from ethylene oxide, chloroprene and other dangerous chemicals, officials said.

* A story thats been percolating for a while: A federal judge in Manhattan sentenced a Florida woman on Tuesday to a month in prison for her role in a brazen scheme to steal the diary of President Bidens daughter and sell it to a right-wing group in the hope of disrupting the 2020 election.

* Another story thats been percolating for a while: Two right-wing political operatives must pay up to $1.25 million in fines after they were found liable for launching a robocall campaign designed to keep Black New Yorkers from voting in the 2020 election, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Tuesday. Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, who have a history of concocting conspiracy theories to try to smear Democrats, were found liable last March of orchestrating a robocall campaign that reached about 5,500 predominantly Black New Yorkers in the summer of 2020.

* The judicial confirmation process matters: Senate Democrats have teed up floor action this week on three more of President Joe Bidens judicial nominations, whose confirmations would catch up to the pace set by former President Donald Trump at this point in his presidency. But the Biden administration still faces a tricky confirmation process to surpass Trumps record overall on filling the federal bench, in part because Democrats hold a slim 51-49 advantage and Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., has put a caveat on his support for Biden judicial nominees.

See you tomorrow.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
As a rule, when politicians tell a story with evolving details, it suggests that that something is amiss. In Montana, for example, Senate hopeful Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, has told voters that he has a bullet stuck in his right forearm from Afghanistan.

Its the sort of thing that signals to the public that the Republican wants to be seen as tough, while simultaneously reminding people about his military service. There is, however, some question as to how, exactly, the candidate got shot. The Washington Post reported on several inconsistent accounts Sheehy has shared.

Soon after, a ranger cited Sheehy for illegally discharging his weapon in a national park, relying on the Republicans version of events.

Sheehy told the Post, however, that he lied to the National Park Service ranger and that he was actually shot while serving in Afghanistan. The article added, He said he made up the story about the gun going off to protect himself and his former platoonmates from facing a potential military investigation into an old bullet wound that he said he got in Afghanistan in 2012. He said he did not know for certain whether the wound was the result of friendly fire or from enemy ammunition, and said he never reported the incident to his superiors.

In case this werent quite enough, the Post went on to report, Sheehys latest account of his arm wound is one of several differing descriptions he has given of being shot while deployed. In his 2023 memoir Mudslingers, he wrote in one passage that he received multiple bullet wounds in Afghanistan. In another, he wrote that his body was hit by a bullet just once. In the book, he also offers varying accounts of how he was shot.

By way of a defense, the candidate conceded, I guess the only thing Im guilty of is admitting to doing something I never did.

Its against this backdrop that Vote Vets, a progressive veterans group, unveiled a new digital ad this morning, shining a light on the GOP candidates story and its evolving details.

What's the truth, @SheehyforMT? Telling investigators one story and then telling others the bullet in your arm is from Afghanistan?

This is just one more story that doesn't add up, Tim.

Montana deserves better. pic.twitter.com/VfXvX69lhR  VoteVets (@votevets) April 8, 2024

Its time he releases his military records and medical records to put this issue to bed, said Jon Soltz, chairman of Vote Vets. Montanans might not be able to trust Sheehy, but they can trust our military and medical professionals for the truth.

Given that the Senate majority might very well rest on what happens in Montana in the fall, I dont imagine weve heard the last of this one.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
This story was originally published by St. Louis Public Radio, a Belleville News-Democrat content partner.

Madison County voters are one step closer to taking a symbolic vote on whether their county should separate from Chicago and Cook County to form a new state.

The Government Relations Committee of the Madison County Board on April 2 approved a nonbinding advisory referendum 6-1 that asks voters if they should communicate with other counties outside Chicago about secession. The full board still needs to approve the referendum for it to be on the November ballot.

The committees actions possibly negated a requirement that supporters gather roughly 7,800 signatures  about 8% of the countys turnout during the last gubernatorial election  to get the referendum in front of the countys voters.

The vote was a win for secession proponents, whove long argued downstate Illinois would be better off governing itself without Chicagos political influence.

It was a win for taxpayers in Madison County, said Dave Stopher of Troy, whos long advocated for the referendum. It was a win for the citizens to be able to voice their opinion.

The Metro East county became a key target for the Illinois Separation Referendum, the group behind secession, after the 2022 midterm elections. In that election, two townships on the eastern edge of the county voted in favor of separation.

So far, 26 downstate counties have approved symbolic votes, according to the group. In all, those counties include more than 476,000 people. Adding Madison County, population 264,000, to the list would be a major accomplishment for the group.

However, the vote would be purely symbolic and carry no true power. Proponents say it does send a signal, reflecting voters wishes like a poll or survey. But other elected officials and political observers say that Congress would need to sign off on secession, which is highly unlikely.

County board member Alison Lamothe, D-Edwardsville, cast the lone no vote on Tuesday. Lamothe, one of two Democrats on the seven-member committee, said she objects to secession and doesnt see the point of sending the question to voters.

To me, a referendum like this, its not offering real solutions, Lamothe said. Rather than offer solutions, it just, in my view, foments misperceptions.

Last fall, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul rejected a similar question from neighboring Jersey County. The county does not have the authority to secede from the State of Illinois and join another state, Raouls legal opinion stated.

A county board member in Jersey County raised the possibility, and the Jersey County States Attorney, Benjamin Goetten, said he would reluctantly ask the states top attorney.

While I would have preferred my name not be on this opinion, I was directed that the request had to be made by the states attorney, Goetten said. In an effort to put it to bed so to speak, the board chairman asked that I make the request.

Some Republican board members said Tuesday they wanted to amend the language of the referendum before the full board votes on it. Bethalto Republicans Mike Babcock and Mick Madison said theyd like to consider adding language that Madison County should join Missouri.

At the end of the day, thats not necessarily our goal, Stopher said of Madisons suggestion. However, that is a possible outcome further on down the road  several steps away.

But on Thursday, Madison said hed forgo adding the Missouri amendment before the board meeting. He said he came to that conclusion after speaking with proponents.

This is their issue. They have it written, Madison said. I think Im going to leave it as is.

Joining Missouri could still be an option down the road, he said.

Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler said the board will likely vote on its referendum at the next meeting, which is scheduled for April 17.

Send questions and comments about this story to feedback@stlpublicradio.org.
An 18-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl have been arrested in connection with a series of armed robberies across Los Angeles County.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the two were arrested Saturday after leading police on a pursuit following an armed robbery at a convenience store on the 3200 block of South Central Avenue.

Officers responded to the scene and located the suspect vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver sped off and led police on a chase. At one point, one of the occupants threw a firearm out of the vehicle, police said, which was later recovered by officers.

The pursuit eventually ended and both the driver and passenger were arrested.

The man has been identified as Nathen Sanchez, an 18-year-old resident of Los Angeles. Because the girl is underage, her name has not been released.

During their arrest, a large amount of cash that was stolen in the earlier robbery was recovered from inside the vehicle.

Police say the two have since been connected to an armed carjacking in Boyle Heights that took place earlier that day. The pair are also suspected in other armed robberies that have happened in South Gate and Azusa, as well as additional crimes in greater L.A.

Sanchez was booked into jail and is being held on $175,000 bail as he awaits charges for robbery. Jail records show he was previously arrested in February on undisclosed felony charges and was released last month on his own recognizance.

Officials did not say what, if any, charges the 12-year-old girl might face.

Police believe there may be additional victims that have yet to be contact. Anyone with information about the investigation is urged to contact LAPD Newton Division Robbery Detectives at 323-318-3559. Anonymous tips can be made online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The British Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (BCCA) will organize a meeting with the UK representatives responsible for climate protection issues, particularly in the upcoming 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), with stakeholders on the theme Building Bridges, in Baku, Azernews reports.

"A delegation from the UK, including Head of the Climate Diplomacy Department of the Environment, Climate and Energy Directorate (ECED) Andrew Francis, and Head of the Climate Strategy and Coordination Department Anna Walters, will arrive in Baku.

With the participation of the UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan Fergus Auld, and BCCA experts, a meeting on COP29 and the entire spectrum of global climate agenda issues will take place on April 17 in Baku," the BCCA pointed out.

To note, COP29 will take place in Baku on November 1124, and in anticipation of this global event, various national and international consultations will be held.
UNITED NATIONS, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations expressed concern on Monday about the effects of the drought in Southeast Africa, leading Zimbabwe to become the third country in the region to announce a state of emergency.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Zimbabwe joins Zambia and Malawi suffering the effects of El Nino on the state of emergency list.

OCHA said that more than 2.7 million people in Zimbabwe are facing food insecurity because of the drought, despite the government and humanitarian partners investing in programs meant to head off the worst impacts of drought.

"The humanitarian community in the country is also concerned that the scarcity and depletion of safe water sources could lead to an uptick in communicable diseases," said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "The United Nations and its partners stand ready to scale up life-saving assistance in Zimbabwe but need adequate funding to do so."

He said a flash appeal for the humanitarian response to the drought in Zimbabwe is being drawn up and will launch soon.

Southern Africa is suffering from drought more than usual this time of year because of global warming causing higher temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the naturally occurring El Nino phenomenon. 
Man Allegedly Killed Wife by Nearly Decapitating Her Near Their Children

Baltazar Perez-Estrada has been charged with five counts of murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of Maricela Simon Franco

GoFundMe Maricela Simon Franco

Authorities said a man turned himself into an Illinois police department, claiming he had stabbed his wife

Maricela Simon Franco was allegedly killed following a domestic dispute, per police

Franco's two children had recently arrived in the U.S. to see their mother, family said

A man has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder in connection with the brutal killing of his wife, authorities said.

Maricela Simon Franco, 26, was fatally stabbed, with her head nearly decapitated in her Carol Stream, Ill., home on March 31, Dupage County authorities said in a press release shared on Thursday, April 4.

Baltazar Perez-Estrada, 33, turned himself into the Carol Stream Police Department on the morning of April 1 and told authorities that he had allegedly stabbed his wife, per the release, adding that "officers took Perez-Estrada into custody at this time and immediately opened an investigation."

Investigators said the couple got into a verbal altercation late in the evening on March 31. After turning into a physical altercation. Perez-Estrada allegedly stab[bed] Franco dozens of times [around] her head, neck, body and hands, nearly decapitating her head, authorities said.

Per the release, investigators learned that the couples two children "were present at the time of the alleged murder." In a GoFundMe set up for the children, a woman identifying herself as Franco's aunt said the children  7 and 8 years old  recently came to the U.S. to see their mother.

DuPage County State's Attorney's Office Baltazar Perez-Estrada

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Not only has this senseless and brutal act removed Maricela from their lives, but it has robbed two young children of their mother, Carol Stream Chief of Police Don Cummings said, per the release.

The extremely violent end to a young mothers life is something that should touch us all, DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. In this case, the sad reality is, Maricelas life has been reduced to a statistic of domestic violence due to the alleged actions of her husband, Baltazar Perez-Estrada.

Perez-Estrada's last known location was in Mexico, before allegedly entered the U.S. without legal paperwork about two weeks ago, authorities said. They added that he's also been charged with "alien inadmissibility and given a future court date."

Perez-Estrada, who was denied pre-trial release during a court appearance on April 4, is set to be arraigned on April 25, per authorities. Court records show he has been appointed a public defender. Plea information was not available in online records.



If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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Read the original article on People.
Man arrested after breaking into relatives home, assaulting an officer: Mobile Police Department

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A man was arrested after he allegedly forced his way into a relatives home and assaulted an officer, according to the Mobile Police Department.

President Biden sends letter to Mobile murder victims mother

Officers with MPD responded to the 2200 block of Clements Street around 5:20 a.m. on Thursday, April 4, about a disorderly complaint, according to reports.

LOCATION:

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Upon arrival, police found a man, identified as 69-year-old Booker Ruggs Jr., of Mobile, had forced his way into a relatives home.

Ruggs allegedly assaulted an officer when he was being detained, reports said.

Like Pac-Man eating the sun: Elberta 5th graders marvel at eclipse

He was arrested on charges of failure to obey, resisting arrest, first-degree criminal trespass, second-degree criminal mischief and second-degree assault.

According to the Mobile County Sheriffs Office jail log, Ruggs has since been released on bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Man Arrested Over Deadly Stabbing of 27-Year-Old Mother as She Pushed Baby in Stroller

The 25-year-old man was named as the suspect following the fatal attack on Saturday

West Yorkshire Police Habibur Masum was arrested on April 9, 2024

A man has been arrested over the deadly stabbing of a 27-year-old mother as she pushed her baby in a stroller.

On Tuesday, April 9, West Yorkshire Police in England confirmed in a press release that 25-year-old Habibur Masum from Oldham in Lancashire was arrested on suspicion of killing Kulsuma Akter on Saturday, April 6, as she walked down the street with her child.

Masum was previously named as the suspect after police appealed to members of the public to help find him. He was discovered during the early hours of April 9 in the town of Aylesbury, around 180 miles south of where the murder took place.

Members of the public and the media are thanked for widely sharing appeals for information in relation to Kulsumas death, the police said in their statement.

West Yorkshire Police

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Related: Woman Struck in Alleged Road Rage Incident Dies From Injuries

Akter was stabbed in Bradford, Yorkshire at 3:21 pm local time and later died from her injuries after being taken to the hospital.

Authorities confirmed that the victim and suspect were known to each other, with West Yorkshire Police stating that they had referred themselves to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) due to previously coming into contact with Akter before her death.

West Yorkshire Police Masum's last sighting captured on CCTV footage, released by the police

According to the BBC, court documents revealed that Masum was charged with threatening to kill Akter on Nov. 24 and assaulting her on Nov. 23. With the incidents allegedly taking place in Manchester, the outlet reports that Greater Manchester Police have also referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Related: Texas Woman Sentenced to 50 Years for Killing Boyfriends 4-Year-Old Daughter

She was with her young baby at the time of the incident  the baby is safe and was not harmed in the incident, the police said per the press release, adding that a 23-year-old man also remains in custody after being arrested on Monday, April 8 in Cheshire on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Press Association via AP Images Bradford city centre

This is a tragic incident in which a mother has lost her life in the most horrific of circumstances, Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Polices Homicide and Enquiry Team said in a statement.



We understand that this has caused a considerable amount of concern in the local community, the detective added.

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Man has kids roam the streets collecting money for fake nonprofit, Florida cops say

A traffic stop led to accusations that a man was dropping off kids by themselves to collect donations for a fake nonprofit, Florida authorities said.

The 36-year-old man with a child in the back of the van was pulled over in Alachua County the morning of April 6, according to a report from Florida Highway Patrol.

The trooper reporting smelling marijuana in the van and asked the driver to show his license. The man couldnt provide his license, and the trooper ran a search that showed the man had a suspended license, the trooper said.

He identified the child in the back as Justin, but the boy said his name was Brian, according to the report.

The trooper said he found a scale and marijuana in the van and believed the man intended to distribute it. The child said he was familiar with the substance found in the van.

The trooper said he learned the man was transporting four kids from the Orlando area to Alachua County, more than a 100-mile drive north, to get them to solicit donations for a fake nonprofit called Awareness Youth.

Troopers found the other kids in different locations.

It should be noted that the children were left unattended to roam the streets asking for money under the mans direction, the trooper said in the report.

For every $10 the children collected, they got to keep $4, authorities said.

McClatchy News reached out to the Florida Highway Patrol to learn the relationship between the man and the children but did not receive an immediate response.

The man faces possession charges, driving while license is suspended and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Alachua County records show. McClatchy News could not immediately get in contact with the mans attorney April 9.

The man was charged in a similar incident in 2013 when authorities said he took seven children from Orlando to Flagler County, roughly an 80-mile drive, to sell candy and cookies for an organization against drugs and alcohol, court documents show.

The report said he dropped the kids off in separate locations without food, water or supervision in 91- degree weather. He pleaded no contest and was ordered to pay a fine, in addition to doing community service, according to court documents.

Alachua County is in north Florida, and Gainesville is the county seat.

Buyers scammed out of $200,000 in closing costs for bogus property, Georgia cops say

Convicted felon in fake patrol car with sirens pulled over by real cops, NC police say

Ex-employee stole thousands from nonprofit to fund her lifestyle, Georgia cops say

Workers relocated for jobs at fake dog training business, feds say. Owner must pay $1.2M
Man who killed Ga. 5-year-old heads to trial even though he already pleaded guilty

WARNING: The following report contains details that some may find graphic or disturbing.

A man who pleaded guilty to the murder of a Georgia 5-year-old will still head to trial this week in Alabama even though he already entered his plea.

Jeremy Williams is accused of killing Kamarie Holland in December 2021.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On Dec. 13, the Columbus Police Department issued a critical missing child alert for Holland. Kristy Siple told police that she went to check on her daughter when she woke up and couldnt find her.

Columbus police and the Russell County Sheriffs Office in Alabama identified Williams as a suspect and tracked him down to a motel in Phenix City, Ala. Agents went to a former address that belonged to Williams and found Hollands body.

Police later learned that Siple trafficked her daughter to Williams in exchange for money and that Williams sexually assaulted and abused the 5-year-old.

TRENDING STORIES:

In March, WTVM-TV reported that Williams pleaded guilty to four counts of capital murder, obstruction of a corpse, knowingly recording the acts, rape, and sodomy. Siple pleaded guilty to human sex trafficking.

While Williams entered a guilty plea, his case will head to trial because the Russell County District Attorneys Office is seeking the death penalty. WTVM and other local outlets reported that Alabama law requires a 12-person jury to determine if a suspect in a death penalty case is guilty or innocent.

Right now, the trial is in jury selection. Court officials told local media that nearly 400 potential jurors received subpoenas.

The judge overseeing the case issued a gag order, which prevents the DAs office and defense attorneys from speaking about the case.

WTVM spoke with Kamarie Hollands father who is waiting for Williams to receive the death penalty.

Monsters like that shouldnt be allowed - no leniency. I want total justice for my baby because I wouldnt wish this on nobodys kids. The horror he put me and my family through. We definitely dont need anybody like that out on the streets, Corey Holland said.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS
The FBI arrested an Idaho man Saturday who allegedly planned to attack churches in the state, and had pledged allegiance to ISIS, according to the Justice Department.

Alexander Scott Mercurio, 18, planned to attack people at churches in Coeur dAlene on Sunday with various weapons, including explosives, knives, a machete, a pipe and ultimately firearms, according to the complaint.

The FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) shut down Mercurios violent plot, the DOJ said in a press release Monday.

As alleged in the complaint, the defendant swore an oath of loyalty to ISIS and planned to wage an attack in its name on churches in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, Attorney General Merrick Garland said, per the release.

This case should be an eye-opener to the dangers of self-radicalization, which is a real threat to our communities, Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the FBIs Salt Lake City office said, per the release.

Mercurio, who was charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, could face up to 20 years in prison, according to the DOJ. Mercurio is currently in custody, waiting for his first court appearance.

This investigation demonstrates the FBIs steadfast commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to stop those who wish to commit acts of violence on behalf of  or inspired by  foreign terrorist groups, FBI Director Christopher Wray said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
KANSAS CITY, Kan.  A 66-year-old man has been sentenced for the July 2023 deadly stabbing of a woman at a downtown Kansas City, Kansas apartment.

Robert Simpson was sentenced last Friday to 25 years in Wyandotte County District Court after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

Man charged after allegedly stabbing person in neck in Henry County

The incident happened at an apartment complex near N. 7th Street Trafficway and Nebraska Avenue on July 21, 2023.

When officers arrived, they found a woman dead with apparent stab wounds. She was identified as 43-year-old Latasha Williams, of KCK.

Simpson was later taken into custody.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Man stabbed during fight on bus in Bronx speaks out: Watch your back, be safe

Man stabbed during fight on bus in Bronx speaks out: Watch your back, be safe

FORDHAM, the Bronx (PIX11)  Derick Gardner is back home in the Bronx after being stabbed with a screwdriver while on an MTA bus Monday afternoon.

Hes all in my face, you heard what I said? Thats annoying! and he caught me in my head, Gardner recalled.

Gardner, 60, said he was on the BX22 bus in Fordham Center when a man suddenly attacked him with a screwdriver.

More Bronx News

I was humming a church song, Gardner said, apparently setting off the suspects temper.

Gardner said the man, seemingly irritated by Gardners humming and tapping of the seat, plunged the tool into the top of his head before bolting.

A lot of women on the bus came and helped me. Im grateful for it, Gardner said.

Ina Percival, who was working along East Fordham Road, described the commotion that followed.

Everyone started coming out of the bus, they were screaming something happened, Percival said.

I saw the guy bleeding. I came to the store and brought papers to put on his head, Percival said.

Gardner was rushed to the hospital, where doctors closed his wound with two staples.

A native New Yorker, Gardner said he has taken the bus all his life and wont stop now.

Gardner has this message to anyone who does the same:

Watch your back, be safe, and God bless, he said.

Police have not made any arrests and are reviewing MTA surveillance video from the bus.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
A Stockton man pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in postage stamps by writing checks in other peoples names and cashing them at regional postal offices, including in Sacramento County, federal prosecutors said.

Charles Dean Good, 55, pleaded guilty to theft of government property and aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of California.

According to the plea agreement, Good wrote checks under fake names, in addition to stealing peoples identity. He passed at more than 1,300 fraudulent checks from 2012 until 2019, which swindled the U.S. Postal Service out of just over $252,000, the plea agreement said.

Good would typically pass checks for relatively small amounts, sometimes multiple times in one day, to avoid detection, the plea agreement said.

In one instance, Good also cashed multiple $150 checks for a business  rather than a person  at three post offices in and around Stockton.

Good also wrote the California drivers license number and victims name on a counterfeit check while turning it in at a Sacramento post office. He got $250 worth of stamps from the Postal Service, the plea agreement said.

Good bypassed the Postal Services processes to verify a customers identity.

In order to pass the bad checks, Good would write on the face of the checks the California Drivers License number of the victim he was impersonating and sign the victims name, the plea agreement said. This was to make it easier for the post office employee to process the check and avoid scrutiny of the fake form of identification presented. The handwriting across all of the recovered checks in the investigation was identical. 

Good is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 10. He faces up to 12 years in prison, prosecutors said.
China and the United States have reached important consensus on economic and financial cooperation after in-depth consultations and discussions during U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's visit to China, China's Vice Finance Minister Liao Min said Monday. #XinhuaNews
Man wanted for exposing himself on RTDs A Line twice

DENVER (KDVR)  The Denver Police Department and Metro Denver Crime Stoppers are seeking identifying information about a man who allegedly exposed himself twice in public.

According to police, the first exposure took place at the Regional Transportation Districts stop at 38th and Blake streets, which is a part of the A Line train route, at about 7:34 p.m. on Feb. 28.

The second exposure was reported to have taken place on April 1 at approximately 10:05 a.m. at Union Station, which is also one of the A Line route stops.

The Denver Police Department is seeking identifying information about a man who allegedly exposed himself twice on RTDs A Line.

The Denver Police Department is seeking identifying information about a man who allegedly exposed himself twice on RTDs A Line.

Police describe the suspect as a white or Hispanic male, between 22 and 49 years old, weighing approximately 180 pounds and standing about 5 foot 11 inches to 6 foot 5 inches. The suspect also has tattoos on both arms and his scalp.

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox

Anyone with information about this suspect is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Anonymous tipsters must call the tip line. Anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest or conviction may be eligible for up to a $2,000 reward.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A Maryland couple is detailing the discrimination they faced while riding the Metro this weekend in Northwest D.C.

Mishka Espey and their partner were on their way home from a kickball game Sunday afternoon.

I just wanted to do what I loved: Woodbridge bishop saves boy from burning vehicle in Beltway crash

They hopped on a Red Line train at Dupont Circle on their way to Silver Spring. But when they got on the train, they said a man started yelling gay slurs at two men and their daughter.

[He] started saying things about how everybody on this train should be disgusted that these men are raising this child with two dads and started calling them slurs and just like angrily, violently yelling at them, said Mishka Espey.

Espey said they and their partner were shell shocked and scared.

I just remember looking at the dads faces and seeing them just fall and it was really disturbing, Espey said.

Espeys partner took a video right after the incident which has been viewed 5.7 million times on the platform X.

Me and my partner started yelling at him to just get off the train. I think we both in our heads were trying to distract him from the gay couple to give them time to leave, Espey said. Then he looked at us. He recognized us as a gay couple and started yelling at us.

Espey said they appreciate more security throughout the system, but there were no officers or security guards on the train at the time.

I have lived in D.C. for a year and a half now. It was my first time being called a gay slur, so definitely not a fun experience, Espey said.

Regina Snead Day in DC honors day care owner, staff for safely evacuating kids before gas explosion

Espey said they were saddened to be the only ones on a crowded train to speak up.

I think its just really important that people know that this is happening and that these things are happening at increasing rates and its scary and that we need to be looking out for each other and that people that are not LGBTQ or are not part of a minority group need to speak up for minority groups, Espey said.

Espey said the Metro Transit Police Department have reached out to investigate after the post went viral.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Many eclipse visitors to northern New England pulled an all-nighter trying to leave

Traffic inches along southbound Interstate 93 near Franconia, N.H., on Monday, April 8, 2024, more than eight hours after the solar eclipse. Thousands of people had traveled to a group of rural communities in the state, which were in the path of totality (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

FRANCONIA, N.H. (AP)  Thousands of visitors to northern New England communities in the path of the total solar eclipse were told to pack their patience for the trip. In some areas, they needed it for up to 12 hours after the event started, inching their way back home on packed interstates and secondary roads.

In New Hampshire, travelers were stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic in the northern part of the state through at least 2 a.m. Tuesday, clogging up southbound Interstate 93. Southbound traffic on Interstate 89 also was heavy Monday evening. Southbound traffic was backed up in parts of Maine for several hours.

New England had clear skies and mild weather Monday, making for ideal viewing conditions for totality. In New Hampshire, people flocked to places such as Lancaster, Stewartstown, Colebrook and Pittsburg, near the Canada border.

But the roads were swarmed on the trip back, and traffic came to a standstill in some areas.

People were just pulling over on the side of the road going to the bathroom, people were pulling over to shut their cars off, sleeping in their cars all over (U.S.) Route 3, said Scott Lacourse, who left his vacation home in Pittsburg with his wife and their two dogs at 6:30 p.m. They got home to Londonderry, New Hampshire, nine hours later. That's nearly three times longer than usual.

Every rest area, any pull-off, anything, was full," Lacourse said, adding that there also was no cell service.

Some people who had paper maps with them navigated their way through back roads. Others were running out of gas, and some broke down. Some people opted for the dangerous maneuver of driving across a median ditch and turning back onto northbound lanes. At least one car got stuck in the ditch. Some people who tried to stop for fast food along the way were met by a long line and the realization that the staff had stopped taking orders.

Lacourse and his wife, Sirena Holobinko Bogdahn, thought that if they left later in the day traffic would be cleared, but that wasn't the case.

In spite of that, it was well worth it, she said of the eclipse viewing. It was so amazing.

John Martin, who was visiting from Massachusetts, described it as a creep and a crawl near Franconia, where Route 3 feeds into the Franconia Notch Parkway, a one-lane mountain pass in each direction, before expanding into the multilane interstate.

You're looking at your GPS trying to get off of 93 to find something a little quicker, and everybody else was thinking the same thing, he told WMUR-TV.

New Hampshire state officials had warned travelers that the return could be slow going and encouraged people to stay in the area, which usually sees its most tourists during the summer and the fall foliage season, for a while.

"To our friends visiting from out of state, remember: theres no sales tax in NH, so feel free to stay a bit longer! Gov. Chris Sununu had said Friday.

Traffic also slowed to a crawl in other states.

In Maine, the traffic on Route 4 south from Rangeley to Farmington was heavy and slow several hours after the eclipse but never completely stopped, averaging 8 to 15 mph for much of the 40-mile drive along the two-lane rural road that threads mountains and hills.

In Paducah, Kentucky, which was in the path of totality, along with communities to the west in Illinois, thousands of people crossed the Ohio River after watching the eclipse. Post-eclipse traffic also moved very slowly in places such as southbound Interstate 65 in southern Indiana, and along southbound Interstate 81 in New York and Pennsylvania.

___

McCormack reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press journalist Robert Bukaty in Portland, Maine, contributed to this report.
March marked the 10th month in a row in which Earth experienced record-high temperatures, according to the European Unions climate agency Copernicus. Both the air and ocean temperatures reached their highest levels ever recorded for the month.

The average global temperature reached 14.14 degrees Celsius (57.9 degrees Fahrenheit) over the month. This surpassed the record set in 2016 by one-tenth of a degree, the agency reported.

The new data only adds to climate concerns, in a year already defined by extreme weather events and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The world has experience record-breaking heat every month since June.

According to Copernicus data, the Earth has now encountered 12 consecutive months with average monthly temperatures surpassing the Paris threshold by 1.58 degrees Celsius (2.8 degrees Fahrenheit).

In March, the global sea surface temperature averaged 21.07 degrees Celsius (69.93 degrees Fahrenheit), marking the highest monthly value recorded and slightly exceeding Februarys temperature.

The Copernicus agency said the El Nino weather pattern, which warms the sea surface in the Pacific Ocean, continued to weaken in March.

Woodwell Climate Research Center scientist Jennifer Francis told The Associated Press that El Ninos combination with the non-natural marine heat waves made these records so breathtaking.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.  The Marine Corps plans to deploy its powerful new heavy-lift helicopter for the first time in 2026  the year after it previously had anticipated.

The CH-53K King Stallion will get deployed from the East Coast sometime in 2026 with a Marine expeditionary unit, said Col. Kate Fleeger, the helicopters program manager, on Tuesday at the Navy Leagues Sea-Air-Space conference in National Harbor, Maryland.

At the same conference in 2023, Fleeger said the Corps planned to deploy the King Stallion with a Marine expeditionary unit in 2025.

But the Marine Corps has adjusted how many heavy-lift helicopter squadrons it anticipates having on the East Coast, Fleeger said Tuesday.

The Corps previous plan had been to deactivate Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464, keeping Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461, but now the plan is for both North Carolina-based squadrons to remain in the fleet, according to the colonel.

Before sending the helicopters abroad with a Marine expeditionary unit  a crisis-response force that travels aboard three amphibious ships  the Corps wants to make sure it would have enough spare components and repair capability left in the United States, according to Fleeger.

What we dont want to do is we dont want to send aircraft forward and then have a deficit at home, Fleeger said.

The Marine Corps has tweaked its deployment timeline for the King Stallion before: Back in 2022, the service said it planned to deploy the helicopter in 2024.

The sea services tout the King Stallion as the most powerful helicopter in the U.S. military.

How Marines, sailors, mules and a King Stallion recovered a downed helo

A replacement for the aging CH-53E Super Stallion, the King Stallion can haul armored vehicles or other heavy equipment over long stretches of land and sea. The service predicts the King Stallion would be especially useful in providing logistics support to Marines who are spread out on and near shore in the Indo-Pacific.

Sikorsky, the Lockheed Martin subsidiary that manufactures the helicopter, has delivered 14 King Stallions to the Marine Corps and has 79 total on contract, including 12 for Israel, according to Andrea Ulery, program manager for the aircraft at the company.

The King Stallion wont reach full operational capability until 2029, according to Fleeger, but the helicopter already has shown off its power in domestic missions.

In September 2021, Marines used a King Stallion to recover a Navy MH-60S Seahawk that had experienced a hard landing in Californias White Mountains. It was deja vu all over again in October 2023, when Marines once again used a King Stallion to recover a downed Navy Seahawk from California mountains.
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.  The Corps top operations general is seeing Pacific allies copy some of the new littoral-based war-fighting concepts that the services has developed to counter China in the region.

Speaking at the Navy Leagues Sea-Air-Space conference here on Monday, Lt. Gen. James Bierman, deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations, laid out challenges the U.S. military faces in the Western Pacific and moves the Marines are making to address those gaps.

The three key challenges are time, space and access, Bierman said.

Much as they might like to think so, the (Peoples Republic of China) is not 10-feet tall, Bierman said. Thats not to say theyre not worthy of respect, and we do respect them, theyre working very hard, theyre building lots of capacity, but they struggle with doubt and uncertainty and were purposefully campaigning and posturing to maintain and magnify their doubt and unease.

Marines build two littoral regiments to fight peer threats with a third on the way

To meet those challenges, Bierman said, the Corps has focused efforts on its units both already within the U.S. Navy fleet and those inside of the first island chain and weapons engagement zone.

The island chain refers to a string of islands from the Kuril Islands in the north, sweeping south through Okinawa, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines, paralleling Russian, North Korean and Chinese shores.

Partner and allied nations in that same chain are training alongside Marines in new ways, focused on detecting, targeting and striking enemy naval vessels.

Theyre very much seeing the problem the same way, Bierman said. Which is how in distributed naval terrain do you sense and make sense; do you synchronize and coordinate in combined operations. How do you establish the right linkages for command and control?

The Marines think they have the answer: the Marine littoral regiment.

In recent years, the Corps has developed the littoral regiment as purpose-built for littoral combat, or fighting in the shallower reaches where land, islands and archipelagos meet ocean.

The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment operates out of Hawaii. The 12th Marine Littoral Regiment was redesignated in 2023 in Okinawa, Japan, and another regiment is planned to form in Guam in 2027.

Mortarman Cpl. Renato Ortiz, left, familiarizes Philippine marine Sgt. Jomelan Marinas with an M224 60 mm mortar system at Paredes Air Station, Philippines, in 2023. (Sgt. Jacqueline C. Parsons/Marine Corps)

The regiments hold 2,000 Marines each, about the size of a Marine expeditionary unit, but with different capabilities. They have fewer infantry but contain their own air control and air defense units, a medium missile battery instead of conventional artillery and more advanced logistics capabilities.

Bierman said that military partners and allies in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines are either copying elements of the littoral combat concept or were working toward these moves even as the Corps began developing it.

Following the panel discussion, he told Marine Corps Times that each nation is taking its own approach, some weighting the units more toward sensing capabilities, others toward lethal strike capabilities. He declined to discuss specific equipment, platforms or capabilities by country.

The three-star stressed that success in any potential conflict will involve a combination of Marine littoral regiment assets and more traditional formations, such as the Marine expeditionary unit or other capabilities from the Marine expeditionary force.

The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment has been participating in various exercises, chiefly with the Philippines armed forces, since 2022. The 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, still under construction, will primarily work with the Japanese military.

The Japanese military developed its first amphibious rapid deployment brigade in 2018. In March, it activated the 3rd Regiment within the brigade for defense of its southwest region, U.S. Naval Institute reported. It also formed and deployed an electronic warfare unit to Yonaguni Island, Japan, in March.

Bierman previously served as commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, the only forward-deployed Marine expeditionary force, and lead force in the Pacific.

Our allies and partners are all in, Bierman said. They are feeling the heat, theyre tired of getting pushed around in their own backyards.

In January, the Philippines announced its Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, a shift to join its army, air force and navy in an external security focus instead of its previous concentration on external security. The move has been described as a move to counter Chinese military aggression and incursion into the nations territorial waters.

Bierman noted an uptick in various military exercises. The large-scale, multinational naval exercise Rim of the Pacific, the U.S.-Australia annual Talisman Sabre exercise and the U.S.-Philippines exercise Balikatan have grown steadily in size and scope in recent years.

And those exercises are not simple live fires. The Marine littoral regiment is working sensing and ship targeting, passing data and conducting command and control alongside host nation partners.

Bierman emphasized the realism of the exercises and their effect on adversaries.

The exercise the operations were doing, everything we walk back from an existing war plan, Bierman said. It is a rehearsal of an existing war plan with the actual joint partners, allies and partners we will fight with more often than not on the terrain we will operate with at the specific high risk time of year.

Using these exercises to highlight how the U.S. and its partners are working on shared aims for another target  deterrence.

Everything we do in INDOPACOM is done with an eye toward cognitive impact on potential adversaries, Bierman said. Nothing sends a message of deterrence and unsettles our adversaries like true interoperability.
WASHINGTON  Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., is making the case for ousting House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sending a scathing letter to her fellow GOP lawmakers in what is a significant escalation of her threat against the speaker.

Greene laid out a slate of her reasons in the letter on Tuesday morning, taking aim at Johnson for failing to secure conservative wins, working with Democrats and President Joe Biden to fund the government and his expected plan to pass Ukraine aid, accusing the speaker of advancing the Democrats agenda.

I will not tolerate our elected Republican Speaker Mike Johnson serving the Democrats and the Biden administration and helping them achieve their policies that are destroying our country, Greene said. He is throwing our own razor-thin majority into chaos by not serving his own GOP conference that elected him.

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) speaks to reporters outside of the U.S. Capitol Building after a vote on a funding bill that would avert a government shutdown on March 22, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Will Marjorie Taylor Greene force a vote to oust Speaker Mike Johnson?

The letter comes as House lawmakers return to Washington from a two-week recess, signaling that Greene will be working to shore up support for forcibly removing Johnson from the speakership among her colleagues. At any time, Greene may force a vote to oust Johnson but it is so far unclear how much support her effort has. Republicans currently control the House with just a one-vote margin, meaning all it would take is just a few GOP lawmakers and all Democrats to remove the speaker.

Greene filed what is known as a motion to vacate against Johnson in March but did not move to force it to the floor, instead calling it a warning for the speaker. The Georgia Republican has not indicated when she intends to call it up for a vote but the letter suggests she is committing to her efforts to oust Johnson.

I will not tolerate this type of Republican leadership. This has been a complete and total surrender to, if not complete and total lockstep with, the Democrats agenda, Greene said, arguing Johnson is jeopardizing the House Republican majority and giving voters very little reason to vote for, Republicans.

If Republicans do retain their majority in the 2024 election, Greene said, it would be because of former President Donald Trump being at the top of the ballot, not because we have earned it.

Greene also went after her fellow Republicans, calling herself a team player" and saying she pays her dues to House Republicans campaign arm and hundreds of thousands more, compared to most Republicans.

Johnson has described Greene as a friend and has defended his actions repeatedly. Johnson and a swath of other GOP lawmakers allied with Johnson noted that they have little leverage in negotiations with Democrats given they only control the House with a narrow majority.

But Greene dismissed that defense in her letter, arguing Republicans could have got conservative policy wins in negotiations if we had only put up a fight with Democrats. Johnson, Greene said, was no different than House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

Speaker Mike Johnson under intense pressure on Ukraine

Greenes escalation of her attacks against Johnson comes at a fraught time for the speaker who was elected to the speakership less than six months ago. Returning from the recess, Johnson is under intense pressure from both sides of the aisle to pass Ukraine aid and will have to reckon with a controversial spying law that has once again exposed the deep divisions in the House GOP conference. Both issues of which Greene tore into in her letter.

Mike Johnson is publicly saying funding Ukraine is now his top priority when less than 7 months ago he was against it, Greene said. The American people disagree  they believe our border is the only border worth fighting a war over, and I agree with them.

If these actions by the leader of our conference continue, then we are not a Republican party  we are a Uniparty that is hell-bent on remaining on the path of self-inflicted destruction. I will neither support nor take part in any of that, and neither will the people we represent, Greene added.

While support for Greenes effort to oust Johnson remains unclear, several Republicans who voted to remove his predecessor, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, have expressed skepticism about removing Johnson. Some of those GOP lawmakers suggested that removing Johnson could elevate Jeffries to the speakership, but Greene chided that defense.

No, electing a new Republican speaker will not give the majority to the Democrats. That only happens if more Republicans retire early, or Republicans actually vote for Hakeem Jeffries. It's not complicated, it's simple math, she said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MTG makes case for ousting Mike Johnson to GOP, dialing up pressure
MARQUETTE, Mich. (WJMN)  Habitat for Humanity held Beers & Bingo on Monday night.

We have Beer and Bingo at Kognisjon Bryggeri, downtown, said Kristin Collins, program support specialist. We are raising money Habitat of Humanity. All of the funds stay in Marquette County. We use the funds for house builds, and we use them for ramps and repairs. That is a very important program, and we use it for critical home repairs. Like think, no heat or huge holes in your roof.

Marquette County Habitat for Humanity works together with the local community to provide support.

Habitat of Humanity helps everyone. So, it is a community-driven non-profit, said Collins. We depend on the community support, we depend on grants, we depend on donations hugely and these fundraisers! This is just a way to get the community here.

If you would like to donate or learn more, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJMN - UPMatters.com.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Marylands Democratic Governor Wes Moore was on Capitol Hill Tuesday lobbying for funding for the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The state of Maryland is still very much mourning, Moore said.

Hes pushing lawmakers to quickly deliver on President Joe Bidens promise to fund 100% of the costs to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

About two weeks ago, a part of our soul fell into the Patapsco River, Moore said.

Marylands entire congressional delegation including Andy Harris, the sole Republican, argue the funding should not be a partisan debate.

This wasnt a Republican tragedy, it wasnt a Democrat tragedy, and the solution wont be a partisan solution. Itll be a bipartisan solution, Harris said.

The cost to reconstruct the massive bridge is still under review.

Democratic Senator Ben Cardin said it will likely need a new, more modern design.

Theres been a 3,000% increase since 1975, when this bridge was constructed, in regards to the amount of traffic cargo that goes through. So, it needs to meet the current need, he said.

Cardin said after talking to his Republican colleagues in the Senate, he is optimistic aid is in reach, but its unclear if House Republicans will fall in line.

In a letter last week, conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus demanded the shipping company responsible for the bridge collapse be forced to pay its fair share before taxpayers spend a dime.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) is set to meet with members of Congress on Tuesday as state leaders begin to lobby the federal government for funds to pay for the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

The bridge collapse has closed the Port of Baltimore for nearly two weeks after a cargo ship lost power and collided into a support pier, sending the steel structure into the Patapsco River and killing six people.

Im going to be spending part of this week with our delegation going down and meeting with leaders and ranking members in the Congress and letting them know that this issue is not partisan, Moore told The Associated Press.

This is a patriotic responsibility to be able to support one of this countrys great economic engines, he continued. This is an opportunity to support a port that is directly responsible for the hiring of tens of thousands of people.

President Biden pledged that the federal government will pay the full cost of rebuilding the bridge, though Republicans in Congress have been less than enthusiastic about the effort. The House Freedom Caucus announced last week that it would require full offsets for any funding and other budget-conscious demands in exchange for its backing.

It is unknown exactly how much a new bridge will cost or how long it will take to construct, though early estimates say it could be multiple billions of dollars and take more than a year.

Moore is expected to sign a state emergency funds bill on Tuesday, drawing from the Maryland rainy day fund to pay for cleanup and construction costs.

Work is already underway to clear the fallen bridge from the channel. A group of shallow alternate routes have also been cleared under the bridge, allowing small ships to leave and enter the harbor.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimated that a temporary channel capable of transiting large ships, including the automotive carriers that are common in the Port of Baltimore, could be open by the end of the month. Port officials estimated it could be back to full capacity operation by the end of May.

Moore told the AP that he was impressed by the speed of recovery and how quickly channels were open. He said he was told on the morning of the collapse that temporary channels would be cleared in two weeks.

I would have said that sounds really ambitious, considering what we saw, but thats where we are, he said.

The governor added in a statement Monday that the families of those who were killed also remain a priority of his administration. The six people killed in the collapse were roadway workers, all of them believed to be immigrants. The bodies of four of the six victims have not been recovered.

These families deserve closure  and our team continues to focus on the recovery of their loved ones, he said in a statement Monday. The collapse of the Key Bridge has resulted in a complex, dangerous situation for everyone involved in this operation. But our commitment to bringing closure with dignity will not waver.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The State Council Information Office holds a briefing on a set of newly released regulations for implementing the law on the protection of consumer rights and interests in Beijing, capital of China, April 9, 2024. Business operators in China are prohibited from collecting excessive personal information while providing commodities and services through apps, according to the newly released regulations. (Photo by Liu Jian/Xinhua)

BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Business operators in China are prohibited from collecting excessive personal information while providing commodities and services through apps, according to a set of newly released regulations for implementing the law on the protection of consumer rights and interests.

An official from the Cyberspace Administration of China explained the provisions on the protection of consumers' personal information in the regulations at a briefing held by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday.

According to the regulations, business operators are banned from using one-time general authorization and default authorization while providing commodities and services through apps, said You Xueyun, an official from the rule of law in cyberspace bureau under the administration.

She said business operators are prohibited from forcing consumers into consenting the collection and use of personal information irrelevant to business activities.

The handling of sensitive personal information should comply with relevant laws and regulations, and business operators should protect consumers' personal information in accordance with the law, You said.

China attaches great importance to the protection of personal information, You said, adding that the country enacted the law on the protection of personal protection in 2021, and this new set of regulations flesh out requirements concerning the protection of consumers' personal information.

The regulations will take effect on July 1. 
Mass famine in Gaza would ensure long conflict, US defense chief says

Austin meets with Israeli Defense Minister Gallant at the Pentagon in Washington

Austin meets with Israeli Defense Minister Gallant at the Pentagon in Washington

By Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A deadly, mass famine in Gaza would likely accelerate violence and ensure a long-term conflict, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a Senate hearing on Tuesday, even as he dismissed accusations that Israel was responsible for an unfolding genocide in the Palestinian enclave.

Six months into Israel's air and ground campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, the devastated enclave faces the risk of widespread famine and disease with nearly all its inhabitants now homeless.

Aid agencies have complained that Israel is not ensuring enough access to food, medicine and other needed humanitarian supplies. The European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has accused it of using starvation as a weapon of war.

Asked by a lawmaker what the impact would be from a deadly mass famine, Austin said: "It will accelerate violence, and it will have the effect of ensuring that there's a long-term conflict."

"It doesn't have to happen ... We should continue to do everything we can, and we are doing this, to encourage the Israelis to provide humanitarian assistance," Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Israel has said aid is moving into Gaza more quickly, but the amount is disputed and the United Nations says it remains much less than the bare minimum to meet humanitarian needs.

Austin said it remained to be seen if the increase in aid could be deepened and sustained.

He added that an Israeli failure to separate the Palestinian people from Palestinian Islamist group Hamas "would just create more terrorism." Still, Austin defended Israel against accusations that it was carrying out a genocide in Gaza.

"We don't have evidence of that," Austin said.

In a call last week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Joe Biden threatened to condition U.S. support for Israel's offensive in Gaza on its taking concrete steps to protect aid workers and civilians.

It was the first time that Biden, a Democrat and a staunch supporter of Israel, has sought to leverage U.S. aid to influence Israeli military behavior.

The president has come under enormous pressure from within his Democratic party to do more to address the humanitarian catastrophe for Palestinian civilians from Israeli attacks.

Representative Nancy Pelosi, former House speaker and a key ally of Biden, signed a letter on Friday from dozens of congressional Democrats urging a halt to weapons transfers to Israel.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart, Editing by Franklin Paul and David Gregorio)
Mayflower II will travel through Cape Cod Canal soon. Here's how you can track the ship.

As long as tides and weather cooperate, the Mayflower II will be homeward bound from the Mystic Seaport on April 10, setting off at about 10:30 a.m., according to the Plimoth Patuxet Museums.

For anyone hoping to catch a glimpse of the tall ship traversing the Cape Cod Canal on the way to her home berth alongside State Pier at Pilgrim Memorial State Park in Plymouth, her progress can be tracked by visiting www.tinyurl.com/trackMayflower2, a service of marinetraffic.com.

Once it leaves the seaport, the Mayflower II will travel non-stop to Plymouth Harbor. The journey, approximately 78 miles, will take about 20 to 25 hours. It's possible its passage through the canal could begin in the early morning hours of April 11.

With the Railroad Bridge as a backdrop, the Mayflower II crew makes its way through the Cape Cod Canal in 2022. The ship is a historic reproduction of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to the shores of Patuxet in 1620. This week, the ship is in Mystic, Connecticut, and is expected to make its way to Cape Cod April 10.

"We will give an ETA once the ship actually gets underway and we are better able to determine," said Plimoth Patuxet Director of Marketing & Communications Rob Kluin.

Although it may traverse the canal while it is still dark, with the lighting that exists along the waterway, spectators would still be able to see the ship as it passes through, according to Kluin. It will take the ship about an hour to traverse the canal.

The 102-foot wooden vessel will not be under sail  the sails have yet to be bent onto the yards, Kluin said  but will instead be towed the entire way by Stasinos Marine out of Weymouth, Kluin said. It will be crewed by the Plimoth Patuxet maritime preservation and operations team led by Capt. Whit Perry. They will not be in period costumes for the voyage.

The crew recently completed up-rigging the ship  putting up spars, blocks and rigging  in preparation for her trip home, according to a post on the Plimoth Patuxet Museums' Facebook page.

The 67-year-old ship, a full-scale reproduction of the vessel that brought the first European immigrants to the shores of Patuxet more than 400 years ago, has been in dry dock at the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard in Mystic, Connecticut since arriving there Dec. 1. Over the winter, it underwent routine maintenance, including cleaning the bottom, painting and caulking the seams. The work was funded by a Save America's Treasures grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The travel schedule is subject to change, depending on tide, weather and other factors. The Plimoth Patuxet Museums will also have updates on its Facebook page.

Mayflower II is slated to be open to the public at her Plymouth berth starting at 9 a.m. on April 13. According to Plimoth Patuxet Museums Executive Director Ellie Donovan, the ship has seen millions of visitors from around the world since it arrived in Plymouth as a gift to the museum from England in 1957.

We are thankful for IMLS recognizing the importance of this treasured landmark and for helping to ensure she will be preserved for generations to come," Donovan said.

Heather McCarron can be reached at hmccarron@capecodonline.com, or follow her on X @HMcCarron_CCT

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Mayflower II to take Cape Cod Canal to Plymouth. Track the ship here.
Editor's note: This story is being updated.

Russian forces attacked a civilian enterprise downtown Kharkiv with guided aerial bombs on April 9, injuring at least three people, local authorities said.

Russia recently intensified attacks against Ukraine's second-largest city with the use of missiles, glide bombs, and drones, reportedly destroying almost all of its energy infrastructure.

The buildings caught fire and were destroyed as a result of the latest attack, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. All three victims are employees of the affected enterprise, he said.

Rescue operations are ongoing, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. More people can be trapped under the rubble.

One person was injured and four suffered shock as a result of an earlier Russian strike against an industrial zone and a central park in Kharkiv on April 7, according to local authorities.

More than 20,000 buildings have been destroyed in Kharkiv since Feb. 24, 2022, according to Ukrainian officials.

Read also: Russia intensifies attacks on Kharkiv, draining Ukraines air defense and civilian morale

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  House Republicans plan to deliver articles of impeachment to the Senate Monday, teeing up a trial of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the Southern border.

I look forward to my colleagues prosecuting this case on behalf of the American people, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) said.

The House had planned to start the process Wednesday, right before lawmakers leave town for a long weekend, but Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said thats now been pushed to next week.

To at least give us a full week, Kennedy explained.

The House narrowly impeached Mayorkas in February for willfully and systematically refusing to enforce immigration laws at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said Senate leadership should take the House impeachment seriously.

The House of Representatives impeached Alejandro Mayorkas because he has aided and abetted the criminal invasion of the United States, Cruz said.

But the trial has an uncertain future in the Democrat-controlled Senate, where a simple majority vote could get rid of the charges.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said impeachment should not be used to settle policy disagreements.

Its absurd, and there are no charges in the House complaint that rise to the level of impeachment, Schumer said.

Schumer said the secretarys fate would be worked out as quickly as possible, but did not say whether he had the 51 votes needed to avoid a trial.

Republicans say that may be a tough vote for some senators up for re-election this November.

He does not want Senate Democrats, particularly those on the ballot in November, to vote guilty or not guilty because it is indisputable Alejandro Mayorkas is guilty, Cruz said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Mayorkas impeachment trial set to start in Senate next week, but may be over before it starts

FILE - Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies during a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Capitol Hill, Nov. 8, 2023, in Washington. Speaker Mike Johnson will delay sending the Houses articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate this week as planned. Republican senators requested more time Tuesday to build a case for a full trial. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  House Republicans will delay bringing their case against Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate until next week, two months after impeaching the Homeland Security secretary. It will be the third time in five years that senators are sworn in as jurors in the court of impeachment.

House Speaker Mike Johnson had planned to send the impeachment charges to the Senate on Wednesday, but said Tuesday he would wait until next week as Republicans try to make a case for a full Senate trial.

The Republican-controlled House impeached Mayorkas by a single vote margin on Feb. 13, recommending that Mayorkas be removed from office over his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border. With two articles of impeachment, the House charges that Mayorkas has willfully and systematically refused to enforce existing immigration laws and breached the public trust by lying to Congress and saying the border was secure.

Unlike former President Donald Trumps two impeachment trials in 2020 and 2021, though, the Senate isnt expected to spend much time considering the charges. Democrats who hold the Senate majority appear to have the votes to immediately dismiss the trial, though Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., hasnt yet said what he plans to do.

Democrats say the charges against Mayorkas amount to a policy dispute, not the high crimes and misdemeanors laid out as a bar for impeachment in the Constitution.

Johnson and Senate Republicans are pushing Schumer to hold a full trial. If he cares about the Constitution and ending the devastation caused by Bidens border catastrophe, Senator Schumer will quickly schedule a full public trial and hear the arguments put forth by our impeachment managers, Johnson said in a statement.

The Houses 214-213 impeachment vote in February, a narrowly successful second try after the House had rejected the effort a week earlier, was the first time in nearly 150 years a Cabinet secretary had been impeached. And while the Senate is now obligated to consider the charges, two-thirds of the chamber would have to vote to convict him. Not a single Democrat has signaled support for the impeachment push.

Still, there is a process that senators have to follow under the rules for impeachment. A look at the Senates next steps:

CONVENING AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

Under impeachment rules, a group of House managers  members who act as prosecutors and are appointed by the speaker  will deliver the impeachment charges by reading the articles on the Senate floor, usually after making a ceremonial walk across the Capitol with the articles in hand. Johnson has said that will happen on Wednesday.

Senators are expected to be sworn in as jurors on Thursday, Schumer said in a letter to his colleagues on Friday. The Senate must then issue a summons to Mayorkas to inform him of the charges and ask for a written answer. But he would not have to appear in the Senate at any point.

The president pro tempore of the Senate, Washington Sen. Patty Murray, will preside. She holds that role as the most senior member of the majority party.

What happens after the Senate jurors are sworn in is less clear. The rules generally allow the Senate to decide how to proceed.

VOTING TO DISMISS THE CHARGES

If Schumer can muster a simple majority, Democrats could dismiss the trial outright or move to table the two impeachment articles, ending the Houses effort and allowing the Senate to move on to other business.

While Schumer hasnt yet revealed his plans, he is expected to try and dismiss the trial in some manner, if he has the votes. Democrats control the Senate, 51-49.

Getting to 51 votes would require every single Democrat and the chambers three Independents to vote to dismiss, or potentially fewer if any Republicans join them. So far, no Democrats or Independents have expressed support for moving ahead with an impeachment trial.

In his letter to colleagues Friday, Schumer told senators that their presence is essential when they will be sworn in as jurors Thursday  hinting that there may be a close vote held that day.

While several GOP senators have questioned the need for a trial, its unclear whether any of them would go as far as to vote to dismiss the charges right at the start. One possibility is Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, who said Tuesday that he did not believe that the constitutional bar for impeachment had been met.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky predicted last week at an event in his home state of Kentucky that Schumer will file a motion to dismiss or table the charges.

The Democrats have the majority so it may not go on very long, McConnell said. My preference would be to actually have a trial but I think the majoritys likely to prevent that.

REFERRING TO COMMITTEE

If Democrats are not able to dismiss the trial or table the articles, there is a second option: They could follow the precedent of several impeachment trials for federal judges over the last century and hold a vote to create a trial committee that would investigate the charges.

While there are no hard rules on how to form a trial committee, the Senate has previously passed a resolution authorizing the party leaders to each recommend six senators and a chairperson to run it. Those committees had the ability to call witnesses and issue final reports to the Senate ahead of eventual trials.

While there is sufficient precedent for this approach, Democrats are likely to try and avoid it if they can halt the process completely, especially in a presidential election year where immigration and border security are top issues.

Echoing Trumps defense during his impeachments, Schumer has called the House effort a sham.

House Republicans failed to produce any evidence that Secretary Mayorkas has committed any crime, Schumer said shortly after the House voted to impeach him. House Republicans failed to show he has violated the Constitution. House Republicans failed to present any evidence of anything resembling an impeachable offense.

MOVING TO A TRIAL

If the Senate were to proceed to a trial, senators would be forced to sit in their seats for the duration, maybe weeks, while the House impeachment managers and lawyers representing Mayorkas make their cases. The Senate is allowed to call witnesses, as well, if it so decides. Senators also have an opportunity to question the two sides before a final vote on whether to convict.

Republicans this week argued that a trial was necessary.

The Senate needs to conduct a trial where senators have an opportunity to examine the evidence, examine the record, and come to a conclusion," said South Dakota Sen. John Thune, who is ranked no. 2 in Republican leadership.

At a briefing with reporters on Friday, Mayorkas appeared unconcerned.

When I say that I am not focused on the impeachment proceedings, I actually mean it, Mayorkas said. It is my hope that my time is not taken away from my work.

___

Associated Press writers Stephen Groves in Washington and Bruce Schreiner in Shelbyville, Kentucky, contributed to this report.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Monday endorsed an effort to require the Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban of the popular app within the United States, warning that Chinese ownership poses a serious national security threat.

Americas greatest strategic rival is threatening our security right here on U.S. soil in tens of millions of American homes. Im speaking, of course, about TikTok, McConnell said on the Senate floor.

McConnell noted that today 170 million Americans are active users of TikTok, which he said the Peoples Republic of China treats as a tool of surveillance and propaganda.

The Republican leader warned that Chinas communist government has full access to the data of American users, despite claims by TikTok officials who say that users personal information, browsing histories, keystrokes and other sensitive data is protected.

Requiring the divestment of Beijing-influenced entities from TikTok would land squarely within established Constitutional precedent. And it would begin to turn back the tide of an enormous threat to Americas children and to our nations prospects in the defining competition of the 21st century, he said.

This is a matter that deserves Congress urgent attention. And Ill support commonsense, bipartisan steps to take one of Beijings favorite tools of coercion and espionage off the table, he added.

McConnell ticked through a litany of alarming trends on TikTok, such as the glorification of Hamas terrorists to a particularly outrageous fad that emerged last year where young people discovered the wisdom of Osama bin Laden.

With TikTok, were not talking about meddling or hijacking an American platform. In this case, PRC influence and control have been baked in from the beginning, he said. With Beijings blessing, TikToks algorithm pours gasoline on alarming trends.

McConnell waved away claims that requiring the Chinese owner to sell TikTok or ban the app altogether in the United States would violate the First Amendment or restrict political speech.

No matter how loudly TikToks apologists claim that reining in PRC influence violates the First Amendment, the question well face is about conduct, not content, he said.

I take a backseat to no one when it comes to protecting First Amendment rights. Ive firmly defended Americans rights to even the most noxious forms of free speech, like flag-burning, he added. But theres a serious difference between the views Americans might express on TikTok and the actions taken by a platform thats beholden to our foremost strategic competitor.

McConnells support for a possible TikTok ban, which passed the House 352-65 last month, is notable because hes long been a leading advocate for protecting campaign donations and issue advertising as a form of political speech.

But he argued Monday that allowing the Chinese government and its intelligence services to maintain control over TikTok threatens the United States national security interests.

The PRC has spent years trying to pick the lock of Americas communications infrastructure. And the federal government has a long history of frustrating Beijings efforts, he said.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who has introduced legislation to ban TikTok in the United States, remarked on McConnells floor speech as a significant development.

I saw that, he said. I think its great. I welcome his support for the TikTok ban and hopefully well be able to bring it to a vote.

But Hawley questioned whether McConnells support will be enough to bring a possible TikTok ban to the Senate floor, noting TikToks deep pockets and political influence in Washington.

Asked about the chances of a strong TikTok bill coming up for a Senate vote, Hawley replied: Id say less than 50-50.

I think whats going on is money. I think TikTok is very influential, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
CHERAW, S.C. (WBTW)  McLeod Health has announced plans to build a new hospital in Cheraw.

The hospital will serve Cheraw, Chesterfield, Marlboro, and surrounding counties. McLeod Hospital made the announcement Tuesday in a news release.

Construction on the new hospital should begin in 2024-2025. The $45 million facility will be on the current McLeod Health Cheraw property and will replace the current building, which was built in 1980, the release said.

The new facility will grow around the existing emergency department and radiology. The hospital may have more retained facilities with new construction to be determined.

A recent bed need analysis for McLeod Health Cheraw indicated a market need for at least 35 inpatient beds, the release said.

McLeod Health Cheraw assumed operation of the Chesterfield General Hospital in 2015 and leased it from the owner to serve Chesterfield, Marlboro and surrounding counties. McLeod plans to purchase the existing hospital and property for $5.8 million, the release said.

A new building will reinforce McLeods commitment to our patients and caregivers, McLeod Health CEO Donna Isgett said. The new facility reinforces McLeod Health Cheraw as the model and destination for inpatient acute care and outpatient services in the region.

This reinvestment in the community continues to create a system for delivery of high-quality healthcare in Chesterfield and Marlboro counties, according to McLeod Health Cheraw CEO Bren Lowe.

The new facility will support the expansion of surgery, orthopedics, and other specialties with recruiting planned to attract additional surgeons, specialists and primary care physicians, the release said.

A new building along with the expectation of more technology and specialists will raise the McLeod Health Cheraw top-of-mind awareness and credibility among patients, according to the release.

* * *

Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylors work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Editor's note: This was updated with official statement from local authorities after media reports.

A Russian air strike on Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast killed at least one civilian and injured two others, Governor Vadym Filashkin said on April 9.

The entrance of the house reportedly collapsed as a result of the attack. A woman and a child may be trapped under the rubble, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

The rescue operations have been put on hold due to the threat of a second attack, the outlet reported.

A Russian attack damaged 27 houses, three high-rise buildings, two infrastructure facilities and the administrative building, Filashkin said.

Donetsk Oblast, partially occupied by Russian forces since 2014, suffers regular attacks, and local officials report losses among the civilian population virtually on a daily basis.

Over the past, Russian attacks killed one civilian in Chasiv Yar and injured five in Selydove, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Read also: After 10 years of war, Krasnohorivka in new danger as Russia advances in the east

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
SHANGHAI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Amid the humming of milk foam makers, a Starbucks cafe in the Zhangjiang High-tech Park in Shanghai is bustling with white-collar professionals engaged in business talks and info sharing regarding biomedicine.

Located in the park that is home to more than 1,400 innovative drug suppliers, the cafe is a naturally suitable place for these medical researchers to brainstorm.

"After just spending three days at the cafe, you can easily get up to date on recent events in the biomedical industry," Tian Hongqi said kiddingly.

Tian, 56, founder of the Shanghai Kechow Pharma, Inc., is a frequent customer at the cafe. He has been leading his research team to independently develop small molecule drugs for 15 years.

"Developing new medicines is not easy as we must break the foreign patent bottleneck," said Tian. "But this industry is booming and will continue to be promising in the long run, because there will always be a rigid demand for curing diseases and prolonging people's life span."

Tian's efforts recently paid off. On March 15, China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced the approval of a new medicine developed by his company, a kind of kinase inhibitor that is helpful for combating melanoma.

The inhibitor marks the first domestic drug of its kind in China. Tian hoped that this new medicine will be applied to clinical use and be prescribed as early as this May.

With innovation-driven development, China's pharmaceutical companies have accelerated their transformation and upgrading from a producer of generic drugs to an international supplier of new drugs, observers said.

In 2022 alone, 21 new drugs were approved to enter market across the country, including three original ones. The same year, the National Development and Reform Commission issued a five-year plan on developing biological economy, highlighting biomedical industry.

Multiple industrial clusters have taken shape in places such as Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Wuhan. The Zhangjiang High-tech Park in Shanghai's Pudong New Area harbors innovation centers established by nine out of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world.

"We brainstorm in the cafe, the infrastructure is convenient here, and there is a full industrial chain," Tian said.

Progress is also seen in advanced medical equipment. Toumai, a four-arm laparoscopic surgical robot developed by a Shanghai-based medical robot maker, is the first home-grown robot capable of operating long-distance laparoscopic surgeries.

Since approved by the NMPA in 2022, the robot has assisted 100 long-distance surgeries through 5G, covering nearly 30 Chinese cities with a maximum transmission distance of 5,000 km.

"Biomedicine is a strategic industry despite its long R&D period and relatively high risks," said Ling Gang, chief engineer with the scientific, technological and economic commission of Pudong New Area.

He believes the ultimate goal of social development is to meet the demands of human development, essentially improving people's health and quality of life, which lays a strong basis for the industrial growth.

Official data showed that the scale of China's biomedical industry had reached 3.57 trillion yuan (about 503 billion U.S. dollars) in 2020. As one of the most vibrant and potential industries, the scale of the sector is estimated to hit 8 trillion yuan by 2030.

Chinese pharmaceutical companies are going international faster. In 2022, 59 innovative drugs were licensed to clinical test and sales overseas, with a total transaction value of 23.78 billion U.S. dollars.

While delivering new medicines, China also acts to ensure the drugs are affordable. Tian said his team is preparing for the application of the newly approved inhibitor to be included in the national medical insurance scheme.

"We plan to work on the R&D of drugs for indications of lung and intestinal cancers next year," he said. "Meeting clinical needs is always the center of our work." 
A street vendor crosses a street that is empty due to residents staying home amid gang violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, April 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Fresh gunfire erupted Tuesday in downtown Port-au-Prince, forcing aid workers to halt urgently needed care for thousands of Haitians.

Weeks of gang violence have forced some 18 hospitals to stop working and caused a shortage of medical supplies as Haiti's biggest seaport and main international airport remain closed, warned aid workers with The Alliance for International Medical Action, a Senegal-based humanitarian organization.

The situation is really challenging and affects our movement on a daily basis, said Antoine Maillard, the organizations medical coordinator based in Port-au-Prince.

The gang violence has driven about 17,000 people in the capital from their homes. Many are crammed into abandoned schools and other buildings where they often share a single toilet.

Maillard said aid workers were able to reach one of the camps for displaced people on Tuesday, but there were too many gunshots to provide support.

He said the health crisis is worsening. It is difficult to find basic medications including antibiotics and antidiarrheals since gang violence has shuttered suppliers. The limited medication available has doubled and even tripled in price.

That means Haitians like 65-year-old Denise Duval are unable to buy needed medication or see a doctor.

My health right now is not good, she said, adding that she has high blood pressure and often feels dizzy. From hearing gunfire all the time, my heart beats a lot.

Duval is taking care of three grandchildren whose mother migrated to the neighboring Dominican Republic in search of work. The mother sends money when she can, but Duval said it's not enough to buy medication and support the children at the same time.

Were living day-by-day and hoping that something will change, she said as she sat outside her home and washed dishes in a bucket.

Gunfire still echoes daily throughout Port-au-Prince, though the gang violence has somewhat subsided in certain areas since gunmen began attacking key government infrastructure on Feb. 29.

Key roads remain impassible, preventing Haitians like 52-year-old Nadine Prosper from reaching one of the few operating hospitals.

Prosper lost her lower left leg in Haiti's 2010 devastating earthquake, and shes unable to get the medication she needs.

Im still suffering, she said as she walked back to her house with a cane in one hand and groceries in the other. When the pain comes, if I dont have painkillers, thats the hardest part.

Haitis largest public hospital, the State University Hospital, is among those closed. Located in downtown Port-au-Prince, it has been seized and looted by gangs that also pillaged nearby pharmacies.

While some private clinics and hospitals are operating, they remain inaccessible to the majority of people in a country where 60% of the population earn less than $2 a day.

Dr. Priscille Cupidon, medical activity manager for Doctors Without Borders, said the ongoing fighting resembles a war.

The countrys deepening political and economic crises have left medical facilities with few resources, she wrote in an essay published Tuesday. Our health care system is falling apart.

Cupidon, who runs a mobile health clinic, said an MSF team visited a neighborhood near the center of Port-au-Prince late last month that it hadnt been able to access since Feb. 29.

The medical needs in the area are very high and are only likely to grow now that health care is so limited, Cupidon said.

Gangs are estimated to control 80% of Port-au-Prince. But ALIMAs Carlotta Pianigiani said the presence of armed groups is affected all of the city's population.

The violence forced Prime Minister Ariel Henry to announce last month that he would resign once a transitional presidential council is created.

___

Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Memo: Trump bets anti-abortion evangelicals have no choice but to back him

Former President Trump tried to thread the needle on abortion on Monday  with apparently limited success.

But Trump, for once, appears to be playing a longer game with an eye on Novembers election. He appears willing to take short-term pain, in the shape of criticism from anti-abortion voices, in the hope that his position will pay off with more moderate voters seven months from now.

Trump distanced himself from any suggestion of a national abortion ban in his Monday video statement, instead asserting that the issue should be left to the states.

This is all about the will of the people, Trump said.

At the same time, the former president congratulated himself on being responsible for the Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade in June 2022  a decision that stripped away the constitutional right to abortion that had existed since 1973.

Trump laid the groundwork for the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe by nominating three conservative Supreme Court justices during his one term.

His failure to come out in favor of a national abortion ban drew fire from some anti-abortion groups and from his former vice president, Mike Pence  as well as from elected officials, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

Pence called the move a slap in the face to those pro-life Americans who voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020.

Graham said he respectfully disagreed with Trumps position, arguing instead for a 15-week ban. Trump shot back that Graham was doing a great disservice to the Republican Party and to our Country.

Meanwhile, the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group said it was deeply disappointed by Trumps stance and that the decision to leave individual states to decide the matter cedes the national debate to the Democrats.

In the bigger electoral picture, however, Trump is willing to weather some turbulence from the right now to preserve his electability in Novembers general election.

In fact, despite Trumps frequently aberrational, norm-busting tendencies, he is making a very conventional political gamble.

His speech suggests he believes voters on the religious right who might be dissatisfied with his abortion stance have nowhere else to go, and that it is more important to shore up his standing with center-right and moderate voters who might be put off by an overly rigid anti-abortion position.

Trump, whose personal history has been all over the map on abortion, seems keenly aware of the potential dangers of the issue for his reelection bid.

The former president blamed the GOPs underwhelming performance in the 2022 midterm elections in large part on the abortion issue. In a January 2023 social media post, he argued that the topic had been poorly handled by many Republicans, especially those that firmly insisted on No Exceptions.

In September last year, he branded it a terrible mistake for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R)  at the time seen as Trumps most serious GOP primary challenger  to have signed a six-week abortion ban in the Sunshine State.

His Monday statement explicitly referred to electoral concerns on the topic. Noting he was in favor of exceptions to abortion bans in instances of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother, he added: You must follow your heart on this issue. But remember, you must also win elections to restore our culture and, in fact, to save our country.

There is no real doubt that the most hard-line, anti-abortion positions make it harder to win a national election.

Last June, an NBC News poll marking the first anniversary of the overturning of Roe found 61 percent of all voters disapproving of the courts move in striking down the earlier decision. Sixty-seven percent of female voters took that position. Among women between the ages of 18 and 49 years, almost 80 percent disapproved of Roe being overturned.

Similar patterns have been seen on statewide ballot measures and during the midterm elections.

Last November, Ohio became the latest state where the abortion-rights side won an abortion-related ballot measure. Anti-abortion activists have failed to win a single one of such votes since Roes overturn, and they have lost even in conservative states such as Kansas, Kentucky and Montana.

Meanwhile, some Democratic politicians have gained electorally from tying their fortunes to the abortion issue.

In 2022, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) had been a top GOP target. In the end, Whitmer coasted to reelection by 10 points on the same day as an abortion-related ballot measure in the Wolverine State was won by the abortion-rights side by 13 points.

The salience of the abortion issue has not faded. A KFF poll in March found that 1 in 8 voters consider the topic to be the single most important one to determining their vote in November.

Its hardly surprising, then, that Democrats are trying to keep the focus on Trumps role in striking down Roe.

A President Biden statement soon after Trumps Monday remarks stated that the former president had made it clear once again today that he is  more than anyone in America  the person responsible for ending Roe v. Wade. He is  more than anyone in America  responsible for creating the cruelty and the chaos that has enveloped America since the Dobbs decision.

Biden also insisted that congressional Republicans remained adamant about pursuing a national abortion ban and claimed that, if such a bill were passed, Trump will sign it into law if he became president again.

Trump does not want abortion to be a central issue in the election at all, given that other topics benefit the GOP far more.

Time will tell whether his effort to neutralize the topic can meet with any success.

The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Eyes were in the sky during this afternoons solar eclipse. After weeks of learning about the phenomenon, MSCS High School students in Raleigh got to take their lesson from the classroom outside to experience it for themselves.

This is the kinda day you live for, its like the Super Bowl for science days, said Wayne Oellig, Craigmont High School science teacher. Even last week they were excited and talking about it and asking questions.

LIVE VIEW: ECLIPSE 2024 FROM MEMPHIS

His class of seniors started the afternoon by learning what to expect. Then it was off to the front of the school where students had an optimal view of the eclipse.

It had us built up to come out here and watch it so its like when we look at it its like we watched in class now we watch outside, its exciting to see, said Nijah Means, a student.

Hundreds of students were dismissed from class for this experience.

Eclipse 2024 weather forecast and timing for TN, MS, AR

Im just so excited to see it. In class, we made a little presentation about it, said Teko Fair, a student.

The schools band also put on a performance, but the sky stole the show.

Today its way way bigger, said Jacorri Herndon, a student.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Several mental health advocates sent a letter to Minnesota court administrators Monday raising concerns over a policy that holds civil commitment court hearings virtually instead of in person, which the letter's authors say is exacerbating an already-confusing legal process for people with severe mental illnesses.

The letter, sent to State Court Administrator Jeff Shorba, also says the virtual policy may be limiting a person's chance to meet with their attorney during and before these hearings, diminishing their ability to present a defense.

"It is not uncommon for individuals to meet their attorney for the first time at the hearing, and in a remote setting these communications are impossible," reads the letter, signed by leadership for National Alliance for Mental Illness Minnesota (NAMI) and Mental Health Minnesota, along with Andrea Strobel-Ayres, a state ombudsman who oversees civil commitment training. "Individuals should be provided with the best defense and have the right to representation and the right to work with their attorney on such things as testimony, exhibits, and treatment options which may be unfairly limited in the remote setting. Families also worry that in a remote hearing the judge might not see the symptoms or distress as clearly if they were in-person."

Minnesota courts started using remote hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic, initially as an emergency measure designed to keep the courts moving during a time of mandatory isolation.

In March 2023, Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea signed a court order to keep certain hearings virtual unless under special circumstances determined by a judge. Among them is civil commitment  the legal process for committing a mentally ill person to involuntary treatment.

"It needs a bigger discussion, honestly, that involves including people who advocate for people with mental illnesses," Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota, said in an interview Monday.

The letter says holding these hearings remotely could be negatively affecting people going through this system. Some don't believe they have an illness, the letter says. Others don't understand the court system as well because of their illness. "Additionally, family members may be extremely concerned about their loved one's health and safety and cannot be in the room with the individual to offer comfort or advice if the individual wants that support."

"Having talked with many people who have been committed and their family members, we have seen the impact of being in court in person," the letter continues. "Hearing the information that is presented and understanding the ramifications can at times lead to voluntary treatment. You don't always perceive that same gravity through a video conference."

Lisa Harrison-Hadler, Minnesota ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, said people who go through civil commitment are often experiencing acute symptoms of mental illness or substance abuse disorder. "The legal process should be structured to afford them every possible opportunity to communicate meaningfully with their attorney, fully understand, and engage in these important hearings involving their civil rights," she said.

The letter's authors say they support telehealth as an option, but they believe that people should be given the choice to appear in person or virtually, suggesting the court adopt an "opt-in" model versus making it presumptive.

"This is a very serious matter," said Shannah Mulvihill, executive director of Mental Health Minnesota. "We're talking about a person losing some of their basic civil rights."

Shorba planned to forward the letter to a committee that's reviewing in-person, remote and hybrid hearings, said district court spokesman Kyle Christopherson. He said the committee plans to make recommendations to the courts in June.
Metalab goes from quietly building the internet to investing in it

Nearly 20 years after finding success in helping startups build products, Canadian interface design firm Metalab has launched Metalab Ventures to invest in many of those product-led startups.

Serial entrepreneur and investor Andrew Wilkinson started Metalab in 2006, a company that went on to support product innovations by companies including Slack, Coinbase, Uber and Tumblr.

Metalab often works with startups, acting a bit like co-founders, to help them get a product off the ground. Then Metalab lets them loose to grow, CEO Luke Des Cotes told TechCrunch. Metalab had a record year in 2023 and was involved in the development of 40 products that went into the market last year.

Corporate venture capital has found its stride over the last decade as a stable source of capital or when startups have something Big Tech wants.

With Metalab Ventures, the venture arm will play the role of a long-term value investor, essentially putting our money where our mouth is, Des Cotes said.

We want to go on a journey with them for the next 10 to 12 years, he said. We've been asked over and over again by founders when we will invest, and sometimes we have, but it's been very ad hoc in the past. Today, we make that a formal process.

Metalab Ventures has raised $15 million in capital commitments for its first fund to invest in product-led startups where strategy, design and technology are the key differentiators.

Product-led is how a product will be the differentiator for the business, Des Cotes said. Most businesses have some major component of success riding on how well a product is created and how well it's connecting to the user. Metalab Ventures seeks out founders who believe in the power of design as a tool to be able to connect with users in a way that's different and special, he said.

Des Cotes and David Tapp, head of partnerships at Metalab, are the general partners at Metalab Ventures and will invest in 25 to 35 startups at the pre-seed, seed and Series A stages. So far, the firm made a handful of unannounced investments, Des Cotes said.

The limited partnership makeup of the new fund includes institutional, funds to fund, angel investors and founders of companies with whom Metalab has previously worked. Metalab is also an LP in the fund.

The company performs diligence on thousands of founders each year to determine who it will help, and that same process was shifted to Metalab Ventures in the way it evaluates investments, Des Cotes said.

When determining who to invest in, the process includes getting to know the founders and if the firm can add value. Metalab often taps into its 160-person workforce for design, technology, product and research leadership.

We've already operated very much like a venture fund, Des Cotes said. Now we are working through that process to understand what's the product, what's the opportunity, what's the value that can be created here. When we believe in this business, we think of human capital as being our scarce resource that we can then deploy into those businesses.

Have a juicy tip or lead about happenings in the venture world? Send tips to Christine Hall at chall.techcrunch@gmail.com or via this Signal link. Anonymity requests will be respected.
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE)  New Mexico has hundreds of old uranium mine sites around the state, and the federal government has been working to understand the scope of contamination at some mine sites. Now New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said more needs to be done.

A new federal, state, and tribal governance structure is needed to bring rapid and transformative changes to communities that have suffered for decades from abandoned uranium mining sites, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a press release. New Mexico is committed to nimble decision-making while ensuring safe cleanup and disposal of these legacy wastes.

New Mexico health professional shortage easing

Gov. Lujan Grisham and Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs have sent a letter to the federal Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) asking them to step up their leadership when to remediation coordination. The letter asks the CEQ to make strategic decisions when it comes to federal agencies that have jurisdiction over remediation and legacy mines.

The lack of a single point of contact at the federal level means states are coordinating with multiple agencies and agency regions, which impedes the decisive action needed to bring meaningful change to these communities, the letter notes.

El Malpais National Monument scheduled for prescribed burn

In New Mexico, state environmental agencies have worked to identify and clean some legacy mining sites, including creating a digital dashboard showing legacy mining sites. But the governor said there is no federal cleanup program for some New Mexico sites.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Decades ago, the U.S. Supreme Court decided an important case involving competition for the mantle of protection of First Amendment rights. The case has direct relevance for this weeks Miami Beach Pride festival and parade.

The high court made it clear that organizers of a private event  specifically the St. Patricks Day Parade through the streets of Boston  are protected by the First Amendments guarantee of the right to free expression and association. This principle grants parade organizers the right to control the message they want to convey, which also includes the authority to include or exclude messages that they find to be consistent or inconsistent with the purpose of their event.

Miami Beach Pride, which includes the annual Pride Parade scheduled for Sunday, April 14, however, appears to be operating in a murkier posture of private-public sponsorship. For example, a city resolution refers to a partnership between Miami Beach Gay Pride, Inc. and the city of Miami Beach, and the city manager appears to have the final authority to reject anyones participation in the event.

Future local event organizers may wish to take note of this controversy as they consider how to cautiously craft a partner relationship with various governmental agencies and how much authority they cede to agencies of government. Depending on the arrangement, legal obligations may kick in that could prevent organizers from controlling the central message of their event.

Nevertheless, regardless of the complexities of the arrangement governing the Miami Beach Pride festival and parade, the private-public partnership and government sponsorship does not appear to have converted the event into a government-created public forum that would be open to all points of view. Absent the creation of a public forum, which does not appear to be the case here, organizers may limit participation consistent with the theme of the event.

Many would prefer that the state representative who is being excluded from the parade  state Rep. Fabian Besabe, a Miami Beach Republican  be allowed to participate so that, as a member of a legislature that is notoriously hostile to civil liberties and LGBTQ+ rights and with his voting record that is regarded as hostile to LGBTQ+ equality, he could be roundly booed by his critics.

But what some prefer may not be legally required.

Howard Simon is interim executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.
***Video above: Jury convicts Michigan school shooters mother of involuntary manslaughter.***

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP)  The parents of a Michigan school shooter were each sentenced to at least 10 years in prison Tuesday for failing to take steps that could have prevented the killing of four students in 2021.

Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting. They were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors presented evidence of an unsecured gun at home and indifference toward the teens mental health.

New video of Hopkins crash that disrupted flights

Ethan Crumbley drew dark images of a gun, a bullet and a wounded man on a math assignment, accompanied by despondent phrases. Staff at Oxford High School did not demand that he go home but were surprised when the Crumbleys didnt volunteer it during a brief meeting.

Later that day, on Nov. 30, 2021, the 15-year-old pulled a handgun from his backpack and began shooting at the school. Ethan, now 17, is serving a life sentence for murder and other crimes.

During the sentencing, parents of students killed in a Michigan school shooting asked a judge to sentence the attackers parents to 10 years in prison Tuesday, condemning them as failures whose selfishness led to four deaths and a community tragedy.

The blood of our children is on your hands, too, said Craig Shilling, wearing a hoodie with the image of son Justin Shilling on his chest.

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, recalled simple things she enjoyed doing for her daughter, such as scheduling an oil change for her car or helping choose senior year classes.

Two new Meijer supercenters coming to NE Ohio

While you were purchasing a gun for your son and leaving it unlocked, I was helping her finish her college essays, Beausoleil told James and Jennifer Crumbley.

Five deputies in the courtroom stood watch over the Crumbleys and more lined the walls. They are the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting.

They did not know their son, Ethan Crumbley, was planning the shooting at Oxford High. But prosecutors said the parents failed to safely store a gun and could have prevented the shooting by removing the 15-year-old from school when confronted with his dark drawing that day.

In a court filing, defense attorney Shannon Smith said Jennifer Crumbley is not a threat to the community, and shes even willing to put her up in a guest house at the lawyers property, outfitted with an electronic tether.

Putting Mrs. Crumbley in prison does nothing to further deter others from committing like offenses, Smith said. There is no person who would want the events of Nov. 30, 2021, to repeat themselves.

Explosive noises expected this week in NE Ohio

Smith said any gross negligence were mistakes that any parent could make.

Mariell Lehman, a lawyer representing James Crumbley, said the nearly 2 1/2 years spent in jail since the couples arrest is enough time in custody. His wife, too, has been in jail, both unable to post a $500,000 bond before trial.

James Crumbley did not believe that there was reason to be concerned that his son was a threat to anyone, Lehman said.

Ethan Crumbley, now 17, pleaded guilty and is serving a life prison sentence.

Prosecutors said tragically simple actions by both parents could have stopped the catastrophe.

The couple had separate trials in Oakland County court, 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Detroit. Jurors heard how the teen had drawn a gun, a bullet and a gunshot victim on a math assignment, accompanied by grim phrases: The thoughts wont stop. Help me. My life is useless. Blood everywhere.

Skeletal remains found in Mansfield home

Ethan told a counselor he was sad  a grandmother had died and his only friend suddenly had moved away  but said the drawing only reflected his interest in creating video games.

The Crumbleys attended a meeting at the school that lasted less than 15 minutes. They did not mention that the gun resembled one James Crumbley, 47, had purchased just four days earlier  a Sig Sauer 9 mm that Ethan had described on social media as his beauty.

His parents declined to take him home, choosing instead to return to work and accepting a list of mental health providers. School staff said Ethan could stay on campus. A counselor, Shawn Hopkins, said he believed it would be safer for the boy than possibly being alone at home.

No one, however, checked Ethans backpack. He pulled the gun out later that day and killed four students  Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Shilling and Baldwin  and wounded seven other people.

There was no trial testimony from specialists about Ethans state of mind. But the judge, over defense objections, allowed the jury to see excerpts from his journal.

Stars and Stripes are parents again at Avon Lake eagle nest

I have zero help for my mental problems and its causing me to shoot up the  school, he wrote. I want help but my parents dont listen to me so I cant get any help.

Asked about Ethan reporting hallucinations months before the shooting, Jennifer Crumbley, 46, told jurors he was simply messing around.

At the close of James Crumbleys trial, the prosecutor demonstrated how a cable lock, found in a package at home, could have secured the gun.

Ten seconds, McDonald said, of the easiest, simplest thing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
An aerial drone photo taken on April 9, 2024 shows a view of the 300 MW compressed air energy storage station in Yingcheng, central China's Hubei Province. The 300 MW compressed air energy storage station in Yingcheng started operation on Tuesday.

With the technology known as "compressed air energy storage'', air would be pumped into the underground cavern when power demand is low while the compressed air would be released to generate power during times of increased demand.

Dubbed as a "super power bank", the station is expected to generate 500 million kWh power annually. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 9, 2024 shows a view of the 300 MW compressed air energy storage station in Yingcheng, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

Staff members inspect the 300 MW compressed air energy storage station in Yingcheng, central China's Hubei Province, April 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

Staff members work at the 300 MW compressed air energy storage station in Yingcheng, central China's Hubei Province, April 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

Staff members work at the 300 MW compressed air energy storage station in Yingcheng, central China's Hubei Province, April 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
Military intelligence behind drone attack on aviation training center in Russia's Voronezh Oblast, source says

Editor's note: This story is being updated.

Ukrainian drones attacked a Russian aviation training center in the city of Borisoglebsk in Russia's Voronezh Oblast overnight on April 9, a representative of Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), not allowed to go public at this time, told the Kyiv Independent.

The confirmation came after the Russian Telegram channel Astra claimed the aviation center for flight personnel training was attacked by two drones. The drones allegedly exploded, damaging the facade of the building and windows, according to the Telegram channel.

The representative of Ukraine's military intelligence told the Kyiv Independent that the operation was conducted by HUR without providing further details.

Andrii Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence agency, said that an aircraft factory was targeted in Russia's Borisoglebsk.

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"We will not disclose any details, but according to preliminary information, the main production facilities of the enterprise were affected," Yusov told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on April 9.

Russian air defenses shot down two drones over Belgorod Oblast, two over Voronezh Oblast, and a Neptune anti-ship missile near the occupied Crimean coast overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims.

Ukraine has intensified strikes against military and industrial targets in Russia in recent weeks. On April 5, a joint operation of military intelligence and the Armed Forces reportedly hit the Yeysk, Engels-2, and Kursk airfields.

Russia allegedly lost seven military aircraft during the drone attack on the Yeysk airbase in Krasnodar Krai in Russia, a source at Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Ukraine's military allegedly carried out an attack against the Russian Morozovsk airbase overnight on April 5, sources familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent. Su-34 fighter-bombers and Su-27 fighters were reportedly based at the airfield.

At least six military aircraft were destroyed, and another eight were damaged, according to the source. Furthermore, about 20 Russian soldiers were reportedly killed or wounded.

Read also: Source: Ukraine hits Russias Engels air base. Can it change how Russia attacks?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Millions of people in Mexico, the US and Canada experienced a total solar eclipse on Monday.

The spectacle occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, completely obscuring the sun and leaving only a bright ring of fire visible.

Beginning over the Pacific Ocean, the core shadow stretched across northern Mexico, crossed the US from Texas north-eastwards to Maine, grazed south-east Canada and ended over the North Atlantic.

In Mexico, thousands of tourists and residents in the coastal town of Mazatlan on the Pacific Ocean watched as the solar eclipse darkened the day for a few minutes at noon. When the sky cleared again, there was applause and tears, the local television station Milenio reported.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had also flown to Mazatlan to witness the event.

The narrow corridor where the spectacle was visible included major cities such as Dallas, Indianapolis, Buffalo and Montreal, with a total population of more than 30 million people.

Eclipse chasers had travelled from far and wide to be in the path of totality and experience what US space agency NASA billed as a "cosmic masterpiece."

"Eclipses have a special power. They move people to feel a kind of reverence for the beauty of our universe," NASA chief Bill Nelson said at recent news conference.

The last total solar eclipse in the US occurred in August 2017, in Mexico in 1991 and Canada in 1979.

After Monday, North America will not see another until 2044.

Preparations had been under way for months: Parties were held in many places for crowds to watch together, at which special glasses to protect the eyes were distributed. Numerous schools in districts from which the total solar eclipse can be observed have announced that they would close.

Millions of people living elsewhere had reserved holidays. Hotels and flats in the eclipse zone were fully booked in many places and the authorities had warning of very heavy road traffic.

Scientists geared up with NASA observing, recording and measuring the solar eclipse using aeroplanes and balloons.

People watch the total solar eclipse from the harbor. Eduardo Resendiz/dpa

People watch the total solar eclipse at the Cerro de la Estrella district. Jair Cabrera Torres/dpa
Missing dog from California found more than 2,000 miles away in Michigan

SAN DIEGO (KSWB/KUSI)  A California family has finally been reunited with their fur baby after the terrier mix went missing over seven months ago. But thats not all to the story, she was found more than 2,000 miles away in Michigan.

The dog named Mishka was at her owners auto shop in July 2023 when she went missing. The owner, Mehrad Houman, and his family live in San Diego.

When his wife, Elizabeth, and their daughter got the call that Mishka went missing, they told Nexstars KSWB that they immediately flew back from their vacation in Minneapolis and started putting up flyers. They said they never expected her to be missing for so long since she is microchipped and has a collar with the familys phone number on it.

We never gave up hope, Elizabeth said.

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Mishka remained missing for over seven months before turning up thousands of miles away in Detroit, Michigan.

I put up over a thousand flyers within a few months. I put a flyer on my back windshield just to put it out there. I wore her leash, so if I saw her I would grab her and put her in my car. It was one of the most horrifying things knowing someone took her with identification and disregarded us and our family. It was really hard, Elizabeth said.

The family was heading to Minnesota to visit family last Thursday when they got a call saying their dog had been found. After landing in Minnesota, Mehrad drove 10 hours to Michigan to get their beloved family pet from the Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society.

San Diego family reunites with missing dog found in Michigan (FOX 5/KUSI)

San Diego family reunites with missing dog found in Michigan (FOX 5/KUSI)

San Diego family reunites with missing dog found in Michigan (FOX 5/KUSI)

San Diego family reunites with missing dog found in Michigan (FOX 5/KUSI)

Police in Harper Woods, Michigan, had responded to a call about a stray dog, picked up the terrier mix and contacted the animal welfare group. The Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society said it quickly discovered Mishka had an identity chip implanted in her with information about her owners, according to the Associated Press.

We think it was stolen and then it was sold and ended up in Michigan, said Corinne Martin, director of Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society.

Veterinarian Nancy Pillsbury examined 3-year-old Mishka, gave her a rabies shot, and cleared her to travel back home to California.

So terrified for his safety: South Carolina man disappears while vacationing in Mexico

The family said they are very grateful to have her home and are extremely thankful for the good Samaritan that found her. They also said Mishka seems to have separation anxiety and related PTSD, weighs much less than before and is very tired.

Were never going to let her go again, Elizabeth said.

The family also thanked the Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society for providing her a collar, leash, carrier, a vet visit, and even papers for Mishka to fly home. They intend to contact the police in San Diego in an effort to find out who took Mishka.

We really want to figure out who took Mishka, and how she got to Detroit, Michigan from San Diego, Elizabeth said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
NOTE: This story has been made available for free, for all readers. Please consider supporting local journalism through the purchase of a digital subscription.

Mississippi Coast colleges and universities canceled in-person classes for Wednesday, with many secondary schools canceling classes as well, with the expected arrival of severe weather.

Here is a list of local districts and schools and their plans for Wednesday classes.

Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District: Wednesday classes canceled. The district announced via social media Due to the anticipated severe weather and unsafe road conditions we have decided to cancel school on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in order to prioritize the safety of our community.

Biloxi Public School District: As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, has not announced any changes to Wednesdays schedule.

Diocese of Biloxi: As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, has not announced any changes to Wednesdays schedule.

Grace Baptist Academy: As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, has not announced any changes to Wednesdays schedule.

Gulfport School District: No changes to Wednesdays schedule. At 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, the district posted to social media All Gulfport School District schools will be open on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Hancock County School District: Wednesday classes canceled. The district announced Tuesday night, via social media Due to a forecast of severe weather, damaging winds and flooding, Hancock County School District will be closed on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Staff and students will return to school on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Please stay safe.

Harrison County School District: Classes canceled Wednesday. The district posted at 8 p.m. Tuesday on social media Due to the severe weather conditions forecasted for our area, all schools in the Harrison County School District will be closed on Wednesday, April 10. This decision was made following consultation with Harrison County Emergency Management officials. As always, the safety of our students, faculty, and staff remains our top priority. HCSD schools are scheduled to reopen on Thursday, April 11. Please stay safe and stay tuned to our official communication channels (District and school websites, District and school social media, and ParentSquare) and local news outlets for any further updates.

Holy Trinity Catholic School: Classes canceled Wednesday. The school posted at about 8 p.m. Tuesday on social media Under advisement from the Hancock County EOC and the National Weather Service, Holy Trinity Catholic School will be closed tomorrow. Please continue to check your email and text messages for the most up to date information.

Jackson County School District: No changes to Wednesdays schedule. At 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, posted to social media Normal school day on Wednesday, April 10. We will continue to monitor the weather and make a call out if a schedule change is needed.

Long Beach School District: No changes to Wednesdays schedule. At about 3 p.m. Tuesday, posted to social media At this point, we plan to have normal dismissal.

Moss Point School District: No changes to Wednesdays schedule. At around 6 a.m. Wednesday, posted to social media As we continue to monitor the forecasted inclement weather in our area, we want to inform you that schools in Moss Point, MS, will remain open today. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and we are closely watching the weather conditions. Please rest assured that we are prepared to take immediate action if the situation changes. Updates will be provided through our official channels as necessary.

Nativity BVM School: Classes canceled Wednesday. At 9 p.m. Tuesday, the school posted to social media Due to expected severe weather, Nativity BVM Catholic School will be closed on Wednesday, April 10th. Stay safe everyone!

Ocean Springs School District: No changes to Wednesdays schedule. At 6 a.m. Wednesday, posted to social media OSSD remains on normal bell schedule Wednesday, April 10.

Our Lady Academy: Wednesday classes canceled. The academy announced Tuesday night via social media OLA, HTCS, SSC and all other schools in Hancock County will be closed tomorrow due to advisement from the Hancock County EOC and the National Weather Service. Please continue to check your email and text messages for updates.

Pascagoula-Gautier School District: Classes will be held as normal. The PGSD will continue to closely monitor the incoming inclement weather expected Wednesday. At this time, the PGSD plans to have school on Wednesday as the forecast is for the heaviest rain to track north of the coast. If further updates are necessary, messages will be posted to the PGSD Facebook page, and sent via text message and to our local television outlets.

Pass Christian School District: Classes canceled Wednesday. About 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, the district posted to social media Out of an abundance of caution, the Pass Christian School District will be closed tomorrow, April 10, 2024, due to the many uncertainties we have with the weather. School will resume on Thursday, April 11, 2024, following our normal bell schedule. Stay safe!

St. Alphonsus Catholic School: Classes canceled Wednesday. At 9:10 p.m., the school posted to social media Due to the severe weather coming through our area, St. Alphonsus will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, April 10. As always, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Thank you for your understanding, and we pray you all stay safe and dry tomorrow.

Saint Stanislaus High School: Our Lady Academy posted the following announcement, via social media Tuesday night OLA, HTCS, SSC and all other schools in Hancock County will be closed tomorrow due to advisement from the Hancock County EOC and the National Weather Service. Please continue to check your email and text messages for updates..

St. Patrick Catholic High School: Classes canceled Wednesday. The school posted to social media: Due to the severe weather conditions forecast for our area, St. Patrick will be closed on Wednesday, April 10. School is scheduled to resume on Thursday, April 11.

Higher education

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College: In-person classes canceled Wednesday. The school posted on social media All MGCCC locations and centers will be closed on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 due to inclement weather. All classes will be virtual. Residence halls and dining hall at the Perkinston Campus will remain open. College administration will continue to monitor the weather and will send out more information via Regroup and the official College social media channels as it becomes available.

University of Southern Mississippi: In-person classes canceled Wednesday. A social media posting read All operations at The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg and along the Gulf Coast will be closed on Wednesday, April 10 in anticipation of severe weather. Students should expect to hear from faculty regarding any transition to online course delivery.

William Carey University: In-person classes canceled Wednesday. Due to the threat of inclement weather, all William Carey University locations (Hattiesburg, Tradition, and Baton Rouge) will be closed tomorrow, April 10th. All in-person classes will shift to Canvas. Campuses are scheduled to reopen as normal on Thursday, April 11th. Please monitor local news media and WCU email/social media for further information.
Student loan borrowers stage a rally in front of the White House to celebrate President Biden cancelling student debt and to begin the fight to cancel any remaining debt on Aug. 25, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for We the 45m)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is seeking to quash a nearly eight-month-old program that has waived $1.2 billion in student loans for 153,000 borrowers and limited the payment amounts for 8 million others.

He is joined by the attorneys general from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oklahoma in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri challenging the U.S. Department of Educations SAVE Plan, an income-driven repayment plan launched in August of last year and set to be fully implemented in July.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey speaks to The Federalist Society on the Missouri House of Representatives floor Friday. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach filed his own legal challenge of the SAVE Plan at the end of March alongside 10 other states. Bailey said at the time that he was extremely pleased to see Kobachs lawsuit, announcing the same day that he intended to file a similar motion.

He followed through on the promise Tuesday.

Between our two coalitions of states, we will get this matter in front of a judge even more quickly to deliver a win for the American people, he said in a news release.

Bailey was part of a legal challenge of an earlier program for student-loan forgiveness, which culminated in the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the federal governments plan last June.

In that lawsuit, the Department of Education had proposed using the Heroes Act to give widespread relief during the pandemic.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued a written statement.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. Credit: Office of Attorney General

Last year, the Supreme Court struck down Bidens illegal attempt to force Americans to pay off someone elses debt, Moody said. Now, Biden thumbs his nose at the court like he has done with so many issues, including immigration, and does what he wants, trying again to mass-cancel student debt. We will fight in court to make sure that hard-working Americans, who are struggling to buy groceries thanks to Biden, are not on the hook for other peoples debt.

Included in Baileys argument in that lawsuit was that debt relief would hurt the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, or MOHELA.

The quasi-governmental nonprofit did not consent to be part of the original lawsuit, and internal communications released last year showed some of the companys employees expressing apprehension about being involved.

Baileys latest lawsuit also claims harm against MOHELA.

By accelerating the forgiveness timeline for the typical borrower by as much as 15 years, the final rule imposes financial harm on MOHELA, and thus the State of Missouri, by depriving MOHELA of up to 15 years in servicing fees, the attorneys general wrote in the lawsuit.

MOHELA did not respond to a request for comment.

Although some of the arguments remain, the department has used a different federal law to justify the SAVE Plan. This time around, the department is pulling its authority from the Higher Education Act, which was first enacted in 1965 but has been amended since.

The Higher Education Act authorizes need-based financial aid for college students, among other provisions.

Bailey argues that, when Congress passed the Higher Education Act, they didnt intend for it to be used as the SAVE Plan does.

The SAVE Plan, when fully implemented, would cap borrowers loan payments at 5% of their discretionary income. In February, the Department of Education announced that of the 7.5 million people that had enrolled in the program, 4.3 million had a $0 monthly payment.

The SAVE Plan also promises loan forgiveness within 10 years for those who borrowed $12,000 or less. For those who initially borrowed more than $12,000, the department says it will relieve debts with an additional year for each $1,000 beyond $12,000 borrowed.

Bailey argues in Tuesdays lawsuit that the 10-year period is problematic because of another federal program, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or PSLF, which forgives student debt for those who have worked in public service for 10 years and made payments on their loans during that period.

PSLF is so important for government agencies because, before the Final Rule, PSLF was comparatively much more generous than any other federal loan repayment program. That gave borrowers a sizeable incentive to work for public service employers, the lawsuit says.

Bailey repeatedly refers to the 10-year cost of loan forgiveness citing both the Congressional Budget Offices estimate of $276 billion and the Penn-Wharton Budget Models $475 billion prediction.

The lawsuit mentions a debt-relief plan announced Monday by President Joe Biden but does not appear to explicitly challenge it.

The SAVE Plan is a component of the latest plan, which also relies on the Higher Education Act.

Solicitor General Josh Divine, who signed Tuesdays lawsuit on behalf of Baileys office, was part of a rulemaking committee that shapes the latest debt-relief plan announced Monday. He stepped down from the committee after his peers rejected his proposal to bring in business leaders as a constituency group.

Theres essentially no program for small business owners, people who didnt go to college, people who went to trade schools or went through alternative career processes, Divine told the committee in December.

Bailey, who was appointed to his position by Gov. Mike Parson, is running for a full term in office this year.

A version of this story was first published in the Missouri Independent, a Phoenix affiliate through the nonprofit States Newsroom network. Phoenix Deputy Editor Michael Moline in Tallahassee contributed.

The post Missouri Attorney General leads coalition challenging Biden student debt relief appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Brian Dorsey, the convicted Missouri murderer whose fight against a death sentence gained support from dozens of correctional officers, was executed by lethal injection Tuesday in a state prison, according to his attorney Kirk Henderson, who was a witness.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined appeals to intervene in Dorseys behalf earlier in the day, and his request for clemency was turned down Monday by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson.

Dorsey, 52, was sentenced to the capital punishment for the confessed killing of his cousin and her husband in 2006. His lawyers argued he did not receive proper representation by his public defenders and had been 'fully rehabilitated in prison.

Dorseys case drew national attention because of the unusually strong stance in favor of commutation by current and former prison staff  his lawyers said more than 70 correctional officers vouched for him  and the focus on execution protocols that could have put him at risk of extreme pain before he died.

Dorsey wrote by hand a last statement that said, "I am truly deeply overwhelmingly sorry. Words cannot hold the just weight of my guilt and shame.''

In a statement confirming Dorsey's execution would be carried out, Parson's office said he not only attacked family members who opened their home and rescued him from drug dealers seeking to collect debts, but he raped his cousin's body after killing her.

"The pain Dorsey brought to others can never be rectified, but carrying out Dorseys sentence according to Missouri law and the Courts order will deliver justice and provide closure," Parson said in the statement.

Dorsey's lawyers said he was in a drug-induced psychosis at the time of the assaults, and they pointed out in their clemency request that more than 70 former and current corrections officers supported commuting Dorsey's death sentence. Troy Steele, the former warden at Potosi Correctional Center, where Dorsey was housed, said his record was "extraordinary," according to the filing.

Brian Dorsey is kind, gentle, hardworking, and humble,'' Henderson said in a statement. "He has spent every day of the past 18 years trying to make up for the single act of violence he committed, serving the prison community as the staff barber and never getting in even the slightest trouble.''

Death row inmate execution: Alabama looks to perform second execution of inmate with controversial nitrogen hypoxia

Brian Dorsey charged in 2006 double-murder

Dorsey was convicted of murdering his cousin Sarah Bonnie and her husband, Ben Bonnie, on Dec. 23, 2006. The couple had taken Dorsey in because drug dealers were trying to collect money he owed them, according to court filings.

Prosecutors said Dorsey shot the couple with their own shotgun, while their 4-year-old daughter was in the home. Dorsey also stole personal property to repay drug debts, the filings said.

"Brian Dorsey punished his loving family for helping him in a time of need. His cousins invited him into their home where he was surrounded by family and friends, then gave him a place to stay. Dorsey repaid them with cruelty, inhumane violence, and murder," Parson said in the statement.

Dorsey pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in 2008. He later filed several appeals that have been denied, arguing an insufficient defense because of the state's flat-fee payment of $12,000 to his public defenders, which his lawyers said represented a conflict of interest and provided little incentive to pursue a vigorous defense.

They also said Dorsey is remorseful and changed his life behind bars.

"The correctional staff  who know Mr. Dorsey best at this point, and who know what real rehabilitation and genuine remorse look like because of their firsthand experience with and broad basis for comparison with other prisoners  consistently attest to Mr. Dorseys wholesale rehabilitation, his genuine remorse, and ultimately his redemption," their clemency request said.

This undated handout photo courtesy of Jeremy Weis shows Brian Dorsey.

Missouri execution protocol in spotlight

Dorsey's case has also drawn scrutiny because Missouri's single-drug protocol for execution says nothing about the use of painkillers. His lawyers say he's diabetic, obese and a former intravenous drug user, which could make it harder to locate a vein in which to inject the lethal dose.

Such instances sometimes require the use of a "cutdown,'' an incision in the body followed by pulling apart the flesh to isolate the vein. That takes place before the death row inmate has a final meeting with a spiritual adviser, and Dorsey's lawyers have argued he would be in "significant pain and anguish," so his freedom of religion would be abridged.

The Associated Press reported the state agreed to a settlement by which it would take unspecified measures to reduce Dorsey's exposure to extreme pain.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missouri executes Brian Dorsey despite prison officers' objections
Missouri to execute man who murdered his cousin and her husband, governor says

A man convicted of murdering his cousin and her husband after they brought him to safety when he told them that drug dealers were at his door will be executed Tuesday, Missouri's governor said.

Brian Dorsey, 51, requested clemency, but Gov. Mike Parson affirmed the state Supreme Court-ordered sanction Monday, with his office saying in a statement that it is "an appropriate and legal sentence for his heinous crimes."

On Dec. 23, 2006, Dorsey grabbed his cousin's shotgun and fatally shot her and her husband in their Callaway County residence. Sarah Bonnie and Ben Bonnie drove him to the home for the night after he asked for her help, saying drug dealers were at his door demanding he cover debts, according to the case record.

The couple's 4-year-old daughter was in the home, but she was not physically harmed, the record states.

Brian Dorsey punished his loving family for helping him in a time of need, Parson said in the statement Monday.

He continued: The pain Dorsey brought to others can never be rectified, but carrying out Dorseys sentence according to Missouri law and the Courts order will deliver justice and provide closure.

Dorsey pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, and a jury took up the matter of sentencing in 2008.

He later argued that the state's flat fee payment to his otherwise private lawyers resulted in an insufficient defense. His defense also included the assertion that he was experiencing drug-induced psychosis the night of the slayings.

A clinical psychologist for the defense recited a history for Dorsey that included mental health issues, suicide attempts and drug addiction, according to the Missouri Supreme Court's affirmation of his sentence in March.

Brian Dorsey. (Missouri Dept. of Corrections via AP)

But that jury weighing his fate found seven aggravating factors that led it to endorse execution for Dorsey, according to the Supreme Court.Dorsey challenged his government-ordered fate multiple times, including by filing two writ of habeas corpus challenges with the Missouri Supreme Court, which has denied all his appeals. He also mounted challenges in federal court, but the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear them.

In December, the state Supreme Court set an execution date of April 9. The state is expected to use lethal injection.

Dorsey's plight found unusual support in January, when dozens of Missouri Corrections Department employees urged Parson to grant clemency to Dorsey, who has behind bars for 17 years.

Troy Steele, the former warden at Potosi Correctional Center, where Dorsey has been housed, described him in a review as a "model inmate" and said he was allowed to work as a barber  even cutting the warden's own hair.

The officers were joined by some family members, including cousin Jenni Gerhauser, in opposing his execution.

Generally, we believe in the use of capital punishment," corrections officers said in a letter to the governor. "But we are in agreement that the death penalty is not the appropriate punishment for Brian Dorsey.

The Missouri Corrections Officers Association and the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Execution is scheduled for 6 p.m. local time Tuesday, according to NBC affiliate KOMU of Columbia.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) denied clemency to Brian Dorsey, who faces execution on Tuesday for the 2006 murder of his cousin and her husband.

Brian Dorsey punished his loving family for helping him in a time of need. His cousins invited him into their home where he was surrounded by family and friends, then gave him a place to stay. Dorsey repaid them with cruelty, inhumane violence, and murder, Gov. Parson said in a press release on Monday.

The pain Dorsey brought to others can never be rectified, but carrying out Dorseys sentence according to Missouri law and the Courts order will deliver justice and provide closure, Parson added.

The Hill reached out to Parsons office for comment.

Dorsey, 52, was convicted and placed on death row in 2008 after pleading guilty to killing his cousin Sarah Bonnie and her husband Ben Bonnie in central Missouri.

The governors decision to proceed with Dorseys injection comes after his legal team filed a clemency application, stressing Dorseys extraordinary rehabilitation behind bars, his apparent mental state on the night of the murders as well as inadequate legal representation at trial, according to reports from CNN.

The petition gathered over 150 signatories to letters urging Parson to commute Dorseys sentence to life without parole. According to The Kansas City Star, supporters included 72 corrections employees, five jurors, three Republican state representatives and former Missouri Supreme Court justice Michael Wolff, who originally upheld Dorseys death sentence in 2009.

Megan Crane, an attorney for Dorsey, said allowing him to be executed was devastating.

Governor Parson has chosen to ignore the wealth of information before him showing that Brian Dorsey is uniquely deserving of mercy, she said in a statement, reported by the Associated Press. Brian has spent every day of his time in prison trying to make amends for his crime, and dozens of correctional officers have attested to his remorse, transformation, and commitment to service. Brians unprecedented support, and his irrefutable evidence of redemption, are precisely the circumstances for which clemency is designed.

According to data from the Death Penalty Information Center, Missouri will be the fourth state this year to conduct an execution, should Dorseys execution proceed.

The execution is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday and will be carried out by lethal injection, per the states execution protocol.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Missouri governor Michael Parson on Monday denied a last-ditch clemency request from Brian Dorsey, 52, a death row inmate scheduled to be executed on Tuesday for a 2006 double-murder.

The pain Dorsey brought to others can never be rectified, but carrying out Dorseys sentence according to Missouri law and the Courts order will deliver justice and provide closure, Governor Parson, a former sheriff who hasnt blocked an execution since taking office in 2018, wrote in a statement.

The Missouri inmates attorneys condemned the decision in a statement, pointing to Dorseys commitment to rehabilitation and what they see as his flawed original legal representation.

Governor Parson has chosen to ignore the wealth of information before him showing that Brian Dorsey is uniquely deserving of mercy, attorney Megan Crane said on Monday. Brian has spent every day of his time in prison trying to make amends for his crime, and dozens of correctional officers have attested to his remorse, transformation, and commitment to service. Brians unprecedented support, and his irrefutable evidence of redemption, are precisely the circumstances for which clemency is designed. Allowing Brian to be executed despite this truth is devastating.

Some family members of the victims, Dorseys cousin Sarah and her husband Ben Bonnie are in support of the death sentence, while others have argued against it.

All of these years of pain and suffering we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, one group of relatives said in a statement earlier this year. Brian will get the justice that Sarah and Ben have deserved for so long.

The clemency decision comes despite Dorsey filing appeals in state and federal court, and a group of more than 70 current and former corrections officers advocating for the mans death sentence to be downgraded.

Generally, we believe in the use of capital punishment, the officers previously wrote the governor. But we are in agreement that the death penalty is not the appropriate punishment for Brian Dorsey.

Dorsey was sentenced to death for the 23 December 2006 killing, a punishment affirmed in appeals to courts at the state, federal, and US Supreme Court levels.

The pair invited Dorsey into their home for the night in New Bloomfield, Missouri, during a period when Dorsey feared a group of drug dealers were pursuing him to collect on a debt, according to the Missouri Attorney Generals Office.

Prosecutors also allege that after Dorsey killed them, he sexually assaulted Sarah and poured bleach on her, though these allegations werent fully considered in court because Dorsey pleaded guilty.

Dorsey turned himself in to police and isnt appealing on the basis that hes innocent; rather, he argues he received constitutionally flawed original legal representation, violating his 6th Amendment right to counsel.

According to advocates, Dorseys original attorneys failed to bring forward key pieces of evidence, a potential result of being paid a $12,000 flat fee each to defend him, a practice legal observers say can encourage hasty resolutions of capital cases, which can last years.

The Missouri mans original attorneys didnt disclose Mr Dorseys claim to have been in a drug-induced state of psychosis during the murders and didnt investigate or present his past struggles with mental health, which included a major depression diagnosis and seeking inpatient treatment, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

They also negotiated a guilty plea deal that didnt include any assurances about what sentence Dorsey would receive.

The practice of paying flat fees in capital cases has long been considered improper by the American Bar Association because of its potential to discourage lawyers from doing more than what is minimally necessary.

In a March letter to the governor, Michael Wolff, a former Missouri Supreme Court judge who once upheld Dorseys death sentence, said this was one rare cases where those of us who sit in judgment of a man convicted of capital murder got it wrong and added that the flat fee arrangement, which Missouri has since ceased to use, undoubtedly influenced everything.

When contacted byThe Independent, his original attorneys, Chris Slusher and Scott McBride, declined to comment.

Since being in prison, according to correctional staff, Dorsey hasnt had any infractions and has become a trusted barber for inmates and the occasional prison staff member.

Over the weekend, Dorseys attorneys and the state reached a settlement over a separate issue, whether protocols were in place to prevent unnecessary suffering if executioners struggled to place an IV line to deliver the execution drugs. In some cases, execution staff resort to a cutdown, making a potentially deep incision in the skin, to locate a proper vein.

The death row inmate had argued that because he is obese, has diabetes, and is a former intravenous drug user, it could make a cutdown more likely, a painful process his attorneys compared to surgery without anesthesia.

Barring a last-minute postponement, Dorsey is scheduled to be executed at 6pm local time at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center prison in Missouri via lethal injection.

Missouri executes more people than almost all other US states. The state has executed 97 people since 1976, trailing only Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Florida, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Last year, it was one of only five states to carry out executions, killing four people.

The Independent and the nonprofit Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) have launched a joint campaign calling for an end to the death penalty in the US. The RBIJ has attracted more than 150 well-known signatories to their Business Leaders Declaration Against the Death Penalty - with The Independent as the latest on the list. We join high-profile executives like Ariana Huffington, Facebooks Sheryl Sandberg, and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson as part of this initiative and are making a pledge to highlight the injustices of the death penalty in our coverage.
CHANGSHA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A new international air route linking Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, and Ulan Bator, capital city of Mongolia, was launched Tuesday.

It is the first regular direct flight from Changsha to Mongolia. It runs once a week, operated by an E190 aircraft by Mongolia's Hunnu Air.

The inbound trip departs from Ulan Bator at 9:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) every Saturday and arrives in Changsha at 1:00 a.m. on Sunday. The outbound trip departs from Changsha at 1:55 a.m. on Sunday and arrives in Ulan Bator at 5:30 a.m. the same day.

The air route is also the first direct air route connecting central China and Mongolia, which will bring new opportunities for Hunan to participate in Belt and Road collaboration, said Hunan Airport. 
The state of Missouri on Tuesday executed Brian Dorsey for the 2006 murders of his cousin, Sarah Bonnie, and her husband, Benjamin Bonnie, after an effort to have his life spared failed in recent days.

Dorseys time of death was recorded as 6:11 p.m, the Missouri Department of Corrections said in a news release. The method of execution was lethal injection, Karen Pojmann, a spokesperson for the department, said at a news conference, adding it went smoothly, no problems.

The execution of Dorsey, 52, occurred hours after the US Supreme Court declined to intervene and about a day after Missouris Republican governor denied clemency, rejecting the inmates petition  backed by more than 70 correctional officers and others  for a commutation of his sentence to life in prison.

Dorsey and his attorneys cited his remorse, his rehabilitation while behind bars and his representation at trial by attorneys who allegedly had a financial conflict of interest as reasons he should not be put to death. But those arguments were insufficient to convince Gov. Mike Parson, who said in a statement carrying out Dorseys sentence would deliver justice and provide closure.

In a final written statement before his execution, Dorsey thanked supporters who advocated on his behalf and apologized to the loved ones of his victims.

To all of the family and loved ones I share with Sarah and to all of the surviving family and loved ones of Ben, I am totally, deeply, overwhelmingly sorry. Words cannot hold the just weight of my guilt and shame, Dorsey said, according to the statement provided to CNN by his attorneys. I still love you. I never wanted to hurt anyone. I am sorry I hurt them and you.

To my family, friends, and all of those that tried to prevent this, I love you! I am grateful for you, he said. I have peace in my heart in large part because of you and I thank you. To all those on ALL sides of this sentence, I carry no ill will or anger, only acceptance and understanding.

While Dorseys petition also cited support from some relatives who his attorneys said were also related to the victims, other members of the victims families supported the execution, telling CNN in a statement Dorsey committed the ultimate betrayal when he killed Sarah Bonnie, his cousin, and her husband Benjamin and left their daughter Jade, then 4 years old, in the home with her parents bodies locked in their bedroom.

Not only did Jade lose her parents but we also lost a daughter and son, sister and brother, aunt and uncle, and a great aunt and great uncle to so many, the statement from Sarah Bonnies family read, in part.

They were loved so deeply by anyone that knew them, it said. All of these years of pain and suffering we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Brian will get the justice that Sarah and Ben have deserved for so long.

In his statement Monday, the governor said the pain Dorsey brought to others can never be rectified, and Dorseys execution would proceed according to state law and as ordered by the Missouri Supreme Court.

Brian Dorsey punished his loving family for helping him in a time of need, Parson said. His cousins invited him into their home where he was surrounded by family and friends, then gave him a place to stay. Dorsey repaid them with cruelty, inhumane violence, and murder.

Victims family sees light at the end of the tunnel

The murders occurred the night of December 23, 2006. Hours earlier, Dorsey called Sarah asking for help, according to a history of the case included with a ruling by the Missouri Supreme Court last month. Two drug dealers were in his apartment, Dorsey said, and he needed money to pay them.

The couple went to Dorseys apartment and the drug dealers left. They then took Dorsey back to their home, the ruling notes, and Dorsey spent the evening drinking and playing pool with their family and friends.

Later that night, the ruling said, Dorsey entered their room and fatally shot them with a shotgun at close range. Court records said Dorsey raped Sarahs body. Dorseys attorneys argued this remains an allegation; he was never charged with and never pleaded guilty to rape or sexual assault.

Dorsey was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and pleaded guilty in March 2008. He was sentenced to death for each murder, court records show, and his conviction and death sentence were upheld on appeal.

The killings were deeply traumatic for Sarah Bonnies family, according to their statement, noting the bodies were discovered by her parents. In the years after, the family did what they could to keep the memories of Sarah and Ben alive, taking their daughter to the cemetery each year to release balloons.

We think of all the things that she has missed out on during her life without her parents. First day of school, school parties, school dances, first date, sweet sixteen, first boyfriend and high school graduation, their statement said. All of this was taken from her by a family member that proclaimed to love her.

Jenni Gerhauser, a cousin to both the inmate and Sarah Bonnie, however, had held out hope Dorsey would be spared. His death is hard to come to terms with, and the execution was absolutely unnecessary, she told CNNs Laura Coates on Tuesday night.

Brian was convicted of a terrible crime. We have never denied that. But Brian is not the worst of the worst, and a single, terrible night in his life didnt justify killing him, Gerhauser said. When the  correctional officers sent that letter (supporting him) to the governor, I felt so validated, because  I cannot reconcile this crime with the one convicted for it.

Inmates remorse and trial defense warranted mercy, petition argued

Dorsey was deeply remorseful for the murders, his attorneys said. His clemency petition claimed the killings occurred while Dorsey was suffering a drug-induced psychosis and alcohol-induced blackout after years of substance abuse aimed at self-medicating chronic depression.

As evidence of his atonement, Dorsey and his attorneys pointed to his spotless disciplinary record and his work as a staff barber; for 11 years, Dorsey cut the hair of staff at the Potosi Correctional Center, including chaplains, wardens and corrections officers  some of whom wrote to the governor backing his quest for clemency.

If you ask me, if it were not for drugs, none of this would have happened, wrote one whose name, like others, was redacted in the petition for privacy. The Mr. Dorsey I know must have been out of his mind at the time of these murders.

Additionally, Dorseys lawyers contend his sentence was unjust due to the arrangement by which his trial attorneys were paid. Both were given flat fees of $12,000, which would amount to just a few dollars an hour for the work required in a capital case.

Dorseys attorneys allege this created a financial conflict of interest, which disincentivized work on his case, leading the trial lawyers to have him plead guilty without a guarantee of a life sentence or adequately investigating. If they had done the latter, his current lawyers claim, they might have learned Dorsey was incapable of the deliberation required for a first-degree murder charge.

Dorseys trial attorneys previously testified the flat-fee payment did not affect their handling of the case. One declined to comment when reached by CNN last week, while the other did not respond.

CNNs John Fritze contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday appeared to endorse a bill threatening to ban TikTok nationwide, describing the popular social media platform as one of Beijings favorite tools of coercion and espionage.

The fact that TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company, has long been viewed as an issue of concern by U.S. officials who argue the app poses a risk to Americans.

Americas greatest strategic rival is threatening our security right here on U.S. soil  in tens of millions of American homes, McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor in reference to TikTok.

Proponents of a ban have long cited the fact that Chinese companies and those that operate in China are required by law to share data with the government if requested as a major red flag.

The House last month passed a bipartisan bill that would require ByteDance to sell the platform within six months or risk it being banned across the country.

McConnell appeared to endorse the legislation, which faces an uncertain path in the Senate.

Requiring the divestment of Beijing-influenced entities from TikTok would land squarely within established constitutional precedent, McConnell said. And it would begin to turn back the tide of an enormous threat to Americas children and to our nations prospects in the defining competition of the 21st century.

He continued: This is a matter that deserves Congress urgent attention. And Ill support commonsense, bipartisan steps to take one of Beijings favorite tools of coercion and espionage off the table.

But some members of the upper chamber have appeared uneasy with the House bill, in part because it appears to target a single company and could also run afoul of the First Amendment.

McConnell strongly rejected the idea that restricting TikTok would violate Americans freedom of speech.

I take a backseat to no one when it comes to protecting First Amendment rights. Ive firmly defended Americans rights to even the most noxious forms of free speech, like flag-burning, McConnell said. But theres a serious difference between the views Americans might express on TikTok  and the actions taken by a platform thats beholden to our foremost strategic competitor.

Still, an effort by former President Donald Trump in 2020 to outlaw the social media platform in the U.S. was blocked by the courts on First Amendment grounds.

McConnells comments come as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, speaking from Beijing, said the issue of TikTok was briefly discussed during talks with her Chinese counterparts, noting that the U.S. is legitimately concerned about the private data of its citizens.

We would like to find a way forward, Yellen said. Of course this is important to the Chinese.

President Joe Biden has said he would sign the House bill on TikTok if it came to his desk.

Meanwhile, Trump, who previously tried to impose a nationwide ban on the app, has since reversed course, has said restricting TikTok would only benefit Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business, he wrote.

Related...
A total eclipse was both precisely predictable and undeniably mysterious. Also in the news: The Connecticut Huskies are not only the best team in program history  but one of the best in recent NCAA history. The sentencing of Jennifer and James Crumbley could impact precedent on parents' culpability when their children access guns and cause harm.

 I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. What was the eclipse like onboard a flight?

Here's the news to know Tuesday.

Rare eclipse event was an astronomical experience like no other

Monday's eclipse was unusually accessible to millions of people. It was widely anticipated not only for its remarkable period of darkness, but for its rare timing: No total solar eclipse would be visible from the contiguous United States again until 2044.

Over the course of several hours, millions of people fell beneath the moons shadow as it swept across the continent at some 1,500 mph. At the center of that path, however briefly, the midday sun vanished entirely  the period of an eclipse known as totality.

A small group in Texas was among the very first Americans to see Monday's eclipse.

Forecasters across the country had predicted considerable cloudiness, rain and possible hail, but watch parties made the most of conditions by driving to better vantage points or noticing the sudden midday darkness that accompanied the eclipse.

Awe, cheers and clapping: Americans came together under the same shadow. Eyes turned upward both inside and outside the path of totality, from ranches in the Texas hill country and blankets spread out in Washington on the National Mall.

Read more: From the sandwich shop to the radio airwaves, how the solar eclipse united a Vermont town.

The UConn Huskies are national champions again

The Huskies once again are on top of the college basketball world, winning their second consecutive national championship by beating Purdue, 75-60, on Monday night to cap off one of the dominant runs in NCAA Tournament history. Zach Edey, the two-time Big Ten Player of the Year, scored 16 points in the first half, bullying UConn sophomore Donovan Clingan and drawing double-team attention when Clingan went to the bench with his second foul. And as against Illinois in the Elite Eight and Alabama in the national semifinals, UConn pulled away in the second half with increased defensive intensity and an offensive barrage. Read more

A Purdue student, 22, is dying. Inside a hospital room, he got a Final Four for the ages.

Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies celebrates with his team during the trophy ceremony on April 08, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona.

More news to know now

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Parents of Michigan shooter to be sentenced

Jennifer and James Crumbley, the first parents of a mass school shooter in the U.S. to be convicted of involuntary manslaughter, are set to be sentenced on Tuesday. Prosecutors asked that each parent be given 10 to 15 years in prison after separate juries found them each guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter earlier this year. Their son, Ethan, is serving a life sentence for the murders of four of his classmates at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan, on Nov. 30, 2021, when he was 15 years old. Read more

Trump defers to 'the will of the people' on abortion

Both Democrats and anti-abortion advocates weren't happy with GOP frontrunner Donald Trump's policy on abortion. Given the rallying item reproductive rights have provided Democrats this election, Trump was practically required to give voters some direction on where he stood on the issue: individual states should decide the extent of abortion access (or lack thereof). The anti-abortion coalition took aim at Trump's opting out of a national abortion ban, while Democrats pointed out that Trump has given at least tacit support to Republican-backed restrictions in individual states, including a six-week abortion ban in his home state, Florida. Read more

Republicans who want a national abortion ban are blasting Trump's policy.

Keep scrolling

ERs at Appalachian hospitals slow to a crawl

Ballad Health, a 20-hospital system in the Tri-Cities region of Tennessee and Virginia, benefits from the largest state-sanctioned hospital monopoly in the United States. In the six years since lawmakers in both states waived anti-monopoly laws and Ballad was formed, ER visits for patients sick enough to be hospitalized grew more than three times as long and now far exceed the criteria set by state officials, according to Ballad reports released by the Tennessee Department of Health. Tennessee and Virginia have so far announced no steps to reduce time spent in Ballad ERs. Read more

The database you don't want to need: Check to see if your health data was hacked.

What should you do if your medical records are stolen?

Photo of the day: Cruisers see the eclipse

Cheers broke out on Holland America Lines Koningsdam ship when the total solar eclipse began on Monday. Off the coast of Mazatlan, Mexico, passengers were perched on loungers, reclining on beach towels and lining the railings of Deck 14 with cameras on tripods at the ready. Read more

Passengers of Holland America's Koningsdam cruise gathered on the ship's top deck to view the solar eclipse off the coast of Mazatlan, Mexico, on April 8, 2024.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com . Support journalism like this  subscribe to USA TODAY here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eclipse, UConn, Crumbley trial, abortion, Trump, Vatican: Daily Briefing
Elsie Arntzen, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, walks into Parental Rights Education Action meeting at Crosspoint Church in Missoula, Montana on November 1, 2021. (Tommy Martino for The Daily Montanan.)

A few weeks ago, I interviewed Tammi Fisher, the former Republican mayor of Kalispell who now does a podcast called Montana Values. In one of the episodes of that podcast, Fisher and her co-host Mickey talk about how the current Republican party in Montana has gotten in the habit of ignoring, and sometimes even rewarding, bad behavior from members of their party.

There are many examples.

Ryan Zinke resigned from his cabinet post in the Trump administration after allegations came out that he was misappropriating funds. That investigation is still on-going, but it didnt stop Zinke from throwing his hat in the ring for the First Congressional race in 2022, and now running for re-election. His alleged misdeeds dont seem to matter to the people in his district, and he won the last election.

Another exampleour attorney general, who is facing the possibility of being disbarred for his habit of completely disregarding legal protocol, which is kind of mind-boggling, when you consider that hes the highest ranking lawyer in our state.

The number of other Republican leaders in Montana who have faced legal charges, from Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Troy Downing, who has been charged illegal hunting practices, to Public Service Commissioner Randy Pinnoci, who was arrested on felony charges for witness tampering, is more than troubling.

And both of these men are currently running for higher offices, with Downing filing in the second Congressional District. The fact that Pinnoci is going to trial later this month didnt stop Tanner Smith, a Republican who has filed for the primary for governor, from naming Pinnoci as his running mate.

But to me, the most egregious example in Montana of failing upward has to be Elise Arntzen, our current Superintendent of Public Instruction. As Fisher said, aside from the fact that she cant put together a full sentence, she has proven to be completely incompetent. In 2021, the superintendents of schools from most of the major cities in Montana drafted a letter of no confidence to Arntzen. The letter included a long list documenting Arntzens failure to perform her duties in a professional manner. The letter was accompanied by a petition signed by more than 2,000 Montanans, supporting the claims by the disgruntled superintendents. There was a time when a politician who has inspired such widespread discontent would take it under advisement, and either resign or make an effort to improve their performance.

Arntzens approach seems to be quite the opposite. Since then, she has been cited for passing a school bus that had its stop arm extended. She pleaded no contest. And just recently, she has found herself in hot water again when the Montana Quality Education Coalition filed a lawsuit charging her and her office, claiming that they have interfered with efforts to open several charter schools in Montana. Arntzen, of course, claims the charges are politically motivated. She seems to have no explanation for the fact that this keeps happening.

And of course, because she is not eligible to run for re-election, she has also filed for the same congressional seat that Downing is running for. One that is being vacated, incidentally, by another scandal-ridden Republican, Matt Rosendale, and its not even worth going into detail about that guy, who is probably the worst Congressman Montana has ever seen.

I asked Fisher during our interview what happened to her party, and her answer made a lot of sense to me. She said: I dont think its really what happened to the Republican Party, but what happened to Montana.

Fisher believes that outside money has corrupted politics in Montana, and theres plenty of evidence to support that. Just looking at the new guy in town, Tim Sheehy, who has come out of nowhere to make a run against long-time Senatorial stalwart Jon Tester. Much like Rosendale, Sheehys main credential seems to be that hes rich; which is a sad commentary on the current state of Montana. With very few exceptions, Montanans have a long, storied history of showing appreciation for people who earned our respect, by working their way up to a position of leadershippeople like Mike Mansfield, Jeanette Rankin, and Marc Racicot. With the exception of the Copper Kings, we have generally shown just the right amount of mistrust toward those who try to buy their way into office. And there has seldom been a time like now, where we were so willing to overlook blatant transgressions.

The usual response to such claims is predictablewhat about the Democrats? Feel free to let me know of any examples you have, because they are few and far between.

The post Montana Republicans continue to fail upward appeared first on Daily Montanan.
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (KDVR)  A Colorado animal rescue is facing its biggest challenge.

Cavies and Canines Animal Rescue, a licensed guinea pig rescue in Colorado, is preparing to take in more than 500 guinea pigs from a breeder in Aurora that is unable to care for the growing population.

Natalie Riggs, president and executive director, said this is their largest case of surrendered guinea pigs from a single owner.

Its insane. Ive never seen anything like it, Riggs said. We normally have about 50 guinea pigs in the rescue at any given time, and theyre all in foster homes in northern Colorado, [the] Denver metro area and a couple in Colorado Springs, Riggs said.

Cavies and Canines Animal Rescue flyer

Now, the rescue is working to find new homes for more than 500 guinea pigs, many of whom are pregnant and with health issues.

This individual had been breeding for over 30 years, and their husband unexpectedly passed away last week. And as a result, they were trying to offload some of these guinea pigs to help ease the burden, so I offered to assist, Riggs said.

Missing dog from California found more than 2,000 miles away in Michigan

On Sunday, Riggs said they coordinated a rescue of 60 guinea pigs, 50 of which were transported to Iowa overnight.

The facilitys biggest needs, according to Riggs, are donations and transport volunteers to bring guinea pigs to other rescues across the nation.

If we can get as many out of that house as possible, I think not just the guinea pigs, but the human will also be in a better position to heal, Riggs said.

The rescue has created an online form for those interested in supporting the cause.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
The Russian government haswithout any evidence whatsoeveraccused a Ukrainian energy company known for its ties to Hunter Biden of financing terrorist attacks.

The Investigative Committee announced the startling claim in a press release Tuesday, accusing Burisma Holdingswhere President Bidens son once workedof sponsoring terrorist attacks both inside Russia and beyond its borders. Although no mention was made of last months deadly attack on Crocus City Hall, the news comes after Russian authorities earlier this week claimed the perpetrators of that attack were hired by figures in Ukraine and, rather dubiously, promised payment in Russian rubles.

Moscow is also now suggesting that certain unnamed U.S. officials may have been involved in funneling money to Burisma to finance terrorism in Russia, perhaps hoping to spark a few new Hunter Biden-related conspiracy theories ahead of the U.S. presidential election.

The Investigative Committee claims it acted at the behest of a group of lawmakers who demanded an investigation into the U.S. and NATO countries financing terrorist attacksand cracked the case in just a few daysas that appeal from lawmakers was prepared only in late March.

Investigators are now said to be probing the flows of several million U.S. dollars and the involvement of specific individuals from among government officials, and public and commercial organizations in Western countries.

Always adept at getting the attention of right-leaning news media in the U.S., the Kremlin appears to be reviving a conspiracy theory promoted by Donald Trump ahead of the 2020 election about the Biden family carrying out nefarious deeds at Burisma just in time for the 2024 vote.

The Ukrainian energy company, where the younger Biden previously served on the board, has long been at the center of claims made by Trumps allies in the GOP that both Hunter and Joe Biden were part of a massive international bribery scheme.

Republicans have been unable to substantiate these claims, however, and the FBI informant whose allegations were used to drive a Republican impeachment inquiry against Biden was charged earlier this year with making the whole thing up.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Most members of Finnish Parliament do not support sending troops to Ukraine

Finnish media broadcaster Yle has surveyed the countrys MPs on whether they support the deployment of EU states troops in Ukraine, and the majority opposed this idea.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Yle

Details: In total, 103 out of 200 Finnish MPs participated in the survey. Only 11 lawmakers supported sending soldiers from the EU countries to Ukraine, if it were at the edge of a military defeat.

Over 50 MPs spoke against this idea, and more than 40 did not decide on their stance.

Many MPs are afraid that military presence of the EU countries may lead to escalation and spreading of the war.

"Basically, we need to avoid direct military confrontation between the EU and Russia. Such a hypothetical question (about Ukraine's possible defeat) should not be asked," said Kimmo Kiljunen, chairman of the Finnish Committee for Foreign Affairs.

The supporters of sending troops believe that Ukraines defeat would lead to catastrophic consequences in Europe. For instance, Atte Harjanne, MP of the Green League, clings to this belief.

"The troops of the EU countries could be used, for instance, for military training. Perhaps, on the border with Belarus and Moldova, thus giving the Ukrainian forces the opportunity to switch to other operations, and strengthening the air defence of Ukraine. So, there are other options, apart from direct involvement of the EU countries in combat action," he stated.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb noted earlier that he saw no reasons for sending Finnish troops to Ukraine.

In February, French President Emmanuel Macron raised the issue concerning a possible deployment of Western troops in Ukraine in the future.

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Most people moving to San Diego are from these 5 cities, according to Redfin

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  While San Diego County has been seeing more people leaving than moving into the region, there are still people interested in relocating and buying homes in the area.

According to data from Redfin, homebuyers from Los Angeles showed the most interest in moving to San Diego out of people from any other large metropolitan area in the U.S.

Number of residents that left San Diego County last year nearly doubled from previous

More than 11,000 people from Los Angeles searched for homes in San Diego between January and March. San Francisco was the second city on Redfins list with more than 2,600 homebuyers expressing interest in San Diego followed by Dallas with 1,122, New York City with 502 and Seattle with 494.

The data from Redfin does not reflect actual moves but rather a sample of about two million users who searched for homes across more than a hundred metropolitan areas.

In 2023, San Diego County saw nearly double the amount of people leave than move in compared to the year prior, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Year-over-year, 60% of U.S. counties saw an increase in population. Thats 52% more than the previous year, data showed.

However, San Diego County did not follow nationwide trends  30,745 more people left the region than moved into it in 2023. Thats nearly double from 2022s numbers which reported 15,956 more people leave than move in.

Still, it appears that most people who already reside within the area are choosing to stay. Redfin says 71% of San Diego homebuyers searched for homes within the county from January to March than outside of it.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Mother, 27, stabbed to death in Bradford while pushing baby in pram is named

A mother who was fatally stabbed to death while pushing her baby in a pram in Bradford has been named as 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter.

A national manhunt has been launched for suspect Habibur Masum, who is believed to have entered the UK on a student visa from Bangladesh.

It has since emerged that Greater Manchester Police have referred themselves to the police watchdog the IOPC over previous contact with the victim and Masum.

Officers are appealing for members of the public to report any sightings of Habibur Masum (West Yorkshire Police)

Masum was conditionally bailed by Manchester Magistrates Court in November, despite prosecutors objecting to his release.

Masum pleaded not guilty to both offences at a hearing on November 27 last year and was ordered not to contact Ms Akter, it is understood.

CCTV of Habibur Masum after the Bradford attack (West Yorkshire Police/PA Wire)

His bail conditions also prevented him from contacting a second person, or visiting a particular address.

Court documents show that Masum, whose address was listed as Oldham, Greater Manchester, was charged with threatening to kill Ms Akter on November 24 and assaulting her on November 23. Both offences were alleged to have happened in Manchester.

Officers hunting for the alleged killer have also arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender, following raids at addresses in Burnley, Chester and Oldham.

Emergency services were called to the Westgate area of the city centre at 3.21pm on Saturday after receiving reports that a woman had been stabbed multiple times.

The mother was stabbed several times in the neck in Bradford shopping centre (West Yorkshire Police/PA)

Despite their best efforts, Ms Akter was pronounced dead in hospital.

Addressing a press conference on Monday afternoon, West Yorkshire Police Officer Assistant Chief Constable Damien Miller said: On Saturday April 6, shortly before 3.20pm Kulsuma Akter was walking in Bradford city centre.

Kulsuma was with her young baby at this time, and was walking along Westgate when she was attacked and stabbed multiple times.

The emergency services were called at 3:21pm. However, despite the best efforts of members of the public, ambulance crews, and hospital staff, Kulsuma sadly lost her life due to the injuries.

Her baby is safe and well and was not harmed in this incident.

CCTV quickly identified Masum as a suspect and the last confirmed sightings saw him getting on a bus on Market Street at 3.30pm, before exiting at 3.42pm.

Recalling the horrific moment Ms Akter was stabbed, shopkeeper Geo Khan said: I was sitting in my shop and heard screaming. I came out and I tried to check the pulse. There was no pulse.

He said: Blood was all over on the floor and there were stab wounds in her neck.

Mr Khan added that woman who died came into his shop the day before the incident, and he believes she only came to the area a few weeks ago.

He said: She was a very, very innocent person  the smile on her face.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Masum studied for a masters in marketing and digital marketing at the University of Bedfordshire between 2021 and 2023.

He reportedly received support from Samins UK Visas Support Centre in applying for a Schengen visa, after approaching organiser Samin Ahmed in December.

Mr Ahmed said: I (was) shocked when I heard this news, he is a familiar person nearby me. I did not know anything. I am really shocked.

A photograph of Masums Schengen visa was posted to the Samins UK visas support centre Facebook group in January, and social media images show that he recently travelled to Barcelona.

It came as police hunting Masum conducted a number of raids in Burnley, Oldham, and Chester.

Assistant Chief Constable Damien Miller added: There is significant resources conducting CCTV and house-to-house inquiries.

And we also have local Bradford officers carrying out increased patrols in the area, which I hope will be of some reassurance to residents.

With the support of other forces weve conducted a number of raids in the Burnley and Oldham and Chester areas in the search for Masum, and during the searches a 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and is now in police custody.

He said Masum was last seen walking in the direction of a park having got off a bus.

Masum is a slim Asian man and was last seen wearing a duffle coat with three large horizontal lines, grey tracksuit bottoms and maroon trainers, he said.

On Saturday he was captured on CCTV getting on a bus.

He was last seen walking in the direction of Bradford Moor Park, this is our last confirmed sighting of him.
(CBS DETROIT) - James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of the Oxford High School shooter, were sentenced to 10-15 years in prison after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

The parents will receive credit for 858 days served.

In the historic case, the parents were the first in the U.S. to be held responsible for their roles in the shooting where their son killed four students and injured seven other people in the Oxford High School shooting on Nov. 30, 2021.

This comes after the separate trials of James and Jennifer Crumbley, where they were both convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

They were each charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of the four students, Justin Shilling, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, and Hana St. Juliana.

The prosecution argued that the shooting was preventable and that James and Jennifer Crumbley ignored their son's mental health needs and bought him the gun that was used in the shooting.

Their son was sentenced to life in prison without parole in December 2023.

"If it were not for the actions of James and Jennifer Crumbley, the shooter would have never had access to the gun he used to take four innocent lives inside Oxford High School. We owed it to the victims and their families to pursue the maximum penalty," said Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. "Nothing will bring their children back, but the Judge recognized the suffering these defendants caused, and she acknowledged the victims and their families. The sentence today provides the highest level of accountability under the law, and that's appropriate.

"These prosecutions will not stop gun violence. We owe it to Justin, Hana, Madisyn, and Tate to address the underlying causes of gun violence and prevent future shootings. I am committed to continuing that work."

Victim impact statements, James and Jennifer Crumbley speak

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, was the first person to give her victim impact statement during the sentencing.

Beausoleil addressed how Jennifer Crumbley said she wouldn't do anything different regarding the events leading up to the shooting during her trial.

"You said you wouldn't do anything different, well that really says what type of parent you are, because there's a lot of things I would do differently," said Beausoleil. "But the one thing I would have wanted to be different was to take that bullet that day so she could continue to live the life she deserved."

She requested Matthews enforce the maximum sentence for the parents.

"Your Honor, I request that the maximum sentence be enforced as it will never come close to the life sentence I was given. The life sentence I didn't ask for, but a choice that was made for me, a life that I will suffer because of their neglect."

Next Jill Soave, the mother of Justin Shilling, gave her statement. She talked about how kind and hardworking Justin was, and how he spent his final moments protecting another student.

"If only your Honor, they would have taken their son to get counseling instead of buying him a gun," said Soave. "... I wouldn't be standing here today." She also asked Matthews for the maximum sentence allowed.

Craig Shilling, Justin's dad, went next. He discussed how every aspect of his life has been affected by the tragedy and how he tried to capture every fact during their trials.

"The cold truth that shows that they did nothing to address the obvious signs of a deteriorating mental state of mind clearly present within their son and of course, the very hard truth that shows that they provided their son with exactly what he wanted to use to do what he did, and failed miserably to secure it," said Craig Shilling. Shilling also told the judge he believes they need to get the maximum amount of time available.

Reina St. Juliana, the older sister of Hana St. Juliana, gave her impact statement after Craig Shilling. She said she saw her sister earlier that day, but they parted ways with a smile, and she never got to say goodbye.

"The fact is no matter what you try to make yourself believe Jennifer, you did fail as a parent, both of you," said Reina St. Juliana."

She said that they are still a danger to society because even after two years, they are unable to admit their wrongdoings. Reina St. Juliana also talked about how much she looked up to Hana and said going forward without her is something she may not be able to fully navigate.

Their father, Steve St. Juliana, said he's mostly a private person, and having to "pour his heart out again, is irritating."

"They chose to stay quiet, they chose to ignore the warning signs, and now, as we've heard through all the objections, they continue to choose to blame everyone but themselves," said Steve. St. Juliana"

"I will never think back fondly on her high school and college graduations, I will never walk down the aisle as she begins the journey of starting her own family, I am forever denied the chance to hold her or her future children in my arms," said Steve St. Juliana.

Buck Myre, the father of Tate Myre, said, it's time to put the focus on the Oxford School District. He said the response to the shooting was horrible, and it is time to drive real change.

After Buck Myre, Jennifer Crumbley spoke. She discussed how on the stand during her trial, that she was horrified to learn that her answer about not doing anything differently, was misunderstood.

She said her son seemed so normal, and she didn't have a reason to do anything differently. In hindsight, she says her answer would be different, and if she knew her son was capable of crimes like this, then her answer would've been different.

The trials of James and Jennifer Crumbley



Jennifer Crumbley was found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter on Feb. 6. The jury deliberated for 11 hours after a week-long trial to determine the mother's role in the shooting.

James Crumbley was also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in a separate trial on March 14.

Largest dam removal project in U.S. history aims to help revive Americas salmon population

Total solar eclipse cuts path across U.S.

Who will qualify for debt forgiveness under Biden's new student loan forgiveness plan?
by Xinhua writer Guo Xiaoyu

HANGZHOU, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Wandering through the gentle drizzle and breeze of spring, I recently paid my first visit to Keqiao in Zhejiang Province, eager to discover how this riverine eastern district has emerged as China's most dynamic hub of textile manufacturing, trading and distribution.

Keqiao, a district in the city of Shaoxing, is renowned for its brilliant white houses, arched stone bridges, and tranquil canal-side alleys. Yet, without immersing myself in the district's picturesque charm, I found myself needling through a bustling market complex that offers almost everything related to textiles.

This is the "China Textile City" (CTC), the country's first national market dedicated to textiles. Threading my way through a maze of colorful and decorated fabric pieces, I was poised to unravel the success story of Keqiao's textile industry.

I met Xiao Xingshui, a veteran businessman spearheading the local textile scene. He said the CTC began with a group of boat hawkers selling textiles along Keqiao's interwoven waterways, following China's approval of textile trade as part of its reform and opening-up policy.

With the aim of creating a well-organized transaction platform, the local government set up a makeshift outdoor market for the first batch of textile dealers in the late 1980s. The CTC was beginning to take shape, and by 1992, it was officially elevated to national-level status.

Decades into its development, the CTC has transformed into a textile hub with the most comprehensive industrial chain on the planet, accounting for one-fourth of the world's annual fabric material transactions. Its transaction volume exceeded 360 billion yuan (about 51 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023.

I inquired with Xiao about the secrets behind the rise of Keqiao's textile industry, expecting him to delve into broad themes such as strategy or opportunity. Unexpectedly, his answer was short and simple: "No matter what you do, no matter how small, do your best."

Distinguishing itself among the 8,000-plus textile manufacturers in Keqiao, Xiao's enterprise, Shaoxing Qianyong Textile Co., exemplifies this entrepreneurial spirit. It has grown from a modest workshop to an officially designated supplier of uniform fabrics for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and the Hangzhou Asian Games.

"An enterprise must forge a distinctive advantage," he said. "Although this feature may seem minor, it renders you irreplaceable, thereby helping you survive market competition." For Xiao, his company has found its trump card in digital direct printing techniques, which can produce water ripple patterns on nylon fabrics.

To maximize this unique advantage, the company has dedicated itself to research and development (R&D), focusing on technological upgrades and innovation. A prime example of this is its independently developed nano-ink technology, which notably improves printing precision and color vibrancy, and can create ink dispersion and 3D effects on functional fabrics. The technology has helped the company land orders from global sportswear giants such as Nike, The North Face, and Lululemon.

Xiao noted that like his company, numerous textile firms across Keqiao have initiated a technological innovation drive to cultivate their technological prowess.

Fascinated with Keqiao's commitment to innovation, I did some research and discovered that Keqiao is home to over 250 high-tech textile companies and boasts 27,000 R&D professionals. The district has built over 20 research institutions, including a provincial innovation center for modern textile technology, to better direct sci-tech resources toward business development.

Continuing my stroll through the market aisle, I found myself pondering the future of Keqiao's textile industry. To gain a better understanding, I engaged in conversations with a young entrepreneur, hoping to learn about his plans and visions for the future.

Despite being in his twenties, Du Jiexin is already locally renowned for running Shaoxing City Jialilong Textiles Co., Ltd., a company specializing in middle-market and high-end shirt fabric manufacturing for over two decades. The business was founded by Du's father.

Having grown up witnessing Keqiao's evolution into a textile hub, the young man entered his father's business, taking charge of creative design and publicity. While inheriting the practicality valued by Xiao and other seasoned textile entrepreneurs, Du seeks to blaze new trails for the industry.

"In my father's generation, textiles are all about producing raw materials for clothing, but I would like to push into clothing design and production as an expansion of our business," Du said. "Now, I run a fashion design team, and I have been actively inviting creative designers to get on board. My goal is to inject a fresh breath of style and creativity into the classic textile scene."

Du said his company is actively embracing the ongoing revival of traditional Chinese culture by integrating traditional materials and tailoring designs, including bamboo fabrics and the horse-face skirt, into its textile and apparel lines.

"China-chic is inarguably becoming the trendiest style, so we must ride the wave," Du said. The young man added that he also devoted a large portion of his schedule to social networks to draw inspiration from Generation-Z consumers and bring his company closer to them.

Throughout my tour of Keqiao, one word resonated within me: innovation. In this district, generations of textile entrepreneurs, both seasoned and emerging, have embraced the spirit of innovation, relentlessly surging to the forefront of the industry.

I also learned from the local market regulator that they are employing cutting-edge technologies to nurture the spirit of innovation. They have launched China's first AI-powered platform for textile duplication checking, allowing businesses to upload their unique fabric designs. Each check only takes a few seconds, efficiently safeguarding businesses' intellectual property rights.

According to a blueprint unveiled in November 2023, R&D spending is projected to account for 1.5 percent of the operating revenue of key textile firms in Keqiao by 2025, alongside the establishment of two national-level innovation platforms.

Additionally, it is anticipated that the fashion and creative sectors will evolve into an industrial cluster valued at 100 billion yuan, with the design sector alone contributing 50 billion yuan to the district's overall growth.

As China pursues innovation-driven development and strives to foster a favorable environment for all types of businesses, Keqiao, along with its textile industry, is set to advance toward a more vigorous and prosperous future. 
Having three children at a Montessori school in Boulder, Colorado, I endure an onslaught of parent meetings. They tend to drag on. I squirm in my seat and Im reminded of how hard school was for me. I struggle to focus on the principal talking about her background as an educator. At the end of these talks, parents ask questions like: Should I unwrap packaged snacks before packing them in the lunchbox? (Yes, halfway). Time moves slowly. I am a good mother, I tell myself. I am, I am. Sam I am, as I lean back on the back two legs of my chair and balance.

Last night I tricked Mike, my husband, into coming to one of the meetings. I told him it was important to show the school that both parents were invested. It was fun sitting next to him in the child-sized chairs, our knees awkwardly folded in front of us, so many grown-ups in a circle like kindergartners or alcoholics. To kick off the meeting, parents were invited to introduce themselves and share something funny or unique about their toddler. I love hearing how alike we all are; basking in the little nonsensical things our kids do. One woman shares that her little girl is obsessed with mannequins and asks to visit them at REI. We all sit there drunk on how much we love these tiny people who live in our house and reign terror on us.

As the last mom introduces herself and shares a tidbit about her son, her husband puts his hand on her knee, and for a split second I have a sick, gut-splitting premonition where I imagine that we are all in a support group for parents who have lost their children to a school shooting. I imagine the story being told in the past tense, what was unique or funny about my child was that he always used to. I feel panic rising in my chest. I shift in my seat, letting out a fake cough. Suddenly, the classroom looks wrong, so many moms and dads without their kids.

I try to stop from spiraling but the conversations around leaving stuffies at home and sending extra socks to school do little to settle my nerves. There were 346 school shootings in the United States last year. The US outranks all other countries with its number of school shootings per year. There isnt a comparative phrase in most other languages for school shootingthis danger is inherently American. Here, a child is more at risk of dying from gun violence than through any other means.

Weve accepted this as a reasonable risk intrinsic to sending our children to school; like Covid. Covid used to be scary to me, and no longer is. These days I get an email from school that a child in my kids class has tested positive for Covid and I delete it, just like all the spam I get from Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Later that night, Im walking to sushi with Mike. Were both in a good mood, to have one night free of the bath and bedtime routine that our babysitter is facing down. I want to tell him about my scary moment where it was as though someone had cut the power in the room; how everything went dark and morphed into a support group for parents of slain children. But I dont want to kill the mood, and he often gets frustrated when I get overly paranoid and try to bring him with me. Every night before I close the curtains to my kids bedroom, I check their windows are locked as I picture JonBenet Ramseys heart-shaped face. But I never mention that to him when I crawl into bed.

You know what I wanted to ask? he says, our hands interlocking. I wanted to ask about their policies around school shootings. Not the locked gate and alarm system, I want to know what happens once those are breached. Do they have drills? Can we do the drills? I want the drills. I imagine how our sweet and demure preschool teacher might have responded to these questions. I try to picture how she would handle so many children scattering in different directions like leaves in the wind.

Lately, Im struggling to cope with the anxiety of it. I fantasize about moving to another country altogether. I dont feel special and I dont think it wont happen to my family. At any given time, I drop my son off at school and go about my day holding my breath, feeling like a mother who has sent her beautiful boy off to war, always somehow listening for a knock at the front door, both officers pulling their hat in their hands as she opens slowly.

A few years ago, a mile from our house, a gunman opened fire in a grocery store. That evening during the press conference, the police chief kept delaying the time of the news conference. Cameras sat rolling on an empty microphone. I heard reporters speculate that they cant announce the body count until all of the victims families had been contacted. Must be a high count, one reporter said. The news conference was pushed back again. Ten people had been killed while filling their carts with bread and milk. One dad was shot in the back as he ran towards the parking lot.

Im thinking of that shooting this morning as I pack lunch. Todays lunch boxes have a lot of little compartments. I put blackberries in one, even though I know that they will come home at the end of the day soggy and untouched. I pop one in my mouth. I open up the String Cheese, just as we were advised to last night. I open it just enough so that my toddler will be able to grab both sides of the plastic and finish unwrapping it, independently. I know that if he cant open it, his teacher will help him. I close the lid, slip it in his backpack and hope he comes back home.
MPD looking for suspects who shot into Parkway Village homes

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Officers are looking for a group of suspects who fired shots into multiple Parkway Village homes in March.

Around 3:55 p.m. on March 31, MPD officers responded to the 5000 block of Christopher Avenue regarding an aggravated assault.

Officers were told that several males, possibly juveniles, wearing dark clothing and ski masks walking down the street.

The armed suspects fired multiple shots into a house and then left the area.

Shortly after, police say a gray vehicle came down the same street and individuals in the car fired multiple shots that struck numerous homes on the street.

Injuries were reported.

Officers have described the suspects as several young males who were wearing all-black ski masks and armed with guns.

The vehicle is a gray sedan that could possibly be an Infiniti or Nissan, police say.

This is an ongoing investigation.

On their Facebook page, the MPD released the following picture of the vehicle.

Police ask that anyone with information about this incident call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH. You can also submit your tip at http://www.crimestopmem.org, where you will be able to review wanted fugitives and safely send investigators any helpful information on the suspect or suspects responsible for this crime.

You can submit anonymous tips from our free and secure mobile app by searching your app store for P3 Tips. If an arrest is made, you could be eligible to receive a cash reward from Crime Stoppers of Memphis and Shelby County, Inc.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Museum in Grantham rejects call to be re-named after Margaret Thatcher

Statue of Sir Isaac Newton outside Grantham town hall, next door to the town's museum - Travelpix Ltd

The museum in Margaret Thatchers hometown should be renamed after the late former prime minister, the leader of the local council has said.

Cllr Ashley Baxter, of South Kesteven district council, said the renaming of Grantham Museum could spark a tourist boom in the Lincolnshire town.

But the museum has rejected his call, saying it exists to promote all of Grantham  not just Britains first female prime minister.

A statue of Mrs Thatcher has stood outside the museum, which is devoted to the history of the town and the surrounding area, since 2022.

In a council meeting on March 26, Cllr Baxter called on Grantham to go a step further in honouring its most famous daughter by renaming the museum itself.

Far more people will be looking up the name Margaret Thatcher compared to searching for Grantham Museum, he said. Some people are fond of her legacy, and some despise it.

If we tell the story with different perspectives, far more people will be likely to come to Grantham to see the statue and visit the museum.

A statue of Mrs Thatcher has stood outside the museum since 2022 - PAUL ELLIS/AFP

Cllr Baxter added that the renaming could help Lincolnshire attract as many visitors as tourist hotspots like Devon and Cornwall.

Were better than Devon and Cornwall and we should be drawing some of those visitors away, he said.

The museum boasts a substantial collection of Mrs Thatcher memorabilia, including one of her handbags and her puppet from Spitting Image, the satirical BBC show.

The museum was previously at the forefront of the successful campaign to erect the bronze statue of her.

But the museum rejected Cllr Baxters calls for it to be renamed, saying: It is not something we would support or consider. We remain committed to promoting all of Grantham, its rich history and its heritage.

Cllr Charmaine Morgan, a member of the councils Democratic Independent Group, said there is far more to Grantham than Margaret Thatcher.

Margaret Thatcher, then shadow education minister, speaks at the Conservative Party conference in Brighton in October 1967 - Rolls Press/Popperfoto

Cllr Graham Jeal, a Conservative who sits on the museums board, said the renaming would be wrong because the museum exists to display all of Granthams rich and diverse history, including Sir Isaac Newton and the Royal Air Force.

In spite of what Cllr Baxter said, many thousands of tourists do find their way to the Grantham Museum, he said.

I think it would be wrong to focus our towns rich history around one figure  important though she was in putting Grantham on the map.

John Manterfield, the chairman of Grantham Civic Society, said the town was about more than Mrs Thatcher.

We have many Grade I listed buildings including our magnificent medieval church with its wonderful spire and amazing Francis Trigge Chained Library, and we have the highly popular Belton House and Belvoir Castle just a few miles away, he said.

Grantham Museum not only has material related to Margaret Thatcher but also to Sir Isaac Newton, one of the greatest scientists of all time.

Nigel Farage, then UKIP leader, signs a book of condolence under a portrait of Baroness Thatcher at the Grantham Museum - PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo

Mrs Thatcher was born in Grantham in 1925 and grew up at her fathers grocers shop on North Parade.

She attended Kesteven and Grantham Girls School  where she was head girl  in the town before studying at Oxford and later becoming MP for Finchley in London, education secretary and eventually, in 1979, prime minister.

Mrs Thatcher was in office for the next 11 years, becoming Britains longest-serving prime minister of the 20th century, before resigning in 1990 and being ennobled as Baroness Thatcher two years later.

The bronze statue of her, which was created by Douglas Jennings, the sculptor, at a cost of 300,000, was first commissioned in 2013, shortly before her death.

It was designed to stand close to the Houses of Parliament but was rejected by Westminster City Council in 2018.

It was instead unveiled in Grantham in May 2022, but had eggs thrown at it by an academic from the University of Leicester within two hours of its installation.

The statue has since been vandalised by others with paint on at least four occasions, including with the phrases Tories out and burn in hell.

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.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  A Myrtle Beach ride-share driver is facing armed robbery and kidnapping charges stemming from a late February incident at the Holiday Shores hotel.

Rebeca Vargas-Torres, 32, was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Sunday on a $50,000 bond.

According to a police report, officers arrived at a different hotel and met with a man who said a person he knew to be a Lyft or Uber driver pointed a gun at him and demanded cash that he was carrying. The victim told officers that he had used the driver in the past but that he only knew the persons first name.

The man said he was beaten by an unknown male. Vargas-Torres is 6-foot-2 and weighs 302 pounds, according to police.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Paul Watson said he immediately saw a swastika in the Nando's artwork - Paul Watson

Nandos has removed an artwork that appeared to show British soldiers in the shape of a swastika from one of its restaurants, following a complaint from a customer.

Paul Watson ate at the chains Wallsend branch in Tyneside last week and noticed artwork hanging on the wall which showed four soldiers pointing guns, apparently in the shape of a swastika, inside a star and flower pattern.

Mr Watson, a former artillery soldier, said he was offended by the artwork and claimed it showed soldiers depicted like a Nazi. He claimed the helmet and gun model in the picture are used by British soldiers.

After he submitted a complaint to the restaurant chain online, Nandos said the one-of-a-kind artwork had been hanging in the restaurant since its opening in 2013 without any complaints but apologised and removed it from the wall.

They said it was made by an unknown South African artist as part of a scheme to feature work from the countrys up-and-coming creators.

The artwork was displayed in Nando's Wallsend branch - Google

Mr Watson, from Fenham, Newcastle, said: It seemed like they were saying the Armed Forces are Nazis. I was sitting next to it and when I looked across I had to look twice. I thought it was a swastika straight away.

He added: I was pretty annoyed and thought it was bang out of order. All these lads who go out and die, then theyre depicted like a Nazi.

Its wrong and it angers me whether its innocent or not. Its really offensive to see it in public.

The engineer, who served in the Army for six years including a short tour of Northern Ireland, tweeted his complaint at Nandos the day he saw the canvas.

His wrote: Is there any particular reason this picture depicting British troops as a swastika flag is hanging in your restaurant at the Silverlink in Tyne and Wear?

Mr Watson's tweet received swift attention from the restaurant chain - X

Nandos messaged him directly the following day to inform him theyd contacted their arts team and were waiting to hear back.

The firm later confirmed the picture had been removed and said there were no others at its restaurants.

A Nandos spokesman said: We commission the art in our restaurants from up-and-coming South African artists, the country in which we were founded, and they are all one of a kind.

We recognise that art is subjective and our intention is never to offend. We have removed it from display and apologise for any offence caused.

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WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. (WAVY)  Mission accomplished! NASA successfully launched three Black Brant IX sounding rockets from its Wallops Flight Facility as part of the Atmospheric Perturbations around the Eclipse Path (APEP) mission.

The launch window was scheduled between 2:40 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. The first rocket was launched 45 minutes before the total solar eclipse. The second took off at 3:20 during the eclipse, and the third and final rocket launched at 4:28 p.m.

NASA said the three launches are important to gather data on how the suns disappearance affects the ionosphere. The ionosphere is home to all the charged particles in Earths atmosphere and it is where Earths atmosphere meets space.

It is the upper layer of our atmosphere extending about 100 kilometers to a 1000 kilometers, roughly 60 to 600 miles. There the pressure is low enough that charged particles can remain free and show collective behavior. Its an electrified region that reflects and refracts radio signals, and also impacts satellite communications as the signals pass through, said Aroh Barjatya, a professor of engineering physics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida who directs the space and atmospheric instrumentation lab. Understanding the ionosphere and developing models to help us predict disturbances is crucial to making sure our increasingly communication-dependent world operates smoothly.

Live now! Watch todays Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) sounding rocket launch from Wallops: https://t.co/pYaYMOvjG1



Follow along below for launch updates! pic.twitter.com/TT76oXF8Vr  NASA Wallops (@NASAWallops) April 8, 2024

Each of the three rockets had four sub-payloads for a total of 12 datasets that will be studied in preparation for future perturbations.

The next total solar eclipse over the contiguous U.S. is not until 2044.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
MINEOLA, Long Island (PIX11)  The Nassau County Executive is pressing ahead with his plan to create a group of armed special sheriffs deputies to be used in the event of an emergency.

He said the first 25 civilians could be ready to deploy in an emergency as early as late May.

It comes even as outcry against the plan grows, including a large protest outside the County Government building on Monday.

A few hundred gathered on the steps of the county seat in Mineola. The protesters accuse Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman of creating his own militia to be called up only when he deems theres an emergency.

Whose command will this militia be under? How much coordinating with the police will they do? How much training will they get? Will they be given other weapons when they are activated? posed a spokeswoman for the Nassau County Civil Liberties Union.

It was one of many groups represented at the event organized by Nassau Democrats.

Im a mom, I have police officers in my family, I know what happens when the half-trained people in the wanna-be people start posturing, said Jeannine Maynard of Uniondale.

They will have firearms training, said Blakeman at a press conference after the protest had wrapped up. They will have training on the penal law. They will have training on the use of deadly force.

More Local News

Blakeman said the pushback against his plan to have provisional deputies is a non-issue. He was flanked by men he said would begin the provisional deputy training as early as this week.

The County Executive once again emphasized that the special deputies would already have police and military experience and would only be asked to guard infrastructure like schools or hospitals in fully marked uniforms the goal being to free up sworn full-time officers for other tasks when he declares an emergency.

He said they would not wear body cameras and stressed he hoped he would never have to declare such an emergency.

PIX11 pressed Blakeman on some of the concerns raised outside, including what would happen if one of these armed special deputies had to make a life-and-death decision.

All these people pretty much have been through training before and have served in in the police department, or in the military or as private investigators, so theyre all highly trained, Blakeman said, adding that they would be retrained by the county as a refresher

And that he was comfortable of the caliber of people who would be enlisted.

Additionally, Blakeman said the provisional deputies would sign a waiver, clearing the county of liability, if they were personally injured.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
More than two-thirds of the Russian tanks that were destroyed by Ukrainian soldiers over the past few months were destroyed using first-person-view (FPV) drones, which shows that Kyiv has been relying on this particular weapon more and more amidst the acute shortage of artillery ammunition.

Source: Foreign Policy, citing an official representative of NATO, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Foreign Policy article says the FPV drones used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine score low on efficiency. They are equipped with cheap cameras which makes it harder to aim at night or in cloudy weather, and often carry improvised explosive devices, which sometimes explode in mid-air or fail to detonate at all.

The analysts Foreign Policy spoke to believe that FPV drone attacks on Russian tanks give mixed results.

Rob Lee, a senior fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institutes Eurasia program, says the overall accuracy of FPV drones is less than 50%, and in some cases as many as 10 or more drones are needed to destroy a tank.

At the same time, Lee says, Russia is running out of armoured vehicles and tanks, so if this continues in the combat zone, Moscow may lose its numerical superiority, which would make conducting its own offensive operations in the future more difficult.

"The issue is that Russias getting a lot of manpower," Lee added.

Background:

At the beginning of the year, UK Defence Intelligence analysed the impact of FPV drones on the situation on the left bank of Kherson Oblast and explained why it is difficult for the Russian occupiers to counteract them.

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More than two-thirds of the Russian tanks that Ukraines military has destroyed in recent months have been taken out using first-person-view (FPV) drones, a NATO official told Foreign Policy, possibly indicating an increased reliance on unmanned aircraft amidst Ukraine's critical ammunition shortages.

FPV drones are cheap to manufacture and can be precisely flown into targets. They have the capability of destroying much more expensive military equipment.

According to Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraine produced 50,000 FPV drones in December 2023, saying the country aimed to massively scale up its production of drones to tens of thousands per month.

Ukraine is also currently facing a dire ammunition crisis. Shortages due to delays in U.S. aid have substantially impacted the performance of Ukraine's armed forces, including territorial losses in Avdiivka.

According to Foreign Policy, scarce ammunition forced the Ukrainian military to depend on FPV drones to carry out anti-tank attacks. These drones can be operated with a controller, and their operators can watch the machines' "suicide" attacks on Russian vehicles through video feeds. Recordings from these feeds then become viral content on Ukrainian social media channels.

However, Ukraine's FPV attacks are not always effective. They are equipped with cheap cameras, making targeting difficult at night or in cloudy conditions. They often carry homemade ammunition that occasionally explodes mid-flight or fails to fire at all.

Rob Lee, a senior fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institutes Eurasia program, said the overall accuracy of FPV drones is less than 50 percent. Lee stated that only an experienced pilot, along with numerous successful strikes, would be able to achieve meaningful results in these types of tank attacks.

On the other hand, Russia is running low on armored vehicles, and losing a numerical advantage in this type of weaponry could make it difficult for Moscow to conduct offensive operations in the future.

Earlier this year, Estonia's Foreign Intelligence Service and the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) published several reports stating that Russia had lost over 8,000 armored fighting vehicles, such as tanks and armored personnel carriers, in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

According to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Russia has lost over 22,000 armored fighting vehicles since February 2022.

Ukrainian troops are turning to several "increasingly desperate measures" to improvise operations against Russia amidst weapons and equipment shortages.

Among other things, Ukraine is also reportedly using a "network of microphones," similar to iPhone microphones, to track incoming targets. These networks can classify the type of munition being used in addition to its direction and expected trajectory.

With limited air defense, Ukraine's military has been able to rig heavy machines with sensors to shoot down Iranian Shahed drones. The NATO official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, "Ukraines hit rate against Shahed drones with simple machine guns and small caliber weapons is about 80 percent."

Read also: UK Defense Ministry: Russia likely faces issues in Kh-101 missile production due to sanctions

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Germany's Arolsen Archives, which documents the victims of Nazi persecution, recorded more than 20,000 applications for information on more than 28,000 people last year, a rise of more than 30% on the year.

"The interest shown by relatives and subsequent generations in obtaining information about victims of Nazi persecution and their fates has increased dramatically over the past year," the centre, which is funded by the German government, reported on Tuesday.

The online archive saw an even greater increase of over 43%, with around 680,000 users searching the database. The Arolsen Archives, the largest documentation centre on Nazi persecution in the world, are busy digitizing their voluminous records.

The collection has information on about 17.5 million people and belongs to UNESCOs Memory of the World.

Some 79% of tracing inquiries were submitted by family members, with 11% from researchers and 6.5% from people with an interest in history. Almost half came from Germany, Poland, and France, followed by Italy and Israel.

The centre, located in the town of Bad Arolsen, said it had been able to provide information and documents in almost 60% of cases. "As digitization continues, it becomes easier to carry out research because the archival collections can be searched faster and more effectively," it added.

Last year, the centre was able to hand over 180 envelopes containing personal belongings to the families of former concentration camp prisoners, the highest number ever. "When these objects are returned, it frequently leads to the discovery of previously unknown information about people's lives," it said.

Since 2016, the centre has returned more than 850 envelopes containing jewellery, watches, photos and papers to family members.
WELLINGTON, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A New Zealand public-private joint venture is committing an additional 18 million NZ dollars (10.87 million U.S. dollars) towards AgriZeroNZ to boost efforts to reduce agricultural emissions.

Three companies, the a2 Milk Company, ANZ Bank New Zealand, and ASB Bank, will collectively contribute 9 million NZ dollars (5.4 million U.S. dollars) over three years to product development and commercialization of new tools and technologies to reduce on-farm emissions, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said on Tuesday.

These new shareholders will take the overall investment in AgriZeroNZ to 183 million NZ dollars (110 million U.S. dollars) over the joint venture's first four years, with 50 percent of this funding from the government investment, McClay said.

The AgriZeroNZ public-private joint venture is accelerating the development, commercialization and adoption of practical tools and solutions for New Zealand farmers to meet international climate change obligations, according to the minister.

The investment from the new shareholders shows the increasing commitment of New Zealand businesses to help get emissions reduction tools into the hands of farmers sooner, he said.

New Zealand aims to be a global leader in developing the tools, technologies, and practices to drive down agricultural emissions while maintaining the productivity and profitability of its food and fiber sector, with the backing of both government and private companies, he added. 
North Carolina attorney general Josh Stein announced the state has cleared its backlog of rape kits.

Its a major breakthrough in the pursuit of justice, and its an issue Channel 9 has reported on for years.

PREVIOUS STORIES:

In 2019, state investigators learned there were tens of thousands of untested sexual assault evidence collection kits in the state.

There were more than 16,000 untested rape kits on the shelves of local law enforcement agencies across the state. More than any other in this country, Stein said in a news conference Tuesday. That number was unacceptable.

The elimination of the backlog will make a major impact on North Carolina -- from lawmakers, to advocates, to survivors.

Attorney General @JoshStein_ announced today that we have eliminated the backlog of older sexual assault kits in North Carolina. pic.twitter.com/ZlnohSoGqH  NC Attorney General (@NCAGO) April 9, 2024

Most recently, because of the work from the state crime lab and our detectives, a 34-year-old case was solved, said Raleigh Police Department Chief Estella D. Patterson.

Rape kits give the victims a voice, said Ms. Linda, a sexual assault survivor. Empowers victims to learn how to heal from the inside to the outside.

In 2019, North Carolinas Survivor Act established a clear process to test older kits, provided funding, and set standards to ensure that law enforcement sends new kits for testing in a timely manner.

As of this month, 11,841 kits have been tested or are in the process of being tested. More than 2,000 of those samples matched DNA from offenders, and law enforcement has made 114 arrests based on those hits.

Staff members at Safe Alliance in Charlotte believe the survivors they work with could see impacts as well.

I know prior to this moment, it took about over a year for most people to receive those results back, Abby Moran said.

When someone is in that healing process, and then this comes up a year later, its incredibly re-traumatizing, she added.

Moran said justice looks different for everyone, and Safe Alliance provides survivors with other resources available through their 24/7 Hope Line. Click here to learn more.

(WATCH BELOW: NC leaders cracking down on backlogged rape kits)




The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian's medical marijuana dispensary will open on April 20, making it the first marijuana dispensary to open in North Carolina, despite the drug being illegal in the state.

ASHEVILLE - Even as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians prepares to begin selling medical marijuana at the Great Smoky Cannabis Company dispensary on April 20, the district attorney for the counties surrounding tribal land said her office will continue to enforce the state's marijuana laws.

District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said she respects the EBCI's tribal sovereignty, but plans to enforce North Carolina state law, which prohibits the cultivation, distribution and possession of marijuana. Welch is the chief criminal prosecutor in Prosecutorial District 43, which includes Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties.

"The mission, duty and privilege of the 43rd Prosecutorial District is to enforce state laws. We do not pick certain laws to enforce and ignore others. On April 20, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will open a marijuana, cannabis dispensary on tribal land. Tribes have inherent authority as sovereign nations, subject only to federal, not state, law," Welch said in the April 3 statement.

Marijuana is currently legal on EBCI land, as two referendums indicated broad support for both the medical and recreational sale of the drug. Tribal Council has passed a resolution allowing the sale of medical marijuana but has not yet passed a resolution amending current tribal laws to allow for the sale of recreational marijuana.

While medically legalized under tribal law, the drug remains illegal under North Carolina state law and under federal law. The dispensary will be the first in the state to sell marijuana.

"We respect tribal sovereignty, and we respect the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians right to enact tribal laws. In North Carolina, the cultivation, distribution and possession of marijuana remains illegal, and we will continue to enforce state law off Qualla Boundary," the statement continued.

Prosecutorial District 43 spokesperson Quintin Ellison declined to comment further on the statement or the EBCI dispensary.

The Citizen Times reached out to the office of District Attorney Seth Banks of Avery, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey County and the office of District Attorney Todd Williams of Buncombe County but did not hear back before press time.

WNC Congressman Chuck Edwards and the state's two senators, Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, have questioned the opening of the dispensary and distribution of marijuana in the region. All three are Republicans and Edwards is currently running for reelection.

Last year, Edwards introduced the "Stop Pot Act" to Congress. The bill would remove federal highway funding from tribes and states that legalize marijuana. The bill failed to advance past a Sept. 5 referral to a subcommittee under the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Another EBCI work session on a recreational marijuana resolution is planned for April 18 at 9 a.m., Tribal Council Chairman Mike Parker announced during the April 4 Tribal Council meeting.

More: North Carolina's 1st dispensary will open on 4/20, but only for medical cannabis

More: Downtown Asheville condo owners file lawsuit after illegal Airbnbs play 'hide and seek'

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: NC's 1st cannabis dispensary opens 4/20; WNC DA to 'enforce state law'
PORTLAND, Ore. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE)  The Linnton Neighborhood Association and environmental advocacy groups filed a petition with the state on April 8 asking the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission to deny an air emissions permit for Zenith Energy.

The petition comes as the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality prepares for a public comment period on Zeniths permit application.

Portland derelict houses: Graffiti, drugs, crime, garbage

Zenith Energys Northwest Portland facility stores and ships fuel. The company has promised to stop storing or transporting crude oil out of the Portland facility by 2027, but neighbors and environmental advocates say Zeniths recent record shows its promises cant be trusted.

In March, the Portland city auditor found that Zenith had violated city code in 2022 by lobbying city officials to approve a land use filing without disclosing the lobbying efforts.

Missing clammer, 54, found dead in Netarts Bay

The petition filed Monday, April 8, asks the commission to deny Zeniths air permit application on the grounds that the city-approved Land Use Compatibility Statement, which is a prerequisite for DEQ approval, is insufficient due to the extent of coordination between the City and Zenith in undermining the legal sufficiency of the LUCS review and determination. If the commission wont deny Zeniths air permit, the petitioners wrote, they should at least send the Land Use Compatibility Statement back to the city for a new evaluation.

Read more at PortlandTribune.com.

The Portland Tribune and its parent company Pamplin Media Group are KOIN 6 News media partners

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Neighbours boss Jason Herbison has teased that more older characters could return after Ian Smith was announced to be coming back as Harold Bishop.

It has been speculated that the retirement experience that Terese Willis and Jane Harris have been trying to get off the ground would tie in to Harold's return, and Herbison has teased that it could be the doorway to multiple comebacks.

Fremantle - Channel 5

Related: Neighbours' Chelsea Murphy to struggle with Krista cover-up

He said (via Australia's TV Tonight): "Terese Willis has been on a journey this season to open a dream project, the retirement community Eirini Rising. She is redeveloping a section of the high school, and the two institutions will sit side by side, with the younger generation interacting with the seniors.

"I love creating new workplaces, and this one has the potential to fold in several members of the street. It's also been an ambition of mine to find an organic way to reintroduce some older cast members from yesteryear who I believe still have so much to offer."

He didn't state specifically whether Harold would end up in Eirini Rising, but he did give fans some new info.

Jane Zhang/Fremantle

Related: Neighbours confirms lifeline for Sadie and Byron after horror accident

"I can't say whether Harold ends up there, but he's definitely back to live in the suburb, which is a thrill for all of us," he teased.

Last week, it was announced that the cast of Neighbours will be coming to the UK next February to celebrate 40 years of the Aussie soap. They'll share never-before-heard stories and let fans know what it's like behind the scenes.

Neighbours releases new episodes from Mondays to Thursdays for free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US. In Australia, the show airs from Mondays to Thursdays at 4pm on Channel 10, with a 6.30pm repeat screening on 10 Peach.

Read more Neighbours coverage on our dedicated homepage

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LOS ANGELES (NEXSTAR)  Jerelyn Rodriguez, co-founder of The Knowledge House based in the Bronx, was named Nexstars 2024 Remarkable Women winner on Monday night during a ceremony at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles. Rodriguez focuses her work on teaching coding and other digital skills in underserved communities. Ultimately, Rodriguez wants to help pull people from poverty by giving them the skills they need for high-paying jobs in tech.

Founded in 2014, The Knowledge House has been doing that in the Bronx and is currently expanding to our parts of the country.

For her outstanding work, the Nexstar Media Charitable Foundation will donate $10,000 to Rodriguez and her organization.

Now in its fifth year, Remarkable Women honors the influence that women have had on public policy, social progress, and the quality of life in the United States. Throughout the month of March, Nexstars television stations have spotlighted local women who inspire, lead, and forge the way for other women. The companys television stations across the country each selected four local women to be considered as that markets Remarkable Woman. Profiles of the top four nominees in each market aired on the local newscasts of Nexstar stations each week throughout March, and the nominees were featured on the stations websites.

To celebrate their accomplishments, the winners of the local market competitions were flown to Los Angeles this weekend where they enjoyed a poolside reception catered by Wolfgang Puck, a tour of Hollywood, a special Remarkable Women presentation at the historic TCL Chinese Theater, and a tour of the Warner Brothers Studio lots which included a taping of The Jennifer Hudson Show.

Rodriguez and other finalists will be featured in an hour-long special program airing on Nexstars local television stations across the country throughout the month of April.

Television viewers can learn more about their markets Remarkable Women by visiting the website of their local Nexstar television station, which features a special section devoted to the initiative. You can also check out a recap of the weekend on the Remarkable Women Facebook page.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Missed the total solar eclipse? Heres when the next one will be

The spectacle of the most recent total solar eclipse has come and gone.

On April 8, millions gazed skyward to watch the moon slip between the Earth and the sun and cast a wash of darkness during the daytime. It put on display the spectacular nature of the universe, which exists far beyond us yet close enough to enjoy its rare and often fleeting phenomenal events.

For those who didn't get to see the eclipse, fret not, as there are more to come. According to NASA, there are various solar and lunar eclipses to look forward to this year and beyond.

Read on to mark the events in your calendar.

Solar Eclipses

2024

Oct. 2, 2024  Annular solar eclipse

The next big eclipse will come this fall and will be an annular solar eclipse with visibility in South America. In South America, Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and North America, the eclipse can also be viewed as a partial eclipse.

An annular solar eclipse means the moon is farther away from Earth, and appears smaller than the sun, not completely covering it.

2025

March 29, 2025  Partial solar eclipse

Countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean will be able to see this partial eclipse.

Sept. 21, 2025  Partial solar eclipse

Later that same year, Australia, Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean will be treated to a partial eclipse.

2026

Feb. 17, 2026  Annular solar eclipse

Antarctica will be able to see the annular solar eclipse, while a partial eclipse will be visible across Antarctica, Africa, South America, and vast regions of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans

Aug. 12, 2026  Total solar eclipse

Come August 2026, parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small area of Portugal will be in the path of a total solar eclipse, and a partial eclipse will be visible in Europe, Africa, North America, the Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Pacific Ocean.

According to NASA, the date listed for each eclipse coincides with the local date of where the eclipse is set to occur.

Lunar Eclipses

2024

Sept. 18, 2024  Partial eclipse

This partial lunar eclipse will be visible in Americas, Europe, and Africa.

2025

March 14, 2025  Total eclipse

This total lunar eclipse will be seen from the Pacific, Americas, Western Europe, and parts of Western Africa.

When is the next total solar eclipse in the US?

The next total solar eclipse that will be visible to the continental U.S. won't be until Aug. 23, 2044, according to The Planetary Society. That eclipses path will begin in Greenland, sweep through Canada, and end as the sun sets in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. During that eclipse, the path of totality will only touch those three states.

Almost exactly one year later, however, there will be another total solar eclipse that will span coast to coast. On Aug. 12, 2045, the path of totality will include California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, with a partial eclipse visible across other states.

However, a total solar eclipse expected March 30, 2033, will be visible in parts of Alaska. Nome and Utqiagvik, specifically, will be along the path of totality and will see the eclipse in the morning hours.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Next solar eclipse to cross US in 2045. Where will others be visible before then?

Millions of people viewed the solar eclipse as it crossed the the United States, offering a rare treat in the sky.

Whether you missed celestial event or couldnt get enough of it, you might be wondering when you will get another chance to see the phenomenon.

After the April 8 eclipse, people in a wide swath of the United States will have to be patient until 2045. But there will be chances to see a solar eclipse even sooner if you travel abroad. Heres what to know.

What is the path of the 2045 eclipse?

The next solar eclipse you will be able to view from the continental United States will be 20 years from now. On August 30, 2044, totality will only be visible from North Dakota and Montana, NASA said on its website.

But one year later, more of the country is expected to be in luck. On Aug. 12, 2045, another eclipse is set to travel coast to coast across the United States.

States in its path include California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, a NASA map shows.

Where will other eclipses be visible?

If you dont want to wait two decades to view a U.S. eclipse, NASA said some are set to be visible within the next few years. Unlike the recent total eclipse, some will be only partial while others will be annular, meaning the moon covers much of the sun.

Heres where space experts say you may be able to see your next solar eclipse:

October 2: South America, Antarctica, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, North America (annular, partial)

March 29, 2025: Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean (partial)

Sept. 21, 2025: Australia, Antarctica, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean (partial)

Feb. 17, 2026: Antarctica, Africa, South America, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean (annular, partial)

Aug. 12, 2026: Europe, Africa, North America, the Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Pacific Ocean (total, partial)

During solar eclipses, experts urge viewers to wear glasses to protect their eyes from the sun. Your glasses from this eclipse should be OK to use in the future if they arent damaged and have the safety standard ISO 12312-2 marked on them, McClatchy News reported.

Did the eclipse damage your eyes? Here are telltale signs  and why its such a risk

Texas Eclipse Festival canceled over weather hours before eclipse. This is insane
When is the next solar eclipse? What to know in Mississippi

The highly anticipated 2024 total solar eclipse will cross North America on Monday, giving millions of sky-gazers the chance to see a rare cosmic event that won't be viewable again for 20 years.

The eclipse's path of totality will travel over a portion of northern Mexico before entering the U.S. It then it will cross 13 states from Texas to Maine, where the spectacle is expected to attract huge crowds.

If you aren't lucky enough to be in the path of totality this time around, you will have another chance - you'll just have to wait until the 2040s.

Here's what we know about the next total solar eclipse to cross over the U.S.

When is the next total solar eclipse visible from the U.S.?

It will be 20 years before there's a chance to witness a total solar eclipse in the United States again.

According to NASA, after Monday's total solar eclipse, the next one viewable from the contiguous U.S. will be on Aug. 23, 2044.

2044 total solar eclipse path of totality

Unfortunately, the 2044 total solar eclipse won't have the broad reach across the U.S. as the 2024 eclipse.

The path of totality during the 2044 eclipse will only touch three states, according to the Planetary Society, a nonprofit involved in research, public outreach, and political space advocacy.

The eclipse will begin in Greenland, sweep through Canada and end around sunset in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Expected to occur on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2045, this solar eclipse will trace a path of totality over California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.

A partial solar eclipse will also be viewable in 35 other states, according to National Eclipse.com

A total solar eclipse will cross the entire U.S., including almost all of Florida, on Aug. 12, 2045. Graphic provided by NationalEclipse.com

What is a total solar eclipse?

Any celestial object like a moon or a planet that passes between two other bodies can create an eclipse by obscuring the view of objects like the sun.

In the event of a solar eclipse, the moon comes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking its light from reaching a small part of our planet. Partial eclipses, when some part of the sun remains visible, are the most common, making total eclipses a rare sight to behold.

Total eclipses can lead to a period of darkness lasting for several minutes, during which time nocturnal animals stir while confused birds and insects may fall silent, NASA says.

When a solar eclipse reaches totality, people are able to see the suns outer atmosphere called the corona, which is usually obscured by the sun's bright surface. This offers scientists an uncommon opportunity to study the corona.

Totality also offers spectators a chance to gaze upon the spectacular sight with the naked eye, though proper safety glasses are still required for the rest of the time.

What states are on the 2024 eclipse path of totality?

Mexico's Pacific coast will be the first location in continental North America to experience totality, which is expected to occur at about 11:07 a.m. PDT, according to NASA.

As the moon's shadow will northeast, totality in the U.S. will begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT. The path will then cut diagonally across the country, traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.

The eclipse's path is expected to end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT before visiting the maritime provinces of Canada, according to estimates.

See interactive maps of the 2024 path.

Contributing: Doyle Rice, Ramon Padilla & Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Solar eclipse: When is the next total solar eclipse? What to know
Save Ukraine, a Ukrainian humanitarian NGO, rescued two more children, including an orphan, from territories under Russian occupation, the organization's founder Mykola Kuleba said on April 9.

Children from parts of Ukraine that were occupied by Russia during the full-scale invasion have often been separated from their families or left without parental care as a result of hostilities and the inability to safely cross into the Ukraine-controlled territory.

Russias all-out war against Ukraine has led to around 1,800 Ukrainian children becoming orphans, the National Social Service of Ukraine said in a comment to the Kyiv Independent in March.

The rescued orphan boy lived with his grandmother for the past seven years when their village was occupied by Russian troops, Kuleba said on Telegram.

Their village was often shelled, and his grandmother decided they needed to leave when a shell flew into their yard and destroyed part of the house by the blast wave, Kuleba added.

Read also: Explainer: What we know about Russias deportation of Ukrainian children

"The trip was tough. At the border, the Russian special services subjected the elderly woman and the orphan boy to real abuse - they searched all their belongings, threw everything out of their bags During the difficult journey, (the grandmother) started having problems with her legs."

Another rescued child, an eight-year-old girl, had lived in a town that was occupied shortly after Russian troops invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, according to Kuleba.

The mobile connection and the Internet disappeared, only explosions could be heard somewhere far away... The atmosphere around was terrible, he added.

It was especially scary to stay there after the news from Bucha and Irpin (in Kyiv Oblast), so no one walked outside, people tried not to catch anyone's eyes, not to drive between settlements.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Save Ukraine has managed to return 284 children, including 73 orphans, from Russia and occupied territories to the government-controlled part of Ukraine.

At least 19,500 Ukrainian children have been confirmed as abducted by Russia, and less than 400 of them have been returned home, according to the Children of War database.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd L, Rear) speaks with soldiers in a military base outside Tel Aviv, Israel, on April 9, 2024. Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel will launch an offensive against Hamas in Gaza's Rafah and "no power in the world" could prevent it. (Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO/Handout via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel will launch an offensive against Hamas in Gaza's Rafah and "no power in the world" could prevent it.

The Israeli military will "complete the elimination of Hamas battalions, including in Rafah," Netanyahu told newly enlisted soldiers in a military base outside Tel Aviv.

He said that there has been an international effort to prevent the ground attack in the Palestinian city, but "there is no power in the world that could stop us."

He did not specify a date for the attack.

The United Nations and aid experts have repeatedly warned that any military operation in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city where about 1.4 million people have been seeking refuge from bombardments in other areas, will result in an unacceptably high toll on Gaza's civilian population. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses newly enlisted soldiers in a military base outside Tel Aviv, Israel, on April 9, 2024. Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel will launch an offensive against Hamas in Gaza's Rafah and "no power in the world" could prevent it. (Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO/Handout via Xinhua)
When historians come to identify the most influential politician of the past 40 years, who would it be? Clearly Margaret Thatcher will be up there since she changed so much that had previously been taken for granted. But running her a close second will not be Blair, Brown or Cameron. It must be Nigel Farage.

Watching the former Ukip leader addressing Telegraph subscribers from our London office on Monday was to be reminded that the insurgency he has led from the Right over the past decade is far from over.

Everyone thought he had retired a few years ago when he stepped down as leader of Reform UK, the party he helped found after its previous incarnation as the Brexit Party. But he remains an influential figure, so much so that the first question he is ever asked is: When are you going to take over the reins of Reform once again? There is a sense his return to the front line would supercharge its appeal, but probably not by enough to win any seats.

He feels the party is in safe hands under the direction of Richard Tice, and the latest opinion poll conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies gives Reform 15 per cent of the vote, its highest ever level of support.

Farage is an astute observer of the domestic political scene and believes the Conservatives are heading for electoral oblivion whether he leads Reform or not. He has just turned 60, looks well (despite all the fags and beer) and enjoys his platform on GB News and other media outlets. He is making some real money for the first time since he left the City. Life is good, he thinks, so why mess it up by getting back into the political maelstrom?

The reality is that the Tories are haemorrhaging support to Reform even without Farage and as a result could lose dozens of seats they would otherwise hold. This would hand Labour a massive majority, with some polls now suggesting they will come close to Tony Blairs 179 in 1997. That would be some achievement for Sir Keir Starmer, who has nothing like the appeal that Blair had to Tory voters.

In 1997 there was an anti-Tory vote, certainly, but there was also a pro-New Labour element. There is nothing like that today. We are seeing two nondescript parties locked in an embrace of mediocrity, bereft of leadership, personalities, vision and ideas. The bland leading the bland.

The electorate seems intent on delivering a punishment beating on the Conservatives even if it does mean handing a historic victory to a party that few feel positive about. That beating could be severe indeed, with the Tories on course to win fewer seats than the 160 in 1997. Some analysts think they will have their worst result since 1906, when Balfour lost 246 seats, reducing the parliamentary party to 156.

But it could be worse still. The real nightmare for the Tories is a Canadian-style meltdown. In 1993, the ruling Conservatives, after a decade in office and under recently appointed leader Kim Campbell, lost 167 seats, retaining only two in Canadas 295-seat House of Commons. The main rival to the government on the Right was a party called Reform, which took 19 per cent of the vote, leaving the Conservatives with just 16 per cent. More intriguing still is that when the Canadian Right reunited it was under Stephen Harper, one of the founders of Reform, who eventually became prime minister, serving for almost 10 years.

Could the same happen here? It might if Reforms support continues to surge, since most of its votes seem to be coming from disenchanted Tories. That, of course, means Reform would not win many  if any  seats but hand Labour a huge landslide, which is exactly what happened in Canada. There, the Liberals increased their vote share by only nine points but more than doubled their number of seats.

Farage is aware this is a likely scenario but is unrepentant. His argument is that it is better for the country if Starmer is in a strong enough position to see off the hard-Left who still have a base in the party. A small majority would leave him at their mercy.

In his Telegraph interview with Camilla Tominey, Farage was utterly dismissive of the Tories being able to recover by the autumn, even if they dump Rishi Sunak, as they might try to do once panic sets in after the May local elections. Doing so will make no difference and may cause things to get worse by persuading any wavering voters that they really have lost the plot. Farage also predicts a stay-at-home election similar to 2005 when Labour won a 66-seat majority with just 35 per cent of the vote on a 61 per cent turnout. In that he is probably right, since widespread popular indifference to both major parties is strong. Reform will benefit from this, too, as its voters will turn out just to give the Tories a kicking.

It is a bleak prospect for the Conservatives after 14 years in office and one engineered in large part by Nigel Farage from the fringes of parliamentary politics. Few politicians of the past 100 years have had such an impact without being in the government or having the support of a mainstream party. Roy Jenkins, who fought two by-elections to put the SDP on the map in 1981, came closest to disrupting the two-party nexus.

If they had had any foresight after the Brexit vote in 2016, the Conservatives should have invited Farage back into the fold, made him a peer and brought him into the Cabinet. Instead, he was treated like a pariah by people who then assumed the role of delivering Brexit despite having been on the losing side. Even now, the political establishment remains unwilling to admit the impact Farage has had on the British political scene and continues to underestimate him at their peril.

There is another reason why he does not throw himself back into the fray, and that is because he seems to have his eyes elsewhere, on America, where his friend Donald Trump may well be the next president. One idea being floated is that he could be Trumps personal envoy to the UK. It would be an unconventional move, probably resisted by both the US embassy and the Foreign Office. But since when have either observed the diplomatic niceties? Imagine it, if the next Labour prime minister wanted a word with Potus, he would have to run it past Nigel first. That would be real influence.

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.
No bond set for man accused of shooting Eight Mile store owner multiple times, following jurisdiction controversy

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  After six days on the run, Mobile County Sheriffs deputies arrested Rashad Norwood on Sunday night.

Monday morning, he faced a judge who denied him bond.

Rashad Kardelle Norwood (Photo courtesy of the Mobile County Sheriffs Office)

Norwood is accused of shooting the owner of the T&J Food Mart, which sits on Shelton Beach Road, multiple times before robbing his store.

UPDATE: Bond set for Loxley man accused of filming boy in a gas station bathroom

The owner has been in the hospital recovering, and customers hoping for a speedy recovery have left a get-well-soon poster outside the store. An employee told WKRG News 5 off-camera on Monday afternoon that hes since been discharged and is in much better shape.

Even though the crime happened in Eight Mile which is Prichards jurisdiction, the Mobile County Sheriffs Office is the lead agency investigating the case.

The sheriff, as a constitutional officer, has jurisdiction over the entire county, including concurrent jurisdiction within any municipality, Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said.

This case has caused tension between the Mobile County District Attorneys Office, the Sheriffs Office, and the Prichard Police Department.

Last week, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said that his office has been having to pick up cases from the Prichard Police Department since they werent being thoroughly investigated.

Prichards Chief of Police Walter Knight wrote in a letter describing an ongoing issue between the department and the DA and Sheriffs Office with their ability to sign warrants to get the suspects arrested.

Knight responded to Burchs comments by sending MCSO and the DAs office a strongly worded letter.

Following the letter from Prichard, Blackwood issued a statement, saying that its not the DAs office job to sign warrants for a police department.

Like Pac-Man eating the sun: Elberta 5th graders marvel at eclipse

What is the role of the District Attorneys Office?

There was a statement in Chief Knights letter that the district attorneys office issued a warrant; thats absolutely false, Blackwood said. What we do is approve felony charges for the officer to then go to the magistrates office where the warrant is sworn out.

Blackwood added that the bigger issue with the department is that the police officers or detectives responsible for signing the warrants dont end up doing so, so the cases ultimately become dismissed.

According to Blackwood, Norwood had a prior felony domestic violence charge in January of this year, but that warrant was never signed.

Weve identified at least 18 cases over the last few months where this has happened, he said.

He explained the District Attorneys role in getting a suspect in Metro Jail.

First, the police department or agency is responsible for putting together a narrative with the facts and other allegations. Then, the District Attorneys Office reviews it, and if theres probable cause to charge the suspect, they issue a warrant.

Finally, the investigator has to go to the magistrates office to sign the warrant then the suspect will be arrested.

Alabama School of Math and Science students glimpse the solar eclipse

Blackwood hopes the Norwood case can be an example of how the agencies need to work better together.

In working together with the Prichard Police Department, when we do work together, it just makes the cases better, and, you know, were able to better prosecute, he said.

Blackwood said he plans to hold a meeting with the Prichard Police Department on Wednesday.

As far as Norwood, he is expected to be in court Tuesday morning for an arraignment hearing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he still intends to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, despite U.S. objections.

We will complete the elimination of the Hamas battalions, including in Rafah. There is no force in the world that will stop us, Netanyahu told members of the Israel Defense Forces, CNN reported. Many forces are trying to do this, but it will not help, because this enemy, after what it has done, will not do it again, it will cease to exist.

According to Netanyahu, Israel has three goals with a Rafah offensive: to return the abductees; eliminate Hamas"; and ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.

In a video posted on his official Telegram account, Netanyahu added that he has set a date for a Rafah offensive, though he did not reveal it.

Netanyahu's announcement defies mounting global pressure not to assault a city where more than 1 million Palestinians are sheltering, NBC News noted. President Joe Biden has urged Netanyahu to call off the invasion, with the White House having expressed "deep concerns" that Israel lacks a plan for protecting civilians.

At the same time, Netanyahu faces political pressure at home. Far-right members of his coalition are insistent that the war in Gaza must go on, while protesters across Israel, unhappy with the prime minister's handling of the country's security, have been demanding that Netanyahu call early elections that could see him thrown out of office.
Nobel laureate Bialiatski's condition worsens after 1,000 days in Belarusian prison, his wife says

FILE - Ales Bialiatski, the head of Belarusian Viasna rights group, stands in a defendants' cage during a court session in Minsk, Belarus, on Nov. 2, 2011. In an open letter, 27 Nobel laureates have demanded the release of all political prisoners in Belarus including Ales Bialiatski, the winner of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel laureates said the situation in Belarus is a humanitarian catastrophe and called for an immediate end to political repression in the country of 9.5 million people. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)

TALLINN, Estonia (AP)  Nobel Peace Prize laureate and activist Ales Bialiatski marked his 1,000th day in prison in Belarus on Tuesday amid increasing fears about his deteriorating health, his wife said.

Natalia Pinchuk told The Associated Press that Bialiatski has remained in solitary confinement for the past half year despite his chronic illnesses.

I have learned from people who left the prison that Ales' condition is continuing to worsen and he's not receiving certain medicines that he needs, Pinchuk said.

She urged the United Nations to act more actively to help the 61-year-old Bialiatski, who is serving a 10-year sentence linked to his human rights activities, and other political prisoners in Belarus.

Bialiatski is Belarus top human rights advocate and one of the winners of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, founding the Human Rights Center Viasna, Belarus most prominent human rights group. Viasna has been branded an extremist organization by Belarusian authorities.

Bialiatski was convicted in March 2023 with several colleagues on charges of financing actions violating public order and smuggling, accusations he denied.

The arrests came as part of a sweeping crackdown that followed protests over a 2020 election that extended authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenkos rule and were seen by the opposition and many in the West as a sham.

The protests were the largest ever in Belarus. More than 35,000 people were arrested and thousands were beaten by police. Lukashenko, a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who backed Russias invasion of Ukraine, has ruled Belarus since 1994.

Bialiatski has been serving his sentence at a prison colony for repeat offenders in the city of Gorki. The facility is known for inmates being beaten and subjected to hard labor.

Pinchuk said that for the past half year, Bialiatski has been held in a punishment cell that she described as a prison within prison.

"The prison colony in Gorki has an awful reputation, and human rights defenders know it serves as a conveyor belt for tormenting political prisoners, she said.

Pinchuk added that prison officials tightened control over Bialiatski's correspondence and currently only allow him to send postcards saying tersely that he's still alive.

Last month, 27 Nobel laureates published an open letter demanding the release of all political prisoners in Belarus, including Bialiatski, describing the situation in Belarus as a humanitarian catastrophe.

Belarus currently has nearly 1,400 political prisoners, according to Viasna.

Also Tuesday, a Belarusian opposition activist was convicted and sentenced to 10 years on charges related to his support for Ukraine.

Ivan Sukhamerau has been in custody since he was arrested in June 2023 while trying to cross the border into Ukraine.

The court in the city of Homel convicted Sukhamerau on charges of treason and involvement in a terrorist organization connected to his donations to a Belarusian unit fighting alongside Ukrainian forces and his alleged plans to join it.

Viasna said 1,671 Belarusians have been detained for opposing the Russian war in Ukraine, and 94 of them were convicted and given prison sentences ranging from one to 23 years.

Belarusian authorities on Tuesday also opened a criminal probe against Bazhena Zholudz, a Belarusian activist who heads the Kyiv-based Belarusian House, a nongovernmental organization that helps Belarusians who fled political repression at home.

Zholudz's partner, Vital Shyshou, who previously led Belarusian House, was found dead in a park in Kyiv. An official probe into his death is ongoing.
The Nobel prize winner Peter Higgs, a pioneering physicist who proposed the existence of the so-called God particle that largely explained how matter formed after the Big Bang, died on Monday. He was 94.

The University of Edinburgh announced Higgs death, saying in a statement that he died peacefully at home following a short illness.

Higgs had worked as an emeritus professor at the university up until his death, highlighting his dedication to physics that spanned more than seven decades.

Then a 35-year-old assistant professor at the university, Higgs famously predicted the existence of a new particle, later known as the Higgs boson, in 1964. He continued as a researcher and professor for more than 50 years before the particles existence was confirmed by the European Organization for Nuclear Research in 2012. Higgs, along with Francois Englert, was awarded the Nobel prize the following year for that discovery.

The theory studied by Higgs concerned the way subatomic particles serve as building blocks for how matter get their mass. That theory has become a central part of the so-called Standard Model, which describes the physics of how the world is constructed.

After the Higgs boson was finally discovered, he told Reuters he couldnt believe he was still alive to see his prediction prove to be true.

A Harvard Physicist Went Fishing for an Alien Probe. What Did He Find?

For me personally it is just the confirmation of something I did 48 years ago, and it is very satisfying to be proved right in some way, he said a decade ago. At the beginning, I had no expectation that I would still be alive when it happened.

Peter Mathieson, the vice chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, said in a statement that Higgs was a remarkable individuala truly gifted scientist whose vision and imagination have enriched our knowledge of the world that surrounds us.

Higgs was born in Newcastle, England, in 1929. He studied at the Cotham Grammar School from 1941 to 1946, where he was inspired by the work of one of the schools alumni, Paul Dirac, who founded the field of quantum mechanics. What followed was a long career in physics, starting with him studying the practice at the Kings College of London and receiving his Ph.D. in 1954 for research on molecules and heat.

Jon Butterworth, a member of the Atlas collaboration by the European Organization for Nuclear Research, said Tuesday that Higgs was a hero to the particle physics community.

Even though he didnt much enjoy it, he felt a responsibility to use the public profile his achievements brought him for the good of science, and he did so many times, he said. The particle that carries his name is perhaps the single most stunning example of how seemingly abstract mathematical ideas can make predictions which turn out to have huge physical consequences.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Site of the derailment of a train carrying hazardous waste, in East Palestine, Ohio

Site of the derailment of a train carrying hazardous waste, in East Palestine, Ohio

By David Shepardson and Clark Mindock

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. railroad operator Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $600 million to settle a class action lawsuit over a February 2023 East Palestine, Ohio train derailment that spilled toxic chemicals, according to the company and court documents.

The agreement in principle, which is still subject to court approval, would cover claims from residents and businesses in the city and impacted surrounding communities.

It will also provide compensation "for past, present and future personal injuries resulting from exposure to the chemicals involved", the lawyers bringing the action against Norfolk Southern said in a joint statement.

The train caught fire and released more than a million gallons of hazardous materials and pollutants, sparking concerns abut U.S. rail safety.

Jayne Conroy, a lead attorney representing the class, said the proposed settlement is "much larger than any derailment settlement in the United States".

The agreement will resolve all class action claims within a 20-mile radius of the derailment and, for those residents who choose to participate, personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius, court documents show.

Conroy estimated there are just under 100,000 class members who will be eligible to receive funds from the settlement, including up to 25,000 residents who live within 10 miles and another roughly 72,000 living within 20 miles of the crash site.

Norfolk Southern is not admitting liability or wrongdoing.

Some details still need to be finalized, including setting an allocation formula and how to efficiently process claims and distribute funds. The lawyers suing Norfolk Southern hope to get initial payments distributed by the end of 2024, they said.

Claims will consider factors including location relative to the derailment, household membership, the length of any displacement, and exposure to contaminants, the lawyers said.

Last year, Norfolk Southern agreed to compensate homeowners around East Palestine, Ohio who have had to sell their properties at a reduced value.

In addition to the class action, Norfolk Southern also faces lawsuits filed by shareholders, the state of Ohio and the U.S. Justice Department.

In May 2023, a U.S. Senate committee approved bipartisan rail safety legislation that tightens rules on trains carrying explosive substances like the Norfolk Southern-operated train, but further action has stalled.

(Reporting by David Shepardson and Clark Mindock in Washington and Abhinav Parmar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Jan Harvey)
Norfolk Southern has agreed to a $600 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit related to the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023.

The settlement still needs to be approved by a judge.

"If approved by the court, the agreement will resolve all class action claims within a 20-mile radius from the derailment and, for those residents who choose to participate, personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius from the derailment," Norfolk Southern said in a statement.

PHOTO: A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of the controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains, Feb. 6, 2023. (Gene J. Puskar/AP, Files)

The spill forced hundreds of nearby residents out of their homes and sparked fears, as five tankers carried vinyl chloride, which posed serious health risks, burned, sending a massive plume of black smoke into the sky. Burning vinyl chloride can create dioxins, which are carcinogenic, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Two days after the crash, residents were evacuated over fears the tankers could explode. The evacuation order was lifted on Feb. 9, with the EPA saying the air had returned to normal levels.

MORE: East Palestine residents still displaced, suffering 1 year after toxic train derailment

Norfolk Southern has already committed millions to the community previously, including: $104 million for community assistance, including $25 million for a regional safety center, $21 million for a park, $21 million in direct payments to residents and $9 million to first responders; $4.3 million to improve water infrastructure; $2 million for "community-directed projects"; and a $500,000 grant for economic development.

All of the $600 million settlement will go directly to residents.

"The agreement is designed to provide finality and flexibility for settlement class members," the company wrote. "Individuals and businesses will be able to use compensation from the settlement in any manner they see fit to address potential adverse impacts from the derailment. This could include healthcare needs and medical monitoring, property restoration and diminution, and compensation for any net business loss."

PHOTO: This video screenshot released by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) shows the site of a derailed freight train in East Palestine, Ohio that ocurres on Feb. 3, 2023. (Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images, FILE)

No one was injured in the derailment itself, but residents of the area have complained about a variety of nagging health issues in the months after the crash.

Ashley McCollum, a resident of East Palestine who lived in a hotel for a year after the derailment and chemical leak, told ABC News earlier this year that her family has experienced issues including "rashing, numbness and tingling in your mouth, ear pain, blood in your ears, hair loss."

The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report from its ongoing investigation into the derailment two weeks after the crash, saying surveillance video showed "what appeared to be a wheel bearing in the final stage of overheat failure moments before the derailment." NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy called the derailment "100% preventable," and said it was "no accident."

MORE: East Palestine derailment: Timeline of key events in toxic train disaster

The plaintiffs in the case released a joint statement saying the settlement "will provide substantial compensation to all affected residents, property owners, employees and businesses residing, owning or otherwise having a legal interest in property, working, owning or operating a business for damages resulting from the derailment and release of chemicals."

"We believe this is a fair, reasonable and adequate result for the community on a number of levels, not the least of which is the speed of the resolution, and the overall amount of the awards residents can expect, which will be significant for those most impacted by the derailment," said Seth A. Katz of Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, M. Elizabeth Graham of Grant & Eisenhofer, Jayne Conroy of Simmons Hanly Conroy, and T. Michael Morgan of Morgan & Morgan.

ABC News' Alex Presha and Meredith Deliso contributed to this report.

Norfolk Southern agrees to $600 million settlement in East Palestine train derailment originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
FILE - A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $600 million in a class-action lawsuit settlement related to a fiery train derailment in February 2023 in eastern Ohio.

The company said Tuesday that the agreement, if approved by the court, will resolve all class action claims within a 20-mile radius from the derailment and, for those residents who choose to participate, personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius from the derailment.

Norfolk Southern added that individuals and businesses will be able to use compensation from the settlement in any manner they see fit to address potential adverse impacts from the derailment, which could include healthcare needs, property restoration and compensation for any net business loss. Individuals within 10-miles of the derailment may, at their discretion, choose to receive additional compensation for any past, current, or future personal injury from the derailment.

The company said that the settlement doesn't include or constitute any admission of liability, wrongdoing, or fault.

The settlement is expected to be submitted for preliminary approval to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio later in April 2024. Payments to class members under the settlement could begin by the end of the year, subject to final court approval.

Norfolk Southern has already spent more than $1.1 billion on its response to the derailment, including more than $104 million in direct aid to East Palestine and its residents. Partly because Norfolk Southern is paying for the cleanup, President Joe Biden has never declared a disaster in East Palestine, which is a sore point for many residents. The railroad has promised to create a fund to help pay for the long-term health needs of the community, but that hasnt happened yet.

Last week federal officials said that the aftermath of the train derailment doesn't qualify as a public health emergency because widespread health problems and ongoing chemical exposures haven't been documented.

The Environmental Protection Agency never approved that designation after the February 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment even though the disaster forced the evacuation of half the town of East Palestine and generated many fears about potential long-term health consequences of the chemicals that spilled and burned. The contamination concerns were exacerbated by the decision to blow open five tank cars filled with vinyl chloride and burn that toxic chemical three days after the derailment.

The head of the National Transportation Safety Board said recently that her agency's investigation showed that the vent and burn of the vinyl chloride was unnecessary because the company that produced that chemical was sure no dangerous chemical reaction was happening inside the tank cars. But the officials who made the decision have said they were never told that.

The NTSB's full investigation into the cause of the derailment won't be complete until June, though that agency has said that an overheating wheel bearing on one of the railcars that wasn't detected in time by a trackside sensor likely caused the crash.

The EPA has said the cleanup in East Palestine is expected to be complete sometime later this year.

Shares of Norfolk Southern Corp., based in Atlanta, fell about 1% before the opening bell Tuesday.
Norfolk Southern Agrees to Pay $600M After Train Derailment as Residents Voice Concerns: 'People Are Still Sick'

The settlement comes 14 months after the freight train derailed in the small Ohio town, causing chemicals to spill into the community

NTSB/Handout via Xinhua Aerial view of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio in 2023

Norfolk Southern, the rail company involved in the Feb. 2023 train derailment in Ohio, has agreed to a $600 million settlement for class actions lawsuits connected to the disaster

The settlement will resolve the class action suits filed by those who live within a 20-mile radius of the derailment, including personal injury claims for those within 10 miles

The rail company said it is committed to addressing three "long-term concerns following the derailment  drinking water, home values, and healthcare

Norfolk Southern has agreed to a $600 million settlement to resolve a group of class action lawsuits connected with the freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in Feb. 2023.

Both the rail company and attorneys for the plaintiffs announced the settlement on Tuesday, April 9, more than a year after the derailment caused harmful chemicals to spill from the train and into the community.

The agreement, which does not "include or constitute any admission of liability, wrongdoing, or fault" and must still be approved by a court, will resolve all class action claims within a 20-mile radius from the derailment and personal injury claims for those located within a 10-mile radius of the derailment, according to Norfolk Southern.

The settlement will provide payment "to residents and businesses in East Palestine and the affected surrounding communities," attorneys for the plaintiffs said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

We believe this is a fair, reasonable and adequate result for the community on a number of levels, not the least of which is the speed of the resolution, and the overall amount of the awards residents can expect, which will be significant for those most impacted by the derailment, said Seth A. Katz, M. Elizabeth Graham, Jayne Conroy and T. Michael Morgan in the joint statement.

Related: Ohio Train Derailment Killed Over 43,000 Animals, Officials Estimate

The settlement comes over a year after Norfolk Southern promised to address three long-term concerns of residents  drinking water, home values, and healthcare  following the derailment, according to the rail company.

Those who are compensated through the multi-million dollar settlement will be able to use the funds in any manner they see fit to address potential adverse impacts from the derailment, according to Norfolk Southern.

"This could include healthcare needs and medical monitoring, property restoration and diminution, and compensation for any net business loss," the rail company said, adding that "this settlement furthers the work Norfolk Southern has done to make it right in East Palestine and the surrounding communities."



Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they "want to make the claims process as easy and efficient as possible, with the hopes of getting initial payments out by the end of this year."

Gene J Puskar/AP/Shutterstock Drone footage shows portions of a Norfolk and Southern freight train that derailed Friday night in East Palestine, Ohio are still on fire at mid-day Train Derailment Ohio, East Palestine, United States - 04 Feb 2023

However, some locals have expressed concern that after the money won't begin to come close to addressing their long-term health needs.

What goes through my head is, after all the lawyers are paid and the legal fees are accounted for, how much funding will be provided for families?" resident Misti Allison told the Associated Press. "And is that going to be enough for any of these potential damages moving forward?

In the opinion of Krissy Ferguson, who told the news agency that "people are still sick" while contamination continues to flow "down the creeks," the settlement represented "an easy way out."



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The recently-announced settlement is expected to be submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio for preliminary approval later in April, according to Norfolk Southern.



Related: What to Know About the Ohio Train Derailment and Chemical Spill: A Timeline of Events

Those participating in the class action lawsuits should receive additional details about the settlement in the near future, per the rail company.

Norfolk Southern noted the settlement does not include or constitute any admission of liability, wrongdoing, or fault in connection with the derailment.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs expect to request a judge to approve the amount no later than April 19, according to NBC News.



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Read the original article on People.
Norfolk Southern has agreed to a $600 million settlement to resolve class-action lawsuits filed after a freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, spilling toxic chemicals into the community.

The company said in a news release Tuesday that the settlement "is another promise kept by Norfolk Southern to make it right for the people of East Palestine and the surrounding communities."

"The agreement is designed to provide finality and flexibility for settlement class members. Individuals and businesses will be able to use compensation from the settlement in any manner they see fit to address potential adverse impacts from the derailment," it said.

A plume of smoke rises from a Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio (Gene J. Puskar / AP)

"This could include healthcare needs and medical monitoring, property restoration and diminution, and compensation for any net business loss," the company continued. "In addition, individuals within 10-miles of the derailment may, at their discretion, choose to receive additional compensation for any past, current, or future personal injury from the derailment."

On Feb. 3, 2023, just before 9 p.m. local time, 38 cars of a freight train derailed off Taggart Street. The cars were carrying cargo that included hazardous materials such as vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate, which are known to cause adverse health effects, including respiratory irritation and even certain cancers, with prolonged exposure.

Residents within a roughly 1-mile radius had to temporarily evacuate. Days after the spill and fire, the rail company did a controlled chemical release and burned vinyl chloride  a flammable gas  in a move officials said would alleviate the risk of an explosion.

Class-action lawsuits swiftly followed. For the most part, residents sued over lost income due to the evacuation and health concerns. Even though Norfolk Southern and the Environmental Protection Agency said the towns water was safe to drink, some residents told "NBC Nightly News" this year that they run air purifiers daily in their homes and drink only bottled water.

In a court filing Tuesday, attorneys for the plaintiffs said they expect to file a motion for the judge to approve the amount no later than April 19.

"We believe this is a fair, reasonable and adequate result for the community on a number of levels, not the least of which is the speed of the resolution, and the overall amount of the awards residents can expect, which will be significant for those most impacted by the derailment," attorneys Seth A. Katz, M. Elizabeth Graham, Jayne Conroy and T. Michael Morgan said in a joint statement.

In addition to the settlement, Norfolk Southern said it has spent $104 million in community assistance to East Palestine and the surrounding areas, $4.3 million to help upgrade the drinking water infrastructure and $500,000 for economic development.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
QUITO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador's former Vice President Jorge Glas was rushed to the hospital Monday with drug poisoning three days after he was arrested at the Mexican Embassy in Quito, according to local media.

Glas, who was convicted of corruption and had sought refuge at the embassy, was taken from a maximum security prison in the southwest city of Guayaquil to a hospital after taking medication that caused poisoning, online news site Primicias said.

Citing a police report, the site said he was in a self-induced deep coma presumably caused by the ingestion of anxiolytic, antidepressant and sedative medications.

The report said an initial medical evaluation was carried out on Glas, who did not respond to the treatment, so he was taken to a military hospital for an evaluation with specialists in neurology, internal medicine and cardiac medicine.

Former President Rafael Correa (2007-2017) confirmed the news on social media and lamented the medical condition of the 54-year-old Glas, who was his vice president.

Glas was arrested late Friday during a raid by Ecuadorian police at the Mexican Embassy in Quito, where he had taken refuge.

The raid came just hours after Mexico granted him political asylum on the belief he was being politically "persecuted," a decision Ecuador rejected and described as an "illicit act."

After the assault on the Mexican embassy, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced the suspension of diplomatic ties with Ecuador and ordered an indefinite closure of the diplomatic outpost in the Andean country. 
The Norfolk Southern railroad will settle a lawsuit over the 2023 derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, for $600 million, the company confirmed Tuesday morning.

The settlement, which must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, will cover uses ranging from property restoration and business losses to medical costs. The company said the settlement does not cover an admission of wrongdoing.

If approved by the court, the agreement will resolve all class action claims within a 20-mile radius from the derailment and, for those residents who choose to participate, personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius from the derailment, Norfolk Southern said in a statement.

The announcement comes just under a month after Judge Benita Y. Pearson, whom former President Obama appointed, said the class-action suit could proceed, rejecting the railroads argument that federal rail law protects the conduct at issue.

The Norfolk Southern train derailed on the morning of Feb. 3, 2023, spilling vinyl chloride, a toxic substance used in the manufacture of plastics, from several cars. While no one was injured or killed by the derailment, residents of the town have expressed concerns about lingering threats to the environment that may take years to emerge.

Earlier this year, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy testified at a U.S. Senate hearing that a controlled burn at the site that sent a plume of flame into the air was unnecessary.

It was stabilized well, well before the vent and burn. Many hours before, Homendy said in March.

The Environmental Protection Agency invoked a federal law that requires Norfolk Southern to cover all cleanup costs relating to the crash. The company has already spent more than $1.1 billion on the cleanup process, which the NTSB has blamed on the overheating of a faulty wheel bearing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
DENVER (KDVR)  Northglenn City Council passed an emergency ordinance on Monday night that amends prohibited residences of sex offenders, in addition to reading a resolution opposing the proposed state mental health transitional facility on Grant Drive.

The measure, which was passed on first reading, amends the distance limitation for sex offenders, now requiring that they live at least 1,000 feet away from schools, instead of the previous distance of 750 feet.

The measure was introduced after community members voiced concerns about a proposed mental health transitional living facility on Grant Drive. The location is only 851 feet from Stukey Elementary School and only a couple hundred feet from a church that offers childrens services. The building was previously a senior care facility.

Residents are concerned that the transitional housing for people leaving mental health facilities includes sex offenders and that children will be close to this facility.

Colorado senator apologizes for behavior at Northglenn meeting, steps down from committee

City Attorney Corey Hoffman spoke about how the emergency ordinance would affect the proposed transitional living facility.

As it relates to the proposed mental health transitional facility, this would encompass Stukey Elementary, which is more than 750 feet but less than a 1,000 feet from the proposed facility, Hoffman said. So the purpose is clear: It is to capture that particular property and because this ordinance would be effective tonight, if approved, and no sex offenders currently reside at the property, it would apply to that particular property.

Hoffman noted that the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the placement of juvenile sex offenders would preempt a citys zoning efforts, but also noted that the facility is not for juvenile sex offenders.

It is certainly likely that the same analysis would apply because these folks are being placed by the state and the bill in question indicates it preempts the city and indicates this is a matter of statewide concern, Hoffman said. But I want to stress that it is likely preempted, but not 100% sure. We think we would lose if we challenged it, but there is a challenge there.

The measure will not require registered sex offenders already living in Northglenn to move, instead grandfathering those locations into the ordinance.

The Colorado Department of Human Services responded to FOX31s request for comment with a statement.

When considering what residents will live at Mental Health Transitional Living homes, we are following the law put into place by HB22-1303. The MHTL homes were never intended to be homes for registered sex offenders, and we do not have immediate plans to admit any. However, a focus from some became overwhelmingly about registered sex offenders in these homes. We are currently considering input from various stakeholders while being focused on the safety of our patients and the community.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Northwest Las Vegas valley woman recovering after she claims she was shot in back with BB gun while taking out trash

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A woman is slowly recovering after she claims she was shot in the back with a BB gun while taking out the trash near the Skye Canyon area.

Cynthia Rodriguez told 8 News Now that Friday, March 28, was supposed to be a day of fond memories but turned into a day filled with trauma.

She claims she was shot by a group of kids near her home in the area of Grand Canyon and Grand Teton with a BB gun while taking out the trash. Her children were standing just inches away from her.

I didnt want to move my back because I didnt know if it hit my spine, I was scared of being paralyzed, Rodriguez told 8 News Now.

Rodriguez said that she was in shock after realizing she had a hole in her back and was bleeding.

I started to feel very hot, and I felt like something was dripping down my back, Rodriguez said. So, I asked my daughter to check my back and take a picture of it so I can see what was going on.

Rodriguez said she was then rushed to the hospital. She showed 8 News Now the spot on her back where the pellet was still embedded.

Warning the following photos may be disturbing. (KLAS)

Cynthia Rodriguez is slowly recovering after she claims she was shot in the back with a BB gun while taking out the trash in the Skye Canyon area. (KLAS)

I still feel like this happened, Im still dealing with [it] mentally, Im losing sleep, my kids are traumatized, she said.

Rodriguez told 8 News Now shes been living near Grand Teton for years and moved specifically for safety reasons, but after she was hit in her back, shes more on edge than ever.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, a BB can kill a person. The agency reported about four deaths per year caused by BB guns or pellet rifles.

I just want people to be more responsible, Rodriguez explained.

She also urges parents to monitor their kids so this can never happen again.

Not only [do] they hurt somebody else, [but] they could hurt themselves and its taking like my whole feeling of like feeling safe, Rodriguez said.

Now, she is left with a memory she may have to physically live with forever.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told 8 News Now that the case is still an active and ongoing investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
FILE - Young campaigners protesting wind farms block one of the entrances to The Prime Minister's Office in Oslo, Norway, Friday, June 2, 2023. A group of 18 activists that were charged for not paying the fines they were given when they blocked several entrances to Norwegian government offices in 2023 over a wind farm that they say hinders the rights of the Sami Indigenous people to raise reindeer, were Tuesday, April 9 2024, acquitted by an Oslo court. (Lise Aserud /NTB Scanpix via AP, File)

COPENHAGEN (AP)  A Norwegian court on Tuesday ruled that police acted unreasonably when they fined 18 activists for blocking entrances to government buildings last year, and acquitted the activists of charges of failing to pay the fines.

The group had taken part in actions in February and March 2023 over a wind farm that they say hinders the rights of the Sami Indigenous people to raise reindeer.

In its ruling, the court concluded that it is neither necessary nor proportionate to react with a fine in the present case here. It noted in particular that the activists were protesting about the continued operation of the wind farm despite an earlier Supreme Court judgment that the construction of the turbines had violated the rights of the Sami, who have used the land for reindeer for centuries.

Lawyers for activists said that the ruling marks an important milestone for freedom of assembly and expression in Norway, and that the court found that the interventions by the state  the order to end the demonstration, the carrying out, the bringing to the police station and punitive action  overall violated the defendants' right to participate in peaceful assemblies and demonstrations.

There are 151 turbines at Europes largest onshore wind farm, which is located in central Norways Fosen district, about 450 kilometers (280 miles) north of the capital, Oslo. The activists say a transition to green energy shouldnt come at the expense of the rights of Indigenous people.

They have demonstrated repeatedly against the wind farms continued operation since the Supreme Court ruling in October 2021.

On Feb. 27, 2023, thirteen of them occupied the entrance hall of the Norwegian Energy Ministry and on March 2 five others blocked access to the Finance Ministry. They were removed by police and given fines of up for 5,000 kroner ($467) for not complying with the police order to leave the sites. They refused to pay the fines and were charged for not doing so.

The Oslo District Court on Tuesday said there is no particular justification to respond with a fine or other punitive action, meaning (the activists) must be acquitted.

Ella Marie Htta Isaksen, one of the activists, told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that she was surprised by the ruling.

We had prepared for the worst, so the fact that we are all acquitted feels very good," she said.

Last month, the Norwegian government reached an agreement with the Sami people under which all of the the partially state-owned farms turbines will stay in operation. The Sami will receive compensation  including a share of energy produced  along with a new area for winter grazing and a grant of 5 million kroner ($467,000) for strengthening Sami culture.
Norwood is fighting to stop a solar farm from moving in

Norwood is fighting to stop a solar farm from moving in

NORWOOD, Colo. (KREX)  Norwood  a remote town home to only about 500 people in between Nucla and Ridgway on Wrights Mesa.

Fields and forests surround the town, with lone cone mountain watching over.

Norwood Mayor Candy Meehan tells Western Slope Now the town is in this fight for the long haul  as a company called One Energy pushes to build acres of solar panel fields in the heart of their forestlands and community.

Lets start from the beginning

Gov. Polis hopes to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2040. His administration encouraged renewable energy companies to build on small state-owned lots originally intended to lease and create revenue for public schools.

Norwoods library director Carrie Andrew tells Western Slope Now in May of 2023, One Energy came to the library to present their plan to residents and San Miguel County officials.

Residents instantly opposed the plan  more than 200 met in person and about 40 attended through zoom. It was the largest recorded meeting in town history. Not a single local was ok with One Energys development.

After the meeting San Miguel County put a moratorium on solar installations to develop new regulations as this fight goes on.

Candy, Carrie, and local Demian Brooks say solar is welcome, but not on the 640 forested acres where One Energy wants to build.

When locals tried to reach One Energy through the email officials provided at the meeting, they made a shocking discovery that jaded their first impression of the company  they gave them the wrong websiteand a dead email.

Demian tells Western Slope Now since then locals have attended eight meetings on the solar project, the last one between San Miguel County commissioners and the planning department on March 27 covered new codes.

Those new codes will guide use over all of Wrights Mesa, including the square-mile section in question.

Candy says Senator Chris Hansen who serves the Denver area introduced an energy bill county and locals fear will drown out Norwoods voice.

So why is One Energy, a Denver representative and San Miguel Countys planning director pushing so hard for this forested plot of land, and why are locals so opposed to it? Western Slope Now will take a closer look in part two of this hot controversy.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
Editors note: This article is part of a Dispatch debate series. Noah Chavin made the case for ending warrantless searches under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Acts Section 702.

I was unfortunate to be present, in a sense, at the creation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Acts Section 702 as a young CIA case officer in Iraq. On June 16, 2006, in the Triangle of Death south of Baghdad, al-Qaeda killed an American soldier and captured two more from the 101st Airborne Division.

When U.S. servicemen go missing in a combat zone, the military declares DUSTWUNduty statuswhereabouts unknownfor those GIs. Every American in theater drops whatever hes doing to try to find missing comrades. For agency case officers, that means triggering dangerous emergency meetings with human sources to glean any information useful to those servicemens recovery. To my great frustration, none of my sources offered anything helpful to the search. Every veteran struggles with what to share with civilians upon returning home. Here, its important to share a hard fact: One of these soldiers was shot dead resisting abduction, and the others were horribly tortured and mutilated before being murdered.

As I recall, the U.S. picked up cellphone calls and emails, sent over U.S.-based communications networks, between al-Qaeda members within Iraq regarding these American soldiers being tortured, yet the content of these communications did not appear in the cables I read. Back then, a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court order was generally needed to collect and disseminate the content of such communications, only because while these messages began and ended with terrorists located overseas, they were sent electronically through servers located in the U.S. I suspect the National Security Agency quietly did the morally correct but unlawful thing and informally shared those communications contents with special mission units responsible for hostage rescue.

Despite this intelligence and good Americans best efforts, we were all sadly unable to locate these hostages in time. However, the awful incident (and a starkly similar one with 10th Mountain Division soldiers on May 12, 2007) apparently raised to policymakers in a focused way the question of why the U.S. wasnt routinely collecting and disseminating al-Qaeda communicationsconveniently for us routed through American companies infrastructureto our intelligence, law enforcement, and military personnel. That evil but technologically primitive al-Qaeda operatives used American businesses to communicate ought to be a feature, not a bug, of the war on terror; information about the doomed hostages likely shared by NSA with special operators ought not have needed to be passed surreptitiously.

At the end of the day, al-Qaeda cells composed of foreigners and located entirely in Iraq lacked cognizable Fourth Amendment rights. Accordingly in August 2007, a Democratic-majority Congress and Republican President George W. Bush properly amended the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to allow, without court order, NSAs interception of communications between suspected international terroristsor foreign spiesin which at least one party is reasonably believed to be located overseas. Selected personnel were further allowed to preliminarily query large databases for records of the existence of calls and emails between Americans and suspect parties overseas: looking for U.S. citizens in contact with al-Qaedas core leadership in Pakistan, for example, or with hostile intelligence services case officers.

Section 702 of FISA has successively undergone several limiting amendments since then. This is because while NSA, CIA, and the Pentagon are in my experience careful in their application of Section 702, FBI personnel far more often abuse their statutory authorityperhaps simply because the bureau and the Justice Department hesitate to investigate and prosecute their own law enforcement colleagues.

FBI abuses of FISA more broadly came to a head during the 2016 presidential election campaign. Bureau lawyer Kevin Clinesmith, in seeking reauthorization of a FISA application on Trump campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page, knowingly made a false statement to a FISA judge about the status of Pages cooperation with the U.S. government after Russian intelligence asked Page, a former U.S. naval intelligence officer, to spy for Moscow. Clinesmiths gross error resulted in both a guilty plea by him and a collapse of political support for FISA in general, especially from congressional Republicans previously supportive of this unique authority.

Section 702 is now up for periodic reauthorization, and the outcome is seriously in doubt. Yet Congress and President Joe Biden ought to reauthorize Section 702, and heres why.

First, last year 60 percent of information in the Presidents Daily Briefthe holy of holies of intelligence informationderived from Section 702 collection. Right now the U.S. faces terror threats from the Islamic State, resurgent in Afghanistan and recently launching attacks in Turkey, Iran and Russia. We regularly repel attacks on American and allied naval and merchant shipping off the coasts of Yemen, and suffer attacks on U.S. military forces in Iraq and Jordan. The U.S. anticipates Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and its handmaiden Hezbollah imminently retaliating against us and Israel for Tel Avivs dramatic April 1 attack on senior IRGC-QF officers at Tehrans consular building in Damascus, part of the Jewish states response to Hamas genocidal October 7 attack from Gaza. To suddenly deny an American president three-fifths of his intelligence at this moment would be wildly irresponsible, especially with the 2024 Paris Olympic Games this summer tied up like a fatted calf as a terror target. U.S. senators and representatives inclined to deauthorize Section 702 should consider how they might explain their votes in the aftermath of an attack like that of Palestinian Liberation Organization terrorists at the 1972 Munich Games on Israeli athletes, or our own, if we deliberately chose not to collect available intelligence that might have prevented any such attack on the 2024 Games.

Second, hostile foreign powers, including Russia, are attempting to interfere with the 2024 presidential election. The rapid progress of convincing deepfake technology makes the risk of an adversary service launching an October surprise greater than in the 2020 or 2016 elections, in which Russian intelligence did interfere (albeit without provable cooperation by Donald Trumps campaign), first to cast doubt on the process and undermine an expected Hillary Clinton presidency, and then to boost Trumps candidacy when he seemed sympathetic to Moscow. The risk of domestically fomented political violence between November 5, 2024, and January 20, 2025, is already far too high. We ought not make President Biden and nonpartisan career national security officials deaf, dumb, and blind to foreign attempts to capitalize on civil unrest, especially when enemy threats to us and our NATO, South Korean, and Taiwanese allies persist.

Finally, while the executive branch never challenged it as such, the entirety of FISA is arguably unconstitutional. The commander in chief of the U.S. armed forces maintains necessary and proper powers to provide for the common defense. Every American president of both parties between Franklin Roosevelt and Gerald Ford understood these powers to include signals intelligencethe interception, decoding, and analysis of enemy communicationswithout reference to any authorizing statute. FISA recognizes this practical reality in that even under its terms, the attorney general may temporarily authorize the domestic collection of signals intelligence in national emergencies without any court authorization. Rather than risk a separation-of-powers crisis in which an executive is tempted by exigent circumstances to ignore the legislative and judicial framework of FISA, a showdown Congress might well lose in the courts, Congress would be well-advised to reform FISA rather than deauthorize Section 702.

For example, at present only the Department of Justice typically argues before the FISA court, so its unsurprising that over a five-year period, that court denied just one of DOJs 8,164 surveillance applications. Theres limited authority for that court to hear, only at its judges request, from friends of the court beyond DOJ lawyers. Instead, why not mandate that cleared counsel, similar to federal public defenders, regularly argue against granting the governments FISA applications?

These lawyers could insist that ordinary, Fourth Amendment search warrant probable-cause standards should apply to a government surveillance application, and not lower FISA standards. There are two sides to most stories; making FISA hearings adversary proceedings, and not one-sided, might substantially reduce abuses of Section 702 specifically, and of FISA in general.

But deauthorizing Section 702 authority entirely would be to rashly throw the baby out with the bathwater, even as our country faces a particularly perilous time over the next 10 months.

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
We can now wake up from this nightmare: Has the turning point in the trans debate finally come?

Carolyns daughter was only 13 when she asked to be referred to the Tavistock clinic to begin the process of changing her gender.

She was being bullied at school, Carolyn* explains, and her school had a speaker who came in and said their life was terrible until they transitioned. My daughter mentions that as a pivotal moment. She said: Now I understand why I never fit in.

She told me she thought she was maybe a boy and wanted to be referred to the Tavistock clinic. She knew how to do it. She said you have to make an appointment with the GP and ask for a referral. I took her to the GP, who asked about haircuts, pronouns and clothes. On that basis the GP made the referral. It was really easy.

Four years later, her daughter, 17, is still on the waiting list for gender treatment. There has been such an explosion in demand for these services that many young people wait years for NHS treatment.

In that time, the NHSs Gender Identity Development Service (Gids), based at the Tavistock clinic in London, has been shut down in one of the biggest scandals in British medical history and the NHS has announced a review of all trans treatment after warnings from paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, made in an independent review of how services were run.

Dr Casss final review, published on Wednesday, cautions that extreme care should be taken before anyone under the age of 25 transitions. It also warns children who change gender may regret it; calls for an end to the prescribing of any powerful hormone drugs to under 18s; finds that many have experienced trauma, neglect and abuse; and says there is no good evidence on the long-term outcomes of the treatments that have been given to children.

This confirms the findings of her interim report, published in 2022  a damning critique of NHS gender dysphoria services. Cass found that care for young people had been appallingly compromised. Sweeping reforms have already been made, partly as a result of her recommendations.

Gids used an affirmative approach, where a childs self-expressed identity was used as the starting point for treatment. Referrals to the service increased from 97 in 2009 to 2,590 in 2018, with girls comprising 76 per cent of cases. To cope with the surging demand, clinicians rushed to put children, some of them pre-teens, onto potentially life-altering treatments.

Puberty blockers and hormones were given to children as young as 12. Once they were 17, many were then transferred to adult services for gender reassignment surgery, such as breast removal. There was little consensus around evidence or treatments, even those that caused irreversible changes.

In the wake of the Tavistock scandal, Gids has closed and puberty blockers have been all but banned. Parents of affected children hope the report will be another step towards reforming a broken system and creating one that better serves children and young people, as well as their families.

For the best part of a decade, politicians, institutions and professionals have been too afraid to challenge the ideological narrative of trans activists, to the detriment of child safeguarding, Carolyn says. The Cass Review will hopefully mark the moment we as a society wake up from this nightmare, and begin the process of repairing the damage done to so many children and young people.

Carolyn believes her daughters desire to transition may be waning, but for now she is still only a phone call from the NHS away from starting an irreversible process. She says that spending your teenage years believing you are the wrong gender creates its own social pressure and momentum, from which it can be hard to break free, even if you change your mind.

I think shes coming out of [wanting to transition], she says. But imagine being a teenager who has imposed this thing on everyone around you. At that age youre so worried about what everyone thinks of you. How can you back down when teachers and doctors have told you that this is wonderful and amazing and you are being your authentic self and you represent the next chapter in the civil rights movement.

It has been dystopian, she adds. You go along trusting institutions like schools and doctors. These are the pillars of the community. Ive asked for help, but people turn around and tell me, Youre the problem, for not celebrating your son.

Relations with her daughter remain difficult. I wouldnt recommend it, she says. As Ive said to my daughter, it would be easier for me to go along with this. But I have to think decades into the future. I couldnt live with myself if I allowed her to do something that might be a mistake. Imagine being a parent that allows this and your child realises its a mistake. Imagine carrying that.

Its going to take years for my daughter to understand whats happened to her, but Im grateful she is in one piece and I have kept her out of the NHS.

For Simon*  like Carolyn, he prefers to use a pseudonym to prevent further aggravating a fraught situation  the changes in his son Jack* began during lockdown, when he was 15. We had all been stuck at home for a while, going slightly mad  and he had been growing unhappy. One day he watched a YouTube video and in an instant decided he was a girl. Since then he has been completely obsessed.

Like Carolyns daughter, Jack, who is now 18, is on an NHS waiting list, but in his impatience to transform himself is ordering hormones off the internet, from India and China. Its a very depressing story, Simon adds. We feel completely powerless.

He welcomes change in culture already under way as a result of the Cass Review. One of the reasons we have got into this situation over the past 10 years is the NHS and Tavistock legitimising all these ideas. We need to push back, and treat children and young adults by thinking about whats going on in their minds, rather than medicalising it.

While Simon and Carolyns children are still in relatively early stages, other young people made permanent changes. The most prominent case is Keira Bell, who was prescribed male hormones and puberty blockers, and had her breasts surgically removed, before deciding that she wanted to reverse treatment. I definitely felt affirmed at the Tavistock, she has previously told The Telegraph.

Keira Bell was prescribed male hormones before deciding she wanted to reverse treatment - Paul Cooper

Like many children with gender dysphoria, Bell had other psychological factors in play  in her case, the effects of a difficult home life. When I spoke to these clinicians there was no exploration of why I felt like that, really. It was just accepted, and they were trying to deal with it [by putting] me on the treatment path.

The same year, she brought a landmark case against the clinic over whether puberty blockers could be prescribed to under-16s. The High Court found it was unlikely a 16-year-old could be competent to consent to treatment. The decision was overturned later by the Court of Appeal. But Bells case  along with the Cass Review  has helped to change the narrative around the treatment of young people with gender dysphoria.

Dr David Bell [no relation], the psychiatrist and whistleblower who first raised concerns about the Tavistock when he collated concerns from clinicians working there, expects the final report to be another step in the right direction. It is an important moment, he says. The fact that weve had the Cass Review, the fact weve banned puberty blockers, the closure of Gids, the formation of new kinds of centres which will not use affirmation as a clinical tool  we now know thats the wrong treatment. Were seeing that changing around the world  in Scandinavia, and the French are beginning to reconsider their situation. It has been a big success from that point of view.

Dr David Bell was a staff governor at the Tavistock Trust and first brought concerns to attention via an internal report in 2018

Dr Bell continues, Most importantly, people feel free to speak about it in a way they didnt five or six years ago. I could speak out because of my position, but many were worried about speaking out because they would come under attack from their organisations.

In her review, Dr Cass warned of a toxic debate around trans issues where parents can feel forced to allow their children to transition so they are not labelled transphobic.

She declares that gender medicine for children and young people is built on shaky foundations. She says: The reality is that we have no good evidence on the long-term outcomes of interventions to manage gender-related distress.

Gids closed for good at the end of last month, after 35 years. It has been replaced by two different services, one based in London and the other in the north-west. The new services have been heavily delayed, meaning the 5,000 children and young people on waiting lists, many of whom are in great distress, are not being seen. Not every young person changes their mind; many are anxious for treatment.

Under the new NHS guidance, the primary treatment is psychological support rather than medication. Puberty blockers will not be prescribed  although MPs remain concerned about a loophole which would allow doctors to apply for special dispensation to prescribe the drugs under exceptional circumstances.

For hormone treatment to begin, a national clinical team will now have to find that the young person meets a range of criteria.

Rishi Sunak said the Government had already acted swiftly on Dr Casss previous call to stop routine use of puberty blockers for those under the age of 16.

We will continue to ensure we take the right steps to protect young people. The wellbeing and health of children must come first, the Prime Minister said.

Wes Streeting, Labours health spokesman, said the report should provide a watershed moment for the NHSs gender identity services.

For hundreds of detransitioners like Keira Bell, who regret decisions they made as teenagers, the changes come too late. Other young people  and their parents  will hope that Wednesdays report helps usher in an era that takes a more informed and considered approach to gender treatment, based on evidence.

There remain concerns about private providers springing up to help meet the demand for services, including hormone treatment, no longer being provided by the Government.

Carolyn says that reform of such services should be the start of a bigger conversation, particularly around how gender is addressed in schools.

It is a really important moment, she says. The next question is will the dots be connected in schools? Without schools being addressed, the problem doesnt get fixed.

When it comes to building a service fit for purpose, which takes a rounder view of young peoples needs, the Cass Review is unlikely to be the last word. But families and campaigners will be hoping that it is, at least, a beginning.

*Names have been changed

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NEW YORK  Donald Trumps latest long-shot bid to delay his impending trial centering on a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels was denied by an appeals court judge in New York on Monday, a week out from the expected start of jury selection.

The ruling by Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez came down after lawyers for the former president asked the midlevel state appeals court for an indefinite delay so they could attempt to get the case moved to a different location than liberal-leaning Manhattan, according to court filings.

In their recent delay efforts, Trumps attorneys have argued that he cant get a fair shake in the borough, citing the findings of a survey they conducted showing a majority of 400 Manhattan respondents had read about the notorious hush money payments at the heart of the case. It showed 35% believed he was guilty of the alleged offenses.

(Polling) and quantitative analysis of media coverage shows that a fair and impartial jury cannot be selected right now based on prejudicial pretrial publicity, Trumps lawyers wrote in their emergency request for a delay Monday.

In court filings last week opposing a separate motion by Trump to delay proceedings on account of intense pretrial publicity, prosecutors said Trumps team highlighted parts of their survey showing a lot of people had read about the case as proof he couldnt get a fair trial and disregarded answers from a majority of respondents saying they still felt they could be impartial. They said Trump was trying to have his cake and eat it, too, by complaining about media attention while actively seeking it.

Defendant simply cannot have it both ways: complaining about the prejudicial effect of pretrial publicity, while seeking to pollute the jury pool himself by making baseless and inflammatory accusations about this trial, specific witnesses, individual prosecutors and the court itself, Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo wrote.

Trumps legal team has been in overdrive trying to delay whats expected to be the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president, filing a flurry of eleventh-hour motions in the lead-up to jury selection  partially succeeding last month in delaying it by three weeks. Justice Juan Merchan has yet to rule on the Trump team's motion to delay the trial because of pretrial publicity and its second request that he recuse himself. Earlier Monday in sealed court filings, Trumps lawyers initiated a lawsuit against him to fight his rulings.

Having failed to get Merchan off the case when they last tried in August, Trumps attorneys last week doubled down on their allegations that his daughter financially benefits from Trumps prosecution  pointing to her job at a political firm that works with Democrats  and that he is biased as a result.

Merchan has resoundingly rejected those claims and last week widened a gag order prohibiting Trump from commenting about jurors, witnesses and others involved in the case to include his own family after Trump targeted his daughter in a barrage of Truth Social posts.

Trump, 77, has pleaded not guilty to 34 felonies in the case alleging he covered up reimbursement to his former fixer to disguise that it was payback for carrying out an illicit scheme that included paying Daniels, Playboy model Karen McDougal and a Trump Tower doorman to stay silent about alleged sex scandals to secure his victory in the 2016 election.

The criminal case is one of four the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee faces  now encompassing 88 felony charges total  to all of which hes pleaded not guilty.

Barring another delay, prospective jurors are expected to start filing into Merchans 15th-floor courtroom Monday morning. Among other lines of inquiry, theyll be asked whether they have strong feelings about Trump, his former presidency, his current White House run, his criminal and civil cases and whether they listen to Michael Cohens podcast or read publications including the New York Daily News.

Lawyers for Trump and a spokeswoman for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to comment.

_______
Immigration hawks want you to believe that men are a threat by default. Figures like former President Donald Trump and current Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (RLa.) argue that immigration is really an "invasion" because many migrants lined up at the border are "military-age males" from "adversarial nations." The implication isn't that these people work for any specific army or militant organization, but that any young man from the wrong country is guilty until proven innocent.

Conservatives and liberals alike might be surprised to learn that this idea was written into U.S. policy by former President Barack Obama. During drone campaigns in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Obama administration counted any "military-age" men in certain areas as enemy fighters, even if the U.S. government didn't know who those men were. The policy allowed Obama to lowball the number of civilians killed by U.S. drone strikes.

Of course, the category of military-age or fighting-age men is much older than the drone program. But as political scientist Micah Zenko pointed out in an article for the Council on Foreign Relations, the term "military-age male reentered the lexicon of American warfare" during the Obama-era debate over the drone program.

"Mr. Obama embraced a disputed method for counting civilian casualties that did little to box him in," The New York Times revealed in 2012. "It in effect counts all military-age males in a strike zone as combatants, according to several administration officials, unless there is explicit intelligence posthumously proving them innocent."

Even more dystopically, the CIA had inherited a policy known as "signature strikes" from the Bush administration. Drone pilots were allowed to fire on armed men "associated with suspicious activity even if their identities were unknown," according to The New Yorker.

Obama expanded the definition of "suspicious activity" to include almost any man in the wrong place at the wrong time, overseeing 10 times as many drone strikes as Bush had. Obama administration officials told the Times that "people in an area of known terrorist activity, or found with a top Qaeda operative, are probably up to no good."

The phrase "military-age males" jumped from U.S. military and intelligence circles to American politics during the Obama era, too. In late 2015, at the height of the Syrian refugee crisis, Republican politicians including Trump began claiming that the Obama administration was importing an "army" of fighting-age Syrian men. Radio host Rush Limbaugh, who had previously covered the Times revelations about Obama's targeting of "military-age males," was a major figure pushing this narrative.

Only a quarter of Syrian refugees admitted to the United States at the time were adult men, and only two percent were single adult men, according to U.S. State Department records.

One of the first uses of the specific term "military-age males" in the immigration debate came from Allen West, a former Army colonel who had derailed his career by torturing an Iraqi detainee. "We should not allow any military-age males to be part of this refugee crisis," West said in a Fox and Friends interview on November 16, 2015. "I believe that anyone from about 16 to 40 years of age, single males, should not be allowed to come in. That's a Trojan horse."

The Obama administration didn't have much ground to oppose West's logic. A few months after that interview, the Obama administration finished its internal review of signature strikes. The government decided to continue the practice of killing suspicious unknown men, with the caveat that people will now be considered "noncombatants until proved otherwise" rather than the other way around.

Throughout the Trump and Biden eras, politiciansfrom Rep. Jeff Duncan (RS.C.) and former Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) to conspiracy theorist Alex Jonescontinued to rail against "military-age males" immigrating to Western countries.

That talking point really took off again in mid-2023, according to the News on the Web Corpus, a database of English-language online media in several countries. The data also captured a spike in articles about young Russian men fleeing the draft in mid-2022.

The same was true for television, according to an analysis commissioned by The Washington Post, which showed a massive increase in the use of the phrase "military-age" in the context of immigration debates since mid-2023. Almost all those mentions came on Fox News, particularly on Sean Hannity's show. And the increased use of the term was entirely political, because it came as a decreasing percentage of people stopped at the border were single adults while an increasing percentage came from families with children.

Immigration restrictionists, of course, don't need an Obama-era term to demonize immigrant men. But the category of "military-age males" lends an official-sounding sheen to the idea that young adults looking for work or asylum are really an army of conquest. It's encouraging everyone to look at the huddled masses through a drone's eye view.

The migration of this phrase from Obama's CIA to anti-immigration rants should be a lesson to liberals and conservatives alike. Liberals who support a hawkish foreign policyeven the kindler, gentler war on terror that Obama promisedmay end up normalizing repression at home. And even conservatives who rail against the "forever wars" may allow the logic of those wars to live on, directed at the American homeland itself.

The post How Obama Gave Trump the 'Military-Age Males' Talking Point appeared first on Reason.com.
The parties have discussed the issue of attracting labor migrants from Uzbekistan to Hungary, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz News Agency.

Negotiations were organized via video conference between David Penczes, the director of the Hungarian company Worknet Kft., and Hajiakbar Fayzullakhodjaev, the Deputy Head of the External Labor Migration Agency under the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations of Uzbekistan, with the assistance of the Uzbekistan diplomatic mission.

According to the Dunyo IA, during the online meeting, topics such as attracting labor migrants from Uzbekistan to Hungary and drafting a cooperation agreement between the External Labor Migration Agency of Uzbekistan and this company were discussed.

During the negotiations, detailed information was provided about the agencys activities related to selecting, preparing, and teaching foreign languages, as well as the guarantees and conditions provided by the state for prospective labor migrants from Uzbekistan.

The Hungarian party expressed readiness to establish collaborative relations with the External Labor Migration Agency of Uzbekistan and to sign a contract for recruiting and employing migrants sent by the agency in Hungary.

Following the meeting, an agreement was reached to sign a cooperation contract between the External Labor Migration Agency of Uzbekistan and Worknet Kft.

David Penczes also stated his readiness to provide employment at construction sites in Hungary for 100 Uzbek nationals starting from the current month of April.
COLOMBO, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet of ministers on Monday approved a proposal to reform the governance of state-owned banks, a requirement under a program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardena told reporters on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference, Gunawardena said the approved reforms were identified by a committee comprising representatives from the IMF, the World Bank and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

These reforms seek to address weaknesses in governance, risk management and supervision of state-owned banks, he said, adding that these reforms have to be implemented as soon as possible.

The minister said the World Bank's budget support loans will only be disbursed after the completion of prior actions.

In March 2023, the IMF approved a 48-month extended arrangement under the EFF of about 3 billion U.S. dollars to support Sri Lanka's economic policies and reforms. 
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden's reelection campaign and his administration worked to blame Donald Trump after the Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a 160-year-old abortion ban that could shutter abortion clinics in the state.

Arizona just rolled back the clock to a time before women could vote  and, by his own admission, theres one person responsible: Donald Trump," Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement.

Arizona's ruling  which has major political repercussions in a key battleground state  came a day after Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee and former president, said individual states should be able to choose their own abortion restrictions after months of sending mixed signals on the issue.

In the same video statement, Trump said he was "proudly the person responsible" for ending Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that provided a constitutional right to an abortion for five decades.

Democrats slammed the Arizona ruling as the product of Trump's three Supreme Court appointments, all of whom ruled in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade.

"Today, because Donald Trump overturned Roe v. Wade, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an abortion ban from 1864 with no exceptions for health, rape or incest," Biden campaign spokeswoman Brooke Goren said. "Its alarming and will send shockwaves throughout this crucial swing state and the country."

President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign rally to Restore Roe at Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Virginia, on January 23, 2024.

Dobbs precedent leads to Arizona decision

The 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade is cited 22 times in the Arizona Supreme Court's 4-2 ruling, which upheld a law that predates Arizona's statehood that requires two to five years in prison for anyone aiding an abortion, except if the procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother.

Pointing to the new Dobbs precedent, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that a new state law passed in 2022, which prohibited abortions in Arizona after 15 weeks, did not repeal the pre-statehood law nor create a right to abortion.

"This ruling is a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away womens freedom," Biden said in a statement.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said millions of Arizonans will soon face a "more extreme and dangerous abortion ban" than they did before as a result of the ruling. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, she said 21 states have adopted abortion bans, affecting one-third of all American women of reproductive age.

"All of these bans, including the one upheld today by the Arizona Supreme Court, are a direct result of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade," Jean-Pierre said, accusing Trump's handpicked justices of paving the way for "chaos and confusion" across the country.

Trump said Wednesday he would not sign a federal abortion ban if he's elected to a second term.

He also sought to distance himself from the Arizona ruling when a reporter asked him whether the state went too far on abortion restrictions. Yeah, they did, Trump said after landing in Atlanta for a fundraiser.

"It'll be straightened out," he added. "And Im sure that the governor and everybody else are going to bring it back into reason.

The Arizona court decision came a week after the Florida State Supreme Court upheld Florida's strict abortion laws  allowing a ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy to go in effect in May  but in a separate decision ruled that a constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to an abortion can go before voters on the November ballot.

Voters might have final say in Arizona

Like in Florida, abortion might also go before voters on the November ballot in Arizona. Abortion advocates in the state say they've already collected more than 500,000 signatures, well above the threshold of 383,923 signatures needed to trigger a referendum by an early July deadline.

Democrats believe a ballot initiative on abortion in Arizona would give a boost both to Biden and Democrats in the race to replace independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who opted against reelection.

Abortion on the ballot: Citizens have opted in favor of abortion rights in several states since Roe v. Wade was overturned. At least three more states will vote on it in 2024.

The Biden campaign has sought to make restoring abortion rights a defining issue in the 2024 campaign. The abortion issue is widely credited with energizing Democrats in the 2022 midterms to help the party exceed expectations. And it has also been a winner for Democrats in several state referendums since Roe's collapse.

Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who is seeking the Democratic nomination for Sinema's seat, called the ruling "devastating for Arizona women and their families."

Kari Lake, a Trump-backed Republican running for the Arizona Senate, also said she opposes the court's decision.

"It is abundantly clear that the pre-statehood law is out of step with Arizonans," Lake said.

Harris, the Biden administration's leading voice on reproductive rights, plans to visit Tucson, Arizona, on Friday in the wake of the ruling.

"The American people believe that health care decisions should be made between women and their doctors, not politicians, and we are ready to stand up to fight for our most fundamental freedoms," Harris said.

Contributing: Zac Anderson and David Jackson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After Arizona abortion ruling, Biden campaign blames Trump
One with serious injuries from overturned car on Gold Line tracks: Medic

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  An overturned car blocked the Gold Line tracks on Beatties Ford Road following an accident Tuesday afternoon, according to city officials.

According to the Charlotte Area Transit System, the incident occurred around 4:45 p.m. April 9. The vehicle was blocking the tracks along Beatties Ford Road at Mill Road. This is across from Johnson C. Smith University.

The tracks were cleared around 5:35 p.m.

Driver cited after Burke County school bus carrying handicapped students involved in rollover crash: Troopers

Medic officials say one person was transported to a hospital with serious injuries from a pin-in.

There was a bus bridge in place for the streetcar, from the CTC station to the French Street Station. No CATS vehicles were involved in the incident.

This is a developing story; check back for updates

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Thousands of women between ages 50 and 74 are not receiving life-saving mammograms, according to new federal data.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at the prevalence of mammography use over a two-year period, in a report published Tuesday.

Mammography use varied by state and sociodemographics, but the study found the more health-related social needs (HRSNs) a woman had, the less likely she was to get a mammogram.

MORE: Switching order of breast cancer treatment could lower the need for multiple surgeries, study finds

HRSNs are barriers that impact a person's health or health care access with examples, including food insecurity and lack of access to reliable transportation. These are sometimes referred to as social determinants of health (SDOHs).

For women between ages 50 and 74, mammography prevalence was 83.2% for women with no adverse SDOHs or HRSNs. However, among women in that age bracket with three or more SDOHs or HRSNs, the prevalence was 65.7%.

PHOTO: Radiology center, France, technician carries out a routine mammogram. (Bsip/Universal Images Group via Getty)

Social isolation, life dissatisfaction, lost or reduced hours of employment, being on food stamps, lack of reliable public transportation and cost barriers were all associated with not having had a mammogram within the previous two years.

The authors said this was consistent with findings from previous studies showing associations between lower mammography use and HRSNs, including lower educational attainment and income, not having a usual source of health care and being uninsured.

"We have to address these health-related social needs to help women get the mammograms they need," CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry said in a statement. "Identifying these challenges and coordinating efforts between health care, social services, community organizations, and public health to help address these needs could improve efforts to increase breast cancer screening and ultimately save these tragic losses to families."

Breast cancer causes more than 40,000 deaths among women in the U.S. each year, according to the CDC. Breast cancer death rates have been decreasing, but the report noted this has not been equitable across all groups. For example, Black women and women with low incomes are more likely to die from breast cancer.

MORE: ESPN anchor Hannah Storm reveals breast cancer diagnosis

However, evidence has shown that mammograms reduce breast cancer deaths. A multi-national study published in 2020, led by Queen Mary University in London, found that women who participated in mammography screenings had a 41% reduced risk of dying of breast cancer within 10 years and a 25% reduction in the rate of advanced breast cancers.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the group of specialists that set national guidelines for preventive care in the US, currently had recommended women between ages 50 and 74 receive a mammogram every two years during the dates that were studied. The Task Force now recommends all women should get screened for breast cancer every other year, starting at age 40 with final guidelines expected shortly.

"If we are to achieve higher breast cancer screening for all women, we have to look at all the possible challenges women face in getting mammograms," said Lisa Richardson, director of the CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, in a statement. "Health care providers can now assess whether women have health-related social needs and help women get the services they need. Every woman should be able to get screened for breast cancer without barriers."

About one-third of socially vulnerable women missing recommended mammograms: CDC originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Heads bobbed up, their cardboard solar glasses fixed on partly cloudy skies. Hopeful viewers packed a parking lot at Claymont Street and Todds Lane, while some EastSide Charter School students, educators and fellow attendees waited for another intersection.

Slowly, Monday's afternoon sun dimmed. The moon began to slide in front, leaving crossed paths to deliver a partial eclipse throughout Delaware and this Wilmington block below. The signature crescent of light slipped through passing clouds, to yelps of excitement.

Later brightness swelled once again, as clouds cleared a little after 3:30, the celestial event left to feel fleeting. The sight had a way of feeling once-in-a-life-time, even if the two bodies cross paths somewhat predictably, from different viewpoints across the globe.

"It is historic," said Aaron Bass, EastSide's CEO. Only, he wasn't talking about an eclipse.

The eclipse is shrouded in clouds over Wilmington on Monday, April 8, 2024, as it reaches its maximum.

The EastSide Charter School community gathered to celebrate a different near-totality  the anticipated completion of its STEM Hub, right next door. The to-be-24,000-square-foot "Chemours STEM Hub" saw its last beams signed and placed Monday, in a ceremony fit with families, teachers and leaders in Delaware education.

The hub will look to catalyze opportunities in STEM, with an expected opening by January 2025.

Early ideas came amid a darker period of pandemic shutdown, as the school realized the strength of its community impact. But now, the vision aims to boost access to brighter paths for its public-school students, as well as the greater Riverside community.

EastSide Charter School Chief Executive Officer Aaron Bass speaks during the topping off ceremony at the school in Wilmington, DE, Monday, April 8, 2024.

"It's realizing the needs of our youth in Wilmington, and in New Castle County, are greater than what takes place from 8 to 2:30 in school buildings," Bass said, knowing his student body itself is about 81% lower-income, 99% nonwhite. "If we're not trying to wrestle these ideas, with the corporate sector, with universities, with the parents, with the young people, and with our community as a whole, then we're going to continue to be facing the same issues year-in and year-out."

Secretary of Education Mark Holodick thought the moon's opening act was only fitting.

"Because this rarely happens in education in Delaware," he said to the crowd.

"For those who are not aware, unlike traditional districts, charters don't have access to capital funding. And so, this only happens when a charter leader  as Dr. Bass just shared  has this community connectedness and corporate partners and builds bridges."

ICYMI: A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday April 8. Here is the latest info

Demanding more for Wilmington

Standing on the same block flocked with viewers, Kairlyn Miles-Smith remembers her first impressions of it.

The the nearly 30-year educator moved to from Maryland to Bear some six years ago, with her granddaughter in tow. Early on, she interviewed with the charter school anchored in Riverside.

"I was a little bit taken aback because of the neighborhood," recalled the middle-school science teacher, ahead of the event. "But once I went inside, it felt like home to me."

Miles-Smith described outpours of information for parents and students, including her own youngster who would attend, alongside a warm family of faculty. She clicked with students, too, seeing the potential to grow a classroom with hands-on, cooperative learning.

EastSide Charter School 7th & 8th Science teacher Kairlyn Miles-Smith speaks during the topping off ceremony at the school in Wilmington, DE, Monday, April 8, 2024.

"And I'm thinking, inner-city school, they get this type of education?" she said. "I'm all-in. I'm here for it."

Marking the moment Monday felt historic, but it had nothing to do with the stars. Miles-Smith awaits the STEM Hub joining the EastSide mission, further feeding science, technology and math education for its 500 K-8 students already outgrowing the main building. This estimated $26.3 million project looks to be a resource for all learners  from a makers space to 3D printing, computers to other STEM-related work  while also key to the school's APEX honors program.

Much like the mission of EastSide, the vision doesn't stop at school. It plans to join the fabric of the community.

The new outfit will double as a community space after school, on weekends and in the summer, as explained by Chemours, a $4 million donor to the hub and global chemical company based in Delaware, after its groundbreaking. Workforce development, mentoring, robotics, chemistry, biology, renewable energy, adults learning to code, Science Olympiad competitions  programing possibilities list.

Steelworkers Mark Davis (left), Bear, and Rob Minor, Milford, position the signed steel beams that will top off the construction at the EastSide Charter School in Wilmington, DE, Monday, April 8, 2024.

Aaron Bass said a health center will also land in the hub, offering mental wellness support and other community resources. The CEO likes that the vision doesn't focus on one group or one subject, thinking of many science and tech opportunities across Delaware.

The location, he said, is also pivotal.

"The only way that you get noticed in STEM is you happen to perform well in math, you perform well in science, and that's only if you happen to have educators who are inspiring you to perform well," Bass said. "That's the only access point, which tends to mean that you are providing access to communities with less need, with more wealth."

So, he put it simply: "We've got to open up other access points."

Checking out the eclipse during the topping-off ceremony for the EastSide Charter School in Wilmington on Monday, April 8, 2024, are, from left, Amari Hubbard-Brown, 11; Ahmir Loat, 11; and AhLani Hubbard, 5.

Eclipse glasses came off, as attentions turned to ceremony. Speakers like Secretary Holodick, Sen. Marie Pinkney and more joined comments from Miles-Smith and Bass. Wilmington Public Library is set to help staff during non-school hours. Partners are poised to fill the space.

While all of the opportunities intersecting at this corner of Wilmington may feel like history, leaders believe it's an investment in the future.

"August 2044, the next eclipse, come back into this area," Bass told the crowd, thinking of the next total eclipse set to pass over the contiguous U.S. "You will not recognize it because of the work that's taking place today."

Steelworker Luis Alvarado of Bear uses a welders shield to view the eclipse outside the construction site at the EastSide Charter School in Wilmington on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Got a story? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for Delaware Online/The News Journal and USA TODAY Network Northeast, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on Twitter @kpowers01.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: EastSide Charter celebrates coming STEM Hub, eclipsing some other event
Tenth-grade students work at Belmont High School in the Internationals Network Academy, established to help immigrant children, many of them unaccompanied minors, adjust to the education system in L.A. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Over recent months, conservative leaders including Donald Trump , House Speaker Mike Johnson and Texas governor Greg Abbott have cynically used pressures at the U.S.-Mexico border to vilify immigrants and refugees fleeing harsh conditions across Latin America and other parts of the world. Theyve pushed fearmongering about immigrants as a threat to skew U.S. policy related to the war in Ukraine and the federal budget .

Some of that anti-immigrant sentiment has spread among voters . But its out of touch with the realities of another pre-election concern: the economy, to which noncitizens make increasingly essential contributions. Those contributions seem all the more poignant following the revelation that the maintenance workers who tragically lost their lives in the cargo ship crash at Baltimores Francis Scott Key Bridge were hard-working immigrants from Mexico and Central America.

Rather than the current vitriol, we owe immigrant laborers  and immigrant entrepreneurs  a far better deal for their essential role in our economy and way of life.

Read more: What rising immigration really means for California's economy

According to data compiled by University of Southern California researchers, in 2019 immigrants comprised nearly 30% of the population of the Golden State (which has the fifth-largest economy in the world), contributing more than $100 billion in taxes and $291 billion in spending power. Data from New York shows a similar economic impact: In 2021 , immigrant New Yorkers paid $61 billion in taxes and contributed $138 billion in spending power. Nationwide, during the pandemic, immigrants were among the most significant groups of workers who helped keep the economy afloat when others were in lockdown.

In so many ways, noncitizens are a net plus for our nation and its evolving economy. Nevertheless this group, including a large undocumented population, faces significantly higher employment risks than do citizens. According to a 2022 study by researchers at UC Merced , for example, California immigrant workers are overrepresented in high-risk jobs and twice as likely as citizens to work for hourly compensation below the prevailing "living wage." Such conditions are found across much of the country .

Moreover, much of our countrys innovation is driven by immigrant entrepreneurs and investors. Immigrants launched more than half (55%) of Americas startup companies valued at $1 billion or more, and nearly two-thirds (64%) of billion-dollar companies were founded or co-founded by immigrants or the children of immigrants, according to a 2022 analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy. Our next generation of economic leadership is likely to be shaped by noncitizen entrepreneurs  street vendors, franchisees, founders and venture capitalists alike.

Read more: Opinion: Laken Riley's killing does reflect a broader danger. But it isn't 'immigrant crime'

California has moved slowly but surely over recent years to lead on policies that address the needs and potential of noncitizens. It has provided state benefits for immigrants including eligibility for drivers licenses, college scholarships, low-income tax credits , direct cash aid during the pandemic and Medi-Cal health coverage . In addition, the state has a new program , Expanding Venture Capital Access, to create a more inclusive venture capital ecosystem (its first investment was in Unshackled Ventures, a fund that invests in immigrant-founded startups and for which one of us works).

Still more can be done. In addition to Californias existing programs and investments, which should be emulated or at least considered around the country, we need stronger labor protections for noncitizens, such as unemployment insurance. Undocumented immigrants should have access to state-administered food stamp benefits and cash assistance for elderly and vulnerable immigrants paid for by their tax dollars.

And finally, some municipalities in California and elsewhere allow noncitizens to vote in local elections that bear directly on their opportunities and well-being. Our nations earliest principles stemmed from resistance to taxation without representation. Hardworking immigrants who pay taxes, do essential work and abide by our laws should not be precluded from voting in local and state elections that affect their quality of life, as well as our collective prospects for a future of prosperity and progress.

Read more: Granderson: Texas' immigration law is understandable, terrible and doomed

The best of our nations history has kept doors and minds open to the many time-tested contributions immigrants have brought through their hard work and big dreams. What we should really fear is what our country might look like if we reject this rich tradition of inclusion and fairness.

Henry A. J. Ramos is a senior fellow at the New School Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy. Angelica Salas is executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles and a trustee of the California Wellness Foundation. C. M. Samala is head of community & culture at Unshackled Ventures.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The U.S. Supreme Court 2014 decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby allowed religious, anti-abortion employers to refuse to cover contraception in their employee health insurance. But an extraordinary April 4 appellate court decision in Indiana turned the conservative Supreme Courts landmark Hobby Lobby decision into a winning argument for abortion rights.

The unanimous ruling from the three-judge panel, which found that the states abortion ban burdens the religious beliefs of those whose faiths permit abortions, signals the possibility of a long overdue shift in the conservative bias of religious freedom jurisprudence. It also signals the emergence of a partial, albeit untested, argument for people needing an abortion in states that have banned it.

The Indiana case was brought in 2022 by five anonymous plaintiffs of faith and the group Jewish Hoosiers for Choice. Theyre seeking a religious exemption from the abortion ban Indiana enacted following the U.S. Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade that year. They said the ban violates their rights under the states Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which, like the federal law the owners of Hobby Lobby successfully relied on to avoid providing contraception coverage, protects religious objectors from laws that substantially burden their sincerely held religious beliefs.

The plaintiffs argued that their religious doctrine teaches that a fetus is part of a womans body, not an independent being with its own rights. The abortion ban, then, violates their religious freedom to decide whether to have an abortion. This argument, which undergirds similar religious freedom lawsuits across the country, including in Kentucky, Missouri and Florida, is a profound pushback against the Christian rights attempts to assert their position, that life begins at conception and that a fetus is a person, as the only genuine religious belief.

In defending the abortion ban, the state argued that because seeking an abortion is not a mandatory religious ritual for the plaintiffs, they were not entitled to the protections of the states RFRA. But the court rejected this argument out of hand, citing the U.S. Supreme Courts Hobby Lobby ruling as decisive precedent. The procurement of health insurance is not a mandatory religious ritual, either, wrote Judge Leanna K. Weissmann (who was appointed to the court by the governor who signed the states abortion ban into law). If the owners of Hobby Lobby could engage in religious exercise by refusing to provide coverage for contraceptives they considered abortifacients, the court concluded, then it stands to reason that a pregnant person can engage in a religious exercise by pursuing an abortion.

The Indiana Supreme Court will have the final word in the likelihood that the state appeals. Nonetheless, religious liberty scholars see the appellate court decision as an important corrective in a protracted effort to undo the lopsided application of RFRA in favor of Christian conservatives. Elizabeth Sepper, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law and an expert on religious liberty law, told me the decision is enormously significant, as it shows what an even-handed application of religious liberty doctrine looks like.

Sepper cautioned, though, that even if the states high court lets the decision stand, how that decision might be applied is still uncertain. A RFRA-based court injunction against the abortion ban would presumably shield a doctor from being charged with a felony for performing an otherwise illegal abortion. But it is not clear how these scenarios would play out in real life, since doctors would be risking jail, financial penalties and loss of their medical licenses. Theres a great deal of confusion and concern, said Sepper, including among doctors who might worry in our current environment about blowback and harassment, even if the state did not prosecute them.

Still, the decision shows how, in the decade since the Hobby Lobby decision, there's been a backlash against the Christian rights efforts to impose their religious beliefs on everyone else. The Hobby Lobby case grew out of the Christian rights broader attack on Obama-era efforts to expand reproductive and LGBTQ rights. The Christian right cast those policies as tantamount to persecution of Christians.

With Republicans in control of the House of Representatives following the 2010 midterms, they staged a series of volatile hearings intended to portray Obama as trampling on the religious freedom and conscience rights of Christians who opposed contraception and abortion. In the process, those Republicans made it clear that they believed that religious freedom for conservative Christians took precedence over the rights of everyone else. In other words, they believed in religious freedom for me but not for thee. Thats why the Indiana Court of Appeals decision finding religious freedom for those with opposite beliefs on abortion is so momentous.

In addition to turning the 2014 Hobby Lobby decision against the Christian rights position, the Indiana courts decision also shows that the Christian rights state-level excesses might be coming back to haunt them. The state RFRA was signed into law by then-Gov. Mike Pence in 2015. There was a frenzy of Christian right efforts that year to craft expansive religious exemptions for opponents of marriage equality as they anticipated the high courts impending decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which allowed same-sex couples to marry. But these religious dogmatists apparently did not anticipate that their RFRA would provide potent legal ammunition to people with religious beliefs different from their own following their criminalization of abortion.

Dobbs, which overturned Roe, was a high watermark for the Christian nationalist activists who seek to make their biblical worldview the law of the land. The Indiana decision is a hopeful sign that the tide might be turning, with courts ready to hear how that particular biblical worldview infringes on the rights of other Americans, including religious people whose beliefs have been sidelined by the Christians rights quest to monopolize religious freedom for a right-wing minority.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Editors Note: W. James Antle III is executive editor of the Washington Examiner magazine and author of Devouring Freedom: Can Government Ever Be Stopped? The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN.

Former President Donald Trump clarified his position on abortion in the first presidential election since the reversal of Roe v. Wade, which owed in part to the three justices he appointed to the Supreme Court.

Trumps position  mainly leaving the issue to the states to determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both, expecting a wide variety of abortion laws and whatever they decide must be the law of the land  divides the Republican Party and could end up pleasing no one. The former president and presumptive 2024 Republican nominee wants to simultaneously take credit for Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization while promising to shield voters who do not reside in pro-life states from its consequences.

W. James Antle III - Courtesy W. James Antle III

Trump subsequently ruled out signing a federal abortion ban, as his opponents are describing all national anti-abortion legislation, entirely. Pro-life activists would be correct to deem that a bridge too far. But it should be noted that in practice, unless Senate Republicans win the majority and eliminate the legislative filibuster  something they are less likely to do than their Democratic counterparts  anything that would actually reach Trumps desk would need to have bipartisan support. That probably wouldnt be a 15- to 20-week ban, much less something earlier. And if it was, youd have to wonder if Trump would actually veto bipartisan pro-life legislation.

Both President Joe Bidens reelection campaign and pro-life activists have already denounced Trumps vow to leave abortion law to the states.

Still, Trump has a point. With Roe, the Supreme Court attempted to impose a uniform national abortion policy without democratic participation by the voters or their elected representatives. Dobbs did not attempt to do the same. It merely restored state and federal lawmakers, and ultimately the voters who choose them, as the ultimate arbiters of abortion policy rather than the court.

If you are going to allow abortion to be settled by the voters, then you have to care about public opinion on the issue. It is impossible to enact successful and sustainable legislation restricting abortion if it lacks popular support. Since Dobbs, Republicans have experienced numerous abortion-related setbacks at the ballot box. Recent court rulings have made abortion a top issue in Arizona and Florida, two of the states that will help decide the presidential race. Trump currently leads in Arizona and Florida polls.

This is not just an issue for Republican electoral prospects, though obviously, if you are going to let elected officials shape abortion policy, abortion opponents will need like-minded candidates who are able to win elections. It ultimately speaks to whether the pro-life cause will prevail. Overturning Roe was just the first step.

Winning over the electorate is critical. Pro-lifers have not accomplished this feat yet. Recent election results and Gallup polling suggest people with nuanced views about abortion have shifted to the pro-choice side.

This wasnt always the case, and even now, support for legal abortion in every circumstance remains a minority position. In the final three decades of Roe, 1992s Casey v. Planned Parenthood decision, in which conservatives on the Supreme Court failed to overturn the 1973 landmark decision, expanded lawmakers ability to restrict abortion.

This period of time saw a reduction in abortions and intermittent gains for the pro-life position in polls as the pro-choice side appeared to shed middle-ground voters in debates over late-term abortion procedures and other matters.

Trump is trying to restore those political conditions. It must be remembered that the Democrats are the radical ones on this position because they support abortion up to and even beyond the ninth month, he said. (Democrats generally dispute this characterization of their viewpoint.)

While Trump has held a variety of abortion stances over the years and left some uncertainty as to where he would come down in this campaign, his current position is consistent with most of what he has said in the lead-up to the primaries, where his main challenger, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, took a similar line.

I agree with the pro-life activists who say this does not go far enough in protecting fetal life and share their sense of urgency. But an incremental approach, coupled with more attempts to persuade a divided public, may be the best path forward under the prevailing political conditions.

Trump will deservedly get some benefit of the doubt due to his role in ending Roe. He now has a record from having served a term as president, during which he delivered more results than some Republicans who are regarded as being purer or more sincere in their opposition to abortion.

Moreover, if Democrats hold the Senate without filibuster defenders Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, while retaining the White House and capturing the House, they could pass legislation codifying Roe and arguably push abortion policy further to the left.

It took nearly 50 years to overturn Roe. A pro-life political culture is unlikely to be built in a single presidential election. But ground can be lost, endangering not just Republican candidates but innocent lives as abortion foes find themselves spread too thin while battling over multiple fronts.

Viewed as a starting point rather than the endgame, Trumps compromise has a chance to be good politics for Republicans in this campaign. It could also be a sound strategy for a pro-life movement seeking to capitalize on and prolong the post-Roe moment.

This piece was updated to reflect Trumps comments on federal abortion legislation.

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Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, hasnt said a lot about Russias war in Ukraine, the biggest international news story before Israels war against Hamas in Gaza shoved it off the front pages. When Trump does mention the conflict, he tends to keep his comments extremely vague. At times, theyre contradictory.

The day before Russias full-scale invasion more than two years ago, for instance, Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin genius and savvy for declaring Ukraines Donbas region independent and using it as a pretext to send Russian forces in. Weeks later, once the invasion was in full swing, the former president was more morose on Putin: Now, a lot of things are changing.  This doesnt seem to be the same Putin that I was dealing with.

But through it all, Trump has been consistent on one thing: The war should end sooner than later, ideally immediately. During a May 2023 CNN town hall, he stated that he wanted Russians and Ukrainians alike to stop dying and that striking a deal was the only way to do it. He has bragged repeatedly that he could hammer out a peace deal in 24 hours, even as he refuses to articulate his strategy for pulling off such a feat.

We now possibly know more details of Trumps proposed Russia-Ukraine strategy, as reported by The Washington Post over the weekend. The Post cites people who discussed the plan with Trump or his advisers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity about confidential conversations and suggest Trump would plan to push Ukraine to hand over control of Crimea and the Donbas region to Russia in any future settlement, in effect codifying the gains Putin has made in his illegal invasion. In return, Putin would have to stop the war for good.

The Washington Post report was met with a flurry of criticism. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Trump ally, said he was opposed to giving Russia land. The rumored plan raised eyebrows in Kyiv as well, with one former Ukrainian interior ministry official arguing that giving Russia a face-saving way out meant destroying the very post-World War II rules-based order the U.S. and its allies claim to defend. Even Robert Reich, President Bill Clintons former secretary of labor, piled on: Did we learn nothing from WWII and the danger of appeasement? Give an inch, hell take it all, he posted on X. Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller blasted the Post report as fake news.

Are there problems with Trumps reported land-for-peace idea? No question. But as the war goes on, the realistic alternatives are becoming more difficult to spot.

Such measures would certainly not be welcome in Kyiv. Ukraine, for one, scoffs at the notion that formally gifting Putin a chunk of its territory would result in a long-term peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has argued that any cease-fire would only benefit Russia in the end, allowing it to recuperate and rebuild before the inevitable counterattack. Last summer, during the beginning of Ukraines counteroffensive in the east, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that cease-fires with Russia are only short-term aberrations rather than a true peace. Zelenskyy himself has been outright dismissive of Trumps I can solve it in 24 hours boast, all but telling him to visit Kyiv so he can receive an education.

You cant blame analysts and world leaders  anybody, really  for rolling their eyes at this specific peace formulation, at least in todays circumstances. The practicalities of negotiating it, yet alone implementing it, are extremely challenging. The Ukrainians are still very much committed to their own 10-point peace plan, first unveiled by Zelenskyy in November 2022, that demands a full Russian troop withdrawal from every inch of Ukrainian territory, a justice mechanism to prosecute Russians for war crimes, security assurances from the West and compensation for damages. Ukraines inability to gain any more ground over the last 18 months hasnt changed this position in any notable way. On the other side, Putin, his power solidified at home after a stage-managed election last month, is in no mood to negotiate at a time when the Russian army is engaged in several counteroffensives along the 600-mile-long front line and weeks after Moscow experienced its biggest territorial victory in nearly a year.

Trumps purported plan leaves even more to be desired. Russia, for example, doesnt control all of the Donbas, which means that for the scheme to work, Ukraine would have to voluntarily withdraw from the entire region after spending two years trying to liberate that very same stretch of land. To be blunt, this is as likely as Putin waking up one morning and deciding to withdraw Russian forces from Crimea. Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, two entirely different provinces, would apparently be given back to Ukraine, requiring a Russian troop pullout there. The whole thing is almost too delusional to entertain. There are also other factors U.S. policymakers would have to consider if they operationalized such a plan. How would China, for example, react to a situation whereby Russia was in essence rewarded for its aggression? How could the West be certain that Putin wouldnt try to push farther west a year or five years down the line?

Yet as deficient as the plan may be  and lets be clear, plan might be too strong a word  its increasingly likely that some kind of diplomatic settlement will need to occur to end the war. While even this baseline observation will strike a chord with some of Ukraines backers, its increasingly evident that the war wont terminate with a wholesale victory by one side or the other. There wont be a surrender signing ceremony aboard an aircraft carrier akin to imperial Japans declaration of defeat in September 1945. The U.S. and its allies in Europe seem to recognize this, although they remain hesitant to pressure Ukraine into a diplomatic process its own leaders arent ready to explore.

Trump, as hard as it is for some to admit, is probably correct that a settlement will have to be explored sooner or later. As it stands today, neither Ukraine nor Russia has the military capacity for a full victory. The days of big territorial breakthroughs like Ukraines September 2022 counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region are likely over. The conflict is bleeding both sides. U.K. military intelligence estimates that Russia has sustained an average of 638 casualties a day over the last two years, recently having lost 913 men every day through March.

The Ukrainian army is doing the best it can with the limited resources at its disposal, but even if another assistance package clears Congress, it wont mitigate its manpower issues. Those whose patriotic fervor led them to rush the enlistment offices in the first weeks of the war are now dead, injured or still in the trenches, which means Zelenskyy will need to dip deeper into the Ukrainian population to fill the ranks as soldiers rotate out. This was made worse by last years failed counteroffensive, the results of which were at best crumbs on a map that is hard to differentiate from one month to the next.

So critics may scoff at Trumps reported plan all they want  but when it comes down to it, a diplomatic agreement that is good enough for both sides is one of the more realistic avenues to pursue. The only question is how exhausted Ukraine and Russia will become before pursuing it.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
AMMAN, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The Jordanian military announced on Tuesday the completion of 14 humanitarian aid air drops over Gaza, delivering supplies such as clothing, food, children's toys, and sweets to both the northern and southern regions of the enclave.

According to the state-run Petra news agency, the military described the operation as "the largest air drop operation" in Gaza. The initial phase targeted the southern areas with aircraft from the Royal Jordanian Air Force, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Indonesia. The second phase focused on the northern regions, deploying additional Jordanian aircraft alongside those from the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Britain, and France.

The relief aid, which included boxes of food and other materials from the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, was intended as a gesture of solidarity with the Palestinian people amid the ongoing conflict with Israel, with the aim of alleviating the challenging conditions faced by Gazan residents during the Eid al-Fitr celebrations, the Jordanian military stated.

Since the onset of Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct.7, 2023, the Jordanian military has conducted a total of 77 air drops, with an additional 170 conducted in cooperation with other countries. 
These are Oregons most expensive colleges for the 2024-2025 academic year

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The cost of college continues to rise in Oregon and around the U.S.

At private universities, a single school year is now estimated to cost undergraduate students more than $90,000, a new report states.

In Oregon, the average cost of attending a private university rose from $50,617 in 2017 to more than $60,000 in 2022, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. For the 2024-2025 academic year, Oregons most expensive university is estimated to cost an incoming freshman more than $88,000.

Prices are so high that some schools, such as Corban University in Salem, now include sales pitches on their websites advising students that grants and scholarships can help to lower the staggering tuition costs.

Dont get stuck on the sticker price! Corban University states on its tuition webpage. This cost is not what most students pay. Every new student will receive at least an $9,000 academic scholarship and may be eligible for other scholarships and grants.

Heres whos playing Portland venues in April: Luis Miguel, Sleater-Kinney, The Veronicas

While comparatively cheaper than private universities, Oregons public universities will also cost students tens of thousands of dollars per year. During the 2021-2022 academic year, the average annual cost of attending a public university in Oregon was $25,397, data shows.

With tuition prices still rising, KOIN 6 has compiled a list of the most expensive universities in Oregon for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The estimated cost of an undergraduate student living on campus with a meal plan for the 2024-2025 school year (books and personal expenses not included):

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
A few minutes of darkness in the middle of the day drew hundreds of visitors to The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), Monday to celebrate the total eclipse of the sun.

A map of the world set up at the welcome gave area visitors an opportunity to pin where they were from, and there were guests from as far away as South Korea, India and other countries in Europe as well as visitors from across the United States.

Terry and Judy Lanning of Jenison, Michigan, did not feel out of place on the OSU Wooster campus to experience the event, sitting proudly in their University of Michigan chairs.

"Ohhh this was amazing," Judy Lanning said. "We were in Carbondale (Illinois) seven years ago, and just before totality, a single cloud came in so we didn't see it. A lady sitting next to us said, 'God must not have wanted us to see it today,' and that's the first thing that came to my mind as well."

"I think God is in control. He controls everything in the universe," Terry Lanning said.

Sisters Leanna and Lesedi Tieszen of Millersburg use their special design solar glssses to watch the elcipse.

Enjoying the eclipse at Kinney fields

Dozens of people sat in groups on blankets or lawn chairs spread out across Kinney fields. South of the Wayne County Childrens Services building some played frisbee and lacrosse as they awaited totality. Others lay on the grass and looked up through glasses.

Anticipation built as the air turned hazy and the temperature dropped. Then, right at 3:16 p.m. the last sliver of orange sun disappeared from the glasses and the sky took on the colors of dusk with and orange and yellow glow visible just above the rooftops on Highland Avenue.

A combined gasp and cheer arose from those spread across the field. One group clapped. In the distance fireworks sounded and cars honked their horns. People took off their glasses and marveled at the blue-white corona around the moon. The parking lot lights behind the Childrens Services building turned on, their sensors having been tripped by the sudden darkness.

National Weather Service : Observed Weather for past 3 Days : Erie, Erie International Airport

The traffic had diminished on Highland Avenue and Burbank Road, and during the two or three minutes of totality, it seemed the world stood still, as people tried to take photos of the corona on their phones.

During the first stage of the solar eclipse it was a calm gathering of people from everywhere.

Then, just as suddenly as it started, a ray of sun burst from behind the moon, and the odd grey light of the partial eclipse returned.

It was pretty cool, Rowan Spurlock, a fifth grader at Triway, said as the sun returned. Breathtaking, added Alexandra Sansom, an Edgewood seventh grader.

The Spurlock and Sansom families watched the eclipse together from Kinney Fields.

The kids couldnt remember the 2017 partial solar eclipse very well, but the adults said it couldnt compare.

This was a totally different experience, said Carrie Sansom, a 49-year-old librarian at Parkview Elementary School.

Liz Stewart and Bertie Showers of Wooster found a quiet place to watch the solar eclipse at the Secrest Arboretum on the OARDC campus.

It was like night and day, Keely Spurlock, a 46-year-old real estate agent, chimed in.

I remember thinking the [2017] partial eclipse was close enough, and we dont need to travel, but now its like, its not the same, the elder Sansom said.

A total eclipse of the sun to the delight of the all the vislitors at the OARDC in Wooster.

Across the field, Kevin Kamins, 65, and Kimberly Gray Kamins, 58, sat still gazing through their glasses as the moon receded.

They are from the Raleigh Durham area of North Carolina and had been at a wedding in Pittsburgh over Easter. They decided to stick around for the eclipse.

Every day they were checking cloud cover forecasts to decide where exactly they would go, Gray Kamins said. They were leaning toward the Akron area until late.

Early Monday morning Kamins got up to check the weather one again. He said Were going toward Wooster, Gray Kamins recounted.

They thought about stopping in East Palestine, but Kamins said he spent a year of college at the College of Wooster so they got off the interstate to avoid traffic and took backroads to Wooster.

My wife would panic as it looked like it would get cloudier, but I assured her it was going to get clearer, Kamins said.

In the end, their bet on Wooster paid off. They saw a 93 percent eclipse in 2017 from North Carolina, but totality was something else.

For me, its that instant you can kinda take the glasses off and youre seeing with your own eyes and its amazing, he said.

Hanna Warnecke, Columbus, Zachary Zimardi, Youngstown and Blair Butler of Newcomerstown get a quick look at the solar eclipse progress.

A great learning experience

"This was definitely a great experience, something that won't happen again for awhile," said Zach Payne, a student at Stark State College in Canton, who was at the OSU campus location. "This was totally unexpected as opposed to what I heard from media."

Kip Gardner, a science professor at Stark State, invited several of his students to take the hourlong trip from North Canton to Wooster.

"It was quite an experience for kids. This was my third eclipse," Gardner said. "It was worth coming out and seeing it again. For most people it's a once in a lifetime things, but I've been lucky enough to experience three."

He was living in Virginia in 1970 and it went right over his house. He watched it from his yard.

"Then in 2017, I took my daughter down to Tennessee to see that one," he said. "To come here to Wooster, it was worth the hour's drive from home to see it. It's always an amazing sight."

One difference Gardner pointed out between the eclipse he saw Monday and the one he saw in Virginia, he remembered how the birds stopped chirping because they thought it was night in the woods.

"When the sun came back out, they started singing again," he said. "That didn't happen here. There weren't many birds here today."

Noah Turner reacts to looking at the sun through his eclipse glasses. The 6-year-old is from Wheeling, West Virginia, and was with his mother, Jeannette, at the OARDC in Wooster Monday.

Jeanette Turner of Wheeling, West Virginia, hoped to use the eclipse experience as a learning opportunity for her inquisitive 6-year-old Noah.

"He's always asking good questions," Turner said. "My husband and I often wonder what he's going to say next. He has a rare sense of humor for a kid his age."

Noah asked his mom why people came from so far away to see it get dark when it happens every night when he goes to bed. She tried to explain the rareness of an eclipse to him.

He was fascinated when he looked at the sun through his eclipse glasses.

A big fan of astrology

Rosemary Willow of Charlottesville, Virginia, said she and her friend made the trip to Wooster because of the video she saw on YouTube explaining how to correctly pronounce Wooster.

"I'm a big fan of astrology, and anything to do with the solar system," Willow said. "An eclipse of this magnitude, where the sun is so close to the earth, this is an historic event. I'll be dead when the next one happens in 44 years.

"It (Wooster) looked like a pretty cool place," she added. "It's close to Amish Country, and we were able to make a stop in Berlin on our way here. I thought this would be a great place, but I didn't know it was going to be this fantastic."

John Saylor of Mineral City, Ohio, joined his son-in-law, Josh Compton of Dover, for the experience.

"This is the most awesome thing I've seen in my life," Saylor said. "I live an hour down the road. I can't live this close to totality and not be here. I'll probably never see anything like this again, although my buddy in Florida did invite me to come the eclipse in 44 years. I'll only be 88 then, so why not.

"I thought it would be darker," he added. "Maybe it was darker closer to the center line."

"I've never seen anything like this," Compton added. "It was great to experience something like this; something you don't see every day."

Greg Crawley of Pittsburgh traveled to Wooster with his camera equipment to captuer the solar eclipse.

Greg Cawley of Pittsburgh used the opportunity to get together with his brother from the Arlington, VA area and savor the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"The people who organized this event today did an awesome job, with so many things for visitors to see and do," Cawley said.

Associate Dean and Campus Director Andy Michel was grateful for such a great day weather-wise and truly appreciated all the support from the visitors to the campus on Monday.

At the College of Wooster

By 2:30 p.m., hundreds of students, professors and staff were sitting and standing on the south quad in front of the College of Woosters iconic Kauke Hall, peering at the sun through their eclipse glasses.

The colleges astronomy club had been planning the gathering for six months under the supervisor of Laura DeGroot, a physics professor.

That Wooster is in the path of totality is exceedingly rare, DeGroot said as she watched students use a sun spotter set up on a table on the quad. They only happen about twice a year anywhere on earth because the moons orbit is on a 5 degree incline, the physicist explained.

Not only are they rare and cool to look at, throughout history theyve provided great opportunities for scientists, DeGroot said, pointing to the 1919 eclipse expedition led by British physicist Arthur Eddington.

Einsteins theory of general relativity, published just a few years earlier, predicted that massive objects, like the sun, would bend light around them, and thats exactly what Eddington observed during the 1919 eclipse, DeGroot said.

It provided great evidence for general relativity, she said. The expedition may have included Woosters own Arthur Compton, a College of Wooster alum and physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics 1927, DeGroot said.

Megan Nieberding, a visiting physics professor at the College of Wooster, adjusted her high-powered telescope, as a student waited for an up-close view of the eclipse during an event on the colleges south quad Monday.

The students who lined up to take a gander through Megan Nieberdings telescope on the other end of the quad probably didnt make any observations that will lead to a Nobel, they were learning a lot.

Have you ever looked through a telescope before, Nieberding, a visiting physics professor, asked one student.

Not one like this, he said before peering through the viewfinder of Nieberdings high-powered Celestron Nexstar 8SE telescope.

Can you see the sunspots? Nieberding asked.

What are those? the student replied.

Theyre slightly cooler areas of the suns surface, she told him.

He confirmed that he could indeed see the darker, cooler regions of the sun, which would be invisible to those only wearing eclipse glasses, through the telescope.

Nieberding traveled to Nashville to experience totality in 2017, but this one came to her.

The last one gave me goosebumps, so Im just so excited for this one, she said as more students took their turns on the telescope and the moon hit the half-way mark in its march across the sun.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: 2024 total solar eclipse awes many in Wooster, Ohio
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  April is National Donate Life Month and doctors are working to raise awareness of the growing need for donors.

More than 100,000 Americans are currently in need of an organ transplant and doctors say the waiting list is growing by the hour. A new name is added to the list every eight minutes. Eighty-six percent of those in line need a kidney, while 10 percent are waiting on a liver.

Sadly, not every patient will survive the wait. Six thousand people in the U.S. die every year waiting for a transplant.

The need is overwhelming, said Dr. Kiran Dhanireddy, the Vice-President of Tampa General Hospitals Transplant Institute. Theres about 6,000 patients in Florida awaiting transplantation and the only way we get to save their lives is through the generous gift of organ donation.

The need for those donations is felt around the clock at TGH. Last year, Tampa General performed the fourth-highest number of organ transplants in the nation, with 756 transplants. The hospital is on track to do even more this year, thanks in part to cutting-edge capabilities.

Were using innovative new technologies of organ profusion, where we actually pump blood through organs, we preserve organs in a way that allows us to use more marginal organs from medically complex donors and then get to transplant to more patients in our community, Dr. Dhanireddy said.

Doctors are encouraging everyone to consider becoming a registered organ donor. One single tissue donor can help more than 75 people.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
'Overwhelming joy': Those who came from near, far enjoyed eclipse totality in Wapakoneta

Right to left, Stella, 11, Christian and Amanda Tong look up as the eclipse begins at Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta. The family is in Ohio to get treatment for their son, Leo, at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital and Christian Tong found the museum event.

The atmosphere was joyous as hundreds of people watched the eclipse from the lawn of the Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio.

The city, in Northwest Ohio, was in the path of totality, and the museum's festivities  including food trucks, a DJ, shave ice, T-shirts and museum tours  drew many visitors from near and far to the birthplace of Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon.

As the DJ announced two minutes to totality, cheers and applause sounded, people wrapping blankets around themselves as a chill snuck into the air, and the wind picked up. As darkness slowly began to blanket the lawn, people looked up through their eclipse glasses, exclaiming about the beauty of the sun and sky.

Totality photos: Solar eclipse 2024 photos from across Central Ohio

The sky was an ethereal, almost eerie shade of blue  the eclipse white around the edges in what one astronomy enthusiast called a "diamond ring effect," caused by streams of sunlight peeking through the moon's mountains.

People gathered in Wapakoneta got nearly four minutes of totality, but the joy of the occasion began before totality and persisted long after. Families danced on their blankets to the sun- and moon-themed music blaring from the DJ's speakers, kids and adults enjoyed shaved ice from a food truck and many took selfies and photos of one another to mark the occasion.

"Beautiful," is the word Stella Tong, 11, used to describe the total solar eclipse from her viewpoint, lying on a grassy hill in front of the museum.

"It was amazing, it was absolutely amazing," said her dad, Christian Tong, 51.

The family  which also includes mom Amanda Tong, 48, and son Leo, 7  traveled from their home in Tampa, Florida, to Cincinnati to get treatment at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital for Leo, who has a rare health condition.

"It was great to be right on the center of totality," said Christian Tong. "It was amazing. It was absolutely amazing."

Christian Tong also noted the nice weather, and Amanda Tong enjoyed the atmosphere of the museum's event.

We love it. The people set up with their gear, the interactive things for the kids, the music. The whole vibe is good," she said.

Eclipse live blog: As eclipse ends in Ohio, traffic delays expected again

After totality, the event's DJ asked the crowd to cheer if it was their first solar eclipse, and many cheers went up. Including, likely, that of Owen Clark, 8, who lives in Pataskala and was viewing the eclipse from the museum's lawn with his mom, Jessica Clark, 41, and his brother Camdyn Clark, 11.

"Worth it," Owen said, of the eclipse. "It was a bunch of money, but it was worth it. It was a once in a lifetime experience, at least for me," he said, glaring in jealous jest at his older brother, who saw the partial 2017 eclipse as a preschooler.

Camdyn Clark, 11; Owen Clark, 8; and their mom Jessica Clark, 41, at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta. The family, from Pataskala, drove up Sunday night to see the eclipse in totality and said it was "worth it."

"The full was way better," Camdyn said. His favorite part? The darkness.

Michael Latka, an astronomy enthusiast, brought a special telescope to look at the sun and saw a red solar prominence, like a flare but lasting longer, that showed up during totality and after. It was on the bottom edge of the sun and was much bigger than the circumference of the Earth, he said.

Latka, from Jackson, Michigan, worked as an industrial engineer at a company that produced parts for the Apollo missions and moon rockets.

Michael Latke, an astronomy enthusiast who helped engineer parts for moon rockets, looks at the eclipse through his telescope at Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta on April 8, 2024.

As for the eclipse as a whole, Latka said it was "absolutely magnificent."

Emotionally and visually magnificent, Latka said, and he felt "a burst of awesomeness" looking up at it.

Doug Hansell, 67, and his wife BJ, 64, came from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to see the eclipse in totality.

The couple had been planning to come to Wapakoneta to view the eclipse for about six months. They bought a telescope a few years ago and have since traveled to see stars and planets around the nation.

Hansell said he has seen partial eclipses but never a full one. The partial eclipse, still, was "a spiritual experience," he said.

For him, it highlights human's place in the universe  and how "we're just a tiny piece of what's out there"  and seeing the total eclipse brought Hansell feelings of "overwhelming joy."

Doug Hansell, 67, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, looks through his telescope as the total eclipse begins at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio on April 8, 2024

It brought tears to his wife's eyes.

"It was just such an overwhelming experience," she said. "You can't believe this is happening in front of you, it's like seeing a baby being born."

dking@dispatch.com

@DanaeKing

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Those who came from near, far enjoyed eclipse totality in Wapakoneta
Anna Maria Tolomello pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse

Bucks County District Attorney's Office; Go Fund Me Anna Maria Tolomello, left, and Giovanni Gallina

A former Pennsylvania pizza shop owner who was accused of fatally shooting her longtime partner two years ago and leaving his body in their home for more than a week has pleaded guilty, authorities said.

On April 8, Anna Maria Tolomello pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse in connection with the death of her common-law husband, 65-year-old Giovanni Gallina, according to a press release from the Bucks County District Attorneys Office. Her trial was expected to start the same day.

Prosecutors said Tolomello admitted her March 2022 killing of Gallina was unjustified, that she left his body in their home for 13 days, and that she disposed of evidence related to his murder. The two owned Pinas Pizza in Chalfont, Pa.

According to a criminal complaint previously reviewed by PEOPLE, Tolomello also hired a contractor to dig a hole in their driveway, where she planned to bury Gallina and pave over his body.

Related: Pa. Pizza Shop Owner Accused of Murdering Her Longtime Partner, Telling Victim's Son He Was Away 'on Business'

The complaint states she contacted the contractor three days after the slaying of Gallina, and asked for a hole seven-feet long, three-feet wide and three-feet deep. Around the same time, she asked a friend for "any tricks" to get rid of a skunk odor from her garage, according to the complaint.

Police began investigating Gallina's disappearance on March 29, 2022 after his son, who lives in Italy, reported him missing. Their daily WhatsApp text conversations had ceased, and he hadn't heard from his father since mid-March.

Tolomello told Gallinas son that his father was out of town and was away on business, the complaint states. Additionally, workers at the pizzeria told police that Gallina had not been around in a while. According to the complaint, Tollomello never reported Gallina missing to any law enforcement agency.

It wasnt until investigators spoke to the contractor on March 29, 2022, that the contractor told them Tolomello reached out over text on March 19, 2022, asking to dig a hole in her driveway to bury one or more items, the complaint states. After the contractor dug the hole, Tolomello met the contractor at the pizzeria and paid $350 for the work.

When investigators executed a search warrant on the home, she admitted that she shot Gallina but said she acted in self-defense after he tried to strangle her on the bed, according to the complaint. However, prosecutors said in the April 8 press release that Gallina was shot in the back of the head.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

During the search, authorities found Gallina wrapped in blue tarp and a comforter in the master bedroom, the complaint states. His head was covered in a black plastic garbage bag. Tolomello said at the time that she cleaned up after the murder and tossed the bloody mattress in a dumpster behind the pizzeria.

Tolomello is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25.

On a GoFundMe campaign created following Gallina's death, his loved ones said he was a father of three children and grandfather of two boys.

"[Gallina] was a funny, kind-hearted and good person all around," the organizer wrote.



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Read the original article on People.
James and Jennifer Crumbley apologized to the parents of the Oxford High School shooting victims before being sentenced to prison

Bill Pugliano/Getty Images; JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images James, left, and Jennifer Crumbley

James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of convicted Michigan high school shooter Ethan Crumbley, were sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison. They were both convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deadly 2021 shooting at Oxford High School.

Juries decided that both parents, who were tried separately, were accountable for their son's actions by failing to take steps to prevent the shooting. Judge Cheryl Matthews handed down the sentences in Oakland County court Tuesday, April 9, according to reports from the Associated Press, the Detroit Free-Press and CNN.

On Nov. 30, 2021, James and Jennifer's son shot and killed Hana St. Juliana, 14, Tate Myre, 16, Justin Shilling, 17, and Madisyn Baldwin, 17, all students at Oxford High School in Oxford, Mich., and injured seven others.

Hana St. Juliana/Instagram; Tate Myre/Twitter; Kevin Shilling/GoFundMe; Jennifer Graves Mosqueda/GoFundMe Hana St. Juliana, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling, Madisyn Baldwin

Families of the victims read victim impact statements at Tuesday's hearing, which was live streamed by the AP.

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, addressed James and Jennifer directly.

"While you were purchasing a gun for your son and leaving it unlocked, I was helping her finish her college essays," Beausoleil said.

Bill Pugliano/Getty Images; JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images James, left, and Jennifer Crumbley

Reina St. Juliana, whose sister Hana was killed, also spoke in court.

"I never got to say goodbye," she said. "I never got to remind her that I love her."

James and Jennifer were charged with involuntary manslaughter days after the shooting. Prosecutors have argued that both parents had failed to prevent their son's actions, pointing to a meeting held between the parents and school officials the morning of the shooting.

Related: James Crumbley, Father of Michigan School Shooter, Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter Weeks After His Wife's Trial

The meeting, which was called after the shooter drew a picture of a gun, ended abruptly, and he remained in school that day.

Jennifer was convicted on all counts in February. James was convicted the following month.

At his sentencing, James apologized to the families of the victims killed by his son.

"As a parent, our biggest fear is losing our child or our children, and to lose a child is unimaginable," James said. "My heart is really broken for everybody involved."

Oakland County Sheriff's Office James, left, and Jennifer Crumbley

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After James' conviction, Ven Johnson, an attorney for the victim's families, released a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

"This guilty verdict, along with those found against the shooter's mother, Jennifer Crumbley, won't bring back the lives of these four students, but it represents one more step towards holding everyone responsible accountable under the law, which is justice for the victims' families and the Oxford community," the statement read in part.

The shooter was sentenced to life in prison in 2023 after pleading guilty to 24 charges, including terrorism.

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Read the original article on People.
Trump's attorney says to make motion to dismiss charges from Manhattan grand jury. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from New York, U.S., April 3, 2023 (XHTV)

Associate Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez from an appellate court in Manhattan denied Trump's bid to delay the criminal trial scheduled for April 15 following a hearing.

NEW YORK, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A judge from the New York Court of Appeals on Monday rejected former U.S. President Donald Trump's emergency request to delay a criminal trial on his hush money payments to an adult film star during the 2016 presidential campaign, according to media reports.

Associate Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez from an appellate court in Manhattan denied Trump's bid to delay the criminal trial scheduled for April 15 following a hearing.

Trump's legal team asked the judge to postpone the trial indefinitely as efforts are made to change the venue of the trial.

Seen as the first of this kind facing an ex-U.S. president, the criminal trial against Trump regarding election interference would begin on April 15 with jury selection, another New York judge, Juan Merchan said earlier.

Judge Merchan continued to proceed with the preparatory work and sent a letter to Senior Trial Counsel Joshua Steinglass from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and Todd Blanch, a former federal prosecutor and Trump's lead counsel in the case on Monday regarding issues on jury selection.

Arraigned in the case in early April 2023, Trump faces charges that he falsified business records during the 2016 presidential campaign to make "hush-money" payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and keep her quiet about an alleged past sexual encounter with Trump. 
Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of mass killer Ethan Crumbley, were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deadliest school shooting in Michigan history. They were each sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison.

Before announcing the sentence, Judge Cheryl Matthews of the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Mich., said that parents' convictions "are not about poor parenting," saying they could not have predicted that he would kill four of his fellow students. Instead, these convictions confirm repeated acts or lack of acts that could have halted an oncoming runaway train  repeatedly ignoring things that would make a reasonable person feel the hair on the back of her neck stand up, The New York Times reported.

Both Jennifer and James Crumbley spoke at the hearing before the judge handed down the sentence. Their son's murders took place at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021. They addressed the relatives of students who were killed, proclaiming their remorse.

I cannot express how much I wish that I had known what was going on with him or what was going to happen, because I absolutely would have done a lot of things differently, James Crumbley said in court.

I stand today not to ask for your forgiveness, as I know it may be beyond reach, but to express my sincerest apologies for the pain that has been caused, Jennifer Crumbley said.

The apparent consensus among relatives of those who were shot was that the Crumbleys consistently failed to take responsibility for what had happened. They chose to ignore the warning signs. And now, as weve heard through all of the objections, they continue to choose to blame everyone but themselves, said Steve St. Juliana, whose 14-year-old daughter, Hana, was murdered.

Ethan Crumbley was himself sentenced in 2023 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Parents of Michigan School Shooter Each Sentenced To Up To 15 Years in Prison

PONTIAC, MICHIGAN - APRIL 9: Jennifer Crumbley looks at her husband James Crumbley during their sentencing on four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of four Oxford High School students by their son, mass school shooter Ethan Crumbley, on April 9, 2024 at Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Michigan. The Crumbleys are the first parents in U.S. history to be criminally tried and convicted for a mass school shooting that was committed by their child. ((Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) Bill Pugliano via Getty Images

The parents of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley were each sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison on Tuesday after being found guilty of manslaughter for providing their then-15-year-old son with a gun, which he used to carry out the 2021 attack in Oxford High School that killed four people.

James Crumbley, Ethan Crumbleys father, was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison after he was found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter last month. Ethan Crumbleys mother, Jennifer Crumbley, was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison after she was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in February.

The sentencing is believed to be the first time parents of a shooter have been held accountable for their role in a shooting. Ethan Crumbley was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in December 2023.

Both parents were given credit for time served on their sentences, and are barred from contacting the families of the victims.

Prosecutors argued that despite knowing about his declining mental health, Ethan Crumbleys parents gave him a semi-automatic handgun days before the shooting, which he used in the attack.

During Jennifer Crumbleys trial, prosecutors argued that she could have done several things to stop her son from shooting his classmates.

Prosecutors said that just hours before the shooting happened, the school called the parents to discuss some images Ethan Crumbley had drawn of guns and gunshot victims. Jennifer Crumbley dismissed the schools concerns, however, and failed to tell them she had recently given her son a gun.

Months before the shooting, Ethan Crumbley texted his mom that he was hearing voices and seeing demons. But he told his friends that when he asked his mother to get medical help, she laughed at him.

I want help but my parents dont listen to me so I cant get any help, Ethan Crumbley wrote in a journal. I have zero help for my mental problems and its causing me to shoot up the fucking school.

Ethan Crumbley texted his friend nearly six months before the shooting, writing, I actually asked my dad to take (me) to the Doctor yesterday but he just gave me some pills and told me to Suck it up.

Prosecutors also argued that James Crumbley did not properly secure the gun he bought his son.

Six people read victim impact statements, including Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, who was killed in the shooting. Beausoleil asked the judge to enforce the maximum sentence as it will never come close to the life sentence I was given.

Steve St. Juliana, the father of victim Hana St. Juliana, said he remains a shell of the person he used to be. Every day is a battle in an attempt to move forward, he said.

Buck Myre, the father of victim Tate Myre, fought back tears as he said he wasnt going to give a second of his time to the Crumbleys. He said he wants an investigation into the horrible response of the shooting.

Jennifer Crumbley, wearing a black and white prison shirt and glasses, offered her sorrow in her final statements to the court. Her husband sat across the table from her, in an orange jumpsuit and bound by chains and handcuffs. In March, he was admonished for threatening a prosecutor in the case. He addressed the parents in the courtroom and said, My heart pours out to every single one of you. It really does.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
The parents of convicted Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley were each sentenced Tuesday to 10-15 years in prison for their role in the deaths of four high school students in 2021.

James and Jennifer Crumbley are the first parents in the U.S. to be charged and sentenced with having criminal responsibility for the 2021 mass school shooting at Oxford High School in Oxford, Mich.

The Crumbleys were found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter at separate trials earlier this year in Oakland County Court  about 40 miles north of Detroit.

Ethan Crumbley, now 17, pleaded guilty in 2022 to 24 charges and is serving multiple life sentences.

Prosecutors said the parents did not properly store a gun and could have prevented the shooting by removing their then-15-year-old from school when officials raised concerns about a drawing he included on a school assignment.

The artwork depicted a gun with the words, The thoughts wont stop. Help me. School staff asked the Crumbleys to take their son home for the day and seek counseling for him, but they declined.

Ethan told a counselor he was upset after his grandmother died and a friendly moved away suddenly, later claiming the drawing was him showing interest in video game creation, The Associated Press reported.

School officials sent him back to class later that day without checking his backpack, which contained a hidden handgun.

Crumbley later shot 10 students and one teacher. Four students  Justin Shilling, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, and Hana St. Juliana  were killed.

While the parents were not accused of having prior knowledge of his plans, prosecutors argued Jennifer Crumbley knew the drawing of the gun was identical to the firearm they had at home and knew it was not stored properly.

The couple appeared in court Tuesday for sentencing, but first heard a victim impact statement from Nicole Beausoleil  Baldwins mother. Jill Soave and Craig Shilling, the mother and father of another victim, and Reina St. Juliana, the sister of St. Juliana, also spoke in court, CBS News reported.

Prosecutors requested at least a 10-year prison sentence for the parents, per the AP. The maximum sentence for their conviction is 15 years.

The Crumbleys are expected to now be eligible for parole consideration, and they will get credit for the nearly two and half years they have already spent in jail.

The parents fled the area days after prosecutors announced charges against them. They were later found holed up in an art studio in Detroit after a business owner recognized the license plate and called police.

Defense lawyers argued that the couple planned to surrender but were at the studio for their own safety, but the judge sided with prosecutors, who contended the parents intentionally avoided police.

Defense attorney Shannon Smith argued Crumbleys mother is not a threat to the community, claiming that her imprisonment does nothing to further deter others from committing like offenses, the AP reported.

Mariell Lehman, James Crumbleys lawyer, reportedly told the judge that the couple has already spent enough time in custody.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
ROSMAN - The staff at Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute live for celestial events, and despite mostly cloudy skies and just about 80% coverage, the 2024 eclipse on April 8 did not disappoint.

According to Rachel Cobb, the manager of programs at PARI, more than 80 guests were in attendance, in addition to all the staff members, who also had a blast watching the eclipse.

The Riddle family from Augusta, Georgia, view the eclipse on April 8 at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in Rosman.

"The day has been super fun," she said. "The energy has been good, with lots of people having fun and lots of people running around. The eclipse has been good, even with the clouds."

When it began just before 2 p.m., the clouds parted, giving viewers like the Riddles, a family from Augusta, Georgia, a clear look through their glasses. Laura Riddle said they were in town on vacation for spring break.

"This is our first day of spring break and first time here," she said.

Guests gather to view the eclipse on April 8 at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in Rosman.

She and her husband, Wes, along with their three boys, Mason Eli and Nate, went around handing out moon pies before the eclipse began.

"I believe we ended up giving out three dozen," she said.

Timothy Delisle, the director of software engineering and head of education, was stationed at PARI's two big telescopes and was handling all the questions.

"I was here for the 2017 eclipse. Today has been much more peaceful than the 2017 eclipse," he said. "For that one, we had 1,500 guests. So, it has been a lot less hectic today."

Guests gather to view the eclipse on April 8 at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in Rosman.

Annie Bachman and Guy Browning, both of Transylvania County, said it was their first visit to PARI.

"We will definitely be back. We'd love to come for the nighttime star viewing here," Bachman said.

Both witnessed the 2017 eclipse, but they traveled to Greenville, South Carolina for that one, they said.

Lamar Owen, PARI's chief technology officer, was watching the monitors inside just before the eclipse began. He said celestial events, such as an eclipse, cause a lot of excitement for staff at PARI.

"It gives us a chance to make a lot of unique observations," he said. "The sun does give off more than just the light we can see. It gives off radio waves. Around the equinox, it actually blocks off satellite television signals because of all the signals coming in. We have two radio telescopes here. We are doing an observing of the sun's radio flux during the eclipse."

More: Brevard astronomer and PARI volunteer named a NASA Solar System Ambassador

More: Hendersonville City Council approves affordable senior housing project on Greenville Hwy

Owen said they were expecting to see the sun's radio flux reduce during the eclipse.

"We're not exactly sure how much. That's part of the data we are taking today," he said.

As the eclipse neared its peak with 80% coverage, a cluster of clouds moved in briefly. But in about two minutes, the sun made it through the clouds for a few more minutes, giving visitors one final view before it ducked back behind the clouds for the remainder of the eclipse.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Clouds didn't hinder viewing of eclipse at PARI in Rosman
In the dead of night in May, Russia launched a Kinzhal hypersonic missile at the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

The air-launched weapon can reach speeds up to Mach 10, which equates to about 7,700 mph.

Less than a month earlier, the U.S. had sent a Patriot air defense system to Ukraine to help it fend off the barrage of complex missiles Russia was using. But the system had never proved itself against a missile like the Kinzhal.

Even so, the Patriot system blocked the incoming missile, defusing the weapon and several others, according to U.S. officials.

Since then, the Patriot system has continued to successfully intercept a wide range of Russian weaponry. It has shot down Russian aircraft like Su-34 fighters flying nearly 100 miles away, and intercepted missiles as far as 130 miles away, according to Oleksandr Musiienko, head of the Kyiv-based nongovernmental organization the Center for Military and Legal Studies.

A Russian Air Force MiG-31K jet carries the high-precision hypersonic missile Kh-47M2 Kinzhal during the Victory Day military parade. (Pavel Golovkin/AP)

The success of the RTX-made Patriot system in Ukraine comes as the U.S. Army aims to replace the Patriot with an integrated air and missile defense system better able to connect with other equipment on the battlefield and equipped with a more capable radar.

But the Patriot systems dominance in Ukraine has attracted fresh attention and potential customers from around the world. What might have looked like an aging system not long ago now appears to be a workhorse that could be used for years to come.

Patriot has prove[d] to be a very reliable system, said Ben Hodges, a retired three-star general who commanded U.S. Army forces in Europe following Russias annexation of Crimea. The Ukrainians learned very quickly how to operate it, and even more impressively they learned very quickly how to employ it to great effect.

Nations are much more alive to the [air and missile defense] threat, he added.

The successor

The Patriot system was first introduced to counter threats to the United States during the Cold War. But it faced significant battle when forces deployed the system in the Middle East during the Persian Gulf War and the Iraq War.

In those early years, the Patriot experienced major failures. In 1991, for example, the system failed to intercept an Iraqi Al Hussein Scud missile, which hit barracks in Saudi Arabia and killed 28 U.S. soldiers. The system was then involved in three friendly fire incidents in 2003 during the Iraq War; in one case, a Patriot shot down a British Royal Air Force Tornado jet, killing its two crew members.

Despite these failures, the U.S. Army has long relied on the system. Indeed, its Patriot units for years maintained the highest operational tempo across any units in the service with the longest deployments. Despite the incidents in Iraq, it was heavily used there and successfully countered ballistic missile threats.

And plenty of other countries also use the system, which is made up of eight truck-mounted launchers, a ground radar, a control station and a power generator. The launchers can each hold four interceptors.

A U.S. Army Patriot missile fires to engage a target at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia, during the 2021 Talisman Sabre exercise. (Cpl. Jarrod McAneney/Australian Defence Department)

According to Raytheon, an RTX company that manufactures the Patriot system, 19 countries have purchased the weapon and there are more than 250 Patriot fire units around the world. Tom Laliberty, Raytheons president of land and air defense systems, told Defense News in a recent interview the U.S. owns 85-90 of those, with the rest distributed among the other 18 customer countries.

The system has just been continually improved based on feedback we get from the now 19 countries that use Patriot, he said.

Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea led to a sales burst. Eastern European countries jumped to buy Patriot systems to enhance their own defenses. Romania, Poland and Sweden signed on as new customers in the years between Russias annexation of Crimea and the countrys full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

But during the same time, the U.S. Army started making plans to replace the Patriot, seeking a capability with a more flexible command-and-control system and a radar capable of full coverage. The Patriot radars existing configuration creates blind spots for the system.

The Army is slated to build a new Patriot battery to replace the one sent to Ukraine and to secure one more battalions worth of systems. But the service will gradually replace individual elements of the Patriot system over the next several decades. Eventually, all of those upgraded elements will become a new system known as Integrated Air and Missile Defense.

The first piece to be replaced will be the Patriots command-and-control system, which will be swapped out with the Northrop Grumman-developed Integrated Battle Command System. IBCS, approved for full-rate production last year, will enable the system to connect with a variety of other sensors and shooters on the battlefield.

Next, the Patriot systems radar is slated to be replaced with the Raytheon-developed Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, or LTAMDS. The first set of prototype radars is undergoing tests with the Army; they are expected to offer 360-degree coverage.

The Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, shown here, is slated to replace the Patriot systems radar. (Darrell Ames/U.S. Army)

In recent months, the sensor completed four successful live-fire demonstrations at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

The Armys Integrated Air and Missile Defense system will be designed to tie into a broader air defense architecture using IBCS. The service is also expected to be able to easily improve the technology through software updates.

Patriot heats up

But the systems success in Ukraine has made clear there remains interest for the Patriot in its current state.

Switzerland purchased five batteries and 75 missiles in November 2022, and Romania plans to buy additional fire units. At least two other European countries are close to announcing plans to buy Patriot, according to Laliberty, who declined to identify them.

Germany announced in March it would buy more Patriot systems to augment its air defense capabilities. Raytheon won a $1.2 billion contract that buys radars, launchers, command-and-control stations, spares and support, according to a company statement.

Slovakia has publicly expressed interest in buying Patriot systems following a NATO-owned Patriot systems deployment to the country in 2022.

A Romanian Patriot system fires a missile during a drill at the Capu Midia shooting range next to the Black Sea on Nov. 15, 2023. (Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images)

Raytheons production lines are churning out five fire units for the contract with Switzerland, Laliberty said, and the company anticipates an additional 12 will be under contract within the next 18 months.

Given that our capacity supports the production of 12 fire units a year, there is sufficient capacity to support current as well as future contracts as they materialize, he noted.

Raytheon also received a contract in January to replace the U.S. Patriot battery donated to Ukraine. That was paid for with fiscal 2023 supplemental funding approved by Congress.

Now, the company is focused on boosting production of the missiles the Patriot system uses as interceptors. The PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement weapons, made by Lockheed Martin, are the most capable missile variant used by the system.

In 2018, Lockheeds annual rate of building those missiles was 350. The company planned to increase that to 500 annually. But Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has put new pressure on this effort, and the U.S. Army has provided funding to get Lockheed to 550 missiles per year. In December, the firm said it reached a rate of 500 per year.

The company built an 85,000-square-foot facility equipped with automated systems to build PAC-3 MSE missiles and is now preparing to produce 650 a year by 2027.

Boeing, which supplies the seeker for the PAC-3 MSE, is also planning to accelerate production, according to Jim Bryan, the companys director of integrated air and missile defense.

Bryan said Boeing last year added 35,000 square feet to its factory, enabling a 30% production increase.

Many of the expansion efforts by Lockheed and its suppliers preceded government funding. The companies are banking on both an increase in U.S. government spending in the coming years as well as a rise in orders from international customers.

From a demand future, we continue to see it. We meet with customers all the time, and we think well be adding new customers to the MSE line, Brenda Davidson, Lockheeds vice president of PAC-3 programs, told Defense News. The areas of Asia-Pacific and the Middle East continue to be very, very important to us.

Patriot has a place

Indeed, those two regions have existing Patriot customers that continue to rely on the system. And geopolitical hot spots, such as the Taiwan Strait and the Red Sea, are driving demand for air defense more broadly  regardless of which system is available.

Increasingly savvy ballistic missiles and emerging hypersonic missiles are creating new challenges for air defense systems. The U.S. Army has named air defense one of its highest priorities, and is adjusting its funding accordingly.

In the fiscal 2025 budget released in March, the Army asked for $602 million in research and development efforts for Integrated Air and Missile Defense and $2.8 billion in procurement, which covers modernized capabilities beyond the Patriot system.

For Patriot modifications alone, the Army planned to spend $1.7 billion between FY24 and FY28, according to FY24 budget documents. Now, the Army is requesting an additional $2.29 billion across the same time period to modify and upgrade its Patriot capability, according to FY25 documents.

The head of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, said the service has sought to reduce pressure on Patriot air defense units, but has been stymied by todays demands.

In its fiscal 2025 budget request to Congress, the Army asked for $602 million in research and development efforts for Integrated Air and Missile Defense and $2.8 billion in procurement, which covers modernized capabilities beyond the Patriot system. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Prior to the recent increase in deployments, we were continuing to move along a path to regain some of that readiness, he told Defense News in March. The demand has limited our ability to regain a lot of that readiness back.

He said the Army hopes international allies will help as they increasingly buy air defense capabilities.

Its going to be a challenge as long as we have the high demand moving forward on our soldiers. But leveraging our partners and leveraging our modernization goals are the ways that we can eventually, sometime in the future, start alleviating some of that pressure, Gainey added.

Hodges, however, said there remains just one U.S. Patriot battalion committed to Europe.

I have seen and heard a lot more conversation about air and missile defense integration among allies and partners in Europe, he noted, but I have not seen marked increases in capabilities, nor have I seen a large-scale, theaterwide, joint, multinational air [and] missile defense exercise that presents the same sort of challenge a Russian attack would bring.

None of us has enough capacity to defend much of what must be protected. So integration and regional approaches are necessary, Hodges added.

For his part, Gainey said some European countries are interested in adopting the U.S. Armys modernized capability, including the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor as well as the Integrated Battle Command System. Poland, for example, is the first country to field the latter.

Patriot has a place, Gainey said. They will still operate out there hand in hand until we fully modernize the air and missile defense force.
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)  The Paul Breaux Middle School Girls Treble Choir received honors while performing in Atlanta.

On Friday, the choir participated in the 2024 WorldStrides Atlanta Heritage Festival at North Atlanta High School. At the festival they performed Now is the Month of Maying composed by Thomas Morley (1557-1603), Sing a Song of Sixpence composed by Fiona Lander (b. 1971) and Jordans Angels composed by Dr. Rollo Dilworth (b. 1970).

The choir earned a composite score of 93.3 out of 100 for their performance and was awarded the prestigious gold award of the highest distinction. In addition to this award, they also received the special WorldStrides gold invitation to perform in San Francisco, Chicago, or Nashville in 2025, due to scoring in the ninetieth percentile.

The Paul Breaux Middle School Girls Treble choir is under the direction of Dr. Rendell James, and accompanied on piano by Mr. David Boudreaux.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A pedestrian was hospitalized Monday night after being hit by a truck in Southeast Portland, authorities said.

According to Portland police, at around 10:45 p.m., an officer patrolling near Southeast 157th Avenue and Southeast Division Street came across the crash.

The pickup truck driver remained at the scene and authorities said the victim suffered life-threatening injuries.

The incident is still under investigation and authorities are asking anyone with information to contact police.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  A Pennsylvania lawmaker is proposing legislation to exempt members of the Pennsylvania National Guard from paying some personal income tax.

State Representative Dane Watro (R-Schuylkill/Luzerne), a U.S. Army veteran and member of the House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee, proposed the legislation on Monday.

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Watro says his bill would exempt all income derived from Pennsylvania National Guard service from the states personal income tax, which is 3.07%.

It is the service and sacrifice of the brave individuals in our armed forces that ensure our country and communities stay safe and prosperous, said Watro. In honor of those sacrifices, it is my hope that we may reward these heroes for their bravery and valor and exempt them from the Personal Income Tax.

Changes proposed to Pennsylvania cyber charter school funding

Income in the Pennsylvania National Guard has several variables such as your rank, time of service, and whether youre an officer.

For example, according to the Army National Guards pay calculator, an enlisted E-1 Private with one year of service earns $4,236.12. This includes payment for weekend drills and annual training. An enlisted E-9 Sergeant Major with 20 years of experience receives nearly $15,700.

Service members can earn additional benefits and collect active duty pay for deployment or additional training.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
UNITED NATIONS, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday shared China's resolute stance on the use of veto power in the UN Security Council, particularly regarding a draft resolution on March 22, emphasizing the imperative to uphold international justice.

Addressing the UN General Assembly meeting debating the use of veto power in the Security Council, Dai Bing, the charge d'affaires of China's permanent mission to the United Nations, explained why China, together with Algeria and Russia, firmly opposed on March 22 a U.S.-proposed draft resolution on Gaza. He highlighted the necessity of "upholding international justice, the purposes and dignity of the UN Charter, and the responsibility and authority of the Security Council."

Dai conveyed the collective aspiration for peace that had been echoing across the international community since the onset of the Gaza conflict.

"Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, the international community has been calling overwhelmingly for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting, urgently expecting the Security Council to take concrete actions," he said.

He criticized the United States for its repeated obstructions to a ceasefire and for its draft resolution, which he said was evasive on the ceasefire issue and attempted to manipulate the Security Council to endorse Washington's erroneous policies by setting preconditions for a ceasefire.

"The U.S. draft resolution deviates from the consensus of the council members and runs counter to the expectations of the international community. If adopted, it will mean that the killings in Gaza will continue. It will mean that the vicious act of violating international law and international humanitarian law will continue," the ambassador stressed.

China's unwavering exercise of its veto power was portrayed by Dai as a principled stand for justice, compelling the United States to recognize its inability to further hinder the council's progress towards peace. "China has no hesitation in exercising its veto against a draft resolution that will have such serious consequences. As a permanent member of the Security Council, China has stepped up to shoulder its responsibilities and won the broad support of the international community."

"Facts have proven that it was because of China and relevant countries' adherence to principles, justice, and resolute exercise of vetoes, that the United States has eventually realized that it cannot and is no longer able to continue to stop the Security Council for moving in the right direction and taking crucial steps," he stressed.

Dai highlighted the subsequent adoption of resolution 2728, which called for an immediate ceasefire, as a pivotal moment enabled by China's resolute stance.

The ambassador underscored the binding nature of Security Council resolutions, particularly resolution 2728, which demands an immediate ceasefire.

He voiced disbelief and criticism toward the United States' claim that the resolution was "non-binding," stressing that such a stance undermined the council's authority and credibility.

Dai's address further encompassed a call to action, urging Israel to cease military aggression and lift the blockade on Gaza, and urging the United States to shoulder its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council.

He also expressed deep concern over the recent airstrikes on Iranian diplomatic premises in Syria, condemning the violation of international law and warning of the risk it poses to regional stability.

Concluding his remarks, Dai revisited the core issue of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict -- the unfulfilled two-state solution.

He reaffirmed China's support for Palestine's membership in the United Nations and urged swift action from the Security Council on this matter.

The UN General Assembly on April 26, 2022, adopted a resolution that allows it to convene automatically when a veto is cast in the Security Council. The resolution stipulates that the president of the General Assembly shall convene a formal meeting of the assembly within 10 working days of the casting of a veto by one or more permanent members of the Security Council, to hold a debate on the situation provided that the assembly does not meet in an emergency special session on the same situation. 
BEDFORD COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A Pennsylvania woman has been sentenced for the murder of her boyfriends young son, who was found with baby wipes lodged in his throat.

The Pennsylvania Attorney Generals office says Chelsea Cooley, 33, was sentenced to 80 years in prison after pleading guilty to the 3-year-old boys 2022 murder.

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The Attorney Generals office says the boy was found unresponsive in May 2022 and died from strangulation and asphyxia.

A neighbor had reported hearing a female voice yelling shut up around the time police believe the child sustained the injuries.

Shots fired during Cumberland County road rage incident

The Attorney Generals office says Cooley also delayed calling 911 and was hesitant to help the child as instructed by dispatchers.

The facts of this case are horrific, Attorney General Michelle Henry said. This defendant was responsible for caring for this child, and instead she did the unthinkable. She brutally murdered him, a defenseless and innocent three-year-old child. This defendants actions are devastating to the childs loved ones, but we hope todays admission and sentence offer a measure of justice.

Cooley pleaded guilty to third-degree murder as well as felony counts of strangulation and endangering the welfare of a child.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorneys General Evan Lowry and Heather Serrano.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday said there is no evidence that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza amid the war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Austin, speaking during a Senate Armed Services hearing on Capitol Hill, denied that Israel is committing a genocide after protesters interrupted the committee and called for the U.S. to stop funding the war, which they referred to as a genocide.

We dont have any evidence of genocide, Austin said after a question from Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) to respond to the protesters.

Austin also avoided referring to the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on southern Israel as a genocide after questioning from Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), ranking member on the committee.

It certainly is a war crime, Austin said of the Oct. 7 attacks after Wicker repeatedly pressed him on referring to it as a genocide.

Hamas killed more than 1,100 people in the attack and took 240 hostages. About 100 hostages are believed to still be alive in Gaza and held by Hamas.

Israel has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians in its response, while triggering fears of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza as people fled to the southern part of the territory.

South Africa in late 2023 filed a case at the United Nations top court, the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of carrying out a genocide in Gaza. The case is expected to take years to be resolved.

The ICJ has never officially ruled a nation has carried out a genocide before. To declare a genocide, it would have to meet certain definitions under the Genocide Convention.

The Biden administration has come under increasing pressure from the left to back a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and to withhold arms to Israel. President Biden has accused Israels government of going over the top with its response while urging it to do more to protect civilians, but he has held off on demanding a permanent cease-fire.

Austin at the hearing said the U.S. is committed to defending Israel in the wake of the Hamas attacks.

I would remind everybody that what happened on Oct. 7 was absolutely horrible, he said. Numbers of Israeli citizens killed, and then a couple hundred Israeli citizens taken hostage American citizens as well as American citizens.

Austin also said Israel must do more to protect civilians.

Far too many civilians have been killed as a result of combat operations, he said. They need to get civilians out of that battle space.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Periodical cicadas will emerge this spring. Here's what to know.

Periodical cicadas aren't present every spring, but when they do emerge, they come in loud, buzzing hordes. This year, trillions of these beady-eyed bugs are expected to appear in several U.S. states. Here's what you need to know about cicadas.

Periodical cicadas

There are two types of periodical cicadas  ones that come out every 13 years and ones that come out every 17 years. They emerge in broods, which are labeled with Roman numerals.

In 2024, two broods will emerge: Brood XIX, which is on a 13-year cycle, and Brood XIII, which is on a 17-year cycle. These two broods haven't matched up since 1803, according to research from the University of Connecticut.

Brood XIX will emerge across parts of the Midwest and Southeast, while Brood XIII will primarily be seen in Illinois.

Cicadas emerge from underground once the soil reaches 64 degrees, cicada expert Matthew Kasson told CBS News. So cicadas in South Carolina might emerge in April, when temperatures start to warm up there, while those in cooler climates like the upper Midwest might not emerge until June.

In 2024, they are expected sometime in May or early June, depending on the location, according to Ken Johnson, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois.

How long do cicadas live above ground?

Cicadas spend the vast majority of their lives underground and come out at the end of the 13 or 17-year cycle. When they emerge, their job is to reproduce.

To attract mates, male cicadas start buzzing loudly  which is why the presence of cicadas is accompanied by a loud droning sound. They start this process about four to five days after they emerge, according to Johnson.

The females will flick their wings to signal to the males they want to mate, Kasson said.

Cicadas spend the vast majority of their lives underground and come out at the end of the 13 or 17-year cycle. When they emerge, their job is to reproduce. / Credit: Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images

The females lay their eggs in woody plants, using their ovipositor, or egg-laying organ, to inject about 10-20 eggs into branches. Females can lay around 500 to 600 eggs, Johnson said.

The eggs hatch about six weeks after they're laid, and the babies fall to the ground, eventually digging themselves into the soil, where they will remain for 13 or 17 years.

Their parents, however, die shortly after the mating process, lasting only about a month above ground.

Are cicadas dangerous?

While the emergence of trillions of bugs from the ground may seem apocalyptic, cicadas pose no threat to humans or other animals.

However, they molt when they emerge, leaving behind their crusty exoskeletons. And when they die, they can smell like roadkill, according to Johnson.

Wildlife like birds or snakes may eat cicadas, and it typically isn't dangerous to do so. Pets sometimes eat them too.

"They are not toxic to pets. They won't sting or bite your pet," Dr. Cynthia Gonzalez of Family Pet Animal Hospital recently told CBS Chicago. "The only issue that would present for your pet is if they were to ingest a large amount of them, or if they're a smaller dog if they ate a small piece of the exoskeleton  sometimes that can really irritate their GI tract."

Johnson warns against using insecticides to try to keep cicadas away from plants, because they aren't effective, and animals that eat cicadas could be harmed by the chemicals.

Can you eat cicadas?

Humans can also eat cicadas, Johnson says. They are best eaten as adults after they have molted but before their exoskeleton hardens. People who are allergic to shellfish should avoid eating cicadas.

Some cicadas. however, could be infected with a sexually transmitted fungus called Massospora cicadina, Kasson told CBS News. It is unclear what the fungus does to organisms who eat infected cicadas.

A chalky plug emerging from a

The fungus takes over a third of the cicada's body, replacing it with a chalky plug. Their genitals fall off and they become hyper-sexual  even though they can no longer reproduce.

These so-called "zombie cicadas" continue about their normal routines, despite being taken over by a fungus, Kasson said.

"We know that a lot of animals are gobbling these cicadas up as they're emerging  snakes and birds. Is it possible they're having an effect on the animals that eat them? Yes, it is possible." But, he said, less than 5% of cicadas are infected with the fungus and researchers have yet to observe any impact on other wildlife.

What do cicadas eat?

Cicadas use trees and bushes to get nutrition. They pierce small twigs and withdraw minerals and some carbohydrates from the water in plants, according to experts at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse.

Johnson advises not planting any new trees ahead of a periodical cicada emergence, because cicadas can damage them. If you do have small trees and shrubs, you can put netting around them to keep cicadas away  just make sure openings are no larger than 1/4 of an inch so the bugs can't get in.

Are cicadas locusts?

Contrary to popular belief, cicadas are not "plague locusts." They're not even locusts, which are known to eat plants.

"People really shouldn't worry. Cicadas are not defoliating insects and have nothing to do with locusts," says Sandy Liebhold, research entomologist with the Forest Service's Northern Research Station in Morgantown, West Virginia. "They won't eat your plants, vegetables, or even the leaves of trees. They are emerging only to mate and lay eggs."

Most of the trees cicadas eat will be fine, according to Purdue University.

O.J. Simpson dead at 76 after battle with prostate cancer

Scattered Spider I Sunday on 60 Minutes

Dramatic rescue of drowning horse in Florida caught on camera
Person seriously injured after crash involving tractor-trailer on I-95 in Prince Georges County

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Officials said one person was in the hospital after a tractor-trailer crash on I-95 Monday evening.

The Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination (MATOC) said the crash was on the northbound lanes past I-495 at 6:50 p.m.

Multiple people injured, Beltway partially closed after crash in Prince Georges County

The Prince Georges County Fire Department (PGFD) said that a car was trapped under the tractor-trailer. One person was trapped and had to be rescued.

PGFD said that person was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

MATOC said that the ramp from the outer loop was closed but had since reopened.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Metro Transit Police (MTPD) said its investigating after a man was struck by a train outside Stadium-Armory on Monday night.

MTPD said its investigating the death of a person who was trespassing and was subsequently struck by a train shortly after 11:00 p.m.

WATCH: MPD releases body cam footage of armed man shot by officer

Police said the individual was exhibiting abnormal behavior and briefly left the train through the doors before disappearing from view.

MTPD said this is not believed to be a typical train surfing incident.

The investigation is ongoing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Professor Peter Higgs, who has died aged 94, correctly predicted the existence of the Higgs boson, a subatomic particle that gives other particles their mass and was regarded as the Holy Grail of theoretical physics; in 2004 he won the Wolf Prize, the second most important prize in physics, and in 2013 shared with Francois Englert the Nobel Prize in Physics after his long-elusive boson had finally been shown to exist by scientists at the Cern laboratory in Switzerland.

The search for the Higgs boson had obsessed particle physicists ever since Higgs, with others, postulated the idea in 1964. Explaining exactly what it was in laymans terms became something of a pastime among scientists. In 1993 the then Conservative Science Minister, William Waldegrave, offered a bottle of vintage champagne to anyone who could explain the Higgs boson on a side of A4 paper.

With a great deal of creative flair, the competition entrants, including some of Professor Higgss colleagues, turned to analogy, poetry, rhyming verse and limericks, though laymen were left none the wiser.

Scientific fascination with the Higgs particle could be explained by the fact that if it did not exist, the entire framework of the so-called Standard Model of Particles and Fields, the theory that has been used to explain fundamental physics since the 1970s, fell down.

Higgs following a press conference at Edinburgh University in 2012 - Graham Stuart/AFP

The Higgs boson is the 18th and arguably the most important in the Standard Models bestiary of subatomic particles, which includes such curiosities as quarks, leptons and bosons. All the others had been detected in atom-smashing machines known as particle accelerators, the last being the quark, which was detected by scientists in 1995, but the Higgs had remained elusive.

The Higgs boson is critical to the Standard Model because interacting with the Higgs field is what gives all the other particles their mass, and not finding it would have profoundly undermined our understanding of the universe.

There are four fundamental forces in nature: gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces. Gravity and electromagnetism are both long-range forces, whereas the strong and weak forces only operate inside the nucleus. The Standard Model includes all these forces except gravity. However, before Higgss theoretical discovery, it could not explain why some particles have mass and others do not.

In 1964, the Belgian physicists Englert and Robert Brout proposed that the weak and electromagnetic interactions could be united by spontaneous symmetry breaking, a phenomenon well-known in condensed-matter physics, where it had been used to explain how, for instance, magnetic material can suddenly align itself in a particular direction.

Higgs independently came to the same conclusion as Brout and Englert and suggested that the particles that carry the weak force acquire their mass through interactions with an all-pervasive field that is now known as the Higgs field, and occur via subatomic particles, the famous Higgs bosons. As other particles move through the Higgs field, they experience a drag expressed as mass.

Higgs in 2008 inside the Large Hadron Collider tunnel at CERN in Switzerland - Alan Wal/EPA/University of Edinburgh

The idea of the Higgs boson was so important that it was called the God particle by the Nobel Prize-winner Leon Lederman, who had wanted to call it the Goddamn particle on account of its elusiveness, but his publishers would not agree. Higgs regularly pleaded with colleagues to stop referring to it as such. First of all, Im an atheist, he told The Daily Telegraph. The second thing is I know that name was a kind of joke and not a very good one. I think he shouldnt have done that as its so misleading.

Despite the expenditure of billions of pounds and the application of some of the most brilliant minds in the world, the Higgs boson went undetected for many decades. There were some scientists who believed that it did not exist and others that, even if it did exist, it would never be found.

Professor Stephen Hawking, in a spirit of mischief, bet $100 with another academic that it did not exist. Higgss supporters believed that the best hope lay in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a 27km circular underground particle accelerator costing 3 billion that came online at the Cern laboratory in Geneva in 2007.

Higgs himself was cautiously optimistic, though even he doubted that the boson would be found in his lifetime. I shall open a bottle of something, he said when asked what he might do if it was found. It will be champagne  whisky takes a little more time to drink.

That bottle could finally be opened on July 4 2012 when researchers from two experiments at the Large Hadron Collider in the Cern Laboratory announced their discovery and confirmed the prediction that Higgs had made all those years ago. Rather than champagne, Higgs celebrated the discovery with a bottle of London Pride, saying in his typically modest manner: Its very nice to be right sometimes. He did, however, admit that he had no idea what the discovery would mean in practical terms.

Peter Ware Higgs was born on May 29 1929 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the son of Thomas Higgs, a BBC engineer, and his Scottish wife Gertrude, nee Coghill. His fathers work took the family around the country and he was educated at Cotham Grammar School in Bristol. At 17 he moved to City of London School, where he developed a passion for mathematics.

He studied physics at Kings College London, and was quickly marked out as a member of the awkward squad. On one occasion he gave a talk entitled How can scientists be sure the observations they make are real? which, according to contemporary accounts, aroused considerable controversy.

He took a doctorate in 1954 on the vibration spectra of molecules and then spent six years moving between the University of Edinburgh, University College London and Imperial College before landing a permanent position as a lecturer in Mathematical Physics at Edinburgh in 1960.

In 1961 Higgs read a paper by the Japanese-American physicist Yoichiro Nambu that based a theory of elementary particles on an analogy with the theory of superconductivity, introducing the concept of spontaneously broken symmetry. This inspired him to begin the theoretical work that led in the summer of 1964 to the publication of his first paper suggesting what became known as the Higgs boson. According to one popular version of the story, he came up with the concept during a walk in the Cairngorms.

HIggs with Francois Englert, left, and Rolf Heuer before the presentation of their Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research; Higgs and Englert shared the Nobel Prize that year - Miguel Riopa/AFP via Getty Images

Entitled Broken Symmetries, Massless Particles and Gauge Fields, the paper, published in the journal Physics Letters, ran to only 79 lines of text and just five equations, and was merely concerned to demonstrate that there was no theoretical obstacle to this sort of theory. A second, equally short paper, was rejected by Physics Letters, apparently because the editors felt that it was of no obvious relevance to physics. Higgs sent it to a rival publication in America.

Dispirited by the reception of his theory, Higgs wrote a note to one of his postgraduate students, saying: This summer I have found something that is totally useless. It took many years before physicists realised the significance of his ideas. He recalled that when he gave talks at Harvard and Princeton I was facing audiences who thought I was a crackpot. It was not until some of the mathematical problems associated with his theory were cleared up seven years later that it gained international credibility.

A mild-mannered man, Higgs was so modest about his achievements that he refused to talk about the Higgs boson, preferring to give it the more impersonal tag, the scalar boson. He remained active in particle theory into the 1970s, but felt that he had got rather left behind by later developments in the field. Eventually, he decided that he was getting on a bit for a theorist and decided to concentrate on teaching and one or two minor things involving other types of symmetry in quantum mechanics. He was appointed Professor of Theoretical Physics at Edinburgh in 1980.

Given his natural reticence, colleagues and friends were surprised when Higgs hit the headlines in September 2002 over an article headlined Clash of the atom-smashing academics, which appeared in The Scotsman newspaper, concerning remarks that Higgs had made about Hawking to a journalist over dinner.

Higgs was reported to have said, among other things, that Hawkings celebrity status had given him undeserved instant credibility, and that communication between Hawking and theorists in other fields was difficult. Higgs quickly wrote to Hawking explaining the context in which he made the remarks and Hawking wrote back saying that he was not offended, but adding that he still thought (or hoped) that the Higgs boson would never be found.

The Nobel Prize and its ensuing publicity proved awkward for the press-shy Higgs. On the day the award was announced he planned to drive into the Scottish Highlands so that the prize committee and the inevitable hoard of journalists would not be able to find him. But his son pointed out that he had not driven for several months and the battery on his car would probably be flat.

Instead, he slipped out of his Edinburgh home early, leaving behind the mobile phone he never used, and camped out at a pub in Leith. Later he bumped into a neighbour who congratulated him on the award. What award? came his mischievous reply.

He later claimed that his life had been ruined by the discovery of the Higgs boson and the way in which he was thrust into the limelight. My relatively peaceful existence was ending. My style is to work in isolation and occasionally have a bright idea, he told Frank Close in his biography Elusive: How Peter Higgs Solved the Mystery of Mass (2022).

Higgs raises a bottle of beer at the press conference in 2013 at which he discussed winning the Nobel Prize - Graham Stuart/EPA

Higgs was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1983 and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1974. Other prizes included the Paul Dirac Medal (1997), the Hughes Medal of the Royal Society (1981), the Rutherford Medal (1984), the Royal Medal of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2000) and the High Energy Particle Physics Prize of the European Physical Society (1997). He was appointed a Companion of Honour in 2013.

Higgs never minded upsetting people over matters of principle. He refused to fly to Jerusalem to receive the Wolf Prize in 2004 because it was a state occasion attended by President Moshe Katsav of Israel, and Higgs was opposed to the countrys policies towards the Palestinians. He did not own a television and only bought a laptop shortly before his Nobel Prize was announced, although he struggled to use it.

He also had a love-hate relationship with the University of Edinburgh, only accepting its requirement for him to have an email account if someone else would read his messages (I had to write to him, and would get handwritten responses, recalled the Telegraphs former science editor, Roger Highfield).

He campaigned against the universitys South African investments, was a prominent trade union activist and took part in demands for greater staff involvement in the management of the physics department. For many years he refused to speak to the universitys principal, having failed to convince management that the 1960s student protests were in a valid cause.

Higgs formally retired in 1996, having long complained that the university only kept him on just in case his work won a Nobel Prize. He was horrified when in 2017 the university named the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics in his honour, insisting that in todays climate he would be unemployable in academia.

I dont think I would be regarded as productive enough, he said, pointing out that the entire output of his career amounted to barely a dozen published papers. A message would go round the department, Please give a list of your recent publications. And I would send back a statement, None, he said.

Peter Higgs married, in 1963, Jo Ann Jody Williamson, an American linguist and fellow activist with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, though he resigned when CND began also opposing nuclear power. Likewise, he quit Greenpeace when it began opposing genetically modified crops. They divorced in the 1970s but were later reconciled, enjoying attending concerts together. Jody died in 2008 and he is survived by their two sons.

Peter Higgs, born May 29 1929, died April 8 2024

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OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WNCN)  New photos and new information were released Monday in the search for a boater who vanished off the North Carolina coast during a fishing trip over the weekend.

THE LATEST: Search restarts for NC fisherman after boat found offshore Wrightsville Beach

Meanwhile, late Monday night, the U.S. Coast Guard said they had suspended the search for Jeffrey Kale, 47, who was last seen around 4 p.m. Saturday departing the Southport Wildlife Boat Ramp in Brunswick County, officials said.

Kale was aboard a white 32-foot Cape Horn center-console boat before he and the vessel disappeared, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The Oak Island Police Department Monday released a photo of the boat and a new image of Kale.

UPDATE

Search restarts for missing NC fisherman after his boat found offshore Wrightsville Beach

Our extensive search by air and sea with numerous crews, assets, and several good Samaritans, saturated the various areas we believed he may be, the U.S. Coast Guard said Monday night about a decision to stop the search.

Coast Guard officials in North Carolina received word from Kales family that he was overdue from a fishing trip around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

Oak Island police said Monday they were helping the U.S. Coast Guard in the search for Kale who is from Clover, South Carolina, just south of Charlotte, North Carolina.

He is an expert fisherman and was well equipped with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), satellite phone, and various navigation tools, Oak Island police said Monday.

Jeffrey Kale, 47, was last seen around 4 p.m. Saturday departing in a white 32-foot Cape Horn center-console boat at the Southport Wildlife Boat Ramp in Brunswick County, officials said. Photo from Oak Island Police Department

The Coast Guard searched fishing grounds and specific areas in the Atlantic Ocean based on Kales previous trips and information from his family, police said.

Coast Guard searching off NC coast for boater who vanished during fishing trip

Coast Guard officials said they had focused the search on the Blackjack and Steeples fishing areas, which are 7 miles apart and are located about 30 miles southeast of Southport.

Oak Island police said efforts to find Kale using cellphone location data were attempted but were not successful.

Missing fisherman Jeffrey Kale in a photo from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Monday night, the U.S. Coast Guard said it was with heavy hearts that they suspended the active search for Kale around 8:20 p.m. Monday

Rescue crews searched for approximately 72 combined hours and covered more than 7,762 square miles, which is nearly the size of Massachusetts, the Coast Guard said.

Jeffrey Kale, 47, was last seen around 4 p.m. Saturday departing the Southport Wildlife Boat Ramp in Brunswick County, officials said. Photo from Oak Island Police Department

The decision to suspend a search is one of the most difficult decisions to make. Our thoughts are with the Kale family, U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Corrie Sergent said in a news release.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
YOUR PHOTOS: Views of the eclipse from across Tennessee Valley, path of totality

(WHNT)  On Monday, millions of people got to witness a solar eclipse.

Many people were lucky enough to live in or travel to the path of totality for the eclipse, which stretched from Mazatlan, Mexico to Newfoundland and spanned across 15 U.S. states.

Though we were only able to see a partial eclipse here in the Tennessee Valley and struggled with some cloud cover obstructing the view, our viewers still sent in some wonderful photos of what they were able to see right here at home.

(Photo: Adam Bass)

(Photo: Keith Smith)

(Photo: Ken Brashears)

(Photo: Johnny Brink)



(Photo: Mary Ann McCallister)

(Photo: Quinn Ottoway)

(Photo: Ramona Edwards)

(Photo: Ramona Edwards)

(Photo: Ramona Edwards)

(Photo Christina Garceau)

Meteorologist Aaron Ayers and one of our directors even made the trip out to Indiana to be in the path of totality and sent us photos of their view as well!

Photo: Javier Sanchez

(Photo: Aaron Ayers)

Dozens of students, parents, and teachers from Decatur City Schools traveled to Missouri to get a view of the total eclipse, and you can see part of their experience below.

If you have a photo of the eclipse youd like to share with News 19, you can email it to photo@whnt.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
People look at destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A state of shock and disbelief gripped the majority of residents of Khan Younis city as soon as they returned to the southern Gaza Strip city and saw the massive destruction there.

On Sunday, the Israeli army declared that its forces withdrew from Khan Younis after ending the mission of eliminating the Al-Qassam Brigades inside the territory.

Mohammed Shurrab, a Khan Younis-based man, was among the tens of thousands of locals who rushed to their areas to inspect the situation there.

But upon arrival, he broke down in tears, "Where are our homes?... Where is our life that was here? When did all this destruction happen? Did a devastating earthquake hit us?"

"I do not have any house now. I lost my last hope of returning home and getting rid of the miserable life in displacement camps," the 42-year-old father of five told Xinhua after several attempts to calm himself down.

"They (Israeli forces) destroyed all our dreams and lives... They want to displace us from our lands at any cost," the grieved man lamented while trying to remove the ruins futilely.

Palestinians return to the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Shurrab further expressed his fear that he would remain "homeless" throughout his life, the same as what happened with his grandparents during the Nakba (meaning "catastrophe" in Arabic) in 1948.

Not far from Shurrab, Mustafa Barbakh, another Khan Younis resident, stood watching the destroyed buildings in the city's Al Sikka area in a bid to identify his house among the large piles of rubble spreading everywhere.

"Words cannot describe this disaster... No one can believe that this destruction is man-made. It looks as if an earthquake struck our region," the 55-year-old father of nine told Xinhua.

Palestinians return with their belongings to the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Sabreen Al-Najjar, a Khan Younis-based Palestinian woman, was, along with Civil Defense teams, busy searching for the body of her son, who was killed in an Israeli raid and remained buried under the debris.

"Israeli forces are forcing us to pay the price of the current war, although we do not have any fault," the 47-year-old mother of seven told Xinhua.

"We will not forgive them for what they did to our city, including depriving us of all life necessities... They took us back to the Stone Age," she added.

Al-Najjar, Shurrab, and Barbakh said they can't move back to Khan Younis and will stay in their tents until they find a better solution or someone offers them a place to stay.

A Palestinian walks past destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Palestinian security sources said the Israeli army deliberately destroyed entire residential blocks and all infrastructure in Khan Younis to make it uninhabitable.

The Civil Defense teams reported that they faced significant challenges in navigating the extensively damaged primary and secondary roads to access the demolished structures. Despite these obstacles, they managed to retrieve over 85 bodies from beneath the debris.

Israel has been launching a large-scale war on Gaza since Oct. 7 last year after Hamas carried out a surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the coastal enclave.

Back then, Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and took more than 200 others to Gaza as hostages, according to Israeli authorities.

The Israeli onslaught in the Strip has so far left more than 33,000 dead and about 76,000 wounded, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. 
Pizza shop owner kills business partner, leaves body in her home for days, officials say

A pizza shop owner has pleaded guilty to the unjustified killing of her long-time business and common law partner, Pennsylvania officials say.

Anna Maria Tolomello, 50, of Hilltown Township, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse related to the 2022 death of Giovanni Gallina, according to an April 8 news release from the Bucks County District Attorneys Office.

Ms. Tolomello pleaded guilty to Murder in the 3rd degree with a negotiated sentence of 18 - 40 years, Tolomellos attorney told McClatchy News in a statement April 9. This was not a decision taken lightly but was believed to be a fair resolution to the case.

Tolomello and 65-year-old Gallina operated Pinas Pizza in Chalfont together, officials said They were also common-law partners, according to WCAU.

Around the end of March 2022, Gallinas son told police that he had not been able to contact his father since March 16, prompting an investigation, the attorneys office said.

A witness told police Tolomello asked them to dig a hole so she could bury one or more items, in her yard three days after Gallinas death, stating that her partner was away, WCAU reported.

When police arrived at the couples home on March 29, 2022, to execute a search warrant, Tolomello told them she knew why they were there, that she had shot Gallina in self defense on March 16, and that his body was wrapped up in the bedroom, officials said previously.

According to prosecutors, Gallina was shot in the head.

More than two years after her arraignment on the day her trial was to begin, Tolomello pleaded guilty to the death of Gallina, officials said.

Tolomello admitted her killing of Gallina was unjustified, that she left his body in their home for 13 days, and that she disposed of evidence related to his murder, the district attorneys office said.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 25, officials said.

Man breaks into neighbors apartment and installs hidden camera, Pennsylvania cops say

Caregiver brutally murdered 3-year-old using wet wipes, cops say. She pleads guilty

High-value items worth $1.6M stolen from UPS warehouses, feds say. Now, 3 plead guilty
Highway 101 near Agoura Hills will shut down overnight starting April 15 as crews lift dozens of heavy concrete beams in place to form the skeleton of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing.

The closure will happen in one direction at a time, starting with southbound lanes, according to the California Department of Transportation. The closure is expected to take roughly two to three weeks in one direction and then switch to the other side of the 10-lane freeway.

Plans call for lifting three to five of the reinforced concrete girders into place each night.

Construction started two years ago on the bridge over the freeway, a barrier for mountain lions, mule deer and other wildlife in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Billed as one of the largest urban wildlife crossings, the 210-foot-long bridge may help save an isolated mountain lion population from extinction.

When will the 101 freeway close?

Starting April 15, the Monday to Friday closures of all southbound lanes are expected to run from shortly before midnight to 5 a.m. weekday mornings and to 6 a.m. Saturdays. Some lanes will begin closing as early as 7 p.m. Times and dates, however, are subject to change, the agency said.

A total of 82 girders, or 41 on each side, will stretch from the walls on either side of the freeway to middle support columns. Built in Riverside County, each one weighs from 125 to 140 tons, Caltrans officials said.

Northbound closures are scheduled to begin in May.

Where to detour around Highway 101 closures

Construction continues on a wildlife crossing over the 101 freeway in Agoura Hills shown in this Jan. 31 photo.

During the closure, drivers can get from Ventura County to Los Angeles by taking Highway 101 to the 23 and 118 to the 405, Caltrans said. The route also works headed in the opposite direction.

Those who can't use other highways can detour from the 101 onto Agoura Road, the agency said. Officials estimate roughly 300 to 400 vehicles per hour could use the nighttime route.

The detour will run between Chesebro and Liberty Canyon exits.

How to get construction updates from Caltrans

So far during construction, officials lowered the speed limit and narrowed lanes to accommodate work on the short stretch of the 101 near Liberty Canyon. While lane and ramp closures have happened overnight, the freeway remained open in both directions.

A community meeting about the closures is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the community room at Agoura Hills City Hall, 30001 Ladyface Court.

For live webcams and more information about the crossing, go to 101wildlifecrossing.org.

Why build the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing?

The area near Liberty Canyon is one of few places left that has natural habitat on both sides of the 101. The land is also publicly owned and protected from development.

The National Park Service has found that mountain lions and other animals approach both sides of the freeway but few attempt to cross it. The agency has studied mountain lions in the area since 2002 to see how they're surviving in an increasingly urban area.

The small cougar population in the Santa Monicas Mountains is boxed in by development and highways, obstacles that have led to inbreeding, low genetic diversity and lions killing each other. Crossings can reduce collisions with wildlife but also add connections to other areas and reduce isolation, experts say.

Caltrans officials say they hope to complete the crossing, which is designed to look like natural habitat, as early as late 2025 but have cautioned that is only an estimate.

Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Wildlife bridge construction to close Highway 101 lanes overnight
Body camera footage released April 9 shows four Chicago police officers firing 96 shots at a man after officials said he shot an officer in the forearm during a March 21 traffic stop.

Dexter Reed, Jr. was initially pulled over for not wearing a seat belt, according to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA). Officers surrounded his white SUV with their weapons drawn, telling him to not roll the window up and to unlock the doors, according to body camera footage released by COPA.

Reed ignored their commands, video shows. After a few seconds, the video shows police backing away from the vehicle, yelling open the door now. Then, a series of gunshots erupt, according to the video.

According to COPA, Reed fired at police first, shooting one officer in the forearm. Police then fired back approximately 96 times in 41 seconds, COPA said.

Body camera footage shows Reed getting out of his car and falling to the ground as police shot at him. Following the series of gunshots, Reed is seen motionless on the ground as police yelled at him to not move, video shows.

Reed was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to COPA. A gun was recovered from the passenger seat of Reeds vehicle, COPA said.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called the exchange deeply disturbing in a news conference following the footages release April 9.

As mayor and as a father raising a family, including two Black boys on the West Side of Chicago, I am personally devastated to see yet another young Black man lose his life during an interaction with the police, Johnson said at the news conference.

Johnson added that the four officers accused of shooting at Reed are on a 30-day administrative leave.

Reeds family had viewed the footage, according to Johnson.

The Chicago Police Department said it will cooperate with the investigation.

We cannot make a determination on this shooting until all the facts are known and this investigation has concluded, the Chicago Police Department said in a statement to McClatchy News.

The shooting has been under investigation since March 21, according to COPA, and the investigation is to continue.

Each use of deadly force must be evaluated by examining the totality of circumstances, including the officers actions prior to the use of force. Accordingly, we will carefully review the actions of the involved police officers and their supervisors to determine whether training, policy and directives were properly followed, said First Deputy Chief Administrator Ephraim Eaddy.

The Chicago Police Department entered into a consent decree in 2019 following the 2014 police shooting of Laquan McDonald, according to ABC7 Chicago. McDonald was a 17-year-old high school student when Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke fired 16 shots at him and killed him, according to police and the Associated Press. Van Dyke was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison.

COPA must review every police shooting involving (Chicago Police Department) officers, per the consent decree, COPA said.

Teen grandson fatally shoots grandfather during fight, Oklahoma cops say. Hes charged

Dad rams car with kids and wife inside, then assaults her in front of them, MI cops say

Malnourished and bruised 4-year-old dies, Missouri cops say. Mom, boyfriend charged
Atlanta Police are investigating a deadly shooting in Northwest Atlanta.

Police confirmed a person was shot and killed near the intersection of Cameron Madison Alexander Blvd. NW & Vine St. NW.

Channel 2 Action News was on the scene for WSB Tonight at 11 p.m.

Just before 10 p.m. Monday, officers responded to a call about a person shot near the location.

Officers arrived at the scene to find a man who had been shot and was in critical condition.

Responding medical personnel pronounced him dead on the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
DENVER (KDVR)  A Littleton Public Schools bus aide caught on video punching and stomping a nonverbal student has been fired and arrested, and the childs mother has hired a law firm in search of accountability from the school district.

The mother of the 10-year-old in the video spoke at a press conference on Tuesday.

If I could say one thing to Littleton Public Schools, it would be: How dare you? How dare you fail my son in such an astonishingly preventable way? Jessica Vestal said.

Kiarra Monte Laron Jones, 29, the now-former paraprofessional with Littleton Public Schools, has been charged with a felony count of third-degree assault against an at-risk person, court records show.

Jones was allegedly seen on the video punching an at-risk student and pushing, hitting and touching him in an unwelcoming way, according to the affidavit. The investigation started with the Littleton Police Department but was then moved to the Englewood Police Department, where the alleged assault occurred.

The law firm Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC announced that three families within Littleton Public Schools hired them after the alleged abuse on a school bus. The law firm claims the bus aide physically and mentally abused children with severe autism and nonverbal communication.

According to the law firm, this has been happening for months, with signs dating back to September 2023. The affidavit also says that there was footage of three assaults occurring in February and March.

The boys mother said the repeated assaults could have been prevented.

Had bus footage been routinely audited, the torture and torment of my sweet boy could have been stopped, Vestal said.

Littleton Public Schools responds after alleged abuse on bus

Parents said Littleton provides the bus their children ride to The Joshua School, which serves children with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities, as the public school district does not provide the services their children need.

During the news conference attended by FOX31s Vicente Arenas, the parents praised the service provided by The Joshua School and said their concern is centered around the bus rides to and from school.

The signs started as families noticed shifts in behavior, physical injuries, unexplained scratches, bruises, a lost tooth, a broken toe, a black eye and other deep bruises on their bodies and feet, according to the law firm. The firm said Littleton Public Schools reviewed a video from one day on the bus and determined there was nothing to be concerned about.

The law firm said it received a cell phone recording of surveillance video taken from inside the bus on March 18. That surveillance video shows a woman, as the law firm said, repeatedly hitting, punching and stomping on a 10-year-old boy.

The parents of two other children came forward as well, saying their nonverbal kids with autism had been physically abused too. The parents said they had been asking for an investigation for months, but little was done to stop the abuse.

We often have to do a lot of fact-finding to find sources of bruises, illness and injury, and the last several months have been nothing but that, another alleged victims mother said.

Littleton Public Schools sent a letter to The Joshua School community and said Jones was hired in August and terminated on March 19, the day the district said it learned about the accusations.

This kind of behavior cannot be and is not tolerated. As parents, you trust us with the well-being of your children and you should never have to worry about them being harmed when they are in our care, the district said in the letter.

1 seriously injured in crash on I-70 exit ramp

Attorneys say the entire district failed to protect the students on the bus.

We expect there to be long-term care needs for the children. We expect there to be long-term care needs for the families, attorney Edward C. Hopkins Jr. said.

The law firm is calling for the Colorado legislature to create a law ensuring safety. Attorneys said they want Littleton Public Schools to be held accountable for what happened but have not yet filed a lawsuit.

The Joshua School releases statement

The Joshua School released the following statement to FOX31 on Tuesday:

The Joshua School has been dedicated to helping individuals with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities attain the best quality of life for nearly 20 years. We provide the highest level of behavioral and educational support to about 100 students and families in our community. The Joshua School is an independent organization contracted by school districts to provide educational and behavioral services to students. We are licensed and audited by the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Colorado Department of Education. Each childs home school district arranges and provides transportation to Joshua School, including hiring drivers and aides. We operate separately from the Littleton Public School (LPS) district but are devastated about these terrible incidents involving the LPS employee. We share in our families outrage and disappointment upon learning of these abuse allegations against our students. We were first made aware of bruising by the mother of a student in January of 2024. Self-injurious behavior and unexplained bruising are not uncommon in our students, but because of the concern of a mother trying to identify the source of her childs injuries, we contacted the school district to request a review of transportation footage for anything out of the ordinary. At that time, LPS assured us that nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. We then continued to communicate and work with the mother to identify the source of her childs injuries. We continue to cooperate with the Englewood Police Department in their ongoing investigation and are providing requested internal records. We continue to advocate for and support our families during this difficult time. The Joshua School

The Englewood Police Department confirmed Jones arrest and released a statement: We at the Englewood Police Department understand the severity and the devasting impact this case has on the victims, their families, and the entire school community and we are here to provide additional resources to those affected. Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of the victims, their families, and all others associated with the school. Upholding the integrity of this case is crucial to ensuring justice for all involved and preventing any recurrence.

The 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office said Jones was released on a $5,000 surety bond, must comply with a mandatory protection order and cannot leave the state. Court records show she is due in court in May.

FOX31 is working to contact Jones and/or her attorney. This story will be updated with any response received.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  A unique event designed to give law enforcement and military dog owners a chance to share ideas and techniques is kicking off Tuesday in Myrtle Beach.

Hold the Line K9 Conference runs through Thursday at the citys convention center.

Organizer Joseph Lutkowski has more than 20 years as a K9 handler and is a long-time member of the North American Police Dog Work Association. He launched the event in 2018 and said no matter how long someone has been a K9 handler, theres always more for them to learn.

More than 400 are expected to attend this years program.

We bring in anywhere between 30 to 40 of the top K9 instructors from all over the world, he said. We have a three-day classroom and we have classes all day long. Handlers can pick and choose where they want to go to, what classes they want to attend, and we try to get every topic that we deal with as K9 handlers, and its specifically for military and law enforcement only.

Lutkowski said that since most handlers only know one specific type of training, it is always best to stay open-minded.

Going and exploring some different techniques and trainings from all over the country, I just felt that there was a need, he said.But like if you broaden your horizon, its like anything else, you got to be open-minded and so we came up with the idea of like, um, you know, getting all these different trainers with different techniques and bring them all in one area.

Since every handler trains differently, Lutkowski said the conference offers unique opportunities to learn from other experts.

I feel like the guys could grab, like, a bunch of different training techniques and methods from all over the country, because you know, we do things differently up north than guys do down south, he said.

Lutkowski said some of the participants come from the U.S. Secret Service or Los Angeles SWAT team, for example.

If they could take one thing away from the conference to either make their team better or even save their lives, I mean, its a win for us, he said.

In addition to classroom opportunities, vendors will be on hand with live demonstrations of products.

* * *

Hannah Huffstickler is a multimedia journalist at News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2024 after graduating from Coastal Carolina University in December of 2023. Keep up with Hannah on Facebook and Instagram. You can also read more of her work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
The National Police in Mykolaiv Oblast identified a 28-year-old Russian military mechanic from the 205th Motorized Infantry Brigade who is suspected of torturing civilians, the police said on April 8.

This comes as another suspected case of Russian troops' abuse of the Ukrainian population amid the full-scale invasion.

The Russian soldier is suspected of committing war crimes in the Shyroke community of the Bashtanka district in Mykolaiv Oblast, which was completely liberated by Ukrainian forces in November 2022.

In October 2022, the soldier imprisoned three citizens and tortured them, abusing them physically and psychologically, according to the police. The suspect imitated amputating the victims' fingers and kept the citizens in poor conditions in order to receive information about locals who opposed the Russian invasion.

The National Police charged the soldier in absentia over his abuse of civilians. The investigators are currently preparing documentation to place him on the international wanted list and to conduct a special procedure of the pre-trial investigation, which allows the passing of a sentence without the defendant's presence. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin said in February that Ukraine had been investigating over 122,000 Russian war crimes since the beginning of the all-out war. Kostin added that Kyiv had identified 511 criminals and passed 80 sentences, mainly in absentia.

Earlier, the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office identified a Russian deputy commander of the National Guard unit of Krasnoyarsk region who fired at a civilian in Kyiv Oblast while the victim was driving across the street.

Read also: Prosecutor Generals Office: Russian soldiers kill 3 Ukrainian POWs

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
UPDATE: She has been found and is not in any danger, according to police.

Police in Washington are asking for the publics help in finding a woman who hasnt been seen since early February.

According to the City of Washington Police Department, Katlyn Dorn, 30, was last seen on Feb. 9 in Washington. She was reportedly taken to the Uniontown or Brownsville area and called to be picked up in Uniontown, but has never been heard from since.

Dorn is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 135 pounds. She has brown eyes and blonde/brown hair that she often has pulled up. She has a tattoo of the word hope on her left ribs and was in the process of having dental work done.

Anyone with information should call Pennsylvania State Police Uniontown at 724-439-7111 or Uniontown Police at 724-430-2929.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

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Police zero in on person of interest as investigations into missing Milwaukee woman, human remains ramp up

Maxwell Anderson appears in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, as prosecutors were seeking to detain Anderson for an additional 72 hours before making a charging decision, on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

UPDATE: Maxwell S. Anderson was charged with first-degree homicide, mutilating a corpse and arson after prosecutors say he killed 19-year-old Sade Carleena Robinson and dismembered her body

A 19-year-old woman reported missing, her family fearing the worst.

A leg found along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Cudahy. A car torched in a Milwaukee alley and human remains discovered nearby days later.

And a man, described as a person of interest in the dismembered leg case, taken into custody after authorities searched his duplex on Milwaukees south side.

The events have sparked rumors and conspiracy theories as the public tries to understand how or if they are connected. As of Tuesday morning, much of the situation remained unclear.

What is known: Investigators have zeroed in on the person of interest, Maxwell S. Anderson.

On Tuesday, the 33-year-old Anderson appeared in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, where prosecutor Ian Vance-Curzan asked a court commissioner for more time to make a charging decision and to keep him in custody while he does so.

Vance-Curzan works in the homicide unit of the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office. Authorities had found blood in the stairwell of Anderson's house and on a comforter, evidence that was cited in that probable cause statement submitted to the court on April 6, he said.

Since the original probable cause statement was signed, theres been additional evidence recovered by way namely of blood evidence, in addition to whats indicated in the probable cause statement, from the defendants residence, Vance-Curzan said.

He asked for Anderson to be held for an additional 72 hours so he could review the blood testing results from the state Crime Lab before making a charging decision. The lab expects to have the results completed within two days, he added.

I would also add that in the interim since that statement was made there has been additional human body remains recovered and thats also going to be tested, the prosecutor said.

Anthony Cotton, Anderson's defense attorney, and Andersons parents appeared in court Tuesday morning. Cotton appeared to allude to Anderson's potential connection to the missing woman in his remarks.

Hes been arrested now and held for going on over four days on nothing more than a written submission to the court indicating that because he supposedly had contact with a missing person and theres some cell tower suspicion that he continues to remain detained, Cotton said.

Cotton said nothing prevents prosecutors and detectives from continuing to investigate with Anderson out of custody. Anderson, he said, has strong ties to the community, a full time job and would return to court if criminally charged.

Court Commissioner Jeralyn Wendelberger granted the request for a 72-hour extension.

Cotton declined to speak with a reporter after the hearing and declined comment on behalf of Andersons family. Relatives of the missing woman, Sade Carleena Robinson, left the courthouse with a victim advocate after meeting with the prosecutor following the hearing.

Anderson has several past convictions related to domestic violence, including a case in which he assaulted a family member and another in which he beat a man who tried to intervene when he saw Anderson and a woman arguing.

How these events may be connected

No officials have publicly connected Anderson to the disappearance of Robinson, but a timeline of events shows both investigations ramping up in recent days.

Robinson was reported missing April 1.

The next day, the severed leg was discovered in Cudahy.

The Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office confirmed detectives and deputies searched a house April 4 near South 39th Street and West Oklahoma Avenue related to the leg and took a person into custody for questioning.

After that, human remains were found in Milwaukee, near North 30th Street and West Lisbon Avenue, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. None of the remains has been identified yet, authorities said.

While the two have not been connected as of yet, the Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office is working in partnership with the Milwaukee Police Department to investigate the second discovery, the Sheriffs Office said Monday in a news release, referring to the severed leg and other human remains.

Also on Monday, Milwaukee police said more human remains were discovered a few blocks south near North 30th and West Galena streets, but added that investigators had not determined if they were related to the remains found over the weekend.

A Journal Sentinel reporter saw several Milwaukee police detectives searching along the train tracks in the area Monday afternoon.

Two Milwaukee police detectives search along the train tracks near North 30th and West Galena streets on Monday, April 8.

Regardless, the location of North 30th Street and West Lisbon Avenue appears to be significant to Robinsons case.

A resident in that area called 911 the morning of April 2, the day after Robinson was reported missing, to report a car was on fire in the alley behind her home on North 29th Street. Robinsons family members told WISN-TV (Channel 12) that detectives said the car belonged to the missing woman.

And when the family returned to the area of North 30th Street and Lisbon Avenue this weekend to search for more clues, they found a distinctive blanket owned by Robinson with her photo printed on it, according to WITI-TV (Channel 6).

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has contacted Robinsons family but they were not available for interviews Monday. The news organization has not independently verified those earlier media reports.

'Everyone loved' Robinson, missing more than a week

Sade Carleena Robinson was reported missing April 1.

Robinson always showed up for work.

In three years, Pizza Shuttle manager Justin Romano couldn't remember a time she had missed her shift at Pizza Shuttle, on Milwaukees east side.

So when she did not arrive April 1, a co-worker called police and asked officers to check on her, he said. In the days leading up to her disappearance, there was nothing suspicious, he added.

Everything was very normal, thats why it was so concerning when she didnt show, Romano said.

Robinson typically took orders at the front desk and was a favorite among co-workers and regular customers. Many at Pizza Shuttle were taking her disappearance hard.

A missing poster for Sade Carleena Robinson is seen April 8, 2024, at Pizza Shuttle on Milwaukees east side, where Robinson worked for three years.

Romano said he is not making any assumptions on what might have happened to her.

Everybody loved her, he said. We have customers coming in just to see her. People would talk to her all day; our regulars knew her very well.

The 19-year-old was taking classes at Milwaukee Area Technical College and previously attended Ida S. Baker High School in Florida and Riverside High School in Milwaukee, according to her Facebook page.

Anderson's criminal record includes domestic-violence-related charges

The Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office confirmed detectives and deputies searched this house near South 39th Street and West Oklahoma Avenue related to the human leg found in Cudahy and took a person into custody for questioning.

As authorities searched Milwaukees Walnut Hill neighborhood Monday afternoon, the scene around Andersons house on the south side was quiet.

Property records show Anderson is the listed owner of the brick duplex on South 37th Street near West Oklahoma Avenue that was searched last week. A neighbor, William Rosario, said Anderson kept a low profile and could occasionally be seen walking his dogs.

Anderson has a criminal record that includes drunken driving arrests and domestic-violence-related charges.

In 2014, he was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct after getting into a fight with a relative. The relative told Waukesha County sheriffs deputies Anderson was acting erratically and she believed he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to a criminal complaint.

Anderson had shoved the woman, smashed a cellphone and had broken items in the kitchen, she said. When confronted by a deputy, he reportedly said, What are you gonna do, shoot me? before running into the garage and fleeing in the womans car, the complaint says. He later returned, crashed the womans car into a deck and eventually was arrested.

A year later, Anderson was arrested in Door County at another relatives house following a disturbance. A relative suggested he seek out mental health treatment and Anderson smashed a glass, punched a hole in a wall and grabbed a phone out of the hand of another relative who was trying to call police, according to a criminal complaint.

Anderson was convicted in both cases.

In 2019, he was charged with beating a stranger who tried to intervene when he saw Anderson and a woman arguing in the 2300 block of West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee.

Marquette University police interviewed Anderson and the 57-year-old victim, who had blood running down his face.

Anderson admitted hitting the man but did not respond when asked why he did so, the complaint says. A witness had recorded much of the assault on her cellphone. The video showed Anderson on top of the man, punching him multiple times before dragging him to the edge of the property.

He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was sentenced to one year of probation. He was ordered to complete 25 hours of community service and pay more than $7,000 in restitution to the victim for medical bills and lost wages.

More recently, Anderson has been working part-time at Victors Nightclub on North Van Buren Street downtown.

Vic Jones, manager and son of the clubs owner, said Andersons current legal trouble came as a shock and that he was well-liked and a good worker.

Anderson worked at several other area bars, was an electronics technician and often looked for seasonal work or temp jobs, according to Jones. He previously worked at The Rave, according to employees there.

Alison Dirr and Drake Bentley of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Maxwell Anderson is person of interest: Milwaukee humans remains case
At a press conference in February, the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, told a room full of reporters: Were not going to do that fake meat. That doesnt work. Hed been discussing legislation under debate in the statehouse that would ban cell-cultivated meat  an emerging technique that, instead of slaughtering animals for consumption, grows meat in a lab using a small sample of animal cells.

Related: I tried lab-grown meat made from animals without killing them  is this the future of ethical eating?

A few weeks later, a Republican member of the Florida legislature  and cattle rancher  Dean Black took to the House floor, saying, Cultured meat is not meat  it is made by man, real meat is made by God Himself  If you really want to try the nitrogen-based protein paste, go to California.

In March, Florida passed the legislation both men had been addressing: making it the first state in the nation poised to ban lab-grown meat. (DeSantis still needs to sign the bill.)

Florida isnt the only state on track to ban cell-cultivated meat. Three other states  Alabama, Arizona and Tennessee  are currently debating legislation that would ban the production or sale of cell-cultivated meat, despite the fact that cell-cultivated meat isnt actually on sale anywhere in the country. Sixteen states plus the federal government have already instituted regulations on labeling cell-cultivated meat, such as prohibiting companies from using the word meat in their marketing, or requiring them to print a disclosure explaining that the product contains cell-cultured products.

But experts say these new laws sweeping red states arent so much about the many safety, ethical and environmental questions lab-grown meat pose  theyre about the culture wars.

These are political efforts to rile up voters, says Sparsha Saha, a lecturer on meat politics at Harvard, who notes that cell-cultivated meat is a long way away from being produced on scale to reach most consumers. Meat is inherently political. We know that meat attachment is higher on the right. We know that masculinity norms tend to be stronger among conservative men  and meat is associated with masculinity  If youre a politician and you want to make sure that conservative men are getting mobilized to come out and vote, this is a really good political strategy.

At the same time, the focus on cell-cultivated meat serves as a distraction from other, more important food issues, Saha says, like the fact that a lot of people cant afford their groceries any longer.

Lab-grown meat is still a new technology. In 2013, a Dutch scientist created the first cell-cultivated meat product for human consumption. Growing cell-cultivated meat requires taking a sample from an actual animal, and then feeding that sample nutrients like amino acids, vitamins, sugar and salts while it grows in a bioreactor. This, supporters say, eliminates many of the environmental problems  deforestation, water contamination, greenhouse gas emissions  posed by animal agriculture.

Although more than 150 companies are now working in the cell-cultivated meat industry worldwide, its not yet widely available to the public: Only two restaurants in the US have sold cultivated meat. In 2023, restaurants in San Francisco and Washington DC sold cell-cultivated chickens developed by Upside Foods and Good Meat  but those products are no longer available at either restaurant.

As the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) debated federal regulations for this new technology, states across the US began requiring special labels for cell-cultivated meat. In 2018, Missouri became the first state to pass such a law. The following year, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wyoming followed suit. Kansas, Louisiana, Georgia and Texas have since joined them.

Chloe Marie, a research specialist at Pennsylvania State Universitys Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, said it was pretty unclear who would have the authority to regulate cell-cultured food: We were very much in uncharted territory. And so because of that, many stakeholders started pushing for some regulatory actions.

A new Republican-sponsored bill introduced to Congress earlier this year, the Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation on Labels Act of 2024, would authorize the USDA to regulate cell-cultured and imitation meat product labels. Democratic senator Jon Tester and Republican senator Mike Rounds also introduced a bill to ban cell-cultivated meat in school lunch and breakfast programs, even though its not currently available in any school lunches  or anywhere else in the US  with backing from the US Cattlemens Association. (Although conservatives have strongly favored labeling efforts for cell-cultivated meat, theyve called out labeling of other products, like sugary drinks and junk food, as government overreach.)

The state bans introduced this year go a step further and prohibit the development and sale of cell-cultivated meat. Anyone found in violation of the ban in Florida or Alabama could be charged with a misdemeanor, while those who violate the ban in Tennessee could be fined up to $1m.

We want to protect our cattle and our ranches, said Arizona representative Michael Carbone.

The US Cattlemens Association, the main lobbying group for American beef producers, is also pushing back against lab-grown meat, saying in 2022 that cell-cultured products cannot be independently produced  the technology is shrouded in intellectual property protection and requires intensive capital resources which could lead to the monopolistic control of Americas sovereign food supply.

While defenders of these bills say theyre concerned about the safety of new techniques, experts say theres also a politicized fear of science at play. Historically, science has been a friend to agriculture. And instead of us being accurate about that relationship in the past, I think what were seeing on the right is this undermining of science that perhaps started with Covid, if not earlier with vaccines, said Saha.

Amid these bans, California is investing in cell-cultivated meat. As animal agriculture is increasingly recognized as a key contributor to the climate crisis, lab-grown meat has been pointed to as a potential solution. Though many environmental experts worry its a solution that will come too late  and that allowed us to forgo the difficult work of rethinking our relationship with meat and agriculture. In 2022, California became the first state in the nation to publicly fund cell-cultivated meat research. And the year before, the USDA gave Tufts University in Massachusetts $10m to support a cellular agriculture institute. However, the vast majority of funding for cell-cultivated meat has come from venture capital.

The North American Meat Institute, the countrys largest trade association for meat packers and producers, and dozens of biotech investors have spoken out against bans like the one Florida is set to pass  arguing that it will stifle innovation and limit consumer choice.

We think consumers should be able to decide for themselves whether they want to try cultivated seafood. The USDA and FDA should continue to regulate food products in this country, not state legislators who lack the required expertise in food safety, said Justin Kolbeck, co-founder and CEO of Wildtype, a cultivated seafood company, who says he and his colleagues have traveled to Arizona, Alabama and Florida to discuss pending bans. Rather than bowing to special interest groups who are trying to stifle innovation, weve encouraged state legislators to work with our industry on clear labeling.

Even if Desantis signs his states cultivated meat ban into law in coming weeks, Marie suspects the issue wont be laid to rest. A lot of environmental or food conscious associations have challenged many of these labeling laws, she said. In states like Arkansas and Mississippi, companies sued to challenge laws that would have prevented them using terms like meatless meatballs and plant-based jumbo hotdogs. Marie says she would not be surprised if they also challenge these banning laws.
NAIROBI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism, a special fund of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), on Tuesday launched a 2-million-U.S.-dollar credit guarantee scheme designed to boost the uptake of fertilizer among Kenyan smallholder farmers.

Nnenna Nwabufo, AfDB director-general for East Africa, said at a briefing in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, that the fertilizer financing for sustainable agriculture management project will provide a partial credit guarantee to Pan-African agri-fintech firm Apollo Agriculture, allowing it to extend credit for agricultural inputs to 100,000 smallholder farmers in two counties in western Kenya.

"The project has been designed in line with the bank's Feed Africa Strategy as it will ensure the long-term engagement of the private sector in support of the financing of fertilizer to increase food production and consequently food security in Kenya," Nwabufo said.

She said that the three-year program that targets maize farmers will guarantee against the risk of default by farmers who access agricultural inputs on credit.

Paul Ronoh, the principal secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, said the credit scheme is expected to play a role in improving the country's agricultural productivity by raising the use of fertilizer from 8 kg per hectare to 50 kg.

Ronoh added that farmers are expected to pay back the credit upon the sale of their produce, hence maintaining the cycle and ensuring the approach is sustainable. 
Brian Lopez recently drove more than 500 miles from Northern California to Tijuana, Mexico, just south of the border, where he and other legal experts gathered to offer free guidance to people seeking asylum in the United States.

Lopez, a Sacramento-based immigration attorney, said its important work  especially because only a small fraction of asylum seekers can obtain legal help as they formally submit their cases to the immigration courts.

Its a pretty complex process, Lopez said. Its definitely not easy.

These are people seeking a new life in this country to escape threats of violence, political retribution or severe poverty.

But California immigrant advocacy groups said asylum seekers arrive here and find themselves being used as pawns in the latest political debate between calls for strengthening border security and comprehensive immigration reform that offers a real path to legal resident status and U.S. citizenship.

A Texas state law, Senate Bill 4 currently under appeal in federal court, makes entering Texas illegally a state crime and allows state judges to order that migrants who violate the law be deported, Newsweek reported. The Biden administration and immigration advocates argue the Texas law is unconstitutional and that that authority rests with the federal government.

Texas National Guard and Texas State Troopers use anti-riot gear to prevent asylum seekers from entering further into U.S. territory after the migrants crossed the Rio Grande into El Paso, Texas from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on March 22.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a March 20 post on X, formerly Twitter, he will continue to instruct the Texas National Guard to erect razor wire to repel migrants & keep buoy barriers in river. Those who support the Texas law say the Biden administration isnt doing enough to secure the border.

Lopez said its these political stunts that inhibit an immigrants ability to seek asylum legally in court, while promoting falsehoods about the immigration process. He said immigrants cant apply for asylum outside of the United States; only certain refugees can, and entering the country unlawfully doesnt harm ones ability to seek asylum.

The attorney said hard line political rhetoric has only increased the fears of asylum seekers and fueled their desperation.

There has to be a more humane understanding of immigrants, Lopez said.

They feel more attacked.

Immigrants flown to Sacramento

In June, 36 Latin American migrants arrived in Sacramento after the state of Florida chartered two planes to take them to Californias capital city. Some of them told The Sacramento Bee they were approached outside a migrant center in El Paso, Texas, by individuals, offering free transportation and promising housing, jobs and immigration services were waiting for them in Sacramento.

The migrants later discovered it was a lie, and they were stranded in Northern California hoping for a job but not wanting to harm their application for asylum without obtaining a federal work permit.

One of the migrants, a man from Venezuela, expressed some frustration at the time while discussing the media attention and political discourse surrounding their arrival in Sacramento. He and three other migrants spoke to The Bee last year on the condition of anonymity, fearing violence and other reprisals for their presence in the capital region.

We arent involved in any politics here, the 34-year-old man told The Bee in June. We are immigrants. We dont know anything here, from how to take a train or get an Uber. You think we know politics?

A migrant couple, who left their three children in Venezuela, speaks in June 2023 about being transported from El Paso, Texas, to Sacramento by a Florida contractor.

A coalition of state and Sacramento County leaders and religious groups, such as Sacramento Area Congregations Together, stepped up quickly to provide shelter and food for the stranded migrants and help connect them with immigration legal assistance.

Sacramento ACT, which is a member of PICO California, called for the multi-faith statewide community advocacy groups campaigns director, Eddie Carmona. He said one of his immediate tasks was to call community advocates in Texas and other states to warn migrants of the lies that were spreading.

Carmona also reached out to his political contacts throughout California to sound the alarms of what was happening to these migrants, who were among many over the past two years bused or flown from southern U.S. states to immigration sanctuary cities with similar false promises.

Texas Gov. Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have in the past taken credit for busing or flying migrants to various places in the U.S., including New York, Marthas Vineyard and Washington, D.C.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta and Sheriff Javier Salazar of Bexar County, Texas, in a July letter sent to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland demanded more answers for the flights that transported Latin American migrants to Sacramento and Massachusetts over several months. The letter requested a Department of Justice investigation into the program funded by the state of Florida.

It is unconscionable to use people as political props by persuading them to travel to another state based on false or deceptive representations, the letter stated. We urge USDOJ to investigate potential violations of federal law by those involved in this scheme.

Carmona explained how this latest debate over immigration harms those who are simply seeking a better life in this country.

I think thats what the political rhetoric does: it criminalizes and it demonizes immigrants, Carmona said. Thats why immigration and immigrants have been used as political pawns since as long as I can remember.

One recent example: John Bolton, former national security adviser under former President Donald Trump, told Newsweek in a March interview hes worried terrorists may come across the border, and that the current handling of the border makes it too easy to possibly smuggle chemical and biological weapons into the country.

Carmona said the fear-inducing rhetoric focuses on creating a false narrative of immigrants coming to this country to take someones job.

There are no political points to be scored to say that immigrants have contributed to this country and have built this country to what it is today. Theres more political points to be scored by creating the sense of fear.

Using immigrants as a political talking point

While immigration has been the focus of political debates before in the United States, Carmona said there seems to be significantly more vitriol and hatred in the rhetoric this time around that dismisses the humanity of immigrants.

Both parties are guilty of it, Republicans and Democrats, Carmona said. When are they gonna stop using immigrants as a political talking point, as a way to further their political agenda?

Lopez, the Sacramento immigration attorney, said its the heated political debate in Washington and in some of the border states, along with a lot of misinformation, that has led to more migrants rushing to the border.

The Bee asked the U.S. Executive Office for Immigration Review for data that show how many new cases have been filed in the past few years in immigration courts in San Francisco and Sacramento, which migrant advocates say are tremendously backlogged.

A spokesperson for the federal agency, after acknowledging The Bees request, did not respond with any court data or a statement to indicate what is being done to reduce the immigration court backlog.

A migrant mother of three looks at running shoes in June 2023 that were donated to the group in Sacramento after they were transported to the city from El Paso, Texas, on two plane flights by a Florida contractor.

Nearly 1 million new cases filed in U.S. immigration courts

Through February of the 2024 federal fiscal year, which started Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30, over 993,966 new cases were filed in U.S. immigration courts throughout the country, according to Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, also known as TRAC. Slightly more than 355,000 immigration cases have been completed.

Whats got migrants rushing to the U.S. southern border? Lopez said many fear President Joe Biden wont be reelected this year and Trump will return to office. The immigration attorney said migrants rushed to the border after Biden was elected in 2020, thinking this was their chance, and now theyre worried their chances will worsen after Trumps return.

Lopez said a U.S. president alone cant change federal immigration laws, but a president can make the immigration process even more difficult.

The filed cases for those seeking asylum were among the over 3 million cases that are still pending in U.S. immigration courts, according to a report published by TRAC in December. That immigration court backlog was 2 million one year earlier, according to TRAC data, and immigration judges now average 4,500 pending cases each.

Lopez said the U.S. immigration court system is oversaturated with cases and not nearly enough judges. He said he has clients who have been waiting for more than five years in a limbo-status for a final court decision on their asylum case as judges struggle to find an available calendar date.

There also are too few immigration attorneys. A TRAC report published in January indicated that 30% of migrants with cases in U.S. immigration courts had attorneys legally representing them; thats a substantial drop, down from 65% five years earlier.

Lopez said seeking asylum in the United States is a fraught process, especially for those who dont have qualified legal assistance to help avoid pitfalls along the way.

Aura, 31, of Colombia, looks at the website to apply for asylum in August 2023, as a national Spanish television network runs a story on migrants in New York. Aura, who arrived in Sacramento months before on a plane chartered by Florida's governor, and other migrants struggle with the decision to seek asylum as it could potentially be the start of a deportation order.

Sacramento free monthly legal clinics

Thats why the Sacramento Family Unity, Education, and Legal Network was created during the Trump presidency. Also known as the Sacramento FUEL Network, the coalition of community groups including pro bono attorneys work together to help Sacramentos immigrant and refugee population.

NorCal Resist, a local group of community advocates, is among FUEL Network partners. Autumn Gonzalez, an employment attorney, helps lead free monthly legal help clinics in Sacramento for those preparing to file applications for asylum.

Gonzalez said newcomers seeking asylum who cant work immediately or afford to pay several thousands of dollars to retain an attorney are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

She said they have trained volunteers, some law students and others who have already gone through the asylum process, who guide immigrants through the application form at the legal clinics. And the clinics have licensed attorneys, such as Gonzalez, supervise the events.

Those seeking asylum have to file the application within a year of their arrival in the country, a strict deadline.

Its a time crunch for some people, Gonzalez said. They want to get everything right, and you want to submit it on time.

The clinics used to help 50 to 60 applicants each year. Gonzalez said now they assist more than 100 applicants a year. The most recent NorCal Resist legal clinic in mid-March assisted 16 applicants with volunteers from the UC Davis School of Law.

NorCal Resist currently has 200 applicants on the legal clinic waiting list. Gonzalez said they sometimes conduct triage and move ahead applicants facing a quickly approaching filing deadline.

She said many immigrants find it difficult to understand the intense hatred they find here after being told for many years the U.S. would be understanding and welcoming.

I think (the political rhetoric) definitely creates an atmosphere of fear, Gonzalez said. But we create a connection with the community here, establishing trust with them.

Carmona of PICO California said national politicians on both sides of the aisle need to get their acts together and pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Its enough with all of the rhetoric, with the political stunts, with the dehumanization, Carmona said. Were tired of it. Our families are tired of it. Our communities are tired of it.
Polk Co. teachers son stabbed her 70 times, used pre-med training to kill her, sheriff says

WARNING: The following story may too disturbing for some readers.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Newly released documents revealed disturbing details in what Sheriff Grady Judd has called one of the most bizarre murders his detectives have seen in a long time.

Judd releases 911 call of man admitting to stabbing mother to death

In a Monday press conference, Judd said Emmanuel Espinoza murdered his mother, 46-year-old Elvia Espinoza, Saturday by stabbing her multiple times until she bled out.

According to Judd, Elvia Espinoza contacted her son Emmanuel Espinoza, the youngest of her three children, that morning to see if she could visit him while he attended the University of Florida as a pre-med student.

Mom called on Saturday morning and said Manny [the suspects nickname] I havent seen you in a while. I want to come up to Gainesville to see you, the sheriff explained. He said well mom Im visiting grandfather this weekend, he has an event so Ill be down your way. She said thats great. Why dont you stay with me at the house? And he said, sure, Id love to.

Confessed killer Emmanuel Espinoza, left, and victim Elvia Espinosa, right (Photos provided by Polk County Sheriffs Office)

The suspect arrived at his mothers house in Frostproof at about 2 p.m. Saturday. According to a probable cause arrest, he then put his Air Pods on and blasted No Church in the Wild by Jay Z and Kanye West as he approached the house.

Ring camera footage showed Emmanuel Espinoza walk to the front door while holding a knife behind his back. He tried to open the door, but it was locked so he knocked on it.

The affidavit said Elvia Espinoza was on the phone with her brother at the time.

The victims brother heard her say I think Manny is here and open the door. According to the affidavit, thats when he heard Elvia Espinoza screaming for help.

The second she opened the door, he charged in and started stabbing her, Judd said. He made the statement that he knew where to stab her for maximum effect because of his biology classes.

According to the affidavit, the defendant said he knew if he stabbed her in or around the heart, his mother would bleed out. However, detectives said the victim suffered stab wounds all over her body.

The sheriff said Emmanuel Espinoza stabbed his mother over 70 times. The victim screamed his name multiple times, all while he was completely silent.

Judd said the violence continued even after Emmanuel Espinozas mother became unresponsive.

He said he noticed her hands were still moving so he stabbed her some more, Judd said.

According to sheriffs office, the suspect cut his hand while attacking his mother and was seen washing his hands and the knife on an interior camera.

As hes standing at the kitchen sink, washing himself off and the knife, he wanted to ask his mother for the Neosporin for the cut on his hand, but he noticed she was dead, Judd said.

The suspect then called 911, telling the dispatcher that he killed his mother. When the dispatcher asked if his mother was awake, he said she bled out, according to a 911 call released by the sheriffs office.

When deputies arrived, the suspect, who was covered in blood, told them he killed his mother because she got on his nerves, Judd said. According to the sheriff, Emmanuel Espinoza said he loved his mother but thought about killing his mother for years.

He made one statement that sometimes mom talks out loud to herself, Judd said. Shell ask herself questions and then answer her question. Thats gone on for years. Well, who doesnt talk out loud?

It just does not make sense, Elva Mattox, a longtime friend and former colleague of Elvia Espinoza, said. She was almost like a walking angel because she always smiled and had a kind word for anyone who passed.

Mattox is a former teacher who taught Emmanuel Espinoza in second grade.

There was no behavior that exemplified what happened, and that could have given us a clue, said Mattox. He was very bright. All her children were bright. I dont understand where it came from or how it happened.

Emmanuel Espinoza was arrested on a first-degree murder charge. The sheriff said the suspect had no prior arrest history or history of mental problems, and no items were found at his room at the university that showed that he planned his mothers murder beforehand. Judd also said Elvia Espinoza had no negative interaction with her son that day and was excited to see him.

I want you to understand she was really the perfect mom he said. I want you to understand that she was very proud of his accomplishments in going to the University of Florida, graduating number one in his high school class.

Elvia Espinozas obituary described her as beloved teacher at Ben Hill Griffin Elementary School and a light in everyones life.

Elvia was full of life and loved her family, especially her grandchildren, the obituary said. Elvia truly enjoyed spending time with her family and was a light in everyones life.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
On Easter Sunday, Caitlyn Jenner threw a Eucharistic hissy fit, lying (it was a lie  she knew it had been observed on March 31 since 2009) that President Joe Biden had decreed Transgender Day of Visibility on the same day as Easter Sunday. Oh, the heathen that is Biden.

Now, under normal circumstances, Jenner would have to go to confession to atone for her lie. Actually, Jenner would have to go to confession every day for all the evil she spreads.

However, Pope Francis has other ideas about whether the light above Jenners confessional door would be green or red. In a Monday declaration, Francis said that attempts to obscure the sexual difference between man and woman should be rejected. It follows that any sex-change intervention, as a rule, risks threatening the unique dignity the person has received from the moment of conception, the document read.

For Jenner, a Catholic, the fact that Trans Day of Visibility was on Easter Sunday should be the least of her worries. The church is telling Jenner that she is less than and a threat to human dignity. Shes right up there with poverty, the death penalty, war, assisted dying, abortion, sexual abuse, and the abuse of women.

Dont expect everyones least favorite trans person to come to the defense of other trans Catholics. When shes been called less than by others, she usually rolls over, to the point that in December of last year, she said she doesnt consider herself a woman but a trans person.

And therein lies the lie that Jenner perpetuates and the pope validates, and the dilemma before them both. Much like she debates whether shes a woman, Jenner must now decide if she's a good Catholic or a bad one.

Similarly, Francis and the Roman Catholic Church must decide whether they are with us or against us. For every step forward Francis takes on behalf of the church for LGBTQ+ rights, he then takes two steps back, like he did this week by condemning trans people.

How does Francis square with what he did Monday with what he did in 2022 , met four times with transgender groups?

Or, what he did in November of last year when he signed another document that said a person who identifies as transgender can be baptized like any other adult, as long as there is no risk of causing scandal or disorientation to other Catholics. While thats highly subjective, it was another positive sign.

Then on Monday, he took two steps back with his latest Vatican document, trashing trans people. And in begrudging deference to Jenner, no wonder she might be confused about whether shes a good Catholic.

Ive heard from some over the years that gays and lesbians wouldnt have such a hard time being accepted if they werent lumped in with the transgender community. I shake my head in frustration every time. Thats what I did today, as a Catholic, when I read what Francis endorsed. He seems to be singling trans people out for harsher treatment.

In October 2020 , I first wrote about how I thought Pope Francis had a desire to welcome LGBTQ+ people to the church, and I pointed to the horrible history the church had with our community.

We have been too often ostracized, fired from Catholic teaching jobs, denied communion, condemned to hell, excommunicated, pointed at as sinners, shunned by our Catholic families, abused and preyed  not prayed  upon by Catholic priests, paddled by nuns who called us sissies, written about derogatorily in encyclicals by past pontiffs, denounced as sodomizers, and of course refused all the rites of the church, including marriage, because of who they think we are, which seems pretty hypocritical. Isn't judging another person a sin?

Thats what made Francis endearing to us because he once said about our legitimacy, Who am I to judge?

And last December , I wrote another favorable piece about Francis, saying that at the ripe old age of 87, he was all about out with the old and in with the new in the way he was trying to bring the church into the 21st century. I pointed out that Francis said that U.S. conservatives were going backward, replacing faith with ideology, saying, I want to remind these people that backwardness is useless, and they must understand that theres a correct evolution in the understanding of questions of faith and morals.

Monday, Francis went against his own reminder and sounded more like those Christian conservatives he was calling out. Thats a harsh thing to say about Francis, but what he fails to grasp is that what he did Monday gives cover to the hate religious conservatives preach and spread about transgender people. They are under heavy assault right now, and in an election year, theres no doubt that Franciss words will be used as part of the rights hate campaign.

Francis is obviously very anti-abortion, and now coming out as anti-trans emboldens the zealots who will count Francis among their enablers. Instead of taking his steps forward walking with Christ, Francis took two steps backward with those who replace faith with ideology.

Views expressed in The Advocates opinion articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.
Port of Baltimore Rolls More Cars Off and On Than Any Other in the Statesat Least It Did

The Port of Baltimore is the largest for roll on, roll off vehicle shipping in the States.

The port has 710 acres devoted to auto logistics, meaning enormous parking lots everywhere.

Before the accident that saw the Francis Scott Key bridge come down and block passage to the port, a cargo ship would be back in Baltimore 95 days after leaving, having traveled through the Panama Canal to the West Coast, then around the world.

In the modern world, cars get moved around quite a bit before the end user is handed the key fob.

In the United States, the Port of Baltimore is the largest for roll on, roll off (ro-ro) vehicle shipping. The port has 710 acres devoted to auto logistics, meaning enormous parking lots everywhere. Since the world mostly moves goods by container these days, you might think thats how cars travel too, but for the most part theyre driven on and off under their own steam. Lets look at the logistics on just one day.

The cars, trucks, and construction equipment facing toward the 13-deck Morning Lisa in the gigantic Port of Baltimore on February 5 this year were, in general, getting ready to board the 8400-vehicle ro-ro carrier for destinations around the world. The vehicles facing away from the Lisa had just come off it and were waiting to be loaded, either on the fleets of waiting truck transporters or into a rail car.

Jim Motavalli

Consider the logistics of loading and unloading 8400 cars, then imagine squads of drivers, and more drivers (in battered minivans) just to run the drivers back to their next vehicle.

Now consider the gangs of union stevedores working as spotters (to elbow the cars in a few inches away from the next one) and lashers (to tie them down through convenient holes in the deck). Not to mention the Morning Lisas crew of 23 that takes the 761-foot, 68,701-gross tonnage vessel around the world.

The assumption then (that is, before the bridge accident that forced ships to be diverted) was that it would be back in Baltimore in 95 days, having traveled through the Panama Canal to the West Coast, then on to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and many other ports. Before Baltimore, the Lisa was in Europe.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen (WW), Scandinavian-owned, is the largest ro-ro shipper in the world, with a fleet of 130 mostly Lisa-size ships. But, in partnership with the worlds automakers, shippers like WW do much more than just move cargo. Hard up against acres of parking lots are giant sheds for vehicle processing, a euphemism for the type of accessorizing you probably thought was done by dealers.

In a big room full of fresh-from-Japan Subarus, teams of workers were installing trailer hitches, remote starters, short-throw shifters, and anything else dealers or the larger regional office might want. The automakers have their own representatives on the floor, and Subaru had Jonathan Smith in Baltimore. It saves time to do the work here rather than in Japan, Smith said. This way they get two Crosstreks, one with splash guards and one without.



And WW has body shops, too, busy fixing the little dings and blemishes that occur during ocean voyages (and sometimes on land, such as the Nissan Versa that got crushed on a car carrier and was missing its windshield and roof).

Jim Motavalli

Autoweek readers could spend hours in a warehouse filled front to back with new McLarens headed to the dealer network, including a racer in Richard Mille plumage. This is the main import point for British supercars, including vast numbers of Lotus Evoras, Aston Martin DBXs, and BMW-powered Ineos Grenadiers.

One of those Evoras was over in the body shop to fix paint blisters, and a DBX sitting outside was missing its front bodywork. We match paint as well as the factory, said Pickens.

On board the Lisa, Port Captain Mike Orders, at six-foot-three, barely cleared the roof on the fixed top deck (other levels are adjustable) and was supervising the installation of 28 low-slung, right-hand-drive Corvettes, still wrapped in protective plastic and bound for Australia and New Zealand.



We have to make sure that, once theyre stowed, the drivers at the pickup point can get in on the right side to drive them off, he said. Clearances are tight and space at a premium. Think of it as like playing Tetrisa lot of precision is required, said the Lithuania-born Arnoldas Linkevicius, WWs customer service supervisor.

Down a couple of decks, Matt Cleaver, a supervisor with stevedore-supplying Ports America, marveled at the teams ability to discharge 1000 pieces of ro-ro in two daysthe truckers pick them up and theyre just gone. Cleaver proudly noted that hed recently had $8.5 million in McLarens on just one deck.



The majority of the cargo heading in and out of Baltimore was gas-powered, but a whole field of electric Oceans from troubled supplier Fisker had just been imported from Austria without incident. Subaru Solterras (on the same platform as the Toyota bZ4X) and Volvo XC40 Recharges were lined up at chargers. WW moves its crew around in electric Ford vans, plugging in at Tesla chargers.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen

Steve Yariv, owner and operator of Florida-based Dealers Choice Auto Transport, says six companies, including his, handle most of the truck traffic in and out of the port. Baltimores port is enormous, and the trucks are dropping off and picking up in a never-ending process.

Its impressive how well-run it is, he said.

Moving EVs has so far been uneventful, Yariv said. But you cant leave the keys in them, because that can mean they stay awake, and theres a dead battery at the end of the trip, he said.

A major impediment to returning to business as usual is Francis Scott Key Bridge debris blocking safe passage in and out of the port. Clearing an effective channel that can handle large ships could take several weeks.

Jim Motavalli

The Army Corps of Engineers said it expects to open a limited-access channel 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep, able to accommodate some ro-ro vessels, by the end of April. The permanent 700-foot-wide by 50-foot-deep federal navigation channel could be in place by late May, restoring port access to normal capacity.



A temporary channel opened April 1 is being used only for boats working on the salvage efforts. President Biden got an aerial tour April 5. The Key Bridge Response Unified Command said April 3, Trained crews, in conjunction with the Unified Command, are taking steps forward with operations and are conducting routine salvage assessments, while evaluating the safest and most effective routes. Divers are on scene to conduct underwater surveys along with mapping out plans for future wreckage removal.
An Orangeburg man with a lengthy criminal history is behind bars in connection with a car theft and possibly inadvertent kidnapping last summer. The suspect allegedly stole an idling car outside a Port Royal restaurant, crashed less than a mile away and ran from the scene  all while a passenger was in the backseat.

Quantrell Dechane Hills, 33, has been charged with kidnapping, grand larceny and three other minor offenses. He remained in custody at the Beaufort County Detention Center as of Tuesday afternoon.

Hills was arrested after police pulled over his vehicle early on the morning of April 4, according to Port Royal police spokesperson Capt. John Griffith. His arrest warrants were obtained two weeks prior, after investigators identified him as the suspect using forensic evidence found at the crime scene.

On the night of July 13, 2023, Port Royal officers were responding to a single-car accident on Battery Creek Road when they received a stolen vehicle report from Yummy Hibachi and Sushi on Ribaut Road. Speaking with the backseat passenger, officers discovered the stolen vehicle was the same one involved in the crash.

Hills allegedly fled the scene of the collision, leaving the unwitting passenger alone in the backseat. The passenger, who was an employee at the restaurant, told police he had been waiting in the idling car while the driver went into the building. The car thief suddenly got into the vehicle, driving less than a mile before crashing and running away.

Griffith previously said Hills likely did not realize there was a passenger in the car, but he continued to drive after noticing the man in the backseat. Police were still able to apply the felony charge of kidnapping, defined under South Carolina law as the unlawful seizure, confinement or abduction of another person by any means whatsoever.

Investigators do not believe Hills was armed during the theft or his arrest, Griffith said.

The cars passenger was uninjured.

Since 2009, Hills has earned a number of criminal convictions in Orangeburg and Beaufort counties, including first-degree assault and battery, resisting arrest, hit-and-run, forgery, four counts of burglary and three counts of giving false information to law enforcement. He had completed a prison sentence and was released on probation on May 1, 2023, about two months before the alleged car theft in Port Royal.
Pre-Med Student Charged with Murder After Stabbing His Mother More Than 70 Times

Emmanuel "Manny" Espinoza confessed to killing his mother Elvia while visiting her at her home in Florida on April 6

Polk county Sheriff/x; Elvia Espinoza/Facebook Emmanuel and Elvia Espinoza

A pre-med student at the University of Florida has been charged with first-degree murder after stabbing his mother to death.

On Saturday, April 6, Emmanuel Manny Espinoza, 21, confessed to stabbing his mother Elvia, 46, and killing her after he drove down from college to see her at her home in Polk County, Florida, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said during a news conference on April 8.

The sheriff said Espinoza had stabbed Elvia "in excess of 70 times."

Judd explained that before the attack, Elvia had suggested coming to visit her son at college as she hadn't seen him in a while, but Espinoza said he would come home as he was planning to visit his grandfather and also had an event in the area.

In doorcam footage shown at the news conference, Espinoza was seen arriving at his mothers house at around 2:00 p.m. with a knife in hand. After stabbing his mother, he realized he had cut his hand in the process and wanted to ask his mom for the Neosporin  but he noticed she was dead," Judd said.

Polk county Sheriff/x Emmanuel Espinoza has been charged with first-degree murder and evidence tampering

The 21-year-old then called 911 and confessed to carrying out the attack, per a statement on the Polk County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.

Audio of the 911 call was also played out during the news conference, with Espinoza heard telling the dispatcher, "I stabbed my mom."

Judd described the case as one of the most bizarre murders that we've dealt with in a very long time, adding, It is incomprehensible as to what happened that day.

Espinoza, who was a fourth-year student at the University of Florida with plans to become a doctor, told police he had not consumed drugs or alcohol at the time of the attack. Judd also said Espinoza had no history of mental illness.

Elvia Espinoza/Facebook Elvia Espinoza was fatally attacked by her youngest child Emmanuel as he visited her home from college

His mother Elvia had three children, with him being the youngest child, and she was a second-grade teacher at Ben Hill Griffin Elementary School in Frostproof. She was described as "the perfect mother" and "a beloved teacher" by Judd.

Explaining why he stabbed his mother, Espinoza, who is a former valedictorian, told detectives he had just been angry and he had not liked his mother for years.

Judd added he also said of his mother, 'An 8 out of 10, we get along, but  I wanted to do this for some time but I didn't have the nerve to do it, so I just made up my mind that today was the day. 

Espinoza has been charged with first-degree murder and evidence tampering, per the Polk County Sheriff's Office,

Polk Sheriff/Youtube Emmanuel Espinoza seen in doorcam footage arriving at his mother's home on April 6 prior to the attack

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He was being held in the Polk County Jail on Monday, April 8, according to ABC News.



According to online court documents, per the Associated Press, the 21-year-old refused a public defender in his case.



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Read the original article on People.
Seven studies from researchers at the prestigious Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have been retracted over the last two months after a scientist blogger alleged that images used in them had been manipulated or duplicated.

The retractions are the latest development in a monthslong controversy around research at the Boston-based institute, which is a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

The issue came to light after Sholto David, a microbiologist and volunteer science sleuth based in Wales, published a scathing post on his blog in January, alleging errors and manipulations of images across dozens of papers produced primarily by Dana-Farber researchers. The institute acknowledged errors and subsequently announced that it had requested six studies to be retracted and asked for corrections in 31 more papers. Dana-Farber also said, however, that a review process for errors had been underway before Davids post.

Now, at least one more study has been retracted than Dana-Farber initially indicated, and David said he has discovered an additional 30 studies from authors affiliated with the institute that he believes contain errors or image manipulations and therefore deserve scrutiny.

The episode has imperiled the reputation of a major cancer research institute and raised questions about one high-profile researcher there, Kenneth Anderson, who is a senior author on six of the seven retracted studies.

Anderson is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the director of the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center at Dana-Farber. He did not respond to multiple emails or voicemails requesting comment.

The retractions and new allegations add to a larger, ongoing debate in science about how to protect scientific integrity and reduce the incentives that could lead to misconduct or unintentional mistakes in research.

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has moved relatively swiftly to seek retractions and corrections.

Dana-Farber is deeply committed to a culture of accountability and integrity, and as an academic research and clinical care organization we also prioritize transparency, Dr. Barrett Rollins, the institutes integrity research officer, said in a statement. However, we are bound by federal regulations that apply to all academic medical centers funded by the National Institutes of Health among other federal agencies. Therefore, we cannot share details of internal review processes and will not comment on personnel issues.

The retracted studies were originally published in two journals: One in the Journal of Immunology and six in Cancer Research. Six of the seven focused on multiple myeloma, a form of cancer that develops in plasma cells. Retraction notices indicate that Anderson agreed to the retractions of the papers he authored.

Elisabeth Bik, a microbiologist and longtime image sleuth, reviewed several of the papers retraction statements and scientific images for NBC News and said the errors were serious.

The ones Im looking at all have duplicated elements in the photos, where the photo itself has been manipulated, she said, adding that these elements were signs of misconduct.

Dr. John Chute, who directs the division of hematology and cellular therapy at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and has contributed to studies about multiple myeloma, said the papers were produced by pioneers in the field, including Anderson.

These are people I admire and respect, he said. Those were all high-impact papers, meaning theyre highly read and highly cited. By definition, they have had a broad impact on the field.

Chute said he did not know the authors personally but had followed their work for a long time.

Those investigators are some of the leading people in the field of myeloma research and they have paved the way in terms of understanding our biology of the disease, he said. The papers they publish lead to all kinds of additional work in that direction. People follow those leads and industry pays attention to that stuff and drug development follows.

The retractions offer additional evidence for what some science sleuths have been saying for years: The more you look for errors or image manipulation, the more you might find, even at the top levels of science.

Scientific images in papers are typically used to present evidence of an experiments results. Commonly, they show cells or mice; other types of images show key findings like western blots  a laboratory method that identifies proteins  or bands of separated DNA molecules in gels.

Science sleuths sometimes examine these images for irregular patterns that could indicate errors, duplications or manipulations. Some artificial intelligence companies are training computers to spot these kinds of problems, as well.

Duplicated images could be a sign of sloppy lab work or data practices. Manipulated images  in which a researcher has modified an image heavily with photo editing tools  could indicate that images have been exaggerated, enhanced or altered in an unethical way that could change how other scientists interpret a studys findings or scientific meaning.

Top scientists at big research institutions often run sprawling laboratories with lots of junior scientists. Critics of science research and publishing systems allege that a lack of opportunities for young scientists, limited oversight and pressure to publish splashy papers that can advance careers could incentivize misconduct.

These critics, along with many science sleuths, allege that errors or sloppiness are too common, that research organizations and authors often ignore concerns when theyre identified, and that the path from complaint to correction is sluggish.

When you look at the amount of retractions and poor peer review in research today, the question is, what has happened to the quality standards we used to think existed in research? said Nick Steneck, an emeritus professor at the University of Michigan and an expert on science integrity.

David told NBC News that he had shared some, but not all, of his concerns about additional image issues with Dana-Farber. He added that he had not identified any problems in four of the seven studies that have been retracted.

Its good theyve picked up stuff that wasnt in the list, he said.

NBC News requested an updated tally of retractions and corrections, but Ellen Berlin, a spokeswoman for Dana-Farber, declined to provide a new list. She said that the numbers could shift and that the institute did not have control over the form, format or timing of corrections.

Any tally we give you today might be different tomorrow and will likely be different a week from now or a month from now, Berlin said. The point of sharing numbers with the public weeks ago was to make clear to the public that Dana-Farber had taken swift and decisive action with regard to the articles for which a Dana-Farber faculty member was primary author.

She added that Dana-Farber was encouraging journals to correct the scientific record as promptly as possible.

Bik said it was unusual to see a highly regarded U.S. institution have multiple papers retracted.

I dont think Ive seen many of those, she said. In this case, there was a lot of public attention to it and it seems like theyre responding very quickly. Its unusual, but how it should be.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A man was arrested after he returned to a womans residence in a stolen car after he allegedly physically assaulted her, according to reports.

President Biden sends letter to Mobile murder victims mother

Officers with the Mobile Police Department responded to the 200 block of Hillcrest Road around 4:19 p.m. on April 4 in reference to a domestic violence complaint.

When officers arrived, they spoke to the victim, who said a man physically assaulted her.

The suspect, identified as 51-year-old Michael Jones, returned to the residence. Officers say Jones was driving a vehicle reported stolen from the Prichard Police Jurisdiction when he arrived.

(Courtesy: Mobile County Jail log)

Jones was arrested and taken to the Metro Jail, according to reports.

He is currently in jail on charges of third-degree domestic violence felony, driving with a suspended license, driving with no insurance, receiving stolen property first-degree, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, failure to show vehicle registration, driving without wearing a seat belt, having no drivers license, and speeding in a school zone, according to the jail log.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Priest jailed after man collapsed from too many erectile drugs at clerics sex party

Details of the sex party in Dabrowa Gornicza emerged in 2023 - Curioso.Photography/Alamy

A Polish priest has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for sex and drug crimes after a man collapsed during an orgy at his home.

According to Polish media, the victim had taken too many erectile dysfunction pills. An ambulance was called but when paramedics arrived they were refused entry and were only able to administer aid after police arrived.

The priest, referred to as Tomasz Z, was sentenced for sexual offences, supplying drugs and failing to provide assistance to a person in danger of loss of life or serious bodily harm.

He was also ordered to pay the victim 15,000 zlotys (3,000) in damages and several thousand zlotys to a fund set up to help crime victims.

Grzegorz Kaszak, bishop of the Diocese of Sosnowiec, stepped down in 2023 following the scandal - Fot. Grzegorz Celejewski /Agencja Wyborcza.pl via Reuters

The trial took place behind closed doors, state news agency PAP reported, adding that sources had indicated there would not be an appeal.

The Diocese of Sosnowiec in southwest Poland has been engulfed in scandal since reports of the sex party in the town of Dabrowa Gornicza emerged in 2023.

Grzegorz Kaszak, the bishop of the diocese, stepped down but the Vatican gave no reason for his resignation. Tomasz Z was discharged from the clergy in 2023 after the media reports.

The dioceses press office was approached for comment.

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MAPUTO, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has sent a delegation to assist the victims and take measures to minimize the impact of a tragic shipwreck that left around 100 people dead Sunday in the country's northern offshore waters.

The head of state also instructed provincial authorities at various levels to mobilize rescue teams and analyze the situation, according to a statement issued by the Presidency of the Republic late Monday.

"In light of this information, the Head of State, in the early hours of today, sent a government delegation, led by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mateus Magala, to provide help to the survivors, as well as for the investigation, in order to assess the causes behind this tragedy," read the statement.

At least 55 children and 32 women are reported to have died in the shipwreck.

Mateus Magala told the local media Monday that the shipwreck led the government to deeply reflect on the control of maritime transportation.

The presidents of Angola Joao Lourenco, Portugal's Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa and South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa sent their condolences to President Nyusi for the tragic accident.

"The South African people are deeply saddened by this tragedy and wish success in the search efforts for the missing people," said Ramaphosa in his message of condolence.

"This is a moment of deep sadness, and the people of Angola express their solidarity for the tragedy," said Angolan President Lourenco. 
Nela Liskova, Czech activist and misinformer, has been sentenced by the Ostrava District Court to probation for numerous instances of defamation, including for the call for the "de-Ukrainisation" of Czechia.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Czech Radio

Details: The Czech police started investigating Liskovas posts on Twitter (X), which caught the attention of former Czech Minister of Culture Daniel Herman, in June 2023.

On 9 April, the court sentenced Liskova, who had also called for the "de-Ukrainisation and denazification of Czechia" on Twitter (X), to eight years of probation with a delay of two years. The court also obliged her to delete the contents of her Twitter account.

Liskova was tried for inciting hatred.

Over the last few years Liskova has made manipulative posts about Muslims, sexual minorities and the members of the Czech Pirate Party on social media.

She also spread defamatory claims against Olga Richterova, a member of the Czech Parliament from the Czech Pirate Party, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as against refugees.

Specifically, Liskova tweeted a photo of Zelenskyy with the following caption: "I hope everyone who supports this Nazi monster and his followers will be held accountable. Our mission will be de-Ukrainisation and denazification of the Czech Republic".

The sentence has not been finalised, as Liskova filed an appeal right in the courtroom.

Earlier, Nela Liskova led the so-called Office of the Donetsk Peoples Republic and called herself an "honorary consul" of the so-called "Donetsk Peoples Republic".

In 2017, this organisation was banned for illegal activity.

In the past, Liskova also spread disinformation on social media, for instance, about vaccination during the pandemic, and the migration crisis.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The two victims of Mondays shooting at a Las Vegas law office  an attorney and his wife  were new parents allegedly killed by another Las Vegas attorney, sources told the 8 News Now Investigators.

The shooting happened in the Prince Law Groups fifth-floor office during a deposition, sources said. The law office is located inside 10801 W. Charleston Blvd. near Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa.

Dennis Prince was representing his wife, Ashley Prince, during a deposition involving Ashley Princes ex-husband, sources said. Ashley Princes ex-husbands father, Joe Houston II, was representing his son in the proceedings, sources said. Records show Dylan Houston filed for divorce from then-named Ashley Houston in 2021.

Las Vegas attorney kills 2, self in Summerlin law office shooting: sources

Shortly after 10 a.m., Joe Houston allegedly shot the Princes before killing himself, sources said. Court records show a filing in Ashley Prince and Dylan Houstons divorce case was posted Monday regarding custody of their children, attorneys fees and other costs.

A graphic showing the relationships among Dennis Prince, Ashley Prince and Joe Houston II. (KLAS)

Joe Houston II targeted his two victims, LVMPD Lt. Jason Johansson said without identifying any of the parties.

The Princes recently had a child together, friends confirmed to the 8 News Now Investigators.

Dennis Prince frequently appeared on 8 News Now where he discussed civil cases.

With profound sadness, Prince Law Group would like to thank everyone who has reached out to us with heartfelt messages of concern and sympathy over the tragic violence that occurred this morning in our offices, a spokesperson said Monday evening. We ask that you please respect the privacy of the families involved.

Princes former law partner, Robert Eglet, described Prince as a wonderful father to four children. He said his death was not just a loss to his family, but also to the community.

We are deeply saddened by the devastating news of the passing of Dennis Prince, a distinguished attorney who was regarded as one of the finest in our state, Princes friend Tom Letizia, a political consultant, said. Dennis was not only a close friend of mine but also a respected figure within our legal community, whose absence has left us all in mourning. The news of this tragedy has profoundly shocked me and our entire community.

Im devastated, Democratic Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, a friend and former law partner of Dennis Princes, said. Dennis Prince was not only a brilliant attorney, but he was also my former law partner and my friend. I cant believe hes gone. Im extremely saddened by his and Ashleys death, and my heart goes out to their families, especially their children.

The Clark County coroners office will officially identify the victims at a later date.

Those needing victim services can call 702-455-AIDE (2433).

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
The Prosecutor Generals Office has 27 criminal cases related to the killing of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russians, involving the murder of 54 soldiers.

Source: Prosecutor Generals Office, citing Yurii Bielousov, Chief of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Department for Combating Crimes Committed during Armed Conflicts, in an interview with Suspilne

Details: Commenting on the video published on social media on 7 April, Bielousov stated that early reports have been received: the crime took place near Krynky in Kherson Oblast, but the details are still being verified.

Bielousov called for not disclosing the names of soldiers killed and to remember their loved ones.

Quote: "In this regard, and based on previous incidents, we are also investigating the command responsible for such actions. This concerns not only unit commanders but also the highest military-political leadership. Because this is not an isolated case but evidence of Russia's policy."

Details: The Prosecutor Generals Office stated that cases of execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war have been documented since March 2022. A court has already handed down a verdict to the first Russian military personnel for the execution of a Ukrainian soldier in Chernihiv Oblast. The investigation is complicated by the fact that prosecutors and investigators usually do not have access to the crime scene or the opportunity to examine the body.

However, as Bielousov stated, this work is ongoing. Ukraine has a unique experience in documenting crimes, even without access to the territory.

The Prosecutor General's Office cooperates with the International Criminal Court, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, intelligence agencies, and non-governmental organisations that also collect information.

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Special Counsel Jack Smith on Monday pressed the U.S. Supreme Court to reject Donald Trumps claim that he is immune from criminal prosecution for attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The special counsels assertion that no person is above the lawincluding the president was backed up in supplementary filings by retired military officials and former Republican lawmakers.

In a friend of the court brief, a group of 19 retired four-star U.S. military generals and other retired high-ranking military officials called Trumps argument contrary to the foundational principles of our democracy. They warned that a ruling in Trumps favor would undermine a presidents legal and moral authority to command military forces, as it would signal that they but not he must obey the rule of law.

It would also, they said, threaten to inject chaos into military operations, as well as peaceful presidential transitions of power.

The notion of such immunity, both as a general matter, and also specifically in the context of the potential negation of election results, threatens to jeopardize our nations security and international leadership, they said. Particularly in times like the present, when anti-democratic, authoritarian regimes are on the rise worldwide, such a threat is intolerable and dangerous.

Jeffrey Clark Broke Lawyer Code of Conduct by Aiding in Trump Election Scheme: Panel

In another amicus brief, 13 former appointed and elected officials, including former Reps. Tom Campbell (R-CA) and Tom Coleman (R-MO) and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld (R), argued that siding against Smith could encourage disgruntled future presidents to weaponize the military and other armed federal personnel to reverse election results they didnt like.

In their 66-page filing, Smiths prosecutors told the high court that Trumps novel and sweeping clutch for absolute immunity was not supported by any constitutional text, history, precedent, or policy considerations.

They wrote, The Framers never endorsed criminal immunity for a former President, and all Presidents from the Founding to the modern era have known that after leaving office they faced potential criminal liability for official acts.

Trump Rages Against His Legal Foes in Unhinged Easter Screed

Smiths brief marks prosecutors last chance to outline their arguments before the Supreme Court weighs the case on April 25the last day of oral arguments in its current term, according to Reuters.

The late date in the calendar marked a significant victory for Trump, whose lawyers had sought to slow-walk proceedings even as Smith pushed for an expedited trial schedule that would see a ruling handed down well before the 2024 presidential election.

Trump is facing four federal charges related to his alleged scheme to interfere with Joe Bidens election victory. He has pleaded not guilty, and similarly denied wrongdoing in the three other criminal cases currently ongoing against him.

The former president first sought to have his charges dismissed on the basis of immunity last October. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the case, rejected his bid two months later. He quickly appealed and, as the appeals process dragged into the next year, Chutkan vacated his original trial date of March 4.

In early February, an appeals court upheld Chutkans decision, with a three-judge panel finding that any executive immunity that may have protected [Trump] while he served as President no longer protects him against this prosecution. Three weeks later, the Supreme Court agreed to hear oral arguments in the matter.

The Unhinged Arguments the Supreme Court Is Fielding on Trump Immunity

In his Monday brief, Smiths office stated outright that federal criminal law applies to the President, and that Trump was trying to get the court to agree with him unless a criminal statute expressly names the President, the statute does not apply.

That radical suggestion, prosecutors wrote, which would free the President from virtually all criminal laweven crimes such as bribery, murder, treason, and seditionis unfounded.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Purse-snatching bully punches woman, 68, in face and down NYC church stairs  then takes her car as she lies in agony

The 68-year-old victim was approaching the entrance of the Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church on 152nd Street in Briarwood around 8:20 a.m. when the much-younger attacker trailed behind her, according to cops and the church's pastor, Father Konstantinos Kalogridis. The 68-year-old victim was approaching the entrance of the Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church on 152nd Street in Briarwood around 8:20 a.m. when the much-younger attacker trailed behind her, according to cops and the church's pastor, Father Konstantinos Kalogridis.

A mugger brutally punched a 68-year-old parishioner down the steps of her Queens church early Sunday  then snatched her purse and rode off in her car as she lied on the ground in pain, according to authorities and video of the disturbing crime.

The victim was approaching the entrance of the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church on 152nd Street in Briarwood around 8:20 a.m. when the much-younger attacker struck, according to cops and the churchs pastor, Father Konstantinos Kalogridis.

Video of the vicious attack, which The Post obtained from the church Monday, shows the suspect stalking the woman as she walks up to the church.

The attacker slugged the 68-year-old woman in the face on the steps of the Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, cops said. NYPD

He then suddenly gets in front of her and punts her down the steps as he stands on the top landing.

As she lies on the ground, he callously picks her pockets and steals her purse before bolting with her purse and driving away in her car, a 2006 Nissan Altima.

Shes a parishioner of our church who was coming to church to attend the service in the morning, Kalogridis told The Post in a phone interview. I was in the office during the service but when I saw the footage of what happened, it was horrible.

I cant believe  right on the top of the steps of the church  to do this to an elderly woman, Kalogridis told The Post in a phone interview. I hope they find this guy and they go to jail.

The brute stole the womans purse holding $300, a cell phone, a credit card and car keys, authorities said. NYPD

The victim was initially hospitalized in critical condition, but Kalogridis said he had since visited her and her condition had stabilized.

Shes a regular parishioner, the pastor said. She has a wonderful family and she has her faith in the Lord and shes a humble person that would give her very best to her family and her community.

I gave her a blessing and gave her communion and I prayed for her, and were hoping shell come out strong and have a full recovery, he added. And even [when] the nurses saw me visit her, they would say, Oh, shes so sweet! So nice!'

The womans stolen purse held $300, a cellphone, a credit card, and  conveniently for the suspect  her car keys, authorities said.

Police released a video Monday of the suspect, believed to be between 18 and 25 years old, running off with the seniors bag.

Finally, the thief took off in her assailants car, a 2006 Nissan Altima, cops said. NYPD

A still photo shows him with his arms outstretched while standing at the top of the church steps, apparently just after knocking the parishioner down.

[Parishioners] were shocked because we dont have incidents like that here in this area of the neighborhood, Kalogridis said. There was fear, they were angry and sad for the woman as she went through this.

The pastor said the NYPDs local 107th Precinct has opted to increase its presence around the church as they search for the attacker  especially during the ongoing season of Orthodox Lent.

Theyre going to be sending patrols here just to keep an eye on the area, so we have the support of the police 100% on this, he said.

The victim is a regular parishioner and humble person with a wonderful family, her pastor said. Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

The NYPD has described the attacker as a man with a dark complexion, between 18 and 25 years old, standing around 5-foot-8 with a medium build.

He was last seen wearing a red hoodie underneath a black jacket, black pants, black face mask and black Jordans with red trim.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.
A woman behind the wheel of a black sedan, along with a passenger in the vehicle, was taken into custody after a high-speed chase through the streets of Los Angeles.

Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department initiated the pursuit on reports that the woman was driving recklessly and was possibly under the influence.

The woman was leading police in chase on the southbound 110 Freeway shortly after the pursuit was initiated. When the driver exited the freeway and briefly slowed, a passenger jumped out of the vehicle.

A female driver that led police in pursuit on April 8, 2024, surrendered and was taken into custody. (KTLA)

A female driver that led police in pursuit on April 8, 2024, surrendered and was taken into custody. (KTLA)

A female driver that led police in pursuit on April 8, 2024, surrendered and was taken into custody. (KTLA)

A female driver that led police in pursuit on April 8, 2024, surrendered and was taken into custody. (KTLA)

A female driver that led police in pursuit on April 8, 2024, surrendered and was taken into custody. (KTLA)

A female driver that led police in pursuit on April 8, 2024, surrendered and was taken into custody. (KTLA)

That person was taken into custody, but the female suspect continued driving at high rates of speed, with sparks shooting out of the bottom of black vehicle at every bump in the road.

On Vermont Avenue, north of 120th Street, the woman pulled over, toss the keys out of the vehicle and surrendered to police.

Sky5 was overhead.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
On Thursday, March 28, local iJAG students took first place at the State Career Development Conference for their Saving Lives: One Spray at a Time Project, according to a news release.

Three local iJAG students, Kaylee Greene, Liberty Muhly, and Austin Smith, have been partnering with the local substance use prevention coalition, Gateway ImpACT Coalition, since November 2023 to find ways to address opioid overdose and drug prevention in Clinton.

On Thursday, March 28, local iJAG students took 1st place at the State Career Development Conference for their Saving Lives: One Spray at a Time Project. Three local iJAG students, Kaylee Greene, Liberty Muhly, and Austin Smith, have been partnering with the local substance use prevention coalition, Gateway ImpACT Coalition, since November 2023 to find ways to address opioid overdose and drug prevention in Clinton. (iJAG)

Iowa Jobs for Americas Graduates (iJAG) partners with Iowa schools to deliver career development programming that includes leadership training, career education, individualized guidance, and employer engagement.

As part of this program iJAG students in 155 Iowa iJAG 11-12 grade programs were challenged to participate in the LOVE Project. The LOVE (Lifting Our Voices for Equity) is all about teams coming together to make their community better and fairer.

Three iJAG students at Clinton High selected Opioid Overdose and Drug Prevention as their LOVE Project. They worked with community partners like the Gateway ImpACT Coalition to learn about these topics and then created a plan on how to address these issues. Students selected to, among other things, call their project: Saving Lives; One Spray at Time. As part of this initiative, they worked to get Naloxone into the hands of youth and those who may be in assistant in the event of an opioid overdose. The first training included information about drug prevention, overdose, how to use Naloxone, and basic information about CPR and had about 20 people in attendance and over 5,000 impressions community-wide.

The students want to host their next event in early May with even more partners and are working to recruit even more youth to join their initiative. The next stop for these students is to present their project at the National Career Development Conference in St. Louis from April 18-20.

For more information, email kristin@csaciowa.org.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
He was in a rage: Teen beat Charlotte group home worker to death over cell phone time: Report

Editors warning: The following contains graphic details of a murder. Reader discretion is advised.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Details of what led up to the brutal murder of a man at a Charlotte group home last January are now being released in a report by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).

On Thursday, Jan. 4, a 16-year-old resident referred to as FC is accused in the deadly beating of Ganiyu Ibrahim, 59, a worker at Miracle Houses Swearngan Road site.

FCs History

According to the NCDHHS report, FC was sent to a juvenile detention center in June 2022 for physically aggressive behavior. Its not clear how long he was detained or when he was released.

FC had been admitted into the group home system in October 2023 for a history of aggressive behavior and violent outbursts.

READ MORE | 16-year-old charged with murder of man in northwest Charlotte: CMPD

In a clinical assessment, it was determined that FC would need one-on-one help and 24/7/365 supervision to control his anger and constant threatening of staff and other residents.

The report continues that FC would have explosive episodes, verbal aggression, and difficulty following directions about four days a week.

FC was discharged from the group home system the day after the homicide and his arrest.

The January 4 attack

Around 6:50 p.m. on Jan. 4, Ganiyu Ibrahim, who was working one-on-one with FC, allowed the teen to make a phone call to his mother. Ibrahim warned FC he would have 10 minutes instead of 15 minutes because phone hours were about to end, according to the NCDHHS report.

FC agreed at first, but became frustrated when Ibrahim gave FC a 1-minute warning to wrap up his call. FC was angry and cursed at staff before going outside for about 5 minutes.

When FC went inside, Ibrahim told him a search would be required.

FC refused the search and claimed that Ibrahim could not tell the teen when to get off the phone with his mother. FC continued to curse at staff before trying to call his mother again.

Ibrahim called a third staff member, who tried to calm FC down over the phone. She was still on speakerphone when FC started to attack and punch Ibrahim in the face multiple times.

The report says Ibrahim restrained FC using NCI (Nonviolent Crisis Intervention) Prevention for about 35 minutes before letting go of FC.

Graphic details, timeline revealed in murder case of Charlotte mother and 2 children

The teen appeared calm at first but, upon release, FC continued to attack Ibrahim, who blocked the hits. Ibrahim tried to maneuver from the living room to the office but tripped over the couch, falling to the floor.

FC continued to pummel Ibrahim on the floor, hitting the worker with closed fists and stomping on Ibrahims head. When verbal threats from other residents distracted FC, a staff member in training tried to intervene, the report says.

Ibrahim managed to get up and go into the office, but FC followed the worker and broke the phone when Ibrahim attempted to call 911.

Two more attacks ensued, with Ibrahim falling to the floor again as blows to his head, face, and neck. The other staff member tried to intervene and called 911 at least twice, saying that Ibrahim may be unconscious.

FC went outside for a moment while another resident checked on Ibrahim. When FC returned, he said to leave Ibrahim. Another resident can be heard on video pleading with FC to Leave him alone.

The report continues that FC dragged Ibrahim out of the home, down some steps, and onto some grass. The teen continued to beat Ibrahim before declaring that Ibrahim was dead and yelling out some things related to being a gang member.

The other staff member placed a few calls, including to the executive director and to the third staff member who was not at the home. FC went back inside the house to look through drawers in the staff office. One of the residents then tried to clean up blood in the office and kitchen.

FC then fled north down Swearingan Ridge Court when the third staff member arrived at the home to find Ibrahim gasping for air. This person also called 911 and started to give CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) until medics could arrive.

The neighbors called 911 at least twice during the incident.

A Charlotte Mecklenburg Police officer says he arrived at the home around 7:25 p.m. The call was assigned to other officers; however, this officer was added to the call when first responders heard that Ibrahim was not breathing.

The officer says he arrived after medics and firefighters had already taken over CPR. At this time, Ibrahim was still outside the home and not breathing. FC had fled down the street.

A staff member told police what happened and gave them a description of FC. An officer noted that there was blood in several rooms of the home.

Just after 8 p.m., medics declared Ibrahim dead and CPR stopped.

A police K9 searched the neighborhood for FC but could not find him. FC later returned to the home covered in blood and surrendered to police at the scene.

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What happened to the other juveniles?

The three other juvenile residents were removed from the home and separated ahead of interviews at a police station.

In the end, only one young resident talked with police, but the juvenile is quoted as saying, I dont want to talk about this anymore, when asked about the incident about a month later.

A second resident was not interviewed because their guardian did not think it was a good idea, saying that the child was showing signs of trauma after the incident.

The staff member in training

According to the report, the other staff member present for the attack was just three hours into her first day of training. She had been officially hired the day before.

I was told there would be two guys there to train me, she said. But when I got there, it was only one [Ibrahim].

Ibrahim informed her that the third staff member had left to go to the store but would be back.

The trainee says she didnt initially call 911 because Ibrahim said he would. She did call 911 after the second attack and tried to calm FC down.

He [FC] was in a rage, she said. [Ibrahim] never even touched him.

She says she didnt know that FC needed 24-hour one-on-one support or how staffing worked since it was her first day.

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The third staff member

In an interview, the third staff member referred to as a qualified professional says she stepped in to staff the shift and train the trainee when another staff member called out.

When I got there, we decided to have a movie night for the clients, so I went to the store down the street to get movie snacks, she says. I was gone for about 15 minutes when [Ibrahim] called me and asked me what time I was coming back because [FC] was having a behavior. I could hear [FC] yelling in the background.

About 2025 minutes later, the trainee called the third staff member hysterical, saying that FC had attacked Ibrahim.

When the qualified professional returned to the home, she says she performed CPR until medics took over.

Executive director

The executive director says she did not know that Ibrahim was the only staff member with the trainee and FC.

[The trainee] called and told me [FC] was beating [Ibrahim], but she never told me no other staff was there, the director recalled.

She says she did not know that the qualified professional was filling in or that three staff members were needed with the one-on-one requirement for FC until the investigation was underway.

The director noted that Ibrahim was responsible for scheduling and she would help as needed. She says they usually had three people working in the home, but that the minimum was two staff members.

[FC] had one-on-one staff support as recommended, but he did not like for us [staff] to call it one-on-one support, she said.

She adds, Im working on hiring and training new staff, and working with the [qualified professionals] so this does not happen again.

She says that ongoing training and weekly meetings will continue. Pre-screening to determine the needs of residents and the safety of residents and staff will be a priority.

Man charged with placing explosive devices near church, schools in Alexander County

Issues found

On January 29, an observation found that a toilet paper holder was broken and exposed a sharp metal hook, exposed wood and nails on two of the kitchen drawers, and a few broken window blind slats.

I hadnt noticed the broken issue holder, the executive director says. The clients mess the blinds up all the time.

The director is responsible for repairs and rents the property. She asked the property owner to make repairs and the director would find a repairman.

Following the homicide and a survey completed by NCDHHS on Feb. 23, Miracle Houses, Inc. was issued a $2,000 fine.

Below are the previous citations for alleged misconduct at the Miracle Houses Swearngan Road location:

2023  Several repairs and a greater knowledge of the fire drill plans were needed.

2019  Staff showed up late to their shift resulting in two residents being home alone.

2019  The residents got into a physical fight leading to one child being scratched.

2019  Resident when AWOL (absent without leave) in Nov. 2018. The incident wasnt reported until Jan. 2019.

2018  A resident should not have been riding the school bus.

What is next for FC?

The 16-year-old FC was charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon. He has not been identified due to his age.

In January, CMPD reported that he was being held at a juvenile detention facility in Cabarrus County.

Queen City News reached out to Miracle Houses, Inc. for comment on April 3, but has yet to hear back.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  A passenger landed a privately-owned plane at Raleigh-Durham International Airport after the pilot experienced a medical emergency in the air, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

RDUs General Aviation Terminal (Chloe Rafferty/CBS 17)

At about 5 p.m. Sunday, the passenger landed the single-engine Cirrus SR-20 plane at RDUs General Aviation Terminal, the FAA told CBS 17.

Scanner traffic alerted crews of an inbound aircraft with an unknown medical emergency.

Evan Caulfield was dropping his daughter off at the airport when he heard the call over the scanner.

It was quite a commotion out there, he told CBS 17. A lot of adrenaline. Its like, whats going on here?

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When he arrived at the terminal, he said he saw the plane and three EMS units at the scene.

Airport officials said EMS treated one person and took them to a hospital. They said the pilot and the passenger were the only two people on the plane.

EMS responds after pilot has medical emergency (Credit: Evan Caulfield)

EMS responds after pilot has medical emergency (Credit: Evan Caulfield)

Ive heard of so many of those types of things happening, and he was lucky that he had a passenger that was able to land the plane, Caulfield said.

There are emergencies all the time and things people can do to help protect themselves, he said. Even in a plane, have a copilot or someone that knows how to fly a plane. Its important for people to know whats going on and the heroic efforts of EMS and fire and police.

According to Flight Aware, the plane took off around 3:30 p.m. and started to land around 4:50 p.m.

 Track issues along your commute with the QCN Traffic Interactive Map

At this time, it is not clear where the plane took off from or where it was headed.

CBS 17 reached out to the pilots family to see if hes ok and we have not heard back.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  Attorney general Josh Stein announced on Tuesday that North Carolina has ended the backlog of untested older sexual assault kits.

Since 2017, Stein prioritized ending the backlog to get justice for survivors. Working with the legislature and local law enforcement, the Department of Justice conducted a a statewide inventory and discovered that more than 16,000 untested kits sat on the shelves of local law enforcement agencies in 2019.

Today is a great day: North Carolina has ended the rape kit backlog. I am incredibly proud of the bipartisan and collaborative effort that produced this achievement  Republican and Democratic legislators, district attorneys, and law enforcement officers all played a critical role in ending the backlog. I also want to thank the scientists at the State Crime Lab who have worked countless hours to get these kits tested. Most importantly, I thank the victims for their bravery in submitting the evidence so we can hold their rapists accountable. Todays excellent news is the result of an impressive team effort, but our work doesnt end now. Weve put in place measures to ensure that we never get into this situation again in North Carolina, and I intend to continue to do everything in my power to help law enforcement solve cold cases and get rapists off the streets and behind bars. Attorney General Josh Stein

Stein worked with legislators to enact the Survivor Act. The law established a process to test older kits, provided significant funding, and set standards to ensure that law enforcement sends new kits for testing in a timely manner.

Attorney General Stein and the State Crime Lab implemented a tracking system to ensure that survivors, law enforcement, prosecutors and other stakeholders could monitor kits progress after they are collected. The attorney generals office said the tracking system is in use and it will help prevent another backlog.

As of April 2024, 11,841 kits have been tested or are in the process of being tested, according to the attorney generals office. From those kits, 5,075 samples have been entered into the CODIS DNA database, and CODIS has matched the samples to 2,702 kits.

According to the attorney generals office, 2,024 of those samples had hits to offenders whose DNA is in the database due to previous convictions or arrests. Law enforcement has made 114 arrests based on those hits.

The attorney generals office said the remaining 17 kits are in process for testing.

For far too long, the majority of sexual assault survivors were not getting the justice they deserved in North Carolina, said Monika Johnson-Hostler, executive director of the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Thanks to this effort, cold cases are moving forward and survivors can be assured that the justice system in this state cares about what happened to them and is fighting for them.

A representative from N.C. Republican Party said in a statement:

After eight years Josh Stein finally has completed a basic function of his job as Attorney General. After eight years, the State Crime Lab has cleaned up the mess left by his predecessor, Governor Roy Cooper. Its sad this even needs to be celebrated and justice has been delayed far too long for too many victims. It is a credit to the increased funding and oversight provided by the Republican-led General Assembly that this dark chapter is finally closed.

The Department of Justice has a website that includes an interactive tracker of the rape kits.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
DAR ES SALAAM, April 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people, including two Chinese nationals, are missing after a vessel registered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) capsized in Lake Tanganyika on Saturday night, Tanzania's shipping authorities said in a statement late Monday.

The Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation said the 10 missing passengers included two Chinese, two Tanzanians, four Congolese, one Kenyan, and an unidentified child.

The statement said rescuers, including fishermen, managed to rescue two Chinese, three Tanzanians, and 12 Congolese, adding that the ship, MV Maman Benita, was sailing from Kigoma port in Tanzania to Kalemie port in the DRC.

The capsizing of the ship in the Kabimba area of the DRC was reported to Congolese authorities by fishermen, the statement said, adding that rescue efforts were still underway.

The ship left Kigoma port on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. local time and was scheduled to arrive at Kalemie port on Sunday at 2 a.m. DRC time, according to the statement. 
Russians in the city of Orsk protested on Monday, demanding compensation following the collapse of a dam and subsequent flooding in the Orenburg region near the Kazakhstan border.

Protests are rare in Russia where authorities have consistently cracked down on any form of dissent following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Hundreds gathered in front of the administrative building in Orsk Monday, Russian state news agency Tass reported.

Videos shared on Russian social media channels showed people chanting Putin, help us, and shame.

The floods, caused by rising water levels in the Ural River, forced over 4,000 people, including 885 children, to evacuate in the Orenburg region, the regional government said on Sunday.

Around 10,000 homes, including some 7,000 in Orsk, were flooded in the region, with floodwaters continuing to rise, according to Tass.

Emergency workers use a boat to evacuate local residents in a flooded street after a part of a dam burst, in Orsk, Russia on Monday, April 8, 2024. - AP/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved

Submerged buildings, including homes, and nearby fields were shown in footage from Orsk and Orenburg.

Russias government declared the situation in flood-hit areas of Orenburg a federal emergency on Sunday, with preparations for possible flooding underway in three other regions, state media reported.

Following the protest, Tass reported that the governor of the Orenburg region, Denis Pasler, promised compensation payments of approximately 100 euros (10,000 rubles a month) for six months to people forced out of their homes by the flood.

The total damage from the flood in the region is estimated at about 210 million euros (21 billion rubles), the regional government said Sunday.

A criminal probe has been launched to investigate suspected construction violations that may have caused the dam to break. Local authorities said the dam could withstand water levels up to 5.5 metres.

On Sunday, the level in Orsk reached 9.7 metres (31.82 feet), according to Russias water level information site AllRivers.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had spoken with the authorities to discuss the situation and the need ... for early adoption of measures to assist people and their possible evacuation.

The Ural River, about 2,428 kilometres long, flows from the southern section of the Ural Mountains into the north end of the Caspian Sea, through Russia and Kazakhstan.
From Reagan to Obama, presidents have left office with strategic regret  will leaving troops in Iraq and Syria be Biden or Trumps?

U.S. presidents often leave the White House expressing strategic regret over perceived foreign policy failures.

Lyndon Johnson was haunted by the Vietnam War. Bill Clinton regretted the failed intervention in Somalia and how the Black Hawk Down incident contributed to his administrations inaction over the Rwandan genocide. Barack Obama said the Libyan intervention was the worst mistake of his presidency. And after a tragic bombing killed 241 U.S. service personnel in 1983 at a Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, President Ronald Reagan called his decision to send troops to Lebanon my greatest regret and my greatest sorrow.

As the U.S. heads into a presidential election that will, in all likelihood, end the future White House ambitions of one of its two latest inhabitants  Joe Biden and Donald Trump  it is fair to ask whether either or both will end up similarly experiencing strategic regret.

As an expert on U.S. foreign policy and grand strategy, I believe that if history is any guide, a possible answer can be found in both mens decisions to keep U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq.

With troops in both countries  about 900 in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq  facing missile attacks from Iranian-backed proxies of late, the U.S. could be edging toward another incident like the 1983 terrorist attack in Beirut, a point made all the more obvious by the recent deaths of three U.S. soldiers in Jordan along the Syrian border.

Another Beirut?

The Middle East has entered a volatile period. The threat to U.S. personnel in the region takes the form of both the Islamic State group, which is intent on hitting Western targets, and the increased risk from a network of Iran-linked militants seeking to avenge what they see as U.S. complicity in Israels siege of Gaza.

If any mass-casualty attack on U.S. forces were to occur, the occupant of the White House would face two conditions that have left departing presidents experiencing strategic regret: the loss of American lives on their watch and the prospect of being drawn into a widening war.

The 1983 bombing of a U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut killed 241 American troops. AP Photo

By historical standards, conditions could be ripe for strategic regret in the Middle East. Todays situation in Iraq and Syria is eerily similar in many ways to the circumstances Reagan faced in Beirut, but potentially far more dangerous.

Like Lebanon then, U.S. troops are in Iraq and Syria for secondary, as opposed to primary, security objectives.

The troops in Lebanon in the early 1980s were peacekeepers. In Iraq and Syria they support a cleanup mission against an Islamic State group whose threat to U.S. national security ended with the collapse of the caliphate in 2019. According to a recent Pentagon report, that threat remains exceedingly weak today for the United States.

As in Lebanon, U.S. troops today are also highly exposed given their small numbers, hostile surroundings and dependence on Iraq, Turkey and Kurdish forces for supply lines. That makes them easy targets for attack.

While Reagan was unaware of the high exposure of U.S. Marines in 1983, the danger U.S. troops face today in Iraq and Syria is abundantly clear. U.S. forces have faced more than 160 missile attacks from Iranian-backed proxies since mid-October 2023.

The Jordan attack aside, U.S. service members have already suffered significant injuries from missiles, including dozens of traumatic brain injuries. With Iran saying in April that the U.S. must answer for Israels killing of three generals in Irans Quds Force this week in Syria, prospects of more deadly attacks against U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Syria appear to be rising.

Fueling hubris

Some might consider this concern about another Beirut overblown. After all, proxy attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have dropped since the attack in Jordan in late January, giving the impression that deterrence is now working after big U.S. retaliatory strikes in February.

A mother holds a photo of her son, U.S. Marine Cpl. Edward Johnston, at a 2007 remembrance with family members and loved ones of victims from a 1983 terrorist attack on Americans in Beirut. Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images

Here again, though, history tells a cautionary tale. The 1983 Marine Corps barracks bombing was preceded a few months earlier by a smaller, yet still deadly, bombing at the U.S. embassy in Beirut. In the lull that followed the embassy attack, Reagan officials didnt pursue a strategically smart rethink of U.S. policy or consider troop reductions.

Instead, fueled in part by a determination to make the mission work, they doubled down and adopted a more aggressive role in Lebanons civil war.

It was a fateful decision. In short, lulls in violence like today in Iraq and Syria can fuel hubris and provide a dangerous sense of false security and a determination to stay the course.

As Lebanon  as well as Somalia under Clinton and Vietnam under Johnson  shows, that is a prime condition for strategic regret.

If regret does come over Iraq and Syria, there are reasons to believe that it could even be more profound for the current occupant of the White House than it was for Reagan in 1983. After the Beirut bombing, Reagan used the distraction of the Grenada invasion to quietly withdraw U.S. troops from Lebanon rather than escalate militarily and risk additional U.S. bloodshed.

Biden or Trump, should he replace the current Oval Office occupant come November, may not have the luxury of a Grenada-like distraction.

Rather, the intensely partisan politics in Washington, in which a president may seek to avoid being perceived as weak and criticized for doing too little, will settle in. Critics of Biden have already made charges like this over the attack in Jordan  that will only grow with another mass casualty event.

As research shows, see, I told you so is a powerful rhetorical tool in circumstances like this.

The ghosts of history

In response, Biden or Trump  like their predecessors  might feel the pressure to go big militarily. But anything too large risks inviting the kind of response that could lead to lasting and devastating outcomes.

Imagine, for example, a scenario in which a U.S. president is provoked into striking Iran following repeated attacks by Tehrans proxies on U.S. troops. Iran, in such a scenario, will have little choice but to respond in kind.

The result would be an expansion of  and further U.S. involvement in  the Middle East conflict. And that is something that Americans generally dont want.

The majority of progressives, young voters and Black Americans oppose war. MAGA Republicans do too.

Furthermore, the inevitable economic pain of war would likely see support evaporate at home and compromise Americas ability to dedicate resources and efforts elsewhere, notably in Asia and Europe.

None of this is inevitable; presidencies dont have to end in strategic regret. And like their predecessors, Biden or Trump would have options. Presidents Johnson, Reagan, Clinton and Obama chose the wrong options and regretted it. Their experiences and the ghosts of history serve as a warning when it comes to U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq now. Perhaps that will lead to fewer regrets.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.

It was written by: Charles Walldorf, Wake Forest University.

Read more:



Charles Walldorf received funding from Charles Koch Foundation. Charles Walldorf is a Visiting Fellow, Defense Priorities
LaNaisha Edwards was 15 when she started going to funerals in the mid-1990s. By her senior year, getting dressed for another memorial service became the normal thing to do  sadly in Los Angeles, she said.

By September 2010, the plague of gun violence that destroyed other families hit too close to home. Her 24-year-old brother was fatally shot in his car while on his way home from football practice. Vinnie, as Edwards affectionately called him, was reforming his life and enrolled in college before his death. But that didnt seem to matter to investigators. Edwards remembered fuming about the detectives accusatory tone when interviewing her devastated mother hours after the shooting. Each question had been asked as if her little brother was the main suspect in his own murder.

For months, her mind was numb. The following year, Edwards attended an event led by community members that provided resources and a safe space for crime victims and survivors. It was unsettling for her to hear similar accounts of being disrespected by the police and denied financial support from victim services, mostly, because the lead detective said so.

At some point, Edwards took a look around the room and absorbed its energy. Seeing everyone hugging one another and crying was a breakthrough for her. It was the first time in nearly 15 years she gave herself permission to cry.

I was exhausted in that moment, Edwards recalled. We dont have to grow up just to die here. Theres so much more in this world for us to see.

Since that event in 2011, she has been using her voice as an advocate with the Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. Its a flagship project of the nonprofit Alliance for Safety and Justice. Edwards, along with Tinisch Hollins, who joined the same organizations San Francisco arm after her brother was shot and killed in 2013, campaigned in 2014 for the passage of Proposition 47. Hollins is now executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice.

Edwards, 41, and Hollins, 45, both lost more than one brother to gun violence. Ten years later, theyre fighting attempts to roll back criminal justice reform in California. The Golden State is among several states and Washington, D.C., considering new laws that repeal or amend existing policies that were created to reverse tough-on-crime legislation that ultimately and disproportionately did more harm than good to Black communities.

Excessive prison sentences tore families apart and criminalized those with substance use issues instead of providing resources for treatment. Thats not what over 60% of survivors of crime or families of crime victims say they want, according to a 2016 study by the Alliance for Safety and Justice.

What keeps the community, families safe are those investments into more violence intervention programs, investing more in things like mental health services instead of investing more in police or being tough-on-crime and more incarceration that have failed communities for the past 30 years, said Aswad Thomas, national director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice.

We cannot go back to that thinking as a way to help stop cycles of violence, Thomas, a gun violence survivor, said.

Democratic and Republican lawmakers in California have blamed Proposition 47 for an uptick in retail crime, drug use, and unhoused individuals, crime victim advocates like Edwards and Hollins told Capital B.

Despite some lawmakers rhetoric and headlines about the rise in crime, recent data reveals a not so clear-cut reality. When it comes to violent crime rates, excluding property crime, the U.S. has historic lows as of last year, according to the Prison Policy Initiatives annual report, which dissected where and why people are incarcerated as well as dispelled myths about mass incarceration that have been erroneously peddled as political talking points.

Before Prop 47 was passed in 2014, Edwards said her community wasnt openly discussing therapy, attending healing circles, going on meditation walks through the park or had access to a trauma recovery center in their area. Now, Prop 47 is under threat of repeal if Californians vote in favor of the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act ballot measure in November.

Every time they need to change the law, it should not be at the detriment of survivors  we have suffered enough, Edwards said. We definitely want people to be held accountable for their actions. At the same time  we cant keep focusing everything on just law enforcement.

Critics of a public safety package in Washington, D.C., are concerned the implementation of drug-free zones will bring about stop and frisk procedures by police. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

A possible return of mass incarceration rates

When Washington, D.C., lawmakers passed the Secure D.C. Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024 in February, Taylar Nuevelle, the founder of Who Speaks for Me?, told Capital B that arrest numbers for people of color, especially Black youth, are guaranteed to increase.

Who Speaks for Me? is a trauma-informed advocacy organization that provides long-term direct services for the rising prison population of Black women and LGBTQ community who are returning to their neighborhoods after incarceration.

This public safety package has several provisions that aim to combat carjackings and retail thefts that prosecutors have identified teenagers and young adults as alleged suspects for those crimes. The package outlawed wearing balaclava ski masks  a fashion trend mostly worn by teenagers in every season. It also allows law enforcement to collect DNA from an individual accused of a crime and reversed a policy that doesnt allow police officers to review body-worn camera footage before writing reports.

Those policies  signed into law in March  immediately reminded Washington residents of the federal governments tough-on-crime laws from the 1990s.

This is just another way to funnel us, Black and brown bodies, into a system that does not help but completely degrade, dehumanize and render us ineffective at living a full life, Nuevelle said.

A major concern of the package is the implementation of drug-free zones. Those are the same policies that were repealed by the D.C. Council 10 years ago when the current mayor, Muriel Bowser was a member. Those zones, advocates fear, will open the door for law enforcement to stop, question, frisk, and arrest anyone for loitering without probable cause  a policy that New York City police officers used unconstitutionally, a judge ruled in 2013.

Bowser and other lawmakers behind the current bill are confident that these legally sound policies will combat a trend of open-air drug dealing in certain parts of the city, The Washington Post reported in November.

Instead of passing laws that may contribute to mass incarceration rates, advocates across the country have consistently called on lawmakers to support solutions that tackle the root causes of crime through holistic healing, mental health support, job training, and other resources that uplift the community and support justice-impacted individuals.

Tina Frundt, founder of Courtneys House, said the youth in Washington who are possible targets for arrest in a drug-free zone might have more serious underlying issues.

Courtneys House is a nonprofit organization that has helped more than 500 victims escape from being trafficked and find a new life since 2008, according to its website. The organization has a contract with the local child and family services agency to screen and do all the case management for youth who have been sex trafficked.

She said those young people behind those ski masks could be survivors of being sex trafficked by a family member or have a learning disability or mental health disorder. While they wont be prosecuted for prostitution in most states, they may still get charged with another crime, Frundt, a survivor of sex trafficking, said.

These provisions will not make D.C. safer and will put our rights at risk, the Washington chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement.

A coalition of racial justice organizations and residents worked to defeat the amendment package. Back in 2021, the D.C. Councils police reform commission released a 259-page report that provided detailed suggestions of evidence-based policies that would prioritize public safety and propose investments in existing programs that provide assistance and resources to under-resourced communities.

Instead of following the guidance of experts, the coalition wrote in a January press release. The mayor [has] chosen to inflict more harm on vulnerable D.C. communities.

This is about so much more than Tyre Nichols

Decarcerate Memphis, a coalition of community leaders, used data provided by the Memphis Police Department to release a report in February that revealed something they already knew  Black motorists in their city are targeted for pretextual traffic stops.

The report explored those stops nine months after Tyre Nichols was beaten to death by five former Memphis police officers. It revealed, in part, that Black residents made up 91% of people accused of a crime in cases stemming from pretextual traffic stops and Black drivers are 2.5 times as likely as white drivers to receive multiple citations on one ticket.

Nichols was pulled over on Jan. 7, 2023. The traffic stop escalated to a physical altercation, a foot chase and several minutes of a vicious beating within yards of Nichols home. The 29-year-old man died at a nearby hospital three days later. The officers have been fired, criminally charged in federal and state courts, and at least one pleaded guilty.

In response, the Memphis City Council unanimously passed six ordinances in April 2023, including one in honor of Nichols, that ended low-level traffic stops for violations such as a broken tail light that more than often ends in police violence, especially if the driver is Black.

As Nichols family, civil rights advocates and local lawmakers applauded those efforts, less than a year later, Tennessee state lawmakers passed a bill on March 14 that would silence all the ordinances.

Gov. Bill Lee signed this legislation into law on March 29. It prohibits a local government  in this case, Memphis City Council  from making decisions on how a law enforcement agency conducts traffic stops  overriding local legislators reform efforts.

Nichols parents, RowVaughn and Rodney Wells, wrote in an email statement that those critical police reforms were about so much more than Tyre. Those ordinances provided a form of accountability with the Data Transparency Act, that requires officers to collect data from traffic stops that will be published monthly and prohibits the use of unmarked cars for traffic stops.

Protesters block traffic as they rally against the fatal police assault of Tyre Nichols, in Memphis, Tennessee in January 2023. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee recently signed legislation overriding police reform efforts in Memphis. (Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images)

Public safety or fearmongering?

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, like politicians in Washington, D.C., is not only ignoring experts for guidance on cracking down on crime, he is discarding data and statistics, advocates said.

The governor has made some questionable and contradictory propositions in response to the states crime wave. Never mind that violent crime, including homicide, dropped in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Landry repealed the Raise the Age bill, which prevented 17-year-olds accused of a crime to get tried as an adult and placed in an adult facility. By the end of the governors Legislative Special Session on crime Feb. 29, he signed 18 other bills into law, including the Constitutional Carry bill that will allow individuals age 18 and older to conceal carry a firearm without training or a permit.

These reform rollbacks across the country are going to result in wrongful convictions, Robert Jones, director of community outreach for Orleans Public Defenders, said during a virtual press briefing. The National Legal Aid and Defender Association hosted a discussion about The State of Public Defense During a Crime-Focused Election Year on March 14.

Jones was released from prison in 2017 after spending more than 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. At 19, he was wrongly sentenced to life without parole for a 1992 crime wave in New Orleans that resulted in one death.

What happened in the early 90s, is what the rollbacks are going to do now, Jones said. Theres fearmongering that changes regulations, rules and policies. And it scares not only the public, but it scares people in those positions to start using people as scapegoats, and the people that theyre going to use are Black and brown people.

Orleans Parish, where New Orleans is located, had the highest exoneration rate per capita of all U.S. counties with a population of over 300,000 in the country, according to an analysis of the first 1,600 reported wrongful convictions published by the National Registry of Exonerations. Neighboring Jefferson Parish was fourth.

Of the 86 people who have been exonerated in Louisiana, 72 are Black, the NREs database shows.

Landry also proposed a $7 million cut to domestic violence services and shelters in a state that ranks in the top five for highest female homicide rate, according to the Violence Policy Center. And Black women are being killed at alarming rates.

In states that are passing or trying to pass these tough-on-crime measures, theyre divested from victim services, especially domestic violence access services, and theyre not actually invested in helping other people and families whove experienced those crimes, which is a huge concern for many crime victims across the country, Thomas said.

Investing in intervention, conflict resolution, mental health, reentry programs and connecting people to employment resources to get them back on their feet, those are the things that help stop the cycle of violence  by preventing violence.

The post Reform Rollbacks May Lead to Another Rise in Mass Incarceration appeared first on Capital B News.
Reid Ribble

When former President Trump visited Wisconsin last week, his primary campaign message focused on immigrants, whom he described as the worst of every country invading and threatening the well-being of the United States. Earlier, he insisted that some immigrants are not humans, theyre animals.

Trump also insisted in Green Bay that Christian voters will turn out on Election Day in numbers no one has ever seen before, presumably inspired by his rhetoric on immigration.

But as both a former Republican member of Congress who represented Green Bay and  more central to my identity, an evangelical Christian  my plea to the former president would be to speak of and pursue policies that impact immigrants in ways guided by the Bible. Immigrants, like all human beings, are people fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, with inherent dignity and value, regardless of their country of origin, ethnicity, religion or any other qualifier.

Christians also believe that all human beings, including immigrants, are sinners in need of Gods grace. A few have committed heinous criminal offenses, and when they do, they absolutely should face both the criminal justice system and then deportation. But its wrong to judge millions of people by the actions of a few, especially when there is abundant evidence that immigrants, whether lawfully present or not, actually commit crimes at significantly lower rates per capita than native-born U.S. citizens. For example, a study using data from the state of Texas found that citizens had a per capita crime rate more than double that of immigrants in the country unlawfully, whether looking at property, drug or violent crimes.

A singular focus on the relatively few immigrants who may be a threat to public safety also obscures the many ways that immigrants economically, socially and spiritually contribute to our community. As evangelical leader Ed Stetzer has observed, The Mexican immigrant in your community is more likely to be a pastor than he is to be a criminal. As the United States rapidly secularizes, the large majority of immigrants are either Catholic or evangelical Christians who tend to hold to traditional family values.

Tragically, Democratic President Joe Biden obscures the humanity of a different set of people made in the image of God. He advocates for abortion rights without acknowledging the humanity of the unborn child, whom most evangelical Christians also believe is made in the image of God with inherent dignity. Evangelical polling firm Lifeway Research finds that 89% of evangelical Christians believe that life begins by the point that an unborn child has a heartbeat, if not before.

Its probably not surprising to most Americans that abortion is a significant concern for many evangelical voters  and is a reason most are unlikely to vote for Bidens reelection.

But Trump does not seem to realize that many evangelical voters also believe in the dignity of immigrants lives: Lifeway Research finds that 91% of all evangelicals want immigration policy solutions that respect the God-given dignity of each person.

Almost all evangelicals, like most Americans, want secure borders and respect for the rule of law, but they also want compassion. Fully 78% of evangelicals, including 71% of those who supported Trump in the 2020 election, say they would support legislation that would pair border security improvements with a restitution-based legalization process and path to citizenship for immigrants in the country unlawfully.

Ninety-one percent of evangelicals want policies that keep families together  which is inconsistent with the largest deportation in American history promised by Trump last week, which would separate U.S. citizens from their foreign-born spouse or parents. And 71% of evangelicals believe the U.S. has a moral responsibility to welcome refugees.

Many churches in northeastern Wisconsin have partnered with ministries like World Relief Wisconsin to welcome newly arriving refugees, and as weve done so, these immigration issues have become personal. By maligning immigrant families who have become dear friends, Trump risks alienating evangelical Wisconsinite voters whom he says he wants to show up in record numbers on Election Day. And last weeks primary election results, where one in five Republican voters cast a protest vote for a non-Trump candidate no longer in the race, suggest he has a serious problem.

If Trump, or Biden, wants to appeal to Christian voters, they would do well to use language and pursue policies that reflect the dignity of each person as made in the Image of God.

Reid Ribble represented Wisconsins 8th Congressional District from 2011 to 2017.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Opinion: Trump's views on immigrants contradict Christian values
BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR)  In honor of the students and faculty who lost their lives during a mass shooting at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, the school is hosting its 2024 Day of Remembrance.

On Saturday, April 13, Hokies will gather on campus to remember 27 students and five staff members who were killed during the shooting spree. Starting at 9 a.m., hundreds of walkers and runners will take on the 3.2-mile Run in Remembrance.

Rain or shine, participants will take their mark in front of Patton Hall and pass by landmarks including The Grove, Lane Stadium, and the Virginia Tech Pylons. The run will end at the April 16 Memorial. Participants who cant attend the event in person, are encouraged to Virtual participants are encouraged to share photos on social media using the #VT32Run on social media platforms.

Virginia Tech introduces new Womens Basketball Head Coach Megan Duffy

On April 16, Virginia Tech will host a candle-lighting ceremony at 12:01 a.m. at the April 16 Memorial.

Representatives of the student body will light the candle and the names of all 32 Hokies who lost their lives on April 16 will be read. Members of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will stand watch for 24 hours after the candle is lit.

A wreath-laying ceremony and moment of silence will begin at 9:43 a.m. The school says students members of Virginia Techs Rescue Squad will carry wreaths to the memorial. President Tim Sands and Laura Sands and Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Cyril Clark will then place the wreaths on the memorial.

The ceremonial candlelight will be extinguished and carried back to Burruss Hall at 11:59 p.m.

April 16 marks 17 years since the mass shooting shook the community. It is also one of the deadliest school shootings in United States history.

For more details about university events during the day, visit Virginia Techs, We Remember website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
Most veterans recently interviewed by the RAND Corporation about their extreme political views told researchers they had negative and even traumatic experiences while serving in the U.S. military, ranging from combat trauma and sexual abuse to interpersonal conflicts that led to their discharge.

The findings, released in a report Tuesday, add to other evidence that suggests negative experiences in the military could be a risk factor for people becoming radicalized into extremist ideologies, according to Todd Helmus, a co-author on the report. Data compiled last year by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism revealed a pattern of failed military recruits who were later charged with extremist-driven plots and crimes.

A number of folks in our study had problematic experiences, Helmus said. We and other scholars have suggested before that those problematic experiences in the military could lead people to be vulnerable to these groups. So, we think thats a significant finding.

Helmus and his co-author, Ryan Brown, arent sure on the broader significance of their findings, and they said more studies would need to be done to understand the connection.

To compile the report, Brown and Helmus interviewed 21 veterans who had indicated in a RAND survey last year that they held extremist views. The veterans had either expressed support for specific groups, such as Antifa and the Proud Boys, endorsed political violence, black nationalism or white supremacy or supported conspiracy theories like QAnon or the Great Replacement theory.

Extremism stand-down checked a box with no lasting result, critics say

Three-quarters of the veterans interviewed were forthcoming about negative life events during their military service, Brown said. One veteran described developing post-traumatic stress disorder after recovering casualties from the bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, which killed 241 US service members in 1983, the report states.

Another veteran said he developed a substance-abuse problem while serving and drank because he disliked the routine of the military and being told what to do. Two women veterans described physical, psychological and sexual abuse they experienced at the hands of fellow service members.

Some of the veterans said they faced problems while transitioning into civilian life. They experienced financial issues or severed romantic relationships and others become homeless or were arrested and imprisoned.

I was surprised how clear the descriptions were of some extremely negative events, and the extent of how negative life experiences compound each other, Brown said. Theres a lot of hardship. You start to get a sense for how and why these beliefs develop.

When asked about how they came to believe in their extreme viewpoints, most of the veterans said they became highly interested in politics after historic events. They cited Donald Trumps rise to the presidency in 2016, the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the 2020 riots following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the coronavirus pandemic and the U.S. Supreme Court decision that settled a recount dispute in Floridas 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore.

Six of the 21 veterans said they developed their current beliefs while in the military or afterward while working in law enforcement.

When I got into the military, I started to get into conspiracy theories because of conversations with my peers, one veteran is quoted as saying. Thats when I learned about the Illuminati... a bunch of Satanists that run the world. Now Im a full tin hat.

Rand survey finds level of extremism among veterans same as public

Sixteen veterans cited specific news organizations, alternative news sites, political influencers or social media platforms that helped shape their viewpoints, the report states. Those ranged from traditional news outlets such as CNN and Fox News to the right-wing outlet Newsmax and Russia Today, a channel funded by the Russian government, as well as specific Reddit and Telegram channels and Facebook groups.

Thirteen veterans interviewed said their friends or families held the same extreme views. Some said their parents influenced their political beliefs, while others said they developed their viewpoints through their involvement in social or college clubs. One veteran described having a large network of like-minded friends who he regularly met with in person and online.

I am not fighting this battle alone. I have several people who are right on board with me, hes quoted as saying. We meet three times a week to put documents together and fight the battle... theres a lot of people that are digging.

Four veterans in RANDs original survey had previously expressed strong support for the Proud Boys, a white supremacist organization thats known to have recruited veterans. When interviewed as part of RANDs newest report, those four veterans all denied supporting the group.

Conversely, nearly all the veterans who originally said they believed the Great Replacement theory affirmed that support during their interviews. The Great Replacement theory refers to a baseless idea that lenient immigration policies are being designed to replace the power and culture of white people in the U.S. The theory has become more popular in recent years and has incited multiple instances of violence.

The five veterans whose views aligned with QAnon also said during their interviews that they still supported at least some of the conspiracy theories claimed by the group. QAnon is an umbrella term for several theories that falsely allege a cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles run the world.

People laugh about this because its so sick and twisted, but I 100% agree with it, one veteran was quoted as saying.

Many of the veterans who were interviewed said they supported the notion that American patriots would have to resort to political violence in order to save their country. However, none talked about specific plans to participate in violence in the near future, Helmus said.

The veterans who supported political violence offered several issues they believed would justify it, including the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border or overzealous government policies to curb climate change. They also cited baseless ideas about the government stripping away First Amendment and Second Amendment protections and forcing children to receive coronavirus vaccines without parents permission.

One participant made baseless claims that a Democratic win in the November presidential election would lead to the loss of the First Amendment, which he said would ignite a civil war.

It was disconcerting the degree to which people were willing to highlight how violence is a potential solution  and at times, a necessary solution  to address the current political state, Helmus said. Their notions of threats were highly exaggerated. You could see how, if they believed those threats, then those ideas of violence become more palpable.

This story was produced in partnership with Military Veterans in Journalism. Please send tips to MVJ-Tips@militarytimes.com.
Jack Burkman, a lawyer and Republican operative, and Jacob Wohl, speak during a news conference to address their allegations against Special Counsel Robert Mueller in Arlington, Virginia

By Doina Chiacu

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Two conservative operatives who launched a robocall campaign designed to prevent Black New Yorkers from voting by mail in the 2020 U.S. election will pay $1.25 million in a settlement, New York state Attorney General Letitia James said on Tuesday.

Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman were found liable by a federal judge in New York in March 2023 for targeting Black voters and sending false and threatening messages intended to discourage voting.

"Wohl and Burkman orchestrated a depraved and disinformation-ridden campaign to intimidate Black voters in an attempt to sway the election in favor of their preferred candidate," James said in a statement.

During the summer of 2020, the automated calls claimed that mail-in voting would allow the voter to be tracked for outstanding warrants, credit card debt and mandatory vaccines, James said.

The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, which was a plaintiff in the lawsuit, was forced to redirect considerable resources to address the false claims made in the call, James said.

During the 2020 presidential campaign that he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, Republican President Donald Trump and his allies repeatedly made false claims that mail-in voting would lead to fraud. Trump, who is challenging Biden in the Nov. 5 presidential election, has continued to repeat the claims.

The 2020 robocall also was distributed in Cleveland, Ohio; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Chicago, the Pennsylvania cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia; Detroit; and Arlington, Virginia, according to filing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

A New York lawyer for Burkman and Wohl, David Schwartz, said his clients were pleased to have a settlement and put this case behind them so they can focus on their families and careers.

Burkman, a Washington lawyer and Republican operative, was stripped of his law license in March by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

He and Wohl pleaded guilty in October 2022 to telecommunications fraud in Ohio after using robocalls to intimidate people from voting by mail during the 2020 presidential election. They were sentenced to two years of probation, each fined $2,500 and ordered to do 500 hours of community service.

In June 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) fined Burkman and Wohl $5.1 million for making more than 1,100 unlawful robocalls in August and September 2020.

Burkman is perhaps best known for keeping the 2016 killing of Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich in Washington in the news. Rich's murder became fodder for a conspiracy theory in conservative media, though Washington police have said the slaying was part of a robbery gone wrong.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington, additional reporting by Sara Merken in New York; Editing by David Gregorio and Jonathan Oatis)
A veteran Democratic strategist painted a dark picture for Republicans on Monday ahead of Novembers election, confidently claiming that the GOPs intraparty conflict makes it an unprecedented dumpster fire that could end up helping Democrats.

Simon Rosenberg said that between a House GOP in chaos over retiring members, the potential of a new Speaker fight and a presumptive nominee going after a prominent ally, Republican problems could overshadow voter concerns with President Biden.

The Democratic team is really together right now. Youve just seen in the last 10 days Biden do events with Obama and Clinton and Bernie Sanders, Rosenberg said Monday in a CNN interview with Kaitlan Collins. And there was no serious opposition to Biden in the primary.

On the other side, Trump is facing an unprecedented rebellion in the Republican Party from people like Mitt Romney and Liz Cheney  serious people whove said theyre not going to be voting for Donald Trump, he continued. We saw what happened with the Haley voters and the polling and these early states where a big chunk of Haley voters said they were not going to vote for Donald Trump, that theyd be open to voting for Biden.

Biden has openly courted primary supporters of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley since she left the race, hoping to sway moderate Republicans to his side by focusing on abortion rights and former President Trumps perceived threats to democracy.

And I think the Republican Party has splintered, Rosenberg said. I think something broke inside the Republican Party after Dobbs in the spring of 2022 where, even for a big chunk of Republicans, this was just a bridge too far. It was too much.

And I think youre seeing now a Democratic Party thats unified, strong, winning elections, raising lots of money, and a Republican Party that is an unprecedented dumpster fire, in my view, right now, he added.

Abortion rights are expected to be the main rallying issue for Democrats in November, with recent changes in state law and statewide referendums expected to push voter turnout even in red states such as Florida.

Trump announced his stance on the issue Monday, after months of going back and forth between hinting that he would back a strict 15-week national ban and leaving the issue to the states. The former decided on the more moderate, hands-off approach, going against his former GOP primary rivals and ruffling feathers in his anti-abortion, evangelical base.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A Clark County, Nev., election worker tabulates a mail-in ballot during the 2022 midterm elections. Clark County was one of five counties that the Republican National Committee sued in March over voter registration lists. (Gregory Bull/The Associated Press)

When Scott Hoen ran to be Carson City, Nevadas chief election official two years ago, he campaigned on election integrity, promising to make sure voter registration lists were accurate.

In the chaotic aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, he believed that too many of his fellow Republicans were convinced that there was widespread voter fraud. By keeping voter rolls current, Hoen thought he could restore voter trust in his countys election system.

He won. And every day since he took office, he and his staff have tried to keep that focus, using data from all levels of government to remove voters who have moved or died from the active voter list.

Hoen was surprised, then, to be named in a lawsuit the Republican National Committee and the Nevada Republican Party filed last month against him, four other Nevada county clerks and the secretary of state. The lawsuit alleges that five localities had inordinately high voter registration rates, and that the state is violating federal law by not having what are known as clean voter rolls.

Hoen said the lawsuit is unfortunate and a distraction in a pivotal election year. The state responded by saying the data Republicans used in the lawsuit are highly flawed and that the RNCs analysis was like comparing apples to orangutans. Former President Donald Trumps lawyers asserted without evidence that more than 1,500 dead Nevadans voted in 2020 and that an additional 42,000 in the state voted twice.

The Nevada lawsuit is just one example of the tactics Republicans and conservative activists are using ahead of Novembers presidential election, as they seek to purge voter rolls of allegedly ineligible voters. The efforts have election experts worried about voter access.

Changing a voters status is routine for election officials. Like others across the country, Hoen moves voters from active to inactive when election mail is repeatedly returned or when he gets death notices, and moves them to active status when he gets motor vehicle records for newly registered voters.

Nevada also is a member of the Electronic Registration Information Center, known commonly as ERIC, an interstate data-sharing pact that seeks to help states keep updated voter lists. Recently, ERIC has been a target of conspiracy theories that led to an exodus of nine Republican-led states over the past two years.

Who knows where they got their numbers. But they didnt consult me or ask me, or no ones talked to me about what we do with voter roll maintenance, Hoen said of the lawsuit in an interview with Stateline. We do everything we can, per the law, to keep our voter rolls as plain as possible.

The RNC filed a similar lawsuit against Michigan last month. Conservative groups have recently filed lawsuits in many other states, seeking access to state voter registration lists and claiming they might be bloated.

Some states, including Georgia and Indiana, have made it easier to remove registered voters from the rolls. And Trump-aligned groups have launched data analysis tools to aid in large-scale challenges to voter registrations.

Election experts say maintaining accurate voter lists is a key part of election administration, but they are concerned that the challenges and lawsuits could bolster unfounded claims of rampant voter fraud. They also worry it could create undue hardships on voters who may have to prove their eligibility close to an election, and bog down election offices with frivolous data requests and challenges.

When you see efforts to do mass challenges in the midst of the presidential primaries and months before a major election, youve got to wonder whether the intent is to create chaos and confusion amongst voters rather than legitimate list maintenance, said David Becker, founder and executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, a nonpartisan organization that advises local election officials nationwide.

Voter challenges arent inherently bad, he said. There are legitimate reasons to bring a challenge: A neighbor may have died or moved away, for example, and a voter wants to let an election official know.

But Becker is concerned that mass challenges and lawsuits could make voter lists less accurate, which could lead to problems at polling places, more provisional ballots and longer lines  creating the conditions for candidates to claim an election was stolen.

Mass voter challenges

Georgia enacted a law in 2021 that allows residents to make unlimited challenges to voter registrations, and requires local election officials to respond to those challenges within 10 business days. Thousands of registrations were challenged, and local election officials raced frantically to check the data and send responses.

The next year, 10 election staffers in Gwinnett County, Georgia, worked more than 40 days straight to handle 47,000 challenges in the midterm election, said Zach Manifold, the county elections supervisor. Fair Fight, a local voting rights group, said data showed those challenges disproportionately targeted people of color and younger voters.

The countys voter roll is a living and breathing document, Manifold said. His office processes thousands of routine changes weekly. In addition to regular updates at the county level and being a member of ERIC, Georgia conducts large-scale list maintenance on odd years.

While a federal judge ruled in January that mass challenges in Georgia are not illegal intimidation, he did emphasize that the list of potentially ineligible voters that conservative activists compiled to contest registrations utterly lacked reliability that verges on recklessness.

A scenario similar to 2022s mass challenges may repeat itself this year.

Last month, the Republican-led Georgia legislature passed a bill that would more clearly define existing law by setting standards for probable cause to challenge voters and for how much evidence is needed for a successful challenge. It also would cut off registration removals within 45 days of an election.

Some Democrats worried the change would lead to a rush of challenges, hurting voters. But Republican state Sen. Max Burns, one of the sponsors of the bill, said during a March committee hearing that the legislation may lead to fewer challenges.

I think we need to clean up our voter rolls, so that people have confidence that those who are on the voter rolls are legitimate, Burns said.

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who also is Georgias former secretary of state, has until early May to sign the legislation. His office told Stateline there will be a thorough review process.

Last month, Indiana Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law a bill that makes it easier to remove voters from the rolls by requiring state officials to compare voter registration lists with motor vehicle lists for noncitizens. People who are flagged would have 30 days to prove their citizenship.

The New Hampshire House also passed a bill that would allow voter registration challenges on Election Day. The measure is sitting in a state Senate committee.

To assist with those challenges, several right-wing groups that claim American elections are rigged because of voter fraud are releasing voter list tools that activists can use to scour voter registrations.

A company called EagleAI developed a tool to scan Georgias voter registration records. There are similar efforts in Nevada and Michigan, all coordinated through the Election Integrity Network, which is run by former Trump campaign attorney Cleta Mitchell. The network did not respond to an interview request.

Theyre perpetuating these lies that our voter rolls are full of fraudulent voters and bloated, said Kristin Nabers, Georgia state director for All Voting is Local Action, a voting rights group that has opposed mass challenges in the Peach State. The burden on election offices is really considerable.

More lawsuits

Challenges to registrations are getting an assist from court cases that are making voter rolls public.

Since 2020, there have been a lot of questions surrounding elections, said Lauren Bowman Bis, director of communications and engagement for the Public Interest Legal Foundation, one of several conservative groups that have sued states to release voter registration lists.

Transparency in elections is crucial for people to have more confidence in the system, she added. By gaining access to voter names, addresses and party registration, groups like Bis can check states to make sure lists are accurate and theyre not sending multiple ballots to people or are ensuring dead people are removed from the rolls.

The voter roll really is the most essential election integrity document.

 Lauren Bowman Bis, Public Interest Legal Foundation

Bis has gone to cemeteries in Michigan where, she said, she has seen the names of active voters on tombstones.

The foundation, often known as PILF, has active lawsuits in Hawaii, Michigan and South Carolina over their voter roll maintenance. Over the past four years, they have successfully sued Illinois and Maryland and gained access to those states voter lists.

In February, a federal appeals court ruled that Maine had to release its voter rolls to the Public Interest Legal Foundation. The group has appealed a ruling in Michigan that it lost in a district court last month, arguing the state did not make a reasonable effort to clean its rolls.

Another conservative group that posts voter rolls online, the Voter Reference Foundation, sued Pennsylvania in February over access to its registration lists. The group did not respond to emailed questions.

The voter roll really is the most essential election integrity document, said Bis. Were just trying to make sure that federal law is enforced in states or localities where we find election officials arent doing what they are required to by law to have a secure election that people can have confidence in the results.

But the disagreement over these efforts once again comes down to the data  the methodology that plaintiffs use in their complaints.

Conservative groups sometimes compare the current number of registered voters to an outdated estimate of the number of voting-age citizens in that jurisdiction, said Eliza Sweren-Becker, a senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice, a voting rights group housed at the New York University School of Law.

Youre really comparing apples and oranges in suggesting that theres something improper with high voter registration rates, she said. We should hope and expect that all eligible Americans who want to participate in our democratic system are registered to vote and can stay on the rolls.

Some Republicans are concerned too.

Dennis Lennox, a Michigan-based Republican political consultant, told Stateline that while he does not agree with the way that many Democratic state officials changed voting rules in recent years, he worries that some Republicans are more focused on lawsuits and curbing ballot access than adapting to new early voting realities to get out the vote in a bigger way.

Republicans, by and large, have been caught flat-footed, Lennox wrote in an email. The party nationally and in many states is basically divided between those wanting to focus on so-called lawfare and those willing to adapt and accept the reality of campaigns and elections in 2024.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post Republicans scrutinize voting rolls and ramp up for mass challenges ahead of election appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
AUGUSTA (WJBF)  A retired doctor was arrested and charged with Sexual Battery after an incident at the Wilson Family Y.

According to the Richmond County Sheriffs Office, 65-year-old Dr. William Hernando Salazar allegedly touched a juveniles genitalia at the gym.

The alleged incident happened March 25th.

The victims mother told police that after Salazar touched her son, he invited the juvenile to the stem area.

Salazar was arrested for Sexual Battery, a misdemeanor, but has since been released from jail.

Augusta University has released the following statement on Salazars arrest.

The Augusta University Police Department was notified by the Richmond County Sheriffs Office that a former faculty member has been arrested for an alleged incident that occurred at a location that is not affiliated with the university and which allegedly took place several months after his employment at the university ended. The university will cooperate with the Sheriffs Office and other authorities involved in the matter as requested. Augusta University

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame speaks at a news conference in Kigali, Rwanda, on April 8, 2024. Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Monday expressed deep concern over the failure of the United States to refer to the 1994 massacre as a genocide against the Tutsi people. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

KIGALI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Monday expressed deep concern over the failure of the United States to refer to the 1994 massacre as a genocide against the Tutsi people.

Kagame's criticism came after U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's message about the commemoration of the genocide. In his message posted on X social platform, Blinken said, "We mourn the many thousands of Tutsis, Hutus, Twas and others whose lives were lost during 100 days of unspeakable violence." Many Rwandans criticized Blinken for not specifically acknowledging that the genocide targeted the Tutsis.

Speaking at a news conference in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, Monday, Kagame stressed that the issue was discussed with former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who led a delegation to the 30th anniversary of the genocide held Sunday in Kigali.

The controversy over how to characterize the genocide stems from allegations that the Rwandan Patriotic Army, the rebel group that stopped the genocide, carried out revenge killings during and after the genocide. Kagame has previously dismissed these allegations.

Kagame said he believed he had reached an understanding with U.S. authorities around 2014 for them to avoid any criticism on the genocide anniversary.

"There are 365 days in a year. Give us that day, April 7, and then you can have the rest, 364 days, to blame us every day for everything you do not like about us," Kagame said.

During his commemoration speech Sunday, Kagame said Rwandans will never understand why countries are remaining intentionally vague about who was targeted in the genocide, calling it a form of denial and a crime in itself. "Rwanda will always challenge it," he added.

Rwanda on Sunday began a week of national mourning and 100 days of commemoration to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, during which more than 1 million people were killed, according to the Rwandan government. 

Rwandan President Paul Kagame speaks at a news conference in Kigali, Rwanda, on April 8, 2024. Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Monday expressed deep concern over the failure of the United States to refer to the 1994 massacre as a genocide against the Tutsi people. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

Rwandan President Paul Kagame speaks at a news conference in Kigali, Rwanda, on April 8, 2024. Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Monday expressed deep concern over the failure of the United States to refer to the 1994 massacre as a genocide against the Tutsi people. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)
A group of 19 retired four-star generals and admirals and former secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force filed a brief with the Supreme Court on Monday, saying former President Donald Trumps claim of absolute immunity from criminal prosecution is an assault on the militarys foundational commitments to the rule of law and civilian control.

In a bid for the dismissal of federal charges against him for trying to overturn the 2020 election, Trump has claimed that presidents have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for all acts taken while in office, unless they have been impeached and convicted for those acts. A federal appeals court rejected his argument on Feb. 6, but he appealed that decision to the Supreme Court, which will hear arguments on April 25.

The former military officials say in their brief that Trumps assertion of absolute immunity would put members of the military in an untenable position, where they would need to choose between their duty to follow orders within the chain of command and their duty to disobey unlawful orders.

Immunizing the Commander-in-Chief from criminal prosecution, as Petitioner argues for here, would fly in the face of that duty, creating the likelihood that service members will be placed in the impossible position of having to choose between following their Commander-in-Chief and obeying the laws enacted by Congress, their brief states.

The former military officials who joined the brief to the court include Adm. Steve Abbott, Adm. Thad Allen, former Army Secretary Louis Caldera, Gen. George Casey, Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Gen. Carlton Fulford, Jr., Gen. Michael Hayden, former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, Gen. John Jumper, Gen. Charles Krulak, Adm. Samuel Jones Locklear III, former Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Gen. Robert Magnus, Gen. Craig McKinley, Adm. John Nathman, former Navy Secretary Sean OKeefe, Adm. Bill Owens, Adm. Scott Swift and Gen. Charles Wald.

During arguments in the appeals court, Trumps lawyers argued that, under the theory of absolute immunity, a president would be immune from prosecution even if he ordered the special operations Navy unit known as SEAL Team Six to assassinate his political opponents, unless that president was first impeached and convicted in the Senate for doing so.

Former President Donald Trump wants the Supreme Court to rule that presidents have an "absolute immunity" from criminal prosecution to help him get out of legal trouble. Scott Olson via Getty Images

Members of the military have a duty to obey orders through the chain of command, at the top of which the president sits. They also have a duty to disobey unlawful orders  such as, say, assassinating a presidents political rivals, or enforcing domestic laws, like seizing voting machines to enforce election fraud statutes, as a drafted but never-issued Trump executive order would have called for. If the president were placed above the law, members of the military and their civilian leadership would be forced to choose which duty to obey.

Some political appointees might prioritize their loyalty to the President above their oaths and transmit the orders to violate the law, thus passing on to senior military leaders the dilemma of whether to obey the President or the law, Mondays brief states. Alternatively, should the Presidents civilian appointees and senior military leaders resign in protest or be summarily fired for refusing to obey the Presidents unlawful orders, the Department of Defense would be without the civilian and military leadership that is indispensable to safeguarding our national security.

Indeed, a partial version of the latter scenario unfolded in 2020 after Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper for publicly stating that the military would play no role in Trumps efforts to overturn his election loss. Multiple top-ranking policy officials resigned in protest over Espers firing, while top military brass, including Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Mark Milley, discussed resigning if Trump should order them to deploy the military to execute a coup to allow him to stay in power.

The brief from the former military officials takes some time to respond to another brief filed with the Supreme Court by a separate group of three former military officials  former Trump administration Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg and retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin  who suggested that the appeals court ruling rejecting Trumps immunity claim should be vacated or reversed if it relied on the SEAL Team Six scenario, because of the militarys duty to disobey unlawful orders.

Those three former officials do not have an adequate answer to what happens when the President exceeds the bounds of his authority and issues unlawful orders he intends to be followed, the brief by the 19 former military officials states.

Instead, the three former officials only offer... the unfounded prediction that military officers and officials would defy presidential orders to commit crimes  but the Constitution does not provide that predicted defiance as a backstop against criminal behavior by a President, Mondays brief states.

It is no response that the President lacks lawful authority to undertake criminal acts, such as ordering the assassination of a political rival, the brief says. That was never in doubt. The issue in this case is what happens when the President exceeds the bounds of his lawful authority  and the Court should ensure that our legal system continues to disincentivize him from doing so in the first place.

Related...
The Arizona Supreme Court voted to uphold a 160-year-old abortion ban. The parents of a school shooter were sentenced for their roles in the attack. And I hope you aren't Googling "solar eclipse eyes hurt."

 Hey there! Its your pal Laura Davis here with Tuesdays biggest news. Shall we?

But first: Now that we've looked up, it's time to look down.  The next big natural phenomenon this year is a rare double brood of cicadas.

A near-total abortion ban in Arizona

The Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld an 1864 abortion ban that could shutter abortion clinics in the state, a move that's already causing political earthquakes.

What to know: Enforcement would mean the end of legal abortions in Arizona, though some providers said they will continue offering abortions for a time  likely through May  because of a prior court ruling. The state's Democratic attorney general has vowed not to enforce any abortion bans, but that decision could be challenged by the state's county attorneys. The ruling also puts a stark choice before Arizona voters if a proposed measure to protect abortion rights makes the ballot in November.

What's in the law? The law, which predates Arizona's statehood, mandates two to five years in prison for anyone aiding an abortion, with an exception to save the mother's life.  Everything we know about the ruling.

Brooke St. George joins fellow abortion rights demonstrators as they gather at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix on Sept. 24, 2022.

Michigan mass shooter's parents get prison time

Jennifer and James Crumbley, the first parents of a mass school shooter in the U.S. to be convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the attack, were sentenced Tuesday to 10 to 15 years in prison.

What they're saying: The court heard statements from the family members of Tate Myre, 16, Hana St. Juliana, 14, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17, students who were killed when the Crumbley's son went on a shooting rampage at Oxford High School in Michigan on Nov. 30, 2021. "You created all of this," Nicole Beausoleil, Baldwin's mother, said through tears. "You failed as parents. The punishment that you face will never be enough."  Everything that happened in court today.

A memorial for the dead and wounded outside of Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan, on Dec. 3, 2021.

Real quick

Support the Short List and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

 'Why do my eyes hurt?'

If you're reading this, hopefully, that means your eyes are OK. But that's apparently not the case for ... a whole bunch of people. According to Google Trends, which analyzes online searches, there was a significant spike in searches on Monday for terms like, "why do my eyes hurt" and "can the eclipse hurt your eyes." If you analyze the data by region, searches almost follow the eclipse's direct path, which stretched across North America in a northeast path from Texas to Maine.  Here's a closer look.

 Did you know? Staring directly at the sun without safety eyewear can cause irreversible eye damage within seconds.

Photos sent in by Short List readers during the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. From Mike Wright, Glenn Murray and Jim Marcum.

 Your eclipse photos were awesome! Yesterday, we asked for your best photos of the eclipse  and yall seriously delivered! A serious round of applause, and thank you to all who participated. Check out the best pics here.

'The ball is in Hamas' court'

Israel's War Cabinet met Tuesday to discuss the latest U.S. proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza. Hamas said it was reviewing the plan, but accused Israel of remaining "intransigent" and failing to respond to the demands of the Palestinian people. Hamas wants Israel to withdraw all forces from Gaza and allow displaced people to return to their homes. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the latest proposal "is very serious" and should be accepted by Hamas.  Take a closer look at what's in the proposal.

A Palestinian vendor carries a bucket with roses at an open market in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday ahead of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.

A break from the news

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hi: laura@usatoday.com. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona abortion ban, Crumbley sentencing, solar eclipse: Tuesday's news
The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors will meet to discuss the recent attacks on the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the city of Enerhodar, Reuters reported on April 9, citing four unnamed diplomats.

The extraordinary meeting convened by Russia will take place on April 11, according to the news agency.

The plant reportedly suffered at least three direct strikes on April 7, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

After the attacks, Russia claimed Ukrainian drones attacked the plant. Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) said Ukraine was not involved.

The Board is one of the two policy-making bodies of the IAEA, which consists of 35 nations, including Russia. Each member state can convene a meeting according to the rules.

In March, the U.N. nuclear watchdog's Board of Governors passed a resolution demanding Russia to withdraw from Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Ukraine's nuclear energy agency Energoatom said on April 9 that Russia "upgraded its propaganda to another level," manipulating the IAEA's perspective and accusing Ukraine of security breaches at the plant.

Energoatom said that the only way to prevent nuclear and radiation emergencies is to comply with the IAEA's resolution, withdraw Russian troops and their equipment from the plant, demining nearby territories, and return control over the plant to the agency.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear plant in Europe, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. IAEA teams have been based at the facility on rotation since September 2022.

Throughout its occupation, the plant has been repeatedly disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid due to Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure.

Read also: State Department: Russia is playing very dangerous game at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Join us to celebrate the grand opening of Colorado Farm Bureau Insurance  James McKee in Fruita with a ribbon-cutting ceremony! We invite you to join us at Colorado Farm Bureau Insurance in Fruita (529 E Grand Ave C, Fruita, CO 81521) on Wednesday, April 10th, at 12:00 pm to celebrate their Grand Opening!

Date and time: Wednesday, April 10th, at 12:00 pm

Location: Colorado Farm Bureau Insurance

529 E Grand Ave C, Fruita, CO 81521 (Back of Building)

https://info.fruitachamber.org/events/details/ribbon-cutting-colorado-farm-bureau-insurance-james-mckee-14846?utm_source=kdvr&utm_medium=community&utm_campaign=ribbon_cutting

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Richard Leibner, a pioneering talent agent who represented such notable broadcast news journalists as Dan Rather, Diane Sawyer, Mike Wallace, Andy Rooney, Norah ODonnell, Ed Bradley, Morley Safer and Fareed Zakaria, died today at his home in New York City. He was 85.

His death was announced by UTA vice chairman Jay Sures in a memo to staffers obtained by Deadline.

More from Deadline

Leibner began his agency career in the 1960s as co-founder, with Nate Bienstock, of the New York-based firm N.S. Bienstock, which was acquired by UTA in 2014. Leibner retired in 2021.

Richard will be remembered as the agent who transformed the news business, Sures wrote in the memo. Decades ago, he made it his personal mission to see that big name news stars should be treated and compensated like traditional movie and television stars. Over the years, he signed and represented some of the best and brightest and most iconic names including Dan Rather, Mike Wallace, Bob Simon, Steve Kroft, Bill Whitaker, Diane Sawyer, Chuck Scarborough, Paula Zahn, Brian Stelter, Fareed Zakaria, and many others.

Leibner, who was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 2018, was born in Brooklyn and graduated from the University of Rochester and New York University before joining his fathers New York City accounting firm in 1964. After working for his familys accounting firm for a few years, he co-founded N.S. Bienstock with his former partner, Nate Bienstock, and together they built the premier powerhouse agency in news and broadcast talent representation, Sures wrote.

Leibners wife, Carole Cooper, joined Bienstock in 1976 and continues working as an agent for UTA. She survives him, as do sons Adam (a UTA TV Broadcast partner) and Jonathan. The family was at his side when he died peacefully at home.

Funeral services will be announced shortly.

DEADLINE RELATED VIDEO:

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Richard Leibner, a prominent talent agent who transformed the industry by representing well-known TV news anchors, died on Tuesday after a battle with cancer. He was 85.

Leibner guided the careers of many broadcast journalists, including Diane Sawyer, Dan Rather, Norah ODonnell, Mike Wallace, Andy Rooney, Ed Bradley, Morley Safer, Bob Simon, Steve Kroft, Bill Whitaker, Paula Zahn, Brian Stelter, and Fareed Zakaria. He retired in December 2021 after 58 years in the industry.

Leibner passed away at his home in New York, UTA vice chairman Jay Sures announced in an internal memo.

Richard will be remembered as the agent who transformed the news business, Sures wrote. Decades ago, he made it his personal mission to see that big name news stars should be treated and compensated like traditional movie and television stars.

To say that Richard was iconic and larger than life is an understatement. He was truly one of a kind and he will be missed, Sures added.

Leibner started his career in 1963 after graduating with a masters degree in taxation from New York University, a B.S. in accounting from the University of Rochester and a C.P.A. license. He worked for his familys accounting firm briefly before cofounding N.S. Bienstock with his former partner, Nate Bienstock. The firm was eventually acquired by the Leibners and Richard started his career as an agent.

After his many years in service of the TV news industry, Leibner was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 2018.

He is survived by his spouse, Carole Cooper, another longtime agent known for her representation of news anchors; two sons, Adam and Jonathan; and four grandchildren. Cooper and Adam Leibner continue to work at UTA.

Funeral services are to be announced at a later date.

The post Richard Leibner, Formative Agent for TV News Figures, Dies at 85 appeared first on TheWrap.
A labrador retriever who failed to become a drug sniffing dog because he was overly friendly and playful has won hearts across Taiwan for his detection work in the aftermath of last weeks 7.4-magnitude earthquake.

Rescue dogs play a crucial role in helping to locate both stranded people and bodies, and teams of capable canines were quickly deployed by Taiwanese authorities after last Wednesdays deadly tremor.

The quake that hit the islands rugged eastern coast, Taiwans strongest in 25 years, triggered deadly landslides in a scenic national park and caused several buildings to partially collapse.

Roger, 8, was among the dogs put to work, helping to locate the body of one of the 13 people killed in the quake, according to authorities and local media.

He and his handlers ventured into the Shakadang Trail of the heavily damaged Taroko National Park and found the body of a missing 21-year-old woman, according to Taiwans official Central News Agency (CNA).

While other dogs also played similar roles and were paraded for the media, Roger captured the islands imagination  partly because of his backstory of an initial career failure.

Roger takes part in a search operation after last week's earthquake. - Kaohsiung Fire Department

Roger, seen here as a puppy, cuddles with his toys. - Kaohsiung Fire Department

Roger was born into a training center for drug-sniffing dogs. But his love for fun, food and people got the better of him, distracting his ability to pay attention and react to his trainers commands, CNA reported.

As a result, Roger failed to become a drug detective.

But his ebullient personality and intelligence made him a much better candidate to be a rescue dog, which was the career that was then chosen for him.

That excitedness was on full display during a media interview with his handler when Roger, tail wagging, lunged at a reporters microphone.

Roger plays with his toy on the lawn. - Kaohsiung Fire Department

Chen Chih-san, captain of the rescue dog unit of the Kaohsiung Fire Department, told reporters that Roger was transferred to the rescue training school when he was 1 year old.

Im not saying he was not good or that he didnt get along with others. But the requirement for narcotic detection dogs is that they cant be too restless and independent, Chen said.

But (these attributes) are what we want in rescue dogs.

The dogs have provided some much needed relief for Taiwans social media in the aftermath of the quake.

Keep it up, heroes and little heroes, one person wrote. Another said: Roger is the pride of Taiwan.

Roger is now something of an earthquake veteran. CNA said he had taken part in seven operations during his career, including a debut mission in the aftermath of a deadly 6.4-magnitude quake that hit the same region in 2018.

According to the Kaohsiung City Government, Roger was certified by the International Rescue Dog Organization in 2022, an accolade last achieved by a Taiwanese rescue dog in 2019.

But retirement is looming for Roger, with the Kaohsiung Fire Department sending rescue dogs to a suitable home once they reach age 9, CNA said, citing Chen.

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Roseville man dies after crashing into pole in Modesto, police say

(FOX40.COM)  A man died after crashing his SUV into a pole in Modesto on Saturday, according to the Modesto Police Department.

Police said the crash happened around 5 a.m. on Saturday at the intersection of McHenry and Bowen Avenues, which is less than a mile from Whitmore Park.

Sacramento shooting near Florin Road kills one

The Modesto Police Department said the man, who is from Roseville, was traveling south on McHenry Avenue in a Chevy Tahoe when he crashed into the pole and suffered fatal injuries.

Police said no other people were in the car and that the cause of the crash remains unclear.

The incident is still under investigation, police said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
Russia accuses Ukrainian oil and gas company where Biden's son used to work of funding terrorist attacks

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has accused Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian oil and gas company where Hunter Biden worked, of financing terrorist attacks in Russia.

Source: RIA Novosti, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet

Details: "Funds received through the oil and gas company Burisma Holdings, which operates in Ukraine, were used for terrorist attacks in Russia," they said.

Particular attention was paid to the fact that Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, worked for this company.

Background:

On 28 March, the Russian Investigative Committee announced that it had received "evidence" that the attackers at the Crocus City Hall concert hall were linked to "Ukrainian nationalists".

On 26 March, after Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin accused "those who are fighting with Russia with the hands of the Kyiv regime" of committing the shooting at Crocus City Hall, Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, said that Ukraine, not ISIS, was behind the 22 March attack.

Ukraines intelligence said that Russia knew in advance about the preparation of a terrorist operation in Moscow Oblast, but allowed it to happen either because of the dispute between the so-called "towers of influence" or the inestimable scale of what could happen.

Self-proclaimed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko said that the attackers on the Russian Crocus City Hall intended to get to Belarus, but due to security measures, they "turned away" and went to the Ukrainian-Russian border.

As of Friday, 5 April, the Russian Emergencies Ministry published a list of the dead, which included 143 names.

Russia's Investigative Committee said that photos of people in camouflage uniforms with the flag of Ukraine on them were found in the phones of the attackers of the Crocus City Hall concert hall.

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Russian forces attacked Sumy Oblast 170 times in 38 separate attacks throughout the day, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported on April 8.

The communities of Sumy, Khotin, Myropillia, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Shalyhyne, Esman, Znob Novohordske, Seredyna-Buda, and Velyka Pysarivka were targeted.

Earlier in the day, Russian aerial attacks against the town of Bilopillia and the city of Sumy killed one person and injured six others, one of them critically.

Throughout the day, Russia assailed the border communities with mortar, artillery, grenade launcher, rocket, and cluster munitions attacks. Explosives were also dropped by drones onto two of the communities.

The village of Esman, with a pre-war population of about 1,300 residents, experienced the bulk of the attacks reported with 32 explosions recorded in the area. The community is located just 11 kilometers north and 24 kilometers west of the Ukraine-Russia border.

Russian strikes against Sumy Oblast have become increasingly destructive over the past month, leading to multiple civilian casualties.

Amid intensified attacks, Ukrainian authorities ordered the evacuation of children from 52 settlements in Sumy Oblast on April 5.

Shelling is a daily occurrence for the communities near Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia, with residents in the region's vulnerable border settlements experience multiple attacks per day.

Read also: UPDATED: 1 killed, at least 5 injured in Russian attacks on Sumy Oblast













Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
MAPUTO, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The Mozambican government on Tuesday decreed three days of national mourning for the deaths of around 100 people who were killed Sunday in a shipwreck near the Island of Mozambique, in the northern province of Nampula.

The mourning will be observed from April 10 to 12 throughout the national territory and in the diplomatic and consular missions of Mozambique, according to Filimao Suaze, the spokesman for the Council of Ministers, who spoke to the press in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, after the government session.

"Due to this tragedy, the Council of Ministers, meeting in its ordinary session, regrets this sad occurrence and expresses its solidarity with the survivors, and presents its most heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families," said Suaze.

The spokesman added that the government had decided to mandate a delegation headed by the Minister of Transport and Communications and local authorities, to continue to monitor the situation and provide necessary assistance to the survivors and the bereaved families.

"The Council of Ministers also decided to set up a commission of inquiry to look into the circumstances, causes and responsibilities of the accident and to make advice afterward," said Filimao Suaze.

The capsized vessel was a makeshift ferry carrying about 130 people who were reportedly misinformed about a cholera outbreak and running away from Lungo, the administrative post of Mossuril district in Nampula province.

According to the spokesman, the government will step up communication and awareness-raising mechanisms on cholera, to prevent misinformation from leading to such tragic events again. 
Russia attacks Lviv Oblast with drones, Ukrainian air defence responds to it

Ukrainian air defence assets and personnel were responding to a Russian Shahed drone attack in Lviv Oblast on the night of 8-9 April. The drones came from Ternopil Oblast and moved towards Stryi and Peremyshliany. The air-raid warning lasted until 05:36.

Source: Maksym Kozytskyi, Head of Lviv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram; Suspilne, a Ukrainian public broadcaster

Details: Kozytskyi wrote earlier that Shahed drones were heading for Stryi and asked residents of the oblast to stay away from windows.

Kozytskyi wrote at 03:46 that another group of Shahed drones was moving from Ternopil Oblast to Lviv Oblast.

 alerts.in.ua  4.20

Screenshot: alerts.in.ua at 04:20

At 04:30, Kozytskyi reported that the Russian drones were currently moving in the direction of Peremyshliany but could change their course.

At 04:48, Kozitsky reported a drone flying towards Stryi.

The all-clear was given at 05:36.

Throughout the night, news outlets reported explosions in Poltava and Khmelnytskyi oblasts.

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Russia, China agree to deepen cooperation in Eurasia to counter US influence

Russia and China have discussed ways to strengthen their cooperation in Europe and Asia in order to counter the U.S. hegemony, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on April 9 in Beijing.

The chief of Russia's diplomacy arrived in China on April 8 for talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, to discuss Moscow's ongoing war against Ukraine and other topics of common interest.

Beijing has maintained close ties with Moscow during the war, increasing economic cooperation and disrupting Western attempts at isolating Russia.

The West has remained suspicious of China's partnership with Russia while at the same time appealing to Beijing to use its influence and sway Moscow toward ending the war against Ukraine.

"For a long time, NATO represented a security structure in the Euro-Atlantic region, as well as the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe), but it struck itself out from the list of relevant structures," Lavrov said during a joint press conference with Wang.

Wang commented that Moscow and Beijing should work to counter "hegemonism" and "any 'small circle' that engages in bloc confrontation."

Lavrov also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his two-day trip, the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

The Chinese leader relayed his greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin and said that "Putin and I have agreed to continue to maintain close exchanges to ensure the smooth and steady development of China-Russia relations."

Reuters reported that, according to its sources, Putin is expected to visit China in May to meet Xi.

Read also: US confirms warning allies about Chinas support for Russias war in recent months

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russia, China to talk about deeper security co-operation in Eurasia, Lavrov says

By Guy Faulconbridge, Lidia Kelly and Andrew Hayley

MOSCOW/BEIJING (Reuters) -Russia and China have agreed to discuss ways to deepen security co-operation across Europe and Asia to counter attempts by the United States to impose its will on the region, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday after talks in Beijing.

China and Russia declared a "no limits" partnership in February 2022 when President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing just days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine, triggering the deadliest land war in Europe since World War Two.

Lavrov, after talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, said that Putin had suggested strengthening Eurasian security and that China and Russia had agreed to "start a dialogue with the involvement of our other like-minded people on this issue".

"For a long time, there was a Euro-Atlantic security structure in the form of NATO, of course, as well as the OSCE, but it is striking itself out from the list of relevant structures within which it is possible to conduct meaningful negotiations and agree on something based on a balance of interests," Lavrov said.

The two countries should oppose "hegemonism" and "any 'small circle' that engages in bloc confrontation," said Wang, China's top diplomat.

"NATO should not extend its hand to our common homeland," he added.

Lavrov met Chinese President Xi Jinping after the meeting with Wang, state media said.

The United States casts China as its biggest competitor and Russia as its biggest nation-state threat while U.S. President Joe Biden argues that this century will be defined by an existential contest between democracies and autocracies.

Putin and Xi share a broad world view, which sees the West as decadent and in decline, just as China challenges U.S. supremacy in everything from quantum computing and synthetic biology to espionage and hard military power.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Monday she had difficult conversations with Chinese officials during her visit on its co-operation with Moscow.

Yellen warned of "significant consequences" for any Chinese companies supporting Russia's war in Ukraine.

Yellen also said in these meetings that the U.S. would not rule out tariffs on clean energy imports from China to protect its industry.

Russia and China should "jointly oppose unilateralism and protectionism" and "work together to maintain the stability of international industry and supply chains", Wang said.

'PARTNERSHIP'

China has strengthened trade and military ties with Russia in recent years as the United States and its allies imposed sanctions on both, but particularly Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine.

China-Russian trade hit a record of $240.1 billion in 2023, up 26.3% from a year earlier, Chinese customs data shows. Chinese shipments to Russia jumped 46.9% in 2023 while imports from Russia rose 13%.

Russia has become China's top crude supplier, as its oil shipments to China jumped more than 24% in 2023 despite Western sanctions.

China-United States trade fell 11.6% to $664.5 billion in 2023, Chinese customs data shows.

One year into the Ukraine war, China published in 2023 a 12-point position paper on settling the Ukraine crisis. Russia has said China's position is reasonable.

China backs an international conference recognised by both Kyiv and Moscow to "discuss all peace options on an even footing", Wang said.

Lavrov said Russia wanted the United Nations Security Council to give an assessment of Ukrainian drone attacks on the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station. Ukraine has denied it is behind the drone attacks.

Both ministers said their countries would strengthen ties against terrorism.

Militant group Islamic State claimed responsibility for the shooting at a concert venue near Moscow where at least 144 people died, but Russia, without providing evidence, has said it believes Ukraine was behind the attack.

"Our co-operation on counter-terrorism will continue, including within the framework of multilateral institutions," Lavrov said.

Last month, Reuters reported that Putin will travel to China in May for talks with Xi, in what could be the first overseas trip of his new presidential term.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow, Lidia Kelly in Lisbon and Andrew Hayley and Liz Lee in Beijing; Editing by Miral Fahmy and Clarence Fernandez)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends a ceremony to receive credentials from new foreign ambassadors at the Kremlin. -/KREMLIN/dpa

The governments in Beijing and Moscow must elevate their engagement with each other in order to provide a counterbalance to the West's domineering geopolitical posture, Russia's top diplomat said on Tuesday in the Chinese capital.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has proposed that the two powers mount a "dual opposition" to check the ambitions of the United States and its allies, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a news conference.

"Our leaders, President [Vladimir] Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, have repeatedly underscored the resolve on the part of Russia and China to counter attempts at putting brakes on efforts to build a multipolar world order," Lavrov said.

Lavrov, who has been Russia's foreign minister for more than 20 years, said relations between China and Russia were at an all-time high and that the two sides agreed to "launch a dialogue" on Eurasian security issues, without elaborating.

Xi and Putin declared a "no limits" partnership shortly before Russia invaded its neighbour Ukraine in February 2022. The Chinese leadership has not condemned the Russian war against Ukraine, instead blaming the conflict on the West.

Lavrov thanked China for backing Putin in Russia's rubber-stamp election last month, which gave Putin another six-year term in power.
Russia wants to 'bomb Kharkiv to the ground,' Germany's Baerbock says

Annalena Baerbock, Germany's Foreign Minister, speaks at a joint press conference with Moldova's Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi ((not pictured) at the Federal Foreign Office. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urged increased international efforts to supply more air defence systems in view of the threat of a major Russian offensive on the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to "bomb Kharkiv to the ground," warned Baerbock. "He wants to destroy, he wants to deliberately destroy."

"If Russia launches a major offensive there, it would cause immeasurable suffering," she said.

"Unfortunately, the stocks, especially our own Patriot systems, are now pretty much exhausted," she said at a meeting with Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi in Berlin on Tuesday.

Baerbock said that the Patriot air defence systems available in Europe and around the world needed to be deployed to benefit Ukraine.

She said that a fund was being worked on with Ukraine and European partners to purchase air defence systems from other countries around the world and deliver them quickly.

She hoped that further information could be provided at the meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Italy next week.

Annalena Baerbock, Germany's Foreign Minister, speaks at a joint press conference with Moldova's Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi ((not pictured) at the Federal Foreign Office. Michael Kappeler/dpa
Russia wants to 'bomb Kharkiv to the ground,' Germany's Baerbock says

Fears that Russia will launch a massive offensive on Kharkiv, the north-eastern Ukrainian city not far from the border and which comes under frequent fire, were growing on Tuesday amid pleas from Kiev for help replacing its dwindling weapons stockpiles.

Authorities across Ukraine's regions, from Lviv in the west to Donetsk in the east, reported deaths from Russian drone and missile attacks over the past day. Energy infrastructure was also once again hit.

In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called for urgent international efforts to supply more air defence systems in view of the threat posed by Russia to Kharkiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to "bomb Kharkiv to the ground," warned Baerbock. "He wants to destroy, he wants to deliberately destroy."

"If Russia launches a major offensive there, it would cause immeasurable suffering," she said.

Ukraine is "maximizing [its] efforts to thwart Russia's plans against Kharkiv," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday evening. "Together with our partners, we're working to bolster air defence."

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is home to about 1 million people. Residents have been subjected to near daily attacks in recent weeks, with more injuries reported on Tuesday. Worries are mounting that Russia is using the wave of attacks to lay the groundwork for a summer offensive.

Electricity is only available a few hours a day in the city following a string of devastating strikes on energy infrastructure and residential buildings last month.

Baerbock, speaking at meeting with her Moldovan counterpart, lamented that Germany's stocks of Patriot air defence systems are "pretty much exhausted."

She said that a fund was being worked on with Ukraine and European partners to purchase air defence systems from other countries around the world and deliver them quickly.

She hoped that further information could be provided at the meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Italy next week.

Reports of civilian deaths in the past 24 hours highlighted the need for Ukraine to better protect its skies.

Authorities in the central region of Poltava, the northern region of Sumy and the eastern region of Donetsk all announced at least one death in their territory due Russian strikes.

Zaporizhzhya Governor Ivan Fedorov said that the number of civilians killed in his region in strikes on Monday had risen from three to four, with another eight people injured.

A total of 13 villages in the south-eastern Ukrainian region were attacked, he said.

Maksym Kozytskyi, the governor of the Lviv region, said debris from downed drone fell on a "critical infrastructure" site. The Energy Ministry said later that a substation had been impacted and the damage was being assessed.

The ministry said another substation was damaged in Poltava and that the ensuing fire was extinguished.

In Brussels, the European Commission said Germany, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands are to soon supply Ukraine with 157 power generators in various sizes.

Another drone attack was reported on Tuesday in the area of the Russian-occupied Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya.

According to the Russian management of the plant, a training centre next to the power station was hit.

The reported explosion is consistent with observations by experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) who are stationed on site, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi posted on X, formerly Twitter.

He said there was no "direct threat to nuclear safety" but called the situation "extremely serious."

On Sunday, the plant was attacked by drones in three places. According to an IAEA report, no serious damage was caused. Nevertheless, the Vienna-based agency categorized the attack as a "serious incident" that had endangered the radiation shielding of a reactor.

The IAEA did not say from which side the nuclear power plant was attacked, but it reported that "Russian troops engaged what appeared to be an approaching drone" on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian public prosecutor's office said it aware of 54 cases in which Russian soldiers are alleged to have shot Ukrainian prisoners of war, stretching back to the early days of the war in March 2022.

A total of 27 criminal proceedings have been initiated, the head of the department responsible for war crimes at the public prosecutor's office, Yurii Bielousov, wrote on Telegram on Tuesday.

The most recent case is based on a video from the village of Krynky in the Kherson region that became public on Sunday.

The United Nations has received reports of 12 incidents in which at least 32 Ukrainian prisoners of war were shot dead between the beginning of December last year and the end of February alone. The UN observers were able to verify three cases.

In 2022 and early 2023, however, the shooting of 25 Russian prisoners of war by Ukrainian soldiers was also documented.

Two rescuers are seen by a burnt-out car after a Russian precision-guided munition hit civil infrastructure, Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine. -/Ukrinform/dpa
Russia attacked 13 of Ukraine's oblasts over the past day, killing at least seven civilians and injuring at least 36, including children, regional authorities reported early on April 9.

A Russian missile strike against an industrial facility in Zaporizhzhia on April 8 killed four people and injured eight, Governor Ivan Fedorov said. Thirteen cities and villages were attacked in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in total.

Russia launched a missile attack against Poltava Oblast on April 8, hitting a two-story apartment building, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. One person was killed and 12 injured, including two children, he reported.

Four other multi-story houses and roughly 10 cars were reportedly damaged.

Russian forces attacked Nikopol and the Marhanets community in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with drones and artillery on April 8, injuring two people, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

One house was completely destroyed, and a utility company, an infrastructure facility, six houses, five outbuildings, cars, gas pipelines, and power lines were damaged, the governor said.

Russia attacked the oblast also overnight, but no casualties were reported.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian missile ship set on fire near Kaliningrad, Ukraines intelligence claims

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed one civilian in Chasiv Yar and injured five in Selydove, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Russia attacked 20 settlements in Kharkiv Oblast over the past day, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. A 64-year-old man was reportedly injured in an attack on Vovchansk on the afternoon of April 8.

In Kherson Oblast, Russian attacks injured two people in Bilozerka and Beryslav on April 8, the regional military administration said. Four houses and garages were damaged in strikes against the oblast.

Russian attacks on Sumy Oblast on April 8 injured three people in the Sumy community, damaging an administrative building of an enterprise. In the Bilopillia community, Russian attacks killed one person and injured three while also damaging a city council building and other buildings.

Russian Shahed-type drones attacked Lviv Oblast in the early hours of April 9, damaging a critical infrastructure facility and starting a fire, Governor Maksym Kozytskyi said. The fire was promptly extinguished, and no casualties were reported.

Chernihiv, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Vinnytsia oblasts were also attacked, but no casualties were reported.

Ukrainian air defenses downed all the 20 Shahed-type drones that Russia launched overnight, the Air Force said in its morning update on April 9. Russian forces also targeted Ukraine with at least four S-300 missiles fired from the occupied parts of Donetsk Oblast.

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Honeytraps do not work on French spies because their wives are used to them having affairs, a television documentary about Frances equivalent of MI6 has revealed.

Intelligence agents in the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE) said that their Russian enemies came to realise that blackmail over taking lovers was ineffective.

The stock phrase in response was Go ahead, my wife already knows one agent said in the Making of Secret Agents, a 90-minute documentary that gained unprecedented access to the spy agency over several weeks. It was set to air on French public TV channel France 2 on Tuesday night.

The agent known only as Nicolas, whose voice and face were blurred, says: Defectors from the Soviet Union used to talk about the French paradox, namely if you surprised a Frenchman with a mistress by telling him, weve caught you red-handed with a 22-year-old called Tatyana, work for us or well tell your wife, it didnt work.

That was because he generally said: Go ahead, show her, shell understand, or she already knows about it.

However, a secret agents life is a far cry from James Bond, bar the odd vodka martini, according to one agent. Instead, it is inhabited by ordinary people doing extraordinary things using exceptional means, according to Bernard Emie, Frances spy chief until December 2023.

The decision to open the doors to the agency appears partly in response to the negative press the DGSE has received for a string of apparent recent setbacks.

In one key sequence, Mr Emie, 65, vigorously defends claims French intelligence was caught napping when Russian forces had massed at the Ukrainian border in February 2022.

While Britain and America publicly warned that Russian president Vladimir Putin had the firm intention of invading Ukraine in the coming days, even pointing out false flag operations in real time, the French continued to deny any invasion was imminent.

President Emmanuel Macron was fiercely criticised for continuing to talk to Putin despite the military build-up.

When Russia unleashed its war on Ukraine, the DGSE had the same technical information as its American partners, insisted Mr Emie. The problem is then how you exploit and analyse that information and the way in which you think an event will or wont take place, he said.

The CIA made the totally respectable decision to divulge the intelligence it had with the aim of dissuading the Russians from launching their operation. This is a policy that we dont pursue.

But in terms of intelligence, we had the same level of knowledge. In plain terms, nobody was party to someone within President Putins entourage with access to his personal way of thinking.

Shot at Anglo-Saxons

In one jab at Anglo-Saxons, the documentary cites agents who claim they provided photographic evidence that disproves American claims that the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was building missiles that could carry weapons of mass destruction. The agent said the Americans mixed up images of rolled-up carpets in a factory and petrol pipeline tubing with missiles.

Anglo-Saxons also tended to throw more money at seeking to make contacts, while the French rely more heavily on ulterior motives.

The documentary includes interviews with agents explaining why they joined, and sequences of them learning to handle firearms and self-defence.

New agents are sent out into Paris to try to make new contacts. One has to chat with an Irish rugby fan and get his email address with an offer of free tickets for the next game. The plan works.

French intelligence assumes that 90 per cent of attempts to create new foreign sources will end in failure, and 10 per cent success, just like in real life.

Surveillance techniques

Some surveillance techniques are shown. For example, one agent displays how he replaces an HDMI cable in an office with another including a small SD card that records all video coming through such as Zoom calls.

Another explains how she leads a double life running a real business with employees and clients but also carrying out a second mission via that company collecting intelligence.

Agents explain how hard it is to keep their jobs from their families, with one saying they learn not to ask questions.

One unnamed agent said: Most secret agents of the DGSE are under diplomatic cover in embassies. Its not James Bond. We dont have a Walther PPK in our pocket. The odd vodka martini is possible.

In general, we rely more on subtleness and discretion and rigorous handling of communications means than an M4 or a Glock [both types of guns].

The documentary opens with members of the DGSE making a distinction between secret agent and spy, which is a narrower job title and only part of the activity of the agency. The secret agents role is to gather information abroad to protect France.

However, this often happens from behind a desk.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The Russian forces attacked a coastal recreational zone in Odesa Oblast in Ukraines south.

Source: the Defence Forces of Ukraine's South

Quote: "Another heinous Russian attack was launched from temporarily occupied Crimea, likely with an Iskander-M ballistic missile, on Odesa Oblast."

Details: The consequences of the attack are being specified.

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Russians bombard Sloviansk during daytime for first time in a while, wounding three civilians

Russian forces struck Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast on 9 April, injuring three civilians.

Source: Vadym Liakh, the Head of Sloviansk City Military Administration, Vadym Filashkin, Head of the Donetsk Oblast State Administration



Quote: "The city was hit by enemy strikes - two hits to the industrial zone... Two residents of the community who were outside during the shelling were injured."

Details: Liakh said that the number of attacks in neighbouring districts was increasing. "For the first time in a while, Sloviansk is attacked during the day, and at the rush hour," he said.

At the same time, Filashkin reported that three people, aged 53, 64 and 66, were wounded.

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Kazakhstan is ready to increase exports of 195 commodity items worth $260 million to Kyrgyzstan, Azernews reports.

This topic was discussed during the meeting of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov with the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Head of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov.

The parties also discussed joint measures to increase bilateral trade turnover to $2 billion. Bektenov and Japarov paid attention to specific projects aimed at strengthening trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

It was noted that there is broad potential for expanding cooperation in the food, industrial, petrochemical, construction, pharmaceutical, and other industries. This is also facilitated by the planned plans to create an industrial trade and logistics complex on the common border. The parties noted that the launch of this project will have a multiplier effect and give additional impetus to trade, economic, and investment cooperation.

Along with this, the parties noted the dynamic work to increase the capacity of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border as well as the attractiveness of transit for cargo carriers. In accordance with the concept for the development of the transport and logistics potential of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030, the construction and reconstruction of checkpoints Karasu, Besagash, Aukhatty, Sartobe, Aisha Bibi, Sypatai Batyr, and Kegen are envisaged.

Meanwhile, trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan amounted to $1.317 billion in 2023. The trade increased by 11.6 percent compared to $1.181 billion in 2022.

Kyrgyzstans exports to Kazakhstan during last year reached $455.702 million, increasing by 10.9 percent compared to $410.888 million in 2022.

Moreover, Kyrgyzstan's imports from Kazakhstan in 2023 totaled $862.182 million, which is an 11.9 percent increase compared to the 2022 figures ($770.215 million).
ULAN BATOR, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Over half a million livestock carcasses have been destroyed across Mongolia, the country's Ministry of Environment and Tourism said on Tuesday.

"As of today, at least 513,948 animal carcasses have been destroyed in 677 locations of 87,248 square meters nationwide," the ministry said in a statement.

The toll of livestock deaths due to severe wintry conditions, commonly known as "dzud," has surged to over 5.9 million so far this winter in Mongolia.

"Dzud" is a Mongolian term describing a severely cold winter when a large number of livestock die because the ground is frozen or covered in snow.

Almost all provinces of the Asian country have experienced harsh weather conditions this winter, and over 80 percent of the country has been blanketed by snow, prompting the government to elevate its disaster preparedness to high alert.

The promotion of livestock husbandry is seen as the most viable way to diversify the landlocked country's mining-dependent economy.

As one of the last surviving nomadic countries in the world, the country had 64.7 million heads of livestock at the end of 2023, according to the National Statistics Office. 
Russians conduct over 40 attacks on two fronts within 24 hours  Ukraine's General Staff

Ukrainian forces repelled more than 40 Russian attacks in total on the Bakhmut and Novopavlivka front on 9 April.

Source: report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote: "Over the past day, 66 combat encounters occurred in the combat zone. In total, the enemy launched seven missile attacks and 73 airstrikes, as well as 81 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems on the positions of our troops and settlements."

Details: The General Staff reports that the Ukrainian forces repelled the largest number of Russian attacks on the Bakhmut front. "On the Bakhmut front, our soldiers repelled 25 attacks near the settlements of Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast; Verkhnokamianske, Rozdolivka, Chasiv Yar, Novyi, Klishchiivka, Andriivka in Donetsk Oblast where the Russians supported by aircraft tried to improve their tactical positions," the report says.

The Ukrainian troops managed to repel 20 Russian attacks on the Novopavlivka front.

"On the Novopavlivka front, the Defence Forces continue to deter the Russians near the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, to the east from Vodiane and Urozhaine, where the Russians supported by aircraft tried to breach the defence of our forces 20 times," the General Staff reported.

Two Russian attacks were repelled on the Kupiansk front, three on the Lyman front, six on the Avdiivka front and three more on the Orikhiv front.

On the left bank of Kherson Oblast, the Russian troops launched one attack on the positions of the Ukrainian forces near the settlement of Krynky.

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Russians tried to shoot down a low-flying target in Sevastopol

Explosions occurred in Sevastopol on the night of 8-9 April.

Source: local Telegram channels; TASS, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet

Details: Russian propaganda media, citing the local authorities in occupied Crimea, wrote that in Sevastopol, "a system for the automatic destruction of a low-flying target over the sea area responded, and the city's infrastructure was allegedly not damaged."

Before the explosion, the Russian social media wrote that an air-raid warning was issued in Crimea.

The explosion was so loud that residents of Yevpatoriia heard it.

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A renewable energy operator will soon begin development and construction on a nearly $140 million facility near Elk Grove that is expected to be complete in 2026.

Ameresco, Inc., which describes itself as a cleantech integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, announced this week in a news release that it would contract with the Sacramento Area Sewer District to build a renewable energy facility that uses biogas, or methane, to generate electricity and heat.

The project would be located at the EchoWater Resource Recovery Facility just outside of Elk Grove, the news release said.

Sacramento Area Sewer District (SacSewer) general manager Christoph Dobson said in a news release that the project is an example of their commitment to improving the environment.

SacSewer is committed to being a leader in environmental stewardship. Through our sustainable efforts in resource recovery, we maximize the reuse of treatment process by-products such as biogas, Dobson said in a prepared statement. This project is yet another example of how were working every day to fulfill our mission of protecting public health and the environment by collecting, treating, and recovering resources from sewage.

The contract for the new renewable energy plant was first reported by the Sacramento Business Journal.

According to its website, SacSewer is the regions largest sewage collection, treatment and resource recovery utility, providing service to more than 1.6 million people. Its the second-largest sewage collection utility in California, including owning and operating the second-largest water resource recovery facility of its kind in the nation  the EchoWater Resource Recovery Facility, located near Elk Grove.

In an Ameresco news release, the energy company said heat and electricity will be produced through an integrated 13.4-megawatt cogeneration plant that will utilize fuel cell and engine technology.

The company said it anticipates that the system will allow the project to be a clean resource with exceptional efficiency, reduced pollutant emissions and in the future, the expandability to produce hydrogen, according to the news release.

Executive Vice President of Ameresco Michael Bakas expressed his enthusiasm in a news release about partnering with SacSewer.

Capturing and repurposing biogenic methane that is already in our environment and produced by society to displace fossil fuel is a powerful example of the circular economy in action, where waste is not discarded, but turned into a valuable asset, Bakas said. This voluntary act by SacSewer, backed by a material investment into this advanced renewable energy center, speaks volumes to their commitment to our environment and their surrounding community.
A school district employee from Antelope was arrested in Roseville after being accused of contacting a minor for an illegal purpose, police said.

The 37-year-old man works as a warehouse worker in food service for the Center Joint Unified School District and was arrested March 30, the Roseville Police Department said. State payroll records maintained by Transparent California show the man has worked as a warehouse worker in the district since at least 2020.

The man was not working in a classroom, and there was no evidence to suggest a student was harmed in the incident, Center Joint Unified School District Superintendent Scott Loehr said in a statement.

We are collaborating closely with the Roseville Police Department to ensure a comprehensive investigation and will implement all required actions to preserve a safe learning environment for our students, the statement said.

The suspect was placed on administrative leave for the off-duty conduct, Loehr said. School district officials have also placed another non-classroom employee on administrative leave in connection with the mans arrest, the statement said.

Its unclear why the second employee, who was not identified by district officials, was put on administrative leave.

The suspect has not been charged, according to court records.

We are committed to transparency and diligence in addressing this serious matter and will provide updates as they become available, the districts statement said.
Sadiq Khan has made a direct plea to the one million EU citizens living in London to support him in May's mayoral election - the last time they could be allowed to vote before new Brexit rules come into force.

In an open letter, published in Tuesday's Evening Standard, the Labour Mayor said "there has never been a starker choice" between his support for the capital's European communities and his Tory rival Susan Hall.

Mr Khan said: London has always been a European city. European Londoners are our friends, our neighbours, and our colleagues, and they help make London the greatest city in the world.

This election is a huge moment. As Mayor I will always stand up for the cherished European values of openness and tolerance.

But my hard-right Tory candidate is the exact opposite.

"There has never been a starker choice for European Londoners at a Mayoral election  which is a close two-horse race between me and the Tory candidate."

(Evening Standard)

The poll on May 2 will be the last time that many EU citizens automatically have the right to vote in local elections in England.

People from Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg and Poland, where the UK has reciprocal agreements in place, and those who were resident in the UK before on January 1 2021, will retain their voting rights after the new laws come into place on May 7.

Londoners have one week left to register to vote in the London Assembly elections.

For the first time, ID will be required at polling stations.

Mr Khan warned that as many as 900,000 Londoners are estimated not to have valid photo ID.

He said it was likely that "vast numbers of European Londoners may not have heard about the rule changes, and could be caught out when they arrive at the polling station".

Im also deeply worried about changes to the voting system which may mean European Londoners could lose their right to vote," he added.

"So today I make an appeal to every single Londoner  make sure youre registered to vote, and make sure you turn up to the polling station on May 2 with valid ID."

Mr Khan has been a fierce critic of the Governments immigration and Brexit policies.

He has spoken out about about new visa rules for foreign workers, branding them an "economic own goal" and detrimental to London.

He has also argued that migrants are "critical" to the capital's public services and economy and called for young people to be able to freely move to and from the EU, arguing it would benefit us economically, culturally and socially.

Conservative candidate Susan Hall said: Sadiq Khan has overseen skyrocketing crime due to his mismanagement of our city and the police, and when hes caught out he tries to distract by banging on about Brexit.

"The truth is Londoners are fed up with Sadiq Khan after eight years of failure and want a change at City Hall, not a rehash of the referendum."
US to award Samsung up to $6.6 billion chip subsidy for Texas expansion, sources say

FILE PHOTO: The logo of Samsung Electronics is seen at its office building in Seoul

By Alexandra Alper

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Biden administration plans to announce it is awarding more than $6 billion to South Korea's Samsung next week to expand its chip output in Taylor, Texas, as it seeks to ramp up chipmaking in the U.S., two people familiar with the matter said.

The subsidy, which will be unveiled by Commerce Department Secretary Gina Raimondo, will go toward construction of four facilities in Taylor, including one $17 billion chipmaking plant that Samsung announced in 2021, another factory, an advanced packaging facility and a research and development center, one of the sources said.

It will also include an investment in another undisclosed location, the source said, adding that Samsung will more than double its U.S. investment to over $44 billion as part of the deal.

The Commerce Department and Samsung declined to comment. Texas Governor Greg Abbott's office did not respond to requests for comment.

One of the sources said it would be the third largest of the program, just behind Taiwan's TSMC, which was awarded $6.6 billion on Monday and agreed to expand its investment by $25 billion to $65 billion and to add a third Arizona factory by 2030.

The announcement will cap off a string of major Chips and Science grants in quick succession as the U.S. seeks to expand domestic chip production and lure away capital that might have been used to build plants in China and the region.

Congress in 2022 approved the Chips and Science Act to boost domestic semiconductor output with $52.7 billion in research and manufacturing subsidies. Lawmakers also approved $75 billion in government loan authority, but one of the sources said Samsung plans to take no loans.

The CHIPS Act's goal is to reduce reliance on China and Taiwan, as the share of global semiconductor manufacturing capacity in the U.S. has fallen from 37% in 1990 to 12% in 2020, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.

U.S. President Joe Biden will not attend the event, the two people said. He faces a tough fight to win a second term in November against former President and Republican rival Donald Trump. Greg Abbott, the Republican governor of Texas was invited to attend, one of the people added.

While both TSMC and Intel, which was awarded $8.5 billion to expand its U.S. chip output last month, will expand production in the key swing state of Arizona, Samsung' expansion in reliably Republican Texas is seen as less likely to help Biden at the polls.

(Reporting by Alexandra Alper; additional reporting by David ShepardsonEditing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio)
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The chair of the Republican Party of San Diego County has been ousted amid controversy surrounding an attempt to withdraw their endorsement of Andrew Hayes in the race for Californias 75th State Assembly District in favor of Carl DeMaio.

Corey Gustafson, a brewery owner who previously ran for Rep. Scott Peters congressional seat, confirmed to KUSI in an interview on Tuesday that he would be replacing current chairwoman Paula Whitsell after a unanimous vote by the partys governing body Monday night.

This comes days after an unprecedented attempt by Whitsell to change the partys previous endorsement in the race for the 75th Assembly District was first made public in a report by Voice of San Diego.

Chula Vista selects candidate to take over Andrea Cardenas seat

Last night, we as a party came together, Gustafson said. We had a unanimous vote to have a new chair, but that wasnt really the point of it. We had two candidates who are running against each other in the 75th [Assembly District] come together for the benefit of the party.

According to Gustafson, the vote of the governing body, called the Central Committee, came as a result of an agreement with both candidates for the seat that was brokered by Whitsell.

Under the agreement, Whitsell would be replaced and the previous endorsement would remain in place. However, he said the party does not plan to fundraise for either Hayes or DeMaio, as part of the deals terms.

What we solved last night is all the past bad feelings  again both sides came to a compromise on how we can move forward as a party, Gustafson said.

We have two Republicans in the race and theyre going to battle it out, he continued. Theyre going to put their vision forward for the people of the 75th district and were going to have a Republican who wins that seat.

The race for the 75th Assembly District narrowed to Hayes, a Lakeside Union school board member, and DeMaio, a conservative radio host, after both came out as the top vote-getter sin the March 5 primary election.

DeMaio earned the largest share of votes in the primary at 42.91%. With 18.68%, Hayes narrowly beat out Democrat Kevin Juza, who DeMaio propped up in an apparent bid to sail to a general election victory in the solidly Republican district.

Ahead of the election, in June 2023, the countys Republican Party endorsed Hayes in the race. He was also endorsed by the California Republican Party and an array of Republican elected officials in the county, such as Rep. Darrell Issa and Supervisor Joel Anderson.

Henry Foster III assumes seat on San Diego City Council

DeMaio had not entered the race when the Central Committee voted to endorse Hayes.

Almost a month after election night, however, Whitsell called for a new vote on who to endorse in the race by the Central Committees Executive Committee, a smaller subgroup that is in charge of governing body.

During the vote, Whitsell asked the Executive Committee to approve an endorsement for DeMaio in the General Election, as Voice of San Diego reported. The vote ultimately failed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
(KRON)  The San Francisco District Attorneys office announced Monday that San Francisco Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Espiritu has been charged in connection to a domestic violence case. Espiritu, 49, is accused of strangling a woman after she tried to end a dating relationship with him.

According to court documents, the strangling happened on Aug. 14, 2023. Espiritu had an on and off dating relationship with the victim, which she allegedly tried to end after Espiritu became increasingly possessive, DA Brooke Jenkins office said.

Espiritu is accused of strangling the woman in her own home on Aug. 14 and attacking her at her workplace on Dec. 8.

Girl slain in San Jose church exorcism tried to escape: court documents

On March 7, Espiritu allegedly slapped the victim and threatened to kill himself if she reported him to law enforcement. On April 3, she found a tracking device on her car and reported the abuse, the DAs office said.

The San Francisco Police Department arrested him in close proximity to where the victim was filing the report, the DAs office said. Espiritu has denied all allegations.

I would like to thank the survivor in this case for coming forward and reporting these crimes to law enforcement, Jenkins said. My office will now do everything we can to ensure that there is accountability, and that justice is served.

Espiritu is in custody as of Monday due to being a public safety risk. He has been charged with two counts of domestic violence, one count of assault likely to cause great bodily injury, two counts of false imprisonment, one count of stalking, one count of domestic battery, one count of dissuading a witness, one count of unlawful use of an electronic tracking device and one count of obstruction of use of wireless device to summon assistance.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His next court date is April 19.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Santa Rosa man get 35 to life for sex crimes against child

(KRON)  Javier Cruz Navarro, a 35-year-old Santa Rosa resident, was sentenced to serve an indeterminate sentence of 35 years to life in state prison for aggravated sex crimes against a child on Monday, according to District Attorney Carla Rodriguezs office.

A 12-year-old victim disclosed ongoing sexual abuse from Navarro in April 2022. The victim informed family members that the sexual abuse began two years prior. According to the District Attorneys office, Navarro had regular and recurring access to the victim and would often isolate, sexually abuse, and threaten the child.

Navarro was arrested and charged with 19 felony sex offenses after the Santa Rosa Police Department completed an investigation.

More than 42 pounds of fentanyl seized in Tenderloin by CHP over past year

On Feb. 14, 2024, Navarro agreed to plead no contest to four convictions, which included:

Engaging in sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child younger than 11 years of age

Aggravated sexual assault of a child

Committing a forcible lewd act upon a child

Oral copulation or sexual penetration of a child younger than 11

Navarro has been in custody since April of 2022, and will remain incarcerated until he completes his sentence or is released on elder parole, the result of recent California legislation that now allows elderly prison inmates to be considered for parole after serving only 20 years of their sentence.

Navarro will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

Deputy District Attorney Alex Fisher prosecuted this case.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji will lead a party and government delegation to the DPRK to pay an official goodwill visit and attend the opening ceremony of "China-DPRK Friendship Year" from April 11 to 13, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Tuesday. 
Illia Vitiuk, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) cybersecurity chief, has been suspended pending the consideration of the investigative outlet Slidstvo.Info's revelations, Interfax-Ukraine reported on April 9, citing a statement from the SBU's press service.

According to a recent investigation by Slidstvo.Info, Vitiuk's wife started making big earnings after her husband was appointed to the job, and bought an apartment in a premium residential complex in Kyiv below the market price.

The outlet said that its journalist who led the investigation, Yevhenii Shulhat, was later targeted by enlistment officers in retaliation.

The enlistment office employees who approached Shulhat last week in a Kyiv shopping center and accused him of evading military service were allegedly accompanied by an SBU official from Vitiuk's department, Slidstvo.Info said on its YouTube channel.

"For the duration of the inquiry into the circumstances disclosed by Slidstvo.Info journalists, the head of the SBU, Vasyl Maliuk, suspended... Vitiuk from his official duties," the SBU's press service told Interfax-Ukraine.

The security service said that for the period of his suspension, Vitiuk would serve in combat and had already left for the front earlier today.

"The SBU wishes to express respect for the media and journalists for their joint work on the information front against Russian aggression," the statement read.

The Prosecutor General's Office announced on April 8 that it had opened a criminal investigation into possible abuse of office and obstruction of a journalist's professional activities by the SBU employees and military enlistment officers following the incident.

The SBU said that it was also looking into the matter in cooperation with the Defense Ministry and the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces.

This is not the first case of Ukrainian journalists accusing the SBU of pressure against the free press. Another investigative outlet, Bihus.Info, revealed in January that they had been illegally surveilled by an SBU department for months.

Bihus.Info proved the SBU was secretly recording some of their staff members using drugs during a New Year's party and then published the footage to discredit the outlet.

After the scandalous revelation, the Security Service fired the employees implicated in the spying operation and pledged to stand for the freedom of the press.

Mere days before the Bihus.Info scandal, two unidentified men approached the apartment of another prominent journalist, Yurii Nikolov. The men were aggressively banging on his door, demanding the journalist to open the door and talk to them, calling Nikolov a "traitor" and accusing him of evading military service.

Nikolov is known for his earlier investigations revealing corruption in Ukraine's public procurement.

Read also: Recent campaigns against journalists raise concerns about press freedom in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Child advocacy organizations say a new report is rightfully scathing against the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services.

Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Human Rights and Law, released chilling findings discovered as part of a bi-partisan inquiry into the states handling of foster children.

Whats clear, is that our child welfare system is fraught with some serious endemic challenges, said Melissa Carter with Emory Universitys Barton Child Law and Policy Center.

Lawmakers discovered theres a systemic failure within DFCS, resulting in the death of children. Emory Professor Melissa Clark testified as part of this inquiry.

Its much, much more complicated when governmentthe state is a childs parent, Carter said.

The report states supervisors do not regularly understand or have knowledge regarding the facts of cases and did not review case records.

In a May 2023 case, the report states that DFCS workers could have immediately removed a child after police found the childs mother in distress and wandering naked down the street with her 1-year-old daughter.

The report said DFCS opted to take five days to contact the family. The report said the mother drowned the baby in a Sandy Springs lake days later.

RELATED STORIES:

And in East Point, family members reported ongoing concerns regarding a mothers declining mental health after referring to her child as the devil.

Documents indicate rather than DFCS conducting a safety assessment where they do a home visit, they requested for law enforcement to do a welfare check. Days later the report said the child died in a fire set by the mother.

I think the most important thing here is the safety of children, Sen. Jon Ossoff told Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln.

Ossoff launched an inquiry last February after a series of Channel 2 Action News reports into foster children being housed at hotels.

Federal lawmakers held several hearings in Washington D.C. and Atlanta. The testimony revealed hundreds of children were sex trafficked over a five-year span and nearly 2,000 have been reported missing.

DFCS told Channel 2 Action News last year they question the validity of those numbers.

The report also noted at least five judges testified they were directed by DFCS to improperly prolong childrens time in juvenile detention facilities because of placement shortages.

During this time I was often physically restrained, they slammed me into the wall and put my arms into locks, said Mona Houston.

The Office of Child Advocate cites declining performance to management failures, high turnover, lack of training, and poor leadership.

DFCS denied Channel 2s request for an interview. A spokesperson sent the following statement;

After taking months to produce a report  written and supported solely by staff of the majority party  the subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law provided DFCS and the state only two days to respond to a heavily redacted version of the final report.

Highlighting Senator Ossoffs staffs obvious lack of subject matter expertise regarding complex child welfare issues, the subcommittees report omits key context, ignores relevant data that undermine the reports primary assertions, and takes great lengths to misrepresent DFCS actions, facts about various cases, and outcomes for many children in the states care.

Not included in the subcommittees report are DFCSs improvements in addressing the issue of hoteling, strengthening rigorous safeguards for the children in our care, and streamlining service delivery.

Our staff and leadership take our responsibility to Georgias at-risk youth with the utmost seriousness and will continue to identify and implement solutions that better serve those in our care. We encourage Sen. Ossoff to focus his efforts on putting the welfare of children above political gamesmanship.

RELATED NEWS:
School gunmans parents jailed for 15 years for failing to stop attack

Ethan Crumbley (left) is serving a life sentence for the shooting; Jennifer and James Crumbley were convicted of manslaughter - OAKLAND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE/REUTERS

A US school gunmans parents have been sentenced to up to 15 years for failing to prevent a runaway train in a case that could act as a blueprint for future prosecutions.

James and Jennifer Crumbley were the first parents convicted of manslaughter in a US mass school shooting after their teenage son Ethan killed four fellow students in Michigan in 2021.

They were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials after prosecutors presented evidence of an unsecured gun at home and indifference toward the then 15-year-olds mental health.

Judge Cheryl Matthews signalled that the sentences could serve as a deterrent against future tragedies.

These convictions are not about poor parenting, she said. These convictions confirm repeated acts, or lack of acts, that could have halted an oncoming runaway train.

She added: Opportunity knocked over and over again  louder and louder  and was ignored. No one answered.

Ethan Crumbley, now 17, is serving a life sentence over the shooting.

Jennifer Crumbley arrives for her sentencing in court in Pontiac, Michigan - Carlos Osorio/AP

Prosecutors said tragically simple actions by both parents could have stopped the catastrophe.

The court heard Ethan had drawn images of a gun on his homework shortly before the shooting, along with a plea for help.

But when teachers at Oxford High School called them in to raise concerns, his parents failed to disclose that the drawing resembled a gun Mr Crumbley had recently purchased. Ethan brought the Sig Sauer 9mm handgun to school that same day, killing Tate Myre, 16, Hana St Juliana, 14, Justin Shilling, and Madisyn Baldwin, both 17, and wounding seven others.

Before the sentencing, the parents of the victims condemned the Crumbleys inaction.

The blood of our children is on your hands, too, said Craig Shilling, who wore a hoodie bearing the image of his son Justin.

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, told them: While you were purchasing a gun for your son and leaving it unlocked, I was helping her finish her college essays.

James Crumbley listens to a victim impact statement during his sentencing - Carlos Osorio/AP

Both Mr and Mrs Crumbley apologised to the relatives in court during the hearing on Tuesday.

My heart is really broken for everybody involved, Mr Crumbley, 47, said. Mrs Crumbley, 45, said: I will be in my own internal prison for the rest of my life.

The judge sentenced them to 10 to 15 years in prison each, with credit for the 28 months they have already served while awaiting trial.

Steve St Juliana said Hanas murder has destroyed a large portion of my very soul.

I will never walk her down the aisle, he said. I am forever denied the chance to hold her or her future children in my arms.

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.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a floor speech Tuesday that the American public will see right through former President Trumps abortion stance, just a day after the former president said abortion law should be left to the states.

Republicans and Donald Trump can try to hide their anti-abortion records all they want, but the American people will see right through it today, tomorrow and in November, Schumer said.

Trump on Monday said laws on abortion in the wake of the Dobbs Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade should be left to the states, and he said he would not support federal legislation banning all abortions after 15 or 16 weeks.

In a video posted to his Truth Social site, Trump also said he was proud to have ended Roe v. Wade by appointing conservative Supreme Court justices.

My view is now  we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, Trump said in the video. The states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state.

He said many states will have different abortion laws. Some will be more conservative than others, he said, but at the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people. You must follow your heart, or in many cases your religion or your faith.

Schumer said Trumps claims are a reminder to the country that if theres anyone to blame for the annihilation of Roe v. Wade and the grotesque reversal of womens personal freedoms, its Donald Trump and the Republican Party.

The New York senator said if Trump were reelected, he would add more conservative justices to the highest court so he can continue his assault on womens reproductive rights.

Trumps comments Monday are his most comprehensive about the divisive issue since he became the presumptive GOP nominee. His comments have drawn criticism from both sides.

Some Republicans criticized him for not backing a ban, while Democrats said voters should not trust that Trump as president will not sign anti-abortion laws given his record.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Scientists have found that just one pregnancy can accelerate a mothers biological age.

In a recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists have found that women who have already experienced pregnancy were more likely to exhibit signs of accelerated biological ageing as opposed to those who have not been pregnant. Associate research scientist Calen Ryan, who has been studying the long-term effects of pregnancy at the Columbia University Aging Center at the Mailman School of Public Health, explained to Time that pregnancy can lead to an increase in health risks.

Were learning that pregnancy has long-term effects on the body, Ryan told the outlet. They are not all bad, but it seems to increase the risk of some diseases and all-cause mortality.

Ryan and his team have theorised that the acceleration in biological ageing primarily occurs because of the great physical toll pregnancy can take on the body. The idea is that the body performs certain functions, but is always constrained about optimising any one of those functions, and it creates a trade-off, Ryan noted. So, energy going toward reproductive function may draw away from maintenance of the body.

Through data obtained by the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey, Ryan and his team analysed the blood samples from 1,700 people from the Philippines, each between the ages 20 to 22 when the study began in 2005. The study also asked questions about participants reproductive and sexual history, and number of pregnancies - accounting for factors such as pollution and socioeconomic factors, which could affect ageing in both their male and female participants. The team contrasted the results with data collected from a smaller pool of female participants between 2009 and 2014.

In the blood samples, the team looked at factors that could influence or cause accelerated biological ageing, particularly epigenetic clocks, which indicate a cells age. Over time, cells acquire molecular imprints that indicate which genes have been turned on or off, showing which DNA sequences have been modified. Because epigenetic clocks serve as a snapshot of the changes that have occurred in a cell over time - including effects of external issues such as stress, and physiological and psychological experiences - scientists use them as a metric to identify the biological age of cells.

By using six epigenetic clocks to identify 19 different mutation indicators that gauge a participants biological age, the team concluded that women who had been pregnant at least once were biologically older than those who had never been pregnant. The data suggested that biological age increased by three per cent more per year in those who have been pregnant, and those with more than one pregnancy were said to age up to five months faster.

The team contrasted their findings by testing the same six epigenetic clocks in male participants, noting that the men who had welcomed children with their partners experienced no biological ageing as a result of having a child.

However, in a paper published in the scientific journal Cell Metabolism, a research team from the Yale School of Medicine led by Kieran ODonnell reported they found that rapid acceleration in ageing caused by pregnancy was found to be gradually reversed a few months post-partum.

The reversal in postpartum in terms of the effect size was much greater than the increase in biological age found during pregnancy, ODonnell explained. That raises the provocative idea that pregnancy may be associated with potential rejuvenation. But we simply cant answer that question for sure with the data we have so far.

Its clear that more research is needed to conclude whether the effects that pregnancy has on biological ageing can be completely reversed post-pregnancy. Scientists are optimistic about the results from the data theyve acquired, but only time will tell just how much pregnancy can affect women in the long run.
Search restarts for missing NC fisherman after his boat found offshore Wrightsville Beach; US Navy joins efforts

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WNCN)  The U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday resumed the search for a boater who vanished off the North Carolina coast while on a fishing trip over the weekend.

The search for Jeffrey Kale, 47, was suspended Monday afternoon after Kale was last seen around 4 p.m. Saturday in a white 32-foot Cape Horn center-console boat departing the Southport Wildlife Boat Ramp in Brunswick County, officials said.

However, the Coast Guard announced Tuesday afternoon that Kales empty boat was found 83 miles east of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

An urgent marine information bulletin was sent out to mariners in the area Tuesday, requesting help with finding Kale, the Coast Guard said.

Jeffrey Kale, 47, was last seen around 4 p.m. Saturday departing in a white 32-foot Cape Horn center-console boat the Southport Wildlife Boat Ramp in Brunswick County, officials said. Photo from Oak Island Police Department

Kales undamaged boat was found Tuesday with fishing gear engaged and was moving northeast at nearly 6 mph.

Multiple U.S. Navy assets in the area responded to the urgent marine information bulletin and are assisting the Coast Guard in the search, the Coast Guard said Tuesday.

NC boater reported missing during offshore fishing trip

Coast Guard officials in North Carolina first received word from Kales family that he was overdue from a fishing trip around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

Oak Island police said Monday they were helping the U.S. Coast Guard in the search for Kale who is from Clover, South Carolina, just south of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Missing fisherman Jeffrey Kale in a photo from the U.S. Coast Guard. Kale, 47, was last seen around 4 p.m. Saturday departing in a white 32-foot Cape Horn center-console boat the Southport Wildlife Boat Ramp in Brunswick County.

The Coast Guard searched fishing grounds and specific areas in the Atlantic Ocean based on Kales previous trips and information from his family, police said.

He is an expert fisherman and was well equipped with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), satellite phone, and various navigation tools, Oak Island police said Monday.

Coast Guard officials said they had focused the search on the Blackjack and Steeples fishing areas, which are 7 miles apart and are located about 30 miles southeast of Southport.

Oak Island police said efforts to find Kale using cellphone location data were attempted but were not successful.

Jeffrey Kale, 47, was last seen around 4 p.m. Saturday departing the Southport Wildlife Boat Ramp in Brunswick County, officials said. Photo from Oak Island Police Department

By Monday when the search was initially suspended, rescue crews searched for approximately 72 combined hours and covered more than 7,762 square miles, which is nearly the size of Massachusetts, the Coast Guard said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
CHICAGO  Officials with the U.S. Secret Service, Chicago Police Department and other agencies on Monday began the process of preparing businesses and residents around McCormick Place and the United Center for the impact of heightened security during this summers Democratic National Convention.

While it will be months before details such as parking restrictions, street closures and other security measures affecting day-to-day life for city residents are released, agencies charged with protecting delegates and the general public during the Aug. 19-22 convention have started to meet those living and working around McCormick Place south of the Loop.

A similar event is planned for Thursday in the West Side neighborhood around the United Center, which will host the prime-time speeches and other made-for-TV events of the convention, where President Joe Biden is expected to accept his partys nomination for a second term.

Our objectives today are to begin the conversation with the community, Joel Heffernan, assistant special agent in charge for the U.S. Secret Service in Chicago, said during a news conference at McCormick Place. We want to listen to their questions and concerns while receiving their input to further assist the security planning effort.

Officials said they wanted to gather information about essential services such as Meals on Wheels and medical supply deliveries that could be disrupted by DNC security. In addition, there are more than 300 businesses around the two venues that could be affected by security efforts, Heffernan said.

While the precise security perimeters wont be released until mid-July, maps released Monday show the Secret Service and other agencies expect their efforts to affect the area around the United Center from Leavitt Street east to Ashland Avenue, and roughly from Maypole Avenue south to Van Buren Street.

Around McCormick Place, where business such as drafting the official Democratic platform will take place, the impacted area will be from State Street east to the convention center and Cullerton Street south to 26th Street, according to the preliminary maps.

Like the Republican National Convention that will be held a month earlier in Milwaukee, the DNC is designated a National Special Security Event, which puts the Secret Service in charge of protecting designated areas where access will be restricted during the convention.

Details on access also are forthcoming, but officials said neighbors should know that the impact of the event likely will be felt before it begins Aug. 19.

Residents and business owners can anticipate the build out for these venues will begin several days prior to the start of the DNC, Heffernan said.

Glen Brooks, the Police Departments director of community policing, said the need to establish lines of communication early in the process is one of the lessons the department learned from previous large-scale events, such as the 2012 NATO Summit, which officials have cited as a model for DNC security planning.

Weve learned that (the) more often and earlier that you reach out to the community, the best we can keep people informed, Brooks said.

Tensions over the convention are already running high as groups that want to to stage protests around convention venues have had their permits denied at City Hall. Mayor Brandon Johnsons administration has instead offered a two-block route to march through Grant Park.

Last month, a collection of groups that have had their permits denied filed a lawsuit against the city, arguing that their First Amendment rights had been violated.

Activists, many of them angry over Bidens positions on the Israel-Hamas war, have vowed to make life miserable for those attending the DNC.

The city also is due to respond later this month to a filing in the Police Departments ongoing federal consent decree case that objected to the departments mass arrest policy.

A coalition of community groups that pushed for the consent decree, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, argues in court papers filed last month that a draft policy released in February eviscerates protections required by the First Amendment, the Consent Decree, and CPDs existing First Amendment policy.

At a DNC media briefing last month, police Superintendent Larry Snelling insisted that every single thing that were doing right now is rooted in constitutional policing.

Despite those ongoing disputes and possible inconveniences for their employees during the days of the convention, some businesses near McCormick Place see an opportunity in having thousands of Democrats in town.

Were going to be very busy, said Kevin White, a sales manager at Fatpour Tap Works, located just across Indiana Avenue from McCormick Places West Building. Were going have both of our floors open the whole week, and were anticipating good crowds.

The restaurant already is working with a couple groups to book events during the convention, White said.

Just up Indiana Avenue at Pizanos Pizza & Pasta, Holly Malnati said that while her familys restaurant has some questions about the logistics for employees getting to work and parking during the convention, the business is looking forward to hosting visitors.

Were in a great spot that were just excited to see the foot traffic and what all the convention will bring for our business, Malnati said.

While shes cognizant of the possibility of protests in the area, protests are not new to Chicago, she said.

When youre dealing with someone like the Secret Service, theyre very equipped to deal with that sort of thing, Malnati said.

_____
Nadine Menenedez, the wife of Sen. Bob Menendez, wants to postpone their upcoming corruption trial because of health issues.

Attorneys for Nadine Menendez asked Judge Sidney Stein in a court filing Tuesday to delay the May 6 trial, citing an unspecified serious medical condition. Menendez, who is a co-defendant in the case, will need a surgical procedure and follow-up treatment, her attorneys wrote.

Given her medical circumstances, Ms. Menendez is not able to assist her counsel in preparing for trial in the next four weeks, one of her attorneys, David Schertler, wrote in the legal filing. Nor would Ms. Menendez be in a physical or psychological condition to participate in a six-week trial beginning on May 6, 2024.

Bob Menendez is accused by federal prosecutors of using his office to help foreign governments and New Jersey businesspeople in exchange for cash, gold bars and a luxury vehicle. Nadine Menendez also allegedly received home mortgage payments and a low- or no-show job in exchange for favors arranged by her husband. Both have pleaded not guilty.



Nadine Menendezs lawyers recently requested to withdraw from representing her in the case. Bob Menendez has said he will consider an independent run for reelection to the Senate upon being exonerated from his charges.
Senate Republicans are urging Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to stand up to the chaos caucus in the House GOP and move forward with legislation providing funds to Ukraine and Israel.

GOP senators are encouraging Johnson to face down critics, such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who are threatening to oust him from the Speakership. They say House backbenchers shouldnt dictate U.S. national security policy.

He needs to count the votes, and I think theres a substantial majority in the House who would vote in favor of the defense supplemental, and he needs to do the courageous and correct thing to stand by our ally, Sen. Roger Wicker (Miss.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said of Johnson.

Wicker acknowledged the Speaker faces a difficult situation, but he predicted he would survive any motion advanced by Greene or another conservative rebel to oust him.

I dont think theres a majority of the House that will vacate the Speakers position right now, he said.

House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio) has dubbed the handful of House conservatives threatening Johnsons job in leadership as the chaos caucus.

They could force a snap election on Johnson by advancing a motion to vacate, a tactic Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) used to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last year.

Greene filed a motion to vacate against Johnson on March 22, just before Congress left town for a recess.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), an outspoken advocate for helping Ukraine, said its time for Johnson to look past his critics within the House GOP conference.

I think that Speaker Johnson understands the critical importance of supporting Ukraine, and if that means hes got to look past a few of his members who I think have a different position, absolutely he should stand up to Republicans threatening to trigger the motion to vacate, he said.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) questions Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing for the Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress on Thursday, March 7, 2024. (Greg Nash)

Tillis said Democrats would have an obligation to protect Johnson by voting for him to retain his Speakership because doing otherwise would derail military aid for Ukraine.

If theres a motion to vacate on the Ukraine issue, the Democrats will be able to demonstrate if they truly are committed to Ukraine by preventing it from being able to be successful, and its within the Democrats power to do it, he said.

This is about leadership, right? Everybody talks about being bipartisan. This would give them a really good opportunity to be bipartisan on something thats critically important. Hopefully they will, Tillis said of the prospect of Democrats helping Johnson.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) is voicing exasperation over the lack of movement in the House, nearly two months after the Senate passed a $95 billion emergency foreign aid package that included $60 billion for Ukraine.

McConnell warned Monday that the failure to provide military aid to Ukraine and bolster the domestic defense industry through new spending would encourage Chinas growing aggression in the South China Sea and other parts of Asia.

Americas national security depends on sustained investment in both cutting-edge capabilities and expanded defense industrial capacity, he said on the Senate floor.

Thats why I continue to insist on overdue steps like the full-year defense appropriations and national security supplemental the Senate passed earlier this year, he added.

Top Stories from The Hill

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Monday blamed recent losses suffered by Ukrainian forces on the lack of House action.

The situation in Ukraine is desperate. Speaker Johnson has sat on his hands for 55 days as the national security supplemental has collected dust in the House, he said on the Senate floor.

The biggest reason Ukraine is losing the war is because the hard right has paralyzed the United States from acting, he declared.

Senators expect Johnson to unveil the Houses version of the Ukraine aid bill during the upcoming two-week work period, and they warn he shouldnt let House conservatives derail it.

House members will fly back to Washington on Tuesday, and House Republicans are scheduled to hold a conference meeting Wednesday morning, when they will have a chance to discuss the next steps on the defense supplemental spending bill.

Johnson acknowledges Senate Republicans are growing impatient, but he has pointed out that it took four months for the Senate to pass its bill, which it finally did on Feb. 13.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) addresses reporters following the weekly policy luncheon on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Greg Nash)

The House package is expected to establish a loan program to deliver aid to Ukraine, as well as provisions authorizing the seizure of Russian assets held abroad to pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Johnson has also floated the idea of including language to reverse President Bidens moratorium on permitting liquified natural gas export facilities.

Senate sources, however, say they dont expect the package to include any significant border security policy reforms, despite Johnsons earlier arguments that any Ukraine assistance needed to be paired with such legislation.

One possible path forward would be for President Biden to agree to take executive actions to better secure the border as part of a deal with the House to advance funding for Ukraine.

Congressional sources say there is communication between the White House and Speakers office on how to move forward.

One source said that whatever bill Johnson brings to the floor would have tacit buy-in from the White House.

McConnell warned before the Easter recess that adding new issues to the Ukraine package could delay it substantially.

What Ive said repeatedly is were running out of time, he told reporters with exasperation.

The best way to get Ukraine the help they need is for the House to pass the Senate bill. The problem with changing it  it can take you three days to do the simplest thing here in the Senate. We dont have the time, so Im continuing to advocate to the Speaker he put the bill on the floor and let people vote, he argued.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
ULAN BATOR, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Heavy dust and snow storms will hit large parts of Mongolia starting Thursday, the country's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said Tuesday.

The wind speed is expected to reach 24 meters per second (86.4 km per hour) causing poor road visibility, the agency said, adding that the unstable weather conditions are expected to continue through the weekend.

NEMA urged citizens, especially nomadic herders, to take extra precautions against possible disasters.

Mongolia has a harsh continental climate, and strong winds, dust and snow storms are common in spring. 
The impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is set to hit a dead end this week as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) prepares to do away with a trial, upsetting Republicans who wanted to highlight the administrations handling of the border.

House Republicans impeached Mayorkas in mid-February, but the official transmission of the articles has been stuck in limbo while Congress worked to fund the government.

That will change when impeachment managers deliver the articles Wednesday, with Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray (D-Wash.) swearing in senators as jurors a day later and Schumer expected to dispense with them for good in short order.

The Democratic leader has declined to say exactly how he plans to handle the articles of impeachment. His options include holding a vote to table or dismiss the articles or burying them by referring them to a special committee.

Members on both sides of the aisle expect him to avoid a trial.

My expectation is when we get this, we will dispose of this pretty quickly, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said, relaying the message he got from Schumer recently, adding it remains unclear how the trial will be done away with. We view it as a stunt. The Republicans view it as a stunt. That doesnt mean some wont vote for it, but no one views this as serious.

House Republicans accused Mayorkas of high crimes and misdemeanors, including willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law and his breach of the public trust  both charges the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) strenuously denies.

Without a shred of evidence or legitimate Constitutional grounds, and despite bipartisan opposition, House Republicans have falsely smeared a dedicated public servant who has spent more than 20 years enforcing our laws and serving our country, the DHS said in a statement last month.

Democrats have consistently bashed Mayorkass impeachment and are largely in lockstep behind whatever Schumer chooses to do.

In a heartbeat, said Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, when asked whether he would vote to dismiss proceedings. This is ridiculous. Even, I think, the House Republicans have lost their interest in it.  These are supposed to be high crimes and misdemeanors. Really? Which one? They dont have any specifics.

Democrats are widely expected to have the requisite 51 votes to table or dismiss the articles. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) admitted as much to reporters last week in his home state.

Schumer will be able to file a motion to dismiss or table. I expect he will do that, McConnell said. And the Democrats have a majority, so it may not go on very long.

Durbin, the top Democratic vote wrangler, added that he isnt sure yet if they have 51 votes on their side to dismiss a trial, but he hasnt heard of any dissension on his side of the aisle.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has described the impeachment effort against Mayorkas as pure crap, while Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) has already said he is in favor of dismissing the articles.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), an independent who usually votes with the Democrats, has not commented on the possibility of a Mayorkas trial. A Sinema spokesperson pointed to her policy of not previewing her votes.

A big question revolving around the Mayorkas impeachment is whether there will be any political consequences for Tester, Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio) and other incumbent Democrats up for reelection in the fall if they vote against a trial.

Republicans, who are making immigration and border issues a top talking point on the campaign trail, are spending heavily to attack Democrats on the subject, and they believe a vote to do away with the articles plays right into their hands.

Apparently, they dont think its worth their time, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told The Hill. And theyd certainly like to avoid the embarrassment of going through the failure after failure of the Biden administration and Secretary Mayorkas when it comes to simply enforcing the law.

Most Senate Republicans have lined up behind a trial in order to further highlight the Biden administrations handling of the border, including leadership. McConnell said last week that his preference would be to actually have a trial, but he noted the numbers would suggest otherwise.

But some Republicans have yet to throw their weight behind a trial. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) has indicated he could support a motion to dismiss, while a handful of GOP members are considered up for grabs.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), an ally of leadership, said Monday that he has not yet made up his mind on a possible trial.

Heritage Action on Monday issued a call for senators to vote against Schumers expected push to dismiss the trial, which top Senate conservatives have backed up.

The Senate has an obligation to vote on articles of impeachment, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, noting that Republicans respected the process when former President Trump was impeached by House Democrats in 2019, and they were in the majority of the upper chamber.

We fulfilled our constitutional duty and held a full trial on the floor. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, Senate Democrats are trying to destroy yet another precedent and further politicize the impeachment process, they wrote. Democrats will shatter another norm and set a dangerous precedent that theyre going to regret.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- A bipartisan group of US senators urged President Joe Biden to punish Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro for attacks against his top opposition rival, saying that an upcoming election fails to meet the promise of a free and fair vote.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Maryland Democrat Ben Cardin, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Republicans Marco Rubio of Florida and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cited serious concerns about the integrity of the process leading up to the presidential election scheduled for July.

The US must consider individual sanctions for those directly responsible for the repressive actions, the senators said in a statement. The United States and the international community must respond swiftly and hold the regime accountable.

Read More: Maduro Is Testing the Limits of Bidens Fair-Election Deal

The Biden administration suspended sanctions on Venezuelas oil and gas industry for six months in October after the Maduro government and opposition reached an agreement for fresh elections. The suspension is set to expire on April 18, and the US has repeatedly said that it wont provide an extension unless Venezuela lives up to its side of the deal.

But in the months since reaching the agreement, Maduro barred the oppositions primary winner, Maria Corina Machado, and her substitute, Corina Yoris, from running and arrested nine of Machados top aides.

The crackdown has been so severe that even allies in Colombia and Brazil have publicly condemned Maduro actions against the opposition.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee said on Tuesday he would not approve a massive arms transfer to Israel until he has more information about how Israel would use the weapons.

"I'm waiting for assurances," Representative Gregory Meeks told CNN. "... I want to make sure that I know the types of weapons and what the weapons would be utilized for," he said.

Reuters reported on April 1 that President Joe Biden's administration was weighing whether to go ahead with an $18 billion arms transfer package for Israel that would include dozens of Boeing Co F-15 aircraft.

The news came as Biden faced pressure from foreign partners, human rights groups and some of his fellow Democrats in Congress to impose conditions on arms transfers to rein in Israel's offensive in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

Six months into Israel's air and ground campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, the devastated Palestinian enclave faces famine and widespread disease with nearly all its inhabitants now homeless.

U.S. law requires Congress to be notified of major foreign military sales agreements, and allows it to block such sales by passing a resolution of disapproval over human rights violations or other concerns, although no such resolution has ever passed and survived a presidential veto.

An informal review process allows the Democratic and Republican leaders of foreign affairs committees to vet such agreements before a formal notification to Congress, which means any of them can hold up an agreement for months or longer by asking for more information. Meeks is one of those four officials.

Meeks said there has been "enough of the indiscriminate bombing" in Israel's campaign in Gaza. "I don't want the kind of weapons that Israel has to be utilized to have more death. I want to make sure that humanitarian aid gets in. I don't want people starving to death and I want Hamas to release the hostages," Meeks said.

Meeks said he would decide whether or not he would approve the arms transfer after he had more information.

Israel is seeking to beef up its already formidable fleet of warplanes not just for its continuing fight against Hamas but to ward off any further threat from the Tehran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah on its northern border as well as from Iran, its regional arch-foe.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Serbia says it's close to a deal to buy French-made fighter jets. That would be a shift from Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic shake hands during a joint statement before a working dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Monday, April 8, 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool via AP)

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  Serbia is close to signing a deal on the purchase of 12 French Rafale multi-purpose fighter jets, the Serbian president announced Tuesday, in what would mark a shift from its traditional military supplier Russia.

President Aleksandar Vucic spoke during his two-day visit to Paris and talks with French President Emmanuel Macron as well as French defense officials, including Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation.

Vucic said that he had a very good conversation with Macron on Monday night, which lasted more than three hours, and that they reached concrete agreements regarding the purchase of the Rafale fighter jets.

He said contracts will be signed in the next two months in Macrons presence, adding that the purchase of the sophisticated jets will drastically widen military and other cooperation between the two states.

Financial details of the potential deal have not been announced, but the pro-government Serbian media estimated it at about 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) for the whole package.

Serbia has been considering the purchase of the new Rafale jets for more than two years, since neighboring Balkan rival Croatia purchased 12 used fighter jets of the same type for about 1 billion euros.

The potential acquisition of Rafale jets would allow Serbia to modernize its air force, which consisting mainly of Soviet-made MiG-29 fighters as well as aging Yugoslav combat aircraft.

Russia has been a traditional supplier of military aircraft, including combat helicopters, to Serbia, which has refused to join international sanctions against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

The rapid arming by the Serbian military has been worrying some of its neighbors following the bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Serbia, a European Union candidate, is almost completely surrounded by NATO member countries.

Critics of the Western arming of Serbia say the sale of sophisticated French jets could encourage Vucic to possibly intervene militarily in neighboring Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008, which Serbia does not recognize. The populist Serb leader has made several such veiled threats in recent months.

During his talks with Macron in Paris, the two also discussed the simmering tensions in Kosovo as well cooperation in the field of nuclear technology and possible construction of a nuclear power plant in Serbia.
Seven & i Holdings Co's Seven Eleven convenience store logo is pictured in Tokyo

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's Seven & i Holdings plans to list its supermarket unit Ito-Yokado, Kyodo news agency reported on Tuesday, citing unidentified sources.

The retail conglomerate aims to focus on its mainstay 7-Eleven convenience store operation by having the supermarket business listed, Kyodo said.

Seven & i will likely announce its plan to list Ito-Yokado, a major general merchandise store chain, on Wednesday, when it is set to announce its financial results, Kyodo said.

Asked about the Kyodo report, a company spokesperson said nothing had been decided at this point.

Business daily Nikkei reported later on Tuesday that Seven & i was looking to set up a new intermediate holding company for general merchandising chains including Ito-Yokado as early as in 2026.

Seven & i is considering courting external investors for the new company, or potentially taking it public, to turn its superstore business profitable by the fiscal year ending February 2026, Nikkei said.

Ito-Yokado, which is struggling to compete with specialty outlets and discount stores, announced in February that it would withdraw from Japan's major northern island of Hokkaido and some other regions.

(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka, Chang-Ran Kim, Mariko Katsumura; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Mark Potter)
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for several counties in the News Channel 3 viewing area.

The warning was issued at 4:36 and extends until 5:15. A severe thunderstorm was located just east of Collierville.

Counties included are: Shelby, Fayette, Hardeman, Chester and Marshall.

Quarter-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mps are possible.

Stay tuned to WREG News Channel 3 for details.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)  Federal lawmakers have proposed to rename a post office in San Francisco after Dianne Feinstein, the citys former mayor and a longtime U.S. senator. In a statement, U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler, both D-California, said Tuesday they have introduced a bill to rename the post office on the ground level of the Rincon Center at 180 Steuart St.

San Francisco-to-L.A. overnight train inches closer to reality

Senator Feinstein was a towering figure not just in modern California politics, but in the history of our state and our nation, said Padilla. Just as she had a keen ability to bridge divides and connect with people from all walks of life, our local post offices symbolize the importance of keeping Americans connected. It is only fitting that we celebrate her memory by dedicating an institution essential to a functioning and fair democracy in her name.

I stand on the shoulder of giants like Senator Feinstein who as the first woman Senator for California, served her country with grace and fortitude, said Butler. Renaming the 180 Steuart Street post office in her honor is just one of the many ways we can celebrate her remarkable legacy of service.

In January, the San Francisco Airport Commission voted unanimously to rename the international terminal at San Francisco International Airport after Feinstein.

The late senator died at the age of 90 died in late September last year. She is the longest-serving woman senator in U.S. history, as well as San Franciscos first mayor and first woman president of the citys Board of Supervisors.

Copyright  2024 Bay City News, Inc.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
One of South Carolinas most popular tourist destinations has issued an unusual warning for anyone thinking of wading into the towns tidal ponds: Beware of sharks.

The town is aware that there are currently a number of sharks in tidal ponds near the Kiawah Island Beach Club and near Beachwalker County Park, Kiawah Island town officials wrote in an email.

Although these sharks are relatively small in size (about 4 feet), beachgoers should still use caution and not enter the tidal pools or allow their pets to swim in these areas.

Kiawah Island is about a 25-mile drive south from Charleston.

The towns Beach Patrol is closely monitoring the situation, officials said.

Its hoped the sharks will choose to leave the ponds when high tide creates a highway back to the Atlantic Ocean, officials said.

Town officials did not report the species of sharks involved, but the coast of South Carolina is home to great white sharks, tiger sharks, lemon sharks and bulls sharks, among others.

Great white sharks are currently making their seasonal migration past South Carolina into the Northwest Atlantic, where waters are cooler during the summer months. Its also suspected white sharks use the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a mating ground, the nonprofit OCEARCH reports.

Fossil hunters find different halves of same ancient shark tooth 4 weeks apart in SC

Eerie photos show sharks appearing to sleep atop shipwrecks off North Carolina

Unexpected find solves mystery surrounding 30-year-old dolphins death, SC team says
FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE)  A young woman from Fresno was gunned down on the streets of Los Angeles. Her family says she was caught up in human trafficking, the very crime her mother is working to stamp out.

Kendra McIntyre, 20, was shot and killed on March 21 around 4 a.m. in Los Angeles, according to YourCentralValley.coms sister station KTLA. The loss is especially difficult for her mother, Debra Rush, who knows the pain of walking those city streets.

In 1999, I was lured out by a gang member because of a drug debt that was owed by my mother, and I was violently trafficked in southern California specifically, Los Angeles, for several months, said Debra. I was able to find my way out of that situation and find my way back here largely in part because of a Fresno police officer and that shouldve been the end of the story.

But it wasnt.

A few years later, I would start to emotionally devolve very, very quickly. That devolving would lead me to drug use, and that drug use would lead me back out onto the streets where I would spend four more years stuck in the sex trade, said Debra.

In 2008, I found my way out through the justice system. I had committed a pretty serious felony, and I was facing a pretty serious prison sentence. All I can say is by the grace of God, I was given a second chance by a judge here in Fresno. I was given the opportunity to restart my life.

A life filled with family. She and her husband have been raising seven kids, and recently their first grandchild.

Rush went on to co-found Breaking the Chains, a non-profit in Fresno focused on providing healing and hope to human trafficking survivors. Debras work is inspired and motivated by her own pain.

But the heartache and trauma Debra hoped she left behind on the streets came back to haunt her.

Kendra was an absolutely incredible human being. Fiercely loyal, incredibly artistic. Her zest for life was infectious. It really was. When she was around it would turn the whole room upside down in the best way.

Debras daughter Kendra was the victim of a dangerous attack at the hands of someone she trusted when she was 16 years old.

Kendra met a guy online and invited him to our house not knowing he had the most nefarious intents, and he brought another young man with him. Kendra was home alone during a very violent in-home robbery. The best way I can describe it, from that point, it was like a fastball that we couldnt get in front of.

Debra says her daughter, already diagnosed with bipolar disorder, was never the same after that day. The attack complicated her mental illness and if the attack was not cruel enough, Debra says after testifying at the preliminary hearing to get justice, Kendra was attacked again and again.

Kendra didnt feel safe in her own mind, in her own home, and now she wasnt even safe in her own community, said Debra. She started turning to all the wrong things, all the wrong places, all the wrong people to try to find safety, try to find solace, try to find a sense of calm in her storm. Ultimately, we believe, this is what led Kendra to Los Angeles and what ultimately took her life.

Kendra was shot and killed in a dangerous area in a dangerous area that police say has a long history of human trafficking. She would become the second person killed there that week.

Our hope, every one of us, is that Kendras life will make an impact and no other family will have to sit through the tragedy that were sitting through.

Debra advises anyone who could be in this situation to ask for help.

My advice to anybody wanting to get out, number one, just reach out. Call Breaking the Chains, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, (888-373-7888) make that phone call, believe there is help out there. There are people ready and waiting to help you to your feet.

Debra describes Kendra as someone loyal and loving  and her baby.

Despite the challenges that she had in life, and the issues that were outside her control, she was an absolutely beautiful soul and we know her life, her love, her legacy will live on.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
NEW DELHI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Seven Nepalese nationals and a local driver were killed after a pickup van carrying them skidded off the mountainous road and fell into a 150-metre-deep gorge in northern India, police said Tuesday.

Two more Nepalese nationals were critically injured in the late Monday accident.

According to police, a State Disaster Response Force team rushed to the spot and retrieved bodies from the gorge with the help of locals and policemen. The rescue team also sent the injured to a hospital.

The ill-fated vehicle was heading to Nepal to take the passengers home.

Police have registered a case and ordered an investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident.

Deadly road accidents are common in India, often caused due to overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving. Around 150,000 people are killed every year in about half a million road accidents across India. 
She was the one that brought us all together: Brother remembers sister struck, killed by gunfire

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Over the weekend, Carlin Hawthorne was out for a fun night with her friends. Her brother says she was supposed to be the designated driver.

Carlin Hawthorne.

If Carlin is here, or as people know, if Lin Lin is there, you know, youre going to have a good time, youre going to get home safe, said Herman Hawthorne.

RELATED STORY: Police investigating fatal shooting in NW Oklahoma City

But unfortunately, a fight led to reckless gunfire outside of the Casablanca Event Center near NW 28th Street and Portland Ave.

Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop sound, said John Patterson, who lives nearby. About 20 of them.

Another woman who lives nearby, Jane Fernandez, added that it sounded like a war zone.

Carlin, an innocent bystander, was caught in the middle of it.

This victim was simply sitting in their vehicle when the gunfire rang out and was struck, said Sgt. Dillon Quirk with the Oklahoma City Police Department.

Hawthorne said his little sister was the familys rock.

She was the one that brought us all together because she has so much love to give, said Hawthorne.

Police say three others were shot but are going to survive.

Tenants at a nearby apartment complex told KFOR they want to see the event center close down.

LOCAL NEWS: Lost cat found after vandal breaks window at cat cafe

It brings a lot of chaos over here every weekend since Ive been here and my last six months, it has been bad. Very bad, said Fernandez.

No arrests have been made yet. Police and the Hawthorne family are asking anyone with information to come forward.

That would mean the world to my family to figure out who did this and for them to be brought to justice because no one deserves this, said Hawthorne.

We reached out to the Casablanca Event Center for comment but did not hear back.

The Hawthornes set up a Go Fund Me page to help pay for funeral expenses. The link is here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two men are dead after a confrontation led to a shootout at the M.K. Smoke Shop on the Highway 51 bypass in Dyersburg, Tennessee on Saturday.

Dyersburg Police Chief Thomas Langford released the names of the victims to the Dyersburg State Gazette newspaper. The two victims were identified as 22-year-old Jaheim Brown and 23-year-old Mekhi Benson, both of Dyersburg.

Two dead, woman and child hurt in South Memphis shootings

According to the newspaper, Chief Langford said security camera video showed Brown was in the business making a purchase when Benson entered the store.

That is when Brown and Benson got into an argument.

Benson drew a gun and fired shots while Brown also fired shots before leaving the store.

Sounded like I heard three of them when they shot the window out and I heard three more shots and thats when they killed each other, said Lonnie Baker who lives near the smoke shop.

Baker says one victim died in the store and the other died in the parking lot a few feet from the entrance.

4-year-old boy killed in accidental shooting in South Memphis

People came by looking at them. I bet fifteen, or twenty people stopped, came out, and looked at the body and everything. I dont know why, Baker said. You dont never know. You have to be careful where you go or what you do, you know.

The owner of M.K. Smoke Shop declined to talk about the incident, but a worker said both men were regular customers.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Following the shock resignation of Leo Varadkar, Simon Harris has been sworn in as the Republic of Irelands youngest Prime Minister on Tuesday.

Dubbed the TikTok taoiseach for his social media prowess, the 37-year-old Fine Gael party leader has swiftly climbed the political ranks to head up Irelands government. Fine Gaels coalition partners, Fianna Fail and the Greens, endorsed Harris to become Taoiseach.

But his premiere could be a short one, with a general election set to take place by the end of March 2025. He is seen as the Varadkar continuity candidate but Fine Gael has lost support amid a severe housing crisis and anti-immigrant backlash. The election could see the increasingly popular Irish left-wing nationalist party Sinn Fein win enough seats to form a government.

As Harris takes office, heres what to know about the young leader.

Why did Leo Varadkar resign?

On March 20, Leo Varadkar announced that he was resigning as Prime Minister and leader of the center-right Fine Gael party for personal and political reasons. Varadkar was blamed for two referendum blows in March, with Irish voters rejecting the governments proposals to amend the constitution to include families not based on marriage and to change the wording around the role of women in the home.

In a press conference in Dublin, Varadkar, the first openly gay leader, said he would step back with immediate effect and added that he is not the best person for the job anymore.

Read More: Ireland's Leo Varadkar Brings New Spirit to Office

The move has been called a political earthquake by observers of Irish politics.

At 38, Varadkar had become the youngest Prime Minister when he took office in 2017. His first term lasted until 2020, but he returned to office in 2022 as part of a rotation agreement with Fianna Fail.

Who is Simon Harris?

Simon Harris was born in October 1986 to a taxi driver and a teaching assistant for children with special education needs. He grew up in a coastal town in County Wicklow, south of Dublin. He is the eldest of three children, and his younger brother Adam is autistic. Harris as a teenager began lobbying local politicians for autism services and established an autism support group.

A former student at the Dublin Institute of Technology, Harris dropped out in his penultimate year to become a parliamentary assistant to Fine Gael Senator Frances Fitzgerald. He became county councilor aged 22, and was elected to Parliament at 24 years old. At 29, Harris served as the health minister, and since then he has held posts across further and higher education, innovation and science, and justice.

Harris married his long-term partner and children's cardiac nurse Caoimhe Wade. The couple live in Wicklow and have two young children together.

What are Simon Harris political stances?

Harris held the post of health minister when Ireland held its historic referendum to repeal the 1983 Eighth Amendment that outlawed abortion rights. Harris was an advocate for the 2018 repeal efforts that saw 66.4% of the Irish public vote to enshrine womens right to an abortion.

That same year, Harris intervened to help the immigration case of Eric Zhi Ying Xue, a 9 year old boy who was facing deportation to China.

Harris has emphasized the importance of protecting the Northern Ireland peace process. He has called for closer relations with Britain, including trade. Much like his predecessor, Harris has also been vocal for the need for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Write to Armani Syed at armani.syed@time.com.
Sniffer dog who was too friendly for drugs role excels in Taiwan earthquake rescues

Sniffer dog who was too friendly for drugs role excels in Taiwan earthquake rescues

A former drug-sniffing dog named Roger, who was fired from his job for being too friendly, has redeemed himself by helping search teams after Taiwans strongest earthquake in 25 years.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit the island on Wednesday, killing at least 13 people and leaving more than 1,140 injured. Rescuers have been facing a range of threats from landslides, rockfalls and aftershocks as they continued working to evacuate the remaining trapped and missing individuals.

The fire department released footage on Saturday showing Roger, an eight-year-old Labrador, climbing atop a boulder that was lying on a hiking trail near Hualiens Taroko National Park.

In the video, a rescuer can be seen asking Roger if hes found something and to move to the other side. But Rogers refusal to budge helped the rescuers find someone trapped.

Roger must have found some clues, and his confused look made the handler feel something was up, and then they found the victim, said Chen Chi-mai, the mayor of Kaohsiung, in a Facebook post titled The Paw Paw Teams feat.

Kaohsiung sent a rescue team and dogs to help with the search, and the mayor said Roger specialises in rubble pile search and rescue and is trained to look for survivors.

A rescuer locating the body of an earthquake victim with the help of Roger (Hualien County Fire Department /AFP)

Rogers handler Lee Hsin-hung said Roger found his first survivor within just five minutes after setting off, despite the unfamiliar terrain.

As a puppy, Roger was trained as a drug-sniffing dog but was later switched to search-and-rescue missions because of his over-friendly nature.

Hes very agile, Mr Lee told reporters. Like this time when he went to Shakadang Trail, its not a rescue site we can simulate [in training] but hes not scared.

Roger, who is due to retire soon, has won hearts in Taiwan for his boisterous nature, as AFP reported him lunging at reporters microphones during interviews and also destroying a chew toy given to him after his mission.

But Roger isnt the only one helping in Taiwan. A three-year-old Jack Russell terrier named Wilson has been following in Rogers footsteps, as footage emerged of him tirelessly scrambling among boulders.

Despite the Taiwan quake being Wilsons first mission, he was able to locate two victims, going beyond handler Tseng Ching-lins expectations.

He did not perform that well at tests compared with other dogs, he said to a reporter.

Hes very smart, but he likes to play and he runs to other places, Mr Tseng added.

Wilson, a Jack Russell terrier, helping rescuers locate victims of an earthquake in Taiwans Taroko National Park in Hualien (Hualien County Fire Department /AFP)

Central Hualien was rattled by at least 50 aftershocks overnight after the initial 400 tremors recorded from Wednesday morning into Thursday night by the Central Weather Administration.

At least four of the dead were killed inside the Taroko National Park, a tourist attraction famous for canyons and cliffs in mountainous Hualien. One person was found dead in a damaged building and another was found in the Ho Ren Quarry. Rescuers also carried out the severely wounded body of a man from a hiking trail on Thursday.

Hualien was last hit by a deadly quake in 2018 which killed 17 people and brought down a historic hotel.

Taiwans worst recent earthquake struck on 21 September 1999. A magnitude 7.7 shock, it caused 2,400 deaths, injured around 100,000, and destroyed thousands of buildings.
SNP ministers are planning to extend Scotlands controversial hate crime laws to offer more protections for transgender people.

Amid calls for the legislation to be scrapped after police were swamped with thousands of complaints within a week, the Scottish Government is proposing new legal provisions to make it easier to prosecute those who engage in conversion practices.

Under the planned overhaul, attempting to change or suppress a persons gender identity or sexual orientation, even as part of an attempt to help that person, would become an aggravator in cases in which another crime was committed.

This would mean anyone convicted of another offence would face a harsher sentence, potentially on the basis of a single piece of evidence, if it could be shown that their actions were motivated by a desire to convert someone.

The proposal was included in a Scottish Government consultation that recently closed, and would be part of a wide-ranging ban on conversion therapy, which would be separate legislation to the hate crime law.

However, the move would be intended to plug gaps within the law and is designed to apply to practices not covered by the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act.

The hate crime law includes current legislation on statutory aggravators, which cover transgender identity and other characteristics such as race, religion and disability.

The conversion therapy plans have been highly controversial because parents could potentially be prosecuted and face up to seven years in jail if they refused to let their child socially transition to live as a member of the opposite sex. The law would apply even if a parent believed they were helping their child.

Members of the public will find it incredible that, despite the fiasco created by these hate crime laws, the Government is already considering extending them, said Marion Calder, a director with the For Women Scotland campaign group.

Any actions to which an aggravator could be attached are already illegal. The consultation makes clear that this is simply an attempt to threaten and criminalise loving parents or medical professionals acting in a childs best interests.

Rather than doubling down on these draconian laws, the SNP Government should listen to women and front line police officers and scrap them.

The Scottish Government claimed the new aggravator was needed because, under existing hate crime laws, a court would have to show that a person was motivated by malice or ill-will based on the sexual orientation or transgender identity of the victim.

In contrast, it is planned that people could be prosecuted under the conversion therapy ban even if they believed they were helping the victim.

The consultation stated that by creating a new aggravator, prosecutors would have flexibility in how they dealt with offenders, even if they had not breached the conversion or hate crime laws.

It added that evidence from a single source would be enough to meet the threshold for a harsher sentence and ensure there are no gaps within the law.

Police Scotland has yet to publish official figures for the number of hate crime reports, but it has been reported that as many as 8,000 were made within the first week of the new hate crime laws.

The Scottish Police Federation, which represents front line officers, has described the deluge as unsustainable and claimed people are making reports based on personal or political vendettas.

However, Angela Constance, the Justice Secretary, denied claims that the volume of reports was impacting front line policing. She said she had a reassuring call with a deputy chief constable on Sunday night, who assured her that the service was indeed coping.

However, analysis by The Telegraph has found that the number of hate crime reports is currently on course to outnumber annual documented crimes in Scotland by the autumn.

Russell Findlay, the Scottish Tories justice spokesman, said Ms Constances claims were not only at odds with what front line officers are saying but also the evidence.

He added: SNP ministers need to accept reality, and if they refuse to bin this disastrous legislation then they must ensure police have the necessary training and resources.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: Our proposals for a ban on conversion practices do not include an extension to the Hate Crime Act. Our consultation on conversion practices closed earlier this month, and responses will be analysed and considered to inform the Bill the Scottish Government will introduce into Parliament.

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.
Jaime Sanchez, left, Maria Padilla, Esther Rojo, Stephanie Sanchez and Ruben Sanchez are among the residents of Los Nietos who oppose a new permit for the hazardous waste facility Phibro-Tech, seen in the background. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

California regulators could soon grant a fresh permit for a hazardous waste treatment facility in Santa Fe Springs, even as they face off with the same company in court over alleged violations.

The upcoming decision has alarmed environmental and community groups, which argue the Department of Toxic Substances Control should turn down Phibro-Tech for a renewed permit after a history of violating state rules.

The Santa Fe Springs site is near the unincorporated area of Los Nietos, a largely Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles County that ranks among the most pollution-burdened communities in the state. The hazardous waste treatment facility is roughly 550 feet from the nearest homes, according to the state agency.

The Phibro-Tech facility had dozens of violations over the previous decade, according to a state analysis of its regulatory record. Last year, DTSC took the company to court, alleging that state inspectors checking the site before the COVID-19 pandemic had found leaking containers and other violations.

Yet months before suing the company, staff at the same agency told worried neighbors that they had tentatively decided to renew the permit for the Santa Fe Springs facility. Serious violations had dwindled in recent years, Department of Toxic Substances Control representatives said, and the facility did not pose a significant threat to the neighborhood.

State officials said they would make a final decision after weighing public comments.

But as it stands, "we have decided that based on all the information available  including their compliance history and their recent record of improving compliance  that it is appropriate to approve the permit," supervising hazardous substances engineer Phil Blum said at a July meeting.

The Santa Fe Springs facility brings in hazardous waste and treats it to yield chemicals and metals like copper, which can then be used in electronics and other industries. Phibro-Tech said it "recycles waste that would otherwise need to be landfilled or injected into a deep well," yielding copper without the harms of mining.

It has been operating on an expired permit since 1996  longer than any other hazardous waste facility in California, according to a recent court filing by the company. Under California rules, such facilities can keep operating on an expired permit if they turned in an application on time for a new one.

The agency said that one reason the permitting process for Phibro-Tech had taken so many years was "to allow time for environmental sampling and technical assessments" that would inform its decision. In the meantime, DTSC said it had "continued to exercise its enforcement authority," including by requiring cleanup of historic contamination.

A state review found that over a decade, the Santa Fe Springs facility had more than two dozen violations. Last year, the state rated its compliance history as the eighth worst among 74 hazardous waste facilities in the state, based on a scoring system that tracks violations.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has publicly called for the facility to be shut down "until it can come into compliance with the law," saying it poses too great a threat to the community.

DTSC "has a mandate to protect the public," said Jaime Sanchez, a nearby resident and member of the local group Neighbors Against Phibro Tech. "But rather than protect the public, they have protected this industry ... at the expense of the health, safety and welfare of impacted communities."

Read more: California toxics agency to publish lead cleanup reports for homes surrounding Exide plant

Phibro-Tech said that the state had rated its compliance as "conditionally acceptable," with a score just over the cutoff for "acceptable." It said its record had improved dramatically in recent years and that the objections raised by Hahn are "based on a misunderstanding of the plant and its current operations."

DTSC officials told residents that the new permit would come with conditions to protect nearby communities, including maintaining gas detection sensors in critical areas.

"The big picture story here is that DTSC has reviewed the operations of the facility in great detail. We've required extensive changes to how the operations will be conducted under a new permit. And we believe that it demonstrates that the facility can be operated safely," Blum said at a 2022 meeting.

A portion of residential Los Nietos, seen in the bottom of this image, is across a street and an empty lot from Phibro-Tech, which processes hazardous waste. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Byron Chan, a senior attorney with the environmental law nonprofit Earthjustice, argued that the agency should not give a new permit to "a facility that has shown that it's not interested in complying." He said it seemed like fines had become the "cost of doing business" for Phibro-Tech, calling it "an ongoing pattern of unaccountability."

"You'll see a pattern of violating the law, paying a penalty, and then violating the law again," he said.

Five years ago, the agency announced that the company had to pay $495,000 in penalties for violations including storing hazardous waste outside of allowed areas. Earthjustice has also cited past incidents at the Santa Fe Springs facility in which ammonia and hydrochloric acid had been released at the site and workers had been burned with acid.

Phibro-Tech said in a statement that the chemical releases cited by the environmental group had not threatened the community and that it had adjusted operations to prevent them from recurring. "If a violation is found," the company said, "we take immediate action to rectify it as quickly as possible."

Read more: Its not just toxic chemicals. Radioactive waste was also dumped off Los Angeles coast

In its September lawsuit, DTSC alleged the company had broken the law by keeping hazardous waste in leaking containers, one of several violations found by inspectors visiting the facility in 2019.

It also faulted Phibro-Tech for failing to promptly dismantle a basin where hazardous waste had been processed in decades past. (The Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment, another group opposing a new permit for the facility, argued that failing to do that increases the risk of contaminants spreading.)

Phibro-Tech said many of the alleged violations had resulted from the agency shifting positions. The company said the decades-old permit no longer reflects how DTSC interprets when equipment is handling waste rather than "product," and that the ambiguity had led to citations for "operating longstanding equipment."

It also disputed state claims about leaking containers and the required timeline for closing the basin, which it said was now completed.

All in all, it said, the allegations "are not relevant to today." DTSC, in turn, said that Phibro-Tech had "returned to compliance" for the violations alleged in the suit.

Chan said the state department appeared to be relying on "a false standard ... that if it was not complying with the law yesterday, but it's in compliance today, then that's OK."

It's "ignoring everything that's happened in the past," he said.

In a letter opposing a renewed permit, Earthjustice said the state agency had failed to do the proper level of environmental review for the decision. It also complained that the agency had not collected any information about pollution levels beyond the borders of the Phibro-Tech facility.

Neighbors have raised concerns about industrial contamination at the site, including with hexavalent chromium, the carcinogen perhaps best known as the target of famous activist Erin Brockovich.

"We want to live in a safe environment. ... We don't want to be concerned about our health, safety and welfare [coming] at the expense of some company making profit," resident Sanchez said.

Phibro-Tech said it had taken on responsibility for the contamination caused by a prior operator. DTSC officials said cleanup efforts by the company had brought hexavalent chromium in the soil at the site down to safe levels.

DTSC has not identified "significant health hazards from the operation of the facility," Blum said last year.

Read more: She died after liposuction by a pediatrician. Doctors warn of cosmetic surgery's 'Wild West'

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
On the day of the eclipse, one place to witness the alignment of the sun, the moon and the Earth was at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science. Both indoors and out, the institution was set up to excite, enlighten and educate guests about nature, the environment and the celestial event.

Attendees had the opportunity to explore regular museum exhibits and participate in eclipse-inspired hands-on activities. Those included NASA's live stream, a demonstration highlighting the differences between solar and lunar eclipses, and a hands-on activity illustrating star formation.

As time for the eclipse drew near, the outdoor patio and grassy meadow became the focal point. Visitors exchanged spare eclipse glasses, laid out blankets and eagerly awaited Delaware's view of the cosmic spectacle.

Alternative viewers if you don't have glasses

Outside, telescopes and a projection screen had been set up to offer an exceptional eclipse viewing experience. For safety reasons, visitors were unable to observe the eclipse directly through the telescope. Instead, the telescope's view was projected onto a screen, sparking excitement as visitors gathered around to catch a glimpse of the image.

A telescope set up at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science eclipse viewing party on April 8, 2024, shows the sun beginning to get clipped by the moon.

Through the powerful lens of the telescope, two sunspots were visible. One of the museum guides explained that although the sunspots appeared tiny on the projection, they were actually as large as the Earth.

The nature and science center also had a station for attendees to make their own pinhole viewers. Made of paper, the craft allows people to safely observe an eclipse by directing sunlight through tiny holes and projecting the image onto a surface like a wall or the ground. Recalling her childhood experiments with a camera obscura, Newark resident Mari Weiss, a self-proclaimed science nerd, fashioned her version from the pinhole viewer. Weiss said her camera obscura projects the image inside the box rather than onto the ground.

Mari Weiss of Newark shows off the camera obscura she made to look at the eclipse while attending the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science eclipse viewing party on April 8, 2024.

Happy to describe how it worked was Sunjay Kulkacek, a science teacher at Shue-Medill Middle School. Like Weiss, Sunjay Kulkacek also constructed a viewer, but his was made from a tissue box.

Kulkacek explained that since light travels in a straight line, any light coming from the sun goes directly in. Light slightly higher will go down, while light slightly lower will go up, resulting in an image of the sun being projected through the pinhole onto the screen. This method allows you to safely observe and even photograph the eclipse without worrying about damaging your camera.

"It is not as fantastic as looking at it with the eclipse glasses, but it's a fun thing to play around with," Kulkacek said. The teacher said his love of science led him to attend the event with his family but he looked forward to discussing this experience with his students and learning about theirs.

Sunjay Kulkacek a middle school science teacher at Shue-Medill Middle School uses a homemade viewer to look at the eclipse during the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science eclipse viewing party on April 8, 2024.

The place to be for nature and science

Don Dinsmore, a resident of Garnet Valley, eagerly planned to watch the solar eclipse with his grandchildren  3-year-old Elin and 7-year-old Otis  along with their 14-year-old family friend Quinn Olinger. Having missed the 2017 eclipse, Dinsmore said he was determined not to miss this one. He purchased eclipse glasses well in advance and intended to view the full eclipse. However, because of to the long drive to a location in the path of totality, Dinsmore opted to stay closer to home.

He brought the kids along for the experience and looked forward to witnessing the peak coverage of the eclipse together. Glad to be out of school for the moment, Quinn shared that he almost didn't make it to see the eclipse because his school initially prohibited students from leaving to watch the event. They reversed their decision at the last minute. Elin and Otis enthusiastically peered through their glasses before running off to play.

The event's excitement might have been overlooked by some attendees. Amid the crowd, four baby rabbits were found hiding, their den located next to the telescope station. A visitor managed to catch one tiny bunny and attempted to return it to the den, but it quickly scampered away. An employee from the museum reassured everyone that the baby rabbits were old enough to fend for themselves and would return to the den once things quieted down. The unexpected encounter with the baby rabbits brought an additional touch of wonder and joy to the memorable eclipse viewing experience.

You can contact reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Museum of Nature and Science eclipse 2024 viewing party
SYDNEY, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Though some deeper parts of the Great Barrier Reef may be shielded from harmful heatwaves for now, the protection will be lost if global warming deepens, a new study has warned.

Researchers from Australia's University of Queensland and Britain's University of Exeter examined how changing temperatures would influence the vast areas of deeper and mesophotic reefs at 30 to 50 meters, rather than focusing on the impacts of sea surface temperatures on the shallowest corals.

According to their findings published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, some deep-water refugia were identified in the Great Barrier Reef where thermal stratification helps protect those mesophotic species from dangerous heat.

"We found separation between warm buoyant surface water and cooler deeper water can insulate reefs from surface heatwaves, but this protection will be lost if global warming exceeds three degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels," Peter Mumby, co-author of the study and professor at the University of Queensland, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The latest weekly report from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority showed that of over 1,000 surveyed reefs, half recorded high or very high levels of coral bleaching, and less than 10 percent experienced extreme levels.

Mumby flagged coral bleaching as "a dramatic sign of the impact humans are having on the planet," which is increasingly observed at greater depths.

"Our study offers both hope and a warning -- hope that some reefs are resilient to current levels of climate change, and a warning that this resilience has its limits," he said.

The study revealed that a global warming of three degrees Celsius would push mesophotic temperatures in the Great Barrier Reef past 30 degrees Celsius -- a recognized threshold for coral mortality.

"There is so much to learn about deeper, tropical coral reefs, especially as we cannot assume that their depth provides a refuge from the consequences of rising global carbon emissions," said Paul Halloran, another co-author and associate professor from the University of Exeter.

"By targeting management of these threats, hopefully, some healthy reefs can be maintained," he added. 
Is this a better view of the eclipse than you got? - Image: The Weather Channel

Did you get out and see the eclipse yesterday? It was quite the site to behold, or so Im told as Im nowhere near the path of totality. It looked mighty spectacular on the hundred of photos Ive seen on Instagram in the last few hours, but those cell phone snaps have nothing on the view astronomers got from space yesterday.



The eclipse was caused when the moon passed in front of the sun, resulting in a massive shadow falling over the U.S. in states from Texas to Maine. That enormous shadow, which is officially known as the umbra, was visible from space. The impressive sight was captured by NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station as well as weather-monitoring satellites orbiting above the U.S. at just the right time.

Over on The Weather Channel, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shared a very satisfying video of the moons shadow passing over the United States. In the clip, you can see the massive shadow engulfing states like Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois.

The shadow traversed the U.S at speeds of around 1,500 mph, taking just 40 minutes to travel from Texas to Maine. That journey is, dramatically, sped up in The Weather Channels clip, but it highlights the path of totality and shows how the eclipse dissipates around its fringes.

An astronauts view of the eclipse. - Photo: NASA

Another great view of the astronomical phenomenon came from the ISS, where NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps snapped photos of the Moons shadow on Earth. As NASA explained in a blog post:

The windows on the cupola, the orbital outposts window to the world, were open and NASA Flight Engineers Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps were inside photographing and videotaping the Moons shadow on Earth, or umbra, beneath them. They were orbiting 260 miles above southeastern Canada as the Moons umbra was moving from New York state into Newfoundland. The space station experienced a totality of about 90% during its flyover period. Views of the solar eclipse itself, the Moon orbiting directly between the sun and the Earth, were only accessible through a pair of windows in the space stations Roscosmos segment which may not have been accessible due to cargo constraints.

Aboard the ISS must be one of the most impressive places to view an eclipse, right? However, if you cant make it into orbit in time for the next total solar eclipse, you might want to start planning your next trip north, as the 2026 solar ec;lipse will be visible from places like Greenland and Iceland.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  The Western Slope experienced a 60% solar eclipse on the afternoon of Monday, April 8.

Students on the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) campus gathered in the plaza where CMUs Astronomy Club set up telescopes to view the unique and rare event.

Its a good opportunity to just engage with the public to learn more about science, said Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at CMU Catherine Whiting.

Environmental Insititute director for EUREKA! Science Museum Kelsey Wells explains what a solar eclipse is.

There are different kinds of eclipses, theres a lunar eclipse and theres a solar eclipse. Solar eclipse is what were seeing, which is where the sun is covered by the moon.

Doug Corson, a resident of Grand Junction, describes what he experienced during this years eclipse.

All of the sudden like the whole area just got calmer and calmer and less sunlight. And I was like wait a second, this is nice!

Grand Junctions next eclipse happens in 2029, but you wont see another total eclipse until 2045.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
Read the full story on The Auto Wire

Someone Stole A Veterans 1957 Chevy In Gilbert, Arizona

Some people just really suck. Not only can they not stop taking what isnt theirs, they dont care who they hurt when they steal precious items. This case of a 1957 Chevy 150 stolen from a US veterans yard in Gilbert, Arizona is a prime example.

Street takeover losers injure cop.

Back in March at 10:30 on a weekday morning it was stolen by two guys who backed into his driveway with a rollback tow truck. The classic Chevy was parked in the backyard of the veterans home, so these guys somehow knew beforehand it was there.

In other words, we think this was a planned heist, not a spur of the moment crime of opportunity.

The owner says the car means more to him than just its value, stating it has a lot of sentimental value. Hes owned it for about 20 years and we know once you have a car for that long, you become attached.

For the thieves, no doubt, it was just a quick score so they could get high or hit up the strip club. Thats the sad reality of these situations and why we dont have sympathy for car thieves. We dont think many car enthusiasts have warm feelings towards the people who would take their beloved rides without a second thought.

Our hope is that someone recognizes this 1957 Chevy 150 and does the right thing. It could still be in Arizona, although at this point the thieves or someone else might have transported it anywhere in the US or possibly to Canada or Mexico.

We just hate to see someones beloved vehicle stolen, especially someone who put it all on the line to serve this country.

Image via AZFamily/YouTube

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What is Songkran? Everything you need to know about Thailands wet and wild New Year celebrations

What is Songkran? Everything you need to know about Thailands wet and wild New Year celebrations

Songkran will kick off in Thailand on 13 April, bringing raucous water fights to the streets of Bangkok and beyond.

The three-day festival marks the start of the traditional Thai New Year and is a major draw for tourists.

Heres everything you need to know about Songkran, including its origins and where to celebrate.

Why is Thai New Year celebrated in April?

Songkran, or Thai New Year, is Thailands biggest and most important annual festival.

It is traditionally celebrated for three days starting from the first full moon in April. This is because the country runs on the lunisolar Theravada Buddhist calendar.

The name Songkran comes from an ancient Sanskrit word meaning to enter or pass into and refers to the movement of the zodiac.

These days, the festival has a set start date of 13 April.

Songkran water fights are rooted in tradition. - AP Photo/Wichai Taprieu

Why are there water fights during Songkran?

The water fights that have become synonymous with Songkran are an escalation of tradition.

The first day of the festival is traditionally marked with spring cleaning and a water pouring ceremony. During this, scented water is poured onto sacred Buddha images in temples. This symbolically represents purification - or the washing away of the previous year to welcome the New Year.

On the second day, young people pay respect to their elders by pouring scented water over their hands and feet in return for blessings and floral garlands, and offerings are made to monks and temples.

The festival also marks the start of the rainy season - and one of the hottest times of the year.

Outside of the temples, these elements have metamorphosed into giant water fights involving super soakers, buckets of ice water, loud music and street parties.

Revellers also bless one another by putting din sor pong, a limestone-derived cooling talcum powder paste, on each others faces. This has been banned in recent years as some people smear it in others eyes and mouths, or occasionally even use it as an excuse for inappropriate touching, but its still a regular feature of the festival and is generally used respectfully.

Songkran celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, April 2015. - AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

Wheres the best place to celebrate Songkran?

If youre ready and willing to get soaked for three days straight, Bangkok is the place to be for Songkran.

Khaosan Road, the epicentre of the backpacker universe, is guaranteed to have thumping parties and crowded water fights. Siam, in central Bangkok, is also primed for Songkran, with various pop-up stages showcasing traditional dancing and live music.

Silom Road is another hub, with LGBTQ-friendly parties along Soi 4 and a major annual pool party at W Bangkok hotel. Fresh-faced revellers head to RCA, the heart of the citys clubbing scene, which will also host Siam Songkran Music Festival this year.

If you want to level up with water cannons, laser beams and world-class DJs, book a ticker for S2O music festival.

To see the more traditional side of the festival, head to riverside temples such as Wat Pho and Wat Arun, catch cultural performances in Lumphini Park, or head north to the city of Chiang Mai.

Thai dancers perform a group classical dance during Songkran festival at Phra Singha temple in Chiang Mai province, 2014. - AP Photo/Wichai Taprieu

Want sun, sea and sand while getting soaked? The notorious beachside town of Pattaya extends its Songkran celebrations for a full week. Other popular beach destinations like Phuket, Krabi and Koh Phangan also join in the celebrations.

Top tips for celebrating Songkran

If youre in Thailand during Songkran, be prepared to get wet.

Street vendors sell waterproof pouches in the lead up to the event, which are ideal for keeping your phone safe and dry. Youll also see goggles for sale - and youll understand why when you get squirted in the eyes.

Avoid getting the water in your mouth as its likely to make you ill - but dont forget to stay hydrated with bottles of filtered water.

Road accidents are common during Songkran. - AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

Join in the celebrations but be respectful: dont splash monks, elderly people or babies. And keep your water fights to designated areas.

Songkran is a notoriously dangerous time on Thailands roads due to drunk driving and water splashing. Its best to avoid travelling during the festival. Use public transport while in the city.
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

If we cant have principled federalists leading the Republican Party, I suppose unprincipled ones will have to do.

On Monday morning, Donald Trump declared his belief that abortion policy should be set by the states, disappointing pro-lifers whod hoped for new federal restrictions upon his return to office. The states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land, he said. Many states will be different. Many will have a different number of weeks, or some will [be] more conservative than others, and thats what they will be. At the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people.

Thats no different from the position he took a year ago, so todays news shouldnt feel shocking. But it does.

Its shocking because a strongmans instinct is to consolidate power, not disperse it. National savior messianism doesnt typically produce endorsements of decentralized authority.

Its shocking because, insofar as right-wing demagogues holler about states rights, theyve historically done so to protect an illiberal local status quo from federal intervention. Segregationists growling about their inviolable right to impose separate but equal policies is a textbook case. Donald Trump insisting that blue states should be free to turn themselves into abortion mills is  not.

And its shocking because, well, Trump is right. How often do you see those words in this newsletter?

The states are the proper venue for abortion policy. That was the constitutional backdrop for 50 years of conservative arguments against Roe v. Wade; now that Roe is gone, many pro-lifers have decided belatedly that federalism is overrated. But Congress is no more valid a policymaker on abortion than the Supreme Court was, as a cursory reading of Article I will reveal. Barring a tortured reading of abortion as commerce or a very expansive reading of the word life in the 14th Amendment, nothing in the Constitution grants the legislative branch power over this subject.

Donald Trump, situational federalist, has arrived at the right outcome for the wrong reason. He plainly doesnt give a fig about constitutional niceties; his allergy to setting abortion policy at the federal level derives entirely from the electoral headache this issue has created for him. In a country where pro-choicers continue to flex their muscles impressively at the polls, Trump needed a way to reassure swing voters that he wont impose new federal limits in a second term as president without declaring that hes pro-choice himself. Voila: federalism.

Pro-lifers are unhappy with him today, as Trump knewand possibly hopedthey would be, the better to show the pro-choice majority that hes not one of those people. In fact, one of my editors mischievously suggested this episode is nothing less than his version of a Sister Souljah moment. Which would be ironic, as its Joe Biden whos been urged for months by commentators to have one of those at the expense of the anti-anti-Hamas left.

Is that what this is? If so, why has Trump managed it when Biden couldnt?

The original Sister Souljah moment came in 1992 after Bill Clinton had clinched his partys nomination for president. He was invited to address Jesse Jacksons Rainbow Coalition, where, the day before, rapper Sister Souljah had spoken. At the end of his speech, Clinton made a point of scolding Jackson for that choice, reminding him that only a month earlier his honored guest had said, If black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?

If the races in that formulation were reversed, the future president observed, it would sound like something David Duke might say.

The incident instantly became a byword for whenever a politician publicly repudiates some ideological fringe within his or her coalition in order to impress centrist voters outside of it. The fringe in question is usually radical in outlook but it neednt be: As my editor put it, any important but electorally damaging faction from whom the candidate might benefit by distancing himself would qualify.

Pro-lifers who support national abortion restrictions fit that bill.

Polling post-Roe has suggested that Americans might tolerate a 15-week federal ban as an acceptable middle-ground, keeping the practice legal for most abortions while preventing the sort of late-term terminations that most find barbaric. But after red states greeted the end of Roe with strict bansprohibiting the practice after six weeks gestation or even earliernational opinion may have begun to move thermostatically in the opposite direction. A Fox News poll published two weeks ago spotted an arresting trend: Voters oppose a 15-week ban by 11 points (54% oppose vs. 43% favor), which is in direct contrast with results in 2023 when it was favored by 12 points (42% oppose vs. 54% favor) and in 2022 when it was favored by 13 points (41% vs. 54%).

Democrats have spent nearly two years warning voters of a parade of incrementalist horribles to come after Roe was overturned. Women with troubled pregnancies forced to seek out-of-state abortions, the IVF fiasco in Alabama, and lately a challenge to abortifacients before the Supreme Court: If youre a swing voter who was formerly open to a 15-week compromise, your priorities might now have shifted toward stopping Republicans from gaining another inch lest they take a mile. That would explain the shift in the Fox News pollingand, of course, Trumps own shift away from the sort of middle-ground federal ban he had been considering until recently.

In that sense, this really is a Sister Souljah moment for Trump. Hes making a play for the center by breaking sharply and ostentatiously with some core constituency in his base. Its classic.

And its similar to Bill Clintons Sister Souljah moment in another way. Trump has every reason to believe that no matter how disappointed pro-lifers are in him, hardly any of them will hold it against him at the polls.

Clinton knew he was at no risk of losing black voters to the patrician, country-club Republican George H.W. Bush, no matter how offended Jesse Jackson might be. (A few years later, no less a figure than Toni Morrison would dub him the first black president.) Trump is on even firmer ground politically within his own party than Clinton was. With Biden and his party vowing to reinstate the Roe framework nationally as a federal statute, pro-lifers can console themselves with the fact that a second Trump presidency will at least leave strict bans in red states intact, even if no new federal restrictions follow.

Trump also understands, Im sure, that the pro-life movement as weve known it no longer exists as a meaningful political force. Theres a lot of hot rhetoric on social media today about his states rights abortion positionincluding from certain people whove appeared on a ballot with himbut the fact that Trump paid no penalty in the Republican primaries this year despite having declared abortion a state issue a year ago means pro-lifers have effectively forfeited their leverage over the direction of the GOP. And on some level, they know it.

Consider that Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a leading anti-abortion lobby, put out a statement last April warning Trump that his federalist approach to the issue was unacceptable. We will oppose any presidential candidate who refuses to embrace at a minimum a 15-week national standard to stop painful late-term abortions, they vowed. A few weeks later, the groups leader was holding backslapping meetings with Trump again. This morning, after he all but extinguished abortion as a core issue for the Republican Party, SBAPLA issued a new statement pronouncing itself deeply disappointed but vowing to work tirelessly to defeat President Biden and extreme Congressional Democrats.

These pro-life groups are a paper tiger. Everyone realizes it now, including them. Sister Souljah moments are typically thought of as a candidate risking votes among his or her base in hopes of earning a windfall of support in the middle, but because so many pro-lifers are partisans, MAGA diehards, or simply appalled by Democratic abortion policies, Trump isnt risking much of anything. Hes going to hold onto most of the people who disagree with his states rights policy and pick up votes in the middle.

That also explains why Biden cant pull off a Sister Souljah moment of his own. Progressives had no affection for the president even before he backed Israels counteroffensive in Gaza; accordingly, theres no reservoir of goodwill for him to draw off of, as there is for Trump or was for Bill Clinton, if he had attacked them for being Hamas apologists. They really might abandon Biden if he offends them, which is why hes begun tacking to the left on Israel lately. Pro-life conservatives are cheap dates by comparison, and cheap dates tend to be taken advantage of.

All of this makes Trumps federalist approach to abortion relatively good politics, the least bad option available to him. Biden and the Democrats will continue to remind voters that Trump is responsible for the Supreme Court majority that made strict bans in red states possible, no matter how moderate he may sound now. But punting the issue on federalist grounds was the most elegant way, short of declaring his own pro-choice sympathies, that Trump could reassure undecided voters that he wont tinker with abortion laws as president.

And hey, it might pay off for pro-lifers in the long run. If Trumps states rights approach to abortion becomes American political orthodoxyand perhaps it already isDemocrats might think twice about trying to enact the Roe framework as federal policy once they have the chance. Given how strong national support is for abortion rights in the first trimester, conservatives should worry more about preserving restrictions that have passed in red states than imposing federal restrictions on blue ones. A federalist detente led by Trump might ensure that there are more limits on abortion in 10 years, albeit at the local level, than a push to nationalize those limits would.

Bill Clintons Sister Souljah moment was good politics too, of course. But theres a way in which Trumps version is so different from Clintons as to be almost the polar opposite.

Clinton took a moral stand against radicalism for the sake of advancing a centrist policy agenda. Trump is taking a centrist policy stand for the sake of advancing a radical moral agendaor what passes for moral to a character like him.

The point of the original Sister Souljah moment was to show moderates that the Democratic nominee for president shared their sensibility about right and wrong. Clinton ultimately didnt care about Sister Souljah or her dopey comments about killing whites, Im sure; what he cared about was enacting Democratic policies and the first step to doing that was maximizing his chances of getting elected.

He marginalized a kook in the name of aligning himself with normies.

With Trump, the thing he doesnt care about is abortion policy and how individual people feel about it. (Do whats right for your family and do whats right for yourself, he told his audience in his video statement, all but washing his hands of the subject.) His reasons for wanting to be elected are personal: Hes keen to stop the prosecutions against him, exact retribution against his political enemies, and staff the executive branch with loyalists wholl do what he tells them without resistance.

He aligns himself with kooks and marginalizes normies by asking them to sacrifice mainstream policy beliefs about which they care deeply.

In a normal political party, the candidate serves the agenda. In a cult of personality, the agenda serves the candidate. Thats the Trump effect, about which Ive written before.

Apart from stronger immigration enforcement, there may not be a single Republican policy Trump is unwilling to sell out in exchange for a few extra votes in the center. On Sunday, he framed his forthcoming abortion announcement this way: Great love and compassion must be shown when even thinking about the subject of LIFE, but at the same time we must use common sense in realizing that we have an obligation to the salvation of our Nation, which is currently in serious DECLINE, TO WIN ELECTIONS, without which we will have nothing other than failure, death, and destruction. If nothing short of national survival depends on his reelection, surely all traditional party priorities must be negotiable in the name of victory!

His position on that has been clear for years, of course, but rarely has it been so explicit. The Tea Party commitment to fiscal responsibility went down the toilet during his first term; the pro-life commitment to restricting abortion is now circling the drain; the Reaganite commitment to international alliances and restraining illiberal power will follow the others down in a second term. Eventually, Trump will ask the right to ditch its commitment to the constitutional orderinsofar as he hasnt alreadyentirely in the name of preventing failure, death, and destruction. The post-liberal toadies cheering on his abortion announcement will oblige:

Its an inversion of the Flight 93 logic that got Trump elected in 2016. At the time, conservatives were told that Hillary Clintons policies would destroy America; now conservatives are told that failing to move toward some of Hillary Clintons policies will destroy America. As one clever observer noted, its strange to hear MAGA suddenly care so deeply about winning elections when they could have assured Republican victory in November simply by nominating someone other than Donald Trump.

And the call for sacrifice and moderation on policy goes only one way, needless to say. Pro-lifers are asked to compromise on federal abortion restrictions in the name of national victory but nationalist border hawks will not be asked to compromise on a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who have been here for many years, never mind that 74 percent of Americans support such a policy.

Ultimately, and very ironically, Trump is making an argument that Never Trumpers are uniquely well-suited to appreciate. He and I both agree that policy differences should be set aside in this election in favor of more urgent civic priorities. Its just that my civic priority is preserving the rule of law and Trumps priority is whatever this is:

This fascist propaganda video Trump just posted on his failing Truth Social sounds better in the original German.



Never Trump pic.twitter.com/RYfDJNxjAL  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) April 6, 2024

At base, this abortion episode is just an iteration of the Republican hostage crisis, I think.

Trump is saying as clearly as he can that hes OK with legalized abortion in many states and that limiting the practice will no longer be a national priority for the Republican Party. Going forward, the GOP will concern itself exclusively with his personal vendettas and ethnonationalist hobby horses like making sure that the only immigrants who enter America are from, ahem, nice countries. Hes taken the party hostage and he expects pro-lifers not to make any false moves by, say, boycotting the election in protest of his new agenda. The hostage will get plugged if they do.

But an electoral boycott is the only way a constituency can force a party to take its agenda seriously. If pro-lifers show up for Trump after hes embraced the transformation of blue states into abortion factories, their votes will be taken for granted by Republicans for eternity. It makes sense for a cult of personality not to risk its own electoral viability by taking a hard line on an issue its not passionate about, but why on earth would principled pro-lifers want to partner in that agenda?

Thats another thing that makes Trumps Sister Souljah moment unique. Unlike Bill Clintons, this one has long-term implications for the future of his party.

To the extent he possesses political genius, its a genius for recognizing how weak and tribal the right-wing character is. Most pro-lifers will conclude that theyre better off with Trump as president than with pro-choice Joe Biden even though ratifying Trumps decision to sell them out means neither major party will ever take them seriously again. As time passes and the anti-anti-choice position cements into Republican orthodoxy (a process that may have already begun), their position will change to accommodate it.

Who needs an agenda, after all, when you can have cheap tribalist lip service paid to your beliefs instead?

Trump: November 5th will be Christian visibility day. pic.twitter.com/ChselkEn0H  Acyn (@Acyn) April 2, 2024

I look forward to the exciting sequel to this episode, when Trump is cornered by some reporter about the upcoming referendum in Florida to overturn that states new six-week abortion ban. Hell have an opportunity to cast a ballot on that question; hes on record as saying he thinks the six-week law was a terrible thing and a terrible mistake. And because it was a state initiative, he should have no objection in principle to attempting to restrict the practice. If he declares that hes voting to overturn it, whats left of the pro-life movement as a national concern?

Read more at The Dispatch

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South Carolina is more than 1,000 miles from the border. Why is immigration a top issue?

In a state more than 1,000 miles from the southern border and with a predominantly white population dominated by Republican voters, immigration was what drew voters to the polls in the First in the South GOP presidential primary.

South Carolina is a state where only 5.3% of the population is foreign born, and 68.9% of the population is white. But when Republican voters went to the polls for the Feb. 24 S.C. GOP presidential primary, the most important issue was immigration, a response which garnered a plurality of respondents in a Reuters exit poll.

This issue was pushed heavily in the run up to the primary by both former Gov. Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump, who went on to win the First in the South contest with nearly 60% of the vote.

The former president carried the state in the 2016 and 2020 general elections and also won the 2016 GOP primary as South Carolina has become Trump country. Fighting illegal immigration is a Trump signature issue.

The fervor over fighting illegal immigration and being tougher on migrants coming through the southern border showed up at Trumps rallies as his supporters often said the border was their most important issue in the election.

Immigration became top campaign issue ahead of primary

Leading up to the primary, both Trump and Haley made immigration a tenet of their campaigns in South Carolina.

The messaging was correct as a Reuters exit poll found 37% of voters thought immigration was the top issue, as images of migrants coming to the southern border dominate national news coverage. This was the top issue despite the border being more than 1,000 miles from South Carolina.

Haleys campaign wasnt shy about her efforts to curb illegal immigration when she was the states top executive. She signed a tough illegal immigration bill that allowed police officers to inquire about a persons immigration status and required businesses in the state to make sure a person could legally work in the country using a system called E-Verify. A court struck down most of the law, but kept the E-Verify system in place. Haley often touted that system on the campaign trail in South Carolina as she argued she would be stronger on border issues than Trump. During her campaign, Haley called for 25,000 border patrol and ICE agents.

Lets go back to the remain in Mexico policy so that nobody steps foot on U.S. soil, Haley would say on the stump. And instead of catch and release, we need to go to catch and deport.

When former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley ran for president, part of her stump speech called for expanding E-Verify across the country and going to catch and deport.

Trumps campaign had a coordinated effort to push the former presidents anti-illegal immigration message.

State Rep. Stewart Jones, R-Laurens, who is running for the U.S. House in the conservative Upstate 3rd Congressional District, even campaigned for Trump sharing a story about his three-year-old goddaughter, Maddie Hines, who was killed by a reckless driver who had been in the country illegally.

She was a beautiful child. She loved God. She loved music and she loved her family, Jones said during a Feb. 1 Trump campaign news conference holding back tears.

The driver previously was deported during the Trump administration, but was allowed to stay during the Biden administration.

I cannot and I will not stand idly by in these dark days while the Biden administration and the Democrats refused to close our southern border and are destroying our country, Jones said outside of the South Carolina State House.

The crush at the southern border has been portrayed as an invasion by Republican politicians.

How many more innocent Americans are going to be destroyed and cut short because of the actions of the Biden administration, Jones said. Hes destroyed our border. Biden is incompetent and incapable. We must impeach him at the ballot box.

Gov. Henry McMaster, a longtime Trump supporter, issued an executive order in 2021 to prevent unaccompanied migrant children from being placed in South Carolina. He also signed onto a letter supporting Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts right to use razor-wire fencing along the southern border, among other measures.

South Carolina itself nor any of its cities consider themselves sanctuaries like Chicago and New York.

U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, R-Surfside Beach, even called for answers when a social media post alleged migrants were being brought to the Myrtle Beach area.

State Attorney General Alan Wilson in January joined a 27-state coalition supporting Texas use of barriers on its southern border. Wilson, who is considered a potential 2026 candidate for governor, recently led a 22-state amicus brief in support of Texas SB4 immigration law that allows state and local law enforcement to detain people they believe crossed the border illegally and allow judges to deport people.

Every state is a border state, and weve seen that with drug gangs that are tied to Mexican cartels operating here in South Carolina, Wilson said. Texas is just trying to protect its citizens and those in our state, too.

The use of the issue by Republicans leans on an us versus them strategy to rally supporters, said Kirk Randazzo, the chairman of the Department of Political Science at the University of South Carolina.

The fundamental issue is whenever politicians can come up with a topic that creates an us vs. them mentality, that really sticks with people, Randazzo said. They want to be part of the in group. They want to be part of us. And they want to be protected from that out group, from the them.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, a potential 2026 Republican candidate for governor, has been vocally supportive of efforts in Texas to curb illegal crossings on the southern border.

GOP voters in red state afraid of illegal immigrants

Even though the issue is physically far away from South Carolina, psychologically the issue is one that is on the doorsteps for the states GOP voters.

In recent years with fentanyl becoming more and more of an issue, politicians in South Carolina have often said every state in the country is a border state.

I am very afraid for this country with all the illegals that have come in and who they are having come in, Cindy Simmons, a 67-year-old retired teacher who lives in Myrtle Beach said outside of a Trump rally.

She doesnt believe the border deal pushed by Biden that was killed because of Trumps influence would have secured the border.

I dont think the bill would have actually helped the border, Simmons said. I think all of the things that Trump had in place when he left office needs to get back into place in order to secure that border.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said federal lawmakers need pass legislation to help the countrys immigration issues.

Immigration, however, is being used as a political issue to rile up a voting base.

Immigration has been a place of political resort to really engender anger and emotions, Mayorkas said in an interview with McClatchy. But if people look at it fairly and squarely, this nation has prospered because of legal immigration. When we encounter illegal migration, such as to our southern border, it has been a problem that has been in existence for decades. Everyone agrees the system is broken, and we need a solution, and Congress can deliver that solution.

Much of the fear comes from the repetition of the issue not just from politicians but conservative media outlets, Randazzo said.

Those talking points have been amplified by right-wing media outlets, in particular Fox News that runs stories about immigration almost whenever possible, Randazzo said.

The same tactic was used during the 2016 campaign with Hillary Clintons private email server she used while secretary of state.

That was the top story that was run over and over and over and exit polling had people indicate that was front and center for them when they voted as well, Randazzo said. Its a similar kind of approach, just a different issue thats being used now as sort of the key point to resonate with the public.

But the term illegal is worrisome to Randazzo, as those seeking asylum in the U.S. are allowed to be in the country while their case is reviewed.

Because of the political rhetoric were getting mostly from the Republican party, this word illegal is conjuring up images of violence and drugs and other aspects of criminal activity that really are not attributed to migrants generally speaking, Randazzo said.

GOP voters who said immigration was their number one issue in the campaign, including some parroting cable news talking points about the border being out of control, and arguing Biden could do more at the border with an executive order.

Some even feared noncitizens would vote in the election.

Bill McRobbie, 62, of Conway, was more blunt about the situation.

They got to shut the border down, McRobbie said. Were in danger. A lot of people dont realize how much danger were in by letting these people in without a background check.

McClatchy DC Reporter Michael Wilner contributed to this article.

Former President Donald Trump has made being strong on illegal immigration one of his signature issues. During the South Carolina GOP presidential primary, 37% of primary voters said immigration was the top issue, despite the Palmetto State being more than 1,000 miles away from the southern border.
DARTMOUTH - South Coast Rail's start will have to wait until safety testing has been fully completed.

Jean Fox, project manager for South Coast Rail-MassDOT, said a start date for "revenue service," meaning the advent of paying customers taking advantage of rail service to Boston, can't be pinpointed yet.

"I don't have it at this time because the testing and commissioning is so robust. We're going to keep targeting and pushing and pushing. It's going to take awhile. That's what it's all about, safety."

Fox provided a South Coast rail update to the Rail to Boston Coalition at the UMass Dartmouth Law School Friday.

Mass Coastal Railroad workers thermite weld two pieces of track together for the extension they are installing adjacent to Route 18 in downtown New Bedford. As a result of continuously welded rail, the South Coast Rail trains will not only be faster than freight trains but quieter as well, making safety an even greater concern.

Fox, state Rep. Straus honored

Fox and state Rep. William Straus, D-Mattapoisett, were also honored by the group for their longstanding efforts in bringing South Coast Rail to fruition.

The group was formed in 2014 to advocate for South Coast Rail, said Coalition Chairman and Realtor Association of Southeastern Massachusetts CEO Paul Chasse.

Fox said most of the construction has been completed for the six new stations - Middleborough, East Taunton, Freetown, Fall River, Church Street in New Bedford and New Bedford - and two layover facilities.

The East Taunton station's construction was delayed by some supply-chain issues but is "moving along with alacrity now," she said.

But important system features must be fully tested and OK'd before paying customers climb aboard, she said.

Train control systems require numerous tests

That includes 2,000 required tests of the Automatic Train Control system, which alerts the engineer to potentially unsafe conditions.

The Positive Train Control system also has to be fully tested. PTC alerts the engineer when it detects the possibility of either a train-to-train collision or a train that's moving too fast along the line through a work zone.

It can monitor a train's location, direction and speed in real time. If the crew does not respond to an alert, PTC will take over and automatically stop the train.

Safety efforts will also include certification of over 200 critical elements - bridges, culverts, grade crossings, walls, tracks, stations, layovers, and the ATC/PTC systems.

Fox said test trains will begin running this spring, building up to service speed of up to 79 mph.

That's much faster than the current 25 mph reached by sporadic freight trains - which was only 10 mph not too long ago, she added.

Fox, center, was honored by the group for her efforts to bring South Coast Rail to fruition. Left, Ian Trombly, vice president of public policy for One SouthCoast Chamber; right, Coalition Chairman and Realtor Association of Southeastern Massachusetts CEO Paul Chasse.

The only safe place to cross the train tracks will be at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings.

Trains not just faster, they're quieter

The trains are not only faster but quieter due to the new continuously welded rail. "No more clickety clack," she said.

Right-of-way trespassing will be extremely dangerous, Fox said.

"For years and years and years we had nothing but sporadic slow-moving freight trains. We're now going to have faster trains and ultimately we'll have a regular service," she said.

"People need to understand that it will be extremely dangerous to walk the dog, ride an ATV, go hunting or take a shortcut on the railroad tracks."

She said the message "needs to resonate."

State Rep. William Straus, D-Mattapoisett, right, was honored by the Coalition for his outstanding leadership in support of South Coast Rail.

Fox added, "People just aren't accustomed to it. When they see some test trains running they're going to understand that the safety really is critically important, and they're going to understand what it means when they trespass."

They've developed the Safety First Program to inform folks along the route of all ages of the potential hazards.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: South Coast Rail safety testing must come before service starts
MOSCOW, April 8 (Xinhua) -- One person was dead and six others were injured after an overpass in Russia's Smolensk region collapsed on Monday, local media reported.

The Paninsky Road overpass collapsed onto a section of railway tracks near the Vyazma station in the town of Vyazma. A truck and car were on the bridge at the time of the incident, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Five of the wounded people are in serious or moderate condition, suffering multiple injuries, according to the local health department.

No trains were present on the railway tracks when the collapse happened, but train traffic was suspended along this segment, Moscow Railway said on Telegram.

Russia's Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case into the incident. 
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has agreed to Senate conservatives request that he delay sending two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas until next week.

The House had been slated to send the articles to the Senate on Wednesday.

To ensure the Senate has adequate time to perform its constitutional duty, the House will transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate next week. There is no reason whatsoever for the Senate to abdicate its responsibility to hold an impeachment trial, Johnsons spokesperson Taylor Haulsee said.

Senate Steering Committee Chairman Mike Lee (R-Utah) told reporters Tuesday afternoon that he was very grateful to Speaker Johnson for his willingness to delay this.

We dont want this to come over on the eve of the moment when members might be operating under the influence of jet-fume intoxication, Lee said, referring to the expectation that the Senate was going to vote Thursday on whether to table the articles of impeachment right before senators were scheduled to fly back to their home states for the weekend.

Its much better for us to do this at the beginning of a legislative week rather than toward the end of one and I thank him for doing that, he added.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) told reporters earlier Tuesday that its entirely up to Johnson to decide when House impeachment managers will present the charges against Mayorkas to the Senate.

Once the impeachment managers make their presentation, the Senates impeachment procedures will be put into motion.

Senators would be sworn in as jurors the day after the House impeachment mangers present the articles in the Senate chamber.

The presentation was originally scheduled to happen at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

But postponing the process until next week means it will vie for floor time with legislation to extend the expiring FISA expanded surveillance authorities. That bill faces an April 19 deadline.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) responded to the revised timeline by announcing that Senate Democrats will move quickly to quash the impeachment charges whenever they arrive from the House.

Were ready to go whenever they are. We are sticking with our plan. Were going to move this as expeditiously as possible, he said.

Updated at 4:43 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  Special counsel Jack Smith urged the Supreme Court on Monday to reject former President Donald Trump's position that he should be granted absolute immunity in the federal election interference case, with prosecutors arguing that criminal law applies to a president.

The 66-page filing from Smith and his team laid out a series of arguments taking aim at Trumps claim that a president is immune from criminal prosecution. Prosecutors argued that there are no presidential powers that would entitle Trump to immunity in this case and that history likewise refutes Trumps arguments.

The Framers never endorsed criminal immunity for a former President, and all Presidents from the Founding to the modern era have known that after leaving office they faced potential criminal liability for official acts, Smith said in the brief, referring to President Richard Nixons Watergate scandal.

He also said Trump "suggests that unless a criminal statute expressly names the President, the statute does not apply."

"That radical suggestion, which would free the President from virtually all criminal law  even crimes such as bribery, murder, treason, and sedition  is unfounded," the filing said.

Later, the filing said that "the express text of nearly all federal criminal laws covers all persons, including the President."

Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith in 2022 to investigate Trump's alleged role in working to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, as well as allegations that he mishandled classified documents.

The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments about Trump's immunity argument on April 25.

Trump's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the filing, which was signed by Smith and three members of his special counsel team.

Trump's team had made the case for "absolute immunity," arguing that ruling that the president is subject to criminal prosecution would "incapacitate every future president." They wrote in a filing to the Supreme Court last month that the presidency cannot retain its vital independence if a president can face criminal prosecution after having left office.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the election interference case, rejected Trump's argument in December, saying a president does not "a lifelong get-out-of-jail-free pass." A federal appeals court also rejected Trump's argument in February, finding that "former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant," and that "any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as President no longer protects him against this prosecution."

In Monday's briefing, Smith said, "No presidential power at issue in this case entitles the President to claim immunity from the general federal criminal prohibitions supporting the charges: fraud against the United States, obstruction of official proceedings, and denial of the right to vote."

"The Presidents constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed does not entail a general right to violate them," Smith added.

Trump's lawyers argued last month that the "long history" of not prosecuting former presidents "demonstrates that the newly discovered alleged power to do so does not exist."

Smith took issue with that argument Monday, writing that the prosecution of Trump "is a historical first not because of any assumption about immunity but instead because of the singular gravity of the alleged conduct."

"The severity, range, and democracy-damaging nature of the alleged crimes are unique in American history," the filing said.

The Supreme Court's earlier decision to hear Trump's case was a win for Trump, given the further delays it created in his Washington, D.C., case.

Later in his filing, Smith accounted for the possibility that the Supreme Court may decide that presidents have a certain level of immunity.

"Even assuming that a former President is entitled to some immunity for official acts, that immunity should not be held to bar this prosecution," he wrote. "First, a Presidents alleged criminal scheme to overturn an election and thwart the peaceful transfer of power to his lawfully elected successor is the paradigmatic example of conduct that should not be immunized, even if other conduct should be."

Trump's team has tried to delay the trial as long as possible, and it has paid off. Trump was originally supposed to go to trial in the federal election interference case at the beginning of last month, a schedule that would have meant a jury could have been reaching a verdict in the coming weeks.

He is now scheduled to go on trial in a separate case, in New York, next week on allegations of falsified business statements related to hush money payments.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all criminal charges.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The St. Petersburg City Council has set tentative dates to discuss terms of the deal for the Tampa Bay Rays to build a new stadium and redevelop Tropicana Field into the Historic Gas Plant District at two workshops in May.

Spokesperson Erica Riggins confirmed Tuesday that May 9 and 23 are target dates for workshops for the council to discuss the details. One meeting will focus on the stadium and the other on the greater Gas Plant redevelopment, which would include the sale of about 65 acres of public land.

Council member Ed Montanari in February sought those meetings, which were unanimously supported by his colleagues. The request required the city to provide all documents for the two presentations at least two weeks in advance. Financing is a highlighted topic for both meetings.

A vote on those documents is expected to take place after those meetings. Five votes are needed to make the project a go on the citys side, which includes $287.5 million for the stadium, $150 million for things like surrounding roads and sewers and the sale of public land.

The Pinellas County Commission also needs to hold a vote on whether to contribute $312.5 million in tourist tax money toward construction of the stadium. Its not clear which vote will take place first.

The City Councils summer break runs from June 14 through July 7.

Times staff writer Jack Evans contributed to this report.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  The state is asking a judge to modify the conditions of release for a man accused of drunk driving leading to the death of three people in Wagon Mound two years ago. According to the criminal complaint, Jesse Blanco crashed into a car pulling out of a driveway killing Irene Romero, nine-year-old Daniela Lopez, and four-year-old Annalise Romero.

Albuquerque man accused of 3 murders and a kidnapping will stay behind bars

After his arrest, Blanco blew more than twice the legal limit. He was put on house arrest as part of his conditions of release but the state says he has been leaving his home to attend college classes violating his release orders. Theyre asking for a hearing to discuss whether or not he should be locked up through trial for the violation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
These are the state Supreme Court races to watch ahead of November

State Supreme Court races in places like Ohio, Michigan and North Carolina likely will see an influx of cash this year as voters head to the polls to determine the makeup of those courts.

Once sleepy affairs, state Supreme Court races are receiving growing attention as the states highest courts have played a deciding role on key issues like redistricting, election certification and reproductive rights. This year, majorities are on the line in several states.

Past races have amassed millions of dollars in spending. More than $40 million was spent in last years Wisconsin state Supreme Court race, while Pennsylvania set its spending record with more than $19 million being poured into its state Supreme Court race.

Heres a look at the state Supreme Court races to watch ahead of November:

Ohio

Voters will head to the polls in the Buckeye State to choose three justices as Republicans look to defend their 4-3 conservative majority on the state Supreme Court.

Incumbent Justices Melody Stewart and Michael Donnelly, both Democrats, are running for reelection. Stewart is vying to defend her seat against Justice Joe Deters, a Republican whose term is up in 2026 but wants to opt for Stewarts seat, which next expires in 2030, according to The Associated Press.

Deterss decision to run against another incumbent creates a vacancy on the court, with Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Dan Hawkins, a Republican, running against Appellate judge Lisa Forbes, a Democrat, for the seat.

The court will have to tackle questions involving litigation over abortion in the wake of an amendment that enshrined protections for the procedure into the state constitution.

Although Democrats have a shot at flipping the states high court, they face an uphill battle because the Ohio Supreme Court has held a conservative majority since the mid-1980s, according to the AP.

Michigan

Partisan control of the Michigan state Supreme Court is potentially on the line this year.

Justice David Viviano, a Republican-nominated justice, announced last month he would not seek reelection.

Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, who was tapped by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) after former Chief Justice Bridget McCormack announced her retirement on the court, is running to fill out the remainder of McCormacks term.

Candidates are nominated by party conventions, though Michigan state Supreme Court races are technically nonpartisan. The states high court has a 4-3 Democratic majority.

Among those running for Vivianos seat are Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Mark Boonstra and state Rep. Andrew Fink (R), who are running on the GOP side. Kimberly Ann Thomas, a clinical professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, is running on the Democratic side, according to The Detroit Free Press.

Meanwhile, Circuit Judge Patrick William OGrady is running on the Republican side against Bolden, according to the Coldwater Daily Reporter, though incumbents seldomly lose reelection.

North Carolina

Democrats  who held a majority on the state Supreme Court two years ago  are now looking to defend one of their two remaining justices on the high court, which now has a 5-2 conservative edge.

Democratic Justice Allison Riggs is looking to beat back a challenge against Republican appellate court Judge Jefferson Griffin, according to Bolts.

The North Carolina Supreme Courts partisan flip during the November 2022 midterms had an immediate impact on the states maps. The newly minted conservative majority reconsidered a previous ruling by the then-liberal majority court that said the GOP Legislatures congressional map was unconstitutional.

The courts conservative majority ultimately ruled it didnt have the authority to rule on gerrymandering, tossing out its previous decision and paving the way for Republicans to create their election map. Republicans new map favors Republicans in 10 districts, Democrats in three and one toss-up  a departure from the split between the parties of seven districts each.

North Carolina has proved elusive for Democrats in recent cycles as the state has trended redder. Democrat Cheri Beasley, a former chief justice on the state Supreme Court, narrowly lost the race to replace former Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) to then-Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) in 2022.

The partys presidential nominee has also failed to carry the state since 2008.

Kentucky

Chief Justice Laurance VanMeter is opting not to seek reelection, opening a seat up on the Kentucky Supreme Court.

State Supreme Court races in the Bluegrass State are technically nonpartisan. This years includes a head-to-head between attorney Erin Izzo and appellate Judge Pamela Goodwine, who has been endorsed by Gov. Andy Beshears (D) political action committee.

The two are running for VanMeters seat on the high court, which is the 5th Supreme Court District. The seat could be a bellwether given that the district encompasses some swingy counties, as Bolts noted.

The district includes, among others, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Franklin, Madison, Scott and Woodford counties  all counties former President Trump won in 2020 and that went for Beshear in 2023.

Montana

Two seats on the Montana Supreme Court are opening up after Chief Justice Mike McGrath and Justice Dirk Sandefur opted against running for another term. State Supreme Court races in the Treasure State are technically nonpartisan.

Two recent decisions that the state Supreme Court generated headlines from last month include one allowing an abortion measure to proceed as it looks to make its way on the ballot before voters and another that blocked several restrictive voting laws from being enforced.

The Montana Free Press reported that a state Supreme Court race in 2022 broke the record for the amount of money poured into a state Supreme Court race, reporting close to $3 million spent.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Study: German population to increase by just 0.6% by 2040

A light is on in a single apartment in a multi-storey apartment building in the Hanover region. The Bertelsmann Stiftung presents a study on population forecasts up to 2040. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa

Germany's population is projected to increase by just 0.6% by 2040, according to an analysis released on Tuesday.

The study presented by the Bertelsmann Foundation said that population growth will be unevenly distributed across Germany's individual federal states.

While Saarland and the eastern states have to plan for population declines compared to 2020, the authors forecast an increase for the other states.

According to the calculations, the population change in Germany's 13 non-city states by 2040 ranges from plus 4.6% in the south-western state of Baden-Wurttemberg to minus 12.3% in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt.

In the city states of Berlin and Hamburg, the study projected a significant increase of 5.8% and 3.5% respectively, while Bremen was projected to see a moderate increase of 1.1% compared to 2020.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, 83.15 million people lived in Germany in 2020.

The forecasts are based on births, deaths and migration.

A light is on in a single apartment in a multi-storey apartment building in the Hanover region. The Bertelsmann Stiftung presents a study on population forecasts up to 2040. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa
The Arizona Supreme Courts ruling doused gasoline on the already-flickering fire of abortion politics Tuesday and threatened to upend the 2024 contests in the state by upholding a Civil War-era law that made performing an abortion a felony, putting Republicans on the back foot in the process.

The ruling, which makes abortion punishable by two to five years in prison for anyone who performs or helps someone obtain one, was the latest bombshell that will supercharge the fight over abortion rights, this time in a major presidential battleground state with a Senate race also on the ballot in November.

The news sent shock waves throughout Washington, with Democrats of all stripes wasting no time reacting. President Biden laid into the ruling, saying it was a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away womens freedom.

Millions of Arizonans will soon live under an even more extreme and dangerous abortion ban, which fails to protect women even when their health is at risk or in tragic cases of rape or incest, Biden said, calling it a cruel ban.

The White House also quickly announced Vice President Harris would head to the Grand Canyon State at the end of the week in response to the court ruling, which overturned the 15-week ban the state enacted in 2022 in response to the Dobbs ruling.

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) briefed Senate Democrats during their weekly luncheon moments after the ruling was handed down, and he appeared alongside Democratic leaders at their press conference to decry the decision, noting that the 1864 law came into existence 48 years before Arizona became a state.

This law may have been written 160 years ago, but its only being reinstated now because of politicians who worked to overturn Roe v. Wade, Kelly said, adding that the courts decision on Tuesday referenced the Dobbs decision 22 times. This is devastating for women in Arizona.

The arcane law, which also includes an extremely narrow exception for when it is necessary to save a pregnant persons life, will go into effect in 14 days unless the Legislature moves to repeal it. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) called for the 1864 ban to be repealed.

The ruling also is expected to have an outsized political impact, as Arizona voters likely will consider a ballot measure in November to reinstate abortion rights. Groups involved with the effort said in the past week they have exceeded 500,000 signatures, 120,000 more than the requisite number needed to put it on the ballot. The Tuesday decision is expected to further boost that total, with the deadline to hand in those signatures set for early July.

It could also follow the trend of recent elections, fueling Democratic turnout in a presidential contest that was razor-thin four years ago and help the party in the contested Senate race, which is one of the top ones on the map this cycle.

While Democrats loudly cried foul at the ruling, they were hopeful that it would give them a shot in the arm in a state that is crucial to their electoral hopes in November.

It just goes to show what happens when you put extremists in charge. People who want to take away womens reproductive freedom  people should understand they mean what they say, said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who ran the Senate Democratic campaign arm in 2018.

I think well see the same thing [as in 2022], he continued, pointing to the surge of voters who went to the polls in response to the Dobbs decision. Politically, it will be a huge hit to Republicans.

The GOP also seemed to realize the ruling could be a problem. Republican Kari Lake, who is running against Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) to replace Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) in the upper chamber, said she opposes the courts decision and called on Hobbs and the GOP-held Legislature to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support.

Ultimately, Arizona voters will make the decision on the ballot come November, Lake added in a statement.

The news also seemed to catch Republicans in Washington flat-footed. Senate GOP members largely declined to comment on the ruling, saying they hadnt heard or read enough about it or that it is a state issue. The National Republican Senatorial Committee referred The Hill to Lakes statement.

It also came a day after former President Trump declined to take a stance on a federal abortion ban and argued that the matter should be left to the states. He added he is proud to have ended Roe via the appointment of three conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices.

Nevertheless, party operatives in the state are worried the decision and the expected ballot measure will lead to a landslide that could not only hurt Trump and Lake, but also throw both chambers of the state Legislature up for grabs.

Its not good for Republicans at the ballot box, period, one Arizona-based GOP operative told The Hill, adding that its impossible for the party to defend the 1864 law, especially in swing districts in the battleground state.

It remains in question how the states leaders will handle the topic in the coming weeks. Hobbs last year handed Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) the power to enforce abortion laws, and Mayes has said she will not enforce any bans on the procedure, though those decisions could be challenged legally.

The seven members of the Arizona high court were all appointed by Republicans, including five by former Gov. Doug Ducey (R-Ariz.), who signed the 15-week ban into law two years ago.

The decision is also set to put the GOP in a difficult spot come November as it attempts to deal with abortion literally being on the ballot once again.

Since the Dobbs decision, voters in Michigan, California and Vermont cemented abortion rights in their state constitutions during the 2022 midterm elections. Ohio voters also passed an amendment enshrining abortion rights in November, and up to eight states could consider doing so later this year.

Florida, Maryland and New York all have items on the ballot aimed at abortion rights, while Colorado, Missouri, Montana and Nevada  in addition to Arizona  all could as well.

Brett Samuels contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In 1988, Congress approved designating April 9 as Former Prisoners of War Day.

The day commemorates the April 9, 1942, surrender of more than 12,000 American troops and 66,000 Filipino soldiers on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines to the Japanese.

Afterward, prisoners were forced on a 65-mile march, later known as the Bataan Death March, from the peninsula to a prisoner-of-war camp that resulted in thousands of deaths along the way, while there were several thousand more losses in the camps until American and Filipino forces liberated survivors in 1945.

While then-Fort Bragg units were deployed elsewhere during World War II, some American service members held in the Japanese POW camp had ties to the local area.

Heres a look at local veterans who spoke with The Fayetteville Observer in the past about their time as a prisoner of war.

Col. Stuart Wood

The effects of being a prisoner of war lingered with retired Col. Stuart Wood 45 years later.

According to an August 1993 obituary for Wood, he was an intelligence officer, who was held as a prisoner of war by the Japanese from 1942 to 1945, first in the Philippines and later in Manchuria.

Wood said in April 1990 that he still had nightmares about Japanese captors suddenly screaming, slapping, kicking and killing him.

"There's just no excuse for the cruelty they showed to a bunch of starving men," said Wood, who lived in Fayetteville. They'd knock your block off for no reason at all, or worse they'd make you do things like (hold) buckets full of water with your arms outstretched. When your arms came down, they'd poke you in the butt with a bayonet.

Wood said he was spared the Bataan Death March, because an American military evacuation plane took him off the island before the Japanese took control.

The evacuation plane struck a rock on April 30, 1942, while attempting to take off from the island of Mindanao, leaving the passengers stranded 550 miles south of the besieged Philippine island of Corregidor.

A second plane was dispatched, but it got lost in a storm and eventually crashed in the ocean, Wood said.

Japanese forces soon showed up with orders to haul Wood back to Manila for questioning about American operatives in Japan, he said.

Wood said he recognized one of the inquisitors as a Japanese soldier he shared cigarettes with during a two-year stint as a language exchange student in Japan.

"It might have saved my life, Wood said. Life was tenuous at that point. They'd shoot you for no reason."

Taken to a prison camp, Wood said he spent the next three years in captivity, being moved from camp to camp, some of which were staffed by Japanese Imperial Army rejects.

"We had guards that weren't good enough to make it in the regular army, and they were the cruel ones," he said.

The war ended for Wood in September 1945 when Russian troops liberated the Manchurian prison camp, he said.

Following the war, Wood was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at then-Fort Bragg. He retired after 30 years of service.

Afterward, he settled in Fayetteville and became coordinator of the Cumberland County Area Civil Defense.

Col. Stuart Wood is seen in a U.S. Military Academy photo.

Curtis Stevens

Curtis Stevens was another Fayetteville resident who was a prisoner. He spent three years, four months and nine days in captivity, according to an April 1994 Observer article.

Stevens was a Navy petty officer second class helping protect the beaches of Corregidor when he was captured in May 1942.

He remained in the Navy, retiring as a chief petty officer in 1958 and serving another 10 years in the Reserves.

Hed later become a commander of a chapter of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor that includes North Carolina and several other states.

The group was instrumental in getting April 9 named National Former POW Recognition Day.

Brig Gen. Edward King

According to a May 2001 article, Brig. Gen. Edward P. King was also a survivor.

King was commander of American troops in Bataan when he surrendered April 9, 1942.

King was also responsible as a young officer during World War I for surveying local land for a new artillery post in the North Carolina Sandhills thatd later be known as Camp Bragg, Fort Bragg and now Fort Liberty.

Gen. Edward P. King discusses surrender with the Japanese in the Philippines in 1942.

Jesus Rabano

Serving under King was Jesus Rabano, a soldier in the Filipino Scouts who survived the Bataan Death March.

Rabano would come to the U.S. after the war, serve at then-Fort Bragg, retire as a master sergeant and work several more years as a civilian employee on post. He was also a leader in Fayettevilles Filipino community.

Rabano told the Observer in 2005 that he remembered the beheadings and the Japanese giving men shovels to dig their own graves.

After his March 2012 death, his widow Florinda Rabano said her husband told her that during the 60-mile march, Japanese troops would randomly pick one of the soldiers and make him dig his own grave. They would then blindfold soldiers, make him kneel and cut off his head, she said.

Rabano told his wife the soldiers were only given a ball of rice and a canteen of water for the trip. He believed he survived because he did not eat and drink it all immediately, she said.

Rabano was released from a POW camp when the Philippines was liberated in 1943.

Prisoners of war are seen during the Bataan Death March.

John Leroy Mims

Aberdeen resident John Leroy Mims was 18 years old when he fought the Japanese in the Philippines, according to a November 2001 article.

Mims first tried to join the Army at 13 when he needed a job after his parents died but was kicked out and went back in at 16, with the Army sending him to the Philippines in 1941.

He was part of an American and Philippine force that defended the islands against heavy Japanese attacks following Pearl Harbor, but the troops soon ran low on food and other supplies.

Mims said the soldiers fought the Japanese in Manila and Corregidor, an island off the Bataan Peninsula.

He became a prisoner of war after American forces surrendered to the Japanese on April 9, 1942.

"We used to think that we were disgraced because we were prisoners of war, but we were ordered to surrender," Mims said. "We were without ammunition, without food, no medical supplies. After the fifth time I was wounded I stopped counting."

Mims endured the Bataan Death March, with the Japanese forcing American and Philippine forces to march with little water and food from Bataan through the Philippine jungle to a prison camp more than 60 miles away.

While others died from disease, hunger or Japanese bullets and bayonets, Mims survived but was forced to work in rice paddy fields and coal mines.

In April 2003, Mims said Japanese soldiers hit him with sticks and rifle butts. Somebody smashed a Coke bottle into his face, breaking his teeth.

He remained a prisoner of war until 1945.

"I was the first one in camp to know the war was over,'' he said. "I heard the Japanese talking on the other side of the fence at night when they thought I was asleep.

Mims said he didnt reach American troops until the end of September 1945.

He stayed in the military for another 18 years before retiring in 1963 as a master sergeant.

He said his physical condition from being a POW held him back from promotions.

In the three years he was held captive, Mims said in 2003, his neck was broken in three places and vertebrae in his spine fused together.

According to a November 2016 obituary, Mims died at the age of 94.

John Leroy Mims speaks during a July 2014 Department of Veterans Affairs rally.

Other local connections

Other POWs with local connections according to August 2006 and October 2011 articles were:

 Stedman native Bruce Langston was a Navy doctor who treated fellow prisoners during his 41 months in captivity.

He returned to the local area after being liberated and settled in Fayetteville, where he practiced urology until his death in 1970.

 Fayetteville native Col. Edmund P. Lilly was a POW who had commanded a battalion of Philippine Scouts. He spent another six years in the Army after returning home and retired in Fayetteville in 1954.

 Col. Richard Mallonee, an artillery captain at then-Fort Bragg in the 1930s, became a prisoner of war when he was commander of an artillery unit in the Philippines. After the war, he was a deputy post commander for then-Fort Bragg. He directed the first postwar housing development known as Mallonee Village.

 Fayetteville native Col. Phillip Fry commanded the 3rd Battalion, 57th Infantry Regiment known as the Philippine Scouts, which was a unit of Filipino enlisted men and American officers.

 An April 2015 obituary for Alcide Bull Sylvio Benini states that he arrived in the Philippines in June 1940 and was captured April 7, 1942.

He survived the Bataan Death March, Japanese death ships, and POW camps, according to his obituary.

After the war, he served with the 82nd Airborne Division Pathfinder platoon.

According to a 2009 interview with Benini for the Special Warfare School Heritage Center, Benini was one of the first instructors for the then-newly created Special Forces in 1952.

The following year he left the Army to enlist in the Air Force to establish the Air Force Pathfinders, which was renamed combat controllers, the obituary stated.

He retired from the Air Force as a chief master sergeant. The Benini Heritage Center and Museum, located at the Combat Control School at Pope Army Airfield, is named after him.

 Retired Lt. Gen. Thomas J.H. Trapnell was a Bataan Death March survivor, according to a February 2002 obituary in a Midland County, Michigan newspaper.

Trapnell, who retired from the Army in 1962 at the rank of lieutenant general, was serving as a squadron commander with the 26th Cavalry regiment in the Philippines when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Trapnell was part of the 13-day, 60-mile march in which 650 Americans and 10,000 Filipino soldiers died.

Trapnell was imprisoned in Camp O'Donnell in the Philippines and then Cabanatuan, where thousands of Americans died by the end of 1942.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville and Fort Liberty links to Bataan Death March, POW camps
VIENNA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Russia has requested an extraordinary session of the 35-nation Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over what it claims are Ukrainian attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) on Sunday, a Russian envoy said on Monday.

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative to the international organizations in Vienna, said on social media platform X that the request has been made according to procedural rules of the IAEA board.

The ZNPP reported multiple drone attacks on Sunday. According to the IAEA, it was the first time since November 2022 that the plant was "directly targeted in military action."

The IAEA confirmed on Sunday night that the attacks caused damage to one of the ZNPP's six power units, but nuclear safety has not been compromised. However, the UN nuclear watchdog did not say who was to blame for the attacks.

Russia said Ukraine struck the ZNPP, injuring three people working at the plant.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that the recent shelling on the ZNPP was "a very dangerous provocation" with negative consequences.

Ukraine has denied involvement in the drone attacks.

The ZNPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe with a total capacity of 6 gigawatts. At the end of February 2022, the facility was taken under Russian control. 
Suspect accused of shooting man for talking to his daughter

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man has been arrested after police say he shot a male victim in Frayser and accused him of talking to his daughter back in December.

James Jeans, 34, is charged with aggravated assault and false offense report.

On December 7, Memphis Police responded to a Frayser home on Mountain Terrace Street regarding a shooting. The victim stated he had been shot by a man who showed up at his house with a woman and their daughter.

The man and woman reportedly confronted the victim about communicating with their daughter. That is when the victims stepfather came out to diffuse the situation.

The victim said as he backed up into the entryway of his house, Jeans pulled out a handgun. He then leaned into the house and fired one shot, striking the victim in the stomach.

MPD says after the shot was fired, the magazine in the gun fell on the porch. The man and the two females walked away but the man returned to look for the magazine but left it.

Three dead, child hurt in South Memphis shootings

The man and the two females got into a purple Chrysler 300 and left the scene.

The victim was then taken to the hospital in critical condition.

According to reports, two witnesses from AT&T who were parked in front of the house filmed part of the incident. They also took a photo of the back of the suspects car.

After police researched the license plate, it came back registered to James Jeans.

In the video, the victim was able to point out the suspects daughter as one of the females at his house during the incident.

Man charged after child killed in accidental shooting

The victim then pointed out the other female as the mother and the man as the father.

On December 7, MPD found the purple Chrysler on fire in South Memphis at South Orleans Street and Clifford Avenue.

Jeans told police the vehicle was stolen from South Parkway East on December 6. He says he did not report it stolen because he wanted to find it on his own.

MPD says cellphone records from Jeans phone number showed his phone hit a tower near the location of the burning vehicle shortly before police arrived.

James Jeans next court date is scheduled for Wednesday morning.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A suspect was arrested early Tuesday morning after a string of drive-by shootings in Clark County, authorities said.

According to the Clark County Sheriffs Office, the incident began just after 1:40 a.m. when reports came in about gunshots heard near Northeast Saint Johns Road and Northeast LaLonde Drive.

A nearby homeowner found a video on their home surveillance system of a car entering the parking lot of the Seventh Day Adventist Church at 9711 Northeast Saint Johns Road just before the shots were heard and authorities said they found numerous 9mm bullet casings in the lot and damage to the front of the church building.

Pedestrian hospitalized after SE Portland crash late Monday night

About 15 minutes after the first shots were reported, the Sheriffs Office said that more shots were reported near the Kessid Columbia Church at 907 NW 99th Street. When deputies arrived at that scene they said they saw the churchs windows had been damaged and there were bullets nearby and damaging an unoccupied car.

Shortly after 2 a.m., while officers were still investigating the Seventh Day Adventist Church, a deputy reported seeing a car driving with all of its lights off on Northeast 99th Street. The car sped off as soon as the deputy began following.

Authorities said they didnt attempt to stop the vehicle, but they did manage to get the license plate, which they said was registered to a house in Felida.

Deputies began watching the house but said they saw no sign of the suspect car, so they called the registered owner who told them he was out of town but his wife and adult son shouldve been home.

After making contact with the wife at home, authorities said they learned that the adult son was missing and an empty pistol case was found at the home.

Just before 3:30 a.m., deputies at the Kessid Columbia Church said they heard a gunshot from near Columbia River High School, and after rushing over they found a car with a bullet hole in the windshield.

A few minutes later, authorities said the blacked-out car was seen driving into the neighborhood but once again took off when deputies were seen.

Deputies began to roam the area watching for the car eventually spotting it near Northwest 139th Street and Northwest 2nd Avenue where the car took off onto Interstate 5.

The car continued eluding but deputies said they were eventually able to stop the car with spike strips which is when the suspect got out and tried to run away.

Eventually, deputies took the suspect, later identified as Aleksey Suturin, 23, of Vancouver, into custody.

At the time of the arrest, authorities said that Suturin was wearing body armor under a jacket with several 9mm pistol magazines attached.

In the car, deputies said they found a pistol sitting on the drivers seat floorboard and loose rounds lying on the front seats.

Suturin was booked on charges including two counts of drive-by shooting, two counts of first-degree malicious mischief, one count of second-degree malicious mischief, one count of attempt to elude and two counts of reckless driving.

The incident remains under investigation authorities said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Suspected smugglers were caught trying to hide $10 million of gold by painting it silver and disguising it as machinery on a cargo plane

Hong Kong customs officials discovered 146 kilograms of suspected gold on board a freight plane headed for Japan.

They say it is the largest gold-smuggling case on record in terms of value.

A 31-year-old man was arrested in connection with the case.

Hong Kong customs officials have seized 146 kilograms of suspected gold, worth more than $10 million, on board a freight plane headed for Japan.

The discovery is the largest gold-smuggling case on record in Hong Kong in terms of seizure value, according to the Customs Department.

The precious metal was discovered on 27 March while officials at Hong Kong International Airport examined two air compressors scheduled to be shipped by air freight to Japan.

Air compressors have various industrial and mining uses and are commonly used to fill gas cylinders used in diving. They are typically made of cast iron or aluminum.

But during an x-ray of the air compressors, officials discovered that gold had been carefully molded and "concealed in the integral parts" of the machinery.

The gold parts had been painted silver to match the machine parts, officials told local news outlet, the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Two air compressors were used to conceal the batch of suspected smuggled gold. Customs and Excise Department Hong Kong

Acting Senior Superintendent Jason Lau Yuk-lung said it was the first time the department had discovered smugglers using this method of hiding gold, according to SCMP.

The gold was likely hidden to avoid Japan's import tariffs of around 10%, he said.

"Smugglers could have evaded about HK$8.4 million ($1 million) in taxes if the precious metal was successfully smuggled into the country," Lau told the outlet.

A 31-year-old man was arrested on April 3 in Hong Kong in connection with the case, officials said in a statement. He has been released on bail pending further investigation.

The man was the director of a local company, but Lau said there was a possibility it was a shell company.

Anyone found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo could be fined up to $2 million and imprisoned for up to seven years under Hong Kong laws.

Gold is seen as a valuable commodity by investors, with many turning to the precious metal as a more reliable alternative to stocks during economic downturns.

The metal has been on a record-setting surge since February, with prices up by more than 13% in 2024.

Its stable value also makes it attractive to criminal networks, and gold is one of the most commonly laundered assets.

Its transformable nature makes it easy to break down into different forms, disrupting trails and enabling criminal groups to trade anonymously  unless caught by the Hong Kong Police.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Swedish Air Force, together with German fighter jets, intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft near the Swedish coast, the Swedish military announced on April 9.

"Today, our incident route carried out the visual identification of a Russian Il-20 (signals reconnaissance) that flew into the Swedish flight information region southeast of Blekinge," the statement reads. "VID was carried out together with 2 German Eurofighters on stand-by from NATO, which took off from Laage in Germany."

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has periodically spilled westward over the course of two years, with Russian missiles entering NATO members' airspace.

Earlier this month, Germany's Air Force said it had scrambled its fighter jets to intercept a Russian Il-20 aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea without a transponderan electronic device that helps maintain safe air traffic.

The war has kept Western nations on alert, redeploying more aircraft, ships, and troops to safeguard NATO's eastern flank in the alliance's member-states that neighbor Ukraine  including the Baltic states and Poland.

In March, Poland said it had scrambled its fighter jets when a Russian missile violated its air space for 39 seconds but did not shoot it down as it knew that the missile would circle back to Ukraine, and it could have posed a danger to civilians.

A week later, Polish and other allied aircraft were scrambled in response to reports of a massive Russian missile attack against Ukraine.

In February, the French armed forces said that a French Mirage 2000D fighter jet had intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance and intelligence aircraft off the Estonian coast.

In January, the German Air Force also said it had intercepted a Russian military aircraft flying in international airspace near Rugen a German island in the Baltic Sea  and "briefly accompanied it before it turned back to the east." It added that the Russian aircraft was flying without a transponder signal.

Read also: Air Force commander: Ukraine downs another Russian military aircraft

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Talks on security agreement with Portugal will start soon  Ukrainian President's Office

Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Presidents Office. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Ukraine and Portugal are planning to start negotiations on signing a bilateral security agreement shortly.

Source: press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Presidents Office, and Jorge Monteiro, diplomatic advisor to the Prime Minister of Portugal, discussed this during a video call.

Zhovkva briefed Monteiro on the situation in the combat zone and Ukraines urgent military needs.

"The two officials agreed to start talks on signing a bilateral security agreement in the near future in furtherance of the G7 Joint Declaration on support for Ukraine," the press service reported.

Zhovkva congratulated Monteiro on his appointment and thanked him for Portugal's unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

Background:

On 3 April, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with the new Prime Minister of Portugal, Luis Montenegro, following which they instructed their teams to start work on the bilateral security agreement.

Portugals new minority government, led by Luis Montenegro, was sworn in on 2 April.

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A teacher was arrested on child sex trafficking and prostitution-related charges involving students, Texas authorities say.

Kedria Grigsby, 42, faces three counts each of trafficking of children and compelling prostitution along with her son, 21-year-old Roger Magee, who was previously arrested, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.

The compelling prostitution charge is defined as when a person knowingly causes another by force, threat, coercion or fraud to commit prostitution. The charge can also be applied when a person causes a child to commit prostitution.

Grigsby is the cosmetology teacher at Klein Cain High School outside Houston and has been placed on administrative leave, a district spokesperson told KHOU and KPRC.

Authorities said Grigsby forced prostitution onto three reported runaways, ages 15, 16 and 17. The sheriff said Grigsby assisted her son in the alleged trafficking.

It appears Grigsby recruited troubled juveniles from local high schools by offering them a place to stay, which would be a hotel, Gonzalez said.

There have also been other teenagers who said Grigsby was also attempting to recruit them while attending school, according to the sheriff.

Gonzalez announced the arrest of Grigsby on Monday, April 8, and said she was booked into the Harris County Jail.

The school district said in its statement to KHOU and KPRC the allegations against Grigsby were unsettling.

As soon as we were notified of this information, the district took immediate action, apprehended, and immediately placed Ms. Grigsby on administrative leave, the district said. Klein ISD has NO intention of allowing this individual back to Klein Cain or any Klein ISD school, and we will report to all appropriate agencies at the conclusion of the investigation.

Assistant principal accused of sex crime against student while off campus, NC cops say

Teacher accused of child sex crimes when he coached basketball 20 years ago, cops say

Math teacher sent explicit photos to investigator posing as teen girl in Texas, feds say
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Rare fossils that likely came from extinct hippo-like mammals, which existed between 21 and 23 million years ago, were recently discovered by two different beachcombers on the Oregon Coast.

Lane County preschool teacher Amariah Jacobs told KOIN 6 News that she found her toothy specimen sitting on a pile of cobblestone while hiking on an undisclosed beach on March 25.

I like to watch the sunrise and then clean up the beaches of trash, Jacobs said. My husband and I each bring a backpack and a pocketknife so we can pack out derelict fishing equipment. We are also happy to find interesting or unusual agates.

Photos of a rare, 20-million-year-old fossil found on the Oregon Coast on March 25, 2024. (Photos by Amariah Jacobs)



A similar fossil found days later near Lost Creek State Recreation Site. (Photos by David Thomas)

Six days later, a high school teacher from Grant County Washington found a similar fossil while camping on the beach in the Lost Creek area. Its unclear if there is any connection between the timing of the finds.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Collection Services Manager Matthew Miller told KOIN 6 News that both fossils are likely teeth and jawbones from desmostylians. Desmostylians, he said, are hippo-like creatures that existed in Oregon during the Miocene epoch  a time when ancient rhinos, camels, elephants and saber-toothed cats roamed North America.

Desmostylus belonged to a group of animals known as the desmostylians, Miller said. While they were hippo-like in appearance and habit, they are not related to hippopotamus. The group was entirely herbivorous and ate plants growing in shallow seas.

Semiprecious stone shaped like human heart found on the Oregon Coast

While Miller was able to provide an educated guess from looking at photos of the fossils, he said that more research would be necessary to identify the specific species of desmostylian.

Based on Amariahs images the specimen is in decent condition, he said. It likely was once part of an intact skull but the ocean waves likely broke it apart. From the rounded nature of the specimen, it was likely broken off the skull many decades ago. The other tooth images you included also appear to be a desmostylian. I hesitate to identify it any further without additional information about the collecting area.

Tillamook woman catches potentially record-breaking eel-like fish

Both teachers said they hope to get in contact with local experts who may want to study the fossils. KOIN 6 News attempted to contact fossil experts with the University of Oregon and Southwestern Oregon Community College about the finds but did not receive a response.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Ted Cruzs sketchy podcast deal may now face federal scrutiny, as a campaign finance watchdog filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday over radio giant iHeartMedia funneling more than $630,000 into a super PAC backing the Republican senators re-election bid.

The complaint, filed jointly by the Campaign Legal Center (CLC) and End Citizens United, argued that the agreement between the Texas senator and iHeartMedia brazenly violates federal election laws. They also accused Cruz of directing funds into the Truth and Courage PAC, which describes itself as ensuring that Ted Cruz is re-elected to the United States Senate in 2024.

The filing also comes as campaign finance and government ethics experts recently told The Daily Beast that the podcast deal raises a slew of sticky legal and ethical issues, and at the very least signals the GOP lawmaker characteristically darkening the gray area and testing legal limits.

The Ugly Truth Behind Ted Cruzs Super PAC Podcast

At the heart of the matter is The Verdict, a podcast the senator first launched in late 2020. Cruz eventually partnered with iHeartMedia in October 2022 to produce and distribute the show, which the senator described as a big damn deal.

The CLC soon after filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee over the senator receiving gifts from iHeartMedia, a registered lobbyist. In the end, both Cruz and iHeartMedia claimed that the senator wasnt getting compensated and the complaint was dropped.

Last month, however, alarm bells were once again sounded over the podcast deal when Truth and Courages FEC reports showed that iHeartMedia had dumped more than $630,000 worth of digital revenue into the PACs coffers over the past year, accounting for roughly a third of its cash raised. A spokesperson for the radio company said the payments were associated with advertising sales for Cruzs podcast, once again insisting the lawmaker has merely volunteered his time to the thrice-weekly podcast and is not actually paid to host.

The terms of iHeartMedias podcast agreement with Cruz are not public, and the companys recent comments do not explain why it is sending money derived from ad sales associated with Cruzs podcast to a super PAC supporting Cruzs 2024 reelection campaign, stated the FEC complaint filed on Tuesday. The most reasonable and logical inference to be drawn from these circumstances, however, is that Cruz requested or directed, and iHeartMedia agreed, that iHeartMedia would transmit these funds to TCP, which then would use the funds to support Cruzs candidacy.

Federal rules dictate that a candidate or officeholder cannot solicit, receive, direct, transfer, or spend funds in connection with a federal election outside of the limits and reporting requirements of election law. Additionally, the law bans coordination between candidates and super PACs, which are able to raise unlimited amounts of money to support groups or individuals.

The two watchdogs have urged the FEC to open a probe into the deal, and they called on regulators to impose harsh penalties if Cruz and iHeartMedia are found to have skirted campaign finance laws.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), pictured here, was indignant when confronted last week about a questionable podcast deal. Getty

By soliciting or directing $630,850.09 of iHeartMedias corporate funds to or on behalf of TCP in connection with his 2024 election, Cruz appears to have brazenly violated these federal campaign finance laws, which are crucial to preventing real and apparent corruption in our federal elections, as well as promoting voters right to having a meaningful electoral voice through the democratic process, the complaint added.

Campaign Legal Centers Senior Director of Campaign Finance Erin Chlopak said in a statement that theres a reason why federal candidates are legally prohibited from using soft moneythat is, money raised outside the scope of federal election lawto power their campaigns.

Chlopak continued: This type of funding risks putting the priorities of wealthy special interests above everyone else and makes our political process more vulnerable to corruption. Yet all available information makes it seem that a partnership between Texas Senator Ted Cruz and iHeartMedia has produced such an illegal transfer, with over $630,000 in income from Cruzs podcast moving to a super PAC supporting his reelection. To give Texas voters clarity, the Federal Election Commission must swiftly investigate this matter and determine whether Sen. Cruz played a role in directing this transfer.

Ted Cruz Flips Out When Confronted Over Sketchy Podcast Deal

Tiffany Muller, president of End Citizens United, also asserted that Cruz is once again showing his hostility and total disregard for anti-corruption laws that are designed to prevent undue influence by corporations, adding that the payments show hes brazenly attempting to skirt federal regulationsand it reeks of impropriety.

Cruzs office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the FEC complaint, but the senator was indignant when approached by a reporter last week about the sketchy payments.

You know, it really is sad whats happened to the media, which is the media exists right now seemingly to parrot left-wing Democrat attacks, he fumed, claiming that he was already cleared in other ethics complaints. However, that Senate investigation was concluded prior to iHeartMedia funneling any money into the super PAC.

Meanwhile, amid revelations that Cruzs podcast ad dollars have flowed into Truth and Courage, at least one major advertiser on the show has backed out. Energy giant BP America told the Dallas Morning News last week that it was unaware the ad revenue was going to the pro-Cruz group and had since instructed iHeartMedia to redirect its commercial spots.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Rescuers work at the site where an explosion occurred at a hydroelectric power station at the Suviana Reservoir in the Apennine Mountains south of Bologna city, Italy, on April 9, 2024. Three people are confirmed dead and three others remain missing following an explosion at the power station in northern Italy, local government said on Tuesday. (Photo by Gianni Schicchi/Xinhua)

ROME, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Three people are confirmed dead and three others remain missing following an explosion at a power station in northern Italy, local government said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred at a hydroelectric power station at the Suviana Reservoir in the Apennine Mountains south of Bologna city at around 3 p.m. local time, Ansa news agency reported.

Search and rescue efforts are currently underway to locate the missing individuals.

Moreover, at least 10 people were injured, four of whom were said to be in serious condition.

Initial reports suggest that a fire broke out on an underground floor of the power station, approximately 30 meters deep, as stated by the mayor of a nearby municipality to Ansa news agency.

Mayor Marco Masinara said, "I was informed that the fire brigade is attempting to access the facility, but they are encountering difficulties in doing so."

The official added that maintenance work on the turbines were believed to be ongoing when the explosion took place. 

Rescuers work at the site where an explosion occurred at a hydroelectric power station at the Suviana Reservoir in the Apennine Mountains south of Bologna city, Italy, on April 9, 2024. Three people are confirmed dead and three others remain missing following an explosion at the power station in northern Italy, local government said on Tuesday. (Photo by Gianni Schicchi/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the site where an explosion occurred at a hydroelectric power station at the Suviana Reservoir in the Apennine Mountains south of Bologna city, Italy, on April 9, 2024. Three people are confirmed dead and three others remain missing following an explosion at the power station in northern Italy, local government said on Tuesday. (Photo by Gianni Schicchi/Xinhua)

People gather at the site where an explosion occurred at a hydroelectric power station at the Suviana Reservoir in the Apennine Mountains south of Bologna city, Italy, on April 9, 2024. Three people are confirmed dead and three others remain missing following an explosion at the power station in northern Italy, local government said on Tuesday. (Photo by Gianni Schicchi/Xinhua)

Police work at the site where an explosion occurred at a hydroelectric power station at the Suviana Reservoir in the Apennine Mountains south of Bologna city, Italy, on April 9, 2024. Three people are confirmed dead and three others remain missing following an explosion at the power station in northern Italy, local government said on Tuesday. (Photo by Gianni Schicchi/Xinhua)
In recent weeks, a number of news reports have delved into the legal questions about a super PAC generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in corporate revenue from a popular podcaster: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).

While legal experts cited in those reports have floated serious potential campaign finance issues with the arrangement, it appears that Cruza notorious Federal Election Commission trollmay have landed upon yet another seemingly unprecedented loophole in election laws: Hes turned a super PAC supporting him into a media companyand is funding it himself.

That doesnt mean Cruzs podcast arrangement with corporate media giant iHeartMedia is necessarily aboveboard. In fact, in conversations with The Daily Beast, experts in campaign finance regulations, government ethics, and tax law raised a slew of potential legal and ethical issues, with Cruz characteristically darkening the gray area.

Ted Cruz Flips Out When Confronted Over Sketchy Podcast Deal

But the most basic details about the arrangement still havent been clarified, and none of the parties involvedincluding iHeartMediawill answer those simple central questions.

Additionally, The Daily Beast has uncovered new information, with campaign finance records showing tens of thousands of dollars in iHeart lobbyist contributions going to the Cruz campaign. Since the podcast deal was inked in late 2022, the Cruz campaign has received donations from at least seven lobbyists registered to represent iHeartMedias interests before the federal government, records show, raising even more questions about the nature of the deal.

Central to the conundrum is Cruzs claim that he doesnt get paid for the podcast. Instead, both he and iHeartMedia say he volunteers his time.

But that doesnt mean Cruz isnt generating money for his personal interests. Rather, the nest of financial relationshipsbetween a sitting official and candidate for office, a super PAC supporting him, a corporate partner in a political broadcast, and a slate of lobbyistspresents issues that are both unavoidable and unprecedented.

And despite numerous news reports, along with a 2022 ethics complaint, the central facts of the arrangement itself are still cloudy. Cruz is just thriving in the haze.

Whats clear is that in the fall of 2022, iHeart entered into some sort of corporate partnership involving a pro-Cruz super PACcalled Truth and Courageto produce, distribute, and monetize the senators hit podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz. Since last March, the podcast has generated about $630,000 in advertising revenue for the super PAC, with another roughly $3,500 trickling in from Google.

Importantly, the law prohibits coordination between candidateswho are limited by how much money they can raiseand super PACs, which can raise unlimited amounts of money from individuals and corporations. Federal law states that a federal candidate or officeholderor an entity directly or indirectly established, financed, maintained or controlled by or acting on behalf of one or more candidates or individuals holding Federal officeshall not solicit, receive, direct, transfer, or spend funds in connection with a federal election outside of the limits and reporting requirements of federal election law.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) talks with members of the media in the Capitol. Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images

Put simply, a candidate cant raise any corporate moneylet alone hundreds of thousands of dollars of itinto a super PAC. The financial boost is coming at a critical political moment, as Cruz faces a potentially tough challenge for re-election this year from Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), whos been outraising Cruz.

Campaign finance experts told The Daily Beast that, even if Cruz isnt breaking the law, hes certainly testing the limits.

Thats because Cruz isnt technically raising money for the super PAC; hes earning it. The iHeart payments to the super PAC arent reported as donations, but as digital revenue. And as legal experts told The Daily Beast, the law doesnt prevent super PACs from generating outside revenue. Its actually common for PACs to report revenue from things like dividends, interest income, and sales of assets like campaign vehicles or donor contact lists.

But while the concept of PAC revenue isnt new, these experts agreed, the iHeart arrangement raises a prospect entirely unique to Cruz: that a super PAC can essentially moonlight as a media company.

While the future implications of this innovation arent clear, the model could certainly appeal to other media-savvy candidates who might want to monetize their audiences. This includes House members like Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), along with the king of earned media himself, Donald Trump, who could likely generate millions of dollars with an arrangement like Cruzs.

Super PACs might also tap non-candidates, like politically motivated commentators and influencers, for a steady shared-revenue stream, then try to use that money as literal political capital to influence any number of federal elections.

Jordan Libowitz, communications director for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said that while hes never seen a political group try this, it looks like Cruz and the super PAC could get away with it.

What seems to be going on here is hes treating this political group not through the standard fundraising that it would do, but instead, basically treating it as business, and that its making money off of his podcast, as if it were just making money off of selling T-shirts, Libowitz told The Daily Beast.

Its so wild its never occurred to someone to do this before, Libowitz said. The traditional way is: find rich people and ask them for money. And thats been pretty successful over the years.

Brett Kappel, a campaign finance and government law attorney at Harmon Curran, concurred that this aspect of the arrangement would likely pass legal musterprecisely because the legal framers never anticipated it.

Neither federal election law nor the tax code contemplated income from a committee providing goods and services, Kappel told The Daily Beast. The conception is that committees received contributions and could invest that money, and then receive passive income from dividends and interest. No one contemplated that a PAC could be involved in a business and receive income from that.

How Ted Cruz Became a Blatantly Cynical Election Law Troll

That revenue, however, is not exempt from federal income taxwith the 2023 payment due next week.

But not all experts saw it as unique. Brendan Fischer, a campaign finance lawyer and deputy executive director of Documented, told The Daily Beast that PACs have previously dabbled in private enterprise, just not to the extremes that Cruz has taken it.

It isnt entirely unprecedented for a super PAC to be involved in revenue-generating activities, Fischer said, pointing to the super PAC for the Minocqua Brewing Companya politically engaged progressive beer company, which names brews after Democratic politicians and donates 5 percent of profits to an affiliated super PAC.

But the distinction there is that the candidates were not obviously involved, Fischer said.

Still, its that questionthe direct participation of the candidatewhich is central to the legality of the Cruz arrangement, these experts said.

Depending on the details of the podcast contract, Cruz may have violated the ban on federal candidates directing big money or corporate funds to a super PAC, Fischer said.

Those terms are, of course, still almost entirely private.

In response to The Daily Beasts questions, an iHeart spokesperson reiterated that Cruz volunteers his time and is not compensated for the podcast, though his co-host Ben Ferguson gets a cut.

After that, the answers get less clear.

For instance, the spokesperson refused to answer multiple direct inquiries about the most basic issue: exactly who was party to the contract, which could include Cruz himself (though his financial disclosures dont list an agreement with iHeart) along with potential LLC third-parties.

The spokesperson also never confirmed that the super PAC or iHeart were signatories of the contract. (Previous statements have said that the payments are associated with ad revenue.) The spokesperson even raised another layer of distance from iHeart, explaining that an iHeart subsidiary called Premiere sells the actual ad inventory, with the super PAC payments coming from iHeartMedia as the parent company.

But most critically, the spokesperson never answered what role Cruz had in assigning the ad revenue or when he became involved. Questions to Cruzs office and various people and entities directly affiliated with Truth and Courage went unanswered.

It is incredible that he chose to direct the funds to a super PAC rather than to charity, Fischer said. There are countless charities in Texas that would benefit enormously from a $600,000 donation.

Fischer, along with every expert interviewed for this article, said it would also require serious suspension of disbelief to allow that Cruz was not involved in the decision to direct the money to the super PAC.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) listens during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

First, these experts suggested the relationship between Cruz and this super PAC is already problematic. The Daily Beast previously revealed reams of circumstantial evidence showing a tight-knit working relationship between the candidate and this supposedly independent outside group: They raise money from the same donors, they employ the same operatives (including Cruzs former scheduler, Christine Babcock, whose LLC has collected more than half a million dollars through the super PAC since 2022), they have the same initials, and they pay the same vendorssometimes down to the same local restaurants.

During the 2022 midterms, Cruz even went on a multi-state bus tour sponsored by the supposedly independent super PAC.

The original mastermind behind the super PACformer Cruz campaign manager Jeff Roealso pushed the coordination envelope to new extremes with his work on the ill-fated pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC, Never Back Down.

Kappel, the Harmon Curran attorney, pointed to DeSantis as a model for Cruzs plausible deniability.

The way [this podcast arrangement] could be done is the way Ron DeSantis ran his presidential campaignthe super PAC runs everything and they just invite Ted to show up, he said. Can this be done on paper so it looks legal? Yes. But you have to accept the fiction that hes unaware of all of this until it happens.

Kappel also pointed to another lever at Cruzs disposalthe cynicism of his allies in the FEC.

The odds of the FEC sanctioning him for this are astronomically low, Kappel said, noting that Cruzs former chief counsel, Sean J. Cooksey, is now a Trump-appointed FEC commissionerone who has consistently demonstrated an ideological reluctance to pursue alleged violations.

But the podcast wasnt always a super PAC production. In fact, when the pod first launched in January 2020, Cruz funded it himself through his leadership PAC. But within a week, Verdict was the No. 1 overall podcast on iTunes. (Early episodes covered issues still at the forefront of politics, such as Hunter Biden testifying before Congress, Roe v. Wade, and Adam Schiffs statewide candidacy.)

This stuff, Im sure, plays very well in a California Democratic primary, Cruz said about Schiffs impeachment performance.

As the podcast developed, its scope expanded. Cruz tapped his rolodex for a wide range of special guests, including then-Attorney General Bill Barr, Hollywood star Jon Voight, and then-acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf. He often released more than one episode a week, and today, four years later, he has recorded more than 400 episodes. While Verdict no longer tops Apples charts, its still among the top politics podcasts, according to Chartable, beating out Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) new show.

Over those first two years, Cruz also paid a Texas entity called Reagan Investments LLC a combined $2.3 million from his leadership PAC for sponsorship advertising. (No other PAC or campaign has ever paid Reagan Investments LLCsave for one of Trumps political committees, which in December 2020 paid $235,000 for copies of Cruzs book.)

Then, in 2022, the payments shifted from the leadership PAC to the super PAC. In that one year, Truth and Courage paid Reagan Investments LLC nearly $1.6 million for services related to media production.

Ted Cruz Blatantly Lies About Bidens Israel Comments to Promote Podcast

This means that Cruzs iHeart deal not only netted $630,000 in a year, it also saved potentially much more than thata one-year swing of possibly more than $2 million. Since the iHeart deal, Truth and Courage has paid around $240,000 in production costs to a Houston entity called The Production Companies.

Asked about the arrangement on Monday, a representative for The Production Companies told The Daily Beast, Nobody is available to speak on that matter.

At some point in 2022, Cruz claims the podcast caught the attention of iHeartMedia. And in an Oct. 7 episodeone month out from the midtermsCruz and his first co-host, professional conservative complainer Michael Knowles, announced the new corporate partnership. (The episode itself encapsulated the closeness between Cruz and his ostensibly independent super PAC, with Knowles calling the super PACs ongoing cross-country midterm junket a campaign bus tour.)

They came andand they saw what was happening on this podcast, Cruz said of iHearts overtures at the time, speaking reverently of other figures on the media giants roster, including Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, and Jesse Kelly.

Notably, Cruz took the deal even though it meant replacing his longtime co-host. Without any detectable irony, Knowles told the audience that his contract with right-wing outlet The Daily Wire presented a conflict of interest, and that he would have to step aside. He was replaced with Ben Ferguson, who still co-hosts Verdict today.

But as Cruz soldiered on without Knowles, watchdog groups flagged Cruzs own conflicts of interest. Two months later, the bipartisan nonprofit Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee, alleging that Cruzs deal with iHeart violated the ban on accepting gifts from registered lobbyists. The complaint noted that iHeartMedia retains a stable of lobbying firms to the tune of millions of dollars a year, and that its corporate PAC had previously donated $2,000 to Cruzs 2018 re-election campaign.

Those issues persist todayand can be found in new places, such as the podcasts page on the Premiere Speakers Bureau booking agency website. (The booking agency is unaffiliated with Premiere, the iHeartMedia subsidiary that handles the podcast ads.)

Danielle Caputo, legal counsel for ethics at CLC, told The Daily Beast that the Premiere Speakers Bureau (PSB) page raises even more ethical questions.

Cruz has maintained that he doesnt get paid from the podcast, but its not clear if that includes these appearances, Caputo said. She singled out two potentially applicable ethics restrictionsthe gift ban, and the prohibition on receiving speaking fees.

Even if hes not receiving money from that live session, hes still receiving something of value from these appearances, she said, referencing the gift ban. Free access to a platform, to a specific venue, or even to an audience could be construed as a thing of value for a senator, Caputo said, and it could potentially violate Senate gift rules.

The audience here may be something of value to Senator Cruz for a number of reasons, she said, noting that PSB has partnerships with major companies, including Pepsi and Keller Williams Realty, which Cruz might want to cultivate in a way that may benefit him and his campaign, or him personally when he leaves office, or maybe even just a benefit for his podcast.

The speaking fee question, Caputo said, is even more cut and dried. If hes getting paid directly for these appearances, it definitely implicates the honoraria ban and also may violate outside earned income rules, noting a limited exception if those proceeds are donated to charity, with a cap of $2,000.

But again, Cruz is walking a legal and ethical tightrope.

Caputos colleague at CLC, Kedric Paynethe groups vice president and general counsel for ethicssaid Senate rules would not appear to prevent Cruz from allowing a podcast to profit from his name, since those rules are typically understood to apply to firms in a certain range of industries, such as banking, consulting, and architecture.

It would be hard to say that the podcast would fall under that, Payne said, noting that podcasting appears similar to other exempted activities, like writing, transcribing, andfollowing a 1982 rulingrace car driving.

Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, senior government affairs manager at the Project on Government Oversight, told The Daily Beast that, while the Senate Ethics Committee has interpreted the honorarium ban to exempt activities related to a members specific talents, that wouldnt fly here.

In this case, I think its probably pretty clear that the only reason that Ted Cruz has a podcast is because hes a Senator, Hedtler-Gaudette said.

While he allowed that Cruz might find a way to thread the needle, he said that the podcast really does violate the spirit of the ban. That, however, puts the pressure back on the institutions to enforce their codes more meaningfully.

The Senate Ethics Committee, in particular, is notorious for not doing anything at all to hold its own members accountable, even in the face of serious allegations, he said. In the interest of collegiality and the insular culture of the Senate, they just really dont do anythingat allever.

Ted Cruz Finally Bends the Knee, Endorses Donald Trump for President

Last year, Cruzs GOP colleague Sen. Lindsey Graham became the first sitting senator since 2018 to receive a public opprobrium from the Ethics Committee, for raising political cash in the U.S. Capitol complex. But the committee is notoriously lax. And although the House has an independent Office of Congressional Ethics, theres no equivalent outside investigative body in the Senate.

Of course, theres another corporate and ethical wrinkle: the advertisers.

Verdict has had dozens of advertisers, including some explicitly right-wing companies as well as some more mainstream ones. Until recently, one of them was energy company BP America, which the Dallas Morning News recently reported pulled its ads after learning that the money funded a super PAC. As a federal contractor, BP is banned from contributing to any federal political committee. The company did not respond to The Daily Beasts comment request.

At least one other advertiser on the showLMI, a management consulting firmis a government contractor as well, according to Defense News. LMI did not respond to questions about whether it was aware of Cruzs arrangement.

A review of campaign finance and lobbying records reveals even more overlap.

Cruzs campaign committee has received political contributions from at least 15 employees at nine firms that have, since the podcast launched in 2020, registered to lobby the federal government on behalf of iHeart, according to a comparative analysis of FEC records and lobbying data from the Center for Responsive Politics. Seven of those employees registered to lobby for iHeartMedia specifically, and all seven contributed to the Cruz campaign after he signed the 2022 dealfor a combined $20,300 in campaign donations over the last two election cycles.

Libowitz, from watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said that the donations raise serious questions about the podcast agreement.

iHeartMedia lobbyists gave thousands of dollars to Sen. Cruz in an attempt to influence him politicallyits why lobbyists give money. That Cruz was also essentially working for iHeartMedia at the time, with money from iHeartMedia flooding into his political operation, raises serious questions about the nature and intention of that deal, Libowitz said.

Was iHeartMedia considering its federal lobbying efforts when it entered into the Cruz deal? Libowitz wondered.

Caputo, however, pointed out that nothing in the law prevents lobbyists from making campaign donations while also lobbying a Senator.

However, when iHeart and Senator Cruz entered into a syndication agreement for his podcast, Senator Cruz likely violated the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act by receiving the gift of syndication and iHeart likely violated the law by knowingly violating HLOGA, she said.

Asked about the donations, the iHeart spokesperson said the company retains outside consultants who are registered as lobbyists both for us and their other corporate clients, noting that those consultants are allowed to write personal political checks to candidates.

Those lobbyists appear to have had plenty of reasons to target Cruz specifically.

On Monday, independent investigative outlet Popular Information reported that, in the spring of 2023, Cruz sponsored a bill that would bar automakers from removing AM radios from some cars. The report noted that iHearts portfolio includes more than 250 AM stations.

Cruz was one of the original co-sponsors when that bill was introduced last Maytwo months after iHeart began making its revenue payments to Truth and Courage. In the following months, the Cruz campaign saw more than $12,000 come in from registered iHeart lobbyists, FEC records show.

In December, Cruz tried to pass the bill via unanimous consentan effort his GOP colleague Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) ultimately thwarted. In his floor address at the time, Cruz extolled AM radio as an oasis for conservative speech, invoking some influential right-wing kings of the lower frequencies to frame the bill as a battle against corporate overlords.

Rush Limbaugh would not exist without AM radio, Cruz said. The views of my friend the senator from Kentucky would be heard by many fewer people without AM radio, whether Mark Levin or Sean Hannity or Glenn Beck.

Allowing free speech is important, Cruz continued, claiming he believed that the automakers decision to phase out AM radio was an effort to censor views that are disfavored by Big Business.

But the legendary conservative broadcasters that Cruz citedLimbaugh, Levin, Hannity, and Beckall have one thing in common: at one point or another, they were all signed to iHeartMedia.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A teen has been arrested after deputies found a man dead and mutilated inside a vehicle in Fresno County in January, the Fresno County Sheriffs Office announced.

Deputies say they responded to check on a car parked in the middle of an orchard located near Belmont and Washoe Avenues, just west of Mendota on Jan. 17. Inside the vehicle they found a deceased man whose body had been dismembered.

The man was later identified by deputies as 25-year-old Fraylee Hernandez of Mendota.

During the investigation, detectives say they identified a primary suspect for this incident. They learned the actual homicide took place on Jan. 6. At the time, the suspect was 17 years old. He turned 18 in February.

Sheriffs officials say the suspect is an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador who is also currently on probation for assaulting his mother. He and the victim were acquaintances.

Deputies say the suspect was arrested and has been booked into the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Campus on suspicion of homicide. His name will not be released due to him currently being in the juvenile court system.

Although an arrest has been made, deputies encourage anyone who might have information regarding this incident to contact Detective Richard Antunez at 559-600-8221.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 15-year-old was arrested early Saturday morning after stealing a car in Gladstone, driving recklessly through Kansas City and crashing into a house after a police chase in Liberty, according to the Clay County Sheriff.

Deputies first tried stopping a Dodge Challenger at 3:13 a.m. Saturday for speeding and broken taillights at the intersection of Northeast Great Midwest Drive and Northeast Parvin Road in Kansas City.

Kansas City police officer shot during traffic stop Monday night

According to authorities, the driver lost control near 210 Highway. A few minutes later the driver almost hit a deputys car doing an unrelated traffic stop at 210 Highway and NE Chouteau Drive. Sheriffs office officials say they decided against a chase because of the reckless driving.

About 15 minutes later, deputies in downtown Liberty saw the car again going 60 mph and running red lights despite no police pursuit. The Clay County Sheriff decided to try stopping the car again.

They found the driver going south on 291 Highway at Birmingham Road and he ran from deputies. They pursued the Challenger until the driver crashed near 291 and South Main Street hitting an electrical pole that caused a small fire when the power lines hit the ground.

The car then ran into a parked car with someone inside, a gas line, a mailbox, a tree house and a house on South Village Drive before the car stopped. According to authorities the driver then got out of the car and ran.

 Download the FOX4 News app to stay updated on the go.

 Sign up for FOX4 email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on fox4kc.com for Kansas City and all of Kansas and Missouri.

Soon after, the Sheriffs Office K9 team found the suspect near a creek in the woods nearby. Officials say the suspect complied and deputies then discovered he was a 15-year-old who had stolen the Challenger from Gladstone.

After being treated at a hospital he was taken to the juvenile detention center. The victim in the parked car was treated for arm pain at the scene. No one else was hurt, according to Clay County Sheriff, and the cost to fix the electrical pole and power line alone is about $50,000.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
LAWRENCE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  A teenager died after crashing into a utility pole in Lawrence County early Sunday morning.

The crash happened on Highway 43 at 2:20 a.m., according to a preliminary crash report provided by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The THP reported a 16-year-old was driving a Dodge Charger southbound on Highway 43 when he failed to negotiate a curve to the left.

According to the report, the Charger went of the right side of the roadway and hit a utility pole before it overturned and ejected the teenage driver, who was not wearing a seat belt.

No additional information was immediately released.

 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.

 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Tell us where our children are? First bodies exhumed from mass graves at Al-Shifa Hospital after Israeli siege

Health workers in northern Gaza exhumed the first corpses from mass graves in and around Al-Shifa Hospital on Tuesday, after they said Israeli forces killed hundreds of Palestinians and left their bodies to decompose during their two-week siege of the complex.

At least 381 bodies were recovered from the vicinity of the complex since Israeli forces withdrew on April 1, Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said on Tuesday, adding that the total figure did not include people buried within the grounds of the hospital.

Many of the decomposed remnants they discovered had been buried or were found above ground, officials told CNN on Monday. Israeli tanks crushed others to death, leaving some of those killed completely disfigured and unable to be identified, Basal said.

Witnesses and civilians who were trapped inside the hospital when it was raided say the vicinity was full of bodies, according to Basal. The occupation forces have plowed these bodies and buried them in the ground, he added.

We are here to recover the remains of the bodies who are in the sand mounds that the Israeli occupation have plowed in a big pile, Ahmad Alaiwa, a doctor at Al-Shifa, told CNN.

Some of the bodies were found lying under dirt or plastic sheeting, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X on Tuesday. Hospitals should never be militarized, he said in a video message.

It came as staff from the World Health Organization and the UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reached Al-Shifa Hospital earlier this month, according to a UN report. Israeli authorities had repeatedly denied humanitarian teams access to the complex, the UN said.

Shifa has literally become a graveyard There are bodies still in this courtyard, Jonathan Whittall, a senior humanitarian affairs officer for OCHA, said in a video message posted on X, on Saturday.

A United Nations (UN) team inspects the grounds of Al-Shifa, Gaza's largest hospital, which was reduced to rubble by a two-week Israeli raid, on April 8, 2024. - AFP/Getty Images

In response to a CNN request for comment, the Israel Defense Forces said that together with the ISA (Israel Security Agency) it had completed operations against terrorist operatives and infrastructure at Al-Shifa, and that approximately 500 suspects affiliated with terrorist organizations were apprehended and 200 terrorists were eliminated.

It said the operation was carried out following precise intelligence from the ISA and the Intelligence Directorate regarding terrorist organizations activities in the area, including using Shifa as a command and control center and military headquarters.

The forces found large quantities of weapons, intelligence documents throughout the hospital, encountered terrorists in close-quarters battles and engaged in combat while avoiding harm to the medical staff and patients.

Those apprehended had been transferred for further interrogation to the ISA and Unit 504 in the Intelligence Directorate, it added.

Palestinians walk through the destroyed Al-Shifa Hospital, in northern Gaza, on April 1. Gazan health workers told CNN they exhumed the first bodies from mass graves dug by Israeli forces. - Mohammed Hajjar/AP

The IDF confirmed its withdrawal from Al-Shifa on April 1, when it said that hundreds of terrorists were killed or captured.

The terrorist base in Shifa has been eliminated, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said at the time. CNN cannot independently verify IDF statements.

Israel has for years claimed that Hamas fighters are sheltering in mosques, hospitals and other civilian places to avoid Israeli attacks. Hamas has repeatedly denied the claims.

Israel launched its military offensive in Gaza after the militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,200 people, including 36 children, and kidnapping more than 250 others.

Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 33,360 Palestinians, and injured another 75,993 people, according to the Ministry of Health in the enclave.

The smell of the dead is all over the place, Motasem Salah, an official from the Ministry of Health in Gaza leading recovery efforts, told CNN.

We try to identify the bodies of these civilians as their families are awaiting news about their loved ones  if they are alive or missing.

Palestinian forensic and civil defense workers recover bodies at the grounds of Al-Shifa, Gaza's largest hospital, which was reduced to rubble by a two-week Israeli raid, on April 8, 2024. - AFP/Getty Images

Allegations of war crimes

Following the two-week siege, specialized facilities within the hospital complex are completely out of service, according to Salah, the Ministry of Health official. He warned that Israels bombardment has crushed the medical system in Gaza, diminishing resources for rescue and recovery operations.

We dont have pathologist, or expertise in documenting the crimes of the occupation, he said.

UN experts accused Israel of denying access to health care to those most in need, in a statement on April 3.

The world is witnessing the first genocide shown in real time to the world by its victims and unfathomably justified by Israel as compliant with the laws of war, the statement added. The extent of the atrocity is still unable to be fully documented due to its scale and gravity  and clearly represents the most horrific assault on Gazas hospitals.

Targeting hospitals in wartime is prohibited under international law, but those standards change if enemy combatants are using the facility to attack an enemy.

Palestinian forensic and civil defense workers recover human remains at the grounds of Al-Shifa, Gaza's largest hospital, which was reduced to rubble by a two-week Israeli raid, on April 8, 2024. - AFP/Getty Images

Palestinians search for loved ones

CNN video from Al-Shifa on Monday showed huge blocks of damaged concrete spilling from blown-out buildings. UN staff wearing white helmets clambered over layers of debris, as dozens of local workers used shovels to dig for bodies. Others delicately carried decomposed remains inside white shrouds. Palestinian children observed wearily, with the sound of Israeli aircraft buzzing overhead.

Gazan residents gathered at the hospital to search for missing family members. Ghassan Riyad Qunaitta said his elderly father was among those found in the mass graves.

He was a civilian, Qunaitta told CNN. What can we say? They took him from his house and killed him. CNN cannot independently verify that Qunaittas father was killed by Israeli forces.

The IDF stormed his relatives house beside the complex and told them to flee south, leaving his father near the fence of the surgical department  where his body was found on Monday, he says.

We lost his trace since then and we only found his body today almost a week since they have withdrawn. Until today we have been looking, and we only found him now.

Gazan teams from the health department, civil defense, crime scene investigation, and forensics investigate what remains of Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital on April 8, 2024. - Ramzi Mahmud/Anadolu/Getty Images

Another Palestinian at the hospital, Nuha Swailem, told CNN that she was searching for her missing husband, who she said had been detained by Israeli forces during the raid.

We dont know their fate or the fate of my husband, if they are buried or detained, she added. Tell us where our children are? Tell me where my husband is?

Palestinians at Al-Shifa told CNN say they want to give their loved ones a proper funeral, lamenting the indignity of their deaths. UN agencies worked with Gazas Ministry of Health to offer dignified burials for the unidentified bodies found at Al-Shifa, according to a post on X on Tuesday.

We want to recover these body remains and to give them proper burial, said Alaiwa, one of the doctors at Al-Shifa. Parents and families want to know the fate of their loved ones, whether they are dead or arrested, or have gone missing.

Swailem, the Palestinian mother, reflected, Why did they arrest them. What crime did they commit? The only crime is we are the people of Palestine.

Khadr Al-Zaanoun of Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Tesla has settled a wrongful death lawsuit involving a crash that killed an Apple engineer in Mountain View California after the SUV he drove veered off a highway near San Francisco nearly four years ago resulting in a fiery ending, court documents show.

The family of the later Wei Lun "Walter" Huang sued the electric car manufacturing company after the Model X he drove crashed into a concrete lane divider and careened into oncoming lanes, obliterating the SUV and igniting a fire. Huang was 38.

In an investigative report released after the March 23, 2018, crash, the National Transportation Safety Board found fault on both the vehicle and the driver during the wreck on U.S. Highway 101 near Mountain View, a city in Santa Clara County, part of the San Francisco Bay Area.

The trial had been slated to start Monday before Judge Lori E. Pegg, California Superior Court records show.

Details of the settlement were redacted in court papers obtained by USA TODAY.

Robotaxi by Tesla: Tesla to unveil self-driving car in August, Elon Musk says

NTSB's findings of March 23, 2018, crash

According to a 2020 report obtained by USA TODAY, officials found Huang did not try to stop the SUV as it sped toward a crash barrier along the highway.

The board determined:

 Tesla's system "did not detect the driver's hands on the steering wheel" for 26 of the final 60 seconds leading up to the collision, including the final six seconds.

 Huang was likely distracted before the wreck.

 The SUV's autopilot failed to keep the vehicle in its lane and its collision-avoidance software had failed to detect a highway barrier.

In addition to monetary compensation, the lawsuit sought damages from the California Department of Transportation, claiming the barrier the SUV hit had been previously damaged. According to the initial 20-page suit, the barrier also failed to absorb the SUV's impact.

USA TODAY has reached out to Tesla and attorneys for Sz Huang, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of her late husband and their four children.

Tesla: 'Keep hands on wheel at all times'

After the crash, Tesla wrote in a blog post, "the reason this crash was so severe is because the crash attenuator, a highway safety barrier which is designed to reduce the impact into a concrete lane divider, had been crushed in a prior accident without being replaced. We have never seen this level of damage to a Model X in any other crash."

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk unveils the Model X at a launch event in Fremont, Calif. on Sept. 29, 2015. The Tesla Motors X is an all-wheel drive SUV featuring a 90 kWh battery.

According to Tesla, as a safety precaution, users of its partial autopilot system are always to keep their hands on the wheel while driving. The system steers, brakes and accelerates in highway lanes and is designed to deliver audible and visual alerts when the driver does not comply.

Contributing: Nathan Bomey

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tesla settles lawsuit over crash that killed California Apple engineer
FILE - The logo for a Tesla Supercharger station is seen in Buford, Ga, April 22, 2021. Tesla has settled a lawsuit Monday, April 8, 2024, brought by the family of a Silicon Valley engineer who died in a crash while relying on the companys semi-autonomous driving software. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP)  Tesla has settled a lawsuit brought by the family of a Silicon Valley engineer who died in a crash while relying on the companys semi-autonomous driving software.

The amount Tesla paid to settle the case was not disclosed in court documents filed Monday, just a day before the trial stemming from the 2018 crash on a San Francisco Bay Area highway was scheduled to begin. In a court filing requesting to keep the sum private, Tesla said it agreed to settle the case in order to end years of litigation.

Shares of Tesla Inc., down 30% this year, slipped 1% before the market opened Tuesday.

The family of Walter Huang filed a negligence and wrongful death lawsuit in 2019 seeking to hold Tesla  and, by extension, its CEO Elon Musk  liable for repeatedly exaggerating the capabilities of Teslas self-driving car technology. They claimed the technology, dubbed Autopilot, was promoted in egregious ways that caused vehicle owners to believe they didnt have to remain vigilant while they were behind the wheel.

Evidence indicated that Huang was playing a video game on his iPhone when he crashed into a concrete highway barrier on March 23, 2018.

After dropping his son off at preschool, Huang activated the Autopilot feature on his Model X for his commute to his job at Apple. But less than 20 minutes later, Autopilot veered the vehicle out of its lane and began to accelerate before barreling into a barrier located at a perilous intersection on a busy highway in Mountain View, California. The Model X was still traveling at more than 70 miles per hour (110 kilometers per hour).

Huang, 38, died at the gruesome scene, leaving behind his wife and two children, now 12 and 9 years old.

The case was just one of about a dozen scattered across the U.S. raising questions about whether Musks boasts about the effectiveness of Teslas autonomous technology fosters a misguided faith the technology, The company also has an optional feature it calls Full Self Driving. The U.S. Justice Department also opened an inquiry last year into how Tesla and Musk promote its autonomous technology, according to regulatory filings that didnt provide many details about the nature of the probe.

Tesla, which is based in Austin, Texas, prevailed last year in a Southern California trial focused on whether misperceptions about Teslas Autopilot feature contributed to a driver in a 2019 crash involving one of the companys cars.
Courthouse for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. Credit: Michael Moline

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Testimony ended Tuesday morning in a constitutional challenge to a 2023 law imposing restrictions on voter registration organizations. While awaiting a ruling, these groups have stopped signing up new voters ahead of the general election in November.

Voter-rights advocates, state officials, political science experts, and canvassers testified in court hearings that started on April 1. Over the past week, attorneys for third-party voter registration organizations, or 3PVROs, have tried to demonstrate that the law discriminates against Blacks and Hispanics.

SB 7050 went into effect on July 1, 2023.

Meanwhile, attorneys representing the state have presented alternatives for the groups to register voters, including handing out voter registration applications with prepaid envelopes or letting voters fill out an electronic form on the Florida Department of State website.

That would be a near-perfect substitute, said defense attorney Mohammad Jazil.

The judge presiding over the case, Mark Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, did not say when he would rule. Eight months remain until the general election, in which voters will pick the next president and representatives at the local, state, and national level.

Voter registration groups, including the League of Women Voters of Florida, Florida State Conference of Branches and Youth Units of the NAACP, Equal Ground Education Fund and Alianza for Progress are challenging provisions limiting who can handle voter registration applications and the procedures for the organizations once they collect the forms.

The suit names as defendants Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd and the states 67 county supervisors of elections.

Proving discriminatory intent

Walker warned the plaintiffs attorneys that the standard for proving discriminatory intent by the Legislature had changed after recent decisions from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. For example, they must focus on the legislative session in which the law passed and cant use patterns from previous sessions, Walker said.

Im not saying that to disparage anyone, the judge said.

Under the old law the groups had 14 days to turn in any applications before the registration period ended ahead of an election. Under SB 7050, the deadline is 10 days. The law also prohibits organizations from maintaining information about the voters.

Additionally, plaintiffs claim the law discriminates against noncitizens authorized to work in the country and people convicted of felonies who have had their voting rights restored because it bars them from handling voter registration applications.

Days after the law went into effect, Walker enjoined provisions preventing the retention of information and barring noncitizens from handling voter registrations. Even so, two noncitizen employees for Mi Vecino, a 3PVRO, testified on Day Two of the trial that the organization restricted their ability to handle voter registration forms because SB 7050 barred them from doing so.

Cynthia Slater, the Florida NAACPs civic engagement chair, testified on Thursday that the civil rights group had stopped voter registration drives because of the law. Each violation could result in a $50,000 fine.

The injunction made it harder to analyze how the law could change the voter registration landscape in Florida, said Michael Herron, a professor of quantitative social science at Dartmouth College. The plaintiffs attorneys hired him as an expert witness, and he has produced previous studies about Floridas restrictions on voter registration organizations.

I am not observing the full force of SB 7050, Herron said on Tuesday.

Both the plaintiffs attorneys and the defendants attorneys called state officials as witnesses. Tim VanderGiesen, chief of the Public Corruption Unit of the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office, said on Monday that his unit is running active investigations against third-party voter registration organizations.

On Day Three of the trial, Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley said SB 7050 has produced a dramatic decrease in groups efforts to sign up new voters.

Although expert witnesses on both sides clashed on whether the law had yielded discrimination against Black and Hispanic voters, they agreed that those voters rely on 3PVROs at a significantly higher rate than do white voters.

The post Testimony ends in lawsuit over 2023 law cracking down on voter registration orgs appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
OTTAWA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Millions of watchers in Canada turned skyward as a total solar eclipse moved across Canada on Monday.

The path of totality in Canada included parts of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Along the stretch the moon blocked the sunlight entirely.

Canada's Niagara Region, one of the best places in the world to take in the sight, declared a state of emergency as it was preparing for the influx of visitors for this "once-in-a-lifetime event."

According to Statistics Canada, one in six people, or about 6.1 million people, live in the country's path of totality for Monday's eclipse, based on 2021 census data.

Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques said it was one of the rare times that people had a "direct connection with what's going on in space."

"It's a very direct reminder of the reality of the cosmic ballet, if you want, that's constantly going on," Saint-Jacques was quoted as saying by CTV News.

While the next total solar eclipse in Canada is expected to pass through western provinces in 20 years, the phenomenon only happens in any given location roughly once every 360 years by some estimates. 
An empty House chamber, prior the start of the special session on Thursday, July 8, 2021. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune

Nearly two dozen GOP state lawmakers and candidates are pushing to overhaul the Texas Houses rules in a bid to further diminish the influence of Democrats and weaken key levers of power used by the speaker to control the chamber.

In an open letter, titled Contract with Texas, the Republican signatories called on the next House leader to commit to their list of conservative demands that served as a repudiation of Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, who theyve accused of handing too much power to the Democratic minority. It marks the first move by the Houses growing rightmost faction to formally define how they want the chamber to function, a typically arcane debate that emerged as a central theme in this years primary contests.

The proposed changes included ending the practice of appointing Democrats to chair House committees. Phelan last year appointed Democrats to oversee eight of the chambers 34 standing committees, while reserving most of the high-profile assignments for Republicans.

Reference

See the letter, and who signed it, from Republicans setting demands for the next House speaker.

(978.1 KB)

Phelan has defended the tradition, arguing it prevents the House from devolving into a state of gridlock without actually thwarting GOP priorities. But the speakers critics framed it as a sign of his insufficiently conservative record, an argument they used to help unseat a record nine House GOP incumbents in the March 5 primary. Eight others, including Phelan, were forced into runoffs.

All but one of the runoff challengers had signed onto the letter by Tuesday, including Phelans opponent, GOP activist and energy consultant David Covey. Also among the signatories were five Republican incumbents and eight GOP nominees who won their primaries last month, mostly by ousting Phelan allies. A total of 23 Republicans had signed onto the contract  a small share of the 150-member House, but also a sign of the growing bloc of current and likely GOP members willing to defy Phelan.

The letter proposes a dozen changes that, taken together, would fundamentally transform how the Texas House operates. The demands include ensuring that all GOP legislative priorities receive a floor vote before any Democrat bills, limiting the speaker to two terms and barring the speaker from distributing political funds.

Phelan has spent millions of dollars from his campaign account over the last two cycles to defend GOP allies against primary challenges from the right.

Also included in the list of demands are a handful of changes aimed at preventing Democrats from using procedural tactics to kill or delay conservative bills, including replacing the current House parliamentarians.

The Houses most recent session was marked by obstruction, dysfunction, and a lack of fundamental fairness in application of the Houses Rules, and this cannot continue, the contract reads. The message of last months primaries was self-evident and sent a clear message that business as usual is not acceptable.

Phelan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Beaumont Republican became the first speaker in more than 50 years to be forced into a runoff, after he finished second to Covey in the March 5 primary. With Phelan fighting for political survival, one of his House GOP colleagues, state Rep. Tom Oliverson of Cypress, recently announced that he was challenging Phelan for the speakership  regardless of whether Phelan survives his May overtime round against Covey.

The new contract with Texas broadly aligns with Oliversons pitch to realign the lower chamber with the priorities of the Republican party, which includes a pledge to end the tradition of allowing Democrats to chair House committees.

Phelan has said he plans to seek  and win  another term as speaker if he emerges from his primary battle. The speaker is elected by the 150-member House at the start of each regular legislative session, which falls in January of odd years.

Recent speakers, including Phelan, have initially won control of the gavel by gathering pledges of support from a mix of Republicans and Democrats. The Texas GOPs most conservative faction has long pushed for House Republicans to select the speaker in a closed-door, informal vote ahead of the official floor vote  effectively removing Democrats from the process.

The contract calls on the next House speaker to only solicit support from Republican members.

Democrats currently hold 64 seats in the Texas House, enough to prevent Republicans from passing items that require two-thirds support, such as the state budget and constitutional amendments.

We cant wait to welcome you to downtown Austin Sept. 5-7 for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival! Join us at Texas breakout politics and policy event as we dig into the 2024 elections, state and national politics, the state of democracy, and so much more. When tickets go on sale this spring, Tribune members will save big. Donate to join or renew today.
A thief stole his identity, but nobody believed him. He spent nearly 2 years locked up

Nobody believed William Woods.

They didn't believe someone had used his Social Security number to run up hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. They didn't believe the Social Security card he himself carried was real.

Above all, no one believed he really was William Woods.

He was arrested for unauthorized use of personal information and spent nearly two years locked up awaiting trial, including more than 100 days in a psychiatric hospital. Woods eventually pleaded no contest in a Los Angeles court to identity theft and false impersonation in exchange for a time-served sentence and immediate release from custody.

Woods had never pretended to be anyone but himself. The problem, it turned out, was that someone had spent decades pretending to be Woods.

Matthew David Keirans worked for years at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa  all under someone else's name. (Johnson County Jail)

Last week, the culprit  Matthew David Keirans  pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a National Credit Union Administration insured institution and aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Iowa.

The 58-year-old faces up to 32 years in prison.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department, which arrested Woods back in 2019, said the department is aware of the case and is "actively investigating."

Venusse Dunn, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney, said the office has filed a motion to vacate Woods' conviction. The hearing is scheduled for April 11.

In a recent interview with The Times, Woods said he's considering filing a lawsuit against the city of L.A. for the years he spent behind bars, accused of a crime he did not commit.

"They should pay for every day I had to stay there," the 55-year-old said. "It isnt right to be putting me in jail for nothing."

A stolen identity

The scam began four decades ago at a hot dog cart in Albuquerque, N.M.

Woods had been working there for years, he said, when Keirans was hired in 1988. The men didn't interact until Woods' wallet went missing. When Woods questioned Keirans about the theft, he said, the other man didn't respond.

"I put my fist in his face, and he decided to hand me back my wallet," said Woods, although he didn't hit Keirans.

Woods said he looked inside the wallet and his Social Security card and birth certificate were still inside.

"I didn't think anything of it," Woods said. "I didn't think he was actually going to do anything."

But, after 1988, there was no record of Keirans ever using his own name, date of birth or Social Security number, according to his plea agreement.

Instead, Keirans obtained employment, insurance, a Social Security number, driver's licenses, titles, loans and credit using Woods' identity. He even paid taxes under his former coworker's name.

In December 1990, Keirans got a Colorado ID card as Woods. Then he got a job at a fast food restaurant and opened a new bank account, all using the stolen identity.

The following September, Keirans, posing as Woods, bought a car for $600 using checks that later bounced, according to the agreement. As a result, an arrest warrant was issued for Woods.

Keirans' fiction extended to his personal life. He married in 1994. The couple had a child in Oregon who bore Woods' last name. To keep his charade going, Keirans in 2012 obtained Woods' certified birth certificate from Kentucky, using information from Ancestry.com, according to prosecutors.

In this Feb. 13, 2014, file photo, a bus sits in front of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa. (Ryan J. Foley / Associated Press)

He later got a job  as Woods  working as a systems architect at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Keirans provided the hospital with fake identification documents, including a fictitious I-9 form, Social Security number and date of birth, according to the plea agreement.

Keirans worked remotely from his home in Wisconsin and earned at least $700,000 from the hospital over a 10-year period. Between 2016 and 2022, he obtained vehicle and personal loans from credit unions under Woods' name, totaling more than $200,000.

The real William Woods

As the fake Woods seemed to thrive, the real one struggled.

After leaving New Mexico, Woods said he worked as a day laborer in El Paso then got a job at a laundromat in Las Vegas. Eventually, he moved to Southern California.

He spent several years in San Diego, where he said he worked a tech job, before moving to Santa Monica in 2009. He stayed in hotels and motels around the area and said he sold gem stones, gold scraps or other items he found on the streets of downtown L.A.'s jewelry district.

On Aug. 20, 2019, Woods, whom prosecutors described as homeless, went to an L.A. branch of a national bank and told the assistant branch manager that he'd recently discovered someone was using his credit and had accumulated a large amount of debt, according to Keirans' plea agreement. Woods requested his account numbers so he could close them.

Woods gave the assistant branch manager his Social Security card and his California ID. His name and Social Security number matched those associated with bank accounts Keirans had opened. Because of the large amounts of money in the accounts, the bank employee asked Woods a series of security questions, which he was unable to answer correctly, according to court records.

The bank employee then called the number tied to the bank accounts. Keirans answered. He told her no one in California should have access to his bank account. He correctly answered the security questions. The assistant branch manager called the police.

LAPD officers spoke with Keirans on the phone, and he later faxed them a copy of a Social Security card, a Wisconsin driver's license and the Kentucky birth certificate. The officers arrested Woods for unauthorized use of personal information.

On Oct. 31, the district attorney's office charged Woods with two felonies, in the name of "Matthew Kierans"  misspelling the real identity thief's last name. That day in court, according to court reporter transcripts obtained by The Times, Woods told the judge, "I'm not Matthew Keirans at all." It is unclear how Woods was linked to the identity thief's name.

The prosecutor's office said the case had been filed under a previous administration based on police reports as well as body-worn camera video. As to why Woods was booked under the name "Kierans," a spokesperson for the office said that was "unclear"; the LAPD did not specify how that came to happen.

Two months later, Woods again told the court, "No, I'm not Keirans at all." He asked for another attorney. He said he wanted an investigator. He didn't make sense at times, saying the investigator was in Mexico and that he received a password, according to the transcript.

"I'm sorry. Stop. You've got to stop," the judge told Woods, before pulling the lawyers aside.

"Your Honor, based on my conversations with my client, and at this time, I do not believe that he is competent, and I'm declaring a doubt," Susana Juarez, Deputy Alternate Public Defender, said soon after.

The judge suspended criminal proceedings and said a psychiatrist would be appointed.

"I want to talk to the FBI," Woods said.

"You can give them a call," the judge replied.

"I want some agents to come down here," Woods said.

In February 2020, the judge found Woods was not mentally competent to stand trial and ordered him to a psychiatric hospital. It was also ordered that he receive psychotropic medication.

A little more than eight months later, after numerous delays because of bedspace and COVID-19 issues, Woods was transported to Patton State Hospital, according to a minute order from the court.

"People didnt listen, and they didnt know I was who I said I was, Woods said. "They were painting it like I was crazy."

Throughout that time, according to the plea agreement, Keirans kept writing to L.A. authorities, requesting updates on the case.

In March 2020, he wrote the assistant district attorney and asked whether the process was moving forward and if there would be court hearings every two months to determine competence. The assistant district attorney confirmed that to be the case "until he regains competency."

"This is assuming he does," Keirans responded, according to the plea agreement.

Woods was convicted of felony charges in March 2021. He pleaded "no contest" and was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in the county jail, although the court credited him for the 428 days he spent in jail and the 147 days he spent in the hospital.

He was ordered to stop using the name William Woods.

Woods said he pleaded out so the case against him would be dismissed.

"At first I kept saying, 'I'm not guilty,' but they wouldnt believe that, Woods said. "They wouldnt believe it."

A DNA test

After his release, Woods was determined to get back his identity.

In August 2021, he contacted the local police department in Wisconsin and reported that Keirans had stolen his identity, according to the plea agreement. That same month, Keirans filed a complaint falsely claiming that Woods had stolen his identity.

Woods then filed customer disputes in an attempt to clear his credit report, according to the agreement. Keirans filed a second identity theft complaint with the local police and later submitted a notarized statement in support of his claim.

In January 2023, Woods learned where Keirans worked and contacted the Iowa City hospital's security department. They referred his complaint to the University of Iowa Police Department.

Detective Ian Mallory obtained DNA from Woods and his father, listed on the Kentucky birth certificate. The test proved that Woods was his father's son.

When Mallory interviewed Keirans, he told Mallory that Woods was "crazy" and "needed help and should be locked up." Mallory asked Keirans for his father's name and Keirans mistakenly gave the first name of his own adoptive father, according to the plea agreement.

Mallory then confronted Keirans with the DNA evidence. Keirans responded by saying, "my life is over," and "everything is gone."

Keirans pleaded guilty April 1 in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. The case was first reported in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

In a letter written to the court on Keirans' behalf, his son identified himself as the "son of Matthew Keirans, formerly known as William Woods  in either case, known to me as Dad."

Starting over

In a rambling phone interview, Woods floated theories about what happened to him and why  most of which The Times could not confirm.

Woods spoke of corrupt cops and politicians across the country. He insisted that LAPD officers had known he was the real Woods and conspired with the banker to put me in jail on purpose.

When asked about Woods' claims, an LAPD spokeswoman cited the investigation and said "additional information regarding this case is not currently available."

Eric Kilmer, who had employed Woods at his hot dog cart business starting in the 1980s, described him as "the most innocent type fellow youll ever want to meet." He added that people would take advantage of Woods.

At times, he said, Woods has rambled off names, some of people Kilmer knows and others he doesn't.

"I think that since people were taking advantage of him over time, all these names stick in his head," Kilmer told The Times. "He's just trying to tie it all together in his own mind, I think."

Last year, Woods moved back to Albuquerque, where he lived in a hotel. He's currently staying in a friend's van in El Paso.

Woods said he doesn't know yet what he'll be doing for work.

"What's next for me?" he asked. "I guess I have to regain all my stuff back and just rebuild what I was."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
DOVER  A jury found Timothy Verrill guilty of second-degree murder for killing two women at a Farmington home in 2017. The verdict was issued Wednesday afternoon in Strafford County Superior Court.

He was found not guilty of first-degree murder. Verrill was also found guilty on all five charges of falsifying physical evidence. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

Timothy Verrill is lead from court to be returned to jail after being found guilty at Strafford County Superior Court April 9, 2024.

Verrill has been in jail since 2017, when he was arrested and charged with killing Christine Sullivan and Jenna Pellegrini, who were both bludgeoned and stabbed to death on Jan. 27, 2017 at a 969 Meaderboro Road home in Farmington owned by Dean Smoronk, who was Sullivans boyfriend.

Prosecutors react to Timothy Verrill second-degree murder conviction

Senior Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley and Assistant Attorney General Brian Greklek-McKeon gave a brief interview. They thanked the jury and the families of the victims.

"It has been a long road for the families," Hinckley said. "It has been a difficult process and seven years."

Prosecuters Brian Greklek-McKeon, left, and Peter Hinckley react to the second-degree murder conviction in the trial of Timothy Verrill in Strafford County Superior Court in Dover Wednesday, April 9, 2024.

New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella also issued a statement.

Our hearts go out to the families of Christine Sullivan and Jenna Pellegrini as well as to all those who knew and loved them," Formella's statement reads. "Todays verdict delivers justice, and we hope it also brings some solace to the victims loved ones. Today we reaffirm our states commitment to justice and the value of every life. I extend my thanks to our trial team, to the New Hampshire State Police, and to the Farmington Police Department for their tireless work on this case.

Verrill's defense, through public defender Julia Nye, declined to comment after the verdict was issued.

Verrill had been on trial since March. This is the second trial in the case, following a 2019 mistrial because New Hampshire State Police failed to provide some evidence to the defense in discovery.

Hinckley and Greklek-McKeon had asked the jury for a first degree murder conviction. Hinckley said that would have resulted in an automatic sentence of life in prison without the chance of parole in New Hampshire.

"We felt his actions before, during and after the crime warranted that but the jury felt differently," Hinckley said. "The sentence will be up to the judge now."

Hinckley said he was not surprised the jury, which had deliberated since last Thursday, took as long as it did to reach a verdict.

"A jury takes as long as they need to," he said. "There is never any way to know how long it will take."

Timothy Verrill gets into the elevator to return to jail after being found guilty at Strafford County Superior Court April 9, 2024.

On Tuesday morning, one juror was out sick, so one of the alternates was called to duty. That new juror had to be brought up to speed on the deliberations that had already taken place before the process could continue.

Asked why Smoronk, the boyfriend of Christine Sullivan was not called as a witness, Hinckley said each side has long lists of potential witnesses and the decision is made during the trial on who to call. He did not explain further.

In closing arguments last week, Senior Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley, the lead prosecutor, told the jury evidence shows Verrill planned to spy on the women, believing at least one was a drug informant, that he returned to the house, murdered the women, cleaned the scene, and moved the bodies.

"He used multiple weapons, in a brutal attack," said Hinckley. "He made a conscious decision to kill them so hold him responsible."

The defense painted a very different picture, portraying Verrill as the scapegoat, a fall guy for the people who really killed Sullivan and Pellegrini.

Timothy Verrill is handcuffed to be returned to jail after being found guilty of second-degree murder of two women at Strafford County Superior Court Wednesday, April 9, 2024.

Public defender Julia Nye argued there is reasonable doubt and focused heavily on DNA found under the fingernails of the victims that did not match Verrill. She also emphasized broken rings belonging to Sullivan, which also excluded Verrill from a DNA match. Nye also suggested others, including Smoronk, were ignored by investigators as potential suspects. The prosecution said evidence shows Smoronk was in Florida at the time of the killings.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Timothy Verrill verdict: Guilty of murdering two women in NH
Tip led to Eight Mile robbery suspect and his cousins arrests: Mobile County Sheriffs Office

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  The suspect in an Eight Mile robbery, 30-year-old Rashad Kardelle Norwood, and his cousin were arrested after the Mobile County Sheriffs Office received a tip on their whereabouts, according to an MCSO news release.

President Biden sends letter to Mobile murder victims mother

The release said that deputies received information on Norwoods location around 5:10 p.m. on April 4. The MCSOs Special Operations Unit tracked the vehicle in which Norwood was a passenger and reportedly pulled it over at the intersection of Government Street and Butler Drive.

Norwoods cousin, 33-year-old Detyris Sancheze Norwood, of Mobile, was allegedly the cars driver. He was arrested for an outstanding warrant of domestic violence strangulation or suffocation, said the release.

Norwood was allegedly in the passenger seat and was arrested on two counts of probation revocation, attempted murder, and first-degree robbery.

Rashad Norwood (left) and Detyris Norwood (right) mugshots (Mobile County Sheriffs Office)

The release said deputies found a Draco pistol in a red backpack in the back of the vehicle, along with miscellaneous clothing that resembled the clothing worn in surveillance video from the convenience store shooting.

Run honors Mobile County teacher decade after her untimely death

The shooting happened at the T&J Food Mart on Shelton Beach Road and Myers Road on April 2.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  High school students in the local area are getting a hands-on introduction to trade jobs in Topeka.

The Topeka Area Building Association (TABA) hosted Build My Future Topeka career day Tuesday. It gives students options to enter the workforce without going to college.

Young people got to interact with experts in various jobs in the trade industry. They also got to give the equipment and machinery a try.

Changes coming to Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library

Its really neat, said local high schooler Gavin Smith. Its a good opportunity to have to see what you can do past high school and into college.

The association is emphasizing the importance of getting more young people involved in this career.

The average age is 60-years-old for a construction worker, CEO of the TABA Katy Nelson said. And thats across the country, so weve got to start getting these kids interested now.

Topeka Public Schools celebrate School Library Month in a big way

While this event was a great educational opportunity, students got to have some fun as well.

They had this one thing where you shove a thing down the tube, and you pull it back up, said local high schooler Winston Makin. I lost the first time I did it, and then I won the second time I did it.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Topeka USD 501 Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Anderson and Coordinator of Media Services Tiffanie Beasley join the 27 News morning show to highlight the importance of libraries in the local community, educators that double as authors, and the upcoming Roll & Read event.

Watch the interview above for more details.

Groundbreaking set for Topeka Family Park

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Total eclipse of the heart: Couple gets engaged at Knox Farm in East Aurora

Total eclipse of the heart: Couple gets engaged at Knox Farm in East Aurora

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Couples got engaged during totality of the solar eclipse Monday in Western New York, at both Niagara Falls State Park and Knox Farm in East Aurora.

An eclipse proposal!  Emily and Doug just got engaged! Doug popped the question during totality! Congratulations to the happy couple! 



Hear from them coming up at 5 on @news4buffalo pic.twitter.com/S09MKK1xgX  Sarah Minkewicz (@SarahMinkewicz) April 8, 2024

I didnt expect it, bride-to-be Emily told WIVB News 4 Buffalo moments after accepting Dougs proposal at Knox Farm. No idea at all. Its so exciting. I feel like on cloud nine.

Its very exciting, Doug added. Im so happy.

There also was a marriage proposal at Niagara Falls during totality, captured by NewsNation.

Latest Local News

Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.

***

Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
The sun reaches totality during the eclipse on April 08, 2024 in Houlton, Maine. Millions of people have flocked to areas across North America that are in the "path of totality" in order to experience a total solar eclipse. During the event, the moon will pass in between the sun and the Earth, appearing to block the sun. .

The moon turned daytime skies dark as it swept across North America in a total solar eclipse Monday (April 8), thrilling tens of millions of skywatchers who had their eyes glued to the skies.

All of North America and Central America experienced a partial solar eclipse, but only those located within the path of totality  an approximately 115-mile (185-kilometer) wide and 10,000-mile-long (16,000 kilometers) route  saw the moon completely obscure the sun.

Related: Total solar eclipse 2024: Pictures from around the web

Image 1 of 3

Thhe sun reaches totality during the eclipse on April 08, 2024 in Houlton, Maine. Millions of people have flocked to areas across North America that are in the

Image 2 of 3

The moon begins moving in front of the sun in Mazatlan Mexico

Image 3 of 3

Spectators of the total solar eclipse in Potsdam, NY, April 8

The path of totality crossed four states in Mexico (Sinaloa, Nayarit, Durango and Coahuila) before sweeping over 15 U.S. states (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine) and seven Canadian Provinces (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland).

Some 31.6 million people live in the totality path in the U.S. alone, NASA officials have said.

"It was super unreal, I didn't expect that," Diamond Cromwell, an 18-year-old freshman studying business at the State University of New York Potsdam in Potsdam, New York, which canceled classes so students and the public could watch the eclipse in a festival. "It definitely blew my expectations out of the park."

Cromwell almost missed totality the 3 minutes and 14 seconds that started at 3:24 p.m. EDT where the moon blocked the sun over Potsdam, leaving a ring of the sun's corona shining through a thin layer of clouds. "I had my [eclipse] glasses on, I didn't know that during totality you could actually take your glasses off." Another spectator urged him to take them off and he was able to see the view. "It was good, really good."

What causes a total solar eclipse?

Dated Memorabilia, A Dog Wearing Solar Glasses

Submit your photos! If you saw a photo of the April 8 total solar eclipse and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send photos, videos, comments, and your name, location and content usage permission release to spacephotos@space.com.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon appears the same size in the sky as the sun, or slightly larger, so fully covers the disk of the sun, giving observers a view of the sun's outer atmosphere, the corona.

The apparent size of the moon in the sky  and whether it can completely cover the sun's disk during an eclipse  depends on the moon's distance from Earth. The moon has a slightly elliptical orbit around Earth, so at two points each month, it is farthest (apogee) and closest (perigee) to Earth, making the moon appear slightly smaller and slightly larger than average in our sky.

Eclipse watchers gather in Torreon, Mexico. Millions of people have flocked to areas across North America that are in the path of totality in order to experience a total solar eclipse

The path of totality made landfall in Mazatlan, Mexico, at around at 9:51 a.m. local time (12:51 p.m. EDT, 16:51 GMT). At 10:21 local time (13:21 EDT/17:21 GMT) this region became the first to experience totalityIt took about 3 hours and 16 minutes for the moon's shadow to cross Earth before it departed at sunset in the Atlantic Ocean north of the Azores.

In the lead-up to totality in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where TechRadar staffer and Space.com contributor John Loeffler was stationed waiting for the eclipse, there was a great atmosphere and camaraderie among eclipse watchers.

"I compare this to a tailgate atmosphere," said Paul Ruff, who traveled from Iowa City, IA to Poplar Bluff, told Loeffler. "People are very nice, sharing their equipment, showing you what theyre seeing."

A view of the partial solar eclipse behind the clouds as seen from the quad at Syracuse University on April 08, 2024 in Syracuse, New York. Millions of people have flocked to areas across North America that are in the

Not all of the millions of people who traveled to the path of totality to view this event were rewarded with an unobscured view of the total solar eclipse. This is a natural event, and nature doesn't always play ball.

Space.com's Daisy Dobrijevic traveled to Rochester, New York, from the U.K. to see the moon begin to cover the sun at around 14:15 EDT (18:15 GMT). The event was slightly muted by uncooperative cloud coverage.

A cheer erupted as people caught the first glimpse of the total solar eclipse from Rochester as the moon starts taking a bite out of the sun at around 14;15 EDT an April 8, 2024

Dobrijevic noted that even with the clouds, onlookers got to see some fascinating eclipse effects as the obscuration of the moon caused the clouds to change hue. The cloud coverage didn't mute the crowd as the eclipse began either.

"A cheer erupted as people caught the first glimpse of the total solar eclipse from Rochester, and the moon started taking a bite out of the sun!" Dobrijevic said.

When is the next total solar eclipse?

Eclipse chasers won't have to wait too long until the next solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, which is visible from Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, and Spain. At the point of the greatest eclipse close to Iceland, totality will last 2 minutes and 18 seconds.

RELATED STORIES:

 Which places on Earth witness the most solar eclipses?

 How the supersonic Concorde jet broke the record for the longest total solar eclipse in history

 When is the next solar eclipse?

With regards to North America, the next total solar eclipse will happen on March 30, 2033, and will be seen in Alaska. After this, the U.S. states of Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, and areas of Canada will experience a total solar eclipse on Aug. 23, 2044.

Almost exactly a year later, on Aug. 12, 2045, a total solar eclipse will be visible in California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, as well as the Caribbean and South America.

Editor's note: Space.com senior writer Rob Lea and writer Alex Cox contributed to this story from London, U.K. Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik contributed to this story from Potsdam, New York. Space.com contributor John Loeffler contributed to this story from Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

Submit your story photos! If you capture a photo of the April 8 total solar eclipse or any of these strange effects and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send photos, videos, comments, and your name, location and content usage permission release to spacephotos@space.com.
I remember as a teenager reading about a strange disorder called anorexia. I had never heard of it  and then I noticed one of my best friends cleaning her teeth several times a day and exercising manically. And it wasnt just her that was acting weirdly. Several girls I knew were clearly suffering. Then came bulimia, which turned the school loos into sad places in which certain girls spent worrying amounts of time.

Then, as a mother of daughters, I remember reading about an epidemic of cutting among teenagers. Surely this highly unusual behaviour was not rampant? Well, the internet told me it was and an NHS psychiatrist informed me about self-harm circles in certain schools.

These thoughts occur because I am trying to understand how we started talking of trans children and thought this was somehow some kind of progress. This, after all, is a new phenomenon. In 2010, for instance, with the Equality Act, which made gender reassignment a protected characteristic, the intention was surely to avoid discrimination against adult transsexuals. This is a laudable aim, but no one was talking about children then. The phrase gender dysphoria was not bandied about. It was rare to come across a child who had such severe gender issues they needed specialist services. Indeed, in that year, only 75 children were referred to Gids (the NHSs Gender Identity Development Service, based at the Tavistock Centre in north-west London). By 2021 it was 5,000.

Now we are in a situation where celebrities wear T-shirts saying Protect Trans Kids and where schools, even primary schools, are colluding with the idea that children are whatever they say they are, that their bodies are somehow wrong and that they can change their names without parental consent.

The alarm bells have been ringing for some time about Gids. What was most alarming was this sudden spike in girls presenting with gender dysphoria and the increasing evidence of the harms of puberty blockers.

When Dr Hilary Cass was commissioned to report on standards of care within the NHS, it was as if finally an adult had stepped into the room. She and her team have looked at the evidence and practices that had recently evolved the affirmative model (designed to support and affirm an individuals gender identity) and found much wanting. She also signalled the high levels of comorbidities with gender dysphoria. A high proportion of these girls who did not want to be girls were autistic. Many had troubled childhoods or had been in care. Many were gay. All of this resulted in the unravelling of Gids and a ban on puberty blockers.

In the full report, which is due to be published this week, Cass is not only concerned with medical intervention (puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, surgery) but is also expected to come out against social transition. Though this is not something that happens within the health service, it is, she says, an active intervention because it may have significant effects on the child or young person in terms of psychological functioning. There are different views on the benefits versus the harms of early social transition it is not a neutral act and better information is needed about outcomes.

Some believe that socially transitioning kids will lock them into a gender identity and medical pathway that is detrimental. Cass emphasises that gender expression is indeed fluid and changeable for adolescents and that many may take till their mid-20s to settle. In other words, leave these kids alone.

Indeed, faced with this huge increase in kids saying they are trans, many schools have acquiesced. Yet teachers are not clinicians, nor are they there to diagnose children. Do they understand what they are doing? The entire narrative around trans children has been imported from America, but it is breaking apart.

Those who want to see themselves as compassionate and modern have embraced some seriously dodgy ideas. The evidence against puberty blockers, which were sold as a pause and reversible, mounts up. The Mayo Clinic has suggested that these drugs can lead to cancer. There is a court case coming up in Italy, and many predict that once the dam breaks, many who have been prescribed these drugs will sue their doctors.

This has all been allowed to happen because children have been lied to. They are told they can change sex; they are told that puberty will be awful; they are told they will feel suicidal. Anyone who challenges this has been deemed a pariah. So we end up with newly qualified English teachers now deciding that they are doing the right thing by keeping a childs fantasy identity secret from their parents.

Many are terrified of this issue and go along with what they must know to be dubious. We have yet to see where the Labour Party will go on this, because it too quakes in front of its own activists. Yet any serious person must address the issues around safeguarding. The gender dysphoric child must be protected, of course, but so must the other kids in the class who have a right to single-sex changing rooms.

Now is the time to step back and ask ourselves how we got here. The trans child is a manifestation of a recent story that the culture has told itself. This is a story of social contagion combined with the genuine distress of mostly young girls.

Children cannot be blamed for acting out, but the adults who have encouraged this, while patting themselves on the back for their progressive views, still need to be challenged. Cass is but the start.

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.
FILE - Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, leader of the "Kinnar Akhara," a monastic order of the transgender community, meets with followers at the Kumbh Mela festival in Pragraj, India, Feb. 5, 2019. The Kumbh Mela is a series of ritual baths by Hindu holy men, and other pilgrims that dates back to at least medieval times. The Vatican has issued a new document rejecting the concept of changing ones biological sex  a setback for transgender people who had hoped Pope Francis might be setting the stage for a more welcoming approach from the Catholic Church. Around the world, major religions have diverse approaches to gender identity, and the inclusion or exclusion of transgender people. (AP Photo/Channi Anand, File)

The Vatican has issued a new document rejecting the concept of changing ones biological sex  a setback for transgender people who had hoped Pope Francis might be setting the stage for a more welcoming approach from the Catholic Church.

Around the world, major religions have diverse approaches to gender identity, and the inclusion or exclusion of transgender people. Some examples:

Christianity

The Catholic Churchs disapproving stance toward gender transition is shared by some other denominations. For example, the Southern Baptist Convention  the largest Protestant denomination in the United States  adopted a resolution in 2014 stating that Gods design was the creation of two distinct and complementary sexes, male and female. It asserts that gender identity is determined by biological sex, not by ones self-perception

However, numerous mainline Protestant denominations welcome trans people as members and as clergy. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America elected an openly transgender man as a bishop in 2021.

Islam

In Islam, there isnt a single central religious authority and policies can vary in different regions.

Abbas Shouman, secretary-general of Al-Azhars Council of Senior Scholars in Cairo, said that for us, ... sex conversion is completely rejected.

It is God who has determined the ... sex of the fetus and intervening to change that is a change of Gods creation, which is completely rejected, Shouman added.

In Iran, the Shiite theocracys founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a religious decree, or fatwa, decades ago, opening the way for official support for gender transition surgery.

Hinduism

In Hindu society in South Asia, while traditional roles were and are still prescribed for men and women, people of non-binary gender expression have been recognized for millennia and played important roles in holy texts. Third gender people have been revered throughout South Asian history with many rising to significant positions of power under Hindu and Muslim rulers. One survey in 2014 estimated that around 3 million third gender people live in India alone.

Sanskrit, the ancient language of Hindu scriptures, has the vocabulary to describe three genders  masculine, feminine and gender-neutral.

The most common group of third gender people in India are known as the hijras. While some choose to undergo gender reassignment surgery, others are born intersex. Most consider themselves neither male or female.

Some Hindus believe third gender people have special powers and the ability to bless or curse, which has led to stereotyping causing the community to be feared and marginalized. Many live in poverty without proper access to healthcare, housing and employment.

In 2014, India, Nepal and Bangladesh, which is a Muslim-majority country, officially recognized third gender people as citizens deserving of equal rights. The Supreme Court of India stated that it is the right of every human being to choose their gender, and that recognition of the group is not a social or medical issue, but a human rights issue.

Buddhism

Buddhism has traditionally adhered to binary gender roles, particularly in its monastic traditions where men and women are segregated and assigned specific roles.

These beliefs remain strong in the Theravada tradition, as seen in the attempt of the Thai Sangha Council, the governing Buddhist body in Thailand, to ban ordinations of transgender people. More recently, the Theravada tradition has somewhat eased restrictions against gender nonconforming people by ordaining them in their sex recorded at birth.

However, the Mahayana, and Vajrayana schools of Buddhism have allowed more exceptions while the Jodo Shinshu sect has been even more inclusive in ordaining transgender monks both in Japan and North America. In Tibetan Buddhism, Tashi Choedup, an openly queer monk, was ordained after their teacher refrained from asking about their gender identity as prescribed by Buddhist doctrine. Many Buddhist denominations, particularly in the West, are intentionally inclusive of transgender people in their sanghas or gatherings.

Judaism

Reform Judaism is accepting of transgender people and allows for the ordination of trans rabbis. According to David J. Meyer, who served for many years as a rabbi in Marblehead, Massachusetts, Jewish traditional wisdom allowed possibilities of gender identity and expression that differed from those typically associated with the sex assigned at birth.

Our mystical texts, the Kabbalah, address the notion of transitioning from one gender to another, he wrote on a Reform-affiliated website.

It's different, for the most part, in Orthodox Judaism. Most transgender people will find Orthodox communities extremely difficult to navigate, says the Human Rights Campaign, a major U.S. LGBTQ-rights advocacy group.

Transgender people are further constrained by Orthodox Judaisms emphasis on binary gender and strict separation between men and women, the HRC says. For example, a transgender person who has not medically transitioned poses a challenge for a rabbi who must decide whether that person will sit with men or women during worship.

Rabbi Avi Shafran, spokesman for the Orthodox Jewish organization Agudath Israel of America, wrote a blog post last year after appearing on an Israeli television panel to discuss transgender-related issues.

There can be no denying that there are people who are deeply conflicted about their gender identities. They deserve to be safe from harm and, facing challenges the rest of us dont, deserve empathy and compassion, Shafran wrote. But the Torah and its extension, halacha, or Jewish religious law, are unequivocal about the fact that being born in a male body requires living the life of a man, and being born female entails living as a woman.

In Judaism, each gender has its particular life-role to play, he added. The bodies God gave us are indications of what we are and what we are not, and of how He wants us to live our lives.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has clinched the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, announced that his campaign had raised 50.5 million U.S. dollars at a major fundraiser in Florida last week.

This figure broke the record of 25 million dollars in fundraising in a single political event set by incumbent President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

For a long time, money has been the dominant factor in American elections, and whoever raises more money has a greater chance to win. The power of capital permeates and affects all aspects of American society through political power, forming an "American democracy" that is very much dependent on money.

In recent years, the cost of elections in the United States has skyrocketed, and money and politics have become more closely intertwined.

The total spending of the 2020 U.S. election was as high as 14 billion dollars, twice that of 2016, with 6.6 billion dollars spent on the presidential election and more than 7 billion dollars on the Congressional elections, according to statistics from the Center for Responsive Politics.

Some American research institutions predict that 2024 will be the most expensive election cycle in American history, with candidates spending more than 10 billion dollars on political advertising alone.

The financial threshold for participating in elections is getting increasingly higher.

Although people have the right to vote, they cannot exert a real influence over politics, which makes the "free election" that American democracy claims an empty slogan.

"The Irony of Democracy: An Uncommon Introduction to American Politics," co-authored by Louis Schubert, Thomas R. Dye and Harmon Zeigler, argues that the American people no longer believe that the government serves the common good, and most people think that a few large interest groups control the American political system, and often neglect the public interest to serve their own interests.

The intensification of partisan rivalry is an important factor driving rising election costs.

In recent years, American society has become increasingly polarized and so has public opinion. The two major political parties and their supporters compete for votes in an extremely fierce manner.

To "buy" the political power that will dominate resource allocation in the future, additional bets have been continuously added, thus pushing up campaign costs.

Politicians are particularly good at turning social tensions, which involve issues of climate change, abortion, trade, immigration and other aspects of the economy and people's livelihood, into tools to win over public opinion.

With more and more issues involved in party rivalry, the two parties are under increased pressure to invest more money in policy-making and advertising to win public opinion.

In addition, in the context of intensified party rivalry, the cost of candidates attacking and slandering each other and the two parties fighting each other is also high.

Japan's business newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun said in an article that the advertising industry predicts the cost of political advertising in this year's U.S. presidential election has surged, of which 70 percent are "negative advertisements" used to attack political opponents, and that expensive "slander campaigns" will intensify.

Money runs deep on all levels of the American political system.

The rampant gun violence is inseparable from the fact that gun interest groups invest heavily in supporting politicians who are in favor of protecting the right to own guns and blocking the passage of gun control bills.

Behind the epidemic of drugs, there are also a lot of lobbying and political donations from large pharmaceutical companies.

While campaign spending is seeing an incredible rise, investment in the country's dilapidated infrastructure is quite small. The recent bridge collapse tragedy in Baltimore, Maryland revealed the true state of dilapidated infrastructure across the United States.

The many social and economic problems in the United States today are the result of power serving money, and politicians turning a deaf ear to public opinion and being indifferent to people's livelihood.

For a long time, military-industrial enterprises have funded members of Congress to achieve personal political goals, and lawmakers have approved huge military expenditures to reciprocate and take advantage of the opportunity to make profits.

Senior U.S. defense officials have provided a steady stream of military contracts, arbitraged through the "revolving door" between politics and business.

To maintain the operation of this huge interest chain, this interest group formed by the military, military industrial enterprises and politicians has constantly provoked conflicts and created wars around the world, plunging many countries and regions into wars and turmoil.

As Boaventura de Sousa Santosone, a Portuguese expert on international issues, once pointed out, U.S. foreign policy and democracy are dominated by three oligarchies: the military-industrial complex; the gas, oil and mining complex; and the banking and real estate complex. One of their ways to gain exorbitant profits is to keep the world at war, and they are increasingly dependent on US arms sales.

In today's American political reality, the U.S. dollar controls the power and money truly dominates election campaigns.

Under the influence of money, American politics shows the disconnection between elite politics and public opinion, policy-making and social reality. 
Across the U.S., we have seen an onslaught of bills eroding the rights of transgender individuals. Here in Kansas, S.B. 233, which seeks to restrict transgender youths access to health care, is a particularly dangerous bill that must be stopped.

Considerable research has found that accessing gender-affirming care is linked to improved mental health outcomes for transgender youth. This care has the potential to reduce suicidal thoughts, depression and gender dysphoria for these young people. In sum, gender-affirming care is a critical aspect of mental health care for transgender kids.

Alarmingly, S.B. 233s consequences are potentially even more devastating than other similar bills. Specifically, this legislation would make a rare effort to prohibit health care workers from providing transgender kids with support related to social transitioning, which includes changing of an individuals preferred pronouns or matter of dress. The bill would impose strict sanctions  including loss of professional licenses  on providers who offer best practice care to transgender young people. This means that health care providers  including mental health practitioners, who are already in short supply in most of Kansas  could potentially be driven from practice for following well-established guidelines of care and supporting their clients with even the most basic efforts to present in alignment with their true gender identity.

As a social worker, this aspect of the bill is particularly concerning because social transition is often a crucial aspect of gender-affirming health care for transgender people. This bill would create barriers to mental health service providers engaging in even basic informational conversations with their transgender youth clients about social transition, precluding providers from supporting their clients with engaging in critical reflections about identity and self-expression, a fundamental element of mental health treatment for children and adolescents.

For transgender youth, social transitioning is associated with improvements in mental health, namely depression and anxiety. It is essential that physical and mental health care workers have the ability to support transgender youth with social transitioning, if the youth, their families and their providers determine that social transitioning would support the health and well-being of the young person.

In sum, the restrictions in this bill would prevent social workers and other mental health providers from doing their jobs effectively, and it is transgender youth who would suffer the most.

There is still time to prevent S.B. 233 from becoming a law. As a social worker and scholar of LGBTQ health, I encourage Kansans to take action to oppose this bill. In support of a more just and equitable state, where transgender youth have access to the crucial care that they need to thrive, I urge Kansans to use every advocacy tool we have to protect these young people and their access to health care.

Please encourage Gov. Laura Kelly to use her protective power to veto this damaging bill and insist that our legislators reject a policy that would cause unnecessary harm to transgender children and their families. It is not too late to do our part to protect transgender kids and ensure that they have access to health care that will help them to grow up to be happy and healthy adults.

Briana McGeough is a social worker and scholar living in Lawrence whose expertise is in supporting the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ people. She is writing in her capacity as a Kansas resident and not on behalf of the University of Kansas or any other organization.
I tried to get up but my legs werent working: Trial begins in deadly Greyhound bus shooting

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A Greyhound bus traveling over the Grapevine early Feb. 3, 2020, carried more than 40 people. Some were on vacation, some were heading home, still others were on their way to college.

Their plans were different, but a prosecutor said all had one thing in common: They had nowhere to run or hide when passenger Anthony Devonte Williams stood, swore and started spraying bullets.

Warm up continues in Kern with a chance of showers Saturday

Sixteen shots later, a woman was dying and five others wounded.

One of the victims, Claudia Alvarez, was hit in the chest as she slept. Her legs went numb.

I tried to get up but my legs werent working, she said Tuesday, the first day of Williams trial on charges of murder and six counts of attempted murder.

The remaining passengers, while physically unharmed, were impacted emotionally and mentally, prosecutor Stephanie Taconi said during her opening statement.

None were expecting that their lives would be forever changed because of an angry man on a bus with a gun, Taconi said.

Williams, 37, faces life in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial is expected to last at least a week.

Deputy Public Defender Nick Roth said he and co-counsel Samantha Sark dont dispute the physical evidence. Its clear Williams was the shooter.

But charges of murder and attempted murder require an intent to kill. The evidence, Roth said, will show Williams didnt plan the shooting, and fired at random. No one antagonized him.

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Earlier on the bus ride, Williams had exhibited strange behavior, talking to himself, Roth said.

While acknowledging Williams is guilty of serious crimes, Roth said his mental state at the time of the incident needs to be taken into account when deciding what he should be convicted of.

According to court documents, Williams admitted bringing a gun onto the bus headed from Los Angeles to Oakland. He told investigators he began shooting after arguing with a man as they traveled north on Interstate 5, south of Fort Tejon Road.

The man he argued with wasnt hit. Lurbis Elena Vence, 51, wasnt so lucky. Hit multiple times, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

After Williams emptied the handguns clip, a passenger wrestled with him over the weapon. It fell, and Williams ran to the front of the bus. The driver stopped and Williams got off. He was picked up by law enforcement as he walked along the highway.

Meanwhile, the bus rushed to the next exit and stopped in a parking lot as emergency responders arrived.

Alvarez, the second witness called to testify, entered the courtroom in a wheelchair. She said the bullet that pierced her body left her with a spinal cord injury. Shell never walk again.

Upon boarding the bus in Los Angeles the evening of Feb. 2, Alvarez found a seat and talked to the woman sitting next to her.

She felt comfortable enough with her surroundings to relax as the bus began its overnight trip.

Alvarez drifted off to sleep. She woke to pain.

I couldnt feel my legs anymore, she said. Its like a feeling where your body parts fall asleep.

Alvarez was taken to a hospital. Later she received the grim news: she was paralyzed.

With no use of her lower extremities, and experiencing chronic pain, Alvarez left school. She now relies on her family for help with even simple tasks.

Speaking through tears, Alvarez said, Its a lot of grief for the person that I was, and the future I had envisioned for myself.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
Robert Regular, 72, is accused of four counts of sexual assault and one of sexual interference, involving the same alleged victim. She was 12 at the time of the first alleged assault two decades ago. (Mike Simms/CBC - image credit)

Warning: The content in this story involves alleged sexual assault and the details may be disturbing to some.

The sexual assault trial for a Newfoundland and Labrador lawyer who went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada in an attempt to conceal his identity began in St. John's Monday, with testimony from the complainant in the case.

Robert Regular, 72, is facing four counts of sexual assault and one of sexual interference, involving the same complainant. She was 12 at the time of the first alleged assault two decades ago. There is a publication ban on her identity.

The woman, who is now in her mid-30s, said she first met Regular while she was in junior high and in the care of what was then called Child, Youth and Family Services.

She testified in front of the judge-alone trial that her mother had picked her up from school to meet her lawyer, who she was told was working to get her back into her mother's care. She estimated she was between the ages of 12 and 14.

While parked outside his law office, her mother left the vehicle and allowed Regular to get in the driver's side.

"He was just rubbing my stomach and legs," the woman testified, pausing to grab a box of tissues.

"He was just leaning over, like I could feel his breath coming at me."

She said her mother came back to the car several minutes later and the mother and daughter drove away.

"I didn't say anything. I was really upset," she told the court.

Robert Regular, left, sits with his defence counsel, Rosellen Sullivan and Jerome Kennedy, during a brief recess at Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court in St. John's Monday morning.

Robert Regular, left, sits with his defence counsel, Rosellen Sullivan and Jerome Kennedy, during a brief recess at Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court in St. John's Monday morning. (Ariana Kelland/CBC)

Years later, while 17 and pregnant with a much-older man's child, the woman said she was approached by child services with a warrant to take her child into custody.

She said the relationship she was in was abusive, and she couldn't afford a lawyer at the time.

As her mother had retained Regular in her own child services cases, the woman testified that she did, too.

After her child was born, the woman said she attended Regular's law office with an access worker from child services. The worker stayed in the waiting room while the woman went into Regular's office.

'Couldn't believe it was happening again'

As they spoke about the legal matter, she said Regular grabbed the arm of the rolling chair she was sitting on and pulled her close to him.

"He started touching my legs. Squeezing again at my kneecap," she said, adding Regular told her that the two had a history together and he "would take care of me and get [my baby] back."

She said Regular put his hand up her skirt and sexually assaulted her.

"I just couldn't believe it was happening again," she said.

The woman said the access worker could tell she was upset after leaving the law office and encouraged the woman to tell her why.

She said she did tell both the access worker and a case worker some of what had happened, but admitted leaving some details out because she feared it would be used against her in a family court proceeding.

"I didn't trust them," she told the court.

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer Nicole Percey stands in the witness box during a break in proceedings Monday. Regular, who is accused of sexual violence, is seated facing her.

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer Nicole Percey stands in the witness box during a break in proceedings Monday. Regular, who is accused of sexual violence, is seated facing her. (Ariana Kelland/CBC)

Two more charges of sexual assault were subsequently filed involving the same woman, for incidents alleged to have happened in 2012 and 2013.

She said she called Regular on two more occasions  once when she was charged with theft from a convenience store, and the other when she was asked to give a statement to police as a witness to a separate crime.

Given her previous experiences with Regular, she said she "figured if I had sex with him he would be my lawyer."

"I just knew it was going to happen," she said. "I never had any money."

She said she was scared her access to her children would be impacted as a result of her encounters with police.

Both times she allegedly had sex with Regular, she said she was "disgusted with myself."

After the last sexual encounter in Regular's office, she testified that she was upset and remembered telling him she didn't want to do it anymore.

She testified Regular replied: "You need to stay away from the people you've been hanging around with."

The woman told the court: "I felt like he was mocking me."

She said she went to police following an incident in 2019 when she encountered him outside his law office.

"I was angry. Upset. I was hurt. All the trauma from everything that happened to me, I just lost it," she said, detailing how she said she pushed and scratched him while calling him names.

She went to police the following year.

"That gave me the courage to go tell somebody the truth."

Regular allowed to sit with lawyers

The day begin with an application from Regular's defence team to allow him to sit outside the prisoner's dock with his lawyers.

Jerome Kennedy argued before Justice Vikas Khaladkar that sitting in the prisoner's box takes away from an individual's presumption of innocence, and asked what it serves aside from embarrassment of the accused.

Crown prosecutor Deidre Badcock called the prisoner's box "an equalizer for anyone who comes before the court."

"Does he have a presumption that he is more innocent than anyone else who sits in this prisoner's dock?" Badcock said, adding she wants Regular treated no differently than any other person who comes accused before the court.

Khaladkar ultimately sided with Regular and said he grants that accommodation to anyone who asks.

Officer's investigation questioned by defence

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Const. Nicole Percey, the lead investigator on the case, said she became involved when she was called to a local law office to meet with a woman about a historical sexual assault complaint.

Percey spoke with the woman for about an hour and a half that day and later took a video- and audio-recorded statement at RNC headquarters in March 2020.

Percey said she used police files  one in which the complainant was a witness to a crime, and the other as the accused in a theft from a gas station  to corroborate the woman's story.

She also used notes that were contained in her child services file.

On cross-examination, defence lawyer Rosellen Sullivan questioned Percey about whether she ever pushed back on any inconsistencies in the complainant's story.

She pointed to a recorded police interview with the access worker who attended Regular's law office with the complainant. The employee told police during one portion of the interview that the woman told her that Regular rubbed her leg.

She did not mention that Regular assaulted the woman in any other way.

"Did you not consider that a massive contradiction?" asked Sullivan.

Percey said the witness also said she couldn't recall everything and that "given the time period, this was a decade later," it was not a "groundbreaking" inconsistency.

Private investigator and former RNC officer Campbell Feehan was hired by the defence to probe the case after Regular was charged.

He conducted recorded interviews with the complainant's mother and sister. Neither of them would speak with the RNC, and her mother later passed away.

Percey said it was strategic not to have approached the complainant's mother during the initial stages of the investigation, as her daughter warned that she was a client of Regular's and could likely tip him off.

Regular applied for publication ban

Regular has worked as a lawyer for decades on Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula.

He went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2022 an unsuccessful effort to have his name shielded from publication in relation to the case now before the court.

Before that, Regular had been granted an interim ban in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court. The order temporarily blocked his name from being published in relation to the criminal proceedings.

CBC News and CTV News intervened, arguing the ban would interfere with the open-court principle and freedom of the press, and ultimately won.

The nation's top court declined to hear the matter, clearing the way for his identity to be publicly revealed.

Read more CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
The court-martial trial of a Navy chief charged with passing classified information to a foreign contact is scheduled to begin Tuesday.

Chief Fire Controlman (Aegis) Bryce Steven Pedicinis general court-martial is scheduled to run through April 19, according to the Navys online trial docket.

Pedicini, has elected for a judge-alone trial, with no military jury, according to officials.

His Navy-appointed defense attorneys did not respond to a request for comment.

He faces eight espionage charge specifications for alleged crimes that occurred between November 2022 and May, according to a copy of his charge sheet obtained by Navy Times.

Pedicini is the first sailor to be charged with espionage in at least the past five years, according to the Navys Office of the Judge Advocate General.

Currently assigned to the Japan-based destroyer Higgins, Pedicini has been held in pre-trial confinement since May, according to Navy records.

Navy chief could face severe sentence if convicted of espionage

Pedicini is accused of delivering a classified national defense document to a citizen and employee of a foreign government on Nov. 22, 2022, in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and that the chief had reason to believe that it would be used to the injury of the United States and the advantage of a foreign nation, his charge sheet states.

The charge sheet does not state which foreign nation Pedicini allegedly worked with.

But the chief is also accused of delivering similar classified information to a foreign contact seven other times, with the most recent alleged occurrence taking place on May 17 in Yokosuka, Japan.

Two days later, on May 19, Pedicini was placed in pre-trial confinement, according to his charge sheet.

Pedicini is also accused of wrongly transporting information he believed to be classified, and for processing material he believed to be classified on a system that was not approved for classified material in May in Yokosuka, his charge sheet states.

Prosecutors also allege he failed to report a foreign contact in Yokosuka in April and that he failed to report solicitation of classified information by an unauthorized person.

Pedicini is also accused of taking a personal electronic device into a secure room aboard Barge APL-67 in Yokosuka in May, according to his charge sheet.

He also faces multiple charge specifications for communicating defense information to foreign contacts from December 2022 to May in Hampton Roads.

Naval Surface Forces declined further comment on the ongoing case.

Pedicini had a motions hearing scheduled for Wednesday of this week, and officials have not said when his trial is scheduled to begin.

Charges were brought against the chief in January, and the head of Naval Surface Forces, Vice Adm. Brendan McLane, is the convening authority in the case.

A Tennessee native, Pedicini enlisted in 2008 and advanced to chief in 2022, according to his service record.

He reported to Higgins in April 2023 and was also assigned to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center in Norfolk, Virginia, during the time of his alleged crimes.

Pedicini also served aboard the destroyers Curtis Wilbur and McFaul earlier his career.
Samuel Woodward speaks with his attorney during his arraignment on murder charges in the death of Blaze Bernstein in Santa Ana on Jan. 17, 2018. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Blaze Bernstein had been missing a week when investigators found his body buried under a thin layer of mud at Borrego Park in Lake Forest in January 2018, with 19 stab wounds to his neck.

A 19-year-old student at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was the managing editor of Penn Appetit, a student-run food magazine, he had come home to spend the holidays with his family in Orange County.

Suspicion soon fell on 20-year-old Samuel Woodward, Bernsteins former schoolmate at the Orange County School of the Arts, who had admitted to being with him in the park the night he disappeared. Investigators said they found Bernsteins blood on a visor in Woodwards car, and on a knife discovered in a drawer at the Newport Beach home where Woodward lived with his parents.

Read more: Orange County man denies hate crime in slaying of gay ex-classmate

Bernstein was Jewish and gay, while Woodward, according to one of his attorneys, was conflicted about his sexuality. When investigators managed to hack into Woodwards iPhone, they unearthed a trove of anti-gay, anti-Jewish material linked to the Atomwaffen Division, a white supremacist hate group.

The role that ideology may have played in Bernsteins death will be sharply contested at his trial, with opening statements expected to begin Tuesday in Orange County Superior Court. Woodward is charged with murder, with enhancements for use of a deadly weapon and for hate crime, which could put him in prison for life without parole.

There is this narrative thats been pushed: Nazi kills gay Jew. From the defense perspective, thats inaccurate, Assistant Public Defender Kenneth Morrison told Judge Kimberly Menninger during one of many hearings leading up to the trial.

The exact defense strategy remains unclear, but one of Morrisons aims will be to decouple his clients alleged crimes from his clients association with the Atomwaffen Division. The attorney has argued, with little success, to have references to Adolf Hitler and Nazis excluded from testimony on the basis that they are inflammatory.

Read more: LGBTQ college student is stabbed 20 times, but was it a hate crime?

The case has drawn widespread media interest, and Morrison objected to the possibility of video cameras in the courtroom, which really could be traumatizing to some of the 56 people on his witness list, some of whom are reluctant to testify.

Is it simply because the news media loves the salacious narrative that they created? Morrison said, adding that in a fraught political climate, publicity poses a greater risk of prejudice for Mr. Woodward.

Menninger, the judge, said the trial involves great issues of public interest, including murder, sexual orientation, gender and religion. She said she would allow cameras on a limited basis, in part because transparency would serve the safety of the courthouse.

"I need to be sure people trust us, Menninger said. I need them to see that we are not hiding the ball.

According to testimony at a preliminary hearing in September 2018, the Orange County Sheriffs Department worked diligently to crack open the contents of Woodwards iPhone. An investigator carried the phone by hand to New Jersey, where a telecommunications company called Cellebrite Inc. worked for 10 weeks to find the PIN code, bypassing the auto-shutdown function.

On Woodwards phone, investigators found an abundance of Atomwaffen-related material, including a photo of Woodward with James Mason, the author of Siege, which a prosecutor described as the Bible of the hate group.

According to Sheriffs Department testimony, the phone also contained emails Woodward wrote and sent to himself under the heading Sams Diary. One email from May 2017 said:

I tell sodomites that Im bi-curious, which makes them want to convert me  Get them hooked by acting coy, maybe send them a pic or two, beat around the bush and pretend to tell them that I like them and then kabam, I either un-friend them or tell them they have been pranked, ha ha.

In another, from July 2017, he wrote that he had downloaded the dating app Grindr and was amusing himself by threatening gay people.

LMAO, he wrote, according to testimony. They think they are going to get hate crimed and it scares the s out of them ... Priceless.

According to investigators, Woodward acknowledged meeting Bernstein on the night he vanished but asserted that Bernstein walked alone into the park and left him waiting, unsure if Blaze was pranking him.

Woodward also said that Bernstein had made a pass at him, an investigator testified, but Woodward found homosexuality gross. Asked about numerous cuts and scrapes on his hands, Woodward said he got them in a fight club, according to testimony in the preliminary hearing.

Six years after the killing, jury selection began in late February. A courtroom outburst by Woodward forced the process to start over. Woodwards prior attorney said his client had Aspergers syndrome and was torn about his sexuality. The trial is expected to last through the end of June.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The man accused of killing his girlfriends son and storing his body in a freezer appeared in court Tuesday after a judge ordered him in her courtroom by any means necessary.

Brandon Toseland, 37, faces a murder charge in the death of 4-year-old Mason Dominguez. Police arrested Toseland on Feb. 22, 2022, after Masons mother was able to sneak messages into her then-7-year-old daughters shoe. Toseland is charged with 12 felonies, including murder, child abuse, kidnapping, and battery domestic violence.

Toseland, who has remained in custody since his arrest, appeared in court Tuesday on a motion to continue his trial and replace his lawyer. Toseland had refused to meet with his attorneys three times in March and refused transport from jail to the courthouse last week.

Tuesdays hearing was private and closed to the public and the media.

Mason Dominguez (KLAS)

Judge Carli Kierny will hear further arguments in the case on April 30. A new trial date was not scheduled as Toselands new attorneys will need to review the entire case. Toselands original trial was scheduled to begin in May.

Recent court hearings in the case have involved a home security system, which Toseland said could provide valuable evidence in his defense. In court last year, Toselands attorneys said his home had five security cameras, which recorded to a server. They have asked Kierny to force prosecutors to hand over all video surveillance in their clients case, but prosecutors have said Cox Communications, which administered the system, said there was no footage.

Masons mother said she and her two children moved into Toselands home in March 2021. The home is located on Saddle Brook Park Drive, near the intersection of Carey Avenue and Lamb Boulevard in the northeast valley. Toselands two children from a previous relationship also lived in the home, but were not there all the time due to their mother having shared custody, documents said.

Masons mother told police and a grand jury that she was frequently handcuffed or locked in a room after learning her son was deceased. Toseland never revealed to Masons mother that the boys body was in a freezer in the garage, she said.

Dominguezs body was discovered inside Toselands northeast valley garage concealed in a trash bag in the freezer. Detectives believe Mason had been there for at least 10 weeks and that a large hole in the backyard may be a potential grave, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported.

If you or someone you know is living with domestic violence, you can reach out for help by contacting SafeNest. You can call or text 24/7 a confidential hotline at (702) 646-4981.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
An earlier version of this article was published in the On the Trail 2024 newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox on Tuesday and Friday mornings here. To submit a question to next weeks Friday Mailbag, email onthetrail@deseretnews.com.

Good morning, friends. I spent the weekend watching an inspirational general conference and mourning the death of my March Madness brackets. Theres always next year.

3 things to know

Bidens ballot troubles: Due to an Ohio state law, President Joe Biden may be kept from appearing on the Buckeye States ballot this November. The Democratic National Convention is scheduled for late August, after the states deadline for parties to submit their presidential nominees name. Either the DNC will have to move its convention, or the Ohio state legislature will need to act quickly to change its deadline. Read more here. Big money: The Biden campaign said it raised $90 million in March, a huge haul boosted by over $26 million from a single celebrity fundraiser in New York last month. But Trump nearly doubled up that total at an event in south Florida over the weekend. Read more here. Trump trial set: The hush money case will go to trial Monday, April 15, making Trump the first former president to face a criminal trial in U.S. history. Read more here.

The Big Idea

The new abortion battle

By the time most Americans woke up Monday morning, former President Donald Trump had already managed to anger large swaths of the electorate, from progressive pro-choice voters to the religious conservatives who are typically among his strongest supporters.

Why? Trump finally announced his stance on abortion. It made him few friends.

In a video posted to Truth Social, Trump boasted that he was proudly the person responsible for ending Roe v. Wade, the result of a 2022 decision by a conservative-majority Supreme Court. The rest of Trumps new-look position on abortion stems from the Dobbs decision: because the court returned the decision to protect or reject abortion to the states, Trump likewise opposes a federal ban and says it is up to the states to do the right thing.

And whatever they decide must be the law of the land, Trump continued. In this case, the law of the state. Many states will be different, many will have a different number of weeks, or some will have more conservative than others, and thats what they will be.

The backlash was swift. In a statement, Biden said Trump is scrambling, trying to compensate for the the cruelty and the chaos that followed the Dobbs decision. The Biden campaign quickly released a new ad highlighting a Texas woman who nearly died after she was denied care for a miscarriage after her states abortion ban. Bidens campaign manager and communications director led a press call in which they contrasted Trump from Biden, the only candidate who will protect a womens right to choose.

Let there be no illusion, Biden said in his statement. If Donald Trump is elected and the MAGA Republicans in Congress put a national abortion ban on the Resolute Desk, Trump will sign it into law.

But the critiques didnt only come from the left. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime Trump ally and an advocate of a 15-week federal ban, said he respectfully disagree(s) with Trumps position. Mike Pence, Trumps former vice president, said the statement was a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans who voted for him in 2016 and 2020. (Pence previously said he wont support Trump in November.)

A host of pro-life groups expressed disagreement, including Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. We are deeply disappointed in President Trumps position, Dannenfelser told Politico. Saying the issue is back to the states cedes the national debate to the Democrats who are working relentlessly to enact legislation mandating abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy.

Will it be enough to get conservatives to jump ship? Probably not. The alternatives  Biden, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other independent long shots  are more liberal on abortion than Trump. Dannenfelser said her groups goal is still to defeat President Biden. But Trumps new stance could certainly dampen enthusiasm among religious conservatives, who make up a significant and loyal portion of his voter base.

In the buildup to the Iowa caucuses, a number of conservative pastors told me they supported Trump in 2016 and 2020, but they were most concerned with his presumed backpedaling on abortion. One pastor, shortly after meeting with Trump and questioning him on abortion, said the former presidents response was baffling. Publicly, though, Trump stayed mum, and it didnt matter much  he romped in Iowa, as he did in enough early states to comfortably secure the GOP nomination.

But Trumps cards are on the table now. It may not matter much in November, as Democrats are more likely to say abortion will influence how they vote than Republicans. Trumps new stance, though  including his carve-outs for rape, incest and the mothers health  could be enough to quell some of the evangelical fervor surrounding Trump. Republicans overwhelmingly view him as a person of faith, because he supports policies focused on families and defends people of faith. Betraying some pro-choice proclivities may dampen some of that enthusiasm.

What Im reading

18 again? While Trump was in office, he reportedly used vulgar and demeaning language to describe the countries from which immigrants came, wondering why they couldnt come from places like Norway. He later claimed he never said it. But the former president was back at it at a fundraiser last week: not only verifying his 2018 comments, but doubling down. He painted immigrants as criminals and wished more would come from nice countries like Denmark, Switzerland and Norway. Heres a smart take on it all from Philip Bump: Why are immigrants only coming from collapsing countries with high rates of poverty instead of stable ones with wealthy populations? Well, because of the things you just said. Trump revives his wish that immigrants came from rich White countries (Philip Bump, The Washington Post)

Americas political divide may be, at least partially, a result of the growing power of the presidency. This is a thoughtful (and perhaps provocative) essay that takes a historical look at executive authority, pitting an oversized White House at the forefront of Americas culture war: The president, increasingly, has the power to reshape vast swathes of American life. The modern presidency, by its very nature, is a divider, not a uniter. It has become far too powerful to be anything else. Culture Warrior in Chief (Gene Healy, Reason)

No Labels has no way forward, after selling Americans on the possibility of a third-party alternative to Biden and Trump. A pair of the groups that helped secure its demise are now turning their sights to RFK Jr., who they think could jeopardize Bidens reelection effort. He can help Trump win: US groups take on RFK Jr after No Labels stands down (Martin Pengelly, The Guardian)

See you on the trail.

Editors Note: The Deseret News is committed to covering issues of substance in the 2024 presidential race from its unique perspective and editorial values. Our team of political reporters will bring you in-depth coverage of the most relevant news and information to help you make an informed decision. Find our complete coverage of the election here.
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Trump attends a hearing on a criminal case linked to a hush money payment, in New York City

By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Donald Trump on Tuesday lost his second last-ditch bid in as many days to delay his April 15 trial on criminal charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star.

The former U.S. president's lawyers argued at a hearing in a mid-level state appeals court that the trial should be delayed to give him a chance to challenge a gag order in the case.

Associate Justice Cynthia Kern swiftly denied the delay request, but a full panel of appeals judges will later consider the Republican presidential candidate's underlying challenge to the gag order.

Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump's campaign, in a statement called the trial a witch hunt and said the legal team would continue to fight against it.

A separate judge on Monday denied Trump's request to delay the trial while he tries to move the case out of heavily Democratic Manhattan. His lawyers said a survey of Manhattan residents they conducted showed 61% of respondents thought Trump was guilty and 70% had a negative opinion of him.

At Tuesday's hearing, Trump's lawyer Emil Bove said Justice Juan Merchan's order restricting his public comments should be modified to let him respond to public criticism leveled by potential witnesses in the case.

"The First Amendment harms arising from this gag order right now are irreparable," Bove said.

Merchan imposed the order last month barring Trump from verbal attacks on potential witnesses, court staff and individual prosecutors after finding he made statements in various legal cases that the judge called "threatening, inflammatory" and "denigrating."

The judge expanded the order to cover his relatives and those of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg after Trump disparaged Merchan's daughter online.

The order does not restrict Trump's speech about Merchan or Bragg.

Steven Wu, a lawyer with Bragg's office, said at Tuesday's Appellate Division hearing that the trial should not be delayed since Trump's lawyers could have made the appeal earlier.

He also said his office had to increase security due to Trump's statements, and that potential witnesses were reluctant to testify because of Trump's comments.

"They know what their names in the press may lead to," Wu said. "This is a pattern of misconduct that causes predictable, terrifying consequences."

Trump is accused of covering up his former lawyer Michael Cohen's $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence before the 2016 presidential election about a sexual encounter she said she had with Trump a decade earlier.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and denied any such encounter with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

The case is one of four criminal indictments Trump faces as he prepares to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in their Nov. 5 U.S. election rematch. He has sought to delay proceedings in all cases until after the election, and the hush money case is the only one with a firm trial date.

The other cases stem from his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden and his handling of sensitive government documents after leaving the presidency in 2021. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Trump asks supporters to help pick his running mate. He really just wants their money.

Do you want to be Donald Trump's running mate?

That's the question the former one-term president asked supporters in an email Sunday evening. But that query, like another he sent last Thursday night, was really just Trump asking them more money while casting himself as a victim of judicial injustice and media mistreatment.

He's in a bind. Trump's first criminal trial  this one in New York involving paying hush money to keep a porn star quiet during the 2016 campaign about an affair  is scheduled to start next Monday. Those lawyers want to get paid. We're about to spend way more time than anyone wants hearing about the former president's approach to sex. And Trump, with three other criminal trials looming, trails President Joe Biden in fundraising for the November rematch.

It's completely on brand for Trump to turn his search for a vice president into a circus. He's going to squeeze this for cash for as long as he can, with the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee still more than three months away.

There's a motley crew of VP contenders. And there's an even more fascinating assortment of folks who would be on the short list for any other presumptive Republican nominee but won't be for Trump. But first, there's the never ending soaking of supporters for their money.

Trump emails supports with his typical misdirection

Trump's email reads like a condensed version of his many grievances. Consider the poll he included for "What are the top issues my VP should focus on?"

Top of the list: "Ending election interference." That's Trump-speak for any criminal or civil action holding him accountable by law for his actions before, during and after the presidency.

"Securing the border" is second, which is rich. Trump personally tanked bipartisan legislation on border security because he didn't want Biden to score that victory in an election year.

"Stopping skyrocketing crime" was third, which is odd because recently released FBI data showed violent crime rates continuing to decrease last year.

It's almost as if  now hear me out  Trump is misleading his supporters for political gain.

The email pleads for money for the Trump National Committee, a joint fundraising political action committee between his campaign and the Republican National Committee. Trump's allies, including daughter-in-law Lara, took over the RNC last month. Trump and the RNC are using a second joint fundraising committee, Trump 47, to funnel money into his legal defense.

The abortion debate: Biden needs abortion on the ballot. Republicans can't stop helping him.

The email conforms with Trump's unofficial campaign motto  always claim to be a victim. A disclaimer in small, grayish print at the bottom says "grassroots supporters" allow Trump "to consistently call out the Fake News media EVERY SINGLE TIME they've tried to spread misinformation or outright LIES" about him.

While Trump asked his followers what his vice president should focus on, his treatment of some conservatives who would have made a typical GOP short list helps us see what the eventual pick will have to put up with.

Pence? Please. The conservatives Trump won't pick for VP.

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in 2020.

Let's start with Mike Pence, the slice of evangelical white bread who brought a churchy balance to Trump's "grab 'em by the pussy" approach to the 2016 campaign.

Pence was a loyal soldier, right up to the moment on Jan. 6, 2021, when he refused to stall the certification of a free and fair election while Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, demanding to be allowed to execute the vice president.

Pence made his own bid for president but dropped out of the race in October when it was clear Trump had continuing control of their party. He said last month that he will not endorse Trump, adding that his former boss put himself before the Constitution and should never be president again.

No Labels, no candidate: No Labels officially drops out of the 2024 race. The truth is they were never in it.

Then there is Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, who came as close as anyone to rescuing the Republican Party from Trump before ending her campaign last month without endorsing Trump.

Haley was a strong candidate, fiery in debates and serious about issues. Having a woman on the ticket could have counterbalanced some of the mistrust female voters have with Trump.

But Haley ruled out a run with Trump, as Biden started courting her primary voters. In swing-state Wisconsin last week, 1 in 5 Republican primary voters cast ballots for someone other than Trump, with Haley taking 13%.

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who trailed Trump and Haley before dropping out of the race in January while endorsing Trump, apparently has ruled out a spot on the Republican ticket.

Trump, who had savaged DeSantis during the primary with personal attacks but let up after the endorsement, resumed his rhetorical fire.

The path to Trump picking his running mate will be a thorny one

So, prepare yourself for weeks of public humiliation for the motley crew angling to be Trump's next running mate. Imagine Trump's old "reality" television show "The Apprentice," which cast the often bankrupt real estate developer as a business mastermind.

It will be humiliating for contestants like that, but with the indignity intensified.

TV personality Donald Trump attends an "Apprentice" event in 2012 in New York City.

Just consider how conflicted Trump is about sharing a stage with anyone. In a Fox News town hall broadcast in February, he said picking a running mate "has absolutely no impact" on winning or losing. Less than a minute later, he said it is "very important" to help attract voters.

Trump shouted out in that Fox News crowd Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., as a potential VP pick while also mocking him for running a lackluster campaign.

Scott ended his campaign for president in November and endorsed Trump in January. Trump used that endorsement to knock both Scott and Haley, suggesting that Scott "must really hate her" because she originally appointed him to his Senate seat to fill a vacancy in 2012.

Scott is just one name on a long list of potential contenders  Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem  who have shown themselves ready, willing and able to debase themselves for Trump's attention.

It's anyone's bet as to who Trump picks. And oddsmakers are keeping track. The only safe bet here is that Trump's process will involve serious degradation for the contenders  and that the "winner" will face even more of that going forward.

Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Chris Brennan on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ByChrisBrennan

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who will Trump pick for VP? He wants your money first
Uzbekistan Airways has started operating flights to Gatwick International Airport (UK), Azernews reports.

According to the airline, Uzbekistan Airways also conducts regular flights to Heathrow Airport.

The flights to Heathrow are operated on Tuesdays and Fridays, and to Gatwick on Sundays.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan Airways launched the first scheduled flight to Mumbai (India), restored after the pandemic.

The flights from Tashkent to Mumbai and back are operated twice a week, on Mondays and Saturdays.

Furthermore, Uzbekistan will resume flights to Georgian Batumi on May 29. Also, the airline will launch flights to Nha Trang (Vietnam) for the first time on May 4.
As we documented repeatedly in the days and weeks after the Alabama Supreme Court found that embryos created as part of in-vitro fertility treatment are considered children and protected as such in wrongful death suits, Republicans stepped upon rake after rake, stumbling their way into a full faceplant on the issue. And for good reason: Its cartoonishly hard to support the kind of fetal personhood ideology underlying the Alabama ruling while also supporting the procedure for what it is  a safe and widely supported way for couples experiencing fertility issues to conceive.

Initially a handful of Republicans announced their support for the ruling and embraced calls to identify embryos as babies. As fertility clinics across Alabama temporarily paused IVF treatments to avoid potential prosecution, Alabama Republicans took advantage of the opening to pass vague legislative protections for the procedure while still agreeing with the ruling (From TPM: Alabama Now Says You Wont Get In Trouble If You Murder Your Embryo  If Its for IVF).

In Washington, Democrats tried to reintroduce legislation to protect the use of IVF for fertility treatment only for Republicans to block the consideration of such a bill in the Senate, highlighting the fact that Republicans were only willing to stick their neck out for the procedure in the form of a press release.

While Donald Trumps long-hyped non-announcement on where he stands on abortion this morning was an obvious attempt to walk a complex line without alienating his Republican supporters who arent happy with the extreme abortion restrictions in the wake of Dobbs, opening with his support for IVF was also revealing of Republicans concerns about getting the messaging wrong on in-vitro heading into November.

Under my leadership, the Republican Party will always support the creation of strong, thriving and healthy American families. We want to make it easier for mothers and families to have babies, not harder, he began.

That includes supporting the availability of fertility treatments like IVF in every state in America, he said. Like the overwhelming majority of Americans, including the vast majority of Republicans, conservative, Christians and pro-life Americans I strongly support the availability of IVF for couples who are trying to have a precious baby. What can be more beautiful or better than that.

In using IVF support as a tool to meander his way toward acknowledging that he thinks it is electorally bad to get behind a national abortion ban, he signaled that Republicans may be concerned that their fumbling around on IVF messaging has been more damaging than their positioning on abortion.

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Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics teams latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill.

In todays edition, political reporter Allan Smith examines how Donald Trump's new abortion stance takes a page from the GOP's 2022 midterm playbook. Plus, senior political editor Mark Murray asks if policy announcements from Trump and Joe Biden on Monday were blotted out by the total solar eclipse.

Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.

Trump dusts off the GOPs 2022 abortion playbook

By Allan Smith

Donald Trumps just-released position on abortion rights was tried and tested during the 2022 midterms  and the results for his party were mixed at best.

Pressed for months on whether he would support federal abortion restrictions as president, Trump on Monday said the issue should be left to the states.

My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both, he said in a video statement. And whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state. Many states will be different, many will have a different number of weeks, or some will have more conservative than others, and thats what they will be.

Do you have a news tip? Let us know

Many Republican candidates took this tack in the midterm cycle after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, seeking to sidestep taking a position on federal legislation by saying the question was up to the states  even though the federal government can act on the issue.

For example, Republicans Mehmet Oz, Don Bolduc and Adam Laxalt all took this approach and lost 2022 Senate races in key battleground states  Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Nevada. On the flip side, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson took this approach and won re-election in Wisconsin, while Blake Masters backed federal action and lost his Senate race in Arizona.

There should not be involvement from the federal government in how states decide their abortion decisions, Oz said in a 2022 debate versus Democrat John Fetterman, adding he wanted to leave the decisions to women, doctors and local political leaders.

That answer was played repeatedly in anti-Oz ads during the closing weeks of that contest, with Fetterman and allies seeking to tie Oz to stringent state-level restrictions either proposed or called for by Republicans.

Thats where Republicans ran into major issues then, as operatives and lawmakers conceded at the time. It was in the run-up to that election, as Republican candidates were getting hammered on the issue, that those lawmakers and strategists conspired to get a 15-week national ban with exceptions introduced in Congress. It was a move widely seen by Republicans as offering a lifeline for candidates who were being tied closely to strict state-level proposals and making it easier for their opponents to portray them as extremists.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who introduced that 15-week legislation just before the midterm elections, said Monday I respectfully disagree with Trumps new stated position.

Trump blamed Republican shortcomings in the midterms on the abortion issue, which he said on Truth Social last year was poorly handled by many Republicans, especially those that firmly insisted on no exceptions, even in the case of rape, incest, or life of the mother, that lost large numbers of voters.

And in an interview with NBCs Meet the Press last year, he criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for signing a six-week ban into law.

But if the problem is being portrayed as too extreme on the issue, the 2022 campaign showed that once the stage is ceded to the states, candidates open themselves up to be linked to all of the most strict proposals.

That includes the laws and proposals that Trump, who took credit Monday for the overturn of Roe, thinks werent a very good idea.

Click here for a timeline of Trumps shifting abortion views 

What the eclipse overshadowed in the 2024 campaign

By Mark Murray

Joe Biden at Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wis. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP - Getty Images)

It wasnt just the sun that got eclipsed on Monday.

So too did important policy proposals and statements by President Joe Biden and Trump in the 2024 campaign  almost as if they announced them knowing that the eclipse coverage would obscure everything else.

Lets start with Trump, who issued a long-awaited statement on his abortion position. In a 4 -minute video, Trump said that abortion restrictions should be left to the states; that he supports exceptions in the cases of rape, incest and to protect a mothers life; and that all legal scholars and both sides wanted Roe v. Wade ended (which is false).

Theres a good reason why Trump might have picked Eclipse Monday to announce this news: The GOPs efforts around abortion remain unpopular.

Poll after poll shows approximately 60% of voters disapproving of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, some 60% believing abortion should be legal always or most of the time, and more than 6 in 10 favoring a law guaranteeing abortion access nationwide.

The Biden campaign jumped all over Trumps video. Donald Trump made it clear once again today that he is  more than anyone in America  the person responsible for ending Roe v. Wade, the president said in a statement.

Trumps abortion statement also contained plenty of unanswered questions: Would he sign a federal abortion ban as president? Would he be opposed to states that dont provide exceptions? Would he protect residents who travel to other states to get abortions?

It was almost as if Trump wanted to check the box  and do nothing more.

Then there was Bidens announcement Monday of revised plans to cancel more student debt.

While student loan forgiveness isnt as unpopular with the American electorate as abortion restrictions are, its not a slam dunk with the public, either.

Polling has found that about half of Americans supported Bidens previous plan to forgive a maximum of $20,000 in federal student loan debt for those receiving Pell Grants, as well as $10,000 for those not receiving those grants.

But Bidens student loan push is an effort to fulfill a campaign promise, including with younger voters, after the Supreme Court struck down his original plan from a year ago.

So Bidens trying to check a box, too  albeit on the same day that the solar eclipse blocked out almost everything else.

Thats all from The Politics Desk for now. If you have feedback  likes or dislikes  email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com

And if youre a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A Wisconsin senate candidate, who has been endorsed by 77-year-old Donald Trump, has suggested that nursing home residents are too old to vote, new audio has revealed.

Republican Eric Hovde, 60, recently appeared on the conservative Guy Benson Show, where he was asked where he stood on Mr Trumps ongoing conspiracy theories that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.

Im not going to spend my time talking about 2020, said Mr Hovde, in audio obtained by the Heartland Signal.

Do I believe the election was stolen? No, but did things happen in that election that were very troublesome? Absolutely, and I can point them out right here in Wisconsin. We had Zuckerbucks come into Democratic cities to push out  working with cities to push out Democratic votes.

Zuckerbucks is a derogatory term used by Republican activists to refer to money that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg donated to local elections departments ahead of the 2020 election. Mr Zuckerberg reportedly gave $419m to two nonprofit organisations in 2020 that distributed grants to roughly 2,500 election departments which faced funding shortages after the Covid-19 pandemic.

But, as well as using the derogatory phrase, Mr Hovde also took issue with the supposed number of nursing residents who voted in the 2020 election  suggesting that they are too close to death to vote.

We had nursing homes, where the sheriff of Racine investigated, where you had 100 per cent voting in nursing homes. Well, if youre in a nursing home, you only have a five, six-month life expectancy, he said.

Eric Hovde has secured the endorsement of Donald Trump (Eric Hovde campaign website)

Almost nobody in a nursing home is in a point to vote.

The average nursing home resident in the US is 81 years old, according to the latest available data.

That is just four years shy of the current age of the Republican presidential candidate Mr Trump  the man who has thrown his support behind Mr Hovdes campaign.

At 77 years old, Mr Trump would actually reach the age of an average nursing home resident near the end of his second term if he takes back the White House in November.

According to factcheck.org, voter turnout from nursing homes in Wisconsin in the 2020 election was actually nowhere near 100 per cent  like Mr Hovde claimed  and was not out of the ordinary. Instead, turnout in nursing homes in Milwaukee County was actually around 76 per cent.

Meanwhile, a review of 2020 poll books in Dane County by the Wisconsin State Journal found just one nursing home in the state had a 100 per cent voter turnout (it had just 12 registered voters), while turnout in other facilities ranged from 42 per cent to 91 per cent.

Milwaukee Election Commission Director Claire Woodall-Vogg said this rate of voter participation is very normal and is nothing alarming.

Despite this, Mr Trump and his supporters have continued to claim that thousands and thousands and thousands of crooked votes came out of nursing homes in Wisconsin in 2020, relying on a disputed, partisan report by former Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman  who was hired by Republicans in the state Assembly  which claimed that Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) unlawfully directed clerks to violate rules protecting nursing home residents, resulting in a 100% voting rate in many nursing homes in 2020, including many ineligible voters.

Joe Biden, 81, and Donald Trump, 77, both continue to face questions over their age and cognitive ability in the run-up to the 2024 election (AP)

Mr Trump, 77, and his rival President Joe Biden, 81, both continue to face questions over their age and cognitive ability in the run-up to the 2024 election.

In February, a report by Special Counsel Robert Hur claimed that Mr Bidens memory was significantly limited, adding that he did not remember what year his son, Beau Biden, died from brain cancer.

Mr Biden slammed the claims in a fiery press conference, where he sparked further questions about his memory when he appeared to confuse Mexico with Egypt  just one of many gaffes the president has made in public speeches.

Meanwhile, Mr Trumps mental competency has also come into question, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis previously launching an accident tracker to catalogue the former presidents various gaffes.

In January, MrTrump appeared to mix-up his only Republican challenger Nikki Haley with former House speaker Nancy Pelosi while discussing the January 6 Capitol riots.

Mr Biden later mocked Mr Trump for the gaffe, writing on X: I dont agree with Nikki Haley on everything, but we agree on this much: She is not Nancy Pelosi.
Trump-endorsed Senate candidate Eric Hovde thinks people in nursing homes cant vote on their own because  in his mind  theyre all at deaths doorstep.

During an April 5 interview on The Guy Benson Show, Hovde, a Republican running to unseat Democratic Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, claimed that it was suspicious that some nursing homes in Wisconsin had 100-percent voting percentages.

Well, if youre in a nursing home, you only have five, six-month life expectancy. Almost nobody in a nursing home is in a point to vote and you had children, adult children showing up saying, Who voted for my 85 or 90-year-old father or mother? Hovde told Benson.

NEW AUDIO: Wisconsin GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde casts doubt on nursing home residents being able to vote:



"Well, if you're in a nursing home, you only have a five, six-month life expectancy. Almost nobody in a nursing home is in a point to vote." pic.twitter.com/i1YIgxxv4K  Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) April 8, 2024

Hovde, whose comments were first reported by Heartland Signal, is not entirely correct in his assessment of nursing home life expectancy. While its true that some residents die within months of entering assisted living, many live comfortably for years in long-term residential care, while others voluntarily leave nursing homes for a multitude of reasons, including a preference for in-home care.

Regardless of how long a person stays in a nursing home, the right to vote has no age-based expiration date. Wisconsin became a focal point for election conspiracies in the aftermath of the 2020 election, including through largely baseless claims that nursing home employees had fabricated or manipulated the votes of elderly patients.

Hovde, a banker and investor by trade, made an unsuccessful bid for the Senate in 2012, and announced his second attempt to win a seat in the higher chamber in February. Hovde has already drawn the ire of Wisconsinites after publicly coming out against the sale of alcohol  a bold stance if youre trying to represent what is arguably the beer capital of America. As previously reported by Rolling Stone, Hovde also waged a decadeslong pressure campaign to force the Silver Dollar Tavern, a Madison bar beloved by locals, to sell their building to him in order to demolish the entire block.

While Hovde has explicitly stated he does not believe the 2020 election was stolen, last month former President Donald Trump officially endorsed him during a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I met Eric, and Ive studied Eric and I  because we have to get it right, Trump said.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
Former President Trump declined to take a position on a potential federal abortion ban Monday and instead acknowledged the issue is being left to the states as he looks to navigate the politically fraught issue ahead of November.

Trumps lack of an explicit endorsement drew criticism from some on the right, including a prominent anti-abortion group, while Democrats said his position is unchanged and accused him of obfuscation.

The video message shared early Monday morning on Truth Social was Trumps attempt to clarify his views on abortion after months of wavering. Trump has been flirting with endorsing a 15- or 16-week ban and has said for months that if elected he would negotiate something that would make both sides happy.

Abortion has galvanized Democrats in the nearly two years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and Trump has struggled with whether to embrace or downplay his role in the decision.

The reaction to his statement shows the political potency of abortion, and how Trumps attempts to have it both ways could threaten his chances in November.

Hes clearly trying to thread a needle thats very difficult to thread, if its even possible, said Doug Heye, a Republican strategist. Depending on who you talk to, hes trying to take a moderate stance on it, or hes doing something thats not going to make anybody happy.

In the roughly four-minute statement, Trump took credit for ending Roe and expressed support for certain exceptions: rape, incest and to protect a mothers life. He argued Republicans ultimately must be able to win elections, brushing back calls from some groups for him to embrace a national ban and endorse a specific limit.

Always go by your heart, but we must win. We have to win, Trump said.

Trump didnt specifically say he opposed a federal ban, but instead said his view was that the states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law.

This 50-year battle over Roe v. Wade took it out of the federal hands and brought it into the hearts, minds and vote of the people in each state, Trump said. It was really something. Now its up to the states to do the right thing.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, a onetime Trump White House communications director who is now a frequent critic of the former president, called his approach smart.

Allows him to punt to Govs while maintaining conservative position that its up to states, she wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, adding it was smarter than calling for a 15-week ban.

Still, some conservatives expressed disappointment Trump did not go further in his comments.

Trumps former vice president, Mike Pence, called the statement a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans who voted for him in 2016 and 2020.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a top Trump ally in the Senate who has previously introduced a bill to ban abortion after 15 weeks, said he disagreed with the former presidents position and would continue to advocate for a federal limit on abortions after 15 weeks, with exceptions.

Trump hit back at Graham later Monday, saying the senator was doing a great disservice to the Republican Party, and to our Country by giving Democrats fodder.

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a leading anti-abortion group, had been lobbying Trump to endorse a 15-week ban and said it was deeply disappointed in Trumps announcement.

But in a sign of Trumps hold on the conservative base, the groups president said it will work tirelessly to defeat President Biden and extreme Congressional Democrats.

Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, said it makes political sense for Trump to avoid staking out a federal position.

In a post on X, Hawkins said a 15- or 16-week ban is not good enough, and officially endorsing one would undermine the positions of states that have stricter policies.

Trump made the right call  and this leaves room for better action to be taken down the road, Hawkins wrote.

Students for Life is one of the coalition partners behind Project 2025, an effort helmed by The Heritage Foundation and former Trump administration officials to prepare policies and personnel who would be ready for day one of the next GOP administration.

The group has outlined ways a future Trump administration can use executive authority and the levers of government to roll back access to abortion without involving Congress, including by undoing the approval of the common abortion medication mifepristone.

President Biden and his campaign were unequivocal Monday, however. Officials dismissed any suggestion Trump was moderating on abortion or that he was backing away from a potential federal ban.

Let there be no illusion. If Donald Trump is elected and the MAGA Republicans in Congress put a national abortion ban on the Resolute Desk, Trump will sign it into law, Biden said in a statement.

Polling has shown abortion is one area where voters trust Biden more than Trump. A Wall Street Journal poll of swing state voters published last week found 45 percent of voters trust Biden more on the issue, compared to 33 percent who prefer Trump.

The campaign stressed that Trump was siding with legislatures that have enacted severe restrictions on abortion access, pointing out that Trump is the reason states can decide that they want to ban abortion in the first place.

Biden campaign officials said Trump has still not said how he would approach access to abortion medication. Despite seemingly endorsing states rights, he hasnt specified how he will vote on a Florida ballot measure in November that would protect abortion access in the state.

Democratic strategist Michael Starr Hopkins called out Trumps blatantly political calculations.

Trumps comments show he is all over the place in terms of what he is willing to say.  Donald Trump will be whoever he needs to be in the moment. And that is what makes him so dangerous, Hopkins said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former White House ethics head Norm Eisen criticized a failed effort by former President Trump to delay his New York hush money case.

It was a dead loser from the get-go, Eisen said Monday on CNNs The Situation Room with host Wolf Blitzer, in a clip highlighted by Mediaite.

That same day, an appeals court in the Empire State shot down a bid by the former president to pause the hush money trial on the argument that it should be tried outside of Manhattan.

The courts decision followed an emergency hearing that featured arguments from Trumps lawyers in which they claimed that Manhattan, which is heavily Democratic in its party affiliation, is not the place for the case to be heard. Rather, the former presidents lawyers suggested the trial should happen on the redder Staten Island, where Trump won in 2016 and in 2020.

Eisen also noted a questionnaire for jury selection in the hush money case, saying that is how bias can be filtered out instead of the case being moved. He also said of course Trump would go through with the bid to delay the hush money trial.

By my count, its his ninth delay tactic, Wolf, because hes very nervous about facing a jury on these allegations of election interference, Eisen continued.

Trumps hush money case, in which he is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records, is set to go to trial next week. The 34 counts come in relation to hush money payments made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen to porn actress Stormy Daniels to cover up an alleged affair prior to the 2016 election. The former president has pleaded not guilty.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Prospective jurors in former President Trumps hush money trial can expect to be asked about QAnon and antifa  but not their political party affiliation.

The New York judge overseeing Trumps criminal trial has approved a questionnaire for jury selection, which is expected to get underway next week at the start of the trial.

Judge Juan Merchan released a list of 42 questions Monday, spanning strong support or distaste for Trump to affiliation with extremist groups or ideologies.

Extremist groups listed include the right-wing Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, Three Percenters and Boogaloo Boys, plus the left-wing anti-fascist movement antifa. QAnon, the far-right conspiracy theory and political movement claiming a shadowy cabal of Democrats pull all the strings of American politics, also earned a mention.

The questions steer clear of asking potential jurors whether theyve voted, donated or align with Democrats or Republicans.

Contrary to defense counsels arguments, the purpose of jury selection is not to determine whether a prospective juror does or does not like one of the parties, Merchan wrote in a letter accompanying the questionnaire. Such questions are irrelevant because they do not go to the issue of the prospective jurors qualifications.

The ultimate issue is whether the prospective juror can assure us that they will set aside any personal feelings or biases and render a decision that is based on the evidence and the law, he added.

Other questions examine where jurors get their news, if they have worked for a Trump-led business or organization, and if theyve attended rallies or protests in favor or against the former president.

Another question asks if the panelists have consumed podcasts by Trumps ex-fixer Michael Cohen, who is expected to be a key witness in the trial, or Mark Pomerantz, a former special assistant district attorney on the case who resigned after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg originally declined to pursue charges against the former president.

The jurors will also be asked if they have any strong opinions regarding whether ex-presidents can be criminally charged in state court, and if they harbor any opinions about how Trump is being treated in the case.

If the case proceeds to trial next week, it will be Trumps first criminal trial and the first criminal trial of any former U.S. president.

He currently faces 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment Cohen made to a porn actress to cover up an alleged affair ahead of the 2016 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE PHOTO: A combination photo of Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels and U.S. President Donald Trump

FILE PHOTO: A combination photo of Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels and U.S. President Donald Trump

By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Manhattan prosecutors started and stopped the investigation that culminated in Donald Trump's upcoming criminal trial so many times that it came to be known as a "zombie case," like the mythical character who returns from the dead.

The first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president is set to begin on April 15.

Trump stands accused of concealing his reimbursement of former lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence about a sexual encounter she says they had in 2006.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and has denied an encounter with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg launched the probe after his predecessor Cyrus Vance twice looked into the hush money payment and did not bring charges, in part because winning a conviction would rely on untested legal strategies, according to a book by Mark Pomerantz, a former prosecutor in the office.

When Vance considered the charges, doubts arose as to whether state felony charges could be brought against a candidate for federal office, according to the book, "People vs. Donald Trump," published in February 2023.

"The bottom line for me was that the 'zombie' case was very strong," Pomerantz wrote. "But was it a crime under New York law?"

Pomerantz resigned in February 2022, less than two months into Bragg's tenure, after the district attorney declined to bring separate financial crime charges against Trump.

Trump, the Republican presidential candidate for the November election, has called the probe a witch hunt. Bragg is a Democrat.

In a November 2023 court filing, Bragg's office said the hush money probe remained open while it pursued tax fraud charges against the Trump Organization, which resulted in the family real estate company's conviction at trial in December 2022.

"The decision to focus investigative and prosecutorial resources on various other aspects of a holistic investigation ... is a reasonable and valid explanation for the timing of the charges in this case," prosecutors wrote.

'UNTESTED THEORY'

According to Pomerantz, Vance's office looked into the payment in 2019, after federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan finished their own case.

In the federal case, Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and testified that Trump directed him to pay Daniels.

Federal prosecutors said Trump's real estate company reimbursed Cohen and falsely accounted for it as a legal expense, but never charged Trump with a crime.

Pomerantz wrote that since Trump was a candidate for federal office, Vance decided it was uncertain whether intent to conceal a federal crime could support state-level charges.

But the theory is at the heart of Bragg's case. His office said Trump was seeking to conceal violations of federal campaign finance laws, since the payment to Daniels exceeded contribution limits, as well as a New York law barring promotion of a candidacy by "unlawful means."

Trump's lawyers have said the October 2016 hush money payment was meant to spare himself, his family and his business the embarrassment of public attention to Daniels' story, not to benefit his presidential campaign.

Bragg's office says it routinely charges falsification of business records for cover-ups of federal crimes. But as many of those cases have resulted in guilty pleas, the theory has not been tested on appeal, said Boston University law professor Jed Shugerman.

Still, Bragg's theory has won backing from two judges. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein last year denied Trump's bid to move the case to federal court, finding there was no exemption in the state's false records law for federal election-related activities

Trump later sought to dismiss the charges by arguing federal election law violations could not form the basis for state charges, but Justice Juan Merchan - who will preside over the trial - denied that motion in February.

'BACK INTO THE GRAVE'

Pomerantz wrote that he revived the hush money inquiry in early 2021 under a different theory: If Daniels had been extorting Trump, then the money could be criminal proceeds and efforts to conceal that it came from Trump could constitute money laundering.

But many of his colleagues were skeptical that Daniels' request for hush money was extortion, and he later realized the money laundering statute would not apply.

"The 'zombie' case," Pomerantz wrote, "went back into the grave."

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Jonathan Oatis)
(Bloomberg) -- Potential jurors at Donald Trumps first criminal trial will be asked whether they belong to fringe groups like Antifa and QAnon, as well as whether theyve been to rallies supporting or opposing the former president.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Justice Juan Merchan included the questions in a letter Monday to lawyers for Trump and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case. The document was released just before an appeals court judge rejected an attempt by Trump to delay the trial over claims that a New York City jury cant be impartial.

Bragg alleges Trump falsified dozens of business records to conceal a hush money payment to a porn star before the 2016 election to keep her quiet about an alleged affair. The payoff was part of an alleged scheme to influence the 2016 election by preventing salacious stories about Trump from being published.

The questionnaire is similar to those in Trumps two civil trials earlier this year, both of which he lost. But more is at stake in Trumps first criminal trial, and lawyers on both sides will be under intense pressure to select jurors who can be fair, even if they hold strong opinions about a former president whos a particularly divisive defendant and a candidate to return to the White House.

The proposed list hints at how contentious the jury selection process may be when the trial starts April 15. It could take up to two weeks to pick a jury, or about a quarter of the trial.

Among other things, potential jurors will also be asked if they use Trumps social-media platform Truth Social, whose parent company has lost billions of dollars in market value since it started trading publicly two weeks ago. Theyll also be asked if they belong to any anti-Trump groups or if they have any feelings of opinions about how Mr. Trump is being treated in this case?

Possible jurors will also be asked if they have ever attended a rally or campaign event for Trump, if they have a relative or close friend who volunteered for his campaign and if theyve ever followed Trump on social media. Panelists will also be asked if they have any strong opinions or firmly held beliefs about whether a former president may be criminally charged in state court.

Just after Merchan released the questionnaire, an appeals court judge rejected Trumps attempt to delay the trial, or move it out of Manhattan entirely, citing recent polling and a quantitative analysis of media coverage shows that a fair and impartial cannot be selected. Bragg had argued that Trumps survey showed that most of the islands inhabitants are confident they can deliver a verdict based only on the evidence.

Earlier Monday, Trump made a last-ditch effort to get Merchan removed from the case over claims that his daughter might profit professionally from the proceeding as an employee of a consulting firm that has Democrats as clients.

(Updates with additional questions from the filing, ruling starting in second paragraph)

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Donald Trump is close to running out of time in his last-ditch bid to stave off the historic stigma of being the first former president to go on criminal trial next week.

The presumptive Republican nominee suffered yet another courtroom defeat on Monday in an attempt to delay his hush money trial and move it out of Manhattan. And on Tuesday, an appeals court thwarted yet another attempt to postpone the opening of the trial so that Trump can challenge a partial gag order imposed by the presiding judge.

Trumps latest legal defeats move him  and the nation  to the threshold of a divisive spectacle that will further strain the justice and political systems and that could have an unpredictable impact on Novembers election.

This case, which stems from payments to an adult film actress ahead of the 2016 election, is just one of four criminal cases against the former president. He has pleaded not guilty in all cases against him.

As his legal options narrow, Trumps attacks on the judge in the New York case and those involved in his other looming trials and his wild claims that hes the victim of political persecution are getting ever more extreme. In a dark Truth Social post over the weekend, Trump wondered how many corrupt judges hed have to endure before somebody steps in? And in a fundraising email, the ex-president slammed his sham trial and warned all hell will break loose unless he got a new injection of financial support. Judge Juan Merchan, who will preside over the case, last week expanded a gag order on Trump after he named the judges daughter and attacked her on social media. Now the ex-president is complaining on his Truth Social network that Merchan is taking away my First Amendment Rights. An appeals court will still consider Trumps request to lift the gag order, but Tuesdays ruling means the trial will go ahead while the process plays out.

Trumps escalating efforts to delegitimize the New York trial before it starts came as CNN obtained the jury questionnaire in the case, which reflects the unusual political context of this trial. Potential jurors will be quizzed about where they get their news, if theyve been to a Trump rally and whether they have been a member of an extremist group like the Proud Boys. They will also be asked about their feelings about the former president but not about what political party they belong to or who theyve voted for.

This is consistent with attempts before all trials to ensure jurors can be fair and impartial in judging a case based on the evidence rather than their political views or prejudices. Prosecutors in the case are not trying to prove that a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels in 2016 was illegal. Rather they will tell the jury that the ex-president falsified business records to cover it up, in an attempt to mislead voters before the 2016 election. But some critics of the case see the idea that its about election interference as a stretch. And if theres one of the four criminal trials that Trump would prefer to take place first, its this one.

The delays in multiple cases surrounding Trump are often caused by him exercising his rights as a defendant to exhaust the full extent of his right to appeals. But there is a clear trend of him using frivolous legal challenges to slow the road to trials. With only four weekdays until the New York trial begins, the chances that it will be further delayed are fading fast. Still, Trump is one of the most prolific litigants in modern history and given the political incentives for him to dodge accountability, more long-shot legal challenges cant be ruled out.

If he cant delay the opening of the trial on April 15, he will spend four days a week confined to a courtroom  leaving the campaign trail open to his rival, President Joe Biden. But the ex-president sought to mitigate one of his key vulnerabilities in the race on Monday, declaring that abortion  a potentially defining general election question  should be left to the states. Biden was having none of it, saying his predecessor couldnt be trusted not to sign a federal ban if one ever passed Congress, adding at a Chicago fundraiser, Trump is in trouble, and he knows it. Hes worried voters will hold him accountable.

Special counsel tries to thwart another Trump delaying tactic

In Washington, special counsel Jack Smith filed his latest brief to the Supreme Court Monday, designed to derail Trumps sweeping claim of presidential immunity that has delayed the start of his federal election interference trial. Trump is arguing that the office of the presidency would be neutered if occupants can face criminal prosecution for their actions once they have left office. But Smith pushed back against this argument, which would implicitly mean that presidents have unchecked power.

The effective functioning of the presidency does not require that a former president be immune from accountability for these alleged violations of federal criminal law, Smith wrote. To the contrary, a bedrock principle of our constitutional order is that no person is above the law  including the president.

Smith also sought to short circuit another Trump gambit  a suggestion to the Supreme Court that the justices could send the case back to the lower courts for more arguments if they find that a president enjoys only partial immunity. Such a move would delay the trial for many months  certainly until after the election. If hes reelected, Trump would regain presidential powers that would allow him to stall or even end the federal case against him completely. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case on April 25, and a decision is expected by July.

Smiths attempts to bring the ex-president before a jury are also being frustrated in Florida, where Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon has been accused by many legal scholars of slow-rolling the forthcoming trial over the ex-presidents hoarding of classified documents.

Trump is making a fresh effort to gum up his election interference trial in Georgia, part of his consistent efforts to try to prevent the other cases in which hes been indicted from going forward before Novembers election. Trumps lawyers want the states court of appeals to decide that his effort to pressure local officials to overturn his 2020 election loss was merely an exercise of his free speech. There is no democracy without robust and uninhibited freedom of expression, Trump attorney Steve Sadow said in a statement.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has already refused to dismiss the case on the notion that Trumps actions were protected free speech. Trumps critics are likely to view his latest gambit as a typically obtuse counter factual argument that he was not trying to destroy democracy but to save it.

How Trump is trying to politicize jury trials

The key decision in the New York case on Monday centered on a claim by the former Republican presidents attorneys that their client cannot get a fair trial in the city where he made his name, and which is overwhelmingly liberal. Associate Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez Monday denied the motion to stop the trial while the issue is hashed out and said there would be no further arguments on the question.

Trumps strategy is not new  hes previously made similar claims about the fairness of being tried in Washington, DC, another liberal city. Prosecutors, however, typically bring charges in a jurisdiction where an alleged offense took place. And if taken to its logical extremes, the ex-presidents arguments would mean that a political figure could only be tried in a location where a potential jury pool would be filled by people likely to vote for them. Such a scenario would politicize the entire legal system and threaten the principle that everyone is equal under the law  even and especially former and possibly future presidents.

During his barnstorming Republican primary campaign, Trump was effective in turning his four indictments to his advantage, wielding the idea that he was a victim of politicized justice to gather the GOP base around him and squeeze out his rivals.

One of the biggest questions of this campaign will be whether the reality of a president on trial has a similar impact among a general electorate or whether it will spark a backlash against Trump, especially if he is found guilty.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

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1. Dutch Bros

Dutch Bros may not look like a winning investment on some levels. After all, Starbucks leads the coffee shop market, and with numerous independents, private chains like Dunkin, and an emerging chain owned by McDonald's also competing in this market, Dutch Bros does not look like a stock that would gain much traction.

However, its selection of teas, lemonades, energy drinks, smoothies, and coffees has proven popular with consumers. The chain has grown to 831 locations across 16 states, up from 716 locations in 14 states one year ago. That shows Dutch Bros is making rapid progress in pushing its nationwide expansion.

Such growth led to $966 million in revenue in 2023, a 31% increase from year-ago levels. Moreover, Dutch Bros has now become profitable, earning $1.7 million in net income attributable to the company. It lost about $5 million attributable to the company in 2022.

Despite its potential, Dutch Bros stock has lost money for many of its investors, a factor likely attributable to an ill-timed IPO in the fall of 2021. Also, as a newly profitable company, its profit margin is too small to yield a P/E ratio that reflects its valuation.

Still, its price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 2.1 is well under the 2.7 sales multiple for Starbucks. Also, Dutch Bros' relatively small size means it can earn significant revenue growth simply by expanding. That growth process should eventually bring investors back into the company's stock as it serves an ever-larger part of the U.S.

2. Cava Group

Much like Dutch Bros is following in Starbucks's footsteps, one might wonder if Cava is following the Chipotle playbook. Like the fast-casual giant, Cava offers healthy, delicious fast food. However, it stands out by taking that approach with Mediterranean cuisine.

As of the end of 2023, the company had grown to 309 restaurants in 24 states and Washington, D.C., up from 237 at the end of 2022.

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The company has established a goal of reaching 1,000 locations by the end of 2032. To that end, it plans to open an average of 77 additional restaurants per year until then, and possibly more restaurants elsewhere once it reaches that goal.

Through that strategy, Cava earned $729 million in revenue in 2023, a 29% increase from year-ago levels. Fortunately, it limited the growth in operating expenses to 18%. Thus, it earned a profit of $13 million in 2023, a significant improvement from the $59 million loss in the prior year.

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A New York appeals court on Tuesday denied a last-ditch attempt by Donald Trump to delay his hush-money trial by suing the presiding judge over a gag order he placed on him.

Its the second rejection by an appeals court in as many days for Trump, who has gotten desperate in his attempts to have his Manhattan trial pushed back from commencing Monday.

Cynthia Kern, the state appeals court judge, ruled that Trumps lawsuit against Judge Juan Merchan wasnt enough reason to postpone his trial. That case pertains to allegations Trump falsified records to hide the nature of payments to his former fixer, Michael Cohen, including an alleged payment to Stormy Daniels to cover up an affair she claims to have had with Trump.

Trump has fired off nasty attacks on Truth Social against Merchan and his family in recent weeks, alleging the judge is biased because his daughter works in political consulting with Democratsattacks Merchan said forced him to expand a gag order against Trump to include his loved ones in addition to court staff, witnesses, and their families.

In court on Tuesday, attorneys for Trump argued the gag order was unconstitutional and illegally restricted him from critiquing the case and speaking freely to the voting public.

Trump Goes After Judge Juan Merchans Daughter AGAINThis Time by Name

The First Amendment harms arising from this gag order right now are irreparable, argued Emil Bove, a Trump attorney.

Steven Wu, the appellate chief for the Manhattan District Attorneys office, countered that the gag order is necessary to protect the integrity of the trial and those involved in it.

What we are talking about here is the defendants uncontested history of making inflammatory, denigrating comments about people involved in the case, Wu said. This is not political debate. These are insults.

Wu added that prosecutors have struggled to convince witnesses to testify because they fear what attacks may await them if Trump were to go after them online. He added that there is no precedent that suggests a criminal trial should be paused because a lawsuit was filed against the presiding judge by a defendant.

There is no basis for staying a criminal trial based upon a challenge to a collateral order, he said. The criminal trial should proceed regardless of any stay theyre arguing for here. That is extremely important to us.

In the end, Kern sided with prosecutors in the emergency hearing. Her decision means Trump can still have his request heard by a full panel of five appellate judges, but its unlikely a court would be able to act ahead of Monday, when Trumps trial is slated to begin. If jury selection commences as planned next week, Trump will officially be the first former U.S. president to face criminal prosecution in a trial.

Appeals Judge Shuts Down Another Trump Attempt to Delay Hush-Money Trial

Tuesdays decision came less than 24 hours after the appeals Judge Lizbeth Gonzalez ruled that Trump is not entitled to postpone proceedings while his attorneys try to have the trial moved from Manhattananother desperate delay tactic that was shot down. That decision came after weeks of Trump bemoaning that a trial in deep-blue Manhattan would be inherently biased against him as a Republican presidential candidate.

Trump has had no luck in having his New York trial postponed, but his lawyers have successfully argued to have his other criminal trialsin Miami, Washington, and Atlantapushed back for different reasons.

With delays mounting elsewhere, Trumps trial in New York may be the only one to commence ahead of the 2024 election this fall.

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Yahoo News' succinct daily update on the criminal and civil cases against the 45th president of the United States.

An appeals court judge rejects former President Donald Trumps latest attempt to delay the start of the hush money trial on the grounds that presidential immunity protects him from being prosecuted. The decision is the third time in three days that Trump has unsuccessfully lobbied an appeals court to postpone the first-ever criminal trial for a former U.S. president. Court filings made public Tuesday also revealed that Trumps lawyers subpoenaed the wrong man. Here are the latest legal developments involving the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

New York hush money

Trump files another last-ditch attempt to delay hush money trial

Key players: Appeals Court Judge Ellen Gesmer, Judge Juan Merchan, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, adult-film star Stormy Daniels, New York Associate Justice Cynthia Kern

On Wednesday, Gesmer denied a request from Trumps lawyers to delay the April 15 start of his hush money trial in New York. Trump had argued that presidential immunity protects him from being prosecuted, even though he was not president when the alleged infraction took place, the Associated Press reported.

Gesmer issued her ruling just 30 minutes after hearing arguments from Trumps lawyers.

Trumps lawyers had appealed Merchans ruling that presidential immunity did not protect Trump from being tried for allegedly violating New York tax and campaign finance laws when he paid Daniels $130,000 during the 2016 presidential election to hide an alleged extramarital affair with Daniels, CNN reported.

The two-page filing with a New York appeals court also challenged Merchans decision not to recuse himself from the case brought by Bragg based on how the judge has handled the case.

The trial is scheduled to begin on Monday.

This week alone, appeals court judges have three different appeals to delay the start of the trial.

Trumps lawyers have also unsuccessfully appealed Merchans refusal to recuse himself from the case as well as Merchans ruling that Daniels can testify, as well as his decision that the case can move forward on the merits and be held in state, rather than federal, court.

With Tuesdays ruling from Kern and Wednesdays order from Gesmer, Trump has now lost 11 attempts to delay the start of the hush money trial.

Why it matters: Trumps lawyers have aggressively sought to keep the first criminal case against a former U.S. president from going to trial, but appeals court judges have not obliged. With the trial set to begin on Monday, time is running out for the former president.

Trump lawyers subpoena the wrong man

Key players: Trump lawyer Todd Blanche, Bragg, Daniels, DA investigator Jeremy Rosenberg, Brooklyn resident with no connection to the case Jeremy Rosenberg

Court filings released Tuesday show that Trumps lawyers issued a subpoena in the hush money case to the wrong man, ABC News reported.

Blanche was seeking to subpoena the Jeremy Rosenberg who worked in Braggs office for information on the years-long investigation of Trumps payment of $130,000 to Daniels. Instead, he sent it to a man with the same name who lives in Brooklyn and has no relationship to the case.

I dont have any files for you, the Brooklyn-based Rosenberg responded to Blanches subpoena.

Prosecutors on Braggs team told the court that the Jeremy Rosenberg who, in fact, investigated Trumps payment to Daniels had never heard from Trumps lawyers.

After receiving defendants pre-motion letter, the People spoke with Mr. Rosenbergs counsel, who informed the People that Mr. Rosenberg was not, in fact, served with the subpoena, prosecutors wrote.

Blanche sent Brooklyn resident Rosenberg $15 to cover mailing fees for the requested documents, and in his response, Rosenberg informed the lawyer that he was keeping that money.

Im keeping the fifteen dollars, he wrote.

Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide the payment to Daniels.

Why it matters: A former prosecutor, Blanche does not have extensive experience as a defense attorney.

Recommended reading

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Tuesday, April 9

_________________

For the second time in two days, an appeals court judge rejects a motion by former President Donald Trump that would have delayed the April 15 start of his hush money trial. New York Associate Justice Cynthia Kern declines Trumps motion, which argued that the case should be postponed while he appeals Judge Juan Merchans gag order preventing Trump from commenting on witnesses, court staff and their families during the trial. Here are the latest legal developments involving the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for 2024.

New York hush money

Appeals court judge rejects Trump bid to delay trial over gag order challenge

Key players: New York Associate Justice Cynthia Kern, Judge Juan Merchan, Merchans daughter Loren Merchan, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, adult film star Stormy Daniels

Only minutes after hearing arguments from Trumps lawyers on a motion to delay the start of the trial until after they could appeal Merchans expanded gag order, Kern denied the motion, CNN r eported.

Although Trump is appealing Kerns decision with the full appeals court, that will not delay the Monday start of the hush money trial, meaning that Trump will still be bound by Merchans gag order until at least April 29, when the appeals court has requested written arguments on the matter.

Merchan expanded his original gag order on Trump after the former president repeatedly attacked his daughter, who served as president for Authentic Campaigns, a group that fundraises for Democratic political candidates.

An appeals court has already ruled that Merchan can remain on the case, saying his daughters work does not represent a conflict of interest.

Bragg has charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records stemming from his 2016 payment of $130,000 to Daniels to cover up an alleged extramarital affair.

On Monday, a second appeals court judge rejected Trumps motion to delay the hush money trial while he seeks to have the venue changed to a courtroom outside of Manhattan.

Why it matters:If the case begins on April 15, Trump will become the first former president in U.S. history to be tried on criminal charges in a courtroom.

_________________

Monday, April 8

_________________

A New York appeals court judge rejects former President Donald Trumps emergency request to delay the April 15 start of his hush money trial while he seeks to have it moved to a different state and have a new judge appointed. Trump also announces that he is suing Judge Juan Merchan as he attempts to have the gag order placed on him removed. Here are the latest legal developments involving the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for 2024.

New York hush money

Key players: New York Appeals Court Judge Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez, Judge Juan Merchan, adult film star Stormy Daniels, former Playboy model Karen McDougal, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg

Gonzalez rejected Trumps emergency request to delay the start of his hush money trial, the Associated Press reported.

With just one week to go until the April 15 start date of the Manhattan trial on charges that Trump broke campaign finance and tax laws when he paid Daniels $130,000 in order to hide an extramarital affair from voters in the 2016 presidential election, Trump is also pursuing a number of new filings to keep the trial from going forward, CNN reported.

Trump is seeking to move the trial brought by Bragg from the Democratic stronghold of Manhattan to Staten Island, has filed a lawsuit against Merchan and is appealing the gag order he issued to keep him from commenting on witnesses, court staff and their families.

Daniels is expected to testify in the case about the sexual encounter she had with Trump, as is McDougal.

The hush money case is set to be the first criminal trial Trump will face before the 2024 presidential election.

Why it matters: Trump is running out of time and options to delay the start of his hush money trial.
Donald Trump may be hundreds of miles away from Washington, sequestered his Mar-a-Lago estate, but his presence was felt keenly on Tuesday as the most senior diplomats from the US and UK gathered to address the war in Ukraine.

Just hours earlier in Florida, David Cameron had met with Trump over dinner. But in DC, he was tight-lipped about the details of that meeting and the topics discussed. Indeed, Cameron was forced to insist upon the historical precedence for his visit to Mar-a-Lago as Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, fended off questions about whether the meeting was disruptive to the Biden administrations own foreign policy initiatives.

Back in his adopted home state, it is presumed that Trump continued to stew over his 88 remaining felony charges and the civil fraud trial verdict he is appealing in New York. He offered no comment other than the description of the meeting his press secretary supplied to reporters. That summary was vague to say the least, offering little more than a list of discussion topics: Ukraine, Nato, Brexit and even the death of Queen Elizabeth.

Cameron and Trump are thought to be on opposite sides of the isolationist-interventionist spectrum and in disagreement in particular over the role of Nato in the contemporary defence of Europe. Trump made headlines earlier this year with a bold proclamation at a rally in South Carolina that he would encourage [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want to Nato countries who do not meet the 2 per cent GDP benchmark for defence spending set by the Nato charter. Needless to say, that is a benchmark many do not meet.

The former presidents comments caused consternation for government officials across Europe and raised more questions about the future of the mutual defence treaty in a possible future Trump administration. Meanwhile, his allies in Congress  such as Ohios JD Vance  continue to rail against the idea of welcoming Ukraine into Nato.

In Congress, Ukraine aid remains frozen in the House of Representatives. Part of a supplemental funding bill which includes funds for Israels military, the aid package for Kyiv passed the Senate in mid-February but has languished ever since. Speaker Mike Johnson has prevented it from reaching the House floor for a vote.

The lower chamber recessed for much of March, further delaying the aid Ukraine and the White House say is critical in the face of renewed Russian offensives. Johnson has said that the chamber will take up the bill right after it returns from recess this week; lawmakers gaveled in the chamber on Tuesday.

Johnsons own path forward on the Ukraine aid package is beset by the haunting spectre of Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right Georgia congresswoman whose opposition has been clear for months. That opposition has now materialised in the form of a motion to vacate the speakership. She has threatened to bring the motion to the floor with privilege should Johnson allow the legislation to pass, and Republicans now have the thinnest majority in the lower chamber that either party has seen in years. Some Democrats have hinted, however, that they could cross party lines to save Johnsons speakership if he bucks the far right. Speaker Johnson is not set to meet Mr Cameron this week while the foreign secretary is in Washington, with reporting indicating that he couldnt fit the diplomat into his schedule.

Across the country, another political storm is brewing in Arizona.

The states highest court handed a devastating blow to reproductive rights supporters on Tuesday and ruled that one of the nations strictest abortion bans can take effect. The law, passed in 1901, bans terminations outright except to save the life of the pregnant woman. That decision follows a similar ruling from Floridas state supreme court just last week, and comes as both states are poised to put a vote to codify abortion rights on the ballot this autumn.

Democrats were in virtual lockstep on Tuesday denouncing the latest ruling in Arizona. All members of the party who reacted publicly pledged the partys support for writing the overturned protections of Roe vs Wade into federal law if Biden wins the presidential election.

Meanwhile, Republicans sank deeper into the disarray that has overcome their party on the issue of abortion rights since 2022, when the Dobbs decision first dropped.

Nothing made that dynamic more evident than a statement from Kari Lake, the firebrand Trump supporter and former TV journalist who is seeking a Senate seat in November. Having previously called Arizonas ban a great law on the books in an interview that took place shortly before Roe was overturned, Lake backed away from it entirely on Tuesday. In a statement that wedged her firmly to the left of Donald Trump, her most important ally, Lake wrote in a statement that it was abundantly clear the ban was out of step with Arizonans. She vowed that she would oppose any abortion ban pursued at the national level  the issue, she said, should be left up to the states.

Trump released his own pre-recorded message laying out his stance on abortion just a day before the Arizona ruling dropped. The former president, who spoke at the anti-abortion March for Life while president and who continues to take credit for killing Roe vs Wade, claimed in his remarks that he had made both sides happy by ending federal protections for the medical practice.

Trump remains murky on the issue of when he believes abortion should be legally prohibited. His rhetoric around the issue largely amounts to inaccurate portrayals of Democrats, whom he claims want to allow the murder of babies after birth. How he will fare when pitted against real Democrats and their real views on the campaign trail remains unclear.
Trump says abortion policy should be left to the states, backing away from national ban

Former President Donald Trump speaks on May 28, 2022, in Casper, Wyoming. The rally is being held to support Harriet Hageman, Rep. Liz Cheneys primary challenger in Wyoming. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump, the presumed 2024 Republican nominee for president, said in a video on Monday, April 8, 2024, that abortion law should be set by the states. Trump is shown speaking May 28, 2022 in Casper, Wyoming. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced a shift in his views on abortion laws Monday, releasing a video advocating for state legislatures to make those decisions, not Congress  and was immediately met with strong criticism from an influential anti-abortion group that said it should remain a national debate.

My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote, or legislation, or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state, Trump said in a nearly five-minute video he posted to social media.

Many states will be different, many will have a different number of weeks, or some will have more conservative than others, and thats what they will be, he added. At the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people. You must follow your heart, or in many cases your religion or your faith.

Trump said he supports exceptions to abortion bans to allow pregnancy terminations in cases of rape, incest and the life of the pregnant patient.

Trumps video is a departure from comments hes made on the campaign trail that he would support a 16-week nationwide ban.

The shift in his policy platform less than seven months before Election Day could be viewed as an effort by Trump to appeal to centrist Republicans and swing voters, especially women, as Democrats have sought to rally supporters behind reproductive rights.

In the last two years, voters in a number of states have approved ballot questions that bolstered support for abortion access, including those in Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio.

Several other states, including Arizona and Florida, are likely to have abortion access questions on this Novembers ballot, alongside the choice for president and representation in both chambers of Congress.

President Joe Biden wrote in a statement released by his reelection campaign that Trump once said women must be punished for seeking reproductive health care  and hes gotten his wish.

Women are being turned away from emergency rooms, forced to go to court to seek permission for the medical attention they need, and left to travel hundreds of miles for health care, Biden wrote.

Because of Donald Trump, one in three women in America already live under extreme and dangerous bans that put their lives at risk and threaten doctors with prosecution for doing their jobs, Biden added. And that is only going to get worse.

Deeply disappointed

Anti-abortion organizations immediately expressed frustration with Trumps most recent campaign stance, while reproductive rights organizations questioned its truthfulness.

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser wrote in a statement the organization is deeply disappointed in President Trumps position and reiterated the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision clearly allows both states and Congress to act.

Saying the issue is back to the states cedes the national debate to the Democrats who are working relentlessly to enact legislation mandating abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy, Dannenfelser wrote. If successful, they will wipe out states rights.

South Carolina Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham also broke with Trump on the issue, writing in a statement that the pro-life movement has always been about the wellbeing of the unborn child  not geography.

Graham, ranking member on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, said he would continue to press for a 15-week nationwide abortion ban with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the pregnant patient.

Until he can garner the votes to move that bill through Congress, Graham wrote, he would press for a law requiring abortion providers to administer anesthesia to an unborn child at fifteen weeks.

Trump rebuked Dannenfelser and Graham later Monday afternoon, writing on social media that they should study the 10th Amendment and States Rights. When they do, they should proudly get on with helping Republicans to WIN ELECTIONS, rather than making it impossible for them to do so!

Trump wrote in another post: I blame myself for Lindsey Graham, because the only reason he won in the Great State of South Carolina is because I Endorsed him!

In another post, Trump wrote: We cannot let our Country suffer any further damage by losing Elections on an issue that should always have been decided by the States, and now will be!

Abortion rights supporters were highly critical. Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju wrote in a statement that she didnt believe Trumps comments in the video, calling him a liar.

He knows that publicly supporting bans loses voters, so he deployed dangerous disinformation about abortion in order to distract from the truth about what he will do if elected, Timmaraju wrote.

Hes responsible for the harm and chaos caused by Republicans abortion bans in the states, and all he is saying is that he wants more of it, Timmaraju added. The stakes couldnt be higher, and we need to elect reproductive freedom majorities in Congress and send President Biden and Vice President Harris back to the White House to restore the federal right to abortion and expand access.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, cast doubt that Trump would hold the stance for any length of time, writing in a statement, Lets wait a few weeks and see what his new position will be.

Biden-Harris 2024 Campaign Manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said on a call with reporters Monday afternoon that Trumps video shows his support for those extreme bans and made clear he will support these bans in all 50 states.

Make no mistake, leaving it to the states is an endorsement of the cruel and dangerous abortion bans across the country made possible only by Donald Trump, Rodriguez said.

The abortion bans currently in place in Republican states sometimes exclude exceptions for rape and incest, and can take effect before a woman knows shes pregnant, Rodriguez said.

Abortion decision

Trump was president before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned the constitutional right to abortion it established in the 1973 Roe v. Wade case and reaffirmed in the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey ruling.

The conservative justices on the court wrote in their ruling ending nationwide protections that the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the

people and their elected representatives.

That would include Congress, should lawmakers choose to pursue a nationwide law. Trump didnt say in the video if he would veto such a bill or work to prevent it from reaching his desk, in the event he is reelected president and has a Republican-controlled Congress.

In the video, Trump personally thanked the conservative justices on the Supreme Court who ended the right to an abortion and commented that he was proudly the person who was responsible for that ruling.

Trump didnt comment specifically in the video about whether he would seek to enforce an 1873 anti-obscenity law that many anti-abortion advocates say could ban the mailing of medication abortion.

The Comstock Act, as its called, came up at the U.S. Supreme Court in late March when the justices heard oral arguments over access to mifepristone, one of two pharmaceuticals used in medication abortions.

That law hasnt been enforced in decades but it bars the mailing of Every article or thing designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion, or for any indecent or immoral use.

Trump and IVF

Trump also addressed access to in vitro fertilization in his video, saying the Republican Party wants to make it easier for mothers and families to have babies, not harder.

That includes supporting the availability of fertility treatments, like IVF, in every state in America, Trump said, later adding he strongly supports the availability of IVF for couples who are trying to have a precious baby.

Trump thanked lawmakers in Alabama for enacting civil and criminal protections for IVF clinics so they could resume treatments after the states Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos constituted children.

While many of the IVF clinics in the state restarted their work after the new law was put in place, a Mobile, Alabama, IVF clinic said it will cease at the end of the year due to a lawsuit over the process.

Today Im pleased that the Alabama Legislature has acted very quickly and passed legislation that preserves the availability of IVF in Alabama, Trump said. They really did a great and fast job.

Trump said that the GOP should always be on the side of the miracle of life and the side of mothers, fathers and their beautiful babies. And thats what we are.

IVF is an important part of that and our great Republican Party will always be with you in your quest for the ultimate joy in life, Trump said.

Republicans in the U.S. Senate have blocked two bills from moving forward that would have addressed access to IVF, following the questions about the process in Alabama.

Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi in late February blocked efforts by Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth to pass a bill that would have implemented nationwide protections of IVF patients and health care providers.

That legislation would have barred limitations on assisted reproductive technology services that are more burdensome than limitations or requirements imposed on medically comparable procedures, do not significantly advance reproductive health or the safety of such services and unduly restrict access to such services.

In mid-March, Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford blocked Washington state Democratic Sen. Patty Murray from quickly passing legislation that would have expanded access to fertility treatments for military members and veterans.

The bill, titled the Veteran Families Health Services Act, would have allowed troops to freeze their eggs or sperm before shipping out to a combat zone or a hazardous duty assignment. It would also have broadened access to VAs adoption services.

The post Trump says abortion policy should be left to the states, backing away from national ban appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Trump says leave abortion to the states. That's where it gets complicated

Former President Trump speaks at a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Mich., last week. (Paul Sancya / Associated Press)

Former President Trump released his 2024 stance on abortion Monday, saying he supports leaving it up to states to determine abortion access  in essence maintaining the status quo that has existed since the Supreme Court overturned nationwide abortion access in 2022.

"My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both," Trump said in a video posted to Truth Social, his social media site. "And whatever they decide must be the law of the land  in this case, the law of the state."

President Biden's campaign whipped back a response, saying that despite Trump's claim he would leave it to states to decide, he would support a national ban if in office. The Biden campaign followed up its statement by releasing an ad featuring a Texas woman who was denied an abortion, which would have prevented an infection, after a miscarriage.

"Donald Trump did this," the ad says.

"Because of Donald Trump, 1 in 3 women in America already live under extreme and dangerous bans that put their lives at risk and threaten doctors with prosecution for doing their jobs," Biden said in a statement. "And that is only going to get worse."

But while his long-awaited announcement clarified how his campaign would handle the divisive issue in an election year, Trump's position is not as simple as it might sound. It reinvigorated the debate over how states have handled abortion access since Roe vs. Wade was overturned two years ago.

Read more: Trump could gut abortion access in California if elected. Here's how

'Leave it to states' may not be so simple

In the 2022 Dobbs case, the Supreme Court abolished the precedent for nationwide abortion access, returning decision-making power on the divisive issue to states. Since then, states have taken a range of actions to further curtail or protect abortion access  and in many places, the battle is ongoing.

In several states, trigger laws banning abortion went into effect immediately after the Dobbs ruling.

Abortions are largely illegal in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. Other states  Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah and Wyoming  have sought to curtail abortion access to varying degrees.

In his announcement, Trump acknowledged the mixed status of abortion rights that has resulted from the Supreme Court ruling.

"Many states will be different, many will have a different number of weeks or some will have more conservative than others and that's what they will be," he said. "At the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people. You must follow your heart or in many cases, your religion or your faith."

But having varying state laws affects people everywhere, said Jodi Hicks, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood of California.

"A healthcare delivery system that sort of bifurcated state by state has an impact on everyone," Hicks said. "Which is why it's so important for policymakers to be committed to protecting fundamental rights and reproductive freedom. There is no way to say they're leaving it to one state or the other because we're all connected when it comes to healthcare."

Read more: Arizona can enforce an 1864 law criminalizing nearly all abortions, court says

On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the state can enforce its 1864 law criminalizing abortions, except when the woman's life is at risk. But Arizona for Abortion Access, a reproductive rights advocacy group, says it has gathered enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot in November, leaving it up to voters.

California voters responded to the Dobbs ruling by overwhelmingly passing a proposition that codified abortion access in the state Constitution. The proposition received nearly 67% of the vote, establishing Californians' fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives.

In the first election dealing with abortion after Dobbs, Kansas voted to keep constitutional language guaranteeing reproductive rights. But the fight didn't end there. In the two years since, Republicans in the state Legislature have battled with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly over how far those protections go.

Republicans in the state House and Senate recently passed a bill that would require healthcare providers to ask patients why they want an abortion, and to record their answers in a state database.

In Maryland, where abortion rights are already protected, state lawmakers put a "reproductive freedom" question on this year's ballot about whether to add language guaranteeing access to the state Constitution.

In November, Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot initiative that would create a state constitutional amendment protecting an individual's right to "contraception; fertility treatment; continuing one's own pregnancy; miscarriage care; and abortion."

The amendment allowed that "abortion may be prohibited after fetal viability," which is decided on a case-by-case basis by the pregnant patient's physician.

In Florida, where Trump lives, voters will decide whether to enshrine abortion rights in the state's Constitution in a ballot initiative set for November's election. The initiative  which barely made it on the ballot after the state Supreme Court eked out a 4-3 decision approving the language last week  requires 60% approval to pass.

Read more: Florida's stricter abortion ban could put more pressure on clinics in other states

What it might mean for Republicans

The 2022 midterm  the first election after the Dobbs decision  was widely regarded as a nationwide referendum on abortion access. Polls found that the abortion issue motivated many voters to cast their ballots in the 2022 midterms. And although Republicans took control of the House of Representatives, they did not sweep Congress as they'd hoped.

Many political watchers saw Republicans' meager showing as proof that Americans want abortion rights reinstated. Since achieving their victory of overturning Roe vs. Wade, GOP politicians have been split on their messaging about what to do next abortion.

"The problem is, you have a pro-life movement that has spent 50 years focused on a unilateral goal," said Jon Fleischman, a GOP political strategist. "It's become very clear that what there is not, is a uniformity in the pro-life movement about the next step. And so you're seeing a broad disagreement about where things should go now."

In response to Trump's message Monday, many Republicans jumped into the national conversation to advocate for even stricter measures.

Read more: Opinion: How the GOP fixation on abortion could help Democrats retake the House

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) posted on X that he disagreed with Trump, and called for "a national minimum standard limiting abortion at fifteen weeks because the child is capable of feeling pain, with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother." Trump responded with several posts deriding Graham on Truth Social, saying the senator was harming the Republican Party by harping on the issue.

"Many Good Republicans lost Elections because of this Issue, and people like Lindsey Graham, that are unrelenting, are handing Democrats their dream of the House, Senate, and perhaps even the Presidency," Trump posted.

"The federal government cannot abandon women and children exploited by abortion. Leaving abortion policy to the states is not sufficient," said Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote in a statement. "While federal legislation on abortion policy is challenging at present, we are confident that a Trump administration will be staffed with pro-life personnel committed to pro-life policies, including conscience rights, limits on taxpayer funding of abortion, and protections for pro-life states."

A poll released last week from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 80% of American adults  including 94% of Democrats, 81% of independents and 70% of Republicans  think women and their doctors, rather than lawmakers, should make decisions about abortions.

Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher.

Donald Trump on Monday released a video laying out his thoughts on abortion, claiming he wants it to be left up to the states instead of enacting a national abortion ban. And while the former president has previously been relatively vague on his abortion stance, The New Abnormal co-host Andy Levy says we should be cautious about cementing Trumps position on the issue.

Take whatever he said and just throw it in the trash because he will do or say whatever he thinks is politically expedient, Levy said, reminding listeners: Remember this is Donald Trump that back in 2016 during the primaries, said that women who got abortion should face some form of punishment.

He adds: Look, whatever he said today, that is probably not going to be where he is on it come November.

Subscribe to The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Overcast.

Then, deputy director of the ACLU Immigrants Rights Project, Cody Wofsy, fills us in on everything we need to know about Texas Senate Bill 4 (SB4), an immigration law that even those supporting it have said may have gone too far.

Wofsy describes the bill as a radical anti-immigrant law that sets up an entire new state system of regulating immigrants and authorizing deportation, essentially bypassing the whole federal immigration scheme.

Why These Two Republicans Are Trumps Most Likely VP Picks

Plus! Journalist and host of the It's Christmastown podcast, Jeb Lund, joins the show to discuss his latest piece, In the wake of Florida's 'War on Woke,' Republicans return to terrorizing the underclass, and answers the question of whether the states GOP, led by Gov. Ron DeSantis, is actually backing off of the issue.

Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Henry Cuellar and Veronica Escobar are both Hispanic Democrats who represent districts in Texas that share a border with Mexico. But the similarities end there.

Escobar is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a spokesperson for President Joe Bidens campaign. She has collaborated with Republican Representative Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida to write the Dignity Act, which offers a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

In Texas I can tell you we are very eager to find solutions that help improve the border, she says. But I also know that people want legal pathways.

Meanwhile, Cuellar is a conservative Democrat who has frequently jousted with progressives. His opposition to abortion rights compelled progressives like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Elizabeth Warren to support a primary challenger against him in 2020 and 2022. Both times, he beat back a primary challenge.

More recently, hes pushed for Democrats to become more hawkish on the border. He also launched a task force of Democrats who support border security.

Cuellar opposes a border wall with Mexico as an outdated idea that wouldnt work in reality. But in 2020, Donald Trump  the main proponent of a border wall  shocked many when he overperformed in the Rio Grande Valley area of Cuellars district. Zapata County flipped to the Republicans and Webb County, home of Cuellars hometown of Laredo, moved 30 points to the right.

[Biden] has to show that he's a strong leader and that he's addressing the issues that are important to focus on their border security, Cuellar says. In particular, he supports Biden using the tools left at his disposal after his recent immigration bill failed.

He can do an executive order right now, Cuellar adds, which would allow for an expedited removal of undocumented migrants.

Such opposing approaches toward immigration demonstrated by Escobar and Cuellar showcase the challenges Biden faces as he seeks to win over Latino voters in 2024.

On Tuesday evening, an interview with the president will air on Univision, the most-watched Spanish language network in the United States. It is the continuation of a campaign of outreach which is sorely needed.

A new Axios/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday showed that just 41 per cent of Latinos have a favorable view of Biden. That number is slightly higher than Trump, who has an approval of 32 per cent among Latinos. Nevertheless, the devil is in the detail: Bidens favorability rating has gone downward, while Trumps has improved. In June of last year, Biden had a 47 per cent approval rating while Mr Trump came in low at 29 per cent.

Such numbers must be disappointing to the Biden campaign, considering officials have invested early and heavily in Latino outreach during this election cycle. The campaign has recently run ads not only in Spanish but in Spanglish.

He has spent an unprecedented amount of money, but now [after] three historically early and three historically large sums of ad buys, his numbers have gotten worse, Mike Madrid, a co-founder of the Lincoln Project, tells The Independent.

In 2020, Trump not only improved in South Texas; he also made significant gains in South Florida, particularly Miami-Dade County. Chuck Rocha, who served as a Hispanic outreach adviser to Bernie Sanderss presidential campaign, tells The Independent that Bidens campaign and Democratic advocacy groups like Building Back Together have learned some hard lessons  and have been attempting to put what they learned into practice.

They're starting earlier than I've ever seen any presidential campaign really start doing advertising, Rocha tells The Independent. Because it was a wake-up call in 2020. And I think they took that and now they're doing everything they can to communicate the positive message of the president to as many Latinos as they can.

At the beginning of his re-election campaign, Biden hired Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the granddaughter of farm labor leader Cesar Chavez. In a campaign memo, Chavez Rodruguez launched Latinos con Biden, which she said had strong roots among Floridas large Cuban, Venezuelan, and Boricua [Puerto Rican] populations. She made it clear that Biden would be making a play for Florida, despite the states usual Republican leanings.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have also campaigned aggressively in Arizona and Nevada, both swing states with large Hispanic populations and high-profile Senate races this year.

But Madrid warned that Bidens actions are so far seen mainly as lip service. The symbolisms got to stop, they're going to have to meet voters where they're at, he says. Specifically, he adds, Biden needs to focus on the economy in his messaging.

They've got to decide whether they're going to listen to the Latino community, or to the orthodoxy of the progressive voices in the Democratic Party, because they are not the same, Madrid says. Latinos are the moderate voters in the Democratic Party.

Cuellar, the more conservative Democrat from Texas, says Biden needs to focus on energy.

We're producing more oil and gas and alternative energy than any other time  more than Trump did, he says. Biden doesnt want to talk about it. But there's ways that he can target people and give them that message right in South Texas.

Kevin Marino Cabrera, who served as Trumps Florida state director during the 2020 election, believes Trump will do even better with Hispanic voters than he did last time.

He will also be the first Republican presidential candidate since 1988 to win Miami-Dade County, Carbera, who now serves as a commissioner for the county, tells The Independent. He will be the first Republican presidential candidate to ever win the Hispanic vote, which will ultimately catapult him to the presidency.

Trumps improvement with Latino voters comes despite the fact that he has ratcheted up his language on immigration lately, saying the country is being poisoned by migrants and In some cases, theyre not people.

But Cabrera says that Latino voters care about immigration as well. I'm a first-generation American  Im pro-immigrant, but I'm pro-legal immigrant, he says.

In 2020, Trump made an aggressive outreach to Hispanic voters. His strategy revolved around attempting to paint Democrats as communists, given the ascent of self-proclaimed socialists like Senator Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

By and large, we [Latinos] come from countries that have failed policies such as the ones that the left is espousing, Cabrera says. Whether it be open borders, lack of law and order, defunding the police  all those sorts of things. We're not coming here to have more of the same of what we've seen in our countries.

Escobar  the progressive Democrat from Texas  says that the Biden campaign recognizes the Latino community in the US is multifaceted.

I represent a border Latino community, mostly Mexican American, that's very different from New York boroughs, from Miami and from California and Latinos in other parts of the country, she tells The Independent.

She adds that Republicans dont actually want to find solutions at the US-Mexico border, because its much more convenient for them to have an issue to point to than it is to solve the issue meaningfully for everyone involved.

We've seen... Republicans are the ones consistently who walk away from those opportunities, she says, on the topic of immigration bills. They prefer the issue [to persist]. They don't want a solution.
Former U.S. President Trump holds a watch party event to mark the Super Tuesday primary elections at his Mar-a-Lago property

By Simon Lewis and Gram Slattery

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Donald Trump and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron had dinner on Monday at the Republican presidential candidate's Florida home where they discussed the Ukraine war and "the need for NATO countries to meet their defense spending requirements," Trump's campaign said on Tuesday.

The meeting kicked off a visit by Cameron to the U.S. during which he met Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on Tuesday and afterward will press lawmakers in Congress to pass an aid package for Ukraine.

Over dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, the two men discussed "the upcoming U.S. and UK elections, policy matters specific to Brexit, the need for NATO countries to meet their defense spending requirements, and ending the killing in Ukraine," Trump's campaign said in a statement.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Blinken in Washington, Cameron said the dinner was in line with past precedent of government ministers meeting with opposition politicians but declined to say what specifically they discussed.

"(We) discussed a range of important geopolitical subjects," Cameron said.

Trump has frequently taken aim at the failure of many of NATO's 32 members to meet a defense spending target of at least 2% of gross domestic product. This has raised concern in Europe about the trans-Atlantic military alliance's future if Trump beats incumbent President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in a November election.

In February, Trump sparked fierce criticism from Western officials for suggesting he would not protect countries that fail to meet the alliance's defense spending targets, and would even encourage Russia to attack them. The U.S. military forms the core of the alliance's military power.

European leaders have been reaching out to U.S. lawmakers, business leaders and think tanks as part of efforts to influence the Trump camp about defense spending, Europe's role in U.S.-China relations, and aid to Ukraine.

A British Foreign Office spokesperson said on Monday that Cameron was meeting with Trump as part of "routine international engagement," describing it as "standard practise for ministers to meet with opposition candidates".

A British embassy spokesperson said Cameron would not be meeting Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson due to scheduling issues. Last week, Cameron said he would urge Johnson to pass a $60 billion package of military aid for Ukraine, which has been held up for months.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis and Gram Slattery; writing by Ismail Shakil; editing by Rami Ayyub and Mark Heinrich)
Later this year, the Federal Reserve is projected to begin reducing interest rates. While the exact number of rate cuts is still uncertain, this regulatory action is expected to stimulate a surge in high-yield dividend stocks, primarily because fund managers tend to aggressively purchase high-yield dividend stocks in low-rate environments. That leads these stocks to typically outperform the major benchmark indices when interest rates start to decline.

Which high-yield dividend stocks are best positioned to capitalize on this historical trend? Telecom giant AT&T (NYSE: T) and drug manufacturer Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) appear to be deeply undervalued at their current levels. Furthermore, each stock offers a yield of over 6%, which should draw significant attention from fund managers once interest rates start to fall. Here's a brief overview of the advantages and disadvantages associated with each stock.

Image Source: Getty Images.

AT&T: A sustainable 6.4% yield

AT&T, a prominent player in the U.S. telecom industry, is currently trading at a significant discount. The telecom industry's average trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 11.7, while AT&T's stock trades at a mere 8.84 trailing earnings.

This low valuation, coupled with AT&T's impressive annualized yield of 6.4%, makes it a potentially attractive pick for value and income investors alike. After all, AT&T's yield significantly exceeds the 4% average among global telecom companies and the 1.47% average yield among S&P 500 listed stocks.

Best of all, AT&T's substantial yield appears sustainable, thanks to the company's ambitious cost-savings plan. Initiated in 2020, this plan aimed to achieve $6 billion in savings. Having already met this goal, the company is now working toward reducing costs by another $2 billion-plus by mid-2026.

This significant expense reduction is expected to support AT&T's top-tier dividend program and assist in debt repayment. This is particularly important, as AT&T's last reported debt-to-equity ratio was 135, indicating a heavily debt-laden balance sheet.

However, AT&T isn't expected to post substantial top-line growth this decade, because of intense competition. Wall Street anticipates the company's revenue to grow by a modest 0.8% in 2025, and most analysts expect this low single-digit growth trend to persist for the remainder of the 2020s.

In all, AT&T stock screens as a top buy for its hefty dividend yield, extremely attractive valuation, and improving fundamentals.

Pfizer: A 6.2% yield at a bargain basement valuation

Pfizer, a leading pharmaceutical company globally, has experienced a significant drop in its share price over the past two years. This decline is primarily due to a marked decrease in the sales of its COVID-19 products and the impending expiration of several major patents.

Story continues

Despite these challenges, Pfizer's stock could be an outstanding bargain for long-term investors. The company's shares are currently trading at about 12 times forward earnings, significantly lower than the industry average of 17.

Moreover, Pfizer offers the highest yield among big pharma stocks, with a noteworthy 6.2% yield at current levels. By contrast, the average yield among this group presently stands at a far less impressive 3.6%.

Why is Pfizer stock trading at a potential discount? The market appears skeptical about Pfizer's clinical pipeline, even after the company's string of multibillion-dollar buyouts.

However, Pfizer's robust oncology pipeline holds the potential to produce several new blockbuster drugs by the decade's end. If that happens, the drugmaker's shares should deliver stellar returns for shareholders over the next five to 10 years.

This big pharma stock comes across as a top buy because of its potentially undervalued pipeline, especially in oncology, and also because of its ultra-high yield and attractive valuation.

Should you invest $1,000 in AT&T right now?

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2 Ultra-High-Yield Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool
Trump world divided on Nevada Senate race as Sam Brown seeks endorsement from the former president

An increasingly nasty Republican Senate primary in Nevada has divided those in former President Donald Trumps orbit.

The race against incumbent Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen is expected to be one of the countys most competitive and is one of the only contests on which Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee are not publicly aligned.

Sen. Steve Daines, NRSC chairman, recruited Sam Brown, a retired Army captain who was severely burned by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, to run in November. Brown met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort last week to seek his endorsement, two sources familiar with the interaction told CNN.

Brown has drawn the ire of many of Trumps staunchest supporters, who instead are privately encouraging the former president to back Dr. Jeffrey Gunter, his former ambassador to Iceland.

It is unclear whether Trump is going to endorse in this race. Former state Assemblyman Jim Marchant, who promoted debunked conspiracy theories about election fraud, is also running for the nomination.

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz held a rally for Gunter in Nevada last weekend, and far-right activists and Mar-a-Lago regulars Laura Loomer and Roger Stone have railed against Brown on social media for his ties to more mainstream Republicans.

While Brown door-knocked for Trump in 2020, he later appeared to distance himself from the former president, declining to tell Punchbowl News in an August interview whether he would be comfortable with sharing the GOP ticket with Trump in Nevada. He eventually endorsed Trump before the Iowa caucuses.

In another sign of more mainstream support, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell attended a fundraiser for Brown last year.

All of this information has been shared with Trump by Browns critics in an effort to stop any potential endorsement, sources told CNN.

Negative stories on Gunter have also been funneled to the former president, including reports that he was registered to vote as a Democrat in California and a 2021 State Department inspector general report that shed negative light on his tenure as ambassador, according to a source familiar with the interactions.

Gunter was urged by national Republicans not to enter the Senate primary, according to two sources familiar with the conversations.

Sources close to Gunter and Brown each insisted that Trumps top campaign officials were on their side and that they believed there was a chance the former president would endorse their candidate.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Handouts to voters: Though his first attempt at student loan forgiveness was struck down by the Supreme Court in June of last year (Biden v. Nebraska), President Joe Biden apparently feels called to try again. If this attempt went through, it wouldto his mindnot only lift the shackles of decades of debt from a chunk of the voting public, but also possibly compel people, filled with newly grateful spirits, to vote for him. So you can understand why he'd be so persistent.

That doesn't make it good policy. The new plan, which would affect roughly 30 million, uses a different mechanism than last timeit expands programs that already exist, and targets those who have high loan balances due to interestbut it would still be to our collective detriment.

"First, the plan takes aim at borrowers who have seen their balances climb due to unpaid interest, seeking to cancel up to $20,000 of accrued interest for all borrowers," reports Reason's Emma Camp. "For borrowers enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan (IDR) making up to $120,000 a year, or $240,000 a year for couples, the Education Department plans to forgive all accrued interest."

"Biden's plan would also automatically cancel debt held by people who are eligible for loan forgiveness under an existing plan but haven't yet enrolled," adds Camp. "Considering that all borrowers are eligible to enroll in Saving on a Valuable Education plan (SAVE), an IDR plan that provides forgiveness after 10 years for those with balances under $12,000, this new change could effectively create automatic forgiveness after 10 years for those with small balances." For those who started paying their undergraduate loans off 20 years ago (and 25 years for graduate loans), the Department of Education plans to wipe the slate clean.

It's clear that Biden either doesn't understand how incentives work or doesn't care: Colleges and universities have no reason to lower their prices if this becomes the law of the land. So tuition will become more bloated, and the vicious cycle will repeat all over againonly with taxpayers on the hook to a greater degree than before.

Trump's abortion quagmire: "On abortion, Trump chose politics over principles," reads a New York Times headline from today, referring to the presidential contender's comments yesterday saying that he's in favor of states setting their own abortion policies, but that he broadly supports exceptions being made when the mother's life is endangered or in cases of rape or incest. He also expressed support for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. "You must follow your heart, or in many cases, your religion or your faith," said Trump. "Do what's right for your family and do what's right for yourself."

But it's a little funny that much of the mainstream mediawhich tends to be awfully supportive of legal abortion, with newsrooms comprised mostly of Democratic votersis still managing to find a way to ding Trump over this. His comments probably represent the majority of voters, who are uneasy with abortion but believe, broadly, that it ought to be permitted during the first trimester and made illegal during the second. The vast majority of voters are in favor of life/health/rape/incest exceptions. And, contra the recent Alabama Supreme Court decision, the vast majority of voters (even the highly religious) are in favor of keeping IVF legal.

So, though The New York Times is trotting out Trump's 1999 proclamation that he's pro-choice, and comparing it with what he said when running for president in 2016, it's worth noting that Trump has pretty much never been a devoutly Christian, principled pro-lifer. That's former Vice President Mike Pence they're thinking of. Trump has always managed to pay enough lip service to evangelical beliefs to (somehow) get elected, but these comments shouldn't come as much of a shock to anyone, nor are they egregious to the majority of Americans.

Scenes from New York: Though Curb Your Enthusiasmwhich ended its 12-season run on Sundaywas set mostly in Los Angeles, it feels like a New York show, mostly because Larry David is essentially the most New Yorkery New Yorker that ever was. Grant me my artistic license and enjoy this piece dissecting the show's bland, "new money" interiors. Or this one, on how Curb "synthesized the comedy pedigree of HBO's '90s with the ambition and unbounded creative freedom of HBO's aughts." Or this one, that's about the jury nullification plot line in the finale.

God bless Larry David, that wonderful "idiot from Brooklyn."

QUICK HITS

JPMorgan Chase & Co. head Jamie Dimon "said US delays of liquefied natural gas projects were done for 'political reasons' to pacify those who believe oil and gas projects should be stoppeda position he calls 'wrong' and 'enormously naive,'" per Bloomberg.

Dave Smith critiques Coleman Hughes' Israel-Palestine arguments Hughes made on Joe Rogan's show.

"Chuck Searcy has spent decades of his life redressing a deadly legacy of America's war in Vietnam: unexploded ordnance," reports The New York Times.

Surely this will work and have no unintended consequences whatsoever:

Boston CRE doom loop vibes. In order to counter the lost tax revenue from vacant office buildings, the mayor is proposing higher taxes on office buildings. cc: @arpitrage https://t.co/RnbJZtng6S pic.twitter.com/N3SdMTezBa  Joe Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) April 8, 2024

Authorities in Chechnya have banned music they deem too fast, as well as music they deem too slow.

Insanity:

NEW: Hospitals are integrating race into their procurement policies, balancing the cost and quality of life-saving services against the demographics of the firm providing them. Tldr: Cancer screening firms can lose bids if they aren't diverse enough.????https://t.co/6fDaufuS9k pic.twitter.com/xypXcnaNml  Aaron Sibarium (@aaronsibarium) April 8, 2024

Assuming she'll get rounded up by the Scottish authorities for spouting common sense in 321

They're like people looking at an elephant's knee through a microscope. 'Could be a moon crater, crumpled felt or a mouse's scrotum. No way of telling.'

It's an elephant. We can all see the elephant. You're not clever for pretending you can't see the huge fucking elephant. pic.twitter.com/CJLtjIXxDt  J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 8, 2024

The post Try, Try Again appeared first on Reason.com.
Good evening. The Horizon IT Inquiry heard today that Alan Bates once described Post Office bosses as little more than thugs in suits.



Elsewhere, the West needs a Plan B in case Israel presses ahead with an invasion of Rafah, the Foreign Secretary has said.

Alan Bates: Post Office run by thugs in suits

The comment was made in a stinging letter by the former sub-postmaster in 2010, following the then-Postal Affairs Ministers refusal to meet him, and emerged as the campaigner gave evidence for the first time. You can read our full coverage of Mr Bates evidence here.

We need a Plan B in case Israel invades Rafah, says Cameron

Lord Cameron held a press conference in Washington DC alongside Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State. Click here to follow our live coverage for the latest updates.

Farmers warn of first year without harvest since Second World War

Record rainfall has meant that a lot of farmland is still under water, as on this farm near Bangor-on-Dee, Wales - Andrew McCoy /Getty Images

Farmers are warning of food shortages as record rainfall threatens to bring the first season without a harvest on some farms since the end of the Second World War. Vast swathes of farmland are still under water following an unprecedented period of flooding after the wettest 18 months on record.

Evening Briefing: Todays essential headlines

Crime | Kevin Pietersen has taken a swipe at the Mayor of London by claiming he has removed his watch and wedding ring for a visit to the capital and declaring thanks Sadiq Khan! in a post online.

Pictured: King Charles presented with first banknotes featuring his image

The King with Andrew Bailey, the Bank of England Governor, and Sarah John, the bank's chief cashier, at Buckingham Palace - Yui Mok/PA

The King has been presented with the first banknotes featuring his face as he returns from a short Easter break to view the currency at Buckingham Palace. Click here to see the banknotes.

Comment and analysis

Feature of the day

As a straight woman I thought I was immune to HIV, but I was so wrong

Emily Cawston, 35, was diagnosed HIV positive in 2016. She speaks openly about living with the condition.

Business news: Tesla settles lawsuit over Apple engineers fatal Autopilot crash

Tesla has settled with the family of a driver killed while using its Autopilot technology, avoiding a public court hearing that would have raised questions over Elon Musks self-driving software.



Live markets news: Thames Water collapse fears spread to rivals

Editors choice

Sport briefing: Todays essential headlines

If you want to receive twice-daily briefings like this by email, sign up to the Front Page newsletter here. For two-minute audio updates, try The Briefing - on podcasts and smart speakers.

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The Turkish government has decided to impose restrictions on trade with Israel, citing the country's actions in the Gaza Strip as the reason.

In future, export restrictions will initially apply to several goods, including steel, aluminium and iron products as well as other building materials, according to a statement issued by the Turkish Ministry of Trade on Tuesday.

In the statement, the ministry accused Israel of being responsible for a "massacre of Palestinians." The restrictions would remain in place until Israel announces a ceasefire and aid can reach the Gaza Strip unhindered, it said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was "once again sacrificing the economic interests of his people to support the Hamas murderers in Gaza who raped, murdered and desecrated the bodies of women, girls and elderly people and burned children alive."

Israel "will not give in to violence and blackmail and will not accept the unilateral violation of trade agreements," he wrote.

Katz announced that similar steps would be taken to harm the Turkish economy.

According to UN figures, all Gaza residents are affected by acute food insecurity, half of them even by catastrophic food insecurity. Israel has repeatedly been accused of obstructing aid deliveries.

Following a clear warning from its ally, the United States, Israel recently decided to take steps to allow more humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip.

The decided export restrictions must now also be understood against the backdrop of increasing pressure on the Turkish government at home.

Erdogan has been accused of double standards by large sections of the opposition for harshly criticizing Israel on the one hand, but maintaining unrestricted trade relations with the country on the other.

According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, Turkey exported goods worth $5.4 billion to Israel in 2023. Israel was the 12th most important trading partner in Turkey's foreign trade last year.
(Bloomberg) -- Turkeys decision to restrict exports to Israel for opposing its proposal to drop aid over the Gaza Strip drew a swift retaliatory response, further straining already tense relations between the one-time military allies.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, facing growing criticism at home for maintaining trade ties with Israel amid its ongoing war on Hamas, on Tuesday imposed restrictions on the export of dozens of items to the Jewish state. Israels foreign minister answered with a threat to block the import of other Turkish products.

Before the fighting in Gaza erupted in October, Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were exploring ways to increase cooperation in energy and trade, and advance a nascent thaw in relations after more than a decade of tensions. Both were seeking a broader rapprochement with other Middle Eastern states as Russias invasion of Ukraine triggered a geopolitical shift in the region by disrupting supply chains and commodity markets.

Now the improved diplomacy has been derailed along with bilateral trade, which was largely spared even after ties hit a low after a 2010 Israeli raid on a Turkish flotilla headed to Gaza.

Turkeys exports to Israel slumped an annual 28% to $1.9 billion during the first five months of the war, data from the Turkish Statistics Office show. Manufactured goods, which include construction materials, are the biggest component  representing a third of the $714 million shipped in the first two months of the year.

Israels total gross import of goods in 2023 was $91 billion, of which $4.6 billion came from Turkey  making it the countrys fifth-largest supplier.

Turkish Demonstrations

Erdogans move came after thousands of Islamist protesters denounced him over the weekend for maintaining trade with Israel. The demonstrations took place a week after the president suffered an historic defeat in local elections marked by similar criticism from grassroots conservative voters, who supported a rival Islamist party that took a harder line against Israel.

Read More: Islamist Gains Are Fresh Headache for Erdogan After Vote Defeat

Turkeys Trade Ministry announced a ban on the shipment of 54 items, including products that could be used for military purposes and construction materials like cement, steel, iron and aluminum. Israels Foreign Minister Israel Katz fired back with a pledge to draft an extensive list of additional Turkish goods that Israel will stop importing and even appealed to his nations allies, including the US, to stop investing in Turkey. The Turkish lira weakened.

Turkeys decision will remain in effect until Israel declares an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and allows a sufficient and uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the Trade Ministry said, accusing Israel of condemning Palestinians to hunger.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said late Monday that Israel rejected a request by the Turkish Air Force to parachute aid packages into Gaza, and vowed to take a series of measures in response.

Israel accused Turkey of supporting Hamas as the two nations remain divided over the status of Palestinian territories. Turkey is a NATO member, but unlike the US and the European Union doesnt consider Hamas a terrorist organization. Erdogan has called the groups militants freedom fighters, though hes stopped short of cutting ties with Israel altogether.

Erdogan is once again sacrificing the economic interests of the people of Turkey for his support of Hamas, Katz said.

Economic Independence

The Manufacturers Association of Israel said Turkeys actions will reinforce its efforts to reduce dependence on imports.

A ban on the import of Turkish cement in particular could be a major concern, as Israel has only a single operating cement factory of its own. That could increase pressure on Israels construction sector, of which large parts are at a standstill due to its heavy reliance on Palestinian workers.

Turkey and Israel have previously held joint military exercises, but relations frayed when Israel invaded Gaza in December 2008. Erdogan, whose party has Islamist roots, accused the Jewish state of using excessive force and his administration canceled military ties and backed the Palestinian bid for statehood.

--With assistance from Alisa Odenheimer, Beril Akman, Patrick Sykes, Baris Balci and Galit Altstein.

(Updates with Israeli import data in fifth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Two arrested after high-speed pursuit in Teller County

(TELLER COUNTY, Colo.)  Two people were arrested on multiple felony charges after getting into a pursuit in Teller and Park Counties, according to the Teller County Sheriffs Office (TCSO).

TCSO said on Monday, April 8, at around 4:45 p.m. deputies saw a green Land Rover matching the description of a suspect vehicle involved in a trespassing incident the day before, at the Conoco Gas Station in Divide.

Deputies confirmed it was the same vehicle and conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of County Road 5 and County Road 51. As deputies approached the vehicle, the driver sped away.

TCSO said during the pursuit the Land Rover reached speeds of over 90 mph and was seen crossing over into oncoming traffic, endangering the lives of other travelers. The driver also attempted to force TCSO vehicles off the road. A stop stick was deployed causing two tires to deflate.

The Land Rover crashed into a power pole on Crystal Peak Drive near the intersection of Horse Creek Circle. The driver and passenger of the vehicle were taken into custody without further incident. The downed power pole did cause a small fire but deputies were able to extinguish it.

Upon searching the vehicle, TCSO found a pair of brass knuckles, 14 grams of suspected fentanyl, syringes containing an unknown substance, drug paraphernalia, and burglary tools.

The driver has been identified by TCSO as 37-year-old Gordon A. Hintz of Colorado Springs. He is currently facing charges of:

Mugshot of Gordon A. Hintz

Three counts of Second Degree Assault on a Peace Officer

Four counts of Second Degree Assault

Possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance

Second Degree Kidnapping

Other pending charges

TCSO said Hintz is also wanted for warrants for Flight and Escape from the Colorado Department of Corrections, and two warrants out of El Paso County.

The passenger was identified as 28-year-old Paege A. Bolt of Colorado Springs and is facing charges of:

Mugshot of Paege A. Bolt

Possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance

Possession of an illegal weapon

Possession of burglary tools

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Violation of a protection order

According to TCSO, Bolt also has warrants out from El Paso and Douglas Counties.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Two charged with murder after human remains found in Croydon park

The remains have been identified as those of 38-year-old Sarah Mayhew - Met Police handout

Two people have been charged with murder following the discovery of human remains in a south London park.

Police were called to Rowdown Fields, Croydon, on April 2 following reports that a number of body parts had been discovered.

The remains were later identified as those of 38-year-old Sarah Mayhew, from Croydon.

Gemma Saundercock, 48, of Holmbury Grove, Croydon, and Steve Samson, 44, of Burnell Road, Sutton, were taken into custody on Saturday in connection with the death, detectives said.

They will appear at Bromley Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with murder and the prevention of the lawful and decent burial of a body.

Samson has also been charged with three counts of making indecent images of a child. These charges are unconnected with the murder investigation at this stage.

Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, who leads policing in Croydon, said: I would like to thank the detectives and officers across the Met, whose expertise continues to enable this speedy and thorough investigation.

The local community has also offered much support during this time as officers carried out this vital work, and we are very appreciative of their efforts. My sincere condolences are with Sarahs family, and we will continue to support them as the investigation progresses.

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.
Two NYC correction officers left bloodied, battered by inmates in one violent day on Rikers Island

Rikers Island inmates assaulted two correction officers in separate attacks Sunday, leaving the guards with gruesome injuries to their face and hands, The Post has learned.

In the first attack, which happened at about 1 p.m. inside the George R. Vierno Center, an officer was wounded when he tried to break up an apparent gang fight between about 10 inmates that spilled out of a cell and onto the tier, law enforcement sources told The Post.

The inmates ignored the officers demand to stop brawling  even after he shot them with pepper spray, sources said.

An officer got a nasty cut that required stitches to close as he tried to break up a gang fight between about 10 inmates, he told The Post.

Instead, they grabbed food pans and garbage cans and began beating each other  and the officer got struck with a flying food pan lid that left him with a nasty gash on his left hand.

I was trying to prevent multiple inmates from fighting each other, the officer told The Post on Sunday. A lot of other items were being thrown and one of them struck my hand and sliced it open.

A response team busted in after several minutes, separated the inmates and led them away, sources said.

The 22-year-old officer  who has only been on the job for about nine months  said the cut earned him four stitches.

I think I did my best, the best I could, in a situation like that, he said, adding that hes trying not to dwell on the attack. I was just trying to do my job  I didnt really take it to heart, because I feel like it can happen to anybody.

In the second incident, which happened at about 6:15 p.m. in the Robert N. Davoren Complex, a female correction officer was punched in the face despite spraying her assailant with pepper spray, sources said.

Both attacks happened at different Rikers Island facilities Sunday, union officials said. Dennis A. Clark

There have been about 150 attacks on correction officers since December 2023, officials said. Stephen Yang for NY Post

I gave him a direct order: Stop it! the 45-year-old officer told The Post. The verbal command didnt work  and I sprayed straight into his face, but the spray wasnt effective, and he punched me with his fist and knocked me out.

I lost consciousness for a couple seconds, then I was escorted away to the clinic, she continued.

Other officers barged in, sprayed the alleged attacker, Tymirh Bey-Foster, and several other inmates with more OC spray, then restrained them, sources said.

Bey-Foster is an alleged gang member who is being held on murder charges stemming from a New Years Eve 2020 shooting that left a 26-year-old dead in Queens.

The seven-year veteran said she was left with several facial and sinus fractures, as well as a cut under her eye.

A female correction officer was punched in the face Sunday, leaving her with several facial fractures.

Its a horrible feeling, the officer said. My face is messed up for what? Because I did my job? I dont wish this on any officers  we try to do our best.

Her attack echoes a similar attack that happened in mid-March, where an inmate struck an officer who told him to go back to his cell, sources told The Post.

That attack knocked the officer down and left her with a cut on the lip.

Union officials say the violence will worsen once a new law takes effect that restricts their use of solitary confinement. Gregory P. Mango for NY Post

The officer attacked Sunday said she believes that separating the most violent inmates from the rest of the housing units would help solve the rash of inmate attacks on correction officers, which union officials say has reached 150 since Dec. 20, 2023.

Since that day, there have been 59 slashings, 36 stabbings, 39 spitting incidents, 110 liquid splashings and five sexual assaults, officials said. There were also 108 serious injuries to inmates.

Everyone deserves a safe working environment, and this is especially true for our officers, who have the toughest job in law enforcement, a city Department of Correction spokesperson said in a statement.

We do not tolerate attacks on officers in the jails, and condemn these deplorable assaults,

the statement continued. We moved quickly to re-arrest the person in custody responsible in the RNDC incident, while the GRVC incidents investigation is still pending.

We will continue to work to make the jails safer for our officers, staff and people in custody.

Still, union officials believe the attacks will worsen once a city ban on the use of solitary confinement as punishment for the most violent offenders takes effect in June.

Mayor Eric Adams vetoed the controversial bill three months ago, saying it would make jails even more hazardous for inmates and staff alike.

But the City Council brushed off his concerns and overrode the veto.

The city banned outright solitary  which included 23-hour lockdowns  back in June 2019.

The jail has a lengthy, complicated relationship with solitary confinement. G.N. Miller/New York Post

The attacks mirrored another assault that happened in mid-March, sources said. Chad Rachman/New York Post

Instead, inmates had to be allowed out of their cells for at least four hours every day, according to the NYC Board of Correction website.

Under the new law, guards will only be able to isolate inmates who pose an immediate risk of violence  for no longer than four hours.

Although they can isolate violent inmates for longer, the imprisoned must be let out of their cells for 14 hours a day and have access to the same programming as other inmates.

Rikers Island has a lengthy history of problems with its solitary confinement practices, which came under intense scrutiny after former inmate Kalief Browder, 22, hanged himself in 2015.

His death sparked a wave of reform efforts that led to the citys decision to stop using solitary for juvenile inmates.

Despite this, union officials believe the citys ban on 23-hour lockdowns has sparked an uptick in assaults on correction officers that will only worsen under the new restrictions.

These inmates are emboldened to assault our officers with impunity because they know we are vastly outnumbered and there will be minimal consequences for their unprovoked assaults, Benny Boscio, president of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association, said in a statement.

Not only should these assaultive inmates be charged with consecutive sentences, the City Council must repeal this reckless legislation immediately in order to protect the lives of everyone in our jails.
Two women arrested for chemical endangerment of children in Morgan County

MORGAN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  Two women have been arrested after being accused of exposing children to an environment in which controlled substances are produced or distributed.

According to the Morgan County Sheriffs Office, 29-year-old Kayla Lauren Dudley, of Falkville, was arrested on three warrants for chemical endangerment of exposing a child to an environment in which controlled substances are produced or distributed on Thursday, March 28.

The case was turned over to the criminal investigations division by Morgan County DHR after multiple children failed a drug screening. Dudley was transported and booked into the Morgan County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

One arrested after fight leads to shooting in Decatur

In a separate incident, 35-year-old Chelsea Jessica Barry, of Laceys Springs, was arrested on a warrant for chemical endangerment of exposing a child to an environment in which controlled substances are produced or distributed on Monday, April 1.

The case was turned over to the criminal investigations division by Morgan County DHR after a positive test for Fentanyl during a pre-natal appointment. Investigators say that an additional child also failed a drug screening.

Barry was transported and booked into the Morgan County Jail on a $2,500 bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Ocean Wilsons Holdings implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

The top 3 shareholders own 50% of the company

Insiders own 12% of Ocean Wilsons Holdings

Every investor in Ocean Wilsons Holdings Limited (LON:OCN) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. With 42% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Ocean Wilsons Holdings, beginning with the chart below.

See our latest analysis for Ocean Wilsons Holdings

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Ocean Wilsons Holdings?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

We can see that Ocean Wilsons Holdings does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Ocean Wilsons Holdings' historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Ocean Wilsons Holdings. Our data shows that Hansa Capital Partners LLP is the largest shareholder with 26% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 13% and 11% of the stock. Christopher Townsend, who is the third-largest shareholder, also happens to hold the title of Member of the Board of Directors.

To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 3 shareholders have a majority ownership in the company, meaning that they are powerful enough to influence the decisions of the company.

Story continues

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There is some analyst coverage of the stock, but it could still become more well known, with time.

Insider Ownership Of Ocean Wilsons Holdings

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own a reasonable proportion of Ocean Wilsons Holdings Limited. Insiders own UK58m worth of shares in the UK470m company. It is great to see insiders so invested in the business. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying recently.

General Public Ownership

With a 33% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Ocean Wilsons Holdings. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 13%, of the company's shares. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Ocean Wilsons Holdings that you should be aware of before investing here.

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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Found high in the Tyrolean Alps in 1991, Otzi the Iceman had dark skin and eyes and was likely bald. His remarkably well-preserved remains, frozen beneath ice for about 5,300 years, revealed 61 tattoos inked all over his body.

How and why Otzi, perhaps the worlds most studied corpse, got the body art has long been a source of fascination. Initial analysis suggested the tattoos were incised with a blade and then impregnated with black pigment. Now, the latest research strongly suggests a single-point puncture tool, tipped with carbon pigment, could have been behind the markings.

One of the threads we identified is that a lot of the work that was done on his tattoos initially was done by scholars who were excellent scholars but they were not themselves tattooed and didnt have personal experience with the tattooing process, said Aaron Deter-Wolf, lead author of the new study.

Otzi's tattoos, captured with image-processing software, might have been part of an ancient healing technique, according to research. - EURAC Research-Institute for Mummy Studies/Marco Samadelli

Over the years, Ive had numerous conversations with professional tattooists and when you get talking about it and looking at the pictures, they say, oh, no, oh, no, those absolutely are not cut into the skin  but that hadnt been shown in a scientifically sound setting, explained Deter-Wolf, a prehistoric archaeologist at the Tennessee Division of Archaeology who has a tattoo similar to one of Otzis on his wrist.

The study, published in the European Journal of Archaeology on March 13, reviewed existing literature on Otzis tattoos and drew on present-day experiments replicating ancient tattooing techniques.

Most of them were on the lower legs and ankles. One on the left wrist and theres a set of them on the lower back around the cervical spine, Deter-Wolf said.

Theyre lines that are in some cases crossed but more often parallel to one another. They range from two (lines) to five or six of them.

Scientists have analyzed nearly every part of Otzi and his belongings, painting an intimate picture of life in the late fourth millennium BC. And now, the new study provides a better understanding of how the oldest known tattoos in human history were created, though questions still remain about the meaning behind the body art.

A demonstration of hand-tap tattooing depicts the use of a bird-bone point with a handle. The design, created during a 2022 study of ancient tattooing tools and techniques, is not one of Otzi's tattoos. - Candice Nel, after Deter-Wolf et al. 2022

A scientific celebrity

Originally, researchers believed Otzi froze to death, but a 2001 X-ray revealed an arrowhead in his shoulder, which would have been fatal. The iceman also had a head injury, possibly sustained at the same time, and his right hand shows a defensive wound.

The mystery over Otzis violent death, who he was and how he ended up on a mountain pass has sparked interest far beyond the field of archaeology. Each year, thousands visit his mummified remains, which are on display at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano, Italy.

The existing body of science on Otzi is astonishingly comprehensive. Stomach contents yielded information on his last meal and where he came from, study of his DNA has revealed his ancestry and appearance, his weapons showed he was right-handed, and his clothes gave a rare look at what ancient people actually wore.

In a February 2016 study, Deter-Wolf compiled a database of dozens of examples of ancient tattoos, including body art found on Egyptian, Chinese and Incan mummified remains, that pinpointed Otzis body art as the oldest known examples of tattooing. The feat was possible thanks to nondestructive digital imaging technology and collaborations between archaeologists and tattoo artists.

Once we all put our heads together, we come up with a lot better and more informed hypothesis about how these things work, he said.

Otzi had tattoos on several areas of his body. - EURAC Research-Institute for Mummy Studies/Marco Samadelli

The 2016 study suggests that tattoos are a long-standing and widespread cultural practice, with different means of permanently inserting pigments beneath the skin. The techniques include hand poking or tapping with the use of a single-point tool that may or may not have a handle; incision; and subdermal tattooing, or skin stitching, using a needle to thread an ink-soaked filament or sinew.

Deter-Wolf and his colleagues also experimented with different traditional techniques in a September 2022 study. Using eight tools fashioned from animal bone, obsidian, copper and boar tusk, along with a modern steel needle, New Zealand-based traditional tattoo artist and study coauthor Danny Riday inked tattoos on his leg.

The tattoos on Otzi s body have rounded edges consistent with a hand-poked tattoo, most likely made with a bone or copper, Deter-Wolf said. In contrast, incision tattooing creates edges that are pointed because of the way the lines are cut into the skin.

Theres a variation within the line because youre putting in all of these individual punctures so closely to each other and how much they overlap results in kind of a stippling effect when you look at it under high enough magnification.

A bone awl Otzi carried in his tool kit was a potential candidate but has yet to be studied in detail to confirm whether microscopic wear marks are consistent with a tattooing function. However, Deter-Wolf thinks its unlikely.

Its strongly evocative in (the) context (of a) woodsmans kit rather than a tattooing kit.

The new knowledge about how Otzis tattoos were likely made was particularly exciting because the puncture method used showed a continuity with present-day tattoo techniques, said Dr. Matt Lodder, a senior lecturer of art history and theory, and director of American studies at the University of Essex in the UK.

The real magic of Otzis story to modern eyes is how familiar it feels  anyone who has been tattooed, particularly if youve been tattooed with hand tools, can relate to the sensations he would have felt whilst being tattooed, the process he went through to heal his tattoos, said Lodder, who is also the author of Painted People: Humanity in 21 Tattoos. He was not involved in the study.

That we can empathise so strongly with a man who lived five millennia ago is a remarkably powerful link to our shared human past.

A reconstruction of Otzi the Iceman is on display at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Based on his DNA, scientists now believe he had dark skin and eyes and may have been bald. - South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology/Ochsenreiter

Unresolved mystery of Otzis tattoos

Why did Otzi have so many tattoos? One explanation put forth in the scientific literature is that they were an ancient healing technique, a bit similar to an early form of acupuncture, rather than body art. Many of the tattoos could have been an ancient way to treat joint pain in his lower back, knees, hip and wrists.

We dont disagree with the idea that they could have been therapeutic. I think all of its on the table. Just because something has given us a therapeutic treatment doesnt mean that it doesnt have culturally symbolic value, Deter-Wolf said.

Marco Samadelli, senior researcher at the Institute for Mummy Studies at Eurac Research, a private research institute in Bolzano, said the work was of a high scientific standard.

The authors do not claim with absolute certainty the puncture tattoo technique with a single-pointed instrument, but give extensive and plausible explanations, he said via email.

Samadelli urged the team to continue their study of Otzis tattoos and how they were made.

To date, there are no plans to examine the bone awl and horn tooth found with the Iceman to see if they were used as hand-tipped tools, but I hope Aaron Deter-Wolf will maintain his interest and apply to the scientific committee of the Otzi Museum to analyze and study them.

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Russia may face difficulties producing the Kh-101 (AS-23a KODIAK) long-range cruise missile partially as a result of international sanctions, according to the U.K. Defense Ministry's intelligence assessment from April 9.

Russian forces have recently started a new campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, mainly using Kh-101, Kh-555, and Kh-59 cruise missiles, as well as ballistic missiles of various types and Shahed-type drones.

The Kh-101 is one of "Russia's premier missiles" that can travel around 4,000 kilometers (roughly 2,500 miles), according to the report.

Open-source photographs from March 31 showed debris from the missile, which fell in the field in Russia's Saratov Oblast.

Initially, fragments of the missile were considered to be remnants of a Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicle, but closer inspection indicated that these were likely parts of the Kh-101 missile, the ministry said.

"It is highly likely that the debris was a result of the malfunction of the KODIAK missile that was launched towards Ukraine earlier that morning," the U.K. Defense Ministry said, adding that Saratov Oblast, where the Engels Airfield is located, is a known launch box for Russian Long-Range Aviation bomber strikes.

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Ukraine Weekly By Olga Rudenko

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According to the report, the missile malfunction could be a sign of Russia facing issues in Kh-101 production, likely compounded by sanctions.

Previously, Kyrylo Budanov, the chief of Ukraine's military intelligence, said that Russian forces could start to use Kalibr cruise missiles again "soon" as the stock of the Kh-101 missiles has decreased.

Despite the signs of potential issues in missile production, Russia continues to intensify attacks on Ukraine.

In March, Russian strikes damaged or completely destroyed 80% of the thermal generating capacity of Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, the company's Executive Director Dmytro Sakharuk said.

Read also: Source: Ukraine hits Russias Engels air base. Can it change how Russia attacks?

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UK Foreign Secretary after meeting with Trump: Approving aid for Ukraine is in US interest

During a visit to the United States, which included a meeting with Donald Trump, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron has once again called on US lawmakers to unlock an aid package for Ukraine.

Source: Cameron at a press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken; European Pravda, with reference to Politico

The Foreign Secretary said that "nothing is more important [for Ukraine] than the supplemental that the Congress is looking at at the moment".

Quote: "I come here with no intention to lecture anybody or tell anybody what to do or get in the way of the process of politics and other things in the US. I just come here as a great friend and believer in this country and a believer that it's profoundly in your interest and your security, and your future and the future of all your partners, to release this money and let it through."

Commenting on his meeting with Trump earlier in the day at Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Cameron said that they had discussed geopolitical issues, such as the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine, but refused to go into details.

Cameron has previously called on his European counterparts to also put pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson to approve aid for Kyiv.

Together with his French counterpart, Stephane Sejourne, Cameron has called on the allies to do even more to ensure Ukraine's victory over Russia.

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U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron met Donald Trump at the latter's Florida residence before meeting top U.S. officials and lawmakers, The Independent reported on April 9.

Cameron is visiting the U.S. in an effort to lobby for passing further aid for Ukraine, which has been effectively blocked in Congress since the autumn of 2023, namely due to resistance from parts of the Republican Party.

Trump, the Republican Party's presumptive nominee for the 2024 presidential run, has repeatedly criticized the aid for Kyiv and claimed he could end Russia's war within 24 hours if elected president.

"It is standard practice for ministers to meet with opposition candidates as part of their routine international engagement," the U.K. Foreign Office's spokesperson commented on Cameron's meeting with Trump.

The two men also reportedly discussed the war in Gaza and the future of NATO in what was Trump's first summit with a senior foreign official since he left office in January 2021.

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Cameron has previously criticized Trump's skeptical views on NATO. When the former U.S. president suggested he would not protect those allies who do not contribute enough to defense, the U.K. foreign secretary said this was "not a sensible approach" and pointed out that the alliance was now "more essential than ever."

The Telegraph wrote, citing an undisclosed government source, that Cameron wanted Trump to "hear how much we're putting into defense spending" in a "productive meeting" that highlighted the "breadth and strength" of the U.S.-U.K. relationship.

The U.K.'s top diplomat is further expected to meet his U.S. counterpart, Antony Blinken, as well as House Speaker Mike Johnson to urge the latter to hold a vote on the assistance package for Kyiv.

In February, a $95 billion aid package to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan passed in the Senate with bipartisan support, with $60 billion going towards supporting Kyiv. Johnson has yet to put the bill to a vote in his chamber.

Read also: Zelensky: Ukraine will lose war if US Congress fails to deliver aid funding

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Segments of the tail section of the strategic air-to-ground cruise missile Kh-101. Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images

UK intelligence believes that due to sanctions and haste, Russia faces problems with the production of serviceable air-launched missiles AS-23a KODIAK (also known as Kh-101 and Kh-102), which it uses in attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Source: European Pravda; UK Defence Intelligence review dated 9 April on X (Twitter)

Details: UK intelligence drew attention to photos from open sources taken on 31 March 2024, which show the missile wreckage that fell in a field in Saratov Oblast in the south of the Russian Federation, which, according to UK analysts, turned out to be the wreckage of a Kh-101 or a Kh-102 missile.

Quote: "It is highly likely the debris was the result of a malfunction of a KODIAK missile that was launched towards Ukraine earlier that morning."

More details: The UK Defence Ministry recalled that Engels Airfield is located in Saratov Oblast, where several bomber strikes of Russian strategic aviation are based.

Quote: "The highly likely malfunction of such a prestigious missile indicates issues in its production, likely impacted by sanctions and being rushed to meet the demands of the conflict."

Background:

In early reports, UK intelligence reported that due to the Ukrainian attacks on Sevastopol on 28 March, Russia could shoot down its own Su-27 fighter, an incident reported by one of the Crimean Telegram channels.

Before that, the UK intelligence told how sanctions violate the supply of key components for the Russian defence industry.

Also, UK intelligence noted that the average daily losses of Russian troops on the battlefield in Ukraine decreased during March, which corresponds to a smaller number of registered attacks over the past month.

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UK and Rwanda look forward to first migrant deportation flights in spring

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Rwandan President Paul Kagame are looking forward to the first flights under Britain's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda departing in the spring, a readout of their meeting said on Tuesday.

Sunak wants to relocate thousands of asylum seekers who arrive in Britain on small boats each year to Rwanda, but legal challenges have so far prevented anyone being sent there.

Following a meeting between Sunak and Kagame in London, Sunak's office said: "Both leaders looked forward to flights departing to Rwanda in the spring."

Before any flight can depart, Britain's government needs to pass new legislation which Sunak hopes will pave the way for the government to send asylum seekers who arrive in Britain without permission to the east African country.

Legislation that seeks to block further court challenges to the plan will next be debated in parliament on April 15.

Sunak has previously said he expects the first flights to leave in the spring - ahead of a national election expected in the second half of this year.

(Reporting by Sarah Young, writing by Sachin Ravikumar; editing by William James)
Ukraine and Denmark to cooperate in the field of biogas

The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities of Denmark have entered into agreements on partnerships in renewable energy sources, with a special emphasis on biogas.

Source: Ukraines Energy Ministry

Details: This issue will be included in the Ukraine-Denmark Energy Partnership Programme (UDEPP). The document was signed by ministers German Halushchenko and Lars Aagaard during a meeting in Kyiv.

Quote: "Denmark and Ukraine have been cooperating in the energy sector for 10 years, starting with wind energy, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Now another component has been added  biogas. There are many Danish companies that are ready to join cooperation with Ukraine in this area," said Lars Aagaard, Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities.

Halushchenko said it is important to start implementing relevant projects now.

"Over the years of cooperation with Denmark, we have managed to launch a number of important projects in the areas of renewable energy, smart grid development and expert support in the process of integrating Ukrainian energy markets into European ones. Therefore, we are pleased to further expand our partnership with our Danish counterparts," said the minister of energy of Ukraine.

During the meeting, ministers also discussed the implementation of other cooperation programmes, including the study of Danish experience in developing the energy sector by Ukrainian experts within the energy modelling programme, added the ministry.

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By Anastasiia Malenko

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, Ukraine (Reuters) - When a Russian attack plunged a Ukrainian thermal power plant into darkness on March 29, 51-year-old Ihor did not have time to think.

He grabbed a flashlight and made his way through the dust-filled control room to save remains of the system as the walls of the station fell, calling out to see if the other essential staff had survived the blast.

"We are scared, like all normal people would be, but this is our work," said Ihor, who has been at the plant for 23 years.

Russia began a second major assault on Ukraine's energy system last month, devastating at least eight power plants and several dozen substations.

Kyiv says Russia used more than 150 missiles and 240 attack drones in a single week from March 22 - cutting off electricity, heating and even running water to 2 million Ukrainians, according to a parliamentary estimate.

The intensity of the attacks, which have also targeted solar and hydro-electric power facilities, forced Kyiv to import power and sparked fears about the resilience of an energy system that was hobbled by a Russian air campaign in the war's first winter.

Russia has said the energy system is a legitimate military target and described last month's attacks as "revenge strikes" to punish Ukraine for attacking Russian border regions.

A complete collapse of the system that could cut off electricity and water supplies to towns and cities is unlikely for now, the head of national grid company Ukrenergo Volodymyr Kudrytskyi told Reuters last week.

Avoiding energy system collapse depends largely on rapid repairs of facilities like the one visited by Reuters on Monday, where people in protective suits and hard hats worked in a vast hall filled with metal and concrete dislodged and twisted by an air strike.

"To produce in the winter, we need to repair the building construction, the roof," said Andriy whose family has worked at the plant for generations. "[The equipment] will freeze otherwise."

RACE TO REPAIR

The plant asked Reuters not to disclose its location and the last names of its employees for security reasons. A single unit there could power some 10-15 small towns, operators say, but a March 22 attack halted its energy production for the first time, with recent strikes damaging almost all of its equipment.

The plant's private operator DTEK has said its stations, which meet about a quarter of Ukraine's energy needs, lost 80% of their capacity in the attacks. The company told Reuters it hopes to restore at least 50% of the losses in the next four months, with total costs estimated at $230 million.

Three nuclear power plants provide most of Ukraine's electricity even after Russian troops seized and occupied the six-reactor Zaporizhzhia facility, Europe's largest nuclear plant, at the start of the invasion.

But the damage to Ukraine's thermal and hydro-electric generation facilities is likely to make it harder to navigate ebbs and flows of demand, energy officials say.

And spare parts are hard to come by.

"This equipment is not produced by any plants on Ukraine's territory anymore, especially since most of it came from the Soviet Union," Andriy said of the plant that started functioning in late 20th century. "We are doing everything in our power, and beyond, to find replacements."

PATRIOTS, PATRIOTS, PATRIOTS

Protecting energy facilities and other vital infrastructure in a country the size of France while also defending the front is a major challenge.

"Confidence that this situation will not be repeated again tomorrow is the most important thing at the moment for us and for the essential staff who can't leave their workplace regardless of missile attacks, said Andriy.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other senior Kyiv officials appeal to their allies and partners almost daily to supply Ukraine with more air defences.

This year's Russian high-precision missile attacks on power generation assets have dealt damage that takes longer to repair than the strikes on transmission systems last year, said DTEK's spokesman, who declined to be named.

Ihor put it starkly: "They know exactly what they are targeting," he said.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine could cope using stockpiles for the moment, but was already making difficult choices about what to protect. His plea for 25 Patriot air defence systems on Saturday followed months of Republic resistance to the passage of a major U.S. military aid package in Congress.

At the power plant, repair work goes on around the clock despite the imminent threats. Another employee, Oleh, said the fact that Ukrainians had not given up kept him and others going.

"The boys on the front lines are defending our country," he said, "and we are fighting here as much as we can."

(Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko; editing by Tom Balmforth and Philippa Fletcher)
The German government has instructed the Rheinmetall defence industry company to supply 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda, citing Rheinmetall companys website

Details: The order was placed in March 2024, with the cost unspecified, although it is noted to be a two-digit figure in millions of euros.

This new batch is planned for delivery in 2024. Rheinmetall has already supplied a three-digit number of Marder infantry fighting vehicles to the Armed Forces of Ukraine through direct deliveries and circular exchange programmes.

The 1A3 Marder version, ordered now, is also equipped with an integrated laser rangefinder, allowing for effective and precise target destruction. The first 20 such infantry fighting vehicles were delivered to Ukraine on behalf of the German government in March 2023. Since then, several batches have been delivered, each measured by two-digit figures.

Rheinmetall acquired the capital-repaired BMP 1A3 Marder from the Bundeswehr. The company began the capital repair of BMPs for immediate deployment at its own expense in the spring of 2022. Since then, relevant works have been carried out at Rheinmetall plants in Unterlu and Kassel.

The Marder infantry fighting vehicle, developed for the Bundeswehr and still in operation there, is one of the most proven weapon systems of its kind in the world. Over its existence, the vehicle has undergone multiple upgrades to enhance its combat effectiveness.

The Bundeswehr's arsenal currently includes over 300 Puma infantry fighting vehicles, representing the latest generation of this type of combat vehicle, gradually replacing the Marder infantry fighting vehicles in the German army's arsenal.

Background:

At the end of March, Germany announced a new batch of military aid to Ukraine, which includes artillery and tank ammunition, drones, and demining vehicles.

Before that, Germany announced that it had prepared a new military aid package for Ukraine estimated at 500 million.

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On 9 April, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on the latest Russian provocations at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

Source: statement on the website of Ukraines Foreign Ministry

Quote: "Russia's seizure, militarisation, and ongoing occupation of the ZNPP pose unprecedented threats to nuclear safety not only in Ukraine but throughout Europe and the world.

Throughout their illegal occupation of the plant, the Russian occupiers have grossly violated international law and nuclear and radiation safety norms and standards, including the IAEA's fundamental principles on nuclear safety and security."

Details: The ministry insisted that the ZNPP should be returned to the control of its legal owner, Ukraine, and that Russia must be held accountable for all the crimes it has committed.

Quote: "We call on all states and international organisations, experts and media to take a firm stand to neutralise the threats to nuclear safety created by Russia at the ZNPP and to prevent the aggressor from implementing criminal scenarios in the future.

Russia will stop its manipulations only when it sees that the international community strongly rejects any attempts to mislead it and uncompromisingly defends compliance with international law."

Details: The ministry called on all states and international organisations that value the norms and principles of nuclear safety to strongly condemn Russian provocations at the ZNPP and increase sanctions pressure on Russia.

Background:

On 9 April, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported a drone attack on a training centre located on the site of the Russian-occupied ZNPP.

Defence Intelligence of Ukraine noted that on 9 April, the Russian occupation forces had once again used drones to simulate a strike on the ZNPP.

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SDI Productions / iStock.com

In many ways, schools dont teach students about personal finance. However, that shouldnt stop young adults from learning how to handle their money. The earlier a young person begins taking their personal finances seriously, the better prepared they are to become financially independent.

Check Out: Mark Cubans 5 Best Passive Income Ideas

Learn More: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Many turn to Mark Cuban, a successful entrepreneur and Shark Tank investor, for business and financial advice. In an interview with JEC NYC president Eileen Ye and vice president Mahmoud Abdellatif, Cuban provided some financial insights for young adults looking to improve their financial skills.

Sponsored: Credit card debt keeping you up at night? Find out if you can reduce your debt with these 3 steps

1. Have the Basics

Teens who want to improve their finance skills need to begin with the right tools and foundation. Cuban explains that learning business skills, becoming an entrepreneur or just having good finances starts with the basics, like a checking account.

Cuban recommends physically going to the bank to open an account. By visiting the brick-and-mortar building, youll get a sense of how banks operate and the processes at work. He also recommends learning the digital side of banking and connecting to a free peer-to-peer payment app like Venmo or Cash App.

Along with these basics, youll need a knowledge base to use as a starting point. Learning the language of business and finance will pave the way for better communication and understanding for future endeavors. Taking an introduction to accounting class, getting tutored online or even watching finance experts on YouTube can help young people get a sense of what they should know.

Being able to grasp the concept behind financial documents, such as balance sheets and cash flow statements, can really catapult a teens personal economics and finances. Familiarity with investment terms such as rate of return can also prepare them for wealth building.

Saving Money: 5 Frugal Habits of Mark Cuban

2. Become Financially Responsible

When he was young, Cuban would buy and sell trading cards. He recalled that this process helped him understand several valuable insights at an early age. He understood his costs versus profits and how to find gross margin. It also helped him realize the sales process and how to understand customers.

As a father, Cuban has taken it upon himself to instill financial responsibility in his children. For example, his daughter gets an allowance and makes a budget. If she doesnt stick to the budget, she is responsible for generating additional income. Cuban notes that his daughter has taken on internships and summer jobs to do so.

Story continues

Becoming financially responsible doesnt happen overnight. Cuban emphasizes that its important to act independently and be responsible for your own finances. This requires real-life successes and failures with money, which builds confidence and new skill sets. As they grow up, teens and students who become financially independent at an early age will be in a much better position than those who depend on their parents to cover all of their expenses.

3. Do Your Homework

While students should attend class and do their homework in school, they should also do their homework when it comes to investing. For young people who want to invest, Cuban warns that they should be careful and know their stuff. Markets can be very volatile, and if youre not doing research and analysis, youre putting yourself in a position to lose money.

Its essential to have an investment thesis and really understand why youre going to buy something. He emphasizes that teens must realize no one sells a stock or investment that they think will increase in value. Theyre selling it because, based on their research, they believe the price will drop.

This means youll need to put the time in to prepare and research your investments before you buy. By doing your due diligence and using online tools to learn about the companies and markets involved, you can get an edge over someone who isnt making data-driven decisions.

4. Be a Lifelong Learner

Cubans advice to young people is to find something that interests them or is valuable to them and learn about it. Put in the time and effort to figure out how it works. This might involve taking classes, checking out books at the library or listening to podcasts on the topic. He explains that most people dont put in the time to learn, which opens up some great opportunities for those who do.

Growing up, Cuban was fascinated with learning about technology, which led him to some of his most successful ventures. To this day, he still listens to podcasts about technology over business topics to satisfy his curiosity. For young adults interested in technology, Cuban suggests trying tasks like building a computer, coding an app or doing basic AI modeling.

Everything is constantly changing. Cuban points out that students today have lived through many enormous technological shifts, such as the creation of iPhones and self-driving cars. Being a lifelong learner has helped him adapt to these changes and take advantage of the opportunities they present. Young people who put their time toward learning about topics they care about can capitalize on some of these changes that others arent ready for.

5. Get Started

One of the biggest advantages young people have is time. The earlier you start learning and working toward your goals, the better your chances of success.

Cuban also explains that just because youre young doesnt mean you cant achieve great things right away. To underline this point, he refers to Michael Dell, who started Dell computers, and Bill Gates, who started Microsoft. Both got the inspiration for their companies while they were in college and didnt hesitate to get started.

Many young adults may feel like they lack the experience or knowledge to start a business or create a product. While it can be nerve-wracking to put yourself out there, Cuban encourages young people to begin as soon as possible. The key, the one thing you have to do, you have to start, he said. You have to take that first step. Otherwise, its just a dream, and you cant spend dreams. But if you take that first step and you put in the effort, anything is possible.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Best Money Basics Mark Cuban Thinks Every Young Adult Should Know
Key developments on April 9:

Ukraine hits aviation training center in Russia's Voronezh Oblast, source says

Russian attacks against 3 Ukrainian regions kill 2, injure 10

Germany to deliver 20 additional armored vehicles to Ukraine

IAEA: Drone attack reported on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant's training center

Prosecutors investigating executions of 54 Ukrainian POWs by Russia

Ukrainian drones attacked a Russian aviation training center in the city of Borisoglebsk in Russia's Voronezh Oblast overnight on April 9, a representative of Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Kyiv Independent.

The intelligence agency's spokesman later confirmed there was an attack, without clearly saying that Ukraine was behind it.

The Russian Telegram channel Astra claimed the aviation center for flight personnel training was attacked by two drones. The drones allegedly exploded, damaging the facade of the building and windows, according to the Telegram channel.

The representative of Ukraine's military intelligence told the Kyiv Independent that the operation was conducted by HUR without providing further details.

Andrii Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence agency, said that an aircraft factory was targeted in Russia's Borisoglebsk.

"We will not disclose any details, but according to preliminary information, the main production facilities of the enterprise were affected," Yusov told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on April 9.

Read also: Source: Ukraine hits Russias Engels air base. Can it change how Russia attacks?

Russian air defenses shot down two drones over Belgorod Oblast, two over Voronezh Oblast, and a Neptune anti-ship missile near the occupied Crimean coast overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims.

Ukraine has intensified strikes against military and industrial targets in Russia in recent weeks. On April 5, a joint operation of military intelligence and the Armed Forces reportedly hit the Yeysk, Engels-2, and Kursk airfields.

Russia allegedly lost seven military aircraft during the drone attack on the Yeysk airbase in Krasnodar Krai in Russia, a source at Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Ukraine's military allegedly carried out an attack against the Russian Morozovsk airbase overnight on April 5, sources familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent. Su-34 fighter-bombers and Su-27 fighters were reportedly based at the airfield.

At least six military aircraft were destroyed, and another eight were damaged, according to the source. Furthermore, about 20 Russian soldiers were reportedly killed or wounded.

Read also: Ukrainian drones hit one Russian oil refinery after another

Russian attacks against 3 Ukrainian regions kill 2, injure 10

Russian attacks against Donetsk, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv oblasts on April 9 killed two people and wounded another 10, according to the latest updates by regional authorities.

In one of the latest attacks, Russian forces hit the outskirts of Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast, injuring three people, Governor Vadym Filaskhin reported.

Sloviansk was hit in the afternoon, and three people aged 53, 64, and 66 suffered injuries, Filaskhin said on Telegram.

Russia has recently increased attacks against Sloviansk and nearby settlements, according to Vadym Liakh, the head of the citys military administration.

A Russian attack on the town of Semenivka in Chernihiv Oblast earlier on the same day killed a woman, according to Governor Viacheslav Chaus. Russia used artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems to carry out the attack, Chaus said on Telegram.

Russian forces also attacked a civilian enterprise in downtown Kharkiv with guided aerial bombs on April 9, injuring at least four people, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram.

The buildings caught fire and were destroyed as a result of the latest attack, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

Russia recently intensified attacks against Ukraine's second-largest city with the use of missiles, glide bombs, and drones, reportedly destroying almost all of its energy infrastructure.

Russian forces also struck Kostiantynivka and Sokil in Donetsk Oblast, killing one person and wounding three more, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

Settlements in Ukraines eastern Donetsk Oblast suffer from daily Russian attacks due to their proximity to the front line. Heavy fighting continues in Donetsk Oblast as Russia seeks to occupy the entire region.

Read also: After 10 years of war, Krasnohorivka in new danger as Russia advances in the east

Germany to deliver 20 additional armored vehicles to Ukraine

The German government commissioned the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall to deliver 20 additional Marder armored vehicles to Ukraine, the company announced on April 9.

The new delivery was previously announced in March and is valued in the "mid-double-digit million Euro range," according to a statement. Rheinmetall said that the new lot would be delivered sometime in 2024.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the company has already provided Ukraine with more than 100 Marder armored vehicles.

Earlier this year, Germany and Poland agreed to form an "armored vehicles coalition" to support Ukraine's defense capabilities. The initiative will officially begin operations on March 26.

"More partners have already signed up. This is one of the most important coalitions," Kosiniak-Kamysz said at a press conference with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, specifically naming the U.K., Italy, and Sweden.

Germany has become one of Ukraine's leading military donors, second only to the U.S. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Germany has supplied Ukraine with 17.7 billion euros (around $19 billion) in military assistance as of January.

Read also: Opinion: Answering your burning questions on Russias frozen assets

IAEA: Drone attack reported on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant's training center

A drone attack allegedly targeted the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant's training center adjacent to the site, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on April 9, citing the plant's occupation administration.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear plant in Europe, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. IAEA teams have been based at the facility on rotation since September 2022.

Throughout its occupation, the plant has been repeatedly disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid due to Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure. Russian troops have also used the plant as a platform to launch strikes at Nikopol, situated just across the Kakhovka Reservoir, and other Ukrainian settlements nearby.

The IAEA said on X that the reported explosion at the facility's training center was "consistent with the IAEA team's observations."

"No direct threat to nuclear safety this time, but the latest incident again underlines an extremely serious situation," said the organization's head, Rafael Grossi.

Read also: Life near Russian-occupied nuclear plant: I dont know if tomorrow will come

The plant reportedly suffered at least three direct strikes on April 7. After the alleged attacks, Russia claimed Ukraine was responsible. Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) said Ukraine was not involved.

Russia has initiated a meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors set to take place on April 11 to discuss alleged attacks on the plant, Reuters reported, citing four unnamed diplomats.

Ukraine's nuclear energy agency Energoatom said on April 9 that Russia "upgraded its propaganda to another level," manipulating the IAEA's perspective and accusing Ukraine of security breaches at the plant.

Energoatom said that the only way to prevent nuclear and radiation emergencies is to comply with the IAEA's resolution, withdraw Russian troops and their equipment from the plant, demining nearby territories, and return control over the plant to the agency.

In March, the U.N. nuclear watchdog's Board of Governors passed a resolution demanding Russia to withdraw from Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Read also: Opinion: NATO is not a hegemonic burden

Prosecutors investigating executions of 54 Ukrainian POWs by Russia

At least 54 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) have been executed by Russian soldiers, the head of the War Crimes Department in Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office, Yurii Belousov, said on April 9.

A total of 27 criminal investigations into the executions are underway, Belousov said on national television. Presumably, some of these investigations concern group executions.

There have been a number of reports recently about Russian soldiers killing Ukrainian POWs in the embattled parts of Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts.

The Prosecutor Generals Office on April 7 opened an investigation into a video that purportedly showed Russian troops shooting three captured and unarmed Ukrainian soldiers in Kherson Oblast.

Belousov confirmed that they were executed near Krynky, a village on the predominantly occupied part of Kherson Oblast east of the Dnipro River.

Prosecutors are investigating the involvement of the Russian command, "which is responsible for such actions" as well, Belousov said.

"We are talking not only about unit commanders but also about the highest military and political leadership. Because this is not a single case, but evidence of Russian policy," Belousov added.

As of March 18, Ukraine had collected evidence on over 128,000 victims of war crimes, according to Veronika Plotnikova, the head of the Coordinating Center for Support of Victims and Witnesses of the Prosecutor General's Office.

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Tetiana Ostashchenko, former Commander of the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has resigned from military service due to health issues. She has also been removed from military records.

Source: Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Defence to the request of Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "Following the order of the Defence Minister on 10 February 2024, Major General of the Medical Service Tetiana Ostashchenko was dismissed from military service due to health issues. The basis for the dismissal was the certificate of illness issued by the military medical commission for Tetiana Ostashchenko, stating her unfitness for military service with subsequent removal from military records."

Details: Judging by the date of dismissal, Ostashchenko left the army two months after she resigned from the position of Commander of the Medical Forces.

Background:

On 19 November Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Tetiana Ostashchenko from the position of the Commander of the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and appointed Anatolii Kazmirchuk, head of a military hospital in Kyiv, as a new commander.

On 13 November, Ukrainska Pravda reported that Defence Minister Rustem Umierov was preparing to dismiss Tetiana Ostashchenko, Commander of Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Commander of the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group of Forces, and Serhii Naiev, Commander of Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Paramedics and volunteers involved in medical support for Ukraines Defence Forces have reportedly been insisting on Ostashchenkos dismissal.

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Russian troops used first-person view (FPV) drones to "simulate an attack from Ukraine" on the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Andrii Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), said on April 9.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said earlier the same day, citing the plant's occupation administration, that a drone attack targeted the plant's training center adjacent to the site.

"We are now seeing another wave of provocations from Russia. Regarding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, this was recorded before, there is nothing new here. Provocations aimed at blaming Ukraine," Yusov said on national television.

Ukraine's nuclear energy agency Energoatom said on April 9 that Russia "upgraded its propaganda to another level," manipulating the IAEA's perspective and accusing Ukraine of security breaches at the plant.

Energoatom said that the only way to prevent nuclear and radiation emergencies is to comply with the IAEA's resolution, withdraw Russian troops and their equipment from the plant, demining nearby territories, and return control over the plant to the agency.

Yusov also emphasized that Russia had illegally captured the plant, deployed military personnel and equipment at the site, placed mines on the station's territory, and launched strikes from it.

"The position of Ukraine is clear, clear, and unambiguous  we do not carry out any military actions or provocations on nuclear facilities. And the aggressor must leave the nuclear plant," he added.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear plant in Europe, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. IAEA teams have been based at the facility on rotation since September 2022.

Throughout its occupation, the plant has been repeatedly disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid due to Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure.

Russian troops have also used the plant as a platform to launch strikes at Nikopol, situated just across the Kakhovka Reservoir, and other Ukrainian settlements nearby.

Read also: Life near Russian-occupied nuclear plant: I dont know if tomorrow will come

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The State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPFU) has received a number of sanctioned assets at its disposal, including corporate rights in companies owned by Russian propagandist Dmitry Kiselyov.

Source: Vitalii Koval, Head of the State Property Fund of Ukraine

Details: "The SPFU has received the corporate rights of Russian propagandist Dmitry Kiselyov in Club Skovoroda LLC and Promo.ua LLC," he said.

Koval reiterated that on 4 March, the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine seized Kiselyovs assets in favour of the state.

The sanctioned property also included Atlantis-PAK Ukraine, a subsidiary of Pentopak, which was recently transferred to the Fund's management. The ultimate beneficial owner is a citizen of the Russian Federation.

In addition, the newly sanctioned assets include a market in Kherson Oblast owned by local separatist Georgiy Kalyonov.

Background:

The State Property Fund of Ukraine expects a large-scale privatisation to start in the second half of the year. It will cover assets worth more than 250 million hryvnias (about US$6.4 million).

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Andrii Domanskyi, an actor at the Zhytomyr Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre named after Ivan Kocherha who volunteered to join the Ukrainian army at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, has passed away.

Source: press service of Zhytomyr Oblast Council

Quote: "Andrii Domanskyi, the leading actor of the Zhytomyr Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre named after Ivan Kocherha, who volunteered to defend Ukraine, has been killed in the war [sic]... The leadership, members and executive staff of Zhytomyr Oblast Council express their sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Andrii Domanskyi. May the hero rest in peace."

Andrii Domanskyi joined the army voluntarily.

Photo: Zhytomyr Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre on Facebook

The theatre where Domanskyi worked also reacted to his death. "You were always sincere and kind. You always moved towards your goal. You knew how to support people with words and with deeds. You were always smiling. You were wise, frank and emotional. Incredibly talented and charismatic. You loved the theatre, and the theatre loved you," the theatre posted on Facebook.

They also reported that the farewell ceremony to the actor-defender will take place on Wednesday, 10 April, at 12:00 in the theatre lobby.

Domanskyi in one of his performances.

Photo: Zhytomyr Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre on Facebook

Oleh Saftiuk, Domanskyi's brother-in-arms, said that the actor had been seriously injured in battle, underwent treatment and was later discharged from service. "My friend, my comrade-in-arms Andrii Domansky, Artyst, has died. We were together from the beginning of the full-scale war. We fought from Makariv to Kherson. Together we stormed the 17th position near Bilohirka in Kherson Oblast and held the defence. It was he who pulled me out of a trench wounded and covered our retreat. In that battle, Andrii received a severe barotrauma... Then we went to a number of hospitals together... treatment and medical boards. He was discharged, and I was glad. I said, Youll live a little longer..." Saftiuk said.

Andrii Domanskyi sustained a severe barotrauma.

Photo: Oleh Saftiuk on Facebook

Andrii Domanskyi worked as an actor for almost 25 years, playing over 40 roles at the Zhytomyr Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre.

At the start of the full-scale invasion, he joined the ranks of the country's defenders as a volunteer, going by the alias Artyst ("Artist").

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The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed all 20 Shahed attack drones that Russia used to attack Ukraine on the night of 8-9 April.

Source: Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Air Force on Telegram

Details: The Russians launched 20 Shahed attack UAVs over Ukraine from Cape Chauda (Crimea) and Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Russia), as well as four S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles from occupied Donetsk Oblast.

Fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units of the Air Force, and mobile fire groups of the Defence Forces of Ukraine were involved in repelling the air attack.

As a result of the air battle, all 20 Shaheds were shot down within Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Vinnytsia, and Lviv oblasts.

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A screenshot from the video by the Ukrainian Navy

Ukrainian forces have destroyed a Grad-P man-portable rocket launcher that the Russians used to strike the town of Ochakiv in Mykolaiv Oblast, plus an ammunition storage point.

Source: the Ukrainian Navy on Facebook

Quote: "The defenders of Ochakiv, using FPV drones, have destroyed a Grad-P man-portable rocket launcher, together with personnel and an ammunition storage point, which the Russians used to strike the town of Ochakiv."

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The Verkhovna Rada (Parliamentary) Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence has completed its work on the second reading of the draft law on mobilisation. The bill is now ready for consideration in Parliament.

Source: Roman Kostenko, Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Defence Committee, member of the Holos (Voice) faction

Quote: "We have just recommended that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the draft law on mobilisation on the second reading. 13 committee members voted in favour and 5 abstained."

Details: As a result of the work done, the draft law has changed significantly compared to the original version.

Ukrainska Pravda has a copy of the committee's conclusion on the second reading of the draft law and is publishing some of the provisions.

Citizens whose names are on the military record can voluntarily register a digital account as a conscript, person liable for military service, or reservist. This is a right, not an obligation.

During mobilisation, men aged between 18 and 60 are required to carry a military registration document and present it when requested to by a military enlistment office representative or police officer. The process of document verification can be recorded on a camera or phone. In border areas and at checkpoints, they may be asked to show their military registration document by a border guard.

Persons liable for military service aged 18 to 60 will need to have their military registration documents with them in order to obtain documents at foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine.

Persons liable for military service will also need to have their military registration documents with them to obtain an internal passport or passport for international travel .

The penalty for evading mobilisation will be a temporary driving ban , based on a court judgment.

Instead of conscription, it is planned to introduce basic military service for citizens aged 18 to 25. They will be able to choose the period of service until they reach the age of 24.

There are no plans for the compulsory mobilisation of women. Women are subject to military registration if they are fit for military service in terms of their health and age and have received a medical or pharmaceutical education. Women who are registered for military service may be called up for military service during martial law on a voluntary basis.

At the request of the military leadership and government officials, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence decided to remove the provisions on demobilisation and rotation of military personnel from the draft law.

Servicemen or women who have been released from captivity will retain the right to be discharged from military service. If a soldier/officer released from captivity wishes to remain in service, he/she will be entitled to an additional 90 days of leave.

We emphasise that the final decision on the draft law will be taken by MPs during the vote in Parliament. Therefore, some of the above provisions may be amended in the final version of the bill.

The Verkhovna Rada will begin its consideration of the draft law in the second reading in the parliamentary chamber on 10 April.

Background:

The Verkhovna Rada passed the government draft law on mobilisation in the first reading on 7 February. The draft law included provisions on the demobilisation of military personnel.

MPs submitted 4,269 amendments to the bill for the second reading.

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TALLAHASSEE, Florida  Britains top diplomat is meeting with former President Donald Trump in Florida on Monday as part of a push to reaffirm support for Ukraine.

David Cameron, the United Kingdom foreign secretary, is visiting Trump on the eve of a planned trip to Washington, D.C., where the former British prime minister is scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and congressional leaders over the next two days. Cameron is set to discuss a range of priorities with allies, including "bringing stability to the Middle East."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the U.K. government said it is standard practice for ministers to meet with opposition candidates as part of their routine international engagement. Cameron met with Sen. Mitt Romney in 2012 when Romney was running for president and Cameron was prime minister.

The visit by Cameron comes amid a push by the White House to get Congress to sign off on a new aid package for Ukraine in its war against Russia. The aid has been mired in the House even though the Senate signed off on the $60 billion package nearly two months ago.



Cameron recently penned a joint op-ed with his French counterpart, where Cameron warned that if Russian President Vladimir Putin triumphs in Ukraine, we all lose.

In a statement distributed by the British Embassy, Cameron said that success for Ukraine and failure for Putin are vital for American and European security. This will show that borders matter, that aggression doesnt pay and that countries like Ukraine are free to choose their own future. The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to re-draw European borders by force, and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea.

Trump has repeatedly suggested that if he were president, he would be able to end the ongoing conflict  though the Washington Post reported this weekend part of his plan would call for Ukraine giving up some of its territory to Russia. The Trump campaign contended that the Post story was fake news in a statement given to the New York Post.

A Trump spokesperson did not return a request for comment on the meeting between the former Republican president and Cameron, which was first reported by The Sun.

But Cameron has had sharp words about Trump in the past. Just two months ago Cameron criticized Trump over comment he made at a campaign rally suggesting he would let Russia invade NATO allies that were delinquent in spending commitments. Cameron wrote in his memoir that Trump was divisive, stupid and wrong for banning people from Muslim countries from entering the U.S.
Inside Creative House / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Having a savings account comes with several advantages, including safety, interest earnings and convenient access. However, traditional banks often pay low savings rates and may charge fees that hinder your cashs growth. If youre willing to work with an online bank, you can find options that pay well above the current 0.47% national average, minimize costs and require little money to start. Here are six top savings accounts to consider.

Explore More: How To Triple Your Savings: 8 Proven Techniques for Financial Success

Find Out: 7 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)

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1. UFB Secure Savings

This account from UFB Direct features a very high 5.25% annual percentage yield (APY) without a minimum account balance needed. Not only can you open the account without depositing anything upfront, but you also wont be stuck with monthly fees. Plus, you get an ATM card, unlimited transfers and popular mobile banking tools.

2. Synchrony Bank High-Yield Savings

With a 4.75% APY, Synchrony Banks high-yield savings account is a competitive pick without minimum balance or opening deposit requirements. It features an optional ATM card with limited ATM fee reimbursement, no account maintenance fees and a user-friendly app with live support. But the monthly limit of six convenient withdrawals makes it more suitable if you wont touch your savings often.

3. CIT Bank Savings Direct

The CIT Bank Savings Direct account provides a 4.65% APY and lacks monthly fees to offset the earnings. Although it does require you to deposit at least $100 upfront, you wont need to keep a minimum balance afterward to enjoy the top APY. Its a more basic pick since it lacks an ATM card, but you do get unlimited withdrawals and 24/7 support.

4. Marcus Online Savings

The savings account from Marcus not only offers a high 4.40% APY but also stands out for features such as same-day bank transfers, savings tools and multiple 24/7 support options. You can get this online account without a minimum opening deposit, and no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements apply. It offers unlimited monthly withdrawals but no ATM card.

5. American Express High-Yield Savings

Besides not charging monthly fees, this American Express savings account offers a 4.35% APY without a minimum balance needed. It also includes perks such as 24/7 support, no minimum opening deposit amount and automatic savings deposits. While you wont be able to make ATM transactions, you can make nine online withdrawals each month.

Story continues

6. Ally Bank Savings

While it has the lowest 4.25% APY on this list, Ally Banks no monthly fees and its unique money tools can help make up for it. For example, you can create buckets for savings goals, track your balances growth and automate your savings. It also stands out for 24/7 support and no minimum amounts for opening the account or earning a return. Plus, youre allowed 10 monthly withdrawals despite no ATM card.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Best Savings Accounts With High Interest and Low Fees
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Union Rescue Mission has named its new chief executive officer and chief operating officer.

David Hodge has served as interim CEO since December 2023 and will now permanently serve as CEO. Hodge, who previously worked in corporate banking and change agent roles, joined URM in 2021 as chief financial officer.

After completing a national search for the organizations new CEO, we are thrilled to appoint David Hodge as URMs new, permanent CEO. David has been leading the development of a $2M facility improvement project that will start construction in April. Davids business acumen and finance skills have always been apparent, but his leadership with our staff and donors has risen above and beyond other candidates. David is committed to our mission and serving others with great care and compassion, says Kurt Yowell, chairman of the Union Rescue Mission Board of Directors, in a news release.

Dillons to offer a 1-day senior discount on Wednesday

The organization has also promoted its director of operations to chief operations officer. Joe Schroeder has been named as their new COO.

Schroeder has a 34-year career in law enforcement with the Wichita Police Department and Andover Police Department. He is also a retired chief master sergeant with the Kansas Air National Guard, who served three tours of duty in the Middle East.

Joes unique experience in law enforcement, logistics and Air Guard, combined with his steady hand, brings tremendous leadership to our staff and the men we serve every day, says Yowell. Joe and Davids gifts complement one another seamlessly.

Hodge is replacing Doug Nolte, who stepped down last year after serving as CEO for 5 years. Like Schroeder, Nolte also spent decades in law enforcement before retiring with the rank of Captain with the Wichita Police Department.

For more about Union Rescue Mission, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Uniqlo clothing brand is opening second location in Sacramento area. Heres where and when

Popular clothing brand Uniqlo is opening a second store in the Sacramento area.

The Japanese retailer signed a lease with Arden Fair shopping center on Feb. 10, the malls marketing director, Nathan Spradlin, confirmed in an email to The Sacramento Bee on Monday.

Uniqlo is known for its innovative and high-quality casual wear, he wrote in the email.

Its the latest in a series of retailers to announce plans to move into the Arden Arcade mall.

Fast-fashion retailer H&M expects to open a location at Arden Fair  its first store in Sacramento  by the end of the year, The Bee reported in March.

The addition of Uniqlo and H&M are part of a larger growth strategy, that will evolve over the next few years, to meet the needs of our community, Spradlin said Monday.

What is Uniqlo?

Uniqlo is known for its affordable casual, contemporary clothing and accessories for women, men and children.

The retailer opened its first store in Hiroshima, Japan, in 1984.

Where will Arden Fair mall Uniqlo

Uniqlo will occupy a 11,500-square-foot space adjacent to Lululemon in the lower level of the mall, Spradlin said.

The store will take over portions of the former Armani Exchange, Gap, and J.Crew spaces, Spradlin said.

The Uniqlo store is set to open over the summer, he said.

In addition, Uniqlo plans to open a new location at Rosevilles Westfield Galleria.

Where are other store locations?

Uniqlo has a total of 19 stores across California, including locations in San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles, according to its website.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  The City of Myrtle Beach hosted a community discussion about hate crimes Monday evening.

Officials from the United States Attorneys Office, the FBI, and local law enforcement led the conversation.

The event United Against Hate focused on how to identify a hate crime or incident, report it and, ways to prevent it.

Theres a federal hate crimes law that we can and do enforce and really encourage people to report, Adair Boroughs, the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina said.

Community members from across Myrtle Beach came out to talk about what a hate crime looks like and how its effected the community.

In November, two people allegedly burned a cross towards their black neighbors home in Horry County.

Since then, communities like Myrtle Beach and Conway began working towards adopting a hate crime ordinance.

Boroughs said even though theres not a state law, there are federal ways to enforce and prevent hate crimes.

The feds, the FBI can feel like this scary thing and were just people, were South Carolinians really trying to enforce federal law here, Boroughs said.

In 2022, the FBI said South Carolina had 60 total reported hate crimes. 63% of those were related to race and ethnicity. They added hate crimes are not reported enough.

Ryan Thompson attended the event and believes discussions like this are important.

Being one of two states without a state law, I thought it was really important to come here, hear what resources were going to be here and juts kind of see whats going on in the community, Thompson said.

Thompson spoke about his reaction to the victims of the recent cross burning incident attending the event and describing their experience.

And then to have the victims of the cross-burning be here, I think was just very emotional and very touching for everyone to see the actual victims of whats going on here and just what do we do to go forward, so this doesnt happen again, Thompson said.

Boroughs encourages anyone who sees or experiences a hate crime to report it to local law enforcement or the FBI.

* * *

Adrianna Lawrence is a multimedia journalist at News13. Adrianna is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and joined the News13 team in June 2023 after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2023. Keep up with Adrianna on Instagram, Facebook, and X, formerly Twitter. You can also read more of her work, here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
The airline pushed back new flights to Portugal and the Philippines.

Courtesy of United Airlines

United Airlines has postponed a pair of inaugural flights, citing delays by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following a series of recent safety incidents.

The airline has delayed the start of a new route between Newark and Faro in the Algarve region of Portugal as well as between Tokyo and Cebu in the Philippines, United confirmed to Travel + Leisure. The decision was made to halt the routes following a pause on some FAA certifications.

A spokesperson for United told T+L customers who were scheduled to fly on these delayed routes can receive full refunds or we will rebook their travel on one of our partner airlines without a fee.

The Portugal route, which United first announced last year, was set to launch on May 24 and operate four times each week on a Boeing 757-200 aircraft. At the time of the announcement, United said it would have made it the first airline to fly direct between the United States and Faro.

United told T+L it would now plan to launch that flight in the summer of 2025.

The nonstop flight between Tokyo and Cebu was set to launch July 31 with daily flights on Boeing 737-800 aircraft, United noted. That flight is now scheduled to launch on Oct. 27.

The FAAs probe of United came on the heels of several recent mid-air and on-the-ground incidents, including an aircraft panel falling off mid-flight, an aircraft losing a wheel during takeoff, and a planes engine catching fire. The increased oversight also followed Uniteds discovery of loose bolts on its 737 MAX 9 aircraft following a mid-air blowout of a plug door panel on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 plane.

Last month, Uniteds CEO Scott Kirby assured customers in a memo that Safety is our highest priority and is at the center of everything we do.

While these routes are delayed, the airline does plan on expanding closer to home this summer, including adding new flights to national parks and outdoor destinations in Canada and introducing a new route to Anchorage, Alaska.

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Non-tenure track faculty at the University of San Diegos College of Arts and Sciences have filed the initial paperwork to unionize, citing the long overdue need for collective bargaining with the school.

The faculty announced the move in a release on Monday. According to staff, organizers filed for a union election to join SEIU Local 721 with the National Labor Relations Board on Friday.

According to their petition, all 230 full-time and part-time faculty within the College of Arts and Sciences would be eligible to vote, including lecturers, adjunct instructors, adjunct assistant professors and visiting assistant professors, among others.

In a statement, Meghan Donnelly, an adjunct assistant professor of anthropology at USD who is involved in the effort, said the non-tenure track faculty overwhelmingly support forming a union.

How child care costs are impacting San Diego

For years weve lived without job security, just pay, and basic worker protections, Donnelly continued. Joining SEIU Local 721 will give us the opportunity to win what we deserve so we can live in dignity and be the best educators, scholars, and mentors possible.

In a statement to FOX 5/KUSI, USD said officials are committed to the dignity of all humans and a culture of care. That includes taking care of our non-tenure track (NTT) professors.

The university has a long track record of supporting these important members of our community, USD continued. The university supports the right of individuals to make their own choice regarding unionization efforts and to ensure they have access to accurate, complete information.

Should the faculty vote to unionize, they will become the latest group of higher education staff in San Diego to seek labor negotiations, joining faculty at California State University and University of California campuses.

Back in January, educators within the California State University system reached a tentative contract agreement about a day into a historic strike.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
US confirms warning allies about China's support for Russia's war in recent months

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed on April 8 that Washington expressed concern to allies about China's support for Russia amid Moscow's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Miller's statement came after the media reported that the U.S. was cautioning other countries about China's increased backing of Russia, which included providing geospatial intelligence, missile propellants, and microelectronics.

Beijing has maintained close ties with Moscow during the war, tightening economic cooperation and disrupting Western attempts at isolating Russia. Expanded trade with China has played a key role in allowing Moscow to keep its economy running and ramp up its military industry production despite Western economic pressure.

Over recent months, the U.S. has seen Beijing's efforts to help Moscow rebuild its defense industrial base, according to Miller.

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"Essentially, they have been backfilling the trade from European partners that was suspended after the invasion and sanctioned, and that they have been helping provide the components that increase Russia's capabilities to attack Ukraine," the U.S. State Department spokesperson said at a briefing.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the need during a series of meetings with allies around the world to monitor the results of cooperation between Russia and China and "ultimately take actions to prevent them," Miller added.

The U.S. has repeatedly warned China against providing Russia with lethal military aid and urged Beijing to use its influence over Moscow to help end the war.

During a recent call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed concerns regarding Beijing's aid to the Russian defense industrial base.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Beijing of "significant consequences" if Chinese companies provide support for Russia's war against Ukraine.

Read also: Russian FM Lavrov arrives in China on official visit





Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A large shipment of confiscated weapons intended for Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen was delivered to the Ukrainian military, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on April 9.

Over 5,000 AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s, and 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were sent to Ukraine. This new materiel is enough to "equip one UKR BDE with small arms rifles."

The U.S. government reportedly seized the munitions from four separate stateless vessels that were being transferred from Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the Houthis in Yemen between May 2021 and Feb. 2023.

Late last year, CENTCOM delivered over a million rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to Ukraine that were confiscated from the IRGC.

Like the shipment announced today, the munitions were seized as part of a civil forfeiture claim against the IRGC. The transfer violated United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216, which aimed to prevent the flow of arms to the war in Yemen.

The statement emphasized that U.S. CENTCOM "will continue to do whatever we can to shed light on and stop Irans destabilizing activities."

Tehran and Moscow have deepened their military and political cooperation since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Iran has provided Russia with thousands of Shahed kamikaze drones used in airstrikes against Ukraine and has helped Moscow build a drone factory in Russia.

In February, Reuters reported that Iran had already sent 400 ballistic missiles to Russia. Ukrainian authorities have not confirmed this claim.

Read also: US announces new sanctions against shipping company linked to Iranian military

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The US Department of State has confirmed that Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed, in conversations with allies, concern about the nature of cooperation between China and Russia, which contributes to the ability of the Russian military-industrial complex to continue supplying the Russian army.

Source: European Pravda; Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the United States Department of State, in a press briefing

Details: Miller was asked about the Peoples Republic of Chinas (PRC) support for Russias war effort in Ukraine and Blinkens efforts to discuss this with US allies.

"So we have been concerned really since the outset of that conflict about the PRCs support for Russias war against Ukraine and have been especially concerned over recent months about its efforts to help Russia reconstitute its defense industrial base," Miller said, adding that Blinken had spoken about this with a number of partner states.

"We have seen in recent months that the PRC has started to rebuild that industrial base. Essentially, theyve been backfilling the trade from European partners that was suspended after the invasion and sanctioned, and that they have been helping provide the components that increase Russias capabilities to attack Ukraine," Miller said.

He added that this could have long-term security consequences for both Europe and the world, so Blinken shared this information with allies and spoke to them about the need to monitor and prevent these processes.

Background:

Earlier, the Financial Times, citing unnamed officials, reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, in communication with counterparts in the EU and NATO, that China's assistance to Russia was "at a concerning scale", especially when it comes to producing optical equipment, propellants and space equipment.

Meanwhile, Janet Yellen, US Secretary of the Treasury, said that she had "difficult conversations" about Ukraine during a four-day visit to China and warned China that Chinese companies cooperating with the Russian military-industrial complex might suffer serious consequences.

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Meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in New York

By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) - The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations will travel to the heavily armed Korean border and meet North Korean defectors in South Korea, her office said on Monday, amid faltering U.N. efforts to ensure sanctions enforcement against the North.

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield's trip, set for April 14-20, came after Russia rejected the annual renewal of the multinational panel of experts which has over the past 15 years worked on the implementation of U.N. sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes.

Washington, Seoul and Tokyo criticised Moscow's veto and China's abstention, which experts said would undermine the sanctions enforcement, with a South Korean envoy likening it to "destroying a CCTV to avoid being caught red-handed."

Thomas-Greenfield's trip, which will also include a stop in Japan, was meant to advance bilateral and trilateral cooperation on the sanctions and beyond, U.S. mission to the U.N. spokesperson Nate Evans said.

Both South Korea and Japan are currently members of the Security Council.

"In both countries, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield will discuss next steps to ensure a continuation of independent and accurate reporting of the DPRK's ongoing weapons proliferation and sanctions evasion activities," Evans said in a statement, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

In South Korea, Thomas-Greenfield will travel to the heavily fortified Demilitarised Zone between the two Koreas, meet young North Korean defectors as well as students at Ewha Womans University, Evans said.

In Japan, she will also meet family members of Japanese citizens who were abducted in the early 2000s by North Korea, and visit Nagasaki, which was hit by U.S. nuclear bombing in 1945.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; editing by Miral Fahmy)
iStock.com

Affordable living and the surge in work-from-anywhere jobs had made Canada one of the most popular destinations for Americans looking to move. While the lure of free health care, less crime and paid maternity is appealing, taxes, groceries and housing are just as, if not more, expensive up north.

Check Out: 8 Tips to Fly Business Class for the Price of Economy

Read More: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement

If youre not opposed to using the metric system or adding a sporadic eh to your everyday vocabulary, the country is a beautifully diverse place to call home and one that can be affordable if youre on a strict spending budget.

According to Canadian Mortgage Professional (CMP), many prospective buyers have been priced out of Canadas two most expensive hubs, Toronto and Vancouver. While theres plenty of Canadian real estate options for every budget, you might need to forego some of the most sought-after cities, where the cost of living has increased to uncomfortable levels.

Canadas top liveable cities are spread out across the large country, but if youre looking to move for purely financial reasons, youll be looking at very small cities in Quebec and New Brunswick, where six and four cities, respectively, were recently found to be the best Canadian cities for affordable housing for 2024.

However, if you have $300,000 USD to spend on a house in Canada, you wont do much better than the following seven cities, according to TinyHouse.com.

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1. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Median Home Value: $272,363 USD

Smaller than Regina, Saskatoon has a population of approximately 273,000 and is a major transit hub served by national railroads, provincial highways and an international airport. The city is home to the University of Saskatchewan, making it an affordable city for students.

2. Brandon, Manitoba

Median Home Value: $206,112 USD

Manitoba is one of the most affordable provinces in Canadian terms of housing and cost of living, and Brandon is a pillar of economical consistency. Behind Winnipeg, Brandon is the second-largest city in the province, but only has around 51,000 residents. Brandonites enjoy low-priced residential properties and rentals in this gem of a city.

3. Thunder Bay, Ontario

Median Home Value: $250,279 USD

The largest city in northwestern Ontario is an outdoor lovers paradise, especially if your preferred outdoor activities are done when its cold and snowy. While TinyHouse has the median home value just above $250,000 USD, the median sale price for single detached home sold in December 2023 was $289,950, per the Canadian Real Estate Association.

Story continues

4. Cache Creek, British Columbia

Median Home Value: $287,085 USD

Cache Creek is completely off the beaten track, but historically, the small town was an important transportation junction. Located just 220 miles northeast of Vancouver, Travel British Columbia accurately describes Cache Creek as a bustling oasis town in the midst of cactus, tumbleweed and a desert-like climate.

5. Saguenay, Quebec

Median Home Value: $169,306 USD

Situated in the SaguenayLac Saint-Jean region thats named after two standout geographical features that were formed by glaciers, Saguenay is a stunning and affordable place to live. If youre not afraid of being a fish out of water in this French-speaking city, Saguenay is the perfect place to see up to 13 species of whales, according to Holland America.

6. Saint John, New Brunswick

Median Home Value: $206,112 USD

Whether you are looking for single-family homes, townhomes, condos or commercial properties, Saint John can cater to your real estate needs. St. John has become a real estate hot spot after the Maritimes started to become featured on many home renovation shows, and this has made the real estate market flourish, said TinyHouse.

7. Red Deer, Alberta

Median Home Value: $279,724 USD

Learn More: 11 Expensive Vacation Destinations That Will Be Cheaper in 2024

Another city with a median home value closer to the $300,000 threshold, Red Deer is affordable compared to the increasingly costly Calgary and Edmonton. Located halfway between Albertas two biggest cities, Red Deer is a great choice. Its a good size (just over 100,000 residents), has a lower cost of living and could provide a perfect balance between city amenities and rural living that so many escapees crave.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Best Canadian Cities to Buy a Home If Your Budget Is $300,000 USD
US lawmakers urge release of Russia critic Kara-Murza on the anniversary of his imprisonment

Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., left, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., and James Roscoe, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy Washington, listen as Evgenia Kara-Murza, human rights advocate and wife of Vladimir Kara-Murza, right, speaks about her husband during an event calling for the immediate release of Kara-Murza, who is a Russian opposition leader and journalist imprisoned by the Russian government, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Members of Congress on Tuesday called for the immediate release of Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr. as lawmakers marked the second anniversary of his imprisonment, part of the Kremlins sweeping crackdown on critics of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The bottom line is that Vladimir Kara-Murza will not be forgotten, Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said at an event on Capitol Hill. We are going to work to set him free and to set Russia free.

Kara-Murza, a journalist and opposition activist, was jailed in April 2022 and convicted of treason last year for denouncing the war in Ukraine. He is serving 25 years, the stiffest sentence handed down to a Kremlin critic in modern Russia. He is among a growing number of dissidents held in increasingly severe conditions under President Vladimir Putins political crackdown.

Cardin was joined by a bipartisan group from both the House and Senate, seeking to increase the pressure on both Russian authorities and the Biden administration in hopes of forcing Kara-Murza's release.

Sen. Jim Risch, the top Republican on the committee, renewed his call Tuesday for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate Kara-Murza as a wrongfully detained person, an appointment that would help elevate his case and provide resources to his family in America as they fight for his release.

The charges against the dual Russian-British citizen stem from a March 2022 speech to the Arizona House of Representatives in which he was critical of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Kara-Murza, who twice survived poisonings that he blamed on Russian authorities, has rejected the charges against him as punishment for standing up to Putin and likened the proceedings to the show trials under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

Arrests of Americans in Russia have also become increasingly common as relations between Moscow and Washington sink to Cold War lows. Washington has accused Moscow of targeting its citizens and using them as political bargaining chips, but Russian officials insist they all broke the law.

In response, senators on Tuesday introduced a resolution condemning the Russian government for its arrests of American citizens and calling for their immediate release. Last month marked the first anniversary of the arrest of Evan Gershkovich, a 32-year-old reporter for The Wall Street Journal who is awaiting trial in Moscows notorious Lefortovo Prison on espionage charges. Other U.S. citizens detained include Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan; Travis Leake, a musician who had been living in Russia for years and was arrested last year on drug-related charges; and Marc Fogel, a teacher in Moscow who was sentenced to 14 years in prison, also on drug charges. Dual nationals Alsu Kurmasheva and Ksenia Khavana are also being held in Russia.

Russias arrests of journalists, many of which are U.S. citizens, are disturbing reminders of the lengths Vladimir Putin will go to in order to suppress peoples most basic freedoms, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement. I urge the State Department to utilize every tool at our disposal to bring our fellow Americans home, including Virginian Vladimir Kara-Murza.

Vladimir Kara-Murza's wife, Evgenia Kara-Murza, who lives in the U.S. with their three children, joined lawmakers at the event in pleading for her husband's release.

I want to thank each and every one of you here for joining with me in my fight, not just for Vladimir's freedom, but truly for his life, she told the crowd.

Evgenia Kara-Murza has said that her husband has spent months in solitary confinement, a punishment that has become common for Kremlin critics and is widely viewed as designed to put additional pressure on them.

Most recently, Kara-Murza had been held in a penal colony in the Omsk region, though his supporters said in late January that he was no longer there.

___

Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington and Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
US must boost Africa ties to secure key minerals, report says

FILE PHOTO: Labourers work at an open shaft of the SMB coltan mine near the town of Rubaya

FILE PHOTO: Labourers work at an open shaft of the SMB coltan mine near the town of Rubaya

By Felix Njini

JOHANNESBURG/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. must boost commercial ties with African countries to curb reliance on China for supplies of critical minerals, a Washington-based think tank said on Tuesday.

"U.S. economic and national security depend on securing a reliable supply of critical minerals, including from Africa," the United States Institute of Peace said in a report.

The U.S. is almost 100% reliant on "foreign entities of concern," mainly China, for key critical minerals, it said, and must come up with own sources of supply to avoid being shorthanded and vulnerable to China's export curbs.

Western mining companies are lagging Chinese rivals in the race to tap Africa's abundant mineral resources, key to sectors from electric vehicle manufacturing to defence industries.

To counter China's head start in Africa, Washington must roll out "more vigorous commercial diplomacy with a keen eye toward building critical minerals partnership in Africa," the 76-page report said.

One option for the U.S. would be to increase commercial diplomacy in countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo, the world's No. 1 cobalt supplier, and Zambia, Africa's second-largest copper producer, it said.

The competition for securing minerals in Africa is heating up as cash-rich Middle East firms join the race.

While Western mining companies still see hurdles in investing in countries such as Congo, which lacks vital infrastructure such as roads and adequate electricity, Chinese miners have strengthened their grip in the country and are broadening investment throughout Africa.

The International Development Finance Corporation said in February it could scale up project financing in Africa to help reduce the risk of investing in countries including Congo that some investors still perceive as high risk.

Unlocking U.S. investment in Congo could be helped by reopening its consulate in Lubumbashi that closed in the 1990s after the end of the Cold War, Tuesday's USIP report said.

The government also needs to prioritize full development of a memorandum of understanding with Congo and Zambia which could help guide U.S. private investors across the battery metals supply chain, it said.

The U.S. has stepped in to back the Lobito Corridor, a rail link from the central African copper belt that's key to export of metals through Angola's Lobito port.

The U.S. is "simply not on, or even near, par in competing with China" for critical minerals investment and diplomacy in Africa, and needs to take a vigorous approach, USIP said.

Jose Fernandez, the U.S. State Department's under secretary for economic growth, energy, and the environment said last month the U.S. holds regular talks with Congo state miner Gecamines.

Still, the U.S. government is unlikely to match the resource levels and the mining ecosystem that China wields in winning mining contracts, USIP said, though "concerted U.S. efforts to land U.S. mining investment in Africa can succeed."

(Reporting by Felix Njini in Johannesburg, Ernest Scheyder in Houston and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; Editing by Peter Graff)
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.  The U.S. Navy has released a road map partly aimed at improving ship construction and repair yards, as the service grapples with how to get its major shipbuilding programs back on schedule.

A week after releasing a shipbuilding review that acknowledged several top ship programs are one to three years behind schedule, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said the service is already taking actions to recover from these delays.

Each program executive office has plans to address shortfalls within its portfolio, he told Defense News at the Navy Leagues annual Sea-Air-Space conference, and in some cases this involves greater oversight over shipyards and subcontractors.

He said a number of delays are related to major components being delivered to prime shipyards late. The Navy is working to get to the root cause of whats causing these delays and how we can strengthen the industrial base to prevent them in the future, he added.

The secretary identified multiyear procurement contracts and advanced procurement funding as ways to get materials and components to shipyards early, noting the Navy will continue to advocate for these spending and contracting tools.

But moreover, he said during his lunchtime speech, right now we build the most capable warships in the world in shipyards that are sometimes decades behind the global technological standard. This is an inefficient approach requiring far too much time, workforce and taxpayers dollars.

Noting that South Korean and Japanese shipyards build high-quality ships, including Aegis destroyers, for a fraction of the cost that we do, he said he is interested in understanding how the U.S. Navy can leverage the digital tools these nations shipyards use.

When my team and I went to South Korea, we were floored at the level of digitization and real-time monitoring of shipbuilding progress, with readily available information down to individual pieces of stock materials. Their top executives could tell us  to the day  when ships would actually be delivered, he said in his remarks. I am pushing our shipbuilding industry to invest in itself to get better, to be technological leaders, and to once again deliver platforms on time and on budget.

Del Toro told reporters after his speech that the Navys science and research road map, released April 9, would consider what science and technology innovations can we bring to the table that perhaps arent being used here in the United States, that are being used elsewhere with our partners, for example, to help digitize our public shipyards.

A publicly released summary of the road map does not elaborate on this particular topic.

During a separate panel discussion, the program executive officer for ships, Rear Adm. Tom Anderson, said his organization had previously drawn commercial best practices from elsewhere in the U.S. but hadnt looked outwards at foreign shipyards.

As part of Del Toros ongoing push to improve shipbuilding performance as well as bolster the commercial shipbuilding and ship repair industries, Anderson said Program Executive Office Ships has begun strengthening relationships with Japanese and Korean yards.

Anderson said he was particularly impressed with the volume and throughput of the Korean yards he visited, as well as their focus on creating an environment around the shipyard to support workers and their families.

That comment is in contrast to what Del Toro and other sea service leaders said this week  that it is challenging to recruit and retain workers at U.S.-based yards.
The US snatched thousands of illegal Iranian guns and gave them to Ukraine to repel the Russians

The US has sent Ukraine guns and ammunition that were intercepted while being smuggled from Iran to Yemen.

It's the second time Washington has given Kyiv weaponry that was bound for the Houthis.

The haul is helpful for Ukraine, but its forces need more than small arms to fight Russia.

The US has sent Ukraine guns and ammunition that were intercepted over the past few years while being illegally smuggled from Iran to the Houthis in Yemen.

Last week's delivery marks the second time that the Biden administration has transferred seized Iranian weaponry to Ukraine and comes amid uncertainty over the future of US security assistance to the eastern European country as Kyiv's forces continue to defend against Russia's unrelenting war machine.

Washington on April 4 transferred more than 5,000 AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s, and over 500,000 rounds of small-arms ammunition to the Ukrainian military, US Central Command, or CENTCOM, revealed on Tuesday. "These weapons will help Ukraine defend against Russia's invasion," it said in a statement.

The weaponry was intercepted at sea by US and partner naval forces as it was being smuggled from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, to the Tehran-backed Houthis, which is a violation of a United Nations Security Council resolution.

A US Coast Guard vessel seizes advanced conventional weapons and other lethal aid originating in Iran and bound to Houthi-controlled Yemen from a vessel in the Arabian Sea on Jan. 28, 2024. US Central Command photo

Four different boats were raided in separate incidents that occurred between May 2021 and February 2023, and the US officially obtained ownership of the weaponry in December 2023 through a Department of Justice civil forfeiture claim, CENTCOM said.

Western navies in recent years have conducted several interceptions of lethal weaponry bound to the Houthis, who have spent the past five months attacking shipping lanes off the coast of Yemen with drones and missiles. There have already been at least two such raids carried out by US forces this year alone, leading to the seizure of missile components, explosives, and other military-grade hardware.

The US "is committed to working with our allies and partners to counter the flow of Iranian lethal aid in the region by all lawful means," CENTCOM said on Tuesday.

"Iran's support for armed groups threatens international and regional security, our forces, diplomatic personnel, and citizens in the region, as well as those of our partners," CENTCOM continued. "We will continue to do whatever we can to shed light on and stop Iran's destabilizing activities."

Iranian weaponry bound for Yemen after it was seized by US forces in January. US Central Command photo

The US previously sent Ukraine more than 1 million rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, which can be fired from AK-47s, that it seized at sea from smugglers.

Tehran has provided Russia with security assistance, including the notorious Shahed one-way attack drones, throughout the full-scale invasion, but the transfer last fall marked the first time that Iranian weapons were given to Kyiv's forces instead, albeit unwillingly.

Though the most recent weapons transfer on April 4 is certainly helpful for Ukraine, small arms and ammunition is not what its forces need most right now.

Kyiv has repeatedly said that it desperately seeks more air-defense systems to defend against unrelenting Russian bombardments, punishing both front-line troops and civilians in major cities.

"It is quite obvious that the air-defense capabilities available to us in Ukraine are not enough, and this is obvious to all our partners as well," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Sunday address to the nation.

"There are air-defense systems in the world that can help," he added. "The only thing needed is the political will to transfer these systems to Ukraine."

A photo of a vessel carrying Iranian-made missile components bound for the Houthis in the Arabian Sea on Jan. 10, 2024. US Central Command photo

Ukraine has long relied on Western security assistance, including advanced air-defense capabilities and artillery ammunition, to help fuel its steadfast defense against Russia, but the future of such support is in jeopardy, as around $60 billion in US military aid remains blocked by Republican lawmakers.

War experts, as well as Ukrainian and Western officials, have warned it is imperative that Washington eventually resumes arming Kyiv, and failure to do so could be detrimental.

"Kyiv is confronted by the threat that an attritional war in the air domain will increasingly favor Russia without adequate support from the US and its allies," experts at the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank wrote in a late-March assessment on Russian bombing tactics and Ukraine's strained air defenses.

They added that "Ukraine's ability to continue to counter Russian air threats and impose costs on the Russian Aerospace Forces remains important to the outcome of the war."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Rachel Reeves explained the concept of 'securonomics' in her speech at the at the Mais lecture in March - Andy Rain/Shutterstock

While it is still easier to say what the Labour party under Keir Starmer doesnt stand for than what it does, the outline of a modus operandi and political philosophy are becoming clearer the closer we get to a general election.

Rachel Reeves attempted to add a little flesh to the bones in her Mais lecture last month when she explained the concept of securonomics. This sounded a lot like a new label for the type of supply-side economics that has become fashionable with centre-left parties around the world and seeks to refashion the state in such a way as to help drive growth.

The idea is to cherry-pick elements of free market thinking (like creative destruction and deregulation) and marry them with leftist policies (like industrial subsidies and labour rights). You can see how an opposition party could conjure this into a compelling pitch for a broad swathe of the electorate.

Is this a rhetorical sleight of hand though? Reeves has argued, for example, that improvements in healthcare will help to increase workforce participation and that labour market reforms will increase productivity. Maybe. But it does somewhat feel like old Labour priorities are being rebranded as supply side reforms.

More worryingly, is there a danger such an approach could collapse under the weight of its own contradictions when in government? How, for example, does one guard against industrial subsidies hampering creative destruction and allowing zombie companies to continue blocking the way for more efficient start-ups and new entrants?

And how do you prevent a blizzard of new labour rights from tying companies up in increasing amounts of red tape and thereby stymying the economy?

A closer look at the partys plans for labour laws does indeed reveal potential fault lines. Both Starmer and Reeves have, for example, sought to rebrand Labour as the real party of business. But the party has also pledged to bring forward an employment bill within the first 100 days of winning power, which aint gonna leave a lot of time to consult businesses.

In his speech at the Labour party conference in October, Starmer said: I want to be crystal clear about this, we are going to level-up workers rights in a way that has not been attempted in decades. He further warned that reforms might not please everyone [in] the wider business community.

This makes perfect political sense. Labour is trapped between its stated reticence to raise the overall tax burden beyond its current post-war high of 37pc of national income and a promise not to borrow for day-to-day spending.

Pledging to improve labour rights is therefore a canny retail offer to the electorate in a manifesto that is likely to be pretty light on handouts and other goodies. The opposition partys new deal for workers also makes good sense in terms of simple political arithmetic: there are more employees than there are employers.

You can also understand why a party called Labour is now looking to ban zero-hour contracts, end controversial fire and rehire negotiating tactics (where employers use the threat of termination to impose worse terms on the workforce), repeal anti-strike laws and introduce collective bargaining to the private sector (initially through a pilot scheme in social care).

Theres not a great deal wrong with each individual proposal. Its hard to maintain a sustained argument against workers getting more control over their hours, terms of employment, and, after a long period of stagnant real wages, more leverage on pay.

The issue is with the sheer number of new proposals adding to the compliance burden for businesses (who already have plenty to deal with), which might ultimately backfire on workers.

Whats more, the idea that employers have been free to exploit workers under the Conservative governments of the last 14 years is quite obviously for the birds. There has been a staggering rise in labour market regulation in that time.

These new rules include, to pick just two, the introduction of gender pay gap reporting and from this weekend, the right to request flexible working arrangements from day one (rather than after six months of employment).

Employers also now have to figure out the tax status of freelancers. This attempt to turn finance departments into the long arm of HMRC hugely increases compliance costs for businesses and often results in contractors paying the same rate of tax as employees without the commensurate rights.

Theres clearly a danger that Labours new proposals could also result in unintended consequences. Doubtless, some employers exploit zero hour contracts but they also provide flexibility to many gig economy workers.

Might a ban on fire and rehire tactics just lead to more redundancies? Doesnt giving everyone the right to work from home from day one of their employment also clash with efforts to treat all staff fairly given that many consumer-facing roles have to be office based?

However, the really big danger is that, with the nations finances stretched and little room for manoeuvre on taxing or spending, the two main political parties start genuinely believing in the magic of the Reform Fairy. Sure, theres lots that needs to be improved, especially around planning. But it wont be a panacea.

Meanwhile, a bidding war in which the Conservatives and Labour try to outdo each other with increasingly comprehensive employment rights could result in the UK sleepwalking into the European model.

As Rupert Soames, the new president of CBI, has pointed out, this is really good for people who are employed but really bad for people who are unemployed because companies are terrified to take them on.

Americas flexible labour market, by contrast, is regularly cited by those seeking to explain why the US is so good at bouncing back from economic downturns and adapting to a fast changing world.

Loose labour rules both contribute to the worlds biggest economys inequality and its dynamism. There are very few areas in the economy where striking the right balance is more important.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The US has supplied Ukraine with an intercepted batch of small arms and ammunition meant for Iran-supported Houthis in Yemen.

Source: the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the US (CENTCOM) on 9 April, European Pravda writes

Details: The batch reportedly contains over 5,000 AK-47 assault rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s and over 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

U.S. Government Transfers Captured Weapons



On Apr. 4, 2024, the U.S. government transferred over 5,000 AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s and over 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces. This constitutes enough materiel to equip one UKR BDE pic.twitter.com/Ydecq6OFAo  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 9, 2024

These munitions were originally seized by U.S. Central Command and partner naval forces from four separate transiting stateless vessels between 22 May 2021 to 15 Feb 2023. The munitions were being transferred from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the Houthis in Yemen.

Quote: "The government obtained ownership of these munitions on December 1, 2023, through the Department of Justices civil forfeiture claims against Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)."

Background:

The Central Command of the US Armed Forces officially confirmed on 4 October that it supplied the Armed Forces of Ukraine with about 1.1 million 7.62-mm cartridges of Iranian origin confiscated during a smuggling attempt to Yemen.

But the supply of critical artillery munitions and air defence from the US to Ukraine has been stalled by Republican lawmakers who have been blocking an aid package of over US$ 60 billion in the Congress since last autumn.

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The US transferred thousands of machine guns, sniper rifles, rocket launchers and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition seized from Iran to Ukraine last week, US Central Command announced on Tuesday.

Ukraine has been suffering from shortages of weapons and munitions on the battlefield in its war against Russia, with the US unable to send more equipment from its own stockpiles until more funding is approved by Congress.

CENTCOM said the materiel transferred to Ukraine is enough to equip one Ukrainian brigade  around 4,000 personnel  with small-arms rifles. These weapons will help Ukraine defend against Russias invasion, CENTCOM said in a statement.

The munitions were originally seized by the US military and its partners from four separate transiting stateless vessels between 22 May 2021 to 15 Feb 2023, but the US government did not obtain ownership of the equipment via the Justice Departments civil forfeiture process until December of last year, CENTCOM said.

It is not the first time the US has transferred seized Iranian military equipment to the Ukrainians. The US transferred over one million rounds of seized Iranian ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces in October, CNN previously reported.

Over the past year, the US Navy has seized thousands of Iranian assault rifles and more than one million rounds of ammunition from vessels used by Iran to ship weapons to the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The seizures, frequently carried out with regional partner forces, target small stateless vessels on routes historically used to smuggle weapons to the Houthis.

For the last year, the Biden administration has been working to legally send the seized weapons, which are stored in CENTCOM facilities across the Middle East, to the Ukrainians.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The United States has called on Russia to return control of the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to Ukraine and asked Russia not to play dangerous games.

Source: Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the United States Department of State

Details: The Department of State noted that they are monitoring the situation at the station and have seen the official report of the IAEA, which notes that the damage caused by the drone strike did not jeopardise nuclear safety.

Quote from Matthew Miller: "Russia is playing a very dangerous game with its military seizure of Ukraines nuclear power plant, which is the largest in Europe. Its dangerous that theyve done that and we continue to call on Russia to withdraw its military and civilian personnel from the plant, to return full control of the plant to the competent Ukrainian authorities, and refrain from taking any actions that could result in a nuclear incident at the plant."

Background: On 7 April, Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, announced at least three direct strikes on the main structures of the containment vessel of one of the ZNPPs reactors on Sunday.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Wichita school board is discussing the long-term plan for its buildings as it prepares to seek guidance from the public.

The school board is meeting Monday to discuss setting up community feedback sessions. Those sessions are called community stakeholder sessions. They will help inform the next steps for the districts facility master plan.

As of Monday night, four meetings are tentatively scheduled for late this month. They would include feedback from people on priorities for buildings and maintenance.

Popular Sedgwick County Park playground closes

Wichita teachers said they hope the next step will focus on old buildings.

We have some beautiful old buildings that some of them are 100 years old, but because they are old we do have a lot of deferred maintenance costs, said Katie Warren, United Teachers of Wichita President.

Warren said the district has fallen behind on maintaining those old buildings over the years. Now, theyre having bigger issues that have escalated over the years.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Key Insights

Significantly high institutional ownership implies General Mills' stock price is sensitive to their trading actions

51% of the business is held by the top 23 shareholders

Insiders have been selling lately

To get a sense of who is truly in control of General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. With 78% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of General Mills, beginning with the chart below.

Check out our latest analysis for General Mills

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About General Mills?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

General Mills already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of General Mills, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in General Mills. BlackRock, Inc. is currently the company's largest shareholder with 9.7% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 9.2% and 8.0%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 51% of the ownership is controlled by the top 23 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership.

Story continues

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of General Mills

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our information suggests that General Mills, Inc. insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own US$125m worth of shares (at current prices). In this sort of situation, it can be more interesting to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 21% stake in General Mills. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand General Mills better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for General Mills that you should be aware of before investing here.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
The University of Texas at Dallas is closing its Office of Campus Resources and Support effective April 30 and eliminating about 20 associated jobs as part of the school's reevaluation of its services in light of Senate Bill 17, a state law that went into effect in January banning diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities, President Richard Benson announced Tuesday.

"I know that this decision will not be welcomed by many in our campus community," Benson said in an email to the campus. "I remain committed to ensuring that UT Dallas is a supportive community focused on developing the knowledge, the research and the people that are vital to our future. Thank you all for your ongoing work and commitment to these goals."

The Texas House Committee on Higher Education listens to testimony on Senate Bill 17 at the Capitol last May. SB 17, which is now law, bans diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities.

The Office of Campus Resources and Support was a new office the school opened Jan. 1 "to ensure UT Dallas can continue to meet the needs" of its students in a way that complied with SB 17 after the school closed its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on Dec. 31, according to its website. The office's mission was to enhance "student community-building and supporting employees and employee resource groups."

Benson's announcement came exactly a week after the University of Texas at Austin announced it was closing its Division of Campus and Community Engagement, formerly the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. The American-Statesman confirmed last week that at least 60 staff members at UT who previously performed DEI-related duties, many in the new Campus and Community Engagement Division, had been notified that they would lose their positions effective in 90 days or more.

Others are reading: Sources: UT lays off at least 60 employees previously in DEI-related position, closes DCCE

Alexander De Jesus Colon, a senior at UT-Dallas who had heavily organized against SB 17 with Texas Students for DEI last year, said the news brought "rage and sadness."

"At first I kind of (took a) double take," De Jesus Colon said. "Like, is this a joke? A really bad joke?"

He said students had been assured that UT-Dallas had fully complied with SB 17 by Jan. 1. There was "no longer DEI" at the institution, and the Office of Campus Resources and Support was a community center, a place for cultural dialogue and support for students, from clothing to scholarships.

"We don't know what will survive and what will be dissolved," De Jesus Colon said.

Benson said in his email that the AccessAbility Resource Center as well as disability and accessibility services will be moved to different departments. Student workers affected by the cuts will keep their jobs through the end of the semester, he said.

"Employees whose positions are being eliminated may apply for any open position at UT Dallas, and I encourage hiring managers to give these experienced and talented individuals careful review when making their hiring decisions," Benson said.

The announcements by both UT System universities come after the law's author, Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, sent a letter to all state university chancellors and boards of regents warning them to fully comply with SB 17 in advance of a Senate Education Committee hearing in May in which lawmakers are expected to hear from administrators how their universities are carrying out the intent of the law.

"Our actions ensured that we were fully compliant with SB 17 as of January 1, 2024, the effective date of the legislation," Benson said in his email. "Since then, we have continued to evaluate our SB 17 response and how to realign many of the programs impacted by the legislation."

Nandita Kumar, a second-year student at UT-Dallas and chair of the Student Government's Diversity, Equity and Belonging Committee, said she is leading a coalition with other student organizations to make up the resources lost by the support office's closure and other SB 17-related changes at the school.

"We need to all leverage the resources we have to ensure that this bill does not continue to drastically impact the student body and impact students all across Texas," Kumar said.

This decision took away remaining "critical support resources" that were deemed compliant with SB 17, such as safe spaces for marginalized students to gather, Kumar said. The coalition, launched Tuesday, is student-led and aims to connect with partners who can help student groups, who are exempt from the law, continue to support students.

Communication, understanding resources lost and establishing community partners, and creating a financial support plan for student groups are the three focuses of the Coalition of Agents for Student Advocacy, or CASA, she said.

"Casa also means 'home' in Spanish, and so we are trying to make this university a home for everyone," Kumar said. "That includes making sure they're supported with all their other identities, whatever that may look like."

UT-Dallas' communications office did not immediately return a Statesman request for comment Tuesday. On Wednesday, it directed all requests to Benson's announcement.

Editorial | The harsh consequences of the Texas GOP's fervor to crush DEI at UT

More: 'We did not see this coming': UT staff, students react to layoffs, DCCE closure after SB17

Both UT-Austin and UT-Dallas previously said they had taken all the steps necessary to be compliant with SB 17 before Jan. 1.

De Jesus Colon said the announcement was a "crushing blow" after already adapting to the legislation and changes.

"At the very least, people could feel a community, and now that's gone as well," De Jesus Colon said. "What's next?"

More: UT System sets rules to comply with new Texas tenure, anti-DEI laws

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: UT-Dallas to close Office of Campus Resources and Support
UPDATED STORY: Dam damage prompts Level 2 Emergency Situation for residents  Heres what it means

PANGUITCH, Utah (ABC4)  A crack found in the Panguitch Lake Dam has led to officials limiting access to one Utah highway and Panguitch Lake.

The Garfield County Sheriffs Office said the damage to the dam was found Monday, April 8. The damage reportedly resulted in a cracking on the upper portion of the dam. GCSO along with Panguitch City officials, emergency management and the West Panguitch Irrigation Company are monitoring the conditions.

The Sheriffs Office said the damage is not severe enough for authorities to issue any evacuation notice, but access to the lake and Highway 143 will be limited.

As a precaution, Garfield County Sheriffs Office has closed Highway 143 and will limit all access to Panguitch Lake, said the Sheriffs Office in a press release. Highway 143 will remain open above Panguitch Lake.

Downtown Salt Lake City going gold for Olympic support

Emergency personnel stationed at the dam will closely monitor the structures conditions. If the conditions worsen, the Sheriffs Office said an emergency notification will be made through all available resources.

Officials did not disclose what may have caused the damage to the dam.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned as ABC4 will update this article as more information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
A Utah man has been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for hiring a hitman to kill his adopted children's biological parents, officials announced last week. Christopher Pence had previously pleaded guilty to soliciting and paying for the murders of two people in upstate New York in 2021.

The 43-year-old had arranged for the killings through a site on the dark web that offered murder-for-hire services, the U.S. Attorney's Office for New York's northern district said in a news release. The scheme never actually amounted to an attempt to murder either person.

Months after Pence paid an administrator on the site $16,000 in Bitcoin to do the the job, authorities arrested him as a suspect by tracing the cryptocurrency transaction and Pence's dark web communications back to his residence in Cedar City, Utah  a 5,800-square-foot home sitting on 20 acres of land, court records show. Pence admitted that he hired someone to kill the intended victims when they took him into custody.

As an anonymous user on the "darknet" site, Pence "provided the site administrator with the names, address and photographs of the intended victims, as well as the manner in which the killing should take place," reads the criminal complaint that led to his arrest. It notes that Pence "advised that the killing should be made to look like an accident or a botched robbery" and asked the intended hitman not to harm any of the three children who were known to be in the victims' care.

Authorities said that interviews with Pence after his arrest revealed his possible motive for wanting those two people dead. When he tried to hire the hitman, Pence's family had legally adopted five of the victims' biological children and was in the midst of an escalating dispute with that family, as the victims sought to regain custody of the children, according to federal filings in his case. The intended victims had at that time also reported Pence's family to child welfare authorities, which angered him, the documents said, adding that Pence and the victims "did not agree on how the children should be raised or the personal choices and lifestyle of the intended victims."

The people targeted in Pence's failed murder-for-hire plot were residents of Hoosick Falls, a village near Albany. Their identities have been protected throughout the federal investigation and Pence's criminal trial.

Pence has remained in federal custody since his arrest in 2021, according to the U.S. Attorney in New York. In addition to the seven-year sentence decided last week, U.S. District Judge David Hurd recommended that Pence serve a three-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment.

NASA to launch rockets into total solar eclipse path

Thief says he tried on, then melted down Yogi Berra World Series rings | 60 Minutes

Largest dam removal project in U.S. history aims to help revive Americas salmon population
The University of Wisconsin System is becoming more family friendly.

Employees will receive six weeks of paid parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child under a new policy bringing UW campuses in line with many other universities across the country. The policy takes effect July 1.

UW employees previously cobbled together vacation time, sick days or unpaid leave. In some extreme cases, employees relied on the kindness of their supervisors to secure time off.

Amber Saylor Mase arrived at UW-Madison for her postdoctoral research fellowship in 2014, a few months before her baby was due. Postdocs at the time didn't even receive vacation or sick time they could save up to use in the weeks after a birth, she said.

Amber Saylor Mase

"The standard was: You get nothing," she recalled. "Be happy with what you can get."

Offering paid parental leave, Mase said, sends a strong message to women working at Wisconsin's public universities.

"I think the new policy shows some sense of 'We do value you," she said. "'We want to give you time to recover from this life event, bond with your baby and then come back to work.'"

Paid parental leave push began in 2013

The new benefit comes after a decade of discussion and advocacy at UW-Madison.

Adena Rissman, a UW-Madison professor in the department of forest and wildlife ecology, got involved in the push for paid parental leave after having her son in 2012. Even more of a motivating factor for her was seeing the trouble her postdoc, Mase, went through to receive time off.

"We were scrambling," Rissman said. "Expecting parents dont have time to waste trying to understand complicated HR systems. I felt it was inefficient and unjust and really getting in the way of our research."

The lack of paid parental leave also hindered employee recruitment, Rissman said. She recalled several search committees she served on where it came up.

"It is not the conversation we would prefer to spend our time on when we're trying to recruit someone new to explain why we don't have a benefit that the majority of our peers offer," Rissman said.

Mase said she was able to negotiate for six weeks of paid maternity leave but the experience made her feel guilty for taking time off work. It also reinforced the power imbalance of her situation.

"I definitely would have appreciated a more standardized process for when this very common situation happens, of having a baby, versus, (feeling) like, 'Oh they're making an exception for me or going out of their way to accommodate me,'" Mase said.

Mase started her fellowship with the hope of becoming a tenure-track professor. The lack of recovery time after delivery played a part in her decision to pursue a less-intensive staff position. She now works as an evaluation specialist with UW-Madison Extension.

A lack of paid parental leave "creates a lot of stress on women trying to pursue that career path," she said.

UW-Madison report, petition drew attention to lack of paid family leave

Momentum for paid parental leave has built over the past year.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proposed a 12-week paid family leave program for public and private sector workers last spring. The GOP-controlled Legislature, however, declined to fund the program.

Last summer, a group co-chaired by Rissman released a report with a dozen recommendations on how to better support employees and their families, including 12 weeks of paid family leave. The report identified multiple problems with UW-Madison's leave policies, including employees receiving no guidance on how to take maternity leave and supervisors potentially attempting to shorten or prevent unpaid leave, which may run afoul of the federal gender-discrimination law.

In February, the UW-Madison graduate student union delivered a petition calling for paid parental leave benefits to the chancellor's office. More than 700 people had signed it, including 84 who provided personal testimonies.

Paid parental leave is widely supported in Wisconsin

A 2022 poll by Marquette Law School Poll underscored the public's widespread, bipartisan support for this benefit. About 73% of registered voters favored mandating employers to provide new parents with paid leave.

A UW-Madison survey of 19 private sector employers found employers within southcentral Wisconsin offer eight weeks of paid leave, and employers within southeast Wisconsin offer 10 weeks of paid leave for the childbearing parent.

In the higher education sector, UW-Madison reported about half of institutions in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin provide an average of six weeks of paid parental leave.

Coming from the private sector, it was kind of shocking that we didnt do this," UW Regent Ashok Rai said during a recent board meeting.

Paid parental leave estimated to be low-cost benefit

UW officials estimate the annual cost of the program across the 13 universities will be about just shy of $460,000. A little over a third of the cost will be funded with taxpayer dollars.

Staff salaries are budgeted, so the campus already bears the cost of backfilling positions when employees need to take time off, said Daniel Chanen, who leads human resources for the UW System. That makes the cost relatively modest.

Some graduate workers left out of policy

The parental leave policy for UW-Madison covers lecturers and graduate assistants. The UW System policy, however, doesn't cover the roughly 1,400 graduate workers at other UW campuses, including nearly 1,000 at UW-Milwaukee.

UW System spokesperson Ethan Schuh said paid parental leave is being provided to employees who have general leave benefits, which includes UW-Madison graduate assistants. But UW is not expanding leave eligibility to new groups of employees.

Maddie Topf, co-president of UW-Madison's Teaching Assistants Association, said lack of parental leave is one of the most commonly cited concerns the union heard from its members. It left graduate students with difficult choices: Delay degree progression, wait to start a family or drop out.

"It really affects your degree if you do not have access to this benefit; it affects your life," she said. "Choosing whether to start a family and if they do, how their degree progress is affected, is a heavy decision to be made without paid leave."

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: University of Wisconsin-Madison to soon offer paid parental leave
Vehicle crash on Princess Anne Rd. blocks traffic in both directions

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  A vehicle accident on Princess Anne Road blocked traffic in both directions Tuesday afternoon.

According to officials, Locksley Arch to Fisher Arch along Princess Anne Road remain blocked in both directions while crews work to clear the road. Drivers are urged to use an alternate route.

Images from the WAVY 10 Chopper show an overturned tractor-trailer alongside a downed power line.

Princess Anne Rd. crash

Princess Anne Rd. crash

Princess Anne Rd. crash

Princess Anne Rd. crash

Princess Anne Rd. crash

Princess Anne Rd. crash

Virginia Beach Police have set up detours for the area.

10 On Your Side reached out to find out more about this incident.

Check with WAVY.com for more updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
A fatal collision Tuesday in south Sacramento killed a male pedestrian and left a female pedestrian with major injuries, police said.

The pedestrians were struck at Fruitridge Road, between Laurine and Ethel ways, after officers were called to the scene about 4:30 a.m., said Officer Cody Tapley, a spokesman for the Sacramento Police Department

Paramedics took the woman to UC Davis Medical Center with major injuries, according to radio dispatches. The man died at the scene and has not been identified by the Sacramento County Coroners Office pending next of kin notification.

The driver remained on scene as investigators closed roads to canvass the scene for evidence, Tapley said.

Traffic advisory: Fruitridge Rd is closed between Ethel Way and Laurine Way due to a traffic collision. Please use an alternate route and avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/uwkS0h60tT  Sacramento Police Department (@SacPolice) April 9, 2024

Officers were looking for video footage from homes lining the road, according to radio dispatches.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call police at 916-808-5471 or reach the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.
WALKER, Mich. (WOOD)  A nonprofit that provides veterinary care and works to combat pet overpopulation is set to build its headquarters in Walker.

The Community Spay Neuter Initiative Partnership says it has run out of space at its existing Grand Rapids and Fruitport locations. By merging its three existing locations into one 12,000-square foot clinic, CSNIP will be able to provide more high-volume, reduced-cost veterinary services for financially challenged pet owners, the nonprofit announced Tuesday in a release.

We have run out of room, limiting our capacity to meet growing demand. By bringing all our services under one roof, we are improving and expanding service delivery and organizational efficiencies to benefit our clients, their pets and our communities, said CSNIP Executive Director Sharon Caldwell-Newton in a statement.

The nonprofit says it chose the Walker site for its geographic accessibility, including proximity to highways. At the clinic, CSNIP will offer spay and neuter surgery, wellness exams, microchip implants, vaccinations, soft tissue surgery, dental cleaning and more.

The facility will be located at 1300 Walker Village Dr. NW, near Leonard Street NW. Construction is set to begin in July, and leaders expect it to be finished by the first quarter of 2025.

CSNIP says it has secured around $3 million for the $3.6 million project, including a $1 million grant allocated by the Kent County Board of Commissioners through the American Rescue Plan Act and a transformative grant from PetSmart Charities. To raise the last $565,704, the nonprofit is seeking support from the community.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

To learn more about the nonprofit, you can visit csnip.org.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Viewers in awe as they watch the moon and the sun on Monday afternoon in Ashland

As the sky began to darken in Ashland, Ohio, sky watchers scattered around the perimeter of Freer Field could be heard counting down to the final phase of the solar eclipse.

As it reached totality, a low cheer could be heard from around the field.

In its aftermath, Susan Dressler of Leonardtown, Maryland, called it "pretty stunning," taking in the phenomenon with her husband, Rick, and sons, Will and Roger.

She hadn't anticipated the "brightness of the corona  like a jewel," she said.

Not only did it look like a gem, "it twinkled," she said, excited to have caught sight of the solar flare.

Equally enthusiastic was Will, a high school sophomore, who has always been interested in space, his mother said.

"He goes out at night and takes pictures of the galaxies and the nebulae," she said, and is potentially looking at a career in astrophysics.

He showed off his picture of the solar flare as he scrolled through the 413 photos he took of the cosmic event.

The family brought with them on their trip an equatorial tracking mount, a large camera lens and a mirrorless camera, as well as a solar filter for the partial eclipse portion of the event.

The eclipse was "amazing," Will said.

Thomas O'Callaghan, 11, from Gaithersburg, Md. spent the day of the solar eclipse with his family at Freer Field in Ashland and was eager to try out his eclipse glasses when the partial eclipse began about 3 p.m. on Monday.

'The coolest thing I've ever seen'

"That was the coolest thing I've ever seen," said Clay Stimmel of New Lexington, Ohio, "and will never see it again - possibly," he said.

"We did the math," he added, calculating 9-year-old Thea will be in her 80s when it comes around again.

"That was spectacular," Miranda Stimmel said.

"It felt like we were in some kind of movie scene," said Heather Kessler of Newark, describing the eclipse as "very surreal."

"I just loved being out there with everyone," she said. "We were all in this together," experiencing "the wonderment and awe."

National Weather Service : Observed Weather for past 3 Days : Erie, Erie International Airport

Her husband, Dave Kessler, a pilot experienced in meteorology, explained why total darkness did not occur.

"The area not in totality around us on the horizon was still fairly bright," he said. "That refracts off of the atmosphere and that's what we were seeing."

The Dressler family from Leonardtown, Maryland - Will, Susan, Roger and Rick - started their trek in New York, but drove all day on Monday to Ashland for better viewing based on less cloud cover.

Looks like an 'eyeball,' 'Pacman'

One of the observations along the way to totality came from Gavin Kessler, who said, "it looks like an eyeball pointing down to the southeast."

Just a little later, said Heather Kessler, "It looked almost like a Pacman."

The crowd gathered for Moonfest was decidedly smaller and less boisterous than at Balloonfest each July.

But the visitors, some of whom hailed from Maryland, New Jersey and Rhode Island, expressed pleasure at finding this location along the path of the eclipse to watch it.

Thomas, 11, John, Amy and Gianna, 13, OCallaghan of Gaithersburg, Maryland, found a comfortable place on Ashlands Freer Field for solar eclipse viewing.

"We (had) randomly picked a place in New York," Rick Dressler said.

But Will, checking weather conditions, found Ashland the closest place along the path with less chance of cloud cover.

They left Clymer, New York, at 6:15 Monday morning for Ashland.

"Everybody's so friendly here," Susan Dressler said.

The total solar eclipse is seen Monday at Brookside Golf Course in Ashland

'Profound silence' at moment of totality

In looking for a place to view the event, said Lorena Bellomo of Garwood, New Jersey, she and her husband, Bill, and two sons, Gabriel, 14, and Liam, 12, looked at Akron, where places they wanted to stay were booked.

Searching further, they found Ashland, and it seemed like "a beautiful little town," Bill Bellomo said.

They even thought about staying another day at the Hampton Inn in Ashland, but "it's all sold out today," he said on Monday.

"This is my third eclipse," he said, including a trip to South Carolina in 2017.

It's an experience not to be forgotten, Bill Bellomo said, referring to the "profound silence" accompanying the exact moment of totality.

"It's majestic," he said.

David and Susan Snodgrass of Richmond, Virginia viewed this opportunity as the last chance to observe an eclipse.

"We wanted a nice, small town," Susan Snodgrass said. "This is a lovely town."

"We're originally from Ohio," said Susan Smucker of Sarsota, Florida.

People get their spots at Freer Field in Ashland in anticipation of the total solar eclipse.

Looking for small-town viewing

A curriculum coordinator, Smucker, formerly of Columbus, said, "It's a once-in-a- lifetime event coming right over our hometown."

Possibly even more importantly, her son, Keenan, a high school sophomore, said, "I made a promise to myself in fourth grade" he would return for it.

Other family members, including Kate Smith of Wooster, joined them.

"It's right in our backyard," Smith said, showcasing special eclipse-themed pastries from Miss Amy's Bakery.

"She opened up on Monday just for this," Smith said.

John O'Callaghan of Gaithersburg, Maryland, said he and his family looked on Google Earth for a location on the path of totality within driving distance and with an Airbnb.

He and his wife, Amy, and children, Thomas, 11, and Gianna, 13, chose Glenmont, where they stayed at Marymount Hideaway, then wound their way to Freer Field.

Peter Crump, who looked for a small town with affordable accommodations along the path of the total eclipse, spent the day at Freer Field in Ashland with his 40-year-old Astroscan telescope, which projected the eclipse onto a screen.

Peter Crump, who also sought a small town for viewing the eclipse, brought his 40-year-old Astroscan telescope with him from Silver Spring, Maryland, to project the eclipse onto a screen.

Throughout the afternoon visitors enjoyed the sunny weather, picnicking and playing games like Frisbee and kickball on the wide meadow, waiting for the unique experience to unfold.

It was important "just to say you were here," Susan Smucker said.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: 2024 total solar eclipse stuns viewers in Ashland County, Ohio
The laws governing artificial intelligence are increasingly different depending on where you are in the US, a mounting source of confusion for businesses racing to capitalize on the rise of AI.

This year, Utah state lawmakers are debating legislation requiring certain businesses to disclose if their products interact with consumers without using a human.

In Connecticut, state legislators are considering a bill that would place stricter limitations on transparency about the inner workings of AI systems considered "high risk."

They are among the 30 states (plus the District of Columbia) that have either proposed or adopted new laws placing constraints, either directly or indirectly, on how AI systems are designed and used.

The legislation targets everything from the protection of children and data transparency to reducing bias and protecting consumers from AI-generated decisions in healthcare, housing, and employment.

"Its really just a mess for business," Goli Mahdavi, a lawyer with Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, said about the still-developing bills and newly enacted statutes. "Its just a lot of uncertainty."

The reason for the patchwork of laws across the US is the lack of action from Washington to offer direct federal regulation of the fast-evolving technology, largely because not all US lawmakers agree new laws are needed to police AI.

Things are different in other parts of the world. The European Union passed a comprehensive AI law called the AI Act into law this year. And China has adopted more politically focused AI laws that target AI-generated news distribution, deepfakes, chatbots, and datasets.

Yet the state laws being debated or enacted in the US do reflect priorities set out by the federal government, Mahdavi said.

President Biden, for example, has directed AI developers and users to apply AI "responsibly" in an executive order issued last October. Then in January, the administration added a requirement for developers to disclose their safety test results to the government.

Vice President Kamala Harris applauds as President Joe Biden signs an executive order on the development and use of artificial intelligence, last October. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images)

The state laws do share some common themes, but their subtle differences can make business compliance a challenge.

California, Colorado, Delaware, Texas, Indiana, Montana, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Connecticut adopted consumer protection laws that entitle consumers to be notified about automated decision making and the right to opt out of profiling technology used to produce legally significant effects.

The laws broadly prohibit companies from subjecting consumers to automated decision making technology without their consent.

Story continues

Businesses, for example, may not profile consumers according to their work performance, health condition, location, financial condition, and other factors, unless they explicitly agree.

Colorados laws extend further to prohibit AI from generating discriminatory insurance rates.

However, the term "automated decision making," which appears in most of the laws, is defined differently between states.

In some cases a decision for employment or financial services is no longer considered automated so long as the decision is made using some level of human involvement.

New Jersey and Tennessee have so far stopped short of enacting opt-out provisions. However, the states do require those using AI for profiling and automated decision making to perform risk assessments to ensure consumer personal data is protected.

In Illinois, a law that went into effect in 2022 limits employers from using AI in video assessments of job candidates. Consent from a candidate is required before an employer can use AI to evaluate the candidates video image.

Senate hearing at the Illinois state capitol building in Springfield, Ill. (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) (Chicago Tribune via Getty Images)

In Georgia, a narrow law tailored to optometrists use of AI went into effect in 2023. The law requires that AI devices and equipment used to analyze eye images and other eye assessment data may neither be solely relied upon to generate an initial prescription nor a first-time prescription renewal.

New York became the first state to require that employers conduct bias audits of their AI-enabled employment decision tools. The law went into effect in July 2023.

Multiple states followed that trend more broadly, requiring that entities and individuals that use AI conduct data risk assessments before using the technology to process consumer data.

What helps so many states get these laws through their legislatures is "a historic level of single-party control," said Scott Babwah Brennen, head of online expression policy at UNC-Chapel Hill's Center on Technology Policy.

Last year, state legislatures in roughly 40 states were dominated by a single party. That count has more than doubled from 17 that had such control in 1991.

Click here for the latest technology news that will impact the stock market.

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, can run for retired Rep. Kevin McCarthys congressional seat in November, a state appeals court affirmed Tuesday.

The decision ostensibly ends a legal challenge from Californias secretary of state that has threatened Fongs general election bid for Congress since he entered the race to succeed his former boss in December. Hell appear on the November ballot for both Congress and the Assembly.

Fong, McCarthys chosen successor, was on the March 5 primary ballot for both Californias 20th Congressional District and 32nd Assembly District thanks to a messy scramble to pick a successor to the former Bakersfield congressman. That status was at the center of California Secretary of State Shirley Webers issue with Fongs congressional candidacy; she asked the appeals court to decide whether a Sacramento Superior Court judge erred when she granted the Assemblymans request to be on the ballot for two offices.

But the three justices unanimously concurred with the superior courts decision, adding that the Legislature would need to take further action to prevent a candidate like Fong from being on the ballot twice under Californias election system.

Fong, 44, gathered the most votes of candidates in the congressional races March 5 primary and advanced to November with Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, a Republican, the Associated Press projected.

Todays ruling is yet another victory for the voters of the 20th Congressional District, who have now had their right to select the candidate of their choice upheld by the courts, twice, Fong said in a statement Tuesday.

The election code at the center of Webers argument was section 8003, subdivision (b), which reads, No person may file nomination papers for a party nomination and an independent nomination for the same office, or for more than one office at the same election. Webers attorneys had argued that the second part of this code broadly applied to anyone seeking to file to run for more than one office in the same election.

The court, concurring with the lower court, said that this part of the code only applies to the independent nomination process  something that Fong was not participating in  citing that section 8003 as a whole targets independent nominations. More than a decade ago, California switched to primary elections that put all candidates for an office like Congress on ballots for voters to choose from, rather than separating them by political party. The top two vote-getters regardless of party advance to the general election; there is no independent nomination process for these races.

Presiding Justice Laurie Earl wrote in the courts decision that this interpretation is the only way to give effect to all parts of section 8003. And because Fong has not submitted nomination papers for a party nomination and an independent nomination for more than one office at the same election, section 8003, subdivision (b) does not apply to his candidacy.

Indeed, it appears the Legislature intended the provision to apply only to independent nominations, Earl added, because the act contained marginal notes inserted by the Legislature, and the marginal note states Independent Nomination.

The California 3rd District Court of Appeal heard arguments in Sacramento on April 4.

Weber could ask the California Supreme Court to review the decision (The Bee reached out to her office to see if she would and has not immediately heard back). But with an April 12 deadline to certify who is running in the Nov. 5 general election, time to do so is severely limited.

Weber said in a statement that her office disagreed with the ruling, adding that both courts that have heard the case recognize this ruling leaves the door open to chaos, gamesmanship and voter disenfranchisement, and disadvantages other candidates.

My office sought to avoid such problems through this litigation, she said. This ruling highlights the need for legislative attention. We are carefully considering all our options.

There are two more elections this year to replace, who left Congress in December following his October ousting as Speaker of the House. One is to complete the remainder of his current term in a May 21 runoff between Fong and Boudreaux, 57.

The other, to be decided Nov. 5, is for a full, two-year term to begin January 2025. Webers challenge only applied to the contest for the full term.

Fongs attorney, Brian Hildreth, told judges at the April 4 hearing that removing Fong from the equation now would disenfranchise voters, saying, Theyre 300 miles away from here, but they have overwhelmingly asked him to be their next member of Congress.

Why was Vince Fong on the March 5 ballot for Congress and the Assembly?

McCarthy announced his retirement on Dec. 6, two days before Californias electoral filing deadline. Since McCarthy, the incumbent, was not running, the filing deadline for Californias 20th was extended until Dec. 13. Fong originally declined to run for the congressional opening before the Dec. 8 deadline to qualify for his Assembly race, which he did.

State Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, who will be termed out of the Legislature come 2026 and appeared to be McCarthys likely successor, announced a few days later she would not run in Californias 20th.

After her announcement, Fong changed his mind, announced his bid for Congress before the deadline and gathered McCarthys endorsement. But he was still qualified for the Assembly seat, and that deadline had passed.

Weber said in December that, under the states elections code, Fong could neither withdraw from the Assembly race nor be on the ballot for competing offices. She said she would bar him from running in the 20th.

Fong brought the matter to court. Sacramento Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne W. L. Chang on Dec. 28 granted Fongs request to be on the ballot for the Assembly and Congress. Chang wrote in her decision that it somewhat defies common sense to find the law permits a candidate to run for two offices during the same election. However, . . . the Court is compelled to interpret the law as it is written by the Legislature and finds Elections Code section 8003 is inapplicable.

Weber, up against a deadline, included him on the certified list of candidates for both races and vowed to appeal.

At the end of January, Weber asked an appeals court to erase Changs ruling by April 12. If the court granted her request, she could block him from the Nov. 5 ballot. Webers attorney, Seth E. Goldstein from the California attorney generals office, told appellate judges during the April hearing that there were myriad post-primary fixes: removing Mr. Fong from the general election ballot, ordering a new election, allowing for post-election remedies.

Even if the decision was moot in Fongs case, he said, it would be important for the court to address dual candidacy for future reference.

And the appellate court did address it, saying that the Legislature must act first: If the Legislature wants to prohibit candidates from running for more than one office at the same election, it is free to do so. Unless and until it does so, however, we must take section 8003 as we find it and enforce it as written.

Earl wrote that while the court acknowledges that anomalous results could flow from the conclusion we reach today. But whatever we think of the Secretarys example in the abstract, that is not what happened in this case, adding that Fongs situation as not extreme.

A couple of bills targeting this issue have been introduced in the Legislature since Fong filed to run in December.

Who is running in the May and November elections?

Fong was uncontested in the 32nd Assembly Districts primary, which means hell be on the November ballot for that seat.

The winner of the May 21 election between Fong and Boudreaux is expected to be sworn into office immediately.

The two contenders will compete again Nov. 5 for the full two-year 20th district term, which begins in January.

Californias 20th  the states most heavily GOP congressional district, where 47% of registered voters are Republican and 27% are Democrats  grabs portions of Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern counties.

Fong served as McCarthys district director for almost a decade before his election to the Assembly. Born in Bakersfield, Fong started his political career as an aide to former Republican Rep. Bill Thomas, McCarthys predecessor.

Boudreaux has been Tulare County Sheriff for over a decade. Currently president of the California State Sheriffs Association, he has worked in Tulare County law enforcement since age 19.
An issue at the core of Joe Bidens presidency that former President Donald Trump is zeroing in on with increasingly violent rhetoric could have outsize influence in critical battleground territory: the effort to accelerate the U.S. transition from gas-powered automobiles to electric vehicles.

For Biden, the combination of subsidies to boost electric vehicle manufacturing, new federal standards aimed at further cutting emissions, investments in charging infrastructure and tax credits to encourage electric vehicle purchases amounts to arguably his most ambitious industrial policy and climate change agenda. He has made repeated trips to electric vehicle assembly lines and newly built battery plants as he and his administration tout the new jobs his agenda has fostered and the increased share of Americans now driving electric vehicles.

Yet Trump and many of his allies have zeroed in on that agenda, particularly in Michigan, long the hub of the American auto industry, in dire and violent terms, warning of the potential for mass job losses and railing against vehicles that are cost-prohibitive, require electric infrastructure that in many places does not yet exist and are yet to perform up to the same capabilities as their gas-powered peers.

Auto manufacturing jobs are growing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the sticker prices of some electric models are starting to come down. But the Biden administration also recently slashed its target for electric vehicle adoption by 2032 from 67% to roughly half that amount amid pushback from auto labor and management.

The battle is likely to rage strongest in the bitterly contested state of Michigan, as well as in Georgia, a purple state that has drawn billions in electric vehicle investments from carmakers. In fact, many of the new electric vehicle-related plants that have opened in recent years have been in red states like South Carolina and Kentucky, where state and local lawmakers have touted their boost to local economies  and where weak union protections allow for low labor costs.

Major automakers and other industry players largely view the transition to electric vehicles as an inevitability  one they are looking to embrace. Rather than a catastrophe, they see it as a necessary step to not only combat climate change but also protect their bottom lines.

Still, Trump has warned the policies would lead to a bloodbath in the U.S. economy, kill the auto industry and trigger an assassination of jobs. At an event last week in Grand Rapids, Michigan, framed around immigration, Trump repeatedly lambasted Bidens electric vehicle incentives, calling them one of the dumbest [decisions] Ive ever heard and predicting they would be a boon for Chinese and Mexican auto manufacturers.

Isnt it a shame we play away from our strength? he said, pointing to oil and gas reserves in the U.S. and pledging to end the policies immediately. And we play right into their strength by doing this.

Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a Democrat, expressed frustration over how Trump and other Republicans have framed the issue. She acknowledged that electric vehicles remain too expensive for many consumers and that there is still progress to be made in onshoring the EV supply chain, saying, This shift is going to take time.

But failing to pursue the transition is not an option, she added, pointing to other countries that are pursuing phase-outs of vehicles with internal combustion engines.

If Donald Trump succeeds in convincing workers that we have an option of not making the transition, then youre going to get to a place where our automakers will go out of business because you will no longer have customers to sell to, especially in a global market, she said. Its hard to get that nuance across.

Republicans who spoke with NBC News said it was not that they had any issue with electric vehicles themselves but that they felt the Biden administration was rushing too quickly to transition that part of the economy, particularly before the electric grid and infrastructure are fully ready to handle it.

From the folks that I talked to and interact with, there continues to be a very high degree of doubt about the sustainability of electric vehicles taking over our transportation system in the near future, said Michigan state Sen. Ed McBroom, a Republican.

Surveys have found mixed views and a distinct partisan split on the shift. A Pew Research Center survey last year found that 59% of U.S. adults opposed phasing out new gasoline vehicles by 2035, an increase from 51% in 2021. The same survey found that 84% of Republicans and Republican-leaning adults opposed the shift, while 64% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning adults supported it, though the numbers of Republicans and Democrats opposed had increased since 2021.

A Gallup survey conducted last month and published Monday found that 7% of Americans say they own electric vehicles, up from 4% just a year ago. But fewer Americans now say they may consider buying electric vehicles, dropping from 43% to 35% compared to one year ago. There was also a significant partisan breakdown, with Republicans 42 points more likely than Democrats to say they would not buy an electric vehicle and 22 points more likely than independents.

In Michigan, a statewide survey conducted by the Detroit Regional Chamber and the Glengariff group with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points found that 46% of likely Michigan voters supported the shift to electric vehicles, while 44% opposed it. The split was pronounced between Democrats, largely in support, and Republicans, largely in opposition, while independent voters favored the transition by 8 points. Voters in the Detroit metro area favored it by 20 points, while those elsewhere in the state opposed it by 10 points.

In a focus group of Michigan voters who either are union members or have family members in unions, voters backing Trump and Biden raised concerns about the transition to electric vehicles, though most concerns focused mostly on consumer worries  that the cars did not perform as well as gas-powered vehicles and that the infrastructure does not yet exist for widespread adoption, rather than concerns over potential job losses. The sessions were produced in collaboration with Syracuse University and Sago, an international market research company, for the NBC News Deciders Focus Group series.

None of the voters questioned, however, agreed with Trumps prediction that Bidens electric vehicle policies would trigger a bloodbath wiping out auto industry jobs. And none said those policies made them any more or less likely to support Bidens candidacy.

I dont necessarily think its a good or bad thing, said Andrea G., a Biden supporter from Warren, Michigan. I just think that its so new still that theres so much more to come on it. I dont fully have all the information. I dont think they do, either.

Nationally, the auto industry has experienced substantial job growth since Biden took over in January 2021. Preliminary March job numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show more Americans are employed in motor vehicle and parts manufacturing than in nearly 20 years, an increase of about 120,000 jobs during the Biden administration.

The sector grew by about 55,000 jobs during the first two years of Trumps presidency before a downturn began just before the pandemic, with the Covid virus further cutting into job growth. He left office with a net loss of 8,000 jobs in auto manufacturing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In Michigan, however, preliminary March numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a gain of about 3,000 jobs in motor vehicle manufacturing during the Biden administration while the auto parts manufacturing sector has shrunk by about 4,000 jobs. Trumps presidency coincided with a net loss of about 1,000 jobs in the former and 8,000 jobs in the latter.

The job impacts of the EV push were front and center during negotiations between the Detroit automakers and the United Auto Workers last year, with workers particularly concerned about the notion that electric vehicles require less labor to build  meaning there are fewer jobs to be had.

That point has been at the center of Republican pushback against the policies in Michigan.

Pete Hoekstra, the state GOP chairman, predicted that jobs would be on the line in his state not only with auto manufacturers, but also with auto parts suppliers.

EVs require 40% less labor to assemble than cars with internal combustion engines, he said. Thats going to have a significant impact.  Some of the jobs are replaced because of the new vehicles. Its beneficial to have them here versus somewhere else. But its still going to be a significant net loss of high-quality, high-paying jobs in Michigan."

But researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that electric vehicle production will actually increase the total number of labor hours required to complete an automobile.

Kate Whitefoot, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and engineering and public policy who worked on the study, told NBC News that the assertion that electric vehicles require less labor has to do with this really simplistic view that if you have fewer parts, you have less labor.

And that is just not the case, she said, noting that the study found that in examining how many processes are required rather than how many parts, EV manufacturing may actually lead to an increase in manufacturing-worker hours.

Still, on the consumer side, electric vehicles make up only a small part of the overall auto market, with growth beginning to slow. Mark Schirmer, a spokesperson for Cox Automotive, an automotive data firm, said that while electric vehicles are still more expensive than the average car, they are getting closer to parity. Schirmer said the big reason for a slowdown in EV sales is a slowdown in sales for Tesla, which is the biggest player in the U.S. EV market.

For Trump, the electric vehicle policies provide an opportunity to hit Bidens standing among workers, his economic policy and his handling of China, a leader in the EV market, in one punch.

Joe Bidens extreme electric vehicle mandate will force Americans to buy ultra-expensive cars they do not want and cannot afford while destroying the U.S. auto industry in the process, Karoline Leavitt, a Trump spokesperson, said in a statement. This radical policy is anti-jobs, anti-consumer, and anti-American. It will destroy the livelihoods of countless U.S. autoworkers while sending the U.S. auto industry to China.

Former Rep. Andy Levin, D-Mich., said Trump has taken a kernel of truth and distorted it beyond recognition.

The president has agreed to slow down the transition to EVs in a way that the UAW and the auto companies support, he said. So Trump is really out here by himself. Its hot rhetoric. But in fact, the U.S. automakers and the union are also planning with Biden on his plan to move towards EVs.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
President Joe Biden will host the first-ever leaders summit between the US, Japan and the Philippines this week, the latest attempt to draw Pacific allies and partners closer as the region grapples with Chinas aggression and nuclear provocations from North Korea.

It comes as the president has sought to keep his eye on the strategy laid out early in the administration even as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza rose to the forefront of global attention.

Bidens week also includes an official visit for Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, reinforcing his commitment to cultivating partnerships in the Indo-Pacific in the face of Chinas rising economic and military power.

Since day one, President Biden has remained personally focused on reaffirming and reinvigorating our alliances around the world, and nowhere has this strategy paid off more than in the Indo-Pacific, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN in a statement. We firmly believe that investing in alliances and partnerships across the Indo-Pacific benefits the American people, makes us safer, and more competitive on the world stage.

Starting Tuesday evening, the president and first lady Dr. Jill Biden welcome Kishida and his wife Kishida Yuko to the White House. The official visit kicks off in earnest on Wednesday with the full pomp and circumstance of a South Lawn arrival ceremony, bilateral meeting, joint news conference and lavish state dinner.

It will mark the fifth official state visit of the Biden White House and the fourth dedicated to a key Indo-Pacific ally with three previous visits honoring Australia, India and South Korea.

The two men are expected to announce a major update to their military alliance and lay out greater defense industrial cooperation, a senior administration official said. Theyre expected to hail new steps on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity work and deepening semiconductor production.

The leaders are also expected to detail space collaboration at a time when Japan has signaled interest in landing its first astronaut on the moon and to lay out ways to increase people-to-people ties amid lagging student exchanges between the two countries in recent years.

But even as the US and Japan are bolstering their cooperation across a range of sectors, the two countries have seen a recent difference on an economic front with the president opposing Japans efforts to purchase US Steel, an issue that could arise in discussions.

The historic leaders summit on Thursday between Biden, Kishida and Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos is expected to produce announcements relating to infrastructure, energy security, digital connectivity and maritime security. The three leaders will hold private discussions on the South China Sea, where the Philippines is facing extraordinary pressure, the senior official said, as Manila grapples with Beijings aggression in the contested waters.

With the official visit of Prime Minister Kishida, the visit of President Marcos, and the historic trilateral leaders summit, we will show that our key alliances have reached heights that have never before been achieved and are ones that we believe we can sustain in the years ahead, Sullivan said.

Forging ties on military, technology, infrastructure

The shared goal of keeping autocratic power at bay  while protecting their prowess in advanced technology  is expected to be a major theme of the visit.

Kishida, who is also set to address a joint session of Congress on Thursday, has already shown keen interest in the critical importance of the semiconductor industry, meeting with executives on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in November and coordinating export controls with Washington and other allies.

Theres a loose collaboration on the supply chains, said John Neuffer, president of the Semiconductor Industry Association. But theres really, in the last couple years, been a stepped-up effort on export controls.

Biden is expected to encourage Kishida to place more restrictions on the export of high-tech chips to thwart Chinas military and economic capabilities. But US officials acknowledge Kishidas preference has been to do so only in lockstep with the Netherlands, South Korea and Taiwan, to avoid direct confrontation with Beijing.

Meanwhile, Japan has recently loosened restrictions on the export of military technology  paving the way for deeper collaboration with like-minded allies.

Both countries over the last two years have gone through dramatic changes in their policies. And this is literally the end of one kind of era, Rahm Emanuel, the US ambassador to Japan, told CNN in an interview. The next three decades, he said, will be defined by alliance protection.

At Thursdays summit of the three leaders, the White House is expected to bolster the Filipino militarys capability with a new infrastructure investment similar to what the US announced in India in the leadup to the G20. Senior administration officials tell CNN the leaders will announce the development of a new rail and shipping corridor between Philippiness Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base, a move thats meant to send a clear message to Beijing.

In the days leading up to the summit, the US, Japan and Philippines - along with Australia - conducted maritime military exercises near Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), after Philippine vessels had alleged harassment by Chinese ships in the South China Sea.

Crafting an alliance-forward strategy

The meetings come as the region is grappling with the uncertainty of Chinas aggressive posture toward Taiwan and the South China Sea along with nuclear provocations from North Korea and its burgeoning relationship with Russia  concerns that have drawn regional allies closer to the US.

Japan has been at the center of Bidens alliance building in the Indo-Pacific as officials have seen a willing partner in Kishida, who has significantly shifted the countrys defense posture in recent years and provided ongoing support to Ukraine amid Russias invasion of Ukraine. Kishida has committed to increasing defense spending by 2% of GDP by 2037 and acquired American Tomahawk missiles to increase its counterstrike capabilities.

Before entering the White House, the president and Sullivan tasked the transition team to tap into alliances and partnerships where they saw extraordinary potential if only the United States turned back to it and reembraced it, one senior administration official said.

What we did was put together a strategy that was designed to help a wide range of allies and partners see pieces of themselves and their own objectives in our Indo-pacific strategy, the official said.

One directive from Sullivan to his team was to think creatively about new groupings to push that Indo-Pacific strategy forward. During that transition period, Sullivan and senior advisers zeroed-in on plans to elevate the Quad partnership between the US, Japan, Australia and India to the leader level and in the opening weeks of the administration ramped up efforts to make that a reality. The first virtual meeting with the four leaders took place in March 2021 with subsequent in-person summits in the years that followed.

The president also had his eye on strengthening the trilateral relationship between the US, Japan and South Korea, an effort the official described as a slower boil following decades of mistrust and tension between Tokyo and Seoul.

To move that along, the president hosted Japans then-Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and South Koreas then-President Moon Jae-in for his very first foreign leader meetings at the White House and visited the countries back-to-back in 2022. In their separate meetings, the president made clear the importance of the trilateral relationship and offered assurances the US stood ready to help the two countries work on their relationship, officials said.

Under the leadership of Kishida and President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japan and South Korea took significant steps to ease their tensions in the years that followed, culminating with an historic Camp David summit where Biden praised the ushering in of a new era of cooperation between the three countries.

At the same time, the administration has forged ahead with a new security partnership with the United Kingdom and Australia known as AUKUS. Ahead of Kishidas visit to the White House, defense chiefs with the AUKUS countries announced they would consider working with Japan on advanced capabilities projects, signaling a potential strengthening of the alliance.

Biden and his team also have sought to draw in smaller regional neighbors concerned about Chinas military and economic aggression. Hes deepened military ties with the Philippines under Marcos after the previous leader Rodrigo Duterte distanced the country from Washington and moved to align with Beijing more closely. Sullivan in part laid the groundwork for this weeks historic summit when he traveled to Japan for the first meeting between national security advisers for the US, Japan and the Philippines in June.

Vietnam last year elevated its ties with the US to a comprehensive strategic partnership, putting it among the countrys highest tier of partners, including China. The White House has ramped up engagement with Pacific Island nations and sought to boost economic ties with regional partners through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, including efforts to make supply chains more resilient, promote clean energy, combat corruption, and trade, though a formal trade deal has proved elusive.

Biden and his team have taken steps to try to institutionalize the defense, security and economic advancements made with allies to ensure they are a feature of the system and not just a bright idea of this particular team, the official said.

It comes as partners are keenly aware leadership in Washington could change next year as Biden is engaged in a close contest against his predecessor former President Donald Trump, who could reshape US policy toward the region once again.

Regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential election in the United States, because of this more complicated international situation, the Japan-U.S. alliance grows in importance even more, Kishida said in an interview with PBS last week. And I believe this is a notion shared as a common recognition within the U.S., going beyond party lines, in a bipartisan way.

But Biden continues looking for other ways to deepen the alliances, including the potential for further meetings with the Quad countries and with the leaders of South Korea and Japan, as his first term is winding down and with an eye on the future.

The fundamental question that was at issue in our Indo Pacific strategy and is at issue in the region is what the shape and character of the international order is going to look like a few decades hence, the official said. It is arguably the clearest example of the president and his top foreign policy leadership, having a clear vision for a foreign policy that would be good for everyday Americans and executing on it in a seamless and a coordinated fashion in ways that yield results.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Rainer Dulger, President of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA), give statements at the BDA Presidium meeting in the Haus der Deutschen Wirtschaft. Britta Pedersen/dpa

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted cutting bureaucracy amid efforts to make the European Union more competitive in remarks to German business leaders in Berlin on Tuesday.

"We continue to be the economic area that exports the most worldwid. But I'm saying clearly that we have to step up a gear to secure what has been achieved and to remain ahead. We have to become faster, more digital and cleaner," the German politician said.

Cutting EU red tape was making progress, she said, with reporting requirements for companies being reduced.

Rainer Dulger, head of the Confederation of German Employers (BDA), said the EU had made life difficult for companies with over-complicated regulation. "We need to change that," he said.

Competitiveness had to return to the top of the agenda in Europe. "We have to be faster, we have to become more digital, and we must also become simpler," he said.

The right EU decisions could make Europe a growth driver, he said. The EU should stop its increasing intervention in member states' social policies, he added.

Von der Leyen is aiming for a second term as European Commission president as the lead candidate of the conservative European People's Party (EPP).

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Rainer Dulger, President of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA), smiling after a statement at the Haus der Deutschen Wirtschaft before the BDA Presidium meeting. Britta Pedersen/dpa
Theres something strange happening in the United States politically right now, something that I mentally refer to as the great disconnect. Ohio is the poster child for it. In 2020, the Buckeye State overwhelmingly voted for Donald J. Trump, handing him an eight-point victory. In 2022, Ohioans handed a U.S. Senate seat to newly minted Trumpist J.D. Vance by six percentage points. As of today, 270toWin.com has Trump leading Biden there by 10.5 percent.

Yet only a year after elevating Vance, voters enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution by 14 points, and legalized marijuana by the same margin.

We see this pattern repeated elsewhere. In Kansas, access to abortion was upheld at the ballot box by 18 points in 2022. In Kentucky, a 2022 state constitutional amendment that would effectively ban abortion was shot down by a solid five-point margin. In 2024, it seems likely that 11 more states will have initiatives defending abortion rights on the ballot and that most if not all will pass. This includes Florida, where despite a requirement for constitutional amendments to get 60 percent approval, it still appears the ballot initiative, which protects abortion rights, will pass.

A basic look at the math in Ohio suggests that roughly 40 percent of the people who voted for Vance in 2022 turned around and voted to enshrine abortion rights the next year. Perhaps these people think of themselves as moderate Republicans, who are willing to vote for the people (like Vance) who passed the unpopular bills in the first place. Which raises the question: Why are people voting for Republicans with hideously unpopular, radical policy positions in the first place, if these voters know what their representatives intend to do?

There are a lot of possible explanations, and most of them revolve around a knee-jerk dislike among these voters of the Democratic Party overriding the times when they disagree with Republicans. Or the unfounded belief that Republicans will handle the economy and the border better (FWIW: The U.S. economy has rebounded better than that of any other G7 country since the pandemic, and Trump shot down the bipartisan border bill). Sometimes its a belief that the GOP would never go that far and a failure to recognize how radicalized it has become. Or in some cases, they simply like the fact that Trump promises to hurt the people they think should be hurt.

This disconnect isnt limited to abortion. Donald Trump just endorsed Mark Burns for North Carolinas 3rd congressional district (which is gerrymandered deep red). Burns has called for the execution of LGBT people, and refused to recant when confronted with these statements. In North Dakota, the state GOPs party platform states that transgender people should all be involuntarily required to undergo conversion therapy (which sounds suspiciously like reeducation camps). Weve hit the part of the Overton window where Republicans are openly discussing their proposed final solutions to the transgender question, and no one seems to notice.

Now I suspect that if you asked voters on a ballot: Should transgender people be shot or put in reeducation camps? roughly 85 percent would say no. (The remaining 15 percent are why I write about fascism, because theyre the base for people like Mark Burns.) Nevertheless, Republicans in North Dakota and North Carolina are going to keep voting Republican anyway.

There is a fundamental disconnect between the policies voters want and who they vote for. People are getting what they voted for but collectively cant connect the dots to understand this. Theyre like my boomer parents: Oh, yeah, all this anti-trans stuff is a little over the top, but Democrats are just so corrupt and far left ... I couldnt bring myself to vote for one. Or Bidens too old and has dementia. Or, like my stepfather, they couldnt care less so long as Trump cuts taxes, guts the IRS auditing department, and ceases to regulate anything related to commerce or industry.

Weve reached a point where people vote for parties without having a strong idea, or in some cases maybe the slightest idea, of what policies those parties would implement. To me, this is an indication that many voters still fundamentally do not understand the stakes of the 2024 election. Nor do they understand that the GOP intends to prevent them from fixing things in the future with ballot initiatives. Republicans in Missouri, Mississippi, Arizona, Florida, and Ohio have all tried to make it even harder for voters to overturn the unpopular laws that were passed using gerrymandered legislatures.

Theres also substantial evidence that voters have no idea of the threat they face. Only 31 percent are aware of Trumps most egregious comments describing minorities and immigrants as vermin who are poisoning the nation. Additional polling indicates that if they knew about these quotes, a small but substantial number would be less likely to vote for him.

Democratic voters assume that the polls are wrong, or that the guardrails will hold. Independents and some Republicans assume that the GOP wouldnt go that far, no matter what the policy is, because they believe it is so unpopular that the GOP just wouldnt dare. Both groups are mistaken; in reality, were dealing with a Christian nationalist movement that doesnt care what people think, because they intend to seize power permanently. And the American public is likely to hand it to them because Biden is old and didnt give them a pony for Christmas.

People got, and are going to get, exactly what they voted for. Polling aggregates still have Biden trailing Trump by 0.5 points nationally, and with the Electoral College favoring Republicans, that means Biden currently has only around a 10 percent chance of winning. Hes behind in polls in every swing state. Anyone paying the slightest bit of attention understands that a Trump victory likely means a nationwide ban on abortion, in vitro fertilization, and birth control via Food and Drug Administration policy (run by newly installed Trump appointees at every level with Schedule F) and enforcement of the Comstock Act. Unfortunately, that doesnt describe very many people.

If you put it to a national vote, around 86 percent of Americans oppose bans on IVF; yet were on course to elect a fascist dictator who would put appointees and judges in place to ban it. This demonstrates my central thesis: Voters played stupid games and won stupid prizes across most of the U.S. when they put the GOP in charge. Abortion got banned, and still they seem to have zero idea how they won that prize.

Now were descending even deeper into fuck around and find out territory. Many people will still have no idea why abortion, IVF, and birth control are illegal in all 50 states; civil rights laws are enforced primarily to protect white Christian men; prayer is mandatory; and trans people are showing up at the Canadian border requesting asylum.

I hope those small-business deductions were worth it.
Vice President Kamala Harris listens to a roundtable conversation at William Cramp Elementary School in Philadelphia April 8, 2024 (Capital-Star photo by John Cole)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Vice President Kamala Harris visited a school in Philadelphia on Monday to highlight the Biden administrations latest student debt forgiveness proposal.

The president and I continue to do, and will do, much more to build on this work, Harris said during the roundtable at William Cramp Elementary School. We want to create incentives for people to acquire the kinds of skills like the professionals at this table have, to do the work that they do, that benefits so many others and benefits all of us as a nation.

Biden announced the latest plan in a trip to swing state Wisconsin on Monday. The plan would include a one-time cancellation of all accrued interest for 23 million borrowers, cancel the full amount of student loan debt for 4 million borrowers, and provide at least $5,000 in student debt relief for more than 10 million borrowers.

President Biden will use every tool available to cancel student loan debt for as many borrowers as possible, no matter how many times Republican elected officials try to stand in his way, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday.

Harris was joined by U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) and an elementary school teacher in Philadelphia, a nurse at a Philadelphia elementary school, and a social worker with the citys Department of Human Services to promote this latest initiative to forgive student loan debt.

Harriss visit was part of a larger push by the Biden administration to highlight the plan, which saw Harriss spouse, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, visit Phoenix, Arizona, and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona traveling to New York City to meet with borrowers who had benefited from student debt relief, the White House said.

Although younger voters support proposals to cancel student loan debt, the Biden administrations efforts have received pushback in the courts. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Biden administration did not have the legal authority to enact a student debt program aimed at assisting 40 million Americans.

According to the Federal Reserve, about 43.5 million Americans have student loan debt, which totals $1.73 trillion.

Monday is Harris 12th visit to the Keystone State since being sworn in and her second appearance so far in 2024.

In February, Harris visited Pittsburgh to highlight the Biden administrations $5.8 billion funding towards lead pipe removal and clean water projects. The funding for that project, which includes more than $200 million in Pennsylvania, is part of the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

As the 2024 general election begins to heat up, the Biden campaign has placed a particular focus on the eastern half of the commonwealth.

Bidens visited Pennsylvania four times so far this year. He was in Philadelphia on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, delivered two different campaign speeches in the Philadelphia suburbs, and made one appearance in the Lehigh Valley to visit small businesses.

Trump has made two appearances in the commonwealth so far this year and will be returning this weekend. Trump delivered a keynote address at a National Rifle Association forum in Harrisburg and unveiled a new line of shoes at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia.

On Saturday, Trump is scheduled to appear at a fundraiser in Bucks County and a rally in the Lehigh Valley.

Recent polling shows Biden and Trump in a close race to capture the Keystone States 19 electoral votes.

This story was updated at 5:35 p.m. April 8, 2024 with details from the vice presidents event.

This story was published earlier by the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, an affiliate of the nonprofit States Newsroom network, which includes the Florida Phoenix.

The post VP Kamala Harris in Philly to tout Biden administrations latest student debt relief proposal appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Read the full story on Backfire News

Waffle House Worker Claims Stolen Jeep Was A Birthday Tip

We know from experience the people who work at Waffle House can be quite colorful and the same can be said of many customers, but a servers story of getting a Jeep Liberty as a tip is still out there. Yet thats precisely what she told police when they stopped her in the SUV which was reported stolen.

Excellent bad idea: mini jeeps.

According to Tulsa Police Department in Oklahoma, Angela Harrison told officers a former Waffle House customer recognized her at the gas station an hour before the traffic stop, giving her $10 and the Jeep Liberty since her 53rd birthday was coming up.

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That was on April 1. The Jeep had been reported stolen before Christmas 2023 after the owner passed away earlier in the year. We cant tell you how common it is for dead peoples vehicles to be stolen, its horrible.

Originally, the Jeep was tracked down thanks to Flock cameras in Tulsa. One got a hit on the license plate and police showed up to pull the vehicle over.

Upon hearing the story about a monster birthday tip given at a gas station, we can understand officers were likely skeptical. But detectives in the department were already hot on her trail. When they showed her a surveillance image of her in the Jeep, a photo which was captured back on January 14, Harrison couldnt explain how that was.

Thankfully, the Jeep Liberty was returned to the dead mans family in one piece. Harrison was arrested and charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. Shell either have her day in court or will reach some sort of plea agreement with the prosecutor.

We just want to know if she gets to keep serving customers at Waffle House.

Images via Tulsa Police Department/Facebook
The war in Gaza reshapes Ramadan into a somber ritual in Jerusalem's Old City

Worshipers listen to a sermon about the suffering in Gaza during Dhuhr afternoon prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound.

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which ends this week, is a time of spiritual renewal, communal bonding and reflection on one's relationship with God and fellow human beings.

But this year, in Jerusalems Old City and across the Muslim world, evening feasts to observe the end to a day of fasting have been shaped by sadness and frugality.

People picnic on a rooftop with views of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem's Old City.

1. Muslims break the fast with an iftar picnic Sunday on a rooftop in Old Jerusalem. 2. Chef Izzeldin Bukhari and his mother, Hala, eat an iftar meal of leftovers to show solidarity with fellow Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Like many Muslims, chef Izzeldin Bukhari and his mother, Hala, of Jerusalem have forgone traditional extravagant break fast meals for simple dishes out of sympathy for the suffering of fellow Palestinians trapped in a ferocious war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

On a recent Friday, as the call to prayer echoed through the Old Citys Muslim quarter, the pair broke their fast in silence, eating reheated leftovers and stale bread dipped in a garlicky sauce.

A Palestinian boy plays in the Muslim quarter of the Old City. Israeli security officers stand guard as worshipers line up to enter the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Security has been increased amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

A man hands out water to those on their way to Al Aqsa Mosque along a path that this year is devoid of the usual Ramadan decorations.







Like many Palestinians, the Bukharis have relatives in Gaza, where most have been unable to escape six months of Israeli bombardment that has killed more than 33,000, mostly women and children, according to Gazan officials. The war began Oct. 7 when Hamas-led militants from Gaza attacked southern Israel, where about 1,200 people were killed and about 200 taken hostage, authorities say.

The devout enter the Old City of Jerusalem through the Damascus Gate, past food and toy vendors, to pray and break the daily Ramadan fast.

In addition to widespread destruction, Gazans are enduring severe shortages of food and medicine and face possible famine in the coming weeks, according to aid groups.

The staggering death toll and scale of suffering changed how Ramadan has been observed. Jerusalem, home to some of Islams most holy sites, is normally festive with music, bright lights and colorful decorations along the Muslim Quarters stone alleyways.

An overflow of worshipers make the Dhuhr afternoon prayers outside the entrance to Al Aqsa Mosque.

1. An overflow of worshipers pray outside the mosque. 2. Shopkeepers in the Old City kneel for evening prayers.

This year, worshipers walked through dimly lit paths, devoid of signs of celebration, a somber reminder of the war in Gaza.

Muslims make their way to Al Aqsa Mosque along a path devoid of Ramadan decorations.

Anas Abu Assab prepares bottles of fresh carrot juice, a staple for Iftar meals, in Jerusalem's Old City. Qatayef, a popular Ramadan dessert, is prepared in a family-run store that is more than 320 years old. Men prepare ka'ak al Quds, a type of bread popular during Ramadan, at the Abu Hazem Abu Snaineh bakery. Abu Ali Eid weighs a bag of olives for customers. Muslims walk to Al Aqsa Mosque carrying their Iftar meals.

Muslims head to Al Aqsa Mosque carrying iftar meals, and sometimes their children.

Worshipers pray in the market entrances leading to the Al Aqsa Mosque compound.

People gather near the Damascus Gate on Friday, which was Laylat al Qadr, the "night of power." (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Alleyways in the Old City of Jerusalem lack the usual Ramadan decorations.

Yam reported from Jerusalem and Wilkinson from Washington.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
War looms over Europe, more investment in defence is needed  Borrell

A full-scale conflict in Europe is no longer a fantasy, and Europeans must find new ways to fund preparations for a potentially wider war on the continent.

Source: European Pravda; Euractiv citing top EU diplomat Josep Borrell

Details: Borrells comments emerged after several of Europes military and political leaders cautioned that Russia may potentially unleash a conflict against NATO in the next decade.

"War is certainly looming around us and a high-intensity, conventional war in Europe is no longer a fantasy," Borrell said in a speech at an economic forum in Brussels.

Russia threatens Europe through its war in Ukraine and hybrid attacks on EU member states, he added.

"It [the war] is not going to start tomorrow, but we cannot deny reality," Borrell said in his most explicit comment to date. He called for new ways to be found to increase investment in defence.

"We need a new intergovernmental financing vehicle comparable to the one that we created during the financial crisis," Borrell noted.

The EUs top diplomat also mentioned Europeans growing fears of the potential return of former US president Donald Trump, who has threatened not to defend NATO allies in Europe that do not spend enough on defence.

"The US umbrella, which we have relied on since the Cold War, may not be open all the time. Maybe, depending on who is ruling Washington, we cannot rely on America to protect us," Borrell said.

Background:

French President Emmanuel Macron stated in February that Russia may attack NATO countries within the next few years, as evidenced by Moscow's actions in recent weeks.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said in January that NATO must prepare for a Russian attack on a NATO country within 5-8 years.

Micael Byden, Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, and Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Swedish Minister for Civil Defence, have stated that all citizens of the country must be ready for war.

Support UP or become our patron!
Tonight features a couple of showers with otherwise quiet weather on tap. Our rain showers are arriving out ahead of a mid-level shortwave trough that will move into the region for Tuesday and provide chances for rain. With light winds, a damp ground and high humidity values, patchy areas of dense fog will be possible.

Tuesday begins pretty dry with only a couple of isolated showers, but as we head into the afternoon, a cold front will approach and provide ample chances for scattered showers and perhaps even a rumble or two of thunder. Severe weather is not expected but some brief locally heavy rainfall is possible. In addition, its a breezy day on the way, with occasional wind gusts approaching 25 mph possible, with highs in the mid 60s. Expect wet roads particularly by the evening, with rain chances increasing in coverage throughout the day, especially after the mid-afternoon.

Wednesday sees our approaching cold front from Tuesday stall out to our west with a new area of low pressure riding along it to our southwest. With a stout southwesterly breeze in place advecting warm and moist air into the region, rounds of showers will be a good bet. In addition, these showers will be efficient rainfall producers, resulting in the potential for locally heavy rainfall. High temperatures will reach close to 70 degrees in many location.

Thursday provides our next chance for severe weather, as a stout low pressure system rides up and into the Ohio River Valley along our aforementioned stalled front. Similarly to last week, though we wont have a lot of instability in our atmosphere, there will be plenty of wind shear to provide the risk for damaging wind gusts and perhaps an isolated tornado, though the intensity of severe weather and the robustness of the atmosphere are not expected to be quite as intense as last weeks severe weather. Nevertheless, its a threat we are watching closely. Any rain that falls will have the potential to drop locally heavy rainfall, which will give us a threat for high water to watch as well. The best chance for severe weather will be during the late afternoon. High temperatures will jump into the low 70s. Even without storms, windy conditions are expected, with wind gusts in excess of 40 mph possible.

Friday sees our cold front finally cross the region but behind that front will be much colder air and a northwesterly breeze. So, similar to last week, a northwest flow will enable showers to hang around, along with low clouds. Itll still be a breezy day, and we will see high temperatures about 20 degrees cooler, as they struggle to reach 50 degrees.

Saturday gives our mountain counties the risk for an isolated shower early but well see clearing skies with high pressure taking control. We will see our temperatures respond as well, with highs in the upper 50s.

Sunday begins on a dry note but by the afternoon, a warm front will cross which will give us the chance for a few showers. There should be plenty of dry time and it will be very warm, with highs near 70 once again.

A tick removal kit should be a staple in your house this spring

Monday provides the risk for an isolated shower or two with a weak front nearby but we should see plenty of dry time once again with highs in the low 70s.

Looking ahead, we will see a much warmer pattern continue  our pattern will also turn much drier and less active with high pressure in control. High temperatures on Tuesday will jump into the mid 70s with mostly sunny skies. A few showers return with a weak front Wednesday into Thursday but there should be plenty of dry time and its still going to be very warm, with highs in the 70s.

Vegetables to plant in spring

Help us with our growing community of weather photos with #weathertogether. Head to our website and search for the Weather together tab and upload your photos of weather going on around our region. Sunday also looks very nice with plenty of sun and highs in the 60s.

We are in spring forest fire season in West Virginia  this means dont burn between 7 AM and 5 PM through May 31st. Low humidity values during the daytime, along with breezier and warmer conditions will at times increase the fire threat, hence the burn ban during most of the daytime. Follow all regulations or be faced with potential consequences, such as fines! In Virginia, the spring fire season continues through April 30th  dont burn before 4 PM.

TONIGHT

Few showers, plenty of dry time. Mild. Lows in the low 50s.

TUESDAY

Rain showers likely, primarily in the afternoon. Breezy. Highs in the mid 60s.

WEDNESDAY

Showers likely, especially early. Highs in the mid to upper 60s.

THURSDAY

Showers and thunderstorms likely. A few storms could be severe. Windy. Highs around 70.

FRIDAY

Scattered showers likely. Mostly cloudy and cooler. Highs around 50.

SATURDAY

Isolated shower early. Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 50s.

SUNDAY

Partly sunny to begin with, showers in the afternoon. Highs near 70.

MONDAY

Isolated sprinkle or two. Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 70s.

TUESDAY

Mostly sunny. Warm! Highs in the 70s.

WEDNESDAY

Few showers. Highs in the 70s.

THURSDAY

Few showers. Highs in the 70s.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
Insights into Accenture PLC's Upcoming Dividend and Financial Health

Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN) recently announced a dividend of $1.29 per share, payable on 2024-05-15, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-04-10. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into Accenture PLC's dividend performance and assess its sustainability.

What Does Accenture PLC Do?

Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Sign with ACN.

High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio

This Powerful Chart Made Peter Lynch 29% A Year For 13 Years

How to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock?

Accenture is a leading global IT-services firm that provides consulting, strategy, and technology and operational services. These services run the gamut from aiding enterprises with digital transformation to procurement services to software system integration. The company provides its IT offerings to a variety of sectors, including communications, media and technology, financial services, health and public services, consumer products, and resources. Accenture employs just under 500,000 people throughout 200 cities in 51 countries.

Accenture PLC's Dividend Analysis

A Glimpse at Accenture PLC's Dividend History

Accenture PLC has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2005, with dividends distributed on a quarterly basis. Accenture PLC has increased its dividend each year since 2011, earning its status as a dividend achievera title awarded to companies that have increased their dividend annually for at least the past 13 years. Below is a chart showing the annual Dividends Per Share to track historical trends.

Breaking Down Accenture PLC's Dividend Yield and Growth

As of today, Accenture PLC currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.46% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 1.56%. This suggests an expectation of increased dividend payments over the next 12 months. Over the past three years, Accenture PLC's annual dividend growth rate was 11.90%. When extended to a five-year horizon, this rate decreased to 10.70% per year. And over the past decade, Accenture PLC's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at an impressive 10.10%.

Based on Accenture PLC's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Accenture PLC stock as of today is approximately 2.43%.

Accenture PLC's Dividend Analysis

The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability

To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2024-02-29, Accenture PLC's dividend payout ratio is 0.40.

Story continues

Accenture PLC's profitability rank of 10 out of 10 as of 2024-02-29, suggests good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each of the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability.

Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook

Ensuring the sustainability of dividends requires robust growth metrics. Accenture PLC's growth rank of 10 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is favorable relative to its competitors. Accenture PLC's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model, with an average annual increase of approximately 13.60%, outperforming about 62.25% of global competitors.

The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, critical for sustaining dividends in the long run, with an average annual increase of approximately 16.10%, outperforming about 58.9% of global competitors. Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of 13.30%, outperforms about 53.39% of global competitors.

Engaging Conclusion

Accenture PLC's consistent dividend payments, robust dividend growth rate, prudent payout ratio, and strong profitability and growth metrics paint a picture of a financially healthy company committed to rewarding its shareholders. As investors consider the upcoming dividend and the company's financial health, they may find reassurance in Accenture PLC's ability to maintain and potentially increase its dividends in the future. With a blend of steady performance and strategic growth, Accenture PLC remains an attractive consideration for dividend-seeking investors.

GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield Screener.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has charged a man with misdemeanor street takeover, an arrest warrant shows.

Its the first time Channel 9 has learned about someone being charged after a new law made street takeovers illegal in North Carolina.

PREVIOUS: Gov. Cooper signs bill that creates stiff penalties for street takeovers in NC

Gov. Roy Cooper signed the bill last year. Under the new law, drivers can be charged with a misdemeanor and a fine of more than $1,000. There are stricter penalties for repeat offenders within a two-year period.

Those who coordinate or participate in street stunts could also face misdemeanor charges. Their vehicles could also be taken away.

According to an arrest warrant issued Sunday, Joseph Angelo Didonato is accused of a street takeover. The police report for the incident says he was seen on camera performing stunts around 3 p.m. on South Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte. Motorcycles were also involved, the report says.

Didonato was arrested on Monday, the warrant shows.

(WATCH BELOW: Law implementing stiffer penalties for street takeovers takes effect)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) recently suggested international offices could find Israels bombardment of Gaza constitutes as genocide in the enclave.

The Massachusetts Democrat was delivering remarks last Friday at the Islamic Center of Boston in Wayland, Mass. when an audience member asked for her opinion on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) January ruling that found it is plausible that Israel is committing genocide in its war with Hamas in Gaza.

So I think that whats happening now is theres going to be a long and involved debate over what constitutes genocide, when you ask a legal question. For me, it is far more important to say what Israel is doing is wrong. And it is wrong, per her spokesperson.

Further pressed on if Israel is committing genocide, she said, If you want to do it as an application of law, I believe that theyll find that it is genocide, and they have ample evidence to do so.

Warrens comments were originally videotaped and posted to X by a GBH News reporter and were later confirmed by her office to The Hill.

Senator Warren believes that Prime Minister Netanyahu and his right-wing war cabinet have created a massive humanitarian disaster in Gaza and have not taken reasonable steps to protect civilians, Warrens spokesperson told The Hill.

The ICJ, the top United Nations judicial body, ruled in January that Israel must do more to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip but did not issue an order demanding a cease-fire in the strip.

More than 33,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since early October, when Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise assault on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and capturing about 250 others.

During her remarks, Warren said people need to think past a labels argument.

For me, it is far more important to say what Israel is doing is wrong. And it is wrong. It is wrong to starve children within a civilian population in order to try to bend to your will, it is wrong to drop 2000-pound bombs, in densely populated civilian areas, she said. I think I can make a more effective argument by describing the behavior that is happening.

Warren has recently ramped up her criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israels wartime campaign and said last week she would move to block the sale of F-15s to Israel after six aid workers and their driver were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A suspected shoplifter allegedly rammed a police car in the parking lot of a Walmart in Warrenton Sunday night, prompting police to fire their guns.

The incident at the Walmart at 1791 SE Ensign Lane began when police were called about the in-progress theft. The suspect, later identified as Sean E. Mobley, left the store and got into a car. As he tried to get away, Mobley hit multiple things, including a Warrenton police car, Chief Mathew Workman said in a release

(Courtesy: Frederick Causer Jr.)

(Courtesy: Frederick Causer Jr.)

(Courtesy: Frederick Causer Jr.)

(Courtesy: Frederick Causer Jr.)

(Courtesy: Frederick Causer Jr.)

Officers at the scene fired shots but did not hit anyone. Workman said the officers and Mobley each suffered minor injuries during the arrest.

Once Mobley was cleared medically, he was booked into the Clatsop County Jail on nine separate charges, including attempted assault, resisting arrest, reckless endangering and reckless driving.

The 35-year-old Salem resident is currently on post-prison supervision in Marion County, officials said in the release.

The investigation into the entire incident, including the officers firing their weapon, continues by the Clatsop County Major Crime Team under the direction of the Clatsop County DAs Office.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man from Yacolt, Washington pleaded guilty to a federal charge on Friday for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach after authorities found videos of him during the riot, the United States Department of Justice announced.

Authorities said 36-year-old Benjamin Silva pleaded guilty to a felony charge for civil disorder after taking part in pushing against a law enforcement line in the Capitols Lower West Terrace Tunnel where some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement on January 6th occurred.

According to court documents, around 3 p.m. on Jan. 6, Silva made his way to the front of the crowd and joined others moving back and forth in a heave-ho effort' to apply force against the police line that was guarding the entrance to the Capitol.

Teachers find fossils of extinct hippo-like mammals on the Oregon Coast

In April 2021, authorities identified Silva in a YouTube video showing the tunnel during the Capitol breach.

They also found a video filmed by one of the protesters who was filming the Capitol breach. The video appeared to show Silva leaving the front of the crowd after getting pepper sprayed, according to court documents. Silva identified himself in the video after the person filming asked who he is and where he is from, court documents said.

In July of 2021, FBI agents searched Silvas home and found what appeared to be the same jacket, gaiter, and beanie he wore in the videos from Jan. 6, according to court documents.

3 Oregonians make Forbes list of The Richest People in the World

Silva was arrested July 25, 2023, in Portland, Oregon, officials said, noting he will be sentenced Sept. 17, 2024.

In the more than three years since the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, more than 1,350 people have been charged in almost all 50 states for their role in the breach, including more than 480 people charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, according to the U.S. DOJ.

Anyone with additional information on the Capitol breach is asked to contact the FBI.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Tory MP William Wragg admitted he sent the phone numbers of colleagues to a Grindr contact - William Wragg

Scotland Yard has been contacted by a man whose photos were allegedly stolen by the Westminster honeytrapper targeting MPs.

The man went to police after four images from his Facebook account were used as profile pictures by someone calling themselves Charlie, Politico has reported.

Around 20 Westminster figures, including three MPs, have been targeted by online profiles with the aliases Charlie or Abi, which have sent flirtatious messages and in some cases explicit photos.

The photographs, seen by The Telegraph, were taken from a mans social media profiles and appear to date from his school days and early years of university.

The man, who The Telegraph has chosen not to name, deleted his social media profiles shortly after he was contacted about the photographs on Tuesday. The images were later censored and published online by The Times.

Leicestershire Police and the Metropolitan Police have launched investigations into the scandal, and Downing Street has urged affected MPs to contact the police.

On Tuesday, a Scotland Yard spokesperson said: Officers from the Mets Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command are carrying out an investigation following reports that a number of unsolicited messages were sent to MPs over recent months.

We are working closely with other forces and are in contact with colleagues in parliamentary security, who are providing support and advice around anyone affected.

Recommended

Westminster honeytrap messages revealed

Read more

A Labour MP and party staffers have also told the Times they were messaged on Grindr by a profile using the same photographs as Charlie and going by the user name M-xl.

The fake profile was said to have used a photograph of a young man wearing a Levis T-shirt and asked alleged targets whether they had slept with journalists and MPs before bragging about having had sex with prominent political figures. There is no suggestion any of the claims made by the profile are true.

William Wragg, the Tory MP for Hazel Grove, quit the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers on Monday after admitting he responded to messages on Grindr, the gay dating app, before sending on the phone numbers of parliamentary colleagues, who were subsequently targeted.

However, a former spy chief claimed on Tuesday the scandal would not do serious damage to national security.

Ciaran Martin, a previous chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, downplayed the scale of the threat and said he did not think a foreign state was behind the attacks.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I doubt the security services are panicking about this This is a backbench MP, albeit a senior one, a chair of a select committee, but not somebody with access to very sensitive information.

And so far as we know  he did disclose the numbers of other MPs, and some of them are understandably furious about that. But that in and of itself will not be a cause of serious national security harm.

Mr Martin downplayed the scale of the threat - John Lawrence for The Telegraph

Mr Martin went on to argue that capable nation states had already obtained the numbers of any and every MP, or could acquire them quite easily.

Asked whether the honeytrap was the work of a foreign state, he said: Well it might be, but one of the things the Government has developed, I think rightly over the years, is what they call in the jargon an attribution framework.

And [that means] you have to have a high degree of technical confidence  you dont just throw allegations around against other states without some serious technical proof.

And in terms of foreign state cyber attacks  Russia, China, Iran, North Korea being the four most common over the last 25 years  we have developed a detailed knowledge of their tradecraft, what their code looks like and so forth, and that doesnt apply here.

The suspected honeytrapper is also believed to have targeted the Liberal Democrats annual gathering, which was held in Bournemouth a fortnight before the Labour conference.

A spokesman for the Liberal Democrats said it was deeply disturbing individuals were being targeted and urged anybody affected to contact the police. Labour was contacted for comment.

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.
President Bidens national security adviser rebuked Ecuadors government from the White House podium and said that it was clear the country had violated international law with a raid on Mexicos embassy in Quito.

Ecuadorian police stormed the facility last Friday with the intention of arresting ex-Vice President Jorge Glas, who was seeking political asylum in Mexico. The former Ecuadorian official has been convicted twice on bribery charges he says are politically motivated. Mr Glas was detained and taken away by police during the raid.

Jake Sullivan told reporters on Tuesday that the Ecuadorian government had disregarded its obligations under international law as a host state to respect the inviolability of diplomatic missions and had jeopardised the foundation of basic diplomatic norms and relationships.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan speaks to reporters at the 9 April daily press briefing (Getty Images)

Having reviewed security footage of the incident released by Mexican authorities earlier on Tuesday, Mr Sullivan added that the actions of Ecuadorian police were wrong.

Weve asked Ecuador to work with Mexico to find a resolution to this diplomatic dispute, and to that end, we welcome the Organization of American Statess permanent council meeting this week to help reach a peaceful, diplomatic solution.

Mexican officials have said that an unspecified number of diplomatic staffers were injured during the raid by Ecuadorian police. Embassy grounds are rarely breached by the law enforcement agencies of host countries, which is typically considered to be a violation of the Vienna Convention. Roberto Canseco, Mexicos head of consular affairs, was present for the raid and attempted to resist the entry of police as they stormed the building  he was detained and allegedly held to the ground during the operation.

Ecuadors government claims that the Mexican offer of asylum to Mr Glas was illegal and did not follow proper international procedures.

The president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, called the raid a flagrant violation of international law and the sovereignty of Mexico and has ended formal diplomatic ties with Ecuador over the incident.

I have instructed our chancellor to issue a statement regarding this authoritarian act, proceed legally and immediately declare the suspension of diplomatic relations with the government of Mexico, the Mexican president said.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will hold a media briefing alongside national security adviser Jake Sullivan Tuesday afternoon.

The White House is facing a reconvening Congress that is still divided on how, or even if, aid to Ukraine will continue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced Sunday what he sees as a stark reality: His countrys fight against the Russian invasion hinges on U.S. support.

He doubled down on that sentiment Tuesday.

President Biden, who spoke about the care economy earlier, is also expected to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ahead of a state dinner planned for Wednesday evening.

Jean-Pierre is scheduled to begin the briefing at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

Watch the live video above.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Reuters) - The United States condemned on Tuesday Ecuador's use of force against embassy officials after its police and soldiers raided Mexico's embassy last week to arrest former Vice President Jorge Glas.

The U.S. has reviewed security camera footage from Mexico's embassy and believes Ecuador's actions were wrong, said U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan, adding it was a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Washington has asked Ecuador to work with Mexico to find a resolution to the diplomatic dispute, Sullivan said.

"The Ecuadorian government disregarded its obligations under international law as a host state to respect the inviolability of diplomatic missions and jeopardizes the foundation of basic diplomatic norms and relationships," Sullivan said.

Glas had for months taken refuge in Mexico's embassy in Quito, and Mexican officials had offered him formal asylum protection.

Ecuador argued it was unlawful to grant asylum to Glas, who had been convicted twice on graft charges.

(Reporting by Stephanie Kelly; Editing by Chris Reese and by Sandra Maler)
Editors note: This article is part of a Dispatch debate series. Kevin Carroll made the case for reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Acts Section 702.

This week, the House of Representatives is set to vote on whether to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which will expire on April 19 unless renewed by Congress. This controversial law is unique, but the ways intelligence agencies have abused it to violate Americans civil liberties are not. The solution to this problem is familiar, too: Congress must not renew Section 702 without protecting Americans Fourth Amendment rights by requiring the government to get a warrant before reviewing Americans private communications.

How section 702 is abused to spy on Americans.

Enacted shortly after 9/11, Section 702 allows intelligence agencies to collect the phone calls, emails, text messages, and other communications of almost any non-American located outside of the United States without a warrant. Agencies such as the CIA and NSA must ensure that a significant purpose of the collection is to acquire foreign intelligence, a term FISA defines expansively to include any information that merely relates to the conduct of foreign affairs. Otherwise, they face no substantive restrictions. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) approves the general rules governing surveillance, but it has no role in approving individual targets.

Section 702 authorizes warrantless surveillance to be targeted only at non-Americans abroad, but Americans communications are inevitably captured too. The reason is simple: We talk to family, friends, and colleagues who are located abroad, generally for entirely innocent reasons. Recognizing this reality, Congress directed intelligence agencies to minimize the retention and use of Americans information collected under Section 702. Yet, despite this clear mandate, officials from the FBI, CIA, NSA, and National Counterterrorism Center perform more than 200,000 warrantless backdoor searches every year to find and review Americans private phone calls, text messages, and emails.

Lax rules adopted by agencies allow intelligence officials to perform backdoor searches whenever they have reason to believe the query will return foreign intelligence (or, for the FBI, evidence of a crime). Given FISAs capacious definition of foreign intelligence, this low bar should be easy to clear, but officials have repeatedly stumbled over it. Government reports indicate that in 2022, the FBI performed close to 4,000 backdoor searches that violated even its own permissive rules. In another recent one-year period, the FBI violated the rules governing searches of FISA databases 278,000 times.

These violations include alarming abuses. Among many other examples, the government has performed baseless searches for the communications of members of Congress, journalists, and 19,000 donors to a congressional campaign. The FBI has performed tens of thousands of unlawful searches related to civil unrest, including searches targeting 141 people protesting the murder of George Floyd and more than 20,000 people affiliated with a group suspected of involvement in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Most recentlyand despite procedural changes implemented by the FBI to stem abusesFBI agents performed improper searches for the private communications of a U.S. senator, a state senator, and a state court judge who reported alleged civil rights violations by a police chief to the FBI.

Outraged by these abuses, many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have vowed not to reauthorize the law without significant reforms. The key reform under consideration is to require the government to obtain a warrant before examining Americans private communications captured through Section 702 surveillance. After all, under the Fourth Amendment, these communications can be obtained without a warrant only because the government is targeting foreigners abroad for surveillance. Backdoor searches, though, are intended specifically to find Americans communications. Recent polling from YouGov shows that more than 75 percent of Americans favor this measure.

The government argues that warrantless searches are necessary for national security. But according to an exhaustive review of Section 702 recently undertaken by the independent Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, the government has provided little justification  on the relative value of the close to 5 million [backdoor] searches conducted by the FBI from 2019 to 2022. In the few instances in which backdoor searches proved useful, Board Chair Sharon Bradford Franklin observed that the government either would have been able to get a warrant or could have invoked one of the standard exceptions to the warrant requirement. A warrant requirement would thus protect Americans Fourth Amendment rights while ensuring that intelligence agencies retain the tools they need to obtain critical foreign intelligence.

History repeats itself.

There is nothing novel or radical about this proposed reform. To the contrary, warrantless searches for Americans communications are flagrantly inconsistent with longstanding constitutional values. Moreover, the abuses that backdoor searches have enabled mirror those that have historically occurred when those values are not honored.

The Fourth Amendment recognizes the sanctity of Americans private communications. Beginning in the 1960s, the Supreme Court held that the government needed a warrant, not just to seize a persons papers, but to surveil phone calls in criminal and domestic national security investigations. But the court did not settle whether a warrant is needed to conduct foreign intelligence surveillance, meaning surveillance of Americans intended to uncover the activities of foreign powers or their agents.

A decade later, Congress answered that question. Congressional investigations by the Church and Pike Committees revealed in 1976 that the FBI, CIA, and NSA had illegally spied on civil rights and anti-war advocates for decades based on tenuous claims of Soviet influence. Most notoriously, the FBI spied on and attempted to blackmail the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. But King was just one of thousands of people targeted by federal agents, who employed a wide variety of illegal tactics, including: attacks on speaking, teaching, writing and meetings; interference with personal and economic rights; abuse of government processes;  factionalization; [and] propaganda. In response to these egregious abuses, Congress implemented a series of reforms, one of which was the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978.

FISA authorized and strictly regulated foreign intelligence surveillance inside the United States. It was carefully structured to ensure that intelligence agencies had the tools they needed to counter foreign threats without violating Americans Fourth Amendment rights. Under the law, if the government wanted to engage in domestic collection of Americans communicationsincluding their communications with foreign targetsit would have to get a court order, similar to a criminal warrant, from the newly created Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

This system worked for a time. But after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, President George W. Bushs administration wanted to collect communications of suspected foreign terrorists, including their communications with Americans, and it did not want to wait for FISC approval before doing so. So, it didnt. In violation of FISA, the NSA began a massive, warrantless electronic surveillance program that collected large numbers of Americans international communications. It was not until this program was revealed by the New York Times that the Bush administration went to Congress seeking legislative approval for the spying.

Ultimately, Congress acceded. The result was the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, of which Section 702 was a key component. As noted, Section 702 allows the government to collect foreign targets communications without a warrant, even if they may be communicating with Americans. But Congress never intended or envisioned that this would lead to literally millions of warrantless backdoor searches for Americans communications collected for foreign intelligence purposes. This undermines both the Fourth Amendment and the principle underlying FISA itself. And it is no surprise that we are again seeing the types of abuses that predatedand promptedFISAs enactment.

The need for safeguards moving forward.

With Section 702 set to expire on April 19, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has scheduled a vote this week in the House on the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act. Despite its name, the bill is not a serious reform proposal. Among many other defects, the bill does not contain a warrant requirement for backdoor searches. And the modifications it does make, such as codifying the FBIs recent internal rule changes, would do nothing to prevent the intelligence agencies pervasive abuses of Americans Fourth Amendment rights under Section 702. So it is critical that members amend this bill to include the necessary safeguards for Americans rights.

A warrant requirement for backdoor searches is not the only surveillance reform that would improve the bill. Congress should close other legal loopholes that intelligence agencies exploit to gain warrantless access to Americans Fourth Amendment-protected information, such as by purchasing it from commercial data brokers. But a warrant requirement is a necessary part of ending the flagrant abuses of Americans Fourth Amendment rights that are regularly perpetrated in the name of foreign intelligence.

When Congress learned in the 1970s that intelligence agencies had repeatedly abused their authority by spying on Americans without a warrant, it enacted FISA to close the gaps in the law those agencies had exploited. Today, Congress knows that intelligence agencies have repeatedly abused their authority by spying on Americans without a warrant, exploiting legal loopholes that allow them to do so. The solution now is the same as it was then: If intelligence agencies want access to Americans private communications, they must first get a warrant.

Read more at The Dispatch

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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the 47th March For Life rally on the National Mall, January 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. Credit - Mark Wilson/Getty Images

This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox.

It was a moment some on the right had long suspected would come but many rank-and-file members refused to admit was possible: their champion against abortion rights, Donald Trump, would go wobbly.

The formerand perhaps futurePresident this week declined to endorse a federal ban on abortion. Instead, the presumptive Republican nominee said it should remain up to the states to negotiate an inconsistent landscape when it comes to when pregnancies can be terminated. The New York mogul notably didnt back a federal 15-week ban on abortions, which GOP leaders like Sen. Lindsey Graham and Trumps former counselor Kellyanne Conway support, showing that Trumps dominance over the GOP does not always translate to an easy marriage of ideas or ideology. (As President, Trump supported a 20-week federal ban, although his hard lines on abortion rights were incredibly fluid.)

The rage from his anti-abortion base came immediately, but its not entirely clear if there will be any electoral consequences for Trump. There is no conservative alternative to his candidacy, and President Joe Biden has made restoring the federal right to an abortion protected for a half century via Roe v. Wade a campaign promise.

Put simply: Trump shifted his position in a way that will anger his right flank that has nowhere else to go and could soften Democrats grip on the female vote. The move may be as insincere as it is smart.

Conservative lawmakers and leaders alike were hardly shy about their frustrations.

"I respectfully disagree with President Trumps statement that abortion is a states rights issue," said Graham, a South Carolina perma-apologist for Trumpism. I will continue to advocate that there should be a national minimum standard limiting abortion at [15] weeks because the child is capable of feeling pain, with exceptions for rape, incest[,] and life of the mother.

Responded Trump: "Many Good Republicans lost Elections because of this Issue, and people like Lindsey Graham, that are unrelenting, are handing Democrats their dream of the House, Senate, and perhaps even the Presidency. As is his nature, Trump didnt show any sign of contrition. If anything, he actually revealed something more significant: he made it clear his choice was about politics, not principles.

Conservatives have made this bargain with Trump before. In 2015, he basically promised religious leaders that he would outsource his nominations for judges to conservatives who have spent a generation preparing for the end of Roe. In turn, religious leadersespecially when it became apparent Trump was heading toward the Republican nominationrallied behind the thrice-married alleged adulterer who in the weeks before the 2016 votes were cast allegedly used a fixer to pay off a porn star.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, a devout Christian who joined the Trump campaign as its fig leaf to the religious bloc of voters, expressed frustration with Trumps new position this week. However much our Republican nominee or other candidates seek to marginalize the cause of life, I know pro-life Americans will never relent until we see the sanctity of life restored to the center of American law in every state in this country, he said.

And Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, the anti-abortion rights group that advised many in the Trump orbit over the years, similarly slammed the switch. Its leader, Marjorie Dannenfelser, blamed Trumps consultants for missing the partys base. But SBA Pro-Life America nonetheless repeated its pledge to help Republicans retake power, joining other groups like Students for Life, the Faith and Freedom Coalition, the Family Research Council, National Right to Life, and CatholicVote.

While there can be some sincere outrage over Trumps callous flip-flop in an election year, most of the feigned shock is for show. As one friendformer TIME correspondent Elizabeth Diaswrote in 2016, religious conservatives made their bet: Trump would be a vessel for their ambitions. (Dias and another former campaign trail pal of mine, Lisa Lerer, will unpack all of this in their new book out in June about the fall of Roe from their perches in The New York Times Washington bureau.)

It is important to be honest right now. Conservatives, especially in the self-described pro-life wing of politics, have always known Trump was using them just as much as they were playing with him. It was an unnatural alliance between a playboy and pastors, but it served their needs to give Trump power. Now, firmly atop that MAGA machine, Trump does not need the anti-abortion activists as much. He can take themand their votes and dollarsfor granted because he knows this truth: Where else are they going to go? It may be crass, but Trump is reading the battlefield accurately.

Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter.

Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com.
Saudi Arabian Military Industries has announced that one of its key units, SAMI Navantia Naval Industries, has launched the Naval Systems Integration and Development Center of Excellence (NSID) at the companys headquarters in Riyadh.

The centre marks a significant milestone in SAMI Navantias contribution to achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, said a statement from SAMI.

It aims to enhance capabilities efficiently, provide advanced technologies and introduce modern approaches to meet the requirements of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.

To ensure the centre performs its mission effectively, SAMI Navantia, with support from SAMI, has invested in computer equipment and programmes, it stated.

Speaking on the occasion, Commander of Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Ghofaily, said the centre marks a significant milestone in SAMI Navantias contribution to achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

It aims to enhance capabilities efficiently, provide advanced technologies and introduce modern approaches to meet the requirements of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, stated Al Ghofaily during the inauguration ceremony which was attended by senior executives from SAMI and Navantia.

According to him, the company has also established clear procedures and policies that reaffirm its commitment to delivering the best products to serve the naval forces and solidify its position as a leading company in naval systems industries.

The centre seeks to integrate and develop naval systems with high-performance software and enhance local expertise, achieving naval forces independence by providing qualitative capabilities such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and unmanned vehicle integration, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
BEIJING and TEL AVIV, Israel, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ADAMA Ltd. (SZSE 000553), a leading crop protection company, has announced the launch of Maxentis, a new versatile fungicide that delivers reliable control over a broad range of diseases in wheat, barley, and oilseed rape, to increase yields and improve income.

Adama_Agricultural_Solutions_Logo

Maxentis delivers dependable control of Septoria, Yellow Rust, and Brown Rust in wheat; Leaf Blotch, Net Blotch, and Rust in barley; and Sclerotinia and Alternaria in OSR, helping bring peace of mind to farmers while simplifying and reducing the expense of their spray programs. In high potential wheat areas Maxentis can be used as a T1 application in a spray program with other fungicides, or as a standalone T1 or T2 broad spectrum product in lower-potential areas. The non-SDHI formulation makes it an excellent partner for spraying programs, allowing farmers the flexibility to use an SDHI combination at the critical flag leaf stage of the wheat.

Two modes of action are combined to enhance the impact of Maxentis. This means that fungal diseases are controlled across multiple growth stages of the disease, resulting in greater efficacy and healthier crops.

Maxentis improves yields, while the ability to control numerous diseases in multiple crops with a single product increases convenience, reduces complexity and lowers costs, resulting in increased income for farmers.

"Farmers across Europe expressed a need for more versatile, broad label products that can serve multiple crops and combat a range of diseases, without requiring them to juggle a complicated mix of products," says Alex Mills, Global Head of Fungicides at ADAMA. "We responded with the value innovation that is an integral part of ADAMA. Maxentis delivers dependable control of the most important diseases in wheat, barley, and OSR, in a single convenient product that's ready to go when you are. Thanks to its flexibility and reliability, farmers can produce higher yields with less stress."

Maxentis is part of ADAMA's new European cereal fungicide portfolio, which it began rolling out in 2023. Launches will continue across the continent, UK, and Ireland throughout 2024.

About ADAMA

ADAMA Ltd. is a global leader in crop protection, providing practical solutions to farmers across the world to combat weeds, insects and disease. Our culture empowers ADAMA's people to actively listen to farmers and ideate from the field. ADAMA's diverse portfolio of existing active ingredients, coupled with its leading formulation capabilities and proprietary formulation technology platforms, uniquely position the company to develop high-quality, innovative and sustainable products, to address the many challenges farmers and customers face today. ADAMA serves customers in over 100 countries globally. For more information, visit us at www.ADAMA.com and follow us on Twitter at @ADAMAAgri.

Story continues

ADAMA Contact:

Tal Moise

Public Relations

Email: pr@adama.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/799829/Adama_Agricultural_Solutions_Logo.jpg

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/adama-launches-new-multi-crop-broad-spectrum-fungicide-maxentis-for-improved-disease-control-and-increased-yield-302111592.html

SOURCE ADAMA Ltd.
Why one Sacramento high school has HHS chief confident in the future of health care workforce

At Rio Americano High School, dozens of students like sophomores Liliana Lettini and Derek Gale are training to get certified as medical students upon graduation.

Its programs like these that U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said are preparing young people for jobs in health care.

We want in if youre going to start giving young folks, before they graduate from high school, a sense of leadership, a sense of belonging, a sense of worth and professionalism, he said. We want it because we know that, in America, were lacking all those young professionals.

Becerra, a Sacramento native and C.K. McClatchy High School graduate, held a listening session alongside U.S. Rep. Ami Bera, D-Elk Grove, at Rio Americano in Arden Arcade. While most of the students said they plan to go on to become physicians, Bera told the students he worked to support himself as he earned his medical degree. Students can earn $25 an hour or more as medical assistants, he said, as they continue along the educational pathway needed to attain the career they want.

After their Monday meeting at the high school, Bera and Becerra said they heard a refrain that is common nationwide: Many students want to go into nursing or become a physician, but there just arent enough slots open at colleges for them. The colleges, in turn, say they cant find enough health systems to provide the training hours in hospitals, clinics or other similar settings that students require to graduate.

Becerra said that colleges have told them that the crucial element here is that they have found it virtually impossible to compete for instructors.

Wed like to make it so that perhaps we can subsidize a university or community college holding onto that professional faculty member, Becerra said.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, center, talks with students from Rio Americano High School with Congressman Ami Bera, left, during a visit to the Sacramento region on Monday to highlight his departments efforts to expand the health care workforce.

A pathway for nurses to be educators

Health care companies also need more nurses in the field willing to serve as educators, or preceptors, when students arrive in clinical settings for training. Despite the relationships that educators build with students in college, it can be difficult to find enough nurses willing to take on the added responsibility and workload of this commitment.

Michael Korpiel, the Sacramento market president for Dignity Health, said that his company works with every one of the universities in the area to get as many students in as possible but theres certainly a need for more preceptors.

He highlighted the work that Carmichaels Mercy San Juan Hospital has done with Los Rios Community College District to ensure there are enough external internship, or externship, spaces for students training to become licensed vocational nurses, who play a key role in caring for the nations growing elderly population.

We have to be creative and explore new things in order to train more nurses, he said.

In some areas of California, the number of nurse-educators is not the only challenge. The latest survey of nursing program administrators showed that 92 out of 152, particularly those at community college and state university programs, say in annual surveys that they are being denied access to clinical placements for their nursing students even as for-profit colleges are securing additional slots.

In the meantime, they say, nursing programs at for-profit colleges are making requests to the California Board of Registered Nursing to expand enrollment numbers because they have secured more than enough clinical placements for the added students.

Fatema Adel, a Rio Americano student in the medical assistant pathway program, passes out papers on Monday before U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra speaks with students from Rio Americano High School during a visit to the Sacramento region to highlight his departments efforts to expand the health care workforce.

State aims to level playing field in nurse training

The dearth of clinical slots raised enough concern that state Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, recently introduced new legislation, Senate Bill 1015, to give the nursing board greater authority to monitor, investigate and enforce the statutory prohibition against approved nursing schools from paying a clinical facility in exchange for clinical placements.

Regardless of what is causing the shortage of medical assistants, nurses, x-ray technicians and other health care workers, Bera said, representatives of major Sacramento-area health systems have come to him seeking assistance in solving it.

Both rural and low-income communities have the greatest need for these workers, Becerra and Bera said, and the best shot at overcoming labor shortages in those areas is to educate young people who grew up in them.

HHS Health Workforce Initiative is focused on federal investments to support individuals across health workforce disciplines. It includes a coordinated effort to identify opportunities to improve health workforce recruitment, retention, and career advancement.

How HHS has worked to increase number of health care workers

Becerra said that HHS has been focusing on ways to invest federal dollars to support individuals dedicated to improving the nations health and well-being, including physicians, nurses, dentists, behavioral health care providers, community health workers and peer support specialists.

The agency has helped many young people pay for college, he said, but it is also working to identify opportunities to improve health workforce recruitment, retention and career advancement.

Roughly 18,000 doctors are practicing now who received either scholarships from a federal agency or some sort of loan forgiveness, he said, and in exchange, many have agreed to practice for a set number of years in areas of the nations greatest need.

While the nation can feel good about this investment, he said, the Association of American Medical Colleges has estimated that the United States will face a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036. The U.S. also faces a shortfall of roughly 60,000 workers in the dental field, he said.

When you see an opportunity to support a program that is bringing young folks in quickly, in good numbers, you want to be there, Becerra said, referring to Rio Americanos medical assistant program.

Roughly 95% of students in the high schools medical assistant program have passed the certified medical assistant exam. Thats no small feat when you consider that, from July 2021 to July 2022, only 58% of the 9,047 people who sat for the exam scored high enough to pass.

The idea is to create a pathway for young people like the students at Rio Americano where they can get college credit in high school, get their foot in the door with their medical assistant certification and use that job to help support themselves as they pursue education and training to move into better-paying fields in health care.
TechCrunch

The data center industry is expanding rapidly to keep up with the flywheel growth of AI. While these data centers are necessary AI infrastructure, they store an AI company's compute, they are expensive to build, seemingly more so to run, and they are a huge energy suck. Startups are looking to make data centers more efficient and sustainable, but it isn't that simple.
KYIVVitaly Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv and former heavyweight champion of the world, wont stand for any of the scaremongering that is sweeping through Europe. Many fear that the election of President Donald Trump would be a death knell for Ukrainian independence but Klitschko believes Trump would back them against President Vladimir Putin.

The ex-boxer has held meetings with senior Republicans, including Sen. Tom Cotton and Sen. Lindsey Graham, in Washington, D.C., and in Kyiv as Ukraine tries to work out how to survive until the U.S. election season is over.

There is absolute certainty in Kyiv that Putin will make a second attempt to conquer the Ukrainian capital before the election is held in November. President Volodymyr Zelenskys inner circle expects Russia to take advantage of the key months when the focus in D.C. is almost entirely on domestic politics.

The upcoming elections also cast a shadow over congressional negotiations on foreign aid, which have become a political flashpoint. Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has indicated that he will finally attempt to pass a bill with additional funding for Ukraine but he faces vehement opposition from the hard-right faction within his party who align themselves with Trump.

Klitschko, once the worlds best boxer, noted that none of the Republican skeptics had ever dared to raise their concerns to his face. They are afraid of arguing with me, they know the argument would not end well, he told The Daily Beast.

He admits that he is disappointed that the U.S. has allowed Republican intransigence to hold Ukraine a hostage but he believes blue skies are ahead even in a scenario where Trump is returned to the White House with a Republican majority in Congress.

The brightest personalities who won battles with the Soviet dictatorship were Republicans like Ronald Reagan, and later there was John McCain, he said. Today we see that Republicans block the deliveries of weapons to Ukraine; we hear Trumps rhetoricthis is just a result of the election campaign.

Klitschko is steadfast in his belief that the Republican party will throw its weight behind a nation that is trying to fight for political freedom if it sweeps to power in November.

I dont believe that Republicans have changed their political views to go for compromises with Russia regarding double standards of democracy, he said. Every politician today understands the key reason for this war was Ukraines desire to become a part of the European Union.

Victims Say KGB Tactics Unleashed on Media Because Zelensky Was Offended

Trump returning to the White House would certainly alter the dynamics on Capitol Hill, with Marjorie Taylor Greene and the MAGA wing of the Republican party no longer hell-bent on blocking every single thing the president desired, as they have under President Joe Biden.

Republicans will continue to obstruct any and all initiatives in Bidens next administration, including Ukraine aid. Should Trump win though, its just possible that like with Javelins under Obama, which the GOP approved, theyll once again be forced to counter Putins inevitable intransigence on the peace process by continuing with Bidens policy of arming Ukraine, Peter Zalmayev, a top analyst in Kyiv, told The Daily Beast.

He said the major difference under a Trump administration might be demanding a much greater burden-sharing from European allies, which would also be welcomed in Kyiv.

Klitschko is looking forward to showing Trump around Kyiv if he is re-elected president. There are several places where I would definitely take Trump: the first place is the military hospitalTrump should see the young guys starting from age 20 who have lost legs, arms, eyes. It would be necessary to show him Okhmatdyt [the childrens hospital], show him the children who are victims of this war, he said. More than 10,000 civilians have been killed two years of war, including more than 550 children.

I want to show Trump multistory buildings that burnt down to the ground. Families were sleeping tight because most of the bombing takes place around 4, 5 a.m. when people are asleep at home. Russians fire everything they have at us: Tsirkons, Kinzhals, the entire arsenal of ballistic missiles that Russia has already tried out on our capital.

The Ukrainians cannot simply wait for the election period to pass: Every day is a matter of survival, Daria Kaleniuk, who co-founded the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory, told The Daily Beast.

Kaleniuk, who has been part of Ukrainian delegations to D.C., says she has been trying to convince recalcitrant Republicans to act faster but after meetings with Rep. Greene, Sen. Graham and Sen. Roger Marshall among others, she is not as confident as Klitscho.

Its all useless, we cannot wait for this fight to endpartners should not hold you hostage in their political mess, Kaleniuk said. We do hope that Trump helps Ukraine, if he winswe give it a 50 percent chance.

Hryhoriy Nemyria, the first deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Ukraine, is also hoping for a resolution prior to the election.

My understanding is that there is a momentum now for a House deal for Ukraine aid. In this context it is worth reminding all sides involved about the General Douglas MacArthur lesson: The history of failure in war can almost always be summed up in two words: Too late. We need U.S. support urgently: long-range fires, air defense, artillery ammunition, mine-clearing equipment, the highest-tech drones, counter-drone, electronic warfare, counter-electronic warfare, he told The Daily Beast.

Klitschko has one last message for his Republican friends in the U.S.: Putin has not given up his idea, his goal is to conquer Kyiv. The only way for us to push back is to fight, knock their teeth out with the newest weapons. The average guy in Texas should remember the Cuban Missile Crisis and think about us defending democracy here.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A Massachusetts woman who asked for help finding her husband who she claimed had ghosted her and their children has called off the search after receiving literally hundreds of messages in response.

Ashley McGuires call for aid was posted on Facebook earlier this week and then spread to other platforms, with one X thread about her post attracting tens of millions of views. Her post said her husband, a British chef named Charles Withers, had decided when she was pregnant last year that being a husband and a dad wasnt the lifestyle he wanted anymore and he ghosted, like gone without a trace.

He has one baby he hasnt seen in over a year, and one hes never met, McGuires post continued. Hes moved somewhere out of state and changed his phone number.

She said that getting divorced from someone whos completely unreachable is really tough and drawn out, and so she was hoping to track him down in order to get his signature on a few papers so I can finally close this chapter and move on with my life.

McGuire added that shed heard her husband is going by Charlie now and said hes charming AF. Hes a chef and probably working in the hospitality industry somewhere, she wrote. Hes probably never mentioned having a wife or kids back in Massachusetts. If you know him, if youre working with him, if youre dating him or friends with him, can you please have him get in touch with me or let me know where I can find him.

Within a day of McGuires post, several women in a Are We Dating the Same Guy Facebook group in Texas claimed to have matched with Withers on dating apps, according to a TikTok video cited by the New York Post.

In an update, McGuire said the response to her plea had been absolutely insane and said shed gotten MORE than enough information to locate her husband. I have literally hundreds of messages to sort through, some with information and some with support and I appreciate all of them, she wrote. Single moms are a special breed, and I know a lot of you have gone the same situation I have.

McGuire added that she does not wish Withers any type of ill will. I sincerely appreciate all of your support, but please do not make threats, spread hate, or try to go out and locate him, she wrote. Truly I only want to see this situation resolved so me and my children can restart our lives and fix the damage done.

Speaking in an interview with Bostons WJMN radio, McGuire revealed that Withers has contacted her since her post went viral.

He did reach out to me last night, she said Monday. He sent me a text. McGuire said shed been incorrect in her post when she said that hed changed his phone number, saying he still had access to one that shed previously used to contact him.

Hed been ignoring me for a couple of months on it, McGuire said, explaining why she thought it had changed.

She went on to say that her husband said he would be happy to talk and expressed concern about his employer being named online as a possible privacy or security risk.

Radio host Ashlee Feldmanwho is a personal friend of McGuiresalso quoted McGuire as having joked off-air about being so happy for the solar eclipse to distract some of the frenzied public attention away from her family drama.

People can say whatever they want about me, McGuire said. They can think whatever they want about me. But when all the dust settles I will make sure that everyone is taken care of.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Wildfires destroy 1.7m acres of land in first three months of 2024  half of last years total

Wildfires across the United States have destroyed more than 1.7 million acres of land in the first three months of 2024, already more than half of last years total.

Three large, uncontained fires are currently burning in Alabama, Missouri and Florida, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), while wildland firefighters have managed to get 23 other large fires under control this week.

So far this year, there have been 8,433 wildfires in the US, slightly below the 10-year average. However, the number of acres burned is more than triple whats normal, NIFC said. Last year saw a total of 56,580 wildfires across the country, consuming nearly 2.7million acres.

In February, Texas had its largest wildfire in state history, leaving three people dead, and destroying more than a million acres and thousands of cattle.

Late last month, firefighters were faced with dozens of blazes in Virginia including one which ripped across hundreds of acres at Shenandoah National Park. Early March also saw significant fires across the Upper Midwest and areas of the Plains before rainfall intervened  at least for the time being. Towards the end of March, fire activity increased in the central Appalachians with several large fires in West Virginia and Virginia.

Aurora Champion does her part as her parents help a friend whose home was destroyed by the Smokehouse Creek fire on 3rd March 2024 in Stinnett, Texas (Getty Images)

The Independents Global Warning series is telling the stories of people on the front lines of the climate crisis across the US

Fire advisories remain in effect for northwest Texas, western Oklahoma, southwest Kansas, southeastern Colorado and far eastern New Mexico, with firefighters warned to expect extreme to unprecedented fire growth and intensity in these areas.

Federal authorities said that it was just the beginning. Were going to be busy. I couldnt tell you exactly where right now, but we are going to be busy, Alex Robertson, acting director of fire and aviation at the US Forest Service, told The Associated Press.

The wildfire potential outlook for April 2024. Red indicates above normal fire risk and green indicates below normal risk (NIFC)

Over the next three months, forecasters warned that theres significant potential for wildfires in the Midwest, Southwest, Great Lakes region and Hawaii.

There is below-normal risk of fire from southeast Texas to the coast this month but areas of the Florida Peninsula remain under threat. The potential for fire will increase in lower elevations of the southwest into west Texas in May and June, and carry on until July for southern New Mexico, NIFC reported.

Fire risk is elevated for swathes of the northern Great Basin in July, and in dry, south and western areas of Hawaii from May until July. But thanks to a winter with a string of atmospheric rivers and heavy snowfall, there is below-normal chance of fire across most of California for the next three months.

The countrys ongoing wildfire crisis, as one official dubbed it, has been made even more challenging by the fact that federal fire agencies are finding it difficult to recruit staff due to poor pay and benefits.

We simply do not have the staffing to effectively combat these very intense wildfires, Pete Dutchick, who has worked for the US Forest Service for two decades, previously told The Independent.

So its really more about the duty to protect civilians, communities, and natural resources. Until we attach a reasonable value to the skill set that our workforce has, I think as a country, were just missing the mark.

The US Forest Service, which manages millions of acres of national forests, told The Independent on Tuesday that along with other government agencies, it aims to have 11,300 wildland firefighters onboard by mid-July before we approached the busiest part of the fire year. This number can be boosted by other emergency workers with fire management qualifications, the agency said.

Firefighters and emergency responders at the scene of a wildfire in Woodward County, Oklahoma, on Sunday 7 April, 2024 (Chris Pinkston and Jason Lawrence / Vici Fire Department)

Overall, wildfire activity is lasting longer throughout each year and becoming more extreme, occurring earlier in the spring, lasting longer into the fall, and are increasingly intense and complex to manage, a spokesperson said, in an email.

Periods of above normal wildfire activity typically last 75 days longer today than 40 years ago.

The climate crisis is increasing wildfire threats globally by ramping up temperatures which lead to drought conditions. In the US, fire season used to last from around May until October but large, unpredictable blazes now erupt year-round.
Woman, 25, reported missing last seen in east Bakersfield found: police

Update 4/9: Powell has been located as of Tuesday afternoon according to Bakersfield police.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Bakersfield police are asking for help to find a 25-year-old woman reported missing and who was last seen Sunday in East Bakersfield.

Officers are searching for Starr Powell who was last seen around 3 p.m. in the 2300 block of Mount Vernon Avenue, police said.

12-year-old boy reported missing, last seen in SW Bakersfield

Powell is considered at-risk because its the first time she has been reported missing.

Powell is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 100 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue shirt and black pants.

Anyone with information on Powells whereabouts is asked to call the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
Woman, 3 kids hurt after vehicle crashed into telephone pole in Pittsburgh

A woman and three children were hurt when a vehicle crashed into a telephone pole in Pittsburgh on Monday evening.

Emergency crews were called to the intersection of Arlington Avenue and Rinne Street at 6:55 p.m.

Once on scene, first responders found the woman who was driving the car. She was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

Two girls and a boy were in the car at the time of the crash.

One of the girls suffered a fractured leg and head laceration. The other two children had leg and back pain.

All three kids were taken to Childrens Hospital.

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Nvidia (NVDA) is looking to the East.

The semiconductor titan is said to be partnering with the Indonesian telecommunications firm Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison on a project expected to bolster local telecommunications infrastructure and digital talent, CNBC reported on April 4, citing Indonesias communication minister.

The new facility will reportedly be based in Surakarta, Central Java province, and will bolster local telecommunications infrastructure, human resources, and digital talent.

Nvidia makes chips for artificial intelligence and has an estimated 80% share of the market for AI-powering processors.

The company is in a strong position since AI could potentially change, well, just about everything.

Last month, Indosat said it was ready to integrate Nvidias next-generation chip architecture, Blackwell, into its infrastructure, with the goal of propelling Indonesia into a new era of sovereign AI and technological advancement.

Nvidias increased presence in Indonesia highlights a broader push into Southeast Asia this year as data demand in the region is booming.

Jensen Huang, co-founder and chief executive officer of Nvidia Corp., speaks during the Nvidia GPU Technology Conference (GTC) in San Jose, California, US, on Monday, March 18, 2024. Bloomberg/Getty Images

Analysts see 'signs of life in China'

It's an important move for Nvidia, considering that the Asia-Pacific region is the world's largest market for semiconductors, accounting for more than half of the global market share. The area is also home to some of the world's largest chipmakers.

China is the worlds largest semiconductor market, representing 31.4% of worldwide final sales or $180 billion out of $574 billion in 2022, Citigroup said in October.

Related: JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon delivers stark warning on inflation, economy

Last year, global semiconductor revenue declined 11% year-over-year, with imports of semiconductors and integrated circuits in China witnessing their largest-ever drop.

However, things may be picking up, according to KeyBanc analysts John Vinh and Jim Long, who said they saw "signs of life in China" as they raised their price targets for Nvidia and other chipmakers.

"We were surprised to hear commentary from distribution in China that demand appears to be picking up," the analysts wrote in a research note. "Its unclear whether this is true end-demand or simply restocking; however, resales in the China market appear to be tracking better than (the rest of the world)."

Vinh and Long raised their price targets for Nvidia to $1,200 from $1,100 while keeping an overweight rating.

The analysts said positive implications include supply chain feedback for Nvidias GB200 computer systems for networking. GB200 systems with average selling prices of $1.5 million to $2 million are expected to become a mainstream configuration in 2025, generating as much as $90 billion to $140 billion in revenues alone.

Story continues

The analysts said, among other things, that supply chain feedback indicates GB200 systems with average selling prices of $1.5 million to $2 million are expected to become a mainstream configuration in 2025, generating as much as $90 billion to $140 billion in revenues alone.

Other tech stocks boosted

Feedback from Asia indicates that end-demand trends across all major end-markets (auto, industrial, consumer) with the exception of AI continue to be weak, the analysts said.

However, 1Q is tracking to be the bottom with most channel partners expecting sequential growth in 2Q/3Q but at a more measured pace, and clearly not V-shaped," they added.

More Tech Stocks:

In February, Nvidia walloped Wall Street's elevated fourth-quarter-earnings estimates, as revenue increased by a mind-blowing 265% to $22.1 billion, its third consecutive quarter of triple-digit growth.

Earnings jumped 486% to $5.16 per share, boosted by the companys highly profitable graphics-processing units or GPUs.

Goldman Sachs analysts declared Nvidia's shares "the most important stock on planet Earth."

Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, has said that he thinks AI demand growth is a huge opportunity for the company and that he expects the embrace of accelerated computing and generative AI to provide tailwinds for years.

In addition to Nvidia, KeyBanc raised its price target for Qualcomm (QCOM) to $205 per share from $180 and boosted Monolithic Power Systems' (MPWR) to $850 from $830.

KeyBanc also increased its Arm Holdings (ARM) price target to $135 from $120, and its Micron Technology (MU) target to $150 from $130. It slashed its Marvell Technology (MRVL) price target to $90 from $95.

The analysts said they saw "moderately negative implications for Marvell" as its design win for next-generation Trainium machine learning accelerator at Amazon's (AMZN) Amazon Web Services has been delayed and is likely to ramp in 2025 compared with the second half of 2024.

Meanwhile, Cantor Fitzgerald analysts maintained their overweight rating and a $1,200 price target on Nvidia, noting the continued strong momentum in AI as a driving force for the company, and anticipating another significant beat and raise in performance.

Nvidia remains a top pick for Cantor Fitzgerald because upcoming earnings are anticipated to serve as a catalyst for further stock appreciation.

Related: Veteran fund manager picks favorite stocks for 2024
Editors note: The KBI says a Harper County Sheriffs deputy fired the shot

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting near Attica in Harper County that left a woman dead.

The Harper County Sheriffs Office said it happened around 7 a.m. and requested the KBI to investigate.

The KBI originally said the shooting involved the Attica Police Department and occurred along U.S. Highway 160 near Attica, but later clarified it was a Harper County Sheriffs Office deputy who fired and that two Attica police officers were there when the shooting occurred.

The woman, later identified as Cheryl Gaines, 54, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was shot and pronounced dead. No law enforcement officers were hurt.

Hugoton filled with hope, grief over missing women

The KBI said a driver called 911 around 6:55 a.m. to report a vehicle was stopped in the road on Highway 160. A Harper County deputy responded to the area roughly one mile west of Attica where he found a Toyota Prius in the middle of the highway. He approached the vehicle to offer assistance.

The KBI said preliminary information indicated as the deputy approached the car, he saw a woman holding a knife in one hand and scissors in the other. An officer from the Attica Police Department arrived on scene, and they both backed away from the vehicle and called backup.

Law enforcement gave numerous commands for Gaines to drop her weapons and get out of the vehicle. She later exited the vehicle but did not drop her weapons. She then charged and lunged at the deputy and officer with the knife and scissors.

As they were retreating, the Attica police officer tripped and fell. Gaines caught up to him while still armed. Thats when, the KBI said, the Harper County deputy fired three shots at Gaines.

The Kansas Department of Transportation reports that U.S. Highway 160, west of Attica, is closed due to law enforcement in the area.

Look for updates on air and online throughout the day.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Woman was found dead down embankment 38 years ago, CA cops say. Now shes identified

A woman found dead down a California embankment 38 years ago has been identified, deputies say.

The woman was identified as Maria Pilar Del Gadillo Carrillo, who emigrated from Mexico to the United States in early 1986, the San Diego County Sheriffs Department said in an April 9 news release.

Maria Pilar Del Gadillo Carrillo emigrated from Mexico to the United States in early 1986, deputies said.

When the womans body was found along State Route 67 in August 1986, deputies said she had traumatic injuries, suggesting foul play.

The medical examiner ruled the womans death a homicide, deputies said.

With little information, the case went cold, and the womans identity remained a mystery.

Using a DNA profile, deputies turned their efforts to investigative genetic genealogy to identify the woman in February 2022.

Genetic genealogy uses DNA testing coupled with traditional genealogical methods to create family history profiles, according to the Library of Congress. With genealogical DNA testing, researchers can determine if and how people are biologically related.

Maria Pilar Del Gadillo Carrillo emigrated from Mexico to the United States in early 1986, deputies said.

Deputies said they are now investigating Carrillos whereabouts in San Diego prior to her death.

Anyone who may have known her is asked to contact deputies at 858-285-6330.

Surveyor found remains near California canyon in 2000, officials say. Now theyre IDd

Tooth of woman found dead 10 years ago helps create new image of her, CA cops say

Boy Scout leader found teens remains 54 years ago, OR cops say. Now shes identified
Woman may need amputation after getting trapped on moving travelator in China

Woman may need amputation after getting trapped on moving travelator in China

A woman in China was seriously injured and may require an amputation after she got stuck in a moving travelator at a supermarket in Shanghai.

The woman fell feet-first into the travelator after it malfunctioned on Thursday and she remained trapped for half an hour until engineers could get her free.

A video of the incident shows the travelator had a missing plate and that the woman, seen wearing a black hoodie, fell inside as soon as she stepped on board. A man can then be seen rushing down to stop the moving travelator.

The woman is now in intensive care and has already undergone two operations including a skin graft. Her husband, identified only by his surname Lu, said she was at a risk of infection and may need amputation, reported Shanghai Daily, describing the extent of her injuries as scary.

The Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Supervision (SMAMS) said an investigation has been launched into the incident.

Su Dongjun, deputy director of SMAMS, told the broadcaster CCTV that the incident was caused by a malfunction of the system that automatically fixes plates, or pedals, in place. The plate then fell off, and the travelators automatic stop mechanism also failed.

He said that all teams involved in the functioning of the travelator, including maintenance units and the workers who installed it, were being questioned.

The supermarket was temporarily closed following the incident.

The Shanghai government on Monday said more than 100 technical issues were found during an unrelated month-long investigation by SMAMS into its escalators and travelators.

It had inspected more than 4,000 escalators and moving walkways.

Thursdays incident was not the first example of escalators in China going horribly wrong.

In 2015, a woman died after she full completely inside an escalator at the upscale AZG Mall in central China. Security camera footage of the incident showed the mother throwing her son to safety before she fell inside a gap in the escalators steps.

In 2019 in London an engineer was crushed to death after becoming trapped in a moving escalator at Waterloo Station. The man was conducting repair work when the incident happened.
Woman pleads guilty to embezzling more than $9k from NPS

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  A former Norfolk Public Schools (NPS) employee will serve a maximum of one year in prison for felony embezzlement.

Cassandra Janene Meeks-Payton, 55, pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing more than $9,000 in summer school payments from Norfolk Public School students.

In 2019, Meeks-Payton served as the NPS summer school programs manager and was responsible for collecting payments for summer school classes.

That year, 363 students enrolled in summer courses, and the anticipated revenue from summer enrollment was calculated to be $42,300. However Meeks-Payton only delivered $32,830.

On July 8, 2019, Meeks-Payton delivered her first in-person deposit and accounts receivable immediately discovered several discrepancies between the receipts she presented and the revenue received. A week later, Meeks-Payton submitted a supplemental deposit and told accounting she had an addition sum of money somewhere else on school property.

Once again, accounting pointed out discrepancies and offered to assist Meeks-Payton with creating a spreadsheet to help her organize and rectify all the discrepancies.

On Aug. 6, 2019, Meeks-Payton delivered another incomplete deposit and promised to return with additional funds before close of business but failed to do so. At that point, NPS requested reconciliation of all registration money collected by Meek-Payton. Instead of complying, she falsely claimed that money from other schools had not been collected.

On Aug. 19, 2019, Meeks-Payton told NPS officials she would deliver the rest of the money to them  but arrived empty handed. Instead she told them to money was at a relatives house two-and-a-half hours away. She said she would turn in the money the next day but did not do so.

On Aug. 22, 2019, Mrs. Meeks-Payton emailed NPS officials that she would not be able to provide her receipt books.

In August 2021, the Norfolk Commonwealths Attorneys Office secured an indictment from a grand jury against Meeks-Payton for felony embezzlement.

Mrs. Meeks-Payton was not just stealing from Norfolk Public Schools, she was effectively stealing from the children of our city, said Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi. We appreciate the assistance of Norfolk Public Schools in the prosecution of this case, and we will seek a sentence appropriate to the trust that Meeks-Payton abused.

Meeks-Payton is scheduled for sentencing on July 12.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Woman shoots interstate drivers, says God told her to because of eclipse: Florida police

BONIFAY, Fla. (AP)  A woman checked out of a Florida hotel and told staff that she was going on a God-directed shooting spree because of the solar eclipse, then shot two drivers on Interstate 10 before being arrested and charged with attempted murder Monday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Taylon Nichelle Celestine, 22, of Georgia, entered the highway 115 miles from the Alabama border in the Florida Panhandle and headed west.

Looked at the sun? Signs your eyes may have been damaged by the solar eclipse

Within 5 miles, she fired into a passing car several times, spraying auto glass and grazing the driver in the arm, the department said in a statement.

She then fired at a second vehicle, hitting the driver in the neck. The driver was injured and treated at a hospital.

Troopers stopped the woman after she drove for about 16 miles and found her with an AR-15 rifle and 9mm handgun.

She was arrested and booked into the Holmes County jail. She was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and improper discharge of a firearm.

The Florida Highway Patrol didnt provide details about bail or Celestines legal representation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Woman shot, killed by ex-father-in-law during deposition in Las Vegas law office filed for sole custody morning of shooting: sources

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Documents obtained by 8 News Now show that the woman killed by her ex-father-in-law during a deposition filed documents for sole custody of her children with the killers son the morning of the shooting.

Dennis Prince was representing his wife, Ashley Prince, during a deposition involving Ashley Princes ex-husband. Ashley Princes ex-husbands father, Joe Houston II, was representing his son, Dylan Houston, in the proceedings, sources said.

During a Monday morning deposition, Joe Houston II allegedly shot the Princes before killing himself, sources said.

The road to explain the Las Vegas attorneys alleged involvement dates back a few years when Dylan Houston and then Ashley Houston, filed for divorce.

A graphic showing the relationships among Dennis Prince, Ashley Prince and Joe Houston II. (KLAS)

Divorce records obtained by 8 News Now show claims made against Dylan Houston, stating he tested positive for cocaine and alcohol while he had custody of their children. The records also claim that he would send abusive texts to Ashley Prince.

Records showed that police arrested Dylan Houston in 2020 on a DUI charge, which was later pleaded down to reckless driving.

In 2022 Ashley Prince filed a protective order against Dylan Houston, records showed.

During the case, Dylan Houstons father, Joe Houston II, represented his son.

The divorce case record showed that Ashley filed documents for sole custody of her and Dylan Houstons children the morning of the shooting.

An emergency order was accepted Monday following the shooting, granting custody of Ashley Prince and Dylan Houstons children to a member of Ashleys family, court documents revealed.

The next hearing related to this case is scheduled for later in April.

Prominent Las Vegas attorney, wife killed in law office shooting: sources

The Princes recently had a child together, friends confirmed to the 8 News Now Investigators. Dennis Prince frequently appeared on 8 News Now where he discussed civil cases.

With profound sadness, Prince Law Group would like to thank everyone who has reached out to us with heartfelt messages of concern and sympathy over the tragic violence that occurred this morning in our offices, a Prince Law Group spokesperson said Monday evening. We ask that you please respect the privacy of the families involved.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
A Florida woman who stole Ashley Bidens diary in 2020 was sentenced to one month in prison Tuesday.

Prosecutors accused Aimee Harris of stealing the presidents daughters diary in September 2020 while she was temporarily staying at Ashley Bidens residence in Delray Beach, Fla. The diary contained highly personal entries as well as tax records, a cellphone and family photographs, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Harris enlisted Robert Kurlander to assist her efforts, and they each pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in 2022. Project Veritas, based in New York, paid Harris and Kurlander $20,000 each for the diary and other materials, which the two returned to Florida to obtain.

Nicholas Biase, the chief of public affairs for the U.S. attorneys office in the Southern District of New York, confirmed Harris was sentenced to one month in prison and three years of supervised release to The Hill. Kurlander has not been sentenced yet.

Project Veritas describes itself as a news outlet but has faced some controversy for its sting operations and sending staffers undercover to record sources. The DOJ raided two locations in November 2021 tied to Project Veritas and the organizations founder, James OKeefe.

While Project Veritas did not publish the diary, another website did.

Judge Laura Taylor Swain described Harriss actions as despicable during the sentencing at a Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, The Associated Press (AP) reported. Harris apologized to Ashley Biden during the sentencing and said she regretted her actions, according to the AP.

The DOJ sought a sentence of four to 10 months of imprisonment for Harris, followed by three years of supervised release, according to a letter sent to the judge last week. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Sobelman argued Tuesday that Harris showed a pattern of disrespect for the law and the justice system, the AP reported.

Harriss lawyers asked for no prison time, with defense attorney Anthony Cecutti saying she carries the shame and stigma of her actions, the AP reported.

The Hill has reached out to Cecutti for comment.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2024) - Argo Living Soils Corp. (CSE: ARGO) ("Argo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated March 5, 2024 and April 2, 2024, it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (the "MOU") with Connective Global SDN BHD ("Connective Global") to establish a strategic partnership between the two entities.

Pursuant to the MOU, Argo and Connective Global have agreed to jointly pursue the research and development of biochar for agricultural and industrial applications in Malaysia and across certain regions in Asia. Argo and Connective Global intend to work together to research, and develop biochar-enhanced products tailored for distribution in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The research and development of products by Argo and Connective Global will be for a period of 12 months. Pursuant to the MOU, Connective Global will secure the research facilities of University Putra Malaysia for Argo and Connective Global to carry out their joint research. In consideration for use of research facilities and Connective Global's collaboration, Argo has agreed to fund a CAD$100,000 budget for research and development and issue up to one million common shares to Connective Global in stages based on achieving certain performance milestones in connection with the research and development phase, subject to applicable securities laws and exchange acceptance.

On successful completion of the 12-month research and development phase, Argo and Connective Global intend to negotiate and enter into a definitive commercial production agreement.

Expanding Markets: While Argo continues to pursue biochar opportunities in North America, the Company's strategic partnership with Connective Global has already identified promising prospects in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Several Middle Eastern nations are spearheading initiatives to convert desert or arid land into arable farmland. Driven by concerns over food security, population growth, and the imperative to diversify economies, countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan have launched initiatives that underscore a growing recognition of sustainable agriculture's importance.

Through the ongoing discussions, Argo and Connective Global have identified additional opportunities for biochar-related products in key markets such as India and China as well as several South-East Asian nations. Using biochar to restore and enrich heavily used agricultural soils will benefit the food production of those countries.

In summary, the soil enhancement and fertilizer markets have experienced significant transformations over the past decade. Technological advancements, evolving consumer preferences, regulatory shifts, and changing agricultural practices have contributed to an escalating demand for products like Argo's proprietary biochar offerings.

Peter Hoyle, Chief Executive Officer of Argo, comments, "This is an exciting and significant step for Argo, which will allow us to evolve our business in the large and growing Asian market."

About Connective Global

Connective Global is a Malaysian-based company that manufactures and distributes organic fertilizers, agricultural products, and food items in Southeast Asia, with a focus on environmentally sustainable products and services.

About Argo Living Soils Corp.

The Company specializes in producing and developing organic products, including soil amendments, living soils, biofertilizers, vermicompost and compost extracts formulated specifically for high-value crops. The Company's vision and overall business plan are to create an established brand of organic and/or environmentally friendly products. The Company was founded in 2018, and its production facilities have been expanded and relocated to Duncan, British Columbia, in a joint venture with Pacific Composting.

We Seek Safe Harbor.

For further information please contact:

Peter Hoyle

Chief Executive Officer

Argo Living Soils Corp.

Tel: (604) 961-2877

Email: peter.hoyle@shaw.ca

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the completion of the research and development of biochar products pursuant to the MOU; the Company and Connective Global researching, developing and testing biochar-enhanced organic fertilizer products tailored for distribution in Southeast Asia and the Middle East; Connective Global securing the research facilities of University Putra Malaysia; the Company funding a CAD$100,000 budget and issuance of up to one million common shares to Connective Global, Argo and Conenctive Global negotiating and entering into a commercial production agreement on completion of the 12-month research and development term; and Argo creating an established brand of organic and/or environmentally friendly products. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "will have", "intend" "plans", "aims", "potential" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different, including receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/204773
Director Woody Allen has hinted that hes unsure if he still wants to continue making films as all the romance of filmmaking is gone.

Allen recently finished his 50th feature  French-language erotic thriller Coup de Chance  and spoke about being on the fence about this being his last film.

Im on the fence about it, Allen said in an interview with Airmail.

I dont want to go out to raise money. I find that a pain in the neck. But if someone shows up and calls in and says we want to back the film, then I would seriously consider it. I would probably not have the willpower to say no, because I have so many ideas.

Coup de Chance premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2023, where it was received with mostly positive reviews. The film was finally released in the US after multiple delays on 5 April.

Speaking about the trouble with the films release, Allen said: It doesnt matter to me whether I get distributed here or not.

Once I make it, I dont follow it anymore. Distribution is no longer what it was. Now distribution is two weeks in a cinema  And then thats it. I mean, Annie Hall played in movie houses in New York for a little bit over a year  The whole business has changed, and not in an appealing way. All the romance of filmmaking is gone.

Woody Allen, pictured in 2017 (Getty Images for Turner)

Allens popularity as a filmmaker has diminished in recent years, amid the #MeToo movement and the renewed interest in allegations of sexual abuse from his adopted stepdaughter Dylan Farrow.

Allen escaped scrutiny for a large period since he was accused, until 2014, when Farrow as an adult, wrote an essay for New York Times Opinion shortly after Allen received a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes.

Whats your favourite Woody Allen movie? Farrow wrote.

Before you answer, you should know: when I was seven years old, Woody Allen took me by the hand and led me into a dim, closet-like attic on the second floor of our house. He told me to lay on my stomach and play with my brothers electric train set. Then he sexually assaulted me.

Allen denied the accusations and a 1993 investigation by the child sexual abuse clinic of Yale-New Haven hospital and the New York Department of Social Services cleared him of charges.

But Since Farrows essay, several actors who have worked with Allen before, including Kate Winslet, Rebecca Hall, Rachel Brosnahan, Mira Sorvino, Colin Firth, and Greta Gerwig, have publicly expressed regret. In 2018, Amazon Studios cancelled a $68m four-film deal with Allen.

Allen also spoke to AirMail about being cancelled, saying, Someone asked me about cancel culture, and I said, If youre going to be cancelled, this is the culture that you want to be cancelled from. Because who wants to be part of this culture?

Allen has spoken about his disillusionment with filmmaking, in an Instagram Live with actor Alec Baldwin in 2022. He said that the changing nature of cinema distribution has ensured a lot of the thrill is gone.

Allen talked about retiring earlier as well. In a 2022 interview with Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, he said: My idea, in principle, is not to make more movies and focus on writing.

However, he denied plans to retire in a statement given to The Independent by his spokesperson.

Woody Allen never said he was retiring, not did he say he was writing another novel, they said.

He said he was thinking about not making films as making films that go straight or very quickly to streaming platforms is not so enjoyable for him, as he is a great lover of the cinema experience. Currently, he has no intention of retiring and is very excited to be in Paris shooting his new movie.
I worked to the bone to get the Legislature to feed Idaho kids. They wouldnt budge | Opinion

One thing I have learned this legislative session: Legislators have knowingly and willingly used misinformation, blatant lies and conservative values to kill two line items in the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, and State Department of Educations respective budgets.

This takes viciousness to an entirely new level. Our conservative legislature, who are supposed to work for the people who elected them, prefer to legislate on the backs of poor, hungry and marginalized Idahoans.

These budgets included a line item in each providing for the one-time administrative cost of implementing Summer EBT in Idaho. When schools closed in March 2020 in response to the pandemic, 30 million children lost access to the free and reduced-price school meals that help reduce childhood hunger, support health and ease the pressure on household food budgets.

Congress created the Pandemic EBT program to replace the school breakfasts and lunches families lost when schools closed. The program provided an EBT card with grocery benefits to families whose children are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.

Summer EBT is a program that was created out of the lessons learned from the pandemic regarding school kids who were not able to receive their free or reduced meals due to schools being closed, and the Summer Food Service Program (which funds Picnic in the Park) being on hold because no one was congregating at parks during the pandemic.

Between 2020 and 2023, Pandemic EBT helped reduce food insecurity and it is estimated to have lifted between 2.7 and 3.9 million children out of hunger. For the 2020-2021 school year, Pandemic EBT reduced food insufficiency among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program households by 28%.

Summer EBT has some pretty specific and concrete rules that can be found in the Federal Register.

Regardless of your school or district, community eligibility for Summer EBT is entirely based on income. This was never, and is not, universal free meals for every single child in Idaho. It is not universal anything. If a parent or guardian makes six figures a year, their children will not qualify.

No, children will not be given an EBT card for their own personal use for shopping.

No, children cannot go into a liquor store and buy a Monster drink.

Yes. Summer EBT helps lift children out of hunger and feed them.

Yes, this helps people pull themselves up by their bootstraps.

We hear, ad nauseum: Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. Thats a fantastic idea, but we need to feed people while they are learning how to fish.

We hear, again, ad nauseum, Why should I feed them? They arent my kids. If you cant take care of your kids, then dont have them.

No parent can predict what their day-to-day circumstances are going to look like over the next 18 years. These children  the ones our conservative legislature and citizens dont want to help and feed  are our kids. They are the children who will be running Idaho in the future, so perhaps we need to do something to ensure their future, therefore ensuring Idahos future.

When these children are running Idaho, they will be making the laws, and they will be making decisions about your geriatric life when you are in retirement. When conservative Idahoans and legislators are in their geriatric years, do you really want these now-adults to say, Why should I feed them, they arent my parents or grandparents. If you cant take care of your own parents or grandparents, then let them die.

I do hope that our youth can and will do better than their predecessors. Children, due to their parents unforeseen and situational circumstances, do not choose to go hungry. Their families need a hand up.

Summer EBT would have done exactly that, a hand-up while learning how to fish. Ending hunger really does lift us all.

Dawn Pierce is a Boise resident, national community organizing manager for Hunger Free America, board president for the Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force, and a fierce advocate for anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs.
A 50-year-old IT worker at Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes was arrested Monday after being accused of touching, texting, making lewd comments and giving candy to students at the K-8 school, according to authorities.

Martin Zaretsky was arrested Monday at Miami-Dade Schools Police Department headquarters in Doral, his arrest report shows. The Miami-Dade resident remained behind bars at a county jail Tuesday morning.

Zaretsky is accused of touching students at Bob Graham, 15901 NW 79 Ave., multiple times on their breast and buttocks areas, over their clothes and without their consent, Miami-Dade Schools Police said in the arrest report. They said he also texted students without their parents consent in an attempt to gain favor and trust with the victims.

On several occasions, Zaretsky would walk students to his school office after dismissal to give them candy, police said.

Martin Zaretsky, a 50-year-old IT worker at Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes, is charged with seven counts of child molestation of children older than 12 and seven counts of offenses against students by authority figures, his arrest report shows. Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation

Zaretsky would also take the students out of their classrooms without permission from the schools administrators so they could skip class and accompany him walking throughout the school, police said in his arrest report. In other instances, he helped students get their cellphones back after they were taken away by staff for violating school cellphone policies, police said.

On another occasion, Zaretsky told students, you look good today and you have a curvy body, police said. He also asked the students ages, police said, and told them he was younger than their fathers.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools has started the process to fire Zaretsky, the district said.

Upon learning about this suspected behavior, Miami-Dade Schools Police immediately began their investigation and subsequently made an arrest, the district said in a statement Tuesday. This type of comportment will not be tolerated as it runs contrary to the professional conduct we expect from all employees.

Zaretskys attorney information was not immediately available. He remained jailed at the countys Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center pending a bond hearing, records show. He is charged with seven counts of child molestation of children older than 12 and seven counts of offenses against students by authority figures.

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Wright-Patterson Air Force Base welcomed their new commander in a ceremony Tuesday morning.

This comes after News Center 7 preciously reported the base had relieved Colonel Christopher Meeker of his command in December.

>> RELATED: Commander at Wright-Patterson AFB removed from command

News Center 7s Taylor Robertson was there as Colonel Dustin Richards took over command.

Richards is now in charge of more than 5,000 military, civilian, and contractor employees.

For the men and women of the 88th Air Base Wing, the message really is just to continue delivering the excellence they have been delivering for so long and keep up the mission that they are doing, Richards said.

Meeker was removed as commander of the 88th Air Base Wing in December. The Air Force Material Command said it was due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead.

>> Hope he gets caught; Police search for man who broke into home, tried to sexually assault woman

Colonel Travis Pond Stepped in as Interim Wing Commander until Richards stepped in.

Its obvious how much it means to the community, its obvious how much the people here appreciate the community support, so to come into that at a leadership level its a huge responsibility and I want to live up to it, Richards said.

For the first time in his long and decorated military career, he said his extended family and friends were able to show up to a ceremony like this for him.

Weve been in the Air Force for 23 years. My wife and I were joint spouses she is a retired JAG officer so 15 of those years we were navigating assignments together, Richards said. I think for my family its the start of a new adventure, it means a homecoming to Ohio and its a lot of excitement for all of us as we integrate into our new job.

Richards said one of the things he is most excited to do is get to know his airmen and his new community.
Russian troops in Ukraine continue to obtain Starlink terminals through shadowy supply chains and intermediaries, while SpaceX has not shut these devices off, the Wall Street Journal reported on April 9.

Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov told the Wall Street Journal in February that Russian forces were using thousands of Starlink terminals in Ukraine, echoing earlier assertions by the military intelligence and media outlets.

Elon Musk, the founder of the SpaceX company that operates Starlink, has denied selling any Starlink units to Russia and said that Starlink would not connect to any devices there. In turn, Moscow does not officially allow the use of Starlink on its territory, fearing it would undermine its tight control over the information space.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Russian intermediaries buy Starlink hardware on online retail platforms, including eBay, in the U.S. or on the black market in Central Asia, Dubai, or Southeast Asia and subsequently smuggle the equipment to Russia.

Russian volunteers then deliver Starlink terminals to troops fighting in Ukraine, helping Russian forces with communication and drone control, the outlet wrote.

Read also: Musk says he denied request to turn on Starlink in Crimea to prevent attack on Russias fleet

SpaceX has previously spoken out against any military use of its equipment. The company has the ability to "geofence" their devices, thus making them unavailable in specific locations.

The Journal's investigation revealed that the Russian end-users connect to Starlink through the roaming feature after the dealers register it in countries where Starlink is permitted.

Russian Starlink dealers also claim that Crimea or Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine are no longer geofenced, allowing Russian troops to use the devices, the outlet wrote.

U.S. Assistant Defense Secretary for Space Policy John Plumb told the Journal that Washington is working with Kyiv and SpaceX to put an end to Russia's use of the terminals on the front.

According to the Journal, Starlink hardware also ended up in the hands of the Sudanese insurgent group called the Rapid Support Forces, which is backed by the Russian mercenary Wagner Group.

SpaceX began providing the Starlink terminals to Ukraine shortly after the Russian full-scale invasion in February 2022. In September 2023, CNN wrote that Musk switched off Starlink near occupied Crimea to thwart a Ukrainian strike against the Russian Navy.

Musk later confirmed he had received a request from Kyiv to activate Starlink "all the way to Sevastopol" with the "obvious intent being to sink most of the Russian fleet at anchor" but said the system had never been active there to begin with.

"If I had agreed to their request, then SpaceX would be explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation," the businessman claimed at the time.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
NEW YORK  A New York appeals court judge on Monday rejected Donald Trumps bid to delay his April 15 hush money criminal trial while he fights to move the case out of Manhattan  foiling the former presidents latest attempt to put off the historic trial.

Justice Lizbeth Gonzalez of the states mid-level appeals court made her ruling after an emergency hearing in which Trumps lawyers asked to postpone the trial indefinitely while they seek a change of venue. Trump was seeking an emergency stay, a court order that would prevent the trial from starting on time.

The hush money trial is the first of Trumps four criminal indictments slated to go to trial and would be the first criminal trial ever of a former president.

Trump lawyer Emil Bove argued that the presumptive Republican nominee faces real potential prejudice as a defendant in heavily Democratic Manhattan. Citing defense surveys and a review of media coverage, Bove argued that jury selection, scheduled to start next Monday, cannot proceed in a fair manner.



Trump has suggested on social media that the trial should be moved to Staten Island, the only New York City borough he won in 2016 and 2020.

Steven Wu, appellate chief for the Manhattan district attorneys office, noted that trial Judge Juan M. Merchan had already rejected Trumps requests to move or delay the trial as untimely.

The question in this case is not whether a random poll of New Yorkers from whatever neighborhood are able to be impartial, its about whether a trial court is able to select a jury of 12 impartial jurors, Wu said. He blamed Trump for stoking pretrial publicity with countless media appearances talking about the facts of this case, the witnesses, and so on.

In a separate appellate matter, Trumps lawyers are also challenging a gag order imposed on him in the case that Merchan recently expanded to prohibit Trump from making comments about the judges family. The appeals court signaled it would take up that matter at a later date.

Documents relating to Trumps appeals were placed under seal and not publicly available.

Trump had pledged to appeal after Merchan ruled last month that the trial would begin April 15. His lawyers had pleaded to delay the trial at least until summer to give them more time to review late-arriving evidence from a prior federal investigation into the matter.

Merchan, who had already moved the trial from its original March 25 start date because of the evidence issue, said no further delays were warranted.

Trumps lawyers filed their appeals Monday on two separate court dockets. One was styled as a lawsuit against Merchan, a legal mechanism allowing them to challenge his rulings.

In New York, judges can be sued over some judicial decisions under a state law known as Article 78. Trump has used the tactic before, including against the judge in his civil fraud case in an unsuccessful last-minute bid to delay that case last fall.

In this case, he is accused of falsifying his companys records to hide the nature of payments to his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, who helped him bury negative stories during his 2016 campaign. Cohens activities included paying porn actor Stormy Daniels $130,000 to suppress her claims of an extramarital sexual encounter with Trump years earlier.

Trump pleaded not guilty last year to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels. His lawyers argue the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.

Trumps move Monday is the latest escalation in his battles with Merchan.

Trump assailed the judge on social media after he imposed a gag order last month barring Trump from making public statements about jurors, witnesses and others connected to the case. After Trumps complaints, Merchan expanded the gag order to include members of his own family.

Last week, Trump renewed his request for the judge to step aside from the case, citing Merchans daughters work as the head of a firm whose clients have included President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats.

The former president alleges the judge is biased against him and has a conflict of interest because of his daughters work. The judge rejected a similar request last August.

Trump has also made numerous other attempts to get the trial postponed, echoing a strategy hes deployed in his other criminal cases. We want delays, Trump proclaimed to TV cameras outside a February pretrial hearing in his hush money case.


State lawmakers in South Carolina say theyve taken a lot of calls about the race for the next York County sheriff.

The calls are coming after we reported last week that Sheriff Kevin Tolson withdrew his name from the race and his wife signed up to run, seemingly uncontested.

Channel 9s Tina Terry learned that York County Republicans will vote Tuesday to reopen filing for the race.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: SC sheriff unexpectedly drops out of election; wife runs instead uncontested

Tolsons wife, Beth, decided to run for his seat on the last day of filing, with no challengers. That prompted some to call lawmakers and complain.

Some of my constituents had concerns, or sent me information regarding this, the way it transpired, and I was called and asked was there any way the filing could be reopened, said state Rep. Dennis C. Moss of District 29, which includes York County.

Moss told Terry he contacted the states election commission with those concerns.

It just didnt have a clean look to it to me. There may be no improprieties at all, but it seemed like its not only gotta look right, gotta be right, Moss said.

The board of elections says in situations like this, a political party can allow other candidates to file. Terry learned that members of the York County Republican Party will meet Tuesday night to decide if it should reopen the filing.

The last-minute change caught the attention of other legislators, who are now supporting the effort to reopen filing. Republican state House representatives Brandon Guffey and Heath Sessions talked about the issue on a podcast Monday night.

SEE WHY: York County sheriff seeing increase in law enforcement impersonator scams

I think the right thing to do is to reopen it, they said in Mondays podcast. Listen, Kevin and Beth are spouses, obviously Beth knew something no one else did prior to the filing period closing, so you need to allow a level playing field for any other candidate considering.

The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday in York County. Once a decision is made, the county party members will notify the York County Elections Commission if they want to reopen filing.

(WATCH: Revamp begins for busy York County I-77 exit)
York County spearheads beach restoration in wake of storm damage: 'Lets get this done'

ALFRED, Maine  York Countys Ellicott dredge is set to depart from Saco to Portland this April. The relocation prepares the vessel for a crucial mission: restoring beaches and sand dunes along the coast ravaged by Januarys severe storms.

The plan is to have the dredge assembled at Portland Yacht Services and then towed to Wells, where it will be moored until the dredging season commences in November.

The York County government dredge will be headed to Portland soon for assembly and then down to Wells, where it will be moored in advance of dredging season.

York County Manager Greg Zinser said he has spoken to seven of the countys coastal municipalities  Old Orchard Beach, Saco, Biddeford, Kennebunkport, Kennebunk, Wells and Ogunquit about the plans and would also talk with York, Eliot and Kittery officials. Two of the municipalities  Wells and Ogunquit, have dredging permits in place.

He told York County Commissioners at their March 20 meeting that the reception has been positive.

Everyone is saying lets get this done  lets make it happen, he said.

Previous story: Maine to receive federal aid for January storms that devastated coast

York County is expected to enter into agreements with the municipalities, which will pay the county for the work done.

Communities across York County sustained $20 million in damage to public infrastructure  roads, sidewalks, culverts, beaches, sand dunes- and more in the Jan. 10 and 13 storms. In all, there was an estimated $70 million in damage in eight of Maines coastal counties.

A seawall, which stretches along portions of Kennebunk Beach, was destroyed along with the sand dunes behind it during January's storms.

President Joe Biden on March 20 formally declared a disaster from the two January storms at the request of Gov. Janet Mills  which means communities are eligible for reimbursements through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help cover costs associated with repairs and, in some cases, mitigation.

Zinser said he and York County Emergency Management Agency Director Art Cleaves have been speaking with Michels Construction Inc. on logistics and other matters and has also been working with a consultant. County officials will converse with the University of New England regarding surveys and marine mapping.

Path to restoration: Wells Disaster Center offers lifeline after devastating storms

Cleaves pointed out that dredging services offered by the county would be more cost-efficient than the expenses associated with bringing in a dredge from elsewhere.

Zinser said significant investments in equipment will need to be made and is working with Michels Construction Inc. to help determine those costs.

York County Commissioners agreed in late 2022 to purchase a dredge with $1.54 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to help combat coastal erosion, nourish beaches with sand, and help keep waters navigable  an idea advanced by the nonprofit SOS Saco Bay.

The intent when the project was approved was that a new nonprofit entity  Southern Maine Dredge Authority  would be created and take ownership, but the authority was not fully operational when the dredge was purchased. Complications with federal rules of disposition and the like are unresolved, so the county retains ownership.

Commissioner Donna Ring thanked Zinser and the others who have worked on the project.

I know this is not what we intended, said Ring, referring to the ownership matter.

York County is not the first New England County to offer a dredging program  Barnstable, Massachusetts, has been offering dredging services to municipalities for the past 27 years. According to their website, 14 Cape Cod towns use the service. The 2020-21 season saw 150,591 cubic yards dredged in Barnstable County, a program record for that county, officials said.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York County spearheads beach restoration in wake of storm devastation
New Yorkers come together to appreciate partial eclipse: Its beautiful to witness

The eclipse was partial, but the camaraderie felt by many skygazing New Yorkers was complete.

City residents took a break from their busy lives on Monday afternoon to gather together and watch a partial solar eclipse that briefly darkened the sky and chilled the spring air.

At 3:25 p.m., the moon covered about 90% of the sun above the city, and cheers erupted in Central Parks Sheep Meadow and Prospect Parks Long Meadow. Others took in the solar rarity from rooftops, stoops and sidewalks.

The much-anticipated moment came after some New Yorkers made a last-minute dash to pick up special eclipse sunglasses, which offered a view of the moon covering all but a golden crescent of sunlight, as the moon passed between the sun and Earth.

Its stunning, said Monique Robinson, 28, a sales associate from Harlem who scored eclipse shades from a woman  an angel of the eclipse  who handed out pairs on the street.

Susan Rusea-Robinson, Moniques 49-year-old mother, was impressed as she shared shades with her daughter at W. 149 St. and Amsterdam Ave. in upper Manhattan. Its absolutely beautiful, declared the mother.

Batya Goldberg, a 50-year-old chef, gasped as she sat on a Harlem stoop and watched a sliver of sun through eclipse glasses. She described the sight as incredible.

This brought the neighborhood together, she said. Nobody should go back to work.

Not everyone had the special shades.

Carol Langford, an author in Park Slope, Brooklyn, said she didnt manage to pick up a pair in time. The Park Slope Library was out of the glasses for part of the day, and some local pharmacies put up signs telling locals they were not carrying them.

But Langford still headed to Prospect Park before 3 p.m. Lounging under a tree, she said she appreciated the mass of humanity that had convened in the park.

Ive just been enjoying being part of this collective gathering, she said. Its beautiful to witness.

Around the same time, in Jamaica Estates, Queens, Ava Delpino, 17, was standing with some friends on her softball team waiting for a bus to a game. She wore purple paper solar eclipse glasses and kept looking skyward from Hillside Ave. and 178th St.

Also on Hillside Ave., Fernando Delarosa, 33, tried to capture an image of the cosmic marvel with his phone by covering its camera with eclipse glasses, which his coworker had nabbed at a library.

More than surreal, he said of the eclipse.

The city fell outside the course of an even more striking total eclipse that cut a 100-mile-wide path across 15 American states, and darkened upstate New York cities including Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. Those cities were mobbed by tourists on Monday.

In the five boroughs, some New Yorkers seemed a bit underwhelmed by the partial eclipse.

Its cool, said David McCalla, 30. Thats about it.

But even partial eclipses in the city are rare. New York City is expected to see 34 total this century, according to NASA.

And countless awe-filled New Yorkers took full advantage of the moment on Monday.

Mayor Adams, who watched the eclipse from the roof terrace on lower Manhattans Norfolk Senior Housing Center, offered reporters a sunny takeaway from the astronomical anomaly.

No matter how much darkness will come, light will shine through, and the sun is going to come back out, the mayor said. The sun keeps coming back out.
(Bloomberg) -- Embattled French IT company Atos SE is seeking 600 million ($651 million) in cash and another 600 million in credit lines and loan guarantees to fund the business through 2025, according to a restructuring plan presented to creditors.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Atos is aiming to cut its debt by 2.4 billion by 2026 and wants to extend its remaining debt maturities by five years, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. Bloomberg previously reported it was seeking at least 1 billion in fresh funds and to slash its debt by about half.

Before a deal is reached, Atos will get a lifeline of 400 million in interim financing from a group of banks and bondholders, with an additional 50 million from the French state. The government in return will get a golden share for Atoss strategic activities that allows the state to purchase sensitive businesses if it doesnt approve of the potential owners.

Atos, once hailed as the rising star of Frances tech industry, is facing a wall of debt  and its running out of options for bringing it down. The firm owes about 4.7 billion, of which 3.65 billion is due by the end of next year. Meanwhile, talks to sell parts of its business to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinskys EPEI and Airbus SE have failed.

Read More: How French IT Supplier to Nuclear Industry and Olympics Stumbled

The companys share price has fallen by more than 97% in the past seven years, with a series of supply chain constraints, accounting errors, profit warnings and industry-wide headwinds wiping out nearly 12 billion in market value.

Bonds rallied by a record amount at the prospect of a refinancing deal, with the notes due in 2025 gaining close to 10 cents on the euro to around 34, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

However, some shareholders criticized the plan, which could dilute their holdings. Shares fell 12% to 2.03 at 1:52 p.m. in Paris.

A halving of gross debt by the end of 2026 seems to us to be too much, Udaac, an organization of Atos minority shareholders, said in a statement. We fear that this reduction will be achieved too significantly by converting debt into shares.

Existing stakeholders and third-party investors can submit financing proposals for debt or equity by April 26, Atos said.

Story continues

The injection of new money will lead to a dilution of the current shareholders if the new funds take the form of equity, Atos Chief Executive Officer Paul Saleh said Tuesday in a call with reporters.

The company is seeking to recover a BB credit rating profile by 2026. S&P Global Ratings downgraded its debt this year to B-, six steps into junk territory. All of Atos debt is currently unsecured. Whether or not some creditors get more security will depend on the proposals, Saleh said.

Atos said it is expecting its revenue to fall 1.9% to 9.9 billion in 2024, before returning to growth from 2025.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has taken a personal interest in the fate of Atos, which has close ties with the nations military and nuclear industry. Attal said last week that Atoss strategic activities, which include providing cybersecurity for this summers Paris Olympics, must remain under French ownership. The governments priority is to ensure Atoss financial stability, he recently told lawmakers at the National Assembly.

The proposal is part of a formal restructuring process known as conciliation with the companys creditors, under the supervision of a court-appointed mediator. Atos said last month it has sufficient liquidity until it reaches a debt deal and that it hoped to have a comprehensive agreement by July.

Other parties are trying to design alternative rescue plans. Atoss largest shareholder Onepoint said on Sunday that Paris-based investment firm Butler Industries will join a consortium to help rescue Atos. The group is interested in protecting and preserving all group assets, according to a statement.

Kretinsky is also weighing a renewed takeover offer for parts of Atos, depending on the result of the restructuring and refinancing plan, Bloomberg reported in February.

--With assistance from Giulia Morpurgo.

(Updates with details of golden share in third paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Ukraine will lose the war against Russia if U.S. lawmakers do not pass funding for the war-torn nation.

We need to tell Congress specifically  if Congress does not help Ukraine, Ukraine will lose the war, Zelensky said Sunday during a meeting with the UNITED24, the Ukrainian governments fundraising platform.

If Ukraine loses the war, other states will be attacked, he added. This is a fact.

Additional U.S. funding for Ukraine has remained stalled in Congress for more than a year due to sharp divisions amid lawmakers.

The House returns from a two-week recess Tuesday, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has indicated he plans to take up aid for the nation upon the lower chambers return.

The Louisiana Republican has long said he wants to pass funding for Ukraine as the country enters its third year of trying to fight against a Russian invasion, but his partys internal politics have made it a difficult proposition.

In February, the Speaker refused to consider a Senate-passed foreign aid package that would have included $60 billion for Ukraine because of its lack of border security measures. Conservatives earlier killed a border security deal designed to be attached to the bill.

Zelensky warned that Russia will introduce its nuclear stockpile in its war with Ukraine in an effort to instill fear in Ukraines allied nations.

And you will see in the coming weeks that Russia will be more and more insistent and will drag nuclear weapons into this issue, threatening, playing with this issue. Because it is only through the issue of nuclear weapons that they can put pressure on other NATO countries  including the United States  on societies to make them afraid and then they will react to their leaders, he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last month suggested his country is prepared to use nuclear weapons against any threats to its sovereignty, but he noted there has so far been no need with Ukraine.

The White House last month unveiled a $300 million emergency military aid package to Ukraine, the first since December.

Ukrainian troops have fought bravely are fighting bravely throughout this war, but they are now forced to ration their ammunition under pressure on multiple fronts, and were already seeing the effects on the battlefield, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Following the devastating Russian attacks on the north-eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the area to review the situation.

"All the conditions for reducing the electricity deficit are being created," Zelensky said in a video message on Tuesday. There should be fewer power cuts, he said, adding that work is being done to repair the damage to the grids.

The president accused Russia of using missile attacks and bombing of Kharkiv and the surrounding area to drive people out of the city of over 1 million and the region.

"Everything that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin touches turns into ruins," Zelensky said. However, Kiev will do everything it can to better protect the city from Russian attacks, he added. "We have a solution to strengthen the air defence here."

Zelensky also appealed to international allies to do more to strengthen Ukraine's air defence - and not just in Kharkiv.

The head of state also inspected the progress made in the construction of defence lines along the Russian border. Fears of a new Russian advance towards Ukraine's second largest city after Kiev have recently been mounting.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for over two years.

The major city of Kharkiv, which is only around 30 kilometres from the Russian border, was hit particularly hard by Russian attacks in March, especially on its energy infrastructure. At times, Kharkiv was completely without electricity and there were regular power cuts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) visits Kharkiv region following the devastating Russian attacks. -/Ukrainian presidency/dpa
Following the devastating Russian attacks on the north-eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the area to review the situation.

"All the conditions for reducing the electricity deficit are being created," Zelensky said in a video message on Tuesday. There should be fewer power cuts, he said, adding that work is being done to repair the damage to the grids.

The president accused Russia of trying to drive people out of the city of over 1 million and the region.

"Everything that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin touches turns into ruins," Zelensky said. However, Kiev will do everything it can to better protect the city from Russian attacks, he added. "We have a solution to strengthen the air defence here."

Zelensky also appealed to international allies to do more to strengthen Ukraine's air defence - and not just in Kharkiv.

The head of state also inspected the progress made in the construction of defence lines along the Russian border. Fears of a new Russian advance towards Ukraine's second largest city after Kiev have recently been mounting.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for over two years.

The major city of Kharkiv, which is only around 30 kilometres from the Russian border, was hit particularly hard by Russian attacks in March, especially on its energy infrastructure. At times, Kharkiv was completely without electricity and there were regular power cuts.

Authorities across Ukraine's regions, from Lviv in the west to Donetsk in the east, reported deaths from Russian drone and missile attacks over the past day. Energy infrastructure was also once again hit.

In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called for urgent international efforts to supply more air defence systems in view of the threat posed by Russia to Kharkiv.

Putin wants to "bomb Kharkiv to the ground," warned Baerbock. "He wants to destroy, he wants to deliberately destroy."

"If Russia launches a major offensive there, it would cause immeasurable suffering," she said.

Baerbock, speaking at meeting with her Moldovan counterpart, lamented that Germany's stocks of Patriot air defence systems are "pretty much exhausted."

She said that a fund was being worked on with Ukraine and European partners to purchase air defence systems from other countries around the world and deliver them quickly.

She hoped that further information could be provided at the meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Italy next week.

Reports of civilian deaths in the past 24 hours highlighted the need for Ukraine to better protect its skies.

Authorities in the central region of Poltava, the northern region of Sumy and the eastern region of Donetsk all announced at least one death in their territory due Russian strikes.

Zaporizhzhya Governor Ivan Fedorov said that the number of civilians killed in his region in strikes on Monday had risen from three to four, with another eight people injured.

In Brussels, the European Commission said Germany, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands are to soon supply Ukraine with 157 power generators in various sizes.

Another drone attack was reported on Tuesday in the area of the Russian-occupied Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya.

According to the Russian management of the plant, a training centre next to the power station was hit.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi said there was no "direct threat to nuclear safety" but called the situation "extremely serious."

On Sunday, the plant was attacked by drones in three places. According to an IAEA report, no serious damage was caused. Nevertheless, the Vienna-based agency categorized the attack as a "serious incident" that had endangered the radiation shielding of a reactor.

The IAEA did not say from which side the nuclear power plant was attacked, but it reported that "Russian troops engaged what appeared to be an approaching drone" on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian public prosecutor's office said it aware of 54 cases in which Russian soldiers are alleged to have shot Ukrainian prisoners of war, stretching back to the early days of the war in March 2022.

A total of 27 criminal proceedings have been initiated, the head of the department responsible for war crimes at the public prosecutor's office, Yurii Bielousov, wrote on Telegram on Tuesday.

The United Nations has received reports of 12 incidents in which at least 32 Ukrainian prisoners of war were shot dead between the beginning of December last year and the end of February alone. The UN observers were able to verify three cases.

In 2022 and early 2023, however, the shooting of 25 Russian prisoners of war by Ukrainian soldiers was also documented.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) visits Kharkiv region following the devastating Russian attacks. -/Ukrainian presidency/dpa
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has inspected the construction of defences and fortifications near the border with Russia.

Source: Office of the President

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Kharkiv Oblast is a very important front. We have to be prepared. And the Russians must see that we are ready to defend ourselves. And our people must understand that Ukraine is prepared in case the enemy tries to attack."

Details: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, said that the fortifications consist of an extensive system of trenches, dugouts and other types of shelters.

Barrier lines are being set up in the oblast: concrete pyramids, dragon's teeth, and anti-tank ditches.

The Office of the President noted that the project for the construction of fortifications was developed by the Ministry of Defence, taking into account the experience of soldiers on the first line of defence.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine warned in an interview that Russian influence had pierced the American political system and rejected the idea, backed by allies of Donald Trump, that Ukraine could swiftly end the war just by making massive territorial concessions.

But Zelenskyy said Tuesday that he had privately urged Trump through intermediaries to travel to Ukraine and that Trump had expressed interest but had not yet committed to making a trip. Zelenskyy said he was open to hearing Trumps proposals for the war, while making clear he was highly skeptical.

If the deal is that we just give up our territories, and thats the idea behind it, then its a very primitive idea, Zelenskyy said in an interview with Axel Springer media outlets. POLITICO is owned by Axel Springer.

Zelenskyy continued: I need very strong arguments. I don't need a fantastic idea, I need a real idea, because people's lives are at stake.

Any deal that merely gave up land to Russian President Vladimir Putin in exchange for an end to hostilities, Zelenskyy said, would just open the way for more Russian wars of conquest in the future. A negotiated peace, he said, had to leave the Russian despot no room to carry out his plans.

In the interview, Zelenskyy swerved at times between expressing impatience with Western allies that have not delivered military aid readily enough  he faulted Germany most explicitly  and admitting that Ukraine is under considerable pressure to show new progress in the war. The interview was conducted in a combination of English and Ukrainian, partially using translators.

Trump has been a consistent skeptic of the war effort and a critic of Zelenskyy, and he recently said he would encourage Russia to act with impunity against members of the NATO alliance who do not spend large sums of money on defense. President Joe Biden has attacked Trump in the campaign as a threat to world stability and a stooge of Putin and other foreign dictators.

Trump previously declined a public invitation from Zelenskyy to visit Ukraine, saying in a statement that he had great respect for the Ukrainian leader but did not want to create a conflict of interest while Biden was in charge of American policy.



Zelenskyys textured approach to Trump represents the latest effort by a major world leader to calibrate his handling of the former American president who is now the Republican Partys presumptive nominee for the 2024 election. While disagreeing with Trump emphatically on war policy, Zelenskyy spoke respectfully about Trump as a leader with whom he is eager to build a constructive partnership.

Those comments came a day after David Cameron, the British foreign secretary and former U.K. prime minister, met with Trump at his Florida estate, in part to plead the case for supporting Ukraine despite having denounced Trump in the past as a bigot.

The fate of Ukraine may well hang in the balance in the U.S. election. And as a massive aid package languishes in the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives, Zelenskyy predicted that Putin would demolish Ukrainian cities and butcher hundreds of thousands of people if the Russian military were to prevail in the war.

In recent weeks, two Republican lawmakers who support aiding Ukraine  Reps. Mike Turner of Ohio and Mike McCaul of Texas  have declared that pro-Russian propaganda has filtered into the thinking of some members of Congress.

Asked about that claim, Zelenskyy said it understated the problem of Russian influence in democracies like the United States.

They have their lobbies everywhere: in the United States, in the EU countries, in Britain, in Latin America, in Africa, Zelenskyy said of Russia. When we talk about the Congress  do you notice how they work with society in the United States?

Russia, he said, had succeeded in warping the information field of the world. Without naming names, Zelenskyy claimed that American citizens were effectively doing Russias work within the U.S. media.

They pump their narratives through the media, Zelenskyy said. These are not Russian citizens or natives of Russia, no. They are representatives of certain media groups, citizens of the United States. They are the ones in the media with the appropriate messages, sometimes very pro-Russian.

Still, Zelenskyy said he expects that a new tranche of American aid will ultimately arrive for his country. Asked if he was optimistic about that prospect, the Ukrainian president replied: Yes, of course. I have to be.

In the interview, Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraines attempted counteroffensive against Russia last year was not so successful, and vowed that the next attempt to strike back against Russia would show more progress. Without elaborating, Zelenskyy implied that Ukraine had been sabotaged from within in its last offensive, noting that the Russians knew where we were going to attack and promising history will tell how they knew.

The next Ukrainian counteroffensive, Zelenskyy said, must give us some results.

But it would be a grave mistake, Zelenskyy insisted, for Ukraines allies to back away from their commitment to the war effort.



The Ukrainian leader expressed concern that irrational thinking and delusional fantasies of peacemaking might lead other Western allies into making damaging political and diplomatic mistakes. Zelenskyy repeatedly took aim at German politicians, including voices within Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Social Democratic Party, for withholding TAURUS missiles from Ukraine and dreaming of a frozen war that would bring an end to hostilities without clipping Russias warmaking capacity for the future.

A frozen conflict is like a pause, like in a film, he said. Only it's not a film, it's reality. It's just a pause, but it's a pause for Putin.

Scholz, he said, had declined to provide TAURUS missiles to Ukraine for reasons that did not make strategic sense. The German chancellor, Zelenskyy said, shared messages with me saying that he cannot leave his country without such a powerful weapon. That thinking, Zelenskyy said, seemed to stem from fear of Russias firepower as a nuclear-armed state: Germany, he said, was clinging to the idea that having a special missile would help it in the event of a full-scale war with Russia.

But I don't think it will save the world from the nuclear threat from Russia either, Zelenskyy countered. Any missiles, TAURUS, ATACMS, F-16s will not protect a single person from nuclear strikes, if a nuclear war breaks out, God forbid. It won't.

Though Trump and his allies in Congress are seen as the primary obstacle to new American aid, Zelenskyy said he had made a persistent effort to reach out to Trump.

While many world leaders are mapping out strategies for dealing with Trump, he and Zelenskyy have had an especially fraught relationship over time, starting with Trumps attempt in 2019 to prod Zelenskyy to announce an investigation into members of the Biden family for doing business in Ukraine  an underhanded scheme that triggered Trumps first impeachment.

For several months now, Zelenskyy has extended a public invitation to Trump to come to Ukraine and make good on his boast that he could help end the war. In the interview, Zelenskyy revealed that his courtship of Trump had been even more determined in private.

We conveyed the messages and the context through the appropriate people, he said. We said that we would like Donald Trump to come to Ukraine, see everything with his own eyes and draw his own conclusions. In any case, I am ready to meet him and discuss the issue.

Zelenskyy said that Trump had conveyed his interest in accepting the invitation but had not set a date.
(Bloomberg) -- Zimbabwes new gold-backed currency the ZiG strengthened a day after its debut, even as it roiled commerce nationwide as banks, retailers and utilities battled to switch to the new unit.

Most Read from Bloomberg

It gained 0.2% to 13.53 per US dollar, according to data published on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwes website on Tuesday. It began trading Monday at 13.56 per dollar, using an exchange rate announced by Governor John Mushayavanhu during last Fridays unveiling of the nations latest effort to create a functioning local currency.

Read More: Zimbabwe ZiG Currency Is More Glitter than Gold: Lionel Laurent

The International Monetary Fund, which in February urged the liberalization of the exchange rate, said it will support authorities latest efforts to restore macroeconomic stability. Adding that it needed time to review the design and implications of the new currency arrangement before weighing in with an assessment.

The ZiG, short for Zimbabwe Gold, is the countrys sixth attempt to resuscitate the national unit. Its predecessor, the Zimbabwe dollar, lost value every trading day this year before being abandoned April 5.

The new currency is backed by 2,522 kilograms of gold and about $100 million in foreign currency reserves which the central bank said it holds.

Read More: Meet ZiG, Zimbabwes Latest Shot at a Stable Currency: QuickTake

The transition to the new currency from the Zimbabwean dollar has been a bumpy one. Most of the nations lenders and businesses said they were still working to switch their systems to ZiGs on Tuesday. Only a third of the 27 financial institutions linked to the ZimSwitch national payments platform are able to process ZiG payments, it said in an update.

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority is among those which urged customers to pay their electricity bills in US dollars. Please note that our conversion to ZiG is still underway, it said in a statement.

Government departments are also affected and some have halted providing services. The Foreign Affairs ministry said it has temporarily suspended document authentication services owing to disruption of automated teller machines, as lenders transition to the ZiG.

Businesses have until April 12 to fully transition their electronic systems to ZiG, Mushayavanhu said at the weekend. The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange is among the few institutions which have switched to the new currency. The switch to ZiG effectively halted a more than three-fold surge on the local bourse this year. Low volumes marked the first trading day using the ZiG, stock traders said.

Read More: ZiG Debuts in Zimbabwes Sixth Effort at a Revamped Currency

The full acceptance of ZiG will depend on the markets confidence in the new unit, according to IH Securities. The Harare-based brokerage firm sees the economy remaining pseudo-dollarized in the short to medium term, which is vital for stability.

About 80% of all transactions were being conducted in US dollars prior to the ZiGs introduction, the central bank said.

The central bank has separately asked money dealers to provide it with an estimate for foreign currency demand.

It will also perform ad-hoc inspections to monitor compliance by authorized dealers with measures outlined to operationalize the structured currency, it announced in a circular sent to lenders on Monday and seen by Bloomberg.

Failure to comply would result in penalties, the central banks Tafadzwa Muvevi said in the directive.

--With assistance from Ana Monteiro.

(Updates with central bank directive in final three paragraphs.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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 Read the full article on Motorious

Explore the features and history of the 2000 Ford Excursion Limited, a rare find powered by a robust 7.3-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8.

A standout in its class, the 2000 Ford Excursion Limited, originally sold by Russ Dean Ford in Pasco, Washington, boasts an impressive pedigree. This well-traveled vehicle has been registered in multiple states, including Washington, California, and Arizona, adding to its rich history. Under the hood lies a formidable 7.3-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 engine, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, a dual-range transfer case, and a limited-slip rear differential, ensuring exceptional performance both on and off the road.

Finished in striking Estate Green Metallic and adorned with beige lower body cladding, this Excursion Limited features a host of desirable amenities. From the Mishimoto aluminum radiator to the Banks Power air intake and rear differential cover, every detail reflects quality craftsmanship. The interior offers three rows of seating upholstered in Medium Parchment leather, complemented by air conditioning, power windows and door locks, and a CD stereo system for added comfort and convenience.

Despite its 267k miles, this Excursion Limited has been meticulously maintained, with recent repairs including a transmission rebuild and fuel injector replacement. Offered by the selling dealer at no reserve, this exceptional vehicle comes complete with a window sticker, owners manual, service records, and a clean Carfax report, presenting a rare opportunity for discerning buyers to own a piece of automotive history. Whether for daily driving or off-road adventures, the 2000 Ford Excursion Limited stands as a testament to durability, performance, and timeless style.

Cascio Motors is a leading seller on Bring a Trailer. Visit their website to learn more about consignment and to see their other great inventory.

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Turkey is making a comeback as a car nation. Instead of just manufacturing for Ford, Fiat & Co, Togg is now building its own electric cars - and the new Togg T10X SUV is also coming to Western markets, starting with Germany. Togg/dpa

The first Turkish car manufacturer since 1970s brand Anadol is stepping onto the international stage and planning to enter the Western European market with the launch of its T10X electric SUV in Germany in the coming months.

Gurcan Karakas, head of the Togg group, announced plans for a launch in Germany, home to a large Turkish-German community, in the third quarter of 2024, but did not name a price. In Turkey, the T10X starts at 1.4 million lira, or currently around 40,400 or $43,500.

Togg, founded by industrial heavyweights in 2018, has a plant that aims to produce 175,000 cars a year and has been delivering in Turkey since mid-2023.

Turkey's rediscovered automotive aspirations has been egged on by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was the first official owner of a Togg car and has since gifted several models to world leaders.

Togg has not confirmed a timeline for a launch in further countries, Erdogan says he expects Togg to begin global exports by 2025, and manufacture 1 million cars by 2030.

Togg an acronym of Turkiye'nin Otomobili Girisim Grubu and represents the merger of five large Turkish companies. Togg sees itself as a kind of Turkish Tesla with a focus on connectivity and electric mobility.

The first model arriving in Western Europe is purely electric: A 4.60-metre-long SUV rivalling the likes of VW's ID.4.

It is available with 52.4 or 88.5 kWh for standard ranges of up to 523 kilometres and with a high charging capacity: 22 kW on alternating current and 180 kW on direct current are possible.

Equipped with one or two Bosch motors, the T10X delivers up to 435 hp according to the makers, accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and reaches speeds of up to 185 km/h.

The highlight of the T10X is the cockpit: It's not just the full-length screen that is unrivalled in this class, says Karakas. But above all the services behind it, said to include digital art and a radio that constantly composes music using AI.

In Turkey, the T10X is part of an entire ecosystem, offering its own virtual currency from which you can book flights, make purchases, organize charging on your own Togg network or even pay your taxes. When the T10X launches elsewhere, there will be a version of this virtual world adapted to international markets, Karakas promised.
The fight for reproductive rights has gone digital  platforms like Meta and Google must pick a side

Despite having one of the world's most progressive legal frameworks for abortion, many heaalthcare providers are unregulated and inferior - Themba Hadebe/AP

Walking around the streets of Johannesburg, its worrying to see the number of posters offering abortion care plastered on the city walls. Its hard to tell from looking at them, but despite having one of the worlds most progressive legal frameworks for abortion, these are not regulated, quality healthcare providers.

Instead, women are misdirected to crisis pregnancy centres or unregulated providers, given something as ineffective as an aspirin or a laxative, or in the worst cases, forced to undergo a dangerous illegal procedure, leaving them with life-threatening injuries.

Half of abortions are carried out this way in South Africa.

Like women all around the world, women here will do whatever they can to end a pregnancy that they cannot or do not want to continue. Ive heard from those who have consumed bleach, ingested herbs from traditional healers or used coat hangers to end their own pregnancy. It must stop.

Even in countries like South Africa where abortion is legal, stigma, lack of political will, limited medical resources and a dearth of trained professionals can make accessing safe abortion much harder than you would think. In these environments, accurate online information is a lifeline.

But in many Global South countries, tech companies are extending the physical barriers women face into the online world. Anti-choice groups are able to spread disinformation with impunity whilst tech companies profit from this dangerous propaganda. Its time they took responsibility.

Anti-choice misinformation

Disinformation about abortion is now commonplace online. Around the world, websites for fake abortion clinics pop up all the time. Just like the posters, they perfectly mimic legitimate sexual and reproductive care providers  but theyre scams, designed to misdirect or embezzle money from unsuspecting women.

Time and time again, weve flagged them to Google. But nothing is done. Theyre left online, waiting to take advantage of women in need of timely medical care. Whilst in countries like the US and the UK, Google has worked to ensure that people are directed to regulated, safe providers, the Global South has been left behind.

Meanwhile, Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, rejects and removes MSIs ads without explanation, leaving us with no one to turn to but a chatbot. In Ghana, Meta limits the language we can use to such an extent that we struggle to share any content at all. We can no longer even use the phrase pregnancy options to signpost to our sexual and reproductive healthcare services. By creating these digital barriers, they are contributing to the stigma around abortion and preventing women from finding essential time-sensitive healthcare services.

At the same time, the corporation is profiting from anti-choice ads that do not face the same restrictions. These ads share harmful disinformation about what it claims are the side effects of abortion medication, conspiracy theories about regulated abortion providers and toxic narratives about why women should be criminalised for ending their own pregnancy. Without policies and practices in place that protect access to accurate information on sexual and reproductive healthcare, tech companies are prioritising profit over the health and lives of women and girls in the Global South.

Right now, only 57 per cent of women around the world are able to make their own informed decisions about things like whether to use contraception or have sex. By giving a platform to anti-choice groups, Meta and Google are contributing to the restrictions placed on womens bodies and limiting their choices.

Having access to accurate sexual and reproductive health information is critical for women having agency over their bodies and being in the driving seat of their own futures. And this autonomy has a powerful ripple effect. Reproductive choice supports families to have more time and resources, drives change in communities, expands countries economic opportunities, and builds a fairer world for everyone.

Thats why, at MSI, we choose choice.

Platforms like Meta and Google have a choice too. Do they want to continue to focus on the bottom line at the expense of spreading misinformation? Or support the lives and futures of women and girls around the world?

Whitney Chinogwenya is a marketing specialist at MSI Reproductive Choices

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security

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By Elvira Pollina and Angelo Amante

MILAN/ROME (Reuters) -Italy's government is mulling tougher penalties for crimes using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools including market rigging and money laundering, according to a draft law bill seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

The 25-article draft bill lays down general principles "on research, experimentation, development, adoption and application" of AI in Italy, to cope with "the impact on fundamental rights" and related economic and social risks.

The document, whose content is still subject to change, envisages use of such tools in the health sector and in the judiciary, focusing on its impact on job conditions. It also sets the ground for a national AI strategy.

The draft beefs up penalties for market rigging through AI tools and stipulates that the use of AI for money laundering represents an aggravating element.

It also sets out fines for copyright violations through AI and a jail term of up to three years for those who employ such tools to replace other persons, potentially targeting harmful deepfakes.

Italy currently holds the rotating chair of the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said AI will be among the key issues of the 2024 presidency which will culminate in a leaders' summit in the middle of June.

AI has also become a crucial issue in the European Union. The bloc is moving closer to adopting the world's first rules on such tools, which will have to comply with specific transparency obligations and EU copyright laws.

In March, Meloni said she was planning to set up an investment fund to promote AI projects with an initial endowment of 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion). The fund could raise a further 2 billion euros from the private sector.

Italy's cabinet is expected to give an initial green light to the bill by the end of April, two government sources said.

The proposal will then be pushed through parliament for any further revisions and final approval before becoming effective.

($1 = 0.9201 euros)

(Reporting by Elvira Pollina and Angelo Amante; Editing by Matt Scuffham)
The recent 22% drop in Avenira Limited's (ASX:AEV) stock could come as a blow to insiders who purchased AU$187.0k worth of stock at an average buy price of AU$0.011 over the past 12 months. Insiders buy with the expectation to see their investments rise in value over a period of time. However, recent losses have rendered their above investment worth AU$119.0k which is not ideal.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

Check out our latest analysis for Avenira

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Avenira

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Non-Executive Director Kevin Dundo bought AU$77k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.011 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of AU$0.007. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

In the last twelve months Avenira insiders were buying shares, but not selling. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Avenira Insiders Bought Stock Recently

Over the last three months, we've seen significant insider buying at Avenira. Not only was there no selling that we can see, but they collectively bought AU$187k worth of shares. This makes one think the business has some good points.

Does Avenira Boast High Insider Ownership?

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. From our data, it seems that Avenira insiders own 9.1% of the company, worth about AU$1.6m. However, it's possible that insiders might have an indirect interest through a more complex structure. Overall, this level of ownership isn't that impressive, but it's certainly better than nothing!

Story continues

So What Do The Avenira Insider Transactions Indicate?

It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchases. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. However, we note that the company didn't make a profit over the last twelve months, which makes us cautious. While the overall levels of insider ownership are below what we'd like to see, the history of transactions imply that Avenira insiders are reasonably well aligned, and optimistic for the future. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. At Simply Wall St, we've found that Avenira has 5 warning signs (3 shouldn't be ignored!) that deserve your attention before going any further with your analysis.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Sayari revealed new technology Tuesday that will help companies pinpoint supply chain risks.

The supply chain intelligence providers new tool, called Sayari Map, builds on the companys existing technology, Sayari Graph.

More from Sourcing Journal

Sayari Map allows brands and retailers to screen their supplier networks against potential issues or hazards to business, like non-compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) or other regulatory and geopolitical considerations.

Rhea Rakshit, senior director of product management at Sayari, said organizations can track both active suppliers and potential vendors as they work to ensure their supply chains are compliant and humane.

Any entity you want to include in your master list or include into the [backend], it does not need to be only vendors youre already working with. Weve seen instances where organizations will use our [technology] to [look at] potential suppliers who theyre investigating or doing some amount of pre-screening or vendor due diligence for, Rakshit said.

She highlighted the fact that while Sayari Map can help to steer companies clear of partnering with suppliers that have risk factors, that information is not speculative; its based on real-time data and shipment records.

All supply chains on Sayari Map, as well as Sayari Graph, are based on actual shipment recordsso these are not conjectural, predictive supply chains. These are supply chains where the shipment has occurred [and] theres no doubt, no supposition, no maybe this is a supplier, maybe its not, Rakshit told Sourcing Journal.

The Washington, D.C.-based companys technology takes into account both shipment data and other information about sanctions and risk.

For instance, a company or supplier may receive a critical risk rating if it is listed on the UFLPA Entity List, is subject to trade restrictions by Customs and Border Protections Withhold Release Orders (WRO) and Findings List, has been named in Sheffield Hallam Universitys forced labor reports and more.

From there, risk levels downgradesuppliers may receive a high risk rating if they have headquarters in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), conduct business in the XUAR and more.

The system also flags suppliers for elevated risk. Based on risk designations, companies can make decisions about their relationships with certain suppliers.

Clients can have analysis up and running in a matter of hours or days, Rakshit said. As Sayari prepared to launch the tool, it saw major interest from fashion and apparel providers, but also from other industries, like electronics, at-large retail manufacturing and more. Government agencies have also expressed interest.

John Foote, partner at Kelley Drye, said the tool has helped the firm advise its clients on business risks and compliance with trade regulations.

Since we started utilizing Sayari Map, weve been able to provide our clients with unprecedented insight into over 200 upstream suppliers, enabling the assessment of risks and compliance in real time, Foote said in a statement. Previously, evaluating suppliers for compliance and supply chain risks was a labor-intensive process that involved sifting through numerous disparate sources to manually configure the risk landscape. Now, it can be done in just minutes, allowing us to better advise based on a clear view of a suppliers situation and risk exposure. The data resolution and enhanced visibility features of the Sayari Map platform have transformed the way we advise on forced labor-related trade matters.
Tesla has settled a high-profile lawsuit brought by the family of an Apple engineer who was killed in a crash while using the automakers semi-autonomous driving system.

Its unclear how much Tesla paid to settle the case Monday. The resolution came the day before the trial was set to begin, with Tesla saying in a court filing that it agreed to settle in order to end years of litigation.

California Counties Sue Tesla for Alleged Mishandling of Hazardous Waste

The case alleging negligence and wrongful death was filed the year after Walter Huangs fatal crash in California in March 2018. Huangs family sought to hold Tesla liable for allegedly exaggerating the abilities of its Autopilot driving technology and then marketing the software in such a way that drivers were misled about how much control they needed to retain of their vehicle when using the system.

A National Transportation Safety Board investigation found that Huang was likely distracted by playing a video game on his smartphone when his Model X crashed into a concrete highway barrier at over 70 mph.

Several other cases have alleged that Teslas Autopilot technologywhich Tesla says is safe when drivers use it correctlyhas played a role in a deadly crash. In 2022, CEO Elon Musk publicly vowed the company would never surrender/settle an unjust case against us, even if we will probably lose.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Students sitting for their STAAR exams this week will be part of a new method of evaluating Texas schools: Their written answers on the states standardized tests will be graded automatically by computers.

The Texas Education Agency is rolling out an automated scoring engine for open-ended questions on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness for reading, writing, science and social studies. The technology, which uses natural language processing, a building block of artificial intelligence chatbots such as GPT-4, will save the state agency about $15 million to 20 million per year that it would otherwise have spent on hiring human scorers through a third-party contractor.

The change comes after the STAAR test, which measures students understanding of state-mandated core curriculum, was redesigned in 2023. The test now includes fewer multiple choice questions and more open-ended questions  known as constructed response items. After the redesign, there are six to seven times more constructed response items.

We wanted to keep as many constructed open ended responses as we can, but they take an incredible amount of time to score, said Jose Rios, director of student assessment at the Texas Education Agency.

In 2023, Rios said TEA hired about 6,000 temporary scorers, but this year, it will need fewer than 2,000.

To develop the scoring system, the TEA gathered 3,000 responses that went through two rounds of human scoring. From this field sample, the automated scoring engine learns the characteristics of responses, and it is programmed to assign the same scores a human would have given.

This spring, as students complete their tests, the computer will first grade all the constructed responses. Then, a quarter of the responses will be rescored by humans.

When the computer has low confidence in the score it assigned, those responses will be automatically reassigned to a human. The same thing will happen when the computer encounters a type of response that its programming does not recognize, such as one using lots of slang or words in a language other than English.

We have always had very robust quality control processes with humans, said Chris Rozunick, division director for assessment development at the Texas Education Agency. With a computer system, the quality control looks similar.

Every day, Rozunick and other testing administrators will review a summary of results to check that they match what is expected. In addition to low confidence scores and responses that do not fit in the computers programming, a random sample of responses will also be automatically handed off to humans to check the computers work.

TEA officials have been resistant to the suggestion that the scoring engine is artificial intelligence. It may use similar technology to chatbots such as GPT-4 or Googles Gemini, but the agency has stressed that the process will have systematic oversight from humans. It wont learn from one response to the next, but always defer to its original programming set up by the state.

We are way far away from anything thats autonomous or can think on its own, Rozunick said.

But the plan has still generated worry among educators and parents in a world still weary of the influence of machine learning, automation and AI.

Some educators across the state said they were caught by surprise at TEAs decision to use automated technology  also known as hybrid scoring  to score responses.

There ought to be some consensus about, hey, this is a good thing, or not a good thing, a fair thing or not a fair thing, said Kevin Brown, the executive director for the Texas Association of School Administrators and a former superintendent at Alamo Heights ISD.

Representatives from TEA first mentioned interest in automated scoring in testimony to the Texas House Public Education Committee in August 2022. In the fall of 2023, the agency announced the move to hybrid scoring at a conference and during test coordinator training before releasing details of the process in December.

The STAAR test results are a key part of the accountability system TEA uses to grade school districts and individual campuses on an A-F scale. Students take the test every year from third grade through high school. When campuses within a district are underperforming on the test, state law allows the Texas education commissioner to intervene.

The commissioner can appoint a conservator to oversee campuses and school districts. State law also allows the commissioner to suspend and replace elected school boards with an appointed board of managers. If a campus receives failing grades for five years in a row, the commissioner is required to appoint a board of managers or close that school.

With the stakes so high for campuses and districts, there is a sense of uneasiness about a computers ability to score responses as well as a human can.

There's always this sort of feeling that everything happens to students and to schools and to teachers and not for them or with them, said Carrie Griffith, policy specialist for the Texas State Teachers Association.

A former teacher in the Austin Independent School District, Griffith added that even if the automated scoring engine works as intended, it's not something parents or teachers are going to trust.

Superintendents are also uncertain.

The automation is only as good as what is programmed, said Lori Rapp, superintendent at Lewisville ISD. School districts have not been given a detailed enough look at how the programming works, Rapp said.

The hybrid scoring system was already used on a limited basis in December 2023. Most students who take the STAAR test in December are retaking it after a low score. Thats not the case for Lewisville ISD, where high school students on an altered schedule test for the first time in December, and Rapp said her district saw a drastic increase in zeroes on constructed responses.

At this time, we are unable to determine if there is something wrong with the test question or if it is the new automated scoring system, Rapp said.

The state overall saw an increase in zeroes on constructed responses in December 2023, but the TEA said there are other factors at play. In December 2022, the only way to score a zero was by not providing an answer at all. With the STAAR redesign in 2023, students can receive a zero for responses that may answer the question but lack any coherent structure or evidence.

The TEA also said that students who are retesting will perform at a different level than students taking the test for the first time. Population difference is driving the difference in scores rather than the introduction of hybrid scoring, a TEA spokesperson said in an email.

For $50, students and their parents can request a rescore if they think the computer or the human got it wrong. The fee is waived if the new score is higher than the initial score. For grades 3-8, there are no consequences on a students grades or academic progress if they receive a low score. For high school students, receiving a minimum STAAR test score is a common way to fulfill one of the state graduation requirements, but it is not the only way.

Even with layers of quality control, Round Rock ISD Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez said he worries a computer could miss certain things that a human being may not be able to miss, and that room for error will impact students who Azaiez said are trying to do his or her best.

Test results will impact how they see themselves as a student, Brown said, and it can be humiliating for students who receive low scores. With human graders, Brown said, students were rewarded for having their own voice and originality in their writing, and he is concerned that computers may not be as good at rewarding originality.

Julie Salinas, director of assessment, research and evaluation at Brownsville ISD said she has concerns about whether hybrid scoring is allowing the students the flexibility to respond in a way that they can demonstrate their full capability and thought process through expressive writing.

Brownsville ISD is overwhelmingly Hispanic. Students taking an assessment entirely in Spanish will have their tests graded by a human. If the automated scoring engine works as intended, responses that include some Spanish words or colloquial, informal terms will be flagged by the computer and assigned to a human so that more creative writing can be assessed fairly.

The system is designed so that it does not penalize students who answer differently, who are really giving unique answers, Rozuick said.

With the computer scoring now a part of STAAR, Salinas is focused on adapting. The district is incorporating tools with automated scoring into how teachers prepare students for the STAAR test to make sure they are comfortable.

Our district is on board and on top of the things that we need to do to ensure that our students are successful, she said.

Disclosure: Google, the Texas Association of School Administrators and Texas State Teachers Association have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

We cant wait to welcome you to downtown Austin Sept. 5-7 for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival! Join us at Texas breakout politics and policy event as we dig into the 2024 elections, state and national politics, the state of democracy, and so much more. When tickets go on sale this spring, Tribune members will save big. Donate to join or renew today.
Need a handy villain? Big Tech will fill the bill, almost every time.

Thats certainly the case when it comes to high-profile Republicans in Kansas and Missouri. Senators like Roger Marshall and Josh Hawley love to take their shots at Silicon Valley. Why? Because they perceive it as being anti-conservative and anti-Republican.

Marshall, for example, started his Senate career in 2021 with a Washington Examiner op-ed blasting social media companies for silencing Donald Trump in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.

So unfair of them, Marshall said. Even Orwellian.

Tech companies like Google and Twitter are serving as Big Brother through the censorship and surveillance of conservative voices they and their political allies in Congress dont agree with, the then-new senator wrote.

That sounds pretty bad.

Hawley, too, loves to pick on tech companies. Hes most famous right now for his crusade against TikTok, ostensibly for its connections to China. But hes also fond of taking shots at American companies.

In January, for example, he argued for recent laws  passed in Florida and Texas  that prevent services such as Facebook and Elon Musks X from blocking users whose viewpoints they dont like. Never mind that traditional readings of the First Amendment allow private companies to choose what they will and wont publish.

All they care about, Hawley said of the tech companies, is preserving their ability to control speech and censor at will.

That sounds pretty bad, too.

So you would think that if an obvious example of Big Tech censorship happened right in their own back yard, folks like Marshall and Hawley would jump at the opportunity to make political hay, right?

Maybe not.

Last week, Facebook temporarily silenced The Kansas Reflector, a nonprofit news outlet that reports on Sunflower State politics. Officials from Meta, Facebooks parent company, tried to explain away the whole thing as a technical snafu, an algorithmic problem that they were racing to fix.

And perhaps thats true. Its also true that the snafu occurred at precisely the same moment The Reflector attempted to post a new opinion piece  criticizing Facebook.

Thats a pretty big coincidence.

It wasnt just The Reflector that was affected, though. On Friday, media columnist Marisa Kabas posted The Reflector column on her own website, The Handbasket  under the headline Heres the column that Meta doesnt want you to see  and, oddly enough, Facebook started blocking all links to that site as well.

Which is an even bigger coincidence.

That sure seems like the perfect opportunity for high-profile politicians eager to buff their free speech, anti-Big Tech credentials to start shouting to the rooftops, right? Especially when its a local story drawing national headlines  man, thats got to be the sweet spot for a senator (or opinion columnist) looking to get attention.

But no. As far as I can tell, there have been no social media posts, no op-eds, no public expressions of concern or anger by the Kansas-Missouri Big Tech Bashing Brigade.

Its here that Ill note that The Kansas Reflector is an outlet known for its tough reporting and thoughtful-but-sometimes-fiery left-of-center opinion writing. (Clay Wirestone, the sites opinion editor, is a personal friend.) It doesnt have a lot of sympathetic readers on the Republican side of the aisle.

Youd hate to think that made a difference.

Free speech is free speech, after all, whether it comes from your friends or enemies. And Big Techs domination of our discourse should be a concern to everybody, regardless of whether you think that domination serves Democratic or Republican interests.

Interestingly, The Reflector took a moment this week to note Facebooks own free speech rights. Meta may have the right to shut down or limit access to websites, as long as it complies with the law, Wirestone wrote. As a corporation, its commercial speech enjoys First Amendment rights.

But, he noted: Just because you have the right to do something doesnt make it a smart decision.

Thats how you can tell the authentic defenders of free speech from the charlatans. Real ones defend the rights of others, even when they differ on important issues. The fakes? They go silent in the biggest moments.

Joel Mathis is a regular Kansas City Star and Wichita Eagle Opinion correspondent. He lives in Lawrence with his wife and son. Formerly a writer and editor at Kansas newspapers, he served nine years as a syndicated columnist.
simonkr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

The worlds first ATM debuted in London in 1967, and ever since then ATM users have been advised to be on the lookout for would-be thieves. Nearly 60 years later, robberies involving ATM transactions  known as bank jugging  are still a problem, and thats especially true during tax season.

Check Out: The 7 Worst Things You Can Do If You Owe the IRS

Read Next: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Bank jugging is the term used to describe a criminal act in which thieves observe people making bank or credit union withdrawals  usually at an ATM  and then follow them to a location where they can steal the cash. The term jugging refers to a jug that is typically used to carry large amounts of money, according to the Credit Union of Colorado.

Learn More: A Look at Tax-Filing Options and Costs

Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity.

Bank Jugging On the Rise Around Tax Season

As NewsNation recently reported, police are warning the public about bank jugging this tax season. Bank and ATM customers are advised to stay alert when cashing their tax refund checks.

As we move into the heart of tax season and folks start cashing their refund checks or withdrawing refund money from their bank accounts, we want to remind the public to stay vigilant! the Arlington, Texas, police department wrote in a March 20 Facebook post. Jugging is a crime of opportunity where thieves look for people leaving banks or ATMs with large sums of cash and then follow them, hoping to find an opening to steal that money.

Jugging crimes take place all over the country, with dozens of cases being reported from Virginia to Texas and California, NewsNation reported. For example, police in Fairfax County, Virginia, have investigated at least 10 incidents over the past year.

These are not petty crimes, either. Thieves allegedly stole $20,000 from a woman in Riverside, California, Inside Edition reported. In a separate but similar incident in Virginia Beach, a Wells Fargo customer said she was swindled out of $33,000 moments after withdrawing cash, according to NewsNation.

These are dangerous crimes, Lt. Derek Green of the Burbank (California) Police Department previously told KTLA News. You usually have somebody driving a vehicle. Oftentimes, you have somebody thats actually inside the bank posing as a customer themselves, and theyre in communication with each other, so theyre keeping close eyes on their victims.

Story continues

The best way to avoid being a victim of bank jugging is to stay vigilant when visiting a bank or ATM. Here are 15 safety tips to protect your money and yourself:

Avoid making transactions at ATMs in isolated locations with nobody nearby. Be mindful of your surroundings when visiting a bank or ATM. Take note of people who hang around in the bank lobby or parking lot. If you visit a bank or ATM regularly, vary your routine so would-be thieves wont be waiting for you. Dont wear earbuds or talk on your phone while making ATM withdrawals. Choose parking spaces that maximize your visibility to bank employees and customers. Conceal your cash in a purse or other item before leaving the ATM and avoid displaying or counting it in public. Whenever possible, use drive-through services. Be cautious of strangers who approach you or engage with you before and after visiting a bank or ATM. If you deal in large sums of cash, request a safety escort from your bank or credit union. Use digital banking whenever possible to make transactions. Dont leave large amounts of cash in your vehicle. If you believe you are being followed, call 911 or drive/walk to the nearest police of fire/EMS station. Avoid making multiple transactions at the same ATM. If you are suspicious of someone standing right behind you at the ATM, cancel your transaction and walk away.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Is Bank Jugging? 15 Safety Tips To Protect Yourself This Tax Season
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Bank of Montreal implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

38% of the business is held by the top 25 shareholders

Ownership research along with analyst forecasts data help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock

Every investor in Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 51% to be precise, is institutions. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Bank of Montreal, beginning with the chart below.

View our latest analysis for Bank of Montreal

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Bank of Montreal?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

Bank of Montreal already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Bank of Montreal's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Bank of Montreal is not owned by hedge funds. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is The Vanguard Group, Inc. with 3.8% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 3.8% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 3.6% by the third-largest shareholder.

A deeper look at our ownership data shows that the top 25 shareholders collectively hold less than half of the register, suggesting a large group of small holders where no single shareholder has a majority.

Story continues

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of Bank of Montreal

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Bank of Montreal in their own names. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own CA$33m worth of shares (at current prices). It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

With a 49% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Bank of Montreal. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Bank of Montreal better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Bank of Montreal , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
The government has prepared a bill on fixing prices for books, in which publishers would fix the price of newly published books for a period of one year, so that during this time it would not be possible to give a discount to the shop from the price determined by the book publisher or importer.

If the book is not published in Hungary but at least 50% of its total sales are made in Hungary, the fixed price should also apply.



The government announced the plan last Friday, setting a deadline of March 30 for public consultation.



The bill could be passed by Parliament in April and enter into effect from September 1.



Like similar regulations in other EU countries, the bill aims to protect new publications by preventing price changes without publisher consent.



The one-year period would apply if the book has not been published in Hungary for at least three years.



The proposal covers various publications, including e-books and sheet music, but excludes second-hand and educational textbooks.



Despite exceptions for publishers, the proposal imposes strict regulations, limiting discounts to employees and restricting deviations from fixed prices to 10%.



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The epic open-air and lakeside escape that is Heineken Balaton Sound is one of Europe's most accessible and must visit festivals for lovers of world class electronic music.

Today it reveals its final line up so now playing on the gorgeous shores of Lake Balaton in Zamardi, Hungary from 3 - 6 July 2024 will be Sama Adbulhadi, Laidback Luke, HoneyLuv, Henri Bergmann and Mau P on top of previous names like Adam Beyer, Amelie Lens, Stephan Bodzin (live), Reinier Zonneveld (live), Mathame, Marshmello, Paul Kalkbrenner, James Hype, FJAAK, Mind Against, Maceo Plex, Miss Monique and hard dance techno stars Sara Landry, Trym and 999999999 amongst many more.



4-Day Passes are available for the main festival for just 249 from https://balatonsound.com/tickets, and it all kicks off with a special Warm Up party on June 7th at Buda Bay in the nearby city of Budapest with US duo and organic deep house craftsmen Bedouin headlining.



Heineken Balaton Sounds always unmissable boat parties are back once again in 2024 and offer the ultimate daytime fun on Lake Balaton with brands such as House Picnic on Thursday and Be Massive on Friday plus more to be announced. Each one invites you to dance to the freshest sounds while taking in the panoramic views, ice-cold drinks and endless beaming sunshine. They run daily from July 3rd - 5th but tickets are limited, so grab yours now.



This latest wave of names adds more irresistible quality to the soundtrack with stars from across the house and techno spectrum including cutting edge sounds from Palestine's iconic Sama' Abdulhadi, big future house beats from the notorious Laidback Luke, red hot house from US star HoneyLuv, elegant melodic tech from Henri Bergmann and plenty of the freshest club anthems from Dutch breakout hero Mau P amongst much more including Alfa Romero, Marino Canal, Estella Boersma, Cassian, Marwan Dua, HUGEL, Afriqua, David Lohlein, Airrica, Baugruppe90, Malugi, and Olympe, while the internationally renowned Manuals, Meaghan and Nina Black will perform at The Lookout.



"This year, we aimed to compile the music lineup of Heineken Balaton Sound in a way that condenses the wide range of the electronic music universe into the four days of the festival. Heineken Balaton Sound has become a cross-genre party celebration where lovers of electronic music can freely choose from the offerings, discovering new favourites and musical genres throughout the festival beach," began Anna Filutas, the project manager of Heineken Balaton Sound, announcing the full lineup.



The main organiser of the festival explained that one of the highlights of this year is the extension of the program time on the Heineken Balaton Sound Main Stage, "from the second day onwards, the programs will continue until 3 am, and on Sunday, transitioning into dawn, a huge Endshow bidding farewell to festival-goers will be presented by the world-famous Dutch Q-dance team."



Heineken Balaton Sound isn't just a festivalit's a perfect fusion of holiday, travel, culture, and music set against the breathtaking backdrop of Lake Balaton.



The beautiful location offers the ideal getaway where you can bask in the sun, groove to the beats, and immerse yourself in a world of vibrant experiences in and around the local region, explore the 1 km long beach section, enjoy waterfront relaxation and all manner of water games day and night, while the spectacular city of Budapest is just 90 minutes away.



All of this is highly accessible to travellers from all over Europe and once you arrive, you are free to embark on an endless adventure with walkabouts, fashion shows, sports, dance workshops, techno yoga, and more to make this a trip like no other.



Musically of course it is also second to none with a monumental Main Stage adorned with a vast LED wall and the famous B tage, with each venue boasting top-tier audio-visuals and sound systems.



With camping options onsite and nearby hotels in Zamardi or Siofok, Heineken Balaton Sound is the ultimate summer holiday destination from July 3rd to 6th, 2024.



For the full schedule and passes for the Warm Up Party, Boat Party and Festival head to www.balatonsound.com or visit the official app to get tickets before the prices go up.
Nita Ambani has recently added a Rolls Royce Phantom VIII EWB luxury sedan in her exclusive collection. This striking Rose Quartz shade vehicle addition to the Ambani family's impressive collection of cars has sparked admiration and curiosity on social media, particularly because of the color. Mukesh Ambani has amassed a fleet of over 168 cars alongside his family. This collection features a range of expensive and exotic vehicles, showcasing their penchant for luxury and style.

Rose Quartz Rolls Royce

The Rose Quartz shade of Nita Ambani's Rolls Royce Phantom VIII EWB is seldom seen on automobiles. The attention to detail extends to the interior, where Orchid Velvet complements the exterior's understated yet classy appeal.

Rolls Royce offers extensive customization options, allowing buyers to tailor their vehicles to their preferences. While the standard Rolls Royce Phantom VIII EWB is priced at Rs. 12 crore, additional customizations like Nita Ambani's Rose Quartz exterior and Orchid Velvet interior contribute to a higher cost. The exact price of her customized Rolls Royce remains undisclosed, adding an element of exclusivity to this luxurious acquisition.

Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII EWB

Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII EWB luxury sedan is equipped with a potent 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 engine, generating 571 bhp and 900 Nm of peak torque. Paired with an automatic gearbox powering the rear wheels, it delivers an opulent driving experience characteristic of the Rolls-Royce brand.
New Delhi: Edtech firm Think and Learn, owner of Byju's brand, has started paying March salaries to its employees after a delay of nine days and the payout process is expected to complete in next 10 days, according to sources. The company in a communication to employees blamed the group of four investors for the delay.

"We are pleased to inform you that salary disbursement has commenced today and will be completed over the next 10 days. Unfortunately, despite our efforts, we haven't yet secured approval to access the rights issue funds, because of the action of four foreign investors. However, we have arranged an alternative line of credit to ensure timely payments," Byju's said in an email to employees. (Also Read: PayU Partners PayPal To Improve Cross-Border Payments For Indian Merchants)

The company raised USD 200 million through rights issue to meet its operational requirements, including expenses related to employees' salaries. A group of four investors -- Prosus, General Atlantic, Sofina, and Peak XV -- along with the support from other shareholders, including Tiger and Owl Ventures, have approached NCLT against the founders as well as the rights issue which may lead to change in shareholding pattern in the company. (Also Read: Ola Cabs Ends International Operations To Focus On Domestic Market)

Sources said that 25 per cent employees in the lower pay scale will get full payment while senior employees will get partial payment. "We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding throughout this period," Byju's said in the email.
north sea

A UK energy company is to start drilling at the biggest oil field discovered in the North Sea in at least 20 years in spite of a net zero crackdown on the industry.

EnQuest plans to bring two fields onstream which have the potential to produce 500 million barrels of crude oil over coming decades.

The sites, which neighbour Kraken oil and gas field, 80 miles east of Shetland, will reignite the political battle over the North Seas future in which Labour has threatened to block new production citing environmental concerns.

Their planned intervention has prompted warnings from energy companies that the UK risks cutting off its own energy supplies before it has a replacement.

The resulting Kraken cluster will have combined reserves larger than either Rosebank or Cambo, the controversial fields west of Shetland which attracted a backlash from environmental campaigners. Cambo was discovered in 2002 with discovery drilling at Rosebank taking place two years after.

Rosebank, which is predicted to yield 350 million barrels of oil, won a production licence last September after months of political wrangling. Cambo, with 170 million barrels of oil, has been in limbo since 2021 when energy giant Shell pulled out of the project because of the green backlash.

It comes as Labour plots a 11bn raid on the UKs oil and gas industry as part of proposals to increase and extend the windfall tax, with the funds invested in clean power to cut bills for families.

The party has also proposed to ban new oil and gas drilling licences.

Energy companies are under intense pressure to cut back on oil and gas production and boost investment in renewables as governments race to meet net zero targets.

Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned last month that the world is at risk of energy shortages unless more money is invested in drilling for oil and gas.

EnQuests two new sites, Bressay and Bentley, are so close to Kraken that they can all be connected to the same production system, based around the giant ship already serving as a floating oil platform for the Kraken field.

EnQuest said Bressay was one of the largest undeveloped oil fields in the UK continental shelf with so-called oil-in-place estimated to be between 600 million and one billion barrels.

Oil-in-place measures the total oil in a reservoir but the amount extracted from Bressay is likely to be around 200-300 million barrels.

Bentley, the second nearby field, is thought to be even larger, capable of producing more than 300 million barrels, putting it on a par with Rosebank.

Those amounts are in addition to the 137 million barrels already being extracted from the original Kraken field. It means the cluster could produce more than 700 million barrels of oil.

Story continues

A spokesman for Offshore Energies UK, the industry trade body, said: Continued investment in UK energy opportunities, including oil projects, is necessary to ensure UK security of energy supply, support hundreds of thousands of jobs and contribute to the UK economy.

However, it is thought that almost all that oil is likely to be exported, partly because the Kraken field is not linked to a pipeline meaning its oil is likely to be collected by ship and taken to whichever refineries buy it.

It means the main benefit for the UK will come from any taxes paid by EnQuest. The windfall taxes imposed by Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, currently stand at 75pc of profits.

Craig Baxter, of EnQuest, said: EnQuest continues to explore ways to progress the respective development of the Bressay and Bentley fields.

EnQuest is committed to supporting the energy transition in the UK and any future field development will be conducted in line with EnQuests commitment to reaching net zero scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2040.

Mr Baxter added that the gas initially extracted from the Bressay field would be used to power the Kraken operations, replacing the diesel fuels currently used and so cutting emissions.

He said: This would significantly reduce Krakens emissions, by displacing diesel that is currently being used to power field operations.

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman said: As data from the independent Climate Change Committee shows, well still need oil and gas for decades to come, even when we reach net zero in 2050.

Thats why were backing the UKs oil and gas industry with annual licensing rounds, supporting around 200,000 jobs, generating billions in tax revenues to fund public services and support with the cost of living and retaining the skills and expertise needed for the green transition.

Even with new oil and gas licences, we have been clear there will be a managed decline in UK production, projected at 7pc per year, and they will not make us a net exporter or increase carbon emissions above our legally binding carbon budgets.

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.
New Delhi: Ola, a prominent ride-hailing company based in India has revealed its decision to cease operations in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand by the end of April. This strategic move is part of the company's effort to bolster its presence in the domestic market and prepare for an upcoming initial public offering (IPO). The company has begun informing users about the upcoming shutdown of its services through notifications.

Spokesperson from Ola mentioned in a statement,"The future of mobility is electric -- not just in personal mobility but also for the ride-hailing business, and there is immense opportunity for expansion in India,". (Also Read: Royal Bank Of Canada Fires CFO For Undisclosed Personal Relationship With Colleague)

Drivers working for Ola in Australia were notified via email about the sudden closure and were instructed not to accept passengers after April 12. Ola's departure from the country occurs six years after it initially entered the market in 2018. The Transport Workers Union in Australia has allegedly expressed the intention to arrange a prompt meeting with Ola to guarantee that its drivers receive all their owed wages. (Also Read: Swiggy Transitions To Public Limited Company Ahead Of IPO)

Both Ola and Uber have launched subscription-based plans for auto-rickshaw drivers using their platforms. This approach mirrors the strategy adopted by competitors Namma Yatri and Rapido, eliminating booking fees or commissions, as reported by ET.
New Delhi: Beleaguered Paytm Payments Bank's managing director and CEO Surinder Chawla has resigned from the company, a regulatory filing said on Tuesday. Chawla's resignation comes amidst Paytm Payments Bank facing prohibitory action from banking regulator RBI.

"Surinder Chawla, Managing Director and CEO of PPBL, has tendered his resignation on April 8, 2024, on account of personal reasons and to explore better career prospects. He will be relieved from PPBL w.E.F. Close of business hours on June 26, 2024, unless changed by mutual consent," One97 Communications, Paytm brand owner, said in a regulatory filing.

Chawla joined PPBL in January last year after the payments bank received approval from the Reserve Bank of India. In a major action against Paytm Payments Bank (PPBL), RBI, on January 31, directed it to stop accepting deposits or top-ups in any customer accounts, wallets, FASTags and other instruments after February 29. Subsequently, the deadline was extended to March 15. (Also Read: PayU Partners PayPal To Improve Cross-Border Payments For Indian Merchants)

The direction follows persistent non-compliance and continued material supervisory concerns, the central bank had said in a statement. On March 11, 2022, the RBI barred PPBL from onboarding new customers with immediate effect.

Following regulatory actions, promoter Vijay Shekhar Sharma last month stepped down as part-time non-executive Chairman of Paytm Payments Bank Limited, and the board of the bank has been reconstituted.

Former Central Bank of India chairman Srinivasan Sridhar, former Bank of Baroda Executive Director Ashok Kumar Garg, and two retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers were inducted on the board of the bank.

One97 Communications Limited (OCL) holds a 49 per cent stake in PPBL. Paytm said nearly all agreements between the company and PPBL have been terminated as per a disclosure on March 1, 2024, and the board of PPBL has been reconstituted with five independent directors including an independent chairperson, and no nominees from the company, as per its disclosure on February 26, 2024. (Also Read: Ola Cabs Ends International Operations To Focus On Domestic Market)

"In line with our ongoing efforts, the company continues to collaborate with banking partners to enhance our merchant acquiring and UPI services," the filing said. The National Payments Corporation of India on Thursday granted One97 Communications Ltd the approval to participate in UPI as a Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) under the multi-bank model.

Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, and YES Bank will act as Payment System Provider (PSP) banks to Paytm.
New Delhi: The Finance Ministry on Monday announced the sale of government bonds worth Rs 30,000 crore in three different categories that will be put up for auction by the RBIs Mumbai Office on April 12 (Friday). The result of the auctions will be announced on April 12, 2024 (Friday) and payment by successful bidders will be on April 15, 2024 (Monday).

"The Government of India (GoI) has announced the sale (issue/ re-issue) of (i) 7.32% Government Security 2030 for a notified amount of 11,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction using multiple price method, (ii) New Government Security 2039 for a notified amount of 10,000 crore (nominal) through yield based auction using multiple price method, and (iii) 7.30% Government Security 2053 for a notified amount of 9,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction using multiple price method," said a release.

GoI will have the option to retain additional subscription up to  2,000 crore against each security mentioned above. The auctions will be conducted by the Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai Office, Fort, Mumbai on April 12, 2024 (Friday).

Up to 5% of the notified amount of the sale of the securities will be allotted to eligible individuals and institutions as per the Scheme for Non-Competitive Bidding Facility in the Auction of Government Securities.

Both competitive and non-competitive bids for the auction should be submitted in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system on April 12, 2024. The non-competitive bids should be submitted between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and the competitive bids should be submitted between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

The Securities will be eligible for When Issued trading in accordance with the guidelines on When Issued transactions in Central Government Securities issued by the Reserve Bank of India vide circular No. RBI/2018-19/25 dated July 24, 2018 as amended from time to time.
NMMS Result 2023: The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has announced the results for the National Means cum Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Chandigarh examination of 2023. Students who appeared for the exam can view their roll number results and the list of selected candidates on the official website, scertchd.edu.in. A total of 85 students have been chosen for the scholarship program, and the list includes details such as student names, roll numbers, fathers names, categories, genders, disabilities, MAT marks, SAT marks, and total marks.

NMMS Chandigarh Result 2023: Steps To Download

- Visit the official website, scertchd.edu.in

- Navigate to the announcements tab and opt for results

- Locate and click on Result of National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme Examination Result- 2023

- Choose between the roll number wise result or the list of selected students

- A PDF document will appear on the screen

- Download the PDF for future reference

The answer key for the Chandigarh NMMS 2023 was released on November 13, allowing candidates to raise objections against the provisional answer key until November 19. The NMMS Chandigarh exam took place on November 8 with the aim of granting 85 scholarships to deserving students. The examination comprised two papers  the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), each containing 90 questions worth one mark each.

In order to pass the exam, students must secure at least 40 percent marks in aggregate (32% for SC, ST). Under the scholarship program, selected Class 8 students will receive Rs 12,000 per annum from Class 9 to 12.
New Delhi: Congress leader stalwart Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday delivered a scathing critique of the central BJP governments Agnipath scheme, saying that the program, which trains recruits for a mere six months, is grossly inadequate when compared to the five-year training regimen of Chinese soldiers. Gandhi warned of the dire consequences this disparity could bring on the battlefield. Gandhi pledged that a Congress-led government would dismantle the Agnipath scheme, which he described as ill-conceived by the prime minister and rejected by the military establishment.

"Earlier, poor people used to join the sena (read Army). They (soldiers) used to get a pension and martyr status. The facility of the canteen was also available to them. Now they (Centre) say we are producing Agniveers by recruiting say four youths (under the scheme) and training them for six months," the Congress MP said. He wondered how an Agniveer could face a trained Chinese soldier.

"Chinese soldiers will come after undergoing (combat) training for five years. You can understand the result. Our son (Agniveer) will be martyred. Then we will be told that he won't get the status of martyr because he is Agniveer. You will neither get the canteen facility nor a pension.

"But the person he (Agniveer) will fight will say that 'brother, you don't get a pension, you don't get canteen facility, you will not get the status of martyr either. But I am getting a canteen facility and will also get a pension. I will also get the martyr status'," Gandhi said. He said if Congress comes to power, it will scrap the Agniveer scheme.

The Agnipath scheme, introduced in June 2022, aims to rejuvenate the armed forces by recruiting young individuals for short stints, with a small fraction retained for longer service. However, Gandhis narrative painted a grim picture of the Agniveers future, lacking in both recognition and benefits, standing in stark contrast to their adversaries.

The Congress in its manifesto "Nyay Patra" has promised to abolish the Agnipath/Agniveer scheme.

Gandhi also claimed the sena was not in favour of this scheme.

"If you ask the Army whether they want Agniveer (scheme), they will say they don't want this scheme. This scheme is causing loss to us as well as the country. The Agniveer Yojana was conceptualised by the prime minister and a decision was taken by the PMO. The Army is against this scheme," he claimed.

Had the sena wanted the Agnipath scheme, I would have never said from the stage that we would abolish it.

"The sena wants Agniveer Yojana to be cancelled and we are going to scrap it," he added. Gandhi also listed various promises mentioned in the Congress manifesto for women, youths, farmers and the poor. He reiterated the Congress' commitment to the caste-based census which he said would be a "social X-ray".
New Delhi: In a huge setback for Aam Aadmi Party's national convenor and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected his petition contesting his detention by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Excise Policy money laundering case. Responding to his plea, the Delhi High Court said that material collected by the ED reveals that Kejriwal conspired and was involved in the formulation of excise policy and used proceeds of crime. He is also allegedly involved in a personal capacity in the formulation of policy and demanding kickbacks and secondly in the capacity of national convenor of AAP, the High Court observed.

Delhi High Court further stated that to cast doubt on the manner of recording the statement of the approver would amount to casting aspersions on the Court and judge. This is not the first case or last case where the approver has been made. HC further says the law of approver is over 100 years old and not one year old. It cannot be suggested that it was enacted to implicate the present petitioner, according to the news agency ANI. The high court also said that "Political considerations can't be brought before a court of law. The matter before this court is not a conflict between the central govt and Kejriwal. It's a case between Kejriwal and ED."

Pronouncing its order, the high court stated that this court thinks that the accused has been arrested and his arrest and remand have to be examined as per law and not as per the timing of elections, Delhi High Court added that "Judges are bound by law and not by politics. Judgments are written by legal principles and not political affiliations.".

The verdict, which was initially expected at 2:30 pm, was delivered by Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma of the High Court. Last week, this bench reserved its decision following comprehensive arguments from both parties. Kejriwal has disputed both his arrest and the subsequent ED custody authorized by the lower court.

Representing Kejriwal, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the case is marred by conspicuous timing issues, suggesting a deliberate attempt to exclude the petitioner from the democratic process and to dismantle his political party.

Singhvi contended, The arrests timing is suspect, raising questions about democratic fairness. The arrest was made without any preliminary inquiry or statement, which is unusual as Section 50 was not invoked. The apparent motive behind the arrest seems to be to demean, embarrass, and incapacitate the petitioner. Despite an extensive investigation spanning over a year, the authorities are now seeking to implicate the Chief Minister.

Countering Kejriwals petition, the Enforcement Directorates counsel, ASG SV Raju, maintained that the pleas arguments resemble those of a bail request rather than an appeal to invalidate the arrest. The investigation is still in its early stages, and as it pertains to Kejriwal, it remains incomplete, the ED contended while opposing the challenge to his arrest.

Raju argued, No challenge has been raised against the remand order Its uncertain whether he can contest these orders while simultaneously acknowledging the remand. The petitioner is attempting to have it both ways, which is untenable. One cannot simultaneously dispute the remand and accept it.

On Tuesday, the ED submitted a response to the Delhi High Court, objecting to Kejriwals challenge to his arrest. The agency highlighted that Kejriwal had been given numerous chances to collaborate with the ongoing investigation by responding to nine summons. Nevertheless, he chose to deliberately ignore these summons, avoiding the investigation without substantial justification.

In its response to the High Court, the ED asserted that Kejriwals arrest was executed in strict compliance with the law and noted that the Chief Minister had forfeited his right to contest his current detention, rendering any argument against the legality of his present custody baseless. Furthermore, the ED alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) significantly profited from the illicit funds generated by the Delhi Liquor Scam, with approximately Rs 45 crores purportedly used to finance AAPs campaign in the 2022 Goa Assembly elections.

According to the ED, AAP engaged in money laundering activities through Arvind Kejriwal, with the offences falling under section 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The ED described AAP as a collective of individuals registered under Section 29-A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The Delhi High Court had recently called for a response from the ED following a petition by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, which contested both his arrest and the ED custody sanctioned by the trial court.
New Delhi: The prime suspect in Baba Tarsem Singhs murder case was killed in an encounter with the Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) on Tuesday. The incident happened in the Bhagwanpur area of Haridwar in the early hours of Tuesday. Amarjit Singh, alias Bittu, had a bounty of Rs 1 lakh on him after he allegedly shot Baba Tarsem Singh, the leader overseeing the 'karseva' at Nanakmatta Gurdwara, on March 28. Baba Tarsem was fatally shot by two assailants riding motorcycles at the Nanakmatta Gurdwara in Udham Singh Nagar.

According to the Uttarakhand Director General of Police's (DGP) statement to ANI, Amarjit Singh was shot while his accomplice fled successfully. The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) and Haridwar Police have initiated a joint operation to apprehend the fugitive suspect, as stated by the DGP.

Haridwar, Uttarakhand | An encounter between STF and police, and sharpshooter Amarjit Singh alias Bittu took place between Kaliyar Road and Bhagwanpur in Haridwar in which the main shooter has been killed. More than 16 cases are registered against Amarjit Singh alias Bittu: SSP https://t.co/fh47pgaRhH  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

Authorities mentioned that over 16 charges have been filed against Amarjeet Singh. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) raised the reward sum for both primary suspects, Amarjit Singh and Sarabjit Singh, who are on the run, on Sunday from Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000 each.

Three more accused were also arrested in the case. They were allegedly involved in orchestrating the crime by assembling criminals, providing resources, and supplying weapons, police said. The police will deal strictly with the criminals if they commit such heinous crimes in Uttarakhand, the DGP added. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has given strict instructions to the police to nab the accused.
KOLKATA: In a scathing letter addressed to West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has raised alarm over what it describes as a "grave state of affairs" ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The party has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engaging in blatant collusion with central agencies to undermine the opposition.

TMC Alleges Nexus Between BJP, Central Agencies

TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee penned the letter, highlighting five key issues that have raised concerns within the party. The letter accuses the BJP of mobilizing central departments and agencies such as the NIA, ED, CBI, and IT to target opposition parties, including the TMC. According to the letter, these agencies are allegedly acting on the directives of the BJP to suppress members of the TMC, hindering their political activities in the lead-up to the 2024 General Elections. Moreover, the TMC has expressed dismay over what it perceives as the Election Commission of India's passive role, likening it to a "silent referee" that turns a blind eye to the BJP's actions.

Our Nat'l GS Shri @abhishekaitc has penned a letter to the Hon'ble Governor, bringing to his attention:



The blatant misuse of Central Investigative Agencies by @BJP4India

BJP leader Jitendra Tiwari having backroom discussions with NIA SP Dhan Ram Singh to hatch a pic.twitter.com/56T6CEzPmI  All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 9, 2024

The TMC further alleges that clandestine meetings took place between BJP leader Jitendra Tiwari and NIA Superintendent of Police Dhan Ram Singh, purportedly aimed at unlawfully targeting TMC members. The party points to visitor logs at Singh's residence complex as evidence and claims that financial inducements were offered to Singh.

Despite lodging multiple complaints with the Election Commission of India against what it deems as illegal actions by central agencies, the TMC asserts that its pleas have been ignored, with no remedial action taken.

Clampdown On Opposition Protests

In a separate incident, the TMC claims that a peaceful protest organized by the party in the national capital was met with heavy-handed tactics by the Delhi Police. TMC leaders, including Dola Sen and Sagarika Ghose, were allegedly subjected to physical harm, with Sen sustaining a leg injury and Ghose reportedly being manhandled.

Urgent Call For Emergency Funds

Amidst the turmoil, the TMC has emphasized the urgent need for the release of emergency funds by the state government following the devastation caused by a recent cyclone and tornado. However, due to the Model Code of Conduct currently in force, the release of new funds has been stalled. The TMC has appealed to the Election Commission to make an exception in light of the emergency situation and allow the release of necessary funds to assist affected individuals.
The Delhi High Court today refused to grant relief to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi Excise Policy case. Kejriwal has challenged his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the Excise Policy money laundering case before the High Court. Delhi High Court dismissed CM Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the Excise Policy money laundering case. Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma's bench delivered the order today. Delivering the verdict, the court said that questioning the witness is akin to questioning the court as Magistrate records the judgement of the witnesses in any case. The court also disagreed with Kejriwal's contention that he was trapped using the statements of some witnesses.

The court also noted that Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by the ED was not illegal. The High Court also said that the material collected by the ED reveals Arvind Kejriwal conspired and was actively involved in use and concealment of proceeds of crime. "The ED case also reveals that he was involved in his personal capacity as well as convenor of AAP," said the HC. The High Court noted that the ED was in possession of enough material which had led them to arrest Kejriwal. "Non-joining of investigation by Kejriwal, delay caused by him was also impacting those in judicial custody," said Delhi High Court.

Last week, the same bench reserved judgment following comprehensive arguments from both parties. Delhi's Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, has contested both his arrest and the ED remand granted by the trial court. The High Court also observed that the present case is not a case between the Central government and Kejriwal but between Kejriwal and ED. "The Court must remain vigilant that it is not influenced by any extraneous factors...We are concerned with constitutional morality not political morality," said the HC.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate in relation to the excise policy case. Appearing for Kejriwal, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi had contended that the ED case reeks of timing issues as it ensures that the petitioner doesn't participate in the democratic process and that his party is 'destroyed'. However, the High Court rejected the argument today saying that the arrest cannot be linked to elections as Kejriwal ignored nine summons and did not appear before the ED.

While opposing Kejriwal's plea, Enforcement Directorate lawyer ASG SV Raju submitted that the investigation in the matter is at a nascent stage and as far as Kejriwal is concerned, the investigation is not over. "No remand order has been challenged...I'm not even sure if he can challenge these orders when he says that I am conceding the remand. They're playing hot and cold at the same time. You can't ride two horses at the same time. You can't challenge the remand on one hand and say I accept the remand on the other," argued ASG Raju for ED.
BJP leader Narendra Modi today held a roadshow in Chennai along with the party's Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai and other leaders. Sharing photos of the roadshow on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Chennai crowd 'won over him'. He also promised continuous development of the metro city. Chennai will go to the polls on April 19 in the first phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

"Chennai has won me over! Todays roadshow in this dynamic city will remain a part of my memory forever. The blessings of the people give me strength to keep working hard in your service and to make our nation even more developed. The enthusiasm in Chennai also shows that Tamil Nadu is all set to support NDA in a big way," said Modi.

The NDA Government will keep working in sectors like roads, ports, urban transportation, culture, commerce, connectivity, energy and more. At the same time, we will address key issues in Chennai like strengthening the disaster management apparatus, which makes us better prepared pic.twitter.com/EaCKllkLPQ  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 9, 2024

DMK Busy Promoting Family Rule: Modi

Modi alleged that DMK took votes from the people of Chennai for years but did nothing much for the city. "DMK is busy furthering corruption and family rule. Their MPs are not accessible to the people, particularly whenever the times are challenging. The recent public information on the Katchatheevu surrender point to how Congress and DMK were complicit in harming our strategic interests and the well-being of our fishermen and fisherwomen. No wonder this time, Chennai is all set to reject DMK and Congress," he said.

Modi Recounts Development Work

Modi assured that the NDA government will keep working for the welfare of the vibrant city. "Over the last few years, I have come here very often to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for key projects which will boost Ease of Living. At the root of this is connectivity. Recently, the new integrated terminal building at Chennai airport was inaugurated. In the coming times, railway stations here including Egmore Station are going to be redeveloped," he said.

PM Modi also recounted the launch of Vande Bharat Express connecting Chennai to different cities. "Thanks to Vande Bharat Express, connectivity between Chennai-Coimbatore and Chennai-Mysuru has also been enhanced. The Chennai Metro network is being expanded, thus helping the professionals working in the city. Key road projects like the Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway and the expansion of other existing road projects will improve commerce and connectivity," said the BJP leaders.

The BJP leader claimed that remarkable work is underway in the housing sector as lakhs of houses have been built across Tamil Nadu under PM-Awas Yojana. "Some time ago, many houses built as a part of Light House Project were inaugurated thus giving wings to several aspirations. Our Government is also working on projects like a Multi-Modal Logistics Park and a Discovery Campus at IIT-Madras, which will boost business as well as innovation," said Modi.

Invoking Tamil Culture To Woo Voters

Invoking the Tamil culture to woo the voters, Modi said that the NDA government accords topmost respect to Tamil culture and added that he felt proud after getting an opportunity to speak a few words in Tamil language at the UN. "We will continue to make Tamil culture and language popular at the world stage. Two years ago, the Central Institute of Classical Tamil was inaugurated which will further popularise aspects of Tamil culture. Earlier this year, the revamped channel DD Tamil was launched which will again be instrumental in celebrating the culture of this great state," Modi promised.

Development Promise

Modi said that the NDA Government will keep working in sectors like roads, ports, urban transportation, culture, commerce, connectivity, energy and more. He said that the central government will also address key issues in Chennai like strengthening the disaster management apparatus, which makes us better prepared when calamities like floods strike. We will also keep supporting the MSME sector, a vital pillar of economic growth.
New Delhi: The air in Uttar Pradeshs Nagina constituency reeks of a potential power shift fueled by discontent with Mayawati's perceived silence on issues affecting the community and her party's absence from grassroots activism. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, when the SP and BSP had an alliance, BSP leader Girish Chandra won the Nagina seat, defeating the BJPs Yashwant Singh by a huge margin of 1.6 lakh votes. However, this time, they're turning towards the Aazad Samaj Party (ASP-Kanshiram) as a potential alternative. What Ignited this emotion?

Near the Ravidas Temple and the statue of B R Ambedkar in Nezowadi Gaanwdi village, a gathering awaits the arrival of leaders from the Aazad Samaj Party (ASP-Kanshiram) on Saturday, April 6th. Most of the crowd comprises Jatav Dalit community members, traditionally supporters of BSP leader Mayawati. But this time the purpose is a small meeting in support of party chief and candidate Chandrashkhar Azad, reported The Indian Express.

What Instigated Voters Sentiments?

A few weeks ago, police reported a tense situation in Silai Baragaon village of Rampur district after a clash resulted in the death of a Dalit teenager and left two others injured. The deceased, Sumesh Kumar (17), was returning home after completing his Class 10 board examination when the incident occurred. The dispute revolved around the installation of a board bearing a photo of BR Ambedkar on a piece of contested land, according to police statements.

Following the death of a Dalit youth in police gunfire in Rampur, ASP leader Chandrashekhar Azad visited the family. However, Mayawati, her nephew, and her successor, Akash Anand, did not extend their presence. As per Express report, their silence has echoed within the Dalit population of the seat.

Electoral Equation Of Nagina Seat

Muslims and Dalits together constitute a significant vote bank in the Nagina constituency. Azad's advocacy for their causes resonates with these communities. This is anticipated to potentially disrupt the traditional dominance of parties like the BSP and SP.

As per the report by Express, Nagina's demographics paint a complex picture: Dalits dominate Nezowadi Gaanwdi village, while Sainis, an OBC group, lean towards the BJP. The 2019 Lok Sabha polls saw BSP's Girish Chandra clinching victory, but recent Assembly elections show a fragmented landscape.

The appeal of Azad's Bhim Army extends beyond youth, attracting older voters seeking a new voice for their concerns. As per reports, there is a collective sentiment among voters about the increased need for Dalit representation at the national level.

Political Scenario On Ground

According to the report by The Indian Express, attempts at coalition-building between Azad and other parties, notably the SP-Congress, failed over seat allocation. Meanwhile, the BSP, sensing the threat from Azad's rising popularity, has intensified its campaign efforts.

As the political battlefield heats up, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is rallying support for the BJP, emphasising gestures towards Dalit icons. Azad, on the other hand, is focusing on the local publics mobilisation and consolidating support among non-Jatav Dalits and Muslims.

Despite challenges from established parties, Azad's entry as a contender signifies a shifting political dynamic in Nagina. His grassroots activism and appeal to marginalised communities present a formidable challenge to traditional political powerhouses.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today declared a verdict in Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrest in the Delhi Excise Policy case. The court has declined to provide relief to Delhi's Chief Minister in a money laundering case. The verdict comes after a plea filed by Kejriwal challenging his arrest by ED.

In Today's DNA, Sourabh Raaj Jain analysed the verdict given by the Delhi High Court against Kejriwal's arrest in the Excise Policy case.

Watch Full DNA Episode Here

The High Court has acknowledged the role of CM Kejriwal in the liquor scam and stated evidence compiled by the Enforcement Directorate indicates that Kejriwal conspired with other accused individuals. The court also acknowledged that Kejriwal was personally involved in formulating the liquor policy and collecting bribes.

Following the timing of Kejriwal's Arrest, the High Court stated that the arrest and remand would be conducted according to the law, not influenced by the timing of the elections. This is incorrect to say that the Enforcement Directorate deliberately arrested CM Kejriwal during the election period.

However, the court decision is extremely bad news for the AAP chief and Delhi's CM, especially when Lok Sabha Elections are knocking on the door. There is speculation that Kejriwal might challenge the High Court's decision in the Supreme Court.
New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi de-facto ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently convened for an official meeting at Al-Safa Palace in Mecca on April 7. During the meeting, they emphasised the importance of discussions between Islamabad and New Delhi to settle their "outstanding issues," with a particular focus on the Kashmir matter. The statement came in a joint statement which was issued a day after the meeting, reported news agency PTI.

The statement comes at a time when for a long time, New Delhi has maintained that Kashmir is a matter to be resolved directly between India and Pakistan, without any involvement or interference from external parties.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan talked about strengthening the friendly ties between the two countries and finding ways to work together better in different areas. They also talked about issues in the region, like Kashmir, as mentioned in their statement.

The two sides stressed the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to ensure peace and stability in the region, PTI reported quoting the statement.

The relationship between the two countries took a downturn after India scrapped Article 370 of its Constitution, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and divided the region into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.

Pakistan strongly reacted to India's decision, reducing diplomatic relations and expelling the Indian ambassador. India has consistently informed Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country, both historically and in the future.

India has expressed its desire for normal, friendly relations with Pakistan, provided there is an absence of terrorism, hostility, and violence.
New Delhi: A young Indian student, who had disappeared since March of this year, has tragically been discovered dead in the state of Ohio, USA. Originally from Hyderabad, Mohammed Abdul Arfath travelled to the United States in May 2023 to pursue a Master's degree in IT at Cleveland University. However, he went missing on March 7 of this year.

Mohd Saleem, his father, alleged that ten days later, they received a call from an unknown individual alleging that Arafath had been abducted and demanded a ransom of USD 1200 for his safe return, news agency ANI reported.

On March 21, the Consulate General of India in New York announced their ongoing communication with Arfath's family and relevant authorities in the United States in efforts to locate him.

Expressing deep distress upon learning of the demise of Mohammed Abdul Arfath, whose search was ongoing, the Consulate General of India in New York conveyed its heartfelt condolences to his family. The consulate affirmed its active engagement with local authorities in Cleveland, Ohio, to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Arfath's passing.

"Anguished to learn that Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio. Our deepest condolences to Mr Mohammed Arfath's family, the Consulate said in a post on X,

He further assured that every available support is being provided to the grieving family to facilitate the repatriation of Mohammed Abdul Arfath's body to India.

On March 21, The Consulate through a post on X confirmed their ongoing communication with Mohammad Abdul Arfath's family and relevant authorities in the US. This response was issued following reports of the disappearance of the 25-year-old Hyderabad student and his father being contacted with a demand for a USD 1200 ransom.

Lately, there has been an increase in such unfortunate incidents within the Indian community. Just last week, Uma Satya Sai Gadde, an Indian student in Cleveland, Ohio, passed away, and an ongoing police investigation is underway.

In February of this year, another Indian student endured a vicious assault in Chicago. In response to the incident, the Indian Consulate in Chicago confirmed its communication with the victim, Syed Mazahir Ali, as well as with his wife in India.
Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered speech at a public gathering in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, he will be actively campaigning in Balaghat, a region of Madhya Pradesh affected by Naxalism. This marks his second engagement in Madhya Pradesh within a span of three days. In a strategic move, the BJP has introduced Bharti Pardhi as the new candidate for Balaghat, taking over from the current MP, Dhal Singh Bisen.

The upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh are set to unfold in four stages, with the initial phase commencing on April 19, followed by subsequent phases on April 26, May 7, and May 13. Reflecting on the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, the BJP emerged overwhelmingly victorious in Madhya Pradesh, claiming 28 of the 29 available seats, leaving the INC with a solitary win.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi is expected to conduct roadshows in South Chennai and Central Chennai, Tamil Nadu, later today. The Prime Ministers itinerary includes a two-day stay in Tamil Nadu, during which he will address two public meetings on Wednesday.

Stay Tuned To Zee News English For LIVE Updates On Lok Sabha Elections

15:15: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has been granted 'Z' category CRPF security nationwide, according to news agency ANI. The decision, made by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), comes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and follows recent threat assessments by the Intelligence Bureau. The increased security for Kumar is attributed to international threats.

14:21: Election Commission of India (ECI) directed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to verify any mismatch in affidavit details submitted by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, BJP's candidate from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat. Action comes after the Indian National Congress (INC) sent a complaint to ECI regarding mismatch in actual and declared assets in his affidavit by Rajeev Chandrasekhar. As per procedure, ECI today directed CBDT to check the affidavit and verify the mismatch if any.

According to rule any mismatch and falsification of affidavit is dealt with under Section 125 A of the RP Act 1951: ANI

13:10: Delhi Minister and prominent figure in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Gopal Rai told ANI that the party has initiated a door-to-door campaign starting today. Rai emphasized that the campaign aims to convey Arvind Kejriwal's message directly to the people, highlighting the absence of their Chief Minister due to his current incarceration, and urging Delhi residents to take charge. Rai asserted that by expressing their support through votes, they can facilitate Kejriwal's release from jail. This initiative underscores the party's determination to engage with voters at a grassroots level amidst the challenging circumstances.

#WATCH Delhi: Delhi Minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai says, "Aam Aadmi Party is starting a door-to-door campaign from today. We are going door-to-door and are taking Arvind Kejriwal's message to people that today your Chief Minister is in jail and he cannot campaign. Therefore, pic.twitter.com/ToFrxuU1hK  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

12:57: In a significant political development for Haryana ahead of Lok Sabha Polls, ex-BJP figures Chaudhry Birender Singh and his spouse, Premlata Singh, have officially joined the Congress Party in Delhi. This move comes shortly after their son, Brijendra Singh, a former BJP leader, also made the switch to the Congress Party.

#WATCH | Former BJP leaders Chaudhry Birender Singh and his wife Premlata Singh join the Congress Party, in Delhi



Their son and former BJP leader Brijendra Singh had joined the Congress Party recently. pic.twitter.com/cV0EGeOtoW  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

12:51: PM Modi in his public speech claimed, "Farmers in Uttar Pradesh have received approximately Rs 70,000 crore through the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. The BJP government's disbursement to sugarcane farmers in the state surpasses the total transferred to farmers during the 14-year tenure of the SP-BSP-Congress coalition government in Uttar Pradesh."

#WATCH | PM Modi in Pilibhit, UP says, "The farmers in Uttar Pradesh have received around Rs 70,000 crore in their bank accounts under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. The amount of money transferred to sugarcane farmers here by the BJP govt is more than the amount transferred to farmers pic.twitter.com/HPgl1PN6uh  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

12:47: Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) President Chirag Paswan met with BJP National President JP Nadda in Delhi today. The meeting comes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Lok Janshakti Party President Chirag Paswan calls on BJP National President JP Nadda in Delhi pic.twitter.com/JOoUBnXR6L  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

12:45: "Amid the difficulties of the entire world, India is showing that there is nothing impossible for it," claimed PM Modi in UP's Pilibhit rally

12:40: The prime minister noted that previously, the Congress government sought assistance from the international community, but during the Covid pandemic, India provided medicines to the entire world. He also questioned whether people felt proud when India became the world's fastest-growing economic power, when Chandrayaan planted the tricolor on the moon, and when the grand G20 summit held in India received praise globally.

12:35: PM Narendra Modi is present in a public rally in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh. While addressing the public he remarked that the INDI alliance parties have consistently opposed the construction of the Ram Temple, citing their refusal to attend the Ram temple 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony and their disrespect towards Ram Lalla. He also highlighted the suspension of party members who attended the ceremony. PM Modi criticized the Congress for indulging in appeasement politics, likening their manifesto to that of the Muslim League's. He also pointed out their opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), questioning who else would grant citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighboring countries if India did not.

#WATCH | PM Modi during a public rally in UP's Pilibhit says, "INDI alliance parties have always hated the construction of the Ram Temple. They rejected Ram temple 'Pran Pratishtha' invite and insulted Ram Lalla. Those from their party who attended the ceremony were suspended pic.twitter.com/KTkFip2hmU  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

11:45: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath while addressing a public rally in Pilibhit said,"Today, we are seeing the changing India, where there is 'Suraksha 'and 'Samman', major development schemes and also schemes for the welfare of the poor..."
New Delhi: Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh today reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that the Congress is anti-Ram as it did not attend the consecration ceremony. Ramesh defended the Congress party's move for choosing a respectful decline of invitations for the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Lord Rama in Ayodhya saying that it was a 'Political Event' for a 'Political Person'. On Tuesday, Ramesh asserted that the members of the Congress party are devoted followers of Lord Rama.

Congress leader attacked the BJP for the 'politicisation of religion' and said that they are "vyapari (traders) of Ram" while Congress members were "pujari (worshippers)" of the deity.

While speaking to the news agency ANI, Ramesh even said that his name also has 'Ram' and how come they can be termed 'anti-Ram'. "The January 22 celebration was political. It was done for a political person. We are the worshipers of Ram and they (BJP) are traders of Ram. Interestingly, it is my birthday today. My name is -Jairam Ramesh - both parts of my name have 'Ram'. No one can call us anti-Ram. The politicization of religion brings down religion and politics as well," he said.

Jairam Ramesh's Reaction comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks during his Lok Sabha election rally in Chhattisgarh on Monday, where he slammed Congress over its decision to decline the invite for the Pran Pratishtha event. PM Modi also alleged grand old party took action against those who disagreed with the party's stance.

Following the invitation of Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya, Congress had stated that it was an RSS/BJP event.
New Delhi: As the voting for the first phase of the Lok Sabha draws nearer, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray extended his support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Raj Thackeray's decision to support the NDA comes weeks after his meeting with Amit Shah in Delhi. However, Thackeray asked his party workers to start the preparation for the Maharashtra assembly elections which are going to be held later this year.

Addressing his party's Gudi Padwa rally, he voiced his support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections would shape the "future of the country." Notably, the MNS has refrained from fielding any candidates for the Lok Sabha elections thus far.

"I will instruct the party workers to begin preparations for the Assembly elections. I have conveyed to CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavais that I have no interest in the Rajya Sabha or Legislative Council seats. My sole plea to PM Modi is to focus on the youth; today, India boasts the largest youth population in the world," Thackeray added.

MNS has decided not to contest the Lok Sabha 2024 elections but the party announced to support the NDA coalition in the name of Narendra Modi. MNS Chief also ordered the party workers to start the preparations for the state assembly elections.

Raj and his son Amit Thackeray held meetings with Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah in New Delhi last month, following consecutive discussions in Mumbai with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Raj Thackeray's support of the Narendra Modi-led NDA is crucial given that his cousin Uddhav Thackeray had a fallout with the BJP in 2019 over power-sharing. Three years later, the Shiv Sena split into two following a rebellion by Eknath Shinde. Now the Shinde faction is with the BJP while Uddhav Thackeray is with the Congress. Last year, the Nationalist Congress Party also split into two following a rebellion by Ajit Pawar. Now, the Ajit Pawar-led faction is in the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance while the Sharad Pawar-led NCP is with the Congress-Sena UBT
New Delhi: The Supreme Court allowed MLA Abbas Ansari to take part in the 'Fatiha' ceremony which is scheduled to be held on April 10 in memory of his father Mukhtar Ansari, who died in jail recently. The top court directed Abbas Ansari be taken from Kasganj jail to his hometown Ghazipur under police custody with adequate security but was not permitted to enter his home.

The Supreme Court stated that the jail authorities should ensure that Abbas Ansari's journey starts today before 5 PM. The Court also allowed Abbas to meet his family on April 11 and 12 and directed police authorities to frisk visitors and ensure no weapons were carried or directed at Abbas Ansari. The SC strictly restricted him to not talk to any media. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also directed MLA Abbas Ansari be brought back to Kasganj jail by April 13.

Earlier, Abbas Ansari had moved the apex seeking permission to attend the last rites of his father. Abbas is currently under judicial custody in connection with criminal cases against him.

Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Banda in Uttar Pradesh on March 28. After his death, political turmoil took place in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the voting for the Lok Sabha Election. The opposition leaders Akhilesh Yadav and Asaduddin Owaisi visited Mukhtar's family after his death.
NEW DELHI: Top leaders from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have taken to the streets to protest against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in connection with the excise policy case. The arrest has sparked widespread outrage among opposition parties, with TMC leaders leading the charge against what they perceive as "BJP's dictatorship".

Protest At Mandir Marg Police Station

Outside the Mandir Marg Police Station in New Delhi, where Kejriwal was reportedly detained, TMC leaders gathered in a show of solidarity. Despite earlier detentions by the Delhi Police, these leaders remained undeterred, continuing their protest and demanding justice for Kejriwal.

#WATCH | Delhi: Visuals of TMC delegation from the Mandir Marg Police Station.



We have relieved them. We have told them to go, but TMC leaders themselves did not go: Delhi Police https://t.co/moPT2geTBl pic.twitter.com/1HJNh54QbA  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

Delhi Police Responds

The Delhi Police, in response to the situation, confirmed the release of the detained TMC leaders but noted that they chose to remain at the protest site. This display of determination underscores the seriousness with which the opposition views Kejriwal's arrest and the broader implications it may have for democratic principles.

AAP Condemns Arrest As 'Blatant Authoritarianism'

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has vehemently condemned the arrest of Kejriwal. Saurabh Bharadwaj, a senior leader within the AAP and a minister in the Delhi government, characterized the arrest as a clear example of "blatant authoritarianism" prevailing in the country. Bharadwaj's statement echoes growing concerns among opposition figures regarding the misuse of governmental institutions for political purposes. "It's a blatant tanasahi (dictatorship) in the country today. What TMC legislators and MPs are saying? MCC is in force. PM is doing campaigning across the country; opposition leaders are raided by CBI, I-T, ED, and now NIA has reached also, but only against opposition parties, why? This indicates that these institutions nowadays come under the EC and have given open freedom to derail the campaign of opposition parties. If you raid someone's residence, will that person hold a campaign or will meet a lawyer?..." he said.

TMC Demands Institutional Change

In addition to protesting Kejriwal's arrest, TMC leaders have articulated broader demands for institutional reform. They have called for the replacement of top officials within key investigative agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Income Tax Department. A 10-member delegation also went to the Election Commission's office on Monday and submitted a memorandum highlighting that "BJP and NIA have been working hand-in-glove to selectively target and harass our party workers".

Legal Battle

As the protest unfolds, the legal battle surrounding Kejriwal's arrest has intensified. The Delhi High Court is set to rule on a plea filed by Kejriwal challenging his arrest and the subsequent ED remand granted by the trial court. The bench of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma will pronounce the order at 2:30 pm. The same bench, last week had kept the matter reserved after the conclusion of detailed arguments from both sides. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has challenged his arrest as well as the ED remand granted by the trial court.
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday issued a show cause notice to Congress leader Randeep Surjewala over his controversial remark against Bharatiya Janata Party MP Hema Malini. The ECI has sought a response from the Congress leader latest by 5 PM, April 11. The apex poll body also asked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to take appropriate action to ensure respectful public discourse towards women. The poll body reiterated that election campaigns cannot be allowed to become a platform for any kind of dishonour to women.

The matter came to light after BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya shared an undated video, accusing the Haryana Congress leader of making vile, sexist remarks against actor-politician Hema Malini, who is also the partys Lok Sabha candidate from the Mathura seat.

ECI issues notice to Congress leader Randeep Surjewala for his comments against BJP leader Hema Malini; response sought by April 11, 2024 (5 pm)



ECI demands action from the INC President on ensuring respectful public discourse towards women by party leaders and functionaries;  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

"Congress MP Randeep Surjewala makes a vile sexist comment, that is demeaning and derogatory, not just for Hema Malini, who is an accomplished individual, but women in general. He asks, 'Why do we make MLA? So that they can raise their voice, and get our views accepted. Is there any Hema Malini who is made to lick?' Who thinks of women as something to lick? That is the most disgusting description someone can come up with. Just the other day, Surjewala's colleague was asking the 'rate' of another BJP woman leader, and now this... This is Rahul Gandhi's Congress. It is misogynistic and abhors women," Malviya posted on X.

In the video posted by Malviya on X, Surjewala was seen purportedly making some objectionable remarks about the actor-politician while attacking the ruling BJP. However, Surjewala later clarified that he never intended to insult or hurt the actor-politician.

The Congress leader said that the video posted by the BJP leader has been edited, distorted and shared to distract the country from the Modi government's anti-youth, anti-farmer, anti-poor policies and its conspiracy to destroy the Constitution of India.

"BJP's IT Cell has developed a habit of editing, distorting and spreading fake news so that it can distract the country from the Modi government's anti-youth, anti-farmer, anti-poor policies and failures and its conspiracy to destroy the Constitution of India," he said.

"Listen to the full video - I said, "We also respect Hema Malini a lot because she is married to Dharmendra ji and is our daughter-in-law," the Congress leader added.

Hitting out at the BJP-led central government, Surjewala said, "BJP's anti-women pawns were ordered to cut this video, but these same pawns never asked the Prime Minister why he - Why was it said "Girlfriend worth Rs 50 crores" in Himachal? Why was a woman MP called "Shurpanakha" in the Parliament? Why was a woman CM trolled in such a vulgar manner? Is it correct to say "Congress's widow"? Is it right to call the top leadership of Congress a "Jersey cow"? My statement was only that in public life, everyone should be accountable to the people, be it Nayab Saini Ji, Khattar Ji, or myself. Everyone rises or falls based on their work; the public is supreme and they have to use their discretion in making their choice."

"Neither did I intend to insult Hema Malini ji nor to hurt anyone. That is why I clearly said that we respect Hema Malini ji and she is our daughter-in-law. BJP itself is anti-women, that is why it sees and understands everything through an anti-women lens and spreads lies as per its convenience," the Congress leader added.

The National Commission for Women filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Congress leader Randeep Surjewala for using alleged derogatory remarks against Hema Malini.

In a post on X, the NCW said "National Commission for Women strongly denounces the deeply offensive remarks made by Randeep Surjewala. The remarks are extremely misogynistic and outrageous to the modesty of a woman. Chairperson Rekha Sharma has formally written to the Chief Election Commissioner, urging immediate action against Soorjewala and requesting an Action Taken Report within three days."

The Haryana State Commission for Women also issued notice to Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala over his remarks against actor and BJP MP Hema Malini. Renu W Bhatia, Chairperson, Haryana State Commission for Women told ANI that Surjewala was a very sorted Congress leader and this act is very shameful.

Reacting to Surjewala's remark, Hema Malini said that the leaders of the Opposition should learn how to respect women from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
New Delhi: The United States State Department on Monday said that ''it is following media reports" about the Pakistan's claims of state-sponspored killings by Indian within Pakistani soil. When questioned about the U.S. stance regarding Pakistans claims of state-sponsored killings by India within Pakistan, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated, "So we have been following the media reports about this issue. We don't have any comment on the underlying allegations. But of course, while we're not going to get in the middle of this situation, we encourage both sides to avoid escalation and find a resolution through dialogue."

#WATCH | On being asked about the United States' position on Pakistan's allegations against India about carrying out state killings in Pakistan, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller says, "So we have been following the media reports about this issue. We don't have any pic.twitter.com/vwaKjkvK0Q April 9, 2024

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in an interview with CNN News18, stated that India would pursue individuals across the border into Pakistan if they were involved in terrorist acts within India and fled. This statement follows a report by The Guardian claiming that since 2020, the Indian government has been implicated in the deaths of approximately 20 individuals in Pakistan as part of an anti-terrorism initiative on foreign soil.

The Indian foreign ministry did not issue a comment when Reuters inquired about the report, and Pakistans foreign ministry declined to comment, denying any accusations of providing a safe haven for militants.

Singh emphasized, We will cross into Pakistan to eliminate them if they escape there, in response to the reports allegations.

He further asserted Indias desire for amicable relations with its neighbors but warned against any entities that repeatedly threaten India or engage in terrorist activities, stating they would face consequences.

The tension between India and Pakistan has escalated since a 2019 suicide attack on an Indian military convoy in Kashmir, which was linked to militants based in Pakistan, prompting India to conduct an airstrike on what it claimed was a militant camp in Pakistan.

Earlier this year, Pakistan claimed to have substantial evidence of Indian involvement in the deaths of two Pakistanis on its territory, which India dismissed as baseless propaganda.

These developments come after both Canada and the U.S. made allegations against India for the deaths or attempted assassinations of individuals within their borders.

In September, Canada pursued allegations that linked India to the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader, which India denounced as ludicrous. However, a senior Canadian official noted that India was cooperating, and bilateral relations were on the mend.

Similarly, the U.S. reported in November that it had foiled an Indian plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader, leading to charges against an individual allegedly collaborating with India on the attempt. Prime Minister Modi has committed to investigating any credible information related to these matters.
NEW DELHI: In a significant political move, Birender Singh, a prominent Jat leader and former Union minister from Haryana, along with his wife Prem Lata Singh, a former BJP MLA, announced their decision to join the Congress party, dealing a big blow to the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). The announcement was made in the presence of senior Congress leaders including Ajay Maken, Mukul Wasnik, and Pawan Khera, among others.

#WATCH | Former BJP leaders Chaudhry Birender Singh and his wife Premlata Singh join the Congress Party, in Delhi



Their son and former BJP leader Brijendra Singh had joined the Congress Party recently. pic.twitter.com/cV0EGeOtoW  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024

A Family Affair: Political Shifts In Haryana

This move comes on the heels of Singh's son, Brijendra Singh, joining the Congress a month earlier, signalling a political realignment within the state. The decision to switch parties was preceded by the resignation of both Birender Singh and his wife, Prem Lata, from the BJP, citing ideological differences as the driving force behind their departure.

A Legacy Of Political Influence

Birender Singh's political journey spans over four decades, initially with the Congress party before crossing over to the BJP nearly ten years ago. Birender Singh is the maternal grandson of the peasant leader, Sir Chhotu Ram. His father Chaudhary Neki Ram was a politician in joint Punjab. Birender Singh's maternal, Sir Chhotu Ram, is regarded as the Jat icon of the state. Singh remained in Congress for decades before joining BJP in 2014 and later served as Union minister in the first Narendra Modi cabinet between 2014-19.

He graduated from Government College, Rohtak and completed his law degree at Panjab University, Chandigarh. During this development, Singh was active in sports, captaining the district. Jind cricket team 196467 and playing with Punjab University Team (196970). Birender Singh's wife Prem Lata Singh has been a member of the legislative assembly of Haryana representing the Uchana Kalan constituency from 2014 to 2019. His son Brijendra Singh was previously a bureaucrat who served as an IAS officer of the 1998 Batch and was posted in Haryana for 21 years. He was elected as a Member of Parliament from Hisar in the 2019 general elections.

A Shift In Ideology And Allegiance

Despite his tenure with the BJP, Singh expressed a sense of ideological misalignment with the party, particularly regarding issues concerning the Jat community and farmers. He cited dissatisfaction with the party's alliance with the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) and its handling of farmer-related policies as key reasons for his departure. According to people close to him, the socio-political dynamics of his constituency or his state revolve widely around Kisan (farmer), Jawan (solider), and Khiladi (sportsperson). However, the interest of all these sections was widely overlooked under the BJP regime. Singh and his family also expressed solidarity with wrestlers, who were protesting against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment.

Voicing Concerns and Seeking Change

Singh's departure from the BJP underscores broader concerns within the party regarding its stance on critical issues such as farmer welfare, youth empowerment, and athlete support. His vocal advocacy for these causes within party forums reflects a desire for tangible policy changes and a departure from perceived insensitivity towards marginalized communities.

Political Implications In Haryana

The Congress party sees Singh's defection, along with his familial ties to the Jat community, as an opportunity to consolidate support among key voter demographics in Haryana. With the upcoming Lok Sabha elections looming, the strategic alliance with the Singh family aims to bolster the party's standing in a state where political dynamics are heavily influenced by Jat-non-Jat divides.
Thiruvananthapuram: On expected lines, veteran Congress leader and former defence minister, AK Antony, on Tuesday made a bold and surprising statement regarding his son Anil's electoral bid in Kerala. During a press conference held in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, AK Antony expressed his desire for his son, Anil Antony, who is contesting on a BJP ticket from the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha seat, to lose the election. He went further, stating his hope for the victory of Anto Antony, the Congress candidate in the same constituency.

Q. Your son is fighting his first election. Don't you want him to win?

A. He must lose. Congress must win. AK Antony is Congress. Congress is my religion!

pic.twitter.com/T2tcowAMbw  Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) April 9, 2024

Congress Is My Religion: AK Antony

Antony emphasized his allegiance to the Congress party, dismissing the trend of Congress leaders' children joining the BJP as "wrong". He asserted, "The Congress is my religion," firmly distancing himself from his son's political decisions.

Firm Support For Congress

Undeterred by his son's opposing political affiliation, AK Antony reiterated his unwavering support for the Congress party. He declared that the Congress is steadfastly battling against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

AK Antony Slams Kerala CM

In response to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's allegations that the Congress neglects national issues, Antony defended the party's stance. He dismissed CM Vijayan's claims, asserting that the Congress, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, is actively opposing the BJP and RSS ideologies. AK Antony's criticism of Vijayan follows the Kerala CM's accusations against the Congress and BJP of collusion to target state initiatives. Vijayan alleged the misuse of central agencies to undermine development projects, sparking further contention between the parties.

Antony's comments come amid escalating tensions between political parties in Kerala. Recent exchanges between Congress and CPI leaders, including Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from the Wayanad seat, have intensified the political landscape. It is noteworthy that AK Antony had previously voiced his disapproval of his son's affiliation with the BJP, underscoring the familial and ideological divide within Kerala politics.
New Delhi: Deepika Padukone has graced the prestigious MET Gala red carpet for three consecutive years, captivating audiences with her impeccable style and sartorial choices. Being a Global Ambassador from India, her presence at global events is what keeps the fans excited.

In 2017, Deepika made her MET Gala debut in a sleek slip gown by Tommy Hilfiger, marking the beginning of her journey as India's most prominent global ambassador at the renowned fashion fundraiser gala. Subsequent years saw her donning extravagant ensembles, including a stunning red creation by designer Prabal Gurung in 2018 and a custom pink lurex Jacquard gown embellished with 400 three-dimensional embroidered pieces by Zac Posen in 2019.

However, fans anticipating Deepika's appearance at this year's MET Gala will be left wanting more as we have learned that the global superstar has given the dates to her projects, and will be giving the event a miss. Sources close to the development have revealed that Deepika is currently busy with the shoot of Singham 3 and the launch of Kalki 2898 AD, which is slated for May. The Global Icon is currently expecting but theres nothing stopping her, as she is busy fulfilling her work commitments.

A highly-placed source shared, "Deepika Padukone has been a regular on the MET Gala Red Carpet. It is only natural for fans to anticipate her appearance at this years MET Gala, especially considering she is Indias biggest global brand ambassador. However, Deepika is in the midst of filming for 'Singham 3' which is slated to release later this year along with 'Kalki 2898 AD' which is slated to release in May, both of which coincide with this years MET Gala. She will therefore not be attending this year's event."
New Delhi: Chinese smartphone manufacturer iQOO is celebrating its fourth-anniversary sale in India. The sale will take place on the iQOO e-store and Amazon India. The company's fourth-anniversary sale is live from today, April 9 onwards and will last till April 14. The discounts will be available on select iQOO flagship, Neo, and Z series smartphones.

Let's have a quick look on the smartphones-

iQOO Neo 9 Pro

The smartphone originally cost Rs 35,999. However, with the Anniversary Discount, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is now available for Rs 32,999, marking a reduction of Rs 3,000 from its original price. It comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, and a 50MP camera. The handset features a dual-tone design with a leather finish.

iQOO 12

The smartphone, initially priced at Rs 52,999, benefits from a significant Anniversary Discount of Rs 3,000. Now, the price has been lowered to Rs 49,999. The handset comes with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, a 144Hz AMOLED display with 3000 nits peak brightness. It is loaded with a 5000mAh battery with 120W fast charging support. (Also Read: Tech Showdown: Samsung Galaxy M55 5G Vs OnePlus Nord CE4 5G; Clash of Features Under Rs 30,000)

iQOO 11

The smartphone has received the maximum discount of Rs 23,000 bringing its price down from Rs 64,999 to Rs 41,999. It is Indias first Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 smartphone. It also comes with a QHD+ display. The phone is loaded with a 5,000mAh battery with 120W fast charging and a 50MP primary camera.

iQoo Z9

The smartphone will be listed with a starting price of Rs. 17,999, reduced from its original rate of Rs. 19,999, indicating a discount of Rs. 2,000. The smartphone comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, and a 50MP Sony IMX920 camera. It also has a dual-tone design with a leather finish.

iQOO Z7 Pro

The smartphone is originally priced at Rs 23,999, the iQOO Z7 Pro now bears a reduced price of Rs 20,999 thanks to an Anniversary Discount of Rs 3,000. It features a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 5G processor, a 3D curved Super-Vision display, and is supported by 66W FlashCharging. (Also Read: Samsung Galaxy M55, Galaxy M15 Now Available On Amazon With Introductory Offers; Check Specs)

iQOO Neo 7 Pro

The iQOO Neo 7 Pro, originally priced at Rs 34,999, will receive an Anniversary Discount of Rs 5,000, reducing the price to Rs 29,999. This smartphone features an independent gaming chipset powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor and is supported by 120W FlashCharging.
New Delhi: WhatsApp, an instant messaging platform owned by Meta is quite popular among people. Recently, WhatsApp has banned millions of accounts from spreading fake news in the country. In February, WhatsApp closed more than 76 million accounts in India to prevent fake news and wrongdoing. Do you know when WhatsApp bans your account? Let me tell you its rules.

Reasons Why A WhatsApp Account Is Banned

If you send spam messages, spread misinformation, or engage in fraud on WhatsApp, your account may be banned. Sharing pornographic content, violence, or content inciting hatred can also lead to action being taken against you and your account being banned.

Enforcement of Government Regulations

The company says it has closed these accounts while complying with the IT Rules 2021 of the Indian government. WhatsApp has stated that it closed a total of 7,628,000 accounts between February 1 and February 29. Of these, 1,424,000 accounts were closed before any user complaints were received, meaning WhatsApp itself observed wrongdoing in these accounts and took action against them. (Also Read: Instagram's Income In 2022 Will Leave You Surprised; Meta-Owned Platform Earned THIS Much)

More than 16,500 Complaints Received

This messaging app, with over 500 million users in India, received a record 16,618 complaints in February. Action was taken only in 22 cases. Taking action means that WhatsApp took action against the account based on the complaint, such as banning the account or reactivating previously banned accounts.

WhatsApp's Security Measures

The company says it employs several methods to prevent fake news and wrongdoing. For this, it not only uses security features but also employs a team of engineers, data scientists, and experts in law, online security, and technology. These people monitor the activity of accounts after they are created and also take action based on user complaints. (Also Read: WhatsApp Call Scam Alert! Be Cautious If You Receive Calls From These Numbers, Government Warns)

Tips To Save Your WhatsApp Account From Getting Banned On WhatsApp

Avoid sending bulk or automated messages. Think twice before forwarding messages. Refrain from sending unwelcome texts. Use broadcast lists responsibly and avoid excessive use. Follow WhatsApp's Terms of Service diligently.

Note: The Story is articulated by Raman Kumar.
North America was enveloped in eclipse fever as the stunning celestial event captivated tens of millions. The United States, Mexico, and Canada witnessed a rare total solar eclipse on Monday. As millions of people across regions of these countries watched the narrow path of the totality of the moon fully covering the sun, the event brought together science and daytime revelry.

The moon's shadow made the Pacific coast of Mexico completely dark at 11:07 am local time (1807 GMT). Then it zoomed across the United States fast, heading back over Canada's Atlantic coast and disappearing into the ocean less than an hour and a half later.

Vacay Spots, All Booked

Hotels and vacation rentals in popular viewing spots such as Texas, Arkansas, Ohio, and Maine were fully booked months ahead of time. In Ingram, Texas, visitors from all over the globe gathered at Stonehenge II Park, a replica of the famous English monument, despite cloudy skies.

Follow, follow the Sun / And which way the wind blows / When this day is done



Today, April 8, 2024, the last total solar #eclipse until 2045 crossed North America. pic.twitter.com/YH618LeK1j  NASA (@NASA) April 8, 2024

Mazatlan, a popular beach resort in Mexico, was among the initial major observation locations in North America. The partial eclipse commenced near Eagle Pass in southern Texas, at the United States' southern border with Mexico, signalling the eclipse's onset in the country.

Longstanding Effects Of Solar Eclipse

When the moon moves between the sun and the earth during a solar eclipse, it causes changes in temperature, wind speed, and humidity on the earth's surface. In the path where the sun is completely blocked (the path of totality), temperatures can drop by about 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, humidity may increase, and there could be changes in wind and cloud cover.

Scientists learn more about how solar material flows from the sun by studying it during eclipses. This knowledge helps them understand space weather, which involves charged particles called plasma interacting with the Earth's upper atmosphere, known as the ionosphere.

The ionosphere is where many low-Earth orbit satellites and radio waves operate. So, changes in space weather affect GPS and long-distance radio communications.

NASAs Live Stream on YouTube

NASA broadcasted a captivating live stream of the eclipse on its official YouTube channel for viewers to enjoy. The western and northern areas of New York State witnessed a total eclipse for the first time in almost a hundred years.

NASA also released an advisory emphasising safety while watching the total solar eclipse. Earlier, it shared a post on X, stating, "We want you to watch the total solar eclipse." We just don't want it to be the last thing you see."

NASA stressed that it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialised eye protection for solar viewing.

Ever seen a total solar #eclipse from space?



Here is our astronauts' view from the @Space_Station pic.twitter.com/2VrZ3Y1Fqz  NASA (@NASA) April 8, 2024

"Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely blocks the Sun's bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the Sun without specialised eye protection for solar viewing," it said.

The general guidelines said that normal sunglasses, no matter how dark they are, cannot be used as gear to watch as they may hurt the eyes badly. Adding, "Do not look at the sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.
New Delhi: Hundreds of Indian MBBS students, who were left in utter dispair thinking their academic journey was over, are reportedly contemplating other less-expensive European countries for pursuing their medical courses.

As per a report in the Indian Express, students willing to pursue medicine are thinking of "safer and affordable" alternatives, considering that the cost of studying MBBS in the country is far more than those European universities.

Although living expenses in places like Serbia, Kyrgystan, and Georgia are higher than that of Ukraine but students are still comfortable and able to continue their education in these places since the study cost is still lesser than many private Indian medical colleges, the Indian Express has reported.

Operation Ganga was the initiative launched by the government of India to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine. A total of 18,282 Indian nationals were evacuated under the initiative. Around 19,000 Indian students were studying in Ukraine when the Russian invasion began in February 2021.

Several Indian medical students were left with no choice after their evacuation from Ukraine and transferred to universities in other countries to continue their studies, relocating to Serbia and other European countries.

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation on March 7 had busted the trafficking network. They said the agency has found 35 instances in which youngsters were taken to Russia after being lured with false promises of high-paying jobs via social media channels and local contacts and agents.
Who is Lukashenko preparing to fight with and will he send troops to Ukraine?

The self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko again reminded of his presence. This time, declaring that Belarus does not want to fight, but is preparing for war. Dont believe anyone that we want to fight. We are preparing for war, I speak about this frankly. If you want peace, then you need to prepare for war  I didnt come up with that. This is very correctly said, Lukashenko noted. According to him, the republic is conducting the necessary training for the relevant units, and various types of weapons and equipment are being supplied to the troops.

Before this, Lukashenko had already discussed with the commander of the North-Western Operational Command, Alexander Naumenko, a possible attack on the Suwalki corridor, namely the territory of Lithuania and Poland, located between Belarus and the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation. And from April 5, Belarus is undergoing another check of the combat readiness of the armed forces. At the same time, Lukashenko introduced SMS summonses and made the punishment for army evaders more severe.

So what kind of war is Lukashenko preparing for? And what should Ukraine prepare for? And also, what should the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and, above all, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia expect? Is it worth preparing for the fact that Russian troops will again invade our country from the territory of Belarus or attack member states of the Alliance, and Belarusian soldiers will be among the aggressors? Judging by Lukashenkos contradictory words, such a threat cannot be ruled out.

In a commentary to ZN.UA, the experts interviewed assessed the statements of the self-proclaimed President of Belarus differently.

Artem Shraibman, a visiting expert at the Berlin Carnegie Center, draws attention to the fact that Lukashenko did not say anything new: in one variation or another, he constantly talks about war.

The editor-in-chief of the online publication Charter-97, Natalya Radina, argues that the self-proclaimed president must be taken literally: he threatens both Ukraine and the West, preparing for an attack.

People's Deputy of Ukraine Bohdan Yaremenko, who has been studying the Belarusian case for many years, believes that Lukashenko's statements are a demonstration of loyalty to the Russian leader and an element of his game with Putin. The goal of this game is to stay alive and in power.

Today Lukashenko is viewed as an absolutely dependent figure, ready to do whatever Putin orders. There is some truth in this assessment: since August 2020, when Minsk found itself in international semi-isolation, Lukashenkos personal dependence on the Kremlin owner has increased sharply. In fact, Belarus dependence on Russia has also increased, although Minsk is trying to dilute these patron-client relations by developing contacts with China, Arab monarchies and African states.

As Artem Shraibman noted, 65% of Belarusian commodity exports go to Russia, and a significant part of the remaining third of exports depends on Russian logistics  roads, railways, ports. The reality is that the Russian Federation actually subsidizes the Belarusian economy, and the amount of Belarusian debt to Moscow exceeds $8 billion. Such dependence narrows Lukashenkos room for maneuver: for each new tranche or deferment in loan repayment, he is forced to make ever greater concessions.

His regime exists thanks to the Kremlin, states Natalya Radina. At the same time, Lukashenko has a certain autonomy in domestic politics, economics, and personnel decisions. But the degree of autonomy should not be exaggerated. It ends when it comes to the defense sector, military and geopolitical interests of the Russian Federation. And we must not forget that the Russian authorities consider the independence of Belarus, as well as Ukraine, to be simply a misunderstanding, notes Artem Shraibman.

At the same time, the question remains open to what extent Lukashenko controls the Belarusian security forces. It is also unknown how the army, internal troops and intelligence services will behave if the Kremlin wants to establish full control over the second part of the Union State, putting its own man at the head of Belarus: will they be loyal to the self-proclaimed president? Or will they come under Russian banners? As Schreibman noted, its difficult to gauge sentiment in such a closed system.

However, so far the Kremlin has not made any attempts to remove Lukashenko, with whom Putin is now enjoying a period of warm and friendly relations.

Apparently, these relations did not spoil Lukashenkos revelation, who stated that the suspects in the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall could not have entered Belarus in any way. They saw it. Therefore, we turned away and went to the section of the Russian-Ukrainian border. These words completely nullified Putins false version that the terrorists tried to escape and moved towards Ukraine, where a window had previously been prepared for them to cross the border.

According to experts, Lukashenko let slip the terrorists plans to cross the Belarusian border because he wanted to demonstrate his own importance to the domestic audience with such PR, providing assistance to Russia and Putin. In particular, Bohdan Yaremenko believes that in this way the self-proclaimed president of Belarus is trying to remind of his presence, show that he is still needed.

Of course, the role of the client does not suit Lukashenko: he sees his dependence on the Kremlin as a threat to himself, his family, and his power. But after the 2020 elections, Lukashenko deprived himself of the opportunity to lead an independent party, playing on the contradictions between Russia and the West. As a result, the policy of his authoritarian regime, undergoing a natural drift, is becoming increasingly pro-Russian. At the same time, there is still some room in the official narrative for statements about an independent Belarus.

Lukashenko, concerned about the stability of his regime, has at every cost avoided allowing the Belarusian military to directly participate in the invasion of Ukrainian territory. And he succeeds in this decision. One of the reasons is that the Russian-Ukrainian war is extremely unpopular in Belarusian society: as Shraibman notes, according to opinion polls, no more than 5% of Belarusians want to participate in the war with Ukraine. Another reason is that the Belarusian army is small in number, and Moscow is successfully implementing plans to mobilize Russians.

The price for such behavior by Russias ally was that Belarus turned out to be a springboard for Russian Battalion Tactical Groups (BTGs) advancing on Kyiv, a base for Russian aircraft that shelled Ukrainian cities and villages, notes Bohdan Yaremenko. In turn, Natalya Radina draws attention to the fact that Belarus provides training grounds for Russian contract soldiers and mobilized ones. According to her, the next group of Russian military personnel is expected to come to her country for training in the spring and summer.

Moreover, although Belarusian troops are not participating in the Russian invasion, and there are no large Russian units in Belarus itself today, there is a constant risk of a new Russian offensive from Belarusian territory. So far there is no threat of invasion from the north. But what will happen in the summer? In general, Minsk plays its role in Moscows military plans, forcing Kyiv to pull back part of the Ukrainian reserves, which are so necessary in the Avdiivskyi, Zaporizhskyi, Lymanskyi and other directions, to protect its northern border.

In addition, as Artem Shraibman noted, Russia uses Belarus, firstly, as a production base for fulfilling defense orders for the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. Secondly, Russia uses Belarus as a source of replenishment of military equipment and weapons. Thirdly, for the Russian Federation, Belarus has turned from a tactical springboard in the Russian-Ukrainian war into a strategic platform for confrontation with the West and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Putin achieved this, including by placing tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory.

Apparently, for now Putin is satisfied with such a passive role of Belarus in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Otherwise, he would have done everything to force Lukashenko to take direct part in the hostilities. In turn, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus will do everything to avoid direct intervention of his country in the war. After all, the situation in 2024 is different from 2022: this time Ukraine will not tolerate attacks on its territory, but will strike back.

But although Lukashenko tries to stay away from direct participation in the invasion of Ukraine, and even more so from a possible attack on countries that are NATO members, there is always the possibility that something will go wrong.

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Iraq has reportedly launched the local production of what seems to be the Chinese VN22, a 6x6 Armoured Personnel Carrier, Army Recognition reported.

The VN22 showcased in the DIC video is equipped with a one-man weapon station, armed with a Norinco 12.7 mm LM5 three-barrel Gatling-type machine gun, Al Defaiya reported.

The VN22 is a Chinese-made 6x6 armoured personnel carrier vehicle that was unveiled by the Chinese defence company NORINCO during the Zhuhai Air China in October 2021. In January 2024, it was announced that Cote dIvoire acquired an undisclosed number of Chinese-made VN-22B. According to another source, the vehicle is also in service with Senegal Police Forces.

Strategic blueprint

The Iraqi Defence Industries Commission is actively pursuing a strategic blueprint aimed at bolstering Iraqs defense capabilities. Among its key objectives, the establishment of a cutting-edge defence industrial base stands out. This initiative seeks to fulfil the comprehensive needs of Iraq's armed forces and security apparatus, encompassing a wide array of weapons, equipment, and ammunition.

The Iraqi militarys equipment primarily comes from various international manufacturers, including the US, Russia, and Soviet Union-origin vehicles and weaponry. While there is significant diversity in the origins of Iraqs military hardware, the current publicly available information does not specifically list modern Chinese military equipment as part of their arsenal.

Recent defence relations between China and Iraq have significantly deepened, primarily centered on economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and energy. These developments come amidst Iraqs broader attempts to rebuild and stabilise the country following years of conflict.

China has been a key player in Iraqs reconstruction efforts, especially in the oil, agriculture, and housing sectors. In 2019, Chinese companies agreed to construct 8 million residences across almost all provinces in Iraq, showcasing the scale of China's involvement in the countrys infrastructure development. This agreement was part of a broader initiative during the visit of the then-Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi to Beijing, highlighting a quantum leap in bilateral relations between the two nations.

Energy cooperation has been a cornerstone of the China-Iraq strategic partnership. Since 2013, when China launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Iraq has emerged as an essential partner for energy engagement within this framework.

Chinese imports

In 2022 alone, China imported a significant amount of crude oil from Iraq, marking a substantial increase in Iraqs oil exports to China and underscoring the strategic importance of their bilateral relations in terms of energy policies.

The Defence Industries Commission (DIC) was established by a decree of the President of the Republic after the House of Representatives voted on Law No 25 of 2019, which was published in the official Gazette on 4/11/2019 to form this body, which is located in the capital, Baghdad, and is linked to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, according to the Commissions website.

The Defence Industries Commission has a set of goals that it is working to achieve on the ground, and one of its most prominent goals is the establishment of an advanced base for defense industries in Iraq and to meet the needs of the armed forces and security services in all their parts of weapons, equipment and ammunition, and the production and export of civilian materials, as well as to contribute to maintaining the National security, strengthening national sovereignty, and preparing and rehabilitating scientific and technical cadres specialised in the Defence industries according to plans set by the commission.

Specialised factories

The Defence Industries Commission seeks to achieve the aforementioned goals, by a number of methods and means, the most important of which is the establishment of specialised factories in the field of Defence industries, rehabilitating the existing ones, equipping them with the latest technology, setting scientific and practical plans to direct human resources and energies in the field of Defence industries and benefiting from national expertise and competencies in industries.

In addition to the above, a commission is working to rehabilitate and develop companies and factories and improve their production by means of research and development to reach products with high specifications and conduct studies and research related to the commissions objectives and benefit from the capabilities of the private sector by providing opportunities for it to participate in the defence industries.--TradeArabia News Service
Key Insights

Canadian National Railway's estimated fair value is CA$147 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Canadian National Railway's CA$177 share price signals that it might be 20% overvalued

Our fair value estimate is 18% lower than Canadian National Railway's analyst price target of CA$180

In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Canadian National Railway Company (TSE:CNR) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

See our latest analysis for Canadian National Railway

The Method

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (CA$, Millions) CA$3.79b CA$4.11b CA$4.10b CA$4.45b CA$4.80b CA$5.01b CA$5.20b CA$5.37b CA$5.52b CA$5.66b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x13 Analyst x13 Analyst x5 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 4.48% Est @ 3.73% Est @ 3.21% Est @ 2.84% Est @ 2.59% Present Value (CA$, Millions) Discounted @ 6.9% CA$3.5k CA$3.6k CA$3.4k CA$3.4k CA$3.4k CA$3.4k CA$3.3k CA$3.2k CA$3.0k CA$2.9k

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CA$33b

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.0%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 6.9%.

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Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = CA$5.7b (1 + 2.0%)  (6.9% 2.0%) = CA$119b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CA$119b ( 1 + 6.9%)10= CA$61b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is CA$94b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of CA$177, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

Important Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Canadian National Railway as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.058. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Canadian National Railway

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Transportation market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years.

Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Canadian market.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. Can we work out why the company is trading at a premium to intrinsic value? For Canadian National Railway, we've compiled three essential items you should further examine:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Canadian National Railway that you should be aware of before investing here. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for CNR's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the TSX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Assessing the Upcoming Dividend and Historical Performance of Cementos Argos S.A. (CMTOY)

Cementos Argos S.A. (CMTOY) recently announced a dividend of $0.15 per share, payable on 2024-04-29, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-04-09. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into Cementos Argos S.A.'s dividend performance and assess its sustainability.

What Does Cementos Argos S.A. Do?

Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Sign with CMTOY.

High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio

This Powerful Chart Made Peter Lynch 29% A Year For 13 Years

How to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock?

Cementos Argos S.A. is a cement producing company. In terms of the concrete business, it is Colombia's leading producer and the second-largest producer in the United States. The company's corporate purpose is the exploitation of the cement industry, the production of concrete mixes and any other materials or items made of cement, lime or clay, the acquisition and exploitation of minerals or deposits of exploitable minerals in the cement industry and similar rights to explore and mine the aforementioned minerals, whether by concession, privilege, lease or other title.

Cementos Argos S.A.'s Dividend Analysis

A Glimpse at Cementos Argos S.A.'s Dividend History

Cementos Argos S.A. has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2008. Dividends are currently distributed on a quarterly basis. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends.

Breaking Down Cementos Argos S.A.'s Dividend Yield and Growth

As of today, Cementos Argos S.A. currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.06% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 3.47%. This suggests an expectation of increased dividend payments over the next 12 months.

Over the past three years, Cementos Argos S.A.'s annual dividend growth rate was -4.50%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate decreased to -5.10% per year. And over the past decade, Cementos Argos S.A.'s annual dividends per share growth rate stands at 2.40%.

Based on Cementos Argos S.A.'s dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Cementos Argos S.A. stock as of today is approximately 2.36%.

Cementos Argos S.A.'s Dividend Analysis

The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability

To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-09-30, Cementos Argos S.A.'s dividend payout ratio is 0.86, which may suggest that the company's dividend may not be sustainable.

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Cementos Argos S.A.'s profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Cementos Argos S.A.'s profitability 8 out of 10 as of 2023-09-30, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported net profit in 9 years out of past 10 years.

Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook

To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. Cementos Argos S.A.'s growth rank of 8 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors.

Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Cementos Argos S.A.'s revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Cementos Argos S.A.'s revenue has increased by approximately 7.00% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 53.04% of global competitors.

The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Cementos Argos S.A.'s earnings increased by approximately 83.70% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 93.17% of global competitors.

Engaging Conclusion: Weighing Cementos Argos S.A.'s Dividend Prospects

In conclusion, while Cementos Argos S.A.'s dividend payments have shown fluctuations, the company's solid profitability and robust growth metrics present a compelling case for its future prospects. The dividend payout ratio, though on the higher side, is balanced by the company's strong profitability rank and impressive earnings growth. Investors considering Cementos Argos S.A. (CMTOY) for its dividend returns should weigh these factors to evaluate the sustainability of future dividends. Will Cementos Argos S.A. continue to cement its position as a reliable dividend payer? Only time will tell, but the signs are certainly promising. For those seeking to diversify their portfolio with dividend-paying stocks, GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield Screener.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) has undoubtedly helped many of its early investors retire as millionaires.

The stock IPO'd at $85 in 2004, opened at $100, and closed its first day of trading at $100.34, so an ordinary investor could have easily bought the stock around $100 a share at the time of its debut. The company would later enact two stock splits, a nearly 2-to-1 split in March 2014 and a 20-to-1 split in July 2022. So if you bought what was then Google stock at $100 the first day it traded, you would have a split-adjusted cost basis of around $2.50 and a $20,000 investment would be worth close to $1.2 million today.

Alphabet may not generate the same eye-popping returns it did in its first 20 years as a public company, but it still can be a core holding that can help you retire a millionaire.

Not just a search giant

Not surprisingly, Alphabet is best known for its Google search engine. Google has become synonymous with search, leading to an estimated 90% global market share. Google is a cash cow for the company, with the search engine generating $175 billion in revenue in 2023, an increase of nearly 8% from 2022.

The solid revenue increase came despite 2023 being a relatively slow year for advertising growth as many advertisers were cautious with their ad budgets given uncertainties over the economy. However, search revenue often tends to be less economically sensitive compared to other types of advertising. The reason is that this type of advertising is performance-based and thus has a more measurable impact on sales.

However, search isn't Alphabet's fastest-growing segment -- that title belongs to its cloud business, which grew its 2023 revenue by 26% to $33.1 billion. Google Cloud is a business with a lot of fixed costs in terms of data centers and engineering, so scale matters. The segment just turned profitable in 2023, but it is now set to grow its profitability at a quicker pace than revenue given the operating leverage in the business.

Image source: Getty Images.

Alphabet's other big business is YouTube, which generated $31.5 billion in revenue in 2023, up 8%. Like Google, it also gets much of its revenue from advertising. However, the company's YouTube Premium and Music services just surpassed 100 million subscribers. Both services offer ad-free content and contributed about $15 billion of YouTube's revenue.

One of the strengths of the YouTube video platform is that it does not have the upfront content costs of other video services, instead opting for a revenue-sharing model with content creators. This has helped the company avoid many of the profitability issues that have plagued other streaming services. The company is also looking to compete with TikTok through YouTube Short videos by incentivizing creators to use the platform. Monetization of YouTube Shorts is still early, but represents a large potential opportunity given the platform's over 2 billion monthly users.

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AI opportunity and an inexpensive stock

Given its dominant position in search and strong cloud and YouTube businesses, Alphabet is trading at an inexpensive valuation despite trading near an all-time high. It trades at a forward P/E of about 22.5 times and an enterprise value-to-EBITDA ratio of just 12.5 times. The latter metric takes into consideration the company's large net cash position of $97.7 billion and removes any non-cash items. This alone makes the stock a buy.

GOOGL PE Ratio (Forward) Chart

However, the big reason to own Alphabet over the long term, and why it could help you retire a millionaire, is its underrated position in artificial intelligence (AI). The company is currently seeing the most beneficial impact from AI in its cloud service business, where it has credited AI for helping it win and expand deals last quarter.

However, there is some fear among investors that AI could disrupt Google's search dominance. So far there has been little indication of this happening. Traditional linked-based search results will likely continue to be the best way to serve users actively looking to buy a product or service. This represents only about 20% of searches done on Google, and it's the only time the company serves up ads. AI, meanwhile, could help the company profit from the 80% of searches for which it does not provide ads. For example, AI could provide Alphabet the opportunity to profit from questions answered using AI, either through brand advertising or a subscription service.

The landscape is evolving with AI, but companies will undoubtedly find new ways to profit from its uses and capabilities. Twenty years ago Google was only a search engine that IPO'd with a $23 billion market cap. Today, the company owns two non-search businesses that generate over $30 billion a year in revenue in Google Cloud Services and YouTube, along with its powerful search business. While it's difficult to predict where a stock will be in the next 20 years, Alphabet should be viewed as a core holding that can help power your portfolio.

Should you invest $1,000 in Alphabet right now?

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Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Geoffrey Seiler has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has announced the appointment of two new members of the Board of Trustees: Leanne Caret and Kenn Ricci.

Caret is a senior advisor to Blackstone and until her retirement in 2022, was the executive vice president and senior advisor to The Boeing Company, where she also served as CEO and president of Boeing Defense, Space and Security.

"Leanne is an expert in helping high-performing organizations reach the next level," Embry-Riddle's board chair, Mori Hosseini, said in a university news release. "She is a highly strategic thinker with a wealth of experience in industry  exactly the type of person to help lead this institution into the future."

Ricci is principal of Directional Aviation Capital, a firm that owns aviation businesses including Flexjet, a provider of fractional private jet services. He established the Flexjet Innovation and Career Center at Embry-Riddle in 2017.

"Trustee Ricci is a pillar of the aviation industry. His unique leadership skills, business acumen, passion and vision will be incredible assets and I look forward to working with him," said Embry-Riddle President Barry Butler.

Caret: 'Pay it forward'

In a 34-year career at Boeing, Caret led finance, operations and management divisions, while also managing a $30 billion budget and overseeing 30,000 employees.

Leanne Caret

"The greatest act that any of us can do, as Americans, is to pay it forward," Caret said. "I look forward to doing just that at Embry-Riddle, in contributing to the university's mission of developing the next generation of talent throughout the fields of aviation and aerospace."

She is also a board director at Deere & Company, RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies), the Kansas State University Foundation and USO Inc.

Ricci: 'Investing in future aviators' is important

Ricci is more than 40 years into his entrepreneurial aviation career. In addition to Flexjet, Directional Aviation owns and invests in a wide range of aviation-related businesses, including Flight Options, which offers fractional ownership of jet services.

Kenn Ricci

"Investing in future aviators is one of the most important services that those of us who love aviation can perform," Ricci said. "Embry-Riddle is the leader in inspiring and educating the future of our industry, and I am eager to collaborate to uphold the university's mission of teaching the science, practice and business of aviation and aerospace."

Ricci's firms account for more than $4 billion in revenue, operate more than 300 aircraft and employ some 5,000 people.

Unique Sendoff: Ashes of Embry-Riddle professor, Daytona museum grant writer headed for deep space

Story continues

Investment in Education: Boeing grant paves way for new ERAU aviation safety lab in Daytona

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: ERAU names former Boeing vice president, Flexjet chairman to board
WASHINGTON (AP)  More than 200 chemical plants nationwide will be required to reduce toxic emissions that are likely to cause cancer under a new rule issued Tuesday by the Environmental Protection Agency. The rule advances President Joe Bidens commitment to environmental justice by delivering critical health protections for communities burdened by industrial pollution from ethylene oxide, chloroprene and other dangerous chemicals, officials said.

Areas that will benefit from the new rule include majority-Black neighborhoods outside New Orleans that EPA Administrator Michael Regan visited as part of his 2021 Journey to Justice tour. The rule will significantly reduce emissions of chloroprene and other harmful pollutants at the Denka Performance Elastomer facility in LaPlace, Louisiana, the largest source of chloroprene emissions in the country, Regan said.

Every community in this country deserves to breathe clean air. Thats why I took the Journey to Justice tour to communities like St. John the Baptist Parish, where residents have borne the brunt of toxic air for far too long, Regan said. We promised to listen to folks that are suffering from pollution and act to protect them. Today we deliver on that promise with strong final standards to slash pollution, reduce cancer risk and ensure cleaner air for nearby communities.

When combined with a rule issued last month cracking down on ethylene oxide emissions from commercial sterilizers used to clean medical equipment, the new rule will reduce ethylene oxide and chloroprene emissions by nearly 80%, officials said.

The rule will apply to 218 facilities spread across the United States  more than half in Texas or Louisiana. Plants also are located in two dozen other states, including Ohio and other Midwest states, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and throughout the South, the EPA said. The action updates several regulations on chemical plant emissions that have not been tightened in nearly two decades.

Democratic Rep. Troy Carter, whose Louisiana district includes the Denka plant, called the new rule a monumental step" to safeguard public health and the environment.

Communities deserve to be safe. I've said this all along,'' Carter told reporters at a briefing Monday. "It must begin with proper regulation. It must begin with listening to the people who are impacted in the neighborhoods, who undoubtedly have suffered the cost of being in close proximity of chemical plants  but not just chemical plants, chemical plants that dont follow the rules.''

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Carter said it was "critically important that measures like this are demonstrated to keep the confidence of the American people.''

The American Chemistry Council, which represents chemical manufacturers, said it was reviewing the rule but criticized EPA's use of what it called "a deeply flawed'' method to determine the toxicity of ethylene oxide.

We also remain concerned with the recent onslaught of chemical regulations being put forth by this administration,'' the group said in a statement. Without a different approach, the availability of critical chemistries will dwindle'' in the U.S., harming the country's supply chain, the ACC said.

The new rule will slash more than 6,200 tons (5,624 metric tonnes) of toxic air pollutants annually and implement fenceline monitoring, the EPA said, addressing health risks in surrounding communities and promoting environmental justice in Louisiana and other states.

The Justice Department sued Denka last year, saying it had been releasing unsafe concentrations of chloroprene near homes and schools. Federal regulators had determined in 2016 that chloroprene emissions from the Denka plant were contributing to the highest cancer risk of any place in the United States.

Denka, a Japanese company that bought the former DuPont rubber-making plant in 2015, said it vehemently opposes the EPAs latest action.

EPAs rulemaking is yet another attempt to drive a policy agenda that is unsupported by the law or the science, Denka said in a statement, adding that the agency has alleged its facility represents a danger to its community, despite the facilitys compliance with its federal and state air permitting requirements.

The Denka plant, which makes synthetic rubber, has been at the center of protests over pollution in majority-Black communities and EPA efforts to curb chloroprene emissions, particularly in the Mississippi River Chemical Corridor, an 85-mile (137-kilometer) industrial region known informally as Cancer Alley. Denka said it already has invested more than $35 million to reduce chloroprene emissions.

The EPA, under pressure from local activists, agreed to open a civil rights investigation of the plant to determine if state officials were putting Black residents at increased cancer risk. The agency initially found evidence of discrimination, but in June it dropped its investigation without releasing any official findings and without any commitments from the state to change its practices.

Regan said the rule issued Tuesday was separate from the civil rights investigation. He called the rule very ambitious,'' adding that officials took care to ensure that we protect all of these communities, not just those in Cancer Alley, but communities in Texas and Puerto Rico and other areas that are threatened by these hazardous air toxic pollutants.''

While it focuses on toxic emissions, by its very nature, this rule is providing protection to environmental justice communities  Black and brown communities, low-income communities  that have suffered for far too long,'' Regan said.

Patrice Simms, vice president of the environmental law firm Earthjustice, called the rule a victory in our pursuit for environmental justice.

Fenceline monitoring for six toxic air pollutants  ethylene oxide, chloroprene, vinyl chloride, benzene, 1,3-butadiene and ethylene dichloride  will be crucial to ensure accountability and transparency, Simms and other advocates said. The new rule marks just the second time that EPA has mandated fenceline monitoring in air toxics standards under the Clean Air Act.

For years, weve watched our families and neighbors suffer from disease, like cancer, due to underregulated emissions, said Robert Taylor, founder of Concerned Citizens of St. John, a local advocacy group.

After the EPA closed its civil rights complaint, we felt little hope that any government could protect us from industry,'' Taylor said. The new rule is renewing our hope,'' he said.

___

Associated Press writer Michael Phillis in St. Louis contributed to this story.
Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition, speaks to delegates during the federal party conference of Alliance 90/The Greens (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen). Kay Nietfeld/dpa

The European Commission is opening an investigation into Chinese wind-turbine suppliers operating in Spain, Greece, France, Romania and Bulgaria, competition chief Margarethe Vestager said on Tuesday.

"We are launching a new inquiry into Chinese suppliers of wind turbines. We are investigating the conditions for the development of wind parks in Spain, in Greece, in France, in Romania and in Bulgaria," Vestager told an audience in Princeton in the US state of New Jersey.

The investigations concern suspicions that some operators may benefit from an unfair competitive advantage due to foreign subsidies, a commission spokeswoman told dpa.

"Based on information available to the commission, there are indications that certain wind manufacturers and other companies active in the internal market may benefit from foreign subsidies which grant them an unfair advantage over their competitors and which may lead to distortions of competition," the spokeswoman said in an email.

The spokeswoman said the commission is sending requests for information under the EU's Foreign Subsidies Regulation. The move follows an existing commission plan to monitor foreign subsidies in the market for wind power, she said.

In her speech to the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, Vestager said: "China is for us simultaneously a partner in fighting climate change, an economic competitor, a systemic rival. And the last two dimensions are increasingly converging."

Vestager said China's "playbook" of subsidizing domestic solar panel suppliers and exporting excess capacity at low prices had resulted in fewer than 3% of solar panels installed in the EU being produced in Europe.

"We see this playbook now deployed across all clean tech areas, legacy semiconductors, and beyond, as China doubles down on a supply side support strategy, to address its economic downturn."

"Our economies cannot absorb this. It is not only dangerous for our competitiveness. It also jeopardizes our economic security. We have seen how one-sided dependencies can be used against us. And this is why Europe, and not only the US, is reacting," Vestager said.

"Every time we suspect that any foreign company has been unduly advantaged in a public tender, we will dig further."

She pointed to the recent example of a Chinese state-owned company withdrawing its bid for a public tender for trains in Bulgaria, following a commission investigation.

"Just last week, we opened investigations into bids by Chinese companies that may unduly have been advantaged in public tenders for solar panels in Romania," she added.

Story continues

"In October last year, the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy investigation into the import of electrical vehicles from China. If we determine that those electrical cars have been illegally subsidized, we will impose remedies," Vestager said.

However, she described the current approach as "Whac-A-Mole," and called for "a systemic approach" in place of the current "case-by-case" method.

"We cant afford to see what happened on solar panels, happening again on electrical vehicles, on wind on essential chips," she warned.
Editors Note: Sign up for CNNs Meanwhile in China newsletter which explores what you need to know about the countrys rise and how it impacts the world.

The European Union has launched an investigation into Chinas state support for its wind turbine companies, intensifying a push to protect Europes industry from a flood of cheap Chinese imports.

Margrethe Vestager, the EUs competition chief, said Tuesday that the probe would look into the development of wind farms in Spain, Greece, France, Romania and Bulgaria.

The move provides further evidence of tensions between China, the worlds biggest manufacturer, and its major trading partners resulting from the oversupply of Chinese goods in key industries around the world. The countrys global trade surplus in goods has soared in recent years and is now approaching $1 trillion.

On Thursday, a Chinese commerce ministry official responded that Beijing firmly opposes the investigation. The probe not only seriously damages the confidence of Chinese enterprises operating in Europe, but also interferes with mutually beneficial industrial cooperation between the two sides, the official said in a statement.

It will also affect global efforts to address climate change and the process of green transformation.

Vestagers announcement as part of a speech in Princeton, New Jersey, came just days after the European Commission, the EUs executive arm, opened a separate subsidies probe into Chinese companies bidding for a solar farm contract in Romania.

The commission is making use of new powers under its Foreign Subsidies Regulation, aimed at addressing market distortions caused by subsidies from foreign governments and ensuring that EU companies are competing on a level playing field.

We saw the playbook for how China came to dominate the solar panel industry, Vestager said, citing massive subsidies for domestic suppliers.

The result is that nowadays, less than 3% of the solar panels installed in the EU are produced in Europe, she added, noting that China was deploying the same strategy across other areas of clean technology, including exporting excess capacity to the rest of the world at low prices.

We cant afford to see what happened on solar panels happening again on electric vehicles, wind or essential chips, Vestager said.

In October, the European Commission launched an investigation into Chinas subsidies for electric vehicle makers, which it suspects may be enabling these firms to keep prices super-low, creating unfair competition with European rivals.

Beijing sees exports as a key measure to revive Chinas slowing economy and is increasingly focusing on higher-value exports in industries that Europe and the United States see as strategically important as they seek to green their economies and reduce planet-heating pollution.

Story continues

CNNs Wayne Chang contributed reporting.

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NEV makers encouraged to speed up overseas development

08:34, April 09, 2024 By Ma Si ( China Daily

Visitors look at an electric MG Cyberster during the 45th Bangkok International Motor Show in Bangkok, Thailand on March 27. [Photo/Xinhua]

China will step up efforts to encourage its new energy vehicle companies to accelerate their overseas development, said an official at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, warning that the restrictive measures imposed by a "certain country and region" on Chinese electric vehicles will only undermine the interests of global consumers.

The official made the remarks during an exclusive interview with China Daily after the United States announced that it would investigate Chinese-made electric cars. Last month, the European Commission started customs registration of Chinese EV imports as part of its broad probe into whether Chinese EV companies are receiving unfair subsidies.

These measures against Chinese EVs were implemented without sufficient evidence. Such practices are not only in contravention of World Trade Organization rules, they also disrupt the global automotive supply chain, the official said.

"The automotive sector is a typical globalized industry, and its healthy development cannot be separated from the division of labor and cooperation in the global industrial chain," the official said.

According to the ministry, China has in recent years cultivated the largest consumer base for new energy vehicles. "China has also supplied the international community with cost-effective, diverse and reliable NEV raw materials and components, injecting strong impetus into the development of the global NEV industry," the official said.

China has been the world's largest NEV market for nine consecutive years. Data from the Ministry of Public Security shows that by 2023, the number of NEVs in use in the country reached 20.41 million, accounting for about 6 percent of all cars in use. This has offered both Chinese and foreign automobile companies abundant business opportunities, experts said.

Tao Lin, vice-president of Tesla, said the US electric vehicle maker's rapid growth in China over the past decade cannot be separated from the country's policy support and favorable business environment.

With unmatched advantages and vast prospects compared with other global markets, China is a "must-have" market for the US company, she added.

In sharp contrast to China's openness toward foreign EV companies, some countries and regions have adopted a hostile attitude toward Chinese NEV makers, accusing them of relying on unfair subsidies without verifiable evidence, experts said.

Wei Jianguo, former vice-minister of commerce, said that such accusations are groundless. The rapid development of Chinese EV companies is built on continuous technological innovation, a well-established supply chain and market competition, he added.

Ding Yuqian, head of China Autos Research at HSBC Qianhai Securities Ltd, said that China has the world's most competitive EV battery supply chain.

Noting that the most expensive single element of an EV is its battery, she said that carmakers in China have access to high-quality batteries produced at a relative cost advantage, with manufacturers continuously improving the technology.

The official from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said the ministry will strengthen high-level, open cooperation in the NEV sector with other countries to ensure China's technological innovation benefits people worldwide.

The ministry will enhance policy guidance and support for enterprises to accelerate their overseas development tailored to local conditions, and help optimize the international logistics system to strengthen services such as railway and maritime transportation, the official said.

It will also ratchet up efforts to align domestic and foreign standards and regulations in NEVs, and promote the establishment of mutually recognized carbon emission and footprint accounting rules to create a more favorable business environment for all NEV makers, the official added.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Valmet is taking process automation further by introducing the next-generation distributed control system (DCS), the Valmet DNAe.

The fully web-based process control system comes with a new cybersecure system architecture, control software and hardware, engineering and analytics tools, helping customers improve efficiency, productivity, sustainability and safety of their operations.

The new Valmet DNAe represents a major milestone in process automation. It provides a solid platform for moving towards more digitalised, autonomous operations, helping our customers thrive in the changing business environment. In the development of this new system, we have focused on usability and performance, with a modular approach that enables upgrade paths also from our previous system generations, says Emilia Torttila-Miettinen, President, Automation Systems business line at Valmet.

Major step

The launch is a major step in the companys roadmap for growing its automation business further and in bringing unrivalled future-proof automation solutions to a wide base of process industries globally. With this new system, the company will have an excellent opportunity to continue expanding the footprint of its automation systems business worldwide.

Designed for all process automation user groups

Valmet DNAe is developed with a design philosophy to empower people to perform and collaborate better across the organisation. The system provides a common user interface for controls, analytics, configuration, and maintenance. Intuitive workflows simplify operations and enable users to manage larger process areas with less effort.

Advanced analytics tools enable turning real-time and historical data into actionable insights. Additionally, the new web-based configuration environment provides a unified environment for all engineering needs from office to field, enhancing flexibility in configuration and maintenance tasks. These features are designed to increase the operational efficiency of our customers.

A high-performing DCS

Valmet DNAe has been engineered for demanding process control, emphasising performance and availability. The system empowers users to seamlessly run industrial applications on-premise, at the edge server, or in the cloud. It features a scalable redundant data platform, granting easy and controlled access to all data.

The system architecture is cybersecure by design, with role-based access control, authentication, audit trail and encryption mechanisms for proactive prevention of cyber threats. With smooth OT/IT (Operational technology / Information technology) connectivity through secure communication interfaces with external systems, Valmet DNAe establishes a robust base for advancing digitalisation and autonomous operations.

Step-by-step upgrade paths

In alignment with Valmets lifetime systems compatibility promise, a leading principle in Valmet DNAes development has been to make it easy for Valmets existing process automation customers to benefit from the latest technology.

The new Valmet DNAe Distributed Control System shares its web-based user interface, analytics tools, and common hardware with the previous generation of Valmet DNA. Additionally, Valmet also introduces a new modular controller and a single-channel I/O as new hardware options for Valmet DNAe.

The lifecycle approach enables flexible step-by-step upgrade paths for a sustainable and cost-efficient system evolution. We have already delivered over 200 new generation user interface upgrade projects to various industries. The first full Valmet DNAe systems have also been successfully delivered to customers. An important part of Valmet's strategy is to cover a wide base of global process industries in the automation business, and with this new system, we will have an excellent opportunity to continue expanding the footprint of our DCS business globally, says Torttila-Miettinen.

Valmet DNAe will be introduced in various events during spring 2024, starting with Pulp&Beyond in Helsinki, Finland from April 10 to 11.--TradeArabia News Service
More international buyers and orders sealed

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 30th edition of Malaysian International Furniture Fair wrapped up on a resounding note for exhibitors and buyers hailing the four-day show as a great opportunity to showcase their latest products to a global market and generate new business leads.

Business Discussion during MIFF 2024

The show held from March 1 to 4 offered the opportunity for a record number of 715 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions including Malaysia, to connect with buyers from all over the world looking for high-quality furniture and high-value suppliers for household and commercial products.

MIFF is Southeast Asia's largest B2B furniture trade show and office furniture showroom, besides being the biggest export platform for Malaysian wooden furniture products.

Proving its increasing appeal for big buyers, MIFF 2024 welcomed 5,419 international attendees from 120 countries and regions, a 6% increase from last year, and posted a high of US$1.28 billion in orders.

Attendance was up to 68% from the fast-growing Asia market followed by North America, Europe and Oceania. First-time visitors make up 43% of the total 19,213 presence.

This year's show was headlined by exhibitors from Malaysia as well as countries and regions including Cambodia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkiye, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates and United States.

A wide range of contemporary furniture from office chairs and workstations for the modern workplace to home and lifestyle furniture filled the combined 100,000 sqm show floor at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) and World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL).

The robust mood on the trade floor was driven by the enhanced experience for visitors with a new MIFF Furniverse app to navigate the show floor, explore exhibitors and keep updated on latest happenings during the show. For the first time, visitors also participated in a virtual tree campaign for which MIFF would plant a real tree for every six virtual trees planted.

Back at MIFF for its 15th year was Malaysian manufacturer Spring Art Industries, and company representative Terence Tee said: "The reason is simple because we're consistently satisfied with the results. MIFF has proven to generate revenues and sales for us, unlike other platforms."

For Oasis Furniture Industries, also from Malaysia, MIFF is an excellent business platform because it draws serious buyers.

"The attendees are genuinely interested in making purchases. They specifically seek out products made in Malaysia, making this event ideal for us. This is our 13th year here. Looking ahead, I hope MIFF continues to grow for the next 30 years," says co-founder and managing director Ralph Ong.

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Delighted first-time visitors included Mathilde Le Villain from the United Kingdom, Muhammed Shaheer PM from India and Jeffrey Matloff from the United States.

"We've seen some really impressive things so far and it's been a great experience so far, very insightful. We're enjoying meeting many people, and the suppliers have been incredibly welcoming, friendly and open," said Le Villain.

Muhammad Shaheer was all smiles at the designs and variety of modern recliners and have exchanged business contacts for further discussions.

Matloff decided to take the trip after hearing of MIFF from a colleague and spoke of his positive experience. "I like the show. I've met some good vendors. Overall, I find the quality of the products have been good and the people have been very helpful."

Regular buyer Soufian Omar from Algeria says he enjoys the encouraging and interesting experience and finds MIFF fascinating and competitive in terms of quality and value. "The competition is tough, but we feel confident and comfortable coming to MIFF every year. The hospitality provided by MIFF is always excellent, which adds to our positive experience."

MIFF organiser, Informa Markets Malaysia, is looking forward to next year's show to generate more added value for customers.

"This year's show continues to highlight the fundamental role of MIFF in providing the international furniture industry with exceptional opportunities to do business and build valuable connections. Our new MIFF Furniverse app has elevated the experience for all participants because they are able to move faster and effectively through the show. We are thrilled to receive very strong rebookings for MIFF 2025, highlighting the importance of MIFF for exhibitors and buyers. And they can look forward to more quality and a better show next year," said Ms Kelie Lim, General Manager of MIFF.

Next year's MIFF will be held on the same dates from March 1 to 4 at the same venues.

To stay updated about MIFF 2025, you can join our mailing list or book a space by visiting the MIFF website at www.miff.com.my. For further information, please feel free to contact the MIFF Team at info@miff.com.my.

About MIFF (www.miff.com.my)

MIFF is the largest and leading export-oriented furniture trade show in Southeast Asia showcasing the widest collection of Made-in-Malaysia wooden furniture, home furniture and office furniture. Since 1995, MIFF is a one-stop platform connecting a wider community of 20,000+ buyers from 140 countries and regions. MIFF is organised by Informa Markets which is a part of Informa PLC, a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B event organiser in the world.

Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) (PRNewsfoto/Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF))

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/exhibitors-and-buyers-upbeat-at-malaysian-international-furniture-fair-2024-302111646.html

SOURCE Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF)
Expedia says hotels in the Wimbledon area that used Expedia sponsored listings saw a surge in revenue. Source: Paige Lorenze/Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crowds_at_Wimbledon_2023_02.png

Sponsored listings on Expedia.com and Hotels.com are a significant portion of Expedia Groups advertising business, and the company is considering ways to launch them for the first time on its vacation rental platform Vrbo, as well.

The lack of sponsored listings on Vrbo is one of the big things Id like to change, said Rob Torres, senior vice president media & affiliate solutions at Expedia Group.

Torres made clear that Vrbo isnt at the testing stage yet for sponsored listings, but he said they are working on that as a product and a feature.

Torres, who worked at Expedia from 1999 to 2006, returned to the company in 2022 after 16 years with Google. He now oversees advertising on the various Expedia Group brands, including Vrbo.

Torres said individual property owners and large property management companies have expressed interest in sponsored listing for short-term rentals on Vrbo. Its on our side to figure that out in my team and I am pushing them, he said. Were smart enough, we have technology, we innovated, we have to figure it out.

After the interview Monday, an Expedia spokesperson said the idea of launching TravelAds on Vrbo is something Expedia Group is looking at. It isnt in progress yet and is still in a nascent discovery phase only.

TravelAds and Flight Sponsored Listings

Expedia Group currently lets hotels buy TravelAds and airlines purchase Flight Sponsored Listings, both of which enable them to boost the visibility of their listings for a cost per click on Expedia.com and Hotels.com.

A TravelAd, or sponsored listing, placed by the Mercure Biarritz Centre Plaza Hotel in Biarritz, France on Expedia.com. Source: Expedia

Torres said there have been a number of recent changes to Expedias sponsored ads, which have been in existence for around two decades.

Whats Changed

For example, Expedia recently launched automated bidding for these ad placements. The auction used to be solely a manual process and parts of it still are, Torres said. But now it is more automated and Expedia can inform the advertiser when its budget is running low, or how its sponsored listing is faring against the competition, he added.

Expedia already runs a limited amount of vacation rental sponsored listings on Expedia and Hotels.com, but not on Vrbo.

Whats changed for Vrbo is that it recently transitioned to a common backend tech platform with Expedia and Hotels.com. Torres said that enables Expedia Group to make available some of these sponsored ad features to Vrbo, but its complex because unlike a hotel room, a vacation rental property can have unique features and they generally dont have the guest capacity that hotels have.

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Expedia Claims an Advantage

Asked about any differentiation between Expedias sponsored listings and that of the competition, Torres claimed that Expedia has more in-depth targeting capabilities, and has an advantage over Google, which doesnt process many bookings.

We have the full funnel, Torres said. We offer top of the funnel and bottom of the funnel so we know if somebodys actually converted, based on one of our sites versus of Google or someone. We can run that or incorporate that information into our data and insights so that we can actually make better decisions on who were targeting these ads.

Expedia touted its sponsored ads as a way for hotels to take advantage of big events such as Wimbledon last year where hotels using TravelAds in the Wimbledon area saw an average 30% revenue boost. Phoenix hotels generated a 15% boost over Super Bowl weekend, and when Taylor Swift played Nashville, TravelAds users saw a 5% revenue and booking boost, Expedia said.

Its about a 50-50 split between independent hotels and big brands that are using TravelAds, Torres said.

Missed Opportunity for Airbnb?

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky stirred up interest in sponsored listings for short-term rentals a year ago when he floated the idea of debuting them on Airbnb. Skift Research estimated at the time that if Airbnb had launched an ad platform in 2024  it still doesnt have one  then it could have generated $1.2 billion in additional revenue annually by 2026.

Airbnb officials subsequently said sponsored listings were not a priority because Airbnb chose to focus on its core business.

Torres wouldnt comment on whether Airbnb was missing an opportunity by not pursuing sponsored listings.

I cant really speak about them in terms of that, Torres said, referring to Airbnb. But, I just think overall, we think its a very great business.

Get breaking travel news and exclusive hotel, airline, and tourism research and insights at Skift.com.
PUNE, India, April 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report titled "Fall Protection Equipment Market by Type (Access System, Hard Goods, Installed System), Mechanism (Active, Passive), End-Use Industry - Global Forecast 2024-2030" is now available on 360iResearch.com's offering, presents an analysis indicating that the market projected to grow from a size of $2.90 billion in 2023 to reach $4.47 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.36% over the forecast period.

360iResearch_Logo

" Enhancing Workplace Safety for Innovative Fall Protection Equipment "

Fall protection equipment emerges as a pivotal solution in safeguarding individuals from the risks associated with working at heights, particularly in the construction, energy, and telecommunications sectors, to address the critical necessity for workplace safety. This category of safety gear, which includes harnesses, lanyards, lifelines, anchor points, and guard rails, is vital in minimizing the incidence and severity of fall-related injuries or fatalities. With the implementation of stringent safety regulations worldwide and a growing awareness of occupational safety, there's a pressing demand for advanced fall protection solutions. Challenges include inadequate training on properly utilizing these safety devices, technological advancements pave the way for developing more effective, lightweight, and comfortable equipment. This evolution enhances worker protection and boosts productivity across various industries. The United States and Canada are at the forefront in the Americas, driven by robust safety standards; Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region benefit from strict regulations that spur the demand for certified, high-quality equipment. Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific area, notably China, Japan, and India, is experiencing a surge in industrial and construction activities, leading to increased awareness and adoption of safety measures. This global emphasis on workplace safety underscores the critical role of fall protection equipment in creating safer working environments and the ongoing efforts to integrate technological innovations for the well-being of workers worldwide.

Download Sample Report @ https://www.360iresearch.com/library/intelligence/fall-protection-equipment

" Enhancing Workplace Safety: The Critical Role of Rigorous Fall Protection Regulations "

Governmental bodies and regulatory agencies are dedicated in their commitment to worker safety, especially in combating fall-related injuries in high-risk industries such as construction, manufacturing, and energy. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the U.S., European EN standards, and other regional frameworks mandate comprehensive guidelines to protect workers at heights. The EU's Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Workplace 2021-2027 highlights a collective effort toward better preventive measures and heightened readiness among the workforce to tackle safety challenges. These regulations embody a vital push for businesses to adopt superior fall protection systems, thereby averting serious accidents and the accompanying legal and reputational repercussions. The continuous refinement of these standards, propelled by technological progress and a deeper understanding of safety dynamics, naturally spurs innovation in the fall protection equipment sector. This evolution is marked by the emergence of products that comply with and exceed current safety standards, securing a safer and more productive environment for workers across industries.

Story continues

" Enhancing Workplace Safety Through Advanced Fall Protection Solutions "

The importance of secure and efficient access systems cannot be overstated. These systems ensure safe and reliable entry and exit for professionals working in elevated areas or confined spaces, substantially minimizing the risk of accidents. From versatile ladders and scaffolds that facilitate access to various heights to sophisticated personnel lifts and davits for specialized tasks, the range of equipment available is designed to cater to diverse workplace needs. Hard goods are durable components, including anchorage connectors, full-body harnesses, and secure connectors that form the backbone of adequate fall protection. Meanwhile, fixed solutions such as horizontal lifelines, guardrails, and anchor systems are seamlessly integrated into workspaces to offer uninterrupted safety. Additionally, emergencies are addressed with rescue kits and descent devices, ensuring quick and safe recovery. This comprehensive approach to fall protection safeguards workers and fosters a culture of safety and efficiency in modern workplaces.

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" Honeywell International Inc. at the Forefront of Fall Protection Equipment Market with a Strong 8.84% Market Share "

The key players in the Fall Protection Equipment Market include Honeywell International Inc., Delta Plus Group, MSA Safety Incorporated, 3M Company, WernerCo., and others. These prominent players focus on strategies such as expansions, acquisitions, joint ventures, and developing new products to strengthen their market positions.

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We proudly unveil ThinkMi, a cutting-edge AI product designed to transform how businesses interact with the Fall Protection Equipment Market. ThinkMi stands out as your premier market intelligence partner, delivering unparalleled insights with the power of artificial intelligence. Whether deciphering market trends or offering actionable intelligence, ThinkMi is engineered to provide precise, relevant answers to your most critical business questions. This revolutionary tool is more than just an information source; it's a strategic asset that empowers your decision-making with up-to-the-minute data, ensuring you stay ahead in the fiercely competitive Fall Protection Equipment Market. Embrace the future of market analysis with ThinkMi, where informed decisions lead to remarkable growth.

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" Dive into the Fall Protection Equipment Market Landscape: Explore 189 Pages of Insights, 296 Tables, and 22 Figures "

Preface Research Methodology Executive Summary Market Overview Market Insights Fall Protection Equipment Market, by Type Fall Protection Equipment Market, by Mechanism Fall Protection Equipment Market, by End-Use Industry Americas Fall Protection Equipment Market Asia-Pacific Fall Protection Equipment Market Europe, Middle East & Africa Fall Protection Equipment Market Competitive Landscape Competitive Portfolio

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Frederick Smith founded the multibillion-dollar shipping company FedEx, was enshrined in the Business and Aviation Halls of Fame, earned a Silver Star and two Purple Hearts, and has been recognized as one of the greatest living business minds in the world.

But he thinks perhaps the most meaningful honor he has ever received was when his Marines dug a hole for him.

When I was company commander in Vietnam, it was a hard way to make a living, Smith said. We were out on operations virtually the whole time  and so I had to go up and talk to the colonel nearly every day, while my troops were setting into positions, digging their fighting holes. And Id dig my hole when I came back from the briefing.

Then one night, I came back, and my troops had dug my fighting hole for me. They were as tired or more tired, but they took their energy to take care of me. And it was one of the best things that ever happened to me, because it told me they cared for me, they appreciated my leadership.

Smith, Military Times 2024 Veteran of the Year, has long insisted that he learned more about being successful in business from his three years in the Marine Corps than his time at Yale Business School.

The 79-year-old entrepreneur and business innovator said college helped him learn how companies work. The military taught him how people work.

If you take care of your troops, theyre gonna take care of you, and theyll accomplish any mission, he said. The Marine Corps makes you put your troops first. And the most important part of the FedEx equation is the frontline folks, not the people back at headquarters.

We can have the best airplanes, the best vehicles, the best automation, but at the end of the day, if you can get extra effort out of everybody, particularly in the service delivery, then you can outperform the competition.

During a 2022 speech at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Dinner, Smith said that FedExs success is owed to its many early veteran employees and quipped that if you could fly, drive a truck, or lift a box, if you served in Vietnam, you had a job. The company regularly hands out Bravo Zulu awards to overachieving employees, a tradition echoing back to Smiths Marine Corps service.

He said that ethos of focusing on people  one he strove to instill at every level of FedEx during his 50-plus years leading the company  stems from eating meals and sleeping on the ground during his tours of Vietnam, a deployment punctuated by his Silver Star award for heroism in May 1968.

FedEx founder Frederick Smith (right) is shown in Vietnam during his tours with the Marine Corps there. Capt. Smith was discharged in 1969 after earning a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts. (Courtesy of Frederick Smith)

During a search and destroy operation, the young first lieutenant rushed through incoming fire to direct counterattacks and overtake enemy defensive positions. Military officials lauded his courage, aggressive leadership and unfaltering devotion to duty at great personal risk in their citation for the award.

Story continues

Smith, who was wounded twice during his time in Vietnam and earned a Bronze Star, said earning the respect of his men was more valuable than any other recognition he received. He also lost six friends during the war, a burden he says he carries with him daily.

When he left the military, Smith didnt leave behind that idea of service and teamwork. While growing FedEx from a small aircraft maintenance company to one of the worlds largest transportation firms, he was also involved in numerous philanthropic efforts, many with military ties.

He served as co-chairman of both the U.S. World War II Memorial project and the campaign for the National Museum of the Marine Corps, helping raise money and public support for both locations. Smith had six family members serve in World War II, making that project one where I just felt like I couldnt say no.

In 2022, he donated $65 million to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, a gift organizers said would benefit thousands of military families.

I just love the mission of that, he said. Providing education for the children of Marines and Navy personnel who served with Marines, that just put an exclamation point on my appreciation for what the Marine Corps taught me.

I never went to graduate school at all, but I joke that I got an extra degree from U-S-m-C, and I just kinda garble up the M to confuse folks. But as Ive gotten older and look back, I realize how defining my time in the Marine Corps was to my whole life, and it makes me want to give back.

For the past 23 years, Service Members of the Year awards have honored one outstanding military (active duty, Guard or Reserve) member from each branch of service. They are selected based on exemplary military service that goes beyond the call of duty. The honorees and their families are being flown to Washington, D.C., for a visit to the nations capital and a special awards ceremony attended by congressional, military and community leaders. The awards ceremony will take place on April 24, 2024. To watch the livestream of the event, register here.

See all of Military Times 2024 Service Members of the Year honorees.
Adene Sanchez / iStock/Getty Images

Several states could see reduced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as lawmakers consider restricting access or changing eligibility requirements. According to Newsweek, SNAP laws could change in these four states: Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska and West Virginia.

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Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture funds SNAP, state agencies are responsible for general administration and ensuring program integrity, according to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. State agencies determine eligibility, based on a households income and assets, for SNAP benefits and issue monthly allotments. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, states also have the option to relax asset limits and have broad authority to extend or temporarily waive work requirements for SNAP households.

Here are the states where recipients could see more SNAP restrictions.

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Kentucky

In February, Kentuckys House of Representatives voted to approve House Bill 367, Newsweek reported. This would implement a financial asset test and make income requirements stricter for SNAP recipients. The limit for gross income, which in income earned before taxes and deductions, would drop from 200% to 130%.

Learn More: Im a Frugal Shopper  Always Buy the Cheapest Version of These 7 Foods

Maryland

SNAP can be used to purchase most foods for the household, including snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages, according to the USDA. However, Republican Representative Andy Harris put together a bill that would limit the foods SNAP recipients can buy using their EBT cards. The bill focuses on eliminating unhealthy foods and sweetened beverages from the types of products that can be bought with an EBT card, Newsweek reported.

Nebraska

Senator Ben Hansen in Nebraska proposed legislation that would require able-bodied SNAP claimants who are not currently employed to enroll in a work and training program. According to Newsweek, the SNAP Next Step Program is in place in the state, but its not mandatory.

West Virginia

West Virginia lawmakers are also reviewing a bill that would see all individuals who are over the age of 17 and under the age of 60 to an employment and training program, Newsweek reported.

Republican Senator Rollan Roberts, the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 562, said the bill would gradually wean able-bodied adults without dependents off of SNAP, according to Ballotpedia.

Story continues

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Food Stamps: These 4 States Face SNAP Restrictions in 2024  How Would Benefit Paychecks Be Affected?
Kevin O'Leary, the venture capitalist famous for his role on ABCs Shark Tank, recently shared his investment strategy on LinkedIn, emphasizing the importance of cash-flowing investments in a well-balanced portfolio. OLeary, also known as Mr. Wonderful, has revealed that the bulk of his familys wealth is parked in ETFs, particularly those that focus on quality dividends and positive cash flow.

In his post, OLeary stated, A couple of years back, I sold my ETF company to Alps, the biggest ETF player in the States. Its called OShares, and thats where my familys wealth is parked. OUSA is part of the S&P 500, cherry-picking the highest quality balance sheets with positive cash flow from around 100 out of the 500 names. Then theres OUSM, which grabs the Russell 2000 and weeds out the underperformers  those companies not making any real dough.

OLearys emphasis on cash flow is a reminder that while high-risk, high-reward investments like those on Shark Tank or volatile assets like Bitcoin can be exciting, the foundation of a solid investment portfolio lies in steady, reliable income. Forget Shark Tank, forget Bitcoin. Sure, Ive got a 5% stake in Bitcoin and another 5% in gold, but the meat of my US portfolio? Its in OUSA or OUSM, OLeary added.

Don't Miss:

Investing in real estate just got a whole lot simpler. This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, and you only need $100.

Passive income investments are one of the most trusted methods for riding out a recession, so it's no surprise that people are turning to these high-yield real estate notes that pay a fixed 7.5%  9%.

The ALPS OShares US Quality Dividend ETF (BATS:OUSA) and the ALPS OShares US Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF (BATS:OUSM) are designed to provide investors with exposure to large-cap and small-cap dividend-paying companies that exhibit quality and low volatility. These ETFs aim to offer a balance of income and growth, with a focus on companies that have strong balance sheets and a history of dividend growth.

Adding Passive Income To Your Portfolio

For investors looking to add yield-producing assets to their portfolio, ETFs like OUSA and OUSM can be an attractive option. They offer the potential for steady income through dividends, as well as the opportunity for capital appreciation.

Investors can often find higher yields through alternative assets, which typically have a low correlation to the stock market. Here are two income-generating assets to consider adding to your portfolio.

Story continues

Real Estate

Real estate can be an excellent source of passive income. Investing in properties, whether residential or commercial, can provide steady rental income alongside potential appreciation in value over time. For those interested in exploring private market real estate investment opportunities, Benzinga's real estate offering screener has a curated list of offerings that cater to various investment preferences and goals. Minimum investments start at just $100 and options are available to both accredited and non-accredited investors.

Private Credit

In addition to real estate, private credit is an alternative investment option that can generate attractive yields. Real estate notes, in particular, allow investors to earn interest income by providing financing to property owners or buyers. These notes can offer a fixed return and serve as a diversification tool within an income-focused portfolio. These real estate notes allow anyone to start investing with as little as $500.

In an uncertain market, having a portion of your portfolio dedicated to cash-flowing investments can provide a measure of stability and help mitigate risk. While the allure of quick gains from speculative investments can be tempting, Kevin OLearys investment strategy highlights the importance of having a strong foundation of cash-flowing assets. Whether its dividend stocks, ETFs, real estate or private credit, incorporating yield-producing investments into your portfolio can provide a steady stream of income and long-term financial security.

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Elon Musk has reportedly bought 6,000 acres of land just outside of Austin. Heres how to invest in the citys growth before he floods it with new tech workers.

Collecting passive income from real estate just got a whole lot simpler. A new real estate fund backed by Jeff Bezos gives you instant access to a diversified portfolio of rental properties, and you only need $100 to get started.

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This article 'Forget Shark Tank, Forget Bitcoin' Kevin O'Leary Says The Real 'Meat' Of His Portfolio Is In These Cash Flowing Investments originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
(Bloomberg) -- The embattled French IT company Atos SE is seeking more than 1 billion in new funds and wants to cut its current debt pile by at least half, according to a restructuring plan presented to creditors late Monday.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Atos is aiming to convert about half of its debt into equity as part of the plan while extending the maturity of its remaining obligations, people with direct knowledge of the presentation said, asking not to be identified because the information isnt public. Exactly who would provide the more than 1 billion in new funds and how remaining debt terms would be renegotiated werent immediately clear, they said.

Atos, once hailed as the rising star of Frances tech industry, is facing a wall of debt  and its running out of options for bringing it down. The firm has 3.65 billion ($3.95 billion) of debt due by the end of next year. Meanwhile, talks to sell parts of its business to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinskys EPEI and Airbus SE have failed. Shares have fallen by more than 97% in the past seven years, with a series of supply chain constraints, accounting errors, profit warnings and industry-wide headwinds wiping out nearly 12 billion in market value.

Atos declined to comment on Monday. The company had said it will issue a statement on the presentation before the market opens on Tuesday. Atoss plans may change depending on whether the French government gets involved and whether third parties decide to inject new money into the company or buy parts of the business, according to the people familiar with the discussions.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has taken a personal interest in the fate of Atos, which has close ties with the nations military and nuclear industry. Attal said last week that Atoss strategic activities, which include providing cybersecurity for this summers Paris Olympics, must remain under French ownership. The governments priority is to ensure Atoss financial stability, he recently told lawmakers at the National Assembly.

Mondays presentation was part of a formal restructuring process known as conciliation with the companys debtors, under the supervision of a court-appointed mediator. Atos said last month it has sufficient liquidity until it reaches a debt deal and that it hoped to have a comprehensive agreement by July.

Story continues

Other parties are trying to design alternative rescue plans. Atoss largest shareholder Onepoint said on Sunday that Paris-based investment firm Butler Industries will join a consortium to help rescue Atos. The group is interested in protecting and preserving all group assets, according to a statement.

Kretinsky is also weighing a renewed takeover offer for parts of Atos, depending on the result of the restructuring and refinancing plan, Bloomberg reported in February.

(Updates with lost market value in third paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
The Fueltrax ops center is modeled after the NASA center. It allows Fueltrax to provide continuous monitoring and support to vessel operators in the Asia-Pacific region. The center is operated by Mohamad Ariff Bin Ramli. (Photo: Business Wire)

HOUSTON, April 09, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fueltrax, the leader in global Electronic Fuel Management Systems (EFMS) has opened a Vessel Operations Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

This is Fueltraxs second such center and the first outside of the companys headquarters in the U.S. It provides closer-to-region coverage for Asia-Pacific customers.

Ruben DeLeon, Fueltraxs Vice President of Product Support, drew on his seven-year tenure at NASA's Mission Control Center in driving the establishment of the Kuala Lumpur facility.

As DeLeon explains, the new Fueltrax facility is modeled after the NASA center, as "a place where data was continuously monitored, problems identified, and solutions crafted through the collective efforts of experts across various disciplines. Its environment and design were pivotal in achieving flawless missions."

Both Fueltrax operation centers enable support staff from diverse backgrounds to convene in a single space, offering a comprehensive operational perspective and insight into the health and status of all Fueltrax systems. The setup fosters teamwork and facilitates swift problem-solving through exchange of insights to enhance the customer experience.

Mohamad Ariff Bin Ramli has joined Fueltrax to manage the new operations center. He has 15 years of on-vessel experience and most recently worked with MISC Maritime Services as a roving marine marshall focusing on fuel optimization and vessel performance. The operations team includes other seasoned professional mariners, including chief engineers, skilled instrumentation and control field technicians, and military veterans.

Fueltrax has become a frontrunner in vessel installations and continues to grow, with a recent major contract in Southeast Asia, where offshore charter operators sought fuel management solutions that offered precise fuel consumption measurement, data clarity, and emissions monitoring.

"Each day the Fueltrax team provides training and support to a wide range of stakeholders, including global technicians, installation partners, vessel crews, shoreside operations and management teams, as well as charterer personnel," said Faiz Azani, Fueltraxs Kuala Lumpur-based Director of Operations for Southeast Asia. "This new vessel operations center ensures that vessels anywhere in the world can maintain access to top-tier support from highly skilled professional mariners."

About Fueltrax

Fueltrax is the leading smart fuel management system compatible with any vessel, engine, or fuel in any location in the world. It reduces onboard fuel consumption costs and emissions and sets the standard for secure, compliant, and optimized vessel performance. Each Fueltrax installation includes access to the cloud-based data analytics service, FUELNET. Fueltrax delivers over 99% system uptime globally and is the only EFMS accepted universally by all major oil companies. For further information, please contact info@fueltrax.com.

Story continues

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The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly.



Top 5 Upgrades:

JPMorgan upgraded American Eagle (AEO) to Overweight from Neutral with a $31 price target after meeting with management. The firm views American Eagle as one of the most undervalued assets in the group relative to fair value given its fundamental model profile of 3%-5% revenue growth and 10% adjusted EBIT margins in fiscal 2026.

Wells Fargo upgraded Digital Realty (DLR) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $155, up from $135. The firm sees multiple catalysts for the company, including a pick-up in leasing volumes, development yields moving to over 10%, and upside to the company's 2024 guidance.

Wolfe Research upgraded U.S. Steel (X) to Outperform from Peer Perform with a $46 price target, arguing that the stock "looks relatively cheap on a standalone basis" using estimates "well below" its forecasts listed in the proxy.

Goldman Sachs upgraded Molson Coors (TAP) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $75, up from $66. The firm is "incrementally more positive" on Molson Coors and Constellation Brands (STZ) , and incrementally negative on Boston Beer (SAM) , based on feedback from the firm's beer distributor contacts.

TD Cowen upgraded GE Aerospace (GE) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $180, up from $175. The firm says over 50% of the company's sales and 75% of profits come from the commercial aerospace aftermarket following the spinoff, the highest in its coverage.

Top 5 Downgrades:



Barclays downgraded American Express (AXP) to Equal Weight from Overweight with a price target of $221, up from $220. The firm continues to view American Express as the best card issuer to own in the card space, but says the stock's risk/reward is balanced at current levels.

Exane BNP Paribas downgraded Altice USA (ATUS) to Underperform from Neutral with a $1 price target. The firm, which notes it had recently upgraded shares to Neutral on the upside risk of a buyout by Charter (CHTR), sees this upside risk as reduced following its new work on the headwinds facing both companies this year.

Goldman Sachs downgraded Sensata (ST) to Neutral from Buy with a price target of $36, down from $44. The firm expects slower near to intermediate term revenue growth in the company's North America auto business tied to electric vehicles, due to both weaker near-term EV sales, and from some traditional car makers delaying certain EV launches.

Roth MKM downgraded Perion Network (PERI) to Neutral from Buy with a price target of $13, down from $35. The firm cites the "unexpected and severe" decline in Perion's search advertising relationship with Microsoft Bing (MSFT) that resulted in a reduction to 2024 adjusted EBITDA guidance by 56% at the midpoint for the downgrade.
Marking a decade of artistic excellence, World Art Dubai (WAD), the regions largest contemporary art fair, is poised to present its most ambitious edition, in partnership with Dubai Culture, at Dubai World Trade Centre from May 2-5 2024.

WAD is poised to amplify its numbers, showcasing a diverse array of over 4,000 artworks from more than 65 countries and expecting over 15,000 visitors, for this edition. About 40% of exhibitors are returning to exhibit at WAD 2024.

Dubais ambitious goal to double the contribution of the creative industries to its GDP by 2026 under the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy, involves not only doubling the number of creative companies and creators in the emirate but also highlights the immense significance of World Art Dubais contribution to this thriving creative economy, a statement said.

This prominent art exhibition serves as a cornerstone in the realisation of these goals by drawing in thousands of visitors, showcasing the works of over 300 artists and galleries from Dubai and across the globe, presenting a diverse array of artworks, from sculpture and watercolours to digital art and fashion art pieces.

The fair will be set across 12 pavilions dedicated to countries and regions, including Japan, India, China, Turkey, Iran, America, Asia, Russia, UAE, Europe, the UK and Arabia.

WAD will feature experiential art activations, live performances, and curated art talks and workshops. These interactive elements are designed to create a holistic cultural experience, celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of the global art scene.

WAD will also unveil an innovative addition to its repertoire: The WAD Tourism Art Tour, designed for all exhibitors. Through curated guided tours and interactive local art interactions around the emirates, WAD is poised to redefine boundaries and captivate audiences from around the world, celebrating the diversity and brilliance of artistic expression.

Asma Al Sharif, Assistant Vice President at Exhibitions, Dubai World Trade Centre said: As we celebrate a decade of artistic brilliance with the 10th edition of World Art Dubai, were honoured to have Dubai Culture as our strategic partner and excited to introduce a ground-breaking initiative that goes beyond the confines of the art fair.

With the launch of WAD Tourism Art Tour, we aim to provide our exhibitors and participants with an immersive journey through the rich tapestry of the UAEs art and cultural offerings while spotlighting Dubais vibrant art scene on the global stage.

This initiative underscores our commitment to enhancing the participant journey, fostering cultural exchange and strengthening Dubais position as a global cultural destination.

Dr Saeed Mubarak Kharbash, CEO of the Arts and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said: This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to advancing Dubais cultural and creative industries.

By joining forces with World Art Dubai, we aim to make art more accessible to a wider audience and contribute to the realisation of the emirates ambitious goals outlined in the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy.

Through this partnership, we look forward to showcasing the vibrancy and diversity of the global art scene while highlighting Dubais position as a thriving cultural destination.

WAD 2024 will showcase a myriad of distinguished artists, including legacy exhibitors such as Lotus Educational Institute, Art Plus Photographers Production, and Japan Promotion Gallery, which have spent between eight and nine years each exhibiting at the annual show.

Speaking on behalf of the 54-strong artist collective representing Japan Promotion Gallery, Momoko Ishikawa said: We are honoured to represent the Japan booth showcasing groups of Japanese artists. A notable aspect of our exhibition is the availability of contemporary art and artworks that utilise traditional techniques, offering unique pieces not found elsewhere in Dubai.

At the Taimei Gallery booth, a significant focus will be on artworks using the maki-e technique. Maki-e, a painting technique born approximately 1200 years ago, has been cherished by the nobility throughout history.

It is characterised by the serene beauty that emerges from combining the natural hues of the material, the deep lustre of lacquer, and the brilliance of gold and silver.

The creation process is incredibly delicate and time-consuming, achievable only by craftsmen with high levels of skill and extensive experience. Prosperity Japans booth will present framed works and tapestries utilising the nishijin-ori weaving technique, which has a history of over 1,000 years.

This technique involves intricately weaving dyed silk threads to create patterns, producing a fabric with a three-dimensional feel that shows a diversity of colours changing exquisitely with the light. While traditionally used for kimono fabrics, its beauty and high fidelity in pattern reproduction have been reimagined in art pieces.  TradeArabia News Service
AstuteAnalytica India Pvt. Ltd.

Global forest wildfire detection market sees strong growth fueled by increasing wildfire threats and government initiatives. Hardware components dominate the market, while technologies like AI, computer vision, and satellite imaging drive innovation for enhanced accuracy and early detection.

New Delhi, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the report published by Astute Analytica, the global forest wildfire detection system market is projected to surpass the market valuation of US$ 1,259.81 million by 2032 from US$ 740.18 million in 2023 and at a CAGR of 6.30% during the forecast period 20242032.

Request Free Sample Copy: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/forest-wildfire-detection-system-market

In the United States, wildfires are a persistent threat, with humans responsible for approximately 85% of all ignitions annually. The destruction caused by these fires is staggering  in 2022 alone, over 7.5 million acres of wildland were burned. While Texas holds the record for the highest number of wildfires in the country, Alaska leads the way in total acres consumed. The situation is equally dire in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, where September 2020 saw a shocking 61% increase in wildfire hot spots compared to the previous year, totalling 32,017 active zones. Indonesia has also suffered severe wildfire outbreaks, with over 1 million hectares devastated across six provinces during the 2020 dry season. Russia consistently faces significant fire risk, experiencing between 10,000 to over 30,000 forest fires every year from 1992-2021.

The impacts of these wildfires are far-reaching. In the United States, an alarming 15,000-18,000 homes are destroyed by wildfires each year. Globally, wildfires contribute massively to climate change; they release stored carbon into the atmosphere and destroy crucial carbon sinks like the Amazon rainforest. Additionally, wildfires inflict devastating economic damage around the world, affecting lives and livelihoods.

Key Findings in Global Forest Wildfire Detection System Market

Market Forecast (2032) US$ 1,259.81 Million CAGR 6.30% Largest Region (2023) North America (34.3%) By Component Hardware (56.6%) By Technology Satellite Imaging (34.2%) By Application Early Warning and Alert Systems (45.3%) By End Use Forest (62.2%) Top Trends Integration of AI and machine learning for enhanced accuracy and automation.

Increased use of drones/UAVs for remote monitoring and surveillance.

Focus on early detection and real-time monitoring systems. Top Drivers Rising frequency and severity of wildfires due to climate change.

Government regulations and initiatives for wildfire prevention.

Growing demand for wildfire risk assessment by insurance companies. Top Challenges High costs associated with advanced detection systems.

Difficulty in detecting smoldering fires and fires in dense vegetation.

Data privacy and security concerns with surveillance technologies.

Integration of Video Analysis and Computer Vision is Gaining Momentum in Forest Wildfire Detection System Market

Computer vision algorithms, particularly those based on deep learning, are rapidly gaining traction in wildfire detection systems due to their remarkable accuracy. Studies have demonstrated that these algorithms achieve detection accuracies exceeding 90%, which is crucial for pinpointing fires in their earliest, most manageable stages. Advances in optical sensor technology, combined with AI, offer precision in long-range fire detection, with some systems capable of locating fires up to 10 miles away. Computer vision excels at handling the immense volume of visual data generated by ground-based cameras and UAVs. Deep learning algorithms can swiftly scan vast amounts of images and video footage, pinpointing the telltale signs of fire within a fraction of the time it would take for manual analysis. Additionally, cutting-edge computer vision models, incorporating techniques like attention mechanisms and feature fusion, demonstrate robustness in challenging conditions. These technologies can accurately distinguish between true fires and distractions such as vehicles or personnel amidst complex backgrounds, reducing the likelihood of false alarms.

The integration of video analysis with computer vision enables continuous monitoring of vast areas, even in remote locations inaccessible by traditional means in the global forest wildfire detection system market. When paired with UAV-based remote sensing, these systems facilitate autonomous wildfire detection around the clock. This capability is vital for early fire detection and the prompt mobilization of response teams.

Satellite Imaging is the Leading Technology Used in Forest Wildfire Detection System, Control Over 34% Market Share

Satellite imaging has emerged as the foremost technology in the global forest wildfire detection system market. Its advantages are undeniable: satellites provide global coverage, scanning vast swathes of the Earth multiple times a day. This allows for near real-time monitoring of wildfires across the globe, offering a level of surveillance that ground-based methods cannot match. Furthermore, modern commercial satellites provide high-resolution imagery, with resolutions of 30-50 cm, enabling the detection of fires of considerable size. Critically, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites can penetrate thick smoke and cloud cover regardless of the time of day, overcoming major limitations faced by other visual monitoring methods.

The speed and accuracy offered by satellite data translate into informed, rapid response measures. Information on fire location and spread helps guide the efficient deployment of firefighting resources, leading to a more effective and timely emergency response. As technology advances, high-resolution satellite imagery is becoming increasingly affordable and accessible, making it a cost-effective tool for wildfire management in the forest wildfire detection system market.

In the U.S. and Canada, satellites like MODIS are responsible for informing over 95% of large wildfire detections. The ability of a single satellite to revisit the same location up to 10 times per day, with resolutions as detailed as 30-50 cm, provides an unprecedented level of surveillance. It's worth noting that in Canada, wildfires exceeding 10 km are responsible for over 95% of the annual burned area  such large fires are readily detectable by 1-km resolution satellite imagery. State-of-the-art satellites like the PRISMA hyperspectral satellite couple their imagery capabilities with deep learning algorithms, achieving 94.23% accuracy in detecting Australian wildfires. Even in cloudy conditions, near real-time wildfire progression monitoring has become possible through the use of Sentinel-1 SAR satellite data and deep learning. Additionally, satellites such as GOES and MODIS use thermal infrared bands, enabling the detection of active fires as small as 100 m. Landsat-8, when paired with deep learning algorithms, has even achieved an impressive 98% accuracy in active wildfire detection.

Hardware's Dominance: 56.6% of Global Forest Wildfire Detection System Market Revenue

Hardware components form the backbone of global forest wildfire detection systems, making up over 56% of the market revenue. This dominance stems from the reliance on various physical sensors and devices for capturing critical data. Optical cameras and sensors, such as those used in ForestWatch, scan for smoke during the day and firelight at night, offering a detection range of 16-20 km. Advanced optical sensors, combined with AI algorithms, pinpoint fire locations with incredible accuracy, sometimes up to 10 miles away. Satellite technology, with instruments like MODIS and VIIRS, provides near real-time fire detection within 3 hours  a service heavily utilized by the U.S. and Canada.

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) play a key role in early detection in the forest wildfire detection system market. These networks consist of nodes equipped with fire detectors, GSM modems, and RF systems, allowing them to monitor individual trees and relay data in real-time. Additionally, IoT CO2 and temperature sensors can detect rising CO2 levels emitted by burning vegetation, indicating a potential fire. These networks can work as standalone systems or complement satellite and optical technologies.

AI and machine learning are transforming wildfire detection. AI algorithms work with sensor arrays for 24/7 monitoring, enabling early detection. Machine learning models fine-tune the data collected from wireless sensor networks. When paired with high-resolution satellite imagery, deep learning algorithms have achieved remarkable accuracy levels  up to 98% in identifying active wildfires. This multifaceted approach, heavily reliant on hardware components, explains their substantial market share.

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North America Leads Global Forest Wildfire Detection System Market, Contribute 34% Revenue

The United States and Canada have deployed advanced satellite technologies to combat wildfires. Satellites like MODIS and VIIRS provide near real-time fire detection, with hotspots identified within just 3 hours of observation. NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) disseminates this crucial fire data from MODIS and VIIRS globally. Additionally, FIRMS US/Canada, a collaborative effort between NASA and the USDA Forest Service, offers tailored wildfire detection capabilities specifically designed for North America.

Both countries utilize extensive monitoring networks to track wildfire activity. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in the U.S. gathers comprehensive wildfire statistics from various federal and state agencies. In Canada, Natural Resources Canada reports that their vast boreal forests experience an average of 8,000 wildfires each year. The extensive forest coverage in both countries, historically susceptible to wildfire, drives the need for robust detection mechanisms.

The economic toll of wildfires in North America forest wildfire detection system market is significant. In the past decade, wildfires in the U.S. have burned an average of 7 million acres per year. The year 2022 saw a drastic increase, with 66,255 wildfires burning over 7.5 million acres, compared to only 18,229 fires and 1.3 million acres burned in 1983. These wildfires frequently inflict losses exceeding $10 billion annually, accounting for firefighting costs, property damage, and far-reaching environmental impacts. Recognizing the severe economic consequences, both governments and the private sector in the U.S. and Canada have invested substantially in advanced wildfire detection technologies.

Technological advancements have been crucial in combating these devastating events. Modern satellite sensors, utilizing thermal infrared bands, can now pinpoint active fires as small as 100 m. Deep learning algorithms, when used in conjunction with high-resolution satellite imagery, have achieved remarkable accuracy levels of up to 98% in active wildfire detection. Additionally, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites offer the invaluable ability to penetrate smoke and clouds, enabling round-the-clock wildfire monitoring regardless of weather conditions.

A proactive approach to wildfire management in the forest wildfire detection system market is urgently needed. Statistics reveal that 4.5 million homes in the U.S. face high or extreme wildfire risk, with over 2 million located in California alone. This underscores the critical role of early detection. Recognizing that humans are responsible for approximately 85% of all wildfires in the U.S. each year, highlights the importance of constant vigilance. The ability to rapidly detect wildfires is essential for effective emergency responses  firefighters can be positioned strategically, allowing them to protect lives, property, and the environment.

Global Forest Wildfire Detection System Market Key Players

Dryad Networks GmbH

Insight Robotics

IQ FireWatch

Robert Bosch

Orora Technologies

Paratronic

SmokeD

Other prominent players

Key Segmentation:

By Technology

Sensor Network & Surveillance Camera (Vision) Systems Infrared (IR) Camera or Thermal Imaging Camera IR spectrometers LIDAR

Satellite Imaging

Drones

AI and Machine Learning

Others

By End Use

Park

Forest

By Component

Software

Hardware

Services

By Application

Early Warning and Alert Systems

Fire Monitoring and Management

Environmental Monitoring

Research and Conservation

By Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

South America

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(Reuters) - Cruise, General Motors' self-driving car unit, is preparing to resume testing its robotaxis with safety drivers in Phoenix, Arizona, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday.

The company is set to announce and begin the testing as early as Tuesday, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Cruise "had not set a timeline for deployment. We are in the process of meeting with officials in select markets to gather information, share updates and rebuild trust," spokesman Pat Morrissey told Bloomberg.

GM and Cruise did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Cruise is targeting a limited return to city streets with human drivers later this year, likely in Houston or Dallas, Reuters reported in February.

The company suspended its U.S. operations last October after an incident in San Francisco, where one of its robotaxis dragged a pedestrian struck by another car.

Before that, Cruise had driverless operations in Phoenix, Houston, Austin, Dallas and Miami.

(Reporting by Surbhi Misra in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)
The beating heart of Washingtons agriculture industry is in danger, but a central Washington lawmaker has a plan to help shore up the most critical issue farmers are facing  a disappearing workforce dependent on migrant labor.

Washington is the largest grower of non-citrus tree fruit in the United States, with much of it centered on the areas in and around Yakima and the Tri-Cities.

If these farms collapse, it will impact everything from fresh fruit to juice and canned goods that many Americans take for granted.

Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., represents the states primary growing region, a strip about 100 miles wide straight down the center of the state on the east side of the Cascade Mountains.

The bulk of the states agricultural contribution  including more than half of the apples and cherries produced in the United States  come from Washingtons 4th Congressional District.

As a farmer himself, Newhouse knows the challenges theyre facing, and told the Tri-City Herald that what were seeing today is the beginning of another major shift in the agricultural workforce.

American workers have left the industry for better opportunities and more stability year-round and are gone for good, said Washington Fruit Tree Association President Jon DeVaney.

Now farmers are turning more than ever to the H2A Visa system to bring in foreign workers but it was intended to favor domestic workers and now doesnt reflect the reality of todays agricultural workforce.

Farmers have been faced with a real challenge attracting enough labor to the farms, theres a shortage of people wanting to work in a farm, Newhouse said.

Its almost a necessity in Central Washington, utilizing the H2A program. Im glad its there, but its slow and expensive and it doesnt work for all farmers. Were been trying to make some improvements to it, in turn improving the availability of a legal labor force.

Newhouse believes his Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which will bolster farms through increased legal migrant guest workers, will help bridge that gap and keep farmers in business while they transition to a more secure future.

Washington saw a peak in its farm worker labor force in 2018, reaching 100,000 workers. That injection of workers was, in part, thanks to an expansion of the H2A Visa, which saw applications for guest workers begin to skyrocket a decade ago.

Before then, only about 90,000 immigrants, mostly from Mexico, were employed under the H2A program across the United States. Today that number has tripled, but farmers say its not enough.

Story continues

While more than 311,000 H2A Visas were granted in 2023, thats about 80,000 short of the number requested by farms. That number is inherently smaller than actual labor need though, because the H2A program is so expensive that only the largest farms can afford to use it.

Washington now uses 10% of the entire H2A pool to fill nearly 1/3 of all farm jobs in the state as more and more domestic workers choose to move on from the industry, according to data from the Washington Employment Security Department.

Nearly all of the H2A recipients are Hispanic, with the vast majority being Mexican citizens, according to the National Council of Agricultural Employers.

Washington is the nations leading producer of fresh apples and Broetje Orchards is one of its biggest growers.

Tri-Cities and Yakima Valley

Half of the agriculture workers in Washington are in a four-county region in south central Washington, consisting of Yakima, Benton, Franklin and Grant counties where the Yakima Valley and Columbia Basin growing regions form the center of the states growing industry.

Those unfamiliar with the Pacific Northwest might think that Washington is a cool, rainy state, but that couldnt be further from the truth for its primary growing region. And thats why it works so well.

The weather is warmer, dryer and more predictable as the land moves away from the Cascade Mountains into the low desert of the lower Columbia River basin.

This growing region was fueled by irrigation and canal projects that harnessed the Yakima and Columbia Rivers beginning in the early 1900s. It took nearly 50 years to build out the canal systems that farmers rely on today, turning shrub steppe into the states most valuable farmland.

The predictability of precipitation during the tree fruit growing season is vital.

A surprise shower can ruin entire harvests, which is why drying fans that look like small wind turbines, and even helicopters, are sometimes used to get the water off fruit as it near ripeness.

This aridity also has helped turn Washington into a major wine producer.

A helicopter hovers over a South Kennewick cherry orchard shake off rainfall from the nearly ripe crop, in this file photo. The rain damages the fruit by causing splitting of the cherries.

Apple and tree fruit production labor growth peaked a few years ahead of the rest of ag industries in the state, between 2012 and 2016, as farms moved quickly to take advantage of increased guest worker availability. Those production areas have lost about a third of their workforce since 2018.

While labor is by far the biggest expense for most farmers, its also the most vital. If a farm doesnt have enough workers to get fruit off of the tree at the right time, it can be catastrophic for their earnings.

While Washington is the largest apple producer in the country, more than two-thirds of apple jobs are based in these four counties. As well as more than half of the states other tree fruit workers and nearly all grape workers.

Washington ranks well behind California in grape production, but the state leads the nation in sweet cherry and pear production. Washington also leads in asparagus production, which is particularly labor intensive.

But those production areas have been bleeding jobs at an unsustainable rate, even as more guest worker positions have opened up.

Since 1997 Washington has lost about 2 million acres of farmland and 20 percent of its farms.

Of the more than 8,000 farms that have disappeared, more than 5,000 were lost between 2012 and 2022, according to the U.S. Farm Census.

This four county region, which stretches from Yakima to the Tri-Cities and north to Moses Lake, has lost a third of its fruit tree workforce in recent years. Of the states 369 farms participating in the H2A program, 210 of them are in that four county region.

Somehow farms have managed to keep production about on par with the average over the past decade, even while growers go out of business or consolidate due to overall rising costs of farming.

You talk to almost any farmer in Central Washington, and labor is going to be 1, 2 or 3 on the list of challenges theyre facing, Newhouse said. Its a perennial challenge.

These farms were able to keep production at expected levels thanks to the influx of workers from the H2A program supplementing the declining domestic labor pool.

DeVaney said the growth in H2A visas is a direct reflection of the struggle farmers are facing when it comes to finding domestic workers.

I think it is a difficult thing to quantify, but I think the best way to quantify the shortage is in the growth of the H2A visa program, because its set up to give strongly preferential treatment to domestic workers, he said.

DeVaney said the extreme costs of the program illustrate just how dire the situation is, because no employer is going to take on those costs unless they absolutely have to.

File photo of cherry harvest.

Workers concerned

While its difficult to pin down any single reason for why domestic farm workers are leaving the industry, a variety of factors come into play. Lack of childcare, new laws meant to protect farm workers that resulted in lower pay, cost of living and more have all been cited.

The Seattle Times recently spoke to domestic migrant farm workers in Skagit County who feel like theyre being pushed out by the H2A program.

They said that while the H2A was meant to prioritize domestic workers, it doesnt account for factors such as workers with families or the increased cost of traveling to farms for those who dont live in the area.

They believe some farms are taking advantage of these differences in needs to argue that they need more H2A workers.

Last year in Quincy domestic farm workers protested a new state overtime law because they said it actually resulted in them losing hours. Workers said that law, intended to ensure fairness in the workplace, would actually result in more workers leaving the industry.

One worker reported losing half of his hours for the entire year after the law went into effect. Nothing in the law requires farms to offer overtime, so a farm could feasibly look to the H2A program to fill those excess hours rather than pay their workers overtime wages if it was cheaper.

While the 369 applications for H2A workers in Washington in 2022 isnt equivalent to the number of farms using H2A workers, it would represent less than 7% of Washington farms currently participating. Farmers currently fill out applications by the type of job rather than the total number of workers needed for the entire farm.

That means this handful of farms now employs nearly 1/3 of all agriculture workers in the state through the H2A program.

State data makes it clear that Washingtons largest farm categories are still losing workers at an unsustainable rate, despite the increase in H2A visas issued over the past decade.

On paper it may seem like the overall number of workers has remained even, but looking at each category shows all of the growth is in niche portions of the industry, such as greenhouse farms, smaller crop types and management services.

Despite employing the most H2A recipients, Washingtons largest growing areas have still seen huge drops in employment numbers.

DeVaney believes these domestic workers who have left the industry for better opportunities and more stability year-round are gone for good.

Modernizing the H2A system

The H2A system has long been criticized by farmers for being cost prohibitive and slow. The intent of these roadblocks built into the system decades ago was to ensure domestic workers had the first shot at jobs. That doesnt reflect the reality of the agriculture system today though.

As educational opportunities became more accessible, American workers left the fields and havent looked back. For decades domestic workers have been choosing to seek out better paying, less labor intensive jobs.

The Tri-Cities Immigrant Coalition plans a public forum on immigration, farm labor, the economy and related issues on Jan. 23, 7 p.m., at the Benton PUD Auditorium in Kennewick.

As of 2019, only a little more than a quarter of Washingtons ag workers were born in the United States. That rate is second only to California.

But its becoming harder than ever to bring in new workers. As profit margins become razor thin, the once prohibitive costs of the H2A program become punishing.

Workers must be paid at least the adverse wage rate, which is significantly higher than Washingtons already high $16.28 per hour minimum wage. Farmers are also responsible for covering the cost of transportation for workers and building and maintaining housing. They also have to cover hundreds of dollars in fees for each worker every season.

Those costs have resulted in a system that is typically only used by the largest employers. That leaves smaller farms with few options.

Newhouses bill aims to tackle some of the largest issues, such as housing and how often workers need to apply.

The first thing the bill would do is streamline the application system, allowing farms to file a single application rather than a separate one for each type of job. That would also reduce some fees in the process.

Traditionally these jobs are then required to be posted in newspapers, but the bill would allow farmers to post the jobs online to help with recruiting.

Housing costs

The bill addresses housing, which is second only to wages in terms of cost, by allocating $1 billion in funding to rehabilitate aging housing, and increasing funding for both building new housing and rental assistance programs.

Housing is one of the primary factors that keeps small farms from being able to use the H2A program.

If you are a small farm and need people for a couple weeks, building an apartment complex doesnt make a lot of sense, DeVaney said. These severe constraints on labor supply hit smaller producers the hardest, because larger produces have both greater capital and opportunities to access these programs.

The bill would also open up 40,000 new green cards per year for ag workers in order to help fill year round needs.

It would also create a separate category of visas with longer time frames and less restrictive renewals. Currently H2As are good for three years and require workers to leave the country for a period before they can be renewed.

This proposed new category would be good for five years and renewable if the recipient has worked in agriculture 100 days out of each year. The H2A would still be available for those who didnt meet the criteria for the new classification. This new classification also includes an option for permanent resident status that can be applied for after 10 years.

Newhouse stressed that this isnt a pathway to citizenship, its an attempt to build a more stable, legal migrant workforce.

The bill would also address wages in a way that could help farm owners, but leave the door open for lower wages for some workers. Thats because it would separate the adverse wage by job category, instead of an average across the industry. That means workers with special skill sets could earn more, while field workers could earn less.

Due to how competitive these positions are though, it likely wouldnt be in the owners best interest to decrease wages.

If were not highest in the country, were right there, at just under $20 per hour if you utilize H2A workers, Newhouse said. That in fact becomes the minimum wage for all farms because its very competitive out there between farmers trying to attract a labor force.

DeVaney said these wages and strict housing standards have set Washington apart when it comes to the quality of life for farm workers.

Work in 2013 on Broetje Orchards $6.7 million expansion of Vista Hermosa farmworker housing.

E-Verify mandatory

The last piece of the bill would establish a mandatory E-Verify system for the agricultural industry, ensuring that workers are being employed legally.

Newhouse has been pushing his modernization act for several years, but so far it has not been taken up by the U.S. Senate. With a slate of new farm bills recently introduced to the senate, hes optimistic his colleagues in the upper chamber of congress are ready to get on board.

I think one of the obstacles to getting legislation passed is the situation weve seen at the southern border, particularly with an increase in illegal crossings, many of the members of Congress have been reluctant to address anything that increases the number of people coming, Newhouse said.

This bill is part of a solution because it gives a legal option for people to come to our country in our agricultural industry and return to their home country without the fear of not being able to come back, he continued.

Newhouse is hopeful that these changes, if passed into law, can help buy farmers some breathing room to adjust to changes in the industry. The next challenge is going to be modernizing work forces and adapting to new technology.

Innovation and technology

He said narrowing margins and a shrinking workforce is going to drive mechanization, so its paramount that Congress works with farmers to help them meet the challenges that are coming with this shift in the industry. Starting with managing those labor costs, so farms can begin to invest in other areas.

Its not cheap, not all farmers are going to be able to adapt quick enough. If were going to keep going weve got to do it in a way we can afford, Newhouse said. Its critical we address this here in D.C. to bring some needed reforms to our labor laws in agriculture so we can avoid losing more farms.

DeVaney think theres an equilibrium that can be achieved, allowing farmers to incentivize workers to stay in the industry by making them part of that transition.

We need to make sure these changes dont happen so fast that were priced out of the market and we cant innovate fast enough, he said.

DeVaney said that the workforce for farmers has never been fixed for long. Over the past century the farm workforce in Washington has shifted from families working their own small farms to locals working the harvest to an immigrant dominated labor pool.

He said that today that migrant labor pool is shifting in much the same way it did for the domestic workforce, with better education creating more opportunities and incentive to leave agriculture work.

He sees the industry transitioning to a tighter labor force that isnt replaced by automation, but works with new tools and technology to fill the gaps farmers are increasingly unable to find workers for.
In our Reality Check stories, Idaho Statesman journalists seek to hold the powerful accountable and find answers to critical questions in our community. Read more. Story idea? Tips@idahostatesman.com.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little issued his first veto of the legislative session Monday, denying a bill from becoming law that would allow the state treasurer to invest cash into gold and silver.

Senate Bill 1314, sponsored by Sen. Phil Hart, R-Kellogg, and Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, sailed through the Senate last month by a 25-9 vote, with two Republicans joining the upper chambers seven Democrats in opposition. The bill then narrowly passed by three votes in the House, where Republicans also maintain a supermajority.

The proposed law is premised on the idea that investing a portion of idle state funds into physical gold and silver helps offset the risks of inflation. However, compared to more traditional investments such as government bonds and money market accounts, the precious metals market can be less predictable and more prone to volatility, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.

In addition, securely storing such assets comes with fees, as does trading them down the road. But the bills fiscal note identified little to no financial impacts, which Little cited.

While the Legislature sought to provide additional flexibility for the states investment portfolio, we have a fiduciary responsibility to manage taxpayer dollars with the utmost care and caution, the Republican governor wrote in a transmittal letter. This legislation and its fiscal note fail to take into account the many additional costs that will be borne by taxpayers for the storage, safeguard and purchase of commodities such as gold or silver.

A version of the same bill was introduced in the House in each of the three prior legislative sessions. It passed resoundingly in 2021 and again in 2022, both times sponsored by then-Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg. After he failed to win re-election, Ehardt took up the charge and it passed the House once more in 2023, but with less enthusiasm.

In each previous attempt, though, the bill never received a vote in the Senate. This session that finally changed, as the bill took steps forward on the fourth try with the upper chambers support before it landed for the first time on Littles desk.

In a phone interview with the Statesman, Ehardt said she was disappointed Little declined to sign the bill. Going forward, she said she would explore more options, such as revising the bill or working with fellow lawmakers to find other ways to shore up the states investments.

Story continues

No one wants their legislation to be vetoed, but I also understand that without more consensus on the House side, its not as easy to sign legislation thats not more fully supported, Ehardt said. Those of us who believe in protecting our assets with gold against the failure of the U.S. dollar need to do a better job of helping our colleagues to understand why this is of value to Idahoans.

Bill backed by precious metals dealer

Stefan Gleason is president and CEO of Eagle-based precious metals dealer Money Metals Exchange and has promoted the bill. He founded the company in 2010 and its since expanded to include his brother and his brother-in-law, Clint Siegner, who each live in the Treasure Valley, as co-owners, Gleason said in an email to the Statesman.

If passed into law, the bill would require that gold and silver bought with public funds be kept in an approved storage facility in the state, or in a neighboring state if one cannot be found within Idahos boundaries.

As part of Gleasons business, his company offers a secure local depository. He said the company is nearly finished constructing a world-class facility, which BoiseDev reported is a 46,000-square-foot depository in the heart of the city at a cost of up to $26 million.

Stefan Gleason

We support sound money legislation all over the nation, and other states have been embracing sound money, even as Idaho sadly dithers, Gleason told the Statesman. In fact, Utahs governor just signed a similar bill last month and the Utah State Treasurer is tasked with coming up with additional legislative proposals to further facilitate the use of precious metals to enhance the financial security of the state.

Gleason said Littles decision has no practical impact on his familys business. But, as Idaho taxpayers, he said the business owners are deeply concerned about the harm it causes to the state because current public investments continue to lose value compared to those in precious metals.

The price of gold, he noted, is up about 30% since the bill was first introduced in Idaho. Gold was trading at about $2,344 per ounce Tuesday, compared to about $1,823 in February 2021, according to the website Trading Economics.

Hundreds of thousands in political donations

Gleason, a wealthy entrepreneur who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, also has a history of political donations in Idaho.

Since 2020, Gleason and Money Metals Exchange have together donated more than $100,000 to conservative Idaho politicians and partisan groups that support them, secretary of state records showed. SMC Properties, another company owned by Gleason that shares a P.O. Box with Money Metals Exchange, has contributed $256,000 more, for a grand total of almost $360,000 in political donations in the state over four years.

Gleason and his companies contributions have mostly gone to the far-right faction of Idaho lawmakers, several of whom have sponsored the gold and silver investment bill over the past four legislative sessions, the Statesman previously reported. The two companies combined donations across four political action committees, including the Idaho Freedom PAC and the Idaho Freedom Caucus PAC, have approached $209,000, the records showed.

Siegner manages SMC Properties, an Eagle-based commercial real estate firm, Gleason told the Statesman. Siegner has personally donated more than $14,600 to PACs and far-right political candidates since 2021, the records showed. Of that total, $4,000 went to the Idaho Freedom PAC.

Nate, now president of the Idaho Freedom Foundation after his departure from the Legislature, is among the lawmakers to receive the largest amount in political donations from Gleason and his companies. He took in three maximum $1,000 contributions from Gleason and another three maximum $1,000 donations between Money Metals Exchange and SMC Properties  a total of $6,000. Siegner gave Nate another $1,500 in contributions.

Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, who cosponsored the bill last year after initially doing so the first year it was introduced while a representative, has received a total of $6,000 from Gleason and the two companies as well, the records showed. Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, another bill cosponsor, has received $5,000.

SMC Properties also donated $3,000 to Ehardt, and Gleason personally gave her another $1,000. SMC Properties has given Hart $2,000, the records showed.

Money Metals Exchange recently affirmed its commitment to Idahos right-wing political ideology in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Big gov't leftists like to trash Idaho family-owned businesses like ours, with our 100 amazing employees here in Eagle, stupidly thinking we'll stop supporting liberty-minded candidates & groups. FYI: the more they do it, the more we will give. In fact, we'll give another $1 for https://t.co/XNka1HVBo4  Money Metals Exchange (@MoneyMetals) February 18, 2024

Big government leftists like to trash Idaho family-owned businesses like ours, with our 100 amazing employees here in Eagle, stupidly thinking well stop supporting liberty-minded candidates & groups, the company wrote in February. FYI: The more they do it, the more we will give.

Other prior gold and silver bill cosponsors included former Reps. Dorothy Moon, R-Stanley, and Priscilla Giddings, R-White Bird. When both ran but failed in their bids for statewide office in 2022, Gleason and SMC Properties gave them each maximum donations totaling $10,000, the records showed. Earlier, he gave Moon  now chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party  $1,000 on top of another $1,000 from Money Metals Exchange in 2020. Siegner chipped in another $1,500 for Moon and $500 for Giddings.

Its amusing but also a bit alarming to see the left in Idaho so viciously seek to delegitimize political participation by upstanding Idaho small business owners and taxpayers, Gleason told the Statesman. My brothers and I support conservatives proudly and we care deeply about promoting limited government, individual liberty, and low taxes. And frankly we will not be deterred from trying to help move the state toward those ideals, no matter what recriminations are leveled against our family, our business, and our 100 amazing employees.

Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, a four-term Republican congressman and founding member of the U.S. House Freedom Caucus during that time, also is a recipient of Gleason and SMC Properties political donations. In his campaign for AG in 2022, Labrador received a combined $10,000 from Gleason in two $5,000 maximum contributions for the primary and general elections, and the company contributed another $10,000 as well, the records showed. Siegner supported Labrador with $1,000 of his own, the records showed.

Following Mondays veto, a group that goes by the Sound Money Defense League and advocates for public investments in gold and silver, denounced the governors decision. The group, based in Charlotte, claims Gleason as its chairman.

Little today vetoed legislation that would have enabled the Idaho State Treasurer to protect state reserve funds with an allocation to physical gold and silver, sending an ominous message to the states mining industry and investors, the advocacy group said in a news release.

Idaho is known as the Gem State and was first settled by miners, Hart said in a statement included in the groups news release. Historically, a reliance on gold and silver is part of our states DNA.

The Legislature, which is on a weeklong recess until Wednesday, can still override Littles veto with a two-thirds vote in support of the bill from both chambers to make SB 1314 law.

Tuesday, April 9, at 8:09 p.m.: This story was updated to include comment from Rep. Barbara Ehardt.
LONDON (Reuters) -HSBC is selling its business in Argentina and booking a $1 billion loss on the deal, the bank said on Tuesday, as it continues to shrink its once globe-spanning empire to focus on Asia.

HSBC is selling the business, which covers banking, asset management and insurance, to Argentina's fifth largest bank Grupo Financiero Galicia for $550 million, the British bank said.

HSBC CEO Noel Quinn has sought to simplify the sprawling lender to improve performance by exiting several markets in which it has under-performed, including France and Canada.

The sale also fits with the bank's Asia pivot strategy as it shifts capital, especially to India and China.

HSBC's shares were flat in early trading in London, while its Hong Kong-listed shares gained 1.1%.

"Argentina has been a problematic market for HSBC in recent years given hyperinflation in the region and a sharp currency devaluation, which has resulted in significant earnings volatility for the business," said Gary Greenwood, analyst at Shore Capital.

"Exiting Argentina also represents a further step in managements strategy to simplify the Group and concentrate resources on areas of the business where greater shareholder value can be created," he said.

As well as booking a loss in the first quarter, HSBC said the deal would lead it to recognise $4.9 billion in historical currency translation reserve losses when the sale closes.

The losses grew by $1.8 billion last year as a result of the devaluation of the Argentinian peso, the bank said.

HSBC said those losses had already been recognised in its capital levels and would have no impact on its core capital or asset value levels.

"This transaction is another important step in the execution of our strategy and enables us to focus our resources on higher value opportunities across our international network," Quinn said in a statement.

"HSBC Argentina is largely a domestically focused business, with limited connectivity to the rest of our international network," he said.

Pedestrians walk past a main branch of HSBC bank in downtown Buenos Aires. REUTERS/Enrique Marcarian (REUTERS / Reuters)

The Argentina business, given its size, creates substantial earnings volatility for the group when its results are translated into U.S. dollars, according to HSBC.

HSBC has faced shareholder scrutiny in recent years over its geographic spread and overall strategy.

The bank defeated a resolution last year from Hong Kong-based shareholders, and backed by major Chinese investor Ping An, to potentially spin-off its Asia unit to try to fully realise the value of its most lucrative business.

The bank said it remained committed to the United States, where it exited retail banking in 2021, and to Mexico, a question mark for the bank ever since it paid $2 billion in 2012 to U.S. regulators over lax money laundering controls.

(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru and Lawrence White in London; Additional reporting by Yantoultra Ngui in Singapore and Iain Withers in London; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta, Sonali Paul and Mark Potter)
The logo of the HSBC Bank is pictured on the facade of a bank branch in Duesseldorf. Rolf Vennenbernd/Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH/dpa

HSBC Latin America BV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings, has signed a binding agreement with Buenos Aires-based Grupo Financiero Galicia to sell its business in Argentina.

The agreement involves the acquisition of all of HSBC Argentina's business, which includes banking, asset management, and insurance. The deal also encompasses $100 million of subordinated debt issued by HSBC Argentina and held by other HSBC entities.

The consideration for the acquisition amounts to $550 million, which will be adjusted for the results of the business and fair value gains or losses on HSBC Argentina's securities portfolios during the period between December 31, 2023 and closing.

HSBC expects to receive the purchase consideration in a combination of cash, loan notes, and Galicia's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), with ADRs accounting for around half of the consideration received and representing less than a 10% economic interest in Galicia.

The transaction is subject to conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to be completed within the next 12 months.

Further, the company stated that the transaction will be treated as a material notable item.

The HSBC Group's dividend payout ratio target remains at 50% for 2024, excluding material notable items and related impacts.
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Glencore implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

A total of 18 investors have a majority stake in the company with 50% ownership

10% of Glencore is held by insiders

To get a sense of who is truly in control of Glencore plc (LON:GLEN), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 41% to be precise, is institutions. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

And as as result, institutional investors reaped the most rewards after the company's stock price gained 7.2% last week. The one-year return on investment is currently 12% and last week's gain would have been more than welcomed.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Glencore.

Check out our latest analysis for Glencore

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Glencore?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

We can see that Glencore does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Glencore's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Glencore. Ivan Glasenberg is currently the company's largest shareholder with 10.0% of shares outstanding. Qatar Holding LLC is the second largest shareholder owning 8.6% of common stock, and BlackRock, Inc. holds about 7.3% of the company stock.

A closer look at our ownership figures suggests that the top 18 shareholders have a combined ownership of 50% implying that no single shareholder has a majority.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Story continues

Insider Ownership Of Glencore

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own a reasonable proportion of Glencore plc. It is very interesting to see that insiders have a meaningful UK5.7b stake in this UK57b business. It is good to see this level of investment. You can check here to see if those insiders have been buying recently.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 40% stake in Glencore. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Private Equity Ownership

With an ownership of 8.6%, private equity firms are in a position to play a role in shaping corporate strategy with a focus on value creation. Some investors might be encouraged by this, since private equity are sometimes able to encourage strategies that help the market see the value in the company. Alternatively, those holders might be exiting the investment after taking it public.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Glencore better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Glencore , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Many investors define successful investing as beating the market average over the long term. But if you try your hand at stock picking, your risk returning less than the market. Unfortunately, that's been the case for longer term The Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS) shareholders, since the share price is down 13% in the last three years, falling well short of the market return of around 24%.

Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business.

View our latest analysis for Bank of Nova Scotia

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

During the unfortunate three years of share price decline, Bank of Nova Scotia actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) improve by 3.8% per year. This is quite a puzzle, and suggests there might be something temporarily buoying the share price. Or else the company was over-hyped in the past, and so its growth has disappointed.

Given that EPS is up and the share price is down, it seems clear the market is less excited about the business than it was. Having said that, if the EPS gains continue we'd expect the share price to improve, longer term.

You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

It's probably worth noting we've seen significant insider buying in the last quarter, which we consider a positive. That said, we think earnings and revenue growth trends are even more important factors to consider. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Bank of Nova Scotia's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Bank of Nova Scotia the TSR over the last 3 years was 3.4%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

A Different Perspective

Bank of Nova Scotia shareholders gained a total return of 8.1% during the year. But that return falls short of the market. On the bright side, that's still a gain, and it's actually better than the average return of 5% over half a decade This could indicate that the company is winning over new investors, as it pursues its strategy. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Bank of Nova Scotia that you should be aware of before investing here.

Story continues

Bank of Nova Scotia is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Canadian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon; iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI

The 2023 shareholder letter from JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is chock-full of policy ideas.

Dimon says the US needs to strengthen its role in the global economy and address domestic unrest.

He proposes policy changes to improve economic equality and bolster the earned income tax credit.

A robust new policy platform just dropped  and it's not from either leading presidential candidate.

Jamie Dimon, the billionaire CEO of JPMorgan Chase, outlines some of the biggest issues facing the company, the country, and the world in his 2023 annual shareholder letter.

Dimon's manifesto touches on everything from AI to geopolitics and includes an emotional appeal for the US to use its power to bring the West together in a time of global turbulence. Though Dimon's annual letters usually address policy, this year's is much more extensive than usual, an intriguing turn from the well-known CEO of the country's largest bank who's eyed a future in politics.

For now, Dimon has presented a suite of policy proposals on a range of issues, from bolstering the US's international influence to improving the lives of low-income people. The letter affirms Dimon's views on American exceptionalism and presents ways that policy needs to evolve to drive that vision.

Strength on the world stage, starting with aid for Ukraine

A major theme in Dimon's letter is the importance of global peace in furthering America's ambitions and the belief that the US should use its power and influence to ensure stability.

He points to American leadership as crucial in resolving the war in Ukraine.

"Ukraine's struggle is our struggle," he writes.

While a significant number of Republicans in Congress oppose more aid to Ukraine, Dimon says that Ukraine requires the US's help "immediately" and that aid to Ukraine will flow back into the American economy since many of the weapons and equipment used in the war are made in the US.

The letter emphasizes that the West needs to project "unquestioned military might." He writes that "the specter of nuclear weapons  probably still the greatest threat to mankind  hovers as the ultimate decider, which should strike deep fear in all our hearts."

But the CEO says that the US needs to flex its other muscles of power  economic policy, diplomacy, and intelligence  beyond military strength, and leaders need to explain why it's so important for the US to remain a major player on the world stage.

Rethinking global trade alliances

Dimon says that as the US reimagines its military alliances and strategies, it must do the same when it comes to economic policy. While the West may have overlooked China at its own peril, it's time to "just fix it," which means engaging "thoughtfully" with China  without fear.

Story continues

"Done properly, such a strategy would help strengthen, coalesce and possibly be the glue that holds together Western democratic alliances over decades," Dimon writes.

He also believes that the US should reenter the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, which former President Donald Trump pulled out of early into his tenure in order to instead focus on one-on-one trade policies.

Dimon writes that policy measures are necessary to bolster industries that are important for national security, such as the semiconductor and rare-earth-minerals sectors, but the government's role should generally be more limited. For example, he says the government should set specific rules on tax policy but take a smaller role in setting broad social policies.

Any industrial policy should have what he calls "twin provisions": limitations on political interference, such as mandating social policy, and a reduced government role in permitting requirements.

More broadly, Dimon says the country needs to rethink international economic rules and structure. He envisions a potentially "reimagined" Bretton Woods  the agreement that originally created the International Monetary Fund.

'The fraying of the American dream'

Dimon identifies two key issues driving domestic unrest  the heated debate around immigration and border security and "the fraying of the American dream."

He believes that Congress should take stronger action on border control and push for policies to drive economic growth. He believes that citizens losing trust in the government is "damaging to society," and the government needs to take decisive action to improve economic conditions for low-income and rural Americans and those who feel "left behind."

"And to be fair, business could use its influence to do less to further its own interest and more to enhance the nation as a whole," he said.

Dimon points to the growth in wage inequality, saying that "wrong" policy decisions have failed lower-earning Americans. Dimon said that all jobs  even "starter jobs"  should be viewed with respect.

He points to two ways to help improve economic equality. First, he believes that educational institutions, including high schools and community colleges, should be "judged on the quality and income level" of the jobs graduates (or nongraduates) get. He also says that workers need job-skills training to fill roles that are available in the tech industry.

"We already spend a tremendous amount of money on education  just not the right way," Dimon writes.

Dimon also believes Congress should expand the earned income tax credit, which provides a tax break to moderate- and low-income families.

In Dimon's vision, that credit would be available to all lower-income workers  without proration for those without children  and turned into a "negative income payroll tax, paid monthly," which could be in the form of monthly checks or a paycheck boost.

Dimon previously said that taxes on the wealthy could help offset the costs of expanding the EITC.

Dimon says that while the US faces "complex and difficult tasks ahead," he believes the country will be able to rise to meet those challenges.

"I remain with a deep and abiding faith in the strength of the enduring values of America," he writes.

Read the original article on Business Insider
As toy company Mattel has its sights set on Wyandotte County to build an amusement park with Barbie and Hot Wheels attractions, Bonner Springs council members on Monday approved the creation of a STAR bond district for the proposed project area near the Kansas Speedway.

Developers are proposing a nearly $500 million, 183-acre tourist hub at 118th Street and State Avenue dubbed Destination KCK. The Mattel theme park will anchor the project, along with three hotels, a retail center and other attractions. Roughly 50 members of the public sat in on the first hearing since details of the theme park were announced last month.

The City Council unanimously supported a measure that sets the boundaries of the district where STAR bonds would be applied. Short for sales tax revenue bonds, the state-run bond program is a powerful incentive tool that provides upfront capital to developers for major projects aimed at bringing tourists to the state.

Lawyers representing the interests of the city and the developer, Epic Resort Destinations, described the vote as an early step on a long road toward final approval. Finer details, including a development agreement with Bonner Springs, come later.

What the consideration tonight is: Does the city want to set the stage on which this project could be developed? Marc Abbott, an attorney representing the developer, told council members Monday.

Envisioned as the flagship in Epic Resorts project is the Mattel Adventure Park, featuring a Barbie dream house attraction and Hot Wheels roller coaster. Outdoor space is expected to span 15 acres plus 125,000 square feet of indoor park for an attraction open year round.

A map shows the area of a special taxing district in northeastern Bonner Springs where a proposed major commercial development, anchored by a Mattel toy-company themed amusement park, is to be built by 2026.

The Mattel park would be the second in the country. The first was built in the suburbs of Phoenix and is slated to open this year.

Two other pieces meant to compliment the park are a rainforest-themed attraction with live nature exhibits and a Christmas Village with a museum and ice rink.

A retail shopping center called the Frontier would house almost 34,000 square feet of space and could be themed around Kansas history.

And for lodging, there are three proposed hotels  and a total of about 500 hotel rooms combined  along with a luxury RV area with roughly 250 resort sites on the western side of the space.

Building the theme park, along with a resort and other neighboring attractions, is estimated to cost about $488 million.

Roughly $321 million could be financed privately, according to plans submitted by the developer, and other funding would come through state and local incentives, including $101 million in STAR bonds.

Story continues

The developer is asking for additional bonds to be issued by Bonner Springs, along with an extra 2% sales tax through the creation of a community improvement district. In all, the total incentive value estimated in the project could amount to $182.7 million.

Developers behind the project have expressed interest in opening as early as 2026. Projected revenues submitted to the city as part of its application for STAR bonds amount to $92 million in its first year and twice that by its second.

Developer Epic Resort Destinations projects about 1,750 jobs to be created for the resort and theme park.

A map shows the area of a special taxing district in northeastern Bonner Springs where a proposed major commercial development, anchored by a Mattel toy-company themed amusement park, is to be built by 2026.

STAR bonds allow cities to help finance major projects aimed toward drawing tourists to Kansas. Under the program, municipalities issue bonds that are later paid off with future sales tax revenues generated in the project area.

The program has been controversial because it has taken some major developments years or even decades to repay the bonds using sales tax revenues, which limits the direct benefit to government revenues.

Critics have taken aim at some developments, saying the program is sometimes used inappropriately for projects that are too small. Proponents, meanwhile, say STAR bonds present a low risk to the state and motivate developers to build local attractions that otherwise would not take root in Kansas.

Examples of other development projects backed by STAR bonds in Wyandotte County include the Kansas Speedway and Childrens Mercy Park.

On Monday night, residents attending the public hearing in Bonner Springs City Hall offered some mixed thoughts about what the project might mean for the small town.

Several voiced hope the project would spur local growth. Others expressed concerns over traffic, noise, pollution and public safety.

Mayor Tom Stephens reminded residents Monday the approval of the STAR bond district is the very start of this process.

As conversations around the project continue, Stephens said he hopes to learn more about the financial needs associated with the project. And while a Mattel theme park in Bonner Springs could offer something to boast about, the mayor said he wants assurances the project will be a benefit to the citys residents.
In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But in any portfolio, there will be mixed results between individual stocks. So we wouldn't blame long term Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad (KLSE:KPS) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 44% over a half decade.

With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies.

View our latest analysis for Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad

Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally hope to see good revenue growth. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit.

In the last half decade, Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad saw its revenue increase by 13% per year. That's a pretty good rate for a long time period. We doubt many shareholders are ok with the fact the share price has fallen 8% each year for half a decade. Clearly, the expectations from back then have not been satisfied. There is always a big risk of losing money yourself when you buy shares in a company that loses money.

You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

If you are thinking of buying or selling Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad the TSR over the last 5 years was -7.3%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 17% over the last year. Of course, that includes the dividend. That certainly beats the loss of about 1.4% per year over the last half decade. The long term loss makes us cautious, but the short term TSR gain certainly hints at a brighter future. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad that you should be aware of.

Story continues

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
MANN+HUMMEL, a global leader in filtration technology, is opening a new subsidiary in Indonesia, "PT MANN AND HUMMEL Filtration Indonesia". The company is thus expanding its global presence, strengthening the important Asian market and optimizing sales and logistics in the region.

JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With over 80 locations worldwide, MANN+HUMMEL currently has a prominent presence in China, India, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, as well as in Australia. "By expanding our presence in Indonesia, we are strengthening sales and logistics in the automotive aftermarket and promoting competitiveness in expanding our customer base and distribution channels. Our Indonesia branch will not only contribute to our success in Asia, but also enables us to further advance our mission of separating the useful from the harmful", explains Serdar Volkan Dogan, Automotive Aftermarket Rest of Asia Director at MANN+HUMMEL.

Through "PT MANN AND HUMMEL Filtration Indonesia", which is based in West Jakarta, MANN+HUMMEL aims to achieve better market penetration. This location will cover the key regions of Bali, Borneo, Java, Papua, Sulawesi and Sumatra. The warehouse of a logistics service provider, with whom the new branch is cooperating, is strategically located near Jakarta. An ideal location to meet the logistical requirements of customers as efficiently as possible. "Our aim is to offer customers in Indonesia customized filtration solutions. Our local sales and customer support team will enable us to be much closer to our customers and to understand and serve their needs even better," says Dogan.

Indonesia with a population of 275 million accounts for over 50 percent of the total potential for filtration in the Southeast Asian automotive aftermarket, which was the decisive factor for the expansion in this region. Simon Frick, Senior Vice President Automotive Aftermarket AMEA, emphasizes the importance of the new branch: "This move fits seamlessly into our commitment to the region. We are convinced that it will strengthen our position in Indonesia. Our aim is to generate sustainable growth here and achieve market leadership throughout Asia."

In the medium term, MANN+HUMMEL plans to expand its business in Indonesia and offer filtration solutions for clean air and clean water in addition to the automotive sector. The market potential is high as Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest levels of air pollution especially around the megacity of Jakarta. According to WHO and UNICEF, water supply and water quality also continue to pose major challenges for the country.

Story continues

About MANN+HUMMEL

MANN+HUMMEL is a leading global company in filtration technology. Under its two business units Transportation and Life Sciences & Environment, the Ludwigsburg-based Group (Germany) develops intelligent filtration and separation solutions that enable cleaner mobility, cleaner air, cleaner water, and cleaner industry. The 1941 founded family-owned company is making an important contribution to a clean earth and sustainable use of limited resources. In 2022, over 22,000 employees at more than 80 locations generated a turnover of EUR 4.8 billion.

You can find further information on MANN+HUMMEL at https://www.mann-hummel.com/

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/mannhummel-expands-presence-in-asia-with-new-subsidiary-in-indonesia-302109209.html

SOURCE PT MANN AND HUMMEL FILTRATION INDONESIA
House Republican lawmakers returned from their two-week recess Tuesday and resumed their chaotic infighting right where they left off.

Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who 18 days ago issued a threat to oust Mike Johnson as House speaker, renewed her call to remove the GOP leader and escalated her attacks in a scathing letter to colleagues that accused him of violating conference rules and surrendering to Democrats.

Greene argued that Johnson has abandoned the principles he laid out when he won the gavel and has broken promises to conservative voters. Mike Johnson has unfortunately not lived up to a single one of his self-imposed tenets, she wrote in her letter.

Greenes five-page diatribe runs through a litany of complaints about Johnsons actions as speaker, but much of her criticism centers on the spending packages that Johnson pushed through last month, avoiding a government shutdown and setting full-year appropriations via a process that relied on Democratic support: Allowing us one day, rather than 72 hours, to review a 1000-plus page bill to which no amendments could be offered was not ensuring total transparency, open processes, and regular order. Relying on majority Democrat support to pass a two-part omnibus was not advancing a policy agenda supported by Conference consensus.

Greene also accuses Johnson of fully funding the Biden administrations agenda, from the border to climate measures to the Justice Department and FBI, rather than fighting for Republican priorities. As a matter of fact, there is little daylight between Nancy Pelosis omnibus in the 117th Congress and Mike Johnsons omnibus in the 118th Congress, she claimed, adding, Mike Johnson worked with Chuck Schumer rather than with us, and gave Joe Biden and the Democrats everything they wantedno different from how a Speaker Hakeem Jeffries would have done.

Greenes latest warning shot comes as returning lawmakers must contend with a packed agenda that includes a contentious reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and providing additional funding for Ukraine. Johnson has indicated that he is preparing a House alternative to a $95 billion foreign aid package passed by the Senate, which included $60 billion for Ukraine. In her letter, Greene also criticized Johnson for flip-flopping from opposing more aid to Ukraine to calling it a top priority.

Why it matters: Ms. Greenes letter appeared aimed largely at making the speaker squirm over the Ukraine aid bill, which he has agonized over  first refusing to take it up but more recently bowing to entreaties by Mr. Biden, Democrats, other Republicans and world leaders to do so, Annie Karni of The New York Times says.

Story continues

Its not clear, though, when Greene might force a vote on her motion to oust Johnson, or whether she has any support from fellow Republicans in her revolt against the speaker. Members of both parties have indicated they have little appetite for another fight over the speakership, and some Democrats have indicated they may be willing to save Johnson if he moves ahead with Ukraine aid.

Johnson has tried to downplay the intraparty tensions. I respect Marjorie. She will always have an open door to the speakers office. We do have honest differences on strategy sometimes but share the same conservative beliefs, Johnson told CNN last week.

The bottom line: Johnson faces the most difficult stretch of his tenure as speaker, with a narrow and divided Republican majority, an open revolt by a right-wing firebrand and critical legislation on the agenda.

Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter.
Meta Platforms now owns 1,039 acres of vacant land in far Northeast El Paso where the Facebook operator is expected to build a huge hyperscale data center. It bought the vacant land Dec. 29, 2023 from the city of El Paso for $8.5 million.

The company that operates Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has completed the $8.5 million purchase of more than 1,000 acres of city-owned Northeast El Paso land for a proposed huge data center.

Meta Platforms Inc., under a company it established to buy the land, completed the sale on Dec. 29. Thats 3 months earlier than the sale contracts April 18 deadline for moving forward with the sale without a contract extension.

The land sale agreement was approved by the El Paso City Council on Dec. 4, but city officials did not announce its completion.

The City Council and El Paso Commissioners Court on Dec. 4 also approved providing millions of dollars in tax rebates to Meta over 25 years to encourage it to spend a minimum of $800 million to build a hyperscale data center.

Meta Platforms now owns 1,039 acres of vacant land in far Northeast El Paso where the Facebook operator is expected to build a huge hyperscale data center. It's located along Stan Roberts Sr., Ave., and U.S. Highway 54 in Northeast El Paso.

Meta officials have yet to publicly announce the company will build a data center at the vacant El Paso site. However, the land sale is a big step toward proceeding with the project. It has up to five years to develop the property, according to the sale contract.

The vacant land is located along a little-used portion of Stan Roberts Sr. Avenue and just off of U.S. Highway 54  not far from the New Mexico state line.

Data centers house computers and servers to process data for customers. Hyperscale data centers are large and can quickly scale up or down to meet demand. However, the centers don't have large workforces.

The land sale was contingent on Meta obtaining a water-supply agreement with El Paso Water, which it did in early December. It waived a contract requirement that it also have a power-purchase agreement with El Paso Electric prior to the sale closing.

Meta and EPE are still negotiating a power agreement, Kelly Tomblin, the utilitys chief executive officer, recently told the El Paso Times.

Meta Platforms now owns 1,039 acres of vacant land in far Northeast El Paso where the Facebook operator is expected to build a huge hyperscale data center. It bought the vacant land Dec. 29, 2023 from the city of El Paso for $8.5 million, but the company has yet to announce the project publicly.

The Meta-tied company, Wurldwide LLC, entered an agreement with the city and paid a deposit of $333,600 on April 18, 2022, to inspect the land for up to a year, with possible extensions. Meta instead completed the land sale on Dec. 29, a city spokesperson said.

CBRE, a global commercial real estate firm, did an appraisal in April 2023 of the 1,042-acre site for the city and concluded the sites market value was $8,156 per acre. It based that value on evaluating sales of five El Paso-area vacant land sites, which sold for prices ranging from $6,550 to $16,929 per acre, the CBRE appraisal report shows.

The city sold 1,039 acres of the site for $8,156 per acre, or just under $8.5 million, and retained three acres. City staff handled the land deal without using an outside broker, said Karina Brasgalla, interim director of the city Economic and International Development Department.

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The money from the sale goes into the city's capital assets fund for future capital-asset purchases as required by city charter, Brasgalla said.

More: El Paso wages remain near bottom in Texas, nation, new federal report shows

Meta has to build at least an $800 million data center and invest at least $2.8 billion over 25 years, including costs of periodically updating the centers equipment, to get $110 million in mostly tax rebates and other incentives, a city official reported in December.

However, if it builds a five-phase campus, as city officials are hoping, and spends at least $14 billion, including equipment refreshes every five years, it could get more than $500 million in tax rebates over 25 years, city information shows.

Vic Kolenc may be reached at 915-546-6421; vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on Twitter, now known as X.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Facebook parent Meta buys land in El Paso for proposed data center
Newsom's 'California Dream' Faces $26K 'Cost-of-living Penalty,' Homelessness Director Flees High-Cost State After Another Eviction

California's state website highlights what it describes as the "California Dream," defined as "the idea that every person can achieve a better life, regardless of where they start out."

But it's becoming increasingly hard for California residents to afford the state's high costs.

According to a recent study by the nonpartisan Transparency Foundation, a family earning $130,000 per year faces an estimated "Cost of California" penalty of $26,478 compared to if they paid the national average for different cost-of-living categories.

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The $130,000 in annual earnings is defined in the study as California's middle class. For those earning less, its not just the cost-of-living penalty residents have to worry about  it's whether they can afford to live in California at all. A piece from the Los Angeles Times highlights one example.

Nathan Sheets, director of the homelessness services organization The Center in Hollywood, has been served his second eviction notice in three years.

Citing an affordability crisis and lack of housing security, Sheets is giving up California for good, taking his family back to lower-cost Indiana and leaving his job helping the homeless in California.

Trending: Invest like a millionaire. Exclusive opportunity to invest in Epic Games $17 billion gaming empire.

Sheets notes the irony, writing, "If we can't afford to live here ourselves, we can't help the unhoused population we want to serve."

Californias reputation as a high-cost-of-living state has been bolstered lately, with gas prices now at $5.32 per gallon compared to the $3.59 national average, according to AAA, and a recent bump in the minimum wage to $20 per hour for fast food workers.

Rising costs are also impacting utility bills. After the California Public Utilities Commission approved another rate hike, California-based utility company PG&E Corp. (NYSE:PCG) will again raise prices for residents' electricity and gas bills after increasing them just a few months ago.

Customers who have an average residential utility bill of $254 in 2023 are now set to pay new monthly bills of around $292.

The high cost of living pushing the California dream out of reach for residents is not a new phenomenon. For the fourth straight year, California topped the nation with the largest amount of net outbound movers, according to data from U-Haul.

Story continues

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This article Newsom's 'California Dream' Faces $26K 'Cost-of-living Penalty,' Homelessness Director Flees High-Cost State After Another Eviction originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
EAST PALESTINE  Norfolk Southern has reached a $600 million class-action lawsuit settlement over the Feb. 3, 2023, train derailment in East Palestine, according to those involved in the case.

The lead attorneys representing the victims and Norfolk Southern announced on Tuesday that the two sides have reached an agreement in principle. The multi-million dollar deal still needs to be approved by U.S. District Court Judge Benita Pearson in Youngstown.

Both sides issued their own statements over the litigation resolution.

A Norfolk Southern train passes Market Street in downtown East Palestine on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, almost a year after a train derailed near Market Street when a mechanical issue with a rail car axle caused a fiery accident. Fifty cars derailed and 11 were carrying hazardous materials.

Norfolk Southern's statement on lawsuit settlement

According to Norfolk Southern, the settlement is "another promise kept by Norfolk Southern to make it right for the people of East Palestine and the surrounding communities."

More: Norfolk Southern faces several lawsuits over East Palestine derailment, chemical release

"In March 2023, the company made commitments to address three long-term concerns of residents: drinking water, home values, and healthcare. Already, the company has announced programs for drinking water and home value assurance. The company is going further through this comprehensive settlement  providing additional, significant monetary relief to individuals, including for healthcare, and to help qualifying local businesses continue to rebuild and grow."

A Norfolk Southern freight train - Train 32N - carrying hazardous materials to Conway, Pennsylvania, derailed on Feb. 3, 2023, and caught fire. It happened in East Palestine, a village of nearly 4,700 people, in Columbiana County near Ohio-Pennsylvania border.

Five of the train cars had a toxic and flammable gas called vinyl chloride  used in plastic products  that can cause certain cancers. To prevent an explosion, people were evacuated and a controlled release of gas was conducted Feb. 6. The first lawsuit was filed Feb. 7.

By April, at least 31 lawsuits had been filed and Pearson consolidated them into a single class-action lawsuit against Norfolk Southern.

US President Joe Biden (C) listens as East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway (2nd from R) speaks during an operational briefing from officials on the continuing response and recovery efforts at the site of a train derailment which spilled hazardous chemicals a year ago in East Palestine, Ohio on February 16, 2024. Also pictured are East Palestine Fire Chief Keith Drabick (2 from L) and US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan (R).

Attorneys for East Palestine train derailment talk about lawsuit settlement

The lead attorneys for the victims are Seth A. Katz of Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine; M. Elizabeth Graham of Grant & Eisenhofer; Jayne Conroy of Simmons Hanly Conroy; and T. Michael Morgan of Morgan & Morgan.

They said the agreement would provide payment to residents and businesses in East Palestine and the affected surrounding communities, pending court approval. It also includes a voluntary program to compensate individuals in a 10-mile radius for past, present and future personal injuries resulting from chemical exposure.

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The attorneys also said the settlement money would be in addition to any monies that Norfolk Southern has previously made available through community assistance and other payments.

"This resolution comes shortly after the one-year anniversary of the disaster and will provide substantial compensation to all affected residents, property owners, employees and businesses residing, owning or otherwise having a legal interest in property, working, owning or operating a business for damages resulting from the derailment and release of chemicals," the lead attorneys said.

Norfolk Southern highlighted the company's contributions made so far:

$104 million in community assistance to East Palestine and the surrounding areas in Ohio and Pennsylvania, including $25 million for a regional safety training center, $25 million in planned improvements to East Palestines city park, $21 million in direct payments to residents, and $9 million to local first responders;

$4.3 million to support upgrades to drinking water infrastructure;

$2 million for community-directed projects;

$500,000 grant for economic development; and

Ongoing support to the community through the Family Assistance Center and programs such as the Interim Value Assurance Program.

We thank the Judge overseeing the litigation, the Honorable Benita Pearson, for her diligence and guidance, holding the parties to strict deadlines to reach a resolution or prepare the case for trial, said the victims' attorneys in a statement.

Norfolk Southern $600 million agreement by Benjamin Duer on Scribd

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The attorneys said the terms of the main settlement framework have been agreed upon but certain details need to be finalized, including working with experts to determine an allocation formula. If the court preliminarily approves the deal, residents will be receive formal notice, including claim forms.

We want to make the claims process as easy and efficient as possible, with the hopes of getting initial payments out by the end of this year, according to a statement from Katz, Graham, Conroy and Morgan. The claims process will consider specific factors such as location relative to the derailment, household membership, the length of any displacement, exposure to contaminants and the like.

If approved by Pearson, the settlement would resolve all plaintiff cases consolidated into the class-action lawsuit. It does not resolve separate lawsuits filed by state and federal agencies against Norfolk Southern for the environmental cleanup. Those are still pending.

We believe this is a fair, reasonable and adequate result for the community on a number of levels, not the least of which is the speed of the resolution, and the overall amount of the awards residents can expect, which will be significant for those most impacted by the derailment, according to Katz, Graham, Conroy and Morgan.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Norfolk Southern settles East Palestine class-action lawsuit
For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and profit. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, so investors in these companies may be taking on more risk than they should.

In contrast to all that, many investors prefer to focus on companies like Kinetik Holdings (NYSE:KNTK), which has not only revenues, but also profits. Now this is not to say that the company presents the best investment opportunity around, but profitability is a key component to success in business.

See our latest analysis for Kinetik Holdings

How Fast Is Kinetik Holdings Growing Its Earnings Per Share?

Even when EPS earnings per share (EPS) growth is unexceptional, company value can be created if this rate is sustained each year. So EPS growth can certainly encourage an investor to take note of a stock. It is awe-striking that Kinetik Holdings' EPS went from US$1.47 to US$4.56 in just one year. When you see earnings grow that quickly, it often means good things ahead for the company.

One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. Kinetik Holdings maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 3.5% to US$1.3b. That's a real positive.

The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.

In investing, as in life, the future matters more than the past. So why not check out this free interactive visualization of Kinetik Holdings' forecast profits?

Are Kinetik Holdings Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

It's said that there's no smoke without fire. For investors, insider buying is often the smoke that indicates which stocks could set the market alight. Because often, the purchase of stock is a sign that the buyer views it as undervalued. Of course, we can never be sure what insiders are thinking, we can only judge their actions.

The US$1.5m worth of shares that insiders sold during the last 12 months pales in comparison to the US$2.8m they spent on acquiring shares in the company. We find this encouraging because it suggests they are optimistic about Kinetik Holdings'future. Zooming in, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Independent Director Kevin McCarthy for US$1m worth of shares, at about US$31.50 per share.

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On top of the insider buying, it's good to see that Kinetik Holdings insiders have a valuable investment in the business. Notably, they have an enviable stake in the company, worth US$212m. This suggests that leadership will be very mindful of shareholders' interests when making decisions!

Shareholders have more to smile about than just insiders adding more shares to their already sizeable holdings. The cherry on top is that the CEO, Jamie Welch is paid comparatively modestly to CEOs at similar sized companies. For companies with market capitalisations between US$4.0b and US$12b, like Kinetik Holdings, the median CEO pay is around US$8.0m.

Kinetik Holdings' CEO took home a total compensation package of US$1.3m in the year prior to December 2022. That looks like a modest pay packet, and may hint at a certain respect for the interests of shareholders. While the level of CEO compensation shouldn't be the biggest factor in how the company is viewed, modest remuneration is a positive, because it suggests that the board keeps shareholder interests in mind. Generally, arguments can be made that reasonable pay levels attest to good decision-making.

Is Kinetik Holdings Worth Keeping An Eye On?

Kinetik Holdings' earnings per share have been soaring, with growth rates sky high. Just as heartening; insiders both own and are buying more stock. This quick rundown suggests that the business may be of good quality, and also at an inflection point, so maybe Kinetik Holdings deserves timely attention. We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 4 warning signs for Kinetik Holdings (1 is a bit unpleasant!) that you need to be mindful of.

Keen growth investors love to see insider buying. Thankfully, Kinetik Holdings isn't the only one. You can see a a curated list of companies which have exhibited consistent growth accompanied by recent insider buying.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Planet Fitness Has Been 'Pretty Much Destroyed,' Says Company Founder Amid Speculation On Boycott Cancellations

Planet Fitness Inc. (NYSE:PLNT) Founder and CEO Mike Grondahl detailed a history of rampant abuse at the company and alleged it misrepresented its financials during a recent interview with controversial right-wing X user Libs of TikTok.

This comes after weeks of calls for boycotts of the brand after the company canceled the membership of a Planet Fitness gym goer after speaking out about a biological male in the women's locker room.

Planet Fitness's policy allows gym members to use the locker room associated with their gender identity. But this policy has led to a few high-profile cases of women feeling uncomfortable in Planet Fitness womens locker rooms, and some women and children have reported abuse and sexual harassment at the facilities. Many of these incidents resulted in the women losing their membership, but an arrest was made in at least one instance, as previously reported by Benzinga.

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In the 15-minute interview, Grondahl outlined the history of the company and the reason behind its founding. Grondahl started the gym, noting the Judgement Free Zone was meant to be a welcoming signal to novice gymgoers looking for a place to start. But when speaking about the company today, Grondahl says it's "devastating" what it's become.

"Planet Fitness was like another child for me. And I put my heart and soul into building that company and it's been pretty much destroyed in, ya know, its lost all respect within the country within the last couple weeks," he said. "There's no common sense standing behind this."

Grondahl told Libs of TikTok he didn't approve of the policies or the response to them in recent weeks. Grondahl sold the company to private equity in November 2012 and lost control. Following the sale, he remained CEO until he was ousted after he reported that the chief administrative officer (CAO) and general counsel hired by the private equity firm had been found guilty of multiple charges over several years and abused minors on several occasions. In two instances, he was a teacher and was found guilty of abusing his students. The CAO left Planet Fitness in 2017.

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"When we went public, the majority of the board knew that this lead attorney was a pedophile. It's in the culture." Grondahl said during the TikTok interview.

Story continues

The Planet Fitness "culture" includes accusations of widespread abuse at the company.

"It started at the corporate office, this attorney started abusing employees, then he's abusing them sexually, now the culture leads into the people doing the right thing are being thrown out of Planet Fitness," Grondahl said.

While it's clear Grondahl is not a fan of the policies and politics going on at Planet Fitness at any level, he went on to detail some more claims that might end up further hurting their stock price. Grondahl said, "Their numbers are very suspect," referring to Planet Fitness's financials. Grondahl, having founded and led the company for over a decade, has a deep understanding of the interworking and economics needed to open a Planet Fitness location.

"I hope those people are buying in short because the way that they report their same-store sales and the amount of units that they can say that they can put in America is complete bullsh*t," Grondahl said.

Read About Startup Investing:

About 60,000 people must live in an area to maintain a 10,000-member Planet Fitness club.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, there are currently 650 cities in the U.S. with more than 60,000 members and only 806 with more than 50,000 people.

Planet Fitness has 18.7 million members across 2,575 gyms around the world. It would likely require tens of thousands of members or more to begin to make a dent in its bottom line. While this is possible, it's notoriously difficult to cancel a Planet Fitness membership unless you're one of the people speaking out against the company. One short report from the "Bear Cave" in January 2023 dubbed Planet Fitness an "illegal billing operation with gyms on the side." Planet Fitness is down 23% since that report came out.

That doesn't mean members aren't trying. According to Google Trends, there's been a 2,800% surge in inquiries such as "how to cancel Planet Fitness membership on app." Google marked "How do I cancel my Planet Fitness membership" as a "breakout" trend, noting a recent rise in search results for this query.

Near the end of the video, Libs of TikTok account owner Chaya Raichik said there have been "mass cancellations" although nothing has been confirmed or substantiated.

Benzinga reached out to Planet Fitness for comment and will update the story accordingly.

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This article Planet Fitness Has Been 'Pretty Much Destroyed,' Says Company Founder Amid Speculation On Boycott Cancellations originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
AndreyPopov / Getty Images/iStockphoto

With the costs of living soaring, many Americans are in desperate need of a raise. But how do you get one? Often, youll have to be your own best advocate and ask for one. This might sound scary and drudge up a drove of anxious questions, such as: How much of a raise do I ask for?; What if they say no?; Will I anger my manager with this request?

Check Out: How To Earn $4,000 a Month in Passive Income

See More: 7 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)

Its time to ditch those worried, racing thoughts and take action by tapping into the power of negotiation. In a new YouTube video, personal finance expert Ramit Sethi lays out how you can negotiate a $10,000 raise. Here are the steps he insists you follow to take your earnings to the next level.

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Lay the Groundwork With Your Boss 6 Months in Advance

If you ask for a raise the right way, youre going be way further ahead than 99% of other people who dont try to negotiate their salary, Sethi said.

But dont just leap into negotiations out of the blue. Plan ahead and strategize. Six months before your next review, set up a meeting with your boss to lay the groundwork, he said.

Sethi suggests sending your boss a note that expresses your interest in doing an exceptional job and being a top performer. Ask for a 15-minute chat with your boss to go over how you can reach these goals, and be sure to take a formal approach with an email invite.

When you meet with your boss, do the following:

Ask: What does it take to be a top performer?

Set three specific, measurable goals

Agree to talk more about this over the next six months

Sethi emphasizes the importance of getting specific and finding measurable ways that you can excel. Once you establish goals for yourself with your boss, let them know that youll be checking in with them about a compensation adjustment in about six months  but that, for now, youll focus on meeting the goals and keeping your boss in the loop.

Bosses love this! Sethi exclaimed.

Then, youll send an email recap to your boss summarizing the key points of your meeting. This gives you a record of correspondence and formalizes the plan.

Money Expert: Dave Ramseys 10 Best Tips for Building Wealth: Start Thinking Like Rich People

Keep Your Boss Updated

The second step in Sethis three-step negotiation plan for a $10,000 raise: keep your boss updated.

You never want to walk into a meeting about compensation and surprise your boss, Sethi said.

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Sethi holds fast to a no surprises philosophy. To honor that, he encourages you to keep track of everything you do at work by recording the results you get and quantifying them as much as possible. This entails work. You have to be steadfastly tracking your progress and proving that youre meeting your end of the deal and deserve that raise.

If [your boss has] to ask for a status check, youve already lost, Sethi said.

To keep your boss updated, Sethi recommends a technique he calls closing the loop. This entails checking in with your boss every two weeks.

You are closing the loop, letting them know what the status is before they ever ask, Sethi said. I recommend doing this every other week.

After weeks, or months, of hitting your goals, Sethi says to mention to your boss that youd like to discuss compensation at a meeting next month.

This can be a separate meeting from your normal review, Sethi said. Or, ideally, since you started this process six months before your review, youve given yourself time to hit your goals and then discuss this in your normally scheduled review.

Get Ready To Win

This is the culmination of all your preparation and hard work, Sethi said.

Youve laid the groundwork with your boss. Youve accelerated to become a top performer. Youve exceeded expectations. And, youve tracked your progress.

Here is where the briefcase technique applies. You need four items to come prepared with:

Current salary

Competitive salaries from other companies

List of accomplishments

Additional ways you can add value to your company

In this meeting, youre basically saying, Six months ago, we had this fantastic conversation. I came in letting you know I wanted to be a top performer, and I do. I wanted to make your job easier, and I do. And I want to help this company grow. I came up with three goals. I hit those goals  leading to the company being more profitable, Sethi said.

And then, you take the win! You accept all the accolades. But the journey to the $10K raise doesnt end there.

Heres where you discuss that aforementioned compensation adjustment. At this point, you lay out your current salary and then point out where the industry is at in terms of compensation. Youll need to do some hefty research around what others in your field make to back your case and to show that you are being underpaid.

From there, you can initiate a conversation about an increase in compensation.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Ramit Sethi: How To Negotiate a $10K Raise
The simplest way to benefit from a rising market is to buy an index fund. While individual stocks can be big winners, plenty more fail to generate satisfactory returns. Unfortunately the California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT) share price slid 23% over twelve months. That falls noticeably short of the market return of around 28%. Even if shareholders bought some time ago, they wouldn't be particularly happy: the stock is down 20% in three years.

It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that.

See our latest analysis for California Water Service Group

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

Unhappily, California Water Service Group had to report a 48% decline in EPS over the last year. This fall in the EPS is significantly worse than the 23% the share price fall. So the market may not be too worried about the EPS figure, at the moment -- or it may have expected earnings to drop faster. Indeed, with a P/E ratio of 51.67 there is obviously some real optimism that earnings will bounce back.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on California Water Service Group's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

A Different Perspective

Investors in California Water Service Group had a tough year, with a total loss of 21% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 28%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 0.2%, each year, over five years. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand California Water Service Group better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with California Water Service Group (including 2 which shouldn't be ignored) .

Story continues

For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Well, well, well. On the eve of another hurricane season, the insurance industry finally came out and said what almost everyone in Florida expected. Industry experts recently acknowledged that insurers may be forced to raise the property insurance premiums of Sunshine State customers to protect themselves from major storms.

"When most of the modelers are indicating it's going to be [a] very active season, that's going to trigger the global reinsurance markets to reassess risk," Mark Friedlander, the Insurance Information Institute's spokesman said after Colorado State University released its preseason hurricane forecast and climate's impact on reinsurance rates.

Uh, duh!

The 2024 Storm Season is just around the corner and already rattling the insurance industry.

Our View on Climate Change: Editorial: Hurricanes Ian, Nicole are warning for Florida to take climate change impacts more seriously

It's too easy to chastise an industry that's focused so heavily on fraud and litigation, while the state soft-pedals how the warming climate is impacting storms and the seas surrounding Florida. Last week's admission, however, could  and should  start a new approach in addressing climate change and providing property insurance. The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board has urged government officials to think outside the box in developing new ideas. The property insurance industry  instead of just scaling back coverage, dropping customers and hiking premiums as much as 100%  should do the same.

Insurance crisis isn't exactly news

It's not like the precariousness of Florida's insurance market is new. In recent years, the state has seen shifts in the market due to rising claims costs and reinsurance expenses. This has prompted a growing number of homeowners to explore alternative options, including going without coverage.

The property insurance crisis isn't just a Florida problem, either. One in 13 homeowners across the U.S. is uninsured, according to a recent study by the Consumer Federation of America. For years, government officials and the industry have walled off Florida, leaving it largely to the state and its residents to figure out ways to cope with the risks and the impact of ever-higher insurance premiums. It's time to admit the crisis is much bigger than Florida.

How can the industry help? Releasing better data on access to coverage and on coverage gaps would be a good start. It's not like our elected officials, here and elsewhere, have the information that would produce better policies to help homeowners. Rising premiums, an ongoing concern here for tens of thousands of frustrated homeowners from Palm Beach to Pensacola, is a national one that will call for a far wider effort to address than simply passing it off as a "Florida problem."

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Last year we asked Insurance Information Institute officials how long might it take before our state's homeowners would see reductions in their premiums. Florida lawmakers after holding two special sessions to address the problems had promised changes within two years. Industry officials weren't that optimistic.

"Years," Sean Kevelighan, the institute's president and CEO said after a brief silence and a bit of prodding.

Litigation, Kevelighan and his colleagues contend, remains the big problem, despite the fact that, after two special sessions of the Florida Legislature in 2022 and again in the 2023 regular session, the industry pretty much got everything it said it needed to reduce the impact of lawsuits, which supposedly would lead to lower rates.

That hasn't happened.

Now the problem is re-insurance, the a form of insurance insurers have, to protect them from financial risks. Re-insurers obviously get skittish with the likelihood of any events that threaten payouts. Nerves frayed when Colorado State predicted an extremely high number of storms  23 named storms compared to the average season of 14  for the upcoming 2024 hurricane season.

"It is a very ominous forecast, and certainly one of the most significant in terms of potential events that we've ever seen in April," Friedlander said during an interview with WJXT-TV in Jacksonville.

There's no doubt, at least here in Florida, that the insurance industry has the clout to get the preferred policies that it wants out of government. For years, the industry has gotten its way with the Florida Legislature and the Governor's office, in curbing what many policyholders see as normal remedies in pursuing claims. It shouldn't take another scary storm-season prediction to get the industry to take both climate change and its customers more seriously.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: The insurance industry finally talks up climate change. So, now what?
Jared Kushners investment firm, Affinity Partners, has invested nearly $1.2 billion since it was formed in 2021. Nearly all of that money has come from foreign sources, raising major ethical red flags.

According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, 99 percent of Affinitys investor funds have come from foreign sources, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

Affinity, which is worth $3 billion, has received investments from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as corporate moguls like Terry Gou, who founded electronics giant Foxconn.

These are all countries that Kushner worked with when his father-in-law, Donald Trump, was in the White House. Kushner served as Trumps main envoy to the Middle East and was a key figure in brokering the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and the UAE, and Israel and Bahrain.

Kushners fund has invested in an Israeli car-leasing and financing company, an online real estate site based in Dubai, and an Abu Dhabisupported fast food company that operates more than 1,000 restaurants in Brazil, the Times reported.

Kushner announced two of his biggest deals yet last month: a $500 million hotel and condominium complex in Serbia and two luxury developments in Albania. Neither of these deals could have happened without Kushners time working in the Trump administration, where he met the president of Serbia and the prime minister of Albania, who were directly involved in each respective deal.

During Trumps presidential term, Kushner likely made hundreds of millions of dollars. Those earnings also were controversial, particularly due to his business deals with countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar while meeting with them in his White House capacity.

Although Kushner specialized in the Middle East during Trumps stint at the White House, he has come under fire for his stance on Palestine. Since Israels war in Gaza broke out, the Abraham Accords have been criticized for ignoring Palestinians.

Recently, Kushner told a Harvard University audience that he thought Gazas beach coastline was very valuable, essentially advocating for Israel ethnic cleansing the land to develop it. If he continues in this vein, he might have to deal with more direct protests, like the ones that crashed his awards ceremony at an Anti-Defamation League event last month.
Taigu Design has joined forces with the CEIBS Shenzhen Campus

Shenzhen, China, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Taigu Design has joined forces with the CEIBS Shenzhen Campus, setting the stage for an unprecedented advancement in educational development within the Greater Bay Area. This collaboration heralds a new era of innovation and excellence, promising to redefine the educational landscape for future generations.



building facade @ CEIBS

CEIBS is the only business school in China jointly established by Chinese and foreign governments, combining deep Chinese roots with a global perspective. With campuses in Zurich, Switzerland, Accra, Ghana, Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen, it has developed into a leading business school in Asia and globally.



entrance @flower image

The Qianhai Free Trade Center in Shenzhen is strategically located within the Ma Wan area and serves as a key urban axis for the Qianhai district. Its low-density building complex features flexible shared spaces, dynamic architectural forms, and unique outdoor landscapes. The campus location enables CEIBS to leverage its academic strengths while contributing to the development of high-end education industry chain in Shenzhen.



site@baidu map





"Shenzhen is a youthful city, characterized by its freedom and openness, as well as its global perspective and Chinese characteristics. The people of Shenzhen are inclusive and forward-thinking, exemplified by the winding coastline along the bay area which embodies the attitude of exploration. "Our goal is to create a multi-dimensional teaching environment that combines organic flow lines, open atriums filled with natural light, and interconnected internal building spaces that promote collaboration and comfort. We also aim to optimize movement paths while emphasizing the interplay of light and shadow, tangible forms and invisible elements, in order to seamlessly blend boundaries and facilitate effective communication through cleverly designed terraced structures." said Tan Kan, founder of Taigu Design.



"ring double running ladder" @flower image







"conch" shaped road show ladder@flower image

The "ring double running ladder", "conch" shaped road show ladder, and the "spring" rotating ladder connecting the underground layer are strategically positioned in the open atrium. The curves of the stairs create a captivating display under the flowing light and shadow on the projector surface of the large glass zenith, evoking a strong sense of curiosity for exploring the unknown world.

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staircase connects to the "inner construction" box body@flower image

The dynamic curve tilt and flowing organic form of the staircase become the visual focal point of the space, showcasing its cylindrical plastic feeling and artistry in internal construction.



seated stairs@flower image

The staircase is connected to the circular walkway on each floor, which in turn connects to the "inner construction" box body, forming a continuous indoor vein. The building has a multi-faceted orientation from southeast to northwest, surrounded by transparent curtain walls. Functional spaces are located next to the windows and facing the atrium from outside to inside. Natural light is introduced into the rooms through surrounding curtain walls and skylights, creating an open and inviting atmosphere for the book bar with rich texture.



book bar@flower image

The second floor is connected to the first floor by a "conch" shaped large swing ladder, with small to large steps forming a "fan" shape that is over 10 meters wide on the first floor. The seated stairs face the semi-open and closed cafe, creating a seamless connection and dialogue relationship with the cafe. It provides an open road show, exchange, and rest. Worth mentioning is that the cafe is connected to an outside sunken square, where designers have incorporated a static water feature connected with an external outdoor leisure space, promoting interaction between people and their environment.



coffee bar@flower image







flat classroom@flower image

The amphitheater and flat classroom are perfect examples of blending futurism with practical needs. The spatial form has been practiced by the school for many years and has been continuously optimized. The designer has made appropriate adjustments in lines, lighting, and tone to restore the teaching scene of Shanghai headquarters while incorporating Shenzhen characteristics, reflecting innovation and excellence in education.



corridor@flower image

The minimalist corridor uses surface light sources and mixed granular ceramic panel wall surfaces along geometric stacked straight stairs to create a calm space that expresses minimalism combined with modern aesthetics.

The entire dining area is designed with openness and accessibility in mind, responding to natural light and views created by outdoor vertical vegetation. Reflective ceilings and columns encourage harmony between humans and nature.



dining area@flower image

Architecture should be a blank container for human activity, encouraging social interaction while providing space for personal reflection. The spatial layout of the business School strikes the right balance between public and private, promoting knowledge sharing and the social dimension of science. It also innovatively interprets the needs of educational space, creating possibilities for multi-dimensional communication and exchange, hoping that this design can stand the test of time.



Founder, Tan Kan

For me, the profession of design is serendipitous rather than planned. As a result, I have remained composed, inquisitive, and at ease, free from the pressures of superficial recognition that have plagued many for years. While technical expertise is essential in the field of design, the art of design is primarily methodical and logical yet practical; Design should be guided by intuition and a sense of purpose, embodying a state of effortless action.-- Founder, Tan Kan

About Taigu Design:-

Established in 2010, Taigu Design is dedicated to innovative spatial design for residential, commercial, office, and cultural environments. Embracing the aesthetic concept of "art and function", Taigu Design endeavors to accurately convey the idea that "space attributes are dependent on human activities" with a discerning perspective and refined details. We offer professional and comprehensive spatial design services for various industries and ecological spaces.

PR Contact:-

Ruth Jiang

info@gooyeah.cn

Disclaimer: The information mentioned in the press release is provided by source Taigu Design via Gooyea. KISS PR and its distribution partners are not directly or indirectly responsible for any claims made in the above statements. Contact the vendor of the product directly for any queries/issues.




The deadline to file your taxes with the Internal Revenue Service is Monday. If you haven't already submitted your documents to the IRS and the Indiana Department of Revenue and you need more time, here's how to extend the deadline.

When is the deadline to file taxes in 2024?

April 15, 2024, is the filing deadline for taxes. That's Monday.

What happens if I miss the tax deadline?

If you fail to file your federal tax return on time, the standard penalty is 5% of any tax due for every month the return is late, up to 25% of the unpaid balance. If you file a return but fail to pay any taxes you owe, or if you get an extension, you typically face a much smaller monthly penalty of 0.5% of any unpaid amount.

Can I request more time from the April 15 deadline to file taxes?

Yes, but don't wait until the last minute. The sooner you request an extension, the better. It doesn't buy you more time to pay your taxes, however. You'll still have to pay any amount due to avoid penalties, but you'll have more time to complete your tax forms.

The filing deadline for most 2023 federal and state of Indiana income tax returns is April 15, 2024.

What's the new deadline to file taxes if I get an extension?

If you request an extension with the IRS, you'll have until Oct. 15  an additional six months  to file your return.

If you need an extension to file your state returns with the Indiana Department of Revenue, you'll have until Nov. 15, 2024, after the request has been submitted to file your documents and pay any outstanding balance due. According to the Indiana DOR, if you get a federal extension, you automatically have an extension to file with Indiana.

Does it cost extra to file an extension on taxes?

There's no penalty for filing a tax extension with the IRS, but not paying the full amount owed can lead to charges on the unpaid balance.

In Indiana, interest will be added to any amount you owe after April 15, according to the Indiana DOR, but the penalty can be waived if you meet two conditions:

You pay at least 90% of the tax expected to be owed by the original due date, and

The remaining balance due (including interest) is paid in full no later than Nov. 15, 2024.

How do I request an extension to file taxes with the state of Indiana?

You can request an extension to file your state tax returns at the Indiana DOR's website. After providing your taxpayer information, you'll receive step-by-step instructions on filling out Form IT-9, which grants you the extension.

Quick answers to tax season: When is tax day 2024? Where's my refund? How to file for free

I've used TurboTax and H&R Block in the past, but can I file my taxes for free at IRS.gov?

Yes, you can. If your adjusted gross income is $79,000 or less. "IRS Free File" allows qualified taxpayers to file their federal income tax returns online using guided tax preparation software at IRS.gov.

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How can I check my tax refund status in Indiana?

You can check the status of your Indiana state tax refund online at the state's INTIME portal, or by calling the automated refund line at 317-232-2240. You'll need to provide a Social Security number, as well as the exact amount of the refund.

The Indiana Department of Revenue recommends waiting a minimum of three weeks before checking the status of your electronically filed tax refund and 12 weeks for paper-filed returns.

How long does it take to get my federal tax refund?

The IRS issues most refunds within 21 days. It could take longer, however, if you send your tax return by mail.

Where's my federal tax refund?

Visit the IRS online at Where's My Refund? (irs.gov/refunds) or at IRS2Go mobile app to get the latest details about your current tax return and refund, as well as information about your taxes from 2022 or 2021. Here's when you can begin checking:

24 hours after e-filing a tax year 2023 return.

Three or four days after e-filing a tax year 2021 or 2022 return.

Four weeks after mailing a paper return.

Others are reading: Indiana lawmakers kill proposal to eliminate 'tampon tax'

John Tufts covers trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Follow him on X at @JTuftsReports.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Taxes are due April 15, 2024: How to file an extension in Indiana
The Teamsters were decertified at a SoCal trucking company. (Photo: Shutterstock)

The Teamsters have been pushed out from their representation of employees at Dependable Highway Express, an LTL and truckload carrier based in Southern California thats been in business since 1950.

Rank-and-file workers at Dependable never had an opportunity to vote on rejecting the representation. Instead, employee John Cwiek filed a union decertification petition last month with the National Labor Relations Board asking for a vote that would end the Teamsters representation. The number of workers in the union, Teamsters Local 63, was not immediately available.

But before the NLRB could rule on the decertification request, the Teamsters filed a Disclaimer of Interest with the agency, effectively giving up any opportunity to fight the effort and ending the representation.

Like many who have led decertification efforts aimed at the Teamsters and other unions, Cwiek had the backing of the National Right to Work Foundation, which has supported other decertification efforts that have sometimes resulted in Teamsters decertification.





The decertification vote at Dependable Express is just one of several union representation votes in the past six weeks that in some cases resulted in workers choosing to be represented by a union and in others rejecting representation. The Teamsters won one of those elections and lost another, according to NLRB reports of unionization elections:

A small group of drivers at LTL carrier Hot Line Freight Systems facility in Milwaukee voted 5-0 on March 21 to be represented by the Teamsters.

The Teamsters lost an election at agricultural processor Cargill in Reserve, Louisiana, 56-38 on March 15. The voting unit was not described by the NLRB as drivers, but a wide range of workers who ranged from bin deck operators to electricians.

Other logistics-focused union representation elections have been mostly losses for organized labor. Per the NLRB, here are some recent election results:

An Ohio company, Exel Inc., which does business as DHL Supply Chain, saw a group of workers overwhelmingly reject representation by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 75. There were 183 eligible workers for the March 28 vote; 113 voted against the union.

A group of drivers working out of the BNSF terminal in Thayer, Missouri, unanimously voted against representation on March 27. The employer is RailCrew Express LLC. The union seeking to represent them was the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Whats notable about the votes is how many representation elections deal with such a small number of workers. While the Exel vote had 183 eligible voters, the Teamsters win at Hot Line Freight Systems in Milwaukee had five.

Story continues

A spokeswoman for the Teamsters declined comment on the Dependable Highway vote.





Although the size of the workforce represented by the Teamsters at Dependable was not immediately available, a statement released by the National Right to Work Foundation said the petition to the NLRB organized by Cwiek had signatures from about two-thirds of the employees. Signatures totaling 30% of the workforce are needed for the NLRB to declare a decertification vote.

The statement by the foundation recapped conflict between the union and Cwiek. Teamsters union officials stirred tension in the workplace by threatening Cwiek, who in January sent letters to his coworkers containing publicly-available Department of Labor data on Teamsters bosses salaries, the foundation said. In retaliation for Cwiek sending the letters, a union official appeared at Cwieks workplace the next day, made accusations against him, and threatened that Cwiek wouldnt be working at Dependable Highway Express by the next contract period.

That letter that had the pay levels of some Teamsters officials said the current three-year contract at Dependable was set to expire May 31.

More articles by John Kingston

Teamsters, Anheuser Busch reach new 5-year contract

A first for Werner: Small group of workers votes to unionize

Teamsters celebrate NLRB decision on STG Logistics, see path to greater unionization





The post Teamsters out at Southern California trucking company; other votes mixed appeared first on FreightWaves.
fizkes / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Passive income is the holy grail when it comes to securing a financial future. As many financial experts have noted, you wont ever get rich from simply earning a salary. True wealth-building requires investment, and passive income creates wealth without requiring active management.

As famed billionaire and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Warren Buffett has said, If you dont find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.

For You: Im a Financial Advisor: Id Invest My First $5,000 in These 6 Stocks

Try This: Owe Money to the IRS? Most People Dont Realize They Should Do This One Thing

But while there are countless articles, blog posts and videos about how to earn passive income, there arent many warnings out there about what to avoid when striving for it.



Heres a look at some of the common missteps investors make when seeking passive income.

Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity.

Rely On a Single Stream of Passive Income

Passive income shouldnt come from a single investment. Rather, think about building a passive income portfolio. Just like investing in individual stocks, building a portfolio allows you to diversify your risk. If one of your income investments doesnt pan out for some reason, you can rely on the others to keep the income flowing.

Trending Now: Warren Buffett Sold His Apple Stock  Heres Why

If possible, diversify among industries as well. For example, you might consider building a portfolio over time that includes dividend-paying stocks, income-producing bonds and rental real estate. This way, a downturn in one area of the market wont necessarily drag down your investments in others.

Expect a Gold Mine Right Away

Financial personality and founder of Minority Mindset Jaspreet Singh strongly believes in investing for cash flow through passive income. However, he stresses that its not a get-rich-quick scheme. In fact, for your plan to succeed over the long run, Singh says you need to build up your assets first. As Singh said in a 2023 YouTube broadcast, You dont get rich by investing for cash flow. Youve got to be rich first to get a lot of the cash flow that will make you wealthy.

In his video, Singh refers to a decade of sacrifice in which youve got to funnel all the money you can into your income-generating investments. While you may not have a lot of fun during that time, as Singh says, its worth it in the long run. Once youre in the position of having enough passive income to bankroll your lifestyle, you can then effectively do whatever you want. But youll have to be patient to get to that point.

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Equate Passive With Hands-Off

Too many passive investors think that they dont have to devote any time at all to their investments. The truth is, there is no such thing as a set-it-and-forget-it investment. While passive investments can be to some degree self-sufficient, you cant forget to at least monitor them. With a portfolio of income-generating investments, for example, youll want to check in at least quarterly to ensure that theyre still solid choices. If you own rental real estate, youll have to at the very least maintain your property if you want it to hold its value.

Fail To Reinvest

Some investors make their first passive income investment and proceed to blow all of the income they generate on discretionary spending. The ultimate goal of any passive investment strategy is generating enough to pay for all your expenses.

As Jaspreet Singh tells his followers, the goal is to get an investment plan generating enough income to pay for your expenses. But you cant build that long-term wealth without reinvesting what youre earning. Youll only see the magic of compound interest when you reinvest your money over the long run  but youll build up a sizable nest egg. As Singh puts it, once that happens, Now you have assets paying for your lifestyle, instead of just you working for it. This is what it means to become wealthy.

Chase High Yields

If youre looking to generate passive income, youll want to earn the highest yields you can, right? If a 4% yield is great, isnt 8% twice as good? That might seem like a logical answer, but sometimes things arent what they appear.

As Andrew Herzog, a certified financial planner at The Watchman Group, told Business Insider, Always chasing excess yield can be a dangerous game. Yield isnt everything. One of the reasons is that yield is often a function of risk. The higher the risk in an investment, the higher the yield. Thus, by stretching for an 8% yield instead of a 4% yield, for example, you have a greater risk of losing your investment entirely.

Overspend To Earn Passive Income

It defeats the purpose of earning passive income if you have to overspend to earn it. As John Boyd, founder of financial planning firm MDRN Wealth, told The New York Times, investing several thousand dollars to buy a vending machine that pays out just a few hundred a month, or overextending yourself by taking out a 10-year mortgage to buy a rental property, isnt the best way to create long-term wealth or saving for retirement.

Rather, slowly accumulate income-generating investments and use that money to reinvest into additional opportunities.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: To Make True Passive Income, Experts Say You Must Avoid Doing These 6 Things
Shares of Trump Media have erased all their gains since they began trading under the ticker DJT last month.

The stock closed down more than 8% Monday at $37.17 after falling about 11% earlier in the day. It had traded above $79 a share on March 26, the day of its debut.

But experts say it's hard to draw any firm conclusions about what the stock price's movement means. That's because so many available shares  about 12%, one of the highest ratios of any active stock listing  reflect traders' bets that the stock will fall, said Ihor Dusaniwsky, managing director at S3 Partners, a data and predictive analytics company.

This is called short-selling.

Right now, much of the trading activity surrounding the stock reflects investors attempts to position bets around whether it will continue to fall, Dusaniwsky said in an email.

While some traders are looking to make even more gains from continued price declines, others may be looking to squeeze the short positions by betting that something will cause the share price to rise.

This seems more like the gunfight at the OK Corral, with both sides waiting for the other to act first, Dusaniwsky said.

As the stocks price has rocked back-and-forth, former President Donald Trump, who owns a majority of the companys shares, has seen his net worth move in tandem, falling from a high of about $5.2 billion down to about $2.9 billion.

But those figures are largely immaterial for Trump, since he is contractually barred from selling or even borrowing against his shares for six months.

In a post on Truth Social earlier this month, Trump called the company's business "very solid" and said criticisms of its ability to reach a wide audience were "lies."

But according to company filings, Trump Media lost $58.2 million last year and did not report any user metrics.

Meanwhile, the companys auditor issued a going concern notice for the business, saying it was not confident it would be able to stay afloat.

That auditor, BF Borgers CPA PC, has itself been the subject of recent reports about its effectiveness. For instance, it is banned in Canada.

In a news release last week, CEO Devin Nunes, a former U.S. congressman, said he was confident about the future of the business.

We are excited to be operating as a public company and to have secured access to capital markets," Nunes said in a statement. "Closing out the 2023 financials related to the merger, Truth Social today has no debt and over $200 million in the bank, opening numerous possibilities for expanding and enhancing our platform."

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"We intend to take full advantage of these opportunities to make Truth Social the quintessential free-speech platform for the American people, Nunes said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Donald Trump; Ivanka Trump; Jared Kushner Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Technically, it would not be accurate to say that literally all of the investment money thats been flowing to Jared Kushner since he left the White House has come from foreign sources, such as the governments he worked with while serving former President Donald Trump. The actual figure, as reported by The New York Times on Tuesday, is just 99 percent, the vast majority of the $3 billion raised thus far coming from authoritarian governments.

Its an arrangement  Kushner cashing in on relationships forged while his father-in-law was the president  that at the very least constitutes an appearance of impropriety. It is also far from the norm, experts say.

In 2022, just six months after leaving the White House, Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund invested $2 billion in Kushners newly formed private equity firm, despite misgivings among the funds staff that Trumps son-in-law had little relevant experience. Kushner has also accepted investments from state-managed funds in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Kushner, who wont rule out serving in a second Trump administration, has in turn invested some of that money in a foreign project, last month announcing a $500 million real estate project in Serbia at the same site where Trump himself had previously sought to build a luxury hotel.

J. Robinson West, a former Reagan administration official who spoke to the Times, said there were a number of unusual things about Kushners post-White House business dealing.

A lot of people leave government and become lobbyists or they start consulting firms, he said. But no one that he recalled had ever received so much money, so fast, from foreign governments  especially not ones they worked with while working for a president.

I think its fair to say that the spirit of public service and George Marshall and Robert Lovett  those days are past, he said.

Steve Rattner, an economic analyst who himself leads an investment firm, commented that he's never seen a U.S. private equity firm so dependent on foreign cash. "This is extraordinary  unprecedented  I've never seen anything like it," he told MSNBC.
Most readers would already be aware that Walt Disney's (NYSE:DIS) stock increased significantly by 31% over the past three months. However, we decided to pay attention to the company's fundamentals which don't appear to give a clear sign about the company's financial health. Particularly, we will be paying attention to Walt Disney's ROE today.

Return on equity or ROE is a key measure used to assess how efficiently a company's management is utilizing the company's capital. In simpler terms, it measures the profitability of a company in relation to shareholder's equity.

See our latest analysis for Walt Disney

How Is ROE Calculated?

Return on equity can be calculated by using the formula:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Walt Disney is:

4.0% = US$4.2b  US$106b (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2023).

The 'return' refers to a company's earnings over the last year. So, this means that for every $1 of its shareholder's investments, the company generates a profit of $0.04.

What Is The Relationship Between ROE And Earnings Growth?

We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company's future earnings. Based on how much of its profits the company chooses to reinvest or "retain", we are then able to evaluate a company's future ability to generate profits. Assuming everything else remains unchanged, the higher the ROE and profit retention, the higher the growth rate of a company compared to companies that don't necessarily bear these characteristics.

A Side By Side comparison of Walt Disney's Earnings Growth And 4.0% ROE

As you can see, Walt Disney's ROE looks pretty weak. Not just that, even compared to the industry average of 13%, the company's ROE is entirely unremarkable. Therefore, it might not be wrong to say that the five year net income decline of 30% seen by Walt Disney was possibly a result of it having a lower ROE. However, there could also be other factors causing the earnings to decline. For instance, the company has a very high payout ratio, or is faced with competitive pressures.

So, as a next step, we compared Walt Disney's performance against the industry and were disappointed to discover that while the company has been shrinking its earnings, the industry has been growing its earnings at a rate of 21% over the last few years.

The basis for attaching value to a company is, to a great extent, tied to its earnings growth. What investors need to determine next is if the expected earnings growth, or the lack of it, is already built into the share price. Doing so will help them establish if the stock's future looks promising or ominous. If you're wondering about Walt Disney's's valuation, check out this gauge of its price-to-earnings ratio, as compared to its industry.

Story continues

Is Walt Disney Using Its Retained Earnings Effectively?

Walt Disney's low three-year median payout ratio of 21% (or a retention ratio of 79%) over the last three years should mean that the company is retaining most of its earnings to fuel its growth but the company's earnings have actually shrunk. The low payout should mean that the company is retaining most of its earnings and consequently, should see some growth. So there could be some other explanations in that regard. For example, the company's business may be deteriorating.

In addition, Walt Disney has been paying dividends over a period of at least ten years suggesting that keeping up dividend payments is way more important to the management even if it comes at the cost of business growth. Existing analyst estimates suggest that the company's future payout ratio is expected to drop to 16% over the next three years. As a result, the expected drop in Walt Disney's payout ratio explains the anticipated rise in the company's future ROE to 9.7%, over the same period.

Conclusion

In total, we're a bit ambivalent about Walt Disney's performance. While the company does have a high rate of reinvestment, the low ROE means that all that reinvestment is not reaping any benefit to its investors, and moreover, its having a negative impact on the earnings growth. Having said that, looking at current analyst estimates, we found that the company's earnings growth rate is expected to see a huge improvement. To know more about the latest analysts predictions for the company, check out this visualization of analyst forecasts for the company.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Winshear Gold Corp.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winshear Gold Corp. (TSXV: WINS) (Winshear or the Company) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Patricio Varas as President of the Company, effective immediately.

Mr. Varas is a Professional Geoscientist and Mining Executive with over 38 years experience in mineral exploration, mine development and corporate management. He has extensive experience in developing precious and base metal exploration and mining projects around the world. He has played integral roles in the discovery of world class mineral deposits and mines (Santo Domingo Sur Cu-Fe in Chile, Diavik Diamonds - NWT, and Milestone Potash - Saskatchewan), delivery of major feasibility studies and has overseen significant mineral asset sales and corporate transactions.

The Company also announces that Mr. Mark Sander has stepped down from the role of President, but he will continue to serve as a Director of Winshear. The Company thanks Mark for his efforts in advancing the Gaban gold project in Peru through the discovery, delineation, and drill permitting of a compelling gold target.

The Company is working towards commencement of a first-ever drill programme testing the Coritiri Target at the Gaban Gold Project. The programme is planned to start in Q3 2024.



About Winshear Gold Corp.

Winshear Gold Corp. is a Canadian-based minerals exploration company advancing the Gaban Gold Project in the Puno region of Peru. The Company considers Gaban to be one of the hard-rock sources of gold contributing to the 700km2 Madre de Dios alluvial goldfield, located 50km north of, and downstream from, the Gaban gold project.

For more information, please contact Irene Dorsman at +1 (604) 200 7874 or visit www.winshear.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Richard D. Williams

Richard Williams, CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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Image source: Getty Images

The pandemic changed the world in myriad ways, big and small. One thing that changed was the way we think of work. As some of us watched friends or family members die of COVID-19, the experience changed the way we think of what we want out of life. Balance has become more desired than ever, with some employees saying they want the freedom to work from anywhere (including home).

At a time when more employers are ordering their workforces back into the office, 75% of those included in FlexJob's 2024 Work-From-Anywhere Survey said they would "definitely use" a work-from-anywhere policy if their employer offered it. Here's a sample of what Americans say they're willing to do to work remotely.

50% are willing to accept a pay cut

Half of those surveyed say they would take a pay cut in return for the option to work from anywhere, which would definitely impact their budget. Here's how much they said they would be willing to accept:

26% surveyed said they would accept a 5% cut in pay

25% said they would accept a 10%15% pay cut

1 in 5 would work longer hours

A full 20% of survey respondents said they would be willing to work longer hours if they could work remotely. Given that working from "anywhere" likely means always having access to their computer and other work equipment, it makes sense that employees who don't have to spend time commuting would be more willing to spend that time working.

Some say they'll give up vacation days

An average of 15% of respondents (across age groups surveyed) say working from anywhere means so much to them that they would be willing to forego some of the vacation time they are owed. The career resource platform Resume.io compiled a report comparing annual paid leave and paid public holidays in 197 countries. The report found that the U.S. comes in at 196, with only one country deemed worse for employees: Micronesia.

To put it in perspective, China, Mexico, Lebanon, the Philippines, and Nigeria offer more statutory days off work than U.S. employers do. Reports like these make it even more surprising that 15% of Americans asked say they would give up even more of their time off to work remotely.

Nearly 1 in 4 say they'd gladly trade professional development for a chance to work remotely

Millions of Americans value work-life balance more than professional development or climbing the corporate ladder. In fact, 23% of those surveyed say they would give up the chance for professional development to work remotely.

4 out of 5 would move for the opportunity to work remotely

A whopping 81% of respondents claim they would be willing to relocate to another city or state for the opportunity to work remotely. Here's how it broke down:

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40% say they would move to another city

41% say they would move to another state

That's not to say they would move just anywhere. Ideally, people would be most excited about moving to a climate they enjoy, a place where the cost of living is manageable and expenses like auto insurance don't cost an arm and a leg.

Some employees are willing to let go of company-sponsored health insurance

It's impossible to overstate the importance of health insurance in the U.S. However, 13% of survey respondents would give up their company-sponsored plan in return for a remote job. Those respondents may have insurance through a spouse or partner, or they may earn enough money to purchase a health insurance policy outside their employer.

1 in 10 claims they would be happy to give up company contributions to their retirement account

By now, most adults have heard about the benefits of company-sponsored retirement plans like 401(k)s. Still, 10% say they would give up any contributions made by their company if they could work from wherever they want. They would still have the option to open an IRA.

The generation most willing to give up something of value in return for remote employment

There's no word on Gen Z (born 19972009), but here's how the responses of three other generations break down:

69% of millennials (19811996) surveyed said they would be willing to give up something for a remote job

59% of Gen X (born between 19651980) surveyed said the same

50% of baby boomers (19461964) named something they would be willing to give up

Financial incentive

While work-life balance plays a large role in why so many of us want to work remotely, it doesn't tell the entire story. After all, people still have credit cards, utility payments, and mortgages to pay. Here are some of the most significant financial reasons to want to work from anywhere:

Save money on gas, car maintenance, transportation, and parking fees

Save money on meals out

Fewer distractions can lead to greater productivity, leading to potential promotions (for those interested in promotions)

Can save on before- and after-school child care expenses

Anyone who's ever worked remotely from home, a lake cabin, an RV, or anywhere else can tell you there's nothing like it. And if the FlexJobs survey is any indication, some employees are willing to sacrifice for another opportunity.

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

You Won't Believe What Americans Are Willing to Do to Work Remotely was originally published by The Motley Fool
Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed bills aimed at cutting prescription drug prices in his final action on bills from the legislative session that ended March 9.

Youngkin vetoed 50 more bills in this final set of bill actions, released just before midnight, bringing his total from the 2024 session to a record 153 out of the 1,046 the General Assembly approved. Youngkin vetoed more bills in one year than any other modern Virginia governor vetoed in his four-year term.

House Bill 570 sponsored by Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, and Senate Bill 274, sponsored by state Sen Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, would set up a new Prescription Drug Affordability Board, empowered to review the affordability of any prescription drug and say if state-sponsored and state-regulated health plans should limit what they pay for those medications.

Youngkin said in his veto statement: "The proposed authority granted to the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) would allow medication availability to be determined based solely on cost considerations rather than accounting for the expert opinions of health care professionals and the unique medical needs of individual patients.

"This approach could limit access to treatments and hinder medical innovation, especially for life-threatening or rare diseases."

Jim Dau, state director of AARP Virginia, said the group is disappointed that Youngkin vetoed what Dau called "commonsense legislation" to reduce costs of prescription drugs.

"Virginians across the state have made very clear that they expected action to address the unaffordable costs of life-saving medication, and they overwhelmingly support the creation of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board," he said.

Youngkin also vetoed Senate Bill 14, sponsored by Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, and House Bill 805, sponsored by Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, which would let any locality levy a 1% surcharge on sales taxes to fund school construction if voters approved it in a local referendum.

Youngkin said in his veto message: "This proposal could result in a nearly $1.5 billion a year tax increase on Virginians. Some localities would have a combined sales tax rate of eight percent, with no additional offsets, such as reduced income tax or property tax."

He said the state "should pursue a tax policy that unleashes economic development and prioritizes job and wage growth through innovative reforms. These reforms must allow hardworking Virginians to keep more of their money."

He also vetoed House Bill 335, sponsored by Del. Debra Gardner, D-Chesterfield, which would have directed state officials to look into setting minimum wages for tipped employees.

Youngkin said that study would have had "a predetermined outcome without studying whether tipped minimum wages should, in fact, be increased," adding that in states that increased tipped workers' minimum wages, "many tipped workers have seen a decrease in earnings."

Youngkin previously vetoed measures increasing minimum wages as well as eliminating the exemption from minimum wage law for farm workers.

Youngkin also vetoed House Bill 354, sponsored by Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, which would have required the state to set regulations for swimming pools at tourist facilities and spas. Youngkin said the Department of Health already has a role ensuring water quality in those pools.

He amended several more measures, including one, Senate Bill 212, sponsored by state Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach that would legalize slot-machine-like skill games  possibly the hardest-found battle of the 2024 General Assembly session.

He also amended:

* House Bill 568, sponsored by Del. Alex Askew, D-Norfolk and Senate Bill 517, sponsored by state Sen. Angelia Williams Graves, D-Norfolk, which would eliminate the tax exemptions for the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the General Organization of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Confederate Memorial Literary Society, and the Stonewall Jackson Memorial. The amendment calls for a second vote on the bills in the 2025 General Assembly session.

* Senate Bill 238 and House Bill 819, sponsored by state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, and Del. Candi Mundon King, D-Prince William, which say health plans have to cover contraceptive drugs and contraceptive devices. Youngkin's amendment says the requirement would not apply to any plans federal law exempts because of religious belief.

House Bill 790 and Senate Bill 582 , sponsored by Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, and state Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, which bans Internet sales of liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products and the sale of tobacco products from vending machines while boosting enforcement of the ban on sales of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine, to minors. The amendment adds the word "packages" to a section saying stores can't sell more than two vaping products at a time.

Senate Bill 361 and House Bill 707 , sponsored by state Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, and Del. Michelle Maldonado, D-Prince William, which say data firms cannot sell personal information about a child or keep it if it is used for targeted advertising.

"Where there are differences in our approaches, I hope my amendments reflect the common ground we can find together," Youngkin said.

On landlord-tenant issues, Youngkin amended House Bill 740, sponsored by Del. Rae Cousins, D-Richmond, which makes it easier for tenants to dispute what landlords say they owe during an eviction. He also amended House Bill 993 and Senate Bill 422, sponsored by Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, and state Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, which say landlords cant demand maintenance fees.

"Every piece of legislation I have had the honor to sign into law as Governor has necessarily been bipartisan, Youngkin said.

He signed a bill, House Bill 1099, sponsored by Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, setting a tax rate on heated tobacco products that had been the focus on heavy lobbying by Philip Morris International, arguing that it could give a competitive advantage to Henrico County-based tobacco giant Altria. Kilgore said the bill was aimed at ensuring the state kept receiving funds from the 25-year-old Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette makers.

Youngkin had until 11:59 p.m. on Monday to sign, veto or amend bills, including the 700-page state budget.

He has proposed more than 230 amendments to it, dropping the sales tax expansion the General Assembly approved as well as his own proposed cuts in income tax rates along with most of his own spending priorities that the General Assembly rejected.

Legislators return to Richmond on April 17 to take up Youngkins vetoes and proposed amendments. A proposed amendment requires a simple majority for approval.

Since it takes a two-thirds vote to override a veto, Youngkins are likely to survive in the nearly evenly split General Assembly  51 Democrats to 49 Republicans in the House and 21 Democrats to 19 Republicans in the Senate.
Drivers exceeding speed limits in Colorado Springs could be caught on camera if the city implements a new system that uses radar technology to track and identify speeders.

Police Chief Adrian Vasquez and city attorneys presented to the City Council a proposed speed safety camera program on Monday that Vasquez said will reduce traffic-related deaths and will free up police resources for other priorities.

El Paso County, the most populous county in Colorado, has led the state in traffic fatalities over the last two years  83 in 2022 and 78 in 2023, data from the Colorado Department of Transportation show.

Colorado State Patrol previously reported 28% of the county's total traffic-related deaths in 2022 involved speeding.

"Speed is still the leading factor in major traffic crashes throughout the city, so the ability to impact that speed in different ways, I think, is very important," the police chief said Monday.

The Colorado Springs Police Department wants to contract two new vehicles equipped with special speed safety camera equipment that uses radar to track multiple lanes of traffic in one direction, and photographs and records vehicles it identifies as exceeding the speed limit.

The department would hire two new full-time civilian employees  most likely former or retired police officers  to operate the vehicles and record the violations, as required by state law, Vasquez said.

Colorado law stipulates these cameras can only be used in residential areas, roadways that border parks, and in school and construction zones. Police would prioritize deployment of the cameras first at school zones during morning and afternoon drop-off and pickup; then in parks and residential areas between peak school zone times and during the summer; then in construction sites as requested, Vasquez said.

"School zones are going to be the No. 1 priority because of our children and the amount of (speeding) complaints we get in those school zones," he said.

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Because the units are mobile, police can quickly and easily move them around the community as needed, Vasquez said.

If the City Council approves use of the program, the city must publicly notify residents for a 30-day period. After that, there will be a 30-day period during which the city assesses only warnings, and no fines, to speeders.

Once the 30-day warning period ends, drivers caught speeding in residential areas and on roadways near parks will be charged a $40 fine. Travelers caught speeding in school and construction zones will be assessed an $80 fine, Vasquez said.

Additional software will allow Colorado Springs Police Department staff to review, then accept or decline the violation, he said.

Under state law, the city cannot report the infractions to the DMV and no points are assessed for violations, said Shantel Withrow, the prosecution division chief in the City Attorney's Office. Speeding violations caught by the speed safety camera program are counted as civil infractions.

"We're talking about the ability to affect multiple vehicles in a very short amount of time, with the understanding that state law only allows it to be a civil infraction and no points assessed. So, there is that tradeoff, but it is, in my mind, a true benefit," Vasquez said of the program.

The city is still in the contracting process and the potential cost of the program is currently unknown. Officials are working with contractors to ensure the program is "cost-neutral so that it would not cost the city anything out of pocket," Vasquez said.

The City Council expects to formally vote on the proposal at its regular meeting on April 23.
As America aims to send humans back to the moon and astronauts potentially go to Mars for the first time, Colorado  with its cluster of talent and growing constellation of space companies  is fast becoming an essential hub to making those missions a reality.
Leaders of the burgeoning space industry at the 2024 Space Symposium took a moment Monday to pair their formal attire with protective eyewear and witness the partial solar eclipse during the annual international gathering.

This is, without a doubt, the nerdiest group of people to see this with, said Amolak Badesha, with the additive manufacturing company Orbital Composites.

While Colorado was not in the path of totality, the moon covered 68% of the sun Monday, dropping temperatures outside The Broadmoor, said Rafael de Ameller with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Viewers in Colorado missed the ring of fire effect created by a total eclipse that reveals the suns corona or outermost atmosphere.

But enthusiasm ran high during the symposium as businessmen, international military members and scientists paused for selfies and group photos on The Broadmoors lake terrace with cardboard glasses.

Although a watch party wasnt formally marked or noted anywhere on the symposiums official agenda, there was still a sort of mutual understanding with staff passing out protective eyewear and guests flocking to the terrace around 11:30 a.m.

Amazing and ironic were two words commonly uttered by attendees noting the common interests in the two occasions.

Im a pretty rational person and I like to work with outcomes, said Continuum Space Systems co-founder Loic Chappaz. But I wouldnt have guessed this sort of cosmic coincidence.

While the moon is getting a lot of attention at the Space Symposium and in the space community because of NASAs upcoming manned mission, there is ongoing work to understand the sun better as well.

Robert Steenburgh, with the Space Weather Prediction Center, said some of the work is focused on better predicting the impact coronal mass ejections or blobs of magnetized plasma that leave the sun.

Depending on the orientation of its magnetic field relative to Earths, you can have a really huge impact or you can have something that will just make pigeons get lost, Steenburgh said. More dramatic coronal mass ejections can disrupt communications and the power grid.

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He was hopeful the eclipse would raise awareness about the importance of our nearest star.

Its more influential now than it used to be because we have so much technology, he said.

The enthusiastic crowd included Judy Peck, 80, who was enjoying the eclipse with her grandson at The Broadmoor because two of her sons work in space, one with the Space Force and the other in private industry, she said.

Its just happening so fast thats the thing that amazes me, she said.

She had the event marked on the calendar and noted it's likely the last time shell be able to see an eclipse. The next total eclipse in the U.S. is in 2044.

The eclipse was a first for Scott Levinson, 62, who has spent his career in defense and aerospace, but had never been in the right place to see one before. This time his job brought him to the right place and provided the right glasses.

Its a wonderful coincidence, he said.

He was also hopeful students seeing the eclipse might be inspired to pursue a career in science.

As a business owner looking for great engineers, they are harder to come by. So, anything that might put a spark in their mind about how things work is a great opportunity, said Levinson, who is the chief of mission operations for NewBridge Partners.

The eclipse occurred on the second day of the four-day symposium that organizers project will be attended by 12,000 people and include 240 exhibitors. Others in attendance use the event as an opportunity to network and create partnerships going forward.

For a brief moment on Monday, the space industry came together for a different, yet familiar, reason.

I know absolutely nothing about heliophysics, but I can get you connected with someone who does, one person said to a fellow onlooker.
A cloud that rains fear and uncertainty on children whose home life is not often sunny slowly dissipates with the help of Court Appointed Special Advocates.

And more children in El Paso and Teller counties need the help of the Colorado Springs-based CASA of the Pikes Peak Region.

The number of children removed from their homes by child welfare agencies on suspicion of abuse or neglect, or who live in precarious situations, is higher than pre-COVID-19 averages, said Keri Kahn, spokeswoman for the nonprofit organization.

Before the pandemic that began in March 2020, a monthly average of 24 children under age 18 were referred to CASA by a judge or magistrate in the Fourth Judicial District, she said.

During the height of school closures and social distancing in 2020, the number jumped to 42 court referrals per month, Kahn said.

Cases have receded to 32 a month, which is lower than the pinnacle but more than before the pandemic began.

I cant speculate as to why there are more kids, Kahn said. Child abuse and neglect is common in all socioeconomic classes across the country.

The court appoints CASA to dependency and neglect cases in which the children are placed in foster care or living in their home but are at risk of continued harm.

CASA also enters the picture when children have been victims of physical or sexual abuse and there are risks that include parental substance abuse, domestic violence, parental mental health, concerns about the quality of care and other issues.

In the last fiscal year, 376 trained CASA volunteers advocated for 657 children involved in the family court system and child protective services.

Currently, Kahn said, about 800 children under age 18 need assistance with navigating the unexpected turn their lives have taken. It costs the organization about $1,200 to serve one child with a CASA volunteer for one year.

An information session for anyone interested in volunteering will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday (April 9) at the CASA office, 418 S. Weber St. To RSVP, go to www.casappr.org/volunteer.

Carl Brantley, a CASA volunteer advocate for seven years, said the time hes spent getting to know children has been rewarding.

Its made a big difference in my life, and its a joy to give back, he said. I see these children, who havent had the advantages that other children have had, respond when you go to the zoo or for a hike by opening up and blossoming. It gives you a sense youre doing something thats making a difference.

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Volunteers such as Brantley, a retired sales manager, participate in a two-week, six-session basic training course before being sworn in by a judge.

Advocates are assigned one case at a time and specify the gender and age range theyd like to be paired with, he said. They accompany children to court hearings and build rapport and trust by going on outings and getting to know each other.

Because children often are mistreated by people they love and trust and who are supposed to take care of them, its difficult for them to learn not all adults are out to hurt them, Executive Director Angela Rose said in a statement.

These kids have done nothing wrong, she said. They are the most vulnerable members of our community, and it is our duty to stand up for them.

Advocates report directly to the court about whats going on in a childs life, presenting this is what we see, and here are our recommendations on whats needed for this child, Brantley said.

The information CASA volunteers provide helps the court decide whether to return the child to the parents  which Brantley said is the foremost goal  or if we think the child needs a foster home or services such as therapy.

Because its emotional to work with abused and neglected children, volunteers feel like a family, Brantley said, who support each other and can relate to what others are experiencing.

That helps us help more children be successful, and if we do that, were going to make the community better, he said.

El Paso County continues to lead the state in reports of suspected child abuse or neglect to a statewide hotline, 844-CO4-KIDS, according to statistics from the Colorado Department of Human Services.

The state received 117,762 calls last year, of which 17,745 were from El Paso County. Denver County recorded the next highest amount with 13,200 calls in 2023.

About one-third of the calls in El Paso County and 28% statewide were referred for further investigation, the data shows.

Kahn believes the high number of reports reflects that people in the Pikes Peak region know about the hotline, and its actually an illustration of how caring our community is.

CASAs annual fundraiser, Light of Hope, will be held 12:30-1:30 p.m. on April 18 at the Doubletree Hotel, featuring success stories. For more information, go to https://www.casappr.org/lightofhope/.
When the Colorado School for the Blind opened in 1874 at Cucharras and Tejon streets with seven students, Colorado was a territory. On Monday, the school celebrated 150 years of education in Colorado Springs.

"This is a big deal, and this is legacy," said Mayor Yemi Mobolade at a ceremony on Monday.

Founded by Jonathan Kennedy and attended by three of his children who were deaf, the school expanded to its current location  on nearly 25 acres northeast of Pikes Peak Avenue and Institute Street and just east of downtown  in 1876. The school added education for blind students in 1883. Since then, the campus has expanded to include 17 buildings and its name is the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. The CSDB educates deaf and blind students from pre-k to the age of 21.

The celebration on Monday highlighted the interconnectedness of multiple generations of the tightknit school, with alumni panelists sharing their experiences from up to 60 years ago with the current generation of assembled students. Among the questions asked: What was living in the dorms like? What were your favorite places around campus? and What were your favorite memories from school?

The answers, from sneaking around after hours for snacks to favorite playground games, garnered laughs from an audience with shared experiences and community on the historic campus.

"I'm so grateful for my inheritance, for what I've had all these years. And you will be, too, someday," said alum Becky Shields, addressing the assembled students and staff.

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Don Alsbaugh, who graduated from the deaf school in 1979 and has kept involved with the school throughout his life, most recently with the school's historic committee, said he made friendships that he considered family at CSDB.

"I have a lot of relationships here. They're like my siblings. You see someone after a few years and it's like the biggest hug ever," he said via a translator.

Alsbaugh worked on the school's new on-campus museum that highlights milestones in the schools history. He said he wanted CSDB to last until the next big anniversary.

"My vision for the next fifty years would be for the school to still be here, for it to continue on," he said. "I just love it. Again, it's my second home here. I can't ever let go of this place. It's a part of me."

Students, staff and alums lined up on the stage Monday to drop mementos in a time capsule. The cylinder is meant to be opened 50 years from now when the school celebrates its 200th anniversary.

At the ceremony, the school also unveiled a mosaic mural designed by students with the help of local nonprofit Concrete Couch.
Colorado Springs residents can look forward to mild weather conditions on Tuesday, according to Gazette news partner KOAA.

"Mostly sunny skies are expected, with a high temperature of about 54 degrees," Meteorologist Alan Rose said. Other than an isolated snow shower on the summit of Pikes Peak today, our weather on Tuesday will be pretty nice, adding that the region will see light winds throughout the day.

A weak clipper system to our north will send a cold front through the Plains early Wednesday morning.

"Behind the front, it will be breezy tomorrow, with 20-30 mph gusts for the Pikes Peak Region. A chance of snow showers will return to the mountains late tonight and Wednesday, with only a very small chance of a shower in Colorado Springs," Rose said.

Dry air returns late this week, with highs going from the mid 60s on Thursday to the mid 70s on Friday.

"The 70s will stick around into the upcoming weekend. Along with the warmth will come a breezy to gusty forecast, with high fire danger threats ramping up as we head towards the weekend."

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Here is the rest of the forecast from the National Weather Service:

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. North wind 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 57. West-northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 69 degrees. South wind 10-15 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. West wind 10-15 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 69 degrees. West wind 10-15 mph, becoming south in the afternoon.
More than 500 guinea pigs were saved from becoming meals for birds of prey as one Northern Colorado rescue took in what they said is their largest case of surrendered guinea pigs from a single owner, according to a release from Cavies and Canines.

The Fort Collins based animal rescue, which is licensed under the Colorado Department of Agricultures Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA) program, said they responded to a distressing situation involving a Colorado-based breeder who found themselves unable to care for the large population of guinea pigs they had been breeding.

According to the rescue, the breeder contemplated feeding the guinea pigs to birds of prey.

Upon intervention, the organizations director, Natalie Riggs, discovered the guinea pigs living in distressing conditions. The guinea pigs were being housed in Tupperware storage totes, severely overcrowded, and lacking essential necessities such as hay, food, and water, according to the rescue.

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Additionally, rescue officials said the animals were found to be suffering from various serious health issues, in addition to the widespread infestation of ringworms and mites. Several pregnant females were among the animals rescued.

"We extend our deepest sympathy to the owner, whose circumstances drastically changed following the passing of their spouse," Riggs said. "Our rescue is grateful for the opportunity to step in and remove these guinea pigs from their unfortunate situation.

With the pending intake of hundreds of guinea pigs, the rescue said it is urgently seeking foster homes or adopters for their existing adoptable guinea pigs to make space for the newcomers. With a large number of pregnant animals among the rescued, Cavies and Canines said the rescued guinea pig population could increase to as much as 400 animals.

The organization is currently seeking foster homes, adopters and monetary donations as they look to place the animals.

They encourage those who would like to assist the rescue through fostering, adopting, donating, transporting, or volunteering, to fill out their Google form. They can also contact the rescue via e-mail at CaviesandCanines@gmail.com.
Lockheed Martin is one of the largest aerospace contractors working on major space projects from building the spacecraft taking astronauts back to the moon, nuclear space power to a NOAA weather satellite detecting lightning strikes in real time.

But recently, the company has also been investing in a growing corner of the space market: small satellites.

The aerospace giant opened a factory in Littleton last year, called the speed center, to meet growing demand for the smaller spacecraft and is revving up production to hit 180 satellites a year.

The facility has yet to finish a satellite, said Lockheed Martin Senior Manager of Space Data Transport Kevin Huttenhoff at a media roundtable out of its Colorado Springs office on Monday ahead of industry trade show Space Symposium, happening at the Broadmoor through Thursday.

There are currently 42 satellites in various stages of production out of Littleton, he said.

We're using this low-rate production capability right now to fine tune our processes, Huttenhoff said.

What sets Colorado's Front Range apart from other space hubs?

Lockheed Martin had to build the 20,000-square-foot Littleton site from the ground-up because production needs to be very, very different, he said.

The company is more used to spacecrafts that are the size of a warehouse. Meanwhile, smallsats are typically no bigger than a kitchen refrigerator.

Lockheed Martin built a digital twin of the Littleton facility in virtual reality and reproduced its manufacturing process to map out kinks in the system before any hardware came in, Huttenhoff said. When construction of the site started, he added there were some lessons they had to put back into the VR replica to find more ways to make the site more agile.

The site also uses more automation on the production line, Huttenhoff said, to speed up production and reduce human labor.

Lockheed Martin got into building small satellites because it saw strong demand signals from both commercial and government sectors, Huttenhoff said.

It makes sense for us to meet that response rather than just sitting back and waiting, he said.

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The smallsat market is expected to more than triple within a decade, according to a 2023 report from the former Euroconsult, now known as Novaspace after merging with SpaceTec Partners earlier this month.

Nearly 7,000 smallsats have been launched between 2013 and 2022, according to the space consulting agency. SpaceXs Starlink network of satellites made up the majority of smallsats, but more entrants are coming in. Between 2023 and 2032, the report found, theres expected be more than 26,000 smallsats.

Got space junk? Colorado companies have solutions

The market value of smallsats will go from $30 billion during the 2010s to about $110 billion in the next decade, according to the report.

Another large aerospace contractor, Raytheon, also made a major investment in small-satellite production by acquiring Colorado-startup Blue Canyon Technologies in 2020, a leading maker of smallsats and cubesats. The RTX subsidiary has two factories in Boulder  one that opened in 2022  and is headquartered in Lafayette.

Companies are wanting more satellites faster and cheaper, said Lockheed Martins Jeff Schrader, vice president of Global Situational Awareness.

Thats why demand for smallsats is rising, Schrader said.

Lockheed Martins Littleton speed center is one of three facilities working on the Tranche 2 Tracking Layer project led by the Space Development Agency, a division of the U.S. Space Force working on missile defense.

Tranche 2 aims to send a constellation of 54 satellites to detect and warn against potential missiles. Of the three sites, two are in Colorado: the Lockheed Martin site and Sierra Spaces center in Louisville. The third is with L3Harris Technologies in Melbourne, Fla.

The 42 satellites currently in production in Littleton are part of Tranche 1 and are expected to be finished this year.

The Littleton site also has testing services for other companies working on smallsats, Huttenhoff said, to assist the many new entrants in the market.

Companies can contract with Lockheed Martin to test in its thermal cycle and electromagnetic chambers.

That is something that we felt was the right thing to do in this environment to help have that robust marketplace, Huttenhoff said.
A shoebox-sized rover is expected to belay down from a lunar lander to the south pole of the moon potentially within the year in part to help test out remote-control software.

Astrobotic, a Pennsylvania-based company, is building the tiny rover planned to travel as part of a much larger mission that will also take NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover to the moon to look for ice, said Mike Provenzano, director of lunar surface systems for the company. He spoke to the media at Space Symposium in Colorado Springs on Monday.

The rover will use Canadian-based Mission Control Space Service Inc.'s Space Farer software to remotely control it and further the company's efforts to develop artificial intelligence to guide vehicles in space, said Ewan Reid, founder and CEO of the company.

"On this mission, we'll be looking at classifying the terrain in front of the rover to understand what kind of terrain it is, and then using that to make decisions about where we can drive safely," he said.

Both the cube rover and the software are intended for the commercial market.

Provenzano said he expected the cube rover platform could carry scientific instruments for clients. The company can also easily enlarge the rover without additional design costs.

Reid said he hopes in the relatively near term Space Farer will be used to operate robotics on many other mission on the moon, in orbit and potentially in deep space.

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The Canadian Space Agency invested in Mission Control and its president Lisa Campbell lauded the announcement on Monday.

"What an exciting time in space exploration as commercial companies are at the very beginning of creating a new market and economy," she said.

The cube rover is expected to operate for one lunar day or almost 26 hours, Provenzano said.

Once the lander arrives the rover will descend from cables wrapped around its wheels.

"When it's time to descend, we rotate our wheels, and then we kind of belay ourselves down," he said.

Astrobotic is also building the Griffin Lander expected to carry the cube rover, a mission that may face more scrutiny after the company had to abandoned a moon landing in January when its lander suffered a serious propellant leak.

"Right now, we are solely focused on making sure that Griffin lands successfully on moon," Provenzano said.
Colorado's wildlife officials on Friday announced reaching an agreement with indigenous tribes in Washington state to capture 10 to 15 wolves that will be released in Colorado at the end of the year.

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation will allow Colorado Parks and Wildlife, part of the state's Department of Natural Resources, to catch wolves on tribal lands from December 2024 through March 2025, the prime capture season.

We are grateful to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation for working with our agency on this critical next step in reintroducing gray wolves in the state, said CPW Director Jeff Davis. This agreement helps CPW to continue to meet our unanimously adopted Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan goal of translocating 10-15 gray wolves per capture season for a total of 30-50 wolves.

Jarred-Michael Erickson, chairman of the Confederal Tribes of the Colville Reservation, added that "the Colville people strongly believe in preserving our environment, including its fish and animals."

"We are thrilled that our restoration efforts on our own lands have progressed far enough that we can share some of these magnificent creatures with the citizens of Colorado," Erickson said.

Tribal representatives will provide guidance to Colorado on target packs, avoiding packs with known active chronic depredation behavior, wildlife officials claimed in a news release Friday.

In contrast, several of the wolves that the Polis administration released in Colorado last month came from packs with histories of killing livestock. CPW, in its wolf restoration plan, had pledged not to bring in wolves with depredation histories, but the Fence Post's Rachel Gabel, who is also a columnist for Colorado Politics, reported the first five wolves from Oregon came from the Five Points Pack, which injured one calf and killed another in in July of 2023.

Gabel reported that the pack also killed a cow on Dec. 5, 2022 and injured a 900-pound yearling heifer on July 17, 2022.

First gentleman Marlon Reis, Gov. Jared Polis' spouse, later criticized Gabel, attacking her journalism and saying, "Never trust anything Rachel Gabel writes. Reis posted those comments on Facebook but took them down later. He did not refute her report.

CPW announced it would not release any more wolves in Colorado during this capture season, although the state wolf restoration plan could allow for five more.

"The additional time will allow the agency to assess the releases in December and let CPW staff adjust to any increased workload of having wolves on the ground in Colorado, as well as allow time for the additional resources for CPW and the Colorado Department of Agriculture to support ranchers proposed in the Governors budget to become effective July 1," the agency said in a statement Friday.

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CPW has taken heat for failing to notify ranchers in Grand and Summit counties the wolves were being released, despite previous pledges from the agency that ranchers would get a day's notice. Some said they found out about the releases from TV news and not from CPW, and that the agency's failure to notify them has substantially damaged relationships between the agency and ranchers on the Western Slope.

State Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, told 9News the agency could have given ranchers 12-hour or 24-hour notice, but that didn't happen.

"The celebratory projection of what happened ... belies a lot of angst and worry in our communities on the Western Slope," he said.

Reid DeWalt, assistant director for aquatic, terrestrial and natural resources with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, told the state Senate's Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee last spring the reintroduction of wolves wouldn't be a surprise to those who live nearby.

"They'll know that [wolves] are in that area and those conversations are happening right now at our local district wildlife manager level," DeWalt told lawmakers.

Davis, the CPW chief, called the December effort "incredibly successful," despite the agency's keeping local ranchers and even public officials in the dark.

"Our focus will be on refining our internal processes, continuing the work were already doing to bolster our staff expertise and honing our notification structure so the public is well informed regarding release efforts, while also balancing the need for the safety and security of staff and gray wolves, Davis said in a statement Friday.

Colorado voters, almost entirely along the Front Range, approved a ballot measure in 2020 to reintroduce wolves west of the Continental Divide. Voters in the counties where wolves are being reintroduced overwhelmingly rejected the ballot measure.

Prior to the reintroduction, wolves had already come from Wyoming into Jackson County, in northern Colorado. Those wolves killed at least 14 cattle, three sheep and three working cattle dogs on six ranches  killings confirmed by CPW.

Rancher Don Gittleson reported wolves have attacked seven cattle and calves on his ranch. He said he asked CPW to remove the wolves but they refused, telling him to use non-lethal mitigation efforts that he maintains don't work.

According to reporting from Wyofile, at least three of the six wolves returned to Wyoming where they were legally killed by hunters.
Gov. Jared Polis signs a bill into law on the Capitol steps at a ceremony and news conference in 2022. (Gazette file photo)
An out-of-town developer plans to build a 294-unit apartment complex along Eighth Street on Colorado Springs west side, a project that would include demolition of a retail building that houses national retailers Hobby Lobby and Office Depot, according to a proposal submitted to city government planners.
Lockheed Martin is one of the largest aerospace contractors working on major space projects from building the spacecraft taking astronauts back to the moon, nuclear space power to a NOAA weather satellite detecting lightning strikes in real time.

But recently, the company has also been investing in a growing corner of the space market: small satellites.

The aerospace giant opened a factory in Littleton last year, called the speed center, to meet growing demand for the smaller spacecraft and is revving up production to hit 180 satellites a year.

The facility has yet to finish a satellite, Kevin Huttenhoff, Lockheed Martins senior manager of space data transport, said Monday during a media roundtable out of the companys Colorado Springs office ahead of the annual Space Symposium that takes place through Thursday at The Broadmoor hotel on the citys southwest side.

There currently are 42 satellites in various stages of production out of Littleton, he said.

Were using this low-rate production capability right now to fine tune our processes, Huttenhoff said.

What sets Colorados Front Range apart from other space hubs?

Lockheed Martin had to build the 20,000-square-foot Littleton site from the ground-up because production needs to be very, very different, he said.

The company is more used to spacecrafts that are the size of a warehouse. Meanwhile, smallsats are typically no bigger than a kitchen refrigerator.

Lockheed Martin built a digital twin of the Littleton facility in virtual reality and reproduced its manufacturing process to map out kinks in the system before any hardware came in, Huttenhoff said. When construction of the site started, he added there were some lessons they had to put back into the VR replica to find more ways to make the site more agile.

The site also uses more automation on the production line, Huttenhoff said, to speed up production and reduce human labor.

Lockheed Martin got into building small satellites because it saw strong demand signals from both commercial and government sectors, Huttenhoff said.

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It makes sense for us to meet that response rather than just sitting back and waiting, he said.

The smallsat market is expected to more than triple within a decade, according to a 2023 report from the former Euroconsult, now known as Novaspace after merging with SpaceTec Partners earlier this month.

Nearly 7,000 smallsats have been launched between 2013 and 2022, according to the space consulting agency. SpaceXs Starlink network of satellites made up the majority of smallsats, but more entrants are coming in. Between 2023 and 2032, the report found, theres expected be more than 26,000 smallsats.

The market value of smallsats will go from $30 billion during the 2010s to about $110 billion in the next decade, according to the report.

Another large aerospace contractor, Raytheon, also made a major investment in small-satellite production by acquiring Colorado-startup Blue Canyon Technologies in 2020, a leading maker of smallsats and cubesats. The RTX subsidiary has two factories in Boulder  one that opened in 2022  and is headquartered in Lafayette.

Companies are wanting more satellites faster and cheaper, said Lockheed Martins Jeff Schrader, vice president of Global Situational Awareness.

Thats why demand for smallsats is rising, Schrader said.

Lockheed Martins Littleton speed center is one of three facilities working on the Tranche 2 Tracking Layer project led by the Space Development Agency, a division of the U.S. Space Force working on missile defense.

Tranche 2 aims to send a constellation of 54 satellites to detect and warn against potential missiles. Of the three sites, two are in Colorado: the Lockheed Martin site and Sierra Spaces center in Louisville. The third is with L3Harris Technologies in Melbourne, Fla.

The 42 satellites currently in production in Littleton are part of Tranche 1 and are expected to be finished this year.

The Litteton site also has testing services for other companies working on smallsats, Huttenhoff said, to assist the many new entrants in the market.

Companies can contract with Lockheed Martin to test in its thermal cycle and electromagnetic chambers.

That is something that we felt was the right thing to do in this environment to help have that robust marketplace, Huttenhoff said.
China's top legislator holds talks with National Assembly of Vietnam chairman

Xinhua) 08:34, April 09, 2024

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji held talks with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue in Beijing on Monday.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that at the end of last year the general secretaries of the two parties jointly announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, drawing a blueprint for China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperation in the new era.

China is willing to work with Vietnam to implement the important consensus reached by the general secretaries of the two parties and push for high-level and high-quality development of bilateral exchanges and cooperation through all channels, at all levels and in all fields, Zhao said.

He said the two sides should adhere to high-level strategic guidance, support each other on issues involving core interests and major concerns, enhance the docking of development strategies, advance cooperation under the frameworks of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, facilitate the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy, deepen traditional friendship, increase cooperation in areas such as people's livelihoods, culture and tourism, and properly manage maritime differences.

Noting that the legislatures of the two countries have agreed to establish a joint committee between the NPC of China and the National Assembly of Vietnam, Zhao said the two sides should implement the relevant cooperation agreements, establish and make good use of the joint committee mechanism, strengthen friendly exchanges at all levels of the legislatures, learn from each other's experience in legislation, supervision and governance, and strengthen cooperation in multilateral parliamentary organizations to safeguard the common interests of the two countries and global fairness and justice.

Zhao briefed on the development of whole-process people's democracy in China, saying that China is willing to strengthen experience exchanges with Vietnam in building democracy and the rule of law, and firmly follow the socialist democratic path independently chosen by the two peoples.

Vuong Dinh Hue said Vietnam is willing to make joint efforts with China to implement the important consensus reached by the general secretaries of the two parties, strengthen cooperation in various fields, and further promote the construction of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

The National Assembly of Vietnam is willing to strengthen friendly exchanges with the NPC of China, strengthen exchanges and mutual learning on democracy and the rule of law and continuously enhance the friendship between the two peoples, he said.

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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Think about Easter Island and its a good bet that its iconic stone monoliths come to mind first. But they arent the only massive stone carvings on remote Pacific islands that have fascinated and puzzled archeologists, anthropologists, explorers and travelers for centuries.

Nearly 7,600 miles farther west on the northern side of the equator lie the Northern Mariana Islands where latte stone pillars dot the landscape. Although unique prehistoric monuments are found throughout Oceania, stone lattes are found nowhere else.

The U.S territory of Guam is the centerpiece of this group of ancient volcanic islands where latte stones have become the modern symbol of the indigenous Chamorro culture representing strength and identity.

Latte have two solid parts: a pillar (haligi in Chamorro) and a cup-shaped capstone with a flat top (tasa most likely from the Spanish taza for cup or bowl.) Ranging in height from 2 to 10 feet, the tallest one still standing is on the neighboring island of Tinian and is 15.7 feet high.

The pillars and capstones often differ in shape, material and size. Some are made from quarried limestone, volcanic rock or conglomerates while others are made from rough slabs, coral or boulders rounded by water.

LATTES WERE USED BY THE CHAMORRO PEOPLE Originally used by the indigenous Chamorro people as housing supports, the structures are often referred to as casas de los antiguos (houses of the ancients) in some reference works.

The pillars were usually set in two parallel rows around a rectangular space in pairs of six, eight, ten, twelve or fourteen pillars.

The new book Latte in the Marianas: By the Community, and For the Community by Dr. Kelly Marsh and Jolie Liston notes that the ancestors of the Chamorro people arrived in the Mariana Islands around 4,000 years ago.

But it was another 2,700 to 3,100 years before latte first appeared. They were in use for approximately 700 years.

Writings from the 1500s and 1600s reported that houses were often set atop the pillars and the space below was where traditional canoes called proa were made and stored, or where community gatherings took place.

Other buildings for cooking, sleeping and other tasks were made of wood with palm-frond thatch or grass roofs and set on the ground.

Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was the first European to arrive in Guam on March 6, 1521 on behalf of Spain. Forty-four years later, Guam was declared by Spain, changing the Chamorro culture forever.

According to archeological research, the use of latte ceased around the time of Spanish colonization. Authors Kelly and Liston note:

Latte survived some of the most traumatic parts of our history, such as the arrival of the Spanish on our shores to convert what they felt were the lost souls of indigenous peoples living a pagan lifestyle. This missionization forbade a great many of our cultural ways and practices.

Like many of the megaliths in the Pacific islands, the significance of the latte has been lost to time and their sacredness remains speculative.

However, its thought by some researchers that they may have been associated with ancestor worship since the Chamorro buried their dead between the stones and on each side of the house, thus creating a sacred space.

LATTES HAVE DEEP CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Visitors to the Marianas today are asked not to touch the few remaining stones and to respect them for their historic and cultural significance.

The presence of the ancestors is evident in the stones themselves, and these sacred spaces are crucial to our continued existence and prosperity as indigenous people, Kelly and Liston note.

Latte stones and their symbolism are used in a wide range of ways from concrete reproductions that can be seen incorporated into government buildings, supporting signs and bus shelters, stamped on documents, outlined on highway markers, honored on postage stamps, and even on the 2009 US quarters for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Eight of these ancient megaliths can be seen by visitors to Guam at Latte Stone Park in Hagatna, the capital village of the island.

The stones were moved to the park in the 1950s and today theyre one of seventeen sites along the two-mile Hagatna Heritage Walking Trail that begins at Fort Santa Agueda, the only remaining fort of the Spanish Era in Hagatna that dates to 1803.

While Guam remains the center of the ancient Chamorro culture and has two American military bases, its also home to a large Filipino community.

Toss in Micronesian, Korean, Japanese, and Thai, add a dash of Mexican and two handfuls of Spanish, stir well and thats the cultural stewpot that makes up Guam.

Great diving on the surrounding reef, uncrowded beaches, water sports, hiking trails for all levels and ages, historic sites including the War in the Pacific National Historical Park and the Spanish Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad (c.1810), the Guam Museum thats filled with educational displays of the islands history and culture, and much more await visitors to this Pacific paradise.

Including a latte (coffee) to go.

BOOK THIS TRIP Start planning your latte escapade to Guam today. Get prepared with insider tips on how to get around, hotel and VRBO reservations, local restaurant reviews and more through TripAdvisor and Travelocity.

For the best flight deals, train tickets and car rental options, check out OMIO Travel Partner.

For more information about visiting Guam, go to www.visitguam.com.
DUFFIELD, VaMore than 60 re-enactors will transport visitors to the Wilderness Road Blockhouse back to 1774 on the weekend of April 20 and 21.

Visitors to the event can expect to meet Samuel Adams, blacksmith Simeon England, William Capps, owner of the Capps and Company Warehouse, and his associate, Conner McGeorge, Maggie Delaney, an indentured servant, Lady Susannah Randolph of Williamsburg, who fears for her sons, plus a cast of assorted interesting characters, according to a written statement.

These experienced re-enactors assume the persona of the characters they are depicting.

Bob McConnell, a Scott County native and long-time member of the DBWTA, forcefully portrays Samuel Adams, who firmly stood behind the thinking that produced the American revolution.

John Adams once said, Without the character of Samuel Adams, the true history of the American Revolution can never be written.

Royal Governor Thomas Hutchinson made this observation about Sam Adams. I doubt whether there is a greater incendiary in the Kings dominions.

When Royal Governor General Thomas Gage attempted to cool Adams with an elegantly packaged bribe, Adams response was, Tell Gov. Gage that it is the advice of Samuel Adams to no longer insult the feelings of an exasperated people.

At the tavern, visitors will also meet Maggie Delaney, who came from Ireland with her family seeking a better life. Instead, she has become an indentured servant to the tavern owner. She now spends her days laundering the linens and clothing of people who never acknowledge her existence.

Other cast members have other stories to tell.

Additional re-enactors will aid in story of 1774. At the tea room, participants will learn about the Boston Tea Party, and enjoy authentic Boston Tea Party tea, along with a sampling of sweets. Participants will discover how the Boston Tea Party brought the 13 colonies together for the First Continental Congress in September 1774.

There will also be several frontier demonstrations, including candle making, salt production, and tool crafting. Patriot cooks will be preparing a feast over an open fire for the re-enactors. Visitors can observe the foods common to the time and watch how it was prepared over an open fire.

The re-enactment will take place April 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and April 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wilderness Road Blockhouse, Natural Tunnel State Park, near Duffield. The event and parking for the day are free.

This colonial experience is an official Scott County VA250 event and is sponsored by the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association, Eastman Credit Union and Delegate Terry Kilgore.

For additional information, contact Keith Wilson, president, DBWTA, 423-429-0005, Pam Eddy, retired Cumberland Gap National Park lead interpreter and Colonial Experience event coordinator, 276-861-9059, or Austin Penley, conference and events manager, Natural Tunnel State Park, 276-248-8070.
The Hope College Chapel Choir, College Chorus and SPERA vocal ensembles will perform both separately and together during their final concert of the school year, presenting a program with the theme Songs for Peace on Saturday, April 20, at 3 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts.

The public is invited. Admission is free.

Peter Kadeli is director of Chapel Choir and College Chorus, and Pamela Pierson is director of SPERA. The ensembles are accompanied by pianists Jane Bosko, Allison Shinnick Keep and Christina Krause.

Also performing with the choirs is faculty member Jennie Reyes as vocal soloist in Felix Mendelssohns Hear My Prayer, one of Mendelssohns most popular and widely known choral works; premiered in 1845.

The Chapel Choir will open with the Spiritual Evry Time I Feel The Spirit. The choir will also sing Peace of Wild Things, with text by poet Wendell Berry that explores humanitys relationship with the earth, and Notre Pere, by Maurice Durufle, a sacred motet setting the Lord's Prayer in French.

SPERAs works include a Syrian protest song against war, Lao Rahal Soti, sung in Arabic and the traditional spiritual, This Little Light of Mine.

The Chapel Choir and SPERA will perform Samachti Bomrim Li, a setting in Hebrew of verses from Psalm 122, and O Love, by Elaine Hagenberg.

A Song of Peace / Finlandia by Sibelius will feature soloists from the College Chorus, and the three choirs singing together will finish with the spiritual Music Down in My Soul.

To inquire about accessibility or if you need accommodations to fully participate in the event, please email accommodations@hope.edu. Updates related to events are posted when available at hope.edu/calendar in the individual listings.

The Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts is located at 221 Columbia Ave., between Ninth and 10th streets.
The Hope College Theatre has earned multiple national production awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) for the The Boy Who Hates Everything, an original work that was devised and premiered at Hope.

The production as well as individual students, members of the faculty and staff, and guest artists have received a total of 11 awards, including Outstanding Production of a New, Devised or Company-Generated Work. Announced earlier this month, the awards are given by the National KCACTF Committee and the selection team after seeing all of the productions that were highlighted at the eight regional KCACTF festivals, which were held around the country between January 9 and February 29.

A total of 33 productions were invited to the eight regional festivals this year. The Boy Who Hates Everything was one of only three invited to the five-state Region III KCACTF Festival hosted by the University of Michigan-Flint this past January.

The Boy Who Hates Everything was created last spring by Hope theatre students and guest artist Chris Garcia Peak and debuted on April 14, 2023, in the DeWitt Center main theatre. The production, which also includes original music by Nathan Streifel, follows 22-year-old Desmond, who is kicked out of his home for not finishing his dinner and hating everything. He embarks on a whimsical journey with Amelie, an adventurous singing librarian, on a mission from the Magical Soup Lady to find a cat that can read, to pluck three whiskers from a lion, and to make it snow. The campus production was directed by Chris Garcia Peak, and the remount during the Region III Festival was directed by Daina Robins, who had retired from the theatre faculty in December.

In addition to Outstanding Production of a New, Devised or Company-Generated Work, The Boy Who Hates Everything received an award for Distinguished Achievement in Production Design.

Garcia Peak and Robins were both honored for Distinguished Achievement in Direction of a New, Devised or Company-Generated Work.

The cast and production team were honored for Distinguished Achievement in Performance and Production Ensemble.

Hope sophomore Audrey Kunce of Carmel, Indiana, was recognized for Special Achievement in Script Supervision and Devising Management.

Hope senior Danai Mandebvu of Harare, Zimbabwe, was honored for Distinguished Achievement in Performance.

Michelle Bombe, who is a professor of theatre and chair of the department as well as executive artistic director of Hope Repertory Theatre, was honored for Distinguished Achievement in Costume Design.

Ken Chamberlain, who is dance and theatre lighting and sound technician, and Eric Van Tassell, who is an assistant professor of lighting and sound design, were together each honored with two awards: Distinguished Achievement in Lighting Design, and Distinguished Achievement in Sound Design.

Sotirios Livaditis, who as a guest artist was scenic and properties designer, was honored for Distinguished Achievement in Scenic Design.

The KCACTF is a national program designed to encourage excellence in college and university theater in the United States. Started in 1969, the program involves some 18,000 students annually from more than 700 academic institutions throughout the country. Region III includes theatre programs in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Dr Mark Liu: Our US operations allow us to better support our US customers, which include several of the worlds leading technology companies."

The US has announced funding of US$6.6 billion to help Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the world's biggest manufacturer of semiconductors build fabs in Arizona.

In a statement on Monday, TSMC announced plans to build a third fab in Arizona.

The CHIPS and Science Act provides TSMC the opportunity to make this unprecedented investment and to offer our foundry service of the most advanced manufacturing technologies in the United States, said TSMC chairman Dr Mark Liu.

Our US operations allow us to better support our US customers, which include several of the worlds leading technology companies.

"[It] will also expand our capability to trailblaze future advancements in semiconductor technology.

The US has been lagging in announcing specific funding amount for the TSMC ventures, with Japan showing much more alacrity in allocating money for fabs it plans to have TSMC build.

Monday's announcement said the three planned fabs would create about 6000 high-wage jobs, with analysis by the Greater Phoenix Economic Council claiming the increased investment would create more than 20,000 accumulated unique construction jobs, and tens of thousands of indirect supplier and consumer jobs.

The first fab to come online in Arizona is expected to start producing 4nm chips in the first half of 2025, with the second fab planned to go into production in 2028, and produce 2nm process technology with next-generation nanosheet transistors in addition to the previously announced 3nm technology.

The third fab is expected to produce chips using 2nm or more advanced processes, with production beginning by 2030.

All three fabs, like all of TSMCs advanced fabs, will have cleanroom area approximately double the size of an industry standard logic fab.

Commenting on the funding announcement, AMD chair and chief executive Lisa Su said: "TSMC has a long track record of providing the leading-edge manufacturing capabilities that have enabled AMD to focus on what we do best, designing high-performance chips that change the world. We are committed to our partnership with TSMC and look forward to building our most advanced chips in US.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook, another big user of TMSC's chips, said: "TSMC is at the leading edge of advanced semiconductor technology  and when that expertise is paired with the ingenuity of American workers, incredible things are possible.

Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia, added: We congratulate TSMC for its historic investment and applaud the Commerce Department for its support. TSMC has been a long-standing partner of Nvidia since we invented the GPU and accelerated computing, and our ongoing innovation in AI would not have been possible without them."
COMPANY NEWS: Claroty , the cyber-physical systems protection company, has awarded the sole distributorship of its entire Australian business to Wavelink , a leader in providing enterprise solutions to the channel.

In 2022, Wavelink was appointed as the distributor for Medigate by Claroty, a dedicated cyber-physical systems protection platform for healthcare environments. Now, Wavelinks role has expanded to encompass commercial, industrial, and healthcare business segments in Australia, reflecting Clarotys confidence in Wavelinks capabilities and commitment to delivering unparalleled service.

For over two decades, Wavelink has been a key player in delivering local representation for global vendors, facilitating the introduction of technology solutions to local reseller networks within Australia and New Zealand. The organisations strong focus on business and partner development, co-marketing, and pre-and post-sales support will be crucial in expanding Clarotys business in the region.

For customers of Claroty, this will mean more vital on-ground support at a time when they need it most. In line with the Australian Governments 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy released in 2023, the cyber risk facing Australian companies is only expected to grow in 2024. At present, one cybercrime is reported every six minutes, with ransomware alone causing up to $3 billion in damages to the Australian economy every year. (1)

s the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) continues to increase the prevalence and sophistication of cyber-attacks, and digital transformation accelerates across all industries, the risk to Australian organisations has never been greater. This trend is further compounded by the current geopolitical environment, which is presenting the most formidable challenges in recent memory.

Claroty and Wavelink are committed to providing Australian companies with high-quality cybersecurity solutions and technical support to address the increasing risks associated with AI, ML, and the ongoing digital transformation across industries.

Nick Nindra, regional vice president of channels and alliances, Asia-Pacific and Japan, Claroty, said, Claroty is delighted to expand its partnership with Wavelink, who has a proven track record in the enterprise technology space. Through this ongoing partnership, Claroty will bring its strong capabilities in protecting the cyber-physical assets to more organisations in Australia.

Ilan Rubin, chief executive officer, Wavelink, said, Operational technology (OT) security is a major focus for Wavelink and the expanded relationship with Claroty enables Wavelink to deliver OT and Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) solutions to existing and new partners across a range of verticals. Clarotys alignment to the companys existing vendors and its global leadership of the OT security space make Claroty a perfect and exciting addition to Wavelinks portfolio.

About Claroty

Claroty empowers organisations to secure cyber-physical systems across industrial, healthcare, commercial, and public sector environments: the Extended Internet of Things (XIoT). The companys unified platform integrates with customers existing infrastructure to provide a full range of controls for visibility, risk and vulnerability management, threat detection, and secure remote access. Backed by the worlds largest investment firms and industrial automation vendors, Claroty is deployed by hundreds of organisations at thousands of sites globally. The company is headquartered in New York City and has a presence in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. To learn more, visit claroty.com.

About Wavelink

Wavelink specialises in providing leading-edge enterprise solutions to the channel. Wavelink distributes a range of products from Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, Claroty, Fortinet, Garland Technology, Imprivata, Kontakt.io, MobiCall, Olinqua, Scandit, SOTI, Spectralink, and Stryker. For more information, please contact Wavelink on 1300 147 000.

www.wavelink.com.au

www.connected-health.com.au

Reference:

(1) https://www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/reports-and-statistics/asd-cyber-threat-report-july-2022-june-2023
Rosemary Sinclair AM will step down at the years end as CEO of domain administrator auDA.

auDA notes that Sinclair joined the company in March 2020 with an outstanding record of executive leadership across the telecommunications, energy and media sectors in Australia.

Since that time, she has overseen a period of renewed collaboration with auDAs multi-stakeholder community including .au members, industry, civil society and government; and she has reset auDAs strategy and focus to advocate for the .au and champion and an open, free, secure and global internet as an underpinning to Australias digital economy.

auDA says its board will conduct an open search for a new CEO and the details of which will be announced in due course.

auDA Chair, Alan Cameron AO, thanked Rosemary for her careful stewardship of auDA: Rosemary has worked tirelessly to build public trust in auDA and promote the value of the .au.

She has demonstrated strong leadership in enhancing the security and compliance activity; delivering a successful registry services tender; developing a new .au member program; reshaping auDAs public benefit program; and launching Australias newest namespace, .au direct. This work has been instrumental in growing trust and confidence in the .au, and has seen it grow to become the seventh largest country code Top Level Domain in the world.

On behalf of the Board, I thank Rosemary for the energy she has brought to the organisation and the significant outcomes she has achieved during her tenure. We appreciate her commitment to stay on until December 2024 to allow for a smooth transition to her successor.

Acknowledging her end of year departure, Rosemary Sinclair said: I am pleased to have built a strong team with a focus on good governance and administering the .au in the public interest. On my departure, auDA is well placed to continue to deliver on its mandate to ensure a secure, stable and reliable .au, deliver a transparent, responsive and efficient licensing regime and to advocate for multi- stakeholder processes locally and globally. There remain several significant projects to deliver in 2024 but thereafter I look forward to continuing to contribute in other ways and spending more time with my family, especially the little ones I am fortunate to have in my life.
MWR Meet the Author 2024 (Jacob Barrow)

Military installations worldwide are bustling with activity as they celebrate the exceptional children and teenagers who accompany their parents from one duty station to another. This year, a momentous occasion unfolded at Yokosukas MWR Library, highlighting the talent of a teen author who was celebrated as the guest of honor. This inaugural teen author event in Yokosuka marks a remarkable milestone for the community.

Crowds gathered in the main area of the library to listen to the emerging author as they spoke about everything from their creative journey, life as a military child, and their path to becoming an author. At first glance, 15-year-old Emma G. Stiller may seem like any other nervous teen standing in front of a crowd of kids at Yokosukas MWR library. However, Emma is far from ordinary. Despite their youth, Emma has already made significant strides as a published author. Today, they stand as the keynote speaker at a special meet the author event.

The event commenced with a delightful exchange between Emma and the children, fostering a warm and engaging atmosphere. Following this, Emma treated the audience to a reading from their book of poems, captivating the audience with their literary prowess. To further inspire the young attendees, an interactive activity ensued, where the children crafted their own writing journals, symbolizing the beginning of their personal journeys toward becoming future authors.

AFN (Armed Forces Network) attended the event, and their video footage will soon be available for viewing on the AFN network. Junior journalists Jacob and Emme Rae, diligently documented the event through photography and conducted interviews. Together, their efforts captured the significance and excitement of the occasion, along with the inspiration it ignited among attendees.

One young patron stated that, Having these events is good because the readers can meet the author in person and see the face behind the book. Theta, age 16, said I really love that they could come out here and speak about their book. Another attendee commented, These events are special because kids can learn about who wrote the book and why. All participants enthusiastically voiced their desire for more teen-centric events and responded favorably to the book signing.

The Yokosuka MWR Library stands as a beacon of thought leadership and unwavering support for military youth and literacy initiatives. This landmark event is a momentous milestone for the military community and marks just the beginning of many more to come, providing a platform for future young authors to shine.

Interview quotes credit: Emme Rae Bingaman
RACINE  Racine County is participating in the statewide drills scheduled for Thursday, April 11, in observance of Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week.

Schools, businesses, families, and individuals will have two opportunities to test their emergency plans, according to the county.

The first drill is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. and the second drill is scheduled for 6:45 p.m., weather permitting.

Outdoor warning sirens in Racine County will be activated to coincide with the drills in those communities that have them.

In the event of inclement weather, the drills and siren activations will be postponed until April 12.

The statewide tornado drill will not include an Emergency Alert System Live Code Test issued by the National Weather Service, but the NWS will conduct NOAA Weather Radio tests during the drill times.

The radio tests will not sound audible alerts unless listeners are already tuned in to a weather radio.

According to NWS, Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes annually, and during 2023, 21 tornadoes were confirmed in the state.

The first tornadoes of 2024 occurred in February, the earliest this has happened in Wisconsin history.

While were lucky we dont have to worry about hurricanes or volcanoes here in Racine County, tornadoes are a fact of life, said Alex Freeman, director of Emergency Management for Racine County. Just as we prepare with regular fire drills, county and statewide tornado drills are an opportunity to get ready now.

Racine County Emergency Management recommends that every household and business take the following steps to prepare for tornadoes and severe weather:

Get a NOAA Weather Radio.

Weather radios broadcast official NWS warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When watches and warnings are issued, an alarm goes off.

Do not rely solely on outdoor warning sirens. Outdoor warning sirens are not designed to be heard indoors and not every community has them. For a map of outdoor warning sirens and their coverage areas in Racine County, go to https://arcg.is/WSz4D

.

Sign up for email and cell phone weather alerts. The City of Racine and Racine County offer community notifications, including weather warnings, through CodeRed. Residents can sign up based on their location at

. In addition, there are several apps available that offer weather watches and warnings.

Get a kit.

When preparing for a possible emergency, its best to think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth. Then consider additional needs like medication, protective clothing and the needs of pets.

Have a plan.

Designate shelter areas in the home and workplace. The safest place is generally in the basement. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.

Know what to do. Practice tornado drills at home and work.
1. Yes. This is expected to be a high-turnout election. Its better to vote early and avoid the crowds.

2. Yes. The period is nearly two weeks long, so it should be easy to find a convenient time to vote.

3. No. Its better to wait until Election Day, just in case any last-minute information comes out.

4. No. Its more exciting to vote on Election Day, and its also more traditional.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say at this point. Ill make a decision as the election gets closer.

Vote

View Results
A Kenosha County judge ruled Tuesday on several issues affecting the upcoming high-profile homicide trial of Chrystul Kizer, including a substantial increase in her cash bond.

The 23-year-old Milwaukee woman is accused of killing Randall Volar, a 34-year-old Kenosha man who prosecutors have said met Kizer on an online marketplace and frequently paid her for sex.

Kizer was 17 at the time she was charged and is accused of shooting Volar in the head twice and then setting his house at 7732 14th Ave. on fire in June 2018. Kizer then allegedly fled in his car.

Kizer, who faces life in prison, is back in custody in Kenosha after allegedly fleeing the state and eluding authorities earlier this year while out on a $400,000 cash bond in the homicide case.

Kizer spent several weeks on the run from Kenosha and Milwaukee county authorities. U.S. Marshal authorities arrested her in Louisiana on Feb. 12, where she was held in the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center before extradition to Kenosha County.

In addition, Kizer was charged in January with multiple felony bail jumping charges for alleged battery, disorderly conduct, resisting an officer in Milwaukee and failure to give an updated address with the court. She also faces a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct in Milwaukee County. A Kenosha County court commissioner last month imposed a $60,000 cash bond on the bail jumping charges.

Bond increased

On Tuesday, Wilk increased Kizers cash bond in the homicide case to $750,000 because of her alleged actions in Milwaukee.

District Attorney Michael Graveley said Kizer is a flight risk and asked for her bond to be increased to $1 million.

Graveley highlighted Kizers inability to comply with basic expectations of court.

Kizers defense team asked for her bond to remain $400,000 and said she is unable to post the $60,000 cash bond in her other case.

Motion for united trials

Wilk also heard arguments on a motion that would have added the bail jumping charges into the homicide trial.

Graveley said there is no reason to have two separate, distinct and lengthy trials.

Defense Attorney Gregory Holdahl, however, said the two cases are not remotely similar and Kizers alleged crimes occurred years apart in different counties, the first in Kenosha and the other in Milwaukee.

Wilk said there is no commonality in the cases and denied the motion.

After the hearing, Kizers defense attorneys said it remains to be determined whether her alleged crimes in Milwaukee can be brought up during her homicide trial.

Motion to delay trial

Kizers defense team also asked for the homicide trial set for June to be adjourned until later this year because an undisclosed expert may not be able to present research during the trial because of that persons workload.

The prosecution opposed the delay.

Wilk ordered the defense to provide a memorandum identifying the witness and scope and nature of the experts anticipated testimony to the court by April 19. The prosecution will then have the opportunity to offer a response to the court.

A hearing on the matter is set for May 9.

High-profile trial

Last month, Wilk ruled that all properly admitted evidence, including explicit videos, may be used during the homicide trial. He said specific issues may be raised and addressed during the trial if needed.

The prosecution and defense had argued over whether videos and recordings found inside Volars residence depicting illegal acts with Kizer or other girls should be allowed to be presented to the jury during the trial. Kizers defense team wants such materials shown.

Wilk said that  while it is important to protect the sensibilities of jurors  he believes Kenosha jurors are made of sterner stuff.

Were just going to prepare for trial and whatever the judge rules is what were going to accept, Holdahl said after that hearing. Rather than show the jury the transcripts of any recording that were made, he has said that the videos can be published directly to the jury.

Other charges

Kizer also faces felonies of taking and driving a vehicle without consent, arson of a building without the owners consent, felony bail jumping, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon for her alleged actions on June 5, 2018.

The case, which sparked headlines across the nation, has been making its way through the court system for more than five years. Activists raised her initial $400,000 cash bond.

In 2022, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin ruled that Kizer would be able to use an affirmative defense for any offense committed as a direct result of having been trafficked as part of her defense.

PHOTOS: Chrystul Kizer motion hearing CHRYSTUL KIZER MOTION HEARING CHRYSTUL KIZER MOTION HEARING CHRYSTUL KIZER MOTION HEARING CHRYSTUL KIZER MOTION HEARING CHRYSTUL KIZER MOTION HEARING CHRYSTUL KIZER MOTION HEARING CHRYSTUL KIZER MOTION HEARING CHRYSTUL KIZER MOTION HEARING CHRYSTUL KIZER MOTION HEARING CHRYSTUL KIZER MOTION HEARING CHRYSTUL KIZER MOTION HEARING
On 8 April Haitis national police (PNdH) announced that it had recovered a hijacked cargo ship Magalie following a gun battle with gangs.

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The Roman Catholic Church has declared its opposition to sex change operations and surrogacy. The Vatican said those activities violate human dignity. It compared them to abortion and euthanasia, saying they reject Gods plan for human life.

The Vatican issued a 20-page declaration called Infinite Dignity. The document took five years to produce. It came four months after conservatives reacted to Pope Franciss support for same-sex partners.

Sex change

Supporters of gender theory say that gender is more complex than male and female. They say a persons sex depends on more than sexual qualities that can be seen. In the document, the Vatican repeats its rejection of gender theory, or the idea that a persons gender can be changed.

It says God created man and woman as biologically different, separate beings, and said people must not change that plan or try to make oneself God.

It follows that any sex-change intervention, as a rule, risks threatening the unique dignity the person has received from the moment of conception, the document says.

It notes the difference between gender-changing surgeries, which it rejects, and medical operations to correct genital abnormalities that are present at birth or that develop later. It says, "Such a medical procedure would not constitute a sex change

Supporters for LGBTQ+ Catholics criticized the document as outdated and harmful. They warned it could lead to violence and discrimination against transgendered people.

In the United States, Republican-led legislatures are considering bills to restrict sex change operations on children.

Francis DeBernardo is with the New Ways Ministry, which supports LGBTQ+ Catholics. He said as the document talks about respect, honor and love for human life, it does not apply this principle to gender-diverse people.

Surrogacy

The Vatican also declared opposition to surrogacy, the practice of implanting a fertilized egg in a woman to carry a fetus for someone else usually for money.

The document calls the practice deplorable, saying it violates the dignity of the woman and the child, based on the exploitation of situations of the mothers material needs.

It quotes Pope Francis as saying, A child is always a gift and never the basis of a commercial contract. Consequently, I express my hope for an effort by the international community to prohibit this practice universally.

The document restates the well-known Catholic position in opposing to abortion, a medical operation to end a pregnancy, and assisted suicide or euthanasia.

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez said in a statement that Pope Francis approved the document after requesting that it also include "poverty, the situation of migrants, violence against women, human trafficking, war, and other themes.

Im Mario Ritter, Jr

Hai Do adapted this report for VOA Learning English from Associated Press, Reuters and Vatican sources.

_______________________________________________

Words in This Story

surrogacy n. when a woman is implanted with a fertilized egg so she can have a baby for a couple usually in exchange for money

dignity n. the condition of being valued or considered worthy

gender n. the state of being either man or woman

surgery n. a medical operation

principle n. an important belief

exploitation n. using people for a purpose that is not in their interest

commercial adj. related to business and making a profit

prohibit v. to ban
The 12th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (MITE) will feature seven major highlights, aiming to establish a powerhouse of tourism, focusing on the theme Meet at MITE: Discovery, Networking, Interaction!

From April 26 to 28 at the Cotai Expo, the event will feature a Gastronomy Pavilion and The Cellar under one roof, among other highlights.

Continuing from last year, the 1+4 Pavilion will return, promoting the development of four key industries, including big health, modern finance , innovative technology, and MICE.

For the first time, MITE will also feature a Belt and Road Product Pavilion, where enterprises from Belt and Road countries and regions will be invited to showcase their products.

The Gastronomy Pavilion, The Cellar and Macao Pavilion will launch a 25 patacas campaign, offering special offers on different products such as mainland day tours, beverages, and culinary delights.

Business networking for partnership opportunities will be fostered by MITE. LV
The president of the Young Liberals, Peter Hain, has been acquitted of stealing 490 from a branch of Barclays bank last October.

Supporters in the public gallery at the Old Bailey in London clapped and cheered as the verdict was announced.

The case is certain to raise new doubts about the validity of eye-witness identification.

The only evidence presented against Mr Hain, a postgraduate student at Sussex university, was his identification by three schoolboys and a bank cashier.

The schoolboys, who chased the thief, only saw him from a distance and a fourth boy said it was not Mr Hain.

The cashier was the only person from a number of bank staff and customers to pick Mr Hain, 26, from a police identity parade staged three days after the robbery

During the trial members of Peter Hains family testified he had not left his home in time to commit the robbery.

The thief was also said to have been wearing different clothing from that of Mr Hain on the day of the robbery.

Speaking to reporters after his acquittal, Mr Hain said he planned a campaign for other victims of mistaken identity.

He said it was possible South African agents may have used a double to frame him because of his anti-apartheid activities.

I think there is plenty of reason to suspect that there might have been a frame-up but it is nothing substantial, he said.

Peter Hains family left South Africa ten years ago because of their opposition to apartheid.

Mr Hain has since been prominent in anti-apartheid activities in the UK.

Four years ago he was sent a letter bomb that failed to explode because of faulty wiring.

In the House of Commons six MPs, led by Liberal David Steel, called for the resignation of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Norman Skelhorn, over the Hain case.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

At the time of Peter Hains acquittal there had already been several well-publicised cases of mistaken identity.

In 1974 the government had set up a committee, chaired by Lord Devlin, to examine the law and procedures relating to identification evidence.

A critical report by Lord Devlin published in 1977 recommended statutory safeguards but the government took no action.

However, the Court of Appeal laid down detailed guidelines for trial judges in cases depending largely on eye-witness evidence.

Peter Hain later wrote a book about his ordeal, the Putney Plot.

He left the Liberals in 1977 and joined the Labour party.

He has been the MP for Neath in south Wales since 1991 and a government minister since shortly after Labours election win in 1997.
Israels military announced yesterday [Macau time] it had withdrawn its forces from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, wrapping up a key phase in its ground offensive against the Hamas militant group and bringing its troop presence in the territory to one of the lowest levels since the six-month war began.

But defense officials said troops were merely regrouping as the army prepares to move into Hamas last stronghold, Rafah. The war in Gaza continues, and we are far from stopping, said the military chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.

Local broadcaster Channel 13 TV reported that Israel was preparing to begin evacuating Rafah within one week and the process could take several months.

Still, the withdrawal was a milestone as Israel and Hamas marked six months of fighting. Military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity under army policy, said a significant force remained in Gaza to continue targeted operations including in Khan Younis, hometown of the Hamas leader, Yehya Sinwar.

AP video in Khan Younis showed some people returning to a landscape marked by shattered multistory buildings and climbing over debris. Cars were overturned and charred. Southern Gazas main hospital, Nasser, was in shambles.

Its all just rubble, a dejected Ahmad Abu al-Rish said. Animals cant live here, so how is a human supposed to?

Israel for weeks has vowed a ground offensive in nearby Rafah. But the city shelters some 1.4 million people  more than half of Gazas population. The prospect of an offensive has raised global alarm, including from Israels top ally, the U.S., which has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians. Allowing people to return to nearby Khan Younis could relieve some pressure on Rafah.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby repeated yesterday the U.S. opposition to a Rafah offensive and told ABC the U.S. believes that the partial Israeli withdrawal is really just about rest and refit for these troops that have been on the ground for four months and not necessarily, that we can tell, indicative of some coming new operation for these troops.

Israels military quietly drew down troops in devastated northern Gaza earlier in the war. But it has continued to carry out airstrikes and raids in areas where it says Hamas has resurfaced, including Gazas largest hospital, Shifa, leaving what the head of the World Health Organization called an empty shell.

The six-month mark has been met with growing frustration in Israel, where anti-government protests have swelled and anger is mounting over what some see as government inaction to help free about 130 remaining hostages, about a quarter of whom Israel says are dead. Hamas-led militants took about 250 captives when they crossed from Gaza into Israel on Oct. 7 and killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

Several thousand protesters called for a hostage deal now at a rally outside the Knesset in Jerusalem, organized by hostages families. In southern Israel, weeping relatives gathered at the site of a music festival where more than 300 people were killed on Oct. 7.

Its an impossible reality for us, its an impossible reality for the Gazans and the people of this country. We just want to live, said one protester, Talia Ezrahi.

I would agree to anything to return the hostages and stop the mass killings in Gaza, said another protester, Michal Fruchtman.

Negotiations in pursuit of a cease-fire in exchange for the hostages release were expected to resume in Cairo.

This doesnt seem a war against terror. This doesnt seem anymore a war about defending Israel. This really, at this point, seems its a war against humanity itself, chef Jose Andres told ABC, days after an Israeli airstrike killed seven of his World Central Kitchen colleagues in Gaza. Aid deliveries on a crucial new sea route to the territory were suspended.

Humanity has been all but abandoned in Gaza, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement.

The U.N. and partners now warn of imminent famine for more than 1 million people in Gaza as humanitarian workers urge Israel to loosen restrictions on the delivery of aid overland, the only way to meet soaring needs as some Palestinians forage for weeds to eat. Thousands of aid trucks have been waiting to enter Gaza.

Its a slow-motion massacre of people to subject them to the kind of deprivation of food and water that they have been subjected to for the last six months, Doctors Without Borders USA executive director Avril Benoit told CBS.

Mothers who have given birth in Gaza since the war began are especially vulnerable.

The Health Ministry in Gaza said the bodies of 38 people killed in Israels bombardment had been brought to the territorys remaining functional hospitals in the past 24 hours. It said 33,175 have been killed since the war began. It doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants but says two-thirds of the dead are children and women.

Israels military continued to suffer losses, including in Khan Younis, where the military said four soldiers were killed. Over 600 Israeli soldiers have been killed since Oct. 7, according to Israels government.

Concerns about a wider regional conflict continued as a top Iranian military adviser warned Israel that none of its embassies were safe following last weeks strike in Damascus  blamed on Israel  that killed two elite Iranian generals and flattened an Iranian consular building. Israel has not directly acknowledged its involvement. JACK JEFFERY & TIA GOLDENBERG, JERUSALEM, MDT/AP
Empowered by the core values of originality and innovation, MGM endeavors to bring expansive art and culture programs while reinforcing Macau as a destination where globally influential art happenings are created, appreciated, and treasured. This March, MGM has launched various artistic initiatives to bridge Macau and the world.

With an unwavering commitment to promoting the preservation of Chinese traditional cultures through innovative means, MGM hosted the Living Heritage: Poly Culture MGM Charity Auction Gala in March. Building upon the strategic arts and cultural partnership between MGM and Poly Culture Group Corporation Limited (Poly Culture) initiated last year, this auction gala received the generous support of Poly Culture  leveraging its artistic resources to carefully select more than 20 pieces of contemporary Chinese artworks and cultural experiences as auction items for the charity gala. All auction items were successfully sold, and the total amount raised reached nearly HKD 12 million. The funds raised will be utilized to support Chinese arts and cultural promotional activities associated with the China-France Cultural Tourism Year, in a bid to foster exchanges between the East and West, allowing the world to experience the beauty of Chinese civilization along the Silk Road.

In collaboration with Art Basel Hong Kong since 2017, MGM has forged a long-term partnership with the prestigious global art fair. This year, MGM and Art Basel Hong Kong have joined forces to announce the launch of the MGM Discoveries Art Prize in 2025. The prize is dedicated to supporting emerging artists and fostering new talent. It recognizes the originality and innovation showcased in the art fairs Discoveries sector and supports the artists in their pursuit of limitless possibilities in the field of art. In addition, MGM invited Macaus cultural leaders and representatives to join an exclusive tour of the Discoveries sector and a cocktail reception hosted by MGM, providing them with a preview chance to appreciate the artworks from globally renowned and emerging artists, with an aim to bring new perspectives and vitality into Macaus arts scene.

To make art accessible for all and to further unleash the potential of Barra district, MGM launched the Barra District Revitalization Series  The Barra ARTivation, with local students and elderly jointly creating murals and thus fostering connections between generations through art. MGM aims to inject contemporary, trendy, artistic, and lifestyle elements into Barra driving its continuous development, and to present the districts cultural and tourist appeal through a wide range of art forms.

MGM

Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen, NAPE, Macau

E info@mgmchina.com.mo

W http://www.mgm.mo/
Residents deposits with local banks rose 1% in February month-on-month when compared with January, the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) disclosed in its regular monetary and financial statistics report.

The value of deposits rose as much as MOP724.1 billion.

Non-resident deposits fell 0.5% to MOP322.1 billion in the same period, however.

Public sector deposits also fell in February, down (-0.9%) to MOP188.1 billion.

As a result, total deposits in the banking sector increased 0.3% from a month earlier to MOP1,234.4 billion.

In terms of currency, the percentage of deposits in HKD continues to account for a large portion of all deposits (43.9%), followed by USD (25.5%), MOP (20.4%) and RMB (8.2%).

In the same period, domestic loans to the private sector fell 0.2% from a month before to MOP534.6 billion while external loans dropped 1% to MOP546.3 billion. As a result, total loans to the private sector fell 0.6% month-on-month to MOP1,081 billion. RM
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Beijing yesterday to display the strength of ties with close diplomatic ally China amid Moscows grinding war against Ukraine.

The two continent-sized states, increasingly in dispute with democracies, seek to gain influence in Africa, the Middle East and South America. China has backed Russias claim that President Vladimir Putin launched his assault in 2022 because of Western provocations, without producing any solid evidence.

Russian state news agency Tass said the ministers would discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific region, issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction in the international arena, quoting Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

Lavrov is expected to meet with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who has visited Russia during the conflict and maintained Chinas line of not dubbing the Russian war in Ukraine an invasion.

China has at times taken an equally combative tone against the U.S. and its allies. China and Russia have held joint military drills, and are seen as seeking to supplant democracies with dictatorships in areas where they wield influence.

Despite its clear backing of Russia in the Ukraine war, Chinas foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters yesterday that China has an objective and fair position on the Ukraine issue.

We have been actively promoting peace talks and political solutions. China is not a creator or party to the Ukraine crisis, and we have not and will not do anything to profit from it, Mao told reporters at a daily briefing.

China has also said it wasnt providing Russia with arms or military assistance, although it has maintained robust economic connections with Moscow, alongside India and other countries.

We have always controlled the export of dual-use items in accordance with the law, Mao said, referring to industrial items that can be used for both industrial or military purposes, such as drones.

The relevant country should not smear or attack the normal relations between China and Russia, Mao said.

In a phone call last week with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, U.S. President Joseph Biden pressed China over its defense relationship with Russia, which is seeking to rebuild its industrial base as it continues its invasion of Ukraine. And he called on Beijing to wield its influence over North Korea to rein in the isolated and erratic nuclear power.MDT/AP
Sands China has announced the launch of an entrepreneurship recruitment program, offering a range of training opportunities and operational subsidies with an initial capital investment of up to MOP1 million.

Named the Community Revitalization Series  Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme for Rua das Estalagens, the initiative aims to boost its commitment to the SAR governments mission of revitalizing Macaus historic areas. The press conference, held yesterday, emphasized the companys dedication to leveraging its resources for the benefit of the local community.

Located near popular tourist attractions such as the Ruins of St. Pauls and the A-Ma Temple, Rua das Estalagens is in dire need of revitalization. The street, once a bustling hub for visitors, has lost its charm and economic vibrancy over the years.

Recognizing the pressing need for revitalization, Sands aims to attract Macau entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises to the district, enhancing its cultural tourism offerings and promoting sustainable economic development within the community.

Those interested must submit a proposal to the company by May 31 of this year and are required to have a minimum capital of MOP 300,000 to establish their businesses on Rua das Estalagens.

Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China said, Rua das Estalagens was once a thriving commercial street in Macau with historical and cultural value. We aim to encourage local enterprises to establish their business in this street to revive the bustling street atmosphere it once had.

Sands previous efforts to explore the advantages of cultural tourism in the community have been focused on various key areas, including the Former Lec Long Firecracker Factory, the Taipa Houses, Rua da Estalagens, the Patio da Eterna Felicidade, and the Macau Cultural Centre Square.

According to the gaming operator, Sands Chinas Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme for Rua das Estalagens aims to empower local young entrepreneurs to realize their dreams.

Revitalizing old districts is a pledge made by the citys six gaming operators following the granting of concessionaires to boost non-gaming offerings. Staff Reporter
* Careless

 Shortage of local caregivers strains elderly homes and hundreds of families, Caritas says

* Performing Arts | MGM partners with Zhang Yimou to transform industry

* SME: Sands China launches entrepreneurship program with subsidies of up to MOP1 million for urban revitalization

* Lawmakers acknowledge ambiguity in new illegal gambling law

* Lavrov visits China to emphasize ties with strongest political ally

DOWNLOAD PDF

Tuesday, April 9, 2024  edition no. 4458
The U.S. has denounced Hong Kongs new national security law as a tool to potentially silence dissent both at home and abroad, but so far the action from Washington has been notably muted, disappointing those fighting for the Chinese territorys democracy and freedoms.

Since the laws swift passage on March 19, the U.S. has announced visa restrictions on an unspecified number of unnamed Hong Kong officials but taken no further action. Thats a far cry from 2020, when Beijing imposed national security restrictions to end months of unrest on Hong Kong streets. The U.S. responded by hitting the citys highest-ranking officials with sanctions and depriving the territory of its preferential trading status.

While the new law, known as Article 23, now expands the Hong Kong governments powers to go after those it accuses of spying and to target dissidents anywhere in the world, Washington has been treading carefully.

The State Department declined to preview or comment on any potential actions but said it is considering all options.

Analysts suggest the Biden administration may not want to rock relations with China in an election year, especially when the impact of the law might take a while to manifest itself and any punitive U.S. measures would be unlikely to bring about meaningful change.

U.S. policymakers appear resigned to the fact that Chinas takeover of Hong Kong is, for all intents and purposes, complete and irreversible, said Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a research institute based in Washington. Moreover, its not entirely clear that any specific actions from Washington would prompt Beijing to meaningfully reassess its approach towards Hong Kong, with Chinese policymakers having more or less signaled that Hong Kongs fate is not up for debate.

Rorry Daniels, managing director of Asia Society Policy Institute in New York, said the U.S. could be trying to calibrate the response to the effects of the legislation and its use, rather than just to its enactment.

The language of the new law is vague, and its implementation will depend on how it is interpreted, which in itself is worrisome and could erode Hong Kongs status as a safe place for international contract settlement, Daniels said.

The new security law has come at a time when the White House wants to protect the fragile U.S.-China relationship, which has only stabilized in recent months, said Willy Lam, a senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, another Washington-based think tank.

I think they dont want the relationship to deteriorate ahead of the election, Lam said.

Hong Kong and the latest legislation was brought up during the phone call between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 2. Xi told Biden the law reflected a constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security, which he said would protect the well-being of Hong Kongs people and the interests of global investors, according to Chinas foreign ministry.

The U.S. needs to respect Chinas sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, and should not disrupt, still less interfere, in the process, said ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.

In Congress, a bill to strip Hong Kongs trade offices in the U.S. of their diplomatic privileges has not moved forward and neither has one that would require the president to consider sanctioning the citys judges, prosecutors and police commissioner if they were found to have undermined civil freedoms there.

The latest response by the Biden administration has honestly concerned me about the administrations commitment to stand up against Beijings aggression, said Frances Hui, policy and advocacy coordinator for the Washington-based Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation. A more robust response from the U.S. is needed to facilitate future behavioral changes among (Chinese) and Hong Kong officials. A visa ban is something but not enough.

The committee and 23 other Hong Kong advocacy groups issued a joint statement on Thursday calling the Biden administrations response inadequate and concerning. They urged the government to sanction Hong Kong officials responsible for the intensifying crackdown and offer haven in the U.S. to dissidents. They also urged Congress to pass the stalled legislation.

Singleton said action by the private sector might be more meaningful.

American companies are quietly scaling back in Hong Kong amid growing safety concerns, with many fearing potential arrests for routine business activities, he said. The private sectors shifting sentiments toward Hong Kong, rather than any single U.S. government action, will likely have the biggest impact on Beijings ability to leverage Hong Kongs unique status to reverse Chinas downward economic spiral.

Lam said the U.S. government might be holding off until the conclusion of the trial against Jimmy Lai, a prominent publisher, in a high-profile national security case.

Should a Hong Kong court jail Lai for 20 years or more, which would equal life imprisonment given he is 76, the U.S. government cannot afford to be seen not doing anything, Lam said.

DIDI TANG, WASHINGTON, MDT/AP
On a Norwegian seashore with steep cliffs, a violent storm rages. A giant ship, 12.8 meters long, 5.1 meters tall and 7.5 meters wide, rocks in a massive rogue wave.

The scene recently took place in the rehearsal room at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on March 28, a few days before the staging of Der fliegende Hollander, or The Flying Dutchman, an opera by German composer Richard Wagner.

From Wednesday to Sunday, the opera will be performed for the third time at the NCPA. According to revival director, Stephan Grogler, artists from around the world have been gathered for the production, including conductor Marcus Bosch, bass-baritone Olafur Sigurdarson and baritone Dmitry Ulyanov, as well as tenor Wang Chong and soprano Song Yuanming. The China NCPA Orchestra and the China NCPA Chorus will also perform.

"We have built this ship for the opera, which creates an overwhelming experience for the theater audience. Through visual effects, the ship, the waves and everything on the sea seem real," says stage manager Li Genshi, adding that besides the Norwegian Daland's ship, which is a key component of the opera, there is also the Dutchman's, which as the story conveys, is condemned to sail the oceans of the earth forever until its captain finds a woman prepared to be faithful to him until death. Every seven years the Dutchman is permitted to land for its captain to search for a potential partner. The Dutchman's ship also appears onstage and is larger than the Norwegian ship, being 13.6 meters long and 9 meters wide.

Wagner was inspired to write the libretto and score for The Flying Dutchman after a rough, stormy voyage from Riga to London. It premiered in 1843.

The NCPA first commissioned its version of the opera in 2012 to celebrate the 200th birth anniversary of the great composer, which was in 2013. It was directed by Giancarlo Del Monaco and was the venue's first opera production since its opening in 2007. In 2013, it staged the opera for a second time.

To lend a spooky undertone to the mysterious Dutchman and his equally mysterious ship, set designer William Orlandi has combined lighting, veils and visual effects to put the audience in the right mood.

According to Del Monaco, who came to Beijing in 2012 and 2013 to direct the opera, and whose repertoire extends to more than 100 productions, The Flying Dutchman leaves audiences feeling exhilarated, but not exhausted, with its "great balance of stagecraft and scenery, cast and orchestra, acting and singing".

"When we did the first round of The Flying Dutchman, there were no intermissions, which made changing scenes a challenge," says Li, adding that about 70 people are involved in the process of shifting the scenery from ship to home to harbor. "Now, more than 10 years later, when we stage the opera again, we have improved technology to whip up cosmic wind and storms."

Nearly three hours long, this time there is an intermission, and acrobats will play the role of the sailors, climbing masts in the middle of a storm or during high winds and reefing.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced the top five startup finalists for the Accelerating Development, Valuation and Corporate Entrepreneurship (ADVanCE) for Creatives Program at the Launchgarage Innovation Hub in Quezon City.

Selected from an initial pool of eight growth-stage startups, the top five finalists underwent assessments focused on organizational capacity, business maturity and readiness levels.

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The DTI and Launchgarage evaluated each startup based on its product status, team dynamics, future objectives and challenges, concentrating on how the program could support its growth.

The top five finalists are AniMattify, a startup transforming print ads into animations; KikoMonster Creative Studio, providing creative solutions from Zamboanga; Bihasa, merging instructional design with production for learning videos; ROC PH Digital Marketing Services, assisting businesses and professionals through website management, digital marketing consultation, creative design and strategy implementation; and Bentamo, a tech startup showcasing creative Filipino brands.

The finalists will undergo intensive training based on the specific interventions identified during the needs assessment.

The ADVanCE for Creatives program, launched on Dec. 5, 2023, aligns with the visions outlined in the Innovative Startup Act (ISA) and the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA). This underscores DTIs commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and economic growth in the Philippines.

DTI Undersecretary for competitiveness and innovation Rafaelita Aldaba commended the startups, emphasizing DTIs dedication to supporting their growth.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the top five startup finalists of the ADVanCE for Creatives program, said Aldaba. DTI is proud to support the development of these promising startups as they contribute to the advancement of the Philippine Creative Industries.
Globe Telecom Inc. teamed up with life insurer Singlife Philippines Inc. to offer a health insurance plan for as low as 5 Globe Rewards points, making protection virtually free.

Globe said its customers can get Singlifes comprehensive 3-in-1 protection plan by redeeming 5 Globe Rewards points until April 15, 2024.

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The insurance coverage provides up to P250,000 for COVID-19, dengue and accidental medical costs.

The plan covers the policyholder plus their immediate family with benefits such as hospital cash allowances, disability payouts, medical reimbursements and more. This coverage is on top of a policyholders PhilHealth and existing HMO coverage.

At Globe, we are committed to using our digital capabilities to create wonderful experiences that uplift the lives of Filipinos, said Jerome Patalud, head of Globe Rewards.

By allowing customers to redeem this health insurance using their Rewards points, were removing major barriers to healthcare protection for entire households, he said.

Customers can secure peace of mind for health emergencies by enrolling through the GlobeOne app and simply redeeming the offer using their Globe Rewards points, without any cashout or tedious paperwork.

We recognize the difficulty of preparing for lifes uncertainties and are committed to alleviating these challenges, said Sherie Ng, co-founder and executive director of Singlife Philippines.

Through this partnership, were able to advance our goal of providing flexible insurance solutions that support Filipino families through unpredictable times, Ng said.
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) executive director Cindy McCain called for strengthened partnerships in Asia and the Pacific to increase climate resilience and financing for smallholder communities vulnerable to food insecurity.

McCain spoke at the Asian Development Banks (ADB) Asia and the Pacific Food Security Forum in the Philippines.

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Half of the worlds climate-related emergencies were recorded in Asia and the Pacific, where 72 million people are food-insecure. Climate crises in the region are fueling hunger, displacement and even conflict.

We must increase efforts to empower farmers and rural communities across the Asia-Pacific region to protect their food security and nutrition against the growing threat from climate change. In a region rich in ideas and resources, innovation and partnerships are essential to support climate-smart agriculture and sustainable livelihoods, said McCain.

WFP is fully committed to working with the Asian Development Bank, national governments and local communities to invest in long-term solutions to hunger, McCain said.

WFP and ADB expanded their partnership since 2020, working together from Afghanistan to Lao and the Philippinessupporting communities to build climate resilience and improve nutrition. This collaboration will soon reach Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The WFP executive director met President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to consolidate the partnership with the government to address hunger, malnutrition and climate resilience.

WFP is supporting the government in its efforts to provide nutritious school meals to all schoolchildren by 2030 and reach 1 million food-insecure families with food e-vouchers by 2027.

WFPs work in the Philippines also focuses on emergency preparedness and response and the provision of technical and supply chain services.
THE formal opening session of the Diocesan phase for the cause of Beatification and Canonization of a 13-year-old Servant of God, Nina Ruiz-Abad of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte has been held at the St. William the Hermit Cathedral in Laoag City last April 7, Divine Mercy Sunday.



The event formalizes the investigation by the Diocese of Laoag into the virtues of Ruiz-Abad and whether she could be the next Filipino saint to be canonized by the Catholic Church.



In his speech, Fr. Dennis Duene Ruiz, postulator of the cause, said that Nina, at a very young age, showed acts that are unusual to her age, such as wearing a rosary in her neck and wearing white dresses.

The official portrait of Nina Ruiz-Abad who is being considered for sainthood by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. Ruiz-Abad is being looked on as 13-year-old Servant of God from Ilocos Norte. Photo from CBCP news



Her piety was manifested by her being religious and her reverence to the holy triune god, her devotion to the god and the blessed virgin Mary are unfathomable. She loved to pray the Angelus and the rosary daily at home and encouraged her members of the family and her househelpers to join her, Fr. Ruiz said.



The postulator further described her prayerful ways when she was still alive, noting that her teachers recounted that she always offered herself to God through prayer and meditation in whatever activity she did.



She also reminded them to embrace God first, her motto, which became a by word of everyone in her school, Fr. Ruiz said.



Nina also had a strong devotion to the holy Eucharist as she loved to attend mass.



Indeed, Ninas life as a prayerful life was full of reverence, worship and intimate relationship with God, Jesus Christ, the holy spirit, and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fr, Ruiz said.



Ruiz also said that Nina was admired by her teachers and schoolmates due to her prayerful ways.



The postulator also said that despite her cardiac myopathy, she continued to live a life of fortitude despite her inability to join strenuous activities, continuing her devotion to the eucharist and doing intimate conversations with God.



She offered all her achievements to god, even when she was sick, Ruiz said.



Nina died on August 16, 1993, when she had a heart attack, passing away after being rushed in the hospital.



Fr. Ruiz said that more than three decades after her death, Nina was still remembered by everyone who knows her, noting that she was the girl who loved God so much.



The short, but well-lived life of Nina Ruiz-Abad is reminding us that young and old alike, we have to deepen our faith, devotion and intimate relationship with the holy Triune God. Ninas life was devoted to the holy Eucharist and instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ being the highest form of worship. We should have this as part of our life, if not life of all catholic believers, Fr. Ruiz said.



Fr. Ruiz said that Nina can be a fine example for the youth, being a good model of piety and fortitude who can lead young people from utter destruction.



In closing, Fr. Ruiz said that the Diocese will be honored to have a saint who can be an inspiration of piety, mercy, evangelization and fortitude for others.



Later, Laoag Bishop Renato Mayugba has decreed that the cause for the beatification be formally opened and created a tribunal that would be responsible for hearing the witnesses for the cause.



Having seen the request on 22 June 2023 with which Rev. Dennis Duene Ruiz, OAD, postulator of the cause of the beatification and canonization of the Servant of God Nina Ruiz Abad lay faithful, on behalf of the actor of the cause, requests the start of the cause, having obtained the positive opinion of my brothers in the episcopate on 5 July 2023 I decree the opening of the cause of the beatification and canonization of the Servant of God Nina Ruiz-Abad, lay faithful, Mayugba proclaimed.



Mayugba also appointed Rev. Fr. Noel Ian Rabago as episcopal delegate, Rev. Fr. Englebert B. Elarmo as promoter of justice and Rev. Rey Magus Respicio as notary.



Meanwhile, broadcast journalist Jay Ruiz, a cousin of Nina Ruiz-Abad, thanked God, the Diocese of Laoag, and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines for the latest development.



We are all honored, happy and proud of Nina, although she passed away at a very young age. She will be forever remembered as a true Servant of God who always puts God first in everything that she does. Hopefully she can be a positive role model for the Filipino youth, Ruiz said.
Icebreaker starts debut HK visit

08:36, April 09, 2024 By Xi Tianqi and Li Xiang ( China Daily

Xuelong 2, China's first domestically built polar icebreaker, enters the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, on Monday, starting its five-day visit to the SAR. [Photo by Lyu Xiaowei / Xinhua]

Xuelong 2, China's first domestically built polar icebreaker, kicked off its five-day visit to Hong Kong on Monday, with officials and scientists saying that it will motivate more people in the special administrative region, particularly young people, to join the country's future polar expeditions.

The 13,990-metric-ton floating colossus docked at the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui on Monday morning, after receiving salutes from vessels, helicopters and double-decker buses. It will welcome visitors on board from Tuesday until Friday for free, and tickets will be allocated online.

Commissioned in 2019, the 122.5-meter icebreaker is the world's first with a dual-directional icebreaking capability.

Accompanying the icebreaker to Hong Kong is a delegation including polar scientists and members of the nation's 40th Antarctic scientific expedition. They will attend a series of conferences, seminars and discussions during their stay, including a meeting with local students at the Hong Kong Science Museum on Wednesday.

The vessel and the delegation were welcomed on Monday morning by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR.

Speaking at the welcoming ceremony, Lee said it is a valuable opportunity to engage with the nation's top Antarctic explorers, urging Hong Kong's youths to take part in the related events due to be held in the coming few days. He said he hopes the visit would inspire the city's youngsters to get involved in the fields of innovation and technology.

Hong Kong was Xuelong 2's first port of call after the vessel's expedition to Antarctica, which showcases the central government's unwavering attention and care for the SAR, Lee said.

He said Hong Kong can make a greater contribution to the nation's polar research and exploration activities, adding that the visit will also raise people's awareness regarding climate change and environmental protection.

Speaking at the same event, Sun Shuxian, vice-minister of natural resources and director of the State Oceanic Administration, said the visit will deepen Hong Kong people's understanding and awareness of polar expeditions and ignite an interest among the city's youth to explore polar regions.

Sun said he hopes to see Hong Kong scientists taking part in the nation's polar expeditions in the future.

The last time a national polar icebreaker visited Hong Kong was nearly two decades ago, when the vessel Xuelong was warmly welcomed by local residents, Sun recalled.

After a span of 20 years, the country now has the state-of-the-art Xuelong 2 icebreaker, demonstrating the dedicated efforts and unyielding spirit of generations of Chinese workers, Sun said.

Zhang Beichen, the team leader and chief scientist of China's 40th Antarctic expedition, said his team will host in-depth communication on national polar exploration work through various activities in the coming days.

A group of primary and secondary students, led by their teachers, were invited on board Xuelong 2 on Monday.

Lin Fei-wan, a fourth-grader from the SKH Holy Trinity Church Secondary School, expressed a strong interest in how the icebreaker maintains contacts with the inland areas in Antarctica, where he assumed there would be no signal.

During the brief visit, he said he had gained a deeper understanding of the vessel's internal structure, including its engine and other equipment.

Lam Wai-sing, a teacher from Lin's school, said that the students participating in the visit were eager to take this opportunity to learn about the country's development, particularly the communication technology used on the Xuelong 2 in extreme polar environments such as Antarctica.

A free exhibition, featuring the mission and achievements of Xuelong 2, is taking place at the Hong Kong Science Museum until June 26.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
For most Chinese, Dayu, or Yu the Great, is a household name. His feats blend myth and history, and range from taming raging Yellow River floods to starting the Xia Dynasty (c. 21st century-16th century BC).

Despite legends about him appearing in ancient records like the Shan Hai Jing (The Classic of Mountains and Seas) and the Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian), little is written about the hero's childhood or youth.

Recently, Shan Hai Chuan Qi (Legends of Mountains and Seas), an animated series consisting of 52 episodes in four seasons, has found a fresh perspective for chronicling Dayu's youth. It starts with him being raised by Zhulong, a half-human, half-snake deity, after his father is executed for stealing the Heavenly King's magic soil to stop floods and rescue suffering tribes.

Since its debut on CCTV-1 on March 18, the series has captured attention by bringing to life more than 400 figures and creatures from the Shan Hai Jing, including Gonggong, a bad-tempered god who governs the waters, and Xingtian, a mythological figure who continues to fight even after losing his head.

Cao Liang, the project's director, tells China Daily that he was commissioned by the China Media Group  the country's largest broadcaster  to create an animated series inspired by the Shan Hai Jing, which he describes as an encyclopedia that reflects the social life and geographical knowledge of ancient China.

The 18-volume classic is believed to have been compiled between the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) and the early Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), and encompasses a wide array of subjects, including myths and medicine, as well as information about animals, plants, oceans, and astronomy.

The initial challenge facing the team was deciding which figure from the sprawling book to choose as the lead character for the animated series.

Cao says that they originally considered some of its most renowned figures, including Houyi, the mythological hero who shoots down nine of 10 sons of the Heavenly King to save the Earth from scorching; Kuafu, a giant with the ambitious goal of racing against the sun; and Jingwei, the daughter of a god who transforms into a bird and tries to fill the sea with twigs and stones to avenge her drowning in the sea.

After holding meetings with screenwriters and experts specializing in mythology and folklore, Cao says they finally chose Dayu because despite the mix of actual and fictional content, the sheer number of depictions and records about him suggest that he was an actual historical figure who exerted a massive influence on ancient China.

"As a human hero, who figures prominently in the origin of Chinese civilization, Dayu might be more relatable to a modern audience, especially youngsters," Cao continues.

While the author of the Shan Hai Jing remains shrouded in mystery, the director says that certain scholars speculate that Dayu himself might have orchestrated the compilation of the ancient masterpiece, recorded it originally with an oral tradition, and got it passed down later in written forms.

Cao says that this conjecture arises from the book's intricate depictions of different customs and landscapes across the Nine States (an administrative concept in ancient China), which are believed to mirror the territories Dayu traversed during his heroic endeavor to control the floods.

The project's team of around 200 creators and animators has taken over two years to polish the tale and design the characters, with the aid of established scholars like Chen Lianshan, a professor of folklore at Peking University, and Xiao Jun, director of the Ancient Astronomy Research Center at the Beijing Planetarium.

Interestingly, the animated series, which features a lot of creatures whose names include rarely-used Chinese characters, is deemed by some parents as good educational material for their children.

"We are delighted that the cartoon has sparked the curiosity of many students, and is aiding them in memorizing these characters better through their vibrant visual representations," says Cao.

The creatures in the series are both formidable and adorable. For example, Taowu, who is one of the four most fearsome beasts in ancient folklore, is depicted with the intimidating appearance of a white-haired tiger with fiery red and dark stripes. Ershu, a timid creature Dayu encounters in a lush forest, looks like a squirrel but can use its oversized ears as makeshift wings to soar through the air.

Explaining that the team did a great deal of research, Cao says that the main creators also traveled to Henan province. They visited Yinxu Ruins, where the last capital of the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC) was located, and Erlitou Site, generally considered to be the ancient Xia capital. Museums on the sites house artifacts estimated to be thousands of years old, and so are closest to the era in which Dayu is said to have lived.

"Unlike the well-established fine art system with typical Chinese aesthetics seen during the Tang (618-907) and Song dynasties (960-1279), an artistic tradition had not fully developed in the distant past. However, ancient artistry can be found in the patterns adorning items like clay pots. So, we feature these elements prominently in the animated series, from costumes to utensils," says Cao.

Another highlight of the series is its use of verses from Tian Wen (Heavenly Questions), written by one of China's greatest poets, Qu Yuan, who lived around 2,300 years ago, as the lyrics for its closing title song by renowned composer Zhang Yilin.

An award-winning graduate of the Beijing Film Academy, Cao says that the project is the first time in his career that he has attempted to understand the way ancient Chinese faced natural disasters and mysterious phenomena.

"Our ancestors possessed a spirit of perseverance and diligence that enabled them to overcome natural disasters and ensure the continuation of the Chinese people. Their pioneering spirit gradually merged into the bloodline and genes of the entire Chinese nation," he explains.

"So when we now assert that Chinese people are industrious, this is not mere rhetoric; it is the cornerstone for achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Cao says.
UNITED NATIONS, New York  The United Nations Security Council said Monday (Tuesday in Manila) it would decide this month on the Palestinians bid for full UN membership, with the longshot campaign unlikely to survive US opposition.

As the Gaza war rages on into its seventh month, the councils move was described as historic by the Palestinians, but angrily denounced by Israel.

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Maltese Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, who holds the rotating presidency of the council, said that the council has decided that this deliberation has to take place during the month of April.

Any request to become a UN member state must first pass through the Security Council  where Israels ally the United States wields a veto  and then be endorsed by the General Assembly.

The Palestinians, who have had observer status at the world body since 2012, have lobbied for years to gain full membership, which would amount to recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Today is a historic moment, Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour told reporters Monday as the Security Council members, through an ad hoc committee on new membership, started the review process after the Palestinians last week relaunched their formal 2011 bid.

All we ask for is to take our rightful place among the community of nations, to be treated as equals  equals to other nations and states, to live in freedom and dignity, in peace and security, in our ancestral land, Mansour said in the General Assembly.

Observers though are predicting a veto from the United States, which has opposed Palestinian membership since 2011.

Our position is a position that is known, it hasnt changed, Washingtons UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said. But we are going to continue to find a path to bring a two-state solution.

Under US legislation, the United States is required to cut off funding to UN agencies that give full membership to a Palestinian state, though it has at times applied the law selectively.

Washington maintains the United Nations is not the place for hashing out Palestinian statehood, which it stresses should be the result of an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

Nevertheless Maltas envoy Frazier said there was value to the committee process and that it would next meet on Thursday.

Israels UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan launched bitter criticism from the assembly podium.

The Security Council is busy right now discussing the recognition of a PalestiNazi state instead of designating Hamas as a terror organization. This will be the vilest reward of the vilest crimes, he said.

The Gaza war was sparked by the October 7 attack against Israel by Hamas militants that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, Israeli figures show.

Palestinian militants also took more than 250 Israeli and foreign hostages, 129 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the army says are dead.

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,207 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

The Security Council is deliberating granting the perpetrators and supporters of October 7 full membership status in the UN, said Erdan.

The very fact this discussion is even being held, its already a victory for genocidal terror.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has for decades resisted creation of a Palestinian state and leads a far-right government with members hostile to the Palestinian Authority, which holds limited autonomy in sections of the West Bank but not the Hamas-governed Gaza Strip.

Mansour was appointed as UN envoy by the Palestinian Authority.
YANGON  Myanmars junta on Tuesday slammed the UNs one-sided allegations about its human rights record and said it had received no official communication regarding the recent appointment of a new UN special envoy to the conflict-torn country.

The Southeast Asian nation has been in turmoil since the military seized power in February 2021, ending a brief democratic experiment and sparking clashes with ethnic rebel groups and anti-coup fighters.

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The junta has reacted with fury to attempts by the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc to establish dialogue between it and its opponents, whom it has vowed to annihilate/

Last week the UNs rights council adopted a resolution slamming horrific and systematic human rights violations in Myanmar.

It also criticised the juntas stranglehold on humanitarian assistance, which it said was exacerbating a crisis that has displaced more than 2.5 million people.

That resolution included unfounded and one-sided allegations, the juntas foreign affairs ministry said in a statement published in the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

Therefore, Myanmar categorically rejects the resolution.

The statement also said the UN had made no official communication to Myanmar regarding last weeks appointment of a new UN special envoy to the country.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed former Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop to the post, which has been vacant since the departure in June 2023 of Noeleen Heyzer.

The Singaporean sociologist was tasked with urging the military to engage in political dialogue with opposing groups and end a bloody crackdown it launched after toppling the government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

She visited the Southeast Asian nation in 2022 and met junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and other top military officials in a move criticised by rights groups as lending legitimacy to the generals.

But she was denied a meeting with detained democracy figurehead Suu Kyi and later irked junta officials who accused her of issuing a one-sided statement of what had been discussed.

She later vowed not to visit the country again unless she was allowed to meet Suu Kyi, who is currently serving a 27-year jail sentence handed down by a closed-door junta court.

Myanmars UN envoy Kyaw Moe Tun was appointed by Suu Kyis government and has refused to leave his post despite the juntas insistence that he no longer represents the country.

AFP has asked the UN for comment.
JERUSALEM  Israeli warplanes struck a Syrian military position overnight in response to rocket fire on the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, the military said on Tuesday.

The cross-border fire came days after an air strike blamed on Israel destroyed the Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing senior military commanders and raising regional tensions.

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The Israeli military said that warplanes attacked Syrian army military infrastructure overnight in the Mahajjah area  around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the demilitarised zone separating the opposing forces.

The Israeli army said it identified a rocket launch from Syrian territory on Monday that caused no casualties. It said artillery struck the source of the fire.

Israel has raised its military readiness after last weeks deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus drew threats of retaliation from Tehran.

The April 1 strike killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards, two of them generals.

Meanwhile, Israels security is at the core of German foreign policy, the UNs highest court heard on Tuesday, where Berlin is defending itself against a claim it is furnishing Israel with weapons being used in Gaza.

Our history is the reason why Israels security has been at the core of Germany foreign policy, Germanys representative told the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Where Germany has provided support to Israel, including in a form of export of arms and other military equipment, the quality and purposes of these supplies have been grossly distorted by Nicaragua, Tania von Uslar-Gleichen said.

Nicaragua has brought Germany before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to demand that judges impose emergency measures to stop Berlin from providing Israel with weapons and other assistance.

Lawyers for Nicaragua argued that Germany is in breach of the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention, set up in the wake of the Holocaust, by furnishing Israel with weapons.

On Monday, Nicaraguas lawyers called Berlin pathetic for supplying Israel with weapons and at the same time giving humanitarian aid to Palestinians

Nicaragua asked the ICJ to decide provisional measures, the emergency orders that can be imposed while the court considers the broader case.

Germany had already said after Mondays hearing that it completely rejected Managuas accusations.

The ICJ was set up to rule in disputes between nations and has become a key player in the war between Israel and Hamas militants that erupted after the October 7 attacks.

In a separate case, South Africa has accused Israel of perpetrating genocide in the Gaza Strip, charges Israel has angrily denied.

In that case, the court ordered Israel to do everything in its power to prevent genocidal acts and recently toughened its stance, ordering additional measures obliging Israel to step up access to humanitarian aid.

The strike came with regional tensions already running high as Israel battles Hamas in Gaza and exchanges near-daily fire with its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.

The Gaza war was sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures.

Israels retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 33,207 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

Israel captured the Golan Heights in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognized internationally.
AirAsia Philippines said it is preparing to serve its guests better with some essential travel hacks to help them beat the heat while enjoying their summer vacation.

Over 1.5 million AirAsia guests have already booked seats for summer travel as of April 8, with most choosing beach and island resorts, as well as heritage and cultural destinations for the warmth of the sun.

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Airline spokesman Steve Dailisan said despite the average daily temperature of 35C and Heat Index of up to 43C across the Philippines and neighboring countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, people are still eager to travel.

To help travelers make the most out of their trips, AirAsia Philippines is sharing some essential travel hacks to ensure a memorable summer experience. Here are the essential travel hacks shared by AirAsia Philippines:

1. Wear loose clothing made of lightweight materials to allow better air circulation around your body.

2. Avoid doing strenuous outdoor activities between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

3. If you are going on a walking tour, always bring protection such as sunblock, sun visor, and umbrella.

4. Consider traveling at night to enjoy the night markets and other attractions.

5. Drink more water than usual. Practice sustainable travel by bringing your water container.

6. Be aware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion: extreme fatigue, dizziness and vomiting, headache, cold sweat, and rapid heart rate.

AirAsia Philippines also suggested travelers to have travel insurance covering medical expenses.

Everyone loves to have fun in the sun. Adequate planning will save you a lot of stress. To make lasting memories together with your loved ones, it is important to travel safely and responsibly. We know how much travel means to you. Let us all take care and enjoy the best deals on flights and hotels via airasia Move. Any amount you save on your flights and hotels goes a long way to allow you to spend more at the destination, said Dailisan.

Traveling responsibly is a shared commitment among guests and airline staff. This includes cleanliness inside and outside the airport premises, as well as the aircraft.

Being a responsible tourist also includes keeping the aircraft clean, which contributes to our commitment to delivering the best affordable and on-time air travel as it saves extra time for any additional cleaning between flights, Dailisan said.

AirAsia flies to a total of 12 domestic destinations and 13 international destinations as of April 2024.
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain has called for strengthened partnerships in Asia and the Pacific to increase climate resilience and financing for smallholder communities vulnerable to food insecurity.

McCain was one of the speakers at the Asian Development Banks (ADB) Asia and the Pacific Food Security Forum in the Philippines.

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Half of the worlds climate-related emergencies have been recorded in Asia and the Pacific, where 72 million people are food-insecure. Climate crises in the region are fueling hunger, displacement, and even conflict, McCain said.

We must increase efforts to empower farmers and rural communities across the Asia-Pacific region to protect their food security and nutrition against the growing threat from climate change. In a region rich in ideas and resources, innovation and partnerships are essential to support climate-smart agriculture and sustainable livelihoods, McCain said.

The WFP and ADB have expanded their partnership since 2020, working together from Afghanistan to Lao PDR and the Philippines  supporting communities to build climate resilience and improve nutrition. This collaboration will soon reach Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

On her first visit to Manila since taking office, the WFP Executive Director met Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to consolidate the partnership with the Government to address hunger, malnutrition and climate resilience.

WFP is supporting the Government in its efforts to provide nutritious school meals to all schoolchildren by 2030 and reach 1 million food-insecure families with food e-vouchers by 2027. WFPs work in the Philippines also focuses on emergency preparedness and response and the provision of technical and supply chain services.
Marcos heads to Washington for tri-summit

As the nation marked the Day of Valor, President Marcos on Tuesday said the Philippines must not back down from challenges that seek to threaten its peace, honor, and very existence.

Marcos made the statement during the 82nd Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan at the Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan, where he called on Filipinos to stand against oppression amid current challenges that threaten the country within its territory.

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The Day of Valor commemorates the heroism and sacrifice of Filipinos who fought in the Battle of Bataan during World War II.

Meanwhile, the President is set to fly to Washington today (Wednesday) to participate in the historic trilateral leaders summit between the Philippines, Japan, and the United States.

Mr. Marcos will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden to further deepen the existing alliances and economic cooperation between the three countries.

In his speech in Bataan, the President mentioned the clear and present threats to the countrys sovereign rights, which he said have caused physical harm to Filipinos.

These are not acceptable. These are not reasonable or just, especially in this era of peaceful diplomacy between nations, he said in Filipino.

While the President did not elaborate on these threats, his statement comes amid growing concern over Chinas continued aggression against local vessels in the West Philippine Sea, the most recent of which led to the injuries of several Filipino naval personnel.

Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya renewed a commitment that Japan will never allow the devastation of war to be repeated again.

We, the Japanese people, are determined to never allow the devastation of war to be repeated ever again for the sake of present and future generations, the envoy said in his speech in Bataan.

President Marcos said Filipinos should seek inspiration and learn from the heroism and sacrifice of the nations war heroes by not allowing themselves to yield to these challenges.

May the events of 1942 and our victory in 1945 serve as an inspiration to all of us, and also to our youth and our future generations, he said.

As our great forefathers observed, we should not allow ourselves to be subjugated and oppressed, especially within our own backyard. May we be able to source it with an outer consciousness, courage, and strength of character. Above all, may it continue to strengthen our unity and our nationalism, Mr. Marcos added.

The President also directed the Department of National Defense, Department of Budget and Management, and the Department of Finance to look at the existing separation benefits of soldiers who incurred total permanent disability in the line of duty (see related story  Editors).

This is to see, he said, whether these benefits are commensurate to [the] sacrifices they have made.

Marcos also ordered the defense department and the military to assess and submit a report on the responsiveness of the current inventory of military supplies and equipment.

Meanwhile, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Messrs. Marcos, Biden and Kishida will discuss the recent incidents in the West Philippine Sea and are expected to issue a joint vision statement on the ongoing tension in the Indo-Pacific region.

The discussion between the three parties is meant to be a forward-looking document that outlines common principles guiding the trilateral partnership and offers various areas and projects for cooperation.

The DFA stated that Mr. Marcos would also continue to push for peace and stability in the region while promoting international rules-based order in the region.

Moreover, the President will also have separate bilateral meetings with Kishida and Biden at the sidelines of the three leaders summit.

DFA also noted that the three leaders are set to talk about their shared vision for the Indo-Pacific Region and probe ways to boost trilateral cooperation in different areas of mutual interest, such as inclusive economic growth.

The meeting also seeks to advance critical and emerging technologies, collaborate on climate change, ensure clean energy supply chains, and work towards peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

President Marcos will also meet with several business leaders during his stay in the US.

Kazuya also reaffirmed his countrys commitment to maintain and strengthen the rule-based international and maritime order, which we have protected together for decades, amid current international conflicts such as those in Ukraine, Middle East, as well as the complex security environment in the Indo-Pacific Region.

Our trilateral cooperation with the Philippines and the United States serves as a symbol as a shared commitment to promote a free and open international order based on the rule of law, the diplomat said.

According to him, Japan is looking forward to the historic and first-ever Japan-Philippines-US summit meeting this week in Washington which serves as a testament in further strengthening trilateral cooperation with the two countries.

Japan said it is committed that it will continuously work towards steadily materializing cooperative efforts in the areas of defense, strategic infrastructure, cyber, economic security, and energy.

Let us seize this moment to reaffirm our commitment as strategic partners and ally and friends in building a future preserving the peace and prosperity in the region. I believe that this is the best tribute we can offer to the souls of those who passed away in the fighting that took place here 82 years ago, Kazuya said.

I assure you all that Japan and the Philippines will continue to cooperate fully in ensuring greater progress and prosperity for nations and the world at large in times of both crisis and prosperity, he added.
Beijing, China  Chinas top diplomat said on Tuesday that Beijing would strengthen strategic cooperation with Moscow, Russian state media reported, as he met his counterpart for talks.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in China for a two-day official visit on Monday, with the two countries looking to further solidify diplomatic ties as Russias war in Ukraine grinds on.

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China and Russia have in recent years ramped up economic cooperation and diplomatic contacts, and their strategic partnership has only grown closer since the invasion of Ukraine.

But analysts say China holds the upper hand in the relationship with Russia, with its sway growing as Moscows international isolation deepens.

And in meetings on Tuesday, Wang Yi promised: China will support Russias stable development under the leadership of Putin.

Beijing and Moscow will continue to strengthen strategic cooperation on the world stage and provide each other with strong support, Wang said, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.

The support of the people is the source of progress in Russia, he added, according to the Russian state-owned newspaper Izvestia.

I think that under the strong leadership of President Putin, the Russian people will have a bright future, he said.

Lavrov, in turn, thanked China for its support after President Vladimir Putins recent re-election, in which he was unchallenged by any meaningful opposition.

Xi Jinping was among the first ones to send congratulations to the president-elect Putin, and we are overall grateful to our Chinese friends for this support, Lavrov said, according to a video of the meeting shared by Izvestia on Telegram.

The election results confirmed the deep trust of the Russian people in our leader and the ongoing domestic and foreign policies, he added, according to RIA Novosti.

This applies not least to the course to strengthen strategic interaction and partnership with the PRC, the top diplomat said, referring to China by its official acronym.

Lavrov last visited Beijing in October for an international forum on Chinese President Xi Jinpings flagship Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

Western nations regularly urge China to wield its influence over Russia to bring about peace in Ukraine.

US officials have also warned Beijing against indirect aid to the Russian war effort.

In Brussels last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that China continues to provide materials to support Russias defence industrial base.

And Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who wrapped up a visit to China on Monday, said she had warned officials of the consequences of supporting Russias military procurement.
THIS Friday (Philippine time), US President Joe Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a White House summit intended to reinforce trilateral maritime cooperation in the South China Sea.

This is a first-of-their kind meetings by the United States and its two Asian allies, seen by diplomatic and defense analysts as Bidens strategy to stitch together existing bilateral alliances into broader mini-laterals to amplify US influence in Asia.

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The summit, seen as a substantial move to counter Beijing, comes at a time of increasing tension in the western Pacific including the strategic South China Sea.

Just last Sunday, six warships and aircraft from the United States and its allies the Philippines, Japan and Australia held a joint patrol following Chinese harassment of Philippine Navy resupply missions in the Philippines 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

Beijings growing assertiveness in the waters has been widely seen as the impelling force for the one-day exercise.

Under its upgraded ten-dash line, Beijing maintains a claim to some 90 percent of the resource-rich South China Sea  through which trillions of dollars in trade flow every year  despite overlapping claims with Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Two Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy vessels were detected from a distance during the allies multilateral maritime cooperative activity in the West Philippine Sea which included communication exercises, division tactics or officer of the watch maneuvers.

The Friday summit focuses on freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Last year, Biden hosted a similar meeting with Japan and South Korea to deal with the threat from North Korea.

Manila itself is keen to firm up trilateral maritime cooperation, namely plans for joint naval patrols by the three countries, a move that would likely trigger a strong reaction from Beijing.

Joint patrols are something that weve already discussed extensively with Japan and the United States, Philippines Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez had told reporters.

Observers see tensions in the South China Sea are not going away, an issue raised in Bidens call with China President Xi Jinping earlier on.

Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder, while declining to confirm the agenda, was reported to have said the goal of trilateral efforts in the South China Sea is to ensure the Indo-Pacific region remains free, it remains open and that there is security and stability throughout the region.

Since 1999, Philippine soldiers have guarded a wrecked ship left on the shoal to maintain the countrys sovereignty claims over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

The Philippines is a US ally under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which means clashes between Manila and Beijing in the Spratlys are a problem for Washington.

The summit is being watched from Manila, Tokyo, Beijing and other regional capitals.
In October of last year, Kristine Lim, a visionary artist, started an ambitious project called Bridging Horizons: Naval Culture Through Arts.

Speaking with Manila Standard Life during the official launch, the visual artist, also known as the Artist on a Mission, shared that the project was a collaborative effort with the Philippine Navy.

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The project is transcending the boundaries of traditional art. It aims to strengthen the nations civil defense and make a significant impact on the international stage, emphasized Kristine, highlighting that Bridging Horizons is not merely an exhibition but a dynamic voyage fostering international connections.

Kristine and the Philippine Navy have been visiting government institutions, agencies, naval bases, and historical sites worldwide, presenting artworks created by Kristine as tokens of friendship to solidify relationships with other nations. Additionally, they visit embassies, paying courtesy calls to ambassadors and dignitaries.

The courtesy call for the Bridging Horizons project at the AFP General Headquarters

In February, their commitment was further realized with a ceremony at the residence of the Russian Ambassador to the Philippines, Marat Pavlov, where artwork was presented for the project.

Kristine led the event as the Philippine Navys Goodwill Ambassador for Culture and Arts, and she was accompanied by Uno G. Lim PN (Res).

During the ceremony, Kristine reiterated that their mission is multifaceted. Bridging Horizons is not driven by a single goal but rather a constellation of ambitions.

The project aims to be a cultural showcase, training the spotlight on the beauty and significance of Philippine heritage on the world stage. It aspires to foster diplomacy through art, nurturing artistic and cultural interactions to strengthen diplomatic ties. Additionally, it supports military arts and civil-military operations, contributing to a well-rounded and effective Philippine Navy.

The turnover of Kristines artwork at the residence of Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Marat Pavlov (third from left) with celebrity reservist Major Dingdong Dantes (second from right)

Furthermore, Bridging Horizons envisions itself as a cultural exchange hub, establishing platforms where people from diverse backgrounds can connect through art, music, and shared ideas. Ultimately, the project seeks to contribute to the modernization of the Philippine Navy, supporting its goal of becoming a leading-edge force by 2028.

The initiatives potential to bolster international relations was emphasized by Vice Admiral Toribio D. Adaci, Jr., Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy. He highlighted the longstanding relationship between the Philippines and Russia, expressing optimism that the project would further solidify these bonds.

Meanwhile, the journey of Bridging Horizons continues to garner support. On March 15, Lt. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, received celebrity reservist Major Jose Sixto Dingdong Dantes and Kristine (who is a Navy reservist) at the AFP General Headquarters.

From left: Dingdong Dantes, Kristine Lim, and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan

The Philippine Navy and Kristine presented two artworks from Bridging Horizons, emphasizing the projects role in promoting diplomacy and civil-military operations through cultural exchange, particularly by engaging the reserve force.

Lt. Gen. Gaerlan expressed his appreciation for the reservists dedication to empowering others and contributing to the AFPs mission. He stressed the importance of unity for enduring peace and the unwavering support of the AFP for Bridging Horizons.
During U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's visit to China, China clearly expressed its serious concerns to the U.S. side about U.S. sanctions on Chinese companies, tariffs levied on Chinese goods, and restrictions on investment in China, according to China's Ministry of Finance.

Addressing a press briefing regarding Yellen's visit from April 4 to 9, Vice Minister of Finance Liao Min said that such actions by the United States harm the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and people, and are also not conducive to the well-being of U.S. companies and people.

"China welcomes the U.S. statement that it does not seek to decouple from China, and hopes that the U.S. side will take concrete actions to stop sanctions and restrictions on Chinese companies," Liao said.

"The two sides believe that every country has legitimate needs to safeguard national security, but China stressed that the concept of 'national security' should not be generalized, and the so-called 'diversification' should not be used as an excuse to undermine the normal trade and investment exchanges between the two countries and around the world, as well as the stability of the industrial production and supply chains," Liao said.

He noted that in addition to these issues, the discussions between Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen also covered other major topics, including the macroeconomic situations of both nations, the response to global challenges, and the exchange of mutual concerns.

According to Liao, China and the United States have reached two new consensus outcomes during Yellen's trip. First, the finance departments of both nations will take the lead in exchanges on the issue of balanced economic growth of the two countries and the world under the framework of the China-U.S. economic working group. Second, led by the People's Bank of China and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, discussions on financial stability, sustainable finance, anti-money laundering and other issues under the framework of the bilateral financial working group will be held continuously.

He added that the fourth meeting of these two working groups will also be held separately in the middle of this month in the United States.
A mortar assault in the Democratic Republic of Congos eastern region resulted in the deaths of three soldiers from a military force representing southern Africa. The victims were all from Tanzania, and three additional soldiers were injured. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) reported that the soldiers were struck by hostile missile fire near their encampment on Monday. The identities of the soldiers and the precise location or timing of the attack remain undisclosed. SADC has yet to attribute responsibility for the assault on its personnel.

The regional force, deployed at the request of the Congolese government last year, aims to address the escalating insecurity fueled by various rebel factions contesting for control over territories and valuable mineral resources in eastern DR Congo. The M23 rebel group, notably accused by UN experts and others of receiving support from Rwandaa claim Rwanda staunchly denieshas been a significant concern. Rwanda counters by accusing the Congolese army of collaborating with the FDLR, a group linked to perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, an allegation Kinshasa denies.

The M23 group, after a period of diminished activity, surged again in 2021 and has since seized extensive areas of North Kivu province. The violence has forced thousands to flee, many seeking refuge in Goma, a major city under threat of M23 capture, reminiscent of its fall in 2012.

Amid increasing pressure, the DR Congo government has directed the substantial UN peacekeeping force to exit by the end of 2024. In response, SADC dispatched 2,900 soldiers to North Kivu in December to confront the M23 rebels. SADC also reported the recent death of a South African soldier in hospital due to health issues, following the deaths of two South African soldiers in a mortar attack in North Kivu in February.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: UC Davis

UC Davis Health cardiology team members are among the first in the country to treat patients with tricuspid regurgitation, or a leaky heart valve, by using a groundbreaking catheter.

The minimally invasive procedure, a transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER), is made possible with a new medical device called the Abbott TriClip system.

UC Davis Medical Center is one of the first sites nationwide to have commercial access to TriClip and is the first hospital in Western United States to utilize the system since it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). UC Davis also hosted clinical trials for the procedure in 2023.

"We are excited to offer our patients this novel treatment that offers meaningful improvement in quality of life without the high procedural risk often associated with tricuspid surgery," said Gagan D. Singh, associate professor of cardiovascular medicine and the surgeon who performed the first procedure at UC Davis Medical Center.

Tricuspid regurgitation is a condition in which the tricuspid valve of the heart fails to close completely. This can allow blood to leak backward into the atrium from the tricuspid valve, causing the patient's heart to pump harder to move blood through the valve.

Tricuspid regurgitation affects an estimated 1.6 million Americans. Symptoms include active pulsing in the neck veins, enlarged liver, fatigue and swelling throughout the body.

Current nonsurgical treatments include diuretics (medicines that help remove excess fluid and salt) and drugs aimed at easing symptoms. Left untreated, tricuspid regurgitation can lead to atrial fibrillation, heart failure, kidney disease and even death.

"Severe tricuspid regurgitation is a debilitating condition that is associated with substantial morbidity," said Jason H. Rogers, professor of cardiovascular medicine. "Patients with tricuspid regurgitation are extremely high risk for any type of surgical intervention, so historically they have just been monitored and treated with diuretics."

Tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair procedure

The human heart has four valves, and if any of them leak, there is no universal way to repair them. For example, the mitral valve can be repaired with a catheter-based system. But the same catheter can't be used on the tricuspid valve due to the valve's its location, thinness and variability.

The new system is designed specifically for the tricuspid valve's position, location and shape. With the patient under general anesthesia, the device is delivered to the heart through a catheter, starting in the groin and guided by X-ray and ultrasound. Once in place, the clip brings together portions of the leaflets (flaps of the valve), improving the seal and reducing the leaking.

The device was tested for its safety and clinical efficacy as part of the TRILUMINATE Pivotal trial. UC Davis Health was one of the sites with the highest enrollment rates in the national trial.

"This minimally invasive approach allows the heart to pump blood more efficiently and relieve symptoms of tricuspid regurgitation," said Rogers, who will be performing additional tricuspid TEER procedures.

A leader in transcatheter edge-to-edge repair

UC Davis Health has been a leader in transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for nearly two decades. In addition to the transcatheter tricuspid valve repair procedure, the medical center's cardiac services offer several minimally invasive catheter-based mitral valve procedures.

"Being one of the first centers in the country to offer commercial availability of the TriClip system is a true honor and a testament to the outstanding team-based approach to patient care at UC Davis Health," added Singh.

"The UC Davis Structural Heart Team is among the best and most comprehensive in the nation. Our mission of providing complete, efficient and high-quality care to the patients we care for is what drives us to lead the field."
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Graphical Abstract. Credit: (2024). DOI: 10.1093/europace/euae070

An international panel of experts published recommendations to improve management of atrial fibrillation (AF). The position paper summarizes the results of the 9th AFNET/EHRA consensus conferencea two-day expert meeting which was jointly organized by the German Atrial Fibrillation Network (AFNET) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) in Munster, Germany, in September 2023. Today the consensus report was presented at the EHRA congress in Berlin by Prof. Dominik Linz, Maastricht, The Netherlands, and simultaneously published in Europace.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and a growing health problem in an aging society. It affects several million people in Europe and worldwide.

During the 9th AFNET/EHRA consensus conference 83 international interdisciplinary scientists pooled their knowledge on AF management and research and discussed new insights and treatment options.

Prof. Linz, first author of the paper, explained, "After two days of fruitful discussion, we merged our findings. The essence of the meeting was summarized in five recommendations."

Active rhythm management should be part of the default initial treatment for all suitable patients with AF. Patients with device-detected AF have a low burden of AF and a low risk of stroke. Anticoagulation prevents some strokes but also increases major but non-lethal bleeding. More research is needed to improve stroke risk prediction in patients with AF, especially in those with a low AF burden. Biomolecules, genetics and imaging can support this. The presence of AF should trigger systematic work-up and comprehensive treatment of concomitant cardiovascular conditions. Machine learning algorithms have been used to improve detection of AF and can help to prevent development of AF. Cooperation between clinicians and data scientists is needed to leverage the potential of data science applications for patients with AF.

Prof. Paulus Kirchhof, Hamburg, Germany, one of the four chairpersons of the conference and board member of AFNET, concluded, "Combining active rhythm control, anticoagulation, rate control, and therapy of concomitant cardiovascular conditions can improve the lives of patients with AF. A low AF burden is associated with low rates of stroke and heart failure. Reducing AF burden is developing into a therapeutic goal in patients with AF."

Prof. Andreas Goette, Paderborn, Germany, also chairman of the conference and AFNET board member, stated, "We are curious to see whether our recommendations will be incorporated into the upcoming AF guidelines and change clinical practice."

More information: Paulus Kirchhof et al, Longer and better lives for patients with atrial fibrillation: The 9th AFNET/EHRA Consensus Conference, Eurospace (2024). DOI: 10.1093/europace/euae070

Provided by Kompetenznetz Vorhofflimmern e.V. (AFNET)
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

In February, Norma Brambila's teenage daughter wrote her a letter she now carries in her purse. It is a drawing of a rose, and a note encouraging Brambila to "keep fighting" her sickness and reminding her she'd someday join her family in heaven.

Brambila, a community organizer who emigrated from Mexico a quarter-century ago, had only a sinus infection, but her children had never seen her so ill. "I was in bed for four days," she said.

Lacking insurance, Brambila had avoided seeking care, hoping garlic and cinnamon would do the trick. But when she felt she could no longer breathe, she went to an emergency room. The $365 billenough to cover a week of groceries for her familywas more than she could afford, pushing her into debt. It also affected another decision she'd been weighing: whether to go to Mexico for surgery to remove the growth in her abdomen that she said is as big as a papaya.

Brambila lives in a southwestern Denver neighborhood called Westwood, a largely Hispanic, low-income community where many residents are immigrants. Westwood is also in a ZIP code, 80219, with some of the highest levels of medical debt in Colorado.

More than 1 in 5 adults there have historically had unpaid medical bills on their credit reports, more in line with West Virginia than the rest of Colorado, according to 2022 credit data analyzed by the nonprofit Urban Institute.

The area's struggles reflect a paradox about Colorado. The state's overall medical debt burden is lower than most. But racial and ethnic disparities are wider.

The gap between the debt burden in ZIP codes where residents are primarily Hispanic and/or non-white and ZIP codes that are primarily non-Hispanic white is twice what it is nationally. (Hispanics can be of any race or combination of races.)

Medical debt in Colorado is also concentrated in ZIP codes with relatively high shares of immigrants, many of whom are from Mexico. The Urban Institute found that 19% of adults in these places had medical debt on their credit reports, compared with 11% in communities with fewer immigrants.

Nationwide, about 100 million people have some form of health care debt, according to a KFF Health News-NPR investigation. This includes not only unpaid bills that end up in collections, but also those being paid off through installment plans, credit cards, or other loans.

Racial and ethnic gaps in medical debt exist nearly everywhere, data shows. But Colorado's divideon par with South Carolina's, according to the Urban Institute dataexists even though the state has some of the most extensive medical debt protections in the country.

The gap threatens to deepen long-standing inequalities, say patient and consumer advocates. And it underscores the need for more action to address medical debt.

"It exacerbates racial wealth gaps," said Berneta Haynes, a senior attorney with the nonprofit National Consumer Law Center who co-authored a report on medical debt and racial disparities. Haynes said too many Colorado residents, especially residents of color, are still caught in a vicious cycle in which they forgo medical care to avoid bills, leading to worse health and more debt.

Brambila said she has seen this cycle all too often around Westwood in her work as a community organizer. "I really would love to help people to pay their medical bills," she said.

Health or debt?

Roxana Burciaga, who grew up in Westwood and works at Mi Casa Resource Center there, said she hears questions at least once a week about how to pay for medical care.

Medical debt is a "big, big, big topic in our community," she said. People don't understand what their insurance actually covers or can't get appointments for preventive care that suit their work schedules, she said.

Many, like Brambila, skip preventive care to avoid the bills and end up in the emergency room.

Doctors and nurses say they see the strains, as well.

Amber Koch-Laking, a family physician at Denver Health's Westwood Family Health Center, part of the city's public health system, said finances often come up in conversations with patients. Many patients try to get telehealth appointments to avoid the cost of going in person.

Adding to the crunch is Medicaid "unwinding," the process of states reexamining post-pandemic eligibility for health coverage for low-income people, Koch-Laking said. "They say, 'Oh, I'm losing my Medicaid in three weeks, can you take care of these seven things without a visit?' Or like, 'Can we just do it over the portal, because I can't afford it?'"

Looking for the right fix

Colorado has taken steps to protect patients from medical debt, including expanding Medicaid coverage through the 2010 Affordable Care Act. More recently, state leaders required hospitals to expand financial assistance for low-income patients and barred all medical debts from consumers' credit reports.

But the complexities of many assistance programs remain a major barrier for immigrants and others with limited English, said Julissa Soto, a Denver-based health equity consultant focused on Latino Coloradans.

Many patients, for example, may not know they can seek help with medical bills from the state or community nonprofits.

"The health care system is a puzzle. You better learn how to play with puzzles," said Soto, who said she was sent to collections for medical bills when she first immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico. "Many hospitals also have funding to help out with your debt. You just have to get to the right person, because it seems that nobody wants to let us know that those programs exist."

She said simplifying bills would go a long way to helping many patients.

Several states, including Oregon, Maryland, and Illinois, have tried to make it easier for people to access hospital financial aid by requiring hospitals to proactively screen patients.

Patient and consumer advocates say Colorado could also further restrict aggressive debt collection, such as lawsuits, which remain common in the state.

New York, for example, banned wage garnishment after finding that the practice disproportionately affected low-income communities. Research there also showed that medical debt burden was falling about twice as hard on communities of color as it was on non-Hispanic white communities.

Elisabeth Benjamin, a lawyer with the Community Service Society of New York, said hospitals were garnishing the wages of people working at Walmart and Taco Bell.

Maryland enacted limits on debt collection lawsuits after advocates found that patients living in predominantly minority neighborhoods were being disproportionately targeted. Even in wealthy counties, "the pockets that are being pursued are majority Latino neighborhoods," said Marceline White, executive director of the advocacy group Economic Action Maryland.

White's group helped pass a law requiring hospitals to pay back low-income patients and avoid the scenario she was seeing, in which hospitals were "suing patients who should have gotten free care."

Exacting a heavy toll

In Colorado, lawmakers are considering a measure to improve patients' access to financial aid: a modification to the state's Hospital Discounted Care program that would make hospitals presumptive eligibility sites for Medicaid.

Meanwhile, some consumer advocates say existing protections aren't working well enough.

State data shows patients who received financial assistance were primarily white. And, though it's unclear why, 42% of patients who may have been eligible were not fully screened by hospitals for financial assistance.

"What is clear is that a lot of people are not making it through," said Bethany Pray, deputy director of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, a Denver-based legal aid group that pushed for the discounted care legislation.

Within the state's immigrant communities, medical debtand the fear of debtcontinues to take a heavy toll.

"What we've heard from our constituents is that medical debt sometimes is the difference between them being housed and them being unhoused," said Denver City Council member Shontel Lewis. Her district includes the 80216 ZIP code, another place north of the city center that is saddled with widespread medical debt.

Paola Becerra is an immigrant living in the U.S. without legal permission who was pregnant when she was bused to Denver from a Texas shelter a few months ago.

She said she has skipped prenatal care visits because she couldn't afford the $50 copays. She has emergency health coverage through Medicaid, but it doesn't cover preventive visits, and she has already racked up about $1,600 in bills.

"I didn't know that I was going to arrive pregnant," said Becerra, who thought she could no longer conceive when she left Colombia. "You have to give up your health. Either I pay the rent, or I pay the hospital."

For Rocio Leal, a community organizer in Boulder, medical debt has become a defining feature of her life.

Despite the health insurance she had through her job, Leal ended up with high-interest payday loans to pay for healthy births, wage garnishment, prenatal appointments she missed to save money, and a "ruined" credit score, which limited her housing options.

Leal recalled times she thought they'd be evicted and other times the electricity was cut off. "It's not like we're avoiding and don't want to pay. It's just sometimes we don't have an option to pay," she said.

2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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The understanding of prostate cancer has significantly evolved in the past 15 years. However, many peopleincluding primary care providersmay not be aware of the current guidelines for prostate cancer screening, says Andrew Vickers, Ph.D., of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).

The main screening tool for prostate cancer is the PSA test, which measures levels of a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. In the past, some experts have suggested that PSA testing caused more harm than good, saying it can lead to unnecessary biopsies and therapies for cancers that actually don't need to be treated.

Today, the PSA test should be used as one part of the tool kit for finding cancer and identifying which cancers should be treated, Dr. Vickers says. An expert in health outcomes related to the detection and treatment of prostate cancer, Dr. Vickers spoke at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

In his presentation, "Seven Myths About PSA and Prostate Cancer Screening," Dr. Vickers sought to raise awareness about the best way to use the PSA test. Here, we recap those myths.

Myth: PSA test results will show you whether your levels of PSA are elevated or normal

Many people are not clear about what a PSA test really shows.

"I often hear from friends that the result of their PSA test was negative," Dr. Vickers says. "But the PSA test result is not like a COVID-19 test. It doesn't suddenly turn positive when you develop prostate cancer."

The test tells you how much PSA protein is in your blood, measured in nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml). Results between 0 and 3 ng/ml were once considered "normal," but recent research has shown a gradient of risk, even at these low levels of PSA.

For patients with results of 3 ng/ml or higher, Dr. Vickers says the test should always be repeated to confirm the results. Elevated PSA levels can be caused by conditions other than cancer, including an enlarged prostate or a prostate infection. It's important to rule out those potential causes.

If your doctor can't find a benign (not cancerous) cause for your elevated PSA level, the next step should be additional tests like an MRI scan or a 4Kscore testrather than going straight to an invasive prostate biopsy. An MRI can detect the presence of a tumor. The 4Kscore test, a blood test developed at MSK, looks at additional markers in the blood and can help determine whether a biopsy is needed.

Doctors used to believe that changes in PSA (known as "PSA velocity") were an indicator that cancer might be present, even in patients with no history of the disease. But researchers from MSK published several studies showing that looking at changes in PSA was not of value. Since then, PSA velocity has been removed from practice guidelines.

Myth: PSA is not an accurate test for prostate cancer

What makes this a myth is that it actually isn't very important at all.

"Almost all men will get prostate cancer if they live long enough," Dr. Vickers explains. "So we aren't at all interested in prostate cancer as an endpoint. What we want to know is whether PSA can predict who gets the sort of prostate cancer that can cause symptoms and threaten a patient's life. It turns out that PSA is very good at doing that."

Because the PSA test is very sensitive, if your PSA is low, you can be reassured that you're at low risk of having an aggressive prostate cancer.

That said, because the test is not specific, a higher PSA level doesn't necessarily mean you will get an aggressive prostate cancer. That's because there can be many other reasons it is elevated.

Myth: The benefits of PSA testing are controversial

"We know there are benefits, and that's not controversial," Dr. Vickers says. "We have evidence that prostate cancer screening reduces the risk of dying from prostate cancer."

One of the most well-known randomized studies demonstrating that PSA reduces cancer mortality was conducted in Sweden in collaboration with MSK researchers. Dr. Vickers explains that the real controversy "isn't whether there are any benefits at all, but whether the benefits outweigh the harms."

Myth: PSA screening inevitably leads to a large amount of overtreatment and overdiagnosis

"Over the past few decades, many hundreds of thousands of American men have been diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer that never would have become apparent if not for PSA testing," Dr. Vickers says. "But the amount of overdiagnosis and overtreatment depends on how the test is used. If screening guidelines based on more up-to-date knowledge are followed and treatment is limited to aggressive cancers, the number of men being unnecessarily diagnosed with and treated for prostate cancer can be dramatically reduced."

For patients with prostate cancer that does not appear aggressive or likely to spread, MSK's Active Surveillance Program offers the option for regular monitoring. This program can help patients avoid the side effects associated with treatment.

Myth: PSA screening reduces prostate cancer mortality by about 1 in 1,000

PSA screenings have reduced deaths significantly more than 1 in 1,000. "This number is frequently cited, and it makes it look like the benefits are small, but it is based on a misunderstanding of a well-known trial," Dr. Vickers says. "Experts disagree about the best estimate, but one study published in The New England Journal of Medicine gave a number closer to 10 in 1,000."

He adds that cancer mortality rates have also improved thanks to better prostate cancer treatments, including many developed at MSK.

Myth: The best national policy for PSA screening is to only test men who ask their doctor

Most countries have adopted a policy that PSA testing should be done after "shared" decision making. "But for the most part, anyone who asks their doctor for a PSA test is going to get one," Dr. Vickers says. "The result we see across the globe is overuse of the test in men who are not going to benefit from it."

Another major problem with these policies is that they exacerbate inequality, with PSA testing more common in wealthier rather than in underserved communities, he adds.

Myth: Population-based PSA screening would dramatically increase the number of PSA tests as well as the number of prostate cancer diagnoses and treatments

If PSA screening is limited only to patients who fall within the appropriate age group, the number of PSA tests given should not dramatically increase. The guidelines recommend PSA testing based on age and risk factors, explained in detail here.

"If we are systematic and organized about who gets the PSA tests, it would actually reduce the number of PSA tests given, especially as most men would get only two or three tests in their lifetime," Dr. Vickers says. "When PSA is being offered only to patients in the appropriate age rangemeaning between the ages of 45 and 70the amount of overdiagnosis and overtreatment will also go down."
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing's Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR)published in JAMA Network Openshowed that, aside from retirements, poor working conditions are the leading reasons nurses leave health care employment. These study findings come at a time when hospital executives cite staffing problems as their most pressing concern.

"Prior studies evaluate nurses' intentions to leave their job. Our study is one of the few evaluating why nurses actually left health care employment entirely," said lead author K. Jane Muir, Ph.D., RN, a CHOPR Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Associate Fellow of the Leonard Davis Institute for Health Economics, and a National Clinician Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania. The study surveyed 7,887 registered nurses in New York and Illinois who left health care employment between 2018 and 2021.

Across a variety of health care settings including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and ambulatory care, planned retirement was the most cited reason nurses are leaving health care employment. Closely behind retirements, insufficient staffing, burnout, and poor work-life balance topped the list. Among retired nurses in the study, only 59% stated their retirement was planned, suggesting nearly half of nurse retirements are premature exits due to poor working conditions.

"Nurses are not principally leaving for personal reasons, like going back to school or because they lack resilience. They are working in chronically poorly staffed conditions which is an ongoing problem that predates the pandemic," said senior author Karen Lasater, Ph.D., RN, Associate Professor, the Jessie M. Scott Term Chair in Nursing and Health Policy, and Senior Fellow of the Leonard Davis Institute for Health Economics.

Study authors say that health care employers could also retain more nurses through solutions that enhance nurses' work-life balance. This includes greater flexibility in work hours such as shorter shift-length options, higher pay-differentials for weekend/holiday shifts, and on-site dependent care.

"Nurses are retiring early and leaving employment in the health care sector because of longstanding failures of their employers to improve working conditions that are bad for nurses and unsafe for patients. Until hospitals meaningfully improve the issues driving nurses to leave, everyone loses," said Muir.

More information: Top Factors in Nurses Ending Health Care Employment Between 2018 and 2021, JAMA Network Open (2024). jamanetwork.com/journals/jaman  etworkopen.2024.4121 Journal information: JAMA Network Open
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Credit: European Heart Journal (2024). DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae225

In patients with device-detected atrial fibrillation and a high comorbidity burden, oral anticoagulation increases bleeding without a clear reduction in stroke. This is the main finding of a sub-analysis of the NOAHAFNET 6 trial presented by Dr. Julius Nikorowitsch, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany, in a late-breaking science session at the annual congress of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) in Berlin, Germany, today (April 9) and simultaneously published in the European Heart Journal.

Device-detected atrial fibrillation (DDAF) are short and typically rare episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF) detected by pacemakers, defibrillators, and implanted loop recorders capable of continuous rhythm monitoring. Device-detected atrial fibrillation is found in every fifth patient with a cardiac implanted electronic device. Device-detected atrial fibrillation can lead to stroke, but the stroke risk in patients with device-detected atrial fibrillation appears lower than the stroke risk in patients with ECG-documented atrial fibrillation.

Recently, the NOAHAFNET 6 (Non vitamin K antagonist Oral anticoagulants in patients with Atrial High-rate episodes) trial found that anticoagulation expectedly increases bleeding events in patients with device-detected atrial fibrillation while the stroke preventing effect was smaller than expected. This even applies to patients with long episodes of device-detected AF. A meta-analysis of NOAHAFNET 6 confirmed an increase in bleeding and detected a small reduction in ischemic strokes with anticoagulation.

Dr. Nikorowitsch explained, "Older age, female sex, kidney disease, diabetes, heart failure, and other comorbidities increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. We were interested if oral anticoagulation might reduce cardiovascular event rates in patients with a high burden of these factors and device-detected AF. To address this, we performed a prespecified secondary analysis of the NOAHAFNET 6 data set."

NOAHAFNET 6 randomized 741 elderly patients (mean age 79 years, 52% women) with device-detected AF and multiple comorbidities (CHA2DS2-VASc >4) into two cohorts: one receiving anticoagulation with edoxaban, the other without anticoagulation. This patient population was outside of the approved indication of edoxaban. The stroke rate was low without anticoagulation (1.3%/year).

Edoxaban did not considerably reduce thrombo-embolic events, but increased bleeding and death in this patient group. Older age, diabetes, and kidney disease independently predicted the primary outcome defined as a composite of stroke, systemic embolism, or cardiovascular death. Anticoagulation, age, heart failure, diabetes, prior stroke, and kidney disease predicted safety outcome defined as major bleeding event or death.

Prof. Paulus Kirchhof, UKE, principal investigator of the NOAHAFNET 6 trial, concluded: "The findings are consistent with the main trial: The stroke rate in patients with device-detected AF is low, even with multiple comorbidities. Anticoagulation had only a minor effect on stroke and systemic embolism.

"Our results, together with other data and considering the limitations of all subgroup analyses, can help to adapt the safe and effective use of oral anticoagulants in patients with device-detected AF and multiple stroke risk factors in clinical practice, and in future guidelines. They also call for new methods to identify patients with device-detected AF at high risk of stroke which might benefit from anticoagulation."

More information: Paulus Kirchhof et al, Oral anticoagulation in device-detected atrial fibrillation: effects of age, sex, cardiovascular comorbidities, and kidney function on outcomes in the NOAH-AFNET 6 trial, European Heart Journal (2024). DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae225. academic.oup.com/eurheartj/adv  41700?searchresult=1 Journal information: European Heart Journal

Provided by Kompetenznetz Vorhofflimmern e.V. (AFNET)
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

First, her favorite doctor in Providence, Rhode Island, retired. Then her other doctor at a health center a few miles away left the practice. Now, Piedad Fred has developed a new chronic condition: distrust in the American medical system.

"I don't know," she said, her eyes filling with tears. "To go to a doctor that doesn't know who you are? That doesn't know what allergies you have, the medicines that make you feel bad? It's difficult."

At 71, Fred has never been vaccinated against COVID-19. She no longer gets an annual flu shot. And she hasn't considered whether to be vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, even though her age and an asthma condition put her at higher risk of severe infection.

"It's not that I don't believe in vaccines," Fred, a Colombian immigrant, said in Spanish at her home last fall. "It's just that I don't have faith in doctors."

The loss of a trusted doctor is never easy, and it's an experience that is increasingly common.

The stress of the pandemic drove a lot of health care workers to retire or quit. Now, a nationwide shortage of doctors and others who provide primary care is making it hard to find replacements. And as patients are shuffled from one provider to the next, it's eroding their trust in the health system.

The American Medical Association's president, Jesse Ehrenfeld, recently called the physician shortage a "public health crisis."

"It's an urgent crisis, hitting every corner of this country, urban and rural, with the most direct impact hitting families with high needs and limited means," Ehrenfeld told reporters in October.

In Fred's home state of Rhode Island, the percentage of people without a regular source of routine health care increased from 2021 to 2022, though the state's residents still do better than most Americans.

Hispanic residents and those with less than a high school education are less likely to have a source of routine health care, according to the nonprofit organization Rhode Island Foundation.

The community health centers known as federally qualified health centers, or FQHCs, are the safety net of last resort, serving the uninsured, the underinsured, and other vulnerable people. There are more than 1,400 community health centers nationwide, and about two-thirds of them lost between 5% and a quarter of their workforce during a six-month period in 2022, according to a report by the National Association of Community Health Centers.

Another 15% of FQHCs reported losing between a quarter and half of their staff. And it's not just doctors: The most severe shortage, the survey found, was among nurses.

In a domino effect, the shortage of clinicians has placed additional burdens on support staff members such as medical assistants and other unlicensed workers.

Their extra tasks include "sterilizing equipment, keeping more logs, keeping more paperwork, working with larger patient loads," said Jesse Martin, executive vice president of District 1199 NE of the Service Employees International Union, which represents 29,000 health care workers in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

"When you add that work to the same eight hours' worth of a day's work you can't get everything done," Martin said.

Last October, scores of SEIU members who work at Providence Community Health Centers, Rhode Island's largest FQHC, held an informational picket outside the clinics, demanding improvements in staffing, work schedules, and wages.

The marketing and communications director for PCHC, Brett Davey, declined to comment.

Staff discontent has rippled through community health care centers across the country. In Chicago, workers at three health clinics held a two-day strike in November, demanding higher pay, better benefits, and a smaller workload.

Then just before Thanksgiving at Unity Health Care, the largest federally qualified health center in Washington, D.C., doctors and other medical providers voted to unionize. They said they were being pressed to prioritize patient volume over quality of care, leading to job burnout and more staff turnover.

The staffing shortages come as community health centers are caring for more patients. The number of people served by the centers between 2015 and 2022 increased by 24% nationally, and by 32.6% in Rhode Island, according to the Rhode Island Health Center Association, or RIHCA.

"As private practices close or get smaller, we are seeing patient demand go up at the health centers," said Elena Nicolella, RIHCA's president and CEO. "Now with the workforce challenges, it's very difficult to meet that patient demand."

In Rhode Island, community health centers in 2022 served about 1 in 5 residents, which is more than twice the national average of 1 in 11 people, according to RIHCA.

Job vacancy rates at Rhode Island's community health centers are 21% for physicians, 18% for physician assistants and nurse practitioners, and 10% for registered nurses, according to six of the state's eight health centers that responded to a survey conducted by RIHCA for The Public's Radio, NPR, and KFF Health News.

Pediatricians are also in short supply. Last year, 15 pediatricians left staff positions at the Rhode Island health centers, and seven of them have yet to be replaced.

Research shows that some of the biggest drivers of burnout are workload and job demands.

Community health centers tend to attract clinicians who are mission-driven, said Nelly Burdette, who spent years working in health centers before becoming a senior leader of the nonprofit Care Transformation Collaborative of Rhode Island.

These clinicians often want to give back to the community, she said, and are motivated to practice "a kind of medicine that is maybe less corporate," and through which they can they develop close relationships with patients and within multigenerational families.

So when workplace pressures make it harder for these clinicians to meet their patients' needs, they are more likely to burn out, Burdette said.

When a doctor quits or retires, Carla Martin, a pediatrician and an internist, often gets asked to help. The week before Thanksgiving, she was filling in at two urgent care clinics in Providence.

"We're seeing a lot of people coming in for things that are really primary care issues, not urgent care issues, just because it's really hard to get appointments," Martin said.

One patient recently visited urgent care asking for a refill of her asthma medication. "She said, 'I ran out of my asthma medicine, I can't get a hold of my PCP for refill, I keep calling, I can't get through,'" Martin said.

Stories like that worry Christopher Koller, president of the Milbank Memorial Fund, a nonprofit philanthropy focused on health policy. "When people say, 'I can't get an appointment with my doctor,' that means they don't have a usual source of care anymore," Koller said.

Koller points to research showing that having a consistent relationship with a doctor or other primary care clinician is associated with improvements in overall health and fewer emergency room visits.

When that relationship is broken, patients can lose trust in their health care providers.

That's how it felt to Piedad Fred, the Colombian immigrant who stopped getting vaccinated. Fred used to go to a community health center in Rhode Island, but then accessing care there began to frustrate her.

She described making repeated phone calls for a same-day appointment, only to be told that none were available and that she should try again tomorrow. After one visit, she said, one of her prescriptions never made it to the pharmacy.

And there was another time when she waited 40 minutes in the exam room to consult with a physician assistantwho then said she couldn't give her a cortisone shot for her knee, as her doctor used to do.

Fred said that she won't be going back.

So what will she do the next time she gets sick or injured and needs medical care?

"Well, I'll be going to a hospital," she said in Spanish.

But experts warn that more people crowding into hospital emergency rooms will only further strain the health system, and the people who work there.

2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Schematic diagram of roles of periostin (POSTN) in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) microenvironment. Direct contact with ESCC cells leads mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to become cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)-like cells, which secrete periostin and activate the Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) pathways via integrin subunit beta 4 (ITGB4) in ESCC cells, promoting their migration. Periostin also promotes MSC and macrophage migration and contributes to the activation of tumor-associated macrophage (TAM)-like macrophage properties. M, macrophage. Credit: The American Journal of Pathology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.12.010

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) accounts for around 90% of esophageal cancers, especially in East Asia. New findings indicate that periostin, or POSTN, promotes ESCC progression by enhancing cancer and stromal cell migration in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Therefore, it may be a novel therapeutic target for treating ESCC.

Lead investigator Yu-ichiro Koma, MD, Ph.D., Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, explained, "Though CAFs in the tumor microenvironment are involved in the progression of various cancers, including ESCC, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Therefore, it is critical further to investigate the mechanisms of esophageal cancer development and progression."

To better understand the mechanisms of ESCC progression by CAFs, investigators generated CAF-like cells by directly coculturing human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with ESCC cells, revealing elevated periostin expression.

Recombinant human periostin activated the serine/threonine protein kinase (Akt) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) signaling pathways in ESCC cells, which enhanced the survival and migration of these cancer cells. Periostin also enhanced MSC and macrophage migration and conferred tumor-associated macrophage (TAM)-like properties to macrophages.

Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the clinical significance of periostin, associating its high expression with tumor invasiveness, vessel invasion, advanced pathological stage, CAF marker expression, and TAM infiltration. After direct coculture, ESCC cells showed increased characteristics of malignancy, such as tumor survival, growth, and migration, as well as increased phosphorylation of Akt and Erk.

Dr. Koma commented, "We discovered that periostin, up-regulated in CAFs upon direct contact with cancer cells, promotes ESCC progression and the migration of stromal cells like CAFs and TAMs. Periostin also enhanced mesenchymal stem cell and macrophage migration and endowed macrophages with tumor-associated macrophage-like properties. Thus, CAF-secreted periostin contributed to tumor microenvironment development."

Dr. Koma concluded, "The present study established a direct coculture system between ESCC cells and MSCs, which promoted the malignant phenotype of ESCC cells. Patients with ESCC with high periostin expression exhibited poorer postoperative outcomes, indicating that periostin may be a novel therapeutic target for treating this form of esophageal cancer and may serve as a prognostic indicator."

Esophageal cancer is the seventh most common cancer worldwide and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death. The most common histological subtype is ESCC. The histologic types of esophageal cancer are broadly classified into ESCC and esophageal adenocarcinoma, with ESCC accounting for approximately 90% of esophageal cancers, especially in East Asia.

In East Asia and East Africa, esophageal cancer is one of the top five causes of overall cancer mortality, and the five-year overall survival of ESCC is approximately 20%, with a poor prognosis.

This prognosis is associated with a high propensity for metastasis, even if the tumor is superficial; early esophageal cancer is often asymptomatic, and diagnosis typically occurs at an advanced stage.

The work is published in The American Journal of Pathology.

More information: Shoji Miyako et al, Periostin in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Promotes Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression by Enhancing Cancer and Stromal Cell Migration, The American Journal of Pathology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.12.010 Journal information: American Journal of Pathology
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Drugs known as GLP-1 analogs have become increasingly popular to treat diabetes and obesity, but there have been concerns that they might increase the risk of thyroid cancer. Now an extensive Scandinavian study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet has found no evidence of such a link. The study is published in The BMJ.

GLP-1 receptor agonists, also known as GLP-1 analogs, reduce blood sugar levels and appetite. They are widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, with their clinical use steadily increasing. Earlier studies and adverse event data have suggested that these drugs could be associated with an increased risk of thyroid tumors. However, due to limitations in data and methodology, clear conclusions could not be drawn, leading to uncertainty about this potential side effect.

"Many people take these medicines, so it is important to study potential risks associated with them," says Bjorn Pasternak, principal researcher at the Department of Medicine, Solna, at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. "Our study covers a broad group of patients and provides strong support that GLP-1 analogs are not associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer."

The researchers analyzed national register data from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden of about 145,000 patients treated with GLP-1 analogs, mainly liraglutide or semaglutide, and 290,000 patients treated with another diabetes drug (DPP4 inhibitors). The risk of thyroid cancer was compared between the groups over an average follow-up period of just under four years.

GLP-1 treatment was not associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer. The results were consistent also when compared to a third diabetes medication group (SGLT2 inhibitors).

"We cannot rule out that the risk of certain subtypes of thyroid cancer is increased in smaller patient groups that we could not study here, for example in people with a high congenital risk of medullary thyroid cancer who are advised against using these drugs," says Peter Ueda, assistant professor at the Department of Medicine, Solna, at Karolinska Institutet.

The ongoing research program at Karolinska Institutet investigates the effects and potential side effects of newer diabetes medications such as GLP-1 analogs and SGLT2 inhibitors. These medications are now being used to treat broader patient groups, including those with obesity, heart failure, and kidney failure.

"We know from randomized clinical trials that they have positive effects, but clinical reality is different with patients varying in disease severity, comorbidities, and adherence to treatment recommendations," says Pasternak. "It's therefore essential to investigate how these medicines perform in everyday clinical settings."

More information: Bjorn Pasternak, Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist use and risk of thyroid cancer: Scandinavian cohort study, The BMJ (2024). DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-078225 Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
China and the United States have reached important consensus on economic and financial cooperation after in-depth consultations and discussions during U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's visit to China, China's Vice Finance Minister Liao Min said Monday.

Deepening communication, coordination of economic, financial policies and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between the world's two largest economies are of great significance in stabilizing the economy and finance of both sides and the whole world, as well as promoting post-pandemic recovery and development, Liao said in response to a media inquiry during a press briefing.

"China always adopts an open and positive attitude towards this," Liao said.

The two sides agreed to hold in-depth discussions on balancing the growth of the two countries and the global economy, and are willing to further strengthen economic exchanges and cooperation.

They also agreed to maintain communication on issues, such as debt handling of developing countries as well as the strategic reform of international financial institutions under multilateral channels, such as G20, and advance cooperation on jointly addressing global challenges, according to Liao.

In the financial field, both sides agreed to carry out continuous exchanges and cooperation on issues including financial stability, sustainable finance, anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing.

In the next stage, China is ready to work with the United States to translate the above consensus into practical cooperation outcomes under the China-U.S. economic and financial working group.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Certain proteogenomic signatures in the prostate cancers of men of African and European ancestries were associated with higher risk of metastasis and/or recurrence of the disease, according to a study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2024, held April 510.

A study that combines proteomics and genomics is a field of research known as proteogenomics. Shyh-Han Tan, Ph.D., associate professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) Department of Surgery and scientist at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF), who presented the study, explained it as similar to detecting errors in a person's instruction manual.

"The DNA in every cell is like an instruction manual where genes are the specific sections that carry instructions for making proteinsthe building blocks needed for the cell to work properly," Tan said. "But errors in the instructions, or DNA mutations, can lead to the generation of faulty proteins. The advantage of a proteogenomic study is that it can examine both the DNA and proteins to help understand where the errors are occurring. Since every one of us has slight differences in our DNA, this can hopefully lead to a more precise understanding of prostate cancer."

Tan and his colleagues conducted a proteogenomic analysis using early-stage prostate cancer tissue specimens of 57 patients of African ancestry and 55 patients of European ancestry obtained from the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR), a research program of the USUHS Department of Surgery and the John P. Murtha Cancer Center at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

"The availability of equal access to care in this military cohort was advantageous because it allowed us to limit the socioeconomic factors that might influence patient outcomes and to focus on the genomic and proteomic alterations as a molecular factor in health disparity," said Cara Schafer, Ph.D., assistant professor at USUHS Department of Surgery and HJF scientist, who is the study's lead author. "These proteogenomic comparisons can help us bridge the gap in our understanding of why prostate cancer remains more deadly in men of African ancestry."

Among their findings were mutation signatures and recurrent copy number alterations, which are changes in DNA, along with increases in protein expression in both cohorts that correlated with a higher risk for disease progression, as defined by biochemical recurrence (BCR) and/or metastasis following surgery. For example, they found:

Expression levels of some proteins associated with risk for BCR and metastasis were differentially altered between the tumors of patients with African and European ancestries. For example, several NADH:ubiquinone reductase subunit proteins (e.g., NDUFS8 and NDUFV3) in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway were expressed at higher levels on tumors from patients of African ancestry, which Tan suggested could be inhibited with drugs such as metformin. In contrast, tumors from patients of European ancestry had an increased expression of several apolipoproteins (e.g., APOB and APOC1) in the cholesterol metabolism pathway.

Mutation signatures related to aging were higher in prostate cancer from men of European ancestry, which Tan said is consistent with the older age at diagnosis of this patient cohort.

Signatures associated with DNA repair deficiency were higher in prostate cancer from men of African ancestry, which Tan said might contribute to the efficacy in response to radiation therapy or drugs that target the DNA damage repair pathways, such as PARP inhibitors.

In tumors from the European ancestry cohort, more frequent gene alterations were found at chromosomes 3p, 17p, and 18q. In tumors from the African ancestry cohort, more frequent alterations were found at chromosomes 1p, 1q, 3q, 13q, and 19p.

The 17p13 locus had a higher rate of deletion in the European ancestry cohort. This locus spans a relatively large region on the chromosome with about 70 genes, including TP53a known tumor suppressor gene.

The 1p36 locus, which has previously been associated with prostate cancer susceptibility, was more frequently amplified in patients in the African ancestry cohort.

"Differences in our genetic ancestry and the variations in gene mutation signatures can partly explain why some cancers are more aggressive than others and can reveal weaknesses in the cancer cells that can be used as a target for therapy," Tan said. "Additionally, it is important to understand that although we may find a mutation more frequently in one group or the other, as long as the patient has an identifiable mutation, their cancer can be susceptible to targeted treatment. That's the benefit of doing studies like theseit doesn't focus on one group or the other, but everyone most affected by prostate cancer."

Tan said the next step is to compare their proteogenomic results against publicly available data sets to confirm if the associations they found hold true in a larger set of patients, and to verify using preclinical models whether prostate tumors with specific gene alterations are sensitive to certain available treatment compounds.

Limitations of the study include its comparatively small sample size and an imbalance between the average age at diagnosis of the patients in each cohort, since men of African ancestry in the CPDR clinic tend to be diagnosed at a younger age. Also, the tumor samples were from patients in the early stage of disease, so the findings do not reflect the more varied mutation profiles seen in late-stage or metastatic prostate cancer.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Understanding the link between brain activity and behavior is among the core interests of neuroscience. Having a better grasp of this relationship will both help scientists understand how the brain works on a basic level and uncover what specifically goes awry in cases of neurological and psychological disease.

One way that researchers study this connection is through what are known as "brain states," patterns of neural activity or connectivity that emerge during specific cognitive tasks and are common enough in all individuals that they become predictable. Another, newer, approach is the study of brain waves, rhythmic, repetitive patterns of brain cell activity caused by synchronization across cells.

In a new paper, two Yale researchers propose that these two ways of thinking about brain activity may not represent separate events but two aspects of the same occurrence. Essentially, they suggest that though brain states are traditionally thought of as a snapshot of brain activity while waves are more like a movie, they're capturing parts of the same story.

Reconsidering these two approaches in this context, the researchers say, could help both fields benefit from the methods and knowledge of the other and advance our understanding of the brain.

Inspired by ecological, conservation, and Indigenous philosophies, Maya Foster, a third-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, began pursuing this idea once she joined the lab of Dustin Scheinost, an associate professor in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at Yale School of Medicine.

They are co-authors of the new paper, published in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

"We're arguing that rather than a brain state being one single thing, it's a collection of things, a collection of discrete patterns that emerge in time in a predictable way," she said.

In an interview with Yale News, Foster and Scheinost describe their proposal, and discuss how they might help researchers better understand the mysteries of the brain. This interview has been edited and condensed.

When did you start to consider these might be two aspects of the same occurrence?

Maya Foster: This has been on my mind even before I came to this lab. I was reading a book"Erosion: Essays of Undoing" by Terry Tempest Williamsand she talks about how human-made machinery like helicopters cause vibrations that interrupt the natural pulse of things and cause things like rock formations to fall apart. Relatedly, there are a lot of Indigenous populations that believe everything has a pulse. And that got me thinking of the brain and whether we have some type of resonance or vibration that can be disrupted.

Then I joined this lab and Dustin let me experiment with a lot of different things. During one of those experiments, I input some data into a particular analysis and the outputs looked wave-like, and patterns emerged and then repeated. That took me down a whole rabbit hole of research literature and there was a lot of evidence for this idea of wave-like patterns in brain states.

What are the benefits of considering brain states as wave-like?

Foster: I think it creates a synergy where both sidesthe brain state folks and the brain wave folksbenefit by learning from each other. And maybe the gaps in knowledge we have now when it comes to how brain activity relates to behavior might be filled by both groups working together.

Dustin Scheinost: Brain waves are newer in this field and they're complex. And any time you can take something new and relate it to something oldbrain states in this caseit gives you a natural jumping off point. You can bring along everything you've learned so far. It's kind of like not throwing the baby out with the bath water. We don't need to drop brain states. They've informed us, but we can go in a different direction with them too.

How are you proposing researchers consider brain states and brain waves now?

Foster: Borrowing from physics, when you analyze light, it can be a discrete pointa photonor it can be wave-like. And that's one way we're thinking about this. Similarly, depending on how you analyze brain states you can get static patterns, much like a photon, or you if you look at activity more dynamically, certain patterns start to occur more than once over time, kind of like a wave.

So we're arguing that rather than a brain state being one single thing, it's a collection of things, a collection of discrete patterns that emerge in time in a predictable way.

For example, if we measured four distinct patterns in brain activity as someone completed a cognitive task, a brain state could be that pattern one emerges, then pattern three, then two, then four, and that series might repeat over time. And when that repetition stops, that would be the end of that particular brain state.

Credit: Yale University

You also draw comparisons to the musical technique known as 'fugue.' How does that fit with how you're visualizing these phenomena?

Foster: I'm a music person, so that's where this came from. In a fugue, you have a basic melody and then that melody emerges later in the music in different forms and formats. For instance, the melody will play, then some other music comes in, then the melody returns with the same rhythm and time sequence but maybe it's in a different key.

Fugues are cyclical and wave-like, they have distinct groups of notes, and there's a systematic repetition and sometimes layering of the main melody. We're arguing that brain states are also wave-like, have distinct patterns of brain activity, and display systematic repetition and layering of sequential patterns.

How are you hoping other researchers respond to your argument?

Foster: I would love feedback, honestly. There is evidence for what we're proposing but when it comes to implementing these ideas going forward, it would be helpful to have a conversation about how that might work. There are a lot of different strategies and I'm interested in a broader conversation about how we as researchers might go about studying this.

What's it like as someone who has been in this field for a while to have a student come in with a new idea like this?

Scheinost: You can get set in your ways as a researcher and you need new ideas, new creativity. Sometimes they may sound outlandish when you first hear them. But then you ruminate, and they start to take form. And it's fun. That's really where the fun of this job is, to hear new ideas and see how people discuss and debate them.

More information: Maya Foster et al, Brain states as wave-like motifs, Trends in Cognitive Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2024.03.004 Journal information: Trends in Cognitive Sciences
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have tested the feasibility of using human cell transdifferentiation with RNA sequencing to facilitate diagnoses of Mendelian disorders. The approach generated an overall diagnostic yield of 25.4% in a cohort of Undiagnosed Diseases Network cases. The findings are published in The American Journal of Human Genetics.

Functional experiments such as RNA sequencing, which reads the transcriptome or the gene expression in a cell, are often needed to support a genetic diagnosis obtained through exome sequencing or whole genome sequencing. However, the effectiveness of RNA sequencing is limited by expression of disease-associated genes in clinically accessible tissues like blood or skin fibroblasts, cells that contribute to the formation of connective tissue.

"This is especially problematic in neurological diseases because the gene causing the disorder may not be expressed in blood and skin cells," said corresponding author Dr. Pengfei Liu, associate professor of molecular and human genetics and director of the ACGME-accredited Laboratory Genetics and Genomics Fellowship Program at Baylor.

To overcome this challenge, researchers led by first author Dr. Shenglan Li, staff scientist in Dr. Liu's lab at Baylor, converted fibroblasts obtained in skin biopsies to neurons in a process called transdifferentiation. "This method activates neuron-specific gene expression and increases the probability that we can accurately characterize disease-causing mutations in these cells," Li said.

For clinical validation, researchers generated these induced neurons for a cohort of 71 individuals with neurological phenotypes in the Undiagnosed Diseases Network. RNA sequencing of the induced neurons led to a diagnosis in 18 individuals (25.4%); five of those cases could not have been diagnosed with RNA sequencing of fibroblasts alone.

"This study shows that fibroblast-to-neuron transdifferentiation followed by RNA sequencing is a simple, low-cost and reproducible approach with a reasonable turnaround time, making it feasible for clinical implementation," Liu said. "This new testing method represents a paradigm shift in laboratory genetics, moving from the traditional DNA-centric approach to one that focuses on the patient's cells."

"It's exciting to apply this well-established technique, which previously has been used to study mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, for a new use in genetic diagnostics," Li said.

More information: Shenglan Li et al, The clinical utility and diagnostic implementation of human subject cell transdifferentiation followed by RNA sequencing, The American Journal of Human Genetics (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.03.007 Journal information: American Journal of Human Genetics
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:

Diversity of Radial Glia cells in the neonatal ferret cerebral cortex, labeled with green fluorescent protein and seen within the transparent brain. Credit: IN-CSIC-UMH.

The development of the cerebral cortex largely depends on the stem cells responsible for generating neurons, known as radial glial cells. Until now, it was believed that these stem cells generated neurons following a simple process, that is, a single cell lineage.

However, a study led by the Neurogenesis and cortical expansion laboratory, headed by researcher Victor Borrell at the Institute for Neurosciences (IN), a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Miguel Hernandez University (UMH) of Elche, has discovered not only that there are many more types of radial glial cells than previously thought, but also that there are at least three different processes of neurogenesis that occur in parallel in the same brain areas and at the same moment of development.

The results of this work, published in the journal Science Advances, reveal the complexity of neurogenesis through the involvement of parallel lineages. "We have discovered that there are several alternative routes to generate neurons and that all the routes work at the same time, although we have also seen that the final result is always a neuron with similar characteristics and functions at that stage of development," explains Borrell.

Furthermore, researchers find evidence that the existence of parallel lineages is related to the folding of the cerebral cortex. "A fundamental aspect in this sense is that the 'routes' to form neurons work at the same time and in the same place, but not in the same quantity throughout the cortex, being different between gyrus and sulcus," says the article's first author, Lucia del Valle Anton.

To understand this link, researchers have studied the formation of neurons in regions that will undoubtedly give rise to a gyrus and a sulcus in the ferret brain, while, by using public databases, they have also been able to analyze it in human and mouse brains.

During the development of the study, in which the researcher Juan Antonio Moreno Bravo, who directs the Development, Wiring, and Function of Cerebellar Circuits laboratory, also participated, the experts observed that, although the three lineages are functioning in both gyrus and sulcus zones, different processes predominate depending on the location.

"At first, the cortex is smooth, but there is an area that will grow a lot, and as it grows, it will end up forming a gyrus. Meanwhile, next to it, other areas will grow less and will remain sunken, forming a sulcus," says Borrell. "The first difference between a gyrus and a sulcus is how much it grows, and this is related to how many neurons will be born in that place. For example, in the sulcus, what we find is that of these three 'routes,' the one that generates fewer neurons predominates, while in the gyrus, the opposite will happen."

Understanding the existence of these new types of stem cells, which possess a high capacity for division, along with the various mechanisms for generating neurons in parallel, enables us to comprehend the processes that lead to the enlargement of the human cerebral cortex compared to other species.

This research has allowed scientists to explore, with unprecedented detail, the genes expressed by neurons in both the gyrus and the sulcus. Borrell explains, "We aimed to observe which of all the cells we investigated express genes known to be mutated in human malformations. We verified that not all these cells express the genes responsible for these brain malformations. We observed that they are mainly expressed by the newborn neurons, rather than the progenitors."

Along these lines, the researcher highlights that, despite having the same functions at a global level, the neurons that are born in the gyrus express genes that are essential for the human cortex to have gyri. This indicates that, when patients have malformations because their brain lacks gyri, the defects occur specifically in the neurons of the gyrus and not in those of the sulcus.

International collaboration

In this study, which involved collaboration with researchers from the ISF Stem Cell Research Institute (Helmholtz Zentrum) and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, both located in Munich (Germany), the researchers based their results on the sequencing of individual cells at the transcriptomics level, a technique that enables us to identify all the genes that are expressed in each of the cells.

Scientists analyzed thousands of cells using informatics tools to determine the genetic trajectory of these cells and their respective lineages. Upon investigating and validating the lineage data across the three species, they observed that in the human brain, these three parallel lineages also occur, similar to what is observed in ferrets.

However, in the case of mice, analyses conducted have observed only a single predominant route in the creation of neurons. Future research will be necessary to determine whether mice lost these lineages due to evolution or if, on the contrary, these "routes" are still present but in such small proportions that they are undetectable with current tools.

More information: Lucia Del-Valle-Anton et al, Multiple parallel cell lineages in the developing mammalian cerebral cortex, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn9998 Journal information: Science Advances
Editors note: Calendar items must be submitted at least five days before an event. Email all items to news@morganton.com.

TODAY

Democratic Party meeting

The Burke County Democratic Party will hold a potluck supper at its headquarters, 310 S. Sterling St., at 6 p.m. today. The guest speaker will be John Ager who is the Democratic candidate for NC State Senate District 46.

WEDNESDAY

Meeting

The Burke County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council will meet at 8:10 a.m. in the Burke County Commissioners meeting room in section E of the county offices at 110 N. Green St., Morganton. To attend or for additional information, please contact A.J. Coutu at jcpcbcc@gmail.com or 828-403-1427.

Animal Advisory Board

The Burke County Animal Advisory Board will hold its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 10 at 5:30 p.m. This meeting will be held in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Burke Services Building, 110 N. Green St., Morganton. In accordance with ADA regulations, persons in need of an accommodation to participate in the meeting should call the County Managers office (828-764-9350) at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.

THURSDAY

Public Input Meeting

The public is invited to a presentation of the proposed park in Glen Alpine at the intersection of Bridge and Linville streets on Thursday, April 11, at 6 p.m. at Glen Alpine Town Hall. A site map showing planned amenities and layout will be shown and public comments recorded. The town will be applying for a NC PARTF grant and wants to make sure the park includes features residents desire.

AARP luncheon

Join our community for the Burke County AARP Baked Spaghetti Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 11 at the Morganton Community House. Tickets are $8 and are now on sale for a lunch of spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, and a homemade dessert, plus beverage. A vegetarian option is available. All funds raised are used to benefit our local community service organizations. Call 828 437-6181 for ticket information. Take out is available as well as delivery for orders of five or more.

FRIDAY

ACAP annual conference

ACAP Hickory/Foothills (Adult Children of Aging Parents) will be presenting its annual Caregiver Conference on Friday, April 12, at 8:30 a.m. until noon on the CVCC Campus, West Wing Commons, 2550 U.S. 70 SE, Hickory. In partnership with the Catawba County Library System and Catawba Valley Community College Human Services Technology Program, ACAP Hickory/Foothills will present the half day caregiving conference. The speakers will be Timothy Aumen, Ph.D. from Wake Forest University and George Place, Ph.D., community wellness specialist, Flow DoJo Training, as they discuss The Mindful Heart of Caregiving: Making Room for Peace, Balance, and Gratitude.

SATURDAY

Scavenger hunt

Burkes Amazin Race, a community scavenger hunt, is coming up on Saturday, April 13. Teams of 3-5 members (ages 21+) will compete to collect clues, take on fun challenges, and adventure through Downtown Morganton, followed by an Afterparty & Awards Celebration at Comma Performing Arts Center. Theres even a $300 Top Prize. Register your team by April 1 and learn more at www.bcuw.org/amazinrace.

Flint Knapping Workshop

The Exploring Joara Foundation will host a Flint Knapping Workshop on Saturday, April 13 from 9:30 to 4 p.m. at Catawba Meadows Living History Village, 701 Sanford Drive.

Piedmont Palooza

Western Piedmont Community College, 1001 Burkemont Ave., will host Piedmont Palooza on April 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on its main campus. The event will kick-off with a car cruise-in at 9 a.m. There will be campus program demonstrations, WPCC club activities, kid activities, food trucks and giveaways.

TUESDAY, APRIL 16

Meeting

The Friendly Tuesday Club will meet at 10 a.m. at Morganton Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 2187 Jamestown Road, Morganton.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17

Democratic Party meeting

The Burke County Democratic Party will hold a meeting at its headquarters, 310 S. Sterling St., at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 17. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. and the event will begin at 10 a.m. The guest speaker will be Josh Stein who is the Democratic candidate for NC Governor.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18

Lunch and Learn

Friends of the Valdese Rec will host Sheriff Banks Hinceman as a guest speaker for its Lunch and Learn event. The event will begin at noon with lunch and 20 minutes of social time before the program. RSVP to friendsofthevaldeserec@gmail.com if you would like to attend. The event will be held at First United Methodist Church, 217 St. Germain Ave. SE, Valdese.

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

Spring Day Dig

The Exploring Joara Foundation will host a Spring Dig Day on Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Berry Site on Henderson Mill Road. The event is a fun, casual workday. The cost is $15 or $5 for EJF members. Registration is required by visiting completing the online form at exploringjoara.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

Free bingo

Free bingo night will be held at the Lake James Community Center on Friday, April 26 from 6-9 p.m. A variety of hot foods will be available for purchase to eat in or to go. There will also be drawings for door prizes. The center is located one mile from the Lake James fire station on Highway 126 and is open to the public.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

Trip

Cruise Unifour Christian Ministries will be embarking on a cruise to Grand Turk and Dominican Republic. Members of the public are invited to join. Call Annette Guffey at 828-493-1723 or 828-396-1906 for more information.

Flint Knapping Workshop

The Exploring Joara Foundation will host a Flint Knapping Workshop on Saturday, April 27 from 9:30 to 4 p.m. at Catawba Meadows Living History Village, 701 Sanford Drive.

Community Day The Phifer Family YMCA, 2165 S. Sterling St., will host a free Community Day at the Y on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include outdoor play, open indoor pool, balloon artists, bounce house, food trucks, along with a variety of local health vendors. Attendees are asked to bring a pair of socks and reusable water bottle.

SATURDAY, MAY 12

Exploring Joara Foundation will host a Native American Pottery Workshop on Saturday, May 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Catawba Meadows Living History Village, 701 Sanford Drive. Attendees will learn how to make a replica Native American clay vessel with instructor Tammy Beane. Tickets are $100 per person for EJF members and $115 for non-members. Registration required at www.exploringjoara.org.

SUNDAY, MAY 13

Exploring Joara Foundation will host a Native American Pottery Workshop on Sunday, May 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Catawba Meadows Living History Village, 701 Sanford Drive. Attendees will learn how to make a replica Native American clay vessel with instructor Tammy Beane. Tickets are $100 per person for EJF members and $115 for non-members. Registration required at www.exploringjoara.org.
China provided a full and rational response to the issue of industrial capacity during the meetings and talks between the Chinese side and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who made a trip to China from April 4 to 9, according to China's Ministry of Finance.

In a press briefing on the visit, Chinese Deputy Finance Minister Liao Min said the issue of industrial capacity should be looked at by upholding the principles of market economy and the law of value.

"The so-called 'overcapacity' is the manifestation of the market mechanism that plays its role. The balance between supply and demand is relative, while imbalance is often the norm," said Liao.

Noting that overcapacity appeared in both the United States and other Western countries many times in history, Liao said, "The solution to these problems mainly depends on the market adjusting itself according to the law of value."

The official said that the industrial capacity issue should also be analyzed from the perspectives of both the global division of labor and the real situations of the global market.

"The current production capacity is far from meeting the market demand, especially the potential demand for new energy products in many developing countries," Liao said, giving the example of new energy vehicles (NEVs).

"Taking NEVs as an example, according to an estimate by the International Energy Agency, global demand for NEVs will reach 45 million units in 2030, 4.5 times that of 2022, and global demand for new photovoltaic capacity will reach 820 GW, about four times that of 2022," he said.

Liao said that after decades of rapid development, China's new energy industry has now gained a competitive advantage rooted in the country's super-large market, a complete industrial system and abundant human resources, and is inseparable from the huge investment in R&D and innovation and the unremitting spirit of entrepreneurs.

"Enterprises reduced production costs through technological innovation and improved the affordability of new energy products," he said, adding that this means that China, apart from meeting its own carbon emission goals, has also made positive contributions to the global response to climate change and green development. "And this must be objectively evaluated," he said.

The official said he believed trade protection measures will not help in addressing the issue of industrial production capacity, and called for "pragmatic" and "rational" policy decisions.

"China has taken note of the concerns of the United States and other relevant parties, and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with all parties to view and properly handle differences in a rational manner, on the basis of adhering to the principle of marketization," he said, adding that China will continue to pursue communications with the U.S. side on this matter at the working group level.
President William Ruto has demanded compensation for farmers who received fake fertilizer.

Speaking on Monday, the President stated that the company responsible for the counterfeit fertilizer should distribute new fertilizers to farmers without charge.

Every farmer will get the correct fertiliser. Those few people who want to take advantage of food production, the company that was involved, should compensate farmers who bought fake fertiliser and they should be given new fertilisers free of charge, the President said in West Pokot on Monday.

Ruto also assured Kenyan farmers that the government has an adequate supply of fertilizer for them.

He announced that the government would further decrease fertilizer prices to support farmers.

Yesterday, the President also paid an impromptu visit to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) Eldoret Depot. Ruto directed the management of NCPB depots nationwide to expedite the distribution of subsidized fertilizer.

Furthermore, Ruto issued a stern warning that those involved in the illicit trade would be brought to justice.
President William Ruto has a big fan in the renowned Kenyan industrialist Narendra Raval, who wishes his presidency would last for at least two and a half decades.

On Monday, the Founder and Chair of the Devki Group of Companies described Ruto as a passionate leader who will bring change to Kenya. Raval prayed for the Head of State to have a long life, mentioning that he was at a loss for words on how to thank him.

I have no words to say but to thank him. He loves us so much, he loves this country. God give him 100 years of life, I wish that we have this president for 25 yearsmahali ingine iko miaka mingi sana, if we have him hii inchi itabadilika sana, the billionaire said.

Raval, 62, was speaking in West Pokot during the commissioning of the Kes.45 billion Cemtech Limited clinker plant, a subsidiary of the Devki Group.

During the event presided over by President William Ruto, Pokot South MP David Pkosing, in his address after the businessman, proposed amending the law to allow a 25-year Ruto administration.

A live broadcast of the event captured President Rutos amused reaction as he chuckled with his palm on his head in response to MP Pkosings remarks.

Ruto Praises Narendra Raval

Ruto on his part lauded Raval as a true patriot dedicated to the nations progress.

Guru is my great friend and he believes in our country. Not all people are this patriotic to the extent investing such huge money in such a project.

That level of commitment, investment and paying taxes demonstrates immeasurable patriotism to the republic of Kenya and I want to say to my friend Raval congratulations, Ruto said.

The Cemtech clinker plant, located in Kipkomo, is poised to generate an estimated 6,000 metric tons of clinker daily, a crucial ingredient in cement production. With an annual production capacity projected at two million tons of clinker, it aims to supply the entirety of East Africa.

This marks another major coup for the Devki Group, which already has an iron grip on the steel and cement sectors, with subsidiaries across East and Central Africa.

Narendra Raval, who made the 2015 Forbes list of Africas 50 richest with an estimated net worth of $400M at the time, has been a key ally of President William Rutos administration.

Narendra Raval Endorses Rutos Finance Act

Last year, he endorsed the contentious Finance Act of 2023, even asking the High Court to be enjoined in the governments defence of the law, which introduces fundamental changes to Kenyas tax regime.

Mr Raval submitted that Section 70 of the Finance Act, 2023, which outlines the Export and Investment Promotion Levy applicable to all imported goods, will serve to promote local manufacturing by offering incentives.

The businessman further argued that the country experiences an annual loss of over Kes.800 million due to the importation of steel products, factoring in the impact of varying exchange rates.

Raval also mentioned that the importation of cheap and substandard steel products renders manufacturing in Kenya unsustainable.

In February of last year, President Ruto appointed Narendra Raval to head the steering committee of the National Lotteries taskforce.

Also Read  Billions Up for Grabs as National Lottery Gets Green Light from Parliamentary Committee

As a devout philanthropist, Narendra Raval endeared himself to the people at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when he stopped steel production to produce and donate Kes.100 million worth of oxygen to public hospitals.

The supposed modest billionaire, who neither owns a wallet, ATM card, nor credit card, supports a string of orphanages, childrens homes, government schools, and children from poor backgrounds.

Narendra Raval has in the past publicly committed to allocating 50 percent of his wealth to charity and the remaining 50 percent to his children.
You are here: China

People lay flowers to mourn the deceased at a cemetery in Beijing, capital of China, April 2, 2024. [Xinhua]

People across China made more than 51 million trips to pay tribute to the dead from April 1 to 7, around the time of the traditional Qingming Festival, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Monday.

About 71.33 percent of them chose eco-friendly and low-carbon ways to mourn their deceased family members and worship their ancestors, the ministry said in a press release.

Meanwhile, over 4.59 million visits were made to the online mourning platforms during the seven days, the ministry said.

The traditional Chinese Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, fell on April 4 this year.

During the period around this festival, people often visit graveyards, where they traditionally pay tribute to the dead by offering food and burning incense and paper money.

In recent years, with the support from the government, many have turned to greener practices, such as offering flowers and lighting electric candles.
A farmer loads newly harvested paddy rice seeds in Cengong County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Aug. 26, 2023. [Xinhua]

China has initiated a new round of action to significantly increase its grain output in the coming years, in the latest effort to ensure food security.

According to an action plan published by the State Council, the country aims to boost the grain production capacity by over 50 million tonnes by 2030. At that time, the grain growing area will total about 1.75 billion mu, or 117 million hectares, and the grain yield per mu will reach 420 kilograms.

China has seen a grain harvest of over 650 million tonnes for nine consecutive years, with the per capita share of grain at 493 kilograms.

However, the grain supply and demand is still characterized by a "tight balance" and the gap may expand in the future, hence the need to further increase output to ensure food security, said an official of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic planner.

Corn and soybeans will be the major contributors of the grain output increase, the plan said. In terms of rice and wheat, the emphasis is on improving quality and optimizing structure. Potatoes and other types of grain and beans will be promoted based on local conditions.

Major projects from water conservation to high-standard farmland construction and revitalization of the seed industry will be implemented in 720 crucial grain producing counties, under the guidance of the NDRC and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
Beijing's Xicheng district on Monday released measures on providing funds to encourage private efforts in building museums.

The measures aim to provide financial support for private museums and museums affiliated with state-owned enterprises that are registered with the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau. These museums are eligible to receive a one-time subsidy payment of 200,000 yuan (US$27,647).

Furthermore, museums that received funding for city-level exhibitions and educational activities in the previous year can receive as much as 400,000 yuan thanks to the new measures.

Museums that did not receive funds for city-level exhibitions and educational activities in the previous year can apply for district-level funds. Each museum can propose up to three exhibition projects, each eligible for funds up to 100,000 yuan.

In terms of talent support, museum professionals with significant academic achievements are prioritized for recommendation to apply for the talent funding project in Xicheng district.

Based on evaluations from the municipal cultural heritage bureau, private museums with sound performance can receive 100,000 yuan with a rating of "excellent," and 50,000 yuan with a rating of "qualified."
China and Russia pledge deeper cooperation

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing would "strengthen strategic cooperation" with Moscow, as he met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in the capital for talks.



Lavrov also met President Xi Jinping on Tuesday as part of his two-day official visit to China.



Lavrov arrived in Beijing earlier, with the two countries looking to further solidify diplomatic ties as Russia's war in Ukraine grinds on.



In meetings on Tuesday, Wang promised "China will support Russia's stable development under the leadership of [Vladimir] Putin," according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency.



The pair also pledged that Beijing and Moscow would continue their cooperation in the fight against terrorism, including through multilateral mechanisms.



The promise came after last month's deadly attack in Moscow left more than 130 people dead, an atrocity which was blamed on the Islamic State terror group.



Wang said they discussed the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.



"Foreign Minister Lavrov and I had an in-depth communication about several international and regional hotspot issues... including the Ukraine and Palestine-Israel conflicts.



"I would like to emphasise that as a responsible major power, China always decides its own positions independently based on the individual rights and wrongs of each situation.



"At the same time, as a force for peace and stability, China will stick to playing a constructive role on the international stage... and will never add oil to the flames," Wang said. (Agencies)

_____________________________

Last updated: 2024-04-09 HKT 17:29
Julia Rendleman, a photojournalism assistant professor at SIU, and students scout for stories in Alto Pass in March. (Photo by Russell Bailey)

SIU photojournalism students to visit Alto Pass, Cobden as part of workshop

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Southern Illinois University Carbondale photojournalism students will receive vital insight into honing their skills April 12-14 as they document people and events in Alto Pass and Cobden.

The three-day workshop will have students in Julia Rendlemans intermediate photojournalism class working with and receiving tips from award-winning industry professionals.

The workshop gives students a chance to get feedback from a range of photographers, said Rendleman, an assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Advertising. Its a chance for students to improve their work quickly over a 48-hour period by getting constant and instant feedback and critique. And I think it will give us a chance to build comradery and friendships  something that will serve these students well as they venture out into the journalism world for careers  it is a small community nationwide.

Media advisory

Reporters, photographers and news crews are invited to cover the workshop. To make arrangements for interviews, contact Julia Rendleman, assistant professor, SIU Carbondale School of Journalism and Advertising, at 618-713-1541 or julia.rendleman@siu.edu.

The students will receive immediate feedback from some of the industrys top photojournalists. Photojournalist and Pulitzer Center grantee Justin Cook will be among the professionals working with students as part of the centers Origin Photojournalism Workshop.

In addition to the eight to 10 students in Rendlemans class, four photojournalism students and Greg Cooper, an assistant professor in photojournalism, all from Eastern Illinois University, will participate. Rendleman said work on developing what the workshop will become continues.

We hope this is the beginning of a long-term collaboration between our two programs, and we have discussed trading off years to produce the workshop, she said.

Rendleman added that the workshop is fortunate to have many amazing alumni out in the world working as photojournalists. Several of them, including Brian Munoz of St. Louis Public Radio and Nicole Hester of the Tennessean in Nashville, are returning as mentors. One of Hesters photos from the horrific shooting at The Covenant School was judged one of Time Magazines top 10 photos for 2023.

Reviving the workshop

The event is similar to A Weekend in  workshops by now-retired SIU Carbondale photojournalism assistant professor Mark Dolan that started in 2009. Communities featured then included Alto Pass and Cobden; Carbondale; Murphysboro; the Tri-C communities of Cambria, Carterville and Crainville; Chester, and Harrisburg.

Rendleman, who is also an award-winning freelance photojournalist, participated in SIUs first two workshops and was a student fellow at the Pulitzer Center in 2011.

The work produced for the workshop will be hosted by SIUs Sharp Museum in August, Rendleman said. There will also be a community viewing session of the photos taken by students from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at the community center in Alto Pass. The photos will be a first look at the those to be featured at the Sharp Museum.
SIU Student Speakers Forum on April 11 to focus on short form content

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Five Southern Illinois University Carbondale undergraduate students will share their thoughts on the increased use of short form content in delivering information on Thursday, April 11, in Morris Librarys John C. Guyon Auditorium.

This semesters topic is Eclipsed: The Rise of Short Form Content. The free, public forum is from 7 to 8 p.m.

The forums, which happen each semester, began in spring 2002. The forum will also be available via the School of Communications Studies YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Short form content has become so important and ingrained in society and is relevant to college students, said Franklin Kimmell, a second-year doctoral student in communication studies who is organizing the forum.

Many people are now getting their information through condensed video, written or image-based formats, he said. In the recent discussions on TikTok in the United States, it was said that 170 million Americans use TikTok.

The five students selected are tackling the topic from a variety of perspectives, The discussion areas will include the addictive nature of short form videos, looking at short form content as a place for learning, the usefulness of short form content to nonprofit and philanthropic efforts, how short form content is impacting children's education, and how short form content has affected news gathering.

Chosen from auditions, students who deliver 6- to 8-minute persuasive speeches will each receive a $1,500 scholarship from the Society for Civil Discourse. Twelve students tried out for the forum.

Showcasing aspiring talent

The forum is sponsored by the School of Communication Studies and the Society for Civil Discourse. The society was founded in 1999, when SIU Carbondale alumna Barbara Jane Schwartz of Makanda established an endowment to provide space for students to be able freely engage in civil discourse and support opportunities for students to exchange opinions and beliefs in topics of interest about the Carbondale campus and society, said Sandy Pensoneau-Conway, associate professor and director of SIUs communication studies program.

Many of these students have little-to-no experience in public speaking, and so its a real joy to watch them blossom, Pensoneau-Conway said. This event is comprehensive in that students gain confidence, enhance their leadership and teamwork skills, and learn to craft a concise message for a public audience. I look forward to it every semester.

The students who will speak are:

Amira Alkhatim, freshman, biomedical engineering, Carbondale  Topic/thesis: By utilizing short form content, we can transform learning to enhance and improve educational opportunities for students of all ages.

Megan Clarida, sophomore, mortuary science and funeral service, Loves Park, Illinois  Topic/thesis: Short form content on social media can be an extremely effective way to raise and spread awareness on certain issues because of three key qualities: its appealing, it snackable, and its easily shareable.

Isabella Orozco, freshman, health care management, Chicago  Topic/thesis: Quick news available all across TikTok offers unparalleled benefits, especially to younger generations by increasing awareness, interest, and better understanding of the news and world around us.

Al Pearman, sophomore, geology, Joseph, Illinois  Topic/thesis: TikToks chokehold on our personal autonomy and its effects on our opinions and behaviors.

Mackenzie Stanton, freshman, English education, Murphysboro  Topic/thesis: Short Form Content and its Effects on Childrens Learning. Sleep, creativity, and attention span, all are integral parts of learning and can be negatively impacted by short form content.

There will be a catered reception following the forum in the rotunda outside of the auditorium. For more information on the event, contact Kimmell at franklin.kimmell@siu.edu.
As airfares reach unprecedented heights during peak seasons such as festivals and summer vacations, industry leaders are calling on the government to implement measures to control the surge. The demand for regulatory intervention comes amidst concerns over escalating costs and the need to ensure affordable travel options for the general public. The Chairman of the Travel and Tourism Committee of the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Subhash Goyal, has made a fervent appeal to the government to reinstate upper ceiling on fares. Goyal attributes the skyrocketing prices to various factors, including the recent crisis faced by Vistara and the suspension of Go First operations, all contributing to supply and demand imbalances in the aviation sector. In a statement addressing the issue, Goyal emphasized, "The prices are always demand and supply. When the demand goes up and supply doesn't increase, the prices rise. Free market economy doesn't mean that you start exploiting the consumer." He further added, "After Covid, the government had put an upper ceiling on domestic airfare. I think that ceiling should be reintroduced because if the direct operating cost between Delhi and Mumbai of an aircraft is Rs 4000, then you give them Rs 8000, Rs 12000, Rs 16000, 200-300 per cent profit, but there should be an upper ceiling." Goyal stressed the essential nature of air travel in contemporary times, citing reasons such as visiting dying relatives, seeking medical treatments like cancer treatment, and other urgent matters. He likened air travel to rail travel, asserting that it has become a necessity rather than a luxury. Consequently, he urged the government to intervene and implement an upper limit on airfares to ensure affordability and accessibility for all segments of society. Goyal said, "People are travelling to see dying relatives, for cancer treatment, for all sort of things. So just like rail travel is essential, air travel has also become an essential, it no longer is a luxury. Therefore I strongly appeal to the government that there should be an upper ceiling on air fair." Meanwhile, the escalating costs of Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) have compounded the issue, adding further financial strain on airlines. According to airline fuel retailers, the cost of fuel is expected to rise significantly, necessitating an increase in ticket prices to offset operational expenses. On April 1, Indian Oil released updated figures revealing a substantial surge in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices across major metropolitan areas, signaling further challenges for the aviation industry already grappling with economic uncertainty. The sharp rise in fuel costs has compelled airlines to adjust ticket prices, intensifying concerns over the affordability of air travel for passengers. According to Indian Oil's latest data, ATF prices for domestic airlines in metros have witnessed notable increases. In Delhi, prices have climbed to Rs 1,00,893.63 per kilolitre (Kl), while in Kolkata, they have surged to Rs 1,09,898.61/Kl. Similarly, in Mumbai and Chennai, ATF prices have risen to Rs 94,466.41/Kl and Rs 1,04,973.36/Kl respectively. These price hikes come at a time when airlines are already facing significant financial pressures due to various industry challenges. For airlines operating international routes, the updated ATF prices in dollars per kilolitre (Kl) paint a similar picture of escalating costs. In Delhi, the price stands at USD 918.01/Kl, while in Kolkata, it has risen to USD 956.91/Kl. Meanwhile, Mumbai and Chennai have seen prices surge to USD 917.28/Kl and USD 913.83/Kl respectively. ATF prices have been hiked across major metropolitan cities. In Delhi and Kolkata, the prices for domestic airlines reached Rs 1,00,893.63/Kl and Rs 1,09,898.61/Kl respectively on March 1. (ANI)
The wait is finally over. Makers of the much-awaited animated mythological film 'Luv You Shankar' starring Shreyas Talpade and Tanisha Mukerji have unveiled the official trailer. 'Luv You Shankar' promises to weave a magical story of faith, friendship, and adventure. The film is directed by Rajiv S. Ruia, produced by Sunita Desai from SD World Films Production, VisicaFilms Pvt Ltd and stars Shreyas Talpade, Tanishaa Mukerji, Abhimanyu Singh, Sanjay Mishra, Hemant Pandey and Mann Gandhi. Set against the backdrop of the sacred city of Banaras, the film revolves around the endearing bond between an eight-year-old boy and Lord Shiva. Sharing his excitement for the film, actor Shreyas Talpade said, "Being part of 'Luv You Shankar' was amazing. It's a story that will make you smile and think about the wonders of life. Such kind of film really can touch the hearts of moviegoers which makes it even more special and I am really excited to treat my audience with this beautiful film." Tanisha Mukerji added, "I loved being a part of this special movie. It's a beautiful tale that touches your heart and makes you believe in something bigger." Talking about the film, director Rajiv S. Ruia shared, "With 'Luv You Shankar,' we wanted to create a movie that brings joy and inspiration to everyone who watches it. The story will take you on a magical journey to Banaras and beyond." "We are thrilled to share the trailer of 'Luv You Shankar' with the world. It's a movie filled with love and hope, and we can't wait for everyone to see it," Producer Sunita Desai from SD World Film Production also expressed their excitement, 'Luv You Shankar' is slated to release in theatres on April 19, 2024, in four languages - Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. (ANI)
Taking to Instagram, Shraddha treated fans with glimpses of her celebrating Gudi Padwa.

Dressed in a traditional outfit, Shraddha posed with her aunt, Padmini Kolhapure.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5ikMfhoA_C/

Sharing the pictures, she wrote, "Happy Gudi Padwa Meri Insta Fam. Gudi Padwa ki aapko aur aapke parivaar ko hardik shubhkaamnaaye."

Marking the beginning of the traditional Hindu New Year, Gudi Padwa is primarily celebrated by the people in Maharashtra and Goa. The auspicious festival derives its name from two words -- 'gudi' which is the flag of Lord Brahma and 'padwa', which signifies the first day of the phase of the moon.

The occasion signals the onset of the warmer days and the spring season.

The festival is observed with colourful floor decorations, a special Gudhi flag garlanded with flowers, mango and neem leaves, and topped with upturned silver or copper vessels, street processions, dancing and festive foods like shrikhand puri.

Gudi Padwa coincides with the first day of the Chaitra Navratri and festivals like Sajibu Cheiraoba, Navreh, Cheti Chand and Ugadi that are celebrated in different parts of the country.

On the work front, Shraddha was last seen in director Luv Ranjan's 'Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar' opposite Ranbir Kapoor.

She will be next seen in the horror comedy 'Stree 2' alongside RajKummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi and Aparshakti Khurrana.

Helmed by Amar Kaushik, the film also stars Abhishek Banerjee in the lead role.

The film recently went on floors in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh. The makers of the horror comedy, the sequel to an earlier hit, officially announced their film at a grand event in Mumbai last April, where the team enacted a skit to announce the release date.

'Stree' was released in 2018 and was declared a blockbuster hit. The sequel will be out in theatres in August this year. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Madhavi Latha on Monday mocked her Lok Sabha election rival from Hyderabad, Asadduddin Owaisi after he claimed to have received death threats and asked who can give him death threats when he has friendships with "Mukhtar Ansari and the Kings' group." Speaking to ANI, Latha denied believing that Owaisi is receiving threats and said that it could be Asaduddin Owaisi's people who are giving him death threats. "How is Asaduddin Owaisi getting death threats? Is someone pelting stones at him or attacking him? All this is only on social media. I am also getting thousands of threats on social media, did I ever said this. Who are these people on social media? These people sit in the AC room and say whatever they want to. How can I believe that he is getting threats? It can be Asaduddin Owaisi's people who are giving him death threats," she said. "These are the people who attack others, the public should get security from them. Why does he (Asaduddin Owaisi) need security? He has a friendship with Mukhtar Ansari and the Kings' group and these people need security," she added. After the death of Mukhtar Ansari, Asaduddin Owaisi paid tribute to the gangster-turned-politician and visited his residence in Ghazipur earlier this week. When asked about her allegations regarding bogus votes in the Hyderabad Parliament constituency, the BJP candidate from the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat said that she had provided all the data to the Central Election Commission and they reacted on it as well. "I provided all the data to the Central Election Commission and they reacted to it as well. They gave it to the State Election Commission but they cannot do anything as they don't have enough people. The State Election Commission asked the GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) to carry out an investigation and present the data but the GHMC is asking us to provide all the information. "I submitted all the data to them but it is now their work to carry out an investigation regarding this. I cannot leave my election campaign to do their work," she added. Madhavi Latha is set to face Asaduddin Owaisi, who is a four-time Lok Sabha MP from the Hyderabad constituency. In 2019, the BJP fielded Bhagavanth Rao, who stood second and lost to Owaisi by 282186 votes, garnering around 26 per cent of the vote while the AIMIM chief got 58.95 per cent votes. Voting across all 17 seats in Telangana will be conducted in a single phase on May 13. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BRS won nine of 17 seats, while the BJP and Congress bagged four and three seats, respectively. (ANI)
In a significant mobilization ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Legal Cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tripura took out a massive rally in Agartala on Monday. The event saw a remarkable turnout, with hundreds of senior and junior advocates marching through the city. The rally, held today, was not just a show of strength but also a clarion call to the people of Tripura to support the BJP in the upcoming elections for the West Tripura and East Tripura Lok Sabha seats, scheduled for April 19 and 26, 2024, respectively. Additionally, a by-poll has been announced for the 7-Ramnagar Assembly Constituency. Subal Bhowmik, vice president, BJP, Tripura, said, "BJP, Tripura Legal Cell has come to the roads to appeal to the people of Tripura to extend their support to the BJP candidates in both the Lok Sabha seats and one by poll at 7-Ramnagar Assembly Constituency, Agartala. Since Narendra Modi took charge as PM in 2014, he kept on supporting the small state of Tripura, and that's why its been the 5th state among all others on the list of highly developing states in the country in just ten years." He further said that several initiatives were being undertaken to enrich the economic strength of Tripura. He further said, "Before Tripura had only one narrow highway, ten national highways are under rapid construction, Agartala-Akhawara Rail link is about to start, and the Moitri Setu (Moitri Bridge) at Sabroom, South Tripura, is all set to be kicked off to start business from Bangladesh to the whole North East via Tripura, which will be enriching the economic strength of Tripura incredibly." He further said that many senior advocates have also participated the rally today to show gratitude towards PM Narendra Modi and CM Dr Manik Saha for development of the state. The BJP's rally led by the party's Legal Cell, underscored the transformative projects and initiatives that have been undertaken in the state, aiming to continue this momentum. The party's message is clear: the continuation of Modi's vision, along with the local leadership of Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, is vital for Tripura's sustained development and prosperity. Subal Bhowmik, the Vice President of the Tripura State BJP, made his presence felt at the rally, signifying the event's importance to the party's leadership. Starting from the premises of the CJM court, the rally coursed through the city, drawing attention and engaging with the citizens, effectively communicating the party's achievements and its future agenda for the state. The rally not only served as a platform to appeal for votes but also highlighted the legal community's support for the BJP, showcasing the broad base of backing the party enjoys across various sections of society. With the elections looming, the BJP's outreach efforts, as demonstrated by today's rally, indicate a full-throttle campaign aimed at securing a decisive victory in both the Lok Sabha seats and the 7-Ramnagar Assembly Constituency by-poll. As the dates for the elections draw near, all eyes are on Tripura, with the BJP leveraging its developmental credentials and the popularity of its central and state leadership to appeal to the electorate. The party's efforts to rally support and encourage voter turnout reflect the significance of these elections in the broader national political landscape. (ANI)
Two traffic police officials were injured after a man allegedly rammed the car in the Dighi area of the Pune district, police said. Pimpri Chinchwad Police arrested the accused, who was identified as Prashant Kadam (20). According to a senior police official, the incident took place at around noon on Monday, when both officials of the traffic department were on duty at the check post. Prashant Kadam was driving an Alto car with black film on its window panes. When the police tried to stop him for an inquiry, he did not follow the order and instead rammed his car into both traffic police officials, the police said. The injured traffic police officials were identified as Rahul Mote and Kalyan Bhosale. Both have been admitted to the hospital. Out of both, Rahul Mote was seriously injured, according to the official. The accused had been arrested under IPC sections 307, 353, 333, 279 and Section 184 of the Motor Vehicle Act. Earlier, a police constable posted in Pune allegedly shot himself with a service carbine gun in a staff resting room. The deceased was identified as Bharat Asmar (33). The police suspect that it could be due to personal reasons. No suicide note has been found. "There were no suicide notes found as of now, and police suspect some personal problems could be the reason behind this extreme step," a senior police official said. On Thursday night, Asmar went to the restroom and locked the room from inside, and it is suspected that he shot himself around 3 am using his service carbine gun, resulting in his death. The incident came to light on Friday afternoon, and police are probing the case further, the official added. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended greetings on the occasion of the traditional New Year to people living in different states of the country, wishing them happiness and good health. "Greetings to our sisters and brothers in Manipur on the occasion of Sajibu Cheiraoba. May this new year bring the blessings of prosperity, good health and happiness to all and empower the spirit of brotherhood," Shah posted on X. Sajibu Cheiraoba is the lunar new year festival of the people who follow the Sanamahism religion of Manipur. While festive food, offerings and prayers are part of the festivities for the day, it is believed that the feast for the occasion is usually prepared by the men in the family, while women assist them in chopping and washing the ingredients. Today also marks the Hindu New Year according to the Vikram Samwat calendar. "Hearty greetings to all the countrymen on the Hindu New Year, Vikram Samvat 2081. I wish that this New Year brings happiness, prosperity and glory to the lives of all of you," Shah posted on X. The Home Minister also extended his greeting on the occasion of Chaitra Navrati and prayed for health and prosperity for all. "Jai Mata Di! Happy Chaitra Navratri. I pray to Shakti Swaroopa Maa Bhagwati for the health, wealth, prosperity and advancement of all," he wrote on X. Celebrated during the spring season, Chaitra Navratri or Vasant Navratri is considered to be an important nine-day celebration for Hindus. During the nine days of Chaitra Navaratri, it is believed that nine different avatars of the goddess are worshipped. The nine-day festival, which is also known as Rama Navratri, ends on Rama Navami, Lord Ram's birthday. During Chaitra Navratri, people also fast and worship the goddess Durga. They also perform Ghatasthapana, the invocation of goddess Shakti, which is a significant ritual followed during the period. Navratri also celebrates calmness and peacefulness in the form of Maha Gauri Mata. This year, Chaitra Navratri begins on April 9, 2024, and concludes on April 17, 2024. Cheti Chand marks the beginning of the Sindhi New Year and the birth anniversary of Ishtadeva Uderolal, popularly known as Jhulelal, the Sindhi saint. Sindhis wear new elegant clothes and join the grand Jhulelal procession. The celebration is followed by a cultural programme and langarsaab. Extending greetings of Cheti Chand, Shah posted, "Heartfelt greetings to all Sindhi sisters and brothers on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Jhulelal and the sacred festival of Chetichand. I pray to Bhagwan Jhulelal Ji, wishing the best health and prosperity for everyone." Ugadi the traditional new year day is being celebrated in Andhra Pradesh today. Telugu new year day is observed on 'Chaitra Suddha Padyami' according to the lunar calendar. On this occasion, devotees throng temples to offer prayers. Extending greetings on the occasion of Ugadi, the Home Minister said, "Happy Ugadi to Telugu brothers and sisters. This festival not only brings happiness and prosperity into everyone's lives but also strengthens bonds with each other. I pray that God blesses everyone." "Happy New Year to all my brothers and sisters in Karnataka on the auspicious occasion of Ugadi. I pray to God that the inspiration and elegance of the festival be with you always on this occasion of joy. Happy Ugadi festival to all," Shah added. Panchanga Sravanam' is the specialty of the Ugadi festival. Scholars of astrology calculate the astrological features in the new year, and read them for people, along with regular prayers. The Home Minister further wished the people on the occasion of Gudi Padwa which is primarily celebrated by the people in Maharashtra and Goa. "Happy Hindu New Year Vikram Samvat 2081 and Gudi Padwa to all! May this New Year bring you all new energy, hope, enthusiasm and success in life!" he posted on X. Marking the beginning of the traditional new year, Gudi Padwa is primarily celebrated by the people in Maharashtra and Goa. The auspicious festival derives its name from two words -- 'gudi' which is the flag of Lord Brahma and 'padwa', which signifies the first day of the phase of the moon. The occasion signals the onset of the warmer days and the spring season. The festival is observed with colourful floor decorations, a special Gudhi flag garlanded with flowers, mango and neem leaves, and topped with upturned silver or copper vessels, street processions, dancing and festive foods like shrikhand puri. Gudi Padwa coincides with the first day of the Chaitra Navratri and festivals like Sajibu Cheiraoba, Navreh, Cheti Chand and Ugadi that are celebrated in different parts of the country. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address his first election rally in Bihar at Gaya district under the Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat on Wednesday in favour of BJP candidate Sushil Kumar Singh and NDA allies Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) candidate Jitan Ram Majhi. Sushil Kumar Singh is a BJP candidate from the Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat, and former Chief Minister of Bihar and HAM candidate Jitan Ram Majhi is contesting the Lok Sabha election from the Gaya reserve seat as an NDA candidate. Speaking to ANI, Sushil Kumar Singh said that the people of both Lok Sabha seats, Gaya and Aurangabad, are very excited to hear Amit Shah because, under his leadership as Home Minister, he successfully eliminated the naxalism in South Bihar. The people of South Bihar want to thank him for this great achievement of the BJP government in the Centre. "Still, we remember that the entire south of Bihar is known for naxalism, and people of this area rarely come out of home after evening. Naxal violence had hampered the development of the entire south Bihar but the scenario changed after Narendra Modi Ji became Prime Minister in 2014. He has taken the Naxal problem seriously and started to eliminate the Naxalism from South Bihar and today there is no fear among people in this area and Naxalism is wiped out from here," he added. The BJP leader further appreciated Shah and said that as a Home Minister, he has taken several steps for development work in South Bihar and said that this time the BJP will win all south Bihar Lok Sabha seats by a huge margin. A senior Bihar BJP leader told ANI on condition of anonymity that during his visit to Bihar, the Union Home Minister will hold a public meeting and in the evening he will chair the Bihar BJP core group meeting at Patna to review the election strategy for all 40 Sabha seats. "Amit Shah's Bihar visit on April 10, ahead of the first phase of Lok Sabha polling on April 19, in the state with 4 seats, is very important in terms of the motivation of party workers and strategy," the BJP leader added. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA, comprising the BJP, JD (U), and LJP, dominated the 2019 elections by winning 39 out of 40 seats. In the first phase, voting is to be held in 4 seats of Bihar on April 19. Those 4 Lok Sabha seats are Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and Jamui. Bihar will see polling in seven phases. The first phase of polling will be held on April 19, the second phase on April 26, the third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 25, and the seventh phase on June 1. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will be held in seven phases, starting on April 19. Counting of votes on June 4. (ANI)
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Monday said that there is a need to develop a "joint culture" for the armed forces to distil the best of each service to give a de-novo approach to traditional concepts. Gen Chauhan was addressing the tri-service conference, 'Parivartan Chintan', that brainstormed fresh ideas, initiatives and reforms to further propel "jointness and integration" among the three services. As deliberations over theatre commands continue, the three services at a day-long tri-service conference on Monday discussed how 'jointness and integration' were essential for the transformation to joint structures. Gen Chauhan emphasised the need to work towards Jointness 2.0 by reinforcing positives and ensuring the speed and momentum of the change to be brought in. He also dwelled upon larger-scale reforms, aimed at the development of joint culture and quantification of integration efforts to increase our efficiency and enhance warfighting ability and interoperability. The first-of-the-kind conference primarily delved into various aspects relating to the implementation of the government's ambitious initiative to roll out theatre commands which were conceived as part of big-ticket defence reforms. "Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan initiated the 'Chintan' by highlighting the need for developing a joint culture for the armed forces, which, while respecting the uniqueness of each service, distils the best of each service to give a de-novo approach to traditional concepts," the defence ministry said. "He also stressed upon the need to integrate the capabilities of each service by creating structures that increase our efficiency and enhance our warfighting ability and interoperability," it said in a statement. The ministry said "jointness and integration" are the "cornerstones" of the transformation to joint structures which the Indian armed forces are progressing towards with the intention of being "future ready". Officers from all three Services and Headquarters IDS, with diverse service experience, also attended the discussion and contributed ideas towards initiating the next generation of reforms related to modernization, procurement, training, adaptation and collaboration while embracing emerging and innovative technologies. Inputs on National Strategic Issues impacting National Security in both the civil and military domains were also deliberated upon. Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Lt Gen JP Mathew in his closing remarks expressed confidence that such interactions will provide the necessary guidelines as Joint Operational Structures evolve to transform into a Future Ready Indian Armed Forces. (ANI)
The Election Commission of India has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to deploy 100 more companies of the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) in West Bengal to conduct a free and fair Lok Sabha election, according to sources. According to the sources, 55 companies of CRPF and 45 companies of the Border Security Forces (BSF) are being deployed by the Home Ministry on the instruction of the ECI. Officials have been directed to complete the deployment of an extra 100 CAPF companies in West Bengal on or before April 15, sources added. On Wednesday, the ECI had convened a crucial meeting with all states and union territories to review and assess the law and order situation, prevention of illicit activities, seizures and strict vigil across inter-state and international borders in the ongoing General Elections to Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies 2024 for a free, fair, peaceful and inducement free elections. The purpose of the combined review was to bring all concerned stakeholders together on the same platform for a seamless coordination and cooperation amongst officials of the neighbouring states/UTs along with central agencies guarding the borders. The Commission, in detail, reviewed critical issues pertaining to each State/UT. The meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar along with ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu was attended by top officials from States/UTs and central agencies guarding the borders. CEC Rajiv Kumar in his opening remarks underscored Commission's commitment to ensuring free, fair, peaceful, and inducement-free elections, and called upon all stakeholders to work together seamlessly to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and ensure level playing field. Elections in the 42 parliamentary constituencies of West Bengal will be held on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The counting of votes will take place on June 4. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election in West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress won 22 of the 42 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged 18. The other two seats were won by the Congress. (ANI)
Asserting that Congress members are worshippers of Lord Ram, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday defended the party's decision to "respectfully decline" the invite for the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya in January this year, saying it was "political" event for "a political person". Prime Minister Narendra Modi had led the rituals at the Pran Pratishtha at the grand Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya. In an interview with ANI, Jairam Ramesh, who is Congress general secretary, accused the BJP of "politicization of religion" saying it brings down religion and politics as well. Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said they are "vyapari (traders) of Ram" while Congress members were "pujari (worshippers)" of the deity. "The January 22 celebration was political. It was done for a political person. We are the worshipers of Ram and they (BJP) are traders of Ram. Interestingly, it is my birthday today. My name is -Jairam Ramesh - both parts of my name have 'Ram'. No one can call us anti-Ram. The politicization of religion brings down religion and politics as well," Jairam Ramesh said. He was asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks in his Lok Sabha election rally in Chhattisgarh on Monday in which slammed Congress over its decision to decline the invite for the Pran Pratishtha event. PM Modi had also alleged that Congress took action against those who disagreed with the party's stance. The Congress had issued a statement in January declining the invitation to its senior leaders to attend the Pran Pratishtha invitation in Ayodhya, stating it was "clearly an RSS/BJP event". "While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event," the party had said in a statement. The Pran Pratishtha ceremony was held on January 22 this year. Addressing a public meeting in Bastar in Chhattisgarh on Monday, PM Modi said the dream of having a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya has been fulfilled. "Ram Navami is not far away. This time, Ram Lalla will give his blessings from the grand temple and not just from a tent. This dream was fulfilled after 500 years, so it's obvious that Lord Ram's 'nanihaal' (home of maternal grandmother) Chhattisgarh will be the happiest," he said. (ANI)
Just like devotees waited for the construction of Ramjanmabhoomi Mandir at Ayodhya for around 500 years, a village in Chattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district waited for 21 years to open the doors of Lord Ram's temple till a camp of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was established. After the establishment of CRPF's 74th battalion camp, security forces have reopened the temple in Keralapenda village, that was shut down 21 years ago following the threat issued by Naxals. The doors of the Ram Mandir was closed in 2003 following the threat issued by Naxals, near village Lakhapal and Kerlapenda. As per information received from villagers, the temple was built by Bihari Maharaj in 1970 and villagers covering a distance of around 80 kilometres on foot to bring the materials required for construction. During the time of the temple's construction, the region lacked road connectivity as well as adequate facilities for transport. Villagers brought construction materials by covering the distance on foot guided by their devotion to Lord Ram. According to locals, after the establishment of the temple, several among them gave up the consumption of meat and liquor (including Mahua alcohol). As people in the village kept themselves away from violence due to their religious beliefs and habits, naxals prohibited worship in the temple around 2003 as they lacked support from the village. Villagers also recalled that a grand fair was conducted at the village and it used to mark the participation of devotees from adjacent areas as well as seers from Ayodhya. As the naxal menace rose, worship in the temple stopped and the fair ceased to exist. Eventually, the naxals locked up the temple's doors. After a CRPF camp was set up near the village, security personnel opened the temple's door to win their confidence and bring them to the mainstream. Officials and troopers, along with villagers, carried out cleanliness exercises around the temple and opened the doors of the temple. Worship of the deities was followed by the performance of all rituals and traditions. Impressed by the work of CRPF officials and personnel, villages extended gratitude to them for opening the temple. "On March 14, 2023, Lakhapal camp of CRPF was opened and during area domination, they spotted an old temple in dilapidated condition at village Kerlapenda," the Commandant of 74th battalion, Himanshu Pandey said adding that on enquiring, security personnel learnt about the glorious past of the locked temple. "The village also informed that Naxals had caused damage to the temple and locked it in 2003", he added, citing the inputs collected from villagers. However, one family kept on offering worship secretly, the Commandant said. Pandey further said that the establishment of the camp created excitement among villagers and they requested the security personnel for the renovation of the temple. "Considering the request of villagers, security personnel carried out cleanliness at the temple and handed it over to them. Routine worship and performing of rituals by villagers started in the temple. Recently, a group of women and children performed worship at the temple during evening hours. With the opening of the temple, spreading positivity in the village and linking them with development will be our effort," Pandey said. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings of Ugadi, Cheti Chand, Sajibu Cheiraoba, Navreh and Gudi Padwa; various festivals celebrated in different parts of the country to mark the traditional new year. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "Best wishes to all my family members of the country on the occasion of Navratri. We wish that this great festival of worship of Shakti brings happiness, prosperity, good fortune and health to everyone. Jai Mata Di!." He also sought the blessing of the Hindu Goddess 'Shailputri' who is worshipped on the first day of Navaratri. "Today, on the first day of Navratri, I pay my respects and obeisances at the feet of Maa Shailputri! May Mother Goddess infuse new strength and energy into the lives of all my family members in the country," the PM added. Chaitra Navratri begins on the first day of the Hindu Luni-Solar calendar. This year the festival started on April 9 and will end on April 17. All nine days of Navratri are devoted to honouring the nine incarnations of the goddess 'Shakti'. The occasion also marks the start of the Hindu New Year as per the Luni-solar calendar, and people in Maharastra celebrate it as Gudi Padwa, while Kashmiri Hindus observe it as Navreh. Apart from Navratri, the Prime Minister also extended his greetings on other festivals including Ugadi, Cheti Chand, Sajibu Cheiraoba, Navreh and Gudi Padwa celebrated in different parts of the country to mark the traditional new year. Gudi Padwa, the traditional new year, is being celebrated across regions on April 9, Tuesday. The festival is primarily celebrated by people in Maharashtra, Goa and Konkan regions. It signifies the beginning of the Marathi new year. (ANI)
Aam Adami Party leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Tuesday met the leaders of the Trinamool Congress who were detained by the city police here while they were holding a dharna outside the Election Commission's office, demanding that the chiefs of the central probe agencies be changed. Bharadwaj arrived at Mandir Marg police station to meet TMC leaders on Tuesday. Speaking to the reporters here, the AAP Minister slammed the ruling party at the Centre, calling the detention of the TMC leaders a "blatant dictatorship". "It's a blatant tanasahi (dictatorship) in the country today. What TMC legislators and MPs are saying? MCC is in force. PM is doing campaigning across the country; opposition leaders are raided by CBI, I-T, ED, and now NIA has reached also, but only against opposition parties, why? This indicates that these institutions nowadays come under the EC and have given open freedom to derail the campaign of opposition parties. If you raid someone's residence, will that person hold a campaign or will meet a lawyer?" Saurabh Bharadwaj said. Asserting that his party stands with Trinamool Congress, the AAP leader questioned the Delhi Police why it did not arrest the BJP leaders who held a rally in the CP area a day before. "MCC is implemented in the country. All agencies and government functioning should come under neutral EC, but the way ED and NIA raids are being done on opposition leaders shows that the Central government wants to silence the opposition in this Lok Sabha elections. TMC MPs and elected representatives are detained at a police station in New Delhi. Their demand is that the four agencies - ED, CBI, I-T and NIA- which have caused 'tandav', their heads should be changed.... We stand with Trinamool Congress," he said. "BJP did a demonstration in CP, who gave permission for it? They were not arrested. Was a case registered against Virendraa Sachdeva (BJP Delhi chief)?" he asked. A delegation of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders has been protesting inside the Mandir Marg police station in Delhi since Monday night against their detention, even though the police claimed they were already released. During the dharna outside the ECI office, the TMC leaders demanded that the chiefs of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Investigation Agency (NIA) Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department be changed. Those who staged the protest included five TMC MPs Derek O'Brien, Mohammad Nadimul Haq, Dola Sen, Saket Gokhale and Sagarika Ghosh. At the same time, three former MPs Arpita Ghosh, Shantanu Sen and Abir Ranjan Biswas were present. Apart from this, MLA Vivek Gupta and TMC youth leader Sudeep Raha were also protesting. (ANI)
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Madhya Pradesh's Naxal-affected Balaghat on Tuesday, state cabinet minister Prahlad Singh Patel said that his visit would create history. PM Modi will address a public gathering during his visit to Balaghat and it will be PM Modi's second visit to the state in the last three days. Speaking to ANI, on PM's visit to the state, MP minister Prahlad Singh Patel said, "We are all fortunate and excited, not only the workers but also the public. Narendra Modi is coming here for the first time as Prime Minister. Today is a historic day and it is the first day of Navratri." In Balaghat, women are more than that of men in sex ratio and Balaghat parliamentary seat got a woman candidate for the first time after independence, a woman MP will be elected from here, Patel said. "I feel that the leader on whose behest and whose work and name people get votes in the country will be on the land of Balaghat for the first time today on New Year, this will create history," the minister added. The BJP has fielded Bharti Pardhi, a new face, from Balaghat, replacing the incumbent MP, Dhal Singh Bisen currently representing the party from the constituency. The election will be held here in the first phase on April 19 with five other parliamentary seats in the state. Earlier on Sunday, PM Modi kicked off the party's election campaign in Madhya Pradesh by holding a grand roadshow in Jabalpur in which people gathered in large numbers on both sides of the road and showered petals on the Prime Minister. The Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh will be conducted in four phases. The first phase of polling would be held on April 19, followed by April 26, May 7 and May 13. Madhya Pradesh has a total of 29 Lok Sabha constituencies, making it the sixth-largest state in terms of parliamentary representation. Out of these, 10 seats are reserved for SC and ST candidates, while the remaining 19 are unreserved. In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, the BJP secured a massive victory in Madhya Pradesh, winning 28 out of the 29 seats. The Indian National Congress (INC) managed to win only one seat. (ANI)
A group of 47 cadets and two teachers, including 10 girls, participated in a week-long National Integration Tour of the North Eastern Region from April 3 to 10, according to an official release. As per the official press release, the tour was planned, organised and executed by the Assam Rifles and aimed to provide these cadets with a deeper understanding of the North Eastern states. "The cadets visited the Directorate General Assam Rifles Headquarters at Laitkor, where they engaged in interactive sessions with Lt General PC Nair, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, PhD, the Director General of Assam Rifles and an alumnus of the same school," it said. The highlight of their visit was a surprise reception at Assam Rifles House, where the Assam Rifles Jazz Band performed the school song 'Hum Bharat Ke Chand Sitare' for the cadets, leaving them pleasantly enthralled. The interaction with Director General of Assam Rifles, an alumnus of the school, added a personal touch to their experience and instilled a sense of pride and connection. In addition to Laitkor, the cadets also visited the War Memorial and the Museum of Assam Rifles. Further, they attended a cultural programme at the Rai auditorium in Assam Rifles, where they watched performances by artists from various states showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the region. The cadets thereafter visited other prominent locations of Meghalaya, including Shillong Peak and Cherrapunji. From Shillong the cadets proceeded to Dimapur. They visited the Assam Rifles Training Centre & School and saw the training facilities and activities of the recruits in the Centre. Cadets of the school also visited Sainik School Pungalwa in Nagaland. The cadets were thrilled to meet their peers in Sainik School Pungalwa during their familarisation visit. From Dimapur, they moved to the 7 Assam Rifles located at Ghaspani, where they interacted with the officers and men and also witnessed a cultural programme. Incidentally, the Director General has been a company commander in 7 Assam Rifles. They further moved to Inspectorate General Assam Rifles (North) and witnessed a lecture & demonstration showcasing the epic battle of Kohima. They also visited the Kohima War Cemetery and witnessed the weapons and pipe band display. The cadets interacted with Major General Manish Kumar, Inspector General (North). Cadet Om Deelip Mane, while expressing his views, said, "I feel really privileged to be part of the National Integration Tour, as it has broadened my horizons as well as my knowledge about North Eastern states". Cadet Yadnya Totawar profusely thanked Assam Rifles for the memorable experience and expressed that such tours promote understanding of different cultures and are effective in community engagement. The underlying goal of the National Integration Tour being conducted regularly by Assam Rifles is to create a cohesive society that nurtures responsible citizens and embraces the diversity of India. By exposing students to different cultures, traditions, and ways of life, these tours serve as a bridge to connect people from various backgrounds, fostering mutual respect and understanding. The cadets expressed their gratitude to the Assam Rifles for organising the unforgettable tour, which not only enhanced their knowledge but also left a lasting impact on their hearts. The memories of the tour will serve as a reminder of the importance of unity in diversity and the beauty of being part of a nation that celebrates its rich tapestry of cultures. National Integration Tours like this serve as a catalyst for promoting harmony, inclusivity, and a shared sense of belonging among the citizens of India. Through such initiatives, we pave the way for a brighter future built on the foundation of unity in diversity. (ANI)
In the visuals, the Deputy CM was seen hoisting the Gudi at his residence.

Gudi Padwa, also known as Ugadi or the Marathi New Year, is a vibrant and joyous festival celebrated predominantly by the people of Maharashtra and in other regions with fervor and enthusiasm.

The word 'Gudi' means decorated flag, which is hoisted outside the houses as a symbol of victory and prosperity on this day. It comprises a bright cloth adorned with neem leaves, mango leaves, a garland of flowers, sugar crystals, and a silver or copper pot placed atop a bamboo stick.

On this day, people decorate their houses with rangolis, mango leaves and marigold flowers.

'Shrikhand-Puri' is one of the dishes prepared on the occasion of Gudi Padwa. The occasion signals the onset of the warmer days and the spring season.

NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader and Baramati candidate Supriya Sule also celebrated Gudi Padwa with family at her residence.

Meanwhile, President of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) Sharad Pawar extended his warm wishes to the people.

In a post on X, Sharad Pawar wrote,"Let us celebrate today's festival of Gudi Padva with new aspirations and new resolutions. Let's build a nest of happiness, prosperity and a new consciousness. Bless you all and Happy New Year..!" (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his commitment to serving the nation and its people on Tuesday, pointing out that he would leave no stone unturned to improve citizens' lives. Addressing a public meeting in Pilibhit, PM Modi said that when the intentions are right and the morale is high, the results are also positive, as evidenced by the developments taking place around the country. "The land of Pilibhit is blessed by Mother Yashwantari Devi. It holds the origin of Adi Ganga Maa Gomti. I bow to this holy land. On the auspicious first day of Navratri, I am compelled to remind our nation of the INDI alliance's vow to undermine the strength of women. The Congress has shamefully disregarded the power of women, revered across our nation today," he said. The Prime Minister extended his greetings to the citizens on the occasions of Chaitra Navratri, Hindu New Year, Ugadi, Gudi-Padwa, Cheti-Chand, Navreh and Sajibu-Cheroba, as well as Baisakhi. He remarked, "Your presence in such vast numbers here is a testament to India's unwavering determination and its ability to overcome even the most formidable challenges. It is your energy and resolve that have propelled India to demonstrate, amidst global adversities, that nothing is beyond its reach. In contrast to previous administrations that sought assistance from the world, India, during the COVID-19 crisis, extended aid by providing medicines and vaccines worldwide. Moreover, amidst global conflicts, we ensured the safe return of every Indian." "This underscores the strength and efficacy of a resolute and capable government, which you should rightfully take pride in. It was the power of your vote that brought about the establishment of a robust and decisive government. The BJP administration has showcased to the world that India stands on par with any other nation. Presently, the nation is achieving unprecedented levels of development, garnering global attention. The BJP government has diligently worked to alleviate the challenges faced by sugarcane farmers," he added. Commending Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath while also targeting opposition parties, PM Modi highlighted that in the past seven years of Yogi government, more funds have been allocated to sugarcane farmers than what the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samajwadi Party, and the Congress Party provided during their combined 14 years of governance. PM Modi said that during this period, many sugar mills have been opened while others have been expanded. The prime minister also mentioned that the big campaign going on in the country surrounding ethanol blending is going to benefit the farmers of Pilibhit a lot. He contrasted the situation with the one during Congress and the SP governments when farmers had to run from pillar to post to claim their own money. PM Modi also mentioned the running of express trains between Pilibhit and Tanakpur following the opening of the broad gauge, as well as the proposed construction of a bridge at Dhanara Ghat at a cost of Rs 250 crore, which will provide relief to thousands of people living on the banks of Sharda river. "All these facilities are bringing new opportunities for farmers and youth. The industries that were shut down during previous administrations will experience revitalization. In Pilibhit, amidst the melodious tunes of the flute and the majestic roars of tigers, our government is dedicated to showcasing the renown of the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on a national and global scale. A new ecosystem of eco-tourism is taking shape, promising fresh avenues for employment and self-employment for the youth," he stated. PM Modi also criticised the previous governments for rampant black marketing of urea in Pilibhit and its surrounding regions 10 years ago, which added to the farmers' woes. The Prime Minister highlighted that the farmers of Uttar Pradesh have received Rs 70,000 crore through the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, with the farmers of Pilibhit alone getting Rs 850 crore. Hitting out at the Congress Party, he said that the party has become so entrenched in the quagmire of appeasement politics that its manifesto looks more like the Muslim League than its own. "Congress and the Samajwadi Party are opposing CAA only because of their appeasement politics. No one can forget what the Congress, with which the Samajwadi Party stands today, did to our Sikh friends in 1984. It is the BJP that stands with the Sikhs with all its might, fully understanding their sentiments. We brought Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan to India with full devotion," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that too late. Kalyan Singh dedicated his life and government for the cause of Ram Mandir. He remarked that while every family in the country contributed to the temple's construction according to their devotion, the Indi alliance was reviled even before the temple's inception for its position on the issue and continues to face disdain. "Despite Congress's concerted efforts to obstruct the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the collective devotion of the nation's people led to the grand temple's realisation. However, instead of embracing this historic occasion, Congress chose to spurn the invitation to the Pran Pratistha ceremony, insulting Lord Ram in the process. Moreover, Congress expelled leaders who attended the ceremony from the party for six years," Modi remarked. PM Modi criticised Congress and its Indi alliance for their penchant for insulting revered figures of the nation. "Notably, senior leaders from Congress or the Samajwadi Party have yet to visit the Statue of Unity. Despite their travels abroad, they have failed to pay homage to Sardar Patel's statue in their homeland," he pointed out. On this occasion, BJP state president Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh, Union Minister BL Verma, UP government ministers Rakesh Sachan, Baldev Singh Aulakh, Sanjay Singh Gangwar, Bareilly MP Santosh Gangwar, BJP's Pilibhit candidate Jitin Prasad, Bareilly candidate Chhatrapal Singh. Gangwar, former minister Suresh Rana etc. were present. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the previous government at the Centre on Tuesday, alleging that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru left Assam and Arunachal Pradesh 'forsaken' during the 1962 Chinese aggression. Addressing a public rally in Assam's Lakhimpur, the union minister said that China could not encroach a single inch of land under the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "They are talking about the culture of Assam now...the people of Assam and Arunachal will never forget the 1962 Chinese aggression. Nehru said 'bye-bye to Assam during that time. Now, the change is that China couldn't encroach a single inch of land under the Modi government. We showed some courage and stopped China for the 45 days in Doklam," Shah said. Taking a jab at the opposition bloc, INDIA, the union home minister said that Assam will become a developed state like other states in the country if the BJP is elected to power again for its third term. "You will have to decide on April 19 as to who will be your MP, which party will form the government and who shall be the next Prime Minister. You have two options. One is the INDI alliance under Rahul Gandhi's leadership and on the other side, you have the BJP under Narendra Modi's leadership..." "...I want to tell you today that in the coming days, Assam will become a developed state like other states in the country...For years, the Congress party had left the Ram Mandir issue hanging. It was during PM Modi's time that the judgement came, 'bhoomi poojan' happened and finally, on January 22, the 'pranpratishtha' took place," he added. He also said that the Narendra Modi government secured India's border with Bangladesh and stopped infiltration. The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases starting April 19. Nearly 97 crore voters are eligible to cast votes in the general election. The counting of the votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in the country, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ravi Shankar Prasad flagged off Shakti Sampark Yatra from the BJP office to his Lok Sabha constituency, Patna Sahib. On the occasion of the first day of Chaitra Navratri, Ravi Shankar Prasad greeted people by saying, "I want to extend my best wishes to the people of the country on the occasion of the first day of Chaitra Navratri and Hindu New Year." Hailing the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, "Every moment we are only concerned about the beneficiaries. We take care of whatever was been sent from PM Modi and how much of it has reached the beneficiaries and how satisfied they are." Highlighting BJP's commitment to development and women's empowerment, he stated, "We will continue working like this. We will keep talking about development. Patna is getting metro and airport. PM is devoted to women's empowerment. I want to thank the women's leadership in Bihar." Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address his first election rally in Bihar at Gaya district under the Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat on Wednesday in favour of BJP candidate Sushil Kumar Singh and NDA allies Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) candidate Jitan Ram Majhi. Sushil Kumar Singh is a BJP candidate from the Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat, and former Chief Minister of Bihar and HAM candidate Jitan Ram Majhi is contesting the Lok Sabha election from the Gaya reserve seat as an NDA candidate. It is noteworthy that Bihar will see polling in seven phases. The first phase of polling will be held on April 19, the second phase on April 26, the third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 25, and the seventh phase on June 1. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will be held in seven phases, starting on April 19. Counting of votes on June 4. (ANI)
The Election Commission of India on Tuesday issued a notice to Congress leader Randeep Surjewala for his undignified and uncivilized comments against Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Hema Malini. The ECI has sought a response from the Congress leader latest by April 11 at 5 PM. Also, the ECI demanded action from the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on ensuring respectful public discourse towards women by party leaders and functionaries. The poll body reiterated that election campaigns cannot be allowed to become a platform for any kind of dishonour to women. The Congress President will have to submit the response by April 11 on steps taken by the party to ensure strict compliance of the Commission's advisories upholding the honour and dignity of women during public discourse by all party leaders. Meanwhile, reacting to Surjewala's remark, Hema Malini on Thursday said that the leaders of the opposition should learn how to respect women from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "They target only popular people because targeting the unpopular ones won't do them any good... They should learn how to respect women from PM Narendra Modi," she said. After facing a backlash from the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party over his alleged objectionable statement against BJP MP Hema Malini, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Thursday clarified that he never intended to insult or hurt the actor-politician. Surjewala's clarification comes after BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya shared an undated video on X and accused the Congress MP of making some objectionable remarks about Hema Malini. Referring to this, Surjewala said that the video posted by the BJP leader has been edited, distorted and shared to distract the country from the Modi government's anti-youth, anti-farmer, anti-poor policies and its conspiracy to destroy the Constitution of India. "BJP's IT Cell has developed a habit of editing, distorting and spreading fake news so that it can distract the country from the Modi government's anti-youth, anti-farmer, anti-poor policies and failures and its conspiracy to destroy the Constitution of India," he said. "Listen to the full video - I said, "We also respect Hema Malini a lot because she is married to Dharmendra ji and is our daughter-in-law," the Congress leader added. (ANI)
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People mourn a victim at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 26, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced Monday that the Palestinian death toll has risen to 33,207 as a result of ongoing Israeli attacks.

During the past 24 hours, the Israeli army killed 32 Palestinians and wounded 47 others, bringing the total death toll to 33,207 and injuries to 75,933 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, said the ministry in a statement.

Meanwhile, at least 67 bodies have been recovered in the southern Khan Younis city since the Israeli army withdrew from southern Gaza, according to the state-run Palestine TV.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage.
Punjab Finance Minister, Harpal Singh Cheema said on Tuesday that a meeting was conducted by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday with the vision to win all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming polls. Harpal Singh Cheema said, "AAP will win all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. The party has fulfilled 4 guarantees in the last two years. 300 units of free electricity have been distributed to every house. In 90 per cent of houses, the electricity bill is almost zero. Mohalla clinics have been opened in Punjab. Financial aid up to Rs 1 crore is being given to the families of fallen soldiers. 13000 teachers have been confirmed who were working on temporary posts earlier." He further alleged that the the BJP is misusing central agencies, adding that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was illegal. "BJP is misusing the ED and CBI. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested illegally. The farmer movement started in Punjab. More than 750 farmers lost their lives. Now farmers will protest again. BJP has brought an undeclared emergency to the country," he further added. Senior leaders Sandeep Pathak, MP Sanjay Singh and Buddha Raj also participated in the meeting. There are 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab with four seats reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates. In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, the Congress-led UPA alliance clinched 8 seats, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) managed to secure four. The AAP, which was contesting for the first time in the state won one seat. Lok Sabha elections in 13 parliamentary seats in Punjab will take place on June 1. (ANI)
The Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Anish Dayal Singh on Tuesday commended the force personnel as 'sentinels of internal security', praising their growing credibility among the populace. The DG's comments came while remembering the CRPF heroes of Sardar Post on Valour Day. The CRPF on Tuesday commemorated 'Valour Day', paying tribute to the brave souls who gallantly defended the nation's honour during the historic 'Battle of Sardar Post' in the Rann of Kutch. In a solemn ceremony at the National Police Memorial in Chanakya Puri, CRPF Director General Anish Dayal Singh laid a wreath to honour the fallen heroes. Following the tribute, he graced the ceremony at the Shaurya CRPF officers' institute in Vasant Kunj as the chief guest. In his address, DG CRPF lauded the dedication of CRPF personnel in safeguarding the nation. He emphasized the commitment of the force to upholding its tradition of valour and sacrifice in the face of diverse challenges such as terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the North East, and Maoism in left-wing extremism-prone areas. The DG proudly recounted instances of bravery and sacrifice during the battle of Sardar post, the battle of hot spring, the Parliament attack, and recent encounters with the Maoists in Basaguda, Chhattisgarh, where CRPF, along with state police, neutralized 13 Maoists and made significant recoveries. He highlighted the increasing credibility of CRPF among the citizens, referring to them as the sentinels of internal security. The DG also praised the exemplary duties performed by CRPF's Mahila battalions across the country, setting inspirational examples of women empowerment. He assured the "Veer Naris" and families of martyrs that CRPF stands with them, solid as a rock in its commitment to their welfare and addressing their grievances promptly. Singh also expressed gratitude to the families of personnel for their sacrifices and urged all members to uphold the exemplary legacy of fallen heroes with honour, courage, and determination. DG CRPF reiterated the commitment of CRPF to serve the nation with utmost loyalty and steadfastness and congratulated the medal recipients and their families. During the ceremony, 48 Gallantry Medal recipients were honoured for their exemplary bravery, while eight other officers and personnel were awarded with Asadharan Asuchana Medal for commendable service in providing information leading to successful operations. Among the esteemed guests was Kishan Singh, the lone surviving veteran of the Sardar Post Battle, whose heroic accounts continue to inspire generations. On this occasion, Kishan Singh was felicitated by DG CRPF. Valour Day, observed annually on April 9, commemorates the extraordinary valour displayed by the CRPF soldiers during the Battle of Sardar Post in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, in 1965. Despite facing overwhelming odds, CRPF personnel numbering 300 only fought bravely and defended their post against a well planned attack of a Pakistani Army brigade, neutralizing many enemy forces, and making the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. With 2,259 supreme sacrifices and 2,620 Medals to its name, CRPF remains steadfast in its commitment to serve the nation with unflinching loyalty and dedication, drawing inspiration from the heroic deeds of the past. (ANI)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhanjanlal Sharma on Tuesday came down heavily on the Congress, calling it the "mother of corruption" as it "looted the country and the state for long". "While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has uplifted every class, Congress has done the work of deceiving the society. Congress is the mother of corruption. It has looted the country and the state," Sharma said while speaking at a public gathering after he offered prayers at Jambheshwar Mandir in Barmer. He said that during the tenure of BJP government at the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, women of the country have been given respect. He said that in pursuance of this cause that Modi government has built many toilets across the country. The Chief Minister also highlighted the infrastructural push of the Modi government. "Work has been done across the country by the Modi government in the fields of roads, lights, health and water. The government knows the sorrow and pain of the poor," he said. He urged the people to vote for the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha election so that country continues to move fast on the development path. Talking about the performance of his government, he said, " we have completed 40 percent of the work in 90 days in the three and a half months since our government was formed and we will fulfill every promise". "We will expand Narmada Canal, and will also make arrangements for irrigation and water supply in Barmer," he added. The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases starting April 19. Nearly 97 crore voters are eligible to cast votes in the general election. The counting of the votes will be held on June 4. Rajasthan will go to the polls in two phases, on April 19 and April 26. Polling for 12 Lok Sabha seats will be held in the first phase on April 19, while the remaining 13 seats will be polled in the second phase on April 26. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a roadshow in Tamil Nadu's Chennai, as a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign to gain a foothold in the southern states. This was PM Modi's second roadshow in Tamil Nadu in a month. The road show began near Panagal Park and concluded near Teynampet signal. The Prime Minister campaigned for BJP's South Chennai candidate Tamilisai Soundarajan, Central Chennai candidate Vinoj P Selvam and North Chennai candidate Paul Kanagaraj. People were gathered in large numbers to witness the roadshow on both sides of the road and also showered petals on the Prime Minister. PM Modi was seen carrying the party's logo, "Kamal" (Lotus) in his hand. BJP candidate from South Chennai, Tamilisai Soundararajan, said, "There is a spark of happiness. We are so fortunate to have a Prime Minister like him. There is a lot of enthusiasm among our workers. PM Modi's visit will help us, we will win. People of South Chennai are very happy..." Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai was also present with PM Modi during the roadshow. Former Telangana Governor and BJP candidate from South Chennai, Tamilisai Soundararajan was also present. Earlier, Tamilisai said, "There is a spark of happiness. We are so fortunate to have a Prime Minister like him. There is a lot of enthusiasm among our workers. PM Modi's visit will help us, we will win. People of South Chennai are very happy." The BJP has fielded former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan against Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) Tamilachi Thangapandian in South Chennai. The party has fielded Vinoj P Selvam against DMK's Dayanidhi Maran in Central Chennai. The Prime Minister will be in Tamil Nadu for two days. He will be attending two public meetings in the state on Wednesday. Voting for all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu will be held in the first phase of the general elections on April 19. In the 2019 general elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, comprising the Congress, VCK, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MMK, KMDK, TVK, AIFB, registered a landslide victory, winning 38 of the 39 seats in the state. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asserted that he is the "bhakt" of Mahakaal, adding that he bows only in front of the people of the country or in front of Mahakaal. Addressing a rally in Balaghat, PM Modi, extended his heartfelt greetings of Navratri to the people of Balaghat and remarked, "The land of Balaghat is a witness to the might of India's women power." "For decades post-independence, Congress clung to outdated notions, viewing India through the lens of poverty. Their focus on infrastructure was limited to a few major cities where their leaders resided, neglecting others," PM Modi said. He further said that the BJP is guided by the principle of inclusive development and always prioritises every corner of the nation. "Our government channels substantial funds into modern infrastructure projects across cities and villages, exemplifying our commitment to progress for all," he added. The elections to 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases, with nearly 97 crore voters eligible to exercise their franchise, according to the Election Commission (EC). The counting of votes has been scheduled for June 4. (ANI)
"PM Modi will address a public rally in Udhampur on April 12. The rally will be organised at the Modi ground. Around 2 lakh people are expected to attend it... The party has made all types of preparations. Complete arrangements of food and water, and medical facilities will be made for the people coming for the rally. We will make sure that no one has to face any inconvenience," Arun Gupta told ANI.

Earlier on Monday, BJP state chief Ravinder Rana said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to address a rally in Kathua on April 10.

"BJP is gaining ground in entire Jammu and Kashmir. Only the BJP is visible among the people. Opposition parties do not have public support," Rana said.

BJP has again fielded Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh from Udhampur.

Jitendra Singh is looking for a hat-trick from the seat that will go the polls in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19. He is in a triangular contest with Congress and Democratic Progressive Azad Party candidates. (ANI)
Alleging CPI(M)'s involvement in the Panoor crude bomb blast, former Union Minister and BJP's Kerala Prabhari Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday said that it has become the party of criminals. "CPI(M) runs bomb making factories to terrorize people. The party is behind Panoor bomb blast. It has become the party of criminals," Javadekar said in a press conference held here. The blast occurred at Panoor in Kerala's Kannur district on Thursday night around 1 a.m. One person was killed and three others were injured in the incident. The victims and others were allegedly making the bomb when it exploded accidently. The people who were arrested in connection with the incident included a CPI(M) activist and local leaders of Democratic Youth Federation of India, CPI(M)'s youth wing. The BJP leader said that if the National Investigation Agency's probe is necessary in the blast case, the decision in this regard has to be taken by the state government. Javadekar said that it is hard to believe the statement of CPI(M) State Secretary MV Govindan's statement that ones who arrested were the ones who came to the scene for the rescue operation after the blast. Javadekar said that accused in the case are associated with the CPI(M). He said that like in West Bengal where both CPI(M) and the Congress are decimated, in Kerala also the fate of the both parties will be the same. Javadekar also slammed Congress for "ensuring SDPI's votes" in the coming Lok Sabha election. It showed the Congress can stoop to any level for the sake of electoral victory, he said. He pointed out that SDPI is the political wing of the banned Popular Front of India. He said the Modi government pursues developmental policies without discriminating people. The government has been able to do development in every sectors of the economy, he said. (ANI)
UN Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday and appreciated the state government's efforts towards disaster management, food security as well as the 5T Governance Model, informed a press release. Shombi Sharp also discussed Odisha's partnership with UN agencies and mentioned the long partnership of the UN agencies with the Odisha Government. He praised the efforts of the Odisha government in improving the Human development indicators and disaster management. https://x.com/Naveen_Odisha/status/1777557999038726356 Odisha is one of the most disaster-prone states in the country and was devastated by the Super Cyclone in 1999. Disaster management has been one of the main priorities of Naveen Patnaik, ever since he came to power "Today, Odisha is recognised as a leading state in managing disasters. The UN felicitated Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in 2013 for handling Cyclone Phailin. In 2019, the New York Times carried a front-page article on Odisha's handling of Cyclone Fani and asked nations to learn from Odisha," the release stated. The UN official also hailed the achievements of Odisha in food security and mentioned Odish's Millet Mission and how the state has served as an example. Odisha was ranked No. 1 in the implementation of the National Food Security Act. Odisha's Millet Mission has received accolades from across the globe for its innovative and inclusive initiatives. CM Patnaik was invited to the World Food Program (WFP) headquarters in 2022 to share the experience of Odisha in Food Security, the release added. 5T model of governance was launched in 2019, and it uses the five principles - Transparency, Technology, Teamwork, Time, and Transformation - to carry forward the growth process in the state. CM Patnaik thanked Sharp for his visit to Odisha. He said that Odisha will continue to partner with the UN agencies across various sectors to bring the best of practices from across the world to the State. (ANI)
Jailed Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) leader K Kavitha on Tuesday penned a note from jail and said that the investigation by central agencies and the "media trial" have hit her reputation and invaded her privacy. " Madam Justice, as the whole nation witnessed, past two and a half years of "Never Ending", ED and CBI investigation has turned into a media trial. Being a woman politician, I am the most victimized in the process, severely denting my personal and political reputation. My personal mobile phone number was displayed on all television channels, directly invading my privacy," the letter said. "After two and a half years of failed investigation, ED has arrested me on March 15, without any proof, just based on statements and right before the elections. Despite giving an undertaking of no coercive action in the Supreme Court, they arrested me," it added. The letter from K Kavitha further stated that today 95 per cent cases of ED and CBI are against opposition leaders and when the accused joins the BJP, the investigation abruptly stops. "On the floor of the Parliament, BJP leaders openly threaten opposition saying "Chup ho jaao, warna ED bhej dunga." In this dire situation, Madam Justice, the opposition parties are looking up to the judiciary with great hope to give us respite," Kavitha said in her letter. "I have time and again cooperated with both the agencies. I have appeared before them four times. I have answered all their questions to the best of my knowledge and gave all my bank and business details. I will fully have cooperated with the agencies by submitting all of my mobile phones that the agencies blamed me of destroying. In the last two and a half years of investigation, both the agencies conducted multiple raids, physically and mentally harassed, threatened and arrested many people," Kavitha alleged in her letter. The BRS leader pointed out that Justice Sanjay Sharma himself had said that there is no money trail. "Yet, Madam justice, all they could accumulate are a bunch of statements from a few people who kept changing their statements and their political alliances. This whole case is based on statements. Justice Sanjay Sharma himself said that there is no money trail. Madam, I have done nothing but to cooperate with the due process and procedure and will continue to do so," the letter stated. Kavitha once again highlighted that her son is appearing for the board exams and her absence might have a negative impact on him. "Lastly madam, but the most important aspect of my life, I am a dutiful mother. I am a highly qualified person and hence understand the importance of my role while my minor son is preparing for board exams. It is a make or break year for my son from the educational perspective. I fear my absence might have a negative impact on him. Therefore, I request you to consider my bail request," it added. (ANI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis have thanked Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray for announcing his 'unconditional support' to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance in the state for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. BJP, Ajit Pawar-led NCP, and Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde are part of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra under the name of 'Mahayuti' alliance and will be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls together. "Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is unconditionally supporting the grand alliance of 'BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP...This support is only for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA alliance. Now everyone should prepare for the elections," he said during a rally at Shivaji Park Following the announcement, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde thanked Thackeray for his support and said that he has supported Prime Minister Modi's leadership. "I welcome him wholeheartedly. PM Modi has supported Mahayuti. PM Modi has done development in the country and has taken the country forward," Shinde told reporters in Nagpur. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also thanked Raj Thackeray for his support and said that they all believe in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and aim to work for the people. "Warm welcome! "Believing in the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji. To realize the dream of a developed India, for building a strong Maharashtra. I am very grateful to MNS Chief Shri Raj Thackeray ji for supporting the grand alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP. Let us all be determined with full strength to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people!" Fadnavis stated in a post on X. Meanwhile, negotiations are still ongoing between the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance members -- Congress, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar's faction (Sharadchandra Pawar) of NCP. Maharashtra sends the second-highest 48 MPs seats to the parliament. The polling in the state will be held in five phases: April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13 and May 20. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. In the 2019 elections, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 23 seats, followed by Shiv Sena (undivided) with 18 seats. (ANI)
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday portrayed the upcoming Lok Sabha election as a critical juncture for India, with far-reaching implications for the nation's developmental trajectory. "This Lok Sabha election will decide the future course of our nation. It's about more than just votes; it's about setting the pace for our socio-economic development and reinforcing our national security. The stakes couldn't be higher," CM Saha said while addressing an election campaign event at Jolaibari in South Tripura. Reflecting on the political landscape since 2018, Saha highlighted the BJP's ascendancy in Tripura, attributing it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He recalled the 2019 victory in both Lok Sabha seats and the BJP's success in the 2023 Assembly Election despite the CPI(M) and Congress alliance's efforts to "sow confusion". "The overwhelming support we've seen during the nomination filing for our candidates is a testament to the people's unwavering faith in Prime Minister Modi. Our citizens are keenly aware of the transformation he has brought, from digital connectivity to infrastructural enhancements like railways and highways," Saha said. He further praised Modi's role in boosting Tripura's development, mentioning ongoing projects such as the electrification for the Vande Bharat express, which promises to enhance connectivity and economic growth in the region. He accused the CPI(M) and Congress of undermining democracy and engaging in violent politics during their tenure. "The era of misleading the people is over. They claim to stand for democracy, yet we've witnessed the dire consequences of their governance. It's clear that for the sake of our nation's future and for the prosperity of Jati and Janajati, the victory of the BJP is imperative," he asserted. The event was not just a platform for political discourse but also a demonstration of unity within the BJP, with the presence of significant figures like Former Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma, Minister Tinku Roy, Sukla Charan Noatia, BJP Vice President Subal Bhowmik, and MLA Pramod Reang. The state is set for two-phase elections in this 2024 Lok Sabha election. The West Tripura constituency will vote on April 19, while the poll battle in East Tripura is scheduled for April 26. (ANI)